Passionate About Life {Blogtember Challenge}

Today's prompt is a fun one!

September 5th Prompt: I am passionate about ______________.

If you've ever met me in person, you know that I get excited about nearly everything. I love all things, from major events like getting proposed to on a surprise hot air balloon flight to seeing ducks cross the road. Seriously - my excitement level goes up every time I see something new or fun.

And that is why I would say that I am passionate about LIFE.

I love waking up each day and experiencing new adventures. I love celebrating with other people. I love trying my best to help other people when they are going through a tough time or just need a little extra support. To me, life is good. Yes, I have been through some tough times. But overall, I am incredibly blessed to be where I am. I want everyone to feel the way I do about life!

Sometimes, I feel a little bit like Buddy the Elf... and I've been told that before too. My eyes will light up at the smallest thing. My husband says that I am like a child sometimes because I get excited so easily. Last weekend, we went to Cedar Point for the first time, and he told me he felt like he had adopted a nine year old for the day judging by how excited I was! Hey, I'll take that as a compliment. There's nothing wrong with loving the life you live!

What are YOU passionate about?

Love/Hate Fashion Trends {Blogtember Challenge}

I'm not sure I'm qualified to reply to today's prompt because I pretty much wear jeans and t-shirts with the occasional dress, but I'll give it a try anyway!

September 4th Prompt: Pick a fashion trend you love and a fashion trend you hate. Win us over!

Does hair count as a fashion trend? I hope so! All I can think of that I LOVE that is popular right now is the side braid. You know... the French braid that starts in the front and goes to the side... the one I could never in a million years do to myself but was lucky enough to have done for my wedding (thanks to one of my awesome bridesmaids, Lindsy!).

As for a trend I hate... I don't really know. I honestly don't care what other people wear. This may be taking the 'easy way out', but I really just do not know. Maybe I should be more aware of what people wear and what is 'good' and 'bad' by society's standards... but I'm not. Oh well.

What fashion trends do YOU love and hate?

When I Grow Up, I Want To... {Blogtember Challenge}

I am so excited that it's day three, and I'm still completing the Blogtember Challenge! What a great way to get me refocused on blogging consistently again.

September 3rd Prompt: "When I grow up, I want to be ..." Feel free to answer as your 5-year-old self or as of now.

If I answered as my 5-year-old self, I would want to be a furniture mover, garbage woman (jumping off the back of the truck just looked SO fun), or a bat (yes, the animal)... so I better answer with my choice for now.

I am a teacher by trade, but I'm not currently employed. I know that I do belong teaching kids... or teenagers, specifically. I love it, and they energize me. They're just so much fun, and I learn as much from them as they do from me.

That said, I also LOVe my current gig, which is crafting full time and selling my products in my Etsy shop.

But I also just cannot wait to be a stay at home mom one day. As of now, my husband is calling me a "stay-at-home cat mom" when describing me. Hmm.

And last but not lease, my DREAM is to be the next great American author. I have been writing since I could hold a pencil, and it is my true passion. Blogging is an outlet for me, but I also write fiction... on my own computer... that no one ever reads. I think I need a little more confidence in my writing before I share it with others, but I'm working on it.

What do YOU want to be when you "grow up"?
Is it the same or different from when you were 5?

What Makes Me Happy {Blogtember Challenge}

I still can't believe I almost missed Blogtember! I had such a fun time participating last year, and I forgot ALL about it until Bailey's post. I'm glad I caught it so I can answer the prompts again this year!

September 2nd Prompt: Write about what makes you happy, from the little joys to the huge game-changers.

I am one of those people who finds joy and happiness in most things.

• sunshine
• good books
• love
• God
• candles
• coffee
• baking
• writing
• running
• my Etsy shop
• my husband
• my cats
• most animals
• photos
• nature
• roller coasters
• thunderstorms
• clocks
• football
• baseball
• fresh fruit
• coupons
• art
• sleeping in
• learning new things
• meeting new people
• planning things
• competitions
• wine and cheese
• changing lives
• blogging
• new recipes
• surprises
• trains
• daydreaming
• glitter
• school supplies
• crafting

Okay, so that's just a small sampling of what makes me happy. I could probably add more things for hours, but I'll leave it at that. :)

What makes YOU happy?

About the Author {Blogtember Day 1}

One of my favorite blogs to follow posted about the Blogtember challenge today, where she will write about a different (scheduled) topic each day throughout September! I love the idea (and participated last year), so I decided to join her! Check out Bailey's post too!

September 1st Prompt: Imagine the front sleeve of a hardcover novel. Give us your "About the Author" so we can get to know one another, and for fun, tell us what your imaginary novel would be about.

Well, here goes:

"Janelle is a newlywed who just moved from Colorado to Ohio, but she calls Missouri home. She has taught middle school language arts for four years; however, since her move across the country, she is running a small business through Etsy. She loves to read, write, and run, having completed her first marathon in the spring of 2014. Janelle is married to Dan, who is a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force, and they have two feline companions, Gilligan and Stormy."

If I were to write a novel (or if I were to tell you about the one I actually DID write for NaNoWriMo in 2010), I'd have to tell you that it's definitely YA, or young adult. I have heard that you should only write what you would love to read, and YA books are my favorites. People sometimes judge me for that, but I blame it on being a teacher to teenagers, but that's only half true. I just love them. My novel would definitely be about a complicated friendship between two teenage girls who are brought together through an unlikely source: September 11th. I never went further after writing and editing. It's the first piece of writing I've ever felt truly proud of, but I'm still way too nervous to share it with others.