What I Learned This Year.

2014.
Ahh, it was a wonderful year.
Kind of. Sort of. Not really. It's had a lot of ups, and it has had a lot of downs. This year, however, I honestly feel like I've come more and more into my own. I've learned a lot about life, my field of choice, and about myself.
The thing that I learned that has the complete and utmost important is to be you first. Do things that make you happy. Like things that only impress you, not the people that you want to impress. If they like you, then they will like you for you.
What really taught me this was meeting someone who I really thought that I liked. This person was really into music. To impress him, I began listening to music such as Mayday Parade, and Sleeping With Sirens. I used to like them when I was younger and more emotional. As I got older, I traded it in for more mature rock. At the time, I did like it.
When things went south with this person, I began to slowly but surely dislike the music. (It's not because of him, it just wasn't really my thing.) In its' place I began to discover music that I really liked it. Enter Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Beyonce, Tegan and Sara, and The Pretty Reckless to name a few. I deleted the who emo music, and ever since then, I've honestly been more into putting what I like into my headphones, not what others think I should.
Although I am guilty of liking what a guy that I was interested in, I will say that it will never, ever, happen again. I honestly don't think it's worth it because if you're going to like someone, than you're going to like them for well them. I think it's important to like what you like, without the pretense of others judging you. This started with my music collection.
My iPod, if you looked at it, you'd probably wonder what the heck is going on with it. There's Beyonce, then there's Aerosmith. Then you've got She and Him, Taylor Swift, Drake, and Quiet Riot. It's a whole Motley Crue going on in my iPod. And I can care less.
I am going to like what I like and haters are going to hate, hate, hate.
So, that's what I learned over this past year. I've learned other things, such as AP style, but this is something that truly is importance in my opinion.

Christmas 2014.

It's hard to believe that just as fast as Christmas came, it's over. Soon, we'll be taking down the trees, and undecking the halls. Before we do, let me fill you in on what my Christmas holiday celebrations consisted of.  I am a little late by most blogging standards, since many bloggers that I follow posted about Christmas yesterday, but better late than never, right?

Christmas Cookies.

Christmas Eve: Being from a mostly Italian background, Christmas Eve is the bigger holiday. We eat a lot of fish, and my mom's side of the family gets together to open gifts. This year, I got gift cards and a cupcake Alex and Ani!

Earlier that day, Gabriel and Bethany stopped by to deliver my Christmas presents, as well as exchange with the both of them. They loved their presents, and they gave me a pair of earrings and a gift card to get Thai food!

Christmas Day: Unfortunately, I didn't wake up to the excitement of Santa, but rather a stomach ache. That wasn't fun. However, after that, Christmas began to proceed as usual. My mom and I opened our presents, and then we went to my grandma's to have Christmas food. (Lasagna for everyone; leftover chicken for me.) It was a casual holiday, but a fun one.
How was your Christmas? Let me know in the comments below! 

The Grand Illusion

Once upon a princess becomes a damsel in distress. Or she's just your average celebrity starring in a romanic comedy of some sort. Either way, there's something about the stories that many are leaving out. And that is...well any sense of reality.
The thing with stories and fairy tales is that they heighten our expectations. They heighten our expectations in relationships, in life, and in the whole spectrum of everything. Because of them we believe in grand romantic gestures, and having the guy do things that are well grand. Well, newsflash honey. Nora Ephron and John Hughes didn't direct your life.
Now that we've got that straight, we realize that these movies often do one thing. That is, my friends, put pressure on our relationships. This makes us want the whole monologue from our significant others, or potential ones. And when we don't get them, we question what is going on. Why isn't he telling me that I'm the only like Mr. Big?
It's cause it's a movie.
One of the things about modern day relationships is that there's so much comparison. That is the problem. We compare ourselves to the many movies that we've seen in our lifetime. We compare ourselves to our many friends on social media, such as when someone professes their love in a Facebook status or in a thousand couples selfies. It's cute at first, but honestly it's annoying. We then examine our relationships because then we realize something. They are not the same like those on the silver screen.
And that's okay.
As Styx would say "It's a grand illusion, because deep inside we're all the same." I believe those lyrics are true because each and every relationship is the same at the end of the day. Each relationship is built on love and with trust on the side. We often get lost in the glitz and the glamor of the Facebook likes, and the Insta selfies.
Instead of looking at the things to compare our lives to, let us instead worry about the way that things are. Relationships, are awesome and complicated enough as it is. Let's stop comparing them to other things, and realize that what we have in front of us is pretty damn good. 

Sunny With a Side of Doubt

Doubt is something that each and every one of us is encontered with having. If you are like me then you doubt everything. You doubt your relationships, you doubt your life choices, and you doubt whether you should have said that thing to that person. Sometimes, we just have to a hot side of doubt to go along with the normal pressures of life.

The question here is why do we doubt things? We constantly encounter people that will often, for lack of better term, rain on our parade. They will put ideas in our heads, and tell you that you are not good enought to do whatever it is that you want to do. If you have a relationship issue, the sure statistic can be a pessimistic outlook. Like the statistic that long distance relationships don't work. I saw this in the Carrie Diaries recently, where Carrie and Sebastian deal with long distance relationship issues. Samantha and Larissa try to burst her bubble. Carrie brushes them off, but once Sebastian begins to engage in not being able to talk then the doubt takes over.

