The Elegant Blogger Award

Hi!

So I haven't really done a blogger award for a long time, and I don't always like doing them, but this one looks fun, and it's been going around quite a bit, so why not? ;)

I was awarded by Maddi and Christina!

THE RULES

-When you receive the award, link back to keepcalmandsparkle1099.blogspot.com and the blog(s) that nominated you.

-Display the award button in the post.

-Answer all of the 12 questions given in this post (Do not make your own questions).

-Nominate 12 bloggers.

-Notify them that they have been awarded.

THE QUESTIONS

1. What made you decide to start blogging?

My dear friend Claire had a blog about her dolls, and I thought it was so cool, and I wanted to do it too!  I started out with a private blog at the age of 9 (I didn't post on that one much), and then I stopped blogging for a while.  I started up again a little over a year ago with this blog, and now I also have a design blog, and I contribute to Seven Faraway Friends! :)

2. What is your fashion style?

Hmmmmm..... Well, summer is my favorite season for clothing because I love shorts and tank tops (what I live in all summer ;).  I like to be stylish, but also comfortable, so it depends on the day. ;)  Some days I feel like getting more dressed up, and others sweats will do. :)  I'd probably say that I lean more towards the stylish side, though. ;)

3. What is something none of your followers know about you?

Well...... ummmmm....... I read all of the posts of the blogs I follow, and from not being on the internet at all for about a week and a half, I had over 800 posts on Bloglovin to catch up on, and I read them all!!! :P  Crazy, right?

4. What are some of your blogging goals?

I'd love to be able to post everyday with lots of pictures, and of course I always would love to increase my followers. :)  I would also love to increase sponsorships with advertising and reviews/giveaways.

5. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Ooooh, that's hard!!!  I love Abercrombie, Hollister, Gilly Hicks, Target, Delia's....... Yeah a lot of different stores. ;)

6. What would your ideal amount of blog followers be?

Infinity and beyond!!! :P

7. What are your talents?

Crafting, blogging, piano, working with animals, working with kids......

8. Are you a leader or a follower?

Um, well, that depends on the situation..... ;)  I don't think I am either definitively.

9. What is one of your favorite quotes?

That's hard, because I'm not a big 'quote person.'  I don't really have any pinned up on my bulletin board, but let me go check Pinterest to see if I've got anything on there. :P  Be right back.....

Ok, I'm back, and now I have a few to share. :)  I couldn't pick a favorite. :)

"Don't let school interfere with your education."

                                   

                             -Mark Twain

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."

                            -Mark Twain

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."

                               -Albert Einstein

10. Do you have a favorite book or book series?

Don't even get me started. ;)  I cannot answer this question.

11. Out of all the synonyms for elegant, which would you describe yourself with {smart - stylish - dressy - graceful - dainty - fine}?

Can I choose two?  I would probably say smart and stylish. :P

12. What is your favorite flower?

I'm not really a flower person (I don't know a bunch of flowers, but I always think it's sweet when someone gives flowers to another :), but I would probably have to say (don't laugh at how basic these flowers are) Day Lilies and Red Roses. :)

Ok, time to award!  This may take a while......

1. Jessica @ Whispers of the Wind

2. Angelique @ My American Girl Story

3. Rose @ Truly. Madly. Deeply.

4. Hannah @ The Writings of Hannah

5. Emma @Simply Inspired

6. Danielle @ The Diary of Danielle

7. Emmy @ My Journal

8. Katie @ Adollable Dolls

9. Kara @ Saved By Grace

10. Kayla @ Laugh 'an Love

11. Anna @ Hero

12. McKenna @ The Adventures of McKenna

^^Your guys are awarded!!  Now I have to go let you know.......

Have a great day!!

I Love My Followers!

Hello!

Lindsay created a new award!  It is called the "I Love My Followers Award."  Here we go!

Thanks Lindsay!

Rules:

~Answer the 6 questions the tagger has set for you
~Create 6 questions for the people you award to answer
~Comment on the tagger's blog and let them know you have accepted the award. (Leave a link to your post so that the tagger can check it out.)
~Award 6 of your followers on one of their blogs
~Notify them that they have been awarded

Lindsay's Questions for Me:

1. What is your favorite sugary food? Chocolate!
2. Why do you like to blog? I like to share my thoughts with other people, and I enjoy writing about my life.
3. Do you like American Girl Dolls? Yes!
4. What is your favorite kind of precipitation? Snow!
5. What is your favorite kind of animal? Dog!
6. Do you like to write stories? Not really...


