Aren't I the gracious hostess?

You've heard me mention how blogged down I've felt lately. I don't think I'm really any busier than usual so I'm not sure why I'm getting so behind. But I'm so behind that I have tons of awards and tags coming out at the seams. I'm not exaggerating...I have 7 awards and 2 tags!

So here is the deal...it would take me forever to type out all of my friends that I am passing these on to and I've got to get to bed soon. So, please take what you want from the awards and tags below. What's mine, is yours. No, really. Please help yourself... (Am I lazy or a gracious hostess? You decide.)

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The Entertaining House's Jessica and A Sense of Humor is Essential's Martha both awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award.

Here are the rules:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

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Martha at A Sense of Humor is Essential also awarded me the Queen of Alll Things Awe-summm!!! Award.

In order to keep this crown, I have to list 7 Awe-Summm things about myself.

• I'm extremely efficiency driven.
• I take decent photos.
• I love my kids and husband with every fiber of my being.
• I'm not afraid to make a fool of myself in public for the kids.
• It only took me 2 weeks to write this post.
• I'm trying to do small things to help our planet for the sake of my kids.
  
• I was able to list 7 awesome things about myself really quickly (yea, right!)
  

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Veronica Lee of Of Mice and Ramen awarded me 4 unique awards.

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Christina at Rant-Rave-Roll passes on the Super Follower Award to me.

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Christina, of Rant-Rave-Roll, also tagged me with 6 Unimportant Things That Make Me Happy.

Here are the rules:
1. Mention the person who nominated you.
2. List six unimportant things that make you happy.
3. Tag six blogs, state the rules & notify them with a teeny comment on their blog.

Here are 6 unimportant things that make me happy:

• My bed
  
• Coke Zero
• Watching TV and my DVR
• Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars
• Sleeping in
• Driving with the windows down
  

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Enterainingmom, Jessica, of The Entertaining House passed on the '5 favorite things about summer tag' to me.

I realize that I have been a bit whiny about summer, specifically how to fill 90+ days with my wild boys. But I really do love summer...
Here is my list of five favorite things about summer:

• The smell of sunscreen on the warm bare skin of my boys
• Reading in the hammock Scott bought me
  
• I don't look weird wearing flip-flops (as opposed to the rest of the year, especially if it's raining)
  
• Seeing my boys play at the water park or in the sprinklers
  
• More daylight
  

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What a weight off my shoulders! Whew... I feel so much better. I just hope that I didn't forget any.

I respect my mama...and you do too!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Earth Week posts. I was truly moved that you came back over and over again to learn a few ways my family respects Mama Earth. And I loved hearing about the things your family is doing too.

And let me say that I was really moved, moved to tears even, that everyone 'got it.' I heard from many of my blog friends that are starting to use reusable bags, buying compost pails and bins, getting more diligent about recycling. I truly was blown away.

Here are some the things you challenged my family to do:

• Get a rain barrel
• Use newspapers to clean windows and mirrors
• Buy gently used clothing for the kids
  
• Use cloth napkins at mealtimes
• Mulching and using natural methods to keep out garden pests
• Use dryer balls
• Reuse packaging (like resealable bags that food comes in)
• Wash cars at water less car washes or places that recycle their water
• Stop using toilet paper
  

Some of the above, my family already does. And some we are definitely not ready to try yet...like not using toilet paper! (Maybe after Logan is potty trained...)
But here is what my family is going to implement:

• Using power strips to cut the energy that appliances use even when off
  
• Make my own household cleaners
• Use less paper towels

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

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Now on to the giveaway...

A special "thank you" to ecostore USA and snackTAXI for generously donating their amazing Earth-friendly products to my 'get green' giveaway. It's companies like these that make going green so easy.

The winner of the 'get green starter kit' giveaway is:

Mimi at He & Me + 3

Mimi is a great blogger, friend and mom to three. Stop by her site to congratulate her and read a couple posts. You won't be sorry that you did...

Congrats Mimi!

I wish I had an amazing runner-up prize I could hand out to everyone else who participated in my green posts. The best I can do is to bestow a world-renowned and prestigious award upon those that contributed to making my Earth Week so amazing.
I'd like to present the following readers with the "I Respect My Mama" Award for showing some respect to Mother Earth.

