Blog-Tember // Day 9: Wanderlust

Okay...so I intentionally skipped day 8 of the blog-tember challenge for two reasons. 1.) I do not have my very own house/apartment yet. 2.) My space at my parents house is really messy and I didn't feel like cleaning it up to take pictures. LOL! (at least I'm honest, right?)

So, today's blog is all about travel and if you know me at all, you know that I love to travel. The majority of my summer was spent traveling and I already have several trips in the works before this year is over.

I want to travel and see the entire world, but one place that I dream of traveling to is Thailand. This one has been on my travel list for awhile. The beaches, the temples, the cities, the elephant sanctuaries, the culture...it is all so intriguing to me.

When the time comes, I want to spend at least two weeks there. I need to do all the things. I need to eat all the foods. I need to take it all in.

I have started a travel jar for all my future adventures. Every time I find somewhere new I want to explore, I write it down and put it in a mason jar. Every year on New Years, I will pull a destination out of the jar and that will be where I travel to that year.

Where do YOU dream of traveling to?

Blog-Tember // Day 7: Five Joyful Things

It is day seven of the Blog-Tember Challenge and I am 7/7! YAY! Today's topic is five things that bring me joy. I find joy in all the things. The littlest of things makes me happy, so this blog post was a hard one. Here are just a few of the things that bring me joy.

1. Teaching...I teach PreK at a local county school. I teach PreK at my church on Wednesday nights. I teach 1st and 2nd grade on Sunday mornings. I love the babies. They are so sweet and so much fun. But ya'll...it is so much more than teaching the ABC's and 123's. It is loving and caring for those sweet little ones. It is holding hands and wiping away the tears. It is listening to all of their stories and reading books. Teaching brings me joy.

2. Coffee...I. need. all. the. coffee. It has become a requirement for me to get my mornings started. I am serious about my coffee. My kids at school will say, "Don't spill Ms. Mallory's coffee or else she is going to cry!" I think I have taught them well. I even collect coffee mugs.

3. Jesus...I have grown up in church and I was saved and baptized right before my tenth birthday. But the past few years, I feel like I have grown immensely closer with God. I have learned that by being dependent on Him, life is so much easier. I can honestly say that I do not know how I would have made it through the past year if it wasn't for my relationship with God and my Jesus-loving friends and family that have encouraged me every step of the way.

4. Fall...while I am a lover of all the seasons, there is just something about fall that makes me extra happy. The cool weather makes the coffee drinking ten times better. The fall scents are heavenly. The leaves changing, the cotton blooming, the fresh hay bales...it makes me happy.

5. Being an aunt...nothing compares to the love I get from my babies. Not to mention, I am an aunt to three of the cutest little ones. Kyndall is ten and she is in that stage where she likes to pick and aggravate. We fight like sisters and I pick on her just like she picks on me. Libby is eight and she is a D-I-V-A. We bond over things like makeup and lipstick and dancing. Jase is one and a half and the only boy around here. Needless to say, he is spoiled rotten. He has his Mal-Mal wrapped around his little finger. He is learning all sorts of new tricks that are just hilarious. Being an aunt is seriously the best.

What brings YOU joy?

Blog-Tember // Day 6: September Playlist

I am a music junkie. I hate the silence, so I have music playing almost all of the time. I am a fan of all genres of music and it changes with my mood. When I find a song that I love, I play it over and over until I find another song to replace it.

Here is what my playlist looks like currently.



What is on YOUR playlist right now?

Blog-Tember // Day 5: Most Memorable Birthday

I have had several memorable birthdays. Around here, birthdays are a big thing, so we always go all out. My parents go above and beyond to make sure I have the best birthday, no matter what age. But 22 has been my most favorite. You can read 22 thoughts at 22, here.

My actual birthday fell on a Wednesday this year, and it was also right after school had started back. So, taking all of that into consideration, we planned to celebrate my birthday on the weekend before and after my birthday.

On the weekend before my birthday, the whole family got together and celebrated at Chili's, my favorite restaurant. We all ate and then went back to my house for ice cream cake. YUM! Before I could blow out my candles, we all jammed out to Taylor Swift's song, 22.

On my actual birthday, we went to church and after class, my best friend and I went to the back to talk about something. As I was walking out to head home, all of my church people surprised me in the kitchen and sang 'Happy Birthday' to me, followed by cookie cake. (Thanks, mom and dad!) See, I told you they always go above and beyond. And yes, I cried happy tears.

(I know this isn't a great picture, but if you look real close, somewhere inside that huddle of children, I am there. Hugs and kisses all around from all of my church babies.)

The weekend after my birthday was spent celebrating with a few of my closest friends. We kicked it old fashion with a slumber party and movie marathon night.

And let me tell you, I have not found a meme that is more accurate than this. I love to sing 'Happy Birthday' to other people, but when you are the one that everyone is singing too...it is kinda, sorta, very awkward!

I don't really know why this birthday has been my favorite. But I loved spending it with all of my people. My family and friends sure do know how to make a girl feel loved. 

What is YOUR most memorable birthday?

