Costumes of Halloween's Past

I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween. I do love scary movies and haunted houses and candy and dressing up...okay, maybe I like it a little bit. But that's not the point, my favorite part is the dressing up! My best friend and I used to get together every Halloween and come up with some pretty awesome costumes, I wish I had pictures of them! I do have to say, my mom did a pretty good job at picking out costumes for me!

First Halloween: Angel! Sort of typical, but so cute!

Third Halloween: Jester! I think this one is my favorite, I wish I still had that costume! I told you I loved my candy!

Fifth Halloween: The only thing I can not stand about Halloween is clowns, and here's a picture of me as a kid dressed up as a clown! 

Seventh Halloween: I'm honestly not sure what this is. Fairy witch princess? Seriously, no idea, but I can tell you I probably thought that I was hot stuff. So embarrassing!

Since I'm older I wait till the last minute for costumes so I just throw some paint on card board and come up with something! Any fun ideas for Halloween costumes? 

The Value Of A Moment

When I look back on the things that have happened in the past there are plenty of moments I would do pretty much anything to go back too, even if it was only for a single second. Whether it be a moment with someone who has passed on, a conversation with a friend that you just wish you could do over or a memory that gives you the biggest smile when you think about it.

There are many reasons why I would want to go back in time and re-live certain things, one reason would be to change something that had happened. I am strong believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason and that there is a plan for all of us. But, if I had the opportunity I might consider going back and changing something. There isn't anything I wouldn't do if I could have another chance to avoid a fight I might've had with one of my friends or family or have the opportunity to let the ones I love know how much they are loved before it was too late.

Another reason I would love to go back and re-live a certain moment would be because I was simply so happy at that time. There are plenty of memories I have with my friends and family that I am so grateful for. My favorite memory with my family was when my whole family was at my grandparents house and we were all hanging out in the den. Then, out of nowhere my grandparents come running in with silly string and start spraying everyone with it! It turned into a crazy fun silly string fight. we all laughed until we cried! I would most definitely go back to that time and just soak in all of the happiness that surrounded me!

For my senior year, my whole grade got shirts that said "Seniors 2014" on the front, and on the back was a quote. "Sometimes, you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory." When I first got the shirt, I thought the quote was just another sappy quote on a shirt that I would never wear. Now, looking back on high school and my senior year, I couldn't agree more with the quote! Maybe if I was able to go back in time and re-live those times I wouldn't appreciate them as much because I would still be living in them and not appreciating them.

Have a favorite moment? One you would do anything to go back too? Would you go back? I'd love to hear your opinion!

In Love With Being Alone

Don't get me wrong, I truly love being surrounded by friends and family but after a long day, there is nothing better than a little "me time". My favorite time of the day is when I'm finally all by myself in my room and I am able to do anything I need to without any distractions! (That probably explains why I write most of my blog posts and one in the morning).

I just enjoy sitting in the silence, reading a book, checking out blogs, or listening to music. It gives me time to reflect on my day and allow my mind to rest from all of the craziness that has been going on throughout the day. It does make me a little more tired they day after but it's totally worth it knowing that I was being productive and getting things done! Since I have been doing this for a couple weeks now, it's almost impossible for me to go to bed without getting a few things checked off my to-do list! (Yes, writing this post was in my to-do list! Check!)

I also find that I am sooooo productive late at night when I'm alone. I usually do all my homework, write my papers and even clean my room while everyone else is sleeping. I think I enjoy this time so much because there are no people around to distract me, I get wayy more things done in a shorter amount of time! I almost feel like I can sleep better knowing that I had gotten so much done before I had to go to bed.

My mom always says I should just get everything done right when I get home from school. But, by that point the last thing I want to do is more work! So, I take that time to watch TV, play on my phone and just relax. Then, at around 9 its time to get to work!

Anyone else enjoy being alone? It can't be just me!

