2016 New Year's Resolutions

Last year, I failed pretty miserably in my New Year's Resolutions but hopefully this year it'll be a little better. I came up with some simpler resolutions so hopefully it would be easier to accomplish. Some of these are repeats from last year but fingers crossed it works out better this year.

1) Meditate every morning: I tried this last year too but it didn't last very long. But in preparation for next year, I have downloaded some apps onto my phone like Headspace again and I'm looking for a few more just in case. I feel like five minutes of meditation everyday will be really helpful for me and I'm really excited to get to do it. This year has been so full of anxiety that I am looking forward to a little relaxation.

2) Read everyday: I typically do this regardless but this year I have had so many reading slumps, I would go for days without reading and that just added to my stress. I'm not going to be super strict about how many pages I should read everyday as long as I read enough to relax.

3) Quit binge-watching: I have binge-watched so much this year and as fun as that might have been for me, it probably was not a good idea. I realized that binge-watching is fun but doesn't allow me to enjoy myself completely with the show and makes me avoid all my other responsibilities. So next year, I resolve to only watch 2 hours max of television each day.

4) Learn new recipes: It has also come to my attention how grossly unprepared if I have to cook. I literally have no idea how to cook several of the basics. Cooking is a life skill so I should probably get started on learning some of the easier food. If you have any recipes to share, please do.

I hope we can keep each other motivated this year to keep our resolutions. Please share yours too and give me tips on how to keep mine.

Ways to Get Rid of Stress Immediately

I typically find myself getting stressed out and wanting to put an end to it as soon as possible. Learning to be relaxed in suddenly stressful situations allows you to be more focused on the task at hand and perform better.

1) Deep and slow breathing:

I personally find it super effective to take a few deep breathes and relax. In two deep breathes, I am able to immediately calm myself down. It is typically best to avoid breathing with your shoulders and try to breathe with your diaphragm.

2) Distract yourself:

If the stressor is not important at that moment or irrational, just read a book, listen to music or shop. If the only thing stressing you out is not worth the anxiety, it is best to avoid needlessly thinking about it.

3) Voice your concerns:

If I feel stressed out at home, I try to talk my way through a stressful situation. Sometimes it is to tell myself that the stressor is nothing to worry about and other times I just talk aloud about the way that I am feeling and why. Another way to voice your opinion (if you're in public and prefer not to talk to yourself), write it down.

4) Close your eyes:

Sometimes avoiding one sense, makes it easier to focus and think clearly. Since we are constantly with our eyes open, we are constantly taking in a massive amount of information and I feel like it can get to be a little too overwhelming.

5) Drink water:

Headaches can be caused by dehydration, stress or a combination of the two. If your headache is caused by stress, it can be intensified by dehydration. Drinking water can act as a way to distract yourself and keeping yourself as physical comfortable as possible when stressed.

6) Tackle the stressor:

People are able to experience stress as a way to alert one's mind and body to handle a stressful situation effectively. Therefore, if you feel stressed, it could be for a good reason. Judge the stressor as "valid" or "irrational." If it is "valid" then come up with a plan to tackle the stressor because sometimes, that's the only think left to do.

These are just ways to get rid of stress quickly when one experiencing immediate and abrupt stress. These might not necessarily be able help if one experiencing long-term stress or has an anxiety disorder which in that case, it would probably be best to see a doctor.

I hope these help you combat your stress!

The Skinned Trilogy by Robin Wasserman

If you want the most boring, drawn-out trilogy ever, this is your series. Don't get me wrong, I love the general theme of the series: questioning what the ultimate deciding factor of humanity is. But that's also were the interest stops.

The general plot of the story is that a girl by the name of Lia Kahn who went from having it all to experiencing a life threatening accident. Instead of dying, Lia's family download her brain and memories into the the body of a new body. Through this she fights different groups of people against her and makes friends while discovering more about her family.

