Twenty -Fifteen Favorites // Media

As 2015 is ending in a few hours, I might as well write a post on my favorites in music and tv shows of this year. That being said, this will be the last post of this year. Wow. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Happy New Year's! Be safe!

MUSIC

Seventeen by Alessia Cara

Here by Alessia Cara

Save by Electric Touch
If you want better quality, you could listen on Spotify!

Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld

Unbreakable Smile by Tori Kelly

Riptide by Vance Joy

10,000 Emerald Pools by BORNS
This is one of the very first songs I listened to in the beginning
of this year!!

OctaHate by Ryn Weaver

Thunder by Leona Lewis

Walk Away by LANY

I remembered I was obsessed with these two albums earlier in the year!!

Alex and Sierra
It's About us

21 Pilots
Vessel

AND MY FAV DUH

There are definitely more songs I liked this year... check out my Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/user/seabelle

TV SHOWS

I just finished season 4 today.. Yes I know I have a big storm coming ahead.

Overall, it's a great show! Watch it if you like drama, Seattle, friendships,

quotes, or have an interest in Medicine.

SUMMER OF 2015. Loved loved this show, because of the fashion and the location.. New York City! I mean I guess the drama wasn't that bad, but it was stupid. I have to admit I really love Blair's confidence. I'm not sure if I would watch the whole show all over again, it's time consuming.. maybe just a random episode?

Guilty pleasure and funny. If you're ever curious about Greek life, then watch this satire hahaha.

Quotes of the day:

"It's not the goodbye that hurts, but the flashbacks that follow."

"Forget what ever happened in 2015 and just learn from it and move on."

xoxo,

S

Common Sense // Things Everyone Should Know

Hi ya guys! Here are 25 things people should know!

1. ANYONE can open the door for a person.

2. Religion does not define terrorism.

3. Never place a plastic or steel container in the microwave.

4. Never wear black to a wedding.

5. Leave an extra pair of shoes and clothes in your vehicle or locker.

6. Carry at least $10-$15 with you.

7. Treat people the way you want to be treated.

8. Respect people's opinion.

9. Claudette Colvin was the first black woman not to give up her seat to a white woman on a bus.

10. Feeding bread to ducks is harmful to them.

11. The world will reflect your beliefs back at you. If you believe life is filled with pain and struggle, then that's exactly what it's going to be.

12. Laughter increases the activity of antibodies in the body, helping destroy viruses and tumor cells.

13.  You can waste your life drawing lines or live your life crossing them. (Meredith knows best)

14. perfect practice makes perfect.

15. People who volunteers are more satisfied with their lives.

16. People are happier when they're kept busy. It keeps them positive.

17. There is no boy cute or interesting enough to stop you from getting your education.

18. The easiest way to talk to someone is to ask questions about their life.

19. Lefty loosey, righty tighty.

20. It always gets worse, before it gets better.

21. Once in awhile, try to walk a mile in someone else's' shoes.

22. Do not laugh at people with an accent. They can speak more than one language.

23. Stay calm and your favorite singer, actor, or whoever that is famous are more likely to have a conversation and take pictures with you.

24. Quality over quantity when it comes to making friends.

25. Eat cake for breakfast. (Okay.. not everyday).

Leave a comment below, if you know a fact that people should know!

Quote of the day:

"Think, travel, celebrate, charm, decorate, dress live - colorfully." - Kate Spade

Failure and Imagination // Summary

Hey guys! I'm still here. My two biggest reasons for lack of posts on here are, laziness (binge watching Grey's Anatomy) and studying (at least I got an A on the most recent test). One of my first writing assignments for my English Composition class (ENC1101) was to summarize a speech of our choice listed from a handout given by my professor. At first I decided to summarize Meryl Streep's commencement speech, which was really good by the way, but for some reason I didn't click with her speech. So then, I switched to summarizing J.K, Rowling's commencement, 'The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination . Let me tell you.. I really enjoyed reading this speech. It definitely made me feel better, it gave me a boost confidence about my future and of course myself. Now I understand we are all so caught up with our busy lives (hence the last time I posted), so because of that, I thought it would be nice to share my summary of the speech. I hope you feel different than before you read the summary!

