Soft Shirts and Other Monday Thoughts

-Soft Shirts-
Have you ever just found something that made you so immensely happy that may seem trivial to others but it just brings you joy? Okay so I've found these shirts and they make me so happy. They are from the brand PIKO and they are made from Bamboo and they are SO SOFT. They come in all these really soothing and earth toned colors and it's safe to say that I am absolutely obsessed. Just wearing it makes me feel like I am surrounded by comfort and wonderfulness.

I guess its just those little things that can brighten up your day.

-First Week of School-
So if you have been reading my new series "So You're Moving?", you will know that I started yet ANOTHER new school this year. People have been so loving and welcoming and I have started to really warm up to the school. I can now semi-successfully navigate myself around without a map! I mean I might have gotten lost today... but no one has to know that....except for you because I just told you.... moving on!

I really haven't vocalized this a lot on this blog but I struggle with Anxiety and Panic Attacks so first weeks are really hard for me. Near the end of this summer and that first week of school, anxiety was hitting me really hard. But I kept in touch with friends from back home and God was truly by my side helping me through that first week and I conquered it.

I've already met some really great people who have really gone out of their way to include me and make me feel conformable and get me involved.

The one thing new I've discovered is it is becomingly increasingly harder for me to keep giving my very best to each place I move. When pieces of your heart are in so many different places and with so many different people- sometimes it feels as if there is nothing else left for you to give. But if you give yourself time, if I give myself time, I might find that a piece of my heart will lie here- at this new place.


- A Message To You-
I hope you have an absolutely incredible week. At least in the US a majority of us have started school. But whether you are in school tackling the early mornings and piles of homework or you are still enjoying those last bits of summer, I hope that this week you are able to put aside any stress you are feeling or conflicts that are arising. Remind yourself everyday to smile more, laugh often, and make someone else's day.

and never forget to
<3 Stay Fabulous <3

"So You're Moving"- The Importance of a Phone Call

In this age we are slowly stripping the emotion out of communicating with people. I'm not saying texting and instant this and that isn't a tremendous accomplishment in the world of connecting with people. However I'm telling you that the best way to stay connected with friends and loved ones after you move is by calling them. To be completely honest I had terrible phone anxiety for the longest time, which I'm still working through- but hearing that familiar voice helps so much. That is the one thing you miss when you text someone- their voice. I don't know how to explain it but hearing something or someone familiar enables you to take control of your situation-introducing the familiar into a whirlwind of the unfamiliar.

Even better if you have the ability to FaceTime or Skype do so. It's so important to stay connected. Make sure to keep up communication throughout the school year too. Even if you are both super swamped with work and life- if you want to keep that person in your life you have to schedule in that time.

<3 Stay Fabulous <3

PS Got through my first day of school today!

_________________________________________
Photo: Phone by Moyan Brenn is licensed under CC by 4.0

" So You're Moving" - 5 Tips for New Students

Moving schools is definitely one of the scariest parts of moving. It's an entirely new environment. New people, new teachers, new hallways- new new new! I remember the first week walking through my new school last year. It was huge and I was very not used to that. I went from a school that had 200 people to almost 3000. My hands were shaking, by mind was a buzz, and I couldn't seem to look anyone in the eye because I was just so nervous. But I found my footing and remembered who I was and I found ways to get through that first week.

1. Get Involved
Everyone says this, not only because it's an obvious way to meet people, but because it's valid. Getting involved works. I'm very passionate about music, specifically chorus and theater. Joining the women's choir at my school was one way I found people to befriend. These people shared my passion and determination and I clicked really well with them. Not only that but the first week of school, auditions were held for their One Act fall musical. It seems extremely early ( which it was ), but auditioning for that musical was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was made up of an ensemble of 12 people, and I was a swing. That meant that I had to learn every part in the cast in order to fill in for one of them if someone dropped out and fill in during rehearsals and take notes. I proved my work ethic and talent to some very influential and key people in the department and because of that not only did I make friends but I gained a lot of respect. I even went on for a girl our closing night.

Being in these two departments absolutely shaped the course of my year there. Find something you are passionate about or interested in and get in there!

2. Learn how to Learn Names
This is a key skill in life, but it is especially essential when moving to a new place. Everyone has their own tricks. One trick I use is after they tell me their name I will repeat it out loud as well as in my head multiple times during the conversation. I also try to picture the first letter of their name over their face or notice a special feature about their appearance. Also don't be afraid to ask for their name again, they understand you are new and you have SO MANY NAMES to learn.

3.  Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Social Media is THE WAY to get connected with people in this generation. I always go and follow people on Instagram after I meet them- If they are unprivated. Then I usually follow this up by looking through their page and seeing what they are interested in. If they are privated I usually get to know the person a little better before following them because I realize that they only use their account for people they know personally.

