What Snow Days Are For

I always imagine that it must be so nice to live somewhere sunny and 75° for all 365 days of the year.  That would eliminate chapped hands, cracked lips, frozen hands on the steering wheel.  I wouldn't have to deal with awful road conditions or making sure I have an extra pair of gloves packed just in case.  Scraping snow off of the car at 6:30 am would be a thing of the past, and boy, that is one thing that I surely wouldn't miss. 

But what sunny and 75° doesn't come with is snow days. 

Snow days are for hot chocolate and pajamas.  Sledding whenever you feel like it.  Catching up on your current read.  Snuggling in with the covers up to your chin and watching the snow fall.

Finishing the homework that you're still somehow procrastinating on.  Taking a walk and marveling in how still, peaceful, and calm the earth is.  On a snow day, you can build a snowman, try a new recipe  (and it's a hit!), and shovel the driveway for what seems like the 7th time.

Bake cookies. Eat all of the cookies. Throw a snowball and expect to have one sail back at you.

And that's what snow days are for.  Suddenly, overcast and 9° is sounding much, much more appealing.

And I get to do it all over again tomorrow!

Love,
Allison

How I Failed at No-Spend January

These euros were not spent in January! Partly because they aren't accepted in America and that's where I was all January long.  But we'll pretend that they weren't spent because of my iron strong will. 

Not spending money for an entire month is hard.

In an attempt to curb spending and save some dollas, I officially declared January a no-spend month by waking up on January 2nd and thinking that it's just a month and it's no big deal and I really do need to save money for college and then having to promptly stop myself from buying a song on iTunes.

With that knowledge in mind, it'll be no surprise to you that I failed at not spending in January.  Of course I don't have to purchase things like groceries, pay a mortgage, or get a car repaired yet, but I often grab some food with friends, impulsively buy a new skirt every now and then and frequent the iTunes store on a weekly basis.

I figured that I could easily put all of that off for just four short, little weeks.  Wrong.

what I wanted to spend: $0
what I spent: (try not to be too horrified with me. please.) $2.72

I'm going to break it down:
$2.02 - pictures for my wall quote that I actually didn't end up using.
$0.50 - string cheese at lunch when I thought I was going to die from starvation, but I probably would have made it anyway.  And it was warm.  Gross.
$0.20 - a library fine. My account said I was a delinquent and I didn't want the nice old librarian to think I was a bad person so I took care of that baby.  And I didn't want to go to jail.

I really broke the bank, I know.

Actually, all sarcasm asides, I'm pretty proud of how well No-Spend January went down.  It was a lot harder than I had imagined it to be when I dreamed it up while in that whole waking-up-delusional stage that no important decisions should ever be made in.

I noticed that not spending money required a lot more pre-thought and planning than I usually had to put into things. For example, I met with a few friends for a Bible study at Panera and instead of indulging in my usual U PICK 2 and chai tea latte, I packed a sandwich from home and pretended that it was a panini. I didn't fool anyone, but my wallet was happy!

Not spending also meant that I had to be consistent and stick to a plan even when that bargain rack Target skirt was definitely designed with me in mind.

Now that it's "Spend-All-You-Have-February," I'm off to make up for the 31 days that I just spent conserving.  If you need me, I'll be in the Target dressing room!

Have you ever tried to go a month without spending?

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

// Allison

And Tuesday Was Like a Thunderstorm

As I sit here, the rain pounds down on the roof.  Quite an odd contrast from the nights that were 3° with an inch of snow covering the ground not even a week ago.  But, hey, I guess that's Michigan weather for you.

From frigid gusts of wind and chapped lips last Monday to the seemingly never-ending rainshower with temperatures reaching a scorching 50° that came into town today, the weather is completely unpredictable.  Any Michiganders could attest to that one with a resounding "amen!"  How could it just completely switch just like that?

In that sense, that crazy rollercoaster called Michigan weather is exactly like my life at the moment.  From one day to the next, it's been completely flipped, and I didn't see it coming.

