Perfectionists

Everyone has that one friend,or is that one friend, who always wants everything to be perfect. Perfectionists are all around you, especially at school. That's why I wanted to talk about this, since we are going back to school in less than a week! Those perfectionists are extremely hard on themselves in every way, not only in grades. They don't even need a parent to punish them for a bad grade, they almost punish themselves. I know this because I am one of them. Now, when I say punish themselves, I don't mean like hurting themselves. I just mean that they get so upset and angry that they work extremely hard to pull the grade back up. Just recently, I read an article in a magazine that talked about how some perfectionists take it too far and do end up harming themselves.

    This may seem crazy to some people, but when you put that much pressure on yourself to get good grades and do well in sports or whatever else you participate in, it can really stress you out and eventually you're going to snap. That's why I think it's important that we support our friends who are like this, tell them to remember that getting a B on one quiz in Chemistry isn't going to ruin your career goals. Remind them that the world isn't going to end if they get a 93 instead of a 97. But don't tell them to just stop what they are doing. It isn't that easy for them. So just keep all of this in mind as you enter the new school year, and don't let the stress ruin you.

    Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Binder Cover Ideas!

Hey! Since school is literally a week away, I know that people are starting to pack their book bags and finish up buying school supplies. For some reason, I am like seriously OCD about my school supplies. Everything has to be perfect. So, one thing I like to do is to make homemade binder covers. No, homemade does not mean I printed them out! So I am going to post some pictures of the ones I made this year, and talk you through it. It's really not hard, but it can be very time consuming!
    Your binder cover really just depends on what you like. This year I decided to go with color coded binders, so I bought red, blue, white, and black binders. In order to make my own binder covers this year, I went through some old magazines and pulled out pages that had really cute designs on them that were either red, white, or blue (Leah, from Love Ling, made me a binder cover for my black binder). Then I went through the pages and cut out little squares of the designs and pasted them on to construction paper, which was also color coded. If all of this seems confusing, here are the pictures!

    So, when making your own binder covers, you can cut out strips of magazines and piece them together, you can do squares, or maybe triangles. The possibilities are seriously endless. I hope you liked seeing these, and email me pictures of yours if you decide to make them! Here is a link to Leah's blog page, go check it out! Love Ling Blog Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Back To School

    So it's already August, and that means it's time to start getting ready for school again. Personally, I like to wait until the very last second to start thinking about all of the homework to come. Anyways, I thought that I would give you guys a few tips on how to survive a crazy school schedule. All of this information is coming from a professional commitment juggler... me! So here are a few things I think would really help you during school:

1. A Planner That is Perfect For You
    I know this sounds really stupid and nerdy, but seriously. Go to Target or Walmart and look through all of the planners they have in stock. There are a ton to choose from, so just look at all of the different formats and sizes and find what works best for you! Personally, I like to have a lot of room to write homework and extra-curricular stuff.


2. Color Code Everything!
    We all used to do it in Elementary school, so why not bring it back? Buy highlighters and binders of the same color so that all of your supplies for each class are color coded and match what you have in your planner. This helps me visualize how much work I have for each class. Also, it allows you to quickly glance in your backpack and see what materials you are missing. It may seem childish, but it seriously works.


3. Have a Study Plan
    Everyone has their own way of studying, and before you get too deep into the tests and quizzes, make sure you have a plan. My personal plan is to look over notes and highlight the things I don't know. After that, I go through and make flash cards for all of those highlighted things. It really helps me get the material in my head. Just find the perfect method for you and stick to it!


4. Schedule Some Time for Yourself
    This is going to sound super cheesy, but you really do need to spend some time each week just resting. Allowing yourself to relax will help you stay more focused when you are completing other tasks, like homework. So just kick back and enjoy your free time!


That's all for today, and I hope you can use some of these tips to help you in this coming school year. Sorry about the giant break in posts, but hopefully I will be posting more soon! Until next time...

