catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

Awakenings: Reality Blog Award

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Awakenings was honored in January with the Reality Blog Award from Alastair. My sincerest apology goes to Alastair for being so late in responding to this wonderful award. January was indeed a hectic month since January 22 was the official release date of Awakenings from Then ’til Now.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

Thank you, Alastair! Now I get the pleasure of paying it forward! Awakenings passes it on to … You must go to Awakenings to find out!

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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A Year of Thankfulness

CelebrationCat

Today is a day of celebration and catnip is all dolled up for the occasion:

catnipoflife‘s 1st anniversary!

This past year has been incredible in the blogosphere! So much joy is received each time a Like or comment is posted with recognition that one of YOU has truly enjoyed my inspirational poetry, novice pictures, impromptu writings and humorous catnip. The purpose for this blog has always been to inspire:

echoes of the heart, remembrances from the past and catnip of life.


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Thankfulness from my heart to yours!

Without you,
This blog would no longer be
Without you,
My words no one would see

Without you,
The cat would cease to purr
Without you,
Catnip would no longer spur

Because of you
The cat seldom whines
Because of you
The sun always shines

Because of you
Catnip whirs and whirs
Because of you
Vision never blurs

You’re the inspiration
Soft fur and sharp claws
Spurring me onward
To write just because

You’re the inspiration
Through which I write
You’re the reason
I’m up late at night

©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

Blessed Day and Sweet Dreams

HugsfromMetoYou

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Most Influential Blogs 2012

On December 31st, catnipoflife was honored by Len @myownheart.me with being one of the Most Influential Blogs of 2012. Thank you, Len, but it is YOU who truly inspires me!

The Most Influential Blogs of 2012 Received from Len @myownheart.me

The Most Influential Blogs of 2012 Received from Len @myownheart.me

The first to be honored with this award from catnip was Arlen Shahverdyan who received the award on New Year’s Eve. Now it is time to pay it forward to a few more.

But, first, aren’t there RULES to follow?

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Surprise!

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The rules are there are NO RULES except you MUST pay it forward, and that means, sometime in the next six (6) months you “should” choose the blogs you deem worthy of your label of The Most Influential Blogs of 2012. Those that have influenced you the most!

That’s it, folks, no ifs, ands, ors, or buts! The envelope, please…

Marilyn @Serendipity

Alastair @Alastair’s Blog

Wendell @Forever Poetic and A Taste of Bliss

Penny @The Why About This

Pat @Source of Inspiration

Amber @LadyLovelyBlogger

Raani York @raaniyork


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Reader Appreciation Award

ReaderAppreciationAward2Here we are in the first month of the new year and catnipoflife is overjoyed upon receiving the Reader Appreciation Award from Alastair. Yes, ma’am and yes, sir! I do visit Alastair on a regular basis and leave comments often, very often as a matter of fact. His posts naturally draw me into commenting on his writing, poetry, music and awesome photography. What? You haven’t visited Alastair’s Blog? Well, no time like the present…click HERE or any time you see his name for his is also an award-winning blog!

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As with any award, there are rules. The “rules” for this award state that

1) catnip cannot award someone who has already been awarded. Now, that is a tough one! Some bloggers receive awards and do not display the badges plus it would take an immense amount of time to go to all my followers blogs to see who and who has not received the award. As for catnip, she was a recipient in 2012 but this is her first in 2013. I suppose it is okay to accept since it is a new year.

2) And she cannot give the award back to the person who bestowed it upon her.

With those thoughts in mind, I would like to thank all of the people who comment on my blog, but especially Alastair who honored catnip with this award. Alastair is an avid catnip visitor and his comments are always welcomed and enjoyed.

To my recipients, here are all the rules for this award:

  1. Award your top 6 bloggers who have commented the most.
  2. Be thankful.
  3. You cannot award someone who has already been awarded. And you cannot give the award back to me.
  4. Don’t forget to tell the bloggers you’ve awarded.
  5. If you don’t want to pass on this award, that’s okay to. Just admire it.

Catnipoflife bestows the Reader Appreciation Award to. . .

Marilyn @Seredipity

Raani @Raani York.com

Len @myownheart.me

Ute @Ute Smile

Amber @Lady Lovely

Valerie @Valerie Davis

MESSAGE FROM CATNIP: My deepest appreciation extends to ALL my visitors and readers. The one drawback I see to the blogger awards is the limitation toward paying each award forward. While I may have listed only a few, the names missing does NOT mean your visits go unappreciated. Should anyone want to grab the badge and pass it on to your own readers please do so! After all, it is all about paying it forward: joy is in the giving!

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Join Me in a Cup of Coffee

CoffeeLen of myownheart.me has asked that I join her for a cup of coffee

1) How many cups of coffee per day? 

