Monday, December 24, 2018

I am....... (Exciting Announcement)

Hey guys,

I know that I haven't posted in awhile and I do apologize for that, but I do have an exciting announcement to share with you. The announcement is......


It was a complete surprise to me because I will be completely honest with you all, I took Plan B 3 hours after so I wasn't expecting the positive Hpts. I just thought that the Plan B was just delaying my period. Although I took Plan B, I'm not regretting anything. Since Plan B wasn't effective for me for one reason or another, I feel like he or she is supposed to be here and I'm supposed to be their mom. I have already had my first ultrasound like you see in the announcement and I have an appointment coming up so I'm going to try doing pregnancy updates to keep you all updated on how things are going.  Today, I'm 12 weeks and 1 day, and my due date is July 7th, 2019 (2 sevens, which is my favorite number). 

I know that this journey will be tough at times, but it will be more than 100% worth it. Every baby is a blessing!!


<3 Amanda 

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

My Current Favorites- October 2018

Hey guys,

I thought I would make a blog post about my current favorites as I haven't in a while.


Songs

  • "Dear God": Hunter Hayes
  • "Marry Me": Thomas Rhett
  • "Life Changes": Thomas Rhett
  • "Love Wins": Carrie Underwood
  • "Back Sliding": Carrie Underwood



TV Shows

  • 911 (FOX)-  I like this show because it doesn't just focus on one emergency service.  This show shows the polices', firefighter's and EMTs' perspective of emergencies, as well as the dispatchers' perspective as well.
  • Dancing With The Stars- Juniors(ABC) - My 2 top favorites are  Elliana Walmsley &  Jason Maybaum and Rylee Arnold & Miles Brown
  • Dancing With The Stars(ABC)- My favorite is Whitney Carson & Milo Manheim
  • The Rookie (ABC)- Well first of all, if you ever watched Castle with Nathan Fillion then I'm sure you'll like this show.
  • Manifest (NBC)- I heard that this show would be compared to the show Lost. I might have watched 1 or 2 episodes of Lost and I like this show better. It's really interesting and you have to pay attention to the show.


YouTubers

  • That YouTub3 Family- This family consists of  "David" (Dad), "Katie" (Mom), Audrey, Jordan, Jake and Ty.  I put quotations around the parents' name because for safety reasons, they don't give out their real names. One of my favorite videos that they do are their 24 hours challenges. Jake and Ty also has their own channel called Jake and Ty.
  • All Around Audrey- On her channel, she posts review videos, challenges, DIY's and much much more. She also has another channel called Aud Vlogs where she publishes her vlogs.
  • Just Jordan 33- Jordan also has her own channel where she posts slime videos, challenges and more fun videos to watch. 

Leave me a comment below your current favorites are.

<3 Amanda 




Sunday, October 14, 2018

Fall Tag 2018

Hey guys,

Wow! I haven't posted a blog post in awhile and I'm kinda disappointed in myself because I wanted to get better at it and post more consistently. I hope everyone is having a good fall so far. I decided to create a "Fall Tag". I hope you enjoy it! 
  1. Do you like Pumpkin Spice? No
  2. What was your favorite Halloween costume when you were younger? Probably being a baby because the costume was warm and comfortable.
  3. Uggs or tennis shoes? Uggs
  4. Hoodies or sweaters? Hoodies 
  5. Candy Corn- Yum or ew? It's good
  6. What's your favorite thing about Halloween? When I was younger- the candy, but now seeing the cute and creative costumes these days.
  7. Do you like carving pumpkins? I don't like touching the gooey inside.
  8. Do you like Apple Cider? No
  9. Have you even been to the pumpkin patch? I think so..when I was younger.
  10. Do you wait until the day after Halloween to get candy on sale? Not really, my mom does some years tho and I get some from her.
  11. It's early but what are three things that you're thankful for? My family, friends and food/water.
  12. Do you have any fall traditions with your family? Nope
  13. Is Fall your favorite season? Fall and Spring are, not too warm but not too cold either.
  14. Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie? Apple

<3 Amanda 

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Preventing Bullying






Hey guys,

Since today is the first day of school in my district, I wanted to write this post because I think it's an important topic especially since school is just beginning. As you can tell by the title of this post, this is about bullying prevention. Now, I have been in the shoes of someone being bullied a lot throughout my school years so I unfortunately know how it feels to be bullied. If you're being bullied and feel like you don't have anyone to talk to, you are always welcomed to send me a message through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or E-mail (I'll have them all listed below). 

Bullying is a serious issue throughout the world and needs to end! Nobody should have to go through being bullied. It's really sad to see on Facebook News reports of kids/teens committing suicide because they think that the only way out from getting bullied. The statistics are also sad to read (StopBullying.com, 2018) :


  • 28% of U.S. students in grades 6–12  and 20% of U.S. students in grades 9–12 experienced bullying. -You may say only 28% and 20% ,those sound like low percentages, but in all honestly those percentages are high in this situation. The percentage for both of those grades groups should be 0. 
  • Approximately 30% of young people admit to bullying others in surveys.-Although they were honest in the surveys, they should put themselves in the kids they bullys' shoes and see how being bullied affects them.
  • The most common types of bullying are verbal and social. Physical bullying happens less often. Cyberbullying happens the least frequently. -Since social media is growing and the number of cell phones and electronics are increasing, I feel cyber bullying is happening more. Kids/teens think if they bully someone through social media sites it isn't bullying because they are not saying it directly to their face but it is absolutely still considered bullying. 
  • Only about 20 to 30% of students who are bullied notify adults about the bullying. -Some kids/teens think if they tell on their bullies that will only make them bully them even more. I will say that I've been nervous to tell educators about what was going on. 
  • There is no federal anti-bullying law. Although 49 states have anti-bullying legislation, bullying is not illegal. - Bullying should be illegal because it does more harm than some people realize. 


