October 1 - Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit

When I was in my undergrad, my roommates had a superstition of saying "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit" on the first of each month, before they said anything else. It was supposed to bring you good luck. But - does anyone else know WHY it's rabbit? Do you have any superstitions?

That being said, and it being my favorite holiday's month, here's a fun article about supposedly "6 Most Haunted Places in America"

I personally don't believe that anything can be haunted but it's still an interesting article, and I'm nerding out about the architecture of some of the buildings. And I love watching prison shows, even if I can't stand the people most of the time. I should have taken more psychology classes.

I LOVE animals. No, seriously, LOVE them. If I could, I would own and care for a million of them, but alas, I'm practical and realize my space and funding limitations. Relatives of a close family friend are from Syria and I saw this article on an ambulance worker who has been helping feed cats, it makes me so sad that there are so many people and animals without their homes and access to meals. 

And, because it's been a fun week or so, here are some fun photos:

September 30 - Final Blogging Day

9.30.2014

the last day of september
(#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

In honor of blogging for the whole month (yay, me!), I found this article online. We've all been impacted by cancer, and this mom's portrayal is heartbreaking.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-santos/what-cancer-left-behind_b_5801346.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

September 29 - Meetings Bloggers

9.29.2014

MEETING BLOG FRIENDS FOR THE FIRST TIME

I have not met any of the new bloggers I follow, but I would love to! There are a couple of bloggers I know from "real" life but I would really like to meet more people who blog regularly.

September 26 - Friday Follow-Up

9.26.2014

FRIDAY FOLLOW-Up
(#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

I'm not much into the prompt for Friday, so I'll just say that I'm loving having to try and say something everything day.I'm working on a post for my other blog which is protected. If anyone wants to follow that one, let me know!

September 25 - I Like It, I Love It

9.25.2014

I LIKE IT, I LOVE IT (#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

Flowers!! I LOVE FLOWERS AND NATURE, BUT MAINLY, TAKING PHOTOS OF THEM:

cOMING HOME TO THIS GOOFBALL AND CUDDLING, AND OF COURSE, TAKING A BILLION PHOTOS:

BOARD GAMES WITH FRIENDS. I LOVE ALL BOARD GAMES AND FINDING NEW FRIENDS TO PLAY WITH. YAY FOR BANAGRAMS WITH MY BESTEST FRIEND BACK IN JULY:

COLLABORATING WITH FRIENDS! A FEW WEEKS AGO I PLAYED FLUTE TO A FRIEND'S ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY TO A BACH PIECE FOR THE LAGUNA DANCE FESTIVAL:

FUN MEMES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A TOUGH DAY:

GOING FOR WALKS AND TAKING PHOTOS. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED WALKING AROUND AND DOWNTOWN LA IS NEVER FOR LACK OF SOMETHING INTERESTING GOING ON. BELOW: THE la pHIL HAS THEIR OPENING GALA THIS EVENING FOR THEIR 2014-2015 SEASON. THEY CLOSED THE MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF MY OFFICE TO PUT UP TENTS FOR THEIR EVENT.

HAVING FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK THAT SEEM TO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WORLD ISSUES: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/26/ebola-death-toll-west-africa_n_5890060.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

FINDING OUT THAT SOMEONE ELSE IN LA DRIVES A STICK SHIFT:

GOING TO DODGER GAMES AND HAVING A THOUGHTFUL PARTNER WHO i LOVE EXPERIENCING THINGS WITH. THIS IS FROM THE DODGER GAME LAST NIGHT AGAINST THE ROCKIES [9/26/14]

\

GETTING MAIL! I LOVE OLD-SCHOOL MAIL AND TRY TO SEND THINGS TO PEOPLE WHENEVER IT CROSSES MY MIND. EVEN MORE EXCITING? RECOGNIZING THE HANDWRITING BEFORE YOU EVEN SEE THE RETURN ADDRESS. THANK YOU SAR [http://www.lifeofloveblog.com/] FOR THE THANK YOU NOTE FOR THE THANK YOU NOTE LOL!

teacher jokes. i've been teaching private flute/ piccolo for over 17 years (how is this possible??) and these are hilarious:

http://www.dose.com/lists/3576/23-Teachers-Who-Are-Absolutely-Nailing-This-Whole-Educator-Thing

last but not least, songs from the past coming on the radio and rocking out like you did when the song first came out. i love that music can transport you to where you were and what your life was like when you first heard the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reTx5sqvVJ4

September 24 - Favorite Room

9.24.2014

MY FAVORITE SPACE (#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

I love our living room. We have a huge living room with bay windows that face man-made ponds and streams. I LOVE the sound of water, I love nature, and I love animals. The area outside is protected by the state and there are tons of ducks and birds.

