Ask Reddit Q & A

Most of my guilty pleasures revolve around junk food and trashy reality TV and I mostly indulge in them in moderation. I do have a daily indulgence and that is reading Reddit. I don't have an account so I've never actively participated in the site but there are half a dozen subreddits I check out on a daily basis and another dozen I peruse once and awhile. One of my dailies is Ask Reddit... and it occurred to me that it would also make for good blog fodder now and again to answer the some of the top questions.

What Product Do You Like That Has Been Discontinued?

The obvious answer for this is Vanilla Coke because it is darn near impossible to find here in Canada.

What Is One YouTube Video That Never Fails To Cheer You Up?

I love the Swedish Chef. He's my spirit animal, he bops around the kitchen mumbling and singing to himself, making a mess and doing somewhat questionable things. 

What Obscure Thing Do You Know?

Sometimes I think the only thing I know is obscure things! Trivia games have been banned from our friend group until further notice because I always win. It's not because I'm particularly book smart but I watch a lot of documentaries, listen to history podcasts and read a lot and have a really good memory. 

What Current Trend Do You Wish Would Be Dead Now?

Experts. Somehow we've entered a society where everyone needs to be an expert about the thing they're interested in and there's no such thing as being mildly interested in anything. 

What's Your Favourite Foreign Language Song?

I think my actual answer for this is "Kumbaya" because it makes me feel all kinds of happy and nostalgic. There is also a song called 'Saskatchewan" by Les Trois Accords that we used to listen to a lot in high school that has a lot of good memories attached.

Your Brain Is Like "Inside Out", Which Five Emotions Are In Headquarters?

Curious, Nervous, Joy, Sorrow & Concern.

What Are The Best Christmas Movies?

National Lampoon Christmas Vacation will always be my favourite. Elf is a close second. If we're also talking about Christmas Specials than I'm also going with Charlie Brown's Christmas and Muppet Family Christmas. 

What Are You Bad At?

Asking for help and being confident. 

What Is The Weirdest Thing In Your Wallet?

My wallet is usually pretty organized, the weirdest thing in there right now is probably a store discount card that expired back in June. My purse on the other hand...there's usually some weird stuff in there. 

What Was Your Senior Quote?

My yearbook quote was from Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I remember agonizing over the decision and even though it's not something that comes up often I am still really happy with my choice. "You be you & I'll be me, today & today & today, and let's trust the future to tomorrow. Let the stars keep track of us. Let us ride our own orbits & trust that they will meet. May our reunion be not a finding but a sweet collision of destinies. Love & Love & Love Again."

Are you a causal Reddit browser? Do you remember your senior quote? It's not something I think about daily but this question peeked my curiosity! 

Things I've Never Done (And Probably Never Will)

On Monday I wrote about some posts that have been sitting in my drafts for awhile and a few people seemed super interested in reading this particular post. Before we go any further I'm going to clarify that I'm not trying to be judgemental or attack anyone personally. If you happen to enjoy spending the day at a spa, drinking juice and blogging about blogging, more power to you. In the wise words of Amy Poehler, "good for you, not for me."

I've never gotten a pedicure or a facial or a massage or been to a spa. There is nothing appealing to me about having a stranger touch me. And I know that the mark of a good spa is super hygienic but I still hear some horror stories about people picking up funguses and infections and I just can't get past the idea.

Gone on vacation to an all-exclusive resort in Dominican/Mexico/Cuba etc.. This falls into the 'good for you, not for me' category. First of all the idea of sitting on a beach all week sounds painfully boring, factor in the idea of sitting on a beach potentially surrounded by a bunch of drunk people and I would rather stay in snowy, cold Canada. I also have some mixed emotions about the gap between being on a resort and what goes on outside of the resort gate.

Give advice about how to blog. Sure, I can help you set up a blogger account and recommend someone to design a custom layout (Erin) but after that you're on your own. Blog about what you want, share (or don't share) whatever photos you want, it's your blog and your life and do whatever works for you.

You know what I enjoy doing on a regular basis? Eating. So you know what I won't be doing anytime ever? A cleanse. You can't convince me that starving myself for a few days while I sip juices or eat soup and drink charcoal concoctions is healthy.

Get a tattoo. I appreciate art on my walls, not on my body. I think it looks unprofessional when people have tattoos peeking out of every article of clothing and just don't understand the hype. 

Change my hair colour. I just can't be bothered, once you start you can't stop because then you'll have roots or odd coloured hair...and that's just so much money! I can't imagine spending hundreds of dollars just to make my hair a different colour. Maybe I'll have different opinions on this in the future should I have grey hair, but even then I'm confident it won't be anything elaborate and won't involve anything other than natural hair colours. 