Parents/Guardians- Please talk to your children about bullying and that being a bully will not be tolerated. If they see a friend or a classmate being bullied, encourage them to go tell an educator.

Educators- Please keep an eye out for bullying occurring in your classroom and school. If you see bullying going on please talk to the student that is bullying. If a student informs you of bullying happening, please know that they are telling you because they trust you, and please again talk to the student who is bullying.

Students- Please know that if you're being bullied, you don't have to deal with it by yourself. Educators are there to help you and keep you safe. If you don't want to tell your teacher/principal/ counselor what's going on ask a friend to tell them. I'm sure they will keep you anonymous if you ask them to.

Remember, I have been in your shoes and I'm here if you need someone to talk to. 

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Yahoo


I hope everyone has a great school year!!

StopBullying.com (2018). Facts About Bullying. [online] StopBullying.gov. Available at: https://www.stopbullying.gov/media/facts/index.html [Accessed 22 Aug. 2018].


<3 Amanda 

Monday, August 20, 2018

Teacher YouTubers 2018

Hey guys,

Since it's the beginning of the new school year, I thought I would give a shout-out to 4 teachers that I have been watching on YouTube and following on Instagram mainly. If you're a teacher yourself, they are some great teachers to get ideas from and if you're in college and going for your teaching degree or basically any career working with kids, they are also great role models for you.



Early EDventures: This only might be Shelley's 2nd year of teaching 3rd grade but let me just say this, I think she's doing an amazing job with what I have seen through her YouTube videos and Instagram posts. She also recently got married so congratulations to her and her new husband.  You can find Shelley on Instagram and on her Teacher Pay Teacher (TPT) Account


The Kinderhearted Classroom By the name of her YouTube channel, I can tell that Elizabeth loves teaching Kindergarten with all her heart and with what I and her other subscribers see while watching her videos, I can truly see that she does. She recently got a class pet, which is a turtle named Franklin. There are a few ways that you can find her besides her YouTube channel. You can find her on her blog, Instagram, TPT Account (Teacher Pay Teacher), and Facebook.


My2ndGradeLife: Vanessa is a 2nd grade teacher. Like the other teachers I'm mentioning, I also think she's a great teacher. Besides being a teacher, she's also an owner of a store along with her husband. They create teacher shirts, teacher accessories and custom orders. Their shirts are cute and have inspiring sayings. You can also find her on Instagram, TPT Account and Twitter


thatonehappyclassroom: Last school year, Fernanda taught kindergarten but this year she's teaching first grade. I still think she'll be a great teacher teaching first grade. She also got married recently so congratulations to her and her husband. You can find her on Instagram and her TPT Account.

You should check out all 4 teachers and subscribe to their YouTube channels and other social medias. You won't regret it!


<3 Amanda 





Saturday, July 21, 2018

This OR That??

Hey guys,

I have seen this type of video going around on YouTube and I thought why not make it a blog post.
  1. McDonald's OR Burger King? BK! Chicken Fries & Fries!!
  2. Jeans OR Leggings? Leggings!
  3. Flip-flops OR Tennis Shoes? Flip-flops during the summer and then UGGS in the winter.
  4. Summer OR Winter? Summer,but more preferably fall;not too hot/not too cold
  5. Milk Chocolate or White Chocolate? Milk Chocolate
  6. Dogs OR Cats? Dogs
  7. Glasses OR Contacts? Glasses; I don't think I could put something in my eye.
  8. Tacos OR Pizza? Pizza (Pepperoni).
  9. Pen OR Pencil? Pen! I just write better with pens.
  10. Candy OR Popcorn? Candy, I don't like popcorn.
  11. Pop OR Water? Water. I haven't drank pop in forever.
  12. Pancake OR Waffle? Pancakes 
  13. IHOP OR Denny's? IHOP
  14. Morning OR Night? Night, I'm not a morning person.
  15. Movie at home OR At theater? Depends,but more likely movie at home
  16. Chocolate OR Vanilla? Chocolate 
  17. Rain OR Snow? Rain, I dislike the cold.
  18. Hamburger OR Hot dog? Hot dog
  19. Comedy OR Horror? Comedy
  20. Banana OR Apple? Banana
  21. White OR Wheat bread? White
  22. Chocolate OR Gummy candy? Chocolate
  23. Math OR Writing? Writing, I dislike math
  24. Swim in a pool OR Lake? Pool
  25. Long hair OR Short hair? Hmm..Medium hair
I tag:



<3 Amanda 

Thursday, July 19, 2018

15 Tips For Going Into High School

(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/71142869092080225/?lp=true)


Hey guys,

So, I know it has been a few years since I begun high school..okay...maybe like 12.. I graduated high school in May of '09. I remember going into high school because who doesn't? Back then, I was the shy student so I was a little nervous how high school would be for me. In middle school, we had 6 different classes but the school only had one floor while the high school had two floors. If you're going into high school or even still in high school, these tips can still help you.


