New Years AAF with Bev Feldman of Linkouture

The one thing I enjoy the most about the blogging community is the opportunity to meet new people.  I've been very fortunate to be able to get to know a number of fantastic bloggers a little better through one of my favorite activities - #AskAwayFriday.  And this week, I'm getting to know a very creative, ambitious, well traveled and amusing mommy of one - Bev Feldman.  

In addition to her little family and her blog, Bev runs her own home business, Linkouture - an online shop for her beautiful, environmentally friendly chainmaille jewelry.  Bev's blog has a wide array of topics - from detailed instructions on how to make a paper tube napkin ring, to a regular feature called "Friday Finds", mouth watering recipes - and she even writes haikus!  And I'm lucky she's agreed to do #AskAwayFriday!
What is #AskAwayFriday? Well…
#AskAwayFriday was created by the amazing Penny from Real Housewife of Caroline County as a place for bloggers to connect and learn about other blogs.  

And this week, #AAF has added a new co-host!  Welcome Echo from The Mad Mommy!

Now welcoming our wonderful #AskAwayFriday hosts…

Tamara from Tamara Like Camera, 

Tiffany from Mrs. Tee Love Life Laughter, 

Christy from Uplifting Families, 

Stacey from This Momma’s Ramblings 

and 

Echo from The Mad Mommy

Bev and I have decided that as the New Year has just been rung, we'll have a New Year theme.  I sent her ten questions to answer (see her responses here) - and these are my responses to her questions!
Happy New Year!

Did you do anything special to ring in 2015?

Nope.  I've never been big on celebrating the new year.  With my ex, a couple of times we went to his parents house and played Risk until the ball dropped.  But after 2000 it just got too wearing (long story for another blog).  

Now that I'm a mom, I needs my zzzsss.  

We had a really nice dinner (shrimp cocktail, lamb chops, salad and garlic mash), finished off a bottle of wine and were in bed by 9:30.  I think next year if I have the older two (I didn't this year), I might consider heading out and doing something to make it exciting for them, but for me, it's pretty much just another day.

It sounds like 2015 is a big year for you with a milestone birthday and some great plans. What is the one thing you are looking forward to most this year?

Spending time with my kids.  Now that I'm back at work, I feel like I'm missing out on a lot.  I've resolved to become more mindful of the tech - and put down my phone and iPad when they're home.  We've been playing more games and spending time on homework and reading.  It doesn't sound like a lot - but it's quality time.

If you could have done anything differently in 2014, what would you have done?

My life philosophy is living without regrets.  I try not to look back.  If I hadn't done what I did, I wouldn't be who I am.  And I like who I am.  So I'm working on a looking forward without regrets - while learning what I can from the past.

What are your blogging goals for 2015? Is there anything different or new topics you want to try out?

I'm going to explore more publishing avenues this year.  I've been on DivorcedMoms and HuffPo Divorce, but I think I'd like to see if I can get out on some of the other sites I really enjoy like Midlife Boulevard and Scary Mommy.  I understand that their submission guidelines are pretty tight - but I think I need the challenge.

What has surprised you about blogging?

The community.  I've been pretty lucky to jump into several great groups of women who have provided me with some great advice about social networking, blogging, Google Analytics as well as amused me with tales about their everyday lives.  Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful.  I would love it if at some point I were able to attend a conference and get to know some of them outside of the box.

What is the most daring thing or biggest risk you have taken in your life?

I've said in the past that I generally play it pretty safe.  I was thinking this morning as I was running to the car in -14 degree weather (yes, really), that if I'd had my druthers, I would have liked to have moved to a warmer climate.  But I never did.  I moved out of my parents house and in with my (future) husband's.  As he was tied to his job, no moving.  And by the time I moved out of there, I had kids and couldn't (can't) move because I'm still tied to him.  If I ever get the chance though - that will likely be the biggest risk I've ever taken.

I have done a few daring things though.  I've been whitewater rafting and zip-lining in British Columbia.  This year I did a Color Run.  Without giving away where I live - there's a big tower in the nearest metropolis - and I've scaled it not just once, but twice (using the stairs and before the accident).  And Flower and my niece and I went on a Slingshot ride this year.  That felt pretty daring...

I see that you have some plans to travel this year. What is your favorite place you have visited so far? 

I had a lot of fun on our Holland trip this year, but I have to say that my favorite place so far has been Italy.  It was sunny and the people are so welcoming and demonstrative.  And there's just so much history and culture to absorb.  It was amazing.

If you could go anywhere in the world, and money and time weren't a factor, where would you go?

England.  It's my homeland.  As above - I'd live there again if I could (in the south, where it's warmer and you can get cheap flights to Spain and Portugal in the winter).  All the cozy cottages and romantic, winding streets.  Sigh.

I also see that you hope to get a new job this year. What is the most interesting job you have ever had?

Right out of college, I worked as an assistant project manager for a contractor who was building a project at an oil refinery.  I knew nothing about oil refining.  At all.  Or contracting.  Or building.  But I knew how to project manage, and that's what they needed.  It was interesting because I learned a lot about oil refining and heavy equipment.  I was also the sole female on the crew.  I probably could have had a lot more fun if I wasn't married at the time.

What is something people might not know about you?

I'm really fussy about the way I sleep.  I need my feet covered.  I have to be on the right side of the bed.  I have heavy blankets even in the summer.  Not because I'm cold, but because I need the weight.  I wear a sleep mask because our room isn't dark enough (a cave isn't dark enough).  I've recently started using ear plugs (hubs snores...)  Since I've had kids, I have to fall asleep on my right side, and then I can move to my left later in the night.  And apparently if I'm lying on my back, I snore.  

I'm also prone to talking in my sleep.  Poor hubs...I was having a nightmare about my ex about a month ago, and I told him to STFU...apparently quite loudly.  I even woke myself up.  And as hubs didn't know that I was talking to my nightmare ex, he thought he was snoring.  He didn't answer, but rolled over and tried to be quieter.  I didn't want to accidentally wake him as I'd been loud enough already...so apologized in the morning.

So head on over to check out Bev's answers to my questions at Linkouture.  You can also follow Bev on Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Pinterest.    

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