Goodbye 2015!

Hello lovelies!

This year, for some odd reason, I have not been feeling very festive! I began feeling festive around the time of Thanksgiving, but that's about as far as my spirit got. I still don't feel like Christmas has even happened yet. I'm not sure if maybe it's because there was no snow for the holidays this year, or maybe because I was away at school leading up to them that got me all goofed up. Either way, I cannot believe its already New Years Eve!

2015 was a fairly good year for me, and I hope it was the same, if not better for you. It holds some of the best memories I've ever made and some of the worst. But all-in-all it was definitely a year of change, growth and learning for me. 

Many things changed in my life and I can't really categorize any of them under good or bad because like everything we go through, there are positives and negatives and lessons learned. Some of the lessons I learned this year are; 

1. It's okay to say no. 

2. It's okay to say yes. 

3. It's okay to feel. In fact you must feel and address your problems rather than push them all away, or else they will build up and explode. 

4. Things are going to come to an end but that's part of life. 

5. New things will begin. 

6. You will be okay. 

One thing that really had an impact on me this year was my anxiety. It seems to have come to an all-time high in the past few months but I have been learning how to deal with it and accept help. After trying to ignore my anxiety for six years, it feels much nicer to finally face it and let it happen and find ways to fix it, rather than shove it under the rug and pretend its not eating me from the inside. 

In 2015 I made many discoveries within myself and stepped out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways. In some ways its hard to say goodbye to 2015 and the memories and milestone-passings it holds, but I am proud of the things I have accomplished and am ready to step into 2016 with an open mind and to continue moving forward and making positive changes in my life and doing things to help myself be a happier, healthier me. 

So, farewell 2015! It's been a pleasure. 

Lots of Love,

Mari! 

(Source)

Update!

Hello!

It has once again been quite a while since I have made an appearance here. 

I find that I've made more than one "update" post thanks to being absent for a long period of time due to one reason or another. The reason this time? College. 

I've recently been having less and less time on my hands between classes and school work and trying to spend time with friends. It seems the only down time I have had, has been spent on watching Netflix, endlessly (and mindlessly) scrolling through Tumblr, or sleeping. So yes, I would say that when I'm not being productive, I'm still being quite productive (okay maybe not exactly). 

In the past three months (goodness, I feel like it was just yesterday that I was packing up for college) that I have been gone from my blog, I have been trying not to be too hard on myself about keeping up with things here because I simply do not need to allow myself to stress over anything other than school right now. But I have missed writing for the pleasure of just writing, so I am back. Although I have once again decided not to try and keep to a schedule because that may be a little too tricky for me at the time being. 

I will be writing when I can and that will be as often as possible, which will hopefully be quite often (we'll see how that goes). 

I guess that's all for my quick little update!

Lots of Love,

Marissa!

College Is Coming... Quickly!

So, I'm quite certain that I've mentioned this once or twice before, but as I am now a senior in high school, I will be starting my first year of college in the fall! And it is quickly approaching! I feel like just yesterday I was a freshman eager to get through high school, and now it's practically over!

I am currently in the stage of my college process where I am picking a roommate, and if thats not extremely nerve wracking... then I don't know what is! 

Picking the person I am going to live with for the next year of my life is so scary yet so exciting at the same time! Me and this person could end up absolutely despising each other! Or we could end up the best of friends. And it's that uncertainty, of which way this will go, that makes me so anxious about it!

Not to mention the fact that so many people don't give you any type of contact information or personal bio to tell you about themselves! 

I just wrote my personal bio today and I included little bits about my sleeping habits and things I like to do in my spare time. I assured everyone who reads it that if they want to contact me, they are completely free to! I think that's important. I kept it short and sweet. Hopefully it will strike somebodies fancy! 

If you've already gone through this, are going through this now, or one day will, let me know some of your worries you have or had! 

Lots of Love,

Mari!

Art

I love art. It's a beautiful thing isn't it?

I have never been that amazing at art, but I've always wanted to do it. Although my fear of being less than notable has stopped me from trying many times.

I go to an arts school and I was talking to an art teacher the other day and I told him about my predicament. He told me that "Nobody is born an amazing artist. You have to work and practice to get good." And I guess that spoke to me because I decided to try.

I started yesterday with painting with watercolor because watercolor is one of my favorite ways to paint. I think that it always looks so beautiful. I actually was quite satisfied with some of the things that I did. 

The moral of the story, or rather this post, is that if there is something you have always loved and wanted to do but fear that you aren't good enough, do it. Practice it. Be okay with being 'bad' because eventually you will get good.

Lots of Love,

Mari 

On The Bright Side - Stress Relief!

Hello lovely people!

Lately I have been very stressed, mainly about things that have to do with money (who would have guessed?), like the expenses of prom and college and getting my car on the road. 

As I am someone who constantly stresses over every little thing, which I believe to be the reason for my beloved chronic migraines, I have gotten quite used to the wonderful feeling of being stressed. But I am human, and sometimes it gets to be a bit too much. So I am always trying to find new ways to "de-stress". 

