One Year down, more to go

Well at the beginning of 2015, I started this blog! It was mainly an outlet for my creative side, but as I got busier as the year went on, I stopped writing as much, and honestly I didn't have enough time to think about what I wanted to write about. But now that 2015 has come and gone it is time to start 2016. So hopefully I will keep up with this blog a little more this year. You never know I might just start writing about my opinion on big topics of the world. Because why not, or maybe I will share my outfits for you all to see, if you are interested! Who knows what I will do, that's the fun in having a lifestyle blog is the flexibility to do really, whatever I want! Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you are able to fulfill your new year's resolutions this year!!!

20 pictures of puppies and counting!

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

I have come to the conclusion that puppies make any person's day better, so here is a gallery of cute pictures because right now is midterms and I mean why not?!

Love Yourself

As the new school year is gearing up I have already been busy busy busy. I had two weeks full of all things Zeta Tau Alpha and I was able to get to know more of my sisters and even make some new friends. With recruitment came 139 lovely new members, and the pressure I started to put on myself to get to know each and every one of them. (Side note: I did realize that was an impossible task for me to accomplish in a week.) Life is busy no matter what stage of it you are in, but don’t forget to love yourself first. Jesus calls us to show love to others. I love that I am called to do that and I try to show love as much as I can, but I have found that it is easier to love others when you love yourself as well. Being a girl, naturally I grew up with insecurities. I had insecurities about my acne, my body shape, even the way I talked, or walked. As years have passed I have realized how minute all of the factors are in real life. Instead of showing love to the other girls around me that I thought were, “perfect” I looked at them with jealousy and envy in my heart. But what I should have been is happy for those girls that didn’t have the same struggles that I had. We all have insecurities, but the more accepting you are of yourself the more accepting you will be of others. So take the time you need to love yourself. For me I take myself shopping and go to the gym, I feel like a rock star after a great Zumba session. Find your niche that helps you get rid of all the negative things you have swirling in your head about yourself. That being said, with life so busy do not get overwhelmed, do not get anxious. Jesus has got your back, and trust Him! He won’t give you anything too big that you and Him cannot conquer together. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.” This verse gets me through life. No matter what you are battling whether it be insecurities or just some life stuff, HE CARES! But also remember you are stronger than you feel, wiser than you think, and you will be alright.

Surviving the Summer Heat

It is HOT during the summer months in Arkansas! I have always lived here, and every year I scorch my legs on leather seats, although I haven’t found a solution to that problem yet, I have found a solution to my ice melting within five seconds of being outside. I have one word for you ladies and gents S’WELL! These lovely water bottles keep beverages cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. They come in all kinds of designs and three different sizes. The largest one is even rumored to hold a whole bottle of wine, if that is your sort of thing! They are literally the perfect gift and great to have in your backpack if you are one of the lucky students that gets to walk around campus in August! Honestly I feel that everyone could use one. Tea drinker? Works for you. Strictly water? Works for you. Want hot coffee in the winter time? Works for you too! I have tried all kinds of methods to cool off fast in this summer heat, but nothing really beats having an ice cold beverage. I bought the 17 oz. (medium size) in the Champagne color! But they have so many options for guys and girls. Seriously go get one ASAP! The link to their website is below.

http://www.swellbottle.com/

UARK Hacks: Move In

Ready for move in? Just so you know it will be all sorts of crazy, and there will be lots of parents and new faces, but here are just a couple tips I put together to make it go as smoothly as possible.

First one, pack in boxes or suitcases. When I was packing I put all of my stuff into boxes. Every box had a category, for example, Bedding, Toiletries, tops, bottoms, that sort of thing. Each box was numbered and then I had a piece of paper that had each number on it and said what was in the numbered box. So I might put my bedding in box one, then wrote it down on the piece of paper as 1. Bedding. Pretty simple, but it saved me a lot of time when moving in. I was able to decide what needed to be unpacked while my mom was there to help me, and what I probably could unpack on my own after we said our goodbyes. Second, pick a different move in time than your roommate. You will want all the space you can get to unpack your stuff, and if you are both unloading all of your stuff at the same time there will be barely any space to move and the room will be super crowded. Next, bring a toolkit and more command stripes than you think you need, as well as extension cords, and power strips. If you are a girl that is rushing you will soon receive multiple canvases that you will want to hang up and cover your walls with. Get plenty of command strips so that when you get the canvases you don’t have to waste any time putting them up. Plus those little suckers can add up quick, so it is best to get them on the back to school special than to get them later. I found the best ones to get are the command strips that are made kind of like Velcro, but instead they click together. I used them all year and never had anything fall off of my walls. Make sure you don’t forget your parking sticker. Your parking sticker is literally your car’s ticket to having a home on campus, without it you will for sure rack up an extensive amount of fines. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and put it in your car as soon as it comes in the mail. Lastly, don’t over pack. If you are joining a sorority you will have plenty of t-shirts to wear there is no need to bring any with you. Your room is smaller than you think and I bet that in two weeks you will be going home for Labor Day to say hi to your folks and tell them how much you love college already. Live in your dorm for a couple of weeks and try to figure out what you have room for. Better to bring it up later, than to come to move in with entirely too much stuff that doesn’t fit in your room. Hope this helps!

