I Write Nasty Things About My Cousin on My Blog.

That's a lie. I was just using that to get you here, Alicia.

Recently, I was nominated for a Liebster award by Lauren. When I say recently, I really mean two and a half weeks ago. . .close enough. She and I were in a movie together a few years ago, and she's such a cool person. Her blog is really great, too. So check it out.

Okay. So about how long it took me to get around to doing this. It's just been a weird couple of weeks. I haven't necessarily been busy, just not in the right mindset to write. Whatever. I'm over it and writing now. 

Here we go.

The Liebster Award is an award distributed by bloggers for blogger with under 200 followers. Rad, right? It's a cool way to learn more about the writers behind the blogs you read.

The Rules:
1. Choose 11 other up-and-coming bloggers and link to them in your Liebster post.
2. Answer the 11 questions the previous blogger set for you, then create 11 different ones for the bloggers you will choose.
3. Let those bloggers know you nominated them.
4. No tag backs. No mulligans. No puppy guarding. Okay, just don't tag the person who nominated you. Or puppy guard. It's the worst.
5. Display the Liebster logo. Nailed it.

Lauren's Questions to Me

1. Did you like coffe the first time you tried it?

Like, straight, black coffee? No. I still don't like black coffee. When I do drink coffee, which is a rare occurrence indeed (I'm a tea person), it needs to be so diluted with cream and sugar it just vaguely resembles the drink it began as.

2. Quick. Fast. Most beautiful celebrity ever. Male or female. I don't care.

Ryan Reynold is the prettiest man I've ever seen. He's also hilarious, so that helps.

3. Which book have you most enjoyed over the past 5 years? Why?

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey, for a couple different reasons. A) Up until spring 2011, I had never read a novel about the environment. B) It made me fall in love with Arches National Park - a real place I've never been. It's easy to fall in love with a fantastical environment, however, this book doesn't romanticize the park. It just is what it is. And it's a beautiful, decaying/living place. I love it.


4. What is your favorite season of the year? Why?

Baseball season. Go Royals & Giants! (I can do that because they're in different leagues. And because I do what I want.)

5. Is there a blog that you read every day? Which one?

I don't know if this really counts. . .I'm  on If You Can't Afford to Tip a lot. There are just a lot of relatable things for anyone in the service industry. And I love laughing at stupid people.

6. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?

Milk chocolate. Hands down. Any day of the week.

7. Which cartoon did you watch the most when you were little?

Either Rugrats or Cowboys of Moo Mesa

8. If you could be a kitchen appliance, what would you be? Why?

I've actually discussed this topic before. I'd be an ice cube maker because I want everyone to chill. (:

9. How do you feel about the Oxford comma?

You know I have an opinion on this. I was an English student. It's a necessary part of punctuation that's frequently overlooked.

That last comma makes all the difference.

10. If they made another Austin Powers movie, who would you cast as the newest leading lady?

Cloris Leachman. . .is she still alive? I don't care. Her. I'd cast her.

11. Which are cuter, puppies or kittens? And no saying "baby hedgehogs," because obviously they would win.

This is an impossible question to answer. I love both sooooooooo much. Baby red pandas? I cheated and I'm not ashamed.

My Brainbusters for you:

1. Crumple or fold? (toilet paper, that is.)
2. How do you feel about people who chew on ice?
3. How do we know each other?
4. *NSync or Backstreet Boys? Why?
5. What is one book that changed your life? How?
6. How is your life different than what you had imagined it would be at age 11?
7. Is there one piece of jewelry that you always wear?
8. Why aren't tattoos/facial piercings acceptable in the majority of professional workplaces?
9. Could you survive without sunglasses? Obviously I'm being dramatic. How would forgetting your sunglasses at home impact your day?
10. What language do you love to listen to, but don't understand or speak any yourself? Why?
11. What is your favorite color combination?