As of last Sunday, senior year was going according to plan.  No homework, no problems.  I could come home and read a book, watch a movie, make dinner, and heck, I could have probably even written a novel before bed and still get seven hours of sleep.

However, Tuesday rolled in like a thunderstorm.  Four papers.  Three resumes.  A book to read.  Two broken friendships.  Babysitting to be done. A messy room to deal with.  Colleges to apply to.  Blog posts to write. Finals to begin thinking about. Plans to be made.  Deadlines to meet (or miss . . .) A family disagreement.  And the list goes on, and on.

I literally wrote out a to-do list for the first time in how-long because I couldn't keep track of all that was building up for me to accomplish.  This list spans over 30 items long with more being added everyday.  Dwelling on it makes my brain go into over-drive and it's not long before the tears start welling up.

Even now, there are much better things that I can be doing to start diminishing my check-list, but I can't even start with that at this moment.  The mountainous pile of tasks is too scary, too demanding.  But avoiding it is not going to help anything.  Updating Facebook is not getting my paper written, nor is making quinoa just for the heck of it helping me to finish my sociology project.

I guess this post could be considered my little pep talk to let a little out and to screw my head back on straight so I can get back on track.  I definitely needed to take a break from the 13 tabs that I have open regarding the immigration paper that I'm researching for that is due in two hours.

This, too, shall pass.  Thunderstorms do not last forever.

Be still and know that I am God. // Psalm 46:10

xx,

Allison

Week by Numbers + #SOTWW

Being my non-artistic, precise self, I've always had a special fondness for Paint by Numbers. I mean, I could look like I knew what I was doing and it was so dang easy to make a masterpiece.  Translated to the blogging world, Paint by Numbers becomes Week by Numbers: an easy way to see what I've been up to all week (because I know you're so interested!)! But unlike Paint by Numbers, Week by Numbers involves no clean-up or accidental paint spills, so it's pretty much gold.

8 trillion // (at least!) the seconds that I've waited for my computer to load since it decided to suddenly turn into a dinosaur on me. #Rawr #NotCool

231 // pages read of Pride and Prejudice.  I LOVE MR. DARCY. That is all.

45 // minute work-out that Allie and I completed yesterday that has me hobbling like a baby deer today.

22 // the amount of times that I've listened to "Shake It Off" because it's my jam. Also, I picked 22 because it seemed like a nice, round, Taylor Swift number, not because I actually know. 

14 // the amount of times I've had to charge my phone because like my computer, it decided to stop doing its job. I think technology hates me.

12 // hours of sleep that I got on Friday night because I went to bed at 8.  Party animal, I know. 

11 // cat pictures taken. Here's one to grace your eyeballs. You're welcome. 

8 // hand-lettering designs that I've attempted.  I suddenly got the urge that I had to learn how to make pretty word designs right that second, and so I did.  Well, attempt that is.  Homework, shmomework.

No, I didn't go through and decorate my entire planner . . .  . well, I might have. 

7 // cookies eaten.  A cookie (or two) a day keeps the doctor away! Right?

5 // times that I've watched the new "Blank Space" music video.  I'm not usually big on music videos, but something about Taylor's psycho breakdown has me clicking replay.

4 // recipes made.  Pumpkin bars and baked oatmeal for the win.  Butternut squash mac&cheese, not so much.  But I mean, hey, someone somewhere has to like it! Also, I'm counting my pineapple+blueberry smoothie that I had for breakfast about five days in a row.

3 // movies watched: Elf, Big Hero 6, and Legally Blonde, in case you were interested.  Also, I can now reference bend + snap and know what I'm talking about! 

1 // metal bar walked straight into yesterday in my school's weight room. In front of the whole wrestling team. Cool. 

Linking up with Helene today for Song of the Week Wednesday! This week's was a no-brainer as I've been newly re-obsessed with Rooney's "When Did Your Heart Go Missing" as I rediscovered it last week and promptly bought it and played it about 84 times in a row.  Shout out to my family and friends for neither smashing my phone or killing me over it . . . though I wouldn't have blamed them if they did. Enjoy!

