Today's prompt is: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special.

Ya'll, I collect old things, and not just your random old things, I'm talking about the "this belonged to so-and-so" old things.  I have a good collection of things that were part of my family history.  Some examples:  I have my grandfather's SLR camera, the one that I always remember him having from the time I was little. Sometimes I unpack it from its bag and hold it in my hands and remember.  One day it will be taken to a camera shop where it can be given a proper once-over so that it can be used.

That camera, and several other things, are things I would grab in a fire.  

Especially this guy:

Anyway, he's been through a lot.

He doesn't say much, but he knows everything about me.

He has been living on my daughter's dresser for the past year or so.

One night several weeks ago, when I was tucking L into bed, she pointed to Snuggles on her dresser, and said, "Mommy's."

I said, "Oh yes, Snuggles was Mommy's for a long time, but Mommy brought him in here so he could watch over you."

L:  "Story."

Mommy: *confused because my child has never said that word until now*  "Umm, you want me to tell you a story about Snuggles?"

L:  "Yes, Mommy."

So, having never made up a bedtime story before, I proceeded to tell her some crazy story of how Snuggles saved some puppies from an island in the middle of the ocean. (Yea, I know, but she's 2.....and she loves puppies....so...it kind of just happened.) 

And you know what she did?

She soaked in every word of that story, and at the end, when Snuggles valiantly swam to the island, made a make shift carrier, and swam those puppies back to safety one at a time, she clapped and said, "Yaaaay!"

And my heart melted because my daughter thought that was the best story on the planet.

Because Mommy told it.

And I so needed that moment with my daughter.

Thank you Snuggles for reminding me that I'm doing good at this Mom thing.  

Then again,

you always reminded me that I was okay.

Today is the second to last day of Blogtember, with Monday being the final day.  I can't believe that September is almost over already!  Geez! I will be busy this weekend preparing Monday's post and lining up my October blog calendar for sure!

Today's prompt was to write an anonymous letter to someone on our Facebook and we could be as snarky as we wanted.....

Um, well....I think that's kind of hypocritical, and well, rude.

I believe in a lot of things, two of those being: 

1.  If you have something to say, say it to the persons face.

2.  It's nice to be nice.

I am not a normal girl.  I am not snarky, catty, or generally bitchy on a regular basis.  I can be if you push me to that point, but I don't go walking around like the sun rises and sets for me only. 

With that being said, I will not be writing a snarky, anonymous letter.

Instead, I will be writing a hopeful one...

Dear Anonymous:

I've known you for a long time.  We aren't close, but we are friends on Facebook because we have something in common.  

I see your posts.  I see you post about your struggles, how much of a failure at life you think you are, and how you sometimes pray at night that it was just all over.

I see how you declare you have one, and only one, thing to live for on Facebook.  That one thing is your heart and soul, the sunshine in your day, and the reason you wake up each day, even though I'm sure some days you wish it was over.  

I don't judge you for your choices.  I don't ridicule you for your actions.  You are a human being-we all make mistakes.  That is part of life. 

I'm telling you to take those mistakes and use them as learning tools.  You can rise above your current situation.  You will rise above it because you are trying so hard to make a better life for yourself.  You can do this!  Just put one foot in front of the other and walk, slowly and steadily.  

If it is one thing I have learned, it is that slow, deliberate steps in life are the key to making it out onto the other side.  You can't race through life.  You have to make careful choices and decisions when first starting out, but after awhile, you will be in the pattern of only making good choices, and it will all even out. 

You will see your life change.  

I know you want your life to change.

It will.

Have faith.

One foot in front of the other, eyes clear and focused, and heart wide open.

Your life will get better.

With Love,

Sara 

Today's prompt was for us to go somewhere and write that we usually don't.  The suggestion was a coffee shop and, as much as I LOVE coffee shops, I can't take a two year old to a coffee shop and expect her to chill out and let Mommy have some peace.  I started brainstorming other ideas. 

The second part of the prompt was to write about what makes us happy, sad, or anything that came to mind.

