Don't mind me, over here jumping up and down for joy that it is finally September. I feel as if I finally find myself again when September hits and I find that spark I've been searching for all through the hot and humid summer months (I am not a summer person, if you can't tell). Anyways, today I felt really encouraged to set some intentions for the next few months, intentions that I hope will already be apart of my routine by the new year.

• read more. I don't want to put a number on it, but I really would like to make an effort to always carry a book with me and always give a part of my time each day to read some.
• write more. I also definitely want to put more time into this little blog as well as the stories that are inside my head.
• a hundred days project. If you haven't heard of the hundred days project, it's when you pick a skill you want to improve on and you work on it everyday for a hundred days. I have a few ideas, but I would really like to start on it in the next few months.
• drink more water.  I would love to get in the habit again of choosing water over other beverages, which I know if I set my mind to it for just a few short weeks I'll be back to being a full time water drinker. 
• dive more into natural, intentional living. I'm slowly but surely getting rid of all the toxic products in my home and replacing them with natural and healthier alternatives. By the new year I hope I can look at my home and truly see that I've been intentional with this goal.
• join young living. If you haven't heard of Young Living, from the sounds of it and from what I've researched it's a pretty incredible company all about essential oils and natural, non toxic products. I'm currently in the midst of saving up the extra money to invest in it.
• paint more. I actually painted and completed a painting this week for the first time in I don't know how long, and I can't put into words how filling it was. 
• practice gratitude. I want to be more mindful of the things I'm blessed to have in my life and practice gratitude as often as I can. Gratitude = Joy.
• work on my relationship with Christ. I want to be more intentional with my time with the Lord and how I let that shine out in my actions.

            Something I have been really trying to do lately is to be more conscientious of how I spend my time. I only really got thinking about it when I was prompted to change my way of thinking. Instead of using the excuse that I simply did not have time to do something, I needed to be honest with myself: I simply was not making that thing a priority. And that was a real eye opener. It really causes you to sit and reevaluate your self and how you choose to spend your time.

            Following that, I stumbled upon this exercise, writing a list of things I would rather hold in my hands than my phone. Of course, what is more important than this list, is being intentional in putting my phone away and choosing to live in the moment, or if I have to, bring meaning to that moment by finding something else to occupy my mind and hands. And with that being said, here are a hundred things I'd rather hold than my phone, and as I hope a hundred possibilities I can choose from the next time I reach for my phone out of boredom...

ONE HUNDRED THINGS I'D RATHER HOLD THAN MY PHONE

1. the bible
2. a hand written letter
3. my camera
4. a hand of someone I care about
5. a kitten
6. a stack of old family photos
7. my favorite book
8. someone's hair as I braid it
9. a mug filled with coffee
10. a plane ticket
11. the steering wheel of my car
12. a glass of ice water
13. my guitar
14. black nail polish
15. a bouquet of flowers
16. the comforter on my bed
17. a devotional
18. a new pack of sharpies
19. the keys of a type writer
20. a deck of cards
21. concert tickets
22. puzzle pieces
23. weights to make my arms strong
24. produce at a farmer's market
25. a slice of pizza
26. a psychology textbook
27. a paint brush
28. aquarium tickets
29. my passport
30. a coloring book
31. a Harry Potter book
32. the keys of a piano
33. stones on the beaches of Lake Superior
34. the handle bars of my bike
35. a honeysuckle flower
36. a journal and pen
37. a polaroid camera
38. my yoga mat
39. a postcard
40. someone close while we talk for hours
41. an iced coffee
42. hands in prayer
43. handwritten notes
44. movie popcorn
45. a list written on paper of adventures to go on
46. a national geographic magazine
47. embroidery thread
48. my laptop as I settle down to write
49. ballet slippers
50. a planner
51. a mug of hot chocolate
52. my cross necklace
53. a fortune cookie
54. a potted plant
55. a newborn baby
56. a photograph I developed in a darkroom from film
57. the reins of a horse's bridle
58. a collection of photos from my trip to Spain
59. a handmade gift
60. a sushi menu
61. a photo album
62. a to do list
63. my hands up in worship
64. movie tickets
65. a grocery list
66. a film canister
67. smores at a bonfire
68. my favorite ring
69. a venti sweetened passion tango iced tea from Starbucks
70. my Friends DVDs
71. tortilla chips and a bowl of queso
72. a list of positive affirmations
73. raindrops in the palm of my hand
74. my wood burning tool
75. a sunflower
76. a library card
77. a stack of my grandmother's recipes handwritten on scrap paper and index cards
78. a candle and a match
79. frosted animal crackers
80. a sparkler
81. a family scrapbook
82. a glass of sweet tea
83. a notebook full of outlines for a book I'm writing
84. a pottery piece handmade by my grandmother
85. the tiny hands of the kiddos I teach
86. tacos
87. clay I'm molding into something
88. my essential oil bottles
89. my suitcase
90. my hammock, while I hunt for a place to hang it up
91. the cross hanging in my rearview mirror
92. hemp string as I make it into a bracelet
93. a stack of books I'm buying from a local bookstore
94. a peach
95. a cookbook
96. a plate of baked pita bread and hummus
97. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
98. my water bottle
99. my gym membership card
100. a sharpie while I doodle a tattoo on skin