One cup in the morning…half at the time: 1/2 before breakfast, 1/2 with breakfast. THEN, one to two cups of cappuccino in the afternoon!!!!!

2) What is your favourite caffeine delivery system?

 That would be chocolate…chocolate covered caramels! Of course, the frozen Twix is to die for!

3) What was your best cup of coffee?

Definitely the cappuccino…yum!

4) What was your worst cup of coffee?

Starbuck’s YUCK!! Don’t ever order black coffee!

5) What does your favourite mug say?

Mickey Mouse…LOL ;)

6) How do you take your coffee?

 BLACK in the morning!!

7) When was your first cup?

I have absolutely no idea. I do remember taking it with cream and sugar but got rid of both through the years. ;)

8) Have you ever gone on a coffee tea date?

Nope. Is this one? If so, it is my first ;)

The most difficult part is not the receiving the invitation nor thanking the sender. It is not even the questions for these require fairly simple answers without a great deal of thought and are truly fun to think about. Hardest for me is the giving…who to invite? Who not to invite? Is there anyone I would NOT like to join me in a cup of coffee?

Since joining the blogosphere I have met so many wonderful people and established some of the best friendships ever! I want to THANK all of my visitors and followers for stopping by for a little catnip to hopefully carry you through the day with a smile.

My Invitation…

It is with thankfulness and gratitude that I invite all readers of this blog post for coffee. In accepting the invitation, Like and/or leave a comment, copy the questions, answer and post to your site along with your invites.

Have fun and have a cup of coffee while completing your post and invitations. If you don’t like coffee, have a cup of tea or whatever you prefer. Just enjoy the day and smile 🙂

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 Complete this sentence: A morning without coffee is…

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7 Writers Get To Strut Their Stuff (The Seven-Line Challenge)

Wow! Today has been a busy day! I have uncovered several awards from some of my followers and a tagging. Because of the time involved in the award acceptance process I am going to tackle the tagging first.

Raani York: htAwakeningsHR1tp://raaniyork.wordpress.com has tagged me in the 7-line challenge. Well, Miss Raani (that’s Southern addressment you understand), you really presented a challenge for me. My genre is poetry so 7 lines are virtually impossible since most of my poems are comprised of quatrains in iambic pentameter. That means a specific rhythm is maintained within every four lines of verse. Ah-h-h! Lightbulb! You only get to read 7 lines…the 8th is left to the imagination. Brilliant!

Here are 7 lines from page 77 of Awakenings. Keep in mind that Awakenings is America’s story, your story. It spans five centuries from the 17th century to present day 21st century. It allows you to uncover how your past experiences, as well as your ancestry, connect to the present, and ultimately define your future. The except below is found within Whisperings of the Past at the end of the 17th century (1600-1699). The pureness of heart, the intellect of the mind, and the spirit of the soul were Puritan beliefs instrumental in forming the foundation for America. Basic principles focused on family, loyalty, and honor to the highest degree.

Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star

What poetic justice
Do your words impart?
Those self-inflicted
War of mind and heart

Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star

Are the ways of the world
Really much different today?
Mere diversions of thought…

Tiny_StarTiny_StarTiny_Star

It is now my turn to tag 7 other writers, whose works are varied both in product and stage, to keep the challenge going. Today I have selected avid followers from Google+.


Yves Johnson – http://elderyvesjohnson.wordpress.com/

Louise Malbon-Reddix – http://www.victoryroadwellnesscenter.com/blog/

Trish Jacksonhttp://romanticreviewramble.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-7-line-challenge-tagged.html

Jeanette Andersen – http://jeanettesandersen.blogspot.com/2013/01/7-writers-get-to-strut-their-stuff.html

Seeta Rajesh Nawagekar – http://seetarn.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/7-writers-get-to-strut-their-stuff-the-seven-line-challenge/

Roxana Jones – http://roxanajones.com/

 

Carole McKee-Spalino – http://author-carole-mckee.blogspot.com/2013/01/7-linechallenge.html

This is your mission:  Go to lhine 7 on either page 7 or page 77 of your manuscript and do a post with the next 7 lines, then tag 7 people to keep the challenge going! This a short and savvy way to see what others out there in the blogosphere are writing.

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AULD LANG SYNE: The Good Old Times

NOTE: Don’t leave without watching the video below! In the meantime, let’s start with a slideshow!

Click the little caboose…


TOL05

As we soon will say goodbye to 2012, it is very important for me to thank all of catnip’s visitors and followers for some good old times throughout the year! You made (and continue to make) my day with your visits and especially when you left comments. By entering my world, you let a part of me inspire a part of you which in turn inspires others. Writing is a gift but only worthwhile if it tugs at the heart of its readers. One can write, write, write but if that written word is not read, nor acted upon, then its message is lost and becomes mere dust on a shelf, ashes in the wind.

