I ran across Jessy's blog, The Artsy Cajun, a little while ago. She had this fun A to Z survey on her blog. After reading through all her answers, I knew I wanted to take part! After all, it's about one of my favorite things, books! Check out her answers here! Author I've Read The Most Books By would probably have to be John Grisham or Nicholas Sparks. As sad as I don't want that last one to be. Not that he is a bad author, he is a great one, if you love romances. And apparently I went through a BIG romance phase, because I've read almost ALL of his books. I'm not in that stage anymore, clearly. I'm now in the YA, dystopia phenomenon. I've also read a lot of Jane Austen, which is romance as well, but she is just timeless and romance was different back then. Best Sequel Ever that I have read is a hard one to choose. I've read a lot of series and trilogies and have loved each book so much. My favorites are The Hunger Games, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and the Sisterhood series. I'm currently reading books in these series: Divergent, Harry Potter, The Underland Chronicles (which are by Suzanne Collins and I'm loving them!) and looking to start the Maze Runner Trilogy. Currently Reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I'm also reading Hearing God, Believing God, and I Am Malala. Drink Of Choice While Reading would have to be coffee or tea. I love mugs and I love books. Put me in an overstuffed chair and I'm super happy! E-Reader or Physical Book is such a big debate in my life! I LOVE holding and reading physical books (yes, I love the smell) and I'm a big fan of paperbacks. However, I DO have an e-reader. I have to say, I love it, because I can continue growing my library and carry so many books at once! I will always have a myriad of books genres to choose from. Definitely helps while traveling. Can I love both equally? That is me. Fictional Character I Probably Would Have Dated In High School goes to Mr. Darcy. Hands down. At first we don't know what his deal is and seems to have a strange way of showing love (how many guys does this sound like), but once his feelings are made known, he does everything in his power to take care of the girl he loves. Glad I Gave This Book A Chance has to be the Harry Potter series and I'm not finished reading them. Hear me out on this one. Although these books came out when I was much younger, I didn't grow up reading them like many of my friends. It wasn't until college that I started watching the movies and then going to midnight premieres. The first time I tried to read "The Sorcerer's Stone" I couldn't make it past chapter 5. Later on, I found the book at a thrift store and couldn't get enough of it! I'm hooked and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of them! Better late than never! Hidden Gem Book for me is The Giver. I first read this when I was younger and I just recently read it again. I know more people have probably read it than I think, but I wish more people had read it because they wanted to and not because it was on a reading list. It is definitely one of my favorites. Important Moment In My Reading Life was when I was in middle school and I joined a summer reading program at my local library. There was a challenge to read so many books throughout the summer. I remember going to the library each week with my mom and picking out my next books. I loved those trips and couldn't get enough of reading that summer. Just Finished Divergent by Veronica Roth. Kind of Books I Won't Read include the x-rated kind. Think 50 Shades. Longest Book I've Ever Read is Les Miserables. Although, I don't know if this counts because I haven't even finished it yet. So, in terms of book completed, it would be some of the classics, like Little Women, Wuthering Heights. Major Book Hangover Because Of either The Hunger Games or the Twilight Series (yes, yes.) Hunger Games because I read them so quickly and the story is so intense! Twilight because, well, it's Twilight. Number of Book Cases I Own is hard to estimate for me, because my books are so spread out! All of the books I own are not in my room right now. I have a GIANT tub in storage that is full of all my books and that does fill up an entire bookshelf. I've acquired a bunch more and have two storage drawers under my bed that are both full of books. Picture here. One Book That I Have Read Multiple Times is Little Women and Pride and Prejudice. Preferred Place(s) To Read include my bed, an overstuffed chair, or outside while hanging in my hammock. That last one is my absolute favorite! I could stay there all day and have before! Quote That Inspires Me/Gives Me Feels From A Book I've Read is this, "And so for a time it looked as if all the adventures were coming to an end; but that was not to be." C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe Reading Regret is hard for me to think of. I haven't read a book that I truly regretted in awhile. Series That I Started But Still Need To Finish would be The Divergent Trilogy, Harry Potter, and The Underland Chronicles. Three Of My Favorite Books are Pride and Prejudice, The Giver, and Little Women. Unapologetic Fan-Girl For Suzanne Collins. Very Excited For This Release More Than Others is something I'm not sure of. I don't know of any new releases that I've heard of or that have caught my attention. I have so many on my list as it is, I'm just focusing on those right now. Worst Bookish Habit definitely would be starting a book and then never finishing it. Just go take a look at my Reading List page and see how many are "in progress" or "have started." X Marks The Spot: Start at the Top of My Shelf and Pick the 27th Book and it would be The Picture of Dorian Gray. Your Latest Book Purchase was Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling Zzzz-Snatcher Book (The Book That Kept You Up Way Too Late) was Divergent. I wasn't really into it at first, but once I reached the middle I couldn't stop until I got to the end. Are you a book-lover? If you end up doing this survey, make sure to let me know! Check out more of what I like to read and what is on my Reading List! Follow Me :)
Comments
I learned about the 52 Lists Project at the beginning of this year. Just like the creator, Moorea Seal, I am a fan of lists. I've been known to write something on my to-do list that I've already completed, just to draw that sweet line through it. So, what is the 52 Lists Project? Every week, there is a prompt with a different set of things to list. Look for my list each week!
