by Laura Beth

Writing Prompt #9: “30 Day Writing Challenge” (Day 3)

Image Credit: quotesgram.com

Here’s the list!

List 10 things that make you happy
Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot
What are your top 3 pet peeves
Write about someone who inspires you
List 5 places you want to visit
5 wins to your heart
List 10 songs you’re loving right now
Something you struggle with
Post some words of wisdom that speak to you
Write about something for which you feel strongly
Something you always think “what if…” about
Write about 5 blessings in your life
What are you excited about
Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching
Bullet-point your whole day
Something that you miss
Post about your zodiac sign, and whether or not it fits you
Post 30 facts about yourself
Discuss your first love
Post about three celebrity crushes
What are 3 lessons you want your children to learn from you
Put your music on shuffle and post the first 10 songs
A letter to someone, anyone
What about a lesson you’ve learned the hard way
Think of any word. Search it on Google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image
Write about an area in your life you’d like to improve
Conversely, write about something that’s kicking ass right now
Post 5 things that make you laugh-out-loud
What are your goals for the next 30 days
Your highs and lows for the month

What are your top 3 pet peeves?

Spelling and grammar errors. I’m not perfect, but I’m one of those people who will do my absolute best to keep my written communications as error-free as possible. This is what happens when you grow up enjoying English class, actually liking spelling tests, working on a newspaper for your university for eight semesters, and minoring in Rhetoric and Professional Writing, among other things. I’m also one of those people who spells out every single word in text messages!
Lots of things about driving – Distracted drivers, tailgaters, people not using their turn signals, etc. Full disclosure: I am a reformed tailgater. My ex-boyfriend John was a very aggressive driver, and I picked up a lot of his bad habits. In December 2010, I rear-ended an SUV, five minutes from my house. There wasn’t a scratch on her SUV, but I did $4,000 in damage to my Camry. That sobered me up real quick. Then, I wrote a post about my car sliding off Route 460 in terrible snowy weather in 2014 – You better believe I’m never doing that again! In essence, I try to treat my car very carefully, and I wish other drivers would do the same. But, I shrug my shoulders, do my best to keep at least a car length in front of me at all times, and attempt to drive defensively.
Beating around the bush. I really appreciate it when people don’t dance around an issue or telling me if they have a problem with me. Brutal honesty is, well, brutal – But it’s BETTER. Again, full disclosure, I always feel guilty when I’m put in this position. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and sweat-inducing. However, for me, it’s better to tell me what’s wrong, or whatever it is, from the get-go.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

09.02.16

by Laura Beth

Writing Prompt #8: “30 Day Writing Challenge” (Day 2)

Image Credit: pinterest.com

I added something else to this challenge – I’m going to put the links to the previous prompts every day!

Here’s the list!

List 10 things that make you happy
Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot
What are your top 3 pet peeves
Write about someone who inspires you
List 5 places you want to visit
5 ways to win your heart
List 10 songs you’re loving right now
Something you struggle with
Post some words of wisdom that speak to you
Write about something for which you feel strongly
Something you always think “what if…” about
Write about 5 blessings in your life
What are you excited about
Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching
Bullet-point your whole day
Something that you miss
Post about your zodiac sign, and whether or not it fits you
Post 30 facts about yourself
Discuss your first love
Post about three celebrity crushes
What are 3 lessons you want your children to learn from you
Put your music on shuffle and post the first 10 songs
A letter to someone, anyone
What about a lesson you’ve learned the hard way
Think of any word. Search it on Google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image
Write about an area in your life you’d like to improve
Conversely, write about something that’s kicking ass right now
Post 5 things that make you laugh-out-loud
What are your goals for the next 30 days
Your highs and lows for the month

Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot

This one was really hard! I had to dig deep into my memory bank.

