House Lounge & Party Animals

Today is January sixteenth and my New Year's resolutions aren't exactly working out. I pretty much set myself up for failure with those. At this very moment I am staring at my empty doorway. That's right. I have no door to my room. Kids, this is what happens when you don't keep your New Year's resolutions.

For the past week and a half, my room has become the house 'lounge'. Everyone comes and goes and there is no privacy at all. I can't even do my homework in peace. Actually, I don't even know the meaning of the word peace. Someone please explain. Not that there is anything wrong with the new lounge. At least it is semi-clean.

After having four teenage girls in the house this weekend, I am pooped. We are a lot of work. I have some animals for best friends. Party animals that is. Except we know that partying consists of making our own pizza and watching the Miss American Pageant. Miss North Carolina should have one by the way. And I am not just saying that because she is my cousin.

As my head falls and my eyes roll back, I am reminded of who my true friend is: Sleep. Oh how I miss it! Sleep is calling my name and this rug is looking more and more comfortable. (Now please do not think I have a rug for a bed; it is just laying there all fluffy and soft looking.)

If I have taught you anything today let it be this: do not take your door for granted.

Happy Reading!
Lily

Long Weekends

I define weekend as a break from the stress and business of the week; however, my teachers define weekends as a period of time in which they can load us with all sorts of homework and expect it to get done. They especially love the long weekends like this one! They have no concept of the word 'break'.

I probably had fifty kajillion things to do this weekend. Now did they all get done? No. I had to put school on the back-burner this weekend because my best friend was down from Virginia. I can't miss an opportunity to spend time with her while I can. It was extremely hard this past August when she had to move. You know you are close friends when her mom can discipline you just like her own daughter. Ever since they moved I have been stressed and no fun.

Stress. What a word. In fact, it is the ONLY word that describes me right now. I am counting down the days until May when I can take my final exams and be done with sophomore year. I swear it has been the hardest year of my life so far. The sad part is that I am only halfway done. The Digital Disrupter has worn of on my cell phone too because it is just another reminder of a school day, which I hate. Don't get me wrong, I love that I am getting a great education and that I can be what I want to when I get older. I just feel rushed to get there.

I should probably set the alarm now so I even have a chance of waking up on time in the morning. Teachers, I apologize if I am not able to stay awake in class tomorrow. I had some partying to so this weekend.

School & Sugar Plums

Last week was the dreaded first week back to school after winter break. Actually, dreaded is an understatement. For me, school means waking up at five a.m., five hours of homework, and a fifty-five pound book bag. Seriously. School is not a stroll in the park anymore. I guess it can't be as you get closer and closer to college.

I finally had to get rid of my alarm clock, which I have named the Digital Disrupter. The sound sends chills up my spine every morning and reminds what I have a ahead of me. Instead, I started using my phone as an alarm with an alternate, cheery sound; I am much more likely to wake up when some woman is singing me good morning, which is exactly what it does. Honestly, I am surprised I can even hear my alarm. I wake up late a lot of days because I do not hear it. Let's put it this way: if a truck were to run into the side of our house in the middle of the night, I would probably sleep through it. Crazy, right?

Sleep is overrated. I would much rather stay up into the wee hours of the morning doing homework then lie in my cozy bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Just kidding. Are sugar plums even real things?

Happy Reading!
Lily

So Far, So Good...

Hooray! It's 2012! To kick off the new year, I decided to make two New Years resolutions. I can't remember a time when I have ever made a resolution, much less kept one.

1. Organization, Baby! I pledge to organize my room and all that is in it AND keep it that way.
2. Keep resolution number one.

I am very prone to messes; they seem to follow me around like puppies. Nevertheless, I am going to try harder than I have ever tried before to keep this room organized! To start my resolution, I spent the day today planning and even starting to organize some of my belongings. I realized that I have more to do than I ever imagined. I do not use half the stuff in my room and it is cluttered. I will have to fix all this. My goal is to get everything completely organized before February gets here. Also, while I am at it, I want to rearrange the furniture to give my room a new look. This year is going to be a fresh start. And a great start at that.

Well, it is January second and I can see my floor. So far, so good.

