BulgingButtons

December 17, 2013
by BulgingButtons 12 Comments

Award Mania

Lucky me! I’ve been given a few more awards for just doing what I do. How crazy and fun is that?!

I’m going to be a bit of a cheater, in the interest of saving some time and sanity, and combine thoughts with these awards. I hope the blog award police don’t come track me down and give me a stern talking to.

First I’d like to thank Zainab at A Mom’s Blog for presenting me with the Versatile Blogger Award. I’d like to think that maybe I actually earned this one, since I do a little of this and a little of that. Her blog is very versatile too, she is inspired by her little guy Nadir and writes about life with him in a lovely way. She is intelligent, creative, and kindhearted. Give her a read! You can also read the rules for this award at the above link.

Next, I’d like to give a shout out to Darcy at Yadadarcyyada for hooking me up with the Parliament Award and the Sisterhood of the World Blogger’s Award. You have to check out her blog, she’s sharp and tells it like it is. Also, if you’re interested in the rules for those awards, she has them!

Anyway, now I’m supposed to tell you some stuff about me, like why I’m loyal. Well, I just am. If I read your blog regularly I will comment when you move me or make me laugh or challenge me to think of something in new ways. I try to interact with the people who read BulgingButtons in a positive way, and I hope to leave a bit of that positive spirit wherever I land in the blogging world.

Some of you enjoy awards, others kindly turn them down, and others despise them. If you’re in the last camp, oops, sorry. Here are a few blogs I enjoy that come to mind with these awards. There are so many that I read that they don’t all immediately spring to mind. I apologize if I’ve missed you, yet love your blog! I hope you find someone new here to read, they are all worthwhile blogs!

Versatile Bloggers:

Barry Wax

The Drunken Cyclist

The Lovely Photog

The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers:

The Parliament Award

So here’s the thing, I didn’t exactly follow all the rules, but I did give you a bunch of good blogs that cover a lot of different content. I hope you have fun poking around in them. And if I did happen to send one of those cool awards your way and you don’t want it, no worries. Just know I’m a fan.

December 17, 2013
by BulgingButtons 22 Comments

It Has Arrived!

Finally, yesterday it showed up. Yesterday, midway through the month of December, less than two weeks before Christmas, it showed its face in the dark recesses of my mailbox. Yes, it is the long awaited, much anticipated, highly sought after, FIRST Christmas Card of the Season!

Not just the first one from a friend, but the first one period. There hasn’t been one from the insurance agent, the auto shop, my alma mater, or even any of my students. Imagine the joy I felt reaching into the mailbox and finding this card from a dear college friend. The envelope was beautifully decorated and hand addressed, and the sparkles lit up my evening. I was especially delighted to hear from this friend, as I know she’s had some trying times recently.

Without further ado, here is the lovely card she sent, so that it may spread holiday cheer to you as well.

December 16, 2013
by BulgingButtons 17 Comments

Simple Things – Kitchen Edition

This could be my kitchen’s clean twin.

Life is made happier by noticing the simple pleasures and appreciating them. Here are some things that make me happy in the kitchen.

1. An empty sink and dishwasher. I don’t enjoy the chore of putting away dishes, so if I use a dish it’s nice to know that I can easily rinse it and put it in the dishwasher. A pile of dirty dishes in the sink isn’t so nice to look at, and a dishwasher full of clean dishes is a chore waiting to be done.

2. A well stocked pantry. I can pull a meal together, make lunches for myself and my family, and know that I can do a little baking if I want to when the pantry is well stocked. Currently it is not. Bummer.

2a. A well stocked fridge and freezer. Again, options abound and we can make healthy choices when I’ve taken the time to make a list and actually follow it.

3. Cleared off counter tops. I grew up in a home with a lot of clutter. Not dirty, just a lot of stuff. I prefer to have more space and less stuff, especially in my kitchen. I want to see those expanses of builder grade pinkish formica! Something about having less on the counter is calming to me.

4. The smell of something good cooking. I love food. This should come as no surprise. So when there’s something delicious cooking I enjoy the aroma. Of course at that point the counters are usually covered, there’s a lot of dirty dishes in the sink, and the supplies from the fridge and pantry have dwindled, but that’s what it’s all about in the first place, isn’t it?

5. The knowledge that we have more than enough and never have to face the day hungry. My mother used to tell us about starving kids in China. I thought it was a lame attempt at guilting us into eating something unpleasant, but as an adult I do appreciate that we have more than enough. That alone, is something to be thankful for each and every day.