2 year blogiversary. a month later.

yep i'm would be the blogger girl who totally forgot about her year blogiversary. it was on november 7th. I thought about it a week or so before then but it came and went and now its december 7th. well better a month later then never right? ;)
I've been blogging for 2 years. (you can read my very first post here.its not much though ;)
here are some scattered thoughts about blogging. I have a terrible headache right now.

when it comes down to it, i LOVE blogging. I love the fact that there is a place where I can share my thoughts and ideas. write about random things. without pressure to  i love that its a place where you meet new people even from different parts of the country. you build friendships. and discover you are not the only one who loves soundtracks and such. blogging is something that can grow with you and be oh so special. I really love how i'll blog about something random and think "i'm sure no one else feels like i do about such and such" or "no one will comment on this". yeah right. those random fun posts are usually the most popular.You get encouragement and care from people you may haven't even met in real life. Also i think that blogging helps me get my thoughts organized and define what i believe or what i really think.
Blogging is an amazing thing and i'm so glad that I discovered it when i did! God has blessed me SO much through this place. thank you so much to YOU my friends for reading my blog. you are awesome.

Here's to many more happy years! :) 

much love
Samarah♥

thankful.

Hey all! thank you all for your get well wishes! After switching medicines because of an allergic reaction and lots of rest and cough drops, the strep is all gone :) I have to say I'm glad to get back into a regular routine after a week of craziness! I can hardly believe its ALMOST December! goodness gracious!

back to Thanksgiving, i'm linking up with the ABC's of Thanks over at Finding Joy.
here's what I'm thankful for! {with the exception of family, friends, God, food etc. because they are kinda a given ;}

A-Advent

B- Batman

C-Christmas

D-down blankets/comforters

E-every time my dad says i love you

F-Feeling inspired

G-Green Bay Packers

H- hoodies

I-inside jokes

J-just being yourself

K-kind words

L- late nights

M- movies

N-new clothes

O-Olympics

P-Puzzles

Q-Quotes

R-raspberries

S-Sundays

T- today

U-U.S.

V-vegetable soup

W-wild berry lemonade

X-{i cannot think of anything for this one}

Y-{Greek} yogurt

Z-zoo

I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving! 

well i'm off to enjoy some yummy homemade turkey(left over from thanksgiving) vegetable soup! :) 

much love♥

thanksgiving & Christmas and some friday favorites

hope you all are having a good friday night! it made smile to read the comments on my last post knowing i have some sundtrack loving soul sisters out there ;)

 when did thanksgiving just happen to be less than 1 week away already?! really. and please don't start even start about Christmas quite yet{which is only around 36 days away! but still.} . i LOVE Christmas. love it. and I really want to savor the time and enjoy. after Thanksgiving. It seems like every year thanksgiving keeps getting pushed further and further back on every one's burner. its all about Christmas. yes while it is super special, thanksgving is too. its a day set aside to specifically thank God for the many things He's given us. Let me dwell on that for a little while then after thanksgiving i'll join in all the Christmas cheer and fun ;) anywho, those are my thoughts. What do you think about all this thanksgiving/Christmas jazz?


here are a few favorite things from this week.

from pinterest

from pinterest

loving THIS post on Jessica's blog tonight.

i wanna go here. 

sang this song at church on sunday. powerful.





how are you gonna spend your weekend? Well tonight I'm finishing up chatting with my dear friend while listening to some Lecrae(take a listen.) and now I'm off to go watch some tv. And tomorrow I'm hoping to spend time with my family and getting some things done here and there :)

happy weekend friends! 

♥Samarah

hey mama, don't want no drama

via

hey all! just a quick post to say that I've been doing much better since saturday. i was really exhausted and in a lot of pain and it took sunday to really get myself back up again. (although I am having some bad back/hip/ right leg pain. :/ arghh!) Thank you for all your prayers and sweet comments! y'all are THE best. :)
I've been having a pretty okay week over all. I'm doing good about staying on top of my game with working out and eating healthy and school. those are my main focuses right now :) I feel a lot less stressed and overwhelmed over all and I know its all God because there is no way I could do this on my own!


