Who doesn’t love a little sun to shine on their day?

I love getting an award – not just because I’m honoured and humbled to have been chosen (which I am!) but because I get to share some of the new blogs I’ve found with my existing readers.

It’s so great to get a shout out. My heart does little star jumps when I read my comments – the fact that someone has taken the time to read and write on my post makes me smile from ear to ear.

So thank you to Blogmomrocks2 for nominating me for The Sunshine Blogger Award – you are awesome!

The rules are as follows…

1. Thank the person that nominated you
2. Answer the 11 questions from your nominator
3. Nominate 11 bloggers.
4. Give them 11 questions to answer.

Here’s what you wanted to know…

1. A ham and cheese sandwich or a veggie tray?

Probably the veggies – not too fussed wth sandwiches.

2. Friendship or Marriage?

I think a friendship within a marriage is the best answer – too many people are unhappy in their marriages. I love being married. But it’s because we are friends. We treat each other as we would our friends – you have to put the effort in.

3. Facebook or Twitter?

Going to say Facebook – but actually my fave is Instagram – so much friendlier.

4. Your preferred form of transportation?

Walking. I love being outside in the fresh air. I actually can’t drive and have no intention to learn at present.

5. Fiction or Non-fiction?

Oooooh toughest question yet! Going to say fiction has the edge – but I’m loving reading autobiographies of kick-ass women at the minute.

6. Puppies or kittens?

Definitely puppies.

7. Wendy Williams show or Dr. Oz show?

I live in the UK and don’t watch much TV – so unsure who these are….

8. Pants or shorts?

Again, UK gal. Going to say pants (hope that’s trousers) although I prefer skirts and dresses over both.

9. Living in a Mansion or a country home?

How about a mansion in the country? Wouldn’t actually mind either – as long as it felt like home and all my kids were there.

10. Sweet or salty?

Salty. No sweet tooth here!

11. A Nature Preserve center or an Art Museum?

Art museum – it’s good to broaden your experiences.

I proudly nominate…

Hide Away Girl 

A Flair for the Dramatic

Yasmin’s Lifestyle Blog 

My Favouriite

Life Lessons From Around the Dinner Table

That’s So Jacob 

Francis and Anna

Send Sunshine

Sparky Jen

Brizzle Lass

Joseyphina’s World

Anyone else who would like to take part and add this award to their blog – you’re all worthy!

And finally, I want to know….

1. What’s the last thing you do every night, before going to sleep?

2. Think of an adjective to describe yourself that starts wth the same letter as your name.

3. How many blogposts have you published so far?

4. What’s the title of the next post you’re going to publish?

5. If you had to choose one colour to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be?

6. What was the last lie you told?

7. Name one nice thing about yourself.

8. When we meet for the first time, what will be the first thing I notice about you?

9. What do you like to do when it rains?

10. If you had to change your blog name, what would it be?

11. Name one nice thing you will do for yourself today.

Hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little more. Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you post as I can’t wait to learn more about you!

Have a sunny day. And remember to keep those smiles firmly in place 🙂

Nicky xo

For me, one of the best parts of being nominated for an award is the reason behind it.

I love (and am humbled by) the fact that someone nominated you because they read something on your blog that made them smile or resonated, touched and inspired them in some way.

So when I was nominated by Mortisha from It’s a Girl Dream for the Blue Sea Black cat award and read about who it’s for, my soul did little start jumps.

This award is for bloggers who strive to write for everybody, and no matter how many viewers they get, make an impact on a reader. This award is an expression of gratitude to the nominee. It should be awarded to anyone that you choose deserves it and it doesn’t mean that they must have hundreds of followers and likes.

When I started this blog, I had little idea of where it would take me. I wrote because I needed to write, I needed to share my story and had a desire to encourage people to see how fabulous they truly were.

I wanted to be everyone’s personal cheerleader.

I feel I’m starting to have real connections now, through the comments people leave on my posts and my tribe is growing. All I ever wanted was for people to feel inspired to see how beautiful life can be when you live authentically.

And if people are liking what I’m writing about – then I feel encouraged to continue to create the best content I possibly can.

Anyway, Oscar moment over; back to the award…

The rules:

Anybody nominated can nominate up to seven other bloggers.
Anybody nominated answers three questions. The questions you ask while nominating can be any three questions. If any questions asked are offending or simply do not want to be answered, the nominee does not have to answer them to earn the award.

The questions I am to answer:

What is your main source of inspiration when writing your blog?

My life so far. After hitting rock bottom after the death of my younger brother, I spent a lot of time and energy figuring out who I was without him. When I found my smile again I began sharing my story with others who had lost all sense of self and needed a little pick me up…and the blog was a natural progression of that.

Do you see blogging as a side hobby or a future career?

At the moment it’s a hobby (that takes up as many hours as my actual job!) but it would be an amazing thing if I could write and inspire people full time and get paid for it – magic wand anyone?

