September Blogging Challenge: Memory

This is the final post to finish up the September Blogging Challenge! I can't believe I covered every single one (almost) lol. 

Today's prompt asks us for a special memory. There are so many to choose from; there are smaller "insignificant" memories that really have a big impact to more significant ones such as the day I got engaged to my wedding to the day my daughter was born. The one I am going to share though I think is more of a "neutral" memory and really incorporates how much people cared about me and really signifies my growing up. It also made me realize just how small the world is! 

I don't have any digital pictures to go with this memory, although it takes up a good majority of one of my scrapbooks. I was 19, my daughter was 3 or 4 months old, hubby had just graduated from boot camp and was in California. We had not even been married a year yet so I didn't want to have to live apart from him any longer than necessary. Plus, I'd always wanted to live in California, so we decided to use what little money we had for me to get on a train with our 4 month old and come on our to Cali. Now mind you I'd never left my home state without a parent, so this was a HUGE deal! My mom and I had quite a fun time organizing everything I would need for four days of non-stop travel with an infant. My mom was a basket case (obviously, what mother wouldn't be lol) so my dad took me to the train station. I remember feeling like something out of a 1950's movie getting on the train. I also remember having to kick my father off as I was pretty sure the train was going to take off with him on it and not that I would have minded, but I was scared he'd be arrested for not having a ticket! LOL Oh the joy of being naive lol!

The train takes off and I spent a few hours just enjoying watching the scenery go by and exploring the train. I had never been on a train so that was super fun. There were a lot of interesting people to meet and talk to. At dinner I sat with an older couple in there 70's who had been married like 40 years or something insane and had quite a bit in common with them so that was really nice. After that evening I was walking through the train and saw a girl I had gone to high school with! She was going to Texas to meet up with her husband at the time. I was flabbergasted! I could not believe that was happening. I was grateful though because after 24 hours on a train with an infant I needed a small break so she kindly watched my daughter for me while I took a washroom break and cleaned up and reorganized my bag. We then met back up within the hour for breakfast together. It was so nice to see her and visit and catch-up. We were just acquaintances in school, but it still meant a lot. 

After a few days of travel and spending hours in the scenery car I arrived in Los Angeles, 8 hours behind schedule! I was so stressed out, but quickly learned that the train that went from Los Angeles to Lompoc was a commuter train so I got on one no problem. The older gentleman from the couple I had met lived in Los Angeles so they helped me gather my belongings and helped me to my next train. That was such a relief to have some help like that! I arrived in Lompoc and found my way to the AF Base. It was quite an experience and one that really helped me grow up. It also helped me realize the importance of community and how many different types of communities there are, permanent and temporary!

This sure was a fun month sharing quite a few things with my readers that I normally would not think to share! What is one of your fondest memories??

September Blogging Challenge: Four Favourite Foods

Four Favourite Foods:

(no, I couldn't resist an alliteration)

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I never said my choices would be healthy! Ha! But, those are my faves, what are yours????

Sunday Social: Jobs

Today is all about jobs! Most people's least favourite subject! hehehe Once I found something I loved to do I never minded going to work in the mornings. Now that I get up everyday and am automatically at my "job"....it's even better! ;)

1. What is your dream job?
Having a successful Etsy store selling things I love to make....along with a "side" business of teaching different craft classes.

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn’t need to work for money, what would you do with your time?
I'd travel! I seriously would go everywhere and I would find places to volunteer and ways to help others with my knowledge and experience. Ideally I'd love to volunteer with young women (15-early 20's) in developing nations teaching them anything that could help them to live a better life! That's actually why I majored in political science but then realized that having a young child and family it would be difficult to dash off to the peace corp ;)

3. What piece of career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
When in University major in some area of education if you want to be a teacher of any kind. I didn't major in education and it makes it really difficult when I move to get my credentials changed over. Very frustrating, and living in a different country, even though it is still part of North America has an education degree requirement, there are no "certificates" for teaching to add to my bachelor's degree so that is one regret I have.

4. What would be your ideal “just for fun” job?
Is pinterest pinner a job?! hahaha

5. What was your first “real” job?
Well, I started my family young so my first "real" job was order entry for an advertising firm.

