sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.

I find myself analyzing and thinking about the past a lot, to the point where it makes me more upset than necessary about things that may have happened. Learning from mistakes and bad experiences is essential, but there's a point where you have to accept what has happened and move on. In the midst of something terrible happening, it's hard to think that it's going to end up being for the better good, but think about it.. If some of your struggles didn't happen, where would you be? Somewhere totally different I'm sure. And maybe that doesn't sounds appealing or comforting right now, but in the long run, people develop and grow into who they are meant to be through these events. It's your job to take advantage of it the way you see fit and grow as much as possible with each adversity. We can't change the past, but we can choose what will happen in the future. Bundle all your lessons up in a ball and take them with you on the rest of your journey through life. YOU choose what turn you take next. Now get out there and make the most out of every moment.

“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

advice at 18.

Somebody asked me what advice I would give to my 18-year-old self. It is as follows:

First of all, slow your load. I get that your hormones are raging at the fiery furnace of vagina hellfire terror. Cool. These hormones might make you want to just dry hump all over every celebrity vampire or badass in a GQ leather jacket, but you can’t go around hoping to make out with celebrities all the time! They don’t know who you are. Take the poster down from your room and go out and meet some real human flesh people that actually know you exist.

Well, except for that one guy. 

No. I take that back. Make out like crazy with that one guy, let him buy you pancakes and hold hands with him on the street and miss him when he is gone, but realize that you are 18 and all things pass when you are young and stupid. I want you to not be so crazy about him. I want you to never curl up in a weak little ball when he leaves, I want you to realize that there are billions of people on this Earth and you will be smitten with many of them. Please note that some other person will come along and feed you hummus and make you giggle. Especially because sex will get better, and you won’t know that until you finally buy a vibrator and see what down there is all about.

Seriously. He was a jerk. You had fun, and I want you to always remember what it is like to feel so excited about somebody, but he was a jerk.

That being said, I don’t want you to be so cynical. He isn’t the only example of relationships, because he was a demon sent from hell to destroy your heartstrings. He is not the promise of people to come.

Remember being vulnerable isn’t something you only do when you are young.

Fill your I-Pod up with terrible music so you can one day loudly sing that music when you are 22 and drunk on a rooftop.

Stop wearing so many denim skirts they look stupid. Don’t spring for the Northface jacket because it’s cool. There are better things to do with your money.

Give your best friends more hugs. They are seeing you at your most emotionally idiotic, and there will come a time where your friends will no longer want to hear you yap for seventeen hours about that guy you still love from high school. Because they have jobs.

Realize that many of these friends will go away, and you will soon make new ones who ask ‘so how were you at 18?’ Let them know. Tell them about that time you lived in Beatles T-shirts and spent too many hours at the mall. Laugh at this.

Go to class. Embrace doing papers till 6am, hold onto your tiny young problems like citing 8 sources because these will all go away when you have to pay rent and do taxes.

Learn shit. Read your textbooks, and be super knowledgeable about the Industrial Revolution or Jane Eyre and be a smart person who knows stuff. Use your brain while you still have people feeding you information into it.

Get a job. Learn now what it feels like to work for your money. Have a paycheck and stop asking your parents for so much ‘H&M clothing’ money. Build your character this way.

Do your laundry.

Don’t smoke because you can. You’ll get fucking hooked and it’s expensive.

Be a kid. 18 isn’t that old. Watch Disney movies and wear pajamas with characters on them and stop trying to get into bars right now. There’s time for all that desperation later.

Fuck peer pressure. Do it because you want to.

Have the best summer possible. Eventually, summers will be hot days where you sweat out in your work clothes and you only can BBQ on the weekends. Go out on a Monday and lay the hell out on a field with your lemonade and listen to music and just do nothing. Wear sunscreen.

Don’t buy so much gourmet coffee slushies, it’s a waste of money.

Go abroad if you can afford it. I didn’t, and I will always regret not hanging out with my college friends in Italy and eating gelato and hugging sweaty cologne men.

Have fun sober. 

Have fun by yourself.

Don’t try to figure out your whole life right now. You can change your mind about your ‘life path’, and you will do so often. At 18, you are not at your smartest. Enjoy that you will only get smarter.

Tell that person you LIKE like them. Embrace getting rejected, or making out with somebody you like, or all of the extreme Capri Sun emotions you find yourself feeling all the time.

Don’t use Sun-In, but dye your hair a stupid color. Pierce something, take it out when it’s time.

Be a bit reckless because your responsibilities aren’t as big.

No, it’s not that bad. It’s not that big of a deal, and you should just RELAX about it.

You’re not fucking fat. Stop eating so much Lean Cuisine and measuring your thighs out. Stop comparing yourself to models. Stop worrying about how you look in a bikini, because you will just look at pictures of yourself five years later and think ‘damn, I looked good.’