I have some ideas for posts and I hope to blog them soon :) I'm wanting to blog...
some confessions--I love just laying it all out there. I'm love to be real and honest. :)
about my health, working out and eating choices and changes that have been hard/awesome
some photography
my thoughts about Thor[yess!!! ;], Prince of Persia, and National Treasure
workout/healthy eating encouragement
current favorite tunes


i'm not going to say when they'll be blogged about but hopefully soon ;) *excited*

just FYI: I think I just died. like seriously. Lindsay from Aisle to Aloha started following my blog tonight. She totally made my day. more like week. She is super sweet, gorgeous and funny! she is a talented artist and has some fabulous art pieces. Her husband is currently away working in the Navy but is returning back to Lindsay VERY soon! I'm so hyped for her! I love her and her blog. Go check it out.

and a huge thanks to Lindsay for following me!

well, i'm off to workout and then either go to head to bed or watch something... haha ;)

much love♥♥

i'm so much in need of pep music I'm listening to High School Musical {a.k.a I'm back}

I was working on this post yesterday but then I had to go and when I came back to it, I couldn't find the draft! I thought it was lost but I found it today :) so most of this is from yesterday...

hey all!! I think I'm ready to dive into the whole blogging thing again! :) and yes the post title is true. as I type I'm listening to Getcha Head in the Game. I was tired of Air1, Klove and all those songs and I needed something different. I don't care for the HSM movies but some of the songs are perfect for a im-tired-of-all-those-christian-songs-i've-listened-to-a-hundred-times-i-need-something-peppy-and-corny times ;) Not that I don't like Christian music but I need some variety :]

Ok well, lets catch up on what's been happening in my life :) hope I don't bore you with this part of the post!

My mom is in India. its the first time she's been out of the country or been on a plane longer than 2 hours but she's been able to email and few times and she is doing really well :) I'm so excited that God is using her to show His love and mercy to the people of India! She is so very dear to me so it was kinda hard "letting" her go but I have such a God given peace about it all. I can't wait to see pictures and hear all about her adventure :]


I've had some really fun times with some sweet friends over the past few weeks. I'm so blessed to have such fun and amazing friends. I've gotten to hang out with some of them, chatting, playing games, eating and watching movies(they have become my current favorites ;) I had heard of all these movies that a few years old that are so good and and I felt like i was in the dark for not knowing what they were talking about. So, my friend(s)  introduced me to these movie. We swooned, laughed and {almost} cried. ;]

heard so much about this movie and i really liked it. great mix of romance, comedy and adventure :]

hehe, now I know where this quote came from ;)

I'd seen this before but i watched it anyway. we laughed a lot during this one :)

we haven't finished this one yet but I'm really liking it so far!

I've been doing Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred every other day and trying my best to eat gluten free.

its not easy people! mannn....I've really wanted to skip a day or eat ____ that's not gluten free but when I have I've suffered :/ So, I'm taking a hint and pushing myself to work every other day despite my tiredness or laziness and its paying off! I'm seeing results from working out and I'm loving it ;] I just started Level 2 of the 30DS and lemme say, you don't know what true working out is and the feeling like your body is on fire until you've done Jillian Michael's! I'm serious, I felt like I was gonna die. And I even stopped lots of times and took breaks for a a min or 2, and a few times I just skipped the exercise. And I still felt like i was dying. Jillian even said close to  the end of the workout "I want you to feel like you are going to die." yep, I've got that down. But its so worth it. I feel energized and happy when I'm done. Even more so when I stick to eating gluten free which is difficult but I know its the best thing for me. Gluten is not worth being sick in the bathroom for an hour and having a horrible headache! :) I've also had some of my dear friends keep me accountable for doing it. That has really motivated me, knowing that they are praying for me and are gonna ask if I've done it! ;) If you are having trouble staying consistent with your exercising/eating healthy/ bible reading etc. ask your friends for prayer and accountability! :)

I know I keep saying my blog design is coming soon and its not coming :/ Sky and I are working on it :) You guys have been so patient! It should be here by the end of the month! around when spring should be here!! :) I'm so ready for warm weather! oh and along with the new look I'm gonna do a "series" of posts about who I am and what I believe. I've gotten lots of new followers so I thought it would be nice to go over that again :)

Hmm.. I think that's about it. I have lots of ideas for posts and I'm gonna start working on them :] I'm off to workout!

Hope you are having a great week!!

much love,
Samarah

♫ i wanna be in the background♫ & baby Lily ♥

Ok, so I wasn't gonna post any tonight but I heard this song on Air1 and I was hooked so of course I had to share with y'all ;) I've had it on repeat all night and its stuck in my head ;] Please take a listen, please. This song has a nice clean beat, not overwhelming busy vocals and noises, and a powerful message. I really like hip hop/rap but I get really annoyed and tired of the irritating beats and overwhelming voices/rhymes. This a perfect one for me =)
Its Background by Lecrae featuring C-Lite.

I could play the background

I could play the background

'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way

So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?

So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?

