This January I...

The Rules:

Nominees Questions:

How has your month been so far?

Today I am going to share a way of customizing your popular posts gadget. This coding is how my current popular posts gadget is (see the bottom of my blog). :)

1. Select the blog you'd like to add the popular posts gadget to.

2. Head to layout and add the gadget to your blog.

3. Click and drag the gadget so that it is in the footer area (the bottom) of your blog. Make sure to click "Save arrangement".

4. Open up the gadget and make sure the option under "Most Viewed" is on your selected preference. Check the box "image thumbnail" and uncheck "snippet". Then make sure you are displaying up to 4 photos (see photo below).



5. Now go to Template >> Customize >> Add CSS and in the box, add the CSS codes from below.

#PopularPosts1 li { display: inline;
float: left; }

+ Thank and follow the blog that nominated you.
+ Tell us 11 facts about you.
+ Answers the questions that were set up for you.
+ Nominate 11 people and make questions for them.

Thank you Outrageous Glamour for nominating me. :)

11 Facts About Me

1. I am very passionate when it comes to food, graphic design, words and band members.
2. I am obsessed with colored hair.
3. I'm really hard on myself.
4. I like taping things to my bedroom walls.
5. Though I love books with a passion, I own very few of them (the library is my main resource).
6. I relive every mistake I've ever made when I'm trying to fall asleep.
7. I struggle with self love.
8. Singing when I'm upset helps my hurting heart tremendously.
9. I want blogging/writing/web design to be my job (so I don't have to leave the house).
10. I'm religious when it comes to 11:11.
11. I have over 1312 items on my iTunes (yikes).

The questions I was asked

1. Have you ever stayed up all night?

Yes. I did this way back in late July 2014. It was crazy awesome. :)

2. What is your favorite book?

ALL OF THEM. Please don't make me decide.

3. What is your favorite word?

Winner.

4. What word do you hate the most?

Hate.

5. Favorite super hero?

SPIDER MAN. <3

6. Have you ever been stung by a bee?

I don't think so. :}

7. Your worst pet peeve?

When people take their blessings for granted (this is so me).

8. Favorite TV show when you were a child?

Kim Possible. <3

9. Favorite day of the week?

Sunday. :)

10. Can you cut shapes?

Probably not...

11. Favorite snack?

Nutella straight from the jar.

Nominees and their questions

Anyone who would like to do this. :)

1. Favorite thing about blogging?
2. Are you a writer, a reader, both, or neither?
3. Favorite clothing item?
4. Have you ever had a movie marathon? Why?
5. Favorite band?
6. Long hair or short hair?
7. Favorite quote?
8. How many stuffed animals do you own?
9. What are your goals for 2015?
10. Favorite social media site?
11. Least favorite social media site?

If you do this please comment the link below so I can check it out. :)

Thanks for reading. <3

Inner dialogue is something that plays a huge role in your level of love for yourself. What you're thinking is essentially what you say - it's what you believe. The small, personally hurtful comments can pile up and weigh down your self-esteem until you're sitting in bed crying about something that's truly all in your head (I'm the guilty party here).

But getting those little voices of doubt and insecurity to go away is hard. Super hard. Sometimes I find myself giving in because I just don't feel like putting up a fight. Which is exactly when I should be pushing back harder.

So, what can I do if I find myself not wanting to fight the good fight? Try out the exercises listed below to see what works best for you. :)

1. Set fire to the negative.

To some of us - especially those of us who listen to what our inner critics say - the tiny things can feel like we've just stepped on a landmine with our brains. Mostly because we blow things so out of proportion (haha, get it?). So the next time negative thoughts bombard you, grab your mental lighter. After heavily dousing them in gasoline, light 'em up up up and watch how pretty the flames get as the thoughts die away. If you think fire is too violent, you can try "placing" the thoughts in boxes or trash cans. You can also try turning them black and white, then shrinking them into postage stamps that accidentally get thrown away...

2. Occupy your inner critic.

One of my inner critics - Downer, I call her, - is currently in Europe, touring the country with her BFF's "You're-Not-Good-Enough" and "You'll-Never-Get-Anywhere". Whenever she visits I like to help her repack her bags and refill her wallet before sending her our on another journey again. You should try the same thing. Send your inner critic(s) off to Paris for a fashion show or to a deserted island where the only inhabitants are monkeys and pelicans. If they try to come back, send them off again. They can never resist an adventure.

3. Embrace the flaws quirks.

Your quirks (lovable flaws) are what make you, you! So what better way to establish self-love than to accept and love your quirky parts? After all, they are the reason people befriend you, relate to you, fall for you and so on, so embrace them. Don't hold back bits of yourself because of someone else, or you'll end up losing connection the best parts of you.

How do you deal with your inner critics and dialogue?

To my dear, blooming Rose -

Attached to this letter is not only my love, but my gratitude, thankfulness and a small box of decadent dark chocolates. I would've had flowers delivered too, but no measly plant could ever compare or express my feelings toward you.

