Anywhere the Sun Shines

Myself, Brooke, then Brittany

Summer is quickly fading. School starts back up in 2 weeks, and I am properly excited. I was able to work out my schedule, and I'm afraid I'm just going to be too happy with the way things are looking up. In more recent news, my dear sister Brooke packed up and moved to Ohio. In many ways I am heartbroken that they moved so far, but also I am extremely excited for their new horizons. I will miss her dearly, but then again we can always do three-way calling... 

Last week while watching a guilty pleasure with Sadie and Lizzy, we planned a end of the summer trip to California. We will be heading out this upcoming Thursday and coming home the day before school starts: a grand total of 5 days in the sun, sand, and land of milk and honey. To be frank, this is exactly what I think the five of us need. As this year continues to creep forward, I'm learning to keep in perspective the things that matter the most. So far, it has been hard to determine whether I do things because I genuinely want to, or I do them to please others. Since it is kind of mixed in my book, it makes it hard for me to say no things. I'm hoping that this quick trip will help me find reevaluate my life a bit, and help me soak up my experiences that I had this summer (which I still need to blog about... sorry friends.) 

Here is a song by Mason Jennings that pretty much sums up how "El-suave" I think going to California will be.

And here are just some songs that I happen to love currently, and I HIGHLY recommend the new Joshua Radin CD: Underwater

SORRY FOR MUSIC OVERLOAD... oh wait. Psych!

Oh, I'm in Love

Today finally felt like summer. Sleeping in, morning scripture study, bowl of Kellog's Krave, late shower, errand run with a friend, finishing touches of a clean room, painting a mirror, trying to darn holes in favorite cardigans, sewing lavender pouches, planning projects to sew hems, book club planning, Harry Potter debating, dreaming of a lavender or mint green-grey-white wedding, quesadilla making, spaghetti eating, no make-up, hair undone, new shoe wearing, purchasing a adorable skirt, and a darling dress, leaving the bedroom window open, journal entry catch-uping, reading, dreaming of a future home, and writing in the thunder. Now that's what I call summer.

My dream house...

I bought 3 of these picture frames. It fits my painting nicely!

The whole in my mint green cardigan that I tried to darn... darn those holes!

Spray painted mirror... check!

To be sewn on this skirt

My dress that I can't wait to wear!

I'm putting up 3 more shelves to replace my bookcase hutch above my desk. I'll be add to more books!

Sorry about the lighting... but this is my new dress I ordered.

My new skirt coming soon...gosh. I love dresses and skirts. (This one cost me a whole $12.48. No tax. No shipping charge!)

I color-coded my books!

Love that figure. Oh, I did find my Inheritance book... it is to the left. :)

Can't wait to put up my new shelves...

The sad pile of books awaiting a home. Everywhere else is full.

Getting ready to stuff

Finished!

What it looked like before...

Bliss

                  Yep. Looks like this is going to be a good week.

Green Things

If you haven't heard of Emily Brown, you might as well not waste anytime reading this post. Click on her name! Her music is stunning (plus she uses an accordion), and has brought me much comfort over the past year. Here is her new album which I would say would be her best yet! Good luck on your mission Emily and continue to uplift everyone around! You are a remarkable individual and thank you for comforting my heart.

I'm Digging a Pit

 (Note: This is a really long boring post. I figured I needed to be honest with myself, and please no pity. :) ) 

I think my journal is starting to dislike me. Not that I usually vent out to its pages, but lately venting is all that I can really do. It isn't harsh or harmful teenage venting that one usually sees in society, nor is it any kind of heart-breaking drama. (I'm counting my blessings here.)  Instead, it is me trying to get a grasp on accepting myself for coming in short of expectations. For example:

•  My room is in constant need of being clean. No matter how often I clean or re-organize it always ends up looking like I've been robbed. 
• I have been unable to meet commitments because I'm meeting other commitments. I've had to work the past 2 times when I've supposed to volunteer at the SMOFA, I feel like a flake.
• I need to get started on my online class, P.E. packets, and summer homework. Except I've been gone most of June and haven't had the time to start...
• I haven't touched my viola in a month. I'm doomed.
• My AP scores and just grades in general
• I haven't accomplished most of my summer to-do list- which is depressing since most of those things that I want to do are fun and relaxing and are what I wanted to get done this summer.
• Keeping in touch with friends- sorry everyone about that.
• Not being able to say what I want to say
• Getting photos of my recent festivities to my Grandma Herdman (I'm working on it!)
• I've only read 4 books this summer. PATHETIC. I work 9 hours a week which isn't a whole lot and I usually just waste it away on pinterest. I need to read more. Much more.
• Filling up my poetry and quotes zine- I'm not even close.
• I didn't even try to start a garden...
• Feeling slightly pitiful and sorry for myself, which I am happy to say doesn't last more than an hour. :) 
• I've also been staying up WAY too late for no particular reasons and then I frantically scramble each morning to travel to my volunteering and internship...   
• Being late to a babysitting job BECAUSE I was writing this pathetic post. Yep. 10 minutes late.
• Leaving a pot of boiling water on the stove to evaporate and then have an angry mother call to tell you about it.
• Missing my long hair....

 I should also add to that list that I'm trying not to be too hard on myself, and trying to be optimistic about my AP scores and schedule for next year. For a more positive note I am finally caught up on paying tithing! I feel like such a champ. In psychology we learned that when we plan for future events like summer for instance, we think we'll have more free time so we plan to do things in that free time. Once we actually get to summer we find that we are just as busy in the school year because we planned to do too many things. Some days I wish my pre-frontal cortex was developed and I could reason with my time better. My English teacher, Mrs. Van Orden, said earlier this year that when she was my age she kept thinking about how much free time she would have as an adult. Once she got there she was disappointed that she was more busy than when she was in High School. In a sense I am looking forward to being busy like I am now, in the future. At least I won't be bored. If you've read this far I congratulate you, and if you're still reading this a month after I post this, remind me to delete it- unless I decide to dig a pit and stick myself in it. 

That Kind Of Day

Agenda

Well, I did it. I made another blog showcasing a few of my photos that I've taken over the past few years. I hope that you check it out! It might be cheesy since with every photo I include a quote of some-sort to it. I hope that you'll seek inspiration not only through the photos that you, yourself have taken, but also through the written word. Enjoy!

 - The Littlest Herdman