Leave anonymous, hateful comments online. Why? I would never say that to someone's face so why on earth would I type it and send it off into cyber space? 

Spend more than $15 on any given make up/item. You can't convince me your $80 mascara does anything that my $8 mascara doesn't. If I'm spending $80 on something that is going to need replacing in a few months it better be edible or do more than darken my eyelashes. 

Aquire a collection of costume jewelry. This is probably related to the hair colour, I just can't be bothered. I wear the same jewellery every day, occasionally swapping out half a dozen necklaces or so but that's where it ends. I sort of admire the people who have a gift for accessorizing but not enough to do it myself.

What are things you've never done that the rest of the world seems to be enamoured with?

Show & Tell Tuesday: Just Call Me Phoebe

There is no denying I have my quirks and while I've been told they are hard to keep track of I embrace it wholeheartedly...really it's less about self-confidence and more about the fact sometimes I don't even notice my quirks until someone points them out (see screenshot of conversation). 

As the above conversation suggestions, sometimes when I need a pick me up I'll watch clog dancing videos on YouTube. Occasionally I'll also watch step dancing and line dancing videos. I just appreciate how organized and in sync they are all dancing in their coordinated outfits. 

Before watching a movie (including one in theatres) I google it extensively and read up on key plot points as well as the ending. This allows me to fast forward through the scary/sad/stressful parts and prepare for the ending. 

I don't like eating foods that touch (casseroles are for the devil IMO) except that pizza is my favourite and dips are the best snack food. 

I don't like having the air conditioning on in the car and I refuse to drive with the windows down. I am a delight to drive with during the summer months. (Don't worry, I will turn the air conditioning on enough to cool down but then it goes back off until it gets too hot again.)

I have terrible spacial awareness (please don't ask me to help you move furniture), but I'm really good at Tetris and Tangram type games.

I flip through catalogs and read magazines from back to front.  

I'm very particular about my socks. If they are ankle socks they need to be all one colour (preferably black) but then a different colour on the heel, toes and around the ankle. And I feel better about life when my socks match my shirt.

I sing to myself all time time. Nine times out of ten it's not a real song, just something I make up as a go along about whatever is happening at that moment. I do my best work at camp when I'm slightly over tired and way over caffeinated.

I hate cold condiments, they need to be room temperature so as not to interfere with the temperature of my food.

I love Flashback/Clip episodes of TV shows. I think it's because I really like testing memory so when I see all the past clips I get to quiz myself about what episode they're from.

I have a really good memory...and find myself constantly embarrassed by how easily it is for me to know things about stuff. For the most part as long as I read it or hear it and actively think about it, it's filed away forever.

Linking up with Show & Tell Tuesday.

SaveSaveSaveSave

Thursday Things in Three

Steph over at Life According to Steph came up with a fun three things themed questionnaire. Which combines two of my favourite things; list making and blog prompts and since I'm struggling on the things to blog about front these days I'm taking all the help I can get. 

Three things I'd never give up:
Meat, Dairy, Gluten. 

Three favorite vegetables
Broccoli (preferably cooked), cucumber (raw or pickle form) and potatoes. 

Three shows I watched faithfully from beginning to end
30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Parks & Recreation. 

Three places I want to visit inside the US
US: Disney World...other than that my desire to spend a whole lot of time in the US is pretty non-existent.
Canada: As for Canada I'd like to visit Nunavut or the Yukon, make a trip to Newfoundland and visit the Corner Gas set in Saskatchewan.  

Three places I want to visit outside the US
Iceland, Australia, Thailand/Cambodia.

Three things I always have with me
Phone, bandaid, cash. 

Three things that are always in my car
Napkins, extra ketchup and sweet & sour packages and lip balm. 

Three most recent phone calls were to/from
I've been spending lots of time on the phone trying to get paperwork for the office job settled...it's just as frustrating as it sounds. All three most recent calls are related to that mess. 

Three books I read and loved in college
Last Child in the Woods is the only one that sticks out. Honestly, I didn't read a whole lot of books in university, I only took first year English courses and then I read a lot of the Bible for my minor in all my recreation classes we read research and played outside. 

Three most often used makeup products
BB Cream,  mascara and eyeliner.

Three things that make me laugh
Raccoon videos, political satire, 

Three things that make me cry
Adorable engagement videos, Jim & Pam moments, thinking about anything related to the future for more than 30 seconds. 

