tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74677950681618230492024-03-13T13:41:00.213-05:00Living and LearningNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-67670801339542131042014-07-05T21:33:00.002-05:002014-07-05T21:33:56.679-05:00Hello Old Friend<center>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's been so long since we've talked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I can't express how much I have missed you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It has been over eleven months since I last wrote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think I lost my spark. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I lost my drive to keep this going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had no inspiration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> But I think more than that I lost myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I couldn't figure out a way to express what I believe or where I am headed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But today, I found my voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And I knew that I had something more to say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was very simple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was getting my nails done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A pretty lavender for my fingers and a neon purple for my toes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had my nose in the book I've recently started reading and I was tuning out the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Until I heard a tone in a woman's voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It sparked my interest because it had so much anger in it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I pulled myself out the words on the page and found the source of the anger. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This woman had been waiting for twenty minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She felt forgotten about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Her daughter was next to her engrossed in her phone unaware of her mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead of simply asking how much longer of a wait it would be, she lashed out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She was making a scene in the middle of nail salon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The poor women working were so overwhelmed, but they offered her some water while she waited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She continued to berate the women working in the salon until finally someone was available to see her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It made me consider a few things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The first was that people need more patience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For me, getting my nails done is a treasured time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is a time when I am not on my phone, but I am focused on myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is an easy confidence booster for me to have my nails nicely painted and for that I am always willing to be patient. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The second was that her daughter was witnessing the way she spoke to the women who were working. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Her impressionable daughter was listening to her mother yell at women for doing their jobs learning from her that the way to get what you want is to make a scene. She is learning that patience is not a valued attribute. Whether she realizes it or not, her daughter is watching her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The third is that the way people treat those who are serving them is very indicative of the kind of person they are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is in no way limited to the nail salon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It can be a waiter, a valet, a mechanic, a salesperson, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I witness this kind of impatience and rudeness, I assume that this is how that person conducts themselves in other settings as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is easy to forget that the people who are serving us in our daily lives are people too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anyways, my point is, that we should all have a little patience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And that inspiration can come in any form, including an impatient woman at a nail salon. </span><br />
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-82161396347569852172013-08-01T09:00:00.000-05:002013-08-01T09:00:02.031-05:00Style Icon<center>
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As a part of my pledge to blog more, I've also decided to write more</center>
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about things I am interested in.</center>
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Such as interior design, fashion, beauty, food, etc.</center>
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Instead of just about my day to day happenings.</center>
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I think it could do me some good to find a bigger purpose for this blog. </center>
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So for today's post, I am going to share with you one of my biggest fashion inspirations.</center>
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Kourtney Kardashian</center>
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Now, say what you want about the Kardashians, I still love their style. </center>
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Their show is entertaining to watch when I have the chance,</center>
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but it's not something I keep up with on the reg. </center>
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However, Kourtney's style is fab. </center>
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I wish I could wake up every morning and be styled like her. </center>
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PS. Can anyone tell me where to find a hat like the one below?? </center>
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Until then, </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-42043124286086302862013-07-30T17:21:00.001-05:002013-07-30T17:21:31.628-05:00BloggingThis blog means the world to me. <div>But as a reader you may not see the love I have for this blog.</div><div>Sometimes I don't know what to say and sometimes I forget my purpose.</div><div>Some days I feel like my life isn't interesting enough to write down on paper.</div><div>But these things don't matter. </div><div><br></div><div>What matters is that this is my space to share the parts of my life that I love the most.</div><div>I've been doing some thinking lately about where I want to take this blog and how I can make it fit in my life. I don't ever want this to feel like an obligation or a hassle. I want to sit down and make the choice to write what I want at my own convenience. </div><div><br></div><div>I've decided to set a goal for myself to blog during the week at my own pace. I want to focus on my content and what messages I'm sending the world about myself through this blog. I want this blog to develop and grow at its own pace and I want to flourish and blossom when the time is right for me a d my life. </div><div><br></div><div>For now all I want is to make a bigger effort to write what's on my heart fairly regularly. I don't want to limit myself too much with this goal because as I said, I don't want this to be an obligation. I want to enjoy every moment of it. I hope that I can achieve this and make some of my other dreams regarding this blog happen. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zR1I8NuXe8c/Ufg8annaYvI/AAAAAAAABFU/Sqvyd_r6a18/s640/blogger-image-1764737832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zR1I8NuXe8c/Ufg8annaYvI/AAAAAAAABFU/Sqvyd_r6a18/s640/blogger-image-1764737832.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Until next time </div><div><br></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-26095055081878274532013-06-07T08:51:00.003-05:002013-06-07T08:51:33.271-05:00Slow Mornings<center>
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Summer mornings should all start this way.</center>
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Waking up slowly with the sun streaming in my window.</center>
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Drifting in and out of sleep until it's finally time to get up.</center>
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Taking my time getting ready and enjoying the process.</center>
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Spending some time reading blogs or watching Netflix.</center>
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All of it is slow and easy.</center>
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It is finally summer.</center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-55342412105053757762013-05-22T08:30:00.000-05:002013-05-22T08:30:00.380-05:00Summer Obsessions<center>
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Summer is here and I have a few obsessions right now.</center>
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I had to share these with you guys because they are my </center>
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absolute favorite part of summer right now.</center>
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Bath & Body Works Candles</div>
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Summer Scarves </div>
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These two are from CWonder and Three Birds Nest on Etsy</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g7x_fA0jMIw/UZvx6ptD4BI/AAAAAAAABEs/RSioIkcJg0Q/s640/Swimsuit+1+.jpg" width="640" /> Victoria's Secret Swimsuits <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J6zVM5Fbo9c/UZvtgNkp7XI/AAAAAAAABD8/5FcO8BwJKEQ/s1600/058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J6zVM5Fbo9c/UZvtgNkp7XI/AAAAAAAABD8/5FcO8BwJKEQ/s640/058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy Wednesday!</center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-47740623064407105542013-03-21T17:23:00.004-05:002013-03-21T17:23:40.835-05:00Art <center>
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As an interior design majors we are forced to take a lot of art classes.</center>
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All of the following a projects I completed last semester.</center>
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In my new art class, we are working on a self reflective piece.</center>
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I mentioned to my teacher that I write this blog and he gave me the idea to run with a visual blog.</center>
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I've been playing around with it a lot. </center>
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It's a hard piece.</center>
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It forces me to dig really deeply into my blog and myself</center>
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to figure out my purpose here.</center>
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I guess in reality it's just an expression of my life and my memories,</center>
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and that's what this piece is going to reflect as well.</center>
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But there is something about my classmates reading these posts that intimidates me.</center>
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I don't mind when complete strangers read my daily thoughts, but when the people</center>
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in my art class have the opportunity to, it sort of terrifies me.</center>
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It's a weird thought that I can express myself so vulnerably to the internet but not </center>
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to people who I see on a daily basis.</center>
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I guess that's kind of the beauty of the internet.</center>
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Anyways, I'm looking forward to sharing the finished product and seeing how it progresses. </center>
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I hope you've had a fabulous Thursday. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-91966785267913087142013-03-20T09:30:00.000-05:002013-03-20T09:30:01.573-05:00Empire State of Mind<center>
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I'm back from the big city and back to real life.</center>
