11 Things Redux & A Few Awards

I am so blessed by the lovely friends I've acquired through blogging.  After submitting my original 11 things post, I got tagged in 2 others, so I'm going to go ahead and share a little more, answer 22 questions…and pass along a few awards I received.  :)

11 More Random Things:

1.  I have an inordinate love of mushrooms.  I'm obsessed.  With all kinds of them.  And I can eat them in anything.  My favorite mushroom variety?  Morels.  Delicious cooked up in an egg scramble or frittata!

2.  My husband says I have hobbit feet.  Before you run in horror, I assure you they are not hairy and flat, he just makes fun of my longer second toes.  Yep, my second toes are longer than my big toes.

3.  I used to be a big-time raver.  I was a part of Seattle's underground rave party scene, and I may have gone by several different raver alias names.  The worst one: Magenta Rave Girl (so creative)…because I sported a Magenta wig.  I will have to dig up old rave pictures for shock value one of these days.  I still love deep tribally progressive house beats and can dance pretty well.

4.  Speaking of dancing, my husband is pretty great…but I wowed him when we first started falling for each other by dancing all night (until 4am) at a Chelsea bar.  I brought little tennis shoes in my purse because I was THAT serious about dancing.  (I really miss dancing on the regular!)

5.  I want to take a family Karate class.  Not only to learn the technique and skills, but also because I think we'd look cute in our white uniforms together.

6.  The longest friendship I have ever had is with my best friend from 6th grade, Elisia.  She is still ultimately my best friend and has been there and stayed in touch throughout the years.  Recently I was in her wedding as her Matron of Honor.  (She was my Maid of Honor)  I know we'll be friends all our lives.

7.  I worry about my ability to have more children.  I know I am only 30 but I still know the reality that there is no guarantee that it will be easy for me to conceive a 2nd child.  At the same time I'm not obsessing about it enough to try desperately to conceive.  It is just a continuous concern in the back of my mind.

8.  I'm a yeller.  Well, it's not that I intentionally yell, but when I am passionate or my emotions are stirred up, my volume rises exponentially.  I have improved a bit at recognizing when my tone is too loud, but I still have a long way to go.

9.  When I was a little girl I wanted to be Madonna.  I loved her…and still do love her music.  It was, however; kind of sad to see her Superbowl performance and see her trying so hard to appeal to a generation that will never appreciate her the way I do.

10.  The best band I have EVER seen live is Linkin Park.  Sometimes seeing a band live can be the worst thing, especially when live they sound horrible…(Everlast was painfully bad live)…but Linkin Park actually sound BETTER live than on their cd.  I would love to see them live again soon!

11.  "Ready, O-K!" I was a cheerleader in high school.  I loved cheerleading but it was riddled with controversy and disrespect at our small (under 300 students) high school.  I would have LOVED to go on to cheerlead in college!


And now the Questions:

Kelley's Q's:

1. What natural disaster freaks out you the most?  I would have to say that tornados freak me out quite a bit.  They seem to leave nothing but utter destruction in their paths.
2.  What period of history would you like to go back to?  I would love to go back to Israel when Jesus was alive or shortly after he rose from the Garden tomb…I'd like to be involved in the early church and feel the awe and wonder of what had just taken place vividly and from first hand accounts.
3.  Manicure or pedicure?  Definitely pedicure…they ALWAYS seem to mess up my mani's, and I love having my feet rubbed.
4.  What time period in your life would you like to live again? I'm pretty satisfied with the time period I'm living right now, so perhaps I will look back in a decade and be nostalgic for right now.
5.  What kind of a parent do you think you are? (Or will be) I think I am pretty balanced in my approach…I'm not really sure how to answer this in all honesty.
6.  How do you keep your patience with your kids/husband when they are driving you crazy?  I take a Wooo-saaaahhh.  I take a time-out and do some deep breathing.  It works.  Screaming into a pillow also helps if it is a really bad day.

7.  Favorite thing on TV.  I love New Girl, Once Upon a Time and Revenge.  :)  Suburgatory and Up All Night are fun as well.
8.  How interested in celebrity gossip are you?  I glance at the headlines now and then but really could care less.
9.  What did you major in in college?  Would you change it now? (Or would you have gone if you didn't?) I had a full tuition scholarship to a pretty University of Washington, but my mind wasn't focused at the time, and I blew it.  I will always wonder what life would be like had I stuck it out, or had more support.
10.  Are you a firearm owner? No, not yet.  I want to be.
11.  Favorite thing about yourself (looks or personality).  I like my personality but I'm not sure it is my favorite thing about myself.  My favorite thing about myself is really my love for Jesus and faith in him.


