#NoFilter

Saturday isn't over yet. I still have time to post so I can continue with the Blog[everyday in Oc]tober14 thing. (See what I did there?) What was I talking about? Oh yeah Insta Blogtober - your favorite photo posted on Instagram.

One of the best things about Instagram (aside from the fact that you can use pictures to make your life seem a lot more interesting than it is) is that you can make almost any photo look great by adding a filter, or five, to it. You can kick our blemishes, make the room seem brighter, or make yourself look like you're in a film noir. I had a really really difficult time picking one out of my 811 Instagram photos so I picked two.

The reason these are my favorites is that I didn't even need to add a filter - there was no light adjustment, no saturation boosting, no contrast toggled. They're just pure and beautiful shots. One is sunrise and the other, sunset. The serene early morning and the smooth transition to night - the bookends of the day.

I think this will go down in (blog) history as one of my favorite posts.

I've Got the Music in Me

Today's #Blogtober14 post is about the one thing I can't live without. This one was easy as I have one thing integral to my life and happiness - I'd go crazy without music. I'm the kind of person who constantly needs to hear it in the background. I always have Pandora or Spotify running on my phone and it's that not available, I make my own music. Most of the time I don't realize I'm singing or humming until someone points it out. It used to drive my siblings crazy when we'd sit down to do our homework together at the dining room table. 

My parents say I started singing when I was 3 and I haven't stopped since. I was in multiple choirs for 15 years and I've been a church cantor for the last 9. Music has always been a huge part of my life. It's helped me make friends, build my sense of confidence, and process emotions. 

cantoring for my cousin's wedding

One of my favorite quotes is "music is what feelings sound like." I'm convinced that there are songs for every situation. Music enhances every aspect of life. We walk down the aisle to music at weddings and graduations, dance to music at parties and work out with our favorite playlist. What would horror movies be without scary music or rodeos without someone singing about a truck? Hell, even elevators have music. 

People who know me, know I need my music. Music is my life. Music is me.

Make sure you link up with Helene and Taylor!

Scratch Offs and Powerballs

Oh hey, a blog post! (with a possibly questionable title) Two very cool ladies are hosting a month long linkup called...#Blogtober14. What did you say? A month where I don't have to come up with a topic of my own?! Mmmm tempting. Maybe I'll participate! Yep, definitely! 

Today's post is about winning the lottery. Hell yeah, I'd do that! I'd probably have to actually play it to win, though. I'm not good at handing over money for nothing in return, but I am good at scratch offs that other people buy!

Winner, winner, $3 chicken dinner

I usually don't daydream about scenarios like this because "what are the chances," but...

If I won the Lottery, I'd:

.pay off my student loans as well as my siblings' best friends' and Kristo's

.pay off my parents' mortgage

.buy myself a brand new car...or two

.buy a house

.make a huge donation to my church

.have the big Irish wedding I want (bagpiper and harpist included)

.open college funds for my not-yet-existent kids

.invest...I guess. Yeah, Kristo would definitely make me invest it.

EDIT: Nicole pointed out that my list was sensible and that's boring so I'm gonna add a few more things to my wish list!

.buy a pub
.hire a massage therapist
.buy a party bus for my extended family
.NEW WARDROBE HELLO

What would you do/buy/own if you won?

Send GREinforcements !

Kaylee and I were talking a while back about our respective futures and what we want to do with our lives in the near-far future. I guess both of our plans included torturing ourselves grad school because now we're sitting here trying to figure out how to study for the GRE. Now I've already taken it once so I know what to expect, but my scores were, although average, not where I wanted them to be. We'll both be taking the test in August so now is as good a time as any to start studying.

I happened to have an underused pack of GRE vocabulary cards sitting around so we came up with a brilliant idea to write a blog post with 5 new words included. This pith of this entire exercise is that we will be forced to learn this stupid vocab and write posts at the same time. We're killing two birds with one stone here, people!

OK here we go. Warning: This will not be a poignant post.

I'd like to say I love everyone, that no one bothers me, and the world is a happy-go-lucky place. The existence of the Kardashian family, however, does not allow this to happen. I become irascible whenever I see a tweet on my TL about Kimye, Kris, or one of the younger K-named brats.

