Wednesday, December 3, 2014

2nd Time Round: Liebster Award! Woohoo! ;)


Read this previous post about this award for details as to its origins and meaning: http://www.xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/09/another-award-wow-woohoo.html

Carrie Tripp, from her blog, Daily Musings nominated me for the Liebster Award yesterday, known in the western world as Giving Tuesday. Thank you Carrie! :)

You can read about her and her post yesterday at http://www.dailymusingsbycarrie.blogspot.ca/2014/12/ich-liebe-dich-and-award-too.html?showComment=1417586330904#c4140079930676445635.

There are some rules or guidelines to follow should you accept this award, but from what I have read, they vary:

*Link back to the blog from which you were nominated.
*Answer ten questions about yourself.
*Give ten new questions to your nominees.
*Nominate between five and ten new bloggers (some say 5, some say 10, your choice) [On an aside, 10 seems perhaps a bit too much, maybe get 'out of hand'.]
*Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by notifying them.
*Comment on this post when you are finished, so we can follow the trail.

My answers to Carrie's questions are italicized.

1. What inspired the first blog post you ever posted? Thanks for this question. My first blog post was inspired with the thought that if anyone googled my name, they would find out nothing about me as I was attempting to start an alternative children's/youth choir. A 'Call to Action' was acknowledgement to myself that I needed to take action and blogging in part was that first step as indicated by the picture I used. (Since I was new to blogging, my first two posts in particular were rather lengthy...ahem....oops!) ;)

2. If your life was a reality show, what would the theme song be? I can think of fairytales but no songs come to mind at the moment. Let me ponder this one as I do like this question...

3. Name your blogging hero. Why do they get that position? Though I could name other bloggers whose 'work' (writing) I admire - some whom I nominated the first time I won this award, including Penny McDaniel (whom you chose Carrie Tripp: wise choices!) - and particularly two based on their inspirational life story, I will instead nominate them as my first two nominees at the end.

Amy Bovaird, diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa while still travelling, teaching, and later writing a book is a major inspirational hero in my eyes. And Carol Graham too whom has overcome such major adversities in life - seven (I believe) that would leave most people flat or dead. These women are 'fighters!' ;)

I also feel a bit of a hero, actually more of a survivor perhaps, in that I have been working hard at blogging as of late, especially the three months of daily blogging (in July, September, and November of this year) that I have undertaken thus far. Not only writing, reading/researching for my own posts, but also reading and commenting on other bloggers' posts, and those who comment on mine. It takes dedication AND time! ;)


4. If you could live anywhere other than where you currently reside, where would it be? This is an interesting question 'cause where I live feels most like 'home' for me and reminds me of Europe. I think down the road I would like to move to the interior of BC in Nelson, a town that is known for 'hippies' like myself at heart and art - hey that rhymes! ;) I think that I would feel most at home there. :)

5. What food best describes your personality? Two answers come to mind: pizza 'cause I love it and it's a mix of anything you want to put/throw onto it just like I am: a potpourri of ingredients or qualities... LOL ...and cookies...hard on the outside at times, but soft on the inside ...hmmm..or is that the other way around?! ;)

6. It makes me uncomfortable when __________ reads the articles I post. I'm not sure if my Dad reads them anymore, but I think he did at one time! ;)

7. What was the last news report you read/heard that gave you hope and inspired you about? A young boy who wanted to help the homeless due to something he witnessed, and also two young children - two girls(?) who protested against the potential pipeline on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, BC. I love these younger 'evolutionary' children who are being born of late: they are so sweet and generous and kind...wanting to help others whether people, animals, and/or the planet! :)

8. If you could do anything and KNEW you couldn’t fail, what would you do? ONLY one (1) thing?! SO many things come to mind, in no particular order: author, public speaker, choir director, conductor of an orchestra - ok, that last one is pure fantasy! ;)

9. Have you ever been a recipient of “pay it forward” ? Have you ever paid it forward? Which is better? Yes, I believe I have though have to think about the first question - these awards that I have won on my blog where you are encouraged to 'pay it foward' comes to mind. There may be other instances, but I cannot think of any other at the moment! I have paid it forward and I wrote a blog post, actually two, about that in fact: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/from-kindness-of-strangers.html AND http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2012/02/pay-it-forwardwith-umbrella.html

Though receiving is always a pleasure, it is a great feeling to give as well, when it is sincere and comes from the heart. There is no lesser or better than...read my post today about that! ;) (http://www.xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/12/december-2nd-givingtuesday-national-day.html)

10. Christmas or Thanksgiving?This is a tough one for me as I sometimes have a challenge with Christmas having no partner and/or children; however, I do see my folks. I think Christmas is for kids and though there are wonderful qualities about Christmas, I do not like the consumerism. Other than that, I would say Christmas for the season of giving and love that is felt in the air generally-speaking...sometimes, I admit I can be a bit of a humbug due to loneliness I think. Though Thanksgiving is a wonderful tradition as well (which I also blogged about in October), in terms of a meal and giving thanks, I so long to donate my time to serve meals to those who are homeless.

10 Questions for My Nominees:
1. What inspired you to write a blog?
2. What inspires you in your writing?
3. Are there bloggers who inspire you or have inspired you? (3 names and/or blog sites)
4. How did these bloggers inspire you?
5. How would you describe your writing style?
6. Who is your ideal audience, i.e., reader of your blog?
7. What are your favourite types of books to read?
8. Do these books (#6) influence your writing/blog and if so, how?
9. Do you write about family/friends/pets? Directly or indrectly or both?
10.Who do you most admire and why?

