Showing posts with label q and a. Show all posts
Showing posts with label q and a. Show all posts

11 Things

This morning I woke up to a @mention from the lovely Miss Danielle and was tagged for the "11 Things" meme. Normally I say thanks for being included and never really partake, but this one seemed fun and I didn't have anything else planned for the blog today so I said why not! Thanks for tagging me, Danielle!

There are five rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.

Let's go!

11 Random Things:
1. My absolute favorite cities in the world are Budapest and Amsterdam. I'd pack up my little family and move to central Europe in a heartbeat if I felt I could adequately learn the language. The architecture and story of Budapest is truly remarkable. And Amsterdam has the most beautiful canals, bridges, and row houses. 

2. I'm blind in my left eye, and I have been ever since I was a little bebe. I don't know what it's like to see out of both eyes so I just make the best of it! The hardest thing in the world: winged eyeliner! Gah, someone needs to come up with "The half-blind girl's guide to winged liner". Oh! And being up to bat in softball! My depth perception is a bit off haha! (But yes, I still have a driver's license and the only restriction I have is that I have to have both outside mirrors on my car. I have perfect vision in my right eye!)

3. Speaking of softball, going to the batting cages and go karts is my idea of the perfect date. I miss playing softball (and volleyball) every day. It'd be really fun to get in on a Jack and Jill league (my mom played up until she was pregnant with me!)

4. I cannot, for the life of me, say "Indianapolis" correctly on the first go unless I consciously think about it. I always pronounce it "Indiana-apolis".

5. Pickle-sickles are where it's at! If you don't know what that is, it's frozen pickle juice popsicles. Basically like sodium + vinegar in a frozen shape... and it's awesome. Susannah (and Mike) are making the most disgusting faces reading this, I just know it!

6. In high school I really really wanted to row crew for sport (just at an intramural/club level though). I think it's the ultimate sport/workout and it's just neat to watch.

7. I collect novelty salt and pepper shakers. This is kind of a new one, but I already have a ridiculous assortment. Ranging from stackable burgers, ice creams, giraffes, sharks and a plethora of mushrooms, I like anything cute or kitschy.

8. I was a tomboy for most of my life. The thought of wearing a dress disgusted me until I was a senior in high school, or maybe even college. I was a jeans + shirt kind of gal, but I wore mostly Hollister + Abercrombie type stuff (I know. Whoa.) One day I just decided to like dresses and that was that. Now I own one pair of jeans and basically zero shirts. It's all about the easy to manage dresses! (But for real -- My room was decorated in totally UT Vols stuff at one point... like, football. I wanted to play football. Sometimes I wonder if my frontal lobe was swapped in my sleep.)

9. My favorite author is Anna Maxted. She writes funny Brit-chick novels and I have every single one. I also love Sophie Kinsella of the Shopaholic Series (and more!). Please don't let the movie adaptation of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" ruin the series for you. They are seriously so much better in book form. (I know lighthearted fiction isn't the most noteworthy to be reading, but I guess it's better to read something as opposed to nothing!)

10. My first job was at the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee. It's a non-profit elephant refuge that provides sanctuary and 2,700 acres of land for sick and old elephants that have been confiscated or retired from circuses, zoos and private owners. I worked up in the office starting when I was 15 or 16 and stayed there for a year and a half (I think?). Delhi was my favorite ele and it was the most incredible experience working there. I would've rerouted my college plans to go to school for zoology, emphasis on pachyderms, if the sanctuary were anywhere other than my hometown. (You can check out more about the Sanctuary here, and even watch a live feed of the elephants! It's closed to the public though, so you can't go see them. There is a new Education center in town though!)

11. My second favorite animal is the Octopus. I started reading about them in the 6th grade and I think they're fascinating. They're so incredible intelligent, agile, and interesting. Did you know they have 3 hearts? And can squeeze through holes as tiny as a quarter? The only hard part of their body is their beak! (My absolute favorite animal is the Great White Shark of course!) 

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Here are Danielle's 11 questions she tagged me for:
1. If money, schooling or time was no obstacle, what career would you choose?
Without a doubt: Marine Biology with an emphasis on Great White Sharks (or just sharks + rays (and maybe cephalopods, too!) in general). I'd love to work in the field, studying, tagging and documenting the migrating and mating patterns of Great Whites. So very little is known about them and they're in danger of extinction due to the finning of fishermen. I'd love to work in conservation.

2. What's the one thing you look forward to every day?
A bubble bath. Sounds silly, but it's a nice half hour break from the hustle and bustle, and I get to enjoy it all to myself. Candles, smelly good stuff and a book are the highlight of my evening.

3. What is your number one, all-time, favorite blog?
This one is hard... I'm going to say Susannah's because she's my best friend and I like to keep tabs on what she's doing since she lives 600 miles away! (Totes not creepy, right?!)

4. Biggest online pet peeve?
Passive aggression. Especially on Twitter. We're all guilty of it, I know, but I strive to not be "that girl" with the passive remarks and attitude. It just causes you to alienate yourself.

5. What is your all-time favorite book?
Getting Over it by Anna Maxted. Funny, but sincere, reading at it's best!

6. What would your "last meal" be?
Ooooh this is tough! It's a toss up between my mom's chocolate gravy + biscuits or Mike's brown rice + veggie skillet casserole (with an Olive Garden salad on the side!) and sweet tea. Home cookin' all the way! (You know, OG aside)

7. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I'm not sure. I don't think so, no. Maybe interest/infatuation/lust, but not love. However I've never experienced it so maybe it takes seeing to believe!

8. What would your ideal Sunday morning consist of?
Sleeping in just a little bit (since I get home from work around 3:45am), waking up to a fresh pot of coffee, and Mike's French toast. Lounging in our pjs to catch up on our week's worth of DVR recordings. 

9. Why do you blog?
Originally it was to share my adventures living in NYC with my family and friends, but it's since become a way for me to meet likeminded people and share my little piece of the world. It's fun!

10. If you had to choose one color to wear forever, what would you pick?
Oh man, I instantly want to say a blushy/peachy/light pink because it's my favorite color. I'm not quite sure it's the *most* flattering on me, but I don't think I could ever tire of it! As long as I could mix and match the fabrics... lace and chiffon, bring it on!

And here are my 11 questions for the gals I tag!
1. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?
2. If you could teleport to any time and place, where would you go and why?
3. What are the three closest items to you right now?
4. If you had a spirit animal, what would it be?
5. What is your earliest childhood memory?
6. Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?
7. Have you kept in touch with your childhood best friend(s)?
8. If you had to describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?
9. Describe your idea of a perfect day: Where would you go, what would you do, who would you do it with?
10. What kind of "weird" foods do you like? (They could just be weird to your friends/family, kind of like my pickle sickles!)
11. Do you collect anything? If so, what? 

I tag: Susannah, Kate, Moorea, Mandy, Diana, Elycia, Beca and Kaylah! (and YOU if you're up for it!)

Hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about me! Happy Sunday!

Reader Asks: Getting Into Design

I received a lot of questions on Twitter, in comments and email, in reply to yesterday's design post. I thought this morning would be a great way to touch base on a few of them and to fill you in on what I know (which isn't much!). 


I received several questions in the area of "How did you get into design?" and the answer for that one is simple, yet not short: I started blogging (on LiveJourmal, hayyy!) when I was 14. I spent a few years "customizing" my layouts and even moving my very basic HTML skills to MySpace. In 9th grade I took a basic HTML class at my high school and I already knew everything he was teaching. My teacher moved me to the Library to help work on the student Yearbook, even though you needed to be in 11th grade to do that. I was excited because it gave me an opportunity to branch out and learn more. For the next 4 years I basically lived and breathed that yearbook. I loved it. That's where I first learned InDesign (yeah... before CS2 or anything like that existed!) We had moved away from Quark and I was ecstatic to design almost half of the senior yearbook in 2006. I feel like you should know this though: my work was AWFUL! All capital letters awful! While it was "cute",  I put strokes (outlines) on EVERYTHING! Every piece of text had a stroke. Oh my stars. So embarrassing! Anyway, I went to college for Fashion Design + Merchandising to begin with, but after my first year of classes I wasn't feeling inspired. I woke up one summer morning, went to the administration building of my school, and switched majors. Just like that. I didn't give it any thought or reason, I just did it. Best decision ever. While I loved fashion design + all that it entailed, I had never felt so challenged and motivated by it like I did graphic design. I spent the next 3 and a half years making things I wasn't totally proud of, but I'm glad to have finally found my footing post graduation. While I do have a formal education and Bachelor's degree under my belt, I absolutely do not think you have to have a degree in order to be a brilliant designer. So many of my favorite designers are self taught people. You just have to have the drive to pursue it!

