Blog-Tember Day 5 | T Swift and friends

Today’s prompt: Put your iTunes/music player on shuffle and share the first 10 songs that play.

To be honest I was a little nervous about this prompt. I know very well what music I listen to and I know even more what kind of music I actually buy on iTunes. I really want to be perceived as more intellectual and hip when it comes to my music preferences, but the truth is I love this stuff! I love the cheesy, pop, upbeat stuff. I’m probably just a teenager at heart.

      1.     I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Michael Buble

      2.     This Love by Taylor Swift

      3.     Beautiful by Carly Rae Jepsen and Justin Bieber

      4.     Falling In by Lifehouse

      5.     Hurt So Good by Carly Rae Jepsen

      6.     Since U Been Gone by Pitch Perfect Soundtrack

      7.     Flood by Jars of Clay

     8.     The Saltwater Room by Owl City

     9.     Bellas Regionals by Pitch Perfect Soundtrack 

     10.  Bad Blood by Taylor Swift

Blog-Tember | Day 4

You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: "Did he have passion?".

I’m sure most of you have either heard this quote or seen this romantic comedy Serendipity, with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

Spoiler alert: the Greeks did write obituaries but I do love this quote. Quite honestly I wish when you met someone for the first time, this was the question rather than “what do you do?”

I had a really hard time narrowing down my passions so I am just going to go with a few. If you want to read more about my “favorites” hop on over to this post.

Here are a few of my passions:

Relationships

My friends and family are so important to me. And my husband, Scott is my best friend. I am still stunned that I get to spend my life with him. I am so blecky. (lucky+blessed)

Creativity

I love being creative! I enjoy stationary and water-color pencils and journaling. My husband and I made candles last year and it was really fun to be creative together.

Exploration

I love exploring new places, spaces and cultures. If I can’t swing a plane ticket to travel, I can visit a new coffee shop. I love exploring new blogs and books!

Books

I love love reading! I dream of having my own library someday.

Faith and Spirituality

I believe I am created in God’s image and so I treat my body, soul, and mind with kindness and love. I am grateful Love wins.

Helping others heal and see that they are loved and enough.

This is why I went into the profession I did. Therapy has made such a difference in my life and I hope it does the same for my clients. But it’s not just my clients, I want my friends and readers and fellow bloggers to know their intrinsic and stunning worth. We belong together! We are so loved. 

Blog-Tember | Day 3

Today's prompt:  Create a collage or inspiration/mood board that describes your blog.

This is my very first mood board! (confession: I had to ask how to create one) I'm still getting the hang of it. Rather than creating a mood board for my overall blog I just created one for my overall "desired mood"

This week I started my new job with an hour plus commute. After a summer of sleeping in, it has been quite a shock to the system to get up early and have to drive in San Diego traffic for an hour. I'm pretty overwhelmed with all the new protocol but am trying to take it one day at a time. I am a therapist at three different schools so the learning curve is steep. Also, the night before I started new job I thought it would be fun  crazy to take a self-defense class I purchased on groupon. 

It was some kind of combination of self-defense+kickboxing+taekwondo situation complete with an overly large white uniforms that looked like spa robes but were in fact NOT. I have not been this sore in a very long time. I walk like a penguin. It is almost impossible to get up after I have been sitting. My calves no longer work properly. Therefore this board shows you how I would love to spend my time: resting, relaxing, soaking up some self-care time and staying in bed. 

Can't wait for the weekend! 

THIRTY | Blog-Tember Challenge You've Been Good To Me

Today's prompt: A farewell coffee date. Take some time to breath, sip a warm drink, and share with your new blogging buddies. If you'd like a prompt: how did the Blog-tember challenge go for you? Any surprises? What was your favorite prompt, or what would you like to see included next time?

I will have a nice steamy cup of peppermint tea as it is too late in the day for anymore coffee. Today I had my first shift at my new position as a counselor at a treatment center. It was pretty intense and so as i was driving home I was pondering what self-care activity I could do. I remembered blogging! I felt excited and then sad that this is the last day of the Blog Temper Challenge. 