And because it's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada (and that last question was kind of a downer) I'm adding three things I'm thankful for to this little questionnaire. 

Three things I'm Thankful for
Grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins that live no more than 30 minutes away. 
The very best friends.
Knowing what I'm passionate about in life. 


Linking up with Stuff & Things
SaveSave

SUYL: About You

When I first started blogging one of my weekly rituals was to look through the Show Us Your Life posts on Kelly's Korner. I linked up a few times but for the post part the link up felt too big and intimidating for a tiny little blog like mine. The link up has been on hiatus for a while but earlier this week Kelly announced she would be brining it back and I decided this time I would join in on a more regular basis.

Today's topic is tell us about yourself and I had I have known I probably wouldn't have written Tuesday's post about 10 Things You Might Not  Know About Me, but oh well this will be more of a formal introduction.

My name is Donna, I'm in my mid-twenties and in a tiny town on the East Coast of Canada. I spend part of the year working at a rather unremarkable office job and part of the year working at a camp for children, youth and adults with disabilities. Someday I hope to spend the whole year working at camp but until then I'll take what I can get. I describe myself as a Girl Guide leader, Project Lifer, amateur photographer, reader/writer and overall crafty person. Spending an hour (or two) browsing the aisles of Michael's is my idea of a good time. 

I'm an introvert through and through and thrive from spending time strolling through the woods with my camera or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Food is my love language. 

Grace & Galoshes is a mix of posts about my daily life, occasional adventures, reflections on my faith and just about anything else I feel like writing down.

You can also check out my About Me page.

10 on Tuesday - Things You Might Not Know

Today I'm linking up with Karli for her inaugural Ten on Tuesday link up! I can't pass up the opportunity to make a list so I'm sure this will become a staple in my blog posting routine. Since it's the first week I'm starting off with....

10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. I didn't start drinking coffee until I was 22 before then I loved the smell but didn't like the taste. Then I had a particularly challenging summer at camp and coffee seemed like a good option. Now it's one of my favourite daily rituals and the occasional trip to Starbucks makes my heart very happy. 
2. I could eat pizza for days on end without getting tired of eating the same thing. There are so many options for toppings and crust it would be like eating a different meal every time even if it's all technically the same. 
3. Budgeting is not something I struggle with. When I see people posting about all the things they spent money on in any given month I'm constantly in awe of how much money people spend on stuff and eating out or how much credit card debt they have (I didn't get one of those until I was 25). I'm incredibly thankful my parents made teaching me good money sense a priority. That's not to say I don't eat out occasionally or spend $20 on stuff I don't need at Michael's every now and again but in the big picture I know my stuff.
4. My knowledge of football basically ends at being able to identify the correct ball. I never attended a school with a football team and it's only been in the past 2-3 years that there's even been a football field within our municipality. I think the culture around football (especially college football) is fascinating but it's not something I've ever taken a keen interest in learning more about. 
5. If you asked my mother or grandmother or a selection of close friends what my worst habit is they would immediately reply with "nail biting". I've tried every trick in the book to stop, including putting gel nails on, but nothing has worked. At this point in my life I've kind of embraced it. 
6. I used to write all the time. I was never without a notebook and a pen and would spend hours writing every day. In high school I had writing published in a national literary review and writing was generally considered something I was good at doing. I more or less stopped in university because I didn't have time and although I've tried to make writing more of a daily habit in my life it's something I struggle to make time for on a regular basis.
7. I am a 'verbal learner' I learn best by reading something, taking notes while someone else talks and re-reading things. Physical learners are my nemesis...I hate being in a class that involves a lot of up and down and movement games, it totally distracts me from what I'm trying to learn. 
8. I strongly identify as being a cat person. I think puppies are cute and some dogs are lovely but I don't trust strange dogs and the responsibility of being a dog owner is so unappealing to me. 
9. I took painting lessons for years and years...it has now been years and years since I picked up a paint brush and to be honest I don't really miss it. 
10. I was in French Immersion in school and once I graduated high school never took another French class. Last week I downloaded an app that's supposed to help you learn a second language and I've been practicing my French for 15-20 minutes a day. I'm surprised with how much I retained when it comes to reading and writing. 

Now that you've learned some new things head over to September Farm and share your Tuesday list! 

Twenty-Six

This morning I went searching through my photos to find one of birthday cake or candles or balloons but I didn't have one. So instead I put a party hat on a squirrel and I'm calling it a birthday win. And if anyone presents me with an actual squirrel wearing a party hat at any point today you will win some big bonus points. Last year I posted 25 things about me at 25 and I've decided to continue with the tradition.