I don't understand how a family, who, having done nothing to earn their fame, is all over television. You did not defend OJ - your husband/father/would-have-been father-in-law did. He deserved all the fame he could get, but you, you just sit there and act like a bunch of lunatics in front of cameras.

And Kanye just joined this whole sinking ship because he's in love with himself and has the innate longing to reproduce and continue making more tiny Kanyes. (YOUR CHILD IS A CHILD. NOT A DIRECTION ON A COMPASS)

The sad part about all of this is when Lord Disick is seen as the most salutary of the bunch, which is really scary.

PITH - the essential part

POIGNANT - profoundly moving; intense

IRASCIBLE - easily angered; irritable

INNATE - possessed at birth; naturally characteristic of

SALUTARY - promoting health; healthful; wholesome

If you'd like to join us:
1. check at the bottom for next Thursday's word lists
2. write a post including all five words in bold.
3. define them at the bottom of your post, story, list...
4. grab a button and link up! (apologies foe the lack of actual linky tools)

Next week's words: 

mitigate, laconic, tangential, incongruous, gossamer

OR

craven, mollify, odious, assay, harrow

If I Knew I Could Not Fail

HEY GUYS TODAY IS THE DAY. Here I am once again only blogging because there's an awesome linkup to write about. Last week, Jordan wrote a really cool post inspired by her coffee mug. So cool in fact, that I practically begged her to make it a linkup so I could write my own post about it.Good news is that she already thought of it before I asked!

So here it is.  What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?

I'd buy a lottery ticket(and win the Mega Millions)

I'd get married tomorrow.

I'd become a career blogger who actually posts more than once a week and learn to make money off of it.

I'd get my doctorate and open my own audiology practice.

I'd get Kris into grad school at Drexel.
I'd convince Mom-Mom to get hearing aids.

I'd bake blueberry macarons.

I'd audition for The Voice, mainly so I could meet Adam and Blake. They'd love me and I'd win and Carrie Underwood would ask me to go on tour with her. We'd be unstoppable.

When I get bored with that, I'd play Queen Elsa in the Broadway adaptation of Frozen.

I want to know all about what you'd do. So go link up with Jordan!

XO - Monny

The Best Things in Life

Short sweet post...ready set GO!

Every once in a while, you realize that you only need the little things in life to be happy. It isn't often and it's hard to see among all the bad things we see on the news and read in the paper and on msn's homepage. But I'm not here to dwell on the bad stuff. I'm here to spread sunshine and tell you all the little things that make me happy. 

+ the first sip of tea in the morning 

+ watching the last piece of glitter settle in the snow globe

+ homemade mashed potatoes

+ fresh school supplies

+ overhearing someone say something nice about you

+ seeing shapes in clouds

+ new socks

+ being caught up on your favorite shows

+ link ups with your blog friends. Make sure you pop over to Jordan's blog and read yesterday's post because it's going to be a link-up next THURSDAY! 

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

Five on Friday

Oh happy day!

It's almost the weekend. Annnd I actually have plans (I know, even I can't believe it). Tonight I'm going to happy hour with my cousin after work and then tomorrow I'm going out with Amy and Courtney and our boyfriends to celebrate Amy passing her boards for her CT program YAY.

Today I'm linking up with The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for Five on Friday. So let's get down to business to defeat the huns.

ONE // I ordered this months tshirt from Whitney at IWYP. If you've been living under a rock for the last 3 months or don't know what #IWYP is, you can google it or click here.

I've heard soo many good things about these shirts, so I can't wait to get it in the mail and feel how soft it is! Also check out Whitney's post from Wednesday about Envy vs Jealousy because it's perfect.

TWO // I'm ordering tickets for Jason Aldean with Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr for August!

THREE // This week, Amber at Mr. Thomas and Me started a #sayyesproject photo challenge for her birthday and I've actually been posting!

FOUR // I got my Proactive + in the mail on Tuesday and it's really doing wonders for my skin...except for this.

Well I love my new Proactive + and all, but it's BURNING as I work out. I feel like a billion fire ants are tap dancing on my face.

— Monica (@littlemonnny) March 6, 2014

FIVE // I'm wearing magenta pants at work today.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Annnnd linking up with Whit for Backthatazzup Friday.