During J.K. Rowling's The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination commencement speech in 2008 at Harvard University, Rowling takes a trip down memory lane, where she speaks about her failures in life and the importance of imagination. Being the well-known Author of Harry Potter series, she begins with a wizard joke and transitions into the lessons she learned from her past. Rowling caught herself in the middle of a situation where she ended up studying Modern Languages. Growing up in poverty inspired her to live a better life, so she would no longer have to deal with those negative aspects from her past life. But failure was what she feared the most. Her version of failure occurred after her graduation. She described her experience as being in a dark tunnel waiting for hope. Undergoing this situation had certain outcomes. Rowling became positive about her life and herself, which led to a new beginning. Looking back, she learned that it is okay to make mistakes. It is important to live freely. The knowledge that she has gained from her misfortunes has helped her learn from her mistakes and gave her the chance to learn more about herself and her relationships. She also explored the deeper meaning of life, which is uncontrollable and uneasy, but being modest and humble will lead to good fortunes.

Not only has imagination played an inclusive role in restarting her life, Rowling views imagination as a commodity that can change and advance the world. It can also be used to understand and interact with other people. One of her greatest experiences with imagination was working at the African Research Department at Amnesty International in London. She read testimonials, trial summaries, and letters from victims who suffered from negative incidents. Rowling once escorted a tortured a African victim back to the underground station. He desired her joy for her future. Amnesty International taught her goodness. Rowling learned about empathy, which was to understand other people's problems. Her involvement with the organization was humble and inspiring. Still continuing with imagination, Rowling considered imagination to be powerful. Imagination is a way to get people out of their comfort zone. It can lead people to become more open-minded and dig deeper on personal levels. There are people who are the opposite and live cautiously and with lack of curiosity. For someone to impact an individual, he or she must accomplish above from being aware that the person exists. The type of person he or she is and what their daily routine consists of can lead to something better, such as positive influence on others, better imagination, and helping others. At the end, it is about the quality of the life a person lives and not the quantity.

Quotes of the day:

FIRST
ATTEMPT
IN
LEARNING

"Failure defeats losers, but it inspires winners." - unknown

"What you think. You become.
What you feel. You attract.
What you imagine. You create. " - Buddha

"She lets her imagination runaway with her." - Kate Spade

Personal Goals // College Freshman

Hey guys! I hope all is well. Let me tell y'all something college is hard and tiring. That probably explains why I don't post every few days as I would like to. Honestly for now it would be nice to post at least twice a week, but I'm lazy (sorry about that). Anyway today I want to "talk" about my goals for this school year, so this should be fun haha.

C O L L E G E   F R E S H M A N   G O A L S

 Strive for straight A's

 Make at least five new friends

  I made two friends so far so yay

 Join at least two clubs

  I recently found out there's a health profession club so yay again

 Take pictures everyday for a month

 Start studying/reviewing everyday of the week on school nights, so you don't have to worry about it during the weekend.

  YAY for a stress-free weekend!!
Also learn the material, instead of just memorizing it

TRY to go to a concert or music festival!!

   Embarrassing Fun Fact: I've never been to a concert :)))

Post more on the blog more often!!!

Like I said before, posting twice a week is going to be my goal. I've noticed that this will be my 19th post, so I hope to reach 50 posts by end of December!

When in doubt, ask for help!! 

I'm definitely going to take full advantage of my teacher's office hours! Once again, they have office hours, because they want to help you. Also go to your advisor if you have any questions that concerns with academics and student services for health concerns.

Strive to be positive

Trying to stay positive can be hard for me sometimes. A friendly reminder will do the works, such as

post-it notes filled with my favorite quotes and phrases!!

Learn something new

So many things and I don't know where to start.

Here are some things I would like to learn soon: cook pasta with sauce, crochet, read Arabic, etc.

Love myself 100%

Honestly, I need to point out the things I love about myself and accept who I am.

I admire what Zendaya responded to about the question about accepting yourself. 
She was asked, "What do you have to say about those insecure girls?"
Her response: "Nobody's ugly, that doesn't exist. I say, take the time to get to know who you are, take the time to love yourself and everything will be alright."

There you go, my personal goals! I hope this helps you all to make your own goals. Good luck and don't give up! You can do it! Much love <3

Quote of the day:

"Make it happen." - Unknown

"You must not be afraid to sparkle a little brighter, darling." - Kirsten Kuehn

"Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down." - Kobi Yamada

-

New Beginnings // College Freshman

Hello hello!! I hope you're all are enjoying the new school year! If not, then I feel ya, hang in there! I guess I can say I'm getting used to college (I'm a freshman) and let me tell you, it's been quite an adventure. Although I'm still processing everything in my head and yet I have more to learn. Since I'm going to a community college as right now, my college experience maybe a little different from other people's experiences. I guess the difference is I live with my parents, since dorms aren't offered at my school. The other difference is that a community college is a type of college that offers an Associate Arts Degree and an Associate of Science Degree (usually takes 2 years to complete).

