Marbles, Buttons, and Butterfly Wings: My Thoughts

Movies

2010-03-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today my friends and I are planning to see Alice in Wonderland at the Showboat Drive in Movie Theatre Lately I've been thinking about all the movies I've seen, which is ALOT. We have a Netflix account so we get a new movie basically every other day. We still go to see movies at a theatre and sometimes we go to the drive in, like tonight. Here I've decided to post some cool links about movies and the movie going experience just because I think everyone should be a part of this fun entertainment source:

Movie Watching According to 1000 Awesome Things: I really liked this post because it talked about the role the audience plays in movies, especially when you're with your friends

Rotten Tomatoes: Reviews of all the latest movies

Popcorn!: The perfect popcorn recipe

General Popcorn Info: Want to learn more about popcorn?

Movies.com: Absolutley EVERYTHING you ever needed to know about movies. Theaters, Showtimes, What's new on DVD & Blueray, and reviews.

Well thats all i can think of right now! Thanx for reading

Hope Flew in Tonight

2010-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just recently a huge semi came barreling down our sleepy little street and nocked off half of a large limb that was growing over the street from a tree in our front yard. We were devastated for our poor tree, and still hoping that it won't get sick. It's tall and thick and it's been a constant image in my life. I don't know how many times I've sat in the swing that hangs from it's branches or in the hammock on the other side. When I was younger, I built fairy houses among the roots, collected moss, even buried acorns under it to pretend that I was getting ready for the long winter months. I was never able to dig them back up again, later. When we came home to comfort our tree, just as we were standing underneath the limb that broke, a little bird swooped down in total silence and landed directly above us. As it looked down at us we realized it was an Eastern Screech Owl, sitting directly above our heads, on an arm of the amputated limb. My mom and I froze as if our feet had grown roots and stared up at the bird. After a few minutes of watching us it flew away on wings that seemed too large for such a small body. We firmly believe that the little owl had come back to make sure it's tree would be ok, and maybe to comfort us, too. It's moments like that, when something bigger that you convenes, and you realize that hope is in sight is what makes life wonderful. And that night, hope flew in and perched above our heads.

Photo: Our tree before the accident

Candy-Glass Blog Update

2010-01-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

Some of you may remember the blog that my friend Indigo and I started about a year ago. You've probably seen it in my blog roll, where it says "last updated- 1 year ago." Well, not anymore! My friend and I decided to get it back up and running.

Ok, so here's the idea. Every week, we upload a picture that we've taken. These photos represent what we've been doing, what we think about, and who we are. Maybe our lives aren't as different as they seem.

Anyway, check it out, and I will keep you updated!

The Midnight Museum

2010-01-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

Light Tunnel, Houston Museum of Fine Art

This is a rather random post, but I wanted to write something. Today my mom and I spent the afternoon at the Houston Museum of Fine Art (HMFA). It was really nice. There is something about museums that makes me feel at peace. Maybe its the high ceilings, and the large echoing halls. Maybe it's the light. The light in museums is beautiful because not only do you have the natural light from outside (except it was cloudy today), but there's also all the little beams that shine on interesting pieces of gold jewelry or large colorful paintings. There weren't a lot of people there today, which is odd because it's Friday. We ate dinner in the cafe and watched the people walk by.

And then, on the way home an idea struck me. What if museums were open 24 hours. People who couldn't sleep or who were working late and needed some time to relax could get in their cars and go to the museum. They could walk the halls and look at all the artwork in the middle of the night, knowing that the wouldn't have time for it during the daytime. Being in such a large place full of beautiful things is a kind of therapy. And wouldn't it be nice for all the people that inhabit the night.

Photo provided by:www.flickr.com/photos/ dawilson/3392948944/

Blue Chatter and the Occasional Real Conversation

2010-01-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Conversation is a form of communication that is universal. It's how we reach out and connect with other people and how we connect with ourselves. When I need to work things out in my mind I talk to myself. I'll walk around the house carrying on this mini one way conversation with my thoughts and my dreams. They are all there communicating with me even though they can't speak. I take them into my heart and speak for them just as I speak for myself.

Some people like to refer to the "lost art of conversation." This is something that I don't really believe in. Sure speaking face to face may have faded some, and some people have trouble reaching out to others through conversation, but speech is something that will never die out. It's simple and direct. Talking with someone is risky because we could say something that we aren't supposed to. We don't have time to process our next sentence. We have to step out and say what we think and suffer the consequences if it comes out the wrong way. It isn't that we've forgotten how to talk to another person, it's that we're afraid to.

The next section of this post here simply because it fascinates me. I want you to think, just for one moment about all the people you've talked to in your entire life. There's your family members, your friends, your co-workers, your bosses, your teachers, and then there's the occasional stranger who comes into your life for one brief moment to tell you a story. When this happens you listen. And for one shining moment you catch a glimpse into another person's life. You see what they saw, you hear what they heard, and you connect this person's experience with your own. And that,dear reader, is the real power of conversation.

This idea was inspired in part by a fascinating post on the blog "The Fish Bowl: Where Ideas Swim." If you'd like to read about how we think about past,present, and future as well as a few other random but extremely thoughtful insights, check it out. You can find it in my blog roll. Enjoy!

