A Quirky Girl's Thoughts

10 Fun Things To Do This Weekend!!

2012-01-28T03:27:00.000-06:00

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I love Saturday mornings!! There is something magical about waking up to a day full of endless possibilities. I love to throw some cinnamon buns into the oven or cook up some pancakes before jumping into the day. I always do the usual Saturday activities like laundry, reading your favorite magazines, and visiting with friends. But I also try to incorporate some quirky & fun adventures into my day. And if all else fails, I spend most of my Saturday in my pajamas watching movies on netflix with my pets. No matter what, I'm doing what makes me happiest in the moment.

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10 Fun Things To Do This Weekend!

10. Go out and chronicle your random adventures with an instant camera. Take pictures of your coffee cups, interesting sights, and your favorite friends. Put together a collage with all of your photos from the day.

9. Make homemade cake balls. They are like little bites of heaven, and they come with a lot less guilt than a regular sized piece of cake. They also make lovely gifts.

8. Eat lunch at a one of your eccentric & local cafes, and support your local businesses.

7. Create some customized valentines for all of your friends. There are only two weeks until Valentine's Day, which is my favorite holiday. I will write more about why that is later.

6. Take yourself out on a self-love date. Dress up, do your makeup, and go out to eat by yourself. I know that sounds kind of kooky, but it's truly wonderful to spend some alone time with yourself. We are constantly surrounded by other people during the day, and we often make decisions based on the desires of the people in our lives. Show yourself a little self-love by going out and treating yourself to whatever you are wanting at the moment. I like to go see movies that no one else in my life wants to see.

5. Go see some live theatre at your local civic theatre.

4. Spend an entire day saying only positive, loving, and encouraging words to others & yourself.

3. Turn your nails into tiny pieces of art.

2. Create some inspiring collages using your old magazines.

1. Get active! Jump rope, dash through the department stores after all the sales, do pilates, jump on a trampoline, take the stairs instead of the lift, etc.

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What are you up to this weekend??

Lots of love & positive thoughts!

images borrowed from pinterest

A Peek Into My Life Via Instagram!

2012-01-26T00:37:00.000-06:00

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1. Georgia O'Keefe inspires me.

2. My favorite red ruffle dress.

3. My new pink Classic Filofax.

4. Frozen yogurt date.

5.Having fun with a Fujifilm instax mini camera.

6. Snuggle buddies.

7. Dino-Domo.

8. George's new sweater.

9. Octavius, the t-rex who lives on the dashboard in my car.

10. Lazy kitties make the best photo subjects.

11. His & hers Hello Kitty key caps.

12. Cute puppy face.

13. Vintage owl handbag.

14. Caramel frappuccinos are my guilty pleasure.

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What have you been up to, Lovely friend? I'm sorry that my posts have been sort of sparse lately. I just started a new job and the spring semester in college. Needless to say, I'm up to my eyeballs in busyness. Januarys are always sort of a weird transition period for me. Now that February is nearing, I'm starting to feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things.

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Lots of love & warm fuzzies!

Thankful Thursday: Adventures in Driving, Pink Filofaxes, and More!

2012-01-19T23:45:00.000-06:00

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Hello there, lovely friend of mine!! I cannot believe that January is half-way through! Golly gee!! I've been extremely busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just a happier person when I have a lot to do during the day.

Yesterday was my one year & 7 months anniversary with Zeth. We celebrated by dining at our favorite sushi joint & grabbing frozen yogurt for dessert. It was such a lovely date. I love occasions to celebrate my life with Zeth, but honestly, I feel like every day is a little celebration of how amazing my life is with him in it.

I have some very big things to be happy for this week. I've been scribbling down things in the gratitude list section of my filofax all week.

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Passing my driving exam...and becoming officially licensed to drive! I took my exam on Wednesday, and I was sweating bullets all day before the exam. I even took my boyfriend on a frantic search around town to find places to get in some last minute parallel parking practice. I was so relieved when the driving examiner told me that I passed. There is just something magical about being able to drive myself around without relying on someone else. I think everyone needs to feel the kind of independence that comes with being able to travel solo.

Getting a new job...as an office assistant/file clerk with a home healthcare company. I'm beyond excited about this opportunity!!

My new pink Classic Personal Filofax...which is already organized & bursting with appointments. I'm a little bit too excited about office supplies & being organized.

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Little Bursts of Gratitude

Rihanna's Talk That Talk (she's one of my guilty pleasures), strawberry & cheesecake swirled frozen yogurt, my pink mini fujifilm instax camera, Kate Spade iphone cases, super sticky Post-its, hot pink sharpies, Dino-Domo, facetime with my sis, the adorable Kate Spade stationary set that Zeth surprised me with, my new Coach wristlet, dates with my favorite cousin, smokey eyes, sleeping in, conquering my to-do lists, and sparkly pink composition notebooks.