Catnip is definitely graced with many wonderful followers. My goal in the new year is to visit each of you with the same gratitude you have shared with me. I’ve got a lot of visiting to do so I had better get started! I will not give up until each one has been visited, Liked and catnip added as your latest follower!

catnipoflife has been honored by Len @myownheart.me with being one of her Most Influential Blogs of 2012. Thank you, Len, but it is YOU who truly inspires me!

The Most Influential Blogs of 2012 Received from Len @myownheart.me

The Most Influential Blogs of 2012 Received from Len @myownheart.me

I never know on any given day who might be the most influential. Today it is Arlen Shahverdyan  from whom I would like to share a video he featured on his site today. In addition, catnipoflife would like to recognize Arlen as one of her Most Influential Blogs of 2012. Arlen is Armenian, fond of writing and is an eloquent speaker. He has already published 3 books (from 2008 to 2012).

Read more about Arlen, his writing, his poetry, his blog, his goals HERE! While visiting be sure to leave him a comment to let him know you stopped by and of course, he would love for you to become a Follower.

As with any award, the next step is to examine the rules.

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The Rules…SURPRISE! There are NO RULES except you MUST pay it forward, and that means, sometime in the next six (6) months you “should” choose the blogs you deem worthy of your label of The Most Influential Blogs of 2012. Those that have influenced you the most!

That’s it, no exception, no ands, ors, ifs or buts! There is ONE added notation:

EVERY blog I follow inspires me in some way so this award is quite difficult in choosing those that have had the most impact on my life this year. So, understand Arlen is just the beginning. He is the first to be followed with recognition of others within the six (6) month time frame. That means stay tuned, visit often for your name may be the next Most Influential Blog of 2012!

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All aboard! If you missed the ride in the beginning, Take the Train Along with Me now! Click on the caboose and enjoy the scenery! It may take a minute to load but well worth the wait!

Do you remember Floyd Cramer? Click HERE for more @Awakenings. . .

TOL05

patrotic_animated_fireworks

14 Comments »

CONGRATULATIONS 200th Follower!

200

catnipoflife is celebrating her 200th follower! For some, this is only a drop in the bucket. But, for catnip, this is a milestone: she has exceeded the limitations of the Liebster Blog Award and is no longer considered a ‘newbie’, new kid on the block, novice, noobonaught, or nooblet!

With this announcement comes the opportunity to recognize the 200th sign-on: [Drum roll, please…]

Dan @hurdlestohappiness

Here is a little about Dan in his own words:

My name is Dan, and I am currently a student at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Creative Writing and double minoring in Spanish and Hospitality Management. I recently completed my first book, a self-help for teens, with hopes of it being published in the near future. This blog is meant to give you a deeper look into the life of a teenager wanting to become a published author, as well as offer tools and tips of advice to help you ultimately achieve the life-long goal of Happiness.

GiftBoxesGifts of Appreciation in Celebration

As catnip’s 200th follower, she would like to provide a few gifts in celebration. So, Dan, I do hope you will accept with pleasure. . .

First gift…

versatilebloggernominationsThe Versatile Blog Award: catnipoflife recently received this award from Poems French & English by Gys. [This award was the very first award received by catnip last spring. Click HERE for her info.] Having perused your blog, I discovered the categories Achieving Happiness, My Writing Process, Poetry and Travels. With versatility comes accomplishment and accomplishment indeed is evidenced in your many blog awards that honor writing purposely, skillfully and with talent.

As with any award, there are rules:

1. Thank and to link the blogger who nominated you.
2. Show the award logo on your blog.
3. Write a post on the appointment.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers (or any number of your choice, more or less) and inform each.
5. Tell 7 things about yourself.

Second gift…

super-sweet-awardSuper Sweet Award: catnipoflife graciously accepts this award from Ute Smile. [This is catnip’s second, the first coming from Len @myownheart.me a few months ago. Info can be found HERE.] Everyone loves sweets, some more than others! With this award, comes naming your favorites!

Here are the rules:

Nominate a baker’s dozen of other bloggers and answer these five questions in your own blog posting. Be sure to inform those upon which you bestow the award.

1. Cookie or cake?
2. Chocolate or Vanilla?
3. Favorite sweet treat?
4. Time when you crave sweets the most?
5. Sweet nickname? (If you don’t already have one, what would you like it to be?

Third gift…

AwakeningsHRsmAwakenings from Then ’til Now: catnipoflife‘s sister site Awakenings recently featured The Next Big Thing highlighting the soon to be released Awakenings from Then ’til Now. An additional gift to you is a copy of this book signed by me, the author. To receive your signed copy, I will need a mailing address. Should you not want to publicly display your address, you may email it to me @poetrybysharla@gmail.com . There are no rules, of course, in acceptance of this gift but perhaps you might consider a review.SmileySm

Fourth gift…

AwakeningsBookmarkA Bookmark: What is the gift of a book without a bookmark! Yep, one is included so when you take a break from reading you won’t lose your place in time. The book covers five centuries from the 17th century to the 21st century. What does the past whisper to you? opportunities for reflection occur intermittently throughout each chapter. Happy journeying and journaling!

