Last weekend I put on my big girl pants & knocked out my taxes. Technically they’re not that difficult, but it’s a task crossed off my to-do list so I’m celebrating the victory. 🎉 This past weekend was a different story. I found myself in a deflating situation Friday morning & spiraled so quickly, I could barely move by the afternoon. That might sound dramatic, but I feel like I’ve been moving against the tide for months so that was my body giving in to mental and physical exhaustion. I had to be gracious, allowing myself to do whatever the heck I felt like doing, including RELAX. I read books, took naps, cheered on Team USA in the winter olympics, & started season one of Downton Abbey. I also managed to continue & finish my 7-day cardio challenge which made me feel so proud. 🔥 Life is not smooth sailing, but what defines you is how you handle the waves that come along. So cheesy, I know, but it’s true. My days look much different in 2022, & I’m in career limbo at the moment, but I’m taking it one step at a time. If you’re doing your best to survive, I’m right there with you. You are NOT alone! ♥️
Last night I stayed up late reading. In my mind I knew I should be a responsible adult & go to bed, but my heart told me to take advantage. It’s been awhile since I devoured a book so I resisted sleep for as long as I could, specifically until 1:30am. Goodbye reading slump! For those that are curious, I’m currently reading Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco. It is the sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper, and I am loving it so far. Speaking of books, my family visited Barnes & Noble Sunday night. I always know how depressed I will be looking at all the books I can’t afford, but I go anyway. My parents were kind enough to buy me a new book. THANK YOU!!!!! I chose Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero, a novel I’ve been dying to read for months. I am a HUGE Scooby-Doo fan so I hope this mystery gang-inspired story lives up to my expectations. In regard to my Tuesday agenda, I am currently blogging on my typewriter while watching my favorite Almanzo & Laura episodes of Little House on the Prairie. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Happy Tuesday! :)
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The holiday season is officially over, and I have yet to start my Christmas do-over. My work schedule was supposed to slow down, but I’ve been receiving extra hours & shifts. On one hand it’s a nuisance because I was looking forward to days of rest, but on the other hand I desperately need the money. I can no longer afford to “play” instead of work, which is why kids should never be in a hurry to grow up. Adulthood isn’t all bad, but it definitely isn’t as carefree as childhood. Anyway, I’m not here to rant about the struggles of adult life. I was blessed with a couple of days off from my retail job so I’m taking full advantage. Yesterday I did nothing, and it was pure bliss. I may have snuck in an hour or two of work in the evening, but most of the day was dedicated to binge-watching El Barco. After a refreshing night’s sleep, I started the day with a pumpkin frappuccino & a pumpkin bagel. I am currently watching season three, episode one of El Barco and blogging with my new Elretron typewriter. It uses Bluetooth to connect to my iPad, but the keys look, feel, & sound like I’m back in the 1800s. I get the best of the old & the new! I never invest in anything on Indiegogo, but this one time I’m glad I did. Once I’ve used it consistently, I will be putting together a full review so watch out for that. I go back to work tomorrow so I’m off to enjoy the rest of my semi-lazy Thursday. If you’re still on a holiday break/vacation, enjoy the rest of your time off. :)
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I feel like a bear who hibernated through the spookiest month of the year and awakened just in time for the holiday season. I am currently watching Christmas movies on Hallmark whilst enjoying open windows & a cool Autumn breeze. Allow me to elaborate on where I’ve been. I had a cold for two weeks in September; when it went away, I thought my illness quota for the year was fulfilled. WRONG!! A little over one week later, the flu took me by the throat and refused to let go for a few weeks. A lingering cough wrecked my throat and made it really hard to talk. Of course that has no effect on a blogger, but it sure does put a damper on Youtube productivity. I still have a little bit of a cough, which is annoying beyond verbal description, but I am healthier and more energized than I was last month. I have a few more updates for you so keep on reading.
• I turned twenty-three on November 5th. Physically, I don’t look my age thanks to Baby Face Syndrome, but I am right on track mentally; I spend most of my time stressing about adult decisions and responsibilities. Growing up is awesome! 😭 In all seriousness, I had a fantastic birthday. I watched Christmas movies in the morning, ate Greek food with my family in the afternoon, visited Barnes & Noble in the evening (I may or may not have walked out with 2 books), & watched Impractical Jokers with my brother before bed. Not a bad day! 😊
• Allow me to introduce you to my new obsession: zoo live cams! For people who can’t afford frequent trips to the zoo, live videos of eight different animals are available on the San Diego Zoo website. Go ahead! Give in to your curiosity and take a peek! Hint: They are more active during the day, tigers excluded.
