Liebster Award

Yay for us!

~ Carmen

What is the LIEBSTER Award?

Autocorrect thinks it’s a LOBSTER Award, which we would be happy to receive. Who doesn’t love lobster, especially autocorrect!

Maddy from Everything Eccles

The Liebster Award is given from one new blogger to another. There’s no money involved, and we didn’t get a trophy, but it did put a huge smile on my face. Just knowing that someone out there doesn’t think our blog is stinky is well, pretty nice. To be honest, I’m just thrilled that someone knows our little space actually exists!

To be nominated, you have to have less than 1,000 followers. We have eight and seven of those are family members (show us some love by signing up for our newsletter please). You also have to have been blogging for less than two years. We started in March, so we’re good to go on that rule, too!

We were nominated by Maddy, a sweet mom blogger at Everything Eccles. Check out her website. There’s tons of ideas for activities with children, fitness tips, and some beautiful pictures of her town of San Antonio. Speaking of pictures, be sure to check out and follow her Instagram feed!

As part of the Liebster Award, Maddy has asked me (and Joe) some questions. Here’s your chance to get to know us better!

What inspired you to start blogging?

Carmen- I have been camping all of my life and lead groups abroad every summer. After using others’ advice for years, I decided I had plenty of advice to give, too!

Joe- I enjoyed creative writing in high school and had the writing bug tucked away. Reading others’ blogs I thought I can do that too and leave a digital footprint in the sandy bits of the internet.

If you could give advice to a person wanting to start a blog, what would you tell them?

Carmen- I would tell someone wanting to start a blog to do their research, but to not wait for the parting of the Red Sea to get started. You just need to dive right in. I have LONG list of glitches to fix and content and strategies to learn. Hopefully, I’ll never tire of learning and improving!

Joe- Have someone read and proof it. Having sole focus on the content will create a narrow view that your content is the bomb, but even the grammar and spell check tools may make your content bomb instead of being the bomb!

What is your favorite social media platform to promote your blog on?

Carmen- Being the photographer of the family, I love, love, love Instagram. Facebook has been the most successful social media for drawing people to the blog, with Pinterest a close second. Check out our Instagram feeds at the bottom of this page!

Joe- Old school Facebook. One level above myspace. Our millennial children think it is old school, but I enjoy the draw and affinity to the groups for camping, mountain biking and the feedback that draws like minded folks to our blog.

If you could have any super power for a day what would it be?

Carmen- It would be so cool to be invisible. I’d love to see what my dog does all day long!

Joe- Gulp! I would be putting myself up for fodder to my millennial children and Facebook friends! Choosing side between a rock and a hard place of the Marvel and DC comic universe of superheroes. For the sake of my millennial kids and all the Facebook likes I shall keep it close to the vest.

How do you destress after a rough day?

Carmen- I play Candy Crush. I’m on level 1262 (hangs head in embarrassment). If I’m not getting my frustrations out with candy bombs, then you’ll probably see me pinning one bucket list after another on Pinterest.

Joe- I go on group bicycling road rides with the Memphis Hightailers or mountain bike early Thursday evening/night rides named Dirty in the Dark.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Carmen- If my light is still on after 9 p.m., be worried because I will be a grumpy teacher the next day. I usually wake-up around 4:48 am. My body just can’t stay asleep until my 5 am alarm goes off.

Joe- O’dark thirty, cup of Joe and ugh P90X3 in the morning. “We (me, myself and I) do more before 9 am than most people do all day” as the old U.S. Army slogan goes.

What is a goal you want to accomplish this year for your blog?

Carmen- I want to have at least 75 posts published by the end of the year. I’d like to spend more time in our new camper, so I can post more about camping, especially camp cooking recipes. That would be a win-win situation for me!

Joe- Put up more mountain biking stories riding vintage suspension mountain bikes. I rode a 1986 Cannnondale hardtail mountain bike for 30 years. New mountain bikes are expensive, but a high end bike 10 years or older worth up to $4500 back then can be bought with one less zero. So I am game for a $450.00 with cool tech.

If you could interview anybody in the world for your blog, who would it be?

Carmen- I have always admired Coco Channel. She made a name for herself in a male dominated world. Plus, who doesn’t love the perfect, little black dress!

Joe- It would be my Dad. He passed away when I was three years old and I try to imagine what he would say. I only recollect the images and opinions third hand and I have learned to accept and hold on to those to shape my view of who he may have been.

Who is your blogging idol?

Carmen- The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. I really admire how she took her blog and turned it into a major brand. I’m sure she had her share of doubters!

Joe- Mrmoneymoustache. A unique point of view to personal finance and an edgy salty use of ahem grammar.

What is another favorite hobby of yours besides blogging?

Carmen- Camping and traveling, which makes it easy to have topics for our blog!

Joe- Bicycling, camping and running with the Hash House Harriers (HHH). A unique twist to the old boring runs. No need to pay for the 5k color, mud, beer or themed runs. A hash running club is always in some city and even almost every country

Rules for the Liebster Award Nominees

Thank the blog that nominated you on a post and in your blog.
Answer the questions asked by the blog that nominated you.
Nominate 4-11 other new bloggers.
Create 10 new questions for the nominees to answer.
Notify all nominees via social media.

Our Nominees for the Liebster Award ARE…

Julie Wulie at Curiosity Island. Her travel pictures and stories are gorgeous so make sure you follow her on Instagram and Facebook!

Curiosity Island

Shonie Sheppard at My Journey to a Healthy Life. You’ll find lots of healthy recipes and tips. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

My Journey to a Healthy Life

Uldean at Balm in Gilead writes a wonderful blog about healing and recovery. Her posts about surviving divorce especially spoke to me. Get spiritual inspiration on her Facebook page.

Faith-based Healing

Jamie Aranda at Eat My Science has a funny way with words. Her blog is all about healthy eating and the science behind it. Seriously made me laugh! Follow Eat My Science on Facebook and Pinterest.

Eat My Science

Annette Barney blog is packed with recipes that are high in nutrition and high in flavor. Find lots of recipes and tips at My Sister In Law’s Kitchen. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Good and good for you!

Kelly Snyder is at North Country Nest. She is documenting her first home renovation, showing what she and her significant other, Brett, are learning along the way. Check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Kelly and Brett

Lisa Mullen at The Merry Momma is pregnant with her second child. Check out her story and follow her on Facebook and Pinterest!

The Merry Momma

Here are the questions for our nominees to answer:

What benefits will readers get from reading your blog?
What is one of your favorite memories from childhood?
Describe an ideal weekend.
If you had use of a web designer for a day, what improvement would you have done to your blog?
What is the last movie or TV show that you watched?
How would your friends describe you?
What’s your favorite type of pampering?
Where do you get most of your ideas for posts?
Any hints for upcoming posts? What should readers expect to see on your website the next couple of weeks?
What keeps your attention when you’re reading someone else’s blog?

Hopefully, you’ve learned a little more about us, and you’ve found some new bloggers to follow! If you have any other questions for us, please ask us in the comments below! To continue keeping up with the Baguios, follow us on social media and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.