73 Questions with Anna Elle Liz

I can’t be the only one slightly obsessed with Vogue’s 73 Questions right? The ongoing series where celebrities are challenged to answer 73 rapid-fire questions usually in under 10 minutes has captivated the attention of millions.

But who says it has to just be for celebrities? Inspired by A Lady Goes West’s blog and her take on Vogue’s 73 Questions, I’d thought I’d give it a try and challenge you all to get other bloggers in on this!

Some questions are easy. Some required a little more thought. And a few made me wonder who came up with these things in the first place.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it:

1. What’s your favorite time of day? Dawn. Right before the sun comes up, when the birds are starting to chirp and there’s that crisp little breeze in the air. There’s something so peaceful about the world before everyone else is awake.

2. What’s your biggest weakness? Not giving myself enough credit for what I accomplish and forgetting to be present in the moment.

3. What’s your biggest strength? Resilience. I’ve been through enough to know that even when something knocks me down, I’ll eventually figure out how to get back up.

4. What’s the biggest learning experience you’ve had? It’s better to be alone than lonely.

5. What’s your idea of a perfect date? A cooking class where we make something neither of us has tried before, eat whatever we manage to create, and then take a walk along the beach at dusk or at night—preferably with fireworks somewhere in the distance.

6. What’s one vice you wish you could give up? Comparison. It’s so easy to look at someone else’s life and start questioning your own, even when you know you’re only seeing a tiny piece of their story.

7. What’s a cause that is important to you? Helping people understand that people with disabilities aren’t defined by their disabilities. They’re people first, just like everyone else, and deserve to be treated with the same respect, understanding, and opportunities as anyone else.

8. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? That I’d make a great mom.

9. When are you the most inspired? In the wee hours of the night when everyone else is sleeping and the apartment is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That’s when my brain suddenly decides it has all the ideas.

10. Sweet or savory? Sweet tooth all the way! No contest.

11. What song can you listen to on repeat? “Greenlight” by Able Heart. There’s something about that song that I can keep coming back to.

12. What makes you smile the most? Babies and dogs!!! Honestly, it’s not even close.

13. What’s one thing people don’t know about you? Even though I can come across like I have everything together and nothing really shakes me, I spend a lot of time worrying about messing up or not being good enough.

14. Heels, flats, or sneakers? Gah, this is impossible. Heels if I’m going somewhere nice or heading to work, flats for everyday wear, and sneakers for working out or those I’m-running-out-of-the-house-for-five-minutes situations.

15. Vintage or new? A little bit of both. I love new things, but there’s something special about pieces that have a vintage feel or a story behind them.

16. What are the three things you can’t live without? My family. Music. My faith.

17. Window or aisle seat? Window. I like being able to rest my head against it, even though I’m absolutely terrified to look down through the window. So naturally, I choose the window seat. Makes perfect sense.

18. What’s your current TV character obsession? Not exactly current, but Stiles Stilinski from Teen Wolf will always have a special place on my list. Some obsessions simply have staying power.

19. Leather or lace? Lace—it’s feminine and sophisticated, and I’ve always loved that combination.

20. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Taking a gap year before college and spending that time volunteering and traveling. It gave me the chance to experience new places, meet different people, and figure out a little more about myself before starting college.

21. How would you define yourself in three words? Giving. Intelligent. Reliable.

22. What’s your current favorite piece of clothing that you own? My graduation dress! It’s an A-line, off-the-shoulder cream dress with lace detailing at the top. I actually picked it out during my first week of college and knew right away that I had to save it for graduation. Four years later, it finally got its moment.

23. What’s a must-have clothing item everyone should own? A pair of light-washed ripped skinny jeans. You can dress them up or down depending on where you’re going, which makes them an easy staple.

24. What’s inspiring you in life right now? My personal goals. Having something to work toward keeps me motivated, even when I’m not entirely sure what the next step looks like.

25. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? My mom always told me, “Never let anybody change your character.” It’s one of those pieces of advice that has stuck with me over the years.

26. What’s your pet peeve? Where do I even begin?! My biggest one is when people smack when they eat. For the love of God, please stop sounding like a cow grazing in a field! 😂

27. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds!! No hesitation.

28. What’s something you notice about someone when you first meet them? Their style and their smile. I feel like both can tell you a lot about someone before you even start talking.

29. What’s your biggest regret? I’m borrowing this answer from A Lady Goes West: not traveling more and being more carefree. I think sometimes we spend so much time planning for the future that we forget to actually enjoy where we are.

30. What’s heavily played on your music playlist right now? The Good Vibes playlist on Spotify. Seriously, check it out! It’s basically the soundtrack for when I want something upbeat and feel-good playing in the background.

31. What’s your favorite board game? LIFE! I have about four different versions of it. Clearly, I have a favorite. 😂

32. What’s your guilty pleasure? Taking time for myself and splurging on getting my nails done. Sometimes a little pampering is exactly what you need.

33. What book did you most recently finish?  “The Gaelic Otherworld: John Gregorson Campbell’s Superstitions of the Highlands and the Islands of Scotland and Witchcraft and Second Sight in the Highlands and Islands” by John Gregorson Campbell. Definitely a very specific interest of mine, but I’ve always been fascinated by folklore, superstition, and the stories people pass down.

34. What are you currently reading? “Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works (Lean Series)” by Ash Maurya. I love anything that gets me thinking about how to turn an idea into something that actually works.

35. How do you start your day? Check my phone, turn on meditation music, shower, make some coffee and breakfast, and give myself a little time to relax before heading out for the day or tackling my to-do list.

