Day 20 - Guilty Pleasures

Today's prompt means that I have to actually admit to some of my guilty pleasures.  Some of them you probably already know about, but others . . . well, maybe not.  Putting them down on "paper", with photos even, makes them seem so real.

Popcorn - Okay, this one is not secret to anyone that knows me, but I love popcorn.  I like kettle-corn, some of the flavored popcorns and movie-theatre popcorn.  But, my favorite?!??!   Good ole' home style popcorn with a little bit of oil and salt.  This microwave brand comes pretty close to getting it just right.  Ron loves popcorn, as well, so that makes it even better.  Except when he wants to eat all of my popcorn.

The Bachelor (or Bachelorette) -  Yep, this one is kind of embarrassing to even admit, but, I like watching this show, despite the fake people, hokey situations/dates and all.   It is just mindless entertainment to me (although I would not have wanted my kids watching it when they were young and trying to figure out dating, etc.)

Reading Blogs -  While I have a hard time keeping up with my Feedly "feed" on a daily basis, I love having an uninterrupted block of time in the mornings (a rare occurrence) to sit out on the deck and see what is going on in the lives and homes of my favorite bloggers.

Big Bang Theory - Ron got me started watching this when we began dating and I love it.   Again, it is just mindless entertainment to me and makes me laugh.

Antique/junk Shopping - I certainly have no need for anything new at all to bring into my house.  In fact, I need to get rid of so much (about to begin reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), but I love browsing through antiques and second-hand markets, imagining how I could re-purpose items or restore them to their former glory.  Of course, it's fun to make purchases, but I can also be perfectly content to just browse and window-shop--particularly if it means spending time with my "junkin' buddies"!!

So, there you have it.  A few of my guilty pleasures.  Of course, there are more, but that's enough to reveal for one day.   What about you?

Day 16 - The Online Me

Today's prompt in the Blog-tember Challenge (can you believe that I have posted 16 days in a row!!! and twice on a couple of days!!)  asks the question, "The real you vs. the online you. Are they the same or different?"  Hmmmm. . . . I guess I have never really thought that much about it.  But, I think that for the most part, we are the same.  I started this blog for purely personal reasons---a way to document things that are happening in my life, with the people I love most.   I don't have huge following, so I think that most of the people that read my blog already know me.  

For those of you that don't, it's no secret to any of the people that know me best that I don't like to cook much (although that has changed some in recent years) and I love to make a mess with anything creative, but really don't like having to take time to clean it up.    The only thing that I think is probably different is the way my home is portrayed online vs. what it looks like in real life.   When I complete some new home improvement project, I take photos of it, and of course, try to capture it in the most flattering of ways.  But, in real life, there often is a lot going on "behind the scenes".   For example, you rarely see my coffee table in any photos because it most often looks something like this.

And the gallery wall that I completed over my couch??

Well, when you zoom out, it looks something like this right now.

The pretty headboard that Ron made for us and I painted?

Well, it looks like this right now.

The newly remodeled bathroom?

Well, it often serves as a place to hang all of our wet running clothes after they are laundered.

Sometimes, one of my friends will comment that they don't know how I have time for all the projects that I complete.  Well, I guess when you take a look at the house, it becomes pretty clear that I've made the choice to create rather than to clean.

So, now you know the REAL me.  Excuse me while I go make my bed and hang up some clothes.

Day 15 - What's In Your Bag?

Lately, I've been carrying a small, cross-body purse because it was perfect for summer.  But, with fall weather approaching, and school fully under way, I think it might be time to switch back to one of my regular purses.

So, as I take everything out of this tiny purse, this is what I find:

1. reading glasses   2. ZipFizz  3. Wallet  4.  receipts  5.  assortment of lip gloss/lipsticks   

6. cute notepad  7.  credit card wallet  8. zippered bag full of gift cards   

9.  keys on a carabiner to clip on my purse   10.  ibuprofen   11.  Favorite blue pens for work  

12.  reader sunglasses   13.  emery board   14.  gum

So what do the contents of my purse say about me?   