Close your computer. Go out in the sun.

Stop worrying what those bitchy popular girls think about you. Don’t feel so insecure about other women, and don’t hate other girls because some of them are mean to you. Love your girlfriends. Overshare stupid secrets with them about how you once ate a whole box of spaghetti or really like watching 3rd Rock from the Sun. Establish now other girls are not the enemy. 

Take lots of pictures. Keep a journal. Write bad poetry so you can read it back and remember how weird you were.

Drive around as much as you can, sticking your hand out the window.

Learn good grammar, the difference between your and you’re and then and than.

Stop arguing with your mom so much. She loves you. Don’t just scream at her because she doesn’t want you to stay out past midnight, she’s just worried.

Love yourself, love this time. It goes away fast. 

Enjoy getting older. There’s a lot more great stuff to come.

the frenemy. 

“imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

In life, I try to be 100% myself all the time. It can be hard, especially if other people are judging you or disagreeing with your opinions/actions. If you let those negative thoughts get to you, though, you'll never reach the full potential that you have as a person. Never compare yourself to others; being yourself means you're like nobody else! I love that Marilyn Monroe quote, because it's so true. When have you ever heard someone say "oh my god I love that person! She's so average and normal"...?? Yeah, NEVER because nobody appreciates averageness; they like individuality and confidence. So go out there and have a silent dance party in the library when you should be studying and be weird with your friends in public. Because after all, when it comes down to it, the people who look at you condescendingly or disapprovingly are really just too insecure to let themselves go like you are and are probably jealous that they can't be more like you. Do what makes YOU happy, and everything will fall into place.

good vibrations.

Sending good vibes to everyone stressed out with school and finals... Break is right around the corner. WE CAN DO THIS!

20 habits skinny people live by.

20. Skinny Habit #1: Eat an early dinner:
Experts have gone back and forth on whether eating late leads to weight gain, but a recent study published in the journal Obesity found a solid link. Northwestern University researchers looked at the eating and sleeping patterns of 52 adults and found that those who regularly ate after 8 p.m. ingested the most calories and carried the most body fat. An easy-to-follow rule of thumb: Stop eating three hours before you hit the sack. Then, while you sleep, your body is better primed to burn fat instead of creating more. 

19. Skinny Habit #2: Weigh yourself daily:
Stepping on the scale can be disheartening, particularly after an indulgent weekend (“I gained five pounds since Friday?!”). But it's best to face your fears, because as it turns out, weighing yourself regularly can actually help you stay slim. Scientists at the University of Minnesota discovered that people who got on the scale every day lost twice as much weight as those who weighed themselves less often. The assumption: Monitoring your weight keeps your mind on your health and prevents weight denial. 

18. Skinny Habit #3: Eat a boring diet:
Researchers at the University of Buffalo discovered that people who ate macaroni and cheese every day took in significantly fewer calories than those who ate the cheese-covered noodles only once a week. The reason: The novelty of new foods drives us to consume more, so by removing the novelty, we feel fuller, faster. I’m not suggesting you choose one meal and eat it every day for the rest of your life, but the more routines you establish, the more your belly will shrink. Start with lunch. If you find yourself scratching your head every day when the clock strikes noon, you’ll end up eating impulsively and taking in more calories. Instead, pick something healthy, like a soup-and-salad combo, and eat it every day. Or grab a book like Cook This, Not That! Easy 350-Calorie Meals and commit to making more dinners at home. 

17. Skinny Habit #4: Reward yourself:
Once you’ve established a healthy routine, you need to establish a reward system. Think of those pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail. It’s a trip known best for being rife with danger, but it was also rife with sluggish tedium. Early American settlers wouldn’t have completed the journey without the proverbial promise of milk and honey at the end, and neither will you stay the course of a repetitive diet without something more closely resembling literal milk and honey. A great way to stick to a low-calorie diet without breaking down into rebellious binge-mode is to reward yourself with a small dessert every day. Pick a food you love, and at the end of every day, reward yourself with a portion of about 200 calories. But remember—you only get the reward if you deserve it. 

16. Skinny Habit #5: Read diet and exercise tips:
One Canadian study found that being exposed to nutrition and exercise advice led people to make smarter diet and lifestyle choices. To ensure you stay focused on maintaining a healthy weight, subscribe to a health-related magazine or frequent a nutrition-focused blog. Another simple way to eat great and still lose a ton of weight: Follow me right here on Twitter for the diet and fitness secrets I come across every day overseeing Men’s Health, Women's Health and Prevention magazines. 

