BLOGMAS Day 5: December + Goals

Hello Lovelies!

It's been pretty quiet this year on Writing My Story, it's been an insane year. I've been so busy and this year has just flown by, I keep trying to catch up and it just hasn't happened.

Even though I've been crazy busy I've decided to go out of 2016 with a bang! Keeping with tradition last week I started this years BLOGMAS!

Clean my room at least once a week.

I've been doing good here lately so I'm hoping I can keep it up and keep it clean.

Blog consistently throughout December.

I'm gonna give it a shot this year and see if I can keep up with the schedule I made!

Get my nose pierced?
I've been going back and forth on this for years! I was going to do it last week when I got my bonus from work, but I had to make my car payment, so it didn't happen.

Have a Christmas movie night.
I love Christmas movies, I love all the old classic cartoons and of course my favorite is The Grinch!!!

Finish the paperback book I'm reading.
I really need to finish Catching Fire and I also started re-reading Pretty Little Liars!

Get back in the gym.
Now that I'm out of physical therapy I want to get back in a normal gym routine!

Organize and declutter my closet
I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I still haven't got my winter clothes out yet! It finally started getting colder here about two weeks ago, so far I haven't needed a heavy coat during the day. However, I've been working a lot of 1-10's and so when I leave work at night I'm freezing, so I really need to find my coat and put it in my car!

Start stretching again.

I quit going to physical therapy last month, I felt like I wasn't improving enough to justify spending 2-3 hours there 2-3 days a week. I can do the stretches here and home. I haven't noticed that big of a difference since I quit going, but I do thing it will help loosen me back up.

Give Khan Academy a try.
I really want to improve my math skills, I want to brush up on old skills and master new skills. Also I love history, so I'm hoping their History courses will be what I'm looking for!

Find time to enjoy Christmas music this year.
Last year between working and everyday life I didn't get to listen to a lot of Christmas music. I love Christmas music, so I want to make the time to listen to it and enjoy it this year!

Be more active on social media.
I've been working on this  here recently, I've been trying really hard with twitter, I try to queue enough posts for a week on Tumblr. My problem area seems to be Instagram!

What are your goals for this month?

XoXo,

Lori
BLOGLOVIN  INSTAGRAM  PINTEREST  TWITTER  TUMBLR

Blogmas Day 8: December Update

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you're all doing well, today I have an update for you. I've been mostly absent for the past three months and I'm trying to get back into the flow of things.

I wish I could say I've been off on an amazing adventure, but that's not the truth. The truth is I was burnout on everything. I was working so hard trying to juggle work, school, and blogging five days a week that I wasn't taking care of me.

To be honest I'm still working on taking care of me, but we're getting there. A few different things have been going on that I haven't been able to share with y'all, so why not get it out in the open now?

Back in June my back started hurting really bad, so I went to the doctor, two x-rays, an MRI, a trip to Nashville, and a neurosurgeon eventually gave me the diagnosis of early Degenerative Disc Disease in August. Right now we're treating with physical therapy, and I go back to the doctor in Nashville next month, if it's not better (which it's not) then I'll probably have to get a steroid shot in my back.

 On top of all that I had blood work done in August and I was anemic, again, my doctor is retesting me next week and if it I'm still anemic she mentioned the possibility of me needing an iron infusion, which I'm really not looking forward to.

To top it all off last night I dropped my laptop (15.6") on my foot and I'm pretty sure I broke my little toe. It really hurts and I'm really not looking forward to putting on shoes!

Reading: Trail of Secrets by Eileen Goudge
I've read this book many times before and I'm reading it again, it's an old favorite of mine.

Watching: Dr.Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
This is my all time favorite Christmas movie, I watch it year round and I can't get enough!

Listening to: Christmas Music

Dreaming Of: A Wonderful Christmas
Sadly I have to work Christmas Eve, which means I'll miss getting to see my family, open presents, and eating a warm meal. But hopefully Christmas Day will be good even though it won't be the same.

Planning: For the future.
I'm working on a few different things right now with school, work, and blogging. I'm trying to get everything done and I honestly don't have enough time to do any of it.

Trying: A new recipe!
A few days ago at work a woman came through my line and she told me about a two ingredient fudge recipe.