What are some of your numbers of the week? 

xx,

Allison

The One Where I Mention Blood

I tried to title this post in a way that would ease my mind a bit by making me think about Friends, and it worked! For a whole two seconds that is.

Well, Joey, to answer your question, I'm a little bit of a hot mess right now.  You see, I had a crazy impulse last week and acted on it (life advice: usually not a good idea.) and now that impulsive decision becomes real tomorrow.  Tomorrow morning at 10:45, to be exact, right in the middle of government class . . . not that I planned for that to happen or anything.

Anyway, to stop the vagueness here, the Red Cross is holding a blood drive at my school tomorrow. After not participating last year, I decided in the heat of the moment that I could just suck it up and donate.

Me.

The one who put her head down during nearly every biology class while learning about blood because she couldn't take it.

The one whose younger sister had to hold her hand while getting a little bit of blood drawn for a test because she wouldn't calm down.

The one who has opted to get her wisdom teeth taken out with a little help from laughing gas and some gum numbers rather than anesthesia because she didn't think she would be able to handle the IV.

The one who can barely write for five minutes after someone says the word 'vein' (ew.) because her hands get so weak.

Yeah, me.

Let's just say that anything remotely in the medical field is not my future profession, that's for sure.

I don't know what made me decide to put my name on the volunteer list, but it's there.  And in pen, of course, so I can't even erase and pretend I had never written it.  It's there, and it's staying.

Over the weekend, the thought of the blood drive occasionally popped into my head a few times, sending my stomach out onto a rollercoaster consisting of all of the fear and none of the fun.  Now that it is barely 12 hours away, the rollercoaster is only getting taller and steeper and every seat is filled with screamers working their lungs.

I'm so tempted to back out, to avoid the discomfort and fear that donating blood may bring.  However, I know that's not an option.   There are tough decisions to make that become even harder to carry through with.  But such is life.

God has continually blessed me with a healthy body.  I have been fortunate enough to enjoy my life without any major illnesses, broken bones, or even a bee sting.  Major medical treatment has never been something that I've had to deal with, and God willing, hopefully something that I never will have to encounter.  Shouldn't I use this body then to give to those who are in need?  Those that are more familiar with medical treatment than anyone would ever want to be? Thanks to the signs posted on nearly every.single.wall of my school (for real! I can't even fill up my water bottle without one staring me in the face), I learned that one pint of blood can save three lives.  In other words, one little donation from me can give new life to three people.  How could I pass up this opportunity in good conscience?  What if I were the person in need of a life-saving donation, yet I was unable to receive one due to a shortage in blood?

In Romans, Paul hits this topic straight on the head.

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out.

- Romans 15:1-4 (MSG)

Instead of meeting my own needs, I can take a page out of Jesus's book and put others miles ahead of myself.  My strength in good health is for service, that much is plain.  

I asked God, "How can I help?" 

He responded by giving me the impulse to put my John Hancock on the blood donor volunteer list.  A place I swore my name would never show up.  

So I'm taking a deep breath and saying a prayer to ask for the peace that only God can bring. I'm facing my fears of blood, and needles, and veins, and people with sterile gloves who are trying to poke my veins with needles to get my blood (that was a good plug for the Red Cross, wasn't it? Go donate!) and trusting that God will sustain me.  

Going to a small Christian school definitely has its perks, one of which occurred last week. Walking into school, I noticed that every single locker had a Bible verse stuck in the top.  Each one was hand decorated and I didn't see any repeating verses.  No one knows who did this, all I know is that I'm very thankful that they did.  The verse in my locker was one that I wasn't familiar with and I've been dwelling on since I received it: 

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

- Psalm 16:8

I will not be shaken.  Even when God calls me to do something that I determined to be impossible for me to do.  I will not be shaken.  

xx, 

Allison

#SickNotSick

There are two types of sick days. Type #1 is the kind where going to work/school is probably preferable compared to the amount of discomfort that your illness puts you in.  Those are sick-sick days.  Type #2 is the "my slight headache might be contagious, so I wouldn't want to risk passing this on to anyone" kind of days where staying home was most definitely a choice rather than out of necessity.  Those are #sicknotsick days; you know, kind of like #sorrynotsorry? And that was my day.

