Finding Inspiration

     For me, it's really hard to think of things to write about. I can come up with ideas at random times when it doesn't necessarily matter too much, but when creativity counts, I can never think of anything!

I know it seems pretty cliched to write a blog post about not being able to think of an idea for a blog post, but I think that this activity can get my creative juices flowing in order to write more posts in the future (considering the Blogging Without Obligation (BWO) challenge, posed by Dr. N, requires ten posts, and I've only completed five).  
     I'm going to talk about some random things, and see if that can spark some inspiration to keep my blog alive and well. 
     My mom started saying recently, "to live a good life, you need something to do, something to look forward to, and someone to love." I definitely feel like I've got that covered! I have a lot to do, and I feel like I have no time for anything anymore. I am hanging onto the shreds of my social life, and let's not even mention my grades!
     I know that I have a lot to look forward to because I'm going to the Imagine Dragons concert with my dear friend, Maddie (you can check out her blog here.) I'm in Hairspray, and I'm looking forward to the performances. I'm in All in the Timing here at school, and that's going to be hilarious!

I got into my first choice/dream school, and I get to go there and start the next part of my life. I'm so blessed with all of the opportunities that I am given/have received. 
     I definitely have someone to love. I have a great family that loves me and supports me in everything I do. I am very busy and I can't drive yet, so my mom, sister, dad, and sometimes grandma are very nice and drive me places. I appreciate that more than anything. 
   

 I want you to tell me what you're doing, what you're looking forward to, and who you love! Comment below! Thanks for taking the time to read this nonsense. 
     

Nail Art Fun

    

Random design

     One of my favorite things to do is create nail art. On YouTube, I am always watching nail art tutorials. These are two of my favorites: Cutepolish and HannahRoxNails. They are very talented young ladies, and I get my inspiration from them. They always say that practice is the only way to get better, and you can't expect to be perfect the first time you try something. You can practice on paper, yourself, and your friends too! I simply love painting my nails because it's complete self-expression. I can do whatever I want on my nails and no one can tell me otherwise. It's kind of like a tattoo, but less permanent. 

Minions for clone day

For Homecoming, I did galaxy nails 

    Nail art is a great way for me to relieve stress. I also love the excuse, "I can't do that; my nails are wet!" I'm right handed, so naturally that means that my left hand will look better, but sometimes, I mess up my left and I take more time on my right hand.

Fun nails for the Katy Perry concert

Hairspray, Wow!

Singing around the piano

     I am currently in Hairspray at the Duluth Playhouse, which I have mentioned in a previous blog post. My character's name is Judine and I'm one of the Dynamites. It's such a fun role to play because I get to be extremely sassy, and that is so hard for me to do! ;) 

Having down time

I remember when I first started rehearsing in January, and I was feeling nervous because I didn't know what to expect from the Playhouse after taking a break for 4 years. Things have changed with the Children's Theatre Program, but they've changed for the better. I'm actually learning so much, and I enjoy a great majority of the practices. It's a lot of fun to be with kids from all over the Twin Ports area. 

     The show is fun, but it has really important messages about how one should treat other people. The issues in this show are black and white: there is segregation and discrimination, but with the power of music and dancing, everyone can come together for to create the future. 

A theatre kid's night sky

     There are so many great songs, and I get them stuck in my head all the time! There's never a moment when I don't have Hairspray on my mind! And that goes for a literal sense as well; we have to use so much hairspray to keep our hair in place! It's so great to see everything coming together. 
      It's such a great thing to be a part of! I'm making so many new friends, but it's also sad because there are more people that I'm going to miss when I get to college! Make sure you attend! It runs March 13th through the 29th! 

Summer of Illumination

When I first wrote this post, I still had the title the "Summer of X." I tried to think about what this summer of 2013 meant to me. It was a summer of firsts and a summer of lasts, but then I thought again.
     "'What should my title be? 'The Summer of Nothingness,' because I didn't do anything? 'The Summer of Laziness,' because I felt like I hadn't accomplished anything?'" That's when I realized that I learned about myself. I wanted to call it the "Summer of Enlightenment," but I feel like my summer wasn't a huge cultural movement in the late 17th and 18th centuries. I certainly did learn a lot though, and it was mostly about myself; I feel like when I look back, I will see that it was a turning point in my own history.
     As I started the Zoo Projects this summer, I learned a lot about commitment and that I care for other people a lot more than I care about myself. It's so important to be there when no one else can. During a lot of practices for these plays, I remember that there was always a small group of us. A lot of people had other priorities, but not me. I learned that I have a hard time saying no, and I learned that I like to be as involved as possible. I love to help other people, even if it means that I am giving up something for myself, such as my free time or my sanity. At times, I wanted to stop doing the plays because I was too lazy, but I definitely knew that when it came to drama, I didn't want to quit; I knew how much these little plays meant to Ms O.

Kara and me at the airport,
before she left for Tanzania

     When my sister, Kara, went to Tanzania for the month of July, I learned how much I depend on her. She is my best friend and she drives me everywhere, even crazy. That's obviously not the only reason why I love her so much, but it definitely adds to the list. Kara is super smart, and she's always making me look bad in front of my parents. I learned what it would be like to be an only child, sort of, and it was not very fun. It was nice on occasion, but it was just lonely... I did hang out with my friends a lot, but it's not the same. I also learned that once I got past the loneliness, it was okay to be alone. I don't want to be clichéd, but I did become more independent after the fact.
     Now, I think this summer has really changed me because I feel like I am on the right path to getting where I'm supposed to be. I know myself a little better now, and that can help me understand what I want in the future. I try to "cum grano salis," that is to take things as a grain of salt, and not too literally. I used to get upset really easily about little things. I mean, I still do, but now I get over them faster, and I think that's important because I need to focus on stuff that matters, like getting ready for college, not dwelling on little things that will mean nothing in a week's time.