Kaija's Birthday Saga: Part Three

Yesterday was my birthday, and I want to fill you in on what happened last night! First, there was ice cream cake in the shape of a cupcake, which was just about the best thing ever because I love ice cream cake and I love cupcakes!

Then there were the presents. My main present was an ice cream maker, which is the second best thing ever because now I can make my very own ice cream right at home! I also got a new pair of headphones that have amazing sound quality. I got a bag of cotton because I have a weird obsession with cotton, and my mum also got me a clear makeup organizer.

The artist I apprentice under also stopped by (with cupcakes, which was great because more cupcakes, yay!) and presents in a cupcake-themed bag. She got me three Paris-themed boxes, even though she didn't know that part of my room has Paris decor, but she knows me well enough that she took a guess and hit the mark perfectly. She also got me a quality beginner's set of acrylic paints and practice canvas board. I can't wait to start painting, and I am so, so grateful for all of the gifts I got.

I got everything I wanted and more out of my birthday, so thank you to everyone I know who got me something or wished me a happy birthday. It's very appreciated. <3 p="">

Kaija's Birthday Saga: Part Two

So, here are the decorations MorMor put up:

I haven't gotten to open all of my presents yet, but so far I've gotten some gift cards, a few bracelets, and some lip glosses and lipsticks. Thanks, MorMor! I'll post again once I get to open this pile of presents:

Kaija's Birthday Saga: Part One

Today is my birthday, and I'm super duper uber excited! I haven't gotten to open any presents yet, but I've seen the way MorMor decorated the downstairs sitting room and it is a-ma-zing. There are butterflies and balloons and fish and so much more! I'll post photos later.

So, happy birthday to me! Yay!

The Liebster Award

Hello, everyone! The awesome Dave Doo of The World Through the Eyes of an Introvert nominated me for a Liebster Award, and I am over the moon! Thank you, Dave. I am honoured.

Dave's blog offers an insightful glimpse into his world view, and I think you could learn a lot from his well-thought-out and well-executed posts on topics ranging from fashion and neckties to life and career goals.

Now what is the Liebster Award all about? It is an award given to a blogger with less than 200 followers to help build the blogger's readership.

One of the rules of this award is to answer 11 questions about myself and my blog. I hope this would help for you to get to know me better! Here are the Q and A:

1. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from nature, Eurovision, my cat, and various blogging challenges I partake in. 

2. Is your blogging simply a hobby? What kind of dreams do you have for it?

I blog mostly to overcome writer's block, and as a way to keep busy until I can start work in earnest of my next novel. My muse has run dry for now, but it'll come back eventually. 

3.  What is your support system like and who are your biggest supporters?

My mum has always been my biggest supporter, followed by my MorMor, my dogs, my cat, and my stuffed animal buddies. 

4. What are 10 random facts about you?

• I have enough clothes to fill four closets and eight drawers. 
• My best friend is a stuffed panda bear.
• I am trilingual. I also understand Interlingua. 
• I really love cupcakes.
• My birthday is on Friday.
• My favorite song is the bilingual (Spanish/French) version of Je L'aime a Mourir
• I own five neckties. My cat thinks they're his.
• I love Post It's
• My favorite ice cream flavours are birthday cake, chocolate fudge brownie, cookie dough, and coffee.
• I give my pets new nicknames every six months or so. 

5.  What do you enjoy most about blogging?

I like seeing my viewership slowing climbing. I also like sitting down to write and being inspired by the blogging community. I also think doing fashion and Eurovision posts are fun. 

6. What do you do when you feel overwhelmed with too many tasks at once?

Mostly I'd just cry.

7. What would you do with a large sum of money given to you?

I would buy a lakehouse in Skåne and fulfill my dream of being a hermit. 

8. What was one of the most moving books or movies you have ever seen?

Paradise Lost. Also the Moomins series, because the Moomins are awesome. 

9. Where would you like to see yourself in the next couple of years?

Hopefully back in university. 

10. Do you have a bucket list? Name 5 things on that.

• Become a hermit (just joking)
• Pet a panda
• Have a terrier dog
• Get married
• Learn to fly
• Watch Eurovision live (hopefully the year that Iceland finally wins)

11. What is your single best piece of advice for someone starting out in the blogging world?

Plan your posts ahead of time. It frees you of the burden of having to come up with your daily/weekly post on the spot. 

As part of the deal too, I get to nominate 11 awesome bloggers! Here are my nominees in no particular order:

1. Donna Foreverserenity with Fabulously Curvy 
2. Author AJ Lauer's blog
3. That Delete Button by Fatima K
4. Visions of Other Worlds by Jessica Marcarelli 
5. Beautiful Bright Light by Gina Crowe
6. Sydney's Life in Pixels, by Sydney
7. A Sea Change by Kathie K
8. Imagination is My Mentor; Let's Inspire Others by Leyshla Rodriguez (Spanish)
9. Eurovision through the Ages by Martin Palmer
10. Dream Home Style by Debra Brooks
11. Adventures of Border Collies in the Burbs by Vicki Green

Since the Liebster Awards are a great way for new bloggers to gain readership, feel free to check out and follow the blogs I've nominated.

Nominees, it's your turn. If you are willing to participate, answer the 11 questions above in your own blog post and nominate 11 bloggers who has 200 followers and below. You can make your own set of questions for your nominees or just use the ones I have above. Leave a comment on your nominees' blogs so they would be informed about the nomination and can decide if they'd like to participate. Be sure to include a link back to your blog post so they can have an example. This is an awesome way to build our community and to spread the love in the blogosphere with our fellow writers and bloggers.

Thank you again!

Everyday Outfits #3: Floral Trousers

For this outfit, I paired some blue floral trousers with a sky blue top and a strippy blue scarf.

April A-Z Challenge: Nests

Two seasons ago, I had the fortune of being visited by a family of birds. They made a nest in the tree next to my porch and laid three perfect little blue robin eggs that eventually hatched into baby nestlings. I remember watching them with my mum as they opened and closed their tiny little beaks in search of a tasty morsel from their mommy.

Kaija's Mailbox: Coffee!

Today, I got four new types of coffee in the mail. The best part is that they all have a sticker denoting they were brewed especially for me.

Burbon Truffle Coffee (My favorite so far)

Mudslide Flavoured Coffee

Kenya AA

Butterscotch Toffee Cream (also really good)

I was running low on dessert coffee, so I headed over to my favorite online coffee haunt and fixed it in a snap. 

Kaija's Easter Presents

This morning, my mommy set up an Easter egg hunt for me downstairs. I mostly got little chocolate eggs and pennies, but I also got tiny two stuffed bunnies and a teeny stuffed lamb. They were adorable. ♥︎

When my MorMor came home, she had presents for me too. Here's what I got this year from my MorMor and my adopted Grandpa: ♡

A Nail Art Starter Kit

200 nail art stickers

Luxe Accents nail art gems, sparkles, and press-ons "for an elegant touch."

Flower Petal notes

A decorative sugar egg 

A small bunny figurine with a bow-tie.

Two fuzzy little chick decorations.

Five German butterfly chocolates

Multi-color bunny sucking candies

A light-up chick decoration

A light-up squishy bunny toy

A dark chocolate bunny

An iTunes gift card

A light-up dragonfly decoration/night light

Three LA. Colors nail polishes - in Fancy Pants, Electra, and Cupid's Arrow

Thank you, mommy, MorMor and Grandpa. Happy Easter to all and to all a good feast!