Picture provided by:http://dumais.us/newtown/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/conversation.jpg

The New Year

2010-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

So much can happen in a year. After a while I think it all blurs together, and even longer after that it doesn't really matter what year something happened. It's always strange to say to yourself, "Hey, today's the last day of 2009." As I think back on this past year I can't really remember specifics. Sure, recent things stick out, memories that have made fresh impressions on my open heart, even though after a while I will only be able to conjure up bits ad pieces. Emotions,and maybe the occasional smell of something familiar will make me remember. It's funny how memory works.

And then there's the new year. 2010 is full of opportunity. Full of shiny possibility, a chance to do something different. Maybe this is why we make resolutions. Change is something we hunger for, as well as second chances. The new year gives us that second chance. On the first day of this brand new year people are looking forward. The world opens up to us once again ad we welcome it. This year will be better, we say. And it will be, because we are diving in head first. Opportunity awaits. Go find it!

Clouds

2009-12-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

For thousands of years, clouds have captured people's imaginations. These ever changing forces of nature are always around, and change as we do. Clouds represent many things. They can be menacing in a huge grey mass, or lighthearted as they drift across the sky. Our perception of clouds changes as well. Clouds can be a source of dreams for younger children,a source of worry for adults as a storm approaches, or a spectacular array of colors for everyone that takes the time to look up. Clouds are always there. Take a picture outside and most likely there will be clouds in the background. And when the sky is bright and clear many people notice immediately and say, "Look. There aren't even any clouds in the sky today." These beautiful masses of air and water are part of the many things that we as humans take for granted. So the next time you step outside, take a little bit of time to look up and watch them float by.

The Letter

2009-12-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

There is something different and almost magical in writing a letter to someone. And I don't mean sending a Hallmark card and leaving it at that. I mean a real letter. The kind that is filled to the brim with slanted, messy script detailing your life, your family, maybe even your pets.

Sure, today we have a much better way of communicating. There's Facebook, Twitter, Instant Messaging, Texting, and e-mail. And of course, these have their many advantages that many people can't imagine living without. But when we decided to embrace these new standards of communication, we lost something as well. We lost intimacy. It used to be, when letters took weeks, sometimes months, to arrive at their destinations, people didn't just send information. They sent hopes and dreams and love. A shortage of letters from someone usually meant something drastic had happened. And today, with thousands of e-mails reaching their targets in less that a minute, there is I suppose a sense of assurance, but less of a personal contact between two people.

And this is why letters today mean so much. In a world that is moving at an accelerated pace, where the lines around the edges are blurred, receiving something that a loved one took the time to hand write simply so that you could feel it's weight on your finger tips is that much more powerful than reading it on a computer screen.

If you enjoy letter writing and receiving as much as I do, click on Letters of Note and Today I Saw in my blog roll. Thanks for reading!

Share the Joy!

2009-12-26T07:19:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. Things just got way too busy, with school and Christmas approaching fast. Anyway here are a couple photos of the things I made for my family. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of them before I gave them away, so there are only two that I can show you.

This is a shadow box that I made from scratch for my mom. I painted a cardboard tray black,and put in rolling green hills. Then I cut out a tree, painted it gold and glued it into the box. Finally, I cut out pictures of the whole family and decorated the tree with stars and presents underneath.

This picture is the inside of a box filled with office supplies for my Dad and "A book of Office Encouragement" (below), with quotes about the office and work. (The camera on my computer makes writing look backwards, so its kind of confusing.)

Hope you enjoyed!

A Chronicle of Ordinary Things Continued...

2009-10-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures. Scroll down for the original post...

Parakeets!

Veggie Bowl

Shelf Life

A Chronicle of Ordinary Things

2009-10-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

This is a group of photos that I took this afternoon. Welcome to my chronicle of ordinary things...

A Dog's Point of View

A Bracelet

A Winged Heart

Day of the Dead Shrine

Me!

The Magic of Sleep-Overs!

2009-10-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Didn't you love when your parent's went out of town and you got spend two or three days at a friend's house? Wasn't it great having fun with your friend and getting to see a little slice of what their life was like? Well that's what I got to do this weekend! My parents went out of town on Thursday so I went of to my friend's house. We danced, played video games, and of course, did homework. Today we got to go to the park and enjoy the nice cool weather(even if it was a little cloudy) This is a picture of me,my friend, and her little sister, (left to right.) It was taken with a phone so it doesn't have the best resolution. Don't worry though, better pictures for my blog are on the way. We get our new camera sometime next week!! Anyway, thanks for reading!

Fall Picnic

2009-10-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life rushes at us so fast that we just have to be swept up in it all and don't have time to get off the highway and slow down a little bit. To me seasons are symbolic of slowing down because their change is so gradual and constant. Nature changes every day, but it's life is not like ours. Ours is constantly filled with rushing here and there, working late and getting things done as quickly as possible. Nature is a rhythm, a constant background to everything we do. It grounds us. It keeps us from floating away. We feel comfort to know that the sun will rise tomorrow morning and will set in the evening. The wind pulls at our clothes, whispering songs that fill us with emotion, but never quite speak loud enough for us to understand.

Out of all of the seasons the two that mean the most to me are summer and fall. Summer tells of freedom. It means long, blistering days of tranquility and sleepy happiness. Fall, however, is a different thing entirely. Fall is cool and soft. It's change and clear skies and bright colors. It's that feeling of coming home and taking wing all rolled into one. It's twilight and magic. Fall is belonging. And this is why I try to take time out of my busy schedule to go outside and enjoy the nice cool breeze and the pretty golden tint that seems to light up the earth during the autumn months. Believe me, it's worth it just to relax.

