What I Got For Christmas 2014

As I said in an earlier post, I'm definitely feeling the post Christmas blues. Our Christmas tree is even looking a little brown and crispy which makes me even sadder haha. We're gonna try and keep it for as long as we can, but i don't think it will be long before the ornaments start to fall off!

Anyway, I'm writing this to share what I got for Christmas, if the title didn't already give it away ;) This year I actually wasn't even going to create a Christmas list. I feel like every year as I've gotten older, I haven't felt the need to ask for much..I don't know why but thats just whats happening. I'm currently redecorating my room, so that was part of my present anyway. I asked my mom if I could get all new furniture from IKEA and other stores and just some shopping money, and she said thats fine if you're okay with that, and I am! My mom just felt bad because she wanted me to have presents to open under the tree, and I get it. It's always nice to have some gifts to open, but that doesn't really matter to me anymore. If I get to pick out things I want, that is completely fine with me. So today, my mom and I are headed to IKEA to purchase the pieces I want and I'm soooo excited :) I've wanted to do this for months and I'm so glad I finally get to do it. 

Along with the furniture, my mom also got me some really cool acrylic storage bins for my makeup and desk area, which I'm obsessed with. She also got me a fluffy pillow to go with the other new pillows on my bed, and an amaaaazing (faux) fur throw/blanket and it keeps me so so warm haha. I wasn't expecting this, but she also gave me 3 sephora gift cards, and I'm not gonna lie I did let out a tiny squeal when I opened them. I can't wait to go and spend them!

I got other little things like a really nice yoga mat, workout clothes, a beautiful Paris 2015 calendar, the updated Teen Vogue Handbook, my favorite chocolate, new pjs..and something my mom does every year is make us "coupons" or little pieces of paper with certain things like "Good for a shopping trip" and "good for new shoes". I got a couple of those which made me super happy. As I've gotten older, my mom doesn't know my style very well so she can't get me clothes or shoes anymore, so that's what she started doing haha!

So as you can see its sort of all about my room this year, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I got some really cute amazing gifts, and now I get to put my room together! So I'm really thankful and happy, I had such a great Christmas.

What are some of the things you received? Or your favorite present? I don't think I can choose, but probably being able to buy the things I want from IKEA :)

Maddie

Christmas Withdrawls

All of the excitement, the build up, the shopping stress, now it's all over. I have to say every year I always get pretty sad and depressed haha. Doesn't everyone?! My Christmas was very magical and amazing, I woke up right before 6 and heard my little brother rustling through his presents, so I put on my fluffy slippers and robe and joined him to stare at our beautiful tree. That has to be one of my favorite parts of the morning, is just staring at the ornaments, the glistening lights, and the beautiful packages under it :-)

My brothers and I always wait for our parents to get up before we open our presents, its just a tradition we started a long time ago. I'll make my parents fresh coffee and we'll turn on christmas music or the parades. We opened our gifts and had such a great time.

Then my mom and I turned into super mode and we cleaned up the house for the guests that we were having over for dinner haha! There really wasn't that much to clean but making the house spotless was a must. 

The rest of the day was filled with cooking and eating and resting. I made a marvelous tray of roasted veggies, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Mmmmm gosh I could eat it all again I swear. Then after our guests left and I cleaned up the kitchen, I took a nice long shower, put on my new pjs and snuggled up on the couch and watched some youtube, with some cookies of course!! 

Christmas is always such a special day of the year and its sad that it comes and goes so quickly. It seems like we just put up all our decorations! I'll share what I got in a post coming soon ;)

How was your Christmas if you celebrated? I want to hear all about it!! 

Maddie

Merry Christmas!

Merrrrrrrrry Christmas everyone!!! I seriously can't believe its here already. And 2015 is six days away…honestly insane. 

I hope everyone has an amazing day filled with joy and cheer and happiness :) It's been a long year full of confusion and craziness, but when it comes down to it all none of those feelings matter. Its all in the past and now its time to enjoy ourselves with our loved ones…

I remember when I was little, I would always be soooo excited to get gifts on Christmas, and honestly being a little kid who wasn't haha! But as I've gotten older, getting gifts really is the last thing I'm excited about. Decorating the house, the tree, baking christmas cookies with my mom, those are the best feelings in the world, and I'm trying to cherish them as much as i can because it's one of my last holidays living at home as crazy as it sounds. 

