Hello, and happy weekend, dear friends!
I was recently going through some very old blog posts from my archives that I posted on my old blog. This fun little questionnaire came up in those archives and I thought it would be fun to repost the questions, but with my current answers. There isn't much to this post, but I thought this would just be fun and enjoyable...for me to answer and for you to get to know the girl behind this blog a bit more.
So grab a cup of something delicious and find a comfy spot to settle in for a bit...
And if you want to share your answers to any of the questions, I'd love to hear them.
Let's get started!
Do you like to read an entire series at once or spread out the books over time?
I never ever read a series of books in one go. I always, always spread them out. Sometimes, over many years. I don't like to live in one type of book or story, genre or style for more than one or two books at a time. I love pottering about different type of stories, settings, characters, etc. when I read.
Would you rather be stuck in the past or the future?
This is a rather difficult question. Honestly, I am quite okay with being in the present. However, in an ideal world, I think I would combine bits of the past with moving towards the future. There are a lot of things in the past, even just in my lifetime so far, that I really miss and seriously do think would add so much to life these days. I can tell you that I have absolutely no interest in going back to anything pre-1980s. I think it would be fun to visit for a day a few different time periods before then, but I do not wish at all to live in any time before then. I am quite content to be living in the time I am.
Have you ever had dream re-runs? (In other words, the same dream twice.)
A few times, I've dreamt an exact dream more than once. I've also experienced that with nightmares, which I tend to have more often. But my dreams often include bits and pieces from previous dreams.
What is your favorite vacation you've ever taken?
This is a two-fold question for me. Firstly, in the States, I love three places best: Chicago, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Those are my favorite places. As far as specific trip, I would say Chicago on Valentine's Day 2016 in the snow, the Irish Music Festival in Ohio in the late summer of 2019, seeing the coast and small towns of New Jersey for the first time in the very early spring of 2016, our girl's road trip through New Jersey and Pennsylvania in May of 2019. Those are my standout trips and ones that I literally think about so often because they are filled with such happy memories. I love the small towns in PA and NJ and even though I'm not really a city girl, Chicago has my heart. I find it incredibly fun and beautiful!
And secondly, I've only been on two trips outside the States, so far. And that place is Ireland. If you have been reading my blog for any number of years, you know that Ireland is the place of my heart and I love it so dearly. I feel so alive when we're driving the ribbon roads and hearing the crashing waves of the Atlantic and rambling through abbeys and fields and being so close to sheep and cows that we could have touched them if we wanted to. I've never been somewhere so magical and beautiful and wonder-full. Our first trip there in the summer of 2016 was something dreams are made of. Our second trip was a little less dreamy, mostly because we were sick half of our time there after catching a nasty, horrid cold on the flight over and we also ended up staying in a holiday house that was something of a nightmare. But I so love the gorgeous green land and just how beautifully it speaks to my deepest depths of my soul.
If you found the entrance to Narnia, would you tell anybody? Who would you take with you if you did?
Yes, but only a very select few kindred spirits.
If you found the entrance to Narnia, would you tell anybody? Who would you take with you if you did?
Yes, but only a very select few kindred spirits.
Waffles, pancakes, or neither?
I love them equally. Sometimes, I'm in the mood for pancakes, and other times, I crave waffles. Homemade ones are the best. And I love them with maple syrup, lots of butter, and fresh fruit on the side. I often associate pancakes and waffles with rainy or snowy days, and in my opinion, they are one of the ultimate cozy comforting foods to both eat and make.
What is one smell that never fails to make you happy?
The scents of autumn in nature and in the home, Christmas scents- baking, pine, candles, etc., Thanksgiving dinner, stovetop potpourri simmering away. Basically, all the cozy smells really make me giddy!
Do you enjoy musicals? If so, what are your favorites?
I haven't seen many musicals, but the ones I have seen, I really love. Most musicals today, I feel, are filled with too much propaganda and hidden messages that I don't appreciate. But I love Newsies and The Sound of Music, both of which I have seen in person at our local theatre. They were such fun experiences!
What are your favorite meals to enjoy?
I love cozy meals the best. Chicken pot pie, soups or stews or chili of almost any kind, roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and veggies, homemade pizza, stir-fry over rice, anything cozy and comforting. Also, I do really love lots of Asian and Mexican meals and a few Italian ones, too. These are all also my most favorite meals to cook.
Have you ever been roller-skating?
When I was a little girl, I loved roller-skating. During the summers of my childhood, we would go most Tuesdays to the skating rink and spend the afternoon and it was the best.
Do you have any family heirlooms?
Yes, quite a few actually. My bedroom furniture is over 80 years old and passed down from my Grandmother to my mom to me. We have my grandparents' old Grandfather clock, lots of kitchen gadgets, home decorations and knick-knacks, recipes, and photos, too. They're all cherished and we use many of them regularly.
Opinion on letter writing?
I love letter writing. I wish I did more of it, but that's something I'll have to work on. It's so nice in a day and age where everything is automated, electronic, and technology-based to get something that someone has taken the time to write by hand. I think it's so much more personal and often more love and care goes into the details of a letter. There's just something about getting something in the mail, too! It truly is an art and a beauty.
Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa?
I rarely ever drink coffee. I do occasionally have an iced coffee that I make at home. But it must always be decaf; caffeine and I do not get along. I drink hot tea more in the colder weather, but I drink iced tea all year long. It's probably my favorite. Simple herbal iced tea with nothing added to it in a large mason jar with ice is where it's at. And I do treat myself to hot chocolate every so often in the autumn and winter. I'm currently looking for a healthy hot chocolate recipe to enjoy this coming autumn and winter. And any hot drink must be enjoyed from a pretty mug, in my opinion.