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What are you thankful for today??

Lots of love & positivity,

10 Things I'm Really Into Right Now!

2012-01-17T02:53:00.000-06:00

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Hello, Lovely Friend! I'm sorry that I have been away for an entire week. I was out of town and just got back into town yesterday. I went to Houston to meet some of my boyfriend's friends. We spent our time shopping at the Galleria mall and cautiously exploring the city. I'm very glad to be home, but I did have an amazing time during our misadventures in Houston.

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10. The perfect red lipstick.

9. Vintage style dresses.

8. Polaroid photos.

7. Gerbera daisies.

6. Sunday morning breakfast.

5. Sparkly shoes.

4. Floral clutches.

3. Quirky hairdos

2. Baby animals

1. Color coordinated closets.

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What are you really into right now??

Lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies!

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A Peek Into My Life Via Instagram!

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

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1. Obsessed with tea roses.

2. My new hair color.

3. My Playbill from Les Miserables.

4. Sacre bleu! Le Starbucks!

5. Baking red velvet cupcakes.

6. Happy New Year.

7. Costume jewelry wall.

8. Vintage ornaments.

9. Bake fest.

10. George snuggled up.

11. Apollo being lazy.

12. My mom packed me a lunch for the doctor's office.

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Lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies,

10 Reasons Why Introverts Are AMAZING People!

2012-01-08T20:30:00.000-06:00

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Remember when I wrote about being a shy girl? I recently took the Briggs Myers personality test for one of my classes and found out that I'm an INFP. I'm introverted...big surprise, right? I've written several blog posts about my own struggles as a shy person, but I still feel like there is so much more to say about it. I have received so many wonderful emails and comments from fellow shy girls & guys. I absolutely love connecting with others shy people. I actually think we should have our own little club & clubhouse à la The Little Rascals.

One of the reasons I love being a shy girl blog writer is because there aren't many of us out there. That is the main reason why I tend to write about my shyness from time to time. It is my hope that by putting myself out there & chronicling my experiences as an introvert, many other fellow introverts will be encouraged and follow suit. Being shy in a world filled with extroverted people is very difficult. Most extroverts have a hard time understanding introverts and often make them feel like their shyness is just something that need to get over.

It has taken me a very long time to feel comfortable in my own skin and express to many extroverts that being shy is a part of who I am. While I may work to get over some of my inhibitions as an individual, I also have to embrace myself wholly as an introvert. If you're shy like I am, I hope that you will attempt to accept your shy self completely. Stop punishing yourself for being an introvert and start loving yourself completely. In my opinion, shy people are brave, interesting, and extremely quirky individuals. So if you are an introvert, you're pretty amazing in my book.

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10 Reasons Why Introverts Are AH-MAY-ZING People!

♥ Introverts are usually very creative, unique, and eccentric people. While some may view introverts are weird, I like to think of us as individualistic.

♥ Many introverted people turn out to be actors, professors, doctors, lawyers, and many other professions that require public speaking. We may be shy, but we are brave enough to get over our inhibitions and do what we love the most.

♥ We are usually quiet, so when we do voice our opinions, you know that we mean it.

♥ Introverts don't normally make a fuss about the little things.

♥ Unlike some popular beliefs, introverted people love a good conversation. We just don't like all of the small talk or chitchat. Introverts love deep & in-depth conversations with good friends.

♥Introverted people are honest and give their true opinion when asked for it.

♥ Introverted people tend to be more patient and willing to wait. We are easily lost in our own thoughts and can amuse ourselves with daydreams when forced to wait around.

♥ We are very good listeners and make very loyal friends.

♥ Introverts tend to be independent and turn inwards when faced with difficult situations. In turn, we also take our time to make important decisions and refrain from impulsive choices. Because of this, when an introvert makes a decisions, you know that they have thought about it thoroughly.

♥ We cannot "fix" ourselves and become extroverted. Being shy is part of who an introvert is as a person. While we can work on our inhibitions and overcome extreme shyness, being introverted is just part of our makeup. It's not something we can just get over. Thus, we require a lot of patience if you want to get to know us.

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Are you shy?? I would love to hear from you.

Lots of positive vibes,

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

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Oh, boy! Right now, I'm on my way to San Antonio to see Les Miserables with Zeth!!! I'm pretty much ecstatic about it!! I'm bursting with thankfulness today!! I usually jot down things on the gratitude list inside my filofax during the week. This week, I put up a dry-erase board in my office and scribbled little thankful thoughts randomly with colorful markers. As a result, I've been DYING to compose this post since then.

