Christmas Wishlist 2015

Hey everybody! I realized that in 2014 I posted 18 posts, while this year I've only posted 8. I plan to post a bit more this winter before the next year comes, and so far I've been posting quite a lot. I'll also have more time to write, edit, and post since I'm out of school for two weeks. And Christmas posts make me really excited, so I obviously am going to continue to excitedly post.

Okay, here comes my wishlist this year (and I'm also planning on doing a "What I Got for Christmas 2015" post so you can see if any of my wishes have been fulfilled). Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it, and this can also inspire your wishlist! Let's get into it:

TRXYE Sweatshirt
$39.99

I've loved Troye Sivan way before he released TRXYE or Wild or Blue Neighbourhood, so of course I want to support him through his clothing. I've already purchased all of his EPs and albums, and I still haven't purchased this sweatshirt, although I've been wanting it for a long time.

Link to buy!

Classic Lokai Bracelet
$18

I love the meaning behind the Lokai brand, and this bracelet is cute and aesthetic.

Link to buy!

Horizontal Stripe Backpack Handbag Blue & Beige
$29.99

The backpacks at Target are always really cute and trendy. Any of the backpacks would work, but I especially like the blue and beige colors together in this one.

Link to buy!

Attention Women's Auden Black Bootie
$16.99

THESE. These are adorable! I've been looking for good black booties for a while (since I already have a pair of brown ones that I love), and this pair is cute as well as reasonably priced. I will probably be buying these for myself soon.

Link to buy!

Hair Sweater
$29.99

Shout out to anyone who watches Dan and Phil! I love this sweater, and the simple design is perfect to allow you to wear it out in public without the shirt screaming, "HEY HEY look at me!!! LLOOKK!" I prefer to be a lowkey fangirl.

Link to buy!

Love, Tanya by Tanya Burr
$21.75

Another Youtuber product! I already own Tyler Oakley's book, Dan and Phil's book, and Connor Franta's book, so I would love to add this one to my collection. Plus I seriously love Tanya.

Link to buy!

iPhone 5s
Price varies

I've had a Samsung phone (not a smartphone) and an iPod 5 for a while, and I'm really sick of having to carry around two devices. An iPhone 5s would be perfect, and I love the color and design of it over the 5c and the normal 5.

Link to buy!

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera - White
$79.99

One of my friends has this camera, and I instantly fell in love with it ("instantly" get it? like an "instant" camera? haha ok nevermind). I really want this camera so I can hang up the pictures in my room and have a Tumblr display of polaroids. (Don't hate me. I find them cute.)

Link to buy!

Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray
$6.19

Having long hair is a struggle and sometimes I just want a bit more texture in my hair. Plus I've heard some great reviews on this product!

Link to buy!

Sadnecessary
$8.89

I've lately become obsessed with Milky Chance and having this album would top off my addiction.

Link to buy!

Thank you for reading! I hope you've enjoyed this, and I also hope you have a Merry Christmas!

-h.m.

The Christmas Tag

Hey everybody! I wanted to do a normal tag post since my last post and the post coming after this one with be filled with pictures and data, so here's something a bit simpler. Merry (almost) Christmas!

1. What is your favorite Christmas film?

My top films are Polar Express, Elf, and Love Actually. I also like to watch the classic cartoons like the Grinch and Charlie Brown. (Polar Express is my all-time favorite though.)

2. Have you ever had a White Christmas?

I've never had a White Christmas, and most of the time the weather is still moderately warm in December. Life in the South.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?

Baby, It's Cold Outside! (The Glee version, of course.)

4. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

My family actually never hopped on this bandwagon, although I've tried to suggest the tradition to them many times.

5. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Donner, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Rudolph, Dasher. (I Googled it and forgot Blitzen. So close!)

6. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

I actually only like real Christmas trees because of the smell. Is that weird?

7. What is your all-time favorite holiday food/sweet treat?

Every Christmas my family makes special peanut butter fudge and yaasss. I'm going to take a blogging break to go get some from the kitchen.

8. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?

New York! I've always wanted to see Times Square and the big Christmas tree they put up and everything all lit up and gorgeous.

9. Do you wrap presents well?

In my opinion I do. I always try my best because I'm one of those people that judges the presentation of the gift as well as the quality of the gift.

