Whoever is reading this post, thank you for taking time out of your day to connect with me! I hope you are all doing well. In case you missed my last post, you can read about my opinion about buying and selling locally here. 

The Sunshine Blogger Award is per recognition award for bloggers who inspire readers by promoting positivity and bringing joy. Thank you, Snigdha Deka, from The Soul Searcher, for nominating me back. Although it takes me a while to complete these awards, I still like to finish the ones that are awarded to me personally. 

I highly recommend that you follow The Soul Searcher if you haven’t done so already. She is very optimistic and aspires to accomplish amazing things in her life. For instance, she is currently working on obtaining her Ph.D. in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences while balancing life with leisurely hobbies to include poetry, reading, cooking, and baking to name a few! You go, girl! 💁

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Rules🌞

The Sunshine Blogger Award has rules (surprise, surprise!). These rules ensure the success of this award, providing exposure to all the award winners. The rules are quite simple and straightforward.

Rules for Award:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them.
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts. ← I don’t leave comments on their blog posts anymore because it’s spammy. Instead, I tag them in this post so that they will receive a notification about the nomination. 
• List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or your blog site.

Questions I was asked:

1. What motivated you to start blogging and still inspires you to blog? I wanted to get away from Facebook and needed a safe place to vent to the world while making sense of my life through writing. A blog seemed like the most logical outlet for my needs. Also, I had previously used WordPress for a project at university, so I already knew how to use this platform when I started blogging. [copied answer from Sunshine Blogger Award 2.0]

2. Which is your favourite book and why? I like self-help books but I don’t really have a preference. The one book that I would recommend to anyone who wants to better themselves is, “You Are a Badass: How to Start Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincero. However, there are many books just like this one on the market.

Look familiar? I used the same image for Sunshine Blogger Award 2.0 

3. Which is that one song currently stuck in your head? The Peppa Pig Theme Song. Peppa Pig is my daughter’s favourite show so it’s usually playing on TV at my house.

Peppa Pig Theme Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s4xFNohHi4

4. Three things you would love to do on a rainy day? Yesterday was a rainy day. I started working on the Sunshine Blogger Award 4.0 rough draft because I had time. Later that day, my husband came home and we decided to make strawberry shortcake! Since he wanted to use the desktop computer, I was unable to complete the rough draft, hence why I am working on finishing the questions today. We still needed exercise and usually, we go for a walk outside. However, it was still raining, so we spent time at the mall yesterday evening. 

Delicious homemade strawberry shortcake in all of its glory.

5. What is the one food in the world that you cannot live without? Fruit! I love all kinds of fruit. If Fruitarianism was an option for me, I would totally be one. #30BAD

Look familiar? I used the same image for Sunshine Blogger Award 2.0

6. If you could travel somewhere right now, where would it be? Right now, I would like to travel to Singapore again and spend a couple of weeks in the tropics. I am tired of the cold, rainy weather in Canada.

Sentosa Island, Singapore | Summer 2018

7. Which do you like more – Dreams or Reality? I am a realist so I see things for how they are in the present moment. As much as I like dreams, dreams aren’t real until we make them real by turning our dreams into reality. At the end of the day, we should appreciate reality for what it is, regardless of what your reality happens to be. Here is the definition of a realist, according to Urban Dictionary:

Realists have a firm grip on reality and can see things for what they are, not what they are told they are. Realists have their own views and do not fall victim to propaganda, misconception, or titles!

1. There is the Pessimist who believes the glass is half empty!

2. There is the Optimist who believes the glass is half full!

3. Then there is the Realist who knows it is just half a fucking glass!

8. Love in one word? Unconditional ❤️

9. What do you do to make yourself feel better when you are having a bad day? Usually, I make myself a mug of chai or orange pekoe tea and watch reruns of the Big Bang Theory.

