Getting to know me (and you!).

I was recently given the Sunflower Blogger Award by two fellow bloggers: Livia Rachelle and Victoria. Thanks, girls! I'm supposed to tell eleven facts about myself, answer the questions asked by the bloggers who nominated me, and then give the award to eleven other bloggers and ask them some questions. I tried to pick some really random things...hopefully things that will let you know a little more about me whether you're a new reader (welcome, by the way!) or if you've been visiting my blog for years. Here goes:

Eleven Facts:

1. I collect a lot of things. My biggest collections are my books and movies, but I also collect vinyl albums, brooches, salt and pepper shakers, and a few other little things. Actually, I've been thinking about starting a blog series about my collections sometime soon.

2. I don't like birds. They've always kind of creeped me out, and after I saw the Hitchcock film...well, you get the picture. :) Also, I've never been able to figure out why birds are basically the only wild animals that people feel obligated to feed in their front yards.

3. When I was younger, my favorite books were the Arthur books by Marc Brown. I was in an Arthur book club and got one of the books in the mail every month. And though it's not the same as it used to be, I still love it when I get to watch the show with my younger cousins. :)

4. Speaking of Arthur, I desperately wanted to have an imaginary friend like D.W. did. But I didn't have one, so sometimes I made myself pretend that I had an imaginary friend. :) Yes, I was a strange child. I'm pretty sure her name was Carrie, because when I was little I thought that was the most beautiful name in the whole world. (Thank goodness my eight year old self didn't get to name my future children, because I really don't like that name anymore.)

5. My absolute favorite movie is the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. My other top favorites are Penelope, Singin' in the Rain, You've Got Mail, and While You Were Sleeping. :)

6. I really dislike buying clothes. I don't really shop for clothing at thrift stores (not sure why...I just never seem to find anything when I do look), and I feel so guilty about buying new clothes because most of the clothing we buy was made by poor, underpaid workers who endure awful factory conditions just so we Americans can buy a t-shirt for $5. I hate that, and it's one of the biggest reasons why I want to sew more of my own clothes.

7. I went to public school up until high school. I started to really dislike public school in my last year of middle school, and around that time I met a few girls who were homeschooled. I begged my parents to look into it...they did, and we were homeschooled from then on. Even though I went to public schools for most of my life, I still label myself a homeschooler and somehow feel like that's what we did all along. :)

8. A couple of things that I have never done: been to Starbucks (I don't drink coffee, and frankly I'd rather spend my money on books or yarn :), sent a text (I hate cell phones), had my ears pierced, flown in an airplane (I'd be a little nervous about doing so, but if it meant I was getting to travel to England, I'd gladly do it :), or had my nails done (I live on a farm so it would be a waste of time and money, plus it's not my style...I don't even paint my nails).

9. I used to have an awful prejudice against movies made in the 60s. I had no interest in that era at all, and I cringed at the thought of watching anything made in that decade. (With one exception...see next fact.) I'm completely past that now, and a couple of my favorite movies were made in the 60s: Charade and How to Steal a Million. Not to mention all of those hilarious, cheesy Disney live action movies: The Parent Trap, The Love Bug, Never a Dull Moment, That Darn Cat, etc.

10. The Sound of Music was the first classic movie I ever saw, because I grew up watching it whenever it came on TV, which was all the time. But it always stayed on past my bedtime, so I only ever saw about the first half or so. It wasn't until I was a teenager and got it on DVD that I realized there was so much more to the story! :) The first classic movie that I consciously decided to watch, back when I became interested in watching classics, was Casablanca.

11. I still have a big box of chapter books from my childhood packed away in our loft. I can't bring myself to get rid of them. They're mostly from the Baby-sitter's Club series. :)

Questions from Livia Rachelle:

1. What are your favorite juvenile/YA fiction favorites?

I read a ton of children's books and middle grade (and some YA), so it's really hard to narrow it down to favorites! Of course I'll say the Chronicles of Narnia, because that's my favorite book series. Other favorites include nearly anything by Roald Dahl or Kate DiCamillo. I love Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern series for fairy-tale retellings. The Harry Potter series. The best middle grade book I've read this year (the best book I've read this year) is Natalie Lloyd's debut novel A Snicker of Magic. I could go on, but I'll stop there. :)

 2. Thoughts on cosmetics, conventional, natural, none?

I don't wear make-up. Reasons: I try to only use natural products (hair care, face wash, soap, etc.), if I started wearing make-up I would use it as a crutch and not feel comfortable going anywhere without it, I don't know how to apply it, and the few times I have worn it (in weddings, etc.) it only made me feel super self-conscious, not prettier.