In the past, I've read a couple of blogs that has a post on their reflection about their freshman year. It's always been inspiring and made me wonder, what's my reflection is going to look like. I'm looking forward to writing my reflection by end of the fall semester. But for now, I want to write about my new beginning.

It is not all that great. I really want to transfer by this spring semester. I'm dead serious. It's so hard to make new friends, because from what I can observe, everyone seems to have already created their group of friends. Other thing that bothers me, is how I still see people from my high school. I mean it's whatever, but what is not okay is when they pretend to not to know me. It's completely awkward, it is what it is, and just ruins my day (obviously I shouldn't let that get to me). It feels even worse when you see them as a friend.. Another thing I dislike, is nothing exciting really happens. Overall I feel lonely. I just hope this semester gets better along the way.

On the bright side, college is a lot better than high school. Popularity and cliques are irrelevant. My best friend, Elisabeth goes to the same college as me (she's been wanting me to attend this college). We hangout every single day or at least the days we have class. I love my classes (currently taking Principal of Sociology and College Composition and two more courses in 2 weeks)! I always look forward to attending to my classes almost every morning, because I know for sure it will actually be useful to me in the future. Such as English, I want to be a better writer and would love to write a memoir someday. My teachers are great too! I love their enthusiasm and how they know their knowledge of the subject they're teaching very well.

That was my new beginning. As you can tell it's not as perfect as other peoples' beginnings, but as I always say to myself, it's a learning experience. I hope everyone of you all have a wonderful school year. Work hard, focus on the good, and be nice! :)


Quote of the day:

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts

Last Year of High School Advice // Senior Year

Yesterday marked 3 months since I graduated high school. On Monday, August 24th I started my first day of college. Crazy, right? I'm still processing everything that's been going on for the past 2 weeks. I'm super excited to share my freshman college adventures with you guys, in the next couple of weeks. But for now, I would like to help my fellow high school seniors to make their last year high school the best one yet. I guess you could say it's a senior year bucket list, but no matter what happens, make it count.

1) STILL stay true to yourself.

I know I know, I've said this a gazillion times, but I have to say this advice has probably made a huge impact me during my senior year. Thank you, Lauren Elizabeth.

2) Take lots of pictures, more than ever.

Do it. It's fun and try to not the delete the "ugly" ones. Those are the best ones.

3) It's okay to lose friends.

People say (possibly joking), the day of your graduation is the expiration date for friendships.

4) Try new things.

Most of you guys turn 18, so you have more opportunities to actually live life. Make sure it's legal and safe.

5) Plan for next year.

College. Career. Scholarships. Apply. Early is the best. Good luck

6) Write a letter to yourself and read it after you graduate.

It was a really fun activity to complete. You won't regret it. You would be surprise how much you have evolved over the past 2 semesters

7) Go to your high school graduation.

Now this you will regret, if you don't attend.

8) Buy or create a yearbook.

I feel like senior year should be the only year you should buy your yearbook, since it's crazy expensive like the college textbooks, but you do you, my friend. Since it's expensive, you can always create your own yearbook. Grab some paper of any kind, maybe print out some pictures of your own, think of a cute cover to draw or paint, let people sign and voila, there you go. :)

9) Value every moment.

Keep in mind, senior year will go by fast. Try to make everyday the best day. Focus on the positivity.

That's all the advice I can think of without repeating any advice from my previous high school advice posts. Enjoy :)

Quote of the day:

"East High is a place where teachers encouraged us to break the status quo and define ourselves as we choose. Where a jock can cook up a mean crème brulee, and a brainiac can break it down on the dance floor. It's a place where one person, if it's the right person, changes us all. East High is having friends we'll keep for the rest of our lives, and that means we really are 'all in this together'. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!" - Troy Bolton, High School Musical 3

Ten High School Don'ts // Back to School

Recently, one of my favorite bloggers, prepofthesouth, posted a list of things not to do in college. I really liked it, so I thought I would like to do the same for high school.

1) Don't fall into peer pressure.

It's important to always stay true to yourself. I find it heart breaking that people change themselves or do something desperate just to fit in. I bet that once you do that, you will not be satisfy with the people you surround yourself with. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, pretty please get out of that situation and be surrounded by people that makes you be yourself and truly happy. It may take time, but it will be worth it. As Meghan said in her Spring Lookbook: My Brave Story , "It's eating lunch alone, because you're worth more than toxic friendships."

2) Don't be a drama queen

Like I said on my last post, there will be irrelevant drama throughout high school. No one wants to be surrounded by negativity. Try to be the bigger person to let pointless things go and move on with your life, because as they say, "life is too short.. *insert positive words.
Be the fun and happy person. You want to be able look back at the good times and satisfy your high school experience.


