Don't Touch!

If there ever was a such thing as bad luck, believe me, I have it. Maybe a curse even. When it comes to technology and cars, don't get me started.

Any phone I've ever had has had problems galore. I go through phones like Paris Hilton and her wardrobe, you have a new one every day. It's awful. I have also had bad luck with phones, computers, cars, and the list goes on. I've had very few problems with iPod's, THANK GOODNESS, but even if I have, you better believe I spent extra money to get a warranty.

I am always having to fix something. This week: my car and computer.

Who knows what the next week will bring, hopefully nothing because I gotta get my butt home safely!

Dear High School Me

If I could go back in time and write a letter to myself, this is what it would say:

Dear Christin,

GO TO BED! There is no need to be up so late talking to a boy or texting a friend, you can do that tomorrow, get some sleep, you'll thank me in the morning.
Don't worry about the dumb, dramatic people that start crap, they're not worth it, and you won't talk to them after graduation, thank goodness.
Don't worry about cheer, at the end of this you'll have a meaningless cord to wear at graduation and bragging rights on college applications, and you will have a made about one friend from cheer you'll talk to after high school, that's about it.
STRESS comes with everything, don't sweat the small stuff and try not to care as much.
In certain circumstances, put YOURSELF first, but never be selfish. Yeah, good luck figuring that one out!
Oh and all that heartbreak, yeah forget it. You live, you learn, and then you move on and find the next fish in the sea. It won't hurt so bad a few years down the road.
Work hard in all you do, I promise it will pay off in the long run, especially when you buy your mustang!
Quit the weekend nanny job ASAP.
Just don't talk to a few select people in the first place-- drama!
QUIT QUIT QUIT IB. waste-of-time. Just take the AP courses in the areas you think you might actually like.
Try to dress up for school, ya know, do your makeup and hair more than three times a year, and stop wearing sweats and ugg boots, the only time you'll be seen in HS without these things are dances, pep rally's/game day's and nights, and ASB elections, interviews, and your birthday. OH and maybe the last day of school!

Never fall away from the church. 

Live life with no regrets. At the end of the day, be content with who you are, if you're not content, change it.


Only you can make your dreams come true. Only you decide who you will become, so make the best of it and do what it takes to be the person you want to be.

Love,
Christin

The Reason Why I Will Only, Ever Write Fiction

I have always wanted to write a book. I knew it would be time consuming, but well worth it in the end. I enjoy writing, especially if it's something I want to write about, NOT including stupid papers that I get to choose the topic on for my classes. The enjoyment of writing is taken away when you are forced to write a paper and have specified requirements. Same goes for reading- I'd rather read for my own enjoyment, rather than being forced by a professor. I think that's fair.

Anyway, I've always wanted to write a book. I wrote one my sophomore year of high school, including illustrations, it was 36 pages and awesome.

GOOD NEWS!
I am writing another book. This time around, it is a textbook. I am writing a Criminal Investigations Textbook. I do not like it. It is for a class, and I wouldn't mind it so much IF it wasn't for citations. I hate having to show where I got my information from, and that goes for any kind of writing/project/presentation, where I am forced to use outside resources. It's so much extra work and really is a headache. It easily adds on another hour of work to a workload of at least an hour, so it adds a few more hours of procrastination, meaning a lot more stress. If I have to write a paper, fine, I'll only procrastinate for a couple of hours. If I have to cite my sources, I will procrastinate for days. I hate it that much.

I like writing and would like to write more. I am probably not going to spend as much time as I should on this textbook because I am not going to be published. Now, one day, when I am rich and famous, I will probably go dig out my textbook I wrote my sophomore year of college, completely revamp it, and get myself published. Until then, I will continue on with my book, looking at it as a grade, instead of a money making, life changing, book tour kind of result.

Recent Obsessions

Guitar
About a month ago, I decided to finally take up guitar. It's something I've always wanted to do and I thought it was a good idea to pick up and work on a new skill that I can use as an outlet from my studies. I love my guitar, she's a B-E-A-U-T. and yes, beaut, not beauty. I'm really enjoying it and enjoying jammin' with my roomie Jessicah!

iPhone 4s 32 GB White
If you know me and phones, you know we don't get along well. That goes for any technology actually. The only thing I've never had a problem with was my pink iPod Nano I got for Christmas of '09. That thing has been darn good to me, knock on wood. I just recently started using it again. But! Back to my point. I got an iPhone about 3 weeks ago, maybe it was 4? Regardless, I love my new phone. It is fantastic! I am always on it, using it, playing games, emailing, texting, talking on the phone, skyping, etc etc, I think you get the point. I was very obsessed with Family Feud at first, have always played Words with Friends, and Word Feud, but have also started playing Hanging with Friends and I really like it. These games are making me think and are good distractions during a boring lecture and entertain me when I can't sleep.
I also read FML's daily. I think it's become a serious issue. There's just some funny stuff on there that makes my day. I recently started reading TFLN (Text's From Last Night.) I really did not like them at first, not at all actually, but they're really starting to grow on me and I often find myself laughing at them now.
I am also tweeting all the time (christingracee) follow me! And I love instagram too!

