The Best Policy

Dear Mocha, 

Honesty is the best policy. We've all heard it. We all agree with it. But when honesty or the truth can be hurtful do you still agree? When being honest may hurt someone's feelings or cause avoidable turmoil do you still think that honesty is the best policy or at that point do you feel like white lies or hidden truths become a better policy? 

Being in a situation where, if you are honest you could potentially hurt someone is stressful. It makes you question the idea of honesty being the best policy. In most situations there is an easy or at least easier way out. When it comes to your integrity always pick the best way not the easier way. When it comes down to it always pick honesty. Though it may make things seem more difficult now it's always best in the long run. 

I've been in plenty of situations where it may have been easier to mask the truth then say what needs to be said. I'd be lying if I said every single time I picked honesty. Learning from those situations in the long run and for the sake of your integrity, honesty really is the best policy. Be the person that has the courage to stand by that phrase every single time. Don't be the person who hides behind short cuts and white lies. Stand tall stand, stand strong, and stay honest. 

Things You Don't Miss About High School

Since Mocha the very inspiration for this blog is graduated from high school, I thought about my high school experience and I realized how much I don't miss high school at all. Though graduation is exciting it is also a little sad. As the summer comes and goes and fall comes back around everyone's lives will start to move on. So when that all sinks in and you may start to think you miss highschool here's a list of this you will not miss from high school: 

1. Raising our hand to use the restroom 

2. Standardized tests

3.Detention 

4. High school dress code 

5. The bus 

6. High school cliques 

7. Assigned seating 

8. Required parent signature 

9. Gym Class 

10. 50 pound backpacks 

11. Constant bells 

12. Try hard substitutes 

13. Fire drills

14.  Highschool drama 

15. School lunch 

I do miss high school fries. And there will be things you miss like seeing your friends everyday. Or even being able to keep in touch with those friends. 

Now starts the real challenge of becoming an adult. I can't say I've quite figured it out. Good luck. 

It's been a long day with you my friend

Hey hello! It's been awhile I have been busy busy. Let's catch up! 

I went to Washington to visit Mocha! She graduated from High school. I am so very proud of the beauitful young lady she has grown into. 

We had so. Much. Fun. In Washington. Me and my boyfriend went and he got to meet that side of my family for the first time which was really cool. We thourghly enjoyed ourselves. Washington is a beautiful state and Seattle is a beautiful city. When I got back and thought about writing this post I don't know why I didn't vlog it? I vlog everything else? I did, however, take loads a pictures so here is some of those. 

So much fun. 

If you follow me on Instagram you already saw that me and my sisters recreated some old family photos. They turned out hysterically perfect if you ask me. 

Before our Washington trip we took a trip to Virginia Beach with some friends. I don't have a whole lot of pictures from that trip but it was nice to go back home for a couple days. 

As far as blog related things I filmed a couple short hair hairdo ideas videos. Those will hopefully go up in the next couple weeks. And I also took pictures and did a look for my May ipsy bag. Which I'll just quickly tell you about and show you now. You know, since it's almost July!! 

Hair thing - awesome but It's a 10 still my fav. 

Matte lip cream - great color and ok finish. Not the best quality and terrible staying power

Eyelashes - eh too long for my taste other than that pretty natural looking 

CC cream - awesome I love it! I love the SPF. Really considering actually purchasing 

Eyeshadow - so pretty. I wished they'd send an eyeshadow that wasnt some kind of variation of brown. 

That bag though! I love it! I think everyone did. Now for the look: 

Last cool thing I've done recently is I got to see Betty Who live! She's one of my favorites. Her music puts me in a good mood and makes me want to dance around my room like an idiot. Good chore music. She's never been to Charlotte or North Carolina at all until now! She was so entertaining!! My boyfriend went with me who isn't a big fan like myself but could still admit she was entertaining to watch live. 

I really want to get back to doing some Mocha Monday type stuff. I miss writing. Since work lately has me either busy or too tired to think. I haven't been able to write anything in a long time. So hopefully I'll gain some mental strength soon. 

If you are reading this I love you. Thanks. 

Who are you?

I watched a YouTube video the other day and at the end she talked about really thinking about the question "who are you?". And not where you work or your hobbies or your education or the outcome to buzzfeed quizzes or what your Netflix que says about you. Just who are you? I loved this and I've really been thinking about it recently. In interviews you are often asked "Tell me about yourself?". Usually you'd answer in a way that made you seem like a good candidate. Maybe work experience and your personality traits that make you a good employee and likeable. I bet you haven't been asked (or at least not often) who are you without feeling like there is a right or wrong answer. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever been asked. So I'm asking myself who are you? 

I am an artist but I can be lazy. I'm kind but I come off cold usually on purpose as a defense mechanism. I am an optimistic worrier. I often feel like I have more thoughts than words. I am emotional and I am self conscious, but between my own pride and confidence I won't show you that. I believe in myself and my strength. I am ambitious but question myself particularly, if I have the ability to succeed creatively. I am faithful. I am outgoing but sometimes I just want to be a turtle. Despite my faults I like who I am. 

