Five Years of Blogging?

A few days ago, I realized that I've been a blogger for over five years. (Two years on another blog called Notations, and three years here) While I can't believe the statistic, I can believe how fast time has changed.
I started blogging when I was a rising junior in high school. As I'm looking back at my old blog, I noticed that there wasn't much attention that was paid to it. In fact in 2010, I only had written 7 entries. I didn't fully become a blogger until 2011, when I was a junior about to be senior in high school. Back then, I used my blog as a way to vent about my feelings to thousands of people on the internet, and hoped that there were people out there that actually read it. However, I later learned that wasn't exactly the best reason because a: someone who you didn't want to read the blog will read it, and once it's on the Internet, there's no way you can take it back. Sorry, but even pressing delete wouldn't even help.
Looking back at my old entries, I can't help but notice how different everything was back then. I used to blog about the people in my day to day life, and give them psdueoms so no one including themselves would know who they were. I would analyze the events that occurred and then recounted them. It was sort of like the way Carrie Bradshaw wrote "Sex and the City" only with blog entries and a ton less fabulous.
As I look back at these little entries, a part of me cringes. However, the other part of me can't believe the growth I have experience since those days. I'm well past writing every little event that happens to me on the Internet, and have turned my blog into it's own website. I'm sure when I look back at this entry five years from now, I'll experience the same amount of cringing.
I also give blogging the full credit. I've discovered that I love writing in this little box, and filling it up with words and thoughts that I have. And I've developed a readership, expanded to social media, and with each passing day have more readers than the day before. I guess you can say that blogging is something that I will always do, because I can't picture my life not being behind a computer typing away at my computer with music blasting in my ear.
This blog, like myself, will always continue to evolve and change. I'll introduce new series, I'll write about different things. My entries will improve, as I clearly noticed the improvement of my writing from back when I was in high school.
So as I travel down memory lane, better than any ol' high school yearbook, I have to wonder what will be next. What is the next phase of my life? Where will I go next? I guess the only answer will be to stay tuned, as it will of course be "on the blog."

Currently...

Currently, life has been great. Summer has been a combination of working and actually enjoying free time.  (IE reading books that I actually enjoy and hanging out with my friends.) So, I decided to tell you all what I've been up to for the last few days:

• Reading: The One and Only by Emily Giffin. Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors and I am so excited to finally get to cross that off of my 'to read list.' I'm only on page 29, but hope to get more reading done in the next few days.
• Obsessed With Buying: Cassette tapes. I finally got to drive my car (I've had a lot of repairs done on it, so now it's actually safe to drive.) As much as I love Rosie, she doesn't have a CD player. At first, I wanted to replace it, but after looking at some, I really just wanted to keep the car the way it was. Fortunately, I was able to have some of my mom's and grandparent's old tapes as well as purchasing some off of Amazon and eBay. 
• Watching: Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I finally got Hulu, and it has Sabrina! ;) I'm so excited about it. 
• Writing: At College Fashionista! I'm a Style Guru this summer for College Fashionista, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I love taking pictures of people and actually writing about different kinds of style. Check out my latest post here!

Want to get more updates! Follow me on Twitter or Instagram! :D (I update those regularly.)

Blogging is Like A Job.

I've been blogging for over three years, and the title is basically the conclusion I've come to. This blog has come a long way since it's first post, where the only people that would read this little blog had my number. (They were actually my friends, who I forced to read this blog by sending them thousands of emails on the daily. I also blogged almost every day.) That was before I read "Blog Inc.," before I joined the Her Campus group and before I even knew some of my favorite bloggers even existed. Nowadays, I promote my blog through countless social media, like Facebook, Twitter and follow several bloggers on Instagram. 
I recently read a post on the College Girl Daily about blogging. Needless to say, it's something I do because I like writing. I'm an intern at College Fashionista, I've written for the school newspaper for the past two years and I'm a reporter for my small town newspaper. However, blogging is something that's like a job. After all, you have to write posts, get pictures if you want, get ideas for posts and simply make sure you have enough time to promote them.
Blogging in some ways is like a job. But, at the very least it's definitely worth it. Through blogging, I've noticed an increase of how much connections I have through social media. My writing has improved. So, in a nutshell my hard work as a blogger is worth it. I hope that my little space on the Internet will get even more bigger as time continues. For instance, I'm so glad to announce that this little blog has received the most views in May since probably July of last year.
Blogging is something that as a journalist, I'll always enjoy doing. At the end of the day, it's more fun writing for yourself than anyone else.

