The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 23: Hobbies

Prompt: List your top 3 favorite hobbies and why you love them.

1) Blogging!!!
Yes, indeed. Blogging is one of my favorite hobbies. Why? It allows me to write continuously (not just when papers are due at school) about life, the Lord and His ways and share them with people all over the world. I also consider it to be a way of professing my faith to others.

2) Baking
I'm definitely one of those people that think baking is therapeutic. I love the quote from the movie Julia and Julia in which the food blogger Julie Powell says, "You know what I love about cooking? I love that after a day when nothing is sure, and when I say "nothing" I mean nothing, you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick. It's such a comfort." I love how baking is a science. If you simply follow the recipe, and measure things carefully, you'll end up with a perfect masterpiece. It's also nice when I'm at home, and everyone else is having a stressful or hard day somehow, just combining an egg, peanut butter, and sugar and baking it turns into something sweet and rewarding for them.

3) Music/Teaching
I wanted to list both of these on my hobby list, but I ranked them together so that it still counted as 3. :)
Teaching: I truly enjoy teaching, because when I prepare to teach a lesson of some form, I learn something too. I either learn a different technique of how to do something, or I learn a fun new fact that I never knew before, or I even learn more about the person that I'm teaching and build a stronger relationship with that person. I feel that it's a gift that God gave me, and I hope to keep learning how to teach even better as I grow.
Music: Have you ever noticed that when you tap your foot on the floor or your pencil on the desk, you're adding background music to your day? Why do grocery stores always play songs at a certain volume, or even at restaurants, a local Subway might play rock music in the background, or a special expensive restaurant might hire live bands to come play? Everyone enjoys music in different forms. It's something special that adds to everyone's life. Without music, life somehow seems a bit empty. Life all of a sudden feels bland or awkward or uncomfortable when there is not one sound to be heard. That's why I like playing music. It feels like I'm adding more to someone's day.

Question for the Reader: How do you like to contribute to other people's lives in big or small ways?

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." --Philippians 2:4

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 4: Blog Heroes & Buddies

This is the day where I get to talk about the blogs that I look up to, stalk (just kidding), follow, find interesting, and read because I'm buddies with the authors. :D

Unfortunately I won't get to list all of them, because frankly, I probably have about a million blogs on my Bloglovin' account.

Prompt: Blogs you follow.

I recently created an entire page called "My Favorite Blogs" which basically covers the bases of my favorite ones to follow and also blogs which are written by my best blog-writing buds. So, instead of re-writing every single one of those, I'll just ask the readers to go check it out. :D

On the other hand, I follow even more blogs than just the favorite ones on that page. So without further ado, here are some more blogs that I like to follow that are all well-written too.

...our journey... by Lyle and Paige 
This is cute and inspiring to me because it shows what a godly marriage looks like between two best friends who want to grow a ministry of the Lord together. (Link)

Almost There by Tyler Anne and Holli Anne

I love this blog because it's a real life image of what it looks like to chase after your dreams and encourage others to do the same. Tyler and Holli are both aspiring authors and give great tips in writing and organizing goals. (Link)

Amazing Music by Nathaniel Perez

This is written by a good friend of mine who decided to use his appreciation of music and turn it into a blog. He also makes his own music videos on YouTube! (Link)

Average Christian Geek by Kaylin Threepwood

Kaylin writes a great blog about her life as a Christian homeschooler, who is also an avid reader and gamer. (Link)

Band of Brothers by Davi

This is a blog about a sweet mom of four who writes about the everyday life of being a stay at home mom. (Link) 

Camp Girl in the Real World by Sarah Card

This camp girl might love the outdoors, but she writes her blog about camping figuratively speaking. She's a Christian and software engineering student, figuring out the real world, its beauties, and its challenges as she goes. (Link)

This is a lot of blogs to check out for now. Maybe another day I'll keep going on this blog following rant, but it's a bit too much to give them all out in one post. ;) Enjoy!

Question for the Reader: What's your favorite blog to follow?

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance..." --Proverbs 1:5

Summer Bucket List Update--8/06/13

I've been scratching off a few more things on my summer bucket list, so I thought I'd give you guys a glimpse on my progress. :)