And that is who I am. 

Now, I'm asking you. Who are you? 

I encourage you to really meditate on that and answer that question today. No right or wrong. 

Are you who you want to be? 

Who are you? 

Love is Easy

Dear Mocha, 

I want to talk to you about relationships. People say love is hard, they may even say love is a battle field. (Please tell me you got that reference.) but I completely disagree. People are difficult. Love is easy, relationships are hard. My hope for you, is to know when it's too hard.  I hope you can recognize when it's not enough or when you deserve more or better. It's not always easy to recognize this especially because love is easy. I've been there. I know what it's like to fight for love when it's time to let go. I may think that love is easy but I do know love can make you do stupid things. I just want you to know that you should never let someone make you feel like you need to be someone else. Never let some stifle your creativity or expression of who you are. Regardless if you are Mocha or anyone else reading this you are unique and beautiful. You deserve to be loved with respect and admiration. And just remember I love you and I will always be here, for those times when love just doesn't seem so easy. 

Friday Flash Back

So there are a couple of bloggers and vloggers that do a week recap type thing. I'd like to do something similar, like a flash back Friday of what happened during my week. I've wanted to do this for awhile but I got nervous that I wouldn't always have something to say or show on Friday. But in reality I take a lot of random pictures and videos that don't get shared anywhere and at minimum I always find share worthy things on the Internet. What this all really boils down to is me wanting to blog more. Who knows if this will last or how long it will but it's here

Friday flashback 

Last weekend we went to Science on the Rocks. I made a video about the last one we went to, you can check it out here. The children's science museum here has a once a month adult night. Adults can explore the museum and play with adult beverages in hand. Each month has a theme this month was illusions. It is becoming increasingly popular because it was crowded but still so much fun. 

These boxes look like something out of transforms just with a little projection and light play. 

This bubble guys was way too entertaining. This is his career. He blows bubbles. I think he did something right. 

They had a fun little photoboth so me and Joseph were our usual selves. 

My week other than work has been me playing sims, watching Netflix, and working on this blog. Yesterday it snowed. So having an excuse to not leave the house all day helped with productivity.

Speaking of working on the blog I changed some things around! There's a new better banner and a new background and some new colors. If you're on mobile you can only really see the new banner of you wanna see the whole shebang scroll down to the bottom and click "view web version". Also check out those snazzy buttons on the side with links to my social media things! Yay Ahteablog! 

I also did my First ipsy bag post and I also listed some chokers I made on my Etsy! Check 'Em out here! 

So how was it the first Friday Flash back? I'm surprised I had more to say than I thought. Hate it? love it? 

It Builds Character

Dear Mocha

 

Something my dad always says is "it builds character" and I mean always. He says it when it when it's appropriate to say it and inappropriate. It doesn't always make sense, which makes it funny. 

However, inspired from a few recent events, where people I know are put in unfavorable situations, I've found myself thinking It builds character. (Thanks dad) So what does this saying actually mean. When you go through anything tough or emotional, when you get through it and get to the other side you've learned from it. You've grown through your experience. You've built character. What's character? It's the mental and moral qualities distinctive to who you are. When I tell someone about a bad thing that happened to me I always say don't feel sorry it's made me who I am. Whether it be thicker skin, better knowledge about handling things, or even learning about myself, unfavorable times have built character. So my advice to you is, let it. No matter what you are going through don't drag yourself down because of it. Get through to the other side and get there a better person. 

Something to also keep in mind. How you react to bad situations shows your character. Remember what ever it is you'll get through it. Don't let your emotions and anger get the best of you and have all the "character building" situations be in vain because you lost your cool. Be strong It builds character.

 

First Grey Hair

Dear Mocha, 

I found my first grey hair. Grey hair. I'm 25. Right? Yea I'm 25! I had flash back to sitting in my moms room watching her get ready and watching her pull out her grey hairs with tweezers. I instantly felt older than I should and thinking about retirement, my future, and my past. Do I overthink things? Absolutely. 

It got me thinking about where I am in my life at 25 and where I thought I'd be by 25. I had this image in my head when I was kid of who I thought I'd be at 25. When I was young 25 seemed like such an important age. It seemed old but not old old. Sometimes I put myself down for not being where I thought I'd be in my life by now and in this last year especially. I think I've finally gotten to a place where I'm ok with that because I'm happy. I've forgotten that regardless of where I am in my life and how I feel about it, life is still happening. The world is still spinning and everyday is an opportunity to change anything Im not happy about in my life. Regardless if you're are young and your life is full of opprotunity or old and getting grey in your hair, live in the now.  As for as those pesky grey hairs it's nothing a little hair dye can't fix. 

