{liebster award}

My friend {& fellow blogger} Shelby nominated me for a Liebster award! Liebster Awards are given to bloggers by bloggers to get to know each other a little better.  I'm so touched she thought of me for this! I love having blog friends, but I love having friends who blog even more :) Thanks Shel!

Here are the questions Shelby asked me...& here are my answers:

1. How long have you been blogging and why did you decided to start?
Lively Liv started four years ago--January 2010. Crazy! I initially started this blog to share my experiences of living in college with celiac disease {newsflash: it was tough back then}, but it quickly went beyond that little gluten-free niche. It has since transformed into a lifestyle blog & it's here to stay. Quite honestly, I just needed an outlet to share photos, projects, & words.

2. Who is your style icon?
Michelle Williams.

3. What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
There's just something about mint chocolate chip ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. 

4. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I've been dying---DYING---to go back to Paris. 

5. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
I love the community of blogging. I love how it forces me to be creative. I love how it makes me to stop for a few minutes at night & reflect on what's going on in my life. I also really love the digital scrapbook aspect of it all. It has been such a gift being able to look back in my archives & re-live everything that's happened to me again & again.

6. Who was your first celebrity crush?
I think it was Adam Brody. I'm still crushin' on him.

7. If you could have lunch with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and where would you go to eat?
Right now? My mom. There's this little place on the beach in Positano that serves the best gluten-free pasta bolognese. We'd go there.** 

8. What are some of your favorite stores?
J.Crew, Anthro, DSW, Paper Source, West Elm, Boden, Home Depot {is that weird?}

9. Top three favorite songs?
I listen to these daily:
Comptine d'un autre été - L'après-midi - Yann Tiersen
Departures N1 - Dustin O'Halloran
The Scientist - Coldplay

10. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting (or who is thinking about starting) to blog?
1) Be yourself. 2) Be smart about what you write about. 3) Be ORIGINAL. 4) Invest in a good camera & learn how to use it. 5) Familiarize yourself with Photoshop or a similar design program. 6) Have fun.

11. Any blog goals for 2014?
I need to get better about planning & writing posts ahead of time. I go in waves of being good at this. Work can randomly get busy during the week & it's always nice to have a post in the queue ready to go.  I also want to form a relationship with another photographer in the city who can help take photos for some fashion posts {because tripod self-portraits = awkward Liv}. I'd also love to partner with some brands that I like. I'm wary of making this space too sponsor-heavy, but I think a partnership here & there could be a fun way to grow readership. & finally...blog more!

I nominate:
Kiera from Kier Royal
Sydney from Dainty Dwellings

I'm taking some of Shel's questions, because they're great ones {& I'm fully aware of the fact that I'm doing this right after I told you all to "be original"}, but adding new ones of my own!

1. When did you start your blog and why did you decide to start?
2. What is your favorite place that you've EVER visited?
3. What are your top 3 favorite blogs?
4. Describe your perfect Sunday.
5. What is your secret talent or skill? Spill!
6. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
7. What's the best meal you've ever had?
8. Fashion dos & don'ts?
9. What movie can you watch over and over again and not get sick of it?
10. What are your blogging goals for 2014?
11. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting (or who is thinking about starting) to blog?

**up for it, mom? :)