Get Focused

This past Sunday at church my youth pastor was speaking on focus. Ironically, my best friend and I were talking about the same concept the night before. Of course with subject repeatedly coming up I got to thinking about what I want to focus on. In fashion, spring is right around the corner and this season I want to set my sights on bright colors, high heels, and more floral. Finally, I thought it was ironic, that these photos weren't in focus. 

Outfit breakdown: Shoes-Payless Skirt-Target Top-Forever 21 Ring-Thrift Store..maybe I can't remember.

A few of my favorite things

"if you can't heal yourself first, then you can't heal others."





1. Naked Juice I'm not sure why, but I could drink Naked Juice all day long. It might have do with the fact it's really healthy and yummy at the same time. However, it's expensive and for an unemployed girl, it's not in the budget. So during this week when my mom texted me saying that she bought me some, I squealed for joy a little. I was sick for the first part of a week, which is weird since I never get sick, therefore a cup of Blue Machine would be just what the doctor ordered. However, when I opened up the fridge and saw that my mom had bought a gallon of Naked Juice I instantly felt much better.
2. Watching Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars with Kaylie Every Monday I look forward to going over to my friend's house to watch two of our favorite shows. If life were a Gossip Girl episode, I would be Serena and she would be Blair. We are a perfect match and our Monday tradition helps me get through the week.
3. Red Velvet cupcakes First of all, yum; red velvet cupcakes are cupcakes at their finest. I am very to lucky to have Kavita, a good friend of mine, who knows that when I'm upset a cupcake can make up for the tears. It's also a lovely surprise when a little tiny box that contains a cupcake can help you realize how cool your friends are. As Kavita puts it, "Wherever I am, I will always bring you a cupcake. Just saying it again because it's fact and I will, because I love you and who doesn't like a cupcake once in a while!?"
4. Yearbook I will always be thankful for my ybk class and the people in it. In a way, this past week it has been a great therapy session rather than a class. Even though we found out that the school blocked Tumblr from us, I've never laughed, talked, and learned more in a class before. I couldn't picture my school days without these kids and their humor and love in my life.
5. Ice cream for lunch I'm shocked that I didn't have frozen yogurt, but sometimes I cheat and go back to my first love. I'm even more shocked that when I suggested to my best friends that I thought we should get ice cream for lunch that they actually went along with my idea. I'm not shocked even the tinniest bit that when I was getting ice cream my best friends got sandwiches instead and I was left to eat the yummy treat. At least they humor me.

I fully believe that the theme this past week was healing and friendship. I've been watching Sex and the City season six and what is even more fabulous than the clothes on the show is the friendship. Carrie Bradshaw, the main character, has three best friends, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha that through all her problems and situations are her soul mates. By the end of each episode, I realize more and more how great my group of close friends are. I'm grateful that I have people in my life who are my safety net when problems occur. Thank you Dahlya, Jenelle, Daria, Kaylie, Chelsea, and Kavita for being my Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. There's quote at the end of the last episode said by Carrie that states, "Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous." As I grow and learn more about life and the woman I'm becoming, I know for a fact that my support system loves me no matter what. Even through they can say they will be there for me, more importantly my best friends show through their actions that they will be there for me.

To end, there is one more Carrie quote that I will always carry with me, "They say nothing lasts forever. Dreams change, trends come and go…but friendships never go out of style."

No more Christian, nice girl

It is no surprise that I have a solid reputation as a good girl. Scratch that, I'm the good girl. I never walk across the street without looking both ways, I don't chew gum in class, and I spend my weekends knitting while going to bingo with my grandma. Okay, maybe the last part isn't true but you get the picture. If you looked up good girl on Urban dictionary there I would be. However, what most people don't know is that I'm actually hardcore. I lean up against walls, sometimes don't floss every night, and in the third grade I made a girl cry cause I told her outfit wasn't cute. Still, I'm not as bad and rough as I would like to be; luckily, in fashion, I can play around with black and leather so for one day I won't look as nice as everyone thinks I am.






Outfit breakdown: Leather jacket- LC collection I heart Ronson top- Jcpenny I heart Ronson shorts- Jcpenny Tights- Walmart Shoes- Steve Madden

A few of my favorite things

"the most important things in the world aren't things."






