Mental Health

Last night I had a beautiful, open, and honest conversation about mental illness with some of the most amazing women I've ever known. After having this conversation there were a few things I wanted to share. I should warn though I am in absolutely no way a mental health expert. But I do have some experience with dealing a mental health disorder everyday and I have talked to many others who also have experience with mental health disorders. 

1. People with mental health disorders don't want pity. Understanding? Yes. Empathy? Yes. Feeling sorry for me? No. Having a mental health disorder does not make you less of a person. No one wants pity because quite frankly it's demeaning. There is nothing to feel sorry about having a mental health disorder is a part of everyday life, part of who someone is, and more than likely they wouldn't be the person you love without it. 

2. Mental health disorders are not a competition there is no way to compare them. If someone is talking to you about mental health they want a conversation to express with someone who gets it not be put down by being told someone has it worse or there feelings aren't valid because they feel or express something differently. 

3. You can know what anxiety or depression feels like without having a mental health disorder. I believe that this is a wonderful thing because it allows those who don't experience the everyday struggles of mental health disorders to relate and empathize. This also allows who do experience the everyday struggles of mental health disorders to support those going though in a rough patch in a deeper way. 

4. No one can understand exactly how you how you feel, even someone who gone through something similar, because we experience things uniquely. This can be very lonely. 

5. Mental health disorders manifest in people differently. Just like how the feelings are different so are the symptoms. For me personally a lot of times my anxiety expresses itself as the inability to speak. Even to my best friends. Even to those I love with all my heart. Even when I know I'm in a judgement free zone. Even when my mind screaming so loud it echoes in my toes "Mary Kate say what you are thinking!"

As a ending side note anyone who suffers with mental health problems you are not alone, everything you feel is valid, taking care of yourself is the most important thing, and if you need someone to talk to my ears are always open.

24 Things To Do For A Happier Life

1. Get out of your comfort zone
2. Eat healthy foods
3. Watch the news
4. Wear clothes you love
5. Exercise
6. Be Grateful 
7. Surround yourself with positive people
8. Drink water
9. Empower others
10. Celebrate everything
11. Be simple 
12. Go outside
13. Share happiness
14. Watch less mindless TV
15. Read before bed
16. Forgive yourself and others 
17. Plan and be spontaneous
18. Love
19. Enjoy plants
20. Dance and sing
21. Take baths
22. Light candles
23. Prioritize 
24. Use face masks

Twenty Sixteen

If there was one word to describe my 2016 it would be growth. I have grown this year more than I could I have ever imagined. I was growing when I thought I wasn't moving. I was growing when I thought I was at rock bottom and when I thought I was on top of the world. I grew on my own, I grew in my relationships with others. I have learned more about myself in the past year than the 19 before it combined. I have learned what I want out of my life. I have developed my own opinions in an even deeper way than before. In 2016 I learned how to stand completely on my own, while being more social than I thought my anxiety would ever let me. I never would have thought I would have the confidence to post four selfies on Instagram in a year. If you would have told me a year ago I would owe a cat I would have laughed in your face but now my heart has two babies that I love more than the world. This year I got my nose pierced on a wim and could not be more pleased with my choice, I learned that I cannot control anyone else's actions and everything passes with time, I created more meaningful friendships with my loved ones, I got my first C in college, I went on more adventures than I could count, I learned how to play chess and fell in love out of nowhere. I still couldn't spell worth a shit this year and I probably will never eat anything watermelon flavored after my spring break in Florida. Even with all the ups and downs of the past year it has probably been my favorite year to date, I can't wait to see what adventures, struggles, experiences 2017 brings my way!

