Hi! I haven’t been posting as much lately because of lots going on, writer’s block, and a general lack of inspiration. But whenever I stop blogging for a few days, I always miss it, so here I am 🙂 I got the idea of doing a monthly highlights post from my favorite vegan blogger, Faith, at The Conscientious Eater, and I think I’ll start doing one each month of both blog + life updates.
So…what happened in September?
On the blog
I posted just twice, an all-time Healthy Liv low. Womp, womp. I posted 5 times in August and in the early stages of the blog, I posted around 15 times per month. Life ebbs and flows, right?
On the bright side, I did like both posts a lot. The first was a day-in-the-life post and the second was a chocolate peanut butter cup smoothie recipe that I’m craving even now as I type.
I’ve been posting on my blog Instagram account more frequently, though, since it’s relatively quick and I reached 1,000 followers this month, which was a fun milestone!
In my life
Life has felt pretty busy, as I’m sure as it has for a lot of us. I’ve really been prioritizing sleep and quality (versus quantity) exercise this semester and I feel so much better than I did last semester. I alluded to it a little bit in this post, but last semester, more often than I’d care to admit, I felt like like a tired zombie who didn’t know how to swim, cheerfully drowning in a sea of schoolwork, obligations, and work. Funny but accurate imagery there. 😉
This semester, I’ve figured out how to balance things a bit better as I take classes, study for the LSAT, work both of my jobs, cook for myself, run, spend time with friends, blog when I can, etc. When it’s 11 p.m. and I can start a new assignment/project/blog post or I can start getting ready for bed, I’ve been choosing the latter and it’s been so good for me.
This month, there’s also been a few extra fun things happening.
A mountain retreat
Two weekends ago, I spent a couple of days in Black Mountain, NC, with friends. As much as I love college and UNC, it’s so nice to really escape every once in a while.
During our free time on Saturday afternoon, we picked a “challenging” hike, assuming it wouldn’t be too bad. We ended up on our hands and knees, literally crawling up the side of this mountain, and sliding back down sitting down. It was an unexpected challenge, for sure.
The next morning, I got to run with one of my favorite running buds on the morning of my 21st birthday in the mountains and it was the perfect way to start the day.
Game night
This past weekend, I hosted a group of friends at my parent’s house in Raleigh for a game night. We played lots of sports (ultimate frisbee and trio ball- basically kickball with three different balls) in a park near my house.
Some eye jabs and scraped knees happened throughout the night, but like my friend Joanna said, “That’s how you know you’re having fun.” 😉 
I made strawberry poppyseed salad and sweet potato chickpea stew for dinner, with a 4-layer dark chocolate cake for dessert. 
We celebrated my birthday that night, too, and they made it really fun.
My grandpa’s 90th birthday
My grandpa’s 90th birthdaySpeaking of birthdays, one of my grandpas turned 90 this month and we got to throw him a surprise party. He lives a few hours away near Charlotte, NC, so my parents picked me up at my dorm one Sunday morning and we drove there to help my aunts, uncles, and cousins set up.
When my grandpa walked through the door, his face was more than worth the seven or so hours of driving that day. He was so surprised and his reaction was priceless.
It was a special day for a special man. He’s really kind and generous with a great sense of humor. He’s in amazing shape and still works out 5 days per week at 6 a.m.– I hope I’ll be rockin’ such great health when I’m 90, too!
So, there’s a little bit of what’s been going on in my world lately. Thanks for catching up with me!
Tell me…what’s been going on with you?
If you’re a blogger, what’s been going on with your blog lately?
What’s your birthday month?
Have you ever done an especially challenging hike?
Aww I love this update!! Happy belated birthday Liv! So happy you are prioritizing sleep this semester, isn’t it crazy how putting that as a priority can change your whole mood during the day?!
You’re right! Getting 7 or even better, 8, hours of sleep makes my head feel clearer and gives me so much more energy and focus throughout the day!
You have a lot on your plate. Good for you for taking care of yourself! that’s how you get to be in such great shape at 90 🙂
Hmm lately my blog just keeps plugging along while I try to figure out what I want it to look like. I have the ideas, but putting them into action while doing all the other life things isn’t going super smoothly 😛 Oh, well. Seasons of life.
