Classical Rome & China,

are what I just finished writing an essay re-write about. awesome, right? ( :

Anyhow, I have so much to do this weekend, it's not even funny! Saturday I'm basically busy all day, seven hours of which I'm babysitting. & on Sunday I'm running the slide show at church for the first time ever, & I'm kind of nervous about that, because I hate it when slides are wrong, so I REALLY don't want to mess it up.

But with such a busy weekend, it means that on Saturday I have to be by the lake at 8:15, & on Sunday I have to be at the recreation center (where we meet for church) at 9. Looks like there will be no sleeping in for me! Bummer.

Anyhow, it's been getting colder here recently, which really excites me! I took the PSAT on Wednesday, & am pretty anxious to get my scores back [IN DECEMBER! I mean, come on!! It's all by a document, does it really take THAT long to complete?! Well, I guess with every sophomore in the country taking it, it does.] But I think I did alright. Although I'm pretty sure I'll be taking it again next year, just for precaution.

Oh my goodness it's almost midnight?! Yikes, I guess I'll close off with saying that j* posted the pictures from Katelyn & Michael's wedding on Sunday on her blog today!! I'm pretty sure I'm going to be looking through that slideshow very often ( :

Oh, & you should totally listen to this amazing song that I'm in L.O.V.E. with!!

xo, rachel!

today,

was 10/10/10.

today, Katelyn James & Michael Alsop got MARRIED!! I've only been following Katelyn's blog for a few months, but I LOVE it. & her & her *now* husband! I cannot wait to see J*'s picture from the wedding! I've seriously spent all day (& some of yesterday ( : ) just looking up so much stuff about this couple. They really are such an inspiring couple, not only in how adorable they are (they known each other all their lives, & they started dating when she was a freshman in high school! Fast forward eight years & they're getting married!) but they are also sooo inspiring spiritually!

Anyway, recently I've just been struggling. Not like hardcore, but I just don't know how my life is going to turn out, & it really frustrates me. If I'm being totally honest, I'm kind of jealous, yeah, jealous, of Katelyn & Michael & the life they've had together. I just really wish I could marry a high school sweetheart, or a life time family friend, but that's not my story, that's theirs, & for some reason it just really frustrates me.

ANYWAY, I'm almost done scanning all those darn pictures. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get them done tomorrow.

But for tonight, I'm going to go fold some laundry (oh goodie) while watching a movie, & then probably go straight to sleep.

xo, rachel.

p.s. today I became more active on Twitter! you can follow me here!

p.p.s. yesterday at Target I got a bag of 105 AirHeads for $6! & the Phoenix CD, "Wolfgang Amadeus" I love it ( :

I dislike,

school assignments that are due on Friday. Because, who really wants to spend all of Thursday night working on a lab report that their partner won't help on & is due the next day? Not me! Especially with this being a three day weekend & all, I just can't wait!!

Saturday I'm going to spend all day finishing scanning pictures, then I'm going to a friend's 18th birthday bash. Sunday will probably be the normal church, & then hanging out at home (& of course stalking Katelyn James' wedding!!). Then Monday I plan on sleeping in late, catching up on some DVR stuff, watching a movie or two, & working on a Sims mountain house that I love. ( :

Anyhow, I better get back to my lab report, I'm about halfway done, & I also need to somehow squeeze in reading the first three chapters of Lord of the Flies by William Golding before 9:45 tomorrow morning. Awesome.

sincerely,

the school despiser.

p.s. I'm really enjoying following along Aura Joon on her pregnancy journey! I love seeing that she has a new post!!

p.p.s. today I officially ordered my tickets for the Rocket Summer & He Is We concert in November!!! I'm SO STOKED!!

late night movie watching,

makes me happy.

tonight, I finished watching Dear John (the book was better),

watched If You Really Knew Me,

& am currently finishing White Oleander, a movie I love.

While romantic comedies are funny & I enjoy them, there is something about movies where people struggle (like Where the Heart Is) that I love more than other movies.

Last weekend we got my sister & her roommate's dog because they couldn't keep up with him anymore, & I looooooooove him. They were going to have to take him back where they got him from & they would kill him, & my dad just couldn't let that happen to him when we were capable of taking him in. So now I have a doggie a couple feet from me, yay!

