Bucket Lists and Blogging

I realize I didn't post yesterday, but in my defense, we are currently in the middle of a kitchen over hall and we didn't have Wi-fi.  You can see a few shots of our progress on my Instagram @agirlandmerle and tell me what you think.  Neither of us have done anything like this, but Tj doesn't doubt me and we trust each others' opinions so it works well for us.

I missed Sunday's prompt which was: Your Fall Bucket List
 

 

I know, it's your basic white girl bucket list, but I love this time of year and I try to do all these things when I can.  I do live for seasonal TV specials, and It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! is one of my all time favorites.  I just love pumpkins.  I currently have seven pumpkin nicknacks in our living room.  Side note: technically, I didn't miss a day, as I am writing this Sunday night.

Monday's prompt is: 10 Things You'd Tell Yourself When You First Started Blogging.

Ok, I love this one.  Here goes...

1. At least one person out there can relate to you.  I learned this when I posted about my divorce.
2. It will indulge your inner pen pal.  I loved pen-pals in grade school and between all the social media that you get involved with, you can talk to people all over the country.
3. It will be very cathartic.  From divorce to weight loss, I've been able to share some stories I would be too scared to talk about in person.
4. Don't worry what other people think.  When I first started, I was constantly doing link ups and crafting/DIY to be able to join link ups, that I got burned out fast.  I wanted to blog for myself and forcing all these daily chores didn't help me do that.
5. Be honest.  I wrote on Real Suburbia about how I used to hide in my bathroom and binge on Taco Bell.  Because that sh** really happened.
6. Practice your selfies.  I will freely admit that I am one of those girls who takes at least seven pictures before I find one that I can kind of work with.  Know your angles.
7. Give credit where it's due.  Using other people's pins or pictures can be a little tricky.  I used a marshmallow recipe I found on Pinterest and linked back to the original post and she immediately thanked me and was glad I used her recipe.  I didn't step on any toes.  Whew.
8. Go on your own.  I'm bad about not having faith in myself.  When I lost Sarah, I immediately replaced her with Jamie.  I just didn't think I could do it alone.  But I can, obvi.
9. You don't have to have a Twitter.  I'll admit, Twitter is still confusing to me.  I don't like it and when I switched to AG&M, I ditched it.  I have enough going on.
10. You will make the most tremendous friends you would have never gotten a chance to meet.  I have so many friends via social media, but I've gotten to meet some in real life, and....I'm tearing up just thinking about it.  I met Adrian, who is the most true blue friend.  She's everything my life was lacking and she filled this positive void that I didn't even know I had.  Stephanie, who I got to experience her first pregnancy with, even though my life kind of got in the way.  Laurie and Jess from Ruthie & Rose, who have checked on me and supported me and talked me into my first pair of Tory Burch shoes.  The expanse of a blogging network has been so instrumental in giving me an outlet and a place to rest my words and experiences.  And as a last bullet point, You Will Not Regret Blogging.