Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
It's hard. It's insanely hard.
There's no way I can fully describe the way I'm feeling because there are just so many things going on in my brain. I'm trying not to shake as I type this and I'm trying to swallow back tears as I stare at this picture while I write. I thought that I would document this time of my life because I want to remember all of the good times I've had with my buddy. It's not everyday you get to wake up and snuggle next to a furry lug, but these past 12 years have been truly amazing with him. I hope this post can help those of you who have lost their furry friends or who have very old furry friends looking for someone to talk to.
There's no way I can fully describe the way I'm feeling because there are just so many things going on in my brain. I'm trying not to shake as I type this and I'm trying to swallow back tears as I stare at this picture while I write. I thought that I would document this time of my life because I want to remember all of the good times I've had with my buddy. It's not everyday you get to wake up and snuggle next to a furry lug, but these past 12 years have been truly amazing with him. I hope this post can help those of you who have lost their furry friends or who have very old furry friends looking for someone to talk to.
For those of you who are new, my golden retriever, Rigly, has been mentioned a few times on here. He's been with me for so long and we got him back in 2005 when I had just moved into my current home. You don't think that your pet is ever going to leave you until that day without a tail wag, or a bark to welcome you home. I've had some great memories with Rigly and my family; we go on annual camping trips which I have blogged about in the past and he absolutely loved the new scents since he was a very domesticated (and spoiled) city dog. Being in the wilderness was his favorite. My family and I had a secret sand dune that we would watch the sunset on over the lake and we would try to push Rigly up it since dogs aren't made to go up steep, sandy dunes anyway.
Rigly was never a bad dog. We got him from my aunt who lives out in Oregon and she actually brought him over on an airplane, if you could believe it. My family and I decided on getting the "runt" of the litter and wanted the puppy who didn't jump on or bite everybody. In fact, when we first got him, he would immediately hide under a chair. Over the past years, there has never been a time when Rigly has bitten or growled at any of us. He was so protective, yet lazy and tired at the same time. He was my lump. My lug-nut. My loaf. My beached whale. "Poop", my Dad would call him. It's funny because Rigly was so mellow that I would just lay stuff on him for no reason and he would just lie there and not care. But he did care. A lot. About all of us.
I remember Freshman year when I broke my ankle in softball, I would come home from a long day of crutching along and I would plop all my stuff on the floor and lay on the couch. Pitter patters later, came in Rig and he just layed his head on the couch right next to my face. That's when I knew that he knew. There have been many times when Rigly would comfort us. Normally, he would trudge around the living room and hop onto the couch with my mom and just blatantly stare at her--and then lay right on top of her legs. I also remember a time when my dad had a terrible chest cramp and no one was around to notice. Rigly was lying right next to him with his cute box ears and would look worried because he knew that his "master" was not the way he normally is. He was a great dog.
Over the past couple of weeks, we knew that something was up. He had a growing mass near his abdomen and we knew that it wasn't right. Overtime, we just ignored it and was told by the vet that it was just from old age. We enjoyed our time with him, but it got worse when his back legs gave out on him and his mass got even bigger. He was tested and got diagnosed with liver disease. We think he was suffering from liver cancer, but it was too expensive to get surgery on him to fully tell if it was cancer.
His appetite slowed and it got to the point where we were giving him chicken fries from Burger King and chocolate donuts because that's all he literally wanted (and yes chocolate is bad for dogs). He kept drinking, which was good. I couldn't bear to see him starve. From Monday to Friday, he ate nothing. Zip. We couldn't force food into him and stress him out more. It was already painful to see my Dad carry him in and out of the house just to pee.
Sorry I just broke down a little and now I'm cleaning tears off my keyboard. UGH.
He would throw up nonstop and he actually had a couple accidents in our house which made it smell even worse. We had blankets and carpets everywhere to help him get up and sometimes we would just push him across the hardwood floor to move him. His mind was saying something totally different than his body was. He wanted to eat and play, but his body failed him immensely. We thought it was best to put him down and as I'm writing this, my parents are at the vet with him and he's at peace now with his puppy mom and dad.
He lived a very long and happy life. He's been through a lot of good and bad parts of mine. We've experienced a lot with him and I'm giggling at the time when he somehow got out of our house and ran straight across a busy highway and somehow survived because he was the little stinker that he was. Oh god, I hate talking about him in the past tense; he was just here.
I want him to be happy and he made me happy. It was probably one of the kindest things (besides giving him a ton of people food and love lol) that we could have done for him; to release him from his pain and suffering. I will never forget him and I will wait until we meet again. I love you Rigly.
<3
It is almost nearing into spring, and many things are going to happen in the next couple of months. Since, I am a senior in high school, there are loads of events going on and things to plan for. The past couple of days have been very stressful. Let's be honest, not everyday is a bright, shining miracle that we all get to look forward to. I have my very gloomy days, too.
I don't want to go full in detail and just pour myself out there (even though that's the point of having a blog). A few days ago, my precious 12 year old golden retriever, Rigly, became very sick. He is pretty old and has been slowing down a lot; he was recently diagnosed with some type of liver disease that creates excess fluid near his spleen. He's pretty much inflating like a balloon at this point. It has disabled his appetite and he has a lot of trouble moving around due to arthritis in his hind legs. It got very bad really quickly and it was not a fun Saturday.
