Post Exchange and a Liebster Award

Hello new bloggy friends!

I do hope you come and stay for awhile. This blog is all about being positive, finding the good in ourselves and making changes in the world around us. In short, we're moving in our own way!

There's been a lot of growth in my blog recently and I cannot even express how grateful I am for all of this. I started my blog as a means to following my dream of starting a magazine for teen / college age girls about being themselves and finding the good in life [and escaping some of those stigmas that other magazines give. I don't want to read just about fashion and makeup but about other stuff TOO. Enter Warrior Queen - the someday magazine that will give you the other stuff to read right after you read Seventeen...or before, I'm not picky].

I happened to be nominated for another Liebster award this past week. Thank you Stefanie @ The Husak Household. She's truly amazing. We met through a Carabox exchange and I just adore her.

Since I did a Sunshine Award last week, I will not be nominating anyone, but the questions are perfect for you to get to know me a little better.

Did I mention I also partook in Just Jacq's Post Exchange for October? It was fantastic!! I got matched with Elizabeth from Army Ever After. This lucky girl lives in Hawaii with her army husband and I truly hope I get to visit and go hiking with them someday - she even told me it's okay if I complain the whole hike.

The Post Exchange is an easy exchange each month. You can sign up for November here. You spend a month getting to know a partner and at the end of the month you send each other an encouraging card. No need to buy a gift, although you can if you'd like.

Now, for my favorite thing - a survey!

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. Here's what you have 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.



11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I give everything I can to everyone I can, but I still think I should be giving more.

2. I have a horrible inability to keep things clean.

3. My brain runs at a speed of 100mph. The things I say sometimes don’t make sense.

4. Every day I try to challenge myself to do something new or to be a better person.

5. I have 4 cats and a dog, but really only 1 cat is mine.

6. Besides one boy cat as a child, every cat that has been MINE has been black. I heart black cats.

7. I have a very long commute to and from work every day, but I truly love my new job.

8. I don’t know what it means to not be busy.

9. I am learning to enjoy the slow things, a little bit more.

10. I used to go to Nascar races ALL THE TIME.

11. I love song lyrics because they simplify my thoughts in a way that make them easy for others to understand.

The Questions

1. If you had to choose a last supper, what would you choose?

A meal made my by family. COMPLETE. It would have my grandmother’s chili, my other grandmother’s potato salad, some jerky from Papa Frank, potato candy from Papa Buddy, my mom would make me my favorite cake (neopolitan) and my dad would cook carne asada – not tritip. Aunty Nik would give make me carnitas and tamales, because it’s a last meal and you have to stuff your face for that.

2. If you could go back to any era, which era would you go back to and what fashion trend would you rock?

I would love to go back into the 50s, but I would probably be very mad at everyone for trying to boss me around and not let me have too many rights. I would, however, rock the style.


3. What is your ultimate goal for your blog?

To start a magazine!!! I want to grow my readership and support for the magazine so that I won’t fail when I start it. Really! It’s about changing the lives of some impressionable girls and women.


4. How would you describe the perfect home?

Oh! This is easy!! One with love. It probably wouldn’t be clean all the time and the kitchen and living room would truly be lived in. Everyone would be gathered around each other simply being with each other. There would probably be an amazing backyard to host get togethers because 4 walls cannot hold the love that would be in that home. The bedrooms would be doubled up – some even tripled. If you needed a place to stay, that would be the place and those without a home would call it home.


5. If you got $1 million dollars and had to give it all away, how would you share it?
I would give some to my favorite charities and then I would spend the rest on children in “the system”.


6. If you could meet one celebrity, who would you meet and why?

I don’t know. I think I would like to meet Gwen Stefani. I have always wanted to and I really think she could give me some WQ motivation.

7. If you could have any profession (real or made-up) what would you choose to do with your life?

I would be a world changer. I would be out in the trenches working everyday to change the world. I don’t have the tenacity for it…and I suck at being too far from home for longer than a week.


8. Would you rather have someone clean your house every day or do your hair and make-up and dress you every day?

Clean my house!! I am totally in love with the way I look. Hey! I’ve finally mastered eyeshadow and makeup. My style is getting better, but as long as I’m comfy, I don’t mind THAT much. Cleaning though…man…let me tell you. I will splurge on a housecleaner.


9. If you lived the life of a TV character, who would you be?

Jess from New Girl. Easy peasy.


10. What piece of technology can you not live without?

My cellphone. Well…technically any since that is what I do…TEACH technology.


11. Do you know where your ancestors came from (your heritage) and does your family celebrate anything special from their culture?