20 Things I've Learned in 20 Years

1. Getting hurt is all a part of the process.
2. I'm very bad at watering plants.
3. I can be happy on my own. I am an independent person.
4. The bad little things don't matter. In five years you either won't remember or it won't matter. The good little things on the other hand are what count. They can change the path of your life and will be the stories you tell in the future.
5. Family is everything.
6. Taking a heart break gracefully is invaluable, regardless of whether you are breaking a heart or having your own broken.
7. Being comfortable and dressing cute aren't mutually exclusive.
8. When you find good friends hold onto them tight.
9. Fall in love every time. Even if it's only for a second. Even if you get hurt.
10. Be yourself all the time and don't give a fuck who sees. This means wear what you want, say how you feel, and don't change for anyone. This does not mean you get to disrespect other people or their beliefs.
11. Everything works out just how it is supposed to.
12. Dishes suck.
13. Taking care of yourself is probably the most important thing you can do for yourself and those around you. Loving yourself is not selfish.
14. I can do anything I want to.
15. Don't linger on first impressions. You have no idea what that person is dealing with.
16. Dog kisses can fix just about anything.
17. No one actually has their shit together, we all just pretend to.
18. Your feelings are valid. But so are everyone else's, even if you don't understand them.
19. Wash your face everyday and moisturize.
20. Give your all in everything you do and put others first.

I Voted.

I still cannot think about the fact Donald Trump is going to be president without shaking. As this new reality sets in know everything will be okay. It is okay to be afraid but everything will be okay. My heart hurts for all the girls who’s president has no respect for their existence. My heart hurts for the children who will soon not have healthcare. My heart hurts at the thought of a wall dividing us between us and another country who makes us more diverse. My heart hurts for the women that may lose control of their own bodies. My heart hurts for the families who could be driven apart based on where they were born. My heart hurts for all the progress that will be erased. 

Angelica told me yesterday “they can only be closed minded for so long.” This is true. Trump may have control of the White, the House, and the Senate, but he does not have control of our actions. We can spread love, not hate. We can listen to each other. We can fight for our rights. We still get to stand together.  We can see value in each other, even with different opinions. 

Yet I still have hope that in four years we can take back our country. I have hope that we can still spread love to everyone we meet, even if our president does not. We are bigger. We are better. 

Self Discovery and Other Voo-Doo Stuff Like Healing Crystal and Essential Oils

This summer I have been on a journey of self discovery. After being very sad for a while I knew I needed a change in my life. Honestly not just my life but myself. For me this started with accepting my feelings even the ones that I had hide so deep in myself I did not even know they were there, after I knew what I was feeling it was easier for me to deal with my struggles. It has opened my mind to looking into other alternative healing methods like healing crystals, essential oils, and mediation. While I do not believe my crystals are magic, my oils will cure cancer, and I can not completely clear my head during mediation (although that is super cool if you do believe those things) it has really helped me keep my head on straight and be more intentional with my time and energy.

I think that the internet should be for spreading joy and positivity so I do not like to normally take out all of my bad feeling on it, but I do think it is important to think about your negative feelings and thought in oder to help you find the root of the problem. I have been turning to my journal a lot recently to help me do this. Its been fun and scary to find out what I am truly feeling and thinking. I have using my journal to help me in my journey of self discovery. One thing I like to do is find prompts on Pinterest to guide me in this process. Some of my favorite links can be found here, here, and here. A few of my favorite prompts are "I feel like myself when.." "Things I value about myself are..." and "30 things that make me smile". As well as working through my feelings in my journal I also like to use to be grateful for all the wonderful things in my life and reflect on the positive things that happen to me. 

Thanks to my roommate I became obsessed with essential oils a few months ago. My favorites oils are sweet orange, peppermint, and my synergy blend called Happy. It is important to know how to use your oils before you buy them so that you know what you want out of your oils. If you are wanting to use them for aromatherapy then you will need a diffuser and oils, but if you want to use essential oils for topical use as well you need oils that can be used on the skin (it should say on the bottle if it does not say whether it is safe or not, do not put it on your skin) as well a carrier oils (such as coconut oil) because essential oils are so concentrated and can do serious harm to your body if not diffused properly. Also some oils can be consumed, but beginner should not attempt this without guidance (the Internet does not count), for an oil to be consumed it has to be a very hight grade and say that it is safe for consumption, I know that some Doterra oils are safe for consumption but not all. What I am saying is do your research before you try anything. My diffuser can be found here, and my oils can be found here and here. 