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And I'm a little bittersweet about it. </center>
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First of all, it feels like I never left.</center>
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While I was there, I felt like the week was going slowly.</center>
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It was nice considering that we were doing so much.</center>
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We saw all the big stuff, the empire state building, lincoln center, radio city hall,</center>
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columbus circle, central park, the works you know.</center>
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It was overall a fabulous week.</center>
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We did so much shopping and sight seeing.</center>
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By the end of the week, I was confident enough to navigate myself and </center>
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walk a few blocks alone to get a pastry from a little french bakery.</center>
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I felt like a true New Yorker.</center>
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But I'm going to be real with you.</center>
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This Texas girl can not handle the big city.</center>
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I was overwhelmed by how big it was.</center>
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It was a great place to visit, but it is not a place I ever see myself living.</center>
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It's a place filled with people all crammed together.</center>
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And that's just not my style.</center>
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I can't wait to go back and get another taste of the big apple, but for now,</center>
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I've got my fix and I'm happy with where I'm at. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-75511343670514813602013-03-08T17:39:00.001-06:002013-03-08T17:39:13.909-06:00NYC<center>
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Here's the thing. </div>
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I am so <i>incredibly</i> blessed.</div>
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My family is amazing.</div>
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They support me in all my endeavors.</div>
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They help me reach all of my dreams no matter what they are.</div>
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And because of my amazing family, I have a really cool opportunity this week.</div>
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I am going to <b>New York City</b>.</div>
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And it would not have been possible without the support of my grandparents or my mom.</div>
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<img height="419" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.theworkingworld.org/images/NYSkyline.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="559" /> </div>
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I am going for a class.</div>
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It's a <u>design</u> trip.<br />So we get to see showrooms</div>
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and meet with some of the most well known designers in the city.</div>
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We are going to all the best museums.</div>
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We are having a mixer in Holly Hunts showroom, </div>
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where the furniture costs more than my <i>tuition</i>. </div>
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I am beyond excited to be able to take advantage of this trip class while I am in college.</div>
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Texas Tech has given me so many opportunities that I couldn't have ever dreamed of.</div>
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I absolutely love my life here and</div>
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I am so thrilled that I am able to soak up every moment that comes my way.</div>
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I definitely haven't been living the life of a normal college kid these past few weeks</div>
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and getting to go to NYC for spring break is just another great thing in my life.</div>
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I want to say thank you to my family for always loving me and </div>
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supporting all my undertakings no matter how crazy you may think I am for </div>
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being involved in so many different things.</div>
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Thank you for giving me the life that I have.</div>
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I wouldn't be where I'm at today with you.</div>
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Thank you for paying for me to go this week.</div>
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I can't wait to get back and tell y'all about this little bloggers trip to </div>
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the big city.</div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-14546667737510484202013-02-27T01:15:00.002-06:002013-02-27T01:15:35.758-06:00Things You Should Know About Me if We are Going to be Best Friends<center>
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Hello blog,</center>
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Long time no see.</center>
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In fact, it's been almost two months.</center>
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And that my friends hurts my heart.</center>
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So I'm back.</center>
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Maybe not permanently, but I definitely need my blog in my life.</center>
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It keeps me sane people.</center>
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Speaking of my sanity, I'm going to tell you all the things you should know if we are going to be best friends. I stole this idea from <a href="http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2013/02/things-you-should-know-about-me-if-were-gonna-be-bff.html">Little Miss Momma</a>, so don't go thinking I'm all creative or anything.</center>
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<br />Here goes:</center>
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I am a sunshine person.</center>
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My favorite color changes all the time, but I've been stuck on orange for a while now.</center>
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I crave chocolate ninety percent of the time. </center>
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I like to have a bunch of pillows on my bed, but in the morning they're almost all on the floor.</center>
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I love the smell of gasoline and sharpies (or maybe I just believe in killing brain cells)</center>
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I develop minor obsessions and then forget about them only a few days later</center>
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I dream about traveling the world, but I know I'll most likely stay right here in Texas.</center>
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I have a large fear of birds.</center>
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I drive a truck and I wouldn't trade it for anything.</center>
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I am insanely indecisive</center>
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I believe that easy is overrated</center>
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I have a thing for old fashioned things</center>
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I love drinking tea</center>
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Doing my nails makes me smile, but getting them done makes me feel really special</center>
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I really miss when my hair was long, but I feel like my short hair suits me</center>
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I like to be in control, but I'll rarely admit that out loud</center>
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I really love painting, but I never find the time for it outside of class.</center>
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A clean apartment makes me happy, however the cleaning process overwhelms me. </center>
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I miss the way my life was a year ago, but I really enjoy where I am at right now.</center>
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Sometimes I can be overly competitive, but I don't like to voice it.</center>
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Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week.</center>
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Perfume of choice is Hello by Harvey Prince.</center>
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I don't like to leave my house if my hair and makeup aren't done, although it happens frequently</center>
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The quickest way to my heart is through compliments and coffee.</center>
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And lastly, I'm most comfortable in jeans and a tshirt. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-26924798781973252952013-01-04T09:30:00.000-06:002013-01-04T09:30:04.024-06:00My happiest happy<div style="text-align: center;">
So here's the deal.</div>
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I have a thing for the movie<i> We Bought a Zoo</i>.</div>
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And one of my favorite things (aside from the killer soundtrack)</div>
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is the way they say <b>"your happy"</b></div>
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Instead, of just referring to laughter or a smile,</div>
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it's <i>your happy</i>.</div>
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And I want to adopt that in my life.</div>
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Because I often steal creatively written things from movies and introduce them into my own life.</div>
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You know, on the off chance someone is filming me in my natural habitat, </div>
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I'd like to appear to be generally adorable and lovable, rather than outright crazy.</div>
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Back to business.</div>
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Here's my happiest happy from the past year.</div>
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I look forward to another year of happy.</div>
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And taking ridiculous pictures along the way.</div>
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One of my resolutions is to include more silly.</div>
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Because my life isn't mine without ample amounts of silly.</div>
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And so, here's to looking back on a year of happy.<br /><a href="http://s1153.photobucket.com/albums/p516/aubreykinch/Natalie-%20Living%20Learning%20August%202012/?action=view&current=Signature.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p516/aubreykinch/Natalie-%20Living%20Learning%20August%202012/Signature.png" /></a></div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-56526440973621948912013-01-03T21:58:00.001-06:002013-01-03T21:58:22.757-06:002012<div style="text-align: center;">
So here's the thing.</div>
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I tend to make these plans.</div>
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And then, life decides that my plans aren't right.</div>
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Which is fine.</div>
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<i>(mostly)</i></div>
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I mean, when my plan is</div>
