Trying New Hobbies So I Don’t Rot hehehe

 Dear Reader,

I'm starting a blog series that will document some hobbies I'll be trying. This post is just an introduction, meaning the hobbies won't be started yet, but they will be scheduled. The hobbies I would like to dabble in include creating magnets and trinkets out of air-dry clay, reading one of the books I haven't read yet, sewing, bedazzling things of my choosing, and completing a paint-by-numbers kit. I would love to try other things as well, but these are what I currently have on hand, so I want to stay busy with what I already have before buying anything new to try. 

                                Blog and Hobbies Schedule

Air-Dry Clay Projects...............................................................................Week 1

Start Reading...............................................................................................Week 2

Sewing Basics..............................................................................................Week 3

Paint-by-Numbers Kits............................................................................Week 4

Bedazzling......................................................................................................Week 5

Manifestation and Affirmations Journal.........................................Week 6

Air-Dry Clay Inspo 

I have a tub of Crayola air-dry clay, so I will definitely be using that at first. I have some mod podge and acrylic paint, but no tools. I just bought a silicone mat to work on, some tools to help mold the clay, and of course a 150 pack of colorful air-dry clay that was only twenty-three bucks, some magnets, and B7000 glue.    

The Long Awaited Post-Grad Advice!!

Dear Reader,

Since college graduation, my life has changed in ways that I didn't know it needed to. The past eighteen or nineteen years, my life has been centered around my education. My days were already scheduled for me, and the routine it created allowed me to not have to worry about what was next. Rather than studying literature and writing, I notice that life is teaching me more about myself and others. Moreover, these past four months or so, I realized I am responsible for my day and what I plan to do with it, and being productive with my time is crucial. Through learning about myself and others I have decided to share some personal advice that could help one figure out what to do next after that degree is finally acquired.  

  Contents of Advice

    1. Stay Busy

               - read

               - hobbies

               - goals

               - blog

    2. Have a Show to Binge

    3. Spend Time with Family, Friends, or Pets

    4. Create Positive Habits

            - take care of yourself

            - stay organized 

            - don't get bitter

    

    Staying Busy

It is imperative to make sure that you are doing something you enjoy. Personally, if I don't have anything to do that serves me well, then who even am I? If you are like me and don't have something to do with your hands and mind, it feels as if you are missing a piece of yourself. To prevent that void, I have kept myself occupied to make myself feel better. My blog has been a lifesaver because it gives me something to think about even when I'm not actively on my computa. Ideas for what to post are something I enjoy brainstorming, and Pinterest is already a tool for me.

Thanks to TikTok, my endless scrolling has shown me popular bloggers such as Diva Punk, Diary of an Indigenous Diva, and Lotus of My Soul. I've noticed myself feeling icky if I have been on TikTok all day because I start to realize TikTok is feeding me whatever it thinks I want to watch. At some point, you start to notice the same theme over and over again due to watching one TikTok longer than the rest. Once I think too much about what my FYP is trying to get me to watch, the mood to scroll is no longer there.

A goal of mine is to practice my writing, and reading books is just as important. Disclaimer: I am being naughty, though. I'm not reading any of my books. I have a decent amount of books, yet they have not been read. My books are serving as decoration right now because I don't have a shelf yet in the apartment. The twin towers of books are stacked in a corner on the ground in the living room, waiting to get to know me.

If books aren't your thing, like me apparently... lol, I recommend doing crafts. Being inspired by art and people helps us create the things that represent ourselves. Our creations blossom the more inspired we become, so always make sure you are doing something you love. Always be sure to keep your goals in mind and do everything the best you can with passion.

    Have a Show to Binge

As an adult, when life feels monotonous, television becomes an excellent source of entertainment. I love having something to look forward to, and adulting is not exactly exciting. Since post-grad, I've been watching T.V. regularly when I get off work. This routine is universal, and now I get why it is such an important part of culture. Feelings of excitement occur when that weekly episode is available to watch, and that excitement doesn't leave because there is something to look forward to the following week.

A little over a month ago, I started watching season 22 of Project Runway, and now that the season is over, I feel a little empty. I then watched season 21 with Veejay and season 4 with Christian Siriano. I'm a little Project Runway(ed) out, so currently I am watching RuPaul's Drag Race. I finished season 5 with Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese. It was soo tea, and that season is probably my favorite. I just finished season 11 this past weekend. I loved Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Nina West. They were sooo amazing.