*  I'm getting old and cannot see

*  I definitely need a new wallet (for Christmas, maybe??)

*  I'm afraid I will lose my keys

*  Pens for work, lead to the need for ibuprofen

*  I never want to be without my favorite form of caffeine, ZipFizz
*  It's about time for a new pedicure!

Day 13 - This Season of my Life

Making the first collage last week was a rather daunting task, but it revealed some things about my blog that I'd like to work on. I've even begun working on the design of my blog so that it better reflects my inspiration board and my tastes, but today's prompt is to create a collage/inspiration board for this season in my life.  

Today's board is more about what is currently going on in my life . . . just a few of the things that fill me with joy.

Day 12 - Currently

Reading . . . some of my favorite blogs during my lunch break (not much time for anything else right now)
Watching . . . my sweet grand baby on Facetime from 1000 miles away (technology can be great!)
Trying . . . to train for another half marathon without getting injured
Calling . . . my brother, Dan, to check on him (but, probably not as often as he'd like)
Texting . . . Callie and Jana
Cooking . . .  3-4 times per week, which is quite a feat for me
Eating . . .  clean food, probably 80% of the time
Drinking . . . more water and a lot less Diet Coke
Going . . . back and forth to work and traveling between schools every day
Loving . . . being a grandmother
Hating . . . political arguments and close-mindedness
Wearing . . . slacks and blouses that actually fit again
Photographing . . . photos for my Project 52--this week is "Golden"
Thinking . . . about the best way to teach a mini-class in art journaling
Feeling . . . healthier and MUCH stronger
Hoping (for) . . . an opportunity to travel to SC this fall
Pinning . . . ideas for clean eating and a few scrapbook projects
Listening (to) . . . a huge variety of music genres in my playlists
Celebrating . . . slightly cooler temperatures, making workouts/runs a bit more tolerable
Smelling . . . popcorn popping in the microwave
Planning . . . a big fund-raising event at church for our mission projects
Dreading . . . being surrounded by politics
Ordering . . . a few Christmas gifts here and there, as I run across things
Thanking . . . God for the impact of friends I have encountered over the years, particularly some whose lives have recently been cut short
Traveling . . . back from Austin and planning our next small trip to Natchitoches (hoping for a camping trip this fall, as well)
Considering . . .  opening an Etsy shop
Starting . . . to  re-design my blog
Finishing . . . my last year or so of teaching!!!  I can't believe I'm saying that!
Creating . . . Halloween costumes for the grands
Learning . . . about blog design
Moving . . . with Camp Gladiator every morning and running on weekends
Wishing (for) . . . longer weekends and more time with family

What are YOU up to currently?

Day 9 - My Sixteen Year Old Self

Today's prompt asks me to write a letter to my sixteen-year-old self.  There is so much that I wish I could have told my 16-year-old self, knowing full well, that I probably wouldn't have believed most of it at that time.  But, here goes:

Dear 16-year-old Linda,

Your life is pretty great.  You have a family that loves you, and lets you know it--even those big brothers who spent years pretending to hate you, are coming around.  You have a handful of really good friends and a youth group at church that you're beginning to connect with.

I know that you sometimes long to be part of the "in crowd", but despite the fact that you are painfully shy, I see you gradually gaining a little bit more confidence.  I know your mom has told you before, but I hope you'll believe me when I tell you now, "It's okay to be different."     It is okay to stand for something different in the world and not to cave to the influence of peers, even if at times it feels rather lonely.  While it is hard to believe right now, someday, many of the things that seem so important right now, just won't matter at all.  There will always be someone that is cooler or more popular, but that doesn't in any way diminish who you are right now and who you will become.  Be confident in who you are and what you believe.

