Columbus, Ohio || June 2016

      So I have this fantastic aunt who lives in Columbus.  She lives in a small house with few rooms and it's decorated in a way that makes one feel like he/her is walking into a New York City loft.  It's paradise and because of this, I visit her as often as possible.  With every visit, she shows me new places she has discovered and new restaurants worth eating at.  We go on adventures throughout the day and in the late evening we sit on her couch, drink water out of wine glasses, and catch up on each other's lives.  Like I said before, Columbus with her is my favorite. 

     Now being that I'm almost 18 now, my mom finally let me drive to Columbus without her and I decided to bring my best friend along with me.  I've been wanting to show Rita the magic of Aunt Sheri's for ages now and the opportunity finally arrived so we ceased it!

Day One: Rita and I arrived in Columbus at 8pm.  We met up with Sheri at Jeni's Ice Cream.  (Highly suggested if you ever visit Columbus.  Tell the people behind the counter that you're new and try as many flavors as possible!)  Sheri then took us to the Field of Corn in Dublin.  One hundred and nine ears of random cement corn...it's quite an odd sight to see!

     Day Two:  Sheri made us the most delicious breakfast I have EVER tasted.  Rita and I got our eyebrows threaded which let me tell ya...it's painful, it's an experience, and it's worth it!  My eyebrows have never felt nor looked so good!  Just before my eyebrows were "miracle-ized", the old woman plopped me into the chair and in a thick Hispanic accent said, "Oooo, very bushy."  Ha!  Not anymore!

     Rita and I went shopping, we returned to Sheri's, and then all three of us went out to eat sushi.  Sushi is what I like to tell people, "The food God himself secretly made on the seventh day" because it's just that good.  I seriously love sushi.  Being that my best friend had never tried it and had listened to me for years rant about it's incredible flavor, she just had to try sushi!  She liked it...or so we thought...her hilarious quote after our large sushi meal was " I think I liked it less and less the more I had it."  Yes, she is still my best friend even though she does not like sushi.

     After sushi, we strolled through downtown Columbus.  It was a Friday night, it was Gay Pride weekend, and the streets were packed but I have found that I actually love crowds.  We browsed the few cute shops that were open and then just walked and walked and walked.  Para-para-paradise.

   Day Three:  The three of us woke up early, slipped into a pair of crazy patterned yoga pants and did what yoga pants are made for:  yoga.  In Old Hilliard, there's a free for all yoga class every Saturday at 8am.  The second hilarious quote from Rita was "My body probably liked it but I didn't like it."  

     Then we got a smoothie bowl from a small juice shop.  It was delicious!  From there we went to the Topiary Park to see just how cool the parks recreation of "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" really was.  It was interesting but now worth making a trip out there to see just that.       Sheri took us to German Village as well.  We walked through the Book Loft, ate macaroons, and devoured the most scrumptious gluten free pizza.  

     The time eventually came for Rita and I to return home to our quiet little country lives.  My least favorite part of traveling.

Until next time, Columbus!

Dream big, Darlings!

My Job 01 - Librarian

     Being the excessive book reader that I am, it's always been a goal of mine to experience being employed by the library and to be labeled as an official "librarian".  It's an extremely nerdy thing to say but let's be honest, what reader wouldn't want to be surrounded by hundreds of books while getting paid?  Exactly.

      I've always been fond of the idea of having a large variety of jobs under my belt to one day help me realize what type of job I'd like to turn into a career.  In other words, I'm definitely not planning on working here forever but as of now, I'm still working at the library.  And I shall tell you about that wild place...

    

     So here we are in 2016 where for a small segment of my life, I was a librarian. 

     Whereas most libraries are known for being quiet and reserved, my local library is known for being somewhat of a social gathering place for everyone (including the occasional dog).  It's awesome to watch the children beg their parents to let them stay a little longer and to see the adults run into an old friend while pouring over the books on a shelf.  Sometimes they gossip about the locals and sometimes they laugh and revisit old memories.  Of course, we have the newbies come in every now and then.  They whisper and smile softly and there's always a part of me that wants to tell them that they don't have to do that here.  The regulars are the best.  Most of them are over 50 years of age.  They complain how they don't remember which books they've read or have not read because they've read so many, and they always make a comment on how unusually quiet the library is on the days when it's too nice outside for many people to stop by. 

     I also have the best boss ever (although I haven't had many bosses at all but she's still the coolest).  Her name's Becky.  She's always laughing, always smiling, friends with everybody, always has a funny story to tell, and has once randomly surprised me with a pair of fuzzy socks and a hug.  Like I said, she's the BEST! 

