Mystery Blogger Award – 2

I want to thank my fellow Chiarian blogger over at Simply Chronically Ill for this amazing nomination! There is nothing like getting recognized by fellow bloggers and this amazing soul is phenomenal and her blog is filled with amazing content, her poetry is both thought provoking and intriguing. She also gives tips on how to save and links to great deals! What’s better than saving?! Thank you again and if you haven’t gone to her blog, pay her a visit! I appreciate how these awards allow you to get to know me, they’re fantastic!

Here are my questions for my nominees:

1. If you could cure one disease, what would it be and why?

This here, this here, is a great one! I would find a cure for Chiari Malformation + Syringomyelia – that’s two not one, it’s OK! This thing is both painful and exhausting – find a cure already! I have six babies, SIX, find it now! 😉

2. If you could speak any other language what would it be and why?

Let’s see, my little ones and I speak both English and Spanish and at times I feel it just isn’t enough, so we should definitely try a third! I would speak – and I must thank Google for this, the South Korean dialect of Hanguk. I have Korean descent and would love to dive into something from the culture.

3. If you could do your life over, what is one thing you would change?

Oh wow, this is a bit deep! Although there are times – many, many, many times, where I think my life made a wide turn – or wrong turn, into what I thought wasn’t in my ‘plans’ I am a firm believer of how things change, people change and my life changed for a reason. I have chronic pain and an illness that in 2018 – today, has no cure, and although at times it may seem unfair, unbearable or frustrating, there is nothing God would allow in my life that I wouldn’t be strong enough to bear. 🙏🏽

4. What is one word you wished you heard more often?

Hello. Can we get a simple ‘hello?!’ How hard is that?! It’s often forgotten and dismissed as something that’s not important. I think a simple hello has the power to change someones day, to brighten someones day, to transform an inner most feeling someone may be having on that particular day. Maybe you’ve gone somewhere, entered a room or simply thought of someone but didn’t have the thought or courage of following through – because your excuse is always not having the time, say hello, send a hello to someone, to a friend, to a family member, hell to your spouse that woke up before you saw him/her leave the house! Send them a message and say, hello! So simple, yet so thoughtful and TRUST they’ll appreciate it! Amazing.

My nominees are:

My Li’l Place

Searching For My Inner Zen

Magic In The Everyday

Dorky Mom Doodles

The Godly Chic Diaries

Pink Herald

Mrs. Mother Dirt

Ramblings Of A Wonky Girl

Thank you and you’re welcome, to my nominees for participating. You and your blog are fantastic and deserving of this award – I can’t wait to read your answers!

Here are my questions for my nominees: 

1. If you could cure one disease, what would it be and why?

2. If you could speak any other language what would it be and why?

3. If you could do your life over, what is the one thing you would change?

4. What is one word you wished you heard more often and why?

Thank you Simply Chronically Ill for these questions, they’re great!

A-

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The Liebster Award

I can not be anymore excited about this … I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the amazing writer/blogger over at Reveuse!!!! Mahee please know I can not thank you enough for thinking about this little blog that could. I’m both humbled and thankful for this nomination. Your writing is both lovely as it is uplifting and I hope that you continue to inspire others the way you inspire me.

About the Award

The Liebster is an award given to new and upcoming blogs, as nominated by fellow bloggers, in order to give exposure and foster a community of recognition and appreciation. The award was first implemented in 2011, and has been in place each year since.

The official rules for 2018 are as follows, and can be found in entirety on the blog The Global Aussie, at https://theglobalaussie.com/liebster-award-2018/

Rules — Overviews

⇒ Link to official rules blog post in your Liebster Award blog post
⇒ Answer the questions given to you (11)
⇒ Create more questions for your nominees to answer (11)
⇒ Comment on the official rules blog post with a link DIRECTLY to your Liebster Award nomination post.
⇒ Entries start 1st of Jan 2018 and ends on the 25th Dec 2018. The winner will be picked on the 31st of December.

Rules 

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

• Answer the questions you were asked.

• Share 10 random facts about yourself.

• Nominate at least 3 blogs for the award.

