I Put A Spell On You

Instead of my normal top 10 songs list of the month - here are some songs for you to jam out to on this wonderfully spooky night of the year!

I love Halloween, which may or may not surprise you. It's one of the reasons why I'm a bad youth minister (probably) - but I love vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. So this is a fun day! Besides, it's the one day a year you can dress us in a Hogwarts costume and people won't think you're weird.

Get Ready for NaNoWriMo

In case you need some encouragement for National Novel Writing Month in 2 DAYS.

If you still have excuses to not write a novel in November - check out Kristina's (I Talk To Snakes) pep talk for this year. She basically debunks every single excuse to not do NaNoWriMo.

So...? What are you waiting for? GO GET READY!

Even Rich Proper Fictional Characters Can Be Awkward

Last week I found one of the greatest deals in the history of the universe at Target. (Of course.)

The 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice was on sale for $4.75.

I know some of you don't like that version - but I don't care. I LOVE it. I can't believe I didn't own it until now. In spite of being completely broke, I bought it.

I have now watched it at least 3 times, as one does.

No? Just me? People don't typically watch Pride and Prejudice on repeat? Drat.

I think it's because the last few months I've been hooked on The Lizzie Bennett Diaries on YouTube, and well... a girl can only wait to see Mr. Darcy for so long!

One of the things I love about this movie is how delightfully awkward some of the characters and scenes are. While watching it, I came to the conclusion that this movie could actually be called "How to Be Awkward by Jane Austin."

Here's what I mean:

Grateful

I need to stop complaining.

I feel like I complain a lot and don't really appreciate what I have.

So today, I'm linking up with my friend, Rachel, from Life in the Moment. Every week until the end of the year she's hosting "Gratitude Project 2012."

Yeah, I know, another link up. I said I wouldn't do as many of these. But it's good to try and be grateful for things in life, to remember them, and give your friends some linkage along the way.

This week I am grateful for...

Friends who will randomly go with you to concerts for bands you have never heard of before.

Creative people who push the limits and explore brand new ways of doing things, and without knowing it, challenge me to be more creative and put more thought into my own work.

Even when it seems like you're at your end, God provides.

Parents who are patient when you're stranded on the side of the highway for 2+ hours with their children.

My mom who puts up with my crap all of the time.

People who are understanding, even if you feel as though you are failing all of the time.

Sweaters and scarves.

Coffee.

What are you grateful for this week?

Also, I need some blog advice. In case you missed it, check out my post from yesterday and share with me your ideas.

And - three days in a row with something posted. Not bad for someone who is lacking inspiration, huh?

Dilemma

I have found myself with a dilemma.

On the one hand, it's kind of a good one. I've figured out my problem with why I haven't had any blog inspiration lately.

On the other hand - I don't have a solution.

It's not that I don't have things to talk about. So many times people say "My life is boring", "I don't have anything to say", and let's be honest - it simply isn't true. When we truly think about it, we all have something we want to say. Even if it is just about what outfit we wore, or the song we're listening to on repeat at the moment, the movie we watched recently, the book we're reading, the people we're hanging out with, etc.

There's always something to say.

It's figuring out which one to talk about.

This is where I get stuck. While trying to decide what I want to write about (or make a video about), I go through a series of censors.

Apparently You All Are Fascinated With Me

Awhile back, one of my blog friends (Fire Fairy) nominated me for the Libester Award!

I'd gotten this award in the past, so I didn't respond to it right away.

Then... Kirstie wrote a post about it because apparently she was nominated as well and nominated me.

Which was a good reminder for me since I obviously hadn't gotten to writing this post yet. Therefore, here are the answers both wonderful ladies sent to me. Thanks so much for the nominations! I love you both and EVERYONE needs to go follow your blogs!

Currently: Blah

I feel like I'm in a blogging rut.

I have nothing to write about!

I do... kind of. Sometime I'll post pictures and/or a video of my weekend with a bunch of Jr. High kids that I just had. (And trust me... it was an adventure... as it always is when you're surrounded by 11-14 year olds...) 

But... I haven't had any insightful thoughts. The only thing lately I've been thinking about is "I'm tired. ALL THE TIME. Lets go take a nap." Or moving. Or NaNoWriMo. Or how I haven't had motivation for anything lately.

And let's face it... you can only blog about those things for so long before it gets old. 

So that's where I'm at right now. 