To cut the vivid details out, he was very sick and held none of the food we had given him. We took him to the vet for the third time and they gave him an anti-nausea shot which helped him keep food down for a while. Due to financial things, paying for a $500 dollar surgery was not really in the question. Every now and then, we get a little glimpse at the old puppy we love when he occasionally wags his tail, but it doesn't (sadly) seem to be brightening up around here. We are determined to keep him as comfortable as we can, but from one dog (or even pet lover) to the next, you can imagine how painful this point might be.
With that on my shoulders, I also have college decisions, graduation plans and invitations to make, extra curriculars, and a ton of school work to handle right now that really isn't all that I want to be doing. It's been emotional, for me, this past weekend and I hope you all understand that I kind of need a week to just chill and not have to worry about writing a half-assed post for this upcoming week. I'm gonna take it slow and hopefully i'll be back next week or the week after with some great things to share with all of you. I wish everybody a great week filled with sunshine and rainbows <3
It's two days after Valentine's Day and is pretty much half way into the month already and I'm writing about my February goals. Good going, Nat. I guess I'm just too excited for the warmer weather that's approaching and I'm actually ready for this month to be over. I feel like I slowed into the new year in January and now things seem to be picking up. Btw, I was kind of inspired by Katelavie, who I adore, to do this "goals" type post, so let me know if you guys like these types of things.
College searching is done and decision day is in about three months already. It's crazy to think that time has flown. While, I'd like to share my college choices and all, I feel like I should talk about it once I decide on the right college for me...which will be soon...probably in March to be exact. While that's been stressing me out this past month, I have been doing tons of yoga. Like tons.
One of my goals for this year was to really focus on being healthier and just doing better things for my body and since the beginning of Fall, I feel like my body has really changed and I think I am the healthiest (touch wood) I've ever been. Although, I did eat like two corn dogs yesterday, but you know, you win some you lose some.
01. I really feel like I need to stop worrying so much. Out of all the years in high school, you'd never think that Senior year would be the most stressful. Well, it is. There's no testing or anything and the workload has been pretty okay, but I swear, it feels like I'm being pressured into telling everyone about my future and where I'm going and there's so much more prepping and planning for events like prom and graduation. I've just felt bombarded with stuff and I can't wait for all of it to be figured out and this weight on my shoulders can just be lifted off.
02. I'm going on a few field trips with my fashion merchandising class which I am absolutely psyched for. I decided to take a few electives this year to kind of relax and have more fun (since it is my senior year) and I have really loved it so far. We are going downtown into Chicago to Nordstrom to learn about the ambassador program and all things behind the business and retail empire. I am really looking forward to it since this it totally up my alley. We are also going to a student run fashion show the week after which I am beyond excited to attend. These are the types of opportunities I'm looking for in college and with my job, so I can't believe I get to do it now.
03. I'm going to Disney World! Another big trip I am going on in late March is with my marching band to Disney. A once in a lifetime opportunity that I would never have went on if it wasn't my last year in high school. The last time I was there was about 5 years ago and I can't wait to see what's new and go to the Hogwarts world in Universal.
04. I have been waiting and waiting for it to be warmer. Lately, in Chicago, it has been slightly warming up and I think it's supposed to be in the 60s next week if you can believe it (since it's pretty much Antarctica here). I really want to keep buying fresh flowers. My dad always says that "life's too short to not buy yourself fresh flowers every once and awhile," and I completely agree. While my mom thinks it's excessive to buy yourself flowers all the time, I just love it. I'm hoping to stay on the lookout for peonies this year, because I struggled to find any later in the summer.
05. Hopefully, my blog will continue to grow this year. I'm hoping to have a lot more great things in store as I start to go on trips and do more things once it gets warmer. I'm convinced to do at least one or two more lookbooks outside as soon as it gets nicer out. I don't personally like doing them because it takes a lot of time and I need someone to help do it, but sometimes I just get into the modeling mood. Plus, I bought some new spring stuff already and I'm just so eager to wear them even though it's 40 degrees out still.
How's your February going so far?
This past year seemed like it flew by way too fast. I know years can bring good things and unfortunately bad things to us and we sometimes associate them with how we felt about the year. I feel like this year has been a huge roller coaster ride. Now, I'm not so keen on resolutions. I know I may have mentioned resolutions, but to be totally honest, we forget and make mistakes. That's why, for 2017, I want to set goals for myself because if I do mess up or forget to do something, it'll just be another reason to try again and keep reaching that goal. I went to a yoga class last night actually and my instructor was explaining to us that we sometimes lose ourselves in these resolutions or "rules" we set for ourselves when really, we should be setting goals to become our better selves.
I know you may not know my yoga instructor or have any reason to believe what she says, but I have taken it as a way to make my life a little less stressful among the chaos and twists and turns of reality. I have mini goals and very personal goals that I kind of want to share. My first one being, I would like to open up more on my blog. I know I talk a lot about products and things I like, but I seem to have lost the personality a bit and would like to start being more...uncensored. Uncensored from a fear of what people might think if I reveal or expose myself a bit on here. I mean it's my blog anyway. So, here goes.
Be More Open With People
I have the tendency to hide in my little, brunette shell and sometimes that's okay, but most of the time it's not. I would like to be able to express myself in my writing (more than what I have already) and just be completely blunt about things. I think I have been a little distracted on my blog lately and haven't really expressed myself to my full ability. I wish I could have said some things differently or just taken a step back to think about things for a bit, then just share them and see what happens. I'm just gonna be me more.
