Halloween

Another excuse to look slutty?

If you go through the womens costumes in any Halloween store you will find one of two things. Either some hideous costume where you have to dress up fully covered head to toe with some felt like fabric that makes you look: fat, five, or prude. OR you have to dress like you are about to “walk a street corner”. It is disgusting, yet for some reason every year we put up with this and put on some costume that either flaunts our stuff or hides it all. Its amazing to me that there is no middle ground. So for now, I boycott Halloween, and instead pass out candy. (On for you, two for me)

p.s. if you don’t believe me just take a look at this website:

http://www.spirithalloween.com/womens-costumes/

Human tetris

If anything can make me laugh it is this:






Silly? yes. Dumb? yeah. Perfect solution to being bored? Most definitely.

There is something about Japanese game shows that is pure perfection - possibly the wonderful execution of physical comedy that can make you laugh so hard your stomach hurts. I hope this brightens your day.

Alone in my thoughts

I recently realized that I am different than most people. I drive in silence. No music, no talking, no nothing. I can drive for extended periods of time, just lost in my thoughts. Although this probably creeps most people out I much enjoy it. It is a great way to decompose from the day and just be still. Too many people have to be rushing all the time. Even in the car they play loud heavy metal music jamming out. No wonder people are so tired all the time. We are constantly going going going - which is why I enjoy my few moments of stillness. I challenge you to drive in silence. Try it out just once, resist the urge to turn on the radio or get on the phone. Just drive and see what happens. You may surprise yourself.

Guilty Pleasures

You know those things, that you secretly love -- but don't necessarily want to shout to the world... Yeah I have a bunch. But today I have decided to share one with you, because well I if I like these things - I shouldn't be embarrassed.

my number one guilty pleasure is.....

Keeping up with the Kardashians
a very overall trashy and useless show that I have gotten sucked into. For some reason despite the fact that I know I am watching trash, I can't help it. It keeps me entertained through the entire show.

So in honor of my guilty pleasure here is an episode, enjoy!:











So remember, own up to your guilty pleasures. You like them for a reason. Don't be afraid to let people see all sides of you.

Dyslexia

My freshman year of COLLEGE, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. 

Yes that was very late in life to be finding out, but I had never been tested before in high school - because well despite being dyslexic I was making good grades. So much so I was 11th in my class - but yet I had to go 18 almost 19 years before finding out something that would have been fairly important to know earlier in life. 

Getting tested for dyslexia was the strangest process I have ever done. There were so many random tests where I had to repeat things forwards, backwards, upside down, and side ways. I never know what was going to come up next. But after numerous tests I found out what I had suspected for a while. I mean seriously I can't tie my shoes - something was wrong. 

After finding out I have taken some steps in my study habits to help myself out, but I still can't get over how I went so long without knowing.

One of my best friends little sisters is currently getting tested - but it was a long struggling battle with her school to let her. Because well according to them - she is doing just fine (Above average) in school and therefore doesn't need the help. The public schools in the area don't care if you may have a learning disability if you are passing the classes. This bothers me. Instead of helping their students thrive to the greatest of their abilities, they just want these kids to get through the system. Fortunately for people like me it wasn't the hugest problem - because despite it all I was still able to make good enough grades to get into a good school that would then test me. But for others that are so fortunate they are being stepped on and pushed under the rug because the schools don't "have time" to concern themselves with students besides the trouble makers. 

It's sad what some school systems have turned into - and it concerns me for the future of these kids. 

Just something to think about...

Why I love sharpie:

While taking a drawing class in Italy I discovered my love for sharpie. It is so freeing. The quick movements of the pen and so precise and harsh against white paper – yet at the same time can be delicate and smooth. But more than anything I love the quickness. I don’t have to wait on mixing ink or smudging carcoal – I can just draw. I feel uninhibited and completely lost in a drawing.

I wish everyone could find that one activity that makes them feel that way. Completely separated from the world, and in peace with your own thoughts. It is definitely something to be treasured.

Here are some of the sharpie drawings I did in Italy. Enjoy.

How hulu ruined my life...

http://www.hulu.com/

When I first moved into my apartment I made the conscious decision not to put a tv in my room. Because honestly I don’t trust myself not to watch it 24/7. I am addicted and I knew if I didn’t make myself get up and walk into the other room to watch tv I would be screwed. I would never leave my bed.

Unfortuantely I forgot about Hulu. My favorite website. So much so that it actually my homepage on Safari. (pathetic I know) Hulu has turned me even lazier than I ever expected to be. In the morning, instead of getting up and getting ready and starting my day – I just turn over grab my computer and watch something on hulu. I tell myself that I need this 45 minutes to go from being asleep to awake – but in actuality – I am just plan addicted to Hulu. With as busy of a schedual as I keep – I rarely have the time to watch my 15 shows on the day and time they come on. So instead I lay around in the mornings and nights too lazy to get up and walk the five steps to my  tv (Where I could have set the DVR) and watch Hulu.

