The Liebster Award

Back when my blog was fairly new, I got nominated for a Liebster Award. This award, passed around by fellow bloggers, is given to someone whose blog you enjoy, in hopes that it helps to drive extra traffic to said blog. Participants answer a few questions about themselves, and then nominate more blogs for the award, thus passing the good fortune along. It’s just a nice little thing for bloggers to do amongst themselves, in hopes of leading new followers to each other.

Recently a friend of mine, Eric over at All In A Dad’s Work, was nominated for a Liebster, and he passed the torch over to a group of bloggers that included me. Being that it has been a while since I did one of these, I decided to accept. So let’s get to the “questions”!

Highlight of the Year
Well, there are plenty of awesome things that could happen yet, but thus far I would definitely have to say that the highlight of the year so far was my little girl’s Kindergarten “graduation”. It was super adorable when they sang their little song and when she told the crowd that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. It was also an awesome day with family, homemade barbecued burgers, and watching the little one and her cousin playing on her new playhouse/swing set. All in all just an awesome day!

Favorite Quote
It’s hard to pick just one because I love quotes, but right now I’m really in love with this one from Carl Sandburg: “Beware of advice – even this.”

Where do you source your inspirations from, whether it be in life or writing?
I take inspiration from everything around me. I take it from the movies and TV shows I watch, the video games I play, and the books I read. I take it from my daughter’s foibles, the horrors in the news, and humorous moments with friends. And I take a great deal of inspiration in my own feelings, emotions, and reactions. Many of my characters, in one way or another, come from within myself, from how I would think or feel or react in a given situation, or how I would like to think, feel, or react.

What is your favorite color and how does it inspire you?
I don’t really have any one particular favorite color. I wear a lot of black, because I feel I look good in it, and I own a lot of things (suitcase, jacket, purse) in purple, but that was more accident than anything. I can honestly say that I don’t really take inspiration in colors, although on a cold, grey day I do tend to feel like writing sad scenes.

Where were you born?
In a hospital in my hometown in Nova Scotia, and that’s quite enough information, I think!

How many countries have you visited?
Precisely…one. Yeah, that’s right, I’ve never been outside of Canada. The opportunity has just never arisen, although someday I’d love to travel to Scotland to see the castles, or to Egypt to see the pyramids.

Can you play an instrument?
I’m definitely not even close to proficient, but I can hold my own on a guitar, which is all it takes to jam out some tunes during a family get-together. I also took several years of piano lessons as a child, but I haven’t really played in years and can barely pluck out a tune now. Personally, I prefer to let other people deal with playing the music while I sing.

What one thing is guaranteed to make you cry?
I’m not a terribly weepy person, but when a character that I’ve fallen in love with (movie, TV, video game, book…) is going through some horrible emotional turmoil, I often find my eyes welling up. I sniffled my way through several scenes in the later Harry Potter books, and Dean Winchester has made me almost break out into sobs several times.

What would you say is your favorite restaurant?
I don’t know that I really have a favorite restaurant. I enjoy the Chinese food buffet that’s down the road from where I live, and there’s a family-owned fried chicken place near where I grew up that is quite possibly the most delicious chicken in the universe, but I wouldn’t say that there’s a restaurant out there that I consider to be my absolute favorite.

What is the word/phrase that you use way too much?
There are lots of words and phrases that I use way too much, but I don’t tend to notice myself saying them. By watching my YouTube videos I’ve learned that I say, “I’ve gotta say” way, way too much, and my husband sometimes gets mad at me for saying “Mmm-hmm” as a response to everything. I could go on, but honestly this entry could go on forever.

So that’s it for the Liebster Award for today! Who do I nominate? Everyone! If you’re reading this right now, I nominate you! And if you decide to accept, please feel free to come back and leave a link in the comments so I can check out your answers! ❤