If there is anything I’ve learned in my almost three months of blogging (seriously, it’s felt like WAY longer…in a good way!) is that I really didn’t know much about blogging when I first started! I thought I knew lots…but I quickly learned that the blogging world had a whole other universe that I had no idea about! The learning curve was (and still is) SO STEEP! I am learning new terminology that I never knew existed, I’m learning all about various social media platforms and how they work and I’m learning how to network, in the blogosphere. It’s so much fun and overwhelming all at the same time! It’s WAY more work than I ever anticipated and I’ll share more about that in another post soon.
So yesterday, I won a Liebster Award! Never heard of it? Neither had I until a few weeks ago. This is an online award, given by bloggers to bloggers. Typically, it’s given to someone who is newer at blogging, has a smaller following on one of their social media platforms and who has a blog worth sharing! Kinda fun, right? That someone stopped by my blog, thought it was worth sharing and gave me this award! Whether you’re a blogger or not, I think as human beings, we can all agree that there is a sense of validation when someone recognizes your hard work and wants to tell their world about it!
So after all the warm fuzzies sink in of winning this, comes the real fun part! The main purpose of having this award is to be able to promote newer blogs, but also, for blog readers to be able to get to know their blogger better. I am so eternally grateful for the following I’ve built here at Amidst the Chaos. Every single like, comment, email subscription means something to me…that you’re interested in what I have to say…and that’s HUGE!
So let’s get to it. I was nominated by Ashley at Mama Cake’s Inn (thank you, lovely!) and here are the 11 questions, followed by my answers, that she has for me!
Liebster Award Q&A:
1. How did you decide on the title of your blog, and what’s it about?
It was actually one of my best friends Amber who came up with the name. I had a different name in mind, that I thought was great. I emailed a few of my closest friends and asked their opinion and all of them gave it a royal thumbs down!!! I couldn’t believe it! Amber wrote back and said “I think what you are wanting to convey is something about the beauty in your chaos…something like amidst the chaos.” And right then and there, the name was born!
2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
My blogging inspiration comes from my chaotic life. I have three kids under the age of four and life is beautifully messy all the time. I have grown a love for cooking over the last few years as well as I love to entertain and host parties, so any excuse to cook and party with people I take! And that’s where I’m finding most of my inspiration from. There’s so much beauty around us everyday, we just need to pause long enough to see it!
3. Can you give 11 random facts about yourself?
1. I married my college sweetheart. We met my first day of school, started dating three weeks later and we will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary this June!
2. I love cooking and baking. Cooking is a new hobby of mine that I’ve developed since I discovered Pinterest a few years back. It literally changed my life.
3. I used to own a wedding planning company called Pure Potential Weddings. I ran it for 3+ years and saw alot of success in that short time period. I decided to give it up when we moved to a new city and started our family.
4. My first job, aside from babysitting, was working at The Gap where I used to get a 60% off discount! I miss that discount!
5. My absolute favorite flowers are hydrangeas.
6. Along with #5, my favorite color rose is lavender, which is what inspired my entire wedding.
7. My absolute favorite kitchen utensil is my Pampered Chef Garlic Press. If you have never tried it, you MUST! It’s a game changer!
8. My favorite season of the year is fall. There’s something about that crisp, cool air and the changing colors of the leaves that make me feel so alive!
9. I used to be a synchronized swimmer when I was a teenager. Hardest sport I’ve ever participated in!
10. I’ve been playing piano and singing since I was four years old. I am still very active in my church community where I still sing and play!
11. I have an obsession with paper straws and have to have them at every event I do! They are just so pretty!
4. What is something you’ve been loving lately?
This is almost an impossible question for me to answer! Too many things come to mind…are we talking food, accessories, make-up, kitchen stuff? Let’s just stick with food, cause who doesn’t love eating?! My current food obsession is Neal Brother’s Organic Blue Corn Chips with Flax dipped into Skotidakis Jalapeno Greek Yogurt Dip. UNREAL!
5. What is it you love most about blogging?
What I love most about blogging is being able to share part of my life…my stories…my journey…and have them inspire other people. Whether it’s with weight loss or a new recipe or a home renovation or maybe a simple motivational post…if it can reach someone wherever they are at and mean something to them, that’s so rewarding to me.
6. If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?
1. I would wish/hope for my children to grow up strong, healthy, smart, fun loving people who love God with all their heart and live to make a difference in their worlds.
2. I do wish for more peace and happiness in this world. Life is SO fragile and we take so much for granted, I know I have. The wars, the fighting, the drama, the depression…it’s all too much for such a short time we are here on this earth.
3. Selfishly, I do wish I could travel more. If time and money weren’t in the way, we would be all over the world, exploring new places and distant lands. And I should add, kids in tow! I wouldn’t want it any other way! My kids are amazing travellers and love exploring new places just as much as their parents!