Lavender - Helps with anxiety , aids in sleep and has an overall calming effect

Peppermint - Relieves headaches and gives energy.

Sweet Orange - Helps detoxify the body, boosts immune system, and works as a antidepressant. 

There are a lot of articles on the internet about crystals and their healing powers, ranging everywhere from predicting the future to them be simply a placebo effect. While my personal opinions lean more toward the latter, a placebo effect is still an effect. The general idea behind healing crystals is that each stone has it’s own vibration, their vibrations interact with our own vibrations and causing changes in ourselves. I do totally think that is possible, but I have not done much research into the scientific reasoning behind it. The way I see it is because I know what each of my stones are supposed to help with I see results. This is because the stones help me aim my thoughts and action in the way of healing. Like I said this may be a total placebo effect, but I truly see results from using my crystals. As strange as this may sound sometime while I am  mediating with my crystals in my hands I feel the vibrations from the crystals. This may be a manifestation from my mind, but the idea still brings me peace of mind. I use my crystals in many different ways, including mediating with them, simply carrying them with me, or wearing them as jewelry. I care for my crystals by cleansing them after I buy them by letting them soak in water overnight. I also charge my crystals under the full moon each month and set them in the sun for the day once a month. Even if you don’t believe in these crazy healing powers of crystals, but still think they are cool crystals make beautiful home decor. Like I said before I am not 100% on board with all the healing powers that crystals are said to have (although it is awesome if you are!), I personally don’t think crystals are magic but they do make me happy. I have a list of all the crystals I own below and the healing properties. Just a forewarning I do not have pictures of all the crystals I owe because I bought more after I took the pictures for this post. 

Blue Lace Agate -Calms, aids in promoting communication especially when damaged from past rejections, and encourages trustworthiness. 

Rose Quartz - Known as the stone of unconditional love, good for peace, helming, and comfort. 

Sun Stone - Promotes leadership, inspires personal power, and encourages you to take care of yourself so that you can help others.

Lace Agate - Stimulates the mind, encourages optimism and happiness. 

Clear Quartz - Amplifies energy. 

Amazonite - Personal truth, calms the soul, encourages expression of one’s true self, and increases loving communication. 

Citrine - Comforting, helps promote creativity, and clear the mind. Good for new beginnings. 

Chrysocolla - Aids in communication and empowerment, helps with compassion and building character, and calms emotions. 

Pink Agate - Associated with the heart, stabilizes and balances emotional. 

Black Moon Stone - Helps bring to light parts of yourself you have left behind and has a quality of hopefulness. 

Things I Learned My Freshmen Year of College

With school starting back up soon I thought I would share a few things I learned during my freshman year of college. College is not always what I imagined it to be be and it certianly comes with it's own set of troubles, but it is a wonderful experience.

I learned...

• Good food is something to be thankful for. When you are used to eating ramen, easy mac, ramen, frozen fruit, ramen, and um ramen, yummy food is like a gift from god. It is worth driving home just for dinner or going out and spending ten dollars on one meal.

• Vulnerability is not a bad thing.

• To call my mom almost every day. But not for her, for me. Because I miss my parents more than I thought I would. I have learned to answer when my parents call, because when they are not calling to remind me to pay rent or making sure that I ate at least two of out three meals that day, they miss me too.

• Dishes are the worst.

• Thank your washing machine every day, because let me tell you four dollars for washing one load of clothes is not fun. And they smell funky too. On a more positive note the laundry mat is a great place to write papers and to keep up with what shows are playing on Nick Jr. And I quote, "stop purple horse, I need to ask you a question."

• Life is expensive.

• It is okay to feel lonely at times. When are in a place where you do not know many people and every one around you seems to be having the time of their lives all the time, sometimes you feel like you are all alone. In reality though feeling alone is not always a bad thing, and you are certainly not the only one feeling that way. I have learned a lot about who I am by hanging out with myself these.

• If it is 95 degrees out and you would like air conditioning, remember to pay your bills...

