Blogger Q&A

I was tagged by Chelsea of Chels & The City to do this blogger Q&A, so I thought it would be fun to answer some questions so that you can get to know me a little better. 

ONE | If you could live any place in the world, where would it be?

I've always wanted to live in London! I've never been to England, but I have this feeling that I would love it there. 

TWO | What do you miss most about being a kid?

Honestly, not having to worry about money. Or anything really. Kids have it easy. 

THREE | Who or what inspires you?

Stories, photographs, and artwork. I get inspired by the words I read and the pictures I see. Ideas come to me as I read or when I'm perusing Pinterest or looking at a painting. I'm a visual person. 

FOUR | Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

In a month, I'll be 25, so at 35 I hope I have a job that I love (still working at Westchester Magazine would be awesome), married to a kind, lovable, funny guy, and have two kids. 

FIVE | Your 50th birthday party- who's invited?

My husband, my kids, and all my amazing friends!

SIX | What are your strengths?

I pride myself on being friendly and kind, on not judging people, and on making others feel comfortable. I'm also an awesome listener. 

SEVEN | What are things you want to improve on?

Since my job is a social one -- talking to people, going to events, etc. -- I want to get better at being a social person and being outgoing. It doesn't come naturally, but I'm trying. It helps that everyone at work is so friendly and hilarious. 

EIGHT | Places you've traveled to?

Obviously the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), Pennsylvania, Boston, Albuquerque, Washington D.C., Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Niagara Falls (both sides), and the coolest of them all: Israel. 

NINE | What is a routine you could never do without?

Before, I go to sleep I like to check Instagram since I find it calming and read a chapter or two of whatever book I'm currently reading. 

TEN | What was an act of kindness shown towards you that caught you by surprise?

The most recent thing I can think of is that my step-mom Janet got me a Starbucks gift card for getting a job. I thought it was a really sweet little treat. 

ELEVEN | List some of the best times in your life in less than one minute. ready...go! (don't cheat!) Anytime I hang out with my friends or brothers, Disney World with Jackie at twelve, Israel with Avra three years ago, Orlando with my family, playing cards with my brothers and grandparents every other week, mother-daughter days and father-daughter days, and having adventures with friends in NYC. 

I tag: Jackie, Martie, Naomi, Kristin, Sharon, Lix, Nikki, Elana, Lynn & Angie.

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Confessions of a Blogger + A To Z Book Survey

I was tagged by Lix of A Classic Notion for the Confessions of a Blogger idea, and decided to try the A to Z book survey from Kristin of My Life as a Teacup. 

P.S. -- Check out my interview on Not Intent on Arriving and  my interview on Ten Penny Dreams!

1. When did you first start blogging and why?

I started blogging in November of 2011 because everyone told me a writer should have a blog. Initially, I blogged because I thought I should, but it quickly turned into something I love to do!

2. Have you had any past online presence?

Besides Myspace and my current personal Facebook, no I don't have a past online presence. No old blogs. 

3. When did you become serious about your blog?

I would say I became serious at the start of 2012, a couple months after I started blogging. I wanted to make it a space that was very me and about the things I love, instead of just posting random stuff, which is what I did initially. 

4. What was your first blog post?

I think my first blog post was a picture of a nude smokey eye that I found on Pinterest. Very random, haha!

5. What have been your biggest challenges blogging?

Besides finding the time, which will always remain a big challenge, was finding my voice in blogging. Every blogger that gives advice says that you have to find your voice, but I had no idea how to do that. I found my voice by just writing like I speak, by writing about what I truly love, and by adding a bit of my own quirkiness and humor to my blog posts. If you're really being you, then you've already found your voice. 

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?

Finding true friendship! I've met so many wonderful people through blogging that I would never have met otherwise because they live halfway across the world or on the other side of the country. There are some bloggers I wish I lived closer to because then I would meet up and grab a coffee with them all the time. 

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?

