What You Should Look For in a Significant Other

  

 

 

 I think that the most fulfilling feeling in the world is to know that you are loved deeply and unconditionally, by someone besides God and his unconditional love for you. And people spend endless amounts of time looking for that treasure shared between them and another person. The problem though is that sometimes we spend so much time concentrating and searching for that person to share our life with that we actually may be missing the opportunity to find them when we just relax. Instead of focusing on becoming who we are supposed to be and who we are meant to become, we focus on finding the right person. But I think that many times we don't find the right person until God or the universe or just fate decides we are ready. And if we don't focus on our own person and spend time developing who we are becoming then we will never be "ready" to meet that soul mate.
     It shouldn't be a rush to find the love of your life. It happens naturally and can't be forced. I am looking forward to so greatly to the man that I fall in love, and the exciting part is the wait. Who knows what will happen? Right now these are a list of the things I think are important when considering any guy as more than a friend:

1. Someone who challenges you. Nothing is more exciting than meeting a person who makes you think in new ways or excites you to attempt to adventures. Never go after someone who is stagnant and doesn't encourage personal growth.

2. Common values. For me, a shared passion for God is what I find important simply because my faith is in the forefront of my life and I want someone who can relate to me in that. But it can just be as simple sharing the same morals.

3. Common interests. I like to hike and explore or try new restaurants or activities and a guy who shares those interests is attractive to me. It ties in with the challenging aspect. I don't want someone who isn't interested in doing active and exciting things. It varies though, maybe having someone who absolutely loves reading is important, or cooking. Whatever excites you.

4. No one upping. Competition in relationships are fun but when it comes down to just trying to one up the other, that's when it gets bad. It isn't fun getting belittled in relationships instead of encouraged. Which leads us to...

5. Encouragement. One of the best feelings is the world when someone truly believes in you and hopes for you to succeed.

6. Being "ready". Lastly, it is definitely important that whoever you are talking to is on the same page as you with what is going on. Don't pursue something that the other person isn't looking for because believe me, it never works out. Ever. If they aren't ready then take that for face value.

Know that you don't need a relationship to define you, but when you do find yourself considering someone that they truly meet what you are looking for because it is better to wait than to settle.

10 Reasons to Love Fall

 

 

 

1. Everything smells amazing. Fresh baked pie, the musk of crunched leaves, cinnamon and vanilla, crisp autumn air....just yum.

 

2. The colors. Leaves turn all sorts of different shades of purple, red, orange, and yellow where I live at least and I can't get enough of how beautiful it is!

 

3. Honestly, the crisp air is even amazing. Ya sure, you gotta bundle up a little bit but after the sweltering heat of summer, having some cool air turn your cheeks pink kind of feels nice doesn't it?

 

4. Apple cider. Enough said.

 

5. Dark nail polish. I love me some Tiffany blue and hot pink, but I have definitely been anticipating deep burgundy, gold and plum hues.

 

6. Boots. I pretty much try to work boots into every fall outfit I own....is that bad?

 

7. Thanksgiving. The turkey, cranberry sauce, homemade gravy......excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face.

 

8. Hiking. Between the leaves changing and the fresh air, I vote that fall is the best time to go hiking. Everything is vibrant and eye-catching and the best bar is that the same hike during the summer looks incredibly different during autumn.

 

9. Fall break. Just when you start to get a little overwhelmed with exams and school, fall break appears to give us a well deserved rest.

 

10. Pie. Obviously. Like the little cat says in the picture (at least I think it's a cat), pie pretty much is enough of a reason by itself to love fall!

 

 



40 of Life's Simple Pleasures

Sometimes we miss the little joys of life that are right in front of our noses because we are too focused on finding the big ones.

