The Liebster Award

 

A few mornings ago as I was sleepily thumbing through my Facebook feed I received a sweet message from my fellow blogger Jenn at The Art of Better. She let me know that she had “nominated” me for the Liebster Award. This “award” is pretty great actually. I use quotes because it’s not an award like  the Nobel Peace Prize or anything. It is a cool way for bloggers to recognize and support other, new bloggers.

After receiving the award, I am to answer ten questions posed by Jenn so new readers can get to know me better. I then get to “nominate” ten of my favorite blogs. These bloggers then answer my ten questions and pay it forward. This type of recognition is amazing because it comes from my blogging peers, not my friends and family who are obligated to love everything I do!  Blogging can be such a lonely world this is a great way to let other bloggers know we like what they’re doing and to keep it up! The criteria for the Liebster is that is goes to blogs with followers in the hundreds, not the hundreds of thousands.

So, here are my questions from Jenn:

1. Why did you decide to start blogging?

My blogging journey started in 2013 when I made a goal to surf every Wednesday for a year. I started a surf blog to document this commitment and the things I learned along the way. I never dreamed I would fall in love with writing and with challenging the person I had been up until this point. Once the goal was completed (last March) the blog ended. This experience however, exposed the fact that I had been living a very one-dimensional life. I have been a SAHM for sixteen years and before I started surfing, I was completely consumed with my role as wife and mother. So much so, I neglected the woman I was before becoming a mom. Being a good mom and raising a happy family was my purpose. But what were my passions? No one told me I could chase my dreams while being a good wife and mom.  I played things safe and rarely stepped outside of my comfort zone. My surfing and blogging experiences helped me realize in order to live a full life I needed to discard the box I was putting myself in. My new blog, One Salty Kiss, is an expression of my desire to live life to the fullest. To throw away my comfort zone and make the most of my days on this planet by exploring passions, chasing dreams, and saying yes to life while still being a good mom.

2. What is your absolute favorite thing to blog about?

My favorite thing to blog about is the human experience. Perceptions, insights and life lessons learned through our connections with each other, with nature, and with the universe. I especially enjoy writing about being a mom and about surfing. Believe it or not, there are many correlations to life in these two topics. No matter what I’m writing about, I try to be authentic. It is important to me to express my true self, the nuts and bolts of who I am at the core. My posts are all pretty personal.

3. What three things can you not be without?

My family, coffee, and surf. Not necessarily in that order. 😉

4. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Definitely flying. This way I could zip over to Italy for a quick gelato and be home by dinner.

5. If you had a large block of free time, what would you be doing?

Traveling. Hands down.

6. What are your main goals for your blog?

My main goals are to provide a place for myself and others to connect as we explore passions, throw off the confines of the boxes we keep ourselves in, and find simple ways to live each day to the fullest, because who knows when it will be our last. I want other women (and men), who have lost sight of their dreams and passions, to realize they can live outside of their comfort zone, chase their dreams, and still be a good parent.

7. Since it’s the holiday season, what’s your favorite holiday movie?

A Christmas Story-I watched it growing up and it brings back great memories. Followed closely by ELF.

8. Link to your most favorite blog post and tell why it’s your favorite.

I have two. One that is at the core of why I started OneSaltyKiss. The other is a recent post on sending a child to college. This is close to my heart because this experience is so much a part of who I am right now.

9. What makes you unique? Inside or outside.

What makes me unique is that I have become a surfer, a writer, and a blogger all in mid-life. These things never even crossed my radar until I was in my 30s. The blogger part is especially crazy because I hate computers.

10. Name something on your bucket list and explain why.

This is tough because I struggle with bucket lists. I want to live my daily life like a bucket list. A “living list” if you will. I want to live large in the life I’ve been given instead of waiting to cross items off a checklist. But, I definitely see the benefit to setting goals for what we want to accomplish while on this earth. If I had to answer, I’d say going on an African Safari. I would love to do this because I am a freak about traveling and this is so far outside of anything I have experienced yet in my life.

Since I am relatively new on the scene, I’m not sure which bloggers have been around for a while and who is just beginning. I decided to include blogs I like and would love to see get more support although they may not necessarily be new. I am nominating the following blogs for the award:

 

Salt Water Diary

Bare Naked In Public

The Tattoo Tourist

Rob’s Surf Report

The Girl Next Door Is Black

The Surf Nomad

Life’s A Disco Ball

She And The Sea

That’s Another Story

Tales Of A Landlocked Surf Girl

 

 

Your questions are:

1. Why did you decide to start blogging?

2. What is your blog about?

3. What are your main goals for your blog?

4. What three things would you need with you on a deserted island?

5. What are you reading right now?

6. Who do you admire? Why?

7. What are you passionate about?

8. What are your dreams? Are you chasing them?

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

10. What do you want to be known for?

Bloggers please be sure to leave your post link in the comments. I’d love to read your answers and see your nominations! And readers I’d love to hear your comments too!

 

Salty Kisses,

Karen