Sarah

     If you haven't noticed already, things have been looking different around here.  The name, the design, the amount of posts.  It's all different.  You see, I'm a person of change.  My brain goes crazy if I have something the same for too long.  It's a big part of why I have dedication issues.  I get tired of it and I change it, which is why there is a new title.
     For weeks I have been jumbling words and phrases back and forth in my head.  I wanted something clever, something unique.  Of course, easier said than done.  I prayed about it, talked to my friends about it, and even studied a dictionary but nothing came.  Sometimes I thought I finally found the one but a few hours later, I'd come back and say, "Nope, it's still not it."  It was, honestly, stressing me out.  I wanted to post but I didn't want to draw too much attention toward my blog until it was complete.  I needed a name, I needed a title.  Finally, today after weeks of racking my brain, I thought to myself,  "Sarah."  It's only one word, a word I always disliked as a name but in that one word, it contains everything.  Everything about myself, everything that makes me me.  I don't need some quirky creative title because I know that a year down the road, I'll move on from it.  Sarah, however, will always be me and even if I change as a person, my name will still be Sarah and that's why from today forward, this blog is now Sarah.  The blog itself is nowhere close to being done.  It still has it's flaws that I am trying to perfect, but it will always be Sarah.
     I have discovered over the last months that designing a blog on your own, is (excuse the language) a complete bitch.  I had nights where I wanted to yank my hair out!  The codes, the planning, the tiny details were overwhelming!  I have the picture of what I want my blog to one day look like in my head but it's not quite there yet.  It's going to take awhile but I am looking forward to the experience.  This blog has truly been an adventure for me.  Phew.

P.S.  I have missed you guys!

Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

  //  Alabama, Arkansas, 

I do love my Ma and Pa

Not the way I do love you \\

//  Well, holy moly me oh my

You're the apple of my eye

Girl, I've never loved one like you \\

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

     Returning to school tomorrow does not put a smile on my face but this song will always brighten my mood.  

     This song sweeps me off to a life where I'm on a never ending road trip with a man and his guitar.  The windows are rolled down of an old vintage car and the wind is blowing through my hair.  I'm laughing, tanned from the never dying sun while I wear a bright smile on my face underneath a rather lovely floppy sun hat.  It's carefree and perfect.  Mmmmm...how I do love this song... <3 

Goals of Reading for 2k15

     

At the beginning of every year, I would give myself a reading goal.  I've been doing this for years and every year, I fall behind and try to read as many books as possible in a short period to catch up.    
     Towards the end of 2014, I discarded my goal.  I realized that I wasn't enjoying reading as I should have.  Instead,  I was only caring about the number of books I have read and the books I had yet to read before the year ended.

     This year, I'm going to do something different.  It will expand my boundaries of reading and open my mind to new genres.

(Feel free to try it out for yourself!)

I will read...

• A book with more than 500 pages
• A classic romance
• A book that became a movie
• A book published this year
• A book with a number in the title
• A book written by someone under 30
• A book with nonhuman characters
• A funny book
• A book by a female author
• A mystery or thriller
• A book with a one-word title
• A book of short stories
• A book set in a different country
• A nonfiction book
• A popular author's first book
• A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet
• A book a friend recommended to you
• A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
• A book based on a true story
• A book at the bottom of your to-read list
• A book your mom loves
• A book that scared you
• A book more than 100 years old
• A book based on its cover
• A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
• A memoir
• A book you can finish in a day
• A book with antonyms in the title
• A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
• A book that came out the year you were born
• A book with bad reviews
• A trilogy
• A book from your childhood
• A book with a love triangle
• A book set in the future
• A book set in high school
• A book with a color in the title
• A book that made you cry
• A book with magic
• A graphic novel
• A book by an author you've never read before
• A book you own but never read
• A book that takes place in your hometown
• A book that was originally written in a different language
• A book set during Christmas
• A book written by an author with your same initials 
• A play
• A banned book
• A book based on or turned into a TV show
• A book you started but never finished
• A new-adult book

That's A Wrap || Here's To A New Beginning

      Here I am, back at my annual "Happy New Year!" post where I recap all the fun things I have achieved...

      Except this time I am not going to do that.  Don't get me wrong, I had a blast! But yesterday while I was watching the ball drop in Time's Square (on TV), excitement was exploding within me. I was more than ready to take on 2015 and leave 2014.  That's what I'm doing now...leaving it in the past.