My Questions for You:

1. Real or Artificial Christmas Tree?
2. Homemade or Canned Cranberry Sauce?
3. Trees or Flowers?
4. City or Mountains?
5. iPhone or Droid?
6. Dog or Cat?


Who I'm Awarding:

1. Emma at The Ramblings of Emma
2. Jessie at Jessie's Photos
3. Jodie at Heart Strings
4. Rose at Loving Your American Girl Doll
5. Jess at Rosalyn's Blog
6. Olivia at Speak Out

~Grace

All About Elevensies!

Hello!

I got tagged by Storyteller!  Thanks!  But, this is not your average tag.  It's all about elevensies!  This particular tag did not have a button to go along with it, so I made one!  Here it is:

What do you think?  I think it's pretty cool, myself! =P  Ok, moving on!

The Rules:

~If you are tagged/nominated you must post 11 facts about yourself

1. I love PicMonkey,

2. and I would be so super duper excited if you would ask me to design something for you! =D

3. I added a new page on my blog...

4. ...about ad swaps!

5. If you are interested, please click here to check it out!

6. We went ice skating on Thursday...

7. ...and it was really fun!

8. I'm reading Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix right now,

9. and I'm really enjoying it.

10. I found the book through Storyteller.

11. I had a lot of fun doing my '11 Facts' differently this time!

~Then, you must answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for you, and create 11 questions for the people you tag.

Questions for me:

1. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas!

2. Do you prefer hot or cold weather? IDK

3. Which country would you like to visit? France!

4. Vanilla or Chocolate? CHOCOLATE!!!

5. Describe the perfect ice cream sundae: Well, I recently went to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and they have THE BEST ice cream!  I got this amazing sundae that had chocolate ice cream and this amazing peanut butter cream.  Chocolate and peanut butter are two of my favorite foods, so that is the perfect sundae for me!

6. Would you rather attend a ball, eat something very unusual, solve a mystery that even puzzles Sherlock Holmes, or break the world record of the most books read in one year? Break the book-reading record!

7. Breakfast or just Coffee? Breakfast, for sure! (Even though I do love coffee! ~ I am not allowed to drink it, though!)

8. What is your favorite era in history? The 1950s!

9. Do you have any kind of accent when you speak? No, but I can do a pretty good English accent!

10. Is it soda or pop? Soda!

11. Name 11 of your hobbies: 1. Dancing 2. Hiking 3. Riding my bike 4. Ice skating 5. Baking 6. Kayaking 7. Paddleboarding 8. Playing with American Girls 9. Blogging 10. Graphic Designing 11. Reading (Just so you know, that list is in no particular order =)

My questions for you:

1. Rain or Snow?

2. Cross Country or Downhill skiing?

3. Pinterest or Blogger?

4. Books or Movies?

5. Thanksgiving or Easter?

6. One Direction or Taylor Swift?

7. Ocean or Lake?

8. Trees or Flowers?

9. Salty or Sweet?

10. Rose or Daisy?

11. Mystery or Fantasy?

~Next, tag 11 bloggers

1. Emma at The Ramblings of Emma

2. Jenny at Artsy Peacock

3. Lindsay at Stories By Me

4. Laura at Princess In MudBoots

5. Jess at Rosalyn's Blog

6. Storyteller and Farm Girl at Corn In A Row

7. Sayoko at Simply Sayoko

8. Hannah at The Writings of Hannah

9. Claire at Claire's American Girl Dolls

10. Rawan at Viviness and AG

11. Lily at You're A Doll

~Tell the people you tagged that they are awarded

Okey Dokey!

~No tagging back

Gotcha!

Have a great day!

~Grace

Awards!

Hello!

I got tagged by Storyteller!  Thanks so much!

The Rules:

~Post 11 things about yourself

~Answer the questions I set for you here

~Nominate 5 people

~No tag backs

~Set 11 questions for the people you award

11 Things About Me:

1. I just figured out how to make awesome buttons on PicMonkey!

2. I love AGs

3. I love blogging!

4. I'm reading 2 different books right now

5. I'm learning Latin for school this year

6. I don't have a cellphone

7. My favorite ice cream is Mint Moose Tracks

8. I love baking!

9. My favorite color is blue

10. I love to craft

11. I can't wait to make apple pie for Thanksgiving!

Storyteller's questions for me:

Laptop or computer?

