September 26, 2013

Receiving and sharing the Very Inspiring Blogger Award


Right around the time that this site came into existence (April 2009), blog awards and tags were going through a zenith of sorts. I was touched as can be to receive many blog awards from fellow bloggers during the first few months of Chronically Vintage's life back then, and have continued to enjoy the others that have come my way in the years since.

Sometimes it hasn't been possible for me to devote a post to an award that I've received, and in other cases, if I've already blogged about a certain award because I previously received it from someone else, I might not do a second "repeat" post about it. However, I truly have enjoyed and appreciated all of the blog awards that have been extended to me.

In more recent years, as there seem to be fewer of these floating around in general, I've tried to post about those that I've received, when it's been feasible to do so. It might take me a while to get a chance to write about said awards, but I keep a tiny running list of those that I still need to blog about, and aim to get to as many as I can.

On that note, the wee hours of this pleasantly warm morning seemed like a great time to sit down and devote a post to the Very Inspiring Blogger award, which I received for the second time this past January from the wonderfully lovely Mrs. Williams from the blog Vibrant Vintage, then a third time in March from very sweet Chelsea of A Sartorial Statement.

Now, the first time around when I received this award, it was in the thick of the aforementioned zenith, and though I acknowledged it in this post back in 2009, I don't recall ever specifically dedicating a post to this exact award. So now seems like a great time to do just that.




I was tickled pink when both of these gals gave me Very Inspiring Blogger Award, and am so happy that I get a chance today to share seven random facts about myself, as per the guidelines for this award, and also to extend it to a handful of the many (many!) other bloggers out there who constantly inspire me with their own stellar sites. 





♥ Seven totally random facts about me ♥





1. Ever since I can recall, I have absolutely loved sleeping outside during the warmer months. Be it a quick afternoon nap in a hammock or an evening spent under the stars in a cozy sleeping bag, few things lull me to sleep as easily, or wonderfully, as being out in the fresh air.





2. I love cardigans, which is scarcely an unknown fact about myself, however did you know that my collection is now nearing thirty in total? Wow! And to think there are still numerous colours (pale yellow, I'm looking at you!) and assorted styles of cardis out there I'd love to add to my closet (it will always be a collection in progress).





3. Though I wouldn't describe myself as being an athlete per se (I was a willing participant who gave it their best shot, but I am so, so not a competitor, I just enjoyed playing for the sake of having fun), during my childhood (long before I became chronically ill), at one time or another, I played the following sports a team level: soccer, basketball, badminton (my fave!), and track and field. I also took gymnastics, swimming, figure skating, tennis, and dance lessons (and was on my high school dance team).





4. Very often when I'm stressed and/or worried, I clean or organize with great determination. This harkens back to my childhood, when I found that doing so could sometimes give me a temporary sense of inner peace and control over various uncertain, stressful elements in my life (all the while keeping my environment clean, which is something I love no matter my state of mind). Now I just find it relaxes me when I'm stressed, and like to joke that you can tell how worried I am about a situation based on how tidy my house is. :)





5. More than anywhere else in Canada that I've yet to visit, I want to travel to the Yukon, specifically to Dawson City, as I have family ties stretching back to the Klondike gold rush there (my great-grandfather, Charles Burkhard, was amongst the mass wave of prospectors and adventure seekers who came north after gold was discovered in the Klondike, however unlike most, he remained there long after the rush had died down) and have felt an unmatched pull towards the arctic ever since I was knee high to a gold pan.






6. In much the way as some musicians can hear a song once and then play it perfectly without being given the sheet music for it, I've always been able to eat dish for first time and then, very often, replicate it pretty much spot on identically from scratch (without a recipe or list of exact ingredients). This cool skill really comes in handy if I fall in love with a dish at a restaurant that I know the chef is not likely to fork over their recipe for to the public anytime soon.





7. I am immensely grateful for the years of my youth that I spent in the Girl Guides of Canada. I feel like I learned a tremendous amount from my time in Guiding, far beyond knot tying and orienteering. I grew more confident (a huge plus for an incredibly shy, quiet child like myself), forged wonderful friends, became more independent, and acquired scores of real world skills which I still apply to this day (plus I can make a mean campfire banana boat! :) ).



