Pennies From Heaven

Ever since I was little I would always find pennies and other change in the strangest places. I had heard from someone that every time you see any coin in a weird or unusual spot it was left by someone in heaven as a reminder that they're still around! I used to find these pennies and then just smile, throw them in my pocket and forget about them. A few years ago I decided to save them in this little box I have. Every time I find a penny I keep it and add it to my collection!

The best part of the pennies is that each one has its own story depending on how/when you found it. I don't remember which specific penny in my collection I found at which specific place but the circumstances are hard to forget!

Next time you see a penny I hope you don't just ignore it! They seem to always come at the right time and never fail to leave a smile on my face!

Have you ever gotten a penny from heaven?

Memories

One of my favorite things to do is look back on all of the amazing memories that I have. Sometimes I remember things that had happened in my past that I didn't realize I had forgotten and they instantly put a smile on my face! It could be a family member talking about a memory, a certain smell, a sound or even a thought that triggers the memory.

Before my Poppop had passed away, every time I hugged him goodbye I would always try and remember what his cologne had smelt like so I could remember him through his scent if something ever did happen to him. Now that he has passed on, I am so grateful I remembered his smell because whenever I am sad or scared, I always can smell his cologne even if there is nobody around. Just the thought of his smell brings me back to those times when he hugged me and I can still remember what it feels like to have his arms around me again.

Another way memories are triggered for me is through music. Whenever I watch an older movie and hear songs that were popular at the time, it can trigger so many memories! Whether its the memory of the first time you heard the song or the one time you blasted the song in your car and screamed the lyrics at the top of your lungs with your best friend. Recently, my friend Matt and I went to McDonald's one night and he showed me a couple of songs and I loved them, now when I hear them, I think about that night and how much fun we had!

What is something that triggers memories for you?

Stuck In Neutral

Sometimes I find myself going through life stuck in neutral! Meaning, nothing exciting has happened, I haven't met anyone new, life is just "normal". Most of the time normal is considered great but other times its easy to get stuck in the routine of normal- easy to get caught up in the routine you have every day or week and not make time for new and exciting things that you will remember when you're older!

One of my biggest goals for senior year was to be able to make memories with my friends that I would be able to remember for a life time. I wanted to be able to look back in twenty years and be able to tell my kids all of the amazing things I had done during high school. I am so happy to say that I most definitely have those memories that I wanted to badly. I found that for some of high school I was going with the flow and stuck in neutral, so, I decided to change the way I was doing things and go out of my way to try and make memories that I could never forget.

I found that in order to have the opportunities to create memories you have to take the initiative to plan the things you want to happen. If you don't take initiative then things will never happen the way you want them to. If you find yourself stuck in a rut, make plans with friends in order to get out of that place you're in, you will be so much happier because of it!

It took me many years and many tears to realize that things don't just happen for people; you have to put in the effort and time in order to make your life fun and exciting! Trust me, it will definitely be worth it!

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!

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.

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!

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!