{Laptop}

Kindle or iPad?

{iPad}

Hair in your toothbrush or dental floss stuck on your sock?

{Ewww!  The second one.}

Stepping in lemonade in your socks or sitting in ketchup splattered all over the seat?

{First option}

Car or Airplane?

{Car}

Walking or Swimming?

{Swimming}

Running or Riding a Bike?

{Riding a bike!}

Sunshine or Rain?

{Both!}

MP3 Player or iPod?

{iPod!}

Gold by Britt Nicole or Hold Me by Jamie Grace?

{Gold}

Lion King or Lion King 2?

{IDK}

My Questions:

1. Science or Discovery Channel?

2. Dogs or Cats?

3. Blogger or YouTube?

4. Musical or Opera?

5. Gelato or Frozen Yogurt?

6. So You Think You Can Dance or The Voice? (They are TV shows)

7. Singing or Dancing?

8. Do you sing to the radio?

9. Cinnamon or Sugar?

10. Grapes or Raisins?

11. Math or Science?

I'm Awarding:

1. Asmita from AG Girl Forever!

2. Jenny from Artsy Peacock

3. Laura from Princess In MudBoots

4. Hannah from The Writings of Hannah

5. Jess from Rosalyn's Blog



Ok, now onto the Sunshine Award!



I was awarded the sunshine award by Hannah!

The Rules:

~Answer these questions
~No tag backs
~Award 8 other bloggers


Here are my answers to the questions:

1. What is your favorite holiday movie?

Probably 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.'


2. What is your favorite flower?

Red roses.


3. What is your favorite (non-alchoholic) drink?

Milk, water, Hot Chocolate, and Sprite.


4. What is your passion?

Dancing, Hiking, Bike Riding, Baking, Blogging, Reading, Music.


5. What is your favorite time of the year?

Probably around the autumn/winter holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.


6. What is your favorite time of the day?

IDK


7. What is your favorite physical activity?

Dancing, Hiking, Bike Riding.  I'm also looking forward to skiing and ice skating this winter.


8. What is your favorite vacation?

I love going to Disneyland and seeing my cousins in San Diego.


I'm Awarding:

1. Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls
2. Storyteller and Farm Girl from Corn In A Row
3. Sayoko from Simply Sayoko
4. Lily Rose from You're A Doll
5. McKenna from McKenna's Purple Sky
6. Storyteller from Rubberboot Girl
7. Jodie from Heart Strings
8. Emma from The Ramblings of Emma

Congratulations!

Have a great day!

~Grace

The Fun and Fantastical Dictionary and The Versatile Blogger Award!

Hello!

Thank you so much to my 5 new friends!  Thank you Michelina, Eriko, Taro, Natsuko, and Brea!  I now have 28 friends!  Thank you so much everyone!  Only 2 more friends to go to by October 1st, so I can meet my goal and host a giveaway!

Today, my family and I came up with a fantastical idea!  I've made a new page that is called "The Fun and Fantastical Dictionary," and it's a dictionary of fun and fantastical words that YOU come up with!  So, if you want a word entered in the "Fun and Fantastical Dictionary," then just comment on my page with your word and definition, and I will check it out!

Now, on to the "Versatile Blogger Award!"

I was awarded the "Versatile Blogger Award" by Storyteller!  Thank you so much!

Rules:

1. Must state the rules.

2. Thank the person who awarded you.

Thanks, Storyteller!

3. Pass the award on to 5 other bloggers.

4. List their names with links to their award winning blogs.

5. Notify the awarded bloggers by commenting on their blogs.

6. Share 7 unusual things about yourself.  Something that not many people can say about themselves.

Seven Unusual Things About Me:

1. I love to eat avocados plain!

2. I am homeschooled.

3. I still sleep with stuffed animals!

4. I wear summer pajamas all year round!

5. I tell my dog Kooper that he is cute at least 100 times a day! (Not exaggerating!  Ask my sister!)

6. I love dresses from the 50's!

7. Today is my doll, Audrey's, birthday!

I am awarding:

1. Mysti from The Secret Life of a Daydreamer

2. Hannah from The Writings of Hannah

3. Jess from Rosalyn's Blog

4. Sayoko from Truly Tomoko

5. Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls

Congratulations, and don't forget to send in your fun and fantastical words for the "Fun and Fantastical Dictionary!"

