Tag Archives: blogging

The Liebster Award

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Kind of like those old notes I used to do one Facebook! However, this sounds much better because it’s called an ‘award’! And I got nominated by people I don’t know in person!

A great honor was bestowed upon me by two fellow bloggers! Jay and Helen nominated me — or rather, my blog — for the Liebster Award. The Liebster Award recognizes blogs with less than a 1000 followers and strives to increase collaboration and recognize newbie bloggers. Think of it as a game of blog tag. Person A nominates Person B. Person B must then answer a couple of questions on their blog and then dish out some nominations.

The Rules:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
  2. Answer the 11 questions your nominator gave you.
  3. Tag 11 bloggers with less than 1,000 readers.
  4. Think of 11 questions for the bloggers you have nominated.
  5. Let them know you have nominated them through social media or their blog.

Since I was nominated twice, I will answer all 22 questions! Because why not? It’s Saturday night and I am bored! And this sounds like a funner way to get to know me!

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Monday Musings #5

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On Excuses and Inconvenient Truths:

My musing of the week is going a little deep, but that’s because I need to give myself a good swift kick in the butt.

I recently followed someone on Twitter who posts a lot of what I like to call Inconvenient Truths.

  • Excuses or accomplishments?
    The choice is yours.
  • If you have a true passion for writing then you’ll never have to discipline yourself to finish a novel.
  • If you need motivation from someone else then you’re not passionate about writing.
    • @jaxon_wolfe 

There are several more, and I picked the ones that aren’t quite so harsh to highlight here.

This guy doesn’t joke around. He’s been successful in the industry just in the last year. (At least he claims that) He has apparently even turned down a book deal from a publisher. I believe him anyway. When I first started following him, he I noticed he handed out a lot of advice to people who asked for it, but recently his feed has turned into pieces of “advice” posted often to the world.

When they started to get harsh, some of them struck a nerve. Especially like the last one that I quoted above.

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2015 Year in Review

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So I’ve already posted my goals for NEXT year (it’s coming so soon y’all!), but I think now is a good time to reminisce on the year that is on its way out.

I can’t complain about 2015. It wasn’t a super memorable year, but it definitely wasn’t a year I’ll try to forget about either.

I got engaged in December of last year (Dec 26th at the Riverwalk in San Antonio <3), so I spent the majority of the first part of the year riding the engagement high. Pinterest all the time!

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Monday Musings #4

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imageOn Coffee:

Let’s us talk about coffee for awhile.

The nectar of the gods, y’all, I swear.

I gave up caffeine a few months ago for a couple of weeks. I avoided the whole detox thing by popping Advil every 6 hours I was awake for, for 3 days. On the 4th day, I went without and miraculously woke up feeling great.

I grew up with a dad who worked for Coca-Cola. So to say I was raised on soda is an understatement. For the longest time, the position he was in meant free Coke products all the time. When he switched positions, not so much, but we still got them at such a deep discount, it’s all we ever drank!

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2016 Goals

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imageNow that Christmas is over (not sure if that’s a good or bad thing yet), it’s about time to start thinking of the new year. Next Friday means 2016, which means all the ‘new year, new me’, ‘fresh start’, ‘clean slate’ mumbo jumbo is here.

I don’t particularly believe in any of those things. 2016 is just a new year. A new calendar.

BUT that doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s a great idea to set some goals to achieve in the next twelve months!

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Merry Christmas

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 I just wanted to wish everyone, followers or just other WordPress bloggers stopping by for a visit, a merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful day today, however you get to spend it.

I’ll be all over town with different parts of Brad’s family, making the best of it. 

Right now though, I’m watching A Christmas Story for the first time ever. GASP. I know. Please don’t judge me too hard. 

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Monday Musings #3

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On Christmas:

Today is the first official day of my Christmas vacation. We are closed for two weeks, and I get to sit at home drinking coffee, cuddling with my dog, catching up on my DVR shows (woo, Masterchef Junior!), and getting myself into the Christmas spirit!

I’m done Christmas shopping, most likely. I’m pondering getting something small for Brad’s sisters but they have expensive taste and I have no idea what to get for them. I’ve wrapped all but a few presents for Brad’s family. My gifts for my side of the family went out via the USPS on Saturday.

I’d mentioned in a previous post about how hard it’s been to be excited about Christmas this year. The holidays are about tradition, and for the past 23 years, I’ve spent Christmas Eve with my dad’s side of the family, and Christmas day with my mom’s side. This year, Christmas is with Brad’s family.

