Anna form September to May

I've never been so ready for summer. This year has been full so much stress, I am so done. On top of the school stress, I have spent the past four weekends waking up at 6:30 for an all-day volleyball tournament. I've never been so tired for so long. I'm always tired, and in the summer, SLEEP is what I'll be doing. So my motivation has clearly gone downhill. I hate to admit it, but I was so much more motivated in the beginning of the year. I was planning on reading every page in my AP text book twice, study for every test weeks in advanced, and so on, but that didm"t exactly happen.
 

If you see me in the hall, chances are I look like this. Photo from http://cliparts.co/tired-clipart

Another example of my motivation that's changed, you can see it in my blog. I was planning on writing a lot on makeup, but I haven't wrote strictly on makeup since Christmas. I wore a lot of makeup in the beginning of the year, in fact I wore wayyy too much. Now, I only wear mascara and a little concealer for redness, and of course I need my eyebrows to be on fleek. I'm sure people see it as I look a lot uglier than normal, but I do it so I can sleep. I can now sleep in thirty more minutes than I used to which feels like thirty more years of sleep. 

I've also realized to stay away from the drama. I was so caught up in the gossip and who was dating who and cared about popularity in the beginning of the year. Now, I know if I keep a few friends close, I will be happy, and the rest doesn't matter even a little. 

I learned so much from all the volleyball I've been doing too. I spent a lot of time with older girls during high school season, being one of tow freshman on the JV team along with Amy Playing a sport has taught me so much, especially this year. The most important thing I’ve gained from my volleyball team is my friends. Some of my best friends play with me, and I wouldn’t of met them if I hadn’t played volleyball. I met one of my current best friends in a rec soccer league in the third grade. Friends are obviously such an important aspect of a good life, and being on a team will create a bond with your teammates unlike anything else. Something else I've really learned this year is how an attitude can effect a group. This season I’ve had a few experiences where I can’t preform to my best because of the negativity surrounding me. I really learned to ignore a certain player or coaches comments that put me down, and focus on the goal of the game. Overall, I've learned so much from being commented to a team and playing a sport I know and love. 

My High School JV team 

Me and my parents during club season

People and sports have really influenced me and how I've changed. It's really made me think how am I going to change from May 10th 2015 to the day I graduate? I know my sister has changed so much from that time. I just hope it's an exciting journey full of fun. 

Mother's Day

Expectations vs. Reality
I don't know if this is just a Deimling family issue, but I'm sure it happens in some other households. We plan the day out hoping we will spend it with family we love and have a really relaxed day, focused on our mom's and grandma's. In reality, the mom is usually stressing out and cleaning, preparing for a gathering of some type. I always feel so bad, I want the day to be one of the best days for my mom, but I feel like because of all the stress, that doesn't happen. I usually don't spend that time with my mom, but I usually hide in the basement with my sister to get away from certain people. I think (at least I hope) that the thing that matters is that you spend quality time with your mom that day. Going out to lunch, getting coffee, watching a movie or really doing anything should make your mom happy before your extended family get-together. That's typically not the plan, but as long as your with her, she should be happy.

Me and my mom in Costa Rica 2014

DIY Gift Ideas

My mom always says something like, "Don't spend too much money on my present, as long as its coming from your heart," but I don't know if thats true. My sister and I were able to come up with something cheap, easy and hopefully our mom will like it. It also made for some great bonding time with my sister.

Picture Board-

What you need:
•One wooden board
•Paints of choice
•Mason Jar Lids (optional)
•A picture your mom loves

I painted a wooden board with a color that matched the theme of the picture. While the paint dried, we painted lids we had laying around from a mason jar. My sister and I each painted three of them with something that had to do with our mom. I did a palm tree, sloth and city skyline, and my sister did her college logo, our dog, and pooh bear. We glued on the picture and the jars, and thats all. It's super easy, looks good, and actually really fun.

Candles-

What you need:

•Mason Jars
•Candle Wicks
•Soy Candle Wax
•Essential Oils
•Paints of choice

This is a little harder, but it's really fun to make. We melted the wax, added in essential oils that are mom's favorite, put it in mason jars with wicks in it, and we had homemade candles. It is a little bit confusing so this may help you out on how to make natural soy candles.