The trilogy fits the category of science fiction well but it lacks the exciting fast pace of the others in its genre. The character development had so much potential but fell flat of ultimately leading up to anything.

The setting was very interesting and I enjoyed the environment that the author created.

The first two novels offered promise of a sweet romance but in the third book, it became harsh, cold and mediocre and was ultimately a waste of time.

I decided to finish the trilogy even though my gut told me to give it up from the second novel because I thought that the series had promise and that it would come to a nice end. But I was wrong, the ending was anti-climatic and super confusing.

Please tell me what you think about this trilogy. Maybe I missed something important that someone else might have caught to make the story more interesting.

What is gluten? And why is it the enemy?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat products. Gluten can be found in bread, pasta, crackers, cereal, pizza and other food products.

Is gluten dangerous?

Sure, gluten is dangerous to anyone with Celiac Disease. For people with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease, their immune system attacks the the gluten and the intestinal tracts itself. This disease only affects a very small amount of people (1%) and many of them don't even know. Gluten-sensitivity harbors the same type of symptoms as Celiac Disease (such as fatigue) but to a less dangerous degree and is more common.

But is gluten dangerous to someone without Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity?

Yep. Granted, it is typically not as dangerous for people without a gluten sensitivity as it is for people with the diagnosed disease. Too much gluten can wreck havoc on the digestive system of people with sensitive stomachs. There are other studies that link gluten with other autoimmune diseases as well. There are other ways in which gluten can hurt the body such as the heart. When the antibodies attack the gluten, they can attack heart tissue as well. However, most people don't feel any dangerous effects towards gluten.

Gluten-free diets are trending. For some, adopting the diet is purely for keeping up with the trend while for others, it's about taking charge of their health. Either way, there are benefits of going gluten-free and the diet should definitely be considered.

Have you ever heard of gluten-free dog food? Because it does exist! The world is becoming gluten-free and the fact that gluten-free dog food exists emphasizes how much this new type of diet is still on the rise.

If you would like to check out more cool things about gluten and living gluten-free, check out this website.

Comment letting me know what you think about this gluten-free "trend."

Pinterest Finds #4 | Sep 9 2015

Sorry for the long time without a post. Since I have clearly been in a blogging slump, I thought that I would do I quick Pinterest inspiration post to hopefully get the ball rolling again.

Here are some of my favorite things on Pinterest. You can click on the header to be taken to the actual pin:

Favorite Pair of Heeled Booties:

This is literally the most adorable pair of booties ever! I particularly love the combination of autumn colors and the adorable laces. The material, although it might not be rain friendly, looks very comfortable. The height of the heel is perfect to be stylish yet comfortable.

Favorite Hoodie:

I will be needing a hoodie come the fall season and I love the design of this one. The front pockets are my favorite and the lovely floral print is super cute. While it is made of denim and therefore not necessarily rainproof, it looks very strong and capable of withstanding wind.

Favorite Pair of Food-Themed Earrings:

I love cute earrings because they make such a big and bold statement in such a simple way. The shiny and matte color of the studs is perfect and definitely will be inspiring some of my future jewelry purchases. 

Favorite Hair Color:

First of all, this hair is perfect by itself and super healthy. But not only is it healthy, but her hair is a perfect light metallic blue. Although my black hair is too thick and dark to dye, it is fun to think about trying out different hair colors.

Tell me what you think of my recent Pinterest finds!

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman

At this point, I'm pretty sick of dystopian novels but I walked into this book not knowing anything about it. Imagine my dismay when I realized that this book was yet another dystopian novel. Although this book is technically targeted towards a younger audience (tween) rather than the young adult one, which is what I am most used to, I found the overall topic to be mature and the plot advanced.

General Summary:

Honor and her family don't follow the rules. Even her name is seen as broken rule. The weather on their new island is controlled by a big corporation and Earth Mother along with several other factors of their lives. Their life is supposed to be relaxing. But since Honor's family has never paid much attention to the rules, her family is at great risk of disappearing. And eventually, that is what happens to her parents so then Honor sets out to find out what the corporation did to them.

