And the Oscar, Emmy, and Pulitzer Goes To …

Oscars. Academy. Academy awards. Envelope.  Golden globe. Award. Trophy.  Pulitzer. Pulitzer Prize. Medal. Winner.

One of the greatest things about blogging is the sense of community. And you are a giving group. In accepting the awards below from so many of my blogging heroes, I want to also give back.
Without further ado:

The Liebster Blog Award

Liebster blog Award. Blog. Award.
“‘Liebster’ means ‘favorite’ or ‘dearest’ in German. This award, which originated in Germany, recognizes up and coming bloggers! In accepting this award, I agree to:

  • Thank the person that gave me the award and link back to their blog
  • Copy and paste the award to my blog
  • Reveal the 5 blogs I have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog
  • Pay it forward by awarding it to bloggers I would like to honor”
 A big thank you to mygurlywayz Speechless Chatter who nominated me for this prestigious award.

Here are the five blogs that I have chosen to receive this award, please check out their great blogs:

1) Rosemary Jayne
2) BETWIXT AND BETWEEN
3) SIMPLY CHARMING
4) eyeLaugh
5) Fork and Beans

The Candle Lighter Award
Thank you so much to the following awesome bloggers for nominating this blog for the Candle Lighter Award:
Being Arindam …. Arindam
happykidshappymom Melissa

This award is for those bloggers whose words light the way through the blogosphere. It originated at Believe Anyway, for blogs “that bring light to the world [and offer] inspiration, hope, optimism, good advice, faith filled assurances, and even humor.”

There are no rules for this award. It’s just a way of pointing out inspirational blogs.
I would like to pass the Candle Lighter Award on to the following blogs:

Candle. Candle Lighter. Award. Recognition.

1. stayoutofmyhead
2. i know i made you smile
3. These Are Days
4. Fork and Beans

5. For You, Daddy!
6. iliketheworldfuzzy
7. FiftyFourandAHalf
8. The Heartbreak of Invention
9. candy coated musings…
10. jayjaysfavorites
11. Day by Day the Farm Girl Way…

The Versatile Blogger Award
Many of my favorite bloggers nominated my blog for this award:

critters and crayons  Patricia
Mother, Beader and Coffee Lover Jen
http://cathyespiritu.wordpress.com/    Cathy
http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com Judy
Cause Mom Says So Jess
allaboutlemon Dolly
FiftyFourandAHalf Elyse

Please show some blog love to the following nominees for the Versatile Blogger Award:

Versatile. versatile blogger. award. recognition.

  1. Life, Love, & Baby
  2. I’d Rather Be In Iceland
  3. earthriderdotcom
  4. Sunny Side Up
  5. ARTICLES OF ABSURDITY
  6. Me 2.0
  7. The Wordslinger
  8. http://aggiesprite.wordpress.com/
  9. http://www.thelainelist.com/
  10. musings of a twenty-something
  11. livingoutmypurpose
  12. queensrules
  13. My Haphazard Proclivities
  14. Violets and Cardamom
  15. THE BACKGROUND STORY
  16. August McLaughlin’s Blog
  17. Sweet Sophia

To cover all my bases, I’m going to give ten things about myself that you may not know:

1. Bacon – it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Very versatile.
2. I’m the second oldest of seven.
3. Always sleep with my socks on – winter or summer – and that’s all I’m sayin’!
4. Favorite city is San Diego, and the north San Diego coast is my favorite area.
5. I get along well with numbers.
6. Have a tremendous love for England – the people and the countryside. We lived there for four years.
7. Hate being scared. Have hit people who surprised me by scaring me, not knowing my fear.
8. Got married in upstate New York.
9. Won a national championship (in my division) in 3-on-3 basketball in my mid 30’s.
10. MLB says I have trouble saying “I’m sorry.” She could be right.

You all shouldn’t have, but it gave me a great opportunity to recognize other amazing bloggers.


106 Comments on “And the Oscar, Emmy, and Pulitzer Goes To …”

  1. The Hook says:

    Quite the action packed post, my friend! Well done on every count!

