-C'mon, how can you listen to this and not be happy?!
Play It Again-Luke Bryan
Invisible-Hunter Hayes
-Unfortunately, I can't find the actual performance from the Grammys, but this one still makes me cry. It brings back a lot of old memories, but not-so-old emotions.
Classic-MKTO
-This makes me giggle. And dance. I think you could call this my new theme song!
All Of Me-John Legend
-I'm such a SAP, but this might be one of the best love songs of 2014 (so far!)
It is amazing how time has gone by; almost a month into the semester and so much has happened. There has been joy and there has also been pain. I've had to confront truths about myself, about certain relationships, and even the kind of people that I allow into my life. But despite the difficult moments and the fears, I feel like I've grown and matured a lot in just a few short weeks. Throughout each day, I keep hearing the words "cherish this" over and over again. Not because this chapter in my life will come into an end in a few months, but because of how important it is to just be in the present moment and focus on what's happening right now. Cherish the times when you get to be vulnerable and honest, even when it means admitting things about yourself and your life that you've been trying to ignore. I feel so much closer to my friends (especially the girls) than I have in a long time because I stopped trying to hide. I'm probably not the first person to say this, but keeping stuff to yourself does not ultimately make it easier to deal with. I may not have lied outright, but I kept a lot of details from my friends in hopes that the situation would solve itself. And while I know I don't have to share everything, I also believe that love involves telling the truth and making an effort to connect with others. I've realized just how important it is to be surrounded by people who add substance to my life. Upon going back to school, I took some time to think about who I genuinely want to have quality time with in these next three and a half months. Don't get me wrong, I'm naturally a people person and love getting to know them. But realistically, I can't be close with everyone. There just isn't enough time in each day to have that kind of connection. Cherish them. Despite the emotional bumps, I've been keeping busy in other aspects. In April I'll be running my first 5K race (and crossing another item off the college bucket list). That's requiring quite a bit of training, so I've been working out in some way almost every day, whether it be going to the gym or doing a home routine. My eating habits have slightly evolved as well, although I won't deprive myself of pasta, pizza, or the occasional burger. It has been a lot of work, but I also feel better (physically) than I have in a very long time! And it liking what I see in the mirror is a definite perk as well. The only thing that has me going is that there is so much to do, and it's like I'm being pulled in a million different directions. This is partially why I haven't been blogging very often. I do have a lot to say and I want to say it, but I also want to make sure that it's thought through and well written. More specifically, I don't want to write something purely for the sake of bringing in traffic if it's just going to look like crap. Blogging has a lot to do with the direction that I want to take my career in (or for right now, lets just say in the direction of technology and social media) so I want to be invested in this properly and for the right reasons. Given my schedule can get a little hectic, there's a chance that my posting might be somewhat irregular for a while. If nothing else, I'll do one thought-provoking post per week and two light ones the next. I don't know how that will go, but it seems to work for now. I never thought I would want this blog to become some sort of brand, if you will. I never thought I would want to write about heavier aspects of relationships, living with Cerebral Palsy, and issues within Christianity and The Church. I've been scared to, and in a way I still am. But when it comes to making a difference (especially with writing), you have to have the ability to be vulnerable, and be able to take heat for that vulnerability. With that being said, I'm looking to give my blog and make it look more professional. If anyone has any ideas or knows of anyone who could help me with that, it would be much appreciated! Thank you to all those who've stuck with and continue to stick with me, and welcome to those who are new. If you haven't done so already, feel free to keep up with me on Faceboook and Twitter! Again, thank you for the support! I can only continue to write and pray that it grows as time goes on. Breathe. And cherish this. photo credit: blue velvet sea via photopincc
Yes it is Valentine's Day week; for many it brings joy, and others complete dread. I would like to share some of my personal favorite love songs, but in the hopes that it can remind people of how precious of a gift it really is. And most importantly, that you shouldn't have to depend on a holiday to let someone know how much you love and care about them!
Making Memories of Us-Keith Urban
Just The Way You Are-Billy Joel
I kind of want this song played at my wedding...it's so simple, yet beautiful
Love Me Tender-Elvis Presley
-Cliche? Sure. But it's short and sweet and still makes me cry. Whenever I hear it I think of my grandparents on both sides.
