Liebster Award

Sometimes I get nominated for awards on blogger and it makes my whole day. I haven't been nominated for a while (that I know of..) probably due to the fact that I haven't been as active in the blogworld as I used to be. When I saw this tag I was quite excited. I received, from Chrissie from Life with Ze Riberts, the Liebster Award!

This is the description which I got from Chrissie's page.

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

(Aww so kind. =) )

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

 1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. Remember, no tag backs!

11 Things About Me.

1. I have 43 pairs of underwear. Yeah, I counted. I don't think you can ever have too many.

2. I have two paintings of Audrey Hepburn in my room to remind me to stay classy. Also one poster in my living room.

3. I think I might really love animals and it breaks my heart when they are hurt or neglected. I went to the pound once. Worst decision ever. Soo sad. I didn't really know this about myself until recently.

4. I am waiting for a missionary. Yep.  I am I am. Took me until now, nearly 17 months of Cody being away, to outwardly admit that, but I am. Anything could happen once he returns, I know, but I'm still waiting to see what happens. I miss him a lot. He's been gone for 511 days incase you were wondering.  

5. I haven't been home for 179 days. 31 more and I will be home for three whole weeks.  =)

6. I don't really mind doing dishes just as long as they aren't all dried and haven't been sitting there for a long time. 

7. I don't really like breakfast foods. Pancakes, french toast, waffles... they all kinda just make me feel sick.

8. I am a visual learner, not an auditory learner. I realized that most of my life I have spent not paying attention in class because I just have to go back and memorize everything after anyway. Sure, to help me understand concepts if I stay really focused, listening in class helps me, but for memorizing purposes? I'm terrible. I can hardly even repeat a sentence back to someone right after they say it. I think maybe I'm ADD. 

9. I've only used a flat iron on my hair twice in about four months. 

10. Sarah and Bailey are my roomies. They're the best.

11. I remember my dreams probably 4/7 nights a week. Sometimes more.

Okay, here are Chrissie's questions for me.

1. You're about to be shipwrecked... Which 3 items do you grab? Why?

Letter binder. I'd keep it dry somehow. That thing isn't replaceable. 

Water bottle. I'm pretty grumpy when I'm thirsty plus I get terrible headaches when I don't have enough water and it makes everything else in life seem impossible to do.

A knife? Because it seems like a good idea.

2. What's your "guilty pleasure"?

I have so many. Pinterest. TV series. Chick flicks. Mint chocolate chip ice cream. Just to name a few.

3. How many parts of the country you're from have you visited? Where?

9/10 provinces. All except for Newfoundland. I better make it there someday. I also want to visit the three territories just because that would be amazing. I just love Canada.

4. What's your biggest pet peeve?

Having the envelope on your phone telling you there is a voicemail or a text. Some people leave that thing on there for weeks saying they have a voicemail. GAH. Just delete it! Okay I actually have a lot of pet peeves but thats the first thing I thought of. Another one that is huge, ever bigger than the envelope on the phone, is when people leave banana peels or apple cores sitting out. Oh my word. They start to stink and get all shrivelled up and look so nasty. Seriously people just throw them away. Or out the window. Or something... but do NOT leave them laying around!

5. How many times have you moved house? Have you ever moved to a different part of the country or even a different country all together?

Well, I lived in the same house my whole life growing up. Then I moved to Utah for a few weeks and moved back home because I got sick. And then I moved to Texas for school... then I moved to a bigger apartment. So however many that is. I hate moving.

6. What's your "catchphrase"?

I have no idea. I say "that's lovely" a lot I think?

7. Favourite thing about blogging?

It's a release. Such a good way to get my thoughts down and I love reading old posts and remembering exactly how I was feeling on that day. I also love comments! haha

8. Reality TV programs? Yay or Nay? (if yay what's your favourite one, if nay which one gets on your nerves the most)

Does Bachelor/Bachelorette count? Man I love that show. So dumb but so addicting. 