Luckily, I haven't gotten any negative feedback or comments, but it can be easy to get a little discouraged when you try so hard and it seems like other bloggers are getting all these wonderful opportunities so easily, but we can't see behind the screen. Those bloggers are no doubt working just as hard as I am, probably even harder. 

8. What is your lasting inspiration or motivation?

My inspiration and motivation for blogging are my readers because I want to make great content that they want to read. I want Sincerely, Sara to be a happy, fun place! 

9. What is your blogging dirty little secret?

This one's probably obvious, but the outfits I post aren't always worn on the day I take the pictures. I know many people do wear it that day, but sometimes I don't have time to take the pictures or my camera isn't charged, so I have to wait and wear the outfit again for pictures. That's not a very good dirty little secret, haha!

10. What is your current goal as a blogger?

One of my goals is to work with more companies and shops that I love because it's so much fun collaborating and I always love bringing my readers great giveaways. 

11. Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise? 

I always liked fashion, but I became much more interested in it once I started blogging. I paid more attention to trends and wanted to try new things fashion-wise. I wouldn't have branched out with my clothing if I hadn't started blogging. 

I hereby tag:
Kristin of My Life as a Teacup
Naomi of Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups
Jessica of Dream Mo(o)re
Danielle of A Writer in Love
Jackie of Claws Up
Sinem of Listies...
Brittney of True Vintage Love

♥ ♥ ♥

Author you've read the most books from.

Definitely J.K. Rowling. Then Shakespeare and Jane Austen. 

Best sequel ever.

Sadly, most of the sequels I've read weren't that amazing, though I heard the sequel to Cinder (called Scarlet) is fantastic. Since I haven't read that yet, I'm going to go with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 

Currently reading.

Scarlet. 

Drink of choice while reading.
Iced tea, Starbucks' passion fruit tea, or Coca Cola. 

E-reader or physical book? 

I prefer physical books because I like examining the covers and touching the paper and using bookmarks, but I can't deny the usefulness of an e-reader. I have an iPad Mini and love reading books on it because I can store so many on there.  

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school. 

Ron Weasley. I would still date him if he was real. He's just so cute and shy and loyal. Why oh why isn't he real?

Glad you gave this book a chance. 

The School for Good and Evil. It sounded like a book I would like, but I was a little turned off by the fact that it was for kids, but I'm so glad I read it because it's delightful. 

Hidden gem book.

It's not really hidden, but I loved Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. It's a fantasy book with haunting elements and there are real vintage photographs in the book that are tied to the story. 

Important moment in your reading life. 

Finally picking up the first Harry Potter book. My aunt had given me the novel, but I left it sitting on my shelf for far too long. After reading it, I fell in love with books and immersing myself in stories. 

Just finished.

The Pirate's Wish. 

Kinds of books you won’t read. 

I hardly ever read non-fiction unless it's comedic, like Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, so that means no biographies or autobiographies. I'm also not much of a fan of family drama.

Longest book you’ve ever read. 

That would have to be Stephen King's Under the Dome. It's 1,074 pages long. 

Major book hangover because of…

Cinder by Merissa Meyer. It was my favorite novel of the year! Everything about it made me fall in love with the book. The main character, Cinder, is so real and likable, the plot was so well done and just plain cool, and I never knew what was going to happen next. Gah, I love it so much. As soon as I was done, I wanted to re-read it. 

Number of bookcases you own. 

Sadly, none. I wish I had bookcases to put all my books and knickknacks, but right now I keep all my books in plastic bins under my bed. 

One book you have read multiple times.

Duh, all the Harry Potter books and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. 

Preferred place to read.

In my comfy, cozy bed snuggled underneath the covers. 

Quote from a book you’ve read that inspires you.