3) Don't ever seek an approval of others.

YOU DO YOU
Value your happiness over the approval of others. If people don't approve you, then cut them out of your life. Go find better people. You and your life shouldn't be judged by others (If it's your parents, then compromise until you move out). Do what makes you happy. Make sure whatever you do will keep you out of trouble from the law and be safe.


4) Don't skip a meal.

I will never understand why people skip breakfast. As the whole world agrees, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It's what keeps you energize and ready to show the world what you got. Plus, you'll get hungry throughout out the day and won't be focus at all and same goes for lunch. Don't skip dinner too, because you'll have a hard time falling asleep and actually end up losing sleep and that will lead to no good.


5) Don't skip class.

Skipping class may sound fun and exciting, but wait until you go back to reality.. You will miss a TON of stuff, such as important lessons and announcements. It wouldn't be smart to skip school on the day before the test. I warn you there are going to be those teachers that will make you take the test right when you come back from your absence. In my opinion, you should only skip class if it's an emergency, if you're on a club related fieldtrip, sick/illness, religious holiday or possibly visiting colleges. Just know it will be your responsibility to receive your makeup work.


6) Don't be rude to your teachers.

This is has to be one of my pet peeves. I'll never understand why people are rude to their teachers. I mean they're also humans, just older than us. There's a reason why they decided to become a teacher, one of them is mostly likely, to wanting to make a difference in a student's life. They most likely want to teach and spread their knowledge of their interest. If you don't like your teacher, then at least be civilized with them. Always remember that they might be going through a situation you may not be aware of.

7) Don't make fun of fan girls.

Super important, because I'm also one of those girls. It's important to be aware that there is a specific reason why they go crazy over their idols. Don't be ignorant, just feel free to ask them why they go hardcore. I'm sure they would be delighted to answer any of your questions. Another thing to be aware of, is not all fan girls are the same.. Believe it or not, there are variety types of fan girls, some are crazy and hyper, while others could possibly have a chance to become friends with their idols. Just remember to assume nothing and be open-minded.


8) Don't spend too much time on your electronic devises.

No matter what, I'm always going to regret spending so much time on my phone and laptop..
YOU GUYS THERE IS A WORLD OUT THERE, GO EXPLORE IT
In case you're not able to explore the world for some reason, there are other ways to spend your free time, such as read a novel, bake/cook food, find your artistic ability, or you could watch tv..
 It's not that great to spend too much time on electronics, because it's unhealthy for your mind. We all need a break from it. The least you could do, is utilize your time.


9) Don't stop in the middle of the hallway to talk to your friends.

There is nothing more annoying than being stuck in "traffic" and seeing people standing in the middle of the hallway while trying to walk to your next class. In most high schools, you'll have five minutes to get to your classes. No one wants to get tardy. Be mindful to others. I promise that you will have other opportunities to socialize with your buddies.


10) Don't be uncomfortable with awkwardness.

I think one of my goals in high school, was to get out of my comfort zone, striving to become an extrovert. I haven't exactly achieved that goal yet, but I did made some progress. The key thing, is to be okay with awkwardness. We're all humans, we're not perfect. Just be you without caring what others think of you. Like I mentioned in the third advice, "Value your happiness over the approval of others."

Quotes of the day:

"Be friends with people who aren't your age. Hangout with people whose first language isn't the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn't come from your social class. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow." - Unknown

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr. Seuss

Start All Over // High School Freshman Advice/Tips

It's the moment you've all been waiting for, ever since you first saw High School Musical and the very first episode of Gossip Girl. High School. I hate to tell you this, but high school-related movies/tv shows are nothing but exaggerated plots for entertainment purposes. Despite of that, they can be useful sometimes, such as Emily Fields from Pretty Little Liars, who struggled with coming out. I assume her character helped someone who was also going through the same situation as her.

 Anyway I'm finally done with high school and I thought I would like to share my tips to the people who will be starting high school or for anyone really.

1) Be you.
There's nothing better than being yourself. By being you, you will make friends that will love you for you and most importantly you'll truly be happy. You shouldn't care what people think of you, so what if they think you're odd. They just lost their chance of being friends with the coolest person ever. In my opinion, you would be wasting your time if you pretended to be someone you're not.

2) Set goals and focus on them.
School is a place to help you learn, grow, and prepare you for the future. Is there a college you have in mind? Or do you want to make a difference at your school? Well make that your goal. Do everything that will help you reach your goal(s). Work hard in the smartest way possible. Don't forget to find your motivation.