10. What made you realize the truth about Santa?

My mom told me one day when I came home from school. I cried. For days. (I was 10, okay, give me some slack.) Nearly five years later and I'm still upset about it. "Santa" is an inside joke for my family, and the mention of that name is usually accompanied with an awkward glance my way. 

Thank you for reading! Please comment if you agree (or even if you disagree) with any of my answers! Merry Christmas Eve! x

-h.m.

Collective Christmas / Winter Haul

Hey everybody! I've been collecting some pictures and data for some items I recently bought or received, and I thought you might be interested to see what I've got and what I've been obsessed with. (I'm literally in love with everything I got.) So let's get into it!

Indy-11 Bootie
Zooshoo.com
Originally $55, Paid $18

These shoes have become my staple this season. They look magnificent, and I love how easy they are to clean. My purse is also the same brownish-tan color, which makes them easy to style with any outfit.

Link to buy!

My Ugly Christmas Sweatshirt
Rue 21
Originally $19.99, Paid $10

My first Christmas sweatshirt! I have dozens of sweatshirts, but this one is super festive and adorable. The material is super soft and quite thick. I'm going to wear this to a family Christmas Eve party. (:

Link to buy!

Strawberry Sorbet and Sweet Mint EOS Lip Balm
Target
Paid $2.99, One free

Of course you need some lip balm to keep your lips safe in this cold weather. (However, I live in the southern U.S. so we're lowkey still waiting for the cold.) The CW Network actually sent me a care package and the Strawberry EOS was in it, so shout out to them! (It also has a logo of the CW on it, so it's cute and makes me feel fancy.)

Link for Strawberry Sorbet!

Link for Sweet Mint!

Galaxy Print Ear Buds
Rue 21
Paid $4.99

I've used many pairs of earbuds, but these are taken the cake. They're cute, affordable, and really good quality for the price! I actually made a few of my friends buy pairs and they also love them so hey, I give good advice sometimes.

You may need to go into a Rue 21 store to find this exact pair.

Burgundy Love of Music Earbuds
Rue 21
Paid $4.99

I got these for a friend who LOVES the color burgundy, so hopefully she likes them!

Link to buy!

Panda Lip Balm
Claire's
Paid $4.95

I also got this for a friend for Christmas who loves pandas, and she loves it! It's something that you can throw into a stocking or add alongside a bigger gift.

I bought this one in the Claire's store at my local mall.

Slim-fit Pants High Waist
H&M
Originally $23.99, Paid $10

I wear these almost everyday (no shame). These are my first pair of high waisted pants, and I love that they help on days when my stomach is upset. I typically wear tighter pants (leggings, skinny jeans, etc.) and these pants are tight on the legs and quite loose around the stomach area. I recommend these for anyone who wants an edgier piece to add to their closet.

Link to buy similar pants!

Originally: $119.89

Paid: $55.92

Saved: $63.97

Goodness. Also remember that I bought many of these things over a period of months, so I didn't go out and buy everything in one go. 

I'm hoping to have two other Christmas posts coming (one before Christmas and one after) so get ready for that! Thanks for reading!! x

-h.m.

The Best Friend Tag | 2015 Edition

Hey everybody!

Seeing as Turkey Day passed just a few weeks ago, I want to make an entire post about someone who I am extremely thankful for - my best friend Melissa. She's gotten me through some difficult things in my life, and I could never thank her enough. Much love to her.

For this post, I'm going to do a tag between the both of us. I'll be referring to her as "M" and to me as "H" (because my name's Hannah aye see what I did there) (okay bye now).

1. How and when did you meet?

M: Okay. It was in band class, right?

H: Yeah.
M: Yeah, so we were in band together and I was in the clarinet section at the end. And you were the only person in the saxophone section so we sat next to each other day.
H: I will forever be the only person in the saxophone section. *laughs nervously*

2. What's your favorite memory?

H: We're getting personal.

M: My favorite memory... I was at your house, like maybe a year after we first started hanging out and like we were just sitting and I was in the wheelie chair and I kept spinning and you were on your bed. And we were just talking and we like accidentally talked for four hours straight. And we didn't even notice until it was four hours later.