            Today, I want to encourage you to grab a pen, sit down with a notebook and begin writing a list (you will soon learn that I am a huge fan of lists). I want you to write down a list of all the things you would rather be than pretty. We spend so much time obsessing over how we look. And while there's nothing wrong with dedicating some time to work on your appearance, I think too often we become concerned with this idea that we are defined by our appearance - to the point that other things aren't as important. And that just shouldn't be the case... I found this exercise, and I instantly fell in love with the idea. Every word I wrote down, I gave thought. Each word has power to me, and each word I hope to embody.

THINGS I'D RATHER BE THAN PRETTY

  brave
  nurturing
  conscientious
  smart
  empathetic

  humble
  ambitious
  devoted
  polite
  free-spirited
  kind
  self-disciplined
  captivating
  inspiring
  loyal
  philanthropic
  loving
  open-minded
  philosophical
  generous
  trustworthy
  funny
  engaging
  wise
  soulful
  driven
  adventurous
  well-read
  creative
  determined
  charitable
  thoughtful
  hard-working
  intuitive
  encouraging
  gracious

1. practice yoga and meditation
2. sit and write in a coffee shop
3. go outside and feed your lungs fresh air
4. volunteer, it's a confidence booster and it opens your eyes to new experiences
5. start a journal
6. brighten someone's day
7. eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible
8. buy a plant or flowers for your living space
9. put on an uplifting song and dance
10. cook a new dish
11. go to an art museum
12. express gratitude
13. unplug, put away your phone and electronics for a few hours
14. read a book
15. watch the sunrise or sunset
16. go to sleep early, and get enough rest to wake up early, too
17. drink a hot cup of tea or coffee, or water (cold)
18. start your day off with stretching
19. listen to a podcast or an audio book (try multi-tasking, while your driving, cooking, cleaning)
20. do at least one thing that gets you closer to your goals
21. declutter, minimize your space and throw away or donate as much as you can
22. create a vision board
23. go on a friendship date
24. keep a notebook (a place to keep your ideas, your thoughts, to-do lists)
25. get creative (the possibilities are endless: photography, music, painting, writing, cooking, crafting)
26. work out, or try something new to shake up your routine (try only using your body, doing an outdoor work out, or attend a class)
27. listen to an instrumental playlist (Deep Focus on Spotify is a good one)
28. go on a drive (no destination, no plans, just drive)
29. burn a candle or diffuse essential oil
30. make a bucket list and start crossing things off
31. surround yourself with positive energy and people
32. treat yo self, take yourself on a date or stay in with good food an a movie
33. read the scriptures or indulge in something spiritual that's close to your heart
34. go to a farmer's market
35. watch an old favorite film