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<b>"Hey, I wanna blog on New Years,"</b></div>
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I thought it would be <u>harmless</u>.</div>
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But then life was like,</div>
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<b>"Oh no, emergency room visits are where it's at on the first day of the year,"</b></div>
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And I mean, I wasn't about to disagree, because I couldn't feel my face.</div>
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Turns out, those sinus infections are pretty brutal when they wanna be.</div>
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Anyway,</div>
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I've been meaning to get around to this whole blog thing.</div>
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It's been three whole days.</div>
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But, you know, I'm not so good with the whole do-things-when-I-say-I-will concept </div>
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<b>But here's how my 2012 went</b>.</div>
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The quick version because no one is really all that interested.</div>
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(don't be that person that lies right now and says you are)</div>
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You see, I started my 2012 in love.</div>
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But then like I said, my plans don't always work out.</div>
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Things ended.</div>
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And I got a taste of heartbreak.</div>
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Like the serious kind, you know, not the "I'm mad for a day or two but then totally cool" kind.</div>
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TV shows don't <i>really </i>portray these things in the right sort of light.</div>
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Anyways, so I went back to school.</div>
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I got busy.</div>
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Like really busy, the kind of busy where you get gray hairs at 19.</div>
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(It's not really always as fun as it sounds)</div>
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And then a really crazy thing happened.</div>
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In the middle of all my busy and my sad and my heartbreak.</div>
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I was happy.</div>
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My life, even though it wasn't where I imagined it would be, is pretty great.</div>
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And my happy is pretty great if you ask me.</div>
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I am starting off this year as the vice president of my sorority.</div>
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I'm really freaking excited about it. </div>
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In a few months, I'm going to NYC.</div>
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I'm taking really awesome classes this semester.</div>
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Things are pretty great if you ask me. </div>
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I'm also really excited about some other things in my life.</div>
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But, for now, those are my happy to keep to myself. </div>
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So as I start 2013, I'm looking back on this year, and wondering why I spent so long</div>
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wondering why things weren't working.</div>
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I mean, my life is pretty awesome.</div>
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Then I realized what I need to do for this year.</div>
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Stop worrying.</div>
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I'm in no hurry.</div>
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I want to enjoy myself.</div>
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I want to have fun.</div>
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I want to be silly again.</div>
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And that's exactly what I plan on doing.</div>
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I hope you all have a splendid year regardless of what your plans are.</div>
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Just be silly and have fun.</div>
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The happy will come when it's ready.</div>
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And like so many of you, I have chosen a word for this coming year.</div>
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Well, techincally two. </div>
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<i>I'm a rule breaker that way</i>. </div>
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These words are: </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Silly and balance.</span></div>
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Both are things I need more of and both are the way to be happy in my book. </div>
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Happy 2013.</div>
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From me and my silly. </div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-35153677520486857782012-12-14T17:11:00.001-06:002012-12-14T17:11:37.431-06:00A heavy heart<center>
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I know I haven't written in a long time.</center>
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It's been longer than I'd ever hoped.</center>
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I had hoped that today's post could come as a celebratory one.</center>
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But instead, I'm writing with a <b>heavy</b> heart.</center>
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I'm writing with a heart in a <i>million</i> pieces.</center>
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Today so many innocent children were taken from the world too soon.</center>
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They woke up like it was any other day.</center>
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But unlike any other day, they will <u>not</u> return home safely.</center>
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They were ripped from this world before they were able to really live.</center>
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May angels lead them in to Heaven.</center>
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They are in God's kingdom.</center>
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And they are at <b>peace</b>.</center>
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The prayers that need to be said are for the families of these innocent angels.</center>
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<i>The ones left behind</i>.</center>
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Because while these precious children's stories ended today, their parent's lives will continue on.</center>
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They have to learn a new reality.</center>
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</center>
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I was sitting at home thinking how it made me so sad that this happened.</center>
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But then I realized I have my voice and I can make a difference.</center>
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I'm calling on all of you to pray and only pray.</center>
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<u><i><b>Please</b></i></u> don't make this political.</center>
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I have my thoughts on guns and they would probably surprise you.</center>
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But I won't share them with you all.</center>
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Because I don't think that these perfect babies lives should be used to achieve some sort of political gain. I believe they should be remembered in a better light than that.</center>
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The amount of gun control posts I have seen breaks my heart.</center>
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That's not what this should be about.</center>
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This day should be about remembering the lives of those who can't live anymore. </center>
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They are home with Jesus and they are at peace.</center>
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Pray for those who are left behind and pray for their peace. </center>
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</center>
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I just finished reading a book called "The Fault in Our Stars".</center>
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And this book was <b>sad</b>, but<i> happy </i>at the same time. </center>
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That's how I believe this day should be.</center>
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Be sad for those families.</center>
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Be sad for the man who killed them.</center>
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Be sad for the children who don't get to grow up.</center>
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But be happy that they are in the hands of God.</center>
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Be happy that you have the future they never get.</center>
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Be happy that your children were not at that school this morning.<br />Be happy that you still have a chance to observe this world.</center>
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</center>
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My favorite line from this book was </center>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Sometimes it seems the universe wants to be noticed"</span></i></center>
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I think this is something we need to take away from today.</center>
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Be happy that you get to notice the beauty that surrounds you.</center>
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<b>The beauty that is life.</b></center>
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The amazing things that lie around you.</center>
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Be happy that you have your life and still get to notice the universe</center>
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because it certainly wants to be seen.</center>
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Say your prayers for these children and their families.</center>
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Say your prayers for the Connecticut community that has to rebuild.</center>
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Say all the prayers you can.</center>
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But please take a moment to thank the universe and</center>
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God for all that you are and the wonderful </center>
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gift that is your life.</center>
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I think the best way we can honor deaths like these, it to take advantage of our lives.</center>
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To truly live and to love with all our hearts.</center>
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Please don't take any moment for granted.</center>
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Soak up all the greatness in your world and remember that in a moment it can all disappear just like it did for the sweet children in Connecticut.</center>
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<br /></center>
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<img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p516/aubreykinch/Natalie-%20Living%20Learning%20August%202012/Signature.png" /></center>
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-17038279044017456402012-11-13T19:51:00.001-06:002012-11-13T20:04:01.340-06:00Dear Blog,<center>