1. Being under a snuggly blanket when it's chilly outside.

2. Getting complimented.

3. Sparkly nail polish.

4. Football season. Even if you don't love the sport, we can all appreciate the delicious food!

5. Sweet tea.

6. Holding hands with your significant other.

7. Paying forward random acts of kindness.

8. Ice-cream cones.

9. Disney movies. No matter your age, singing along with Ariel or Cinderella is a must.

10. Having a best friend.

11. Being thanked.

12. Having the door held open for you.

13. Warm grass under your feet.

14. First loves.

15. True loves.

16. Siblings. They can be a pain sometimes but that's the point right?

17. Singing your favorite song as loud as you can.

18. Taylor Swift

19. Freedom. We take this for granted but to have freedom is to have more than many in the world.

20. Car radios. Solo jam sessions on the way to work are the best.

21. Cherry pie. Obviously.

22. Jumping into a big pile of crunchy leaves during the fall.

23. Seat warmers. By January my bottom would be frozen without these guys.

24. People watching. This is the most fun (and possibly the creepiest) free activity you can find!

25. A clean house. I always breathe a sigh of satisfaction when I see everything picked up and put away.

26. A new book to read.

27. Blowing bubbles in the summer.

28. Flowers.

29. When a child reaches up to hold your hand.

30. Getting an A on your exam.

31. Or a B for that matter.

32. Riding bikes during the fall.

33. Hot tea to sip on during cold days.

34. Flannel. So cozy.

35. Uggs. I'm sorry but its true.

36. Pandora. Who doesn't love free music!?

37. Seeing someone after a long time apart.

38. Receiving snail mail. #Throwback.

39. Nice conversations with random strangers.

40. Cookie dough. yuuuummmmmmm.

Many of these little pleasures are ones we are lucky to experience. Always count your blessings and don't lose sight of the big picture in life while forging towards your end goals,

Fall Bucket List

I cannot believe it is already almost autumn! The only things I can think about right now are apple cider, changing colors, pumpkins and boots. I am just sooo excited. Besides just pumpkin spice lattes and yoga pants, their are tons of other things to look forward to in the coming weeks:

1. Carving pumpkins: Their is no age limit when it comes to spending an afternoon in the crisp air finding the perfect jack-o-lantern.

2. Making homemade pumpkin seeds: Their is nothing better than taking the seeds you scooped out of your freshly picked pumpkin and baking them with salt for crunchy delicious treat.

3. Haunted houses/Mazes: Dressing up in your warmest sweaters and heading out to a corn maze or old rickety house to spend your money on getting scared is a novelty of fall.

4. Boots: Is their anything more to be said? High heeled boots, riding boots, ankle boots? The options are endless!

5. Bonfires: Find all your friends, break out the s'mores makings and cuddle up with some blankets around a cozy fire to tell stories and maybe drink some hot chocolate.

6. Make homemade apple cider: nothing beats apple cider, especially when its made from scratch. Here is a awesome recipe to use.

7. Hike to see all the fall colors: Getting to spend your whole day in the brisk autumn air and see the leaves change from green to purple, orange and yellow sounds like the most amazing way to experience fall.

8. Ride your bike.

9. Decorate your dorm room, house, or apartment: A little festivity never hurt anyone and its always fun to spend some extra time making your space look and smell like all the wonderful parts of autumn.

10. Layer up: Fashion in the colder months is so much more creative and adorable than the warmer because of the endless possibilities. Layering necklaces, jackets, cardigans and scarves leaves endless possibilities

11. Participate in your towns thanksgiving 5k: Races like the Turkey Trot are fun, easy going races that give an excuse to have fun with friends while exercising in preparation for stuffing ourselves later in the day. A bonus is that most of the time the profits raised go towards a good cause too.

12. Spend some time reflecting on what you are grateful for this season. Not many people have the privilege to carve pumpkins or go to a haunted maze this fall.

13. Go on a hayride with your hubby or best friends.

14. Find some fall dorm inspiration on Pinterest so that your hall will be talk of the entire campus.

15. Make your own Halloween costumes. Inside of buying one, take advantage of the cold weather and snuggle up inside to create your own masterpiece.

