List Yourself #1

Names. It's how we identify ourselves to others. How we know someone is referring to us and how we refer to them. Most parents put a lot of thought into choosing a name for their child, but you can't always predict nicknames; the good ones or the bad ones. Sometimes a nickname may just be a title or a variation of your given name, a term of endearment. But sometimes a nickname is given to hurt someone and make them feel less than. Today I am sharing all the names (that I can remember) that I have ever been called with some short explanations for each.

Amanda - I mean... it is my name.

Amanda Nicole - It's what I go by here in Blogland. There are so many Amandas out there too!

Manda - Most of the people in my life nip off that first "A", because two syllables are easier than three.

Family Nicknames

Mandy - Only my Grandmommy is allowed to call me this and that's because I don't have the heart to tell her I hate it.

Manda Pete - My mom used to call me this when I was really little. Every now and then she'll write it on a birthday card or something though.

Manna/Mannadoos - Mom calls me this now a lot, usually in her cutesy cat voice too.

Dee-duh - When my youngest brother was a toddler, he could say "Amanda" properly and this is what came out instead. He's pretty much forgotten about it now, but we sometimes bring it up when we tell old stories.

Sissy - My sisters both still call me this sometimes. I've always loved it. Makes me feel close to them even when I can't be.

Relationship Nicknames

Babe/Baby - A few exes called me this. It's pretty generic and it was never my favorite.

Love - My hubs calls me this all the time.

Wifey - This too!

Mrs. Wood - This one is my favorite now. I love when strangers refer to me this way.

Nicknames from friends and coworkers

Manda Panda - One of my middle school friends would call me this a lot. I guess because it rhymed? 

Amander - An old boss somehow started this one, but it fizzled out after a while.

Nicole - In my french classes I went by my middle name (because it's french). After two years of this, I still look around if I hear it.

Amy - Another old boss would always call me this instead of Amanda because he said I looked like and Amy. What do you think? 

Bestie - because I am!! (looking at you Melissa and Kathy!)

Amanda-Hug-n-Kiss - Some of the people I used to work with would tease me with this one. It's the name of a doll from the 90s I think.

Snicklefritz - This is a recent one. Kay (from The Best of Intentions) discovered this term (here) and I took it and ran with it. Now it's what we call each other.

Seraffine/Sera - Confused? I bet. This is name I gave to my character in the game I played when I met Philip, so that's what my gamer friends know me as.

The bad ones

Pudge - A guy in high school started calling me this when I began to gain a little weight. It really hurt my feelings, but I pretended it didn't bother me. Thankfully it never caught on too much and after freshman year I never heard it again.

Bitch - I can't tell you how many times I've been called this because I stand up for myself and won't back down when I know I am right. Also by men on the street because I wouldn't stop and talk to them. However it's also a name I call myself when I feel like I am going to far. 

Fat - I call myself this a lot and I should probably stop. But I can't, because it's true. I know I need to lose some weight

Crazy - I have been called "crazy girlfriend" and "crazy ex-girlfriend." Why? Because I have emotions and I show them. Because I care and worry a lot. Because I have a psychological disorder called Chronic Depression. 

What names were/are you called?

If you use any of the prompts from the List Yourself Challenge (you can find the prompts here), don't forget to add your post link to the linky list either here or on the List Yourself Page --> here! I will be checking it all the time!

Some Reminders and Giveaway!

Hello Blogland! I just wanted to stop in a remind you of a few things.

First, The Conversations Link-up from Oct 30th is still live! So join in and share your conversations with us.

Second, The NEXT Conversations link-up is on November 15th! So you have time to get ready for that one too! For more information on how that works go >> here <<

Third, If you need a blog topic (or 30), check out my List Yourself challenge! Don't forget to add your post links each time you use one so we can all come and read your lists.

And Last, but certainly not least, I'm participating with some pretty amazing ladies in an awesome giveaway! Who wants to win some money and free advertising? You know you do!

