Winter Bucket List

Winter is finally here! Snow flakes, hot chocolate, and the holidays! I have been anticipating winter for weeks and day dreaming about what I wanted to do during its chilly days. I came up with a list of things I can't wait to do and I hope you find inspiration for your own winter bucket list too!

1. Snowshoeing. For some reason taking a trek through the forest and catching snow flakes on my tongue sounds absolutely perfect.

2. Make homemade hot chocolate. Who can resist velvety smooth hot chocolate in front of a fire place when its chilly outside?

3. Knit a scarf. This may be a little unusual but knitting seems like the perfect activity to do once it gets dark and you just want to snuggle up in a blanket with that homemade hot chocolate you just made.

4. Read an entire book. I don't remember the last time I have had enough time to read a whole book but now that it is winter I cannot wait to spend a few evening with a great novel.

5. Take a hot bath. Baths get about ten times better when it is cold outside and nothing is better than taking a warm, fluffy bubble bath with some Christmas music and candles.

6. Christmas shop. I personally look forward to buying presents and Christmas decorations. It is fun to see the stores all lined with red, green, and gold as you are searching for the perfect gift.

7. Shovel snow. This doesn't really make it to the top of the list of the most exciting things to do during wintry days, but shoveling someone else's driveway for them is a great way to spread love and kindness during this holiday season.

8. Drink eggnog. I have already consumed an entire carton by myself and its barely December. Whoops. Like the boyfriend in We're the Millers would say, I have #NoRagrets.

9. Build a snowman. Obviously.

10. Go sledding/skiing/snowboarding. Whatever activity suits you the best, go out and enjoy it! Have fun in this change of seasons and get the most of it before the warmer months come once again.




picture link: https://www.google.com/search?q=pretty+sledding&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=971&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=CvV8VNimK4i3yATup4HABg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=cute+christmas+pictures+tumblr&revid=1405734930&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=X5w4B3GZ8TfmNM%253A%3BLwYK8RFAqj-fiM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F31.media.tumblr.com%252Ftumblr_lrxx52hYxv1r2bcl2o1_500.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fquoteeveryday.com%252Fcute-christmas-tumblr%252F%3B500%3B333

The Greatest Things in Life

The best things in life aren't the most expensive or elaborate ones. They are the little joys often overlooked and forgotten while we are amiss our hectic schedules. They are the little things that make our day to day living a little more special.

1. Having your hair brushed by your mom

2. A piece of chocolate

3. Holding hands with your significant other 

4. Fresh snow before it has been walked through 

5. The rewarding feeling after a hard workout

6. A perfectly ripe piece of fruit

7. Listening to music and getting ready for a first date 

8. A full tank of gas

9. The smell of the ocean 

10. Homemade ice-cream

11. A bouquet of daisies

12. When the radio plays all the right songs

13. 7 for 26 underwear sale

14. Wearing fuzzy socks when your feet are cold

15. Cuddling with your pet

16. Spending the whole day doing absolutely nothing

17. A great hair day

18. Disney movies

19. Hot tea on a chilly morning

20. Having the door held for you

21. When a stranger smiles your way

22. Phone calls from missed friends

23, Movie nights

24. Receiving a random act of kindness

25. Giving a random act of kindness

Operation Christmas Child

 Hi guys, as Christmas is rounding the corner I think that it is extremely important to talk about something other than pretty lights and candy canes. This post is about Operation Christmas child, which is a fundraiser/event done by the Samaritan Purse Organization that gives people the opportunity to give gifts to children that don't have anything. 

     What you do is grab a shoe box or buy a little plastic box that is around the same size, and fill it with toys and candy and hygienic supplies for these kids to receive and treasure. There of course are other stipulations that come along with doing this box, such as the due date is Nov 24th and also there are certain things you can't pack, like fluid stuff (bubbles, juice boxes) or toys that are inappropriate for their area (water guns, plastic army guys ect).  

     This is done by a Christian organization but by no means is something that only "religious" people can do. This is a fantastic way to remember others during this crazy time of the year where we all might otherwise forget about the people who don't get the opportunity to hit up black Friday or buy presents because they don't even have clothes or food. We are blessed beyond belief and by spreading our blessings to others, it helps their Christmas become a little better too. Making a shoe box can be as cheap or as expensive as you want and they truly do make a difference. If you go to the website posted below you will see videos of kids crying with excitement over receiving a little cheap doll because for many of them that will be the first thing of their very own that they have ever received. Even the parents get excited because if their child receives a little plastic tub full of toys, then the tub can now be a new water vessel or something to preserve their food.

     It is unfathomable how much good just a little love can spread. If you want to get involved, the website to visit for more information is :

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

5 Ways to Challenge Yourself

     Today I walked into my campus library completely absorbed in my own thoughts and mentally scanning my to-do list for the afternoon. I usually steal an entire table or couch for myself to avoid the awkwardness of asking a stranger if they are saving the other side of their table for someone else. Unfortunately, today there were no free tables or couches and to my demise I was forced into the uncomfortable situation of asking someone if I could share their space. But I am so glad I did. I met one of the most unusual, intelligent and interesting people yet so far on this campus. He is a computer science major but has a passion for equality in all things. He asked me what my major is and when I told him, he started asking me questions which challenged me to think outside my own preset beliefs and consider other thinking and ideas, all without pushing his own personal opinion on me. Needless to say, although absolutely no homework got done, I learned more about myself, someone else, and a new way of thinking that I would have never considered had I kept searching for an empty spot to sit by myself.
     Through this experience it sparked in me to consider other ways to push myself out of my comfort zone to achieve personal growth and become a more well rounded person:

1. Talk to a person you are in line with.

2. Let those "annoying" people on campus or on the street with all sorts of different petitions actually explain to you what they are advocating for. It may seem irritating, but you will learn something even if you still don't agree with their cause by the end of it.