Another one asked in the comments was: "How did you get into freelance design?" As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I never thought I'd do well with freelance. I was always a procrastinator and if it was due tomorrow, I'd do it tomorrow haha That never helped me, by the way! A lot of people wonder how on earth you solicit clients and wrangle them in. Honestly, I don't do a whole lot of that. I think I'm really fortunate that my blog brings me a lot of my business so I don't have to cold call anyone or anything. This little blog has brought a lot of opportunities to me, not just work related, but people and places, too! I definitely wouldn't have the clientele that I do if it weren't for LCH!
 
An email from a sweet gal named Amanda said: "I want to do graphic design and go to college for it, but how do I know I'll enjoy it?" Answer: Honestly, there's no fool proof way to say you'll still enjoy it in college. Formal education changes a lot of things... You don't really learn at your own pace, and you don't get to choose your curriculum. Even if you do go to college for it, don't let that stop you from learning everything you can now! Even after college I'm still Googling things I don't know or have forgotten! There are so many resources out there at your disposal! You can also get a Lynda.com account if you are really hardcore into learning! YouTube videos, blog posts galore... you can theoretically teach yourself anything you want to know! As much as I loved fashion design, college made me not want to pursue a higher education degree for it. Don't stress... most people change their majors. It's life! It happens! Just take the classes you can and try to get a feel for it as early as possible!

Another email asks: "Where did you get your design style? Did it come naturally or has it changed over time?" Oh boy, it's changed! Has it ever! I can't even begin to tell you some of the fugly stuff I've dreamt up! My current designs still aren't world changing or award winning, but I really enjoy them. My aesthetic is very reflective of my personality. I've always wanted to design things I enjoy (that's the designer's dream!). I'm lucky enough that I can pick and choose clients and if their aesthetic is too far of a departure from mine then I just decide if I feel like I can still successfully pull it off. I will admit I've basically backed myself into a corner with my "style" and I kind of like it. I don't have any shortage of clients right now so I don't see any reason to go changing it! I think like everything else, aesthetic evolves with time. There are things I designed last year that I cringe when I see now. However -- at the end of the day, the customer is always right! If they want something and you think it's totally crazy but they won't budge, let them have it! Sometimes you have to pick and choose want to put your name on :) That's design for ya!

Someone asked: "Do I need certain programs to design things? Photoshop costs a lot of money and I can't afford it." I personally think Adobe Creative Suite is the best thing to have. It's the industry standard and I've honestly never used anything else. I don't know if you can get similar results with other programs or not so I can't say. I personally use Adobe CS5.5 and I think it was worth every penny. Yeah, it's super expensive, but I am able to accomplish so much more because of those programs. When it comes to blog layouts, I use Adobe Illustrator to build them, Photoshop to slice and tweak (I don't like the slice feature in Ai!), and DreamWeaver to construct and manually code them. It's not rocketscience, but it's not super simple either. There are a ton of video tutorials though, like I mentioned a few questions ago! If you want to be serious about design, definitely think about investing in an Adobe Creative Suite! There are also several package options through Adobe so check those out! 
A Tumblr ask was submitted that said: "I want to start designing blog layouts like you, but I don't know how to get any work. Do you have any suggestions?" Since I think blogging has been the best (free) advertising for me, I honestly suggest having your own blog. If you do, have a really cool layout that you've designed. This next advice is a little questionable among freelance designers so be sure to ere on the side of caution: Find some blogging friends and offer to do a layout for them. It's free advertising. Try and get some sort of compensation from them (even if it's someone with several hundred/thousand followers... the more eyes on your designs, the better) THEN -- please please please make sure you charge a fair amount! I'm constantly undercut by other designers because my prices are "too high". I still make less than half of what I should per layout with a BFA. I know my hourly worth and I definitely don't make it on blog commissions. Still, it's stable and fun work usually so I enjoy it. There are some people out there only charging $50 or $100 for an entire site redesign and to me, that's kind of crazy! Start off with a low, but fair, price, sure. But don't try to undercut everyone else just to land a job. It's not fair to other designers and all it does is hurt our industry! :) Build a portfolio, even if they're just mockups in Photoshop or Illustrator! Create a PDF portfolio and send it out to anyone who might be interested. The options are limitless!

And one final question: "Are you ever scared of the instability of being a freelance designer?" My answer: of course. I think harsh realities like that are things that need to always be kept in mind... even if it's in a far, back, distant corner of your mind! Freelance work is incredible fickle and it usually comes in waves. I could go months without any (be it my own personal choice or lack of interest among others) and then all of a sudden I have fifty emails a day about reserving a spot. I think it's a little bit different for people who don't have a steady source of clientele (like a blog), but I can't speak for them honestly! I also don't do solely design as my bread and butter. It's definitely up there, but I also bartend, run this blog, and a million and seven online shoppes (with two more in the works)! I have really really busy days, and then really lazy ones. I'm lucky to be doing something I love, but it doesn't come without the work, that's for sure!

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I think designing your own stuff (be it blog designs, business cards, or whatever) really helps you appreciate your achievements. I don't think it's for everyone though! There are many things in my life that would be fulfilling to do on my own, but I'd rather pay someone to do it (i.e: change the oil in my car, pressure wash the house, etc). There's no shame in outsourcing things that you're not crazy for, but if you are interested in doing your own design, I totally urge each and every one of you to get out there and learn what you can! You don't have to get crazy with HTML or CSS, or be the world's best photo manipulator! But if you have a sincere interest in something, don't wait until college to explore! Use your free time and learn everything you can! Then you can be the smartest one in the class! ;)

I think the biggest thing is that you should really love what you're doing. Love designing even if no one is paying you. Love designing things in your free time. Be passionate for the things you're creating!

Sorry for the giant walls of text, but I thought a post like this might be the slightest bit helpful to anyone looking to get into design themselves! It's a flooded market, without a doubt, but it can also be an exciting one to be in!

With that I want to ask, What are YOU passionate about? What makes you tick? I love hearing people's answers to this question!

Red Hair 101

Hey Honeybees! I get countless comments, tweets, emails, etc about my red hair and how I attain/maintain it so I thought I'd elaborate on my original How-To video (and my Hair FAQ video) by doing a text based post I can direct people to in case they don't have the ability to watch the vlogs! 

I first started dying my hair red in 10th grade. I was more of a copper/ginger than my bright red like I have now, but I was in love. I've kind of always secretly wanted natural "ginger" red hair but my hair is naturally almost-black! I went back brown for many, many years. I was sold on having natural colored hair! I loved being a brunette but for some reason I was really desperate for change after my first summer in NYC so I headed to my local Sally's, picked up some red dye, developer, and all the essentials, then dyed my hair myself in my bathroom. This was huge. Partially because I was letting go of my natural, perfectly even, hair color, and mainly because I had never once dyed my hair myself. I had never even dyed a friend's hair! I was heading into uncharted territory. The first dye made my hair a shiny auburn color, but I wanted RED RED! So I dyed it again in a few weeks time. Each time I dyed it, it became more vibrant. Before I knew it I had shockingly red hair... the sunlight caused my head to basically look like a giant, fluffy tomato. Awesome! 

I kept up my routine of redying my hair every 2-3 weeks for the next 2 years almost. Then I decided red was old news and I wanted to go back dark. Well that was an adventure. But not nearly as accident-ridden as the move back to red in the middle of summer! I decided to use color remover on my hair to lighten the dark dye, then use my typical "For Dark Hair Only" dye to make it red. Um, don't do that. I had a basketball head for weeks! Like, bright orange. It was awful. It took a lot of trial and error, and a couple months worth of dying, to get it back perfect. Now I'm finally back to my favorite red that I missed so much. Yeah, it was a lot of work. But hopefully the rest of this post will help you achieve your bright red hair without all the hassle I went through the second time around!