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Zeth, my zweetie...He bought us tickets to see Les Miserables as my Christmas present. I've known about the tickets since October because we had to book them in advance. What I didn't know about were the GORGEOUS pearl & diamond earrings he surprised me with last night. He bought me a pearl & diamond necklace last June for our one year anniversary. Randomly, we discovered a pair of matching earring while browsing for a mother's day present in all the jewelry stores. He bought them for me while I was busy at the doctor and surprised me yesterday. I'm pretty much the luckiest girl in the world to have someone like him in my life. He makes every day an adventure and fills my life with sunshine. Ok, moosh-fest over!

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Little Bursts of Gratitude...

Snuggling with George, going to see Tintin, dinner dates with my friends, strawberry cupcakes, fuzzy socks, shrimp stir-fry, watching movies on netflix, my GLEE snuggie, vanilla scented hand lotion, driving & jammin' to my favorite tunes on Pandora, beautiful blue skies with fluffy white clouds, my Nikon camera finally being repaired, going for long walks, planning roadtrips with Zeth, getting cute cards in the mail, being told that I'm very elegant for a person so young, wrapping my cat around my neck like a cowl, cleaning the house from top to bottom, going on a self-love date with myself, cake batter ice cream, shower soothers, fizzy drinks for a crummy tummy, my mom packing me a lunch for my doctor appointment, holding hands, running errands, and ringing in the new year with my favorite people.

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What are you thankful for today??

Lots of love & positivity,

Hello, 2012! Resolutions for a Brand New Year of QUIRKINESS!

2012-01-04T02:10:00.000-06:00

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Hello, 2012!!

I have this bubbling feeling in my tummy that 2012 is going to be an amazing year for all of us. I feel like I have grown up a lot since this time last year. Since then, I have gained a lot of life-experience and put together a lot of plans for this year. I'm also excited & anxious about striving to live fully & in the present moment.

One of my favorite things about a brand new year is putting together my resolutions. I'm all about resolutions. I actually enjoy making monthly & weekly resolutions for myself. I feel that we should constantly strive to better ourselves, challenge ourselves, and work towards true contentment. With all of that in mind, I decided to make a list of resolutions for a brand new year of quirkiness.

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2012 Resolutions

Do things that scare me, write letters to friends instead of emails, drive in a big city, cook more often, smile at strangers, learn how to whistle with my fingers, finally watch The Godfather movies, write in my self-love journal more often, get active every day, paint my nails more often, work on accepting myself completely, spend more time with my pets, go on daily adventures, take the time to slow down & breathe, read Little Women, go on one self-love date with myself every month, take my mom antique shopping, look for the good in every situation, love more, embrace positivity & reject negativity, re-organize my inspiration board every month, and remember to show appreciation to the people in my life.

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What are you 2012 resolutions??

lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies,

Little Reminder!

2012-01-02T01:28:00.000-06:00

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"Finding happiness is like finding yourself. You don't find happiness, you make happiness. You choose happiness. Self-actualization is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and paving the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life over the long run."

--David Leonhardt

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2011 Part Two: Review of a SPECTACULARLY QUIRKY Year!

2012-01-01T23:00:00.000-06:00

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Time to say goodbye, 2011!! It's been such an amazing ride, and I'm kind of sad to see the year end. Sadly, I haven't even purchased a 2012 calendar or switched my filofax over to 2012. I've always been a little bit reluctant to start a brand new year. It's difficult to welcome a new year when there are so many memories from the previous year still floating around in my mind. I like to reflect on all of the wonderful moments from the previous year before I fully accept the new year. Here is part two of 2011 in review:

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July

July was NUTSO!! I helped my best friend prepare for her wedding, we went to a fancy bridesmaids luncheon, My best friend got married, I went to Trina's bachelorette party in Austin, we went to see Hairspray at the ZACH theatre in Austin, my mom's rat terrier was rushed to the emergency vet clinic for extreme vomiting, I cooked an amazing chicken enchilada casserole, Zeth & I went to Oklahoma to visit some of his family, and I welcomed SHARK WEEK with much enthusiasm.

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August

I celebrated my 25th birthday on the first of August, went shopping in San Antonio with my sister, bought my very first COACH handbag, went to see the GLEE 3D MOVIE at midnight with my closest friends, travelled home with Zeth to celebrate his nephew's first birthday, and devoured our first sno-cones of the summer. I also discovered that I'm hopelessly addicted to Starbuck's passion tea lemonades.