     Becky also told me in a joking manner that I can't leave her until I graduate so I'll be "Sarah The Librarian" for another year or so which I honestly don't mind!  It's a fun place and a fun job (I also no longer have to pay fines for my overdue items which is a Godsend)!  In my time working there, I've realized it's not something I could do for more than a few years, but it's an experience and I am beyond grateful for it.  Oh, and if it's a really slow day at work, I get to sit down and read...how fantastic is that?! :)

If you have a job, what is it and do you like it?  I'm curious!  :)

Dream big, Darlings!

Summer Bucket List of 2016

LET'S SCREAM AND SHOUT BECAUSE OH MY GOSH IT'S SUMMER!

     It has become a tradition of mine to every summer put together a list of spontaneous to-do's.  It's in an attempt to never have a day of boredom and to always have infinite memories to one day smile back on.  It's a cheery little challenge to cross off every item on the list while convincing as many friends as possible to join me for the ride.  I think it's beautiful.

(You can read what happened last year...here ...here...and...here)

*drum roll please*

The Summer Bucket List of 2016!

Do something that scares me

Tie dye

Go hiking

Grow an avocado tree

Fly a kite

Ride horses and make an adventure out of it

Make butter beer

Go to an amusement park

Sneak out

Go stargazing

Read a book a day for a week

Watch a really scary movie

Go to the drive-in movies

Watch the sun set

Watch the sunrise

Go to a baseball game

Play tennis 

Finger paint on a canvas

Paint with balloon darts

Pull an all-nighter

Chalk up an entire driveway

Send a YouTuber mail

Slip-n-slide

Go fishing

Break a law

Watch The Lord of the Rings movies

Go skinny dipping

See a shooting star

Spend an entire day with my little brother

Have a campfire

Watch the Harry Potter movies

Dance under the stars

Go camping

Turn 18

Give out 100 compliments

Go to a midnight premiere

Catch fireflies

Go putt-putt golfing

Go an entire day without technology

Send my best friend a card on her birthday

Take a picture everyday

Make caramel apples

Go kayaking

Go on an adventure in Indiana

- James Dean

- World's largest paint ball

- Giant indian

- Giant ice cream man

Go to the highest point in my state

Go to the Ohio Caverns

Go on an adventure in Kentucky

Eat KFC with Colonel Sanders

Go to a museum

Explore the town next door

Bike on the Ohio and Erie Canal

Flip a penny at every turn, get lost

Make herbal lemonade

Play baseball

Go to the zoo

Go canoeing

Ride a tandem bike

Go Geocaching

Eat an entire pizza

Go to Ikea with my best friend

Steal something

Go to Tawawa Park

Go paddleboarding

"What happened last night?"

Leave a note in a library book

Dance with a complete stranger

Share some secrets in the dark

Visit my fantastic relative

BE SPONTANEOUS

If you're interested in creating your own summer bucket list, here's some tips that have helped me connect with my inner creative summertime genius!

Read Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Watch the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Visit the blog Gone With The Summer

Listen to loud music that gives you summer vibes

(I listen to Spotify's playlist "Have a Great Day!" and Twenty One Pilots' Blurryface album)

Look up "Summer bucket lists" on Tumblr

Look up "Summer bucket lists" on Pinterest

Write your list on notebook paper so it's easy to take it on the go

Make a decked out version of your list to hang in your room.

(This year, I wrote mine on black slips of paper with a silver marker.  I'm going to tape them on my wall and every time one is accomplished, the slip will be removed and placed in a scrapbook or taped in my journal.)

Get your friends involved.

(This usually helps you accomplish everything on your list and prevents you from chickening out of anything that makes you step out of your comfort zone.)

And also, I give you permission to steal from my list.  Now go have fun and go wild (while being somewhat realistic) with your list and your summer! <-- I'd LOVE to hear about it!!

Dream big, Darlings!

A Lovely Green Lively Thing

     There's something about a plant that gives me so much joy.  Yes, they're adorable but there's more to it than just that.  It's the happiness that overcomes me when I buy a new plant, the relaxing feeling I get when I watch it drink up water, and the abundant love that overcomes me when I see it blossom and grow.  It's as if it becomes a part of me.  I want to see it thrive in life almost as if it was my own child.  Do I sound like a crazy plant lady yet?  Probably yes!  I will admit to it too!  In my room, I have two peace lilies, four bamboo plants, and one cactus.  My love for them is infinite!

And guess what?!  The purpose of this post is to turn you into a crazy plant lady too! 

 *evil laughter*

Why you should become a crazy plant lady:

It's like having a pet but less work and a child but less everything.  

It's been scientifically proved that plants help people mentally and physically.  They fight bacteria and boost one's mood and self esteem.