For starters.... the stuff I use on my hair is:
L'oreal Excellence "For Dark Hair Only" dye in Red Fire
L'oreal Oreor Creme Developer (9, 20 and 30 volume)
John Frieda Radiant Red shampoo + conditioner
Chi Silk Infusion + Infra shampoo
Biolage Detangling Solution

Tricks and tips about the dye I use --
Do NOT use this dye unless you have naturally dark hair... and by that I mean do NOT use this dye if you have any dye on your hair currently. If your hair is dyed black/brown, this is not for you. If your hair is naturally dark but you have any dye on it, this is not the product for you. If you have blonde hair, this product is not for you. This product is only for people who currently have dark, dye-free hair!

I really can't stress that enough. I get daily YouTube comments, emails, and questions asking "Will this work for me if..." The answer is: No, unless you have dark, dye-free hair. Sure, you can use it if you have anything else, but the results will not be what you see here. That's all I'm sayin'! You might get a color you totally love, but you won't get what you see in my hair (I simply don't want to be held responsible for basketball head like I had! :P) If you want to try it, go for it! Just don't blame me if it doesn't turn out as planned!

If this is the first time you're using this dye -- You can stand to use 30 volume developer like the box calls for. If this is a subsequent use of the dye -- I recommend using 9 or 20 volume, depending on the situation. Developer can damage your hair! Don't fry it like I have in the past. (Not going to lie, my hair isn't in the best condition, because I've made a lot of mistakes in my "trial and error" approach! Hence this post! haha) I mix up my dye and developer in an applicator bottle and shake it up real good. Then I apply it to my hair. I let it sit for 30-45 minutes and then I rinse with lukewarm water.

If you can bend over the bathtub and always wash your hair with cold water, go for it! Sadly our loft only has a shower so I have to stomach quick, cold/lukewarm showers. Hot water will fade your color faster. But many people still use it.

Try to limit how much you wash your hair when it's dyed red. I'm not saying go be gross or have greasy hair, but try and utilize dry shampoo as much as possible to keep the red lasting longer. Red is probably not going to be the color for you if you are obsessed with washing your hair daily. Currently I wash my hair 1-2 times a week. I use Pssssst dry shampoo on all other days (hence my never-ending tangles! Dry shampoo will rid your hair of natural oils, thus making it slightly more prone to tangling.) This is where Biolage Detangling Solution comes in. I cannot write enough great things about this product. I have a giant bottle of it in our shower and it's a heaven send! 

Red shampoos and conditioners -- I use John Frieda's Radiant Red daily shampoo + conditioner. I've tried the "Ravishing Red" stuff in the past and it was absolutely horrible. It stripped my hair of it's color and I threw out the bottles immediately. This is just my personal opinion! I've found that JFRR works best for me, but you might feel differently!

I've also used CHI Infra shampoo in the past with good results. I'd limit this to once or twice a month if possible though. Before I redye my hair, I always do a leave-in conditioning treatment... maybe a few hours, maybe overnight. Then I rinse and let my hair "dirty" for a day or two before dying it. Leave in conditioner will also strip some of the brightness of your dye so be sure you do it toward the tail end of your routine. 

To make your hair shiny and soft -- I recommend CHI Silk Infusion. A tiny dime-size amount will work wonders on how your hair appears. Just be careful not to saturate your roots or your hair will look greasy.

If you're going to dye hair extensions to match your hair -- I recommend trying to find extensions as close to your shade of hair as possible (pre-dye). You can dye them the exact same way you dye your hair. I recommend a box of dye for your extensions, and a box of dye for your hair. You can leave the dye in your extensions for as long as you need (I've even left it in overnight before.) Obviously I don't mean dye them with them clipped in... but on a trash bag or old towel, or even in your bathtub!

So here are some quick FAQs about red hair that I get daily... in case you're too lazy to read up there! ;)
  • What shampoo + conditioner do you use? John Frieda Radiant Red, along with a leave-in conditioner and/or CHI Infra shampoo.
  • How often do you have to dye your hair? Every 2-3 weeks. I try to stretch it as long as possible, but I have really really dark roots, and red hair fades incredibly quick.
  • How much does it cost you to dye it each time? The dye is roughly $6 and the developer is $7 for a large bottle. Then I buy an applicator bottle and gloves. Each time it's roughly $10 or a little bit less probably. Maybe $20/mo total.
  • Will that dye work if I have...  The dye I use is intended for naturally dark haired people that currently have no other dyes on their hair. I have used the dye on lightened hair and the outcome was not a pretty one. I do not recommend it unless you currently have dark hair without the assistance of dye.
  • Always do a patch test with your dye if you've never dyed your hair or if this is a new dye to you. You dont' want to end up with a horrible skin reaction, burns, or an infection! Be smart! ;)
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Please note that I am of course, not a hair stylist in any way. I only know what I've learned from my own experiences and from my best friend Jessica (who is a hair stylist... and she shakes her finger at me daily!). My method may not be the best, most advised, or anything of the sort, but it is what I do. My hair hasn't fallen out yet, so that's a good sign. Maybe? ;) Goodness knows I'm willing to learn some pointers from anyone myself!

Any other bottled-redheads out there got any tricks and tips they'd like to share? Love a certain product? Have a better way of doing it than me? Please share below!

Questions Answered: Round Four!

Haven't answered any questions from the FormSpring in a while so here you go! Feel free to ask me anything by clicking HERE! (It's anonymous!)

Round Four
Read Rounds One, Two, and Three if you'd like!

1.) I was wondering if you could do a break down, or even better a hair tutorial with pictures, of your well hair lol. I fancy it quite a bit and was wondering how you go about styling it.
I've posted a video on YouTube (see: HERE). Granted it's a year old, if not more, but it's fairly straight forward. I have extensions but you can do the very same thing with your OWN hair if you don't, simply by turning the heat down to low on both things :) If you would like a more in-depth tutorial, just let me know and I'll try to re-record one! :D Thank you, by the way!

2.) I've seen your videos on youtube on how to do your hair, and seeing as how your hair is curled on the bottom, and more wavy on the top, I was just wondering how you style it wavy like that, and also wondering if you tease it (back comb) it as well?
The honest truth with that is my extensions don't get slept in, etc, so they retain the curl quite a bit better than my real hair does, seeing as i throw it up in a pony tail or bun and sleep with it every night. This wears the curls out a bit more so the tops tends to be wavier than the bottom. A good trick to attain this is to curl both the top and bottom of your hair (provided you don't have extensions). Don't curl the top part as tightly as the bottom. Spray the bottom part with a hefty amount of hairspray (you'll notice i'm a big fan of hairspray!). Comb out the top part with your hands just slightly (not so that it becomes afro-ish). Then re-curl the bottom a little bit more and that should do the trick! :)

As for the second part of your question, sometimes I tease it a bit, and sometimes I don't. I only wash my hair 2 or 3 times a week, and then I use Dry Shampoo in-between. IF i DO tease it, i do it in layers/sections laterally. But typically my hair just looks like a big birds nest because i load on the hairspray and hope for the best :P If you'd like a more detailed tutorial (like the person above), feel free to let me know and I'd be happy to do so!


3.) If you were to, God forbid, die suddenly and you had time to listen to one last song..what would the song be and why?

Oh goodness, thats an interesting question! Hmm… I'd probably listen to Gotta Have You by The Weepies simply based on the fact that I have OH SO MANY memories associated with that song. It means a lot to me for several very different reasons and I can honestly say that I'd go with that one. :) What song would YOU listen to?