The newer cover (the one above) is gorgeous and once you read the book, it makes perfect sense. 

I have to say that I could hardly put this book down. The writing style is simple and straightforward probably because the reader is supposed to be younger. Chapter transitions were fluid and it was clear that Allegra Goodman knows how to write an entertaining novel despite the recent redundancy of dystopian novels.

But surprisingly, the part of this book that really kept me reading was the setting. I have never read a book where the main reason I kept reading was to find out more about the setting. The setting was like that of a tamer 1989. It was a lot like Big Brother while heavily focusing on the lower classes. 

The characters of the novel were heartwarming and her family was interesting to read about. The young but strong female lead, Honor, is remarkably young for someone who fights big business and corruption.

The only problem that I had with this book (although, some might say that this is a good thing) is that it didn't make me want to keep reading the rest of the series. While I liked that this book's ending wrapped up the plot pretty nicely, I felt like I should have been more motivated to keep up with the series.

Overall, I found it surprisingly good and even though I won't be reading the next book, it was nice reading this one. Let me know your opinions about it or whether you would consider reading it.

End of Summer Bucket List

It's almost the end summer vacation and the start of school and I'm feeling a little down about it. The motivation I had to get things done in the beginning of the summer has slowly faded and I'm feeling really lazy. To make the most out of the last week and a half of summer, I decided to make a bucket list to maximize the remaining amount of time I have before school starts.

Read a book (or two).
I have not done as much summer reading as I wanted to so I want to read as many books as can in this short period of time.

Go back to school shopping.
I bought a few things in July but I know I'll need a few more binders, notebooks, and notecards.

Finish all the shows I started watching.
I started watching a few shows and I need to finish up some of them before school starts.

Empty out and organize all my drawers and the closet.
My room has been getting really messy lately and I've noticed that I can get rid of a lot of things so I might as well donate them.

Sketch.
I've been telling myself to do this all summer so there is no better time to do that than now.

Pin everything into my Pinterest boards.
I love Pinterest and I would love to find ideas and motivation and pinning is super relaxing.

Go thrifting.
I'm looking forward to getting some unique and well-priced items this summer. I have always wanted to do this and I can't think of a better time to.

Try a new type of smoothie everyday.
I love chia seeds and I think trying out new smoothies will be very interesting. I've been doing this for the past three days and I find it so much fun.

Get organized for the upcoming school year.
I really need some goals to the school year. I have to organize my binders and backpack. My backpack tends to become a mess as the year continues so I need to make it super organized now so it stays clean longer and keeping it organized becomes habitual.

Get as must SAT practice in before school stress.
I have a lot of practicing left to do and I would rather not do too much during school.

Practice 10 new hairstyles to use in the upcoming school year.
I need to learn some new hairstyles for the new school year because I usually don't know what to do with my hair on most mornings.

Create a playlist for summer and another for the school year.
I hope the playlist will help relax me and motivate me when I get tired doing homework and need motivation.

Stay up all night watching movies.
I have so many movies that I need to watch! I just want to watch everything in one sitting.

Watch the sun rise.
I've never done this before. I wake up so early that it would be a shame not to.

Meet at least two new people.
Not sure how possible this would be under the time pressure but I might as well try.

Exercise.
I'm probably not going to do this but I might has well include it.

Start waking up earlier.
I know I said that I wake up pretty early as it is but I think waking up an hour earlier will keep me even more alert.

Freak out while watching #fAcetoface.
I can't wait to find out who A is. Finally!

This seems like a short list but I still don't think I'll be able to finish everything before school starts, especially since I only have a week and a half left of summer. But I hope you liked reading this. Please tell me any things on your bucket list!