{To learn more a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}



♥ ♥ ♥


This isn't the first "x number of random facts" post I've done before over the years (for example, here's one from nearly four years ago that specified recipients share "ten honest facts" about themselves), and I highly doubt it will be the last. I enjoy these posts a lot as they allow me to share some neat little snippets of information about myself with all of you, which you might not have previously know about me.

As I adore getting to my readers and fellow bloggers better, too, I'd love to extend the Very Inspiring Blogger Award to the following ten people (as well as to absolutely any of my other readers who would like to receive it, too), all of whose blogs I adore visiting and being inspired by.


1. Bunny from Bunny's Victory

2. Emileigh from Flashback Summer

3. Frances from Polka Polish

4. Holly from Veronica Vintage

5. Jamie from Chatter Blossom

6. Joanna from Dividing Vintage Moments

7. La Toya from Mid Century Pink

8. Mariela from A Girl of Many Interests

9. Monika from Crazy Vintage Cat Lady

10. Sean from The Fictionista



♥ ♥ ♥


If you've already received this award before and/or, don't feel like blogging about it, please don't worry in the slightest. These awards are meant to be lighthearted and fun, not to feel like an obligation of any sort.

Should you like to take part and continue passing this award along however, all you have to do is write a post akin to this one with seven assorted facts about yourself and then continuing passing the Very Inspiring Blogger Award on to whomever your heart desires.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Williams and Chelsea, for the lovely blog award. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and love that I finally, at long last, got the chance to blog about receiving the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and to pass it along to some of the wonderful blogging ladies out there who inspire me as well.



28 comments:

  1. congratulation to the award!
    if anyone deserves it then you!
    love your 7 random facts, out of nr. 4 (ahem) i could write down the something similar.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. This was really interesting to read. I also clean or organize when I'm feeling stressed out. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good Morning, Jessica! I loved the 7 fun facts about you! Congratulations on receiving this award and also for awarding it to deserving fellow bloggers! Christy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, dear Christy! I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but I rather enjoy blog awards, especially those like this one that are (post) writing prompts, instead of just cute award graphics. It's fun to share a few random tidbits of info about yourself every now and then. :)

      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  4. You definitely deserved this award. Your lovely blog really is an inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOVE these facts about you! I can especially relate to the cleaning one. I'm that way with baking. You can always tell how anxious I am by how many dozens of cookies are in the house at any point lol!!!

    And thanks so much for the nomination! I'll get on that post ASAP!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're super welcome, lovely lady! Take all the time in the world that you need/want - as you can see here, I wasn't exactly the speediest or bloggers after I received this award (to put it mildly, lol!), so I'd be a massive hypocrite if I wanted others do drop everything and write about it this very moment. I look forward to reading your post whenever it appears, honey.

      Big hugs - and thank you for inspiring me with your fantastic posts,
      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  6. OMG, dear Jessica, I'm so thankful for the nomination! :) I was thinking for awhile about going back to blogging after a break I take because of some changes in my life (writnig bachelor's thesis, new job, new relationship) but I just didn't know how to start again - and the nomination from you totally motivated me to take care about my blog again! <3

    xoxo
    Monika

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome, sweetheart. I completely understand what you mean about the ways in which the demands of daily life can sometimes zap of your desire and/or energy to blog. I think most of us (bloggers) experience that periodically. There were certainly times this month, with the grief of my Mother-In-Law's passing earlier in September and the hecticness of our trip to Calgary when my mind and attention really needed to be on other things as well.

      Hopefully we'll both feel like our spirits have been renewed in that regard when October rolls around.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  7. IT was nice learning more about you

    urban hounds

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congrats :)
    I truly love the image with the 3 ladies :)
    Very cool!
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, thank you so much Jessica! I'm very honored to have made your inspiration list! You're very sweet, and I appreciate all your support of my blogging and such (and helping me find awesome Middle East novelty print skirts)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are entirely welcome, sweet Emileigh. I wholeheartedly enjoy and constantly draw inspiration from your wonderful blog, your fashion sense, and your creativity.

