My Proudest Accomplishments of 2014

Is it just me or can you do a lot of things in just one year? I had this post saved as a draft as 2015 was approaching, but I never posted it. Even still, as we are already a small ways into 2015, I find myself looking back and reflecting upon 2014, and I am kind of amazed by all of the things that I have accomplished last year. 

I thought it would be kind of fun to list out some of my proudest accomplishments of 2014. So here goes...

• I graduated college with a BA in Music Education! I worked super hard for 4 years, and it all paid off :)

• I became a certified music teacher--this was no easy feat, let me tell you, but I DID IT!!!

• I got my first "real" job!! (I am a music teacher, and I love it!)

• I started working on getting my Master's degree. I just finished my first semester last week!-can't wait to be done!!

• My music channel on youtube (click HERE) reached over 200 subscribers!!! I am so excited, and I'm so proud! This channel has been over 4 years in the making, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for it!

• I started my blog!!! I had been thinking about starting a blog for a while, and late last year, I finally did it. I couldn't be happier!

These are just some of the major accomplishments that stood out to me as being super special in 2014. It was a really great year, and I am realizing more every single day just how truly blessed I am. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in 2015!

I know I'm a little late for this, but what are some of your proudest accomplishments of 2014?

Have FUN today!

Is it just me or do you ever feel like you can only have fun when you're out somewhere or around other people doing something special? 

Today at the gym, I overheard something that made me re-think this mentality. While I was doing some ab exercises, a man passed by and made some small talk with the guy working out next to me. Right before the man walked away, he turned to the other guy and said "Hey, have fun today." It was clear that the guy did not have anything especially "fun" planned for the day, but he smiled and said "You know I always do!"

This got me thinking: why do we need to wait until we are doing something fun in order to actually have fun? Why can't we just have fun every day for the sheer fact that we are enjoying life??

You don't have to wait for some special occasion in order to have fun. You can have fun around the house, at work, at school, in the car, with friends, without friends, etc. if you let yourself. It is all in the way you choose to feel (more in depth blog post on this to come soon). If you choose to, you can have a blast cleaning the house, or driving to school, or working in your office.

Moral of the overheard conversation today? Have FUN today and everyday, no matter what you are doing! How will you have fun today?

The Importance of "Me Time"

Is it just me or do you sometimes get so busy that you forget to schedule some "me time"? You have a million and one things to get done, and so the time you have for yourself is kind of non-existent?

While being busy can be a good (and sometimes inevitable) thing, it is so important to make sure that you take some time for yourself. You need to balance the craziness of life with some relaxation and enjoyment in order to continue to function as a happy human being. 

As quite the busy bee myself, I know that finding some time for "me" is not always easy. But I have come to learn that even if I just get one hour to myself before bed to relax, or read, or watch my favorite show, it makes all the difference. And it doesn't have to be a big production. If I ever find myself with a little bit of free time, I like to try and make the most of it by doing something that I love to do; something that I know will make me happy.

Reserving some time for yourself is so necessary. If all you do is go, go, go all the time, you start to get overworked and kind of miserable. "Me time" allows you to reflect on your life, be alone with your thoughts, do things that you enjoy doing, relax after a crazy week, etc. 

And you should not feel selfish about having some time for yourself. You work hard. You are so busy all the time. You deserve a little time to sit on the couch and read, or grab a cup of coffee and just enjoy it. You are not being selfish, and you are not "wasting time" on yourself. You are allowed and encouraged to save some time for you.

What do you like to do with your "me time"?

What's the Hype About Halloween?

Is it just me or does Halloween get more hype than it should? Sure, it is fun to dress up in a costume and get lots of candy. But is it worth the spot as the second biggest holiday in the country??

I think that for many people, Halloween is an excuse to put on a fun costume and pretend to be somebody else for the night. As a matter of fact, I overheard a father the other day telling his son that he should get excited about Halloween because “It’s the only day of the year you get to be not you.”

This got me thinking…while it can be fun for a few hours on Halloween night, I don’t see why we would want to be anything other than ourselves. Putting on a costume should not make you turn into some other person. You are who you are, and you should be proud of that.

The coolest part is that there is only one you, and YOU get to be it! So I say embrace who you are to the fullest. Don’t try to hide who you are, or waste your days wishing that you could be someone else. You will be you for the rest of your life, so you might as well make the best of it! Be confident, be happy, and refrain from comparing yourself to others, because you will never be them (and they will never be you!). You were specially made as a unique individual with a purpose that only YOU were meant to carry out. How awesome is that?!

So have fun this Halloween; dress up and eat candy, but don’t forget who you are. What is your favorite thing about yourself? Something that makes you, YOU? Let me know in the comments!