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September

September was one of my favorite months of the year. I spent a lot of time with my sister & Zeth, went to a wedding in Oklahoma with Zeth, perfected my pesto tomato salad, bought myself several bouquets of tea roses, went on many frozen yogurt dates with my sister, visited my best friend and her husband, and saw Spring Awakening at the ZACH theatre in Austin with my lovely friends.

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October

I spent most of my time in rehearsal for The Foreigner during October. Being the stage manager for our school's production of the show was beyond amazing. I celebrated Halloween with my beautiful friends by bar hopping, drinking bubbly drinks, and sleeping over in our friend's unfinished loft. I started seeing a brand new doctor & spent an entire day in bed after having 12 viles of blood drawn. I also attended a sleep study to be tested for sleeping disorders. It was a very quirky experience. The most exciting thing that happened during October was getting my learning driver's license!

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November

I feel like November went by in a flash. It was a very busy month full of appointments, rehearsals, and concerts. I also stressed baked a lot during exams & papers. On top of a million school assignments, I ran our first week of tech rehearsals & performances for The Foreigner, sang in my choir's holiday concert, sang in Trina & Martin's wedding, and went to Austin for Thanksgiving with my family. The saddest part of November was my sister moving away to Maryland.

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December

I spent most of December being very sick. After trudging through finals, I came down with walking pneumonia, a sinus infection, an ear infection, and a kidney infection. Instead of going home with Zeth for the holidays, I was stuck in bed with lots of tissues & some super powered antibiotics. My mom, Zeth, and my dog all took really good care of me. I watched a lot of movies & television series on netflix. Zeth taught me how to make homemade hot cocoa and cooked many delicious meals for me. I took my mom shopping at my favorite antique store and she fell in love. And I baked lots of goodies for the holiday. I also found out about the seriousness of my illness. December was a rough month, but full of many lovely moments. It was also a reminder that I do have a very blessed life.

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What were your favorite moments of 2011??

Lots of love & positivity,

A Quirky Guide to Living With Anxiety & Depression

2011-12-30T00:26:00.000-06:00

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I absolutely hate it when someone says, "Calm down" or "I understand how you feel", and they look at you with big, sympathetic eyes. Unless you struggle with chronic anxiety or depression, you have absolutely no idea how it feels. As most of you already know, I have struggled with anxiety for quite some time. My anxiety is a symptom of my thyroid autoimmune disease, and I have been working towards living happily ever since I was diagnosed back in 2009. Recently I received a very touching email from a reader who wrote about her own personal struggles with anxiety & depression. She asked me about my own situation and the ways that I cope with anxiety. Because I rarely talk about my illness, I thought it would be an interesting topic to broach.

Before I start this post, I would just like to disclaim that I am not an expert on treating anxiety, depression, or any other medical/mental illnesses. Of course, because I struggle with anxiety, I do feel confident in sharing my own coping mechanisms and experiences. I would just like to express that we are unique & different, so our experiences will vary.

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There are a lot of people out there who suffer from their own degree of anxiety or depression. For whatever reason, they are afflicted with uncontrollable feelings & emotions. And the worst part of having anxiety or depression is that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach. The paralyzing affect, the feeling that you're out of control, and the knowledge that you're different from the rest of the world.
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My battle with anxiety:

I've always felt like I experienced life differently than most people. I've been very sensitive and in touch with my emotions since I was very young. I worry about things and notice details that most people disregard. I'm always thinking about something, even when I'm trying to sleep or watch a movie. My experience with anxiety has been an ongoing struggle for years. I started having extreme anxiety in high school. My mom would often find me curled up in a ball in the corner of the bathroom. She would try to get me to open up to her, but I struggled to find a way to explain myself. The scariest part of developing anxiety is not being able to truly describe how or what you are feeling. Because I was a teenager, my doctor assumed that my anxiety was due to stress from school. Unfortunately, my extreme anxiety was just the first symptom of a bigger health problem.

I started seeing a local family practice doctor during my junior year in high school who was convinced that I had OCD. In an attempt to control my anxiety, I had adopted many quirks and organizational techniques to quell my anxious tendencies. I would color code my study notes, walk the same exact routes, continually rearrange my room, and set all of the clocks in my house exactly 5 minutes fast. It wasn't until I was in college that I found out that I was simply adopting coping mechanisms for extreme anxiety.