36. What’s your favorite holiday? A tie between Christmas and the Fourth of July. I love the coziness and traditions of Christmas, but there’s something about summer, fireworks, and the Fourth that I’ll always love too.

37. If you could raid one woman’s closet, who would it be? Selena Gomez. I love her comfy, casual looks just as much as her more glamorous outfits.

38. If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would it be? Rihanna. I think she’s incredibly inspiring, and the humanitarian work she does is amazing. Plus, I wouldn’t complain about getting to run your own company for a day. 😉

39. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but have been too scared to do? One of those dance classes where you dance in heels. It looks like so much fun, but I’m not sure my coordination would agree.

40. What’s the one thing you wish you knew at age 19? To try more experiences and be more carefree. I think I spent too much time worrying about whether I was doing things “right” instead of just enjoying the experience.

41. Besides your phone or wallet, what are a couple of must-have purse items? Water, lip gloss, headphones, gum, and tissues. Basically, a tiny emergency kit for whatever the day decides to throw at me.

42. If you were not a blogger or group fitness instructor, what would you be doing? I’d be a pediatric doctor. I’ve always loved the idea of working with kids and being part of those little moments when something finally clicks for them.

43. What’s something you can’t do? Cut straight with scissors. It’s always wonky and looks like a toddler did it. 😂

44. What’s your dream vacation? Staying in a cozy cabin in the Swiss Alps. Give me the mountains, a beautiful view, a warm blanket, and absolutely nowhere I need to be.

45. What’s one city you’ve always dreamed of traveling to? Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand has been on my travel list for years, and Wellington especially seems like such an interesting place to explore.

46. What’s something you always travel with? My passport, charger, laptop, and gum. The essentials!

47. Favorite food? Chinese takeout. It’s hard to beat.

48. Favorite dessert? Snickerdoodle cookies. Soft, cinnamon-y, and dangerously easy to eat way too many of.

49. Favorite snack? Oat and honey granola. Simple, but so good.

50. What’s a movie that made you cry? A Walk to Remember. If you know, you know.

51. What’s your favorite movie of the last five years? Spectral on Netflix. I’m always up for a good sci-fi movie.

52. What’s the one talent you wish you had? Being a polyglot. I’d love to understand and speak multiple languages—like, more than five. There’s something so fascinating about being able to communicate with people in their own language.

53. What’s your favorite exercise? Sumo squats with a lateral arm raise. It works more than one area at once, which I appreciate because I’m all for making a workout count.

54. What’s your favorite band? I don’t really have one, but I’m currently in love with Lizzo.

55. What’s your favorite fast-food order? Chicken and broccoli with garlic sauce and brown rice. I know it’s not exactly the stereotypical fast-food answer, but it’s my go-to takeout order.

56. What’s something you don’t want to be doing in 10 years? Wondering what I’m doing with my life. I want to keep growing, trying new things, and feeling like I’m moving forward.

57. What’s the cutest thing on planet Earth? Babies and dogs! This answer has not changed. 😂

58. What’s the best thing that happened this year? Graduating from college and getting accepted to grad school. Definitely a pretty big year!

59. What’s your favorite cocktail? A Moscow Mule. There’s just something about that ginger-lime combination.

60. Which movie makes you laugh the hardest? I don’t have one! So leave some suggestions in the comments because clearly I need to expand my comedy movie list.

61. Would you ever live anywhere besides NYC? I’d love to live in Washington. I’ve been obsessed with the Pacific Northwest forever, and I love the idea of being surrounded by mountains, trees, and all that gorgeous scenery.

62. Dream brunch? I’m a sucker for crêpes, so I’d say a strawberry-banana crêpe with vanilla custard cream and a French vanilla chai tea latte. Ugh, that sounds like heaven!

63. What’s your spirit animal? I’d love to say a wolf because they’re my favorite animal, and I think I embody some of their characteristics, like strength and courage. Because I’m so curious, I took a “What’s my Spirit Animal Quiz” and actually got a Wolf. If you take the quiz leave your spirit animal in the comments!

64. What’s your favorite thing in the world? Seeing people be kind and helping one another. Oh—and military homecoming videos! I’m always crying happy tears.

65. What’s your favorite color? Jagged Ice—aka the main color of my blog at the time. I clearly had to make my favorite color part of the branding.

66. What color clothing do you wear most? Not technically a color, but stripes. I’m pretty sure I own stripes in just about every color imaginable.

67. What are three words to describe living in New York City? Expensive. Crowded. Exciting.

68. Do you like surprises? Not particularly. I love surprising other people, though, which I realize is highly ironic.

69. What’s one thing you had to learn the hard way? To set boundaries early on. It’s much easier to establish them from the beginning than to try to introduce them after you’ve already let things slide.

70. What’s something you’re tired of? Hearing people constantly complain. There’s nothing wrong with venting about your day every once in a while—we all need to do it—but when complaining becomes the default, it gets to be a little much.

71. Who do you turn to when you’re sad? My mom—or I keep it to myself. I know, not necessarily the healthiest answer, but sometimes I need a little time to process things on my own.

72. What’s a trend you would like to see disappear forever? Using text lingo in real life. Please stop. My English-grammar-loving self cannot take it. 😂

73. What did you want to do with your life at age 12? Be a teacher. I love seeing the excitement on kids’ faces when they learn something and finally understand a concept. And, honestly, decorating my own classroom would have been pretty fun too!

Whew—we’re done! If you’ve made it this far, thank you for sticking around. This was definitely a little trip down memory lane. And if you’re another blogger doing your own version of 73 Questions, I’d love to read yours too!

What was your favorite question and answer?