Right now when things are a little wonky and stressful, I was so touched to learn that I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by the adorable Heather of The Odd Bee.  Thank you, Heather, this was like a little ray of sunshine at a sort of dim moment for me.

Heather does SUPER cute crafts…look at these dolls with their matching dresses and cigarettes hanging out of their mouths! I love it!

She also puts together darling, youthful outfits. Ahh, to be young!

So, part of the passing of the baton of the Sunshine Award is that Heather gave her nominees some questions to answer…it’s a little like a “get to know me post,” so here goes!

Why did you start blogging?

I’ve always diaried, journaled, scrapbooked, emailed and newslettered. I feel like I always have so much In. My. Head. I need to GET IT OUT. I also love research and photography and sharing information. I LOVE the internet. I have loved the internet since the first day I heard the word and I knew I Needed To Be Part of That. So blogging was just one more way to be involved with the internet, to be social without having to be “in person,” with the social anxieties that come with that (for me, anyway), to have a time- and head-filling hobby/past-time and to be able to share some of things I love with other people – writing, photography and, with FashionSchlub, fashion, style and lifestyle and just general life and emotional stuff. I’ve had other blogs before this one. Photography, vintage clothing, “around my town,” one that Katie and I did together when she first moved away from me…and I even tried to hook Caleb up with one (!) with another Australian Shepherd in Colorado. I wanted to call it “City Dog, Country Dog,” cuz we had just moved to Brooklyn and were have all sorts of urban adventures. It never took off because I and the other dog’s mom had too many creative differences, and before I knew it we were back in the suburbs of Long Island…and Suburban Dog, Country Dog just didn’t have the same appeal to me.

What’s one thing you wish you knew as a new blogger?

One Thing?? How about EVERYTHING?!? I think because it’s still relatively new and constantly changing, blogging is still such a secretive thing. Look, I can’t even come out and call it a “career.” Just pretend I said it even though I didn’t write it. Every little glimmer of new information is down a long hallway with a thousand OTHER hallways and every hallway has DOORS and you have no idea where to look or even WHAT to look for. You just go along and hope something presents itself to you. I’m only just recently, after over ten years of blogging and just about 3 years of Fashion Schlub, learning some of The Things I Should Know. So I wish there had been SOME sort of guide, that WASN’T an expensive course or membership thingie, that at least said “here are the things you should find out about.” And I’m talking as far as monetizing. It’s all so hush-hush and secret and I wish it wasn’t that way.

What’s your favorite blog post that you’ve written?

Oh gosh. THAT’S a hard one. My very first post holds a special place in my heart and I got such a nice welcome from friends and family and I LOVED the photos taken by Jennifer Rabene Mullowney. And as much as it was a hard one to write and about such a heartbreaking subject, I do love the blog post about Caleb. Cuz Caleb 🙂

Do you keep a blogging schedule?

Ha ha ha. I TRY. I try so hard. So I’m going to say yes! As of 2019 I am posting 4 times a week. My “schedule” is Monday: Week in Review, where I just share a bit about my personal life, things I do, places I go, etc. Tuesday is an outfit post and Thursday is an outfit post – but it usually works out that one is a little more of a personal story that just happens to also share an outfit…and the other is more about the outfit, styling tips/suggestions, etc. Then Friday is more of a wild card. Maybe it’s a major award post like today! Maybe it’s a tutorial or a fitting room try-on or shopping haul or an “online shop with me” or more health/beauty related. Once in a while, I Just Have to Say Something and I’ll throw up a post willy-nilly on a weekend, but for the most part, 4 days.

Do you have a favorite blogger? If so, who and why?

Oh gosh, seriously?? ONE? I have favorites in many different categories, ha! I couldn’t POSSIBLY narrow it down to ONE FAVORITE. I can’t.

What inspires you?

Everything. Art. Light. Poetry. Air. My crazy brain. I see a painting and think “I want to put together an outfit with those colors.” I read a poem and think “I want to take a picture that looks like those words feel.” Now, I don’t always ACCOMPLISH these things, but the inspiration is there. Just being out in the world is inspirational. I like to go to as many different places and see as many different things as possible, ALWAYS.

When do you feel most creative?

When I have time to stop and think. Which is rare. So, the car is a big creative spot for me because driving is really sort of mindless and my mind can just wander. As soon as I’m at home or work, I’m DOING, and not “free thinking.”

How do you practice self-care

How? The question should maybe be “IF.” Self-care is like adulting and I’m not so good at adulting. Oh, okay, here’s one way. I say no. I say no when I don’t wanna. My line is stolen borrowed from Friends’ Phoebe Buffay, “I wish I could but I don’t want to.” My friends all know. I need a lot of time to myself, by myself. And I take it and don’t feel guilty (usually) about it.

Do you believe in astrology? If so, what’s your zodiac sign?

I don’t really believe in ANYTHING. But it’s fun to read the horoscopes. I’m a Virgo. Which in many ways seems about right. But if I’d been born in March, would I convince myself that Pisces sounds about right? Water sign? Check! Gentle, check. Desire to escape reality, check check! Yep, I’d be a pretty good Pisces.

What are you most looking forward to in 2019?

For some inexplicable reason, I’ve been feeling that 2019 IS MY YEAR. So I’m looking forward to seeing THAT play out.

What is the best thing you’ve purchased so far in 2019?

Not sure if this is considered a “purchase,” (but it sure cost a lot of money!) but I just got (well, I’ve put down the security deposit, I don’t move in til Feb 2) a new apartment. Let’s HOPE it’s a good purchase! Other than that, I haven’t bought anything in 2019 besides groceries and packing tape. Oh wait, and a hairdryer cuz mine pop, sizzled, died. I don’t have it yet so I can’t say it’s the “best.” And a yoga mat. Been so busy apartment hunting and packing that I haven’t used it yet, but it was a step in the direction of “more movement in 2019.”

That completes the question and answer portion of our program and we will continue onto my blog nominations for the Blogger Sunshine Award:

  1. Iris Originals Ramblings
  2. Thrift Shop Fashionista
  3. When the Girls Rule
  4. Jodie’s Touch of Style
  5. Style Splash

And here, fellow bloggers, are your questions:

  1. For how long have you been creating your current blog?
  2. What is the most challenging aspect of blogging for you?
  3. What is the greatest reward you get from blogging?
  4. Blogging takes a lot of time. If you weren’t blogging, how would you be spending your time?
  5. An acquaintance of yours is interested in starting a blog. What advice do you give them?
  6. Is there a blog you look to for inspiration?
  7. Where do you see your blog in five years?
  8. What do you feel sets your blog apart from the 9,375,109 other blogs out there?
  9. Who in your life is your biggest blog supporter?
  10. What is your proudest blogging achievement?

The rules for this award are as follows:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you, and include a link back to their blog.
  2. Answer the questions given by the person who nominated you.
  3. Nominate other blogs and give questions for them to answer.
  4. Notify your nominees through social media or by commenting on their blog.
  5. List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.

Thank you, again, Heather, this was fun!