Many doctors in the past have suggested that I begin taking anti-depressants to help with my anxiety, but I have always been very sensitive about medicine. I'm not keen on the idea of taking medicine unless it is absolutely necessary. When I was diagnosed with my thyroid autoimmune disease, I found out that anti-depressants would not have helped my situation because my anxiety was caused by my disease. I'm glad that I listened to my body and decided against the use of medicine to treat my anxiety.
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Quirky Ideas on How to Cope:

♥ Focus inward...Listen to your body and treat it with love & respect. You should never punish yourself for feeling poorly. Self-hate is the worst possible way to deal with anxiety and depression. Give your body the things it needs to be healthy. Resolve that you are worth it.

♥ Develop a mantra...I recently started using EFT to help with my anxiety. This may or may not interest you, but it has helped just to chant my mantra during especially troublesome times. I say, "Despite my extreme anxiety, I love and fully accept myself exactly the way I am."

♥ Take things slowly...Go your own pace. The rest of the world always seems to be in a hurry. For someone with anxiety, it's best to take things slowly and makes sure that you aren't missing any steps along the way. Don't let anyone rush you or make you feel like you need to hurry up. Also, try to set extra time aside so you can arrive early to engagements without rushing.

♥ Find comforting activities...One of my favorite things to do when I'm feeling stressed or anxious is workout, take a really hot shower, or call up my sister to vent. Everyone is different so you will need to identify some activities that help you cope during a period of anxiety or depression.

♥ Consider vitamin supplements...I am such an advocate for vitamin supplement therapy. My mom started researching vitamin therapy several years ago and has been using me as her guinea pig ever since. Most of you don't know this, but my mom is a brilliant nurse. She is probably one of the smartest people I know. When I started getting sick, she did a lot of research, even consulting one of her contacts at the Mayo clinic. She put together a vitamin regime that I can take when I'm feeling anxious. We call it my anxiety potion. On top of a daily multi-vitamin, I take a B complex, Inositol, Valerian root, and GABA.

♥Consider medication...As I have mentioned before, I decided not to take medication for my anxiety. But some people have a lot of success by taking anti-depressants to help deal with their anxiety or depression. There isn't any shame in getting a little bit of help from prescription medications. I think it's best to listen to your body and decide on what is going to make you feel your happiest and healthiest.

♥ Keep a journal...I keep a small section of my filofax aside for anxious thoughts or scribbles. Sometimes all you need is to vent a little bit or get your worries out on paper.

♥ Go for a walk...Put on your headphones and go for a long walk. I love to go walking when I need some time alone to think. The physical exercise is also good for your disposition.

♥ Develop a support system...I think we have all been guilty of pushing away those in our lives who really want to be there for us. I always feel like a burden to my family, and I often keep to myself when I'm feeling down. Lately, I've been leaning on my family more and they have really helped me to feel better & secure.

♥ Find someone to talk or vent to...Or consider seeing a counselor if you need some extra help. A lot of schools, universities, and work places now have some type of counselor on staff. Speaking with someone trained to deal with anxiety or depression can give you a different perspective. They can help you discover triggers and develop your own unique coping mechanisms.

♥ Stay busy...While I'm not encouraging you to simply ignore your anxiety, I do believe that it's easier to cope when you aren't just sitting around like a lump. On the other hand, do not overload yourself with activities and obligations that will only perpetuate your anxiety. Commit to things that make you happy and put energy into your favorite hobbies.
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Surprisingly, there are a lot of people out there who suffer from some type of anxiety. Johnny Depp, Oprah Winfrey, and Barbara Streisand just to name a few. I feel that one of the worst things about anxiety is the overwhelming feeling of being alone. Just know that you are not alone in your struggles.
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Do you struggle with anxiety or depression? I would love to hear about your struggles and ways of coping.

Lots of love & positivity,

Little Reminder!

2011-12-28T21:05:00.001-06:00

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Sending lots of positive vibes your way!!

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2011 Part One: Review of a SPECTACULARLY QUIRKY Year!!

2011-12-26T01:00:00.000-06:00

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2011 was SPECTACULARLY QUIRKY!! While going through all of my photos, I discovered that this past year was jammed packed and I loved every second of it. As much as I love the idea of a brand new year with a clean slate, I also hate to let go of all of the wonderful memories from the previous year. I thought it would be fun to write an homage to 2011 by reflecting on everything that happened during the year. Instead of overloading your senses with a GAZILLION pictures, I decided to make some photo collages and split up my year into two parts. So without further ado, here is PART ONE of 2011 in Review:

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January

January was an amazing month. I went on an awesome shopping trip with my sister, participated in a bridal expo with my friends, built an owl at Build-a-bear, discovered my allergy to cherry tomatoes, and went through my first attempt to groom George at home.

