The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

I was thrilled this week to be nominated for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award by Mackenzie of Reflections From Me. I have linked up with Mackenzie a number of times using her #mummyandus link up. I find her posts inspirational and her photography excellent. She is an established blogger with some excellent posts. Please visit her blog you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you very much Mackenzie for thinking of me and taking me in every Monday with your link up. As a new blogger it was a big surprise and so nice to be thought of in that way.

The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award is passed between bloggers as a way of making new friends and to get to know each other, and as such Mackenzie has provided me with 10 Questions to answer.

So, nervously, here are my answers…

1. Where did your blog name come from?

Well I used to have a man cave with all my stuff in it, but as we acquired more children my man cave got smaller and smaller. Until it was just one side of a couch, (not even a desk). So I was thinking of this when I was thinking about blog names and I thought every man should have his space, which was the tagline. I imagined a sports bar where people came to talk about Ice Hockey and what was going on in their lives, but the country lodge seemed more appropriate as it more family orientated.

2. What is the most embarrassing thing you have done lately?

It’s difficult, because I do a lot of embarrassing things all the time. Generally it is my kids that get embarrassed as in true Dad fashion I wave or dance to them in front of their friends. My latest was I told a “Dad” Joke to my eldest when she was having a chippy tea at her friend’s house. I told her, my battered cod had bitten me… it was ‘fish’-ious.

3. Would you travel to the past or future? Why?

I love this question because I’m a real Geek and love Doctor Who, Back to the Future, anything like that. I think that it would be an adventure whichever way you went. I would love to see my kids as adults, but I think it would upset me if there was anything wrong. Plus I love history so I wouldn’t be able to resist  in seeing the past.

4. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you wish you could change?

I was a night owl that is slowly turning into a morning person. I do stay up late watching Netflix and reading books. But lately I have been getting up at 6am and really relish that time to get my head together in the morning.

5. Why did you start your blog?

I have always wanted to be a writer, since I was in primary school. But I never finished anything. For years and years I was frustrated about never writing enough. About a year ago I started my positivity journey, correcting all these frustrations in my fitness and work life. My lack of writing was one of them. I found that I wanted to tell the world about how brilliant my kids were, give advice about Ice Hockey, and share my fitness goals and stories. Facebook, I thought, just wasn’t enough for me; I wanted to write something properly. Now I also want to help people get through their worries about fitness, diabetes and coeliac by telling stories about someone who has experienced them. Hopefully in will make people realise they are not alone.

6. Were you a blog reader before you started one of your own?

I read loads of blogs in my positivity journey. I have so many links in my bookmarks list. And since I started my blog I try to keep up with everyone else’s blogs who I befriend on twitter. I found that there was a lot of help in the blogs I read that really changed my life in a positive way.

7. Would you rather have smelly feet, smelly armpits or green hair with purple poka dots for a year (and you have to choose one).

I would definitely pick the hair. I would say it was something people would expect me to do. Ha ha. When I smell my feet and armpits I wouldn’t want to wish that upon anyone, so I clean them immediately, with Tea Tree shampoo; because it’s tingly.

8. Blog post you are most proud of writing in your blogging career? (make sure you provide a link to it).

My rant about Coeliac Disease was probably the one I was most proud of because that was one of the more serious posts, It made me feel grown up and a bit like a Journalist.

9. Blog Post of yours that you were surprised to see a great response to?

My Harry Potter post has had the most views to day. It seemed that it was a normal thing for me to do as a parent so to get some good comments reflected well on my parenting so that was nice.

10. What is it about writing that you love?

I love the fact that I can express on “paper” a thought or idea. That my words can inspire someone, make them laugh or cry.  I also love the art of storytelling, of passing on an idea so that others can be part of your journey.

Ok so now I have to nominate 7 other bloggers and provide 10 questions for them to answer.

So guys these are the rules as given to me.

The Rules

Thank the blogger who gave you the award & link back to their blog.

Answer the 10 questions given to you.

Nominate 7 bloggers for the award.

Write 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

Display the award on your blog or post.

My 7 bloggers are (in no particular order):

A Cornish Mum

Inside Martyn’s Thoughts

Gemma the Family Girl

Mama Mummy Mum

Blogger Mumma

The DADventurer

Cardiff Mum Says

Thanks guys you have been nominated so if you chose to accept here are my 10 questions. Have fun.

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?

2. What is your favourite thing to write about?

3. If you could change one thing about yourself what would you change and why?

4. If you could have one superhero power, what power would you choose?

5. What advice would you say to your younger self?

6. Where is the best place you have visited?

7. What would your last ever meal be?

8. What is your favourite blog post and why?

9. Do you have a special skill and if so what is it?

10. Name one thing that makes you smile.

I hope you guys have as much fun answering these questions as I did answering Mackenzie’s. Please let me know if you accept so I can read your replies. Thanks.

Thank you again Mackenzie for nominating me. It gave me a boost to know that someone thought enough of me to give me this award.