Liebster Award (again!)

I got nominated this time by Christine over at Three Boy Circus. I figured it's different questions, so it might be fun to at least answer them.

If you don't already know, the Liebster award is for newbie bloggers and is a way to get to know your fellow blogger buddies a bit better. There are rules that I am not following all of!
1. post the award on your blog:
2. Thank the blogger who tagged you and link back to their blog (you can see Christine's blog by clicking on the link above)
3. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers you feel deserve the award and have less then 1000 followers (NOT gonna do this one, I already did nominating back here)
5. Answer the 11 questions from your presenter and then ask your nominees to answer 11 questions. (since I'm not nominating, I am not asking more questions!)

So, like I said, not tagging anyone, but I will definitely do the random facts and answer the questions.

Eleven random facts about me:

1. I listen, nearly exclusively, to christian music. I have even started listening to it while I sleep, on my clock radio. I think I need to buy an actual stereo for at home! 
2. I have three girls and by my third pregnancy I was actually praying it was another girl. I don't even know how I would handle boys at this point! 
3. I am a compulsive picker. Scabs, zits, hangnails, I can't leave them alone. I have even started picking at my kids when they have a scab that I know is ready to come off. Awful right?!
4. I dreaded moving to Idaho for YEARS but now that I am here, I actually want to stay. It surprises people when I say that. People thought I would go back home, after the separation, to where my parents live, but Idaho has found it's way into my heart. It is my new home. 
5. Writing has always been something I loved. Even when I took breaks from blogging, I was still writing in journals or something. 
6. Going back to school was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. When I found out I was pregnant with Alivia I thought, for sure, those plans would be derailed but I still managed to graduate in three years with an associates degree. 
7. I am addicted to reading. I made a goal of 100 books this year and I am well on my way to accomplishing that. It feels strange to go to sleep at night without reading a bit first. I was hesitant to join the digital book world, but I love reading my kindle at night. I can literally fall asleep while reading and don't have to worry about losing my place or anything! I do still read paper books too though. Can't beat the weight of a book in your hands! 
8. My favorite color has always been yellow. Forever. But I cannot wear it. My skin tone just makes me look like I am jaundiced. 
9. I have had three kids (two of them without the assistance of an epidural!) but I am still scared of needles. I want a tattoo sooo bad, but I have to psych myself up for it first. 
10. I think I have a touch of OCD. My blanket on my bed has to be a certain way with the tag in the bottom left corner (always!) and I obsessively check my door locks. I also have to have the clipboards at work organized a certain way and the paperwork can't look messy. The girls at work tease me about it a little, but I love it. Shows they care ;)
11. I once won a vocal solo competition (when I was 15). It was at church camp but I still think it's an awesome accomplishment! 

My answers to Christine's questions:

1. If you could live anywhere, where would you choose? I think I would stay here. But I would love to have a little bit more money to travel a bit! 
2. Are you a dog person or a cat person? I don't really love either one more then the other. I like smaller dogs but only when I can pet and interact with them on my own terms and the same deal with cats. I think I would rather own a dog though, much more variety in what you can get. 
3. How did you choose the name for your blog? It isn't anything special, I knew I was a random person and that my blog would be just a random assortment of the things on my mind. Ta da! 
4. Where do you see yourself in five years? Career wise I will probably be in my same job. I would like to eventually be an office manager but right now I am quite content where I am. That is really the only thing I am making plans for. I would also like to be a little more financially stable. 
5. What is your favorite meal to cook (or eat in a restaurant)? I am not a great cook. I like this taco soup though. It's actually what I am making for dinner tonight! You can get the recipe here. 
6. What is one thing you want to learn how to do? I would love to learn how to play piano. It has always been my dream to sing and play my own accompaniment. 
7. Favorite holiday? I think that would have to be my birthday. I don't have to share it with anyone. Don't have to stress doing anything if I don't want to. I just get to enjoy the day. 
8. Do you have a nickname you go by? Actually, Betsy is my nickname. My "real" name is Elizabeth. I have gone by Betsy as long as I remember though. My grandma apparently said that Elizabeth was "far too long a name for that little tiny baby" and nicknamed me. I think it's safe to assume that no one expected it to stick nearly 30 years! 
9. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your 14-year-old self? I think the biggest thing would be to be yourself. Don't compromise on your values for anyone. As a kid, I never did anything "bad" but there were a few experiences that I wish I would have handled a little bit differently. I would also tell myself to let people take more pictures. It is one thing I don't have a lot of is pictures of my teen years. I did so much that is just vague memories in my head now. 
10. Best book you've read recently? I am going to go with series here, because that's what I have been reading a lot of and I would say the best would be the Lynburn Legacy books. They are just really good books. Though, if you want to read them, wait until after September 23 so you can read all three. I HATE waiting! 
11. Who is the most inspiring person you know? I think that would be my grandpa. For everything he has been through, he is such a positive and wonderful person. He shows me on a regular basis that it is possible to go through struggles and not lose your faith. I'm not just talking small struggles either! He has been through huge ones including being in a Japanese concentration camp during world war two, immigration from Indonesia and the loss of his wife of more then 50 years. If he can remain faithful through that, I can make it through my own struggles.