These days, you're beginning to wonder about your "purpose, your "life-calling".  Very few people ever figure out what their vocation is to be by this age, but you have been lucky in that regard.  Yes, you are supposed to be a teacher, but there is so much more.  Your "life-calling" is more likely to be ever-changing, as you journey through the different stages of your life.  Remember the "nudge" you felt on your youth mission trip? -- how if felt to connect with those in need and to make a difference in some small way?  That was just the beginning of the calling to serve others.  How about the joy you feel around babies and small children?   You will be called to be a mother. . . .and more.  The important thing to know is that each of those jobs is important and if you do them to glorify Him, then you will have done them well, regardless of how small or simple they seem to be at the time.

While your childhood has been mostly easy, your adult life is going to be hard at times.  Very hard.  You will experience hurt and disappointment and heartache and you will hurt for your children in ways that seem unimaginable right now.  I don't say that to scare you.  Rather, I want you to know that you will also heal.  You will make make some good decisions and make some that are not so great.  But, you are stronger than you think and will learn so much from every single experience that you will never again take life or family or friendships or circumstances for grants.  And that is a GIFT!

Your life won't always be easy. No one's life really is, no matter what it looks like from the outside. But, your life is going to be perfect.  Exactly the way God intended it to be.  So, trust Him with it and live it fully.

Love,
A much older, and somewhat wiser Linda

P. S.   One more thing.  You know that guy that you kind of have a crush on right now?  The one that thinks of you mainly as a really good friend?   One of these days, many, many years from now, after both have you have been through some pretty difficult heartaches, you are going to meet again.  And this time, the time will be right for you.  Having lived and learned from all of your life experiences--both the good and the bad---you'll marry your best friend.

Day 6 - My Style

Hmmm, what indeed is my style?  I mean, I do have some things that I feel more comfortable wearing than other things, but I certainly have never considered myself stylish in any way.  That being said, I guess the best way to categorize my "fashion style" would be easy, comfortable, casual.

On weekends and in the summer, I mostly live in shorts, jeans or workout clothes--barefoot, unless I have to go somewhere.   In fact, today, I am most likely hanging out with Ron and the family in shorts and a t-shirt, and a good pair of tennis shoes or flip-flops.

I sometimes long to look casual, yet pulled together, and have even earmarked a few cute coordinating outfits.  You know, something like this:

 or this:

or even this:
Why is it that I feel like I come off looking a bit more like this instead?

Here in the deep south, even though all those Polivore boards show airy summer scarves, it just isn't realistic until the temperatures have dropped considerably.  But, with fall just around the corner, I am beginning to look forward to scarves and boots again.   I imagine that you've see the scarf "how-to" photos and videos online.

I love scarves, and these tutorials make it look easy enough, but I just can't always seem to get the hang of it.  I'm always afraid that I might end up looking a bit more like this after twisting and tying a bit.

On a daily basis, I wear slacks that are comfortable and durable---I teach preschool, after all.  I need to be able to get on the floor and not worry about sticky fingers or paint splashes.   I shop for bargains, and generally reserve my "nicer pants" and dresses for dressier occasions.

After a few years of trying to wear stylish heels, strappy sandals or high wedges, I finally came to the conclusion that it just wasn't worth it to me.  While I love cute shoes, they generally have to have low heels and be very comfortable to get my vote of approval.  I like to wear boots in the cooler seasons and I also have several pairs of Toms shoes that I can wear year round. I love not only the way they feel, but their "one for one" business model.

So there you have it.  My fashion style---very casual and comfortable.  Pretty much the way I live my life.

Day 5 - Playlist

Today's prompt instructs me to put my playlist on "shuffle" and share the first ten songs that are played.  I have a variety of playlists, but this one comes from a conglomeration of my "running" playlist and my "easy listening" playlist.   Since I am writing this and scheduling it ahead of time,  (I should be in Austin by now) I'm not sure if this will play automatically or if you need to click on something to make it play --- or be silent --- but here on the first 10 songs from my shuffle.