10. Which is your most embarrassing childhood memory? I feel uncomfortable sharing this story on the internet. It has to do with Aunt Flo and a lack of female sanitary products while stuck in Quebec on a school trip. Nuff said. Period. [copied answer from Sunshine Blogger Award 3.0]

11. Three ways you would want to bring more happiness and peace to this world?

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Nominees🌞

https://newblogger20.wordpress.com/

https://laviedeuveeblog.wordpress.com/

https://bournemouthgirl.com/

https://selfcaresloth.wordpress.com/

https://sassycatlady.com/

https://retrospectivelily.com/

https://caffeinatedinlosangeles.com/

https://nicolesundays.wordpress.com/

https://renardsworld.wordpress.com/

https://rapturousretreat.wordpress.com/

https://gracethoroughgoodbeauty.wordpress.com/

Questions for the nominees:

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?
2. What year did you publish your first blog post?
3. What is your favorite blog post you’ve written and why?
4. Do you own a pet? If so, what kind?
5. Do you have any routines before you write a blog post?
6. What motivates you to write? Where do you find inspiration?
7. What is your favorite social media platform and why?
8. Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
9. What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from blogging?
10. Are you satisfied with your blog’s progress so far?
11. What do you fear the most?

And….GO!! There is no pressure to respond to this nomination, as I know you have very busy lives outside of the blogging world. I look forward to reading your answers if you do decide to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Award. I am curious to know what your answers are! BTW, I am reusing the same questions I asked last time because I haven’t previously nominated these bloggers.

Whoever is reading this post, thank you for taking time out of your day to connect with me! I hope you are all doing well. It’s time for yet another Sunshine Blogger Award! I had originally planned to split up the Sunshine Blogger Awards throughout the week but my laptop is unreliable right now. It keeps crashing on me every half-hour because there is something wrong with the cooling fan. 

The Sunshine Blogger Award is per recognition award for bloggers who inspire readers by promoting positivity and bringing joy. Thank you, Ilona, for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. This is the third award that I have been nominated for and I am excited to participate in the Q&A yet gain.

Ilona has a popular blog called easydiet.blog, and her blog is one of my personal favorites. She takes the time to connect with her readers and she’s a wonderful person. I feel a sense of belonging whenever I visit her blog and I also feel like I have known her for a long time, even though we haven’t met in person. If you haven’t already done so, you should go check out her blog. 🌻

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Rules🌞

The Sunshine Blogger Award has rules (surprise, surprise!). These rules ensure the success of this award, providing exposure to all the award winners. The rules are quite simple and straightforward.

Rules for Award:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them.
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
• List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or your blog site.

QUESTIONS I WAS ASKED:

1. How does the person develop a personality over time? Personally, I believe that we are born with our personalities (nature), and our personalities are shaped through childhood experiences (nurture). Many people may argue that we cannot change our personalities over time and I agree with this statement. However, I also believe that we can change our personalities through personal development and self-awareness which happens over time.

This used to be my desktop background so I could look at it every day as a reminder to aim high.

2. Do you have a dream to chase? Yes, I have spent a few years chasing after my dream of working in the field of health care. Even though it is taking much longer than I had intended due to unforeseen circumstances, I still plan on becoming a RN eventually.

I am not in love with my stethoscope and wish I would have chosen mauve or hot pink instead of raspberry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

3. Are you really doing, what you would like to do in life? Not yet. I thought I would have established a career by now or have a full-time job in the health care industry. I already have a B.Sc. in biology and I have been taking university courses since 2010. These days, I am a stay at home mom (SAHM) who feels unfulfilled and stuck in life. Even worse, I am unable to accomplish my other long-term goals because of a failed semester. It’s super frustrating because I am not getting the results I want! 💢

4. Are you afraid to make mistakes? If so, why? Yes. I am afraid of making mistakes because I am afraid of making the wrong choices. Sometimes, failure to take any action whatsoever only makes the situation worse. I have one more chance to go back to school next January, but a part of me wants to ditch the dream of becoming a nurse in case it doesn’t work out.

5. Do you react to other people’s actions or do you choose your own actions? I react to other people’s actions most of the time. Rudeness and entitlement really rub me the wrong way, and I am not hesitant to block people on social media if they piss me off.

6. Is there something that you know you have to let go, but you can’t? I have to let go of the anger I have towards certain people and stop playing the victim. Having anger and bitterness towards them does not make the situation any better. The negative feelings are ultimately hurting ME, so I need to let these thoughts go, and yet I struggle to let them go.

7. What makes you the happiest in your life? Why? Being free of depression and other negative thoughts. Part of the reason why I am on a journey towards self-actualization is to figure out how to rewire my brain and stop these negative-thinking loops. Guided meditation helps me escape these negative thoughts, if only for a moment.

