The liebster

Well, I’ve never done anything like this before, but my blogging friend Samara called me to the challenge, and since I’m never one to back down from a challenge, let’s have at this.

The award is for up and coming bloggers with 200 followers or less.

11 Random facts about yours truly:

1. I am the oldest of seven {yes, SEVEN} kids
2. I am borderline-freakishly tall, 5’11” to be exact, and even grew an inch in the last school year as a freshman in college {as if finding pants wasn’t hard enough beforehand}
3. I am at least five minutes late to almost everything {it’s a terrible habit, but it’s incredibly hard to break}
4. I brush my teeth an excessive amount of times during the day {I love food, but hate when the taste of it lingers in my mouth after I’m done eating}
5. I am most definitely sticking with my English major this year {at least for now}
6. My writing often comes off as serious, but the truth is I’m usually anything but serious if you’d ever bump into me in the “real world” {& sarcasm is VERY heavy in my day to day dialogues}
7. I have the new Taylor Swift song stuck in my head {I had it on repeat at work all day yesterday; I’m sure my coworkers just love me}
8. I am a sucker for all of that happily ever after love stuff {I love love!} Yep, all of it. But especially chick flicks
9. Patience is a virtue I don’t have {but I’m working on it very hard, promise}
10. Jesus is my savior and God is my Father. {Hellooo God IS love. Remember me? Huge romantic? How could I not love Him?} I’m a Catholic born and raised and there really is nothing more spiritually satisfying than time spent in Adoration. {Don’t know what Adoration is? Ask! It’s wonderful I promise}
11. I’m a former Mountain Dew addict {trust me, it was BAD}

The lovely Miss Dane’s questions to me & my best attempt at answers:

If you could only buy clothing from one store for the rest of your life, where would it be?
  -In no way could I ever choose one store. {Sorry Samara!} But if I had to choose one, hmmm, it’d probably be the Gap? I like simple classics when it comes to clothes. Haha I really have no idea.
What's your favorite color?
  -Purple. Or blue? {I apologize, I am really indecisive}
What is your guilty pleasure?
  -Chick flicks. & lazy days spent in my pajamas watching TV or reading.
Mcflurrys or Bilzzards?
  -Blizzards hands down. {Hehe they don’t make cookie-dough Mcflurrys}
Who's your favorite artist/band?
  -One cannot simply choose a favorite. All good music has a time and a place. One moment may call for Adele or one day could call for Fleetwood Mac. I love them all.
Why do you blog?
  -Because it helps concentrate me in my crazy life. Because it gives me a place to write and at the same time holds me accountable. Because I love to. Because I need to.
What's your favorite Disney movie?
  -Childhood? Pocahontas.   Current? Lilo & Stitch. “Ohana means family.”
If you have one free hour, what's the first thing you do for you?
  -Truthfully? Ha sleep!
What's your favorite food?
  -Ice cream
If you remember, in what situation did you have your last laughing attack?
  -I can’t remember one particular right now, but I can assure you it was with my best friend Baylee.
Do you play an instrument?
  -I played the clarinet all through high school and love to sing whenever the moment calls for it.

I’ve had the pleasure of being inspired by many people through blogging,
and here are a few I’d like to nominate:
Samantha @ {today I am}
Lecinda @ Bohemian Beautiful
Rhiannon @ Chicago girl moves on

THE RULES:
Each person must list 11 things about themselves.
Answer the 11 questions that the tagger has set for you plus you MUST create 11 questions of  your own for the 11 people you will nominate with this award, which brings me to rule 3.
Choose up to 11 bloggers linking them to your post.
Go to their page and inform them of the nomination.
Absolutely NO tag backs.
Remember to ONLY tag bloggers with less than 200 followers

My questions for the lovely ladies:

1. What’s your favorite 80’s movie? // 2. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?
3. What is one song that you cannot get enough of as of late?
4. What’s your greatest fear? // 5. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
6. If you could only use one hair product for the rest of your life, what would it be?
7. Where is the place you feel most inspired?// 8. What is the last book you read?
9. If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be and why?
10. What is the theme song of your life, right now? // 11. Why do you blog?