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February

February was a rough month. I received a dress that has defined my style: Librarian Chic, went to Miss Hattie's for an extremely fancy Valentine's dinner with Zeth (creme brulee included), surprised Zeth with a Wizard of Oz scarecrow plushie, travelled on choir tour to Austin & San Antonio, went to the Alamo Draft house for the first time, saw Wicked, and napped with Apollo during all of me spare time due to extreme sleep deprivation.

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March

I spend most of March up at my school. Some of the photos above include Apollo's first at-home bath, Zeth falling asleep during our FAME choir concert, proof of my pasta obsession (aka my comfort food), a picture in costume during a performance of our school's production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the surprise birthday party for Zeth, a spring break getaway with my closest friends, a snap of my sister at our choir's opera concert, and evidence of my iphoneography on flickr!

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April

I was in a non-stop whirlwind of busyness during April. I participated in a baby expo as Snow White, went with Zeth to his first graduate conference to present one of his papers, built a Dopey hat with one sheet of foam, some purple felt, and a glue gun, threw a surprise party for my sister complete with fake moustaches, and performed in our choir's GLEE concert.

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May

I absolutely loved May. I continued to work on my photography skills while walking all over the city, received the most beautiful lilies in the world from Zeth for our 11 month anniversary, travelled to Scotland on a study abroad trip, re-visited my favorite garden in Scotland: The Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, discovered a swan family during one of my walks in Scotland, re-visited the Rosslyn chapel in Scotland, and found the Tardis in Glasgow. If you want to read more about my travels in Scotland, look here & here.
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June

June was by far one of my busiest months. I climbed a mountain in Scotland, got a fish pedicure with my sister, travelled to London with my study abroad group, saw David Tennant & Catherine Tate in Taming of the Shrew, went to the London zoo & aquarium, re-visited all of my favorite places in London including Shakespeare's Globe, travelled to Paris, explored Paris with my sister, travelled to Cannes, spent 5 days in a tourist resort, sunbathed on the beach & swan in the Mediterranean, and celebrated one year of dating with Zeth. Read here if you want to read more about my adventures in London.

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Books I read in 2011: Wurthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Breakfast at Tiffany's by Trumane Capote, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Ella Enchanted by Gale Carson Levine (re-read! I read it every Christmas season),We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Favorite 2011 Movies: 50/50, The Muppets, Super 8, Crazy Stupid Love, The Help, Fright Night, Friends With Benefits, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two, Thor, Limitless, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Sucker Punch, Bad Teacher, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,

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Stay tuned for part two of 2011!!

Lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies,

A Quirky Girl Announces A Holiday Giveaway!! CLOSED!!

2011-12-25T02:24:00.002-06:00

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I have been dying to announce this giveaway sponsored by SEPHORA!! I decided to wait until x-mas and have a lovely holiday giveaway! I picked out a gift set from my favorite Sephora brand, TARTE!! I use their lipsurgence pencils religiously. Enter to win a TARTE Radiant & Rested Volume II Universal Color and Complexion Collection!

~~In order to enter...~~

~~Be a follower of this blog~~

&

Leave a comment on this post with your name & favorite beauty brand from Sephora.

~~For additional entries...~~

~~Tweet about this giveaway (Make sure to include @happytobequirky in your tweet)!~~

~~Become a fan of A Quirky Girl's Thought facebook page and leave a separate comment on this post.~~

~~Mention this giveaway on your blog or tumblr and leave a separate comment on this post.~~

~~The winner will be posted on this blog, facebook, and twitter on January 3rd!!~~

The winner is Jess Buckley!! Yay!! Please email me your mailing address at happytobequirkyATgmailDOTcom!

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Lots of love & positivity,

List of Thankfulness Friday!!

2011-12-23T22:00:00.001-06:00

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Hello, Lovely Friend! I apologize for my lack of posts lately. Like I have mentioned on twitter & facebook, I came down with all kinds of nasty winterized sickness. I rushed to the doctor yesterday only to find out that I have walking pneumonia, an extreme sinus & ear infection, and a kidney infection. GROSS. Thanks to a steroid shot, a super powered antibiotic shot, and some sugar free strawberry lozenges, I'm feeling MUCH better after only one day in bed.

I was actually supposed to go out of town with my boyfriend for the holidays, but I had to cancel our plans because of my illness. Fortunately, my sister gave me an amazing flat screen tv for my bedroom. I'm snuggled up in bed with George, watching all of our favorite movies on Netflix while composing this blog post. I'm feeling pretty grateful for all of my blessings right now and thought it was the perfect time to compose a gratitude list.

