You Are Talented

Whether you believe it or not, you are talented. Everyone is talented in some way, but whether they choose to actually use those skills, or even recognize them as a talent, is up to them. We all have a skill at something, whether it be an athletic, creative, performing, academic, social, or any other skill. Being good at a certain video game or even having great organizational skills can be considered a talent or skill. We may not all have the crazy amazing skills that people that go on shows such as America's Got Talent or other talent related shows on TV, but we all have something we are good at, and we should most certainly be proud of these skills and use them the best we can. Some talents can really benefit ourselves and others in some way. We may even be able to use these skills to land a job or make money. Some skills may be purely for leisure, but that certainly doesn't make them not important, or that they couldn't be productive!

Think about it; think of something that you typically do better in than your friends or family, or something that they don't do at all. Perhaps you do really well with art, and you are really good at drawing or painting. Maybe you do very well in a sport and the team knows that you could lead them to victory. Maybe you do better in a certain subject in school than most of your classmates, and maybe they come to you for help with that class, or with staying organized. You might be a great writer, and you are great with poetry or story telling. Perhaps you find that you get many compliments on you're hair, outfit, or make-up and your good with style. You might even be great with people, public speaking, or with giving advice. You might even be good at signing, acting, or playing a musical instrument. Maybe you have great strategy when playing video games, and your good at finding hidden things within the game. Whatever it may be, when you think of it, you most likely do better in something than most people around you.

I personally find that most my skills are creative type of skills such as writing, story telling, drawing, and even graphic art. I also find that I am pretty good with public speaking, and even a bit of acting. I also found that through playing The Sims 3 that I am good with interior design and creating nice looking homes and rooms. I'm also really good with style related things and putting looks together, and even making cheap products work sometimes. But for the longest time I didn't see these as being all that special, or even as talents or skills. I just saw them as things that I did naturally and liked to do. Just because they weren't a skill I could take on a show like America's Got Talent or even into the school talent show. Nor could I be the star of a high school sports team, I probably couldn't even make the team with my poor athletic skills. LOL! However, over time I found that while there will always be people that are better than me at sports, singing, or stand up comedy, that I have a skill that not everyone has. Sure there will always be people who are even better at what I do than me, but rather then comparing myself to them, it should give me something to strive for.

Whatever your skill is, or what your good at, I suggest trying to find a way to put your talents to good use. Whether it be in a way to benefit others, or to benefit yourself through making money or pure enjoyment. If you are good at art, use your art skills as much as you can and use it as a way to express yourself, and even decorate your room with your own artwork. You could even sell your work if you wish and make a little extra cash, or enter it in an art show, but that is completely optional. If you like art I may also suggest taking an art class. If your school has any classes or activities that relate to your skills or interests, I would suggest signing up for them so that you could use your skills in new ways, and meet people who have the same interests. This is a great way to make potential new friends, while working on your special skills. Or if you prefer, you can choose to these things just for yourself and take it up as a hobby and a pass time. As long as you are using your skills in a way that doesn't harm yourself or others, then go for it! If you enjoy doing something, you may even want to consider going to school for it and trying to make it into a career. 

The internet is a great place to put your talents and skills to use. If you like to write, you could start a blog and post anything you wish whether it be a beauty and lifestyle blog like mine, your take on news stories, or even your own fictional stories or poetry. Blogs are a great, free way, of publishing your work. You can also use blogs to show off your artwork or photography! YouTube is also a great way of sharing your talents, skills, and creativity with the world. Make tutorials on something you like to do whether it be beauty, DIY's, computer stuff, or anything you like. If you are a gamer you could make Let's Plays and show people new ways to play the game. If you're into science you could post videos of your experiments. If you like to sing you could post singing videos. If you like to create story lines or act, you could act on skits and put them on YouTube. You never know how far posting something online could take you. And even if you don't make it big time, your blogs or videos may just help someone out, inspire others, or really make someone's day. Plus it gives you a way to express yourself!

