Friday, November 15, 2013

You Are My Sunshine


      I have met some amazing people in the blogosphere over the past two years. Talented writers, every one of them. They have become my friends and my followers---Meno Mama would not be here today if it wasn't for all of these wonderful people. They are my sunshine.
     Bloggers are supportive, generous people who love to applaud each other's successes and hand out awards to the ones they feel deserve special recognition. I am honored to have received two awards recently, and I wanted to share the love with a whole bunch of other bloggers out there to let them know they are appreciated.
     The first award comes from one of my closest blogging buddies, Lanthie of http://www.lifecherries.com. I have known her longer than any other blogger---we started around the same time and leaned on each other for blogger support. Our friendship grew from this, and now this awesome lady has become very dear to me. She is one of the sweetest bloggers out there and I love her to bits. Thank you Lanthie, for honoring me with the Sunshine Award!

     There are a few simple rules that go along with the Sunshine Award:


* Thank the person who gave you the award
*  Include the award badge on your post
* Name 7 things about yourself
* Give the award to 10 other bloggers

7 FACTS ABOUT MENO MAMA:

* I love Zumba---I just don't like looking in the mirror while I'm doing it.

* I have tricolored hair. I'm channeling my inner chameleon.

* I avoid grocery stores at all costs because I am a foodie at heart.

* I have a love/hate relationship with Pandora charms.

* I'm ridiculously sensitive about things. It doesn't take much to crush my spirit but somehow I always get back up on my feet, ready to fight.

* Nutella is better than Prozac.

* I become OCD whenever I leave the house. I have to check the lock on the door 3-4 times and triple check to make sure everything is unplugged. I also cannot leave the house until the beds are made and all the dishes done. If you're going out with me, be prepared to wait. 

10 BLOGGERS RECEIVING THE SUNSHINE AWARD :

Lizzie@ http://summat2thinkon.blogspot.com
Vikki@ http://laugh-lines.net
Tracy@ http://crazyasnormal.com
Talya@gracegritsandgarden.com
Joy@ http://eviljoyspeaks.wordpress.com
Ceil@ http://evangelize2me.blogspot.com
Barbara@ http://www.allmylivesnow.com
Kristi@ http://theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com
Betty@ http://agutandabutt.com
Jen@ http://kyleandjensmith.blogspot.com


     The next award I received is from the HILARIOUS blogger Michael Mele, who authors TWO blog sites: http://the-nerdy-side-of-life.blogspot.com and http://the-insane-asylum.blogspot.com. He was my featured Wacky Wednesday Writers guest this week and his post had me in stitches! Michael has awarded me the Liebster and I hope I make him proud by the way I answered the questions he gave me. Hey, you ask weird stuff, expect weird answers! Thank you for the award, Michael!
     Here are the rules for the Liebster:


* Post 11 random facts about yourself
* Answer the 11 questions the awarding blogger has posted for you
* Nominate 11 bloggers (hopefully a newer blogger with less than 200 followers) and link them to your post.
* Let the bloggers know you have nominated them.
* Come up with 11 questions to ask the bloggers you have chosen for the award
* No tag backs!

11 MORE FUN FACTS ABOUT MENO MAMA:

* I'd like to turn my house into a home for wayward pugs.

* I have a bad habit of making people jump by yelling "RAWR" at awkward moments…..

* I live in fear of a cockroach apocalypse

* I went into a pool this past summer for the first time in 15 years.

* I'd rather spend my money dining on gourmet food in a five star restaurant then spend it on a Coach bag.

* I wear bright red reading glasses because that's just how I roll.

* When writer's block hits me, I strike back with a glass of wine and grab The Hubs for inspiration. He has a warped sense of humor and is responsible for several of the odd lines that appear in my blog posts.

* I encourage hoards of squirrels to colonize in my backyard. I am the Squirrel Whisperer, after all.

* I've been wearing contacts for 6 years and I still have trouble with them. Most days I just want to scratch out my eyes.

* The Hubs has had a "Honey-Do" list every day since we got married. To be fair,  I have one for myself, too….it's a control thing. Are you scared of me, now?

* I sleep with a giant stuffed dragon.  Don't ask.


11 Questions Michael Asked Me:

1. How do you feel about dropping the kids off at the pool (taking a poop in a public bathroom)?  As long as the kids can swim, I'm okay with that.

2. Have you ever stolen someone's lunch at work?  No, but I'd be tempted to if it was a Philly cheese steak sub.

3. Do you fart in public (oh man, this is SUCH a Michael question)? Only if the person on the elevator is getting off on the next floor.