1. Do a vlog post.
2. Post frequently on Victorious Heroine
3. Get an awesome gift for Father's Day
4. Go to Disney World
5. Take lots of pictures
6. Color in a coloring book or on a coloring page
7. Play in the rain
8. Pick flowers
9. Write some poems or stories
10. Give a person/people a present and/or a care package
11. Wear a sundress
12. Fro yo!
13. Fly a kite
14. Launch a rocket
15. Bake cookies
16. Defeat the summer reading list
17. Create a chalk art masterpiece
18. Sip an Arnold Palmer (sweet tea and lemonade combined!)
19. Blow bubbles
20. Go to the library
21. Play in the park
22. Play hopscotch
23. Play foursquare
24. Game night
25. Fireworks
26. Do something out of the ordinary.
27. Watch movies never seen before and movies that I haven’t seen in awhile
28. Summer of Blimey Cow
29. Listen to BCAN
30. Photo a day challenges
31. Grill out
32. Make homemade ice cream or sorbet
33. Go shopping
34. Eat a slice of watermelon
35. Bowling
36. Get a pineapple dole whip at Disney World
37. Conquer my fears at Disney's Haunted Mansion and Rockin' Rollercoaster
38. Go to the Beach!!!
39. Go to Water World
40. Go on a hike
41. Have picnics
42. Go for neighborhood bike rides
43. Eat a fruit pop
44. Buy a mocha coconut frapuccino (for yourself or someone nearby) This one had to be replaced with a Chai frappuccino, since Starbucks didn't have a mocha coconut frappuccino this summer.
45. Movie marathon
46. DIY crafts
47. Stargazing
48. Water balloons
49. Youth Group Activities
50. Make homemade cherry limeade

Only 14 more to go! (And 4 more on my August resolutions goal.) May all of your summer bucket lists be accomplished as well!!! :)

Question for the Reader: What's your favorite summer tradition?

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." --Ecclesiastes 3:11

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 1: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Here we go...the first day of the 30 Day Blog Challenge.

Prompt: "List 10 random facts about yourself."

1. I love the Lord and have been saved by His grace through faith.
2. I am sixteen years old and my favorite colors are blue and purple.
3. I play the clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone sax, and alto sax.
4. I love to bake with gluten-free ingredients.
5. I love to read, but when I'm constantly assigned to read for homework, my interest all of a sudden seems to disappear. I have an entire list of books that I would truly love to just sit down and read for myself.
6. I go to two different schools...at the same time.
7. Youth Group is my favorite part of the week.
8. I've always loved to teach. (No seriously, always. When I was in elementary school, I used to convince some of my friends to play school after school, and I used to teach myself "crayon strokes" when I drew pictures at age 3. Even now, I still act like I'm Rachel Ray when I cook in the kitchen, and my youth group friends tell me I have a true talent for teaching the Word.)
9. Taylor Swift is one of my favorite music artists, but let's just say my Pandora account doesn't completely consist of country pop music.
10. I have yet to find the Lord's calling for me in order to use my spiritual gifts to His glory.

I hope this helped give you all a better glimpse of who is behind the scenes writing all of these inconsistent posts! :P

See you tomorrow for Day 2!

Question for the Reader: Any random facts about yourself that you'd like to share?

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." --Psalm 139:14

Summer Bucket List Update--7/11/13

Hello readers!

It's been a very eventful summer so far, so I thought I'd fill you all in on how my summer bucket list is coming along.

1. Do a vlog post.
2. Post frequently on Victorious Heroine
3. Get an awesome gift for Father's Day
4. Go to Disney World
5. Take lots of pictures
6. Color in a coloring book or on a coloring page
7. Play in the rain
8. Pick flowers
9. Write some poems or stories
10. Give a person/people a present and/or a care package
11. Wear a sundress
12. Fro yo!
13. Fly a kite
14. Launch a rocket
15. Bake cookies
16. Defeat the summer reading list
17. Create a chalk art masterpiece
18. Sip an Arnold Palmer (sweet tea and lemonade combined!)
19. Blow bubbles
20. Go to the library
21. Play in the park
22. Play hopscotch
23. Play foursquare
24. Game night
25. Fireworks
26. Do something out of the ordinary.
27. Watch movies never seen before and movies that I haven’t seen in awhile
28. Summer of Blimey Cow
29. Listen to BCAN
30. Photo a day challenges
31. Grill out
32. Make homemade ice cream or sorbet
33. Go shopping
34. Eat a slice of watermelon
35. Bowling
36. Get a pineapple dole whip at Disney World
37. Conquer my fears at Disney's Haunted Mansion and Rockin' Rollercoaster
38. Go to the Beach!!!
39. Go to Water World
40. Go on a hike
41. Have picnics
42. Go for neighborhood bike rides
43. Eat a fruit pop
44. Buy a mocha coconut frapuccino (for yourself or someone nearby) This one had to be replaced with a Chai frappuccino, since Starbucks didn't have a mocha coconut frappuccino this summer.
45. Movie marathon
46. DIY crafts
47. Stargazing
48. Water balloons
49. Youth Group Activities
50. Make homemade cherry limeade

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer as well! :)

Question for the Reader: What have you scratched off on your summer bucket list?