NEVER let ANYONE tell you that your talents are talents, or that your skills aren't important. If it makes you happy, and it's important to you, that's all that should matter. I personally have been told by some members of my family, that writing and blogging aren't important or that it's not an important skill. They feel that if I'm not making money off of it, it's not certified by a degree, or something like what you can find on the talent shows on TV, that it's not important or relevant. That is most certainly not true, but it can be a major let down when people don't support you. There will also always be people who will try to bring you down in any way by trying to tell you that you aren't good at what you do, or that anyone could do that. I find that a lot of times that hate comments come from jealousy. Or people who say that what you do is really easy or irrelevant typically don't do it themselves, so who are they to judge on it? If it's important to you, and you believe in yourself, than that's all that matters. If it makes you happy, go for it!

Believe in yourself. Never let anyone tell you are anything less then what you are, or that you aren't capable of the best. If you are dedicated to something, and you have passion, you will find joy in what you are doing. Just whatever you do.. never let a great skill that you have go to waste. 

What are you talented at? 

Getting In Touch With Your Inner Child

Like any other young adult, (wait.. I'm an adult? WHAT?!) I enjoy things that well, teens and young adult women like. I enjoy playing with make-up, fashion, social networking, shopping, reading books without pictures, and having more grown up conversations with people. The teen and young adult years certainly have its perks. But sometimes I swear that I'm 19 going on 9. I have so many childish wants and desires, and sometimes I just can't stop myself from acting like I'm 8-years-old. For example, at post-prom I jumped into the ball pit and played on the playground like I did when I was little. I just couldn't help myself... especially when everyone else starting doing the same. The little kid in me just came running right out, LOL!

While on any other day, the place we went to for post-prom wouldn't have even let me into the playground area, there is certainly nothing wrong with getting in touch with your inner child. You don't have to play on the playground or jump into the ball pit to enjoy a little bit of the fun you had when you were young. Although if you get the chance, go for it! Who cares about all those stares? YOLO!  Chances are, those people wan to do the same thing. However, the chances that some places let you onto there playground when your older are really rare. So how can you get in touch with your inner child? 

For me the best way to get in touch with my inner child, without crawling through tunnels on the playground and taking the slide into the ball pit, is to get into some of the simpler things I liked when I was little. Watching old TV shows and movies I loved, reading old books, playing old video games, and even listening to old music. Theres something calming about getting into those things again to me, and I often like picking up on things that I didn't get when I was younger within those old books or TV shows. It gives you a new perspective on it, and it helps you to understand it more and even see more humor in it. Sure it's not the same feeling that you had when you were a little kid watching or reading it, but it is still fun to get away from the serious shows and books sometimes. 

I personally love to tune into channels like NickTOONS or TEENick to watch those shows I loved to watch when I was growing up. NickTOONS shows all of the old cartoons such as Rugrats, Hey Arnold, The Wild Thornberries, Rocket Power, Doug, and so many more! They even show those mini-shows that they used to show during commercials. TEENick has shows such as Zoey 101, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, Drake and Josh, and others. I love the feeling that I get when I watch these old shows. If you don't have these channels you can always try to find these shows online. You may have to look a bit, but you can find full episodes of so many shows on YouTube. 

It's also fun to go through the collection of kids movies that my family still have on DVD or even VHS, and watch the ones I used to love to watch almost daily. I used to be obsessed with the movie (and book) version of Peter Rabbit when I was little, along with Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and the classics such as Snow White and The Lion King. It may take me a moment to remember how to use the VHS player, but it's always enjoyable to watch those old movies. Plus an old movie night sounds like the perfect idea for a night in with friends. I mean, who doesn't love those classic disney movies they grew up with? 