4. Stupidest thing you have ever done while you were drunk? How would I know that? I was too drunk to remember.

5. Have you ever been to jail/prison? No, and I don't plan on it unless it's illegal to hoard chinchillas.

6. Have you ever turned a pair of your underwear inside out just to get another day out of them (yeah…another typical Michael question)? Heck yeah, and then back the other way! Shhh…don't judge…I was camping and lost all my underwear….

7. Have you ever given a homeless person money just because you felt guilty, then afterwards saw them use the money for alcohol and felt like an ass? No...and I hope I never have to witness this. It would just make me feel really crappy if it did happen. I would rather buy them food and bring it to them.

8.  Would you rather get caught picking your nose or picking a wedgie (seriously Michael, where do you come up with this stuff?)? That's why you have two index fingers!

9. Have you ever been in a house full of people who love you, only to feel sad because you didn't get any love on Facebook, Twitter or any other form of social media outlet?  The only thing that makes me sad is when my blog post doesn't do well on a particular day or if I lose a follower over a comment that was can meant to be a joke. Lighten up, people! Where's your sense of humor??

10. Have you ever voted for a president really expecting things to change for the better? Only when I was young and stupid.  I hate to see our beautiful country go down the crapper but I have to admit, things have gotten worse in the last decade or so.

11. When was the last time you wanted to punch someone in the throat? The last time my new neighbor started up a lawn mower on a Saturday at the ass crack of dawn.  No one wants to mess with a menopausal woman deprived of sleep from hot flashes and insomnia. No one.

MY 11 QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINEES:

1. What is your biggest phobia?
2. Have you ever buried your face in a cake?
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
4. Have you ever been in a bounce house while intoxicated at a kiddie birthday party?
5. If someone handed you $1000 right now, what is the first thing you would buy?
6. Has your neighbor ever seen you in your underwear?
7. What is the one food time you can't live without?
8. Do you sleep in the buff?
9. When you were little, what did you want to be when you became a grown-up?
10. Have you ever gone skinny dipping? Details?
11. Have you ever had a bowel malfunction before you could reach the toilet?

11 NOMINEES FOR THE LIEBSTER:

Phil@ http://blog.theregularguynyc.com
Diane@ http://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com
John@ http://smackofham.com
Sarah@ http://themomisodes.com
Stacy@ http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com
Dale@ http://diaryofaninternetnobody.com
Bryan@ http://brianjonesdiary-menopausalman.blogspot.com
Joy@ http://www.comfychronicles.com
Eli@ http://coachdaddyblog.wordpress.com
Stephen@ http://slusworld.blogspot.com
Jennifer@ www.outsmartedmommy.com




***WANT MORE MENO MAMA? CHECK OUT MY WEEKLY ARTICLE OVER AT IN THE POWDER ROOM! This week I'm talking about the gym…and Mexican food…. http://www.inthepowderroom.com/read/me-time/2013-11-i-wanna-get-physical.html


***Meno Mama was nominated in the Babble 100 Best Bloggers and she needs your help! To cast a "vote" all you have to do is click on the link, which will take you right to my page entry in the contest. You'll see the social media icons there by my name--just share it on your Facebook page, Twitter or G= and that will count as a vote! Easy Peasy! Can you help a girl out? I would be very grateful. Thank you for your support! XO http://www.babble.com/babble-100/babble-100-readers-choice/marcia-kester-doyle/




77 comments:

  1. Congratulations girl, you deserve these and yes.. those questions were interesting on the second award...lol.... oh my :-)

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  2. Congratulations on your awards!

    I believe in the amazing power of Nutella.

    There should be no mowing before 11am. We should make it a law.

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    1. Thanks, Tracie! I'm eyeing the Nutella as we speak….

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  3. Thank you EVER so much! I will get mine posted at some point!

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  4. Congratulations, Marcia! Very very well deserved, my friend! Cracking up over you asking your nominees whether their neighbors have seen them in their underwear!! Going to Powder Room now!

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    1. So this makes me want to ask you that question now, Kristi….Lol. Love you lady--thanks for stopping by to share the love!

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  5. Ha ha! You are so funny and creative! Thanks for the laughs!

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    1. Glad you liked it, Elaine, and thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Ha! Great article...particularly love the "dropping the kids off at the pool" question. I am a lover of both lists AND questions...great post!

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    1. Michael came up with some creative questions, that's for sure! I like the list form in blogging, too. Much easier to read!

