30 Day Challenge- 10

Hello darlings,

So, I skipped yesterday's post for a couple reasons- one, because I literally didn't have a speck of free time. I drove up from casa grande to prescott and then spent every minute of the day with either my fam or a friend I hadn't seen in a while. So busy! Stew and I finally got home at 3:30 am and fell asleep within seconds. There was just no time for blogging.

Also, I think that Day 9's post (Day 09 - How you hope your future will be like.) is a bit too much like Day 2's (Day 02- Where you'd like to be in 10 years). I feel like I'd just be telling you the same ol' stuff. Boring! So I decided to not do it and get straight to day 10

Day 10 – Someone who came into your life unexpected and made an impact.

This is a tough one because I don't really know how to define "unexpected". I mean, almost everyone aside from family comes into your life unexpectedly, right? I have so many wonderful friends that I could devote this post to.. so many people that have come into my life and changed it for the better. And then there's stewie of course. It's a very difficult thing to decide. If I had the time, I'd write a post for every lovely person to change my life :) But since I'd like to go to bed in the next couple of hours, I'm going to write about...

...one of my very best friends, Sharney. 

Ney and I met in hghschool. She transfered to my highschool during our junior year and joined showchoir. When you're in showchoir, you're pretty much friends (or sometimes enemies haha) with everyone else in showchior. We did tons of choreographed performances every year so you pretty much get to know every one pretty well. So, sharney and I were friends, but not like... best friends. 

That is, until we took our trip to disneyland in April of that year to perform. When we took a dinner break at a mall somewhere in cali during the drive over, Sharney decided to go buy a swimsuit at Ross. I volunteered to go with her, even though we were supposed to be back on the bus soon. We ran over to ross and frantically searched through the swimsuits... I don't remember if she ended up buying one or not, but I do remember running back to the bus which everyone else was already on, waiting for us. 

After that, we sat next to each other for the rest of the trip. We pretty much confessed our life stories to each other. At the time I had recently broken up with my boyfriend of almost 2 years and there were some girls (who had once been good friends of mine) who were being, for lack of a better description, supreme bitches. Sharney and I spent the whole time in disneyland together and had seriously the BEST time. It was so, so wonderful. From then on, we were pretty much best friends. We've always been there for each other through tough times, we're always supportive of each other's decisions... when senior year came around and we both got fed up with the drama that comes along with showchoir, we kept each other sane.

Neyney is the only friend from showchoir that I ever invited to hang out with my other friends at the old apartment. She lives in Phoenix and I lived in portland and now tucson so we don't get to see each other a ton but when we do we always have a great time. The above pic is from winter break last year. 

I love ney so much. She is such a wonderful, amazing, beautiful person! I hope we remain close friends for forever :)

<3

30 Day Challenge- 08

 Day 08 - A moment you felt the most satisfied with your life.

I wouldn't say the day I graduated was the moment I felt most satisfied with my life, but my whole senior year and the summer following was full of wonderful satisfying moments.

My senior year was when I hung out with some of the most amazing people I've ever met. I met and started dating stewart. I was in AP English and AP Calculus and did well in both classes (which just earned me 6 free credits in college^^). I had SO much fun. I made a full length film documenting my last summer before going to college. We threw some of the most fun parties.

When I graduated I felt very proud and very hopeful for the future. I had (and still have) great friends, people at my favorite coffee shop knew my order (important in my opinion haha), I had gotten into a really good college, I had a pretty sweet job, and I had some amazing plans for the summer. The next three months were a whirlwind of wonderful experiences.

My 18th birthday, a couple weeks before graduation, was hands down the best bday party i've ever had. I had a luau with pina coladas and margaritas, I wore a grass skirt, and people literally counted down to midnight, when it was officially my birthday. It was such a fun, fun party, and I connected with some really wonderful people.

My whole senior year was just a wonderful time- so full of achievement, hope, craziness, love, and fun. I hope for many more years like that!!

<3

30 Day Challenge- 07

Day 07 - Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality.

I'm a taurus, and I am very attached to it. I feel like it is an exact match for my personality.

Taurus' are known for a few things in particular. The first is being stubborn, which I have always been but much more as a child than I am now. I've learned to let things go and give in while having arguments, but I still hold strongly to things that I really believe.