UARK Hacks: Panhellenic Recruitment

            So you decided to join the Greek community at the University of Arkansas. Are you excited? You should be, we are all excited to have each one of you, but first we have to meet you, and the week it takes to do that is nothing but stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. I have put together some tips that I wish that someone had told me. So to start us off lets go over the basics.

            You will have a t-shirt given to you for every day of the week except Preference Night. Last year when I went through recruitment most of the shirts were pastel colors. This year I have no clue what they will be. All you need is a cute simple necklace and some tasteful shorts to put with your shirt and some sandals. DO NOT OVER DO YOUR MAKEUP. Arkansas in August is hot and humid. You will feel like you are suffocating. Think about this before you apply your makeup. Leave the false lashes and the insane contouring at home. We want to get to know you, and of course we want you to feel comfortable in your own skin, but applying a mask of makeup is not the answer. Think the girl next door look, not the latest runway or prom makeup tutorial that you saw on Pinterest. Also, make sure that you are drinking plenty of water, sweating is your body’s way of cooling down which can cause you to dehydrate, drink water, you don’t want to collapse in the middle of a party, if it were me I would be mortified.

            Do not ask what our favorite fraternity is, or if we have a boyfriend, or how often we go out, or what our favorite fraternity party last year was. Like seriously do not ask that. Keep this in mind, if it is a topic you would bring up to your father, or even in front of your very conservative Grandmother, it is okay to bring up during recruitment. But here is another thing to think about, if those are the things you are looking to get out of joining a sorority you have come to the absolutely wrong place. Sororities are about coming together with a group of pretty awesome gals and trying to make an impact on our community and our world for the better. Like yay women we are awesome.

            Next order of business: your phone. LEAVE IT WITH YOUR GAMMA CHI OR IN YOUR DORM! I can’t stress this enough. Number one it is illegal to have it during recruitment, but number two if you are on your phone all day you won’t be able to see the bright new faces around you! Take this week that you are mushed together with a thousand other girls, to make some new friends. You never know someone that you meet in recruitment could be standing on the same lawn as you on bid day. You think I am kidding, but seriously it is weird how things turn out. There will be people to talk to, movies to watch, and coloring sheets to make beautiful, so embrace it and get to know new people. But while you are meeting new people do not talk about the houses. Like seriously I know it is hard, but find another topic. If you say something bad about Delta Gamma Phi, it will be just your luck that a third generation legacy will be sitting right next to you. So just don’t do it, you don’t want to be “that” girl.

            If you fall, laugh it off and just get back up. Also, it will be loud. Like honestly so loud you won’t be able to hear the person kneeling in front of you, so speak up. If you can’t hear the girl talking to you ask her to repeat herself. She realizes that it is loud and will not mind at all.

            There was probably a lot of information in this that you may or may not have already heard, but I hoped it will help you out just a little. Get ready for the weirdest and most fun week you will never want to do again of your life. But just remember we are just as nervous as you are, and we are human too.

If you have any additional questions go to the Greek Life page for help. I wish that I could talk to you myself, but with the Panhellenic Rules in place we are not allowed to.

www.uagreeks.uark.edu

**Disclaimer: This post doesn't in any shape or form reflect the opinions or views of any certain sorority.

UARK Hacks: Parking

            So you are dying to move in right? You have spent hundreds of dollars and hours of your summer deciding between the different color schemes available at the nearest Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Now you are staring at the pile that has accumulated in the corner of your room, patiently waiting to move to Fayetteville. Trust me everyone has that feeling, but what you don’t realize is that there are things you haven’t thought about yet. Such as your parking permit.

            Parking at the University of Arkansas can be one of the most confusing things ever, but I am about to give you a crash course and hopefully save you a lot of money. Yellow signs and permits are for faculty only. For yellow it is faculty parking only from 7 AM – 5 PM Monday through Friday. From 6 PM – 7 AM Monday through Friday, as well as the weekends these parking spots can be used by anyone. Blue reserved can be given to anyone, all you have to do is apply. I have noticed these spots are some of the better parking spots on campus, but I am sure there is a price with that convenience. These parking spots are reserved Monday – Friday normally 7 AM – 7 PM, if I remember correctly.