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My friends...for all of their support & love. I seriously have the most amazing people in my life. They never fail to make me smile, cheer me up, and fill my days with sunshine. I absolutely adore my lovely friends.

My Mom...for taking care of me all the time, especially when I'm under the weather.

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Little Bursts of Thank-ful-ness!!

Red velvet cupcakes, Christmas movies on Netflix, hot tamales, baking parties with my favorite people, going on a Christmas light tour date with Zeth, We Rule for iPhone, cooking my sister's recipe for beef tips over rice, being told I'm an organizational wizard by my OCD grandmother, gingerbread houses, "ginormo starbucks drinks" in the words of my mom, hot pink Christmas trees, The John Rutter Christmas Album, cinnamon sticks, holiday cookie scented candles, pink sugarplum hand lotion from Bath & Body Works, going to see Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, silver and magenta tinsel, holiday cookie dough, my heating blanket, spending time with my mom, Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Pencil (my absolute favorite lip stain & chapstick in the world), loaded potato soup, tea roses, building fires in our fireplace, and snuggling with my sweet pets on a cold night.

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What are you thankful for, Lovely?

Lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies,

10 Things I'm Really Into Right Now: Holiday Edition!

2011-12-19T18:13:00.000-06:00

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10. Holiday tunes

9. Festive nail polish

8. Candy canes

7. Homemade hot cocoa

6. Intense holiday baking

5. Patterned tights

4. Snowflake gingerbread cookies

3. Boots with a feminine dress

2. Vintage lights

1. Homemade ornaments

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What are you really into right now??

Lots of love & positivity!

Little Reminder!

2011-12-19T02:56:00.001-06:00

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“How we feel about ourselves, the joy we get from living, ultimately depends directly on how the mind filters and interprets everyday experiences. Whether we are happy depends on inner harmony, not on the controls we are able to exert over the great forces of the universe.”

-- Mihaly Csikszentmihaly

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♥

Personal Update: Chronic Illness Escapades

2011-12-16T19:34:00.000-06:00

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Wow...It's been nearly a week since I have written a blog post. Things have been a little rocky on my end, and I just haven't felt inspired to write. I recently found out that my illness is a lot more serious than we were originally told. We started seeing an internal medicine doctor last month, and he did a million different tests including a sleep study, a nerve shock test, and genetic testing. He discovered that I have a genetic defect called HLA DR3, which is extremely rare. He was actually sort of excited in a weird way and confessed that I was the first patient he has ever seen with this genetic defect. He is planning to send me to a research hospital with a panel of doctors who are interested in studying my case.

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While that might sound exciting, my family & I really are not thrilled about this discovery. This genetic defect causes the early-age on set of 4 different disease, one of which is the thyroid disease I have already been diagnosed with. The other three are a muscle disorder, a liver disease, and a compromised immune system found in aids. Yikes. Everyone in my family is very worried because I already have symptoms from all of the diseases.

Of course, I'm trying to stay positive about my situation. Now that we know what is wrong, I can receive treatment and start taking medicine to help me feel better.

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I've never really talked about my illness in-depth before. I'm a very private person, and I rarely talk about my personal problems. I also try to keep negative thoughts and vibes away from my blog. I just felt moved to share this news because it's going to be a big part of my life from now on. I have been overwhelmed for the past week, and I feel a million times better after venting a little bit.

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Hope you're doing well, Lovely Friend!

Lots of love & positivity,

25 D.I.Y. Gift Ideas for the Holidays!

2011-12-10T14:58:00.001-06:00

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Hello Lovely Friend!! I just spent the day on a quest to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list. It was a challenge to keep my spirits up after dealing with angry shoppers & rude store clerks, but I was able to stay positive and excited about the holidays.

As most of you know, I ADORE the holiday season. It almost seems as though the holidays have become even more important & special to me now that I'm older. As a child, we struggled a lot during the holidays. Even after my parents divorced, we still had very sparse holiday seasons and strange holiday gatherings. One year, we didn't have enough money for a Christmas tree, so I built one using green poster board, glitter glue, and colorful felt.

The idea of DIY holiday decorations & gifts has always stayed with me. With a little bit of creativity, you can turn a small amount of money into some very unique gifts.

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♥ Hot cocoa kits

♥ Winter scarfs or cowls

♥ Monogrammed journals

♥ Cream cheese brownies

♥ Personalized ornaments

♥ Snowman poop

♥ Personalized cork board

♥ Mini stockings filled with goodies

♥ Bath salt jars

♥ Photo collages

♥ Holiday cookies

♥ Decorative recipe book

♥ Tea cup candles

♥ Homemade biscotti

♥ Repurposed photo frame

♥ Printed Memo blocks

♥ Coffee cup cozies

♥ Tile coasters

♥ Bottle cap magnets

♥ Homemade dog treats

♥ Mason jar candles

♥ Soap Basket

♥ iPod/cell phone cozies

♥ Mini herb garden

♥ Handmade stationary set
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What are your favorite diy holiday projects??