So Much to Do, So Little Time!

2009-09-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

Ever since high school started it seems like I haven't had enough time to do anything besides homework. I'll finish one thing only to remember that I still have more work to do. Many times I try to stay on top of things and the get overwhelmed by them almost immediately.This post is to help those that need it figure out how to manage their time. It may seem hard at first, but once you create a system and stick to it, the process should get easier. Since I am still learning as well, I am probably not the best person to teach you this. Here are some of the links I found helpful:

Study Guides and Strategies

This is good for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and even college students. It offers valuable information as well as strategies like a place to fill in your schedule to see where your time goes.

Time Management Guide

Another site about using your time wisely, this time mostly for adults.

Remember the Milk

Remember the Milk is a site for easily managing your to-do's. They are still working on it so it may take a little bit of time to learn, but it is all worthwhile. The goal is to write everything you can think of down so that your mind is free to pick which things are most important.

Well that's all for now. I hope you found these links helpful!

In the Garden

2009-09-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

Wandering Jew Plant

Rusty Garden Fairy

Pretty Butterfly

Hello everyone! This morning I decided to go out and take some pictures. In Houston it is still cloudy and wet, but a nice cool front has blown in and it's beginning to feel like fall. Of course, no one knows how long that will last. While I was outside a little butterfly showed up and began fluttering between the

bushes in my front yard. It landed on one bush and stayed for a long time, resting

it's wings. The little creature even let me get up close w/ my camera and I got some

really nice photos. Enjoy and please comment!

ps. click on the pictures to see a bigger version!

In the Tank: MANY More Arrivals!

2009-09-06T19:04:00.001-07:00

Well, you won't beleive this, but we have 22 new baby fish in our tank! The older females are now in their new home and are doing fine. Above are pictures of the two baby fish containers floating in tank #2. If you would like to adopt a fish (or 5!!) please call:

713-668-5452

High School Schedule

2009-09-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired by friend's blog to write this post. In the post before this I talked about how I loved sameness when I was little. Well, I still do. Here's my daily schedule:

6:30 AM: Wake up, usually I'm out of bed by 6:45

7:00 AM: Shower, eat, get ready to go

8:00 AM: Drive to school with my mom and my dog Scout riding in the front seat.

8:30 AM: School starts

8:35 AM: PE

9:38 AM: Geometry

10:31 AM: Spanish

11:24 AM: Art

12:12 PM: Lunch

1:06 PM: English

1:59 PM: Biology

2:52 PM: Geography

3:40 PM: School Ends!

4:30 PM: Arrive Home

5:00 PM: Do HW

6:00 PM: Do HW

7:00 PM: Eat Dinner

8:00 PM: Finish HW

9:00 PM: Free Time (?)

10:00 PM: Get ready for bed

10:30 PM: Sleep

As you can see I have a busy schedule. Of course, it fluctuates depending on how much homework I have. Anyway, that's all for now!

The World of Toys

2009-08-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

When I was younger and I still made up stories for my stuffed animals, dolls, and little plastic figurines to act out, I was obsessed with the idea of sameness. One of my favorite characters was Wing, a tiny (about an inch tall) orange, plastic bear with wings and a tail with a white tuft on the end. Every morning he would wake up and drive to work in his beat-up pink VW Bug. At five o' clock he would arrive home and (depending on my decided storyline) would start working on his hobby, which was usually playing the guitar loud enough to annoy the neighbors or reading in a chair made out of building blocks. Many times wing had several prize possessions and the Statue of Liberty was always in his living room (yes, he was that rich). Wing would eat at 6:00 sharp and go to bed at 8:00 under a small plastic palm tree. Inevitably, his sacred schedule would always go awry because of the other townspeople, which were ingeniously played by my friend and her sister.

Eventually the games I played with my toys wormed their way into stories when I started getting into writing. I remember when I made a little dragon out of clay I wrote a story about how he selfishly ruled kingdom until something happened that made him change his ways. (I was 8 or 9 when I wrote it so I can't remember everything) When I was a little bit older I wrote a story about a little wooden snake I had gotten that day and a princess. Now that I'm in high school, and pretending has faded away into the past, I still think about all those unwritten stories and how wonderful it would be if we could write them as easily as we acted them out when we were

younger. Pretending is such a wonderful pastime for the little ones because it gives

them so much creativity. Maybe if we tried to re-teach ourselves to enjoy pretending instead of sitting in front of the computer or TV every free minute we would be alot

better off. That's right, you have an excuse to sit on the floor and play with your old stuffed animals! Go for it!

In the Tank: Octuplets!

2009-08-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

That's right everyone! I have eight little baby fish sectioned off from the rest of the tank in a measuring cup.(see above)They are all happy and healthy. :) We don't know if they are boys or girls yet. If anyone out there wants some Guppies, and has the means to take care of them, PLEASE CALL!!! We need some adopters!

713-668-5452

A Message from Ohio

2009-07-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I'm at the library in Minerva, Ohio. I can't make this too long since we're only allowed 30 minutes. Chritine and I have been having tons of fun. We finished a totally awesome fort made out of big sticks and hay. We got to visit her grandparents and we saw Harry Potter 6. I was majorly impressed! It was awesometastic! Tonight we're going to the Carol County fair for rides and greasy food! Anyway, best wishes to everyone! oh, and comment! I want to know whats going on in yalls life...