Secondly, taurus' are very patient and it takes a lot to make one angry. When a taurus does eventually get mad, it can be crazy and explosive- much like when you rile up a bull. I rarely get very upset, but when something really ticks me off I can get really, really upset.

Lastly, taurus' are known for being very connected to the senses and material pleasures. In other words, we love good food, comfy beds, and luxurious and beautiful settings. I am all about that haha. My love of cooking and travel is probably an example of this characteristic :)

I'm a taurus in most other ways too, but those are the most common traits associated with this sign.

<3

30 Day Challenge- 06

 Day 06 - A photo of yourself and write 30 interesting facts about yourself.

1. I haven't dyed my hair since I was 13
2. I used to be really, really into broadway. I still like musical theatre but it's not my life. My favorite shows are Rent and Spring Awakening
3. When I was younger I played the harp
4. I lived in the same house from the time I was brought home from the hospital up until I moved away to college when I was 18. When I'm home during breaks, I still sleep in the same bedroom.
5. I have always loved watching home movies of myself and my sister. I even liked the ones from before I was born.
6. My favorite actresses are Kate Winslet and Rachel McAdams. I think they are both spectacularly beautiful and talented.
7. I bought a ps2 just so I could play kingdom hearts. The only other ps2 game i own is a harry potter and the chamber of secrets game.
8. I have only ever dated dark haired boys.
9. I'm a film major and classics minor. I'm going to Greece and Turkey this summer to study.
10. I got a perfect score on my ACT Reading Comprehension
11. I drive a white stick-shift subaru outback that I bought from my aunt and uncle.
12. I have absurdly poor vision. I think I might be legally blind. I've been wearing contact lenses since I was eleven.
13. In highschool I played Meg (the oldest sister) in our musical production of Little Women.
14. I really miss Portland and I hope to move back there someday. Probably not to settle down, but just to live for a little while.
15. In elementary school my friends and I would play harry potter at recess and lunch. I was hermione.
16. I've been going to a sufi camp in Northern California since I was 3 years old.
17. In once walked to the downtown square at 3 or 4 in the morning and ran through the sprinklers.
18. I own every season of friends and have watched them all dozens of times.
19. One of my favorite meals is just cheese, bread, and fruit. Wine doesn't hurt either.
20. Tequila is the only hard liquor that doesn't make my stomach turn when I sniff or taste it.
21. Even though there are lots of career paths I think it would be fun to follow, I mostly just want to be able to stay at home, take care of my family, blog, cook, and maybe write novels.
22. This summer (after I get back from europe) I'm going to be the head chef at a camp for 20-40 young adults. I am both excited and terrified.
23. I have an irrational fear of getting hit in the ankles by shopping carts that are behind me.
24. I've been an on and off vegetarian/vegan since I was 12
25. When I first saw The Fellowship of the Ring, I decided I wanted to marry Elijah Wood. Then I saw the second harry potter movie (at age 12) and decided I wanted to marry Daniel Radcliffe.
26. When I was younger I wanted to be a scientist or paleontologist when I grew up. My grandparents would buy me chemistry sets and those blocks of sand with plastic dinosaur bones inside to be excavated and I LOVED them. Science was my worst subject in public school.
27. There was a period of time when I watched Moulin Rouge every single night before I went to bed.
28. I enjoy cleaning
29. I have homebrewed honey mead several times. Sometime I'll post about it probably
30. I wouldn't at all mind settling down in the same place I grew up, but I'd like to live lots of other places between now and when that time comes. I'd also like to keep traveling with my family until I'm too old to get out of bed.

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

I've been talking about this book for a couple months now- You can tell I thought it was good because a. I kept bringing it up in other posts and b. I took more than 48 hours to read it. When I think a book is decent but not great I'll usually just read in as short a time as possible to get it out of the way and move on to other, better books. When I find a book I think is going to be wonderful, I savor it. I will want to keep reading, but I will put the book down and wait a couple days so that I can be a part of the imaginary world for longer.