How to Keep a Journal

As someone who has tried countless times to keep an up-to-date journal and failed up until a few months ago, I decided to give out some suggestions to those who would like to keep a journal but just can't keep up with it.

My current journal has been up-to-date since March which would make it the longest running journal I've owned so far. I would have loved a post like this before because I desperately wanted a journal but I struggled to know what to write in it and how to remember to write in it.

If you haven't thought about keeping a journal, you should definitely consider it. A journal is just like a blog but for yourself (or close friends and family if you choose to share it) and I personally love to look back at my previous entries. One day, you might like to revisit some of the memories that you kept in your journal.

Here are some tips I collected (through a lot of trial and error) and used to keep this journal updated and engaging:

1) Get a cute journal/notebook/steno:

If you're a stationary fanatic like me, the cuter and better quality journal you get, the more likely you are to use it. You can get cute journals from almost anywhere: dollar stores, office supply stores, or bookstores. I'm sure etsy has some great options for journals too. The one below is from Papyrus.

2) Choose what to write about:

Possible topics include: dreams, fitness, nutrition, everyday life, events, to-do lists, and blog posts. My journal is a bit of all of these but primarily revolves around day-to-day events.

3) Carry it around with you:

I have often thought "I should write about that" then completely forgotten about it the second I came home and pulled out my journal. Also, this way, you can write in your journal when you're waiting around instead of going on your phone. Just don't lost it. The one below is from ModCloth.

4) Know your writing goals and stick with them:

Know how much you want to write, how often you want to write, and for how long you want to write. My goal is at least a page twice a week for at least fifteen minutes per sitting (not including lists). Set aside time for journaling! Don't wait for time to come to you because you know you'll probably get caught up in a book or show if you don't strictly set aside enough time (I certainly have).

5) Make it like a scrapbook:

As a journalist, I like to incorporate newspaper clippings of recent events into my journal. I also include fortunes from fortune cookies and pressed flowers. I hate looking at a text dump (although I know quite a few people who love it). If filling up your journal with meaningful mementos makes it more fun to look back on, go for it!

6) It is never too late to keep journaling:

Whenever I forget to write in my former journals for more than a week, I say that it's too late to go back to it and dismiss it. I admit that there were times with my current journal that I went without writing for a week but instead of feeling ashamed and disheartened, I made up to it but writing extra long entries. Doing for large periods of time without writing can be good and reflects how busy your life was during that period of time. The below journal is from Forever 21.

I hope those tips helped you! Tell me about your journals and if you were able to keep up with them.

Going Vegetarian Can Save the Environment

I apologize in advance, this post includes pictures of adorable baby animals. Who would want to eat them?

For the past year and a half, I've been adapting my diet to become less and less dependent on meat. I gave up red meat over a year ago which was easy for me since I never liked it and ate it once every two months as it was. Currently, I am a pescetarian (only meat eaten is seafood) for the past year. Giving up chicken was more difficult than the red meat; however, I never usually ate meat much to begin with (once a week) so this transition went more easily for me than it might go for people who eat meat once a day. In the future, I hope to give up seafood and might consider going vegan. The main reason I decided to go for a pescetarian diet was to keep myself healthy from early on. But recently, it came to my attention how becoming a vegetarian/vegan reduce stress on the environment, something I didn't previously bother to consider.

The common meats eaten in the world include that of: goats, fish, cows, sheep, chicken and pigs. It might come as no surprise that it takes a lot of resources to feed and grow livestock as every animal we eat needs to be properly nourished. As almost every living thing, livestock needs water. A single pound of beef is the product of over two thousand gallons of water while a pound of wheat takes up less than 200. Therefore, vegetarianism can also lead to ending world hunger.

Recently, I drove by a factory farm that produced beef. You would not imagine how much space that farm took up. It goes without surprise that, just like land is being bulldozed for cities and buildings, the need for farmland is causing the destruction of acres upon acres of land along with its natural resources. Deforestation not only hurts the environment but also the animals that were living in it.