Spending time with your mom along with a gift coming from the heart will make your mom really happy. The day may be stressful for your mom, but try your hardest to make it easiest as possible.

How to have a memorable and productive summer ☀️

We have all had too many days in summer waisted away because of netflix or sleeping in or just being lazy. Trust me, I love those days probably more than most, but I still want to make memories this summer and get a lot done. Here are some ideas on how to spend your summer doing the best things possible.

1) Get a job-
This one is no doubt the least fun step for a great summer. I've never had a real job, but this summer I'm forcing myself to get one. Because I'm fifteen and will have hopefully get my license in about 6 months, I would like to have a car on my 16th birthday. Sadly, I'm not going to get a porche handed to me by my daddy, but I will be working to pay for my car. Getting a job and being able to buy something you want will make you feel like you actually accomplished something this summer. Money is an amazing thing, and I know I spend a lot of it over the summer, so get a job to allow you to buy what you want!

2) Find a sport/hobby- 
Last summer, I spent my Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Saturday's playing beach volleyball with one of my best friends. I will never forget those practices and tournaments because of all I learned. I had so much fun on the court, and I was able to take the skills learned there and apply them while at my high school volleyball tryouts. Find the thing you love, because the summer is the perfect time to practice and learn more about that sport or hobby. I've had so much fun over the years playing with my friends, Alexis and Bryn, we really bonded from that experience.

These pictures are from playing beach (or sometimes grass) volleyball over the past two years. 

3) Be with who you want to be with- I'm sure we all know those people we "have"to hang out with, but you're summer will be so much better if you're with those that you actually like. Surround yourself with good people that make you happy, and you always have a good time. Also, make some time for your family. My sister is graduating so it's my last summer with her; I'm going to make sure I spend as much time as possible with her. With school out, the last thing you want is to go through stupid drama in the summer, so ditch the drama and be with those you love
4) Camp- I'm lucky to live in Park City with the Uinta Mountians camp grounds only 30 minutes away. Camping doesn't have to be a huge production with a trailer, go camp in your car, a tent, or even under the stars. It's something new and exciting and will for sure make great memories.
5) Staycation with friends- Go out and explore your area with you friends. Go to the nearest city and shop, drive to a lake and swim, go for a hike or really anything that you normally wouldn't think of doing. It's really fun to see your city as if you were a tourist and not a local. Maybe you could even convince your parents to let you spend the night in a hotel with a nice pool, that's always a good time.

One of my favorite memories from last summer
 was having a picnic with my sister Sierra at the Jordanelle. 

Goodbye?

My best friend I've ever had is my sister Sierra. I'm not saying that because "she's family" or "my mom told me to," but my sister really is my best friend. We have such a strong bond with each other, and we actually get along unlike most siblings. She is no-doubt my biggest role mode; Her cumulative is above a 4.00, she is one of the kindest people out there, not many people can make me laugh as hard as she does, she is pretty, she is motivated, she is everything I want to be when I'm her age. Why am I bragging about what a wonderful sister I have? Because she's leaving me in about three months to go to college in Montana.

If you can't tell from this collage, my sister and I are kinda close.

I hate talking about her leaving to college. Whenever the conversation comes up, I usually leave because I don't want to start crying and make our happy dinner conversation turned into everyone crying and being depressed that she's leaving us. Sometime I wonder if she thinks I don't care about her leaving because of how little I talk about it. Like what am I supposed to do when we have dinners with my cousins and extended family? Who am I going to talk with the whole time? Who is going to drive me to the gas station to get donuts and lifesavers so we don't have to deal with certain people in out family?

Photo Credit: Mom

Missoula, Montana is roughly 7 hours and 42 minutes driving non-stop from Park City. Normally when I need advice or if I'm angry with my parents, I walk downstairs and we will end up singing Hannah Montana and Beyonce until midnight, but now I have to drive eight hours? I don't know how I'm going to survive. Phone calls and FaceTime aren't going to be nearly enough.

I know I'll get to see her during breaks, and with the close family I have, we will fly or drive out there very often. It may seem as I'm overreacting about this but I don't think most people understand how close we are. The students at The University of Montana are so lucky. They are gaining a truly amazing person. 