What are the things that feel like home for you?
Follow Me :)
I originally wrote this post for Paige's blog, Moments for the Journey, as a guest post. Wanted to post it here for you guys to see in case you missed yesterday and to link up with the Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop! This weekly link-up is hosted by Susannah at Simple Moments Stick. There is something strange that happens when you grow up. You grow up. You graduate college, you move away from home, you get a big kid job, you meet someone special, you get married, you have some kids, and then a whole new set of adventures start. Or, if you are me, you graduate college, move to California, have a semi-full time big kid job for 10 months, move back home with your parents, go to work in a coffee shop, and watch the friends around you get married and have babies. And while this is all happening, you can't help but feel like you've been forgotten. As much as I know that I have a God who will never leave or forsake me, sometimes I feel like I completely missed an open door that He may have placed in my life. Maybe I spent too much time daydreaming about what I really wanted and I completely walked passed the open door that was going to lead me to where He wanted me to be. I really wish he would have just pushed me through that door instead. Something that I have been working on a lot these past couple of years is learning how to be content with where I am right now. Life is funny in the fact that we are always going to be waiting for something else. We waited to get out of high school, waited for that "real" job to start, waited for the right "one" to come along, waited for the wedding day, waiting for the kids. No matter where we are in life, we will always be in a waiting stage. Which makes it so, very, easy to allow yourself to sink into that feeling that you have been forgotten. That you have been overlooked. That you are going to be the only person on the planet left without "fill-in-the-blank." If you look at my life, it's far different than most other 25 year olds. Well, at least the other twenty-somethings that surround me. Everyday I probably think of something that I would like to change or something I wish was different. I argue with God constantly about where I'm at in life and why I don't have what so-and-so has. I wonder all the time whether I'm ever going to get out of this stage of my life and move into the next. I wish for so much more than what I have right now. I think, I argue, I wonder, I wish... I wait. I wait for God. I wait for his timing. I wait for his push through that open door. The real challenge is waiting patiently and contently. The challenge is finding joy in the moments that surround me now. The challenge is learning to love and enjoy the season that I'm in now. The challenge is remembering that I am not alone. You are not alone. Wherever you are right now in your life, in whatever season, you are not alone. And he is still God. He will forever and always be there for us. He will always be the one, true constant in our lives. He never forgets me. He never forgets you. We are not forgotten. "All of my life, in every season You are still God I have a reason to sing I have a reason to worship." Desert Song, Hillsong Joining in the Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop! Follow Me :)
This monthly link-up is by far one of my most favorites! I always love going to Kiki's blog at the beginning of the month to find out what the topic is going to be. This month we are talking about our spring favorites, which is perfect for today, because it is the first day of Spring!
Thank you to Kiki and Meg for hosting this month's link-up!
What is spring like where you live?
I live in the South where it is hard to distinguish between seasons some years. Spring here usually means bright blue skies, but then can turn ugly and give us some super bad weather. I do live in tornado alley after all. One of my favorite things is when it is raining, while the sun is still shining bright.
What's your favorite springtime accessory?