-Yours Truly

My Vacation

I know that I haven't posted in a while and that is because I was at the beach! Yep, I had a ton of fun, but sadly no internet connection. I'm sorry to leave you guys for so long, but I am going to tell you a little bit about my trip! I went in a giant camper with my friend and her family. It was a really nice camper and a nice campground too. The only bad thing was all of the mosquitos! I felt like I was being eaten alive the whole time. Well anyways we stayed the whole week on this adorable little island with a family friendly beach and only one grocery store. The island was small, but that made it all the more of an escape from my regular life. It was amazing to be out in the sun and enjoying the beach and all of the bike trails through our park. Anyways, I had a great time and I wish I could go back!
    On a completely separate topic I have been doing some online shopping recently! I love online shopping because it's like giving yourself a little present that is delivered to your doorstep. Last week I ordered a pair of Chaco sandals. I was out of town when they were delivered, so I was super excited for them all week. When I finally got home I rushed up to my room and found them laying on my bed. I know a lot of people think that these sandals are kinda ugly, but they really start to grow on you after a while. So now I have new sandals and a fresh tan from my beach trip. What more can a girl ask for?
    Well, this was just a little update of my life, and I hope you enjoyed! Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Good Books For The Summer

Over the Summer I know that the last thing you want to do is sit down and read. I just recently read an article that explained all about how reading can improve so many parts of your brain capacity. In turn, you become smarter overall the more you read. Here is a link to the article if you are interested: Can Reading Make You Smarter? - by Dan Hurley Anyways, in order to stay sharp for next school year you need to read a little over the summer! So this is going to be a list of books that I have recently read that I think you guys will enjoy!

1. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
    I don't know if there are any guys that are reading this, but if so this may not be the book for you. Ladies this book is great. It really pulls on your emotions, just like every other Nicholas Sparks book. I actually just finished this book last night and I love the way he builds the characters. You feel like you know so much about them that they could possibly be real! It's a great read and definitely worth your time!





2. Fallen by Lauren Kate
    I read this book a while ago, but it was so good that I read it in like 2 days. I don't remember anything major about it, I just remember loving every word! Definitely worth reading!









3. Truesight by David Stahler Jr.
    I first read this book in 7th grade for school and I loved it. I actually ended up buying my own copy and re-reading it. It's a science fiction novel about a society where everyone is born blind in order to keep the peace. But eventually the main character finds out some crazy things about his society.







4. The Giver by Lois Lowry
    There is actually a movie coming out for this book soon, so you should definitely read it before you go see it. This is another book about a dystopian society, where they see no color, they live in "family units," and they do not choose their jobs or their loved ones. Of course this is all to keep the peace, but the main character ends up learning some terrifying things about his city. It's definitely worth reading.






I hope that you try at least one of these and just remember to keep reading! Until next time...

-Yours Truly

A Productive Summer?!?

Hey guys! So I want to talk about what we are all doing this summer. I realized that summer is meant to have fun and relax, but all of my friends are going cool places. So what am I supposed to do? Well personally, I've decided to be productive. In my last blog post I mentioned that I bought a new ukulele, so this summer I plan on learning how to play it! You guys may not know this about me, but I also play the flute. In addition to ukulele practice this summer, I plan on practicing my flute a lot too. I know this all sounds boring, but your activities will be fit to you.
    This post is going out to those of you who are like me. Your friends are all going on amazing vacations and you have the whole summer to spend sitting on the couch. I just want to tell you that if you waste your entire summer doing that, you will definitely regret it. Believe me. So go find what you like to do, go look for a summer job, go make new friends, go practice your instruments. Then you can come back to school in the fall and show everyone how much amazing stuff you did this summer.
    Sorry that this is a short post, but there will be more to come, as usual. Until next time...

-Yours Truly

You Can Do Anything!

So I have a quick little story to tell you guys.
Alright, so just today I was babysitting my cute little neighbor when I noticed that she had a ukulele. I picked it up and asked her a few questions, which she answered quickly, then she showed me the DVD that came with it so that she could learn how to play. And while I was sitting there trying to tune her ukulele I decided I wanted to learn how to play it myself! The thought that I could just go buy something and learn such a cool new talent was so extremely liberating for some reason. I had some kind of epiphany. So I went home and started looking on Amazon for a good quality ukulele with a starter DVD and I found one. After bargaining with my parents, who eventually agreed to pay half of the cost, I ordered my new ukulele and it will arrive on Friday!
    Now, you must be thinking, "what does this have to do with my life?" or "why should I care about you?" Well, I'm getting to that part. It finally hit me today that if you really want something, all you have to do is put your mind to it. If you want to go learn another language, go buy a book and learn it! If you want to learn how to surf, go to the beach and try it out. And if you want to learn how to play a new instrument, you go do it. But, the things you can do doesn't have to be limited to new talents and skills, you can learn to treat others better, or use better manners. It's all up to you! So I hope this post helps you realize your potential, and inspires you to go out there and do all of those things you've wanted to do. Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Saying Goodbye

