so long, farewell

Hey peeps!

So the whole blogger thing just hasn't been doing it for me lately, you know? I think I'm just tired of seeing posts that I wrote when I was 15 ready for a change.

Anywho, I recently discovered this beautiful thing called WordPress.

It's kind of like the love child of Tumblr and Blogger. And I love it. (Also, I have my own domain name, whoo!)

So, if you're interested in continuing to read my extraordinarily inarticulate rants/following my bad life decisions, feel free to check me out here.  (You can subscribe via email, if you don't have a WordPress account.)

So yeah, that's really about it.

Catch you on the flipside,

Tress (aka Abby)

warning: 3 am ramblings of a senioritis plagued adolescent ahead

I can't wait to be finished with school. I am so ready to move beyond memorizing equations and Spanish verb conjugations. 

When I look at things happening around the world {see labor camps in North Korea, the conflict minerals crisis in the Congo, etc.} my heart literally aches. I want it all to change. 

The tragedies that these people are facing all over the world -- on a daily basis no less -- are heartbreaking and sobering. All of that makes high school seem very superficial and insignificant, you know? 

But honestly, I'm not even 100% sure what I want to do yet, post graduation. {Though I do know that it includes many years of further education.} I have yet to encounter a degree that adequately prepares you for a future career in politics, disease eradicating, and warlord destroying. At least not one that can be neatly packaged in a four to eight year career plan. 

Prayers for my future advisers would be appreciated. Because the closer and closer I get to actually beginning college, the more and more it looks like I actually want to be Ironman. 

Sounds about right. But don't forget the part about warlord destroying, Tony. 

~ Abby

p.s. I mostly wrote this post because I made my housing deposit today, and requested my roommate for the 2014-2015 school year. So I am more than a bit excited. Just in case you were wondering. 

p.p.s. You also might want to pray for said future roommate. I have a feeling that negotiating closet space rights with her might become somewhat of an issue, what with all of my fancy mechanical suits and whatnot. 

2014

Dear 2013,

You are my favorite year so far.  You brought about new friendships and ushered in many opportunities.  You were like a huge awkward roller coaster full of character development and caffeine binges. 

Sweet 2013, you taught me that true friends are always there for each other, no matter the circumstance.  You also showed me that being there for people -- even when they don't think that they need anyone -- is heartbreaking.

2013, you were full of experiences, and I am thankful for each and every one of them.  Black eyes, first kisses, and new jobs alike. 

Dearest 2013, you made me more spontaneous, and more light hearted.  You some how transformed me into some strange girl that randomly buys pet budgies, chops off more than a foot of hair at once, and wears red lipstick.  I am somehow very okay with this. 

Finally 2013, you showed me that flaws are things that are to be embraced, not conquered -- both in myself and other people.  

Thank you for being such a worthwhile year.  I am now ready to begin dating all of my papers like this: 

oh look i used paint! i am artist! 

And to dear 2014: 

come at me bro. 

~ Abby

of ruts, black eyes, and my quarter life existential crisis

yeah, that's me on the left. apparently elbows and eyes do not mix well in the game of soccer.

I haven't felt up to blogging. Honestly, I've felt like my life has been pretty boring lately. Also, I only felt like talking about frogs. And I'm not sure that many people actually like reading about frogs. Poor frogs.

from a play [young frankenstein]  i danced in. apparently my face has had a thing for being discolored lately.

Basically, I've been caught in a rut. I've been struggling with complacency, both in my personal and spiritual lives, respectively -- and that's not cool. I kind of feel like I have plateaued, and that I am stagnant in a very dull, very in between stage of my life. I know that's not the truth, it's just how I feel.

But I realized tonight that life lately has been anything but boring. My last high school soccer season just ended. I just recently sent in my last college application. Last week I was cast as Belle in a ballet adaption of Beauty and the Beast. Life is actually pretty good.

However, I can't help but feel that the end of an era is drawing near -- at least for me, of course. This time next year I will have moved -- possibly to a different state -- and be in the process of settling into a whole new environment. I will not be seeing my high school friends very often. I will not be attending the same church. I will not be holding the same job.

Those prospects are both exhilarating and terrifying.

a few of my photogenic siblings and I.

From here on out, I am going to be more thankful for where I am. I'm going to do my best to cherish what little time I have left here at home, and I'll be trying not to rush things. I am most definitely not going to let myself be lulled, yet again, into ungratefulness. 

But it is such an easy trap to fall into.

~ Abby

#adulthood

*WARNING: TERRIBLE IPHONE PICTURES AHEAD. READER DISCRETION ADVISED.*

I turned eighteen a little over a month ago, which apparently means that I am an adult. Scary, no? 

