Change is good!

The past couple of weeks have been pretty much the same: eat, pinterest, nap, netflix, bed.

Don't get me wrong, though, I love this little routine of mine! But when it's 4 pm and you realized you haven't brushed your hair out all day, there's a problem.

Luckily for me, something exciting has finally happened! And when I say exciting, I mean, like, journal-entry worthy.

OKAY SO HERE IT IS: I HAVE A JOB.

About a week ago, my community college was announcing a position as a bookseller in their bookstore. And I applied because I thought heck, why not?! I just bought a $600 laptop so I could use some extra cash.

I guess I wasn't really expecting to hear anything back, but on the way home from my favorite coffee shop, I get a phone call asking me to come in for an interview the next morning. And then they hired me on the spot, even though I couldn't stop shaking and stuttering. They have no idea what they've gotten themselves into.

Advice from a wise sage (that's me!)

WHY IS TIME GOING BY SO FAST. 

My sophmore year is almost over. My sister is graduating high school. My best friends will be graduating next year. I'm about to turn sixteen. WHAT IS HAPPENING.

Guys, you've probably heard this a million times already, but one more time can't hurt: we need to cherish every moment. Every laugh, every tear, every post on Instagram, every chicken nugget. We're only young for so long, and don't we want something to smile about when we're sitting in a rocking chair while watching Wheel of Fortune sixty years from now?

Take risks. Go on adventures. Try something new, even if it's a new salsa for your tortilla chips.

We're only a couple weeks away from the end of the school year and after this, I won't be going back to Heritage. I'll really miss it, even though I had to give several speeches and read way too many confusing books. And yet, so many of my best memories were made there! (my favorite being the time I hit one of my teachers on the head with a ball) But it's time to grow up and experience new things, so I'll be spending my junior and senior year at our community college.

Knowing that everything is changing so quickly, I've been able to appreciate everything a little more. The beach days, photo shoots with Kryn, and spontaneous swing dancing with friends. When you look back at all the fun things that've happened, you realize that life is truly beautiful! I encourage you to do the same, friends!!

Inspired by a vanilla latte...

I took a bit of a blogging break (though I didn't know I was taking one...it just kind of happened) because my mind has been all over the place lately, and I can't seem to focus on anything. I had so much stuff going on all at once and then BAM, I had nothing to do and what does that result in? Netflix and cookie dough, yes.

And also being sad and alone.

Anyway, my point is, I haven't been myself lately. I haven't been obsessing over the very important things in life such as nail polish and Dylan O'brien. I haven't been butting into every conversation possible or taking selfies in the classroom.

But this weekend has been better. I went to a nice, quiet little cafe with a good friend, and also discovered that I am in love with vanilla lattes. (seriously, I tried one last week and I can't stop drinking them. I think I have a problem!) And then tonight at youth group, a young girl was talking about changing yourself if you aren't happy with who you are, and it inspired me.

Whenever bad things happen in my life, my solution always seems to be to shut down and block everyone out. But I don't want to do that anymore. I want to tell people about my problems and get some encouragement. It's really hard for me to open up sometimes, but I think it'll be good for me!

And also, I've discovered this: I need to stay busy in order to be happy. I love going from one place to another, rushing around, having places to be, things to do. And sometimes it gets a little overwhelming! Trying to juggle school and a social life, it's difficult! But it beats having nothing to do all day so business it is!

All I'm trying to say is that I'm going to start changing who I am. I'm going to be more positive and friendly and try to get the best out of life, because we are here for such a short time, so why waste it?

"LIFE IS A GIFT. 

WAKE UP EVERYDAY AND

REALIZE THAT."

And now, I shall take you back in time...

Please bare with me as we have a little "throw back Monday" and reminisce on all the fun and exciting things that happened this year!

Highlights in 2014:

A TRIP TO SOUTH CAROLINA IN FEBRUARY TO SEE SNOW. That's right, and it was my first time seeing real snow, too! When you live in Florida your whole life (15 long years...), you don't really get the opportunity to see snow. Or experience a white Christmas. Or a cold Christmas. But anyway, we stayed at our cousin's house and made smores and had snowball fights and watched Disney princess movies so it's cool.