Tuesday's Top Five: Ice Cream Flavors

"I scream, you scream..." I bet anyone could finish that phrase! But, in case you can't "...we scream for ice cream!" is the rest! It's everyone's favorite dessert so, I figured I had to post about it in my blog! There's nothing better than a bowl of ice cream after a super hot day or a big bowl of ice cream and a chick-flick while trying to mend a broken heart. There are soooo many crazy flavors (Ben and Jerry's has over 35 flavors just by itself!!) Here are the top five:

1. Vanilla: I think anybody could've guessed that vanilla would be number one! You can never go wrong with a classic ice cream flavor like vanilla!

2. Chocolate: Again, not a total shocker about chocolate being number two! Another classic flavor, you can never go wrong with the classics.

3. Butter Pecan: I'm sorry, what? Butter pecan?! How is that even possible? I've never tried butter pecan but apparently it's a good one if it's number three on the top five ice cream flavors! It may be popular but I can honestly say that I don't think I'm gonna try that one.

4. Strawberry: Another classic flavor. Sometimes I really just crave strawberry ice cream, which is weird because I don't even like strawberries! I really thought this would be number three over butter pecan (still can't get over the fact that it's number three).

5. Neapolitan: I honestly don't even know what flavor this is, what it looks like or even how to pronounce it! But, it did make it to the top five flavors do I will probably have to try this one sometime!

Have a favorite ice cream flavor not listed here? I would love to try some new ones!

Relationships and Nail Polish

Most people would agree with the idea that friendship is a two way street. Equal amounts of give and take. Although some of my friends certainly are this way there are without a doubt some that are not equal in their amount of give and take. I definitely still love these people and cherish the relationships but some times it becomes too much to handle so I have to take a little break from the relationship, which breaks my heart but I know we will be closer because of it.

This is going to sound like a random question but I promise it will make sense in one second. Have you ever painted your nails and one hand always comes out better than the other? (If you're a righty, chances are your left hand comes out better and vice versa for all of the lefty's out there). This is how I view some of my friendships. Me, being the right hand doing the decent painting, is able to take the time and make the nails on the left hand look beautiful and clean. Meanwhile, the left hand looks beautiful and all it is able to do in return for the right hand is get paint all over the fingers and just make a complete mess. The right hand puts in the effort to make the left hand look beautiful, but the left hand isn't able to return the favor.

I know that might sound crazy but that is the best description I could use to possibly explain how these certain relationships work. I feel like I'm constantly putting in so much effort and getting close to nothing in return, and it can get to you after a while. Don't get me wrong, I love doing things for people and making them happy, it's one of my favorite things! It's just frustrating getting nothing in return.

Any advice on friendships or relationships in general? I'm open for some insight!

More With Chalk Paint!

So, if you read my other post about chalk paint you already know how much I love the stuff! If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you go give it a quick look-see! Anyway, my last post was about the awesome picture frames I made. After I made them as decoration for my room, I realized I wanted more things with the same kind of design! So, I decided to paint some shelves to try and match my frames! Here's what I got out of it!

These were so fun and so easy to make! The paint really makes a huge difference! They were originally green with purple splatter so I decided to try and cover that up with the lighter gray, like I had previously done with my frames! 

After I did the first layer of light gray, I dry brushed the dark gray on top of the lighter. (the way you do dry brush is pretty much explained in the name! Take a dry brush, put a little bit of paint on it and rub it on). It's so simple but you still end up with an amazing product that looks brand new! 

The paint is supposed to make them look a little worn, some people don't really like the look, but personally, I'm obsessed! Hopefully I'll put them up soon and be able to share them with everyone! In the mean time feel free to share any fun DIY tips! 

Until Next Time...

When you look up the word goodbye in a dictionary you will find something along the lines of this: a concluding remark or gesture at parting. How depressing does that sound?! To me, the word parting just makes it sound so sad. When I hear the word parting it makes me think of two people saying goodbye to each other only to never see each other again. That, is honestly one of my worst fears; saying goodbye to someone, only meaning until next time, and then never seeing them again.

After one of my close friends had passed away I realized how short life could be and I quickly regret not letting him know how much he was loved and appreciated. It scares me to think to think that whenever I have to say goodbye to someone it could possibly be the last time I ever speak to them. That is why I don't usually say goodbye to people when I'm leaving them.