4.) How important are guys to you? This is something that has bothered me my whole life. Watching girls who HAVE to have a man in their life to be happy. My friends date jerks just to say they have a boyfriend, like that title is more important than the actual person. It seems like boys are consistent in your life. Do you feel a need to have them? This is a judgment free question, I just want to know that someone my age can be in a relationship and not just have a "boyfriend" for the sake of having a "boyfriend", ya know? Also explain what having a boyfriend means to you.
Brilliant Question! And one that i will answer with ABSOLUTE HONESTY. I always grew up being very very independent, thanks to my mother. It was strictly she and I so she taught me how to be a very stable, successful, independent woman. I didn't really start having "boyfriends" until I was 15. I dated a few guys but nothing was ever serious really, with the exception of Jamie when I was 16/17. Most lasted roughly 3 months (because I have always had a SERIOUS relationship complex). I never felt like I NEEDED a boyfriend at that point in my life, but they were always somewhat present. I moved off to Franklin for college and I dated randomly, though nothing serious really, until Adam. Adam came around and it was 3 years basically, but while we were broken up I was pretty devastated for a while (granted it was ultimately my own doing, but it still sucked). I started to learn what it was like to be single again and I was LOOVVVVINGGG IT. I could date randomly, but never "exclusively" really. Adam was always in and out of my life during those 11 months. I never felt anything significant for anyone but towards the end of it I started feeling more and more dependent on having a boy in my life. Maybe it was boredom, maybe it was a little bit of heartache that carried over, Who knows. But for a month or two I found myself telling my best friend Bryan "I need a boyfriend." "I need a boyfriend, help me find a boyfriend. I need a boy." How awful! Then i'd be casually "talk" to a few guys and even though several of them wanted an actual full-fledged relationship to evolve from it, I never really did. I enjoyed being a single girl, and maybe I just liked the attention. Granted I never talked to someone I wasn't genuinely interested in, but at that point in my life, I couldn't see myself with that person long-term. And I don't get involved in a real relationship unless I see something lasting. Thats just my style. No sense in getting all emotionally attached to someone just to break up down the road. Right now my education, my career and MY future is the most important thing to me. Regardless of who is with me on that journey, I know thats something I NEED TO DO FOR MYSELF, you know? Then Adam came back around and I realized that I agreed to continue that relationship, if you could call it on, simply based on the fact that I THOUGHT I needed him… when I didn't. His absence and return somehow made me forget the immense amount of independence that my mother had instilled in me. This was a wake up call. I ended things with him immediately and I was incredibly satisfied with my decision to do so. I continued to talk to boys and all that jazz, but I had neither intention, nor desire, to procure a relationship with anyone at that point. I know that I'll be moving back to NYC in may, then Nashville in August, and then back to NYC soon thereafter, so starting a relationship from scratch would not be a smart decision. However, Mike came back into the picture and everything fell into place. I had NO intention of dating him again (not for lack of interest, simply because of what i've stated prior… i didn't feel like it'd be smart). but the chemistry and the connection was undeniable. Something about it felt SO incredibly right, and I couldn't walk away from that again. We have been given a second chance at this and it's not something I take lightly. They always say if it's meant to be, it will be. And now it is just that.

For me, dating can be casual, but when I call someone my "boyfriend", its because I have every intention on seeing it out to it's finish… whatever that may be. But in my mind, a boyfriend is someone I can see myself being with for a very long time. I talk and date guys to get a feel for what they are like, what their priorities are, and where they see themselves in the future. A boyfriend is so much more. I can honestly say that I've woken up to my misty haze of my co-dependency and i'm happy with the direction things are going in now. Wow, sorry that was SO drawn out, but it really do strike a chord with me because I always thought I was too strong to ever feel like i NEEDED a boy… but i've definitely fallen victim to that. Luckily I have since woken up. :) hope that makes sense!


hokay! i limited that to only 4 questions since my answer to the last one was so long! Feel free to ask anything! It can be silly, serious, random, whatever! CLICK HERE TO DO SO!

EDIT: i now have a FORMSPRING.ME page!
you can ask me there if you prefer. It's really all the same! Click HERE to view current/recent questions that will not be posted on the blog (a select few will possibly be chosen to be shared on KAELAHBEE, but not all)!

Questions Answered: Round Three!

ROUND THREE!
(follow up to Round One and Round Two)

1.) I know this may be too personal, but I'll stretch the limit since people do it to me all the time, but what was your childhood like? I've always been interesting in how people grew up and what they've become.
Hmm.. my childhood. it was an interesting one (who's isn't?!)… it was really just my mom and myself… my dad kind of blew us off early on so he was in and out of my life the whole time. i went 7 years without seeing him once, and ever since i was 13 its been a very turbulent relationship. i haven't seen him in a year and a half and honestly, things are better this way. it was my ultimate decision. my mom and i fought A LOT. i mean, i guess you could expect that… i was an angry angry child… soooo much pent up emotion and anger towards my father but i'd take it out on her (unaware at the time that this was the reason). but over the years things got way better. by the time i moved out on my own, we had become best best best friends. and to this day she's STILL my very best friend on the planet. i can't go a single day without talking to her and when im in nyc i call her about 5 times a day. she's the most amazing woman on the planet and i'm so thankful for her. the rest of my childhood was just spent playing with the neighborhood boys. i was the only girl on the block so i'd have to play tag, hide & go seek and football. i loved it. i was a realllll tomboy for a long time. SUPER tomboy. i would dry-heave at the thought of a dress. true facts. but as i got older i started to reallyyyyy get feminine. and now i dry heave at the thought of jeans and i only wear dresses. amazing how things change, huh? i played sports my entire life. cheerleading from 4 yrs. to 14, volleyball from 13 to 18, and softball from 4 to 18. it was good stuff :D

2.) what exactly happened with you and adam? you say you stuck by him through the good the bad and the ugly? can you say what exactly happened it a sort of detailed nutshell?
it's about 3 hours after i originally posted this and i'm changing my answer. i removed everything i typed for a reason... i'm beyond happy with the relationship i'm currently in... happier than i've ever been in my entire life in any relationship... so with that being said, i know what happened with Adam and our falling out was supposed to happen. my relationship with him was meant to end. it was meant to end so that this could begin again. had it not been for the sequence of events in both mike's life and my own, we never would have found each other again. i'm happy and content with the way things turned out so i can only hope that adam finds someone who he's willing to be 100% honest with 100% of the time. he has the potential to be a wonderful person and a great companion... it just wasn't supposed to be me. so i end any and all things that i've ever said about him in a negative light on that note. if you missed my original answer, i apologize. but i suppose thats really just history. and that shall stay there. thanks for understanding :)

3.) How were you different when you were 16-19? Were you ever rebellious? Were you scene? Did you date a lot of guys?
man oh man oh man! boy was i ever different! in high school i definitely went through the scene phase… but it was the front end of it. like, my 9th grade through 11th grade years (2002 - 2004). not like scene is today. but i definitely did it. i remember my myspace name was "x kaelah cutthroat x at one point HAHAHAH SOMEONE ACTUALLY CAME UP TO ME AT A SHOW AND REFERRED TO ME AS THAT! WTF?! im glad i got over it. i was never really "rebellious"… i never even drank until new years of my senior year. i've only ever tried pot (and that wasn't until i was in college).. nothing else. and i don't drink OR smoke OR do any drugs or anything anymore. but i deffff had my "~wild" stage the summer after moving out on my own. i was from a tiny town so you can imagine the slight culture shock of moving to franklin/nashville, etc. coming and going as i please, all that jazz. i dated a ton of guys that summer. i never tied myself down to anyone for long. i dated mike that year, too, the first time. but it was in my freshman year that i met adam, so we dated for 3 years and only recently split. i've been with mike ever since. granted during the time that adam and i were off and on over this past year, i dated a lot of dudes, but it was nothing serious and it wasn't sleeping around or anything of the sort. just casual dating. :)

4.) My hair is fine and I don't know a thing about styling my hair! What should I do with it? I usually just put it up in a ponytail and call it a day.
lordy girl my hair is super fine too! i mean it is thinnnnnnnnerrr than bible paper! gah! its frustrating, right?! theres so much you can do for it. dirty it up a little bit and curl it, scrunch it loosely with rave hairspray, etc! i could maybe give you better ideas if i had a picture of it? i don't have to show it to everyone, but if you'd like i can post it on here and people can give their suggestions! you can block out your face if you want to, or not if you don't haha :D but it could be helpful!

