Friday Favorites: BIRTHDAY EDITION

Happy Friday everyone! This week was a fun week; I started my classes again and I feel like I am just about all caught up with my to do list. Winter has also made an appearance this week in New Jersey- the mornings have been absolutely FREEZING; its like Elsa herself has been visiting. No snow (thankfully!) but lots of cold walks to the office.

Today is an extra special Friday Favorites because its my BIRTHDAY! Ah! Its my 33rd trip around the sun and I swear each year, it gets better. In my midthirties, I am learning more about my true self and falling in love with what I am doing with my life more and more. In honor of my birthday I am sharing some of my favorite birthday photos and some facts about me:

In my head, I swear I feel like I am still a teenager.

I prefer home cooked meals over take out. 

I don't watch TV regularly and I don't have any streaming services.

I love taking long walks at the beach especially at sunset.

I'm an Enneagram 2 and an ISFJ.

Raspberries are one of my favorite fruits.

Painting is one of my favorites ways to unwind.

My wonder have lead me to learn about some pretty interesting things.

Bright colors will always be a favorite of mine.

My camera roll is filled with sunset photos and screenshots of random things.

Saving money has become a hobby. 

Being on/near the water always helps me clear my mind.

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Five years ago, I wrote 28 things I learned in 28 years; most of these things I think are still pretty true even today. I guess I have not changed that much over the past 5 years. 

I am so grateful for this crazy, beautiful, interesting life I was given and I cannot wait to see what this year holds for me. 

Short and Sweet this week, I will be back next week with some things I've seen and another installment of Where were you. I look forward to a relaxing 3 day weekend filled with homework and lots of birthday cake.

What are you up to this weekend?

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites

Did you miss this weeks posts? Catch them here: Word of the Year and OOPS!

[[Today is the oldest you have been and the youngest you'll ever be again. Eleanor Roosevelt]]

OOPS!

Just showing my face on the blog for the new year.

Welp! Its the second full week of the January and somehow I have lost track of time. School started Monday and I guess I still think I am on break because it seems to be hard to get back into a routine. I am giving myself grace today to focus on school work and getting back into a new rhythm of things. 

If this happened, two years ago,  I would have stayed up all night writing what I intended to write just because it was on my schedule and I didn't want to let myself down. I am happy that I can change directions and do things that suit my needs in the moment. I hope you have learned this for you as well. 

I will leave you with this fun project I am participating in, with the local library when I have some time. I have been making them when I am on my exercise bike, if you are or would like to participate, leave me a comment below and let me know!

Check back for an extra special Friday favorites on Friday. ((hint: 🥳))

[[find a rhythm that enhances your life not a routine that stifles it.]]

Word of the Year

Word of the Year; I found this concept a few years ago and I fell in love with it. It wasn't up until last year that I actually chose a word of the year. I thought this is a great way to make this word your anchor- a guiding force for your year. 

For last year's word, I took a quiz and it choose it for me and while I had no idea how bloom would really take shape in my life, I kept it in the back of my mind and went on with my year. I talk all about how Bloom was applicable in last weeks post. 

I admittedly, had a slightly harder time choosing the word for this year.  I took the DaySpring Word of the Year quiz for this year and I didn't exactly love the word that was chosen for me (overcome) so I retook the quiz and still didn't like the word (transform). I looked at a list of Words that could be used as a Word of the Year; some words jumped out at me but nothing really screamed ME.

Eastern Gateway Community College had a Virtual Intention Setting Workshop in the middle of December and the representative from EGCC walked us through some questions and as I wrote down the answers, I tried to look for a pattern of the words. Was there something you were writing down for each question? In the end, after looking at my answers, I came up with the words creativity and kindness. BUT I still wasn't sold on them either. 

The next day it came to me and it was exactly what I needed. FOCUS. I needed to focus- at work, at home, with my life and with whatever I do. This is not saying I am not normally focused but last year I realized I was SUPER SUPER distractible and I felt like it was hard for me to accomplish things that were usually easy to accomplish. It might have been because we are in a middle of a global pandemic and 2020 was filled with so many unprecedented events that work/everyday life seemed hard to concentrate on but whatever the reason, I felt like this (focus) was exactly what I needed for 2021.

