Liebster Award Nomination Time!

So I was nominated for the Leibster Award.  What IS the Liebster Award you ask?  I have no clue what-so-ever.  So, let's find out shall we?  So when I google "Liebster" I find out that the word is German for "Sweetheart."  Awww, thank you!

So the Leibster Award is basically a way for you to get to know me, and for me to get to know you. I have received 10 Questions from Alisha (Hi Alisha!!) Over at The Bohemian Housewife, and below are others that I'm going to tag with questions of my own...so lets get this thing started!  If you just happened by, I encourage you to go over and say "hi" to Alisha (linked above) and all of the Bloggers linked below.

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging way back in (if my old archived blog that I happened to google just now is accurate) 2006, because I thought it was a cool idea, and I wanted to try.  My blog was based around being a parent and Christ-Follower and just about life in general.  One day I decided to review a book I had read.  That was great, so I decided to do another, and another.  Eventually I was writing a review a few times a month and somewhere in the 2006-2007 time frame an author of a book I had reviewed commented on my blog.  I could not believe an author would take the time to comment on a simple book review I had posted.  I just thought this was so awesome, so I kept it up.  By the time 2008 came around I started ILoves2read (right around the time  the Cheezburger Cats were big, thus the name) and ...well, here we are.

2. How has blogging affected you life?

I went from reading a normal amount of books to reading an impressive amount of books.  Well, impressive to those non-readers around me.  Now it seems like I read on the lower side of normal among bloggers...but I'm a busy person, so you'll have to forgive me.   The missing part of the story here is where I dropped very low in the review scene for a few years, only reviewing enough to keep my blog "active."  Now that I'm diving back in, things have changed a lot.  Anyhow, regardless, I read a lot more.

3. If you could visit one place 100% free for a week, where would you go/What would you do?

France, because I took French in High School and have wanted to go since that time.  I'd probably trace Anna's (from Anna and the French Kiss - which I've read no fewer than ten times) footsteps some before taking off on my own.  Oh, and I'm sure I'll find some old (or new and beautiful) libraries to walk around in for a bit.  

4. Are you a Cat or Dog person?

Cat.  Always have been.  As a kid I collected cats.  NO NOT REAL ONES! (Yes, people have thought that.) I had a very wide range of nice, cute and ugly cat figurines.  Once people realized I collected them, I 'inherited' them from all directions.  I do not collect these things now...I'm not one for dusting, and that's all they do; gather dust.  I'd rather chase after my two fur-babies.  The territorial, mailman attacking, love monster, Jasper (Grey and white), and the crazy kitten who thinks he's a puppy, Jinx.

5. What is your favorite blog post you’ve written?

This one is pretty fun.  Or I could go and dig up my old "I *heart* Stephenie Meyer" blog post.  Oh, yes, I did write such a post.  I was a total Twi-hard, a part of the Lexicon and even Twilight Mom's for a time.  Seriously though, I'm just now getting back to this, and while I've been blogging for quite a long time, I feel like I'm just starting again too.

6. What is your favorite book and why?

I do not have one.  I might have a favorite book of the month, but I cannot have a favorite book.  For the longest time I would have said it was The Time Traveler's Wife, but I've read so many books since I read that one that if I were to read it again, I'm not sure it would still be my favorite.  For this "season" I'd say my favorite is Red Queen.

7. What makes you the happiest?

My husband.  He's my favorite person in this world.  My kids - they are my favorite too, but Justin is still my favorite.  My relationship with Christ.  He's not in this world, he doesn't count as my favorite...but He's my favorite too.

8. What is your favorite way to unwind?

Seriously?  I read. 

9. Do you have a hobby? (besides blogging)

Let's see.  I knit and crochet.  I like to hike, and I lift weights.  My husband is a Strongman and Power Lifting competitor, in fact he's currently training for a Power Lifting competition coming up in June in Austin TX.  He's competing on the PlantBuilt Team (I'm so proud), anyhow, he coaches me and I do what he says.  I've made a ton of progress and am thinking of maybe lifting in a competition in a year or so.

10. Who is your biggest supporter?

I would say my husband, but he doesn't give a lick about blogging, though he says he "lives vicariously" through my reading.  So I have to say my best friend, and future published author Michelle Bolanger.  We sort of support each other, and egg each other on, and laugh.   ...okay, mostly we laugh.

So you're up next!!!

Felita - Lilac Reviews 

Toni - The Write Stuff
Dani Duck - Artist Obscure
Laura - Musings of a Chocoholic Romance Author
Julie - jbarrett5

Your Questions:

1.  Name a book you could read over and over again, and what about it are you drawn to?

2.  Why did you start blogging?

3.  Describe your dream vacation.

4.  Ebooks or Paper/hardbacks?

5.  If you could pick a specific period in time to live in, what would you choose?

6. What is your Favorite movie?

7.  It's date night, what are you doing?

8.  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

9.  If you could pick a song to be your anthem, what would the song be?

10.  If you had to choose between receiving a new book at random each week and being able to read only it, or living with only the books you currently own for the rest of your life, which would you choose?