Dear Mocha

Dear Mocha, 

Exactly a year ago today I wrote you a public letter just as I am now. It was the first post on the blog ever. That letter more or less outlined why I started this. I actually just re read it. It made me a bit sad. I expressed how important it is to me to be a big sister and yet for part of the year I gave up on this blog. I stopped writing to you completely. That makes me sadder than anything. 

I got caught up in what people thought of me. I've heard people tell me so many good things about this blog and me writing but I hung on to the negative. I posted some good content and things I am proud of. I posted about my anxiety something I didn't think I could do. The amount of support from the most random people was amazing and literally brought my to tears. I realized my audience wasn't just you. And the negative comments seemed a little more poignant. I let it effect me. So I stopped writing when it mattered and making videos. My videos made you laugh you even told me you liked them but I never made another one. 

I went through a rough patch this year when I lost my job. Instead of sharing with you what I was going through and sharing this life experience like I wanted to be able to do I just hid. I hid how I really felt I hid that I was laid off for the longest time. In the letter I wrote to you last year, I wrote how I wanted to share the ups and the downs with you but I didn't. 

This year is a big year for you. You turned 18 and you're a senior. Soon you'll be graduating and taking on the world. We also have another little sister. Who is growing up and might need some big sister guidance. So I will stop listening to negative comments and voices from others and in my own head. So here is to another year lets make this one a better year. And here is to you Mocha. I love you. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I feel like this past week has flown by. Or at least it feels like it to me. Over the weekend we went to Science on the Rocks. The science museum in Charlote also known as the Discovery Place, has a 21 and up event. Basically you get to explore the science museum like kids but with alcohol. Sounds like a good time right? Every month they have a different theme. This month was Gears and Beer. Basically a steampunk theme with craft beer. Since our Ren Fest costumes were already steampunk and we are big fans of craft beer we were all for it. I put togther a short vlog, so here's that. 

http://youtu.be/fnK2wtUZBBM

Other than weekend festivities I have been working on making sweaters to sell on Etsy! If you follow me on Instagram you've seen my latest sweater designs. I was unsure about opening an Etsy shop but with a little push from friendly comments and my dad I've decieded to do it. Once it is up and going I will post it here! Here what I've been working on

And here's my moutain of felt. My work area looks like a tornado of felt, fabric, and thread has blown through it. 

I'm also teaching my self how to cross stitch and hand embroider. Something I hope to incorporate into my Etsy shop. 

I bought these little pink scissors for cross stitching and embroidery. And I'm in love with them, they are so cute and dainty. 

Currently I am on an airplane heading to New York. I'm visiting my family for thanksgiving. Yup, I'm writing this post from the air. It's my boyfriend Josephs first time flying and first time going to New York. Don't worry I'm taking pictures and documenting this trip... As I do everything. Haha. I hope you are having a great week and I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving. I hope you enter this holiday season with a grateful heart. Be kind to each other. 

What's up?

DISCLAIMER: I have a bunch of new friends on social media and if you dont know what this is about click here for and explanation.

   So it's been a few months hasn't it? What have I been up to? What have you been up to? Oh really? Well let me catch you up on going on over here. 

Let's be real and say what I was avoiding saying since June. I was laid off. Whew. Since being laid off I've felt I've lost direction, and with a loss of direction, I've had a loss of inspiration to write. I thought I would have all this time to write and it's been the opposite. I've been an anxious stress ball and the want to write about anything other than how much I want to cry has escaped me. So let's catch you up on what I have been doing. 

- We moved! Literally 5 minutes or less down the road but to a bigger apartment.  I love this apartment. 

- Makeup. I have been super into makeup, costume and aesthetic. 

I've felt like I should see getting laid off as a new start and do something I really want to do. So the last few months have been a discovery on what that is. Is that makeup? I dont know but I love doing makeup. I love experimenting and trying new techniques. I looooving making people look beautiful but more importantly I love making people feel beautiful. 

- Also I've been hooping. I've been hooping for 6 months now! Whoa! 

- I did get a seasonal job at Scarowinds doing costuming. For those of you who don't know Scarowinds is a haunt at the amusement park here. I actually, brace yourself, enjoyed this job. Like actually. Weird right enjoying work? Ha ha who does that!? 

It's truly been a great experience. It's reminded me that it is possible to find a job you don't hate. And it's possible work being creative. I was surrounded by people I not only respected personally but creatively also. It was great to feel like what I want out of life is possible. 

- I've also gone to the Renaissance Festival twice. It was fun as always. 

I even made a little Ren fest vlog! You can find it here.

All in all it hasn't been terrible. I've been good at hiding how stressed I am about not having a real steady income. I feel like my next move and my next job or break through is right at my finger tips I just need to keep reaching. 

As for this blog. I truly am sorry I have been MIA. And to Mocha I made this for you and I am sorry I haven't been posting. I don't know that I will keep up with every Monday posts like I used to. But I will keep posting. I might do like end of the week, what I've been up to if I don't post anything. I'll probably do more beauty stuff since it's easier to be inspired that way then life advice. But I'm still here. I'm back.