Alicia at More Than Words
Amy Jo at The Little Moments...
Brandy at I'm Not Your Average Soccer Mom
Carrie at Martin Manor Happinings
Christina at Mrs. Mom - CEO and Rant-Rave-Roll
Denise at There is Always Room for One More
Donnetta at Life in the Fast Lane
Elaine at Lipstickdaily
Femin Susan at My Vision
Foxy at The Fox Den
Gianna at A Traveling Thought
Gigi at Afterthoughts
Ginny at Mom of 2 Dancers
Girl Child at Ahh Oooommmm
Heidi at The Johnson family tales
Jane Anne at Gravity of Motion
JD at Infinite Adventures at the Zoo
Jo at The A-Priori Mommy
Keri at Life of Logan
Laura at Hey What's for Dinner Mom?
Lindsay at The Musings of the Mrs.
Martha at A Sense of Humor is Essential
Mimi at He & Me + 3
Mimi at Screaming Mimi
Nikki at With my stilettos...
Orah at Mamma's Happy Hour
Pixeltrash at Pixeltrash Mania
Renee at Always a Southern Girl
Ryan Ashely Scott at Optimistic Cynicism
Shasta at Crackers and Chaos
Shosh at Day by Glorious Day
Tanya at Maya and Odessa
Tim at Fort Thompson
Veronica Lee at Of Mice and Ramen

It's very possible with the great number of responses I got on my Earth Week posts that I overlooked someone. If you left me a comment on my green posts or are actively doing something green in your life, feel free to grab the "I Respect My Mama" award.

Here is the code for the award:

<img src="http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo342/fortunecookie_photo/I_Respect_My_Mama.jpg" alt="lifeinthecarpoollane.com" border="0" />

Thank you for making Earth Week so amazing for me!

Note to self: Don't give awards to so many bloggers! I have to contact all of them tonight!
Also, for my next giveaway, don't make the entry process so complicated that I need to make a spreadsheet to determine the winner!

Finally! The recognition I so richly deserve...

All these months, mostly in my "Not me!" Monday posts, I've joked about me being the running for the completely fictional MOTYs (Mama of the Year Award).

But then, lo and behold, Veronica Lee of Of Mice and Ramen actually awarded me the Mom of the Year Award. (It's like that mantra, "you've got to believe it, to achieve it," right?)

Thank you, Veronica Lee. Thank goodness you awarded it to me because if you were to ask my kids, they'd probably never give it to me!



***Mom of the Year Award Rules!!***

~~Rule One~~ Admit one thing you feel awful about involving being a mom!

Ummm...only one thing? It's going to take me an awfully long time to narrow down my long list of things I feel awful about to just one.

How about my inconsistency in parenting? Or the fact that I purchase way too many toys to buy my kids' happiness? No, wait, maybe being short on patience? Hmmm...then there is the fact that I use disposable diapers not cloth. Ooh...how about the fact that my almost 3 year old needs to be sleep trained?


~~Rule Two~~ Remind yourself you are a good mom!

I am a good mama. At least, I'm as good as I can be with the little sleep I get.

Sometimes I can be extremely patient. Sometimes I actually play with my kids, sitting on the floor surrounded by blocks or cars. Sometimes we cuddle in my bed and read. I try to feed them healthy foods. I care about the planet for their sake. Several times a day, I tell Jack and Logan that I love them. I know with absolute certainty, I would do anything to protect them and would defend them with my life.


~~Rule Three~~
Send the award to 5 other Mom's of The Year that deserve credit for being great moms and remind them they are the Best Mom they can be! Remember to send them a note to let each one know you've selected them and add a link to the person who nominated you!

Okay, this is the hard part. It seems as though you, all the mama bloggers I know, are awfully deserving. Though, when I think about it, I guess I wouldn't be reading your blogs if I thought you were a lousy mama. So again, I'm going to take the easy route and pass this award to some of my newer blog friends.

And they are:
Carrie at Martin Manor Happenings
Keri at Life of Logan
Heidi at The Johnson family tales!
Shasta at Crackers and Chaos
Alicia at More Than Words (who's not a new friend but we had a phone conversation this week, which was a first for me...we'll not talking on the phone but talking to a blogger through something other than my computer)

Okay, it's official...this mama is rambling and barely coherent...I'm going to bed.

I've been remiss...

Several weeks ago I received a award and was tagged. But with the craziness of Jack's birthday I was late in posting them and passing them on.

Denise, writer of my favorite blog, There is Always Room for One More, lovingly bestowed my blog with The Lovey Award.

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends.They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award."

I am so honored to receive this award. What better title to be awarded than friend. Since I have already given out this award once before, I decided to try something different when passing it on. One of the way bloggers become friends is through comments. Who doesn't love comment love? So I have decided to pass this award on to my top 8 commenters.

Drum roll, please...
And they are:

Alicia at More Than Words
Denise at There is Always Room for One More
Mimi at He & Me + 3
JD at Infinite Adventures at the Zoo (private blog)
Keri at Life of Logan
Kristen at A Family is Forever
Orah at Mamma's Happy Hour
Veronica Lee at Of Mice and Ramen

To those above, there is a chance that I've already given you this award once before. This time around I'm passing it to you because you are loyal commenters and as such, I feel like I've gotten to know you and develop friendships. Thank you for those friendships. (And I understand if you don't want to pass it on again, especially if you just did like Denise.)

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I also got tagged by Tanya at Maya and Odessa. To play, I'm supposed to list 6 weird things about myself (oh, where to begin?) and tag 6 other bloggers.