• I’m almost done with the 2016 Reading Challenge. I only have two more categories to complete. I will be posting a detailed update soon; in the meantime you can follow my Pinterest board and see all the books I’ve been reading.
I also joined the reading challenge on Goodreads by pledging to read at least 45 books before the end of the year. Find me using this link to see what books I have read:
• I reached 100 subscribers on Youtube!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far. I can’t wait to see what else the future holds. If you aren’t already subscribed, follow the link & hit the red button to become a member of my Youtube family and receive notifications every time I upload videos.
My channel is lifestyle just like this blog so I’m positive you will enjoy the content. Subscriptions are free and only require a Google account, Gmail included. I would really appreciate your support! Blogging brings me so much fulfillment as a writer, and Youtube is the whipped cream on top of a creativity sundae. 😄
• Fear not fellow Christmas enthusiasts! Artmas & Blogmas are already on my radar and officially in production. Due to my retail job, I might be a little more absent than usual this year, but I will be posting come hell or high water. Sit back, relax, & take a trip down memory lane to mentally prepare.
July 4th, the day that Americans put the flag on display and shout their pride from the rooftops in honor of freedom. Now is the perfect time to share what makes me feel patriotic. I love my country, but I’m not the most vocal about it. However, there are two things that make my blood run red, white, & blue. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I respect that. But, I can’t help feeling rage when someone born and raised outside the American borders feels the need to judge. I am American-born and American-raised. I can count the number of times I’ve left this country on one hand. I speak English with an American accent. I received education and now work as an adult here. I can criticize this country because I am a citizen and know what I’m talking about (for the most part 😉). Think of it this way. As a brother or sister, you can tease your sibling(s) to your heart’s content, but God help the outsider who feels led to do the same. Suddenly you’re on the defensive! Perhaps that paints a clearer picture of my point. Moving on. I see or hear stories about soldiers every day, but nothing compares to seeing or meeting them in the flesh. As a retail employee, I meet military personnel of all races and ages and feel an indescribable level of honor and pride to serve them. I respect the diverse group of people willing to train and fight for this country. If any soldiers, past or present, are reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Being the totally awesome parent that he is, my dad bought tickets to a 20th anniversary performance of Riverdance. The seats were one row back from the stage!! Unfortunately he got sick, but my mom sacrificed and took his place. ;) It was my fifth time seeing the show, and I still got emotional. It was absolutely incredible sitting so close and seeing the emotion and camaraderie between the dancers.
After the performance, my mother and I had a lovely dinner at Claim Jumper. Having said that, NEVER eat dinner at a mall on a Saturday. The restaurant was across the street from the theater, and by the time we ate, the show had been over for three hours. However, the salad I had was amazing and worth the wait. Here is a list of ingredients for those of you who desire such details: ahi tuna, crunchy noodles, red onions, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, feta cheese, glazed pecans, sesame seeds, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Everybody in my church subconsciously decided to make tamales and give them to my family at the same time. I dove in headfirst and never looked back. I want to clarify that my newfound appreciation is directed towards one specific variation: tamales with olives. My Mediterranean blood compels me to love olives, and I do. Tamales with olives are muy delicioso!
Plantain chips are the bee’s knees, and I want the world to know it. They are crunchy like dried banana but savory like chips. I recommend the lightly salted Pampa plantain chips because I strongly dislike heavily salted foods.
This delightfully scented concoction was a Christmas gift, and it has been my go-to lotion ever since. The keynotes are red winterberry, ruby apple, sparkling cranberry, snowkissed camellia, and crystal vanilla. It smells mostly floral with hints of berry and apple. Call me crazy but I almost always smell a hint of watermelon in Bath & Body Works lotions, this product included.
I struggle with insomnia, and one of the commonly known remedies is lavender. I researched and found several different products but ultimately decided to give the spray a try. Even though this spray from Bed, Bath, & Beyond isn’t made specifically for insomnia, it works. The scent is distinctly lavender and very fresh. I spray it all over my pillow and bed right before going to sleep. Sometimes I read a book post-spray, another helpful trick for treating insomnia.
I bought these candles to review the company for my Youtube channel. Even though the draw of this company was the rings hidden inside the products, I ended up loving the candles. The Frosted Gingerbread candle is spicy, and the Winter candle is woodsy. They can burn for up to four hours at a time, and the scent is detectable within a few minutes. For more information, watch my video:
I’ve been wanting an adult coloring book for a long time and used a recent family trip to Barnes & Noble as my chance to get one. It was a little embarrassing paying for a coloring book and colored pencils, but I got over my pride and did it. I can already tell this book will last me a lifetime because I haven’t even finished half a picture yet. Coloring is relaxing and a great creative outlet, and I highly recommend you give it a try. :D
I’ve already discussed this series on this blog so all I will say is this series is fantastic and impossible to put down.