The prize is a $105 dollar Visa Gift card and $10 advertising credit on Fitness Blondies blog as well as an ad giveaway and featured post onKeeping Up With Ashley & Codys blog

Lisa @ Showered With Design // Katelynn @ XO, Katelynn // Liz @ The Fitness Blondie //Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis  //  Brianne @ Being Bracco // Karissa @ Karissa and Company // Rebecca @Renovating Rebecca // Amanda @ As The Wine Cork Turns//Anne @ Love The Here & Now  //Justine @ Life As A Baltimore Girl// Just Jessie //Janessa @ Running on Empty  //Amber @ InDuffinitely Me // Emelia @ Dream Big and Buy The Shoes // JC @ Sweet Love and Ginger // Kate @ Green Fashionista //  Brianna @ Sincerely Brianna Leigh//Kelsey @ Random Randts // All The Joys // Molly @ Awfully Big Adventure   //Kelsey @ Blonder Side of Life// Just Georgia Peachy//Meghan @ Champagne and Suburbs // Amanda @ Knock on Wood //Mary @ Eat Drink and Be Mary//Misty @ Handbags and Handguns //Ericka @ This Crazy Thing Called Life // Nancy @ Sincerely and Sarcastically// Classy & Sassy Mrs. // Keeping Up With Ashley & Cody

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Behind the Scenes of Knock on Wood

Last week I was nominated by Meagan from All The Joys to participate in the Tour Through Blogland (you can read her post here). I've done something like this before, but things have changed since then, so lets get to it!

1. What am I working on?
I always have several post ideas going in draft, not all make it onto the blog, but I like to have options to possible go back to and build on. I try to prepare and schedule my posts out in advance,  but we all know that's no always possible. I mean, life happens ya know? Right now I am working on a few posts from the List Yourself challenge I announced last week. I'm also getting ready for the next Conversations Link-up and collecting ideas for some Holiday themed posts.


2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I suppose my blog would fit into the "Lifestyle" genre, but it more of a catchall file for those of us who like to write about anything and everything in our lives and then some. What's awesome is that every blogger is so different from one another that it's difficult to compare. I honestly don't think I stand out much from the other bloggers, but I do try to provide entertaining and engaging content for the few who do read my blog.


3. Why do I write what I do?
Mostly, I write for myself. I write what I know and what I feel. I have always be able to express myself more clearly when I write it down versus speaking off the top of my head. So, I write to let go, to convey my crazy ideas, to share a delicious recipe, or to tell a funny story with hopes that my readers are laughing with me, not at me.


4. How does your writing process work?
It starts with an idea for a topic that usually comes to me when I'm not exactly in a place to write things down, like when I'm driving or trying to fall asleep. Sometimes I steal ideas from other blogger (with their permission of course) and sometimes I find inspiration in books, movies, or in the conversations I have with people. I start by just getting everything out, words on the page. Then I polish it up, make it funny, fix errors and, most importantly, make sure it makes at least a little bit of sense. The fun part comes next. Pictures. I love taking, editing, and posting pictures. Finding the perfect image to compliment a post brings me so much joy. But it's not truly "live" until it's on twitter. Social media has been a huge part of growing this space and I'm grateful to have it as a tool.



Also today on the Tour (because all the people I wanted to participate are already doing so!):

Melissa from The Rambling Llama
She blogs about the comedies of her daily life: the struggles in raising two kids (and a husband), finding the time and energy to workout, and delicious healthy recipes! She shows that her life is not always happy go lucky, fun, and sunshine because let’s face it- no one's life isn’t always like that. Melissa is also a super good friend of mine from way back in the day before blogs, smartphones, and twitter were part of our daily lives. So go check her out!!

Anne from Love The Here and Now
How can you not love Anne? She's like the sister you always wanted and one of my favorite bloggers to sponsor. I'm so glad to have "met" Anne here in Blogland and you should go and meet her too!






... and From Last Week on the Tour

Rebecca from The Adventures of Bug and Boo
I've recently started following Rebecca and her sweet little girl. They truly are an amazing inspiration; moving across the atlantic! I don't know how she did it with a toddler, I don't think I could do it with just me and Hubs. OH! And have you seen her new design?! I Love it! Go see for yourself!



What goes on behind the scenes of your blog?

Also linking up with