Awards Archives - Cindy Goes Beyond

April 16, 2020April 16, 2020

Blogger Recognition Award

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Recently both of my blogs, Cindy Goes Beyond and Journey With Healthy Me, received the Blogger Recognition Award. For fun…at least it seemed like a good idea at the time…I’m posting simultaneously in both blogs!

You can check out the award for Journey HERE.

The Blogger Recognition Award is presented to bloggers by their peers to recognize their efforts to add value to the blogging community.

Thank you to Esme with Esme Salon

Beyond received the Blogger Recognition Award from Esme, with Esme Salon. Esme is an amazing blogger, friend and encourager. She loves to cook and share her recipes. And she offers wisdom to bloggers through her blog and her Facebook page, Sharing, Inspiring, Promoting Bloggers.

Thank you Esme, for passing this award on to Beyond and for all the knowledge and inspiration that you so freely and willingly share with others, including me. I appreciate you!

The Rules for the Blogger Recognition Award

Yes, you know there are rules! Here they are:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to her/his blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story about how your blog started.
Offer two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select up to 15 bloggers to pass the award on to.
Link to each of the nominated blogs.

How Cindy Goes Beyond Began

Beyond began in 2014 as a way to document a Year of Firsts. I adopted the idea created by Lu Ann Cahn, who rebooted her life by trying something new every day for a year. My intention to write daily failed initially. When I realized I needed a purpose to connect my writing to, Lu Ann’s book, I Dare Me, came into my awareness and provided that purpose. The blog launched.

That first year of blogging changed my life. I loved the return to writing, a passion I’d had since childhood. Doors opened, opportunities arrived, the blog flourished.

As my life shifted and grew, Cindy Goes Beyond evolved as well. Initially called Going Beyond, I relaunched the blog in 2017 on WordPress’s paid site, under its current name, greatly extending the reach and the possibilities. Check out this post for more about how my blog has shifted and expanded over the last six years.

The purpose of Beyond now is to encourage others to live life beyond the edges of fears, comfort zones and limiting beliefs. Each year a different theme guides me, incorporating a word for the year and a symbol. I offer tips on gardening, travel and life, and reviews on films, books and products.

Advice to New Bloggers

Blogging is a learning journey. My first piece of advice is to not journey alone. Connect with other bloggers. Find groups to join on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. Bloggers encourage each other and offer amazing support. Start by joining Esme’s group on Facebook.

And set your blog up, from the beginning, to earn money. Blogging isn’t about the money. It’s about helping others and fulfilling your own purpose in the world. However, there are many ways to earn income from your blog. Begin it the right way, so that when you are ready to monetize, you can.

I highly recommend Heather and Pete Reese’s courses. The 5 Day Crash Course is free. And for all the right ways to begin blogging and monetize later, take their Blogging Blastoff 2.0 paid course. I’m an affiliate for both, and may make a commission if you purchase Blogging Blastoff, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I love, and I’m still learning from these courses. They are excellent.

My second bit of advice is to set up a blogging schedule and follow it. I plan out blog posts and social media shares 30 days in advance and adhere to that schedule. This simple practice saves me time and keeps me focused.

My Nominations for the Blogger Recognition Award

Because I’m posting about the award on both blogs, I’m dividing my list of nominees. Check out these five bloggers and their blogs, nominated by Cindy Goes Beyond:

Holly, with Holly’s Bird Nest, is a life coach, mentor and author, offering insight and wisdom on a variety of topics.

Adrienne, with Not Even Hot Just a Mess, encourages others on her health and lifestyle blog, so that no one feels like they are journeying alone.

Stephanie, with A Red Haired Girl, is a wife, mom and former teacher sharing about life and all its ups and downs.

Maya, with Stirring My Spicy Soul, writes a lifestyle and food blog and believes that home cooked meals don’t have to be boring.

Heather, with Life at My Own Pace, is an attorney, online health and fitness coach and runner who loves traveling and self discovery.

The Book that Launched My Blogging Career. Click on photo to order.

Cindy Goes Beyond is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.

March 27, 2020

The 2020 Encouraging Blogger Award

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One of the things I love about blogging is the community of bloggers I’ve connected with. What a supportive group of people. We don’t compete with each other. Rather, we read each other’s blogs, walk alongside one another, even when we live on opposite sides of the world, and encourage each other.

My blogging friend, Lisa Mitchell, recently created the Encouraging Blogger Award. I am honored to be among her first nominees. Lisa, who writes Fluxing Well, shares ideas about cooking, travel, technology (blogging, Pinterest, and teaching), books, gardening, and frugal living. Because life is constantly in a state of flux…full of challenges and changes…Fluxing Well inspires us to approach life’s situations with flexibility, creativity and a willingness to try something new. Lisa truly encourages her readers.