September Blogging Challenge: Greatest Fear

I have to say, when I was in my '20's I probably feared everything lol As I have gotten older, however, I find I have much more peace about life and living in general. I try not to stress and worry over things, and things I thought I was "afraid" of....I'm really not, I was just being dramatic and immature! The only thing I can say I actually worry about is obviously losing my daughter. That and losing my husband are the two things that I would definitely need to be medicated for a period of time if they happened.

September Blogging Challenge: Most Influential Person in my Life

This topic is a seriously tough one. I have a lot of people who have influenced me. I have my mom, my dad, and my husband. These three people have really supported me and helped me in any and all my endevours. My mother and father since I was a small child, and my husband in my adulthood. But, I have to say the one person who has really driven me to set a good example, be the best I can be is this lil' lady: 

She is such a cutie, isn't she?! I wanted to set a good example for her as a child so I made sure to put myself through college, find a profession I would enjoy, and now to do the best I can to set a great example of taking care of our home so she knows what to do a long time from now when she is out on her own! 

Kind of surprising that I chose my child as the most influential person on my life, huh? What about you, who is the person who has most influenced your life?

September Blogging Challenge: What do you want to be when you grow up?

As a little girl I loved to play school. I would run a  school and try to teach my friends to write left handed! What a pip, right?! Who knew that was mostly a genetic thing?! Well, I do now and that's what is important, but as a child-teacher I was darn well determined to make my friends write like me! ha! So, in short, as a child I wanted to be a teacher. After a brief stint of majoring in political science and thinking I could change the world in politics I decided teaching would be the best career move for me! So, that is what I became, a teacher. Now, though I stay at home and do house wifery duties and raise the teen, but when I was teaching I sure did love every moment. It was so rewarding, even the crazy insane frustrating moments were well worth it when you knew everything clicked and the light bulb went on! 

What do you do for a living? Is it much different from what you wanted to be when you were little?

September Blog Challenge: Worst day or event of my life

I have to be honest here....I can't say I have one! My life up until this point has been amazing. I am truly blessed. I have an amazing family, amazing parents, an amazing sibling, amazing in-laws....I cannot think of a moment that makes me say, "that was the worst moment of my life". This could be attributed to the fact that I take most anything and spin it in a positive light....

If I have to pick a moment, though after giving it some thought, I'd probably say the day we found out my grandmother was ill. I grew very close to her when my family moved back to Jacksonville in 2008, where we grew up. As far as we all knew, besides her elderly aches and pains, she was healthy as a horse...then one day she wasn't feeling well and a few days later was diagnosed with stage four cancer. It was quite shocking. She died within three month's time. I know it really took a toll on my mother and due to circumstances beyond my mother's control it took her a while to deal with it. I think she dealt with it as best she could, but still it was a huge shocker to all of us! Heck, sometimes I still have to remind myself my grandmother isn't here anymore! So, if I had to pick one as the most awful I'd think that was it.

I just want to reiterate though, I am so fortunate, I haven't had to deal with a lot of the losses and issues others have had to deal with in their lives. What few hardships I have had, I've learned a lot from and have really made sure I use them to better myself/my life.

September Blogging Challenge: 10 Words

10 Words to Describe Me

1. Mother
2. Wife
3. Daughter
4. Sister
5. Loving
6. Involved
7. Crafty
8. Healthy
9. Goofy
10. Amazing (I couldn't come up with at 10th so I asked the hubs ;))

How would you describe yourself?

September blogging challenge: Catch-up!

Well, I jinxed myself last week when I thought I'd fallen behind. Well, I am back and playing catch-up so...

Monday, the 16th's prompt was an embarrassing moment. The most embarrassing moment for me that really sticks out is a few weeks ago when I fell off a curb! Oh it was so embarrassing. I was walking and talking and didn't even see that I was coming to an area on the side walk that led to the street, thus it started to slant down....well, you can imagine what happened then...bam! Down I go. I wound up with two scraped knees. I was told by someone that it was the best fall they'd ever seen because he didn't even have time to get out his phone to put it on YouTube. I then gave him a small lecture on being a gentleman, as my hubby gave him the death stare. It was priceless. I really need to pay more attention here that's the second time I've fallen off a curb since moving here lol I can't think of any other embarrassing moments....I was pretty lucky in elementary, middle, and high school. I'm not saying nothing embarrassing happened, I just happened to block it out I'm sure! :)

Tuesday's prompt was if I could live at any other time when would it be and why? If I could live during any other time it would definitely be the '20's! What isn't to love about the roaring '20's?! All the glitz and glam, decent music, parties galore! I'd have been in heaven. Two of my all time favourite books take place in that time period: The Great Gatsby & another one about two best friends who sort of fall apart from one another but eventually find their way back...they also love shoes. I wish I could remember the name of it...I know I sent it to my best friend, I wonder if she still has it....