AND THE NOMINEES FOR A LIEBSTER AWARD (from Britni) ARE:

Can I Get That in Cornflower Blue? - Josh

In These Shoes - Chelsea

Grace and Peace - Mairin

Stepping Out From the Old and Into The New - Amanda

Coffee and Crayolas with Ms. Roemmich - Kat

Jealous for Me - Hillary

Things I See God Do. . . - Stephanie

Point of Focus - Laura

I know there are only 8. I honestly don't follow a lot of blogs, but these ones are my favorites. Some of the people don't post often/haven't posted in a while, but I hope this sparks them back into writing. *fingers crossed*

Lauren, thanks so much for nominating me! I can't wait to read what everyone else writes. (:

Swiggity Swag, What's in the Bag?

Ooooh, man. I'm lazy. I promised the pattern to my ewok hoodie probably a month ago on instagram and twitter. I had it all written up, correct stitch count, materials used, everything. But I never got around to it. I am a piece of work. It's not like I've been too busy to post it, just lazy. Anyway, here it is.

EWOK INFINITY HOOD

Supplies Needed: 3 Skeins Main Color (I used Loops & Threads Impeccable in Pumpkin)

1 Skein Contrast Color (I used Loops & Threads Fabulous Fur in Wolf)

U.S. - K 6.5mm

Stitch markers

Gauge: 10 dc x 6 rows = 4 inches

Scarf

ch 175 (yarn held doubled), and connect to first chain

Row1: ch 2, skip 1st stitch, dc in every stitch to end. sl st to 2nd chain at beginning of the row.

Row2-7: ch 2, skip 1st stitch, dc in every stitch to end. sl st to 2nd chain at beginning of the row.

finish and weave in ends.

Hood

set place marker where you broke off yarn. count out 21 st from pm on both sides.

Row1: join (yarn held doubled) with sl st to outer marked st.  ch 2, dc in each stitch across. move center marker up to new center. end with a dc in last marked stitch. turn. [43 stitches]

Row2: ch 2, dc in each stitch to 1 before center, 2 dc in next stitch, dc in center, 2 dc in next stitch. dc across to end of hood. turn. [45 stitches]

Row3-10: repeat row 2. turn. [47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61]

Row11: ch 2, dc in each stitch to 2 before center, dc2tog, dc in center, dc2tog, dc in remaining stitch to end. [59 stitches]

Row12-17: repeat row 11. turn. [45 in last row]

fold in half and sl st closed. weave in ends.

Ears

ch 6, sl st through 1st stitch to form magic ring.

ch 3, dc 11 into center of ring, sl st into 3rd ch.

ch 3, 2dc into each stitch, sl st into 3rd ch.

ch 3, dc 1, ^dc1, 2dc. repeat from ^ around the circle. sl st into 3rd  ch.

finish and weave in ends.

fold the circles to make them look like ewok ears, and whip stitch onto hood.

weave in ends.

rock your new hood like a champ.

_____________________________________________

Really. A lot of new stuff is going on. Okay, not a lot. Two new things. One thing I've been planning for three years. Yes, since I was living in Maryland and I've been too much of a baby to actually do it. Can you handle the anticipation??

I finally got my anti-tragus pierced! I love it so much.

I won't lie to you guys, it hurt. Quite a bit. Just enough for me to say, "Oh, there it is," when the needle went through the cartilage. What really hurt the most was putting the earring in. I settled on a gorgeous white opal labret. It hasn't been too sore. The only thing that has set me back was sleeping. I get a little paranoid that I'll rip it out of my ear in the middle of the night, lose gallons of blood, and ruin my bedding.

I've been itching for another one ever since I walked out of Studio 51/50 in Kearney. I think maybe a snug or orbital helix is somewhere in my near future. Maybe when I go in three weeks from now when I get this one checked. I'll keep you posted.

Also, I dyed my hair blue.

It took me three freaking times.

And bleach.

But I love it.

I am an adult. Hire me.

And look at my new Giants shirt.

Love it.

Love them.

I'm so freaking vain.

Whatever.