New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions always have a sort of taboo to them. People make them and fail. Personally, I've never been one to make resolutions but this year I've decided to make goals for myself this year. The past year has been full of personal tribulations and I want to better myself and my outlook on things. So to many, these are going to seem like little things but to me they're going to be hard. I'm determined though. 

• To be healthier. I'm not going to set a weight loss goal, just that I want to be healthier.
• To find a way to be happier. In all things I do. 
• Find a way to minimize my stress and anxiety. 
• Graduate.
• Finally get my license and work on getting a car.
• Plan a trip out of the United States.

Six goals seem so much to me, but I'm making most of them, unlike graduating and getting a car finally, life goals. I don't need to finish all of them by the end of the year, just get a kick start on them. This is probably one of the shortest posts I've done but I'm a little brain dead on what to type at the moment. And I don't even think anyone reads these besides myself so it's kind of my personal journal right? Yeah lets go with that. But if you do, comment on some goals of your own for 2014. 

Danielle xx

Photo is Rob Griffith's from japantoday.com and can be accessed through the photograph.

Oh dear.

The last term of school was absolutely insane for me and I've neglected my blog, my reading list, my everything basically. -cringe!!!!- My Christmas break started about two weeks ago and I was granted a whole three days before coming down with the death cold. Knocked me out for a good week and half. I think it was my body's way of paying me back for the good month of stress the train wreck of a project I had.

I've missed blogging about things and I've so many drafts sat being waited to typed up it's honestly pathetic. I promise times a million to post regularly! It's one of my New Years resolutions! [Future post, hint hint ;)] I want to document my Christmas of things I purchased for my family and friends as well as what I was given because I'm more than thankful for all the amazing things I was given. I'm hoping to take photographs of the things and if I can find the products I gave away online I'll be sure to link them. :)

Holiday Question Themed Tag

I feel very very over due for a post so here's a Holiday Tag because I'm feeling holiday-ee.. if that is even a word. :) 

1. When do you usually know and feel that it's finally the holidays? 

It's kinda hard not to know because of all the retail excitement, but for me it really feels like the holiday begins on Thanksgiving. Going over to family members house just to enjoy the food and company really kick starts the holiday feeling. Though I will admit, I'm already in the mood for Christmas trees and such and it's only mid-November.

2. What do you want for Christmas this year? 

This Christmas all I'm really asking for is a Wacom Tablet because it's sort of a necessity for my career choice and will make my life 10x easier with projects. Little things would be Lorde's album, clothing, and just stocking stuffers. My stocking has always been my favorite part of Christmas morning present opening. 

3. Do you go all out with decorations? 

Not really. I hate the thought of putting it all away. I help decorate the tree and the front window but usually I get bored decorating very quickly.

4. What are you doing Christmas Eve? 

Traditionally, I'm usually baking cookies with my mom and then we go to church. We have a tradition usually to open one present on Christmas Eve but I've skipped that the last 3 years because it's just more fun to wait. 

5. What are you doing Christmas Day? 

Most of it will be spent in my PJ's around the house, then dinner is planned with the family later. 

6. It's Christmas time. What are you reading? 

Sales Ad's of course!

7. Favorite movie to watch during the holidays? 

My favorite holiday movies are going to get a groan from everyone because they're such main stream movies but I don't care. Elf, The Holiday and The Grinch. I'm also quite fond of A Misers Christmas on ABC Family. Nostalgic reasons.   

8. Favorite Christmas song? 

Oh... I don't think I have a favorite. Silver Bells maybe if I really had to choose. Or All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth? 

9. Favorite holiday drink? 

Peppermint Mocha. I'm a peppermint fiend during the holidays. Peppermint hot chocolate, peppermint bark, cookies.. ect. 

10. How is your Christmas shopping going? 

I've done none of it. I find it so hard to pick good gifts out for people. And the whole time it sits wrapped under the tree, I debate on if they'll like it or not. I know that's not the point of Christmas gifts but I'm a worry wart. 

11. If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it? 

Other than with my family, I don't think there's anywhere else I'd rather be!

12. Any holiday traditions? 

I think the only true holiday tradition I still do is put, "From Santa" on gifts because it's fun to still  pretend to believe. 

13. Favorite thing about the holidays? 

Honestly, the crisp air and the family is my favorite part of the holidays. It hate how everything now is about gifts and buying the perfect gift for family. That's not what it's about.

The Scariest things

Question 1#: Scariest real-life experience.
 
I've never had a scary experience that could be classified as traumatizing or anything. When I was I think, six or seven, I was almost hit by a car. I remember it pretty clearly still to this day. I was crossing the street by a corner that is hidden for the driver, there was no cars coming down the street I was crossing so I stepped out onto the road and a car flew around the corner in from nowhere. It happened so fast though, it didn't really register what could have happened until a few years later when I thought about it.


Question 2#: Scariest paranormal experience?

I would just call it creepy. There have been times in my house when you can hear the distinct food steps of someone heading toward the room you're in, and when you look around the corner nothing is there at all. And usually when it happens all the animals are asleep in plain view so it's clear that it wasn't them. I've also been home late at night in my room, with all the windows shut and the distinct smell of cigar and baking goods. Just in my room. When I went downstairs to see who was smoking or cooking it's never down there. I've even opened my windows to check outside and nothing. It did give me the creeps at the time but it never scared me. Still doesn't to this day.

Question 3#: Have you known anyone convicted of a violent crime?

Nope. And if I do and they're in jail, I think I'd rather just stay blissfully unaware.

