Facebook: Our Journal
With each day that passes I become more and more stunned—dumbfounded, actually—at what I see on Facebook.
I will never be one of those people who can post each and every detail of their entire lives on Facebook. There are so many things you could be doing with your time. I said something the other day—ironically, on Facebook—about how we all used to have fun, and now we just tell everyone about how much fun we are having. I am guilty of this almost as much as the rest of you people. When I go on a date or go to a new restaurant, I want to post it on Facebook so everyone knows where I have been. I have no idea why. I have no idea what this even means. But it’s addicting. We do it because we can. Because it’s FACEBOOK.
I know, I know. If it bothers me so much why don’t I just stop getting on Facebook, right? The truth is: it does bother me. But more than that, it intrigues me.
There are so many different types of posts I see on Facebook every day, each proclaiming their posters lack of sanity during any given situation.
Awkwardly Yours,
I know I am not the only one who does incredibly awkward and embarrassing things on a daily basis. At least, I like to think I’m not. The things that I do, however, are not necessarily life-ruining, but I have (quite literally) smacked myself in the face after doing them. It’s probably awkward that I do that. It’s probably awkward that I just admitted it.
I will now confess some things that I do (or have done) which still make me shake my head and go “Jessica! Jessica, no!”
Things That Make a Good-Looking Guy Unattractive
Last Monday, as I was coming home from a mini shopping date (that I took myself on), I found myself at a stop light with a really stunning man. He wasn’t just the “Oh, hey, he’s cute” type. No, he was more like the “just stepped off the cover of GQ to go for a drive” type. He was driving a large truck, as many manly men do. I glanced quickly in his direction and as soon as I realized I was looking at a model, I looked away (obviously).
Now, I’m not sure whether or not this is normal or ‘appropriate’ female response when being face-to-face (or at least car-to-car) with an attractive man, but it’s instinct, nonetheless, even if it automatically makes the situation extremely awkward. As the light turned from red to green, I looked over to catch one last looksie before I drove away and never saw him again.
Then I saw it.
It’s 2012. Time for a Revolution.
He asks. You say yes. You then spend the next 5 days trying to keep your frizzies tamed, your legs shaved, and your eyebrows waxed (does anyone actually do this?) in the hopes that he will find you incredibly attractive and think you are one of those magical creatures who (obviously) need no grooming, because, of course, you are naturally this beautiful.
Imagine a dating world where this wasn’t required. Imagine a date where you could sit at home, on the couch, in your moth-eaten sweatpants and a men’s XL t-shirt, receive flowers which need no water and/or sunlight, and spend hours upon hours just talking about nothing and talking about everything (talking about nothing). I have been on this date. And let me tell you something, it was one of the greatest dates I have ever been on.
Granted, I’ve only been on a handful of “real” dates in my life. By “real” I mean fun, romantic times where the guy is all like “Hey, do you want to go out and get some dinner or see a movie?” and you’re all like “Yeah, sure.”
The date that I am speaking of can be obtained. You can obtain it!
This is my original recipe for blueberry coconut flour muffins. They are delicious! You are going to love them. Sorry this video is so messed up… a combination of no editing and crazy conversion really made a mess of things :) But oh, well. You still get the recipe, luckily.
3 Eggs
3 Tablespoons Coconut Milk, Amasai, or Half and Half
1/2 Cup Fruit (Frozen Blueberries)
1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
1/4 Tsp Baking Powder
3 Tablespoons Raw Honey
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
Baking Cups
Muffin Pan
Nature Walk and Camera Test
Although, as you probably know, I am more into fashion photography more than nature/scenic work, I decided to take my camera with me on my nature walk today (which is basically me walking in my backyard). These are the shots that I got… and I’m still promising that Tasty Tuesday video as soon as I can get it up! :)
This last picture is my favorite because whenever my grandmother used to come down to Tennessee for a visit, she loved these trees! They don’t have them up north, apparently. :)
Why I Was (Probably) a Fairy in my Past Life
If I believed in reincarnation, which I don’t, I would believe that I was a fairy in another life, because of my extreme love for glitter and all things shiny.
I never classify myself as a girly girl at all. In fact, I think I’m closer to those “one of the guys” chicks. But if there is one thing about me that you should know, it is the fact that I love glitter (so much so that I named my blog after it, obviously). I should clarify that I am not one of those girls who wears a lot of glittery clothing, or even a lot of jewelry, or has glitter covering every piece of everything she owns. I am definitely not like that. My love for glitter is a little deeper than that. It is more like a strong emotional connection. When I see something shiny, my eyes widen, I get a little grin, and my heart warms (not really sure what the actual temperature of my heart is, I’m just assuming it’s slightly warmer than normal). The feeling is hard to describe.
