T H I R T Y | Farewell...

I know it seems incredibly silly - but I made it!  All thirty days of the Blog-tember Challenge blogged!  :-)  I had to make use of the "schedule" function on Blogger, but if I wasn't honest about that, one would NEVER know!  

I really enjoyed the various topics discussed through the Blog-tember Challenge. First of all, I adore Brave Love, and am continuously thankful that I stumbled across Bailey Jean at some point in the past year.  She's a Texas girl, which helps, but overall, I'm just amazed at how together she is for being 23.  

I'm surprised that I finished, honestly.  I've never put much time or thought into this blog, and only update when it feels like there's something I need to say, which isn't all that often.  

My favorite prompt - making the mood board, because it really allowed me to focus in on what I'd like for our wedding, if it happens.  :-)  I also really liked the fall bucket list prompt!  

Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I'm thankful that I choose to participate.  I didn't always link up daily, but I definitely participated on my own each of the 30 days.

T W E N T Y - N I N E | Blogging Resources

I blog for fun.  I blog for the love of writing.  The only resource I use is The Cutest Blog on the Block for their blog templates, and my brain.  I'm awesome that way.

T W E N T Y - E I G H T | High & Lows

I'm forever in amazement at how FAST this year has flown by!  And now we're wrapping up the 9th month of the year.  October will be here in just a matter of days, and the remainder of the year is sure to fly by!

September Highs:

1.  I finally got some more news on the job front.  Things are moving now.  :-) So we'll see how that goes.  I don't want to post too much if things end up not working out.
2.  With A being back in school, we've been able to catch up a bit, so that's been nice.  
3.  I was able to meet Lindsey for dinner one night.  It was nice to have some girl time.

September Lows:  

1.  It's still so incredibly hot here.  I'm ready for a break in the heat.
2.  A failing grade for FAR.  Boo!

Overall, September hasn't really been an eventful month, but I'm a-okay with that! :-)

T W E N T Y - S E V E N | Wish List

Man, my wish list is insane right now.  Mostly because I'm trying to buy some new work type clothes, and get back in the swing of dressing more professional for works.  No more jeans.  :-(

First up - there's this Calson Drape Neck Zip Cardigan from Nordstrom's...

These Adelia D'Orsay Pumps from Banana Republic... and these Kelsie Cutout Leather Peeptoes from Ann Taylor...

I desperately need a few more tops & pants for work, especially if I'm going to be in a much colder climate than Texas.  

I'd also like to find a couple of ponte fabric blazers.  

T W E N T Y - S I X | Cha - Cha - Cha - Changes

It's kind of hard to think back a year ago, because it really doesn't seem like much has changed, but I guess it really has.

I'm still at the same job, doing basically the same thing.  

We've moved twice, and are actually getting ready to move again after the first of the year, but where is still to be determined.

I finished school (but not completely).  

I passed all the certification requirements to begin my CPA exam.

A & I are getting ready to celebrate TWO years on 10/12/14.  

I've lost a friendship & reconnected with an old friend.

And this is officially the most depressing post - EVER!

T W E N T Y - F I V E | Censorship

Today's topic is supposed to be one where we switch blogs with another person and essentially do a guest post.  Well, not many of my friends blog, and the ones that do don't really have the free time to write a guest post for my little bloggity blog blog.  So today, I figured I'd use this day as a FREE post for a topic that's so near and dear to my heart.  

In the news recently, here in Dallas, there has been a news article about some parents who successful got seven books banned from high school classrooms in Highland Park.  

The seven books are:

An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian* - Sherman Alexie
The Art of Racing in the Rain* - Garth Stein
The Glass Castle: A Memoir* - Jeannette Walls
Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse
Song of Solomon - Toni Morrison
The Working Poor: Invisible in America - David K. Shipler

Now, I can't profess to say that I have read all seven of these books, because I haven't.  I've only read three of them.  I put an * beside the books I have read.  I have added the remaining four to my to be read list.  The reason for the books being banned isn't clear except that parents were uncomfortable with references to abortion, rape, and various sex scenes in the books.  All of which I can completely understand, but instead of banning the books, why don't we use these books to open up the lines of communication with children?  This is a high school for crying out loud.  These kids have been exposed to ALL of these things in one fashion or another, probably from watching television.  Um, there are ABC Family shows that reference sex and pregnancy in them.  

I just don't understand.

So then I pulled up another article that discusses the top 15 children's books that have been banned.  The Dairy of Anne Frank was one of them.  This quick discussion happened on Facebook, and some people understand the need/want to ban The Diary of Anne Frank due to the "depressing nature" of the book. However, I firmly believe that 100% of the Holocaust is depressing.  The way the Jewish people were treated is horrible.  The fact that so many lives were lost is awful.  BUT - it's history.  And I feel like we owe it to every single one of them to read their stories, TELL their stories to future generations, because most of them didn't make it through the concentration camps to tell their stories.  If we don't learn history, we're doomed to repeat it.  

I think this is a story that deserves to be told.

T W E N T Y - F O U R | Fall Bucket List

I'm a girl that loves a list.  And I love a list even more when it encompasses my favorite time of year!  

... celebrate my anniversary with Alex

... celebrate Mom's birthday

... celebrate Alex's birthday

... GIRL'S weekend while Alex visits his best friend in Kansas

... Pumpkin Patch in Canton

... Buy some new pumpkin candles

... Decorate for Halloween

... Decorate for Fall

... Make a homemade apple pie

... Make a homemade pumpkin pie

... Drink a Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea

... Go on a hayride

... Watch ABC Family's Halloween Marathon

... Make caramel apples

... Buy mums for patio

... Watch Sunday or Monday night football with my love

... Roast s'mores

... Make a Fall wreath

... Roast pumpkin seeds

... Carve a pumpkin