Stop Worrying About Things Too Much
With school, my blog, future college plans, and my personal life, I am way WAY too invested in who, what, where, when, and the why of everything. Instead of worrying about my tests, I'm worried about when I'm gonna get to upload a post or go return that sweater that was too big or something like that. I have always struggled with this. It's not like I had a priority mishap, but maybe too many. I mean for one thing, I have always been great at organizing, but that comes from the fear and my anxiety of not having anything organized or in place. Sometimes I need to step back and I forget to. A lot of the times, things are just out of my control.
Listen More and Be Present
I know it might be cheesy, but my English teacher actually made me think of this. She was talking to our class about participation in discussions that we have throughout the year and she kind of criticizes us on how unnatural we are when the only reason we talk is to respond, not to understand. Besides her grading on us for just giving a word, that's not how discussions play out in real life (if you can believe it). Sometimes, it's better to listen and then respond to understand or even contribute to furthering the discussion. We don't always think before we talk and that's something I need (and a lot of people) work on. It might be good to just hear what someone else has to say and be present in the conversation.
Stop Comparisons and Give Myself Credit
I think as humans, it's in our nature to look at someone and want what they have or desire to be something or someone else. I'm guilty of it and so is everybody else (unless you're magical or something). I've been trying to focus on bettering myself especially when it comes to exercising and trying to improve myself. I've been doing yoga for almost over two years now and yeah, there have been times when I see someone who can go into a pose I can't go into or who can lift more weight than I can.
I forget that I am the one in control of change and I am the one with this body that I was given and am so grateful to have. I'm healthy and thankful for my body. I need to remind myself that I can only compare myself to who I was yesterday; that girl who could barely balance on one leg to that girl who can do a headstand and hold it for one hour (if she was dared that is).
Focus On The Good and Appreciate Things
Straying away from the bad comparisons and hate we give ourselves and I give myself sometimes, I forget to focus on what actually matters most and what makes me happy. I don't always remember to think of the good, "little" things that happen everyday. There's always going to be a new day, and it's up to me to make it what I want of it. It's raining? Go out and sing in the rain. Life is never going to give us greatness and it's up to us to make something of it. I fall into a trap of having something stupid like bad costumer service ruin my day (even if it's the absolute worst!) and I never remember their side or the things that kind of matter more.
These were just five of the most important things I think I need more improvement on this year, but just for "funsies" I thought I would make a list of some other smaller goals I would like to try and accomplish in 2017:
- Make Better Food Choices Every Now and Then
- Get Stronger (maybe a six pack? lol)
- Get Emotionally Stronger
- Spend Less, Save More (for college duh)
- Help Out and Volunteer
- Say Hi to More People
- Stop Judging and Making Assumptions About People
- Be Patient
- Drink More Water (hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!)
- Treat My Bad Skin
- Write On Paper More
- Be Social, But Also Stay In More
- Treat Myself Every Once and Awhile
- Buy Even More Flowers (life's too short not to)
- Try New Foods, Music, Cultures, etc...
- Do Lots of Yoga (and try a new type of exercise too)
- Travel More
- Eat That Bag of Doritos Cuz You Can
- Stop Apologizing, Start Thanking
- Look Around More and Soak It All In
- Stop Doubting
- Trust More People
- Take Pictures and Save Moments
- Stop Buying Things I Don't Need
- Say "I Love You" More and Give More Hugs
- Try Something New With My Look and Makeup
- Compliment More
- Smile More
- Graduate Highschool
- Survive College (we can only hope)
I hope this brought in some insight and inspiration for any of you needing help with setting goals or any idea as to what their new year might bring them. As for this blog, I plan to keep pushing through this whole year! I want my blog to be more of a reflexion of myself and just improve my connection with all of my readers (who i dearly appreciate so very much). I think I will cut myself some slack and lay off blogging every now and then. All I want to do is create and write what I feel in the best way I can. That can only happen if there is inspiration and I want it to be great for everyone. I will try to accomplish these goals and if it seems like I'm off track (blogging wise), let me know! Also, if you would like to talk to me (which I hope you do), please visit my "contact" page to find my email! I would love to get to know all of you guys better as we start the new year.
What goals have you set for yourself for the new year?
P.S. Oh I forgot, I think I am going to stop with the "xoxo, Nat". I don't know, I think it's time for some change, aesthetically if that's alright. What do you guys think? Obviously, I'll continue the questions. ;)
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Hi everybody! Sorry I didn't post this morning, I've been a bit behind schedule due to finals and some last projects I need to be finishing up. For this post, I thought I would talk about New Year's resolutions. Not many people love them or abide by them, but for some, they can be a great way to reflect and improve upon some of the things we think could help ourselves and others. I, for one, have always struggled with keeping up on my goals for the new year and sometimes I do make mistakes here and there, but I think the best thing we can do is pick ourselves up again and set new goals--ones we can at least try to reach. It can be as simple as eating less sugar to more complex like making sure you study more in order to get the outcome you want in a certain class. One of mine might be to lay off the blogging a bit and take more breaks; good content and ideas can only come out of passion, not just for getting a post up on a certain date in my opinion.
For myself, and all of you, I have compiled only twenty goals or resolutions I think we could all aspire to do that can make better changes in our lives this coming year. Sure, it's a bit early, but it's never too early to start improving ourselves.
1) Start saying I love you more: to your friends, family, and especially to yourself.
Accepting ourselves and learning to care and forgive is one of the most important steps to creating better relationships with our peers and ourselves. The whole hustle and bustle can distract us from remembering who we are and why we're here.
2) Get off your technology and remember the more important thing in life besides how many followers you have.
