People Pleasing

In my life, I have realized that there are basically always two options on things; people pleasing, or self pleasing. I remember one specific example and that was doing this basketball camp that I DID NOT want to go to, but one of my friends did which means I did.

I was a pretty weird child and I would get upset about going to the dumbest things. What can I say, I'm a homebody. I personally don't like doing many social things; I mean I like some of them, but I would rather be curled up on the couch with my cat (uh-oh watch out, crazy cat lady headed your way).

Anyways, back to my example. I decided to go to this week of basketball camp and let me tell you; it was TORTURE filled with tears and snot and everything. I honestly have no clue why I went to it if I knew I was going to hate it so much.

Another example is the same friend wanted me to go to this camp with her done at my church and then on the last day we got to go to the waterpark. Yeah, just not a good time for me.
Something about me and camps don't mix well.

Now looking back on these times (and many others)  I realize that I should have always done what I wanted to do.  Let's face it, if you don't get a good vibe about something just don't do it.

Even though these are small, silly examples, there are tons of things that could go wrong if you choose to people please.

Self is most important in situations like this. You don't want to get yourself all worked up about something silly and just wear yourself down with the decision making process. If someone asks you to do something and you honestly don't want to, just say no...there are no excuses needed people; you just simply need some self time.

Take time today to appreciate yourself and only make decisions you are happy with...then you will live with no regrets!

Street Art is Neat

Arby's Gyro!

Okay, so if you haven't had one of these things you need to go get one now..I mean now..go get in your car and get one...NOW!

Arby's, being known for their roast beef sandwiches, made me skeptical of trying the new foreign food (that we all have trouble pronouncing) coming out for a limited time at participating locations.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to try it or not, but after my mom told me how good it was I immediately had to go get one.

I decided to get roast beef on it (you have the option of roast beef or turkey), and it was delicious.

The Arby's gyro is layers of roast beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, tzatziki sauce, and garlic seasoning all stuffed inside the softest pita bread you will ever have in your life.  I even added a little Arby and horsey sauce to mine and it made it even better!!

This gyro is paired perfectly with some curly fries and a doctor pepper!

These sandwiches are also only $6 for two right now! You can't beat that!!!

Dear Arby's,
         You once again have wowed me with an amazing creation that equals up to my love of the reuben.

Seriously, go get one.

Some laughter for that bland Thursday

Before you start reading this, why not go eat a pickle (they aren't bland at all).

Have you ever wondered what your food is thinking when it see's those scary teeth about to bite down on it.

What would you think?

"Oh yay! I'm about to be engulfed by someone's nasty intestines and be thrown into a pit of dark slimy goo!"

NO!!!

You would be thinking "Please don't eat me, please don't eat me, pleaseeeeeee!!!!"

An example of this was a pickle that found itself about to be engulfed into Austin's stomach yesterday (but luckily for the pickle, he doesn't eat them). 

Look how yummy (I mean sad) it looks.

Will you sign up for cucumber awareness week and not eat your pickles on your chicken sandwich to be an activist for this little guy (I sure won't! Nom Nom Nom... I love pickles).

Since there are not many people out there like Austin who choose to save the cucumber world, I just thought I would make a little petition that I whole heartedly do NOT stand by.

Shall you save the cucumber one bite at a time.

Or please your palette one taste at a time.

I choose option 2...:):):)
Sorry Dill. 

The Luck of the Bird

Today I was walking outside and noticed the prettiest little red bird sitting on a tree branch.  I stopped to take a picture, and of course just as I got the camera ready the bird flew away.
I tried to follow the bird with my camera and snapped the photo not knowing I would actually get a decent picture that you could visibly see him.  
I thought, "Red birds are supposed to be lucky, so maybe I got him in the picture."  

I guess I learned my lesson; red birds luck never fails!...and never give up, because the impossible picture (so you think) is just one click away!!!

Look for your red bird tomorrow as a sign to get through this week.  Only 3 (basically 2) more days until Friday!!!

   

Why meditate?

I randomly woke up one morning and decided to start meditating.  

I got this app on my phone where you can either do guided meditation (someone will talk you through it), or just set your background music and your time limit.  The app is called "Calm" and if you decide to start meditating, this will definitely motivate you to do it almost everyday, if not everyday. 