• A little friendship can go a long way. I got lucky with having the best roommate and all. When I am having a bad day and drop the kol-aid container all of the floor. It is so comforting to know that I am loved to enough when walk away from the mess crying, my roommate will clean it up, and then come to check on me.

• Never to use all the air conditioning units and the microwave at the same time. Ever. Or I will be spending the night in front of an open window on the floor in the dark.

• Cleaning is NOT fun. Toilets are gross, refrigerators are nasty, and showers are frightful.

• Making friends is not always easy. I am keeping an open mind on who I want to be my friends. I am getting involved with organizations in and outside my school. I am picky friend personally, I only want to surround myself with people who are encouraging. I am in the process of expecting that it is okay to be a picky friend.

• Time management is important. Your mom is not going to make you do your homework or to class. You have to put in the effort to stay on top of all the things that you need to get done.

My Personal Style

It has taken me a very long time to figure out my personal style. I believe my journey started shortly after I began sixth grade when I decided knee high socks and basketball shorts were no longer acceptable for everyday wear. I remember looking up to my now sister in-law envious of her style and bravery to wear whatever she wanted (even though she thought she was full blood Native American at the time).  What I wear has evolved a lot over the past eight years. Starting with Aeropostale t-shirts everyday in middle school, if you are between the ages of 17 and 22 I am sure you remember this, then there was the dress phase I had in the early high school years. At some point in high school I figured out that I didn't want to dress like everyone else, I wanted what I wore to show who I was. What was in style no longer appealed to me, not that their is anything wrong with what everyone else was wearing it just wasn't me. When I was younger I would alway tell my mom when we were shopping she already owned four grey shirts just like the one she wanted. Well strangely enough these roles have completely switched. My roommate is constantly reminding me how much grey I own and that I rarely ever wear color, and if I do its only just a little bit. I am totally okay with this, and as quirky as this sounds my outfits totally reflect who I am as a person.

I want to stress on point though, appearance is not everything.  You do not have to look perfect or dress a certain way to have other people like you. It truly is what is on the inside that matters, it is the ideas and passions we have that are important. One amazing thing about style though is it's ability to give confidence to someone. I can't speak for everyone but when I am wearing something that I feel pretty in I am a much happier person, I am more outgoing, and I feel like my best self. I think everyone should feel confident in their own body and personally I think that having your own style can encourage that sort of confidence. Another thing that is important to me is dressing for comfort. If I do not psychical feeling comfortable in something then I will not wear it. Part of this for me has been dressing for myself, regardless of what other people think about it. I remember in high school I wore a lot of legging just because that is what I felt comfortable and pretty in. I had many "friends" that thought this wasn't acceptable, but I did what worked best for me. 

I own lots of leggings. I only wear jeans from gap and they have to be. Recently I have been obsessed with two pieces. I love the convenience of rompers. Dresses in the winter with tights are my favorite. My shirts are all pretty much plain, neutral colors and fit loosely. I love coats and scarfs in the winter because I hate being cold. All my shoes are brown. I normally can be found in either my grey sweater or a flannel. I don't wear a lot of jewelry but I love rings and won't be caught dead without mine.

Currently // 001

Currently…

Thinking - Happy thoughts about where I am in my life and where I planning on taking it. 

Enjoying - Me time. I am learning a lot about my self and more importantly how to take care of myself. 

Feeling - A lot of different emotions but mostly peace.

Wearing - My favorite ripped jeans that everyone I know hates, but I love. 

Needing - I honestly cannot think of anything I need right now. I am very lucky to have everything I need and most things I want. 

Wanting - The record player I ordered on Prime Day to get here sooner and my new shoes from Urban Outfitters (they should be here today!!)

Listening - To the sounds of Starbucks in the background. I love hearing others talk about the things that make them happy. There are two ladies to my left talking about Guatemalan coffee. The sounds of ice being dropped into cups is making my heart sing. 

Drinking - Jade Citrus Mint Tea.