15. Skinny Habit #6: Eat breakfast:
A study from the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who skipped breakfast were 4.5 times more likely to be obese. They don’t call it the most important meal of the day for nothin’—eating a nutritious morning meal jumpstarts your metabolism and prevents you from overindulging throughout the day. For optimal weight-loss results, choose a breakfast dish with a healthy balance of protein and fiber, like eggs with fruit and whole-wheat toast. 

14. Skinny Habit #7: Take snack breaks:
Snacking sometimes gets a bad rap, but planning nutritious snacks throughout your day can actually keep you skinny. A recent study released by the Nutrition Journal found that consuming low-sugar, high-protein snacks promotes weight loss. The reason: Healthy snacking keeps your blood-sugar from spiking, preventing hunger pangs, cravings, and body fat storage. An ideal snack choice? Nuts. The balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats is sure to keep you satisfied between meals. 

13. Skinny Habit #8: Drink water:
Almost 60 percent of your body is water, which makes it vital to every important metabolic process. In one study of 173 overweight women, those who added 1 liter of daily water to their diets lost five extra pounds over the course of a year, and if you time it right, the effects can be even greater. When researchers from Virginia Tech had subjects drink two glasses of water before each meal, they found that those subjects lost 30 percent more body fat over 12 weeks. That said, making beverage blunders is one of the easiest ways to gain belly fat—as the average American drinks 450 sugar-loaded calories a day. Replace half of what you drink with water and you'll save 23 pounds per year! Start by avoiding everything on this list ofThe 20 Worst Drinks in America. 

12. Skinny Habit #9: Order a la carte:
A study from the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing found that diners consume more calories when they order combo meals because they end up with more food than they want or need. Our stay-skinny advice: Resist the temptation of the almighty “value” meal and order a la carte items, like a modestly sized burger and a non-fried side dish. You'll save both calories and cash. 

11. Skinny Habit #10: Choose whole grains:
Choosing nutrient-rich whole grains over processed, white flour-based products can play a major role in keeping you lean. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers discovered that obese participants who added whole grains to their diets lost more belly fat than those who did not. One of the key weight-loss benefits of whole grains: Their healthy dose of fiber helps slow digestion, keeping you fuller longer. But don’t be fooled by “made with whole grain” labels. True whole grain products will list whole grains first on their ingredients list (think "whole wheat" flour instead of "enriched" or "bleached" flour). 

10. Skinny Habit #11: Eat spicy food:
A 1999 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that eating spicy foods may promote weight loss. Research participants who ate a spicy appetizer before a meal ate significantly less than those who consumed a non-spicy app. The explanation: A chemical compound called capsaicin, found in chili peppers, acts as an appetite suppressant. Capsaicin has also been shown to boost metabolism and fight inflammation. The take away: Routinely adding spicy ingredients like cayenne or red pepper to your meals is an easy, flavorful way to stay slim. 

9. Skinny Habit #12: Sleep for 6 to 8 hours each night :
Getting a good night’s sleep has been linked to a host of major health benefits, not the least of which is maintaining healthy body weight. In a study from Harvard University, participants who slept for fewer than six hours or more than eight hours each night gained significantly more weight than those who slept for six to eight hours. Lack of sleep has been shown to increase appetite, lower willpower, and bolster cravings for high-calorie foods. That might be why you find it so hard to resist those doughnuts in the break room. 

8. Skinny Habit #13: Manage stress:
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that dealing with work-, finance-, or relationship-related stress can lead to weight gain. When you stress, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that promotes abdominal fat storage. If you find yourself overwhelmed in your work or personal life, try incorporating stress-reducing activities into your day. Join a yoga class or go for a jog, and when you start to feel stress coming on, pause and take deep breaths. 

7. Skinny Habit #14: Take the stairs:
Most of us are aware that formal exercise is a key component in maintaining a healthy weight, but simple choices like taking the stairs can be just as important if you want to stay trim. One Mayo Clinic study found that participants who unconsciously moved more throughout the day were able to maintain their weight much easier than those who were more sedentary—even though both groups exercised the same amount. Make the most of daily motion by also walking to lunch, parking at the back of the lot, or skipping email in favor of short walks to deliver messages to coworkers. (As a bonus, you’ll make your face more recognizable around the office.) 

6. Skinny Habit #15: Chew thoroughly:
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that chewing more and eating slowly caused participants to ingest fewer calories. According to the study’s researchers, the increase in chewing simultaneously lowered levels of appetite-stimulating hormones and increased levels of appetite-suppressing hormones. One way to make sure you chew your food thoroughly: Stop to eat. Eating on the go—in your car, for example—can lead you to quickly inhale a ton of calories before your body has time to let you know it’s full. 

5. Skinny Habit #16: Walk after meals:
Taking a walk after dinner can help you lose weight, and not just because walking burns calories. According to one Mayo Clinic study, light, post-meal exercise—like walking—can lower your blood sugar and prevent your body from storing fat. Don’t have time for a walk, you say? Not a problem. As long as you keep moving after you eat, you will reap similar benefits. Even doing the dishes or completing other household tasks can help. 

