The Sunshine Blogger Award & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #113

March 12, 2019 / 68 Comments
This is not a sponsored post.

The Sunshine Blogger Award. I am sure many of you have seen this floating around in blogland. This peer recognition award has been around for quite some time. I can’t find any information regarding the origins of The Sunshine Blogger Award, but I do recall receiving a notification a few years back when I just began my blog and I think I didn’t do anything with it because I wasn’t entirely sure what it was all about. Now I have better grasp of it. So whomever that was over 3 years ago who nominated me for this, I apologize that it went completely unacknowledged on my part. My bad, my loss, I feel quite like a doofus right now.

Blanket Scarf: Solitary Consignment

As one has who tries diligently to learn from my mistakes and oversights, I will not ignore this second chance given to me by the lovely Rama of Chez Rama who recently nominated me as a Sunshine Blogger. I am honored, flattered, and ready to tackle the task of living up to this wonderful recognition by a great blogger friend. Thank you, Rama, for believing in me and my blog mission.

Poncho Sweater: Old Navy

Some of you may still be wondering what on earth is the Sunshine Blogger Award. Simply stated, it is a peer recognition award given by bloggers to bloggers for their work that inspires positivity and joy. It recognizes creativity in the world of blogging for those who spread sunshine throughout the community.

Coat: Solitary Consignment

There are a few easy rules to follow if you are nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award. But if you are nominated (in particular, nominated by me) and don’t want to participate, there will be no hard feelings at all. I understand that we all have very busy lives and this just may not be something you are interested in doing. Or maybe you have already been nominated and have written a similar post already. In any event, if I nominate you and you decide not to play along, it won’t change my opinion about you in any way. I still love and admire you! But if you do decide to participate, here are the rules.

  1. Give a quick shout out to the person who nominated you (with a link to their blog, of course)!
  2. Answer the questions drafted by the person who nominated you.
  3. Nominate some other blogs of your choosing and draft new questions for them to answer. (According to my research, the traditional number seems to be 11 nominees and 11 questions.)
  4. Be sure to let your nominees know they have been nominated. You can do this through social media, commenting on their blog, or an email.
  5. When you draft your post, be sure to list these simple rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo.
Jeans: Torrid

So before we get to my nominees, let me answer the 7 questions posed to me by Rama.

1.Why did you start blogging?

I started my blog in August of 2015 when my husband was deployed to Afghanistan. My kids were 2 and 4, I was a stay at home mom, and quite frankly, I was bored out of my freaking mind. I have always loved fashion and writing has always been a hugely important creative outlet for me. Since moving away from home due to my husband’s military obligations, I had given up my education (I was working towards my Masters in Mental Health Counseling). I was passionate about sharing my own mental health journey in the hopes that it could help someone but now that career path had ended. It was my sister who pushed me in the direction of blogging. I wasn’t even sure what it was all about until I started reading lots of over 40 fashion blogs after my kids went to sleep at night. I quickly found a community and some companionship during those late lonely nights and I thought I could absolutely do this blog thing. My sister found a Groupon for an online course on how to start a blog, so I completed the course and launched my blog. It was also at my sister’s urging that I combine fashion with my mental health story since they really do go hand in hand for me. And so Shelbee on the Edge was born…living on the edge of sanity, midlife, and fashion.

2. What is the funniest thing to happen to you while taking pictures?

Hmmm. That is kind of difficult. Throughout the past nearly 4 years, I have had multiple friends who have taken photos for me, but for the past year it has been solely my husband’s job. I have had fun at every single photo shoot I have ever done. Mostly because I don’t take myself seriously at all, so there is always laughter and goofy faces and silly poses. I have never had anything really crazy happen during a photo shoot like falling in a puddle or slipping on ice (which is actually kind of surprising given the ridiculous climate in which I live). I have never had an article of clothing blow away in the wind either. My only encounter with a police officer during a photo shoot was at my favorite ruin porn location (an old abandoned tank factory), but it turned out the cop was my boss’s son so he merely smiled and waved at us as we continued on. Probably, the funniest thing to happen was when I was shooting this formal gown and some guy sat and watched the entire shoot and then seemingly awestruck, he approached me and asked, “Are you some kind of a movie star?” And I answered with a giggle, “Yes, yes I am.”

Boots: Target (gift from my friend)

3. What is your favorite thing about your blog?

Honestly, my very favorite thing about blogging in general is the amazing community of people involved in it. I never would have met so many inspiring and interesting people if not for this space. But my favorite thing about my own blog is probably my #SpreadTheKindness posts. Every week on Tuesday, without fail, I share something that has to do with kindness (like this post). And it all was born from a cruel troll attack. So much love and joy and light has grown from that place of ugliness. What’s better than that?

4. Who inspires you on your blog?

I find inspiration everywhere around me in my day to day life. From other bloggers to my family, my kids, my friends, people I meet at work, and strangers I encounter on the street. I have been inspired by Facebook posts, magazine articles, famous quotes, and television shows. I also share personal experiences, good, bad, and indifferent. Simply put, inspiration is all around me. It surrounds all of us. We just need to pay attention and we will see it right in front of us.