Question 4#: Are you afraid of the dark? why are why not?

Yes. Even in my early twenties, I still sleep with a light source on. Be it my tv, bed lamp, or even the outside lamp that shines up into my window. I need a light. The slightest noise creeps me out when I'm attempting to sleep. I really should learn to get over the fear but I don't think I will. I'm fine if I have someone else in the room with me but if I'm by myself. Nope. Lights please.

Question 5# Does your home-town have any scary legends?

Um, well there's this legend close to my home-town. There's a place called 13 Bends near where I live. The legend goes that there was an orphanage in the 1800s that burned down years ago and you can still hear the footsteps and children if you go up the the bending hill toward the top. It's been said that if you park on the bends, childlike handprints appear on your vehicle. The spookiest park I think, is that if you count the bends going up the hill there are 13 but as you come down the hill there are only 12. It's said that it's the playful children trying to trick you.  


Question 6#: What's your favorite urban legend?

Bloody Mary, though I would probably never actually try it cause I'm a chicken shit. I remember being at a birthday party and we where all going to go into the bathroom separately to do Bloody Mary in the dark. I chickened out. I sad in the bathroom with my eyes closed for about 5 minutes before running out. Hah! 



Feel free to answer these in the comments! I'd love to hear some of your answers! 

Health?

I don't know if many people deal with the health issues I have. But it sucks. I found out a year ago through blood work, that due to the over medication of antibiotics as a kid, I'm missing the a white(?) blood cell. I think I have that wrong..The ones that fight infections. Because of this, I catch everything. Literally. I can't tell you how many times I've caught the flu before I had the chance to get the immunization shot. In 12th grade I was unlucky enough to catch mono. Not only to I suffer from the fatigue, the fevers, and cough for 3 weeks before they figured this out, I lost my voice as well. Yearly now, every fall, I contract laryngitis. So far this year it's been 2 months with a voice above a whisper. The scariest part about it is, the lack of energy and the fevers are causing my anxiety to rise. I get scared when I'm sick. Always have. I hate taking pills because I panic I'm going to have the horrible side effects that are listed, and just gah I could go on and on about my panic. Finding out I have an infection in my throat that's causing the sickness is a plus but I'm still annoyed and panicky. 

On top of that, being this sick just doesn't mesh with being a full time student and working a part time job. Instructors don't care that you feel so violently ill that you can't sit through there class and be productive without puking or feeling like I'm going to pass out from the sudden hot flash from a fever I'm trying to ignore. I hate feeling like, I hate being told "you're always sick." I hate being the one that has to force myself to do things because my body feels so run down. This post has basically turned into a moan about my healthy. I think I just needed it off my chest after having the mini cry about the over load of class work I'm feeling on top of the lack of energy to do anything besides sleep. 

But thanks for reading my little moan. So erm... How's everyone else this lovely October? 

Danielle xx

P.S I'm looking into other tags to do. Not that I'm even sure anyone reads this. Lol! 

Ramblings..

I read a tweet a few days ago, a guy calling his ex out for cheating, then saying he wished her the best. If you had wished her the best you wouldn't have aired your dirty laundry that should stay between you and her. Another, a Facebook status from a girl posting about how her boyfriend broke up with her over text, how horrible he was as a boyfriend and ect. 

Those are romantic forms I've seen lately, but I've never ever understood this in any form of relationship; be it friend.. love.. even family. If something happen between two or three people why blast it on a social media site? Yes. Even I'm guilty of posting my thoughts or feeling, we all are, but they're in a way no one, unless they're a close trusted friend, would understand. I'm talking about when people find the need to make themselves seem the better person to people who are only seeing one side to a personal situation that was made public because of social media. Posting details of the situation and making the other seem like the shitty one. No. That just makes you feel better in the now. And it shows how immature the person is. It forces that person to stand up for themselves publicly sometimes. It's unfair and frankly, stupid. 

Social media is too open and made life less personal. It allows people to instead of working out the issues with the person or even to just move on, they vent in vengeful ways when angry or hurt. Our generation is so disassociated with each other. We're so social media driven we think it's okay to post whatever, air our problems out for the world to see and comment on. It will never be okay. Never.  

Elements Book Cover Tag

So yet again I've "borrowed" a tag from another site. This time from a Youtuber named, MsVeeBooks. I'd seen this tag around Youtube for a while now and I found it so intriguing. I didn't actually think it would be hard to find the requirements but boy did it turn out to be the opposite. 

The Tag:

To represent Water: 

• Find a book with water on the cover.
   
  Nicholas Sparks, A Night in Rodanthe

• Find a book with blue on the cover.

Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights 

To represent Fire:

• Find a book with fire on the cover.

J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

• Find a book with red on the cover.

J.K Rowling, The Casual Vacancy

To represent Earth:

• Find a book with something related to the earth on the cover.

Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

• Find a book with green on the cover.
  Louise Rennison, Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers
  

 

To represent Air:

• Find a book with wind on the cover.

Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

•  Find a book with white on the cover. 

Sandra Brown, A Kiss Remembered

Colors of the Elements:

• Find a book with blue, red, green and white on it to bring all the elements together.

Johanna Spyri, Heidi

 

So that's my Elements Book Cover Tag. I challenge you all to do it. I cheated a little bit on the element of Air. I had no book that had anything blowing on the cover. Shocked me. I know the green book cover is the smallest amount of green but that was my favorite series in high school and I had to include one. And the fact that the Fire element books both had been written by Rowling gave me a laugh. 

Photos are all my own.