Jen's Q's:

1. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream…well, on 2nd thought, hmmm….Veggies with Hummus?  
2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?  Not enough.
3. What is your favorite blog to read? (mine, right? hehe)  Brock Paper Scissors
4. If you were not blogging right now what would you be doing?  Probably catching up on my Hulu queue or cleaning.
5. What is your favorite movie? Ever After is one of my all time favorites.
6. Side, back or belly sleeper?  Fetal position, always.
7. What book do you recommend?  Happiest Toddler on the Block, Dr. Harvey Karp
8. Do you keep your nails painted? I wish…keeping my nails pretty seems to fall lower and lower on the priority list.  But I'm rocking press-on nails right now.  :) Cheating feels good.
9. Favorite holiday besides Christmas?  Anyone I care about's Birthday!!  I just love celebrating the people in my life.
10. Favorite phone app?  Instagram.  :)
11. Bachelor or Grey's Anatomy?  Bachelor…for sure!

Speaking of the Bachelor…by the end of the season I was totally team Courtney…and I found her on a box of hair dye:

Jen also gave me a Liebster Award:

This award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers, as a way of creating new connections. Liebster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'. When you receive the award, you then pass it onto 5 other deserving bloggers as a way to pay it back and spread the love. 

My 5: Melissa, Joanna, Elizabeth, Carly, & Amanda

And my friend April gave me a Kreative Blogger Award:

I get to answer some fun questions (the form below), 

then list 7 random facts about myself (I already listed 11 above!), 

and pass the award on to 10 other bloggers.

The form

• Name your favorite song: Currently: Somebody I Used to Know, Gotye
• Name your favorite dessert: Chocolate Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Cups
• What pisses you off: Injustice and Double Standards
• When you're upset, you: Listen to angry, sad or whatever music matches my emotions, vent to someone I love that won't judge, and then release my cares to God
• Your favorite pet: I love cats & dogs.
• Black or white: White
• Your biggest fear: Leaving before my work here is done
• Best feature: My faith
• Everyday attitude: Go with the flow.
• What is perfection: God (agreeing with April)
• Guilty pleasure: The Bachelor / The Bachelorette episodes (Me too April!)

Passing this award on to these bloggers:  Kristina, Kim, Jen, Lish, Beth, Melissa, Mallorie, Nicole, Six Sisters

And finally I received this award a while ago from the lovely Ronni:

To Accept the Award I have to:

1. Link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Answer award questions.
3. Award as many blogs you think deserve this award.
4. Make sure you let those you give this award know that you awarded them.
5. Tell something you have never told before in your blog.

Award Questions:

1. What is your go to make up product?
bareMinerals foundation system
2. What’s your favourite fashion trend of 2011?
Jeggings
3. What is your favorite dessert?
Chocolate Peanut Butter (anything with that combo)

via

4. Favorite color?
Blue - in any shade
5. What is your middle name?
Rhiannon
6. What was the last song you listened to?
Bedrock Eleven by John Digweed
7. Cats or Dogs?
Both.

I already mentioned a few things I haven't before, and I'm feeling all tagged out, so I will only tag a couple more for this award:  Sara, Christa, Claire & Kelli

Tired of Competing for Votes?

By now, I'm sure you've heard that TBB has reset their votes!?  Did you know that I am a contributing editor at the best Fair Non-Voting Parenting/Baby Blog Directory?

Well, now you do, and I might have a little bit of influence on what gets featured over there…so, what are you waiting for?  Go add your blog!

Would love to connect with {YOU} in February!

Want to Sponsor Baxtron{Life} in February??  Swaps still available {medium ad size}!  Watch your feed for my Extra Large Ad Space giveaway this week…you could win that really big featured space on the upper right side panel!  

For current stats, rates, and other questions, visit my sponsor page, and fill out an inquiry form! Thanks!

 

Zion's Triumphant Entry

Hey Friends!  Zion's birth story is featured over at SpearmintBaby today!  If you haven't read it yet, stop over there and discover whether or not I still want 7 kids!

 

Meet My Friends! {part II}

I'm so happy to introduce you to more of my friends today! All of these ladies I have come to "know" through blogging … please visit them and say hello!

Blog ~ Etsy ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Imprintalish is a lifestyle blog with a focus on raising my two little guys. It is loaded with photography and pretty finds. I share crafts, tutorials, tales of mommyhood and everything in between. Living with two little men and one big man can be tough and a constant balance struggle, but I wouldn't change a thing! I'd love for you to stop by and join me in my creative quest for balance as a WAHM!

