Thankful Thursday

I've always been really thankful for what I have and I do have a lot to be thankful for. Those thankful feelings are magnified around the holidays and I think that it's important to acknowledge what I'm thankful for.

My family- My family is always there for me, no matter what. They are loving, passionate, caring and thoughtful people and I am so blessed to have them in my life. I've always felt lucky to be a part of this family and I know that I always will. I love my family more than anything in the world and couldn't imagine my life without them. I am so thankful to know them and to have had them to teach me about life, the real world, the true meaning of family and myself.

My husband- Kris and I have had a crazy 5 years together (2 years married) and I can't believe that it's been that long. Time has flown by and I couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else. We have a special bond that I've never felt with anyone else. He makes me feel loved and special. I'm so thankful that we found each other and that we've made the commitment to spend our lives together. I welcome whatever adventures find us in the future.

Kelsey- Kelsey and I have a friendship that is stronger than any friendship I've ever had. Even though she moved away, she is still my closest friend and our friendship is stronger than ever. She always finds a way to push me out of my comfort zone and makes me feel better about myself. I'm a better person for knowing her and she's absolutely irreplaceable in my life.

This is only a small glimpse into what I'm thankful for. I'm saving the rest for upcoming posts! Until then, happy Thankful Thursday!

What are you thankful for?

-Chelsea

Austria

I don't know about you guys but for me, the holidays are a time for reflection. I think about what's important to me and what I really want out of life. As I've gotten older, I've realized that life isn't about material things and that things I want can't be bought.

I lost my grandmother this past January. We were extremely close and I miss her dearly every single day. Christmas was her favorite time of year and Christmas Eve was, by far, her absolute favorite day of the year. No competition. This time of year is very special to my family, especially now that Grandma is gone. It's been the hardest holiday season of my life because everything reminds me of her and because it is my first Christmas without her. She's been on my mind constantly, as well as the many wonderful memories that we shared together.

The most important thing to her was family and that was something that she transferred to everyone that she knew. I always wanted to be like her and I still do. I know that I always will. She and I had so many wonderful memories together. One of my favorite memories is us watching The Sound of Music together over and over. I spent many weekends at her house and I'd always ask her to play that movie. It was our favorite. While we'd watch it, we'd talk about how beautiful Austria was and how much we'd both like to go. Austria was the one place in the world that she wanted to travel to and she never got the chance. I can't think of The Sound of Music or Austria without thinking about my grandmother and the trip we both would've loved to take. There aren't any words that can describe how much I wish that she could've taken that trip before she passed away.

So when I reflect on what I want out of life, I know one thing is for sure: the one thing that I want most is to go to Austria. I don't know if I'll ever get there but I do know that I'll do everything in my power to try to make it happen.

I miss and love my grandmother and I hope that one day, I can make that dream of going to Austria come true. Although the one thing that I want most can't be wrapped in ribbons or bows, if I ever get it, it'll be the greatest gift that I could possibly ever receive.

I hope that you all get everything you ever dreamed of.

-Chelsea

My Favorite Shows On Netflix

If you're anything like me, you absolutely love Netflix! I'm addicted to many of its shows and have spent quite a lot of quality time with it! Last winter when Kris and I were snowed in for days, we used the time to catch up on our shows! Also, after a long day of work and school, it's nice to unwind with some of our favorite shows!

I'm a little late getting on the bandwagon for a lot of these shows but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them as much as I can! I've found a lot of great shows by reading other peoples' blogs for recommendations. I've got tons of shows on my list that I can't wait to get to once I finish the ones that I'm watching now!

Although you're probably either watching or have watched these shows, I thought I'd recommend my favorites in case you haven't!

These shows are listed in no particular order.

Shows I've Finished:

Merlin- Seriously, go watch it. My friend recommended it to me years ago and I never watched it. Once I got through it on Netflix I couldn't believe that I'd blown it off for so long. It's so different from anything that I'd ever watched before. It was refreshing, dramatic, emotional and full of adventure!

Gilmore Girls- I wasn't thrilled with the last season of it but for the most part, I really enjoyed it! The relationship between Rory and Lorelei reminded me a lot of my relationship with my mother.

Heartland- I'd never heard of this show until a few months ago and once I found it, I binged-watched it! Only the first 6 seasons of the show are on Netflix and I can't wait until the rest of it is added!

Cheers- This show is a classic. It needs no description!

Parenthood- There are not enough words to describe how much I love this show! I've never cried so much while watching a show until this one came around! A lot of the characters reminded of people in my own family!

One Tree Hill- This show will forever be one of my favorites! I watched it because Chad Michael Murray was in it but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! If you're into basketball, drama and love triangles, this show is for you!