Boyfriend is at work when I'm watching my shows, so the time I have to myself to watch T.V. is a valuable part of my daily routine, and I highly recommend it. However, when he is home from work, we typically watch T.V. as well. We began watching season 4 of Ted Lasso recently, which is perfect for lighthearted laughs and positivity. Though, at times, I want to watch something that is unconventional and disturbing—my apologies. Sometimes I'm in the mood to watch something true-crime-related, creepy, or a documentary of sorts.

For example, a few nights ago, boyfriend and I started O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil. O.J. is so bizarre and is so good at making people uncomfortable. While watching the docuseries with boyfriend, the show's awkwardness is so strong it can be felt, lol. We haven't watched it since that night, but another show I've started watching is That's So Raven. Early 2000s and mid-2000s Disney fashion is so peak. Raven's fur-trim jackets convinced me I need one, which then turned into two, lmao. Thank you, Depop.

One denim jacket has brown fur, and the other denim jacket has navy blue fur. I highly recommend watching iconic shows from childhood because the fashion is inspiring. Anyways, having a show on hand to keep you entertained brings joy to the monotonous routine of life.

    Spend Time with Family, Friends, or Pets

I've noticed lately that scheduling time for family or friends is getting harder. I can't just text my bestie and hang out within that same week, let alone the same day like we used to. Now that we have jobs, boyfriends, and other plans that affect our daily routines, making time for your favorite people is something you have to really want—or else it's just not going to happen. Socializing is just as important as anything else, and friendship is something that deserves care and attention. According to Aristotle and me, staying in touch shows your loyalty to your dear people. Tending to your relationships is essential to a good and flourishing life.

Family is just as important; they are the reason you are who you are. Unless there has been a falling out, be around people you feel good around, people who lift you up while you do the same for them. Recently, I moved out of my parents' house for the first time a few months ago. We live downtown now, and my mom's house is about 10–15 minutes away. I just know I will STRUGGLE not having my sister and mom around when my boyfriend and I move out of this bottom-of-the-barrel town. I must make sure to stay close with my mom and sister. They are my rocks, and I will need to call them regularly once we are out of town.

Later in the future, my family will be on the other side of the phone, over four hours away, but I've learned that friends and family are forever, and a pet is a blessing!

When we move, I will have nothing at first, just my boyfriend and now our new baby! My boyfriend and I just got a cat. This cat has been around our complex since before we even moved in. Our baby's name is Princess Zelda Olson-Franklin, but Princess for short, of course. Princess is a diluted, long-haired tortoiseshell, and we suspect she is a year or two old. It is a miracle that she has survived during this hot summer. My boyfriend and I rescued her from the dangerous streets of downtown, and she is adjusting to the new castle she now resides in. Princess is friendly, reserved, and cautious. Surprisingly, she is a sweet cuddler when it's bedtime. I am so happy we are finally parents, and we can't wait for her personality to become stronger once she feels completely comfortable.

Friends, family, and pets are an excellent source of protein (jk) and happiness. Don't take relationships for granted.

    Create Positive Habits

Everything we do is a reflection of ourselves. Putting your best foot forward and giving your all in anything you do will get you further than you can imagine. As a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, not taking my medication can make me feel unmotivated and less like myself. My medication helps me enjoy completing tasks that I would normally put off. However, medication shouldn't be considered a crutch, so having a plan, a checklist, and a good attitude helps me stay on track and accomplish what I need to.

Practicing gratitude has always been important to me. Staying grateful for things, big or small, can change your entire mindset for the better. When I journal, writing down what I am grateful for reminds me to appreciate what I have. Life throws many curveballs, but focusing your attention on all the good things that have happened allows you to accept the good things that can come.

Being bitter over things that are out of your control impacts the way you feel about everything, from how you feel about people and your job to how you feel about life overall. The domino effect of negativity and distance from your best, positive self can prevent you from noticing the joy that surrounds you. Most importantly, finding the good in all things can make a bad moment feel like a small speed bump rather than creating a bad day.

Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your mind. Staying active, whether that means going for a walk, taking a trip to the gym, having a peaceful yoga session, or going on a beautiful hike, creates much-needed chemical changes in your brain. These chemical changes, when done routinely, help keep your body and brain strong. Your brain needs healthy stimulation to grow to its best potential.

