AJ Loves: nominees

The Versatile Blogger Award

Thursday, March 12, 2015

I have discovered so many lovely people over the last couple of months in the blogging community. I know all the non-bloggers out there are probably thinking "Did she honestly just type blogging community?" and I DID because it really is. These fellow bloggers support each other, share hints and tips, actually give a damn if you are having a good day or not- it is the best community I have ever been a part of. Just the other day when I was having an awful day -brought on mostly by overcharged hormones (damn things) and horrible, horrible people- not one, but two. fellow bloggers managed to make me smile! Go them! The first was the lovely Olivia Jade at Dungarees and Donuts and her #sharelove movement- keep an eye on her blog to see what it's all about. And second was my spirit animal Hayley at It's Just Me Hayley D who very kindly nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. Both these ladies had such lovely things to say that I was truly flattered...but enough prattling on let's do this Versatile Blogger Award thing!!

As I understand it The Versatile Blogger Award is an award for newbie bloggers, much like the Liebster Award but with slightly different rules. This time I have to tell you all 7 random facts about me (have we not heard enough already?) and then nominate 15 newbie bloggers to take on the task themselves.

Here Goes...

I am an Angel Mum - Our baby would have been turning 1 on the 18th of March 2015 (if he had been born on time) but instead he is partying on the clouds and we will light a candle in his honour, in his own little, engraved tealight holder,
I am 27 years old and still don't really know what I want to do when I "grow up" and do you know what I'm not even worried about it. When I'm ready to make that decision I will make it, and if it is the wrong one, I'll do something else...it's not the end of the world to change your mind.
I hate the feeling of having wet skin. Here's where it gets weird...I love the feeling of the water falling over me in the shower BUT the minute I step out of that shower I need to be drying off because the feeling of half wet/half dry skin actually gives me the creeps.
I *whisper it* am becoming a bit of a professional wrestling fan! (Don't tell Damian).
I have recently added Unicorns to my growing obsession list. They join turtles, Tangled, Princess Aurora, and angel wings- just warning a certain somebody that the flat will be filling up with these soon.
I recently gave into the devil and purchased a Kindle. This admission hurts me deeply BUT when two of your favourite authors start releasing additional stories from your favourite worlds on ebook only, there is no other choice. I'm looking at you Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl!!
I collect hotel room keycards! When I say collect I mean steal, and then add to my memories box. I don't even remember when this started but It's like a mini mission every time I stay in a hotel. "Oops I lost my key", "I'm so sorry but I seem to have left my key in the room", "can we get one each please" all things I have said that weren't necessary, or necessarily true, but that culminated in me adding another key to my collection.

Wow these things are getting difficult!

I guess I better nominate a few people:
Bex at Evil Ginger
Dyan at The Little Blog of Everything
Fiona at Wishes, Hopes and Dreams
Ashton at Beauty, Books and Babble
Beth at Bethany-Georgina
Keating (awesome name btw) at KeatingMary
Mark at That Gent Mark
The mysterious A at Wonderings2015
Bowie-Marie at Disasters of a Twenty-Something

OKAY THIS IS HARD SO I'M GOING TO CHEAT SLIGHTLY AND THE LAST 6 NOMINATIONS ARE GOING TO BLOGGERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE NEWBIES BUT WHO ARE NEWLY DISCOVERED BY ME-

Melissa at Fruity Flamingo
Charlotte at Colours and Carousels
Laura at A Life with Frills
Kelly at This Northern Girl
Lisa at The China Doll Diaries
Morag at mo'adore

Have fun ladies :-).

Much Love
AJ xx

The Liebster Award

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Hi guys, Excitingly I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by the lovely Sarah Lee.

Thanks so much!!

I think awards like these are a lovely way of introducing people to new blogs, and promoting the friendly feeling you get all over the blogosphere. If you haven't heard of it, the rules are as follows:

1. Thank and link the person who nominated you.

2. Answer the questions given by the nominator.

3. Nominate 11 other bloggers, who have less than 200 followers (bloglovin) and link them.

4. Create 11 new questions for the nominees to answer.

5. Notify all nominees via social media or blog.

So I guess it's time to answer Sarah's questions...

5 Random Facts about Yourself-

I am obsessed with Turtles. Cuddly toys, figurines, real ones, anything with turtles on it and I'm sold!
I could happily give up sweets BUT not Haribo Fried Eggs...they are my favourite. I have this little thing where I melt the yellow part a little bit and it makes them kinda runny and so yummy.
I am petrified of bridges and can pinpoint the fear back to when my Granda took me to Storybook Glen and bounced the swingy bridge while I was in the middle. :-(.
I've never watched a single episode of Game of Thrones, Walking Dead or Breaking Bad...and have no interest in them at all.
I am the Queen of the game Never Have I Ever...if by the word queen you understand that I mean, I get to drink a ton during this game.

