Changes..

The first day of the semester is finally here! Yay! Time to say goodbye to my carefree summer lifestyle of hanging out with my friends 24/7, (okay fine that's not all I do) and hello to a semester filled with being the editor of the Opinions Section, working the library, having 5 classes, and still managing to have a life. However, things are going to change around this little blog.
As of right now, I blog between 5-7 times a week. It depends on how much I have to say, and it's usually random. However, because of school I'm cutting back to four or five times a week max. As much as I enjoy blogging, I do have to realize that school comes first. Over the summer, my blog began to bloom which is something that I am really happy to see. I hope to continue that streak into the upcoming months, as I get closer to my 500th post (yay!) and beyond.
I also would like to announce that I'm going on a temp blogging break from 9/1/2014-9/5/2014. That way, I can get into the school swing of things, without worrying too much about the blog. Don't worry, I will be back with more insightful things to say then. 
Hope you all are enjoying your Saturday!

Reading Goals, an Update.

Note: This is an update to a post I've written in May. Read here.
One of the big things over the summer is that I've been reading books nonstop ever since I handed in my last final. In May, I wrote a post about books I had to read this summer. Check it out here. It's safe to say that during the summer I managed to check off a lot of books. I read all of the John Green ones, which was nice because I really enjoyed reading his books. I'm on book 6 of the PLL series, and I've read all of the Shopaholic series. I've also read an amazing series called "The Sisterhood of Heartbreakers", and 'If I Stay", which were both books that I really enjoyed reading, and highly reccomend.
I've also discovered that I really enjoy reading chick lit, as well as teenage books with some sort of happy ending. Over the semester, I want to continue with that light reading, of course realizing that I can't devour books like I have been. I want to read the book "Best of Me", the "Just One Day" series, and who knows what else is going to be out there? My ultimate goal this semester is to try to reach my Goodreads goal of 50 books, which I'm about ten books away.
I'll check in with you guys at the end of the year to tell you how I did. In the mean time, what are you all reading?

Things I Love Thursday-Living Lokai

 
One of the purchases that I was tossing and turning about all summer was to purchase a Lokai bracelet. A lokai bracelet is a bracelet that combines mud from the Dead Sea, and water from Mount Everest. The elements symbolize being hopeful at your lowest point, and staying humble at your highest. Throughout the summer, I was tossing back and forth about getting this bracelet. However, during one a time that was difficult, I decided to buy it.
And I was so glad that I did.
The bracelet was only $18, and ten percent of the proceeds go to shipping. The shipping was fast, because I got it within 48 hours of ordering it, which was nice. I fell in love with the bracelet, and pretty much never took it off as soon as I got it. I like bracelets like that because I am lazy.
As I start my first day of my junior year in college, I'm pretty sure that it's going to not be easy. Looking down at my bracelet today will be a reminder to stay hopeful, and stay humble. It's an important thing to remember, because I really need to learn to not get down at myself for the stupid little things. For me, it's a reminder to always keep my head up, and never let life get you down.
So, if you're looking for something to remind you to stay positive, your search is over. Check this out at their website.
Shout out to everyone whose starting school soon. #stayhopeful #stayhumble
*I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.
**The photo above is my own and has been edited using PicFx and Afterlight photo apps.

Summer Photo Diary

As a blogger, one of the necersary things to do is take a ton of pictures. Cause, you know you never know when you're going to need one for a post or something. And of course, the fact that I'm addicted to the insta doesn't exactly help with keeping the camera roll kind of low. (I really need to get an iPhone with a bigger memory!) Anyways, without further a due, here's some of the awesome highlights of the summer. All of them have been taken with none other than my fancy iPhone.
 
 
 
 
This summer, I went to the beach a lot. And took a lot of artsy landscape pictures. And selfies. I even went there for my birthday, which was nice because I loved going to the beach with Griffin, Elisia, and Gabriel. I also went to celebrate the end of summer, and ate lots of strawberry cupcakes, which were amazing.
 
