_{What is with that face? I mean seriously.. someone make it stop.. I’m not even sure what it is 🤔. Here I am sitting on the porch trying to write this post and decided I needed to include a photo.. I mean, it’s suppose to be about getting to know me right? I have no photos of me just sitting around (can’t image why not when that is the result), so I needed to snap one.. and that is the best I could do. sigh... well, I hate selfies.. so.. that’s gonna have to work for now.. like this weird squint eye - squished face thing I seem to do a lot...anyways, anyways... onto the post!}

This week the marvelous @anomadsoul has come up with a super fun challenge that he so kindly nominated me in... and it’s not about SteemFest 😱. I know, crazy right? In fact it’s a way for us all to showcase some of our older posts, while getting to know each other a bit more. The idea is to pick your 5-10 favorite posts that help to give individuals a glimpse into who you are, and what you share here on the platform.

Check Out His Orignal Post Here For Details

Now that you can´t blog, comment or vote, use this time to browse your own blog and pick the 5-10 posts that you would like everyone to read to get to know you a bit more. Perhaps when you joined the platform you made some kick ass posts that got little to no attention and you think they were amazing; maybe you want other newbie Steemians to read that masterpiece you posted 9 months ago but they didn´t read because they joined 3 weeks ago; probably, like me, nowadays you are blogging about something completely different than what you used to blog a year ago and you want people to read those posts or watch those videos.


Select your top ten posts, those that you want everyone to read, and make a kick ass compilation.


Oh, a few more rules :P
-The moment you are able to post, make this compilation and nominate 3 other Steemians.
-Use the tag #gettoknowme
-Resteem this post (Not mandatory, but it would be cool as hell if everyone joined).

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This is sort of an interesting challenge for me because I just recently started to share about myself. So the posts that give you the biggest glimpse into who I personally am have started in the last month or two. BUT, I do have some fun older posts that many may have not seen. So, after digging through my last 9 months of posting (I didn’t realize it had been that long 😬) I found some that tell a bit about me in different ways.

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Let’s Start In The Beginning

When joining the platform in January I didn’t really know what to expect. I am not a huge fan of social media so it took me awhile to really get the hang of this place (heck, I’m still trying). So looking back, it doesn’t surprise me that I started with something I love - natural medicine.

Homemade Rose Hip Syrup Vitamin C Supplement -How To

Rose Hips are the fruit of the Wild Rose plant and are one of the most nutritionally packed fruits of any plant. The reason that Rose Hips are so popular is because they are extremely effective in treating a wide variety of health conditions. How? The vitamins, minerals, organic compounds, and other essential nutrients in Rose Hips pack a very powerful punch. Some of these beneficial components include vitamin C, A, E, and vitamin B-complex, as well as minerals like calcium, iron, selenium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, silicon and zinc. Pretty impressive huh?

Natural medicine is something that is close to my heart and something I still continue to teach myself. I find it extremely empowering and also grounding.. being able to see the amazing bounty that Mother Nature provides, while knowing how to take full advantage of it is life changing, and I’m so glad to have shared it here.

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My First Curie Vote

This was actually the start to my full photo tutorials that became such a consistent part of my blogging at that time. It came about because when I first started making bath bombs (to sell locally), I could not find an in-depth tutorial to show me the tricks of how to do it successfully. So, after some trial and error.. I figured it out for myself. Then decided to make the tutorial I wished I would have had available to me... with tons of photos.

How To Make Herbal Bath Bombs - Step By Step Guide

Bath Bombs are extremely popular right now... and I mean, what is there not to love about them? They take a relaxing bath and elevate it to an at-home spa night. Unfortunately, they are usually full of artificial fragrances, artificial colors and preservatives... not something I want my body to absorb during my bath... how about you?
Luckily, we can do better. By taking the base recipe of a bath bomb and adding in Nourishing Organic Coconut Oil, Healing Herbs of Lavender and Chamomile, Mineral Rich Clay and by using Organic Essential Oils to add a light scent, we can make a Bath Bomb that is actually good for you.

