Blogtember: Something Old

Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special. ................................................................................................... A few months ago I lost one of my grandmothers. It was a tough one (when aren't they, right?) because it was completely unexpected. It was my ex-step dad's mother and even though we weren't "blood" relatives, we still treated each other like family. She always made it clear that I would be her granddaughter no matter what. 
The "something old" I decided to share today was a picture of her and her first husband that she gave to me when I was sixteen. 

The really odd thing is that for the past twelve years it has sat on my bookshelf, something I was aware of but never stopped to really notice. That is, until the Wednesday before her passing. I was driving home one day and thought of the picture and questioned whether or not it truly belonged to me, if I was something I was supposed to hang on to or not. So I called my mom and explained all this to her. My mom said that Grandmom Maxine gave it to me and that she always considered me one of her own so it was exactly where it should be. 

That Sunday she was gone. 

This tiny little picture frame has suddenly become so much more to me. It holds the memories and the life of a woman that I cared so much about. It's no longer a little trinket on my bookshelf, its my reminder that I was blessed to be a part of such an amazing woman's life, someone I'll never forget. 

I'll never forget her smile, the way she said "oh Pickle" when I said something she found amusing, her laugh, her mistakes, her perfections....her. When I pass by the picture I stop every time.

It's my little connection to her. 

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Blogtember: Facebook Rant

An anonymous letter to your Facebook friends. Be as snarky as you'd like. (but don't include people's real names.)  .............................................................................. Okay, so normally I prefer to stay positive on this blog, but for today's prompt, I will make an exception. I felt these e-cards said it better than I ever could.

Someone seriously tried using this excuse on me. I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night!

Kind of a pet peeve of mine. I don't mind seeing one every now and then but this crap literally fills my feed everyday. Get Pinterest people!!

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Blogtember: Coffee Shop..or a Lack Thereof

Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you'd like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. (I recommend downloading Ommwriter and bringing headphones along!) *if you can't make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.

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I woke up to this song playing on my alarm this morning and it made me feel so nostalgic for a simpler life. The life I had with Dave before school, before work, before...becoming a big girl? When my main worry was when I was going to hang out with him next. Since it was so early in the morning, I kind of forgot all about it.

So here I am sitting in my spare bedroom looking at my bookcase (because I don't think I have any cool coffee shops near me and even if I did I didn't  have time to get to them this week), listening to music, wondering what I was going to write about and that same song comes on again and I am reminded of that yearning for a life where I didn't have to worry so much.
Don't get me wrong guys. I love my life. Some aspects of it? Not so much, but I wouldn't trade anything that I have. My life with Dave, Nibbler and Squishee is something I would never give up. However, I can't help but sometimes wish my life was still simple. 
Just a simple life where I wake up and my only worry is how soon I can get home to my family. 
So why does this particular song evoke such an emotion from me? Well, when Dave and I started dating this song from the same band was a popular song on the radio and it reminded me of that time where I didn't have so many responsibilities and I realized that with life getting in the way, I've lost the ability to do the one thing that I love the most in this world which is spending time with Dave and the boys. I can't wait for school to be done so I don't feel so trapped by the constraints of life. I'll have more of a choice with my schedule, with my job, with life in general. It would just be nice to have a choice, and right now I feel like I don't. 
And on that note, I'll let Gwen finish out this post. 

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Blogtember: Mistakes were had

Write about a time you screwed up - a mistake you made

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The hair.  Oh Lordy, my hair. Did anyone else's mom make a big deal out of picture day? My mom acted like it was our wedding day, like we were never going to have our picture taken again so this had to be perfect. She insisted on doing my hair and my sister's ridiculously over the top and put us in fancy outfits, so we had to walk around like idiots all day. At least I  felt like that. I'm pretty sure my sister loved the limelight. My mother also insisted we do this on the first day of school too. Every year she tortured me with her traditions, until I realized I could say no to my mother. Then it was jeans and flat, frizzy hair like every other kid.
Anyway.....
The outfit...seriously my eyes!!! They're bleeding!
The necklace.
Do you want to know why I'm missing my two front teeth? Because they foresaw this picture occurring and didn't want none of that ish, so they jumped ship. 

Just kidding. I think I was a cute kid. Although I do have to say, this outfit HAS GOT TO GO.        Follow: BLOGLOVIN ::  FACEBOOK     

Blogtember: Book Review

 Review a book, place, or product. .............................................

This was one of those books I wished had never ended. Just like Harry Potter. 

So the gist of the book is that it is the year 2044, and the world is a terrible place. The only solace that most people can take comfort in is a virtual reality that takes place in the OASIS. People can plug in to go to school, earn money, meet people, live the life that they cannot live in the real world. The creator of the OASIS has willed his entire enormous fortune to the one person who can discover hidden easter eggs within OASIS, all of which carries an 80's theme. Protagonist Wade Watts stumbles upon the first hidden clue and chaos ensues as people scramble to be the first to discover all the clues and amass the fortune.