Belated Anniversary Post

2009-07-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of this blog! I was inspired by my friend indigo who's blog was made on the same day. And so...to celebrate my blog and all who read it, I'm going on a quest to post some of the coolest links I can find!

Harry Potter Moving Pictures

This tutorial will tell you how to make a moving picture, just like all the photos and portraits at Hogwarts!

Burda Style

If you've ever even dabbled in sewing this is the site for you. Buy and print patterns or simply learn from the many how-tos. Also get lots of inspiration from other people's work. Perfect from beginners to experts!

Site Meter

Track the number of people visiting your blog or site every day with easy to understand statistics and lots of useful features.

Lost Button Studio

A really cool blog with awesome crafts and recipes.

Spirit Cloth

The little blurb says it all:

"it seems i might be able to communicate something through cloth making. i hope so. this blog is a personal journey into gift giving and story cloth. one step at a time. and diversions along the way."

Blurb

A site that allows you to design your own book. Just download the software (it only takes a few minutes) Prices start at 4.99 but the hardcover, full color book is about $22. Check it out!

Writers on Writing

A complete archive of tons of articles written by authors about writing. They are fascinating...read them!

Apple Movie Trailers

Apple has movie trailers for every new movie! In HD, too!

This one has been mentioned several times, but it's awesome so:

Seeds of Imagination Game

Plant a seed and type encouraging words to make it grow. It's one of the only games I go back to again and again not only for fun, but for the simple beauty of the site and for inspiration. VERY CALMING...

Well thats all for now! I hope this blog will continue for many years! *holds up glass of sparkling grape juice* To Blogging! :D

How to Properly Look Forward to Something

2009-07-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

" Me being overly excited"

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes life confronts us with something we can look forward to. Be it a long awaited chance for a vacation or a reunion with an old friend, these exciting events give us something to think about in our spare time. In this post I will give you a step-by-step guide on how to look forward to things in a way that leaves you in a good mood for days on end.

Step One: Find something to look forward to. It doesn't have to be an extremely important event but it helps if it's something big or out of the ordinary.

Step two: As part of your daily routine begin thinking about your event. (As an example we will use mine which is that next week I'm flying to Ohio to visit my friend on her farm.)I try to think about my trip at least twice a day. Whenever I have a free moment, such as when I'm laying in bed before I go to sleep or when or when I'm feeling lazy in the afternoon, I travel to Ohio in my mind. I see my friend's face and I imagine all the fun things we're going to do together.

Step three: Create a countdown. Figure out how many days are left until the fun begins. In the evening you can cross it off and and say to yourself, "Only ___ days left!"

Step four: Plan and Prepare. One of my favorite parts of going on trips is packing. I make a master list of everything I need and check things off as I go along. Since I'm flying by myself for the first time I read a lot about how to handle going on a plane alone.I also learned about ways to get over my fear of turbulence and bought peppermints to settle my stomach, just in case.

Step five: Brag! It's ok to talk to friends and family about your special event. Just be careful not to rub it in their faces too much or you may have a grudge (or several) to deal with!

Step six: If you are sick with anticipation and can't keep yourself from bouncing up and down in excitement, you can figure out the specifics of how to make time "go faster." Should you do things faster? Like working harder on a project and finishing dinner in 15 minutes? Don't choke! Or should you draw everything out? This usually works best if your event is only a day or so away so that you won't be changing the speed at which you do things for weeks on end.

Step seven: Enjoy yourself. These steps don't have to be followed exactly, but if you do most of them you are bound to have almost as fun looking forward to an event as you are when it actually comes. And when it does come, take in every minute of it! :)

Well, thats all for now, but thanks for reading! If you have any more suggestions on how to look forward to things please comment.

In the Tank: It's a Girl! (I think..)

2009-06-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well, ladies and gentlemen, just the other day I found a tiny little baby guppy in our fish tank.To keep it out of harms way we put it in a measuring cup that hangs into the water from the side of the tank. i haven't decided on a name for it yet... if you have any ideas, please comment!

I say and you think....

2009-06-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

The first one I got off of a website and the second one I made up myself.

Hockey :: game
Twirling :: skirt
Montreal ::alabama
Better :: good
New :: paper
Rally :: cheerleaders
Stanley :: higgins
USB :: cable
Scouted :: dog
Cough :: hurt

computer:: cord

banana:: bandana

lamp::bright

Mary::Poppins

understand::not really

write::poetry

dog::loyal

random::fun

From Kaki to Wacky!

2009-06-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ever since school ended I'v been in denial about wearing kaki. To tell you the truth, i don't want to see anything kaki for the rest of my life! So, my mom and I decided to do something about it! Yesterday we took a pair of kaki pants, put them in blue dye and miraculously changed them from kaki to wacky! Lol. I know its cheesy but whatever. Instead of using traditional tie-dye we did something called Low-water Immersion Dyeing. For a tutorial click here.

Also check out Dharma Trading Company for dyes, and all kinds of clothing to dye.

In the Fish Tank: New Residents!

2009-06-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

(left to right)Jenna,Toni,Alexander,Eve

After the unfortunate death of my carnival gold fish my tank sat vacant. The friendly humming of the filter was gone, and no light fell through its glass walls. Until, that is, today. My neighbor generously offered to give me some of her guppies and now my tank has four beautiful residents. See picture above. I found a website with the most popular fish names on it, along with their meanings. Here is what i've decided to name them:

Alexander: meaning "defender of mankind," dark grey and white with bright orange fins and tail

Eve: meaning "life," dark grey and white with an orange tail that has dark specks on it

Toni:meaning "priceless," mostly white with iridescent specks and a double tail

Jenna:meaning "smooth and white,"all white

Even though I'm being very optimistic in this post, I know that fish keeping is hard. In the professional fish care world deaths are common place. Hopefully I will have better luck and these fish will live long and happy lives.

