With less than six months of running Belle Brita, I’m humbled when other bloggers recognize me. In the last few weeks, two bloggers have nominated me for blogging awards. Erin from TexErin in SyndneyLand recently nominated me for the Liebster Award, which is a way to meet new bloggers. My friend Dana from As Told By Dana nominated me for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
Both awards encourage bloggers to share a few things about ourselves, so I’m combining the two into one post.
For the Liebster Award, I answer 11 questions asked by Erin. I then nominate 11 bloggers with 200 followers or less, and they answer my 11 questions.
For the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, I share 7 facts about myself, and then I nominate 15 other bloggers.
For both awards, I thank the awesome people who nominated me, and I link back to their blogs! MERCI BEAUCOUP, Erin and Dana!
11 Questions
1. What is your favorite holiday?
My birthday is my favorite holiday! It’s not formally recognized yet, but just wait until I accomplish world peace.
2. If you could spend a week by yourself (no travel companion, just you) anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Paris, obviously!
3. You can only have one of the following totally materialistic items; which one would it be? The house of your dreams, the car of your dreams, the wardrobe of your dreams?
The house of my dreams! Just the right space to share with Dan, our friends, and family.
4. Do you blog most often during the day or at night?
At night. I blog a bit before work each morning, but I mostly blog after work.
5. Coffee or Tea?
I’m a huge tea drinker. I abhor coffee.
http://instagram.com/p/s5EFLTLo-d/?modal=true
6. You are forced to give up two of the following; which do you keep? Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?
I keep Facebook. I LOVE Twitter for expressing my thoughts and keeping up with current events, but Facebook lets me keep up with my loved ones.
7. Bath or Shower?
Bath with my homemade lavender bath salts.
8. What’s your favorite (something visual that involves admiring other people’s talents) concert, or musical, or play, or painting?
La Salle de Danse by Degas.
9. Cats or Dogs?
Neither. I’m allergic to them both.
10. You kill an hour in front of your television. You watch reality tv, a drama, a documentary, a comedy?
If I’m watching one show in an hour, then a drama. If I’m watching two shows in an hour, a comedy.
11. Do you dance, sing, or play a musical instrument?
I took ten years of tap and jazz lessons. I would love to take dance classes again. My voice is good enough for community theatre.
7 Facts
1. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was only 8 years old, and my pediatric gastroenterologist said I had probably gone 2-3 years undiagnosed at that point.
2. Dan and I had a small wedding with our parents and siblings only followed by three wedding receptions.
3. I have lived in eight houses/apartments in six cities in three countries in the last five years.
4. Dan and I met on OKCupid!
5. My one party trick is that I can touch my tongue to my nose.
6. To the ladies: you are probably wearing the wrong size bra, and you have Victoria’s Secret and department stores to blame. I’m a hobby bravangelist. Let me help you find the right bra!
7. Brita is NOT pronounced like the water filter. It’s bree-tuh. I’m named for both of my grandmothers.
My Nominees
Since I received these awards within a few weeks of each other, I’m just passing on the Very Inspiring Blogger Award to 10 other bloggers. I love that the Liebster Award focuses on smaller bloggers, but I want to recognize a few who have more than 200 followers.
Kiersten at She is Fierce is like the John Tesh of the blogosphere with information for your life. She also co-hosts the F-Word, my favorite blog link-up!
Elle at The Lady Errant is the mysterious writer draped in black who we all secretly want to be. She’s the other co-host of the F-Word.
I basically just want to hang out with Jess at Jessica Lynn Writes and let her cook for me while I play with her daughter. Our husbands would be in the other room playing with Legos.
I have been friends with Lola for… two years now? She’s so awesome and feminist and artsy and smart that I can’t imagine a time when I wasn’t following her on Twitter or reading her blog, Living Here.
I have been friends with Betsy for slightly longer, since she “introduced” me to Lola. Betsy Transatlantically is exactly what I aspire to be like in a lifestyle blog, the perfect blend of marriage insights, religious reflections, fashion inspiration, random musings, and feminism. Her Twitter account is more of the same excellence.
Amanda from Rhyme and Ribbons actually found me online a few years ago, and I’ve adored her ever since. She’s an ex-pat in London with an adorable British boyfriend. Warning: her blog will inspire both hunger and wanderlust. Her Instagram feed is just a steady stream of beauty and perfection.
Carolynn from Kitty Adventures is on my sidebar! (She offers an awesome ad swap if anyone is interested). She is one of the most honest and vulnerable bloggers I read. I love having her as my friend.
Kiki at In Its Time gets totally real about her faith and hosts The Circle, a themed monthly link-up to build community.
