An Award! For me?

Yep, it's true. A fabulous fellow blogger nominated me for a Blog Award. I am humbled by this mainly because I am so new to this arena. And also because, well... I guess what I said before. That's enough reason to be shocked by a blog award.

Part of what I get do in order to accept this gorgeous award is mention six things that make me happy, then I need to nominate 6 other creative people in the blogging world to receive this award. Then they will, if they want to, say the six things they are happy about and then also nominate 6 people to get this blog award. A bit of a 'pay it forward' in the blog world. Here are 6 things that are making me happy:

• My pruney fingers. I spelled that wrong, but I'm relaxed enough that I don't care. My fingers are pruned from time spent in my hot tub, also known as my thinking tank. It rids me of sore muscles and gives me a place to slow down and watch the clouds move, listen to the wind in the trees, or stare at a starry sky.
• My brother. This week we celebrated my brother's 40th birthday. He may not be that happy about it, but I am. He is a cancer survivor and every big life event reminds me that he is here and healthy. And that is a very happy thing. Plus, his birthday party was a lot of fun!
• The Weekend Warrior. My better half started MAKING a very cool and unique and thoughtful Christmas present for a family member that he seems so proud of. I'm excited to see it take shape, and I like watching his eyes light up.
  
• Socks. My mother makes these great knit socks and I wear them as I sit with my computer (and this blog) in my chilly house and take great comfort in them. I can't wait to get another pair at Christmas!
  
• Creative Cheerleading. My life at this point is blessed by supportive people. Simple doses of support can take you far. Natasha, of Creative Nachos is the blogger/friend/ cheerleader extraordinaire who nominated me for this award. So, I thank her and wish I could climb through the computer and give her a big hug. And I also think that this was a good exercise for me. We should all make of list the things that make us happy on regular basis.
  
• My camera. The other night I photographed a fundraiser for an amazing organization called Project G.R.A.C.E. The event is called The Trivia Bee, and teams sign up to take part in a trivia competition. That doesn't sound all that exciting, I realize, but the event was a fun-filled atmosphere of enthusiasm where people put on costumes and got competitive and silly. I am happy that I was part of it because I felt a real sense of community, was proud to support a cause that helps so many people in need, and because my nephew dressed up as a magician and made this funny face:

Now for my six nominees. I wanted to find mostly photography or design based blogs to promote and nominate. I actually had to seek the help of others since I do not have a long list of blogs I follow at the moment. This was also a great exercise because it opened me up to a whole heap of fabulous blogs and creative inspiration. And, drumroll please, the nominees are:

Stephen Grant Photography
Featuring the work of an amazing LA photographer and former college buddy
Design Sponge
Cool, clean, and fun things to make or inspire
3191 - A Year of evenings
2 women in opposite Portlands post photos from every evening. They have already published a book from their blog photographing a year of mornings.

The Selby
Just check it out!
Pictures From the Road
Joys and photos from a couple traveling around in their airstream

37 Days
Patty Digh is a blogging veteran with many awards under her belt, but I remember being inspired by her at a time when I was shifting, creatively speaking.

There you have it! Now to spread the word and let these fine folks know what I have done....