Okay – This is going to sound really, really cliché, but I will never forget when my mom first told me, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”

And she wasn’t the only one. It was repeated to me, from several different people, for several months in 2010. This started right around the time I finally gathered the courage to break up with my abusive boyfriend, John. At that point, I had been suffering under his control and manipulation for a little over for four years.

Simultaneously, I was completing my college internship at The New York Times Shared Services Center in Norfolk. My internship supervisor, Emily, was fabulous. She’s one of my many “mothers” – I’m fortunate to have at least six wonderful women in my life that could be my mother from another.

Anyway, Emily adopted “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” as one of her mantras for our work at the company. So, by way of repetition, it became one of my mantras, too.

Then, in 2011, by complete happenstance, I discovered that Kelly Clarkson wrote a song titled “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” and it quickly became one of my all-time favorites.

Five years later, I play that song at least one week via YouTube as a way to ground myself, remind myself that I’m still here, and I’m a strong woman.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

09.01.16

by Laura Beth

Writing Prompt #7: “30 Day Writing Challenge” (Day 1)

Image Credit: quoteaddicts.com

As I mentioned in my September Goals post earlier today, I’m determined to complete my first full 30-day blogging challenge!

I found this challenge on a WordPress blog. I think it was referenced in another post by another blogger recently, but I can’t remember who, where, or when!

Here’s the link to the original post:

30 Day Writing Challenge

Here’s the list!

List 10 things that make you happy
Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot
What are your top 3 pet peeves
Write about someone who inspires you
List 5 places you want to visit
5 wins to your heart
List 10 songs you’re loving right now
Something you struggle with
Post some words of wisdom that speak to you
Write about something for which you feel strongly
Something you always think “what if…” about
Write about 5 blessings in your life
What are you excited about
Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching
Bullet-point your whole day
Something that you miss
Post about your zodiac sign, and whether or not it fits you
Post 30 facts about yourself
Discuss your first love
Post about three celebrity crushes
What are 3 lessons you want your children to learn from you
Put your music on shuffle and post the first 10 songs
A letter to someone, anyone
What about a lesson you’ve learned the hard way
Think of any word. Search it on Google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image
Write about an area in your life you’d like to improve
Conversely, write about something that’s kicking ass right now
Post 5 things that make you laugh-out-loud
What are your goals for the next 30 days
Your highs and lows for the month

And, here’s my Day 1!

List 10 things that make you happy

Excellent!

This kind of ties into my recent “Happiness Tag” post, but I tried to write about 10 original things for this post.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

Nature. I love landscapes, the outside world, sunsets, plants, gardens, flowers – I could go on and on and on. I studied the environment as part of my two-year Visual Arts class in high school, and it gave me a much greater appreciation for this planet that we call Earth. I love nature photography, too. Exploring parks gives me immense joy. I love traveling to my in-laws’ farm, because there’s nature EVERYWHERE!
Driving in my car in the spring and fall with the windows down, blasting my favorite music. It’s so wonderful to put my hair up, turn up the radio, and feel the fresh air on my skin as I’m driving somewhere! Bring on the cooler weather, stat!
Meghan Trainor. I recently found a mix of her songs on YouTube, and I haven’t stopped listening to it! She’s fantastic. I love the videos, her style, her voice, and the different messages that she incorporates. Al and I saw The Peanuts Movie earlier this year, and I instantly recognized her voice in “Better When I’m Dancin'”. I was bouncing along in my seat!
The colors green and gold. These two colors symbolize two of the best things in my life – The Green Bay Packers, and Alpha Sigma Tau! I’m so excited that football season is starting again!!
Long phone dates with my friends Lyndsey and Amanda. Amanda was my roommate during our junior year at Longwood, and Lyndsey is a wonderful mutual friend of ours. They are both amazing women, doing amazing things! The only problem is I live many hours and hundreds of miles away from them! We try to do regular phone dates, and just last week we committed to doing them once a month. They’re two of my closest friends, and talking to them on the phone is so personable and wonderful!
Pastel paintings. This ties in with #1, with my high school Visual Arts class. I chose pastels as my main medium for my final assessment for IB. I kept most of the paintings I did, and I want to get them out from under my old bed, frame them, and display them in our house! I also want to invest in a set of good pastels and start painting again.
The 8:30 service at my church. Right now, I serve on the church’s Media team, where once a month, I run the computers and projectors. I love the contemporary music that the band plays. I always get a rush from the energy, and I always leave the building feeling uplifted and inspired!
Podcasts. When I got my personal iPhone back in December, I quickly discovered the Podcasts app, and I love it for my commute back and forth to work. I have a lot from NPR – Serial, StoryCorps, This American Life, Fresh Air, Ask Me Another, Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!, Invisibilia, Embedded – but I have also discovered some other awesome ones: Casefile True Crime, Lore, Myths and Legends, The Nerdist, The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, Remarkable Lives, Tragic Deaths; and Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories.
Having the ability to express myself freely, whether through speaking, writing, or any other form of communication.
Having a home that is becoming my sanctuary. I love having a place of our own, where Al and I have grown and will continue to grow as a couple and as husband and wife. I’m grateful that I’m able to drive to it every day from work. I feel safe and peaceful. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