H: Yeah, we do that a lot. Let's see...my favorite memory...the first time I ever gave you a really fancy card and that was the start of that tradition. And you got really excited and you were like, "Wow, this is so good!" and you opened it and I explained everything.

M: That was the first card I ever got from a friend and I was so happy.

H: Milestones.

3. Describe each other in one word.

H: This'll be fun...murderous? Is that okay?

M: I would say that you're very...like, aesthetic.

H: Did you just talk about my butt? You're very...what's that word? Eccentric? No, let me look it up.

M: Okay?

H: Unconventional! I like that word.

M: I have no idea what that means.

H: That means "not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed." Or unorthodox; I like that word too. Very different, and murderous.

M: That too, that too. *laughs*

4. What's your dream job?

M: I would say yours is architect.

H: That's me. I would say you would be, like, a writer.

M: Writer...?

H: But not just novels, you'd write articles about stuff too. About, like, equality.

5. What's your favorite makeup brand?

H: This is easy...because neither one of us wear makeup.

M: What about the one that doesn't go on your face and I never use it? None of the above?

H: Ha ha, true.

6. What is something that annoys you about the other person?

H: You crack your knuckles, you slimy little weenie-head.

M: You can do hair and I can't. My extent of doing hair is a ponytail, and that usually comes out lopsided. It's like you can do hair perfectly.

7. If you could go anywhere in the world together, where would it be and why?

M: I think London just because of Sherlock and Dan [Howell] and just London in general.

H: Yeah! I'd want to go to Los Angeles... Isn't that where VidCon is? That'd be so fun.

M: That would be. 

H: Or, like going to ComicCon together would be fun too.

8. Favorite inside joke?

M: I like Biggums.

H: I like Biggums or sideways cat. Those are just the foundations of friendship.

9. Who takes longer to get ready in the morning?

H: *laughs nervously* We're both gonna know the answer to this one.

M: I would say you. Yeah.

H: That's me.

M: I take like 3 minutes by just putting my hair in a ponytail and brushing my teeth.

10. Favorite season?

H: I feel like you're fall.

M: Really?

H: Well, I know you like to wear shorts too.

M: Yeah, and then, like winter. Cold. I would say you're like a spring-y person? Fall?

H: I'm a fall person.

11. Favorite song?

H: I could not guess that for you. I'm sorry.

M: I don't really have one. Is yours still Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade?

H: No... That's a good song but I like another song... Here by Alessia Cara?

M: I've never heard that.

H: It's so, like, raw. Raw? Is that weird? It's not like a piece of meat. But it's so real. So you don't have a favorite song?

M: No, not really. 

12. What's it like being best friends with someone who is obsessed with YouTube?

M: Wait that's the question?
H: That's the question.
M: Well, I mean, we both like YouTube and we're both obsessed with Dan and Phil so it's nice.
H: I think I'm more of a lifestyle person, do you still watch gamers? I don't really know who you watch anymore.
M: Gamer and comedy, mainly.
H: I guess comedy too because I love Jenna Marbles.

13. Heels or flats?

H: You're flats.

M: I was looking at your shoes. You wear mainly flats.

H: I do wear flats a lot, but I like heels. But I'm more comfortable in flats.

M: So flats?

H: Yeah. Plus I'm quite tall so being taller than a boy is quite awkward.

14. Pants or dresses?

H: You're a pants person.

M: I think you're a dresses person.

H: I am!

15. Favorite animal?

H: I don't think you're gonna guess mine. Mine changed. It's not a dog anymore. Yours is foxes?

M: Yess. So... What is yours? What species?

H: Uh, zoo animals.

M: Zoo animal. Like an elephant?

H: Yes elephants! I also like sea otters.

16. If your house was on fire, and your entire family will be okay, what would you save and why?

H: Dogs are family.

M: You would probably save your electronics. Like your phone?

H: Yeah, I would say that. Either that or that box down there. Cause that has a lot of good stuff and old pictures in it. I would say for you: your grandpa's guitar. Or your phone.

M: Yeah, you know, always the phone. I would probably grab the guitar or that stuffed fox.

17. Comedy, horror, or chick-flick?

M: I think you like chick-flicks.

H: *laughs* I do. You're a horror and comedy person.