I cannot wait to hear from you all! Happy Wednesday!
Always,
L.A.

Tyler Knott Gregson

{via}

This is some work from the extraordinary artist I mentioned last night. I stumbled upon his website with a little help from one of the blogs I read from time to time. I read page after page, and I hope you take the time to do the same. That way we all can tell our children, as they reads his words from their textbooks, that we were among the lucky ones who first happened upon Tyler Knott Gregson not long after his tumblr days.

This man.

Him and his words are remarkable.

I would tip my figurative hat to you, sir, but even that seems to small of a gesture to express myself.

Always,
L.A.

A manifesto of sorts: A brief look at me

I am a tall, curvy, curly haired almost nineteen year old.

I am the oldest of seven children. Even though that's outside of the norm these days, I wouldn't want my family to be any less crazy. I could go on and on about my family. Yesterday was my parents' twenty-third wedding anniversary. They are just as in love with each other as they were twenty-three years ago, and they have no shortage of love to share with each of us kids.  I love them like crazy.

I've had the same best friend since I was seven years old.  We are so different but so much alike.  She longs for a acreage in Montana.  I'd love a little flat in NYC.  We both enjoy playing our music a little too loud, dancing in the car, bonfires, laughing, and just hanging out.  I don't know what I'd do without her.  She's my sister.

I did everything in high school.  I started varsity basketball and volleyball three out of four years. I was in band and choir. I was in the plays, in national honor society, and class president my junior and senior year. I was student body president my senior year, and homecoming royalty. I like to think I was friends with most people in my small high school, or at least I got along with most, but I was never "popular" thank goodness for that.  I was fine with my little circle of friends who just got me and who'd always have my back.  I graduated valedictorian of my class.  If you search the internet hard enough you can find the speech I gave at graduation on youtube, weird as that is. (Thanks Uncle Tim. Can't wait for my future employers to see that little gem.)


I now find myself done with my freshman year of college, and I've emerged from that first year a better me.  And I've made some pretty amazing friends to boot.  I am so blessed.

I am a terrible speller.  I am clumsy as hell.  I cherish the little things.  I grew a half an inch in the past year.  My hair has a mind of it's own.  I am too competitive for my own good.  I'm a neat freak.  I love to laugh.  I secretly wish I liked coffee.  I love chick flicks.  Hate scary movies.  I love to read.  I love to sing.  I'm Catholic born and raised.  My faith is incredibly important to me.  I smile at random people I pass on the street.  I strike up conversations with strangers in the supermarket.  All in all I just want to do my part, no matter how small, to make this world a better place.

Always,
L.A.

Introductions

Who are you?  What are you doing with your life?  What do you want to do with your life? Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Have you ever noticed that people never stop asking questions? So much it seems that I, in turn, just asked you another question. The four questions above seem to be asked over and over again, and one can only hear them so many times before standard answers develop and are used without missing a step.  But what really are the answers to these question?  I suppose it's only fair that I take my turn at bat and do my best provide a reply that satisfies those who wonder such things.

I am just one woman, doing her best to survive this crazy world. I am spending the majority of my time trying to make something of myself, as they say, although at this point I'm not quite sure what that something is.  I want to lead a life full of happiness, family, and friends, but what sane person doesn't?  In ten years I see myself content.  I hope to be content, with whatever life I come to lead, whether that life is spent working forty plus hours a week or taking care of some kids who look a little something like me.  I definitely do not have everything figured out, but I do my best with what I'm given.

With this I leave you with high hopes for the future in all aspects of my life.  With this blog I hope to begin to become the woman I've always aspired to be.  I believe it's time for me, and maybe even you readers, to stop staring at that book that is our own story, open it, and begin writing it for yourself.  For what kind of life is spent simply staring at the cover?  It's time to turn the page.

Always,
L.A.