Thursday Thoughts

Hey there. With the recent deaths of both David Bowie and Alan Rickman, the topic of death has found its way on social media and created many discussions among people all over the world. These tragic events have made me take a minute to stop and remember how lucky I am to be healthy, loved and alive. Just in case you needed a little pick-me-up...

Life is full. Life is unexpected. Life is happy. Life sad. Life is magical.

That's all for now.

-m

Reminder

That's all for now.

-m

How To: Leaving Home

Hey guys. Today I am a mess. This is my last day in my home town before leaving for college. I think I have cried every day for the past five days just thinking about it. As I was driving through downtown this morning, this is what I was thinking.

When we are born, we begin growing our  roots. They are small at first. But, as we grow up, they get stronger and set deep into the ground.

As I drive through this place I call my home, I can see my roots. I see them extend into my house, with its white picket fence and green wooden door. I see them attach me to my sister, my brother, my mom and my dad. My roots connect me to my friends, both old and new. I am rooted in my hometown. I am secure. I am stable. I am safe.

This is why it is so hard to leave home. But, on this drive, I realized that leaving home does not mean I have to break off my roots. These roots are a part of my history. They are a part of me, even now. I will always be connected to my home.

Tomorrow, I am extending my roots. I am going somewhere new.  I will attach myself to new people and new places. These connections will be new and fragile. But, soon, they will grow stronger and stronger. It may take time, but I have to remember that I will be secure again. I will be stable again. And I will be safe again.

Hopefully this helped any of you who may be experiencing the same thing. Wish me good luck and I would love to read any of your advice, tips or thoughts on the topic. 

That's all for now.

-m

5 Rules To Live By

Hey there. This week has been crazy. From going to bed at 3 AM to crashing at friend's houses three days in a row to eating breakfast past noon, I have definitely swerved off of my steady, usual track. Now, this is all fine, but at the end of the week I realized that there are a few rules I should abide by no matter what direction my life takes me.

Here are my 5 Rules To Live By:

1. Always take your makeup off before you go to bed. 

As much as this model makes wearing makeup to bed look glamorous, it is anything but. Going to bed wearing makeup leads to breakouts and ages our skin. I know it can seem impossible to come home after a long day or night out and whip out the face wash or eye-makeup remover, but it is a must! At the bare minimum, always try to take off your face makeup. Trust me, it is worth it.


2. Do not be selfish. 

This can mean many different things. For me, it means to be aware of other people. Take into account their feelings, thoughts, opinions and ideas. Put yourself in their shoes. And, simply, do not always think about yourself. 

3. Invest in experiences, not things. 

This is a tough one. Yes, I know we all sometimes like to save up money to buy those adorable wedges from Nordstrom or that newly released iPhone from Apple. Trust me, I get it. But, I think we sometimes forget how valuable our experiences are. Instead of buying things, maybe we can invest in experiences. Go to that concert, buy that plane ticket or eat that expensive but out of this world meal with your friends. As it says above, "have stories to tell, not stuff to show."


4. Eat dessert before dinner. 

I don't exactly mean this literally. I mean that it is okay to indulge yourself every so often. Life is short and unpredictable. Who knows what could happen tomorrow. So, in my opinion, go ahead and treat yourself to that cupcake, or whatever it is that makes you happy. :)

5.  Exercise at least a little bit every day. 

I know, I know. This one probably annoys you a lot. In fact, it annoys me too. However, I have learned that this one is extremely important. You don't have to run a marathon every day, but try to do  something, anything really, that is active. This could be hitting up the gym, going on a hike or even just taking the stairs rather than the elevator. You will have more energy and overall feel a lot better about yourself. (This is from experience) :) 

And, there you have it. This is what I learned this week. 

That's all for now.

-m

How To: Escaping Reality

Hey there! It's a Sunday night as I write this post. I was laying on my bed, excited for a night of "Orange is the New Black," Youtube surfing and maybe even some reality t.v. All of a sudden, I felt really guilty for wanting to spend so much time on things that many people say are a waste of time, unproductive and possibly anti-social. However, after spending some time thinking about the idea, my guilt slowly went away.

A man once said...

"The story of escape." This phrase played over and over again in my head until my thoughts changed. Escaping. This is something we all need. Now, I do not mean escaping as in running away from problems. I mean a sort of break from reality. A vacation from our everyday lives where we travel into other worlds, other minds, other lives and most importantly, other stories. How can we ever learn or grow if we only focus on our own selves and situations? How can we ever cleanse our minds if we are always living in our own heads?

So, to everyone out there who calls things like Netflix, television shows, etc. a "waste of time," all I have to say to you is: you're wrong. These things have value. Of course, we cannot spend our entire lives binge watching "Gossip Girl." However, those moments where we sink into other realities, those times when we completely relate to another character or forget about the world around us, are vital.  As silly as it sounds, it can help us learn, grow, laugh and escape.