• Ask your nominees 10 questions and inform them of the nomination.

Facts About Me

1. I love to bake – anything from birthday cakes to cupcakes to brownies to chocolate chip / sugar cookies to flan and I also love to try new recipes – however, I will not eat my own baking creations

2. I need like to be in control 

3. I’m impatient with people that talk in circles ultimately wanting to feed me BS – honesty is key

4. I’m a stickler with time and appreciate people that arrive on time

5. I love to laugh! And appreciate good mom jokes 🙂

6. Would choose white chocolate over any other candy – is chocolate considered candy?!

7. I love a good sale!

8. My favorite color is money green … just kidding no I’m not just green!

9. Obsessed with Disney movies and can watch them on repeat without a problem … did I mention I have little ones 🙂

10. I DO NOT, I mean DO NOT like scary movies such as the Shining or movies with underwater scenes such as Jaws. I love a good funny movie such as The Hangover

Questions and My Answers 

1. Why did you start writing your blog? After going back and forth for a few years out of fear of the unknown but passionate about my own journey with Chiari 1 Malformation + Syringomyelia, I finally did it! I want to raise awareness on Chiari and only hope to connect with others living with the same illness.  

2. Do you believe in God? Yes – He’s the reason I’m here today! Yes I am weak, I have my moments where I doubt His presence in my life because of what I live with, however as today’s gospel from Matthew 28:16-20 said, ‘I am with you always, to the very end of age.’ No, I didn’t know that by heart, I had to go back and get that for you!  🙂   I underwent very risky and life changing surgeries that could have put me six feet under. I am positive I am here for a reason(s), why, I can’t quite put my finger on that but I can only hope to be humble enough to understand why one day. 

3. What’s your favorite cuisine? Thai

4. Sunrise or Sunset? Sunset 

5. Which was the happiest moment in your life? I’ll choose moments – my little one’s births. No book, no movie, not listening to others experiences, absolutely nothing can prepare you for the birth of your child. I’ve had them via cesarean  and that first cry, that first meeting between baby and mother is breath taking. I have no words and can only pray you experience it for yourself. 

6. Define yourself in one word. Dreamer 

7. What’s your favorite book? The one book that I can remember that had me wanting to read it again, is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I read it when I was young and I was immediately drawn to it. 

8. What’s your favorite quote? ‘You’ve got to put your past behind you’ – Timon, The Lion King. So simple, yet it’s better said than done. If achieved though, I believe it can really be the only freeing thing you can do for yourself. 

9. If you are given 10000000 cash what would you do? Cash, wow, not even a check?! Nice! Ha! OK, I’d buy that purse I’ve been eyeing, travel and eat yummy food

10. What’s the thing that you hate the most? People that complain! And whine!

11. What’s the best quality that you see in your best friend? Please don’t feel bad or sorry or anything remotely close to that, but I do not have a ‘best friend.’ Maybe I used to, say in high school, not sure. But I believe people come and go from your life for many different reasons, so to give someone a title like ‘best friend,’ personally is setting too high of expectations on one being and ultimately resulting in me being disappointed. However, a quality(s) I best admire in friends are honesty, faithful/trusting and dependability.  

Questions 

 1. Why did you start writing your blog?

2. Do you believe in God?

3. What’s your favorite cusine?

4. Sunrise or Sunset?

5. Which was the happiest moment in your life?

6. Define yourself in one word.

7. What’s your favorite book?

8. What’s your favorite quote?

9. If you are given 10000000 cash what would you do?

10. What’s the thing that you hate the most?

11. What’s the best quality that you see in your best friend?

My Nominees 

1. Magic In The Everyday

2.Simply Chronically Ill

3. My Li’l Place

Nominees, I appreciate your love for writing and continue to admire it in every one of your posts. Enjoy!

A-

Mystery Blogger Award

When I was about 15 years old, I won an ‘Ace of Base’ CD at our local Youth Fair – remember them?! I was obsessed! Then a couple of years ago I won tickets for ‘Disney On Ice’ for the family – so fun. I know my winning track record is rather small, however receiving this nomination from Magic In The Everyday has been the cherry to my night – gracias! If you haven’t checked her blog, you must!