Probably my favorite way to get in touch with my inner child is to read the books I loved in elementary school. Whether it be the books that had only one sentence per page, then a bunch of colorful pictures, or chapter books like the Junie B. Jones series, it's fun to read those old books again. I also like to laugh at how it once took me a week or so to get through a Junie B. Jones book back in 1st or second grade, when I can now read half the whole series in one day.  I also pick up more on the vocabulary used sometimes, and other characters point of view, and how adorable the characters really are! 

There are really so many ways you can get in touch with your inner child. In addition to old shows, movies, and books, I occasionally play those old video games I loved when I was little. If you still have a working GameCube or PlayStation, or even a GameBoy and some old games, take it out and play for a bit! You might find some of the games easier now then you did then, or maybe just as challenging. You may even find them harder if you're way out of practice! I also like to look up some of the old songs I loved when I was younger. I'll often look up songs that I loved from elementary school and middle school, and listen to old movie soundtracks that I have on CD. Listening to music can really take you back sometimes... And it's a nice feeling. 

We all have that little kid inside of us, no matter how much we try to deny it at times. While we may not be able to play like kids again, there is certainly nothing wrong with setting that inner child free once in a while. Look back to those old things you enjoyed during your childhood sometimes. In fact, it may just be the perfect way to brighten a rough day. Don't be afraid to do some of those simple things again once in a while. It truly does bring back that special feeling. 

What do you like to do to get in touch with your inner child?

*Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with or being paid or promoted by any companies or networks mentioned in this post. 

Get Outside And Enjoy The Nice Day!

While I do enjoy spending time outside on a nice day, I am guilty of spending a nice day cooped up in my room. It could be 70 degrees and sunny, and I'll be sitting behind my computer, staying inside as if it's 35 degrees with an icey rain. And what excuse do I have to stay inside on a nice day? I'm not a vampire, so I don't think a little sun will kill me, LOL. The only excuse I have is my constant need to be on the computer so that I can browse the web and play computer games all day. Things that I can do anytime, regardless of the weather. I always complain when the weather isn't warm, or when it snows or rains. So I should enjoy the days of lovely weather by getting outside and actually enjoying the weather, instead of looking at it from my window. 

For spring break, I had a nice idea of things that I could do outside to enjoy my time off school, had the weather been nice. But knowing the weather wasn't going to be nice I also had to come up things I could do inside. Now that the weather is starting to get nicer, I still find myself doing more stuff inside than outside. It doesn't have to be spring break, or even a weekend for the matter, to enjoy a nice day outside. Once you get your homework done, you can go for walk to the park, or you could even do your homework outside and get some fresh air! As long as the weather is nice, it's always a good time to spend some time outside. 

I myself know that getting on Twitter to check the latest trends and posting to tumblr can wait a little bit. You can always take your laptop outside, or bring your phone with you, and surely it wouldn't hurt to make a quick check or take a picture of the nice day, but honestly it would be better to keep technology use down to a minimum sometimes. It's nice to get away from the stresses that social media can sometimes bring for a bit. All of the things you enjoy about the internet will be there whenever, but the weather may not be here to stay. It could be 75 degrees and sunny one day, than 40 degrees and rainy the next. 

There are so many ways to enjoy a nice spring day without spending any money, or wandering too far from home. Go to a nearby park with some friends, bring some snacks, and just chat. Or even go by yourself and bring a book to read. Go to a spring sporting event and cheer on your team. This may have a small fee, but it shouldn't be too much, some schools may even let you into spring sporting events free. If you like to be active you could even gather some friends and play some backyard sports outside. You can even do your workout routine outside, and even add going for a walk or jog. If you have a dog you can walk the dog and play fetch. But even just sitting outside, relaxing, and doing nothing is certainly better than sitting indoors all day. No matter what you choose to do, you're still getting some fresh air and enjoying the weather. Get off the computer for a bit, grab a bottle of water (gotta stay hydrated), and go enjoy the day! :)

What is your favorite thing to do outside on a nice day?

No Plans For Spring Break?