I believe escaping makes us happier and better people.

That's all, for now.

-m

How To: Live For Yourself

Hey there! Today I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to "live for yourself." This topic made me extremely confused because on one hand, I firmly believe that family and friends are what really make a person happy, but on the other hand, I also believe that a person needs to first be happy with themselves and place this above other relationships. As you can probably tell, this is one messy, complicated idea. After sitting on the idea for a while, I came across a quote that finally made sense of things.

      When I first read this quote, it was like a lightbulb flashed on in my head. In my many, many years of experience on this Earth (yes-sarcasm), I have spent too much time living for other people. Now, I do not mean this in a "I am so generous" kind of way. I mean I have waited around way too many times for my friends to make plans with me. I have allowed others to determine my own behavior for too long. I've compared myself to too many people that I don't even know on social media. The list could go on and on and on. 

     Looking back on all of these times, it truthfully makes me sad to think that I placed the control of my life in the hands of others. I want to go back to my younger self, or even myself a couple months ago, and say, "Care about others, but live for yourself." I want to tell myself that yes, family is important. Friends are important. Love them, worry about them, do things for them. But don't forget about yourself along the way. Because, at the end of the day, it is your life. You are the one who makes the decisions and choices that will affect your future. This is your life. Live for yourself. 

     Now, don't get me wrong. I'm still working on this myself. This simply goes to show that we are always a work in progress and that this is okay. :)

That's all, for now.

-M

Following Your Dreams

I once read that we should "go confidently in the direction of our dreams and live the life we have imagined." Dreams. Don't we all have them? I think, deep down, we all have that one fantasy. That one beautiful, perfect idea that lives in the back of our mind. Today, I'd like to share with you one of mine.

My Dream:

I'd move to New York City. Brooklyn, maybe. Or Manhattan.

The scene would play out as follows. I'm at the train station. In one hand, a huge suitcase that holds my entire life. In the other, an Iced Chai Latte, of course. It would be close to winter. Not snow, but the air would be crisp and icy. I'd be wearing a sophisticated coat and high-heels. I'd step out of the train, go up the escalator and walk into the city for the first time. It would be magical.

I'd live in a really classic, "New York" apartment. Preferably, made entirely of brick.

The inside would be cozy, modest, vintage yet modern. And, of course there would be a spiral staircase. 

I would be a writer of some sort. Maybe for a magazine. Maybe for a publishing company. Or maybe a best-selling author. The city would be my inspiration. On Sunday afternoons, I would go to Central Park with my journal and write for hours.

I would meet "Mr. Right." My family would move to NYC. And then, happily ever after. 

And there you have it. One of my biggest and most cliche dreams. Yes, it may seem outrageous. I know some people think dreams only lead to disappointment. While this can be true, I like to believe that dreams are magical. And, come on, are you really going to try and tell me that we don't need a little magic in our lives? That's what I thought. ;) However, I will agree with those who say that dreams are scary. Yes yes yes. One hundred percent, dreams are terrifying. They are terrifying to me because, for the most part, we all have the power to make our dreams reality. If you think about it, we really can follow our dreams and "live the life we have imagined." All we have to do is try. And, yes, trying can be scary. But if taking a risk could lead to such amazing outcomes, is it worth it? What do you think?

That's all for now.

-M

How To: Explore

As the summer rolled around, I found myself on a tight time crunch. My mission: Make the most out of the few weeks I had before leaving for a special college program. One that actually begins much earlier than those of my friends, unfortunately. But, that is a whole other story. ;) Back to the point, I realized that I am leaving my home soon and I have to appreciate it every single moment. Although I will not tell you specifically where I live, for obvious reasons, I do live near San Francisco, CA. This is in fact, or I guess in my opinion, one of the most amazing, unique and beautiful places in the whole world. Up until these past few weeks, I did not even realize this. During the past few weeks I decided that one of my main goals was to explore.

John Muir once said....

Whenever I read this quote, it reminds me of the importance of exploration. It seems that many of us, more so nowadays, like to stay inside, go on our phones or watch Netflix and forget about the wonders of new places. Yes, I admit that I could spend an entire day watching "Orange is the New Black." However, I've learned that hopping in the car and driving somewhere totally new is exciting and enriching. And that is exactly what I did. Below are some photos of the places I discovered and fell in love with.

Exploring these new places gave me a new love and appreciation for the Bay area. It inspired me in ways I could not have imagined and lit up a new curiosity within me. So, this is my challenge for you. Go outside and explore. Find a new place. Be curious. Learn. To end, in the words of John Muir, go out into the world and "wash your spirit clean."

That's all for now.