FOCUS on what is important and what is in front of me and goodness will come.  I have a bad habit of when I am doing a project, I am super committed to it in the beginning and then as the project wears on, I tend to lose focus a few days/weeks into the project. It frustrates me and I envy the people who can keep at something for weeks, months, years. I end up usually finishing what I started but it takes a lot of self talks and a lot of breaks to get it done. My hope is this year, something will click in my head and my focus will improve. 

I am curious to see how FOCUS will play into my year and what I will discover about myself this year. 

Did you pick a word of the year? Let me know in the comments below

[[Your focus is your reality- Yoda]]

Friday Favorites: Feel Good Stories

Hello! Happy Friday! 

Its the first full week back from the holidays. This week flew by (I am not surprised). At work, I started this week with lots of bookkeeping and checking with the banks I deal with to make sure the money transfer went through. They all did and I am ready to do this again in the fall. (Our current investment contract is a one year contract so I will have to go out to bid again in the fall and I am hoping the interest rates come up a little.) Overall this work week was pretty good, lots accomplished and some new systems in place. 

In the news this week, it was A LOT to process. I think John Deloney said it best when he posted this

One last comment from this week's chaos, Ali from Simply Small Town blog posted this yesterday and I 100% agree with it

Be kind. Its simple, it costs nothing and it will make you a better person. 

OKAY! I think we all need a some feel good stories right?

I found these this week and I got all the warm fuzzies when I read these stories:

People Share Green Flags in Relationships/// Aww! These just make my heart burst with joy. These are so fun to read and they truly make you feel good. 

Rescued Rabbit and his Stuffed Bear/// My heart is bursting again! This bunny has a stuffed friend and its his little buddy. Spoiler alert, the bunny is safe and sound and his stuffed friend is doing great too. 

Nintendo in Children's Hospitals/// This is such a great idea. The Starlight Foundation and Nintendo have teamed up to make the hospital a little less scary for kids who are admitted. They partnered together in 1992 and they have been expanding what they do ever since! YAY! 

Pro Surfer Saves Women///The ocean can be beautiful but it can be dangerous. Mikey Wright didn't hesitate to jump in to save this women in Hawaii. This situation could have been a lot worse but the woman was safe and sound on dry land in the end. Great job Mikey!

Last but not least,

What He Sees/// Love what matters always has the best content for feel good stories and this one is one of my favorites. Her non verbal autistic son started to take photos daily, mom realizes that he is communicating in his own way and she figures out what he loves and wants to do. Another win for technology. 

Are you a puddle of mush from reading those sweet sweet stories?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and remember be kind and speak your truth.

Did you miss this weeks posts? 

Check them out here: Word of the Year 2020: Did I Bloom? and Family Photos 

[[In a world full of hate, be a light]]

Family Photos

Back in November, we had a local photographer take our Christmas Card photos. It has been a tradition for a few years now to have family photos taken and we decided to choose a new photographer this year and we were pleasantly surprised how much we loved the photos he took.  We always comment on how fake the background looks but it is very real and just as beautiful in the photos as it is in person. 

Location: Bamber Lake
Time: 1 hour before sunset
Photographer: Noah Schaffer

Today I am sharing some of our favorites:

Do you have a tradition of taking family photos each year? 

[[each photograph is a story captured in a single moment]]

Word of the Year 2020: Did I BLOOM?

Last year, my word of the year was BLOOM. 

You can read about my word reveal here and my six month update here.

In January, I didn't really know how Bloom was going to apply in my life. I had just inherited some plants, so I thought I would learn more about plants and that is it. I didn’t  realized how applicable that Bloom actually was going to be. 

I learned a lot about myself, just like everyone else, in 2020. Who knew bloom would be so applicable?!

These are some of the ways I bloomed this year:

You can miss something and not want them back/// 

Like most people, I've lost some things along the way in life and I used to think that if those things wandered back into your life randomly, they were meant to be there, permanently. That was always my thought- I was optimistic about these missing things coming home but I never really put too much thought into it until some things did come back into my life and I realized that they weren't what I remembered them as and they (on no fault on either party) changed- which is what is expected as you grow. 

