Blog-Tember | Day 20 Pleasures

Today’s prompt: It’s guilty pleasure time! Shows, books, songs, foods whatever it might be!

Moment of truth: I don’t exactly believe in “guilty pleasures” I only believe in pleasures. Lol. I have just removed the whole guilt part (at least for the most part)

I grew up with a MASSIVE guilt complex. Ask any of my family members. I apologized on average about 20 times a day for literally everything I did or didn’t do.

Today I try not to think in black and white terms of my decisions (good versus bad food for example) I try to think more abstractly and give myself lots of compassion. I try to stay curious before I judge myself.

So my what brings me pleasure? (well this is starting to sound oddly sexual now) Promise to keep it PG:

The Mindy Project

Parks and Recreation

Brooklyn Nine Nine

Chocolate pretzels

Chocolate covered almonds

Chocolate with sea salt

Chocolate with caramel

Chocolate cupcakes

A can of black olives
Box macaroni and cheese

Buying nail polish almost every time I go to Target (or doing something else to get nail polish, read below*)

Buying anything cute and miniature

Keeping tags on new things forever because it makes it feel new longer. (drives Scott nuts)

Not doing laundry and buying more underwear at Target instead

Taylor Swift

Dark Horse Coffee

Christian Romance Novels and the occasional Nicholas Sparks novel (I admit to having some sheepish feelings about this)
Christmas Hallmark movie specials

Pulling my car over when I see a sign for puppies and pretending I am interested and can afford 1,000 for this niche breed.

Picking all my nail polish off in one full sheet

Smelling books
Signing up for a free box of something and then canceling it*

Can't wait to hear about yours!

Blog-Tember | Day 19 The Best Day(s)

Today's prompt: Tell us about one of the best days of your life!

Wow! It is hard to pick to pick only one of the best days. I have so many favorite days. A few jump to mind:

When I was in third grade and went to pick up my first puppy ever: a black labrador. She was adorable and cuddly and so scared to be away from her mom. I loved every minute of her. 

Thunderstorms growing up in Nebraska and homemade chocolate-chip cookies

Running Cross Country with my team in Minnesota one day in the middle of fall and "finding" an apple orchard one day and eating apples and fresh squeezed apple juice.

The first time I went kayaking

Getting the letter that congratulated me on being accepted into LA Film School for an internship

A day in Hawaii that included snorkeling, journaling, reading and Mai Tais. 

My very first date with Scott

The day I got a call saying I got the position for my practicum site for my Marriage and Family Therapy program

My first Thanksgiving in Yosemite

My first day in Lucca, Italy

A day spent in my neighborhood, drinking coffee, reading and going to the monastery. 

And of course, our wedding day. 

I'm grateful to have so many "best days" and "favorite moments". The list could go on and on. And what is ironic is that some of my best days aren't necessarily all that glamorous and exciting. I look back and have this calm and content feeling about those days and that is what makes them so good. A lot of my favorite days came after many hard days and it seems my relief was so great that everything was seen in vivid and bright color.

I feel cliche being one of "those girls"who really does see her wedding day a one of the best days. (I guess the other side of the coin would be a-not-so-good day and I'm grateful it wasn't that!) It was a dream come true. Our engagement was hell. I grieved the death of two people during that time, lost my job and went just about financially bankrupt during that time. My engagement was a time of coming out of hell and figuring out how I was going to piece my life back together one day at a time. Scott loved me and adored me through it all. My friends and family drew close and helped me pick up all the pieces. Come our wedding day, I were both just floored with gratitude, and stunned that we could experience something so beautiful and breathtaking as unconditional love as well as being surrounded by all those who love us and know us best and who had walked with us through the fire. My wedding day reminds me that love wins.

What are some of your best days?

Blog-Tember | Day 18 Vlog: Fall Reading List

Today's prompt: Make a vlog! 

Oh my goodness! I am such a novice with vlogs! I am so not tech savy. How does everyone edit their vlogs? 

Anyway today I share a fun little fall reading list for your enjoyment! What books are you reading this fall? 

Blog-Tember | Day 17 | My latest loves: Mindy, Oils, Bopo and Coffee

Today’s prompt: Just for fun: your latest obsession. What can you not get enough of these days?

Mindy Kaling  Mindy's latest book "Why Not Me" arrived at my door yesterday afternoon and I could not be happier! From the first few pages I was already laughing out loud. She is just so witty, down to earth and likable. Also, The Mindy Project is FINALLY back on. I won't spoil it for you but lately I've just can't get enough of Mindy! 

Essential Oils As you know, I've been a bit sick with a cold so I've upped my game with essential oils. I've recently discovered the healing powers of Thieves! And Clove! And Lemon! I use them in my diffuser :)  I can also put the lemon in my water or in tablets and it cleanses the toxins from my body.  Today I ordered Young Living's Orange essential oil. Apparently it helps with the digestive system, helping alleviate feelings of stress and calming the nervous system. (and apparently can be used as bug repellent! Who knew!)