That wraps up Day 1!

Come back tomorrow for Day 2!

Are you doing a blogging challenge for the month of September? I’d love to hear about it!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

09.01.16

by Laura Beth

Getting Personal #33: September Goals

Here are my goals for the month of September!

Complete my first full 30-day blogging challenge!
Enjoy my six-year dating anniversary with Al.
See Emily G. before she jets off to London!
Keep on track with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice assignments.
Attend the Chambers Family Reunion.
Work on an exciting wedding anniversary surprise for Al!
Join the Portsmouth Public Library.
Play catch-up with my 2016 Reading Challenge.
Read the September book and attend my first book club meeting with Sarah H.
Make at least three new recipes.
Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals.

Here’s the breakdown:

Complete my first full 30-day blogging challenge!

This will be explained in another post that will be published later today. I stumbled upon it through a WordPress blog, and I’m super excited about it!

Enjoy my six-year dating anniversary with Al.

We are celebrating six years together on September 4th. Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun. We have tickets to see The NeverEnding Story 30th Anniversary release in theaters for Sunday afternoon!

See Emily G. before she jets off to London!

One of our dearest friends is headed across the pond for grad school! We’re so excited for her. We want to meet up with her before she leaves!

Keep on track with my Trial Prep & Discovery Practice class assignments.

After reading the syllabus for my class, I know that I have to hunker down and block off time every weekend to complete my assignments. Even though the two projects, the Homework Folder and Trial Notebook, aren’t due until the very end of the semester, I want to get ahead and stay that way! Plus, doing these assignments in an orderly fashion will get me into a solid routine, and help me prepare for my midterm exam!

Attend the Chambers Family Reunion.

My mother-in-law’s side of the family always has a reunion in the middle of September, and this weekend has become one of the highlights of my entire year. It’s a huge potluck at the United Methodist Church in Keysville, Virginia. It’s a great way to get together, share stories, catch up, and enjoy each other. I requested to have Friday, September 16th off from work, and it was approved! My in-laws are so excited that Al and I staying at the farm for the weekend, and so are we!

Work on an exciting wedding anniversary surprise for Al!

I can’t say much about this goal, but I’m very excited, and everything is starting to come together. Look for a post about this one some time in November!

Join the Portsmouth Public Library.

Hopefully this weekend! There’s a branch of the library literally two miles from our house. I’m so excited to check it out, and bring home several books that I’ve been itching to read.

Play catch-up with my 2016 Reading Challenge.

Here’s the link to my original post: Commentary #14: “2016 Reading Challenge”
It’s already September, which means I’m woefully behind on this list! But, I own several of these books – I just need to get them from my parents’ house and bring them to ours! The others that I don’t own, well, that’s where joining the library comes in!

