Liebster Award 2016

When I first started The Budget Mom, it was a way for me to share my experiences and knowledge with the rest of the world. I never thought that it would actually become so much more. I have truly met some of the most creative, supportive, and friendliest people, all because I decided to start a blog. Today, I am so thrilled to announce I have been nominated for my first blogging award by TWO amazing bloggers – The awesome and creative Abi from DIYandDinosaurs & Sarah Pierce, the master baker from Pastries in Progress.

The Liebster Award is given to new bloggers who have less than 1000 followers/subscribers and who have blogged for less than 2 years. The award was started in 2011 to recognize new bloggers and help promote them. I have accepted this nomination for many reasons.  As a new blogger, I realize how hard it is to start out. It seems almost impossible to get eyes on your blog when you are only getting 10 views per day. This is an opportunity to support each other, to let other new bloggers know, “Hey, I notice you!”

Abi, a single mom to a beautiful little boy, creator of DIYandDinosaurs noticed me. Her website is truly amazing and features tons of awesome stuff about mom life. I highly encourage you to read her About Me page, as her story is quite remarkable. She features FANTASTIC fun crafts I can do with my son, and has some of the most amazing mommy advice. If you are a new mom, or a mom-to-be, her blog is the place to go. I love her posts on Health & Safety. I may be a mom of 4 years, but I still always have questions on this subject, and I still have so much more to learn. So, Abi from DIYandDinosaurs – Thank you! Thank you for saying “Hey, I notice you,” and giving me the support to continue on this blogging journey.

Sarah from Pastries in Progress is a small town girl living in the big city…New York city to be exact. She has some of the most amazing pastry recipes on her blog, but the really cool thing about Sarah is that she was taught how to bake by her grandma and her mom. She shares with you all of the baking knowledge passed down generations, and now she showcases these recipes through some pretty amazing photos! She also showcases her own recipes as well, and finds the most amazing ways to make each one unique. I met Sarah about 3 weeks ago, when one of her delicious recipes caught my attention. I was looking at these lemon bars on her blog, and I thought to myself, “This girl would be great to showcase on my Bargain Recipe Sunday.” She wrote an amazing post exclusively for The Budget Mom readers that you can read here. Thanks Sarah for working with me! I am so glad I met you, and I look forward to many more conversations in the future!

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So let's dig into the Liebster Award…

Rules for the Liebster Award Nominees:

• Thank the blog that nominated you on a post in your blog.
• Answer the questions asked by the blog that nominated you.
• Nominate 5-11 other new bloggers.
• Create 11 new questions for the nominees to answer.
• Notify all nominees via social media.

Here are my answers to the questions that Abi from DIYandDinosaurs asked me:

#1: Share one of your favorite memories of having a kid.

I will never forget the day my son James was born. It's the feeling of love that truly took over my body. You hear it all the time. I say you never really know love until you have children. There is love you have for people, and then there is love that you have for your child. Discovering and feeling this love is my most favorite memory (and watching my husband cry as he held our baby boy for the first time).

#2: What does a normal day in your life look like?

Man-O-Man. My day is full. I get up at 6am every morning. Get my son ready to go to Nanny's house. Go to work, where I am the Director of Client Operations and Accredited Financial Counselor in the financial industry, come home, hang out with my husband and son, make dinner, clean the house, do the laundry, do the dishes, get my son in the bath and ready for bed, and after everyone is in bed and ready to call it a night, I hop on my laptop. This is where I take off the professional and mom hat, and stick on the blogger hat. I check my editorial calendar, make sure I am on track with my blogging goals for the week, complete necessary tasks, and then head to bed myself. My routine is not like this every night, and my weekends tend to be a little more calm, but most of the time, I just feel like I am trying to keep up:-)

#3: What do you feel you are destined to do in life/what is your dream or true talent?

I have asked myself this question for a very long time. I went to business school and graduated with a finance degree. I decided to take this path because I genuinely want to help people.  I always knew this about myself. As for a true talent, I don't believe I was born with any natural gifts. I have had to work hard and learn a ton to be in the spot I am in now. I know now that creating a business from my blog is possible, and that is what I am working on. I was destined to be a mom to my son, that is one thing I am sure of.

#4: What is the best part about being a mom?

Waking up to my son every day. Knowing that this little human being is being sculpted by me and my husband is an amazing and scary thing to think about, but very rewarding at the same time. The best part about being a mom is watching him learn and grow. It's witnessing him take his first steps, having his first conversation with friends, and learning to sing his favorite song.

#5: What is the one thing you never had that you want for your kids?

Growing up, I was never really taught how to handle money. This is something I want to teach my son. I also want to be able to financially help my son with college. I don't want him to be in the same situation I am today – sitting on a pile of student loans. I want him to learn how to be a hard worker, and be rewarded because of it.

#6: How is your blog different from the billions of blogs out there?

The blogging community is full of wonderful writers and creative minds. It's so hard to stand out in the crowd. I think the thing that makes my blog unique is there is only one me. No one has the same exact imagination, writing style, or voice. I also think my designation as an AFC® gives me a lot of knowledge and insight that some might not have.

#7: If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?

NICOLAS CAGE. I don't care what people think! I absolutely love this guy. I get so much hate for my love of Nicolas, but hey, I can't help it. Come on, who doesn't love “It Could Happen To You?” His movies allow me to escape life for a little while, and just sit back and relax.