On Sunday night we chewed a hole in the crotch of a pair of underwear & knocked down the recycling. Monday night he slept outside my door. Every night since he's slept next to my bed.

My little sister & I walk him around the block daily. Monday we walked for two miles on a trail by the lake, as a family. Tomorrow we plan on going to a park, & I can't wait.

Mr. Bojangles is the sweetest dog ever. He's charged the cats a couple of times, but it's getting better. I looooooooooove my dog ( :

(he's kind of fat, but I love him anyway.)

p.s. he has a lobster costume & Cowboys shirt. ( :

p.p.s. my sketchbook for the 2011 Sketchbook Project came yesterday!!! I chose the theme "Jackets, Blankets, and Sheets" I can't wait to start on it.

I'm beginning,

to wonder if I'll ever finish this "blog challenge." I try to remind myself that it's not a big deal, because it's not like anyone really reads this, but still.

Anyhow, on Monday the only band that I really like announced a show in Dallas, so I'm pretty excited about that. I'm seriously checking the venue site for ticket updates daily so that I can make sure I get my tickets, & my sister is going to go with me, so I'm pretty excited to say the least.

I've also been noticing that my list of things to buy has been increasing recently, which is kind of bumming me out. Elsie posted a new e-course today, & so I kind of want to do that, but I'm not sure.

School & house chores have been keeping me pretty busy, & I'm actually considering joining the bowling team at school. I have a friend that was telling me about how she's now on it today, & I've always kind of wanted to, just for fun, & so now that she's on there I think I'll ask my parents about it.

Anyhow, I've laundry to do, & I'm hoping to squeeze in some Sims 2 before youth (I haven't played in nearly two months!)

xo, r.

p.s. today is the first day of fall! enjoy some pretty fall pictures found on Elsie's blog.

When I grow up,

I want chandeliers in every room of my house ( : One of today's posts on Design*Sponge reminded me of my love for them.

I cannot wait for the weekend. I plan on playing Monopoly & watching movies. Oh, & re-writing an analytical essay I failed, & studying World History from 8000 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. Awesome. & I'm possibly mowing a yard Saturday morning & then babysitting Saturday night. I can't wait to get the Canon EOS Rebel XS ( :

I have so many books to read right now, it's not even funny. I *almost* got The Perks of Being a Wallflower tonight, but Half Priced Books didn't have any; sad day! ) :

xo.

Tonight,

I just want to sleep.

You should check out this blog. It makes me want to move to Australia & move into a beach house that needs lots of love & renovation.<3

xo.

procrastination,

is my talent. I continually procrastinate on everything, & it makes my grades suffer. Not hardcore, but enough to make me think "I could have done better than that!"

Anyhow, I really want to finish watching Gilmore Girls (I only have a few episodes left in season seven) but I have many movies & TV shows to catch up on on recorded shows, so it's beginning to look like I'm not going to finish Gilmore Girls for another few weeks.

I think internet is my problem, it's what makes me never get anything done!

Anyway, I want this print by Nan Lawson on Etsy, even though it was sold nearly a year ago, it's still pretty ( :

I love it when,

I have no homework ( :

But, since I've wasted the last hour online, it's time for me to get off & get some chores done. Then I need to scan some more pictures & study for the two tests I have this week in chemistry & ap world history.

ciao!

p.s. you should seriously check out this blog, it's for sure one of my favorites of all time.<3

so,

I didn't post the last two days because of life. Aura puts it greatly in a post from a month or so ago. (pst, you should go check out that blog. I freaking love it.) So, because of my lack of posting the last two days, I've decided to add two more day to the 27 day blogging challenge, because I really want to finish that.

Today, I think I'll blog about books.

Friday, I got this book. how sad. AP test in May, goodie.

But, then I was reading the back few pages of it last night where the Princeton Review was listing the other books they have, & it made me feel like I needed around around eight of their books just to get through high school, & two of the books within the next few months! At least one for the PSAT though, because I'm really nervous about that one!!

This weekend, I realized many things.