3) Be open-minded
It's 2015 and you're most likely going to a school that's filled with different types of people from different backgrounds (race, religion, ethnicity, political views, etc.). Please don't be that person, who only surround themselves with people, who have similar views and background. How on Earth are you ever going to learn and grow? High school is the best time to expand your mind.  It's also important to respect other people's opinions. As my U.S. History teacher once said, "The point of high school is to get along with other people." Hey, you never know you might get invited to their traditional cultural wedding.

4) Be kind.
Nothing goes wrong with spreading kindness. Our society is already polluted with negativity, so why make it worse? We're all struggling with personal problems. Perhaps invite that person, who's sitting all alone nearby, to your table. Be the reason for someone's smile. Spread positive vibes.

5) Organization is the key.
PLANNERS/AGENDAS. BUY ONE. Or use the one your school provides. It's 100% helpful, because I know I'm horrible when it comes to remembering stuff. It's a lot easier to jot down homework, assignments, test/projects due dates on your planner than to trying to remember it. Plus, if you glam it up, it can also be a great motivation and make school fun. There are several cute planners you can purchase from, such as Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Bando, or even Target.

6) Get involved with your school.
Do you want to make friends? Is there something you're passionate about? Do you need service hours for scholarships or graduation? If you said yes to any of these questions, then perhaps you should get involved with your school, by joining a club/sport. From my experience it was fun. My favorite club that I joined, was PeaceJam. It's a club for students, who are passionate about becoming leaders to create a positive change in themselves, their community and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates. I have to say, being part of PeaceJam was my favorite experience from high school. It's also another way to stand out from your peers on college applications.

7) Take care of yourself.
There's going to be a time, where you are stressed, busy, and just crazy-minded. First thing first, take a deep breath and a 10 minute break. It's really important that you take breaks between your busy schedule. Make sure you prepare healthy meals, because you need that good energy. I know Bethany Mota is an expert on that, so here's her videos on breakfast and lunch/snacks. Don't forget to get reasonable amount of a good night sleep. If you need more tips on taking care of yourself, I advise you to click this.

8) Take several pictures.
Yes. Taking pictures with your phone or camera is important. You want to make good memories, while you're in high school. I wish I've taken pictures more often. I think it would be good for your soul, if you took pictures at least once or twice a week, everyday if it's spirit week or a holiday/break.

9) Stay away from negativity.
Sadly, there will be irrelevant drama. Ignore it. Don't waste your time with those people. Surround yourself with positive people. You don't want majority of your high school experience to be filled with drama. Always remember, a boy is not worth ruining a friendship.

10) Change is good.
Apparently, a lot can actually happen between the transition of middle school to high school (summer). Just go with the flow. There's going to be a time where you make new friends and start drifting away from your old ones from middle school. At first it's going to suck, but again, go with the flow. You would contact your old friends, if you still wanted them to be in your life. It will be okay. Take this time to explore new things.

Style. If you want to change your style, then go for it, girl. Don't let people hold you back from what you want to wear or do. If money is holding you back, you can always shop at the clearance/sale section or buy the knock-off brands. You should use Pinterest for inspiration. Please don't think, what you wear is what going to lead you to more friends and popularity. Although, it maybe true, but is that really what you want? A friendship built from brand labels. There's going to be people like that, it's your choice. At the end of the day, it's all about kindness, your personality and creating pure happiness within.

11) Challenge Yourself
One way to learn about yourself, is to figure out what you're capable of doing, such as taking rigorous courses or run for an office position for a club, that you're actually passionate about. Not only will it look good on your college applications, but it will help you become a leader and make your high school experience even better.

12) Stuck on something? Ask for help.
Teachers and Guidance Counselors are there for a reason. They're one of the most important resources in every school. I promise your guidance counselor can help you with your needs, from giving you advice on college to helping you too solve your problems with your friends. Depending on some teachers, they can help you reach your ideal grade and provide study tips. It's up to you to seek their help. Plus, by reaching for help from teachers and guidance counselors, it can create a great relationship. Just maybe when the time comes, they can write a recommendation letter for you. Take advantage of their office hours.

I hope these tips were helpful for you. I'm pretty sure there are more, but these are all I can think of solely based on my experience. I know you all will do great this year. Make the best of it.

