It Ain't the Summer Blues!

The Summer blues were supposed to be my reason for not posting, but in reality I really have no excuse for not posting more often other than I am a failure at prioritizing. I just never get around to it! I know I always enjoy reading other people's blogs, but I can't seem to establish a routine for it myself. This is something that I have always struggled with, but I will overcome it if I ever want it enough.

          (random & cute!!)

For now, I'm just so glad it's finally summer!! It has been so hot, and even though we have no air conditioning for the time being, I am appreciating it so much. I have waited for these two weeks of heat so long!! It's why I endure every other week in the year. It's what keeps me sane! 

I just have to mention since I never did before, that I got 94% on Miller's final, and kept my 4.0 intact this whole year. Next year may be another matter entirely, but we'll see how that goes. I'm just really proud of it because I worked so hard to maintain it.

I have been having lots of fun already this summer! I went to Girl's Camp, hiked Roxyann with Crstn and Anna to see the sunset, and actually had a pretty scary experience--long story behind that--all because we didn't bring a flashlight..how smart. After the sunset it gets DARK..Obviously we're bright. But it ended up being such a good bonding experience.

We sang hymns, prayed, held hands, and tried not to be terrified. It definitely took a huge amount of faith. We had to take the longer path because it was wider, more traveled, and more open and light. I'm pretty sure it took us over an hour to walk down, and we did it all in the dark.


We were strong for each other, and reassuring. We just talked and talked about life, and said why we love each other, and discussed fulfilling our divine missions, and we just got so invigorated, we kept walking right on down and no harm came to us. We didn't even get a ride back to Anna's house, we just walked. That was because after a while, we received the peace  and assurance of Christ, and embraced it with every part of us. It turned into such a cool experience, spiritually, but also a good physical lesson- when planning a sunset hike, bring flashlights, or else lots of guys with the priesthood! 

Some other things I have done...well, some biking, and vegetarian eating, and having lots of fun with Heidi. Also, I went to see the Amazing Spider Man with 5 of my best guy friends and my brother, and ate Marionberry Pie ice cream while overlooking the valley at 2 in the morning. That was quite an adventure as well.

I have done lots of hanging out with Anna, Meg, Adde, and Christine. I also went on a double date with Luke and Christine and Josh to Jacksonville Inn, and then to a movie in the park for Josh's birthday, which was hilarious and fun....

Right now, my dad and brother are driving up to Seattle to ride 200 miles to Portland this weekend. I'm so proud of them! They are amazing, and fun people..it's also kind of funny, my parents' anniversary is tomorrow, and since my dad started doing this Seattle to Portland ride every summer, he has been away for it. We'll find a way to make it fun for mom, though.

So, I feel like I'm basically living it up like a true teenager. But I have also done lots of spiritual growth and inward reflection on how I can improve my relationships and the quality of the life I am currently living. I had a realization of how important it is that I fulfill my divine purpose and reason for coming here, and I have to be prepared in order to fully receive that mission.

I have been motivated by the people around me who are watching to get my own life in order, set a good example, live high standards, and keep myself "unspotted from the world" in order to reach that potential. It is kind of a burden, but it is also a complementary challenge, and honor to be so highly trusted with a purpose that makes a difference. I accept the challenge.

On a side note, I have been getting closer to my sister than ever before. We talk about everything, and go on random outings together, and stay up late, giggling into the night..we have had a LOT of fun. I am so glad we never really fight. I know I can talk to her about anything, and that she will make me laugh when I don't feel like laughing. She is so much fun! I don't want her or my brother to go to college in the fall, but I guess I'll have to handle it.

                                            

                                           

(This is us after Sam's graduation..we were pretty hyper. I love these guys!)

Also, I have been working on serving the people I love more freely and more often. I try to be diligent and have a good attitude, and it has really made a difference in the spirit of our entire home. Honestly, even just in the week or so I have stepped it up, I have seen a huge change in the atmosphere. It is very satisfying to know that I have brought about a lot of that good change.