I finally did finish The Time Traveler's Wife over winter vacay while in Mexico. At the time, I was riding a large tour bus through the jungle from Puerto Vallarta to Chacala with about 40 middle aged hippies and my family. I only had about 20 pages to read on the hour long bus ride, but I had to keep stopping after every couple paragraphs to stare out the window and will myself not to cry, because not only was I so touched by the ending, I was devastated that only 20 pages separated me from the end of my relationship with this book.

Do you think I'm a crazy person yet? lol

Anyways, I actually did a very good job and didn't cry at all (although it took me like 45 minutes to read the end), up until the very end, when my sis turned to me and asked if I finished it, and if it was good, and a couple tears leaked out.

And then she had to ask if I was crying, and that just made me burst into tears.

So close.

Anyways, I cleaned myself up and as far as I know no one else on the bus noticed... although I felt like a spotlight was shining right on me :)

Onto the book review, though.

I really did love this book. I saw the movie first, and I loved that, so my opinions are probably biased, but whatever. Most people who read the book first and the saw the movie said that the movie wasn't very good, and didn't hold a candle to the book. Since I saw the movie first and loved it, it just made the book seem even better. I already had a relationship with the characters I was reading about. I already kind of knew what was in store for them. It made all the extra details really stand out.

I will say that this book is probably not for everyone. It is a romantic novel. The plot revolves around one star-crossed but beautiful relationship. There's a little bit of sci-fi thrown in there. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you're better off skipping this one or just watching the movie.

Here's a quick plot synopsis:

Henry DeTamble is a 28 year old Chicago librarian who suffers from a genetic disease which causes him to involuntarily travel through time. Clare Abshire is a 20 years old artist who has known Henry since she was 6 years old, when he first materialized in the meadow where she used to play.
Henry made frequent visits to the meadow up until Clare was 18, but when Clare and Henry meet in Henry's library, it is the first time they have ever been face-to-face in the present moment. Henry has absolutely no idea who Clare is, but Clare has been in love with Henry for many years.

The novel follows their relationship as the two get married, try to have a child, and deal with Henry's unfortunate and unpredictable condition. The novel switches between Henry and Clare's perspectives, and jumps around through time to include all of Henry's journeys to the past and future as well as all the important present moments.

I loved this book because Audrey Niffenegger, the author, did a wonderful job of devolping the two main characters. They both have so much depth, to the point that when I was done with the book I felt like I was losing two close friends. I wanted to keep on living in their story.

My only issue was that I wished for a little bit more in some areas, primarily at the end of the book. The ending felt a tad rushed, and although it did bring tears to my eyes, it left me with unanswered questions. It's one of those endings that leaves a lot to one's imagination, which can often be a very good thing, but can also be frustrating. I usually want to know what the author thinks would happen next instead of making up something on my own. I understand why people elect to use these endings (like the ending to Inception), but I'm usually more satisfied when I know that all loose end have been tied up and I know everything there is to know.

Even so, the ending is still very touching and I still deeply enjoyed this book. If you like romance novels and the concept of time travel (which I really, really, do) then pick this one up. I doubt you will be disappointed.

Next up is Eat, Pray, Love. I've already read quite a bit of it and I really enjoy it. A review will be up in the next couple of months!

30 Day Challenge- 05

Day 05 - A time you thought about ending your own life.

I think everyone has thought about suicide at some point, but most people never seriously. I'm very thankful to count myself among those who can't imagine ending their own lives.

I can't imagine putting my friends and family through that kind of pain, loss, and confusion.

I also can't imagine giving in to the idea that things are beyond repair. Life always, ALWAYS has the capacity to get better. And when it does, the thoughts of depression and sadness will seem so absurd, so strange, so out-of-place in such a beautiful world.

There was only a brief time when I was 13 years old when I felt really, really down in the dumps. It was before the whole emo thing swept the nation, but that's probably what I would have called myself at that age. In retrospect it seems outrageously silly and I can pretty much just call it pre-teen angst and forget about it, but at the time I felt like a lot of things were going wrong. Of course, after a few months I got over myself and figured out that the things I was worrying about were temporary and unimportant.

My point is, when you're stuck in that depressed mind-set, it can be hard to see how things will ever get better. Now, my behavior back then seems ridiculous, but at the time I took the negative emotions I was feeling quite seriously. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you know or are someone who is depressed, I know how heavy life can feel and how agonizing some emotions can be. Just remember that life will always prove itself to be wonderful and giving, even if it doesn't seem that way at the present.