M: I'm just a hellish combination. Supernatural basically.

18. Blackberry or iPhone?

M: iPhone.

H: *holds up iPhone*

M: Who has a Blackberry anymore?

H: My dad.

19. Favorite movie?

H: Your favorite movie was Red. For a while.

M: Is yours still Ant-Man? Mine has changed too.

H: I did really like Struck by Lightning. That was my favorite for a while. What's your favorite Marvel movie?

M: If you know my favorite Marvel superhero, you'll know.

H: Iron Man? Captain America?

M: Yes! Buckkyyy.

20. What's something weird you eat?

M: You drink a lot of tea for an American person. You could be British.

H: Don't you put ketchup in something weird? Like your eggs?

M: Yeah yeah!

H: *gags*

21. Do you guys have anything matching?

H: We have those rings we used to wear.

M: That necklace I gave you in the Sherlock box. I have one just like that.

22. What's your favorite TV show?

M: You have so many. Is it Doctor Who? Or Glee? Or Supernatural? Or Sherlock?

H: I would say Doctor Who is getting bumped down. Honestly I really like Psych and Glee. I could watch those all day. Your favorite show is The Walking Dead or Supernatural.

M: The Walking Dead.

H: I can see it.

Thanks for reading!

-h.m.

15 Things I've Learned in 15 Years

Hello!

So last month was my birthday, but I forgot to post anything due to the festivities. This is going to be my post-birthday post; here are fifteen things I've learned in fifteen years:

1. Learn to go with the flow. Many things are not going to go your way. You can try to plan out everything in your life, but don't expect everything and everyone to go with your schedule.

2. Give yourself time to relax. I often overwork myself and try to do too much in a short amount of time. Slowly, I have taught myself when to work and when to sit and do nothing. Relaxing seems pointless, but you need time for your mind to repair itself rather than explode from stress.

3. Know when to get out of toxic friendships. One of my friends recently stopped talking to me. This would seem like a loss, but it was actually a gain because we weren't in a very good friendship. She's doing better and I'm doing great, so the disconnection was the best decision for both of us.

4. Slow down and appreciate life. This kind of goes in with #2, but I wanted to make it a whole separate point. We don't often see all the blessings around us because we're too preoccupied with assignments and work. So take some time, sit down, call your parents or your grandparents, call a friend, and really look over all the great things you have in life.

5. Pray. This is essential. Prayer solves everything, and if prayer doesn't solve something, just know that your need is in God's hands. Simple as that. (You can skip this one if you're not religious.)

6. Do more of what you love. My saxophone used to be seriously neglected until recently when I realized that I need to stop writing so many essays and take time to play music. I also have started reading more, too.

7. Get out of toxic relationships. I recently got out of a relationship. I wouldn't go as far to say that it was toxic, but it was definitely not what I wanted or would want for myself in the future. If you want to break up with your significant other, but you're afraid of being alone or your partner's reaction, just do it. Do it for you.

8. Say what's on your mind. If you love someone, tell them. If you don't agree with something your partner says, tell them. If your parents say something to you in a joking way but it still offends or belittles you, tell them. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.

9. Don't be afraid to tell someone how you feel about them. This ties in to #8, but again, this deserves its own point. This year I've made some new friends, and I never hesitate to tell them how great they are or how much I appreciate them in my life (even if I tell them so much that it becomes annoying).

10. Be passionate. Whatever you do, do it with passion. If you want a friendship to work out or you want a good grade on a project, be passionate about it and put in effort. (If you want some inspiration, watch any of Isabel Allende's speeches. She's an amazing and passionate woman.)

11. Stop caring about others' opinions. No one really cares if your socks don't match your belt. And if they do care, then that's their problem. You do you. :')

12. Take risks. The few risks that I have taken in my life have really shaped me for the better. Even if what happens in the end is not favorable, you'll have gained knowledge and experience.

13. Prove others wrong. Many people assume that I'm a snobby, straight-A student who thinks so much of herself. Here's the truth: I try really hard and I don't think I'm better than you. However, if you tell me that I can't do something, get ready to be proved wrong.