~Grace

My New Banner and The Artsy Award!

Hello!

Thank you to my new follower, Samantha!

I hope everyone had a great day!  How do you like my new banner?  I've admired all of the collage banners on other people's blogs, but I never knew how to do it.  So, I asked Rawan from Viviness and AG how to do it; thank you so much Rawan for telling me how to do it!  Make sure to go check out Viviness and AG!  I'm really happy with my new banner, and it was a lot of fun to make!  I made it using a website called PicMonkey.  It was really simple, and a lot of fun.  If you would like to make your own banner, go to PicMonkey, and click the "Create A Collage" button on the left.  Then, choose your layout (I used "FB Cover") and start uploading pictures.  Once you've finished putting your pictures it the collage, you can round corners, change your background color (or make your background transparent like I did), and space the pictures differently.  When you are finished, click the "Save" button at the top, and save it to your computer.  After you've saved your project, go to "Layout" on your blog, click "Header," add an image from your computer, and click save!  It is so much fun to design a collage, and I love having pictures on my header!

Ok, now onto the "Artsy Award!"

I was awarded the "Artsy Award" by Jess from Rosalyn's Blog!

The Rules:

1. Normally this is where it says "thank the person who gave the award and leave a link to their blog etc. etc."  Well, you can do that if you want.  I mean, if you like the award and you're glad you got it then you can do that.  Or you can just copy this and have people listen to me rambling. :)

Thank you Jess!

2. Answer the 5 questions set out for you and make the next five questions for the people you nominate.  So, if you get awarded, here are your 5 questions:

The 5 questions Storyteller set:

1. What is your idea of the perfect book?

That's so hard!!!  I read so many different books!  I don't think I have an answer for this one.

2. What would be your ideal home?

A simple, but beautiful home that was comfy and cozy.  It would be in the mountains.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Australia and Paris!

4. Elves or pixies?

Pixies!

5. Pegasus' or unicorns?

Pegasus'!  Who wouldn't want a flying horse?

My questions for you:

1. What is your favorite animal?

2. Why do you like to blog?

3. Cake or ice cream?

4. What is your favorite birthday memory?

5. Ballet flats or high heels?

3. Ok, so usually there's a "NO TAGBACKS" rule.  I'm here to say that in #3 of this award you can tag or not tag or whatever you want to do.  Agreed?

Agreed! :)

4. Award 5 people (at the least) or as many as you like.

I am awarding:

1. Rawan from Viviness and AG

2. Madeline from Instantly British

3. Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls

4. Lissy from I'll Never Grow Up

5. McKenna from McKenna's Purple Sky

Congratulations!

~Grace

The Liebster Award!

What is the Liebster Award?  Well, the word 'Liebster' is German; literally meaning "dearest or favorite."  The award recognizes new and upcoming bloggers with less than 200 followers who deserve some kind of recognition and support for their contribution. (Thanks Madeline!)

The Rules...

1. Each person must list 11 things about themselves

2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for you PLUS you MUST create 11 questions of your own for the 11 people you will nominate with this award

3. Choose up to 11 bloggers linking them to your post

4. Go to their page and inform them of the nomination

5. Absolutely NO tag backs

6. Remember to ONLY tag bloggers with less that 200 followers

11 Things About Me:

1. I have 2 dogs

2. I love taking photos

3. I love baking cupcakes

4. I LOVE hiking

5. I love science

6. I just finished reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peal Pie Society"

7. I eat a TON of watermelon during the summer

8. Ballet is my favorite style of dance

9. I sing in the shower (who doesn't :)

10. I am homeschooled

11. I play the piano

Madeline's Questions for Me:

1. Are you the average height for your age?

No.  I'm shorter than normal.

2. England or Paris?

Paris!!

3. If you could change how you look, what would you look like?

I don't know, but I would definitely have straight hair!!

4. What's your best school subject?

My 'best' school subject for grades is math, but I enjoy science the most.

5. Tomboy or girly?

A little bit of both.

6. Cupcakes or cake?

Cupcakes!!!