My shoe choice year round is a pair of flats, but this spring I'm hoping to add some fun and bright colors to my collection. I also LOVE scarves. I usually get scarves every Christmas and I have quite a few scarves that are lightweight and bright, making them perfect for Spring! Also, my Chacos. One of the best things I have ever purchased. They are perfect for any kind of outdoor activity (hiking and kayaking, my favs) and easy to take off whenever I get to my destination, because I like to be barefoot most of the time! Also, fun colors of Essie nail-polish (it's my splurge item). This color is going on later today!
Do you have any springtime traditions?
I sadly don't really have any traditions for spring. But, one that I would like to start would be to start my own little flower patch, maybe try out my green thumb.
What is your favorite spring treat?
Fruit, fruit, fruit. Yes, I eat fruit year-round, but it just seems better in spring. One of my favorite things is frozen grapes. So yummy. Also, I have to agree with Kiki, those Cadbury chocolate mini eggs are absolutely fantastic.
Favorite spring holiday?
Easter! It's much more than a holiday for Christians, but it is definitely a time of remembrance and celebration as we celebrate our Savior and what he did for us on the Cross. Not only that, but the fact that He is risen and alive today! Also, I love going to sunrise service each Easter. Sunrises are one of my favorite things and there is just something special about a sunrise on Easter.
What's your favorite thing to do in spring?
Spend more time outside and read more books. After winter, where the night seems to dominate most of the hours, I love to spend time outside in the bright sunshine. One of my favorite things is hanging up my hammock in between the trees and reading a good book. You will no doubt see many of these kinds of pictures on my instagram.
Also, I would like to thank Paige over at Moments For The Journey! She allowed me to take over her blog today. Go check out my very first guest post ever. Prettyyy pleeease! :)
Follow Me :)
I learned about the 52 Lists Project at the beginning of this year. Just like the creator, Moorea Seal, I am a fan of lists. I've been known to write something on my to-do list that I've already completed, just to draw that sweet line through it. So, what is the 52 Lists Project? Every week, there is a prompt with a different set of things to list. Look for my list each week!
I got nominated for a Liebster Award by Paige over at Moments for the Journey! I have to admit, I was pretty excited! Mainly, because I get to answer some fun questions and then I also get to nominate some other friends and hopefully introduce you guys to some more awesome blogs! Thanks again, Paige for nominating me! Be sure to visit her blog and check out her very own sponsor highlight at the end of this post! :) The Rules 1. You must link back to the person that nominated you. 2. You must answer the 11 questions given by the nominee before you. 3. You pick up to 11 nominees with under 200 followers to answer your questions. 4. You cannot nominate the person who nominated you. 5. You must tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you. My Answers to Paige's Questions 1. What is your dream job? Oh man, you know, I've been asking myself this question a lot lately. I would love to work with a non-profit that works to make a better life for kids and youth (think World Vision, Compassion, etc...). Anything that allows me to hang out with teenagers for the rest of my life and show them that they matter and that Christ loves them is ultimately what I want to do. Right now, at this moment, I'm looking at going to grad school/seminary for biblical counseling. 2. When and why did you start blogging? I actually started blogging back in 2009 at this blog. (And this was my very first blog post.) I stopped blogging at the end of 2012 and then picked it up again here in June of 2013. I've always loved to journal and write, but never really thought to bring it to the internet world. But, I did! What I like about blogging is that it allows me to talk about the things I want to talk about, advocate for things that are important to me, I get to meet and have a fun blogging community, dab into some creativity and graphic design, and it can act as a scrapbook for memories. 3. What is your favorite food? Anything Mexican. I could eat chips and salsa every day of my life. 4. What is one of your pet peeves? It's not really a pet peeve, because I don't get mad when other people don't do it, but it deals with hash-tags. I'm a hash-tag lover, but try to contain them. However, when I write out my hash-tags, each word has to be capitalized. (Ex. #ILoveHashtags, not #ilovehashtags.) For me, it's much easier to read the first way. Oh, I also don't like being single in a small town, because apparently that is code for "please try to set me up with every single guy you know." 5. What is the one advice that you have received in your life that has stuck with you? There are two sayings that I have written in my Bible. One says, "trust and worry cannot exist