Currently.

Currently, my life is a mix of writing a lot of final papers and getting ready to finally enjoy the summer. (It's going to be weird not having a bunch of things going on, but that I can get used to.) I also plan to spend the summer interning at the College Fashionista website, which is something that I am so excited to announce with you all! I start May 18th, and I'm so excited to have this opportunity. I've never written for a blog before (other than my own) so this experience will be so great. (Plus it's something that I can learn a lot from!)

So here's what's up with me lately:

I'm currently listening to: Forever by Drake, Sechnsuct by Rammstein, and Style by Taylor Swift on repeat. 

I'm currently reading "The Lucy Variations." I love Sara Zarr, however I wish I had more time to read it! 

I'm currently obsessed with the color blue. Particially Tiffany Blue. 

I'm also currently obsessed with LC Lauren Conrad. I recently bought some costume jewelry pieces as well as some from her Cinderella collection! (Maybe I'll do a fashion post about her upcoming Minnie Mouse collection; what do you think?) 

I'm currently obsessed with iced coffee. I used to hate it, and now I can't get enough! (Especially the cookie dough kind)

What are you up to currently? 

The Birds Can Do It, The Bees Can Do It-Let's Fall In Love.

I recently saw this awesome post from Kate from Kate the (Almost) Great  about her answering some questions from this New York Times article. I thought that it was a brilliant idea for a blog post, so here's some of my answers to those questions. 


Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
Can it be more than one? I guess it would be Audrey Hepburn, who is my favorite person. Other than being one of the most beautiful people in the world, she also is beautiful on the inside. Did you know that she had a pet deer? Also, I would want to have Lauren Conrad, Lana Del Rey and Taylor Momsen because I think that they all are great. 
When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
I last sung to myself yesterday. 
For what in your life are you the most grateful?
I am most grateful to my closest friends, particularly to the ones who allow me to drive crazy. I am most grateful to the friends who I am comfortable with crying in front of. Those are the friends who know how to really make me feel better whenever I'm down, and impossible to deal with at times. I sometimes take them for granted, and I hope that they know that I really enjoy having them around. 
What is your most terrible memory?
The day my grandfather died. I knew that he would any day now, and the fact that it did actually happen and it was real that I wouldn't see him alive again. I was always close to my grandfather, and the day he died was one of the worst of my life. 
What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
Probably getting my position as Opinions Editor at the school paper. It's such a great opportunity and honor, and I'm so grateful for it. 

Me In Numbers

I'm not very good at math, however I do think statistics are pretty fun. I thought this would be a fun idea for a post. Here's me in numbers!

2023 How many songs I have on my iPod.
1 how many cups of coffee I have per day.
3 how many laptops I've had.
2 how many times it took to get my driver's license.
7 how many seasons of Gilmore Girls I currently own.
6 how many years I've had a Facebook.
4 how many years I've been blogging.
4 how many times I've changed my major.
7 grad schools I want to go to.

What are your numbers?

500 Posts Later...

Well as I wrote the blog entry for yesterday's I noticed that it was the 499th. And so that makes this to be the 500th. And all I can say is wow. I started this blog over two and a half years ago, when I was a senior in high school. Now a junior in college, I can say that this blog has changed, as well as I have. I grew up, and I've got a high school diploma to prove it. I've got a career direction, a few jobs under my belt, and a few awesome friends along the way.
I am still amazed that I've written five hundred posts, which spanned between 3 computers, and tons of phases. I've poured my heart onto this blog. You all have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. I've come to you with playlists, and I've vented to you like two friends out to coffee. You've seen pictures from my birthday, random friend hang out sessions, and you can't forget all of the selfies and artsy photos that I've shared with you. Photography has grown to be an interest, thanks to blogging. Mainly, I can't believe how much I've grown as a person, and I credit that to be a part from blogging.
I've discovered the blogging community thanks to my friend Emma. I've discovered awesome blogs, such as Rachel's and Sam's. I've encountered so many people, and I've seen so many awesome blogs that if I tried to write down who they were, I'd probably be here for the next week. It's such an awesome thing to say that I'm a blogger, and that each and every day people come to read stuff that I've written about. It's a weird and wonderful feeling. I love going on the internet everyday to see what every one who I've mentioned is up to.
500 posts is such a big accomplishment. I'm not sure where I am going from here, but I do know that my life is going to be a growing journey that you're going to get first row seats to, as being a reader on my blog. I am so proud of my accomplishments, as a blogger, and as a person.
So, is this the end?
No, this is the beginning.
Get ready, cause here I come. 