Nowadays whenever I'm feeling depressed or overwhelmed, I just remind myself that things will always get better. It's also helpful to have things to look forward to, like visiting my friends and family, holidays, and vacations. I'd like to spend the majority of my life being happy, so I do what I need to do to make that happen- hence my new years resolution to only do things that will lead me to happiness!

Love and happy thoughts,
Em

30 Day Challenge- 04

Day 04- Your views on Religion.

I try not to discuss or bring up religion very much on this blog because it can be such a touchy subject for people. I wouldn't want for someone to decide not to read my blog simply based on my religious beliefs or something like that- but hopefully nobody like that is reading my blog anyways!

I don't believe in one specific religion. I think that whatever anyone believes is true for them. None of that "there is only one path to heaven" or "everyone else must be saved" crap. I would never, ever try to force my beliefs on another person or speak of my beliefs as facts. There is literally no way any of us can actually know anything about god, gods, the afterlife, heaven, hell, or any of that. It upsets me greatly when people act like they know all the answers, or as though all the answers are written all nice-and-tidy in a book. Holy books were written by numerous people and then translated by a whole slew of other people throughout history. There is nothing to prove that they are any more factual than a book of Grimm's fairy tales.

I'm sorry if that offends you- I'm not dissing on the bible or the qu'ran or any other holy texts. They are beautiful works of literature that I'm sure everyone would benefit from reading- in the same way anyone would benefit from reading socrates and descartes.

That said, if someone believes that everything in the bible is true, word for word, then I see no reason that it can't be true for them. Similarly, if someone is an atheist and doesn't believe that there is any type of god or afterlife whatsoever, there's no reason that that can't be true for that person. I don't think we all need to come to a consensus. I don't think there is only one right answer. The right answer is different for every person, and it is whatever makes that person most comfortable and happy to imagine.

I consider myself a sufi. Sufis often consider themselves to be every religion, because they believe (as I do) that there is no one right way. Essentially, sufis believe that there is only one God, and it is the same God in every religion. Also, "God" is seen as more of an entity that is everywhere all the time. He/she/it has many names. I don't want to freak you out with all this stuff so I won't go too much further haha.

Here are a few little tidbits about sufism:

Sufism is the religion of the heart
Sufis follow the path of love, harmony, and beauty
The sufi order I am a part of began in San Francisco in the 70s with a lot of hippies

If you are curious about sufism, you can look it up online. The order I am a part of is called the Ruhaniat.

Lastly, I believe religion should be something that makes you happy and full of love! I've seen far too many people who instead get filled with hate or snobbery or fear. Hate for people who are different, snobbery in thinking everyone else is wrong, and fear that any so-called sinful action could send you "backsliding into hell". This makes no sense to me. If there is a god, I think hesheit would want us to be happy, not fearing for our salvation and certainly not pressuring others into agreeing with us. My religion is the pursuit of happiness, love, clarity, harmony, satisfaction, and beauty, among other things :)

Love,
Em

30 Day Challenge- 03

 Day 03 - Your views on drugs and alcohol.

As far as alcohol goes, I say moderation is key. Recently there have been lots of studies showing that drinking a small amount of alcohol (1 or 2 a day or about 7 a week) is better for you than not drinking at all. I don't like waking up and feeling like crap so I just don't drink a ton. I had my fun a few years ago and now I'm over it.
Also, if one is going to imbibe I feel like you might as well go for the high quality stuff- not only does it taste way better, it is much less harmful to your body.

Ok, onto the marijuana issue.
I have never been that into pot myself, and i really don't like smoking anything so if I were going to use pot I would probably cook it into something haha. That said, I really see no reason why it shouldn't be legal... It is less harmful to your body than alcohol (which is legal). The argument that it impairs the mind and/or body is pointless because alcohol also impairs the mind and body- often more severely. You can die from drinking too much acohol. You would have to smoke about 40 pounds of weed in about 1 hour to die from marijuana. True, it can leave you feeling foggy brained and perhaps kill brain cells, but alcohol does just as much damage and then some.
Anyways, my point is that it's just illogical to allow alcohol to be legal when it can potentially cause so much harm and not allow marijuana to be legal when it causes a significantly smaller amount of harm.
Also, it would probably be excellent for our economy.