Factory farms give off ridiculous amounts of greenhouse gases. They pollute the atmosphere more than cars. For every person that becomes a vegetarian, one hundred animals per year are saved.

Can you believe that the world's population has passed 7 billion? If it continues to grow at the rate that it is, there might not be enough resources (or land to grow them on) in the future. A diet that regularly consists of meat requires up to three times more resources than one without meat. Getting rid of factory farms would open up more land to grow crops that would be able to feed more people.

But what about protein? I admit, meat is an amazing source of protein but so are nuts, beans, fruits and even certain grains. I personally hate the taste of nuts but I have found clever ways to incorporate them into my diet. I drink almond milk and sometimes crush nuts and put them into muffins.

I'm not a complete vegetarian yet but I am trying to slowly adjust to it by giving up certain meats at the same rate that I'm obtaining substitutes. Tell me what you think about going vegetarian.

Trying New Teas | Mint, Chamomile, Black Tea

As a big chai drinker, up until recently, I didn't even bother thinking to try herbal/brewed teas. But then I started reading about the health benefits of drinking herbal tea so I decided to give it a try.

The first tea that I tried was a Mello Black Tea. And I hated it. I could barely taste the orange tangy taste and it barely tasted like anything. Keep in mind that this was my first time drinking herbal tea and I could not have been disappointed. Although it didn't taste terrible, it didn't have a taste at all. Once I finished drinking, It didn't feel like I'd just drank tea but rather just plain water. I was really surprised that it tasted as plain as it did even though I let it brew for longer than the recommended time. But I have heard that black tea is a bit of an acquired taste and the more you try, the better it tastes. If I had to give it a rate out of 10 (10 being the bestt) I would give it a 2 out of 10 because although it didn't taste good, it didn't taste awful. If you are still interested in try it, I put the link here.

The second tea I tried was Egyptian Chamomile and it tasted much better than the black tea. It wasn't great but it didn't taste as tasteless as the black tea. I feel like it would have tasted much better if I had added honey to sweeten it a little bit. But regardless, it was pretty good but I wasn't happy with it either. After trying the chamomile tea, I gave trying tea a small break because I had a tough time finding it appealing. I would give the chamomile tea a rating of 5 out of 10 because it was okay and much better than the black tea. If you would like to try it, here is the link.

Most recently, I have been drinking Tazo's Refresh Mint (see what they did there) and I fell in love with it. I was initially was beginning to hate tea after my first two adventures with it but I am so happy I found this tea. I have always liked the taste and smell of mint so I gave this one a shot and I was beyond happy. Look at the amazing packaging! I would give it a 9 out of 10 because it was so unexpectedly amazing and I finally understood why everyone seems to love tea. If you would like to check it out (and I highly suggest that you do), the link is here.

Let me know what you think of teas and which you would recommend. 

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

Very recently, I decided to revisit one the authors that I used to read when I was younger, Kevin Henkes. I remember reading his mice books, like A Weekend with Wendell and Owen, back in elementary school. Right before middle school, I read his Olive's Ocean and it became one of my favorite books for a month. When I came in possession of Kevin Henkes's Junonia I figured that it was worth a read while I secretly hoped that I could take a nice nostalgic walk down my childhood memories. But more than that, I wanted to answer the question: Can you outgrow your favorite childhood authors?

General summary:
A young girl, Alice Rice, goes to her summer house where she visits every year to celebrate her birthday. There, she learns more about her friends and family.

The storyline of the book was simple and not unlike that of many other elementary reads. And I ended up liking the main character's voice (even though I often found it annoying) because her thought process wasn't that different from mine at the time. The strangest and most unsettling thing about this book was the fact that I found myself connecting more to the older and more adult characters than I did to the main character. I felt myself nodding more at her parents' reasoning rather than her temper tantrums.