9. Do you have any allergies?

I do. I was born with a milk allergy that I semi-grew out of when I was about 10, however if I eat dairy products when I am sick or run down I have bronchospasms. Not fun. Also seasonal allergies. And kiwi makes my tongue get all prickly.

10. If you could choose anywhere in the world, but only one place, where would you visit? Why?

England. I want to go to England.

11. If you won the lottery, what would you spend your money on?

School first haha and then I'd definitely have to shop. Then maybe save for a house?

Okayyy here are my 11 questions!

1. What is the best book you have ever read?

2. Who was your first love? When? 

3. What is your worst fear?

4. Why do you blog?

5. What is the last movie you watched?

6. What part of your morning routine is essential?

7. Who has influenced your life the most?

8. What was your best birthday ever?

9. How many cell phones have you had in your lifetime?

10. How many times a day do you brush your teeth, and for how long? (be honest!)

11. How many pillows are on your bed?

Tags =)

 Chelan

Missijo

Mikenlee

Josabet

Kate

Tessa

Kiara

Jennica

Kinzee

Victoria

Desiree

How lovely. =)

One of my favorite bloggers named Natasha gave me this award. (Followed by Juhee, of course. Thank you)

I have to share seven things about myself and award 15 new bloggers this award.

First things first...

I remember finding Natasha's blog, among many others I found at the same time. I discovered her in a group on facebook. I won't go into details. =) However, she wrote a post that I seriously fell in love with a few weeks ago. It is right here if you want to take a look. I think it is just absolutely darling, and she took the words right out of my mouth.

Natasha has a missionary who is coming home sooo very soon. I wish them the very best. =)

Okay. Seven things about myself.

I have the best friends in the whole world. We are all finally reunited once again for the entire summer. It is strange how although we hardly even talked while we were apart for months at a time, as soon as we were all back together, it was like nothing had changed between us for the most part. =)

I do not like getting picked on. I pick up on subtle hints. I can see right through a person when they are insulting me underneath of their words. Don't try it. If you have been doing it.. please stop it. Also, don't do it with my friends. I will get very defensive and will most definitely speak up about it. I don't mean to be rude, but it just happens. If you do, I will probably stop talking to you altogether because I don't like being around people who make me or my friends feel crappy about ourselves.

I sometimes rant (as you can see above) but I feel bad if my blog is negative all the time. I don't like to complain, but sometimes I just need to say things. I feel like my blog is my space. I get to write what I want.. however, I try to be more positive on it rather than negative.

I am a different person than I was even a few months ago. I'm not saying I've grown up or I have become this amazing person, because I haven't. I am just different. I care about different things and I have different ideas for life. I like to think that perhaps I have matured or something, but I'm not sure if that's it. I think I am just more sure of myself and I care less what other people think. I feel like I know myself a lot better. If you had an opinion of me, whether it be a good one or a bad one, in the first 19 years of my life, perhaps erase it and get to know me again. I think you will find I am not what I once was in many aspects.

I think puppies in purses are so cute. In March when I was at Jordan's bachelorette party, her friend's mother had a tiny little terrier inside of a bag. I fell in love. When I was flying home from Florida there was a couple that was travelling with their terrier. She just lived inside a little bag as well. So adorable.

One of the reasons I love blogging so much is because a blog is so personal to an individual. I feel like you actually get to know someone. You get to go behind the scenes and read their daily thoughts. One of my hugest pet peeves is when someone tells another person that their blog should be a certain way, or tells them what and what not to do. It is YOUR blog people. Please, make it your own. Don't listen to others. You just do what you want. It is better that way! =)

I love people. I love meeting people. I love finding out their quirks and sharing secrets. I love finding common interests and realizing that there are people all over the world that are just like me. I love meeting people for the first time and knowing that it is a completely fresh start. 

Okay lovelies. I am awarding the following!

bloggiebloggieblog

Miss Ryann  Newby

tiptoe through the tulips with me

Diary of a Missionary Girlfriend

tessa may.

