Whoops!

How did I let this slip through the cracks?!??!  Debi from  http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/ was kind enough to award me with the Sunshine Award!  Thanks Debi!!  I know it’s taken me like a week to say something, but it did put a smile on my face when I received your message J

I’m terrible about nominating and passing these along, but I did want to share with you all the answers to the 10 questions that I have been reading about everyone else!

1.  Favorite animal:  cats - even though I'm DEATHLY allergic to them.  I'm basically a sucker for anything fluffy with a sweet face.  I also love dolphins and believe I may be part Flamingo (the other half would be kitten if you were wondering LOL)
2.  Favorite number:  13 & 18
3.  Favorite non-alcoholic drink:  coffee, diet coke, sweet tea (are you starting to notice that I'm not very good as just pick one of much of anything???)
4.  Facebook or Twitter:  Facebook (www.facebook.com/hljweston)
5.  My passion:  Jonathan, crafting, tap dance, theatre, my family, WNY
6.  Getting or giving:  To be totally honest - I like both
7.  Favorite pattern:  I think this changes based upon whatever project I'm currently working and/or obsessing over!  Some of my all time favorites include:
Pot Holders
Dishcloths/Washcloths
Ripple (I use and sometimes modify a chevron pattern from THIS book)
My newest obsession, as I mentioned last week, is the woven blanket pattern (side note - hit a small roadblock this morning regarding my previous plans for the dishcloths...I haven't given up, just need to wrap my OCD head around what my finished product will look like.  Don't worry I'll fill you all in once they're done!)
8.  Favorite day of the week:  Saturday - the weekend is just starting!
9.  Favorite flower:  roses
10.  Favorite country:  I'm a pretty big fan of living in the USA.  I'd also love to revisit England and France once day, and really hope to someday be able to visit Sweden, Italy, Germany, Spain and more!

THANK YOU!

Gosh I am really feeling the LOVE out there in blog-land!  A big THANK YOU!!  to Debi, Heather, and Little Orphan Skein for awarding me with my first blog award, ever! Three times no less - I gotta say, you really know how to make a girl feel popular!

Now, on to the 7 fun and exciting facts you may not know about me (okay, so I can't guarantee they'll be all that exciting to anyone, other than me!):

Fact 1:  I went to college in NYC for Musical Theatre (yes, I'm a theatre geek, this is why there's Wicked link above...) I now work in Human Resources for a Private Equity Firm in Washington, DC.  I get a lot of "what?!?!"  looks at work when I'm asked where I went to college, etc.

Fact 2:  I learned to downhill ski at age 2, but haven't been for the past decade.  

Fact 3:  I started taking dance classes at age 7.  It took my Grannie this long to get me in classes because when you're really little classes are usually on Saturday mornings.  I always spent Saturdays (and Sundays for that matter) skiing with my parents so I started dancing once classes were on a weekday after school.  The first year I only took tap.  Tap is still my all time favorite (and yes, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, and Thoroughly Modern Millie are a few of my favorite musicals...just to name a few!)

Fact 3b:  By the time I was in high school I started teaching private dancing lessons and doing choreography at my community theatre.  I still find myself "coming up" with choreography and tap steps at the most random of times.  My favorite place to practice what a new rhythm sounds like is the elevator of my building...I have 10 floors of uninterrupted time (as long as I'm in the elevator alone!  I try to avoid this if I'm in the elevator with others in an attempt to dodge the funny looks.....)

Fact 4:  I was teaching my now Sister-in-Law private tap lessons when Jonathan and I first started dating.  I still remember the phone call I got from the house one summer night - I thought it was my now MIL calling about a lesson that I'd missed, it was Jonathan calling to see if I wanted to hang out that weekend <3

Fact 5:  I was 5'7" in 7th grade.  It wasn't until my Senior Year of high school that the guys in my class were finally taller than me!

Fact 6:  My Grannie, Mom and I are all exactly 30 years apart in age.  While I'm not sure I'll be ready for kids in 2013, I've always thought it would be really cool to have a daughter who's exactly 30 years younger than me.

Fact 6b:  My mom and I got married 30 years apart from each other as well...

Fact 7:  I'm the fifth generation with the middle name Louise on my Mom's side of the family.  Holly Louise - Susan Louise - Shirley Louise - Ethel Louise - Carrie Louise.  One day, I hope to have a daughter (even if it's not in 2013 to pass this along to)

As far as awarding this to 15 other bloggers, I feel as though this award has made rounds, twice to some of you, so instead of awarding anything to anyone, I'll leave you with a list of my favorite blogs to read each day (in no particular order!):

Megan from Crochet Every Day

Sarah Ashley from Craftiness is Happiness

Debi from Hooks and Yarns

Heather from The Good Life

The Brown Eyed Baker

Rachel from Maybe Matilda

Marie Anne from The Crooked Yarn

Six Sister's Stuff

Pammy Sue from Scotty's Place

Thanks to all my favorite blogs (those listed above and MORE) for keeping me inspired, laughing and giving me great reads on my lunch break!

Happy Monday everyone!  I did lots of crafting over the weekend, but will save that post for lunchtime tomorrow :o)

I'll be quick!

First of all, a big thanks to Debi Y. for the spotlight on my blog today!  It was a great surprise to read all the nice things she had to say while eating my lunch - THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Quick recap on the weekend (before getting back to work):

1. Spent Saturday morning at the DMV getting a new driver's license.  All things considered it wasn't too painful, they're pretty efficient in Maryland and we were out of there in about 90 min from opening.  The remainder of Saturday was spent on my weekly Wegmans trip, napping and a rare night out for a friend's birthday.
2. I'm still fighting off this cold and spent a good part of Sunday on the couch - some of this time was spent crocheting (made great progress on a gift that I hope to get in the mail tomorrow) and even more was spent frogging last  night.  The "destruction" of the Eggplant Infinity didn't come until later in the evening, after I spent a couple of hours picking up, doing laundry and scrubbing my bathroom.  After Jonathan and I had dinner, I curled up on the couch to work on said scarf and well....something happened.  I don't know what or when or why exactly but the stitch was no longer working up like it had been.  I ripped out 2 very  long rows and repeated them - still not right.  In a moment of frustration I ended up with a controlled pile of purple yarn at my feet and I was starting from scratch.  I went back to a favorite pattern instead of trying to be innovative with my own version.  Now of course, I need to work at warp speed since I only have until Friday before this needs to be gifted....

Good thing DWTS is for 2 hours tonight - I'll take pictures of my progress by morning to share.

Hope everyone had a great weekend - Happy Monday!