If you're going through the same thing, grab your sibling and listen to Rivers and Roads. I can guarantee you will end up crying and hugging for a long period of time. Enjoy. 

March Favorites

March is coming to an end and I cannot believe I survived the most painful month of the year. The quarter ending and having no breaks is nearly impossible to survive through. Because of my excitement, I want to share my favorite things from the month of March.

Photo from
http://www.vans.com

Fashion-
Brass Plum Sweats- I love these sweat pants because they are so comfy you can go to be in them, plus they are so cute that you can wear them to school.
Vans sk8 Hi Shoes- I ordered these shoes and they haven't come yet but I am super excited. I've seen other people with these in black but not white, so I decided to try the white. They lo
ok super cute with just about any outfit.
Music-
Vance Joy-I've talked about this before on my blog, but I absolutely love all of Vance Joy. Playing his radio on Pandora is great music to help you relax a little before bed.
Frank Ocean- He is another great singer with a mixture of a little rap but also contemporary. Beauty-
Clinique High Impact Mascara- Not many people use this mascara and I can't figure out why. It is a great mascara that is natural looking with one coat and you can easily build upon it.
L'Orèal Magic BB Cream- This has great coverage and matches your skin color perfectly.

Food-
Trader Joes- Most places have a Trader Joes nearby, and because Utah just got one, I have been making many visits. Everything there is natural and nothing there ever tastes fake. They have such a wide variety of options there and all of it is incredibly tasty.
Hugo Coffee- Being a basic white girl, I love my Starbucks, but Hugo Coffee is a great place to go to support a local business. Obviously not everyone lives in Park City, UT where Hugo is, but going to any local coffee shop is a great place to get homework done.

Photo from http://pixshark.com/frank-ocean-album-cover.htm

Skincare-
All of the REN products have been working wonders on my skin. I use the Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk, Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream, and The Vita Mineral Omega 3 Serum. If you have sensitive or dry skin, I highly suggest these products.
Blogs-
"Just Another Blog"
"Head in the Clouds"
"Beauty Bets"

Netflix Reviews

If you spent your free time after school watching Netflix, it's normal. At least for this generation of teenagers. I'm super guilty of this and sometimes let it get in the way of my school work. So if your like me and looking for something new on Netflix, keep reading to learn about some of my all-time favorites on Netflix.

American Horror Story photo from:
 http://commons.wiki
media.org/wiki/File:Ecran_Titre_
d'American_Horror_Story.png
Bob's Burgers photo from:
 http://www.indiewire.com/article/
television/behind-the-counter-at-bobs-
burger-things-we-learned
-while-at-a-table-read
The Vampire Diaries photo from:
 http://www.sidereel.com/the_vampire_diaries

TV Series-


*American Horror Story- I can't say enough good things about this show. It is hands down my favorite thing to watch on Netflix which is a very bold statement. I've re-watched it plenty of times and couldn't be more excited for the fourth season, Freak Show, to be available.

*Bob's Burgers- This is a classic show that never gets old. I love every single character on this show and I probably watch it way more than I should. It is so funny with only 20 ish minute episodes that you don't have to watch in order.

Vampire Diaries- I have just started this show and currently loving it. It's the perfect combination of horror, romance, comedy and drama. This is defiantly a show I binge watch to the point of staying up till twelve a.m. on a school night.

White Chicks photo from:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Chicks
School of Rock photo from:
 http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2014/08/
school-rock-getting-tv-adaptation-without-jack-black.html
Ferris Bueller's Day Off photo from:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091042/

Comedies- I love a classic comedy movie. One thats not all focused around love, but makes you want to watch it over and over again and just keeps getting funnier and funnier.

White Chicks-  Some may call this movie "stupid" or "dumb" and it actually kind of is, but it's stupid and dumb in the best way possible. Two undercover cops dressing up as a basic white girl for the weekend? Yes, this is defiantly a must watch.

School of Rock- I've loved this movie since I saw it when I was about six years old. No matter how many times I watch it, I always end up laughing out loud even when I'm alone.

Ferris Bueller's Day off- This movie is such a classic and all I really have to say about it is if you haven't seen it, watch it asap.