Body Positivity The #bodypositivity community is great. I love following them on Instagram. I am so inspired to practice self-care by nourishing myself and respecting all the ways my body changes and grows. I liked the quote about embracing our own "glorious mess" because we are just human and being human is the most stunning thing. We don't need to be filtered or edited or photo-shopped or try another diet or go down a size to know our true and intrinsic worth. Our worth cannot be measured or weighed.

Coffee  My morning coffee routine is very important to me especially now with an HOUR PLUS commute in the mornings to work. But even on the weekends my coffee is important. It reminds me to savor, to be in the moment and enjoy the present. Coffee reminds me to take a deep breath as I get ready to face another day. Also, Scott and I just love exploring new coffee shops and roasters. It's a hobby we really love. There is so much more to learn and explore in the coffee world!

What is your latest obsession these days?

Blog-Tember Challenge | Day 15 Will I Find New Treasures?

Today’s prompt: What’s in your bag? Pick up your purse and peruse it’s contents and then share it with us!

This could be real scary! Most of the time, I don’t want to be have a heavy purse hanging on me all day but the truth is, I need the all the space I can get! Below is my list. My purse list. My "purst"

Wedding party favor of bubbles

Julep Lip Conditioning Treatment

Eye drops

Tampons (of course)

Two bottles of mascara

Homemade beeswax Chapstick a friend made for me J

Aveeno mini lotion

Clinique Chubby Stick: Grandest Grape (I love this!)

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Wallet

Drivers License

Credit Card

Debit Card

Insurance Card

A couple of Starbucks giftcards (yay!)

Phone charger

Thieves essential oil (this is my friend's actually so now you know I practice thievery) GET IT!!!!?

Sea-foam green nail polish

Sudafed

Burt’s Bees Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm

A comb

Ginger chews

A bag of almonds

Ibuprofen

Peppermint Tea Bag

One quarter and two dimes (what a gold mine! Better go shopping!)

Dr. Bronner’s Hand Sanitizing Lavender Spray

Black Paper Mate Pen

Sunglasses

Travel Kleenexs

Mace

Various receipts

3 mini bags inside of purse ;)

A schedule for cooking classes at Sur La Table

A schedule for Martial Arts classes

And this:

 I wasn't sure how to describe it so I took a picture of it. I got it through a self-defense course I took. The instructor said it was more reliable than mace because of it's weight and pointy shape. Also the blue is kind of pretty :)

Okay I'm excited to read about what is in all of your bags or purses! Is it just me or does your purse ever feel so heavy your shoulder hurts by the end of the day?!

Blog-Tember | Day 14 For The Love Of Books

Today’s prompt: 5 books that have impacted you the most?

This was such a fun prompt for a gray Monday morning. I am still fighting the cold but am back to work. I packed a nice little travel bag of tea, kleenexs, vitamins for the road plus essential oils (yes please to Thieves!) 

Photo credit: Pinterest (dream library)

I had such a hard time narrowing down my 5 most impactful books. I love books so much and so many have influenced me greatly*. I decided to just pick the 5 that have most recently and positively** impacted me. These books are ridiculously good. I re-read them over and over again and go back to them often to pull quotes to put in my art journal. These books are like friends. If you want to read more about the books I read head HERE and you will find many more friends! 

Faith Unraveled by Rachel Held Evans

Carry On Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaefer

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niquest

* Other books that influenced me greatly growing up were all the books by Robin Jones Gunn especially The Christy Miller series. She gave me so much hope! Also When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy and Mark of The Lion series by Francine Rivers as well as the books by Max Lucado. He gave my tender and worried heart so much comfort growing up. 

** Of course the Bible is a book that has both negatively and positively impacted me. Ever read Tamar's story about being raped or the passages on wifely submission, babies being dashed against rocks or slavery or ...well you get my point...The Bible also has passages that have brought me comfort, bravery and a feeling of safety. When I read about Jesus turning water into wine, feeding the five thousand and calming a storm I am reminded that love ultimately wins. I don't have to be a theologian to recognize this truth. But I sure have some questions...(hence why I love Rachel Held Evans) Thankfully I don't think God is intimidated by my reactions to some of the disturbing passages I've come across. :) 

Blog-Tember | Day 13

Today prompt: Create a collage or mood board for this season of your life. 

As I looked at this collage I felt overwhelmed and chaotic (and noticed my lack of photography skills). But then I realized this is a very accurate mood board because I do feel busy and overwhelmed. I am grateful for colorful markers and fun planners to help me stay organized with my new job!

I have also been sick this weekend. It is a terrible weekend to be sick as two of my good friends had birthday parties. (one is turning the big 30!). I brought a kleenex box with me to both parties. My good friend is flying in from Indiana today too! The last thing I want to do is go back to work tomorrow blowing my nose and feeling fuzzy in the head. I saved you from a "I'm sick collage" as I'm hoping this is only a few days and not a season. lol.

When I have more energy maybe I'll make a pretty collage of my inspirations for this season but for now, I show you truth! :)

Can't wait to see all of yours!