Category Archives: Live.Laugh.Love.

Checking in + Hello, October

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image via my Instagram @ameliawritesblog

I’m still planning and working on blog goals. But I thought I’d check in with you guys. Because I don’t know about you, but I certainly miss being around these parts of the world wide web.

And really, Is it really October already??

It seems like the last four months of the year always seem to fly by a lot quicker, and I can’t believe September is already over.

Craaaazzyyy.

But hello, new goals and greater boundaries. Hello, running + my first-ever half-marathon. Hello, new friends, new routines + new experiences. Hello, family time. Hello, laughing + hanging out. Hello, growing, learning + being enriched.

Hello, October.

September was really special in it’s own way. But I’m actually looking forward to October more than I actually thought I would – October has so many good things in store.

Can’t wait.

Right Now // Thursday

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Participating in Studio Calico’s photo prompts for #projectlife365 this week.

Hardly believing that we’re already more than halfway through September.
(Also, that I am already past the halfway mark for the first part of the fall term!!!)

Keeping up with running. Thankfully, I think I’m doing pretty good so far!

Trying to get school work done and stay calm, not stressed.

Remembering to cherish life and loved ones.

Anticipating all the fun things planned for the rest of this week.

Reminding myself that God always, always works things together for good because He is sovereign.

Wanting to make stuff again.

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Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. – Mother Teresa

Here’s to Thursday!

P.S. Guess what?! After much thought, Amelia Writes is now on Instagram! You can find me @ameliawritesblog. Remember to follow for lots of fun updates! (:

the 22 list

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So I finally got around to putting my 22 list together!

This year, I decided to break down the DIYs into individual items instead of stressing myself out having 22 new recipes AND DIYs. And as usual, some of these are repeats from the past year(s) but they were so good that I decided to keep them there.

  1. Try 22 new recipes.
  2. Read at least one book a month.
  3. Run a half-marathon.
  4. Write a business plan/start a business.
  5. Document life.
  6. Make a recipe folder.
  7. Make at least six creative projects.
  8. Bind a book.
  9. Establish a routine.
  10. Learn to take better pictures.
  11. Learn how to use Photoshop/Photoshop Elements OR HTML/CSS (or both).
  12. Take an online/craft class.
  13. Make a project using cork.
  14. Sew something.
  15. Make jewelry.
  16. Stay on the Dean’s list.
  17. Paint something.
  18. Make something with canvas.
  19. Make a DIY with bobby pins.
  20. Use a sharpie for a DIY.
  21. Write/send five pieces of snail mail.
  22. Carve a stamp.

It’s kinda hard to believe that my birthday was already more than a week ago. But the list is always a fun part of my year so I’m definitely excited to get started on this list!

Stay tuned for updates.

Friday Favorite no. 015 // a silent message

I came across this video this week and knew immediately that I wanted to share it with you guys for Friday Favorites today. I’m definitely guilty of spending too much time on my smartphone, and end up ignoring the people around me. Such a good, good reminder to put aside technology and just enjoy being in the moment. Too many memories get lost because we’re too busy trying to stay connected.

I have no idea what this Thai company does but they have an amazing message.

This weekend, I’m choosing to put aside my smartphone to savor the moments + memories with those I’m with.

Happy Friday!

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Life is often full and busy. But I like to take time to enjoy some of my favorite things. So Friday Favorite is a weekly series where I share my favorite(s) for the week. Check out my other Friday Favorites here.

Right Now // Thursday

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Eating more chocolate than is good for me.

Persevering to the end of this week.

Craving sushi.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Figuring out how to fit a long run into my schedule this week.

Thankful that the sun is shining again.

Trying to stay focused, motivated, and not distracted.

Listening to Yiruma while studying.

Choosing to breathe, and not stress out.

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Take it all one day at a time and enjoy the journey.
– Kristi Bartlett

The weekend is so close; I can smell it!
I hope your week’s been full of sunshine and rainbows (:

The thing about Mondays

vinyl decals from the wanderlust

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Believe it or not, it’s Monday and I don’t have a list-related post ready to go. I’m still adding things to my twenty-two list so the ‘big reveal’ for that will have to wait until later this week.

Instead, I’m trying to survive Monday, and feeling like I’m quite needing a break from school today. And it’s only Monday. This might possibly be a case of Monday Blues. But really, a little break from school would be nice so I can finish everything that is not on the school to-do list.

