The longest post in the history of blogging... My bad...

I am thrilled (and honoured) to have been nominated for this award by Renee @ Butterfly Kisses & Fairy Wishes.  I'm a tad overwhelmed by this, so will try and keep it brief and minimise rambling where possible!  Renee is an amazing photographer, and has two of the most delightful girls you could ever hope to meet. Her blog is inspiring and filled with mummy moments and magic, so please take the time to go and have a read through. One of my absolute favourite posts of hers is entitled "The week of the vexatious vagina", and I think I will leave the rest to your imagination... It is well worth a read though and I highly recommend having a look!

The rules of this award are that I must tell you 10 things about myself (aargh, thanks Renee!) and pass the award to 10 other bloggers (again, thanks!) who, in turn, must do the same if they wish to accept the award. I will try to keep this as concise as possible (if you are a regular follower, you will know all about my tendency to go off on a tangent!). Here goes.

10 Random (and hopefully interesting) Facts: (You won't find these in the "about me" section)

1. Irrational Fear: Stick Insects scare the bejesus out of me. It's true. Their little fragile bodies, with the propensity to snap at any given moment sends physical shudders down my spine. The thought of standing on one (in bare feet), or accidentally breaking one in my hands sends me into a cold sweat. I just plain hate them.
2. When I grow up, I want to be...: Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I shunned the traditional "ballerina, teacher, astronaut" answers and chose something far more attainable. A Magic Dolphin. For this, I credit my upbringing. My world was always filled with magic, mystique and creativity (I know the last one doesn't start with an 'M' - alliteration fail - but Shortland Street is on soon, and I'm in a rush!).
3. Totally logical fear: I am terrified of heights. I actually get vertigo standing at the window/balcony of a tall building. I am not sure why, I just get all knock-kneed and woozy. This is one thing that shocks a lot of people, considering the fact I have over 700 solo skydives under my belt. 
4. Favourite Movie: For me, this is a tricky one. I have so many absolute favourites, but I will narrow it down to one. The one movie I can watch over and over again, ad nauseum, would have to be The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is just amazing. I have only seen the stage show once (this year in Auckland). Loved it. Honourable mentions would also have to go to Peter Jackson's Braindead, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Break Up and (for something slightly less light-hearted) PS I Love You.
5. Favourite TV Series: Hands down and without a doubt, Grey's Anatomy. Even re-watching this scene had my eyes raining. It was enough to make me pause TV (that's right, I'm down with the MySky). Granted the audio levels are out, but you get the drift. LOVE.
6. Favourite Food: Steak. Preferably still moo-ing. The rawer the better. In fact, I could go a kilo of Steak Tartare right about now! When I was younger, my favourite food was watermelon. This changed when I discovered my bloodlust. I think in another life I was a vampire. Step aside Bella! 
7. Least Favourite Food: Kidneys. I fail to see how offal can even be classed as a "food". This is the part that most people would throw away, when butchering an animal... and yet some people insist on consuming it, and classing it as a delicacy? Yuck. The texture, taste and general idea of it all repulses me.
8. Favourite Hobbies: Skydiving used to be at the top of my list, but I have swapped this for a much "safer" sport after having my son. Roller Derby. A bit silly really, considering I have put skydiving on hold due to the "danger" and "what if" factors... when last Sunday, at the 2nd "away" training session we have ever had as a team, one of our girls fractured her humerus. I still maintain she is made of chalk, and smashing girls on skates is no less dangerous than crossing the road... That's how I justify it, anyway!
9. Favourite Band (live): Rammstein, hands down. I must admit before seeing them at the Big Day Out this year, I wasn't their greatest fan. I don't even own an album. I barely even knew the words to "Du Hast" (which basically are just "Du. Du Hast. Du Hast Mich." repeated throughout). But a believer was made of me. The pyrotechnics, crowd interaction and vocal abilities were simply amazing. I would have paid the $160 just to see them! Mind = blown.
10. Least favourite kids TV show: Timmy Time. Even writing the name has caused the theme song to be stuck in my head. The very reason this is my least favourite show, is (aside from the irritating song) because one Sunday it took me 3hours to realise that the bloody thing was on Nick Jr on a marathon. It was just on in the background, and I was pottering around, minding my own business when BAM. Listening to that constantly has got to be worse than Chinese Water Torture. It brainwashed me, and stole a part of my soul. HATE.

