Christmas is Right Around the Corner

The Plaza by TessyKK[PearlGirl] featuring Juicy Couture

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. This time last year I already knew I would be moving that coming summer. I was relishing my time with my friends and family, along with the once trivial things like the trampoline in my back yard and warm winter coats.

This year though is filled with new experiences, some big, some small. For example I didn't need to wear a coat today! Back home in Pittsburgh, it is cold! I've also found my older (step) brother a blessing in boat shoes. I've got him wrapped around my finger. :) We've both been able to help each other out in a jam.

I've always had a lot to be thankful for, but you what makes you realize that the most is when it is ripped out of your clutches, like some of it was when I moved.

Here is what I'm most thankful for and appreciate the most:
-My Family- This Thanksgiving meal is being held at our house with my step family's family. It will be difficult to celebrate the Holidays without my family, but I'm open to meeting new people. I have to be...
-My Friends- Both old friends and new friends, I'm thankful for all my friends. Everyone has been so supportive of me this year and you guys make me so happy.
-Food-Everyone is my family is kind of foodie; get-togethers revolve around food. When surrounded by three types of cranberry sauce, seven desserts, a huge turkey, and enough mash potatoes to feed the whole neighborhood, it is hard to remember some people don't have food at all. God has truely blessed my family.
-My Health- I hate the fact some people have to spend Thanksgiving at the hospital. If you are healthy, you should be thankful.
-An Education-I've always loved school. I've always loved learning. Sometimes I forget it is a privilege to go to school.

Here are some other things I'm thankful to this year:
-Books- I don't think I could get through the week without an escape to a setting in a book. Whether it is the island of Guernsey post WWII (The Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry (Harry Potter Series), Forks, Washington (Twilight Saga), or the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland during a smallpox epidemic (The Demon in the Freezer), sometimes it is nice to just get away.
-Music-I've come to live by the quote, "Life is too short to listen to bad music." I no longer listen to music that everyone else likes, but strictly music I like. This week it is all about: John Mayer, Brad Paisley, and Kate Nash. My taste isn't specific to one genre, except "the good kind," which is left all up to me.
-Facebook- I always said I wasn't going to get one, but it is just one way I keep in touch with my friends and family both near and far.
-Shoes- Wouldn't it be dreadful to not have shoes? I have a whole closet full of shoes...over fifty pairs at last count. I'm so glad I have shoes.

Thanksgiving decorations on top of the piano.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Pretty Pictures

I love pictures that don't just show an image, but tell a story, convey a feeling, and make you beg, "what was going?"

I'll leave you with a few:
(sorry to go all Tumblr on you guys...)

restart my heart

Weird Fish

Queenie Hawkings




Heart

New Meaning to a Sunday Drive

One Sunday in the summer my brother and I went out to lunch and then took a drive. The sun was shining; we blasted music; we drove fast. I text my former crush and it was all around a good day.

Today after church, I went out to lunch with my brother and then took a drive. We even took the same route. The weather was unseasonably warm. There were no clouds in the sky. We jammed to some loud music and drove fast. Today mirrored that day in early August. I text a different boy and even hung out with my former crush today. Today was an all around good day.

The similarities got me thinking about how much I've changed since then and how much things have changed in general. Here's the run down:
-I've moved on from my former crush, realizing it was too hard to hold on to something that would never be the way I wanted it to be, but were are still good friends. There have been several guys in between that day and today. They haven't been worth mentioning though.
-School has begun. It is way more boring than my old school, but I'm trying to make it work. I was made swim team captain and a newspaper editor.
-I'm looking towards my future and making steps to get there. More details on that later maybe.

There are other things, I'm sure. Living with a four new step-siblings makes everyday a learning experience. Some days are better than others, but I'm not sure I'd want it any other way right now. (Except going home for a visit would be nice!)

MLIA Quotes-- Mostly Harry Potter!

Today, my friend and I decided it would be a good idea to ding dong ditch someone and leave a cardboard cut out of Prof. Snape sitting there. I read a MLIA from someone who found our cutout. I'm glad that our cutout ended up in the right hands. MLIA

Today, the doorbell rang and I proceeded to answer it. On my doorstep was a giant cardboard cutout of Snape. I have no idea who left it there, but it is now sitting in my living room, next to my couch. MLIA.

Today, my boyfriend and I decided to go to the movies. we put on our coats and scarves. while waiting outside the theater to buy tickets, a little girl walked up to us, stared at my boyfriend as though she was scared, looked at me in a disgusted way and said "i thought you were better than this!" we were thoroughly confused until we realized I had bushy brown hair and was wearing a scarlet and gold scarf. he has silvery blond hair and had an emerald scarf. I love this little girl, and completely agree. MLIA

Today in my history class, we were talking about the British empire. My teacher said he would give 2 extra credit points to the person who could do the most genuine british accent. I won. Little does he know I just moved here from England 5 months ago. MLIA.