1) Weekends really are important to me in order to get my sanity back after a week of classes. Starting this Friday I MUST finish all my homework ASAP in order to fully enjoy my weekend.

2) I don't need to stress so much, it's all going to be alright. Even if I do end up going to college & having near $120,000 in debt, [$30,000 a year for four years!] it will all work out.

3) I need to stop assuming [yes, the one where it makes the blank out of you & me ( :] that I can't do something just because of my AGE. I can do anything someone that stays at home can, just in a longer amount of time, because I'm not going to live forever, & I can't let stereotypes get me down. If I want to take an AP class, make money on the side, sell things on Etsy, read the Bible in a year, & still do my chores, I CAN. I just really need to BELIEVE!!!

4) I need to eat healthier & in smaller portions, I AM TIRED OF PHYSICALLY FEELING SICK AFTER EATING.

5) I need to clean the house more, & really stay on my chores.

6) I need to enjoy the small things, because every second of my life is a blessing.

7) I don't need to worry about finding my soul mate right now [although I really did already know this], all I need to focus on is doing the things that will help my future.

& I think that's about it, I'm sure there are a few more, but I can't really think of them right now, because I'm so stinking tired!! so, I'm going to start heading to bed now. goodnight ( :

p.s. you should REALLY check out this & this & this. <3

I can never,

open water bottles. it makes me feel pathetic & weak, ( :

today, I was crushing on this flickr. <3

I really need to find some good, healthy recipes for our family.

I really need to work on my desk. At this pace, I may have it by the new year, which is too far off. *sigh*

Anyhow, g'night.

rain,

I love rain. I don't understand how some people don't like it. It's pretty much been raining all day. I'm really hoping to see a rainbow when I go to youth in an hour.

Here are some pretty rain pictures found on Flickr.

[source]

[source]

[source]

p.s. there were just tornado sirens going off, & I posted it as my status on Facebook, curious to see if anyone with INPUT would let me know if I was crazy or not, & then I saw a bunch of people my age saying for everyone to stop complaining about the tornado warnings. & I really just want to say, I'M NOT COMPLAINING, JUST CURIOUS, & KINDA SORTA FEARING FOR MY LIFE. SO GET OFF MY BACK "kthanks." but at least I'm pretty sure there will be no tornado in my town, but maybe surrounding ones.

Cuba Gallery

So, today I stumbled upon this flickr account. & I fell in love ( :

I've only been to the beach twice (Galveston & Indiana Dunes)

& I've always wanted to live near the beach & mountains, & so I figured I would just live in one of the Carolina's in the U.S.

Until I discovered Cuba Gallery.

& typically, I would just say those are some cool pictures, & intently follow the account. But, then I realized that these are mostly (I think. . .) in New Zealand. Which I've heard is one of the most beautiful places. & THEY HAVE MOUNTAINS & THE BEACH.

So, in other words, I now really want to either go to college there, or go to a college where I can study abroad. Because, to have that opportunity would be amazing.

Anyhow, here are a few more pictures from Cuba Gallery.

11 hours today alone,

was spent watching Whale Wars, a TV show on Animal Planet. It's a pretty cool show.

The shows we were watching were about the crew [ the Sea Shepherds ] tracking and stopping the production on a Japanese ship by blocking the spillway [ where the other ships bring the whales to go up on deck and be slaughtered ] & it was just crazy. I seriously wanted to be apart of that team by the end of the day, because they got to go on an iceberg. <3

Here are a couple of cool whale pictures!

[all images found via Google Image search]

I love,

-being by the water
-watching HGTV
-watching Friends
-Pepsi
-dreaming of living in Europe
-hanging out with people
-pretty staircases
-House Hunters International
-taking pictures

& many other things. but, tonight, I am tired ( :

today was,

enjoyed.

[source]

I got 9 1/2 hours of sleep. A luxury that I make sure to take advantage of every Saturday morning. It's the only day of the week I can sleep in, so I keep sleeping until I'm no longer tired, or at least relatively tired. Today I woke up three times before getting out of bed.

& then, I had mac & cheese. Which is basically a Saturday tradition in my world.

[source via Google Search]

Then, I watched Julie & Julia with my mom & little sister while cutting ties for a quilt. Every time I see it I want to just learn to cook. *sigh*, one day.

