The Sunshine Award!

So can we talk about how there are some people that just totally always manage to make your day?

Well that person for me lately has been my bloggy mommy friend +MarisaH.

Now if it weren't enough that she totally makes my day with her always kind and funny comments but she kind of has this ADORABLE baby Marlee that she blogs about who always puts a smile on my face.

And now to top it off she has nominated me for the Sunshine Award.

The Sunshine Award is given to those who inspire us and bring Sunshine into our lives.

Which totally makes sense that she was nominated because Marisa is the epitome of sunshine.

So there are a few simple rules for the Sunshine Award:

1. Include Award Logo in or on your blog post
2. Link to the person who nominated you
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself
4. Nominate other bloggers to give this award

Please visit and follow Marisa and Marlee at http://marleejoandme.blogspot.com or by clicking here

Check her out and I guarantee she will put a smile on your face as much as she does for me! And while you're there you can check out her blog's cute new look (don't think I didn't notice!)

So when I first read Marisa had nominated me I was all





But inside I was totally all







This is my second award since starting the blog and it's so heartwarming to know I'm actually reaching a few people out there. So with that I'll answer the questions left for me by Marisa.

1. Give everyone a little info about you and your blog.

Welp. My blog has basically transformed into this gigantic blob of randomness. I have occasional recipes and DIY projects. And I have LOTS AND LOTS of pictures of Daddy and Bug (my nickname for my 7 month old baby girl Riley) and now recently I have been sharing my photography side work which will eventually become it's own site entirely.

2. What was the inspiration for starting a blog?

This one's easy and the answer is identical to why I decided to make the leap and purchase my camera. My Bug. I'm entirely forgetful, not intentionally of course. In fact I'm infamous for it. A blog became the perfect option for me. It allows me to have a creative outlet through writing which I've always enjoyed. And it also helps me to remember alllllll the little things. All the milestones and the memories, all right here.

3. What would your perfect date consist of?

The perfect date. Hmmmm. Well I'm totally spontaneous and adventurous at heart, whether my time or my wallet allow for it. I think my perfect date would be a trip to my favorite city, New York City. Grabbing some dinner, walking central park, a little shopping, and ending the night with a frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity.

This is a picture of one of my best friends and I enjoying a frozen hot chocolate about 2 years ago from Serendipity, they are life changing and nothing like any of the ones you see at Dunkin (trust me).

4. You have been cast on a reality TV show. What show and why?

That's a tough one. I'd have to say Big Brother, because it requires zero talent haha I used to be a frequent watcher so I guess it'd be kinda cool, and I'm kind of a social butterfly so I suppose I would have that going for me too.

5. If you could travel to any place in the world, where would it be?

Oh god, it's probably a tie between the Maldives:

Or Greece:

Or Bora Bora:

No need to ask me why haha I've been to Aruba twice, Punta Cana, and the Bahamas and these are my dream places to visit.

6. You are stranded on an island and only have three items in your suitcase. What are they?

Oh god, well I'm practical so I suppose the answer to that would be sunscreen, a lighter, and a knife. That's the survivor in me. But if it were me tailoring to my inner-Kerin it would be a good LONG book, a blanket, and lots of Starbucks Lemon pound cake. hahaha No but seriously that shit is delicious.

7. Name three celebrities that you would like to invite over for dinner and drinks and why?

Well my woman crush without a doubt is Rachel McAdams. She is so beautiful, a great actress, and she seems like such a nice freaking person, I would love to pick her brain. Taylor Swift because she is also such a genuinely kind person (and that I know for a fact), and Johnny Depp. He is the epitome of a brilliant actor and I can only imagine he'd be one hell of a time.

8. For your birthday, you can have any gift you want. What is it?

A house for my family to live and grow in.

9. Name one materialistic thing that you cannot live without and why?

Goodness, I'd have to say my phone. As stupid and mundane as that sounds. Like I've mentioned before I'm a social butterfly, it's how I keep in touch with everyone, it's how I take pictures of my bug when I don't feel like or have the DSLR around, I've used it in emergencies, it wakes me up every morning, plays my music, tells me the weather, and how much money (or little money) I have in my bank account hahah it's my lifeline.

10. How long have you been blogging and do you think you will be blogging five years from now?

I've only been blogging for about 7 months coming up on 8. I don't know if I'll be blogging 5 years from now or even a year from now, but I hope... sincerely hope... I am.

So those we're the questions Marisa left for me now for my nominations and their questions.

1. Kristen Genevieve from Sunny With a Chance of Lemons

I recently found Kristen's blog and she is an ADORABLE mommy-to-be.

2. Christa from Possibly Polished

Christa I actually went to high school with she is the sweetest and has talent POURING out of her. Don't believe me? Go check out her blog, that alone is just one of her many talents. Christa can seriously paint her nails, and is always coming up with these awesome ideas. And if that weren't enough, she shares her tips and tricks as well as where and how to et the best coupons and deals in the beauty department. LOVE her. Her personality alone makes her a ray of sunshine so she couldn't be a better candidate.

Now for my questions for you!