Whenever I am leaving a friends house or even my house I usually say "peace out'. It's a way to say goodbye without actually having to say the word goodbye! Plus it's way more fun!

The only good thing about saying goodbye is being able to say hello again! But, what happens if saying goodbye to someone for now, really is the last time you get to say goodbye for good? Personally, I believe that there never really is ever a time when you will speak to someone for the last time, which is comforting. When the day comes, you will have the opportunity to speak with the ones you love again!

Next time you're leaving someone, don't say goodbye! Say something like "peace out" or "until next time" because here will always be a next time!

I'm Still Waiting...

I always catch myself saying that I can't wait for the weekend, I can't wait for the summer, I can't wait to graduate. What happened to all of the days spent between the days you can't wait for? I have wasted so many days waiting for better days to come along. It's actually kind of sad when you think about how much of our time we waste waiting for a new day to come, then, once that day is over, it's on to the next thing you have to wait for.

I remember being in elementary and middle school and always saying how I couldn't wait for high school. Once I got there, it got old really quick and then I couldn't wait for college. Now, I'm in college and I'm already counting down the days until Christmas break and summer vacation. I'm wasting my life away and before I even know it, it will all be gone and all I'll have to look back on are a few small memories that I couldn't wait to experience.

We need to learn how to enjoy the little things that happen everyday. I want to be able to wake up every morning and just be glad that I am awake and be able to enjoy everything and everyone I encounter in hopes that maybe it will rub off on somebody and they will eventually be as happy as I am. Not waiting for another day, but enjoying the day I am living now.

My Grandma used to always tell me that I shouldn't say that "I can't wait" for something, If you can't wait then you won't be able to enjoy the days leading up to that thing you can't wait for, and who knows, you might never make it to that day! So, why waste your time saying you can't wait, and instead enjoy every second of everyday. Fill your days with things that are so amazing that when you get to the day you can't wait for, it just seems like another amazing day in your already amazing life.

Better Than The Original?

Have you ever heard the phrase: "If it ain't broke don't fix it"? I personally think the quote is completely valid and should be followed by everyone! Some things within our society have been "fixed" or changed and I think they were perfect the way they are! Here are examples of somethings that have been "fixed" and have raised some debate!

1. The Kindle: At first the Kindle seemed like a good idea but, personally, I'm not the biggest fan. To me, there is nothing better than opening up a book and reading it! There's something about seeing the cover of a book and reading the back that makes me feel excited to read it. I think that the Kindle takes away that excitement. Plus, so many newspaper and magazine companies are going out of business

2. Nickelodeon: Yes, you read that right! If you were a 90's baby you know exactly what I'm talking about! The shows that appear on Nick and Disney are ridiculous! Dog With A Blog? Really?! There wasn't anything wrong with the old shows but for some reason they were changed! I long for the nights where they play the 90's shows after midnight!

3. Music:  We have all heard the song "All Of Me", it's beautiful and an amazing song! Why did they feel the need to re-make it into a pop dance song. The song was meant to be a song you could slow dance to with the one you love-the perfect wedding song. Now, it has become a song that people can fist pump too (because apparently that's all were capable of doing now). The song was so beautiful to begin with, not sure why they felt the need to change it.

I'm not writing this post just to complain about how things are being ruined because people are changing the things we love, it's because it can so easily be relatable to people's lives. Moral of the story: If something is working out for you and everyone else, why change it? Most people don't like change. SO, if you do change something people already love, chances are they won't be to happy with the the "fixed" product; if things in your life are going great, leave them be!

Tuesday's Top 5: Chick-Flicks

Whether you're going through a rough break up, dealing with a loss or in desperate need of a girls night, chick-flicks are a must! So, if you need a little fix here are five movies that can get a girl through anything! All you need now is a tub of ice cream and a couple of you best friends and you'll be able to forget anything that is bothering you.. even if it is only for a little while!

1. Crazy Stupid Love: This is my absolute number one favorite movie ever! Steve Carell is absolutely hilarious in this movie while trying to mend his broken heart. The best part of the movie? Shirtless Ryan Gosling. Definitely a must see!

