i can only wish my summer consisted of 500 days.

Well, it's official... Zooey Deschanel is flawlessly brilliant. And not to mention gorgeous! (500) Days of Summer is, without a doubt, the most witty and charming movie I've seen in years. At first, a few years ago, I was really into those romantic comedies that are jokingly referred to as chick flicks in my house. But after about four or five years of watching them, they got so bland and dry. I can't even explain it, to be honest. So, while I took a little break from the overly cheesy stories of perfect love, I found out I thoroughly enjoy movies like Flyboys, Saving Private Ryan, Flags of Our Fathers, Flight 93, We Are Marshall, Remember the Titans, and The Express. And once I watched them about nine times each, I wanted to cry, they were so utterly depressing.

Then, one fine day, about a week ago, actually, my mom and I decided it was time to find our love for romantic comedies again. After all, old habits die hard. So, we went to see 500 Days of Summer. I worship the ground the director of that film walks on. That movie was absolutely brilliant! Next to He's Just Not Into You, that movie was the best of the year. Zooey's character, Summer, reminded me of myself in so many ways, by the middle of the movie it started to scare me a bit. And by the end, I was dumbfounded.

On an entirely different note, school's been back in session for a week now. And there's not a doubt in my mind... Eighth grade will be my best year yet. Because at this point, after seventh grade being so suckish, I won't settle for anything less. I'll make it be my best year, if I have to. All I know is that it will be. As for Yearbook, things are going effortlessly. Ok, so that was a lie. It is anything but effortless. It is such an immense amount of work, but that's what makes the end result all the more meaningful. I'm in this for the long run.

Recently, I've really been getting more and more into church and worshiping God. The church I attend is one of the biggest in the country, with about 8,000 people coming from all over attending each service. We even have people who drive in from out of state each weekend just to go to our church. Our Middle School program is fantastic, with a special sermon each week for only middle school kids. Lately, we've been talking about the power of our words, and how with each word that comes out of our mouthes, we have the divine opportunity to build people up and act as an architecht making them feel good about themselves, or, if we choose, we can act as no more than a wrecking ball, tearing them down. There's a verse in the Bible that says 'Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.' -Proverbs 4:23. I think it is beautiful.

So, I think this is my most productive post ever. I talked on and on about movies, then 500 Days of Summer in particular, then about school, yearbook, and church. Very productive, if I do say so myself (: But now there's only one thing missing... Photographs (:

well hello there, stranger!

"Summer romances end for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common: They are shooting stars-a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they're gone."

-Noah, the Notebook



Some may fully disagree with the meaning of that quote. Upon reading it, others may get a far-away look in their eyes, remembering all the details and aspects of their first summer love... How perfect it was - the rainy days spent lounging at home, the muggy, hot days, spent splashing around in the pool, and those beautifully chilly summer nights. And how, in some strange way, summer provides the perfectness needed to fall in love. The gentle breeze, the opportunity to dive into the deep end of the pool, and that freshly cut grass smell... But mostly, summer is a time when everyone opens up, forgets the past and embraces the future, and believes for once that being themselves is not such a bad thing after all.

With summer blazing in my town, my biggest fear is that I will miss something... Something that will change my life or make my summer that much better. Yes, you are correct... I am a dreamer, a full believer in love at first sight... I'm a deep thinker, and at the same time, I appreciate the simple things in life. I find the good in everyone, see the beauty in everything... I've learned that rushing into things is not the way to go about life, and that instead, stopping to smell the roses is the way to do it.

OH! This is very much not on topic at all, but I just wanted to let my followers know (thank you all so much by the way... I wouldn't be getting where I am today if not for you comments/feedback on my photos. I appreciate you SO much.) I MADE YEARBOOK EDITOR! I really did it. It's been almost a week since my name got announced at our yearly assembly, and I'm still in awe. I can't wait to just jump right in next year, and make the 2009-2010 yearbook the best ever! As for my co-editors, I couldn't be happier with the one's chosen. I am genuinely thrilled about the opportunity, and when school starts in the fall, there will definitely be more posts about yearbook to come.

So here's to summer! The endless days at the pool, the chilly nights spent watching movies with friends, and that oh-so-needed tan! Summer is a chance to reconnect with friends from the past, and make new friends for the years to come. So wherever you are, I hope you have a great summer!

Editing (:

Oh gosh. Editing. I had my first experience with it the other day, and I'm HOOKED.

cause i see sparks fly whenever you smile.

Simple as that.

One more week until school is out! Sometimes I have those moments when I'm like... "Gee, I'm done with this! I just want to go to college and get on with my life. Who needs middle school, anyway?!" But on other days, (my better days) I just keep singing Vienna to myself... "Slow down, you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile. Well then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid? Where's the fire, what's the hurry about? You better cool it off before you burn it out. You got so much to do and only so many hours in a day." And that just lets me know I really am doing okay. I'm right where I should be.

One more week until I'm an eighth grader. One week until I find out if I made YEARBOOK EDITOR!!! One week until I finally become my true self. One week until the best part of life starts :) And I can't wait.