Christmas Thoughts

I woke up this morning to the wonderful sound of...well, not the sound of anything really. I woke up to my little brother poking me over and over. Not to mention at 6:30. Merry Christmas to me! However, I must give him credit; he was a lot better about waiting until after three a.m. to wake everyone up this Christmas. So we made our way downstairs to see what presents were ready to be ripped open.

As you all know, today also happened to be a Sunday. Church never rests, even on Christmas. I thought maybe a handful of families would actually come to service because most I know are out of town around this time. After my family had our traditional Christmas breakfast and opened presents, we headed off to church.

Now I am sure everyone says this, but I think my church is the best! I am Southern Baptist, and everyone in church is so close! I absolutely love it! I was genuinely surprised today at the turnout in service; it was amazing! The sermon is never short of wonderful, but today's was simply perfect, a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. And there is nothing better than singing Christmas carols with a sanctuary packed full of people.

This was a Christmas of many firsts for me. This was the first year that Santa didn't come to our house. I know I am almost sixteen and have a thirteen-year old brother, but this is a really sad thing for me. This was also the first year I mostly got gift cards and cash from family members. I am going to miss the days when a big pile of shiny wrapped boxes sat under the tree waiting for me to attack it. These are pieces of my childhood that I am going to have to give up. At least, I have many, many fond memories to look back on as I continue to make memories with my friends and family.

Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Lily

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! Please?

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I just cannot believe it is December 23rd. I mean the weather here in North Carolina has been in the sixties for the past week! Crazy. I have three words that perfectly describe how I feel about this weather: I. HATE. IT.

December is my second favorite month for many reasons (my first favorite being February because that is my birth month and I heart Valentine's Day). I love the way the Christmas season is full of joy and peace. The music is so cheerful; the movies are heartfelt, and most times hilarious. Along with that, it is a great reminder of the love Christ has for us.

The cold is one of my good friends. One of the main reasons I love December with a passion is the frigid weather. In an ideal world, I would make it snow every single day during this month. However, I am mortal and unfortunately do not have that power. Any other time I would take the weather we have been having lately and run with it; it is not too hot and not too cold. December is the month of snowflakes, hot apple cider, and curling up with a good book by the fireplace (I recommend Nicholas Sparks). Fortunately, I have gotten two of these three things, instant apple cider and an excellent book the great Sparks. Google and Youtube have given me a replacement for the real snow I am missing in my life right now; my computer screen was snowing yesterday and then proceeded to frost. How cool is that?!

Merry Christmas you wonderful people! Remember to keep Christ in CHRISTmas. We wouldn't be here to celebrate His birthday without Him.

Lily

Why one should NOT make their own crayons

As I mentioned in my last post, I lead a normal life outside my studies. Let me define my version of normal: hectic, crazy (thesaurus.com failed to provide me with an accurate replacement), and completely and utterly upside down. But I love it! 

Last Saturday I had the immense fortune of getting the house all to myself for five hours. Now I know what you are thinking, "Oh no! A teenage girl all alone in her house for so long!" No need to be concerned. Unlike the normal female teen, I did not have my boyfriend over (one because that is gross, and two because I do not have one nor do I want one) or throw a party. Plus that last idea really only happens on television. 

I had the brilliant idea to make my own crayons. I am really a five year old living inside a fifteen year old's body, so I use crayons on a daily basis. This whole idea stemmed from a pin I saw on Pinterest, my favorite of all websites. 

Steps:

1. Chop crayons into pieces. (I should have know from here that this was a bad idea.)

2. Put them in a silicone mold and bake at 230 degrees for fifteen minutes.

The Steps That Actually Happened:

1. Cut crayons with scissors because the knife idea didn't work.

2. Put them in a mold which I thought was silicone (which was actually rubber). Then bake for four minutes because the mold started to melt.

3. Take it out and melt it in the microwave for five minutes.

4. Pour the melted wax into the mold, but miss and spill it all over the floor creating tiny little splatters everywhere.

Personally, I like the first set of steps much better, but beggars can't be choosers. Needless to say, I spent an hour and a half on the floor with my hairdryer and a roll of paper towels. You will learn soon enough that this isn't at all surprising.

Happy Reading!

Lily