Then, I worked on my desk. It's a laminate & right now I'm having to sand a light layer on it, & I'm about 60% done sanding. Awesome. NOT.

I also now have a Funfetti cake thanks to my mom. I love Funfetti,<3

goodbye for now,

last Friday,

my sister & her roommate got a dog. his name? Mr. Bojangles. He's seven, and that was his real name when they adopted him. It's funny though, because my sister has always wanted an animal with that name. Here are a few pictures from his visit:

this dog was seriously sniffing around for 20 minutes,

it was impossible to get a good picture of him.

the happy family ( :

tomorrow,

I will begin what I'm calling my 27 day challenge of blogging everyday. I'm hoping to do this every once in a while, so that I won't just stop blogging. I really want to keep this going. I've been keeping up journaling every night for a few weeks now, so I think I'm ready for blogging daily too.

hopefully. ( :

until then, you should go check out a picture of Elsie's new hair.

stressing,

I just heard this song for the first time, & now I'll need to listen to some more of his songs. I'm really liking that song & video.

I can't believe I only have 3 1/2 days left of summer. I think tomorrow I'll just sit in my room all day watching Gilmore Girls & possibly painting. I'm going to do as little as possible.

As of right now, I'm really trying to find a way to make some money. But, not being old enough to get a real job, I'm stumped. And although I'm not really wanting lots of things, the prices are not so small. What are the things I want?


for this, I already have the initial $25, but I want to get it digitalized & a T-shirt would be pretty awesome.


this baby - a Nikon D40 - is my dream. right now I'm stuck with a point and shoot Fujifilm. which isn't so bad, but if I want to pursue photography in college, which I do, then I figure I need to start getting acquainted with it now. okay, so maybe that doesn't make much sense, but to me, photography is everything. everyone at church knows me as the person who takes a ton of pictures at ever church event. I take a lot of pictures. not so much of my daily life, because the camera simply doesn't do the things I would like it to.

anyway, the next thing I need to start saving up for is drivers ed. I think it's around $300, & I need to start that next summer so I can get my license before senior year. because the way it's looking right now, I'll be getting my license the summer before senior year. which is crazy, but there's not much I can do about it unless I take it during the school year, & I don't really want to have to worry about that over my classes.

& then, once I can drive, I'll need a car! but that's a situation I'm still not sure about, & will need to talk about with my parents sometime soon I suppose.

but then after all that, college. & I haven't even narrowed down my colleges yet. unless you consider the region I want it to be within. NORTH. I hate the heat in the south. unless it's California, I wouldn't mind living there. except for the expenses. but, why not go to college there? Sigh, I don't know. I need a school with a Photography major, & I want to take some art classes (of course) along with Psychology.

Anyway, for now I need to get some laundry & dishes done.

fireworks,

I love fireworks. it's a shame that there are no real good ones around here, that I can go to anyway. one of these days I'll go to New York on the fourth and see the ones over the river. or if Chicago has some (do they?) I'll go there. I love both New York & Chicago. how could you not? I probably wouldn't be able to live there forever, but a visit every now & then sure wouldn't hurt either.

anyway, today was the parade. it was really humid, but not too hot, which was a relief considering I walked the whole thing. but it was still lots of fun. our float got Best In Show. which shocked us all, because it pretty much sucked this year. especially since only half of our vehicles & 1/4 of our motorcycles were with us by the end.

went to CiCi's afterwards. ate too much pizza. got a little clam for a quarter.
basically chilled and watched Gilmore Girls for the remainder of the day.

had brisket, macaroni&cheese, & beans for dinner. {for some reason, it somewhat smelled like Thanksgiving, so now I can't wait for November}

then started to hear some loud noises. aka, fireworks. so we drove up the street and watched three different shows from a parking lot. tried to take some pictures. then it failed. making me crave a better camera one day, one what can take pictures as good as that one up there.

anyway, I should probably go to bed fairly soon.

have to get up early.

going to help set up in the morning.

and possibly put touch ups on the flag I painted on styrofoam. I'll need to take some pictures & post them soon.


maybe.

goodnight,