1. Squirrels are my favourite animals, they have been for a long time and in the past few months it seems like they're becoming more "main stream". The woodland animal trend that's happening right now is great, my second favourite animal is the magically raccoon.
2. Speaking of raccoons, I got to 'meet' Meeko when I was at Disney and I could hardly contain my excitement. We danced, I got his autograph and J. took multiple photos. 
3. My maternal grandmother is my very favourite person. H. & R. are a close second and J. is also pretty great.
4. I don't like violence but I love Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU. I've determined it's because I like figuring out the mystery.
5. The older I get the more importance I place on wearing comfortable pants. 
6. I enjoy being somewhere new and exploring a different place, but I hate the act of travelling. If teleporting was a thing that would be great.
7. 75% of my bad habits are acquired during the summer while I'm at camp. 
8. I love photography and scrapbooking and anything that involves paper, scissors and adhesive.
9. Broccoli is my most favourite vegetable. 
10. I got new flannel sheets for Christmas and they are my favourite thing ever. I had forgotten how much I love flannel sheets. 
11. Cooking is my favourite. I think I would enjoy a career as a chef, except that I would be so stressed and anxious about feeding other people that it would over shadow the enjoyment.
12. I generally don't pay any attention to celebrity gossip but every now and then I can't help but read things about reality tv stars, mostly the teen moms and the Duggars.
13. I prefer my drinks to be ice cold, except for water. I like to drink water at room temperature.
14. My phone is always on silent. I don't even know what sounds it makes for alerts.
15. Supper is my favourite meal of the day. 
16. I think gummy bears are the best frozen yogurt mix in because they are the perfect texture when they are a little cold.
17. I thrive on organization and routine. Lists and detailed schedules are my favourites.
18. I would enjoy winter more if it didn't involve winter driving. 
19. Instagram is my preferred social media platform.
20. I prefer to eat multiple snacks between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. opposed to one big lunch meal.
21. I still bite my nails. 
22. I make my bed every morning and it really bugs me when beds aren't made.
23. This past year I've realized that 9 hours of sleep is the magic number for me and anything less than 7 leaves me feeling tired.
24. Lime green is my favourite colour.
25. I sort of wish I could play an instrument but I'm also very happy with the hobbies I currently have.
26. It's only halfway through the first month of the year but so far I am super happy with how well I've been keeping up with all the things I want to do in 2016!

Blogtember 2015: Real Life vs Online

Blogtember is digging a little deeper today. Asking us to write about the differences between our "real life" and our "online life". In all honesty there's not a huge difference I love coffee and cola (separately, not together). I love Jesus and summer camp (ideally, together). I have two best friends and one boyfriend. I'm not interested in fad diets or workouts but I love cooking for loved ones and going hiking. I like watching the evening news, reading books about other people's lives and listening to country music. 

I love blogging because it allows me to connect with people and it gives me an outlet for my writing. I will fully admit to maybe being a little more reserved here in Blogland, although I'm a pretty quiet person in real life too. I am very cautious about what information I share on my blog and I never share photos of people without their permission. And since I'm still firmly planting in the blogging closet, I don't have people's permission. In real life I love sharing camp stories and while I do that on the blog I am a little more restricted by confidentially agreements. I save all my specific photos and stories for my scrapbooks and journals. 

Maybe this revelation isn't as thrilling as if I were to write about some kind of double life. A blogger who loves Jesus and celebrates the simple things versus a rebel without a cause who hates everyone and everything. In the words of Kenny Chesney, "I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not, I'm sure happy with what I've got. I live to love and laugh a lot And that's all I need."

Blogtember 2015: What's In My Bag

This Blogtember prompt came at the perfect time because it was just the motivation I needed to finally get my purse cleaned out after the summer. I picked up my photos yesterday, which means that I can start Smash Booking/Scrapbooking/Project Life-ing this summer. In addition to photos I love including other little souvenirs in my memory books, many of those little souvenirs get stuck in my purse and forgotten about until September when I finally get around to cleaning out my purse. So this purse clean was productivity all around...blog post, scrapbooking supplies, clean bag...win, win, win!

I kind of hate that the photo turned out blurry, but I snapped it on my phone mid-clean and I didn't realize how bad it was until I uploaded it and I'm not willing to empty everything out again, so this will just have to do, I promise you're not missing out on anything super exciting!

