list

101 in 1001: Beginning

Abi Leah15 Comments

Hey, everyone! So today I’m going to start a new project for myself called the 101 in 1001. It’s basically a list of 101 things that I want to do in 1001 days (2.75 years). I wanted it to end on my 21st birthday as a little “birthday present” for myself, so I’m going to start today!

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Start date: Friday May 11, 2018
End date: Friday February 05, 2021

A healthy lifestyle

  1. Eat gluten free for 2 weeks
  2. Work out twice a week for three months in a row
  3. Eat meatless for 3 months
  4. Take dance lessons
  5. Become plastic free
  6. Go to bed by 10 every night for 2 weeks
  7. Get up at 5 every morning for 2 weeks
  8. Go through my clothes and donate what I don’t wear
  9. Learn 5 new recipes
  10. Go through all of my photos and purge the duplicates
  11. Spend at least 15 minutes outside every day for a month
  12. Bike somewhere (anywhere)
  13. Go skating again
  14. Delete unwanted emails
  15. Make an emergency kit for the car
  16. Run in a race
  17. Complete a 30 Day Squat Challenge
  18. Go a day without my phone
  19. Go a week without my phone
  20. Go a month without social media
  21. Complete 10 random acts of kindness
  22. Try to go “car-less” for a week
  23. Volunteer at an event
  24. Be able to do a split
  25. Work out in the morning for 2 weeks

For family and friends

  1. Quilt a blanket for my aunt
  2. Take a trip with my mom
  3. Send 50 handwritten letters
  4. Send a “just for fun” package to my friends
  5. Throw someone a surprise party
  6. Sing around a fire pit with some friends
  7. Go to 5 sports games
  8. Finish the 2017 scrapbook
  9. Have an early morning Bible study outside
  10. Visit a high school friend at college
  11. Give someone a handmade gift
  12. Send birthday cards
  13. Take my sisters on “sister-dates”
  14. Volunteer with my family a Saturday morning
  15. Start a future hope chest
  16. Reconnect with an old friend
  17. Start a birthday tradition

Exploring the world

  1. Go to a drive-in/outdoor movie
  2. Go camping
  3. Take a roadtrip
  4. Visit a city I’ve never been to before
  5. Go to a flea market
  6. See a shooting star
  7. Watch the sun set, stay up all night, and then see the sun rise
  8. Play an instrument on the beach
  9. Have a picnic
  10. Explore downtown Charlotte
  11. Study abroad
  12. Speak French with a native
  13. Go horseback riding
  14. Go on a spontaneous trip
  15. Learn sign language (enough to have a small conversation)
  16. Become fluent in French
  17. Find a church by the university
  18. Go sailing
  19. Go to a lavender farm
  20. Learn to identify 5 constellations

A little bit of me

  1. Read the entire Bible again
  2. Memorize 25 Bible verses
  3. Read every Jane Austen novel
  4. Finish watching all of the Doctor Who seasons
  5. Watch 20 documentaries
  6. Complete a 30 day photo challenge
  7. Have a photoshoot
  8. Vote in every election
  9. Sew a quilt for myself
  10. Put $5 into savings for every goal accomplished
  11. Fill a sketchbook with doodles
  12. Visit my high school teachers after I graduate
  13. Paint on a canvas
  14. Memorize a chocolate chip cookie recipe
  15. Learn a poem by heart
  16. Attend the midnight premiere of a movie
  17. Read a book in a day
  18. Celebrate Easter really big
  19. Read 5 classic novels
  20. Update my makeup
  21. Have a spa day
  22. Spend an entire day watching Disney movies
  23. Build a blanket fort a read under it all day
  24. Sell something on Etsy
  25. Buy something from Etsy
  26. Make a new vision board
  27. Make a reading corner

Scribbles and words

  1. Write 5 more poems
  2. Journal every day for a month
  3. Compose and write down 2 new songs
  4. Write 3 “How-to” blog posts
  5. Write 10 more devotional blog posts
  6. Write a letter for myself to open when 1001 days are over
  7. Guest post for another blogger
  8. Map a book I love
  9. Reach 500 followers on my blog
  10. Write a wishlist of places I want to visit before I die
  11. Go to a book signing
  12. Write a new list when the 1001 days are over

I am so excited about my goals for this list! I will be sure to share an update every couple of months but you can check my progress on the “101 in 1001” page located at the top of my website.