This is sort of a given, but I hope everybody can realize that there is more to life than the little box in their hands all the time. Look up more and experience life.
3) Make more time for yourself and have some solitude every now and then.
I know I'm a master at solitude and finding time for myself, but not everybody else is. For my more socially enabled readers, remember that finding alone time can help destress you and bring you away from the noise. Occasionally, it's never a bad thing to want to stay in bed and watch Netflix all night.
4) Focus on studies more, but don't over do it. Go out with friends while you can.
I know school is important, and so is living. Do what you gotta do and then go out with people you enjoy being around. You deserve it; don't torture yourself.
5) Find some physical activity that you enjoy and makes you happy. Such as yoga, sometimes these things we do for our bodies can be very good. Getting in shape, not only physically, but mentally will help improve stress and raise energy levels.
6) Volunteer your time more and give back.
Doing one simple deed for someone in need can make all the better. Even donating a dollar to your local Salvation Army bell ringers or helping out at a food kitchen can make a difference. These things shouldn't be taken for granted because every amount of help counts.
7) "Talk Less, Smile More."
Props to anyone who knows where that quote is from (ahem Hamilton). I think it's important to listen to people. Sharing your opinion and thoughts on things is important, but sometimes replying to people to understand is more important than replying to respond, says my English teacher. We can only accept each other and respect one another when both voices are heard. It's something that I forget sometimes.
8) Eat better food.
I know this is something we all have on our lists to do, but sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zones and try new food. Food that's different than what we normally eat. Maybe you'll find something healthy that you never thought you would have loved and it changed your whole entire eating habit.
9) Say "thank you."
We are all old enough to know manners, but sometimes things can go unnoticed. Giving someone a simple, "thanks", might make their day a tiny bit better.
10) Learn to let go.
Let go of grudges, mistakes, embarrassing moments, bad grades, broken friendships, arguments, bad critiques, failures, and everything else. You're human and that's just a part of living. Move on.
11) Try something new for the heck of it.
I never thought I would have loved yoga if I never tried it. I've learned so many things about myself and overall well being because of it. I know how to control my body and remain positive during challenges I have faced.
12) Try out a fashion trend you never thought you could pull off.
Wearing that same sweater and jean combination isn't doing you justice? Try a look that you normally wouldn't do and see what you think. I'm still scared to even touch a choker! Maybe it will open new aesthetically pleasing doors.
13) Don't assume things about people.
I think everyone can attest to at least once judging someone based on their actions, looks, or the way they speak. It's just what we do I guess. We should never treat a person based on an assumption. You don't know their life at all. Why don't you try to get to know them? Maybe they're dealing with something you can or can't relate to.
14) Reward yourself more for your achievments and battles.
This sort of goes with the "more solitude" one, but more specifically about the way we treat ourselves after an accomplishment or milestone. It's okay to treat yourself because you deserve it.
15) Stand up for yourself when something isn't right.
I can relate to this one a lot because I'm the type of person that won't ask for a new meal because something was not cooked or brought out right. I'm just so humble and my Dad always yells at me for not speaking up. As we grow older, our dads and moms will not be there to ask the waiter for another plate, and it will be up to us to make things right. This could apply to anything else really.
I hope these help spark some inspiration as to what goals you guys would like to achieve or improve on through the next year. I know there are a lot more so I might keep adding to the list as I think of more. Have a great weekend everybody!
What do you want to improve about yourself?
Xoxo, Nat
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My last year of high school--freedom at last. No more testing, no more taking the bus, no more stuffing things into my locker, no more anything. It's a bittersweet thing to say and I'm trying to take in every moment of my Senior year. Normally, Seniors have very laid back schedules and get to take all the fun classes and get off-campus during their lunches at my school. All of this "Senioritis" (a faux disease that drains all of the effort in Seniors near the end of the school year) fades away in a snap and the next thing you know, you're at college. So, I thought I would share with you guys some things I personally think are important to remember during your last year at high school.
1) Be Involved While You Still Can
Even if you live over seas and don't have "high school", we all eventually graduate from school and time really does fly by. Maybe at the last minute you decide to join a club you never really got to go to or you weren't really interested in going to Homecoming this year because it was "so boring" the other years. It's important to just go do these things because you only go through high school once (well, a majority of us do at least).
2) Make The Most With Your High School Friends
It may seem pretty sad but, many of us will go to college and pursue our dreams really far away from home. With that being said, making the most of the moments you have with your childhood/high school friends is really important.
I have friends who plan on moving all the way across the country and it is really sad to say that I probably will never see them again. Texting and Facebook can only help so much in these situations.
3) Enjoy Time With Family
Besides the home cooked meals and clean laundry, your "familia" won't be around much while you're at college. You'll probably be up late at night calling your parents because you just got homesick, and that's okay! Our parents do so much for us (like pay for us to go to college) and it's only necessary to instead of go out and party or hide away in your room, to talk to them and spend time with them when you can. Your parents will always be there for you but, you will find that college teaches you a lot about living on your own.
4) Don't Worry About Where Your Friends Are Going
I know it's hard not to feel pressured about what and where your friends are doing and sometimes it gets the best of me, too. Not everyone is going into the same major, has the same financial reasons, or personal reasons to all go to the same college together. I know that it can be hard to not compare yourself to someone who might be going to a bigger college than you. All you need to focus on is what you want to accomplish and achieve in college, not what you're friends want to accomplish or achieve. Find your passion and stick with it!