4. Skinny Habit #17: Keep healthy food on hand:
A great way to ensure you make nutritious food choices: Surround yourself with healthy options. Don’t use convenience as an excuse for a shameful diet. Keep fresh fruit on your kitchen counter, store healthy snacks like nuts (or anything from this must-have list of the 50 Best Snack Foods in America) in your desk at work, keep pre-washed, pre-cut vegetables in your fridge—whatever you have to do to make the healthiest choice the easiest choice, do it! You won't feel deprived or hungry as the pounds are dropping away.) 

3. Skinny Habit #18: Learn to take a joke:
A 2006 study in the International Journal of Obesity found that laughing for 15 minutes each day can help you burn 10 to 40 calories, depending on your body size and the intensity of your laughter. This adds up to about one to four pounds of fat lost per year. That may not sound like much, but there's also been plenty of research linking happy people to all-around healthier lifestyles, and you, my friend, have an excuse to make the The Colbert Report part of your daily diet routine. 

2. Skinny Habit #19: Eat protein:
A study in Nutrition Metabolism found that dieting participants who increased their protein intake to 30 percent of their overall diet ate roughly 450 fewer calories throughout the day and lost about 11 pounds over the course of 12 weeks. Eating protein increases lean muscle mass, which keeps your metabolism running on high—even when you’re resting. Protein also keeps you full, making you less likely to overeat. For maximum health and weight-loss benefits, aim to include protein in all of your meals and snacks. The best options? Lean protein sources like fish, eggs, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and legumes. 

1. Skinny Habit #20: Avoid dinner distractions:
With laptops, smartphones, and iPods aplenty, we've become accustomed to round-the-clock entertainment. But your mealtime may be one time of day we should fight our addiction to amusement. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that diners who were distracted at mealtime consumed significantly more unhealthy snack foods later on than those who paid close attention to what they ate. One possible explanation: When you don’t pay attention to the meal you’re eating, your brain doesn’t fully register the experience. That leaves you less satisfied and more vulnerable to overeating.

20 habits skinny people live by. 

hold on to where you're from.

where will you be five years from today?

In five years Columbus opened up a whole new world by discovering the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, and North and South America.

In just under five years, Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel.

In less than five years Shakespeare wrote "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear", "Macbeth", and five other immortal plays.

In 1961, Julia Child graduated from cooking school with a quirky idea for a TV show. Four years later she won an Emmy as America's favorite TV chef.

Fired from their home improvement jobs, Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus created a business model called Home Depot and went public with their idea. Just three years after losing their jobs, their annual sales were $1 billion.

At age 30, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was living in a 500-square foot apartment. Five years later his net worth was $10 billion.

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."

(all from Where Will You Be Five Years From Today?)

:)

"to the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

I know I post a lot about my friends, but I honestly couldn't enough. I'm so grateful for everything they do for me and for the fact that they'll always be there for me no matter what. I don't know where I'd be without them. This Thanksgiving, I reflected most about how thankful I am for the many friendships I know will last a lifetime. Through ups and downs, we always manage to rise above it and realize how important we are to each other. They are honest when they need to be, even if I'm not going to like what they have to say. We challenge each other to be better people and when it comes down to it, I have the absolute best time with all of them. Crying from laughing multiple times through the night is standard. I know that I'm going to stay close to them even if many of them go to different schools all over the country.  

Love you guys! XOX

live now. do it now. take risks. tell secrets. this life is yours.

I'm pretty sure I've posted this picture before, but I couldn't help putting it up again. I have it printed out and posted right next to my bed to remind me how to live, especially now in college. I can't believe that my first semester is almost over, that I'm almost 1/8th finished with college. Too often, people concern themselves with what others think way more than they should. Nobody should care what you do or how you act. If they do, then it means they are insecure with themselves and aren't worth paying any attention to. So, act crazy with your friends. Dance like a freak. Rap to songs as loudly as you want. Talk to as many people as possible at the parties. Life is short. Like a quote by Mark Twain said, you're not going to look back and regret certain things you did. You're going to regret not being yourself and not doing things you wanted to just because of what you thought others thought of it. When it comes down to it, most people are drawn to the confident people who are doing what they want, not the people trying to seem perfect all the time. Accept that you're not going to be perfect and own it; you're not going to be young for long, so own it and go out there and show everyone who you really are!

silly dreams & youthful screams.

One of my best friends, Marykate, just made a blog. She is always one of the people I could always look to for support and advice whenever I'm done. She's always filled with positivity and can make my tears of sadness turn into tears of laughter. I'm so excited to read her daily lessons and insights about life.