Horror- I watch horror movies on Netflix more than anything. I've probably watched around 70% of the horror movies available on Netflix, and honestly, it's pretty hard to find a good one. To save you some time, here are some of my personal favorites.

Grave Encounters photo from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Encounters
Devil photo from:
 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1565
Insidious Chapter 2 photo from:
 http://www.tamilstar.com/wallpaper/preview/1118/2560x1440/insidious-chapter-2

Grave Encounters 1 and 2- These two movies are hands down my favorite scary movies of all time. I've never heard anyone else talk about these movies other than those that I watched it with and I can't figure out why. They are both so realistic and keep you biting your nails the whole film.


Devil- Being trapped in an elevator sounds pretty terrifying, but imagine being suck in there with one of the six people possessed by the devil. This one is so scary to me because of how realistic they make it. This movie gets scary immediately, and great to watch with a few friends at a sleepover like I did with Emma.

Insidious Chapter 2- I saw this one in theater which may be why it scared me so badly, but you must see this immediately if you are into scary movies. It is defiantly one that will stick with you and be in the back of your mind when you're home alone at night.





*= mentioned in some of my previous blog posts

How to "Deal With It"

Everyone knows that one person. The one person that stresses them out beyond belief. The person that has made you stay up all night or cry or even make you want to quit. For me, this person happens to be one of my teachers. I also got super lucky and have a coach that I just can't deal with. This past month, I've really let these people get to me. Its effected my sleep, grades and certainly my attitude. I never thought that someone could put me down so much. I consider these people to be bullying me which may sound a little ridiculous, but they both are. Over the past few days I've finally figured out how to deal with these people.

My best advice is to just forget about them. In most situations, you will be done with them eventually. When my coach yells at me, all I think is "I only have one more week of this," and with my teacher, I just think "Only one more quarter of dealing with her."

Bullying photo from
 http://imgkid.com/bullying-pictures-clip-art.shtml

Another thing that I learned this week that is incredibly important is stand up for yourself. If this person hurts your feelings and puts you down, they are a bully. We are always taught to stand up to the bully, so do it even if they are an adult. I'm usually a pretty quiet person in class and do what I'm told, but I stood up for myself and fixed a huge problem with my teacher. I know it sounds scary, but just try it, it could make all of the difference.

This may seem like the opposite of what I just said but I promise it's not. You need to do what they tell you and do it right. If your coach is yelling at you or even making fun of you for how you do something, just take a deep breath and do it. It won't hurt you and it will make them happy to see you doing it right. But if what they are telling you

Now this may sound like a bad idea, but getting parental involvement may help. I totally understand not wanting to do this because of the fear your "bully" will treat you worse. But talking to a principal or manager or whoever it may be, can really help you. The person bothering you may have no other option but to fix their behavior, cause if they don't, they may get in a lot of trouble.

Photo from:
http://nikoshome.com/2010/06/bathing-on-a-bathtub/

In the end, the best thing to do is just take a deep breath and try to forget about them. Relax, take a bath and drink some tea and do what ever you can to not let them get to you. A bully is someone who has power over you, so don't let them have that power.

Dating: 15 things to not do

I think we all know relationships at this age don't usually work out. Even though we all think that, we still do it. From personal experiences and friends, I know things that you shouldn't do while dating.

Photo From
http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/heart-clipart

1) DONT SAY YES IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM-  I can't stress this enough. If you don't like him or don't know him well enough, TELL HIM.
2) Skip the awkward movie date- Movies are so awkward with paying and the classic arm around the girl. Skip it and do something more exciting.
3) Don't go swimming- If you're a confident person, go for it! But if you wear a lot of makeup and curl your hair often or maybe if your insecure, I wouldn't go swimming.
4) Be careful where you eat- Sushi; hard and awkward to eat. Burgers: You may look a little weird with your mouth open that wide. Pizza: The perfect in-between.
5) Make sure they have good eyebrows- Eyebrows are everything
6) Don't forget your mints/gum/toothbrush- Bad breath is the worst thing possible, so avoid that at all costs.
7) The boy better be taller than you- Its more fun hugging a tall boy.
8) Don't tell your parents at first- I would wait a little until you know he's the right guy.
9) Don't make it awkward.- If you need to put conversation starters in your notes on your phone, do it.
10) Don't skip shaving- You never know what the night will bring, so shave your legs
11) Don't make it a big deal with your friends- Friends are the people that make everything awkward, so don't tell them every detail about the boy.
12) Don't fart/burp on the first date- I don't need to explain this one
13) Don't make him pay for everything- It's a kind gesture, but make sure he knows you want to pay too.
14) Don't be clingy- There is nothing more annoying then the classic clingy and creepy girlfriend. Give him space.
15) Don't get comfortable too fast- Don't show your super weird side until you get more comfortable.