8. Would you like to be famous? Being famous brings additional problems and burdens mainly driven by ego and greed. I would like to be remembered for being authentic and humble. Fame is still a possibility, but I wouldn’t want to famous for the reasons that most people want to be famous.

 9. The most embarrassing moment of your life? I feel uncomfortable sharing this story on the internet. It has to do with Aunt Flo and a lack of female sanitary products while stuck in Quebec on a school trip. Nuff said. Period.

10. Do you have any superstition? I believe that I will attract good health, longevity, truth, and fidelity for every 1000 paper cranes that I fold. I don’t know how many paper cranes I have made in my lifetime, but it’s probably a few thousand. If you would like to learn more about this superstition, you can read about the 1000 Cranes Legend.

Some of the paper cranes that I folded for a school project.

11. What you don’t like about yourself? I struggle with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and I hate the way my body looks. You may or may not know this about me, but I was anorexic when I was 14 years old which was triggered by bullying, depression, and feelings of inadequacy. I especially hate my smile and can’t stand it when people bug me for selfies. I also hate my big forehead. It hurts my feelings when people make fun of the way I look.

Photo credit: https://www.deviantart.com/amostar/art/Sakura-s-Big-Forehead-38843630

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Nominees🌞

https://mbodypower479768866.wordpress.com

https://gagsblog.com

https://trystwithmind.wordpress.com

https://stevescountry.com

https://whenanintrovertspeaks.home.blog

https://michellewriterblog.wordpress.com

https://changedlife365.net

https://lifesfinewhine.wordpress.com

https://hopescorner.home.blog

https://musingsandroses.wordpress.com

https://thetalesofateenagebrunette.wordpress.com

Questions for the nominees:

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?
2. What year did you publish your first blog post?
3. What is your favorite blog post you’ve written and why?
4. Do you own a pet? If so, what kind?
5. Do you have any routines before you write a blog post?
6. What motivates you to write? Where do you find inspiration?
7. What is your favorite social media platform and why?
8. Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
9. What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from blogging?
10. Are you satisfied with your blog’s progress so far?
11. What do you fear the most?

And….GO!! There is no pressure to respond to this nomination, as I know you have very busy lives outside of the blogging world. I look forward to reading your answers if you do decide to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Award. I am curious to know what your answers are! 

Whoever is reading this post, thank you for taking time out of your day to connect with me! I hope you are all doing well. In case you missed my last post, you can read all about it here: My Favourite Things.

The Sunshine Blogger Award is per recognition award for bloggers who inspire readers by promoting positivity and bringing joy. Thank you, Stay Alive, for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. This is the second award that I have been nominated for and I am excited to participate in the Q&A yet gain.

Stay Alive runs a popular blog called reaosons2stayhome, which is a fairly new blog that has recently gained momentum in the blogging community. I am not surprised considering that this blog speaks to many people who suffer from depression and anxiety. The purpose of Stay Alive is exactly what the blog implies – to stay alive by finding purpose in your life and a reason to live. 

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Rules🌞

The Sunshine Blogger Award has rules (surprise, surprise!). These rules ensure the success of this award, providing exposure to all the award winners. The rules are quite simple and straightforward.

Rules for Award:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them.
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
• List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or your blog site.

Question I was asked by Stay Alive:

1. If there was absolutely nothing stopping you, what would you do to make this world a better place? I would ensure that people have access to clean water and as well as food security. Most of the world lacks access to these basic needs as people continue to die from starvation and preventable infections caused by contaminated water. Considering that first world countries have an abundance of food and access to clean, running water, I personally think that it pathetic that wealthy countries are so full of greed and people care more about how many likes their Instagram photo has. Meanwhile, there are impoverished people in this world who are struggling just to stay alive.

Stay Alive asked a great question! I personally enjoy answering questions, so I am also including Ilona’s questions to make my replies a bit more interesting. Ilona’s blog is very inspiring and optimistic. If you don’t follow her blog already, you should definitely check out her blog for her latest updates at https://easydiet.blog/

Questions asked by Ilona:

1. Tell me two things that prompted you to start a blog? I wanted to get away from Facebook and needed a safe place to vent to to the world while making sense of my life through writing. A blog seemed like the most logical outlet for my needs. Also, I had previously used WordPress for a project in university, so I already knew the how to use this platform when I started blogging.