Even though I started only half way through the challenge I benefited from it so much. I loved reading other blogs and felt such warmth and welcome. Many thanks to  Bailey Jean for putting this together and for all your creative prompts and encouragement to us every day. Sometimes I have so many thoughts I want to write down but by the time I get in front of my lap top I am too discouraged to write them down or think that they only make sense in my head and won't make any sense if I type them out. The prompts helped me to write every day. I pursued letting go of some shame and perfectionism and tried to write just for the fun of it. It was great to write as well as connect with fellow bloggers who are so kind and brave. So many fabulous bloggers with such tender and creative hearts! Thank you Elizabeth for connecting me to the challenge! 

My favorite prompt was a toss up between September 18th (Tale of Travels) or September 21st (Fall Favorites). I loved going back in my mind to strolling around Lucca, Italy's windy charming streets on my honeymoon. I also adore fall and had fun dreaming up all my favorites. I wish I would have done September 10th. It's hard for me to talk about what I like about myself. It's difficult to practice self-acceptance but I believe it's so vital to living a full and gratitude filled journey. Maybe I will do it someday :) 

Goodbye September, Hello October! I hope to see you all around for the #write31days with The Nester! 

TWENTY-FOUR | Fall Bucket List

I am so excited for fall and for this prompt! I am an #eagerbeaver when it comes to all things fall so I have already been working on my bucket list. The achiever in me wanted to add more but I wanted to keep it fun and motivating! I just love lists so much. 

Today's Prompt: Your fall bucket list. What do you want to do before winter rolls around?

My Autumn Bucket List:

• Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Go to a Pumpkin Patch
• Celebrate Thanksgiving with family
• Decorate our apartment for fall
• Spend time in nature, maybe go to a cabin
• Wear something long sleeve without sweating
• Celebrate my birthday
• Try a new recipe, chicken potato chowder soup
• Practice gratitude
• Drink hot chocolate
• Make homemade soap/maybe candles
• Create a healthy rhythm and schedule for working two jobs
• Save money every month
• Get a pedicure/manicure with a fall color
• Blog about fall because I love it
• Be cozy
• Eat pumpkin seeds
• Go wine tasting
• Make pumpkin bread
• Order a yoga dvd
• Go to a fall party
• Have a photo shoot with leaves and scarves with film
• Eat apples with carmel dip
• Send out fall and Halloween cards

 There is it! What are some things you want to do this season?

SEVENTEEN| Brave Love Vlog, Vol 1

Today's prompt: Be brave! Make a vlog!

Today marks the first day of making a vlog! It was such a fun funny experience. Thanks to Brave Love for the inspiration! 

SIXTEEN | Little Did You Know

I am doing "today's blog prompt" for the day it was actually written. Today! Hurray! Check out this girl's fabulous blog for more prompts this month. 

Today's prompt: "Most people don't know this but…"

I love the smell of gasoline, library books and rubber cement.

I can’t stand "diet" anything. It tastes like nothing. 

I think it would be really cool to be Amish. I want to make homemade soap, and homemade candles and live in the fields

I want to give birth to red-headed children…but Scott and I don't have red hair.

I played volleyball, basketball, tennis, and ran track in middle school and high school. I was also a golf instructor, swim instructor and soccer coach.

I have extremely high arches in my feet which has cause me to have to be really picky about the shoes I buy

I hate HATE milk but I have to have it in my coffee. 

When I lived in Los Angeles for a brief period I LOVED it

Most of my life I wanted to be shorter. 

I adore photography but don’t want anyone to know because then I feel like there’s expectations and pressure to be good at it (now you know)

I would love to be a mermaid

Ticks are 10x LESS scary than spiders to me

I prefer the rain over the sun

I prefer the cold to the heat but this one is pretty obvious.

I have a problem with picking. If I paint my nails I have picked it off by the same time the next day. It is so satisfying.

I feel like the whole female species is on my side and believe we belong to each other. I’ve had to work hard at challenging my skepticism regarding the male species. After all they are human just like me!

It's your turn! Tell me something most people wouldn't guess about you.