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<i>I'm really sorry</i>.</center>
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I love this outlet in my life more than I probably should.</center>
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But it's taught me more about myself than I ever thought it would.<br />And here I am, neglecting it every day.</center>
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I've had so many great things happen in my life these past weeks that I haven't been writing.</center>
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I mean, I haven't even told you that I'm <i>vice president </i>of my sorority yet. </center>
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What is becoming of us?</center>
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Does blogging not take a priority in my life anymore? </center>
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<br /></center>
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What happens when my life gets too crazy to find the energy to write?</center>
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What happens when my blog gets left behind?</center>
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What happens when I miss out on my writing time?</center>
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I don't like, blog.</center>
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I don't like it at all.</center>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, I hate it</span></b>.</center>
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I miss this place on the internet every day.</center>
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But here's the deal, I'm busy.</center>
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Aren't we all?</center>
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And I'm stressed.</center>
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I'm even going gray.</center>
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I've already found 5 gray hairs.. </center>
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It's an <u>embarrassment</u> at age 19.</center>
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And blogging normal fixes <span style="font-size: small;">all </span>that<span style="font-size: small;"> stress</span> for me.</center>
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But these days, I can't find the energy.</center>
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So my poor space on the internet just sits quietly and waits for me to get around to it.</center>
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</center>
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I promise that soon I'll try harder.</center>
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I promise that I'll start to make an effort.</center>
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I've been making a ton of changes in my life these days and I can't wait to share them.</center>
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I want my blog to grow.</center>
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I want my life to be enriched because of my time spent here.</center>
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And I really and truly think that it will.</center>
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I think that I can make blogging a staple in my life that I won't be able to forget about.</center>
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But for the next three weeks, I have to focus on getting through this semester.</center>
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It has been a rough one.</center>
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And once it's over, blog, you're coming back into my life. </center>
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As for now, just know that I miss you.</center>
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And that I'm looking forward to spending more time with you. </center>
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</center>
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<img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p516/aubreykinch/Natalie-%20Living%20Learning%20August%202012/Signature.png" /></center>
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-20987184208035429722012-10-14T14:10:00.002-05:002012-10-14T14:10:39.708-05:00Last Weekend<center>
Today I'm gonna do a recap.</center>
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Of <i>last</i> weekend.</center>
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So, I'm just a week late.</center>
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It's not a big deal...</center>
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Better late than never, right?</center>
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Last weekend, I finally got to use my birthday present from my friends.</center>
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See, they bought me a ticket to visit them in Austin, TX.</center>
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They all go to UT so it was the perfect gift since I got to see all of them at once.</center>
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I flew out on Friday morning.</center>
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Bright & early at 6:25..</center>
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But it was ok.</center>
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It meant I got to spend more time there.</center>
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<br /></center>
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Friday, they showed me around ATX a little bit, and I hung out at their apartment.</center>
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Then that night, we <b>celebrated</b>.</center>
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One of my best friends just got her <span style="font-size: large;">American citizenship</span>.</center>
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So they threw a red, white, and blue party to celebrate.</center>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5rn9Wxj-m4/UHsLtnygL8I/AAAAAAAAA8c/-5lhARhLjA0/s1600/photo+(30).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5rn9Wxj-m4/UHsLtnygL8I/AAAAAAAAA8c/-5lhARhLjA0/s640/photo+(30).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6bweLb6Id8/UHsLvaV4kHI/AAAAAAAAA8k/zCeazrc4IHk/s1600/photo+(31).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6bweLb6Id8/UHsLvaV4kHI/AAAAAAAAA8k/zCeazrc4IHk/s640/photo+(31).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was so much fun.</center>
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Everything was themed and it was so cute. </center>
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And apparently red, white, and blue, is an easy theme since every single guest was dressed up.</center>
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<br /></center>
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Saturday, we went to breakfast at this cute restaurant on the water. </center>
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And then we saw Pitch Perfect. </center>
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Sunday, I had to leave.</div>
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It was sad since it was such a great weekend</div>
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and I rarely get to see them anymore since I live so far away now,</div>
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but sometimes returning home is the best part of a vacation.</div>
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It's good to get back into the flow of your daily life after a great weekend with best friends.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, until my normal was messed up this week due to an<b> ear infection</b>..</div>
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It kicked my butt this week and I was basically knocked out for two days.</div>
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I am feeling much better now, but I am still not up to par. </div>
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Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be back at 100%. </div>
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Now just to get on top of all the work I missed being sick.. </div>
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Being in Austin last weekend made me realize something.</div>
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As much as I would love to go to school with all of my closest friends and be much closer to home,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am exactly where I am supposed to be.</span></div>
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Austin is a very cool place, but Lubbock feels more like home to me.</div>
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I see myself here and I love every moment of my life here.</div>
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I miss my friends dearly, but I know that my life is working out the way that it is supposed to.</div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-771068279711625032012-10-02T13:33:00.004-05:002012-10-02T13:33:45.452-05:00Does it make me crazy?<center>
Oh, hey, look at me doing a link-up on time.</center>
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That's right.</center>
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I actually have a free moment today.</center>
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Mostly because my class was cancelled.</center>
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Also because I've deemed today a lazy day and </center>
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have yet to get dressed.</center>
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That's a lie. I did make it to Chickfila in less than 6 minutes this morning</center>
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rushing to get me some chicken minis.</center>
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You better believe those were the best chicken minis I've had in a long time. </center>
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<br /></center>
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Ok, before I head of to my next class, I'm gonna tell yall about my crazy.</center>
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And trust me theres plenty of it.</center>
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The link up is called</center>
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"Does that make me crazy?"</center>
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But here's the thing, I already know all of these things make me crazy.</center>
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SO I'm not really asking.</center>
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I'm just telling you. </center>
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<br /></center>
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<a href="http://www.thevintageapple.com/2012/10/does-that-make-me-crazy.html"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Vl0kXYUZZ4/UGigHe7mWNI/AAAAAAAADIM/FNzVbg8ZtNE/s400/crazy.jpg" /></a></center>
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1. I'm afraid of showering if I'm at home alone.</center>
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Hopefully, I don't have to live by myself any time soon because</center>
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I can't handle showering when I'm alone. </center>
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And when I'm in a bathroom with a window.</center>
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<br /></center>
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2. This leads me in to number two.</center>
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Well, I'm also afraid of people watching me while I shower.</center>
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In my bathroom at home, I had a small window and I was convinced people could see me at night.</center>
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Granted, it was on the second story and faced my backyard.</center>
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But we aren't concerned about that, it was obviously a real possibility for someone to see me.</center>
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<br /></center>
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3. Apparently all of these have to do with showering.</center>
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I am deathly afraid that someone will break in and murder me while I'm in the shower.</center>
