January 2020

One month down of the year twenty-twenty. Honestly, to me it didn't feel like January flew by that quickly, which is probably because it was a full month for me. And I'm glad. 

It was good. *smiles* 

First of all, let's not comment on how neglected my blog has become, because that has been a thing for forever now. I didn't even talk about Christmas or December at all except for that one tag...

But. I had a good Christmas, just for the record. *thumbs up*

Also. I only did two posts this month, and they were both tags. It WAS a pretty busy month. And I'm giving you a little life update now, so it's all good. Not like I'm obligated to update people on my mediocre life, I just..... I guess that's just what bloggers do. xP And you can debate whether or not I qualify as a blogger anymore if you'd like, but I'm getting on to this post now. lol.

JANUARY 2020. What did I do this month?

|| Well, I started the new year and new decade off awesomely. My brother and sister and I spent New Years Day up by the lakes, driving around with the cousins and doing a little off-roading. It was a great day. *happy grin*

I don't remember much of what else I did at the beginning of the month, probably because I DROPPED. MY. PHONE. And the screen slowly died. It was wierd. I could still turn the phone on, but that was useless because the screen was black. *laughs* 

Here's what it looked like, in the process of dying. xP That sucked. I called the manufacturers, and decided to pay to get it fixed. So I used my mom's old phone, and headed off on vacation! What a time to wreck your phone, right? *laughs* My mom's old phone, which I'm STILL having to use, is a junk. That's why these photos from my trip are garbage. My service quit working a tiny bit into the trip, so I had no service the whole time. I finally got that fixed today.

|| So, the trip. Three of my cousins, and my sister and I road-tripped up to New Hampshire for a cousins wedding! It was an adventure, and a good time! :) A couple other cousins from another state drove up for the wedding too, and we all stayed at my aunt and uncle's house. It was great hanging out with all of the cousins, and chatting with aunts and uncle's. Especially when I don't see many of them very often.
Having "real" winter for awhile was kind of cool. That came with it's own adventures. *winks* Icy roads...
I went to my cousin's last night out, helped decorate for the wedding, and, of course, went to the wedding. Lol. It was beautiful!
I got sick the day after the wedding, and missed out on some activities that day. But still got to have some fun the next day, the day before we loaded up the big van and headed for home. :) It was well worth the trip, after five years without a visit!  

And here's a few more junky pictures for you. xP Not having a good camera for pictures during a trip is kinda sad, but that's life. *ouch*

|| I started working at a new place a couple days a week, after getting home from vacation, and that has been a new experience. It's been good, but different. I'm not exactly sure where that's going to go, or how it'll end up, but I'm hoping I'll eventually be able to quit my other job and take this one on full time. We'll see.

|| I literally got sick at least twice in January! First I got a head cold in New Hampshire, and then the Sunday after getting back, I came down with the stomach flu. And I pretty much never get the stomach flu. Last year it took out our whole big family, except me and the baby brother. *shrugs* So that was interesting. Anyone else get sick last month? xP

This is random, but we have kale in our garden still! And it's alive and well. ^^





JANUARY READING:

The book of Proverbs

I made a goal on Goodreads to read 12 books this year... which is one book a month! I read Proverbs, and I guess that does count. ;P



JANUARY SONGS: 

Won't Look Back by Josh Groban

Why is it that Daminika always tells me about awesome things? xP *laughs* She told me about my now-favorite TV shows, and she told me about this song, which I love. This style of music, so passionate, is one of my favorites.

Just The Way by Parmalee & Blanco Brown

I heard this in NH. Can't say I agree with the whole song, but I love this line, if you take it as talking about appearances and personality. :) 

I love you just the way God made you, 

girl you don't have to change

what you call your imperfections I call beautiful babe

ANTICIPATING IN FEBRUARY:

|| Getting my phone back, ha

|| Valentine's Day? Why, you ask? I guess I've been liking seeing all the fun candy and stuff at the stores. Just gotta go buy myself some. Yep.  #rockingthesinglelife

|| Life, life, life...

HOW DID JANUARY GO FOR YOU? TELL ME ABOUT IT!! 

WHAT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST INTERESTING\FUN ASPECT OF MY JANUARY?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN FEBRUARY?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM ME? 

Song Lyric Q&A \\ Challenge

Hi. I'm popping in again. For another tag... er, I guess it's technically a challenge. Thanks to Daminika for creating this and challenging me to do it! Sounds fun and hard. Especially when you consider the fact that I listen to music probably 50% less than Daminika (at least), and it was hard for HER. Help. xP I do love music though. Just for the record. Lol.