Aside from spending the entire book trying to figure out how to say the title, it was more complex than I had initially expected. Some of the parts that I thoroughly enjoyed included:

Alice's relatable child-like moods:
     "Alice felt misunderstood. How could they discuss traffic on the island and the weather at a time like this?" -page 16
     "Alice thought it would be nice if everyone's heads - expect her own - had small windows built into them and she could see what was going on inside their brains." -page 23
     "Alice was angry at her father, Kate, the world. She felt the pull of something beyond her control, something unseen and unfair." -page 33

Her imagination:
     "She was thinking that she was a butterfly. She was wiggling her fingers and toes - fluttering her wings - when she heard a sharp rapping at the front door." -page 19

Her approach to serious issues:
     "Alice decided her perfect, personal god was female. She would live in the ocean because water covered most of the earth, and her name would be Junonia." -page 26

Her interpretation of adults:
     "Alice's parents exchanged a look, and Alice could tell that they were speaking in the secret, silent language of parents." -pages 30-31

By reading this book, I have found an answer to the question "Can you outgrow your favorite childhood authors?" I can concluded that: Yes, you most certainly can outgrow the writing styles of authors you used to read. Although I found the book entertaining, I don't think I would read Kevin Henkes's other books. But I don't think it's because they aren't mature enough but mainly because my reading style has evolved and no longer can truly understand and appreciate this book's style.

Tell me if you have ever revisited the books of your childhood and your experiences!

The Emotional Roller Coaster Known as Binge Watching

In the month of my vacation, I have so far binge watched three and a half shows so, I think I'm pretty qualified to talk about this. As probably know, most shows (in America) release their episodes weekly but, when you binge watch, you watch it in one sitting or in a few long sittings (depends on the show).

Every since I started binge watching, I noticed this weird emotional roller coaster I would experience. I went through so many emotions, sometimes including the five stages of grief. But the most fascinating thing that I discovered was that you take this roller coaster for EVERY SINGLE TV SHOW you binge watch.

Here is how the emotional roller coaster known as binge watching usually goes (for those who binge watch regularly but don't know or those who never binge watched):

1) When someone recommends this "amazing show that you just got to see":

Your mind: It sounds pretty innocent and 24 episodes is very doable. I'll just space it out so I watch no more than 3 episodes - unless something like REALLY dramatic happens, which in that case, maybe I'll watch 4 or 5. 

2)You realize you have the afternoon free so you sit on the couch/bed and turn to your only best friend, Netflix/Hulu.

Your mind: I'm going to get comfortable but not TOO comfortable because I can only watch 3 episodes today. Bring in the cuddly memory foam pillows and diet coke!

3) The Pilot episode is the most incredible thing you've ever seen and you just know that its only going to get better.

Your mind: No series can be touched until I finish this one. Speaking of finishing, I have an hour until I need to leave which is *definitely* enough time to watch another episode AND still take a shower, fix my hair and get dressed. *Definitely*

4) The second episode is not as amazing as the first episode but it leaves you at a heart-breaking cliffhanger and you're starting to develop friendships with some of the characters. Not to mention the romantic relationships that are beginning to form (both between you and the characters and the characters themselves.)

Your mind: I have to neglect my real life in order to foster this newer better one. I don't have friends, THESE (aggressively points at the television) are my friends and I need to give them more time. Just don't die on me please or disappear when the writers don't think you're relevant. 

5) You realize you're on the fifth episode and counting but the remote keeps clicking the next show so you learn to accept that this isn't the show that you won't be able to binge watch.

Your mind: I mean at this point, there's no going back. 5/24, that's less than 19 episodes left. That's like nothing and then my life will go back to normal. 

6) You lost track of time but it's probably the sometime between 6 pm and 6 am. And you're about halfway though.

Your mind: That diet coke is catching up to me. At this point its too late to turn back now. And plus, I heard that it gets even more intense soon. I hope the forums didn't lie. Online fan forums never lie.

