A Few of My Favorite Things

Stroll Down Memory Lane

Today's Prompt asks me to write about a memory that I would like to relive. There are many memories that I would like to relive. My wedding is probably top of my list. That was honestly the best day of my life to date. Great food, dancing, and surrounded by the people I love most. Great memory, and I am grateful to my parents for making that day so wonderful! Best.Day.Ever.

I also thought back to a memory from Christmas that was just wonderful. It snowed, we got a trampoline, and Santa left a Christmas tree on our back porch. Best.Christmas.Ever.

Then there was the time my family went to Europe: 9 countries in 16 days. I would relive that trip and those memories in a heartbeat. I was 12 when we took the trip, so I think doing it again now that we are all older would be even more memorable and hands down awesome. I didn't realize the trip of a lifetime we were on at the time, so if I could do that trip (or even half of that trip) all over again with the family I love most, I would jump at the chance in a second!!! :) Best.Trip.Ever.

Then there are the  many memories that occurred during college. I always tell the Husband that those were the best four consecutive years of my life and he has a lot to live up to. But seriously, the love of academia, wonderful friends, serving together, late nights and late night chats, built-in support group, spontaneous dance parties, random pranks, no responsibility other than class, number of sorority events that required costumes, Baylor SING, still on parents bill, and carpe diem attitude, as well as the constant access to any and all Baylor sporting events for free make those four years hard to beat. And the fact that my sisters and I were there for a year together at the same time, in the same sorority was pretty awesome. So, here's to college and here's to Baylor U and here's to the best four years of my life.

Until next time, be blessed....

Day 9: A Self Portrait

Blogtember Continues

Today's prompt is to explain how social media has changed me. I have decided to discuss this in terms of how it changed me pro/con style!

Positive Ways Social Media Has Changed Me:

1. It has given me an opportunity to express myself through writing to a larger audience besides my daily journal writing. It has done so for many others as well. As a result, not only do I get to write, but I get to read other writings and that has made me a better writer. 

2. It has given me more access to more information regarding current events. Information is accessible in an instant. Not only has social media made current events more accessible, but it has also given me a passion for current events and what is going on in our world. 

3. It has spurred my creativity.

4. It helps me connect with others I may not get to see on a daily basis. 

5. It makes me appear cooler than I really am.

Negative Ways Social Media Has Changed Me:

1. While it has given me an opportunity to express myself through writing, let's be honest, sometimes not writing about my deepest, darkest secrets in a public forum is the best idea. Those are the days journals are good. Social media has forced me to find the balance and made me more cognisant of how, when, where, why, and what to communicate. 

2. Instant information through social media has almost become a craze. It is as if I can't go without 5 minutes without looking at my phone, checking Facebook, twitter, or some other form of social media.  Sometimes the Husband asks me to put the phone away just long enough to enjoy dinner. I'm bad.

3. I waste more time. Precious time. On somewhat meaningless things. I get less things done. Somewhat important things.

4. While it helps keep me connected to people, sometimes I find myself stalking people that I haven't seen in years or people that I don't even know. Social media has a great way of keeping the world connected, but through the connection, I can click, click, click, and next thing I know I am reading profiles, blogs, twitter accounts, etc. of people I have never.even.met. And then I feel like I know a lot about people that I've never.even.met. And then I feel like I am friends with that person and we have never.even.met. I'm okay with making new friends, but perhaps meeting new friends the standard way (aka: in person or through introduction) is not a bad idea. And less stalkerish.

5. It has sometimes given me an inferiority complex that I am not as cool as everyone else, that my life is not quite as together as everyone else's life, and that perhaps my life stinks. Keeping up with the Jones's has risen to a whole new level when people can blast pictures and minute-by-minute updates on how awesome their life is. Sometimes that is hard to keep up with.

So that is how social media has changed me. Some ways it has changed me for the better and some ways it has changed me for the worse. Like all good things, social media must be taken in moderation. So here is to letting social media be a force for good writing, creativity, and keeping connected to friends and world events, while making sure to look at my technology a little less, get a little more work done, be more happy with who I am and stop comparing myself to others, and spend a little more time developing meaningful in-person relationships, uninterrupted by social media. 

Until next time, be blessed. 

Online Shopping???

Day 7: Share links to a few of your favorite online shops. 