So that's a wrap! Cheers to 2014 and here's to a new beginning:

     This year, I plan on making it an epic adventure of pure happiness and conquered resolutions.  I want to look back at the end of 2015 and say "Yes, Sarah, you did it!" This however, NEVER happens.  In desperate need of change to change this flaw, I'm taking a new take on my resolutions.

-----------------------------------------------------------

My Goals for 2k15

1.  Schedule my time.  I'm a procrastinator in everything which does not help anything.  Less being dormant in my room and more crafting, reading, writing, blogging, exercising, and social time.  

2.  Live and thrive in the moment.  Don't think about yesterday. Don't think about tomorrow. Think about today. Think about right now! My mom constantly reminds me to live in the moment and it's harder than it sounds.

3.  Be confident at all costs.  Confidence has always been something I've struggled with.  My little weakness in life that bloody devil.  I will stand up straight, shoulders back, chin up, and dominate the world.  Just kidding, that's a little extreme.

4.  Eat healthier.  No, junk food, no gluten.  I've actually been doing very well with this for the last two years.  I've been on a gluten-free diet for health issues.  Maybe I'll write about it sometime?

5.  Exercise daily.  Jump roping, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.  BUT if I'm busy and don't have time, I at least have to do one push-up or something.  I don't want to challenge myself too much and end up quitting.  I've gotten into the routine once but then quit.  I felt so good about myself within that month and I miss it!

6.  Drink lots of water.  Because when was water not healthy or good for your body?

7.  BE MORE SOCIAL.  I think this is the biggest thing on my list.  I've gotten into the routine of staying at home every weekend.  It just takes too much time to look presentableeee! I need to constantly remind myself that I won't look back and remember the nights when I got a lot of sleep. Go, Sarah! Go be a social butterfly!

8.  Do crazy things and write about my experience.  My longing to go on adventures has only increased in the last year.  I'll see more places and learn new things this year! How exciting! 

9.  "Start over" with my blog.  New title, new design type of thing.  I love the title I have now, but I'm just not feeling it anymore.

10.  Write a blog post everyday.  Unless I have a great excuse!  I've been wanting to blog more for years.  I'm making it happen this year!

11.  Write in a journal/diary everyday.  Once again, something I've always wanted to do but could never finish.  Writing will make me a better writer and a better writer makes a happier me!  Also, I think I've just been watching too much of The Vampire Diaries. I love their journaling ways.

12.  Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years.  I've had this on my bucket list for a few years.  I'm getting to that point where I really want to do it and cross it off the list.

13.  Leave a note in a library book.  I am so excited to do this.  I'll get a book from my library, I'll read it, I'll love it, and then I'll write a sweet little note to (gently) tape inside.

14.  Organize my story (book).  I have had the same story in the my head for three years and it just keeps on growing.  My mind is going to explode pretty soon if I'm don't write down EVERY idea and outline EVERYTHING.

15.  Make a dream catcher.  I want to expand my artsy skills this year.  What better thing to do than make my own dream catcher to hang over my bed?

16.  Spend a day devoted to reading.  The entire day from sun up, to sun down.  Should be interesting.

17.  Read The Lord of the Rings series.  I don't have the words to explain how dissapointed  I am in myself for not reading The Lord of the Rings yet.  I've been watching the movies since before middle school, my family is obsessed with it, I AM obsessed with it, and yet I still haven't read the complete series!

18.  Start a YouTube channel.  Hmmm...how long have I been wanting to do thing?  Lost track.  Shame, shame, shame.

19.  Watch a sunrise.  It's going to be beautiful but I am dreading to wake up that early. 

20. Paint the sunrise.  Because why not?

21.  Watch the sunset.  It'll be even more beautiful because I won't have to wake up early.

22.  Paint the sunset.  Once again, why not?

23.  Make a perfect cupcake.  I hate doing anything that involves being in the kitchen but at least I get to eat it afterwards!  

24.  Build a snowman with my best friend.  Might as well have something to do that's fun to do in that nasty cold puffy white stuff.

26.  Finish my Wreck This Journal.  It's going to give me anxiety but I believe in myself to get through it.

27.  Do my own version of Van Gogh's Starry Night.  A healthy challenge I imagine. 

28.   Knit something.  Nothing better than a warm hat to get you through the miserable cold!

29.  Learn how to play chess.  Chess.  I've always questioned it.

30.  Create my Harry Potter wand.  Guys.  Girls.  Everybody.  I read Harry Potter this past year.  My life is changed.

31.  Paint a painting I'm impressed with on a canvas.  I have an idea I want to paint SO bad.

32.  Learn graffiti.  Am I the only one who sees the beauty in it?

33.  Learn to play the guitar.  The poor guitar in the corner of my bedroom deserves to be played.

34.  Rock red lipstick for a day (or more).  Taylor Swift has inspired me to give it a shot!  I bought a tube this summer but I still had braces so I looked like I was a wanna-be-grownup five year old.