I think the official name for my purse is something along the lines of the "Bedford Medium Satchel" I'm a big fan of it because I can use it the way it's pictured in the photo or I can pop the buttons on the side to extend it and attached the longer strap and use it as a larger cross body bag. I have the matching wallet which is also great because of all it's pockets and slots. I really like that it has a full zipper around it so everything stays put and if I'm running somewhere quick I can just grab my wallet and go! Enough about the vessels, let's move on to what I always keep on hand and what surprised I found during my cleaning spree.

My essentials are hand cream, lip balm, tylenol, bandaids, gum, a wet wipe and my spare keys. I always have a notebook in my bag. The green one was my failed attempted at using the Bullet Journal System and the gold glittery one was were I kept all my town lists for camp. Along with sticky notes, two pens, a mini sharpie, a binder clip and a couple of paper clips. Heaven forbid I find myself without a stash of office supplies. 

I discovered a baggie full of change and a nearly empty change purse, which was a little bit of a confusing moment. I had a pile of receipts that I tossed once I took a photo and a pile of mementos from the summer. That pile got moved to the box of things to scrapbooking and consisted of a few recipes that I wanted to save, a napkin for our favourite frozen yogurt place, a movie ticket stub, a parking pass from a day at the beach and a few little notes. I also found some coupons that I had forgotten about, which is always a win.

I thought about unpacking my wallet but there isn't much of interest in there the usual cards, cash, change and loyalty stamp cards. All in all I try to 'travel light' this is my running errands and out and about bag. When I'm going shopping or doing anything active I switch out this purse for a smaller cross body bag that keeps my hands free. I also want to be prepared though, so I never leave home without the basics, I'll never be one of those ladies that exits the house with just my keys, debit card and phone. 

Blogtember 2015: Five Books

I love reading and I've shared my love of reading quite a few times here on the blog. Today's Blogtember prompt is to write about the five books that have impacted your life the most. It's a question that I needed to think long and hard about before coming up with an answer. I consider myself to be a rule follower, so after narrowing it down to seven I really tried to eliminate two and chose just five...but I couldn't make it happen. So I'm choosing seven books that have impacted my life the most.

Campingly Yours - Thomas C. Alder this was the first book I read that made me realize there were people out there like me who loved summer camp with every fibre of their being. It validated my passion in a way nobody/nothing else had before. It gave me a sense of belonging and a feeling of happiness. In many ways it solidified a life long passion for camp. I read it while I was still a counsellor, which for most people is the end of the line in terms of their love of camp, and this book motivated me to keep dreaming and stay determined that camp would be my career.

The Bible  This one is sort of self-explanatory, but only sort of. This particular Bible is the one I received as a 16 year old when I was an LIT. It was my first grown up Bible and it has guided me through a multitude of situations. I'm sure I could do an entire post (including photos) about the scribbles and doodles in the margins and the bookmarks and highlighted verses. I've used this Bible for a full 10 years and I love it dearly although I am ready to 'start a new Bible' so to speak and fill that one with prayer and praise. 

Seven - Jen Hatmaker  My first real foray into living with minimal 'stuff', it's somewhat ironic that I narrowed this question down to seven books. And if hard pressed these probably would be the seven books I'd choose to keep if I could only have seven! This book really stuck with me, I often think about choosing seven foods to eat or seven articles of clothing. It's a book I will re-read in multiple seasons of life and each time learn something new. 

The Fringe Hours - Jessica Turner Game changer. I'm an introvert who is notoriously bad at self care and making time for myself. How's that for a recipe for disaster? This is the most recent read to make the list but I still think it's deserving of a spot. I finished this just as I headed to camp for the summer and made several attempts to incorporate the fringe hours philosophy in my life. With varied levels of success I did find those fifteen minute windows during the day. I snapped sunset photos before counsellor meeting and shut my bedroom door for five minutes while I fixed my hair and applied sunscreen. This is another book I'll be re-reading and learning from again and again. 

Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli The first time I read this book I was in elementary school. It was a book and i enjoyed it but it wasn't until the beginning of high school when this book make it's impact. In high school I was very actively involved in drama and along with all of my best drama friends I acted in a stage adaptation of the book. It took on a whole new meaning as we spent a large portion of that year studying the book and learning our lines. It was some of the most fun I've ever had and I always think back fondly on the experience. Plus, it really is a great book. Stargirl and Leo are two of my favourite characters ever and there are so many life lessons hidden within the pages. 