Lots of love & positivity!

images borrowed from pinterest

Happy Holidays From George!

2011-12-09T18:25:00.001-06:00

We've been very busy

making hot cocoa,

listening to

A Very She & Him Christmas,

snuggling by the fireplace,

and baking christmas

cookies!

What is your favorite thing to do during the holidays??

♥

Giveaway Winner!!

2011-12-09T18:25:00.000-06:00

The winner of the pink fisheye lomography camera is...

Congrats, Heidi! Please email me your address asap!!

I'm very sorry that I posted the winner of this giveaway late. I've been extremely under the weather, struggling with some awful throat pain, and trying to get through my finals in one piece. I definitely appreciate your patience with me.

I'm very excited about my next giveaway sponsored by Sephora!! Keep your eyes peeled for that giveaway!!

Lots of love & positivity!

A Peek Into My Life Via Instagram!

2011-12-08T00:39:00.001-06:00

1. My new hair color

2. Red velvet cupcakes for my Mom's birthday

3. Holiday chai tea latte

4. Zeth & Apollo in a turkey coma nap

5. Homemade hot cocoa

6. Chicken alfredo with mushrooms

7. Happy holidays from George

8. Apollo miserable in his winter jacket

9. Adult bevarages

10. In love at one of our best friend's wedding

11. An easy DIY: homemade hot chocolate kits

12. Christmas cookies at the bakery

13. Autumn trees

14. Cheesy smile

What have you been up to lately??

Lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies,

10 Things I'm Really Into Right Now!

2011-12-04T22:04:00.000-06:00

10 Things I'm

Really Into Right Now!

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10. Polar bears

9. Chocolate pretzels

8. Bunting banners

7. Gingerbread Houses

6. The Muppets

5. Chai tea lattes

4. Polka dots

3. Mary janes

2. Photography

1. Bow headbands

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What are you really into

right now??

Lots of love & positivity!

images borrowed from weheartit

Little Reminder!

2011-12-02T01:21:00.001-06:00

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"You suppose you are the trouble
But you are the cure.
You suppose that you are the lock on the door
But you are the key that opens it.
It's too bad that you want to be someone else;
You don't see your own face, your own beauty,
Yet, no face is more beautiful than yours."

--Rumi

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♥

Hello December! Resolutions for the Month

2011-12-01T21:07:00.001-06:00

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I cannot believe that it is DECEMBER!!! And you know what?? December is my favorite month of the entire year! I'm listening to A Very She & Him Christmas right now while snuggled up in my coziest polar bear slippers. A piping hot cup of caramel chocolate tea would complete my evening.

I think the jolly sounds of Christmas carols & all of the shiny lights all over town have sparked something wonderful inside me. It's almost like I've travelled back to my childhood days when Christmas was a truly magical time of the year. I have a million things on my to do list for this month, and I'm afraid that I might overlook some of my goals if I don't make a resolutions list for the month.
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Resolutions for December:

♥ Bake gingerbread cookies...and take them to the local soup kitchen. I made sugar cookies for two local nursing homes last year, and I really want to do something like that again this year. I just found out that the soup kitchen in town accepts donations, so I'm stoked for an opportunity to give back.

♥ Hang up fairy lights in my bedroom...to add a little bit of holiday magic to the place where I rest my head every night.

♥ Buy unique & thoughtful gifts...for everyone on my gigantic list.

♥ Organize my spare bedroom...and clean the house from top to bottom like Snow White.
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Little List of Lovely Goals

Send out christmas cards, write in my self love journal more, finish my inspiration collage, bake red velvet cupcakes, smile more, wear my cupcake scarf at least once, finish my reading list, organize my closet, make more time for myself, make several Christmas music playlists for the car, take my driver's test and get my license, stay in touch with my sister, keep up my workout routine, paint my nails with silver glitter polish, have a shopping date with my grandmother, give myself more credit, post more inspiring quotes & positive thoughts on twitter, let the people in my life know how much they mean to me, plan a road trip to visit my best friends, watch all of the cheesy Christmas specials on t.v., let go of negativity & frustrations, attend midnight mass on Christmas eve, sing in the shower everyday, and spread positivity during the holiday season.
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What are your goals for December?

Lots of positive vibes & warm fuzzies,