It's that time of year when you have to emotionally prepare yourself for seniors to leave your school. The sad fact is, you may not ever see them again. Just the thought of that scares the heck out of me! I don't want to lose some of my closest friends! But not all of the people leaving are seniors, sometimes people move or find better opportunities. This doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. So that's what I want to talk about today.
    Just recently my school held the end-of-year banquet where they show baby pictures of all of the seniors and it's just an insanely emotional time. It's so difficult to imagine them just not being there anymore. To imagine that next time you come to class, their seat will be empty, or filled with someone new. That is the sad truth about high school. Even though you have to say goodbye to all of your senior friends, you can see them leaving as a challenge to meet new people next school year, and to make new friends. It is so hard to see all of these people I have grown to love leave, but in the end there isn't much you can do about it.
    So how do you keep moving? Find new friends, keep in touch with those who have left, and remember that change is what keeps us all moving forward. Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Positive Attitude!

I'm sorry it has been so long since my last post, but a lot of fun and crazy stuff has been going on in my life lately! The biggest thing is preparing for exams, it has consumed a good bit of my time lately so this post is kind of relating to that. I have been really stressed out trying to cram a semester's worth of information back into my head. It's definitely a tough process, and I find that during this time I fall into almost a haze or kind of sad state. It is just a lot to think about at one time. So this post is going to talk about keeping a good attitude during these hard times!
    Everyone has those days where you are feeling kind of blue and you don't really want to do anything or talk to anyone. That is completely understandable, but for me exam week is just a week of torture. So the best thing to do is focus on the positives in your life. Think about that special someone, or something major that just happened.... for me this would be getting my adorable new car! If you just focus on the good things going on, exam week will fly by. Remember, it's just a test and you will do great. Just don't mess yourself up, you can totally do this! I believe in you!
    This is an extremely short post, but here it is. I hope that you can keep a good attitude throughout your exam week too! Good Luck! Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Find Your Silver Lining

We all know that bad stuff happens, it's just a part of life. But what do you do when bad things happen to you? Well, I try to find the good things in bad situations, aka the silver linings. I had an huge example of this today when I went to go get my hair cut. Before I got it cut my hair was pretty long, about half-way down my back. I told the hairdresser that I wanted it a little shorter for summer and I wanted something a little different. So I showed her where I wanted it cut to and then she began. While she was cutting it I didn't think much about the length, but I realized when she started drying it that was REALLY short. I kind of started freaking out, it definitely wasn't just a few inches shorter, it was shoulder length! At first I was kind of upset and angry, but of course I would never tell her that. After I left the salon I had to rant a little bit to my friends and family, but after a little while I calmed myself down. I realized that it wasn't the end of the world, and hair grows back! The haircut actually ended up looking really cute, and it was definitely different which was exactly what I asked for.
    So there is my story for the day, I hope you enjoyed hearing a little bit about my day! Until next time...

-Yours Truly

SUMMER!

The warm sun, the great weather, and of course, no school! Everyone loves summer because you can be care free and you don't have to worry about some paper that's due next week. Counting down the days to when summer starts is what's keeping me alive during exam time. So what is there to look forward to? What is summer all about? Well I just wanted to share a little bit about my upcoming summer!
    This summer I don't have any major vacation plans, so I decided to apply for my first job! I'm so excited, but I haven't heard back from them yet. Most of my summer is being consumed by rehearsals and hanging out with friends, which is just the way I like it. Throw in a few small trips and a mission trip and that pretty much sums up my summer. But lately I have been thinking about all of the cliches of summer. Meeting cute guys at the beach, doing crazy stuff with your friends, finally getting that tan you have been waiting for! After thinking about it for a little while I decided to make a summer of 2014 bucket list!
    I'm not going to share this with you now, because it's still in progress, but I think it would be fun if we all made a little bucket list for this summer. It will give you fun goals to work on and keep you busy, also you make a lot of memories doing these fun things with your friends! So begin the countdown to summer everyone! Until next time...

-Yours Truly

Time

So something has been bothering me a lot lately. Why are we all in such a hurry? I understand that our time on Earth is limited, but sometimes while we are rushing through life, we are missing so much. Think about the last time you were hurrying down the street and didn't look at anyone passing by. Well, after seeing too many romantic comedies, you could have met the love of your life if you would have just slowed down.

    It's also important to remember that you don't need to waste your time either. I know that this seems like it's really complicated, and it definitely is. I think that one of the biggest challenges in life is trying to pace yourself. So, to end this tiny little rant, I want to say that we should all stop to smell the roses sometimes, otherwise we are going to let our own life pass us by. Until next time...

-Yours Truly

When Should You Shut Your Mouth?