Nelly and Florida Georgia Line because my dad was grooving to this in the car

yesterday morning and I'm still laughing about it.

Random Thoughts

Heeeey party people,

I feel like it is almost impossible to get myself to blog lately. I have more free time than I ever had in school, but I just can't bring myself to post. I have multiple almost fully formed ideas written in my notebook, but it seems that the words never make it onto my laptop. I'm either feeling lazy or tired or I just don't feel like missing any of my shows. Does this happen to anyone else?

I think the problem is that I get so involved in a post that it becomes a chore for me and I want to just get back to writing simple things. No matter what "writing the perfect blog post" pins say, I want to write for me and that's all that really matters.

So the rest of this post is basically gonna be a bunch of word vomit.

+ I really love Adam and Blake's bromance on The Voice.

+ I really love my job. Like even more every day,

+I also love that after only 2 months, I feel like I've been friends with my coworker Courtney for years.

+ Why do I never take out my contacts before I start to paint my nails?

+ FROZEN WON AN OSCAR. I freaked out on Twitter and I'm not even sorry about it. I have watched it 3 times this week. #Perfection

+ Sarah posted about blogging today and she linked to a really awesome blog post about what Twitter is like.

+ I had a group chat... and text...and Tweeting spree with Jordan and Kaylee Sunday night. We talked about a bunch of random stuff and we all managed to send each other pictures of us with our respective boozes. So there's that. I love these two and the fact that I can say a paraphrased version of a Disney quote and they can spit it back to me word for word. And the fact that they moved the convo elsewhere when my wine-filled self couldn't keep up with the Twit.

Quote of the night: "If it's not in a mug, it's not champagne." 

Also, make sure you check out Amber's birthday month photo challenge on Instagram as part of the #sayyesproject

Also also, today is Amanda's birthday. So send her alcohol and Harry Potter themed presents!

Tell me something completely random!

 

Blogmopolitan Quiz 2nd Edition

Welcome back for another edition of the Blogmopolitan Quiz. I had so much fun writing my first one that I decided to have a go at round 2. Head on over to Erin's corner of the internet to linkup with your answers and learn more random facts about your fellow bloggers!

Let me know in the comments if you've filled one out on your blog so I can check it out!

I'm the Kinda Girl Who...

...Caught on to this linkup really late today. How did I not know about this? Maybe because you haven't been around Monica, geez! I really like this idea so I still wanna write about it.

Here it goes!

 

I'm the kind of girl who...

 

...loves to make people laugh, even if it's at my own expense.

 

...hates getting ready, but loves going out.

 

...reads a book in one sitting and then gets depressed because it's over so quickly.

 

...loves my boyfriend to death, but will bust on him at every opportunity.

 

...hates cats. They're so snobby, though.

 

...takes a picture of everything (for the blog!), but always forgets to post them.

 

...loves to sing everything.

 

...loves to have her picture taken.

 

...loves blogging more than I ever thought was possible.

 

...is always cold because I have Reynauds disease. Yes, even in the Summer.

 

...who loves to photobomb people.

 

 



 





Sh*t Men Say

Today I'm basically gonna make fun of Kris and the goofy shiz he says. Mostly because I can't help but laugh when he's talking to me, but also because I'm linking up for Shit Men Say.

This post could be a lot better written than this, but it's 12:22 and I have to get up for work in 6 hours. Since it's a monthly linkup, (as far as I know) I'll have the chance to redeem myself with some amazing material collected from the boyf. Let's face it, he's not gonna stop saying redonkulous things and I'm not gonna stop writing them down.

So here it in in all it's bulletpointed glory:

• Me: My chapstick isn't smooth anymore. Kris: Why? Cause I molested it with my mouth?
• Me: I don't want to know about (treasury) bonds. Kris: Why can't we ever have grownup conversations?!
• For the night is dark and full of swag.
• Those 3 girls have no butts whatsoever...that's what you get for not being American.
• I haven't seen Coburn hit anybody since Nam.
• I feel like if he was a dog, he'd chase his tail all day.

I guess I should come to expect things like these from a man who hangs around with guys like this all day.

They say weird shit. Gotta love'em anyway! Make sure you link up with these ladies!