Another drum roll, please...
1. I'm a vegetarian who doesn't eat tomatoes or mushrooms.

2. I have to "get inside the map" to figure out where I'm going.

3. I kissed a Moroccan taxi cab driver.

4. When I used to have an office job, I kept a record of what I wore each day so not to duplicate within a week (because my memory is so bad).

5. I only wear lipstick when my mom is around.

6. I lived in an old monastery in Salzburg, Austria.

For the record, this list was compiled by my husband, Scott. (Which if you read my last post, explains #3...and the fact that it's false.)

Instead of passing this one to specific mama bloggers I'm leaving it up for grabs. I think a good number of you are pretty weird so don't let me down. If you want to play along, feel free and let me know so I can read up on all your weirdness.

You tolerate me! You really tolerate me!

Two awards in one week! How could one gal get so lucky? You all must really tolerate me!

Kristin, a busy working mom to 2 teens and 2 little girls from China, at A Family is Forever presented me with The Friendship Award.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award."

I feel really honored to receive this award. I hate to admit that I don't have many friends in real life but I'm really enjoying getting to know other bloggers and forming friendships through cyberspace.

The friends that I would like to pass on this award to are:
JD at Infinite Adventures @ the Zoo
Shosh at Day by Glorious Day
Tim at Fort Thompson
Jane Anne at Gravity of Motion
Alicia at More Than Words
Kristin at P A J A M A M A M A
Donnetta at Life in the Fast Lane


Donnetta at Life in the Fast Lane, my newest blogging friend, is a mom to 3 kids and presented me with the Life is Grand Award.

According to the rules, I'm to list 5 reasons that I think life is grand and pass this award on to 5 friends.

I think life is grand because:
1. All my immediate and extended family members are blessed with good health.
2. My boys are happy and well-adjusted and loved and lovable.
3. I am married to a wonderful husband and papa.
4. I've 'met' so many new friends through blogging...I enjoy reading about others' experiences and relating to other mamas.
5. People actual read my blog and give me comment love.

The bloggers that I pass this award to are:
Kristin at A Family is Forever
Denise at There is Always Room for One More
Kami at My A Team
Lisa at Oh Boy...Oh Boy...Oh Boy

I really wish I had time to write up a description of all the blogs I mentioned for the two awards but I am beat! I can honestly say that I read and enjoy them all on a daily basis.

Whew! All this adoration (to me and from me) is exhausting. Now I'm off to go parade around my house in a plastic tiara blowing kisses and waving like a beauty pageant contestant to my confused sons.

Thanks again for the awards, Kristin and Donnetta.

I'd like to thank...

I've won my first award! This is so timely because I've been getting ready for the MOTYs (the annual and fictional prestigious Mama of the Year Awards). I know it was a bit presumptuous to have writen my acceptance speech already but with a few tweaks I can use it for my One Lovely Blog Award.

I'd like to thank my husband, Scott, without whom I'd be single. I'd like to thank my parents without whom I'd not be alive. I'd like to thank Denise, at There's Always Room For One More, without whom I'd not have this award. And I'd like to thank all the little people. Well, especially two little people, Jack and Logan, without whom I'd have nothing to write about.

Shoot...they've cued the "get-the-heck-off-the-stage" music. Wait a sec, that's just my husband having a fit of hysterics. Moving right along...

The One Lovely Blog Award is given to those whose blog is entertaining and fun to read... one you get excited about when you notice a new entry! I am giving this award to:

1. A Family is Forever written by Kristin: Kristen's blog is about her busy life as a mom to two teenagers and two younger kiddos. I almost feel bad passing this award to her as she just recently had to pass on another award. But I like her blog so much that I could justify making more work for her.

2. Top Notch Swill crafted by Lisa (and various guest writers): Lisa and her friends know how to craft a well-written post. Always honest and often humorous, their blog is a great read. Lisa has another blog, A Motherlode, in which she uses her writing talent to talk about daily life with her husband and their 4 children.

3. He & Me + 3 by Mimi: Not only do I enjoy reading her Friday jokes and about her three kids but if there were an award to bloggers who give the most comment love, she'd be a shue in. I always enjoy hearing from Mimi whether its in my comment box or on her blog.

4. There is Always Room for One More penned by Denise: Well, I don't really expect Denise to pass this award on yet again since she is the one who so graciously passed it to me just the other day. But her blog (AKA my favorite) about her 6 (yes, really 6!) kids is the epitome of this award. If she hadn't given it to me, I'd be giving it to her. She also has two other blogs, both very heartfelt and poignant; one about the adoption of her daughter from Vietnam at the time that the US Government was ceasing adoptions from that country and one about her husband and his death.

Whew! This award business sure is exhausting!

Good night all and thank you! Thank you!
(Imagine me doing a beauty-pageant-wave with one arm while blowing kisses with my other hand.)