  1.  Be yourself. It's a lot easier making friends that way because you show off who you are truly and others can see that.
  2. Don't change for anyone-any friends or especially guys. If they are your friend then they should like you for you.
  3. This is something that I didn't do too much but join groups and sports aka extra-curricular activities. I helped backstage for a musical in my freshman year and then did track my junior year. Today thinking back, I wished I joined more extra curricular activities. 
  4. Use a planner!! Planners help you stay organized and on track really well. Your planner should become your best friend that reminds you of tests and quizzes that are coming up, assignments that are due, sports practices, and other important information. 
  5. When you're done with an assignment, highlight it so you know that you completed it. 
  6. Use flashcards to study for vocabulary or other important key terms/concepts.
  7. Make the flashcards colorful so they are appealing to look at. 
  8. Grades are not just important in your junior and senior year. Your G.P.A is from your entire high school years.
  9. If you don't fully understand something, ask your teacher if you could come in early or stay after school for additional help. I had to do that a few times when I was in high school.
  10. Take the electives that YOU want to take and not just because your friends signed up for those electives . If you don't like art but your friends are taking art, don't take art. Sign up for electives that interests you, and that's another way to make new friends.
  11. Try to not be tardy or have too many absences (especially unexcused ones) because then you'll miss a day or that class and feel behind because you missed learning and information that happened that day.
  12. Follow the dress-code!
  13. Don't get involved in the drama that happens in high school. I actually transferred schools the beginning of my senior year due to the drama (I can write a post on that). If you see drama, just walk away from it. It's useless and just cause more drama and it will continue. 
  14. Remember that these are only 4 years of your life, and they go by fast.
  15. High school prepares you for college (whether you go to an on-campus college or an online campus). If you don't keep track of your assignments, grades and etc. in high school, then any type of college might be a little bit tricky for you.
What grade are you going into this year?

<3 Amanda

Monday, July 16, 2018

Favorite TV Shows "Now" (2009- June 2018)

(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/569705421587133294/)


Hey guys,

For me when it comes to new shows coming on these days, I either like them or I don't.  I have compiled a list of the shows I really liked. Yes, most of these are unfortunately not on anymore but you might be able to find them either on Netflix, Hulu or possibly Freeform for a few of them. Let me know if you ever seen any of them, which I'm sure you have seen at least 1 of these shows. I'm going to briefing talk about them without giving any spoilers away just in case you want to watch them. I'll start off with Freeform (ABC Family) TV shows

Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017): This is a show that I didn't begin watching at the very beginning. I saw one of my brothers watching it and it looked good, so I started watching it. I finished the series along with soo many other fans and I didn't want it to end because I really liked it. Since I didn't watch it from the very beginning, I went back and re-watched the entire series. In any TV show, you have your favorite characters/actresses & actors. My favorite cast members were Lucy Hale (Aria), Ashley Benson (Hanna), Ian Harding (Ezra) and Holly Combs (Ella). Lucy Hale is also a good singer. You should check her out on YouTube, Spotify or ITunes. Fun side note- when I have a girl, I want her name her Aria. I think that's a cute name.

Switched At Birth (2011-20117): This show was interesting to me because I've never knew that this could happen in real life. This show wasn't based on a true story but it made me wonder "How could something happen like that?" I liked that although there was drama in the beginning, they all came together as a family. My favorites were Constance Marie (Regina), D.W. Moffett (John), Lea Thompson ( Kathryn) and Marlee Matlin Melody).

The Fosters (2013-2018): This is a show that I have to be careful about because it recently just ended so there are people that are probably still watching it and I don't want to spoil it for them. All I am going to say is if you haven't watch it, you should. It's a great show. My favorite people were Teri Polo (Stef), Sherri Saum (Lena), David Lambert (Brandon), Amanda Leighton (Emma), Denyse Tontz (Cortney),Meg DeLacy (Grace) and Nia Peeples (Susan). 

Fox Show

9-1-1 (2018- ) I personally could never be a cop, firefighter or an EMT but this is a good show to watch.This show shows how they all work together to help people and keep them safe.  I am happy that season 2 will be starting in September.  In this show, I like Peter Krause (Bobby), Angela Bassett (Athena), Oliver Stark ("Buck") and Connie Britton (Abby).

Netflix Show

Fuller House (2016- ): Okay, I first just want to say that if you were a '90 child you probably watched Full House because who didn't.  I was one of those kids who had to watch Full House because it was my thing to watch. When I heard that they were coming out with "Fuller House", I knew I had to watch it. I saw it as Full House was the younger generation for us '90 kids and now Fuller House is for us now because now we are not the younger generation anymore. We basically are growing up with the show, if that makes sense. I love their family concept and that they are always there for one another. Same as like on Full House, my favorite person was Candace Cameron Bure (DJ). I also like Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie), John Brotherton (Matt), Andrea Barber (Kimmy), Adam Hagenbuch (Jimmy) and of course,John Stamos (Jesse), Dave Coulier (Joey), Lori Loughlin (Becky) and Bob Saget (Danny).

Cancelled TV shows

Glee (2009-2015): If you like musicals and singing, you most likely watched Glee because it was like a musical/singing in every episode. I couldn't be on the show because I can't sing for the life of me. One thing that I liked about this show is all of the different friend groups and clique all joined together. Lea Michele (Rachel), Matthew Morrison (Will), Naya Rivera(Santana),Dianna Agron (Quinn), Chord Overstreet (Sam),Cory Monteith (Finn) and Jayma Mays (Emma) were some of my favorites. 

Parenthood (2010-2015): One reason why I liked this show was because of Lauren Graham (Sarah) and I think she's a good actress. I like this show ,also,because it shows how a family should be. Yes, there are misunderstandings and arguments but they are always there for one another. The other cast members I liked were Monica Potter (Kristina), Erika Christensen (Julia), Sam Jaeger (Joel) and Peter Krause (Adam).

Finding Cater (2014-2015): My brother got me into this show and I liked it. I again wanted more. It's about a girl that finds out that she was kidnapped at a young age and then gets reunited with her real family. I liked Cynthia Watros (Elizabeth), Alexis Denisof (David), Kathryn Prescott (Carter), Anna Jacoby-Heron (Taylor) and Zac Pullam (Grant). 

