Favorite Photo // 17

Favorite picture of myself, eh? How about this one?  I like it mostly because all of my features are showcased in a way that actually makes me look okay! My friend just said, I quote, "u have so many pictures where u just look like dead lol" so this is definitely an improvement.  Plus it reminds me of my first camping experience sans parents.  We made our own card game, awkwardly slept together and more.  It was a wonderful experience that I can't wait to repeat.

My Lot In Life // 16

I was going to write about how the internet is a soul sucking machine, but then I remembered something that has haunted me my entire life.  My dad is going to die.  I was born to a really old father and ever since I learned what death and age were, I've been terrified of him dying.  Its the one thing that consistently brings me to tears.  Right now my dad is 64 and I'm only 17.  I want him to meet my future husband and children and I don't know that he will. He's perfectly healthy, nothing is even close to wrong but that fear will never leave me and it's something I have to deal with. Most of the time I just forget about it, but today I easily beat him in a swimming race and it all came rushing back.  I really want to savor the moments I have with my parents and spend more time with them and maybe this thought won't be so detrimental.

I love you.

A Day In The Life // 15

Early wake up call that never seems to work.  My alarm may go off at 6:30 every morning but I'm never out of bed before 7:30.

Therefore, driving and eating breakfast is a skill I mastered as soon as possible.  

Driving past the ocean every morning is so relaxing. I wish I could tell the tide at a glace like my mother!

Class time!

My free period today was filled with 1984. I swear that this book is effecting my dreams.

Lunchtime however was made better due to a giant bear.  He is actually the size of a person I didn't just put the camera really close.

Found some freshman graffiti while driving a friend home. 

Snack that I regret eating.

Study time.  I always feel really creepy at a library with a stack of books on nuclear weapons.

Sushi take-out for dinner make the perfect ending for my day.

I couldn't not include a bad picture of me eating said sushi.  Self-acceptance is important right?

10 Things // 14

I changed today's prompt a little opting to focus on things that make me happy on a daily level rather than things like Christmas which only makes me happy once a year.  So, without further ado:

10 (Little) Things That Make Me Happy

1. Using Things Up

Being able to throw away an empty shampoo bottle, an empty bottle of nail polish, running out of Kleenex  wearing out clothes, knowing you got your money's worth out of something.

2. Exploring

New places + new experiences + the thrill of finding something you never knew existed before + nature = happiness

3. Swimming

It may seem boring to preform the same stroke every couple seconds for 40 minutes, but it makes you feel so good.  I'd always viewed exercise as excruciating and unnecessary and while it's still hard to drag my butt to the pool, I always feel better after.

4. The Sun

Picture of my friend when we ditched class to go to the dock

It's been in the 60s here in northern california and the shorts have appeared.  All lunch my friends and I lounge around on the grass singing, tanning, and gossiping.  A needed detox.

5. Sleep

I know understand why it's suggested to get 8 hours.  

6. Late Night Adventures

My haul from a late night easter egg hunt

This goes hand in hand with exploring.  Sometimes it's really like when we explore and we end up having an easter egg hunt at 3am at a house or dropping people off on dirt roads at 11pm to find their way home.

7. Weird Clothes

I bought a jumpsuit and  plan to wear it in public, 'nough said.

8. The Beach

Something about the waves and the sand in your feet is so relaxing.  Maybe it's because I'm a west coast baby but the beach is always a good idea no matter how cold it may be.

9. Cards

If you can't play or learn a card game, we can't be friends.  It's such a good way to get to know people.  If you play cards frequently, it's hard to be a sore loser.

10. Finishing Tasks

With school ending in only 3 weeks, everything is wrapping up and I love it.  I had my IB math exam on the 9th and 10th and I practically jumped for joy when that was over.  On the 20th my academic year will finally be over with the completion of my IB french exam and I can't wait to party it up with my friends!


Well, there is definitely a pattern in what makes me happy.  Most of them are a form of detox or stress releasers, however the stress is caused by some of them because I explore instead of studying for a test, oops!

A Public Apology // 13

A little late to the bandwagon, I'm going to begin participating in Story Of My Life's blog every day in May challenge.  1/3 of May may be over (hehe) but inspiration is always welcome.  Today's prompt is to issue a public apology.  There are many things I could put here, like the fact that I mumble and don't enunciate properly causing many people to not understand me, but what I would rather talk about is my horrible taste in music.  For example, I just skipped a Nirvana song on Pandora but kept the Jonas Brothers song.

I have subjected too many friends to my horrible taste.  It doesn't help that they're all hippies or musicians raised on either classical or obscure music.  I grew up listening to Radio Disney.  My parents don't even listen to anything "good" just the pop music of their eras.

There are three facets of my horrible taste.  First, is pop music.  Anything on the radio I will love.  No matter how bad the song, within a few hearings, I will know it and love it.  This love of pop stretches back to the early 2000s.  I still, proudly, sing along with Hilary Duff, Jump 5, Play, Jesse McCartney, Bowling For Soup, and more are added every year.  I may know every One Direction and The Wanted songs.

Next is what I like to call internet music.  Alex Day, Charlie McDonnell, Harry and the Potters, Ministry of Magic, The Whomping Willow , Starkid, Tom Milsom, The Remus Lupins, etc.  If you don't know any of these bands, don't worry.  They all sing about nerdy topics such as acne, doctor who, harry potter, firefly, and angler fish.  I love it because it represents a time period of my life, but the quality can be some of the shittiest I've ever heard.

Last comes the semi-okay bit.  I do listen to people who I consider "good" like AWOLNATION, John Mayer, The Killers, The Script, Mumford and Sons, Macklemore, Oasis, and Snow Patrol.  However, these songs are never on when other people are around.

So, what's your opinion?  Should I hide my iPod from any potential friends or belt out 'I Am Harry Potter' loud and proud?  If you're interested, here's a playlist of some of my favorite songs right now.

Oh right, the apology, I'm sorry I subject you to out of tune songs with bad lyrics but sometimes you've got to accept the awful.

Like A Child

A combination of mother's day and a string of depressing dreams has made me revert back to my childhood.  When I was in 4th and 5th grade, my friend Sara and I make food for fairies everyday after school.  When the weather was good, we would pick flowers and leaves crafting them into a strange version of food.  Being in a sentimental mood, I decided to recreate this daily experience.

First, gather ingredients from around the yard

Weave a mat out of some weeds

Always maintain your focus ;)

Make some tacos out of flower petals and leaves. 

Tie them up but keep it pretty.

Don't forget extra flowers!

I have to say that was very relaxing, What kept us going for two years, you may ask? Actually, we communicated with these fairies.  Looking back I'm 100% sure that it was just my parents writing the notes, but it felt like magic to see words written in fancy script on leaves talking about small worlds.  I've never asked my parents for the truth of the matter, but if the fairies had been real, I think my parents would have called up the government or something.  I hope you're having a wonderful Mother's Day.  I'm going to go eat some flank steak with my mom.

Just Sharing...

Hey guys, it's been awhile.  I'll be back soon though I promise! I just need to find a way to keep this blog updated when I never know when I will or will not have time.

Today, while scrolling through the net with the glorious aide of stumbleupon.com I found this amazing photographer named Samuel Bradley.  I love how offbeat and unexpected his art his.  It's interesting that I find these pieces to be offbeat when they contain nature, much more consistent than a city.  Here are my favorites and you can look at his blog here to see more.