5.) Do you feel like boys are better friends than girls?
not necessarily. granted i grew up with nothing but guys around so i just came to know how to be "one of the boys", but truth be told, as mike just said to me (i read this question to him) i'm SOOOOO not a fan of passive aggression… and 75% of girls are nothing but passive aggressive. like… if something's bothering you, speak up. don't get snarky behind backs and sneer and chit chat amongst people who aren't even involved… just man up, grow some balls and stand up for yourself you know? i have lots of girl friends now (more than ever before, actually), but i also have lots of dude friends. i just like being able to relax and kick it with the boys sometimes. luckily the girls i'm friends with here in franklin have the mental attitudes of guys so they don't let petty drama seep in anywhere, its so nice :D

6.) What are your biggest pet peeves?
WHEN I CAN HEAR PEOPLE EAT! OH. MY. LORD! YOU HAVE NO IDEA! mike was eating something earlier and i could hear him chew and i just shot him the death glare… I CANNOT STAND IT! i feel like it makes me a bad person because i'm so intolerable of this.. but whatever. and when people scrape their forks and spoons in their bowl/plate… HELLO! FOOD WILL NOT MAGICALLY REAPPEAR BECAUSE YOU ARE SCRAPING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH! YOU ATE IT ALL, PLEASE STOP NOW! typically thats really it. i just hate hearing people eat food. :) [/end rant!]

7.) what's your favorite thing about yourself?
physically, mentally, etc? physically i like my lips. i love the shape and the slight pout. idk i just like them. and mentally…. my new optimistic attitude that i've managed to find over the past year or so. seriously… i'm able to hand stress and stuff SO MUCH BETTER. its so nice! :D thanks for asking this though.. sometimes i only concentrate on the negative stuff (i have my days where i doubt myself substantially) but this question helped me realize that i need to use that new optimism and focus on the good :D

8.) You wear your style with such confidence, are you confident with the way you look? I mean i know everyone has some flaws, but explain how you feel overall.
like i said in the question above, i def have days where i just doubt myself completely. i get super self conscious and i'm worried about how i look to other people and how i feel about myself… whether its body issues or intellectually… sometimes i just do not feel up to par. sometimes i wear things that even I am like WTF AM I WEARING?! AM I REALLY GOING TO ATTEMPT THIS?! but i just do it… the key is to fake it until you make it. even if you're questioning what you're attempting to do… don't ever let anyone else know that. don't let anyone else see the insecure side of you because then they'll focus on it. if you make them think that you're nothing but confident, they'll never second guess you. i promise this is true. how do you think i made it through high school and managed to snag Best Dressed senior year? i promise… some of the crap I wore makes me cringe to this day! :D

Feel free to ask me anything HERE... i'll be happy to answer them <3

xo

Questions Answered: Round Two!

Here we go! A follow-up to Round One!

1.) How come Adam is such a prick about giving you your money back?
Gosh, I wish I knew. He claims he "doesn't have it"... but the truth is simple, he does. He manages to fly to Las Vegas and he bought his plane ticket for Nashville, and apparently he's going to Indiana? I dont know... It's better that I don't comment on things like that. He's shown time and time again he's just plain irresponsible with his money. He thinks he can get away with not paying me if he drags it out long enough. He's done this before. When we first broke up he owed me a couple hundred and it took him OVER SIX MONTHS to give me barely half of it. yeah. I'm not letting it go that long this time. If every red cent, and my belongings, aren't forked over the day his plane touches down in Nashville, the good ol' justice system will be involved. I've already warned him that I do not say this in vain. I've taken it upon myself to speak to a couple attorneys thus far to basically test the waters and all systems are a GO.

2.) What make-up do you use?
Here's the general breakdown:
- Primer: FreshMinerals Smoothing Prep Primer (I SWEAR by this stuff!)
- Foundation: MAC Moistureblend in NW25.
- Powder: Maybelline Mineral Power in Light 3.
- Blush: NARS Orgasm or CG TruBlend MicroMinerals in Natural Rose.
- Face: Sephora 3-piece Face Sculpting Kit
- Eyeliner: MAC pencil in black.
- Eyebrows: CG Eyebrow Pencil in Henna Brown.
- Mascara: Maybelline XXL Extensions
- Lips: MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink & MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup.

3.) Could you do a picture post with all of your tattoos and why you decided to get them? Even if there's no cool particular reason, I'd like to see 'em up close!
I'm planning on doing this for this coming week's Tattoo Tuesday because I've had SO many people ask so check back! I have a session scheduled for Monday so hopefully I'll have more work on my sleeve to show!

4.) What's your opinion on sex before marriage, and I guess along with that, are you religious/spiritual at all?
I don't think you should go around just sleeping with any and everyone, but I don't necessarily think you should HAVE to wait until marriage. It's all about where you are as a person, couple, etc. I've seen both extremes. I've seen individuals parade around and sleep with any/everyone. I've also seen people who wear their virginity like some kind of gold robe. Granted, the people I've experienced who have chosen to wait were often times very self-righteous. I've known people who let sex be the driving force to get married. And if that's the case, what's the point?! If it came down to it, divorce is more devastating than pre-marital sex. And I consider myself a Christian, although I'm far from the ideal/best/whatever. I consider myself way more spiritual than religious, however. But honestly, I just have an open mind to any/everything. I'm a student of the universe, and that's the best way to put it.

5.) Do you ever regret getting back together with Adam the second time around?
No, even after all the bullcrap and drama and heartache, I don't regret. It's unfortunate that he turned out to be the person that he is, but that's life. People grow up (or fail to) and change. I'm ever-changing and it's so very safe to say that I'm far from the same person I was when I started dating him at age 18. I give people the benefit of the doubt. That's just in my nature. I try to see the good in every person (and often-times fail to see the bad, ever). I will never regret that part of my personality. I've just grown to learn that not every person is what they say and I have to use proper judgment. The three years I spent with Adam taught me how to handle relationships, friendships, dishonesty, living with another person, sharing my life, and letting go. Those are experiences that I would never want to be without. But in the same respect, I also now know that I will not tolerate ever being treated or manipulated like I was with him, ever again. It's always a learning experience. I feel a little bit upset in the way that I let many amazing opportunities and many amazing men walk right out of my life because I wasn't willing to give up on Adam. But that's all in the past and I'm so so grateful for where I am currently in my relationship with Mike, my family, and my friends. It wouldn't have been possible if Adam hadn't been in my life. It's a true testament to my loyalty, though. If I think something is worth it, I'll fight for it until I have absolutely no fight left in me. :)

6.) How do your friends feel about Adam versus Mike?
Well, it's pretttttty safe to say that my friends were NOT fans of Adam towards the latter half of our relationship. They had seen the good, the bad, and the down-right ugly. Granted all of them seemed to like him in the beginning. But its just like anything else, the veneer begins to wear thin and true personalities start to emerge. Every single friend, with the exception of one (who i still love dearly), was against me ever getting back with Adam. Many begged for me to break it off long long ago. But I stood by his side every time he came calling and needed direction and purpose in life. I used to think they just didn't want me to be happy. And I truly truly wanted things to work out with he and I. I thought I had met my soul mate. Maybe I had. Maybe I had met my soul mate, but just as Eat, Pray, Love states, a soul mate is not one who sticks around forever for its too painful. It was just that. As I started my "new life" without him, people could see the difference. I wasn't always on edge, I was happier, I was way more optimistic, etc. Then Mike came back in my life and ever since I've been all smiles. I'm trying to implement the things that Adam taught me through our relationship into my relationship with Mike. My best friend Bryan has a note in his wallet, and I have a matching one in mine, that says "Relationships are a compromise".. Amazing. I see it every day and I work towards that in every relationship... be it with a boyfriend, a best friend, a neighbor, or my family. Elle made mention the other night that Mike was by far her "favorite of my boyfriends" so this is good news. He has a positive aura about him and I love showing him off. It's been a pleasant transition. :)

Hokay! Sorry that was long! In total thats 10 questions answered thus far! woo! Feel free to ask an anonymous question HERE and I'll post it/answer it soon!

xo

Questions Answered: Round One

Out of the submissions there have been so far, I wanted to break down the questions into WAY smaller groups and handle them that way as opposed to having 20+ q&a in one post.

Here we go!