Castle (2009-2016): This show was on the top of my favorite list. If it was on Netflx, I would re-watch the entire series. It was about an author going to "work" along a detective on cases. If you watched Castle then you probably liked the connection with those two. My favorites from this show were: Stana Katic (Kate), Nathan Fillion (Richard), Jon Huertas (Javier), Seamus Dever (Kevin) and Tamala Jones (Lanie).

Do you have a favorite TV show from 2009-June 2018? Leave them down below so if someone needs/wants a new show to watch, they can check the shows out that are recommended. 

<3 Amanda 





New Facebook Blogging Group

Hey guys,

Are you a blogger? If so, this is the post for you. I created a blogging Facebook group called I love blogging 101 and you can find it by clicking here. I like being in these types of groups and I decided to create my own and make it how I want to and decide which days mean what type of social media or topic. Come check it out.

<3 Amanda

Outshine: Non-Dairy Strawberry Banana Frozen Fruit Blend Review

Hey guys,

Do you have a favorite dessert? Do you prefer ice cream over frozen yogurt? I prefer ice cream but I found this while ordering groceries online and I thought why not, I'll try it. This is the new Outshine Non-dairy Strawberry Banana Frozen Fruit Blend, which is Banana Based (also the other flavors as well).


Made with Real fruit
Serving Size- 1/2 cup (90g)
Serving Per container 3.5
Calories 80
Sugar 18g
Vitamin C 20%
No high fructose corn syrup
No artificial colors or flavors
No GMO Ingredients


In my opinion, it's okay. I mean it's good but if I had to choose between non-dairy ice cream and this, I would probably choose ice cream. But, if I was wanting to eat healthier then I would prefer this because it's made with real fruit.  There are other flavors as well besides Strawberry Banana. There are: Berry Blend, Sunrise Blend and Tropical Blend. If you're interested, click here, to check out their other products.

Have you tried this new treat? What did you think of it? Do you have a favorite flavor? Let me know down below.

<3 Amanda 







Saturday, July 14, 2018

Songs That I'm Loving July 2018

Hey guys,

If you're in the search for new songs and/or new artists to listen to then you should definitely keep on reading this post because I will be sharing the songs that I've been loving.

Songs 

  • "She's With Me": High Valley
  • "Getaway Truck": Aaron Watson
  • "That Look": Aaron Watson
  • "Light It Up": Luke Bryan
  • "The Rest Of Our Life": Tim McGraw  & Faith Hill
  • "Jealous Of The Angels": Jenn Bostic
  • "I'll Find you": Lecrare and Tori Kelly
  • "It's Quiet Uptown": From Hamilton
  • "Quarterback" : Kira Isabella 


Artists/Soundtacks

  • 4Troops
  • Kane Brown
  • Beauty And The Beast Soundtrack (The one with Emma Watson,2017)
  • Little Shop of Horror Soundtrack (New Broadway Cast,2003)
  • Evan Hanson Soundtrack (Original Broadway Cast Recording, 2017)

Let me know the songs and artists that you are loving down below, because, I'm always looking for new songs and artists to listen to. 

<3 Amanda 

Friday, July 13, 2018

The Sad Fires Of 2018- CA, UT,AZ & CO

(http://worldartsme.com/thoughts-and-prayers-clipart.html#gal_post_108593_thoughts-and-prayers-clipart-1.jpg)


Hey guys,

I first want to say that if you live in either California, Utah, Arizona or Colorado that I hope you're safe, and if you have family and/or friends who live in those states that they are safe as well.  I have lived in Michigan my entire 27 years of life. I don't recall any fires happening here that are happening in the extent in those states so I don't understand the scariness of everything happening but my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in those states.

You never hope that your state is under fire. When you get the news especially if you have to evacuate , you have to gather up your most needed and precious items that you own. Looking around my room, there are only a few things that I would grab if I had to evacuate because things can be replaced but people and pets can't. Again, I don't remember a fire occurring in MI. Yes, I do remember a straight wind storm happening when I was younger but the fear wasn't like what so many people had to and continue going through. If I got the news that we had to evacuate due to a fire, I would grab:


  • Important documents
  • My purse
  • My high school diploma and my college degree- I worked so hard for those especially my college degree.
  • My grandma's stuffed dogs and my grandparents' anniversary plate- They have passed and that's all I have left of them.
  • Pictures- Never would have those memories in picture form again.
  • My laptop and my phone

What would you grab if you got the call that you had to evacuate due to a fire or other weather hazard?

<3 Amanda 

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Summer 2018 Tag

Hey guys,

If you're a blogger like me, sometimes you run into writer's block when thinking of a post to publish. A fun way to get my creative mind going is to create tags. Tags can be about anything you want them to be about. Here's my summer 2018 tag.

  1. What's your favorite thing to do in the summer? Hanging outside with others if it's not too hot, and swimming.
  2. What is your favorite summer beverage? Plain water or Sparking Ice water
  3. Beach or pool? Pool
  4. Do you normally get tanned or sunburned? Sunburned 
  5. What is your favorite summer footwear(flip-flops,slides, birkenstocks,etc)? Flip-flops
  6. What is your favorite summer movie?  "Dear John", "The Last Song" or "Greta"
  7. Anything planned for this summer? Spend time with my boyfriend and hopefully find a job
  8. What is your favorite song about the summer? "Honey Bee" Blake Shelton, "Sunshine and Summertime" Faith Hill
  9. Do you like summer thunderstorms? Sometimes, as long as we don't lose power
  10. What's your favorite summer outfit? Shorts and a tank top or t-shirt

I hope you enjoyed this short summer 2018 tag. Feel free to complete the tag yourself if you have a blog or YouTube channel.