You do such a great job of posting consistently, Ellen!
a mountain retreat sounds like so much fun! I would love to do that 🙂 I’m glad you had a great birthday girl! My bday is in November. yay fall babies! have a happy Monday!
Ooh, yours is coming up! Happy Monday, Alyssa!
How about a fall blog for Halloween? You could have so much material for your blog. Top a pumpkin with a green flower sponge and trace around the sponge. Then cut around your tracing, emptying the pumpkin of its seeds (which you can roast). Put the flower holder inside the pumpkin, add water, and stick in fall flowers for a beautiful arrangement. I love your blogs.
Glad you had a lovely Birthday Liv and many happy returns! You sound like you are doing a great job juggling all of your commitments and I can definitely vouch for this being so much easier when I’ve had more than 4 hours sleep….
Best of luck with LSAT. xx
You’re so encouraging, Charlotte- thank you!!
Two wonderful birthday celebrations close to another – sounds like a great month. Happy belated birthday to both you and your grandpa! That last picture of you and him is beyond adorable. In no way would I have guessed him to be 90 already – maybe those early morning workouts are his secret? It’s probably odd to say but I genuinely already hope I’ll still be that fit when I age.
Ah, your mountain adventure sounds amazing, too – even with the tough hike.
Blogging is definitely running with the ebb and flow of life for me, too, but I end up missing it big time when my schedule gets too irregular.
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! And I hope so, too 🙂 I feel the same way about blogging since it’s such a good creative outlet!
The look on your grandfather’s face is priceless! I’m sure that was such a special moment for him and your family 🙂 With blogging, I think you’ve just gotta do you. It’s really hard to feel inspired to write good content when life is stressful, so I feel like letting go of blogging is not really all that bad. I’ve learned to let go of my blog when I’m having a busy time and it ends up being the best choice for me. Thanks for checking in, though!!
I agree! I enjoy blogging as a creative outlet, but definitely don’t want it to be something additional to stress about.
Tell Gordon “Hello” and “Happy Birthday” from us.
Will do 🙂
Happy 21st, Liv!! the game night sounds perfect 🙂 when are you taking the LSATs though??
The plan is June! Are you thinking about taking the LSAT, too?
Your grandpa is so cute! And Happy Birthday! I didn’t realize you were only 21 – you seem so mature. Looks like a great birthday!
Haha thank you, Sarah!
That chocolate cake looks so yummy!!! I haven’t been hiking in years, but it’s so peaceful. I love getting in tune with nature. One time I went on a mini-hike in Tennessee and it was beautiful! 🙂
I always feel like a hard-core nature girl when I go hiking…until I’m sweaty and covered in mosquito bites and just want a shower hah!
Your grandpa is amazing; working out at 90? Wow, that’s a person I would love to be like too when I get older. It’s so neat that your family showered him with love like that. And happy Birthday (belated!) It looks like it was a great day with friends; I love relaxed outdoor time with friends and family on the birthday and just resting and doing nothing. 😀 I like how you go with the ebbs and flows of blogging. I find that if I post when I feel like I ‘have to’ the posts are not good; they just lack energy and creativity, but when I want to post, they are better.
You put so much effort into your posts, and they are really pretty Liv; so keep doing your thang. 🙂
Oh yes, and I’ve been loving quality workouts lately, because I think my body is just in repair mode. I’m ok with that till I’m fully up to par again; hopefully!
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Emily, and for the encouraging words!
I am so glad you had a wonderful birthday, sweet girl! And your grandpa too! His surprised look is so cute, haha!
Right?! There were so many cute surprised-face pictures that it was hard to pick just one!
Liv I miss you so much and love getting to live vicariously through your blog. I wish so badly that I could’ve been there to celebrate your 21…can we have a make up birthday party when I get back please? Love you lots.
My birthday celebration was so “Riley” from the field day sports to the sweet potato stew haha! And yes PLEASE. I can’t wait to see you when you get back!
Even though I missed you on the blogging sphere, so glad to see you were living your life and having fun! That mountain retreat looks like a blast!!! I always choose school, health/sleep, running, and spending time with friends over blogging. Gotta live your life!