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I'm mostly not afraid of this at any time but when I'm in the shower.</center>
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And I think it largely has to do with my nakedness while showering.</center>
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I mean, honestly, do you think that you'd be able to defend yourself to your best ability when naked?</center>
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Because I certainly don't.</center>
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<br /></center>
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4. I'm slightly afraid of the sound that vacuums make.</center>
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Take out the slightly, and that would be a true statement.</center>
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I try to avoid vacuuming at all cost, but I also really love when my floors are clean.</center>
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It's a catch 22.</center>
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<br /></center>
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5. I love to take notes.</center>
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But I hate when my handwriting doesn't look good.</center>
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If it doesn't look good, I will never study what I wrote down.</center>
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6. I love the smell of gasoline, leather, and skunks.</center>
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I find them fascinating and I never want the smell to fade.</center>
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Except with skunks, the reason I like it so much is because it's temporary when I walk by.</center>
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And I find it a really interesting smell.</center>
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That's all I'm willing to admit on the blog today.</center>
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Trust me, it's only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to my neurotic tendencies.</center>
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But for now, I'm off to class.</center>
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Which really means, I'm off to go laugh at my teacher for an hour and a half while I eat some skittles.</center>
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They're the same thing if you think about it. </center>
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<a href="http://s1153.photobucket.com/albums/p516/aubreykinch/Natalie-%20Living%20Learning%20August%202012/?action=view&current=Signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p516/aubreykinch/Natalie-%20Living%20Learning%20August%202012/Signature.png" /></a></center>
Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-38926297357610806632012-09-24T09:30:00.000-05:002012-09-24T09:30:00.243-05:00I believe<center>
The other day, my very favorite blogger Erin at Living in Yellow</center>
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did a link up. We all know my abilities to actually</center>
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make it to link up parties are a little lacking. </center>
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So obviously I'm doing it late.</center>
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I think it's become my thing to write my link up post a few days late.</center>
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If only it would be as effective as linking up on time.</center>
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But whateva, whateva.</center>
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It's my blog. I do my own thang.</center>
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<br /></div>
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Onward to the actual point of this post.</div>
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Her link up was called I believe.</div>
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And there are many things I believe.</div>
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Here goes nothin': </div>
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<br /></div>
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I believe in chocolate.<i> Excessive</i> amounts of chocolate.</div>
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I believe in the knowledge that <u>no one</u> can hold you back from your dreams.</div>
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I believe that if you put in the work, big things will come to you.</div>
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I believe in<b><span style="font-size: large;"> laughter</span></b>.</div>
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I believe that a day without a smile is <i>not</i> a day worth having.</div>
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I believe in <b>fresh starts</b>.</div>
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I believe in <span style="font-size: large;">forgiveness</span>.</div>
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I believe in the color <i>yellow</i> and it's abilities to cheer me up.</div>
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I believe in buying cookie dough simply to eat, never to cook.</div>
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I believe in the power of a compliment.</div>
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I believe in skinny vanilla lattes.</div>
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I believe in<i> silliness </i>and dancing like a freak. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-WZmUdY0oc/UF9ZGbVgFVI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/cBhZufNboLE/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-WZmUdY0oc/UF9ZGbVgFVI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/cBhZufNboLE/s640/236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I believe in making silly faces.</div>
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I believe in <b>kindness</b>. </div>
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I believe in nail polish and makeup. </div>
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I believe that happiness is a persons best quality.</div>
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I believe in sunlight.</div>
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I believe in <span style="font-size: large;">confidence</span>. </div>
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I believe in <span style="font-size: large;">family</span>.</div>
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I believe in being trusting even when I have no reason to. </div>
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I believe in honesty.</div>
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I believe in community. </div>
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I believe in <i>Alpha Delta Pi</i>. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dOfG7mlRjs/UF9ak_3RfjI/AAAAAAAAA64/MtdcwI-Q-0w/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dOfG7mlRjs/UF9ak_3RfjI/AAAAAAAAA64/MtdcwI-Q-0w/s640/116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I believe in love.</span></div>
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I believe in holding your head up high and fighting through the pain.</div>
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I believe in new clothes and occasionally shopping.</div>
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I believe in spoiling myself within reason. </div>
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Lastly and most importantly, I believe in<span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus Christ</span> and all He has given me.</div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-34021845048825751422012-09-23T14:29:00.001-05:002012-09-23T14:29:12.855-05:00Lazy Sundays<center>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hewoooo! </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm actually doing a link-up on time today.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get it, Natalie.</span></center>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rN59rLlUn64/UF9iCdn8GQI/AAAAAAAAA7g/indoJ7cklGg/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rN59rLlUn64/UF9iCdn8GQI/AAAAAAAAA7g/indoJ7cklGg/s640/141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also am having a lazy Sunday.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I worked on some homework this morning and now I'm working on some online shopping.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whoops.</span></center>
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Anyways, here's my linkup. </center>
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Aww yeah.</center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;">1. What is something you have wanted to do but are afraid of?</strong>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to skydive. But jumping out of a plane scares the beejuzus out of me.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;">2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?</strong>
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<span style="line-height: 22.351852416992188px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I see myself graduated from college, getting into my career, travelling to new exciting places. </span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.351852416992188px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's weird to think that I'll be 24 in five years.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.351852416992188px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can hardly imagine what this next year will bring let alone the next five.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.351852416992188px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I hope that I will be doing well in my big kid life. </span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;">3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2012?</strong>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't wait to go down to Austin, TX in two weeks and see all of my friends at UT.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am thrilled that I get to see them and I honestly can't wait.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am also really excited for fall to come.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a little taste of it for about a week, but now it's warming back up.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I just order myself a sweater so I'm really excited for colder temperatures.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and seeing my family and friends at home.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am looking forward to Christmas. </span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;">4. What are your hopes for your blog?</strong>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope to see it grow. I hope to continue writing posts that mean something to me. </span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope to find inspiration in my daily life to share on my blog. </span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am looking forward to my future in the blogging community.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;">5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city?</strong>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No. I love Lubbock and I love my school.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But as soon as that diploma is in my hand, I'm getting out.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I hope to move near Houston or Dallas though. </span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.370370864868164px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a Texas girl and I definitely don't want that to change. </span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;">6. What is your morning routine?</strong>
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<span style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not very good at a consistent morning routine.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I usually hit the snooze button at least once.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I get up and brush my teeth.</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I get my hair and makeup done and</span></span></center>
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<span style="line-height: 22.383333206176758px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> occasionally eat breakfast before heading to school.</span><br /></span></center>