Other drugs- I divide the remaining drugs into two categories. The "maybe one time"s and the "never ever"s. The never evers are the drugs that are known for being extremely dangerous, addictive, and life-ruining. Heroin, Cocaine, and Crystal Meth are definitely Never Evers.
The maybe one times are the drugs that one might take once or twice in their life just to have an experience and then be done with it. These drugs are much less dangerous and if you only use them once cause essentially no lasting damage on the mind or body. These drugs include acid, shrooms, and ecstacy.

I feel that drugs should not be something that's habitual or done on a daily or even weekly or monthly basis. If you're going to use them, use them very sparingly and don't be reckless about it.

Oh, and I almost forgot about cigarettes. Cigarettes strike me as pretty much pointless. I don't feel like they're that enjoyable to smoke (they certainly don't taste very good), and they can kill you and harm you in numerous ways. What's the reasoning behind that again? Beats me.

And that's my piece on drugs and alcohol :)
<3

30 Day Challenge- 02

Day 02- Where you'd like to be in ten years.

Hmmm. So much can change in just a few months that it's hard to know what on earth my ambitions and desires might be ten yeras from now, but i'll give this a shot.

In ten years I would like to be either married or in a commited long-term relationship. If I am married, it will only have been for one or two years.
I will have a career (not just a job) that I love and enjoy. It will be something creative- preferably something I can do a lot of at home or out and about. No cubicle for me, thanks. Something in the film industry would be nice, but there are dozens of other things I would enjoy doing as well.
I will spend a lot of time with family and friends. No matter where I live, I will make frequent trips to Prescott to see my parents. I will also visit my sister wherever she is at least a few times a year.
In fact, I will travel a lot in general. My job will be flexible enough to allow this (in other words, not a nine to five). Maybe I will  even be my own boss- that would certainly make things easier.
I will be thinking about having a baby within the next couple of years.
I will live in a quaint (not huge and not cluttered, but beautiful in it's rustic charm) house with a garden and a backyard. I will cook vegetarian food with fresh ingredients and bake cookies often. When I have kids, my house will be the one all the little ones want to come over to, because I will always have a cookie jar of fresh (and sometimes secretly vegan, hehe) cookies.
I will sing, maybe in the local college choir.
I will take lots and lots of photos, and maybe some videos.
I will go to farmers markets, VW festivals, art walks, community theater shows, pumpkin patches, and small cafes.
I will go camping and hiking often.
I will meditate.
I will keep going to sufi camp.
I will keep doing only things that make me happy.
I will be a lot like I am right now, only very different.

At least that's what I think right now, at 19. My 29 year old self could have some VERY different things to say about the matter.

Something new and fun

Good morning lovelies,
I'ts 8 am right now- I woke up an hour ago, made a pot of tea, a bowl of oatmeal for stewie, and cut up an apple for myself. I then ate breakfast in bed before the sun was even up. That's right. I'm one of those early riser folk these days. So far I really like it. It's like there are 24 hours in the day or something and dinner is supposed to happen at 7, not 11. weird. :)

Anyways, today I am going to start a fun little 30 day posting challenge thing that I stole from my friend Mandy over at Smiles Awake You.... I'll go ahead and post the full list of prompts here so that any of you that want to use it for your own blog can do so!

Day 01 - Your current relationship, if single discuss how single life is.

Day 02 - Where you’d like to be in 10 years.

Day 03 - Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 04 - Your views on religion.

Day 05 - A time you thought about ending your own life.

Day 06 - A photo of yourself and write 30 interesting facts about yourself.

Day 07 - Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality.

Day 08 - A moment you felt the most satisfied with your life.

Day 09 - How you hope your future will be like.

Day 10 – Someone who came into your life unexpected and made an impact.

Day 11 - Put your ipod on shuffle and write 10 songs that pop up.

Day 12 - Bullet your whole day.

Day 13 - Somewhere you’d like to move or visit.

Day 14 – A photo of a cherished memory.

Day 15 - 5 people in your life right now who mean the most.