16. Go to a football game or two and get caught up in the excitement of being a part of something.

17. Light a nice candle: Yankee and Bath and Body Works candles are the bomb and are well worth the money.

18. Take a warm bath: Fill a tub with some Epsom salts, put on some music, and relaaaxxx...

19. Bake sugar cookies in the shapes of pumpkins, leaves, and ghosts: Bring out your inner child again and enjoy the process of baking, decorating, and devouring sweet treats.

20. Have a movie marathon: Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus are classics.

Check out this amazing fall bucket list that I cannot wait to try out!

I hope everyone has an amazing autumn season and takes advantage of all the festivities it has to offer! Thanks, xoxo


Picture Link

Online Journal Entry #3

  

      Right now I am sitting in a little area inside an academic building on my university campus. It has a spacious feeling with couches and tables along with a little coffee bar so that I can sip a dirty chai and work on homework simultaneously. Is very conducive for studying and relaxing. But even with all of this scholarly atmosphere, I am still having a hard time focusing on my 4 page essay due today (I am only a paragraph in btw) because I really need to write a blog post right now more than I need to write an essay on my opinion on plagiarism. Hence this third online journal entry. My first and second are also on my blog as well.
     Going to college was the crazy transition I talked about in my personal experience with change on I believe my second online entry. So far I don't think I have gained any of my freshman 15 yet which is a relief because the food here is so delicious. But a lot of it is super healthy too, I had a quinoa stuffed Portobello mushroom for dinner the other night which was amazing and there is always fruit and salad available. I have met quite a few people that are already good friends that I probably spend a good seventy-five percent of my time with. Just last weekend I went on an accidental 10 mile hike with them because we lost track of time exploring and having a blast. I have been cherishing these first few weeks here and have discovered myself a little better too but know that I have plenty of room to grow in the next few years as well.
     There have been a couple things I have experienced that I didn't expect already this year. One is that people are still catty. With a few people I already know and through some random run-ins I have come to realize that immaturity and the incessant need to put others down still continues after high school, which I guess I knew would happen but hoped otherwise. It stinks that I still have to deal with other girls and guys who only want to be mean and rude. Another one that is more humorous than actually unfortunate, is that it rains a ton here which I guess is not terrible in and of itself. Mostly the problem is just that I never have enough forethought to cover my suede bike seat with something so that I don't soak my butt on my ride to class. I look like I wet my pants at least once a week. I just invested in an umbrella too yet keep forgetting to use it. It's been rough without the dry assurance my car roof used to provide. But it's okay cause I have seen a lot of people who've "wet their pants" around campus too. I am such a whiner.
     But to end on a happy note, I have plenty of amazing things about college thus far as well! One is the insane amount of fun and excitement intramural sports provide. I have never played volleyball on a real team but my friends and I started one and have games every week in a mini league. It has been a total blast. No one cares if I am not some star player because the environment is so relaxed and inviting. Also, the biking routes are fantastic. It is so simple to find my way around campus and I never have to worry about getting nailed by a car because there is always a generous bike lane provided. Lastly, the faculty that I have personally encountered have been more than generous with their time and resources in order to make sure I will succeed my first semester of college. I haven't experienced the "mean professor" stereotype yet that have horror stories modeled after them.
     So far overall, being here at my university has been a fulfilling and wonderful experience and I am highly anticipating what the next few years will bring!
      Okay, I should probably actually do my homework now but I hope this post brightened someone's day and I am always looking for comments and suggestions if you have any!
Thankyou:)
Katy

Things I've Learned So Far in College

It's only been a week and I already feel so much wiser :) Here is my list of funny/serious things I have learned thus far in college:

1. Staying up till 3am when you have a class at 8am is a poor poor choice.
2. Spending the night in another dorm when you have class at 8am is also a poor choice.
3. Not all coffee shops are equal on campus.
4. The worst place to study is your dorm room.
5. Its good to have a snack drawer in your room for when you get hungry but can't make it to the cafeteria for food.
6. It is better to be overly sociable than not social enough.
7. U-locks are way better that the cord bike locks.
8. Pack enough clothes so that you only have to do laundry every two weeks.
9. Shower flip flops are a must unless you're shooting for a foot fungus.
10. Don't slam your dorm room door unless you really want to piss everyone off.
11. Hand soap is just as good as dish soap when it comes to cleaning out water bottles in community bathrooms.
12. Have a velcro strip on your towel (or buy one pre-made) so you can have two free hands on your walk to and from the showers.
13. Join as many clubs or activities as possible to see what you enjoy. This is crucial to "finding yourself" in college and you can always just quit if you don't like what you joined.
14. Ask the kid eating alone to sit with you, they may just turn into your best friend.
15. Bribe your hallmates into becoming your friends by inviting them to watch movies or paint nails with you. You're never gonna make friends sitting alone in your room
16. Stay clean for your roommate. It will prevent a lot of fights and ill feelings towards one another.
17. Never walk in the dark on campus without a buddy. There are tons of creeps out there.
18. Always have pepper spray.
19. The "freshman 15" is avoidable as long as you exercise some self control and just exercise period.
20. Never turn down a free coupon book. seriously.
21. Or free food. ever.

Educating Yourself and Change Your Life

 

   We live in an era where it seems as if any information needed is accessible by the touch of a button. Why is it then that according to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, that people are about as up to date with current events and world news as they were 20 years ago, even with the extensive advances in technology? Educating yourself is not simply what classes you took in high school or your intended major in college. Those things are important yes, but if those are the only sources you use to gain knowledge of the world around you then there is so much more to learn.
     To let one person tell you something and let that be the end all be all of your ideas on a subject is not the right way to approach education. Our minds are impressive especially when we are young and still learning. What people tell us might seem like the correct answer or way to view things, but until we gather information on our own, how can we truly know what we believe? A Gallup poll in 2005 suggests that 71% of our generation agree with their parents political beliefs. While that is not to say that what they think is wrong, it does raise the question of whether or not young people have those beliefs only due to parental influence or because of individual research and conclusions drawn on their own.
     One day I was with a friend and we randomly flipped on the news. Reporters were covering a huge protest that had already been occurring for several days. I had absolutely no idea what was going on but my friend knew almost everything. He made a joke about how poorly I keep up with my current events by how oblivious I was to something that was a major crisis in the south states. This made me consider how much I really don't know about the world. Sure, I know the things I've learned from listening to people talk, but how much do I actually know about the world?
     Being educated is a way of becoming aware of situations outside our own little bubbles. It gives us meaningful conversations to have and an overall maturity and increase in personal value that revolves around the acknowledgement of lives and cultures and ideas outside our own. By not accepting everything we hear without thinking for yourself first and by actively pursuing knowledge and information, we create a wealth of opportunities and gain so much in character. It is a privilege to know what is going on with our government and country while many other people around the world are prevented from that basic right by officials who blind them from the truth to keep them naïve and unthreatening. Knowledge is power and we need to take advantage of it in order to create the life we want and change the things we don't. If you don't like the president, vote. If you don't like the way LGTBQ people are treated, do something about it. If you don't like how women's rights are being handled by the government, protest. Stipulations don't change unless people take a stand. It all starts with taking time to learn what is going on in your world and then determining for yourself what you deem important.
     A great way to become more involved is just by doing little things. Watch a TedTalk once a week or read an online New York Times newspaper article. Go to Yahoo.com and click on one of their little news posts to get the scoop on something you find interesting. You can even just watch the Today Show while you eat breakfast. There are so many avenues that make it easy to access current events, we just have to pursue them. But while you are doing so, keep in mind that the news anchors and papers and blogs will report something how they view it and how they want you to interpret it too. Just because someone reports an event in a certain way doesn't make it absolute. You still have to determine for yourself what it is you will accept as your truth.
    
"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." - Kofi Annan


Credits:
http://worldaffairscharlotte.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/currentevents/
http://www.gallup.com/poll/14515/teens-stay-true-parents-political-perspectives.aspx