2. What is the happiest day in your life? This is a hard question to answer since I am fortunate to have had more than one “happiest day” in my life so far. I was happy when I met my now husband, when we got married, and when our daughter was born. My answers are so cliché but these are my most memorable moments. [copied answer from Sunshine Blogger Award 1.0]

3.What absolutely excites you right now? I don’t really have much to be excited about these days, but if I had to choose something, it would be the progress that I am making with my weight loss. I would like to wear crop tops and bikinis this summer, which I believe is possible if I continue to stick to my diet consisting mostly of unprocessed, anti-inflammatory foods.

You can live frugally and still eat well! Be sure to check out 7 Ways to Stop Wasting Money

4. What’s the most important thing I should know about you? I suffer from depression and I am currently seeking help. I do not let depression define who I am as a person. I also feel like depression allows us to play victim and throw pity parties for ourselves which is NOT what I intend to do with this blog. Sometimes, we are just dealt a bad hand in life but that does not mean that we should continue to using the same crappy cards dealt to us over and over again.

My depression was bad last weekend. I only took this photo because someone was bugging me for a selfie.

5. What are you currently reading? I am not reading any books at the moment. Sometimes I will casually skim through “You Are a Badass: How to Start Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincero.

My book looks beaten up because it has traveled with me to Singapore and back.

6. What do you think is the driving force in your life? I was put on this planet to heal people. I don’t know how exactly, but I know that I am supposed to be a healer in this life. I used to interpret this as a future nutritionist, but fate did not work out that way. Now, I am interpreting this calling as a registered nurse. However, I have faced several challenges trying to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse. I still don’t know how to interpret the role of a healer or what I am truly passionate about.

7. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this year/month/week? Honestly, not much. I am literally at a standstill in life and feel like I have hit a brick wall. There isn’t anything that I have to look forward to right now except $1 iced coffee all summer, if that counts.

8. If you had the opportunity to meet one person you haven’t met, who would it be, why, and what would you talk about? I would like to meet a girl I met online who I’ve known for several years now. We used to admin Facebook Pages together back when I was still using Facebook. She recently started a blog called https://sadlonelybutterfly.wordpress.com/ and I encourage you to check our her blog. One day, my husband and I will probably have the opportunity to visit her and I’m sure we will talk about many things. I would like to meet her family and her boyfriend. Right now, we call each other on the phone and talk for hours at a time. Since we both enjoy video games and anime, I can see us binging on our favorite pastimes when we meet each other in real life.

9. Who is your role model? A family friend who I grew up with and happens to live in the same city as me. We don’t hang out that much anymore. She basically has the life I want and I envy her. I am also a bit jealous of her which is something I know stems from my own insecurities. I never told her that she is my role model.

10. If you could know the absolute and total truth to one question, what question would you ask? Can science prove the existence of God?

11. How can I be most helpful to you right now? I am not sure how to interpret this question. It would help if you read my blog. Also, be sure to “like” this post if you enjoyed reading it. All of your feedback is helpful and comments are welcome. It helps to know what my fellow readers would like to see more of in future posts.

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Nominees🌞

https://minimalismmyway.com/

https://biblionyan.com/

https://beautybeyondbones.com/

https://bealright.blog/

https://simpleula.com/

https://theintrospectivescribbleronline.wordpress.com/

https://soulsearcher.life/

https://stiinamarie.wordpress.com/

https://sadlonelybutterfly.wordpress.com/

https://www.blessingsbyme.com/

https://mywellbeingandlearningjourney.wordpress.com/

Questions for the nominees:

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?
2. What year did you publish your first blog post?
3. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
4. Do you own a pet? If so, what kind?
5. Do you have any routines before you write a blog post?
6. What motivates you to write? Where do you find inspiration?
7. What country do you live in?
8. Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
9. Are you a morning person or a night person?
10. What languages do you speak?
11. What do you fear the most?

And….GO!! There is no pressure to respond to this nomination, as I know you have very busy lives outside of the blogging world. I look forward to reading your answers if you do decide to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Award. I am curious to know what your answers are! BTW, I am reusing the same questions I asked last time because I haven’t previously nominated these bloggers.