Reading - Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Trying - To embrace my truest self. Needy, nerdy, deep, excited, and all the other parts of myself I do not always accept fully. 

I normally write these things in my journal but today I feel like I am in a very good place and I wanted to share everything I am thinking and feeling. My feelings are not always so positive, and that is okay, but when they are I think it is important to share joy with everyone you see. 

Everything You Need For Your First College Apartment + Print Out

Although I never lived in a dorm and I have no idea how to pack to live in a small room with another person for 10 months I do have some experience in living in a college apartment. When I began packing to move into my apartment I was overwhelmed with how much I needed for the tiny little apartment I was about to call home. After I moved in I was overwhelmed with how much stuff I forgot to pack or didn't know that I needed.  I tried to start buying things for my apartment at the beginning of summer because I wanted to give myself time to organize. I also did not want to buy everything at once, which would have lead to a huge amount of money, so I took it slow over the whole summer. Another way I helped reduce the cost of what I needed was to take as much from my room at home as possible. One thing that I did to help make sure I did not forget to many things was search Pinterest for as many different checklist for your first apartment, then I compared them crossing out things that were on multiply lists! This really helped me stay on track but like I said I still forgot so much. When I was making this list to share I did the same thing as well going through my own apartment looking for things to add. No one is perfect so I made sure to leave some space to add things for yourself and really personalize your packing list. Another thing I wish I would have know when packing and decorating my apartment is I was going to gather more things throughout the year so it does not have to look perfect on the day I move it. As far as decor I tried to DIY as much as I could for my apartment. If you are living with a roommate make sure to get with them so you can see what they have or are planning on getting so you don't end up with a bunch of doubles and not have other things. I hope that my little list of things to bring and advice was at least somewhat helpful. I left plenty of space to add your own things at the end of the list, because 1. it is easier to personalize that way and 2. I am not perfect so I am sure I forgot things. 

                    

Blogger Round Up

I love blogs. I love them. I don't know how to put it other than I just love them. I have been readings for six years and writing a blog for one. I feel like everyone has certain blogs you just click with. I can never put a finger on what is about them but I just always go back. I can't explain it other than I just feel like I mesh with the blog. For me it started with on blog then my list of blogs kept growing and growing. I use Bloglovin' to keep track of all the blogs I read at this point. I read a lot of blogs that I like so much, but there are a few that are just my favorite. I wanted to share these favorite because they are fabulous blogs and I hope that you guys will feel like you just mesh with them too!

I am going to try and list these blogs in chronologically order in which I started to read them. Some of them coincide with my favorite people to follow on Instagram, which you can find here.

1) Love Taza

2) The Daybook

3) Aspyn Ovard

4) Something Devine

5) Mostly Morgan

6) Tales of Me and the Husband

7) Headed Somewhere

8) Zoella

9) Wildlandia

A Letter to My 12 Year Old Self

Hey me,

It's Saturday and you should probably stop watching movies on ABC Family. Seriously go have some human interaction. And next time Mom tells you your eye liner looks horrible, well it does, but it's okay you will find it out in time.

 FYI those contacts you fought so hard to get, well you are going to hate them soon. Also please do not straighten your hair everyday, please I begging you. Cherish your friends right now, they will not be your friends anymore in a few years, but you will look fondly at all the crazy things you did when you when you were in middle school. One day I promise you will understand why you freak out around people, although it does not get much better you will accept your anxiety.

Next time your parents ask you to go hang out with their friends families, go, they are family too. Trust me the memories you have playing spoons with them is way better than anything you can watch on that princess tv in your room. I promise you are not ugly. Really you are not and you will not be alone forever. In fact in a few years you are going to met someone who will teach you love and love yourself. Things do not work out like you'd always hoped, but it is okay. Be thankful anyway.

Do not ever complain about wearing matching anything with your family, they are the only one you got and one day they won't be here. Put your phone away, I can not tell you who you are texting, but I can tell you they are not that important.

