April 30, 2014- Natural Talents

List your natural talents - as many as you like.

Some of my natural talents are:

Caring- One of my favorite things about myself is that I truly care about others.

Writing- Something I have always been told I do well.

Organized- I'm board line OCD and full on Type A. I go crazy if I'm not organized.

Dancer- I'm not the best dancer in the world, but I can always find a beat.

Smart- I think I'm fairly intelligent. I always did get good grades in school without too much effort.

Good Memory- I've been blessed with a visual memory so as long as I see it or right it down, I won't forget it.

Fashionable- I guess fashion is in the eye of the beholder, but I can definitely put an outfit together.

Music Knowledge- I know the words to A LOT of songs, and can figure out which song it is within a few chords.

April 29, 2014- Character

If you could be a character, who would you be? It can be from a film, a novel, a song or play. From anywhere you like.

If I could be any character I'm not sure which one I would want to be, but I know which story I wish would be real life. I would love to live in a world like the one created in the Harry Potter series. I would love the chance to be a witch and go to school at Hogwarts. Knowing me I would be a lot like Hermione Granger because I do love school, but I would not be a know it all like her character is.

I would probably try out for the popular sport in the series called quidditch, but I probably wouldn't make it because I'm very tiny and it is a very physical game. I would probably be very interested in taking classes like history of magic, transfiguration, care of magical creatures, apparition, and charms. I have even taken a quiz and the house that I would most likely be placed in is Gryffindor. 

I think the reason why I would want to be a character in that world is because to my knowledge, it doesn't exist (in the Harry Potter series the magical world is completely hidden, maybe it's like that in real life? Wink, Wink, Hope, Hope, Haha). Every time I read those books or watch those movies I get lost in that world. It is so entertaining, and even though a lot of terrible things happen throughout the story, it seems like so much fun.It makes me want to live in it, even if it's just for a day.

April 28, 2014- Up In the Clouds

When you look up at the clouds, what do you see? You can respond to this literally or metaphorically. Be inspired by your answer.

I actually really love clouds. There was a period when my room was decorated with clouds. My favorite kind are the super fluffy ones after it rains. For whatever reason this is the time when the clouds seem the whitest and the sky the bluest. 

Whenever I look up at the clouds I think of angels and Greek gods. I think it's because we see images of angels in the clouds all the time. The two often go hand in hand. Also, whenever you see the Greek gods depict iced in entertainment, they are living atop the clouds. So whenever I look up at the clouds, I picture angels and Greek gods living up there, watching us on Earth.

April 27, 2014- Because I'm Happy

What's a simple way to feel happy? Do you use it often enough?

For me there is a few ways that I feel happy. For me, the things that make me happy are: hanging out with my family, listening to music, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, playing with my dog, shopping, spending some alone time, and going to church.

For me, I use at least one of these methods every day. I make sure to do something every day that makes me happy. Even on my bad days, I make an effort to do at least one thing I enjoy each day. I do it because I like being happy.

April 26, 2014- My Street

Finish this sentence: When you walk down my street you see…

When you walk down my street you see lots of cars. Walking DOWN my street there is not a lot going on. I live in the second house on my street, so there isn't much between my house and the end of my street. A lot of the homes on my street have multiple drivers living there, and with only 2 car garages where I live there is not space to hold all those vehicles. 

Also when you walk down my street you see one of the main roads to get out of the housing track/area I live in. Unfortunately if there was ever an emergency and we had to be evacuated, it could be a mess. There is only one way in, and that is also the only way out. This street is fairly busy so you would see a lot of cars up and down it.

Walking down my street you would all see a lot of flowers. Roses to be exact. A lot of my neighbors have very pretty gardens, and with it being Spring they are in full bloom. You also will see kids on their bikes and scooters. There are a lot of kids in my neighborhood, as well as dogs, so you will definitely see that. 

It's not too exciting, but I definitely like where I live. It's home.

April 25, 2014- Balance

What does balance mean to you? Have you achieved it?

Balance is defined as, "an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady," or, "keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall," or "mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc." Based on these definitions as well as what I have gone through recently I have come up with my own definition of balance.

Balance is:

When all things are stable and even. When in balance ones mental, physical, emotional, and mental state or all steady and even. Balance is when all aspects are equal, making it hard to fall fully.

For me, I am definitely more balanced than I have been the last few years. My life is definitely more balanced. I have a steady schedule and a good routine, which makes it easier to have all aspects of my life on an even field. My mental state is better than it has been, but I feel like there is still work that can be done. Same goes for my physical state. I have become better about eating and exercise, but I'm not at the level I want to be. My emotional state is probably the best it has been in years. No longer am I crying at the drop of a hat nor am I completely empty feeling. My spiritual state is the strongest it's been in years. It is also the place that the most growth can still happen. I feel like there are still opportunities to fall because that is what life is. It is full of ups and downs. I know though when I fall next, it won't be as deep as it was.