Ahh, my dear. You are my truest bundle of joy. It does not matter what mood you are in - you light up my day in the most wonderful of ways.

Your smile makes the sun jealous. Your embrace makes me feel full. Your laughter - so thick and loud - makes me want to laugh too.

What I love most is when you are truly and purely being yourself - because that's who you're meant to be.

With much love and kisses blown with a wink,
Your Secret Admirer

PS: Maybe we could share those chocolates later, eh?



When you need some uplifting, write yourself a love letter. Be silly and positive. Analyze yourself. Amp up your best qualities. De-sock your feet as you write and wiggle your toes as your write (then put your socks back on because gosh it's cold). Get a big thick blanket and curl up under with a flashlight. Laugh at yourself - have fun.



Once your letter is done, seal it up in an envelope or just crumple it up and place it on your desk. No matter how "bad" you think it is, DO NOT throw it away. Open it up and read it as many times as you need, whenever your feel like it. Remember how you felt when you were writing it. Acknowledge how in love with yourself you are - or would like to be.

Will you write a love letter to yourself today?

This post was inspired by the wonderful SARK, who is always so full of creative ideas and heart-melting realness.

For a huge chunk of my life, I've always felt that I was not allowed to love myself. I felt like saying I was cool or awesome was for some silly reason, forbidden. I thought people would shun me if I voiced fondness toward myself. This, I think, brought me to the course of thinking well, maybe I'm not as great as I originally thought. Maybe I'm annoying... Or weird... Maybe I'm not-- And so on.

I am now seventeen years old and I've changed my view on this completely.

(Or at least I'm trying to.)



Self-love is a rare gift, especially in its pure state. It's also something we're entitled to. Yep, I said it and I'll say it again.

WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO SELF-LOVE!

Perhaps you are shaking your head and assuming things are different for you. I can honestly tell you they're not.

Please, allow yourself to love yourSELF. You are a great, amazing, fantastic human being! You're breathing and full of hidden talents others will be delighted to see! You're the only you this world will ever come to know, and as soon as you realize that... gosh, things will start feel so much better, I can guarantee that.

"But... How do I love myself?"

Take the first step. Start with a simple hug. Wrap your arms around yourself, give your torso a tight squeeze. Rub your sides and smile. Kiss your shoulders and spin around. Starting to feel the love, eh? Good. Keep doing this, every day. Keep reminding yourself to let down your stubborn walls and silence your inner critics so that you can live the loving life you want to live.

My challenge today: take the first step.

I did it. Can you?

Sometimes I wish I wasn’t me, because me is fragile and doesn’t speak up for herself. She doesn’t like other people and she takes on the burdens of others. She knows no one understands and thinks that perhaps no one will because she’s a constantly changing soul that is slowly and painfully progressing toward death. She tries too hard and enjoys shadows more than she does the light. But even then she craves it. She craves the light because the light is blinding and shining and uplifting. She sees others in the light and thinks “Oh, I wish that were me because look at how amazing they are.”

Why isn’t she in the light? Why doesn’t she just step out and let it shine down on her? Because she’s scared that she’s unworthy. She’s scared others will see her in the light and step away or worse - push her out. She craves acceptance into the light but knows if she tries there’s that small, humanizing chance that it won’t work out.

And if it didn’t, where would she be left to go?

Have you ever had those days where you pull that hidden box of childhood memories out of the back of closet, just to relive the old days? Do you flip through the pages of a novel you taped together yourself, reliving the nostalgic feeling of warmth as you think "wow I needed a lot of work"? Do you flip through the pages of a dusty scrapbook and remember the moments surroundings the photos?

I do.

When I was younger I used to do it a lot (especially since I had a book with my ye old crush's face in it - looking through it gave me an excuse to stare at his childhood roundness). I'm going to be honest and say generally, I remembered the bad times, like the stupid things I said or did. But I made sure to think about the good times too. And even though I dwelt on what I thought I lost (and sometimes still do), I look at my present self and I smile. Because I'm actually starting to be okay with where I'm at.

My mom sometimes says to me, "the little things that matter so much to you now, won't matter to you later."

And she's right.

My younger self used to take dance classes four times a week. Now I spend my days writing. I used to obsess over Josh Hutcherson. Now I obsess over book characters and band members. I used to think that my best friend was going to be in my life forever and ever and ever. We haven't talked in over a month.

And even though these things make me feel sad when I allow myself to look back, I realize I've grown. Thanks to my memories, experiences, friends, interests and more I've developed into the person I am now - the person I'm beginning to really, truly love.

Thank you for reading. <3

This mid-month linkup is an opportunity to meet other bloggers, discover other blogs, and create friendship as you go! Share anything you like.

Mid-Month Link Up

Grow your blogging perspective.

Today we'll be flashing back to the past - even though Christmas was less than a month ago. :} I meant to share these photos sooner, but had some other posts planned. Enjoy! :)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

You will need:

What do you cherish?

1. Start at the end and work backward.

2. Set timelines.

3. Use monthly mini-goals.

Are you prepared to complete your goals with confidence?