Criminal Minds
OH. MY. WORD. I LOVEEEEE this show. I started watching it before I came up to school, here and there, basically whenever I was bored and resorted to watching TV and nothing else was on. BUT, this semester it has been a huge hit. My apartment is addicted to watching it. We spent Halloween, well 2 of us did, watching 3 or 4 straight episodes of it, it's the best! Here's the thing, no matter the time, if they're on, we stop what we're doing at watch. If someone's in the other room or down the hall and they hear it, they come out and watch. Here's the addiction part: If there's 2 or 3 on in a row, we have to watch all of them. We don't change the channel, we hardly take our eyes of the screen, unless we're doing homework during commercials, but the second it comes back on, forget the homework and back to business. I love love love this show so much. It is by far my favorite and it never gets old. I am also in love with...

Shermar Moore who plays Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds. Oh baby, he is my MAN!! My favorite is when he wear that leather jacket... ooh la la. and don't forget about those shades either! ;) He is also the one who's always in on all the action, and I love it.

Footsie Pajama's

They might just be the best invention ever. On Friday, my roommate, Kristy, and I were freezing because it was snowing and the bottom of our pants got wet and we did not wear enough clothing to keep us warm enough. (We seriously walked from the Hart Gym to the car and then the car to our house.) We were absolutely freezing, so we went straight home, put on our footsie pajamas and were warmed up in less than 5 minutes. I always thought they were dumb for anyone over the age of 8 to have, but believe me when I say, they may have been the best $20 I've ever spent.

Online Shopping
I absolutely love it. I find something I like for a million times cheaper than I would get it for in the store and then I get so happy when I get mail. It's clearly a win-win situation. I LOVE eBay and am a recent addict to Etsy. I sometimes shop on Amazon, but their deals are never as good.

Reading
I love it! I barely have any time for it outside of my school materials, but when I get the chance, I have my nose in a book. I read a book by Mary Higgins Clark called I Walk Alone, GENIUS! I loved it. I also started reading The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks, but have yet to finish. As well as the Hunger Games Series. I finished the first one over the summer and started the second one, Catching Fire, but haven't had time to read it diligently. I also started The Stranger Beside Me and If You Really Loved Me by Ann Rule. I really enjoy all of them and get so sucked into them that I never want put them down and just want to read all day long.

Achy Muscles and Mysterious Bruises

So this post will not be all that long because I have to get back to studying, but I decided that I studied for an hour straight, I could take some time to myself, listen to a couple songs, check my Facebook and what they hay, write a new post.

Two weeks ago, the genius idea to try out for cheerleading popped in my head. I thought of all the fun I had in high school when there wasn't ridiculously pointless drama and their mama's. I could not stop thinking about how much I loved stunting and came to the realization that after a year of not cheering, I needed to get back to it. So last week I tried out. My body HATED me the next day. Tuesday-Friday of last week, I was very sore and wobbled around, walked slowly, and had trouble getting off my bed, the couch, and chairs, though, I mostly hated climbing stairs. Did I mention I have to climb a numerous amount of stairs everyday to get to and from classes and my apartment on the second floor (even though there isn't a lot) and that my college is set on a hill? A hill that can feel very steep at times? OH and I drive a stick, so I avoided my car as much as possible last week.

I was feeling really good all weekend, grateful to have this awful pain in my body gone, I hate lactic acid. I was moving around like a normal person, able to sit, lay and stand like a normal person, able to drive like a normal person. Well, last week, I decided that I needed to start tumbling again. I set goals for myself years ago that I was determined to meet and I missed it. The last time I took a class or was coached was, brace yourself, 2 years ago. So, I decided it was time, arranged a time and place to take private lessons, and was very excited to get back into it. Well, yesterday was my first lesson. I had to drive for an hour, but it was well worth it because it went really well. By the time I got home to grab a snack and head to class, I could already feel my muscles tighten and the dreadful pain I felt last week, starting to consume my body, again. The pain worsened and by the end of the night, I was in worse pain that I was last week. Everyone knows the day after is always the worst, but what I dreaded even more was having to get out of my best this morning because that would require moving. I was very comfortable and had to get up to go to class. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper this morning.

With these awful achy muscles, I managed to walk all around campus today and have now confined myself to a chair in the BYUI center until I am ready to take my first test of the day. Oh joy!

Oh, and I have already received my first bruise of many to come this semester. It was not from cheerleading because I noticed it yesterday after I got home from tumbling. How I got it, I will never know. Though I am currently in extreme pain, I am very excited for this semester, and in a sense, look forward to more achy muscles and mysterious bruises.