1. Tell us about you blog. What do you write about? How long have you been blogging and do you see yourself being a long time blogger?

2. What is one of your favorite quotes?

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

4. Where do you seen yourself 10 years from now?

5. What is the best present you've ever received?

6. If you could meet anyone famous (living or non-living) who would it be and why?

7. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

8.If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

9. If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

10. What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?

Alright ladies, you're up! And a big thanks again to my wonderful blogger mommy friend Marisa!! :)

Liebster Blog Award

I have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award from Brittany Danielle at With Love nominated me and I am floored to say the least. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. “Liebster” is German for “favorite”. This award is the “favorite blog award”. You have to nominate 5-11 bloggers with less than 200 readers.
To accept the nomination, I have to complete the tasks below:

Link back to the blog that nominated you, Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers, Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator, Share 11 random facts about yourself, Create 11 questions for your nominees, and Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them.
Below are the blogs I have nominated:

1. http://talesofgrace.blogspot.com
2. http://lucieandthebump.blogspot.co.uk
3. http://thebasics1.blogspot.com
4. http://www.word2yourmama.com
5. http://dougandblaine.blogspot.com

Answers to the questions from my Nominator:

1.) What is your favorite clothing store? Oh lord that's easy...Express. They hold the key to my heart...and my wallet.

2.) What is your guilty pleasure? Either reading young adult fantasy/paranormal books orrrr watching Pretty Little Liars.

3.) What is your favorite food? Cant get me enough gummy bears. Totally weird I know, but I could eat them all day every day.

4.) What is your greatest fear? To be completely and totally honest...Losing my memory. I have a terrible memory as it is but Dementia and Alzheimer's run in my family and there's something so scary about seeing someone look at their daughter or their sister or their whoever and not know who they are. It's just a terrifying thought to me.

5.) What is your silliest fear? Octopuses. Go ahead...laugh it up.

6.) What one material thing can you not live without? Ohhh either my phone or my camera. It's the way I get to talk to everyone and give the people I love my love every day and the way I get to document the people I love.

7.) What is your first (or one of your first) childhood memory? Visiting my family in California and taking an 8 hour plane ride ALONE.

8.) If you could pack up your whole life and move tomorrow, where would you go? Ironically enough, California. All my friends and family know this, it's no secret, I would still have actually moved had there not been a little addition to my family a couple months ago ;)

9.) Who knows you better than anyone? Gosh, I'd have to say my best friend Jen. As much as I'd love to say boyfriend, we haven't known each other nearly as long as Jen and I and we are still learning new things about each other every day. But Jen and I have known each other half our lives, and that really says it all right there.

10.) What time do you generally go to sleep at night? Lezbehonest...I'm a momma now sooooo 9:30-10?

11.) If you could meet any one person in the world, dead or alive, who would it be? I lost someone very very close to me that I considered a best friend 4 years ago, I would relinquish meeting anyone famous or not, if I could just see him one more time.


Random Facts About Me:

1. I'm an only child. And no for those of you who think that's so fantastically awesome, you are sincerely misinformed. As a child it may have had its perks, but as you get older you truly get to appreciate brothers and sisters even more. (I used to have a fear that I would marry someone who was also and only child and then we would have babies who didn't have uncles, aunts, or cousins. Thank heavens, that's not the case)

2. I had an emergency appendectomy my sophomore year of college. It was a bitch to say the least.

3. I love airports. Primarily because I love to travel. I have been to Florida, Myrtle Beach, California (3 times), Florida (soon to be 4 times), Spain, the Bahamas, Aruba (twice), and the Dominican. I seriously can't get enough.

4. I have a necklace that was given to me by Will Smith.

5. I had a tattoo (not in a secret place mind you) for 6 months before my dad found out about it, and he didn't even see it...he was told I had it.

6. I'm obsessed with anything and everything Disney.

7. I also have an extremely unhealthy obsession with giraffes.

8. This one's a weird one so prepare yourself. If I see people sweating whether it be in person or on TV, it makes my eyes water. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I know, judge away.

9. I didn't honestly believe I was having a baby until the moment they put her in my arms, it didn't become real until I held her for the first time.

10. I can only wink my left eye.

11. I worked as a preschool teacher's assistant and while I was not there very long it was bar none the most rewarding job I have held. There is nothing more amazing than watching these little people grow physically and mentally before your eyes and there is NOTHING greater than hearing every single day how much you are loved.



Here are my questions for my nominees:

1. What is the best purchase you've ever made?

2. What is the proudest moment in your life?

3. Is there something about me that you’ve always wanted to know but have never asked?

4. How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?

5. Do you believe in love at first sight?

6. What is your best advice to give someone?

7. If you could do anything regardless of pay what would you do?

8. If you won a million dollars what would be the first thing you'd buy?

9. If you were an animal what would you be and why?

10. If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be?

11. What’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done?



To Brittany Danielle,
Getting this nomination means more to me than I could ever begin to explain and thank you is simply just not enough. There is nothing I love more than being able to share my life and photos and thoughts, this recognition is touching and I sincerely appreciate it.
"With Love" ;)
Kerin