Life Is Hard

Hey guys! I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with love, appreciation, family, and friends. Mine definitely was, but don't be fooled...my family is just as crazy as yours. Finals are coming up which actually stinks. My first semester at college is also coming to a close which is even more scary. I can't imagine being anywhere else, and I don't want to see freshman fly past.

The name of this post is Life is Hard, because more and more I've realized just how accurate this statement is. It is not an easy thing... and as Kid President points out sometimes we just need a high five for making it out of bed in the morning. Life is hard because you are thrown into situations that seem like there are no solutions, or you are hurt in ways that don't seem fair, or you may lose yourself for awhile. Life is hard when you have no motivation. Life is hard when feel alone. And life is hard when you can't imagine what your next move is. It's just hard, and IT'S OKAY to struggle. It means your human. I need to remember that sometimes because I'm doing the best I can and that's okay.

So you, person reading this from across from your computer or phone...its okay because life is hard. You don't have to pretend that you are flawless and don't have troubles. It's okay because we all do. Life is hard, but it is worth it. The experiences and the memories and the relationships are all worth it even when it's hard. So keep on keeping on. Wake up. Breathe. Live. Give Thanks.

One thing I've been struggling with lately is this blog. I really enjoy blogging, but sometimes I feel like I don't have the time to put into it and to make it really great. I start comparing myself to other bloggers who look like they have everything together with their blogs. They have amazing pictures and wonderful travel adventures. I'm just a college freshman sitting on the floor of her dorm writing about how hard life is...wow (i'm actually siting on the floor when there are two beds and a perfectly good futon to sit on...why I have no idea. Haha. I have to remind myself that I don't have to be blog famous. I don't have to have the perfect blog look. As long as I am writing and enjoying it..it's all okay. Maybe someday I will have more to share, and maybe someday I will have the confidence to share my blog with the people in my daily life without feeling judged or intimidated.

On that note, I'm going to keep sharing, and I hope you'll keep reading. I am going to play dress up with my closet over christmas break so be looking forward to that. I'm actually so excited because I want to see how I put my outfits together and the kinds of pictures I can take. Sydney gave me her word that she'd help me and I'm holding her to that by calling her out on the blog...sorry Syd. Love ya.

Anyways. Keep on trucking because you are worth it and life is worth. Have an amazing Tuesday because you'll never get this day back. Thanks for reading. Also It's December...which is crazy!

My 101 in 1001 Days

Hey Guys! So If you haven't heard of a 101 in 1001 you're in for a treat! It is essentially a bucket list, but in a shorted and more attainable amount of time (about 2.75 years). Mackenzie Horan from Design Darling create the concept and has been inspiring so may bloggers to write their own! It was hard coming up with 101 things but I think I have the perfect list! Stay tuned because I can't wait to blog about crossing things off! I hope you enjoy it! I'll also be keeping an updated list on the 101 in 1001 tab at the top!

Start: October 22, 2015 & End: July 19, 2018

For the Blog (0/16)

1. Share my blog with my world

2. Guest post for a blogger

3. Learn how to use a camera properly

4. Invest in a camera

5. Buy photoshop

6. Learn how to use photoshop to help the blog

7. Join a blogging community

8. Create 3 new blog series

9. Meet 5 blogging friends

10. Have 10 guest blog posts

11. Make 3 DIY for the blog 

12. Get my own domain name 

13. Make a blog Pinterest 

14. Get the Blog look perfect

15. Get sponsored

16. Host a giveaway

For Fun (0/27)

17. Learn to cook a go-to date meal

18. Host a "friends giving"

19. Host a brunch 

20. Visit the high museum

21. Start painting and drawing (create signature piece)

22. Read 20 new books

23. Learn and use record player

24. Find 5 records of oldies to love

25. Go to a fashion show

26. Make an investment in a staple fashion piece 

27. Become friends with 5 senior ADPis

28. Organize pictures 

29. Organize my personal Pinterest 

30. Create a scrapbook

31. 10 new restaurants

32. Watch 5 classic films

33. Create something awesome to sell

34. One month without shopping

35. Go to 3 concerts at the GA theater

36. Get a blow out for a special event

37. Go to a ball/ nice event with a pretty dress 

38. 5 new styles for my hair

39.Bake 3 deluxe cookies batches 

40. Make a multilayer gourmet cake (more than 4)

41. Calligraphy Workshop

42. Sewing class

43. Plan a surprise party

For my Future (0/7)

44. Minor in a passion

45. Take a random class that interests me

46. Find a mentor

47. Befriend 3 teachers

48. Have a summer Internship 

49. Figure out my major

50. Pick out a dream job

For my Family & Friends (0/12)

51. Go to 10 home Bball games with dad

52. Send granny flowers for no reason

53. Talk to her (granny) on the phone more often 

54. Plan a fun day with my sisters 

55. Get the parents all to myself for a day (3x)

56. Create a cookbook of favorite recipes with mom

57. Care packages to 5 friends in college

58. Write 10 letters to people who I love

59. Find my best (true) friends

60. Section hike the GA app trail with pop

61. Explore family history 

62. Write down granny's stories 

For adventure (0/11)