So yes, I do feel balanced compared to a few years ago. However, with life always changing and there always room for growth, I don't know if we can ever be fully balanced.

April 24, 2014- Song Lyrics

List three songs you know the entire lyrics to.

Here are 3 songs I know the entire words to:

1.) Happy Birthday

2.) "Home" by Phillip Phillips

3.) "Sparks Fly" by Taylor Swift

April 23, 2014- Confession

Write a confession. It can be a true confession or a fictional one…

My confession is that sometimes I worry that I will have issues with anxiety and depression again in the future. For me, I sometimes look at it as something similar to having a substance problem. Making the effort to change and not go back to my old, negative, sad, worried ways is something that I constantly need to work on. It is something that is now apart of my story and something I carry with me every day.  I think overtime it will not even be something I think about and will seem like a lifetime ago. For now though, it is still fresh.

Those 2years were terrible and I don't want to go back to it. That want to keep moving forward comes with the fear of taking a step back. I know deep down that if it does happen again it will not be as bad. The worst part was not knowing or understanding what was going on and how to get out of it. Now with my skills I have learned I believe it won't be as bad IF it every comes back. It doesn't completely rid me of fear though.

April 22, 2014- Color

Fill this page with color. However you like and whatever colors you like. Let it be a mood palette for how you feel at this exact moment.

April 21, 2014- Sick

Not feeling too great tonight. I'm a little achy, very nausea, and my stomach hurts. Hopefully it's something I ate and not that I'm getting sick. Either way, I'm not in the mood to write any more than this.

April 20, 2014- I Miss

What do you miss? Is it a consistent thought or does it fade away then drift into your consciousness when you have space to think?

I don't think about this often, just from time to time. The thing I miss is being a teenager. Things were so much simpler then. Sure at the time it didn't feel that way. Growing up was hard work and there definitely were tough things we had to deal with. However, I would love to be in high school again. Not because it was particularly fun, but because I had so few things to worry about. Paying bills, health scares, aging parents, providing for a family, etc. These are all things that growing up causes us to deal with. 

Now don't get me wrong, I love being an adult. The freedom of knowing who you are, being able to provide for yourself, not having a curfew, etc. These things I would not want to give back. It would be nice every now and then though to be free from huge responsibilities and have my biggest worry be if I will do well on my math test. 

April 19, 2014- Internet Down

For some reason the internet is not working so I can't get access to the question of the day. Better luck tomorrow.

April 18, 2014- Diet Coke

My weakness is... Finish this sentence.

My weakness is Diet Coke. I know it's bad for me, but I can't help it. I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't do drugs. So after a long day, or a stressful day, all I want to do is come home and have a Diet Coke. One day I hope to kick the weakness but right now, just writing this, I want one.

April 17, 2014- Guilty Pleasure

My guilty pleasure is... Finish this sentence.

My guilty pleasure is trashy celebrity gossip magazines and trashy reality television. I don't know why, but I LOVE it!!

April 16, 2014- Favorite Planet

Draw your favorite planet. Let it inspire you to reach beyond limits in all that you do.

My favorite planet is Neptune. One reason is because it is such a pretty blue color and since blue is one of my favorite colors, I am drawn to it. The other reason Neptune is my favorite is because Greek mythology is a love of mine. Neptune was the Roman name for the Greek God Poseidon. Poseidon is the God of the sea and since my favorite place in the world is the beach I can appreciate the sea. Also, my favorite movie as a child was The Little Mermaid, and Ariel's dad King Triton is based off the story of Poseidon.  

Neptune

April 15, 2014- The Best In Me

Who brings out the best in you? Why do you think that is? Do you bring out the best in them?

The one that brings out the best in me is my dog, Tyson. When I am with him it's almost impossible for me to be sad. I seem to always be happy and caring when he is around. I absolutely love him as if he was my own child. He teaches me the importance of helping another living being because it's me who he depends solely on for survival. He has taught me patience, understanding, and unconditional love. I am defiantly better off by having him, a dog, in my life.

I think the reason why he brings out the best in me is because he loves me unconditionally as well. He was there for me when I was going through my dark times. He was a comfort who I never had to worry about judging me. He helped me as much as I help him.

I would like to think I bring out the best in him. I give him praise and discipline. I play with him as much as possible and give him as much attention as I can. I feel like I am the one he listens to the most. To me, when I am with him I feel like he is the best dog he can be.

April 14, 2014- Photo I Love

Find a photo that you love of anything at all. Stick this in for today's journal entry.

These photographic points are moments of color and reflection when you look back through your journal at the end of the year.

Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, CA

April 13, 2014- Oops!