Over the last couple weeks, it seems like all I've heard people talking about were their big plans for spring break. So many people are going on a big vacation, going out of state, and doing awesome fun thing. But me? I'm stuck in my tiny home town for spring break, as I have always been. Surely it's not the most exciting thing in the world, but then again it doesn't have to be the worst thing in the world either. I mean it is a full week without the stresses of school! Surely a week of doing nothing is better than waking up early and sitting in class, LOL! I'll most likely use my spring break to catch up on my blog posts, and play The Sims 3: University Life, and maybe go for a walk, weather permitting. And of course there's always going to be something within a couple of miles to do outside the house. 

If you don't want to spend your whole spring break cooped up in your room behind your computer, and you should try to get outside at least once or twice during spring break if the weather stays nice, you can always go for a little walk or jog around the neighborhood. Perhaps you can even walk to a local park, bring some friends and chat and have a picnic, or maybe even get active and shoot some hoops or play some soccer. If your friends are away on vacation, you can always go alone and bring a good book to read while getting some fresh air. If you aren't up for going for a walk, or don't live in an area with many sidewalks, you can enjoy the fresh air by simply stepping into the backyard. Get a nice cold drink, yummy snack, a good book, and get out a lawn chair. You can even sit outside and browse the web from your phone, or laptop if your WiFi reaches outside. Just get outside, don't stay indoors the whole time. :)

If you have a little cash, and a way to get there, go do something fun in the nearby area. Even if it's an everyday typical kind of activity, it's always more fun then sitting at home. Grab a bite to eat, or even go to the mall and look around. Maybe even check out a local shop you never thought to check go to, you never know what you might find! Grab some friends and go see that movie you've been wanting to see. Go to your favorite restaurant   or even try out a new one. If you have any beaches nearby, go spend some time there, or you could spend time at your local recreation center. Many recreation centers have many swimming pools, gyms, and workout equipment to keep you entertained and active for a while for a low price. It may not be a trip to Disney World or to the Bahamas, but it's still something fun to do.

Here's My Spring Break Right  Here :P

If you don't really have any money, or a car to get to the mall or anywhere else, or if you aren't much of an outdoors person... or if the weather stinks (and judging by this week, I'm a bit nervous for next week, as I was writing this my school called a two-hour delay, LOL!), there's always some things you can do indoors. I'm personally a gamer, and I love to spend my days off playing The Sims 3, with all of my expansion packs. If you have a Wii or Xbox, there are a ton of games you can play to get active as well. Just Dance is a fun and amazing way to get some exercise. It's fun to play alone or with friends! I also like to spend my breaks browsing the web and reading blog posts... Stuff I typically would do everyday, but I love it so much! :) You could also find a couple movies and spend a whole day watching movies. Mix in some childhood favorites with movies you enjoy now. If you feel the need to be productive you can also do a little bit of spring cleaning. 

Whether you are going on vacation, or staying home, spring break is always great. Perhaps you have a job and this a great time to get in some extra hours and make a little more money. Or it's just a great time to unwind and relax without worrying about school. It's a week to stay up late and sleep in. Just be careful not to mess up your sleep schedule to much, it's only one week. And it's easier to get out of good sleeping habits then it is to get back into them, and you only have a week. Plus you don't wanna sleep away your whole spring break! Do some thing you wouldn't normally have the time for, or spend more time doing them. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy your spring break. It's the last big break until summer vacation. For me, it's the last break at all until graduation. But after spring break, there's only 1 more quarter left and we're done. :)

What are you doing for spring break this year? :)

Snow Day!!

Today I ventured out into terrible, nasty weather to find out my school was on a 2 hour delay once I got to school. I admit that I was a bit ticked that I walked to school just to have to walk back home, then back to school in 2 hours. My own fault for not checking the school closings before I left, but there wasn't any snow on the ground. It was still nice to know that the school day was shortened, even though I spent part of my delay walking to school and back home. My 3 day week had just become a 2 and a half-- wait no, a 2 day week!! Shortly after I got home school was cancelled for the day. SNOW DAY! Or more like... freezing rain day, but hey any day off school is a good day. My first snow day since my sophomore year!

