Monday, December 12, 2011

Blogging From A to Z Challenge and Latest Awards



 Arlee Bird is preparing for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge by revisiting some of our Reflections from 2011. I am honored that he has asked me to lead off the December celebration today. Please stop by to collect your 2012 badge skillfully designed by Ada Z.

A special Christmas A to Z post by the talented Hilary Melton-Butcher will be featured on Tuesday. We are all looking forward to the upcoming challenge which promises to be even more exciting than last year's event, that introduced us to more than 1000 bloggers from around the world.

Now I'd like to thank some wonderful bloggers who have been generous enough to pass along some awards to me. A long overdue thank you goes to Carol Kilgore at Under The Tiki Hut for bestowing me with The Versatile Blogger Award. Carol has proven to be an ideal recipient, as she hosts guest bloggers, writes prompts, and is known for her Friday's Top Ten lists.


 
Melissa Bradley at Melissa's Imaginarium shared the One Lovely Blog Award.


Melissa's writing is always thrilling and she is never afraid to push the envelope. She is even nominated at the 411 Movie Awards for Sexiest Female Author. There is still time to place your votes at  The Movie 411 Blog Awards 2011.

 
Last but not least,  Beth at Word Nerd Speaks anointed me with this award.


Beth did a wonderful job revealing 7 fascinating facts about herself, and I highly encourage you to visit her blog. Sadly, I'm not that fascinating, and many of my stories detail accounts of my everyday life. So in the spirit of the holidays, I bring you peace and joy. Feel free to visit all of these fabulous blogs, and if you would like any of these awards, please take them with good tidings.

31 comments:

  1. Congrats on the awards most deserved.

    I put my A to Z badge up last week. looking forward to the challenge, all mine done and dusted,
    Yvonne.

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  2. Congratulations Julie, on being first on the the A to Z and on all the cool awards. :)

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  3. Congrats on the awards.

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  4. Congratulations! And I read your reflection post earlier. Your experience was similar to my first go at the Challenge in 2010.

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  5. Yvonne - I'm very impressed that you're so organized, especially with a new poetry book coming out!

    Rhonda - Thanks for all of your help! Hope we can do it again in April!

    Delores - Thanks for being one of the first friendly people I met through A-Z!

    Alex - I'm glad that your experience was so positive, and that you continue to help your fellow bloggers! Thanks Alex!

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  6. Congratulations on the awards. You've shared a great mix of authors and blogs and, oh my, I'm just catching my breath from the last A-Z challenge.
    Be well, Julie.
    xoRobyn

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  7. Will look forward to the stories you share, because I really don't understand what A-Z Blogging is about. I read the article posted -- I must be thick! But, I curious to find out.

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  8. Congrats on all the well-deserved awards! Oh, and I can't wait to blog my way from A to Z again!

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  9. Congrats on all your awards!
    And thank you for such kind words :)

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  10. Pat - The A to Z Blogging Challenge starts on April 1st, beginning with the letter "A." This means that bloggers may write about any subject as long as it corresponds with the letter of the day. For example, "A" for Apple, "B" for Belly Flop, all the way thru "Z" for Zebra. Posts could be long or short, funny or sad; the sky is the limit. The fun part is stretching your creative limits, surrounded by wonderful people who are in the same boat; while gaining friendships and followers. Saturdays and Sundays are off (except for Sun. April 1st) and are a great time to catch up on other blogs.

    I should've done a better job of explaining in the first place, but if you still have any questions let me know. I'm glad you visited Arlee Bird's blog, and I encourage you to continue to check for updates. Thanks Pat!

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  11. Hi Julie - great post .. me today! I'm waiting with baited breath for your post to go up .. then I can publish my own links etc ..

    It was a great and fun time - made me write shorter posts in sympathy with everyone reading so many blogs through April .. It's a great challenge and concentrated my mind once again for 26 days ...