People like to be real with you, even if your head is in the clouds. Give that to an optimist who then wants nothing more than to become the exception. There are exceptions, but there are also things out there that once planted in your head can grow out to a huge tree. Doubt can start out as a side dish but soon become the main course. 

The best solution of doubt is to first mute all of the voices in your head that tell you otherwise. It is hard to do because people like to talk and have their voices heard. However, sometimes you need to forgo the hates. Taylor Swift said it best "haters gonna hate hate hate." 

For all of you have something to doubt, first let me ask you if the doubt is reasonable. If you're doubting your relationship then wonder if you are basing it on your insecurity or past experiences. If you are doubting your competitence of a career than ask yourself why. Did someone tell you that because you did something wrong, or were they jealous of how skillled you were. 

Reasonable doubt comes to play here. We can use reasonable doubt to get out of a trial without looking like a bad person. But in life,there is a different approach. If you doubt that you're unhappy with your partner and decide to leave them, then you look like a terrible person in the society.

Why do we doubt ourselves? Or, most importantly, why do we doubt the relationships that we have or the paths we choose? 

Christmas Letter 2014

I originally said on Facebook that I was going on a blogging holiday for today and tomorrow. However, I saw this wonderful post from Nina from the lovely blog The Grand Adventures of Me, and was inspired to do my own take on it. So, here's my own Christmas letter. Merry Christmas fellow readers. Tomorrow, I will not be posting. I know that I have said that before, however, this time I actually mean it. 
You know you love me. 
Xoxo.

Dear readers on Finding My Voice;
Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a great day filled with presents, and cookies. I will be spending Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family. Since we're Italian, we have lots of food, and goodies. On Christmas Day, I will be spending it with my mom as well. We are a very low key kind of family, but that's our style.
2014 has been a crazy year, but in a good way. I've learned a lot about myself and the person that I want to be. I've officially switched my major to Journalism this past fall, in addition to a minor in Creative Writing. Ever since then, I have not looked back on that decision. At this point, I am looking at internships and graduate schools. I am also working on the decision on whether or not I will actually attend graduate school, or choose to work right after my undergraduate graduation.
In May, I've become the opinions editor at my college newspaper. Although at first it was hectic, I have the privilege of working a job that I have fallen head over heels for. I also have been working a lot at my school's library, which is a good job to have.
I've also have the opportunity to celebrate my 20th birthday in July. I went to the beach, which is one of my favorite places to go to. I went with the people that I am closest with,  and their names are Griffin, Gabriel, and Elisia. In addition to that, I spent the summer getting to see Griffin graduate high school, went on countless trips to the beach, and going on adventures with my best friend Gabriel.
In addition to that, I finally had gotten my license. I got it on my second try, but now I never have to go to driving school, nor never taking the dreaded test again. I am in the process of registering my car, whose name Rosie Rhonda. (Her name was originally Rosie, but since she's a Honda, I thought Rhonda would be a good name.)
One of the best things however about this year? I've discovered Netflix. I got it this past March, and ever since then I've been hooked. I've discovered shows such as Gossip Girl and New Girl. I've also watched movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, and An Officer and A Gentleman. Since it's only $8 a month and you can get all that you want for one low price, the main question here is why aren't you subscribed to Netflix?
Overall, it's been a good year. It's had it's ups and downs, but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. Not everything can be going smoothly, and I learned that the hard way. The biggest lesson of all that I learned this year? Everything happens for a reason.
Merry Christmas, and this is the end of 2014. Let's make 2015 a good one.
xoxo,
Natalie
PS: Merry Christmas! 

Welcome Home, Gabriel

Last Thursday, one of my best friends had returned home. Their name, for those of you who are new around these parts on the internet, is Gabriel. They have been in Saint Paul Minnesota for the past few months, at Maclaster college.
This time, when they came home, I had the privellage of going with Gabriel's family to the airport. I found this extremely exciting because I have never really went to the airport before, so I was excited about it.
Getting to see Gabriel come home was a really wonderful experience. I was so happy to be able to greet Gabriel off of the airplane. Although we do argue with each other pretty much all of the time, I do in fact miss them whenever they are at college. (Gabriel, if you are reading this don't get a big head.) I am so happy that I got to see you come home, and it was really exciting to pick someone up from the airport.
Gabriel will be home for a month, until they return to Mac in late January. Stay tuned for our awesome adventures!
 

Jess Day's Pretty Rad Folk Band

 
 Source
How many of you like Zooey Deschanel? How many of you know that she sings? Well, she is in a lovely little band called She & Him. And before you say 'Actresses who sing as well as act aren't that great', hear me out.
She and Him is one of my favorite bands of all time. Recently, they've released an album called 'Classics'. However, they have three additional albums. They are called Volume One, Two, and Three. They also have a Christmas album as well, but I really don't have any songs from it, and have listened to it. Their music is excellent. It reminds me of songs from the sixties, and Zooey's voice reminds me of Karen Carpentar's. Her more recent stuff really has showed off how talented she really is.
Overall, if you're into folk or looking for a great band to listen to, She and Him is right for you.
Favorites:
Volume One: Sentimental Heart, Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?, This Is Not A Test, I Was Made For You
Volume Two: In The Sun, Ridin' In My Car, Going to Get Along Without You Now, I'm Going to Make It Better,  Brand New Shoes
Volume Three: I've Got Your Number Son, Baby, I Could've Been Your Girl, Somebody Sweet To Talk To,  Sunday Girl
Classics: Stars Fall On Alabama, Stay Awhile, Time After Time, Unchained Melody