Summer Tag Pic. #2

Hello everyone! So, here is photo 2 of the summer tag.

A summer paradise

Favorite ice cream

Favorite summer quote

Favorite summer song

Favorite book

Favorite summer activity

Favorite summer dress

A picture of something I took last summer

Something I really want to do this summer

Favorite swimsuit/bikini

Favorite food

A film

Going to pool or beach

Plans for the holidays

Favorite makeup product

Favorite thing about summer

Favorite summer look

A summer essential

Summer where I live

Fave color for summer

What I’m doing tomorrow

Whatever: It’s summer!

Maybelline The Mega Plush Volum' Express
 Waterproof Mascara in Very Black

For me, this is a must have summer product. This is a lovely mascara and makes your lashes look amazing. Although it wasn’t intentional to use as an everyday product, it has ended up so. I would definitely recommend this product to my friends and family, if they were looking for something new to try. :)

Smile And Wave

BEFORE:

Finally! Today’s the day. After all the effort, stress, planning, and time, today is my sister Stephanie’s open house.

To be honest, I can’t say I’m not relieved. This has taken long enough to get here. With more and more being piled onto my plate for this gathering, me practically organizing everything involved down to the last napkin, it is now my time to relax. Kind of. I still have some last minute things to do, but not to worry. Now, I just have to smile and wave. Smile and wave.

This seems easy enough, until you think about it. I happen to have a pretty large family. You see, it started off with four brothers. This includes my grandpa and are exclusively known as The Uncles. Then as they married, the family grew (obviously). This means that I have lots of cousins and relatives that I can never remember their names. Should be fun....

I, of course, am in charge of food supply, and picture taking at this event. Musts, but not restricted to. Overall, I am pretty excited for this party and my sister. She is going to be happy. No doubt about it.

Well, off I go into the unknown. Just kidding, more like the garage. But, still! Let the party begin. 

AFTER:

Okay, well that was my previous interpretation of my sister’s party. It didn’t actually happen like this. It more of went like this: loads of family showed up to the party and family friends. Only two friends from school came considering the amount of invites my sister handed out. Very upsetting. Mostly to me, but to my sister, also.

My family has tons, and I mean tons of food left over we will be eating for the next month. Fruit, vegetables, chips, meat (for the rest of them, not me), cake. The whole lot. What are we ever going to do? I will be fat.

Overall, I did smile and wave a lot (hugs, too!). I also took lots of pictures (some below), and sweat. Could you blame me? It was 85 degrees out all day!

Nonetheless, my sister did enjoy herself despite the heat. She later told me how much money she received. A decent amount, pretty decent. Now I’m just waiting to hear the excuses from everyone who didn’t come. Like I stated before: very upsetting.

I happen to be very glad for my sister and wish her well. I hope college will suit her well, even if she is still at or near home. 

Here I leave you with pictures from this journey; I really love them. I tried to capture all aspects of the moment. Enjoy! :)

My Shadow

Quilt-age 

Little Bird Feeder

Candy

Look Familiar?

Food!

More Candies

A Bit of My Dress

Off a Balloon

Sturdy Chairs

Balloons!

The Card Box

Picture Board Finishing Touches

Cap

Cake Plates

More Quilt-age

White Rose

Coke. Simply Coke

Blue Berries 

The Cutting of the Cake

A Must Sign

My Dear, Old Great Grandma

What Lovely, Bare Feet

Me

Cutie

A Bite of Cake

Good day Lovelies! :)

Summer Tag!

Hey, lovelies who read this!

I have decided to do the summer picture tag I had found on Tumblr. Although, I don’t have a Tumblr account, I thought that this could be a fun tag for my blog. So, here I am. 22 days of pictures, coming throughout the time left before school starts up for me again.

The 22 different pictures will be of these topics in no particular order:

A summer paradise

Favorite ice cream

Favorite summer quote

Favorite summer song

Favorite book

Favorite summer activity

Favorite summer dress

A picture of something I took last summer

Something I really want to do this summer

Favorite swimsuit/bikini

Favorite food

A film

Going to pool or beach

Plans for the holidays

Favorite makeup product

Favorite thing about summer

Favorite summer look

A summer essential

Summer where I live

Fave color for summer

What I’m doing tomorrow

Whatever: It’s summer!