7) You tried to break away but it's just not happening so you're back and you're going to finish this TV show even if its the last thing you do.

Your mind: Forget that, I'm never getting up again. I have only a few more episodes left until the end. If I ever want to see my family again, I need to finish. But I need more snacks *clearly*.

8) It's the season finale and you're a jumble of nerves.

Your mind: This is it! This is what I've been waiting for! The conclusion of so many story lines and questions. I'm free after this! My life is never going to be the same after this. 

9) The season didn't end to your standards but you've finished all the available episodes.

Your mind: They did everything I told them not to. I felt like they would do that but I believed in the writers not to let this happen. Did they think this was a good idea or something? Wait! They just want me to watch the next season *sigh*, those sly writers.

10) When you try to go back to you're real life but it's just not possible.

Your mind: I'm starting to talk like them. I'm starting to walk like them. Why do I have the urge to investigate crimes? Why is everyone staring at me? Can they see that I'm a changed person?

11) When you give up on adapting to your real life and go back to the online forums/fanfiction:

Your mind (on cloud 9): These are my brothers. They get me.

12) Months have passed and you get word that the series has cancelled:

Your mind: I'll never know what happened. My body is covered in chills and my heart hurts. Didn't the producers see how much my life *depended* on this show. The pain is unbearable. This is what the end feels like.

13) You go to the forums and someone has created one of those petitions that you know won't work:

Your mind: This is really it. Thanks for changing my life *TV show*! I enjoyed the time we spent together even though it was only for a season. I have some family I need to see and maybe some friends. I promise I'll still like your Facebook page.

14) Then the same friend recommends this other "amazing show that you just got to see":

Your mind: *Fuming* But I might as well cause I have nothing else to do today.

I hope you enjoyed this post and please recommend more shows for me to binge watch!

Rude Strangers

Since this post is about rude strangers and rude people in general, I figured this is as good of a time as any to fill up this post with as many Mean Girls gifs as possible.

Rude strangers have very recently came into my mind. I'm sure many people have had experiences with people they've never met before making mean or rude comments. Less than a week ago, someone flipped me of and, as much as I hate to admit it, it hurt more than I would like to admit.

Throughout the rest of the day, I kept replaying the incident again and again. I kept wondering what I did wrong and whether the stranger's actions were justified.

I guess I should start by explaining what happened. So, in the middle of a super relaxed trivia game, I noticed this guy in front of me looking at the answers on his phone. I noticed that he was sitting by himself and figured that striking up a conversation with him couldn't hurt so I decided that a joke would make the tone lighter. So then I smiled and said, "If you have the answers, would you mind sharing?"

Needless to say, he flipped me off while never looking me in the eye.

Maybe it was my fault. I guess I shouldn't have taken it upon myself to try to make someone else feel less lonely.

I guess I don't blame that stranger for what they did because, for all I know, they could have been having a bad day and I guess that not everyone shares the same sense of humor as me. But it really stinks because I was having a really really great day. Everything was going really well, and then this single event in the course of two seconds ruined what could have been a much better day as opposed to one where my mind was consumed by this incident.

But I have determined that rude strangers that act out without a reason should NOT ruin your day. If someone comes up to you and makes a rude comment or action, that should NEVER hurt someone who did nothing wrong.

I also came up with some ways to avoid feeling bad about the actions of rude strangers:

     1) Ignore: Sometimes disregarding the entire situation is probably for the best. This is what I did when the guy flipped me off. Becoming the bad guy is not the right impression to make. Don't fuel a fire when you do not have to.

     2) Defend yourself: Ignore the "ignore" advice above if the situation calls for it. Sometimes, you have to defend your honor and stand out for yourself against offensive or demeaning remarks. If the comment hurts anyone else or is derogatory in any form, defending yourself and others is completely justified. Don't let someone treat you poorly; no one deserves that.