Helpful links
http://study-hack.com/
http://www.sparknotes.com/

Videos
Study Tips And Organization
CrashCourse

Quotes of the day:

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." - Malala Yousafzai

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." - Sydney J. Harris

Too Much Information Tag

Happy August aka the Sunday of summer. There's no better way to get to know me more than to complete a TMI Tag. Hey you never know, we both might share the love of a tv show or have the desire to travel to the same country. I hope you enjoy reading these crazy specific informational facts about me. Stay awesome. (I created this post few days ago)

1. What are you wearing?

A solid purple short sleeve shirt and striped pajamas. The colors of the stripes are violet, mint green, sky blue, and dodger blue

2. Ever been in love?

I mean I get really excited when my fries are done heating in the toaster oven

3. Ever had a terrible breakup?

Nope

4. How tall are you?

I think 5'6 or 5'7 I'm not exactly sure

5. How much do you weigh?

On a good day, 32489320329430 pounds. WHY YES FOOD IS LIFE

6. Any tattoos?

I don't plan on it

7. Any piercings?

My ears. I want to get my 2nd set of holes, cartilage and nose pierced

8. OTP?

OH MY

CHUCK AND BLAIR & SEASON 1 DAN AND SERENA FROM GOSSIP GIRL

 

 WILL AND KATE

BLAKE AND RYAN

 

 

 

AND OF COURSE CAMERON DALALS AND I

 

Pictures coming soon
 

 

9. Favorite show?

There are so many hahaha

 

Gossip Girl (finished the show for first time ever on June 30th)

 

 

Baby Daddy

 

 

 Teen Wolf

 

 Pretty Little Liars

 

 Boy Meets World

 

 

 Saved By The Bell

 

 and many more

10. Favorite bands?

The Lumineers

My favorite: Classy Girls

 

 Of Monsters and Men

My favorites: 6 Weeks and Mountain Sounds

 

 Vampire Weekend

My favorites: Diane Young, Ya Hey, and Oxford Comma

 

 

 and I guess One Direction haha

My favorites: She's Not Afraid, Alive,

 

11. Something you miss? .

Being five years young, my dad's side of the family in India, and the old Disney Channel & Nick

12. Favorite song?

I have no clue. Is there such thing?
Although my favorite country song is Play It Again by Luke Bryan

13. How old are you?

I have 2 months and 4 days left to still call myself an 18 year old gal

14. Zodiac sign?

Libra babyyy

15. Quality you look for in a partner?

Anything  from...

 

 Cameron Dallas

 

 

 Dylan O'Brien

 

 

and Ansel Elgort

 

16. Favorite Quote?

There's a special place in my heart for quotes.
As of right now I'm really loving, "escape the ordinary"
 

17. Favorite actor?

I guess Johnny Depp and Leonardo Di Caprio, they're both successful and inspiring

 

18. Favorite color?

Mostly pink, but I do like gold
 

19. Loud music or soft?

Both

20. Where do you go when you're sad?

My room

21. How long does it take you to shower?

Maybe 20 minutes I don't know haha

22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

10 minutes because, I don't do much, but I hope to change that. I usually spend the remainder of the of time on my phone laying on my bed

23. Ever been in a physical fight?

A physical fight as in hitting people, then yes. whoops

24. Turn on?

Kindness, gives a real smile, and open-mindness

25. Turn off?

Ignorance, rudeness, and being cocky

26. The reason I created a blog?

(I alternated this, since I didn't exactly join Youtube haha maybe someday)

To express myself, have fun, and hopefully inspire someone. I'm also shy and awkward in front the camera so vlogging wasn't the best option.

27. Fears?

My goals won't be achieved, pass away with regrets, and snakes

28. Last thing that made you cry?

Not being able to speak up

29. Last time you said you loved someone?

I just tweeted Cameron I love him so yeah hehehe

30. Meaning behind your blog Name?

I love the beach, so I guess seaside is another word for the beach and my name is Sameera.
I think the blog name is pretty catchy

31. Last book you read?

Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie, it was for my English class

 

 

32. The book you're currently reading?

Wow this is embarrassing, I need to get back to reading

33. Last show you watched?

I finished Gossip Girl on June 30, 2015

34. Last person you talked to?

My friend Mae

35. The relationship between you and the person you last texted?

My friend Alex. I texted her Okay!!!

36. Favorite food?

I can't choose between fries, pizza, and chicken curry

37. Place you want to visit?

Everywhere on this planet, but Rome, Italy to be specific

38. Last place you were?

In the kitchen in my home

39. Do you have a crush?

His name is Cameron Dallas

40. Last time you kissed someone?

I've never been kissed

41. Last time you were insulted?

Last night by my parents. Long story

42. Favorite flavor of sweet?

Chocolate

43. What instruments do you play??

I don't play anything, but I do want to learn to play the acoustic guitar, the drums, and the piano

44. Favorite piece of jewelry?

My golden/diamond studs earrings

45. Last sport you played?

Hahahahahaha

46. Last song you sang?
 

I was jammin' out Taylor's 1989 album

 

