changes

Ive always hated goodbyes.

Its always been see you later for me. Thats how I coped with dropping sam off at the airport when he came to visit. Didnt stop me from crying, but it helped a little. I would just start counting down to the next time I would see him. 

(Thank GOODNESS I dont have to do that anymore)

Anyways. This week is my final week in Logan. I am done with school, and I am moving on to a new chapter. Which scares the living daylights out of me. Because I have been in school since I can remember. There was no real decision for me on whether or not to go to college, I just decided where to go and went. Which was great. Fast forward five long, antagonizing years you have a college grad who changed her major 3 times, and then happened to stumble upon the best program at USU. :) I have learned SO much the past two years it blows my mind. I could imagine spending my last two years anywhere else. But now the scary part is, I have to grow up and have a real job and buy a car...and think about buying houses....

TERRIFYING THINGS OK GUYS.

Anyways. Back to my point.
It comes time to say goodbye to Logan, my friends, my sorority sisters, and everything Ive ever known basically about living away from home. Big changes are happening ya'll, and a year from now who knows where I will be. Its scary, and like I said before, Ill miss Logan like crazy. But right now, Im embracing the change, the move, and the opportunity to experience the next chapter in my life. Ive come across a realization that life is so short. You only have one time to get it right. And I dont think it's so much getting it right, but loving the live you've been given.
God has blessed me so much, all the things that have happened to me in the past two years have been absolutely amazing. Not to say that I havent had trials and dont expect to have more. But. I am so lucky. I am so happy. I am so ready to say "see you later" to Logan and hello to another adventure. A piece of my heart will always be here:)

See you later--
Chelsea

Im a big kid now....weird.

So without overloading facebook with my graduation pictures, I figured I would post a few of my favorites here so others who haven't already could see them. Let me just tell you, Cody was an amazing photographer. She made taking these pictures so fun, and was super reasonably priced too! Sorry if I showed these to you already, I just love them so much! Im glad I decided to get them taken. Sarah Hernandez did my hair and make-up, and she did a fabulous job as well, I felt so pretty!:) 

Click here to check out Codys blog and her website :) She is on facebook as cody paige photography.

17 days till I'm out of Logan!

7 things I wish I would have known as a freshman in college

So its almost finally set in that I am going to graduate college soon. After 4 majors, and 5 years of grief I am FINALLY set to graduate.  I was thinking though, the other day about my college experience, and what I have learned along the way. My college experience was definitely not easy, and at times it seemed easier to go apply to work full time at McDonalds. But. I have grown so much from my experiences, and to hopefully make the college experience a little easier for someone else just entering this new and exciting time of their life, I have thought about seven things I wish I would have known.

7. Get Involved. EARLY!
Four years may seem like an eternity, but its not. I am a fifth year senior and my time at Utah State has flown by. I joined Alpha Chi Omega as a freshman, and that is something I do not regret. I kindof jumped into sorority recruitment with absolutely no idea what I was doing, but being greek changed my life. I am a more well rounded, confident woman because I was, still am and always will be an Alpha Chi Omega. But even if it isn't a greek organization that you are interested in, every college campus has TONS of clubs and awesome opportunities. I had the chance to be on the equestrian team for a year and that was an awesome learning experience and I met so many great people and got to travel all over Utah, Idaho and Montana. But dont wait until your senior year when you decide you need stuff to fill up your resume.

I just love my birdies...yep. 

6. If you can avoid it, don't take classes before 8:30.
Yes you did it in high school, you were probably even up before that. But believe me, it sucks. I took an 8:30 math class figuring it would be so easy to be up, but its not. In college you stay up WAY later than you are used to and dragging yourself to that early class is not going to be as easy as you think. If you have to take early classes, I feel so sorry for you. Maybe you wont be as big of a struggle bus as I was, but either way, early classes are never fun. I dont even know if my math teacher knew who I was because I never went to class. Ever. I probably looked something like this in class....

5. You think you know exactly what you want to do with your life, but usually you dont.
Take your time. College is for exploring, and seeing new things. I thought I knew what I wanted to do as a senior in high school, but boy was I wrong. You do a lot of growing up, and if you change your mind, it's okay. I was distraught about spending 5 years in college, and staying an extra year seemed like a nightmare. It's gone by so fast now that I wonder where the time went, and why all of my high school classmates have little children and why all of my friends are off their missions and married already.

