The Premio Zombie Friends Fabulous Fried Chicken Blog Award

What? It's a new award! Okay, not really-- it's a conglomerate of five really cool awards that have been bestowed upon me by some really fantastic and kind hearted bloggers recently over the last few weeks over the last few months. I just threw "fried" in there, because really, who doesn't love fried chicken? Aside from vegetarians, I suppose.

Premio Dardas Award

Your Blog is Fabulous Award

Zombie Chicken Award

Let's Be Friends...Award

It's about time I spread the Blog Award Love.

The Premio Dardas Award
Given to me by Lea of Closetwriter, Anna of Anna's Book Blog, and Tracy of Tracy's Place. This award,

"Acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day."

This award is chockfull of serious stuff. Cultural, ethical, literary and personal values? Wow. I'm humbled that Lea, Anna and Tracy feel I deserve this very cool award. Either that or they ran out of people to give it to seeing as the original rules state that you should award it to 15 other bloggers. ;) Seriously, though, I contemplated the meaning of this award--although not so thoroughly as the super sleuths Carolyn Jean of The Thrillionth Page and Ana of The Booksmugglers-- and have come up with the following bloggers whose blog truly reflects those values on a regular basis:

1. Katie(babs) of Babbling About Books and More. Kate blogs about stuff from all over the spectrum, often with a great sense of humor, but also with great sensitivity and awareness to simply being a kind, open minded person to ALL people.

2. Jace of Jace Scribbles and Jace Makes. Jace blogs now and then about holidays in Malaysia, books, and her passion for crafts.

3. Ciara of Ciara Stewart. An aspiring author, Ciara's blog is perfectly balanced personally and professionally. Her topics extend from posts about her writing, reading, and worldly travel experiences and anything to do with literature in general.

4. Author Ann Aguirre; blog and website.
5. Author Nalini Singh; blog and website.

I have a lot of respect for both Ann and Nalini. Not only do I love their writing, but I also admire the way they present themselves on their blogs: sharing insights to their writing, sharing bits about themselves and their little corner of the world (Mexico and New Zealand, respectively), the way they interact with their readers, and how both always take the time to talk so highly about and promote other writers' works.

The rules to follow are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

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Your Blog is Fabulous Award
Given to me by Lea of Closetwriter and Jace of Jace Scribbles. Thanks, ladies. I think your blogs are quite fabulous, too! *muah*

Rules: List five things you are addicted to and nominate five other blogs to pass this award on to.

Five things I am Addicted to:

In no particular order:
1. Books! Particularly romance, urban fantasy and young adult fiction. No surprise there. But I could probably get lost in almost any section of the bookstore or library just browsing titles and topics. I love cookbooks, too! :)

2. Blogging. I love to visit other blogs. I can just hop along all day really reading what everyone else is talking about, and I don't just mean book blogs. I love cooking blogs, craft blogs, photography blogs, personal blogs, ... not so much political blogs, though. With regard to my own blog, I love to talk about books, books, and more books, and basically I love having a creative outlet for writing about things that interest me and make me happy!

3. Coffee. Even if I wasn't addicted to drinking coffee, I think I'd still LOVE the smell of a coffee shop. The smell of coffee and a bookstore together? Heaven.

4. Trader Joe's Kettle Corn. I have to buy two bags at a time. One for instant consumption and one to resist opening until I can't take it any longer. Once it's open... nom nom nom!

5. My iPhone. I got it as a hand me down from my husband when he upgraded to the 3G last July. I accepted it, but didn't think I'd use it for more than anything other than a phone. What was I thinking???!? This phone is genius and I use it for everything all the time. Constantly. I probably use about 14 of the applications every day. I'd now be lost without it. Literally. That maps app is so helpful. ;p

I'm awarding the Your Blog is Fabulous Award to:
1. Amy of the Romance Book Wrym for consistently finding, posting about, reading, and reviewing books that are a bit off the beaten path. Yes, she reads a lot of the books everyone else is reading, but she's got this uncanny knack for finding some fantastic hidden treasures.
2. Orannia of Walkabout for writing wonderfully insightful posts about herself and the books she reads. She's fairly new at writing book reviews, but you'd never know. Her reviews are intelligently written and thought provoking.
3. Brie of Musings of a Bibliophile for having similar tastes in books as me (including YA lit!) and very often giving them the same grades as me. I think that's a valid enough reason for thinking her blog is fabulous, don't you? ;) Seriously, though, I love the selection of books Brie reads and reviews. Some of them are the popular books everyone seems to be waiting on and some are books she chooses that are a bit more unheard of. She also started a Contemporary Romance Challenge this year that I joined.
4. Angie of Angieville for her eclectic selection (to me, anyway) of reading material including YA, fantasy, urban fantasy, and romance. Angie's reviews are concisely written, always providing the reader with just the right amount of detail or emotion to raise interest in the book.
5. Kmont of Lurv à la Mode because she rates her books by scoops of ice cream and who doesn't love ice cream?! Seriously, Kmont's blog is busy busy busy! She reviews a lot of ARCs so her blog is one of my favorites for the first word on latest releases. She reads mostly urban fantasy, fantasy, and paranormal romance, but every once in a while she throws in an historical romance and steampunk! She's smart and sassy and very sweet. Her blog isn't named Lurv a la Mode for nothing. ;)

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The Zombie Chicken Award
Thanks to Kimberly of Darque Reviews blog and the nifty new Darque Reviews website for awarding me this award!

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

These are the first five bloggers who come to mind immediately after hearing the words Zombie Chicken. I love these bloggers and they'd keep blogging right through an invasion of zombie chickens, for sure!

1. CJ of The Thrillionth Page
2. Ana & Thea of The Book Smugglers
3. Kmont of Lurv à la Mode
4. Ravenous Reader at Tales of a Ravenous Reader
5. Kimberly of Darque Reviews blog and Darque Reviews website. (I know she gave it to me... but I'm throwing it right back at her!).

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Let's Be Friends... Award.
I received this charming award from Kimberly Swan of Darque Reviews blog and Darque Reviews website. Thanks, Kimberly! :)

"The Let's be Friends Awards stands for this: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers." What? Only eight??!!? I'm going to cheat... ;) 

These are the bloggers who visit my blog regularly even when I neglect coming to theirs. LOL Now, I know it's not about keeping 'score' like that. Our little world of book blogging friends know better than that. We all get busy with our jobs, families, friends, travel, whatever... and sometimes life puts us through the wringer, you know? But these eight bloggers just keep visiting (or emailing me!) regardless of my lack of presence on their blog. Or my own! I cherish your blogging friendships! Thanks, guys! :)

I can only give this award to eight bloggers??!
1. Amy of The Romance Book Wrym
2. Katie(babs) Babbling About Books and More.
3.Taja of Books and Games
4. Renee of Renee's Book Addiction
5. Lea of Closetwriter
6. Tracy of Tracys' Spot
7. Azteclady at Karen Knows Best
7 1/4. Kmont of Lurv à la Mode
7 1/2. Ana & Thea of The Book Smugglers
7 3/4. Brie of Musings of a Bibliophile

7 97/100. dd03 of Thoughts of a Daydreamer.

7 98/100. Orannia of Walkabout

7 99/100. Carolyn Jean of The Thrillionth Page
8. Kimberly of Darque Reviews. (Again, right backatcha, babe.)