Goal Setting: At least 10 blog posts for December.

I want to have at least 10 blog posts for the month of December, I would love to do more, but 10 would make me happy.

I know I'm a week late, but I'm going to do my best to finish Blogmas and do as many posts as I possibly can this month!

That's all for today and I will definitely have a post up tomorrow!

XoXo,

Lori

June Favorites

Hello Lovelies!

I'm sorry I didn't get to post last week, I've been so busy with work I haven't had time to do any posts. I'm going to be busier this week, but since I have today off I'm going to try to get some posts scheduled to go up this week!

When trying to decide what to post today, I realized that I haven't done a favorites post since March, so here's my favorites for June!

Song:

Nickelback - Far Away

I don't know what it is about this song that I love so much, but it's always been a favorite of mine.

Beauty:

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner $9.99

I've been using this eyeliner for about two months now and I'm still in love!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze $6.99

I bought this at the same time as the eyeliner and I love it! At first I was using it on it's own (which is beautiful), but I finally started experimenting with it and it's so easy to create new looks with!

Books:

Falling Fast by Tina Wainscott

I'm actually still reading this book, but I'm already halfway through and I just started reading it. So far I'm loving it, and this is definitely my favorite book of the month.

Movies:

American Sniper

I watched this movie a few weeks ago and it was great! I loved the movie so much that I just picked up the book and so far it seems like they didn't stray from the book too much.

What have you been loving this month? Let me know below!

XoXo,

Lori

March Favorites

Hello lovelies!

I was planning on putting this up yesterday, but once again my sucky internet wouldn't let me on long enough to finish writing. I'm hoping that in a week or two we'll have our new internet hooked up and then I'll be able to get back on schedule.

Today I have for you my March Favorites, I forgot to do a favorites post last month, so I really wanted to do one for March so that I could share with you some of the stuff I've been loving over the past few weeks!

Food: Dove Milk Chocolate

This is my favorite chocolate of all time, I decided to include it this month because I don't think I've ever mentioned it on here.

Song: Love Me Like You Do by Elle Goulding

I love, love, love, this song, it's so beautiful! Btw for those of you who haven't seen the movie yet, the music video makes it look much better than it actually is. 

Beauty:

I actually have three beauty products for this month!

Nivea Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon Lip Care

I bought this last month and I've been loving it since then. The only bad thing I can say about it is that if you get it in your mouth it tastes horrible!

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation

This is another one that I bought during my Ulta haul last month and I have nothing bad to say about it, I plan on reviewing it soon, I just want to give it a little more time before I do a full review!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+

I bought this last month when I went in Sephora to only buy one thing and eneded up spending $80! I've used this before a few years ago and I loved it, so I decided that I wanted to try it again and I think I love it more now, than I did then!

Books:

To Save Her Child by Margaret Daley

My review for this book will be up next week, so all I'm saying right now is that you should definitely check it out!

More Than A Convenient Bride by Michelle Celmer

My review on this book will be up in two weeks, but you should definitely check it out too! 

Movies:

Divergent

I went to my local Family Video to rent a movie and they didn't have what I wanted so I decided to get this one instead and I really enjoyed it.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

I've been dying to see this movie and I finally did, and now I can't wait till November for the next one to come out! 

That's it for today, tomorrow I'll be giving you my March Goals Update, and then Thursday I'll have a new book review up!

What have you been loving this month? Let me know below!

XoXo,

Lori

January Favorites

Hello lovelies!

Today I will be sharing with you my favorites for the month of January! This month I discovered new favorites and old favorites!

Here's this months favorites!

Favorite Song: Home by Ingrid Michaelson

Honestly I'm not a huge fan of Ingrid, I started listening to her music a few months ago and this is one of my favorites. I've never really been able to explain it to people, but this song explains how I feel about Nashville. I've always loved Nashville since I was a little girl and when I think of home and where I want to spend the rest of my life, I always think of Nashville.

TV Show: Gossip Girl

I starting watching Gossip Girl for the first time ever this month and I'm really loving it, I started watching it two weeks ago and I'm already halfway through season 2!

Movie: Safe Haven

This was another first for me this month, I had wanted to watch this for a while and once I found it on Netflix I had to watch it and I loved it!