“I live in a home full of strict rules, even for an Old Order Amish family. My Daed doesn’t believe in allowing our tradition of a rumschpringe. At its best, the running around years is meant as a time of extra freedoms that gives singles an opportunity to find a spouse. But sometimes young people take advantage of it, so my Daed all but forbids. Still, I have found love, and even though Paul isn’t Amish, I know that if I spent a lifetime looking, I’d never find a better man. He’s gentle and kind, and his sense of humor is every bit as strong as his sense of responsibility. But if my Daed knew of our friendship, he’d put an end to it, and I’d be grounded from stepping off the farm for even a stroll for months, maybe a year. Paul leaves Owl’s Perch each fall, and even though he writes me letters and sends them to his grandmother’s house, he’s never hinted at how he feels beyond friendship. Despite my Daed, despite that I’m only seventeen, despite that Paul goes away to a sea of girls each year, I choose to believe that he cares for me like I do him, and that love will find a way for us.”
Does anyone else love this TV show? I have been watching it since the first season, and the kids never cease to amaze me with their knowledge. The premise is children with high IQs competing for the title of “Child Genius.” Every episode features two rounds, each focused on a different subject such as math, history, or logic. For more information, follow this link: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/child-genius
I am in love with this miniseries! Netflix recommended it to me. The show follows a group of codebreakers post-WWII. Once the war ended they were required to move on with their lives without telling anyone what they had done. They find themselves brought back together by circumstance in order to solve a crime; this occurs three times. For more information, follow this link: http://www.pbs.org/program/bletchley-circle/
I have watched this show at least three times all the way through. It is definitely one of my favorite TV shows of ALL time. WOW! That’s a bold statement. I relate to this show on a deep emotional level because of my dance background. I understand the family-like bonds that develop and the struggles that come with being an aspiring professional dancer. On top of all that, it’s a great show. All three seasons are currently available on Netflix. For more information, here is the IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1551948/
I realize that I am way late to the “Gossip Girl” party but better late than never. I’m not that far into the first season, but I like it. It’s a good show to turn on when I have hours of work to get through. The show follows the drama surrounding a group of wealthy teenagers living in Manhattan. It is currently available on Netflix. For more information, here is the IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397442/
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Sorry readers! This post will not be full of cheer. I am currently watching cheesy Christmas movies and trying my best to be merry, but my plan is failing. I am stressed to the max about life and emotional beyond description. Do you ever bury yourself in your bed and desperately wish for different circumstances? That’s where I’m at right now. I know this sounds silly. I don’t mean to be trivial, but in my small, boring world this is a crisis. Need a visual? Stand by for said visual.
We have a fun topic to discuss this evening. Seriously. I cannot possibly be the only person on planet earth who made this transition. Back in my middle school and junior high days, I was a pack rat. I collected rocks, stickers, stamps, dolls, and stuffed animals. I colored pictures, bought posters of my favorite quotes, and printed photographs of my favorite celebrities and put them all over my bedroom walls. I never got rid of anything. In my tween brain, everything had “nostalgic” value. The cherry on top of the hoarder sundae was my messiness. To this day I am organized in spurts, but more often than not, my environment is chaos. As I made my way into those not-so-delightful high school years, I felt an intense desire to purge. I got rid of trash bag after trash bag after trash bag of stuff, JUNK that had been sitting without purpose for years. I am glad I was able to let go of all that stuff, but I do have a few regrets such as ripping up my first diary. I had a very personal, emotional reason for doing so, but I desperately wish I had been strong enough at the time to hold on. My bedroom style went from “Tweenhood Explosion” to ” European-Bohemian-Shabby Chic.” My style has not changed much now that I am an adult so I will describe the basics in my current room:
White furniture (One used bureau/cabinet, two used sidetables, one new 8-cubby shelf)
Zebra bedspread layered on top of a purple bedspread & a multi-colored, multi-patterned blanket
Black, white, and purple pillows
Europe-inspired decor including framed illustrations and a Paris-patterned bench/trunk
A few stuffed animals including Scooby-Doo, Mike Wazowski, and Sulley (Yes, I am 21)
It is fun to laugh at my once-cluttered living space (in terms of stuff, not cleanliness), but the evolution of style isn’t something to be ashamed of. When I was a child, I had the freedom to be young and impulsive. I didn’t care about outside opinions. My bedroom was a space where I felt safe and happy, and that is all that mattered. My tastes naturally shifted. At the time, I was embarrassed by my room and wanted a change immediately, but really I was just maturing. Nothing new under the sun, and nothing to be ashamed of. At the risk of turning this discussion into a major cheese-fest, I encourage all of you to be yourselves. I am a writer, and it is important for me to have a space where I feel comfortable and inspired. Cover your walls with posters and proudly display your stuffed animals if that is who you are. Think of it this way: Your bedroom is usually the last room you are in before closing your eyes and going to sleep; you should be excited to end up in that space after each and every day.