What is the 2020 Encouraging Blogger Award?

The Encouraging Blogger Award was created to recognize any blogger who encourages others with his or her posts. Bloggers may encourage others to travel, try new things, have a positive mindset, or overcome adversity, for example. An encouraging blog may encourage other bloggers or give business tips. Many blogs are encouraging and we don’t even realize it. Bloggers nominate fellow bloggers for this award, and nominees write a post answering a few questions. After that, the nominee nominates other bloggers.

The 2020 Encouraging Blogger Award Guidelines

Explain the Encouraging Blogger Award
Thank the blogger who nominated you and share a little about his or her blog.
Answer these five questions:
- When and why did you start blogging?
- What is your blog about?
- What is one piece of advice you would give to encourage new bloggers?
- Which is your favorite time-saving blogging tip or scheduling tool?
- What are your future goals for your blog?
Nominate up to 10 bloggers you think encourage others.
Direct the nominees to visit this page for instructions and information about the award.
Once you have shared your Encouraging Blogger Award post, fill out the form on the instruction page to enter the contest.
Deadline for submissions for consideration in the 2020 contest will be October 31, 2020.
If you miss the deadline, and still submit an entry form, you will be entered in the 2021 contest.

The Questions

When and why did you start blogging?

I started the forerunner of Cindy Goes Beyond in 2014. At that time the blog, Going Beyond, was a form of accountability. After setting the intention to write daily, I realized after four days that without a purpose, I floundered.

Inspired by Lu Ann Cahn’s book “I Dare Me” and her year long adventure trying something new every day, I set off on my own similar journey. The blog was born as I recorded my daily firsts. For the next five years, I wrote every day. Eventually that blog became Cindy Goes Beyond and in 2016 I added a second blog, Journey With Healthy Me.

What is your blog about?

The blogging journey is so transformative. Each year I am guided by a new word, theme and symbol. Read more about the story behind the blog here.

In its current form, Cindy Goes Beyond encourages readers to “live life beyond the edges of fear, comfort zones and limiting beliefs”. I share about creativity, travel, gardening and life experiences and offer film, book and product reviews.

Journey With Healthy Me chronicles my healing journey while offering health info, tips, recipes and encouragement to be healthy at every age.

What is one piece of advice you would give to encourage new bloggers?

Blogging is an amazing experience that shifts and grows as you do. Find what you are passionate about and then share from your unique perspective. Use your words to offer your gifts to the world. Don’t worry if your blog isn’t perfect. As you learn your blog reflects that knowledge and growth. Desiring perfection will hold you back and limit your joy.

Which is your favorite time-saving blogging tip or scheduling tool?

I just started using this technique last fall, and I love what it has done for my schedule. Using a simple notebook, I plan out my blog posts and social media posts a month in advance. I currently create two posts a week for Beyond and one for Journey. However, I post on social media daily. What a difference it has made to know what I’ll post each day instead of wracking my brain at 4:00 in the afternoon, trying to come up with something.

What are your future goals for your blog?

My big why for blogging is to enjoy the freedom of working from anywhere in the world. Earning income from the blogs helps me accomplish that future goal. I have many plans to continue developing both blogs and I’m excited about the possibilities and opportunities.

My Ten Nominees for the Encouraging Blogger Award

Check out these ten bloggers, who exemplify this award. They offer from their wisdom and their compassionate hearts.

Holly’s Bird Nest

Holly encourages others to live their best life, whether they are raising children, exploring the world or entering into the “golden years”. A life coach and author, Holly offers kindness and wisdom from a wealth of experiences.

Incurable Blessings

Ramae received a multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2018 and used it as a wake up call to start living. Her blog encourages everyone to go inward to discover who they really are and to find the joy in everyday blessings.

All Moms Blog

Um provides a complete resource for all moms, whether she is pregnant with her first child or she desires to simply her life or she is looking for a side hustle to supplement income.

Made You Smile Back

Beth, known as the forever optimist, encourages her readers with positive and uplifting quotes, stories and thought provoking content. She offers valuable resources for those struggling to find happiness and desires to help others “get their smile back”.

TechnoVans

Vanesh not only offers support and advice for technology lovers, he also encourages his readers with interviews, start up stories and blogging tips. I appreciate his desire to help others by shining a bright light on what is possible.

Shellie Lynn

Shellie encourages a healthy, plant based lifestyle and offers from the vast knowledge gained from her own journey of taking back responsibility for her health and well being.