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    1. Thank you so much, Mike, and I appreciate you stopping by--I love new readers!

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  8. So cool. I used to be nuts about Nutella, until I developed a nut allergy.....~wah~! Congrats! :)

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  9. You hoard chinchillas? LOL -- I know my mouth will end up putting me in jail at some point. I fear the day. But yes, I would feat a cockroach apocalypse even more. Eww...
    And Zumba is incredibly therapeutic. I channel my inner {non existent} Latina when I get into that class and shake what my parents gave me!

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    http://raising-reagan.com

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    1. There ya go! I don't mind exercising when there's good music involved!

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  10. Oh WOW! Thank you for the nomination :D That's definitely going into TToT later! :D

    I love how you answered this! I think my favourite was to the booger/wedgie question - "that's why you have two index fingers"...what, so you can do BOTH AT ONCE?!?! Wow!

    I love the reading glasses and tricolor hair. You're one whacky wackadoodle, but you're totally awesome *HUGS* :D

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    1. I love being known as a whacky wackadoodle--I take that as a compliment! Congrats on your award--you are such a skilled writer and you deserve recognition for your talents! XO

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    2. *doffs cap* Why thank you again. You're a lovely whacky wackadoodle :) Totally a compliment <3

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  11. Feels like a million years ago. Congrats on your awards Mama

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    1. It certainly does! Thank you for being here with me since pretty much the beginning, too! XO

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  12. Congrats on the awards - you rock! Glad I found your blog.

    I appreciate the nomination and am flattered that you thought of me. This is my 3rd Liebster so far and they all mean so much to me. As I am well past the "new blogger" time and have more than 200 followers I'll accept it but don't be upset if I don't write a post on it as I have done one already. Again, thanks so much for thinking of me!

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    1. LOL of course--I totally understand. Just wanted you to know that you are appreciated. :-)

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  13. Totally awesome. I love your responses, very funny and completely honest...pure gold my friend.

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    1. It was easy because your questions were AWESOMELY funny! Thanks again for the award, Michael! XO

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  14. Hi Marcia - Thanks for the kind words above. You have been my saviour through so much in my life - luv ya!

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  15. Congratulations!
    http://fashionwithfitness.blogspot.com

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  16. Congratulations on your awards MM. You've truly put a lot of hard work in creating a blog that caters for many different people. Your topics are always fun to read with real life aspects to it and you have a habit of turning a bad day into a good one.

    Don't worry about your blog posts, they are always brilliant, and if someone leaves, they are the ones who's lost out, not you. As for punching someone in the throat - I can just see you now all dressed up in full leather biking outfit, knuckle dusters attached to your fists, nutella in the other hand walking slowing to visit the next door neighbour, ha ha ha.

    Another congrats on the way for being nominated in the Babble 100 best bloggers. That's really good news. I'll take a look at the link but I'm not on facebook, twitter or G+, so if that's the only way to vote, sorry. But I'm routing for you big time.

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    1. Ah, couldn't vote but did manage to leave a comment which should show up later. Go Girl :)

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    2. You are awesome, my friend. Thank you for all of your support these past two years. I like your vision of me going over to the neighbor's house in spikes and leather to kick butt…with a jar of Nutella in my hand!

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  17. Great to hear about your awards - fully deserved. And I appreciate your nomination; interesting questions - it's as if you know all my little idiosyncrasies. It is wonderful that we of a 'funny' age all stick together

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    1. Yesss--from a menopausal woman to a menopausal man! We have to stick together!

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  18. I still have a Squirrely Blogger award that I need to get to! It is written in my fat little "Post Idea" notebook; it's just that so much stupid sh*t always happens around here that I have other things I have to get to first! But I adore you and I adore you awards--and I will be checking into these bloggers that you have highlighted her for us!! I just love ya, Miss Marcia!!

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    1. Love you too, Shay. No rush on the award---just have fun with it. I love your blog--you always make me smile! XO

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  19. Congrats on these well deserved awards Marcia! Glad to read a bit about you. You always make me laugh :) Thanks for being around! http://vinmajoseph.com/

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  20. Did you hear that yelling? That was me doing a victory chant because I got an award from one of my fave fantabulous bloggers! Thank you thank you :) In choosing where to spend money, I'd rather have a Coach bag; so maybe you can take me out to dinner, and I can loan you the purse :)

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    1. That sounds good to me! Congrats on the award, my friend!