Anyhow, I’ll be back with regular posting as soon as I can, and I hope the rest of the week is more productive than today is.

In the meantime, I’m off to indulge in some matcha Kit Kat to get me through the day.
Here’s to Monday!

the 21 list // the recap

Love!

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Lists are totally my jam.

So when I turned twenty-one, I made a list of twenty-one things to do before I turned twenty-two. Just like I did the year before. And now that that milestone has come and gone, here’s a recap of everything that did (and didn’t) happen.

While this self-professed list-maker panicked and stressed out a little (or a lot) over those things that didn’t get crossed off, I decided to take things easy and let them go. Because hey, it’s supposed to be FUN after all (:

(I didn’t blog about all of them. But you can click through on some of them to read those that I did!)

1. Document my life at 21. (Project Life, here I come!)

2. Make 21 DIY projects. (I made 13 out of 21 projects!)

3. Get onto the dean’s list at school.

4. Try 21 new recipes.

5. SAVE MONEY.

6. Visit a museum.

7. Buy one outfit online.

8. Read at least one book a month. (I read 9 out of 12 books.)

9. Participate in at least 2 runs.

10. Go on a picnic.

11. Spend a day at the park.

12. Cook more Chinese food.

13. Write at least 5 thank you cards.

14. Eat fruit at least once a day for a whole month.

15. Keep a running log of distances I run each month.

16. Wear only glasses every day for a whole week.

17. Take pictures with and develop photos from a disposable camera.

18. Learn 300 new vocabulary words.

19. Not spend money for a month.

20. Have a baking date/tea party.

21. Happy surprise someone.

In all honesty, I think I did much better on the list last year, and could’ve been more diligent with this year’s list. But between trying to keep up with freshman year, making memories + being with family, this list inevitably got pushed to the back some days. And maybe, I might’ve been a little bit ambitious trying to make 21 DIY projects AND cook/bake 21 new recipes.

Anyhow, I had lots of fun working on this – as always. To be sure, I’m going to put some of these things into the next list, since I didn’t get to them this year (:

Check back soon for the twenty-two list!

Lessons learned at twenty-one

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In between twenty and twenty-one, I did some growing up. And between twenty-one and twenty-two, I did some more.

As you get older, the years just kind of seem to all mesh together into one time frame. But twenty-one was pretty swell and I’m so thankful for everything I learned and did.

Really, I didn’t actually count up how many lessons I learned. But as I embark on yet another year, I’m especially choosing to remember these twenty-one lessons that I learned going into adulthood this past year. It’s been such an adventure already.

Some of these lessons I learned last year. And one year later, I’m still learning them. To be sure, I’m getting there – slowly but surely!

  1. Be open + brave.
  2. God’s timing + plans are perfect.
  3. He never shortchanges those who follow + obey Him.
  4. Hold loosely to things.
  5. Choose what is important to you/set priorities.
  6. Little things add up to big things.
  7. Let go and let God do what He will.
  8. Listen to understand, not to answer.
  9. Don’t give up on your dreams.
  10. Persevere.
  11. Some things take time.
  12. Believe that you can.
  13. You can do what you set your mind to.
  14. Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own battles.
  15. Stop overthinking and worrying.
  16. Don’t make comparisons.
  17. You don’t have to fight every battle.
  18. Embrace what God sends.
  19. God is more than enough.
  20. Stay humble.
  21. Whatever you do, always do your best.

You know what they say, One year older, and one year wiser.

I am so grateful for all the lessons God taught me this year and am absolutely ready for everything twenty-two is going to be. Let’s roll!

the 21 list // write at least five thank you cards

Truth

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Including the ones I wrote after my twenty-first birthday bash last year, I get to check this one off my list. Really, the idea behind this item was to be more intentional about expressing my gratitude and thanks to the people who have made a difference in my life. Because it’s so easy to take for granted all the things that people do, and overlook the little things you actually do appreciate.

I definitely want to be constantly reminded of all the things I can be grateful for.

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The 21 list is a list of things I made to be completed at twenty-one years old. For more about my 21 list, read this post.

Hello, September

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Hello, twenty and two. Hello, celebrating and having fun. Hello to change and new lists. Hello, fall, lots of school, and working hard. Hello, remembering all the things that matter most.

Hello, September. You’re one of my favorite months of the year.
I can’t wait to see what you have in store.