Travel Tips From Emma!

Hey there everyone. I'm currently maxin relaxing (jk I'm at work) but I would like to introduce one of my fave bloggers out there on the blogging scene. She's got style, she's got grace, she's Emma!
You know you love me,
Natalie

Hello Finding My Voice Fans,

I’m Emma from The World According to Emma! I’m a college blogger who writes about my college life (and the happenings of this summer), movie/book review (Like this one), and about my love for TV especially Big Brother! (#TeamCody #TeamDonnie #TeamJoey #TeamChristine #TeamNicole) Basically I write about anything I feel like!

When Natalie asked me to guest post for her I immediately knew what I wanted to write about. What you may or may not know about Natalie and I is we are real life friends! She’s actually my editor on our school paper!

 

 (Source)

When we first started talking about her new position she asked me if I’d be willing to write a lot of articles about travel because she knew I loved to travel. So, when she asked me to guest post I thought why not write one about traveling as a college student.

I have 3 upcoming trips! Two of them are family trips but one of them is a friend trip that I’m planning with friends and saving to pay for myself. So, here are some of my tips for pre-during & post travel for college students!

1: If you’re paying for the trip by yourself, start putting money aside ASAP, trips aren’t cheap!

 (Source )

2: Very few weeks put aside all the change in your wallet and bring it to coinstar a few days before your trip. Last time I save for a month before my cruise and I had $10. And my mom did it for a year and had over $50.

 (Source)

3: Make packing list before going to stop yourself from over packing. I know I have a huge problem with that.

 (Source )

4: Make sure you bring a camera so you can document your trip!

 (Source)

5: If you have are going with friends, make sure its people you think you can spend an extended period of time with because you will be spending multiple days together non-stop.

(Source)

6: Make sure to put the phone down sometimes. As much as you might want to share your fantastic time with your friends on facebook/twitter/Instagram but you don’t want to miss something.

 (Source)

7: Remember to save for the little things (i.e. – tips, parking, etc…) because those things can add

 (Source )

8: Have some plans but for the most part go with the flow. You never know where your adventures will take you!

 (Source)

9: Find some way to doctument your trip! Write blog post, make a video scrapbook or vlog the whole thing.

 (Source)

10: Take risks and have adventures! That’s the best way to have fun!

 (Source)

 

So wherever you may be going I hope you have a fantastic time!

Happy Travels,

Emma.

I'm the The Type of Girl

This post was inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Sam from Life Is But A Stream Of Thoughts. Read her post here.



I'm the type of girl....

• Who prefers to write in purple pen.
• Whose music taste is so diverse that I constantly run out of space on my iPod.
• Who can't go a day without coffee or tea.
• Who thinks cookies are the answers to just about everything.
• Who has a bit of a sweet tooth.
• Who has an obsession with Snoopy. 
• Who gets stressed out way to easily. 
• Whose perfectly at home in a library. 
• Who literally lives in leggings all day.
• Who has an obsession with jewelry, but yet only wears a fraction of it. 
• Who literally must make a joke out of everything. 

What kind of girl (or guy) are you? Comment below!

Comment Promise Blog Hop!

The Comment Promise Hop is back, and better than ever!  This month I have added three co-hosts to expand the hop and make it even bigger!  Here's what it's all about:

How many times have you posted your blog to a link up and just done the old "link and run"?  I know I am guilty of this and I'm sure some of you are, too!  And have you ever done that and then wondered why no one from that hop commented on your post either?  I know I have done this and gotten upset and then realized, oh wait, I didn't comment on anyone's post from this hop either!

Well that's what the Comment Promise is all about!  Link up a post that you wish you had more comments on, any post you want (no time limit)!  The only catch?  You must promise to comment on a least 5 other blogs from this hop!  The hop will be open for 5 days so be sure to check back after more people have linked up so you can fulfill your Comment Promise! The Comment Promise is hosted by:

Rachel of Can't Google Everything, Natalie of Finding My Voice, Jessica of Stumbling Along and AnnaBelle of The Anna Belle Blog.

Are you game?  Take the Comment Promise and link up below! It's not required, but we would love it if you would take a button and post it on your blog to help spread the word!