She Believed She Could

Happy Monday! (Yes, I said happy. You read correctly.)

Today I see no traces of the Monday blues. Not only because I start my new job today (holy crap yay!), but because I’m linking up with Rachael and Heather for Monthly Motivational Monday! On the first Monday of every month, these awesome ladies are hosting a linkup to kick start the month off right. So pick your favorite quote, song lyric, or whatever motivates you most and write about it!

I truly believe that this job was meant for me. I’m scared to death to start something new and completely unknown, but I know I will do my best and I will accomplish everything I set out to do. That being said, I’m glad I found this quote to motivate me this month. I might even print it out and hang it next to my desk.

What quote or saying motivates you?

Blogmopolitan Quiz

Hey bloggy peeps!

I was so busy studying yesterday that I never even saw Erin's brilliant Blogmopolitan post go up! This idea is one of the most creative things I've seen in the Blogosphere lately and I knew I had to fill mine out. Here ya go, almost a day late and definitely a dollar short!

Thanks to Erin, you get to know even more random things about me!

XO - Monny

PS - Go check out Whitney's newest design. I want it. *Lord, Let me hit the lottery*

Giving Thanks

Hello, my pretties!

Guess what I did last night. I finished my last paper and got to bed before midnight! It may not be my best work, but it's good and it's finished and I won't have to write another 6-8 page essay for a very long time. I need a drink.

But I digress. The real point of this post to to tell you about my Thanksgiving, which seems like a million years ago now. Let's talk about it. Or not. Maybe we'll just let the pictures do the talking. Yeah, that sounds good.

 My aunt's gorgeous centerpiece at the 21+ table.

Peggy made pumpkin soup and we put it in a pumpkin serving bowl. I'm still laughing at the irony.

This is Kristo's plate. Mine wasn't colorful enough to take a picture of.

Mom-Mom and 8 of her grandkids (and 2 boyfriends). Me and chef Peggy. Me being proposed to by a dog...maybe. Gianna wanted us to have a selfie. and the girl cousins sharing the world's stretchiest(is that a word?) fleece blanket.

*this is where I stopped writing to go get my senior portraits taken. I looked fab in case you were wondering*

We left my aunt and uncle's house at 12 and got home around one. THEN WE WENT SHOPPING. We went to Target, JC Penney, and H&M and got home at 6 am. Yeesh. But I did see the cutest bird ornament and didn't buy it. #sadpanda

And that was the Thanksgiving recap you really haven't have been waiting for.

Oh. Here's a Thanksgiving selfie too.

Have a great Tuesday! I know I will as soon as I hand in my paper! EEEEP!

XO - Monny

Motivational Monday

Hi Bloggers! I hope you all had a fantastic, food-filled, frugal (haha, right) Thanksgiving weekend!

I have the last essay of my undergrad career an 8 page paper due tomorrow so I don't have time for a normal length blog post. I will be back tomorrow with some pictures of my Thanksgiving shenanigans, but for now I will leave you with the first of many Monthly Motivational Monday posts! Make sure you link up with Rachael or Heather. 

unfortunately it's sold out on Etsy

This is exactly what I need to keep repeating to myself until I get this paper finished. See you tomorrow!

XO - Monny

Chins Up, Smile On.

Happy Monday!

Usually, this is the day of the week that I hate most, but I got more than 5 hours of sleep last night and there are only 3 days until national gluttony day Thanksgiving so I'm in a good mood.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was pretty low key, except for the fact that I GOT TO SEE CATCHING FIRE. It everything I wanted it to be and more. I laughed, I cried, I got mad that Plutarch didn't show Katniss his watch, but mostly I fangirled. It is every book lover's dream that the movie adaptation is true to the story line and it was for the most part. I want to see it again and again. What are you waiting for? Walk away from the computer and go see it - I'll wait. When you get back we'll discuss Finnick's abs and Effie's eyelashes.

Since this week is going to be kind of crazy, I'm writing my mini goals list here so I can keep myself accountable.

• Deaf event essay - due Monday 5 pm 
• Audiology online quiz - due Tuesday 2 pm
• Online observation and language sampling analysis - due Tuesday night 11:59 pm
• Evaluation report - due 12/3

To help you get through your Monday...

XO - Monny