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  21. 1st: Congrats!!! Loved all the answers & such. 2nd: Thanks!!! Looking forward to it. Smiling... Slu

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  22. LOL at some of those last question (and answers!).
    When I lived in s. fl. there were quite a few homeless people and I've been burned by the alcohol/cigarette thing, but after a second of being irked, I was ok. MY heart was in the right place. :)

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  23. Hey, really cool blog! I"m so glad I found you. Keep 'em coming! ;)

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  24. Any designs on inventing a Nutella-laced Prozac, Marcia? I'm in...

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    1. Great idea, Rachel! We should invent this together for menopausal women and make our fortunes!

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  25. Hi MM! Thank you so much for mentioning me for your 'Sunshine Award'! I was flabbergasted, but so honored! Your mention of Nutella inspired me to name it on one of my recent blog posts, and let me tell you, that stuff really creates some discussion!

    You are so kind to choose me. I will be mentioning it on the blog. You are my Sunshine too :)
    Ceil

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    1. Awwww..thank you, Ceil. You are too kind and you totally deserve the award!

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  26. WOW! very nice blog. You are an inspiration to all of us building our blogs.

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  27. Thank you Julia, and YUP! You got that right!

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  28. Congrats and all that! I'm with ya on giving money to homeless people...and we have a lot of them around Toronto, unfortunately. I'm loathe to give them money because I have very strong feelings about enabling peoples' addictions, which I feel is *not* helping them. I will, however, and have, bought them food if they needed it. I once even bought one an extra...for dinner that night.

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    1. That's the way to do it! I don't want to be an enabler, so buying them a meal rather than giving them straight up cash, is best!

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  29. I actually read this post on my Kindle and couldn't leave a comment - so here I am! LOL

    We have a lot of homeless here in Omaha - so many in fact that they are banned from the downtown area. Like you I don't like to give them $$$. I used to ride the bus and there was a day when a man got on loaded down with cases of beer and bragging about how he had spent the day pan handling and he blew it all on junk like beer! That has colored my impression of the homeless ever since.

    I always suggest people buy gift certificates for McD's, Burger King, etc and give those away. The other day I had a older man who was walking down our alley and he asked me if I had any cash that I could give him so he could walk down to BK's. I didn't give him any and I was so mad I didn't have any gift certificates. After he left, I looked for him and was going to tell him that I would go get him something but he was gone. I still feel bad about it - he hadn't eaten for a couple days. I should of offered him a couple sandwiches and some fruit.

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    1. It's okay---your heart was in the right place. Don't give up---you might see the same man again, too.

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  30. Congrats on the award! Will have to think about the questions, very interesting!

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    1. Yes--Michael gave me some weird questions, indeed!

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  31. I want to start a home for wayward pugs too! haha Love your glasses and tricolor hair. Go, Mama! Congrats on your awards!

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    1. Thanks! Linda, I think that you and I should start a Wayward Pug Home together. Potty training and no-licking-the-furniture should be the first training session…..

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  33. These awards are so great for the blogging ego and for helping the rest of us learn about the noteworthy blogs out there! I have only received a few, but I can say that it always makes my day!;) Congratulations! I LOVE your red glasses and totally envy your homemaker's OCD. My husband would be so happy if I caught a little bit of that disease!

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    1. Lol that's funny! Thanks for stopping by, Lisa. I love new readers. I'll be sure to check out your page.

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  34. Many Congratulations on your awards...My God! Those questions were crazily humorous and equally your answers....loved reading them as always about your posts. Wishing you great success and plentiful of happiness. Keep posting and helping everyone to put a BIG smile on our face :)))))
    Love
    Epsita

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    1. You are so sweet to say these things. Thank you, Epsita!

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  35. Thanks my friend! You rock!

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  36. YAY FOR YOU!!! So fun to learn more about you!! I feel awful because I got both of these awards and NEVER even followed through with them. UGH. Now I feel more compelled to DO IT because of you. It's been "lurking" in my mind forEVER to work on a post with them both- much like yours, and I just have had too much else going on- and too much else to write about!!

    I love your tri-colored hair, and I too am afraid of cockroaches ruling the earth. I have never ever had nutella! Can you believe? What on earth does it taste like anyway? I hear so much about it- I guess I need to do that too!

    You are SO rockin' this blog gig girl!!! XOXOXO

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  37. Thanks, Chris! YOU'VE NEVER TASTED NUTELLA??? It is a combo of chocolate and hazelnut. It's spreadable and tastes AMAZING with peanut butter. WARNING: Once you start, you can't stop!!

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  38. Congratulations! Ehem...As usual I'm in the nth comments line! :D

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