7. What is one country in the world you would like to visit? Why?
Fits perfectly with my last wish! We LOVE travelling and have had the privilege to go to some amazing places! I’ve been all over the Caribbean, the USA, South America, Europe and Africa. Those who know me know that I have a small obsession with Paris and yet I’ve never been! I would absolutely LOVE to go and eat my way through the city and walk around, exploring all the gems that it has to offer! Thailand is another place my hubby and I would love to visit someday! The food and beaches…that’s all I have to say about that!
8. What are you currently watching or reading?
I don’t find I have alot of time to do either these days. Any spare time I have I find myself working on the blog! But my hubby and I do love watching Parenthood…we started last year from the beginning of the series and are working our way through. We actually haven’t watched this latest (and final) season yet…so no spoilers, please! And let’s talk about how sad we are that’s it’s OVER?!
9. What is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
Oh dear, unfortunately, there are FAR too many to list here. I used to get SO embarrassed by things, but as time went on, and embarrassing things just kept happening to me, I had to start to learn to laugh along and just shake it off (thanks Taylor!) Laughing at yourself is a big key I’ve learned in life and now I find I don’t get as embarrassed anymore!
10. What is the nicest thing you have ever done for someone else?
Hmmm…this is a hard and kinda weird one to answer. It would be better to ask the recipients of those who have received nice things or gestures from me to answer! What I will say is that I really love MY people. I try and be a good friend and show them my love through things like cooking dinner for them, having them over, making meals/baked goods when they are in need, buying little presents, sending flowers or meal cards, etc. One thing my parents always taught me was to be generous with others, as people have been generous with me.
I remember we were hosting a missionary couple one Thanksgiving for dinner. They have been faithfully serving in the Caribbean for years. I set a really nice table with brand new candles I had just bought from Costco the day before (the LED ones with a remote). The wife commented a few times about how awesome those candles were and that she wanted to buy some before they went back to the Dominican. The next day, I wrapped up each candle and sent them to church with my hubby to give them to her (while I was home with sick kids). I literally didn’t have them 48 hours in my house and gave them away. I know that blessed her so much and it was such a blessing for me to be able to do something practical for someone who has given their life to serve others. Don’t hold too tightly to your earthly possessions.
11. What is one dream you hope to see come true?
Man…another HUGE question. I find I have new dreams pop up almost regularly but one I’ve had since I was a child was to one day record and have an album of my own. It’s so not a priority at the moment, but who knows, maybe when the kids are a bit older, I’ll get the opportunity to do something like that. Lately, I’ve had a dream of turning this blog into a book! AH! Did I just admit that out loud?! So stay tuned, friends!
Well, there you have it! 11 questions/answers about me. I hope you’ve been able to get to know me a little deeper through these answers!
So I searched online for the official “rules” of this award and it seems there are MANY different sets, so I decided to combine a few and make up my own, cause why not?! Also, I don’t want to share with you just any random blog rather, I want to share with you blogs that I’m really enjoying! Some of them are personal friends and some I don’t know at all. Some have higher followers and some don’t. Some have been blogging for less than a year (like me) while a few others have been at it much longer (and have taught me some tips/tricks!)
For me, I don’t really care that much about how many followers you have on EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM! Cause I now know HOW HARD it is to grow EACH platform from the ground up! The hustle is real folks! However, for me, as a blogger who prides myself in my site and the content that I spend so long preparing for you all, I want to share similar blogs with you. Ones where you feel right at home the moment you click over to their site! These women are fierce and are making a difference in their blogosphere and I’m honored to share them with you!
1. Janella at Boldnbeautiful Makeup
2. Camilla at Castle Avenue Blog
3. Nikki at The Road to Less Cake
4. Pam at Clean Life, Happy Wife
5. Jasmine at Classy, Sassy and a Bit Smartassy
6. Jamie at All That sRocks
7. Kyla at Kyla Rae McCabe
8. Mary at Whisper Sweet Somethings
Make sure you give them some love and go check them out!
Instructions for Nominees:
1. Answer the questions listed below given to you by the person who nominated you (that’s me!)
2. Please comment on this post with your link when are done so I can see your answers!
3. In your post, please link back to the person/blog who nominated you (again, me right here!)
4. After completing your questions and post, nominate other bloggers who are newer or who you just love and want to share their stuff with the world (suggestions is 5-10).
5. Notify your nominees of their nomination and provide a link to your post so that they know what to do.
Since I nominated eight fabulous ladies, I am going to ask them eight questions!
1. How did you decide on the title of your blog and what’s is about?
2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
3. Can you give 8 random facts about yourself?
4. What is something you’ve been loving lately?
5. What is it you love most about blogging?
6. What’s your biggest aspiration in life?
7. Which other bloggers inspire you?
8. Describe yourself in one sentence.
Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this fun post and getting to know me a little bit better! Again thanks to Ashley for nominating me and allowing me to share this with you all! I hope you all have an amazing Easter Weekend and we will see you all here again next week!
Love & Blessings,