<div align="center"><a href="http://cantgoogleeverything.blogspot.com" title="Comment Promise Hop"><img src="http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz178/rachelblate/commentpromisebutton_zps2b4716a8.jpg" alt="Comment Promise Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Hey, I've Been Nominated!

Hey, so Emma from the World According to Emma nominated me for a Liebster award, which is for a blogger that has less than 200 followers. Since I only have 7, I am quite honored to be nominated, and thank you Emma very much!
She's given me some questions, which I will now answer here! Everyone should read her blog (in the starred section below, just cause it's awesome!

1. What inspired you to start a blog?

I was inspired to start a blog after watching the movie Julie and Julie (2009). I always loved writing, and I wanted to create a sense of community with my blogging. In the past four years that I've been a blogger, I felt like the quality of my writing has improved, in addition to the audience that I created. I hope that between Notations, and Finding My Voice, I have anyways. 

2. What other bloggers do you look up to?

I love up to my blogging big, Cassi, in addition to Rachel, and Hayley.

3. What is your favorite thing to write about on your blog?

I love to write a bunch of things about my blog! I like to write about my current angst of what I'm feeling about something. I also love to write music reviews about songs and musicians that I really like. 

4. If you could trade places with any actress who would you trade places with?

Emma Stone, because she's my fave, and she's kissed Ryan Gosling several times. 

5. What would you consider the theme song of your life? 

That's a good one! It depends. I would honestly like to say "Sweet Emotion", by Aerosmith, because whenever I listen to that song, I feel like a badass. Since I consider myself to be one, therefore, why not? Also, I do like the song "Off To The Races" by Lana Del Rey, because I'm crazy and good luck to some guy trying to tame me. 

6. (Totally stealing this one from Taryn but the question is just too great) What are your long, mid and short term goals for your blog?

All of those can be answered in the fact that I just want my blog to be awesome. To me, I can be writing to no one, and it wouldn't matter. I want to present content that truly reflects on who I am as a person, and ultimately as a writer. I try to avoid swearing, because I know that people in the future can read this. I view my blog as a stepping stone to when I write an actual colum in a paper. Which is my long term goal. 

6. If you could be ANYTHING in the world, you knew you wouldn't fail at it what would you be?

I think I would be a dancer or a singer, because I am really into music and dance, as well as writing. 

7. What is your favorite thing to write about on your blog?

I think I answered this question before! 

8. If you could drop everything write now and go on vacation, money doesn't matter where would you go and why?

I would go to Italy. One of my best friends lives there, and I miss that girl like crazy. I also really want to go there, because my family is from there, and I'm in love with Italian culture and language. 

9. What is one item on bucket list that you really want to accomplish?

I'd say make Dean's List. I really work hard for school, and I really want to make that 3.5 cut sometime in my college career. 

10. What is one of your biggest pet peeves?

I'm not sure if it's a pet peeve, but I must say that I hate eggs, and I hate it when people eat them around me. 

11. Who is your celebrity crush?

Luke Bryan. Please shake it for me. 

Now, I shall nominate some peeps to answer my questions! 

Emma (yes I'm nominating you again), Rachel, Hannah, and Cassi you shall answer these! 

1. What's your favorite color?

2. Do you have a favorite post?

3. What's your theme song?

4. What's your favorite junk food to binge on?

5. If you could do anything right now, without consquence, what would it be?

6. Why did you want to be a blogger?

7. Do you ever find a time when you struggle with deciding to post something?

8. Do you consider yourself to be a journalist?

9. Whose your favorite blogger (s)?

10. What's some advice that you can give to novice bloggers?

* Read Emma's post here! http://emmajudy.blogspot.com/2014/01/liebster-award.html

"Mi Manchi, Nonno". Girl Between the Lines Post

I am the closest to my grandfather than perhaps any other human being on the planet. He raised me like I was his own child, not a grandchild. When he died of Alzheimer's disease two years ago, my grandma gave me a few of his things. I honestly couldn't decide, because these things each have some sort of value of their own.