To be fair, I was honestly worried about still being contagious after catching a gross virus last week that had me down and out all weekend. And I felt a lot better this morning when I woke up (two hours after school had already started) than I did last night.  But in terms of how my day went, it was obviously a #sicknotsick kind of day.

#sicknotsick because . . .

|| I was creative || with my nails. Instead of them being just dark gray, I added a little triangle of blue to each of my ring fingers.  It was really easy and probably everyone and their grandma has done it by now, but it's definitely the most creative I've been with my nails in a while, so I'll pretend like this is an actual accomplishment.

|| I watched ||  Friends. And laughed. A lot.  Because it's just too dang funny.

|| I practiced || my Spanish skills.  Translating articles got way more exciting than it should be -- but I actually knew a lot of words! So that was bueno. (See, I'm pretty much fluent.)

|| I made || soup. Butternut squash soup, to be exact. And it was so delicious that I had it for lunch and dinner. Go fall!

                   

|| I blogged || for the first time for a guest blog! Allie asked me to write a post, so I rambled on and on about how much I love fall.  That was a good way to make you want to go read it, wasn't it? It should be appearing soon though!

|| I read || Z by Therese Anne Fowler, which is a biography (of sorts) of Zelda Fitzgerald. I love biographies & Fowler is killing it with her writing style.  Plus the Fitzgeralds are really interesting in a sort of tragic way. I definitely recommend it so far!

That pretty much wraps up my #sicknotsick day.  Being #sicknotsick was definitely worth all of the homework that I'm going to have to make up tomorrow . . . well, let's just not talk about that.

How do you like to spend your days off?  Do you ever take #sicknotsick days?

Love,
Allison

The Heartbreaker

I jumped out of bed this morning.  Like for real, jumped out of bed right as my alarm went off for the first time.  And if you're my mom, you know that's not usual.  Today was exciting - I only had to spend three hours in school today (two of which were study halls and the other was English, my favorite.) while the other five were spent in the Detroit train yard.  Not your typical location for a school day, that's for sure.

I, along with the rest of my school's National Honors Society, and students from other area Lutheran schools spent about 4 hours hauling box after box after box after box (. . . continue for infinity. Seriously.) out of semi-trucks and packed them not so-neatly into boxcars to benefit Lutheran World Relief.  

This is Day 5 of the 365 Days of Photographs project! 

Knowing that all of those boxes, stuffed to the brim with soaps, quilts, health kits, school supplies, and other items to benefit those in need, were being sent off to help others, made the hours fly by.  It didn't hurt that we had a pretty good time while we were at it.

Upon arriving back at school, as we were entering the lobby, a girl was headed out.  This was odd since there were still two hours of classes left in the day.  As she got closer, I could tell that she had been crying. Hard.  As one of my friends went up to ask her what was wrong, I watched my friend's shocked reaction to the answer and I knew that this wasn't your typical breakup/failed test score/emotional breakdown. Something was seriously wrong. 

As my friend came back to us, she answered our questioning looks with a sentence that changed the entire mood of today.

"Jamie* committed suicide." 

Instantly, I felt my heart break. Goosebumps covered my arms and I felt like throwing up.  My mind raced as I searched for some possible way that this could be a sick joke, a misunderstanding.  

To give some background, Jamie was a student that no longer attended my school but a lot of her close friends were made in her time spent there.  I didn't know her well at all, yet I never heard a bad thing about this girl.  She was sweet, funny, and seemed genuinely kind.  I know that she had trouble with a mental health problem of some sort, but that isn't what this post is about.  