Whoever is reading this post, thank you for taking time out of your day to connect with me! I hope you are all doing well. In case you missed my last post, I have been dealing with depression but I don’t want it to prevent me from writing. I’m determined to fight my demons through writing, which is a therapeutic outlet for me. 

The Sunshine Blogger Award is per recognition award for bloggers who inspire readers by promoting positivity and bringing joy. Thank you, Ilona, for nominating me. Ilona runs a popular blog called easydiet.blog which has become popular since she first launched it. I feel like I can resonate with Ilona on many levels because she speaks from her heart and takes the time to connect with her readers. Even though we live miles away from each other, it doesn’t feel like we are separated by distance. 

Ilona’s blog is very inspiring and optimistic! If you don’t follow her blog already, you should definitely check out her blog.

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Rules🌞

The Sunshine Blogger Award has rules (surprise, surprise!). These rules ensure the success of this award, providing exposure to all the award winners. The rules are quite simple and straightforward.

Rules for Award:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them.
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
• List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or your blog site.

Questions I was asked:

1. What do you enjoy most in blogging? I enjoy connecting with other bloggers because I feel like I am a part of something bigger. I also feel like I belong in this community and the atmosphere seems much more positive and inviting compared to other platforms (I’m looking at you, Facebook).

2. What has been your most successful blog post and why do you think it was such a success? I am not sure which blog post is most successful, but I am guessing that it is probably Life is Not All Sunshine and Rainbows since it seemed to get the most likes and comments. This is the also the first blog post where I openly wrote about depression.

3. What was your happiest moment in life so far? This is a hard question to answer since I am fortunate to have had more than one “happiest moment” in my life. I was happy when I met my now husband, when we got married, and when our daughter was born. My answers are so cliché but these are my most memorable moments.

My daughter enjoying the sunflowers at her grandparents’ house. 🌻

4. What is your little wish you would like to come through the soonest? I wish for things to get better in 2019. So far, it’s been a rough year for me and I would really like to see big improvements. I am sick and tired of feeling “stuck” in life. This is a quarter-life crisis maybe?

5. A day on the beach or a day exploring a city? I burn easily in the sun so a day exploring a city!

6. Where would you like to travel next? Japan.

7. What is your favourite season and why? I am an August baby so summer has always been my favourite season. I also like summer because this season promotes relaxation unless you work/study year-round. Even summer semesters seem more relaxed.

8. Eating what food brings to you some happy memories about your childhood? My oma makes the best cakes and desserts. Her cakes are mouthwatering and delectable. She still makes them but I live across the country, so I cannot enjoy them sadly.

Quick German lesson: Oma means grandmother & Opa means grandfather.

9. Who is your favourite historical character and why? I never really cared for history. Terry Fox is not my favourite historic figure but I remember him well because we had to do this Terry Fox run every Friday in elementary school. And to make things worse, it was timed and graded.

10. What is the piece of music that brings back to your happy memories? Wind of Change by the Scorpions. My dad told me that I had the entire song memorized by age 4. My best memory is singing this song in his Volkswagen with the windows rolled down.

11. If you could go back in time when would you like to live? I prefer to live in the present, not in the past.

🌞Sunshine Blogger Award Nominees🌞

https://humanityliveson.home.blog/

https://popsiclesociety.com/

https://grieftolife.com/

https://joypassiondesire.com/

https://existentialergonomics.com/

https://groundinggrowth.com/

https://jazminheavenblog.com/

https://opinionatingblog.wordpress.com/

https://millenniallifecrisis.org/

https://coffeennotes.wordpress.com/

https://fightmsdaily.com/

Questions for the nominees:

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?
2. What year did you publish your first blog post?
3. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
4. Do you own a pet? If so, what kind?
5. Do you have any routines before you write a blog post?
6. What motivates you to write? Where do you find inspiration?
7. What country do you live in?
8. Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
9. Are you a morning person or a night person?
10. What languages do you speak?
11. What do you fear the most?

And….GO!! There is no pressure to respond to this nomination, as I know you have very busy lives outside of the blogging world. I look forward to reading your answers if you do decide to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Award. I am curious to know what your answers are!