35.  Buy a floppy hat.  I am aware how random this is but I want one so bad, girls!

36.  Tye dye.  If you haven't tye-dyed, you haven't lived.

37.  Get a tan tatoo.  I'll have to wait until spring for this one.  So. Far. Away.

38.  Stargaze for hours.  If only I could do it while holding Calum Hood's hand.

39.  Ride horses ALL DAY.  My best friend has horses and how cool would it be to wake up early in the morning, pack a lunch, and ride for miles?

40.  Get a pet fish again.  I miss those lively creatures swimming in circles on my bedroom dresser.

41.  Continue to add to my New Year Resolution throughout the year.  I don't have to think of everything in one day.  I'll add to it as I go.

----------------------------------------------------------

What do you want to accomplish this year?

Mind Tricks

was this taken from above or from ground level?

+++

Be careful not to mess with the balance of things, because everything is not as it seems. 

+++

trickery.

Homecoming Confessions

     What is the truth about high school homecoming?  Is it as overrated as everyone says? The answer is a thick and solid YES!  Now don't get me wrong, I had a blast! It was quite magical actually...but the thought of it was much more enjoyable.  You might be asking how I know this?  Well, this year I took the advantage of going and I wanted to see if the rumors were true myself.  They were.  Now stay with me hear as I tell this so called "fairytale".

     The day begins with the busy rushing of hair being curled and faces turned into canvases for another artist.  The stress begins kicking in an hour before you're due to be at your friend's house for pictures when you realize you're not in your dress or heels yet (not counting the outfit you have yet to put together for the after-homecoming party).  A half an hour later, you find yourself being dragged in front of a bush/tree to take those awkward "model-status" pictures for your mom and grandma.  Finally, you make your way to your friend's house only to realize that driving in 3 inch heels is a major struggle.  Don't worry, you make it to your friend's house alive. If you're like me, your friends will all have dates...except you.  Ya, I was forced to take pictures with the guy who my friends wanted me to go as date with for the last two months.  His mom was also there taking pictures and made us feel even more awkward with her comments.  Eleventh wheeling like bosses?  That's exactly what we did.  We just sorta went with it.

  

     After pictures, the class dinner is attended.  I arrived to realize they had lasagna as the main course.  Yummy, right?  Yeah, not when you're allergic to tomatoes.  So I starved.  Then FINALLY the dance!!!...I'm gonna switch to first person here...I walk into the high school gym only to realize I have no idea where my friends are and it's so dark, I can't see my hand in front of me.  I found them eventually.  I also came to realization that my town really is tiny.  Our only high school had enough students to cover maybe a 1/4 of the basketball court?  Now we come to the point where the dancing comes in.  I've heard dozens of times that it mostly is people grinding on each other like a bunch of nasties.  Partial lie?  I think so.  Now you're probably saying, "Sarah, that doesn't sound that bad!"  You're wrong!  The answer is: FRESHMEN!  I finally know why high schoolers hate them so much (no offence if you're a freshman!).  While everybody was having a great time in a giant mosh pit dancing to Anaconda, the freshmen boys thought it would be "funny" if they'd charge at the giant scramble of people and knock everybody off balance.  This went on ALL night!  I was bruised, sweating, getting my hair stuck in people armpitts and between shoulders (I went to homecoming with around fifteen bobbypins and came back with four. FOUR!), and I nearly almost lost my shoe!  It. Was. So. Frustrating.  Also, because of these immature stupid-heads, half of the students left before it ended because it got so annoying.  Fun fun! 

     Now I'm not telling you to not go if you have the chance.  I did have a blast!  It was overrated but it was still fun!  I'm already planning on going next year, actually (giving it a second chance).  Go ladies!  Just go!  You may not enjoy it but at least you can cross it off your Bucket List and tell stories about it to your children and grandchildren when you're old!  You won't regret it completely, I promise!

P.S.

Dress:  Macy's - Sales rack for $14

Jacket I only wore for five minutes:  Kohls - I have no idea

Shoes:  Morning Glory - $12

Earrings:  Claire's - $8?

   xoxo,                    

Sarah