Lastly, I guess I should mention I am teaching my little brother Spanish!!! It is so fun! It is good practice in patience for me, and a good education for him. He loves it, and often begs me to teach him more throughout the day. He keeps using phrases on my mom, and it's funny because half of the time, I think he doesn't know what he's saying. It's cute.

Also, I am learning how to get along with him better. It's not like I constantly fight with Spencer, it's just that he has so much energy and craziness that I don't know what to do with him sometimes, and it overwhelms me. Now, I am helping him to channel that energy into something that he enjoys, and it is also a good experience.

I am just getting along with everyone in my house so much better now that I changed my own attitude, and it is really eye-opening to see the influence that I have. I have put so much more into my relationships with my family and I have gotten out of it ten times what I put in.

I think I will keep this attitude, and see who else I can change by my positivity and service. I'm gonna keep smiling, and watch the good consequences follow. The possibilities are endless! 

Busy Stuff...

Wellll....I have not yet posted about Carnegie Hall, and the main reason for that is because as soon as I got home, things got crazy busy, and it's also overwhelming to try and sort through all the pictures I have and pick the most important, which I know is a lame excuse...I hate that excuse, it seems just so shallow. But it's all I've got, because I feel totally inadequate for being consistent about this blog.

But whatever! I'm going to go with it, and hope for the best! I think it's just overwhelming for me to try and put my life onto a short blog post when I feel like my life is so much more dramatic than it actually is. It's difficult for me to find the words that describe all of the crazy emotions I deal with all the time, and who I really am as a person. I feel pretty terrible about it.

And also, when I put pictures with posts, I feel like I want to put a ton of them, when I guess I don't actually need all of them. It's just my nature to be really detailed I guess, and I'm still getting used to it. It's kind of rough though, so please bear with me.

....I guess I should mention that along with being busy, of course I have had some "episodes" of bad health, as my mom calls them. I had a panic attack last Sunday during a concert!! of all places..agh. It wasn't pleasant. And then I had another one this Sunday. Along with yet another new symptom of my rare disease that I affectionately call "Filmore." The list of problems seems to be growing a little too fast for my liking...but I don't think I actually have a rare disease, there I'm just being dramatic again :)

But anyways. You don't want to know about that. I'll just say that the past couple weeks have been crazy because there's a lot going in and out of school. I have the AP U.S. History exam next week, and have been doing some crazy awesome studying with my best buds, Christine, Josh, and Luke. We always make food, so it's really fun...but it's also productive, don't worry!! :)

Also, I had my first OFFICIAL date, which was fun...
Plus!! Heidi is home! OH, it's joyful. She brings so much happiness in my life. I have been holding up much better since she came home, and we have been alternately boosting each other up as needed. It is most definitely worth it to have to share my room again, and not have enough room in my drawers for clothes again (because she took the other half when she came home). She's just awesome. Besides, her Despicable Me  ringtone is therapeutic for me every time I hear it. Since she has been home, I have learned at least one important lesson from her, but one of the most prominent goes like this:  Unicorns, I love them, unicorns, I love them.. :)

So that's where I am right now. Hopefully the busy-ness won't peak too much more before the school year ends, because I don't know how much more of this I can handle. Obviously my physical AND emotional health is failing me. Oh well. It's life. You gotta love it.

And lastly, I have to mention that I have been saddened by a recent realization that when Luke, Josh, and my bro, Sam, leave, my heart will pretty much break. I can't believe they're graduating!! They have become my best friends, my siblings, my mental support team, and my joy every day. They always make me laugh. They make life interesting, and fun. I have enjoyed school at least 83% more this year because of them, which means that school has become almost better than being home. I love these guys, and wish them the best for all of their futures!!
But...I will miss them tremendously.

So, that's it for now. As soon as I have a sane minute to upload pictures from Carnegie, and the mental strength to tackle trying to describe the amazing-ness of that experience, I will definitely update about that. But for now, it's CRAM CRAM CRAM for the AP TEST!!!! (oh, and also planning for my half-birthday. SOOO STOKED about that! :)

It's gonna be a crazy awesome two weeks!

