The Sunshine Blogger Award

Oh my goodness. I was just nominated for another blogger award! This time it’s the Sunshine Blogger Award and honestly, it’s really touching that Beth (see below in Gratitude and Appreciation) thought of me to nominate and acknowledge me as a blogger worth thinking of and sharing to others. I’m truly honored and feel very lucky to be a part of this great community. But onto the tag! I’m quite ready to answer some questions about blogging, myself, and everything in between, and make up some questions myself! (Get ready those who were tagged!) Here it goes!

The Rules

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blogging site

• List the Sunshine Blogger Award rules and display the logo on your site

• Answer the Sunshine Blogger Award questions

• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions

• Notify the nominees about their nominations

Gratitude And Appreciation:

Such a big thank you to Beth over at The Black Ant Blog for nominating me for this award! I’m very honored because Beth is a fantastic blogger, who writes so passionately about a variety of real subjects, like health and mental health in such a positive and informative way. If you haven’t checked out her blog already, it’s definitely worth adding to your blog reading list! Thank you again, Beth!

The Questions I Should Answer:

1. When did you start blogging? What kick-started you?
I started blogging five years ago! My blog has been through many phases: a bucket list blog, a travel blog, the first version of That Weird Girl Life, and now it’s in its second (and even better, if I say so myself) phase of That Weird Girl Life. I started blogging because I wanted to have an outlet to write about what I was interested in, and in a weird way to push myself out of my comfort zone (aka having a bucket list blog and/or travel blog that didn’t play out because I RARELY travel- though I’d really like to travel more if I could). But in a way, this version of my blog is still pushing me out of my comfort zone: though it’s doing this by having me open up about my mental health and hopefully helping other people by sharing my stories!

2. Best friend in primary school? Do you still keep in touch?
I had several best friends in primary school (I know, so popular!), but I haven’t really kept in touch with too many. I’m friends with them on Facebook, but I do have one or two I still keep in contact with and consider my best friends, though they live out of state and don’t see each other as much as we used to. Ugh, adulthood!

3. Desert, Tropics or 4 Seasons? You can live anywhere in the world!
I live in the desert, and while the tropics may be fun to visit, I’m going to have to say four seasons! I would love to have an actual autumn, with red and yellow falling leaves, and that crisp, cold weather where you can actually wear sweaters and other comfy and cute fall clothing. Here, it’s almost October and everyone is still wearing shorts.

4. Do your friends and family know about your blogging?
Hmm. I actually don’t talk about my blog with my family or friends! I don’t know if I’m afraid they’ll read it and judge me or what, but I tend to be very open and honest on my blog, regarding mental health, and I am not like that in real life. So in a way, I’m keeping my blog a secret and just sharing it with my internet friends. I hope I can be brave enough to tell more people about it in the future and discuss writing it, because I love blogging and I’m so proud of my blog, but for now, I’m too shy to say anything.

5. Where would you love to go on holiday just with your 3-4 best friends?
Oooh a girls trip! If we had unlimited cash, I would say some big city like Los Angeles or New York and really go for the whole big city experience. Stay in a nice hotel, spend the day sightseeing, shopping, and having fun. Then at night, dress up and go out for some fun shows, enjoy a fancy dinner, and see what the nightlife is like and have some late night adventures. Basically, the theme would be “treat yo selves!” and we would just go all out.

6. Where is the most exotic place you have ever lived?
Well, not to brag, but I have only lived in one general vicinity for my entire life. I’ve only lived in one state, Arizona, in the United States, and that’s it! But in the perfect world, I would love to live in England (if you could call that exotic. But from where I live that’s super exotic!).

7. If there was one vegetable or fruit that you had to include in every single meal (for life), what would it be?
Ooh, I love all types of fruit (not so much vegetables, which is odd for a vegetarian, but hi, ME!), so I may pick something like an orange (delicious and wards off scurvy!) or a nice crisp green apple. Would they go with the meal? Probably not, but I’d find them delicious anyway!

