Goodybe October

October was kinda...eh. I think cause maybe everyone else is like "OH MY GOSH, IT'S FALL!" and then they go dance in the leaves and wear scarfs and we here are still sweating like pigs.

Let's just cherish that beautiful thought for a moment.

(actually, please don't)

I Didn't get all my goals, but I'm still okay with it. Because if I got mad over goals I made FOR FUN, that would be pretty stupid right? Among other things I do.

Read the Bible every night
Read through 2nd Samuel
Try 5 new ethnic foods
Make fall foods
Walk the puppies 3 new places
Write 15 letters
write in my prayer journal 3 times a week
Work on HTML
enjoy volleyball
read 2 books
watch a good movie 

 It's funny, I managed to watch a movie (a good one at that!) but I didn't get to read books?

Logical error. Good thing I'm taking Logic this semester!

Camping Forever

I don't know about you, but camping messes with me.  It seems like you leave and you feel like you've been gone forever and when you get back, you realize its been like what? One day?

My body clock has gone haywire...AGAIN.

I'm just so happy to be home and that it's chilly and I get to do my things and get stuff done and that I have a real live piano now.  And wear scarfs. Because people, it's 70 here so we're breaking out our winter wear like its -20 and snowing. It's just what we do.

(anyone with me on the whole camping deal?)

My way of blogging

When I first started reading blogs, I started reading blogs that were not like mine. AT ALL. Each post was poetic and heartfelt and worded perfectly, and then topped off with 10 pictures taken with cameras worth twice mine...

Ouch.

At first, I tried to be like that. And it was an epic fail. And then I had no idea what to do. And that was a MAJOR epic fail. 

But thankfully, I finally realized that, THAT'S NOT ME AND IT'S OKAY. I mean, Hello? Where had the REAL me been all this time? Apparently nowhere, because I'd been having a mini-blog-identity-crisis. With lots of hyphens because, it sounds cool.

I'm  a do-er, not a feeler.

I'm a talker, not a writer.

I'm me, not them.

And that's perfect.

 I just found this, and I'm sorry, but I kinda think I was adorable.

I also found one of me sitting in a Rubbermaid tub. Super model.

Announcing a new tradition!

Guess what? I'm starting a new tradition!

Mom and Dad are going to be THRILLED, to say the least!

I herby declare, that every birthday, I will pick out a special dress to wear!

YAY!

Needless to say, I'm pumped. I've been googling (and googling) since August for THE DRESS. I found it, but it was still $65, so I've started searching again.

I think when I find it, I'll start balling and huggging everyone and shout "I'M SAYING YES TO THE DRESS!!!" Because really, that's what ANY teenage girl would do after she's watched 40 hours of Say Yes to the Dress. Maybe I'll even get jacked up! And by jacked up, I mean actually get out of gym shorts and comb m hair.

Guys, it's gonna be a good day. Keep the tissues ready...

The Cure

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say, you're bored today.

I totally read your mind right? RIGHT?

Okay, so before I get my reality show on TLC, I'm going to show you how to make these (totally exciting, cure for boredom) washi tape wall stickers.

Because genius is my middle name. And so is the internet.

ONE: Lay 4 strips of washi tape on wax paper. TWO: Trace a circle on the tape. THREE: cut out your circle. 4: Peel off the tape and stick all over your walls.

Plus, these are removable! So if you just so happen to get bored...AGAIN, you can move these all around.

It's pretty entertaining, I'm sure!

PS: I got my washi tape at target. On aisle 27.

Forgive me

I'm sorry, more nature photos. I know, I'm killing you with these. But seriously, plants are just about harmless, so here we go!

I'm trying to figure out what my photography style is. Unfortunately, these pictures do not represent it in the least. I can't figure out if I like my photos darker or lighter or whatever. Black and whites and I are not friends, and seriously, I wanna get in a serious relationship with those suckers! Undying love, that's what. You me, black and white. Meant to be.

At this point, I could just start singing sad love songs (hello, EVERY singer) and it would be totally appropriate.

I think?

I promise, NO MORE NATURE PHOTOS THIS WEEK. I'm really sorry. I guess I'm turning into a greenie, but what can you expect nowadays? I did wear Green jeans today, I think that's a bad sign.

Never mind.

We feel fall

We've only been waiting for, I don't know, FOREVER?!?

Um, okay, a whole year?

We use the word "Fall" very loosely here. It's better known as "The few months between the endless summer."

