2-In-One- My 1st Liebster & Creative Blogger Award!

A month after I privately celebrated my Blog’s first anniversary, I was pleasantly surprised to get my first ever nomination for not just one, but two awards! 2-In-1 Treat!

Thanks Preethi, for awarding me both the Liebster Award and the Creative Blogger Award in your Post- THAT WONDERFUL FEELING OF BEING ACKNOWLEDGED!

The date September 24, 2013 is a Red-Letter Day for my Blog! 

I was so overwhelmed, I still am, that it has taken me 1 month and 1 week to respond to Preethi! The past month has been pretty hectic as I have been travelling, suffered from Cyclone Phailin, battled poor Internet connectivity & Laptop problems… Phew!

Preethi, Please accept my heartfelt apologies for the delay in the response. There is not a single day I have not reminded myself to Post, and then felt guilty at the end of the day for not having managed to do so!

What took me so long?

- Excuses! Excuses! (as mentioned above!) Case of - ‘Naach na jaane, aangan tedha!’- One who doesn’t know how to dance, blames the courtyard!

 

- Time-Constraints- Spent the little me-time I have in meeting Blogging-contest-deadlines!

- As I had to write about me, I was puzzled- What 11 points do I write about me! :)

- Planning to come up with the best answers! Composing answers in my head and then rejecting them! 

- I had to nominate 11 Bloggers worthy of the Award! As I love so many Blogs, I felt choosing only 11 awardees would be tough! 

- Also, I had to ask them 11 Questions! As I have sooo many Questions, what to ask?!!!

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Ordered my brain to answer ASAP & here I am finally! 

(Note- This Post is the result of many days work!) :)

Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued… and all such synonyms! It is an award given to emerging bloggers who have less than 200 followers… Indeed an acknowledgement & boost!

As an awardee, I am expected to:
1. Post 11 facts about ME.
2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger, Preethi, has given me.
3. Tag 11 more Bloggers (with less than 200 followers; no tagging back) and ask 11 questions for them.
4. Tell the people, I tagged, that I did.

ELEVEN FACTS ABOUT MYSELF

1. I love INDIA! I am a die-hard Indian, who has stayed, studied and worked in many cities. If anyone asks me which place I belong, I proudly answer ‘INDIA’!

2. I love Technology! I have worked many years in the field of Software-Education and Development. 

3. I love Degrees! After my B.Sc., PGDCA, PGDMM, MA, M.Phil, I am now pursuing PhD. :)

4. I love Contests! I am a CONTEST JUNKIE! Winning prizes, awards and badges makes me happy! 

 

5. I love Hindi Movies! Watching movies, learning lessons from them and writing reviews! Some have been published in Filmfare mag. Now happily self-publishing my reviews in my Blog! :)

6. I love reading Books, newspapers & magazines & Writing- Poems, Stories, Articles… Many of my contributions have been published in leading newspapers & mags.

7. I love Music- Listening and Singing! I am a great Kitchen-Singer! I know the lyrics of many songs! (So you know whom to pick as your partner for Antakshari !) :)

8. I love Food! I never waste food, not even a grain of rice. I am a no-fuss eater who loves to experiment the new and can adapt anywhere in the world! People say I am a good cook!

9. I love Travelling & Photography! The explorer in me dreams of a world-tour where I’ll take excellent photographs & share my trips with all!

10. I love Satyameva Jayate & Simplicity! I heartily express what I honestly feel. With me, WYSIWYG holds true! :)

11. I love positivity! I am one of the most enthusiastic and optimistic persons I know! I like to spread smiles! :)

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MY ANSWERS TO PREETHI’S ELEVEN QUESTIONS TO ME:

1. Why blog?

As I celebrate Blogging as Blogging Is My Calling! 

2. How has blogging changed your life?

To answer this, I wanna sing the song from the Hindi-movie ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’- ‘Kuch To Hua Hai, Kuch Ho Gaya Hai; Do Chaar Din Se, Lagta Hai Aise, Sab Kuch Alag Hai, Sab Kuch Naya Hai…!’

(Something has happened; From the past couple of days, I feel everything is different, everything is new…!)

...& all thanks to Blogging!

- I have NEVER had so many night-outs & burning the midnight oil & racing against time for Blogging Contests! (Had I done this for my exams, I would have stood 1^st in Class more often!)

- There’s so much to look forward to in life now- like new contests and results! (These days I’m crossing my fingers & toes more often!)

- I get the chance to connect with such amazing fellow-bloggers! Grateful to earn a place in this talented & creative Blogging community & for the recognition & Awards like this!

- Everyday is a new learning experience and I have got a great opportunity to grow and evolve.