Five is catnip’s “number” so there is a Fifth gift…

TheNextBigThing2The Next Big Thing: An invitation is extended to you for an interview to be included on catnipoflife and Awakenings as an addition to The Next Big Thing, which is a series of blog posts where authors talk about their work using the same ten questions. At the end of the blog you can tag other authors who will do the same thing a week later. So not only do others get to find out more about your book but you also connect your site to some other interesting writers. The Next Big Thing is a hot topic in the writers’ world so say ‘yes’ and tag along!

Before closing, catnip thanks all of her followers for their time visiting and leaving comments. Any day is a good day to gather a little catnip of life!

19 Comments »

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Within the month of December, catnipoflife has been honored with three nominations for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Marilyn @Serendipity (who also bestowed this award upon catnip’s sister site Awakenings), Ute @Ute smile and Gys @French & English Poems by Gys. That leaves me breathless and thereby virtually speechless.

Almost. . .

It has been less than a year since catnip entered the blogosphere. She has been elated and overwhelmed by the acquaintances and friendships gathered along the way. Every journey in life takes one down many paths…some in the right direction and others take unexpected turns that keep perspectives in order and provide avenues to explore in different facets of life. Within each directional turn comes encounters that leave a lasting impression – most often positive but occasionally questionable. C’est la vie!

catnip is very pleased to accept this award with the utmost gratitude and thereby pays it forward to a few who continuously inspire her. Understand each blogsite/weblog/cyber diary shines with its own light of inspiration…some endearing, some picturesque and others humorous, while many encompass all three!

But before the list comes…

The Rules

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SmileySmDisplay the award logo on your blog.

SmileySmLink back to the person who nominated you.

SmileySmTell at least seven things about yourself that you would like to share.

SmileySmNominate other bloggers for this award and link to them. [Your choice and number]

SmileySmNotify your chosen bloggers of their nomination and the award’s requirements.

Seven

Things about myself that I haven’t explicitly said before (hopefully)

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1. I enjoy helping my husand in his wood-working shop any time I am allowed:>)

2. My favorite movies are ghost stories (without all the fake blood and gore).

3. Caligraphy is my specialty.

4. Boston is a city I want to visit on the way to getting Maine lobster. (Yummy! Don’t have to fret about NY cheesecake…hubby bakes the best ever!)

5. Can’t wait until the next fall festival to ride the carousel.

6. If I had my way and the means, I would have a Jaguar. (Nothing wrong in having dreams!)

7. In my next life, I will return as a cat. (Aren’t you surprised?!.)

My Nominees (the envelope please)Envelope

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Alastair @Alastair’s Blog

Arlen Shahverdyan @Arlen Shahverdyan. the author’s blog site

Barbara @ Life in the Foothills

Christine Hannon @A Hairdresser’s Diary

Deirde Tolhurst @Thoughts and Prayers 

Diane @The One Thing I Know for Sure

Hot Rod Cowgirl @Hot Rod Cowgirl’s Blog 

Len @MyOwnHeart.me

Lesley Fletcher @Inspiration Import 

Mary Helen @greatpoetrymhf 

Rosemary Adkins @ Extraordinary Dreams of an Ireland Traveler  

The Team @The London Flower Lover

ThankYou2

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Blog of the Year 2012: 6 Stars! Now, 7 and beyond!

Blog of the Year Award 6 star jpeg

In the original blog post about the Blog of the Year Award 2012, I extended THANK YOUs to

Jana @cjanas Dreams for my first nomination of the “Blog of the Year 2012” award,

Penny @TheWhyAboutThis for my second and

Alastair @Alastair’s Blog for my third.  

Catnip has now reached the top of the pyramid with 6 STARS!

Hugs and a huge Thank You goes to each of the following. . .

Lori’s Song 4th star

Raani York 5th star

Seetarn 6th star

In addition, catnip received a message this morning that awarded her even a 7th star: Thank you…

Gys 7th star 

and then,

Micki Peluso 8th star

plus Wendell Brown 9th star

While there are many, many stars in the blogosphere, one shines brightly from Heaven above. Rest in peace Sandra McLeod Humphrey . You will always be a shining star, our guiding light, an inspiration for all! We miss you immensely!

Update: Since catnip has exceeded the 6 stars, she would like to bestow additional stars to the following:

Pat Garcia

ThankYou1

“The true art of receiving is being able to give back to those who have given so much to me!”~catnipoflife

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