Get Ready Quickly in the Morning

We all have the nights where you watch an extra episode of Gossip Girl the night before, making the morning seem nearly impossible. When you sleep in a little too much, I have a few simple life hacks to help you get ready super quickly, but still make it look like you tried to look presentable in the morning.

Organization-

This is an incredibly simple tip to that will help you get ready faster every single day. Instead of digging through your makeup bag every morning searching for small things like brushes or tweezers, lay it all out. I put every product I use in a cabinet in the order that I use them. I still have a makeup bag near with some products I like, but may not use everyday for school. This is also good to show you your different options in the morning so you can switch up your look, and not just wear the first thing you grab out of your bag. I usually keep two or three different brands/types of each product. For example, I have two mascaras, three eyeshadow pallets, a few concealers, etc. Also, keep a mason jar full of longer things like brushes and eyeliners. 

My cabinet full of my everyday/favorite makeup products. 

                  Get everything ready, at night-

Photo from
 http://www.image4world.com/vb/imgcache/2/23912poster.jpg

There are nights where you need to shower, finish homework, and pick out your outfit, but you decide to put it off until the morning. For me, I sleep so much better when I have everything done the night before, even if it does mean going to bed a lot later. Have your clothes and shoes out and ready, shower before bed, and pack your backpack before bed, just incase you accidentally over sleep. 

Keep it simple!

If you are the person who needs to look presentable everyday, throw on a light sweater with leggings and Uggs. If you want to have a lazy day, pick your favorite sweatshirt or T-Shrit and leggings. This is so quick and simple, plus everyone has their go to "lazy day" outfits.

If you are like me and have natural hair where you have to either straighten or curl your hair every day, there is a few solutions to speed up the process. My first suggestion is a simple side braid, or any braid. Your natural curl in your hair won't show, so there is no need to waste time with the straightener. Also, using a beach wave or sea salt spray defines your natural curl. I have mainly straight hair, but there is a little natural curl; when I use this spray, it makes it look like I have natural beach waves. It takes under a minute to style and gives you an effortless, yet beautiful look. Another plus about this product is there is plenty of options at the drug store for under five dollars. 

Photo from:
http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/116333222/id/wKTh5JKs4xGxEPbI6xSULw/size/y.jpg

5 Easy After School Snacks

There are many store bought things to eat after school, but I find it much more fun to make a snack after school. I made every one of these after school to make sure they are super easy and achievable for the average teen.

1) Mac and Cheese-

My Mac and Cheese using
this recipe.

This one has been my go-to after school snack since I learned how to make it in the third grade. This one is a little more time consuming, but if you have time, it is worth it. I'm pretty sure this is the classic recipe, but here is how I've always made it:

Noodles: All you need to do is follow the instructions on your favorite noodles for mac and cheese. Elbow pasta is what I normally do, but penne and shells are also fun and tasty.

Sauce: Start with two tablespoons of butter in a pan. Once that is melted, add the same amount of flour, and quickly add around half a cup of milk. When that thickens, add a little more milk until it is a thick and creamy consistency. Add in shredded cheddar cheese to your liking. Put in the cooked pasta and you have the perfect Mac and Cheese.



2) Apple Sandwiches-

I love making these apple sandwiches because you can personalize them so much. All you do is slice an apple sideways with a hole in the middle where the core is so you have two pieces to act as the bread. Next, add your filling, either peanut butter, cookie butter, Nutella, or whatever sounds best to you. Add chocolate chips, coconut shavings, sprinkles, or keep it plain for the sides! This is fun to experiment with different flavors and decorations.