Here’s what the nomination entails.

Rules:

⇒ Thank whoever nominated you and include a link to their blog

⇒ Tell your readers three things about yourself

⇒ Nominate 5 bloggers you feel deserve the award (modifying this because I don’t have as much time to pursue blogs as I wish I did!)

⇒ Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice, with one weird or funny one

⇒ Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog

Three Things About Me:

1. I married a man I didn’t think would be the one I’d marry but life has a way of changing and I always remember, ‘when we make plans, God laughs.’ He’s a Marine veteran who’s seen his fair share and we have six wonderful little’s.

2. I have Chiari 1 Malformation and Syringomyelia, two very rare illness’ that as a result cause me chronic pain, every single day. You can read more of my story here After going through two of the most high risk surgeries, I decided to slow down and be present. I’ve learned to be honest with myself and no longer push my body more than it should.

3. Because I’ve had life altering diagnosis followed by unexpected emergency surgeries, I now try to be the best version of myself, because tomorrow is filled with the unknown.

‘Magic In The Everyday’ Questions: 

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

I would live in Nicaragua. The situation at this moment is very unfortunate and I pray that it gets better for the sake of the people. My first semester of college was in Ave Maria College, what is now Keiser University – Latin American Campus, located in San Marcos, Nicaragua. Although my reasons for going were not only to experience living in my country but also out of pure spontaneity. It taught me to live a more simpler, more humble life and to surround myself with the people I love and things that bring me joy. If not Nicaragua because of the current state the country is in, anywhere life isn’t so fast paced, where we can stop to enjoy the simpler things in life. That would be dreamy. Now, if only I can convince the husband to make this move….to be continued!

2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Other than cow tongue – it’s a traditional Nicaraguan dish, I would be the wrong person to try new foods with! I know, sushi and myself just aren’t friends. I’m all about Latin foods and anything sweet – Raspados Loly’s. If you’re ever in the mood for any Latin foods, definitely try ‘Fritanga.’ They’re Nicaraguan restaurants that offer typical foods, it includes fried cheese with plantains and our ‘gallo pinto,’ it’s a mix of beans and rice. Delicious, you won’t be disappointed!

3. What is your dream?

Because I’m a mom, I dream to be here on earth long enough to see my son’s and daughter’s grow – if they choose, to know they’ve chosen a spouse that they love and loves them in return, to see them walking down the isle into the arms of the one they love, would be a privilidge to witness. That they grow and continue to be followers of God, good citizens, content and proud of where they come from.

4. What is one of your weird quirks?

Although not having been properly diagnosed, I can take organization to the next level. I’m also a planner. I have to have things in order, in my pantry the foods have to be facing the same way, I clean, every single day and I buy things in even numbers! Hence why I don’t do groceries too often. And if one of my little’s birthday is coming up say in two weeks, I’ll start planning for it today, even if it’s just our inmate family celebrating the occasion. It’s both a blessing and a curse, I accept this and handle it with lots of patience.

5. In your opinion, what is the best Disney movie of all time?

Well, Beauty and The Beast – the original, of course! My heart still skips a beat when I now sit with my very own children to watch this film. Belle is my alter ego, her love for books, for her family – her father and the kindness and patience she demonstrats towards the Beast. She didn’t accept the way others treated him for being different and she stayed when others ran, what is there not to love?! I was so young when this film came out but she stole my heart almost instantly, with her soft spoken voice and her inner and outer beauty. A little fun fact, I can recite everyone’s lines in the film.

My Nominees:

Chiari Conversations

I Am Maurina

An Historian About Town

My Li’l Place

Outside Air

My Questions:

1. Where did you last travel to?

2. How long have you been blogging and how do you keep yourself motivated to continue to do what you started?

3. What TV show are you currently following?

4. What hidden talent do you have?

5. Say, you could be invisible for just one day, being able to travel anywhere and be in places without being seen, where would you go?

I’m excited to see your responses, please do it the comments or in a Mystery Blogger post of your own!

Happy Sunday.

A-