Casey from We Took the Road Less Traveled has a heart for Christ, her husband, and adventure. I’m so excited for her next big thing: the launch of her travel agent career!
Remember my blogging “Big” Stephanie? She started a side blog Freckles & Fingerpaint to chronicle her pregnancy!
I hope you’ll consider following some of these amazing bloggers! I can’t wait to see what facts they share about themselves.
Gasp! I’ve been pronouncing your name wrong all along (in my head) I shall remedy that right away. You’ve had crohns since you were 8? That’s a long time to deal with that. Wow. I’m so sorry! I read a paper on it after I found out you had it a long time ago. Does not sound fun in the least bit, especially the not gaining weight part. Many hugs.
Thank you for nominating me 😉 😉
I assume most people who know me online mispronounce my name. It’s not something I ever really thought about it before I started using OKCupid to meet guys… and they all said my name wrong. I started including a pronunciation guide in my messages after that. 😉
Yeah, it’s unusual to get Crohn’s that young. Most people are diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood. The benefit??? of having a childhood diagnosis is that I was too young to feel any shame or embarrassment. I mean… it’s a poop disease. It’s SO much harder socially for teenagers to deal with it.
You are SO sweet to have learned more about Crohn’s Disease on your own! That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever done.
You’re welcome!!! I can’t wait to read your 7 facts. Or see your own spin on it, since I clearly changed everything around for this post. 😉
I’m very worried I’m wearing the wrong bra size, but gah, YES, the measurements at VS are terrible, they’ve been off for everyone I know. I love reading all the random facts about people in these blog posts. So glad I’m pronouncing your name correctly now!
When you measure for the band size, do NOT add inches to it. That’s the trick. The subreddit A Bra That Fits has much more detailed instructions, including lots of advice for different breast shapes, but the biggest flaw in American retailers is either measuring above the bust for the band size (what, is your band above your boobs? NO!) or measuring below the bust and adding inches to it.
I’m glad you’r pronouncing my name correctly now too. I had a guide in the About section, but I know not everyone reads that. I actually think I should include a guide in a blog post like every three months or so for new readers.
Thank you so much for the kind words! And also you’ll have to teach me your secret bra measurement ways one day! I’ve only had a fitting once and it was clearly VERY wrong.
You’re welcome!!!
When you measure for the band size, do NOT add inches to it. That’s the trick. The subreddit A Bra That Fits has much more detailed instructions, including lots of advice for different breast shapes, but the biggest flaw in American retailers is either measuring above the bust for the band size (what, is your band above your boobs? NO!) or measuring below the bust and adding inches to it. I don’t know if UK retailers are better or not, although the UK sizing is definitely better. My bras all use UK sizes.
I’ve never been measured in the Uk. I’ll have to go somewhere and report back to you! x
Best. Introduction. Ever. Thanks for the nomination!
I read your other replies and I’m very intrigued by the UK sizing. Where do you find them?
And I read your About page when I found you, so I’ve been pronouncing your name right all along 🙂
I tried to think of something unique and true about each of you. I’m glad you like your description!
I buy all my bras from Breakout Bras. They have a website, but I go to their store in Greenville, SC whenever I’m home. Independent lingerie stores are your best bet. Nordstrom is the only department store with a consistently good collection of sizes, although the Dillard’s back in Greenville had a few large cup sizes, just not many small bands.
I’m glad you’ve been saying my name correctly. I know a lot of people read my About section, but I also realized that not *everyone* had read it.
Um…I’ll gladly let you come entertain Julia if it means I could cook in the kitchen in peace, and my husband would love a fellow nerd to hang with!! Haha. We’re making her a little “learning tower” so she can actually see what I’m doing. Cooking with a toddler on your hip and a baby in your belly is no easy feat, it turns out. Thanks for the kind words; I may actually answer those questions—I love a good survey 🙂
She’s so cute! I don’t think you understand my obsession with kids. Just let me play with all the babies!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you feature your “learning tower” on your blog! Sounds awesome!
I appreciate you being so specific with the Degas painting. I googled it immediately 🙂
He’s my favorite artist, but La Salle de Danse is definitely my favorite painting. 🙂
My twin brother is also allergic to cats and dogs. Our poor younger brother LOVES animals, but we could never have pets!
Thanks for commenting!
Aw, thanks for the nomination! I love that these kinds of posts really let me get to know other bloggers. I had no idea that you and your husband met online! I actually just read that post of yours and it was so cute. I’m glad you two ended up together AND that he didn’t end up being a creep or anything! 🙂