The Mid-Year Instagram Recap / Liebster Blog Award

Hullo!!! It's already June 14, and that means: we're just about halfway through 2014! Unbelievable, isn't it? So did you guys have any resolutions when you welcomed the new year? How've you guys been accomplishing them?

I'm not exactly the kind that makes it a point to set goals at the beginning of every year. But this year was different, for instead of the usual zero, I actually ended up with quite a lot! One is with regards to my photographic skills. For 2014, I decided to work on my picture-taking chops by trying to be more "artsy-fartsy". I also made it a point to post more OOTDs! (That's the part where this blog comes in, actually)

I don't frequently post on my Instagram profile, but I hope that the ones that I've been posting lately show that I'm doing well on my new year's resolutions. I may be biased when I say that I think I am doing a great job so far, so here's recap of all the photos I've taken since the beginning of 2014! You guys be the judge and let me know what you think!

From left to right, top to bottom: (1) New Year's day outfit, complete with polka-dot shorts haha! (2) Make-your-own pizza at Project Pie (3) Raided mom's closet for this outfit (4) Feeling tough (5) Sneak-peek of my blog before I launched it! (6) Went on my first ever fun run ever! (7) Summer festival-esque outfit (8) Wandering Chinatown (9) Black and white party OOTN with my Lanvin x H&M skirt (10) Sick-day dressing (11) Spring dressing AKA first blog post ever! (12) Photoshoot for a summer party (13) Elsa-inspired getup for a debut (14) Throwback to my high school graduation ball (15) Texture and print (16) Sweets from The Box (17) Obligatory mirror selfie at the gym after Strength and Conditioning (18) First time wearing a midi skirt (19-22) Albay adventures (23-24) #TeaForThoughtByErika (25-31) Snaps from Seoul (32) #RamenRavesByErika (33) Korean throwback (34) At the Lee PhFW show (35) Another ramen rave (36) First time wearing a mullet skirt ever (37) Make your own Magnum ice cream (38) Ramen rave, again (39) Lace and denim kind of day

So that's my midyear insta-recap! Do you guys have any favorites among all the photos? Do let me know!

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In other news, I actually got nominated for the Liebster Blog Award back in April! Huge thanks to the lovely An-Katrien of Teacups & Dresses for this! I haven't gotten around to posting about it until now though. In case you guys aren't aware of what LBA actually is, it's actually a sweet thing given to starting out bloggers (normally those with less than 200 followers). So anyway, here are the rules:

1. If you are tagged/nominated, you have to post 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger has given you & make 11 questions for the people you are going to tag
3. Tag 11 more starting bloggers.
4. Tell the people you tagged that you did.
5. No tagging back.

So anyway, here goes! I'm pretty random so excuse the trivia and questions haha!

11 THINGS ABOUT ME

1. I am an only child.
2. I love houndstooth.
3. I stand at roughly 5'1" only. (I know, I'm short creys)
4. I am currently on my third year as a university student.
5. I have an irrational love for the Windy City. Yes, I love Chicago!
6. I took ballet lessons when I was really young, but eventually stopped after I got into a related accident that ended up with me in an arm cast.
7. I am fond of Greek mythology.
8. My favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
9. I don't eat squid.
10. I have a bit of Japanese blood (my great-grandfather from my father's side was pure Japanese).
11. I have this crazy dream of wanting to dye my hair blue!

11 QUESTIONS FROM AN-KATRIEN

1. What is your dream vacation?

My dream vacation would be a trip to Europe!! The continent boasts a lot of wonderful places, but if I had to be more specific, I'd like to go to France or UK the most.

2. What do you love so much about blogging?

The thing that I love the most about blogging would be that by doing it, I get to be many things all at the same time. In my own way, I'm like an author-- I get to write stories about myself and other things; a stylist-- to myself, specifically; a model (lol)-- of the stuff that I wear. Though I haven't exactly made a name for myself, I hope that I can add being inspirational on that list! (One can dream, right?)

3. What's your favorite designer bag?

I don't own for myself, but I've been longing for a Chanel 2.55 for so long, so I'll go with Chanel. I think Prada is nice too by the way. 

4. What's your favorite snack?

Oohh this is a tough one! Do fruits and yogurt count?

5. Which color is your favorite one for summertime?

I have to say blue is my favorite color of all time. But for summertime, I'll probably go with its pastel shade. Or maybe its lovechild with green, teal.  If it counts, I also think white is perfect for summer!

6. What do you do next to blogging?

Well blogging isn't the main thing I do in the first place. I'm a student above all else, really. So yeah, I engage in extra-curricular activities from time to time, but that's pretty much all I do lol.

7. What do you prefer: dresses/skirts or jeans/pants?

Practicality aside, I choose the former! I think one can never have enough dresses or skirts. I have more jeans in my closet though haha!

8.Name the 3 most important things you really can't miss in your life

Not sure how serious I should be in answering this one, but here goes: (1) water (2) my senses; and (3) my sanity.

9. What's your favorite movie?

I don't really have a favorite movie. But I guess I can share with you guys the latest movie I watched that I really loved, and that's X-Men: Days of Future Past (okay, I just watched How to Train Your Dragon too and it's just so adorable!!!)! I'd also like to share this one movie that holds a special place in my heart because it stars one of my favorite actors, Chris Colfer (who also wrote the movie!)-- Struck by Lightning.

10. What's your favorite low budget brand/store?

I guess this can be pretty subjective, but I'd go with Forever 21. It's prices are relatively lower compared to other brands. And they offer a lot of choices of items!

11. With which designer would you want to collaborate?

Oh  my! This one's hard. I think I'd go with Donatella Versace! Seeing as I have some dreams of becoming a fashion designer too, that would totally be a dream come true if it did at all.

MY 11 NOMINEES

1. Herringbone Heroine by Brianna
2. Infinite Dreams by Chrissean Mae
3. Steal the Style by Lou
4. Dimitri's Code by Enrique
5. My Life Would Suck Without Fashion by Livia
6. Five Feet of Awesome by Angela
7. The Faceless Style by Louise
8. Floral Constellation by Christel
9. Coco Colo by Coco
10. Blossoming Wallflower by Sarah
11. SapeToiBien by Cecile

*I know not all of you guys have below 200 followers but I'd like to know about you all still!

11 QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES

1. What is the most expensive item of clothing (clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.) that you own?
2. What is your biggest fear?
3. Name a celebrity that you have a crush on.
4. If you were to be a part of any TV show, which one would it be and who would you be (can be an original or actual character)?
5. What is your favorite part of the day?
6. What superpower would you like to have?
7. Which season (winter, spring, summer, fall) do you love the most and why?
8. If you were to wake up as someone else and be that person for a day, who would you want to be?
9. What song is stuck in your head right now?
10. What is one trend that you would never/never did follow?
11. Which decade/era do you like the most and why?

To my beloved nominees (the word "liebster" actually means "beloved" in German!), do let me know once you've posted about this. I'd love to know your answers and get to know more about you! x

PS: It would be great if you used the same button that I'm using for the LBA! I made it myself so I could put it on my website. I'd love to see it on yours too!

x Erika Rosales