Scandal- If you're not watching this show, why not? You need Olivia Pope in your life!

White Collar- I watched this show on a whim one day and it quickly became a favorite! Neal Caffrey will steal your heart and will always keep you wondering which side he's on!

Grey's Anatomy- I stopped watching this show season 12 but I love all of the previous seasons that are on Netflix now!

Last Man Standing- I'm a huge Tim Allen fan, so watching this show was a give-in. This show is always good for a laugh and always puts me in a good mood!

The Dick Van Dyke Show- I've always been a huge fan of Dick Van Dyke, so I had to check out this classic show! I absolutely loved it and all of the characters! It was funny, sweet, wholesome and adorable! I believe that it's being taken off Netflix but you should definitely try to watch it some other way!

Shows I'm Watching Now And Haven't Finished:

Bones- I'm on season 8 right now and I can't wait to catch up! The show is on season 11 right now and I can't imagine how they're going to keep this show going! But I can't wait to find out! This show takes an unlikely pair and puts them together to solve murders. It's funny, heart-wrenching, dramatic and surprising. My husband and I absolutely love to watch this show together!

Friday Night Lights- I have always been a huge football fan, so when I found a drama that was centered around football, I quickly added it to my list! I'm so glad that I did! Although the show deals with a lot of football, you don't have to be a football fan to watch it as there are a lot of different facets to the show. The characters are lovable and memorable and there is something for everyone!

Scrubs- Kris and I watch this show when we need to wind down and watch something that'll put a smile on our faces. This show is light-hearted and fun with just enough reality to make it well-rounded.

Everybody Loves Raymond- We love this show for the same reason that we love Scrubs. What's not to love about a show with busy-body parents that live across the street from their son?

I hope that if you haven't watched any of these shows that you'll check them out and like them as much as I do! If you have any recommendations, please feel free to leave a comment!

-Chelsea

My Favorite Time of the Year!

October has finally arrived and that means that it is officially my favorite time of the year! There are three holidays within the next three months which, for me, means endless smiles! I don't know about you guys but I absolutely love Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas! I think that it's a time that most everyone enjoys, which makes this time all the more beautiful.

 

Now that Kris and I live up north, we get to experience the changing of the seasons. Our days are filled with apple cider, changing leaves and cool temperatures. It's, in my opinion, the most beautiful time of the year and Kris and I love to share it together. I love all of the wonderful traditions that Kris and I get to start and all of the time that we get to spend with our friends and family. A lot of wonderful things are happening in our lives and it just makes this time of year even better, if that were possible!

I really try to be a positive person and spread positivity to the people in my life. So when this time of year comes around, it makes me so happy because all of the people around me are sharing in happiness and positivity. I'm going to make the best of these next few months and I hope you will too!

-Chelsea

Currently

I cannot believe that it's been so long since I've posted! I really dropped the ball and I'm going to try to make sure that this doesn't continue to happen! I've been pretty busy lately, so I thought I'd update you guys on what's currently going on in my life!

       Currently:

• Reading: The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks- I was recently given this book as a gift. I used to read a lot of Nicholas Sparks novels but haven't for a while. So it was very fun to get back into his writing.
• Watching: Heartland and Beverly Hills 90210. Heartland was recommended to me by a friend. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not but I've really enjoyed it so far. I just started season 4, so I'm almost halfway through the show. I started Beverly Hills 90210 because I knew that my mom used to like the show a lot, so I wanted to see whether or not I'd like it, too. So once I saw it on Hulu, I jumped right into it. I'm only on season 2.
• Studying: British Literature. I just started my new course today.
• Loving: Trying new things and meeting new people. I went to my first sewing class today and it was very interesting. I've always wanted to learn to sew but never got around to it. I'm glad that I finally found the time! I also have been going on sunrise walks with some new friends and our dogs. It's been a really great way to get in some exercise and get out of the house. As a bonus, Jax really loves it too!
• Writing: I'm about 6 chapters into a novel that I've started!
• Feeling: Kris has been gone for a little while on business, so I've really been missing him!
• Excited for: Kris' birthday next month!

That's all for now!

-Chelsea

Day at the Waterfall

Yesterday, Kris and I decided to take a spontaneous drive to a waterfall and it was absolutely stunning! Admittedly, we don't get out as much as we should, so this impromptu trip was exactly what we needed! The waterfall was about an hour away from our apartment and it was totally worth the trip! I'm hoping that we'll find some more waterfalls not too far from home because exploring and climbing that mountain was incredibly fun!

I hope that everyone else had a fun weekend as well! 

