Very Inspiring Blogger Award: Thanks, Amanda!

I'm a bit behind, but last week, my dear friend Amanda over at Is this the real life? nominated me for a blog award.  Aw, shucks: it's great to know that what I do can inspire the people I care about!  Thanks, sweetie!

So, as a Very Inspiring Blogger Award recipient, I need to post seven interesting things about myself, and then pass the award on to seven inspiring bloggers.  I'll tag first.  These are some of my favorite bloggers on the web, listed in no particular order!

Bluestocking
Charity Bradford
Natalie Whipple
Gail Carson Levine
Karen G
Archna Sharma
Mark David Gerson

Make sure you check out these inspiring, dedicated folks!

Now, on to my seven facts:

1. The first country I ever traveled to wasn't even a place I'd ever thought about going before.  I went to China simply because I had a friend there who offered me a free room.  And then I got bit by the travel bug...

2. I've taught five college subjects and five middle school subjects in two states.

3. I wore flip flops to my wedding (and it wasn't on a beach).

4. I start to go crazy if I haven't a)read, b)written, and c)done yoga each week.  (Going crazy, now, actually!)

5. My favorite smell is fresh roses.

6. I believe in magic.

7. I have been asked if I am my siblings' mother before (big age gap, but not THAT big!)

Happy Friday, lovelies!  Thanks for listening to me ramble.

10 Things I Hate About...wait, that's not right...

Actually, this post is 10 things you didn't know about me.  

 The delightful Dana over at The Daily Dose gifted me with the Kreativ Blogger Award, and as part of the rules for accepting this award, I need to tell you all ten little known things about me.   But before I do, make sure you check out Dana's "musings on motherhood, writing, and life."  Her posts always make me smile!

Ten things you don't know about me...

...

That's hard!

Okay, here goes.

1. I met my husband on the morning at Barnes and Noble when I set off the security alarms.

2. I've taught in four schools in two states.

3. Big dogs really scare me...until I get to know them.

4. The first book I tried to write was a fictionalize account of myself, my mother, and my grandmother.  I wrote it in two days one Winter Break.  I haven't touched it since.

5. I love travel, but my wanderlust is usually in small doses: 10 days is about my trip limit, no matter how cool the destination.

6. Sometimes, I feel like Gladys Kravitz in Bewitched because I watch the neighborhood while I'm writing.  (Like right now, there's a large truck slowly back up the street...)

7. I love bonfires, but as a child, I was terrified of the house catching fire.

8. I have a very active imagination, and I frequently read or watch things that prevent me from sleeping.

9. I've never read The Great Gatsby.

10. I could live off of bread, olive oil, and cheap wine.

That was harder than I thought!  But now comes the fun part: I get to tag six delightful bloggers.

I pick:

Kim Harrington

(I love her writing, and she posts great tidbits, ideas, and information on her blog.)

Jaye Robin Brown

(Can't go wrong with art work and mountain stories!)

Ms. Dee

(Great book reviews as well as excellent library advocacy.)

Mary Gray

(My enthusiastic agent-mate, who posts her thoughts on books, TV, and living.)

Archna Sharma

(Her poetry truly sings.)

Natalie Whipple

(I've learned more from her about writing than from any other single source.)

What are some things no one knows about you?