14. Read good books and listen to new music. Some good books I just finished:
(a) Binge by Tyler Oakley
(b) A Work In Progress by Connor Franta
(c) Anthem by Ayn Rand
Some of my favorite songs to listen to:
(a) She's Electric - Oasis
(b) The Beach - Thieves
(c) Work Song - Hozier
(d) Rivers and Roads - The Head And The Heart
(e) any song by Troye Sivan

15. Binge. If you don't know, Tyler Oakley published his book Binge this year. So that's what has inspired me to binge on things I love: baking, reading, playing music, anything really. Sit down and watch an entire season of your favorite show. (This is my permission to do so.)

I hope you at least follow one of these things or apply one of these to your life. I also hope you enjoyed this post. Did you? Leave a comment below!

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY TO ME! :)

much love

-h.m.

Two or Three Words

my phone lit up and your familiar ringtone buzzed,
to the delight of my ears.
i quickly scanned over the text,
not paying much attention until my eyes met two words:
"break up."
at that moment i realized what you sent me.
my father was in the middle of teaching me a game,
and i was quickly mastering it before i got the text.
the text that made me rise to my feet,
subconsciously gathering my breakfast plates and utensils,
laying them gently into the sink with a sorrowful look.
my father questioned me on my appearance,
and i returned with three words:
"we broke up."
tears began to stream down my face as it settled in,
in the same way the cold settles into your bones.
i stormed outside, phone-in-hand, to call you.
you answered with two words:
"what's wrong?"
for you could hear my sniffles through the call.
i returned the question in a different tone,
the words darting off my tongue harshly.
we chatted for a few minutes,
more you talking and me crying.
you told me i was one of the most important people,
and that one day you'd regret this decision.
you ended the call with another three words:
"i love you."
how grotesque of you to speak those words.
the same words you whispered to me many times,
during the times when you looked at me.
a look like i was your whole world.
well your eyes are deceiving and your tongue lies.
the cold's been settling in for a few hours now.
and i'm starting to heat up and realize a few things:
i can survive without you (i've done it before),
i am beautiful without you telling me so,
and i am worth more than two or three words.
you can't bring my world crumbling down.
only i determine what or who can destroy me.
(and it definitely won't be you, for the record.)
so this is done and gone, and here's two words:
"good bye."
and here's another two words:
"thank you."
and when you slither back, asking me to come back,
here's a good three words for that time:
"had your chance."
oh! and here's another three words:
"sucks for you."

-h.m.

Rue 21, Ross, and Target Haul

Hey everybody! This is my second haul, and I feel so accomplished as a blogger!

As you may have guessed, I shopped all the sales. Since I've been shopping before and I knew the places we (me and my cousin) were going pretty well, I was quite at ease. I still took SUPER long to, again, comb through the sales sections. However, I got really great sales and I wanted to show what I bought!

This is just a personal note, but I love looking at other people's hauls. I love having an insight into someone's fashion taste and seeing how much they want or are willing to pay for certain clothing items. After I post this, I will probably look for hauls from the stores I went to. No shame.

Mid Rise Long Jegging
Rue 21
Originally $19.99, Paid $3.00

Navy Marled Jogger
Ross
Paid $8.99

Basic Black Leggings
Ross
Paid $4.99

Heather Blue Slim Jogger
Target
Originally $19.99, Paid $9.98

Fairisle Black Christmas Skater Dress
Rue 21
Originally $14.99, Paid $2.00

Crochet Fringe Crossbody Bag
Rue 21
Originally $25.00, Paid $5.00 

I did pay full price for a few things here, but I shopped at places with more reasonably priced items, so it wasn't that big of a deal. I really wanted to buy more winter/autumn clothes since right now, in summer, everything is on sale. I felt super excited to buy my Christmas dress and some new bottoms to wear during the colder months (joggers are seriously a staple for me).

Again, I totally saved a bunch of money and didn't spend as much money as I did last time. And I got some pretty great stuff that's typically super expensive (dresses, purses, joggers). Clearance and sales racks to the rescue! 

Original Price Total : $93.95

Sale Price Total :       $33.96

Saved :                       $59.99

wowie.

-h.m.