Fashion:

I have two of these shirts, one in a beautiful purple and one in a tan shade and I love them! I bought them in October and they've been my go to for Fall and Winter, I love them so much I can see myself wearing these into the spring!

Skin Products:

I actually have two skin products that I've been loving this month.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

I love this hand cream I use it every night before I go to bed, I use it on my hands and it also works amazing on chapped lips, words cannot explain how much I love this product.

Simple Kind to Skin Moisturizing Face Wash

My skin has been acting up a little this month, it's mainly my cheeks right below my eyes, that area tends to get red and dry easily, so I've been using this face wash two or three nights a week and it really helps.

Hair Product: OGX Morrocan Argan Oil

I've been using this oil for about two years now, I go in phases with it where I love it and then I can go months without using it at all. Right now I'm REALLY loving it! I've actually been replacing my conditioner and using this instead. On nights when I wash my hair I only shampoo, and when I get out of the shower I run this through my hair, and I cannot believe how much my hair has changed since I started doing this about three weeks ago!

That's it for today, don't forget to check back tomorrow to see a new blog post!

XoXo,

Lori

My Favorite Holiday Movies

Hello lovelies, 

Every year from November 1st through to the end of December if I'm watching TV, it better be a Christmas movie! I have a slight obsession with ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas! I also tend to constantly have my TV on hallmark, their movies may be a bit cheesy, but I love it!

Because I've spent the past month and a half watching only Christmas movies, I have a few recommendations for you! Most of them you've probably seen, but I thought I'd go ahead and show them to you anyway!

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
I love the Grinch, it is by far my favorite Christmas movie, I watch it every year!

Elf
Who doesn't love buddy the elf?

The Polar Express
I love this one because it's something I can watch with my baby cousin and she won't get scared by it!

The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
I love all three of the Santa Clause movies, my favorite is the third movie, I have it on DVD and I watch it all year round.

Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
I grew up watching the Home Alone movies and I still love them!

Christmas With the Kranks

I love Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis on their own, but they're even better together!

Matchmaker Santa

This is a Hallmark movie starring Lacey Chabert, it's probably one of my favorite Hallmark movie, it's a really cute holiday romance and I love it!

What are your favorite Christmas movies?

XoXo,

Lori

5 Words: Week 97

Hello lovelies, I know I already posted this morning but this series is ending in a few weeks and I already has my words and definitions for today's post so I decided to go ahead and post it.

I'm so happy it's Friday, I have big plans for tomorrow and I can't wait! Also, I'm really excited for tonight because my favorite Christmas movie Dr. Seuss's how the Grinch Stole Christmas comes on ABC Family and it'll be my first time watching it this year!!!

Anyway, before I start rambling on about how excited I am, here's this week's 5 Words!

Quotha - Indeed!

Pilar - Of, or pertaining to, or covered with hair.

Galoot - An awkward, eccentric, or foolish person.

Tantivy - At full gallop.

Hebdomadol - Taking place, coming together, or published once every seven days.

That's it for today, don't forget to check back tomorrow for my Christmas Bucket List!

XoXo,

Lori

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Movies to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly link-up hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .

This week's theme: Top Ten Books/Movies To Read or Watch To Get In the Halloween Spirit.

Hocus Pocus

The Little Vampire

Twitches & Twitches 2

Halloweentown 

Halloweentown 2

Casper
The Addams Family
The Nightmare before Christmas
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Beetlejuice


Honestly, I prefer more kid friendly Halloween movies, I'm not a fan of horror movies. When I was a kid I loved it, I would watch any horror movie you put in front of me, but now, I wouldn't watch a horror movie if you paid me!

That's all for this today, I hope you liked it! What are your favorite Halloween movies? Do you prefer kid-friendly Halloween movies or Rated R?
XoXo,
Lori

September Favorites

Hello lovelies, I hope you had a great weekend! Every month I tell myself that I'm going to share with you my monthly favorites, but I always forget, so this month I made sure to remember!

Favorite Blog:
A Little Seersucker Sass

I love S.S.'s blog, she's so sweet so go send her some love!

Favorite TV Show: Grey's Anatomy
Before this month I had never watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy, but one day I was flipping through channels and I came across it and I decided to give it a chance, and I loved it! So this is my new obsession, I've been watching it pretty much everyday trying to catch up and figure out who's who!

