Don't count the days, make the days count. As many of you know, unfortunately (or fortunately for some of you?) school has begun. I have a love hate relationship with school. I love learning new things but I HATE HOW MUCH PRESSURE AND STRESS IS ON YOU TO SUCCEED. This year I made a commitment to myself that I would NOT procrastinate and as soon as I got the assignment I would do it. So far (its been a week) I have been doing pretty good about completing the homework as fast as possible and I feel so much better during the week without thinking, "I have to get this done and that done but I also have this and that. Oh my gosh! My brain is going to explode!" Waiting till that last minute makes me feel so overwhelmed and I don't want to do anything because I don't have the time making me procrastinate even more! Now many of you may be confused because you know I am homeschooled but starting last school year I begun taking dual-credit class at our junior college in town. Dual credit is basically a college course but it counts as a high school credit and college credit (Knocking two birds with one stone out of the way). I never really had to go by due dates but I have really enjoyed the challenge of turning papers in on time, taking timed test, and just the different atmosphere. (Trust me. I know I sound crazy.) I also really never had to get school supplies but I LOVE SCHOOL SUPPLIES! My favorite part of the school year is stationary by far. I love collecting all of the pencils and pens, deciding what color notebook, binder, and planner I want to use. I am so much more motivated and excited for the school year to begin because I want to use all of my cute school supplies. Unfortunately this summer, I was so busy I never got to completely go school supply shopping so a lot of this stuff I am using is from last semester or my mom got it for me! (Everything is linked below. :)) BACKPACK: I have mentioned this backpack before in one of my blog post before called, "What to Pack on a Mission Trip" (You can read the post here). but I have been using this backpack for years and it is still going strong. I love this backpack from Herschel Supply Co. because it holds a ton of stuff! I can put my binder, notebooks, and textbooks inside with room to spare for my laptop which they have a pocket in the back to hold. I also love the neutral colors with a bright red print inside but to spice it up this year I sowed a NASA patch on the side and I'm going to continue to sew even more patches on! BINDER AND NOTE BOOKS: BINDER: Honestly, my binder is a binder I found in my garage years ago. I love having a binder though because I can put all my assignments in one place without the opion of miss placing them. NOTEBOOKS: My favorite notebooks are from Mead because they have kind of a pastel vibe to them. They are also very light weight and have a ton of paper which I need because I take notes and a lot of them. PLANNER: I have been using the planners from Target for awhile now. I love the designs they have and the planners are VERY reasonably priced. I got mine for about $10.00. The planner has a calendar for each month and then following the calendar is a section to write a to-do list for each day. PENCIL CASE AND MORE: PENCIL CASE: I found a pack of three online for $3.00. They said shipping would take about one month to arrive but I got it in about a week! I really like them! I am able to hold all my pencils, pens, and highlighters in one but not have this HUGE pencil case and it is pretty cute. HIGHLIGHTERS: I just use the normal highlighters from Sharpie but I am eyeing these pastel highlighters from Amazon so fingers cross I get the courage to buy them because I am cheap. Highlighters are a life saver for me because I can highlight (By now the word highlight has been used several times now so highlight, highlight, highlight.)what is most important and what I need to remember. Probably why they were invented and why you use them but I LOVE THEM! PENS: I have two sets of pens. Black and colored.
PENCILS - I use mechanical pencils because when I take notes I don't know how to right soft. These are also random ones! Essentials: There are several things I find absolutely vital essentials for me to be able to survive school. A NOTEBOOK: I love having a random notebook with me because if I need to scribble my thoughts out from the day after feeling overwhelmed to get some frustrations out I can and I can also write things down I need to remember to do. This one is from Walgreen's. TEXTBOOKS: This one if kind of obvious! Fortunately this year, I only need one which costed only $50.00! I do however recommend checking out Chegg because they sell textbooks for a lot cheaper! You can also rent by receiving, saving the box it was shipped in, using the textbook, then you return the textbook in the box you received it in. It has honestly been a lifesaver. BOOK: I bring a book with me everywhere just in case I have a spare moment of nothing to do. Usually doesn't happen but I have one in case. I also have a Kindle with me because I am using it for an assignment! HEADPHONES: I mean who does not have headphones with them? I can only focus during homework with some sort of background music. I listen to the playlist, "Study Vibes" on Spotify and recently have been loving Lorde's new album, "Melodrama". WATER BOTTLE: I love water and love my Nelgene water bottle. I have had this water bottle for so long and have not lost it or broken it! I also put stickers all over it from places I have visited and to represent different memories. LOTION, HAND SANITIZER, AND CHAP STICK:
LINKS: I tried finding all the links to the products above but some are to old to find. I did however linked items similar to the products that I would find useful now and that are cheap! Just click the photos to take you to the website! ;)