July 2015 Favorites

Hey everybody! I'm starting to lean towards more beauty/fashion related posts; however, that doesn't mean I won't still do tags and discussions and such. And because this is my first "favorites" post, some of the things I mention will have been things I've been enjoying for months and maybe even years. Nonetheless, they will be my favorites. So let's get on with it. :)

1. Favorite Daily Product

Studio 35 Beauty Mint Facial Masque - around $6

This facial mask is my saving grace on bad skin days. You do need to let this mask sit for a while, so after I do my usual skin routine and I realize that I have some extra time, applying this mask really does the trick to my skin. Immediately after washing off the face mask, you can see a significant change to any redness, skin irritation, and acne that may have appeared over night.

2. Favorite Shower Product

Twilight Woods Shower Gel - $12.50

As I write this, I'm smelling the product and ahhhh. It smells so good! I use about a tablespoon of this stuff on my loofah and the subtle scent stays on my skin until my next shower. The shower gel has a sweet smell (haha that rhymed wowie) with a hint of berry. Apparently, the smell is supposed to be like the woods at night, but if the woods smelled that good every night, I would live outside. (By the way, I got the gel for half off. Pretty sweet deal! Get it? Sweet? Like the smell? I'll show myself out.)

3. Favorite Hair Product

Organic Coconut Oil - around $8

Coconut oil has been the latest hair treatment craze, so I indulged and bought some. I've only tried a hair treatment once, and I accidentally added too much to my roots and my hair ended up being a greasy mess. However, after I properly showered and re-shampooed my hair, the effects were amazing. I can tell that the ends of my hair (which get the least amount of nutrients) are healthier than ever. If you ever want to indulge in the coconut oil trend, remember these two things: (1) less is more and (2) away from the roots unless you wash the oil out really well after two or three hours.

4. Favorite TV Show

That 70's Show

That 70's Show reminds me of when I was younger and used to watch this show with my parents. This show is hilarious but also very dramatic. I didn't realize it growing up, but now, as I binge watch the entire series and watch the episodes in order, I can see all the different plot twists in the series. I also love that it's set in the 70's. Good show to watch, if you're a teenager or interested in watching a show about teenagers.

5. Favorite Song

Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade

The name "Secondhand Serenade" makes me think of a really hardcore band that only sings about broken hearts and how love is never fair, but after listening to this song, I'm in love. There's something about romance that attracts me because I now realize that I like romance movies, romance novels, and love songs. And this song just seems to stand out among all of the other love songs that I've listened to. When I have my Pandora playing, I'm usually doing something distracting (like reading or going through social media) that draws my attention away from actually listening to the song. However, this song and the overall rhythm to it made me put down whatever I was doing at the time and pay attention. It's that good.

6. Favorite Pair of Shoes

Navy Blue Patterned Flats - $5

Sorry for the bad picture of these cute shoes. I got these flats on sale while searching for a pair of heels. These flats were originally $17 (which is ridiculous in my opinion), but the sale makes them perfect. I wear a lot of darker colors, even in the summer, and I just recently picked up a navy blue dress from H&M that goes really well with these shoes. So there's that.

7. Favorite Clothing Item

Lightweight Knit Black and White Top w/ Pocket - $8.80

I featured this in my first haul. And I never really got into the style of this shirt until the summer when I was looking for lightweight clothes that didn't stick to my skin in the hot, sweaty heat. I've been recently loving stripes and monochrome (always) this summer, and this shirt is my go-to when I need a nice top to go over a pair of shorts. (I also got this shirt on sale at Forever 21 for around $4, which is less than half the original price.)

8. Favorite Book

A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks

I finished this book in June, but since I've never actually done a "favorites" post before, I'm going to include this book because it was absolutely amazing. All of the books I've read by Nicholas Sparks I have loved, and this book did not disappoint me. I am a huge Nicholas Sparks and romance fan. If you're a romance person, or are trying to get into romance novels, this one's for you. (To note, I got this and around 15 other books in a set for $10.)

9. Favorite Movie

Ant-Man

My boyfriend and I went to go see this film together. He's a huge comic book fan and I grew up watching Marvel movies with my dad. I mostly went just to spend time with him, but I partly went because I was interested in the story line and PAUL. RUDD. That is all. (Phoebe's Mike from "Friends" if you're confused.)