September 23

The best part of today definitely includes:

• A fun and productive practicing session
• Tap class that was so much fun and challenging
• 2+ hours on the phone with my bestest friend in the whole world :)

September 19 - Favorite Season

Today's prompt for the Blog Everyday in September challenge is to choose your favorite season and talk about why it is your favorite.

I have always been a summer girl!! I love everything about it, the heat, the stretch of abnormal scheduling, vacations, trips, traveling, sunshine, you name it! I grew up in Seattle and I remember when 75 degrees seemed really warm. I loved going to the east side though more than 100 degrees is hard to handle.

September 18 - 13.18.21.

Today's Blog Everyday in September prompt: Write a short letter to yourself at ages 13, 18, and 21.

Dear Self,Wow, you just turned 13, entered middle school. Luckily, you were young enough not to realize that your school's initials were P.M.S. (Thank you, Pacific Middle School). You will meet amazing friends, though, as it's a new school, it will seem like it takes a while to really connect with anyone. Be gentle to C, she will end up being the best friend you've ever had. Your homeroom teacher? Yes, he is high. Don't worry, half way through the year the school will find his stash and fire him. You'll always get a kick out of your report card from that term: "grade undetermined."
***

18. You're eighteen and beginning your senior year of high school. A tough year is ahead. On your birthday, you'll witness someone die at a swim meet. You'll never walk that part of the pool again. Most of your close friends are not in your classes, have graduated, or are doing early start at Highline Community College. Hang in there, only a few more months and you can go to college! Lunches will suck, no one has the same lunch as you, don't work too much. Have fun practicing during this break. Statistics will prove to be a bitch of a class, it will be the only one you ever drop in your career. Too many other things going on.Enjoy jazz band while you can, it will be a while before you get to join another jazz ensemble. You should give gas money to your friend who helps drive you to class in the morning, but you won't realize this until college. The 4:30am birthday breakfasts with friends will be awesome. The dressing up, flowers, balloons, decorated locker, and horrible Denny's pies will be awesome.

***

21. College is so much better than high school! You're having the time of your life, though you work a ton. You should take more time to hang out with friends, including your awesome roommates. You've transferred to CWU and, while it's a small-a$$ town, you'll learn to love being part of a community and make friends for life.

***

September 17 - How It All Began

HOW IT ALL BEGAN (#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

Why did you start blogging? What is your favorite part? Least favorite part?

I love reading blogs, probably more than actuallY writing them myself, which is one reason why I decided to partake in the #BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT. A few years ago, I realized that I was constantly being told that funny/ weird things happen to me. While it may not be true, I realized that I wanted to keep a journal of these things, good and bad, so that I have records. Especially for those days when crap hits the fan and you need a good laugh.

September 16 - Leaving On A Jet Plane

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE (#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

 If you could drop everything and get on a plane for a two week vacation right now, where would you go and why?

How can I possibly choose just one place? I am SO GRATEFUL because Aaron and I are getting married in December and, not only are we able to go on a honeymoon, we are going to Greece via Russia!! We are also hoping to go to Corsica for a couple days as I have a couple friends who are from there.

If I could go anywhere else?? First choice would definitely be ALL, yes ALL of Africa. I have always wanted to go on a Safari and go to pretty much every country there, especially Kenya. Someday!

September 15 - Growing Up in the PNW

GROWING UP: IN THE PNW

#Blogeverydayinsept#

While I was born in Eastern Washington, I grew up in Seattle. I loved visiting the Tri Cities as a kid, my dad, stepmom, brother and sister lived there as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and some of the best friends I've ever had. I love living in a big city, I hope I never have to move to a small town again. (I lived in Ellensburg for four years, and while I learned to enjoy aspects of it, small town life is not for me). 

Growing up, our house had a beautiful view of the Puget Sound and Mount Rainier.

My first job, outside of babysitting was in downtown Seattle, just a couple of blocks from the Space Needle.

This photo is actually one of mine. One of the few times I was able to spend New Year's Eve with one of my best friends at the Needle:

I love being by water. I wish I could afford to live right next to it. I lived in Santa Barbara for 7 years and while parts of it was wonderful, it was too small of a town to live in permanently. I love nature, taking photos of it, hikes, and all un-frozen water sports. I never got into skiing. I'm not into being cold, ever, though even the multiple 100+ degrees in LA have been a bit too much for me. 

September 10 - Favorite Birthday Memories

Favorite birthday memories

Today's #BlogeverydayinSept prompt is to write a little about our best and worst birthday memories. I LOVE that this is the prompt for the 10th because TODAY is my birthday!!

It's hard just to choose one favorite memory, but the one that definitely sticks out is my birthday in 2007. Aaron and I had just started dating and we decided to go on a trip. We flew into Portland, Maine and drove down the east coast. 