            Got a scooter? You’ll need a permit for that too. Motorcycle? Yep parking permit for that as well. Mopeds are super convenient and you will see them everywhere. Some buildings you can basically park within a 2 minute walking distance of your class. But the down side is that during the cold months, driving on a moped is about 10x colder. Bringing a bicycle to campus? Great! You actually don’t need a permit for this, but you will need a bike lock, without one your bike could be impounded.

            Living on campus? There are multiple options for on-campus residents. Resident Reserved is actually split up into zones, the zone that you are put in is determined by where you are living. I wish I would have had Resident Reserved. I had a Garland Parking Permit, and since I will be living in the Zeta House this year I will have it again, that was the better parking option for me. But I lived in Reid so to walk to my car in the middle of the bitter cold was quite a trek. So if you have the option do resident reserved. Not only could you park in the indicated zoned lot, but you can also park in any Green lot which is considered Student Parking. Student parking or the green lots, is a cheaper permit to have, but the green lots are normally in located inconveniently, and you have to move your car on game days, because these lots are normally sold as game day parking permits. This brings me to my next topic, game day parking.

            Game day Parking: Football Games - If you live on campus these lots have to be evacuated by midnight the night before a home football game:

Lot 37 (east of Hotz - faculty/staff only)

Lots 42 and 43 (south of Reid - blue reserved and faculty/staff only)

Lot 44 (north of the stadium)

Lot 46 (north of the Inramural Fields)

Lot 60 and 62 (Bud Walton Arena) Garland Garage

Levels B1 and 1 The Meadow Street Parking Garage Stadium Drive Garage

Lots 56, 56B, and 56D

Lot 29 (west of the Pat Walker Health Center)

Lot 27 (west of Animal Science)

Lot 74 (by Testing Services)

Lot 81 (Virginia Street)

If you do leave your car in one of these lots your car will be towed to the Lot to the East of Baum Stadium on Razorback Road.

            These are just a couple of tips that will help you steer clear of tickets for at least your first few weeks of school. Just remember, the people walking around with traffic vests and backpacks are bad news, so stay away, and no matter if you think that you might just be parked there for five minutes, park in a place that you are allowed to. Make a little more time to run your errand, and save yourself fifty bucks, and some time. Goodluck! 

5 Things You Don't Need to Bring to College

Maple Hill Dorm - University of Arkansas

1. Keurig

If you are anything like me you like fru fru coffee. And fru fru coffee is made best at the Starbucks on campus right next to the building with all my classes in it. So I actually used my knock off Keurig to get hot coffee to mix in my hot chocolate marshmallow mix on the snow days we had. Now I have a coffee maker that is sitting idle in my garage. So learn from my mistake, use your flex dollars at Starbucks, and save your actually money to put towards a better mattress pad, rather than a coffee maker that is overpriced and will be ignored.

2. Drying Rack

I thought I would use this all the time like of course I needed a drying rack, what kind of question is that?! But I can count on one hand how many times I actually used my drying rack. I learned it was easier to just put it on hangers and find creative spots to hang them from for a couple hours while my jeans and shirts dried!

3. Brita Water Pitcher

This is something that I actually didn’t purchase, but I had friends that did. If you live in a regular dorm setting (not suite style), then this item is not a necessity. It normally just sat on the counter taking up space, and creating clutter. Most dormitories have drink filing stations in the lobby, get up and take a break from your four hour long Netflix binge and exercise. It won’t kill you to smile at a couple people to get some ice water.

4. T-Shirts

College is literally known for the amount of t-shirts you will accumulate over the years, especially if you are planning on being in Greek life, trust me when I say that bringing just five t-shirts to college at max is almost too many. There is normally a new design up weekly and normally they get printed the week after that.  

****TIP: Put t-shirts into your budget when you start trying to figure out what you can spend where. Normally a short sleeve comfort colors tee is around $16 after tax, and this can add up over the semester, so plan accordingly.

5. A Closed Mind

I know you are thinking well duh, but seriously. College is one of the times in your life that you will see the most random and weird creatures, I mean people, all in one place. God created each and every one of them so try to learn be open minded and less judgmental. Also, people that smile on campus more tend to be the people that have more friends, and the people I like to spend my time with. Positive Mind=Positive Life Peeps. Make this a motto as you walk around on campus!

Are you an incoming freshman or parent of incoming freshman? Have questions about University of Arkansas living? Want to know some secrets that housing.uark.edu doesn’t reveal? Shoot me an email at agmclain@uark.edu or leave a comment below! I would love to assist you in any way that I can, or point you in the direction of someone that might be able to better answer your question!

The Impact of a Teacher

When I look back on my greatest days in high school, some of the memories that fill my mind are the memories I made with my friends under the Friday night lights, but others are memories that I made in the classroom that involve a group of women that helped shape me in to the woman I am today.