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Hi, I'm Sara. I am a stay at home mom to my 2 sweet/ornery boys, and wife to my amazing husband. My blog is about our everyday fun, along with my addiction to taking pictures, thrifting, coffee, and all things homemade. My 3 men are my everything. Stop by and say hello!

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

A blog about life: home renovation, recipes, New England places, craft projects & more!

Blog ~ Google+ ~ Pinterest ~ Etsy

My blog is about the boy and our adventures in life, he is our first child. We have learned a lot so far in the first 19 months of parenthood, but I'm sure we will have plenty more to learn once number two joins us this Spring three months before the boy turns two!

Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

When Kyle and Elizabeth met almost seven years ago, it was head-over-heels, heart-pounding, life-changing love. But the years have brought storms, too. Love is the adventure is their attempt to document the head-over-heels love, the life-changing storms, and the heart-pounding (and the not-so-heart-pounding) adventure.

Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Etsy ~ Pinterest

On the Fontenot Four, you'll find me writing about my walk with Christ as I live life as a wife and mother of two girls - one of whom has multiple special needs and who is medically fragile.  My quest is to be able to find the blessings in our everyday life, which is often fraught with great difficulty.  I also write about the blessings and joys in my life - my family and life events.  Every now and then I'll be a little random!  But my main goal is to share my trials and the blessings that have come out of them in the hopes that it might touch someone and help them in some way.

Blog

My blog is about life; adventure, fun, hair, and fashion!

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

The travels of a first time parent and all the many roadtrips that we endure as a family, whether funny, sad or just day to day experiences. Also featuring recipes, craft tutorials, Etsy, Pinterest, giveaways, reviews and anything else I can roll into a great post.

Blog ~ Etsy ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Hi. I'm Jordan Marie, mother to Scarlett-Marie Sue aka Letti, girl friend, blogger, writer, photographer, blog designer, cloth diaperer, breastfeeder, crafter, work from homer.. you name it, I have my thumb in it. On our blog, holding on to the little things, we blog about just about everything from recipes, to tutorials, to almost-daily "hello"s. We have some great new blogging blogger tips, our little 4-1-1 on cloth diapering, great photography of Letti, and SO much more.  We hope you brew yourself a cup of coffee or mix up a some hot chocolate, pull up a chair, and get lost in our little world. Letti was born St. Patricks Day 2011, and the light of our world.  She is super smart, and adorable and has the best personality. xojo&letti

 

{Top 5} Productivity Software for Homemakers/Bloggers/Writers/Everyone

Time is of great worth to me at this point in my life.  I've always had a "Type-A" personality, but with an 18 month old I've definitely been forced to learn how to be flexible, patient and adaptable.  I'm going to let you in on a (not very secret) secret.  {I'm a closet geek.}  Well, actually, I've been out of the closet with my geekiness for a while.  I like computer games, the full blow online fantasy RPG kind.  (If you don't know what that means…its okay…probably better for the both of us.)  Anyway, this edition of my Top 5 (is not about gaming) highlights the software/productivity programs that make my life easier to manage.

I'm not getting any kickbacks here, folks, just sharing the secret weapons of household/life/sanity management.

{5} G-what what! Google---mail, calendar, analytics, talk, voice, plus…you name it.  I love it for my personal account as well as my professional.  I love the calendar sharing, the way it is streamlined and easy to use.  Fantastic.  If it bears the Google name, I'm likely to use it.  Sad, but true!

{4} iPhoto/Picnik - I was once a PC elitist…but now that our household is outnumbered by Macs 5:1, well, I've become sort of infatuated with anything that bears the Apple emblem (who isn't seriously!?).  I love iPhoto for organizing my albums and swiftly
uploading.  It definitely doesn't have the editing power of other
programs, so that is where Picnik comes in.  Free to use, but worth paying the $25/annual fee for the premium features.

{3} Spotify - Okay, yeah, it isn't technically a "productivity" program…but I feel like everything in life can be better experienced with a good soundtrack.  I'm LOVING Spotify and have tried premium…and plan on subscribing in the near future.  I don't know how what they do is legal, but I love that it is!

{2} Mint.com - As far as free goes…this is probably the best financial software you can snag up without spending a dime.  Manage your accounts, track your budget, and set goals.  I really enjoy looking at the pie charts at the end of the month to see where our cash is going.  Can be very eye-opening!