8. You have a farm: horses or alpacas? Why?
Alpacas, because horses scare me. I’m sorry, but I don’t trust a giant quadruped that can sense your fear. It’s suspicious, I’m telling you! Also, have you seen a baby alpaca? Too cute! I’d pick a baby alpaca over a baby horse any day! (Sorry, baby horses!)

9. Do you play music in the background while writing? What type of music?
I actually prefer silence when I write! I know that sounds incredibly strange, but if I listen to music, I end up getting distracted by the lyrics, and if I listen to classical music or movie scores, I get swept away in the musical emotion and start daydreaming. So it’s much easier for me to stay focused if there is just absolutely nothing at all playing in the background.

10. How do you use social media?
Probably not as well as I should be! I love going on Instagram and Twitter (not so much Facebook anymore) to see what’s going on with friends, the world, and the blogging community. I try to use Twitter and Pinterest to promote my blog, but I usually just use Instagram for fun (though I will promote my blog on there every so often, not going to lie!). And as fun as social media is, I’m really trying to cut back. I’ve noticed that the constant comparisons and the onslaught of information can be bad for my mental health so I really do try to take short, frequent social media breaks, even though that may be “bad” for my blog. But my mental health has to come first!

11. Three random facts:

• I don’t like being the center of attention, so no surprise parties, please!

• My all time favorite band are the Arctic Monkeys (give them a listen, they are amazing)

• I love entering contests for some reason. Do I ever win them? No. But do I get a little thrill thinking I could actually win it even though the odds are stacked against me? Heck yes I do.

*Bonus Question!*

(Let’s make this an even twelve! I think Beth added an extra question so I’m going to answer it because it’s a good one!)

12. If you have written a book – what is it? If not, what would you write about? Does it have a title yet?
I have not written a book, but I’ve always thought writing one would be such a great accomplishment. As an avid reader, to actually write something that other people will read and enjoy, just like I’ve read and enjoyed so many books, is probably an amazing feeling. And the fact that you wrote a complete story, with a narrative, characters, made of thousands and thousands of words, is truly astonishing to me. But if I ever did write a book, as a fan of all things spooky, I would definitely write a horror novel!

My Nominations:

(And bloggers, I apologize if you've been nominated before or if this isn't your jam, so please don't feel like you have to do the tag unless you want to. I just wanted to nominate you because I admire all of your blogs and hope more people will discover all of your content! But if you do decide to do the tag, please let me know because I'd love to read it!)

1. Julie- Darkbluejournal

2. Steph- Sometimes I Write

3. Deandra- The Black Princess Diaries 

4. Sean- Authentically Average

5. Kirsty- Love Popcorn

6. Delta Elaina Ariana Deathstorm- The Dead Books

7. Kaili- Entertainingly Nerdy

8. Meagan- Quibbles and Scribbles

9. Arielle- The Little Dismaid 

10. Eleanor- Mxrshmallow Queen

11. Kayleigh- Kayleigh Zara

11 Questions I Want My Nominations to Answer:

1. How has blogging positively impacted your life?
2. When do you like to blog: morning, afternoon, or night?
3. What is the one food you refuse to eat?
4. If aliens came to earth, what would you first show them that you think is cool?
5. If you could switch places with one person for the day, who would it be?
6. What is your favorite social media medium and why?
7. What’s your perfect type of vacation: sight-seeing or relaxing?
8. If you could travel back (or forward!) in time, when and where would you want to visit?
9. What is your least favorite thing about blogging?
10. Three cutest animals: go!
11. If you could spend the whole day doing something you love, what would it be?

That was my post for the Sunshine Blogger Award! It was really fun to answer and I had such a great time coming up with the questions, haha. I hope they weren’t too quirky, but hey, that’s me! Have you been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award? If not, what questions would you come up with to ask?

Stay Weird!