2. He's Just Not That Into You: I know the title might turn you away from watching the movie but I promise you that it is amazing! I enjoy this movie so much because it's so realistic, the main character is a girl who understands what the true meaning of love is and the whole movie is about her trying to find the one person she is meant to be with, love it! 

3. New Years Eve: Another love story, but these are my favorite kinds! It's the best because they all are somehow connected at the end! I won't say more and ruin the surprise, there are so many amazing actors in the movie which makes it that much better!

4. A Walk To Remember: If you need a crier, this is your movie. Trust me, if you have a soul you will cry at this movie. But, sometimes a good cry is therapeutic! So, this might be a good choice depending on you mood. 

5. Mean Girls: I don't even know what to say about this movie in order to make people watch it. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you should be watching it instead of reading this blog! It's such a great movie and is always a must watch! 

Know any good chick flicks? Please share, I'm always down for a great movie! 

But First, Lemme Take A Picture

We've all heard the song "#Selfie" and we've all taken our fair share of selfies! I'll admit I have taken a few selfies but so has everyone else! Anyway, I looove taking pictures; of my friends, my family and of all of the beautiful things around me. So, I figured I would share the reasons I love taking pictures by showing the pictures that I've taken! There are four different types of pictures that are my favorite. Here they are:

1. The "Hey, I Saw A Sunset" Pic: Obviously a classic pic that everyone has taken from time-to-time. Everyone takes them but you're still proud of the one you took even if it looks exactly like everyone else's! Not gonna lie, I'm pretty proud of the picture I'm using as an example :) 

                                             

2. The Embarrassing Candid: These are the best types of pictures to take! It's so fun looking through pictures and seeing funny ones like the one below! Plus, who doesn't love a little black mail on their best friends? These are definitely keepers!

3. The "Tell Us We're Pretty": I think this one's pretty self explanatory. They're so fun to take and laugh at and I'll admit I have way more of these than I should! 

4. The "Artsy Fartsy" Pic: A category that is very similar to the sunset one but has it's own twist. This type of pic is definitely my favorite. They usually have a great message behind them and plus they're so pretty to look at! This picture is definitely my favorite "artsy" picture that I have ever taken, it definitely has it's own little story behind it. 

Taking pictures is one of my favorite things to do. Hopefully I'll be able to post about them more often, I hope you enjoy them! Don't hesitate to share ideas for pictures or even pictures you have already taken! 

Chalk Paint!

My aunt recently gave me the coolest paint ever, it's called chalk paint! I have no idea what makes it different but it leaves a really cool look on whatever surface you paint it onto. I used two different colors on my black picture frames: White and Light Grey.

I'm re-doing my room and I have always been obsessed with pictures and picture frames. I had some old black boring picture frames that would've been cool but I decided that I wanted to spice things up a little!

Before:

I did a super thin layer of the white paint first because I didn't want the black to show through the grey too much. Then, on top of the thin layer of white I lightly put the grey on top! It made it look a little worn and rustic, you could say I am in love!

After:

I love being able to re-use the things that I have already bought instead of having to buy all new things! It saves me money, which I also love. The best part is that you really don't need a lot of paint in order to cover your furniture. I covered over twelve picture frames and I only had to use the extra paint that stuck to the top of the lid. It may be a little pricey but it definitely lasts a long time!

There are so many different colors that will help transform any type of furniture that you are looking to make seem brand new! If you have any furniture that you are looking to re-do you can go onto Pinterest and just type in what you're looking for, I guarantee you you'll be able to find something amazing and you can use the chalk paint!

Here is a link to purchase the chalk paint(including information and a tutorial): http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/copy_of_How_to_use_the_paint.html

First There was a Scrapbook, Now There is a Smash Book!

I am a huge fan of scrapbooking! I love being able to look back in one place and see all the amazing memories I have made. My scrapbooks are all filled with pictures, and I love that, but what about the concert tickets, friendship bracelets from fourth grade and letters from Grandpa? That's what the smash book is for! You're supposed ti fill it up with all of the 3-D things you have that you wouldn't normally put in a scrapbook! It's so fun and easy but there are a few things you could do in order to make your smash book as fun and exciting as possible!