<3 Amanda 

Friday, June 29, 2018

7 New Blogger Tips

Hey guys,

I started my blog at the end of April 2016,mostly as an outlet at that time but I also like writing. Today my page views is at 19,611 and I have 5 followers.  I will admit that I haven't always been consistent with publishing a post and that's something that I don't like about myself but then I just try to get better at it. Even though, I'm not a big all-time blogger who gets paid, I do have some blogging tips for new bloggers.


    1. First, you have to be consistent with your posts. When I begun blogging, I thought I needed to publish a post every single day, but then I realized that I didn't have to publish a post every day. Every few days is okay as long as you're being consistent so your readers/followers will know when to expect your posts.
    2. There are many niches out there and you just have to find one that you fit in to. There might not be just one niche that you fit in to so you can technically be in more than one. For me, I'm not too into beauty and hair but my posts might involved a beauty or hair item, so I call myself a "Lifestyle Blogger".
    3. You don't have to start blogging so you can get to the top and have partnerships with companies. I will say that it's hard to get on the top right at first. You have to work on it and take one day at a time. 
    4. Going along with my last tip, don't feel defeated if one company says no or if you don't get a response from them. E-mail more companies that fits your niche/ companies you're interested in.
    5. Get involved in social media to promote your blog and when you publish posts. Some good ones are a Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus.
    6. A good way to make friends with bloggers across the world is to follow them on their blogs and social media accounts. Most of the time, they will follow you back.
    7. Last tip is whether or not you want to get on the top, just have fun blogging. Some of your posts might just make a difference in others' lives.
<3 Amanda 

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Summer Activities Ideas



(https://www.spiritgroups.org/blog/spiritgroups-summer-style)


Hey guys,

It's already almost July which is crazy to see. This year has flown by. Since it's the summer, the kids are home from school. I thought I would give some summer activities you can do on a sunny day or a rainy day. A good idea that I've seen over social media is to make a bucket list of things you want to do with the whole family, and you could even do individual ones because everyone has their own passions and goals they might want to accomplish over summer break.

Summer Activities Ideas

  1. Go to the library and join the summer reading program if your library provides it
  2. Have a baking afternoon where you bake cookies, cupcakes; pretty much whatever you want to bake
  3.  Go on a bike ride
  4. Go to the ice cream shop
  5. Go camping. It could even be in your own backyard
  6. Go to the pool/splash pad
  7. Have a sleepover with friends or cousins
  8. Go to the zoo
  9. If you're planning to try out for a sport in the new school year, practice before the try-outs
  10. Go on a staycation
  11. Have a water day with water balloons,squirt guns, etc.
  12. Go volunteer somewhere
  13. Join a summer sport
  14. Go to the beach
  15. Have a photo shoot where you're just having fun with friends ( and hold on to the photos for the memories)
  16. Go on a hike, if you know of a place near you
  17. Go to an amusement park
  18. Go to a concert
  19. Go to the movies
  20. Go to the mall
  21. Make a lemonade stand
  22. Plant some flowers/vegetables
  23. Go dance out in the rain (when there's no thunder or lightning)
  24. Have a movie night with candy and popcorn
  25. Have a game night (with just your family or invite friends/family over)
Do you have any fun summer activities planned? Leave them down below.

<3 Amanda 

Monday, June 25, 2018

Online Grocery Shopping Review- Shipt

Hey guys,

(Most recent groceries using Shipt)


Are you a stay at home mom, a college student, work a lot or just in general have a busy life? Well, I have a suggestion for you, and that's Shipt. Shipt is an online grocery service. They even deliver more than just groceries. They have two different memberships options available: Yearly is $99/year and monthly is $14/month. Unless your total is $35 or above, you'll be charged $7 for the delivery fee. Concerning payment, they accept all US debit and credit cards. There are different stores where you can use Shipt but that depends on your state and your zip code. My zip code only goes to Meijer and just recently started at Target.  Do you love to shop?? You can apply to be a shopper for Shipt. You can do what you like doing and helping others at the same time as getting paid.

We have a Shipt account because my mom is disabled and can't drive to go grocery shopping so having Shipt as an option is convenient if she can't find anyone to go grocery shopping.  If they can't find a particular item, they will text you (if you checked that you want them to contact you) and ask you if you'd like to substitute that item for another similar item. I like that feature. When they are checking out, some of them will text you and let you know that they will be at your house soon.

A few things are different from the store than Shipt. Shipt increases the prices a little bit so if you look at an ad and then look at Shipt the prices will be higher. You also can't use coupons with Shipt. During the time that we have had Shipt, we have had 2, maybe 3 issues and their customer services is really good in my opinion. 

If you want to try out Shipt or see if it's in your area, check out their site, here. Let me know if you use Shipt down in the comments below.

<3 Amanda













Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Inspirational Person #1- The Chronicles Of The Chronically Ill Woman

Hey guys,

I decided to start doing these types of posts because I think there are many inspirational people out there with all different stories, and that we can all learn from one another because not two of us are the exact same even with twins, triplets and etc. I think that's one cool thing that we have to offer in this world.  For my first inspirational person is someone who I actually know and is friends with. We were classmates in middle school.  I hope you learn about her and feel inspired after reading her Q and A below:

Q: What advice would you give to others who are having a tough day?
A: I would have to say that this is a hard question. I really had to think about it, because those hard days that we have can be extremely difficult to go through. I think that what really helps me is knowing that I am going to be okay, that this isn't the end and that God has other plans for me in this. I also listen to music, sit down and read, or try and talk to a close friend. When we are able to express how we feel to others, this can really help us get through our day. Although, I will say there are some days where I just stay in bed and sleep off that day and keep telling myself “tomorrow will be different, tomorrow is a brand new day.”

