Monday Musing // The Things of 2014 Past

// 

// 

// 

//

//

Oh I didn't really feel like writing this blog post, but sometimes when I'm at the end of a very productive and tiring day, I feel the deepest need to express the words swirling in my mind trying to connect into much too lengthy and grammatically incorrect sentences.

2014 was an interesting year.

Quite the most interesting of my life, perhaps. So far.

Good things happened in 2014 and bad things happened too.

And so did things that helped me grow an inch or two. Literally, figuratively, whatevertively.

I celebrated a year of marriage to the coolest cat in 2014.

I took care of him at his weakest and I celebrated with him at his strongest.

I built a professional portfolio of written works.

I made new friends.

I let go of lost love.

I accepted my body more.

I accepted health and fitness more.

I met people who taught me light and goodness.

I excelled in things I wanted to excel in.

I found my voice.

I discovered my personal style. I refined it.

I found more and more of myself.

And I changed the parts that needed to change.

I let go of things that hurt me.

I fought with some that wouldn't budge.

And I discovered the most perfect little things that I like about my soul.

Some things I didn't like...

I gained pounds that eat away at me every day.

I cried a lot about silly things.

I looked at myself in the mirror a little too long and wept over scars, marks, and folds.

I contemplated calories and eating a little too much.

I ignored comments and words of affirmation.

I wept justified tears and I lashed out in anger at things not so justified and things of the past.

But despite those bad things, those demons that are still creeping up on me, I'm learning to be resilient.

I'm learning to fight back.

I'm learning to be a voice of courage and love and progress. Moving forward.

I learned about me this past year, and I plan to learn about myself even more.

+ s t a y // g o l d 

Thoughts on a Tuesday

And these thoughts are really terrific, if I do say so myself.

It is the second day of the semester, and I already know that this semester is going to be pretty darn difficult. Well one class anyway. The teacher intimidated me. Like really. I almost don't want to go back, but I will because I need to do this and I have to live my goals.

Speaking of goals, I have been setting some. I shared some on my last Wishlist Wednesday post, and I intend to reach them. I intend to be a happier person, and I intend to put the spiritual aspects of my life first. My dad told me before I left for school that if I build my spiritual foundation, things will work out for me. I will have a better life. I will be happier. I will love a little bit more. I have already seen this. The Lord is guiding me, and I know it.

Sometimes, we don't feel like we have any guidance in our lives, and that is normal sometimes. My friend Emilee just said as I was writing this, we are all a little lost. We are but if we just stop and think for a minute. There is always guidance in our lives. Always. We are always found.

Photo Courtesy of someone on Pinterest. It's always hard to find the exact source.

Wishlist Wednesday: 5 Things I Wish For

There will be no clothing items or accessories on this wishlist today. Here are 5 things I'm wishing for this year. 

1. I wish to cook more. I cooked so much last school year and now I never do. I need to cook. It's a lot healthier and happier that way. I feel that way anyway. Cooking de-stresses...thus, a happier Dani.

2. I wish to manage my money better. I want to save and I want to get a job. If you know of any place hiring, I would love to hear about it. Let me know kiddos.

3. I wish to be kinder and more lovely with people. I want to be sweeter and more genuine. I want to let people know that I care about them. I want to stop being so critical towards others.

4. I wish to stop peeling my cuticles and biting my nails. I hate these habits of mine. The woes of anxiety.

5. I wish to organize my life better and be fully dedicated to school.

What are you wishing for? What wishes do you want to accomplish? We all can do this! I know it. Stay gold.

Terrific Tuesday: Stop Bullying

Like every morning, I logged onto Facebook to see if I got the ever desired notifications. I know I should really stop finding worth in notifications. I should just stop logging onto Facebook every morning. I should take the time to look outside, open the window, and breathe in some fresh air. That's the great thing about this blog, it helps me see the many things I need to work on. So NEW GOAL this Terrific Tuesday: STOP LOGGING ONTO FACEBOOK THE MOMENT YOU WAKE UP. I'll let you know how that goes.

Anyway, so yes I logged onto Facebook and my friend Spencer had posted this video that I'm going to share with you today.

I truly believe that everyone can take something from this message. It is beyond powerful. It is true. We need to all remember that people are creatures that need love. Really though. We need love to survive and go on with life. I know that sounds very cheesy but it's so true. Thank you Spencer for making such a courageous and beautiful video. Everyone should watch this. Just do it.

Let's not forget the impact our words can have on others. Let's not forget how we feel when we are mistreated. Let's remember to spread the love. I mean it.

Have an absolutely stupendous and terrific Tuesday!

Stay golden.

Monday Musings: Mini rant and Back to Happy Valley

First of all, why was Adele not in the closing ceremonies? I know she's pregnant and all, but they had Jessie J screaming and yodeling her lungs out while Adele could have been belting out some lovely tunes with her far better voice. Come on London.

Second of all, really Facebook you're announcing engagements now?