{1} Evernote - As a writer…I use this for EVERYTHING.  I mean everything.  When I save blog posts that I enjoy (recipes, diy, tutorials, etc.) in my reader, I go back through them and clip whatever specific details I want saved to my Evernote.  I am then able to make notes, and organize everything.  I can't even begin to tell you how useful this program is to me.  I add writing ideas and inspiration, keep track of passwords, take notes during church services.  And the best part (besides that it is FREE!)?  It syncs with all of my mobile devices.  Seriously amazing program.

Do you have any secret weapons for managing your household/business/life?

Let's Connect!

       

Welcome Carly of Texas Love Birds!

Hello Life with the Baxtrons readers! My name is Carly and I write over at the blog Texas Lovebirds. I was so excited to win Courtney's amazing giveaway of the extra large feature and ad, and I am so excited to be posting here today.

I live in Texas (hence the blog name) with my husband, our two dogs (a Great Dane and a Boston Terrier), and we have a little boy named Gunner on the way. Texas Lovebirds started as a blog of "Dear Peanut" letters to my son and soon became a way for me to document my beautiful life. I still write my "Dear Peanut" letters, but you'll also see posts about my random thoughts, our daily life, crafts, recipes, and much more.

Courtney gave me lots of great suggestions of what to write about in my feature post, so instead of picking just one or two, I thought I'd briefly address them all.

What's your six word memoir (read more about six word memoirs here)? "So called youngins, so in love." I haven't written about it on my blog (yet), but Cody and I are "young." I'm 22, he's 25. We've been married for two and half years, and like I said, we have our first child on the way. We were so ready for marriage and we are now so ready for a child, but that doesn't keep others from judging. I feel like Cody and I can live our lives as a strong example of "youngins" who are living and loving in the greatest way.

The best thing about being a wife or a mother?Since I'm not "officially" a momma yet, I'll go the wife route. For me, one of the best things about being a wife is serving my husband. I must admit, it's something I just recently found the joy in, but I really love it. I'm so thankful that God has begun to create this servant heart in me. It brings a smile to my face to get out of bed a few minutes before Cody and make him a pot of coffee. I truly believe in the calling of service and really enjoy partially fulfilling that calling with my husband.

How do you maintain your "self" while flourishing as a wife/mother/any other role? I again went the wife route with this question...for me, this is a tough one. My husband is my best friend and we enjoy so many of the same things (football, Sons of Anarchy, The Hunger Games book series, etc.), plus his work schedule at the fire station already makes our time together limited...thus, maintaining my "self" is definitely something I could work on, and something I've really thought about lately. Blogging is really a me thing and I try to make time to just be by myself with a cup of coffee and my thoughts...I know I need more though, any suggestions?? I'd love to hear them!

If you could change one thing about today (about anything), what would it be?I think I'd have to change the society and culture that kids are growing up in today. Sure, I know it's a big task, but the question said anything. There's so much to be worried about...idolization of reality TV stars, girls starving to be a size zero, the willingness to do anything for money... Man, oh man.
If you've made it through this entire post, thank you so much for reading. Again, thank you to Courtney for giving me the opportunity to post. I really enjoyed sharing my thoughts and I'd love for you to stop by my blog and say hi! Leave me a comment or email me if you have a blog you'd like me to check out, I'm always looking for new reads.

Below are just a few places you can find me and one way you can contact me:

Blog ~ Pinterest ~ Email

Love to all, Carly

Carly, I'm thrilled to have "met" you through this giveaway and I'm very excited to watch your adventures unfold as a new mother!!  Lovely readers, be sure to visit Carly at Texas LoveBirds to say hello! XO, Courtney

Pinning {Wk. 4} - Winter Whiteout

Welcome to Pinning {Wk. 4} Winter Whiteout:

Before I share this weeks finds…just a reminder that following the theme is optional, the linky is for any Pinterest finds you'd like to post.  The theme is only necessary if you want to compete for the award of "Pinning-est".  Also, don't be afraid to get creative with your interpretation of the themes, just keep it simple and have fun!  :)  

1} 2} 3} 4} 5} 6} 7} 8} 9}

Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?  Do you love or loathe snow??   

THANK YOU for Linking up last week…

What are you pinning this week? 

Are you "Pinning"?  

Come on, everyone is doing it.  

Join me MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

After all, together we are "Pinning!"

{Rules}

This Week's Theme: Winter Whiteout

Next Week's Theme: All that Glitters (Holiday Party Fashion)

Week After's Theme: 12 Days of Delish (12 Mouthwatering Recipe Pins)

Let's Connect!