These Happy Golden Years (Little House on The Prairie Series) - Laura Ingalls Wilder. This book belonged to my mom when she was a little girl. She found it one day when I was in grade three or four and gave it to me to read. Even though it's one of the last books in the Little House on the Prairie series it's the first one I read and the one that made me fall in love with Laura Ingalls. I was immediately consumed with interest for her and her life. I spent hours researching her and learning everything I could about her and the time period. It inspired me to write my own stories and when I wasn't researching Laura and her family I was creating my own pioneer families. I hope that someday I'll be able to pass along my Little House book collection to my daughter, as well as her grandmother's copy of These Happy Golden Years. 

The Princess Bride - William Goldman this book makes me happy, in some ways it probably could have gotten the cut in regards to how influential it's been in my life. I discovered it many years after I'd developed a strong love of reading and writing. I don't have many strong connections to reading this book, other than the fact I've re-read it countless times. It's another book I will pass along to any future children. It's a great movie, but the book is full of so many more details and added happiness. It's sort of my comfort book. I've read it times of crisis and times of peace, it's always there for me when I need a familiar read. 

Blogtember 2015: September Currently

Reading... I started Yes Please by Amy Poehler last night!

Playing... I've rediscovered my love of Sporcle. Name all the states and all the countries are my favourite. 

Watching... I've been watching a hodge podge of shows lately. I haven't found anything new that I'm in love with so I'm sticking to re-runs of Friends and a smattering of cooking shows that never disappoint. 

Trying... Not to rush myself and just let life unfold. 

Cooking... This week I made pasta, tacos, breakfast for supper and steak with a whole lot of veggies.

Eating... Exactly what I've been cooking! Along with popcorn as an evening snack.

Drinking... Starbucks Lime Refreshers. Seriously delicious. 

Calling... Nobody on a regular basis.

Texting... H. and R. and J. Sometimes N. 

Pinning... Project Life inspiration and Sparks meeting plans. 

Tweeting... Not a thing. 

Going... Florida in the fall has been postponed so I don't have any immediate travel plans.

Loving... I just found out a friend of mine is moving back home. I'm so excited to have someone close to home to go hiking with and have coffee dates with!

Hating... the end of summer. 

Discovering... I can't think of any major discoveries! 

Thinking... I don't think I've stopped thinking this month! I've also been doing a lot of writing/doodling so thankfully all this thinking (so far) isn't leading to a whole lot of anxiety. 

Feeling... Many things...excitement over how many possibilities there are, scared/worried about choosing from the possibilities, a little overwhelmed...I definitely feel like I'm in a season of change.

Hoping (for)... Good things!

Listening (to)... Only the country radio station when I'm driving. 
Celebrating... The little things. 
Smelling... I'm enjoying the last of my watermelon lemonade candle. I think it's just about time to retire the summer scents in favour of something a little more fall friendly. 
Ordering... Chicken Tacos! I don't eat out all that often but when I do I choose chicken tacos.
Thanking... God! 
Considering... So many things! It feels like I've spent a lot of time brainstorming and make pro/con lists and generally just putting pen to paper and emptying my brain!
Starting... I'm hoping to start Smash/Scrapbooking this summer once I get my photos. 
Finishing... Yesterday I finished the puzzle I was working on! 

Blogtember 2015: Friday Night In

To be honest, the vast majority of my Friday night's are spent "in". J. works on Saturday mornings so we typically have Saturday night dates or Sunday day dates. Leaving my Friday nights all my own, and my introverted heart is very happy that I have a night all to myself. 

I like to start off the night with something tasty for supper. Usually this is homemade pizza or chicken  with veggies and rice. Tonight I'm making tacos because I've developed a light obsession with them and I just want to eat tacos all day everyday. After supper I like to watch the evening news (possibly with a cup of tea and a sweet) and catch up with my parents. 

I've also developed a new found love for jigsaw puzzles. I've discovered that I get frustrated if I work on it for too long so I turn on a documentary and give myself the length of the movie to work on the puzzle. After that I put it away and move on to something else. At this point during my Friday night I like to take a hot shower and get into my pyjamas, even if it's still early. 

If I have a scrapbooking project in the works I'll probably work on that for another hour or so and if not then I might read for a little bit. My favourite Friday night treat is chips & dip with an ice cold glass of pop. If H. & R. are also enjoying a Friday night in then the three of us will Skype! 

Three different time zones makes Skyping a little challenging, by the time we've gotten caught up and factored in some general girl talk it's close to midnight in my part of the world. Once we say our goodnights and hang up I take a minute to jot down a few sentences in my journal before calling it a night!

You can share your favourite "Friday Night In" plans over at Brave Love!