5) Enjoy High School While It Lasts
I have heard the endless, "What are your post high school plans?", "Where are you going to college?", EVERYTHING. The more I hear, the closer it is to making an actual decision about college and my future. It's the real world after high school and I'll have to start functioning like an adult. Scary, I know. All I can do now is take in the moments I have left and that's something we, Seniors, forget as we start to fill out applications and get important fees and documents turned in on time.
I can't speak for everyone, obviously because not everyone goes to high school but, I hope this helped anyone who is graduating this year and knows that they aren't alone! I am terrified and excited about what's to come after high school and college will be another huge journey that I will take on through my blog. This is just the beginning of the end--and I can't wait.
Xoxo, Nat
*Photo album and notebook courtesy of my dear friend, Ellaby, for my birthday. Thanks so much <3
Hello everyone. Long time, no talk! It's currently the middle of my summer vacation and last week was filled with travelling and going places. This week, however, I've been home relaxing and chilling out. I could have been blogging or reviewing stuff but, I feel like everybody deserves a little "off time", if you know what I mean. I love what I do but, for the past couple months, it's been like non stop blogging and I needed a little time to refresh my brain a bit. I want my writing to be honest as well as sincere and actually good to what I think you guys would be interested in reading. I also don't want to forget that what I write is what I want to write about, too!
I am back on schedule and ready to share some great posts very soon. Since I have had a bit of time to think about blogging ideas, I wanted to stress the importance of balancing your life and taking breaks every so often. It's not like I'm a workaholic because I don't really have a full-time job and blogging is still my passionate hobby but, I am human. I have things to do and get done like everyone else in this world does. I have been going through a ton of stuff in my house to get ready for a big garage sale we are having next week. I have flipped my house upside down and cleaned out everything that needed to be cleaned! Doesn't it feel so good to just get rid of junk that's been in your closets for so long?
I consider myself a very busy person and I think a lot of people can relate to that. So, even though I am still not really done preparing for the sale yet, I have been chilling out and making time for things like yoga, watching movies with friends, and just chilling out with my pup! I have been doing this "Summer Challenge" that my yoga studio has been advertising since the beginning of June. You have to do 40 classes in 90 days and you will receive a $40 gift card to buy any of their merchandise and a t-shirt! So far I have 26 classes down and 14 to go. Little things like that keep me motivated especially during the summer. When I was gone I couldn't do yoga, so this week I have been going nonstop! Something that was very needed after a junk food filled vacation.
It's not very exciting but, I think a break and a yoga detox is well deserved considering all the travelling and the fact that school is almost around the corner...(ugh don't get me started). I wish I had the luscious, tropical, summer vacation that some seem to have but, sometimes a stay-cation can be a whole lot better (and it really is). Travelling is fun and tiring at the same time because you're going to and from places and you have to haul a ton of stuff with you; it can be chaotic sometimes.
It feels good to be back, though. I am back to my creative and productive self! It's great to take a break and do nothing. I think it's an important thing to take some personal time off and relax. Balancing your work with personal time and family time can really help relieve stress and also bring newer and better ideas when you come back to work or even your blog!
Get ready for some great posts next week and my regular schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am taking it all back in day by day and easing into the blogging right now so one post this week will do to catch you all up! What are some ways you guys like to balance your busy lives? Are there things you do to help relieve the stress? Let me know!
Xoxo, Nat
Hello friends! We all have daily tasks and routines and sometimes they're things that we aren't really motivated to do. Especially during the summer, not all of us are off on vacation. No matter your age, I think everyone is entitled to some responsibilities that are more or less "fun" and "exciting" to do (even during the summer); paying your bills, doing laundry, studying for summer school, cleaning your house, running errands, mowing the lawn, things that we have to do but, don't really want to do. It can be hard to do some of these things when the effort is not there. Sometimes we forget about the main goal of these little, tedious, tasks and I think we all could use a reminder as to why we do them even though we don't want to. Here are some tips on how to tackle these "unbearable" but, very important tasks:
1. Remember the Main End Result or Goal
If it's something like doing those last minute errands or maybe it's just getting all of your household chores done, remind yourself of how awesome it will feel after you've finished everything! If it makes it any easier, make a checklist of the things you need to get done. I love to cross out all of the things I have completed so it makes my mind a bit less stressed out. It also makes me more motivated to keep going.
If this is something long term like studying for finals, remember what you really want to achieve like two weeks before the exam. If you want the A, you need to put in the effort and time into studying for your tests!
2. Don't Procrastinate and Always Prioritize
Telling yourself that you can just do it all on Sunday is not going to help the issue. Procrastinating all of your chores will only add to all of the stress and probably make you even less motivated to do anything because you'll be rushed to get it all done in one day. Prioritize the time you have a make sure you get the most important tasks done first so you don't have to worry about the "big stuff" later.
3. Wake Up Early and Manage Your Time
Sleeping in a few hours on chore day won't give you the energy or the time you need to do all of the things you have to get done. Manage the time you have by waking up a little bit early so you won't have to be up later in the day still doing chores! Even if it isn't chore day, being productive means getting a good nights sleep! About 8 hours should give you enough energy to do everything you have to do the next day.
4. Pay Your Dues
Nobody likes paying bills, taking out loans, working late, budgeting for things we will need in the future like college but, it's something that we are all gonna have to do at some point and I think it's only necessary for us to make sure we pay our dues to the things that matter most. If you pay your bills on time or save and put off money every time your paycheck comes, it will relieve some tension financially and you won't have to worry about it later. I know that I can't relate to paying bills but, I am starting to save money for college and that's a pretty hard task in itself. Every time I get paid, I save a fraction of it and put it away in my savings account. Penny by penny will really help in the long run!