I'm never good at keeping track of quotes from books, but I love this quote by Brandon Sanderson:

"By now, it is probably very late at night, and you have stayed up to read this book when you should have gone to sleep. If this is the case, then I commend you for falling into my trap. It is a writer’s greatest pleasure to hear that someone was kept up until the unholy hours of the morning reading one of his books. It goes back to authors being terrible people who delight in the suffering of others. Plus, we get a kickback from the caffeine industry…"

Reading regret. 

All the Twilight books and Delirium. 

Series you started and need to finish. 

There are actually a lot of series that I need to finish. I like reading YA trilogies. 

Three of your all-time favourite books. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Pride and Prejudice are always at the top, but the third is always so hard to pick. Right now, I'd have to say Cinder. 

Unapologetic fangirl for… 

(Pretty much stealing Kristin's answer. Thanks, Kristin!) Magical powers, secret worlds, alternate universes, the paranormal, the supernatural, and historical fantasy. 

Very excited for this release more than all the others.

The sequel to The School for Good and Evil and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. The third Cinder book. 

Worst bookish habit.

I've never written in books unless it was in textbooks for school. I think my worst habit is occasionally dog-earring pages and breaking the spines, though that's usually by accident. Oops.

X marks the spot: the 27th book on my shelf. 

On my e-reader, the 27th spot is The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey. 

Your latest book purchase. 

My latest book purchase was from a library sale. I got A Taxonomy of Barnacles, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, The Passage, and Dead Beautiful. (See here.)

Zzz-snatcher book (latest book that kept you up way late). 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I stayed up until two in the morning because I just had to know what happened next. 

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Fifteen Weird Things About Me

So I thought I would share a few random things about myself today for no reason other than I thought it would be fun! It's pretty hard to get to know someone when you only see them through a computer screen. You don't know my mannerisms or how I'm always touching my hair if it's down or that I make jokes when the conversation feels awkward, so I figured this might help you get to know me more. 

Or you can check out my Q&A over here. 

1. I can't sleep on sheets (for some reason I find them uncomfortable), so instead sleep on a soft blanket, while also having a blanket over me of course.

2. I touch my nose a lot. Not in a finger up my nose way. I have an oily nose, which isn't helped by the fact that I wear glasses, so I tend to wipe the top of my nose (the part that my glasses sit on) to get rid of the oil. It's a weird habit that I should probably stop.

3. I don't like peanut butter. Or mushrooms. Or olives. Or most red meat. I have the occasion hamburger and strip of bacon though. 

4. I prefer to write with black pens, which is why my username when I wrote Harry Potter fan fiction was blackink8922. 

5. My favorite scents are light and musky with a hint of floral. 

6. Before I go to sleep, I like to read the articles on the TV Guide app. You know how much I love TV, so is it any surprise? I love reading about my favorite shows. (And getting my Entertainment magazine is a highlight of my week.) I also loving reading novels in bed. It's so relaxing being snuggled up with a good book.  

7. I could re-watch Harry Potter, Letters to Juliet, Stardust, Pitch Perfect, Ever After, Tangled, and Pride & Prejudice a million times and never get bored. I'm not a super romantic person, but I just love these movies so much!

8. I need to write down any ideas that come my way immediately or they're gone for good. 

9. I don't know how to bake cookies or muffins or anything since the oven has been broken in my apartment since I was little, which means my mom never taught me. I guess this means I have to teach myself. 

10. Singing in my car to the radio makes me happy. I don't care if people see me singing. I'll never see those people again. Unless I do, and then I'm sure it would be awkward, but luckily that's never happened. 

11. Singing about random things in my life like Jess of New Girl also makes me happy. :)

12. I can see blood in person and be fine, but seeing blood on TV totally creeps out. I have no idea why. 

13. If my to-do list or any notes are messily written, I have to re-write them to make them look neat and pretty. 

14. I like reading while on the toilet. Yep, you read that right. I tend to get an upset stomach a lot, so my solution is to sit and read until everything's better. Plus, no one can bother you or burst in while you're in the bathroom. 