4. Enjoy being poor. College is the only time its acceptable.
It sounds really stupid, but my first week at USU one of the peer mentors told us to take advantage of being poor. Its probably one of the only times its acceptable to have .50 in your bank account and not be going through a life crisis. Use your college discounts, a lot of places offer them. 10% off your frozen yogurt can make a big difference...okay? If you were like me, you are going to spend the first two weeks of your freshman year wandering walmart looking for stupid stuff to buy....

Why yes I bought those glasses at walmart...and no, I don't have them anymore because I spent $3 on them then threw them away in six months. 

3. These crappy jobs might be your favorite jobs later.
Working as a waitress or a cashier may seem crappy now, but enjoy it. I have met some amazing people, especially as a waitress. You meet some awful people too, but that teaches you how to be an adult, because shockingly these people dont go away after you get a big-kid job, they turn into your coworkers.

Get lucky and you could get a job that lets you hang out with baby cows...and stuff...:) 

2. Procrastination.
I seriously could be called the Queen of Procrastination. And no matter how many times I say I will never ever ever wait until the night before to do a paper or study for a test, I still do. I will go out with friends, sit on facebook, pin on pinterest, and find every possible thing to do before I do my homework until it's hours before its due. So I guess what Im trying to say is dont procrastinate...but if you do, I wouldnt blame you. A while back one of my facebook friend told me: "If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute." well...thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. haha

1. "College is the best and worst times of your life"
My first recruitment as a sorority member this quote was said. Mind you, we had about 25 possible new members sitting in a room, looking at our recruitment chair as she said that. It was a total accident, and we were all so tired from an entire week of exhausting activities that it just...kinda came out. It was horrifying and hilarious all at the same time. Now while I would probably never say this to someone who is going through sorority recruitment, it is valid. I have met my best friends, had amazing nights singing journey at the top of my lungs, laughed until I cried and done some crazy things I never thought I would do. But I have also sat through a 9 am hideously boring class on natural resources, got in fights, gotten my heart broken and cried until I couldn't anymore. So there ya go. My 7 reasons. I would have done ten, but my fingers are tired and...well Im kindof lazy. and also procrastinating homework that Ive gotta get done for next week. Ohhkkayy. On that note....

Pardon the language, but it was appropriate. 

Just one thing.

Gotta jump on my soap box for a second...okay. here we go. 

So the trend in the facebook world lately is sharing articles. Which is fine, I have nothing against it. I actually really like reading the articles and learning a different viewpoint about certain things. 

But here's the problem. 

People get SO upset when someone else posts something that they don't like. Now, maybe Im crazy, but the last time I posted something anywhere on social media I posted it because I liked it, not because I wanted some distant friends approval about an article I didn't even write. Whether you shared 10 reasons not to get married married before you are 25, or you liked the article about bunnies and rainbows, thats your own deal. Whatever floats your boat, you should be able to share, because its YOUR facebook. If someone doesnt want to read it, they dont have to. I believe that I have a choice on what I look at or dont, which is probably why Ive never seen Breaking Bad, or read your status that was three pages long. 

One of my friends may like something that I don't. Doesnt mean I hate them, just means we have different likes, or opinions....which I thought was okay. But judging by my friends facebook posts lately, sometimes I dont really know.

I think people need to take a step back and realize that just because you have an opinion about something, doesn't mean everyone else will think the same way. 

 I thought this picture was appropriate...

I think it really great that people have opinions. I also know almost everyone has one. But to go with that, I dont want you to be wavin' yours in my face, and I hope that mine has never been forced on you. 

You should be able to think and feel the way YOU want to, and not let anyone tell you otherwise.  I have no room to judge someone because of their beliefs or feelings.

You do you, Ill do me, and we will occasionally disagree.

but the weird thing about that is, its ok. 

Thats all Im done telling you my opinion now. Hopefully you actually did want to read this! :) 

VoxBox!

So, I got my first VoxBox this week! 

(this may be a little dorky, so get ready)

I was so excited, and I couldn't wait to get the box. 

I got Dove Advanced Care, and let me tell you. 

If its possible to be in love with a deodorant, I am. 

The first time I tried it I noticed a difference. 

Ive used Dove before, and I was currently using Dove, but this is on a whole other level. 

It is literally like lotion for your armpits.

SO. If you are looking for a new deodorant.

It has been found. 

If you love to be on social media, get involved with influencer and start receiving awesome free stuff to test out like me :)

I believe.