To be honest, I saw this prompt and thought to myself: "I do not have a single online shopping link to contribute." And that is mostly true. I rarely shop online for three reasons: 

1) I am a total girl, and I like to shop in person at the stores. Some call it retail therapy and others call is relaxing. I call it both. I don't do much shopping anymore now that I am a married girl on a budget, but I love.to.shop. And when I shop, I like to be out and about doing it. Shopping is all about the experience for me! Feeling the clothes, smelling the scents, and catching the deals. Live and in action! 

2) When I am buying clothes, I usually have to try them on. I am tall and lanky. As a result, I usually have a hard time finding clothes that fit well. So, with that in mind, I usually go to the stores to buy clothes to make sure they fit. I also find that things sometimes look different online than they do in stores, so I like to ensure I like the color, texture, and appearance of a particular item before I buy it.  It also prevents returns that involve shipping. Shopping already costs money, but then to pay shipping on top of that? And then pay shipping again if it doesn't fit or I don't like it the item? No bueno. 

3) If I shop online, I am more likely to click, shop, pay, and spend money I don't have. With that in mind, I try to save up, plan ahead, shop with a purpose, and stay away from the online shops. It's just too dangerous for this lover of shopping. 

With that in mind, there are a few sites I visit online. I rarely buy online, but sometimes if I need a pick-me up and I can't get out to shop around, I will browse a few of my favorite stores online. 

Anthropologie: I know this is not an online store, but since I rarely make it to the actual store, I do a lot of online browsing on Anthro's website. Hand's down this is my all-time favorite store. When I have a bad day, a trip to this store sets my day right again. The entire environment is relaxing. The decor, the clothes, the smell, and the music. When I can't get there in person, I visit the site to see what's on sale (and to see if I can find an excuse to make a trip to my favorite store). You can shop it here.

May Designs: I LOVE all things writing. And stationary, journals, and calendars are a few of my favorite things! So, this is the perfect site! One of my college roommates introduced me to this site about a year ago, and I have fallen in love with it. They have great patterns, colors, and the option to personalize your items too! And it is a great site for affordable gifts! Every now and then, they have a Groupon so keep an eye out! You can shop here. 

Kate Spade: Confession: I.love.katespade. I have my husband to blame for this. He introduced me to Kate Spade and, in fact, bought me my first Kate Spade purse. And of course, I fell in love with the style. Very "Jackie O." But with our frugal budget, I cannot afford Kate Spade, especially in stores. So, I will occasionally visit their online store during their surprise sales: 75% off sale plus 20% off.  Because who doesn't love a Kate Spade? And who doesn't love a Kate Spade on sale? I do. And during their surprise sale, the prices are sometimes better than the outlet prices! Can't get much better than that! Be sure to sign up with your email to receive special sales notifications. You can shop here. And to top it off, they have a surprise sale going on now. Check it out! 

So, those are the three stores I frequent most online when I want to treat myself. Remember: A happy shopper is a wise shopper! Happy Shopping!!!!!! 

Very, Very, Very Afraid.....

Today's prompt is to write about a time that I was very afraid. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am scared of birds. Scratch that. I am terrified, petrified, scared out of my pants afraid of birds. It started when I was a child, and while I am working on knocking it, those beady eyes, pointy beaks, sharp claws, disease carrying feathers, and the bird's ability to fly faster than I can run have prohibited me from overcoming this fear. Some tell me its irrational and that I should seek help. I respond by asking what their greatest fear is. I then tell them I will take that fear, place them within that fear, and then see how they like it......

So yes, I still freak out when birds fly in my direction are anywhere within my proximity. And no, there were no flying doves at our wedding.....Here goes my story.....

Setting: Florence and Venice Italy Age: 12 years old. Circumstances: The birds were everywhere. In fact, the bird lady from Mary Poppins was there feeding them-thousands of them. She was covered in birds. My.worst.nightmare. Problem: You could not walk to our destination without going through the bird madness. If we had a picture this would be a good depiction:

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And then there was the time that I was chased down the beach by an entire flock of these.viscious.creatures. One word:terrifying.

  

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So that is the last time I remember being really afraid: the thought of a flock of birds pecking my eyes out. Or giving me bird disease. Or carrying me off to who knows where. So there's that.  

Day 2: For 3 Months I Would...

Day 2: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?

If I could take off and do anything for three months, I would probably take off and go back to Guatemala to spend some time with these adorable faces:

 The scenery is not too shabby either

You can read about it here, here, here, and here.