I only experience this sensation in a few different situations.
1. The shiny object thing, obviously.
2. Little things —-
Top 10 Things You Should Never Do (A 2011 Tribute)
Anytime when I’m allowed to “start over” and get my “slate wiped,” so to speak, I’m all for it. This is precisely why beginning a new year is a great thing! You get a chance to improve yourself, which also improves the quality of life of those around you who don’t have to listen to you complaining for (at least) two weeks or until you abandon your resolve and label yourself, “genetically pessimistic.”
With 22 years and 4 months of experience (because being inside the womb does count), I have compiled a list of things you should never do. They are not, what some may call, “necessary learning experiences.”
1). Never use the bathroom when you know someone will have to bring you toilet paper, because they won’t. Although this may be obvious to some of you, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. There’s no holding back.
2). Never notice that your mom is wearing brown pants, brown shirt, brown shoes, brown socks, and a brown purse and say, “You look like a pile of poopy.” Even though you mean this literally, she will think you mean it figuratively and that’s even worse.
How To Write An Affirmation
There are so many bad things in the world.
Just today, while watching a talk show, I was reminded of just how many terrible situations people are involved in. It puzzles me to think that there are people in the world who would do some of the things that are being done.
With all of this negativity in our day to day lives, it’s important that we counteract it with positive actions and positive thinking.
You’ve heard it before and I’m about to make you hear it again: you are your own worst critic. We all feel insecure about something in our lives at one point or another. The funny (and quite sad) thing is that, the majority of the time, WE are the ones who place those negative thoughts into our minds, not others!
You know you’ve done it. You get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and tell yourself (whether it’s aloud or not) that you don’t compare (physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally) to someone you really look up to. The question is not whether you do this or not; the question is “why?”
See how I began this blog? Negative thought.
Let me start over.
There are so many great things happening in the world.
Just today, while reading my bible, I was reminded of just how caring and loving a person can be. It’s amazing to me to think there is someone who loves me and cares about ME that much.
Kind of changes the mood, huh?
Maybe you’re one of those people who have a hard time being positive or looking to the bright side of things. Maybe the glass is always “half empty” for you. Whatever the case may be, I’m writing this blog to help you, in some way, become a better person with a more positive and uplifting attitude—not only toward yourself, but to others as well.
Affirmation: the assertion that something exists or is true.
Writing your own affirmations is a great way to help you overcome your struggle with negative thinking.
You can make it apply to you. You can make it be about something that you struggle with. For example, if you think you are unattractive, you could write “I am beautiful!” If you feel like you’re not important or not cared about, you could write “I am loved!” or “I am important.”
You should write your affirmations on sticky notes and post them EVERYWHERE around your house or office or car—somewhere you will see it and see it often. Every time you do see it, say it. Aloud.
Follow these steps to creating your own affirmations and changing your life.
1. Before writing your affirmations, make sure you’re free from all outside interferences. Put your phone away. Turn the TV off. Have a seat in a quiet place where you can relax and get in touch with your true feelings.
2. Write down all the things you struggle with every day. Maybe it’s something someone recently brought to your attention, maybe it’s something you think about all the time. Whatever it is. Write it down in a list with either numbers or bullets.
3. Once you have your complete list (don’t worry, you can add to this later), you can start writing the opposite and believing it is true. For example if your page looks like this:
1. I am ugly
You will write the opposite across from it:
1. I am ugly —————- I am beautiful
Do this until you have completed your entire page and have a list of opposites for everything that you listed.
4. Take a new piece of paper and begin forming your complete list of affirmations. Try beginning it with something that is undeniably true: I am Jessica. Hearing yourself say your name will help you realize that you are talking to yourself and not just saying a bunch of random sentences.
5. Write down all your opposites in letter form.
6. Write down all your strong points, all the things about you that you actually believe are true.
7. You can end this with a bible verse (some great ones are Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:29, Luke 24:36, Philippians 4:19, Isaiah 40:29, Ephesians 3:20 and so on. There are so many great verses you could use), or by signing and dating it.
8. Copy everything you wrote down on sticky notes, paper, or binders and place them everywhere you go. Putting it as your background on your phone or computer screen is a great idea.