What it is about though is how incredibly tragic this situation is. Tragic for her mom, dad, little sister and all of her family who loved her. Tragic for her best friends who found out through a phone call that she had taken her own life.  Tragic for people like me who, from a distance, had no idea that anything was currently wrong.  Shocking, heartbreaking, and terrible for all.  

As I walked the halls of school the rest of today, I noticed tear-stained faces and an odd silence that rarely is accredited to a high school hallway. 

I don't know what was racing across other students' minds today, but I do know what was on mine.  

Why am I so quick to avoid "awkward" eye contact and look down at my phone instead of offering a smile?  Why is it so easy to step over a pile of dropped books to avoid being late to class instead of being compassionate? How come taking the best for myself and leaving the leftovers for others is considered "getting ahead in the world" instead of what it is: selfishness? 

How many people do I walk past each day that are struggling? Struggling with realizing that they are incredibly important and valuable no matter what the world may tell them? Struggling with addictions, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts? Yet how often do I take the time to take the focus off of myself and show love towards them? 

Guys, this is heavy stuff. But it's real. So tragically real.  

I had spent all morning helping those that are worlds away, yet somehow I frequently miss doing the same for those that I encounter face-to-face on a day to day basis.  

As Facebook posts, pictures, and heartfelt goodbyes honoring Jamie are flooding my newsfeed tonight, I can only think of how she would react to knowing how many people there were that cared for her and loved her. 

This is proof of how urgently important it is that we share the overflowing, abundant love of Christ with everyone that we come across.  You and I do not know the personal battles that the people around us are fighting every day.  Maybe we won't ever know.  But what we can do is make sure that everyone realizes that they are valuable and that they are worth it - no matter what the world may tell them. The smallest bit of compassion and love on our part may mean the world to someone who needs it.  You never know. 

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

- Romans 5:8

God, the Creator of the universe, the Almighty, holds each and every person so dear that he sent his son to die for you, and you, and you, and me and everyone else on this planet.  If each person is worth the death of God's only and perfect son, then shouldn't we treat them as such? 

The fact that not everyone knows and is treated like they're that valuable is the real heartbreaker in my mind.  Take the time to share a smile.  Ask how someone is doing and genuinely care about their answer.  Practice compassion in all that you do.  Who knows? You could be saving a life. 

Love,

Allison

{20 before 20} Drive-in Movie Recap

I've never mentioned it before, but I have a 20 before 20 bucket list!  You may have noticed it up in my tabs, or you may have not.  Either way, it's not a big star around here.  However, about two weeks ago, I remembered that I had that thing and decided to take a look at it and then I proceeded to get pretty excited.

Excited because that list contains some pretty exciting things that I cannot wait to experience.

As of last Thursday, I now have 10% of that list complete thanks to the great time that I had with a few friends, a couple cars, a big screen and lots and lots of sugar.  That's right, I checked "watch a movie at a drive-in theater" right off that list.

We arrived at the drive-in around 7:30 because we were drive-in rookies and were pretty clueless about the whole thing. This led to 2 hours of waiting for the movie to start.  However, when with friends, two hours is no big deal, am I right?

We chucked a football around, chatted, got even more addicted to 2048 (when I finally beat that game, my life will pretty much be complete), and chowed down on candy like it was our job.

Instead of staying in our cars, we were those people that brought a slew of lawn chairs, blankets and sleeping bags and set up camp right in the front row.  It was great and everyone else was totally jealous.  At least, I'm sure that they were.  I couldn't really tell in the dark . . . 

Finally, finally, the opening credits for How to Train Your Dragon 2 rolled across the screen and it was a beautiful moment.  HTTYD2 was great because Toothless was so cute and he kept reminding me of a cat.  Yes, those were literally my thoughts.

Wrapped in a blanket and snuggled up with friends, the night couldn't of gotten better.  Well, maybe it could have if some stinkin' pizza places were open. That was a bummer.

Anyways, here's to the progress on my bucket list. Cheers!

Have you ever been to a drive-in?  Did you like it?
                                           

Graduation Crasher

This weekend I gained a new title.  Get ready for this, it's a good one:  Graduation Crasher.  Allow me to explain.