Day 16 - Your views on mainstream music.

Day 17 - Your highs and lows of this past year.

Day 18 – Something that makes you laugh.

Day 19 - Disrespecting your parents.

Day 20 - How important you think education is.

Day 21 - One of your favorite shows.

Day 22 – Something you want to do before you die.

Day 23 - Give pictures of 5 guys who are famous who you find attractive.

Day 24 – Somewhere you would like to travel.

Day 25 – A photo you took.

Day 26 - What kind of person attracts you.

Day 27 - A problem that you have had.

Day 28 - Something that you miss.

Day 29 - Goals for the next 30 days.

Day 30 - Your highs and lows of this month.

 

Alright. I decided I might as well just get started with day one since I'm here at my computer typing.

Day 01 - Your current relationship, if single discuss how single life is.

 My boyfriend Stewart and I knew of each other long before we became friends or dated. I had a circle of friends in middle school and early highscool that I left about a semester into my sophomore year- around the same time Stewart joined it. He also shared a math class with my ex-boyfriend during junior year, and everytime my ex and I would walk past him the two of them would say hello. The summer before my senior year of highschool I began to rejoin the (completely transformed) group of friends that I had been friends with several years before. At the time I was kind-of seeing a boy I had befriended through my theatre and choir classes. My summer was basically split- one day I'd be hanging out with my hippie, independent, and sometimes wild old friends and the next day I'd be going to church and having a backyard barbecue with my straight-edge, clean-cut theatre friends. It was pretty confusing.

I don't remember exactly when Stewart and I began hanging out but I do remember one night when he and my friend Alex invited me to hangout at Stewart's older brother's apartment. Stewart would later move into the same apartment, and the apartment would eventually be the place where I (and pretty much all my other friends) spent every not-in-school moment. That summer night, though, Brian (stew's bro) was the only one that lived there and it was just the four of us hanging out. Alex had brought his hookah and brian had bought a 12 pack of newcastle and we basically just sat out on the porch, overlooking downtown prescott and chatting until around 1 in the morning. 

After that night, I started hanging out at the apartment on a regular basis. I developed a crush on stewart that at the time I didn't think was that obvious but apparently it was haha. We didn't get together right away, but some weekend night after drinking a couple beers we would cuddle or hold hands. Eventually he kissed me on one of those nights, and we started dating soon after. For a while it was great but unfortunately highschool-us was not a very good us. We broke up at the end of senior year and I'm so glad we did. Highschool is really a terrible time to try to date someone. How did I ever do it? 

Even though we had broken up, we still had the same friends and hung out at the apartment all through summer (stewart lived there by this time). At first it was awkward but after a few weeks it was fine. I noticed stewart starting to flirt with me,  which made me both amused and apprehensive. We started to spend more time together alone and found that neither of us was the same person we had been just a few months before. We spent the last half of summer in a blissfully happy union... but unfortunately when summer ended I flew off the portland to go to school and we broke up. 

We still wrote back and forth to each other in a pretty notebook that stew had given me before I left, though. Sometimes it was unsettling hearing about what he was doing in prescott and I'm sure he found it unsettling to know about some of the things I was doing in Oregon. When I came back for thanksgiving though we were both extremely happy to see each other, and when I came back two weeks after that for my month-long winter vacation, we ended up getting back together.

During my spring semester stew and I skyped frequently, and on valentines day we opened the presents we had gotten for each other (and mailed) while video chatting. I eventually decided I wanted to transfer to U of A (for numerour reasons, only one of them being the fact that i'd be closer to stewie) and when my semester in portland ended the two of us spent a wonderful 4 month summer together. I got my job at Mama Edda's, he worked at a subway, an we took lots of fun trips to the salt river and california. In august we both moved down to Tucson, where we are now. 

Now we spend almost every second together, and we're constantly talking and laughing. It's been over 2.5 years since we first met, and over 2 years since we first dated. Neither of us is even close to what we were back then, thank goodness. This summer we will be moving in together and hopefully we will continue our happy, wonderful relationship.

Whew, and there you have it- a full account of how stewart and I met and started dating. I'll try to not make the other 30 day posts so long!

Have a lovely Friday everyone!!

<3

Em