The Best Birthday Ever

Is it just me or are birthdays something to get excited over?! We each only get one birthday a year, so we might as well try and make it as awesome as possible, right?? Since my birthday is in less than TWO HOURS (I'm currently writing this at 10:30 on Friday night) I thought I would do a little reflecting on one of my favorite birthday memories thus far.

It happened last year (almost) to the day. My 21st birthday. And not for the reasons that most other people like to celebrate their 21st birthday. This birthday was extra special for me for other reasons. 

For a few years leading up to my 21st birthday, my birthdays had not really been so great. I was going through a really tough time in my life, and my birthday celebrations were often pushed to the back burner. But things turned around come the year of my 21st birthday, and I had one of the greatest birthdays that I've ever had.

In all honesty, I didn't even really do that much on that day! I basically just hung around the house with my family and boyfriend during the day, which I certainly didn't mind. At night, I went out to a hibachi place for dinner, and my mom had surprised me by inviting some of my close friends without me knowing! After dinner, we all came back to my house for dessert and gifts. 

Ask me about the details, and I probably couldn't tell you more than a few. But ask me how happy I felt, and I could go on all day. The love that I felt from my family and friends made my heart swell with so much joy I could cry! It was the best birthday I can remember not because I went out to an extravagant bar or got amazing gifts (which, by the way, I did :P). It was the best birthday I can remember because of the people that I got to share it with. Even writing this now, I feel so beyond blessed and happy thinking back on that night. 

You don't have to do something totally crazy on your birthday. Just try to share it with the people you love and care about, and it'll be sure to be a good one.

What is your favorite birthday memory?

My Pet Peeves

Is it just me or do some things really get on your nerves?  I'm talking about pet peeves--we all have them, and I thought it would be kind of fun to share some of mine!

(Disclaimer: These are not meant to make anyone feel bad or anything!!! These are simply some things that annoy me personally, and they should be taken lightly! If anything, take them with a grain of salt and some humor!)

1. When people spell my name wrong. Yes, I understand that my name is a little bit complicated. ToniAnn. All one word, no spaces. Capital A in the middle. No "e" at the end. Make the mistake once, but please don't make it again!

2. When people call me "Toni".  Ooooh this one makes my blood boil! It's "Ton" (pronounced 'tone') if you know me, "ToniAnn" if you don't. "Toni" just never seemed to suit me, and I hate when anyone calls me that!

3. Condensation. Ew, Ew, EW! I have no idea why, but condensation on anything makes me feel queasy. I hate touching cold drinks like water bottles or iced coffee cups with little condensation droplets on them in particular.

4. When teachers erase everything on the board and leave one tiny mark behind. I feel like this HAS to annoy someone else besides me! It makes my skin crawl--it takes everything in me not to jump up and erase the mark myself! 

5. Incorrect grammar. This just plain gets on my nerves. I feel bad about it, I really do, but I just can't stand when people do not use correct grammar--even in texts! (I know, I'm a little crazy).  

Am I the only one affected by these things? What are some of your pet peeves? 

Weekend Wedding Fun

Is it just me or do you love weddings? It makes me so happy to see two people profess their love for one another and begin their lives as one. I also don't mind the reception afterwards, which is always filled with good food, loud music, and dancing!

Last night, I went to my boyfriend's cousin's wedding. We had a blast, and I wanted to share it with you all!

The attire for the wedding was more formal than some of the others I have been to recently, and I really enjoyed getting the chance to dress up and act fancier than I actually am. My boyfriend also wore a full suit (something I had never seen before in 3 1/2 years of dating!!) which I definitely didn't mind!

There was a photo booth with silly props and signs at the reception, so obviously we had to take some pictures!

It was a great night, and I am very glad to have been a part of such a special night! What do you love most about weddings?

Pick A Color, Any Color

Is it just me or do you ever feel like getting a little crazy with your nail polish?  I have SO MANY nail polishes and sometimes I just get the urge to wear all of them at the same time.  

Obviously this is not realistic, but the other day, I decided to do something I don't normally do. I painted each of my nails a different color. Now, I know this is nothing revolutionary (I mean, what 10 year old doesn't try this at least a few times), but it's not so common among us twenty-something year olds. But why shouldn't it be? Sure, it may look a little bit crazy but so what? It's fun and colorful and it makes me feel like a kid again.   

I could have chosen my nail colors completely at random from my giant bucket of polishes, but I decided to pick out ten more fall-type colors and choose at random from those.  

I think my nails turned out pretty cool, and choosing from a set selection of colors I knew would kind of work together helped make the look not so...out there. 

Essie "Bahama Mama", Essie "No
More Film", Sephora by OPI "Leaf
Him", Revlon "Midnight",
Essie "Mochacino"

OPI "Purple with a Purpose",
Essie "The Lace is On",
Revlon "Stormy Night", Forever 21,
Covergirl "Seared Bronze"

          









Do you like this look?  Let me know what other crazy nail looks you are into lately!