2015 goals

1. Read my bible every single day.

     It is really embarrassing to admit that I haven’t ready my Bible anywhere near how much I should have this year. It’s embarrassing that I let it slip until it wasn't a priority. I made other things way more important and Bible reading was pushed to the back, for times when I wasn't busy, or didn't have a good book to read. I am not at all proud of this, but I'm being honest. This year I am purposing to read my bible first thing every day, if possible, even before I get out of bed. (Because if I get out of bed first and go down stairs, more likely than not, I won't be up to my room where my Bible is and where it is quiet, until nearly lunch time, and by then, I'll probably be working on Lunch, and then school and laundry and reading a book… and it just won't get done.) I know it’s pathetic of me, and  I am purposing to change that. 

2. Become more intentional with the books that I read.

     In January of 2014, I decided to challenge myself with a rather large reading goal of 150 books. As of today, I read 162 books this year, and it makes me incredibly happy to know I read so much and actually completed my goal. But, although I read a ton of absolutely amazing books this year, I also read a large number of what I have come to entitle as filler books. You know the type, they’re the ones that are written horribly, are less than interesting, and have incredibly stupid characters, but there is a good moral to the storyline so you read them to give your brain a break, because sometimes we all need time without having to think and dig for truths and information. And this year I read more than my share of filler books. So in 2015, I hope to read only great books, and I have decided, (this is monumental,) that if I don’t love a book, I am going to put it down. I have always had the mindset that, as long as I’m already this far into a book, I might as well finish. And I’ve finished a ton of stupid books that I’ve hated. So I give myself permission to put books down and not finish them. And for the record, I’m giving myself the same reading goal of 150 books. :)

3. Learn to save Money

     This seems like such a simple thing. How hard can it be to not spend money… haha. I really struggle with seeing the cash in my hand and needing to spend it. And it isn’t always on huge things all at once. It’s stopping for coffee way too often, and grabbing another pair of earrings because they’re kind of cute, but probably won‘t wear often enough to justify the purchase. The little things really add up. I want to learn that having money saved away is good and have it stored for times when I need it for essential things. (Like vet bills, and car insurance, and electricity bills, etc.)

4. Exercise and drink water regularly.

     I am really not an exerciser. I struggle with making the time to go out and walk or be in my room for an hour to walk in place to a video. And lets not talk about water, okay? Alright, Fine. I don’t like the way water tastes. Is that super weird? I never really have, so I don’t drink a lot of water. I consume large amounts of tea and coffee, and drink water occasionally. I’m the girl who will realize as she’s climbing into bed that she should probably drink at least one glass of water for the day… and  I think both the water and exercise issue explain a lot of why I feel super lousy and get sick seriously all the time. It is time that I work on drinking water and becoming physically fit. Plus, Hannah gave me a super cool water bottle for my birthday and it’s pretty awesome. You push a button, and the straw pops up so you can drink, and then you can push the straw back down into the lid to store it, and that basically is the best feature ever. I may have pushed that button way to many times…

5. Compose an entire piece of music.

     I don’t know how this is going to work. I don’t have the programs, or the knowledge, or even the ability, really, but I have dreamed of composing a piece of my very own music for far too long, and I think it is high time to start working on making my own music.

6. Walk a Marathon

     this really goes with the exercise and water thing. Hannah and I are planning to walk a marathon together at the end of February

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7. Skydive

     I’m terrified of heights. In fact, standing on balconies is really hard for me, and so is going down lots of flights of stairs. I’m terrified of falling. Even jumping into a swimming pool is hard for me. But I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of jumping out of a small airplane and seeing the whole countryside panning out around me, and then floating gently down to earth suspended from a colorful parachute. I already have a list of people who want to go as well, and I am really hoping to accomplish this crazy dream this summer.

8. Create a wardrobe that I love.

     I’m not going to lie. I am really, really picky when it comes to clothing. And a lot of the clothes that  I have are stuff that I’ve had for a really long time. So, slowly over 2015, I would like to redo my wardrobe with essential pieces that I looooove. 