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Be crazy, laugh, love, and live it up because this is the oldest you've been and the youngest you'll ever be again. I recently turned 18 on Wednesday, July 26 of 2017! I have officially lived 18 fantastic years of life. But not on my own I have spent these 18 years with my side kick aka my twin! I have not had a normal teenage experience in the slightest. My life has always been changing and I can strongly say it will continue to change but for the better. My life has not been an easy one. I will not go into details because I want to keep this post happy but I will say that it has been hard with family, friends, and just life happening. Since my life has always been changing, I have learned how to adapt to new situations, been able to forgive easier, and appreciate the little things in life. I can say without a doubt I have had a HARD time but I can also say that it has been a FANTASTIC 18 years. I wouldn't be the person I am today without my rollercoaster ride of life. I've also met some of the most amazing people that have had such an impact on my life and showed me that it is okay to be yourself. They have also given me the opportunity to experience things I never could have done without them. I haven't done this on my own though. I have been blessed with a partner in crime. My twin, Katherine. Katherine and I have had SO many crying fests, SO many arguments, and SO many fun times together. My twin means a lot to me. I couldn't imagine a life without her. (Literally she is always with me.) I know I can always count on her whether I need advice or just need a little pep talk. I know Katherine will always be there for anything I need and I will always be there for anything she needs. Here is to the good times and the bad times but mostly the good. I am so thankful for the people in my life and all of my family. I'm looking forward to the life that I will continue to live and look forward to living to the fullest! "Sometimes we can't let go of memories,because they are constant reminders of a great story that we never expected to end." I am a very sentimental person! Every item in my room has a memory behind it whether it is good or bad. So welcome to "Diary Of My Room: Dresser Edition". I am making this blog post to share my "aesthetic" but also document the stories behind my items. I hope you enjoy but if you are not a stories person this one isn't for you! ;) My Jewelry BoxMy jewelry box marks a new chapter in my life. Last year we moved houses in a rush due to an unhealthy relationship. This was the first item I received for my new room as a Christmas present from my mom. It reminds me of the healthy changes we made that brought us so much more happiness and joy. I love my jewelry box and I will always cherish it. My Little Lucky CatThis little lucky cat came from my family vacation to Disney World. I went to Disney World about 7 years ago for my 10th birthday which was the best family vacation and the last family vacation. I have been on plenty of trips since 2010 but that trip was the last one where I went with my whole family. It was a great trip with great memories. I remember the first ride we went on was the Dumbo ride and I rode with my mom. Disney World was a magical place and I can't wait to make new memories when we go back one day. My Three Perfume BottlesThere are three completely different memories here. The pink crown perfume on the left is by One Direction called, "Our Moment" as you can tell by the HUGE poster in the background I LOVE One Direction. It might sound silly but they have been such a huge part of my life and that bottle of perfume is filled with not just a sent but of a ton of memories. The purple bottle in the middle is by Taylor Swift called, "Wonderstruck" and it reminds me of my childhood. The hours I spent singing to her love songs with all my friends at the top of our lungs and the hours I spent watching her music videos. The crystal one on the right is actually empty and it is from my great grandma. It reminds me of the old times of visiting her in Oklahoma and all the family reunions we used to have in that boring state. My Black RhinoThis black rhino was a gift from my friend. It holds the memory of me discovering my love for animals. My friend gave this to me for my birthday at about the same time we started volunteering at our local zoo. In case you don't know black rhinos are critically endangered and has encouraged me to look into the career of a Wildlife Biologist. I hope to one day pursue the career of helping endangered animals in whatever way that is. My PosterIf you don't know who this band is... have you been living under a rock? This is One Direction and I will never sound more like a teenage girl than at this very moment. This poster is from when I went to my very FIRST concert and it was the best experience. It is a long story and definitely deserves it's own blog post but the short version is. I was a huge fan of them {and still am} and when I got the opportunity to go to see them live I took it even if our backs were touching the VERY back of the stadium {literally}. It was by far one of the best weekends of stalking and sitting outside the venue for hours. My Polaroid CaseI got my Polaroid camera in this super vintage case from Goodwill and it reminds me of the change in times of my youth group. I went to Goodwill with a small group of people from my church including my old youth pastor and new youth pastor. It was the first time I spent quality time with my new youth pastor and one of the last times I spent time with my old youth pastor. Both pastors have brought completely different moments but all have been good. P.S. I have never used my Polaroid camera because I can't afford $30.00 film for it not to work! If anyone knows how to determine whether it works let me know! My Cross and Paris MirrortpThe silver cross was given to me by my mom when I was very little. I have always kept it in my sight to remind me whenever I am going through a difficult time to take a step back and to remember God loves me. My Paris mirror was given to me from a friend and helps me to remember how much I want to go explore the world and discover myself in a variety of different environments. I hope to one day be able to explore Paris myself. I love being able to look around my room and remember the good and bad memories associated with my items. When I am feeling upset all I have to do is think of all the great memories that I have collected over the years through my stuff. It really is a great feeling looking over to my dresser from my bed to see all my prized possessions.