If you would like some financial assistance on student credit cards, you can visit this website at Creditcardinsider.com, I found it very helpful for figuring out how to manage your student credit card and all things student loans for college!
5. Make a Schedule to Plan
I have this sticky note, weekly calendar that you can tear off once your done with the week and I find it so helpful to use to plan out all of the events that are happening. It's so satisfying to tear off the week and start fresh after you've done everything!
I actually like doing chores--I am probably the 10% of people that actually don't mind doing chores and errands and that's totally okay if you are that 10%, too! Join the club :) I think people get too caught up in our daily tasks and "struggles" and don't realize how important they are sometimes. We're all human and we all have things that we need to do that we don't sometimes want to do. It's only a matter of motivation and effort that will help you succeed when doing these things.
I hope these tips have helped any of you struggling with chores and are feeling a bit "laggy" when it comes to daily responsibilities. Not everyone likes doing chores but, always remember the end result and what you are initially trying to achieve: a clean house, a good grade on a test, good credit, and so on. No matter the chore or task, or even your age, everyone has some things they need to check off the to-do list. Don't let any task discourage you from getting it done and finished so you can relax and be stress free later!
What are some things you do to keep you motivated to tackle your daily responsibilities and chores? I hope everybody has a great week!
Xoxo, Nat
Hello everyone! I wanted to do a post about something a little different than what I normally talk about. We all get caught up in everything around us and we are constantly in a routine. I always forget to remember what really matters and to stop worrying about the little things. Having a small case of anxiety, I set myself up in a trap of negative thoughts about something that I did or something that I should have done. This won't be a post about anxiety though, because I know that it's different for every person that has it. This post is going to share some things about how to make your "stressful" life a little bit better.
I'm no expert. Let's get that known, but as all humans, I do get caught up in the whole "hustle and bustle" of things. I worry about other people and what they're doing way too much. I know that this may or may not resonate with everyone, and that's fine, but it's important for us to stray away from the things that people are doing. If someone is succeeding at their job or achieving their dreams, good for them. We can't focus on the success of others and let that guide our own futures. I want people to be proud of what they have done and not compare it to someone who has done way better than them.
Comparing ourselves to others can become a huge issue. Especially with young girls; I see it at my own high school and in the media. Teenage girls are exposed to expectations that they have to look up to. I feel as though that some girls are pressured to live up to the beauty standards in media or at school and are forced to look a certain way by our society. For example, girls might compare themselves to models such as Gigi Hadid or whatever her name is. Doing this can be detrimental and very unhealthy because it can lead to self harm and an increased amount of body image issues. I think everybody has insecurities and flaws, but when we start to look at people who are "better" or "more beautiful" than us, we get obsessed with this ideal and begin to shut down. One step to stop comparing ourselves to others is to learn how to love yourself. Love your flaws, love your traits, love what yo' mama gave ya!
With that said, I think it's important that we celebrate ourselves and our achievements. When I do yoga, I strive to get to the next pose or improve on a pose or flow that I found challenging. I feel rewarded when I can do something in yoga that I struggled with the day, the week, or even months before. I can do a headstand now! I think that's one of my greatest achievements because I never thought I could have ever balanced on my head before. I love myself more and more for the strength and confidence that I have gained. I have developed a much higher self esteem because of it, while not comparing my ability to others that have achieved more than me.
I learned a lot in yoga about presence and I think the message I am trying to get here is that you need to stop worrying about everything that you cannot control. Things happen for a reason in my opinion, and sometimes you just need to go with the flow (as my Dad always says). Or the Vinyasa flow in yogi speak.
Since my junior year is almost over, I have learned a lot...not just academic stuff—life stuff! I felt like I needed to get all of this out and explain what I have learned over this past year. I want you guys to just remember what I said:
- Don't worry about what others have or are doing. Obsessing over their lives, will only make yours worse.
- Stop comparing yourself to others. Everybody's different and unique!
- Celebrate your achievements and be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished.
- Embrace the small things and be in the present moment. Live your life to the absolute fullest (a cliche, but so true!).
- Learn to love yourself always.
These were just some of my thoughts about life that you guys might find helpful. I keep a little note on my side table of things like this so I remember what really matters at the end of the day. I read it or glance at it before bed and I just love having it around. Amidst all the chaos that life brings, I can come back and remind myself about these things. These might be cliches and what-not, but I think they are very important to remember.
Is there a way you guys remind yourself of what's important and what's not? Do you guys constantly worry about small things like me? What will you guys do to change or better your life?
Xoxo, Nat
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Hey guys! Ugh the ever-so-anticipated post. It's finals week and that means stress, stress, and more stress. But, not so fast! I have the sacred and very helpful tips and tricks you need to survive (or maybe to just pass) your semester exams/finals, so don't fret any further!
In my town, it's finals week. Every school district has different exam schedules, but since I have only two weeks of school left and my exams are coming up in the next couple of days, I thought that I could share the things that I make sure to remember and do in order to fully succeed (or at least pass the class...because it's the end of the year and I understand that some people get a little 'lousy' with studying and putting in work haha). I like to make sure that I start the studying process and prepare at least a week before my finals. I know that some people prefer to start like three or two weeks before, however, I still have like projects due and other work to finish up. So, my school has at least 3 days of finals. They set up a totally different schedule because you need at least an hour for each test. It's different for everyone so this may or may not apply to you.