And also...I'm definitely obsessed with Peanut Butter. Just thought that might be important to mention.. :)

The Time Is Come

Well folks, we are almost there. All of the planning we've been doing-the coordinating, signing of documents, violin-equipping, preparing, practicing, concerts, fundraising-is all about to come together.

We are leaving for our flight tomorrow night..or actually very early in the morning Sunday, if you want to be technical. It's here! In two days, I will be in New York City! :)

I can't even believe it..it's kind of overwhelming. But I know it will all work out, and that we will do our best. Plus, we're going to have a lot of fun along the way!

By the way, the weather's going to be in the 60's and 70's and sunny all the time we'll be there!! We're so lucky. It's raining pretty hard here, actually for the first time in a while. Of course, the weather will not be predicted. So stubborn...that's why it's Medford.. haha.

So it's packing time for me! We have to start today so we're not rushing too much at the other end. It's going to be a stressful process. I hate packing because I'm always afraid I'll miss something, and I always have to write it down, or I'll drive myself crazy thinking of all the things I need. Plus, we'll be doing some last-minute shopping, which, I have to admit, I resent, and that should be interesting.

And with performances and events to go to, we need a few extra items, too. It's just going to be a crazy couple of days, but it will be worth it. And maybe I'll even get some sleep!

Well. I will take a ton of pictures, and I will definitely have fun!!

So that's it then.

 I'm off to New York City!!!

MARCH IS HERE!!

Well the month of the countdown has finally arrived!! I can't even believe that in 15 days, I will be walking the streets of New York City. It's crazy.. So I am definitely excited!! Also, we are halfway through the 3rd quarter, and that's crazy too cause that means I am almost 3/4 done with my sophomore year! It has been a great one, too, by the way :)

 

I have been really busy, as usual, and I have been having a lot of fun. But I have also been trying to practice more than ever these past few weeks because I needed to be officially perfect with two more songs for Carnegie, and Faina has been relentlessly scaring mom and I when we go to lessons.

We hadn't been doing well, even though we had practiced more than usual. So for the past two weeks, we practiced for a ridiculous amount..and it just put more pressure on us. We were so nervous about being perfect for these three pieces.

And today...today, we went to our third to last lesson before Carnegie. And we nailed it. Totally nailed it. It was so amazing. Such a good feeling to finally succeed after all of that stress, and uncertainty. We will still keep working, for sure, but now we are at peace that we have improved so much, and I'm so grateful that we get to do this! 

I also had my first B on a test this week!!!! Quite the experience..it was a "Miller Test", and you would have to know him to appreciate this. But I am not mad about it, because I was gone for a couple days the week before, and didn't quite understand everything. Also, he did put a really hard problem on there which most people missed, myself included.

It was a learning experience, though, because I know the things I did wrong, and when we had the quiz that covered things that were on the test the next week, I got 100%!!! (Okay, I did miss 1/2 a point, but that wasn't anything significant. I just didn't multiply the final answer of one thing. I basically got it, though.). 

Besides that one, I have gotten totally 100% on EVERY single quiz he's given, and an A on every test, so I'm pretty proud of myself. It's a hard class...

And lastly, I have a video here. My adorable little brother Spencer is quite the animated little fun child. I'm convinced he could be a great actor if he wanted to. This all came about because the other night, I heard him talking to himself in the living room. 

So I went in there, and saw him rehearsing a play for a little performance they were doing in his class the next day. I had the brilliant idea to record it so we could have this memory, and have his priceless acting on camera. It is adorable, and I just thought I would share it with the world!!  

So, here is my 10-year-old brother Spencer, with his version of "King In The Kitchen" :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rSdD3A_Yqws

Well, there you have it. And don't forget, 14 days until CARNEGIE HALL!!!! 

 

:)

Energy Profiling & Dressing Your Truth!

