Once again I’m posting this one nearly into October… my bad. Let me tell you, sometimes it’s hard to keep it fresh and find something inspiring with the rush of work from each day. I am barely left time to do things that I enjoy during the weekdays, but I try. I admit I may not be reaching very many people with these posts at all, but trying new things is not only for readers benefits but for me as well. I feel a purpose in writing about things I’m into or feel like I am telling someone about the many thoughts that run through my mind. I love to capture them and turn them over and over till I can understand myself better.
Anyways, onto the post. This is how I’ve been keeping busy this month in my own time.
Podcasts:
–Mind Massage: You can find this podcast on Spotify, of course. The first time I listened to an episode was a weekday after getting home from work. I walked into my room looked at my yoga mat, rolled my shoulders and thought let’s do this. I felt the tension in my shoulders from a long day and I wanted to be rid of it.
When I did some local community college for my p.e. credit I took yoga. Best choice ever (out of my options). I’ve been doing yoga ever since. I don’t frequent in yoga studios, but just take it slow on my own. Only in college, I had at least two friends that I would do yoga with, in my dorm room. I’m not a pro or anything, but I did know enough to be the sensei. I would turn off the lights, put on the Christmas lights along the wall, turn on my speakers and find some relaxing instrumental music, and then I would lead my friend through the Sun Salutation.
Just like all those times, I set the mood, centered myself on my yoga mat and scrolled through Spotify for something new and then I found it. The title is very appealing, Mind Massage, I love massages, so perfect!
I sat with a straight spine, my legs crisscrossed, with both of my palms facing the ceiling, and listened to the episode called, “This week I will listen to my body.” I just sat there focused on my breathing and rolled my shoulders as I cleared my mind. After listening to the podcast, where she was talking about instead focusing on the complaining body parts, focus on the other places that feel “normal.” Focus on the good instead of the pain or discomfort. I did as she instructed and really listened to how my body felt as I began the Sun Salutation. By the time I finished, I felt a little lighter and ready to take on the next day.
Movies:
Spider-Man Into the spider-verse: Literally epic. If you can’t tell I’m a fan. It’s taken me this long to finally watch ANOTHER spider man movie, I guess, I wasn’t sure what to make of this version, especially, as a new animated version. I’m kind of an oldy but a goody kind of gal. I enjoy Disney movies, the ones that were popular when I was a kid, they’re classics to me. Within these last few years, there’s been all these remakes and the change in the style of animation, I don’t know about THAT. But I digress…
Since I’ve started driving kids around I’ve found my secret weapon to have a quiet car—playing movies on my phone. Parents are like, DUH. So, I started downloading movies from Netflix on my phone. I had listened to Despicable Me 3 way too many times (I can say the lines along with the movie). I needed something else. I found the Spider-Man movie and thought to myself, “I should watch this myself at some point.” On Friday, I had this one girl that kept rewinding the movie to the beginning so that she could sing along with Miles at the beginning song, which is a Post Malone song. Saturday I felt like, “Why not? I want to see it myself.” The script is actually really funny. It kind of reminds me of how Dead Pool is scripted, like the comic relief all the way through, though this is definitely a kid-friendly movie. Yet, at the same time, there were some parts where I thought, “If I was a kid, this would be a little scary.” It’s always the music that makes scenes scary. Think about it.
Anyways, super good! 10/10
Tv-shows:
–Carol & Tuesday: I am a fan of anime in general, but ones that are inspiring and I like the art are a thumbs up for me. “Carol & Tuesday” are about two young musicians that come from very different backgrounds but have both felt the same feeling. Loneliness. They form a bond and create their own two-woman show. Each episode they get closer and closer to making it and so I can’t help but be one of those suckers that love an underdog. Also, the music that they make, I really enjoyed listening to them. You know, sometimes the songs that are on shows aren’t really to your taste, but you watch anyway to see how it ends, well, I thoroughly adored the show. 🙂
Books:
–A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: I had seen on Instagram the trailer for the tv series and that’s how my interest was piqued, but I had to pay to be able to watch and I’m not about that, like a subscription. Then one day when I was browsing the audiobook section of the library, I found it! I was so giddy! Listening to audiobooks keeps my mind entertained while I’m driving and makes the whole experience better! https://deborahharkness.com/all-souls-world-home/the-all-souls-world-books/
I would recommend this book for adult audiences, it has some adult language and sexual scenes. More onto the story, if you’re into the supernatural romance scene this is your type of story! I don’t know if fans on either side would like me saying this, but it’s like the combination of Harry Potter and Twilight? You got the wizards/witches, demons, and vampires. Forbidden love takes place and the unlikeliest group is formed to protect their livelihoods.