I seriously did not want this book to end. I waged an inner battle every time I picked the book up, willing myself not to read it so I would have something to hold on to, but not being able to control NOT reading it because I had to know what happened next. There are a ton of 80's references in this book, only about 60% of which I got, but it didn't matter because the story and the premise were good enough to stand on their own, the 80's references were just good visual aids. I also loved how this book pulled me into another world. It was a nice little escape. 

Looking for something new and unique to read? You have to check out this book.

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Blogtember: Life Lately

A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

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I wrote a "Currently" post back in June, so I figured I'd follow that same guideline for today. Here goes nothing...

::Purchasing::

A few months ago, I had my makeup done by Ulta and they used this bronzer on me. I've been wanting to get it for a while, but it's on the pricey side. I finally picked one up Friday and I'm loving it. Plus you smell like chocolate all day. I love chocolate!!

Just bought this shirt, waiting for it to come in the mail. I'm hoping it looks good on me. Peter pan collars are hit or miss with me. So far the ones I've bought have been a miss. We shall see!

Bonus? Got it at 40% off!

::Looking Forward to::

The end of this school semester. Seriously guys, I'm over it. I love school but it's time to be done with my undergrad degree and move on to my certification. 

::Listening to::

The Civil Wars. I heard "The One that Got Away" on an ABC Family promo and instantly fell in love. A few other favorites are "Tip of my Tongue" and "Poison and Wine".

::Reading::

I just finished Animal Farm, I have to say it wasn't a favorite of mine, and I'm re-reading 1984 for the Teen Book Club. I'm also in the middle of Beowulf for my literature class. I would love to have a book on this list that I'm currently reading on a personal level but that's not happening right now, although I wish it was.

::Watching::

Third season of Walking Dead on demand. I love being able to watch shows back to back to back and not have to wait a week in between episodes. Did that for the first three seasons of Game of Thrones. Only problem is? When you're done, it's like coming off an addiction. 

::Making me Happy::

Life. 

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Blogtember: Comfort

React to this term: comfort. 

...................................................... This was a tough one. There are tons of things that come to mind when I think of comfort. But I can only spout off about the amazing-ness that is mashed potatoes and chicken gravy before you're like what the heck is wrong with this girl? 
Which by the way, AMAZING!! 
I'm going to keep it short and sweet. There are many things that brings me comfort, but it's the love of my cats that really brings me comfort at any given moment. On a rough day, all I have to do is think about them and everything is a little bit better.

 Because waking up to this cuddling you, will make the start to any day good.

And because there is nothing better than your cats preventing you from doing anything but cuddle in the morning when you really need to get ready for work.  Follow: BLOGLOVIN ::  FACEBOOK 

Blogtember: Creative Writing

Creative writing day: write a (very short) fictional story that starts with this sentence: "To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century."

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Why was I dreading the dinner party? Because I knew my husband hadn't run the dishwasher yet and we had no clean bowls. 

Which means he had to give me my ice cream on a plate. 

True story. 

Have you ever tried to eat ice cream on a plate? It's like eating soup with a fork. 

The End. 

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Blogtember: Photos

Only photos ......................................................... I had all these grand plans for today's prompt. Doing a photo an hour post, going on a nature hike, finding an incredible spot to take some good pictures...some of it got put to the wayside because of work and school then I got a stomach bug and any and all grandiose plans went out the window. With that being said, here is a compilation of pictures that offer no rhyme or reason, other than I like them. A few I didn't personally take, which I remarked beneath the photo. 

Enough with the pictures, ma!

Picture taken by Rebecca Davidson

I can't remember if Becca or I took this picture, so photo possibly taken by Rebecca Davidson

This is my oldest nephew, Lucas, at his 1st birthday party. The tiger he is holding I made for him. It still melts my heart when I see his reaction.

Also Linking up with Fitness Blondie!