Madison Beazer

Perfectly Imperfect

stephyj

Improvise with Imagination

Katey Lee

Love Little Miss Michelle

She's Dreaming Of Dawn

Mr. and Mrs. Zemp

Land of Chan

Lovely Little Rants

Happy blogging!
Oh.. and checkout THIS giveaway! Awesome right? I have started entering these. Maybe I will win someday.

versatile.

What do ya know. I won an award.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Chanel for awarding me with this. I have never won a blogger award so this is a big day. I already wrote a post about Chanel once right here, as she was my 50th follower. She's pretty cool in my books.

Speaking of followers..

 It wasn't even that long ago that I hit 50, and now I somehow have reached 77... Imagine the post dedicated to my 100th follower? Be excited. Perhaps a giveaway?... 

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of my new followers! I'm not sure what has happened but suddenly I feel like I have all these new friends, or I have been invited into a club of bloggers or something.

Cooool.

Anyway, Madison also mentioned me for this award, so I would like to thank her as well. Her blog was private a while back and when I found out today that it has been public for a while I had some serious catching up to do.. I actually read every single post. Love it! You should probably take a look. 

Anyway, apparently this award comes with some expectations.

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link them back to your post

2. Tell seven things about yourself

3. Award to 15 new bloggers (Chanel said 10, but Madison said 15. I'm going with 15.)

4. Contact these new bloggers and let them know they have received this award.

Well. Here are seven things about me.

1. I'm a regular normal plain girl. I am 5"5 and I have dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. 

2. The blog world is one of my favorite worlds. Super Mario World.. World of Warcraft.. Wizarding World of Harry Potter.. (okay maybe H.P. is a tie...I'll let you know when I get home from Florida) The blog world just OWNS all the other worlds. 

I love the friends I have made, and I love discovering wonderful blogs. I love getting comments or hearing that someone creeps on my blog.

3. I'm shy around people I don't know very well. I think I come across as stuck-up because of it, but honestly it is probably because I am too scared to strike up a casual conversation or because I think you hate me. (k but seriously)

4. I love people watching. I think it is fabulous and could probably do it for hours.

5. I cannot stand when people are fake. I will not expand on this because it will make my #5 way longer than the rest. Another post, another day.

6. I'm way too competitive. Usually kind of quietly and secretly.. which is probably not a good thing all the time.

7. Getting sick and having to move back home from University and adjust to a life I wasn't planning was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

Okay. Here are 15 recently discovered blogs..

There have been MANY, but these are the ones I think deserve this award.

(I hope tagging them counts as contacting them..)

This Is My Story

The Lexical Gap

Victoria's World

Life in Technicolor

Dancing In The Rain

Tiptoe through the tulips with me

Adventures of the Mick

Alix Paige

Ryann.

frozen lemons

just the two of us...

Kinzee Elise*

Lindsey and Gunner

The New World

Pages of Me

(Okay, that last one is not-so "recently discovered" but still deserves the award.. And since I did so good with all the rest of them being newly discovered I figured I could make an exception, especially since she was the first person to tag me in a blog. It's only fair.. Just saying.)

Wow okay. That was surprisingly difficult.

Happy blogging!

return of the english diploma Part I

Okay. Warning. This could potentially be considered a very very very boring post so don't get excited to read it. This is strictly in response to a request for some people who have been asking to read my diploma essays. I couldn't decide if I wanted to post them.. because writing is kind of.. hard to share with people. Yes, I write a blog every day but this is different. I wasn't writing this essay with the intent of my peers and the blog world reading it, ya know? Just some crazy dedicated English teacher who volunteers to mark essays for the first week of their summer holidays... Anyway. Yes, I received 100% on both of my English 30-1 essays and requested to receive copies back because I just wanted to read them again. (Did you know you can get them back? Cool huh. Ask me how if you like to keep stuff like essays =) ) Yes, they are in my hand, and yes, I am going to type them on my blog. Today, just my Personal Response. I'm not exactly looking for critique.. because it has already been graded and I won't be using it for anything else in my life. If you have something nice to say,go for it.. annnnnd I guess if you are dying to say something negative, I can take it. I think. haha..