I'm a little tapped out on the "anything" part at the moment, but I will tell you what makes me happy at this present moment: 

1.  My blog hit over 10,000 views this week.  My Facebook page connected with the blog hit over 500 followers, and my Top 10 Slow Cooker Recipes has seen well over 150 views since I posted it on Monday. This is by far the most productive week I have had blogging since I started.  GO ME! And thank YOU! for making this all possible!

2.  I have managed to find a very supportive group of bloggers to bounce ideas off of, have them offer some advice, and we all show support on one another's blogs and social media pages.  I feel so blessed to have these ladies with me on my blogging journey.  Big shout out to all the ladies over at Two Girls Blog Share Extravaganza!  We are a private group, but if you are a blogger, and want in on some of the fun we have, let me know and I will send you an invite via FB! 

3.  My husband brought me home a Diet Pepsi.  I love him.  

4.  I had a nice, lovely, and long talk with my best friend forever last night on the phone.  I have missed her.  I always feel much more relaxed after I talk to her.  Love you, K!

5.  I ordered L's Halloween costume this morning.  She's going as Little Red Riding Hood and I. can't. wait.

What are you happy about today?

Have a great Thursday everyone! 

*ahem*

I could probably direct you to my Month of 30 Series that I did when I was turning 30, and that would probably give you a good idea of just how familiar I am with mistakes.

But!

I don't let my mistakes define me.  I learn from them and move on.  It took me a long time to realize that.  Once I was able to realize it, I could get through screw-ups and let-downs a lot easier.

With that being said, I do have one mistake that I made, but that I no longer regret, because I am on the other side of that now.  I realize what it had to teach me.  I needed all those lessons to get me to where I am today.

My mistake?

I went to college straight out of high school.

(I'll give you a minute to let that sink in...)

...

Yes, me the certified English teacher who is supposed to influence teenagers in a positive manner, regrets going to college straight out of high school.

Why?

I wasn't ready.  I was not prepared intellectually or emotionally.  I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I chose Business.  HA!  Me? Business?  Far from it.

I flunked out of college in the time it would have taken me to get a degree.  

I was trying to get a degree when I wasn't even feeling my life.  I couldn't function.  I couldn't stand to be in public.  I would go to class and duck out halfway through or not go at all.  I half-assed my assignments and couldn't retain any kind of information.

I used to think I had wasted those four years of my life.  

In reality, I needed those four years to learn what not to do in regards to my education.

It may have taken me ten years to get my simple Bachelor's degree, but by God, I got it.

And I learned valuable lessons you can't learn in a classroom. 

This is actually perfect timing because I just finished a book on Saturday and I have been dying to talk about it with someone!  So, if anyone wants to chat about this book I am about to share with you, hit me up!  I am about to explode at the seams!

If you have not read Gillian Flynn, you are missing out!  This lady can weave a story!  She had me on the edge of my seat several times.  Also, she kept my brain going.  I never got bored with Dark Places nor her other two, Sharp Objects and Gone Girl. I was always entertained while reading her books.

Goodreads Synopsis: 

I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.

There has been a lot going on behind the scenes around here the past few weeks.  We are all in an adjustment period around here and it's been tough.  Husband started a new job, so there is his adjustment period.  L is changing every day, she has been in a constant state of adjustment for months now, and most days Mommy needs a glass of wine by the end of the day.  If her phase of the "terrible twos" is any indication of her teenage years, we're screwed. 

And me....

Well, I've been thinking a lot about the blog and it's direction lately.  When I started this, I said I was just going to be me and post what I want, etc.  Well, some things are met with great enthusiasm and, the things that I am really interested in, aren't.  It's frustrating and I was starting to think that maybe I should just call it quits.  I don't want to be like all the other blogs out there, but I don't really have a niche.  Or do I?  I've been doing so much reading on making a blog your own, etc. that my head hurts.  

Truthfully, I am impatient.

Truthfully, I am very hard on myself.

Truthfully, I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

Truthfully, I think I need to start from scratch.