3. Would you homeschool your own children and how serious a decision is this for you?

I definitely plan on homeschooling my future children. There's really no question about it, because it's something I strongly believe in. I guess it would be more of a issue if my future husband and I didn't agree about it...but I can't picture myself marrying someone who's dead-set against homeschooling, I guess.

4. How do you feel about reading fad novels when they are popular such as Eragon, The Hunger Games, and The Book Thief? Do you discern serious differences in quality amongst them? Have you ever read and loved some before or after they were a fad?

If a book is very popular, I'm kind of turned off from reading it. Mostly because I worry it won't live up to the hype, but also because sometimes I just like to be contrary and refuse to read a book just because everyone else is reading it. :) I usually don't find popular books to be any different quality-wise than other books. I've read some books before they became super popular (The Book Thief), some during their popularity (Rainbow Rowell's books, The Hunger Games), and some a bit after their initial popularity (The Help).

5. If you could learn any language (fantasy, real and living, obscure, dead or dying) which would you learn?

I'm not sure...maybe French? Just because I can't think of any others that I'd like to learn, and it would be nice to be able to speak the language if I ever traveled there. :)

6. If you could change your name to any name (again fantasy or real or obscure) what would it be?

Again, I'm not sure! I rather like my name. It's different, but not too crazy different. I always went to school with a lot of Brittany's and Jessica's and Lauren's. I only knew one other Kristen growing up, and I like my spelling much better than "en." My favorite girl's name is actually Penelope (yes, I do love the movie, but I've always liked the name), but I'd like for that to possibly be my future daughter's name, so I wouldn't choose it for myself. :) I think I'll stick with Kristin.

Questions from Victoria:

1. What time period would you travel back to if you had the chance? Why?

The 1940s or 1950s. I love the music and movies and culture of those times. I'd like to go see Singin' in the Rain in theaters and listen to Sinatra on the radio. Plus, it would be pretty awesome to meet my grandparents as young adults. :)

2. Is there a book that you’ve read at least five times from beginning to end?

 

I'm pretty sure I've read Pride and Prejudice at least five times, as well as The Chronicles of Narnia. Also: Tuck Everlasting and Ella Enchanted, because those have been favorites since I was in elementary school. And the third Princess Diaries book: Princess in Love, because when I was fourteen or fifteen I was absolutely obsessed with the love story in that book and would read it over and over. :)

 

3. Has the Lord done anything recently in your life that has strengthened your faith in Him?

 

Hm...I can't really think of anything at the moment!

 

4. What is your favorite family tradition?

Any of our Christmas traditions. Plus our annual drive into the mountains in the fall. :)

5. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

 

I've always secretly wished that I could dance. From the first time I ever saw Gene Kelly dancing across the screen, with that infectious grin on his face like he was having the time of his life, I've wished that I could dance. This doesn't mean I want to take dance lessons, by the way. :) I'm just incredibly awkward and clumsy but I wish I could be graceful and someone who sort of naturally knows how to dance without feeling self-conscious about it. Ha. :)

 

6. What has been your favorite movie this year? This can be in theaters or just from your own personal home viewing.

Austenland, by far. I absolutely love that movie. I've watched it three or four times already and I'm planning on watching it again soon. :)

Okay, so now I'm supposed to tag eleven people. I started to do this, but I always feel a bit guilty about tagging people because don't want anyone to feel left out! :) So even though it's cheating, I tag everyone. I'm so thankful for everyone who reads my rambling words, so if you're reading this post, feel free to accept this award and post about it on your blog! I want to know more about you! :) Here are my questions to you:

1. If you could meet any author(s), living or dead, who would you choose?

2. What were some of your favorite childhood books?

3. What is the most disappointing book you've ever read? (Notice I said "disappointing," not "worst." So I mean one that you were expecting to really enjoy but it ended up letting you down.)

4. What fictional character would be most likely to be your best friend?

5. Do you collect anything? If so, what?

6. What movies make you cry, if any?