And the award goes to...

First, I still don't really know what this is: Liebster Award. However, I was nominated by my friend Laura--who is the author of The Bright Side. The more I read about it I think it's just a way of saying, "Hey, I think your blog is great even if your reader population isn't!" just not with that much sassy sauce (it's totally genuine, which is how I am nominating my blogs as well).

I first started blogging when I left for college as a way to keep up with everyone in my life. My blog really took off when I left the country (I mean obviously then my life was more interesting). And now I kind of just mess with it here and there. Who knows where it's going next...

Laura is definitely one of my favorite bloggers (and one of my best friends) and I'm so glad she is finally back to blogging (it took some convincing). Anyways, about that Liebster thing that she gave me...

Liebster rules...

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions from your nominator.
3. Nominate 11 other blogs with under 200 followers and ask them 11 questions.

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I pretty much only like foods that are white or brown in color.
2. My favorite scent in the whole wide world is Amber Oil.
3. I hate the cold. At this point in my life, I refuse to live anywhere that it does not feel like summer year round.
4. One day I would like to go back and live in Chile.
5. March Maddness is my favorite time of year.
6. I absolutely love craft beer. I pretty much refuse to drink nasty beer (Budlight, Coors, Miller...).
7. I have played the drums since I was nine and now play the drumset for my school jazz band. 
8. Thanks to my oldest brother, I could sit and watch Starwars all day.
9. I don't really like to text people--I'm one of those callers...
10. I pretty much only shop at Old Navy.
11. Someday I do think I will make a career in policy.

11 Questions Posed by Nominator

1. What is your favorite season?
   Summer, hands down.
   
2. Who was your first concert?
   No clue honestly. Probably someone like the Newsboys or something like that.
3. What is your go-to Karaoke song?
   "We Are Family"
4. What is your favorite quote and why?

   “Someday, somewhere - anywhere, unfailingly, you'll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life.”  --Pablo Neruda

   I love Pablo Neruda and going to Chile made his life and poetry come alive to me. This quote is just beautiful. His writing is so captivating. 
   
   
5. What is your favorite blog post and give us the link to it?
   That I have ever written? This one
   
6. Who or what inspires you?
   Usually good books or movies that are realistic. Like Silverlinings Playbook---that was inspiring.
   
7. What is one thing you cannot do without in the morning?Oh my god coffee.
   
8. When are you at your happiest?
   When I am at the beach.
   
9. List three strengths and three weaknesses about yourself.
   Strengths: I'm pretty independent. I can find humor in almost anything. I am super time oriented. Weaknesses: I'm not good with change (but I'm getting so much better). I am super critical. I'm very stubborn.
   
10. What is your all-time favorite song?
    "Always Alright" --Alabama Shakes
    
11. What are three blogs you read regularly?See nominations

My 11 Liebster Award Nominations

Aromos Nevados y Flores de Poesía

Mary Mail

The Bright Side According to Laura (I don't care if it's against the rules)

Bitch Beer I know they have over 200 readers. WHATEVER.

Amarette's Abenteur

Through the Lens

European Adventures

Writes Like a Girl

Culture Greyhound

And...those are all of the blogs that I read...once again I will break a rule.

11 Questions For Nominated Bloggers

 1. Why blog?

 2. What's with the title of your blog?

 3. If you could get anyone in the world to read your blog who would it be?

 4. What is your favorite font?

 5. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?

 6. What is your most read blog post?

 7. Which of your posts has the least amount of views?

 8. What is your favorite song...or top 5? 

 9. Should cheese go on top of the meat of a burger or under it?

10. What is your favorite book?

11. Where is the best place to get ice cream?

Alabama Shakes

I don't usually post about bands or albums, mainly because I don't ever like an artist enough to devote an entire blog post to their music. I have been on an Alabama Shakes kick for a while now--a long while. This obsession has now escalated to a pretty ridiculous amount of listening time that is solely devoted to them. I am definitely one of those people who thinks that there is certain music that goes with certain seasons. For instance, country music is a summertime genre, bands like Mumford and Sons belong in a winter playlist, and well...artists like Beyonce can go into the year round category. I listen to the Alabama Shakes year round, but I do think they are a springy/early summer band. It's the type of music that you want to listen to on you back porch watching the sun go down. There are very few artists that I think have a very established original sound. The Alabama Shakes definitely have it--so do Givers. It's that type of music that you just sit there and are like...god they are so good.

If you aren't a huge music lover you probably think that I'm babbling a bunch of nonsense. I don't know, I've just always been one of those people that really resonates with sounds and I love to really get the heart of what lyrics mean to me. I think that Brittany Howard's voice (the lead singer for the Alabama Shakes) is just so phenomenal. She really is able to produce a sound that is just magnificent. They play with so much soul and have such a down to earth vibe. This is probably my favorite song of theirs:

Granted, this is my all time favorite movie--and no, not just because it's popular right now. I saw this movie long before everyone fell in love with it. It is the most phenomenal movie that I have ever seen--and this song pretty much makes the movie. When I am learning a new chart in my drum lessons, my teacher (who is pretty much the coolest guy ever) always tells me to read a chart like it is a story. I don't know that a piece of music has ever made as much sense as it did the day he told me that. Music is totally written that way. When I started to read music and play it that way, it honestly just came alive off of the page. That is exactly what the Alabama Shakes music does for me--it comes alive. I think in doing that, it also makes me feel more alive. I realize that not everyone has my taste in music or even listens to it in this way--which is totally fine. I just think there is always something greater that can be accomplished with music. Like check this out:

Isn't that great? Totally unexplainable--except that human beings are amazing.

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)

Welcome to the Austin Kite Festival everyone. I loved the festival except for the fact that it was windy, the cedar is high, and I have insane allergies...so I could stay for like five minutes until I had to leave haha. Whatever. I still got some great pictures! I hope you like them. Two things: 1) yes, the sky really is that blue 2) yes those kites are that big--watching ten men fly a kite is great fun.

It's so beautiful right? I've been having these moments where I will be driving by an overlook of the city and realize how much I will really miss the city. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited about moving to the Valley, Austin is just an easy going place that has a special feel and will always have a place in my heart.

Arrrggh mayteee.

See that kite? Isn't it HUGE?

This is one of the places I will miss the most in Austin--Town Lake. I spend the majority of my time (when I am not working) swimming and kayaking in this lake during the summer. There are all sorts of wonderful coves to paddle into and it's just a place bursting with life and great people. I actually jumped off of the bridge upon which I stood to take this picture. I later found out that there is all sorts of metal at the bottom of this lake....won't do that again. I can't wait until those trees turn green and the water gets warm...which will be in like two weeks. It has been pretty warm in Austin (like the 80s) which makes me so happy. I love this place and everything that it has to offer. Today it is the dreary kind of rainy weather....which is fine. I'm staying inside all day and watching movies--I also might go to the movies. Wherever today takes me, I'm looking forward to it. I plan on embracing Spring Break truly as a "break"--watch out yo.