I want to encourage you to do this tag, also! If you don’t have a blog, post them on facebook, twitter, tumblr, pinterest, instagram...etc. You get the point!

Anyways, here’s the first pic.

Favorite Summer Dress

I hope you are having a good summer, too. Enjoy the weather and have fun! It's summer! :)

Truly Beautiful

What a truly beautiful night. Hunter Hayes’s voice singing through the stereo speakers, fireflies dancing, the full moon shining down through the clouds. Really. I just couldn’t get enough (insert fairytale moment here. I keep having these, don’t I). It couldn’t last long enough, but of course it had to end.

It really was a nice evening. First swimming with some family friends. This included the three-year-old that I had mentioned in a previous post, so naturally I got more cutie pie time. That was quite all right. She may not be around much longer if her family is moving to Wyoming like they would like.

As you can obviously tell, I had a pretty leisure filled night. Well, this was all very much deserved. My sister’s open house was yesterday and I was simply exhausted after all that it took to make happen and see through. Wow. That’s all I have to say. Not quite sure I want to have one when I graduate now... But enough of party talk. There will be a complete post on that topic later including pictures I, myself, took.

Now, I have other things on my agenda. Things included are finishing my online class for school, hanging out with friends (if I still have any. No one seems to want to talk to me), go to band/color guard practices, scrapbook, and spend some time with my family. Of course blogging is also on this list. It’s a given along with shopping.

Anyways, I hope everyone has had a wonderful night as nice as mine. :)

Young Innocence

The last two days I have watched three girls total. Yesterday, my sister and I took two girls shopping with us for the day; they were 9 and 11. Tonight, I ended up watching a hyper, little 3-year-old (insert pulling my hair out here). But, it wasn’t all bad. She can be a cutie pie or a diva in miniature size. It all depends on her mood.

Anyways, we ended up going to the park and watching movies, while her mom helped my family prepare for my sister’s open house which I chatted about in another post. Whilst with this crazy, little gal, I realized just how innocent kids really are. This and looking through old photos of when I was her age.

Sometimes we forget how different being a kid can be. All they want to do is run around, play, and eat candy. Sigh... I remember the days. Now it seems all we do is worry about this or that and overreact to everything. Some more than others, but this is definitely me. Still though, hanging out with a kid for a few hours makes you think about the good old days. Carefree, no worries in the world. Young innocence. What is would be like to live like that again. If only.

Although I have had enough time with little ones for the next week or so, I still can’t wait till next time. Little kids are just so fun and energetic. I wonder where they could possibly get all the energy from. I think that they must suck it out of those around them to use themselves. Yep, that has got to be it (or so it seems). Well, have a good weekend wherever you are. :)

My Alice Adventure

A short time ago, a few days at most, my grandma told me she had spotted a brown bunny in front of our house. Then, just a day later, I too had spotted a brown rabbit hopping around. This time the back yard. I, being the type, ran after it. This, my dear friends, was my very own Alice in Wonderland moment except that I wasn’t blonde, wasn’t wearing a fancy dress, didn’t have an English accent, and didn’t end up falling into a rabbit hole. But, other than that.

  Now though, thinking about it I don’t think I would have minded falling into a rabbit hole to a whole other world. It would have been an exciting adventure to take.

The point is, you can never be too old for times like this. We all age and grow up. Just because of that though, shouldn’t stop us from being a spontaneous kid once and awhile. Day after day of the same old thing gets boring. Jobs and stress get in the way sometimes and even if they are unavoidable, taking the time for fun is totally worth it in the end. 
Just taking the time for a little adventure is nice. Think about it and next time you see a bunny, go have your own Alice in Wonderland moment, just like I did. :)

Falling Down The Rabbit Hole

As a side note, this little story reminds me of the last year’s school play. It just happened to be Alice in Wonderland. I was supposed to be in it, but dropped out at the end of summer giving them enough time to fill my spot. Nevertheless, they did a fantastic job with amazing costumes and props.  