My dad’s family is from Sonora, Mexico and Europe [we have the geneology]. My mother’s family came to the United States aboard the Mayflower. We don’t celebrate any particular days, but we have many Mexican traditions.

Side note: Here are some of my favorite posts: 

Why I began to Blog

25 before 25

My Favorite Workout Excuses

To My Warrior Princess

Welcome to one of my little slices of the internet :)



Check out one of our featured Warrior Queens:

Sunshine Award

Ok guys, I'm such a hot mess. I try not to be but let me just tell you about my morning really quick. Like SUPER quick. I got all ready for my second day of school and then apparently posted this half finished blog. Then, I had to use the restroom while I was driving, stopped at a gas station and locked my keys in the car. That's a story for another day...

Everything got more fantastic from there. My boss is amazing, I got my teaching schedule, decorated my class a bit and Paulina SURPRISED me with a blog makeover? Do you guys love it? Anything we should add?

Yesterday I asked her to help me fix Rafflecopter html and gave her my password and I come home today to this. GAH! She is such a great blog friend. Must take a trip to NJ.

Baaaack to the second originally scheduled post...

Today I was planning on writing about how much I love Fresh and Easy, but then I got nominated for a Sunshine Award from Christina @ Polka Dot Heart! Thank you so much for the nomination!!

The whole idea of the sunshine award is that you nominate 11 bloggers who put a little sunshine in your day, who are positive, creative and inspiring.

The Rules:
You have to post a picture of the Sunshine award in the blog post.
Post 11 random facts about yourself.
Answer the 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you.
Nominate 11 wonderful bloggers.
Write 11 questions for them to answer.
Also let the bloggers you nominated know you have nominated them.

11 Random Facts About Me

• This is my 17th job, and I finally think this one is going to be a career. 
• I got a B.A. in Journalism so that I could start a magazine, but I hate interviewing. 
• My fiance and I have known each other for just under 10 years, but we started dating 2 years ago.
• I have gone to 5 different colleges, but graduated only one year late despite university changes.
• I refuse to  be a crazy cat lady, so I have a rule of "one cat per person" in a household.
• I am an insomniac who is adjusting rather well to waking up at 5 am...we are only 2 days in though
• I meet a lot of the greatest friends online and my friends I meet in real life think it's strange. I think it's liberating.
• I'm not from OC, but we moved to OC as a teenager, but I try to escape the stigma.
• I just learned how to do my eye shadow within the last year. I don't wear makeup very often.
• Hearts are my absolute favorite and I want a bunch of heart tattoos. 
• Even when I was a kid, if someone told me something and used sexist terms or said "I'm a boy so I can do that" I would get extremely angry and feel challenged to do just that and put them right. I still feel this way on a daily basis. 

11 Questions I Was Asked

What made you start blogging?

I've been writing in a blog since I was 14, because all of my friends had one and I was going away on a 3 week family trip. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I hope to be doing great in my new position as computer teacher, working more on making Warrior Queen a physical magazine and maybe with a kid or two! AH!

What are your top 3 favorite colors?
Hot pink, Fire-engine red and grey

What is your favorite place you've traveled to?
I really loved the city of Whistler in Canada. I would love to go back. 

What is your favorite season?
Springtime! I love when it is sort of cold, but warm. Springtime in Cali brings my allergies but not the dreaded Santa Ana winds like fall does. 

What is your favorite type of blog to read (lifestyle, fashion, mommy, etc)?
I love lifestyle blogs!! I'm a sucker for them. But also, more personal lifestyle blogs where people bare their souls. I try to do that as often as I can, but it's hard. Smitten By is a wonderful site. 

If you could be any animal, what would you be?
I don't think I want to be an animal :( I would love to care for a wild animal, but I like my life as a human.

Do you believe you match your zodiac sign?
Very much so! I'm a Gemini and whenever I or someone reads it we always go Oh! That's so True!

What is your biggest fear?
Being left completely alone in life. Somehow not having anyone to love or to feel love from.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Dirtbiking, writing, going to concerts (I consider this a hobby for sure!) and definitely baking.

What is something you've accomplished that you were proud of?

I would have to say that I am proud of trusting myself and the power of change. This might sound a bit funny, but let me do a quick run down for you. Iman and I had a great friendship, but I always liked him and he always disappeared. By the time I was 21 I had completely closed myself off from a future with him. Of course I was surprised a year later when we went on our first date. I was terrified, especially because I am a runner. But I trusted him, and I listened to his amazing life story of change since high school. At his core he was still the boy I had always been in love with, but on top was a completely new person that I still get to know. When things get rough, we always have our trust and our belief in our love. For that bravery, I am most proud.

