November Gratitude

Since Thanksgiving is this month, I have decided to post what I am thankful/grateful for this month, but I will also be doing this every month as well (hopefully!). Seeing the things that I have in life, that I am thankful/grateful for, will help me to realize just how lucky I am, and that I am truly blessed.

So, without further ado, here is what I am thankful for this month:

1. My family
2. My friends
3. Having a roof over my head
4. Having food to eat
5. Having clean water
6. Having clothes to wear
7. Having a comfortable bed to sleep in
8. My cats
9. My blog
10. My job at the local library
11. My education (I am going to school for my baking certificate, which I am one class away from receiving!!!)
12. Getting a ride to work on snowy/cold days
13. Books to read
14. Music to listen to (and the devices to listen to them on)
15. Movies to watch (and the devices to watch them on)
16. The leaves changing color in the Fall
17. Baking
18. Photography
19. Journals
20. Movie nights at the local theater
21. Being able to vote in elections
22. Winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves (I am not a winter/cold weather person at all, so these items make it more bearable)
23. Sudoku (I love Sudoku puzzles!!!)
24. Video games (I seldom play video games, but when I do, I get so into them, that I can play for hours!!)
25. Public transportation (most of the time!)
26. Winning (and receiving) a gimbal that I won from a family who has their own YouTube channel (I was not expecting to win, but am so grateful for this!)
27. My cats laying on my lap every day
28. Making Thanksgiving dinner myself
29. Chocolate (yes, chocolate!!)
30. Knitting and crocheting
31. Get-togethers with friends
32. Warm showers/baths

What are you grateful for?

Things That Made Me Happy in November

These are the things that made me happy this month:

• Getting a poke bowl from a local restaurant (these things are SOOO good!!)
• Getting Thanksgiving Day off from work (which means I only had a two-day work week instead of three days)
• Cooking Thanksgiving dinner myself (this was the third year I got to cook it)
• Seeing The Nutcracker and the Four Realms in theaters
• Seeing The Grinch in theaters
• Seeing Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in theaters
• Winning a giveaway from a YouTube channel (a surprise, but it made me very happy!)
• A girl asking me if she could help me shelve some books in the children's area of the library
• Getting a couple pies from a local bake shop for Thanksgiving (pumpkin and chocolate chess)
• Baking a pie myself, for Thanksgiving (pumpkin)
• My cats snuggling up on my lap a lot
• Getting a gingerbread house kit from Trader Joe's, for Christmas
• A woman on my library home delivery route giving me and the other person I make deliveries with, a couple treats for Christmas (chocolate bars, and gummies)

I have four days off a week now, so I am able to do and enjoy more, which is really nice. I know it won't always be like this, but I am enjoying all this time off, and taking advantage of it, when I can.

How was your November? What made you happy?

My 2018 Christmas Wishlist

For some reason, I like sharing what I would like to get for Christmas on here, so I figured I would share what is on my Christmas list for this year.

My 2018 Christmas wishlist is:

• Coco DVD
• Downton Abbey Season 3 on DVD
• Lost Season 4 on DVD
• The Greatest Showman DVD
• Wonder Woman DVD
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Illustrated Edition Book
• Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace DVD
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Book on CD
• Inside Out DVD
• Disney's a Christmas Carol DVD (2010 version)
• Once Upon a Time Season 1 on DVD
• Si by Andrea Bocelli (CD)
• Nerdy Nummies Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino
• Baking All Year Round: Holidays & Special Occasions Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino
• Wilton Color Swirl 3-Color Coupler Decorating kit
• Wilton Alphabet and Numbers Fondant Cut-Outs Set
• Wilton Cake Decorating Icing Bag Stand, 6-Cavity
• Wilton 3-D Figure Modeling Fondant 8-Piece Cake Decorating Tool Set
• Macaron Baking Mats
• Joking Hazard: Deck Enhancement #1
• The Big Book of Disney Songs: Violin by Hal Leonard Corp.
• The Introvert Activity Book: Draw It, Make It, Write It (Because You'd Never Say It Out Loud) (Introvert Doodles) by Maureen Marzi Wilson
• Bonanza Season 2 on DVD (Yes, this is on my list. I don't know why, but I LOVE that show!!!)
• Privacy screen protector for my phone
• FujiFilm Instax Mini 9 Camera and film
• Fantastic Beasts Black Baby Niffler Plush
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Bendable Bowtruckle
• Women's Dearfoams Slide Slippers

I do not expect to get everything on this list, and I do not have to have everything on here; this is just what I would like to get.

