Journal Prompt One

Lately, I've been journaling again, something I haven't done in quite a while. As I was journaling today, I decided to come up with some prompts for, not only myself, but also to inspire you guys to write. I will be doing a prompt each Sunday.  Feel free to share your writings  or thoughts on the prompt with me in the comments or on facebook.

Prompt One: What are your core beliefs? List and define these beliefs about your responsibilities, spirituality,etc.  How do these beliefs affect your everyday life?  Are they part of what makes you tick?  Why are they important to you?  What formed them?  Ask yourself these, and any other, questions you come up with. Remember, this is about you and what you believe, you are writing this stuff out for yourself and no one else.

Change

Wow, my life is changing so much, so very fast.  I only have one more class left that's just for high school, which is American history. The rest of the classes I take will be for high school and college credits. This semester I am taking math and psychology at the college and American history at home for high school/home school credit.

I've gotten a job as a lifeguard/swim instructor at the YMCA, I don't have a start date yet but I should find out about that this Monday or Tuesday.

Another huge change has been my mood. I've had a normal/happy mood for about three weeks now, I've even felt like baking and cooking.

The only drawback with some of these changes is less time to blog, so I'll probably only post on Friday or Saturday for a while.

Keep coming back to read more about my ever changing life! 

Ramblings

Hello everyone, I missed being able to write this week, although I had a ton of fun at camp!

I don't think that I've ever had a post like this before, but I really feel like just talking with you guys, so that's what I'm gonna do!  I'm in a superior mood lately, as in walking about with a huge smile and just being happy, it's wonderful. The only drawback is that I've been too busy to blog, though I plan to get into a regular schedule this week and blogging is definitely a part of a regular schedule for me.

I've been trying to lose a few pounds in a healthy way, so I think I'm gonna share that experience with you guys. So far I've been tracking my food intake, trying to eat less carbs, and drinking more water. I'm restarting my gym membership this Monday.

Last Wednesday,  I took my Compass test and made a high enough score on the English portion that I am taking the Photography class that I want to take. I am also taking a remedial math. My classes start on the 19th of this month.

I'm planning to start reading World War Z tomorrow if I can finish  reading Alice in Deadland today. I'm on a complete zombie kick right now, I'm watching a lot of the Walking Dead and reading zombie books.


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Life Recently

Hello Lovelies,

First off,  I'm terribly sorry for my extended absence, I honestly have no real excuse for it.

What I'm Watching: Alphas I just finished season one and I'm halfway through season two. Supernatural season 8. Merlin season one.

What I'm Reading: Alice in Deadland and a plethora of of Batman, Batgirl, and Doctor Who graphic novels.

What I'm Photographing: I've discovered a new cemetery that I'm  planning to have a picnic at and photograph again in the near future. The county fair I spent the entire week last week photographing.

Recovery: I'm pleased to report that I'm finally on good sleep schedule after many years of struggling with a poor sleep schedule.

what I'm Listening To: August Burns Red's Home album.

Things I'm Looking Forward to: I'm incredibly excited for school to start I have some catch up work to do then I'll be starting my junior year of high school and in a few weeks I'll be a part time college student as well.  I'm definitely most excited for my photography class.  My trip to camp next week.

Things Making me Smile: My dog cuddling with me. photos. painted nails. new jeans. doctor who. 

Today I Realized

I recently won third place for this in the county fair I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

Today I Realized

Today I realized that I have to learn how to live,

Today I realized that this is okay with me,

For better to learn how to live at 16,

Than to live in the darkness of drugs, alcohol, depression, or self injury.

Today I realized I’m not just a number or another statistic,

Today I realized I am human.

Today I realized that honesty is better,

Today I realized words will hurt me,

Today I realized that is not okay.

Today I realized that my past will define my future,

But will NEVER condemn it.

Today I realized that pain is really just a blessing in disguise,

Today I learned that today I realized.

By Lauren Joyner

Organizational Stuff

Organizing is by far one of my favorite things to do, so I thought it would be fun to share some project links and some links for epic organization apps/websites.

Epic sites and apps:
Springpad:  This is an amazing site for lists, to write reviews for things, compile your favorite photos etc.  My Springpad is ljoyner97.

Catch: Is a great place to keep lists and ideas, it is easy to use and a very well organized app/website.

Goodreads: Is a fabulous way to organize and keep track of what books you have read and what books you want to read. I am in love with this site!  My goodreads: Batgirl.