      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  10. 30 cardigans?! Golly! That is a lot! How do you ever choose which one to wear?
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a lot, I don't argue with you there for a moment! It's probably more of any single type of garment (excluding accessories), save for dresses that I own. Layers are a must in Canada, plus I detest my upper arms, so cardigans see a lot of play in my wardrobe. I usually pick one by either selecting a cardi that matches one of the colours in the shirt or dress I'm wearing, or instead base my outfit around it and pair it with other matching or complimentary pieces. Believe it or not, even with 30+ snuggling up together in my tiny closet (world's tiniest walk in closet ever!!! Lol!), there are still colours that I'm completely missing, such as yellow and a true teal (I have turquoise though thankfully).

      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  11. How interesting to learn a bit more about you! That first photo is terrifying! I too clean when stressed - when I was getting divorced a friend and I used to call it 'cleaning therapy'. Much underrated by medical professionals ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. You are just too sweet Jessica. Thank you so much for including me in your list. I am so honored and touched:) I wasn't in the Girl Scouts for a long period of time as my family moved around a lot when I was little but I can certainly say it made an impact on me too. I signed up my daughter to be a Brownie this year and in fact today, we have her first meeting and I am hosting the event. I'm very much looking forward to working with these young girls. I am quite sure you would make an excellent volunteer to the scouting organization! As a postscript, I could sure go for a nice nap in the a hammock right now with a nice warm sunny breeze wavering in the air so I was very happy to read about your comment of napping outside:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, dearest Joanna - how awesome to know that we're both big fans of grabbing some zzz's in the fresh air. Summer vanished so remarkably quickly here this year. We went from about +25C last week to +9 this week, getting nearly down to freezing most nights. I'd hoped for more time - and naps (care of my parents deck) in the sun before it hightailed it out of down, but unless we get a bit of an Indian summer, that wouldn't be happening again until next May or June.

      How awesome that your daughter is in the Girl Scouts now. I know that GGC (Girl Guides of Canada) membership has continued to dwindle in recent years, much as Scouting/Guiding numbers have around the world. It warms my heart to know that both you and she are involved with the GS now and I truly hope that you two have an incredible Scouting year!

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  13. When I started blogging (2010), these awards were ubiquitous. While they're a fun excuse to talk about ourselves, they eventually got to be too burdensome. I decided, last year, to give away a blogging award but it was more real -- an actual trophy and money. This year, I'm expanding on that idea. Nice to learn more about you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is tremendously caring, thoughtful and, may I add, rather revolutionary (in the scope of online blogging awards) of you. I think this is a beautiful, awesome idea and really commend you for sharing so much with some of the folks behind the blogs that have impacted, inspired and mattered to you, dear Ally. You are as good as as they come.

      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  14. It is always great to see people not being afraid to share thing about themselves. So, I thank you for being brave and telling us a little bit more about yourself (you are, like myself, a true believer in the "messy room makes stressed mind" mantra).
    I must say this:
    You truly are the Very Inspiring Blogger!

    Marija

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for sharing ! I love learning more about my bloggy friends. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so sweet, Kim, thank you. I enjoy putting together posts like this sometimes - it can be a great way to share a hodgepodge of neat little facts in one concise spot.

      Have a fantastic weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

      Delete
  16. Congratulations, you truly deserve it. And I am just like you considering 1, 2 and 4. Funny to know. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think I need to fly you here, make you really stressed out, and let you loose on my apartment because I'm a horrible housewife and cleaning rarely happens. ;-)
    That said, thank you so much for nominating me Jessica! That is truly an honor that you enjoy my blog and I cannot tell you how thrilled that makes me!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I went to look back at this post via Mariela, and was surprised to see my blog listed!! I feel so very honored! Thank you. I don't know how I missed this and apologize for that. I'll have to get on this asap!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're super welcome!!! I really look forward to reading your post, dear Sean. By all means feel free to come back here and leave a link to it for others who may be reading these comments to visit, too.

      ♥ Jessica

      Delete