Today, my sister and I were watching the fifth "Harry Potter" movie and my mom was on the computer. My sister was admiring the beauty of Hogwarts and said "Mom, why did we have to be muggles?" My mom replied without looking up from her computer "Speak for yourself, Squib." Awesome. MLIA.

Today, I mistyped my friend's phone number when sending a text, and ending up talking with a complete stranger for 20 minutes. We had an intense conversation about the importance of Defense Against the Dark Arts in Hogwart's curriculum. Even though I totally forgot to text my actual friend, I think I just met my soul mate. MLIA

Today, while sitting at a stoplight, I glanced at the people in cars around me. The lady next to me looked very impatient. She clapped her hands together once, and the light turned green. I'm now convinced she's a witch. MLIA

Today, I was listening to my schools announcments, they said Extreme Chess Club was canceled because of injuries. That made my life. MLIA

I grew up in a college town, and one Halloween our doorbell rang and we opened the door expecting to see trickortreater—but what was in front of our open door—was another door! Like, a full-on wooden door, that had a sign that said “Please knock.” So we did, and the door swung open to reveal a bunch of college dudes dressed as really old grandmothers, curlers in their hair, etc, who proceeded to coo over our “costumes” and tell us we were “such cute trick or treaters!” One even pinched my cheek. Then THEY gave US candy, closed their door, picked it up and walked to the next house. MLIA

Today,I discovered that Microsoft Word no longer counts "Dumbledore" "Voldemort" or "Hogwarts" as misspelled words. This made me exceedingly happy. MLIA

Today, I asked my Kindergarten class what they should do after escaping a fire in their house. (It's Fire Safety Week.) One little boy said he knew a song about 911. Thinking it was a cute little song he learned in pre-school I asked him how the song went. He then proceeded to sing "Somebody call 911, shawty's fire burning on the dance floor..." At least five others joined in. MLIA

Today, my youngest sister's friends pestered her to give in and read Twilight, so tonight, she put a copy of it in her backpack. Shocked that she would actually read it, I picked it up and opened it to see how far she had gotten. When I opened it I found that she had merely taken the slipcover of our other sister's copy of Twilight and put it on her own copy of Harry Potter 4. So. Proud. MLIA

I hope these made you smile! Just know, your as lame as I am!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I Love Books Where the Characters Love Books A Much As I Do by Tess[PearlGirl] featuring Juicy Couture accessories

I'm so excited I got a Polyvore set on my blog! Yay!!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is nothing short from a splendid novel written in lovely poetic English. I would recommend it to anyone who loves reading, writing, history, or letters.

(*Spoiler Alert*)Here is what it is about: The book tells the story of a young writer, Juliet Ashton through many letters between her publisher, best friend, publicist, and new friends on the island of Guernsey, found in the English Channel. Juliet is looking for a new book idea at the end of World War II and receives a letter from a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This sets of a spiral of events that leads her to the island to research what life was like them during the German Occupation.

"I'm sure many Islanders grew to be friends with some of the soldiers. But sometimes I think of Charles Lamb and marvel that a man born in 1775 enabled me to make two such friends as you and Christian." (97)

I love that quote. It mixes how a Nazi solider could ever become friends with a Literary Society member from the British ruled island of Guernsey.

When Your New in Town You can Wear a Creative Outfit to the Library and Everyone will think, "Who is that?" But No Will Know The Answer

I'm not really doing anything today...SAT prep, homework, starting over on my ipod, reading...

I went to the library today and there were all these creepy old people. Sometimes I almost feel safer in the city than I do in this small town. When I go for a run or something I feel like I'm always looking over my shoulder and avoiding people. In the city, there were always a lot of people around and they were either going somewhere or looked like they were going somewhere. Make any sense?
Suunies-a gift; Pearl Earrings-Dillard's; Tee-Nike; Bracelets-Gifts; Watch-Ironman Triathlon; Scarf-Delias; Jean Capris-American Eagle Outfitters; Shoes-TOMS
Jean Capris- American Eagle Outfitters; Shoes-TOMS
My whole family thinks my new shoes are ugly! Now that I look at the full-body picture, I think, "Maybe they are old lady shoes!" I like them though and everyone is entilted to atleast one pari of "ugly" shoes, right? Hmhm, Mum and your navy, sqaure toed sling-backs!

TOMS Shoes are a company that donates a pair or shoes for every pair bought. I think it is pretty cool. They have lots or patterns and materials. If your with me and think they aren't old people shoes then you should check out their site! They are also sold at some department stores.