    You've had such a fun experience .. and yours is one newbies can learn from .. no longer a newbie - a golden oldie with a wealth of A - Z lore and wisdom to share!!!

    Cheers - and see you later on today .. Hilary

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  12. Robyn - It does seem like yesterday when I was running from computer to computer frantic that my post wouldn't be ready in time! But I loved the feeling when I finally hit publish at 3am, and comments came back at 3:03! Hope you'll be joining me! Thanks Robyn!

    Beth - Sorry I didn't fulfill my duties, but last time I had to write 7 things about myself, I wrote a poem entitled TMI, and it really was!

    Carol - I really enjoy your blog, and I apologize for not doing this sooner. Thanks again Carol!

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  13. Hilary - I'll never forget how you made me feel welcome right away! Thanks for thinking of me as a "golden oldie," but I still have so much to learn. Looking forward to your post tomorrow, as I'm sure it will be fun-filled and informative! I better get in line now! Thanks Hilary!

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  14. I love the A-Z challenge. It was such a blast last year. Thanks for checking out my trailer on Alex's blog. I'm following your blog now.

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  15. The post here looks great. Thanks for doing your part to spread the word. Your Reflections post at the A to Z blog got a lot of visitors.


    Lee
    A to Z stories starting 12/12 and the official A to Z Badge is now revealed
    Blogging from A to Z

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  16. Congrats on the December kickoff!! You have an amazing blog here. Thank you so much for the shout out and being a great friend and supporter for me and all our blog buddies out there. You are awesome!

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  17. Thanks for the mention! Congrats on your awards!

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  18. Ciara - I really enjoyed your book trailer! Thanks for following me, and I wish you the best of luck!

    Lee - Thanks for everything! I can't believe A to Z is just around the corner!

    Thanks Melissa and you are awesome too!

    Thanks for following me Ada, and I joined your FB group!

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  19. Ah, Julie. Dig deep and find those memories of sassiness or independence displayed! I would love to learn more about you! Susan

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  20. Congrats on all your wonderful awards!

    I had thought I might not do the A to Z again this year, but then I stumbled upon a really great theme I'd like to tackle, so I should be back again with my twenty six posts this April. Besides, it's such a great way to mingle and meet new bloggers.

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  21. Susan - I'm really more of a "surgical slipper" then a "sassy independent" type!
    Thanks for following me, and I look forward to learning more about YOU!

    L.G. - I can't wait to find out more about your theme for A to Z! I'm glad that you reconsidered, and I look forward to "mingling" with you in April! Thanks L.G.!

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  22. Congrats on all the awards, Julie! They are well-deserved! I've never done A-Z - it's a little daunting! - but maybe I'll try it in 2012....

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  23. Susanna - The trick is being organized (which is a constant battle for me), and then it gets a little easier as you go along. With your great sense of humor, I know you'd be a huge hit! Thanks Susanna!

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  24. Congrats on the awards, both well deserved!!

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  25. Some very complimentary awards! Congratulations. I haven't joined the A to Z blog hop, but I did join the Insecure Writer one. That's been great fun.

    Glad I found your blog over at Alex's site. Hope to see you again.

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  26. Thanks Nancy!

    Thanks for following me Lee, and I hope to see more of you too!

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  27. Congratulations on your awards, Julie! And I enjoyed reading your reflections post, I'm really looking forward to participating in the Challenge again. It's fun to plan for it! :)

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  28. I'm looking forward to the next A to Z. Isn't that where we met? I think it was. I'm finding myself ruminating on what topic to go for this time. Oh well, there are far worse things I could be ruminating over.

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  29. Julie - I look forward to participating with you again in April! I'm so glad that we met through A to Z! Thanks Julie!

    Rosalind - We also met through A to Z, and I remember the story. It was after Talli thanked you for solving her Blogger problem when her blog went missing. I never met a superhero before, so I immediately contacted you! Have fun "ruminating" while you think up new words to add to Webster's! Julie

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