After just reading the latest blog post on my friend Leah's blog (Love Ling) about how people just suck sometimes, I was inspired. Here is a link to her post if you are curious- Truth: Sometimes, People Suck - Love Ling. In this post she mentioned that, when in a social setting, everyone is just trying to fit in. I can totally relate to that. I know that it may sound extremely shallow, but deep down everyone wants to fit in somewhere. Generally, in order to fit in you have to make good conversation and make some new friends. That's where this post is going to come in. I don't know about you guys, but I have a bad habit of rambling on when I'm talking to others. This can not only leave you tongue-tied and embarrassed, but generally it gets on peoples' nerves.
    So when is the right time to shut your mouth? Well, before you share what's on your mind think about how it fits with the conversation. Does it have anything to do with anything? Are people going to understand what you are saying? Unless you can answer those questions, it's best to just not say anything at all. People appreciate a good listener too! So just sit back and enjoy the conversation. Stay alert and interested, but don't get in peoples' faces. Everyone needs their own personal space.
    So if you want to stop rambling stick to this motto: When in doubt, leave it out! And remember, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't share your opinions. You definitely can, but make sure that you don't ramble on about a subject for too long! Lastly, you are all wonderful and I'm sure making new friends will be a breeze. Until next time.

-Yours Truly

Being Shy

Everyone gets nervous around new people. It's like a universal thing, but how do you overcome that? It's so scary to put yourself out there and make new friends sometimes, but you can definitely do it. Personally, I'm not very shy, but everyone has their moments. So how do you overcome shyness? Well, it's really simple actually.
    First you have to be confident in yourself. Once you realize how amazing you are, it will be easier to show others. Walking up to someone new and striking up a conversation would be totally okay. Also, don't get embarrassed. I know that is a major goal and it can take a long time to master. Just remember that everyone is human, and they probably make mistakes all the time just like you. So, when choosing someone to make friends with be sure to choose someone who has something in common with you. If you don't have anything in common you won't have anything to start a conversation with. It's also a good idea to try to find someone with the same goals and morals as you, but you have to get to know them before you know that.
    All in all, just be pleasant. If you are even half as fantastic as I think you are, then there is no way they won't love you! Just remember: CONFIDENCE IS KEY!! Well, I hope this was helpful, until next time...

-Yours Truly

Mind Games

Hello everyone! Today I want to talk about something that literally every girl is accused of. Mind games. I wish that guys would get it through their heads that not all girls are the same! Sure, some girls are a lot of drama and won't just come out and tell you their feelings. I get that, we have to deal with other girls too. But, they need to realize that everything we say doesn't mean we are playing mind games with them. Sometimes if I say, "Pass the Ketchup," there is no second meaning.
    So this is going to be kind of a rant post, but I also think that a lot of girls do play mind games, and that's not cool. If you are upset with them, just tell them you are upset. This will take them by surprise and they will probably be thankful that they don't have to guess what you are thinking anymore. I understand that no one is perfect, I'm guilty of hiding my feelings too, but all girls should try to be more straight forward with everyone.
    Well, that is my rant for today, I hope you enjoyed it!

-Yours Truly

My Music Favorites!

Alright, so recently I have been loving light  music. So when I found some of these artists I was completely in love. So here are a few of my current favorite that I think you should definitely check out! Oh and I also want to apologize for taking such a long break from posting. I feel terrible, but I'm back now! So let's get to it:

Jack Johnson
This is the guy that sings the music in the Curious George movie. That's right. His smooth voice and adorable songs are fantastic and I can't get enough of them. Banana Pancakes and Better together are two of my favorites. I'll leave links for them right here:Banana Pancakes -Jack Johnson Better Together -Jack Johnson

Jason Castro
So I don't know many songs by him, but his cover of Hallelujah is incredible. I'm not sure what it is about his voice, but it is so unique and I love it! Also, he has gorgeous eyes. You might remember him from forever ago on American Idol, but that nothing compared to his music after the show. Hallelujah - Jason Castro

Birdy
I just recently found her on YouTube and I love the different quality of her voice. She does amazing covers and she is so young and fresh! Her cover of Skinny Love is great and she just brings a smile to your face. Anyways, you should go look her up! Skinny Love - Birdy

Well, that's all for now. All of these artists are available on iTunes and I encourage all of you to go buy their songs! Until next time...