1. Pack Your Pages: Don't be afraid to put things from all different times on one page! You can make the pages themed or just throw stuff on and see what sticks! (Not literally) The more stuff on each page, the more exciting and interesting your book will be.

2. Everything is Smash Book-able: If it's of a decent size and has a memory behind it, chances are it belongs in your smash book! Whenever I go to Disney, I always get my hair wrapped...after I cut them out of my hair, I put them in my smash book! A little weird, but now when I look through my book I see it on one of the pages and I can reminisce on my trip!

3. Label, Label, Label: When I first started my smash book I would put things in there, not write what they're from and forget why they are even in my book in the first place. Now, every time I add something to my book I write a little bit about each thing so I can remember!

4. Share: I looove showing off my smash book! It's such a great conversation starter and a fun way to talk about all the happy memories you have.

Have a smash book and care to share? I would love to see what your smashing pages look like!

It's That Time Of the Month

No, I'm not talking about that time, I'm talking about Ipsy time!! Once a month I get this amazing gift full of make up, every girls dream! It's only ten bucks a month and you receive fun stuff like make up, nail polish, perfume and more! Here's what I got this month.

In order(Left to Right)

1. City Color Be Matte Lipstick-Cappucino: I usually don't wear lipstick but this is something I             will most definitely be using! The color is absolutely perfect for the fall. I love Matte because it looks so professional, though I might but some shine over it depending on how I'm feeling that day!
2. Ecru New York Protein BB Cream-Acaia: I haven't had the opportunity to use this yet but I can't wait to try it out! Check back into future blogs for a review! P.s it smells amazing!
3. Skyn Iceland-Glacial Cleansing Cloths: Another product I haven't tried yet but apparently it's a solution for stressed skin so I'm definitely excited to try it out! Again, check back for reviews!
4. Volumeyes Model Co-Mascara: Normally I like to use mascara with a thin tip and that is the complete opposite of what i got in my Ipsy bag. I tried this new mascara and i absolutely looooove it! It fans my eyelashes out perfectly and I'm left with no clumps, I'll definitely be picking up more of it!
5. Rogue by Rhianna-Perfume: AMAZING!! This perfume smells soooo good! That's all I can say about that.

Not only does my monthly Ipsy delivery come with all this awesome stuff it comes with a super cool makeup case! I am personally obsessed with this months bag!

If you have tried any of these products please let me know what you think! I'll write a post in the future about my favorite Ipsy items! 

If I Knew Then What I Know Now

We hear our parents say this worn out phrase anytime we ask them for help. But, have you ever stopped to really think about it? Think about what you now know about high school after you have graduated or what you know about Ap's or SAT's after you have taken them. Would you have attended every gym class or even every regular class for that matter? Would you have taken the SAT three times if you knew that 60 points higher wouldn't really make that big of a difference?  The answer is probably yes because when you were at that point in your life you weren't sure if skipping class was "okay" to do every once and a while or if you would get accepted to your dream school if you didn't get those 60 points! Looking back on my high school career, there are plenty of things I would do differently if I knew then what I know now. Here's just a few!

1. Don't Be Afraid to Bum It: When I was in high school I would always wake up super early to try and pick out a nice outfit, do my hair and put on makeup. This was such a waste of time. I had spent the last 8 or so years with these people and they couldn't care less what I looked like at school. I wish I would've slept later and cared less about my appearance.

2. Make Memories Not Enemies: Recently I had a falling out with one of my close friends but there is not one memory we made together that I regret! We had some great times throughout high school and just because we went our separate ways doesn't mean I won't enjoy looking back on those memories; they were the reasons I enjoyed high school!

3. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: I used to freak out every time I forgot to do my homework or failed a quiz. Now I realize how small those things were in the big picture! I would still get into college, my parents would still love me and my teacher would be more than understanding. No need to lose sleep over those tiny details.

