Omigosh, sallymandy thinks I'm Kreativ!

Oh, wow. Sallymandy of The Blue Kimono passed the Kreativ Blogger award on to me. I wish I could say that I was all nonchalant about it. But when I realized that by "Stephanie at Circle of Clothes," she was referring to me (it took a few seconds to process), I bounced up and down in my chair a little, and made an immature sound that goes something like "Eeeeeee!" And then I panicked for a few seconds, because I was all like, "wait, this means I actually have to do something."

So, I think I'm first supposed to list seven things I love. This was really hard. Narrowing it down to seven, I mean. Food comprised a good 2/3 of the starter list, so whittling it down got a little easier after I decided that I should first eliminate most of the food, along with the obvious and predicable items, such as these boys, this entertainment franchise, and this hot geek.

So, here are seven of the not-so-obvious things that I love:

1. Salt and vinegar potato chips. I did have to allow myself one food item. Whoever figured out a way to put vinegar flavor into powder form was a genius.

2. Choreographing and rigging quickchanges. If I needed to, I could help you change your wig, gown, shoes, hat, gloves, and jewelry in thirty seconds or less. I have a knack for choreographing the quickchange process, and also for coming up with bizarre and useful solutions for rigging costume pieces so that you can get into and out of them quickly (and no, it almost never involves Velcro - yuck!). I get a huge adrenaline rush out of it.

3. Flemish sour ales. Especially Duchesse de Bourgogne. Meet my special lady friend:

Image source: http://www.toerisme-leiestreek.be/leiestreek/eten.aspx?id=20105

4. Not owning a car. Living where we do, owning a car would actually be a big, expensive incovenience. I love the freedom that comes with not owning one.

5. Ballroom dancing. I love dance of any kind, but especially the ballroom and so-called social dances - waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, samba, west coast swing, bachata, you name it. I performed and competed as part of a college ballroom dance company when I was in undergrad. I even built myself a wonderfully tacky ballgown when we started competing at the level for which costumes are required.I haven't competed in seven years (not to worry - quitting competitions was one of the best decisions I ever made). But ballroom dancing socially can still give me a feeling akin to what I imagine euphoria must be like.

6. Jeans-and-a-sweatshirt weather... even though I no longer own anything that qualifies as a sweatshirt. High 50s or low 60s and overcast, that's my idea of the perfect day.

7. My mother-in-law. I adore her, and the feeling is mutual. I consider myself lucky.

And now, to show you just how much I deserve this award, I present this ensemble that I wore while teaching class last week:

Stephanie, Costume Warrior Princess

Saving the world from bad costumes (like mine).

Hee-hee! Full "why-and-how-the-heck!?!?" details will be presented in a post that is to come at a later date.

Now, I'm supposed to pass this award on to someone else. And it is with pleasure that I hereby pass it on to that jewelry-crafting, sassy-hooping, smart-dressing blogger Erin over at Work With What You've Got. You rock!