There’s something about receiving an award from your peers that just makes you feel all mushy gushy happy inside.
So thank you, Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters, for putting a big grin on my face by nominating me for a Liebster Award.
The Liebster Award is a real honor in the blogging world.
The blogger who is nominated is given a bunch of questions to answer and then pays it forward by nominating other bloggers. It’s intended to help out newbie bloggers and show some love to old favorites. It’s a perfect representation of the incomparable supportiveness of the blogging community.
Here are my answers to the questions Suzanne sent me. I hope you’ll check out her answers and get to know her, too. She is a doll, and you’ll love traveling around the world with her!
1. What is your dream destination?
There are too many to list here but I would love to volunteer at the Elephant Park in Thailand and I would love to go back to Africa. I want to see the gorillas in Uganda, the pandas in China, the polar bears in Antarctica. Are you sensing a theme here?!
2. What places have you visited that you thought were highly overrated?
I can’t really think of a place — there are great sights to see everywhere — but I have to admit I thought the Mona Lisa was overrated. Sorry but after seeing it shrouded behind glass, from behind half a dozen people deep, I just didn’t get it.
3. What is your favorite U.S. destination?
Well, I will always be a New Yorker, even though I live in San Diego now. There is no other city like it, and I get re-energized every time I go back to visit. I love Portland because of Powell’s Books, Voodoo Donuts and the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, and I am a huge fan of the spas in Scottsdale, Arizona. Chicago will always be special to me because of Oprah, and Washington, D.C. and Boston are full of great memories from my son going to Georgetown and my daughter going to Tufts.
4. What makes you happy?
Again, there are too many things to list but, really, nothing makes me happier than when my family is happy. Traveling makes me happy, Chipotle makes me happy, spending the day in a lounge chair reading a good book and drinking Starbucks iced tea makes me happy. And, of course, let’s not forget Dunkin’ Donuts. 🙂
5. Why did you start blogging?
I’ve been a writer since I was 12 years old and can’t think of anything I’d rather do. Blogging seemed like the natural next step. So, although I still freelance for a number of other outlets, I adore the blogging community and my amazing readers who make all the hard work so rewarding.
6. What are your top three bucket list items?
Seeing the Northern Lights, doing a cruise around the world and getting my photos organized.
7. What is one piece of advice you would offer or one saying you live by?
The one I live by is “Done is better than perfect.” It’s the only way I can stop procrastinating. The one piece of advice I would offer — and it’s one I really need to listen to myself — is put down your phone and be present. I have become terrible at doing that.
8. What is the best thing anyone has ever said about your blog?
People have been so generous in their kind words for my blog, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I am deeply moved by my readers who write me emails about how a post touched them or motivated them to action. Those tend to come on days when I’m ready to give it all up out of exhaustion, and I am so grateful for them.
9.What is your ultimate guilty pleasure?
Did I mention Dunkin’ Donuts?
10. What is one product or service you cannot live without?
My MacBook Pro, my iPod and my iPhone. I guess they were right about an Apple a day …
11.What two countries make you the happiest to visit?
I’m going to have to say Ireland and Iceland because of their beauty and the friendliness of their people. Iceland has the most unique landscape I’ve ever seen, and I absolutely fell in love with Reykjavik. The Irish are so warm and funny and welcoming, and the scenery in the Dingle Peninsula absolutely takes my breath away.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Thanks, Suzanne, for giving me some great questions to think about. I’m now going to pass them on to half a dozen bloggers I admire and am proud to call friends. In order to spread the wealth, I’m not including the ones I already gave a shout-out to when I received a Sunshine Award from my former Blogger Idol competitor, Jennifer Hicks of Real Life Parenting. And since I included more there than I was supposed to (yes, I have trouble following rules), I’m only featuring 5 here so you won’t be overwhelmed and you’ll go back and pay them all a visit. Because they’re awesome.
So, without further ado — and in no particular order — here are my highly-deserving Liebster Award nominees. Some of them don’t post as often as I’d like to read their words so I hope this will push them to write more! Enjoy!
Andi Fisher Misadventures with Andi
Elin Stebbins Waldal Beyond the Backyard Blues
Mary Bird Lanzavecchia Transitioning Mom
Lisha Perry Fink Lisha Writes
Sharon Greenthal Empty House Full Mind
Candace Derickx Life in Pleasantville
Congrats, ladies! You make me proud to be a blogger.
You are gonna LOVE the Northern Lights. They are AMAZING.
Thank you for honoring me with the Liebster Award. Your blog and your success as a writer are such an inspiration to me and to so many other bloggers!