Blogtember 2015: Letter to Me

Hello,

You should know that sixteen is just as sour as it is sweet. Soak up those moments with  the 'parallelogram'. I know it's hard for you to believe but those girls won't always be your best friends.  (Don't worry, in your 20s you'll find yourself surrounded and supported by some incredible girls. You will do life with these girls and love every moment.) Try not to take yourself too seriously, it's important to work hard but that doesn't mean you need to stress about perfection. Be diligent when it comes to taking photos and scrapbooking, guard those memories and preserve them as best you can. This will be last summer you spend as a camper and the last you ever spend at MP. You will be devastated and heartbroken beyond anything you could ever imagine. Let yourself be sad.  Let the experience inspire you and motivate you. The truth is, it gets worse. It will lead you places that you never would have went had everything gone according to plan. Trust God's plan and know that He knows exactly what your purpose is here on earth. (Those girls you'll do life with, you meet them because you lost MP.) Do your best to stay connected to the communities that you value, even if you can't always be involved, stay connected.

Life has a way of working itself out. It takes awhile and sometimes it feels like you'll feel like a hot mess forever but it will work out. Give it time. When you turn 25 you still won't have it all figured out (and have come to realize that nobody has it all figured out) but you will be happy with where God has lead you. You're not at the finish line yet and your head and heart will be full of ideas and big dreams. Keep going. Stay motivated and inspired and surround yourself with the people that you love. Remember to relax and rejoice when necessary.

Keep moving forward. Everything happens for a reason and God will bless you in ways beyond what you can imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Love,
2015 Donna


Linking up with Blogtember.

Blogtember 2015 : Hello!

Today is day one of Blogtember and that means it's time for introductions!

My name is Donna. I'm from a small community on the East Coast of Canada. I grew up surrounded by water, sky and forest. 

I spend my summers (and sometimes parts of the spring/summer/winter) working at camp. I grew up going to church camp and worked there for a few years before becoming a more senior staff member at a camp for people with disabilities. In between camp seasons I tend to work a wide variety of contract jobs, some of them related to recreation, some of them not as much. My dream job is to direct a Christian year round camp and retreat centre somewhere close to my hometown. It's a lofty goal, and I'm okay with working hard and being patient in order to make it happen someday.

The cast of characters you'll hear about most often around here are my friends R., H., and N. as well as my boyfriend J.. The easiest way to describe my blog is "20something lifestyle" which is really just about as vague as you can get. I do blog mostly about daily life and whatever thoughts and ideas are floating around in my head on any particular day. I enjoy participating in link ups to meet other bloggers. I love cooking and being creative so sometimes I share recipes or projects I've been working on. I enjoy photography, reading and being outdoors. I also appreciate a night of Netflix and some snacks. 

I gravitate towards "mommy blogs" because although I would love to work in camping year round I also have a strong desire to be a wife and mom. My daydreams are often filled with co-ordinating my future daughter's outfits and I'm embarrassed to admit how many secret Pinterest boards I have designated to child related things. I also love meeting bloggers that are in more similar seasons in life to my own. 

You can also check out my About Me Page for a less detailed run down of what I'm all about. 

Twenty Questions

Here's a fun fact about me that you may not know. I love answering questions about myself. If you ask me a very vague "tell me about yourself" odds are I'll awkwardly stumble and stutter over some very basic facts like age, hometown and job. If you prompt me with actual questions I can quickly strike up a conversation and converse like a respectable human being. So when I saw these 20 Questions that Karli had answered over on September Farm I decided to join in the fun. 

1. FAVORITE FOOD?
I love donairs. I've recently developed a deep love for chicken tacos. And I love a good french fry. Also a good vegetable stir fry (without peppers).

2. FLIP FLOPS or HIGH HEELS?
Flip Flops. Unless it's a fancy affair then heels, but in day to day life I like to make practical life choices.

3.  FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP?
Around here I shop almost exclusively at Winners, there really isn't much in the way of clothing options at my local mall. When I have more options I'm always sure to hit up Old Navy and American Eagle. Latley I've been having great luck at Bootlegger. I'm really not all that loyal to any particular store. When you're short and have my body shape you have to remain open to possibilities. 

4. STANDARD COFFEE ORDER?
This actually changes pretty frequently. Sometimes I opt for black with 1 sugar. Sometimes I go for just cream (especially if it's a flavoured cream) and sometimes I really go wild and get one cream and one sugar. Never milk though. Milk has no place in my coffee. 