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<a href="http://ashleyscarnivalride.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Sunday Social" src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/BlogDesigns/Buttons/SocialSundayButton3.png" /></a>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-19926194774647045432012-09-18T09:00:00.000-05:002012-09-18T09:00:04.011-05:00Me, Myself, & I<center>
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Today we're trying something new people.</div>
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I love trying new things and this is something I've been wanting to do </div>
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the last few months, but my timing is always terrible.</div>
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So here we go: </div>
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This months Me, Myself and I</div>
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<b>1) When you're feeling down, what do you do to pick yourself up?</b></div>
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This is <i>really</i> bad for the environment so Earth please don't hate me,</div>
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but it's honestly one of the few things that can cheer me up. </div>
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I get in my truck,</div>
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I roll the windows down (granted it's not raining or a billion degrees),</div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"> I play my favorite music as loud as I can and </span><span style="font-size: large;">I drive</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">I drive for as long as it takes until I can smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">I drive sometimes too fast or sometimes too slow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">It all depends on what is upsetting me at that moment.</span><br />
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I especially like driving until I get lost.</div>
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Finding my way home takes my mind off of whatever it is that is stressing me out.</div>
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When I can't drive, I generally try and focus on something that is happy or funny</div>
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until I can't remember why I was feeling upset in the first place.</div>
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<b>2) If you had to live in a different time period which would you prefer?</b></div>
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The 1920s, I think.<br />
I have a real love for the Great Gatsby and<br />
sometimes I like to dream about what my life would be like if I were Daisy.<br />
Although I wouldn't be too fond of that whole market crash in '29 thing.<br />
If it couldn't be the 20s I think I would like to live in the 50s.<br />
Things seemed simpler then than they are now and I like that.<br />
As much as I try, I can't seem to keep my life simple, but it seems like<br />
things were easier then and I think I'd like to be a part of that.<br />
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<b>3) What is the most creative Halloween costume you've ever worn?</b></div>
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This is a hard one..<br />
I was pretty standard things as kid.<br />
Ya know, a witch, a pumpkin, etc.<br />
I honestly don't know what my most creative costume was.<br />
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<b>4) Five weird things about you we wouldn't know without being told?</b></div>
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1. I can't do the number three on my right hand.</div>
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It's really weird. I can do all the other numbers</div>
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but when I try and make a three my hand turns into</div>
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a dinoraptor claw.</div>
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2. I like to buy cookie dough to eat rather than to make cookies.</div>
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I find it's way more fun to do it that way.</div>
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In fact, I have some in the fridge that is calling my name.</div>
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3. I get really excited about getting emails.</div>
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I really love when I have more than 15 in my inbox at a time.</div>
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It makes me super happy to see the numbers pop up even if it is all junk mail.</div>
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4. I love typing.</div>
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I used to play typing games for fun because I liked to beat my score.</div>
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I also try and type as fast as I can all the time.</div>
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I don't like to type slowly and it makes me cringe when people can't type correctly.</div>
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When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a secretary.</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I think it </span><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">stemmed</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> from my love of typing and my </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">strange infatuation with school and office supplies.</span></span><br />
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5. I have a slight fear of feet.</div>
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However, it's gotten much better lately.<br />I don't get squirmy looking at them.</div>
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I only get squirmy when the get near me.</div>
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I also only have real problems with select peoples feet.</div>
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<b>5) What would you tell your 16-year-old self?</b><br />
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The next three years are going to be harder than you know.<br />
But don't worry, there's a ton of good that's mixed in with the bad.<br />
Remember to tell everyone who means something to you that they matter<br />
and that you wouldn't be the same without them in your life.<br />
Don't let the world get you down.<br />
Keep the smile that you constantly have now because soon there will<br />
be days you don't know that you have it.<br />
Don't ever base your thoughts of yourself on the opinion of someone who <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">doesn't matter.</span><br />
No matter what, don't forget to be kind.<br />
Remember that everyone you meet has a different story<br />
and that they may be fighting battles you can't even imagine.<br />
Have heart and be strong. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">You can make it through.</span><br />
And I promise that we turn out pretty good after all of it.<br />
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-59393106817287238592012-09-17T09:00:00.001-05:002012-09-17T09:00:11.646-05:00Change<center>
I had a post scheduled for today.</center>
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But then a few things made me change my mind.<br />The first was that it was too close to my heart and I was scared.</center>
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The second is that it was about my dad and I was scared that by some</center>
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odd chance he might see what I had written.</center>
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The third is that something changed my mind.</center>
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That something is what I'm going to write about instead.</center>
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When did life make me <b>bitter</b>?<br />When did I stop supporting people trying new things just because I do them?</center>
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Am I <u>really</u> that girl?</center>
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<b>If I am, then I am sorry</b>. </center>
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When did I start looking a task and viewing it as something I can <i>fail</i> at,</center>
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rather than something I can <i>succeed </i>at?</center>
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What happened to make me start seeing everything in a negative way?</center>
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I used to be so positive.</center>
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I always was willing to try.</center>
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I never wanted to hurt someone.</center>
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I guess that life threw a lot at me these past few years.</center>
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I didn't always handle it in the best way.</center>
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I let it get the best of me.</center>
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<br /></center>
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And I am not ok with any of that.</center>
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</center>
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I am not ok with being the negative person that I have been.</center>
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And today that's going to change.</center>
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I am going to keep my head held high and be the person that I know</center>
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I am regardless of the actions or words of other people.</center>
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I will be better for me and for the people around me.</center>
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Because I want to lead a positive, happy life.</center>
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</center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-29950499232710051412012-09-12T09:00:00.000-05:002012-09-12T09:00:02.323-05:00Balance & Focus<center>
My two strongest qualities... </center>
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{Keep reading.. you'll understand}</center>
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</center>
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You know that saying:</center>
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<i>"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"</i></center>
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I'm starting to think it's true.</center>
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Because here's the thing.</center>
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For the past few months, I've had an individual trying to become me.</center>
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I mean let's be honest..</center>
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Who doesn't want to be like this?</center>
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Anyways,</center>
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I think it's a <i>little</i> weird.</center>
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Especially considering what I'm assuming their reasons are behind it. </center>
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But I'm choosing to be flattered by it. </center>
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I guess it means I'm sort of awesome if someone wants to </center>
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be exactly like me in every way..</center>
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Or maybe they're a little deranged.</center>
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It's whatever.</center>
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As long as it doesn't directly affect my life, I'm not complain'.</center>
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</center>
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In other news, this whole school getting in the way of blogging is not ok with me.</center>
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I need some balance in my life.</center>
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My schedule hasn't been the same since I got back to Lubbock.</center>
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It's <u>killing</u> me.</center>
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I just want a <span style="font-size: large;">normal</span>.</center>