This group of women were my teachers. Ironically all of them were either English or History teachers, classes which I did a lot of writing and exploring the art of words and literature, learning about how it shapes our society. Ironically enough when I no longer had someone giving me creative writing assignments I started this blog. My English teachers throughout the years, helped me discover one of my favorite escapes from the world. (Sorry that I probably exercise drastic grammatical errors throughout every blog post. We all know I was never good at commas.) These women went above and beyond teaching me how to read, and write, and memorize dates, or periods of time. These women pushed me every day to be my best, to put my best foot forward, and to be involved inside and outside of the classroom. People will tell you that in college your professors will not care what struggles you are having, they will still expect you to perform at your best, and this is true. You cannot sweet talk yourself into a good grade in college, trust me I tried many times.

Although I had one professor my whole freshman year that I really connected with, and felt like was a good mentor for me, I will still never forget the teachers that I had in high school. So here is a little inside for you, I disliked high school. (But then again only a select few actually like high school.) The teachers that I had made it bearable, and kept me coming back every day with an open mind ready to learn something new. So after all those years of dedication, I thought I would say a little thanks.

To Mrs. Robin Owen:

You were my 8^th grade English teacher, I had you 3^rd period I believe, or maybe 4^th, but I enjoyed your class so much! I never truly had a favorite subject until I was in your class, and after I figured out that English was my thing I did so good at it, I now don’t have to take it anymore. It is actually a little depressing. I don’t think you ever realized how much of an impact your class made on me, but thank you for helping me find my niche!

To Mrs. Oretha Ferguson:

You know I loved your class, and you so so much. From the time I had you for sophomore English until the day I graduated you were my go to person when I needed some advice. You edited all of my college scholarship papers, and you spent so much time writing recommendation letters for me. I will always look up to you, and you will always be one of my favorite teachers of all time. When I was ever discouraged you never hesitated to open your door to me for a chit chat. We have had guy talks, friend talks, and educational talks. You encouraged me every chance you could, and you helped me to see the best in myself, rather than to focus on my flaws. I used to love writing papers in your class. I always was so eager to get my paper back, because I knew that I might not have always gotten the grade I wanted, but my grade would be justified with a rubric, and a hand written note would be in the margin saying what I could improve on, in that perfect cursive handwriting that you have. I never had a doubt in my mind that you cared about me, and every other student that you had in your class. Thank you Mrs. Ferguson. Thank you for believing in me, and continuing to believe in me all of these years.

To Ms. Shelly Loewen:

You are just a neat person. You have so much knowledge about history. Although it is a subject that I never thought I would really enjoy, you made it entertaining for me. So entertaining in fact that you almost gave me no choice to switch to AP the following semester. But you knew I could make a good grade in your class, that I was up for the challenge, and you were right. I just had to have someone to push me a little. Not only did I work with you in the classroom, but we spent many hours together outside the classroom as well. I loved being involved in Student Council. I loved planning homecoming all of my junior year, it was so stressful, but so much fun. I loved your class, and I loved our talks, it was hard to say goodbye to you my last day. I will always remember you and your stage. Thank you for giving me tasks that I thought I would never be able to accomplish. You taught me how to be more of a leader, and I will have you to thank for that forever. By the way congrats on your Master’s Degree in Counseling! You finally made it!!

To Mrs. Courtney Beland:

You are by far the coolest junior English teacher to ever live. You were always cracking jokes, and you made your class fun. Which for me is saying a whole lot since it was my first period class my junior year. I will always be thankful for you and your easy going spirit. You taught me how to get things done, but have a great time doing it. You also taught me that actually reading the reading assignment is not always a half bad idea, hence the fact that one of my favorite books is now The Great Gatsby. I hope that I am as cool of a mom as you are someday, you have an awesome and beautiful family. Thank you for giving me some time to laugh during one of the toughest years, course wise, of my high school career. Junior year would have been a nightmare without you!

To Ms. Karen Davis:

Senior year AP English. Man your class was a blast, but definitely not a breeze. You have more knowledge about Literature than I think any other person I have ever met. You also love grumpy cat, and Thor more than any other person I have ever met as well. You pushed me to get over my senioritis and for that I will always thank you. Senior year might be the end of high school, but it wasn’t the end of education for me, so there was no sense in turning off my brain. Thank you for spending so many hours cracking jokes, and stuffing diplomas. Wouldn’t have gotten that special piece of paper without your help.

