7:30 AM

Happily Ever After

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Happiness, it's something we all pursue for ourselves. Some people also will bend over backwards just to make sure their loved ones will be happy as well.

Positive thinking and optimistic thoughts are the obvious ways to ensure one's happiness. But most of the time, that's not the case. Positive thinking and optimism are a great way to live a happy life, but sometimes we need to be realistic and realize that bad things will happen to us occasionally.

We all have certain things that make us happy, especially when life isn't going as planned. Some people enjoy traveling and adventuring off to faraway places. Other people like to find their happiness by exercising or working out. There's even people who find their happiness at their job. Other people find their happiness through religion or philosophy. While some people find their happiness in their hobbies like cooking, painting, baking, crafting, reading, writing, or any of the other hobbies out there. People also find their happiness by helping those around them or just being with the people they care most about.

While browsing Pinterest for some quotes on happiness, I discovered this gem above:

"No one is too old for fairytales."

Fairytales are often seen as childish, but that is incorrect. Fairytales are timeless. Most children grow up reading the classic tales and even watching the movies that go along with them. Fairytales are important, and they offer such important life lessons. From fairytales we've learned about: right and wrong, true love, honor, sacrifice, hope, courage, hard work, justice and so much more.

To go back as an adult and reread or even re-watch these classic stories reminds us of all of the lessons we once learned as children. For me especially, I'm reminded about love and hope. Love is a great feeling and a strong emotion to have. But love isn't always romantic, it can be towards your friends and family. Hope, now that's a big one, it is a big part of finding happiness. If you're not hopeful about anything, how will you grow? How will you achieve your goals and dreams?

Fairytales reinforce that there are sad moments, but shows that the sad moment is not the end. From watching Once Upon A Time, I've seen that as long as there is hope, there are good things headed your way. If you've watched the show you'd know Regina, aka Evil Queen, she's transformed from a villain to a hopeful hero searching for her happy ending.

Hope and happiness come hand in hand, they're a pair you can never split up. And this is shown in fairytales. Fairytales teach us the important lessons that you can't learn from a textbook, and teach us these lessons in a important way. They teach us by tapping into our emotions, when our hero is sad and angry, we're sad and angry. When our hero is happy, we're happy. When our hero gets their happily ever after, we know ours is on its way. Until next time.

3:37 PM

My Favorite Movie: Billy Madison

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One of my favorite movies growing up would probably shock you all. It's not a Disney or family movie. And it's not a cult classic like Bring It On or Mean Girls or Clueless, but those are all definitely some of my other favorite movies. This movie is a movie I hold close to my heart because I spent a lot of time watching it with my brother and dad growing up. It also provided lots of laughs. This movie is Billy Madison.

Billy Madison is the story of a wealthy man child named Billy (played by Adam Sandler) who spends his days out by pool and drinking and slacking off all day. His father sees that Billy is lazy and has no motivation to do anything in life, so this leads him to choose his right hand man, Eric, to take over the family company. Billy and Eric do not get along because Eric is obviously the villain in this movie. Billy thinks Eric shouldn't have the company. Billy actually wants it, he tells his father he can do it because even though high school was a pain, he finished it with good grades.

So then he learns that his father actually paid his teachers to give him good grades. Billy says he'll go back to high school and repeat all the grades. Then his father says it wasn't just high school, it was from first grade all the way to high school. So Billy decides to prove his father wrong and repeat 1st-12th grade in 24 weeks. And if he can do it, he'll win the company back.

Like any early Adam Sandler movie, it is filled with funny dialogue and definitely has some quotable moments. Billy Madison was actually Adam Sandler's first starring role. He did this movie right after he became a breakout star on Saturday Night Live. Thanks to Billy Madison we have all the classic Adam Sandler movies that we love and unfortunately, all the bad Adam Sandler movies we've seen lately.

It's funny to see Adam Sandler go through each grade, because he basically is a child. Also after each grade he passes he throws an extravagant party filled with even more funny moments. But also we have Eric being sneaky and trying to sabotage him. As Billy goes through each grade, he grows up little by little and even falls in love with his fourth grade teacher. Cute right?

