Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Whoa! I'm sitting here trying to recuperate my brain cells after being drained from an online midterm when I realize today is June 2nd, 2013! Yes, yes I said happy birthday to my stepdad, got caught up on all my homework, and did my daily mommy/girlfriend duties, but something kept telling me to do a blog post. Duh! I missed my 1st blogiversary! When did that happen?! I swear I feel like I've only been blogging for about 3 months but ONE YEAR?! How insane is that?! May 31st, 2012 I created my blog and published my first post. I had no clue where I wanted to go with it, but all I knew was I had so many ideas and thoughts that I wanted to share with the world. Now we're here, a year later. I never thought that I would even stick with it this long honestly. I even considered making it private to have this as a personal journal for myself or something, but I'm glad I didn't. I've met some awesome people (virtually and physically) thanks to this blog and I've interacted with so many fellow bloggers who I now look up to. 27,000 page views later and priceless amounts of fans and readers via social media. You guys are amazing. I still get excited when I click "publish" on my post and I even see 1 view on that post. My readers are the best and I can't wait to see where this next year takes me. Thank you to my bloggie friends as well for helping be a better blogger. I know I still have a lot of newbie tendencies but you still give me that extra nudge I need now and then to keep on truckin'.

So where do we go from here? I have big plans for my blog that I can hopefully get accomplished all in one year. School and life has occupied so much of my time lately, especially since my new school is an accelerated program *eek!*. Endless chapters and homework let me tell ya. However, my "baby" needs a tune-up don't you think? Revamping the look of my blog is something that I've been wanting to do for awhile. Make it my own, make it "me". I've already reached out to a few friends about helping me with it, but now is the time! With that said, any feedback is appreciated. What do you like about the blog, what should I change or add? I know that my sidebar is FULL of different info so you'll probably see a change there. What else....ooh how about a giveaway? Who doesn't love giveaways? That has to be #1 on my blog to-do list. I actually just won a giveaway myself for the first time EVER on another blogger's site and I'm completely ecstatic about it! So if you don't think you could ever win, look at me! It's possible!

Look forward to some positive changes around here on Chitown and All Around! I'm so excited to share all the revamps with ya as we go. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thanks so much for your loyalty. I couldn't last this whole year without you all. High fives and hugs all around!

Liebster Award

"The Liebster Award is for blogs with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever nominated them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow."

Kimberly at Twinkling Trees sent me a notification on Twitter that she had nominated me for a Liebster Award! Me? Nominated for an award? How sweet :). I was so excited to be nominated by a fellow blogger and that the Liebster Award helps new and undiscovered bloggers get their name out there. Since I entered this awesome blogging world, I've come across so many awesome blogs that I probably would have never come across otherwise so I'm so excited to share the love and nominate other newbie or undiscovered gems with my readers. As the rules of the award state, let's begin with 11 random facts about me:

1. To kill time, I go on the Internet. Even though I have already checked my e-mail, Twitter and Facebook 50 times, I’ll do it again…just to kill time lol. I read Facebook and Twitter like it’s the morning paper (Sad I know).

2. I’ve become an "organizing" fanatic but somehow I'm still unorganized if that makes any sense. I have so many calendars that I use, post-its, notebooks, even a BLACKBERRY and still…chaotic mess surrounds me. Blame my habit of writing random thoughts and tasks on the nearest piece of paper and forgetting where I put it.

3. I love watching my son, JAM. Although some stuff may be random and sometimes his repetitiveness tends to become annoying, it still puts a smile on my face. He amazes me so much.

4. Although Mahal and I nag at each other constantly, seeing his number pop up on my phone still excites me like back in the day.

5. School can become a pain in the butt, but I like going to school.

6. I don’t care much about brand names but at the same time I like having nice things.

7. Music and a journal (or my blog) are my perfect getaway.

8. I have a hard time sleeping at night. Some say to clear my mind but I don’t know how.

9. I have an odd love for markers. Different colors…different styles…especially the Mr. Sketch smelly ones!

10. I love helping people and making others happy, but sometimes I do it a little too much and usually those same people leave me hanging when they're needed.

11. If college wasn’t so expensive I would love to explore so many different fields.

Mahal and I

11 questions from Kimberly at Twinkling Trees

 

1. Why did you start blogging? I was looking for a new outlet to voice and share my thoughts. I had a semester off of school so I decided that was the perfect time to dip my feet into the blogging world.

2. What is your favorite season? Spring. The weather's so perfect that time of year and Spring colors are so cute.

3. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you? Hmm, I'd say I'd move back home to Chicago. There's no city like it! Granted, I haven't traveled the world yet so ask me again in a few years lol.

4. Have you met "the one"? Yes ma'am! Mahal and I may not be married but we're approaching 8 years of chaotic bliss this September :)

5. Where is the best place that you have taken a vacation to? I haven't traveled internationally yet (unless you count Canada), but I'd have to say I loved Lake Tahoe more than I expected to. It was so relaxing and beautiful there. The water and the air are so pure!

6. Do you like or despise cartoons? It depends on the cartoon. All in all I like them.

7. What is your favorite sci fi/fantasy tv show? I don't watch much sci fi/fantasy TV shows as I do movies, but does Vampire Diaries count? lol

8. If you read books often, which one do you think everyone should read? Twilight. Haha! If that's not your thing check out a Nicholas Sparks book and I dare you to not cry or look at your significant other and compare them to the characters in the book. If you're preggo or a new mommy, read Jenny McCarthy's books (they're hilarious) or Sophie Kinsella's "Shopaholic" series was cute. It's been a long time since I've read a good book. Blame college. Those books are the only ones I read nowadays.

9. Night Owl or morning person? Definitely a night owl.

10. Which Winnie the Pooh character would you be? Probably Tigger or Pooh. Depends on the day.

11. Who is your favorite blogger or YouTuber? I'm so not the girly type but have slowly been trying to upkeep my inner girly side. So I've been watching Michelle Phan for makeup tutorials. I've really been feeling the retro, rockability style lately so I'm loving ilovegerardo for hairstyle tips and tricks.

My little sister and I used to do this dance all the time. Happy Happy Joy Joy! :)

So there you have it! A little bit about me. Hopefully I didn't scare away any readers haha. Now time to share the love! 

The Smores

Cat Yates Cooking

The Happy Scraps

The Naughty Mommy

Your Baby Shower Planner

Confessions From The Playroom

Cmon Get Crafty

Happenstanced

Creative Capital B

Momma Needs Some Coffee

A Diamond in the Stuff

I nominate you for the Liebster Award! You all are such great reads and everyone should know it! Here are your 11 questions:

1. What is #1 on your bucket list?

2. Do your close friends and family call you something other than your first name?

3. What is your favorite ice cream?

4. If you were stranded on an island, what are your 3 must-haves?

5. What's a movie that you can watch over and over again?

6. Do you speak any other languages?

7. Have you ever traveled outside of the U.S.?

8. If you found out this is the last meal of your life, what would it consist of?

9. If you could splurge on one item, what would it be?

10. Do you have a special talent?

11. What was your favorite TV show from your childhood?

Inspiration

The more I want to evolve my blog, the more I begin to realize exactly how big this blogging world really is! Even just locally in Las Vegas, I couldn't believe how many bloggers there were out there and all the conventions that Vegas holds just for us! I feel like Pinterest is a great way to find fun blogs, but I'm a firm believer in "word of mouth" referrals. I want to find all types of sources to inspire my 2013 so I want to know, what's your favorite blog? It could be your own blog, a cooking blog, a mom blog, a DIY blog, WHATEVER! Let me hear it! Comment below!

How did you come across the blog you recommended and why is it your favorite?