I remember my exact reaction when the votes started rolling in from the Curie trail.. What the @&$%, this has to be a mistake. It was my fifth post, and the few cents that I had made on the previous ones I had thought were pretty cool.. this one reaching over $100 made my jaw drop. Which then lead me down a path to discover who this mysterious Curie was and how they got all those people to visit my blog. I then found my love for curation at the end of that path, as well as individuals who I now consider very special.. and to think, it all started with a bath bomb.

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I Love To Bake

I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy cooking and find it to be a way I show love and affection. I think this first post explains that pretty well while sharing a family recipe.. always of course with step by step photos, that seemed to become my trademark.

Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread Recipe

I express my love and appreciation through food, yes… I am one of those people. It must have been something that I picked up as a child from my Grandmother and have carried it with me ever since. She was an amazing cook who always seemed to know exactly what your favorite item was, and have it ready for you when you arrived to her home. We were spoiled as kids with home cooked meals made from scratch that usually also included an amazing cobbler she had just whipped up for dessert. I think that taking the time to make an item for someone is a great way to show your gratitude for them and I am trying to carry on these traditions with my children and loved ones.

And because I really love to bake, here is one more...

Chocolate Fudge Cake With Ganache Frosting | Recipe

I have not met a person yet that didn’t enjoy a piece of chocolate cake, and quite frankly…I don’t want to. There is something about chocolate that has the ability to cross continents and bring people together, ok maybe I am going a bit overboard… but come on, it’s CHOCOLATE. This cake is so easy to make and the end result is a decadent, moist, luxurious cake that is perfect for any occasion including; birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, special occasions and just a good ole Thursday night. I thought this was the perfect recipe to share with you today and I hope you enjoy!
Warning: This Is Not A Healthy Recipe, But It Is A Delicious One.

This is still my favorite recipe, and the best chocolate cake ever.. in fact I am making it tomorrow for a friends birthday ❤️

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Making Essential Oils At Home

This was such a fun experiment and is something I still do today. I had amazing feedback from it and many individuals ended up making it themselves and later posting about it. This to me was always part of my goal here; Sharing useful information with others while absorbing as much knowledge as I could. The idea that we all have something to learn from one another while building relationships that may have never happened if it wasn’t for this platform.

Making Your Own Citrus Essential Oil From Scrap Fruit Peels

Essential Oils have amazing benefits and also produce a wonderful scent allowing you to add a nice fragrance to items without using harmful chemicals. With that being said, high quality essential oils are not cheap, and sometimes when using them for fragrance only purposes…it felt a bit excessive. So recently while staring at a large pile of grapefruit peels our family had consumed…I had an idea, why not make our own?

The idea that I was able to take an item that I would normally toss out and instead replace and item I was buying was an awesome feeling. I think whole mentality is a glimpse into who I am and the simple life I want to live... all about sourcing things yourself and making sometihing out of nothing.

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That Time I Decided To Make A Candle

I use to do a lot of tutorials and how to’s, in fact I hope to start back up again soon. This was actually a pretty quick one that I almost didn’t even share, because I thought it was too simple.. but it actually ended up being very well received. I pretty much wanted a candle one day and decided to make one out of some stuff I had lying around... I have my moments of awesomeness...

The Easiest Candle You Will Ever Make

Last weekend when I was doing some spring cleaning I came upon my jars stash, you know…all those glass containers you just can’t throw away? I’m not the only one who does that right? Right? Anyways, I was looking at all those lovely jars and had an idea…candles, but not just any candles.. oil candles. That’s right, no beeswax to melt down, no mess and so easy. The best part is I can use herbs and botanicals I have around the house to not only add a natural scent, but they are beautiful as well.

Oh, my jars collection.. I’ll have to explain that to you guys sometime. These candles ended up being so great and lasted for way longer than the regular ones. I just changed out different herbs and spices to get the desired smell. I should really make these again!

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Now, On To ME

As I stated previously.. my blog here was never really about me personally. More of a place to share tutorials and recipes while interacting with others and curating content. I only just started to share more of myself.. and the real person behind the blog. So I thought, even though some are recent, I couldn’t do a Get To Know Me post without sharing these. Hey, who knows.. maybe someone hasn’t seen them yet.

