I have exciting news! Angela at Setting My Intention has nominated me for The Liebster Award. This is an award given to smaller bloggers by other smaller bloggers in recognition of their work. I was so thrilled that Angela, whose blog I greatly enjoy, thought of me for the award. Thank you, Angela! I absolutely accept!
However, I must apologize for my delay in responding to Angela’s generous nomination. She actually notified me a couple of months ago, just before my impromptu hiatus. Now that I am back, and I want to properly thank her and let her to know how much I appreciate her thoughtfulness. Thank you, Angela! You are an inspiration, and knowing that you appreciate my work means a great deal to me!
Here is how The Leibster Award works:
- Link back to the person who nominated you.
- Answer the questions given to you by the nominator.
- Nominate up to 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers.
- Create 11 questions for the nominees.
- Notify all nominees via social media/blogs.
I am still compiling my list of nominees and my questions for them, so I will address those in another post. But I am ready to answer Angela’s questions for me:
1. When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging about a two years ago, but really got committed to it at the beginning of 2015. I initially started my blog to document the never-ending renovation of our 100-year-old home. But once I discovered minimalism, a whole other facet emerged within the blog. Improving our home no longer just meant renovations, but also meant creating a more restful and meaningful space in which to live.
2. When you’re not blogging, what would we find you doing?
Usually, when I am not injured(!), I would be out running. Or you could find me playing my bass. Or spending time with my family. Or quilting. Or renovating our home – did I mention it was 100 years old?
3. What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading “The Maffetone Method” by Dr. Phil Maffetone. I am exploring new approaches to my training and eating, with an eye towards improving my performance and my life.
4. What’s your favorite food?
Chocolate. Not the expensive kind or the good-for-you dark chocolate. I LOVE plain old Hershey’s Kisses!
5. What’s your favorite way to exercise and get movement in your day?
Long-distance running. And I have recently discovered trail running!
6. How do you relieve stress?
Running. It’s the only time that my brain is quiet. I sometimes will go for several minutes without a single higher-function thought.
Or I play my bass. When I play, it engages my whole focus, and I completely forget about whatever is bothering me.
7. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
Blogging gives me a way to sift through my thoughts and bring them together in a semi-coherent manner. I also love meeting people who, like me, are seeking a simpler, more meaningful life. Plus it gives me a way to document the CRAZY things that we find every time we open up a wall in our house!
8. What is the most challenging thing about blogging?
Being consistent. Sometimes, I don’t feel like I have anything to write about, or anything to say worth reading.
9. If you were gifted $150, how would you treat yourself?
Hmm, usually I would say new running shoes, but I just bought running shoes, so … I think I would treat myself to a girlie day at the spa. I would get a hair cut, a facial, maybe have my nails done (I have never had my nails done). Sounds cliche, I know, but if you knew me, you would know that a spa day is WAY out of the ordinary for me.
10. What is your favorite quote or saying?
This is a hard one for me. Because music plays such a big part in my life, most of my favorite quotes are song lyrics. A song that I always am thinking of this time of year is one of my favorites – Time Stand Still by Rush.
Summer going fast, nights growing colder.
Children growing up, old friends growing older.
Freeze this moment a little bit longer.
Make each sensation a little bit stronger.
I feel that way so many times when I look at my daughter, who is suddenly 14 (when did that happen?). I just want time to stand still for that moment, so that I can remember it forever in my heart.
11. What quality or characteristic do you most love about yourself?
I love to learn new things. I hope that I will never stop learning. Whether it’s training for a race, making a quilt, planting a garden, making soap, or hanging drywall, I am up for learning how to do it myself. And when I get really interested in something, I get consumed by it (and tend to bore everyone around me to tears, I imagine).
Thank you again to Angela for her nomination! Please visit her wonderful blog, Setting My Intention. Her writing is honest and fresh, and I promise you will enjoy it!