What Is Your Perfect Gift?

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I work with great people and have great conversations with them.  Even if I don’t always agree with everyone, I learn something every time we take the time to visit.  A couple of years ago, I was listening to some friends at work discuss gifts and one of the ladies was really put out that her husband bought her a vacuum cleaner (no kidding) and thought she would really love that as her Christmas gift.  I laughed and said, “Hey, I am a practical girl and if I needed a vacuum cleaner, I would love that gift.”  She thought I was crazy.  “What about diamonds?” she said. 

Now I am not going to say I don’t appreciate beautiful things like jewelry or those kinds of impractical gifts.  But in truth, I don’t wish for those things and would never be upset not to receive them. 

With that said, today my husband is on his way to Mexico today, so there won’t be any romantic meals or unexpected surprises.  And that doesn’t matter to me.  I think the greatest gift is the knowledge you are important and that you have the stability to know your love is built to last.

When I went to bed last night, there was a card lying on my pillow.  And this is what it said: 

 I love just being with you. ..I really love the times when we get away from it all and just enjoy being together-those special moments when life seems to slow down and we can talk about anything, or not talk at all, and everything just feels right.  It’s those times when I can see how much we’re meant for each other…and I realize again that no other woman could ever make me feel as contented and as happy as you do.   I love you so much.  Happy Valentines Day.

We’ve been married 22 years people, and that man knows my heart.  I cried a little last night, but they were happy tears.  God blessed me when he placed my husband in my life, and I am thankful every day.   Nope, I won’t be getting roses or diamonds today.  I won’t even get a vacuum cleaner!  I don’t need or want those things.  But that gift of knowing deep down I am loved..well I have that each and every day with him.  And that gift is priceless.  Yep, I am blessed.

Who Me?

Wow.  One of blogging friends who also happens to be a former student nominated me for the Liebster Award.

Considering I just started blogging (kind of), I think this is really cool!   

Rules

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers...the award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another. What to do: 1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves. 2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to. 3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post. 4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award. 5. No tag backs.

Random Facts:

1. I love to travel!  When I am in any new place, I want to meet the locals, eat what the locals eat, and do what the locals do. It makes the experience richer to me.

2. I remember weird things about places, spaces, and travel.  Like I can remember the name of restaurant I ate in once, and the appetizer I ate while I was there.  

3.  I love the quietness of a good long drive with the radio blaring and no one else in the car so I can sing (I can't sing, that's why no one else can be in the car!).

4.I am addicted to Pinterest and reading blogs.  I love to read period.

5. I'm an idea collector and that is why I love Pinterest..the ultimate form of collecting web-based ideas..pictures that link back to instructions and original posts. 

6. I LOVE to paint.

7. I like to make jewelry, among many other things.

8. I've had two back surgeries.

9. One of my very favorite places is Custer, South Dakota.

10. I am going to be a Grandma!!

11. I dated my hubby for 5 years before we got married.

Questions from Chores and Chandeliers:
1. What is one thing you can’t live without.  Nebraska water and maybe my computer.

2. How long have you been blogging?  A couple of years, but really only a couple of months.

3. Which blogs do you visit most?  Wow..that would be too difficult to answer with my Google Reader, but probably House of Turquoise, For the Love of Wood, and Better After are ranked right up there.

4. Do you have pets?  A cairn terrier named Reggie.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?  People who don't tell me the truth.

6. What the last thing you bought for YOURSELF?  A scarf...I love scarves.

7. How did you find my blog (chores and chandeliers)?  Suzi was my student when she was in Junior High.  I love following what everyone is doing out there.

8. What is the last text you sent?  To my son, "I love you.  Drive careful."

9. Ever been to Nebraska? I too have always lived here. Never anywhere else.

10. what is your biggest fear?  Of being ordinary, or maybe stagnant is the word.

11. Do you have any tattoos? Nope.

Questions for Nominees:

1.  What is your favorite place?  

2.  What is your favorite project?

3.  What is the most exotic place you've traveled?

4.  How did you name your Blog?

5.  If you could do any one thing, what would it be?

6.  Best advice you were ever given?

7.  Who influenced you most and why? 

8.  If you could sit down to coffee with anyone, who would it be?

9.  Favorite quote?

10.  Favorite author or book?

11.  Favorite movie?

My Nominees:

1. Hannah:  The Rustic Chic

2. Sonya:  Beyond the Screen Door

3. Terry:  Cherished Treasures

4. Charmed Bliss

5. Decorating Ideas Made Easy

6. Lisa:  Dripping with Butter and Sarcasm

7. Emily:  Emily's Upcycled Furniture

8. Elouis:  Jazz Lips and Tulips

9.  Kate: Kate's Creative Salvage

10. On Crooked Creek

11. Jen:  Place Conscious

Inspired

One quality I love in people is: Honesty and Authenticity (that is two..I know)

If my house could only be furnished in one color it would definitely have to be: Skittles...not literally but full of color..can't choose one.

 

One luxury I cannot live without: Sandhills water and maybe my computer.

If I had to have one designer decorate my entire house with 0 input from me it would have to be: Christopher Loyd, who has my spirit of thriftiness and lots more vision.

If I had to choose coffee or tea it would be: Both!

One place I have been that I would love to go back to: Venice.

One place I am longing to visit is: 

 Greece

One talent I wish I had was: Painting

I think most people would agree I am very: friendly and kind

If I could change one quality about myself it would be: to be less impatient and more tolerant and be more funny..but that's three.

One career I could see myself having would be: a writer

If food is therapy, when stressed I indulge in: anything salty

One of my favorite brands for clothing is: Michael Kors

If my life were a book, the title would be: An Enchanted Life (stolen from someone else but it's true!)

My favorite flower is: Hydrangea

I would love to have coffee and a chat session with this famous person: Carolyn Kennedy

A favorite TV show I can't miss: Greys Anatomy and Private Practice

Tuscany or Provence? Do I have to choose?

The next presidential election will be: As bad or worse than the last, no matter who wins. 

The one best thing about blogging is: finding unlikely friendships, learning about others and finding connections.

A guilty pleasure for me is: going to auctions and garage sales

My strongest quality would have to be:dedicated friend, mother, wife.

The best restaurant I have ever been to was:I couldn't tell you a favorite, but Dalhousie Castle (the in house restaurant) in Scotland, Spinnakers in Victoria B.C., or The Shelter in Tofino, B.C. 

One thing I can honestly say I love about myself is: That I am very generous and love to help others

Town or country: country hands down

One person I admire: I have to say three, my husband and my parents. Awesome in every way.

My favorite room of my house is: My family room

If I were an animal I would be a...horse.

A book I would recommend to everyone would be...
Same Kind of Different as Me

                                     

If I were planning a huge family reunion, this is where I would want to have it:

Victoria Island, Vancouver Canada

One thing I wish everyone could be more of: compassionate and accepting. Oops...there I go again, I said two not one! Those two things could change our world.(this copied from the original author..couldn't have said it better myself)

In one word life is...thrilling!