1) Start Preparing
I know that this is kind of a given but, to reiterate, the only way you'll ever make it close to passing is by preparing for the exam. Make sure you have all of your study guides, notes, and books in order to make sure that you have all you need to study with. Ask your teacher for past study guides with the answers on it or go through you old notes and staple the important papers you need together to make it more organized.
2) Organize
I think that it's important to have a folder or some sort of organizational system to help you de-clutter all of the worksheets or notes you have received over the past semester. You could probably skip this step because I know a lot of people don't really care about being neat and that works out fine for them but, for some, I know that it might be a struggle and a hassle when they have to go back and find all of their work from like two months ago.
3) Plan Out Test Dates
I would advise planning out when you're going to study and when your tests are. I like to write them on my calendar and make sure I'm not late to any of them.
4) Find a Strategy That Works Best
A lot of people have different things they like to do to study. For me, I like to make sure I have all of my study guides done (some of my classes don't provide finals study guides, though) and if I have like vocab or notes, I use a whole stack of flash cards to study with. Sometimes I go to my public library with a group of friends and use my note cards to review. At the end of exams, I'll have like four stacks of note cards. When you make flashcards, you're pretty much reviewing as you write them down. When you're on the go or if it's right before the exam, you could test yourself easily with them.
I also like to ask my teacher about the exam: What to expect, how many questions, things I will need to know or not need to know, stuff like that. It's good to just check in with your teacher before the exam and ask questions you are unsure about so you make sure you know what to expect during the final.
Remember that it's about finding your way of studying. Which ever works best for you and makes you the most comfortable is best. If just reviewing your notes or re-reading the chapters helps, do it. No one's stopping you from getting that A+!
5) CALM DOWN!...
Normally, the final exams are only 20% of your overall grade. It doesn't determine your final grade so chill out! I know a lot of people are like, "Oh my gosh I'm gonna fail the class!", no you're not. It would probably only bring down a couple percentages if anything.
I had a really bad habit of stressing out over the final exams. Since I am on my third year of high school, I have learned that it's nothing to really worry about. Don't get me wrong, you need to take these exams seriously so that you can get a good grade and pass the class but, if you don't study "enough" for one of the tests, just calm down. YOU WILL BE OKAY.
6)...And Relax
Everybody needs to take some time to themselves and just take a break every now and then. If you are in between studying, take a little nap or eat some food. It's only healthy to give yourself breaks every now and then especially during finals. I like taking a bath and using a little bath bomb or essential oils to calm myself down. I like to do this the night before the finals, too!
7) Worry About You
Worry about what you need to know and what you want to accomplish. If just passing or getting a B in the course is what you want, don't worry about the other kids that always get A's. Study what you need to study and focus on what matters most. All tests count and yes, strive for that A+. Realistically, it's pretty hard to get all As in your classes if you aren't like those other kids that get them all the time. Worry about yourself!
8) Manage Your Time
Manage your time while studying and taking the test. Don't procrastinate. Do make time for studying and taking the test. You want to make sure you give yourself a comfortable amount of time and also make sure you finish those tests.
The Night Before...
- Make sure you have all the things you need: your backpack, ID, #2 pencils, your calculator, a snack, water, comfy clothes, and anything else that your teachers tell you to bring.
- Don't cram. I have done this in the past and it doesn't really help. Sure, you can review notes but, don't stay up till 3 a.m. doing a bunch of study guides you forgot to do.
- Relax: read a book, take a bath, listen to music, drink some tea, do some yoga, meditate, eat some ice cream, watch a movie. Do things that will make you calm.
- Go to bed early. Everyone tells you before exam day to do this. Get good sleep and don't stay up binging that Netflix show.
The Day of...
- Wake up early and get ready as you normally would. Don't sleep in and miss the bus!
- Eat a good breakfast to fuel your body.
- Don't forget anything.
- BREATHE... INHALE...EXHALE... you will be fine!
During the Test...
- Take the test with the intention you set at the beginning of the whole studying process. What did you want to achieve or accomplish?
- Remember what you already know. You got this!
- DON'T CHEAT... it's stupid, don't do it.
- Manage your time... Like I said before, make sure you finish the test.
Maybe these things will or will not benefit any of you. Or maybe you have heard these from your teachers already and don't need these tips. Whatever helps and works for you! Take these or leave them, I just thought that these would be very helpful for you guys who might have finals soon. You will all do amazingly on your exams and I wish you all good luck for the next week or two on all of your tests!
What are some tricks that help you study?
Xoxo, Nat
Hello everyone! I have a very special post for you all today. One of the main reasons that I wanted to start a blog was to connect with people. I want to learn more about other people's interests, hobbies, and cultures. I have always loved exploring new places and that comes with meeting new people (which I also love to do). I met this lovely blogger a few weeks ago and she has just started out her blog! She wanted to collab, and how could I say no?! I am going to give the mic to Nicole now and she's going to tell you a little bit about one of her favorite things—art.
Hey guys!
I’m Nicole (a.k.a florrall.blogspot.co.uk) and I’ll be a guest writer for Natalie’s blog!
For this post, I would like to talk about my passion: art. Art has always been an interest of mine ever since I can remember. As a child, I loved stationery and I collected pens, pencils, and leather notebooks that I used do my sketches and experiment with different patterns and portrait drawings.
I consider myself an introvert. Oftentimes, I struggle expressing myself through words, so I withdraw into my shell; my inner world where it is colorful and extravagant and the only place where I feel comfortable. When I got my first sketchbook, I began unraveling myself and my inner sphere. Through the drawings and paintings I did, I opened the doors to my mind for the first time.
