25 Days of Christmas

For my last blog, I have decided to honor ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas with ending with a list of 25 things I love about Christmas:

1. Christmas movies
2. Starbucks Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
3. No school
4. Flannel Pj's with reindeer all over them
5. Going to look at Christmas Lights with my friends
6. Seeing the Nutcracker
7. My parents playing Christmas music 24/7
8. Putting ornaments on the tree - all 400 + of them
9. Sugar cookies with Santa's face on them
10. Live nativity scenes
11. Shaking presents under the tree to figure out what is in them
12. Receiving all the holiday cards from old friends
13. Shopping with my dad
14. Making Fudge... it is finally cold enough!
15. Reading The Night before Christmas
16. Waking up super early to open presents
17. Getting to see Family
18. Everyone is friendlier
19. Making gingerbread houses
20. Standing under mistletoe
21. The smell of cinnamon rolls Christmas morning
22. The smell of pine everywhere
23. Christmas sales
24. Turning on the tree for the first time
25. The sound of sleigh bells

The true meaning of thanksgiving...

It's not the Food or the Family it is... Football.

If your family is anything like mine, Thanksgiving revolves around football. We decide what time to eat based off of what time the game starts. And everything is set up so we don't miss one minute of the game. Although I completely go along with this tradition, because well I love football too, I sometimes wonder about it. Thanksgiving is supposed to be about family, right? getting together and enjoying each others company... but then I realize what a better way to enjoy each others company than doing something we all love to do... watch football.  Every family has their own tradition - whether it is playing flag football in the yard, intense family games of pictionary, or sitting around watching football - every family has their own dynamic and that is what is so great about thanksgiving. It is a time to be with family and do what you all love to do.

Now I just can't wait for half time to get a second helping of the Thanksgiving feast.

Lost Arts

Our Generation is Lazy - including myself. We are too happy with having things pre-made that no one takes the time to learn how to make things ourselves. People of the past took joy in creating things from their own two hands, which people today take joy in never having to do. It is quite sad.

When I was young, my mother taught me to sew - something that I have learned comes rather in handy now days - but as simple as it was to learn I am one of a few girls my age who can do this. It is quite pathetic. We are so trained to rely on things being made for us that we cannot actually appreciate when things are well made or  detailed.

I am fortunate enough to have had a least a few glimpses of these trades in my life - but still there are a lot of things that I feel are being lost forever. It is up to my generation to learn these techniques before there is no one left to teach us. It is something to bond us to our past - something mothers teach daughters who turn into mothers who teach their daughters etc etc etc.

But still many of these arts will be lost. I hope to learn some of them - but I cannot be held accountable for everything. Maybe if we sat down and learned how to do these calmer activities the hustle and bustle of the rest of our lives wouldn't make us so stressed out...

Crochet

Needlepoint

Calligraphy 

A progression of thoughts

Toy

Train

Smoke

Cigarettes

Cancer

Astrology

Psychics

Magic

School Bus

Children

Play grounds

Swing

Dancing

Shoes

Lace

White

Snow

Bunny

Easter

Sunday

Morning

Sickness

Medicine

Doctor

Needles

Shot

Gun

Safe

House

Party

Game

Cube

Block

Toy

Poetry

It's something I have never been good at. Something about having to rhyme my words and make a beat using syllables has never come naturally. I love to write, but prose is where my words flow from. But despite my lacking skills there is something in me that is drawn to poetry. I think that most things people cannot do they are drawn to. Like a straight haired girl curling her hair while a brunette turns blonde I love poetry. The emotion that can be found, the honesty, the sorrow, the laughter, the joy - it all is beautiful in its own right.

In grade school you are required to read famous poets - from everything that speaks to your soul directly to poems that make no sense at all. But all of it beautiful.

Later in life I was shown slam poetry. Live readings, where you see the poets emotion on their faces, you hear it in their voice and I was mesmorized. 

The skills I was lacking portrayed so eloquently in front of me. Yet I am not sad. I enjoy the gifts of others, and i hope you can too. 

Here are two of my favorites:

Stop Regretting

New Random fact about me: I took tae Kwon Do for 12 years and am a black belt. Now do not worry, I'm about as passive as they come - yet I still get so much joy from kicking and punching in a controlled environment.