  2. Elaine says:

    More blixie dust! Ever so willing to lend a helping hand you are. Loved all the blogs you picked out and love your blog most of all 🙂

  3. […] I’m stoked to be honored with this, and I would love to thank my friend and fellow blogger MJ Monaghan for bestowing this upon me. I am going to check out the other awardees soon, as well as fulfill the […]

  4. eyeLaugh says:

    Wow, for the “Liebster” award, you had five blogs to give the award to. And one of those five you gave to us. Thank you, so very much.

  5. […] I’m stoked to be honored with this, and I would love to thank my friend and fellow blogger MJ Monaghan for bestowing this upon me. I am going to check out the other awardees soon, as well as fulfill the […]

  6. critters and crayons says:

    Mike- Congrats- well-deserved- You can always grab a “I got a lot of awards” award from my right hand margin in my blog. hahaha! I made the button for folks who were getting a million and one awards. So glad your blog has taken off!!!!

    • mj monaghan says:

      I may have to do that, Tricia! I still have four more, different awards to respond to.

      I’m no c&c yet, but I will forever give you a lot of credit for letting me tag along like a little brother when I first started out. I still check your blog out frequently to see what new things you’ve added, along with reading your posts, of course. And MLB got me an 8 in 1 WordPress for Dummies book for Christmas.

      So much to learn. Still thinking about changing to .org, but scared I might get over my head on the tech side.

  7. The Queen says:

    I thought I commented but I don’t see it. If this dupicates itself, I apologize!
    Thank you for the shout out and the honor of the award. I really appreciate it.
    In your 10 Things list you mentioned Upstate New York.
    Where exactly? Redbeard and I grew up in the Rochester area and went to college in Potsdam (way up in the North Country).

  8. […] bloggers, it’s basically just to show that you like and promote the blog. I was nominated by MJ Monaghan. The (very simple) rules are as […]

  9. I’m such a dick.

    Look at all these expressions of gratitude. And mine is, like, the LAST?

    Ugh.

    So I will do my best to make up for my dickishness by being the one who yells the loudest:

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MY AWESOME AWARD! I’M HONORED! AND YELLING! AND SO HONORED I’M YELLING!

    I do love you so (in a non-threatening, totally non-stalkerish, blogging kinda way). Thank you, my friend…

    🙂

    XOXO,

    The Dick.

    • mj monaghan says:

      Oh, please. Don’t beat yourself up, Dikalee, woops, Mikalee!

      I know that my li’l old blog isn’t the only thing that’s out there. *picture world revolving around me*
      And you know, she who yells the loudest wins. So you dun good, my friend!

      See you actually have other things going on in your life, while I sit, PATIENTLY, waiting for comments back on the tripe, I mean great stuff, that I throw out into the blogosphere. Just hoping for something, like spaghetti, to stick on the wall.

      Please stalk anytime.

      XOXO back-atcha,
      mm

  10. The Queen says:

    Wow! Thank you for this wonderful honor! I appreciate the shout out!
    May I ask where in Upstate NY you were married? Redbeard and I grew up and went to college in NY and are always curious what parts of NY others call Upstate!

    • mj monaghan says:

      You are well-deserving of the honor!

      Good point about what is upstate NY. It is a “floating” area in a lot of people’s minds.

      We got married in Oneida in the late 80’s. I was stationed at Rome (Griffiss AFB).

  11. The Queen says:

    Thank you so much for the shout out! I will do my best to continue to be versatile!
    Also, on your 10 things about you list… where in Upstate NY did you get married? Redbeard and I grew up in Rochester and went to college in Potsdam….

  12. Addie says:

    Still squealing here. 😀
    And congratulations on your having received the awards. Very well-deserved, that’s for sure.

  13. Laine says:

    If you don’t mind me asking, where in Upstate NY did you get married? I’m in Upstate/Central NY!

    • mj monaghan says:

      Not at all. We were married in Oneida. Where are you?

      I was stationed at Rome (Griffiss AFB) in the late 80’s.
      We still try to find our “ideal pizza” to match Gino’s and Joe’s – that we got frequently at Sangertown Mall. Not sure if it’s still there or not, but it was the best NY style pizza. EVER!