63. Get away with camp friends

64. Randomly visit a friend 

65. Spontaneous getaway

66. Travel to a new continent 

67. Scuba dive 

68. Visit a national park 

69. Camping trip

70. Road trip to 3 or more states

71. Visit 5 new cities (Maybe...New Orleans, Savannah, Boston, LA, San Fran?)

72. Go skydiving 

73. Go on a mission trip 

At UGA (0/11)

74. Sneak in the stadium

75. Go to a girls soccer game

76. Go to a girls club lax game

77. Go to a baseball game

78. Go to a hockey game 

79. Join a fun and weird club 

80. Be on the exec board for a organization

81. Do 3 Athens classic things 

82. Jump in the fountain

83. Drive up movie

84. Water tower

Health & Fitness (0/6)

85.  Try a juice cleanse 

86. Try hot yoga 

87. Run in a half marathon 

88. Make kick boxing a regular thing (weekly for 3 months)

89. Find a new workout class that is awesome

90. Meatless for 2 weeks

For Good (0/9)

91. Save change in a jar for a year

92. Journal everyday for 2 weeks (cont)

93. Donate my own money to a cause

94. Tip someone 50 dollars 

95. Be brave enough to give blood

96. One month without fast food

97. Help out rising freshman coming to UGA from Marist 

98. Meet 5 new random people and have a meaningful convo with them 

99. Pay for someone's meal

100. Finish my list of 101 things (including 101)

101. OPEN 

What are some things that you have always wanted to? Did I leave anything important off my list? 

New KID on the Block

Oh man! I could have used another day this weekend to rest, study, and get my life together, but Monday mornings always come knocking. I you had a great weekend and are starting out the week pretty slow… I have a post for you. It's a mix of motivation, procrastination material, and a little a sweet little happy to take your mind off of everything else.

Most of you have probably heard of Kid President, and if you haven't well then you are in for a treat. He is the cutest little boy that could probably make the devil smile and turn good. He has a contagious smile, and really shows just how much of an impact kids can have. It all started with the pep talk a couple years back. I think I've watched it so many times and account for at least a million of the video's views. In high school when I was having a rough day and just couldn't force myself to look at another piece of homework this video did the trick.

"I think we all need a pep talk…"

Other days I would spend hours looking through all of the videos on the channel (most likely procrastinating), and I would feel so much better about the world afterwards. Check out this one: 20 Things we Shold Say More Often!  And this one: A Letter to A Person on Their First Day Here! Also check out other SOUL PANCAKE videos. I promise you won't be disappointed. It's crazy just how much impact one person can have on a day or even on a life. One of my favorite quotes from Kid President is this one: 

Please go check out Kid President on this lovely Tuesday and I guarantee that you will feel 10000X better. I support procrastination when Kid president is involved for sure. A smile may be worth it. If you do watch some of Kid President's videos pick out a favorite quote and comment it below! I'd love to hear what inspires you. I love the quote "You're awake. You're awesome. Live like it"!

On another topic… new things on the blog include more outfit post (finally)! I'm wearing the last bit of summer clothing I can and transitioning into fall. Anne Arden has a guest post coming up all about football (GO DAWGS!)! I'm working on some new ideas too!

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER: @dearlybeauty 

AND ON INSTAGRAM: @dearlybeautiful 

Stay tuned for Thursday's post!

Motivation is a MUST

Today I want to talk about motivation! I once heard that motivation is like food, you need it everyday to nourish your body. I believe this 100% because I find myself ready to take on the world one second and completely lost and uninterested the next. One trick I use to help keep me motivated and inspired is to have a quote on my phone screen, so when I unlock my phone it is the first thing I see. Right now I have the words "Have courage and be kind". For everyone who saw the new Cinderella, this was a huge theme throughout the movie!

There was a time in high school my sophomore year where I just hated going to school. I was taking really hard classes, I had extra curricular activities to do, and I felt like I was digging myself deeper into a hole of stress. I was making myself miserable by consciously hating everyday. My attitude was all wrong, and nothing in the near future was going to take the unhappiness away. Somehow I got through it, and was able to breathe again. It was mostly due to a change in my outlook and motivation. I went from telling myself that I hated going to school to reminding myself of the benefits school would have for me down the road.

I decided to write my new outlook down in my notes on my iPhone Junior year so that I wouldn't have a miserable repeat of my sophomore year. I used this note as motivation and to pick myself up after I slipped a little. And the funny thing is that I still have that note on my phone, and I am able to look at all of the things I have accomplished since then. I can actually see the improvement and how far I have come. Here is what the note said:

NEW OUTLOOK ON SCHOOL (July 2013)
 I need to go to school...
1. because I will use what I learn in the future
2. because one day I will miss high school (and I really do)
3. because learning is a privilege so many others do not get
           
         This one affected me the most one day my senior year. I woke up one day just not wanting to go to school. I didn't see a point in it that day, and I was about to skip. BUT then I remembered the millions of girls on other countries that do not get an education or have to drop out at an early age. Those girls got me out of bed that day because I felt awful for wasting a day that they would kill to have. Motivation is funny like that. It comes in all kinds of ways.

4. Because I want to make something of myself
5. Because I want to be a role model and show how strong and intelligent women are
6. because just think of all of the people I can help one day

To end this post, I challenge everyone to write down some reasons as to why you do what you do and why you should do it. If you are having a rough time, just think about the impact you will have on others and yourself when you push through and keep going! Here's some motivation to get through the rest of the week…I hope you choose joy!