I might as well have had a tv in my room – but at the same time I feel even if I did. I would still be sucked into watching hulu on my computer.

We are a society of technology and a society that likes instant gratification and Hulu is fuelling my fire.

Although I am chastising myself for being addicted – I’ve added the link so I will not be alone. Get addicted. Lets lay in bed and watch together. 

Quizzes: getting to know yourself.

People are addicted to personal quizzes. What Disney princess are you? What type of shoe are you? What board game are you? What type of movie are you? All these ridiculous titles that suck people in by making them wonder…”Idk… what am I?” So people sit there mindlessly and go trhough 20 minute long quizzes just to see what forest animal they are – because in some way knowing will make my life better.

I am all for better understand yourself, but for some reason I don’t think that going through some quiz is the way to do it. Instead keep a journal, sit with just yourself and think. It’s not as scary as it sounds. If you take the time to get ahold of what is going on in your life and how you react you’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself.

Don’t be afraid to know you. But I promise going through mindless quizzes is not where you will find your answers. 

http://quizilla.teennick.com/

A day in the life of a penny

Today I woke up in a wallet.  After several boring hours, I finally felt myself being transported. As I played around with my fellow nickels and dimes a cold hand removing me from the place I called home abruptly interrupted me. Now I had been transported to some sticky gross cash register at a convenience store in exchange for a pack of gum. Seriously? Is this what I am reduced to? But regardless I got to spend the next few minutes talking with some other pennies listening to their life story. It was amazing all that they had seen. Then again I was interrupted and taken from my new friends and put into the hands of some soccer mom getting her caffeine fix. At least her new wallet was a nice clean place for me to take a nap. Hours later I could hear her kids playing around her demanding they see me. Unsure what was going on, I got excited that someone actually wanted ME. But then as a little grubby hand was shoved into my new resting place and snatched me away – I realized something was terribly wrong. Then after a few seconds of this little kid mumbling something under their breath – I was hoisted in the air only to find myself drowning in some sort of fountain. I had never felt so wasted in my life. I had basically just been thrown away – left to sit and rust. Hours later after being left with my own thoughts while all the other lost pennies just lying lifeless next to me, a strange man reached in the water and grabbed a handful of us. He was dirty and very excited to have just gotten a few dollars worth of coins. As he darted towards the nearest store to buy some sort of junk food – I was then placed in yet another cold dark cash register. Fortunately I didn’t have to stay long before a nice little boy came and took me home. Exhausted from the day – I was worried where I would end up. And then I saw it. The shiny porcelain pig, that all pennies dream about. The place where we can sleep and talk and have fun with all our friends for extended periods of time, before finally being taken back to our first home – a bank. As I was dropped into the little slot on the top and clinked down with the rest of the coins I let out a sigh of relief. Even the most eventful day, could have a calm wonderful ending. 

The unexpected

Tonight I was rattling my brain to figure out what to write this blog about. I took a break to go to church, where I am a youth group leader for the senior high girls. Sitting there I realized how much these girls have impacted my life – which to me was a funny thought because that is exactly what I am there for. I am there to serve them and to help them grow as people. But unexpectedly I was the one changed. They impacted me in a way I didn’t think was going to happen. They have shown me unconditional trust and love and I will be forever be grateful.

This reminded me of all the unexpected things in life and how wonderful and beautiful something unexpected can be.

An A on a test when you thought you failed

The boy you like admitting he likes you to.

A rain storm in the middle of a drought.

A kiss that catches you off guard.

Things I want to do before I buy the farm

Write a book

Ride a motorcycle

Do a zip line in a rainforest

Get married and have a family

Go to law school

Finish a jigsaw puzzle of one solid color

Sleep in a tree

Learn to surf

Go to Prince Edward Island, Canada and see Green Gables from Anne of Green Gables

Go to Greece and paint the city

See the Louvre

See all the Smithsonian’s

Go white water rafting

Happily ride a roller coaster

Become fluent in Spanish
Sit front row at a Rock concert
Learn how to ballroom dance

Be involved in the production of a TV show or movie
Visit every state in the US
Swim in every ocean
Visit every vineyard in California
Road trip from California to New York

Build my dream house

Swim in a waterfall

Work with kids

Race a car on a racetrack

Bake a three-tired fondant cake

Make a difference

Puzzles

People and Jigsaw. I have a deep love for both. I love diving into the depths of a person. I love sitting at a coffee shop for hours getting to really know what a person is about and letting them get to know me. Everyone’s life is a fantastic story filled with drama and romance – happiness and sorrow. It amazes me how that contours a person’s life and their outlook on life. We all have a uniquely beautiful story and I think it is our job to tell them to others. That way we can learn and heal together.

Just like a jigsaw puzzle. The more time you spend with it the more pieces get put together until finally you see the beautiful picture in the end.

Just be careful not the tear it apart again.