From meditating, I have realized how much my mood has improved and I really have got to learn a lot about myself that I don't think I would have known without this.  I think it's good to have time daily with yourself and really get to know who you are.  I try and meditate 10 minutes a day.  When I feel really stressed, I just go and meditate.  Sometimes it makes me fall asleep, but once my time is up, I feel so much better and ready to take on the day.

I have found that the best time to meditate for me is right when I wake up, but I'm sure this would also be great to do at night to help you wind down from your busy day.  The sounds that come on this app are very relaxing.  My favorite is the beach sound.  It honestly puts me in the mindset of laying on the beach and who doesn't love the beach!

When starting out meditating, it is good to really focus on you (if you get the app and do the tutorial it will explain all of this to you in more detail).

Some good things to do while meditating- 
1. Pick one Bible verse and really focus on it and dissect the meaning of it (I promise you will get a whole different meaning out of it than what you thought of it before)
2. Count (this will relax you and your mind will eventually just start wondering and you will come up with some really creative ideas)
3. Ask yourself questions. This may sound a little silly, but try it! This is how you get to know yourself! Ask deep, deep questions.

Also, if you light a candle while meditating, especially a lavender scented one, you will feel even more unstressed when you are done!

If you have a pretty stressful life, or feel like you just need to get to know yourself a little bit more you should definitely try this!

10 minutes a day to happiness:) 

Wondering thoughts

Have you ever just took the time to think how happy animals are? They hardly have any cares, at least not the cares us humans have.

Let's take a look at birds. They soar through the sky with the wind in their face. When they get tired of flying, they simply go and rest on a tree branch. For food, they eat the things that are out in nature; there is no need for a stove or for a microwave, they simply just eat like a bird. For housing, they use nature again.  No money is used by birds; they don't even have to pay in bird seeds!

Notice how birds don't use any man made products; they simply just need one thing and that's God's creation.

Us humans put too much emphasis into man made items, when in reality all we need to survive is in nature!

Food is provided in nature (yes, we can survive without Doritos and mountain dew:)).

Everything is in nature.

Today it felt nice outside and the windows were down.  Sitting at a red light, I noticed the strong smell of pollution.  

I wonder what it would be like if we just solely survived on nature.  No roads, only grass.  

Sometimes I think that was how it was supposed to be.
Life would be a lot more calm and beautiful. 

The funniest thing in the universe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NDkVx9AzSY

You are welcome.

Fall colors

I was looking at the fall colors outside today. They put me in a crafty mood so I decided to make a little plush doll and draw a creepy cat. Days like this are the best days to do arts and crafts!!

I got sunshine on a cloudy day

Sometimes life can be pretty tough. There is always something standing there to crush you and if you constantly think about these crushing things, then your going to be a pretty sad person. Normally if you look on the bright side of things (I know this is a cliche, but it's true), nothing can crush you. When you start having a bad day, think of all the things you have done. Ask yourself questions like, "Did i say/think something bad about another person?", "Was I mean to anyone?", "Was I inconsiderate and too worried about my time to help out another?".  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then that is more than likely why your day is going bad. Thinking positive thoughts and not saying bad things about people will make your life 100% better.  This video will take 15 minutes of your time and highly recommend watching it.  If you don't have time to watch it right now, you should some other day. After watching this video, you will see the 7 day challenge.  Try to do it! Go 7 days without saying negative things to/about people or thinking negatively towards them. If you mess up, tell them you are sorry or if you think something negative, just think something positive about them instead. The Scary Guy in this video is inspirational and is trying his hardest to change the way the world is today.

If your having a bad day and can't answer yes to any of those questions, then go drink a cup of coffee because coffee is the medicine to everything. 

Almost Halloween!!!

Halloween is my favorite part of the year...well actually I say that at Christmas too, but thats not the point...the point is that Halloween is in a week! I majorly slacked on getting my costume this year and did and emergency Goodwill run last night to find something Austin and I could be. After looking for an hour and going through at least five outfits, we finally found the one! I am not going to say what it is until Halloween because surprises are always the best! Ironically enough, there was a car parked in Goodwill's parking lot with a hand hanging out of the trunk and a Freddy Krueger mannequin in the passenger seat (yes, there was a man who got kicked to the back seat so dear Freddy could stretch those legs out). Luckily, the car was in front of us when we left!