     3) Don't beat yourself up: If it's not your fault, it shouldn't affect you. As much as it might hurt, it shouldn't constantly bug you.

Comment letting me know your opinions, views and/or experiences with rude strangers.

Jurassic World

I have been waiting for this movie for months and I just had the opportunity to watch it two days ago and it was worth the wait. I guess it goes without saying that all the other sequels to the iconic Jurassic Park (II and III) were more than a little disappointing, but Jurassic World was the perfect follow-up to one of the best movies ever. 

The special effects and animation were advanced and very well done. The dinosaurs were very authentic and somewhat true to what they would have actually looked like. The dinosaurs are by far the most incredible part of the entire movie. Ever since I watched Jurassic Park, I have loved dinosaurs and the ones in this movie did not disappoint. 

Aside from the main focus of the movie, the dinosaurs, the acting was spot on. For the most part, actors portrayed their roles well and I couldn't think of anyone better to have played their parts. 

And don't even worry about the movie having a disappointing climax, it was so nerve-racking and I was worried about how it would turn out. And it involved a VERY impressive run in high heels that deserved a lot of respect especially since no one rolled an ankle.

I guess my only problem with the movie was the shameful product placement. Starbucks and Mercedes-Benz were two of the most prominent. And the costumes were "eh" at best but other than that this movie is a must watch for anyone who has watched Jurassic Park and loved it. The movie included such tasteful and amazingly subtle Jurassic Park references that true Jurassic Park fans will love. And even if you haven't watched Jurassic Park, chances are that you'll love it too.

Tell me if you would like to watch this movie or if you have already seen it.

Pinterest Finds #3 | June 12 2015

It's been a while since I've shared some of my favorite things that I found on Pinterest and I couldn't think of a better time to do so. Click on the header to be taken to the pin:

Favorite Lighting:

There's just something oddly aesthetic about these lights. The bulbs have such trendy shapes and the light is bright while still gorgeously styled.

Favorite Sunnies:

Since I wear glasses, I can't really wear sunglasses. But I can still dream. I love their round shape and minimalistic color scheme.

Favorite Words to Live By:

I absolutely love this quote because its very inspiring and shares a powerful message. I love the feminist aspect of it and find it very encouraging.

Favorite Curly Hair:

Her hair is the definition of healthy. I love everything about it. Her curls are so full of life and look incredibly beautiful.

Tell me what you think about these Pinterest finds!

Headspace

Maybe you remember my post about my 2015 New Years Resolutions. One of my resolutions was to meditate every day. Unfortunately, I was not able to do this, however; I was more mindful but that doesn't really count. Anyway, while I was meditating for the first few weeks (six to be exact) I was using this app called: Headspace.

One day I just saw it in the App Store and decided to download it. It comes with a free 10-day mindfulness trial and the other features like the meditation packs: Sleep, Stress, and Focus come when you pay the subscription.

I did not pay for the subscription but I have done all the days for the 10-day trial and it was an incredible way to start practicing mindfulness. Everything kept building on the same thing but making it more and more independent.

It was really relaxing and I felt calmer on most days. I highly recommend that you do it in the morning but then again more than once is fine and relaxing at the end of the day is good for a good night's sleep.

After you finish the 10-day trial (which I highly recommend before buying the subscription), you kind of end up feeling a bit lost and wondering what to do next so I think I need to get the subscription.

Either way, the overall design of the app (which I usually use) and the website is ridiculously adorable. And the animations that they have are super informative and help relate meditation to my life. And Andy is very helpful during the 10-day trial. I have done guided meditation before where I was constantly told to clear my mind completely while Andy was far more patient about the entire process. He valued and emphasized acknowledging issues without trying to fix them instead of ignoring them.

The mobile app which you can download for free allows so you to get mobile notifications of mindful messages that remind you of keeping cool during the day.

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out their blog and website. And leave me a comment letting me know what you think of meditation in general and the app.