10. Favorite Room Decor

Honolulu 3-Wick Candle

CANDLES. I honestly love the thought of a warm candle in the autumn. And it's not smart to burn candles in the middle of the summer (hot + hot), but they are still really pretty and photogenic and make my room smell nice. Sue me for liking nice smells. (Also got this $22.50 candle for $10. I'm a discount person.)


This took a really long time to type up and take decent pictures for (took around 3 straight days). However, I really enjoyed this and I look forward to rereading it in the future. Like something I mentioned? Comment below!

bye and thanks again!

-h.m.

Confidence and Courage

hey everybody. new serious post that has really struck my heart. keep reading.

Introduction

I watch YouTube videos constantly. I enjoy watching different people and learning their opinions or watching their life as it progresses before their viewers. I love when my friends make YouTube videos and I can watch new perspectives of their lives other than social medias. A specific friend, Skylar, started making consistent YouTube videos that I was always enjoy watching. She uploaded this video on July 23, 2015.

Stop With The Negativity

I couldn't believe some of the things this amazing girl said in this video. People were commenting on her videos, pointing out her "flaws" and picking out things they didn't like about her.

First off, I love Skylar. She is so friendly and beautiful. Her Instragram feed is so gorgeous, and she doesn't let anyone's comments about her being "fat" or having a "big forehead" let her down.

How I Connect to This

With my size and appearance, I've been called many names. Here are a few:

These are three things that people have called me that have bothered me the most. And that's because they're picking on things I can't change. I can't afford laser eye surgery to perfect my eyes, I can't afford facial surgery to change the way I look, and I can't change the fact that I eat small portions and weigh less than the majority of others. I'm not bragging about being underweight or having glasses- they're just things that I've lived with for years and have learned to live with.

Is it polite for someone to call me anorexic? No. Anorexia is nothing to joke about. That's why any insult is nothing to joke about. It may affect the victim's life completely and swamp their thoughts constantly. Imagine that everyone calls you fat, and you believe yourself to be fat. Now, you have a label hanging over you, and you start to think of ways to cover up the label, whether it's by wearing clothes that cover more skin or wearing more makeup. Don't ever place a label on someone that they have to cover up.

Here's an important thing to know through this post:

Don't let them define you.

have a good day everyone xx

-h.m.

Social Media Displays of Affection (SMDA)

Hey everybody! I know it's been a while since I've last posted, but since this blog is more for me than for others, I'm gonna post whenever I want. I'm also not going to feel pressured to post consecutively.

So! Today, I wanted to talk about people posting lovey dovey things on Instagram (I know people do it on every social platform, but I see it mainly on Instagram). I've been seeing it a lot more lately, what with hormones kicking in and everyone becoming obsessed with boys and girls and relationships. Here's some major points and questions and conversations I want to have about this topic :

Do I agree with it?

Yes! I adore it. Every once and a while, a #wcw or #mcm is perfectly fine (and usually adorable). People tend to post about their significant other because they take pride in their relationship and want to show off their boy/girl to the world. It's especially cute when someone posts, "Spent the day with him/her." Like, yes! Show off how much fun you two have together.

What's the problem?

My problem with this is when people post things I don't need to see or someone over-post their relationship. "Things I don't need to see" basically includes picture of you two making out, lip-locking, or those pictures where only the bottom half of your face is shown and I can only see you guys swapping spit. Gross. 

Also, posting too much of a relationship is annoying. A relationship should be about two people who care about each other being together, not being each other. I know you eat and sleep and burp and stuff, so post things about your personal life more than pictures of you and your man. I have a total of 25 pictures on my Instagram account, and none of them feature me and my boyfriend. (I have one picture of flowers he gave me, but even with that, I put a simple caption that wasn't too in-your-face.)

Do I do it?

Absolutely not. My boyfriend and I have spoken about it, and we both have decided that our relationship will be kept away from the Instagram posts. We still acknowledge our relationship, but we never post anything about each other directly. This may change. However, I refuse to be that half-picture-of-only-looking-at-us-making-out couple. GrOsS !!1!

Okay, I just had to get that out. It's been bothering me and I wanted to express my feelings about this. Thanks for listening to me rant. What are you feeling about this? LEAVE IT IN THE COMMENTS :)

bye for now !!

-h.m.