The first item is a stuffed monkey, otherwise known as Mr Monkey. Mr. Monkey resides on my bed, has a red T-Shirt. He has a banana in his hand. His tongue is sticking out, and he's a light and furry brown. Mr. Monkey is perhaps one of my favorite stuffed animals, because it kind of reminds me of my grandfather, silly, and always fun. My grandmother gave me him shortly after he died, and he's been one of my most prized possessions.  Whenever I hug him, in some weird way it reminds me of my grandfather. Even though he just sits there, looking
The other two items are his necklaces that was his, or were once his and was made for me. The first one is a necklace that was made from a tie tack. My mom had given it to me for my high school graduation, and I am so glad that she did because even though I rarely wear it it's my favorite piece of jewelry. The other two are gold charms that he used to wear all of the time. The first is a Saint Jude, and the second is an anchor that my mom got him from Hawaii.
I choose these items because I was really close to my grandfather, and I miss him terribly. Therefore, picking just one was a hard thing to do. I miss him more and everyday, so the fact that I own things that he once had has the most value than things that cost thousands of dollars. Whenever I look at these things, I am reminded of his fight, his smile, and the fact that he never once complained during his six year battle with Alzheimer's. Thank you Grandpa, for not only the material possessions, but for the wisdom that you've also left behind. Ti amo, il mio nonno. Mi manchi molto.*

*I love you, my grandpa. I miss you a lot.

Meet my Blogging Big!

What was the motivation of your blog?

In May of 2012 I found We Heart This and The Beauty Department and loved them.  I thought it looked fun & that their relationship with their readers was awesome!  This job started out as a beauty blog actually, but I like being a "personal" type blog more.

Where do you find the most inspiration for entries?

I think participating in link-ups helps a lot.  Always knowing I'm going to post about what made me happy that week on Mondays really makes things easier.  Other than that, I tend to find post ideas from my daily life.  It sometimes is really hard to come up with post ideas, but the more you blog the easier it gets I think.  Something else that helps is for January I've been occasionally participating in the 2014 Inspire Me Blog Challenge.

What is your favorite blogging music?

It changes constantly, but recently I've been listening to these nineteen songs.

 

Other than blogging, what are some other interests?

Dancing!  I take four days of dance class a week and I have Ballet Theatre of Illinois rehearsals on the weekends generally.  I love dancing and would like to make a career out of it one day.  Dance therapy would be ideal.

If you can have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Probably Maria Tallchief.  She's considered to be America's first prima ballerina and it would be really interesting to be able to talk to her.

What's something that sets your blog apart from others?

Most blogs aren't written entirely by a 14 year-old and an 11 year-old!  I think that definitely sets our blog apart.  It's definitely interesting to blog in a community with so many adults.  Some people don't take us seriously, but most are really nice and think it is cool that we are so young!

Fav blogs?

Venus Trapped in Mars, I Wore Yoga Pants to Work, Two Thirds Hazel, Pursuit of Poppiness, Mer in America, Be a Warrior Queen, and Trash to Couture.

The Blog Debate

Recently, I was talking with someone about their homework. Yes, strange but I really enjoy hearing other people's topics for papers. Yes, I'm weird. However, the prompt was whether or not bloggers should be considered to be journalists. As a blogger, and a journalist for my school's newspaper, I would like to weigh in my own opinions. Why? Because I like to do that.
I can see why people would think that bloggers wouldn't be reliable sources. We write our opinions, and rarely use the facts. However, I think that people who are bloggers are more reliable sources because since we write for ourselves we are not tainted with advertising. We say what's on our mind, the truth, and nothing but the truth. That's why I don't have advertising in my blog. I like to give my opinions uncensored, something that I know when I'm employed will change.
 Newspaper and advertising work hand in hand; if someone were to give a paper or a magazine a lot of money in advertising revenue, than the person wouldn't bash that person or their product.
Bloggers also write because their more passionate about it. They write for themselves, and their writing in my experiences are very passionate about their subjects. The amount of blogs out there are insane. Some people blog about their lives. Others write a specific theme. I know lifestyle bloggers, and I know DIY bloggers. There's a lot of blogging going on in the internet world.
In addition to being a blogger, I do consider myself to be a journalist. That means, I do follow a specific code of ethics, and try to remain unbiased. I do try to carry over that same mantra in my blog. I do try to get the facts right before publishing. Blogging has gotton to be a bad rep because there are some people out there willing to create lies. However, that's not the case with every blogger, and that should be stated as a fact.
 I think that they should be considered to be a journalist. However, I do not think that they should be used as the only source used for news. I do think that we should get credit because it takes a lot to run a blog that makes you be read. It's a struggle in my opinion, but because we as bloggers have a devotion to what we do, it keeps us coming back for more blogging.
At the end of the day, we are all entitled to our own opinions to this. I'm just stating mine. However, I do think that before we come to them, we should at least hear what every side has to say.