May I grow so tall and bring, so free and wild, so brave and vibrant that when you see me standing you think I am a sunflower. - g. c. Summer time is a time for crazy, fun adventures with crazy, fun friends. Living in a small town makes it hard to find new things to do with friends. There is always the option to go to a coffee shop (which we have MANY) or to the movies (which we also have MANY) but after awhile it gets old so you have to discover your own adventures. After driving by this massive sunflower field Katherine and I decided the only way to successfully celebrate the beauty of the field was to take photos. And the photos turned out better than I could have ever imagined! We went on the best day too. The sun was shining, there was a breeze in the air, and it wasn't blazing hot. Only 90F when the days in June are usually 100F! Props of living in Texas. We also recruited our friends, Molly and Ceci. If you have the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, do it. The best memories I have are the ones where I made my own fun and adventure. Just go outside and the chance are you will find something new and exciting to do.
5. I have no idea what to study or where to go!As I enter my senior year in high school I must begin looking into where to study and what to study. The problem is... I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO STUDY AND WHAT TO STUDY! While there are so many different kinds of jobs whether it be medical, business, or even a veterinarian I have yet to find a job that has my complete interest. I am interested in writing and travel, of course, so journalism sounds compelling. I have also always taken an interest in animals and conservation so I am looking into Zoology or being a Wildlife Biologist but if you have any suggestions please feel free to share! 4. I am a vegetarian!I became a vegetarian more than a year ago. My family and I chose to give up meat during the Methodist season of Lent. Personally I chose to give up meat during Lent for two reasons. The first is to spare the animals that are crammed in pens where they can barely move and are fed a diet containing pesticides and antibiotics. Second, the pollution that is put into our environment from agricultural activities such as confined animal facilities, pesticide spraying, and plowing. It is also known that more than 173,000 miles of polluted rivers and streams come from chemical and animal waste runoff from factory farms. 3. I am homeschooled!Yep. I'm homeschooled and I have been homeschooled my entire life. Before I began explaining why I love being homeschooled. Let me answer a few common questions. "Does your mom teach you or does a teacher? " "My mom does teach me. Kinda the point of not going to public school. " "Do you have friends?" "Surprisingly, I'm not anti-social and I do have friends." "How do you make friends?" "There are lots of different opportunities in a homeschool community. I personally made friends by going to Tuesday school (a one day school) when I was younger, joining a dance studio, and volunteering at my zoo." "Do you like being homeschooled?" "Yes!" I love being homeschooled because I have the freedom to finish my schoolwork on my time and have the responsibility of organizing MY days. I believe I have learned a lot as a young adult from being taught at home. I know how to manage my time, I have the ability to be a little more outgoing when it comes to making friends, and I have grown closer to my mom and sister than I ever thought possible. 2. I have a twin!I love being a twin! I am EXTREMELY close to my sister. I know everything about her and she knows everything about me. Heck! We shared a room together until we were 12! Katherine and I did everything together until this summer when we both got different jobs but don't get me wrong! We still do EVERYTHING together! I could not imagine my life without my twin sister by my side 24/7. 1. I am a christian!If you have read any of my other blog posts you probably know that I am a christian and I believe in God one-hundred percent! I grew up in the church. Always going to Sunday school and always listening to my mom tell me stories about her faith. About a year ago, my mom, my twin, and I when through the hardest year of our lives and I could not imagine how our lives would be without our church family supporting and helping us through our horrible year. My belief in God grew stronger than ever seeing my favorite people take the time out of their days helping us move, and filling our new home with furniture. I would not know what I would do without the ability to pray to God on the hardest days and go to my church family for support. My favorite verse is: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 "Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder." One way I give myself a boost during the day when I feel unmotivated or unsure of myself is looking up quotes on Pinterest. I always find a quote that seems as if it was meant to be seen by me whether it is a quote about procrastination or about self care. There are thousands of inspirational quotes out there and I am confidante there are some for you to help you at a hard day of work or your trouble with relationships. Here are a few about FAITH: Here are a few about PROCRASTINATION: Here are a few about SELF-CARE: Here are a few about TRAVEL: Here are a few RANDOM:
"Film and theater are about capturing moments: things we wish'd we said, heartaches that haven't healed, the thrill of the unknown."
I never considered myself a romance movie lover but after this list I think we can all agree I totally am.