-M

Favorite Songs At This Moment

Hey there! This post is going to be all about music and my favorite songs at this moment! I have always loved music. For me, I don't only like certain genres of music. Instead, I usually am drawn to individual songs, no matter what type of music it falls under. Music can really act as an escape. I love how songs can make you disappear into another world.

TOP FAVORITE SEVEN SONGS

1. Cigarette Daydreams-Cage The Elephant

       

    2. Just One of the Guys-Jenny Lewis

     3. Want to Want Me-Jason Derulo

     4. I'm Good-The Mowgli's

     5. Light Years Away-Mozella

       6. Ellsworth Kansas-Rascall Flatts

     7. Dream-Priscilla Ahn

                                     

Hope you enjoyed and find the same joy and inspiration in music that I do! :)

That's all for now.

  -M

Update

Hi to anyone who may be reading this! If someone out there actually does read my posts, I am sorry for not posting recently. Truthfully, I am a bit disappointed in myself because when I started this blog, I was so inspired and motivated to write and post. Lately, along with being busy with other things, I haven't been feeling very inspired and frankly did not know what to write about. However, today I remembered that I made this blog because I like to write, even if it is just for myself to read. So, today's post doesn't necessarily have a topic. It's just me letting out my need to write. So here is a little update on my life, if anyone cares to know. :)

1. I have been unable to watch "One Tree Hill" because I have been busy and unable to cope with the major plot change from season 4 to season 5. How can television shows, which are NOT real, affect people so deeply!? I feel pathetic for being so invested in the show, but I can't help it at the same time! Any advice?

2. It started hailing a few minutes ago and I loved it. There's something about "gloomy" weather that makes me feel at peace, happy and safe. Is that weird?

3. I know I should clean my room, but I can't. Maybe I'm lazy or maybe I really am too busy. Having a clean room makes me feel so much more organized mentally.

4. I have been loving the acoustic guitar station on Pandora. Anyone else?

5. I have to choose what college I want to go to and I am SO confused, worried, excited, anxious and terrified! HELP!

That's all for now. 

-M

How To: Feel Better With Music

You know how some songs can magically make you feel instantly happy and optimistic about the world? Well, that's what I love about music.

Yesterday I saw this quote on tumblr (yes, so original) and it got me thinking about the power of music. For example, if I'm in a crummy mood and then listen to a super sad song, like "Breathe Me" by Sia, then I will 100 percent become even more sad and most likely cry for ten minutes. (Note: sometimes I find releasing my emotions this way to be beneficial) On the other hand, listening to happier music never ceases to put me in a good mood. So yes, music really is a powerful thing and personally, I think we should take advantage of its magic.

Top "Feel-Good" Songs You Should Listen To When You Are In A Bad Mood, Feel Like There Is No Hope For the Future or Just Need A Little Pick-Me-Up:

Wavin' Flag- K'NAAN

Back Home-Andy Grammer

Dog Days Are Over- Florence + the Machine

I Make My Own Sunshine-Alyssa Bonagura

Smile-Uncle Kracker

This Will Be- Natalie Cole

Ain't No Mountain High Enough-Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

That's all for now.

-M

The Rain

PLEASE GO TO THIS WEBSITE (http://www.rainymood.com) BEFORE READING. :)

In honor of the rainy weather today, here are my thoughts on the rain...

There's something about the rain that's so peaceful. Is it just me, or does anyone else smile whenever they wake up in the morning and hear the sounds of rain thumping against the roof?

To me, the rain brings adventure. It brings mystery. It brings happiness. 

The rain gives me strength and comfort. 

It clears the sky and the air. 

Everything is fresh and clean and green.

Rain gives us puddles and thick, squeaky, yellow boots.

It makes us explore.

Or find warmth under layers upon layers of blankets.

So take a moment to...

because...

That's all for now.

-M

How To: Confidence

Hey guys! This is the first installment of my "How To" series. Today's post is all about confidence. Although I know I touched on this subject before (in my post "Breaking Out of Your Shell"), I needed to talk a little more about this subject today. Yesterday, as I was sitting in one of my classes in the afternoon, I was zoning out a bit and thinking about how much has changed for me in the past five years or so. I couldn't put my finger on just what had caused this change (me being overall a much more confident person). However, I almost gasped (not to be dramatic) when I realized the answer. So, here we go.

How to be confident? The answer: self-worth. I'm going to be honest, I don't know if this is as mind-shattering to others as it is to me. For me, I had never recognized that realizing your self-worth was the key to confidence. So, let's go into my passionate, uplifting talk.

We ALL have value. And as much as some people seem to believe, no one is worth more as a person than anyone else. We are ALL equal. True confidence does NOT come from the validation of other people or make-up or clothes or friends. Yes, these things can BOOST our confidence. But, real confidence comes from inside ourselves. It comes from knowing that we are worthy and our opinions, thoughts and ideas are just as valuable as the opinions, thoughts and ideas of others. Knowing and truly believing this will allow you to be confident.