 
Speaking of birthdays, I turned 20 over the summer, and spent it with my lovely best friends! We also ate a ton of cake, and had Starbucks. My birthday is in such a great time, because since there's no school, there's no need for me to actually care about anything. (Except maybe work, I take that back)
 
 
 
 
One of the best parts about summer was of course to spend time with my best friend Gabriel. Gabriel goes to school 1,200 miles away, so they are away for most of the school year. Having them around this summer was definately why it was such a good time. Once I say goodbye to them for a few days, the next time that I see them won't be until November and December. I'm going to miss them, but it's going to be nice to use my Skype again. We've also taken several selfies during this time period, in which you can see here.
 
I also got to see one of my other favorite people graduate high school. I also got to spend a lot of time with him, such as exploring New Haven, going to East Rock and falling, and treating him out for lunch as a graduation present. You may all know them as Griffin. He's going to school not to far away, so I look forword to visiting. (especially since I have Fridays off, and stuff.)
 
All and all, it was a good summer. As I gear up to start school tomorrow, I'm probably going to wish that I was back into summer mode. Can I start counting down the days til Winter Break, yet?

Finding Something to Write About

Being a blogger, sometimes you have the best ideas ever, and the ideas come easily. So easily that you can't type fast enough. Then, there are days when you can't help but literally search through everything to find something to write about. I'm usually the former rather than the latter, but these past few days I literally couldn't find the words to write down what I need to say. 

So, I'll tell you what I'm doing currently. 

Watching; The movie 'Sabrina'. Both the 1954, and the 1995 version. It's such a great movie and it started an Audrey Hepburn phase. Oops. I also am bingewatching 'Sex and the City', and 'The Hills'. 

Reading; 'If I Stay' and 'Where She Went'. Those books are seriously such page turners.

Listening to; Beyonce. 

What are you up to lately?

LC Couldn't Have Said It Better.

One of the best things about summer is that MTV takes to showing reruns of Laguna Beach and The Hills. Both of these shows are deemed to be modern classics, and both of these shows have one thing in common. And what's that? That is the wise and wonderful Lauren Conrad.
Out of all of the reality shows that have come and gone through my generation, The Hills is one of the more classier of casts. Case in point, the star of the show Lauren Conrad. She's always topped the best dressed list, is super classy, and always has the best advice. Here's some of the best Lauren Conrad quotes.

Source





Source; Pinterest
What are your favorite Lauiren Conrad quotes?

#inspirationmovement-Forgive Yourself

Sometimes, we do things that are just not right. Whether it's breaking someone's heart, breaking someone's bone, or just making a mess out of everything, it just happens. Not every person on the planet is perfect, so time and time again this situation is bound to come up. We then find ourselves with feelings of guilt, and wonder whether or not we were the ones to blame. I bet as you sit here reading this, you'll find something that comes to mind. I'm just that awesome. Anyways, I'm going to say this now. You've got to forgive yourself. 
Recently, I've been struggling with that very subject. I've been in the wierd state of mind where I blame myself for things that are really not my fault. I can't tell you where that all came from, because I don't know myself. However, I can tell you that the feeling sucks, and I've been in a state of either crying most of the time, or sitting in bed just thinking about what happened. I also took to calling Gabriel, who told me 'You've got to forgive yourself.'
It's safe to say that we are our biggest critics. Whether it's when we stare at the window for hours trying to be perfect, staying up for hours trying to craft the perfect paper for English class, or trying to get that 4.0 we are a society that is obsessed with perfection. With social media being one of the more dominant things nowadays, we constantly begin to compare ourselves with others. It makes us become even more criticial on ourselves because then we feel like we can't screw up. So, when we do we often don't realize that it's okay.
But you've got to forgive yourself. 
If you're dealing with a feeling of guilt or something I want you all to listen to me. I want you all to know that it's okay to make mistakes. No one is perfect, and no one should expect you to be. I want you to know that it's okay to make these mistakes because you'll grow from them. At the end of every day, you should realize that you're an okay person and it's okay to sometimes do stuff that's not okay. Even good people do bad things at times. Forgive yourself, and go easy on yourself because chances are you didn't screw up everything. You may have to life with the consquences, but that's the product with any decision that you make.
As you start this Monday Morning, I want you to take it easy on yourself. Chances are, it's not going to be so bad afterall.