- Yours Truly

Stress

   Hey guys! So, I know that you all know what stress is and what causes it. I mean, who doesn't get stressed from time to time? But lately, I have been under a good bit of stress myself. With the end of the school year being just around the corner everything is starting to get really busy. My workload has increased, I had to choose classes for next year, there are forms to turn in, sports are coming to an end, auditions for extra curricular activities are happening. To put it simply: There is a lot going on. So what can you do to relieve some stress? Here are some tips:

1. Stay Positive:
    Don't let little things freak you out. If you believe you can do it then you will get it done. Also, don't procrastinate or begin to doubt yourself, this leads to stress.

2. Take Some Time For Yourself:
    If you spend all day everyday running around staying insanely busy it's going to take a toll on you. Take a Saturday to sit around, do your nails, watch Gossip Girl, or do whatever makes you happy!

3. Get a Planner:
    I know that this might sound like a super nerdy thing to do, but a daily/monthly planner can really help you set your schedule and avoid time crunch issues.

4. Learn to Say No:
    We all feel bad telling a friend or family member no, but if you help everyone with everything they ask you are going to overextend yourself! Just make sure you don't cram too many things in your schedule.

Well, I hope this has helped you and maybe you can use this to help control your stress. Just remember not to try to do too much. Sometimes you just need some time to sit down and do absolutely nothing. And that's perfectly okay!

P.S. I apologize for how long it's been since I've posted! Hopefully I will have more time in the near future!

-Yours Truly

Secrets

   

We all have them and we spend a lot of time and effort making sure that they don't get spread. Secrets are the one thing strong enough to ruin any friendship and start a fight between almost anyone. Recently I've come to the conclusion that you just shouldn't let it get to you. Even if so and so tells everyone about that guy from geometry you like, or if someone spills that you totally took a tumble in front of pretty much the most important people to you. Keep it together people! Don't let them get to you, just talk it out and voice how you don't appreciate them spreading stuff around that is private. Luckily I have some amazing friends who wouldn't do that kind of thing to me, but for all of you out there who aren't that lucky, don't let people walk all over you!
    I guess what I'm trying to say here is you need to stick up for yourself and your privacy. Never be embarrassed of anything you do because that just makes you feel inferior and bad about your self. Be bold. Do what you want and don't care what everyone thinks of you. You are amazing. I guarantee it. Well, until next time...

-Yours Truly

My Crazy Week!

    Hey guys! I know I haven't posted in forever and I  apologize. I figured that you guys might want an explanation so here are some things that have been going on lately:

HOMEWORK! oh my gosh, I have had boatloads of it lately! I don't know about you but all of this homework better help me out down the road. Anyways, last week I went on the annual band trip to Orlando! It was amazing!! The sun and warm weather definitely put me in a better mood, and missing a little bit of school didn't hurt either. I got to spend some quality time with friends, major memories made there. Anyways after that I was busy helping out around school with all of my extra curricular activities. It is sooo important that you are involved in your school and that you are showing interest in something other than academics (Colleges love that). So I also went and saw Divergent... It literally blew my mind. I loved the movie and the plot is so interesting. Not to be cheesy, but it kind of changed my way of thinking a little bit. So after Divergent I had more homework and then threw a little party. It was super cute even if our plans didn't go like I wanted them to. It's good to know that I have friends who are willing to spend time with me doing absolutely anything. One of those friends was Leah, the one from the beauty blog! Go check out her blog at www.lovelingblog.blogspot.com ! Anyways, that's a brief recap of what I have been up to!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this random post about me. More to come!

- Yours Truly

Self Esteem

Take a look ladies! That is a picture that has been edited to be put into a magazine. That's right! Those pretty, thin, perfect girls in the magazines may not be what you think they are. I don't know about the rest of the world, but in America we have a lot of young girls (and guys) who have major self esteem issues because of the pressure of the media. When we see girls who are unnaturally skinny and with perfect complexions we think that we are not good enough until we look just like them.
    As it turns out, they don't even look like themselves. So many of those ads and pictures in magazines and on television are Photoshopped to look almost perfect. You can see in the picture about that the girl on the left is actually a normal human being! Girls, when you bend over, you are supposed to see wrinkles on your stomach, it's called skin! Don't even get me started on their complexions, they not only have air-brushed makeup, but they use Photoshop to blend all the imperfections in so you can't see them.
    Now all of this said, I'm not dissing on all of these wonderful celebrities, I'm just upset with the way they portray them. The average American woman is 5 foot 4 inches and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5 foot 11 inches and weighs 117 pounds. Just let that sink in. So the message I'm trying to get across is, don't worry about your body. We are all perfect just the way we are! But please spread the word to every girl you know, studies have shown girls are starting to diet at the age of 10 years old now. That is completely insane! So don't let unrealistic ideals ruin the happiest years of your life. Just love yourself.

-Yours Truly