The first thing I did was grabbed some hot chocolate, and watched the local news to make sure I was seeing this right, my school called a snow day, LOL! As I sat there drinking my favorite cold day treat, I kept thinking of all the things you can do with this extra day off school. And before I went back to bed, I had a pretty good list of ideas of things you could do after waking up from some much needed extra sleep. 

Snow days are the perfect opportunity to get some things done. Use the extra day off to get organized. Clean your room, or reorganize your school stuff, get all of your school things in order. You could even use the day to reorganize something in your room that you feel could work a little bit better. Freshen the place up, get some dusting done, wash your bedding, and vacuum the floor. You could even rearrange your room a bit, and get a little change of environment. Sometimes moving just one piece of furniture can make a huge difference. Perhaps you might want to use it as an extra day to study for a big test, or work on a big project. Whatever you feel you need to get done, you have an extra day to get started on it.

Of course... snow days don't have to be used productively, and are also the perfect opportunity to take a lazy day. Get some extra sleep, and spend the day in your pajamas. Watch some TV, browse the web, or play some computer games or video games. I love to spend my days off playing The Sims 3! Do anything you wish, read some blogs, write a blog post, listen to music, it's your day off. If you were called off on an actual snow day, LOL, you could even throw on your winter gear and play in the snow like you may have done when you were little. Invite some friends over and build a snowman, have a snowball fight, and make some snow angels. And don't forget to enjoy a nice hot cup of hot chocolate, coffee, tea, or whatever you like to drink on a cold day when you come back inside! :)

What do you like to do on a snow day? Does your school call them often, or are they a rare occurrence like at my school?! Or do you live in an area with very little snow, and get called off for other reasons, or not at all?

My Favorite Cold Day Treat

It's been extremely cold in Ohio lately, with temperatures in the single digits and windchill in the negative. If the temperature would drop just a couple more degrees school would be cancelled, and I walk to school everyday. I complain if the temperature even drops below 40 degrees, LOL. I am not a winter person what-so-ever, I hate the cold, and I have a strong disliking of snow unless it closes school. But I know there's nothing I can do to change the weather, and the best I can do is find something to make the most of it. 

After stumbling through the bitter cold on a day like today, I like to come home and curl up in a blanket by my computer,  next to my heater, with a cup hot chocolate. I've always loved to drink hot chocolate after coming inside on a cold day, ever since I was a little girl that actually liked to play in the snow, and even now that I'm a senior in high school and can't stand the winter. I've always loved the hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, but I also loved putting in my own marshmallows as well. I remember when I was in middle school, the first thing I would do when i got home was heat up some water, and grab a packet of hot chocolate mix and some marshmallows. It was always something nice to come home from after a long day of school.

Recently, I found a way to make my hot chocolate taste even better! I had always mixed my hot chocolate into hot water in the past in the past and it was delicious, but sometimes it tasted a little more like, water, rather then hot chocolate and it wasn't as flavorful as it could have been. So a couple weeks ago, I decided to try to make hot chocolate using hot milk, instead of hot water. It was absolutely amazing! The flavor seemed much richer in the milk than the water. I also didn't burn my tongue on the hot chocolate made with milk, primarily because I heated it for a shorter amount of time.

If you decide to replace water with milk for hot chocolate, be sure that you don't over heat the milk, you don't want it to boil. I heat my milk for 1 minute and 30 seconds in the microwave. You may need to make alterations to how long you heat it for based on how hot you want it, the size of your cup, and how fast your microwave heats the milk. After the milk is heated you can mix in your hot chocolate like you would in hot water. If you haven't already tried hot chocolate in milk you should most definitely try it! :)

Do you prefer hot chocolate in hot water or milk? Do you use a combination of both water and milk?