Let's goooooo

\\ RULES \\

link back to the blogger who challenged you

answer the five questions using only song lyrics

the entire song doesn't have to answer the question - just the line that you use

Make sure you say the name of the song you got the lyrics from, plus the name of the singer who sings it

Feel free to explain why you picked that song lyric, if you feel like it doesn't explain it all

challenge some bloggers

\\ What is your dream life?

Now you're walking down the aisle
And I can't help but smile

This is it, this is now, it's what I've been talking about
Looking out, I can see forever
So take my hand, just take it in
This is a moment we won't forget
On top of the world, here, together
Surrounded by our family and our friends

"This is It" by Scotty McCreery

\\ Where in the world do you live?


She needs wide open spaces...

"Wide Open Spaces" by Dixie Chicks

I don't even listen to this song, though I've heard it. I feel THIS line is pretty accurate since, though I live in a place where there's lots of trees and variety too, there are also those big beautiful wide-open country fields. <3



\\ What describes you?

Socially awkward
Not a smooth talker
But once you get to know me
I've got so much more to offer
When I'm face to face with you
Don't know what to say or do
Hard for me to play it cool

Awkward

"Awkward" by Scotty Sire

I heard this song while on vacation. It was like, pretty much how I had been feeling that evening, hanging out with a huge group of girls and knowing only three of them. And they were cousins I hardly ever see. So. I could put a whole bunch more of the lyrics up there, but that would be like half the song. *laughs*

disclaimer: there are some swear words in this song, sadly. And I wouldn't recommend the artist- I don't know much about him, but I saw some of the lyrics of one of his other songs and... yeah.

\\ How do you feel right now?

Because I find a different law at work deep inside my soul

constantly conspiring against my freedom

Binding me with blinding lies,

I've carried since my youth

That I've mistaken for the truth

Oh Jesus. Oh Jesus. Can you free me

Jesus can you free me from myself

"Free Me From Myself" by Lionel Cartwright

Finding a song that describes how I feel right now is too hard (my mood is too steady I guess *laughs*), so here is a song Daminika sent me, that I relate to. Especially the constantly conspiring against my freedom part. It'd probably be a powerful song for a lot of people. :)

\\ What is something you like to do?

makes you wanna roll your window down
Stick your hand in the air
Let the wild wind blow through your hair
Keep on ridin' 'til we run out of highway
Pass the dusty fields, through the tailgate towns
Find us a spot, watch the sun go down 

"Roll Your Window Down" by Scotty McCreery

This describes my idea of fun pretty well. Simple, good old-fashioned country fun. *happy sigh*

That was fun! It wasn't even super difficult, surprisingly. Must've not been trying too hard to make it as accurate as possible. :P

I Challenge:

Shantelle @ Between the Pages of this Bookish Life

Jacky @ Where the Eagles Fly

Sam @ The Light Meets the Dark

Questions:

What is your dream life?

Where in the world do you live?

What describes you?

How do you feel right now?

What is something you like to do?

Yep, I'm actually tagging people this time! :P 

The All About Me Tag

Hello you all, and Happy New Year! I hope January has been treating you all well thus far. Can you believe it's 2020, a brand new decade?! 

So anyway, I've been by Daminika for The All About Me Tag, so let's get into it. :)  

THE RULES:

1. Link back to the person who started the tag.

2. Use the banner above in your post.

3. Answer the questions truthfully.

4. Tag at least three blogger friends.

THE QUESTIONS:

|| What is your favorite color? 

I don't know. Blues, purples? I can never answer this question. It's ridiculous, I know. *laughs* My favorite color was purple when I was little, I think. For wearing, I like deep colors, especially cool colors, but that probably is just because those look best on me.

|| Your blog/blogs?

This one, Simple Things.
I also have a photography site, Natasha Ann Photography.

|| Do you like to read?

Yes, I do! 

|| What is your favorite book?

Another question I don't know the answer to. So I'll pick one of my favorites that I read last year...

Entwined by Heather Dixon

|| What's your favorite sport?

Can I answer with an Olympic-type sport? Because I'm not into watching ball sports. xP I like figure skating! And gymnastics. Oh, I sometimes play disc golf. I don't LOVE it though. And I'm not very good either, haha!

|| What's your favorite movie?

MAN, I can't do favorites! I'll pick a favorite that I watched last year, once again...

The Magic of Ordinary Days

All the hearts for this movie! It was really good. <3

|| If you could time travel, when would you go?

Probably sometimes in the 1800's, when people went to balls and dances to socialize. How fun would that be?? Not during the Civil War though.

|| Favorite board game?

I really don't play board games that often. I like Apples to Apples, Scategories, Take-Two (like Bananagrams), Dutch Blitz, and various other card games.  

|| How many siblings do you have?

E i g h t!

|| What's your favorite Bible verse?