Yesterday I spent some time with a friend of mine. She is one of my longest friends and knows me almost as well as I know myself. She gave me the idea of making two lists, one would be titled "Whats Wrong" and the other "On The Bright Side".

We both made our own lists together and I found that it was quite beneficial. It opened my eyes to all of the positives behind my problems, big or small. I liked that I was finding these positives on my own, rather than someone showing them to me. It also motivated me to try and fix some of those obstacles that were causing me so much stress. 

I highly suggest that anybody who is feeling stressed to the max, or even stressed at all, try this technique. Even if there is no plain and clear bright side to your problem, you can simply point out the fact that, if you work hard enough you can overcome this. 

These lists aren't just for people who are stressed out. You can use them for anything. Maybe you're in one of those funks where you just feel helpless and unmotivated, I'm sure this would help tons with something like that also! This is a very general technique jsut to help you feel better. 

Lots of Love,
Mari! 

Trip to Florida!

Hello lovely people!

I am back from my wonderful week long trip to Orlando, Florida! As happy as I am to be home, sleeping in my own bed and no longer living from a suitcase, I miss the warm weather! The winter here has been brutal this year (as it has been in many places) and that short lived feeling of summer was something I didn't want to have to let go of.

I did not bring my laptop with me which is why I didn't post anything while I was there. I just wanted to spend as much time as I could with my cousin (I was visiting her for the week as well as vacationing). 

The trip was so much fun and much different than my prior visits to Orlando. This is because those other visits were solely trips to Disney World. This time we stayed in my cousins apartment rather than a Disney Resort Hotel, and we had two cars for transportation rather than none. 

(crappy phone picture I got on the plane on the way down there. you can also find this picture on my instagram!)

We spent the beginning of the week mostly in water, going to places like Wet n' Wild water park and Wekiwa Springs. I have always been a fish out of water so if you give me some to swim in, I can go for hours, which is what I did.

Friday was our shopping day in which we went to an outlet mall. I love a great deal and my-oh-my did they have some great deals there. I even got a new Victorias Secret bra for only twenty dollars! (Rather than the usual fifty or sixty dollars.)

We went to the beach on Saturday and that was my first time ever swimming in the ocean! I was on cloud nine. They had to practically drag me from the water when it was time to go. 

(me in front of the Hogwarts Express! you can also find this on my instagram!)

Since I found out I was going to Florida, I talked about how badly I wanted to go to Universal Studios, specifically for Harry Potter World. But I knew the tickets cost a lot of money and it probably wouldn't work out for us to go there. They told me we weren't going to make it there and instead we were going to Sea World which I accepted because I understood and figured that there would come a day when I could finally go! 

On Sunday they surprised me in telling me that we were actually going to Universal and I cried! Some of you are probably judging me for crying, but I am an emotional person and I was so happy that I couldn't help it! It's not like I sobbed... 

(the Magic Kingdom castle!)

We finished the week off with going to three of the Disney World parks (Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios) which was fun but nothing like my first two visits there. I decided that the only way to truly get the full Disney experience, you have to stay in one of the resorts, everything becomes so much more magical that way. 

~

This trip was so much fun and I wish I could keep reliving it! One thing I realized is that I was right all along. Something that I need to do in my life is travel. I have always said that I want so badly to go new places and get out of here. This trip gave me the tiniest taste of that and showed me that I'm correct. 

I can't wait to see the world someday.

Lots of Love,

Mari!

My True Hello

Hello lovelies!

I made a post a very long time ago (my first post actually) explaining my motives in creating this blog. That post is no longer available, as it is also no longer relevant. Because since then, my motives have changed. 

I no longer want to be a low budget beauty blogger because frankly, I don't care much about beauty any longer. This doesn't mean I wont ever post anything to do with beauty, I still enjoy makeup and hair products, but those things are not my focus. 

My focus is helping people, sharing thoughts and connecting with those who want to read what I have to say here. 

~

Writing is something that I have thoroughly enjoyed all my life. As a child I used to write books about my friends and I (although I never actually finished one). I dreamt to one day publish a best selling book that would pull readers into another world that they longed to be a part of.

 I long thought that I would one day make a difference in someones life with the things I wrote. Even if it was a change as simple as helping them realize their love for fruit. Okay, bad example I know, but the point is, I dreamed that I would be able to help people by doing my favorite thing, writing.

This dream that my child-self dreamt of is still something that I wish to someday do.

 So I decided to create this blog in the hope that somebody, somewhere in the world might someday come across it and receive some form of help from me, whether its as uncomplicated as overcoming boredom or as complex as gaining a new light in the way they see the world around them.  

On this blog I will be sharing a variety of things including thoughts, adventures, and opinions. This is a place where want us to be able to communicate and share things with each other. 

~

 With luck, you will take something from the things I write, or maybe you will take nothing at all, but in the end I hope you enjoy the things I post here whether they be moving, informative, hopeful, helpful, negative, positive, simple, extravagant, organized or completely random. And hopefully we can be friends and share thoughts.

Lots of Love,
Mari!

The Future Is Bright!

(Source)

Hello Lovelies!