Q: How old were you when you got diagnosed? Can you explain to us about what you were diagnosed with? 
A:This is another question, I would have to say is a hard one for me not only to explain but answer. I guess my entire life I was having certain health issues in one way or another. I would miss a lot of school and for a while every one thought I was faking. I think when I started to really get diagnosis or having doctors actually pay attention and start helping me was my freshman year of college (so I would say around 2010-2011). I actually ended up in the hospital pretty sick and had several doctors try and figure out what was going on. Shortly after that I was diagnosed with endometriosis (this is a form of a disorder that in which tissue forms outside the uterine lining). This type of diagnosis is very painful and can cause many changes for a woman. I have several diagnosis so I think I will tell you about the biggest ones and ones that I believe need more support in the medical field. The second diagnosis I have is Postural Orthastatic Tachycardia Syndrome otherwise known as P.O.T.S for short.  This is a long word that basically means my body does not get enough blood flow going when I stand up and can result in my body doing a variety of different things. Your heart rate can increase within the second of standing up (normally this is a 30 rate increase) For example: lets say my heart rate normally runs in the 60's when I am sitting down, well when I stand up my heart rate increases to 120-130 or even higher in a matter of seconds.  Then the step that usually happens with me is my blood pressure will drop and I will become very disoriented and quite dizzy and need to sit back down almost immediately.

Then there is the other one that is rare and has no cure for it yet as well and that is Eosinophilic Esophagitis also known as E.O.E. E.O.E happens and is more due to allergy, it is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus. What basically happens is a type of white blood cell otherwise known as eosinophils starts to accumulate in the esophagus and will continue to persist without treatment. A treatment for me is to be on a five medications and every two to three months I will go in to have my esophagus dilated (stretched), then biopsies done to see where I am at with the white blood cell count. For me I have several chronic illnesses, that cause all kinds of problems, there is a lot to name but I again just want to name the biggest ones to you. One that I recently just had to have heart procedure on for a Patent Foramen Ovale known as a P.F.O closure. I had an atrial septal defect and another long word which basically  means having a couple holes in my heart from birth. Those holes were causing me to not get enough oxygen through my body and was dropping my oxygen levels down to about 60%. I have been on oxygen a year and will hopefully be starting to wean off now that the holes are closed. Some of the other diagnosis's that I have been diagnosed with include; post concussion syndrome, Ehlers Danlos disease, factor 8 (this is a blood clotting disorder), as well as several others.

Q: Do you have any inspirational quotes you like? 
A:I love this question, I have many inspirational quotes that I like that normally keep me going. A lot are actually bible verses, but I do have a couple that aren't.

  • “Don't quit, you were given this life because you are strong enough to live it”
  • “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 
  • “Appreciate the little things in life, because you never know when they could become the big things” 
  • Take everyday as a gift, because God never promised us a second here on earth. 
Q: What advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed with an illness? 
A: The best advice that I can give to someone who has just been diagnosed with any kind of illness is to know you are not alone! Thinking your alone, can make things so incredibly hard for you. Also know that as long as you keep up the fight you will get through it. There are going to be some days that are so incredibly hard, and days where you are actually able to hide the illness and people won't believe that there is anything wrong with you. There will be people who think your crazy, people who will judge you, who will completely kick you out of their lives. You will feel like a burden to other's at times, but remember if they want you to rely on them, rely on them as much as you can, because you cannot fight this fight alone. Having a support system is the best thing you can do to help you. Finally, make sure you research your illness, be your own advocate and put together a good team of doctors that will help you. 


Q: What advice would you give to someone about being an advocate for themselves? 
A: Advocating for yourself is so highly important when it comes to being diagnosed with an illness. Remember your doctor is NOT YOU, they have no clue what you are going through every day unless you tell them all those symptoms. Finally, always remember that you DO NOT by any means have to keep that doctor, if you do not agree with what they are doing, or if they are not helping you in any way. They have failed the interview and you need to research and move on to find a different doctor. Putting together a good team of doctors will help you tremendously in the care you need to getting to a better place in your health. 

Q: Do you have a favorite TV show? Favorite movie? 
A: I have several favorite t.v shows and movies. When you are bedridden at least a couple times out of the month if not more you learn that movies and t.v shows become your best friends. For example, about a year ago I was stuck in bed for about 6-8 months.. so guess how many movies I watched? I don't think you would even be able to guess, I wrote down each movie every single day and when I was finally able to get out of bed, I had 103 movies written. Some of the movies that I watched and that really are some of my favorites are; Escanaba in Da Moonlight, Titanic, Walk to remember, The Notebook, Gods Not Dead, Left Behind series etc.. Basically any where from Comedy to romance, to inspirational, I watched them all. 

Q: What are some of your hobbies? 
A: Some of my favorite hobbies depend on how I am feeling, and what my body allows me to do at times. Although my favorite ones are spending time with my husband, our dog and of course friends and family. I could not get through what I am going through without their support system. I also really enjoy playing all kinds of games, board games, card games and movie games, you name it I probably would love to play it. I enjoy reading, crafting, blogging, hunting, traveling and really just being outside when I am able too. 

Q:  If you could go anywhere in the world (money is not an issue) where would you go? 
A: If I could go anywhere in the world and money was no option what so ever, I think the first place I would go is to Australia. I have a huge thing for Australian accents and just love how beautiful the island looks from the pictures I have seen. The next place's that I would love to visit are; Alaska, New Zealand, Spain, Greece and I have always wanted to go to Tahiti. When I was younger I used to travel with my family a lot and have been to a lot of places, but these are some of the top ones that I think I would really like to see if money was.

Again you should go check out Kayla's blog. You can also go follow and subscribe to her other social medias: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You should go send her some love and wish her a good recovery as she just had surgery yesterday.

