under the influence.

being a positive role model is one of the most important jobs a person can have. reminiscing on my life these past few years, it really starts to become apparent how much i really have depended on positive influences to shape my life.
i'm head strong. i'm stubborn. i'm independent.
but i'm also human. i'm so lucky to have the men and women in my life be ones with positive effects on me.

what got me thinking about this subject in particular though, was a blog post. i'm obsessed with this one girls blog (well actually i'm obsessed with her, even though i don't know her. i just think she is quite possibly the most beautiful person i've ever seen). in this blog post she confessed to a couple things about her that she probably considers mildly shameful, or things that dim her perfect reputation. but it did the opposite! i love her (from afar) even more now. why? because i like people that are real. people that are able to be candid without fear of retribution. because that's the mark of a truly great role model. someone who you can look up to even when the perfect life facade is down.

what people need to realize is that life isn't about being perfect. it's about turning crappy situations in to good ones, or at least that's what the people i have looked up to have taught me. make lemonade out of those stupid lemons.


oh. and i really want a puppy. just because i've been really wanting a child lately... and i think a puppy is an excellent way to fill the void without being shunned by the BYU community.

that's all. xoxoxxx

he's just not that into you.

this book changes lives.
don't believe me? you must not have read it.

it is a right of passage in a young female adult's life to be stuck on some boy who couldn't care less about her. yes i speak from personal experience. yes this a sore subject.

but i put my big girl undies on, picked up the book, and read every single word from cover to cover. and all i have to say are two little words: LIFE. CHANGING.
these are supposed to be the most fun and exciting years of our lives, yet so many of us are wasting them dwelling on some stupid and usually not that attractive guy. if i had to take one piece of advice from the book it would be to not waste the pretty.
don't waste your pretty on someone who doesn't waste even a half of a second thought on you. because if a guy liked you, you would know. it would be so apparent that even helen keller could see it.
such a refreshing take on a depressing subject. i highly recommend it.

supercalifragalipstick.

there is very little in life a make over can't fix.
a new hair cut, new wardrobe, or even a new blog layout has the ability to make anything feel like a fresh start.

honestly, that's what i feel like i've been in need of lately. a fresh start. like spring cleaning.. except it's the fall and i'm talking about myself not a house. life has a funny way of throwing curve balls when you least expect them... and there is no better time to show your true colors than when things aren't going your way.
i've always been a firm believer in karma. if i'm doing what i'm supposed to, making the right decisions, and treating people kindly, i will be out of harms way. but i've recently discovered that sometimes, as unfair as it may seem, bad things happen to good people. but when these bad things happen, truly good people learn from these unfortunate events and turn them into valuable life lessons, further progressing their lives and not letting set backs actually set them back. so that's what i need to do. make lemonade out of lemons.
also; i need to focus on myself. make something out of myself. reach my potential. stop procrastinating. start doing. i hate thinking of myself as a lazy human being, but that's exactly what i've turned into! yuck. so diet, gym, and library here i come. it's time to get the old dani back.