I love being creative. It is the key feature to my personality. Without the creativity, which I derived from my weirdly wonderful mind, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. That’s why I love art, it is my only way of expressing myself freely; I can create art as bizarrely or enigmatic as I want through many different forms and mediums.
Sorry if this is a little personal, I just enjoy talking about what I love! And if you’re reading this post and reached to this point, then I would like to give you a virtual hug and thank you for taking the time to read this post about my passion, it makes me so happy that someone out there is interested!
Again, thank you so much and and please make sure to check out my blog where it contains most of my work!
Nicole ᵔᴥᵔ
I hope all of you liked this post as it is something quite different than what I normally do. I really love learning about other people and their passions. I feel like the only way we are able to grow is by being tolerant and considerate of all the different ideas and passions that exist in this world. Even if it's just someone's passion for art; you will most likely learn something new! I would really like to do more posts like these in the future, so if you would like to contact me and collab, I would be so happy to! Thanks for reading as always, and many claps for Nicole because I genuinely believe that she will do great things with her blog. Make sure to checkout her blog, as well (linked above).
Xoxo, Nat
Hey friends! So today I have a different type of post for you guys. You all know how much I love Ellie Goulding right? You don't? Well, here's a specific post on all the great reasons she is one of my role models and favorite person of all time. So, Seventeen Magazine is one of my preferred magazines to read. It's interesting, youthful, fun, stylish, and full of inspiration and honest advice. This month's cover was Ellie Goulding and I was so excited when it arrived in the mail. The things she said in her interview actually inspired me so much to write this post!
Seventeen called her, "honest, unpretentious, and totally relatable" and I couldn't agree more. The article states that as a child, Ellie has dealt with social anxiety at school, boy troubles, divorce, insecurity, and body confidence issues. It's obvious that Ellie has worked very hard to get to where she is now. She is an amazing, talented musician, but she is also a great woman inspiring others to follow their dreams. The segment says that Ellie "wants [young girls] to know that everything is going to be okay" and to always look for the positives. I really look up to and admire her for that. If you all want to learn and read more, you can read here.
I have loved Ellie Golding's music for so long now. When she released "Lights" I was hooked on her unique and beautiful, wispy-like sound. She has deep songs that make you think and upbeat songs that just make you move. She has this specific way of connecting with you that I think no other artist has ever done. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to her new album, Delirium, right now! I have it on repeat because it is just so good.
Not only is Ellie Goulding a great musician, a strong woman, and a lover of exercise and her two cats, Wallace and Lennon, she is just a real person. Yep, you guessed it. She's real. There's no cover-up media nonsense or fakeness about her. I would love to be her best friend one day and work out with her or something. She's just so cool.
I listen to her on the radio, at school, and I love listening to her when I exercise. She is like a maniac when it comes to working out (she's also like a Nike representative so that's cool, too) and her songs really make me motivated and focused on doing the workout for myself. Whether it be running or yoga, I am automatically pumped and I push myself harder because I know Ellie Goulding would too. I always remind myself that if I want to better myself by exercising, I am only doing it for myself. I am not doing it for anyone else. I am not doing it to make myself skinny. I want to be really strong— just like Ellie.
I also really love how Ellie Goulding believes in all women. She gets what we go through and how hard it is for women to sort of make something of themselves in our society. She comes from a loving and caring mother that raised her all by herself and she's surrounded with a huge "squad" of strong women. I love that in a role model.
Here are some of my favorite songs of hers that I relate to and love listening to:
"Animal"
"The Writer"
(I have listened to this song every time I feel sad. It's just so pretty.)
"Anything Could Happen"
"I Do What I Love"
(I feel so bad ass when this song comes on. It's like a fight song sort of. It has a great tune and reminds me of Bollywood for some reason... maybe the percussion or something)
"Around U"
(I love jumping and dancing to this song.)
"Army"
(I love this song a lot because instead of it being like a love song, it's about having great friends and support from your army of peeps and not needing a man to be fulfilled and loved.)
"Something In The Way You Move"
(I love working out to this one. It's mah "lady jam".)
"Here's To Us"
(I believe that this is a new song of Ellie's that was just released for the Girls album. It gave me all the feels! It's quite a beautiful anthem about love. My favorite lyric is "You’ve fallen on your feet giving everything up / There’s something in the way love is never enough,".)
I have always enjoyed Ellie's electric tune and poppy feel. Her past albums like Lights and Halcyon Days were a bit darker I feel and her new album Delirium is like an awakening of bright sounds and anthems. She has a great variation in her music and I think that a lot of people like her because of how different she is. When I first heard "Lights" on the radio, I had no idea who she was! She didn't sound like anyone else I have ever heard. Maybe her British accent intensifies her voice, but I have never heard another singer sing like she does, and it's beautiful.
I am so insanely excited to see her perform when she comes to Chicago for her Delirium Tour and I know it will be one of the most amazing performances that I have ever seen. Ellie Goulding doesn't really make her way "across the pond" that often. So, this will probably be the only time I will ever see her. Besides her coming to Lollapalooza this summer.
Ellie Goulding has made a huge impact on my life and she taught me that no matter how hard you want something, no matter how hard you work for it, you will get there. She inspires me to be stronger, physically and emotionally. She also inspires me to just be a better version of myself, to just let loose and dance. I'm sure she has inspired many others; she will always hold a special place in my heart.
Xoxo, Nat
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