#8: How did you pick your blog’s name?

I literally took forever to choose my blog name. I did research to make sure no one else was using it, and that it was a domain name I could purchase. I read all about how to choose a domain name, from tips about how long it should be, to some articles that said it should rhyme, and eventually I decided on The Budget Mom. It combines my passion for budgeting and my expertise (finance) with who I really am…a mom. When someone sees my blog name, I wanted it to tell them right away what I was all about. I think it does just that.

#9: What single quality do you most appreciate in people?

Kindness. There is so much negativity, judgment, and jealousy in the world. Finding someone who is truly kind hearted is precious to me. I love connecting with people who have no judgments, who are honest and easy to talk to. I am actually really shy, so it's hard for me to connect and talk to people sometimes. It makes it that much easier when I don't feel like I am being compared to, or being wrongfully judged.

#10: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I would stay right where I am. I love living in Spokane, Washington. We are truly blessed here. We get to experience all the wonderful seasons, and enjoy the activities of the Pacific Northwest. I can literally go fishing 15 minutes from my house, go skiing at Mt. Spokane, and enjoy my mountain bike on the Centennial Trail. My son also gets to experience all of this, which is the most important.

#11: What do you do in order to overcome writer’s block?

I stop trying to write. I am constantly thinking about a million things at once. Sometimes, I just need to do something else, like watch a movie, or take a nap. It's funny how it works. Once I stop thinking about it, it usually comes to me at the most unexpected times. I will literally be taking a shower, and my next blog post topic I have been struggling with all day, just pops into my head. I then have to get out of the shower really quick to write it down so I don't forget about it. Your brain just needs a break sometimes.

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Here are my answers to the questions that Sarah from Pastries in Progress asked me:

1. Why did you start blogging?

I have always known that I wanted to help people. I have had my fair share of financial problems, and this is just one area I feel comfortable in. The main reason I started blogging was to let people know they were not alone. Money troubles can lead to some pretty lonely places. I wanted to do something to help people who were once in my shoes. I am also a mom, and know the financial stress of having a family and raising a child, so I wanted to touch these people as well.

2. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Meeting other bloggers. I would have never got this far without the support of other bloggers and the blogging community. Getting an email from one of my readers, letting me know I made a difference in their lives. There is no better feeling.

3. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Superpower, no one has ever asked me this:-) I think I would like to fly. Could you imagine ALL of the cool places you could go?

4. Who is your blogging idol?

I really look up to Ruth Soukup from Living Well Spending Less. I read her blog every day and can literally spend hours on her site. When I read her posts, or hear about all the amazing stuff she has accomplished, it gives me hope. It makes me think to myself, “If she can do it, so can I.” We all need someone like that in our lives, someone to look up to, someone who gives us hope. Ruth does that for me.

5. Where is your dream vacation spot?

I don't travel a lot. I have never been to Hawaii. So this vacation destination is definitely on the top of my list.

6. If you could eat only one food for one year, what would you eat?

Crab. This sounds gross, I know. It probably wouldn't be very nice to my body either, but if I could eat this for a year with no side effects, you betcha I would be doing it.

7. If someone had to read just one of your posts, which one would it be?

That is too hard:-) I love all the posts that I write about my son – but probably What I Would Tell My Son When He Is Ready To Leave Home.

8. If you could have one uninterrupted day to yourself, how would you spend it?

Sleeping in. This is not something I get to do. If you have a toddler, you know what I am talking about. I would then spend every second with my little boy. We would go to the park, take out that fishing pole we bought him a year ago, and we would fish until late afternoon. We would spend the evening eating pasta and watching movies. I never get uninterrupted days.

9. How did you pick your blog’s name?

Please see my answer to Abi's question:-)

10. What is your guilty pleasure?

Oh my gosh, Pepsi. It's so bad. I can not just have a Pepsi sit in front of me – I HAVE to drink it. The best part about drinking a Pepsi is the fizz that tickles your nose. Do you know what I am talking about? You pour the Pepsi into a glass with ice, and it's that first drink that's always the best!

11. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Graduating from college. This may not seem like much to a lot of people, but for me it was HUGE. I spent almost 5 years in night school, but I did it while working a full time job. I studied so hard, and I ended up graduating with honors – and of course being a mother.

 

My Nominees…

Katie & Jessica from Dames In Debt

Abby from Resolution 365

Carrie from Tightwad Teacher

Katie from PCS Proof Your Career

Leslie from A Life Well Consumed

My 11 Questions To Pass On…

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
2. What made you decide to start a blog?
3. What is the BEST free tool you have found that you use as a blogger?
4. Share with me your most embarrassing moment since you started blogging.
5. Tell me about one of your favorite childhood memories.
6. At this moment, what is the biggest goal you have for your blog?
7. Who is your #1 supporter?
8. How do you manage time to run your blog efficiently?
9. Tell me about your proudest achievement.
10. Who takes the majority of your photos? Or do you use free/paid sources?
11. What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?

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I can't wait to hear what you all have to say!  Remember, to tag me in your post so I can read your responses. We shouldn't see each other as competition, but rather as support networks. Let's help each other grow, and lean on each other when we are struggling. I can't wait to meet more new bloggers, and learn from all of you!