To all the other teachers:

Just because you did not get a spotlight, does not mean you were not just as important. Teachers are a special kind of people, with more patience in one day than I might have my whole life. Thank you for being pushers. Thank you for spending the extra time to sponsor a club that occupied so much of my time. Thank you for sacrificing time with your family to tutor me a little extra, or put together a test early, just because I needed to take it earlier than scheduled. Thanks for making a makeup test, instead of giving me a zero. Thank you for doing everything you could to bump my grade, even if that meant you had to give me .01 point so that I could actually receive that borderline A. Thank you for letting me into your life, thank you for letting get to know your sweet kids. But ultimately, thank you for shaping me into the woman that I am today, and teaching me the biggest lesson of all, no matter what the people say, I can do it.

The Ultimate "Life Goals"

In Colossians, Paul calls us to clothe ourselves with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, and patience. He then calls us to forgive as the Lord forgave us, and to love such as He loves. When I first came across Colossians, I had no idea that such a powerful, and meaningful piece of scripture was wedged in just a few short chapters, but God really has a way of working through Scripture because I could not have come across it at a better time. There are people in life that will treat you in a way that might not be what you think you deserve. In the past weeks I have let this fact bother me, and instead of conducting myself in the way that Paul describes, I let myself be angry, and act in a way that really didn't hurt that person anymore, it just hurt me more. I normally have a tendency to let things build up inside of me with the exception of telling one or two people in my life that I really trust, and value their judgement, and then normally after a while I blow up. But this time I didn't blow up. I decided to read scripture before I got to that point and I came across Colossians 3:12-17. It is amazing how God works. After reading that passage I immediately knew what I was supposed to do about the situation. The only thing that you could call my situation was plain old girl drama. If you look at Colossians 3:12-17 being a person that causes drama is not a trait that Paul says that we should have. I feel as if sometimes girls my age let ourselves  slip too easily into a dramatic situation, or make a situation a bigger deal than it truly is. But what I have realized is that if you focus on how scripture says that we conduct our life, relationships with people that truly care about you should not contain petty drama. What I have also realized is that Colossians 3:12-17 is "life goals." I feel like our generation easily gets caught up in the relationship goals, wardrobe goals, or traveling goals. Instead of wanting the possessions that other people have I have realized there is a much bigger picture. I want to achieve the personality that Paul describes in Colossians 3:12-17, because those traits will be there for a life time and even after. God won't be commenting on your extensive shoe collection in Heaven. Sorry girls I know it is a hard reality to face.

Lover Of People

(Mackenson is on the right)

As I was packing up my things and moving out of my dorm I found a homemade bracelet. Some might say that a misplaced bracelet is not that big of a deal, but this bracelet was. This bracelet was a bracelet that I had made summer after my sophomore year in high school. I made the bracelet on my first trip to Haiti with a boy named Mackenson. Mackenson was a boy that was part of an orphanage, and had survived the devastating earthquake. I met Mackenson on the last day of our trip, and he stuck with me over the following year. The next summer I went to Haiti again and we served at the same orphanage. The first day we were welcomed with a song by the adorable kids and when they were finished the little kids ran and latched on to a member of our team. I was not one of the people that had a super cute kid running to greet them, but that was okay with me. I had been anticipating seeing Mackenson again and I was on the search to find him! I found him on the top floor of the boy’s orphanage playing “football” (soccer) and said, “Hey what’s up dude!” He looked at me for a second kind of funny, then his eyes lit up and he said, “Hey I remember you!” in the sweetest broken English possible. We continued to hangout the rest of the week, which is something I will never forget. I went on two mission trips and Mackenson made an impact on my life that he will never understand. I haven’t seen or been able to contact Mackenson since that trip, but I pray and think of him all of the time. I was so happy to find my bracelet because it was my reminder that this world is bigger than just me. God has a big world full of wonderful children that he loves unconditionally. Lately I have looked back on all the people I have met my freshman year. Jesus calls us to show love to everyone. (Leviticus 19:18) Sometimes I fail at that. I let pettiness get in the way of loving people. But no Christian is perfect and this is why we have Christ to grow and mold ourselves to be more like Him. Because of this, I have started to be real with myself and make goals to become a better lover of people.

 

"When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves." -- William Arthur Ward

The Proverbs 31 Woman

          As I get older I am tested more and more. I am actually tested in school, I am tested in my faith, and I am tested to see how well I can navigate through life. I hate being tested in school, but I mean who actually likes that. I have been tested in my faith time and time again, but after reading scripture and having quiet time with God I pretty much figure out how to deal with the situation. But when I am tested with life I turn to my mom. My mother is timeless, she is classy. She is everything I strive in life to be so why would I not call her?

When I was in high school I never truly appreciated my mom and the decisions that she made, or even why she made them. For example, she has been offered promotions in the past that she didn’t take. Why? The answer is me. Because I heard the phone call, heard Pennsylvania, and had a huge meltdown. Like huge crying, she had to sit and calm me down, meltdown. My mom has sacrificed her career for my happiness. She is selfless, and that is something I work hard to imitate every day. (It is a hard battle.)

