Learning to Embrace Change

I'll admit it, I hate change. Once I settle down and find something that I like, I want to stick with it for as long as possible. If change is to happen, I want it to happen on my time schedule and on my terms.

The past few years of my life has resulted in a lot of change. I moved four hundred miles away from my hometown, lost old friends, gained new ones, fell in love, graduated from high school, ended up in a college and major that I never would have pictured myself in - the list could go on for days. The person that I am today has very little in common with the person I was several years ago or even several weeks ago. I am in a constant state of change, yet struggle with the acceptance of it.

But throughout the seasons of my life, the one thing that has always stuck with me is a verse from Jeremiah.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

As a flawed human being that hates change, I also hate not holding the key to my future. It's one thing to preach about trusting God, but it's another thing to live it. And for me, accepting that my future does not fall into my hands, but His hands, has been a difficult journey.

See, I was that kid in elementary school, while my classmates were talking about being princesses and astronauts, who wanted to be a doctor. And that was that. I would grow up in Hurricane, West Virginia, be friends with my friends forever, and become a doctor. Settled.

But then life, or rather, God, threw me a curve ball. Two years later, I'm living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, attending MTSU and studying journalism. Talk about a change of plans.

But that's what I'm finally understanding: plans change, people change, nothing stays the same.

As humans, we were created for adaptation and evolution. Change is what has kept our species alive for millions of years. When we experience change, we must accept it and learn to better ourselves because of it. And even though change is hard and it's easier to dig our heels in and reject the new and scary things coming our way, we must not - I must not. Why should I? Why should I be worried about things that are out of my control? Especially when the One who knows my future is the One who created me, flaws and all, the One who has laid a future before me, a future filled with so many beautiful things.

When I take a step back and reflect on my life and fully realize that my steps are being guided by the creator of the universe, it's humbling.

It's so incredible knowing that no matter where I'm guided, I will forever have the promise of a hopeful future from my God. And that alone is enough to give me peace about the days to come.

Eating My Way Through the United States: Nashville

Yesterday, my boyfriend and I headed out of Murfreesboro to Nashville. We had an awesome day of singing in the car, going to comic book stores for him and boutiques for me, and enjoyed lunch at The Pharmacy.

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden is this delicious restaurant in East Nashville and was voted The Best Burger in 2013- and with good reason. This restaurant proudly serves 100% Tennessee-raised beef in their burgers and 100% pure cane sugar in their sodas.

Mark got The Cheese Burger which includes three different cheeses served on a Provence bun. I got the Grilled Chicken Club. Both sandwiches came with a side, so we chose the fries. By far, The Pharmacy has the best fries I've ever had. So good. Mark and I both enjoyed our meal and left happy and full. I also ordered an Ice Cream Soda with vanilla syrup. In all honesty, I wasn't a huge fan of this. Old-fashioned soda, in my opinion, is an acquired taste that I've yet to earn. However, the Pied Piper ice cream that was served in my soda was fantastic.

Vanilla Ice Cream Soda 

YUM

Here are some pictures from our lunch! It has a very hipster feel to it. You'll see lots of bangs, boots, and handlebar mustaches. You can choose to eat inside or outside. If eating inside, be prepared to join another couple or family at the park-like picnic tables they have set up. Outside, they have tables with umbrellas to keep you cool in the sun and string lights put up around the fence that is lining the restaurant.

The Pharmacy would be a great first date restaurant for new couples and could quickly become a favorite hang out for settled couples! 

Be sure to make The Pharmacy your lunch stop if passing through Nashville! Enjoy, guys!

November Trends

Hey, guys! November is right around the corner and with the start of a new month is the start of new trends!

I love November. It's the first month when winter starts to make its annual appearance, Christmas stuff starts popping up everywhere, and of course, Thanksgiving!

Here are some chic new styles to break out over Thanksgiving break to impress your friends and family. Maybe your grandma will stop asking you when you'll get hitched and where you got that fabulous outfit.

Piko Tops

Piko tops are all the rage now. They're perfect for your casual, lazy day without sacrificing comfort for style! Be sure to pick out some good earthy tones, such as olive green, tan, and plum. You can find Piko tops just about anywhere. In fact, I just snagged one on sale at Target for $12!

Piko Long Sleeve Top; Forest Green. Shopriffraff.com. ($32).

Long Sleeve Dresses

There's nothing more perfect than a gorgeous long sleeve dress paired with some fun tights! It's hard to find a nice long sleeve dress with a good price tag, but Urban Outfitters has lots!

BDG Ribbed Knit Scoop-Back T-Shirt Dress. Urbanoutfitters.com. ($59). 