Its been about a year and a half since I have taken my last martial arts class, and that saddens me. I honestly wish I had the time to continue, but thinking about how much I miss it reminds me on how much it has meant to my life.

Out of everything I have done, it has been the most life changing. As strange as that might sound it is very true. Everyone goes through things in their life that make them stronger and shape them to be the person they are now.

Before I took Tae Kwon Do, I was shy, timid and clumsy - but through the journey of getting my black belt I found myself. I became a young woman through Tae Kwon Do, which is why I still hold it so dear to my heart.

Now looking back on my life, I love looking at all the steps that got me to where I am. People often say they would take things back if they could, but I disagree. Sure I regret some of the decisions I made, but still those mistakes along with the triumphs made me who I am - why would I want to change that?

So next time you are regretting the past, think of the present and be happy in where you are now and what is to come in the future. Every day molds you.

Wow

When Emptying out my purse today, all I could say is wow. How in the world do i fit all these things in here? So for your entertainment I will list everything I found...

my wallet
sunglasses
greeting card
two sticks of gum
tom thumb directory
granola bar
empty orange
tic tac box
alpha chi pin
sonic mint
6 pens
8 lipsticks
3 movie tickets
bottle of Tylenol
$4.28 in change
three journals
one philosophy book
3 articles
5 graded homeworks folded
2 headbands
2 brochures
various feminine products
8 recipts
coin purse
3 pencils
4 highlighters
and a lot of wrappers

maybe I should clean my purse out more often...

but then again contained clutter is sometimes better.

My top ten favorite things... in pictures.

(in no particular order)

Lemonade

Music Boxes

Aprons

Autumn

Gummy Bears

Shoes

The Beach in Puerto Rico

Pajamas

Anne of Green Gables

My Dog Dominic

People are strange

People have weird obsessions, which causes even weirder you tube videos. If you have ever just rummaged around you tube you will find all sorts of crazy things. Including very strange videos on cats. Now I am not a cat person in the least - dogs all the way. But one of my good friends loves cats and found this video and showed it to me. After watching it I have to say I actually laughed very hard. Now warning it is very strange - yet catchy. So be warned it may stick in your head - like so many horrible things do.



Now you are probably thinking I am crazy now for posting this. But that is the point. The things people post on line are CRAZY. But that is only a by-product of people being crazy. We all are unique and find joy in the strangest things. Whether it be my friend loving kitties or an obsession with shoes. People are strange. Don't judge, because you are strange too.

Being Bored on the internet

If you are anything like me, you get bored often. And when I do I usually turn towards the internet - because lets be honest there are many hillarious sites to cure this problem.

Since college I have been introduced to some of the most funny, addictive, entertaining sites. These include:

My life is average:

http://mylifeisaverage.com/

Dear Blank please Blank:

http://www.dearblankpleaseblank.com/

and

Total Frat Move

http://totalfratmove.com/

Each of these offers something unique.

My life is average - gives you hope in the world and gives you something to relate to.

Dear Blank please Blank - makes you laugh at all the things you wish you could say

and

Total Frat Move - lets you laugh at the ridiculousness that is fraternity and sorority life

I am very grateful that bored people like me have come up with these hilarious sites where people can post the funny and ridiculous things in our life. So next time your bored check out one of these website and be prepared to laugh your socks of.

Why would anyone date T-swift?

            In honor of her new CD coming out I have decided to include my rant on this blog:

Okay so seriously have you listened to any of her songs? All she does is bitch about past relationships. Now don’t get me wrong. I like her music – but if I were a guy… she’d be the last person I would want to date. Because I would know for a fact, if I dated her I would at some point end up in a song – likely an unflattering one. That’s not necessarily the way I would like to become famous. Sure she is beautiful and I am sure is a nice loving person - but does  any guy really want to get known as the one who broke her heart... again. No. 

Yet, time and again another dumb boy tries and fails and ends up in yet another hit single. Cool and all - but there is a difference between being famous and infamous. 

Here's a look at one of her songs:

           

Maybe if she came up with a new topic for a songs she would become more dateable….

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.