The Hable Way

Lee Anne, her husband Kyle and their boys encourage others to experience family-friendly travel and adventure. They embrace a lifestyle of exploring the great outdoors and share stories intended to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones.

Crazy Fitness Guy

Jimmy encourages others to see health and fitness as a lifestyle, not a trend. He offers from his unique perspective of experiencing life with autism. He believes we all possess different ways of learning, working out, eating in a healthy way and finding motivation.

Four Columns of a Balanced Life

Jerry empowers women to live balanced lives. He shares inspiring stories based on the four columns of food, family, finances and faith.

Teas the Season

Beth knows that much wisdom can be shared over a cup of tea. She encourages others by offering tips, whimsy and recipes for the perfect cup of tea…and a sweet or savory treat to accompany it.

Encouraging One Another

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know a bit more about me as a blogger. Lisa, thank you again for the honor of nominating me.

And please check out the blogs of my nominees. Receive inspiration and encouragement for your journey.

Nominees, if you so desire, pass on this award to up to ten encouraging bloggers that you appreciate. Check out the instruction page here. I look forward to reading your posts.

“Be an encourager. The world has enough critics already.” Unknown

February 24, 2020

Fix Her Crown Award

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Recently I wrote a post called Fix Her Crown. Based on a social media challenge making its rounds and a quote that kept surfacing for me, the post encourages women to post photos of themselves and tag other women to do the same.

That post continues to receive a lot of traffic, which in turn inspired this twist on the challenge. I’ve created the Fix Her Crown Award as a way to show appreciation for women who reach out to their sisters in the queendom and fix their crowns in a kind way.

I’m excited to nominate the first ever group of ladies to receive this award that is shared via blog posts rather than social media.

Listed below are suggestions for sharing this award and recognizing women for all the beautiful work that they do.

Fix Her Crown Quote

The quote that inspired this challenge resonates with me.

“Be the woman who fixes another woman’s crown, without telling the world that it was crooked.” Unknown

During this time when division over differences is rampant in the world, expressing kindness by “fixing her crown” feels so important. It’s not about fixing the woman. That is not our role. This is about helping in a situation or offering an encouraging word or coming alongside for a time. It’s about raising awareness so we notice when a sister’s crown has slipped and then offer help without expecting anything in return.

The woman receiving the Fix Her Crown Award is the kind of woman who accepts, encourages and supports her sisters. When she sees something she can help with, she does so quietly, without making a big deal about it or broadcasting to the world that her sister needs help.

Fix Her Crown Award Rules

The rules are simple:

Thank the person who nominated you and link to her blog.
Copy and paste these rules to your post and please include a link to the Fix Her Crown Award post.
Post three photos of just yourself and write a short caption beneath each about why you chose that photo.
Nominate seven women for the Fix Her Crown Award, women who lend a helping hand to the woman whose crown seems too heavy, who appreciate the sister who dares to be her own glorious self, who raise strong young women, who smile at the sister journeying alone and walk alongside her for a time, who stand with the sister whose crown has been knocked off her head time after time and women who shine as their own beautifully unique selves.
Link to the blogs of the seven nominees.

My Three Photos

These are the photos that I selected as an example for the Fix Her Crown Award.

One of my favorites, I love this photo because the shirt, I am a Dreamer from Solgave Clothing, captures the essence of my trip to Italy. My grandson and I planned our trip five years before it became reality. Standing in Venice, I can proclaim that dreams do come true.

This photo was taken less than a year into my healing journey, and what amazing changes had occurred in my health and in my body. I felt good, for the first time in many years!

My favorite photo ever, this one is from last July in Edinburgh, Scotland, my favorite city in the world. This photo was taken in the apartment my sister and I stayed in on Thistle Street. It reminds me of the amazing experiences we shared, exploring the city and meeting Scottish kin for the first time.

My Nominees for the Fix Her Crown Award

I am blessed to call so many incredible women my sisters. These first nominees exemplify helping others without calling attention to themselves and yet they shine brilliantly in the world. Being their glorious selves gives other women permission to do the same. They are all living life beyond the edges!

Esme, Esme Salon

Talat, Racing Tigers

Rose, Rose Hahn

Justine, The Tea Chest

Denise, Many Facets of Life

Kim, Kim’s DIY Tribe

Heidi, Rise Love Live

For inspiration and encouragement, check out the blogs by these amazing women.

Spread the Love

If you have received the Fix Her Crown Award, please spread the love to other women who are making a difference in their communities and the world.

And if you have found this blog post on your own, it is no accident. You are here for a reason and you are awarded as well. Create your own post, following the rules listed above, and nominate your sisters.

We are here to build each other up, without comparisons, judgments or jealousies. Let’s link arms in love and support each other, as we journey onward together.