together" and the other says, "we are building cathedrals we cannot see." The first is ALWAYS being repeated in my head. I don't know if this means I worry a lot (which I probably do) or what, but it constantly reminds me that if I'm worrying, I'm not trusting God fully. And when I am trusting him fully I'm not worrying about anything. The second is just encouraging, especially on those days when I feel like I haven't done anything for the kingdom. I have to remember that the seeds I've helped plant, I won't always see grow, but that doesn't mean they won't grow at all. 6. What is the best vacation you have ever been on? I actually haven't taken that many "vacations." I went to the beach and the mountains mostly when I was younger. But, I've seen a lot of places by being a missionary with the North American Mission Board or going on mission trips. I've lived in New Orleans, Mobile, taken a mission trip to Arizona (where I saw the Grand Canyon and cried), and most recently California. While there I got to visit San Francisco (twice), Muir Woods (the redwoods), Calaveras Big Trees State Park (the sequoias), and my most favorite, Yosemite! Also, I was living at Lake Tahoe, so most people would say that was a vacation. But, I was doing work, I promise! :) 7. What is your favorite season and why? Fall. I just love the weather of fall, the leaves changing, and of course, football is in session. I do love spring and summer so that I can hang in my hammock more and hike and kayak. And winter allows me to bundle up in sweats and sweaters...so basically, I like them all. Fall is my favorite though! :) 8. What is your favorite movie? Tell us about it. I can't possibly choose just one. There are so many different genres and I love so many. It would take me forever to tell you about all of them, so I will just direct you to their trailers. Saving Private Ryan. Pride & Prejudice. Brave. Les Miserables. Hunger Games 1 & 2. Elf. 9. What is one thing you want to do in life? Write and illustrate my own children's book. Check out the bucket list for more things. 10. Do you have a special talent? I don't really know if it is a special talent, but I've dabbed a little bit into archery. Like before Brave and Hunger Games made it really popular. When we moved to Alabama (I was in middle school) my dad got me interested and then bought me my own bow. It's pretty fun and I really think I missed my calling to win a gold medal in archery in the Olympics. Click here for some pics taken by my best friend. 11. If you were any animal what would you be and why? An elephant just because they are awesome or a bird, so I could fly wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. If you made it through all of those long (and maybe boring) answers, bravo! My Nominees Kiki @ In Its Time Angela @ Harrells on Hood Elle Alice @ Beautiful Hope Kari @ The Kari Diaries Jessica @ Keep Chasing the Light Becca @ She Becomes Victoria @ Through*For*By So, I wasn't sure if any of you girls had over 200 followers, since technically that was the limit for nominees. But, I picked y'all anyways. Also, if you have already done this, I would love a link to what questions y'all answered to learn a little more about you! :) My Questions (if they choose to participate) 1. What is the number one place in the world you want to visit? 2. If you could have dinner with one person, alive or dead, who would it be? 3. What is one food you could eat for the rest of your life? 4. Who is your favorite character (tv, play, movie, book, etc...)? 5. What is your favorite childhood memory? 6. Reach into your purse or bag nearest you and pull out the 4th item. What was it? 7. Are you organized, messy, or an organized chaos kind of person? 8. What is your favorite activity to do outside? 9. How many of the states have you visited? 10. Do you have an alter ego? Describe them. (Mine has dreads and tats, but in a tasteful way. ha.) 11. If you could be any animal, which would it be? Sweet Swappers Who Sponsor Highlight | Paige When I started blogging the first time, I was surprised by some of the wonderful "friends" I made. Although I stopped blogging for awhile, I picked it up once again. And it still surprises me that I continuously meet some wonderful "friends." This year, I decided to begin sponsoring on my blog. Although I can't financially sponsor anyone, I can swap buttons! I wanted to start using that space on my sidebar to show off the friends that I have been making. These girls are some of the greatest people and we have so much in common! I'm thankful that they want to sponsor me and allow my face to be on their blog! Paige's blog has quickly become one of my favorites to read. We are alike in so many ways and I bet that we would get along so well in real life. From a love of youth, to dogs, kayaking, Gilmore Girls, and more! I'm excited that we discovered each others blogs and that we are sponsoring one another. Make sure to check out her fun blog and learn more about Paige, her husband, and all their adventures! 1. Introduce yourself to us by telling us THREE words that describe you. Introvert, nerd, organized. 