You're probably wondering does Billy finishes school? Does he get the company? Does he live happily ever after with his teacher? Well you're going to have to watch the movie to find out. Or you can check out this video with some of the best and funniest moments from Billy Madison. It's up to you! Until next time.

8:49 AM

Vlog 11: ipsy Glam Bag September Face Fashion

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Here is Day 18’s post which was just supposed to be a photo of myself. But just one of my selfies alone is so boring. So I had the brilliant idea of combing a selfie with a Glam Bag unboxing. Got to look pretty in those selfies right? So the here is my September Face Fashion Glam Bag Unboxing vlog!

And here was the look I created using all of the products in my Glam Bag. Not too bad right? Thanks for watching and until next time.

4:50 PM

Blog Spotlight: Career Girl Daily

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My favorite blog to read is Career Girl Daily. Despite the name, this blog isn't just about all work and career related things. It's all about the busy and ambitious woman who wants to do it all. So even though I am not a career girl (yet), their articles are relatable.

There are so many articles about a variety of topics. Obviously career is the main one, but there many other articles about travel, fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Every one of those subjects is something I love to read about and write about.

Career Girl Daily offers a lot of articles that give advice to young women who are looking to start their career and to those who have already started. They give plenty advice on how to get a job and when you should leave a bad job. They share the latest fashion trends for both inside the office and outside of the office. They also offer tips for shopping and traveling on a budget plus all the must see things in some of the most popular cities and countries to travel to.

If you've recently graduated, Career Girl Daily offers a bunch of advice from women who went through the struggles of post grad life too. It can be very helpful and enlightening, and it's something that really helped me. Their fashion articles also help me stay on trend and educate me on what all the hot items are for each season. Their travel articles make me add new destinations to my travel list. But their lifestyle articles always have me hooked simply because they're all so relatable.

If you're looking for advice on any life subject matter, I bet Career Girl Daily has an answer for you. It's one of my favorite lifestyle blogs and every article is well written. Even the articles that focus more on photographs, like a lot of their fashion stories, are amazing because they use beautiful images. There really is something for everyone there. Check it out if you can, and until next time!

9:00 AM

You'll Never Be Too Cool For School

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Education, it's a very important part of our society. Yet everyone seems to constantly complain about school and having to go. Meanwhile, there a thousands of people in the world who would love the opportunity to receive an education.

Sometimes we all take our education for granted. Without school we would have no idea how to read, write, count or any other basic everyday skill. Think about the Middle Ages, when only the wealthy were allowed to be educated and all the peasants were illiterate. The peasants lacked logic and reason due to their lack of education.

Education gives us the tools to think for ourselves, we're taught to read and from what we've read we try to form an understanding and create our own interpretation.

Today all you see is people complain that they have to go to school. School is treated like it is a chore, rather than an amazing opportunity. It's crazy women did not have the right to an education in the United States until the 19th century. It's even crazier that in some parts of the world, women still don't have the right to recieve an education.

Remember Malala Yousafazi? Well when she was 15 years old, she survived an assassination attempt. Why would a 15 year old be a target for an assassination? Well this is because she defended the right for a girls’ education in Paskistan after the Taliban outlawed schools for girls in her community. She survived a bullet to the head and has become an activist for education and has even won a Nobel Peace Prize since then. Tell me, what did you do at 15?

My point is, we're so lucky that we have the right to an education and it's something that's not appreciated enough. Imagine you were Malala, and you were almost murdered all because you wanted to receive an education, but your government would not allow it because of something you can't even control.

School not only teaches us about a variety of subjects, it also teaches us how to grow and become responsible citizens and good human beings. We learn to use our manners and be polite and respectful towards one another. While in school we find our talents and that can lead us to our future career path. We learn how to interact with one another while we learn about ourselves.

Education teaches us all about the world we live in. In science, we learn about our planet and how it works. In math, we learn to calculate and solve problems. In English, we learn to communicate. In history, we learn about the mistakes made in the past so hopefully we can learn from them in the future.

The next time you ever think school is pointless and a waste of your time, think about Malala. Someone who would die just to have the basic right that you take for granted. Don't look at school as a waste of time, think of it as a blessing. Think about how lucky you are while others are not so privileged.

What are your thoughts on education? Until next time.