<3 Amanda

Monday, April 30, 2018

55 Blog Post Topic Ideas



Hey guys,

I wasn't sure what to post for my 2 year blogversary but after thinking about it, I decided to make a post with all different blog topics for you all.  If you're a blogger or just getting into blogging, here's a list of topics that you could use. I hope this is helpful if you're having writer's block and doesn't know what to blog about.
  1. College Tips 
  2. Book Reviews
  3. Movie Review
  4. Tags
  5. Advice about a particular topic
  6. A recipe
  7. Monthly Favorites
  8. Night Routine
  9. Morning Routine
  10. Outfits of The Week (OOTW)
  11. Day in The Life (DITL)
  12. What's In My purse/Backpack
  13. Write about something you overcame
  14. Write a letter to your teenage self
  15. Summer/Winter Bucket List
  16. Reverse Bucket List
  17. Bucket List In General
  18. Dreams For Your Future
  19. Write about your role models and what you've learned from them
  20. Your opinion about something
  21. What's on my phone/tablet
  22. Q and A 
  23. Hauls
  24. 5 things you like about yourself
  25. 5 things you dislike about yourself and why
  26. What's in my shower
  27. Favorite sayings/quotes
  28. Interview someone
  29. Throwback post
  30. Christmas Wish list
  31. Birthday wish list
  32. Music play list
  33. High school/college experience
  34. Fav. YouTubers
  35. Top 15____
  36. Lessons you learned from ____
  37. A to Z of ____
  38. Tutorial/How to do
  39. Book to movie comparison and contraction
  40. Current goals
  41. Proudest moment(s)
  42. What's inside my fridge
  43. What I eat
  44. A travel post
  45. Empties
  46. Breakfast, Lunch, dinner ideas
  47. Dessert ideas
  48. Snacks Ideas 
  49. Guest Posts
  50. Lists
  51. Back to school (School supplies haul)
  52. Study Tips
  53. Pet peeves
  54. Places I've traveled to
  55. Vacation Recap
Again, if you're a new blogger or just have writer's block, I hope this post helped you come up with posts ideas. 

<3 Amanda 

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Get To Know Me Tag

Hey guys,

The 30th of this month is my two year blogversary and I want to make that post really good so today I'm just posting a random get to know me tag so you guys can learn more about me. I found this Get To Know Me Tag on THE LDN DIARIES. The two editors are Paula and Danny. You should definitely go check out their blog. They post about a variety of things along the lines of beauty, fashion, food, lifestyle,travel and they also have a mens section.


1.What is your middle name? Leigh (Pronounced like Lee)

2. Share you favorite subject in high school? English. I was the type of student who loved grammar,but not the essays.

3. What is your favorite drink? I used to say Dr. Pepper but haven't drank pop in so long I can't remember the last time. Right now, its Sparkling Ice Water

4. What is your favorite song at the moment? I have a few. I'll do a separate post on them.

5. What would you (or have you) name your children? I don't have any children yet but there are few names that I do like

6. Have you participated in any sports? Track in my junior year of high school

7. What is your favorite book? "A Child Called It" is a really sad book but I like it and also "Dear John" is a good one. Nicholas Sparks is a good writer.

8. What is your favorite color? In order: Pink, turquoise/teal, Orange, Purple

9. What is your favorite animal? Dogs 

10. What is your favorite perfume? Hmm.. don't have a favorite

11. What is your favorite holiday? Valentine's Day

12. On a scale from 1 – 10, rate your childhood. Ummm.. a 7?

13. Have you been out of the country? Yes, Canada. Funny story about that.

14. Do you speak any different languages? A little bit of Spanish but only Si, No, Uno, Dos, etc

15. Do you have any siblings? 2 older brothers and 1 younger brother

16. What is your favorite store? Target and Five Below

17. What is your favorite restaurant? It used to be Russ's but now it's Applebee's

18. Did you like school? Some classes 

19. Who are some of your favorite YouTubers? I'll do a separate post about my current favorites 

20. What is your favorite movie? I like "Coffee Shop" on Netflix

21. What are some of your favorite TV shows? Pretty Little Liars, Nailed It, 9-11 and Fosters (although I have to catch up on it when it comes out on Netflix)

22. PC or mac? Umm.. HP

23. What phone do you have? Android

24. How tall are you? 5'7

25. Do you have any pets? My dad's fish named Fish (He named it)

Again, you should definitely go check out THE LDN DIARIES. Their social medias are: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

<3 Amanda 

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Plenty Of Fish Vs. OkCupid

Hey guys,

These days, dating sites has become a big thing because it's convenient. For me, I'm on Plenty of Fish and Okcupid. When I get into a relationship, I used to just delete my profiles but then when I got broken up with, I would have to go back and type everything up again. I've decided that when I get into new relationships I just put "Looking for Friends/Not Looking" depending on the option for that particular site. Since I'm a member of each site, I thought I would compare and contract the two and give my opinion on them. I am only a FREE member so I can't go into all of the things you are able to access if you pay for a membership. DISCLAIMER- These are my OWN opinions (also, this review is based off of the apps not the websites but they are pretty much the same).