      • Laine says:

        Oh, okay! I’m south – right outside of Ithaca. Between Ithaca and Cortland, really if you know the area. And Cortland is about a half hour south of SYR. I’ve never had that pizza, but I will have to check it out the next time we go north!

        • mj monaghan says:

          You’re kind of out there then. You have Cornell in Ithaca, but what’s near where you live?

          My lovely bride (MLB) was an anchor/reporter in Syracuse in the late 80’s. If you google Cate Monaghan, you’ll see a few old clips of her on youtube from back in the day. She was very good.

        • >She was very good.
          – She *has* to be! She complements you, yes?

          What I also meant was “Aww!”

          By the by, I didn’t find any of Cate’s YouTube clips when I went digging around.

          Snoop Kat(e)

        • Laine says:

          Yeah, I’m about ten minutes from Cornell. We also have Ithaca College (go Bombers!), and Cortland State.
          I’m gonna YouTube your wife!

        • mj monaghan says:

          Kate and Laine – Here’s the link to one of the clips:

          And no laughing at the big hair! It was the 80’s!! 🙂

          Oh, Laine, I forgot about Ithaca College.

        • Addie says:

          So pleased to finally see the Cate Monaghan. Very pretty and no doubt very sophisticated. And no laughing at the hair for sure – it’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

        • Laine says:

          I watched some of these this morning! She’s great! And I love the hair!

        • mj monaghan says:

          As you can see, i clearly “married up!” 😉

        • >As you can see, i clearly “married up!” 😉

          – *You* said it. I merely thought it. 😉

          Thanks for the clip, mj.

          Was lovely, uh, meeting you, Cate. Now I know exactly why you are HLB!

          Am I the only one or did you also notice that not much has changed on the news front? My upcoming post is along similar lines.

          Kate

        • mj monaghan says:

          No problem, Kate. I’m always happy to show off MLB!
          See, I was being very truthful when I said that I married up. Glad you agree! 🙂

  14. I’m really honored to be part of this wonderful award ceremony. Even better than the Oscars by far! I’ve already checked out one of the blogs you listed, the Background Story, and what a wonderful site – thank you for sharing your community.

    I’ve also really enjoyed your visits and comments – it means a great deal to me. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your life!

    • mj monaghan says:

      Your blog offers so much in terms of depth of feeling. So much more than mine. I admire your courage to share. It’s inspiring to me, and perhaps in the future I will be able to tap into this side of my being as well.

      It’s my pleasure to be able to recognize, and share in, your great blog.

  15. Lori Franks says:

    I am honored, thank you very much for the nomination! I like your style, I may have to borrow the format! I still need to accept a few awards and this looks perfect!
    And San Diego is my new favorite place!

    • mj monaghan says:

      Your quite welcome and well-deserving, Lori! Feel free to borrow liberally. It’s time-consuming, but so worth it to be able to recognize so many great writers out there.
      Yay San Diego!

  16. Behind all my garrulous outpourings is a spotlight shy person. Oh, make that a brimming-with-happiness spotlight shy person right now. 🙂

    This uncharacteristically short and to the point comment is inversely proportional to the thrill of figuring on one of your lists.

    Thank you, mj.

    Kate

    • mj monaghan says:

      I see no loquacity in your “outpourings,” Kate! Sorry to call attention to your blog, but it had to be done. You deserve the honor and recognition!

      I love the lively repartee, my friend! Happy blogging.

      • >Sorry to call attention to your blog
        – Please do not apologise. (Although I sense it was hardly an apology and more of “You deserve that!” … in a nice way.) I am not ungrateful for the recognition. The very opposite, in fact.

        When I decided to finally start blogging this past November, it was purely with the intention of giving back to strangers the help I got from them by merely reading their stories. From the start, I had decided my format – not updates about my moves, the frequency – fortnightly, and the focus – sharing my experiences with minimal fluff simply because I’m not much of a (material kind of) fluff person any more.

        The ‘Candle Lighter Award’ is *exactly* the kind of recognition I had hoped for with my penning. And I feel good that my intended goal is what uh, shone through with my words.