Last Book you Read-

The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins. It was soooo good, and there is a review post coming soon.

Favourite Colour to Wear-

I am so glad that Sarah stipulated "to wear" in this question! The easy answer is blue, I literally cannot stop myself when it comes to blue clothing. Every shade, every style, shoes, tops, dresses, coats...I'll take it all in blue. This is probably because I'm quite fair-skinned, have very blonde hair, and bright blue eyes so blue just works with my colouring. You'd be forgiven, for looking at my wardrobe and thinking blue was my favourite colour but that would actually be purple.

Most Essential Item in my Handbag-

Easily my iPhone. I am pretty much glued to my phone at all times. If I'm not drafting blog posts I'll be diving into the world of Twitter, or checking emails and Facebook. I was considering doing at "What's on My Phone" post and think I'm sold now.

Favourite Childhood Memory-

When we were younger our auntie Carol lived in a beautiful little village called Shotley Gate, just outside Ipswich. One of my most vivid memories from childhood is one of the times we went to visit. We had been driving forever, from our home in Aberdeen, and it was dark, and the weather was getting worse and worse. We finally arrived in the village and it was wet and we were getting the kind of hot storms you only ever seem to get in England when suddenly these balls of lightning started dancing across the hedgerows on the side of the road. It was magical! I watched mesmerised all the way to Carol's house. Then when we got there the rain started really chucking it down, and the lightning was coming in forks, and we all just sat in the cosy conservatory and watched, and chatted. It was amazing!! Also anytime we went to Great Yarmouth and Mum and Dad took us to the rock factory deserves a special mention.

Best Gift you Ever Received-

My wedding dress. We were on a major budget for our wedding and did everything we could to keep costs down. Mum and Dad of course helped out in many ways but the best way was definitely mum buying my wedding dress. We looked everywhere for a high-street dress that would do the job, but there was just nothing that really wowed me, and if I'm honest I'd always imagined myself walking down the aisle (or beach as the case may be) in Maggie Sottero. So mum and I went shopping just the two of us and I got to try on lots of pretty dresses before we both decided on The One. I'm not saying it was the one in that It just felt right and I had to have it, but the more realistic version of the one, where it looked beautiful, was comfortable, hugged my curves in all the right places AND was in budget (thanks to the lovely bridal store owner knocking a ton or two off the price!). So yeah thank you Mummy, for the best gift I ever received.

Dream Place to Visit? AND Would it be with Family or Friends?-

Ooh cheeky squeezing almost two questions in there!!

My dream holiday destination is without a doubt The Maldives. I have always wanted to rent a beautiful wooden hut on the water, and just watch the sunrise over the Indian ocean. The only thing that has put us off visiting is the fact that I probably wouldn't be able to find anything to eat for the time we were there (the fussy eater struggle is real folks). Of course, I would want to take this, and any trip to any of my dream holiday destinations with Damian.

If You Could go Back to the Past, What Would You Say to your Younger Self?-

Let's pick an age shall we and say I'll go back to talk to my 15-year-old self.

"She is actually just a bitch STOP letting her be a bitch to you. In 12 years, you'll have grown up and she'll still be the same stuck-up cow she is today."-The lesson here being that you don't ever need to keep horrible people in your life because at best they'll make you just like them, and at worst they will tear you down completely.

"DO NOT dye your hair purple!! It will fade out to grey and 15-year-old boys can be cruel if you look like you are going prematurely grey"- sidebar: come 2014 dye your hair purple, when it fades to grey you'll be even more fashionable. You were just way ahead of the curve girl.

"A scarf is NOT a top! In a few years, a woman called Jodie Marsh will show you just how stupid you looked. And by God girl wearing Rockports and a Berghaus jacket does not make you cool, it just makes you look like a chav...which is a word you will learn in a year or two."

This could go one forever so I'll stop there.

Favourite Item of Clothing/Make-up Item-

I'm going to cheat here a tiny bit because I have so many clothes it would literally be impossible to pick a favourite. I do, however, have a necklace that I wear every day, no matter what I am doing this necklace is around my neck. It was there when I got married, its there when I go to work, it is always there. So I'm going to say it is my favourite thing to wear. It is my Angel Baby memorial Bottled Treasure necklace from the lovely Jilly.

Would you want to be able to fly, or read minds?-

It would have to be the ability to fly, without a doubt. I have such strong wanderlust but such limited funds that we usually stay put. If I could fly I'd just strap my bags on my back, grab Damian, Peter Pan style, and take off.

What do you do to Keep Yourself Positive?-

I talk to Fiona. She is my best friend and always knows just what to say. If she doesn't know exactly how to help she'll remind me of the people in my life who can.

Failing that, I find a good cry, angry pop music, and wine always helps. ,

Wow, that was a fun ride. Now I apparently have to think of 11 questions to ask!