I nominate...
Paulina @ Color Me Brave
Megalin @ My Random Lovelies
Cassandra @ 2 Teenage Girls
Lesley @ By The Porchlight
Christine @ Life With a Side of Coffee
Elizabeth @ Army Ever After
Zauni @ The Kind Side
Melissa @ Dreams and Colour
Danielle @ A Writer in Love
Lauren @ Love is the Point
Sabrina @ Cattails and Cardigans


My 11 Questions
What is your favorite way to give back to the world?
Have you ever done a random act of kindness? What did you do?
What is the one positive thing you do every day?
How do you make your day more positive when it just sucks?
Where do you find serenity?
What are your plans for Halloween?
What are your favorite type of cupcake?
What is your most treasured memory?
When were you the most brave?
What makes you a warrior queen?
What does love mean to you?



Have fun and I hope you all participate. :)



P.s. Shoutout to Danielle and Cassandra for letting me know I published an unfinished blog post. How embarrassing considering I have many new followers because of all three of my giveaways right now here, here and here. Welcome to my hot mess of a life guys!


Check out one of our featured Warrior Queens:

Things You Should Know

I'm not going to lie, I'm excited about this one guys. I know I've mentioned it a few times but I used to be am obsessed with doing getting to know you surveys. I did them on my Xanga. I did them on Myspace Bulletins [sometimes I would have to stop myself because I did too many in one day] and, when it was acceptable, to do Facebook Notes I would do them and tag all of my best friends. It's not that I like to talk about myself all the time, it's more that I like to see the questions and answer them in weird ways. I think I will throw in a throwback and post one of my old ones. :P

If you could see any artist/band live which would you choose?

High Fiving Pat at my FIRST Train concert

Can I pick a festival that is put together with bands of my choosing? I think it would be a phenomenal line up and I'm not sure WHY it hasn't happened yet. 

1. Christina Perri

2. Ingrid Michaelson

3. Sarah Barielles

4. Train

5. Matt Nathanson

6. Jason Mraz

p.s. CP and Train are phenomenal in concert.

My first Train concert [I've gone to 2]

p.s. that was a really good hair day. I miss my long hair, those perfect bangs, and that color!!

 Which blog are you in love with that you only found out about recently?

First off, I want to admit something to you all. I'm trying really hard over here to keep up with all of the fun blogs I love. I've been working 60 hour weeks and posting everyday has been a challenge. But it's a challenge I've been trying to meet head on. Instead of spending all of my time reading blogs, I've been spending my time writing blogs and researching and growing friendships with a few bloggers who have reached out to me. BUT I know my schedule will lessen soon [because then I will be back to my usual 2 jobs] and then I can devote my time to my loves!!

With that being said, I just discovered Be So Happy yesterday and I'm experiencing a hcore blogcrush. 

What hobbies do you have that we don't know about?

I like to sing Karaoke, which makes sense because I have a really loud personality. Actually I'm pretty shy when it comes to singing. It probably has something to do with the fact that I will sing ALL the time but when I was younger my best friends would say "Who sings that?" and I'd tell them and they'd respond with "Keep it that way." This made me think I was bad at singing and thus terrified to ever do karaoke. 

Fast forward to 2010 when the owner of my restaurant made me be the first person ever to sing karaoke at our restaurant. Then it was fun. AND THEN my friend suggested I sing Cherry Bomb. The rest is history. It is requested that I sing it every week - regardless if I'm working or not - and then everyone always stares at me like "How in the world did that come out of that sweet little girl?" mwahaha. 

If money wasn't a problem.. what would be your dream destination?

I used to think Australia [Aussieland]. But then I decided that it's just so far away and I wouldn't want to go in the Outback so really I would just be going to another city. Unlike other places, there would probably be people there who had my name. That's not cool! 

So now I've decided that I would love to go to the Caribbean. I'm talking about a bunch of little islands like Antigua. We might get to do this for our Honeymoon!!

If you could meet any blogger in person, who would you pick?

All of my new blogging friends!!! But specifically Megalin because, hello, we actually know the same people. Also, one time we had a 3 hour phone conversation. So I know we could talk and hang. 

What's something we may not know about you?

You might not know thaaat I have really weird allergies. Here's the list!

Aloe Vera.

Blueberries. Blackberries. Boysenberries [really, it used to be anything blue that I could eat...]