Wow! This post started out lighthearted and took a turn into the “Serious Zone.” Nevertheless, I hope the message resonates with you. “See” you soon readers! :)
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Prepare yourself. I’m about to vent about some not-so-happy issues. Me and my mom recently relocated to the west coast to join my dad and brother who had already been living in that area for a few years. Because of college, the move was stretched out to three years for me and for my mom who selflessly chose to stay behind and help me. Words will never be able to express my gratitude! An impending out-of-state move is not easy to deal with while going through undergraduate education. As if the stress of daily homework and sleepless nights wasn’t enough, let’s throw in living out of boxes and without furniture. Fast forward to now. My family is currently sharing a mini apartment above a garage, a space I have nicknamed “The Loft”; it has one main room (a living room, table, and kitchen with no stove), one bathroom, and one bedroom (two small beds). In case you haven’t already done the math, four adults are sharing a living space meant to comfortably accommodate two people, perhaps two adults and one small child. I can’t complain because at least my family has somewhere to live. However, living in small quarters for an extended period of time is not a comfortable situation to be in. The cherry on top is I have no job, no money, and no car.
I am an introvert therefore it is important that I force myself to go out otherwise I wont do it at all. So far I am failing miserably even though living like a hermit is sucking the life out of me. I am pale from not going outside. I have no physical energy. I have way too much time to analyze and criticize myself. I am becoming even more uncomfortable around people. I am stressed to the point of regular migraines and anxiety attacks. In a nutshell, NO BUENO!!! Why the heck am I writing all this down on my blog?? Well, Tuesday was one of those days when I was stuck in the loft working on my laptop and stressing over my current project and life in general. Also, it was really hot outside, and heat is the worst possible antagonist on a stressful day. I doubt it is too late for me to get out of this awful cycle, but in my “Debbie Downer” brain, it is. Being social has not produced positive results in my life therefore I am very cautious. I am unfortunately comfortable in this way of life, but I know it is not a healthy way to live. The moral of this story is “Don’t live like a hermit if you have the choice not to.” The black hole does not magically disappear and replace itself with sunshine and rainbows; it only gets deeper. Find a happy medium between being yourself and living without regret. I am going to close with a list of things that make me happy. Let’s end on a positive note!
I spent the rest of the night playing a video game and watching a movie with my brother so I already feel much better. Keep moving forward, and don’t look back readers!
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkban”
Good morning Vietnam!!! Sorry. I saw an opportunity, and I went for it. I know this a VERY early post, but I felt the need to write so here I am. I recently had a sleepover with my best friend Gabby. Words cannot even begin to describe how much fun we had being silly and reminiscing. It felt like the good ol’ days homeschooling and playing together every day, a time when we had the freedom to dress up and imagine ourselves as anything we wanted to be. So many lives were lived between middle school and high school; the experiences felt so real, and we learned something from each character. I cannot speak for all children of this current generation, but I do not see as much dress-up and make-believe as I used to. What a shame! I’m sure Gabby would agree that letting our imaginations run wild made our childhood unforgettable in the best possible way. The memories are countless, and we as adults are much more creative and thoughtful. However, there is a downside to all of this. Because my childhood was so great, growing up is proving to be a painful process. I’m not having trouble maturing and taking on responsibility, but it is hard to move on. College classes and jobs have taken over, and there is less time for hanging out and having fun. I know there is no solution because adulthood cannot be stalled; it is a natural part of life. The only thing I can do is treasure and enjoy each moment of nostalgia that comes along. I believe there is a happy medium between carefree child and responsible adult; all it takes is wisdom, knowing the appropriate time for each role. For instance, right now is an appropriate time for some ’90s cartoons. “Rocket Power!!”
“Childhood lasts all through all through life.” – Gaston Bachelard
Lauren Michele ❤️ 