1.) If i email you will i be totally embarassed? :P
No way! There's absolutely no reason why you should be shy or embarassed to email me! About anything! Receiving emails from my readers is hands down my favorite part of my blog. Honest! And if you're still self-conscious about it, make a new/anonymous gmail account and email me from it! :) I promise I won't be creeped out or anything like that! I love emailing new people back and forth! I hope you decide to! (kaelahbee at gmail dot com)

2.) It's pretty apparent that you really love fashion, do you ever draw your own sketches or designs that you might one day want to make into a collection?
I spent my entire first year of college as a Fashion Design + Merch major, and after many many stressful nights in the sewing lab, I realized it wasn't my true passion. I do love doodling outfits and things like that (who doesn't?!) and we ALLLL know i LOVE clothes! haha But I'm perfecting my sewing skills (at least attempting to) with the intention of opening my own independent retail store at some point in my life. I'd love to have a small store with independent labels and maybe some of my own stuff eventually. I definitely definitely see it in my future. :)

3.) What are some things you do on days where you don't have much self esteem/don't feel very beautiful? In other words, how do you channel your inner confidence?
This is a really good question because believe me, I definitely have those days. As silly as it sounds, something as simple as curling my hair for no occasion whatsoever usually helps a little. Granted, its a vanity thing, but it feels SO nice to just dress up for myself. I've said it in another post before, but i like to dress up for ME. because I AM THE OCCASION. (click HERE to read the post... it's hands down one of my top 3 posts I've ever made on this blog). And upon knowing that I don't need anyone else to give me a reason, I also realize that absolutely no one else is responsible for my feelings. So I pick my chin up, put on my favorite dress, spend extra time on my makeup and hair... even if all I have planned is cleaning my room. It gives me an extra pep in my step. I lost that a little bit this semester towards the end because it was so stressful, but when I managed to "woMAN-UP" then i felt a lot better. maybe thats just me :D sorry that answer was SO. DRAWN. OUT. haha <3

4.) what's you fav drink at house parties? and fav shots at the bars?
Conveniently enough, my favorite drink and my favorite shot are both the same. Just add ice! haha I drink New Old Ladies (Which is: 3/4 oz Crown Royal whiskey, 3/4 oz Peach Schnapps, and a splash of Sweet & Sour mix). Typically I use 90 proof Peach Schnapps at home, and double the whiskey, so one drink is the equivalent of 3 to 5 drinks. But I also like straight Sailor Jerry, or Tequila. :D

Some other things that really caught my attention in the formsprings were people's favorite/least favorite and things they'd like to see here in my blog. One person said their least favorite part was if/when I talked about Adam, but that they understand that this is a place to vent so it was okay. And they're so very right. Thats where I stake my claim to my blog and my free speech, but I don't mean to offend anyone really, or even speak badly of anyone. I try to reign in what I say and how I say it as to not cause a bigger commotion. Adam is my past. He is what "was"... and I'm happy to say I'm over that. But until he manages to tie up the loose ends, he's still present in my life. However I can promise you that as soon as he forks over my money and my belongings, its soooooo long, buddy! :) I've been meaning to let my post out from the queue about the whole ex/current bf situation so maybe I will tonight. I need to ~edit.

Another person said they wished I updated more like I used to, and they'd like to see more personal entries. I'm happy to say that that is my plan! So sorry I've been so wishy-washy with it as of late, but I'm back! I promise! and Mike has given me the a-okay to include him in on the posts, seeing as he's such a big part of my life now it's only appropriate.

And last but not least, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the kind words y'all have said. I'm so very glad you can relate, or if you find something inspiring, or anything to that degree. You make me feel better about my ridiculously long, drawn out posts, and you make me want to update more! So thanks again! You are all fantastic!

I'll do Round 2 soon! If you'd like to ask me anything, share your favorite/least favorite parts of the blog, or just say something (constructive criticism is welcome!), feel free to CLICK HERE and fill out the formspring! Remember, its completely anonymous! or you can leave a comment, or email me! (kaelahbee at gmail dot com)

xoxo

questions answered! round 2!

this is going to be a long post. i apologize. but i just copied & pasted from my text/edit doc. a few questions still didnt get answered. sorrrrry! ill try to get them all soon though. gah i've been writing for what feels like days! enjoy! sorry they're so long winded!

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I feel that there is always something someone needs to be happy. Some key to happiness. What is your one thing, or more than on, you need to be happy?
family. plain & simple. the knowledge that my mother believes in me and supports me and loves me unconditionally is hands down my #1. always always always. i don't live my life to please her, however i do strive to make her proud of me. i strive to do things in her honor because she was not given the opportunities that i have been afforded. its almost as if she can live vicariously through me. our personalities are much different and even if she had been given the same opportunities, chances are likely she would have chosen a different path… and thats fine. but i'm able to show her a different trail. she may not agree with all of my decisions (e.g. my decision to tattoo a giant percentage of my body), but she always proves to me she loves me and supports me regardless. and she will defend me if anyone tries to say anything different.

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Who are your top 5 bands?
these change on the daily. that i can promise you. however, they're currently:
the reindeer section, the middle east, yeasayer, meiko, and the wooden sky. though i think a more accurate depiction can be made by viewing my last.fm profile for what i've been listening to :)

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what is the one thing that has affected your life the most?
different things for different days. certain things have repercussions that only show their grizzly head once in a blue moon. though i can say pretty confidently that the most resounding event has been cutting ties with my father. years of heartache and frustration seeping into my relationship with my mother (she raised me as a single parent for 18 years), my relationship with every boy i've ever dated (and most prominently my relationship with adam), and even my relationship with myself. however it is not something i think i'm missing out on. my step father is such an amazing man and i'd be proud to call him Dad any day. and i'm so very lucky to have adam in my life because he has taught me so much. both and he and my mother have taught me that regardless of how someone treated you in the past, you cannot let it control how you treat other people. it took a lot of mistakes, a lot of angry phone calls and a lot of miscommunication with the ones that i love to realize that you are what you love, not what loves you back.

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How do you deal with a long distance relationship? Also, have there ever been times where you've been bored or felt "blah" in a relationship? How do you get past that?
i guess its best to break these into part A and part B.

part a: how do i deal with a long distance relationship? i'm trying to answer that question myself. i have no idea. it gets harder with every passing minute. at least thats the way it currently feels. to think i was kissing adam goodbye at the airport only ten days ago blows my mind. it feels like an eternity since i've seen him. i'm hoping that if all goes as planned i'll be able to fly back out in roughly 4 weeks when finals are over. i've learned very quickly it takes a lot of money, a lot of patience, and a lot of trust and understanding to even begin trying to make it work. its so intimidating but i'm determined to make it work. it's been made a slight bit easier because we both have macs (i took him my white macbook on my last trip and left it with him) so we can videochat. it may seem silly but even when we sit there with ichat open and poke around the internet simultaneously (only every once in a while saying "whatcha doing?"), it makes it feel like we're together. its just as it would be. sitting there, exploring the interwebz together but separately. by all means, if anyone has any suggestions on ways to make a long distance relationship work, please send them my way. i'm a n00b.

part b) have i ever felt "blah" in a relationship? oh my yes. have i ever. even in my relationship with adam. i think at the end of the road last year before we broke up we were both just kicking a dead horse. both of us felt tired and worn out, not inspired at all. but unfortunately it's not an easy question to answer as to HOW to fix it. obviously we made some questionable decisions while trying to deal with it but sometimes some time apart can really benefit the relationship. other times its just a passing phase. however, i do think it is something that should be acknowledged between the two of you. its supposed to be a partnership. you shouldn't ever feel like you're battling something on your own.

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What's the worst movie you ever seen? It could be recent or it could be from the 1920's or whatever. What's the best movie you've ever seen, too?
okay, so cast your stones if you feel so inclined but i sat there TWICE and tried to watch twilight and i'm just going to throw it all out there… i feel asleep. both times. thats right, fell asleep. not even 1/4 of the way through it. don't get me wrong, i WANTED to like it.. i really did. i was afraid i was going to get sucked into all the hype and fangirldom but i assure you i did no such thing. everyone tells me to read the books, i don't have time. i don't want to read the books. i like what i like and i don't think i could get into twilight books. however, i really want to get into the movie so i can have things in common with 95% of my girl friends. sad, i know.

but the best movie? hmmm… not the best movie EVER, necessarily, but for the moment. i don't care how many times i see it, i can sit here and watch the proposal with ryan reynolds and sandra bullock over and over and over again. and never ever get sick of it. true story. i just love both of them as actors. can't help it. and the humor is just good. its sweet, its funny. a+ from me! and i typically like any movie that paul rudd is in so any of his movies get my vote as well :D *drool* ha!