Have you ever done a 101 in 1001 challenge? If so, how did it go? If not, would you want to do one? I can’ wait to hear from you! Have a great day. :)

signi

My Christmas Wish List 2017

Abi Leah7 Comments

Christmas is 46 days away! Have you starting shopping yet? I have already bought all of the gifts for my family but I’m still working on the ones for my friends. Here is my Christmas Wish List, including links for items in case you need some inspiration. ;)

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Something I Want

Something I Need

Something To Wear

Something To Read

What are some things that are on your Christmas wish list?
Which stores do you go to buy gifts?

signi

Happy Best Friends Day! + 23 Things To Do With Your Friends This Summer

Abi Leah9 Comments

Happy Best Friends Day everyone! I hope you get to spend some time with all of your friends today but, if not, here’s a list of 23 things you can do with your friends this summer! :)

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  1. Hang out at the pool.
  2. Have a friends photoshoot.
  3. Volunteer somewhere together for the day.
  4. Road trip!
  5. Go horseback riding.
  6. Attend a floating lantern festival.
  7. Make homemade icecream.
  8. Have a paint fight.
  9. Go camping together.
  10. Have a weeklong sleepover.
  11. Go thrift shopping together.
  12. Make a friendship playlist.
  13. Make friendship bracelets.
  14. Have a picnic.
  15. Start a book club together.
  16. Go to a music festival.
  17. Stargaze.
  18. Try out new crafts.
  19. Play with animals at a local shelter.
  20. Make a summer scrapbook.
  21. Go hiking to a waterfall.
  22. Tie-dye shirts.
  23. Go back to school shopping together!

I can’t wait to try all of these things out with my friends! I know it’ll be a lot of fun. :) If you try any of the things listed with your friends, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you! :) Have an amazing day!

signi

25 Things I Love About Spring

Abi Leah2 Comments

Hey, guys! So yesterday was the first day of Spring! YAY!  If you know anything about me, you know that I LOVE Spring. The flowers, the weather, the patterns; everything is so beautiful this time of year! There are so many things to like about spring, I decided to make a list. So here are 25 things I love about spring.

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  1. Easter service at church!
  2. Seeing everyone outside.
  3. Sitting outside on the patio with a good book.
  4. Baby animals!
  5. Being about to put away the big winter coats.
  6. Opening the windows to the fresh breeze.
  7. Pulling out the shorts after a long stretch of winter.
  8. Easter break with family and friends! How perfect is that? :)
  9. Pastel colored everything!
  10. Picnics by the lake complete with books, iced tea, and kites.
  11. Bike rides down to the park.
  12. The soft, fresh feeling in the air.
  13. All of the beautiful blooming flowers! I mean just look at these;
  14. Waking up to the birds. Such a beautiful sound. <3
  15. Fresh vegetables and fruits!
  16. Looking for four-leaf clovers in the backyard.
  17. Travel opportunities.
  18. Spring smells.
  19. Rainy mornings.
  20. The fresh green of the new leaves.
  21. Beautiful weather.
  22. Watching the clouds roll across the clear blue sky.
  23. Summer on the horizon.
  24. Tulips, tulips, and more tulips. :)
  25. The sense of rebirth and beginnings that fill the air during springtime.

What do you love about spring? Thanks so much for reading! I hope you have a great day!

signi

“To-Bake List”- Pi Day Edition

Abi Leah4 Comments

Hey, everyone! Happy Pi Day! I hope it’s been a great day full of, well, pie. ;) My sister made a pie for the family and it was delicious. Here are 5 pie recipes that I think would be awesome, including my absolute favorite pie!

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  1. Chocolate Pie – I absolutely LOVE this pie! My mom makes this pie every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas and it’s wonderful! Sprinkle on some powdered sugar and a little dollop of whipped cream. Mmm :)
  2. Mini Pecan Pies – Pecan pies are a favorite in the south. I haven’t tried this recipe but it looks really good!
  3. Caramel Apple Pie Cookies – Just because it’s pie doesn’t mean you don’t have to be creative! These apple pie cookies look so good!
  4. Triple Layer Oreo Pie – This yummy pie takes a long time to make but from the reviews, it’ll worth it.
  5. Apple Cranberry Pie – If you like apple pie or cranberry pie, you’ll like this pie. ;)

Let me know if you try any of these recipes! Happy Pi day! ;)

signi

10 Things On My Bucket List

Abi Leah6 Comments

Hey, everyone! How are you? Today was AMAZING! My a cappella team got to meet with a college a cappella team to learn and sing with them. It was a great experience and we learned a lot about getting the songs to feel how they should sound.

Also today, I wanted to share 10 things on my bucket list. My actual bucket list is very long. If you want to check out the entire list, click here. ;)

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  1. Learn sign language. – I think sign language is really cool! Some of my friends know a bit of sign language so maybe they can help me. ;)
  2. Spend an entire day watching Disney movies. – Disney movies are really fun! There are so many that I haven’t seen in a long time and would love to see again!
  3. Have a beach bonfire. – The beach is so beautiful at night with all of the stars. It would be a lot of fun to have a bonfire with some friends on the beach under the stars.
  4. Visit Mount Rushmore. – Mount Rushmore is a must-see.
  5. Visit all seven continents. – I love traveling! It would be awesome to visit every continent.
  6. Go to a midnight movie premiere. – I’ve always wanted to do this. :)
  7. Stargaze on a roof. – I LOVE watching the stars!
  8. Participate in a color run. – I’ve seen pictures of color runs all of the internet and it looks like a lot of fun! My cousin, C, ran in a color run and she said it was really cool.
  9. Read 1000 books. – Reading is a great thing to do. :)
  10. Write a book. – I really like writing. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of writing and publishing a book someday.

