Bear With Me #FunnyFriday September 2015

Today’s post is this month’s Funny Friday, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write five captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they’ve come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Happy Fall, Y'all!! I hope you all enjoy the rest of September!! The weather is beautiful here in California!! I do LOVE this time of year, though I do miss the colors of the changing leaves!

Also, something of note.... My amazing friend Tamara (Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom) sent me the most amazing coffee tumbler from Starbucks in Switzerland!!!! I am kind of obsessed with it!!!! That is beside the point... She also sent me chocolate. Now, I have been a well known chocolate hater for years. You guys! You guys! You guys! Switzerland does chocolate right! I do not know what she sent (I cannot read the labels) but it is DELICIOUS! America doesn't know how to chocolate, because the stuff we can buy, tastes nothing like the chocolate she sent! It is sooo smooth and light and melts and it is DELICIOUS! Go forth! Travel to Switzerland and eat chocolate! Do not be shocked in the Bergham Chronicles relocate!

P.S. Yes, I shaved my head.

Here’s today’s picture. It was submitted by Spatulas on Parade

1. Wow. That is so realistic. I would never know it were fake, if I hadn't hear that lady talking. Wait. What if I am fake?

2. Mama? Is that you, Mama?

3. Didn't I tell you that you'd get stuck? Now look! We are both stuck!

4. All they had to do was bide their time until the Witching Hour.

5. Not so much a caption.... How gorgeous is this? I love this! I wish it were in my yard! Gigi would love it too! Her current obsessions are bears, dinosaurs, and stars! Sometimes, I like to think I am talented, and then I see things like this, and reality sets in... I am not THAT talented! Thank you for sharing this gorgeous pic with us, Dawn!!

Click on the links below and let some other bloggers make you smile:

Spatulas on Parade (http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/)

Follow me home (http://followmehome.shellybean.com)

Measurements of Merriment (http://measurementsofmerriment.blogspot.com)

Southern Belle Charm (http://www.southernbellecharm.com)

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy (http://dinoheromommy.com/)

Baking In A Tornado (http://www.BakingInATornado.com)

Someone Else’s Genius (http://www.someoneelsesgenius.com)

Confessions of a part-time working mom (http://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/)

The Momisodes (http://themomisodes.com)

Use to be #UseYourWords September 2015

Today’s post is this month's Use Your Words writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked four to six words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

My words are: 

sweet tea ~ door ~ car ~ sunshine ~ school

They were submitted by:  http://www.thediaryofanalzheimerscaregiver.com/blog.html  

I miss the feeling of sunshine on my face.

I miss long, aimless rides in the car.

I miss attending school and learning new things.

I miss the taste of your homemade sweet tea.

I miss the way life use to be.

I miss seeing you walk in the door.

I miss the electricity I would feel when our eyes would meet.

I miss hearing you say my name.

I miss staying up late in the night talking to you.

I miss the way life use to be.

I miss the feeling up your arms wrapped around me. 

I miss day trips to the beach, sand between my toes.

I miss everything being in its own place.

I miss cooking delicious meals.

I miss the way life use to be.

I miss being yours.

I miss you being mine.

I miss us.

I miss planning our future.

I miss the way life use to be.

Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:

                            Baking In A Tornado

                         Spatulas on Parade

                                       The Momisodes

           Stacy Sews and Schools

                              Sparkly Poetic Weirdo

                       Southern Belle Charm

                         The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver  

                        Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

               The Angrivated Mom

                          Confessions of a part time working mom

                          Someone Else’s Genius

                      Climaxed 

                  Evil Joy Speaks 

                    Never Ever Give Up Hope

                    Eileen’s Perpetually Busy

                    Searching for Sanity

Freshman Redo #SecretSubjectSwap September 2015

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week sixteen brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

Happy September!!! Anyone else shocked that it is September already?!?!

My “Secret Subject” is:

Back to school time, if you could go back in time to your freshman year, knowing what you know now, how would you do things differently? or would you?

It was submitted by:  http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/       

This topic really made me think. I thought of the endless list of things I could change. I thought of the endless list of things that I could keep as is. I thought of the endless list of things I did not do, that I could do. I am a huge believer in everything happening for a reason, and to learn from both the good and bad. So, I guess at the end of the day, I would not change anything. Everything happened for a reason, I survived, and I ended up right where I need to be.

That answer does not exactly make for an interesting read, so I have decided to list the things I would change, if I did change anything. 

I would study harder and get better grades. I did fine in school, but I have learned that knowledge is truly power. I would love to have learned even more. I would have paid more attention, taken better notes, done more research, and strengthened my weaknesses. 

I would have learned more basic life skills. Cooking, money management, and other basic life knowledge. I would have learned to sew and crochet and do other DIY household activities. I would have learned more about credit and mortgages and investing. 

I would have set up my credit better.

I would have gotten into a different college, and I would have better prepared for the whole college experience. I should have looked into more colleges over the years. I decided on three colleges my Freshman year, and never really explored other possibilities. I also would have given more thought to the major I selected. It was great when I was six and selected it, but it wasn't that great for adult me. I would have spent my years in high school exploring other career possibilities. 

I would have gotten down to a healthy weight. I was always chubby, and if I could do it over, I would have been extremely fit and active. 

I would have done more with my faith. I am still not confirmed and I am nearly 35. I would have followed through with confirmation and attended Bible Study regularly. 

I would have learned how to do more mechanical and carpentry skills. 

I would have strengthened my bonds with family.

I would have partied a bit more. I would have been a kid. I think I took on too much responsibility. I missed out on many normal teenage activities. I would change that.

I would have traveled more, focusing on international travel. Looking back, I had a few missed opportunities for travel, that I should have definitely taken advantage of. I should have gone to Mexico my Freshman year. 

I would have stressed less. I think I really stressed myself out during high school, especially my Freshman year and my Senior year.

I took Spanish from Kindergarten until eighth grade. My Freshman year, I chose to take French. If I could do it over, I think I would have done both.

There is a lot I could change. I still think I should leave everything as is, but must admit, with a few small changes, my entire life could probably be better. Regardless, my life is my life. My choices were my choices. I am grateful for the life I have, imperfections and all. 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

                             Baking In A Tornado

                                 The Momisodes

                Stacy Sews and Schools

                            Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

                            Spatulas on Parade

                               Sparkly Poetic Weirdo

                       Southern Belle Charm

                         The Angrivated Mom

               Confessions of a part time working mom

                           The Lieber Family Blog

                             Cluttered Genius

                The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver

                            Someone Else’s Genius

                          House of J Chronicles

                                Climaxed