Favorite Movie:  Hocus Pocus
I love Hocus Pocus, it's probably my favorite Halloween movie, and I watched it four times last week!

Favorite Food : Pickles!

I LOVE pickles, pickles always have been, and always will be my favorite food!

Favorite Beauty Product:
I love the EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm, my lips are super dry and this has been helping to keep them moisturized.

Favorite Clothing Item:

My maxi dress from the Mark Summer 2012 collection. It's a really pretty light and dark blue color and I'm trying to wear it as much as I can before the cold weather sets in and I have to retire it. I don't have a full length picture, but here's what the design looks like.

Favorite Book: Too Friendly to Date by Nicole Helm
I will be reviewing this soon, so all I'll say right now is that I love this book!

Favorite Song: Kenny Chesney - Come Over
I don't know why, but I've really been obsessed with this song the past few weeks.

So there are my September favorites, what are some of your favorites from this month? Let me know below!
XoXo,
Lori

Top Ten Favorite TV Shows

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .

This week's theme: Top Ten Favorite Movies or TV Shows.

Pretty Little Liars

Revenge
Nashville

Once Upon A Time

Chasing Life

Coronation Street

Call The Midwife

Orphan Black

Melissa and Joey

The Middle

So there's my Top 10 Favorite TV Shows, what are your favorite TV Shows? Let me know below!

XoXo,
Lori

Top 10 Fave Disney Movies

    So I  got the idea for today's post from a question I seen on Yahoo Answers. The person was wanting to know what other's favorite Disney Channel movies were, and they provided a list of their own. I'm going to do something similar, except I'll provide an explanation. So here they are in no particular order.......

• Halloween Town Series- I think anyone who has watched these movies can say that at least one, is one of their all time favorites. I just happen to love them all, my fav, Return to Halloween Town starring Sarah Paxton. I know some don't like it cause it doesn't have the original lead girl in it, but I like it.

             If you wanna watch Halloween Town 2 Kallabars Revenge here's the link to YouTube where you        can watch the whole movie free,( Here. )

• Even Stevens Movie- I actually haven't seen this in years, I use to love watching the show, and of course loved the movie too. I can't believe it came out in 2003, I had no idea till I just looked on wikepedia. 
• Zenon Series- Zenon Girl of the 21st Century (Here) , Zenon The Zequel  (Here) , and of course Zenon Z3 (Here). These movies were amazing, I remember watching the premiere's of the last two, I was only 2 when the first came out, so yeah don't remember that one, but I definitely remember waiting and being so excited for the other two movies to premiere.
• Quints- Ah yes Quints, amazingly hilarious, and yet such an amazing message. I haven't seen this in a few years, but as with some mentioned above I have found the full movie on YouTube. (Here).
• The Cheetah Girls series-  The Cheetah Girl's were a big part of every young girl's life that I knew when they premiered. As with most movies on this list I haven't seen any of them in a while, but I also found the first one on YouTube, (Here).
• The Camp Rock Series- Oh Camp Rock, Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brother's, every girl's dream. NOT. I never really liked the Jonas Brother's, I actually waited a few months before I ever watched the movie. And I only watched it then to see Demi, that's the only reason I ever watch, but I will admit over time I grew from hating the Jonas Brother's to actually tolerating them. 
• Mom's Got A Date With A Vampire- Since Halloween's coming up I decided to include this one. Here's the (Link). I really like this movie, I'm not gonna say it's my all time favorite or anything,but I really do like it.
• The Thirteenth Year-  Mermaid or Merman, maybe Merboy. (Here) . A boy who start's growing scals, and fins when he touches water.
• Sleeping Beauty- Pretty self-explanatory. (Here) .
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs- Another Self-Explanatory movie. (Here).

   So there you go, I know towards the end I kinda slacked off, but my sugar rush has worn off. And it doesn't help any that I haven't watched most of them in quite some time. Well that's all for today, a new post will be up in a few days. If some of the links son't work let me know and I'll be sure to fix them ASAP.

                                                                        Stay Creative,

                                                                                         Lori Ann

Contact me: 

                     E-mail: loriboyd15@gmail.com

                     Twitter:@LoriAnnBoyd