Third comment on Shannon Hale's Blog!!

2009-05-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, this is just a short little new flash. I want you all to check out Shannon Hale's blog and read the comments because mine is the 3rd one! I'm so glad I finally commented soon enough to be the 3rd and not the 28th or something like I usually am. Also if you haven't read Shannon Hale's books, u need to. They are fantastic!

ps. You can find the link to her blog on my blog roll.

Go Green!

2009-05-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, summer is just a few days away. If you want to do something special with your free time, why not try to save the planet? For most of us, going green means dong the little things: recycling, riding our bikes or the bus in stead of in our cars, using cloth grocery bags instead of plastic. Well, here's a bunch of links that will help you do more to help the environment-

TreeHugger

This site has a bunch of things to look at including games, quizzes, and information on how you can do your part!

Green Basics

This article will tell you everything you need to know about the green movement, from teaching you about locally grown foods to explaining how solar energy works.

How to go Green

This is a guide that will tell you how you can help the environment in every day situations.

Well, thats all for now. Enjoy saving the planet!

Poems

2009-05-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple poems that I wrote at the spur of the moment not too long ago. Tell me what you think!

Untitled

Black and white

leading nowhere

we stand tall

stiff and erect

like statues

Shadow and light

moving in boxy patterns

chasing each other

but taking careful steps

Stencil

like the letters on a page

words almost unknown to us

and yet we follow blindly

A pool of Water

A pool of water

awakened by silence

Only to find a simple

bird flitting around its banks

and seeing a deer

goes back to sleep

to await spring

How to Plan Your Summer!

2009-05-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

Before getting into the heart of what I want to bring up in this post I'd just like to share a picture (right) of a drawing that I made with fabric paints yesterday. I'm going to add a border, along with a fringe at the bottom and a ribbon at the top so i can hang it in my room like a miniature quilt.

Also, please follow the link below. I found an interesting website full of articles written by writers. Its a nice read if you need something to keep you occupied the isn't numbing brain cells like TV.

Writers on Writing

And now onto the original topic: How to Plan Your Summer.

Summer's on its way. And with it comes freedom, tall glasses of iced tea, plenty of sun, and the usual laziness. But what if you want to plan your summer? You may have some ideas, but don't know how to put them into action. Here's some tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect summer!

Set goals: what do you want to get done this summer? Any projects you want to start? Maybe you'd like to improve a skill or expand a hobby.
Plan certain events over the course of the summer that you can do alone or with friends
If you want to go to a camp enroll early
Plan a back-yard party and invite all your friends
Don't fill up your entire summer with things to do. You don't necessarily want every day to be busy.
Finally, remember that summer is supposed to be easy and relaxing. Plan things you really enjoy doing, and have fun doing them!

Well, thats all for now! Please comment. Your support is always appreciated, and without you I would be "blogging" to myself.

In the Fish Tank: A Death in the Family :(

2009-05-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

Isi/Ani

Date of Birth: Unknown

Date of Death: May 5, 2009

Family and Friends: Gerick, Enna, Razo, and the Mills family

You know, I've had many gold fish over the years. Many say fish are surprisingly easy to keep, but experienced fish owners know this isn't true. Looking after an aquarium is a big job. You have to change the water numerous times, check the ph level, keep track of nitrates and nitrites (which are in fact two different things. Look up the nitrogen cycle if you must...) and watch out for over feeding. During this time you get very attached to your fish, and it is always painful when losing one of the pack.

Isi/Ani was only in my tank for a short time. She was short and always a little smaller and chubbier than the others. I loved her orange and white splotches and I had been partial to her in the beginning.It is sad that she had to leave us so soon. I had hoped to be able to give her a better life. One that had not been in an over crowded tank at the pet store or the bazaar where I got her. She only got a glimpse of that better life, but I think she enjoyed it. She was a strong little fish that kept fighting till the end and though she will be sorely missed, she will also be long remembered.

*raises imaginary glass* To Isi! (or Ani)

In The Tank: Fish Names

2009-05-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to name my fish after characters from my favorite book of all time, "The Goose Girl." Here's a list of the names as well as descriptions:

Isi or Ani: Orange and White, slightly smaller than the others

Enna: Orange and black, biggest of the four

Razo: All White,same size as Isi, kinda hyper at times

Gerick: All orange, between Enna and Razo in size

Over the next few weeks if any new changes arise "in the tank" I will be updating and adding more pictures. Well, that's all for now!

Fish! :D

2009-05-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

Breaking News!

I went to a bazaar today and won 4 goldfish! We bought a new, 10 gallon tank, with gorgeous deep blue gravel.

I haven't decided on names, but I'll post them as soon as I decide.

ps. Sorry this post is so short!

Spring is in the Air! (With before-notes)

2009-03-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

Before I talk about spring (see title) I must include a few before notes (also see title).

Before Notes

- Poll Results!

Purple: 1 vote

Pink: 3 votes

Green: 2 votes

Blue: 2 votes

Pink won! Runner up is Green and Blue (a tie) and lastly comes purple. Sorry purple, better luck next time! :)

Also don't forget to vote on my newest poll!

