My Lack of Posts - The Truth

Hello All!

I hope you've all had a wonderful holiday break, vacation, New Year and any other adventure you've had in the past few weeks. Today I'm here to post my first "real" post. By real I mean emotion, no recipes, no pictures/videos, etc. I want to talk about the reason why I don't post so often. The reason why sometimes I have a couple posts in one week and why I go MIA for a couple weeks after.

Here's the truth: I can't find my niche. There are many common factors that I find in the blogs I come across: motherhood, marriage, fashion, home decor, cooking, fitness and adventure. There are 1.5 of the mentioned that I feel I truly relate to. First let me talk about the ones I don't fit in with.

Let's start with this. I'm 24, in a serious relationship (3 years in March) and I still live with my mom. Therefore, I am not married, do not have children (not that you need to be married to do so), I do not have my own place (yet) and I am not fashionable enough to share my fashion with the world. I'm also not that adventurous, even though I'd like to be. I feel that most of the amazing blogs I come across are mommy-bloggers, ladies planning their weddings, gushing about their new home decor, etc. I can't wait to be that gal but for now, I'm not.

The things I do relate to are food (1 point) and fitness (.5 point). If you do read my blog you'll see I post quite a bit of recipes. I love to cook but it can often be hard as I share a tiny kitchen with my mother who just so happens to have a reason to be in the kitchen whenever I am in there. As far as the fitness goes, I read fitness blogs and can apply tips to myself at this time (I don't have to pin it and wait a couple years to do it) but I don't write about it.

I will definitely keep up with my recipe posting but there will be other things I need to start posting about. Until now I veered away from posting about random thoughts that come to mind or popculture, headlines, etc. My last blog (I had it for a couple years) I would post a lot about popculture and it really worked for me. So why did I stop? I honestly have no idea. I guess I figured people just like short, straight to the point posts with pictures and videos. I've decided to go back to my old ways.

My first New Years Resolution is to put more effort and time into my blog. I love it and I want it to be successful in my blogging so I need to put my heart into it and not just let it drift away. I will also put more time into finding and reading other people's blogs. (Side note: One thing I really wish blogspot would make is a more advanced search engine. - I think this would really benefit me, and others, in finding blogs they are able to relate to more. They should also delete the thousands of blogs that haven't been written on in YEARS but that's a completely different rant.)

That will be one of my top resolutions for 2014. I will follow up with a post all about my New Years Resolution(s) and why 2014 WILL be my year! Until then -- talk to you soon!

Favorite Commercials/Ads of 2013

One thing about me is I love commercials with real effort and meaning put into them. I've put a list of my favorite commercials/ads of 2013. Most are emotional/meaningful but there are a few funny too. They are in no particular order but they're all great. Here we go!

1. Guinness Friendship

When I first saw this commercial, I wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen or how it related to beer but when everyone stood up out of the wheelchairs except for one, I realized. True friends will stick by and do anything to support eachother. Love it.

2. Extra Origami

OK - I LOVE how touching this GUM commercial is. Whoever thought of it is a genius. I cried the first time I saw this and I still tear up everytime it comes on. Something about a father and his daughter always tugs on my heart. I see this and text my dad. No matter how much I grow up, no matter how far we are from eachother, I'll always be his little girl. - Also, whoever made all those origami pieces definitely deserves major kudos.

3. Dove Beauty Campaign

Dove does great things for women. They truly want women to see themselves in a better and more positive light. This campaign is just amazing. It really made me think of how I would describe myself compared to someone else. Most people have seen the version I posted above, which is 3 minutes, but there is also a longer, 6 minute version. Ladies, you're more beautiful than you think!

4. Target College Acceptance

This commercial makes me so happy. Target has always donated money to schools but I'm not sure how many people actually now that. This was their way to let people know that they do but this commercial means so much more. It shows us the way students and parents feel when they read those words, when they realize their lives are changing and they're receiving the opportunity to go to college.

5. Apple Holiday

In my teen years, I never got to spend many holidays with my family and I'm an only child, so I was always bored. This commercial though, oh goodness, it's amazing. It made me want to spend time with my cousins and big family and have a blast. The commercial itself says a lot though. Teens love their smartphones. The kid looked miserable the entire time until we realized what he was doing, making a home video. A lot of people are saying negative things about this commercial stating it just proves how technology distances people from the real world, but that clearly wasn't the message of this commercial. Haters gonna hate. I loved it.

6. Volvo Trucks - The Epic Split

If you haven't seen this by now, there's a problem. This commercial blew up faster than the eye could blink. 65+ million views in a little over ONE month. Volvo did an amazing job showing off their product with one of the biggest names in martial arts films EVER. JEEZ, this commercial = mind blown. Volvo + Jean-Claude Van Damme + Enya = amazingness. Enough said.

7. Geico Hump Day

Hahahahha, just haha. The commercial is actually kind of stupid but it's just too funny not to give credit to.

8. Robinson Pals

Robinsons is a British brand, so I'm sure many of you haven't seen this but it's a great commercial. Two kids playing and having the day of their lives together, turns out one is actually the father. Believe it or not, kids actually love playing with their parents (when they're fun parents :P).

9. Kia Hamsters - Applause

You know a commercial is good when you hear a song from the commercial and think of the product and not the singer. I hear applause, I think the Kia Hamsters not Lady Gaga. Also, when someone says "Kia Soul" I think Hamsters, not the car.

10. Giving is the Best Communication - Thai

I don't know how I came across this commercial nor do I even know who made the ad. One thing I do know, is this is beautiful. The story, the message, the phrase "Giving is the Best Communication" is amazing. Be good to others.

11. Chipotle Scarecrow

I just saw this about a week ago, but it was beautifully done with its animation. Chipotle made this as an ad for themselves and an ad for their new scarecrow game. It's been on every single "best commercial" ad I've seen.

12. GoldieBox Girls

This commercial is just too cute. Girls are more than tutus and tiaras. Cute, right?

There are a ton of more great commercials from this year, but these are probably my top favorites. What do you all think? Any commercials that you absolutely love and I missed? -- What will be on my next favorites of 2013? You'll have to wait and see!

Belated Happy Holidays

Hi! I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas and holiday, I know I did. Gosh, I really got wrapped up in the holidays and went MIA on blogging even though my plan was to blog more! But even more than that, a lot has happened in my life this month.

Let's start with Christmas!

This is our happy little tree. You may have seen it on my IG if you follow me. My boyfriend and I don't live together but he has the basement to himself so we set up out tree and put all our presents underneath it. This is our third year using this tree and it is just so stinkin' cute.

And here we are in front of his parents' tree. Our Christmas involved balancing my family and his. We're getting better at it every year so that's good. We just can't wait until we have our own place. -- I wish we would have taken more pictures, but that's ok. We had a great Christmas this year and I hope you all did too!

Big life news!

As I previously mentioned, I got a new job. I am beyond thrilled. I started the second week of December and it has been amazing so far. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful. This company is just beyond amazing and I am so blessed and honored to be given this opportunity and I'm finally able to get my career started. This is officially the first thing I get to scratch off my 30 Before 30 list!

I also get to scratch off a second thing. I bought a new car! A BRAND-SPANKEN-NEW car. I am so happy and excited! I had been saving and waiting to start my new job so I would be able to do this and it finally happened. I'll have to take a picture and post it but weeee, making big girl moves. This is awesome! 

I can't wait to be able to cross more off my list. I'm planning to do a couple more things in the next few months so I'm really excited.

Anyway, I am going to head off for now and go read up on others' amazing holiday posts. Talk to you all soon!