I think I’ve finally reminded myself that growing up means things are going to change. I’ll be married next year, and eventually we will probably have a family of our own. One day, the new tradition could mean Christmas at OUR house!

When traditions change, I like to think that it’s a measure of progress. My life is on its way up! And for right now, while I will definitely miss spending Christmas with my family, I have to remember that Brad’s family will be my family too. And everyone has family members where they just kind of have to grin and bear it. Maybe one day I won’t have to do that. That’s my wish this Christmas.

On a happier note, this is my favorite time of the year for television! Everywhere you turn, it’s Christmas movies!

My top three Christmas movies:

  1. Elf! I can quote almost the whole movie!
  2. Home Alone Seriously, that movie is hilarious.
  3. The Santa Clause Funny, but also a feelgood kind of movie.

I’m also a big lover of Christmas music, though I’ll be honest. I prefer the more modern renditions of the classics. My go-to this Christmas has been Casting Crowns’ Christmas album Peace on Earth. It’s my absolute favorite!

I got an idea for a Christmas story that I might write while I’m on vacation about the holidays. The good, the bad, the ugly. I’ll share it here when I write it! I also really want to get some stuff done with my novel, Cover Up. I haven’t edited the document in 11 days now, according to G-docs.

Gasp! I know! I’m on a timeline for myself. And I need that thing done by the end of January! So I’ve gotta get some work done. Guess I need to make some rules. Like 2,000 words before I can go FINALLY watch the last Hunger Games movie tomorrow.

So here’s a toast to Christmas. 

I hope yours is as stress-free and as good of a time as possible. If not, well, you can hide vodka in a water bottle.

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10 Interesting Facts About Me

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  1. The boring stuff: I’m Danielle! 24! Engaged (wedding is 6/25/16)! Live in Virginia! Have a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Er, I think that’s enough of that.
  2. My dog is – get this – a German Shepherd/Corgi mix. How does that happen? Here’s a picture!
    1.    
  3. I work in a library that produces such pictures as these:
    1.          
  4. I am a very forgiving person. I tend to give people way too much credit, even when they’ve done nothing to deserve it.
  5. I LOVE getting my back rubbed. I told Brad he should just get me a year of back massages for Christmas, every Christmas.
  6. I think I literally have a Facebook addiction. Is there such a thing as Facebook rehab? Because I need it.
  7. I’m a natural red-head. And Yes! I have a soul!cceb751a52606bb4e612c2d8847650f1.jpg
  8. I went to an all-women’s college for my undergrad. It was very expensive (sigh) but so worth it.
    1. My student loan payments before I got them lowered were $1,000 a month! Seriously if you’re not in college yet, consider those loan documents you’re signing.
  9. I eat way too many Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. I blame them for my weight gain lately.
  10. I self published a novel my senior year of high school! Here’s a link, but please SAVE YOUR MONEY. I read it a few months ago, and it’s definitely not good, haha. I should just take it down, but I like looking at it. Reminds me to not give up on the dream.

Do you have an about you post like this one? Link to it in the comments! I’d love to learn more about the people who enjoy my blog!

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I’m Trying

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This week is clearly sidestepping to a more personal tone. I will get back to writing about writing soon! And eventually finish the book I started (writing and reading lol).

 

I’m trying to be excited about Christmas this year.

0499ebeab3b91d05f0c753eb6208fcb8.jpgThe weather is great, just like when I grew up in Texas. Christmas this year in SW Virginia is forecasted to be 74° F. How great is that?

Well, some would argue it’s not. But I for one am glad I have not had to pull my winter clothes out of the closet yet!

I hate winter. I only like the snow about once a year, and ONLY if I’m not expected to venture out of my apartment.

My dog is adorable in the snow though (well she’s adorable all the time but just look!). This was the one big snowfall we got last year. I was able to hide and chill an entire bottle of wine in it!

Xena in the snow!

 

Weather aside, the biggest suck of all this year is it’s the first time I don’t get to spend Christmas with my family. We alternate holidays right now (as long as we can), so my family got Christmas last year. Brad gets his this year.

My post from Monday gives a glimpse of why I’m not super excited to spend the day with Brad’s family. Will I do my best to have a good time? ABSOLUTELY. Please don’t get the idea that I’m going to make myself have a terrible time over there!

I’m going to miss all the traditions back in Texas though. Christmas Eve with Dad’s side of the family, usually involved tamales! Christmas morning breakfast and present opening, and Christmas dinner with Mom’s side of the family. The holidays are always a huge family affair.

I’m not 100% on the plans this year. I’m just hoping we can all have a good time and do our best to hold back the resentment.