47. Favorite chat up line?

I don't have one. I'm so awkward that I can't even say hi

48. Have you ever used it?

Skipping this question hahaha

49. Last time you hung out with anyone?

Few months ago with my best friend Elisabeth

50. Who should answer these questions next?

Anyone who's reading this right now

** Pictures are not mine

Quote of the day:

 

"Shine bright, be yourself." - Stephen Richards

 

Transcendentalist Ideals

Hi ya. Transcendentalism. In case you're not familiar with the word Transcendentalism, it's basically a literary and philosophical movement from the 19th century, refusing to conform with the society. People wanting to live life the simple way, be self-reliant and independent. Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and many more were part of this movement.
Beginning of my senior year in English class, we read a novel that focused on Transcendentalism. Being Henry David by Cal Armistead. You should read it. It's definitely something I've never read before and possibly be relatable.

Before you read the novel, I think it would be helpful to get familiar with the idea of Transcendentalism.

- Be original

- You have to do to be

- Strength comes from within

- Intuition overrules reason

- We all have a purpose; it is our job to find it

- Don't conform

- Don't stress about the past, it is gone

- Strive to be great

- Constantly recreate yourself; complacency is foolish

- Trust yourself

- Follow your heart

- You can find truth in the depths of nature

I'm pretty sure there are more ideas, but these are the ones my English teacher stated. I hope you enjoy reading Being Henry or any other novel that has to with Transcendentalism.

Quote of the day:

"Escape the ordinary." - Unknown

GIRL POWER TAG

Happy July. Sometime last year Seventeen Magazine created a Girl Power Tag, where celebrities and youtubers were asked to answer couple of questions about girl power. I loved watching these tag videos and decided I wanted to do the tag too.

♥ GIRL POWER TAG QUESTIONS ♥

What does Girl Power mean to you?

There are different meanings of girl power. I think girl power has to do with being able to be yourself without caring about what others think of you. Just be confident with yourself. Accomplish something that will make you truly happy.

 I also think girl power has to with receiving education, because you can achieve a lot to transform a better world and self. Most importantly if things go downhill, you still have your knowledge from gaining an education. It's a weapon that no one can take away from you.

Lastly, inspiring and helping girls in need. It's 2015 and right now all I see is competition in this society. I just graduated high school and I can tell you the things I witnessed a lot, were girls trying to be better than other girls, jealousy, girls having this mindset to think that they're too cool to be friends with other girls that are different from them. The only person you should strive to be better than, is the person you were yesterday. With all the events that are going on right now, I say we should unite and stand together. Be the generation that ends the stereotypes, treat people with equality, and aim for positivity in this world.

What is the best advice you can give to girls who want to be powerful?

Always be your true self no matter what type of situation you're in right now. It's important to not let anyone hold you back from achieving great things in your life, such as gaining an education, pursuing a career, starting a family, etc. Do what that's going to satisfy you at the end of the day.

There are going to be several weak points in your life. Don't give up. Every problem you're stuck with dealing, is temporary. There's a solution, figure it out. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help. You have to tell yourself, "I can go through this. It may take awhile, but I can do it."
I believe that our life is like roller coaster that goes up and down. Since we're not perfect human beings, it also goes upside-down, twists and turns and other crazy turns. Our life is also like a maze, where sometimes we choose a path that leads to a dead-end and so we try try again not matter how long it takes. My point is don't ever give up until you have tried every solution and you are satisfied with your choice of trying something completely new. It's important to not to have any regrets. Regrets are not worth to risk our happiness.

Most importantly, spread kindness. Be the reason for someone's smile. There are times when we need a little help from others and sometimes, a smile or a hello is just enough. We're all going through something in our lives. There's no need for negativity.


If you could have any super power, what would it be and how would you use it?

Speak every language in the world, because communication is important and extremely valuable. Communication is the key. We're dealing with global problems. We need to unite and help each other out in many areas, such as healthcare, world peace, education, resources, etc. I think we could get more work done if we were able to communicate and have empathy for each other.

Show us your best girl power (picture) pose.

I don't have a picture at this moment :)

What beauty product makes you feel powerful?

I don't use any beauty product. Although I do use Oil-Free Acne Body Wash, I guess that could be consider as a beauty product.
As Marilyn Monroe once stated, "A smile is the best make up any girl can wear."

Why is it important to have power girls as role models?

It's important to look up to someone. we need inspiration to lead our self to become better people. Having someone to look up to, builds confidence and help us reach our goals. We would be lost and have no idea what to do or and where to begin without role models. You can't be what you can't see.

What young up and comer do you think is powerful and why?