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i feel extremely uncomfortable around my friends due to the fact that they are way skinnier than me. I've been on the heavy side since junior high and i can't seem to loose the weight. I took focalin for two weeks and lost fifteen pounds but it was an unhealthy habit. What do you honestly think i should do to lose the weight ?
well first off i'll just say this, your body is amazing. it does wonderful things for you. it makes you able to run and jump and swim and enjoy daily life. you should take care of it. almost all of us are guilty of taking it for granted, filling it with unhealthy, greasy, and way-too-sugary foods, but you should appreciate it for what it is, too. instead of praying for a miracle or ingesting diet pills, you should find something active that you really love to do. (for me, its the stairmaster thingy at the gym. haha thats not even remotely the right terminology but whatever!). i typically do 15 flights of stairs in 5 minutes, run off to another machine and then return for another 15 flights. repeat as necessary. and exercise releases endorphins which make you happy and when you're happy you can learn to really love your body and then you'll start pushing yourself at the gym and voila! a whole new you! but you have to do it the healthy way. i've done it the unhealthy way before, too. but it's all going to come back. i type this and think to myself i could have used my free evening tonight to go to the gym but i didn't. i wish i would have. i always feel like i can conquer the world after i work out. get some good tunes and just go for a walk even! invite some friends over and rent some awesomely cheesy workout dvds from the 90s or something and just make a night of it! just make it fun! :D

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why did you decide to go to the college you are at now?
the embarrassing truth is that i did NOT want to go to O'more when i graduated high school. A rep from O'more came to my high school one day for a college fair and my guidance counselor who i was fairly close with insisted that i give it a shot. She had a former student go to O'More for interior design and yadda yadda yadda. she took it upon herself to basically apply for me. I had my heart set on FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC). I applied to FIT for the Fashion Merchandising program as part of Early Decision, meaning I'd hear whether I was accepted or not come February. Months rolled by and the day came… my acceptance package to FIT for the Fall of 2006! I remember calling all of my friends and crying with delight that I had gotten into my #1 pick… however reality soon set in… My mother was a single parent and even though my dad has enough padding in his pockets to build a coliseum, there was no way he'd ever pay for me to go to college. I soon received an acceptance letter to every other college I applied to, even O'More. And with the O'more acceptance letter came a full ride scholarship based on merit and academics. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA (out of a possible 4.0) but unfortunately did not get enough in scholarships to get me to FIT. Housing alone was more expensive than actual tuition. And my parents were not thrilled with the idea of me moving to NYC on my own at 18. So it was, I would go to O'more and take the full ride and major in Fashion Design and Merchandising. blah blah blah, so i did, i loved it, fell in love with the school but hated fashion design so after my freshman year i switched to visual communications (graphic design) and i've been in that program ever since. (3 years strong! i'm in my 4th year at o'more and i have 2 semesters left!) i'm so happy i came here and it was a true blessing in disguise. being on a tiny campus and there being only 200 of us in the entire college is awesome. that was long winded, but that is how i ended up at o'more.

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what kind of sports (if any) did you play while in high school?
my mother played softball from the time she could walk basically up until she was 4 months pregnant with me. so it was safe to say softball would be in my future. (c'mon now… have you seen the size of my calves?!? yeah.. its pretty darn apparent that i lead a life of sports… even if i hate the after effects hahaha) i played softball from the time i was 4 years old (hey tee-ball!) up until i was 18. i played both summer dixie league as well as for my high school (shortstop was my position). i also did cheerleading for both basketball and football from the age of 4 up until the age of 14. i don't really look like the cheerleading type, i know. but back in the day i did. i gave up cheerleading at age 14 to start playing volleyball the year they founded the team at my junior high school. i was in 8th grade and i made varsity. in fact, not to brag, the first volleyball game i ever played, i served the winning 8 points with aces. pretty effin' stoked. i played volleyball from 8th grade all the way through high school. it is hands down my favorite sport to play and i'd love to get involved with an intramural team. (i'm only 5'2 so back row was my placeeeee. i served and also played as a Defensive Specialist)

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What are your views towards Online Relationships?
i've never been in one myself, but i can safely say that i've met all three of my best friends via the internet. i've also met so so so many close and amazing friends via the internet. i was friends with casey on myspace for a year and a half or two years before we actually ever hung out and met. he lived in kansas and i was in tennessee. we were friends for 5 years strong. i met jessica through livejournal and we were penpals for years before i actually met her in san francisco in 2007. she drove up 9 hours to meet me when i flew out there with adam. and i met shannon through a local music forum and we met a few weeks later at a show. i've been best friends with all 3 for 5-6 years. it can do amazing things for you. just don't be naive about it :)

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Are you ever sad or lonely?
even though i'm surrounded by some of the most amazing people 90% of the time, i still find it very easy to feel both sad and lonely. but i try to turn it into something positive so its somewhat productive. when i feel either of those things i try to get creative. i make playlists and mixtapes or i paint or draw or doodle. sometimes i sew or clean. if i'm going to feel these things then i want to channel them into something bigger. it usually works wonders :D

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How do you make friends?
contrary to popular belief, i am one of the shyest human beings on the planet. its so hard for me to make friends because i can tend to be very introverted at first. i'm always toting my cellphones in my hand so that when the awkward moment arises, i can text someone or at the very least, PRETEND i'm texting. c'mon… you've done it too, AMIRITE?! OR AM I RIGHT?! haha however i'm finding it a little easier to break out of my shell. if someone is listening to an awesome song or band or if they're wearing something totally fabulous, i try to make it known to them. now, that doesn't mean i feed false compliments. i'm not one to flatter people for the sake of flattery or for the hope that it will be reciprocated. i'm 110% genuine in what i'm saying if i say it. but this is another one of those things where i could DEFINITELY take some pointers haha

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What do you think about when sitting in class?
any and everything. honest. i'm lucky because in my major (graphic design) we have our computers in every class. so usually i'm poking around the interwebz when i should be concentrating, etc. my mind is always a big jumbled mess so i keep my pocket sized moleskin with me at all times and i just jot everything that comes to mind in it so i can keep up with it. i call it my little book of ideas. i just filled my last page up tonight. meaning i need to go buy a new one tomorrow :D i should write that on the back cover so i don't forget! hahaha

you are aware you're gorgeous, Right?
that is incredibly flattering, thank you <3

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why dont you ever wear skinny jeans? i always see you in boot cut.
then you don't look hard enough :) the truth of the matter is i hardly wear jeans ever. ever ever ever. i'm not a huge fan of them and i'd rather be in dresses. but here, to tickle your fancy, is a picture of me in skinny jeans. hello thighs! :D

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Where do you get all of your inspiration?
tumblr is a huge source of inspiration. just jumping from one username tag to the next. it is a huge spiderweb of inspiration just waiting to be uncovered.