I need to make more of an effort to be active, present, and open to learning new things. As they say, your body is a temple, so making sure your body and mind are in a healthy state is crucial to your overall well-being.

                                                                                                                    Signing off,

                                                                                                                                                AD

Biggest Fears Pop-Up Book

A Pop-Up Book of My Biggest Fears

some silly, some serious, all very real

inside cover

A Note From Me

Fears can be learned from, but their origins are somewhat unknown. Our fears could be silly, debilitating, or passed on, but we mustn't let these things control us. I'd like to share some of my fears while theorizing why I have that fear in the first place.

intro

fear no. 1

Snakes

🐍

Snakes have been a fear of mine since before my brain was even self-aware. I really don’t think this fear was learned. I feel like it has just always been a part of me.

One of the earliest memories I have with snakes was in elementary school. We had two field trips pretty close together, and one of them was to the zoo. I remember walking through the reptile exhibit and seeing this bright green tree snake. Immediately, goosebumps covered my whole body. I don’t even know what it was about that snake, but I felt so uncomfortable and freaked out.

For years after that, anytime I took a shower and closed my eyes to rinse off, I would randomly picture that green snake so vividly in my head. It would make me so uncomfortable that I would open my eyes as fast as possible. Even now, anytime I’m somewhere that has snakes, the goosebumps pretty much show up immediately.

Oh my goodness, ladies, and then LAST WEEK there was a freaking rat snake inside my parents’ house. It was dead on the wall above the back door! Apparently, it had been there for days?!?!?! Absolutely not. Ever since then, I keep thinking that a snake could literally just be chilling somewhere in the house and nobody would even notice. It is so eerie.

I still don’t really know where this fear came from. I can’t think of one specific thing that happened and made me scared of snakes, which is why I feel like this one might just be built into me.

1 / 6

fear no. 2

Horror Movies

SCARY MOVIE

MOVIE OFF

Horror movies are a little tricky to explain. I started watching them for fun with my best friend Jadan when we were early teenagers, so it’s not like I’ve always completely avoided them. But anything involving demons or some creepy monster has never really been my cup of tea.

Even when a movie has a scene where some devilish, weird language starts playing, I’m like, I probably should not even be hearing this. Don’t claim that over here.

I also prefer not to watch horror movies at night. The dilemma is that sometimes they give me nightmares, or if a scene is really disturbing, the image will randomly pop back into my head later. That is probably the part I hate the most. The movie can be over, but apparently my brain decides it would be fun to replay the creepiest parts whenever it feels like it.

Recently, my boyfriend and I watched the newest Evil Dead, and I felt so tense and disturbed that I almost told him we needed to finish it the next day. I ended up pushing through, and honestly, I felt a lot better once the movie started becoming more predictable. I think not knowing what horrible thing is about to happen next is what gets me the most.

2 / 6

fear no. 3

Driving Somewhere Unfamiliar

🚗

I got my license when I was seventeen years old. We did Aceable, so I never had a driving instructor or went to driving school. My instructors were basically my parents.

As a gal with divorced parents, I practiced driving in two very different places: the small city where I lived with my mom and the much busier Dallas area. While staying with my dad for the summer, my fear of driving there became pretty obvious because I had no idea where I was going half the time.

What made it worse was that only a few weeks after getting my license, I ended up in a car wreck. Since then, driving on crazy highways or in places where I don’t know where I’m going makes my whole body tense up.

I also really hate driving my mom’s car. It is pretty new, so the steering and the way it drives are super smooth, which sounds like it should be a good thing, but for some reason it actually makes me more tense. I think I just feel more comfortable when I know exactly how a car is going to move and respond.

3 / 6

fear no. 4

Public Speaking

🎤

First of all, I do not like talking loudly, especially to an audience. I am pretty reserved, so there are probably plenty of people who have barely heard my voice or even know who I am.

I already sometimes find myself stuttering over my words when I’m just talking to people dear to me, so imagine how much worse it gets when I’m standing in front of a group of people who are all expecting to hear a presentation. I start stuttering, talking way too fast, and eventually feel like I’m speaking complete gibberish.