What do you hope to get for Christmas, or Hannukah if you celebrate, this year?

Current Favorites

Here is another of my current favorites, that I wanted to share with you guys.

My current favorites are:

• The band Anthem Lights I recently found them through their YouTube channel, and I absolutely love them!!
• The song This is Me from The Greatest Showman (and the movie itself, as well)
  This is one of my absolute favorite movies, and this song is my favorite from this movie!
• Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo
  I probably already have this listed in a previous favorites post, but I love it so much that it is worth mentioning again. This stuff is awesome!!! It saves so much time when I don't feel like washing my hair, and it makes it look like I did wash it.
• Letter Boards
  I finally got my own letter board, and love it! I have been wanting one for ages, and I was able to buy mine online from Target.
• Joking Hazard Card Game
  This game is not suitable for children, so be sure to just play with adults (Just thought I would put that out there!) This is a fun (and pretty funny) game, where you get 7 cards to play, that have different images on them. One person is the judge, and puts one card from the deck out. The other players pick a card from the ones in their hand, that they think would go best with the card that was picked by the judge, and the judge chooses the best one(s). I have played this game several times, and had a lot of fun every time.
• Online Shopping
  Yes, I know online shopping has been around for quite a while now, but I have only recently been able to do my own online shopping. It saves so much time, and I don't have to go out to any stores to get what I want.
• UNO Attack
  I have played this game many times with a friend, and I absolutely love the game!! The added twists to the orignal UNO game, make it more fun to play, which is great!!
• LipSense Lip Color Candy CaneIt is a beautiful red color, and I love how it looks on me!!
• LipSense Lip Color Sugar Plum
  Another color that I love on me, and I am so happy I have it!

What are you loving right now?

100 Days Without Fear

Some time ago (at least a year, maybe more), I found out about 100 Days Without Fear, and the woman who started it.

An Instagram post she recently uploaded reminded me of the project, and it got me thinking about the challenge she started, and how she conquered 100 of her own fears.

So, I decided to make a list of fears that I want to overcome, and share it on here.

Without further ado, here is my list:

1. Accept and start this challenge
2. Make at least one new friend
   I am a very shy person, so making friends is hard for me. I don't have very many friends, and I would like to have more, who will be friends with me, because they like me for me, for who I am.
3. Get a nose piercing
   I have a low pain tolerance, so I don't like it when I am in pain. I had my ears pierced years ago, and it wasn't that bad, so I know this isn't nearly as bad as some other things. But I am a little cautious about how a nose piercing will feel when I get it.
4. Get a tattoo in memory of my mom
5. Learn how to cook better
   I am not the best cook, so I don't cook very often. I want to change that, and become confident in my cooking abilities.
6. Get my driver's license (and become more comfortable driving)
   I was very scared when I took driver's ed in high school, because I was afraid of hitting someone or something, and I am afraid of those who aren't the best of drivers.
7. Change my hair color
8. Speak in front of a crowd (become more comfortable with public speaking)
   Being very shy and introverted makes me very scared of talking in front of a group of people, and I have major stage fright. I want to work on that, so it's not so difficult for me to talk to people.
9. Hold a tarantula
10. Take self defense classes
11. Go skydiving
12. Explore a new city by myself
13. Go ziplining
    I am afraid of heights, so this is one thing that scares me, but it is also something I really want to do.
14. Create YouTube videos of my passions/interests
15. Get more experienced as a baker/decorator
16. Get a photography degree, and become a more experienced photographer
17. Work on writing a book to be published
18. Become less concerned with what others think of me
    I am always thinking about what others think of/about me (thanks to being shy/introverted), and I want to be able to not care what others think of me.
19. Be in a loving relationship with a significant other (basically, fall in love)
20. Make calls without feeling awkward/shy/scared
21. Spend a whole day without electronics
    I spend a lot of time either on the computer, on my phone, watching TV, or watching a movie. While all of those things are good, it's just a waste spending so much time on electronics. I want to be more active.
22. Try a food that I normally would be too afraid to try
23. Learn to love and accept myself
    I am always thinking about the things I don't like/love about myself, and I want to focus more on the things I do like/love.
24. Jump off of a diving board
25. Write an honest letter to my dad
    I seldom tell people what's on my mind, especially family members. I want to be able to tell my dad (and others) things I really want to tell him, before it's too late.
26. Try a new hairstyle that I normally would not have
27. Travel by train, by myself, to the city
    I am not very good with directions, but I love traveling. So I would love to be able to work on my sense of direction, and visit the city (as well as other places).
28. Learn how to do my own makeup
    I very seldom wear makeup, so I am not very good at it. I want to be good at doing my makeup, so I can wear it on special occasions.
29. Write honest letters to my brothers
30. Write an honest letter to my sister
31. See a play by myself
    I don't like being in crowds, but I really want to see plays, which means being in crowds. I don't want to feel like I can't be among other people, enjoying things.
32. Learn a new language fluently (Spanish, Italian, Sign Language, French)
33. Play the violin again, and become proficient in playing it
34. Go to the concert of a band/singer I really like, by myself (or with someone)
35. Learn how to change a tire
36. Learn how to pump gas
37. Write a song
38. Figure out the best exercise routine for me, and keep it up on a regular basis
39. Learn how to properly bake bread
40. Wear high heels
41. Try a running exercise for one month
42. Hike up a mountain
43. Write honest letters to friends
44. Go on a mission trip
45. Paint something once a week
46. Knit or crochet a sweater
    I have never made anything as big or complicated as a sweater, and I would love to be able to learn how to make one.
47. Foster an animal
48. Run/walk in a race
49. Redecorate my bedroom
50. Learn how to decorate/become better skilled at decorating wedding cakes
51. Eat as healthy as I can for one month
52. Start a conversation with someone
53. Spend as little as possible on my credit card for one month (or longer)
54. Learn how to sew
55. Learn how to French braid
    The only hairstyle I can do well is a ponytail, and I want to be able to learn how to do other styles, so ponytails won't be the only thing I can do.
56. Learn how to do a fish tail braid
57. Learn how to curl my hair with a curling iron
58. Learn how to do a milk maid braid
59. Knit or crochet a blanket
60. Go on a road trip with friends
61. Be more spontaneous
62. Try surfing (or snowboarding if winter time)
63. Jump off a cliff
64. Go paintballing
65. Swim with dolphins
66. Swim in the ocean
67. Meet someone famous
68. Go to a Renaissance Festival
69. See a Broadway play
70. See an Opera
71. Go to a pro basketball game
72. Start working on a teaching degree
73. Have a professional photo shoot
74. Try a sensory deprivation tank
75. Eat alone at a restaurant
76. Enter something in a food competition
77. Try an Escape Room challenge
78. Learn how to juggle
    My hand eye coordination isn't very good, and juggling is one thing I would love to be able to do, to work on my coordination.
79. Meditate on a regular basis
80. Sponsor a child's wish through the Make-a-Wish Foundation
81. Unplug for a week
82. Start taking karate classes
83. Try skateboarding/learn to skateboard
84. Take a Zumba class
85. Fly in a helicopter
86. Ride on a ride that would normally scare me
87. Be a tourist in my own town
88. Take a train cross-country
89. Make a vision board
90. Pay it forward in some way
91. Give packs of necessities to the homeless living on the streets
92. Overcome my shyness enough to do the things I want to do
93. Learn to barbecue
94. Send a care package to a soldier
95. Go to a concert of a band/artist I like
96. Learn how to play the piano
97. Save more than I spend
    I am one of those people who likes to spend a lot, and that scares me, because I am at the point where I'm actually realizing that my spending habits are bad. I really want to work on that, and have more money saved than spent.
98. Make macarons
    There are some things that scare me enough to not want to try and make, and macarons are one of those things. I really want to learn how to make them, and be able to make them well.
99. Learn how to make and decorate cakes for different occasions (Birthdays, holidays, showers, etc.)
100. Become skilled in working with modeling chocolate and fondant

It took me a while to come up with this list, but I finally got 100 things I would like to do to overcome my fears.

What are some fears that you would like to overcome?

My November Goals

I know November has been here for a few days now, but I only just thought of this post. And, it is still early enough in the month, to where I can share my goals for this month.