This may seem obvious or simple to some people. Maybe you have heard this a million times before. But I don't think that a lot of us actually believe it. If you do, that is amazing. But if you don't, know that you have value and please recognize your self-worth. :)

That's all for now.

-M

Regrets

Whenever I hear the word "regret," I think of a missed opportunity. A mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life. (Okay, that's a little dramatic.) But, I think you all know what I mean. It seems like we have always been told that when we die, we want to be able to say that we lived without any regrets. However, this has always seemed like a daunting task to me. I felt like if I had to make a decision and later I regretted it, my life would be changed forever and for the worse. This is why making decisions has always been difficult for me because I was scared of making the "wrong" one. Recently, I have had to make a decision that, in my eyes right now, is important and will impact my current life. I was terrified that if I made the decision and later regretted it, I would have messed up my entire life and missed out on great things. However, after a lot of thinking and a little inspiration from the following quote...

...I've learned that whatever decision I make, there will be "pros and cons" that come along with each and that if I feel uneasy about my decision after making it, I will have to just deal with it. That's where the quote comes in. If I do wish I had made a different decision, I will have to find a way to make it work and get the best out of it. Therefore, there are no real regrets in life, just lessons learned that help us become better people. 

ps. :)

That's all for now.

-M

Capturing Memories

Hey there. I have always been the type of person who would rather enjoy something in the moment than snap a photo. I always thought that I would remember things better seeing them through my own eyes than by taking a photo to look back on later. Sorry, does that make any sense? However, I have compromised with family, who is very into photo albums and such, to take a few pictures but overall enjoy the moment. I find this to be the best way to keep memories, because for me it is really fun to find old pictures and trying to remember the story behind them. Because, it's true, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Today, I chose seven old and more recent random pictures to try and remember the moment I took them and the story behind it. So, here we go!

Okay, this is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. I remember my dad and little sister were feeling a little adventurous that day and took this guy's cheap deal to go on a catamaran across the bay and under the bridge. It was a slightly foggy day, but in my opinion, San Francisco is always magical, no matter the weather. So, we got on the small boat and sailed underneath the bridge. In fact, I remember my sister and I layer down on our backs and looked up at the bridge as we sailed under it. That was a very magical moment.

This is a picture of my front yard. I'm not quite sure when I took it, but I am going to guess that it is a few years old. All I remember from this day is that it was SUCH a nice day. The sky was the bluest I have ever seen it and the white puffy clouds seemed to be floating in just the right spots. The whole scene was very peaceful, so I snapped a photo either for the precious memory of my home or for a new Facebook cover photo. ;)

This is a picture of my family and I crossing a bridge from Oregon into Washington. For all of our family road trips, I am the designated photographer and videographer. Every time we go on road trips or pass into new states, I try to take pictures of the state line signs or something along those lines. I remember we were all piled up in the minivan and my dad yelled out to me that the sign was coming up and we were just about to pass it. I whipped out my camera, turned it on, threw myself over my little sister, who was in the seat next to me and blocking the window, and I snapped the picture in hopes of it turning out decent. And, this was the result. :)

This was a follow up photo to the previous one. I took this on my family's trip to Seattle, a city that I desperately want to visit again. This picture is of Pike Place Market, an iconic Seattle site. My family and I were walking past the sign, in hopes of finding the first Starbucks (per my request), and I made my family stop in the crowd of people so I could take a picture. I remember being a little frustrated that a huge white truck was blocking part of the sign, but now I think it adds to the "candidness" of the whole scene.

I believe this photo is two years old, taken sometime in the summer. If you couldn't tell already, it is of one of the rides at Disney California Adventure Park, next to Disneyland. As we were waiting to go on the ride, I loved how the roller coaster and iconic ferris wheel looked in the background, so I quickly took a photo. Disneyland is such a fun, magical place, even when you are older, so this picture holds a lot of fun memories.

 This photo was taken this past summer and is of a belgian waffle with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice-cream. What a healthy meal. :) I took this photo while my aunt, grandma and I were in Bruges, Belgium, our final destination on our trip. This was taken in a small restaurant in Bruges and all I can remember is that it was SO GOOD.

Last photo! This is of yet another family trip. I remember my family was trudging up the Arlington National Cemetery, which is beautiful and sad at the same time, and finally reached the top. I thought this was a pretty good view of some Washington D.C. iconic sites, like the Washington memorial to the right and the Lincoln memorial (99 % sure). Since I love history, this trip for me was so fun. I had been to D.C. twice before, but I think I definitely explored the city and appreciated the history behind it so much more. 

That's all for now.

-M

ps. If you have any requests for posts, please feel free to comment below. :)