Plenty of Fish:

  1.  Messages are of course your messages with other people. If you want to know if they read your message before they respond, then you have to upgrade.
  2. There's an option called "Will Respond" and those are the members that will most likely to respond to you. When you click on that, you will also see "Top Prospects" and those are the members who POF think you will like I suppose.
  3. You can also search (you can have POF access to your device location, which I don't just because) and you can add anything you want to look for in another person like: their age range, education, if they have children or not, if they are a smoker or a drinks, and so on.
  4. Again, if you give POF access to your device location, they can show you who is nearby to you
  5. My Matches- This shows who POF thinks you match up well together. There are other options like your "Ultra Match" that also shows a lost of people and the same for "Chemistry Matches".
  6. You are able to see the people who looked at your profile and you can also look at the list of the people whose profiles you looked at. 
  7. The "Meet Me" part of the site reminds me of Tinder (I'm not on there but I have heard of the left and right object of it). If you're not interested in someone, you swipe left and then if you like someone you swipe right. If there's  a mutual match, then you'll get a notification and it will also be listed under "It's Mutual". 
  8. Favorites- You can put people as your favorites and you also can see who listed you as on of  their favorites.
OkCupid:
  1. Just like POF's feature "Meet Me", OkCupid has something called "Double Take" which is the same exact thing.You swipe left if you're not interested and right if you are. 
  2. "Discovery" is the search part where you can obviously search but there are some options you can't look for unless you're a paid member. You can also see people who you have shared interests with and your top matches. There are additional things on "Discovery" as well that you can check out.
  3. Under "Likes" you can see who you liked and if they liked you back. If you're not on the A-List, you unfortunately can't see who liked you.
  4. Conversations is your messages
The first one I was on a few years ago was OkCupid with the recommendation of one of my brothers.Then a friend of mine told me to try Plenty of Fish. I've found a few relationships through both of the sites. I personally like Plenty of Fish better because there are more things to do. But if you like another dating site better, that's totally fine because we can't always have the same favorites of this world would be boring.

Do you have a favorite online dating website or app?

<3 Amanda

Monday, April 9, 2018

March 2018 Favorites

Hey guys,

So this favorites post might be on the shorter side as I once again didn't pay attention to my favorites of the month but I still have a post for you!

Snacks:
Pirate Booty has definitely become one of my favorite snacks. I'm not a big fan of popcorn so I think this is a great option if you're also not a fan of popcorn.

I've never tried these so I decided why not when they were on sale at the store. They aren't that sour but they are really good!

Beauty:
Now, I don't wash my face every single night as I sometimes want it to be just natural (if that makes sense) but I really like the feeling of my face after using this. My face feels really smooth.

Working Out Apps:
  • 8Fit
  • Be Fit 21
  • Feel The Burn
Game Apps:
  • Paint By Number
  • Voxel
They are both fun games when I'm bored or just laying in bed and I can't fall asleep.

What were some of your March favorites?

<3 Amanda 





Thursday, March 29, 2018

Easter Basket Ideas For Significant Other

Hey guys,

So, I'm unfortunately single right now but I thought this would be a fun post to write. Even though we are too old to get Easter baskets,  I think it's always fun and sweet to create a basket for your significant other or even a friend.  You can go with their favorite color(s), sport team, hobby; there's so many ways you can go. Here are some ideas that you can throw in your significant other or friend's Easter basket:


  • Candy! Who doesn't like candy?! You can always find eggs shaped candies or even bunnies
  • Flip-flops for the summer
  • Sunglasses
  • Their favorite snacks or beverage
  • Some summer activities (A Frisbee, anything beach related)
  • Make-up
  • Bobby pins, Headbands,  Hair ties
  • A DVD of a movie that they want to see or liked in theater 
  • A gift card to one of their favorite places
  • If they are a reader, a book
  • A CD that they have been wanting
  • A cute homemade card saying "SomeBUNNY Loves You"
I hope everyone has a safe and fun Easter Weekend and a fun Spring Break if you're on it!

<3 Amanda 

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Walk Out OR Walk Up


 ( https://www.pinterest.com/pin/556757572657901578/ )

Hey guys,

I know that this isn't' really a recent topic but at the same time it is.  There has unfortunately been school shootings every few weeks it feels like. That's when the big debate of "Walk Out OR Walk Up" came upon.  People think that having teachers carry guns in schools will help decrease the number of shootings but what if a student overcomes a teacher and gets a hold of the gun? Yes, other teachers could have their own gun but if it's just one teacher per class like it normally is then it might be still too late for help to arrive.

I was personally against Walking Out the day it happened and was 110% for Walking Up.  Walking Out won't really do anything in my opinion. Yes, the government will see students and others walk out but they will still do whatever they want to do because they are the government. Walking Out also took learning time out. Even though, it was only for 17 minutes each minute is valuable because everyone wants a good education and want to learn as much as they can.  If I was a student, I would remain in my seat and watch others walk out even if I was told to walk out, I wouldn't. This reminded me of our senior prank where all the seniors planned to walk out of first hour at a particular time. The time came and I remained in my seat along with another senior (and a few others who weren't seniors). They came back after a few minutes and our teacher was pissed. He made us do an additional assignment just because they walked out. The rest of the day, all of the teachers were not happy with us because of them walking out of class. That just show how others make you end up in trouble when you didn't do anything and you were the good student.


 ( https://www.pinterest.com/nolaalma/bullying/ )

I am all for Walking Up to students who might be picked on, bullied and sit alone. I have sadly been bullied all throughout my school years. Bullying needs to end because it does absolutely no good to anyone. I'm tired of seeing posts on Facebook about young kids especially committing suicide because they were getting bullied and think it's the best way of ending getting bullied because it's not.  It's sad to read because they had their whole life ahead of them and now they won't have a future. Kids are getting bullied because of how they dress, act, talk and etc. Who cares if someone dress or talk different than you? That's what makes all of us unique because it would be a boring world if everyone was exactly the same.

I am an advocate for anti-bullying so if you or anyone need someone to talk to, feel free to send me a e-mail and I will e-mail you back . I will try to help you as best as I can because I have been through your shoes before and wished there were more people that I could turn to when I was younger.


<3 Amanda