Go spend time with your brothers they will be gone to college soon and you will miss them. In two years go to Disney World with your family, not school, it will be one of your biggest regrets in life. Your family will be the most important thing to you before you know it. Also the girl with the cute clothes that Kyle brought home, well in seven years he is going to marry her and she will be the best sister you could ask for.

Sweet heart stand up and don't ever get bangs, you do not look like Lily from Hannah Montana.

Eat more fat kid sundaes, like right now, seriously go.  Also dummy when your moms bring you and Maggie to the airport for a shopping spree, seriously MK you are so gullible, you are going to New York. Soon your life modo will be "it's fine" and it is fine. Everything works out how it is supposed to so don't stress the small stuff so much. 

Love,

You in seven years.

How to Pick the Right College

As a college freshman, I am no expert on college. Is anyone really? But I did mange to pick the perfect college for me. I love my college! I fit here. I knew from the first time I stepped on campus that UNCG was the place for me.

I am sure if you are getting ready to head off to college everyone you know is asking you where are you going to college? They are probably asking you want you want study too, but that is a post for another day. If they aren't asking you where you are going or what you are going to study, they are certainly giving you advice on how to pick the right college for you. Many times I felt so overwhelmed by all of the advice coming at me and whether or not it was accurate. Like I said before I am not expert, but somehow I did manage to pick the right school for me, so if I can pass any advice to those still trying to figure it out I want to help as much as I can.

1) The first piece of advice I have is probably the most important. Choose your school for you. You may have pressures to follow in your parents foot steps to a certain school or all your friends are going to one school. You will be the happiest if you put what you want in a college first. You have the best chance of success if you feel like you belong at the school. If you don't pick the school you go to for yourself then you will probably feel lost and overwhelmed. Even if you think others will be disappointed if you don't the school they want, they are going to be proud of you no matter what and you will do the best if you choose for you.

2) Trusts your gut. This sounds so simple, but is so essential for picking the right college. I remember so many people telling me you just know what feels whats right. I thought all these people were crazy, but as it turns out they are right. You just feel it. You know when you know.

3) Tour as many schools as you can. This kind of goes with the advice above. Go to all of the schools you are thinking about going to and then some you aren't. You never know if you are going to like a school until you walk around the campus. You may hate a school you thought would be your first choice and love a school that wasn't even on your radar. Ask yourself do I see myself here? Will your personality match the vibe of the school? Try your best to get a feel of the school.

4) Do research into the schools you are looking at. Look for anything you might not know about the school, like whether you have to live in a certain dorm your first year or if there is a program that you may want to be apart of. Make sure you like the area around the school. Look at the average professor rating on ratemyprofessor.com. Try to know what you are getting yourself, won't know ever I promise, but try to prepare yourself.

5) Don't worry if your path to higher education doesn't match those around you or society's exceptions. This was a big thing for me because I did not follow the average path. It is easy to compare my path to others and feel like I am missing out, but I am not missing out my life is just different. Unlike most freshmen in college I do not live in a dorm. I go home once a week to have dinner with my mom. I own a dog and am never away from my apartment for more then five hours. This is okay. I am happy and I am still working towards my degree. The main thing to take away from all this is don't worry if things don't look like they do in the movies, as long you are happy.

Things No One Tells You About Owning a Dog

As of this week I have officially been a dog owner for one year. I simultaneously feel like I brought Maci home yesterday and there was never a time before her being in my life. Being a dog mom has been one of the best experiences of my life (yes there is a magnet on my car that says "my child has four paws), but certainly not the easiest. The fact that I am a college student only makes things harder, Maci makes it all worth it though. She loves me unconditionally and  gives me support without ever knowing it. I have always had dogs growing but it is a totally different game when they are your own dog. I am so thankful for the attitude my parents taught me about having a pet, they are more than just pets they are family. So here are a few of the many things I have learned this past year of being a dog mom.

• How much money your actually going to spend. Vet visits, medicines, toys, treats, and food. It adds up very quickly. 

• The amount of love you feel every time you look at them. 

• How many times a day they make you smile. It’s countless.

