Beautiful Blogger and Liebster Awards

Hello, hello!

Workouts

Mon & Tues – Rest.

Does it still count as a “rest” day if I skipped working out because my gym is closed for winter break? I’m such a creature of habit and it’s difficult for me to deviate from my lunchtime workouts.

Eats

1) Endless chilli.

Aldi’s has a good price on onions, so we’ve been next-leveling our chilli lately. Alton Brown (my hero) says that onions make your eyes water because they release some sort of chemical when they’re cut. So, if you put them cut-side-down on the board for a few minutes, all of those nasty chemicals go into the cutting board instead of your peepers. At least, I think that’s what he says. Onions still eff me up.

2) Despite my last bad experience, I still have unwavering faith in SkinnyTaste and made her Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

I subbed chocolate chips because we didn’t have raisins and omitted the walnuts. This is an awesome recipe.

Blog Awards

I was fortunate enough to be nominated for two blog awards from lovely friends this week. When I first started BBB, I remember being super apprehensive that no one would find my content interesting or entertaining. So thank you, Alisha and Jenica, for the kind nominations

Alisha nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award:

The idea behind the Beautiful Blogger Award is to recognize some of the bloggers we follow for their hard work and inspiration. Tell 7 things about yourself and nominate 7 other bloggers for their own Beautiful Blogger Award.

And Jenica nominated me for the Liebster Award*:

Write 11 random facts about yourself.
Answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you.
Create 11 new questions.
Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post.

*Did you ever wonder where the idea of the Liebster Award originated? A blogger named Sopphey did some research and found its earliest mention in December 2010, but no one really knows its exact beginning. “Liebster” means “dearest” or “favorite” in German. It’s normally given to bloggers with under 200 followers.

That’s a lot of random facts to tell you all about myself! I’m not sure if I’m that interesting.

1. I was adopted from South Korea as a baby and I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I still live. I haven’t yet returned for a visit.

2. I majored in nonfiction writing and urban development, but now work in finance, which I really enjoy.

3. I love volunteering for the Western PA Humane Society, who allowed me to foster NINE little kittens and walk countless dogs (check out my “Cute” tag for photos!)

4. I’m incredibly frugal; we have neither cable television nor the internet at home. I also have a shameless obsession with free things – events, clothes, food, anything.

5. I was married in June 2012 and I was firm that it would be an informal, laidback event. Our friends brought food and drinks, played beer pong, remote-controlled a shark, and danced to Nelly. No ceremony.

Jenica asked these questions:

1. What’s the weirdest food combination that you’ve tried and loved? This is a really tough one! Most of my food is pretty strange. Many readers probably won’t blink at this, but I eat the chickpea cookie dough dip at least one or twice weekly. I keep forgetting that most people would consider that to be “strange.”

2. Do you eat to exercise or exercise to eat? Easy – I exercise to eat.

3. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Many things, but a magician, a cartoonist, and an actress are the ones that I remember.

4. What’s your favorite part of your day? When I just walk in the door after work. My apartment is warm and cozy and it’s so wonderful to hunker in for the evening.

5. When did you stop believing in Santa Claus (if you ever believed in him, or if you ever stopped)? I think I was about 5 or 6? I don’t have any older siblings, so it must have been kids at school.

6. If money weren’t a factor, what would you do with your life? Travel everywhere! First, Thailand and southeast Asia. Then Europe, via Iceland.

7. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Toughie! Probably my husband’s chili.

8. What’s the definition of delicious, in your opinion? Food that causes table conversation to stop.

9. What’s your favorite book? Fiction: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, by Haruki Murakami. Nonfiction: The Wet Engine: Exploring Mad Wild Miracle of Heart, by Brian Doyle. Is it cheating to list two? If I had to pick, I would pick the Murakami.

10. Do you speak another language? I can speak some Spanish, probably at the level of a 7-year-old. Enough to order delicious food and ask for directions

11. Can you play a musical instrument? I can read sheet music and play the piano modestly and the clarinet poorly.

…and I nominate these ladies:

1. Allie @ ForgottenBeast.

2. Michelle @ Eat Move Balance.*

3. Jessie @ Jessie Bear, What Will You Wear? *

4. Nikki @ Life After Swimming.

5. Brittany @ BlissfulBritt.

+ Anyone else who would enjoy playing!

* Michelle & Jessie: I know that Jenica nominated you already; please don’t feel pressured to answer my questions, just know that I adore you and that you’re “dearest” to me, as well!

…to answer these questions:

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

2. What is your typical day like?

3. What was the best advice you were given?

4. Do you have a signature dish or go-to recipe?

5. What is your dream job?

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