OK, OK, I know I’ve been a total slacker lately.  I’ve been uber-busy with my kids and volunteer work, so I haven’t had time to do any product reviews (or any other sort of post, for that matter!).  However, the lovely Kareen at Ziba by Nature graciously nominated my blog for this award, so now I’m sort of obligated to stop slacking…

The Liebster Award Rules:

1) Post 11 things about yourself.

2) Answer the questions that the tagger/nominator has posted for you.

3) Create 11 questions and choose (nominate) 11 up and coming blogs and link them in the post.

4) Go to their page and tell them.

11 Things About Me:

1.  When I was a teenager, I hardly ever wore makeup.  Now, I wear it almost every day, and never leave my house without it.

2.  I have two teenaged children – ages 16 & 17.  (Yes, I realize I’m giving away my age…)

3.  I have a completely psychotic dog who absolutely adores me and hates anyone not in “her” family.

4.  I have never had a professional pedicure, and have only had half a manicure (nail polish removed, fingernails re-painted) because I take care of those things on my own.

5.  I’m moderately germaphobic.  I carry hand sanitizer everywhere I go (in my car AND my purse!)

6.  I’m currently growing my hair out so I can donate it to a charity that uses it to make wigs for women who are undergoing cancer treatment. (I’m getting it cut off on my next birthday – August 6th!)

7.  I’m not a great cook – unless you count breakfast and baking (but I’m kind of a “foodie”!)

8.  I lived in Italy for over three years and South Korea for two.

9.  I don’t have normal fears (bugs, snakes, spiders, etc.) but I think monkeys are kind of creepy.

10.  My son and I are planning on going skydiving this year for his 18th birthday.

11.  My daughter and I get along so well it’s kind of scary.  I’m not one of those “buddy” Moms, but we really do have fun together.

Questions Posted by Ziba by Nature:

1) How long have you been blogging?

On this blog – about a year.  On my previous blog – for a little over a year. (So: two plus years.)

2) What made you start blogging in the first place?

I was SO frustrated by spending (lots of) money on products that didn’t work.  I usually bought them because they were recommended by this or that magazine, or because they got rave reviews on a beauty website.  I decided that there needed to be more impartial, honest reviews of products out there.  Also, I love saving money, (the more I save, the more I can buy!) so I wanted to give people advice on ways to do that, too.

3) What three traits do you admire most in people?

Honesty.  I mean real honesty – not that sugar-coated version some people give you.  Also, I admire generosity, and willingness to try new things (because that can be kinda scary!)

4) What is your number 1 priority when purchasing beauty products? Is it the brand name, effectiveness, price, naturalness, or is it something else… ?

Value.  I need to feel like I’m getting my money’s worth.  What good is fancy packaging if it’s the only reason something costs more?

5) Where is your favorite place that you have traveled?

There’s an area of Italy called Cinque Terre.  It is literally one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  Beaches, cliffs, hiking trails – it has everything!  Florence would be a close 2nd because it’s my favorite city.

6) What would your perfect breakfast be like?

Anything I don’t have to cook!  🙂   Seriously, I really love fritattas.

7) Have you ever experienced love at first sight?

I don’t believe in “love at first sight” but I absolutely believe that chemistry can be detected at first sight.  There’s an energy between two people that you can recognize right away.  And yes, I’ve experienced this many times. 

8) What was the last book that you read? Write one sentence that summarizes the entire book for you.

“Insurgent” by Veronica Roth.  Teen fiction man-versus-society future dystopia.  (That’s about all you need to know.  If you don’t like those genres, you’re not going to like the book!)

9) Cat or dog? You only get one!

DOG!!!!

10) What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

Wow.  My life is going to change so much in the next five years.  Both my kids (should) will be in college by then.  Hopefully, I’ll be finding new and exciting things to try.  And I really want to buy a motorcycle.

11) What is the last thing that made you LAUGH SO MUCH UNTIL YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE?

I don’t remember what the discussion was about, but my family was around the dinner table and someone said something that was taken out of context and the whole conversation went hilariously awry.

11 Questions for Blog Nominees:

1.  What is your biggest source of pride?

2.  What’s the worst beauty mistake you’ve ever made?

3.  If you had to choose a “beauty icon”, who would it be?

4. What are three things you’d like to do before you die?

5.  What motivates you?

6.  If you had to be any animal, what would it be and why? (sorry, 2 questions!)

7.  What is the worst beauty product you’ve ever tried?

8.  If money were no object and you were forced to choose only one beauty brand, what would it be?

9.  What would your dream home be like?

10.  What’s your least favorite thing to do?

11.  What one word describes you best?

Nominees (This is a little difficult.  Admittedly, I don’t read as many blogs as I should, some of these may have already been nominated for this particular award…):

Beauty & the Brain – Honest, real-world reviews.

Taneja’s Bride – Product reviews and highlights, nail color introductions.

Sicilianna Beauty – Reviews, how-tos, and fun polls.

The Makeup Honey – Great makeup/beauty tips from a makeup artist.

Every Sensory – A fellow nail polish addict.

Harajuku Girl FL Beauty – Features reviews and introductions to brands you may not have heard of yet.

Two Lacquered Girls – Lots of great nail polish ideas.

All Things Girl Related – Random acts of girly-ness.

Nailmattic – Tons of nail art inspiration.

Forty, Flirty & Fabulous – Shopping/gift ideas and more.

All That Filipina Glitters – Great beauty and skincare tips (for everyone – not just Filipinas!).