Wednesday's propt is one area of my life I wish I was better at....I know that one: time management and taking action! I need to start to pay better attention to my to-do lists and do thing in the order in which I want them completed. If I could do this, all my problems would be solved, problem is...I get lazy. :-/

Today, the 19th is something I am passionate about: Fitness. I love to be fit and active. It's so important for mental health as well as physical health. People are constantly telling me they don't have time for fitness, but you know why they don't? If you are really honest with yourself, if that is your excuse, it's because you don't want to. That's ok, just be honest with yourself. If you spend 30 minutes to an hour on facebook/pinterest/whatever everyday that is a time you could be exercising. That time you laid down after lunch and read, if you really wanted you could be exercising. I'm not saying it is for everyone, it just bothers me when people say they don't have time to exercise when really they do they just aren't working to make it happen. When I worked I was up at 4am every single day, worked out and then went about my day...sometimes I would even do a second workout when I got home. It is something that is super important to me and I love it! I also look for anything I can do to get active with my child. I run with her when she wants, I take her to the park and throw the frisbee, hike, etc. I am so passionate about being healthy.

After all that, what are you PASSIONATE about?! Tell me, I want to know! :)

Sunday Social: Blogging

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope everyone has had a fun and exciting weekend! I know we have....I will have a weekend recap coming up because we did a lot of fun things I want to tell everyone about! ;)

Anywhoodle, on to....



1. What is the name if your blog? Adjusting and Readjusting

2. What do you love most about blogging? I love sharing my passions and ideas with the world. I love posting tutorials or other fun things I've been making or buying with everyone. I also love sharing my travels and adventures with everyone.

3. Why did you start blogging? I started blogging after our latest move to Vancouver, BC. Prior to this move I mostly worked full time and didn't really feel like I had the time to just sit around and write, but now that I'm not working I figured this would be a great time for me to pursue something I am passionate about.

4. What is something you’d want to tell someone just starting out in the blog world? Don't listen to me because I am too new and have no idea what I am doing! If anyone has some great tips for me feel free to share! I am still trying to consistently break the 200 page visits a day mark lol

5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had? Learning that blogger has a nifty little HTML button to click when you are publishing a post written in HTML *blush* I felt like an idiot, but felt so much more knowledgeable after that lol 

6. What are three blogs you love? I just wrote about that in my Sept 14th Blog Post for the September blogging challenge I am doing over at A Fresh Start on a budget! Check my post out here!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I have my menu plan coming up soon, but in the meantime if you want to check out my old menu's to get prepped for the week you can do that here! 

September Blogging Challenge: Favourite Outdoor Activity

Hello! Happy Sunday! Lots of posts have gone up lately, make sure you go over to the homepage and check them out if you are joining me from a direct link!

Today's prompt is my favourite outdoor activity. This is a tough one because I love a lot of outdoor things: swimming, going to the beach, walking, running, hiking, going to the park and playing with my kiddo, and al fresco dining. My favourite, if I have to pick just one would be going to the beach. I will tell you why, it's because going to the beach can incorporate several, if not all of the other outdoor activities I love! 

• Usually I have to walk to get to the beach
• Sometimes, depending on the beach it could be a hike to get there (lol)
• I usually take a picnic lunch with me because I rarely stay for just a short amount of time
• I can swim in the water (well, I don't really here in Canada lol)
• When I go with a friend or my family we can toss the frisbee, fly a kite, or build a sand castle
• Take a walk and collect shells

So, there you have it, my favourite outdoor activity that includes all of my other favourite outdoor activities!

How many times can you use the phrase "favourite outdoor activity" in one sentence?! Seriously, what is your fave activity for the outdoors, anything new and fun I should get into?