Awesome project: cornflower blue studio: diy rotating goal list


Sorry for the short post guys, I honestly thought I had more to write on the subject.

LIfe Recently

Wow, the past few weeks have been insane!  First off, I was in the hospital for four days last week for a medication adjustment. This week, I had food poisoning on Monday, then was in a minor car accident on Tuesday! That's why I haven't posted much the last four weeks or so.  Leading up to my medication change, I didn't feel much like writing.  I am very happy to report that my medication is now correct (woo!!!!!).

Several people have been asking for my Facebook and better ways to follow this blog.  I am on Bloglovin and that's probably the best way to follow me. Facebook is another excellent way to keep up with this blog, but also with how I am doing.  I would encourage you to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Bloglovin.  Now for the fun bit!

What I am Reading: Alice in Deadland, this is a lovely version of Alice in wonderland with zombies! Not only does this amazing book have zombies, but it has zombies that do a lot more than a normal zombie would. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes zombies and/or political books.

What I am Watching:  BBC's Waking the Dead is about a cold case team. 

What I'm Listening to: Van Halen's 1984 album. Mariana's Trench by August Burns Red. 

Things Making me Smile: Summertime weather, houseplants, and makeup. 

16 Before 17

I've been wanting to make one of these lists since I turned 16 in April and well it's July and I've finally gotten to it!  I'm  super excited to start working on this list. I'm most excited about number two. I've already been doing this and it's super fun. As well as an excellent way to become more comfortable with being alone, it just makes you enjoy your own company.

1) Enjoy having my licence and take advantage of that as much as possible.

2) Date myself; take myself on as many dates as possible.

3) Go electronics free for 48 hours.

4) Get a job making more money.

5) Write a kind loving letter to myself to read in 5 years on my birthday.

6) Pull a FUN all nighter, and sleep all day the next day.

7) Eat an entire dozen glazed doughnuts.

8) Save $500 dollars.

9) Attempt to make sushi.

10) Go to Six Flags.

11) Do water aerobics with the older folks at the Y.

12) Go to a concert.

13) Play kid's board games all afternoon.

14) Have a marathon of kid's movies.

15) Learn how to grill a pizza.

16) Run a 5K.

Spring Goal Review

Well I have completed most of my goals and the ones I have not completed, I still intend to complete asap. Some of these (the art class one) are prime examples of don't make many goals that require more than $20 and gas (that's just my rule, anyone can make it more or less than twenty dollars). The other goals went uncompleted due to laziness and lack of time.

Read 8 Books:  I completed this goal! I read Affirmation Poetry, Frankenstein and several other awesome books!

Plant my Flower garden: I kind of completed this goal. I didn't plant as many flowers as normal nor did I plant my flowers from seed, but I did plant flowers, so goal halfway completed. 

Press Some Flowers: This has been 100% successful goal!  I pressed about a dozen flowers.

Start a Scrap Book: I have without a doubt completed this goal! I've filled nearly an entire scrapbook with pictures, poems, quotes, and mementos. 

Take an Art Class: This is a goal I hope to complete this winter, since I was not able to take one during the spring.

Start a Blog: Well I have clearly managed this and I seem to be starting to gain a decently sized audience.

Finish getting my Driving Hours: I completed this goal with extra hours and successfully got my licence!

Volunteer at the Animal Shelter: I have done volunteer work, but not at the animal shelter, though I plan to drop my application off there this week. 

Go to Five Local Places I've Never Been To: I successfully did this, if you include places I haven't been to in forever, but sadly, I didn't legitimately complete this one .

P.S. I haven't posted yet this week, because I had a lot going on healthwise. 

Summer Goals List

I can't believe it is already summer. Here's a list of my summer goals.

1. Blog twice a week

2. Portfolios- I would really love to put together an art portfolio  as well as a portfolio for my shop to show potential customers.

  

3. Camp out- I've been wanting to camp out on our farm since we moved here, but haven't done it yet.

4. Train for a 5k- I want to train for an Out of Darkness 5K.

5. Read 4 books (at different times) - I didn't reach my spring goal for reading so, I want to finish that as well as this one.