          Not only is my mom selfless, but she taught me the importance of a hug at the end of a hard day. My mom has had countless hard days, which usually results in me wanting to have a stern talking to someone. Because she is a strong woman, if you have made her feel anything less than extraordinary you are wrong, and you should know it. But as I said mom showed me the importance of a hug. I honestly believe that a hug could cure a deadly disease if it was a good enough one.

          My mom is timeless. I see pictures of her from her younger days, and her style and appearance hasn’t aged a day. Granted her hair has gotten smaller over the years, but that is just because I always messed it up as a child, I am sure. My mother is the spitting image of a Proverbs 31 woman, and I couldn’t be more proud to call her my momma.

 

Jesus Time: Matthew 25:35

Day Brightener: There is still Hope for our world

Probably the best thing I've ever heard. I've found my new favorite song.

Day Brightener: Overload

  

Day Brightener: Most annoying boy award goes to....

I used to annoy my mom when I was younger... but this is a whole new level.. WOW

Day Brighteners: Cute dogs and cats in need of naps.

So everyone has those days that are just kinda blah so this post is where you can start going to find things that will hopefully make you smile and re-energized! I'll start trying to post one a day!!


 

Everyone is Blind.

How many stars are in the sky right now? People in New York would claim that they could barely see any stars, and the people in Australia would say that they were wrong, that there were actually a billion in the sky. Both of these people are actually right. Whether you are viewing them from the Empire State Building in New York or the outback in Australia, the number of stars is the same.  Stars become harder to see, or invisible, in large cities due to the amount of light in the city; therefore giving the effect that there are less stars. The light blinds us from seeing the beauty of the night. But no matter how much light there is you are always able to see the moon. Like the light blinding people from viewing the beauty of the stars, our society is also blind. We are blind in the sense that we can’t see the beauty of others, because we let the physical appearance of someone determine how we act towards them. Why is this? Why does the appearance of a man, the result of one single chromosome, establish how you treat him? This shouldn’t be the case. Our society is blinded. Instead we should decide how we treat someone based on what is in his heart. Some of the kindest people I know live with a disability. Every day in high school they would say hi to me in the hallway, and every day I choose to love them. I loved them not because I felt sorry for them. No. I loved them not only because it is what I am called to do by God, but because they were easy to love. The people I know with a disability are people too. People with a kind heart are easy to love. I said earlier that no matter how much light, you could always see the moon; the moon is your reflection. No matter how blind you are to what is around you, you are always able to see yourself. Think about that, are you happy with the way you go about your life and treat others? If all the stars in the sky fade away would you be happy hanging out with yourself forever?

With that question in mind I challenge everyone that reads this to do two things:

1. Ban the word “Retard” from your vocabulary. It is demeaning and just plain wrong. It should be looked at as one of the most hurtful cuss words you could say, because if you ask a family member of a person with a disability they would probably tell you that it is extremely disrespectful.
2. Stop being blind. Open your mind to the things unseen. Seek to know the heart of others, not just who they are on the outside, and start being someone you would want to live with forever.

Oh P.S. here is a super cute video of kids with Down Syndrome and kids without being asked what they want to be when they grow up. 

Who you are matters.

This is exactly what I needed! Ladies please watch this :)

Posted by Andi Manzano on Sunday, September 29, 2013

10 Things I would tell my High School Self

College is a whirlwind of new things and experiences, anyone that is enrolled or graduated will testify to that, but if I could give my high school self some advice, this is what I would say.  

1.    Things aren’t always black and white.

Sure there is right and wrong, but there is a reason behind everything that people choose to do. Try and see the world from their perspective you might just be surprised how much you learn from them.

2.    Study… harder.

College is way harder than I ever anticipated and even though I studied hard in high school, you can form study habits that will help you in the long run. Sure it will stink and you might catch FOMO (fear of missing out) early in life, but it is worth it. Promise.

3.     Be nice to your family.

Your family cares for you more than you will ever fathom, and they will literally jump through any hoop to help you get to where you want in life. Yes, that includes Eric. Although you feel like his only goal in life is to get on your last nerve, it is absolutely not true. Eric annoying you is really him showing you that he loves you, in his weird twisted boy logic.

4.    Judging is overrated.

Stop worrying about what other people are doing with their lives, or who is dating who. In the end it doesn’t matter and it is just wasted energy trying to keep up with it all. Love everyone, and let the snide comments roll off your back no matter how hard it might be. Jesus calls us to love, so follow that, plus judging takes too much energy.

5.     These are not the best days of your life.

High school sticks, so be prepared some of the toughest lessons you will ever have to learn are going to happen. If you can get through high school I honestly believe you can make it wherever you go in life. Day one of college was 10 times better than your whole three years at Southside high school  were, so don’t fret life isn’t always this dramatic.