Read the September book and attend my first book club meeting with Sarah H.

I had a lovely dinner with my friend Sarah last month. She was one of my career advisers when I was a student at Longwood, and we kept in touch after I graduated. Now, she’s working at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, and bought a house that’s close to my office! She told me about this book club that meets once a month in cities like Portsmouth and Suffolk. I’m so excited!
The September book is titled The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children – And The World by Roger Thurow. It looks really interesting!

Make at least three new recipes.

I’m determined to find healthier recipes to cook for Al and I. One of the recent steps I took to achieve this was buy my friend Megan’s cookbook – The Big 15 Paleo Cookbook: 15 Fundamental Ingredients, 150 Paleo Diet Recipes, 450 Variations.
With that said, neither Al nor I exclusively follow the Paleo diet, but I’ve admired Megan’s commitment to it for years. I’m excited to leaf through the book and find new things to try!
Check out her blog, Freckled Italian, for more!
My mom also sent me an email the other day with some drool-worth Pinterest recipes! Yum!

Sign up for a pen pal through Geek Girl Pen Pals.

I’m committed to explore more of their site this month, and then actually sign up for a pen pal!
The sign-up process opens on the 15th of every month, so you’d better believe I’ll be ready in two weeks!

Well, that’s all for my September goals!

Thank you so much to those who read and commented on my August goals and goals recap posts! Your encouragement and kind words have motivated me to do this every month! Thank you, all!

Do you have any for this month?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

08.31.16

by Laura Beth

Getting Personal #32: August Goals Recap

Image Credit: quotesgram.com

Hi, everybody!

This post is a recap or review of my August goals! I cannot believe that September starts tomorrow!!

Here’s the link to my August Goals post:

Getting Personal #25: August Goals

—

Ready?

Here we go!

Build up some cash – Accomplished!
Thoroughly enjoy my birthday! – Accomplished!
See Star Trek: Beyond, Jason Bourne, and maybe one other movie with my husband – Semi-achieved.
Prepare for the start of my Trial Prep & Discovery class at the end of the month – Accomplished!
Finalize our first wedding anniversary getaway for November – Did not accomplish.
Read Harry Potter and The Cursed Child – Accomplished!
Keep blogging! – Accomplished!
Paint as much of the house as possible – Accomplished!
Hopefully move my furniture! – Did not accomplish.
Find at least five new recipes – Semi-achieved.
Start tracking our monthly expenses via spreadsheet – Semi-achieved.
Check out geekgirlpenpals.com – Accomplished!

Here’s the breakdown:

Build up some cash – Accomplished!

I took a hard look at my credit card statements from July and almost fell on the floor. Plus, my main credit card was hacked in the beginning of the month, so that sobered me up too.
I hardly spent any money on personal items this month, with the exception of some American Girl books that were deeply discounted on Amazon! Currently halfway through one of the new Mysteries, and I love it so far!

Thoroughly enjoy my birthday! – Accomplished!

On my actual birthday, Al made cinnamon rolls for breakfast! Yum! I was also treated to an amazing dinner at Olive Garden, celebrating with Al, my parents, Mom’s best friend Debbie D., and our friends Kathy and Perry. Debbie D. gave me this amazing no-bake pie-making kit that came in Mason jars! I’m so excited!
I took off work on Monday, August 8th, and enjoyed myself immensely. I didn’t go see a movie solo, but I did purchase Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, stocked up on LUSH items (I love the Ocean Salt scrub!), and went to lunch with Al and his co-worker, Kathryn. We went to this amazing Thai place near where they work. I had their orange chicken that made Al salivate!
Then, the big birthday surprise came later in the week – Al bought me my third American Girl doll, Kit Kittredge. She’s the historical doll from the 1930s. I couldn’t believe it! I’m over the moon, and I’m so excited to de-clutter my future office space and make a home for my desk, files, future window seat / reading nook, and permanent haven for Stephanie, Molly, and Kit!