1:13 PM

My Unknown Future

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One of the most popular questions always seems to be about the future:
"Where do you see yourself in *insert number here* years?"
Whenever I get asked this question, I wish I was like Raven from That's So Raven. That way I could see the future and know for sure what will happen. I'm one of those kinds of people who like to plan ahead and know what will happen. But sadly, life doesn't always work like that.

So the question I was asked for this daily blog challenge was: "Where would I be in five years?"

For me it is impossible to respond to, I have no idea what the future will hold. All I know is I better have everything all together by then because I'll be 28 years old. So I better have a job, a home and someone to share it all with.

I know this post was vague, but that's what the future is. The future is unknown and for me, it's hard to write about the unknown. I know I could imagine where I'd want to be in five years, but that's vague too. All I can see is me coming home from work and giving my boyfriend/fiancé/husband (who knows what my relationship status will be then) a kiss. Maybe a couple good vacations thrown in there... I don't know, even my imagination is vague.

Who knows what the future has in store for all of us? I just want the simple things, nothing extravagant. All I want is a happy life full of adventures and people I care about. Now let me ask you, where do you see yourself in the next five years? Until next time.

9:00 AM

3 Healthy Habits Everyone Should Live By

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Everyone wants to live a happy and healthy life, but we all don't do the healthiest of things. We all live crazy busy lives and sometimes it can be hard to be healthy and perfect all the time.

Sometimes it's just easier to to grab dinner from a fast food restaurant instead of cooking a meal at home. And other times, we get caught up in work or relaxing instead of exercising. But there are little things you can do throughout the day that make your life a little bit healthier.

Get At Least 8 Hours Of Sleep
Studies say that eight hours of sleep is exactly what an average adult needs each night. But everybody is different, some people (like myself) need nine hours to be well rested. While others can function perfectly on six hours of sleep. We all need sleep in order to function and stay alive. Consider sleep to be your recharging time. You don't want to go through the day not feeling 100% right?

Walk 10,000 Steps A Day
I know 10,000 steps may seem like a lot, but it's not impossible! According to The Walking Site, the average stride for a person is 2.5 feet long, so around 2,000 steps equals one mile. If you do the math, 10,000 would be around five miles. People who aren't so active walk around 1,000 to 3,000 steps a day. Isn't that crazy? To increase your step count try: taking the stairs instead of the elevator, when you go somewhere park in the back instead of near the entrance or take your pet on a walk or even take a walk with your friends! I use my Fitbit to track all my steps and how many miles I walk in a day.
Invest In A Planner & Make To Do Lists
Life gets a little less crazy when you plan it out! When you write something down, you have a better chance of remembering it. Plus if you forget you'll end up being reminded when you see it later. Make a daily to do list with all the things you want and need to get done! Make personal and professional check lists, it will make life easier. Planners aren't just for students, they are great for all ages. It keeps you organized and you can write down your appointments and events. And with the calendar, you can always make sure your schedule isn't conflicted. Planners are a great way to reduce stress and keep track of your goals. And it's cheaper than hiring a personal assistant.

So those are my three healthy habits that I always try to incorporate into my daily life! They work well for me and I hope they work well for you. What are some of your healthy habits? I'd love to know. Until next time.

7:47 PM

Vlog 10: What's In My Fridge?!

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Here is yesterday's vlog for the Day 13 challenge: what's inside my fridge. Watch my video to see what yummy stuff is inside my fridge!

Thanks for watching! Until next time!

6:17 PM

My Favorite Childhood Book

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Growing up, I loved to read. I cherished every visit to the bookstore and I had a collection of books in my room. I used to read a book a week it seemed like. But when you grow up, you get more responsibilities and less time to read.

Reading at a young age was really good for me. I enjoyed being read to by my parents, and eventually I enjoyed reading on my own. When I got old enough, I'd stay up late all because I got caught up in a book.

I spent a lot of quality time with my parents when we read fairytales and other classic children books. One of my favorite childhood books was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. You know the classic story, Sam-I-Am wants his grumpy friend to eat green eggs and ham. But the grumpy friend has never tried them and just assumes he will not like them. But after Sam-I-Am's pestering and nagging, the grumpy friend tries the green eggs and ham. The grumpy friend has a change of heart after trying then and indeed he likes green eggs and ham.

