Another Liebster Award and My Updated Travel Playlist

Tatiana from efzin.co nominated me for a Liebster Award.  This is the second time that my blog has been nominated!  Be sure to check out Tatiana’s blog.  She always assigns a song to each blog post and for her Liebster Award post, she used George Ezra’s “Budapest.”  From that moment on, I knew I would like her blog!  Thanks for all the kind words about my blog, the nomination, and your questions, Tatiana!  Here are Tatiana’s questions with my answers. 

1.    If you were offered a free plane ticket today, what would be the destination?
That’s very hard because there are still so many places I’d like to visit!  Australia and New Zealand are rapidly moving up on my list of places to visit, so I would have to say Sydney, Australia to start with and then travel around Australia and New Zealand for a while.

2.    Or if you could teleport yourself anywhere, just to taste again a certain food, what would it be?  
​Gelato in Italy

Trying my first Italian gelato in Sicily, Italy in October 2014

​3.    If you were to choose between Scandinavian minimalism, multi-ethnic patterns or pastel sophistication, how would you re-decorate your living room?
While I really like the Scandinavian minimalism designs that most places in Iceland use, I am not tidy enough to maintain that in my own home so I would say multi-ethnic patterns.
4.    20 new fast-fashion pieces or 5 new design pieces?
​I don’t follow clothing fashion that much, so probably the design pieces.  
5.    How often do you de-clutter and re-organize your space?
Usually just when I’m moving.  I try to keep things tidy (the key word there is try). 
6.    Total white or total black look?
​Black
7.    Do you usually cook at home or order dinner?
I go through phases.  Lately I’ve been cooking at home, but I pretty much just cook oatmeal or eggs for breakfast and/or dinner.
8.    Besides English, how many languages do you speak? Or which language would you like to speak?
I wouldn’t say that I’m fluent in anything besides English, but my Spanish is pretty close and I am learning Icelandic.  I’ve also learned a tiny bit of Italian, Danish, and French.
9.    Have you ever dreamed about writing a book? What would it be about?
Yes, my whole life!  I have three manuscripts written that I’d like to get published.  I don’t want to give away my pitches but all three are young adult, one is contemporary literary fiction, one high fantasy, and one magical realism. 
10.    Have you ever travelled by yourself? (Not counting the times you took a plane to go visit your family!)
Yes, multiple times!  The first time I visited Iceland I went by myself and I also went to Italy, Switzerland, and Croatia for three weeks by myself.  I also did a few other shorter trips solo.

This one time, (February 2015) I decided to travel to Iceland by myself for nine days. This other time, I decided to move to Iceland (January 2016).

11.    Which is your favorite blogging activity? Researching, writing, photographing, editing or advertising?
I like the actual writing of my blog.  I love sharing my experiences and stories and hopefully inspiring others to travel as well!

My Updated Travel Playlist
I've been pleasantly surprised at the popularity of my travel soundtrack posts, so I think I will start posting my soundtrack for each excursion.  While I was in London, I discovered some new songs that I listened to over and over and over and became the soundtrack to my trip.

Updated travel playlist:
 
The Lumineers
“Ophelia” 
This song came out right before my trip to Copenhagen and London and I listened to it so many times while I was in London that I will forever associate with this trip. (Fun fact: during my first-ever visit to London (only three years ago!?) their song "Submarines" was one of the many songs I had for my soundtrack for that trip.)  Their new album came out a few weeks ago and it is brilliant!
 
Ten Tonnes
“Lucy”, “Subtle Changes,” and “Stop”
This EP was released on Spotify while I was in London.  I confess that I skeptically listened to it only because Ethan Barnett is George Ezra's younger brother, but he's amazing in his own right.  My friend and I listened to it over and over while on the tube or walking across the city.  He's just as good as his more famous older brother, and if that doesn't come as a ringing endorsement, I don't know what will!  

The Neighbourhood
“Cry Baby”
So I recently started using Spotify.  I know, I'm late to the Spotify party.  But, now I barely use iTunes anymore and I love the recommended playlists.  This was on one of the playlists and I listened to it reluctantly because I've never loved their music, but for some reason I find this song incredibly catchy. 
 
Jamestown Revival
“Home” and “Fur Coat Blues”
I had never even heard of them until Spotify kindly suggested that I would like them. Ir was right!  I'm going through a folk music phase again (this happens frequently, don't be alarmed). 
 
Jake Bugg
"Taste It" and "Gimme the Love"
In Iceland recently, I was telling a friend about how much I liked Jake Bugg’s music when an English lady on the bus in front of me turned around and said, “He’s from my hometown!  I never hear anyone talk about him outside of my hometown!”  I was amused.  
The Lone Bellow
“Take My Love” and “The One You Should Have Let Go”
So, as I said, I’m really into folk music right now.

Yes, I listened to every one of these songs in order as I was writing this post.