I've been nominated for the Liebster award

I've been nominated for a Liebster Award by Monica, of A Pear-Shaped-Gal.com  blog.  The Liebster Award is an award given to up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers.  No one knows where it came from or who started it, but it's an interesting and fun thing to participate in.  Thank you, Monica, for nominating me!

If you would like to participate, there are a few simple rules to follow:

• Thank and link back to the person who nominated you
• Write 11 random facts about yourself
• Answer the 11 questions written by the person who nominated you
• Nominate 11 other bloggers
• Write 11 questions for the other bloggers to answer

Here are the 11 random facts about me:

1. I'm a computer geek
2. I've lived in Atlanta, GA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Orange County, CA
3. I've done technical support for law firms for most of my working life
4. I'm a very creative person
5. I make and sell beaded jewelry on Etsy under the name 405 Creations
6. I always wanted children but the only ones I have are my cats, whom I adore
7. My hair has been blonde, red, black, and blonde with black tips
8. I love alternative music the most, but I also like some punk, rock, pop, blues, new age and classical
9. I majored in Fashion Merchandising for a short time, but ended up getting my degree in Communications
10. My favorite cosmetic brand is MAC. If I was blindfolded and someone walked me into a MAC store I'd know where I was just from the smell.
11. My most interesting job was traveling the U.S. training the new TSA screeners at airports after 9/11.

And here are my answers to Monica's questions:

1. Why did you start your blog?  To promote my jewelry shop on Etsy, named 405 Creations
2. What type of things do you blog about?   Mostly make up tutorials, beauty products, fashion, my favorite TV shows, and the psychology of beauty and fashion.
3. What is your favorite article of clothing?   It changes, but right now it's a sweater with a detachable fur collar that I got at a Goodwill store.
4. Are you on time or fashionably late?   I hate to say that I'm usually fashionably late.
5. Do you have any pets?  I did have 3 cats, two older girls and one young boy.  My oldest girl, Buddy, had kidney disease and I had to put her to sleep in October after she suffered continuous seizures one night.  It was one of the worst nights of my life, and I still miss her terribly.  My other girl is Scully, who is 15.  Sadly, Scully is still looking for Buddy, wondering where her long-time companion has went.  Max is just 2, and he's the sweetest boy you could imagine.  He'll let me hold him like a baby, touch his feet, scratch his belly - anything is fine with him.  I found all of my cats when they were babies.
6. Where do you like to find your fashion news?  Books, magazines, Internet, other?  I still like magazines, but I also read blogs and look at fashion photos on Pinterest.
7. What are your favorite nail polish brands?  Essie and OPI.
8. Do you consider yourself a good cook and if yes, what is your favorite dish to make?  I am a good cook, but I don't enjoy cooking much anymore.  I like to make quick, easy dishes like turkey burgers or chicken with pasta.
9. What is your favorite electronic device?  my laptop.  I couldn't live without it.
10. What do you do to keep in shape?  Walking, yoga, running, weights, other?  I walk, lift weights, and do the elliptical machine at the gym.  I've been a yogi for a long time, although I've not been doing it much since my favorite teacher quit.
11. What is the best city/country that you've traveled to?  My favorite city is L.A./Hollywood, with New York a close second.

Here are the 10 bloggers that I nominate.  I tried to find 11 with under 200 followers and it was terribly hard! If there are two of you out there who would like to be nominated, let me know and I'll add you to my list.

1. Heather at Heather's Thrifty Closet 
2. Joni at Walking Colors 
3. Terry at Terry's Two Cents 
4. Paula at Fashion Over Fifty 
5. Maxens at The Scavengers Daughter 
6. Jan at Fort Smith Stylista 
7. Maya at Girl loves color
8.  Becky at The Fluff Report
9.  Sophie at Pretty Passions, Fine Fashions  
10.  Jennifer at Obsidian Soul and Dreamcatchers

My 11 questions for the nominees:

1. What blog post would you write if you could do ANYTHING?  Pretend that you'd have money, great camera and lighting equipment (if necessary), as many assistants as you needed, you could be anywhere, and you'd look great in any type of clothing.
2. What color clothing do you have the most of?
3. Have you done any collaborations yet?
4. What are your hobbies?
5. What subjects do like to read about?
6. What are your favorite TV programs, if you watch TV?
7. What makes you the happiest about your blog?
8. Do you have any pet peeves about blogs? Is there something that makes you decide NOT to read a blog post?
9. What social media do you like the best? (there can be more than one)
10. Do you like reading about celebrity fashion?  Why or why not?
11. Is there anything that you wish that you could do more of with your blog?