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Are you guys sick of me yet?!?

I know these last two weeks have been way different on the blog, with sharing about my dad, and getting more personal in my birthday post with what advice I would've told my 18-year-old self, so I hope you aren't totally hitting the “unsubscribe” button yet!

*Also, if you haven't yet, I'd REALLY appreciate you take 5 minutes to fill out my reader survey and let me know what you love and hate about TCM!

Today, I am lightening things up in this uber personal series. I am currently at the BlogHer Conference, and since I am getting to connect with so many awesome bloggers, I wanted to do something to celebrate the blogging industry and respond to two blogger awards I was nominated for this year!

 

Liebster Award

Up first is the Liebster Award nomination by GenTwenty. I did another Liebster Award post last year, but the questions always change so here it goes:

1. What was your main motivation for starting your blog?

Blind range. Fear of the unknown. Needing an outlet. I had just had a terrible encounter with someone I had looked up to, and felt like I had invested thousands of dollars only to be on the wrong path. The name, The Confused Millennial, just came to me in a rant to my husband. Within 48 hours I had bought the domain, created the logo, designed the layout, and published four posts!

[RELATED] Half truths & passive aggressiveness. – Putting Others Down to Elevate Yourself.

2. What are some books you think everyone in their twenties should read?

I am a huge fan of memoirs, so I would definitely check out these 5 memoirs by women. I am also a huge fan of Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

3. What is one major goal you have for the next year?

I actually stopped setting goals since I get a little crazy with them! I totally have to-do lists and hopes and dreams, but I am really focusing on being present and enjoy life. The perfectionist in me comes out and it throughs my personal balance out of whack. To not totally dodge the question, I do want to write a memoir at some point in my life!

4. What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Pepperoni!!! Seriously, pepperoni always! I also worked at a pizza place for 5 years so developed a couple of other loves: fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, basil, no sauce and uncooked prosciutto with arugula and a red wine vinaigrette drizzle

If I am making it at home, I love a pesto base, with fresh mozzarella, sweet potatoes, red onion, kale, and pepperoni!

5. If you could have coffee with anyone (famous, not famous, alive, dead — anyone!), who would it be?

Ellen Degeneres! Seriously, I love her so much. I watch her every day from 3-5 and she just inspires me. She went through such dark times and suppression, to become such a source of light for so many people. It's truly inspiring.

6. Cost and time aside, what is your dream travel destination?

Ugh there are so many! I would love to visit the Maldives, Bora Bora, New Zealand, Australia, basically anything on the other side of the globe with a good beach.

[RELATED] How To Go From Feeling “Stuck” To Finding Meaning In Travel

7. What advice would you give to someone what wants to start a blog?

Get clear on why you want to start it! Seriously, there is SO much noise on-line that it can be easy to fall onto someone else's path rather than your own. Also check out:

Lessons From My First Year Blogging

How To Announce Your Blog To the World

How To Overcome “First Post Jitters”

8. Looking back ten years from now, what do you hope to have done or accomplished?

Published my memoir. It's a big reason I am simply focusing on building up the blog right now. My goal has always been to publish a series of books, heavily based on my life.

9. What is your favorite blog post that you’ve written so far?

Oh boy! I can't choose just one! I definitely am most proud of my personal posts so here are some of my favorites:

What Advice I Would've Told My 18 Year Old Self

5 Signs It's Time To Take A Step Back

Coping With Anxiety In Real Life

Half Truths & Passive Aggressiveness – Putting Others Down To Lift Yourself Up (remember that blind rage I started my blog from? Yeah this is me calling that person out)

Lessons From My First Year Blogging

10. Who are your role models or people you look up to?

Cheeseball alert: My husband. I try not to put others on a pedestal an more and focus on every day heroes, so my husband is definitely the person I look up to the most. He is the kindest, most generous, and unconditionally loyal person I know. He brings out the good in people and I admire that.

 

Blue Sky Tag Award

Thank you to Sophia from The Sophia Diaries for nominating me!