Yesterday was the first day in over a year I did not write a blog post. I was in Sacramento this weekend with my Mom visiting her best friend. We were busy going to wineries, catching up, cooking, and watching movies, that I completely forgot to write something. Then today, there was a huge accident that our 5 1/2 hour drive turned into almost 8 hours to get home. Needless to say, tomorrow I will be back on track.

April 11, 2014- Care About….

People should care about... Finish this sentence and think about your answer.

People should care about each other more. There is something to the old saying, "Treat others how you want to be treated." I think if we all did this a little more there would be more acceptance, more understanding, and more love. 

April 10, 2014- Soundtrack To My Life

If you could make a soundtrack to your life, what songs would be on it and why?

Music is such a huge part of my life, it would be very hard to pick which songs would be on my life soundtrack. I will try my best, but I bet the majority will simply be some of my favorite songs.

Acceptance- "Different" (One of the first bands my brother and I saw together who was part of the emo genre)

The Beatles- "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" (I remember singing this song in music class in elementary school)

Adele- "Rolling in the Deep" (This song was on the soundtrack for the I Am Number Four movie, which is part of a book series I like) 

All Time Low- "Weightless" (I have had the privilege of hanging out with these guys and having them fulfill some of my bucket list wishes like being on a tour bus and standing side stage at a concert)

Anna Kendrick- "Cups (When I'm Gone)" (The song from one of my favorite movies ever, Pitch Perfect)

Ashlee Simpson- "Pieces of Me" (I remember watching the show that followed the making of this CD with my best friend in high school) 

The Audition- " Warm Me Up" (This song was on many playlists when I worked at the clothing store Tilly's)

Avicii- "Wake Me Up" (One of my favorite songs right now)

Avril Lavigne- "Why" (One of the first concerts I went to was Avril Lavigne)

The Band Perry- "Done." (One of my favorite bands I've seen live)

The Beach Boys- "Surfin USA" (I remember listening to The Beach Boys as a kid in the car with my mom)

Blake Shelton- "Honey Bee" (I can't wait to go see him this summer with my dad)

Brand New- "Jude Law and a Semester abroad" (One of my favorite bands as a teenager)

Britney Spears- "Baby One More Time" (The first dance I did in dance class in junior high was to this song)

Bruno Mars- "Just The Way You Are" (I really want to see him live)

Carly Rae Jepsen- "Call me Maybe" (Just because it's so darn catchy)

Cartel- "Lose It" (I remember seeing them t at one of my first Warped Tour concerts)

Colbie Caillat- "I Never Told You" (One of my favorite artists)

David Gray- "Please Forgive Me" (I think of Twilight, one of my favorite book series, every time I hear this song)

A Day To Remember- "You Had Me at Hello" (Saw this band many times with my brother)

The Little Mermaid- "Kiss the Girl" (My favorite Disney movie)

Ed Sheeran- "Kiss me" (One of my favorite performers I've seen)

Fall Out Boy- "Grand Theft Autumn/Where is Your Boy" (One of my favorite bands as a teenager) 

Gavin Degraw- "I Don't Wanna Be" (The theme song to one of my favorite shows growing up, One Tree Hill)

The Jonas Brothers- "S.O.S" (I took my niece to her first concert to see them)

Justin Timberlake- "Cry Me a River" (My favorite male singer, EVER)

Kesha- "Tick Tok" (This song played a lot when I worked at Hollister)

Kid Cudi- "Pursuit of Happiness" (One of the only rappers I like)

The Maine- "I Must Be Dreaming" (They were on the record label I interned at)

New Found Glory-" Hit or Miss" (My favorite song ever)

Nsync- "Tearin Up My Heart" (My first concert was to see them)

One Republic-" Come Home" (The singer, Ryan Tedder, I think is one of the best song writers out right now)

Parachute- "She Is Love" (One band on my must see list)

Paramore- "Emergency" (One of my favorite girl fronted bands)

Paula Abdul-" Opposites Attract" (The first cassette tape I ever bought was Paula Abdul)

Senses Fail-" Buried A Lie" (I have seen this band live more than any other band)

Shania Twain-" Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" (The first country artist I ever liked)

Simple Plan-"I'd Do Anything" (They are from where my mom's side of the family is from, Montreal, Canada)

The Summer Set- "Someone Like you" ( I listened to them a lot while I was going through my anxiety issues to help me through it)

Taylor Swift- "Sparks Fly" (My favorite female singer, EVER) 

Tim McGraw-" Something Like That" (The first country artist I ever saw live)

April 9, 2014- Favorite Books

What is your favorite book? Why? Is it certain characters you're drawn to, the plot or just the way it is written?