September Blogging Challenge: Blogs I Love

I love a lot of blogs. I have been reading blogs for quite a while and that is actually what drove me to start blogging. I saw a lot of people like myself who were thrifty, crafty, moms, wives, teachers, etc., who were all blogging about their projects and lives. I also love to share my projects with people, but sadly they aren't always wanting to be the willing recipients of my "fun" tutorials. So, after our latest move to Vancouver, BC, Canada and once again being friendless I decided to start blogging about the things I am doing. So....these are the blogs that inspired me:

I love this site. Since moving to Canada many of the "deals" don't apply to me, but I love all the craft projects she posts and the link party she does on Thursdays, I look forward to it every week...even before I started blogging I looked forward to it, now as a blogger I am so grateful she offers the party so I have people to share my latest tutorials with.

This is another blog I followed long before I started blogging. I loved all of her ideas and she is really an organizing inspiration! Most of the organizing projects I have posted on here have been inspired by things I have seen on her blog, or by challenges posted on her blog!  

This gal over at Peas and Crayons helped when I first started blogging as I'd been following her for quite some time and her weekly link party "What I Ate Wednesday" gave me a solid foundation for one post I knew I'd write every single week. Plus, it gives me a feeling of a sense of community that there are other people who love (mostly healthy) eating as much as I do!

So, those are the blogs I love, leave a link in the comments to one of your favourite blogs!

September Blog Challenge: I suddenly (almost) fell behind! Oh my!

Well, I had been doing so good with the challenge! But, sadly I got a bit of writer's block and got "busy" and fell behind. What can I say...*sigh*

So the prompt from today was challenges you've over come. I have to be honest I feel like I've let a relatively easy life. I think the biggest "challenge" I've over come is being a young parent and trying to be a mom, wife, student, and full time employee all at the same time. It wasn't easy but I managed to do all of them and be pretty darn good at all of them at the same time! It was a bit like juggling plates there for a bit, but I managed. I made the bed, so I got comfy ;)

Challenges definitely make us who we are and I couldn't have any better challenges than these two:

Love these guys!

So, what are some challenges you've faced?

September Blog Challenge: Pet Peeve

Today we are asked about our biggest pet peeve's. I don't really have any but one...

I really dislike when people display rude behaviour. I say this because I don't think people are inherently rude, but I do think people tend to be very self centered and display rude behaviours. For example, when walking down the sidewalk and people are walking three wide, they see you coming knowing the sidewalk can't fit four wide and they don't move. It is so frustrating! Also when people don't say please or thank you, why not? Why is it so hard to say please when ordering or  thank your server or cashier after they've helped you? Why is it so hard for them to thank us for being a patron at their restaurant or store? It also bothers me when you are trying to get around someone in a store and they just don't move. You can say excuse me a million times, yet they don't budge! Seriously, people, what is wrong with you?! Also, when at a fast food or walk up order restaurant when someone doesn't know what they want and they stand at the front, not discussing it with the cashier or chef and just block everyone from ordering and then get mad at the cashier when they ask if they can help them decide or if they could step to the side. Seriously, again, what is wrong with people?! Have some consideration for others. I also can't stand it when people aren't punctual. It's rude. I give people a 5 minute leeway. I am usually always early so I try to remind myself that not everyone is, but when someone is 10-15 minutes late it's just rude. If I knew you'd be late I would have done something else with my 15 minutes besides sit and wait for you. 

Ok, that turned into more of a rant...

And then this, just because it is so true....

Saw a guy totally hit on a girl the other day, I mean he was laying it on super thick....she looked at him and said, "Man, I was just being polite, I think you are being inappropriate." Served him right. Politeness people, remember it!

September Blog Challenge: Favourite Photo

Whew! Fairly busy day yesterday (unexpectedly when our cheer carpool let us know they weren't in the country lol), so I didn't get around to writing today's post! Well, here I am now, getting it done. My favourite photo this is going to be a tough one since I love pictures and have a TON!  Seriously, the amount of pictures I take is a little excessive. I have tried to tone it down in recent years, but with digital pictures I seem to be worse than ever lol But, here we go...