For people who didn't go to grade twelve in Alberta, we have to write a final at the end of the year that comes from the Government of Alberta and it is worth 50% of our final grade. It's kind of a big deal, and the tests are always really hard. Anyway, English is my favorite, so I spent most of my year preparing. Probably should have spent a little more time on math.. buuuuut oh well. :) For this exam in particular, we have exactly three hours to write a personal response to a text given, along with a critical/analytical essay in response to a text studied in the year. We don't get to take anything into the test with us except our brains. I will not be offended if you don't like it.., because whoever marked them in Edmonton.. well.... their opinion is more important to me than yours for this particular piece of writing... Sorry. =)

For my Personal Response essay I decided to write in a creative form instead of an essay form, and ended up writing a short story. I actually used somewhat of an outline from a practice essay I wrote earlier in the year that I received a good score on just written in class. Practice makes perfect or something, right? :) No, it's definitely not perfect. Anyway, It actually has the same title; however, it is an entirely different essay. The title was just based on the metaphor of the essay, which was similar to the previous essay I wrote. Make sense?.. probably not. A lot of people have actually read that practice essay, because it is now published in the WriTeen 2010 anthology from the Writers Guild of Alberta. ( I think that's what it's called?) and I gave copies of it to my family for Christmas along with my English teacher. Anyway. Here is my Personal Response essay from June 2010. I forget the topic, so if anyone who also wrote in June 2010 remembers, please remind me? Something about responsibility ..

OH. And even though this is a "personal response".. it's completely fictional. This didn't happen to me. hahaha. And yes, I know it is written very dramatically. I did that on purpose.

My Feature Presentation

Wrath. The bitterness that comes with the deep despair of defeat flares through the center of my soul. I feel as if I have been placed inside a movie: a drama-filled soap opera. Throughout the past three years, this tumult inside of me has only expanded. Enough discussion. Enough therapy. Enough fighting. My words echo endlessly throughout the hallway of what seems to be a set. Stage right. Stage left. Whether I enter from the front door or the back door, the results are the same. Lights. Spotlights. Directed on me. Camera. Everything is remembered and recorded. Everything is analyzed and inspected. Action. The disarray begins. I have no control. I'm eighteen. I'm old enough. Stop thinking of me as a little girl. You have to understand—I've grown up. No one understands. This is my best friend. This is the boy who has carried me through relentless misery. This is the boy who has shown me who I am. This is the boy I love. My parents have become only one thing to me: a cast of antagonists. Our conversations have turned into one thing to me: a script of sardonic words.

My mother married young; furthermore, she was incapable of holding onto that marriage. Her dogmatic beliefs suffocate me. For some reason, she believes I am incapable of experiencing love at my age. For some reason, she believes I am to follow in her footsteps and attend boarding school. Comical. I subconsciously turn up the background music. Louder. So loud I can no longer hear the shrill shrieking of my mother's insistence that I don't know what love is. I can no longer hear the haunting howls of my father forbidding me to see him. Don't know what love is? How can they think that? The relationship between my dear boy and myself far surpasses any sort of love I have ever been able to witness between my parents. They don't touch. They don't laugh or play. They don't know anything about love. Boarding school? Where has she come up with this idea? I am positive I have viewed a similar plot-line in every single movie that rests in our cabinet, yet she believes this is the answer. Amidst my wandering thoughts, I am taken back. The foggy flashback somewhat comforts me. I'll wait for you, you know? I love you, and that doesn't just go away. I'll come with you. I'll do whatever it takes. The words I was aching to hear poured out of his mouth like a pitcher of ice-cold lemonade on a summer's day, quenching a thirst that none other could. A soft melody surrounds me. Surreal. I listen closer—it's a love song. The camera drifts away to another blissful oblivion. It starts from a long shot, then slowly focuses in on the center of the meadow. I watch myself being lifted and spun in a circle. My knight is rescuing his damsel in distress from a fiery dragon. I smile as I remember my fear of frogs and how he so gallantly scared them away. My fairy-tale romantic childhood was idyllic, and it had transformed from an unforgettable friendship into an everlasting love.