 

3. Name One person who has truly inspired you, and has hence led you to change something about yourself.

My Parents. Their values have made me what I am. Thanks to them, I have LEARNING FOR LIFE…

4. If there is something you would like to change about yourself, what would that be?

I would do everything ‘RIGHT NOW’ instead of putting off or procrastinating & then working till the last-minute! :)

But, even if I did that, I’d still be checking & rechecking if 'ALL IS WELL' & working till the end, making value-additions as I believe in Kaizen- continuous improvement! After doing something, wish I could stop thinking what I ‘could have’ or ‘should have’ done extra to make things better, just what Aamir Khan’s character in the movie Talaash does…

 

5. What is your most prized possession in your room?

All my Awards, Certificates, Trophies & Medals & all the (fan)letters I have received so far! Also, my Laptop as it has so many photographs & my written-work, research & ideas! All these are priceless for me!

 

6. Do you think blogging can help anything in any way?

Yes, through Blogging, we can share our dreams, thoughts & ideas, spread information & create awareness and even suggest solutions, ensure implementation and action. We can be change-agents…

7. What is the one festival in India you love to celebrate and do you think we still celebrate them in the same spirit as we used to decades back?

I love all the festivals of Incredible India! I feel commercialism has crept into festivals today. There is a vast change in the celebration outlook and spirit. But, still, it’s great that we continue to celebrate our festivals even after centuries!  I pray that may we be forever united and happily join together in the celebrations.

8. If there is one thing you could do for your country (let's say there are no restraints and what you could do is magical), what would it be?

With magic, I’d provide good Roti, Kapdaa, Makaan & Naukri for all. (Naukri or engagement as 'an idle mind is a devil’s workshop'!) I’d also instill good values like Honesty & Integrity, Patriotism etc. I’d ensure every person is highly educated and is blessed with the spirit of being technologically sound and having a questioning & understanding bent of mind. I believe- Education is the key to unlock a better nation. In a highly Civilized Society, there won’t be unemployment, thefts, discrimination, crimes against women etc and other such evils.

9. 3 words that would describe you.

Nice, Sincere, Optimistic :)

 

10. Which is the best vacation you have had...and with whom?

I have loved all my trips so far! But, I’d rank my visit with my family to Hong Kong Disneyland as the best! Disneyland is the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’! Loved every moment and want to visit again and again!

 

11. What do you think the future has in store for you?

Stay awake so as to make my dreams a reality!

Lots of hard-work to construct and drive on the road to my success! 

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I SHARE MY LIEBSTER AWARD

 & BONUS-

 

ALSO MY CREATIVE BLOGGER AWARD WITH THE FOLLOWING BLOGGERS: 

Amrita – http://amritasabat.blogspot.in/

 

Bhavya- http://bhavyakaushik.com/

 

Bushra-  http://stillettomaniac.blogspot.in/

Kathy - http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.in/

Lakshmi - http://phantomdelight.blogspot.in/

Megha– http://shrimalimegha246.blogspot.in/

Meera - http://ratnibbles.blogspot.in/

Nandini - http://nandinispeaks.blogspot.in/

Sammya– http://www.deckleedge.info/

Sakshi - http://sakshinanda.blogspot.in/

Sunakshi – http://veiled-chapters.blogspot.in/

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MY ELEVEN QUESTIONS TO THE AWARDEES:

1. When and how did you discover blogging? 

2. On an average, how much time do you spend to compose a Blog-Post?

3. Which is your most favorite Blog-Post so far (please share the link) and why do you love it so much?

4. What is the best compliment/comment and Award you have received as a Blogger?

5. As a Blogger, what is more important to you-

A) Recognition (& Votes) as the ‘Best’ & most ‘Popular’ Post or

B) Prize as the ‘Winning’ Post or

C) Number of Followers or

D) None of the above as you Blog for yourself & your peace of mind?

6. According to you, what is the purpose of life?

7. Have you heard of the term ‘CSR’? What does CSR mean to you? 

(No Google please! Request honest answers based on your present pre-Googling knowledge & understanding!)

8. What is the biggest problem facing the world? What is your solution to save our world? 

9. According to you, our ‘Environment’ is whose responsibility?

10. What is that one advice/lesson that you always give or would like to share with all?

11. What is your dream?

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A Request to all the Awardees: 

As an awardee:
1. Post 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer my 11 questions given above.
3. Tag 11 more Bloggers (with less than 200 followers; no tagging back) and ask 11 questions for them.
4. Tell all the Bloggers, you tagged, that you did.

Please do leave a link to your Award Post in the Comments section here below so that we all can read your answers. Do reply soon! :)