Thank You!

I have a little "business" to take care of today.

     Before Christmas I was the lucky winner of  a Giveaway from Bonnie @ Creative Decorating on a Budget. I was gone for the holidays, so I had her wait to ship my box of fun goodies. Cute slippers, fun towels, beautiful ornaments and a crystal bowl that I can't wait to use for a tablescape. I also received a CSN gift code and was able to purchase another piece for my Le Creuset collection. Thankfully, this isn't the one that was recently broken.

I have also recently been given the Stylish Blogger Award

by two wonderful bloggers.

Patrice @ The Old Back Porch and

Nellie @ Nellie's Cozy Place

     According to this award, I should list 7 things about myself and then pass it along to seven bloggers. Since so many bloggers have "award free" blogs and because there are so many of you that I think are very stylish, I'm going to say that I think all of the blogs I read are very deserving. If I didn't think that...I wouldn't be reading them! Bonnie, Patrice and Nellie all have wonderful blogs and are very devoted readers. I am so honored to consider all of them friends and I hope you will take time to get to know them.

Seven things about me that you might not know:

1. I met my husband for the first time when we were in the 3rd grade and rode a float in a parade together. We didn't meet again until high school, didn't date until college and got married our junior year of college. What were we thinking?

2. The only sport I ever did really well was water ski. I even climbed off my ski and onto someone's shoulders without falling once.

3. I was a pom pom girl in high school.

4. We have lived in 5 towns and 8 homes since we got married. We often say that we feel "homeless" because of all the changes. I know there is at least one more town in our future, but we haven't figured out where it will be.  

5. I once owned a small gift boutique, my favorite part was going to market in Atlanta. I don't think I ever really earned any money, but I had a great time!

6. I started college at 17 and graduated at 45.

7. I've always lived in Illinois, but I'm a southern girl at heart. I feel much more at home when I see palm trees and water.

Splish, Splash

Thanks to Stephanie @ A Fine House, I have the Splash Award. I've been told that this award was created to honor, "alluring, amusing, inspiring, bewitching and impressive" blogs. You will certainly find that Stephanie's blog is worthy of such praise. She shares her love of decorating, her diy projects and a touch of family life. One of the best things about receiving an award is that I can pass it along and share a few of my favorite bloggers with you.

The rules state that I must:

1) Post this award on my blog
2) Nominate up to 9 blogs
3) Let your nominees know they've won
4) Link back to the person who gives it to you

I would like to pass this award along to:

Yvonne@ StoneGable, Yvonne is an empty nester with a fabulous sense of style. She shares some of her beautiful decorating ideas and techniques, as well as stunning tablescapes on her blog.

Gigi@ The Magpie's Fancy, Gigi is a writer, living on an island for a while. She shares her appreciation of life, family and nature in a variety of ways.

Relyn@ Come Sit By My Fire, Relyn was one of the first blogs I read when I started this journey a few months ago. I always leave her blog feeling inspired, renewed and at peace.

If I have given this to anyone who doesn't accept awards, I'm sorry. At least I have been able to share my love for your blogs in this post.

Thank You...Passing Along The Love

     I started my blog on August 14th, with no idea what I was doing or if anyone would ever read a word of it. I came from 3 years of writing on a website with others and I was ready for a change. My daughter and I had an idea for a "mom" blog that wasn't about young children, but geared more towards anyone interested in some basic decorating ideas, recipes and helpful hints. It wasn't long after I started this blog that I knew I also wanted a place to discuss some of the fun and interesting things we found in our travels around our part of the country. Hidden Treasures of the Midwest was born on September 1st. I have been having a great time exploring Blogville and getting to know some of the other bloggers around here. I have "met" people younger than my kids and a few that are almost my parent's age and I enjoy every one of them. I have been re-energized to spruce up my fall decorations, try some new recipes and look everywhere for things that will set an interesting table. I have read things that have made me think, laugh and cry. In other words, I like it here. 

     Two of my favorite bloggers, Charisse and Holly @ Life Laugh Latte gave me my first award today, the Honest Scrap award. Say that three times fast and you will see why I'm thrilled with it. Charisse and Holly talk about anything and everything that women can relate to and guys would probably learn from. Their video conversations make you feel as if you are in the room with them. In fact, I often wish I could be there. If you haven't been to their blog, you simply must check it out.

One of the best parts about getting an award, is passing it on. So, I'm passing this award on to three women I would love to have coffee with.

Gloria @ Happy to Be who is celebrating her 1 year anniversary in Blogland this week. Gloria says what she thinks. She's a very spunky great-grandmother who enjoys telling a joke and sharing her love of antiques. She also was one of the first people to visit my blog and she keeps coming back.

Koralee @ Bluebird Notes who always makes me smile with her creative pictures and happy words. She is also one of my first visitors and I'm so glad our paths crossed here.

Carla @ botanicals and beginnings who lives in my second favorite state of Michigan. Her pictures of the area around Lake Michigan are beautiful, as is the jewelry she makes. She sells gorgeous beads and jewelry in her etsy shop and her blog is worth your visit.

Thank you Charisse, Holly and everyone who takes a moment to stop at "I Need Mom"!