7. What's your favorite type of music?

I don't know.  I like a lot of different music.

8. Are you tired now?

Kind of.

9. What is your current mood?

Calm/Happy

10. Have you started school yet?

Yes.

11. What do you say when you mess up?

Yikes!

My Questions for You:

1. What's your favorite season?

2. What do you like to do with your spare time?

3. Do you have any siblings?  If so, how many?

4. What's your favorite TV show?

5. What's your favorite song?

6. What's your favorite vacation spot?

7. What are you most afraid of?

8. What's your favorite amusement park ride?

9. Fruit or vegetables?

10. What is your favorite word?

11. What's your favorite ice cream?

Here's the People I'm Awarding:

1. Katie from Katie In The Spotlight

2. McKenna from McKenna's Purple Sky

3. Jess from Rosalyn's Blog

4. Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls

5. Lexie from The Pink Dancer

6. Grace from We're Just Dolls

7. Inky from Super Inky

8. Lissy from I'll Never Grow Up

9. Pretty Lilly from Pretty Lilly An American Girl

10. Hannah and Emma from AG Fun

11. Rose and Jess from AG Market

Congratulations!

~Grace

P.S. Please spread the word about my blog so that I get 30 friends by October 1st!  I will host a giveaway if I get 30 friends by October 1st!

I Love Your Blog!

Hello!

I was so excited to find out today that Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls nominated me for the "I Love Your Blog Award!"



The Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you.

Thank you, Claire, from Claire's American Girl Dolls! 

Tell your readers why you started a blog, and why you keep doing it.

I started a blog when I was younger, and I didn't stick with it.  I started this blog because I wanted to get back into it and keep in touch with my good friend who moved away.  I keep doing it because I love to, I want to keep in touch with my friend, and I absolutely love it when people comment, or become friends.

Describe a usual day in your life.

I wake up, eat breakfast, and depending on the day, I might go for a bike ride, go on a hike, dance, paddleboard, or go to the beach.  Then I eat lunch, and either continue on with what I'm doing, or do something else.  Then I work on my blog, eat dinner, sometimes watch a movie, and go to bed.  These are my summer days. :o)

What is your best collaboration?

I've only done one blog collaboration, which was with Madeline.  It was a lot of fun!

What is your worst collaboration?

Being that I've only done one collaboration, and it went very well, I don't have a "worst collaboration." Thankfully!

Explain what your blog means to you.

Interesting question!  My blog is something that I really love to do, and it is even more fun because people read what I write.  I think that that's pretty neat.  I really love to read other people's blogs too.

Nominate 5 people for this award.  Make sure to comment on their blogs to let them know!

I nominate:

1. Katie from Katie In The Spotlight

2. McKenna from McKenna's Purple Sky

3. Lexie from The Pink Dancer

4. Madeline from Instantly British

5. Jess from Rosalyn's Blog

Congratulations!

~Grace

I'm Colorful... Are You?

Hi Everyone!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my 2 new friends Sayoko and Vivy!!!  I now have 10 friends!!!  If I reach my goal of 30 friends (followers) by October 1st, I will host a giveaway!  On to the blog award:





1. Thank the person who gave you the award and leave a link

Thank you, Katie, from Katie In The Spotlight!

2. Why did you get a blog?

I had started a private blog a few years ago because of my wonderful friend Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls, and then I stopped blogging.  I wanted to start blogging again, and now that I'm a little older, I have a public blog, and I'm more dedicated to the blogosphere! 

3. What is you favorite animal?

Hmmmm... That's hard!  Probably a dog or a cat.

 4. What inspired you blog template?

I don't really think I was 'inspired,' I just found this and I liked it!

5. What is/are you favorite color(s)?

Blue :o)

6. What is your favorite thing about your blog?

That I can write about whatever I want, and that people read everything I write and enjoy it (hopefully :).

7. What's your favorite blog?

I don't have a favorite blog.  I enjoy all of the blogs that are on the side of my blog, plus more that I've read that aren't up there yet.

8. Award five people this award.

1. Claire from Claire's American Girl Dolls

2. Madeline from Instantly British

3. Jess from Rosalyn's Blog

4. Lexie from The Pink Dancer

5. Grace from Nicki The American Girl Doll

Congratulations!  You are now a "Colorful Blogger," too!

~Grace