I had to write this statement for a class today. Its probably one of the most influential assignments I've ever done. So I decided to share it!

I Believe that Happiness is a Choice

I believe in being happy. I believe that happiness is a choice, and that at any point I can choose to be happy because I want to be, not just because I have a reason. And sometimes that’s not easy. In high school, all of the seniors chose a quote to accompany their picture in the yearbook. I chose “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.” I have quickly learned if I quit focusing on the shadows or the problems in my life, they can seem a lot smaller than they actually are.

My mom always told me to focus on the good things and count your blessings. There will be times when a person is sad. And that’s okay. But figure out why, grieve, and move on. It’s a part of life, but to wallow in your problems is a choice. I don’t believe that your problems will go away, but not focusing on the negative in your life will usually make things easier to deal with. Mitch Albom makes a very good point in his book Tuesdays With Morrie: “I give myself a good cry if I need it, but then I concentrate on all good things still in my life.” 

I have met many people who have nothing. Little money, little resources, lost their job and are in danger of losing everything they have ever worked for. But they are positive. They focus on what they do have, family, friends or even just faith. And they are happy. They chose to focus on the good and their blessings. Even when they are facing life’s biggest trials, they are still counting their blessings.

I have been in a place before where I didn’t think I had the choice to be happy. I was very depressed and it seemed like everyone’s life around me was way better than mine would ever be. I didn’t know what career I wanted to pursue, I didn’t like the way I felt, or the way I looked. I didn’t believe that I deserved to be happy. Once I made the choice to take the responsibility of fixing myself and concentrating on what was going well in my life, I saw a transformation in my attitude. I envy the people who have completely embraced this concept, because I still struggle with it. Being happy with just what I have is really difficult for me sometimes. But it’s something that I continue to reach for.

You don’t need a lot of money to be happy. You don’t need lots of material things to be happy. If you think a big house and a nice car is all you need to be happy I think you will someday realize you are mistaken. Happiness is what you make it, and embracing exactly what you have, when you have it. Happiness is not something that happens quickly, but over time. Being happy is a journey, not a destination, and I choose to make that journey, even if I make a few stops along the way.

The poor college student life.

Hey all!

So I havent blogged in ten years. (well. not actually ten years. but you get my point.)

I have been reading lots of other blogs though, and I want to share them with ya'll! I love that all of these blogs are all about super fabulous stuff for an even more fabulous price. I need that, Im still living the poor college student life for one more semester!

First up, a friend of mine just redid her blog a few months ago and has the cutest sense of style. She posts all the time about her awesome style and cheap deals she finds all over the place. Riley Jo is all I aspire to be in a blogger, and you need to check out her blog. I read all of her posts and I am never upset that I did, I learn something new and useful every time, and besides that she is hilarious. You can check out her blog, click here!

I have liked Six Sister's Stuff on facebook, and they post the best recipes and they are usually super low budget and some of the treats look amazzzinnggg. They have lots of giveaways and craft ideas as well. Like them on facebook too, you wont regret it! Their blog is full of stuff and they have it organized really well. I hope to be trying one of their weekly meal plans soon. 

The Pioneer Woman has AWESOME recipes. She makes cooking really simple. She has a show on the Food Network, and she cooks healthy meals in about ten minutes using really practical ingredients. I always hate when I go to look at a recipie and half of the ingredients are things I have never heard of. If you don't know me well, I LOVE to bake and cook. I cook for my roommates almost every night, and sometimes quick is all we have time for. 

I found a salsa recipe on pinterest I absolutely adore. Everyone else around me loves it too, I make it almost everytime I go home and when I go to Jacki's(my home away from home) for the weekend. Her dad loves it. I figured I would share it with you, Its so easy, you just throw everything in the blender or food processor and its ready to go. I do everything to taste, I don't really follow the recipe exactly, and depending on how spicy you like it you won't put as much of the jalapeno in it as I would. :) I also don't put honey in it, but I'm sure it's delicious either way. If you are life me and dont like super chunky salsa, this recipe will be your new favorite. I promise! This blog also has lots of recipes, and high altitude cooking help, which is nice if you live in Wyoming. I always had problems with high altitude and forgetting to plan my recipes accordingly. Check out Mountain Mama Cooks!

I love cooking, so I would love to try new recipes. If you have any or found a fantastic cooking blog let me know!

--Chelsea

chelseab162@gmail.com