See Star Trek: Beyond, Jason Bourne, and maybe one other movie with my husband – Semi-achieved.

We did see Star Trek Beyond on a Tuesday night with Al’s dad. It was an awesome movie! I won’t post any spoilers, but if you’re a fan of the newer movies, this one is a must-see.
We decided to wait for Jason Bourne to come out for rent or on the streaming services.
We saw Suicide Squad during the Thursday night release. It was good!

Prepare for the start of my Trial Prep & Discovery class at the end of the month – Accomplished!

I ordered my textbook as an e-book for my phone and iPad. I got my paper workbook too, through Amazon, well in advance.
I’m really enjoying the class so far. The second class of the semester was last night, and I’m actually excited to dive head-first into the Homework Folder and Trial Notebook assignments this weekend. I have to do Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 before the next class. My professor is awesome!

Finalize our first wedding anniversary getaway for November – Did not accomplish.

This didn’t happen this month, for multiple reasons. We’ve been so busy with the house, that our weekends just slip away. However, I love the idea of going to Key West, Florida for a few days, so hopefully we’ll book everything very soon!

Read Harry Potter and The Cursed Child – Accomplished!

I bought the book on Monday, August 8th. I flew through it within a couple of days the next week!
Here’s my review (Warning: Some spoilers!): Book Review #17: “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child”
My overall take: I’m glad I bought it and read it!

Keep blogging! – Accomplished!

I’m super proud of myself. I published a post almost every day in August. I did have a five-day break between the 24th and 29th, but I needed it. I was stressed and overwhelmed. I’m happy to be back at it!
I’m currently working on posts containing house updates and book reviews, plus a 30-day challenge series!

Paint as much of the house as possible – Accomplished!

This could not have happened without Nick and Savy. They came over on Saturday and we powered through two of the bedrooms! It looks amazing. I’m so happy with the color – Monorail Silver – and it looks different than the gray that’s throughout the house. We bought the paint for Al’s office and our master bedroom – Storm Cloud – but we’re going to wait until the weather cools off a little, so we can open the windows and properly ventilate the house!

Hopefully move my furniture! – Did not accomplish.

This didn’t happen this month, mainly because the weather has been so stinking hot! Ugh!

Find at least five new recipes – Semi-achieved.

I found about three new recipes to make, but not five.
I made Honey Balsamic Chicken and Veggies earlier this week, and it was amazing! Thanks to Tony for sharing the link – Perfect timing! I definitely want to make this again, especially for a potluck gathering! So yummy. I’m excited and proud that I prepped everything on Sunday, and I baked it in the oven on Monday night. Lesson learned: I’m definitely marinating meats for at least 24 hours now, if at all possible – So juicy!

Start tracking our monthly expenses via spreadsheet – Semi-achieved.

We started this spreadsheet very early on Tuesday morning. We’ll be refining it this weekend, figuring out and tying up all the loose ends. It feels good to see it on paper, but it’s also absolutely terrifying.

Check out geekgirlpenpals.com – Accomplished!

I registered for the site, and looked at it a little bit over the course of one weekend in the middle of the month. I haven’t signed up for a pen pal yet – The site is a bit complicated and overwhelming (So many amazing things!), so I hope to do that soon.

Final Thoughts

I was thrilled to be able to put Accomplished next to so many things! 7 out of 12. Yay!
The three goals that were Semi-Achieved: I’m happy with the progress!
The two goals that were Not Accomplished: That’s okay, too! There were certain circumstances that made these goals nearly impossible to achieve this month.

Did you have any goals for August?

If so, how did you do?

Come back tomorrow to see my September goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

08.30.16

by Laura Beth

Getting Personal #31: An Open Letter To My Anxiety

Image Credit: healthyplace.com

Dear Anxiety,

Today was one of those days where I felt like you had won.

I was so overwhelmed, stressed, defeated, and just utterly exhausted.