Which blogger has made the biggest impact on your life?

This is a tough question! When I first started looking for ways to rebuild my life, I read blogs by amazing women like Gala Darling, Marie Forleo and Danielle LaPorte. I watched their videos, bought their books and soaked up every journaling exercise they suggested, all in the name of healing myself.

I still follow these people, but for me the ones who now have the biggest impact on my life are the people I am connecting with through my blog. The people who write about their struggles with mental health and anxiety, the people who travel, the people who share their photographs and their lives, the people who write to inspire you to be kind. I guess I am inspired by what others write about – the real day to day stuff and how they want to help us by sharing their stories.

My nominees:

Floating Speck

Benjiman Grant

The Melodramatic Confessions of Carla Louise

Petra Omoregie Caroline

Anyone else who is reading this – you are worthy.

My three questions to these nominees:

What is the thing you enjoy most about blogging?

What is the one thing, starting a blog has taught you about yourself?

If you could wave a magic wand, what is the one wish you would have in regards to your blog?

Cannot wait to read your posts – I nominated you all because you are all amazing and I believe everyone should have a chance to earn this award.

Continue doing what you do, they way you do it. You are inspiring someone, somewhere.

Nicky xo

There’s no feeling in the world like the one when you find your kindred spirits.

I’m still such a baby at this blogging lark. Four months old, I’m barely sleeping through the night! But I am learning every day and the thing that makes it so amazing is the people I’m connecting with.

Yes, they come from all walks of life.

Yes, they live in all four corners of the world.

And yes, their stories are as varied as the weather.

But they’re here. Doing what they do. Connecting. Sharing. Embracing. Supporting.

Now that’s my kinda tribe.

I’m honoured to say that I’ve been nominated for some awards recently, so I thought I’d do one post about them all.

Sharon from Curious Queendom nominated me for my first ever award (thanks for being there from the beginning) – this little beauty called Infinite Dreams Award.

From Dream to Plan nominated me for the very inspiring Versatile Blogger Award.

Ioana From Music Teacher Lifestyle nominated me for this super gorgeous award.

Daisy in the Willows nominated me for this epically awesome award.

All four blogs are worthy of a mention and great places to hang out. They’re unique and inspiring in their own way and are the definition of what makes blogging great. They’ve have been so supportive towards me with their comments. Thank you so much.

The awards all share similar rules so I’m going to do a mixture of them all…

The Rules

Thank your nominator and link their Blog on your post.

Answer the questions you feel cool answering or share facts about yourself

Come up with new questions or use the existing ones for your nominees

Let your nominees know. You can pick the number of nominees.

Things you need to know about me

I’m a sensory gal – I eat with my eyes; love sounds such as laughter, music, the rain; crave the feel of soft things on my skin; am seduced by smells such as fresh coffee and perfume; adore eating Thai food and totally love hugs.

My blog is where I write to inspire people to go out and find their happy place, find what makes their soul sing and find themselves along the way. My motivation is to make someone, somewhere smile every day.

I think you are all amazing. Believe it.

I’m addicted to quotes – I get excited when I find the perfect one for just the right occasion.

I love beautifully wrapped gifts – coordinated paper, bags, tissue and ribbon makes my heart do little star jumps.

I’m easily seduced by a pretty cocktail.

I dislike chick flicks – will always opt for the action movie.

My kids are my happy place. Period.

I have an eclectic taste in music – I can switch from classical movie soundtracks to Caro Emerald to Five Finger Death Punch to nineties hip hop to eighties hair metal, depending on my mood!

I still haven’t decided what I want to do when I grow up.

Blogs I think are worth checking out

Tales from the cabbage patch

Angel Stew Blog

Close to you

Johanna Rosberg

Against Modern Consciousness

Ends and Beginnings

Alohalotte

Earth to Emma

Teen Girl Meets World

A Teachers Reflections

Things I need to know about you

Name one amazing thing that has happened to you this week?

Where do you see yourself and your blog in five years time?

What’s your favourite colour and what does it make you think of?

If you were given an extra 12 hours tomorrow, how would you spend them?

Do you know someone who is awesome? Tell me and then tell them.

I know I totally broke all the rules by putting four awards on one post – but hey, isn’t that what blogging’s all about? Your story your way?

Anyway, the main reasons we do these awards are to share blogs worth sharing and to get to know each other better – and I believe I’ve done that with bells on!

I apologise if you’ve already been nominated or this just isn’t your bag, baby – I won’t be offended if you ignore it! But if you want to, you can choose one of these (or all) awards to claim for yourself.

I cannot wait to get you know better – drop me a message when you post.

Awesome and epic, versatile, lovely and infinite dreams are amazing things to be nominated for. However, I’m only as awesome as the readers who inspire me day after day to keep on writing – so thanks to my tribe out there, reading my stuff.

I’m so glad I found you 💋

Nicky xo