Blog Award! Wee!

I have received a new blog award compliments of the Miss Georgiane from 'Letters from a Lady'. I thank Miss Georgiane for her thoughtful gift.

I've been described as a lot of things.. but stylish?
Hey, I take the compliments where I can get 'em. ;)

This blog award comes with a set of rules, as some do. They are: Post seven random facts about yourself and then pass this award onto 15 other bloggers. I have chosen to award only five other bloggers, I think awarding too many dilutes the meaning of the award.

I can't imagine I can come up with seven random facts about me that I haven't already posted twice about on this blog; LOL... I talk about me way too much. But, I'll just wing it--sorry if they might be repetitive.

1). The four languages I can speak in order of fluency are: English, French, Dutch, Spanish.
2). I have been known to build dollhouses and sculpt miniatures on occasion (escapism... I'm good at it).
3). I own twelve web domains.
4). I recently swallowed my pride and read the Twilight series.. I know, I know, please don't think less of me. And yes, they *were* utterly ridiculous. But I read them anyway. Harry Potter is next... but only when that stupid woman decides to release them in e-book format.
5). I had an imaginary friend when I was a child named "Esmeralda" and she was a Roma Gyspy and looked just like me. I would 'switch places' with her sometimes, and travel with her gypsy family, and she would stay home and put up with my family's BS--which I imagined much worse than living in a caravan of swarthy, often frightening-looking people. Yep... weird kid.
6). I have chronic insomnia. Despite having a job that starts at 7:30 AM (with an hour commute), I am rarely asleep before 1 AM. So I am often grumpy and sleep-deprived. But anyone who follows this blog has already figured that out.
7). My favourite activity on this planet is to lie down on the sofa with a floofy blanket, a cup of tea, with my dogs and cat piled up on me like remoras on a Cetacean. Add a book & classical music to that quotient, a good movie or a Jane Austen, Star Trek or Whedon marathon, and I am in heaven.

I now pass this award onto (not in any particular order):
1). The Lady of Portland House.
- One of the loveliest members of the ORS, and an inspiration in the world of hand-sewn costumes of great historic accuracy, the Lady of Portland House's blog is a wonderful resource for anyone who takes interest in early Regency and Georgian costume. The Lady takes tremendous pains in making sure that all her costuming work is as accurate as possible to the historic version of the garment and she hand-stitches everything (I know, seriously! She's crazy... good crazy though). Her costumes are always absolutely beautiful, her hair pieces and hats are divine. Anyone who loves costuming would enjoy this blog.  It is costume porn at its best.

2).World of Higlet's "Last Geek Bus Home".
- Yes, I've crossed the spectrum here to embrace the other geeky things I like, and this site always keeps me on top of the geeky goings on in entertainment and more. A fellow Whedon addict, this blog is a delight for anyone who loves fantasy, sci-fi and anything Whedon. Enjoy!

3). Around Britain with a Paunch (and sometimes around other places in Europe)
- I don't get back to Europe much these days. It's a bummer. But I do follow this blog and I LOVE it. It's a dining diary that will have your mouth watering.

4). Clothes closet of a 21st century Empress
-More ridiculous wonderful costume porn.

5). Just Beautiful Things
- Just because it is what it claims to be; a blog of beautiful, wonderful things.

Versatile eh?

I am a rather random by nature and I do choose many endeavors to fill my time. The Dreamstress awarded this blog the 'Versatile Blogger Award'. Sweet! I had to find some time to sit down and figure out the part that comes with this award, so here it is.

Now I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself, and pick 5 blogs to pass the award on to. So here goes:

Things about me (that I might have already mentioned before but am too lazy to go back to research it...)

1. I speak four languages; French (fluently), Dutch (moderately fluently but fading from lack of use), Spanish (meh... I could get by) and English, of course.

2. Pedicures are my guiltiest of pleasures.

3. During the 12 long years where I stopped riding, just the sight of horses or seeing or touching the contents of my tack boxes would make me cry. The sight of someone being harsh or mean to a horse (or any animal) sets my temper off like little else.

4. My favourite book of all time over any book (even Jane's books) is the Velveteen Rabbit. I have copies of that book, all of Beatrix Potters' books, and a number of other children's books that I've been holding onto for the child I hope to have someday.