5. What is the most valuable piece of advice you can give to other bloggers/potential new bloggers?

Be authentic and genuine. Be real. Be fearless and shamelessly unapologetic. It is an intimidating endeavor to put all your stuff out into public view, but it is so rewarding in the end. For any negative comments you may receive, you will receive at least 100 positive ones, so never let the negative get you down. Be diligent and consistent. Be kind and loving. Shine your light in your own special way. While you may not have a million readers, you will have at least one who appreciates what you do, relates to it, and is inspired by it. And if you reach just one, your work is successful.

6. What is the funniest thing you have experienced with blogging?

So I don’t know if this is funny per se. Perhaps it is more of an interesting thing that I have experienced with blogging. It has to do with a reader named Paul. I don’t know if Paul reads every single thing I post. I doubt it. My husband doesn’t even read every single thing I post. I don’t know who Paul is or where he lives or if his name is really Paul. But a really long time ago (a year, maybe even two years ago), Paul left some comments and sent some emails that maybe were not so appealing. They were brief, a sentence or two, but the nature of the comments made me uncomfortable. So I emailed Paul with a friendly request to keep it clean and respectful. I thought probably that was the end of it and I would never hear another thing. But here is the interesting/funny/unique/very cool thing about this experience…Paul now leaves me some of the kindest, friendliest, most empowering, and very validating comments. So Paul, if you are reading this post, thank you for respecting my request and my blog space. Thank you for reading my posts and for your ongoing support. I appreciate it very much. Enough so that I just shared it here for everyone else to read!

7. How has blogging changed your life?

Oh, it has changed so many things. I always hated having my picture taken. In fact, from about 1992 until 2008, there is really no photographic evidence that I even existed! I hid from the camera that much. My husband is very big into capturing moments on camera, so once I met him, I started getting a little bit more comfortable with myself in photos. It wasn’t until blogging, however, that I don’t mind it at all anymore. I suppose immersing yourself into those things that terrify you the most really is the best way to overcome those fears. I also have had so many wonderful opportunities that have come from blogging. Opportunities that most certainly have impacted my life. I got to travel to Los Angeles a few years back to see Anne M. Bray’s Fashion Rainbow Art Exhibit in which I was one of her 52 muses. I also had the most wonderful time touring the L.A. area on that trip with Rena of Fine Whatever. I met Sheela Goh in New York City a few years ago as well and that was simply amazing! I became a model for the launch campaign of Sandra Smith’s line of supportive loungewear, Boostwr. I met Sandra at my very first Forever Fierce meet up at Chico’s in New York City as well as so many other amazing women. And cannot leave out all of the supremely inspiring women and fabulous connections I made at the second Forever Fierce meet up I attended in NYC. And all of the other beautiful blogger friends I have made…I am so blessed to know you all. I am inspired every day by each and every one of you even if I have not named you here. Because of blogging, my life is richer and fuller and my horizons are much broader than I ever imagined they could be sitting here in my tiny little Northern New York town.

And now my nominees for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I apologize if you have already been nominated. Hopefully my questions are different, but please do not feel obligated to write a post if you do not have the time, energy, or desire. I still appreciate your contribution to the blogging world and adore you regardless of your response! 11 bloggers nominated, 11 questions to answer. Put your own twist on it. Answer all or none or only some. Just have fun and keep shining your light!

I nominate…

  1. Elle of The Elle Diaries
  2. Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood
  3. Debbie of Fashion Fairy Dust
  4. Stephanie of Glamorous and Geeky
  5. Liz of Lizzie in Lace
  6. Tamar of Random-osity
  7. Patrick of Adventures in Weseland
  8. Mitch of Gay NYC Dad
  9. Karren of Oh My Heartsie Girl
  10. Ewa of 60 Plus Experience
  11. Chrissy of Granola and Grace

Here are my questions…

  1. What is your mission/purpose/goal with your blog?
  2. Which is your favorite blog post that you have ever written and why?
  3. What is your most embarrassing moment as a blogger?
  4. What was the biggest criticism you have faced as a blogger and how did you handle it?
  5. What are you most passionate about in life?
  6. Where is your favorite space/location to work on your blog posts?
  7. What are your top 5 blogging necessities?
  8. What was the biggest fear you have ever had that you managed to conquer? And how did you accomplish this?
  9. What is your personal anthem? (Share your favorite song!)
  10. If your life were in book form, what would the title be? And what chapter are you currently in?
  11. How do you define success?

And now the featured favorites from last week.

Lisa of Daily Style Finds shared her post, 12 Items to Update Your Spring Closet. Since I live in a very cold climate where winter seems to last forever, I absolutely love that Lisa’s list includes sweaters and faux fur going into spring!

Lisa of Daily Style Finds

Julie of This Main Line Life shared her post, Who Doesn’t Love Polka Dots? And my answer, Julie, is I have no idea who doesn’t love polka dots! I know I sure do!

Julie of This Main Line Life

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Just a reminder, the $100 off a new Jord Watch Giveaway is still going on so be sure to enter just by clicking the link! You can read more about it here or go directly to the entry form here.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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Shelbee on the Edge