-Chelsea 

50 Things I Love

I saw someone else do this not long ago and I thought it would be fun! The internet could always use some more positivity, right?

1. My family

2. My dog

3. Coffee

4. Disney

5. Writing

6. Reading

7. Movies

8. Netflix

9. My friends

10. Baking

11. BBQs

12. Trying new things

13. Cooking new recipes

14. The outdoors

15. Lazy sundays

16. Etsy

17. Bargain shopping

18. Getting my nails done

19. Weddings

20. Traveling

21. Hiking

22. Musicals

23. Swimming

24. Football

25. Blogging
26. Snowball fights
27. Autumn
28. Summer
29. Flowers
30. Fireplaces

31. Honesty
32. Dancing
33. Maroon 5
34. Harry Potter marathons
35. Cuddling
36. Date nights
37. Sunshine
38. Waterfalls

39. Double dates
40. Mountains

41. The Nanny
42. Organization
43. Hulu
44. Memories of my grandmother
45. Starbucks dates with my friends
46. My wedding dress
47. Long walks with my family
48. The beach
49. Old movies
50. Long phone calls

Well, that was fun!

-Chelsea 

Getting Out

Finally, after months of an extremely rough winter, the snow is finally gone and the temperatures have started rising! For the past few days, the temperatures have been in the 70s and Kris and I have been taking complete advantage of it. We've spent every spare second that we could in the sun and we've been loving it! Living up north is very different than living in Florida, of course and we've definitely missed the sun! It's been so refreshing to be able to wear shorts again and enjoy the heat! I'm dealing with a pretty bad sunburn right now but it was definitely worth it! After being cooped up in our apartment all winter, getting out and spending some time in the sunshine was exactly what we needed! I hope that, wherever you are, that you're taking advantage of this beautiful summer weather too! 

Brooke and I have also been taking advantage of this beautiful weather!

-Chelsea

Putting Myself Out There

I've always been someone that has had a low self-esteem and is super shy. Because of that, it makes it extremely hard to put myself out there and takes risks. Ever since Kelsey moved away, I've had to make adjustments, which to be honest, has been kind of difficult for me. When she lived here, we were inseparable. We didn't need anybody else because we had each other and that was more than enough.

But because she moved away, I've had to start over and try to find ways to make new friends. Honestly, that's never been something that I was good at. I grew up in a small town, the type of place where everybody knew everybody. I had no reason to put myself out there because everyone knew each other. Even then, I still clung to my two closest friends. I'm the type of person that likes only having a few key friends. I like having strong bonds with a few, select people but that's just my personal preference.

I knew that Kelsey's leaving would hit me hard but I didn't realize just how hard. She was such an amazing friend that it's weird to think about trying to replace her, even though I know that I can't really "replace" her. So I've had no choice but to put myself out there and try to meet some new people. That's always scary because you're allowing yourself to either be accepted or rejected by other people. And even though I've tried to make it work with some girls, it hasn't worked out in my favor. I was starting to get discouraged but I knew that I had to keep trying and not give up. I knew that eventually, things would get better.

And they have. I've met two girls recently that I really like and I could see us being really great friends. I haven't known them for very long but we're constantly texting and we're planning on getting together once one of them comes home from vacation. It's been hard and to be honest, the few times that meeting people didn't go well kind of bruised my ego but in the end, it'll be worth it. These things take time but that's okay, as long as I keep trying and keep putting myself out there.

-Chelsea

My Favorite TV Shows

I'm one of the many people in the world that are addicted to Netflix and Hulu. There are just so many wonderful shows out there to watch and having such quick access to them is just so fun and convenient. So while I was on a Netflix-watching binge the other day, I started to think about my which shows are my favorite and I decided to list them out.

They are in no particular order and I'm thinking about doing a separate post about my favorite TV shows from when I was a child too.

1. Boy Meets World- I think that this a favorite for tens of thousands of people. It was a show that taught really valuable lessons, dealt with regular people, had an incredible cast of characters and made us laugh. It was the perfect all-around show, especially since it taught us the meaning of true love with Cory and Topanga.

2. Reign- This show is currently in season 2 and I've been absolutely hooked since I saw the first episode! I've always been interested in books and shows that dealt with all of the drama that comes with monarchies. It's absolutely fascinating and can sometimes be really complex. The story is always evolving into something new and exciting while also forming and breaking strong relationships.

3. Sabrina the Teenage Witch- I've probably seen every single episode of this show at least 4 times. I absolutely LOVE Melissa Joan Hart and all of her wacky adventures with Sabrina. Sabrina and Harvey made the perfect couple and I'm glad that they found their way back to each other in the end. Plus, this show was always good for a laugh.