And I could play the background, background

And you could take the lead

Also, the lovely Mandy over at She Breathes Deeply is bringing sweet Lily into the world! Earlier, her hubby Kyle posted that she was in labor! :] I'm so excited for them to meet their precious baby girl :) Please pray for them during this joyful(but also painful) time! You can leave them so love here. 

much love,

Samarah 

{don't get excited, this isn't a "real" post} this is a picture post!! =)

here are some pictures to keep you busy ;) I/my family are really busy but I'm gonna try to post tomorrow or Thursday and catch y'all up on what's been happening in my life =] You guys are being so patient with me! thank you so much♥

my hand looks really weird...

my new itouch case I got off of Etsy!!

switchfoot!!!! ♥♥

love this one :]

what i didn't want to see this past weekend...

really like how this one turned out!

this is my FAVORITE. probably of all time. its Peanut :) ♥♥

much love,

Samarah

short blog break :]

I've been having a fabulous birthday week! I've spent time with some great friends and had lots of fun :) I'm looking forward to a movie night with 2 dear friends tomorrow night ♥ I am so blessed with such awesome girls :)

Thanks for all the sweet comments that you all have been leaving! and thank you to all my followers! you all brighten my days and you don't know how much that means to me♥

ah, I'm a bit sad to write this but it needs to be done. I need to take a short break from blogging for maybe about a week. I have a lot going on.... a ton of this..

and sometimes I might look like this.... ;P

isn't this the cutest picture?? :]

I need to get working out regularly and eating gluten free apart of my life. I keep pushing it aside and I'm suffering the consequences.

I also need to be in the Word more. Reading the Bible everyday. even if its just a verse or 2. I need to pray everyday, for me, others, and how He can use me to be a light in this dark world.

Last but NOT least, I'll be spending time with my family and friends which is something I haven't been doing much of but recently realized that I need to change that :) God has given me an amazing family and wonderful friends and I want to invest my time with them :)

I still might visit some blogs and comments but I won't be posting any. I'll have lots of pictures to post and different topics I wanna blog about so I'm excited bout that :) and hopefully when I come back, my new blog design will be up! Lulu is taking a break till April so lovely Sky is going to give my blog a new look :]

I'll leave you with these songs that encourage me so much :)







thank you so much for bearing with me! :o)

much love,

Samarah

{picture credit: we heart it and Microsoft clip art} 

♥this beautiful life♥

Life is beautiful. because Christ is beautiful and mighty and I'm so thankful that He gave me this life to live and glorify Him and love others. Ah, the gift of love is beautiful and fulfilling. I'm SO blessed to to have many people I can love and who love me.

Today I am celebrating life and beauty that God gives us :) 

Day 28: Hopes, Dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days-

I pray in the next year I would draw closer to Christ and serve and glorify Him in everything I do and say. That I would live my life out loud and love like crazy. To reach out to those who God puts in my life who are in need and that I would show mercy and compassion. 

I would be healthy and fit and would feel confident about myself. Continue to be gluten free {almost, just staying away from flours, breads, pasta etc.} and working out regularly. Find joy and strength through the pain. Do my school work will diligence and perseverance. 

And that I would take time and enjoy the everyday blessings and pleasures :) 

 

 thank you so much for all the happy birthday notes :) they made me smile♥  y'all are awesome :) 

much love, 

Samarah

catching up on 28 days (part 2) and a giveaway you DO NOT wanna miss!!

Be sure not to miss the bit about an amazing giveaway! :]

Day 20: A hobby of yours- 

soccer

i've played for every year for 7 years. and I love it. love the team work that it takes to play a good game. involves your whole body and its great exercise. and its so much fun :) 

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people-

I can be me, like no one else! :]
I'm strong willed person and I don't fall under the pressure of this world to be someone I'm not. I'm true to myself and I don't care if I'm an Outcast. Kerrie Robert's song "Outcast" is my anthem right now because I'm having a hard time fitting in at church and with some other groups. I'm definitely not the popular one, probably the least popular but I'm ok with that. I'm gonna keep my head , stand my ground and be who I am because God made me who I am and He has big plans for me. I am alive and beautiful in Him :) and so are YOU!
I'm not living for them I'm living for something better! 

Day 22: A website-

I can't think of an interesting one so I'm just gonna say Air1 Radio because they play some awesome music. they've introduced me to new artists and i've been so blessed by them :)  


I'm going ahead and doing tomorrows :)

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered- 

this kinda goes with day 21.

I want to be remembered as a person who loved Christ and lived for Him and because of Him. Who showed some crazy love to the world and didn't fit in. Was an outcast for Christ. :] 

Alright, now onto the amazing giveaway! its pretty amazing and you definitely don't wanna miss it.

Ilene at much love, illy in honor of her blogiversary is giving away 5 lovely items! to 5 lucky much love, illy readers! :]  I just love her blog. she's gorgeous for one thing and I could spend hours on her blog reading about her love for Christ, family, friends, her Ryan and Chicago ;) I mean this picture just says it all. doesn't it just wanna make you run straight to her blog?! don't deny it. it does.

She is giving away some super cute things that any girl would l.o.v.e to get her hands on! seriously they are adorable. and you could be one of those lucky winners! click here to enter! 