6. Redo a thrift store dresser -  I really want to start fixing up and painting furniture to sell. 

7. Get good at knitting- I have learned how to knit and I would really like to knit something pretty.

8. Sew more- I would really like to make some cool dresses.

9. Get a second job - I would  really like to be making more money by fall, so I can set it aside for the future.

10. Make an inspiration notebook - I've been meaning to make one of these for a while, so I'm pretty excited about this.

Featured product of the week

This is the first of a new weekly installment.  I will be selecting an item from my etsy shop and selling it on here at a reduced price. These coasters can be found on my etsy shop here and  here. I can also do this with any .pdf file you send me, just tell me  you want to order a set of 4. To receive the special price of $14.90, message me on Facebook .

June Photo an Hour

 6:00 a.m. Eating outside and enjoying the flowers.

 7:00 a.m. Enjoying kitten yawns.

 8:00 a.m. Planning out my week.

 9:00 a.m. Taking a walk to wake up after doing math.

 10:00 a.m. Kitten cuteness and literature.

 11:00 a.m. Cleaned desk - ready to tackle more school work.

 12:00 p.m. Dusting some trinkets and antiques.

 1:00 p.m. Leaving to run some errands.

 2:00 p.m.  Enjoying my car bouquet.

 4:30 p.m. Picking up some flowers.

5:00 p.m. Buying pretty flowers.

6:00 p.m. Enjoying my newly planted flowers.

7:00 p.m. I read and then went to bed.

Self-Help Links

In this link post, I have concentrated on some awesome self-help links:

http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/mildmoderate/entry.asp
Get Self Help This is the self-help printout mother load!

Center for Clinical Interventions - This website has great workbooks for everything from managing bipolar disorder to stopping procrastination in it's tracks.


Positive Coping With Health Conditions - Is a self-care manual authored by scientist-practitioners with expertise in issues relating to coping with health conditions. This manual is designed for individuals who deal with health conditions, including patients, physicians, psychologists, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, and researchers. (description from site)     

Learning Commons- Lots of helpful articles, podcasts and printables for students.


Dbsalliance - The depression and bipolar support alliance has lots of helpful information and printables.

Hey guys I just wanted to let you know that this week has been insane for me but I am now back on the blogging bandwagon!!!!!!!

May in my Rearveiw

With longer days, a day in May seems like a month, but the month itself seems like a week, but I have my thoughts together, so here we go.

Favorite photo of the month: This was taken in Maeystown, IL.

Events That Stand Out to Me:  Flooding and tornadoes in St. Louis, MO as well as those  in Oklahoma earlier in the month.

Iron Man 3 came out in theaters!

On a personal note, I got a job!!!

Favorite Links I Discovered/Rediscovered:

Ifred - This is a pretty brilliant website. It has very helpful links and they do a lot to kill sigma related to depression. They also have a great list of help lines and online help support.

imalive - This is an internet emergency support line, all of their volunteers are trained. I think there is a small fee, but completely worth it if you need the help. You can also make a donation to help pay for the volunteers training.

dogshaming  - This website is always hilarious! For those that don't know what it is, people post pictures of their dogs with a sign that says what the dog did, example: destroyed the bathroom.

beautyschoolsdirectory - This website has videos to help those going into cosmetology with helpful tips, scholarship information, and directories to help find schools in your area.

maybelline - They and most makeup companies have great easy to follow tutorials. I now have a new makeup routine thanks to combining several of these tutorials.

My Favorite Read of the Month: Animal Farm - this was by far my favorite book I read this month. I had to read it for school, although it has been on my list for quite a while. The storyline was entertaining and fascinating from a political aspect.

What I Watched: Way more Supernatural than one person should watch in a month. Psych - I actually finished the season of something on time for once.  Doctor Who - as usual I watched a ton of Doctor Who, both new episodes and old ones.

8:00 am: Blog planning. First thing in the morning is my favorite time of the day to plan and write, because I feel refreshed and serene.

 9:00 am  Laying out photos and trying to keep the kitten off the board I was using.

 10:00 am About to have yummy banana bread for breakfast while doing the debate portion of history class.

 11:00 am Writing letters to some good friends, while listening to Of Plymouth Plantation on librivox.org.

 12:00 pm Eating lunch and organizing my close,t while still listening to Of Plymouth Plantation.

 1:00 pm Enjoying my wall of pictures.

 2:00 pm leaving for the gym,it was actually warm enough to wear flip-flops on the way there.

 5:00 pm Grace coming to greet me when I arrived home from the gym.

 6:00 pm Reading one of my favorite blogs loveelycia.

7:00 pm Doing a bit of math.

I then watched some tv and went to bed around 9 pm .