Also question for thought: #InstagramStories ? How do we feel about this? As an avid Snapchat user I feel personally... well a little creeped out. Like Instagram stay in your own lane. I could see if Snapchat and them partnered up but I don't like it.

4.  Speak Up in Class
If you need to ask a question, ask it. If you want to throw in your input do it. Be an active member of the discussion. People will notice you being engaged and will want to know more about the person behind the answers.

5. Transcript Changes are the Worst- but it will all work out!
I've had some really bad encounters with switching over my credits and classes while enrolling in school. It may seem like the end of the world when things don't switch over correctly or you lose some really nice quality points because the new school you are going to doesn't offer the course, but in the long run it's going to be okay. Just Breathe and it will be okay. Make sure to look online for your school Course Handbook so you can come into your counseling session prepared.

<3 Stay Fabulous<3

_________________________________________________________________
When you are bored during a standardized test this can happen by Benjamin Chun is licensed under CC by 4.0 and modified by
Paige Terch with Befunky
Instagram Logo: https://s3-eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/centaur-wp/designweek/prod/content/uploads/2016/05/11170038/Instagram_Logo-1002x1003.jpg

"So You're Moving"- Take a Deep Breath

So you just found out you're moving. The first thing to remember is that everything is going to be fine. I know this seems like a slap in the face in this moment, and it's normal... you have the right to feel sad or angry about the situation. But you have to remember that moving is not going to be the end of the world. It might mean the end of a chapter in your life, but if you just take a deep breath and allow yourself to open up,  you are going to be amazed.

Whether you've lived in one place your whole life, or just for a year or two- this is going to be a difficult process. It's not suppose to be easy. You are human. You thrive when you are close to the ones you love and it's hard to imagine spending life without them right next to you. But you can make it easier on yourself by making the conscious choice to believe that you can do this. Make the decision to make the most out of every second you have. Choose to wake up every morning and smile rather than to let your situation weigh you down all day.

 If you feel like no one understands what you are going through, if you feel like you're alone in this... you're not. I'm here to make this process easier for you.

One point in all of this I strive to make very clear is that you need to take some time to grieve- and that that time is necessary. You have a right to feel and you should not let anyone tell you differently. Take time to grieve but don't let that define you, please don't let it take you over. There comes a point where you have to snap out of it. You can still feel sad but coming home everyday to lie on your bed and do nothing because you're sad is not going to help you at all.  I've fallen into that trap and it was dangerous. It takes you somewhere you don't want to be.

So take a deep breath. Smile. And take the time back. Use all the time you've got to make this place, this time, this moment special. You can do this!

<3 Stay Fabulous <3



____________________________________________________________________
Are you in the process of moving? Have you ever moved before? Have any helpful tips to share? Leave it in the comments!


__________________________________
capuchino by Nguyen Huu Quan is licensed by CC by 4.0 and modified by Paige Terch

"So You're Moving..." - A New Series

Hey Everyone!
As a lot of you know I have moved quite a bit. If you count every house/apartment/town home that I've ever lived in-I have moved 20 times. While most of those moves occurred before I hit middle school, the most recent have been the toughest for me. As of this year I will be attending my third high school in three years...yep. But I think throughout everything, I've gathered a lot of insight about the world around me and have made more connections with people beyond what I ever could have made if I had stayed in one place.  Moving takes a lot of courage and strength to re-establish yourself and make your mark.  I may not have it all figured it out but I know I'm not the only one out there with this type of experience. I want to share with all of you how I've learned to make the most out of every second and find happiness. Over the next couple weeks I'm going to share what I've learnt through the years on a series I like to call,"So You're Moving...". Even if you have never moved or plan to, I hope you will share this with people you know who are going through this process because it is difficult for everyone even the most outgoing can have trouble adjusting.

I hope you all are having a great summer and are having a blast(blast blast)* !

<3 Stay Fabulous <3

* This is in reference to a number from " Zombie Prom the Musical". The song is Blast from the Past and I highly encourage you to look it up for a laugh!

______________________________
"Beach" by Fuzzy Gerdes is licensed under CC by 4.0 ( modified by Paige Terch)

Let's Catch Up!

I've cut it off and it feels so good! Hey everyone. I've been gone for a while and here's why. Life is constantly changing around me and I needed to take some time to really live life outside of the screen and stop going through the motions. Life passes by so quickly and if you don't take the time to memorize the faces of people you love and enjoy your time with them, you are going to miss it. School stuff was also pilling up so fast and I couldn't figure out where blogging fit in. While I'm still figuring out in what direction this blog will go in the future it is so comforting to know that while I was gone, you all are still reading and I wanted to thank you. 

So let's catch up!

