Since this week’s simple living theme is authenticity, it feels like a good week to respond to a couple of nominations for the Be Unapologetically You tag. Tom over at The Doubting Thomas tagged me in this blogging tag a few weeks ago. Then, a few days later, I was tagged again by Em from Invincible Woman on Wheels.

First, a big thank you to Tom and Em for the tags. I’ve said before that these tags are a nice change of pace for me as a blogger. And, it’s always a compliment when other bloggers are interested enough in me and my blog to tag me in a post like this. If you’re interested in reading Tom’s post, you can find it here. Em’s post is here.

About the Be Unapologetically You Tag

This tag is all about sharing your genuine and authentic self. As I shared on Sunday, I’m pretty much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person, so this is a tag I can really get behind.

The tag was originally created by Izzy Matias and it’s such a fun idea. I love this quote from Izzy’s original post:

Because life’s too short to not love ourselves wholly, to not focus on what makes us happy and to not pursue our bliss.

Izzy Matias

I can’t argue with that, so here we go…

The Be Unapologetically You Tag rules

1. Use the Be Unapologetically You banner in your post. It can be your featured image or not. It’s totally up to you. 
2. Include the link to this blogging tag in your post – here it is!
3. Answer the 7 questions in this tag. 
4. Nominate between 5-10 bloggers, link their blogs, and tag them on social media to notify them. 
5. Most of all, have fun!

Be Unapologetically You Questions

1. Introduce yourself and your blog while sharing one trivia about you that not that many people know. 
2. What topics do you love “geeking out” about that you would say are topics that give you bliss? 
3. Do you blog about them? Why or why not? If not, would you like to blog about them one time? 
4. Would you say that you are living life by being unapologetically you? Why or why not? If not, what would your life look like if you were unafraid to share more about the things that make you happy? 
5. Permission to geek out & be unapologetically you: share with us one thing you fangirl or fanboy over and how you became a fan of it. It can be anything. Your love for soy candles, your favourite food, a boy band or an underrated film.
6. What do you love the most about being a fan? 
7. Share a fun or unforgettable fan experience. 

My answers to the questions

Question 1 – Introduce yourself and your blog while sharing one trivia about you that not that many people know. 

I’m Michelle from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It has been almost three years since I started my blog. My original goal was to share tips for environmentally-friendly living. Since then, I’ve expanded the blog to focus on decluttering, simple living and just getting the most out of life.

I’m a mom of two young adult daughters and have worked in financial services for over 30 years. When I’m not blogging, I love to sing and get outdoors to explore new hiking trails.

Hmm…a piece of trivia about me that not many people know. I mentioned I’m a singer. For as long as I can remember, I loved to sing for an audience. When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I entered the Kiwanis Music Festival. When I got up on stage, I forgot the words to the song I had been practising for months. It’s amazing that experience didn’t stop me from ever singing on stage again—although I will admit I’m still a little paranoid about forgetting song lyrics when I’m on stage.

Question 2 – What topics do you love “geeking out” about that you would say are topics that give you bliss? 

I suppose the topic that I love “geeking out” about is my favourite band, Queen. I’m a total Queen nut. If there’s a Queen documentary to watch or a new book to be read, I’m all over it.

Question 3 – Do you blog about them? Why or why not? If not, would you like to blog about them one time? 

I have mentioned my love for Queen in previous blogging tags, and I did write a post about the power of music to heal and unite. Otherwise, I don’t usually blog about Queen. Why not? Mainly because I can’t imagine it would have much appeal beyond my fellow Queen fanatics. Maybe one day, I’ll write a post like “100 reasons to love Queen”. Then again, maybe not.

Question 4 – Would you say that you are living life by being unapologetically you? Why or why not? If not, what would your life look like if you were unafraid to share more about the things that make you happy? 

This one is a resounding YES! I absolutely live my life by being unapologetically me, largely because it would waste too much energy to do anything different. When I was younger, I may have answered this question differently but, at this stage of my life, I’ve long ago abandoned trying to please or impress others by pretending to be someone I’m not.

Question 5 – Permission to geek out & be unapologetically you: share with us one thing you fangirl or fanboy over and how you became a fan of it. It can be anything. Your love for soy candles, your favourite food, a boy band or an underrated film.

I loved Tom’s answer to this question. “I’m 32 I don’t “fanboy” over anything!” Well, Tom—I’m 57 and I totally “fangirl” over Queen.

I was first introduced to Queen by my older sister, Lorraine, when I was about 10 years old. She brought home a Queen album (I don’t remember which album, but I think it was Queen II) and played it for me. I remember thinking, “This isn’t bad at all.”

When I was 11, Queen released A Night At The Opera and I have been hooked ever since. It’s cliché, but I remember rocking out to Bohemian Rhapsody on the school bus that year. That’s probably why the movie Wayne’s World resonated so much with me. It was a lot like my real life.

Question 6 – What do you love the most about being a fan? 

I think we all need something to be passionate about. Music has such power to heal and unite, and provides an escape from the world. I love that I can put on a Queen album and be taken back to my younger days.

Question 7 – Share a fun or unforgettable fan experience

In 2013, I attended Breakthru—The official North American Queen convention—for the first time. I honestly had no idea such an event even existed until I went to see The Queen Extravaganza a few months earlier. Breakthru was in Toronto that year, so they had a booth at the concert to promote the convention. When I learned the convention was being held on my birthday weekend, I knew it was meant to be!

That first Queen convention was such an amazing experience. A whole weekend of Queen…with people who love them as much as I do! I made so many great friends and have since travelled to Detroit and Atlanta for Breakthru. Sadly, it has been cancelled the last two years because of the pandemic, and this year it conflicts with a work event that has also been planned for years so I’ll have to miss it. But, I will be there in spirit.

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My nominees

Now it’s time to spread the love. I invite these awesome bloggers to take part in the tag, if they wish to:

The Yorkshire Dreamer

Bosssy Babe

Smelly Socks and Garden Peas

Jasperden Health

Enviroline Blog

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What about you? Do you present an authentic view of yourself to the world? Tell me your thoughts below.