4. The Dick Van Dyke Show- I know, I'm really throwing it back here but I started watching this show on Netflix on a whim and absolutely fell in love with it. I've always loved Dick Van Dyke's work and this show does not disappoint. It always puts me in a good mood and makes me smile. It's funny, family-oriented, silly and creative. Kris and I love watching it together.

5. One Tree Hill- If I'm going to be honest, I started watching this show because I knew that Chad Michael Murray was in it. And I had no idea that I would end up loving it as much as I did. It was dramatic, fun, and heart-wrenching all that the same time. It dealt with life's really important issues while also throwing in some thriller-like episodes. It always kept me on the edge of my seat.

I've seen a few episodes of Scandal, Baby Daddy and Merlin on Netflix too but I haven't gotten very far into them yet. But I can tell that I'm also going to fall in love with all of them too!

What are your favorite TV shows? Do we have similar taste?

-Chelsea

We Could Be Best Friends- Part 2

Back in December of 2013, I wrote a post called We Could Be Best Friends. Since it's been over a year, I thought it would be fun to add to that list.

We could be best friends if...

... your morning isn't complete without coffee.
... you're in love with chocolate.
... football is your favorite sport.
... you can't dance but you love to anyway.
... you love kids.
... you're not afraid to be silly.
... you treat your friends like family.

-Chelsea

Grief

I mentioned in an earlier blog that just over a month ago, I lost someone very close to me. Until then, I'd never lost anyone before and I wasn't quite sure how to handle it. Everyone kept telling me that I'd handle it my own way, that there was no right or wrong way to deal with the pain. In the beginning, I was in shock. Unfortunately, I knew that it was coming. I'd been watching this person go slowly for weeks and it was utterly heartbreaking. But still, when I got the phone call saying that she had passed peacefully in her sleep, for some reason, I couldn't believe it. It didn't process and it felt that way for the first 2 weeks or so.

Until the viewing, I had been in blatant denial. But the viewing helped put it into perspective for me. The viewing and the funeral were the hardest things that I've ever done in my life. I was very close to this person and knowing that I'd never get the chance to see them or talk to them again was gut-wrenching. I finally realized and accepted that they were gone.

Or so I thought. There are still days where I think to myself, "Man, I haven't called her in a while. I should do that right now". But as I'm about to dial the number, I remember. Every time that I see a picture of her or see something that reminds me of her, like a certain movie or song, it hurts. I feel a physical pain in my chest, as if my heart is actually feeling the pain. There are some days that are better than others. Some days I'm strong and I can manage my emotions. Other days, all it takes is a sad song or for my mind to wander and I'm crying hysterically because I miss her so much.

When I first lost her, my family told me that there would be good days and bad days, that there will be times when it'll just hit me out of nowhere. And I've found that to be very true. It's been the most difficult month of my life and the pain is more intense than anything that I've ever felt before. I've had to learn to take it one day at a time and that grieving is a process. It's going to take a while for me to completely adjust to everything and that's okay. I know that it'll never stop hurting; I'll miss her every day for the rest of my life. But one day, I'll be able to miss her but still be okay.

I've found that my family was right. There isn't a right or wrong way to grieve. Losing someone is hard and nobody but me knows what's best for me. So I'm doing what I can to make the pain better and live my life in a way that would make her proud. But ultimately, I'm so grateful for the blessing that I was given. I got to know her and love her. I'm a better person for knowing her and I'll always treasure her memory. And the last time that I saw her before she passed, I got the chance to say goodbye. I'll hold that in my heart forever and never take that memory for granted.

-Chelsea

My Completed Series

If you know me personally or have been following my blogs for a while, then you know that I'm an absolute bookworm! I love to use any and all of my free time for reading and writing. I've seen some of the BookTubers that I'm subscribed to do the "Completed Series Tag" which is basically where you list out all of the series that you've completed. You can also choose to share what series that you've started, and whether or not you plan to be continuing on with those series. I've never counted how many series that I've read before, so I figured that it'd be a fun little tidbit to learn! So, here are all of the series that I've completed!

(These are in no particular order. And I checked my Goodreads page just to make sure that I didn't forget any books.)

