It *is* a happy Friday! An award-filled day!

It really is the simple things in life that make life beautiful. Simple things, like an adorable kitty, a colorful stir fry, a nice bottle of wine. And like a wise person once said, the best things in life are free.  So, what do you get when you combine something simple with something free?  A blogger award! And it really does seem like one of the best things in life that makes life just that much more beautiful.

My BlogFriend, Christina @ The Tattered Tag (who just reached the 100-follower mark -- congratulations!), bestowed upon me two blogging awards.  

Yay for awards

What, me?  Really??  This is such an honor!! I feel this way especially because I've only really been blogging since January and I have a small following. This blog is about my journey through creative recovery and I feel thankful for the people who are along for the ride.

So how does this award work?  I'm so glad you asked!

• Thank and link back to the person who bestowed the award on you.
• Share seven random things about yourself.
• Nominate 15 other bloggers (share the love!!)
• Contact the bloggers and inform them of the award.

  
So here are seven random things about me:

1. While I love to craft, create, and give gifts to people, I absolutely hate wrapping gifts. (Seriously, people are lucky if it comes in a gift bag. Count yourself double-lucky if that gift bag also included tissue paper.)
2. I love coffee and tea, and my favorite tea in the whole world is the Earl Grey from Allann Bros., a local coffee roasting company. 
3. Few things make me happier than listening to Sam Cooke and Roy Orbison while cooking in the kitchen.
4. My favorite colors are shades of orange and blue, which is why just about every room in my house is painted with some variation of those colors.
5. Teaching is my passion, and while I love teaching and working with adults, which is what I do now, I miss "my kids," because few things are quite as fun as teaching high school.
6. I am completely addicted to NPR and OPB and go into serious withdrawals when I can't get my daily fix.
7. My breakfast consists of a cup of coffee and a toasted english muffin and it has been that way for years. I love english muffins and would eat them for every meal if I could. Seriously, they are that good.

Were those facts random enough?  

And now the moment that you've all been waiting for -- the passing of the awards!  I am awarding

1. Shiree @ pistolsnprincesses
2. Melanie @ You Made That
3. Nicole @ Thrifty Decorating
4. Allyson @ No Place Like Our Home
5. Kristen @ Just Live Simply
6. Jonie Marie @ Just Between Friends
7. Cassie @ Hi, Sugarplum!
8. Brandi @ Don't Disturb This Groove
9. Judy @ DIY by Design
10. Ellen @ Creative Passage
11. Tracie @ Cleverly Inspired
12. Lisa @ A Vintage Vine
13. Nicole @ A Home for A Bunny
14. CAS @ An Oasis in the Desert
15. Courtney @ A Thoughtful Place

There.  Whew, that was a lot of work!  There are so many wonderful people with blogs out there that I want to recognize everyone!  But we'll stick with 15 for now, since those are the rules. :-)  Check out these amazing women and their blogs -- you'll be glad that you did!

And thanks again, Christina @ The Tattered Tag.  You are amazing!