All I want for Christmas is for Brad’s family to let me feel like I’m part of them. That I don’t have to feel awkward going to grab a soda out of the fridge, or a pack of Goldfish out of the cabinet. If I can do it at my friend’s, I should be able to do this at my in-laws too!

Christmas also stresses me out because I’ve surrounded myself with some very financially stable people who like to give for Christmas. 55915678.jpgBrad is getting me a $400 gun this year (woo! Pew pew!). I’m probably getting him a video game and some jeans. Or a wallet. He doesn’t care what he gets. His list is always practical. But I feel like my gifts never stand up to his.

And maybe that’s just how it’s always going to be. Our first Christmas together (we’d been dating a month), he bought me a huge pink stuffed unicorn with a diamond necklace around its neck, and a $100 gift card to Kohl’s.

I bought him a phone case. And he loved it!

Yeah, he’s definitely a giver.

I quit my second job in October for reasons I have seriously considered calling corporate on, but I don’t care anymore. It was my extra spending money, about $300-400 a month. I had to apply to lower my student loan payments (from 298 to 65!).  I’m not in the best place financially, and I can’t go into debt buying Christmas presents. It’s how my parents got into financial trouble.

But gosh. I feel so bad only spending $20-30 a person when I know they’re spending more.

I can’t believe Christmas is next Friday. Or that the last day to ship USPS Flat Rate boxes is Monday.

So that’s where I’m at right now. I’m trying to not dread Christmas this year. It should be the happiest holiday of the year! Or maybe that’s New Year’s because it’s socially acceptable to get drunk and feel like it’s a clean slate come midnight. Who knows.

Tell me: What are you doing for Christmas this year? Are you looking forward to it?

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Monday Musings #2

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On Rejection:

After I got engaged last year, I bought some small trinkets and these boxes at Michael’s and made gifts to ask my bridal party to be in my wedding. They looked like this:
11012892_1017041888307819_2993966205776216815_n.jpg

I made 6 total. For my 2 best friends, my 2 sisters, and my 2 future sister-in-laws.

I mailed all but the last two, because I live in the same town as my fiance’s family and I figured I would just give it to them in person.

But I kept leaving them on my kitchen table for months. Finally, we were going Christmas shopping with them yesterday and I remembered to bring them along, when my fiance let me know that they would probably say no.

“Why?” I asked him.

“Because my mom probably told them to say no.”

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Well. Let me preface this by saying that it is well within anyone’s rights to say no. I get that a primary concern of being a bridesmaid is cost (though for the sake of his sisters, they won’t be in town soon enough to join our bachelorette party, and all I ask about their dress is that it’s navy blue. They can spend however little or much they want. So I don’t think cost is an issue here) or the responsibility (but my mom and sister and best friend back home are doing just about everything. We’re getting in married in Texas. I live in Virginia right now. There’s only so much we can do from afar).

Regardless of my opinion, though, they can say no.

More than anything, my feelings are hurt because of what my future mother in law said. I’ve never felt like they don’t like me necessarily, but I don’t feel very welcome either. Brad got lucky with my family. I guess someone had to get the short straw.

Image result for mother in law meme

We’re probably moving to Texas next year, so this applies. (No kids though!)

I’ve never handled rejection well. Usually, if I think I’m going to be told no, I just don’t ask. It’s why I didn’t even try to join my family in Florida this summer. It’s why I didn’t use one extra vacation day to spend with my family for Thanksgiving.

Heck, while we’re reflecting on rejection, maybe it’s why I don’t do anything with my writing anymore. I think I’m afraid to let people read it. Because if it sucks, I would want them to tell me. And I can take criticism. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting just a little bit.

I got past it in college (because I mean I had to for creative writing seminars. We had a turn in every week), but it was always short stories. Bigger works that take months to finish, they’re my babies! I don’t want to be told they’re not good enough!

Image result for your writing sucks meme

Fear of rejection is one thing I never really grew out of. I’m working on it. I know though that it’s the best way to grow. To face rejection of all sorts, be it not getting spoiled with every toy you ever wanted, or being told that your writing isn’t good enough. I do believe that it shapes you as an adult, or as a writer.

Doesn’t mean I like it though.

I did not ask Brad’s sisters last night. I kept the boxes in the truck. We’re going back over next Sunday (and Christmas) so I will reevaluate my opinion and decide before then if I even want to ask. I just don’t want them to say no just because my future MIL said no. They’re both old enough to make their own decisions (at 16 and 19, I would hope so anyway).

Image result for rejection meme

I’m a work in progress myself. I’ll figure it out eventually.