That concludes my before-notes. Coming up next; Spring is in the air!

Spring is one of the most unique seasons. The flowers bloom and the trees bust out into brilliant shades of green, but at the same time chilly winds blow and warm rain falls. Spring has also known as a time to start fresh. A time to begin again, wether it be completely altering your lifestyle, or just clearing away some clutter sitting on your bookcases a home. For gardeners, spring is the perfect time to plant flowers. I just planted some in my own garden, even though my little patch of soil has a nasty reputation for being uninhabitable to any kind of plant except a few weeds.:) So anyway to celebrate the season, here's a few links to get you into the spirit of spring!

Seeds of Imagination

This is a great little game, especially for those who don't have a garden of their own or want to stretch their creativity. Just type in encouraging words to make the flower grow! Also, the music and graphics are very relaxing.

Spring Quotes

Great quotes about spring!

Flickr Pics: Spring

Self explanatory. You may be surprised by what you get!

Don't forget about those holidays....

March 17th

April 1

April 8

April 12

April 22

Now you will never miss out on a spring holiday. Well, thats all for now, folks. Tomorrow morning bright and early I'm headed off for El Paso, Texas! Yeeehaaa!!

Colortastic! I explore the amazing uses of colored pens in everday life.

2009-03-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! As the picture suggests, I got four brand new, beautifully colored pens from Texas Art today! I have always loved pens, and I have been always been fascinated with their interesting and diverse colors. So follow me into to the world of colored ink, and discover how you too can use them in your every day life.

A List of Uses for Colored Pens:

Just because you can't write in green or pink on school assignments, doesn't mean you can't use them for note taking! For a truly colortastic notebook,get into the habit of writing your notes with brightly colored ink.
Bring your pens with you on airplanes or during road trips and doodle away!
Writing letters can be much more fun when using cool purple. You will want to write thank you notes all day!
Customize your journal by writing in your favorite color
Use a color that reflects your mood

Now that you know just some of the many uses for colored pens, you may want some of your own. But where to begin? The search for the perfect pen is never ending, but below are some tips for helping you get on the right track.

Choosing the Right Pen:

Make sure to pick colors that you like
The pen should fit easily into your hand and you should be able to write smoothly with it
If you are left handed,make sure it doesn't smear or you will get ink all over your hand
Try not to pick something that is too bulky or heavy
brands aren't all that important, but if you must know, mine are "Le Pen" by Marvy
finally, you want the ink to "pop" off the page. Just because the color of the pen is pretty doesn't mean that the color of the ink is the same

Now that you have read all about these wonderful pens,I hope you will be compelled to get a few or use some you already have at home. At very least, I hope that by reading this post you have learned that: Colored Pens Make our World Colortastic!

What's new in the life of Laura Mills?

2009-03-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to say that I didn't follow up on my last post (New, Better post coming soon). The news in my life is:

1. Tomorrow is the reading TAKS

2. .......there's really not much else going on.

Here's a cool link about typewriters, though! Be sure to click on on the thing at the top that says listen now.

Check it out!

Thats all for now. Cya!

New, Better Post Coming Soon

2009-02-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I haven't been able to post as much lately because I've been REALLY busy (not to mention sick w/ chicken pox!). I am better now though so after this Saturday the heap of homework, projects, events, and overall stress should let up some. Thanks for being so loyal! Also, the poll closes at 5:30 on Friday so be sure to vote if you haven't already!

2009-02-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

Here are the poll results:

Spending time w/ family- 6 votes

Spending time w/ friends- 8 votes

School- 1 vote

Learning new things- 5 votes

Technology- 4 votes

Reading- 3 votes

Summer- 5 votes

Love- 4 votes

Laughter- 6 votes

Pets- 0 votes :(

Quiet afternoons- 2 votes

Being alone- 1 vote

Despair- 0 votes

Being crowded around by people you do and don't know- 0 votes

Movies- 1 vote

Extra Curricular activities- 2 votes

Homework- 1 vote

Just being alive- 5 votes

Well, thats all for now, but don't forget to vote on my new poll!!

I show pictures taken yesterday at the Gold Key Award Art Gallery

2009-01-25T16:42:00.000-08:00

Picture #1: Me and My friend Indigo at the art gallery. Unfortunately, her amazing piece of art is not shown in this pic.

Picture #2: A lose-up of a bike wheel this guy had parked outside a neighboring coffee shop.

Picture #3: Sculpture standing against foggy glass window. Nice backlight, don't you think?

I rejoice because it is Friday, and because Stanford testing is officially OVER!

2009-01-23T15:54:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday Everyone! Being the most special day that it is, I couldn't help but make a new post. Here are some of the interesting things that are going on in my life:

Stanford testing is over!
I'm accually updating my blog
Tonight at 7:00 I'm going to my first group piano "lesson", where someone comes and gives feedback on our pieces.
It's Friday!
Tomorrow is RealFilms (A documentary screening my parent's non-profit organization does every other month at the Aurora Picture Show. I'm in charge of serving popcorn!)
Oh. Also for dinner we're having sausage, green beans, and salad w/ homemade dressing. Yum!
And thats about it...

There. You finally got a little peek into my every day life.

Above is a nice picture to look at, and below are some interesting links:

Learn about friday

More about Friday

UPDATE: Before I could finish my post, I had to go to the piano event that I was talking about. Everything went well, and there was a nice woman to give out tips after everyone's piece. It was a lot of fun, and the even had chocolate covered pretzels!