2. Did you ever go on Spring Break while in school? If so, what is your best Spring Break memory? If not, what has been your favorite vacation in general? I wasn't very social in school so Spring Breaks typically just meant going home and sitting in my pajamas all week watching Gilmore Girls. :) Because of my antisocial ways I don't really have a favorite Spring Break story, but I have taken lots of family vacations. My absolute favorite vacation was my honeymoon. As a wedding present my mema rented us a beautiful cabin in the Smoky Mountains. It was really secluded, rustically decorated, and had a hot tub on the deck! We spent the whole week eating left overs from our reception and relaxing. That week will always hold some of my most favorite memories! 3. What is your favorite thing about Spring? My favorite part of spring is the sunshine! Here in Ogden, Utah by the end of winter everyone has had enough of the smog and inversion in the air. So when the sun finally starts peeking through the wintery haze it's time to get outside. My hubby and I set up our patio furniture as soon as we know there will be no more snow and grill out in the evenings playing bocce ball. I enjoy soaking in the warmth of the sun in the afternoons reading books outside in the backyard. With Spring, my hubby and I also welcome the opportunity to get back on the amazing hiking trails in our area. 4. What are your TOP 3 FAVORITE blog posts that YOU have written? I have been blogging since 2010 (not always consistently) so I have a lot of posts to choose from... 1. One of my favorite older posts is called "Liar, Liar Pants on Fire" and it's about Rahab. I had always struggled with understanding why she is regarded as faithful when what she did was lie - I mean lying is a sin right? I wrote this post after reading through her story one evening and finally having an epiphany! 2. One of my favorite recent posts is "6 Ways I Fall Short As A Wife". I sat down and wrote out ways that I feel I could improve as a wife. 3. With mine and my hubby's 5 year anniversary coming up I decided to write out our story. I divided it up into 5 parts, but one of my favorite parts to write was "Reminiscing Our Wedding" In the process of writing this post I found our old wedding video and our vows on my computer. It had been a long time since I had sat down and remembered that day, so it was really fun to write! If you are interested in sponsoring Polished Arrow there is space available! Click the SPONSOR tab up above to learn more about how to get your sweet spot on my sidebar. Check out the page above or e-mail me with SWAP as the subject!
I learned about the 52 Lists Project at the beginning of this year. Just like the creator, Moorea Seal, I am a fan of lists. I've been known to write something on my to-do list that I've already completed, just to draw that sweet line through it. So, what is the 52 Lists Project? Every week, there is a prompt with a different set of things to list. Look for my list each week!
Yes, this is the second 52 Lists post this week. I'm playing a little catch up so that on next Tuesday when I normally post them, I will be caught up and on the correct week. Check out the week 9 list: the places I want to go.
Closet Go through the clothes I can't wear anymore and the clothes I haven't worn in forever.
Fridge/Cabinets Take out the junk food, replace it with healthy food and snacks; also, throw away the stuff that is expired, because mold is not good or pretty. Car Clean and wash to make it sparkle; vacuum out the inside. Pinterest Just clean 'em out and reorganize. Goals See which goals I've accomplished, which ones aren't working out; make new ones. Facebook Go through my pictures, groups, and friends. Thought Life Get rid of the lies and replace them with truths. Makeup Get rid of makeup that is expired and see what I don't like or need anymore. Random Boxes I have these random boxes in my room full of knick knacks and paper. Go through all the cards, notes, etc. and see what I want to keep and what all I can throw away. Laptop Clean out old folders, run a disk cleanup, go through pictures and reorganize. Checkbook See what I'm spending the most money on; create a new budget; find some more new ways to save money. My Soul Spend a day away from all my electronics: laptop, cell phone, television and just recharge naturally. Twitter Go through all the people I follow and those who follow me; follow some new people. Address Book See the numbers and addresses I have for people, the ones I don't have; update and get new ones if needed. Phone Clean out my contacts; go through and delete apps that I don't need or use anymore. Faith Keep spending quality time in the Word; find a creative way to learn more scripture; find a new way to get involved with my church and serve. Relationships Spend more intentional time with friends; write more letters; facetime and skype regularly; spend time with the parents. Blogging Write down all ideas that I get; visit other blogs; follow other, new blogs; unsubscribe from blogs I don't read; write something everyday, even if just a draft; be creative.