3) Smoothies-

All ingredients used in my smoothie

I'm sure I'm not the only one who forgets how delicious and healthy smoothies are and never makes them. As I am writing this I am drinking my absolute favorite smoothie, peanut butter banana. I took one banana, ice, a spoonful of Nutella, milk, and a few teaspoons of powdered peanut butter. I blended all of this with milk in my Magic Bullet blender to create a perfect, filling snack.

4) Tuna Melts-

There is only a few simple steps to follow to make some delicious tuna melts in under five minutes. Mix one can of tuna with two tablespoons of mayo. Add 1/2 teaspoon of dill and one stalk of chopped celery and set aside. Heat skillet over medium heat. Butter two slices of bread. Add 1/4 cup of the tea mixture to the unbuttered side of great and top with a slice of American cheese. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side out. Cook in skillet until golden. Then, turn and cook other side until golden.


5) Quesadillas

You can make this one super simple or super complex, its up to you! If you don't have much time, put two tortillas with shredded cheese in the middle into the microwave for about a minute. If you want to go a little more gourmet, use a skillet with a little butter instead. It doesn't take much longer, but it makes a huge difference. You can add guacamole, salsa, taco sauce or anything you want to personalize this.

These recipes are things my mom always made me or I made up, but if there are some great ideas on the internet. Food Network is a great place to find delicious and easy recipes for after school snacks.

Nail Tips-Pros and Cons

I wish I could be the girl that can go without nail polish and not mind it, but I am the opposite. I always need to have polish on, in fact I haven't had "naked nails" since the fourth grade when my obsession of nail painting began. There are a few ways to have your nails look good. All of them have the good things about them and yes, they all have some downsides. Here are some insight on all the kinds to find what best suits you.

Acrylic- I got acrylic nails for the first time last week and I absolutely love them. I got them done with my friend Alexis, and we had a few issues with the application process. It's all about where you get them done. We had an okay experience at California Nails in Redstone.
Pros- Last for a very long time, makes your nails longer, you get to pick your own length to your liking, and most importantly, no chipping.
Cons- Painful to get them on, weakens your nails when taken off, expensive, time consuming.
Gel- Gel nails are a great alternative for lazier people that don't want to re-do their nails often. It is a gel polish painted on in the color you want. Then you put it under a UV light for about a minute. When you take it out, another coat is applied and you repeat the process about five times.
Pros- No chipping, shiny, keeps the nail strong while on.
Cons- Expensive, weakens nails when taken off, and expensive.

My "polish station" kept in my
room with all my favorite nail colors. 

Paint/Polish- I have a full on nail rack in my room just for all of my polishes, clearly I have a slight obsession.
Pros- Cheap, easy, and you can either do it yourself or professional.
Cons- Chipping is really the only issue with painting your nails, but they chip so easily it becomes a big problem.
Glue on- These nails are super fun to have for about a week. You can buy them just about anywhere and all you need to do is keep the glue with you on at all times.
Pros- Cheap,  do it yourself, makes your nails look much longer, and fun designs to choose from.
Cons- Comes off easily, especially in PE (I know this from personal experience), doesn't last too long

If I had all the money and time in the world, I would pick Acrylic nails as my favorite. But sadly they were pretty expensive and took a really long time, so I won't be getting them done too often. I think having your nails painted is a super fun way to add a personalized touch to your outfit. I have always loved the looks of done up nails and I think its totally fine to occasionally splurge to make your nails look extra good.

Travel Guide

Over Presidents Week I will be visiting Seattle, Washington for six days and I am planning for my trip. I love traveling, I've been everywhere from Costa Rica and Mexico to Portland and Hawaii. I plan on my job being related to travel, and try to leave my town whenever I get the chance. From all of my travel, I have learned a few things on how to spend your limited time wisely. I hope my tips will help you have the best time on your future vacations.

1) Pre-Plan-

I've been planing for my trip to Seattle for several weeks now because I want to make sure I do everything possible to see the greatest aspects of the city. Trip Advisor is a life savor for pre-planning where you are going to eat, the best tourist attractions, and the little holes in the wall that you would normally not visit. TV Food Network used to have a show called, "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and if you type in Google, "Best Thing I Ever Ate" followed by the city you are visiting. My mom and I were watching that show and ended up going to Portland because of a restaurant featured on the show.