        >I love the lively repartee, my friend!
        – Takes two to tango, amigo. So in your words – “Right back-atcha!”

        Kate

        • mj monaghan says:

          You are deserving, and I’m sure more will come your way. Just don’t go into hiding and put your light under a bushel basket because you got some spotlight on you! 🙂

  17. Tori Nelson says:

    Dude, you are sweeping awards season like a champ! Congrats on your many, much-deserved awards! I’m excited to read the blogs you listed!

  18. Kate Anthony says:

    Great post! You obviously spent a lot of time on this and I sure appreciate it! I can’t wait to check all these bloggers out!

  19. Thank you so much for the recognition. You have no idea how much this means to me……

    • mj monaghan says:

      You have a great “voice” on your blog – so smart and profound! Please continue to write from your heart.

      I’m so glad I was able to recognize you and hopefully many other readers will be able to see your insight as well. Congratulations again, my blogging friend!

  20. Sunshine says:

    BOO!
    hehe…I didn’t get a hit from ya so I guess I didn’t scare ya!
    Again, thank you soooo much for the Liebster award…you are as sweet as honey my friend! 🙂

    • mj monaghan says:

      You are a ray, or, should I say, several rays of sunshine every day! You deserve the recognition – Again!

      And, yes, I just missed your back as you ran after scaring me!! Good thing you’re fast!

  21. Wow! Thanks MJ, I truly appreciate the nomination! I’ll be investigating these awards and posting my nominations tomorrow. And of course, well done on being nominated yourself 🙂

    P.S. Tomorrow’s my birthday – this is a lovely present!

    • mj monaghan says:

      A VERY happy birthday to one of my smartest, most resourceful blogging friends. Your recognition is so well-deserved. I hope many come visiting your way, RJ!

      Have some cake on me – well not literally of course, but figuratively, you know! 🙂

  22. arbohl says:

    MJ. Thank you so much for the award! This is my first, and it was an honor to receive it from you. You deserve all of these awards you’ve gotten!

  23. Many felicitations to you for these awards, and thanks for explaining them so well. Until now, I’ve never really known what to do with these when I see them.

    Well deserved.

  24. Nisha says:

    Congrats MJ, on all your awards! Well deserved! 🙂

  25. Thank you kindly for your acknowledgement. It means a lot!

    You have such a great way with story-telling. Congrats on all your awards!

  26. Honored, MJ! I mean that from the buttery depths of my heart. 🙂 Excited to check out blogs on your list… Congrats on your well-deserved accolades!

  27. Judy says:

    I got the envelope in my hands…..and I’m choking up as I give my acceptance speech: I’d like to thank, first and foremost, MJ, for inspiring me to try some creative writing, to stretch myself in ways I hadn’t done until now. Thank you, MJ, for the Candle Lighter Award, and for the wonderful encouragement you give me. I will do my best to live up to the ideals of this Award.
    And congrats to you for all the awards you have received! Exit stage…..

  28. Thank you for the award!! 🙂

  29. Laine says:

    MJ! Congrats on your awards and thank you so much for awarding me the Versatile Blogger Award! I am so honored to receive this from you – I enjoy you and your blog so much!!!

  30. Elyse says:

    Thanks MJ — I so love reading your blog and sharing in your stories — it’s like having another brother! And thank you for thinking of me for the Candle Lighter Award. Especially since I don’t have to do anything with it!

  31. lolabees says:

    Congrats! You have a great blog that deserves this abundance of awards!

  32. territerri says:

    You write wonderful things here at your blog and are very deserving of all of these awards! Congratulations! And thank you for sharing the Candle Lighter award with me. I’m honored to be recognized this way.

  33. lorrelee1970 says:

    I had no idea you gave me this. Thanks. I really appreciate it.

  34. sportsjim81 says:

    Thank you my friend for nominating me for an award. You’re right, it’s so cool to have your peers acknowledge your work from time to time…and so many bloggers share the love. You are awesome and thanks again!

