Way Too Many Emoticons...

I have a confession to make...

I use way too many emoticons.

I'm a very sarcastic individual with a rather dry sense of humor.

In person, you can tell this from simply having a conversation with me.

Online, however, I feel like there's no real easy way to distinguish the difference

between sarcastic comments and genuine comments.

Hence my usage of emoticons.

There are times I find myself using them in every e-mail, instant message, or text being sent.

It's at this point where I have to step back and tell myself,

"Calm down there, girly!  People are going to think your computer has gone manic!"

But I would much rather look silly by using a bunch of emoticons than
accidentally offend someone via text/the internet.

I think it's safe to say I'm just too sarcastic for the good of the texting and internet age.

One of these days I'm sure it will wind up getting me in trouble.

So until a universal font used to depict sarcasm is created, I will continue use these silly little faces.
Unless it's at work.  I keep my office e-mails 100% sarcasm-free.

Do you ever find yourself being misunderstood in texts, e-mails, etc?

Do emoticons tend to hijack your conversations too?

Everything Is Going To Be Alright...

Printable quote found on Pinterest at this original post.

This is something I have had to frequently remind myself of.  I'm sure you can tell by my last post that I've been having a rough time lately.  

I've been battling depression for quite some time now.  I was officially diagnosed my Junior year of high school (about 8 years ago), but I'm pretty sure I was depressed way before then.  And the lucky girl that I am, anxiety seems to go hand-in-hand with my depression.  Two for the price of one!  (I love bargains, but this is one time I'd definitely rather not.)

Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed, disorganized, anxious, and rundown.  The last few weeks have been filled with ups and downs.  The downs being the more memorable of the two.  It's been rough, but I'm trying to get through it.  I'm a firm believer in the cliche, that "everything happens for a reason."  I know that God will never give me more than I can handle, and the hard times are what make us stronger individuals.  But really?  I just want the craziness and chaos to be over already.  Until they are though, I just have to keep reminding myself that everything is going to be alright...  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

The ABC's I've Learned About Life...

I've learned plenty of lessons in my almost 25 years of life, and I'm sure many more will come.  Here are just a few I've picked up on so far.  A lot of these are lessons I've had to learn the hard way, but every so often a positive life lesson will come along making all the struggles worth while.  I now pass along my wisdom to you...

A - Actions always speak louder than words.  Word, after word, after word.

B - Being a positive role model is a full-time job.  There are no days off.

C - Creative is my middle name.  (Well, not actually.)  But regardless of the many creative outlets I've had in my life (writing poetry, graphic design, crafting, etc.), up until just a few years ago I never recognized myself as actually being creative.  Crazy, right?

D - Distance can either make the heart grow fonder or tear two people apart.  It all depends on the relationship and the amount of effort the people are willing to put into it.

E - Everything happens for a reason... Whether or not I know the reason at the time.  God has His plans, and they're never wrong.

F - Forgetting the things that I wish had never happened is a totally impossible thing to do.

G - Getting what I want isn't always what's best for me.  God knows exactly what I need.

H - Helping someone else is the most rewarding feeling in the world.

I - Inconsiderate people are simply inconsiderate people.  No amount of kindness or friendliness on my part can change them.

J - Judgement is a disservice to everyone.

K - Keeping calm is the most important thing in times of chaos or emergency.

L - Losing someone's friendship is even more difficult when you realize you didn't mean nearly as much to them as they meant to you.

M - Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!  (It's so true!  Ladies, be sure you moisturize each day before applying makeup.)

N - No one can decide my self-worth.  That's for me to decide.

O - Organization can do wonders not only in saving space but also in saving sanity.

P - Priorities change over time.  It's all a part of growing up.

Q - Questions can only be stupid if you fail to ask them yet assume the answers.

R - Righting a wrong takes far more energy and effort than doing right in the first place.

S - Seeing those younger than myself grow up makes me feel like I'm getting old.  Older and much wiser.

T - Trying is the best you can do sometimes...  Don't listen to Yoda.

U - Unattractive personalities can make even the most gorgeous people ugly.

V - Victory is bittersweet.  To be victorious, someone else must experience defeat.

