I am very honoured to be nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award by a fellow blogger and one of my loyal contributors, Anne Sikes (My Like Uncut....Almost).  Thank you Anne for the nomination! It means so much to me.  If you haven't check out Anne's interview on perseverance on my blog, you should check it out here.  If you have not visited her blog, you need to do so. She is such a beautiful person! I'm blessed that she reached out and contacted me.  I love hearing from my readers :)

Here are the requirements for this award, if you choose to participate:

1) Display the award logo somewhere on the blog. 2) Link back to the blog of the person who nominated you. 3) State seven things about yourself. 4) Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and provide links to their blogs. 5) Notify those bloggers that they have been nominated and of the award’s requirements.

Let's Get Started :)

Since I totally choose to participate, here are 7 things about me:

1. I grew up in Ontario (still love it), but now consider myself a true West Coast girl.  It really has a special place in my heart and has helped develop me in my career.

2. I love to laugh and be goofy.  Many of my closest friends and family think I am a goofball.

3. I will always wear a hat when it’s freezing cold outside so I don’t get frostnip again.  Once, in high school, I decided to go without a hat when it was -40 outside for a couple minutes while waiting for the schoolbus. I got frostnip on my ears.  They grew and people thought I had elephant ears.  I didn't wear a hat because I didn't want to wreck my hair.  Oh... the price of beauty.

4. I wish in the future to be a published author and I have always wanted to write a song.

5. I was a huge Backstreet Boys fan growing up and still love them. I hope to one day meet them and tell them how much of a positive influence they had in my youth.   My favourite one is Nick Carter.

6. I have lost too many loved ones in my life to cancer.  When I was younger, I wanted to be an oncologist.  However, that goal changed but I still want to help prevent it.  It is such a horrible disease.

7. I have found my voice and have the strength to speak up. I want to empower others to speak up as well.

Since I truly believe social support is important in an individual's success, here is a list of 15 of my fellow Bloggers (listed in no particular order) who I want to nominate for this award.  These are all individuals who have really inspired me and have encouraged me to persist.  Thank you.  Please don't be insulted if your name is not on this list - there are so many people who have inspired me.  I really do value everyone's support.

1) Felicity,who writes a blog called  The Life and Loves of a girl called Felicity, is such a sweetheart and an inspiration.  She has a powerful story to tell as she battled with and overcame anorexia.  She turned something negative into something positive – I love her honesty! Her blog was started as a way for her to promote healthy body image and fight mental health stigma.  She keeps encouraging others to Loving the Skin We’re In! So glad to know her.

2) Tara Jacek who writes a blog (Girl Seeks Career) about being a  young professional. She provides advice to young women entering the work world.  She is a loyal contributor to my blog and also designed the beautiful graphic in my about me section.  I'm blessed to know her.  She continually inspires me and encourages me to persist. She rocks!

3) Lydia Criss Mays, PhD of See Beautiful (See Beautiful), who encourages her readers to See Beautiful in their daily lives.  So well-needed and an oasis on the web. I'm so blessed to have connected with her.  She is truly special.

4) Susan Biali (http://www.susanbiali.com/blog/index.php) is a Wellness Expert, Medical Doctor, Life Coach, Speaker & Flamenco Dancer.  She uses her blog to help empower individuals to live their best lives. She has really been a mentor to me. Look for her upcoming interview in my Profiles of Perseverance series!

5) Sharleen Hoar, PhD - (Minding What Matters) blogs about developing mental fitness for personal and performance excellence.  She is a mentor to me and a dear friend.  Her blog is a must read.

6) Darragh McGee - (http://darraghmcgee.wordpress.com/) is an athlete and doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto who studies the intersections between human rights & sport, the relationship between sport, national identity & diasporic communities, children & high performance sport, as well as corruption & exploitation in sporting structures.  He is currently in Ghana and has really inspired me.

7) Mo Isom - (http://moisom.com/) is an athlete and encourages others to Break the Odds.  She really inspires me with her attitude on how she handles adversity, work ethic, and character. You should hear her interview on Ellen.  She is an inspiration! I learn a lot from her.

8) Suzanne Hanna -(http://suzannehanna.com/) is a psychotherapist, writer, inspirational speaker, and Holistic Health Practitioner.  She really was there for me when my dog passed away and helped me deal with the loss.  Suzanne has such an inspiring story about her and her dog, Grace.  You can find out more about her journey with Grace at (www.journeywithgrace.net). I recommend you check it out! I'm blessed to have connected with her.

9) Brene Brown, PhD - (http://www.ordinarycourage.com/) - is truly an inspiration. I have mentioned her a couple times in my blog as her work really has encouraged me to go after my dream.  She really is a mentor to me.  I hope to one day meet her in person and say thank you. If you haven't read her book "The Gifts of Imperfection" or checked out her Ted Talk, you should. You can find the links to the talks on my blog.

10) Ian and Larisssa Murphy (prayforian.com) represent to me a true tale of love and perseverance. I watched their video recently and their story was truly beautiful. The couple had been dating ten months and planned on getting married, when Ian got into a car crash.  He suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Instead of giving up on the relationship, the couple got married and are going strong! The video literally made me cry.  Their blog is a must read!

11) Danelle Kabush (http://danellekabush.com/) blogs about balancing her life as a mother and a professional athlete.  She is such a beautiful and strong woman!  She has really inspired me and encouraged me on my journey.

12) Amelia Coonrod (http://lifeintheblueridges.wordpress.com/) is so bubbly and blogs about her life.  She is currently writing a memoir about overcoming the obstacles of having Cerebral Palsy. Her blog is worth a read. She is a loyal contributor of my blog.  I'm blessed to know her.

13) Ashley Solomon, PhD ( http://www.nourishing-the-soul.com/) has created a forum for growth and self-discovery, as well as a resource for the latest news, research, and advocacy information in the fields of eating disorders and body image.  She really has inspired me.  I'm looking forward to sharing her upcoming interview on perseverance with you all.

14) Jacqueline (http://6monthstolive.wordpress.com) has really inspired me.  Her blog is a daily reminder of how precious life is and how you should make every moment count!

15) Tara Sophia Mohr - http://www.taramohr.com/blog/ has been a mentor of mine after I became part of the Girl Effect blogging campaign.  I suggest you check out her post called 10 rules for Brilliant women!  I look forward to her blog updates.

Nominees feel free to participate or just enjoy the nomination. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement! My blog would not exist with you!

Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.

See you at the beach!