I am toying with a re-branding of the blog, but before I do that, I want to ask my readers what they think.  I need some good feedback on what is working and what isn't working.  I believe that is the best place to start.  Look for a survey to be coming to the blog within the next week or so.

That about wraps it up; we are in an adjustment period and it is painful, but as we get molded, we become better people.

Today's Prompt:

React to this term: comfort. 

This song always comes to mind when I hear that word.

I raced along an empty highway.
I chased the dawn
And cursed the new day,
Out of town, till nobody was around.

Love came along, my favorite enemy,
We hit head-on.
Why you befriended me... I don't know.
There's no need for letting go
When you've already lost control.

My life is open wide
The more you live, the less you will die.
Outside, floating free,
I'm finally open to see...
Could you be any more comfort to me?

Could you be...

You've figured out the warnings
And the reasons why,
You smoothed me out.
I hope you know there's nothing
I could give,
For showing me how to live.

I don't know how
But you know just how I feel.
Sticking out,
Like a dark horse in a snow white field.
Stirred up by the breeze,
Strong but not at peace,
Free but unreleased.

My life is open wide
The more you live, the less you will die.
Outside, floating free,
I'm finally open to see...
Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be any more comfort to me?

Caught up inside, all I wanna be...
Try to survive, all alone,
Outside your company.

Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be any more comfort to me?

Pretty much describes the way I feel about my husband.

:)

Yea, I'm sappy like that.

Okay...so....I'm cheating today.

I chose my own prompt for today for the Blogtember series.  I wasn't feeling the original prompt, honestly.  My creative juices are slowly coming back, but not enough to sit down and type out a short story from scratch.  I just can't do it.

So, instead, I was browsing around blogs for inspiration and Bethany from In This Crazy Life had a post answering nine different questions.  I thought it seemed like fun, so, here we go!

1.  What is in your car's glove box?

Um, the manual, insurance card, probably a pair of sunglasses, tire pressure gauge (Dad never lets me not have one), and some scheduled service receipts. 

2.  You just got a mani/pedi.  Do the colors have to match?

Depends.  If people will see my toes because it is flip-flop weather, then yes, they have to match.

If it is not flip-flop weather, then no.

3.  If someone walking down the street in front of you had their underwear showing, would you tell them?

Depends.  Do I know them?  If I do, then yes.  If I don't, it isn't going to be me that tells them.

4.  What is the name of the very first CD you purchased?

Haha!  Some people are gonna *flip* when they find this out!

Sublime (Self-Titled) 

5.  Finish this ridiculously overused saying..."Keep Calm and..."

6.  Have you ever covered your hands in Elmer's glue, stuck them together, waited for them to dry then peeled off your "skin"?

Yes. In like the first grade.

7.  Charles in Charge or Doogie Houser?

Doogie, because I have never seen an episode of Charles in Charge. 

8.  What is one thing you never wore/done/ate but you would like to?

Oh geez, wow.  I would love to ride a horse, bareback, on the beach somewhere.  

I do believe that may be the romantic in me coming out.

9.   If you could listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be?

This.

I love these kinds of posts. 

They are perfect for weeks such as this.

Today's Prompt:

Today's Prompt: 

Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

Source

Today's Prompt:

A self-portrait

Today's Prompt:

Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

Oh wow.  Well, this is something I have actually been thinking a lot about lately.

I have recently become aware-really aware-of how attached I have become to social media.  I have also become more aware of what I should and should not share on social media.

I have been contemplating for some time removing all social media apps from my phone.  I removed all but one game from my phone a little over a month ago and I haven't missed it.  However, I do go into my social media apps more, so deleting my games didn't really help my problem.

I am addicted to those silly little icons on my phone and it annoys me!  During a down moment with L, I'm always clicking on them.  I can't just sit and watch a movie with her. It seems I always have to be on my phone!

I never thought about it until I became a parent.  I didn't.  I was never concerned with how much time I spent on my phone doing things before L.  Now, I am constantly aware of it.  

It needs to stop.