3. Go try something new. Try rock climbing or snowshoeing or try a cooking class. These are great ways to meet new people and test different interests you might have.

4. Pick a flyer off a random wall of advertisements and go do what it is advertising. If that means some wacky pottery class or going to some garage band concert then do it, who knows what will happen. You may hate it or you may love it, either way it will give you a new experience to add to your list.

5. Pick three new foods to try that look disgusting at worst and "interesting" at best. For me, I have picked anchovies(absolutely awful), lavender-cranberry kombucha tea (eh, it was alright), and persimmons(delicious). It's kinda fun trying new things even if all it does is make you wanna gag!



picture link: https://www.google.com/search?q=challenge+yourself+quotes&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=919&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6vZ8VP_bMMOtyASQ44CQBQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=challenge+quotes+tumblr&revid=2064302495&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=xVk_n_TSbMhj3M%253A%3B6xi8JnliViB5fM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.givingisallwehave.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252Fhuman-consciousness-development.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.givingisallwehave.com%252Fthe-new-hrm-human-consciousness-development%252F%3B500%3B336

Inspiring Thought

     Today I searched "inspiration" into the search bar on Pinterest just to see what popped up. I was scanning pictures of "love yourself", "happiness comes from within", and "life is what you make it" quotes until I came across this one. It resonated with me. Lately I have been letting myself become insanely stressed with school, love life (or lack there of if we are being honest), friends, the news, and my future. I have allowed anxiety to overrun my life and rule my thoughts and every second of my day. I am afraid I can't achieve my goals or live a successful life.
     This quote/paraphrased bible verse brought me back to the realization that I will always be worried and stressed if I keep trying to control my life and figure everything out right this second. Instead, I need to give it to God. I need to remember that He promises in Romans 8:28 that we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. This means that yes, I will probably fail a test, lose friends, lose a family member, go through a breakup, experience terrible heartache, and not end up exactly where I wanted to land sometimes but I that I can have absolute assurance that God did not let me go through those things with out having a divine purpose to bring good, peace, and mercy from that situation. I don't understand every situation I have lived through or how there could possibly be good that came from them. But I don't have to because I know that there is Someone who has it all figured out. Bad things happen to us and those we love but it doesn't mean that God isn't with us and there to help us when we call on Him.
     This picture also brings to my mind the idea that maybe we just need to have faith in ourselves as well. We need to have faith that we can achieve our goals. If we let our self deprecating thoughts determine what chances we take then we will never go anywhere. Don't live in fear that you won't be pretty enough, smart enough, strong enough, talented enough ect. to reach your goals. That is not how a life should be spent. Life takes hard work and grit. Worrying and doubting gets us nowhere, but risks and taking those blind leaps of faith do. Failure is obsolete. Failure only represents that we were brave enough to try even if it didn't turn out how we wanted. I was told my freshman year of high school that I would regret every chance I didn't take. That is the only direct quote I can remember distinctly from those whole four years. It is hard to get the guts to chase your dreams or just put yourself out there, but it is insanely worth it. Because of that quote I challenged myself to start a blog last year and I am so grateful I did. It may not be the most popular thing, but I put myself out there on the internet and I will continue to do so until I have achieved what I hope to with this site. I constantly consider how my friends will interpret my posts, if I will be judged, or laughed at. But who cares? I am doing what I love to do and that is all that is important. What do you want to do that you just can't seem to muster up the courage to do quite yet? It can be the most insignificant thing or the biggest most impossible dream ever. But whatever it is, live by faith and not by fear.
     

Feeling Blessed



 

     Right now I am at home visiting my family on a long weekend and it has been amazingly refreshing. At this moment I am contemplating life while enjoying this beautiful view and sipping cinnamon apple spice tea out of a mug my sister hand painted years ago for my dad. 

     Life has been a little hectic for me these last couple of weeks and I have found it far easier to wallow in my own personal despair than to acknowledge all of the good around me. But there is so much good to be seen. I have a loving family, who is still in tact and whole which is more than many people can say now adays. I have the opportunity to get an amazing education at a university not everyone has the option to attend. I have made some of the most crazy and wonderful friendships in the last 8 weeks that I know I will treasure forever. The people I have met are truly the best. I have allowed myself to frequently get in over my head with trivial situations and thoughts and let myself completely miss all of the joy around me. But there are so many things I have been blessed with and I from now on I will work on being grateful for each one of them.

10 Things That Become Important Right When You Start Homework

     

The struggle is so real.

1. Check Instagram. I always find it extremely important that I keep updated on what that one girl is doing that I don't really know but only followed cause she is friends with this other girl I spoke to like twice my sophomore year.

2. Fill my water bottle up even though it's only half empty. I think I read on the internet one time that staying hydrated helps people focus.

3. Clean my room. How can I study if my bed isn't made and the floor isn't vacuumed?

4. Get a chai latte with espresso. Honestly, procrastination is tiring and I find myself often needing to go find caffeine in order to get me through another few hours of avoiding my Biology assignment.

5. Snapchat everyone in my contacts list. I wouldn't want anyone to think I had forgotten about them in the last ten minutes since my last snap cause that's just a rude thing to do.

6. Get a snack. Ya know, I think I read somewhere else that you can't study on an empty stomach.

7. Check in on how my friends homework is going. I just wanna make sure they don't need any help, obviously.

8. Go to the bathroom. again. I always have to pee so much when I start studying. Weird....

9. Go to the gym. It is really important that I go to the gym right this second because I wouldn't wanna miss out on that yoga class that didn't sound interesting till right this second.

10. Sleep. It's hard to focus when I'm tired anyways.