Printed Tights

As aforementioned, I live for patterned tights! I have a box full of them in my closet, along with knee high socks. I can't get enough! These tights are beautiful enough for every fashionista to own, but conservative enough for someone who isn't into super loud prints. 

Meadowbend Pointelle Tights. Francsescas.com. ($12).

Suede 

Suede is going to be very popular this fall. Today, I found two adorable suede dresses at Marshall's for $19.99 a piece! Can we say bargain?

Enzo Angiolini Gettup Boots. Macys.com. ($68.25). 

I hope everyone enjoyed this read! Make November a great and stylish month! 

Five Things I Wish I Had Known in High School

Everything about college is intimidating. From deciding where to go to learning your way around, college is stressful.

I know this firsthand since I was set for the University of Alabama and planned to major in chemical engineering, but changed my mind two weeks before I was supposed to leave. Instead, I am attending MTSU, double majoring in biology and psychology, although I'm seriously considering changing my majors to journalism and global studies.  So in just fourteen short days I had to apply to MTSU, cancel my reservation to Alabama, meet with my advisor, schedule my classes, get an official transcript and ACT score report sent to my school, get a whole new set of shots and meet new requirements, and find a permanent job here.

But even with all of the new hoops I had to jump through, I made it work, and now I'm happier than ever with my decision. I have two amazing jobs, a new set of friends, joined a sorority, and am finding what I'm meant to do with my life.

Below is a list of advice that I wish someone had shared with me a year ago when I was beginning my senior year.

1. Taking a plethora of AP classes really won't help you that much. 
My senior year, I took four AP classes: government, English, chemistry, and statistics. I was able to balance the workload (barely) and make great grades, but only passed one of my AP exams. If I could go back and redo my senior year, I would have just taken two and devoted more time to them. It looks better to take fewer "hard" classes and excel in them than taking several classes and falling short in all of them.

2. After you graduate, your ACT score does not matter. At all.
I took the ACT exam four times before I got what I wanted: a 30. But then after that, I still wasn't happy. I wanted a 32, so I took the exam another two times, but maxed out at 30. I was so embarrassed of my score and felt ashamed that I couldn't reach a 32. What I didn't seem to realize is that a 30 is an amazing score that most people would have been more than thrilled with. At the time, I seemed to correlate my personal value with the number I got on a test. Don't stress yourself out if you don't reach your dream score. It honestly won't matter at all once you graduate. In my school, people prided themselves on their ACT score, but I promise you, once you get to college, it won't matter anymore.

3. It does not matter how many clubs you were a part of. 
My senior year I was involved in seven clubs and was on the board for four of them. I barely had a social life. While my classmates were enjoying their senior year of high school, I was working working working toward a goal I had set for myself: be the most involved, have the highest ACT score, get the best scholarships. I literally made myself sick trying to be the best. Out of the two colleges I applied to, MTSU and Alabama, my involvement did not influence my candidacy for scholarships or admission. I think it's great to be involved, I still am in college. But being in seven clubs does not make you look any better than the person who was only in three. Instead of signing up for everything, only join clubs that you are truly interested in and will enjoy being involved in.

4. There is no shame in attending your local college. 
If you had told me a year ago that I would be attending the local college and still living at home, I would have laughed you out of the room. "Me? Going local? No way. I'm destined for greatness and local isn't great." I was the most stuck up overachiever out there, guys. Staying home for school was the best decision I could have made for myself. Freshman year is hard enough without factoring in living on your own, moving to a new city, and making a whole new set of friends. Staying at home has allowed me the comfort of living in a city I know, my family to rely on, and the ability to make new friends at my own pace. Staying at home does not mean you have failed. I repeat: staying at home does not mean you have failed.

5. Everyone is going to have an opinion, but not everyone's opinions matter.
The past few months have been a bit rocky in regards to my future. Growing up, I was always the girl who knew what she wanted to be. When other girls were dreaming of being princesses, I would state in a matter-of-fact tone that I wanted to be an oncologist. So when I decided last minute to give up my full ride to Alabama for MTSU, I received a lot of backlash. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me what an idiot I am for staying home, I would have more money in cash than what Alabama was offering me. It was really hard for me not to let the negativity of others get to me. In the eyes of my classmates, I was an idiot who had failed. But it finally dawned on me that these people I had been surrounded with no longer matter, nor did their opinions. My happiness is all that matters. Don't let the opinions of others, no matter how close they are to you, influence your opinion on your life, your college, and your major. No matter what you do, where you go, who you become, there will be someone who loves you for it, and there will be five others who hate you for it. You can't please everyone so focus on pleasing yourself.

