Oh, my goodness!!!! I have received my first "bloggy" award

I AM ALL ATWITTER!
I have Jayaycee @ Jayaycee Blog to thank for this honor. Go by and visit her blog soon; it's delightful! She always brings a smile to my face. With this award come some obligations (all good things come with responsibility.....right?).
First: I must thank the lovely person who honored me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Jayaycee, I am thrilled with this honor, and your faith in me; hopefully I can live up to it.
Second: I must share SEVEN things about me. Here goes......
1. I love aprons. Frilly, utilitarian, garish, old, new, it doesn't matter. I have half a dozen; one for every mood . Whenever I slip on one of my beautiful aprons I am ready to tackle any culinary challenge placed before me. I even have a black ruffly one for when I'm feeling swanky!
2. Cookbooks rule! They are my favorite bedtime reading (and sometimes I do have visions of sugarplums...or better yet, double chocolate brownies dancing in my head). I also collect them. Dear Hubby bought me a bookshelf last Valentine's Day so I can proudly display my collection (Honestly, I think he was just tired of tripping over piles of cookbooks and cooking magazines every night!). Unfortunately, it is almost full!
3. My name is Tightwad Mom...... and I am a Diet Coke aholic (step one down, eleven more to go). Diet Coke is my not so secret guilty pleasure. I have a stash of 12 packs (I don't want to be caught unprepared) in my basement storage room (bought on sale with coupons, of course). If I'm feeling wild and crazy I will crack open a Cherry Coke Zero ( I am such a party animal!).
4. I am banana challenged. They are the bane of my existence. In my 2o years of marriage I have not been able to balance the quantity to demand ratio. I am forever being stared down by a few rogue black bananas. Hence, the endless banana recipes than end up on my blog.
5. Hanging laundry outside on a clothesline is like free therapy to me. I love the smell of clean, wet laundry when I hang it on the line. There is something very satisfying in seeing lines of freshly laundered clothes fluttering in the breeze. Not everyone in my family feels this way, though. To quote Child #3 (who was nine at the time, and standing outside on a step stool in his underwear at 7:45 am, between two lines of laundry) "A man should not have to NOT have to go outside to get his pants!"
6. I love a bargain. I am a coupon clipping, thrift store perusing, yard sailing, clearance rack shopping fanatic. My palms get sweaty and my pulse starts to race when I find a hidden treasure at the thrift store, or match coupons with sales for cheap or FREE groceries.
7. My mantra is "Use it up! Wear it out! Make do or do Without! I am a product of my childhood. I was raised by a Mother, two Grandmothers, and one Great Grand Mother who were great examples of this wonderful quote. They made sure I was well versed in the arts of sewing, canning, crocheting, gardening, and thrifting. I have to admit, I did not appreciate their efforts at the time. That came later..... much later (and it has been my salvation ever since)!
Third: I must pass "The Versatile Blogger" award on to 15 other blogs that I have recently discovered and think are FABULOUS!!!! And the award goes to.......
Tiffanee at One Crazy Cookie
Sakrina at Savings Cents
Katie at Cutting Back Kitchen
Heidi at Tried and True Cooking With Heidi
Prudy at Prudence Pennywise
Crystal at Everyday Food Storage
Shannon at 4 Growing Boys
Lottie at My Blue Cottage
Mom at Mother's Kitchen
Sheena at Little LDS Ideas
Jamie at Jamie Cooks It Up!
Suzette at Livin On A Dime Sittin On A Nickel
Chaya at Chaya's Comfy Cook Blog
The Dye Guy's
Mary at Six Cents Savings
Sakrina at Savings Cents
Katie at Cutting Back Kitchen
Heidi at Tried and True Cooking With Heidi
Prudy at Prudence Pennywise
Crystal at Everyday Food Storage
Shannon at 4 Growing Boys
Lottie at My Blue Cottage
Mom at Mother's Kitchen
Sheena at Little LDS Ideas
Jamie at Jamie Cooks It Up!
Suzette at Livin On A Dime Sittin On A Nickel
Chaya at Chaya's Comfy Cook Blog
The Dye Guy's
Mary at Six Cents Savings
Fourth: I must contact each of these ABOVE AVERAGE BLOGGERS, and let them know of their achievement. I guess I have my work cut out for me!
I would like to thank all of my bloggy friends who come by and visit often, you make my frugal forum such a fun place to be. I love to read all your comments and appreciate your support!