The Sunshine Blogger Award

As per usual, I was unofficially nominated for this fun award by Maya Joelle @ When Through the Woods. Since I fit the generic requirements stated at the end of her post, I do not categorize this tag as a stolen one. Not this time, at least!

Maya repeated the questions given to her by the blogger who tagged her, so those will be the ones I answer as well. Then I’ll give my nominees new questions!

Anyway, let’s get into it!

The Rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog. (Thank you so much, Maya!)

2. Answer all the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your blog post.

---

The Questions:

1. If you had to talk for fifteen minutes about something, what would it be?

*raises an eyebrow* Uh, had to talk? Y’all, I could go on for days about anything, depending on who I’m talking to. But, if I had to pick one unoffensive topic to rattle on about, it’d be books. Particularly my books. What else?

2. Are you more of a girly-girl or a tomboy?

I have continually asked myself this question for years, and I STILL cannot come up with a good answer! In a way, I’m a bit of both. I like to dance, I can be a little boy-crazy sometimes, I love romances, and I have learned to appreciate the color pink.

However, I also hate bows, don’t wear makeup or paint my nails, prefer to go barefoot everywhere, and rarely ever do my hair. (This is could translate into tomboyishness or just plain laziness. Take your pick.)

Honestly? I’m neither. I’m a nerd, and that’s a pleasant mix of both.

3. What are your favorite girl or boy names?

For kids or charries? Haha! So, my favorite names for characters are as follows:

• Collin

• Rhys

• Merek

• Sebastian

• Christopher “Kit”

• Haddon

• Arleth

• Lilith

• Rina (I mean, of course I love that one!)

• Mariot

• Raissa

• Christine “Cricket” (I seriously have a character named that)

• Grace (I know, I know)

• Virtually any surname

Favorite names for children:

• Robert Clifford “Rocky”

• Alexander (or Alistair/Alasdair) Graves

• William Bryant “Liam”

• Mary Katherine “Kitty”

• Emily Marguerite “Margo”

• Hadassah Ann

4. Do you have any hidden talents?

I’m pretty transparent, so no, nothing hidden, per se. I do have some talents/hobbies y’all don’t know about, though. I’ve been told I’m a wonderful dancer and actress—both are debatable. I personally think I sing pretty decent (with the shower’s back-up vocals, of course), and I’m learning how to play the piano, which I’m picking up very quickly. I also cook and bake, and fairly well, in my opinion. Everything usually turns out edible.

I do have an affinity for drawing, painting, sewing, etc., and although my mother insists that I have an artistic flair, the jury’s still out on the depth of my skill.

5. What are your thoughts on social media?

Ah, the question with two answers! I actually have two contrary opinions on social media. From a personal standpoint, I hate it. Don’t have it (unless you count Goodreads). Don’t want it. Deadens the mind, corrupts the soul.

But...from an author + publisher + entrepreneur’s standpoint, certain social media has a lot of advantages as a marketing outlet. I can appreciate those aspects, yes.

I actually wrote a short piece about social and mass media for college I think y’all might find interesting. Y’all can read it here!

6. Do you prefer real books, e-books, or audiobooks?

Had I been asked six month ago, I would’ve said “real books.” However, since the acquisition of my Kindle e-reader, I have discovered that e-books aren’t all bad. In fact, since I have limited income and shelf-space, reading on my Kindle (especially with KU) has been AMAZING! I still love physical books—from holding them, to gazing upon the beautiful covers, to smelling them, to kissing the names of my favorite characters—but there is a lot to be appreciated about e-books. Like shareable highlights and notes and a progress bar!

Oh, and I've never actually listened to an audiobook before, but I personally prefer to see the words, so I doubt I'd take much to them.

7. What is one unpopular opinion you have?

One? I can only share one? Gosh, all of my opinions are unpopular, which is why I try not to mention them, and here y’all want to know about one? Sheesh. Y’all are askin’ for it.

Hmm...all of my opinions are unpopular in the secular world, and probably half of them are unpopular within the Christian/conservative world, so I think I’m going to refrain from ranting about politics and religion and offending everyone and offer to y’all my MOST unpopular opinion:

Mac and cheese is disgusting.

There. I said it. I hate mac and cheese. Always have. Always will.

8. What is your love language?

You know, I don’t know. I wonder if I actually have one…

I express my love through gifts, acts of service, and physical touch, but I don’t really care about being given things or being rubbed all over. I suck at giving compliments, and I’m so cynical that I don’t really accept them either. And quality time? Psh! When you live with eight other people 24/7—as in, no school, no work, no separate bedrooms—you get pretty tired of all that “quality time.”

So I think I do better at expressing my love through non-verbal outlets, but the best way to show that you care about me? Be there. Just be there. Understand. Hold me when I break down and cry. Love me even when it’s hard. I don’t need words or favors—just a steady, constant presence. And maybe a hug or two.

9. Do you put water on your toothbrush before or after the toothpaste?

Both! One or the other is never enough water, so I do both. What about you?

10. Do you imagine shapes, numbers, days of the week to have colors or personalities?

YES! Pretty much everything has a color. I don’t have synaesthesia, but letters, numbers, months, shapes, etc., all have a specific color or shade assigned to them in my mind! Also, words have tastes. I’m serious. They do.

11. What is the view out the nearest window?

Well, it’s nearly 11pm as I'm writing this, so black? Maybe a few stars? In the daylight, there would be a lot of grass, some trees in the distance, and an AC unit outside of my bedroom window. Nothing fancy.

---

The Nominations:

• Joy Caroline

• E. K. Seaver

• Kadotake-san @ The Fantastical Musings of Kadotake-san

• Daisy Torres @ Writing Daisies

• Kayleigh Idea

• Kristianne @ Whimsical Wanderings

• Ribbon Ash @ Virtual Paper

• Ariel @ Scribes and Archers

• Jenna Terese

• Issabelle @ Teen Writers' Nook (or Into My Writing Journey; I'll let her pick)

• E. G. Bella

---

The Questions:

1. What was your worst childhood experience?

2. What was your first ever blog post?

3. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

4. If you could be allergic to anything, what would it be?

5. What is your least favorite song ever?

6. If you could meet any US president, living or dead, who would it be?

7. You have three wishes--but there's a catch: you're wishing for another person. Who and what would you wish for?

8. Can you sing the full lyrics of any song(s)? If so, what is it (are they)?

9. What do you want your mansion look like in Heaven?

10. If you could change the course of any historical event, which one would it be and how would you change it?

11. You are given the choice to pick your dream spouse--from FICTION! Who will you be picking from any book, movie, TV show, etc.? Why them?

Thank y'all so much for joining me! I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me! Don't forget to check out Maya Joelle's post and keep your eye out for the posts by my nominees! If you'd like to answer any of these questions, feel free to do so in the comments (or steal this nomination)! I'd love to learn more about you too!

PS: Anyone else out there hate mac and cheese?