This book is great because it's all about trying new things and to not make any assumptions based on an object's appearance. Remember a time when you didn't want to eat vegetables because they didn't look good? You've come a long way since then, especially with your newfound diet consisting of kale and avocado. I bet before you read Green Eggs & Ham you never wanted to eat anything green.

I remember in kindergarten after we read the book, our teacher actually made us green eggs and ham. I was amazed that they actually existed. My five year old self had no idea there was such a thing as food dye.

Green Eggs & Ham is a classic book that every kid should read growing up. It's an easy read and it is the perfect starter book. And fun fact, the book only contains 50 different words.

What was your favorite childhood book? Did you ever get to try green eggs and ham? Let me know in the comment section! Until next time.

1:48 PM

My Favorite Foods! Nom Nom Nom

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Food, it's an important part of our daily lives. Food helps keep us alive and gives us the energy we need to do all the things we need to do. Obviously there's food that's good for you and food that's not so good for you. It taste delicious but after a while it won't make you feel good. Everyone has their own taste and their own favorite kinds of food.

Food can bring people together. People go out on dates to restaurants, grab lunch and catch up with old friends, and I bet you remember those family dinners growing up. Food is such an important part of our culture. Think about all those food blogs out there and all those people who Instagram their food. So for today's challenge here are some of my favorite foods:

Salad I know it's an odd choice but I really like them. They're healthy and after eating one I feel good! It doesn't leave me feeling gross and icky after eating one. Plus salads can be so versatile! There's a bunch of different kinds of lettuce and dressing, and you can add all sorts of vegetables.

Cupcakes Yes I like to indulge with a cupcake every once and a while. I love to bake cupcakes and eat them. Or I love to go to Sprinkles and get a cupcake. Nothing is better than the Sprinkles sundae, a cupcake with ice cream in the middle. Now I don't eat cupcakes all the time, but you know you've got to treat yourself now and then.

Pasta As an Italian, I love pasta. Spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, gnocchi, etc. You get the idea. I don't discriminate when it comes to my pasta! Pasta is so versatile, there so many kinds of noodles and they can also be paired with all different kinds of sauces! I'm mainly a red sauce fan, but I don't mind a pesto or white sauce every once and a while.

Cookies! Call me the cookie monster because I love COOKIES. Chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut and sugar cookies are my favorites. But I'm never afraid to try a new kind of cookie. I love to bake cookies too, and you'll find me baking them when I'm craving something sweet.

Grilled Cheese Yes I am a child, I love grilled cheese. Nothing is better than cheese and bread put it together and you've got magic. It's such a simple meal that just tastes so good.

French Fries I love french fries probably just as much as the cookie monster loves cookies, maybe more. I love french fries. All of the french fries in the world. It's not the healthiest thing to love to eat, but I definitely want to try to make a healthy version of them.

Avocado Does that count? It should because I love avocado. I love to have it in my salad, on my sandwiches, in my quesadillas, etc. Basically if I can add avocado to it, it will be there. And yes I know it's extra.

Pretzels My favorite snack of all time! Whenever I go to a baseball game, I'll always get a salted pretzel with a side of cheese. But when I go to Disneyland, I get this special pretzel filled with jalapeño cheese. It is the most amazing thing of all time. And I love it. And growing up I loved Wetzel's Pretzels, and I get tempted every time I go to the mall.

Burritos The greatest creation of all time. They're so filling and filled with yummy goodness. I love a simple burrito like a bean and cheese, and I love a complex burrito like a vegetarian one from Chipotle filled so much my tortilla rips. I even enjoy breakfast burritos on occasion! Whoever thought of filling a tortilla with beans, rice, cheese and etc, is a genius.

Mozzarella Sticks I can't think of anything more delicious than fried cheese. Sure it's not the healthiest but it's so good. It's definitely a guilty pleasure of mine, it's something I'll get every once and a while.

I know with my favorite foods, they're all not the healthiest option out there. But that's okay, because I don't eat all these things all the time. And that's how it should be. If you ate something daily, odds are after a certain amount of time you wouldn't want to eat it anymore. Favorite foods are something you don't get so often so when you do get to eat them it makes them more enjoyable. Until next time.

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