▶︎ What is your guilty pleasure?

Honestly, I can't think of one! I am pretty much an open book so nothing feels guilty or embarrassing to put here. I love TV and food… but that's not really interesting or a secret haha!

▶︎ Who is your blogging role model?

The Balanced Blonde! I adore Jordan's bravery to transition away from being a vegan blogger and talk about her health issues, despite the backlash and death threats she received. I found it inspiring that she pressed forward despite people turning against her and I think her content has flourished even more as she's focused more on lifestyle content. Her strength was a big reason I let go of fear and decided to start my blog.

▶︎ Why did you begin blogging?

Repeat answer from above:

Blind range. Fear of the unknown. Needing an outlet. I had just had a terrible encounter with someone I had looked up to, and felt like I had invested thousands of dollars only to be on the wrong path. The name just came to me in a rant and within 48 hours I had bought the domain, created the logo, designed the layout, and published four posts!

▶︎ What's your favorite past time besides blogging?

Definitely the beach, tv, and reading! I still do them all, but blogging is hella time consuming so I don't do them as much as I used to!

▶︎ If you had to be another animal, what animal would you want to be?

I would totally say my dog, but he seems kind of anxious at times haha! I always struggle with this question, because on the one hand I would love to feel what it's like to fly, on the other hand I am a huge ocean lover and would love to live under the sea, and then on a third hand, I love dogs and would love to just laze around and do whatever I want while people take care of me.

▶︎ What is one fashion or beauty trend you never want to see return?

I have always hated those candy chokers. I hated them when I was young and I still do. They just need to go away.

▶︎ What is one thing you hate the most in this world?

Hate. Or maybe fear since hate is rooted in fear. I think both just lead to close mindedness, an inability to communicate and connect with others. We need to seek to understand others and improve as a society. Hate and fear take away from our ability to improve upon humanity.

[clickToTweet tweet=”We need to seek to understand others and improve as a society. ” quote=”We need to seek to understand others and improve as a society. “]

▶︎ What is your favorite social media platform and why?

This changes every day I feel like. Today I am feeling kind of apathetic towards all of them and just want to hang out on my blog haha!

[RELATED] 10 Things I Loved In April

▶︎ If you were to start your blogging career over, what would you do differently?

Nothing. I am grateful for every misstep or challenge I've faced as they've helped me grow. Generally I feel more confident about my decisions when it comes to my blog than anything other than my husband and dog.

[RELATED] 10 Lessons From My First Year Blogging

▶︎ What three things would you bring to a blogging retreat (assuming laptops, internet, and food/drinks is covered)?

Cards Against Humanity – Always fun to play a game to break the ice and this one is an absolute favorite of mine! It's always good to see what type of sense of humor I'm working with early on

My Easy Breather Pillow – I don't know how long this retreat is haha but I like to always be cozy

My dog – I struggle with anxiety, so having my pup to hold or give me an excuses to get some fresh air would totally help me enjoy the time more

 

Questions To You All

Alright, so the ways these blogging awards normally work is you get nominated by someone who asks you questions. Then you answer, create your own set of questions, and nominate others. But #time isn't on my side right now so I'm making up my own rules!

If you're reading this, you are in my community, and I want to be in yours! So I am nominating anyone reading this to answer the following:

1. Why did you start blogging?

2. What are your favorite tv shows?

3. If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

4. What/who is your spirit animal, and why?

6. Whats your favorite throw back guilty pleasure (whether that's a tv show from the 90s you keep re-watching, dunkaroos, whatever)?

7. What's your most embarrassing story?

8. What's one thing you wish people knew about you?

9. What's your biggest fear?

10. What's the legacy you want to leave behind for others? (I know that's a big question, so a simpler alternative: what's one goal you have for your life?)

Be sure to link back to me and tag me so I can find your responses!

Also, PLEASE take my reader survey, it helps me make the best content to serve you! Thank you thank you thank you!