ONE of my favorite Bible verses would probably be... 

"But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

I TAG:

Anyone who wants to do it! As usual xP

The Merry and Bright Tag

Hello peeps!

I was tagged by Daminika for the Merry and Bright Tag! Thanks girl! xD

Here we go...



Favorite movies to watch at Christmas time:

Holiday Inn. I own It's a Wonderful Life too, so we'll see if I watch that one this year too. ;) I should.

Some Christmas songs that make it Christmas:

The traditional songs, both hymns and the fun ones. The First Noel, O Holy Night... As well as Mary Did You Know. *smiles* 

Some books that I love in the winter (aka give me all the feels):

None, because I rarely re-read books. :P

Some Christmas goodies that make me smile:

Hot apple cider, and pretty much anything we make. I like food. *laughs* We usually made different cookies, but haven't yet this year.

Some Christmas-y words that make me happy:

twinkling lights. snowflakes. cozy fireplace. sleigh rides (never been on one tho). xP

Some things I look forward to every year:

Well, I really enjoy buying and wrapping up gifts. So much fun. :) I don't know if I'm really anticipating it so much before the time actually comes to Christmas shop though... *shrugs* xP
Getting a tree and decorating it is awesome too! Oh, and giving out the gifts I got for everyone. Opening mine is fun as well, of course! *laughs*

Favorite Christmas memories:

I guess making all kinds of creative homemade gifts when I was younger, and still now buying them and wrapping them. I just really enjoy that. This year we went to a small-town Christmas parade, and also got apple cider at a cute little market\cafe. That was fun too. ^__^

Shantelle and I with our hot apple cider, looking life we jumped into a Hallmark Christmas movie. xD *laughs* I love this picture

Some memories to be made this year:

A Christmas party of sorts with "new" people from the church Shantelle and I started going to.
Getting together with family that live near us.
My baby brother's first Christmas. ;)

Guidelines:

Take the banner and put it in your post

List as many things as you want in each category

Tag as many people as your heart desires!

I Tag:

The usual- whoever wants to do it! xP

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOG, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS!! xD 

AND IF YOU HAVE A BLOG AND WANT TO COMMENT THE ANSWERS HERE INSTEAD, DO THAT! 

WHAT IS SOMETHING FUN AND CHRISTMASY YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THIS YEAR?

November 2019

For some reason, my dump of photos for November is rather small. I did take more pictures, but I have a lot that are of people, and you all probably know by now that I don't post pictures of other people on here very much. Privacy reasons.

But despite the lack of pictures, I had some great times. During the week of Thanksgiving. Because a bunch of people came, and it's usually refreshing for me when that happens. *smiles*

More of that later...

My two sisters and I were home "alone" (plus our dad) for about 10 days after getting back from vacation in the West Coast. 

We got some snowwww! It actually took a few days for ALL of it to melt. 

SO PRETTY

That first morning driving to work, the roads were all covered. My older sister was driving.

Change from the vending machine... I got four $1 coins. Is that unusual?

Baby's little shoes <3

Went for a visit at my aunt and uncle's. The kids had the kitten, Cupcake, in the house. xP

Cutie

Chick-fil-A's Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake. YUMM

THANKSGIVING!

Okay, so I guess this brings me back to all the people who came to visit for Thanksgiving. We had about 13 people come to visit from out of state, basically all family. It was awesome! One was a cousin I hadn't seen for like three years, and it was so good to see him. I had fun that weekend, hanging out with a bunch of boys. Because pretty much everyone in my age group were boys, haha. In fact, there were lots of younger girl cousins, but a whole bunch of older boy cousins. xP Like you all even care. Sorry. 
On Thanksgiving day we had some local families join us, too, since they didn't have anywhere else to go. :)

Had some adventures in caves, woods, and cow pens in the dark (lol). Went bowling. Watched as our house got turned into a barber shop and a couple of my cousins got their hair cut, and giggled at all the funniness going on. xD xD I love it.

We said goodbye to the cousins Saturday night, but I also got a text that night to meet at Cracker Barrel the next morning, which totally made my night! So we got to hang out a little more Sunday morning. We ended up going to another restaurant (Cracker Barrel was packed), but that was December 1st. So you have to wait for my December photo dump to see the glorious picture of my buffet breakfast from that day. LOL. xP


Well I hope you enjoyed my monthly life post, and are having a great beginning to the Christmas season! 

I'm doing good on Christmas shopping, I feel like, though I only started not long ago. Some people would probably say I got a late start, but my Christmas celebrating doesn't start until after Thanksgiving! ;P




HAVE YOU STARTED CHRISTMAS SHOPPING? 
DID YOU HAVE A GOOD THANKSGIVING?
TELL ME ABOUT IT!