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i dont even know what i want to ask you. i would love to know what goes on inside that pretty little head of yours because your quotes, photos, experiences are relatable but at the same time inspiring.. and i wish i had a mind as free as yours to open up to the sky
it's all a matter of putting your mind to it. i refuse to be restricted by the fences people build around themselves. its worth breaking free from. some people will undoubtedly spend their whole lives trying to fence you into your own little world or at the very least, keeping you out of theirs. don't be afraid to offend people with how you think or what you feel. your opinions and beliefs have merit simply based on the fact that they are pure and honest and 100% yours. and you should never forget you are capable of absolutely anything you set your mind to. cliche as it may be, its cliche because its true. :) <3

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What do you think about kissing on the first date, and just sexual relationships. Would that be something for you?
well i don't really know what to think about this question. would sexual relationships be something for me in general? is that what you're asking? as far as kissing on the first date, there is no right or wrong answer for that. every single situation is different and its all about how you feel in the situation. and as far as sexual relationships go, i'm happily committed and if i needed any of that, i'm sure i could get it. :)

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When you have a boyfriend, do you ever get jealous if you're around his ex girlfriends or girls he's slept with? I know its an ex for a reason. Its just an awkward feeling and I hate feeling insecure and jealous. I'm trying to work on it. I know I'm not an ugly girl and I have nothing to worry about. Just "what if" stuff.
honeychild let me tell you one thing… you're human. you're subject to bouts of jealousy and insecurity just like the next person. i'm sure he would/does get jealous when around your exes… but i can 100% agree with you. i definitely find myself in those situations. i know adam loves me more than he has ever ever ever dreamt of ever loving another girl, but even so, i find myself feeling catty or insecure in the presence of (or even conversation of!) another girl. but that is just human nature. you're not alone and its nothing to be ashamed of. its something we all must experience. :)

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What exactly did you do after high school to prepare you for now? How did you get your internship at bust?
man oh man! if theres one thing i feel right now its ILL PREPARED! i promise you that. i think about the fact i have 2 semesters of college left until i'm thrust out into the "real world" and it takes everything i've got not to just break down and scream. i'm always learning, always trying to better myself in some way, etc. but as far as my internship at bust goes, how did i get it? lots of emails. lots of nice, sweet, persistent emails. with bust, i knew exactly what i wanted. i wanted to work for a smart, funny, sarcastic women's lifestyle magazine that not only empowered me, but empowered millions of women around the world. i was determined. and luckily my determination and persistence paid off.

my advice to any and everyone looking for an internship: set your sights high. know exactly what you want and don't settle for less. go for it. grab it by its horns and give it 110%. thats exactly what i did (even when i spend 1/4 of my internship couped up in my far-too-tiny apartment with tonsillitis and pericoronitis)… so they asked me to return this next summer. i'm going to give it 200% this time. be eager, be enthusiastic, be willing to do any and everything, be willing to learn… but most of all, BE HUMBLE. (i def felt the humility one day on the job but it turned into a silly little joke and it passed… but be willing to admit when you're wrong. thats a story for another day hahaha)

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Are You Secretly Racist?
not that i'm aware of. although i can safely say that we all have prejudices… even when we don't want to and even when we don't acknowledge them. its so sad and i hate that thats the way it is… but thats just it… thats the way it is. however i neither condone, nor tolerate, the use of racial slurs in my presence. my father is heavily racist and it would break my heart every time i heard him say such a word.

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what kind of car do you drive?
i drive an incredibly dirty, and a WAYYYYY-TOO-SMALL silver 2006 Pontiac Solstice convertible. it was my high school graduation present from my parents. i was hellbent and in love with that car. it took us 8 months to find one (it was a first year model and leave it to donald trump to make america go crazy for them) but i can say this… i was naive and ignorant. this car is tiny. beautiful but impractical. its a 2 seater, 18" wheels, subwoofer in the trunk so nothing else fits, etc. but i get a lot of compliments on it. i'd rather be driving a white Land Rover LR3 but we can all dream, right? Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" was the first song that played in it when i got in to drive it away. It has been my car's theme song ever since. heres what my girl Delilah looks like:

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what is something you criticize about yourself too often or lately?
different things for different days. it could be physical or it could be mental. sometimes i get down on myself for not giving 100% in my school work, other days i hate the fact that my butt is too big or my thighs too round or my hair is too nappy. daily battles and daily struggles, but then i remember i should not take myself for granted and it puts a lot in perspective.

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How long did you and Adam break up for? How upset were you? I'm in love with my boyfriend and I know that if we were to break up, I would feel completely hopeless and heart broken.
adam and i were technically "broken up" for 11 months. however even in that 11 months (which felt like an eternity, and my mother made the mistake of thinking we were apart for 2 years today!), the longest we ever went without seeing or speaking to each other was 6 weeks. different points in the breakup called for different stages. there was the "i refuse to see or speak to him or acknowledge his presence" stage, there was the "adam and kaelah hanging out and being bff and talking about new boy/girlfriends" stage, there was the "adam comes over to cuddle and stay the night and be sweet but hes still not my boyfriend boyfriend" stage… we went through them all. it was a cycle. words cannot express how upset i was. i was hurt, i was sad, i was furious, i was vengeful, i was mean, i was all of these things and more. but most of all i was incredibly incredibly heartbroken and i felt like my life was caving in on me. there were several days where it was almost impossible to tear myself from my bed to even get a cup of coffee in the kitchen. i experienced every stage a few times. the regret, the denial, the anger, the heartache, the need for revenge, etc etc etc. and a silly little fact: i had grown so accustomed to sleeping in the same bed with him for 2 years that for the 2 months following our breakup, i had to sleep with the bathroom light on & the door cracked just-so, and position a body pillow beside me just so i could sleep at night. its tough to get through something like that, but the important part remains: you WILL get through it.

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what were you like in high school?
i wasn't homecoming queen but i wasn't a social outcast. i was voted as Most Likely to be Famous and Best Dressed my senior year (remind me the scan the pages one day.. they're ridiculous). i was an active member of both the volleyball and softball teams, i was a student ambassador, president and founder of the french club, i was a 4H honor club and all star member (holla!), i was basically editor of the school yearbook, i was in every club ever (except for FFA), and an active member and coordinator of all pep rallies. i was very very VERY involved with high school.. almost too much. but i loved every minute of it (except minutes spent in math. asd;fjsdlkf jal;sdfjk. yuck!). i took AP history classes as well as AP Biology. i graduated with a 3.8 GPA and with a Beta Club sash. I sang at graduation with 9 of my closest friends as part of Senior Chorus (we called ourselves ~The Chorus Superstars).. the truth is i can't carry a tune in a bucket but we sang songs from Rent. i shot way too much photography for the yearbook and i stayed after school and skipped way too many classes so i could sit in the library and edit my little heart out on the layouts of the senior pages. (i credit my love for graphic design to the fact i was enrolled in yearbook my freshman year… you had to be a junior to be in yearbook… even though i now realize i put a gross 2pt stroke on EVERYTHING and that was BAD! ha!) i always dated boys older than me and i made sure my locker was nice & neat & filled with photos of all of my favorite things. i really did love high school.. it wasn't a traumatic experience for me, and i'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. silly, i know.

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whats in your purse?
things i always have with me: way too many pens & pencils, 2 moleskin notebooks (my little book of ideas), my phones, my keys, gum… lots of it, tattoo cream (a&d ointment usually, & lotion), skittles, wallet, receipts crumpled up, loose change, a pair of earbuds, ponytail holders, makeup bag, perfume, zyrtec (my magic pill!), aleve, and q-tips. :) just to name what i can remember off the top of my head. someone asked for a picture of everything in my purse so stay tuned!

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what color is your hair dye? do you dye it yourself?
i do indeed dye it myself and in fact, i just bought new dye tonight so i can give you the exact specs on it. i use "L'Oreal Technique Excellence Hi-Color for DARK HAIR ONLY" in the hue "H8 RED FIRE". bought at Sally beauty supply. I use L'Oreal's 30 volume Oreor Creme developer (2.5 oz). :) and i only use shampoo & conditioner for red hair (John Frieda's Radiant Red is fairly inexpensive and can be bought at a drugstore)

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WOW! thanks for reading if you did :) and a big thanks if you submitted any questions. i hope i got around to answering it for you! thats enough of that for now! haha

xo

the picture game!

so i've tried doing this every so often on my livejournal but typically the response is overwhelming and i cannot manage all of them, but i'm goign to try once more!

the picture game!

tell me what you want to see a picture of. anything in my life. where i sleep, my car, my closet, etc. anything anything. i will take pictures of said items and i will post them here in my blog for you to see.

please repost this to YOUR blog so we can continue the game!

*please note that some things are harder to get pictures of than others. but i will try my absolute best :D they should be posted within the next week-ish?! :D

ALSO!
i'm going to answer the remaining questions from the formsprings in the past. if you've come up with something you'd like to ask or tell me, feel free to post it in one of the two formsprings below!

FORMSPRING #1
FORMSPRING #2

xo

ps; if you're shy about leaving a comment below, you can answer the "what would you like to see pictures of" question in the formspring! its anonymous! or you can choose the anonymous option below. but i promise i'm not going to bite! you don't have to be secretive :P