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But I'm starting to think that maybe chaos is my normal.</center>
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After all, I did sort of make it this way, didn't I?</center>
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I'm definitely supposed to be writing a paper right now, or rather, researching for a paper right now.</center>
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<b>But all I want to do is blog.</b></center>
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I love writing more than anything, but writing a paper about "the research process" is a little mundane and boring. I just want to write about something interesting.</center>
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Like ya know, how to find balance.. </center>
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Riveting people. </center>
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</center>
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Fun fact, my major coming into college was Journalism.</center>
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I think I could have been pretty great at it.</center>
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But then there's the problem of I only want to write about what I want when I want. </center>
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So the whole deadline/structure thing doesn't really float my boat.</center>
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So naturally, I switched my major to something that's nothing but deadlines and structure.</center>
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If you can figure out what I was thinking there, lemme know. </center>
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</center>
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But really, I love Interior Design.</center>
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I just drew out my floor plan for a project a few moments ago and </center>
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every time I just want to see it all built even though I know that won't happen. </center>
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Which brings me back to my point, how does writing a paper over how to find </center>
<center>
the information over a building help me build houses or hospitals or whatever else I choose?</center>
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I mean, yes, it's helpful.</center>
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But I already know how..</center>
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Why do I have to bore my TA with a four page paper about how I googled a building, looked it up in a book, and asked the librarian a question?</center>
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I think I could save us both some time if I just didn't do it.</center>
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Although, let's be real. <br />I can't do that.</center>
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I care far to much about my grades.</center>
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And with my goal of getting another 4.0, I really don't think failing an assignment is a good start. </center>
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</center>
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I hope my TA is prepared for a paper along the lines of</center>
<center>
</center>
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"I spent a few hours on Pinterest and then decided it may be time to research, I googled, then went back to Pinterest" I mean... Four pages of that.</center>
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Who wouldn't want to read it? </center>
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</center>
<center>
I think the original point of this nonsense was the fact that I need some balance.</center>
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I'd love to tell you more, but I'm already late for my meeting...</center>
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Until next time </center>
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</center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-72668335046947756532012-09-11T08:42:00.001-05:002012-09-11T08:42:11.419-05:00nine-eleven<center>
<i>"Where were you when the world stopped turning?" ~ Alan Jackson</i></center>
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<i><br /></i></center>
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I was in third grade.</center>
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I was probably playing sparkle spell in order to learn my spelling words for the week.</center>
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My teacher held her composure.</center>
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None of us knew.</center>
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Until I got to extended day care after school.</center>
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And a fourth grader told me that two planes crashed into a building.</center>
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I had the natural response of a third grader.</center>
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I said she was a liar.</center>
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I told her that she was stupid and that planes couldn't do that.</center>
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<i>Why would they mess up that bad?</i></center>
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<br /></center>
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I didn't understand.</center>
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I don't think many of us did.</center>
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Until my dad picked me up.</center>
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He immediately took me to a restaurant.</center>
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I knew something was strange.</center>
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We didn't eat out on school nights.</center>
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And we especially didn't go straight there from school.</center>
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I was even more suspicious when my mom was at the restaurant meeting us.</center>
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At this time, she <u>never</u> came home from work this early.</center>
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I couldn't understand.</center>
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Until I looked at the TV.</center>
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<b>And saw a building on fire crumbling to the ground.</b></center>
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And then she told me she had been sent home early.</center>
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At the time, she worked in one of the tallest buildings in downtown Houston and no one knew what was going to happen next.</center>
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<br /></center>
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Looking back on this, I remember feeling confused.</center>
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But I never understood.</center>
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It didn't register to my 8 year old self that there were people, just like my mom,</center>
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in that building when it was hit.</center>
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Some third grader in New York that day, just like me, lost their mom or their dad.</center>
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Some mother lost her husband or her child.</center>
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<i>It didn't make sense that people died that day.</i></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't understand.</span></center>
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<br /></center>
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I've been thinking a lot lately about the sacrifice all those people made for us.</center>
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The firefighters, police officers, EMTs. </center>
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The innocent people.</center>
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Forty years from now, will we remember?</center>
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I mean, Pearl Harbor happened and was tragic.</center>
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Can people my age tell you the date?</center>
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Can they tell you how many soldiers lost their lives?</center>
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How can we expect all those kids who weren't there or were too young to understand</center>
<center>
to grasp and remember the sacrifice that was made for our country?</center>
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<br /></center>
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I hope we can figure out a way to make it stick.</center>
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I hope that forty or fifty years from now people still stop</center>
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and remember the men and women who lost their lives because </center>
<center>
a plane crashed through their building.</center>
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I hope we can consider this loss to our country when we are at war with another.</center>
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Do we want to cause innocent people to lose their lives the way our citizens did?</center>
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I hope the answer to that is no.</center>
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I hope we can use 9/11 as a force to change the world.</center>
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But, if nothing else, I hope we <b>never forget</b> the people we lost that day.</center>
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And the hurt our country felt. </center>
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<br /></center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-88312269749249870192012-09-06T16:55:00.002-05:002012-09-06T16:55:27.844-05:00Labor Day Plus a Few More Days<center>
This semester is going to be a <b>crazy</b> one.</center>
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I can't even tell you how busy I've been and I've only been in school for two weeks.</center>
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But thankfully, it's now my weekend.</center>
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The perks of no class on Fridays are awesome. </center>
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However, it makes the rest of the week a little crazy.</center>
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Anyways, this is my labor day post.</center>
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A week too late.</center>
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<br /></center>
<center>
Well my grandparents are turning 70 in November.<br />And being the large party people that they are,</center>
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they obviously threw themselves a party.</center>
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Ya know, kegs, hundreds of strangers, the whole nine yards.</center>
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It was a rager. </center>
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Kidding.</center>
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There were only maybe 20 strangers. </center>
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It was a low key event. </center>
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In all seriousness though, they had a party.</center>
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A classy event though.</center>
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I'm fairly certain there wasn't a keg.</center>
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My mom may have snuck in liquor but I'm pretty sure she's been doing that since she was 17</center>
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so it was nothing new. </center>
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Ok, really now.</center>
<center>
<u>One hundred percent serious</u>.</center>
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It was a great party.</center>
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They threw it up in the Taos ski valley.</center>
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My friend Jackie came with me and made a road trip out of it.
