I proudly present: The Sunshine award!

Hey, guys! Long time no see - what seems to be the way I always start out my posts these days. I really miss you and I miss blogging, but things have been crazy, as I've said. I'm doing well, as long as I focus on as few tasks per day as I can, which comes down to work, sleep, food, essential communication with my loved ones and exercise.

Since I'm meeting new people almost every day in a professional environment with hopes to find a job after my internship, I try to look my best every day, but that also means, I stick to what I know and haven't really been experimenting with anything beauty-wise. I've also been staying away from heavy or colorful makeup, which is why I haven't been putting out posts of my makeup routine etc. I also haven’t been shopping at all due to lack of time and… well, salary :)

But have no fear! This is just a temporary condition and I look forward to continuing writing this blog and you can’t imagine how happy and excited it makes me, when you guys enjoy it as well.

Which is why I just HAD to find time in my schedule to write this post, because I’ve been nominated for another award, this time by the super lovely Sofie from The Little Green Sofie – if you don’t already – go follow her now! Then come back and continue reading this post ;)

Receiving your (ever so positive) feedback is truly heartwarming and the Sunshine award is given to "bloggers who are positive and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere" – how sweet is that?

Anyway, I’ll stop blabbing now and get into the actual post! Here goes.

RULES:

Share 11 random facts about yourself

Answer the 11 questions set by your nominating blogger

Nominate 11 bloggers yourself
Post 11 questions for your nominees to answer and let them know they're up

I’ll go first:

1. I talk to myself. A lot. It helps me solve problems and organize my life, I’m not kidding. Just hearing myself speak the words out loud makes me look at them differently. And yes, I do reach out and ask for advice to other people, but, honestly, sometimes I “trust” myself more, just because I’m very emotional and tend to overdramatize. With myself I can be 100% honest, no matter how silly I’m being and there’s no harm done, if I change my mind shortly after. I wouldn’t want to call my mom and explain to her the whole situation (which is also one of the perks when you talk to yourself – no background story catch up necessary) and then possibly upset her or worry her only to calm down by myself soon enough.

2. I have a chewing addiction. I developed it while I was in the early stages of recovery and stopped, because it caused me to get bloated, hungrier and hurt my stomach. Since I’m at the office and feel a bit stressed I’ve picked it up again, so I need to lay off the grazing a bit ;)

3. I’m a very goal minded person, so I always have a project in the works. At the moment it’s growing out my hair (enjoy the mugshot), which is sloooooow as a snail, but fun anyway. Other “self development projects” include “find a new recipe at least every week”, “read a new book every month” and a veeeery brief “go coffee free”, when I (in my pain filled head) realized – I don’t just like the taste of coffee – I NEED it.

4. I’m not a particularly talented person in the traditional sense of the word and I know that, because I’ve literarily tried my hand in just about anything – acting, singing, dancing (you name it), sports, writing and bartendering. As a result, I can read sheet music and play piano with one hand and holding down the chord with two fingers with the other; I can play a little volleyball, I write a blog and can make a couple of drinks. Not really what I had in mind, considering I had great dreams regarding every new idea, but I regret nothing ;)

5.  My biggest insecurities are probably my hair (or the lack of them), the dark circles under my eyes (which is one of the only reasons I wear makeup) and my general stomach area as I consider myself to be apple shaped without a defined waist.

6. I pick on my nail polish, when I’m nervous and my boyfriend has noticed. Hence, his constant, slight smile, during the first dinner with his parents back in the day. I didn’t even realize.

7.  I’m not a big drinker and go through phases (like now) of not drinking at all, however my favorite drinks are (quite unfortunately, I have to say) all the girly ones – Piña Colada, Passionada and frozen daiquries (low on the drink hierarchy), but I love a good White Russian, Caipirinha and when all else fails – pour me some jin & tonic any time ;)

8.  My name would have been Emīls, if I was a boy.

9.  My boyfriend says I’m a very “put together person” by what he means (as I recently found out!), that I’m very diverse – I’m “put together” by a bunch of (often contradicting) qualities.

10.   I’m in a desperate (okay, that’s maybe a bit too dramatic…) need of an external reinvention. I feel like my closet, makeup and beauty items no longer reflect who I am accurately and I have already made a very precise list of things I’d like to own and purchase (a post about that coming soon!). It’s a rather pricey task, so it’s got to be gradual and I need to be patient, but what I aim for is to have very few, but high quality, well functioning things.

11.   I’m silly. Especially, if you know me well. I don’t hesitate to make fun of myself and even though I’m sensitive to critique (something I’m working on), I’ll always try to be the first one laughing about my mishaps. I think that’s important. Check out, what happened to me last weekend. Need I say more...? 

My 11 questions asked by Sofie:

1. What is your most memorable moment of your life?

Oh, dear me. My brain went blank for a second and the next – I had too many options to choose from without a single obvious one.

I think I’m a big romantic at heart and I’m a sucker for movie-like-scenes, so I’d probably go for some of the Cinderella moments I’ve had – mostly romance related. Although giving a speech when I graduated last year was pretty awesome too, it’s definitely a big moment for me. Here's a picture, that involve both!

2. Name one thing you can't live without.

The problem with that is that you only know until it’s gone and I’m grateful every single day for the things I have in my life, that make me happy. I don’t hope to find out, what I can’t live without, if you know what I mean. In the big scheme of things – love. Community. Purpose. In the small – sushi. Music. Books.