Thanx and Goodnight again

Randomness

2009-01-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone. I know this is my first post in a long time, so I'll make it count. As you can see, I changed the template. The old one was too...brown. Anyway, as this title suggests, I am writing about randomness! Check out the pictures above, and these links:

Waking Up

This is a little something that all of you should look at. Don't you ever want to wake up early? I find sleeping in a waste of time. (Just my opinion; do whatever you want) ;)

Send Text Messages from your Computer!

Btw, the link above doesn't work for Verison! I found some others, but they haven't been as good.

Seeds of Imagination Game

This is an awesome little game! It also helps to get creativity flowing. Type in encouraging words to make the flower bloom. Ok, ok it may sound corny coming from me, but seriously. Try it!

Well, that's pretty much it. Please comment!Oh! also, check out my new poll and blog roll (if i get it up tonight)

Thanks and Goodnight

Our New Blog!

2008-11-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

Ok our blog is officially up and running! Come check it out at: Candy-Glass! Don't worry, I won't stop posting on this blog, either! Thanx for reading!

Hello Again, Friends!

2008-11-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know i haven't been updating my blog too much. Don't worry, I'm going to it's just I've been very busy lately. I've been working on History Fair, doing homework, and fumbling to squeeze Girl Scouts and Piano practice into my schedule. Anyway, now that I've been telling you about all the stuff that I've been busy with, you will think it's crazy that I want to start a new project! Well, I am.

My friend ruth and I (see Ruth's blog) want to make a new blog that we can both access. We will each take one picture every day. After uploading it onto the computer we will add it to the blog. Then we can compare the pictures to see if our lives are really all that different.

To tell you the truth, I'm accually "copying" off of another website.Two women, living on opposite sides of the country, decided to take a picture every morning of anything that interested them or showed what they had been doing. Here is the link to their new site, A year of evenings!

Now, I'm not sure how soon we will be able to get this going. After all I did tell you about all the stuff I have to do...But I will post an update when I can.

After the Hurricane...

2008-09-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

This is just an update to everyone that has power and can read this:Hurricane Ike didn't do major damage. A tree in our back yard is leaning badly, but hopefully it will live. Our house doesn't have power but our office does. I am ok and I hope to be hearing comments from all of you!

Hurricane Ike is Coming!

2008-09-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

We have all been watching the news about hurricane Ike, wondering what ois going to happen. To help more people find out about this hurricane, here are some helpful links:

OMG!!!! My Poor Neglected Blog!!!!

2008-09-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I have not written on my blog for three whole weeks! I guess with the start of school, it got left behind! Now, to all the readers who have shook their heads waiting for my next post, I apologize. If you will forgive me, I will write posts more often. Thank you, and goodnight.

Nitrome

2008-08-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago my friend introduced me to a game site called Nitrome. I have never been extremely interested in computer games, but these are some of my favorites. Among them are Jack Frost (I'm on level 14) and Cheese Dreams (level 4). There's also favorites like Final Ninja and Skywire. But I'll let you find out the joy of Nitrome's cute pixelated games for yourself! (Also check out their blog for updates, and fan mail!)

Shopping Spree!

2008-08-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we did some back to school shopping.I got some awesome shoes (hopefully they will add color to my uniform), a new watch (that i absolutely love), and some kakis. I'm still not looking forward to the summer's end, but at least I'll be able to start school prepared.

The Sailor's Sister

2008-08-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

You are probably wondering about the title of this post. Well, I'll tell you this. I'm not a sailor and i don't have a sister. It's accually the title of a short story that I'm working on. I've already written three pages, so here's some of the first one, just to give you a taste.

[And old man lay in a hammock, listening to the sound of the surf crashing against the jagged black rocks below the cliff on which he lived. This man's name was Gregory Bayliff, an old sailor who now ran the light house on Buff Point. His skin stretched tightly across his high, pointy cheekbones and his scraggly beard was filled with salt. On that bright, sunny afternoon he was feeling particularly irritable and in moods like that he always retired to the hammock behind his house.

"I am not old.! he said to himself.

"Yes you are." he heard his mind reply, "You have been old for a very long time, and there is no doubt that you will get older."

"Age has nothing to do with it. I am as fit as I ever was."

"If that;s true then you're own sister would know it, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why did she beg you to go to Palm Creek?"

"Don't mention the name of that silly retirement home." he growled, still fighting with himself.

"Whatever you say. But answer me this. If you're as 'fit as you ever were', why is Charlotte coming up here for a week to look after you?"

"I must stop talking to myself!" Exasperated, the sailor pulled himself out of the hammock and walked to the edge of the cliff where he could look out over the bay.]

That's all I'm giving you for now, sorry!I hope you like it, tell me what you think!

My NEW ROOM!!

2008-08-02T20:08:00.001-07:00

Here they are folks! Pictures of my new and improved room!!!I hope you like em'.

News Flash!

2008-07-31T06:52:00.000-07:00

One thing I didn't mention in my first entry are news flashes. This new kind of entry will be short, but fun, and will give you a snippet of the things that go on in my life.

NEWS FLASH #1: Last night we bought the paint for my room!Thank you to all who voted, the color was Lemon Mint. For those of you who haven't voted, feel free to do so now. (Btw, that paint can was hard to hold up. The reason the words are backwards in the picture is that the camera on my computer acts like a mirror)

NEWS FLASH #2: Yesterday my friend and I made these cool handkerchiefs. I finished mine this morning and this is how it turned out. Pretty cool, huh?!