"You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter." --Psalm 74:17

June Resolutions: Summer Vacation

Read a ton!
I'd like to accomplish reading several Omnibus books for summer reading, plus a couple on my own pleasure reading list.

Exercising
I'd like to walk a lot more often. I think if I worked pretty hard, I could be walking a minimum of two miles every day, maybe 4.

Extracurricular Activities Report for VPSA Resumé
I have a summer assignment due on the 15th in which I need to turn in a list of things that I did during the school year that didn't count for a grade, but were beneficial in other ways. At the end of my senior year, my online school will help me use that information to put together a lovely college resumé.

Give Dad an Awesome Father's Day
I'd like my dad to feel appreciated, loved, and respected on June 16th this year. I'll do my best to make that happen. :)

Scratch off bucket list items
Now I'm not looking to get 75% of my bucket list done all in the month of June (even though that would be pretty cool.) But I am hoping to get a lot scratched off.

Publish at least 10 posts this month
It's a bit of a challenge, but since it's summer, I'm up for it. Besides, with all of the guest posts, series, and other fun things I have in mind, I think I can make it happen.

Music Practice
Recurring goal...I just want to do better than last month.

Read Isaiah & Other Scripture
I think that maybe the problem I'm having is that I feel forced to read some Scripture that might not be the right fit for my spiritual journey at that very point in time. I'd like to self-discipline myself to read the Book of Isaiah, since I am reading it with one of my friends from youth group, and then decide what I'd like to read next and accomplish that.

Preparation for Summer Vacation in Florida
I need to do A LOT of laundry, shopping, and other preparation and planning before this trip comes around soon. This is something that needs to be done quickly and efficiently.

Go to Florida & Prepare to Blog about it
This is exciting! It's probably the biggest summer vacation that our family has planned in several years. It will be so much fun, and I hope to include enough details through diary entries and picture taking to tell you all about it. To see how soon this vacation is coming, check the widget on the right side of this page to observe the countdown. :)

Overall, ten things for a resolutions list sounds like a pretty good challenge. This will definitely be a memorable month, and perhaps a monumental one for Victorious Heroine. We'll see what happens! :) 

Question for the Reader: Do you have plans for summer vacation?

"And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" --Exodus 33:14

(Link-up to Kelli Taylor's She Learns As She Goes)

Summer Bucket List 2013 Link-Up

Spring is almost gone. The school year is almost done. But one thing is also beginning: Summer. I'm going to try something new for this summer. My sister and I decided to make a Summer 2013 bucket list. Here are my current 50 bucket list items...

1. Do a vlog post.
2. Post frequently on Victorious Heroine
3. Get an awesome gift for Father's Day
4. Go to Disney World
5. Take lots of pictures
6. Color in a coloring book or on a coloring page
7. Play in the rain
8. Pick flowers
9. Write some poems or stories
10. Give a person/people a present and/or a care package
11. Wear a sundress
12. Fro yo!
13. Fly a kite
14. Launch a rocket
15. Bake cookies
16. Defeat the summer reading list
17. Create a chalk art masterpiece
18. Sip an Arnold Palmer (sweet tea and lemonade combined!)
19. Blow bubbles
20. Go to the library
21. Play in the park
22. Play hopscotch
23. Play foursquare
24. Game night
25. Fireworks
26. Do something out of the ordinary.
27. Watch movies never seen before and movies that I haven’t seen in awhile
28. Summer of Blimey Cow
29. Listen to BCAN
30. Photo a day challenges
31. Grill out
32. Make homemade ice cream or sorbet
33. Go shopping
34. Eat a slice of watermelon
35. Bowling
36. Get a pineapple dole whip at Disney World
37. Conquer my fears at Disney's Haunted Mansion and Rockin' Rollercoaster
38. Go to the Beach!!!
39. Go to Water World
40. Go on a hike
41. Have picnics
42. Go for neighborhood bike rides
43. Eat a fruit pop
44. Buy a mocha coconut frapuccino (for yourself or someone nearby)
45. Movie marathon
46. DIY crafts
47. Stargazing
48. Water balloons
49. Youth Group Activities
50. Make homemade cherry limeade

I might come up with more once my sister and I plan this all out together. But for now, a list of 50 big and small things sounds pretty good. :)

Now it's your turn! I made a link-up again for all you blog writers. Now, I know some of you have a blog that is very topical. That's ok! Let's say for example, you have a blog based on your spiritual walk or your writing career. You can write a small bucket list of things you want to accomplish in those areas. This is very flexible. :)

I hope you enjoy it, and I can't wait to see all the lists!

Question for the Reader: What are your plans for the summer?

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!" --Psalm 113:3