Endless Summer as in REALLY hot. If we seriously had and endless Summer as in NO school, we'd all be living on top of one another.

Three things you need to know:

1. It smells like fall.
2. These are VERY typical photos.
3. I took these while wearing my volleyball uniform shirt and a floral skirt.

And then I just almost told you I took these outside...........

(and I think we'll end this conversation here.)

Kitchen stills

 I could be all artsy and go "The kitchen is the heart of our home, it's where all our memories are made and where our family bonds. I tried to capture it in its truest form, a form so dear to my heart."

But of course, none of that would be true.

I mean, we do bond in the kitchen. Over FOOD that is. We're carnivores, come on.

I'll give you the bottom line, I was sitting on the kitchen counter, and I was bored. Yes, bored. And the light was nice. And I took pictures of squash...you're jealous.

A squash and a teacup? I'm totally on to something.

This should explain everything.

Finally! Volleyball is over.

The last game was great. We lost, but played SO well for us. Wanna know something creepy? Instead of for I wrote fur. Furrrr....

Okay, it's 10 and I just ate taco bell. That should explain everything right?

Halfway through the varsity game, we noticed the sky was doing magical things. I had the wrong lens and I didn't bother to put it in manual (thus the VERY grainy results) But Andy and I had fun prancing through the field and blinding innocent strangers with my socks. Cheeto power!

Real Bloggers?

Blogging always raises questions for me. I always wonder about popular bloggers, are they really real?

(really real? That sounds so....never mind.)

Being real AND a blogger, to me, don't seem to go hand in hand. A blog is an image. It's the parts of your life you want to display, to show the world, to define you. But life is icky and nasty, and which blogger wants to show THAT? How much do bloggers refine and define their life, till really, we don't know what it's like at all?

(this is how I personally feel some bloggers portray their lives, so naturally, I've added my own peanut gallery comments.)

I have a perfect life (not even close, I only share my favorite stories) I always eat nice food (except those 5 thousand peanut butter and jellies) I love my family crazily (but that doesn't mean some days I'd like to strangle them.)
I always take amazing photos (wow, this is a joke) I look amazing any time (except from 12 AM to 12 AM.) My faith strong and I always do what's right (oh really, does anyone.e?) Basically, I'm amazing (or that's the impression I'm trying to give.)

Any thoughts you'd like to add? How do you stay real while blogging? I'd love to know.

And to end these profound thoughts, I'd just like to point out that I used the word Jellies and I think that is very cool.  End of story.

No one ever told me.

Most people don't blog pictures of them jumping up and down, for good reasons I'm sure.

Unfortunatly, no one ever told me what those reasons actually are. Thus the reason, I'm giving you these.  Mainly because it was the best day ever and Andy looks like a frog. No shame there. And what do I look like?
 
Excuse me while I go hid my face in a pillow.

(you probably don't want to enlarge these so you can see the hilarious hideous expressions on my face.)

B.B.C.P.

This is what I waste my days doing. Coming up with desserts that don't involve turning on the oven, washing too many pans or basically exerting yourself. After all, isn't baking a cake such strenuous exercise? That's why I made single serving cake pops instead.

Light bulb moment.

I made a tumblr (and I'm telling you.)

So Guess what? I have a Tumblr! I know, super awesome alert. Me? Tumblr? OMGoodness.

For some reason, I'm wildly excited about it. Maybe because it's just SO me? I kinda love things like that. Like, when I see a dress that has my name all over it I give a few squeals, dance like who knows what and grab it in ten sizes like there's a mob rushing after me. Shopping in style, that's what it is.

Now, how did I get off on the subject of Shopping? Mystery of the century.

Anyway, you should follow me on Tumblr. And you should NEVER go shopping with me. Moral of the story for sure.

What I did Monday night

I was debating about writing this post for a while now. I'm not sure everyone else wants to hear all the embarrassing things that happen to me. But on the other hand, why not? Here goes nothing.

AWKWARD:
 Getting a song stuck in my head that I'd never heard before (you can imagine how it sounded when I sang it!)
Helpfully telling KJ that if he ordered a 7 layer burrito without lettuce and tomato, it would be only 5 layers
Scratching my head, and pulling a fingernail out of my hair
getting bit by a fire ant in my closet
(and) finding out at midnight that my closet was infested by fire ants
hearing a lady in a store ask for skinny jeans in a size 20.
.....and the worst one....
spending 10 minutes in the bathroom fixing my hair for the volleyball game, coming out and saying "I know my hair looks horrible" only to have Emily tell me, "Did you know just came out of the MEN'S bathroom!?!?"