I believe the time has come for me to start weaning myself from the phone.  I have thought about setting a timer when I'm on it.  I have even thought about setting a timer to initiate when I can look at it.  I have already shut off all notifications so I don't hear emails, Facebook, etc. any longer, but I am still picking the darn thing up to check! 

Does anyone else have this issue?  What are you doing about it?  I could use some tips!

What are some of your favorite shops? I am linking up with Jenni from Story of my Life for Blogtember, come join us!

Today's Prompt:  

Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

I have been thinking about this particular prompt since I read it a couple of weeks ago.  I have been trying to define the exact moment when I felt my life take a turn for the better.  

I believe it was around the time when my grandfather passed a few years ago.

Let me explain....

I have not had a lot of death in my life.  There have only been a handful of people to pass away in my life, but the one I took the hardest; the one that put me into such a deep, dark hole, was that of a friend of mine back in 2001.  

It took me a very long time to get out of that hole.  

Death effects me strongly.  It hurts me to my soul.  When people cease to exist in this life, and they were part of my life, I crumble.  

When my grandfather passed away, I didn't crumble.

Yes, I was sad.  Yes, I was hurt.  He was my grandfather-the only one I had left-and it was his time to go.  I didn't want to be left alone the first couple of days because I wasn't sure how I was going to react.  I didn't know if I was going to drop back into that hole again or not.

I didn't.

A couple of days after my grandfather's funeral, I was lying awake in bed, processing the past few days and I had the thought, "This doesn't hurt as badly as the last one." I began comparing my actions from 2001 to then and I was, virtually, fine.

That's how I knew my life had taken a turn.  

That's how I knew that I had acquired the necessary tools to deal with what life throws at me.

There had not been a major freak out, crying fest like before, there hadn't been days of no eating, there hadn't been any couldn't get out of bed days......

I had it.  I had my life under control.

School was going great.  The Hubbs (not quite yet "The Hubbs" yet)  and I were doing great.  I had a job that I didn't necessarily love, but I didn't hate it.  

I had learned to deal with life.  Go me.

I could have fallen apart all over again, but I didn't.  I remained strong.  I finished my degree despite being up all hours of the night with a newborn.  The Hubbs and I got married.  We made it through living in a one bedroom apartment with a newborn.  We made it through our first rental home and then to buy our own.  I am slowly adjusting to being a SAHM.

I can function as a human being.

That is something that I couldn't do ten years ago.

There is a phrase that I have said to myself for many "after therapy" years (Because I categorize my life as before and after therapy.)  and it has gotten me through so much:

Today's Prompt: 
Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even Google your type and find more info on it!)

Guys, I am a sucker for personality tests.  I was the teenage girl that used to do all the quizzes in her magazines and then read the articles!  I can't pass up a personality quiz.  I just can't.  I dove into this one and, surprisingly, it is spot on.

According to the test, I am an ISFJ.  They break it down like this: 

• You have moderate preference of Introversion over Extraversion (44%)
• You have moderate preference of Sensing over Intuition (50%)
• You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (38%)
• You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (44%)

Today's Prompt:
A story about a time you were very afraid.

Today's Prompt: 

Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered. 

I am always hesitant to give advice, however, I believe I have a few good pieces of wisdom under my belt from the past ten years of life.  There have been many things that I have taken away from my experiences in this life and I truly believe that I went through those things to help someone else who may need it.  Sometimes we end up being martyr's.  It happens.  That is life.  

With all of that being said, the biggest piece of useful advice I have is to live.  Live your life out loud.  Don't be afraid of the naysayers.  Don't talk yourself out of things.  Just be yourself and live.  Do things, see things, experience things.  You are given one life and it is yours to do with as you wish.  Learn from your mistakes.  When you get down, get back up.  Keep going.  Keep living.  Make you proud of yourself.   Love with your whole heart, even if it shatters.  There is beauty in the breakdown.  Rebuild yourself and live some more.  You want to use everything that was instilled in you at birth to it's fullest extent and arrive at the end of your life completely spent of all that was given you.

That is a life lived out loud.  

Today's Prompt: 

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

I would have to split my time between two places: 

Here

And here: