Liebster Award

After 3 years of blogging I have finally been nominated for The Liebster Award, thanks Sara over at Nine and Ninety Nine!

Now that I have been nominated, what does it even mean, ha-ha?  I have seen it on many other blogs but I never read the details.  It means somebody out there recognizes I have a semi-decent blog and some how still have less than 200 followers.  (This is most likely because my blog is random in every way... no set topics, no set schedule, I can't even promise to post weekly - but I do write these posts hoping to help others, I get points for that, right?)

So, here are the rules :
1)  Link the person's blog to your blog entry that nominated you
2)  Answer the 11 questions below
3)  Find 11 blogs with less than 200 followers and nominate them
4)  Come up with 11 questions for these bloggers

These are the questions Sara came up with :

1)  What things can you not live without?
          Besides the obvious, my family, food & shelter, I'd say - an internet connection :)
2)  If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
          If it doesn't have to be real then, Pandora.
3)  What is your favorite book and season?
          Book - a baby name book, I love names & meanings, weird right?  Season - spring, it's when everything comes to life.
4)  What are three goals you want to achieve in your life time?
         Shed the baby weight from 5 yrs ago & keep it off, ha-ha!  Visit at least 3 countries in Asia.  And touch as many lives as I can even if it's just a smile.
5)  What is your favorite food?
         Most anything Indian (hope that's PC, have been overseas for a while)!
6)  What do you miss most about home?
          Besides my family & close friends of course, the cheap shopping.
7)  What surprises you most about living abroad?
          That being a "foreigner" has so many classifications & levels.
8)  How do you balance conflicting areas in your life?
          Ha, is that possible, I just keep juggling I guess.
9)  What's in your bag/ backpack/ purse?
          Everything, my purse is the size of a "carry-on".
10)  What are you most proud of?
          My daughter & my husband, they amaze me.
11)  What things do you love and hate about being an expat?
          Love - experiencing other cultures.  Hate - getting stared at so often.

Here are the blogs I am nominating, some I follow and some I found, it's always nice to find new blogs no matter the reason.

1)  Adventures in Juggling
2)  American Mom in Bordeaux
3)  Bees, Birds, Berries, & Blooms
4)  Beyond My Picket Fence
5)  Everything Susan
6)  Expat Life with a Double Buggy
7)  Hip Healthy Chick
8)  Nearly Irish
9)  Running with Swans
10)  Super Chic Mom
11)  The Blog of the Fictionaut

And since I am completely pressed for time these days (in a good way ,thanks to volunteering at school).  I'm going to borrow questions that turned up after a Google search.  (Thanks, Psychology Today!)

1)  Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
2)  Would you like to be famous? In what way?
3)  Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you're going to say? Why?
4)  When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
5)  If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
6)  If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what would it be?
7)  Is there something that you've dreamt of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?
8)  What does friendship mean to you?
9)  When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
10)  Would you be willing to have horrible nightmares for a year if you would be rewarded with extraordinary wealth?
11)  Complete this sentence "I wish I had someone with whom I could share..."

Good luck to those I nominated, hope you decide to pass on the award and help bloggers keep getting to know each other and helping their small portion of the blogging world grow.  Thanks again Sara!

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

My Writing Process

Recently I was contacted by Anne, from over at Nearly Irish, wondering if I would be interested in participating in the #mywritingprocess blog tour.

First off, who's Anne?  She is an expat like myself, but instead of being an American living in The Netherlands, she's French and living in Ireland.  And she does a brilliant job of blogging in English even though it's not her native language (big pat on the back, I wouldn't dare blog in Dutch, ha-ha)!  Also like myself, her blog isn't just about being an expat, it's about being integrated into a foreign country due to the extent of time abroad.  Be sure to pop over and give her blog a read.

Second, what is the #mywritingprocess blog tour?  It's a way for bloggers to explain just how they come up with the great material they pump out on a weekly basis.  And it can even go beyond blogging, because I'm sure a lot of bloggers are just writers in general, so there are possible manuscripts, poems, articles, etc. going on in the background.  And of course it's a way to spread the word about your blog as well as learning about other interesting blogs.

So here goes, 4 simple questions :

1) What am I working on?
I write nearly every day, sometimes it's blog posts and sometimes it's a story.  When it comes to blogging I write about events/topics as they happen or refer to the drafts I generally I keep on the back burner for the weeks when I have little content.  When it comes to my stories (manuscripts - yet most of them are short and not finished) I have weeks when I am working on the same one and then times when I skip around between drafts, depends mostly on my creative flow.

2)  How does my work differ from others of its genre?
The best part of my blog is that you (and I) never know what I'll blog about next.  I feel this is what makes my blog different.  One day I could be posting about clothing and the next crime.  And I also have a love for photography, so I like to incorporate my own photos into the blog.  As far as my stories, well, I'm not sure what makes me different because I've never dared try to publish any of my work.  All I know is that the stories keep coming to my head and it's been like this my entire life.  Somewhere inside I have a natural gift of creating characters and story lines, I now just need to find a way to hone in on that and turn it into something I can share with others.  (But to be honest, I'm also happy just writing for myself.)

3)  Why do I write what I do?
Blogging helps me get out all of the the nagging thoughts that I want to share with people.  Sometimes I want people to understand you can live a normal life abroad, that it's possible to be integrated and a foreigner at the same time.  I also blog because I love spreading the word (good or bad), so if there is a product, company, movie, store, etc I (dis)like, I want to let everyone know.  I'm always looking for tips, so why not share my knowledge.  My stories (books) are different, I tend to write action romance.  I'm a sucker for a good romance, but not the boring ones.  (Think of Die Hard mixing with The Notebook, ha-ha, I wish!)  And in order to keep my creative side interested I hop all over the place time period wise, from medieval times to the future.

4)  How does my writing process work?
Unfortunately the process is my downfall.  My blog explains it all, random, random, random.  I wish I could tell you I sit down and write out a good outline before I get started.  If I could just get myself to do this I might actually be a published author by now.  Whether it's my blog or my stories, I write what comes to mind at that moment.  Sure I make notes here and there, but that's mostly because I don't have the time to write just then or maybe I have a goal and don't want to forget it.  (When you write like I do, you get side tracked easily... in general I get side tracked easily, it's a personality thing.)  The problem with being creative is you never know when it will hit you; being a stay-at-home mom I don't have the time to write whenever, so generally I stick to mornings when my kid is at school for my blog, and evenings for my stories (keeping in mind my husband also deserves some of my time.  Oh yeah, and the dog & house, ha-ha!)  The time I allot also varies, blog posts can take 15-30 minutes, and my stories, well, before my daughter came along I was writing roughly 20-40 hrs a week, and now in 30 min spurts here and there!

As mentioned, it's a tour, so of course the torch has to be passed on.  I follow lots of different blogs, so I figured I would pick two completely different bloggers to keep this tour alive on July 21st.

-  When looking for a fun blog with lots of blog parties, one blogger stuck out, Paula from Sincerely Paula.  She maintains a lifestyle blog, but to be honest I love visiting for the blog hops.  It's a guaranteed place to meet other bloggers as well as exposing my own material.  She's also known for her Pinterest addiction, ha-ha (we've all been there, right?)

- When looking for posts that will get my brain churning, another blogger stood out, Karen from My Own Mind.  She often talks about homeschooling and/or being Atheist, and now her blog has shifted a little since her return to The States from Australia.  I enjoy the way she can get people riled up and talking, it never hurts to challenge someones point of view and open a discussion.
 
Please do yourself a favor and check all of the mentioned blogs, and if you're interested in the #mywritingprocess blog tour but haven't been asked to participate, send me an email!

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Other Bloggers #3

In the 2 years I have been blogging I have discovered a world of other blogs out there.  If someone leaves a comment on my blog or decides to start to following me via GFC or BL, I do my best to give their blog a chance also.  In doing so, I have actually found quite a few blogs I often visit or have even started following myself.  Besides connecting through comments, I regularly participate in blog hops... also a great way to find other interesting blogs floating around the internet.  Over the past couple years I have occasionally mentioned other blogs I visit/follow, so I thought it was time to introduce you to a few more from around the globe.  Please be sure to give them the same chance you have given my blog.

Australia : Have A Laugh On Me

England : Claire Justine OXOX

  India : i Share (Portraits of India)

Singapore : East Coast Life

Germany : Nine and Ninety Nine (American Expat)

 

World : Young Adventuress (Traveler)

America : Momspective

America : Kendi Everyday (Fashion)

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Expat Summer Fun

I originally wrote this post for the Forgetful Momma blog, I was going to be a guest blogger while she was on vacation... in the end it never happened but I didn't want to waste it!

Today's post is about entertaining an expat child abroad... how do you do it?  Easy, it's just like entertaining a kid in The States, ha-ha!  Before our daughter came along we had a crash course in kids with our nieces, so we luckily started learning the ins and outs early.  Now that my tot is 3yrs (almost 4, that's important) it takes more & more to keep her entertained.  She's used to a fairly full schedule between preschool & swimming lessons, so of course as a fellow SAHM it falls on my shoulders to keep her busy over the 6 week summer break from school.  And that I've been doing, even though it means cleaning and exercising (my usual routines) are falling by the wayside. 

I first established a base plan, what's free... well, we can swim at the city pool free the entire summer as long as we go on the day she usually has swimming lessons.  That's one day of the week booked!
 
My nieces need a babysitter occasionally throughout the summer since their parents work..., this means entertainment for the kids, the dogs, and it's free.  Another day of the week booked! 

Due to a good mixture of friends and acquaintances (Dutch & international), it's easy to schedule a play date at one of the many playgrounds.  Another day of the week booked! 

This means we already have 3 fixed activities, which I find is enough, it leaves us with just enough flexibility for spontaneous plans and yet enough scheduled I have an answer when she starts asking what we're doing next. 

With only 2 days to spare (weekend doesn't count because Dad's around and he's entertaining enough) I generally try and find something extra special to do.  We have a lot of large indoor/outdoor play centers in the area which she loves.  (I'm trying to think of a comparison, maybe Chuck E. Cheese's mixed with McDonald's plus a normal playground thrown in, can you envision it?)  I'm known for being frugal so a friend and I are thinking about signing up for a family pass so we can take the kids at a discounted rate for the rest of the year (this means entertainment rain or shine).

Others ideas I have in mind are pretty normal, like any other American, they just happen to be taking place 4,000 miles away!  There are zoos & museums, even walks in the woods with our dog, definitely considered the beach for a day or even just an afternoon at a lake, oh yeah, going to the movie's will also take place some time over the next month (her 1st movie theater experience last year was not a success).  And when the energy, enthusiasm, and money run low, there's always play time at home, Barbie's or the iPad are high on my tots to-do list.

Now that you know what we're up to this summer, how do you plan on keeping your kids entertained in your neck of the woods?

Guest Blogger???

Since I have an upcoming trip to The States planned, I'm looking for a few guest bloggers to help keep things interesting around here while I'm gone.  My blog is pretty random so I'm not looking for one theme in particular.  It's always fun to connect and also to promote other blogs... you know I love promoting blogs, stores, music, etc.  Maybe you just want to write about yourself and your blog, maybe you want to write about something on your mind, maybe you just want to ramble on, maybe you want to talk about expat life or parenthood, maybe you want to write about struggles or triumphs... I'll take it all into consideration. 

If you're interested please email me at :
danicasthoughts (at) upcmail (dot) nl

Please submit your name, contact info (including your blog address), and your idea for a post.  If you happen to already have a draft or finished post, you can also submit this via mail.  I also post pictures with every blog post I write, so also consider what picture (drawing, photo, etc. or even just a blog logo) you'd like to use.  In return I will let you know if it is something I am interested in and we go from there.  I'll be accepting applicants all this week and possibly into the following weekend.

