Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! Can you believe we made it to the end of January 2021 already?! This has been another interesting month; one for the record books. I hope the kids in 50 years who are studying 2020 understand what a mess it was and the test is open book. 

I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites today. 

To end this month, I think some humor is in order.  

I have collected some memes that I couldn't stop laughing at this month. Let me know which ones are you favorites in the comments!

Did you miss my posts from this week? WGJ vol. 13 and Dear January.

I am asking a small favor as well. I have created a reader survey that I would love for you to take a moment to fill out. You can access it HERE. Please and Thanks a bunch! I truly appreciate it!❤❤

[[Stop looking for the magic. YOU are the magic.]]

Dear January

new project sneak peak

Dear January,

I was so excited for you to arrive. I think I speak for everyone, when I say we all needed a fresh start.  Though, there were some old 2020 antics that crept into this year that made us say WTF?! Aside from that, this month for me was pretty quiet and I was very happy for that fact.  I settled on a new word of the year- FOCUS and I am so curious to see how that unfolds in my life. This month is seemed to show up many times that I was having a hard time focusing on really anything.  I took that, with a grain of salt because I feel like I have been slow getting back into old/new rhythms. 

One of the biggest rhythms that took some work getting back into was school. I started again on the 11th and while I am still trying to figure out how to make it work. The classes are both interesting and challenging and thought provoking. I am excited to get deeper into the class and information. 

An exciting part of this month was my BIRTHDAY! I turned 33 on the 15th and it was honestly the most perfect birthday, I've had in a few years.  We  had cake for dinner and it was a three day weekend. We made homemade veggie pizza over the weekend and it was the very best. I am still in shock that I am 33 but I am excited for what this year holds for me. 

I have been generally happy with my life lately. As much as the pandemic has been weird, it has forced me to really evaluate what is important in my life and what I truly want. This month has been extra good because I was able to hit a big savings goal. I've said it many time before, for the past 17 months, something has clicked in my brain about savings and I have made it my #1 priority and I have really loved seeing my money grow. It has been hard and there has been time thinking about different options and scenarios but its all for a great end result.

I am still working on making paper cranes for the local library. It has been a really relaxing and calming activity that I find myself doing randomly.  Reading has been a bit of a weird challenge. I started the year off strong and then I hit a plateau when school started. This has happened in the past and I will eventually circle back to reading again. 

This month, work wise, has been a little crazy with a new investment contract and getting used to the new flow with the banks.  I am so thankful for work that keeps me busy all day long; there is never a shortage of work to do. Each day brings new questions and new things to accomplish. 

Overall, this was a month of new rhythms and ideas. I am looking forward to see what February brings and what comes into FOCUS next. 

[[We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are]]

WGJ vol. 13

Hi friends! I am so excited to share this months playlist. I have been listening to a variety of different types of music this month and its been so refreshing to hear new types of music along with discovering new artist. I have a bunch of (new to me) artists in this month's playlist. 

WGJ vol. 13

Girl- Marren Morris
Don't Give Up On Me- Rob Mayes
The Bandit- Kings of Leon
I Like You- Ben Rector
All The Time- David James
Line By Line- JP Saxe, Marren Morris
Whatever Forever Is- Devin Dawson
Silverado For Sale- Morgan Wallen
I Do- Astrid S. & Brett Young
Incredible- James TW
This City- Sam Fischer
Stay Next To Me- Quinn XCII & Chelsea Cutler
Hands Down- Dashboard Confessional
Beyond- Leon Bridges
My Thoughts On You- The Band CAMINO
Hymn For The Weekend- Coldplay
Rescue Me- OneRepublic
happiness-John K
Little Things-Charlie Brennan, Madelyn Paquette
Creek Don't Rise-Peyton Smith
Feels- WATTS
Bucket List- Mitchell Tenpenny

Listen Here.

[[Make a habit of trying new things]]

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! I want to first thank you all for the sweet birthday messages you left me. My birthday was lowkey and relaxing. I ate cake for dinner! HA! 