6.     The brand of clothes you wear/own means nothing.

Sure having brand name clothes is nice, and people are dressing up for school every single day, but when you get to college kiss it all goodbye. Everyone walks around in shirts so long they look like dresses and norts (Nike Shorts). No one cares what car you drive, or really how much money your family has. People care about who you are and the values you hold, so start spending more time figuring that out, and save that money you were going to spend on those shoes. They might be cute, but the shirt your sorority just released on Houndstooth will be double the comfort, probably over half the price and last a lot longer.

7.     High school boys are gross.

Honestly dating in high school is super over rated. I still have yet to see the point, so stop worrying about the cute boy in class or whatever, trust me there will be plenty in college. By the way they are taller, smarter, and way more fun.

8.    Friday night lights really are a big deal.

You’ll have a game day in college too, but nothing will beat the feeling of cheering on your best friends as the take the field. Cherish the times you have cheering “Rebel” until you go horse, you’ll miss it when you are in college trying to hold your life together.

9.     No one cares how popular you were in high school.

Sometimes you might run into some people you had classes with in high school, but that girl that was super popular and got homecoming court every single year, she is just another freshman girl that happens to be in a sorority. Being a big fish in a small pond doesn’t have any indicator of your amount of friends in college. Trust me you’ll have so many sorority sisters that you won’t even have time to keep up with the people you knew in high school.

10. Pray.

Times are busy in college, and August of your freshman year isn’t the time to choose to start having a super close relationship with God. Establish that relationship before you get on campus, and then it will make things way easier knowing that you have Him in your back pocket. 

Not skinny, strong.

“Over 80% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat.”

“By middle school, 40-70% of girls are dissatisfied with two or more parts of their body..”

                These are just two statistics that were given by NYC.gov when I searched, "statistics of girls suffering from body issues." Many people talk about this topic, we watch the videos in health class, we go through all the motions, but what sometimes we don’t see is what is really important. These girls are lacking something in their lives. Some say they are lacking a parent, or longing for a relationship with another person, some might argue that they were bullied into an eating disorder or self-image problems but what I think is that these girls are lacking guidance. Through my first year in college I have observed girls that the toll that the new college life takes on a person is not just stress related. Sometimes the adjustments result in a lack of guidance, which in hand can cause some serious issues. I have even struggled from time to time about my body and if I was happy with the way it was. I am even guilty of comparing myself to the models in New York or girls that are just naturally more petite than I am. But as I have gotten older this hasn't been a really big issue for me. I started looking at pictures of thinner looking women and thinking, “Good for them!” instead of, “I wish that was my body.” This mentality has helped my opinion of my body and my self-esteem tremendously.

          Proverbs 31:17 says, “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” A lot of women have been told to strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman, and right here in this verse it talks about strength! To me this proves that God isn't calling you to be “thin” or “skinny” he is calling you to be STRONG, and to be strong you need to be healthy. But not only did I perceive this verse to be referring to physical strength, but referring to mental strength as well. Life is difficult, even a six year old could tell you that, we all have our up and down days, but what gets us through it is God. God is calling us Christian women to be strong minded because He knows that sometimes life can throw you a curve ball and women of faith can get through it. Not only does life throw you a curve ball sometimes, but you also have to be mentally strong on the days that you just feel like blah and want to be lazy and just eat some French fries, or whatever it is you eat when you feel like that. It is on those days that we have a mental battle with ourselves, and we have to power through it. You have to convince yourself that you are beautiful, you are loved, and you will make it. 

You is Smart. You is Strong. You is Important

Miles away but together in heart.

Today I found myself thinking about my Great Uncle Freddy. Freddy was a simple man, but as I got older I have realized that many could learn a lot from his life. Freddy was always happy, not once do I remember him being upset. He was in a wheelchair for a greater portion of his life, but still nothing but a smile. Now I hate to walk to class, many of my friends know this, but today my thoughts put me in check. Freddy didn't walk because he wasn't able to, and if he was faced with the question of walking to class or going in his wheel chair, he would have gladly taken the first option. I am no longer going to complain about walking.... anywhere. Freddy also knew how to love. He knew that at the end of his life his family would be by his side, and we were. Freddy loved all of us very much, and even though Freddy and I only spoke two or three times a year, every time we spoke his smile was radiant and I could feel his love. I miss Freddy more than a lot of people know, and I would do anything to have one last Thanksgiving chitchat with him and hear his contagious laugh. So no matter your circumstances remember that there are others that would love to be in your shoes, and seriously cherish every moment with the people you love. You only get so long on this Earth, so don't waste your time!