Listen! Interruption. My memories are halted. Although replenished, I am not unable to cling to the bulletproof memories any longer, nor can I tune out the egregious echoes of power reverberating from the microphone, and then blasting from the speakers. The climax is imminent. The music changes into an ominous rumble. The antagonists threaten to conquer. Inhale or exhale? Which is it that I need to do? I am suffocating. The painfully pernicious commands from my parents enhance my plight. As I nearly accept defeat, I hear a narrator in the distance. I feel her beckoning me. Her consoling words allow for relief. You are an adult. You are capable of loving. Don't let them make decisions for you. Take responsibility for your life. The words so simply stated allow me to clear my thoughts. My skin is on fire. I feel certain that their opinions can't last forever. I can feel it in my bones. Inhale. That is what I need to do. The breath fills my lungs to their maximum capacity. I hold the air inside of me to the point of pain. As I exhale, I feel the oxygen return into my veins. I smile. I have won, for I am my own person. With the return of a soothing song, credits roll.

Well. If you stuck around this long as to read an essay... there you have it. And remember, completely fictional... My critical/analytical will make it's way up here one of these days when I feel like typing up another essay... so if you care, keep your eyes open. Oh, and grade twelves. Your welcome. haha I wish I could have read a graded essay before I wrote my diploma.

this winter-ish day.

All about me on this winter-ish day.

source.

What do I miss?

I miss Spring. Not the season though.

If you read that post, you'll know why.

Spring? A parrot is perfect.

What makes me frown?

Oh. Just the smell of Subway.

It's so gross.

Why is it like that? 

What is the best?

New blogs.

I love when people I know get blogs.

It is a Christmas morning sort of feeling. Almost.

What did I get?

Just the WriTeen 2010. 

With a short story I wrote in Grade 12 printed inside.

It's black and shiny and small and I like it.

What am I looking forward to?

A visit with an old friend.

Catching up.

It's been too long.

What makes me smile?

The new curtains in my room.

Best naps ever.

They are dark. My room is night, all day long.

What came in the mail?

A whole bunch of money.

It's about time I got my tuition refunded, I think!

Christmas shopping anyone?

What do I love?

I love finding good new music. 

Today I found. Parachute by Ingrid Michaelson.

I love Ingrid.

Just a letter..

Dear Isabel Miller, 

I don't know you. I don't know who you are, or what you have done, but I have some things to say to you. This may be a strange letter, but I really feel it is necessary for you to know a few things..

I'd first like to thank my Aunt Janet for introducing me to you. She always has such great intentions for me and my talents, and I finally decided to take her suggestion and meet you. :)

I'd like to thank my English teacher, Mr. Heninger, for giving me the confidence to see what you had to offer. I think he knew I could do it. He was the one who encouraged me with a simple hand-written number on a printed page—of what I once thought were meaningless words and ideas concocted in the wandering mind of Jane—that made me realize I was capable of being apart of a world of people like you.

Thank you everyone else who inspired me to create, My Feature Presentation without even knowing it.

Now, this is what I want to say. Isabel Miller. I don't know you. All I know that there is a writing contest because of you. Thank you for existing.

Love Jane.

OK. So, the reason for my strange letter is because of an email I received recently..

Dear Janeen,

I am pleased to tell you that you are about to become a published writer: your piece “My Feature Presentation” has been chosen to be included in WriTeen 2010, the anthology of the Isabel Miller Young Writers Award. Your entry was selected out of almost 250 applications that were submitted this year. Congratulations!

In honour of all of our young writers we are having a celebratory launch party. This gathering will take place Sunday, September 19, at 3:00 pm, on the main floor of the Stanley A. Milner Library located in downtown Edmonton (7 Sir Winston Churchill Square).

As a special treat we are holding a reading, and you are invited to read your entry to the eager crowd. Show off your talent by sharing your piece with others! Whether or not you choose to read at the launch, you will receive a free copy of the anthology and additional copies will be available for sale. 

blah blah blah.

That's basically it..

Conclusion:

I am absolutely thrilled.

Who'd have thought? :)