I love these awards! It’s so nice to be seen and recognized! Congrats!
Awesome, Suzanne nominated me too! My blog will come out Monday…love yours!
Congrats! Looking forward to reading your answers!
The Northern Lights are definitely on my list to see. I’ve always wanted to see it up close because of the beauty of it.
I did one of these posts a few years ago. They’re so fun! Dunkin’ Donuts is also a guilty pleasure of mine. 😉
I missed the northern lights when I went to Alaska and it’s on my list, too. Of course, donuts, I mean, really, they are the BEST!
The Northern Lights are also on my list – but my list is long… I am so excited to learn more about you and what makes you smile. You inspire the rest of us with your fun and interesting posts and travels. Blogs rule! I look forward to getting to know the other women you highlighted!
Come visit me in the fall and I will take you to see the northern lights!
They are absolutely breathtaking to see and watching them dance in the sky is just something works can not describe.
I just might take you up on that! Do you have pictures that you’ve taken? Would love to see them!
Congratulations!! This is such a great idea. I enjoyed getting to know more about you. Dunkin Donuts is my weakness especially on the weekends.
Congrats!! Well-deserved. The Northern Lights are on my list, too!
Congrats on your award. Wow the Northern Lights! I’m with you. Can I tag along? Oh and you’re my kind of girl – Dunkin Donuts.
Congrats on the award! You’re an Apple girl through and through huh? I’m new to Apple but I do like my tablet!
How fun is this? What an honor, I remember getting an award years and years ago for blogging I was thrilled! Congrats!
What a fun award. Love your answers. Would love to see Thailand!
Congratulations on your Liebster Award! There truly isn’t any better form of recognition for a job well done then the accolades of your peers! I thoroughly enjoy visiting your blog and had fun reading a little bit more about your likes and dislikes! I’d be lost without Dunkin’ and some day would love to visit Ireland. 🙂
Congratulations on the Liebster Award, it seems to be well deserved. I loved reading about you and getting to know you better. Nothing makes me happier than when my family is happy too. And traveling. Traveling makes me happy lol.
Congratulations on your award. It’s great to know a few things about you. I love to travel, too.
Congrats on your award. I have always wanted to take a trip around the world, but not sure if I could get my husband on a cruise!
I always enjoy reading your blog, Lois…it is so real and authentic – like you!
Powell’s and Apple and Donuts! I’m there. I cannot believe you were not nominated before now!
As a fellow Portlander, you are talking about Mecca for book readers! I love Powell’s if only to get ideas for what to read.
“Done is better than perfect!” I am writing that down someplace. Great advice!
b+
http://www.retireinstyleblog.com
Congrats on the award. I remember that award from old school blogging. 🙂
Congrats! I’ve seen this Award around so much and had no idea what it meant!
Congratulations! I’ve heard a lot about this award. So cool to be nominated!
I thought everyone we met in Ireland was nice too. It was one of the things I noted to be best about our trip.
There is so much I want to see. I wish I did more traveling before having kids.
Thank you for the nomination for the Liebster award, Lois. Iceland is on my travel bucket list, glad to know it was a favorite. And I’m with you on that Apple a day. ☺️
xo
CONGRATS on your nomination! That is always special when you are recognized by your peers….AND…I too LOVE Dunkin Donuts!
Congrats! This is so encouraging when others recognize your great work! Great job!
So honored to be nominated by you, you are definitely someone I look up to in the blog world, so it is more special. Now, what am I supposed to do next?
Congrats on your award, Lois. I love your answers. Someday I’d like to travel to some of the destinations you mentioned, and like so many I’d love to see the Northern Lights.
I have to say that the first time I visited Paris I was alone for 2 days and went back to the Louvre for the 2nd time. I wanted to be alone with the Mona Lisa. It was before they put the glass around it, and the museum was actually empty! I sat down and stared at it, realizing the greatness of that moment. The second time I went to Paris my reaction to the painting was the same as yours. I feel blessed about my first time.
Happy Liebster Day!
Congratulations. Few months back I was nominated and as I did not know what the award was about, I totally ignored it. I wish I would have paid attention.
Big and deserving honor. Congrats on this.
Congratulations on Liebster Award, as I understand it is a real honor in the blogging world. It is just amazing to know that you have been blogging from the age of 12 & I am sure you deserve more success in future.
Congrats on the nomination. It’s always interesting to learn more about a blogger!
Congrats! Great to be recognized by your peers.
I learned so much about you! Congrats on the award!~
Congrats, what a great honor. I love learning new things about fellow bloggers. I feel like I know you now.