Trip Advisor has everything from restaurant reviews to local's favorites.  Photo from http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60878-Seattle_Washington-Vacations.html

2) Find a Reason-

Vacations are always so much more exciting if you have a reason to go. The reason I'm going to Seattle is for the coffee shops and flannels, so my mom and I will have a plan on what to do, making the trip have a purpose. This also makes the "pre plan" part much more exciting. My mom and I had a great experience when I was in fourth grade in Portland, OR. We saw a clip on TV Food Network about a biscuit place in Portland, so we made it a priority to go. I think this makes the experience so much more exciting and you may end up somewhere you love, like I did.

Pine State Biscuts was featured on "
Diners Drive-in's And Dives"
and we ate there as soon as possible. 

We made sure to find the "Keep Portland Weird"
wall while in Downtown Portland

3) Know where you are-

Although this is a vacation and a break from school, it helps a lot to know where in the world you are! Look up the city you're visiting on the map, you will then learn the area, landmarks, and surrounding rivers, lakes etc. This may sound ridiculous but I can guarantee it will make a difference in your trip.

I hope these few simple tips will help with future vacations, because I know it has helped me.

The Mental Aspect of Sports

I've been playing different sports my entire life: Gymnastics, Dance, Soccer, Tennis and mainly volleyball. There's not many things that those sport have in common, but they all need a positive mental game. I really figured out that this is important this year in high school volleyball. Being team captain on the Freshman team, and one of two freshman on the Junior Varsity team, I had to have a positive attitude. I had to stay positive and bring my team up even when the score was 2-20.

Something particular about being positive is keep in your mind what you want to do, no negative words. In soccer don't think to yourself, "Don't miss, don't miss," but "Goal." While serving in a game of volleyball, every single time I think "Ace" and never anything with negative words, because that is what your mind will be focusing on, causing you to mess up.

Another thing while playing a sport is to forget about your mistakes. Plenty of times I focus on what I did to mess up and I can't stop focusing on that, then your attitude goes down and you typically will bring your team down with you

Surrounding yourself with people you love for teammates makes all of the difference. I wouldn't be where I am with my wonderful teammates that I love so much. I don't think I would even still be involved in volleyball without my wonderful team. 

Obviously the physical ability is important too. In volleyball, you always need to be in your ready position, down low and ready for anything. This applies to many sports other than volleyball, you can always be ready. When you are low and focused it sets your mind and body to get ready for the game. 

Last, always be prepared. Jerseys, shoes, food and everything should always be prepared because if you're worried about those things, part of your mind will be focused on the things you need or what's going on after the game.

The biggest tip I have is stay focused, keep your eyes on the ball, and as Troy Boltin says, keep your head in the game.

Huddle with the JV team.

Warming up before my first high school home game on JV

With JV team waiting for the serve to come over. 

How to Get Your Learners Permit

My blog is titled, "Freshman Survival Guide," so chances are if you're a freshman, you'll be getting your permit soon like I just did. Oh the process is not so fun, but the driving part sure is and trust me, it will be worth it. I failed the test my first time but ended up getting it on my second try, I'm going to share with you the things that worked for me to help you get your permit.

Photo Courtesy of : http://www.carson.org/modules/showimage.aspx?imageid=4345

1) STUDY!

This tip is obvious, but it is the best advice I can give, just study. What worked best for me was not reading out of the dull and boring book, but online tests. In fact, my mom grabbed me the wrong book, the one that teaches you how to drive semi trucks so that wasn't too helpful. With only taking the online tests, I think I did pretty well.

2) Practice-

I drove a lot before I got my permit, but mainly on roads without many other cars. I think its important to practice a little so the day you get your permit, you won't be driving a car for your first time. Also, there were a few questions on the test I wouldn't know without previously driving.

3) Talk-

Having an older sister that's a senior and being best friends with a junior really helped me. My sister took the test 4 times so she knew what she was talking about and the questions that could be on the test. I highly suggest talking to someone who has their permit about what to expect and see their tips and tricks.

