Liebster Award

Thank you to Wendy at A Daily Dose of Del Signore for this blog award.  It's a nice way to get acquainted with other bloggers, so go check out her site!


The rules, should you be nominated:

1. If you were nominated, post 11 things about yourselves.
2. Then answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you created.
3. Create 11 more questions to ask the bloggers you decided to nominate.
4. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate with less than 300 followers.
5. Make sure and let these people know you nominated them! No tag backs, so don't nominate someone who nominated you.

11 things about myself: 

1.  I was named after a country-singing, braid-wearing, original Mouseketeer:  Darlene.  Dee is my nickname.

2.  I received a D in 7th grade algebra, because I spent the entire year staring at the back of the head of a boy I had a crush on instead of listening to the teacher.  

3.  I am afraid of spiders and have a ritual of checking my ceiling, walls, blankets, sheets, and pillows each night before going to bed to make sure the coast is clear.  

4.  I am also afraid of wasps.

5.  I've been interested in the environment and buying organic foods for the past 20 years, somewhere between the hippie movement of the 60's/70's and the current green awareness.

6. I used to write articles for our local parenting paper with topics like, Kid-Size Compost and My Favorite Day Trips -- Local Libraries.

7.  I was chubby/heavy my entire life until I lost 100 pounds in my 20's and lived life for a few years as a thin person.  I regained the weight over the years, and it is much harder to lose pounds now.  

8.  I like movies and television set in different time periods, like Downton Abby and Mad Men.  Life seemed much simpler then.  

9.  I am obsessive about certain items/motifs, but try purposely not to collect them or would definitely become a hoarder.  These items are maps/globes, tins, birds, vintage stationery/paper/advertising/stamps.  

10.  When I was a child I dreamed of being a singer, until the fateful day my dream died when I heard my voice played back on a tape recorder.

11.  Writing this list was very personal, and the first time I've told anyone some of these things!


11 Questions for Wendy's Nominees:

1. What do you struggle with right now?

Losing weight at 50!


2. What's your favorite comfort food?

Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk Ice Cream

3. What can you do really well that's unusual?

It's not unusual, but I am a fast and accurate typist.  I went to secretarial school out of high school, before going to college for early childhood education.  I'm a terrible texter though, because I am used to using all my fingers to type on a regular keyboard!

4. What can you cook that everyone absolutely loves?

Apple Pie with Walnut Crumble Topping (modified from a Martha Stewart recipe)

5. What inspires you? 

Nature, Children, and the Creativity of Others

6. What do you see yourself doing in ten years?

Teaching young children



7. What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Just like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, we've had the power all along to do what it is we'd like to do.

8. What one word do you think describes you best?

Unique

9. What is your best feature?

Eyes (according to my husband)
 
10. What's your favorite time of the day and why?

Late afternoon to evening, because my energy/creativity is in full swing.

11. Where is your favorite vacation spot?

 Anywhere peaceful and coastal with sun and a water breeze






Questions for New England Nanny's nominees:

1. What was your original goal when starting your blog?  Has it changed?
 
2. What would you do with your life if money was of no concern?
 
3. Did your parents have any other names in mind when you were born?  What name would you have liked for yourself?
 
4. Do you collect anything?
 
5. Do you feel that life has taught you an important lesson?  If so, what is it?
 
6. Do you have any words of advice for a younger you?
 
7. What are your "spare time" hobbies?
 
8. Is there something you'd like to learn to do?
 
9. What is your favorite childhood book or movie and why?
 
10. Are you a cat person or a dog person? 
 
11. What is one thing you wish people knew about you?

 
I'm tagging some fellow blogger followers:

Kristen at Crafty Kris

Sharon at Sha the Nanny

Crystal at Wanna Be Balanced Mom 

Angel at Chasing Serenity

CJ at   Killing Superwoman

Judy at Coffee Jitters

Beth at Create Your Traditions  

Janette at Jan's Crafty Nest

Silvia  at Mama Latina Tips

RJ's Mama at My Baby RJ

Lindsay at Lindsay's Tea Party 

Blog Trotting - Tour of Rhode Island

Blogtrotting is a virtual travel blog hosted by Cara that offers bloggers around the world the chance to share a tour of their state or country with others.  What a fun way to learn about other places and people!  Although I was born and raised in nearby Massachusetts, I'm happy to bring you on a tour of my current state, Rhode Island:

RI is known for being the smallest state in the U.S.  In fact, on a non-traffic day, you could travel by car from one end of the state to the other in about 2 hours! 