Blog-Tember // Day 4: Currently in September

Reading...Wild and Free by Hayley Morgan and Jess Connolly
Playing...catch up on all my etsy orders!
Watching...Grey's Anatomy! LOVE!
Trying...to stay ahead with my schoolwork.
Cooking...nothing. I am not the best cook.
Eating...BBQ Nachos. My favorite football season meal.
Drinking...all of the white chocolate mocha's.
Calling...to buy tickets to the Belong tour! AH!
Texting...my girl friends planning a girls night ASAP.
Pinning...lots and lots of travel ideas.
Tweeting...nada. I am not a big 'tweeter'. I need to step up my game.
Going...to the pool for one last time before summer is officially over.
Loving...this weather! The cotton is beginning to bloom & the fresh hay has been cut and rolled. I love it!
Hating...being broke during internship. Can a sister get a pay check! LOL!
Thinking...about how bad I need to get in shape!
Discovering...the only person you can really trust is God! He is the only one who will never let you down.
Feeling...tired. Like all the time. I need more sleep!
Hoping (for)...God to move in big ways! Just waiting on His timing.
Listening (to)...FGL's new album. On repeat.
Celebrating...graduating! It's not until December but I am excited!
Thanking...my friends and family for being my rock lately.
Considering...a master's program!
Starting...redecorating my room and bathroom. And cleaning out all my junk!
Finishing...COLLEGE.

Blog-Tember // Day 3: Goodbye, Summer

This summer has been one of the best summers of my life! From vacations with friends to vacations with family to pool days to shrimp boils to mission trips, it has been jam packed. I have loved every minute of it! Here is a recap of some of my favorite memories from this summer!

1. Family Beach Trip. The whole family usually takes a big beach trip every summer, and this summer was no exception. However, I think this trip will be more memorable than the rest. Nine out of twelve of us beach-goers caught a funky 24 hour virus while we were vacationing! We had one room dedicated to quarantine for the entire trip. But we ended the trip with a bang and all of the girls went to see Keith Urban, Brett Eldridge, and Maren Morris in concert. It was a blast!

2. Cruising with my girls. Me and two of my girl friends booked a cruise to Cozumel and Progresso and it was the most fun and relaxing vacation ever. We soaked up the sun and all of the beautiful scenery while enjoying way too much food. IT. WAS. AWESOME.

3. Nicaragua Mission Trip. This year was my third year to travel to Nicaragua and spread the gospel. I have been blessed to get to see the boys that I bonded with on the first year, every year that I have went. I am the 'loca gringa' that takes every baby that I come in contact with but I just can't help it. They are so adorable.

4. Dixie Chicks. Need I say anymore? I mean, who doesn't love the Dixie Chicks? I was so excited when I heard they were going on tour again. So my friends and I searched and searched for some good seats, but we ended up in the nose bleeds. But you better believe that I stood up and sang at the top of my lungs to every song they played.

5. Lake Days. After years of asking dad for a boat, he finally got one this summer. He came home with a pontoon about three weeks ago, so every weekend since then has been spent at the lake on the boat with the family.

Blog-Tember // Day 2: Current Goals

It's day 2 of the Blog-Tember Challenge! Today's topic is Current Goals. I am not a big goal-setter, but this was a good topic to get me thinking about what my major goals are right now. So, here are four of my major life goals at this current moment.

1. Graduate. Ya'll...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am finishing up one last elective class and completing 70 days of internship and I am DONE! The countdown is on until December 10th.

2. Stop hitting snooze! I am SO not a morning person. I have my alarm set for 5 AM every morning so that I can wake up and get ready for school, but I don't get up until about 5:45. I really want to get a good morning routine started so I can have some quiet time and drink my coffee before leaving for work. But the only problem is, I hit that oh so convenient snooze button 79 times before I roll my sleepy butt out of bed! Someone please teach me how to wake up! LOL! Ya'll...its hard being a sleepy girl with a busy life.

3. Move out of my parents house. This goal has been one that I have set for a long time now. I'm talking years! I will set a move out date, then change my mind. Set a new date, and then change again. Considering there is still A LOT of work to do to the apartment that I am moving into, I have not set a new date. Instead, I have set lots of little goals to help me along the way. 

4. Grow my business. I have a small etsy shop that I run out of my house right now. It is just something that I enjoy doing and I am lucky enough to be able to make a profit off of it. Lately, business has been BOOMING and very overwhelming. I want to add a wider variety of options to my shop, expand into boutiques, and then have my very own online shop. Big dreams...but hopefully they are attainable. (;

What are some of your current goals?

Blog-Tember // Day 1: All About Me

For the month of September, I am going to be joining the "Blog-Tember Challenge" with Bailey at Brave Love Blog. The goal is to blog each week day during the month. Today's topic is Introduce Yourself. 

Hey Ya'll! 

I'm Mallory. I am 22. I was born and raised in Alabama and being southern is all I know. I live on a farm that my family has owned for almost 80 years. I currently live with my parents, but I have already laid claim to my piece of the family land. My sister lives just a hop and a skip away, right through the woods. From my sisters house, I can throw a rock and hit my grandparents house, right across the creek. On the farm, we have cows, chickens, guineas, horses, one mini donkey and four dogs. (I'm working on adding goats and pigs to the mix.) We have two ponds stocked with fish...catfish in one, goldfish in the other.

I am a broke-as-a-joke college student, pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. I will graduate in December...hand to heaven! 

I am a PreK auxiliary teacher at Mount Hope.

I am a PreK TeamKid teacher at Mount View Baptist.

I am an aunt to three of the prettiest children ever.

I am the coolest of three sisters.

I survive on coffee and sweet tea.

I am a small business owner.

I am a music junkie.

I am a frequent traveler.

I am a lover of books and also of writing.

I am terrified of spiders.

I am a missionary.

I am a self-proclaimed, professional napper.

I love every season equally.

I adore the simple, cliche things of life.

Breakfast foods are my favorite.

Nicaragua holds a large piece of my heart.

I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for. 

I cry way too easily.

I am not the best cook.

My dream is to travel to Thailand.

I hunt and I fish.

I occasionally run.

Halloween and Christmas are my favorite holidays.

I have 4 TV shows that I watch faithfully.

I collect coffee mugs.

I spend way too much time on Instagram and Snapchat.

I plan my whole life on Pinterest.

Lastly...ROLL TIDE.