A HOMESCHOOL DANCE (ALSO IN FEBRUARY). Every year my mom will plan a special formal dance for homeschoolers, since we don't get to go to proms and all that jazz. We've had three of them so far, and each one has been a big hit! Sometimes a news reporter will come and take pictures of us and then we're famous because we're in the paper. That's right, be jealous.

FAMILY VACATION TO ST. AUGUSTINE IN MARCH. This was our second time to St. Augustine. We rented a house on the river (which was gorgeous, by the way), climbed over 200 steps to get to the top of a lighthouse, went on a ghost tour and walked on the beach. St. Augustine is the perfect city, it's full of so many adventures!!

SURPRISE PARTY (FOR ME!) IN MAY. For my birthday, I was just planning on getting a few girl together to go shopping or whatever. But after school one day, I went home and put on the tv, and out of the corner of my eye...I see five people crowd around the window outside and start tapping on it. It freaked me out, and I had no idea what was going on. But it was so much fun, we played Apples to Apples and watched a movie.

TRIP TO GERMANY IN JULY. For Christmas, my grandparents took my cousin Tyler and I on a trip to Germany!!! It was my first time being out of the country, and also my first time on a plane. We had such a great time; we went to Berlin and saw the remains of the Berlin wall, spent a night in the Black Forest and saw a woodcarving demonstration, and I also tried wine. I wouldn't recommend it.

SCHOOL STARTING IN AUGUST: SOPHOMORE YEAR! Okay I did not think that school would be one of my highlights, but as I think about it, it's not all that bad. Sure the workload can be a bit much, but it's okay overall. Our teachers really try to make it fun, always cracking jokes and telling stories and throwing a tea party for goodness sake!

BEING CAST IN 'A WONDERFUL LIFE' IN OCTOBER. Being in this musical has been the highlight of my life so far. I had no idea theater was this fun! As much as I love singing and dancing, I think the people are what made it so memorable for me. We always found a way to have fun at every single rehearsal, even when it five hours long and we were all exhausted. I miss them all so much, but I know our paths will cross again in a future show!!

I'm finally done, thanks for being patient! 2014 has been a great year, I'm hoping 2015 can live up to it's standards. #bringonthenewyear

thoughts on a rainy tuesday.

START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE THOUGHT. I keep seeing this all over Pinterest and the more I see it, the more I love it. Whenever I wake up, I'll think about something positive, like "It's almost Christmas" or "I'm going to get donuts today". (don't judge. Donuts make me happy.)

INNER BEAUTY IS GREAT, BUT A LITTLE MASCARA NEVER HURT. Lots of people are debating on whether or not makeup is okay for girls to wear, and I started getting a little confused too. But then I realized, makeup is a way for girls to feel good about themselves. It's a way for us to express ourselves, and I think that's just fine. Boys have their abs that give them self-confidence, and girls have their makeup. 

LIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WONDERFUL. Life will never be perfect. You will never be perfect. Nothing will every be perfect. But we can still have fun, enjoy life,  because life is beautiful. Get out there and sing with the birds and say hi to strangers. 

WHAT DEFINES US IS HOW WE RISE AFTER WE FALL. When something happens in your life, and you feel like you won't ever move on and you just want to sit in a dark corner of your room for the rest of your life, don't. You need to get up, forget about it, and move on with life. Just sitting there and thinking about it won't do any good. 

Shake it Off

"Cause the players gonna play, the haters gonna hate, I'm just gonna shake it off, shake it off"

So this new Taylor Swift song...

Other people may just listen to it and not even think about what it means. And I did that too, at first. But the more I heard it, the more it began to speak to me.

"Heart-breakers gonna break, fakers gonna fake, but I'm just gonna shake it off, shake it off"

There are some things that have happened in my life, and I always have trouble moving on from them. They stay in my mind and often appear in my journals. Sometimes I have a hard time falling asleep at night because I'm still thinking about those moments. 

But after hearing this song, I've realized: what's the point? Why should I keep obsessing over the past when it's over! It's done! I can move on with my life now! I can shake it off. 

I'm trying to think more positively now and live my live with more smiles, laughs, and all things pleasant. I'm trying to forgive and forget, to love people. 

I know it'll still be hard. I know that these thoughts will still creep into my head sometimes, but I have to remember this: I am not alone. I have been blessed by so many friends that love me and care about me, and I have a God that is always with me. We are never alone, because our God is always here and always will be.