Blogtember: A Walk Down Memory Lane

A memory you would love to relive ..................................... I had a tough time thinking of something to go with this one. There's just so many that I would love to relive. Some cliche, like my wedding, others unique, like the few times that I have gone SCUBA diving. But if I had to narrow it down, I would say it would have to be my trip to Florida last May. 
The trip started off rough and it ended up leaving a huge cloud over my head for the rest of the vacation, so much so that I really didn't fully enjoy it or appreciate it until I came home. When we first showed up at the hotel we stayed at a woman at the information desk offered us $70 to "check out" one of their newly built properties. Call me naive guys, but I had NO CLUE this was a time share offer. I legitimately thought they just wanted us to see the new place. 
I should have prefaced all this by saying I HATE smarmy salespeople. I hate dishonest people who will do or say anything for their own benefit without any consideration of others. Timeshare sellers are the bottom of the barrel (sorry if you are one, but I haven't met one I liked yet). Anyway, at the end of the pitch, and wasting 4 hours of our time when the woman at the desk said it would only take an hour, they proceeded to tell us we didn't qualify for the $70. So not only did we waste most of the first day of our vacation, but it was all for nothing. 
I was miserable, I cried at being taken advantage of. I felt so stupid and so beaten down, it just flat out ruined my mood for the rest of the trip. I viewed everyone in Orlando in a totally different light. Everyone seemed dishonest, money grubbing, shallow people. It's not fair to those people, but that's just what it seemed like. 
Anyway, because of that the rest of the trip I wasn't up to par. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed being with Dave and hanging out at Universal Studios (I may have spent all of the 2nd day the Harry Potter section and Dave may or may not have had to bribe me to get out of there and The Simpsons may or may not have been cloud 9 for me), there was just always a part of me that felt like a black cloud was raining down on me. 

When I got home I realized how much I didn't appreciate my time there and it made me wish I had just let the first day go and moved on from it. If I could relive that moment I would go back and really enjoy my time there. 
So if you could relive a moment, what would you relive?

Blogtember: Love Letter

Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.) .............................................................................................   I'm going a bit off the tracks for this one, but people (sorry, guys) isn't what inspired me for this post. 
Dearest Books,
As far back as I can remember, you have been a staple in my life. There isn't a moment in time where I don't have one of you within a few feet of me. If you aren't in my hands, you are in my purse, in my car, on my bookshelf at home, on my mind. 

Some of the best memories I have are with you. Like the time I took a day off of work and picked up the last Harry Potter book (that I pre-ordered 9 months in advance). I still vividly remember sitting on my couch in my living room reading you cover to cover. I didn't stop once to eat or drink, I just kept reading. When I was done I was incredibly happy but also incredibly sad. I knew I would never have this moment with you again, and it was among one of the best days of my life. 
The emotions that run through me when I read an amazing story are uncanny. 

I can't get through The Giving Tree without choking up. I don't know how I'm going to be able to read it to my children someday, but I will figure out a way how.
 The desolate feeling I get when I'm done a really, really good book and I just feel....alone. The way my fingers itch after a good tale, because I want to be able to pick you up and keep reading a story that has already finished but I just want it to keep going on and on. Ready Player One, I finished you two months ago and my heart still aches for the story to keep going on, my fingers waiting for the familiar feel of your pages in my hands.
You have given me a connection to a great group of teens. There isn't a better "high" than coming home after an in depth conversation with the kids in the book club because they loved your story and connected with it; or didn't and had to share their frustrations with me. 
Always there, sometimes faltering, I know I'll have an escape with you. And that is why my love for you will be undying. 

Blogtember: Self Portrait

A self portrait

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Can I just say I wracked my brain trying to think of some creative way to post a self portrait? I got nothing. 
So here is Nibbler sniffing my head. Because quite frankly, this is the most honest self portrait I could give you, a girl with her cat(s). 

Blogtember: Social Media

Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you ..............................................................
Starting this blog has definitely changed me. As most of you know, in order to blog, you have to have something to write about. If you don't have a niche, you better be interesting. Prior to starting up Nicole Marica, I was a lazy bum. I used to spend my nights watching TV and pinning to Pinterest. Now I spend my nights watching TV and writing blog posts. 
I kid. Somewhat. I may or may not be currently doing that as I type this. 
Blogging has forced me to be more adventurous. I've done things that I haven't attempted to before, like create a summer check list, and even complete most of the things on the list.
It has also helped my writing technique. When I write these posts, I read them at least three more times, proofread, ask myself "is this interesting?", even sometimes running them by Dave. This has also helped with writing papers. Whoo hoo, productivity! 
Blogging has also exposed me to a ton of new bloggers that I love reading on a regular basis and in turn I've established some amazing friendships, like Angie Mae and Hima. I can't tell you how much my confidence has boosted from blogging and forming friendships. Every time a new person leaves a comment, it validates what I do. It means that I connected somehow, and that makes my heart soar. 
There is probably so much more but the story line on Castle tonight is pretty good. Let me ask you, how has blogging or social media changed you?

Blogtember: Wish List!

Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop.

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Caroline G

Three Stone Bubble Necklace...BTW that's Lauren! I link up with her on Fridays!

Bubble Earrings- I LOVE THESE!!!

The Rage

Stud Loving Sweater- Don't buy them all out, I haven't ordered mine yet!!

Etsy

Sterling Silver Tube Necklace

Sterling Silver Ring Stacks

Modcloth

Personal Assistant Organizer- This is going on the list to must buy ASAP for grocery lists and coupons

Q & A a Day Five Year Journal- I love the idea of a question a day and seeing how much your answer changes over 5 years