I have two favorite books and they are both part of a series. The series that they belong to are the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series. My favorite books from these series are Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (closely followed by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), and in the Twilight series my favorite was Breaking Dawn (closely followed by Twilight). For me, my favorite part about both these books, and series in general, are they way they are written. I definitely do like the characters and the plot because without them the books would not be the same, but it was the way the author has written them that I like the most. The authors were able to write in a way that when the chapter was over you HAD to know what happened next and you HAD to keep reading. 

I also really like these series of books because they helped me to form connections with my family. The Harry Potter series is one that myself, my brothers, my sister-in-law, and my nieces have all read and all seen all the movies. It is one thing we all have in common. The same thing goes for the Twilight series. It was the thing that first brought me and my sister-in-law together and was the start of our extremely close relationship. It is this reason, bringing me closer to my family, that has made these books become my favorite.

April 8, 2014- Easter Traditions

What does Easter mean to you? Do you have any Easter traditions?

As a kid growing up Easter meant gifts, candy, egg hunts, and money. We also always have ham on Easter, so I always put Easter and ham dinner in the same category. As I have become older and as I have become more involved and learning about Christianity, Easter means redemption. It is the day we celebrate Jesus coming back to life to show us that through Him we can have eternal life. For me now, Easter is the time I get together with family to celebrate the sacrifice that was made for us.

When I was a kid we would always  have the tradition of going to close family friends homes during the holiday. It was always so fun because there was a bunch of kids, yummy food, and a good time. As I have become older that tradition has faded. However, with my older brother now being married and having kids Easter means spending it with them. That is my tradition now.

April 7, 2014- Cooking Show

What do you love to cook? Is it fun to make or is it simply delicious? You can add in the recipe too if you like.

I actually do not love to cook. I have been spoiled with growing up with a mom who not only liked to cook, but who was amazing at it. Another reason I don't love to cook is because I have a fear of raw meat. I can't touch it. It grosses me out and turns my stomach. I will eat meat, but I just can't touch it to prepare it.

Now it's not like I have never cooked before. I have helped my mom during Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as the occasional party, but I definitely wish I cooked more. It some times makes me wonder what it will be like when I move out. I'm sure while at home I will mostly be eating a vegetarian diet and I'll have to get my meat when I eat out or go to my parents. 

If I had to make a meal right now, it would be pasta of some sort and salad. I would make noodles of any kind and probably use tomato sauce from a jar (I might mix in some cheese sauce as well). I would take lettuce from my vegetable garden, add some cheese and courtons, and pick a dressing I was in the mood for. For me this is the easiest, quickest, and filling meal to make.

April 6, 2014- Time

If you had more time, what would you do with it?

If I had more time it would be simple: I would spend more time with my loved ones; My family and my closest friends. I would love to rent a huge house for everyone in a tropical location and take awhile to just enjoy each others company. 

I would also love to have time to just travel. I would love to take a year off work and not have to worry about anything but discovering the amazing things this world has to offer. 

If time was no object I would relax, make lots of memories, and soak up as much as life has to offer.

April 5, 2014- Raincheck 2

So our family emergency has turned out alright. Not the perfect ending, but definitely a good one. A lot of emotions and a lot of stress and worry. Tomorrow hopefully things will be back to normal. Thanks for all the prayers, positive thoughts, and good vibes. 

April 4, 2014- Raincheck

Today my family and I had a family emergency. I think it's more important for me to focus on that instead. So if you pray, pray for us. If you think positive thoughts, think positive thoughts for us. If you send good vibes, send good vibes for us. 

April 3, 2014- Autumn

Find a photo that represents Autumn to you and stick it in your journal for today's entry.

"Fall has always been my favorite season. The when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale." -Lauren DeStefano

This photo was taken in a pumpkin field in Montreal, Canada in October of 2010. I have been to Canada in every season but Spring. So far, Autumn has been my favorite.

April 2, 2014- Goal for April

My goal for this month is... Write about your goals for the upcoming month and prioritise the most important one.

When I actually have to sit down and think about my most important goal for April I get a little stumped. Probably the easiest way is to break it down into categories and figure out what my most important goal is for each category.

WORK:

1.) I want to finally feel caught up with all my tasks.

2.) I want to get the customer files a little more organized. 

3.) I want to work on perfecting my overall communication skills to make sure projects continue to flow smoothly.

FAMILY:

1.) I want to spend an afternoon hanging out with my younger brother.

2.) I want to take Tyson all the way to the bottom of our street and back.

3.) I want to have a family dinner with everyone- mom, dad, brothers, sister-in-law, and nieces.

FRIENDS: 

1.) I want to do something other than just dinner with my closest girlfriends.

2.) I want to hangout with a friend I haven't in awhile.

3.) I want to learn something new about a friend.

PERSONAL:

1.) I want to get through my current level of my 5K training.

2.) I want to get my hair done.

3.) I want to finish the book I am currently on in my Bible.