College is a time for self-discovery, trying new things, and having fun. If you aren't happy with your life, now is the time to change it. Don't let anyone tell you what you're meant to be. If I had let others decide my future, I would be in another state by myself, studying my booty off for a job I would loathe, and so stressed out that I would undoubtedly send myself into another IC flare.

Pick the college and future that is right for you, not your friends, not your family, and sure as hell not for the people you pass in the hallway five times a week.

Fall Into Style: Bohemian

Hello, everyone!

As promised, here is the second installment of my three part fall fashion series, Fall Into Style. Last week I covered the grunge trend that will be setting off this fall. This week I will be covering the bohemian trend that is going to be very in this fall. Stay tuned for next week's final installment of the fall style series!

Bohemian
This trend really reflects my personal everyday style. I absolutely adore anything with a boho vibe or anything that a hippie might have worn back in the day. There's just something about bohemian that screams fall. Some faded jeans paired with a worn vintage shirt and some moccasins sounds like my kind of outfit! The bohemian style really focuses on your true, individual beauty. Try going makeup-less one day this fall with your natural hair and see how much lighter you feel!

Sheer Lace 

Kimchi Blue Back Cherry Lace Midi Dress. Urban Outfitters. ($129).

Cranbrook Embroidered Kimono. Francesca's Collections. ($38)

Headbands

Sedalia Beaded Head Wrap. Francesca's Collections. ($14).

Printed Wideband. Free People. ($18).

Worn Boots

Bed Stu Manchester Tall Boot. Free People. ($285).

Veronica Short. Frye. ($298).

Layered Jewelry

Evil Eye Layered Necklace. Lucky Brand. ($34.30).

Lamar Jeweled Strand Necklace. Francesca's Collections. ($32). 

Beauty 

Braids and messy hair. Pinterest.

Simple, natural make up. Pinterest. 

My take

Top: Free People

Jeans: American Eagle

Boots (not pictured: Frye

Jewelry (not pictured): Alex and Ani and Lucky Brand

I hope everyone enjoyed this edition of Fall Into Style! Stay tuned for the next edition featuring Arctic Pop. 

Fall into Style: Grunge

It's my favorite time of year again: fall. I know loving fall is so white girl of me, but I can't help it. Between the cool, crisp breeze and all things pumpkin, fall is the best season, hands down.

My absolute favorite thing about fall is the new fashion styles. There's nothing cuter than a cozy, worn flannel paired with new boots, or a cardigan thrown on with some leggings. There's something about fall style that is as effortless as the falling leaves.

This post will be a three part series focusing on the upcoming fall trends.

Grunge
Grunge is coming back in a big way. That means dark eyeliner, messy hair, black on black on black, leather details. I'm definitely looking forward to the grungy styles that will be hitting the shelves soon. It's all about mixing your tougher pieces with more delicate ones, such as a warm flannel paired with a super bold necklace or a leather skirt with a delicate lace top.

Leather skirts

 Quinn Vegan Leather Skirt. Francescas's Collections. ($44)

Stylestalker Vegan Leather Mini Skirt. Urban Outfitters. ($150)

Plaid 

Navy Plaid Scarf. e.Allen. ($32)

LA Hearts Plaid Faux Leather Trim Backpack. Pacsun. ($19.97)

Metal Accessories

Mott St. Jeweled Statement Necklace. Francesca's Collections. ($36)

Mercer Bib Necklace. Urban Outfitters. ($28)

Beauty

Dark, lived-in eyeliner. The Beauty Department. 

Careless, messy hair. Pinterest. 

My Take

This is my take on the grunge trend. I tucked my Urban Outfitters flannel (found at Marshall's for $8) with my black bandage skirt (found at Target for $25, also available at Francesca's for $44) and my black combat boots (found at Marshall's for $35). Once I got to work, I added the Mont St. Jeweled Statement Necklace (found at Francesca's for $36) to complete my glamour-grunge look. 

College: The Prequel

With the arrival of college swiftly upon us, change is brewing. It can be felt in every aspect of life: the weather, our relationships, and within ourselves.

Some people crave change while others, like me, dread it.

Change is hard. As humans, we like routine. We create our little worlds and try our best not to stray from what we know. Playing it safe through carefully calculated actions yields very few risks and chances for failure.

When I was sixteen I had my life planned out: I would stay in my sleepy hometown of Hurricane, West Virginia,  keep my job at a fast-food restaurant through high school, go to the local college where I planned to be a doctor, and most likely stay in an (unrealized at the time) unhealthy relationship with my then boyfriend.