Pineapples

Please, tell me all about how my life is cursed by these allergies. #NoFruitPlatters #ItSucksWhenImSunburned

TAGGING: 

Megalin @ My Random Lovelies

Tiffany @ Tiffany Khyla

Stefanie @ The Husak Household

Jessica @ Champagne and Bliss

Bri @ Faithful Footprints

-------

Here's my old survey! [in case you were interested in my not-so-interesting life]

What does your last text say? 

i know it's so young and cute...blahhh

What color is your favorite skittle? 

the crazy core orange one =]

What do you catch yourself daydreaming about? 

my magazineee :)

Is your hair up or down right now? 

downskis

Last person who took your pants off? 

meeeee.

You're thinking about someone, aren't you? 

 ;)  

Last thing you said out loud? 

i don't know this song  

Do you know anyone that smokes? 

gross. like all of lazy dog.

what was the last thing you drank? 

water...wait am i sick?!

Are you a good listener? 

yes :)

Can people usually tell when you're joking? 

it really depends on how see through i am that day

Is the shirt you're wearing dirty? 

no, why would i be wearing a dirty shirt?!

also, i'm wearing footies

What color are your eyes? 

brown with some grass

Who was your first boyfriend? 

real boyfriend: theiler de palma. ooh gotta love him

About how many hours of sleep did you get last night? 

two to three :(

What are you doing right now? 

obvi not the homework reading i should be doing or the sleeping that i need

Do you wish anyone in particular was still in your life? 

yes, but i;m glad he's not in pain anymore =]

Who sung the song you last listened to? 

sugarcult <3 p="">

What's the weather like outside? 

icicles.

Is there anyone you couldn't go a day without talking to? 

yes :)

Did you sing at all today? 

of course!!!  

What is your current desktop picture? 

molly and my hands :)

Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos? 

tattooo!!  and my other nose.

Last time you swam in a pool? 

hmm. summmerr?

you could have something right now, what would it be? 

someone paying rent on a house for rachie and i in moorpark :)

When will your next kiss take place? 

when i see a cute boy and i want to kiss him, probably tomorrow night :)

When you're getting ready for something, do you listen to music? 

mostly always 

When you're single is it alright to kiss random boys/girls? 

no, you're never allowed to kiss anyone ever.

Which do you prefer - eyes or lips? 

lips :) :) 

What were you doing at 11:59 PM on Monday night? 

hanging with rachie?

Did you sleep alone last night? 

yes :(

Would you rather have your nose or tongue pierced? 

i like my nose, both of them 

Name something you dislike about the day you're having? 

i didnt sleeep

Do you have a Twitter account? 

yeaaa katy made me obsessedd 

Have you ever looked at the stars with someone? 

duhh

Can you answer all of these questions without saying "I don't know"? 

probably 

How's your heart lately? 

fantastical :)

Do you think things will change in the next few months? 

i know things will change tomorrow

Were you single on your last birthday? 

yess 

Have you cried in the last week? 

negative nancy

Do you think anyone has feelings for you? 

i know it :)

How many people can you trust with just about everything? 

very few?

How was your night last night? 

it was interesting?

What time did you go to bed last night? 

four - five

Do you currently have a hickey, if so where? 

noo

Will you regret your next kiss? 

i never regret them -]

You never know what you got until you lose it? True or false? 

so true. but then you forget about it until you remember WAIT i used to have this favorite pair of shoes, where are they?

You slept in your own bed last night , didn't you? 

yes :( lol

Are you slowly drifting away from someone close? 

nah

How many drugs have you done in the last three days? 

none lol 

Is there a person of the opposite sex who means a lot to you? 

duhh

What are you going to do after this survey? 

read that chapter? pass out?

Are you one of those people who are always cold? 

YESS haha i hate it 

Do you have to drive over a bridge to get home? 

rarely.

Has anyone disappointed/upset you recently? 

nopee :) :)

Would you ever dye your hair blonde? 

noo

Did you mean it when you said "I love you" last? 

with all of my heart :)

Is your birthday in less than 6 months? 

yes! yuck. i'm gonna be 22

Are you one of those Twilight crazy people? 

negative

  

How many people have the ability to hurt you emotionally? 

anyone i care about 

Will you be in a relationship in the next couple months? 

i don't know! :)

Do you cry easily? 

yeah, at commercials. haha

How are you feeling right now? 

snuggly :)

Do you wish you could take one thing back? 

actually, yes. one line in a letter. though i suppose it was for the best, just makes shit complicated now.

