The Liebster Award is by bloggers, for bloggers and I’ve been nominated twice!

Basically it’s a way to get to know and support one another using a fun chain letter-style format (sorry Mum, I don’t actually get an award).

The rules seem to have morphed over time, but this time around you receive 10 questions from the person who nominated you, answer them, come up with 10 questions of your own and nominate 10 bloggers to answer. Because I love these sorts of things (remember those endless quizzes on Myspace? Win!) I’ve gratefully accepted both nominations. Let’s go!

Round 1, from the delightful Carly at Smaggle:

1. Do you have a favourite mug? What happens if someone else uses it?

Yes, because I’m a bit of an Anal McLoony-Tune about things like that (or perhaps I’ll go with the gentler ‘creature of habit’). Before I had my mug at work I still had preferences and would be kind of put off if there weren’t any available. Then for my birthday I was given two beautiful mugs (and for some reason I love that they’re textured). So I kept one at home and took one to work. If someone uses my work mug I do nothing ’cause I’m a weenie, but I keep an eye on it and as soon as it’s out of the dishwasher I nab it and keep it at my desk.

I may also be not-awesome at sharing some things…

2. If you were going to audition for The X Factor (or other such competitive reality singing show) what would your power song be?

Oh I can’t choose! I opened an old playlist for inspiration but scrolling through it I’m all ‘yep, that one. Oh no wait, THAT one… no hang on, that’s it!’ So obviously I’d have to do reallly well so I can do heaps of my favourites 😀 But it’d be something belt-y but not too sad ballad-y, that’s for sure. Think Newton Faulkner Dream Catch Me, or Thirsty Merc In the Summertime.

3. Is there anyone that you would erase from your memory like in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?

No, I don’t think so. For one, I haven’t had any person-inflicted pain of that degree (thank goodness!) Plus, if I didn’t go through whatever that experience was, I wouldn’t be who I am today. (Or would I, and I just wouldn’t know why…?)

4. What’s your spirit animal and why? (Or for Potter-heads what would your Patronus be?)

Probably something feline – I can take time to warm up to people, but when I do I’m all cuddles and purrs. Unless you really push me or threaten my loved ones – then I WILL scratch your eyes out! (Figuratively speaking of course).

5. What’s your favourite quote?

This changes frequently. But one of my earliest favourites was ‘a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men’ (Roald Dahl) which is a great reminder that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. And recently, Marie Forleo: ‘Everything is figureoutable.’  There’s also a bunch of literary and inspirational-type things that will no doubt pop into my mind as soon as I hit publish…

6. Would you rather eat a spider or have sex with Fat Bastard?

Eat a spider. And I’m terrified of them! But he’s so sweaty and smelly and just…urgh.

7. Which celebrity would play you in a movie?

Hmmm… Anna Kendrick. But really only because I love her and then I’d get to meet her and hang out and be besties and everything.

8. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever smelled?

What comes out of Manfriend’s cat, vom.

9. Name three things in your fridge.

Dead soup (Google says apparently I managed to ferment it and it was too hard to deal with today. If anyone wants to test potentially alcoholic soup be my guest but I take no responsibility for the outcome. Unless it’s awesome, in which case consider it trademarked, baby!)* Kale (because Nutribullets ARE awesome and make green smoothies a breeze!). And champagne. Just because.

10. It’s time for dessert and you can have ANYTHING – what do you have?

Chocolate gelato. It’s a tough choice because I freakin’ love dessert and cronuts exist, but chocolate gelato is always simply delicious, beautiful and creamy and light enough to squeeze in no matter how much you pigged out on a main. And entree. And appetiser.

*While it was true at the time of writing, the soup’s gone now, don’t worry.

And round 2, from the lovely Sarah at Creating Contentment:

1. What are your hobbies?

I love to read (books, magazines, blogs), write, watch good TV series’ and movies, and do jigsaws and crossword puzzles. In the non-hobby category I also love to catch up with friends over coffee (or a wine) or by having ‘family’ dinner at our house.

2. Do you dance in the car?

Yep, and sing. It’s the only place I’ll belt my favourite tunes at the top of my lungs

3.What is your comfort food?

Bolognese pasta bake, yummmm!

4. What does self care mean to you?

Making time and space to do what you want and need for yourself, on a regular basis. Nourishing your body, getting the rest that you need, and having a good laugh every day.

5. What are you really good at?

Well, one thing I’m not good at is singing my own praises, but I’ll give it a crack. I think I’m good at seeing things from another person’s perspective, so I tend to get people and where they’re coming from. I can then explain it to someone else, to help everyone get on the same page and understand each other’s point of view. And I’m alright at words – reading them, writing them, spelling them, and saying them.

6. What do you do to change a bad mood into a good mood?

Spend time with people that lift me up – top of the list is Manfriend, who makes me laugh so much every day! But if it’s a real stinker and I don’t want to be around people, I’ll put on some pep-me-up music, find a willing ear to vent everything out, or just stew in it for a little bit until the bad mood goes away (but I don’t like to let it fester for too long if I can help it).

7. What does your everyday style look like?

Pretty mainstream. Work clothes are fairly classic and built around basics. I like to add pops with cute shoes, coloured tights or a good scarf. Weekend style is built around jeans – casual and comfortable. I do want to update slightly though so I don’t dress like a teenager anymore.

8. How do you like your eggs?

Scrambled, not too soft.

9. Are you a green smoothie drinker?

Yes! We got a Nutribullet this year and I’m in love! We were getting into green juices and smoothies but with the juicer and blender it was just a bit too epic. Nutribullet suits my shortest-route style because it really does what it says on the ad – you just chuck everything in, wizz and go! Since adding it to our kitchen, I’m having a green smoothie for breakfast a few times a week. And loving it 🙂

10. Share your favourite blog post that you have written.

Hmmm, this is a tough one…my mental illness post got a terrific response for such an important issue, and has been my most popular post so far. But I think it’s this one – I was really happy with the photo (which I figured out how to find and use all by myself like a big girl) and it felt like my first ‘real’ blog post.

Now, my questions:

1. What’s your morning routine?

2. Who’s your favourite fictional character, and why?

3. How well would you say the ‘typical’ traits of your star sign describe you?

4. When did you first feel like a real blogger? (Or what will it be, if it hasn’t happened yet?)

5. What superpower do you wish you had, and why?

6. What was the first CD you bought?

7. Besides social media, which app do you use the most on your phone/tablet?

8. What are you reading?

9. What is the first thing you remember wanting to be when you grew up? (And how does that compare to what you’re doing now?)

10. What’s your favourite pick-me-up song?

And nominations – I don’t know many bloggers (yet) and the people I was going to pick have already been nominated! But in case they want to double up, like me, I pick:

Liz at I Spy Plum Pie

Mandi at Dreaming Fully Awake

Sarah at Creating Contentment

Plus I’m going to open it up to the fab womens I’ve met through the Blog Hearted course.

Now it’s over to you: have a go at answering the questions in the comments or nominate someone you’d like to see answer them.