• All of the things they are going to tear up. You think you are ready you really do, but you are never completely ready for all the destruction a puppy brings. Shoes, books, walls, floors, furniture, remotes, phone chargers, pens, literally you name they may chew it up. Here I would like to say thank you to my parents house for taking the worst of it.

• How overwhelmed you feel when you first bring them home. You are very excited but also so scared. You don’t know what you have gotten yourself into, all you know is theres no going back. They are in a new place and scared too. Give it time you are both still learning. 

• Half the time your boyfriend (or girlfriend) won’t know whether you are taking to them or the dog.

• Whenever you aren’t with them you are always, thinking, worrying, or wondering about them.

• 6 am wake up calls. Yeah, get used to them. When you gotta go you gotta go fast. 

• It’s okay to be upset with them when they do something wrong. Just remember they don’t speak english. Patiences will save you a lot of grief. 

• You say things like “no don’t eat that” or “thats not your poop” way too often.

• The only way your dog sees the world world outside your home is through you. Let them see as much of it as possible.

• Buy the puppy training! Yes it is expensive, but it is so worth it. You and your dog will grow closer together. Not to mention the things your dog will learn could be life saving.

• The size of your heart will grow exponentially.

Why Instagram is not Always a Good Thing + My Favorite Instagramers

Let me start off by saying, I love Instagram. I really do. I love seeing photos, happy photos from the best parts of peoples lives, but often I think people forget that is what Instagram is; a snap shot into the best moments of someones life. Life is not always as perfect as Instagram makes it out to be. That smiling couple probably had a fight about dishes or underwear left on the floor, the model-like mom with her children probably had a break down over whether she is raising them to be good human beings, the independent person that works for themselves probably stays up all night sometimes to meet a deadline. Not to mention the picture you are seeing is probably one of twenty-someting others like it. Sometimes the dishes have not been done in three days, and lets not even talk about laundry. Sometimes I stay in my pajamas all day and have Captain Crunch for more than one meal. Comparing yourself to other people on Instagram is not going to do anything for you accept bring you down. Comparison truly is the thief of joy. Especially when the people you are comparing yourself to have just as many struggles as you do, you just simply don't know theirs.

But guys I really do love Instagram so here are a few of my favorite:

@haileydevine

Hailey Devine and her little family are the cutest. Her and her husband, Brad, are videographers who like to travel. You can find their youtube channel, here, and her blog, here.

@heynataliejean

You can find her blog, here. 

@taza

Oddly enough this family and Instagram is the reason I started blogging. It is a little bit creepy how long I have been reading their blog, here. I just love her honest outlook on life. 

@apsynovard

Aspyn and her husband, Parker, are the cutest. They both make youtube videos and vlog. Parkers Instagram can be found, here. Their youtube channels are here and here. Aspyn's blog is here.

@thedogist

So I had this crazy idea when I got my own dog I would stop be obessed with other people's dogs. Yeah that didn't happen. Every time the dogist posts my heart melts a little bit. 

To Write Love on Her Arm

If you know and or follow me on Instagram then you will know about a month and a half ago I got my first tattoo.

LOVE. Love is my favorite word for many reasons. My favorite reason for love being my favorite word is it means something a little different every single time it is use. I love my mom. I love Will. I love blogging. I love Netflix. I love Maci. I love that one denim dress I wear three times a week. I don't love Maci the same way I love Will. That denim dress will eventually loose it's shape and I might not love it anymore. My love for my mom can't even be compared my love for blogging because the loves are too different.

Love is happiness, honesty, support, encouragement, caring, forgiveness, hope, selfless, patience, laughter, pain, respect.

The love my family has given is not able to fit into my description of love because it is too big, too deep. I am one of the few lucky people that has a family who is fully accepting, always encouraging, never holding a grudge. Thank you all for writing my tattoo.

I wanted to carry the lessons they have taught me and the compassion they have shown me. I wanted to carry their love with me always.

Although this is not the reason for my love tattoo there is this super cool organization you should defiantly check out that supports, brings awareness and hope to depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and addiction. Their website is here.