But life had very different plans for me. My dad quit his long-term job and moved us to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, so he could advance his career and create a better future for our family while simultaneously shattering my life plan. Now, two and a half years later with the age of nineteen looming over me, I am so perfectly content with my unplanned life that the inner peace I feel brings me to the verge of tears.

Today, I can proudly say that I graduated from high school in the top 20% of my class with distinction and honors, have a beautiful relationship with my sweet, sweet boyfriend, and am in the best place that I've been for quite awhile with my family. I traded my hairnet and uniform for a key holder position at an amazing boutique and will be attending MTSU where I am double majoring in Biology and Psychology with a minor in neuroscience. 

I know that God has greater plans for me than I do myself, and as reminded by Jeremiah 29:11, I know that I will never be led astray or brought to a challenge that I cannot handle.

So even though my natural response to change is dread and fear I am reaching a new chapter in my life; one filled with so many new memories, friends, and struggles. In honor of this new chapter, I boldly invite change into my life and will accept whatever life sends my way.

I will accept every new adventure that comes my way with a resounding "Yes!"
I will invite new friends into my life.
I will never take a moment for granted.

The Great American Road Trip of 2014

I just got back from a twelve day road trip out west and back.

I'm a firm believer that everyone needs to travel out west at least once in their lifetime. My first out west experience was last summer during my trip to Yellowstone.

While there, I fell in love with the outdoors and gained a new appreciation for the life I was blessed to experience. I realized what a beautiful country I live in and now that I'm home, I find myself constantly craving a mountain view.

We left from our home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and traveled through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri. We got to see Cadillac Ranch in Texas, the Grand Canyon in Nevada, Caesar's Palace in Vegas, where I did some illegal gambling, Sequoia National Park, King's Canyon, Yosemite, the Redwoods, and San Francisco in California, Salt Lake City and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and Pike's Peak and the Manitou Indian Cliff Dwellings in Colorado.

All in all, the trip was 6,056 miles. It was a long and tiring journey, but I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. I got to witness this beautiful country and sights that many don't have the chance to see. I loved soaking up every moment of this adventure and embraced everything I encountered.

I got the chance to talk to Native Americans about their culture, walked the streets of Chinatown where I tried bubble coffee, conquered a mountain, and so much more. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our road trip:

 The beauty of California

 At the top of mountain I climbed

 Calico ghost town

 Hugging a tree in Sequoia 

The roadsides of Arizona are lined with stands full of handmade Native American arts

Eating My Way Through the United States: Memphis

While my family and I began our road trip to California, we stopped in Memphis, Tennessee, to grab a bite to eat for lunch.

We found ourselves stumbling across Charles Vergo's Rendezvous, a little hole in the wall known for their ribs. 

Rendezvous is down a little alley and in the basement of an empty building, and if you blink, you'll miss it! But don't let the seemingly sketchy appearance scare you off, the food is fantastic. 

I ordered the half-size ribs which came with coleslaw and baked beans. 

The ribs were perfect; the meat fell right off the bone! This was my first time having dry-rub style ribs and I was very impressed. The flavor was great, not too spicy but gave enough heat to satisfy those who crave spices. The coleslaw was phenomenal. I'm not one for slaw, but this was out of this world. The slaw is vinegar based, and I'm a vinegar lover for sure. The flavor was great and complemented the ribs very well. And to top it off, the beans were delicious. I'm a fan of baked beans and was definitely a fan of these! 

Outside of the women's restroom, an apron signed by THE Julia Child. 

Birth Control's Out, Vasectomies and Viagra Are In

As I'm sure you all know, Hobby Lobby won their lawsuit. This means that they will no longer have to cover certain types of birth control that they have deemed as "abortion pills" (despite having factual evidence disproving their claims) but will still continue to cover vasectomies and Viagra.

This hypocrisy does in fact prove that they have no problem supporting safe sex when it comes to men, but have every problem supporting women in their personal choices- a private choice that should be handled between a woman and her doctor, not her boss. And even though Hobby Lobby's owners preach about their concern with birth control and abortion, they will continue buying the majority of their supplies from a China, a country that has one of the highest abortion and birth control rates in the entire world.

Birth control has many, many purposes other than controlling birth. It helps with acne, diseases such as endometriosis, chronic ovarian cysts, and plenty of other things that greatly improve the quality of life for the women who rely on their birth control. Vasectomies serve one purpose and one purpose alone: to prevent pregnancy. Let the hypocrisy sink in.

It's upsetting and disgusting that we live in a world where our leaders would support such an insane idea that directly opposes women. As a Christian and a woman, I fully disagree with Hobby Lobby and their choices they have made in the name of Christianity and urge my readers to take their crafting somewhere else. I heard Michael's has a good sale this week.