I would like to nominate the following bloggers for the Liebster Award:

1. Amy Bovaird (for her humourous, poke-fun-at-self anecdotes with her limited vision)
2. Carol Graham (for her warm and compassionate stories based on her inspirational life)
3. Francene Stanley (for her true-to-life posts with such fascinating tidbits of info)
4. Lynn Ward (for her delicious, healthy organic recipes)
5. Amy Young Miller (for her fun amusing stories about farm-living with her two daughters)
6. Aathira Jim (for her wonderful poetic writing)

Nominees, remember to link back to this post in your post. Answer the 10 questions I gave you, nominate 5 to 10 bloggers, give them 10 new questions, and come back and comment on this post when you’re done. Congratulations and have fun!

Please take this as the compliment it is. You aren’t required to complete this process. However, when you do you are gaining readers for your blog and for everyone attached to this one. :)

38 comments:

  1. Congrats Elly, for the well deserved award. Came to know some more about you through your replies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Usha, I appreciate your words. :) I take it you mean the replies above or also the replies to comments you posted on my blog before? Or both? ;) <3

      Delete
  2. Congrats Elly :) These awards are certainly great for morale boosting and making you feel that your writings matter. Good to know things about you. Wish you many more such awards :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anmol. Yes, they certainly are, aren't they? ;) <3

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Thanks Barbara, and I'm glad you enjoyed reading them. ;) <3

      Delete
  4. I'm glad to get the opportunity of getting to know you. You've nominated some wonderful bloggers for the award. Thank you for including me. As to when you first began your blogging experience, I think the same thing applied to us all while we were feeling our way. It's a new experience, but we soon work out the form our posts should take.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Francene and my pleasure to nominate you. I must say it's been great getting to know you via your writing as well. :) <3

      Delete
  5. Congratulations Ell.... You deserve it :)

    Loved reading the answers... I got stuck with pizza though ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Naba, I meant to say that I focused on the Ultra Blog Challenge as potential nominees as that is where the award came from so-to-speak! ;) Glad you enjoyed reading my answers. ;) How did you get stuck on pizza? Maybe it was a bad metaphor! ;) <3

      Delete
  6. conductor of an orchestra!1 hahaha now that;s quite a fantasy :D congratz on the award :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes indeed Raj, but I did have that as a youngster! ;) And thanks for your acknowledgement! :) <3

      Delete
  7. So I want to know what fairy tale you think your life is like! Don't leave me hanging! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, you noticed Kristen! Well, it would be a combination of Cinderalla to a certain degree and the Ugly Duckling! ;) <3

      Delete
  8. Congrats Elly! :) Enjoyed reading your answers and getting know more of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sheethal. And I'm glad you enjoyed my answers! ;) <3

      Delete
  9. Hi Carrie, Congratulations! Love the awards on the side.
    I had written you on my Follow for Follow page asking for advice on growing a readership. I'd still be interested in any tips you have.
    Janice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Um, you mean me Elly? ;) Thanks Janice. And yes, I love all my awards piling up! ;) Oh! I didn't about your message: where? I have been SO busy and don't have time to read all my emails, etc! Re. readership, I'm not sure I'm the best person to contact; however, I will answer as best I can...can you FB me and I will message you there as I couldn't find you on FB when I tried to find you! Thanks! :) <3

      Delete
    2. Hi, On Facebook I am Janice Greenfield Rappoport Wald. I just sent you a friend request. Thanks.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  10. You are a wonderful blogger - always looking out for others and generously sharing your information. I love this little community you've created. Good for you!
    #ultrablog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thanks Dorit. I appreciate your words. :) Oh, I didn't know I created a "little community"....who are they? ;) <3

      Delete
  11. Congrats on the award and to your nominees! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathy! This time I focused my awards on the Ultra Blog Challenge writers as I got nominated from someone there. :) <3

      Delete
  12. Great post! Congrats on your award as well :) Thanks for sharing!! Loved your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, thanks, and more thanks Joan! :) I'm glad you love my blog. :) (By the way, I always welcome feedback on that as it is a way for me to know and/or improve if I change things in future). ;) <3

      Delete
  13. Congratulations on the award, Elly! I enjoyed reading your responses to the questions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Laurel. I'm glad you enjoyed reading them as much as I did to responding to them, as best I could! ;) <3

      Delete
  14. Congrats, Elly. Enjoyed your answers. I hope your nominees enjoy responding as much as you did. Alana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alana. As I said to Laurel above, ditto to you: I'm glad you enjoyed reading them as much as I did to responding to them! ;) And yes, hopefully my nominees will too! ;) <3

      Delete
  15. Congratulations, Elly for the award! And good to know a bit more about you :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shilpa. I appreciate your acknowledgement. :) <3

      Delete
  16. Hey congrats once again Elly! I love pizza too...and also those hard but soft in the centre cookies ;)
    Loved some of the people you have nominated here...some of them are my favorites too :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congrats on the award, Elly. Great to know more about you.:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Elly,
    Your sweet note went into my "Other" folder (why is there an other folder, anyway??) and I just got it today--sorry about that! Thanks so much for your mention of my blog! That was just so sweet of you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, and I thought I responded to this note too somewhere Amy. It seems that cyberspace is big and wide for the both of us! ;) A pleasure to honour you. :) <3

      Delete