Of recent, my anxiety has been a little higher than usual. It's been quite annoying, as it has been leaving me in a much more groggy and unmotivated mood than I am normally in. But no worries, I am trying my hardest to get back on track as, life is going to continue to happen despite how I am feeling. 

Part of the reason I have been feeling so much more anxious recently is because, I believe, of the many things I am planning and the new adventures I'm going to be starting soon! 

The first 'new adventure' I am going to be going on is not so much as an adventure but a milestone I will be passing. This month I am going to be turning eighteen, which is crazy! I am finding it hard to grasp the idea that I am going to, finally, be legal so soon. 

 In April I am going to Florida to visit my cousin! I am so excited to be able to see my cousin as I am very close to her and miss her since she moved a couple of months ago. And I'm also pumped to just be going to Florida! I haven't been there since 2012 and I only went to Disney World then, so I like that I will actually be able to explore more of the state! 

I'm also FINALLY taking my drivers license test! (It's about time, considering I have had my permit for two years now!)

But above all, I think that the biggest adventure I am going to be going on very soon (this fall to be exact), is college! Gahhh! I'm thrilled and incredibly anxious at the same time! As I have never moved from home yet, this will be the first time and it's extremely daunting to think about. Though don't get me wrong, as I stated previously, I'm still very enlivened at this thought. I have already started making a list of things to bring with me for my dorm, and I can't stop watching college preparation videos on YouTube! You could say that I'm a bit obsessed with planning for it!

Despite all of my recent anxiety, I keep trying to remind myself that the future is bright! I'm going on many new adventures and I am not going to let anxiety get the best of me.

Do you have anything exciting or nerve wracking coming up? Leave a comment telling me about it! I would love to hear!

Lots of Love,

Mari! 

Harry Potter!!

Hello lovelies!!

I hope you have enjoyed this first month of 2015 and that it was a wonderful way for you to kick off the new year!

So today I am going to talk about something near and dear to my heart. But first, I want to say that I am aware of how extremely late I am on this bandwagon! I deeply regret my negligence of Harry Potter in the past, but I am proud to say that I am finally finding out for myself what all the hullabaloo is about.

When I was younger, my father and brother would sometimes watch the Harry Potter movies and I would absolutely hate it. Even as I got older, I never liked them.

By the time I was a Freshmen in high school I had attempted to read the books twice, but they didn't interest me. Then finally, in either October or November of 2014, I was sitting in my friends house while she was doing homework. I looked over at her collection of books and knowing she had all seven Harry Potter books, I decided I would start reading the first one.

I was hooked in seconds.

I guess every other attempt at reading these books didn't work because it wasn't my time yet. Maybe I just wasn't ready for all the literary magic that these books held (see what I did there? hehe!). 

After that day, I kept borrowing the books from her until I got my own set for Christmas (Yay!!). I am now almost done with "Goblet Of Fire", the fourth book for those who don't know. I can't wait to finish reading them all but at the same time I don't want them to be done! I'm also very excited to finish so that I can watch all of the movies! I got those for Christmas also but I want to wait until I'm finished reading the series to watch them.

Tell me, how do you like the Harry Potter series? Are you a die hard fan, like many people I know? Do you hate them? Or are you just kinda in between?

Hopefully I'm not the only one who made the mistake of waiting so long to embrace the wonderful world of Harry Potter!

With Lots and Lots of Love,

Mari!

A New Year Is Here!

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Hello Lovlies!

2015 is upon us! A new year is here and this means its time to start our resolutions! Unless you you are somebody who doesn't do resolutions. Maybe you do goals? Or maybe you just continue living as if nothing is new. Either way, Happy New Year!!

I'm going to share with you my goals/resolutions for 2015! (Now that I've finally had the time to sit down and finish this darn post!)

I'm going to start off with my "health" goals. The first one is a rather odd goal to have, but it's something I think would be fun to try, because I presume it could be beneficial to my health... Anyway! Let's get into them!

1. Drink at least one smoothie every day for a month. (Yeah, not sure when I'm going to do this, but I want to at some point.)

2. Eat less processed, junk and fast food. 

3. Wait twenty minutes before going back for seconds when eating. 

4. Run at least once a week. (Also walk more.)

5. Run a marathon. 

Now for goals that steer away from my physical health...

6. Do nothing but build others up and cheer them on.

7. Do not dislike anyone unless they give you a legitimate reason to. (I have a habit of seeing people and assuming I'm supposed to not like them, then proceeding to find stupid little reasons not to like them.)

8. Love unconditionally. (I need to do more of this.)

9. Find the positives in everything.

10. Write more. Write everything. (I absolutely love writing. But I hardly ever do because all my thoughts get jumbled up and I essentially have too much to write about or don't know where to start.)

Well, there they are; my 2015 resolutions/goals. I'm quite excited to see how well I do in fulfilling them, I think I can achieve something here! My new years resolution last year was to be happy. Just to let myself smile and laugh as much as I could and although I didn't do perfectly, I definitely improved on the happiness scale. So I'm very proud of myself there, and I'm hoping to be proud of myself at the end of this year.

Let me know what some of your goals are in the comments!

With Lots and Lots of Love,
Marissa! <3