I'm sure eventually inspiration will hit again, and I'll be posting all about NaNoWriMo, and once my apartment is all put together you'll get a video or photos. But for now... I'm just blah.

In the meantime, I found a fun "currently" list of questions over on Angie's blog, Lariats and Lavender. So here you go! It's not an original post or anything and I hate doing posts that are solely link-ups and such, but at least this will give you a taste of what I'm thinking about and doing lately. 

Fridays Letters

Dear Jr. High Youth (and high school & adult counselors)- We leave for the Jr. High Retreat this weekend! I'm so excited. This is my favorite part of the fall when it comes to youth ministry. We're going to have A BLAST.

Dear NaNoWriMo Forums- Thank you for existing so I can be inspired and get ideas for my novel next month.

Dear Ginny- Thank you for apartment/dog sitting for me this weekend. I know Bandit will love the company!

Dear Nate- I'm sorry that I've been failing on our project. I'm the worst leader of this ever. I will work on it - I PROMISE. Also, ::internet hug::. You're awesome.

Dear Kirstie, Alice, and Lor- I'M GOING TO SEE YOU ALL IN JANUARY AHHHHHH!!!!!! Best week EVER!

What letters do you all have this week?

Your Yearly Fall Overdose

On top of having an awesome weekend if some of my old college friends, even more awesome stuff happened.

I got presents!!!!!

For the second year in a row, Meg from Megnificent Life, hosted a fall gift swap!

Basically, you enter the swap, leave ideas of things you want, get paired up with another blogger, and you exchange gifts! It's really fun.

This year, Meg added a link-up so all of us could share what we received in the mail.

Let me tell you - the girl I got paired up with (Lisa from Something Infinitely Interesting) is AMAZING! Getting this gift package from her has been the highlight of my week so far. There was just wonderful gift after wonderful gift. It was like Christmas!

Only... in October.

Christmas in October, anyone? You know - like Nightmare Before Christmas. Kinda.

Source

Here's a peek at what I got (prepare for some major girl moments. If this doesn't interest you, I won't be offended if you run off to do something else.):

ROAD TRIP!

Last weekend I was in my friend Stacey's wedding in Michigan. It was EXACTLY what I needed. After the move to my new apartment, a weekend road trip with some of my college friends was welcome. Here's a peek into our weekend...

What happens when you get together with old friends?

Nerd Land

Now that I've moved into my new apartment (for the most part, there are a few boxes still left to unpack) and I'm done being a bridesmaid in Michigan, I can now dedicate October to what is really important.

Preparation for National Novel Writing Month.

The last few days I've been drowning in the forums and researching steampunk and creating characters like a fiend. It's glorious. Welcome to the world of nerd-dom. We'll have a Firefly marathon later. (Seriously, can we have a Firefly marathon? I haven't done one in awhile and I need to hang out with some browncoats.) If I'm not working I'm planning my NaNoWriMo novel. Yesterday, I hung out with Leah and we helped each other plan. I'm so excited.

To help you in your own NaNoWriMo planning adventures, I wanted to share with you the top four resources that I have been using for my fifth year of crazy novel writing.

What Jr. Highers Teach Me About Faith

One of my duties as youth minister is to teach confirmation. I co-teach our first year class (6th graders mostly) along with our lay-minister. The thing that stinks about is is that all year I get attached to a class, and then I rarely see them the next year. I hear from the pastors how the 2nd year class is going, but I wish I could be in there with them and seeing how they grow.

At the end of the 2nd year confirmation class, they have to write an essay called "What my Faith in Jesus Means to Me." They read it the Friday before they get confirmed in front of their families, friends, the church elders, and other congregation members who wish to attend. It's a pretty cool night. Those little 6th graders who don't know which way they are going suddenly are teenagers (or almost teenagers), all dressed up, looking almost adult-like, sharing these deep and intense thoughts about God, faith, and life.

I get to read their rough drafts. I love it. What's cool is that a lot of times not even their parents have heard these before they read them in front of everyone. I get to have a sneak peek into their thoughts before everyone else.

What's even better - is that they teach me about faith.

I Think The Internet Is Trying To Tell Me Something

This morning, I was watching this awesome YouTube video by Ralph and Lou. I discovered their YouTube channel during VEDA. They are all kinds of awesome and their latest video is a perfect depiction of their ridiculousness.

While watching the video, I was bombarded with these ads:

Google - ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING?????