So I hope everyone has an amazing day, and you relax and enjoy yourself!! I love you guys :)

Merry Christmas xoxo

Maddie

New Room Decor

I finally got around to changing my room decor!! I am SO SO happy. I finally put on my new comforter, and today with my mom I bought all those pillows which I fell in love with. I especially love the big white furry ones, they caught my eye immediately. Everything in my "new" room is going to be kind of simple and white, with accents of gold, grey, and eclectic looking things. For Christmas my parents said they would buy all of the ikea furniture I was wanting, so I am so thrilled and thankful. I can't wait to get it and have everything in my room come together. I also got a cute white christmas tree and adorable teal buddha head too. I think the white fairy lights just add that feeling of coziness and warmness to the room :) Oh! How could I forget the new shaggy white rug haha! Its SOOO soft and fuzzy, but it looks really nice and fresh. 

How do you guys like it so far? I'll get better pictures of my whole room once I have my new furniture assembled and looking the way I want it to.

SO EXCITED. And there's only 4 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS. WHAT.

Maddie

Counting Down

There's only 8 more nights until Christmas morning.

I only have 2 more final tests to take.

Which means only two more days of school.

Which means I will finally be on Christmas break.

Which means I can do whatevvvverrr I want!

These last few days have been crazy. I can't wait until everything slows down and I can finally enjoy wintertime and the Christmassy feeling in the air.

Oh and did I mention I haven't done any Christmas shopping?

Nope. Not one gift. I mean honestly?!

But school has been going good. I have a little group of friends now, which I can't believe. The one girl that asked to walk with me during lunch introduced me to her friends and now we sit together and talk. It really has changed my time there a lot, I feel happier and everything. So that's good :)

What is everyone up to? I feel so out of the loop.

I think I might make a batch of cookies and some tea and try to relax.

Maddie

The Christmas Tag

Guys there's only 10 days until Christmas. Like what. I'm not prepared, at all. I haven't done any shopping, I've got finals to do, and I have been so busy with school, and did I mention I got a 24 hour cold/flu virus again? Literally what is wrong with me haha. I'm sorry I haven't posted much, like I said I wasn't home at all last week which really threw my whole schedule off. But thats over so everything should get back to normal. I found this tag from Alphabeth and really loved reading it, so I wanted to do it. Christmas is the beeeeest time of year and this made me really happy. So you're probably like okay let's read your answers already, lol!

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie?

Probably Elf, or the Santa Claus movies with Tim Allen

2. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

My brothers and I have always always always opened our presents on Christmas morning. We usually wake up incredibly early, dig through our stockings, and wait for our parents to get up

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

Hmmm, when I think of Christmas I think of being with my family having cozy movie nights in, eating homemade chocolate chip cookies and watching Christmas movies :)

4. Favourite festive food?

I eat this all year round anyway, but I love roasted sweet potato

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

I don't think I could choose! I remember many Christmas mornings when I cried because I was so happy. I loved when I got my first iPod, or my beautiful vanity in my room, my antique typewriter…i can't choose!

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

I have so many…i love cookies in the oven, cinnamon spice, apple pie, pumpkin pie…lol

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Every Christmas Eve night, my mom and I bake cookies, everyone gathers in the living room on the floor/couches with blankets and pillows, and we watch The Polar Express before we go to bed :)

8. What tops your tree?

It depends, this year it's a star, last year it was an angel!

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) you always asked for but never received?

I don't really remember asking for anything crazy. I was always a good little girl so I got the stuff i wanted most of the time haha! ;)

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?Definitely just feeling grateful about having everything I have in my life. I love being with my family, decorating the house, creating delicious holiday recipes, going to see Christmas lights around town, having fires in the backyard with blankets and smores, playing Christmas music loudly through the house..so many things!

