I found out last week that Brianne from Lamm to the Laughter nominated me for a Liebster Award!
I’m really excited and honored…
To those of you who may not know what a Liebster Award is (ahem, not me of course, because I’m practically a professional blogger), it’s an award given by bloggers to other bloggers. It’s sort of like those email chains from middle school where you’d answer a bunch of questions, forward them to all your friends, and pass along the threatening message that on February 5th they would die in a bus crash if they didn’t answer. (Read this post if you want to know more!).
Except, I think this is way nicer :).
The way it works is I answer the questions Brianne asked, along with 11 random facts, then pick a few bloggers (generally with less than 1000 followers) and nominate them, as well! It’s more of a pay-it-forward kindness, if you will.
Thank you, Brianne!
Brianne’s Questions:
1. What is one thing you just will not blog about?
For the most part, I don’t write too much about my current job. I’m a child therapist and really, it’s the law, even though I’m technically just in training. I don’t think I’d share anyway since it’s therapy.
2. What is your favorite music video?
I completely love Pharrell’s Happy right now. It just makes me want to dance!
3. Tell us about your favorite charitable organization.
Where to choose? I love Save the Children and the Wounded Warrior Project. I also love the I Have a Dream Foundation, since I used to work for them!
4. Have you ever tripped and fallen in an excitingly embarrassing way?
One moment stands out in particular: last summer, in Scotland, we ended up staying way out of town due to the Fringe Festival. We stayed in a place E had stayed in about five years ago. Of course, unbeknownst to us, the hostel had been sold and gotten rid of their handy shuttle to the city center. (You mean things change in five years?).
That meant several bus rides and a long, unexpected walk back in the dark after copious amounts of celebrating. We made it successfully through the dark, and the second we made it into the well-lit parking lot, I tripped over a rock. At least I’d made it through the dark…I was slightly embarrassed at having to be carried back to our room by E as I couldn’t put weight on my ankle. I was scratched all over and bruised…all for a tiny spill in the parking lot.
5. Don’t tell me what’s in your bag. Tell me what’s in your fridge.
Yogurt, creamer, leftover pizza, one egg, celery, and a million jams, sauces, dressings, etc. Does anyone else end up collecting those accidentally? I wonder if it’s genetic because that’s what always happened in my parents’ fridge, too. (Also…I really need to grocery shop!).
6. Your readers are Eskimos. Sell them ice.
You see this hard, cold, clear/blue stuff that’s surrounding you? Did you know you can crush it, add some flavor, and make a delicious treat? It’s called a Sno-Cone!
7. Have you ever traced your family history? Do you have any interesting relatives?
My mother’s brother has tracked a lot of her family history. As far as I can tell, everyone has been a German Lutheran in Nebraska for generations. My dad’s grandmother came over here from France in the first World War, and married a French Canadian orphan with an Irish last name.
8. What is your craziest dream (sleeping dream)? I know it probably doesn’t make sense, but write it out anyway!
I think my weirdest dream happened right before I was about to graduate college a few years ago. I dreamt that my best friend’s ex and another friend of ours were getting married (a couple that would never happen). At the reception, the dean of my college (who also happened to be the bride’s father) announced that I had actually failed all of my classes and would be unable to graduate. I went under a table to cry and found a bunch of other people under the table, crying because they were mad about the couple getting married. Strange!
9. If you could call a summit of any 5 people that ever lived, who would you invite and where in the entire world would you choose to meet?
I would love to have a summit with Jane Goodall, Ted Kennedy, Lao Tzu, William Shakespeare and Harriet Tubman. I think they could probably save the world.
10. Tell us about a time when you flubbed an interview question as bad as Miss Teen South Carolina.
I know I’ve messed up plenty in interviews but I’m usually so traumatized I block it out afterwards! Once, while interviewing as a writer for a local outdoors/adventure magazine, I was so nervous I overdressed. I know, how can you overdress at an interview? Well, when my interviewer walked in, his first comment was: “Wow, you dressed up. You don’t look very outdoorsy!” Oops.
11. Write a haiku about your favorite non-blogging pastime.
This is likely known…Going everywhere I can…Is what I love best. (Haikus are hard!).
Random Facts
1. I never love these random fact things. I forget everything about myself. I tend to forget things when questioned about anything. There’s a random fact!
2. Several weekends ago, instead of working (like I should have been) E and I ended up spending hours taking quizzes on Jet Punk. We are so close to knowing all of the countries in the world! (Well, if 170 out of 196 is close…).
3. This is probably not a secret, but I’m a complete Potter-head (Harry Potter nerd, for those of you not in the know). I was insanely excited to visit the UK due to Harry Potter, I annually re-read the books and watch the movies, and I almost cried when J.K. Rowling dropped the Hermione/Ron bomb last year. (Luckily she mostly recanted, phew!).
4. Speaking of re-reading, I tend to re-read all the books I love more than once. I think because when I was younger I’d read all my books before my mom would take me back to the library, so in lieu of something else to read, I’d read them again! I still get attached to those worlds and want to revisit sometimes.
5. I was born in Colorado, moved away to Oregon at about two months, then moved back to Colorado about 24 years later (with Montana thrown in there). I think I like full circles, because I want to move back to Oregon when/if we come back from Prague.
6. While I love adventure and trying new things, I struggle to try new foods. I usually regret not trying them…but I’ve also regretted trying them, which informs my decisions now!
7. Baking is one of my favorite ways to relax. Bread! Cake! Cookies! I sometimes think I want to go to culinary school someday…although I don’t feel quite the same way about cooking, for some reason. I think because everything I bake turns out great, and the same cannot be said for my cooking…
8. I have commitment issues, especially when it comes to studies and careers. I’ve had so many ideas of careers, I’ve started some of them, I changed my major a million times, and I’ve started learning about six languages. I have no explanation for this except I want to do so many things and I just can’t decide.
9. Ice cream is my number one comfort food and favorite dessert ever. It’s hereditary–my father can’t help but eat an entire carton (and I’m not talking the Ben & Jerry’s pints, either) when it’s in the house. I’ve recently discovered plain/vanilla/honey Greek yogurt mixed with chocolate chips as a healthier option…but let’s be real, it will never be the same.
10. For some reason I have an obsession with finding myself a “signature drink.” I think I’m liking the ginger ale/whiskey so far. But who are we kidding? A Shirley Temple Black will always be my jam.
11. My last day of class in graduate school is TOMORROW! Of course, I still have many papers, meetings, and clients to finish up with. But so close.
Bloggers I’m Nominating:
Melanie Fontaine Have Blog Will Travel Adventurings Gutenblog Y’all This Flooded Sky Let Us Wanderlust Adelante
My Questions:
1. What prompted you to start a blog?
2. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
3. What’s one of the best sunsets you’ve ever seen?
4. If you have a hometown, would you move back there if you have a chance?
5. What exotic animal would you see if you could?
6. What is one country/city you have no interest in visiting? Would you still visit, if someone bought you a ticket there?
7. What period of time would you most like to visit?
8. What’s the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?
9. What’s the strangest food you really want to try?
10. Have you ever had your 15 minutes of fame? If not, what would you want to have it for?
11. What are some of your must-have travel clothes? (This question is purely for research reasons).