I’ve shed so many tears over the last few days, in every place imaginable. The smallest things made me start to sniffle and tears come to my eyes.

You’ve robbed me of hours of sleep recently. Tossing and turning, over and over, never truly getting comfortable in my bed next to my husband. Feeling so restless, my mind unable to shut down completely and let me sleep peacefully. The best sleep I’ve had in the past two weeks was on Sunday morning, when I was feeling sick from the paint fumes and passed out cold in bed for two solid hours.

But, I have so many people in my corner. I have God in my corner. I lean on my husband, my family, and my faith so much these days.

Waves of relief washed over me as I read a Facebook message from Diana this morning, as I was starting to emerge from your blinding fog, Anxiety. Seeing her words of concern and comfort made me even more determined to keep you at bay, put you behind me.

Immediately after reading that message, I prayed, tears in my eyes. Right at my desk at work. I’m not afraid to pray anymore. I used to be. But, now, I find myself praying everywhere. I know that God is always listening.

As much as I would like to totally get rid of you, Anxiety, I’ve accepted that you will always be with me.

However, I won’t let you control me. I can’t do that. I’ve been controlled before, and I won’t let that happen, not again. I’m not a puppet.

I’m taking back control.

Recently, I’ve realized some things, and that has helped diminish your presence, albeit slowly. Example: I won’t let lingering guilty feelings get in the way of finally realizing that / coming to terms with I was involved in a very toxic relationship with J. over the last year and a half. 18 months is a long time. Too long.

I won’t go back there. I can’t go back there. I’m pushing the guilt aside, feeling stronger with each day, and holding my head up high as I attempt to be the bigger person.

This morning, after watching me break down crying, my manager made me laugh and then said something to the effect of, “Don’t let your past interfere with your present.”

You better believe I’m holding on to that.

Anxiety, you may have claimed a small victory over me recently. But, I’m tired of the stress, overwhelm, sadness, and guilt that you’ve churned inside me. I’m letting go. I’m releasing all of that – It’s been a drag, literally!

I’m devoting every ounce of my energy, henceforth, into my beautiful house, my amazing marriage, my work, and my faith in God.

Thanks for playing, but you can’t win every time. I’m too stubborn and too much of a competitor to let that happen.

Love always, Laura Beth

—

Image Credit: picturequotes.com

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

08.24.16

by Laura Beth

Tag #11: “The Happiness Tag”

Image Credit: brainyquote.com

I was tagged by B.G. again! I love it!

Here’s the link to B.G.’s original post:

The Happiness Tag!

—

Ready?

Here we go!

Five Things That Make Me Happy:

My wonderful, amazing, handsome husband – Al. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been together for almost six years, and we’re celebrating our first wedding anniversary in November!
My parents. They are amazing! They both work incredibly hard, and they did an amazing job raising me as their only child. I know that I can call either of them, day or night, for anything!
My circle of friends. I’m incredibly blessed to have many friends, both male and female. I’ve met so many recently through the blogging community as well.
Giving blood and helping with the blood drives at church with my dad. Giving blood is a family affair for me, and Dad helped start the blood drives at our church when I was 11. I started giving blood at the first church blood drive after I turned 17 – September 2005. It’s an incredible feeling to know that giving one pint of blood can help save up to 3 lives!
Reading. I was given this incredible gift by my parents, and family, who read to me since I was born. I consider myself a voracious reader and a bibliophile. I love buying books, borrowing them, discussing them, and (eventually) donating them. I love libraries and bookstores alike. Fun fact: If I hadn’t gotten into Longwood, I wanted to find a school that offered a Library Science degree.

Image Credit: quotesgram.com

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Five Songs That Make Me Happy:

Before I list my picks, this one was SO HARD! I love music, and trying to narrow down this list to just five was so difficult!

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Geronimo by Sheppard
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
Cruise by Florida Georgia Line

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I Tag:

Image Credit: wheeinstitute.com

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

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