These are the goals that I would love to work on for this month (and beyond November, as well):

1. Get my bedroom cleaned up
   I am a messy person by nature, especially when it comes to my room (mainly with my room). I really want to work on that, and now that I have some more free time, I can actually clean my room up. Now, to just get the motivation to clean up.
2. Spend as little as possible on my credit card
   I know that the holidays are coming up, and I will be buying gifts soon, so this is going to be a hard one for me to follow thru on. But, I am a big spender, and this is another thing I want to work on in my life. I want to save a lot more than I spend, so I can have more to spend on the things I really need.
3. Find an exercise routine that works for me
   I am not big on exercising these days, and it definitely has an effect on my health and well-being. I really want to move around more, but actually doing more exercise than what I am currently doing, more than what I am used to, is hard. I definitely want to get in better shape, so hopefully I can find something that works for me.
4. Read at least one book a month
   I love to read, but because I had been very busy for several months (an internship 3 days a week, and my library job another three days a week), I just didn't feel like doing a whole lot during the time that I wasn't working, especially reading. Now that my internship is over, I have more time to read (among other things, of course), which I am very happy about.
5. Donate/get rid of items I don't need/want anymore (clothes, accessories, books, CDs, movies, etc.)
   I have a ton of stuff, and I really don't feel happy having it all. I actually recently donated some clothes I didn't want anymore, but there are other things that I still need to go through, to see what I don't want/need anymore. There are some clothes that I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep or get rid of, so I will definitely be going through my clothes again. It feels soooo good when I get rid of/donate things I don't want anymore, partly because it's not in the house anymore, and partly because other people could get some use out of it as well.
6. Learn how to cook and eat better
   Going along with my exercise goal, I want to be able to cook better, and to eat better. I don't always choose the best foods for my body, and I definitely feel the effects of that. Most of the time, I just look for something that requires little preparation, and go with that. Which means a lot of junk food. I really want to eat more of the "healthier" foods, and eat the not-so-healthy foods in moderation. Which will definitely be hard for me to do, but I am willing to work on that.
7. Spend less time online/on the computer (1 hour a day)
   Since I am not very active, I tend to spend a lot of my free time on the computer, and that is not very good for me. I want to be able to find other productive things to do in my free time, like reading, exercising, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to just sit back and relax at home, but that is what I do with almost all of my free time, and it's boring doing the same thing over and over and over. I will definitely have to find things to do, to make it not so boring.

What are your goals for November? I hope you achieve those goals, and have a wonderful November!!

Past

My past is a mix of beautiful and not so beautiful memories.
Traveling to other states to visit grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Death of family members.
Graduations
Weddings (I got to be a bridesmaid in my oldest brother's wedding, which made me so happy!!)
Bad grades
Poor choices I made
Good choices I made
Some bullying
Studying baking in college
Jobs
Holidays and birthdays spent with family and friends
Among many other things.
Part of my past was very difficult,
Part of it was amazing
But it is all a part of me, of who I am
And I wouldn't change it for anything.
The past is the past for a reason, though
And dwelling on it isn't going to change the future.
Dwelling on it doesn't change the past, either.
I am thankful for what has brought me here this far,
and I can't wait to see what my future holds.
Past actions and events does not dictate my future
So I can make of it how I wish.
The past helps me learn from my mistakes,
My actions
And events
Helping me move forward in life
And I am so thankful for that

My Life

My life hasn't always been easy, or happy.
The worst time in my life was Octoberr 2010
The worst day: November 6, 2010
When my mom was in the hospital for five weeks
Before she died.
Growing up, my mom and I didn't have the best relationship
But we loved each other very much.
She was the one I would go to to talk,
She was the one I would go to when I was down.
We would have many morning talks
Many evening talks.
I am so grateful to have had her in my life
For as long as I did.
I have many good, happy memories in life
With my family.
I have adjusted well to my new normal in life
But I wish I still had my mom in my life.
She would be proud of the things I have accomplished
In the last few years.
I started out volunteering at the local library
Which turned into me getting a paid job there.
I am now one class/semester away from graduating from college
With my baking certificate
I recently completed an internship for my certificate
My life hasn't always been easy or happy
But it is my life
And I am proud to call it my life
I am where I am meant to be right now