"Shake It, Break It; Unknown to Fate"

It's safe to say that everything in life is a result of fate. Who we're friends with, what we decide to do as  a living, and who we are romantically involved with. It's all up to some sort of decision or other event that has happened to us.

How many of you every wondered what would have happened if something did or didn't happen? Like if you didn't go to that certain event, then you would not have met that cute guy that is so called the love of your life. I wonder if I had chosen different paths in life I would be doing different things, and perhaps on a different one. Are we all in the mercy of fate's hands?

I think that we are. We all in some ways victims of fate. If I didn't decide to join the paper, then I never would have realized that I want to be a journalist. If I didn't switch my major twice, then I wouldn't have met the awesome people that I did. If I didn't switch my math class, I would not have met someone so great. I guess fate as a way of playing its way out when we least expect it. We're all victims of fate because it knows what we're doing even when we don't.
Fate is confusing to the naked eye. It's confusing to me, and I have four of them. Sometimes, we think that life is journey that is predestined, and picked out for us the second that we left the womb. It's crazy to think that someone has the answers, even though you don't. It's comforting in some ways, because then you know after all of this angst and depression, everything will be okay in the end. 

21 is the Loniliest Number

21 is the age to be. Once you're 21, its something that reminds us that we are basically adults. You can get liquor in the US, and basically do all of the other rights that are promised to us at age 18. So many of my peers are looking forward to this age. I am too, because hey why not be able to get booze? However, with this great freedom comes some sort of responsibility. Or at least, being careful and not doing anything completely and utterly stupid like drinking more than you can handle and all of that stuff.

In my opinion, I feel like this birthday is some sort of liberation of becoming an adult and being free. Becoming an adult with more freedoms, and therefore trusted with the ability to drink legally. Now that our bodies have matured enough, we are able to handle the great responsibilities of becoming an adult. However, with that being said I think that there's more to it than that. Is it the freedom to do whatever we want to be so appealing?
Some may say that turning 21 is part of the party culture. Only now, you can get as much beer, wine, and other drinks as you want. Being 21 is that right of passage. Some people think that becoming 21 is that excuse to party even harder. Some underage peeps even try to hit up those who are this golden age just to get their underage hands on some wine. It's a long 21 years til you reach the world of being legal.

I will be turning 21 next year. I have no plans of going out and getting drunk. However, I do plan to have my first alcoholic beverage, and some wine. I don't plan on getting wasted, but I do want to celebrate the fact that I am now able to drink these things, and purchase them legally. Yay to being of age. One thing that I don't like to see is people judging people who think that having wine, and having a lot of its a bad thing. If you want to go crazy on your 21st, that's your business. It's a big birthday, yes. Hence the wine, and champagne. However, I want to remember it, and not wake up and wonder what the hell happened the night before.  Therefore, it's a celebration. Not a chance to get passed out drunk. 

The Art of Not Caring.

My name is Natalie, and I''m done caring about what people care about me. Why? Because then I felt like I would be molded into being someone else's version of me. 

I'm in the process of eliminating things in my life that makes me feel upset or uneasy. Why? Because I deserve to be happy. I'm at a stage in my life where I deserve peace, love, and happiness. I don't deserve to have people weigh me down in a way that's somewhat unhealthy. I wonder if the art of being happy is in fact having a big ego, and two middle fingers waved up high in the air. 

So, how do you not care? It's plain and simple. Lemme introduce you to some tips on how to in fact master the art of not caring; 

• Do things that make you happy. If you want to become a writer over a doctor, than do that. If you have people that impact you negatively, then perhaps it's time to say good riddance to them.
• Get rid of people in your life that don't treat you right. You deserve people that treat you fairly, and should have your best interest at heart and vice versa. If someone makes you feel like you don't matter, than they are stupid. If you feel like you're being forced to comply with someone who in essence brings you down, it's time to say goodbye.
• Laugh off all of the things that are negative about you. I'm a bitch? Okay cool. I just learned how not to take people's crap. I'm fat? No, I'm healthy. Call me when you're done trying to shove celery sticks down your throat? I'm opinionated? Yes, that's why I blog. If I didn't have an opinion than I would still be learning about why Freud did something.
• YOLO. Yes, it's making a comeback. You only live once, so live in this moment. Do things that you know the opportunity will never come again. Live life, and enjoy it. 

In essence, life's really to care about what others say about you. So, 'nevermind what the haters say, ignore them til they fade away'. 

Top Three Fav Cartoon Characters!

I'm a little kid at heart, but I think that everyone has a favorite cartoon character that makes them really happy. No matter what age you are, when you see them you're like a little kid and it just makes you happy. Even in our adult days, we can't resist. I have three, because I am just cool like that. Hence the whole post dedicated to my favorite characters.

Snoopy; Okay, so for all of you who don't know Snoopy is my favorite character ever, and I have an obsession with him. You gotta accept these things, and I do greatly. I honestly can't resist when he's on television, because Christmas, Easter, and Halloween isn't the same unless you catch up with the gang for the hundredth time. Whether it's Snoopy coming out from the pumpkin patch, or cooking Thanksgiving dinner with the classic toast, jelly beans, and pretzels, it just is something that adds overall holiday cheer to every single holiday.