3. The best song ever?

It’s hard to name one. Music has always played a huge role in my life and I’ve always found the answers I was looking for. Mads Langer – Fact Fiction will always hold a special place in my heart, because it reminds me of the one person… I can’t live without. Hey, here’s your answer to Question no.2 after all ;)

4. What could you eat every day?

Sushi, no surprise there. And I love all the healthy fats, for some reason. Salmon, avocados, nuts, nut butters… Not only COULD I eat them every day, I actually do. Berries. Fruits. Greek yogurt, honey, bananas. Cottage cheese. Is it obvious, I love food?

5. How do you see yourself in 5 years time? What would you like to achieve in that time?

This is something, that’s on my mind a lot. I’m very aware of not falling into the “IF - THEN” trap, but I do focus on my future. In 5 years I’ll be 27, still in Denmark, hopefully married + with a couple of kids, living in a house (rented, still, not bought), I’ll have a job – or I’ll study my master’s at the time, it’s very possible. I’ll be able to financially support my parents and will have more safety around me – a good group of friends, a steady workout routine. Oh, I’ll have a dog, for sure ;)

6. How would a perfect day look like?

Oh, this is easy. I have these. A perfect day would start with no alarm. Waking up slowly with my boyfriend, a bit hangover from going out the night before, talking about how much fun we had, who did we talk to, what happened. A slow morning, big, tasty breakfast. Coffee. Getting ready. And then we’d have a plan for the day. An activity. A movie, a walk, a drive somewhere. My boyfriend’s family’s summerhouse is one of my favorite places in the world. We could arrive there and shop for dinner. Pack out. Light up the fire place. Cook, have dinner there. Have wine. Stay by the fire place, Bruce Springsteen in the background. I love making memories.

7. If you could choose any country to live in, which country would it be and why?

It would be an English speaking country, because I would love to try that. I had a hard time starting up a life in Denmark and still feel limited sometimes at social gatherings and everyday situations. I’d like to see, if my experience would be different, if the language (or my lack of it) wouldn’t be an issue.

8. Do you have any strange habits?

Ask my boyfriend, he’ll get back to you after he’s done making a list ;) I don’t know what to say, though. I “need to” eat something with my coffee – so I never (very rarely, to be exact) have a plain cup of coffee. I also love to drink coffee with my meals. I’m known to order coffee at a restaurant together with the main course – why wait till the end when there’s no food left?

9. What 3 words best describe your personality?

Emotional, considerate, hopeful.

10. What was the most beautiful place you ever visited?

I’m going to say, Sankt Andrä in Austria, because that was my first trip and I took it alone – meaning, without my family and friends – I was helping at a summer camp. I was 16 years old and have never been anywhere further than the neighboring country of Latvia – namely – Lithuania. It was so, so beautiful, the weather was perfect and I remember taking a walk at 10 pm when the air was still incredibly warm, but it was dark and I could see tons of little houses and churches lit up in the mountains around. I really thought that the world is amazing in that moment. Thanks for reminding me, actually ;)

11. Would you rather be very small (ca. 4ft 11) or very tall (ca. 6ft 3) and why?

How can I explain… I seem to think, that being short would have its many perks – such as looking cute, wearing petite outfits, being safely shorter than almost any guy you date etc., but still – I’m going to go with being really tall. I’m 5ft7 or 173 cm as it is and that’s considered fairly tall for where I come from. That’s what I know and I haven’t felt self conscious about it. Something about a very tall, confident woman is extremely attractive to me and even though it can be tough to be the tallest of your friends, tower over boys and to see a larger number on the scale (I’m giving examples here, people), because it simply makes sense, when being a taller person, I’d go with that. I think there’s something elegant and impressive about it. However, I feel like this is possibly quite a controversial question as it is so personal and subjective. I’m all about loving yourself, especially for the things you can’t change – like your height. Here's a picture of my friend and I in high school, hope she doesn't mind me posting this. We both could've felt awkward, but - why should've we?

And the nominees are:

1. Nora @ Nora's Sweet Fashion
2. Lucia @ Style Confessional
3. Lauren @ Sophisticated In Style
4. Victoria @ Afluenza
5. Andrea @ Andrea Clare
6. Jemma Page @ Bamboozle Beauty Blog
7. Becky @ Beauty and the B
8. Laura @ Belles Boutique
9. Jessica @ birdie to be 
10. Bethany Jade @ Birds Words
11. Amanda Nortman @ Chic N Rock

My 11 questions to you:

1. What’s your go-to outfit for a regular day?

2.  Who would you most want to meet – live or dead, real or fictional and why?

3.  What's the first full dinner you cooked for someone and how did it turn out?

4. If you were to choose a class at the gym, what would it be? Weights, dance, zumba, yoga, boxing (keep going)...?

5. What is “your beauty thing”? Are you into hair care? Skincare? Nails? Makeup? Fashion? You catch my drift – let me know ;)

6.  How do you create an outfit? Do you build it up around one item? Do you lay it out the night before? Match it to your hair and makeup?

7.  Are you an impulsive shopper or a planner? Saver or spender?

8.  Name 3 things off your bucket list.

9. Do people tell you that you look like someone? One of your parents, a sibling, a celebrity…? If so, who and do you agree?

10. What is something you’re really proud of?

11.   Name 5 webpages you open first as you turn on your computer.

Oh, hey, I made it! Hope you guys enjoyed it and high five to you for making it too till the end (granted, I assume you did, if you're reading this)!

I really love when you guys reach out to me and get me involved in things! These award posts are hard, though!

Anyway, I hope you're all good and I will talk to you soon! As always, leave any feedback, questions or requests down below, I'll answer them all ;)

Renate ❤