After we left goodwill, we were starving so we quickly ate at Buffalo Wings so we could continue our search for costume accessories.  We got everything else at Hobby Lobby and Walmart!  Now all we have left is to make our costume!  Happy almost Trick-or-Treat!

  

A look behind the lens

Pictures hold the meaning to life stories; stories most of us will never be able to live. When looking at pictures back during in older times, you see things such as a woman with tons of wrinkles. Behind every wrinkle is a story. Looking at her in the photo tells her life story and makes you feel as if you have a personal connection to her. The life that people had to live back then seems impossible to many of us today. Some look at pictures like this and just see a picture, I try to see the story. Imagine finding a picture and being able to jump inside of it for just five minutes and get a glimpse into the life of another human. Never judge someone before walking where they have walked because you never know where the wrinkles came from.

Photo effects

Filters can completely change a boring, drab photo into something interesting and beautiful! My favorite iPhone app for photo editing is PhotoStudio. This app includes a variety of easy ways to show your creative self off for only $1.99! I'll show some of my photo studio edits below.  The app is super easy to use and explains everything.  Sometimes you just have to spice up your pictures!!

Astonishment

What just happened!?!?! 
Have I seriously just seen a movie that made me sad that it was over and want to pay another $10 to go see it again????
A few weeks ago I saw "Guardians of the Galaxy", and this is how I felt when I left.
There are very few movies that are made where I could watch them over and over again, but this is one of those movies.  I can honestly say that this is my favorite movie and I highly recommend watching it. 
The movie has a variety of elements.  I cried, laughed, and felt suspense during the movie.  I loved it so much that I had to buy a shirt!!! 
-Ashley, who is your favorite super hero?
-Groot!!!!!!!

Is that music I hear???

Music forms the very essence of every single being on earth. When we meet someone with a different language, we might not understand them, but we can understand their music. If they pulled out there iPod and played their favorite song, we automatically would learn so much about that person.

Everyone has a preference to music; a different musical language. The way the beat flows through your veins determines which music language you are. Alternative is my music language. When listening to alternative music, I can't help but to be totally consumed into the song as if I have been transported to a different planet. 

I think the best form of relaxation is a pen with a journal, a cup of coffee, and most importantly music. Music is all around us. Storms are just another word for music. The way the wind blows, the way the rain paddles on the ground, the thunder; it all forms together to form harmonic unity. Sometimes nature can be the best inspiration for new songs. No matter where you are, music is there to be found. If you are musically aware throughout the day, you will hear it from the second you wake up to the second you fall asleep. Recording the different beats throughout the day and blending them together would form something amazing. 

Music saves the world from being the boring dull place it has become since industrialization has taken over. Imagine how perfect the world would be if everything was nature.  If there were no roads, no buildings, no cars. What if our homes were tents surrounded by trees and animals with the beats of nature flowing through our ears. The music we would hear in this surrounding would be what music was meant to sound like in the beginning of times. Sometimes I wish this was how the world still was. Music and nature surrounding to form a visual and mental peace all around.

Music definitely has a peace about it that is unexplainable and it is always the best medicine for any day.

Remembrance

Our world has not been the same since that tragic day. 

In the year 2000, we never had to think that a terrorist attack would happen. If our loved ones were getting on a plane, we would only be worried because of malfunctions due to the plane. If our loved ones were going into the office on the 30th floor in a building, it would have just been another day. Thinking back on this mindset, were we just naive. Naive in thinking that everything is perfect. Naive in categorizing ourself in almost a utopia like manner because we live in America, the safest country on Earth.  

On the morning of September 11th, somebody's spouse went into work or got on a plane. Somebody's child, somebody's parent was expected to be here today. On September 10th, 2001 nobody knew this was going to happen. Nobody knew that history books would have to be expanded with the horror that took place. Now that we have passed the tragic day, September 11th 2001, we remember those who lost their lives.  

Now we have to live in a little bit of fear, but still trust that God is looking over us. We know our world is not close to a utopia. Anything could happen, so love the one's around you and do your best to spread peace throughout the world. Pray for those who may be lost. The one's who are misguided and not in the mindset of peace on Earth.

We give our condolences to those who we lost and those who lost a loved one on that horrific day and pray that peace come into their lives. The world will never be the same or as naive as it was before the terror struck the lives of us all.