The Liebster Award

I have some exciting news to share with you all today! The Bliss List has been given The Liebster Award! This award is given to bloggers by bloggers as a way of supporting one another. I strongly believe in supporting each other in their endeavours and this award is a great way of doing just that. It’s also a fun way of engaging with each other and giving our readers the chance to find new blogs to check out.

I was nominated by the very talented Tina Bousu from Eclectic Twist, a beautiful site that offers some great insight into home décor. Here’s a little more info about her site straight from Tina herself: “Colorful, stylish, budget friendly and DIY awesomeness pretty much sums up what Eclectic Twist is all about. The focus is to inspire and empower all who come across it. I do full DIY tutorials on everything from picking paint colors to installing faux wood beams! (even how to design, source and renovate a kitchen DIY style) I do shopping guides which are lists of my top fave things, design tips to get a high end feel in your space, as well as share our home in house tour posts with frequent changes. It’s always a party and everyone is invited!”

Part of the award is answering 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you. So, here it goes:

1. What’s your favorite blog post that you have done?

My favourite blog post I’ve written is Lessons Learned on the Mat: 15 Things Yoga Has Taught Me About Life. When I wrote this post I had recently returned to yoga after not practicing regularly for about 6 months. I would occasionally take to my mat maybe once a week for a quick practice, but it was more of a way of stretching out my body and not tuning in to how I was feeling or what I needed. Then, one day I dove back in and I haven’t looked back since. Writing that post reconnected me with my practice and reminded me of why I love it so much.

2. How did you get started on this adventure we call blogging?

A couple of months before The Bliss List was born, I became friends with someone who is now one of my close friends. We realized that we had so much in common – one of which was our love of writing and an unrealized dream of one day having a blog. We decided to try one out together. We realized shortly after that while we both wanted to blog and we had a great time doing it together, we needed our own spaces to truly capture our own voices. After that, we both started our own separate blogs and have been able to encourage and support each other along the way. If it wasn’t for our joint project, I never would have had the courage to start my own and I am so thankful for that!

3. If you could pick a superpower what would it be and why?

I would make my superpower the ability to worry less. I often find myself worrying over things I can’t control. The worry puts me in a bad mood and then I get upset at myself for worrying in the first place. Either that, or flying, because, c’mon.

4. What’s your favorite color and how do you use it in your home?

My favourite colour is green – the kind of green like trees and grass. I have been incorporating plants in my home recently since I figured out how to not kill them. I have succulents in nearly every room and love adding green plants to add a little bit of life to my home. In my yoga room, I have a deep green shelf that reminds me of nature and grounding. Plus, I love looking out at my vegetable and herb garden from my kitchen island as I sip my morning coffee.

5. What’s the most crazy thing you have ever done?

The craziest thing I’ve ever done is probably packing up all my belongings and moving to South Korea without doing much research beforehand. I moved there after I finished my Master’s degree to teach English at a university. Once I applied to the job and was offered the position, I packed my bags and my now husband and I got on a plane. We didn’t research what the town was like, how to say hello in Korean or even what the weather was like. It was both the best and scariest experience of my life, but if I had to do it all over again I would do it exactly the same!

6. What character do you relate to the most? (any book, movie, tv show)

I really relate to Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter Series. She is a girl who is smart and talented, but often feels like she has to prove herself. I often find myself doing the same. I really admire this character because she is so strong without realizing it and when faced with adversity, always stays true to herself and her beliefs.

7. Dogs or Cats?

DOGS! I have a Miniature Schnauzer named Charlie that is my best bud. He’s cuddly and playful and full of personality.

8. What’s your favorite way to unwind?

I like to sit by myself with a cup of tea and read a book or write in my journal. If I am stressed out and need to relax, some alone time is the key for me. I also like to go for a walk if the weather is nice or sit outside on the deck. Gifting myself the time to relax and indulge in something I enjoy is one of the best ways I know how to take care of myself when I feel like there is just too much going on.

9. What would you do with a million dollars?

I’d love to say I’d blow it all on fancy sports cars or expensive handbags, but in reality my life probably wouldn’t change that much. I would build my forever home with my husband that is big enough for our family, but nothing too fancy or showy. I’d probably put some away for safekeeping and then take an amazing trip to somewhere exotic like Bora Bora, Iceland or New Zealand.

10. Cooking or takeout?

I love cooking! I love experimenting with flavour combinations, trying out new recipes and I sharing my creations with friends and family. Of course, some days I really don’t feel like cooking, so takeout Thai or Chinese foods really hits the spot once in a while.