10 Things Winnie the Pooh Taught Me

1. Friends are literally the best thing ever.
            

2.     And that I had to put myself out there to make them.
            

3.     To never underestimate my abilities.
            

4.     Because life is about the little things.
            

 
5.     To be content with myself and my body.
            

6.     Because I’m great in my own way.
            

7.     That love isn’t as complicated as we make it.
            

8.    It’s actually really simple.
            

9.     To tell the people they mean something to you.
            

10.                         Because….
            

Thanks Pooh you were the best. XOXO

Surprise Surprise

Anyone that knows me well, knows that there is no better way to brighten my day than with a surprise. But it isn't just any type of surprise. It is a surprise that comes with a stamp, snail mail. I check my mailbox daily and many times it is empty, but the days that I have something waiting for me I get super excited. Snail mail for me is a way someone is showing that they care about me. They took the time to sit down, put pen to paper, and then go all the way to the post office to send me a letter. To me you can’t replace that kind of effort with technology. Sure a text is great, but let’s face it I’m the worst text responder in the history of texting, and when if I do respond it could be hours later. I used to love getting mail back home too. I look forward to the creative birthday cards my family sends me, and you would think it was Christmas morning with how excited I am to open them. But I feel like now that I am in college there is an even bigger excitement with snail mail. I don’t get to talk to friends and family as often as I would like, so receiving a letter makes me feel a little less love-sick (Sorta like home sick, but not.) I don’t think I am the only one that feels this way either, many of my friends love to receive mail, even if they live 10 minutes away. So don’t think our generation is too consumed by technology, even us Apple obsessed still appreciate a letter.

If anyone would like to send me mail:

1365 Cleveland St.

Fayetteville, AR 72701

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8 Things to Do as a Freshman in Fayetteville

#1: Hiking at Devil’s Den.

Arkansas is known as the natural state, and it doesn’t take anyone long to figure out why. Fayetteville is blessed to be close to a park named Devil’s Den with cliffs and caves that will take your breath away. So while it is warm, advisably in the fall while the leaves are changing, go    hiking at Devil’s Den. The hike isn’t super long so even the least outdoorsy person would be able  to go on this fun adventure! Besides if you go with a bunch of friends you can take artistic   pictures when you go!

#2: Flowers from the Farmer’s Market.

Faytown is home to some of the coolest local artists and boutiques of Arkansas, and many of the merchants come out to the farmer’s market every Saturday while the weather is nice. The plus to this awesome Saturday adventure is that it is located on the Fayetteville Square, which is located only blocks away from the campus! Oh and when you go be sure to pick up some    flowers to bring back to your dorm to liven it up a little!

#3: Lights of the Ozarks.

The Fayetteville Square lights up at night during the Christmas season. Literally. People from all over the NWA come out to walk around the square and let the enchantment of the lights entice them for a bit. And when you go be sure to stop by the Jamming Java for a nice of hot chocolate or coffee to keep you warm on the cold Arkansas night.

#4: Mount Sequoyah.

One of the highest points in Fayetteville, Mount Sequoyah provides a little get away from campus and an opportunity to view Fayetteville in a new perspective. I’ve visited the lite up cross many times to get away from campus for a bit, or to take a study break from finals.

#5: Taco Tuesday.

Growing up in Fort Smith, I was used to having my veggie Steven Special at least twice a week   for a great price. When I moved to Fayetteville it took me a whole semester for me to find a replacement Mexican go-to for my Tuesday night taco, but alas I found one and the restaurant is called Burrito Loco. It is a little hole in the wall that is the greatest secret of Fayetteville. It is three doors down from the popular Mexico Viejo, and it is ten times better. Plus it is cheap which makes me a pretty happy poor college gal.

#6: High Rise.

Located in Rogers, AR High Rise Trampoline Park is one of the coolest Saturday, or even study    break adventures you could ever take. The building houses countless trampolines with all kinds of obstacles that could keep you and your friends occupied for at least an hour or so. Not someone that can do all sorts of crazy flips? That’s okay! They even have a trampoline dodge ball court that is pretty sick to have a tournament with a bunch of friends on!

#7: Wal-mart AMP.

Going to the AMP to see Jake Owen with some of my sisters was probably one of the more fun things I did my first semester at college. I was able to sit on the grass, laugh with my sorority sisters, listen to the music, and take in the fall night while the weather was still good. So if you have a chance to get cheap tickets, go. If you go with the right people you won’t regret it!

#8: Make Memories.

One thing I realized by my second semester was that the food at Brough and the Fulbright dining halls was sub-par, but it was worth using my meal plan, meal trading a lot, and saving my money. Use your money on memories, not food. (Unless it is sweets from Rick’s because those are totally worth it.) Later on you’ll be thankful that you ate at the Hill Grill for a week so that you could go to the concert (or Spring Break) with your friends.