Anyway, June and July have kind of been a huge adjusting time for me. My parents sort of ceased parenting me after my birthday. It's really weird. I have all the freedom in the world now, but I also have to do my own dishes/laundry/cooking, pay my own way {yikes, life is expensive,} and fill my own gas tank. I know that those things don't even compare to the responsibilities that I'll have when I'm living on my own, but it's definitely been an eye opener. It's also made me appreciate how much my parents have done for me over the past eighteen years. 

All seriousness aside, my summer has been filled with many a major milestone. Feast your eyes: 

Milestone 1: I am no longer the lightest shade of foundation in the world. Or at least in Target. 

That's right folks. I've moved up from shade 001 to shade 003. Will Abby ever make it to shade 004? Only time will tell. Also, bronzer. Bronzer may tell too. 

Milestone 2: I bought a lottery ticket. 

Photographic proof.  My good friend Erica and I were feeling particularly bad one day, so we went and gambled with cute little cows.  I won a whole dollar, but I will not be turning it in to receive my money.  I'm planning on framing my only token of teenage wildness, and preserving it for posterity. 

Milestone 3: I discovered the essence of Ernest Hemingway. In Hobby Lobby. 

So apparently you can buy candles that smell like classic authors. {If you're curious, Ernest supposedly smelled like clementines and dove soap -- I was disappointed. I was expecting gunpowder or something awesome like that for the man that wrote A Farewell to Arms.}But seeing this made me wonder what other word ninja's candles would be... What would C.S. Lewis smell like? Zoo exhibits and turkish delight? What about F. Scott Fitzgerald? Sea breeze and daisies? And who knows what scents some modern day authors would possess... I mean c'mon, can you imagine Stephanie Meyers'? I can, and it's not a candle I'd want to have in my house. 

Milestone 4: I've finally learned about time management, and some other stuff. 

It's all good and fine to be busy and responsible, but I've discovered that I'm a lot more pleasant to be around when I've had some quiet time. I'm learning that even though there might be errands to run, homework to do, and meetings to attend, it's okay to set aside thirty minutes a day to relax. Working hard and doing your best is satisfying and rewarding, but sometimes it's necessary for sanity's sake to slow down some. 

I'm also kind of learning that I'm not some horribly inadequate mess up. I'm beginning to find my voice, and other cheesy things like that. I'm kind of learning to really like myself. And it's kind of really awesome feeling. 

Milestone 5: I saw a Pixar movie back to back. 

via

It was Despicable Me 2, in 3D. I regret nothing. #yayformaturity

Now where can I get myself one of those dandy chip hats? 

~ Abby

P.S. I actually wrote this at 1 in the morning, while extremely sleep deprived. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors, hard to follow thinking, and misspelled words. Actually, I basically apologize for this entire post. 

summer rambliness + picture things

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” 
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

This summer, thus far, has been spectacular. 

I actually managed to secure a job, and test into a college level math class.  It's weird, getting up and working eight hours a day/attending night classes twice a week has been exhausting, but it's taught me to value free time.  Also, coupons for free gas/food.  Also, anything free in general.

But in between all of that has been great.  Vacation happened, as well as my studio's summer showcase.  Movie premieres, coffee dates, and sleepovers have occurred.  And I've basically lived in cutoffs/sundresses when I'm not working. 

And on a side note, my family managed to order almost $40 worth of food at Taco Bell last Sunday.  I didn't even know that was humanly possible.  #ipromisewerenotobese #bigfamilyprobs #WHATDIDWEORDER

photographic proof. it really happened people. srsly. 

On a completely unrelated note, I finally edited all of the pictures I took during vacation.  It took me about three weeks, but hey; it's the journey, not the destination.  {Or something philosophical like that.} 

Note: I am not a photographer, nor do I think I am. I just like shooting things with my cannon. *ba dum tshh*

Anywho, if things get quiet around here this summer, it's because I'm out doing things. Like reading. And sleeping. And hopefully getting a tan. {Hey, a girl can always dream.} 

~ Abby

    

why i hate seventeen magazine {a rant}

Friend: "Hey, did you see that article about Ed Sheeran in Seventeen? He's your favorite singer, right?"

Me: "Yes he is. But I haven't read the article... I've never actually even opened an issue of Seventeen before."

Friend: "WHAT?! You haven't?! Girl, you need to pick up a copy sometime -- you'd love it."

Me: "...All right?"

Before the above conversation took place, I had never even thought about reading a teen magazine. I had zero interest in them. But last week I went against my better judgement and picked up two back issues at the library -- I mean, I'm only going to be seventeen for a few more weeks, right? Reading this magazine is like a rite of passage or something, and it was one I was determined to experience.

I opened the magazine with low expectations,  but what I saw surpassed them -- and not in a good way.

There were makeup and hair tips, shallow dating articles, and ads for overpriced products. No surprise there. But what did surprise me was how close it teetered over the edge of vulgarity at times. One article gave advice on "hooking up" and another smaller one praised the book 50 Shades of Grey. And I calculated that the average price of the products they were advertising was $65. What the what?!