5. I've been to pretty much every European country, as well as Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands--yet the last time I traveled anywhere outside the US was 1995. :(

6. I have an irrational aversion to cotton balls and wadding. Seriously. If there's cotton in the pill bottle, my skin will go cold and I'll feel physically ill unless someone gets it out of the way. Just writing about it has given me goosebumps. I'm dead serious. People think it's funny to tease me with cotton balls, but they have no idea how deep this dread of cotton balls goes. Yes, really. ::shudder:: Onto better subjects...

7. I love Jane Austen books and adaptations, but I despise romantic comedies and chick-flicks. I would rather watch something like Cloverfield or Transformers than something like 27 dresses or Love Actually. ::Gag::

Now onto the blogs I chose for this award. I watch A LOT OF BLOGS. I do, I can't help it. I love to find creative people... so I could probably easily award this to fifteen other bloggers as the original award required, but since again, I'm feeling lazy this Sunday (and I am about to go to the stable to see my stampy-hoofed monster beast), I am going to do as the Dreamstress did pick five for this award (as a side-note, if the Dreamstress hadn't given me the award to begin with, I would have probably picked her blog as a recipient...)

• Audrey Eclectic - She writes about her artwork and her life.
• Rare Bird - Fellow Oregonian, her artwork is simply hauntingly beautiful, and her blogs are delightful.
• Two Nerdy History Girls - Need no further explanation. It's a tremendous blog.
• New England Living - An exercise lovely living with a gritty, beautiful honesty.
• Adventures in Dressmaking - I am acquainted with this young woman, and she is a feisty, talented seamstress full of wonderful ideas.

A Christmas Meme--stolen from the Lady of Portland House

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Hot cocoa, hands-down.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrapped, no doubt. Nothing is better than the surprise and delight of a mysterious gift, prettily wrapped (I LOVE wrapping gifts...)

3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white?
White—I feel serene when I see white lights glowing inside a tree or adorning a house. Maybe if I ever have a kid, I’ll go with coloured lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Yes—when I can find it. Smoochies are nice.

5. When do you put your Christmas decorations up?
St. Nicholas’s day (12/5) when we were kids. I remember the tree being pretty much naked of needles by Christmas, most of them sprinkled on the presents and the floor around it. But as an adult, I usually decorate a couple of weeks before Christmas, three at most. I don’t like to be sick of the whole deal before the actual holiday comes ‘round.

6. Favorite holiday dish?
Glazed duck. It’s a tradition I miss quite a bit.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Lying down on the floor beneath the tree, listening to William Byrd’s Mass for Three Voices, and looking up at the coloured lights, the tinsel, and the ornaments and blurring my eyes.

8. When did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don’t remember. Early on. Parents weren’t too keen on keeping the illusion alive.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes. One gift each.

10. How do you decorate a tree?
I am obsessed with snowflakes. I have snowflake ornaments of all sorts; crocheted ones, plastic ones, glass ones. I have icicles, clear glass and white bulbs. I like to do white and silver themes, with the occasional punch of colour. Some years I add red apples—once I did blue highlights and that was beautiful. I stick to pearly whites, silvers and glass. It looks ethereal.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
I love snow.

12. Can you ice skate?
No. And all attempts to do so have ended in a bruised coccyx. I used to ski pretty well though.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
A violin--oh and a telescope.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?
Being with the people you love.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
“Gallette des rois frangipane” cake. It’s an almond cake that is traditionally served on Three Kings Day in Belgium.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
My family’s traditions usually revolved around food. Hubby and I haven’t really developed our own ‘traditions’ yet. One that belonged to his grandmother that I like very much is the Christmas morning breakfast. I’d like to do that every year and invite family that can’t be there for Christmas dinner.

17. What tops your tree?
A big, garish, sparkly snowflake.

18. Which do you prefer-Giving or Receiving?
I love the feeling when you scored on the right gift for someone. You show you’ve been listening to them, paying attention to the things they like, and then gift them something you know they’ll love. There’s no better feeling.

19. Favorite Christmas song?
O Holy Night.

20. Candy Canes-Yuck or Yum?
I like them during this season.

21. Favorite Christmas show?
The Nutcracker Ballet

22. Saddest Christmas song?
I can’t think of one.

If you steal this meme, comment so I can read your version. :)

100* Truths About Me.

This was stolen from my friend Steph's site. I do have thiefy tendencies when it comes to Memes. They require much less work and much less imagination from me than a standard post would. So woo-hoo, I say.