Well now you know how I get on with Christmas. I would love to read your answers to these, so I tag whoever is reading this! Leave your links below :-)


Have a great Monday!

Maddie

Let's Chat

Today I just felt like rambling a bit, so there’s your warning.

Some days I’ll feel on top of the world, like I can do anything and be anything I want to. I will feel strong and powerful and confident. I’ll imagine myself surrounded by great people and wonderful things.

And then on some days, I’ll feel small and weak and not very happy or joyous or grateful. I really hate feeling this way but it just happens.

I was walking around my school campus at lunch and I was thinking about myself and situations I put myself into. There are a couple of nice girls I’ve wanted to talk to for months now, and I haven’t. Because I feel nervous and unaccepted. I feel like they’ll think I’m boring and not “cool” or too shy and quiet. Yes I am like this, but once I get to know someone I have a hard time being serious and shutting up. That’s just me. It’s like I’m afraid to talk…and let people in on my thoughts. I haven’t had a real genuine friend for 4 years. So it’s kind of like I’ve forgotten what having a friend feels like. I’m a Gemini for crying out loud I have MULTIPLE personalities. That I can definitely believe.

Well while I was walking around, one of those girls noticed me and stopped me and welcomed me to sit with her and her friend at lunch. Like, it’s like she read my mind. Did I manifest this?? I believe so. It’s all I’ve been thinking about, making friends and having people to talk to.

How do I get over this anxiety of talking to people and approaching them?? Do I sit down and tell them the truth that I’ve been wanting to talk to them for MONTHS? I really want to, and what would be so bad about that anyway? Obviously they’ve noticed me too… I don’t know. I feel like I’m going bit crazy.

I also haven’t gone to get my job application yet at the store I want. Well, it kind of took me a little while to figure out I need to be in retail, and the store that would be awesome to work in is Urban Outfitters. They WERE hiring for seasonal employees a couple weeks ago, and since I got sick I wasn’t able to go. I really really REALLLLY hope they’re still hiring, because it would be a miracle if they were. Getting into retail would be amazing for the school I want to go to and the field I want to be in. the weeks have been going bye so quickly and I’ve had little things come up. I just feel like I’ve pushed it off to the side and I shouldn’t have.

Anyway, it’s been a long week at school. Everyday I have to stay after 4 extra hours for acting rehearsals, but since I’m not in the play I’ve been doing nothing. The first two days were pretty long, tiring, and boring. But I have to say, the last two days were a lot better…I’ve been getting to talk to more of the girls and get to know them, and all of us have just gotten closer. It’s so cool that I’m actually enjoying parts of this school haha. Weird!!!! ;)

I really want to leave this on a happy note. SO, I’m so excited that I decorated my Christmas tree and made more cookies haha. Pictures to come!! ;)

*ps due to my long days at school I haven’t had any time to do anything at home so that’s why theres been nothing on the blog this week so I'm very sad about that but it will get better soon!

Maddie

To the Top// Weekend Recap

So I climbed a mountain yesterday, and this is the view from the top. Can you even believe it? I've wanted to climb this mountain for years and just never got around to it. On a whim, my mom said hey let's just go. So OF COURSE i hopped right in the car. When we got there, I was a little intimidated, because it's literally a mountain that is SOOO steep, but breathless and sore I got to the top. It is SO worth it. The way up was actually pretty cool, it's basically like rock climbing. There were lots of huge rocks and stairs too. Basically, I am so grateful that I was able to get this shot. Standing at the top after an hour of climbing is a pretty incredible thing to feel. If you have anything like this where you live, definitely do it, even if you're afraid to try it. After finishing you feel on top of the world :)

This weekend was pretty fun. We had a family friend come out from California for a few days. We basically hung out the first night and I made some of my special vegan cookies that were devoured haha! ANNNNND we got a beautiful christmas tree!! I am so excited to decorate it, it smells amazing and it's finally starting to feel like Christmas to me. My dad put up all our decorations outside and we even had a fire going outside :) ahhhh that cozy holiday feeling is the best haha. 