September 11 - One Book, One Movie, One Song

ONE BOOK, ONE MOVIE, ONE SONG... FOREVER (#BLOGEVERYDAYINSEPT)

Today's prompt for "Blog Everyday in September" is pretty simple: If you had to choose one book, one movie, and one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Book: The Hunger Games

I finally jumped on the band wagon a couple years ago, and normally I'm not into sci-fi books, but I started reading the first book, and couldn't put the series down!

Movie: The Notebook

This is hard to choose, but: The Notebook! I love the casting, I have to like the main characters as much as the supporting cast. And, I love the storyline, even if the books tend to be better. And yumm to Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is beautiful!

Song: Puff Daddy's I'll Be Missing Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. 

Yes, back when he was Puff Daddy. Not the original version of the song, just this version. Heart-breakingly beautiful and I still remember when I first heard it, how it impacted me then, and listening to it on repeat for days/ weeks. 

September 12 - Blog Inspiration

I'm not much into today's prompt but I do have a few blogs that I love following. I find it means more if I know people in real-life but unfortunately, most of my friends don't blog.

However, one of the most amazing people I know, is also one of my favorite bloggers! I love Sar's wit, stories, and general blogging style, check her out! http://www.lifeofloveblog.com/

I love people who talk about their real lives and what happens to them. The world is hugely small, and it's nice knowing people who are going through similar things, even if I'm not always willing to share.

September 9 - Top Five Cry Moments

9.09.2014

TOP FIVE CRY-INDUCING MOMENTS IN TV/MOVIES

There are times when I need to watch a cry-inducing movie. 
Sometimes I'm already sad, sometimes I just want to watch a good drama. Here are my favorites:

THE NOTEBOOK

FORREST GUMP

STEEL MAGNOLIAS

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

Friday

The last couple of weeks have been really tough. Today, work was really busy but in general very good. I love interacting with the families at my school. Of course there are difficult people, but I'm doing my darndest to be as earnestly nice to them as possible.

Yesterday? Yesterday sucked. It actually started really well but once crap hit the fan, it flew everywhere. I started my day with an amazing workout with an inspiring trainer. I met my quintet for coffee downtown and it was great catching up.

Things started going downhill when a woman, who I've worked with before, wasn't happy about something and took it out on all of us. Wow. On the way to work, my tire low light came on. When I stopped after work at Chevron to use their air, a creepy guy parked behind the station, right by me and wouldn't leave me alone. He finally went inside to buy something and I got to call A. to come to the station. The guy came out and I waited in my car. Luckily we live close to that Chevron. A. helped me and the guy didn't bother me anymore. Ugh.

September 5 - Daily Routine

Today's prompt: describe your daily beauty/makeup routine.

I tend to shower at night as I've never been a morning person and never will be. Every extra minute of laying in bed is enjoyed.

(side note: why is it that all morning people try and convert you?? Some people are just night owls)

In the morning, I like to start with sun screen, I usually out a couple coats on as living in Southern California, the sun is always out! I've just recently switched to this lotion, I like it because it's thicker that the Neutrogena lotion I was using previously. I keep it in my bag so I can reapply throughout the day.

I use very minimal makeup, I usually only use eye liner and fun eye shadow colors. I've learned you get what you pay for and I LOVE MAC eye shadows. I use every color they make because, why not?!

Other than that, i try and work out each day, if not at least 5-6 days a week. I do Cross Fit and walk/ run/ jog. I've also begun playing soccer with my fiancé and though I'm horrible, it is so fun! I also practice my flute every day, it's my form of meditation.

September 4 - Childhood Celebrity Crushes

Throwback Thursday Childhood Celebrity Crushes (#blogeverydayinsept)

The only show I consistently watched in high school was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love Sarah Michelle Gellar and, holy bananas, David Boreanaz (Angel) was hot!! Besides, the whole forbidden love storyline didn't hurt  ;)

And then there was James Marsters (Spike), especially in the later episodes and the series spinoff of Angel.

And we also had Joey Lawrence in Brotherly Love. I love the show Melissa and Joey, and I've gotten to see it filmed live twice (I want to go again!), though I think that it's sad how much tanner he uses now. Look at those eyes! *swoon*

And, as many of my blogger buds are saying, last but not least, is JTT. If you didn't think he was cute, you weren't alive in the 90's. Home Improvement was great and I'm glad to see him back on the big screen, including Last Man Standing.

September 2 - Prized Possesion

Tell us about your most prized possession and the history behind it.

I have been playing flute since 5th grade, many moons ago. When I was in my undergrad studies, I knew I needed a new flute but in no way could afford it. I was able to get into UC Santa Barbara with a scholarship for my grad studies, so I got a student loan and saved it for quarters to get enough for a new flute. I did the same thing the next year and was able to get a piccolo. Maybe not ideal for some hut 'read my only viable option. My flute and piccolo are my livelihood, my art form, the best way I can express myself.