1. Last beverage – Water
2. Last phone call – Phone call purchasing department.
3. Last instant message – A while ago, with hubby.
4. Last song you listened to – Farewell Marian (Classic English Country Dance)
5. Last time you cried – Last night, reading sad book.
6. Last text message – Hubby, yesterday.

HAVE YOU EVER:
7. Dated someone twice – No.
8. Been cheated on – Yes.
9. Kissed someone & regretted it – Yes
10. Lost someone special – Oh yes.

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
11. Amethyst, Royal Blue and Warm Burgundy Red.

IN THE PAST MONTH HAVE YOU:
12. Fallen out of love – No way. It’s gotten stronger if anything..
13. Laughed until you cried - Just this past Saturday with Sis & Guy on Martini night.
14. Met someone who changed your life – In the past month? No.
15. Found out who your true friends were – I believe I have, yes.
16. Have you kissed anyone? – No, because Hubby’s been gone for 5 weeks.

RANDOM STUFF
17. What is your favorite flower? – The tulip.
18. How many kids do you want to have? – I’d be happy with just one. God willing.
19. Do you want to change your name? – Already did when I got married.
20. What did you do for your last birthday – Quiet Dinner with Hubby & friends Tara & Xian.
21. What time did you wake up today ? – 5:20 AM
22. What were you doing at Midnight last night? – Writing on Facebook that I probably should be in bed.
23. Name something you CANNOT wait for – Dec. 20. Hubby comes home.
24. Last time you saw your father – September of 2007.
25. What's one thing you wish you could change? – My past.
26. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom? – several Toms, actually.
27. What's getting on your nerves right now – Menstrual cramps.
28. What's your real name – Stephanie
29. Middle Name – Lynn.
30. Zodiac sign – Pisces
31. Hair color – dark brown with an increasing amount of grey.
32. Long or short – Fairly long when wet, when dry & curly much shorter.
33. Height – 5'4”
34. Tattoos – None. And I’m too old to get one now without looking like I’m desperately clinging to my youth.
35. Righty or lefty – Right handed. Right brained.

FIRSTS:
36. First surgery – Had shard of turkey-bone removed from the ball of my right foot (don’t ask)
37. First piercing – ears, first and only. Too chicken to do anything else.
38. First best friend – Jerome Sparks
39. First sport you joined – Horseback riding.
40. First pet – Black Pug named Snow-white.
41. First vacation – I have no idea.

CURRENTLY:
42. Eating – dry vanilla granola cereal
43. Drinking – Chai Green Tea
44. I'm about to – go to the restroom.
45. Waiting – for the right financial opportunity to come along to change my life.

YOUR FUTURE:
46. Want kids? – God yes.
47. Want to get married? – I am already.
48. Careers in mind? – Even now at 37, I am still up in the air on that.

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?
49. Lips or eyes? – eyes. They are the window to the soul.
50. Hugs or kisses? – Oh, nice, enveloping, lingering hugs where you lean your whole being into them completely… I like those so much.
51. Shorter or taller? – Silly question. 95% of women instinctively want taller. It’s genetic.
52. Older or Younger? – Older. Nothing beats experience.
53. Sensitive or loud?– Weird choices, oddly matched, but Sensitive – I’ll handle the loud.
54. Hookup or relationship? – Random hookups can only do damage, no matter how much people try to deny it. Relationship or bust.
55. Trouble–maker or hesitant? – Those too are badly matched words, but I’ll take someone who’s playfully bratty over someone who’s fearful and hesitant any day. Who wouldn’t?

HAVE YOU EVER:
56. Kissed a stranger – Yes, a few times during New Year’s Parties.
57. Imbibed hard liquor – Is this Meme meant for ten-year-olds or Menonites? Of course.
58. Lost glasses/contacts? – Yes. And have had glasses chewed up by my dog too.
59. Run away from home – fantasized about it many times as a child. Never followed through though.
60. Been arrested – Almost, but no. Friends got caught, I didn’t.
61. Turned someone down? – Yes.
62. Cried when someone died – Uh… Yeah. This question is absurd. I do actually have a soul.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
63. Yourself – yes, but I let other peoples’ doubts create more in me.
64. Love at first sight– Lived it. Yes. I knew my husband was the one the first time I laid eyes on him. His smile melted my heart..
65. Santa Claus – I believe in what Santa Claus represents. As proven here.
66. Kiss on the first date – If it feels right, why not? Just don’t do it for the wrong reasons.
67. Angels -- I believe there are some exceptional people in this world who would qualify as such. Especially George Soros if he decides one day to grant me lots of funds to realize my business dream. ::heh heh::

*apparently the original meme author ran out of questions to ask well before they reached promised quantity of ‘truths’. So in this case, this is 67 truths about me.