Yesterday I got home from a great family weekend in Chicago where we did a ton of eating, walking, more eating, more walking and even more eating.  On Saturday, we figured out the Metra train system just in time to catch the next departure to Hyde Park.

For those of you who don't know, Hyde Park is home to the prestigious University of Chicago-my dream college-and I was beyond anxious to check out the gorgeous campus. However, campus was a little occupied. . .

Occupied by hundreds of graduates and their hundreds and hundreds of closest family, friends and whoever else attends graduations, that is.  But if you thought that that would stop me from taking a self guided tour, then you're wrong.

Between the collared shirts and summery dresses, my family and I, in our jeans and tank tops, stuck out like random tourists at a graduation ceremony . . . oh wait, we were.  We didn't let it bother us though, greeting the weird glances with smiles and even making use of the water station set up for the graduation attendees like we belonged.  We tried to avoid being in the way of people who obviously had better reason to be on campus than we did, but I'm sure a few lucky people will find a random family dressed in street clothes hanging out in the background of their pictures.

Even though I didn't get to see campus as I had hoped, I did get a great story out of it.  And further confirmation that Hogwarts the University of Chicago is the place I want to be.

Any party crashing stories?

Love,
Allison

May 2014 Recap

I always like to look back at my pictures that I took each month and remember all the things I filled my days with.  Since the days seem to fly by so fast, I inevitably end up thinking "that was only a month ago??" somewhere along the line.

The lineup for May includes . . . (drumroll please!)

PROM!

Piñata fun in Spanish class.

My first Tigers game of the season where the most exciting part of the 0-1 loss was someone accidentally pulling the fire alarm and freaking everyone out.

Experiencing the deliciousness of macarons for the first time at Mother's Day brunch. 

Taking artsy pictures and loving the results. 

Having the lit nerd in me freak out over all the parallels between Westside Story and Romeo and Juliet.

Getting my senior pictures taken on the gorgeous shores of Lake Michigan by an extremely talented friend. 

Andddd . . . finally saying goodbye to the AP US History notecards that were my constant companion while leading up the exam. Can't say that I miss them though. 

I can't wait for all the adventures that June brings!

What did you do this May?

Love, 

Allison

A Summer Saturday

I don't know about you all, but here in Michigan, it is finally feeling like summer. It's to the point where I'm actually starting to resemble a human being instead of a ghost because I'm not deathly pale anymore!

Yesterday was a beautiful day from start to finish - the perfect day for a visit to the farmer's market!

 A live musician made the day seem even more pleasant as he revisited old favorites with his guitar.

I sampled a little bitty piece of sweet potato pie and decided that it was a good thing for my wallet that I had walked away from the stand before I tasted the pie since it was so delicious.

I ended up buying some granola and a blueberry lemonade to split three ways.

On our walk home, I snapped an "artsy" (I tried!) picture of the gorgeous flowers that my friend had picked out and was inspired to plant my own at home. Giving me an exciting gardening project for next weekend and granola to fuel me, the farmer's market was definitely a great way to spend a summer Saturday morning.  

Do you have a local farmer's market? Any gardening tips to share?

Happy June!

Love,

Allison

{Link-Up} Runners Tell All: Share a Running Picture

I have to admit, when I saw the prompt for this month's Runners Tell All link-up, the first thing I thought was ew. Because I have the ugliest running face ever.  Don't even try to convince me that yours is worse because I can guarantee that it isn't.  It's pretty much the running equivalent of Kim K's crying face.  No joke.

But then I decided to make this fun and create a little contest to find the ugliest running face picture of myself that I could possibly find.  And there were some real gems to be found, let me tell you!  However, considering that 1) I don't want to scare everyone away and 2) this is the Internet and my lovely running face pictures would be available for anyone to find at anytime, I decided that if you want to see the winner, you possibly could bribe me with a Barnes & Noble gift card.  Just saying.

But to make it up to you (since I know you're all incredibly disappointed . . .), I found my absolute favorite running picture ever!