Wonderful Southern California, Emphasis on the WONDERFUL

This is my first blog since I've been home and it has been so incredibly nice! I left town as soon as possible and drove straight through until I hit the Orangewood exit off the 57 Fwy and boy was I excited to finally see the Halo at Angel's Stadium (and it was lit up because the Angels won, which made me even happier). 

Anyway! In the time I have been home, I have honestly just been relaxing and enjoying the Southern California sun, boy did I miss it. I have spent numerous days at the beach, in the pool and the jacuzzi. I have also enjoyed going to the movies, the OC Fair (for the first time in 12 years), playing Wii Just Dance and joking around with my family. I have been having such a good time in Southern California, it really makes me not want to leave, let me tell you. 

I have been working, basically on my own schedule, but working and I love it! I work for Smashbox Cosmetics, BRIDAL BEAUTY by Lori and LJS Brand. I am always asked what I do, so I will put this question to rest when I say everything. I do tons and tons of stuff and it continues to expand/grow and I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy working in entertainment, fashion and cosmetics. I love my bosses as well, no one could as for better bosses than the ones I have. I love my jobs and having wonderful bosses makes work even more enjoyable. 

I had my first makeup gig just this past Saturday. It was a 30 year high school reunion and I was a little nervous. It was the first time I put make up on a face of anyone over the age of 22, besides my mom, and it went so well. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, but these women were gorgeous, without sounding conceited, I was truly proud of the work I did and look forward to further my knowledge and practice to continue in the makeup world.

OOOH!

I went to the Lady Antebellum concert in Temecula at Pechanga Resort and Casino. I flippin' loved it, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

I also have had my first experience with energy drinks. My first was through Las Vegas on my way home. I was tired at the point, 4 more hours to go and I had no more steam, soo, what did I do? 5 Hour Energy and a Coca-Cola. I almost never drink soda and if I do, I don't drink caffeine because I don't want to rely on it and it's basically all negative, etc etc. Soo.. having Coke for the first time in 5 YEARS and my first 5 Hour Energy was.. quite the experience. Poor Lauren was in the car with me and Amanda called me at the WRONG time (right after the energy part, kicked in). Thenn.. at the Lady A concert, Amanda decided to have a Rockstar, or 2, and a Red Bull, plus some M&M'S. Kaitlin and I decided to join the fun, her enjoying a Monster, Red Bull, and a Kit Kat bar, not to mention the regular excessive amount of energy Kaitlin has. I resigned with a 5 Hour Energy and a Coke, and half a Red Bull, then gave Katilin the other half, soo.. I guess she has one and a half Red Bulls. Anyway, I recommend, just DON'T drink energy drinks. I can be an awful idea, especially when you're with 2 of our best friends, things can get crazy, and you can end up sitting in a gas station liquor store for over an hour, like we did.

Let's seee... what else? I really don't know. There are a lot of changes coming my way and a lot of exciting news that I'm not quite ready to spill, soo.. I guess you'll just have to stay tuned! I have to find a way to keep this blog interesting because I realize as I read others blogs', I realized that other people actually have a lot of changes going on and interesting occurrences to write about, while I write about college. Really? How interesting can the life of a 19 year old be? I'm only a sophomore in college! Well, to answer your question, like I said, stick around, changes are coming my way!

A Change of Pace

I often feel as though I am stuck in rut, especially when things do not go as planned or expected, which  simply leads to frustration. Lately, I have been feeling as though I am stuck in this vicious cycle I couldn't seem to break. I talked to a few friends, whom I always spill my beans to (thank the Lord for amazing friends!), and one of them finally told me the words I have been searching for-for such a long while now.

I have concluded that:

- It never ever matters what others think or say, or what you even think others might be thinking or saying about you because if they don't accept you for who you are, they're not worth it. If someone wants to judge, then they're going to judge regardless of who you are or what you're doing, so forget about others! 

- Don't live life in fear of what others think, just have fun and be yourself. Otherwise, you aren't going to be living your life to the fullest because you're letting others hold you back.

- I am who I am. I can't change that nor do I want to, unless it's in areas where I need improvement. 

- It is impossible to please everyone. Somewhere along the road, you're going to hurt other people and not do what they want, but in some scenarios, you have to make the decision that is best for you to continue to be yourself and live your life the way you want. 

So world, what I am trying to say is, from now on, I am going to just be me because for too long I have been letting others opinions and ideals affect me and who I am, what I want to be and I am done. There is no need to please other people. As long as I am living my life righteously and just being myself, then I am content with who I am. From now on, I am making decisions for myself, not for others; all motivation from this point forward is internal, forget those external variables, they're just holding me back and making me unhappy. It is essential to be the best me I can be. 

As I prepare to turn 19 at the end of the week, it is my goal to keep these ideas in my mind to from this day forward, actually LIVE MY OWN LIFE.