I'm going to go with a more recent photo. This isn't necessarily my favourite photo of all time, but my recently most favourite photo is this one:

It is from us kayaking over the summer (obviously given the paddle in the back lol). We were having a great time and we were trying to get a "selfie" of us together while getting some of the scenery in the background. I think it really embodies the two of us and just how goofy we are! :P

Here is another favourite:

I know I showed this one earlier in this same series, but it's the first photo of our little family and is so sweet! :) <3 p="">

I have others, but sadly they aren't digital lol Gosh, sometimes I think I sound so old! hahaha

Sunday Social #7-All about fall!

1. What is your favorite fall activity?

Apple Picking and Pumpkin Picking! Last year was the first time we ever did apple picking and we had a great time. We time it at the beginning of October when we go and pick out our pumpkins for Halloween!

2. Do you follow a football team? If so, which one and why?

YES!!!

This is mine and hubby's Alma Mater. We love the knights and know that one of these days they will be a top contender football team! They are already so competitive in other sports, just need to boost that football team!

In our house we actually prefer NFL to College. We follow the Jags because they are our hometown team. We were both living in Jacksonville and in high school during the conception of the team, so they are near and dear to our hearts!

We follow these guys because my Dad went to college there and I grew up watching the Gators, the husband follows them because they are a great team and his Dad also follows them and is a huge fan.

3. What is something fun about fall in your area?

The changing of the leaves. 

Tree's by the local primary school

Orange, berry-like foliage on a hike along the sea wall.

Being able to go and hike and see all the beautiful foliage. There is also a lot of apple picking and pumpkin patches to be had if you aren't afraid of a little driving.

Trees, sun, and fog on a hike up the Grouse Grind the the Peak of Grouse Mountain.

Evergreen's at the top of Grouse. Normally you can see the whole of the city of Vancouver from here, but this is classic fall weather for Vancouver.

We love apple picking and going to the pumpkin patch at Willow View Farms. We think they have the best farm around and everyone is super friendly.

4. What are your favorite fall staple outfits?

These are my staples for fall. They can all be found on my Fall 2013 Trends board on Pinterest. 

5. What things are you looking forward to most about this coming fall season?

6. What is your favorite fall holiday? Tradition?

My favorite fall tradition is absolutely Halloween!! You can't beat getting to dress up and pretend to be your favorite character or a character from history for a night!!!
***get together a few pictures from halloween's past!

My favourite fall tradition is setting up our Christmas tree and decorating it the evening of American Thanksgiving. It is a lot of work, but is so worth it in the end!

So, that is what our fall will look like in a nutshell! This is such a fun time of year because even though the weather is changing, it is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors and be grateful there is amazing produce to consume (and I mean real produce not that fake pumpkin crap Starbucks puts out). What are you most looking forward to this upcoming fall season?

September Blogging Challenge: The Three Greatest Moments of my Life

Today's challenge question asks what the three greatest moments of my life are...not in chronological order....

1. The day my daughter was born....

I'm going old school for this one because I had her before digital camera's became big, so these are pictures I took from her scrapbook....

The introduction page I made for her book, look at my OB Holding her, wasn't he hilarious?!

The husband and I probably just an hour after she was born. Look how young we were!!! I forget how young we looked...so anyone who thinks I still look like I'm 19 I have proof I don't!!! LOL

2. The day I got married to my fantastic husband....

(Again, taking pictures from our scrapbook because digi cams weren't so big at the time...)

Our Ceremony

At our reception...weren't we cute! We were so young!!! I can't get over that!

Awww *kissy*kissy*! BTW, I just now, after 14 years of looking at this picture noticed those hands in the bottom right corner! hahaha

3. The day I graduated University.

I don't actually have any photos of this because I did not walk. In 2005 we moved from Orlando to Kansas so my husband could attend law school and I completed the last year of my degree programme online. I worked really hard. I started University in 1998, took a break in 1999 went back in 2000, took at least one class every semester in 2002 I started full time, worked, raised a kid, and still managed to go out with my husband. I kept a B average the whole time. I didn't do so terrible. ;) Those were the longest years of my life and I joke around telling everyone I'm so tired all the time in my 30's because I rarely slept in my 20's! :P

Wow, this was fun reliving those moments...but I need to plan a vow renewal so I can get some wedding-ish pictures of us digital!