30 for 30 Days 11 & 12: Liebster

shirt: Old Navy, jeans and flats: Target

shirt/shoes/scarf: Old Navy, skirt: Target, tights: Walmart
*another swap happened! This shirt substituted the short sleeve tan sweater

Thank you to Ada and Jenna Brianne for the Liebster nominations! I have to admit that I received a couple of nominations in the past from my favorite ladies and I always intended to post about it, but would get overwhelmed and give up on it. It's simple and it's fun, but I have a tendency to over-think things a bit I'm afraid. I'm an awful person for that, but please still love me! :)


So on to the fun part, which I really did think incredibly too hard about...

Facts about me:
1. I worked in social services for about 6 years and now I'm an Academic Advisor, but I also have a degree in Speech & Hearing Science that I clearly don't use.

2. Speaking of social services, my first job out of college was working at an agency that provided employment readiness training exclusively to ex-offenders.  

3. I'm a big believer in second chances, and sometimes third, and maybe in fourth which is probably why I was able to handle that first job out of college...

4. I am seriously addicted to watching the series Homeland right now. To the point that it's taken me about an hour and a half to manage to type out these 4 facts so far because we can't stop watching!

5. None of my friends know I have this blog. Only my husband and sister-in-law know about it. I've showed her when she asked, but conveniently forgot to email her the link. :)

6. I've had glasses since I was in 4th grade, but was so vain that I refused to wear anything except contacts from 8th grade through my sophomore year of college. 

7.  I've never lived outside of Ohio.

8. I have a sewing machine, but I don't know how to sew. I gave the idea to my mother-in-law as a Christmas present and I can't wait to learn!

9. I started dating my husband almost 2 years after college. My best friend went to college with him and she swears up and down that we met while we were all still in school, but neither of us think we did. I think that's a good thing. :)

10. I took piano lessons from maybe second grade until I graduated from high school.

11. I ran my first marathon this past October and it was physically the toughest thing I've ever done. Totally worth it though, and I want to do another one...it's just going to be a little while. 

Ada's Questions:
1. Do you prefer your coffee black, with cream & sugar or just with sugar? 
Flavored creamer during the week, Baileys if I happen to have it around on the weekend. :)

2. Do you plan on following any diets for 2013? 
No, but my goal is to be better about moderation.

3. What is your most favorite food that you can eat any day of the week? 
Buffalo chicken dip. It's hands down my favorite and I just can't stop myself. Don't let me near a bag of spicy sweet chili Doritos either! 

4. Do you prefer Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
Facebook, but I love Instagram too. I've decided I'm not witty enough for twitter. :)

5. Do you have a Pinterest account? What do you usually pin? 
Yes and I always pin outfits. Occasionally I'll switch it up and pin a recipe that I never actually try to make.

6. What are your favorite kinds of movies?
Comedies are my favorite, especially because my husband loves them too, so they're good ones to watch together. 

7. You prefer Stripes or Polka Dots?
I love them both, but I like wearing stripes more.

8. Do you prefer Skirts & Dresses to Jeans & Pants or vice-versa?
I actually don't have a preference. I like to switch it up and wear both!

9. What are your three Most Favorite Colors?
Teal for sure, then gray. Picking a third one is tough, but royal blue may be it.

10. Why should bloggers be true to themselves?
Because I think that's when you stand to gain the most. 

11. Which three bloggers have given you the Most Inspiration from when you first started blogging & why?
Jentine because she's a thrifting genius, Audrey because I feel like I can really relate to her style, and Kendi because she always looks so effortlessly stylish.


Jenna Brianne's Questions:
1. What is one fashion accessory you could not live without?
That's tough because I love them all. I have a necklace that my aunt made for me out of a button that had been in my grandma's button collection and I feel a little lost if I go too many days without wearing it. I think my favorite is bangles layered with a watch though.

2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
If I could get my parents, my brother and his girlfriend, and my husbands' immediate family to move too, I would say San Francisco. It's such a gorgeous city with so much to do, and it's gotten to a point where most of my family lives there...I miss them!

3. What age were you when you started loving fashion?
I've always loved clothes and to shop, but it really took until I was 27 (within the past year and a half) to be interested in developing my own personal style. Up until that point I would just buy a cute top and pair it with either jeans or dress pant, depending on what day of the week it was. 

4. Do you watch any late-time talk shows? If so, which ones?
This old lady can't stay up late enough to watch any late night shows. :)

5. Uggs- fashion DO or DON'T?
I have a pair of fake uggs, just the cheap ones from Target, that I wear on days I know I'll be dealing with snow and sludge. I don't care what happens to them - they keep my feet warm and my other shoes from getting destroyed. I don't think they're necessarily a don't...I just choose not to ever wear them as part of an outfit!

6. If you could describe your style in 3 words, what would they be?
Thrifty, simple, comfortable

7. What puts the biggest smile on your face? 
When the clock hits 5:00 on Friday afternoon...just kidding! Family time, but followed up with time at home with just my husband.

8. What is your favorite reality TV show?
Does Property Brothers on HGTB count as reality TV? That's probably one of my favorite shows right now.

9. Who is your biggest role model? Why?
I really would have to say my mom. She has an incredible work ethic that I absolutely admire. She didn't go to college until I was probably about 10 years old and I'm so impressed she pulled off a college degree with two young children at home. It really gives me perspective when I'm advising the students I work with since many of them are in the same situation.

10. What do you love most about having a blog?
"Meeting" new people with the same interests! It's a great way to get inspired too.

11. Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?
Still working in higher education, and still advising for sure. Hopefully we'll have warmed up to the idea of children by then too. :)

My questions:

1. Where's your favorite place to shop?
2. Morning person or night owl?
3. If you could turn back the clock and go back to any age, which age would you choose and why?
4. What's your favorite meal to cook? - feel free to share the recipe! :)
5. Favorite dessert?
6. What's your favorite magazine?
7. Which holiday is your favorite?
8. What's your favorite television show?
9. Where would you go on your dream vacation?
10. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment so far?
11. What city/town do you live in, and how would you spend your ideal weekend there?

So this isn't 11 bloggers, but these are some great ladies that I'm nominating. If you don't have the time or energy to do a whole post about the Liebster, feel free to comment with the answer to your favorite question...I'd love to learn a little more about you all! :)

Terri at Stylish Sass
Beth at The Fashionable Adventures of Bethie the Boo
Jana Faith at Every Day Is Your Runway
Sam at Sam ipsa Loquitur
Ginny at My New Favorite Outfit
Heidi at Literate & Stylish