Another Meme and some other stuff...

Stolen from "Posie Gets Cozy", one of my favourite blogs; a one-word answer Meme.

• Where is your mobile phone? Here.


• Where is your significant other? Errands.


• Your hair colour? Natural.


• Your mother? Satan.


• Your father? Fragile.


• Your favourite thing? Creativity.


• Your dream last night? ::shrug::


• Your dream goal? Entrepreneur.


• The room you're in? Office.


• Your hobby? Sewing.


• Your fear? Desolation.


• Where do you want to be in 6 years? Comfortable.


• Where were you last night? Home.


• What you're not? Polyanna.


• One of your wish-list items? Funding.


• Where you grew up? Brabant.


• The last thing you did? Sneeze.


• What are you wearing? Clothes.


• Your TV? Escape.


• Your pets? Manipulators.


• Your computer? Drug.


• Your mood? Ambivalent.


• Missing someone? Wednesday.


• Your car? Stompy.


• Something you're not wearing? Makeup.


• Favourite shop? Ikea


• Your summer? Sweltering.


• Love someone? Irrevocably.


• Your favourite colour? Lavender.


• When is the last time you laughed? Always.


• When is the last time you cried? Yesterday.

Give it a whirl!

~~~~~~~~~
It's been about four days that Husband is home, he leaves Wednesday. My heart is growing heavier with each passing moment. It's been a strange weekend. I took Friday off to spend with him, and the whole weekend just zoomed by. Now I'm at work during the day and he's at home doing his thing. It's hard not to allow my sadness pervade the time we're together. I find myself clinging to him and tears starting to form in my eyes. This is very hard. I don't know how military wives to it; if I get this emotional just for a six-week span, where he's not in immediate danger, where he's still inside our borders... I can't imagine how the army wives can do it. Okay, so most of them have children to focus on, but it is still beyond me. I feel like such a whiner. This is very difficult. I let the dread of the goodbye build up, I blubber like a fool as I send him off, and then I feel numb for days.

I comfort myself in knowing he's working for a good company, and doing something good for the world. He's helping Vestas to build wind turbines.

Anyway...

I'm thinking about selling some of my image originals. I figure since most of them are scanned and available for prints if need be, I might just unload the originals of the 'office specials' I create periodically. I'm curious to see if they sell at all. Maybe I'll frame them up really cute. We'll see.

The ORS Regency Ball is one short week away ::panic:: I haven't even made my ballgown yet. I have the headpiece and the shoes done, but that's it. I may have to go in my Regency skivvies. ::tee hee:: Oh boy. We'll see what happens. :)

An update, and maybe something whimsical soon. I also owe you another installment of The Tredwell Secret. I haven't forgotten.

A Tag from Lovely Lauren

I read the blog belonging to the ever-lovely Lauren; a creature I know from my Regency group. She and her husband are some of my favourite members of the ORS. Lauren is a lady of deep faith, profound goodness and immense beauty of presence and spirit and I absolutely adore her. Do visit her blog... she's an avid costumer (and not a cheater like me either, she hand-sews her work ((with help of course))). The way that she loves her dogs and other 'fur-babies' reveals so much about the kind of person she is. Anyway, enough gushing about Lauren... let's get on with the tag:

Write 6 random things about yourself

Okay then.

1) I speak four languages and grew up in Belgium.

2) I have slippers that look like bear-feet.

3) My favourite time is weekend mornings, waking up late, and being snuggled and greeted by two delighted, waggy-tailed dogs.

4) I was featured in a 'living-small' article in American Profile for my tiny house.

5) I write, review, edit and am looking to become a publisher of fantasy and children's books.

Edit: Apparently I don't know how to count. I see that it says 6 random things, and I realized I only posted 5. I'm such a doofus; here's number 6))

6) I am a sedum thief and collector. If you have sedum of a variety I don't have, I will steal a pinch of it on the sly.