Lucy Van Pelt; Yo, this is the crabby little girl. But, behind her crabby outer features there's more to her. Yes, she steals footballs. But, she's not afraid to tell you like it is. And she's really sensitive. There's more to her than being the bully, and we see that later on the comic strip. Out of all of the children on Charlie Brown, she will always be my favorite.

Minnie Mouse; The only Disney character I like is Minnie Mouse. She's been popular since the 1950s, and she's Mickey's awesome sidekick, slash girlfriend. But, she's just like a little black dress-classic. Even though she's a bit more popular than Snoopy, she's just awesome with or without Mickey. She's known to rock any kind of dress that she wants, and is kind of like Barbie. All and all, Minnie Mouse is just awesome.

Whose your favorite cartoon character? Comment below!

Sources for images are from Google images.

"When Will My Reflection Show..."-TGBL

Linking up with Haley and Lauren again this week! I am honestly so excited. This week's question is to write about why do you blog? I thought it was a great time to reflect on my growing experiences as a blogger, one that I am very much thankful for. 

I started blogging the summer before my junior year in high school . My goal was to create something that reflected positively on me. I had watched Julie and Julia (which many times I've said that is the source of my inspiration of my blog) and had wanted to start something like that on my own. Minus the food. So, my old blog Notations was born.
At first, I wrote about issues that mattered. Well not really but to me at the time. For example, I wrote about how guys categorized girls for my first entry. Not bad, 16 year old Natalie. My entries, looking back at them now, were really short, with a bunch of topics. They weren't very detailed either. As you can see, my blog is a lot more in depth than that. In 2011, my blog was my version of Carrie Bradshaw's column. I was Carrie Bradshaw before it was cool pretty much. I had characters such as 'Mr. Big', 'Charlotte', and countless others. Everyone had their own name, which at the time I thought that I was the bee's knees. Then my grandfather died, and I used my blog as an outlet to let out all of my emotions. I was a sad and confused teenager, who just wanted someone to hear her. And love her.
Finally, I had some friends wake me up from my depression. Thus, I decided to create a new blog to devote more energy that's positive. In April 16, 2012, I officially began to write Finding My Voice.
Ever since then, I've gained 14 GFC followers, about 18 bloglovin' followers, over 9,000 views, and have officially joined the blogging community, full of people like me trying to find their voice. I read blogs in the morning while drinking coffee, the way that in the past some people read the newspaper.  I love every minute of it, watching how my blog, my writing, and myself can grow from when I first entered the blogging scene as a whiny teenager who just wanted someone to love her.
However, that probably didn't answer your question now did it. I told you why I started, how I grew into this lovely blog, and where I'm at now. But that's okay. I blog because it's something that I enjoy doing. I blog because there's some kind of audience, ready to show the world what I'm made of. I blog because I'm a writer, and I've heard somewhere that writing something constantly will only get me that much closer to becoming a better writer. I blog because I have a voice, and I'm ready for it to be heard. I blog because I feel satisfaction when my post is successful, and I notice some signs of improvement. Every day, like a plant, my blog will grow.
And my journey's just begun. I have a lot more insightful blog entries about social issues, great music, and other cool stuff. I am a blogger, but I am extremely proud to be wearing that title. Thanks to my blog, in a sense, I have in fact found my voice.

I Had A Blogging Big

For those of you who don't know, I had a blogging big named Cassi. (Read her blog here) For those of you who don't know, a blogging big is someone who guides you in the world of blog.
I loved having a blogging big, because I got a lot of insight from a person that's on the next level of blogging. I learned a lot, such as what a blog button is. (If you're interested in a button swap, please feel free to contact me!) I also learned some cool tricks about how to generate more readers on my blog, which is always a good thing.
Getting a blogging big, despite the fact that I was extremely busy with school was something that I really enjoyed because it gave me a bigger sense of community. I'm happy because I got to watch my blog grow even bigger than it did. I liked that she had a lot of tips and trips to expand Finding My Voice, and making a ton better. Thank you Cassi for the tips!

Wanna learn more about Cassi and her blog? Read my post about her here.

Music Monday; Sleeping With Sirens

Okay, so I've been getting into more alternative music as of late. One of my favorite bands is Sleeping With Sirens. I'm more of a fan of their latest album Feel (released 2013), and I consider it to be one of my favorite albums ever. (Feel is actually one of my favorite songs; I just love the message of the song) Wanna learn more about them? Check out their website here!
Sleeping With Sirens was formed in 2009, with current members Kellin Quinn, Justin Hills, Gabe Barham, and Jake Fowler in Michigan. To date, they have three full length albums, and one EP. They are considered to be hardcore, but I enjoy listening to them despite the fact that I'm not all into screamo.
What I like about this band is like Mayday Parade, their lyrics are very powerful. My favorite songs usually have some kind of hidden meaning behind them. I like them because it mixes elements, and although they are kind of screamo, they aren't completely.
Favorite Sleeping With Sirens Songs:
With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear (2010);

• If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn
• You Kill Me (In A Good Way)
• Let Love Bleed Red

Let's Cheer To This (2011);

• Who Are You Now
• All Of My Heart

If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack (2012);

• If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn
• Roger Rabbit
• Stomach Tied in Knots

Feel (2013);

• Feel 
• Here We Go
• Free Now
• Low
• Congratulations
• Deja Vu
• These Things I've Done