We have many beautiful beaches and coastal areas in RI and our state is known for everything from the weird and tacky to the traditional and sophisticated:



The Big Blue Bug aka Nibbles Woodaway (Mascot of New England Pest Control ) perches high on a building overlooking Interstate 95 going through our capitol of Providence. He is often decorated for various holidays and has "starred" in movies shot here, such as Dumb and Dumber.

Del's Frozen Lemonade -- a cross between an Italian ice and a Slushie -- just lemon, sugar, and bits of lemon peel make it something to look forward to during the warmer months.  Flavors and state locations have expanded over the years.

Coffee Syrup -- Autocrat makes this popular syrup along with the Eclipse brand.   Here in RI/Southeastern MA locals enjoy their coffee milk and coffee cabinets (like a milkshake).  I have to ship my mother huge bottles of this treat since she has retired to Florida. 

Distinct Accent -- like our neighbors in Boston, MA; depending on where in RI you are from there can be a distinct accent -- sounds like we live in "Vo Dylan."

Foster/Glocester --two rural, woodsy towns who share a school district and are infamous to locals for always being the first to cancel schools when it snows.  They often get the most white stuff and their tricky rural roads aren't easy to plow and get buses through.

Seafood -- we take it for granted here, but those who move away, like my Mom to Florida, really miss the local seafood -- fish and chips, scallops, lobster, and clam boils. Though nowadays we might not eat as much  fried foods as we once did here, summer isn't complete without New England clam cakes and chowder. There are popular little "clam shacks" throughout the state only open during the summer season, such as Evelyn's in Tiverton (featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) and Flo's in Newport.

New England Clam Chowder and Clam Cakes

Some Notable Locations and Residents:


Providence -- the capitol city where many commute from nearby suburbs, including MA to work.  Large concerts and sporting events like those involving the Providence College Friars (basketball) are held at the original Providence Civic Center, now called the "Dunk" because it was renamed the Dunkin Donuts Center in 2001. Not all Rhode Islanders were pleased about this change.  Although there are over 150 Dunkin Donuts locations in our small state, this sponsorship seems to be a bit much.

Brown University is one of our shining stars on the historic east side of Providence, where there are many beautiful tudor and victorian homes.  The lovely Swan Point Cemetery is where RI born writer H.P. Lovecraft  is buried along with other RI notables.

Brown University

H.P. Lovecraft

Trinity Repertory Company in Providence is the main venue for plays and local theatre -- every year they produce a different version of A Christmas Carol there.

The Providence Performing Arts Center, affectionately known as PPAC, is the place to see traveling broadway shows -- just a few months ago I finally saw Wicked on its second journey to Providence.

Providence Performing Arts Center

 The city of Pawtucket, RI is home to HASBRO toy company's corporate headquarters, where I once worked years ago as a secretary. Hasbro is well-known for Mr. Potato Head (there he is standing outside of Corporate headquarters), My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, Playskool Brands, and the Milton-Bradley family of games.

Mr. Potato Head - Mascot of Hasbro Headquarters

Sports

Besides the Providence College Friars basketball team, Providence is also home to the Providence Bruins -- minor league team to the Boston Bruins.

Providence Bruins Hockey

 The city of Pawtucket is home to McCoy Stadium, where the Pawtucket Red Sox play, the minor league team to the Boston Red Sox.

Pawtucket Red Sox play at McCoy Stadium

I have saved my very favorite area in Rhode Island for last --- Newport, RI, famous for its dozen or so Newport Mansions built along the Atlantic Ocean around the turn of the 20th century. Wealthy socialites and ship traders from New York (the Vanderbuilts for instance) built these outrageously extravagant mansions to serve as their "summer cottages" and were only used 2-3 months during the summer social season.  It's a beautiful place to visit, especially decorated during the holiday season or in the summer when you can walk along the property and "pretend" you are looking back at your own home.  At least that's what I like to do! 

Rosecliff

A Newport Mansion

Boating and sailing are also a popular past time in Rhode Island, and Newport has hosted the America's Cup race several times.

As with all locations, there is always so much more!  Check out:  Visit Rhode Island

Thanks for joining me!