03 // The Liebster Award

THANK YOU!

This site has been live for about a month, but it didn’t take that long to realize that I’d be learning about a lot more than just photography. After publishing my first few posts, I was submerged into the wonderful world of social media, marketing, branding, and networking — which included detours down website administration boulevard and a brief stay on self-accountability island. I’m fortunate to have had the support of the online blogging community, and could not have gotten this off the ground without it.

So, as a blogging newbie, I am completely thankful and flattered to be nominated for a Liebster Award. Thank you, Meera, for nominating me and for being so supportive!

WHAT IS THE LIEBSTER AWARD?

Prior to my nomination, I had no idea what the Liebster Award was, but after researching numerous sites I’ve learned that:

• The Liebster Award is given to bloggers by their fellow bloggers.
• It’s a way to recognize one another, and is generally given to new or small blogs.
• Those who choose to accept the award must follow a set of rules, which includes nominating other bloggers. 

Further research explains that some nominees choose not to participate because of the chain-lettery feel, however, I feel that the recognition and sense of community that this brings is important. (Plus, there’s nothing wrong with paying it forward, right?) The official rules request submissions be in by December 25, but I wanted to share this anyway.

THE RULES:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their blog.
2. Display an image of the award in your post.
3. Write a 150-300 word post about your favorite blog (one that is not your own) and provide a link to that blog.
4. Answer the questions that were provided to you by your nominator.
5. Nominate 5-11 blogs.
6. Supply questions for your nominees to answer.
7. Share the rules in your post.
8. Contact your nominees; let them know they’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award and provide them with a link to your post.

THE HONORABLE MENTION:

I’d like to take the time to shout-out my nominator, Meera from The Lone Teen Traveller. Besides writing about travel, Meera writes about fashion and various other lifestyle topics. I’ve read all her posts about Asia (which is on the top of my traveling bucket-list), and really enjoyed reading her post about fear, in which she reminds us not to let fear get in the way of doing what you want to do. I can’t wait to see where she goes next — not only literally (as in travel) — but also in regard to how she grows as a person. 

THE QUESTIONS:

1. What are you thinking right now? I usually have a lot going on inside my head (various to-do’s, work-related issues, stress,..) but now that I’m on vacation and Christmas is behind us, I’m trying to clear my mind (at least until next week when I return to work).
2. What inspired you to start blogging? I’ve always been interested in writing and had unsuccessfully started blogs before — back in the Live Journal, Xanga and Myspace days. However recently, in an effort to get my Twitter numbers up, I started following a few dozen bloggers and was completely inspired by Twitter’s #bloggertribe. After a couple weeks of seeing how inspirational and supportive everyone was, I decided to give blogging another shot! It was great timing too, because I had already decided that I was going to learn how to work my grandpa’s film camera and figured I might as well blog about my journey and share what I learn. Just like that, discovering35mm was born.
3. Where do you hope to be in 10 years? Well, I’m nearing the end of my twenties, so I hope to start a family, solidify my career, you know — all that adulting stuff.
4. What are three things you hope to achieve during your lifetime? I’m not sure that these would be considered “achievements,” but I hope my future kids get to meet their great-grandma and grandparents (since I was so fortunate to know mine), I hope to travel to the areas where my family is from (Portugal, Norway, Italy…), and I hope achieve an executive status before I retire.
5. If your whole life was written in a book (including how and when you die), would you read it? & Why/Why not? No, I would not. I would be tempted to, but I think that knowing my fate might ultimately halt my drive. For instance, if I knew I was going to live until I was 90, I might take life for granted. If I knew I was going to live until 40, I might give up completely.
6. What is your favorite book of all time? My favorite book is The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. I was required to read it in high school, and it ended up being one of the most insightful books I have read. And it totally made me cry; it’s a great read. I also really like Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor in the Charles Manson trial. I love true crime books!
7. If you had unlimited money for one day, what would you do? Since traveling can be really expensive, I would definitely book some amazing, spontaneous trip for my family and friends. I would also try to knockout some bucket-list items. For example, did you know there’s an elevator that takes you to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge? I don’t think it’s open to the public, but I’ve seen people from the press go up there. I want that. 
8. What has been your most embarrassing moment so far? I embarrass myself quite often, so luckily I’ve learned to laugh it off. Sometimes it’s not that easy; for example, I once met my favorite band, blink-182, and was a nervous wreck. I have no idea what I even said!
9. If you could live in a fictional universe (e.g. Middle earth/Harry Potter/Marvel/Star Wars), which one would it be? It’s hard to choose, but I tend to lean towards magical, enchanted places like OZ, Neverland, Wonderland, or Pandora.
   
10. What’s one thing you wish you could tell your teenage self? I would tell myself that school really does matter. Growing up, school was pretty easy for me so I started getting lazy and didn’t see the importance of learning certain subjects; I wasn’t being challenged. I didn’t realize that it’s less about the content and more about the grades — good grades get you into better classes, which get you into better colleges, which get you into better careers…. Back then, I couldn’t see that far ahead.
    
11. What are 2 of your proudest achievements? Again, not sure if these are achievements, but I feel fortunate to have made it past certain milestones… moved out, graduated college, got married, etc. So far, so good.
    
12. What are 3 things that made you happy today? Today, 1.) I let my kitten go outside for the first time (since he was found 4 months ago); super cute. 2.) I was able to catch up on some errands. 3.) I woke up feeling good, despite going to bed feeling sick last night.

THE NOMINATIONS:

1. Courtney A. Castro; https://courtneycasto.com/ — Courtney writes about a little of everything and it’s just what the doctor ordered: Real Talk. (She even has a page dedicated to “Real Talk”) I appreciate her openness and point-of-view, which is very human. I find myself thinking #same after reading a lot of her posts, and I hope she continues to let us into her world.
2. Life of Maria; https://melmariac.wordpress.com/ — Maria discusses various topics and is very candid; super refreshing. Her posts range from listing her favorite things about the Fall, to opening up about her dad’s health. Her ability to share her thoughts with the world is what makes blogging great.
3. The Girlfriend Experience; https://theunattainablegirlfriendexperience.wordpress.com/ — Her Twitter bio says it best, “Anonymous blogger writing about the single girl life the only way I know how – with a shit ton of sarcasm and just a pinch of romance.” She’s not afraid to tell it like it is, and should totally write a romcom.
4. The Pask Gubbins; https://thepaskgubbins.wordpress.com/ — Hannah writes super helpful posts which discuss beauty, books, the holidays,… you name it! Her reviews are really thorough and her pictures are very creative. It’s easy to see how much effort goes into her blog, and I will use some of her suggestions.
5. Tom’s Room; http://tomsroom.net/en/ — Tom writes about something near and dear to my heart; music. It’s not easy writing about something as subjective as music, but Tom finds a way to do it (and he does it well). A lot of thought goes into his reviews and I’ll definitely be checking out some of these bands.

PASSING THE TORCH:

1. What do you enjoy most about blogging, and why?
2. What’s something you wish more people knew about you?
3. What are two things you’ve learned about yourself this year?
4. If you could bring back one thing from your childhood, what would it be?
5. How do you deal with stress?
6. What talent or skill do you wish you could acquire overnight?
7. Would you rather go back in time or forward in time, and why?
8. What movie could you watch over and over again?
9. Do you have any holiday traditions? What are they?
10. What advice can you give fellow bloggers?