Over the Top (and I don't just mean the Stallone Movie...)

Look what my friend Green Girl in Wisconsin gave me (that lovable galoshes-wearing gardener!) I'm so grateful to have her as a friend and to read her writing. She brings out my inner Cheese-head. :)

Now, it's time to pass along the fun. Here are the rules:


1.) Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award. (Check!)

2.) Pass the award along to 6 brilliantly over the top blogs. Alert them so they know to receive the award. (Check!)

I'll pass this along to some of my favorites:

Me-Me at The Screaming Me-Me! Whose writing never fails to make me laugh. [MadMadMargo on Twitter]

Rayne at Rayne of Terror, who -- like me -- loves to garden. [devivo on Twitter]

Leighann at Multi-Minding Mom, the greenest of my greenie girlfriends and a terrific blogger. [LeighannMMM on Twitter]

Stacey (Mom24) at 4everMom, a fantastically frugal meal-planning mom, whose life is so full, it's hard to keep up! [Mom24 on BlogCatalog]

Lesley at My Turn to Talk, a new friend I'm so glad to have. [Latest post, which I love, Blink.]

And

Susan at Erasing the Bored, a talented writer with a positive perspective on life. [Another latest post I love, Do Be a Do-Be]



3.) Copy and paste this quiz… Change the answers and use ONE word (whenever possible). (Check!)

1-Your cell phone? Mythical (I don't have one.)
2- Your hair? Shiny (Gotta love Fall!)
3-Your mother? Graceful
4-Your father? Protective
5-Your favorite food? Tomatoes
6-Your favorite drink? Baileys
7-Your dream last night? Bizarre
8-Your dream/goal? Balance
9-What room are you in? Den
10-Your hobby? Writing
11-Your fear? Loss of a Child (sorry, not one word)
12-Where do you want to be in 6 years? Michigan
13-Where were you last night? Home
14-Something that you aren’t? Tall
15-Muffin? Pumpkin
16-Wish list item? Laptop
17-Where did you grow up? Suburbs
18-Last thing you did? Brewed (chai black tea -- yum)
19-What are you wearing? Bare Feet
20-Your TV? On (sickies are watching Max & Ruby)
21-Your pets? Spotted (my kids have adopted every ladybug they see)
22-Friends? Dear
23- Your life? Full
24-Your mood? Content
25-Missing someone? Mom
26-Vehicle? 1995 Eagle Vision (I know you're jealous. It's a classic.)
27-Something you aren’t wearing? Make-up
28-Your favorite store? TJ Maxx
29-Favorite color? Yellow
30-When was the last time you laughed? 7:20 a.m.
31-Last time you cried? Yesterday
32-Your best friend? Joe
33-One place you go to over and over? My Garden
34-One person who emails you regularly? Melissa
35-Favorite place to eat? Home

Many thanks to all the wonderful friends I've met here and on BlogCatalog and Twitter. You are truly amazing women and my life is fuller for knowing you.

- Midwest Mom

Christmas Gifts for some Fabulous Bloggers

I usually don't give out awards on this blog, but since it's the gifting season, I thought, "If not now, when?"
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My good friend Abby at my sweet baboo has given Midwest Moms a lovely award that looks shockingly just like me! (Who knew I could be so Audrey Hepburn? ... wait til' my husband finds out!)

I just love being fabulous!

So, I'll pass this along as a little present to a few other fabulous bloggers I know.


Me-Me of The Screaming Me-Me is down-home hilarious. If I lived closer to Arizona, you bet I'd want to be friends with this woman... that is, as long as she managed to control the live turkeys running around her house and kept the carrot sticks well off the Christmas buffet. Me-Me, your blog is fabulous!