1. Pomegranate frozen yogurt it's the best and my new favorite flavor.
2. Dariashe has become of my closest friends. She makes my day brighter, I can tell her anything, and she freaks out when a fire truck comes down the street. Strange but funny.
3. Racquetball Thursday this has become one of my new favorite events to look forward to. I love the game, it's a great work out, and when all my friends get together to play we can't stop laughing and having fun.
4. Watching my friends play racquetball now I'm not saying I'm the queen of the racquetball courts however my friends will not being going to the Olympics anytime soon. I love them but their sports skills, or lack of, keeps me laughing all day long.
5. Small Groups this is my church's mid week program and I so love it. We meet as a youth group for hang out time, worship, and an lesson then break off into small groups with students your same grade, gender, and school. However, this semester is different for the seniors. Instead of small group time we meet as a large group of seniors. It is beyond awesome and I pray the rest of the semester goes well. But that's not the best part. As a student leader I show up to church a couple hours early and help set up for that nights event. This is my favorite time of the week. I love greeting all the leaders, helping any way I can, and being at church. Words couldn't even begin to describe how great the people I go to church with are. When I think of the relationships I have there I automatically think of the word of community because that what it truly is. I know, without a doubt, that every single leader at small groups will be there for me no matter what and it was so good to be surrounded by that again. I compare it to the feeling you get when you come home after a long trip and your comfortable bed is there waiting for you. That's why being at church is my favorite.
6. Helping my friends ask their dates to dances Yes, my new nickname is Melanie, the dance queen because I've been helping a lot of my friends ask or answer for school dances. I love it! I get be creative and help others. The best of both worlds in my opinion.



Life is great and I am seriously so happy. I am very too blessed to be stressed about anything and no matter I am still loved by God and I've got some really great relationships in my life. For instance, I got an random note today from a friend who lives in Gilbert that said, "You're beautiful and great and I love and appreciate you." That was my favorite part of my whole day.

Favorites are bombastic.

California Girls, they're unforgettable

Katy Perry speaks the truth. Over the weekend I visited a college in Costa Mesa with my parents. This meant I put on my best So Cal outfit, grabbed my sunglasses, and headed towards the sun shine. It was so beautiful and 80 degrees which made me actually want to go to California for college. Even though, Vanguard university is amazing I am more confused then ever on where I want to start the next chapter of my life. No matter, I got my naked juice(my favorite)and my awesome yellow sunglasses in hand when I took the campus tour.




Outfit breakdown: Grey v-neck:forever 21 Blue cardigan: Target I heart Ronson skirt: thrift store Shoes: Payless Necklace: Tiffanys Sunglasses: Rainbow-I got them for one a dollar, can you say score?!

Bookworm

I found this dress over winter break and I love the way it made me feel. The structure and form produces a sense of elegance and grace while adding tights and a simple headband makes it ready to wear for any location or event. Plus including a longer necklace adds color and fun to the outfit. I must say, when I wore it to school I got a lot of compliments from a odd numbers of boys as well as teachers, girls, and people I've never met.





Outfit breakdown: Dress and necklace-forever 21 Shoes-Steve Madden Tights- my step mom's closet Headband- Walgreens

Pay It Forward

"Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and the deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment."

Pay it forward. Simple as that. I learned in church today that if you see a need it's your job to take care of it. Everyone has a story, issue, and need. However, when was the last time we put aside our problems to help others. Today, I got the opportunity to attend one of my friend's church. All day I debated whether or not I should attend that night's service. I had already been to my church that morning and due to family issues I was having an awful day. While I was deciding if I should go my youth pastor told a story about Jesus that made my choice clear. Jesus had the compassion to put his needs aside at all times. There is a popular Bible story in Matthew 14:13 called Jesus feeds the five thousand. The background info is that right before Jesus performed this miracle His cousin John was beheaded. Now if one of my family members had just died and thousands of people were following me I would most likely send them away. But Jesus didn't. He saw they needed something to eat, He had compassion (verse 14), and feed them with all the food that he had. That's pretty amazing. So what about us? How would you response? We read how God did but given the responsibility how am I responding? When we sit in our Christian, safe bubble we limit our opportunities. If any person wants self-fulfillment; guess what it's not about you. It's how you response to others. If you help 3 people those 3 help another 3 and if it continues then 31,381,059,609 people could be helped. Those who are crazy enough to believe they can help others and change the world actually end up doing it. Nothing changes when nothing changes. So pay it forward. Do I have my own issues? Yes, but it's not as important as others.


I did end up going to my friend's church tonight; but today I am really thankful for Central Christian. A church that has been my support for the past four years. An important lesson I've gained from my experience there is "if you live in the past you'll miss the blessings of the future." Central has been a great part of my life and I know will always be there for me cause it's more than a church it's my home. I have no worries when it comes to the future for I'm leaving for college with wisdom, love, and strength. At my church the cross is central. Jesus died on it and handed it to us. It would be easier for me not to have invested myself in a community, a church, and a relationship with God. But whats the point of living a easy life when you a live a dangerous one.

Thank you to my youth pastor and senior pastor who taught me this essential life lesson today.

Too Cool For School

Tomorrow is the first day back from winter break. I'm so ready to finish high school out with good grades, good times, and great style. 145 days till graduation!