My mom took this picture during my very first 300 hurdle race (aka, The Mean Mother Race) my freshman year of track and I'll admit that the winner of the ugly face contest was taken about seven seconds after this one.  And no, I'm still not sharing that one.

Link up with Amanda and Beka and share some of your running pics - the good, the bad and the ugly (I know you have them too!)


Love,
Allison

Currently

I've seen so many bloggers post their own "Currently" posts and it seems like such a cool idea.  So get ready because here comes a crash course on what I've been up to!

I'm currently . . .

listening to "Roar" by Katy Perry because I'm listening to Spotify and I ran out of skips.

finishing up When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy - finally!

worried about the A.P. U.S. History test that I'm taking next week.  What happened to "being worried" because it was "only 2 months away?" Please, I would give nearly anything to put this off for a few more months!

researching cameras!  It's time for a new set of lens for this girl and I'm excited to upgrade my photography game!

excited for the trip to Europe I'm taking this summer! Less than two months until my adventure overseas!

recovering from prom.  Recap to come later this week (maybe!)

wanting to run a half marathon. Or a marathon relay.  Or basically anything over 3 miles.

eating nothing.  Because three fajitas, rice, refried beans, and chips and salsa are extremely filling.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Now that you have the exclusive dish on the fascinating life of Allison, it's question time!

Do you have any camera recommendations for me?
Did you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?  If so, how?

Love,
Allison

17 Blessings

Birthdays are fun.  Hellooo, cake and presents! Birthdays also signify the fact that you were able to survive on Earth for 365 more days than you previously had.  Now if that's not a reason for cake, I don't know what else is!

I love birthdays.  As I celebrated mine earlier this month, I was reminded just how extremely blessed I am.  I mean, for one, my mom picked me up a Dairy Queen cake and if any of you have ever had a DQ cake, you know what a blessing they are.  #SoBlessed.

As I got to thinking about how many things I rush by in this fast-pace that I'm living in and how many blessings I just take for granted, I decided that I needed to take a breath, smell the roses and appreciate all the beautiful, yet sometimes overlooked things in my life.

1. Sunsets.  Because they're beautiful, and that is a fact.

2. Bonfires.  Because conversations around bonfires are by far the best conversations that there are.  

3. Miniature goats.  Because they are the cutest little things I've seen all week.  (Ernest is on the left and Muffin is on the right. See, even the names are adorable! Never mind that we were only pretending that those were their names . . .) 

4.  Playoff hockey. #BecauseItsTheCup 

5. Chick-fil-A.  Because it isn't just fast food.  It's beautiful and delicious. (And nowhere near my house . . . tear.) 

6.  Running.  Because even though our relationship is largely a love/hate one (emphasis on hate), it's been a blessing. 

7.  The color green.  Because being a Michigander means that I haven't seen too much of this color since last September.  

8.  Sunrises.  Because see #1.  

9. Bowling.  Because even though I'm so bad that scoring a 70 is pretty much the best thing ever, it's a great reminder for me to be humble.  

10. My eos chapstick.  Because my lips wouldn't have made it through this winter without it.  And it's pomegranate flavored, so I'm not complaining there either.  

11.  Showers.  Because sometimes this happens and having dried mud stuck to the back of my legs forever wasn't really in my life plan. 

12. Ice cream chocolate chip cookie sundaes.  Because whoever decided it was a good idea to combine the two dessert classics is a genius. 

13.  Board games.  Because I totally just beat my sister in Scooby-Doo Monopoly so I'm feeling a lot more partial towards them than I usually do.  

14.  Trampolines.  Because you guys, they are so.much.fun. (And yes, I did make that shot . . .) 

15.  Puppy Chow.  Because you better believe that the bowl was filled before three of my other puppy chow loving friends and I discovered it.  

16. Walks in the woods.  Because there is no feeling that compares to being surrounded by the glory of God's creation. 

17.  Piggy back rides.  Because they are literally the best.  Literally.  

Have a blessed week!

Love,

Allison