AWESOME:
Having a 6 year old make my bed for me
Finishing my blog design (not this one, more on this soon)
having a week off from school
sewing an original design

And there you have it. Let's hope I stay clear of men's bathrooms this week. It's been kind of an involuntary thing lately. Never mind.

Happy Tuesday!

A few things I've learned

 From September:

Well, I officially did it! No new clothing for a whole month! My parents and my wallet thanked me tremendously. I've resisted a LOT but I've known I've needed too, so it worked out. Here's what I've learned:

1. There will ALWAYS be something new you will want, so get over the sold out peplum top.
(which I don't even remember now!)

2. Old Navy is from the devil. So are the crazy amount of add emails they send.

3. Spend your month finding DIY clothing projects to make...it seems totally different shopping for DIY clothes. Which it isn't. I like to ignore reality sometimes.

4. Browse expensive websites, ones you know you REALLY can't afford. (okay, some might advise not doing this, but for me, it gets my mind of the $23 dollar dress I want.)

5. That trends don't really matter. (DUH!) I'm sorry, but I love colored jeans. And I will still get some. Even if they go out of style 2.6 seconds later. I still love 'em.

I think that's it. I don't learn very quick apparently! Have you gone clothing free for a while (I mean buying free? Please, I don't advise the previous.) If you have gone buying free, do you have any tips for staying on track? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Xoxo,
Clothed.

Unhealthy addiction

I used to think the amount of pictures I took of the puppies was creepy. I mean, It is kinda. They are just dogs, and for sure all they do is snore all day, but in a way, they are all I have.I don't have siblings to take pictures of, so really they are the only things that actually have personality. Come on, plants and food can get pretty boring.

I'm really just trying to justify my unhealthy habits. Anyone with me?

Dear October:

It seems like every month we get busier and busier. And we thought we were home schooled?!?! We're gone nearly every day, sometimes leaving at 8 and not getting back till 7. And honestly, when I am home, all I want to do is watch House Hunters and eat cake. Okay, I want to do that ALL the time.

So here are my goals. I plan on accomplishing many from the backseat of the car.

Read the Bible every night
Read through 2nd Samuel
Try 5 new ethnic foods
Make fall foods
Walk the puppies 3 new places
Write 15 letters
write in my prayer journal 3 times a week


There are a few more, but I can't think of them at the moment.

Do you do monthly goals? If so, good luck!

Goodbye September

I kind of mentally gave myself a few pats on the back as far as September goals go. I mean, mental as in of course I did in real life too. Duh. For some reason, I did really well, and so of course I'll do horribly in October.

Work REALLY hard on Math and Piano (obviously I didn't get this, but I did better!)
Plant Lavender and herbs
Make homemade pasta
Do a few DIY projects
have 1 photo shoot
have fun and work hard at volleyball games
write a haiku
Use up all my stamps
walk the puppies 5 times
Learn more in photo shop
Organize my fonts
Go Social Media FREE for one week
 cNow, I did kinda rule out the pasta one. The main reason being that you can buy 2 boxes for 79 cents. Or spend 3 hours making it. I don't know about you, but I'm all over the 79 cents.
And of course, we here are all still awaiting Fall. I haven't asked Siri the weather lately, but I have a feeling we wont be pulling out our boots for another month or two. For those of you who are already freezing, I'm sorry. I'll probably go swimming tomorrow, and I'm not in the polar bear club. I'm normal.

Did I just say that? Never mind.

Thoughts and flowers (of course)

You know, those grass is greener on the other side days (or you camera is better than mine in this case.)

 I'm having one of those days.

I have a good camera. So how come I never use it? I think I'm just afraid things wont be perfect - That it will be a teeny bit blurry or a tiny bit out of focus. Which it probably will be half the time, but who cares? Even on some of my favorite blogs, I see blurry pictures and I go "That's SO cool!" And then when I get one (accident or not) it's not quite as cool. Or really not cool at all.

 I remember back to when I was using our old excuse for a camera. I took pictures of EVERYTHING. And I loved it. I wasn't afraid if it would be blurry or not and half the time the pictures were and I didn't even notice. I just loved it too much.

I thought it would be very fitting to use flower pictures for this post. It's so cliche! And black and whites of flowers? Man, you didn't see that coming.

(Dear October will be up tomorrow....fyi)