What's your favorite children's story?
When I was really little I loved Winnie the Pooh, Little Bear, Franklin, The Seven Silly Eaters (a real favorite!) and many of the old classics that we have and then as I got older I loved Junie B. Jones, Amelia Bedelia, the Boxcar Children, and Cam Jansen books. In middle school, books truly were my best friend and I survived sixth grade by reading A Series of Unfortunate Events.
What movie or period drama ending really frustrated you? And how would you change it?
I can't think of a specific movie or show ending. I will say, though, that I would NOT have killed off Sybil in Downton Abbey. She was my most favorite character and I would have loved to see her and Tom raise up their little girl in their differing worlds colliding together. I wonder what Tom's relationship with the Crawleys would have been like had Sybil still been alive. That still really gets me...she was such a lovely, caring, genuine character. I honestly don't like too many period dramas, but Downton Abbey was one that I loved watching. I should really rewatch it again.
If we were talking about shows and movies in general, as opposed to strictly just period dramas, then I could have a whole other conversation about that. {{winks}}
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
While I have dreams tucked down deep in my heart and soul, overall, I just want to be happy and healthy and living a peace-filled life. I want to live in a beautiful place that makes me feel alive and inspired and surrounded by magic and wonder and beauty. I want to be confident and comfortable being myself and trusting my intuition and following my heart every single day. I want to be pursuing the things that make my heart sing and my soul happy. My dream life isn't what everyone dreams of or what is appealing to most, but to me, it is everything. And I want to cultivate and create a life that allows me to feel nurtured, loved, safe, authentic to myself, comfortable, free, blissfully happy, and that makes the little girl inside me smile and dance with delight. That's something I'm learning is so important the older I get...to nurture the little girl still inside me and to be reminded that her dreams are still valid and valuable and more than likely, still my dreams today. And of course, I dream that the dreams I hold dearly in my heart come true in magical and wonderful ways.
What makes you nostalgic?
Goodness me, lots of things. Anything with a memory attached to it. So many things make me nostalgic. But then again, I'm an incredibly sentimental person, so it doesn't surprise me one bit that I'm that way.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, what would it be?
An owl, for more reasons than one. Including the fact that I am seriously a night person. The night is the time when I feel most inspired and peaceful. I also love the fact that owls are thought of as "wise", as that is something I aspire to be, too.
If a loved one was to serenade you, what song would you most like them to sing?
In terms of romantic songs, I do love quite a few. Some of my most beloved favorites include: And I Love You So, Steal Away, and Feels Like Home. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, as I have so many others that I love equally.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
While I have dreams tucked down deep in my heart and soul, overall, I just want to be happy and healthy and living a peace-filled life. I want to live in a beautiful place that makes me feel alive and inspired and surrounded by magic and wonder and beauty. I want to be confident and comfortable being myself and trusting my intuition and following my heart every single day. I want to be pursuing the things that make my heart sing and my soul happy. My dream life isn't what everyone dreams of or what is appealing to most, but to me, it is everything. And I want to cultivate and create a life that allows me to feel nurtured, loved, safe, authentic to myself, comfortable, free, blissfully happy, and that makes the little girl inside me smile and dance with delight. That's something I'm learning is so important the older I get...to nurture the little girl still inside me and to be reminded that her dreams are still valid and valuable and more than likely, still my dreams today. And of course, I dream that the dreams I hold dearly in my heart come true in magical and wonderful ways.
What makes you nostalgic?
Goodness me, lots of things. Anything with a memory attached to it. So many things make me nostalgic. But then again, I'm an incredibly sentimental person, so it doesn't surprise me one bit that I'm that way.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, what would it be?
An owl, for more reasons than one. Including the fact that I am seriously a night person. The night is the time when I feel most inspired and peaceful. I also love the fact that owls are thought of as "wise", as that is something I aspire to be, too.
If a loved one was to serenade you, what song would you most like them to sing?
In terms of romantic songs, I do love quite a few. Some of my most beloved favorites include: And I Love You So, Steal Away, and Feels Like Home. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, as I have so many others that I love equally.
If you could change your name to anything what would your new name be?
I've always loved my name, Elizabeth. But if I had to change it, I've always loved Annie.
What's your favorite biscuit to dunk?
I don't really dunk biscuits in my tea...I don't like the crumbs floating around. However, I do love homemade chocolate chip cookies alongside a tall glass really cold milk. It's the most perfect combination ever. You can't convince me otherwise. Ha!
What is your favorite Disney movie?
I'm not a huge Disney movie watcher and pretty much stick with my favorites: Cinderella and Snow White. But those two, I really love. I have several movies I want to see, but I think that Cinderella and Snow White will always be my favorites. {{smiles}}
What is your favorite clothing?
For spring, I love flowy dresses or capris and cute tops. For summer, I love denim or cotton shorts with a comfy and super soft T-shirt or spaghetti strap tanks. I absolutely detest dresses in the hot weather. For autumn, I love leggings or jeans with a cute top and cardigan. And for winter, I love leggings and jeans with sweaters or sweatshirts or cute tops with cardigans. Also, for the autumn and winter months, I do love wearing knee-length (or just above) dresses with cardies over them. I do not dress according to any specific style or aesthetic or with the trends, I simply wear what I like and what I feel comfortable in and what makes me feel like myself.