I think that is what makes public speaking so uncomfortable for me. I become way too aware of the fact that everyone is listening to me, and then I start thinking about how I’m talking instead of what I’m actually trying to say. The more I think about it, the more nervous I get, and the words somehow come out even faster.

4 / 6

fear no. 5

My Relationship Ending

My sweet ginger partner is obligated to stay with me forever. This man cannot leave, or else I’m going into the “nunistry.”

My man and I have a beautiful life together, and my heart booms thinking about what our future together could look like. The thought of ever losing him is honestly one of the things my heart fears the most.

I firmly believe he lights me up, and I do the same for him. I feel very lucky to have the relationship we do, which is probably why the thought of it ever ending feels so scary.

I mustn’t give this fear any more explanation, though. No bad juju.

5 / 6

fear no. 6

Disappointing Myself

⌂ HOME

★ MYSELF

✦ CAREER

The Ultimate Grand Supreme Queen fear of mine is disappointing myself. I hold myself to my goals and dreams pretty harshly, and if I don’t meet my own expectations, I’m afraid feelings of doubt will flood my mind and make me feel depressed.

For the rest of my life, I want to be proud of the home my partner and I share. I also want to be proud of my career and, most importantly, proud of myself.

I am very blessed to have a home and people I love, and I think this fear is partly connected to wanting to always feel safe and secure. At the end of the day, I just want to be able to look back and know that I created a life I was happy with.

I want to feel safe, happy, and proud of the life I had.

6 / 6

one last page

What Are You Afraid Of?

You don’t have to tell me. Write it here just for yourself, then let it go.

Nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.

the end

Uniquely Chic Halloween Costume Ideas

 

1. Fruit fly

2. Lava lamp

3. Bubbly

4. Lucky penny

5. Shooting star

6. Windup ballerina 

7. Ghost writer

8. Mermaid

9. Dirty martini

(Updated) Wedding Guest Dress Poll (choose my dress)

Which dress is your favorite?

Pick My Wedding Guest Dress!

Dear Internet, Pick My Wedding Guest Dress

January 23rd Wedding Edition ♡

Dear Internet, I need assistance.

One of my former sorority sisters is getting married on January 23rd, which means I have officially reached the most important stage of wedding preparation: figuring out what I am going to wear.

I have narrowed my search down to six dresses, but choosing just one has proven to be much harder than expected.

There is also one tiny complication: I think her bridesmaids may be wearing maroon. As you are about to see, this could become a slight problem considering several of my favorites are suspiciously close to that exact color.

So before I commit to anything, I am putting the decision in the hands of the internet. Look through the contenders, cast your vote, and help me decide what I should wear. ♡

DRESS NO. 1

The Plum Halter

Elegant, draped, and dangerously close to the possible bridesmaid color.

DRESS NO. 2

The Burgundy Ruffles

Lace, layers, drama... and unfortunately another potential maroon situation.

DRESS NO. 3

The Chocolate Cape

Very January. Very dramatic. Very much giving mysterious woman at the reception.

DRESS NO. 4

The Wine Cutout

Simple from a distance, but the cutouts and detailing make her a little dangerous.

DRESS NO. 5

The Sage Lace

Romantic, vintage-looking, and completely innocent of all maroon allegations.

DRESS NO. 6

The Dusty Rose Pleats

Soft, pleated, romantic, and just different enough from the burgundy girls.

THE VERDICT

Now you decide ♡

You have seen all six contenders. Now tell me which dress deserves to come home with me and attend the wedding on January 23rd.

May the best dress win. ♡

Sweet Tooth Diaries

 Dear Reader,

I don't know about you, but in my house it is essential to have some candy and chocolate in that pantry. You never know when some dark chocolate with sea salt suddenly becomes something you cannot get out of your head. I'm on my period at the moment, which explains the post, tmi apologies. Boyfriend took me to Walgreens recently, and I got two kinds that definitely keep me satisfied. Ghirardelli 60% dark chocolate is amazing. On your tongue its bitter, its rich, its salty, sweet and classic. I just finished the bag and I'm left feeling empty honestly. I've lost something special. 

Anywaysss. The other bag of chocolate is nice too! This one has a nice step on it. I eat the small step first and then eat around the chocolate, making sure I get the edge in every bite. This one is softer, creamy, rich, and sweet. I think it could be a little darker cocoa, but the whole thing itself is delectable. I need these stocked in the pantry for suree.