Walk This Way

In 2008, my aunt was diagnosed with Ph+ Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. I remember the phone call as if it happened yesterday. I just sat in shock while my mom explained everything over the phone. As soon as I hung up, tears rolled down my cheeks. "Aunt Theresa has Leukemia. Blood Cancer. I could lose her. Her family could lose her."

Flash forward 6 years. We were lucky. We didn't lose her. Aunt Theresa is still here - living, working, fighting, surviving. She's a survivor. She's here because she has hope. She's here because of generous donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that have enabled researchers to develop new medications to treat her. She's here because people show support and walk to find a cure for blood cancers.

There are still plenty of people who need support and we need your help. Don't "get around to it someday." Someday is today. Walk with us. Donate. Spread awareness about Leukemia and all blood cancers. Share this post. Whatever you do, do something. Talk is cheap - try a little action.

Light the Night with us.

Please consider helping me reach my goal to stomp out blood cancer!

10 Years From Now

Dear Monica,

Holy crap, you've accomplished so much since the last time we talked! Congrats on your doctorate and finally getting married to that stud Kristo. I love that you guys stuck together through all those crazy years of high school, college, and grad school. I hope he's not still trying to put cinnamon on your scrambled eggs. 

I heard you and Court are going to open your own practice. See? I told you all the misery of waiting for the future was worth it!

Remember when you were younger and wanted to have 6 kids and mom told you that you would change your mind? At least she didn't say "I told you so" when you decided to stop at 3. They're adorable little nuggets and so well-behaved! I'm so incredibly happy that you're achieving you dreams and doing what you love every day. 

It's pretty cool that you're still blogging! It'll be great to look back and read about everything that got you to where you are today.

It's been fantastic catching up, but I gotta run! Give Kristo a kiss for me, I'll see you in 10 years.

Love,

Monica

10 Things I'd Tell My Newbie Blogging Self

I can't really remember much of what I thought to myself when I started blogging so for Monday's post, I wrote about what I'd tell my newbie blogging self.

1. Find a new designer and volunteer to be their guinea pig so you don't pull your hair out trying to perfect your own mediocre design.

2. Don't you dare use Google+ as your profile. G+ is the devil's work.

3. put yourself out there. comment on others' posts and you'll make connections a lot faster.

4. Use the Twitter. Tweet your posts and use it to bond with other bloggers. Use the Twitter.

5. Click around on linkups. Make some friends.

6. Don't be afraid to reach out to the "big bloggers." They're usually pretty down-to-earth people. Hey, Taylor and Helene (masterminds behind #Blogtober14)!

7. It's okay to take a break when you're feeling burnt out. Refresh and ease yourself back into it with a cool linkup.

8. Make an attempt to have a uniform width for pictures.

9. Tell your mom about your blog. She'll love it.

10. Have fun -  people will love what you've written and you'll make some awesome friends!

Fall Anti-Bucket List

I'd love to sit here and make a bucket list of all the things I want to do this fall. I won't do that because it's basically setting myself up for disappointment like when I only accomplished 2 items from my Summer bucket list. I will, however, give you a list of all the things I won't do this Fall.

Walk through a haunted house - Nope, not happening. I won't be paying money to give myself anxiety and scaredy-ness.

Carving pumpkins - While I'd like to, ain't nobody got time for that. Also, messy, squishy insides. Blech.

Giving out candy - No, I do not want to listen to kids screaming because they got colored pencils instead of a Snickers. I will hide in my room watching Harry Potter because I'm sure it'll be on abcfamily that night.

Picking apples or pumpkins - Hay fever. Nope.

Baking - I'll let mom do all that. Maybe I'll help :)

What will you (not) be doing this Fall?

#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!

I Dream of Jobs

Good morning, world! I'm an hour ahead of schedule today so my options are A. blog or B. do math. Blogging won by a longshot. Day 2 of #blogtober14 is all about my dream job.

When I was little, I stereotypically wanted to do a hundred different jobs. I mean, if Barbie could be a pilot, teacher, and model, why not me? I bounced between teacher, waitress (lol), and pastry chef . While in high school, I flipped back an forth between museum curator and Spanish translator, and then to speech pathologist.  

Nowadays, my dream job is to open my own audiology practice after I get my doctorate and work in the field for a while. Someday, I'll be my own boss and work to protect and promote hearing health of my patients. I don't know when it will happen, but I'm extremely excited for the future!

My fantasy dream job posting would go something like this

SEEKING:

-highly motivated individual who is not always highly motivated

-ideal employee must enjoy binge-watching series on Netflix

-must be open to trying new foods and desserts

duties include:

-testing new tea and coffee flavors

-reviewing YA novels

-watching Harry Potter and LOTR

-surfing the internet

-salary is $200,000/year

-hours are flexible

-paid civic and religious holidays

-work from home

-appropriate attire: sweatpants and hoodies

IF ONLY.

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?