What are some ways that you can do some Spring Cleaning in your life?
Are you a fan of spring cleaning?
Follow Me :)
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is an organization that works in 191 countries around the world and is committed to child survival. With focus areas in child development, HIV/AIDS, education, gender equality, advocacy, and more, UNICEF is working to give children around the world the best possible. Read their mission statement, it's pretty incredible. In 2011, 768 million people relied on unimproved drinking-water sources. {here} UNICEF has again started a project where you can help get clean water to children around the world. Simply by putting down your phone. Partnering with sponsors, UNICEF is donating the equivalent of one days worth of clean water for every 10 minutes you do not touch your phone. Sanitation coverage is lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and South Asia. {here} To take part in this project, visit uniceftapproject.org on your phone. And then, put it down. See how long you can go without your phone. See how long you can resist the urge to post a photo, check for a like, tweet something, or take a picture of your food. See how long you can instead help provide clean water for children around the world. How many minutes can you go? How many days can you provide clean water for children in need? Have you heard about the UNICEF Tap Project? Are you willing to take the challenge? Why not put your phone down while your doing your quiet time. Or out with a friend at dinner. Or even while you sleep! Take notice: did you see what my battery percentage was when I began the project? Did you see what it was when I finished? This is the only downside, especially if you are out while doing the challenge. But, it is worth it. Follow Me :) I was not compensated in any way for this post. I'm just a fan of UNICEF and what they are trying to accomplish and want you to join in as well!
If there is one thing that I am horrible at, it is washing my face routinely. I have gone to bed with makeup on my face way more often than I have ever actually washed my face. Sometimes, I just wait until I'm in the shower and rinse my face off, but this isn't really doing any good. After looking up some tips, I've learned that maybe I'm not washing my face often enough, the water I'm using is too hot, and I'm not exfoliating properly. Look, for me, face washing seems like a chore. One that I don't do properly, mainly because I never wanted too. Which is pretty ridiculous, because taking two minutes to wash my face shouldn't really be a hassle. Not to mention that after I do wash my face, I feel way better and more awake (in the morning) or fully ready for bed (at night). Also, it helps my skin stay healthy and acne free, which is my main reason for washing up in the first place. Simple Face Washing Tips
All I know is that I have what I would call a combination skin, I break out more around that certain time of the month, and when I'm stressed. Also, I tend to have drier skin. I've never actually visited a dermatologist and honestly, don't really have a desire. I feel like my skin routine is good, it just needs to be tweaked some. And I need to be intentional and diligent when it comes to washing my face in the morning and especially at night! Do you have a face-washing routine? Is there a product (cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliater) that you swear by and that I should try? Any more tips for a girl trying to get her face washing regime under control? Follow Me :)
I learned about the 52 Lists Project at the beginning of this year. Just like the creator, Moorea Seal, I am a fan of lists. I've been known to write something on my to-do list that I've already completed, just to draw that sweet line through it. So, what is the 52 Lists Project? Every week, there is a prompt with a different set of things to list. Look for my list each week!
So, this weeks prompt was to list all the places you want to go.
Well, for me, that can easily be described in one word: everywhere! I have this little journal that I call my travel journal. All it is, are lists and lists of places I want to go. The plan is that once I get to one of those places, I cross it off the list. Simple, really. The not so simple part is actually getting there. Inside this book are all the National Parks in the United States, all the states in the U.S., and 50 Places in 50 States to see. I haven't added anything else, because whenever I get to writing down places I want to see, I get depressed that I just can't go right. now. Of course I have a list of places to see that aren't in the U.S. Those are going to be added to the book next. For a sneak peek of those, click here. For my list of the Top Ten National Parks, click here. So, for today's list, I thought I would share some of the places I want to go that are abroad and then my top favorites on the the 50 Places in 50 States list.
Places I want to go: Abroad
50 Places in 50 States
What are the places you want to go? What is the #1 place you want to see?
Follow Me :)
|
Welcome!ConnectGet the Guide!Sign up below to join the community and get your FREE devotional guide!
Categories
All
FavoritesInstagram
|