Addams Family

 This last spring I was in my school's production of Addams Family the Musical. I had an absolute blast performing with such a talented cast. I was an Ancestor and a featured dancer. I haven't truly voiced my love of theater on this blog. I love performing! If you have never seen a show or participated in one I thoroughly encourage you to do so. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find. The theater challenges you to suspend your belief and open your mind to new possibilities and open yourself to be amazed at how 2 hours can change your life so much.

Driver's Permit

I finally got my drivers permit! While I can't drive by myself yet I am one step closer to claiming that independence. 

6 inches Off!

I've needed to change my hair up for a while. Following in the footsteps of many trendy people before me I jumped at the chance of summer experimentation and got myself a lob. I absolutely love it. If feels like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders...literally. I also got some highlights put in it. I knew I wanted something summery and chic so I just went for it.  

A Hike to Remember 

Well I'm not usually one to venture outdoors for a hike in my free time but one of my very best friends had been asking me to go with her for a while so I decided why not. Now I'm not going to lie my endurance isn't the best but I just had a blast. We went when the sun was setting so it was cooling down and the breeze was flowing. We talked about our lives and what our goals for this summer were. It was a new experience for me and I was glad I got to do it with her. Plus I mean I got the perfect picture for National Handstand Day. 

<3 Stay Fabulous <3

BRING JUSTICE-END THE BACKLOG

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and I'd like to provide you with an opportunity to enact change in the United States to help survivors of Sexual Violence. In the United States the number of Sexual Violence cases have risen to astronomical amounts. Rape in particular is a very prevalent issue. Every time a victim goes to a medical facility to be treated after they have been raped, a nurse will conduct an examination of the patient to complete the contents of a RAPE KIT. These rape kits are then transported to Law Enforcement facilities to be DNA tested.

However in the United States, many of the Kits that are suppose to be tested right away, are getting thrown in storage facilities and might not be touched for many years.These kits are considered to be backlogged. In Texas alone there are 20,000 Rape Kits yet to be tested, 13,435 in Florida, 15,217 in Michigan. When the kits are not tested in a timely manner, trial dates can be pushed farther and farther out and the victim may not receive justice for an overly exaggerated period of time. Perhaps the scariest part in all of this, is that some jurisdictions are not required to report their numbers, meaning that the number of untested kits out there is a lot larger than we think.

END THE BACKLOG is a movement created to educate people in the United States about this devastating issue. It is also to bright light to the states that still need to make reforms in their policies-putting an end to the lack of efficiency.

Advocates create change, and that is what I'm calling you to do. I am creating a Letter Writing Campaign for my World Lit class. I'm looking for writers who would be willing to write letters to their state government officials about this issue. If you are interested in helping me END THE BACKLOG please send me an email at: endthebacklog@gmail.com

Not only will you be helping me with my project, you will also be contributing to a great cause!
For More Information visit: http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

_____________________
Photo: http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

Spring Outfit Inspiration

Spring may be my yearly reminder that allergies are a woman's worst enemy, but what spring lacks in sneeze security it makes up for in amazing spectacles of life and color. While visiting my grandparents over spring break, which was needed more than I first realized, I figured, what better way to pass some time than with a little photo shoot. As per the usual, my sister Chloe took all of my pictures. 

I got this GORGEOUS flowered drape in China Epcot at Disney World. I walked into the store, saw it, and immediately bought it. It's color captivated me and the flower detail is just so beautiful, I knew I couldn't pass it up.I don't remember it being all that expensive either. Whenever I where this I feel like the queen of the world! It's also really fun to run down the aisles of stores ,grab the ends, and flap my "wings" like a butterfly :)

This beautiful purple swing dress was purchased at Macy's. It was the last one on the clearance rack so I got it for only 12.99! This was especially a steal considering these are so on trend right now. When I arrived at the register to pay, both the lady beside me and the cashier were flabbergasted at the price. It was actually quite a humorous scene.The only issue I have with this dress is that it is quite see through, so a tank top and shorts are needed when putting together an ensemble. I have come to fall in love with the swing style of the dress. The waist line is raised to create the swingy fit of the dress, which a strange choice for me but I have decided to embrace it.

My necklace is from Evolution Lighthouse. It has Jeremiah 29:11 on it which is my favorite Bible Verse. Be on the look out for a post about this company and this beautiful necklace soon!

My Brown Wedged Sandals are from Bass. I usually don't invest in high heels because ,being 5'7 1/2 , I feel a little strange towering over my friends. But every girl needs a great pair of brown sandal wedges. They're versatile and really dress up any outfit. One thing I find so interesting about these shoes is that they make me feel so confident!  When I walk anywhere I feel like a super model strutting down a runway. It's a little insane to think that one pair of shoes can do that, but I'm a believer.

<3 Stay Fabulous <3