9. Get up earlier.

     I never set my alarm clock unless I’m going somewhere fun, or going somewhere important, (like a job or trip or something along those lines.). I rely on my mother to send various little children up at whatever hour she deems fit to wake me up. And most days, she doesn’t wake me up until 8:30+. Which is incredibly sweet of her, but I need have my own schedule, and be a big girl and get up early to get things done, like reading my Bible and exercising and getting the laundry done before breakfast. I’m goal and list oriented, (hence this list of goals…) and I have found that making to-do lists that I can cross out makes me incredibly happy. But I usually don’t get everything done. Getting up earlier will give me 1-2 ½ more hours to work with every day. (lets see, that means 1- 2 ½ less hours of sleep…  ahh, I can handle that. :)

10. Travel somewhere.
I don't know where. I don't know when. But I know that I want to travel at least someplace during 2015.

I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope this year is full of joy, special people and many wonderful memories. I am still quite shocked that 2014 slipped away so very fast, but to be perfectly honest, I am really glad that twenty-fourteen is over. It wasn't the best year for me. So many huge changes happened, and I wasn't the person or Christian that I should have been, and I am really ready to grow some more and move past all the depression and lack of joy that I felt during this year. 

Bring it on, 2015. I can't wait to make memories and live life vividly and to the hilt this year. I have many plans, hopes and dreams and I am excited to see what God will bring into my life during this next year. 

i would love to hear some of your favorite memories from twenty-fourteen if you care to share in a comment!

she's kind of adorable.

ramblings // catching up on life

a totally unrelated but beautiful photo. :)

i.      hi. remember me? i'm the girl who sort of writes this blog... yah. all my good intentions for blogging get thrown out the window and i find myself realizing with regret how long it has been since i sat down at my little computer and updated my little space on the interent. it's been almost a month. but it has been a rather busy month, and i shant apologize because, well, life happens. i'm here now. :)

ii.     Lydia is doing stupendious. She is shooting up like a weed and shall soon be taller than me and I'll probably end up being the short one of the family... She's well over six pounds, I believe, and is eating like a little horse, and we're all still fighting it out over holding her and feeding bottles. Mom has volunteered to wake up whoever wishes to hold her when she has her two hour awake time in the middle of the night but so far nobody has been that desperate. :) 

iii.     my brother and his amazing wife have been staying with us for the past almost two weeks. It's been super fun, and i've really enjoyed getting to know my sister-in-law better. (although it's still weird to realize that i have a sister-in-law.) they moved into their apartment today, and I am officially sad, but they'll only be an hour (depending on that darn inconvenience entitled "traffic.") away, and i have been invited and intend to visit. ;) 

iv.     i got a second set of piercings this week. I plan to wear sparkly studs with all my earrings because it's fun, and cute, and who doesn't like extra bling. :) I've been thinking about it for quite awhile. (more like trying to convince my mother that it will be pretty and a good idea. ;) and it made me incredibly happy to finally do it

v.     Andrew arrived last night. i'm looking forward to visiting this week. we don't have anything really planned, but i think it will be great just to get all caught up.

vi.     i made myself a wonderful hot chocolate this evening, after spending the whole night with my aunt and Uncle and grandparents looking at Christmas lights in Portland. It was pouring down rain and i got rather drenched, and had to wash my hair again because it was a sticky mess, but hanging out with family is always fun. :) 

vii.     CHRISTMAS IS IN ONLY FOUR/FIVE DAYS!!?!!?!!? That fact is a little mystifying. 

so tell me whats new in your life since i accidentally went away for a while. Lots of laundry and cooking? anything interesting or weird? What books have you been reading, music you've been loving... places you visited or really really really want to visit. :) how's life? 

xx,

Becca

17 Ways to Use Your Long Scarf // Guest Post

Hello there! I'm Hannah, the fashion and lifestyle blogger behind Dance A Real. I'm an eighteen-year-old weirdo who has several different personalities depending on whom I'm with, what I'm doing, and what hairstyle I'm wearing (not kidding on that one). I've known Becca (I call her Bex :)) for the majority of my life, but it wasn't until a couple years ago when we took driver's ed together that we became very good friends. She's awesome. And letting me guest post for her is just another testament to her awesomeness :)

I thought today I'd share with you a few--well, okay, seventeen--ways you can tie or use any long scarf you have in your wardrobe. (This is formatted as a single video, though I actually shot it in seventeen different sequences, which is why you see me coming forward and going backward so many times. ;))

Which was your favorite?