    • mj monaghan says:

      Jim, you’re another one of those super-smooth writers that I aspire to write like. Unfortunately, it’s gonna be a slower process for me since I am an “old dog.” 🙂
      I’m really looking forward to your novel, and a signed copy – since you’ll probably dedicate the book to me for this prestigious award!! Right?? 🙂

  35. patricemj says:

    Thank you MJ…you are a light in the world, a light in the winter with socks on in the dark.

    • mj monaghan says:

      I’m learning from the best, Patrice. I’m actually trying to dig deeper after reading and becoming more acquainted with your blog. You have so much depth of feeling. And yes, always with the socks on!

  36. meladjusted says:

    That is so well set out! And I understand more about how these awards work thanks to your educational entertainment – not to mention the fact that I have even more good reading to catch up on.

    Thanks!

  37. Arindam says:

    congrats Mj. 🙂 Awards are raining on your blog and you deserve all of them. I will visit all of these blogs, although i know some of them already. I know you had a wonderful choice, so i am looking forward to making some new blogging friends.

  38. Thank you for “Candle Lighter Award”. Will continue to light up our days with a few cartoons each week. Lay off that bacon Mj. My triple by-pass in 2006 was no picnic and far too many my age do not make it to the “table” to have one before the widow maker hits. Think “raisin bran”

    • mj monaghan says:

      Carl, this is an honor you fully deserve. So glad I’m getting to know you.
      In terms of the bacon, I’m doing okay so far. I try to stay mostly with protein and my cholesterol is around 135. But you’re right, I should watch it. I do want to be there for the wife!

  39. Very thoughtful, Michael. You never fail to mention other bloggers in your blog. Thank you for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. As a techno-phobe, I have no idea how to do some of the things mentioned above. (I’ll look into it.) About revealing things about myself that people might not know … Under the Witness Protection Plan covering me, I’m not sure I’m allowed to do that. 😉

    • mj monaghan says:

      Witness Protection trumps the award criteria every time. You were one of the first bloggers to share the blogging love with me and I love your blog. I am very loyal to my friends!

      If you have any questions on how to do the links, just google the award and there are people who show how to do it. Shhhh, that’s what I did!

      Congrats!

      • Michael … If this were old Chicago, I’d show my appreciation for you by voting multiple times. But I’ll bet I’m not allowed to do that. Just remember, my heart’s in the right place. We O.C.ers have to stick togehter. 🙂

  40. Joe says:

    Fabulous Michael! Job well done, my friend! And thank you so much for the nomination of the Versatile Blogger award. Although I might have trouble finding 15 blogs for my nomination. Not that there aren’t 15 great blogs out there that deserve this award, but my “circle” of blogging buddies pretty much all have this award already. Looks like I’ll have to get out there and hunt down some more blogging buddies.

    Congrats on your success and again, thank you!

    • mj monaghan says:

      It’s blogs like yours Joe, that make me better. I look forward to continuing the friendship. You deserve the attention that you get.

      I’m sure you’ll have no problem coming up with the other blogs, my friend.

      Again, good on you, Joe!

  41. Cathy says:

    Oh wow. Congratulations! By the way, I also hate being scared, the kind when people shock me out of my senses. Hahaha

  42. Hi, just stopping by to catch up on more thoughts and musings, you’ve share some great tips and laughs here mj. Just read how procrastination should be a noun as nothing is done, then I really had to laugh knowing that is so very true!

  43. Congratulations on getting all those awards. You deserve them. Your entries are funny and informative.

    And whoa, you have lots of siblings! Was it fun growing up in a big household?

    Also, thank you for including us in your nominees list. ❤

  44. vixytwix says:

    Congratulations mj, my friend – this post is like a blogging review and a sweep all in one! Thank you so much for nominating me for the Candle Lighter Award…read your nominees 1 & 2 together out loud…it’s cute and it is the rest of my reply 🙂

    • mj monaghan says:

      I fixed your comments … don’t worry about that.
      I’m so glad I got the opportunity to share this with you. You have been such a bright spot in blogging for me.
      All the best to you, vixy!

  45. Candice says:

    How fantastically sweet!

    Thank you so much for the acknowledgement.

    And, for helping me to feel that I sometimes do touch the world in a very small way.


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