What are some things on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great day! :)

signi

Hello 2017! + New Year Goals

Abi Leah6 Comments

Happy New Year! Can you believe it’s 2017?! It’s gone by way too fast. But then again, I say that every year. You’d think I’d be used to time changing by now.

Okay, so I’m going to start off by saying I don’t like using the word “resolutions”. I feel like they should be more of goals because it doesn’t matter to me whether I meet them or not, as long as there are progress and growth.

With that “mini-rant” out of the way, here are my 2017 New Year Goals. My theme for 2017 is growth so this year I’m making goals that will hopefully help me better myself.

2017goals Continue reading →

12 Things I Love About Christmas

Abi Leah2 Comments

Hey, everyone! How are you? Are you having a good weekend so far? I’ve finally finished all of my exams! Yay! And now, it’s time to relax. :) I am so excited about Christmas coming up. Here are twelve things I love about Christmas.

twelve-things-i-love-about-christmas

1. The beautiful lights

I love walking down the street looking at all of the beautiful lights that our neighborhood puts up every year. It’s so beautiful.

2. Christmas Eve Service at Church

This is my absolute favorite thing about Christmas. Looking around my church during the Candlelight service, everything is so pretty!

3. Reading the Christmas Story

Jesus’ birth is the whole reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Without Him, there wouldn’t be a Christmas so, reading what the Bible says about His birth is one of the most important traditions of Christmas.

4. Putting up decorations

I love helping my family decorate the Christmas tree and the fireplace for Christmas. It doesn’t feel like Christmas until all of the decorations are up.

5. Christmas music

What is Christmas without Christmas music?

6. Remembering all of God’s blessings

I love this time of year because we are getting ready for the New Year but also celebrating Jesus who came as a Baby for us. During Christmastime, I like to remember what God has taught me, how He has changed my life and how He had everything in His hands even when I didn’t realize it.

7. Christmas parties with my friends

This year, I was blessed to have made so many friends. We all got together this week to have a Christmas party and it was SO much fun!

8. Yummy food

My mom makes an AMAZING chocolate pie every year for Christmas; it’s so good! She also makes a great Christmas dinner with thread meat and potatoes and salad. My sister loves to bake so around Christmastime, she bakes up a storm and keeps me full with plenty of treats. :)

9. Having family over

I’m pretty sure this is a given but family is amazing. :)

10. Writing Christmas cards

Every year, I help my parents but designing our Christmas cards and writing the addresses on the envelopes.

11. Having a break from school ;)

I love going to school but I also love having a break from school to just relax and breathe without having a pile of assignments staring at me every day. Hehe

12. Giving gifts

I love shopping for / making presents for my family and friends. I love seeing their reaction when they open up their gifts. It’s a lot of fun. :)

Well, there you go! What are some things that you love about Christmastime? I hope you all have a great day and a fantastic Christmas Break. :)

signi

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“To-Bake List” – Hot Chocolate Edition

Abi Leah3 Comments

If you’re a fan of the Polar Express, than you’ll remember the song, “Hot Chocolate”, which is the song that’s stuck in my head right now. :) Anyway, hot chocolate is a big thing for me during the Christmas season but I thought, ‘What else can I do with hot chocolate to make other things more awesome? (awesomer? is that a word?)’. So I did some research and found these great recipes!

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  1. Hot Chocolate Cookies – These cookies look really gooey and delicious.I’d love to try these with mini marshmellows instead of the big ones.
  2. Hot Chocolate French Toast – My sister loves french toast so this recipe is a must in my family. ;)
  3. Hot Chocolate Fudge – I think these are my favorite. They look so light and fluffy!
  4. Hot Fudge Cheesecake Brownies – Brownies + Cheescake + Fudge = BEST THING EVER! Okay so I know these don’t have hot chocolate in them but it has hot fudge which is just as good.
  5. Hot Chocolate Cake – This cake looks so amazing! My sister would totally eat it all in one sitting. XD

 Don’t these look delicious! Let me know if you tried any of the recipes and how you liked them! Have a great day!

signi

Things I’m Thankful For & Other Words

Abi LeahLeave a comment

Hey, everyone! Are you excited for Thanksgiving? I can’t wait to spend the day with my family. :) I love Thanksgiving. I love spending the day thinking out all of my blessings. There is so much in this world to be thankful for.

thankful

A loving God who saved me when I didn’t deserve it • Wonderful friends • A loving family • Holidays • Free days • School • Great weather • Writing buddies • Music • Memories • Lessons learned • Yummy food • Amazing books • My church family • The little things in life • Vacations • Opportunities • Beautiful flowers • Season Changing • Photography • Art • Heat in the Winter • Air conditioning in the Summer • A warm home • Adorable pets • Tea and Hot Cocoa • Answered prayers • Caring teachers • Healing • All of you who take the time to read my blog every day! Thank you!

I will be taking a blogging break for a bit but I’ll be back in a week or so. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, safe travels, and a great vacation.

signi

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  ~ Colossians 3:15

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