–The Good Neighbor by A.J. Banner : This book captured my attention the whole read, in fact, I flew through reading it! The genre I would say would mainly be a mystery with a dose of deception and romance. A young married couple begins to doubt the new lives they’ve built for themselves in this new town. There are secrets that Sarah (the main character) starts to discover about the sleepy town they moved to and the people in it that might destroy everything.
–Violet Grenade by Victoria Scott: Violet Grenade has to be one of my favorite books now! The whole book was shrouded with mystery, grief, heartbreak, and learning what you’re made of when it comes down to survival.
Youtube videos/Crafts
“The double measuring cup – fluid art – abstract painting”
“Balloon Dip or Ballon Kiss Acrylic Pour Painting”
“DIY Pounded Flower Art by Emily VanSchmus”
https://www.bhg.com/holidays/mothers-day/crafts/diy-pounded-flower-art/
This idea looks so cool! It’s the same idea of pressing flowers into a book. I have a few friends in mind that I know would love this kind of thing! Though, it kind of hurts my heart to pound flowers with a hammer 🙁
In the name of art!
“DIY How to make 2×4 wood candy corn”
https://www.meganplusfive.com/blog/diy-how-to-make-2×4-wood-candy-corn
The outcome looks so awesome, gets you in the right mood for fall and Halloween!
I don’t know about you, but as a person with a sweet tooth, candy corn is the perfect symbol for Halloween. If you were to try this craft out, to make a few you could use the blocks as decoration in a chair on a front porch, a bookshelf, a coffee table or in the kitchen area. Just some candy for thought. 😉
Am I the only one that wishes for cute decor when visiting a friends place and as you’re complimenting their lovely home, you think back to your place and wonder how you can spruce it up?
Music:
Playlist-Crush
| Selena Gomez | Back to You |
| Shawn Mendes | Nervous |
| Niall Horan | Slow Hands |
| Kacey Musgraves | Butterflies |
| EMAN8 | Grateful |
| Aoyoru, Djouher | Always on my mind |
| John Mayer | Slow Dancing in a burning room |
| Max Jury | Great American Novel |
| Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper | Shallow |
| Andy Grammer | Fresh Eyes |
| George Ezra | Paradise |
| Ailee | Heaven |
| Taylor Swift | Wildest Dreams |
| Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein | A Kiss |
| Zedd | Daisy |
| Phe Reds | Smile |
| Spencer Kane | Can’t Sleep Love |
| Phum Viphurit | Lover Boy |
| Kuwada | Cherry Cola |
| Yuna | Deeper Conversation |
Bible Study Idea
In my last semester of school, I took a class called Capstone: Christian formation. Well, everyone just called it Capstone.
One of the last projects I chose to do was to memorize 50 verses from a book of the Bible. They had to be consecutive, not random verses. I thought this would be easier than writing a paper. It turned out to be hard in a different way. The major evil of all students is Mr. Procrastinator… I had chosen 1 Corinthians 12-14:6. At the end of the project, I had to recite all the verses to my professor. Somehow I did, I was nervous as heck by the end of it when I had to meet him in his office. Whewh! Memorizing scripture is important, important to me because I want to write scripture on my heart and so be able to recall verses in times of need.
The Bible study that I lead with two high school girls from my church I came up with a similar idea to add to what we already cover. I told them at the end of our study sesh that we all have to pick out a section of a chapter to read each day and journal and pray over. Each time we can notice something new or different thoughts and feelings could arise. By the time we meet the next time, we will share our thoughts and notes on what we read. The girls seemed excited as was I. I wasn’t asking them to memorize it, but I think in this way they may end up knowing this scripture better than before. I know for me, throughout the day at one point I kept thinking about a particular verse that helped me keep going with a positive attitude! When we were picking them I had mentioned how it would be cool if we all happened to pick the same one… Actually, I picked the same as one of the girls, which we thought was pretty awesome! I chose Romans 5:1-11, the section (in my bible) is called Peace and Hope.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+5%3A1-11&version=NIV
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
I hope ya’ll take what you want from this post and in the comments section I want to know what you’ve been interested in this month! Whether it’s a craft, tv-show, book or whatever! I want to explore things I wouldn’t easily think of. Let’s learn from each other.
Love, peace, and blessings!
Rose Hanlon