9. Memorize it. Use it. Believe it. It will change the way you live your life.
Top 11 Rules For Male Communication (Online Dating)
Everyone, I have a confession to make. About a week ago I joined a dating website. I have another confession to make. It isn’t the first time.
Don’t jump to conclusions. I am not looking to date anyone from any of those sites. Sometimes a girl just has to look and see what’s out there in her weak moments of boredom so that she doesn’t lock herself in the pantry all day. In my “research” (because it sounds better), I have found out one thing and that is: guys are boring.
Guys are so boring.
I am mostly speaking to the men out there right now because, well, I want to help you! I need to HELP YOU before you kill off the female population with your boring conversations and macho man façade.
During my week and some odd days of online “dating,” I have had (extremely) brief conversations with a number of men (can I call them men?). The majority of these men, these fellows, began the conversation by sending me an e-mail that looked something like this: “hey how r u,” “can I be your boyfriend ha,” or the ever-dreaded “you remind me of apple pie.”
Guys, listen up. This is unacceptable for a number of reasons. Even if you’re not using a dating website, you should know how to communicate with women in a interesting and polite way.
Let’s explore top 11 rules for male communication.
1). The lady you are speaking to should be addressed by name. If you don’t know her name, tell her your name and ask hers. Do NOT address her as “sexy lady,” “princess,” “baby,” “sweetie,” “honey,” “angel,” or “girl,” at least not until you are allowed to kiss her in public.
2). You should try to think of something to say other than “how r u”. Chances are she’s probably doing pretty well and isn’t having any real life trauma, or she wouldn’t be checking her dating website e-mail. Also, this will not start any real conversation, because if she responds (and you’ll be lucky if she does), she’ll probably just say “good” and be done with it. Your chance is over and you are free to move on to boring the next girl you come across.
3). Please use the best grammar you possibly can. I understand most people don’t care about grammar or spelling or punctuation. I get that. Hey, I’m not perfect. I’m sure some English major is reading this right now and having a giggle at all of my mistakes and what not. But, I’m doing one thing that you guys aren’t doing, I’m trying. Use proper forms of words. Don’t use letters as words to shorten them. Just try your best to seem intelligent. And if a girl clearly states in her biography not to contact her unless you know the correct way to use “your” and “you’re,” don’t contact her. You’re wasting your time.
4). Gentlemen in your 40’s and above, unless a lady specifies that she is into older men, do not contact her. It’s weird. It’s awkward. You’re not gonna get a reply from most girls and you’re just setting yourself up to some form of ridicule on some mean girls blog. If you ARE going to e-mail her, make sure your face matches your age. Because, if you are obviously 53 and you’re age says “27,” you’re not fooling anyone.
5). Don’t talk about your mom in the introduction e-mail. I don’t really wanna hear how awesome your mom thinks you are or how she has taught you the best manners in the world. Did she teach you how to get a date? Obviously not. I won’t introduce myself and immediately talk about my dad and how he thinks I’m so special. That’s creepy. Stop it.
6). If a girl doesn’t reply to the first 3 e-mails, you should stop sending them. L Please don’t write her over and over and over asking what happened and if she’s getting your messages. Don’t tell her you’re not stalking her, that definitely means that you are, indeed, stalking her.
7). Don’t demand a girl to leave the site because she can “find someone in real life”. That’s so weird.
8). Don’t refer to yourself as having parts similar to that of a horse. That’s not attractive. That’s going to make the girl think you have serious medical issues.
9). Don’t write a letter. You can introduce yourself in a few short sentences. If a girl opens an e-mail and sees that you’ve written a 3-page biography, she’s not gonna read it because it makes you seem desperate and like you might kill her.
10). Don’t say you don’t drink or do drugs if you have an entire profile of pictures of you doing just that. It makes no sense and it makes you out to be a liar. And you’re not a liar, you’re just totally changing the truth and doing a horrible job of hiding the evidence that proves otherwise.
11). If she tells you her name, don’t immediately stalk her out and add her on Facebook and Twitter. That makes you look like an over-eager punk.
There’s so much more I could say but hopefully this will give you an idea of how not to be completely creepy when approaching a lady online.
Disclaimer: Although I have since deleted my “dating” profile, this blog was not meant to offend anyone or to denounce online dating as a whole. I know about those loves stories on the Match.com commercials. They’re totally for real!