15. I'm addicted to using lip balm! All.the.time. My new favorite is eos' pomegranate raspberry lip balm. The sphere shape is really awesome. 

What are some weird things about you?

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Q&A with Sara

I thought I'd do a little Q&A, so that you all can get to know me a little better. I've been blogging on Sincerely, Sara (formerly Build Castles in Air) for a year and a half, but sometimes feel like you guys don't know all that much about me. So if you were curious about the gal behind the blog, well, here you go!

Q: Where do you live?

A: Without giving too much away, I live in Westchester, NY, which is the suburbs of New York City. Therefore I live about 45 minutes minutes away from the city, depending on traffic and mode of transportation. 

Q: How long have you been writing? When do you think you'll finish your novel?

A: I started writing back in 11th grade (2006) after talking with a friend about fan fiction. She told me that she wrote stories about the X Files, and I decided to check out fanfiction.net and was instantly hooked after reading Harry Potter fan fiction. I started writing the A Different Road series about Harry Potter. Once I went off to college, I started writing my own stuff and have two novels that I'm working on. 

The novel I'm working on right now is called Trust Fall, which is actually the second one I started. I hope to finish it and have most of the edits done by the end of the year. I have to hand in a large chunk of it for my thesis this upcoming semester. Then I want to send query letters out to agents and go from there. If it does get published, you guys will be the first to know!

Q: What's your favorite color?

A: Purple! Close second is red. 

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Hmm...probably chicken lo mein. I could eat that stuff everyday and be perfectly happy. That, or broccoli cheddar soup. 

Q: What's your favorite piece of clothing?

A: I absolutely adore what I call my Taylor Swift dress. It's red and lace-y and perfect and it makes me feel amazing when I wear it. 

Q: What's your favorite place in New York City?

A: Oh my god, how could I ever choose? There's way too many! But personally, two places will always be more special than anything else: One, Alice's Tea Cup! I've been here numerous times with my friends and it never ever gets old. It's just so magical and fun. Two, Central Park. It's a wonderful escape from the chaos of this city. I love all the bridges, the never ending paths, the Mall, Bethesda Fountain, I could go on forever. 

Q: How do you get your hair all wavy like that?

A: My hair is naturally wavy with a little curl. After I take a shower (at night before bed), I don't blow dry it, I just pull it loosely back into a pony tail and secure one or two more elastics along the actual pony tail. If I don't pull it back and let it air dry down it turns into a frizzy mess. Trust me on this. I also don't comb it all that much. 

Q: What's your favorite movie? Favorite book?

A: My favorite movie isn't anything Oscar-worthy or enlightening, it's the movie Stardust. There's just something about it that makes me happy; the story, adventure, romance, and fairy tale-quality to it never gets old. My other favorites are You've Got Mail, Amelie, The Shawshank Redemption, Letters to Juliet, Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan. 

For my favorites books, go here.  

Q: What's your favorite band?

A: I don't have one favorite band, but I do love Incubus, Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift, Paramore, Imagine Dragons, A Fine Frenzy, Florence + The Machine, Zoe Keating, and Eisley. I'm still sad that one of my Eisley CD's got burned when my first car caught fire. True story. 

Q: What's your favorite flower?

A: Red roses. 

Q: What do you do when you're not blogging?

A: I'm most likely watching TV or reading. You guys know I'm a TV junkie. If it's the middle of the semester, then I'm probably reading for school. Or you can find me writing my novel, getting blog posts together while listening to music, reading blogs or magazines while I drink iced tea, or hanging out with my family and friends.

Little things about me:
♥ I've been friends with Jackie since 3rd grade (16 years!) and Avra since 11th grade (8 years!).
♥ I need to write things down or I'll completely forget it.
♥ I hate getting crumbs in my bed.
♥ Snails and slugs creep me out.
♥ I love reading at night before bed.
♥ I don't like using blue pens (black pen user for life!). 

If you guys have any other questions ask me in the comments!

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