Granted, there was some good material; mostly about loving your body type, etc. But the trashiness of the remainder of the content completely obliterated anything positive. Seventeen, do you really think that some self-conscious 14 year old is going to listen to you tell her that she's beautiful just way she is when your cover model looks like this:

Holy crap, what teenager naturally looks like this? Oh wait, NONE OF THEM. 

Because I'm pretty sure that she won't. 

After I was done being thoroughly disgusted, I did a little research on the history of the magazine. What I found shocked me: the magazine was actually originally started to improve the minds of young women. {Fancy that!} Issues included knitting patterns, literature {fun fact: Sylvia Plath was first published in Seventeen in the 1950's,}and lessons on modern art. They even had whole issues dedicated to encouraging young women to support the war effort during WWII. Again, what the what?!

The cover of the June 1950 issue. {It's a letter encouraging American girls to buy war bonds to "hasten the victory".} 

I think I like the original version of Seventeen better. 

And I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one. 

~ Abby

Sources: 

Two back issues of Seventeen {February 2013 + March/April 2013}

http://www.seventeen.com/fun/articles/65th-anniversary-cover-archive#slide-3

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeen_(magazine)

p.s. Seventeen, I understand that your target audience is empty headed high school girls. But maybe putting in some content that is actually thought stimulating and doesn't immediately reduce the reader's brain to a quivering puddle of mush wouldn't be a bad thing. Seriously though, a lot of us don't give a carrot stick about who Ashley Greene is dating, or whatever that one article was about. I really can't remember, because it wasn't an engaging topic. #sorrynotsorry #offensiverunonsentence 

  

books on books on books

I think I may have a problem.

I currently have ten books checked out at the library, and three on hold. That doesn't count the books I bought a couple of weeks ago at Barnes and Noble. Yeah, it's pretty bad. #imabookwormandiknowit

I think the reason for my book bingeing is the overall lack of literary stimulation I experienced throughout the school year. {dance + church + soccer + moutains of homework = no time for reading.} But now that I've had to spend less time memorizing Spanish verb conjugations and equations, I've had more time to indulge in a little fiction here, a little non fiction there.

But when your librarian knows what car you drive, you know you might have an issue.

via

My life accurately depicted in a meme. Also, double points for the HP glasses and scarf. 

What have you been reading lately? 

~ Abby

so much black and white + 100th post

I don't know what has happened to me; I've always been a color kind of gal. But lately, -- and by lately I mean the past six months -- I have been on a black and white kick. And though I'm loving it, I'm showing color in 4-H this year, so I have a mountain of black and white photos that I don't know what to do with. {Not to mention that these are all taken with my phone -- my SLR is currently out of commission. But hey, when life gives you Apples you take slightly blurry/grainy pictures and try to make the most of it.} 

Which do you prefer? Black and white, or color? 

~ Abby

p.s. i just now noticed that all of these are of children. is that weird? i guess i have a lot of random kids running around in my life. so i photograph them. okay.

p.p.s. blogger tells me that this is my 100th post, apparently. geez louise, i need to get a hobby. also i am embarassed of about 95 of my blogs.  I REGRET NOTHING!!!

p.p.p.s if you follow me on flickr, you've probably already seen these. sorry folks. 

le love list

:: Red Hair ::

It's no secret that I've always been jealous of naturally auburn haired ladies. In fact, I remember plotting to dye my hair red when I was four years old, so I could be Ariel in The Little Mermaid. {I never could figure out how to grow a fishtail though -- I'm still trying to work that out.} So when my mom gave me permission to use a temporary hair dye, I immediately took her up on it.

At first the dye turned my hair more Katy Perry purple and less Emma Stone red. *cue freaking out* But it's faded some, and I'm beginning to like it a bit.

:: Reeses McFlurries ::

I've gotten into the horrible habit of picking one of these up with friends after dance classes and Wednesday night small group. I know, it's bad. But they're so delicious. And cheap. And addictive. {I am 99% sure that McDonalds ice cream has the same addiction inducing properties as meth. I am also pretty sure that this country's obesity rate agrees with me.}

via

:: Escape from Camp 14 :: 

This book blows my mind. {All though I might be a bit biased, considering that I am currently obsessed with North Korea.}  It's an extremely fast paced, eye opening, engaging read, and I highly recommend it. 

:: Les Mis :: 

I saw it for the first time about a month ago -- and I've since seen it about 5 times. *blushes* Seriously, it's so brilliant; the acting, the music, the everything. Anne Hathaway killed it... I had no idea that she could sing and act so genuinely. Also she is an ugly crier, and that makes her so much more endearing.  Also, Marius's face. Also, this gif: 

via

Thank you Tumblr. You inspire me daily. 

~ Abby

p.s. you can now subscribe to my blog via email! so yeah... that's all.