Phew - that went on longer than I intended! Sorry about that... Here are my nominees for the Kreativ Award, and a wee blurb/caption about them all explaining why I loves them (and yes spellcheck, I did mean for that to be plural). Unfortunately as Renee has nominated me, I am unable to return the favour... however I would like to give her (yet another) honorary mention for being such a blogger-guru, and my go-to-girl!

My Nominations: (in no particular order)

• Fran @ Fit Fran Figures Out Family: I love how raw and organic her blog is. She sums it up quite nicely with this quote "I've come to the conclusion that to make this blog an extension of me and my little mind, It should be kinda like me, a simple, no fuss, trackpants and jandles kinda blog". Her style of writing is so easy to read, and you should definately check it out if you're after some motivation to get on the exercise bandwagon!
• Maxabella @ Maxabella Loves: I'm a big fan of her Saturday "I'm Grateful For" linky. When you're having a bad day (or bad time in general) it is great remembering that it is the little things that make life wonderful!
• Maria @ Single Mother On The Verge: I have only just discovered this blog, and have fallen in love! Not only has she managed to transform her online blog into a publishing deal (dream!), I just love her style! I am slowly working my way through her postings, and highly recommend you do the same!
• (name unknown) @ Stay At Home Dad: I take my hat off to him. Break-ups are awful enough without having kids involved (I know), but it is so refreshing to see a man expressing himself and communicating (even if it is with strangers, such as myself). Again, I love his style of writing, and also love the fact that he is (or was, I'm not sure if this is still the case as there was a fair gap between postings) a 'Stay at home dad' - something pretty uncommon, even in this day and age. Kudos for strength, while still showing vulnerability. Men everywhere should take a leaf out of his book.
• Viv @ Sugar n Spice Mummy: Not only is she a full-time wife, mother & homemaker, this amazing woman has found time to study too! Inspiring, to say the least! She has chosen a career which is dear to my heart too, Teaching, and I gain motivation from reading her posting and would like to give her a virtual 'High 5' for this!
• Renee @ Crap Housewife: I'm not sure what the "rules" are for the nominations, as Renee is over on the Wordpress Darkside... but her blog is amazing! Her writing style is simply genius and I cannot compliment her blogging enough. My only complaint would be that she doesn't update it enough, and my constant refreshing of her page is giving me RSI (can you say "stalker"?). Her by-line sums her blog up perfectly: "It's true, my baking tastes like rubberbands and sweaty desperation". LOVE.
• anon @ Lost in a Sea of Blogs: Another wordpress one, but equally awesome! I stumbled across this recently (through Kiwi Mummy Blogs) and am highly enjoying it! Not only do I love the content  (to summarise: "ideas get “lost in a sea of blogs” ... I “crave a little perspective”), she's also super organised: "If you’re on one side of the Date Line, my posts will appear on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  If you’re on the other side of the Date Line, they will appear on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays." Wow. This makes me feel as though (instead of random rambling postings) I should actually create my blog into something a bit more structured? Then again (referring back to Fran's comment) this blog is an extension of me, so you need to accept it in all of its muddly glory! 
• Simone @ Great fun 4 kids: Every parent should check out this blog! It is bursting at the seams for, well, great fun for kids! From Party Planning ideas, to Parenting fun at home, this blog acts as a One-Stop-Shop for anyone with kids, regardless of how old and "cool" they may be!
• Mon @ Delissimon: I was referred to this blog by Renee (the super-awesome-momma who nominated me for this award) and have to be honest - I kind of hate her a little bit for it! I almost short-circuited my keyboard by drooling (true story) and don't think my "single and THIN" plan will be going too well after reading it! 
• (unknown) @ Latte Junkie: As the daughter of a coffee-making entrepreneur, what's not to love!  This blog, however, is not all about coffee. Another choice gem found from KMB. I love the honesty, ideas and recipes. The layout is extremely user-friendly, and has prompted me to have a fiddle with my own (which will ultimately end in a fail, as per normal!). What can I say, I just love coffee!

Phew, done. That was a marathon and a half! My apologies for not keeping it as concise as I intended, but (trust me) this is the abridged version!

Over & Out.