Mirrors-Justin Timberlake
Wonderful Tonight-Eric Clapton
I See The Light (from Tangled)-Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi
-It's a Disney song, and I absolutely love it
There are so many others, a mixture of both classics and modern hits that either I couldn't find or feared making this post too long! Other mentions include "Everything I Do" (Celtic Thunder...I like their version as opposed to Bryan Adams), "Maybe I'm Amazed" (Paul McCartney and Wings), "Drowning" (The Backstreet Boys), and "A Whole New World" (from Aladdin).
In honor of having just celebrated my twenty-second birthday, I thought I would hold off on a reflective post for a bit and just talk about the small things that I've learned about myself over the years. They range from cute to roll-your-eyes type stuff. But I can't say that I really apologize for any of it. It's part of my personality!
(My friend used her lighter because we forgot candles. Cheesy, but it worked!)
1. I have quite a few coffee mugs, two of which are designated for Saturday and Sunday. They're both huge, but one is cherry red and the other has a Minnie Mouse design on it. I can't drink out of any other coffee cups on those days unless I'm out of town. If I do, I feel extremely weird. 2. My choice of Pandora stations depends on my mood or what I'm doing. I like easy listening for when I'm cooking, Billy Joel or Classic Rock for when I'm cleaning, and anything from 90's boy-bands to Country to Disney songs when I'm getting ready to go somewhere. 3. Ask me when, where, and how we met and I'm sure I can give you a pretty accurate description. 4. I've been somewhat crazy about having a fully charged phone and enough money in my bank account at all times. The idea of having a dead phone battery when possibly needing to get a hold of somebody makes me cringe. 5. I enjoy taking my time when getting ready in the morning or going out at night. It's sad that as a culture, people always feel so rushed. 6. I get really excited/anxious/angry when I watch sports (mostly football and basketball). Some say I just follow the reactions of others, but I have a pretty good idea as far as what's going on. 7. Touching dirty dishes (or washing by hand) is gross. On the other side of the coin, doing laundry is kind of fun. 8. Whenever I go out, I'm always dancing; whether it's mild like bobbing my head or my knees while at a table, or letting loose on an actual dance floor, I just move. And I love it. 9. Speaking of dancing, I absolutely have to whenever Justin Timberlake, Luke Bryan, Ke$ha, Katy Perry, and others come on a set of speakers. Luke Bryan in particular has been on my college bucket list (because they hardly play country music in the downtown bars or nightclubs), and I finally crossed that off a couple of weeks ago. 10. I'm not a fan of beards; a little scruff is OK, but anything else is not attractive, nor does it feel good against my face. I may be touch-oriented, but I'm also touch sensitive. 11. Pizza rolls and Oreo cookies (with milk) have been my go-to snacks since childhood. 12. The temperature in my apartment (or bedroom) has to be insanely warm, otherwise I can't sleep or even relax. 13. I have three distinct giggles: one for when I'm really happy, one for when I think something is hysterical, and one when it's not funny but I'm just trying to humor the other person. 14. Naturally, I'm just not a big eater, meaning I can't sit and gorge on a bag of chips all the day. 15. The concept of sleeping in is almost non-existent for me, unless I'm down right exhausted. 16. I have a lot of habits that involve my hands when I'm nervous. 17. If people come over to my apartment and for whatever reason it's not clean, I automatically apologize for it. 18. My neighbors made me a Hawkeye-themed tie blanket before I left for college. Since then I've kept it with me every night (that's the long-hand version for "yep, I have a 'blanky' "). 19. I have a hard time remembering names but I can easily recognize faces; that's actually how I met one of my closest friends. 20. When I'm sitting on a couch or next to a person, it's somewhat second nature to scoot just a little too close next to them. So if I do that to you, don't take it personally. But that being said, I also love cuddling or leaning up against somebody, even if it's just platonic. 21.If you see me walking around campus with a HUGE smile on my face, I'm either day-dreaming or just really happy! 22. I'm better at being sarcastic in my head than I am out loud. I do enjoy teasing people in the nicest way possible, depending on who it is. There are many more, but that's enough for now!