I Want Uncharted

I, like many others, am inspired by songs. There happens to be one in my head at every moment of the day and they can instantly take me back to a moment when I was depressed or remind me of a fun moment with my friends. Then there are the songs that relate to you so perfect at any moment; a pick-me-up song if you will.

This past school year I had lyrics from the Sara Bareilles song ‘Uncharted’ posted in my locker (one of my pick-me-up songs). One was ‘I want uncharted’, while the others were ‘Compare where you are to where you want to be and you’ll get nowhere’ and ‘I won’t just hang around like you’ll show me where to go’. When someone such as my friend Colin asked me about it in a quizzical voice, I had a hard time trying to explain to him what it meant to ‘want uncharted’. Colin, and everyone else, here’s what uncharted means to me.

To want uncharted means to venture off where nothing is familiar and you can make your own path. Uncharted means to have to find your way without help, not that you want it. My personal uncharted definition is: going where others doubt you’ll be, but you find yourself there anyways despite them. In a way, for me, it is a confidence booster. It’s kind of saying, “Take that!” and making the best of a situation.

Maybe you have a song like this where it picks you up and helps motivate you throughout the day. Like a mid-morning cup of coffee and your energy. Still I feel like I did not give uncharted an adequate definition. Listen yourself to ‘Uncharted’ by Sara Bareilles (link below along with a picture of my song quote) and maybe you will understand what I am ranting on about. :)

I WANT UN-CHART-ED.

Sara Bareilles 'Uncharted' Video

Treasured Memories

Okay! There are many things I would like to take the time to put into words about today, but instead I will just mention a few and get on with what I really want to talk about. Here I go:

This afternoon was by far the first real day of summer for me, even though school released an entire week ago. The reason being, I actually had a pretty fun and, somewhat, exciting day (considering my overall boring lifestyle). My brother and I both got haircuts and I, typing this with a smile, loved his so much that I annoyed everyone by talking *cough, RANTING, cough* about it all night. But honestly, could you blame me? It went from shaggy in his eyes, covering half his face to a quiff style. What is not to love? Anyways after the cutting of the hair I went and bought Sarah Dessen’s new book, The Moon and More. Seeing that Sarah Dessen is my all time favorite author, I was practically fangirling in the store in front of everyone. I hope I am good entertainment. Besides that, I am already 107 pages into it. Must finish. But not to fear; I will have finished it within the next couple of days.

Moving on to the more serious topic of discussion. The past few days (more like weeks really) my family has been preparing for the sister’s open house seeing that she has finally graduated from high school. Everyone has different jobs to do and I, all mighty that I am, was named decorator and, well, food supplier (for lack of better words). I am to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves and have had enough to eat at this gathering.

Anywho, because of this event happening in a week, my sister and I went through a LOT of family photos in the last 5 days. Talk about the memories. But, it was actually really nice seeing family members and sneaking into memories before I was born. Even the pics that my grandma said, “They’re blurry, we should just throw them out.” Or, “They just take up so much space to keep” we said absolutely not throwing these out. No way, no how.

Maybe it is just me but there is no way I could just throw pictures out like that. To me, photos represent a timeline of events that can be shared for generations. For instance, there happened to be multiple photos in black and white and taken on cameras that haven’t been used in ages. Because of this, they are nice and antique-y looking (some very faded, yes), but they all have some form of special meaning. I could never bear to toss them.

Is this what it is like in your family? Pictures are treasured memories you love to flick through every now and again? Well, maybe it is time to sit down and take a moment to relive some old memories; listen to a story or two. This can be a very good family bonding time as I have much realized. I hope that if you do decide to give it a go that you have a fun time and maybe learn something about your family that you didn’t know before. Make a few treasured memories.

Hmmm... Thinking should post some! We’ll see. :)

Am I A Minnow?

Recently, I was watching a rerun of Grey’s Anatomy on Lifetime (as I always do form 2 to 4 pm in the summer on weekdays). This particular episode was ‘The Time Warp’. If any of you watch Grey’s Anatomy like I do then maybe you remember this episode from 2010. In the episode, Derek Shepherd (as chief) decides to have a day where Richard, Miranda, and Callie give speeches in front of the hospital staff as part of the lecture series returning. They talk about what changed them as surgeons; when they knew they would be exceptional. This included talking and flashback reenactments.