Goodbye old, Hello NEW!

2008-07-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm finally doing it. I am changing my pink, flowery room into my own "teen" space. Though I'm not going to reveal too much about my plan, I will need your help on some very important decisions.I will put up several polls over the next few days, as well as add pictures to the entry that will give you the details. Here we go!

1st pic: This is my room right now.

2nd pic: These are the paint choices i am looking at. 3rd pic:my two top choices, Soothing Aloe (the middle lighter one) and Lemon Mint (The bottom darker one) At he side of this page is a poll where you can vote for the color you think is best!I may not use the winning choice, but I will be glad to hear your opinion. (For those of you who didn't already know, it's better to pick a light color when painting an entire room. You don't want to be totally overwhelmed by color for the rest of your life!) Thank you everyone, and I will keep you posted. We're painting this weekend!!!!!!

BOREDOM: How to over come it.

2008-07-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

Most of you have experienced boredom. Whenever my friends get bored they call me up asking for ideas on what they should do. I have never understood the logic in this. Whatever I suggest is always turned down, and soon all there is is silence on both ends. When asking for an opinion we rarely take the other person's advice. Furthermore, when we are bored we almost incapable of thinking for ourselves.

Even so, I try to be as creative as possible while I'm the wraps of boredom. I try doing something peaceful like swinging on my swing while thinking about what I want to do. I also like the idea of doing completely random things. Today my friend and I watched "The Little Mermaid" and sung along to all the songs.If you're alone you should try making something out of pistachio shells or tin foil. Here's a whole list of things you can do while you're bored.

Make interesting things out of random objects
Plan a party
If you love working in the kitchen, cook everything you can with the ingredients you have at home
Invent something
Watch movies that you haven't seen in decades: take notes, try to find objects that you never noticed before
Walk to the park or another interesting place
Plant flowers
Try your hand at painting, writing, or singing
learn to play chess (read a book or practice online)
re-organize your kitchen shelves or your desk drawers
make a list of things you want to do before you die-it's time to start following your dreams!

Remember, boredom eats up time. Fun stuff eats up time. The difference is how you use that time. Use it well, and who knows? You could become the next National Chess Champion!

"You...you MANIAC! You HOSE LADY!!"

2008-07-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gotten that feeling where you start something and you just have to finish it? And then, maybe you JUST HAVE to go on and find MORE of it to do? Well, that's what happened to me this afternoon.

My neighbor hired me to water her garden every day while she was gone. This afternoon I went over and watered all of her beautiful plants. It was hard work, especially because I was tired from helping out at a nature center. When I got home I noticed how sickly our own plants were doing. "Hmmm..." I thought, and the next minute I was dragging the hose around my yard, soaking everything. I finished the front yard and moved to the back. I don't know what pulled me along, but I was on a roll. Finally I came inside. My thumb was sore from making the water come out stronger, and my feet were dirty. I wonder how I even have the energy to write this post.

Call me a maniac? Some crazy "hose lady?" I'm not. I'm just a kid who wanted to water her plants.

The Power of the Notebook

2008-07-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

Being a writer, I LOVE notebooks. I have at least twenty of them all piled up in the top drawer of a file cabinet. The one I'm holding in the picture is a small METRO notebook that my friend and I got at Texas Art. I use it to draw and write in and I'm trying to get in the habit of carrying it around in my purse.

In using it, I have discovered that notebooks give us power. They give us power, and freedom, and love, really.To me, the blank page does not intimidate. Rather, it invites me to swim through my own thoughts. Even if nothing good comes out on the page, I have that moment of my life recorded, forever there for me to go back to.

I love writing in notebooks and I encourage you to write in one,too. It doesn't have to be every day, just once in a while when you feel energized, happy, or even irritated. Writing relieves stress and allows you to express yourself through words. If you write in a notebook,it will become a keepsake forever. :)

A Tribute to Nilla Wafers

2008-07-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

This morning I was eating a Nilla wafer and I was thinking, "wow, these are really good, but nobody pays them any attention." And again, I thought to myself "Why, these cookies deserve a tribute!" And it's true. They do!

Cookies in general have never gotten very much praise in all the time that they've been around.I mean we just scarf them down without thinking of the person that made that cookie. That person was responsible for creating an easy, small dessert that you can have as an after dinner snack. Think about the creators of Oreos and Chips Ahoy! So, that being said, I come back to the plain and simple goodness of Nilla Wafers.

Nillas (as I will now begin to call them) are a combination of sweetness and crunch. Their texture is that of a cake and a cracker mixed together! Their shape is perfectly formed to fit in your fingers! I LOVE Nilla Wafers!!!!

After reading this, I hope all of you will remember to respect cookies and their creators, and to give them the tribute they deserve.

My first Post!!!

2008-07-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Here is a preview of some of the things I will post in my new blog.

News- In the near future I will be telling you about my life; happenings, interesting conversations, and funny sayings that I hear along the way
Writings- poems and stories that I have written
Photos- Pics are a big part of my life, so my blog readers should get to see all my favs!
Links- My favorite websites, along with videos and articles that I find interesting
"Guest Authors"- I may ask some of my friends to write posts for my blog
Reviews- Read as I review my favorite books and movies

Well, that's all for now, but come back for more interesting posts! Also, check out the sidebar for lists and polls. I'll add more soon!