So let me explain what Dressing Your Truth is! (It goes along with Energy Profiling).

Basically it is a makeover system based on your Personal Beauty Profile or your true nature - the person you are.

So first you determine what Type you are. In this program there are 4 Types. These Types each have a unique movement that are expressed in our personality, behavior, facial features, body language, thought processes, the way we share our feelings, and even all the way down to our doodling! The Four Types are based on the 4 main elements which are Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Carbon. These are the elements that create everything on this planet - even humans. Each individual element has a unique movement that will be expressed through us as people.

Let me explain a little bit about each Type:

Type 1 - Nitrogen/Air
Upward, light, bright, animated, fun, fresh, cute, playful, disconnected
Shapes are circles, stars, hearts, sunburst, curly cues.
Examples in nature are Humming Bird, Quaky Aspen Tree, and Gerber Daisies.
Type 1 celebrities are Rachel Ray, Drew Barrymore, Jim Carey and Paula Abdul.
Type 1 people are fun, optimistic, full of ideas, encouraging, can adapt to change easily, can get distracted easily, have a lightness about them.

                       

Type 2 - Oxygen/Water
Fluid, flowing, blended, connected, soft, subtle, relaxed
Shapes are teardrops, s-curves, softened oval, softened rectangles.
Examples in nature are Dove, full-bloomed Rose, Weeping Willow.
Type 2 celebrities are Jennifer Aniston, Richard Grere, Julia Roberts, Emma Thompson, and Jessica Alba.
Type 2 people are calm, detail-oriented, sensitive, can worry about the little things, plan ahead, like comfort in all things, have a peacefulness about them, they ponder and day dream planning into the future.

Type 3 - Hydrogen/Fire
Active, reactive, swift, substantial, sure, rich, dynamic, textured
Shapes are swift lines creating angles, triangles, trapezoids, squares
Examples in nature are Hawk, Maple Tree, Bird of Paradise.
Type 3 celebrities are Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, and Joan Rivers
Type 3 people are swift movers, they work quickly to get things done, result-oriented, confident to lead others, quick to see solutions, great multi-taskers, can sometimes appear pushy or bossy.

Type 4 - Carbon/Earth
Constant, still, bold, symmetrical, exact, clear, simple, reflective
Type 4 shapes are parallel lines, perfect ovals, perfect rectangles.
Examples in nature are Penguins, Noble Fir Tree, Cala Lily
Type 4 celebrities are Courtney Cox, Simon (on American Idol), Cher, and Anne Hathaway
Type 4 people have a gift of perfecting. They see how things can be improved. Structured, like to be their own authority, value loyalty, tradition, deep thinkers/reflective, one-track minds, like alone time.

Click here to take Carol Tuttle's Beauty Confidence Quiz!! 

See how you are getting along with fashion! Maybe you, like most women, are ready for a change in how you love and take care of yourself...

You can also click on this link to see many "Before & Afters" of women who have not only changed the way they look, but how they feel. These photos aren't enhanced in any way, and it's amazing to see the transformation. Pay attention to the way their eyes glow, and they just radiate confidence and happiness with who they are in the after pictures.

I believe every woman is truly beautiful, but the fashion world has not taught women how to bring that out, but I know how!! When a woman steps into the clothes that are perfect for her Type for the first time, at the same time she is stepping into who she truly is! It is amazing to know of something that is so life changing. I wish I could share these truths to the whole world!!

I am grateful for the deeper knowledge of who I am - my gifts and talents that are unique to me.

I will probably refer a lot to the 4 Types throughout my blog so I wanted to make sure to clarify what each one represents! It is a lot of fun!

Here are some fun resources if you want to learn more:

www.myenergyprofile.com
www.dressingyourtruth.com
www.thecarolblog.com

Also, I would highly recommend reading these books written by Carol Tuttle, the creator of Energy Profiling, and Dressing Your Truth. She is also a highly qualified energy therapist, and has changed many lives with her insight to the patterns of the human mind.