This week at school I've got to stay an extra 4 hours after for acting :( Not looking forward to it….but I guess I have to suck it up and just do it. This is mostly what our grade will consist of, so I don't really have a choice to miss it or not.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and an amazing start to a new week :)

Anything fun happen to you over the weekend?

Maddie

iPhone Life

1// Feeling joyous

2// Winter nails (essie a list)

3// First chilly day calls for a sweater and boots!

4// A pretty rose in my school garden

5// Rainy mornings <3

6// Soup and sushi with mom

7// Yummy breakfast of almond butter and blueberries on toasted raisin bread

8// Piling on everything from the whole foods salad bar

I want to do more of these, they're fun haha! Just a peek into my daily life from my iPhone ;) This week went bye fairly quickly. It was my moms birthday on wednesday so I bought her balloons and flowers, and surprised her with a few gifts. We also went out to dinner and I got her a beautiful fruit tart :) Now I am trying my hardest to decorate the house and my bedroom for Christmas…so far I have my white fairy lights up around my window, a mini christmas tree, and some other little knick knacks. But thats about it! Besides getting through school also ;) 

What are you guys up to this weekend? We have a family friend coming in so hopefully we will do something fun together since I haven't seen her in YEARS. 

Maddie

School is Cool?

Okay so today…at school…I actually enjoyed myself. I had a good time, and I felt happy. Am I really typing this? Yep I am. And today during lunch, two girls, really nice girls, came up to me and sat with me. And we talked, and it was SO nice. I don't know why this is happening, but I have a feeling its because I've changed my way of thinking dramatically. I don't wake up depressed and mopey anymore, I wake up energized and ready to conquer my day. Instead of walking with my head pointed towards the ground, now I walk and smile to someone who looks at me. It's so refreshing, and almost insane that I got stuck in that rut to where I almost didn't care if I was happy or not. I have to say, it's weird that I'm enjoying school more. I've prayed to the universe to help guide me in the right direction, because I've felt very lost. And I'm starting to feel okay with that. I know I need to relax and understand that I'm young and I don't need to plan out my life right now. But I'm the type of person that likes plans, so. I've got to work on that. I've prayed to make friends, and to get a job, ad I really have a lot of faith that everything is going to fall into place. I know it takes time, I just want it all to happen quickly. 

So this was a post I never really thought I'd write haha! Surprised but very happy. And I'm so happy that I can be in this mood around Christmas time because well this is the most wonderful time of year :)

I love you all so much just so you know, and I hope you're having an amazing day or night whenever you're reading this <3

Maddie

Hello December

Who else is counting down the days until Christmas?! 24 to be exact. I wish my Christmas decorations were up around my house but my parents have been so busy remodeling so thats kind of been put on hold which makes me incredibly sad haha. Usually by now we would of had the Christmas tree up for a week or two already! I just hope my dad gets his butt in gear and puts them up soon.

Since Christmas is days away I thought I would share my Christmas list. Or rather my few "wants." I don't know, I'm getting older and I just don't feel the need to ask for things. Is that bad?? I never thought I would be like this but I don't know. What I really want is furniture from IKEA, because that's something I have been wanting since summertime. I plan on redoing my whole bedroom, and that would be Christmas in itself. I guess along with furniture, I would love for my dad to get me photoshop and adobe illustrator with a drawing tablet. We started using those in my graphic design class and i fell in loooove. 

This is kind of random, but I really want a membership to the boxing club I went to. I had a blast and i didn't plan on falling in love with the place haha! The only thing I worry about is the price. I hate asking my parents for expensive things, or things where you have to pay monthly. Why am I like this? Any other kid would ask for anything they want. Other than those couple of things, I can't think of anything else. Of course I want makeup and new clothes but my mom doesn't like me to ask for that because she can't pick out what I like haha! And I don't blame her, I'm very picky and we've had bad experiences where she buys me clothes and I absolutely hate them. Does that happen to anyone else? So i will probably ask to go on a shopping trip with her, just so i can get what i want and everyone is happy :)

I still can't believe Christmas is going to be here so soon. Where the heck did the year go?? This also reminds me, I need to make a gingerbread house!! Lol. 

What are you asking for Christmas? Am I missing something from my list?!

Maddie