MY HECTIC WEEK

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, but I think my reason for not doing so is pretty self-explanatory (just look at the title).  Last week was a MAJORLY stressful yet fun week, and the rest of this week is going to be a repeat.  Brace yourself:  you're going to have a picture overload!

Last week I got to visit Orlando because I had to crown my successor at the national pageant of the system I'm involved with.  The trip would've been a *tad* less stressful if my mom and I hadn't had to drive the entire way--it's about a nine hour trip.  Actually, I love road trips because I get to listen to music (one of my favorite pastimes), but after about four hours I'm pretty tired.  And I'm not even the one driving!

We got to our hotel pretty late and got settled in our room (which is a completely different ordeal altogether).  I was exhausted and my mom was probably about to fall asleep standing up.  Then there was the problem of my toe which apparently was infected...to make a long story short, we ended up going to sleep around midnight.  Ugh.

The next day was Saturday, and we had to be at the pageant venue around 6:30 PM.  After doing some homework, I hopped in the car with my mom and we went to none other than...Downtown Disney!  I share the common opinion that Disney is the "most magical place on Earth" so I was like a kid in a candy store.  I was sort of bummed that we didn't really get to ride anything, but I still had a lot of fun shopping around.

VETERANS DAY

Last year was my favorite Veterans Day ever.  I had the honor of being able to read an essay I'd written at my school's Veterans Day Program.  That's one thing I'd change about my high school:  I would like to have a Veterans Day Program.

The one at my junior high was amazing because students invited all the veterans they knew, and so we usually had almost one hundred show up each year.  It is so humbling and gratifying to see them all with their heads held high, a silent understanding passing between all of them.

CAN'T STOP THIS MUSIC: PLAYLIST NO. ONE

According to Victor Hugo, "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."

I love listening to music.  It's a great way for me to relax and get my mind off of all the day's woes.  This has been the month of uplifting pop songs and gorgeous show tunes.  Who knew Phantom and Taylor Swift went so well together?

1. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift:  I know this is one of the most popular songs out there, and it's being played on the radio every other minute, but I don't really mind because I love this song.  It's very different from other Taylor Swift songs, and I really like the vibe it gives off.  Plus, it's so much fun to dance to what with that extremely catchy chorus and all!

2. I See Fire by Ed Sheeran:  If you read my last post, you figured out that I am a huge Lord of the Rings nerd.  Being that this song is from the soundtrack of a Lord of the Rings movie, I'm already going to love it (I think I get way too much entertainment from figuring out all of the secret metaphors and allusions in this song).  Add that in to the fact that it's sung by Ed Sheeran who has a voice like an angel, and you've got a pretty great song right there.

THIRTY FACTS ABOUT ME

I've said it before and I'll say it again:  we're all just jumbled up mixtures of miscellaneous stuff.

Which, as it turns out, isn't such a bad thing.  If we were all the same, the world would be a pretty boring place.  A lot of the greatest inventions of our time wouldn't have been invented because no one would have been original enough to invent them!

Some of the greatest people in history were great simply because they thought out of the box and "did their own thing."  So strive to be the next genius by embracing that side of yourself that you might have mislabeled as "weird"--you really meant "original."

In accordance with the theme of originality, I'm going to be sharing a few facts about myself that are a bit odd (to me at least).  Sit back, pull up a chair, and get ready to laugh!

1. I know the lyrics to almost every hit song from the 70's because I've heard those songs since about the age of six-- my parents blast the 70's channel nonstop!
2. I'm a huge Lord of the Rings nerd.  I'm literally in agony waiting for the last part of the Hobbit to come out in December!  Fellow nerds:  don't let the orcs get you down.

CURRENT READS

So, ever find yourself lazing around with absolutely nothing to do?  You know what you could do?
R-E-A-D!  (I'm very aware that I sound like a really annoying middle school teacher right now.)

I'm sure that for some of you reading is number 450 on your list of "Things I Do When I Get Bored Out of My Mind" list (right between taking practice standardized tests and watching documentaries).

However, I think everyone needs to check out these books.  Most of them aren't really new releases, but they're some of my favorites that I love re-reading on lazy, dull, boring fall days.

DOG DAYS OF AUTUMN

I think it's finally going to be fall.  Time for that bittersweet time of leaves dancing in the air and pumpkins everywhere (I should be a poet).  Today is a holiday, and I was feeling pretty cooped up in the house (and rather disgusted with myself because of all the Kit Kats I'd eaten), so I decided not to let this fall day go to waste.

One of my absolute favorite things to do is go for a walk.  I used to think just walking was pretty tedious, but once I started paying attention to what I was walking past, it got a lot more interesting.  Even my little neighborhood can be an interesting place.  Bringing along one of my favorite buddies made the walk even better.  I took a few pictures whilst out perambulating.  Enjoy!

Hmmm, did I mention that my best buddy also happens to have four legs and thinks he's a Great Dane?

THOROUGHLY QUOTABLE

Let's face it:  life isn't always a box of chocolates.

There are times when it seems like life is purposely trying to throw every single loop in the world at you simultaneously.  Those times usually make for a pretty stressed out you, which then leads to a frantic you, and then it only goes downhill from there.

Sometimes you just need some positive reinforcement.

Reworded a little differently, sometimes you need someone who knows just the right thing to say at just the right time.

I don't know about you, but there are some cases where that person is a little hard to find.  So what do you do?  You go on Pinterest, of course!  It's a horde of quotes and lessons, so you're bound to find at least five sayings that will improve your mood in one sitting.

In a bad mood now?  Here are some of my favorite quotes for when I'm in a less-than stellar mood:

Via

"Be brave, my darling.  You have faced dark times before and you're still here now."-- C.T.L.

"It all fades away in the end." -- Unknown