Third of all, and what I want to talk about most of all is the fact that this is my last week before I move back down to Happy Valley for school. This week is finally here. I remember last year when my last week finally came to be. I was an emotional mess. Heck I was an emotional, anxious mess all of last summer. Really though, I can't believe this is my last week. I haven't even thought about buying my books, moving in, packing all of my closet into bins, what I'm going to eat, the homework. It hasn't all settled in yet. I don't think I'm afraid. I don't think I'm not ready. I think I am ready. I want to be back at school, but I don't want to adjust, but hey change is inevitable. I need to adjust. I need to start being an independent college student again. It's time to meet new people, make new friends, get used to a new ward. Get used to everything. It really is exciting. Nervewracking, but very exciting. I just need to remember who I am. I can't lose myself when I'm at school. I feel like that happened my Freshman year. I compared myself to everybody. I let my anxiety, OCD, and stress get the best of me. That happens sometimes, but too often last year. This year is going to be better than last. I know it's easier said than done, but really I'm going to try my best to make this year a really awesome one. I am going to be my best self. I'm going to be the REAL Dani. It is time to grow up again, start anew, have some fun, and work hard. Bring it on.

So here's to the last week.  Here's to another Monday Musing. And here's to Imagine Dragons.

Friday Favorites: Nutella and Toast

It's Friday again! I love Fridays. I think I appreciate them WAY more when I'm at school, but they are pretty great here at home too. Fridays mean the weekend and a break from the stress from the week. Fridays mean a Favorites post on my blog. Also, since today is Friday that means tomorrow is Saturday, and tomorrow marks the 2 weeks until I leave for Washington DC. Oh man I can't wait. I might just make a post about it tomorrow. We'll see. I have a lot of Favorites this week so I'll stop blabbing on and get to it.

1. Music Discoveries/Spotify
I don't know what it was but this week I was introduced to probably some of the best music I have ever heard. I even started a playlist on Youtube to save some of these great songs I have found. Youtube is awesome because you can click on one song and then it will lead you to a bunch of other ones that start to grow on you. Then, you can add other songs that you love and it is just so great. The playlist is really small right now and I'm not completely satisfied with all of the songs, but I can't wait for it to grow some more. Discovering new music is the best. If you have music that you want to share with me please comment below or send a link to the video so I can add it to "Infinities". Yeah that's my cheesy name for the playlist. I also have an "Infinities" playlist on Spotify that I love. I just started putting loads of songs on it, and I was reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower and then Infinities just stuck. Did I just make any sense? So if you have a Spotify you should check that playlist of mine out. Spotify has really helped me feed my music addiction, especially since music costs money which I don't have and I want so much music right now. Also, one last thing my last Playlist Thursday post has basically my favorite songs of the week, so you should check that out if you haven't yet. Okay now I'm going to stop telling you what to do and get to the rest of this.

2. Granola/ Nutella and Toast

My mom buys this absolutely tasty Cinnamon Raisin Granola that is the best with soy milk.

Breakfast of Champions

3.  Goals!
This week I decided I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle. This might be difficult because of my love for food and my computer, but I have a feeling it really is going to make a difference in my life. It really deserves a post on its own, but I made some goals, wrote them downs, taped them on my wall, and now I am trying to fulfill them. I will write a post about it later. Stay tuned.

4. Family
I really think I mention my family in every single one of my Friday Favorites posts but really...I LOVE MY FAMILY. Every week I just come to love them more and more and more. Oh man that's a lot of love people. Whether it's being crazy with my sister, or taking awkward pictures at Laguna Beach with my two brothers...I can't help but love them all so much. Thank you parents for creating me and my siblings. That was awesome of you.

5.  Reuniting with Friends
This week I got to see two friends from high school. One I am extremely close with. She is my best friend. The other, we have had a lot of rough patches and things didn't end the best between us after high school. It was an interesting feeling. With one friend the talk was easy and we laughed about everything. We ate ice cream (our favorite) and Wendy's fries (our other favorite). We sat out on a Pocahontas blanket and looked at the stars while we talked about life and memories. It was so wonderful. Then, with this other friend there were awkward silences and I desperately was trying to keep my emotions leveled. It's hard when someone has caused grief in your life. Sometimes you just want to scream at them and tell them everything you feel about them and how hurt you are. The thing is...the night with that friend wasn't entirely bad. It was a little awkward at first but by the end of the night we were laughing and talking like old friends again. Still, there was a void when this friend dropped me off at my house. There was still a distance that I don' think can ever be fixed. We talked about personal and very thought provoking things, but I didn't feel the connection that I felt with my best friend just days before. Isn't it interesting how relationships and friendships work? Life is one big social network. It's complicated sometimes and other times it's just how you want it to be.

6. Pinterest 
Oh gee, this should be a favorite every week. Seriously though. Here is the pin that inspired a lot of what I wore this week.  I love the button down tucked into the colored jeans. I wore my mint and coral jeans with just about everything this week. If I could find you a link to mint jeans I would...but I am not going to post a link to jeans that I don't really think are worth the price. What has been your closet inspiration this week? Comment below!

American Eagle

7.  Tumblr 
Mini tumbloglovin'
I love these tumblogs and you should check them out. They have inspired me all week.
-A Well Traveled Woman 
-Bippity Boppity Boo
-Bistro Petit
-Better Than Fine
-The Little Things I Love
-Modern Hepburn
-LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Well those are all of my favorites for the week. Sorry if everything was a little scattered. I will try to be a bit more organized next time. Make sure to comment below with your favorites below. Have a great Friday and start to the weekend everybody. Stay cool and stay golden.

P.S. I cannot BELIEVE that I forgot this favorite. Oh my goodness. 
Just click the link and enjoy the deliciousness. One of the many reasons why I want to travel. The food.