4. AVOID DRAMA: *Most Important* I guarantee you that the second you throw your cap into the air on graduation day nobody is going to remember, or care about, the time Rachel was caught texting her best friends boyfriend. As soon as you sense drama back away, it can only hurt you! You don't want to be stuck in the middle of it, trust me.

One of my absolute favorite memories from high school. A night out mini golfing with two of my best friends, they have definitely taught me lessons that I will never forget. 

Have any advice for college girls like me? Feel free to share!

My "Guilty Pleasure"

Everyone has a "guilty pleasure"! Something that makes them so elated that nobody could ever understand. My guilty pleasure? Live concerts! I'm absolutely addicted, it's almost pathetic. I actually have three concerts coming up (American Authors, Gavin DeGraw and Maroon 5) and I constantly find myself looking for more! After these three concerts I will be at a grand total of 19 concerts! Insane. It's impossible to pick my favorite because I had loved all of them!

I think the reason I love them so much is because I find it inspiring how so many different people can come together for one night because of their love for a certain group or band and just scream until their lungs give out. It honestly blows my mind! One of my favorite things to do before a concert is take a picture of me and the people I'm there with so I can always remember the day! Here are some of the many pictures I have taken.

Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson at Jones Beach with Keara

Fall Out Boy at Barclay's Center with Emily

The Fray and Oh Honey at Pier 97 with ToniAnn

Bruno Mars at Madison Square Garden with Steve, Keara, Emily, Mom and Dad

Justin Timberlake at Madison Square Garden with Emily 

(She loves concerts almost as much as me!!)

 I plan on making a scrap book with those pictures, the set list and one of the tickets, keep up with my blog and I'll try and post about it in the future! This is a great idea for any type of event you enjoy attending; whether it be athletic games, movies, or concerts, like me! It's a fun activity to do and a great way to reminisce on the fun times you've had with the ones you love!

Have a fun "guilty pleasure" or been to an amazing concert? Feel free to share in the comments, I look forward to hearing about your experiences!   

Trying To Ease The Stress

Now that I am first-time college student I finally understand how stressful school can be. In the beginning of my semester I was so beyond overwhelmed with homework and trying to still juggle relationships with friends and family that I barely had time for myself. A few mental breakdowns later, I figured that it was time for a change. My life had completely changed and I had to learn how to adapt. Here's what I found!

1. Organize: My mom always told me that kids with cleaner rooms did better in school. I thought she was just thinking of creative ways to tell me to clean my room considering nothing else had worked for her in the past. It turns out she's not crazy and that it really is true! After I cleaned my room and organized everything for school, things suddenly became easier to do.

2.  Make "Me" Time: This is my favorite time! The best thing to do after a long day of work or school is to lay down by yourself and just watch Netflix or read a book! This is completely necessary if you plan on keeping your sanity...trust me.

3. Ask For Help: You are surrounded by people who want to help you and see you succeed! Why not ask them for a little support or advice? They wouldn't be offering if they didn't want to help!

and most importantly....

4. PRIORITIZE: This part is crucial! You will get nowhere if you aren't able to pick and choose which things need to get done first. The best way to figure out what you have to do is make a to-do list! Another one of my favorite things! Whenever I go on vacation or have a long break from school or even a busy week ahead I always make to-do lists. They help me realize how much I need to get done and motivate me to get those things done!

Hope I can help! Let me know if you have any tips on how to deal with the stress that is college!

The Bucket List

We have all seen the movie where the girl has a secret bucket list and then out of nowhere the boy finds it and makes all of her dreams come true. A love story every girl dreams of! So, why not give it a little kick start? Bucket lists are so much fun to make, especially with a friend! Here's an example of one I made during my senior year of high school. 

Some of the things I put on my list would be skydiving, meeting a celebrity and even hugging a penguin. Yes, some of the adventures I have on there are dumb, but how fun would they be?! The best part of a bucket list is that you can put anything on it! Thats the easy part, the fun part is where you get to do the crazy things and cross them off your list. I love making to-do lists so I can remember to get everything done that needs to be taken care of, think of your bucket list as your life's to-do list! Here are a few bucket list making tips:

1. Get out of your comfort zone: The whole point of a bucket list is to try and accomplish things you never imagined yourself doing! So make sure you put things that would help you challenge yourself.