Kevin at Always at Home and Uncool knows what it means to be Jack Bauer -- really! (And why do I have the feeling his daughter won't mind this lovely award?) Speaking of his beautiful daughter, Kevin and his wife are raising awareness and, more importantly, money for Cure Juvenile dermatomyositis, a condition which his daughter has been battling for six years. He has recently written a (hilarious) guest-post about how to keep your figure at the holidays to raise money for the cause, and he and his wife have their own Cure JM fundraising page where all funds donated go to researching a cure for this potentially fatal condition. Please, if you can, click on over to Kevin's blog and drop a little holiday coin. He is a work-at-home-dad who totally deserves your readership -- oh, and this award, too.


Michele at Rocky Mountain Retreat (Photos) has a beautiful photo blog that I visit as often as possible. Michele lives in British Columbia, Canada and takes gorgeous photos of sky, water, the mountains... even weeds and wildflowers! My husband and I honeymooned in Banff and Jasper in Alberta and briefly traveled into British Columbia during our stay. We truly feel like it is God's country. Michele's blog helps me keep my eyes open to a beautiful time in my life every day.


Laurie at the Playground Observer is one of my favorite bloggers from "Back East". Laurie writes about life in Worcester, MA with her hubby and son. Having recently survived a visit to Santa and a wicked huge ice storm, Laurie continues her warmly funny chronicles of motherhood. I really love reading her blog. (Merry Christmas, Laurie!)


And, finally, my most fabulous, shoe-buying friend from Texas, Kellan at On the Upside shares her life raising her four terrific children. She writes about holiday stress, strange gift requests, but my all-time favorite has to be Sarah Palin's last interview. Priceless writing! Hers is a fabulous blog not to be missed.


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! (Hope my present fits... )


- Midwest Mom

p.s. I'm off for a while, but am sure to be back writing after Christmas. I hope you all have a peaceful, joyous holiday season. ...now where is that tray of Christmas treats...

Time to Give Thanks

My mother always said, "Don't put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today."

It was never more true than it is right now.

Since this is Thanksgiving week, I thought I would start off by giving thanks for the fantastic friends I have made during my time at Midwest Moms. Some of these 'thank-yous' are quite belated. But belated thanks can still be heartfelt.

Tricia at Papercages gave me a lovely award in -gasp- October, and I still have not acknowledged it.

Shame on me.

Papercages is a witty blog written by a wonderful woman who, while plagued by fits of firework paranoia and bouts of falling down, manages to keep her readers entertained and laughing about even the tough side of living. It is a great read.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you to Tricia for thinking of me and recognizing my writing on your blog. I truly appreciate it and apologize for the delay.


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In keeping with my title, I would like to acknowledge other fantastic bloggers who have given awards to Midwest Moms.


Many thanks go out to Elaine Fontana at My Life as a Stay-At-Home-Mother. She does a wonderful job blogging about issues and events that are important to her and her family. I am very grateful for her friendship and readership. She writes from Iowa, our neighbor to the west and fellow corn-growing state. So, you understand, I feel a certain kinship with Elaine. We midwesterners have to stick together! Especially when we're moms!




Thanks also to Court at Kaiya's Laughter Heals for the Proximidad Award. It is good to have close friendships with other parents who are doing their best to raise their children. It is also a tremendous blessing to share the joy of our kids and their silly stories, too. Thank you for recognizing that closeness. And best of luck with your blog!

And heartfelt good wishes and gratitude also go out to Me-Me King at The Screaming Me-Me.

The "Lemons into Lemonade" Award makes me laugh. I think you have my sense of humor pegged. Thank you very much for the acknowledgment. (And be sure to duck those bullets in the Arizona desert, won't you?)

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I am very grateful for all my readers. There are times I can't believe what an amazing group of smart, thoughtful people Midwest Moms has brought into my world. I am honored to be among such wonderful writers and faithful readers. Thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

- Midwest Mom

My First Blog Award!

Thanks to Geoffrey at Geoffrey's Farrago for my very first blog award.

Won't my sons be surprised! I'll just set this baby up near the baseball and running trophies and see whether they notice.

(If I could just figure out how to get it off my screen!) - MM