Some call it mission work. It can also be called loving others. Two summers ago I had an amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica with my church. My trip was a 6 days trip including 2 days of traveling. When preparing for my trip I had know idea what to pack or what bag to use so I went to Pinterest for inspiration. There were tons of blog posts about what to bring on a mission trip but lots included expensive items which I could not afford. I hope this blog post helps those who need some inspiration for their incredible experience. ResearchPrior to leaving, keep in mind what you will be doing during your mission trip, as your activities will greatly affect what you need to pack. My trip was 8 days with 3 days of travel, 4 days of work, and 1 free day to explore Costa Rica. I also encourage you to research what the weather is while you are there. A great website to use is: https://www.worldweatheronline.com/ Trip Schedule:Day 1 - Travel to Costa Rica Day 2 - Arrive at the mission site Day 3 - Work Day 4 - Work Day 5 - Work Day 6 - Work morning/Help school afternoon Day 7 - Free day Day 8 - Travel home BaggageThe first thing you should always do is check in with your organization of the size of bag you are allowed to bring. I was only allowed to bring a carry-on plus my backpack and pillow. The bag I chose was a $30 bag from Target which was the perfect size but there were no wheels. If I could chose another bag I would get one with wheels because it was horrible carrying my duffel the entire time. The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag is 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels. Here are three cheap carry on bags that would work perfect for a mission trip. Clothes I usually decide to pack the day before a trip but for a mission trip it is always a good idea to prepare in advance. Clothing is a tough thing to pack so when deciding keep in mind how long you will be gone, what the weather will be, and whether there is an option to wash clothes. My facility did not provide a place to wash clothes but you can also use some shampoo and a shower and hang them up somewhere to dry. My packing list is for a eight day trip where I was going to help build a facility in a hot, humid environment for ten hours a day. I also kept in mind that the nights where going to be cold. Here is what I brought for a 8 day trip to Costa Rica:
ShoesIf you are a girl chances are you like your shoes. Since I was only allowed a carry-on I could only fit two pairs in my luggage but you really only need a pair of work shoes and sandals to shower in or wear to the beach. I brought an old pair of tennis shoes I did not mind getting paint on and my Chacos.
ToiletriesDepending on your location, you may or may not be able to buy toiletries at your destination. To be safe, you want to bring all the toiletries and medicine you will need. If you bring a carry-on you cannot bring a liquid container any larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters so I recommend carry-on sized plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioner, etc. You can find them pretty much anywhere. I also highly recommend bringing car sickness medicine because chances are you will be in a bus going on curvy roads.... with a different style of driving to say the less. I used Non-Drowsy Naturals with Natural Ginger Dramamine. Works wonders.
BackpackI suggest taking a backpack in addition to your carry-on. It is so much easier having one because on the plane your luggage will be above you while you have your backpack under your seat. You can keep your passport, important papers, and money in it while also having room for a book or some playing cards. My backpack was from Hershel Supply Co. and I found it on sale on Amazon I spent my free time either playing cards with friends or writing in my journal. One of the best decisions I ever made was bringing a journal to write my experience in. I am able to read my trip in detail and remember many more memories. You should also consider purchasing a portable charger. Mine was from AT&T but you can find some really cheap ones online. What I brought in my backpack:
Costa Rica My trip to Costa Rica was a trip of a life time. It was amazing getting to experience the culture and people while being able to help those in need. I loved the atmosphere of everyone working together so hard trying to get things done for the facility. I loved getting to know the kids that would run around. I loved growing closer to my church family. I love growing more independent as I learned how to navigate the airport and go international for the first time. If you ever have the chance to go on a mission trip, take the opportunity. I love rainy days with a blanket and a cup of tea and a book. My favorite days are rainy days. I love the sound of the rain pounding onto my roof. I love drinking coffee or tea while watching the rain fall from the dark, cloudy sky. I love rain storms, lightning, and thunder. I love the feeling of being comfy and cozy in bed reading a book. Living in Texas means it is a very rare event for thunder storms to occur. When it happens I take full advantage of the day setting candles, turning on my fairy lights, and opening my blinds to see the rain fall. I feel more productive during these days because I sit in my bed either doing homework or reading a book. I also get tangled up in the world of Netflix, a never ending world. Pluviophile Most people love sunny days where the sun is shining bright onto your face.
Some people love cloudy days where the rain is falling onto your face. Most people love sunny days with the clear skies. Some people love cloudy days with foggy, misty mornings. Most people love sunny days with the wind blowing in their face while the car windows are down. Some people love cloudy days with rain drizzling outside their window. |
Who I AmA senior in high school looking for a creative outlook where I can share my recipes, trips, and stories. Some days, I can conquer the world. Other days, it takes me three hours to convince myself to shower. Archives |