Anyways, I have some songs I found recently that I loooove! I like all types of music, so they might be a little random :)
They are:

Freeze (feat. Chris Brown) - T Pain
The Show - Lenka
Sparks Fly - Taylor Swift (this song is leaked and you can only find it on Youtube. It's rumored to be on her third album, though! Yessss.)
Sugar (feat. Wynter) - Flo Rida
I Do Not Hook Up - Kelly Clarkson (LOVE THIS SONG!)
Not Meant to Be - Theory of a Deadman
Beautiful Disaster - Kelly Clarkson
Crazier - Taylor Swift
Show Me the Money - Petey Pablo

... So yeah! Check them out if you have time :)

Oh and to all of my fellow photographer bloggers... I'm looking into Photoshop and Lightroom. Would you recommend them? And also, how much do they cost? Thanks everyone!

well then... don't mind if i gush :)

+

=

A Good Day :-)

Well, I won't gush that much. Or, at least, I'll try oh so very hard not to, but I can't make any promises at this point! Okay, so there's this guy... This great guy. This amazingly astounding perfect guy. Who doesn't know he has my heart. But, hey, everything will work out! ...One day.

I realized something today... I was thinking about everything that has happened thus far in my 'middle school career' and got to thinking about my past boyfriends, and how they don't come around very often... I think I know why, too. I'm picky. Well, not picky exactly, but particular. I am one of the millions of girls that always ends up falling for her best guy friend. Yup, that's me. Every single time.

Ok, so about today... Every year, our school has its annual Olympics. Basically, you get put on a team that is one of five countries. This year we have the United Kingdom, China, Greece, Italy, and Canada. I'm on Italy with a lot of my good friends, which is exciting. Basically, we have three grade level track meets and at the end of all of them, the country with the most points wins. So, I signed up for the 4x100 co-ed relay with my good friend Kelly and two of my other good friends Brian and Ryan. We ran today :) Against Greece. We were the last event of the day, and we had such MAJOR issues figuring out our running order. They say it's smart to have your fastest runners go first and last... Brain wanted to be last. That was a done deal. There's no arguing with Brian :) I didn't care where I was at this point. Kelly was second. That was also a known fact. So, it came down to me and Ryan for the first and third spots... I asked what Ryan wanted to do, because I would let him choose. He told me he wasn't about to go first, so he would be third. I agreed, not knowing what to think. FIRST?! In front of the entire grade?! What if I slipped? What if I tripped my competition? ... What if I passed out on the FIELD?!?!? Needless to say, I was silently freaking out. So, when our teacher cracked the start gun, I took off FLYING. I didn't care what was in my way, I would've knocked it over and not even realized it. I had a good lead when I passed off the baton. It was all up to my team at that point. So, I watched from the sidelines after I caught my breath. Kelly ran. Then Ryan. Then Brian. We won! It was a good day :)

Oh yeah, and no one slipped.

Images courtesy of: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/220279254_17c20cbec5.jpg , http://forgingahead.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/running.jpg

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle...

I'm just a little bit

CAUGHT <3

in the

mIdDlE!

Life

is a

maze

and

lOvE

is a

RiDdLe.

My Favorite Quotes :)

To be honest, I am not usually a quote person. I'd rather go through life making my own quotes. Having my own precious moments... My own beautiful sunsets, kisses in the rain, happiness, and joy. I turn them into my own quotes :) These quotes however (not my own) really hit me as something beautiful. They paint images into my mind and make me wonder... about life... about love... about hope... And here they are :)

Him that I love, I wish to be free -- Even from me.

-Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Why does this quote inevitably describe my heart? I feel like it's being sold to someone who doesn't even take the time to realize it. So to him I say... Give it back! But he can't. He doesn't even know he has it. For some reason, this quote reflects everything I know about that crazy little thing called love... When you love someone, all you want is for them to be happy, even if that means they aren't with you.

I love thee, I love but thee
With a love that shall not die
Till the sun grows cold,
And the stars grow old...

-Bayard Taylor

This one is just... effortless. It's like I could say it all in a single breath. It's sounds familiar to me, too. Ooo scary :)

Why love if losing hurts so much? We love to know we are not alone.

-C.S. Lewis

I breathed a sigh of relief. I'm not alone in this crazy world. And, thank goodness for that.

Why is it, when your looking for that someone, you find no one, but, once you find it, a lot more choices start showing up? But, if you leave that first love, then, they all start drifting away? Is that love's way of testing your true feelings?

-Author Unknown

Maybe they don't know who the author is because the author is ME! No, no, it's not, but ohmygosh it could be. I swear I've said these exact same words at one point. I feel like the feelings of life are inevitable... If they weren't, there wouldn't be words for them. So, when you can describe how you're feeling in words, you know someone else has felt the same way.

It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel.

-Author Unknown

I should remember this quote more often. Gives me strength.

...And then I carefully sealed away my heart.

-Bella from Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)

Makes me want to cry! :'( Poor Bella.

Don't frown. You never know who might be falling in love with your smile.

-Author Unknown

Yeah, I know... It's pretty corny. But as Kate Winslet says in The Holiday, "I'm looking for corny in my life!"

Well, my homework is calling yet again. C'mon people... school is out in a matter of WEEKS. Why pound us with homework now?! I wish I could just ring a bell and all my homework would just finish itself. I'll take it upon myself to invent that bell.

Image Courtesy of: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/DangerousWeasels/Nature.jpg I do not own this image.