During Bailey’s flashback of her first few days as an intern at Seattle Grace, a particular statement about a shark and a minnow was made that really got my attention and pulled me in. It was: “I was not raised to be a shark. Does that make me a minnow? Am I a minnow? I’m a minnow. Not because of my height, because I’m a minnow on the inside.” You may ask what about this sentence got my attention. What was so important about this scene? Well, I’ll tell you.

Sometimes, I get told I can’t do something or that I’m not good enough. That I just don’t have what it takes. More times than not by someone I talk to at least weekly, if not more. Although at the moment I get aggravated and generally feel like punching them in the face, it’s really my confidence and determination that takes a beating (insert crying in a corner here). That’s what I thought about as this scene played out. I had to ask myself, “Am I a minnow?” Is that how everyone sees me? As a minnow? I don’t know. Should they?

Maybe. Maybe they should, but knowing myself, I know there is no way that I won’t try and prove them wrong. They don’t know me. Okay, while they know me they don’t know me. Understand? Everybody has a dream or idea for their future. Why should I let someone else choose mine for me? Why would I? While they don’t think I can do something, have the talent, or amount to much, I will show them just what they don’t expect. The unexpected.

Then, as I’m typing this, 'Fix You' by Coldplay came on my Pandora. If you know this song then that’s really great for you because I know that now I will be pressing the replay button until I know all the words. With a first line of ‘When you do your best, but you don’t succeed’ this is exactly how I feel now and as I watched Grey’s earlier. I don’t have to be a minnow. I can be a shark whether everyone else believe I can be or not. I have a choice. So do you. So did Bailey’s character.

So now as I sit here with the remanence of “Am I a minnow?” on the back of my hand, I challenge you to do the same. Make a choice. To be a minnow or not to be. To be a shark. Don’t let someone else influence you and beat you down physically or emotionally. Try your best and if you don’t succeed, try again. You have nothing to lose. But, if you let someone intimidate you and tell you you aren’t good enough, you’ll have everything to lose. Now, I encourage you to go watch the clip for the “Am I a minnow?” scene from Grey’s Anatomy and listen to 'Fix You' by Coldplay. Links are below.  :)

Am I a Minnow? Grey's Anatomy Scene

Coldplay 'Fix You' Video

Crazy But True

After what seems to be a really long summer day(even though I did little), it is still nice to sit and relax for a few. Listen to Cody Simpson’s ‘Crazy But True’ on replay with the rain drizzling on the roof in the background and lightning flashing occasionally, I guess thinking about goals and my future is a given. What do I want to do with my future? Where should I go to college? *glances at stack of college recruitment letters* Will I even be accepted? Art or pre-med? All things that I ponder. Crazy to think that I am a junior now, though. Two more years of high school. Then what?

Everyone says that I’ll figure it out, that in the end it will all make sense. Sometimes I have to think, though: ‘Will it really?’ How does anyone know that it will work out for me? That I will actually make it where I was meant to be. Where I want to be. No one can be sure.

Just thinking this makes me want to order an ACT prep book from Ebay to better prepare for when I take the test next year or take more advanced classes than already on my schedule (not including the junior and junior/senior class taken this past year as a sophomore). Still, I have to think: “Will it be enough.” Even with extra curriculars, I am still doubting myself and what I am capable of. Hmm... Crazy but true sounds oddly fitting for the moment.

But enough of that. It’s summer! There’s time for that later *crosses fingers*. Bring on the sun (even if it is currently raining and I just want to eat some waffles). And inspired by summer, here’s a list of ten things I hope to accomplish in the next three months!

Here we go:

1. Go swing dancing in Rosa Parks Circle

2. Hang out with friends

3. Dance in the rain *very do-able at the moment*

4. Start running for exercise

5. Make videos for my YouTube channel *Hollysays17 if you were wondering*

6. Realize that I can’t be perfect

7. Visit family more often *particularly my great grandma*

8. Be more confident

9. Become a better me

10. Have fun :)