4) Don't get too confident-

Yes, confidence is key, but don't expect to know the questions on the test. There was a question asking about motorcycle insurance in other states, and I'm expecting not many people know that without learning it. The questions really do vary and you may get lucky. I also got a question that had a picture of a stop sign with the "Stop" blurred out. So some are incredibly easy and some are just random.

How to prevent failing more than once:

I assumed the test I was going to take the next day after not passing would be completely different, was so wrong. The test was almost identical. At the end of the test they show you the questions you got wrong, so got through them! It will help so much if your test was anything like mine because all you have to do is memorize a few answers.

2014 Favorties

Most people are saying, "Wow I can't believe it's already 2015! 2014 went by so fast!" but I think 2014 lasted long enough. I'm ready for 2015 to be one of my favorite years. I want to share with you some of my favorite products in 2014 from beauty to music to travel.

Beauty-
2014 was the year I realized I have an unhealthy addiction to makeup and beauty products. Therefore, I experimented with plenty of products and have some favorites to share.

Naked Flushed Palette- I've mentioned this before in some one my blog posts, I absolutely love this for its blush, bronzer and highlighter. It's great for traveling because its really compact but still has enough product.
Kat Von D Ink Liner- I've tried a lot of liquid eye liners and this one is by far the best one to make the  perfect wing. The tattoo liner is also good, but I find a felt tip easier to apply then a brush tip.
Bobbie Brown eyeshadow in Taupe- This is what I use to fill in my eyebrows and it is the perfect color for my hair. I had it laying around and decided to use that instead of buying a new expensive eye pencil.

Travel- Traveling is one of my absolute favorite things to do, so here are some of my favorite places I visited.

Costa Rica- This one is pretty obvious. It's the farthest I've ever been from home in Utah and by far the most beautiful area. The food, animals, people, scenery, absolutely everything about that country was breathtaking.

This was taken on the plane, and
according to the flight attendant we were over Cuba. 

My sister Sierra and I loved the beautiful view
from the infinity pool.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming- My family has been going to Jackson since before I was born; My parents were married there, we have a family cabin, and some of my extended family lives there. It is similar to Park City, but different enough so you know you're on vacation. We stayed in a cabin-like hotel room in Colter Bay, and it was such a fun and adventurous trip. Also, we spent one night camping in TeePees on the side of the Snake River as part of a white water river rafting trip.There is some incredible wildlife there, great food, and plenty of outdoor activities.
Apps-
Snapchat- This one is pretty obvious and it's been a favorite of mine for a few years. I'm on snapchat pretty often, and such a fun way to talk to friends.
Vine- I've had vine for a while but this year I've really become addicted. I spend too much time just laying in my bed laughing out loud alone because of the dumb and hilarious vines.
Music- I've really been enjoying listening to music lately, and in 2014 I found some great songs and artist.

Vance Joy- I began listening to his music after the song "Rip Tide" became my favorite around October. I started listening to his radio on Pandora and have learned to love almost all of his music.

Photo Courtesy: http://d1b8o2ti419sns.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/God-Loves-You-When-Youre-Dancing-LO-290x290.jpg  

Beyoncè- I know for a fact I'm not the only teenage girl that fell in love with Beyoncé this year. It was more in the beginning of 2014 when I went through an obsession as most girls did. "Drunk in Love," "Flawless," and "Partition" were my favorites. Honestly I overdid it and not a huge fan of those songs anymore because I listened to those songs constantly.
Netflix-
I watched way too much this year, so I have found a few shows and movies I love.

American Horror Story- Netflix has three of the four seasons on, Murder House, Asylum and Coven. My favorite was Murder House (I re-watched this season) then Asylum and then Coven. It is pretty scary but not too scary to watch alone like I did.
Gossip Girl- I was really obsessed with this show in the beginning of 2014. I never finished all the seasons because it was pretty much the same episode every time, but I really enjoyed it for the first two seasons.
Bob's Burgers- This is one of the funniest shows on Netflix, some people probably think it's stupid, and it kind of is but it is hilarious. It's also a show where you don't have to watch the previous episode so you can easily skip through.