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The "F" Word

No, not that "f" word. Feminism.

I know feminism has become a very trendy cause to support lately, thanks to sites like Tumblr. Contrary to the belief of many, feminists aren't a coven of lesbians who neglect routine hygienic practices to focus on channeling their hatred of men and scheming to overthrow the patriarchy.

Actually, most feminists are not as extreme as they have been painted to be. Feminism has nothing to do with man-hating, but instead has everything to do with leveling the playing field.

The fact that I'm even writing this post proves in itself why we, men and women alike, need feminism in our world today.

We live in such an advanced civilization and literally have the world at our fingertips. We are able to meet new people and spread ideas more efficiently than ever before. But despite this, so many people in our world have such a hang-up with feminism. Some even view it as a dirty word or insulting to be called a feminist.

I need feminism because as I was walking to work in above 90 degree weather wearing a sundress, I was met by a car full of cat-calling young men. I can't even dress in weather-appropriate attire without being harassed. Now, many might roll their eyes and even say "Oh, just move on. Boys will be boys."

But that's the problem: We as a society have promoted this animalistic idea of men being so primal, so barbaric, that they are incapable of controlling themselves. This not only teaches men that they are so fueled by desire that it is okay to neglect their self-control, but also teaches them that women should be viewed as objects, rather than equals. It is this type of thinking that is holding back our world.

Even though it is 2014 and we all try so hard to be accepting of different types of religions, lifestyles, and cultures, we are forgetting the most important thing: to respect the person who holds those beliefs and ideals, and that is the most severe problem we are faced with in our society today.

The Fault in Our Stars & Discovering a Blissful Life

Recently, some friends and I went to see The Fault in Our Stars, a beautiful and moving (and heartbreaking) story of two star-crossed lovers with cancer, based upon John Green's novel.

By the end of the movie most people were crying. But the entire time I couldn't help but think of someone I love dying from cancer. I feel like almost everyone is touched by cancer at some point, whether it be an aunt, a grandma, or a friend. Luckily, no one I love has been affected by cancer. That is a huge blessing, but at the same time I can't help but wonder when this deadly disease will weasel its way into my life.

At times like these when worry floods my mind, I turn to my faith as a way to lessen the stomach churning stress. I feel confident in saying that I need not worry because whatever happens is meant to be.  I know that whatever life throws at me, I have family and friends who will stand by me. And most importantly, I have my faith in Christ to turn to. These three things combined will be able to get me through anything.

But more importantly, TFIOS taught me to embrace everyday and its challenges. As previously mentioned, my life has stayed cancer-free in every aspect, but I have faced a year of challenges health-wise. Not knowing if I would wake up feeling great or wake up in pain made me grateful for every good day I have had this year.

Before I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, a disease which causes chronic pain and inflammation in the bladder lining and pelvic region, I had never imagined what life would be like to constantly be in pain, or what it would be like to have my body seemingly turn against me. None of these thoughts had crossed my mind. But now I sympathize with everyone who struggles with health problems and have personally learned that diseases that are seemingly invisible are just as bad, if not worse, than diseases that make their presence fully known.

So, in short, my readers, embrace life. Embrace it fully and wholly, the good with the bad. Smile when life is gracious to you and smile when it is cruel. Optimism is the most important quality to have, after all.

Hello.

Hi, there. So, to start off:
I'm a newly graduated eighteen-year-old with an eager and ambitious attitude and the sass to match it.
I'm not starting this blog because I'm actually pretentious enough to believe that people care about the ramblings of a teenager, but rather a way to clear my mind and encourage my love of writing.
However, I am pretentious enough to call myself a writer.

Ever since I was a child, I loved to write. I devoured books and when they couldn't satisfy me, I took to writing. Writing has been my way of coping throughout life and a way to feel accomplished. I was on the newspaper staff in high school, and nothing felt more satisfying than a complete stranger complimenting my article. As cliche as it sounds, I want my writings to reach people. I want to inspire them. And taking into account my lack of artistic ability and being incapable of doing anything noteworthy, I plan on writing.

So what will I be posting? All sorts of things. I have a variety of interests and this blog will match them. One post could be about last night's episode of Game of Thrones or it could be about a quote I found particularly interesting. There will never be a dull moment on this blog.

So enjoy, readers. Maybe I'll spark something inside of you. Or maybe, and most likely, you'll roll your eyes at this blog and laugh at my naive thoughts. Or better yet, maybe my dry humor and sarcastic nature will make you want to read more. Regardless, enjoy my blog.