11. What is your idea of the perfect day?

For me, the perfect day is spent with the ones I love doing things that make me happy. Something like a delicious breakfast with my husband, a walk along the canal, some yoga and playtime with Charlie followed by an evening of laughter and good food with friends and family. It’s the simple things.

The next part is to share 11 random facts about myself:

1. I have 2 tattoos: “Karma” on my left wrist and a crown on my right foot.
2. I own all the original Spice Girls Dolls still in their original packaging.
3. The furthest I’ve ever travelled is to Philippines 3 years ago.
4. My sister and I used to play “movie store” in our basement when we were kids where we would pretend to rent out the movies in our own collection to imaginary customers.
5. I have one niece and two nephews.
6. I am right handed, but I crochet with my left hand because that’s how my mom taught me.
7. Avocado and quinoa make me sick (both together and separately).
8. I usually start packing a month before I take a trip and I re-pack at least 3 times before I leave.
9. I love buying stationary and pens.
10. I collect Toy Story products and they are all in their original packaging.
11. Whenever I go on vacation, I always buy something functional for my home as a souvenir, like a serving dish from Mexico or a hand-blown glass vase from Alaska.

Now, on to the talented bloggers I have nominated!

Kim Bise from Natural Deets
Before kids, I didn’t pay attention to eating organic or avoiding chemicals found in everyday products. I assumed that if it were on the market, it must be safe. Seven years ago, that all changed. I started researching everything and was frustrated with what I found. NaturalDeets.com was created as a way to share what I have learned. You are busy and I am already doing the research. From clean eating recipes, to product reviews, Natural Deets is here to simplify your busy life so you can spend more time making memories! Join me on this journey to a natural lifestyle!

Emily Doyen from Monograms and Moscato
Monograms and Moscato is a lifestyle and beauty blog created in July 2017. You can find posts about beauty products I am loving, outfits I am wearing, foods I am eating and adventures I am going on. It serves as a creative outlet for all things I am interested in and passionate about. I hope you stick around to read more!

Adriana Rocca from Candidly by Adriana
Candidly by Adriana is a personal blog about travel, food and life. Candidly because I aim to post raw, true and open posts because I myself am very open and opinionated. I love to travel and love to share my experiences as there’s something about traveling that makes me feel so free whilst also helping me discover that I exist in a world that has so much hidden beauty! Whether it’s traveling within my beautiful Australia or across the other side of the world, traveling ignites a spark inside me and that is what I try to share in my posts. Candidly also covers the many restaurants and cafes that I try, so that I can share my favourite spots and recipes with others! Lastly, Candidly helps me to share my experiences and thoughts, both good and bad, in order to connect with others. I believe that everyone’s raw self is their most beautiful self and we should therefore show it off more often! I hope you enjoy my blog

Sarah Jane from The Sweet Spender
Hey there! I’m Sarah Jane – a poor chick, sweets lover, and the writer behind The Sweet Spender. My blog is all about how to save money while staying absolutely fabulous. Come to my blog to check out all my secrets for beauty, fashion, food and budgeting for cheap!

Bridget Jenkins from Beach Barbie
Beach Barbie is a new blog that’s equally as hectic as my life. This tan bleach blonde will tell it how it is and bring the sass. From life in Tampa to her small town roots, you won’t be able to stop reading. Although she’s just starting out, she’s got a lot to bring to the table. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Maren from Feel Good Blog

Feel Good Blog is a place of take-it-easy self-development that aims to put a smile on your face. You will find a collection of the ways I have learnt to take care of myself. Most of what you find also aims to make you laugh. Besides the fact that I somewhat enjoy being a goofball, I believe that realising how silly most of our doubts about our own abilities truly are, is easier when we can share a laugh. I genuinely hope to inspire you, or at least make you smile, just a little. Life is meant to be easy. Life is meant to Feel Good.

Okay ladies, here are the questions for you to answer:

1. What is your most memorable blogging experience?
2. If you could go back and give your 16 year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
3. What is your personal mantra or favourite quote?
4. What is the last book you read?
5. What is your dream vacation destination?
6. What inspired you to start your blog?
7. What is your favourite movie from your childhood?
8. What is your favourite blog to read?
9. What is the biggest lesson you have learned since starting your blog?
10. What is your ultimate food guilty pleasure?
11. You’ve been selected as a contestant on America’s Got Talent. What do you do for your performance?

I hope you will all check out these wonderful bloggers. Since discovering these hard-working women, I am now a big fan of each of them as well as Tina from Eclectic Twist who nominated me! Looking forward to reading each of their posts in the future! If you are a blogger and want to know more about the Liebster award, let me know!

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