In the past I would accept these things back into my life and most times I would not be happy- what I remembered was not what they were in the present. In 2020, I took a stand (metaphorically) and asked myself, why am I accepting things that are not what I want in my life? I realized sometimes having the memories is better than having the thing that has changed.  I want myself to be happy- truly happy; why should I settle for things that do not make me happy?

Watching your money grow, is really empowering///

I always thought that I had a good handle on money. I understood it, I knew what I needed to do with it and I understood how to invest it. It was until I moved back home after breaking off my engagement and I had very little money left in my account and lots of debt, I realized I did not have the understanding about money I thought I did. I sat down with my mom and we devised a plan and I knew I had to stick to this plan to be able to support myself at some point. Little by little, paycheck by paycheck, I stuck with the plan and I was able to pay off my debt, and start putting money into my savings account. 

I reconfigured my savings plan once my debt was paid off. I made savings a priority and  as I saw my account, grow little by little each month, it make me really happy. I did this, and this is all mine. Since August 2019, my little account has grown and my thoughts around money have changed. 

I no longer look at money as something I need to use ALL.THE.TIME. I LOVE looking at it sitting in my bank account, accruing interest each month.  I hope to continue to let it grow for a little longer and then start in on my financial goals.

and finally, I think the most important: 

Blooming late is better than blooming when you are not ready///

I am a late bloomer. There I said it. It has taken me a very long time to realize this fact. I have always questioned, for many years- why am I not doing XYZ or why is not XYZ happening for me? I never understood until this year, I set out with Bloom and really focus on it. I am not meant to follow the normal path that most people my age have followed. 

There is a flower, Titan Arum or better known as the corpse flower because of the awful stink that the flower emits when it is blooming. This flower only blooms once every few years and some only bloom a few times in a decade. This flower is not a late bloomer, it is just following its own path. That is one thing I've always done- follow my own path. I am going to continue to follow my own path and bloom at my own pace.

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This past year was 100% hard but I am so thankful for this year. I have had time to reflect and slow down and understand what is happening. 2020 gave me something I have always wanted, clarity on life and while I may not have figured everything out just yet, I know for the most part, I understand what I am doing and the path that I am supposed to be on. 

In closing, my word of the year for 2020 Bloom was 100% applicable and I totally bloomed this year and I will continue to bloom for years to come. I am so thankful for 2020 for showing me that even though you might think you are losing the race, you are winning one better than you could ever have imagined. 

Thank you 2020, you sucked but you had some really bright spots. 

[The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all- Mulan]

Friday Favorites: 2021 Goals

Hello 2021! Its nice to finally see you! We have been waiting a long time for you! 

Welcome to the first Friday favorites of 2021. 

Today I am sharing my goals for 2021. When I was thinking about my goals for 2021, I stumbled upon this graphic from Dave Rasmey:

Dave Ramsey identified 7 areas where we should be focusing our goals and energy on. Sometimes goals can feel too cumbersome and unattainable but by breaking goals up into one (or a few) of the 7 areas helps you focus in on your goals

This year, I am not going to put pressure on myself to complete all the 7 goal areas but I am going to look at these goals as guidelines and helpful hints for me to shape the year. I learned a lot from last year and I want to try to have the best year I can this year. Having these goals/guidelines help me when I am feeling discouraged or thinking I am not on the right course. 

Here are some of my goals for 2021:

-Move each day (walking, paddle boarding, virtual classes)

-Have gratitude in each situation

-Continue with my savings plan and keep my debt very low

-Read 25 books

-Be more creative

-Be intentional with my time

In 2020, I had a AH-HA! moment; some things just ended up clicking for me and I feel like I am on the right path, finally. I am hoping in 2021 that I become even more comfortable who I am, with what I am doing and where I am going. 

I am so excited to see what this year holds for me and I wonder what comes next.

What are your goals for this year?

[[a goal is a personal promise to your future self.]]

Happy 2021!

 

So happy to see you 2021! We thought you might never show up! 

Sit down and stay awhile. We have some mediocre hopes for you!