Zendaya. She is a role model that everyone can look up to, whether you're 16 or 25, she's there for everyone. She has confidence, she strives for positivity. What I really like about her, is that she stands up for herself and accepts everyone. Most importantly, she expresses herself differently than most girls around her age. I love how she's always herself. I don't ever see her as a negative influence and I hope you don't either.



I thought these pictures would be appropriate for this post hahahaha.

 

 

 

If you would like to be involved with ensuring women rights and women empowerment, here are some organizations you should check out.

 

Let Girls Lead

Malala Fund

Amy Poehler's Smart Girls

Because I am a Girl

Girl's Globe

I AM THAT GIRL

Mean Stinks

Girls Leadership

Global Girl Power 

VOICE 4 Girls

1 Million Women

Girl Scout

The Girl Effect

Girl Up

 

 

Quotes of the day:

"The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world." - Ashley Rickards

"There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a women being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me that is the true essence of beauty." - Dr. Steve Maraboli

"The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than a crowd. The woman walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before." - Albert Einstein

"She's a dreamer, a doer, a thinker. She sees possibility everywhere." - Anonymous

DEAR FUTURE ME

Hey guys today I decided to a type future letter to myself, because why the heck not?! I've been working on for about two weeks now. I felt like typing this letter would be good for me and it would be something big and wonderful to look forward to in a couple of years. I hope you enjoy reading my crazy, yet personal letter. Have a lovely day. :)

Dear future Sameera,
Hey, how are you? I hope you're happier than ever right now. It's been about two weeks and 3 days since you graduated from Lincoln high school hahaha those were the good days. By the time you're reading this, you'll be graduating from an university with a degree that you're actually interested in. Are your values the same? Are you still that girl, who believes in staying true to yourself?  I hope you're living the life you always wanted to live. Where are you right now at this moment? Maybe outside of U.S. who knows? I hope it's somewhere interesting. I'm so excited to see what your future holds for you. As of right now I'm listening to, Never Sleep Alone by Kaskade on Spotify. Are you still obsessed with Spotify? How do you feel about Cameron Dallas? How is he doing? What about his acting career doing? Is he still your dream husband? MOST IMPORTATLY HAVE YOU MET HIM YET?! But for real though, are you finally truly happy? Please be honest. There's this really long quote by F. Scott Fitz Gerald I found and thought it would be a good time to pass it on to you right now. "For what it's worth... it's never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you can make the best of it. I hope you see the things that startle you. I hope you feel things you have never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again." So how do you feel about that? Did you live by that quote? Are you excited/scared about starting the next chapter of your life?? I bet it's going to be amazing and crazy at the same time. Do you remember the last chapter you ended four years ago? Was it better than that? Please say yes. Wow I can't believe when you read this, it will mark four years since you graduated high school. I hope you finally found that courage to be more open to people and not care what others have to say about you. Are you finally an extrovert? If not, it's okay. I just hope you finally break your shell someday and live free. Or maybe you're living in the moment right now, flaunting your confidence and still being humble of course. I hope you never stop doing what you do best, being nice to people. I hope you went far with that, because I know you have the potential of doing that. Do you still tell people it gets better? Most importantly I hope you have stopped letting people get to you and treating you less than you deserve. You deserve happiness. You're an amazing person. If you don't mind I would like to interrogate with all of these questions hehe enjoy answering.

1) What was the first thing you did when you turned 21?
2) Did you finally complete a wreck this journal?
3) Do you have any regrets or mistakes you wish you could undo?
4) Do you have anything you wish you did but didn't do?
5) What's currently your biggest dream?
6) What's your biggest accomplishment/experience? Worst experience? What did you learn from those events?
7) What's the most important thing in your life right now?
8) Are you still friends with people from high school?
9) What's the craziest thing you've done since I typed this letter?
10) Who was the last person you texted?
11) Has Taylor Swift released her new album yet? If so, buy them now!
12) Am I embarrassing you?
13) What's the coolest thing that has happened in the world?
14) Have you been traveling?
15) Do yourself a favor and call mommy and daddy right now.
16) What are your plans today?
17) Do you still want to adopt a baby?
18) Lol did you rush a sorority? Whether it's a yes or no, tell me your experience.
19) Did you finally attempt to create 100 happy days? Whether it's a yes or no, tell me your experience.
20) Are you still planning to live on the beach?
21) Where you going next?

So yeah future Sameera, I hope by the time you finish reading this letter, you feel a lot more better about yourself and realize that you have a lot more to do with your life. I know you can do this. You're Sameera, you're different. Go out there, embrace your beauty, live life, and make a positive difference! Dare to be remarkable. I love you.

Quote of the day:

"She believed she could, so she did." - Kate Spade