Is there a guy who knows everything or almost everything about you? 

yah, best fucking friend

Would you kill someone you hate for a billion dollars? 

no......though a billiion dollars WOULD be nice

Why I Began to Blog

First and foremost, I wanted to say you guys better go check out my totally awesome guest blog at Rainbows & Honeysuckles! And if you're not already following Chloe's blog, GO DO IT! Her son is the cutest and her posts are always entertaining and informative :)

Today I wanted to post about why I started blogging. I began blogging when I was a kid, not really understanding the blogging world, but then again, my generation is the one that began the blogging world. It was a time of Livejournal and Xanga, before Facebook and, even, Myspace. There was no Tumblr to scroll through and reblog. There were words, and the ability for me to express my feelings easier than in my journal. There was anonymity. I wasn't Raewyn, but duckroxinmysox.

Sorry if my profanity offends! :P

I was one of the alternative kids. Just mainstream enough, but I was a geek, I liked punk rock music and I loved to write. I was in journalism and my friends were of the same label as me - perhaps a little more alternative and cool. Someone got a Xanga. I don't remember who started it. But I was always drawn to my computer anyway. My dad is a computer guy and I grew up knowing about computers. I wasn't allowed to have AIM, but I could have MSN because it was more protected. I wasn't allowed to have a Xanga.

Somehow - and I have no idea how this happened - I tricked my mom into letting me have a Xanga. Maybe she didn't realize what I was asking for, but since my parents were firm on staying true to your word, I was allowed to keep it - with monitoring.

There, I did surveys, posted about my daily life, ramblings, etc. It was like Myspace before Myspace.

Then, one year for my birthday my dad bought me my own domain. www.raewynsmith.com. I wish I still had it. I started a WordPress, where I was trying to be more professional and write mini articles. That did not last long at all. I sat on the website for awhile, but he got tired of paying for it and me not blogging. In my defense, I was 2nd in command at the newspaper, taking IB classes and attempting to work...

I got to a period in my life where I was writing too much for journalism that I stopped blogging for awhile. Leave it to my daddy to motivate me to start my Warrior Queen blog. He'd been bugging me since I graduated high school to start the magazine, but I wanted a real journalism degree first. The blog was our compromise, and also an emotional outlet.

In 2009 and 2010 I spent a lot of time on an emotional rollercoaster with an ex. It was great fodder for blog posts about being a strong woman! I go through phases of writing more and less, depending on my motivation until recently.

Recently, I tried to get back into the blogging world. Through that I found some awesome bloggers that I follow and somehow I stumbled upon the Carabox Exchange at Wifessionals. I would have to say that this was the deciding factor in motivating me to write more regularly. I felt like I was finally creating a community and becoming friends who I couldn't let down.

I used to struggle with finding a reason to write. I didn't think anyone was reading it, and my friends, who I love and adore, tried to write my guest posts but we were in school and we were busy. Now, I feel as though I am part of the community I always wanted. This came as a result of changing my blog to be less "magazine" like and more personal. I'm okay with that. It still stands for the movement I want to start and I always welcome guest posts on the topic. My future goal IS to grow it into the magazine still.

After all, that's why this all began...

Happy Tuesday!

Friend-Making Monday...on Tuesday

Okay, okay. I know it's not Monday anymore. But I suuuuper love answering questions like this. So I'm doing it anyway! It's nice to do little posts in between the big ones. This week is full of LIFE trying to get in the way of blogging, so I'll catch ya when I catch ya ;)

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Ten Simple Questions

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?  My hair will pass for Day 3.

2. Do you prefer to pay for things with cash or plastic?  I prefer to use my credit card to build my credit and it’s easier for me to track than cash buuut I need to get better at paying them off. Mreh.

3. What is one word that you use too often? I mean. It came up one day in Ohio and it’s still there 5 years later…

4. Who is the last person outside of your family who said “I love you” to you?  Uhhh, maybe a best friend?

5. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone and mailed it? I actually wrote two last week and one today.

6. Have you ever been called upon for jury duty?  No L and I really want to be

7.  How many keys are on your key ring?  Hmmm…3? One is for the doorhandle I had on my room last year…I just haven’t taken it off

8.  List two characteristics that you want to change about yourself.  I wish I stuck to my organization aaaand I wish that I was better at sticking with my financial goals (I understand what needs to be done, I just don’t stick with it…)

9.  Do you bring your own shampoo and conditioner when you travel, or do you use what the hotel provides?  I bring my own!

10. What is your birthstone?  Do you like it?  Alexandrite. Or the Pearl.  I love pearls! Alexandrite is pretty light for my taste