This week was fun, I had off on Monday, which I used to catch up/get ahead with my homework, the inauguration (and indoguration), a snow squall, a unplanned trip to the dentist and lots of homework. Overall it was a great week and I was actually happy to see the snow, I wish it stuck and there was more to enjoy of it but, I will take what I can get. 

I am linking up with Andrea and Erica for Friday Favorites.

In my head, I had this great post all set for this week but when I finally sat down to write it, I was not inspired to write it. I think my mind has been other places all week and this unfortunately fell to the way side. But....I will share just some favorites that I have found recently:

1. Rachel Cruze's Contentment Journal/// In my search to find the old me, my mom bought me this daily guided journal. Loving what you have, where ever you are in life. It has been a fun and easy way to have gratitude in your life. 

2. Sunsets/// Has anyone noticed the sun doesn't set at 4PM anymore? I love getting to my car and it still be light out and then being able to see the sky change colors on the way home has been magical.

3. Colorful Inauguration Outfits/// I know that politics isn't about fashion but I was loving all the monochromatic looks. I am here for jacket dresses and matching masks. AND how could I forget Bernie Sanders iconic look. HA! 

Okay, its short and sweet this week. Lots of homework this weekend and maybe some snowshowers. 

Does anyone have any tips for studying? I am having a hard time sticking to a schedule lately.

Did you miss my other posts this week? Check out Diary #13 and Where Were You Today? January 20, 2020

[[Just say YIKES and move on]]

Where were you today? January 20, 2020

Happy first birthday WONDER, GRACE & JOY!*

This little idea, Wonder, Grace & Joy, was swirling around in my head for months before I decided to actually sit down and start writing. I was no stranger to blogging (more about that next month) but I wasn't sure if I would stick with this or even still be interested in it again. All I knew is that I wanted to write again. It had been a long while since I blogged, April of 2016 as a matter of fact. In that last post, I shared that I decided to hit the pause button on writing and focus on my health and getting better. I was really struggling with Crohn's Disease and all the unknowns that come along with it during that time. True to my word, I did finally come back when my health finally returned to my normal. 

*If I'm being honest, Wonder, Grace and Joy was actually born in March of 2019. I was super sick at the time and I thought, blogging would help distract me. Life got in the way in 2019 and while I wrote random things between April and September, my heart wasn't in it just yet. It wasn't until right after my birthday, when I got the bug again to write and truly commit. I consider today, January 20th, WGJ's true birthday, because that's when I really jumped in with both feet. 

WGJ has been such a wonderful place to share what is on my mind, especially during this past year. Writing for me, has been so great and therapeutic- this is something 12 year old Gabrielle would ever say. I used to detest writing in school. Now, I love sharing my life with all of you, the good and the bad. Writing about the good times along with the messy times, provides me a way to process things but also to be able to look back (especially during this pandemic) and see how I was really feeling. I wish that I wrote more during certain parts of my life (especially the hard parts). I am proud of what I have written and I am so excited to share more with you all in the next year. 

This is my big THANK YOU for reading my adventures, leaving the sweetest comments and letting me share my story. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

If I could just ask one, tiny favor of you- Can you please take a moment to take my reader survey? You can find it here. I really appreciate your time. Thanks a bunch! 

[[Until further notice, celebrate everything!]]

Diary #13

Hello! Here is another round of my favorite things I have seen over the past month. Sunsets are still high on my list of favorite things to see and the spot where I always catch them is probably my favorite part of my drive home. 

Letting you all in on what I see each month is a fun way for me not to fall into a rut and to always look up and around. You never know what you are going to find. 

I can't wait for the weather to start to get warmer so I can venture out more into nature. I miss being outside and not freezing. 

Sunsets 

This struck me so funny

It snowed... in my office

Dusk

These don't get old

That "R" always make me smile

Did someone forget their sculpture before getting on the bus?

No filters, just brightness

Not a winner

Snowman Exchange Program Letter

In the place at the right time

Reminder

Peek a boo, I see you Mr. Cardinal

Vintage

What have you seen lately?

[[Sometimes we just need a new perspective.]]