Other Bloggers #2

Just like me there are many men, women, and teens sitting behind their computers typing away.  All providing something different... a heartfelt story, a journey through hard times, an exercise plan, cooking tips, decorating ideas, stories of travel, photography appreciation... the list goes on and on.  It's amazing to me at times how this world of blogging becomes so intertwined and how we cross paths with people from all over the world.  For some of you connecting and getting your blog out there is easy and for others you might be wondering if anyone is reading at all.  I found one of the best ways to get connected is through a blog with energy and full of fun ideas, like blog hops.  And I happen to know of one : Sincerely, Paula. 

Maybe you've stumbled across her blog in the past, maybe this is the first you've heard of it, but no matter what it's worth checking out.  There's something for everyone when it comes to finding blogs you're interested in or just promoting your own blog.  She has two main blog hops, "Wordless Wednesday Blog Party" & "No Rules Weekend Blog Party".  These blog parties attract an array of bloggers... personally I've gained quite a few new followers this way and linked up to blogs I might not have found on my own.  Who knows, maybe one will get mentioned next round!  If you enjoy my blog love, be sure to check out the first "Other Bloggers".

Other Bloggers

I follow plenty of blogs, each one bringing something different to the table.  And occasionally during my day one of these blogs pops into mind.  One I follow is called Herding Cats, and she has a series of posts called Taphophile Tragics.  In other words she finds cemeteries and gravestones interesting and writes about them.  I thought she had given up on writing the back stories of these long gone people but it turns out she just started a blog specifically about them, called Beneath Thy Feet.  I happen to live near a really old cemetery; I pass it going to the park, taking my daughter to school, letting the dog out, etc., and as I peek over the brick walls my thoughts occasionally trail back to her blog.  Now I have no intentions of researching the gravestones or taking her ideas, but I did happen to take a lot of photos there the other day.  So here's to you Nicola Carpenter, thanks for maintaining such an interesting blog.
 

Who knows, your blog may be the next inspiration for one of my posts!  Keep an eye out for a follow up post.

Delete

In this world of blogging we accumulate followers and we also follow others.  I use a Google blog and it makes this act quite simple.  You can easily add blogs to your "reading list" and follow them publicly.  Usually I am careful as to who I decide to "follow publicly".  I'll read the blog for around a month and then decide if it is a worthwhile blog, and that I don't mind letting other people know I find it interesting.  In the 9 months I've been blogging, I've never had to delete a blog from my list.  But the other day, I decided it was in my best interest.  I understand not all blogs are light hearted and I understand a majority of blogs have a special interest in mind.  But this blog blindsided me; at first it was fun and random, similar to my own, then occasionally they started delving into religion.  I can deal with that despite my own beliefs and/or non-belief's.  I am open minded, I like to hear other points of views.  But it was getting to be too much, too often.  Then the blogger started writing about American politics.  Again, I'm capable of having a discussion despite the party you choose to support.  I actually enjoy heated debates about politics and religion.  But the fun light hearted posts were coming less often, and the posts about things I didn't agree with came more and more.  Then at one point as I was getting irritated and ready to respond to what I found to be uneducated and emotionally charged comments to a political post (all in support of the blogger), I decided enough was enough. 

It's like tv, if you don't like what you're watching, change the channel.  There's no sense in making a fuss, because there are people out there who do enjoy it.  Part of me wanted to leave a comment with my very different opinion, but I had to be mature about it and let it go (ha-ha, hence this post).  I can't decide what bothered me more, the posts or the comments.  Did I really want to start some kind of blog war, no... I don't want to get hateful comments on my blog just because I've ruffled a few feathers.  So I went to my "reading list" and removed that particular blog.  Now the posts are no longer in my face, neither are the ridiculous comments, and I am no longer associated with it.  You're not required to advertise your blog as religious or political, but a little heads up might be nice.  Luckily enough, I took the high road, but if others unknowingly stumble upon it, they might not be so kind.