</center>
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They brought in their favorite band.</center>
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All of their closest friends came.</center>
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It was fabulous. </center>
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{there were no drunk people}</center>
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Story over.</center>
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Cue picture explosion. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-34661362380332229032012-08-27T15:07:00.000-05:002012-08-27T15:07:49.544-05:00First Days <center>
Hola. </center>
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Today is one of my very favorite days in the year.</center>
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It goes Christmas, my birthday, Thanksgiving, and then</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the first day of school. </span></center>
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I guess it's just a part of who I am,</center>
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but I have seriously always loved school. </center>
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<br /></center>
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I love buying supplies.</center>
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It's a bit of an addiction..</center>
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I love reading.</center>
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I love studying.</center>
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I even sometimes love homework.</center>
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I'm excited for all of my projects.</center>
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And I really can't wait to get into the swing of my schedule.</center>
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Except my days are really long and I don't think I have</center>
<center>
any breaks for lunch most days.</center>
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So i'll be a little grumpy.</center>
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But I'm so excited that I'm back in classes.</center>
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<br /></center>
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I am a little apprehensive about this semester because I am taking </center>
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some classes with huge work loads. </center>
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But I think I can manage it.</center>
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At least I better be able to.</center>
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<br /></center>
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I hope all you had an excellent Monday.</center>
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I definitely did. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-85334018076527440712012-08-22T17:04:00.003-05:002012-08-22T17:04:28.123-05:00Parking Ciations<center style="text-align: left;">
Welp.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I got my first ticket today.</span></center>
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<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It was a parking citation.</center>
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And I'm not pleased.</center>
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I've never been pulled over and I am a very safe driver.</center>
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And I'm not happy about the fact that I got a parking ticket.</center>
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The irony of all of it was that I was parked as a visitor {assuming I was a visitor since I no longer live on campus..} because I was trying to pay my tuition. </center>
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Well, according to Texas Tech, I am not a visitor. </center>
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So on top of <u>all</u> of my tuition money Tech got from me today {and it was a pretty large amount},</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
the university parking services stole another twenty five bucks. Those <i>jerks</i>. </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It was a <i>rough</i> morning.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
But I also found out that I have a really cool opportunity next week.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Which made it an awesome morning. </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It also could have been the large cup of coffee that made it seem extra awesome.. we'll never know.</center>
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I don't want to say too much about it in the fear that I may jinx myself.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
So if it all works out, you better believe I'll share my news, but I don't want to be overly excited only to have my heart break if it doesn't happen. </center>
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<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Lastly, I want an <b>Oxford Polo shirt</b>.</center>
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My sisters wore them for recruitment with white jeans and I thought they were absolutely presh.</center>
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So naturally after my rough morning, I wanted to feel better. </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I decided I was gonna buy myself one. </center>
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I drove on over to the mall.</center>
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Walked around the store for like 30 minutes.</center>
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Uhh.. where do they hide these things?</center>
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Do they not make them for women?</center>
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Are all of my sisters just secretly wearing mens shirts?</center>
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What is this?! </center>
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<br /></center>
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Needless to say, I didn't find one.</center>
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I did however find a real cute green shirt.</center>
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I bought it. </center>
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I'm a little confused as to when I started to actually enjoy shopping, but, hey, I'm not complaining. </center>
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So if ya know where to get one,<b> hook a girl up</b>. </center>
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Because I've wanted one for ages.</center>
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And then seeing how adorable they looked, I just wanted one even more.</center>
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<br /></center>
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As always, thanks for reading my ramblings. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467795068161823049.post-71101645762704242552012-08-21T14:49:00.000-05:002012-08-21T14:49:29.887-05:00Recruitment <center style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Recruitment.</span></center>
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It's one of those words that <i>seems</i> harmless.</center>
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But it's not.</center>
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This word has been stealing my sleep.</center>
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And I'm not happy about it.</center>
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Actually, that's a lie.</center>
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I'm<b> thrilled</b> about it.</center>
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Recruitment means that my sorority is about to get a bunch of brand new faces. </center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We get new sisters.</span> </center>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_5FmhdOy18/UDPkUDhNoWI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ChL4n-ROHnc/s1600/530229_10151190180834258_757933958_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_5FmhdOy18/UDPkUDhNoWI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ChL4n-ROHnc/s640/530229_10151190180834258_757933958_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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{sorry it's so blurry}</center>
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That means this picture is about to get a whole lot bigger.</center>
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I can't wait to get to know all of our new members at the end of this week. </center>
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It's such a cool experience.</center>
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I've been on the decorating side of it.</center>
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It means I don't actually talk to anyone. Me and a few other sisters have been painting and making our house look beautiful! </center>
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I absolutely love it. </center>
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I guess it's the fact that I actually get to put all the things I've been studying as an Interior Design major to use. </center>
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The only part I dislike is having to stay up super late to change all the decorations at the end of each day. But other than that, it's been <b>fabulous</b>.</center>
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As much as I've loved decorating the house this week, I think that next year I definitely want to get to talk to the girls coming through the house each day.</center>
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I love meeting new people and I feel like I'd really enjoy it.</center>
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Were/are any of you in a sorority? </center>
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Did you enjoy this process or did you dread it?</center>
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I hope that it was something you treasured. As tiring as it is, it's definitely going to be so rewarding on Friday when we receive a group of wonderful new girls. </center>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00247816938786429738noreply@blogger.com0