2. Be realistic: If you know you're never going to go skydiving then don't put it on your list. When you look at your bucket list you want to be able to cross everything off, if you add things you don't actually want to do you won't be able to accomplish it and cross it off!

3. Document your success: Half the fun of completing things on your bucket list is to being able to show it off to everyone else! Take plenty of pictures.

4. Have fun!: This is the most important rule, you'll be wasting your time doing these crazy awesome things if you're not enjoying every second of it. Be sure to make the things on your bucket list activities you will look forward to doing and reminisce on for years to come! 

When I was in middle school my friend and I made bucket lists. They were so embarrassing, I could not post it on my blog! Most of the things on my list were so unrealistic and unattainable; I'm not sure how they ever made it onto my list in the first place! When comparing my two lists it was amazing seeing how my goals had changed in just four short years. Its crazy to think how drastically my bucket list and goals could change again in just four more short years!

So, when you get a chance, write out your own bucket list, find your prince charming and let him make your dreams come true! Sometimes they need a little guidance ;)

Gratitude...Or Lack There Of.

The amount of tragedy that fills this world is sickening, sometimes its hard to believe that there may be anything in this world to be happy about or grateful for. After I had suffered a couple of losses, I started questioning what all of this was really all about. Why are we here if eventually it all just ends? Why was I put here? In this body? In this life? Whats the point? With all of these questions running around in my head, I decided to try and answer them for myself so I could try and be happy again. Here's what I found!

1. Make the little things feel like they're the best things: I know this sounds dumb but embracing this one little tip can easily turn a terrible day into a not so bad one. I remember one day during my senior year I was having an awful day. I was stressing about applications for college, trying out for the school musical and the mounds of homework I had waiting for me at home. It sounds like your basic day of high school but once you start having weeks filled with these days it starts to get to you. Then, when I was just about to give up on college and everything else, one of my closest friends reached out to me and asked if everything was okay. To her it was just a simple question but to me it meant so much because of the day I was having. I said I was fine, like I always had, but suddenly I kind of believed it. After she left, I rembered how grateful I was to have her in my life and having a small reminder of that made everything seem less intimidating.

2. Find inspiration in someone or something: There's always someone or something worth appreciating, whether it be a song, family member or friend. Whatever it may be, make sure you surround yourself with that person or thing, I guarantee it will help you through what you're struggling with. Sometimes all you need to hear is the right song lyric or the right piece of advice or even meet the right person and that could change everything.

3. Have faith that things will get better: Everyone has been told this from time to time but I'm here to tell you that it is 100% true. I was told this constantly and every time I heard it I got more mad and believed it that much less. Now that I learned to embrace everything life has to offer, I couldn't agree more with the idea that things get better. It might take a lot of work to try and get out of the place you're in but if you fight your way out you will succeed and be a better and happier person because of it.

I know it's not easy but what I do know is that it's worth the fight. I hope these three little tips can help at least one person! Feel free to share your story in the comments, I'm all ears.

Courage

Have you ever watched a movie, and at the end you hear a monologue about how happy the protagonist is after they finally get the one thing they have been searching for? Once they're done with their thoughts you suddenly feel complacent and overcome with emotion. That feeling you get is my favorite. Its amazing how one fictional character's happiness can instantly make the audience feel such a strong emotion. In the movie We Bought A Zoo, Benjamin Mee (father) says "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery and I promise you, something great will come of it." After his wife dies he explains to his kids that these were the exact words he said to himself before approaching their mother and asking her on a date. He continues to tell them to remember that little piece of advice for their future. In my opinion it has to be one of the best quotes to have ever come out of a movie; words everyone should live by. There has to be a moment in your life that when you look back on it you wish you could've mustered up the courage to just do the thing you're now regretting. Next time you're in a situation where you need courage, don't be afraid to just go for it. Then in the future, you can look back without any regrets or "what if's" and know that you had the courage to push yourself to get what you want. If it didn't work the way you had hoped at least you'll know that you gave it a shot and you won't be left wondering.