Purchase this book here! 

(It is also available as an audio recording for ipods or mp3s) 

It explains in full depth and detail the tendencies, challenges, and strengths of each type. Everyone will fall into one of the four categories, and they always have and will be that energy, it doesn't change. It is who we are in our natural element, and movement. It helps us to understand each other better and the way we work with people will be immensely improved. And remember, we don't judge Niagara Falls for being too pushy, or a willow tree for being too flowy; it's just the way they were made. So don't judge people that way either! :)

Or purchase this book!

It will tell you about the 4 Types in depth also, but it will focus more on the typical fashion mistakes of each type, and fashion myths we have all been led to believe in. 

Or this book!

It elaborates on how energy works in our lives, and how we can use that energy to create good in our lives. It explains all of the negative energy we have as a human race, and individually, and how to clear this energy so we can move on with our lives. This book changed my life, and I highly recommend it. Remember: we are each in control of our lives!

And if you want more info, just let me know! :)

Bring It On, 2012

I guess it is quite obvious by now to me and anyone with eyes that I am a horrible blogger...I just can't do the balance thing. I'm not consistent, I am way too busy, and it is not my first priority right now... Let's keep it at that.

This year, I am making a goal, NOT a resolution, to blog once every two weeks, and call it good. I know it sounds cheap, but that's really all I have time to think about promising for. I am a teenage student with a life. Need I explain further? :) And that brings me to talk about what I have been doing for the past two months. 

I had a perfectly magical Christmas, with family, good food, presents, giving, freezing weather, and all of that good stuff. Except for one thing. There was something essential missing in my Christmas this year, and it was devastating, I have to admit. I never saw it coming. 

First of all, let me explain something. I have been seeing a therapist for the past two months to help with all of my migraine and miscellaneous problems (which I will not go into right now for fear of boring people...I don't want a pity party, trust me..). And on my first appt., December 21st, she asked me to cut off my right arm. In other words,  I was ordered off of chocolate.  

Yes. It's true. And awful, and frightening, and terribly horrible.. For the first few days, I was feeling pretty starved, and deprived. I never knew how much chocolate I ate here and there. I never knew how much I was attached to it, addicted, even. But it wasn't just that I couldn't eat it. It was that it was EVERYWHERE!!!  No hot chocolate to warm you up, no candy from stockings, no chocolate-covered things, no truffles, no chocolate cake, no chocolate chips to snitch when mom is baking with them, no Oreos, and no fun. But the problem is, it's Christmas time, what do you expect?!?! It's lying around the house and taunting you from all corners of shadows...

Well, lets just say, I felt like a wild animal. I'm still not happy about it, and I continually find myself involuntarily reaching for a couple of chocolate chips, and at the last second before I pop them into my mouth, I remember. And my disappointment is deep and depressing..But I guess I has been good for me in a way. At least I didn't gain any weight from Christmas... 

Other things that I have been doing these days? Siskiyou Violins, fundraising, meeting people who will donate to us so we can make it to Carnegie Hall. We have had like 7 concerts in the past two months and I have to say, they are getting boring and redundant. But I endure them faithfully, and continue to practice during the times when I am forced to because I haven't in so long that I begin to feel guilty. 

...Otherwise known as, every two weeks basically. Ha...It sounds so bad...but honestly, I can't even hardly find time to shower these days. Not even kidding. And besides, I do have Chamber Orchestra that I wake up at 6:15 a.m. for every morning, and I play for an hour then. I'm sure that helps. I hope. 

Also, for Christmas, my dad got each of us a gym membership, and it's actually a lot of fun. We have been going at least twice a week and I always come home refreshed and ready to sleep. Plus I get to spend time with my family, and that's always a good thing.  

I suppose that's all I have time for now, but hopefully I'll be able to continue to consistently post and keep some part of my life in balance. I try every day to improve..Who knows how long it'll be before I can be sane again. Until then, I've got birthdays, concerts, finals, and a 5-day weekend to look forward to! :)