I don't have a green thumb and my plants are still living which means that if you don't have a green thumb as well, there is hope for you not being a plant killer!

The majority of them are inexpensive.  Ikea has a fantastic selection of small house plants.  I bought my lucky bamboo and cactus there for each under $3. 

They de-stress your life.

 They give a calming effect to yourself and whichever room they're in.  It's magic.

They're chic and exquisitely eye catching.

They give your room that "Tumblr look".

And my personal favorite...you can creep out your friends and have them question your sanity by giving your plants names and then by introducing your friends to your plants.  (friend's name here), this is my cactus, Stewart Livingston, and this is my peace lily, Baby, and my bamboo plant, Leyla!

They make you happy.

Buy a plant!

+++++

And that, folks, is the end of my you-should-buy-a-plant rant!  If I convinced you, please let me know because it'd make my day! :)

Dream big, Darlings!

Art of Appreciation

     

     

 

"Dwell on the beauty of life.  Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them."

-Marcus Aurelius 

     An elderly, liberal, and art enthusiastic woman named Anne once taught me how to appreciate.  Together on her couch amidst her quaint art filled home, we read books on the lives of the world's most famous artists from Vincent Van Gogh to Roy Litchenstein.  We discussed poetry and its infinite hidden meanings.  She defined the importance of having a broad vocabulary.  She talked about the places and countries she wanted me to visit like the world was small and everything was possible.  Phenomenal woman she is.

     +++++

     Hello, friends!  How are you?  It's been longer than it should have been since last seeing you but in my defense, I've been suffering from major anxiety (which is all new to me), so imagine wanting to post, but your brain keeps telling you that nothing's good enough and you're going to fail.  Oh, yes.  It is as dreadful as it sounds! 

     So as you've read above, I met Anne, this extraordinary retired art teacher, who gave me art lessons for six weeks.  My sessions with her have since ended a few months ago and I've been missing them and her dearly.  Luckily, I have this cool cousin who I share the same interests with.  Kayla and I have made a plan to, in a way, continue from where I left off with Anne.  You're more than welcome to join us!

The plan:  

Choose an artist.

Study their life and art.

Watch a film based off their life if there is one.

Paint at least one painting based off or inspired by the chosen artist.

Discuss.

    +++++

     My time with Anne has changed my perception of many things in my life.  Not once does the thought, Wow, this looks like something I drew when I was five, ever cross my mind anymore when I walk into an art museum.  I actually appreciate poetry too, which is not something I was very good at.  Lastly, words, baby.  I have always loved them but Anne's taught me to use them in public more.  It's actually a very satisfying feeling to see someone stare back at you with a puzzled look because they have no idea what you just said nor what it means.  I'll say it again, join us.  Start at art, move to poetry, and then study a dictionary.  Just kidding, that last one is optional.  

     Just remember, there is the art to create and the art to appreciate.  It makes all the difference.

Dream big, Darlings!

I Once Rode A Mechanical Bull

      One time, I had a wild moment of terror on a turning, bucking, fuzzy piece of mechanical equipment...

     I was standing on the other side of white plastic fence at my local county fair, being entertained by giddy teenage girls, arrogant teenage boys, and drunk 300 lb. men.  I watched them one by one step onto the cushioned platform, straddle the bull, spin faster and faster and faster, and, one by one, get tossed off like they were nothing more than a sack of potatoes.  One rather large man was even flung through the fence!  After that incident, I wasn't at all feeling any strong urges to give the bull a ride myself.

     As life would have it though, my buddy came up to me and dared me to give it a go with him.  I will admit, I very much wanted to talk my way out of the situation but you know that feeling you get when you don't want to do something, but you know you'll regret it later?  Yup, I had one of those moments. So there I found myself waiting in line with a friend beside me.  A lady eventually handed us a pen and a clipboard with a paper on top where we had to mark our signatures.  It stated that we held ourselves responsible to any injuries that could happen during the ride.  Intriguing, right?  From there, K and I slid our gloves on that were given to us at the gate.  We stepped onto the platform, straddled the bull, locked hands, laughed nervously, and felt the object beneath us turn alive.

     Upside down on that thing, it did cross my mind...I'm going to fly off of this thing, snap my neck, and die!...But guess what?!  I didn't die!  In fact, after we fell off, we got a standing ovation!  When I was dizzily making my way to the exit, a little girl even came up to me and said, "THAT WAS AWESOME!"  For the rest of the night, I felt pretty proud of myself.

     No matter how much we might detest it in the moment, when it's over, it almost ALWAYS makes for a good story.  As Eleanor Roosevelt once said,  "Do one thing every day that scares you."  Could you imagine how different our lives would be if we took up the challenge?  We'd be fearless.

Dream big, Darlings!