1. The Harry Potter Series- That one was a given, right?

2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians

3. The Sweet Trilogy

4. The Divergent Trilogy

5. The Infernal Devices Trilogy

6. The Legend Trilogy- This series is totally fast-paced and one that I highly recommend!

7. The Shatter Me Trilogy

8. The Flowers in the Attic Series- If you like creepy stories, this is the series for you!

9. The Vampire Academy Series

10. The Kane Chronicles- I'll read anything and everything that Rick Riordan writes!

11. The Selection Trilogy

12. The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy

13. The Hex Hall Trilogy

14. The Ruby Red Trilogy

15. The Matched Trilogy

16. The Twilight Saga- I read this in high school when it was super popular.

17. The 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy- I just wanted to see what the hype was all about.

18. Jeremy Marsh and Lexie Darnell Duology

I'm actually pretty surprised/pleased with 18. I thought that I had read more but it's still a pretty good number! But I'm sure that the number will keep increasing! There are only 2 series that I'm in the middle of now that I plan on finishing: The Pushing the Limits Series and The Heroes of Olympus Series.

Updated Bucket List

Over a year ago, I posted my bucket list on my other blog. I haven't looked at it much since I posted it. But because New Years has just passed, it made me think about my goals. So, I headed on over to that post and decided that this year, I'm going to do everything I can to actually cross something off of it. I'm not an extroverted or courageous person. Most of the time, I'm too nervous to try new things or do any of the things that I say that I want to do. But I decided that it's time to actually start living instead of existing.

While I was perusing my list, I noticed that there were a lot of things listed that I actually didn't want to do. I found myself laughing at it because those things were so out of character for me. I honestly don't know why I would even put them on my list in the first place. I also realized that since the last time I looked at my list, I had actually accomplished a few of them! It was such a relief to know that I did those things just because I wanted to and not because of some pressure that I put on myself because of my bucket list. 

I'm actually pretty proud of myself for going through with those things and I thought that it was important to update my progress, while also taking off the activities that I have no desire to do anymore. So without further adieu, here is my updated bucket list!

• See a lantern festival
• See the Hollywood sign
• Be on a billboard in Time Square
• Ice skate in Central Park
• Drink coffee in Seattle
• Visit Pearl Harbor
• Visit Ground Zero
• Drive down Route 66
• Jump off of a waterfall
• Celebrate my 100th birthday
• Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain
• Put gum on the gum wall in Seattle
• Kiss/be on a big screen 5/15/2013
• Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Run the Color Run
• Be in a flash mob
• Walk the red carpet
• Snowboard
• Start a blog- 4/29/2013
• See the Eiffel Tower
• Visit the Sear's Tower in Chicago
• Visit Pixar Studios
• Travel first class
• Write a letter to myself and open in 10 years 6/28/13
• Eat pizza and spaghetti in Italy
• Eat in one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants
• Find out how many balloons it takes to lift me up off of the ground
• Visit the Hershey's Chocolate Factory in Pennsylvania
• Try Chicago style pizza in Chicago
• Visit Ben&Jerry's in Vermont
• Visit CNN
• Eat at Carlo's Bakery
• Find P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney
• Visit Moravian Bookshop in Pennsylvania
• Wish on a shooting star
• Take a tour of the White House
• Be in 2 places at once
• Witness a miracle
• Stay in every Disney hotel
• See a meteor shower
• Graduate college
• Go to Disneyland in California
• See a Broadway play in New York 
• Go to all 50 states
• Finish my novel- 7/28/2012 at 12:15 a.m.
• Rescue a dog- 5/28/2014
• Get married-5/12/2013
• Go on a Disney cruise
• Win a championship- November 2009 and 2011- NSPA
• Run a Disney marathon
• Ride in a helicopter
• Learn how to spoil myself
• Become a better person
• Change someone's life for the better
• Be on T.V.- 5/11/2011- WPTV
• Go to a movie premiere
• Go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween- 10/16/2012
• Dance in the moonlight- 1/25/2012
• Go on a road trip- 12/19/2014
• Scuba dive
• Swim with dolphins
• Skydive
• Fly a plane
• Learn how to play guitar
• Rock climb
• Go to the lock bridge in France
• Learn to sing
• Get published
• Go on a book tour
• Write a second novel
• Para-sail
• Hang-glide
• Have kids
• Adopt a kid
• Make the NY Times Best Seller's List
• White water raft
• Zipline
• See the Northern Lights
• Go on a star-gazing date
• Make a snow angel- 11/18/2014
• Learn sign language
• Go surfing
• Have a white Christmas
• Build a snowman
• Shop in N.Y.C.
• Paint roses red
• See the Statue of Liberty
• Swim in an infinity pool
• Finish a whole coloring book
• Play messy twister
• Carve my initials into a tree
• Attend a masquerade
• Have a shaving cream fight
• Eat KFC in Kentucky 
• Ride in a hot air balloon 5/16/2013
• Learn to embroider

I don't have a lot crossed off but that's not important! I've got a lot of life to live and I'm going to make the most of it! Hopefully, at the end of the year, there will be some more highlighted things on this list! 

-Chelsea