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It all started how most great adventures do, with... An Unexpected Journey.

My Unexpected Journey - A Year Of Firsts

The idea is to be more myself, to explore who I really am and be more confident in my own skin... while also doing things I would never do before, but have maybe always wanted to. To stop worrying about the what if’s and start living… really living.
I somehow in this crazy thought process decided to make Steemit a big part of this journey, to document some of the process here and hopefully convince some of you all to join me on the journey.

This is probably my most referenced post, it was the first time I put myself out there (first photo of myself too).. and decided on this crazy journey I am currently on. All centered on self growth and stepping out of my comfort zone, and is the only reason the following posts even exist in the first place... it’s when I decided to be myself, and share the real me.

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Then, with the idea of stepping... no, jumping out of my comfort zone, I decided to share some thoughts that had been on my mind for awhile...

I was surrounded by negativity for a long time... everyday.. nearly beating me over the head telling me I wasn't good enough. Even now I have things that are heartbreakingly tough to deal with on a day to day basis.. consequences from leaving that negativity that was slowing killing me. But, I made a conscious decision that I deserve happiness.. and that happiness started within me.

There are things that have happened in my life that I’m not so keen on sharing, but I’m trying.. I’m trying to get there. While I’m not a person that feels any need to share such personal things, especially on the internet (no offense). Something someone told me is slowly making me share a bit more.. that fact that Someone Else Might Need To Hear It.

It stopped me in my tracks, and kicked me in the gut essentially. I understand the power of words and the comfort that comes from someone understanding what you are going through, and that You Are Not Alone, is about the single most important thing a person can hear. That and only that is making me share, to expose myself.. flaws, mistakes and all.. because If it helps just one person, it will all be worth it.

So, on I go.. down this crazy unexpected journey...

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Next came my first video, ever.

My Entry For The Blocktrades + Open Mic SteemFest Ticket Giveaway

Hey guys, welcome to my first ever dtube video...or first video ever for that matter! This is my entry into the Blocktrades and Open Mic Steem Fest Ticket Giveaway (Original Post Here) and it is also one more step in my Unexpected Journey - Year Of Firsts, where I am trying to be a bit more real, do things I never would before and get out of my comfort zone. So, here I am ...unedited, unrehearsed and well.. totally uncomfortable, but its me...flaws and all. I hope it’s not as painful for you as it was for me! 😉

Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone.. This was hard. I am the type to much prefers to sit in a corner, I don’t like attention and I have no interest whatsoever talking about myself... I know, I know.. I told you I wasn’t much for social media. This video was my entry to a contest and actually ended up being a bit of an introduction post.. telling of the person behind the username.

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And just in case you aren’t sick of hearing about me yet, here’s one more with a few fun facts...

_{See! There is that face again 😂.. I need to get control over that.}

Random Facts About Me - Road To SteemFest

1. I love music.. like really love music. I find it to be a way to express things that words cannot and quite frankly has the ability to connect to me on a deep level. I have a pretty eclectic taste but favorites would probably be metal (all genres), dark country, and classical. I have to be careful with lyrics.. if the day comes that someone figures out what lyrics swoon me, I’ll be in trouble.

This is just a fun post with a few random facts.. but it gives you a bit of a look into who I am, what I enjoy and the complete and absolute dork that I am 😄

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Well, that’s ten!

I hope this gives a decent representation of who I am.. or at least a small glimpse. To be honest, I’m sharing more now than I ever have... so the best is probably yet to come.

Thanks @anomadsoul for this trip down memory lane and for always coming up with such fun ways to get everyone involved. ❤️

Oh! I almost forgot to nominate 3 people...

1. Hmmm.. even though he won’t like it, I’m going to nominate @alcibiades.. because he needs some encouragement to post, and I think he may enjoy going through some stuff he has probably forgotten about.

2. @Themarkymark, because he has some good ones that deserve to be rediscovered.

3. @Soundwavesphoton, just cause it might be fun.

Thanks so much for going on this journey with me!

Much Love,

Justine