I'm struggling a bit with getting school done. I just feel overwhelmed and so tired. I'm sorry to whine but its true. 

hope you all are having a better day/week than I am! 
much love,
Samarah

New camera= pictures!!!! & Day 13: A pastime favorite

 first of all, thank you to all the girls who have joined me in the Crazy Love Challenge :) ♥

eeekk.... we got the camera last night!! :) its pretty amazing :] There is going to be a lot more pictures on this lil' blog for sure! I've been having some fun with it, here's some pictures :)
except for the first 3, all these are straight outta the camera :)

can't decide whether I like the black & white or...

or the sepia...

or the cross picnik...

which one do you like best??

ah lovely algebra.. not.

don't worry... I don't cheat by looking at the answer key ;]

I've received all my wonderful prizes! :) 

I LOVE my bag. I took took it to church this mornin' :) 

love

gonna read Do Hard Things then read Start Here :)
and can't wait to spend my gift at target!

the Freedom cd, gonna put it on my ipod and take a listen:)

i know its not good to love materiel things but i love this thing...

sweet Bailey... love this dog!

well that's all the pictures for now but be sure there will be more! :)

Faith over at Something Fun is having a photography contest in honor of her 100th post! This is my first time entering a photography contest so I'm excited! the theme is Nature. I'm entering this picture :) i took it on a hike and there's no editing. simply beautiful isn't it?!

if you wanna enter,go here!

Day 13: A pastime favorite- 

pastime- an activity that occupies one's spare time pleasantly

well honestly I love kickin' back with some of my favorite snacks and watchin' a favorite tv show or movie with my parents or friends or playing around with some photography ;]

I'm off to get ready for the upcoming week!

with love,

Samarah

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding.

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding-

honestly I've been kinda stressing over this, during this morning because I couldn't really think of a song. sooo I'm not going to make it a big deal.  just gonna give you these 2 songs and that's it ;] 

I really like Say Won't You Say by Jennifer Knapp. I remember singing that song with my dad when I was little but I can't find a video for it :/ bummer! You could google it or whatever and see if you find something :) its a great song.  

Jessica posted this song today and I really like it! so go here and listen to it :) 


Well we are taking my dad out to Chick-Fil-A tonight for his birthday :] hope you are having a great weekend ♥

with love,

Samarah


{and there is a special crazy love post for Valentine's Day coming up in the next few days!}

Day 9 & 10, new camera and new blogger :)

 First of all, thank you SO much for all your sweet comments on my last post {really on the past few posts}!! you girls are so encouraging and sweet. love you all so much :)


sorry I'm a bit behind on the 28 day challenge. I was really feeling bad yesterday, I even had to stay home from Latin class. I think I've only missed 1 other day in the entire 2 years I've been taking Latin. Today I was exhausted. exhausted. I took two 1 hour naps. that's NOT like me. We even had 3 extra kids(almost 1, 3, and 5 y.o.) and I managed to sleep for 2 hours amidst the very loud little people. I still feel really weak and tired. I didn't get any school done :/ I really hope I'm not getting sick.

Day 9-A photo you took- 

this is a hard one because I've taken like tons of photos :P I have lots of ones that I'm quite proud of that I took of my siblings and my "adopted" sisters but I can't post them on here because their faces are just too cute to share with the blogging world ;] So I'll choose another one (or 2 or 3) 

none of these have been edited. straight out of the camera :)

I really love this one. my good friend's converse :) i really love the purple

ahh the lovely sight of spring!

took this on a hike. love God's creation

pure beauty

having a little fun ;) 

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago. 

I can't do this one or tomorrow's because I don't post pictures of myself (my face) on my blog. Maybe in the future but not now. I'm just too gorgeous, ya'll aren't ready for me yet ;] But for Day 11 I will post a picture of me but not showing my face. 


Ok onto the exciting camera news!!! We(my family) are getting a new camera! the one we have now is really old and the zoom stinks. see? 

We've gotten by with it and gotten some really good shots but its just time to look for a better one. One of the reasons we are getting I'll share with ya another time. so excited :) so be on the look out for that! anywho, I'm really pumped about the one we're getting because it has a super sweet zoom and stuff like that. I will be able to put off my efforts for a more "professional" camera because this one is sooo sweet.and the cost is really reasonable.  I really want to explore photography. I love beauty and photography can capture it. wanna see it??!! here its is....

 Nikon Coolpix L110

ain't she a beauty??

I'm really excited to get my lil' hands on it!! ;D And getting it means that I'll post a lot more pictures! :]

I want to welcome Stephanie, Emily's {Grace Like Rain}sister to the blogging world! Check out her blog, While I'm Waiting. She is super sweet and her blog posts are encouraging and inspiring! :)

hope you are having a good night and I don't know about you but I'm glad tomorrow is friday! oh yeah, its my dad's birthday! :D I'll be doing a special post for that ;)

much love,
♥Samarah