5. ROAD TRIP MUST HAVE SNACK?
I'm a big fan of the classic Nacho Cheese Doritos and a cold Pepsi. 

6. DIY or HIRE IT OUT?
Very much depends on the project. I know my DIY limits. Ask me to paint a room or create a gift and I'm your gal. Ask to me fix the plumbing or install a door and you can hand me the phonebook. 

7. TOP 5 TV SHOWS?
1. Call the Midwife
2.  Friends
3. Grey's Anatomy (The first 8 seasons anyway)
4. Diners, Drive Ins and Dives
5. The Pioneer Woman

8. FAVORITE BOOK?
If really pressed to choose an absolute favourite book I think my final decision would be the The Little House on the Prairie series. I've loved them since I first read them in elementary school and every time I re-read the series I still love it just the same. I also have a special place in my Stargirl.

9. FAVORITE FORM OF EXERCISE?
Walking/Hiking. I like being outdoors. I have no interest in paying big bucks to drive to a place to do the same things I can do outside. 

10. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5 feet even (or just about).

11. DO YOU TRY SOMETHING NEW AT RESTAURANTS OR STICK TO YOUR FAVORITES?
If it's a restaurant I love and go to semi-frequently I'll try new things. If it's a place I'm unsure about then I always stick to chicken strips & fries. 

12. ONE MAKEUP ITEM YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT?
Mascara. 

13. WHAT'S ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND?
Small fan, hand cream, lip balm, lamp, 

14. ONE THING MOTHERHOOD HAS TAUGHT YOU?
I'll let you know when the time comes. 

15. MUSIC THAT REMINDS YOU OF HIGH SCHOOL?
Bright Eyes.

16. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD OTHER THAN YOUR CURRENT CITY, WHERE?
I am very happy where I am in my tiny corner of the world. I can't really imagine living anywhere else. 

17. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU WE MIGHT NOT KNOW
I'm a really good canoeist!

18. WEBSITES YOU READ // BROWSE (besides blogs)
Pinterest, CBC News, Facebook

19. MORNING PERSON or NIGHT OWL?
I've always been a night owl but lately I'm becoming more of a morning person. 

20. WHAT'S YOUR BEST FEATURE?
I get compliments on my eyes on a fairly regular basis. 

That was an odd question to end on, but here we are, tomorrow I have a whole list of favourite things to share and then I will most likely feel totally caught up and move on to blogging about current events. Just in time for Blogtember!

Coffee Chat June 2015

I've been trying really hard not to drink coffee on an empty stomach and to sort of limit my carb intake. So if we're going to have coffee first thing in the morning chances are I'd also have some vanilla yogurt along with mine. 

The first thing we'd talk about is how camp is going. I'd sigh and respond that it's going well although I often feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. I might confide in you that it's near impossible to find time to talk to J. before 11:00 p.m. each night and by that point I'm practically falling asleep. These long distance relationship type situations are hard work. It is without a doubt worth the effort, but I'll be relieved when it's over. I'd ask about your experience with long distance relationships and hope that you might have some words of wisdom or advice to offer.

I'd tell you that I recently discovered a Vanilla Carmel flavoured creamer and it's been making my coffee extra delicious. I never use creamer at home but camp coffee needs a little extra boost. I know it's not a great choice health wise, but I think we all deserve an indulgence here and there. I choose to make mine Vanilla Carmel Creamer. And also thick cut, rippled, plain potato chips. What have you been indulging in recently? Or will your answers only make me want to rush to the nearest grocery store for more treats opposed to veggies?

If you're a regular blog reader you might ask how my summer goals are going. I'd be honest and tell you I was off to a really great start and then things quickly spiralled downwards. I haven't totally abandoned the blog and I've been getting to bed a little earlier than previous summers, plus most nights I read for at least 10-15 minutes right before bed. Lately though I've lost track of the Fringe Hours. I find myself acknowledging the fact I would love to spend 10 minutes taking photos of an amazing sunset and then hurrying away to fold laundry or prepare evening snack. I'm hopeful that this is the week I reclaim those minutes and use them for me instead of always prioritizing work.

I might share with you that my biggest, boldest, scariest and sincerest prayer right now is to find a full time position with a summer camp ministry near my hometown beginning this fall. I know it's a lot to request and in many ways it seems almost impossible, but I know that God can do the impossible. So I'm continuing to pray. I'm praying that specific prayer but also that God will lead me to the place He wants/needs me to be and that I can continue to trust Him. 

Even though I'd love to chat well into the afternoon or late into the night this month I probably only have time for one cup of coffee. Here's hoping that next month I'll be able to suggest a refill so we can discuss a few other things that have been on my mind lately.