W - Weirdness should be embraced.  The minute you believe it to be something negative, others will believe the exact same thing.

X - X-Ray results can be overlooked by doctors.  Only specialists can spot rarities...  A lesson I learned a year too late, sadly.  Two broken hips and two surgeries later.

Y - Youth is not an excuse for ignorance, only inexperience.

Z - Zippers are dangerous.  No, really...  They are!

Personal Goals For 2012...

I'm not one for new year's resolutions, however I do think that the beginning of the new year is a great time to reflect on the one that just past and to set goals for the new one.  I generally tend to keep these goals to myself, but I was thinking that maybe if I share them this year I'll be more likely to actually achieve them...  Assuming you guys would be so kind as to hold me accountable for them.  ;)


1)  GET MORE INVOLVED AT CHURCH AGAIN.
I used to be extremely involved at church.  It's true that I'm a bit of an off-and-on service attender. There's something about hour-long, early morning services that simply doesn't work for me.  (I zone out then then begin to ponder as to whether or not I have something along the lines of adult ADD.) But if I was not attending service regularly, you would find me at my church's college group devotional each week.  I would be involved with events going on at church, with the college group, and with my kiddos.  However, I've drifted lately and now I'm generally only involved one night during the week while I teach the church kids at the Wednesday night program.  I miss it.  I miss the fellowship with the other members, but most of all I miss the close relationship with God.  I'm coming back in 2012.  If I accomplish only one thing this year, my prayer is that this is that one thing.

 

2)  LOSE SOME WEIGHT.
I packed on the pounds this past year for several reasons, but I'm determined to get back to my comfortable weight.  The worst part of putting on extra pounds is that it puts a damper on my self esteem.  I end up feeling gross and hate the way I look in pictures.  I don't want that for the year to come, so I'm aiming to lose 20 pounds.  That will put me back to where I was when I felt comfortable with my weight.

 

3)  GET MY ETSY BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING.
Not just up and running but making sales regularly, too.  After a little while of having people ask me if I ever sold the handmade cards I make, I started toying with the idea of opening a shop on Etsy.  It's worth a shot, right?  I think it's something that I'd really enjoy doing.  And let's face it, anything to help with textbook costs would be just grand.

4)  WRITE POETRY.
Writing has always been a big part of my teenage and adult life.  I write poetry.  I write lyrics.  And I write to express my emotions.  Thoughts of sadness, happiness, grief, anger, and confusion all fill the pages of my poetry journal.  New entries to said journal are badly needed, and having another creative outlet is never a bad thing.

5)  REVISIT MY MUSIC LISTENING DAYS.
In high school listening to music was a huge outlet for me.  In years since, I've lost my nack for finding new indie music.  The unknown bands are always my favorite kind.  Watching them blow up and become famous is great too.  But when they sell out?  Not so great.

So now that I've shared my personal goals for 2012, tell me yours!  Do you have one major goal for the year?  Or do you have multiple goals like I do?

Sucker; Not a Blood Sucker...

I'm a reader.  I read for fun, and I read for leisure...  When I have the time.  In general, I try not to get involved in any books with a semi-long series (4 books or more).  I prefer to read individual books simply because I'm a fairly slow reader, and reading isn't exactly that high on my list of priorities.  (Aimlessly surfing the web seems much more appealing most of the time.)  However, I've gotten involved in the Vampire Academy book series; I'm on book 4 right now.  I was a bit skeptical at first, but halfway through the first book I couldn't stop.  Vampires, high school drama, magic, and of course...  A forbidden love interest.  Bring in forbidden love and I'm instantly hooked.  That goes for anything.

 

 

I admit it.  I'm a sucker (not a blood sucker) for vampires.  Vampire movies, vampire TV shows, vampire books.  You name it, I like it.  I'm not quite sure what it is about vampires that appeals to me, but I've been fascinated with the myth from a young age.  The Count on Sesame Street?  Yup, I loved him.  Okay, maybe not that far back but the interest definitely grew once I became a teenager.  I know what you're dying to ask; was I into the Twilight series?  Yes I was.  I almost passed it up since it was the "in" thing of the time.  But like I said, I can't say no to things involving vampirism, and I definitely  can't say no to stories of forbidden love.