January, Day 11 - New Years, New Reading List and New Lessons

I have compiled my list of books to read this year and I'm really hoping I can actually complete it. I'm not really a fast reader so it will be good to start reading a lot more in hopes that I speed up. I might get distracted by my new nail polish or so... Oh and I think I forgot to mention this: I FINISHED CHEMISTRY! I am so glad. It was pretty brutal. Now I'm working on Human Biology and that is much more delightful. I also finished my Personal Finance course and I'm nearly done my Consumer Math (Only 3 more quizzes and a test!).
  I have come to realize that I need to balance my life a bit more. When doing my schoolwork I get super motivated for a few days and get loads done and then I end up slacking of for a few weeks. It's a horrible cycle that has been plaguing me for a long time and part of it was pushing myself too far and not letting myself enjoy myself because I was so worried about being behind in my schoolwork and not graduating at the same time as my friends.
  It doesn't really matter when I graduate! It's not like graduating late is going to label me a loser for the rest of my life. It's not going to make people not be my friends(unless they are the biggest snobs in the universe but I wouldn't want to be their friend much anyway). I work better when I'm not worried about failing other peoples expectations and that is my lesson I'm learning. I shouldn't be doing things in my life for everyone else's expectations of me. I'm not the smartest person in the world! I don't have to expect myself to be! I can go through my life and enjoy myself in my learning adventures. I'm not defined by my high school education. Seriously!
  This is kind of a rant to myself. I constantly need to realize that I have to do what I love and stop doing only what other people want of me. I need to stop worrying about other people's opinions. I'm not them, I'm my own person. This is also kind of a rant at the people who would criticize me because I didn't finish as much as they did(I didn't because I was too busy worrying about finishing as much as them) or because I don't have the official education of the Provence like someone from public school. The immaturity in this world disgusts me including my own.
  Conclusion? I'm going to stop worrying about what other people think about my education and just do the education that I want even if it means graduating late because I keep adding oodles and oodles of extra subjects for myself. I don't want to stop learning! I could spend the rest of my life in school if that was acceptable but unfortunately there's this thing about getting jobs and whatnot that is deemed more important.

August, Day 29 - Dr. Who, Before You Exit, and Failed Goals

I must say, I didn't complete my science goal. It's a total bummer, I know. I think I have pretty good excuses for it though! Not that excuses are really impressive... So first excuse: Our cat ran away or gotten eaten by the lovely owls that reside in our lovely village so we are left to feed her kittens by an eye dropper ever two hours. I have been sent to kitty duty for a few days. Second excuse: My birthday! I spent the day before my birthday hanging out with one of my friends and then she came over for a sleepover. In the morning, we started making my cake. In the afternoon we biked 40km. Yes, 40 whole kilometers. LIKE SERIOUSLY 40 WHOLE STINKING KILOMETERS!! It was amazing. I had set for myself the goal of biking 40km by the end of summer and I totally did it! It was amazing! During the last stretch I really had to battle my mind because I was so sore and tired that I came so close to just calling my sister to just come and pick me up. But I did it! Ah! Now I have decided that I want to bike to this city that is an hour's drive from my house. It will probably take all day to accomplish it. It's about 90km, I think. I'm not actually quite sure and I don't feel like looking it up.
   Anyways, third excuse: Wait... Do I even have a third excuse? I don't remember... Shoot. I was so sure I had a huge bunch load of reasons. Maybe I'm just a lame bum. Oh wait! I was catching up on my Dr. Who. I started watching it this year and I'm just about finished the third season. I can't express truly how much I love that show and David Tennant. I guess that is probably the lamest excuse in the world of excuses. *In whiny voice* I was watching Dr. Who! *sigh* My nerdy is showing. I apologize. Oh wait, maybe I don't because I SAW DR. WHO MONOPOLY!! It was in Chapters. $40. I must get it. I might purchase it tomorrow if I go to the city.
   I have a new favorite band other than Hunter Hayes now. It's Before You Exit. My friend, Dawn, showed them to me and I'm kind of obsessing. I kept telling myself that I wouldn't obsess over them and the next thing you know it they're the background on my computer. So embarrassing. Maybe I should have left that detail out. I hope they come out with more music really soon. I keep listening to them on repeat all day. I'm worried that I'm falling in love with boys that I will never meet. It's pitiful. I should really be more realistic. I'll never be able to meet them. *sigh*
   I keep thinking of doing those YouTube covers soon. Should I do it? What if I get famous? That would be horrible! I don't know if I could stand a bunch of silly people obsessing over me. :P I also have a wee bit of a cold so I can't sing... Well I can, but it might not sound that good. That would also mean that I would have to fit in another activity to my schedule. Maybe I could have a music-y evenings. I am supposed to practice piano in the evening but I never get around to it. Music evenings might be a good idea for me besides my hand sewing... To sing or not to sing! That is the question! Do you think I should go for it? Let me know in the comments!
   Well that's all I can think about writing tonight. I will either post tomorrow or I will be practicing a song for a YouTube cover. Good night!
   Love, Mary xoxo

New School Bling - Apps I'm Loving Fall 2013

I am always on the lookout for new apps. I just love apps and maybe one day I'll make my own. So here is my compiled list of apps that I found and love for back to school.

Grades 2 - Free

Grades 2 is perfect for me because I home school and it saves time to have all my grades on my iPod. Also when you can type in what grade average that you want to maintain with each subject and it will tell you what test score you need to get in order to get that grade average. It will definitely be on my iPod for a long time.

 Dictionary.com Dictionary and Thesaurus - Free

This is pretty self explanatory. Like seriously, how are you supposed to get through school without a dictionary? I like this one because it has such a simple format and you can upgrade it for $0.99 to add a rhyming dictionary. I can already see it now! This will make me more famous than Dr. Seuss!! Ha ha...ha.... Okay, maybe not.

BooksApp 2 - Free

This app is used to catalog all the books you own. It will even sort them by author, genre, and title. It's like the private version of Goodreads. 

A+ FlashCards Pro - Free

This is for those times when you are on the go and have no way of making manual flashcards and the best part about it is that you'll never lose your flashcards.

Do! Spring - Free

I spent a really long time searching for the perfect to-do list. I wanted it cute and simple but I couldn't find any that compares to Do! Spring. It's just so pretty and it makes me want to finish the things on my list. It also features sound effects so it sounds like you have scratched it off with a pencil. Very satisfying!

Learn French - Mindsnacks 

-  First lesson free and then $4.99 for all 50 lessons

Mindsnacks is great with languages. I'm personally learning French and it really encourages daily learning and practice and who could say no to learning a language by playing games?

It also comes in Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese.

Songza - Free

Now if you are using a computer, you could just use the website but if you are nowhere near a computer, the app is perfect! Some of my favorite playlists are American Primitivism, Electronic Study: Ambient, and Superhero Soundtracks. 

So that is my list of my current favorites. Do you have any apps that you would recommend? I would love to hear about them!

August, Day 25

   From the get go I should probably mention that I didn't complete my goal of finish module 15 in chemistry by Friday. Recently our cat ran away or got eaten by an owl and her five kittens have been left to our care so I have to feed them like every two hours with an eye dropper. They're only 4 weeks old and soooo cute. It's a bit of a pain though. So I have been busy these past few days playing mommy cat.
   I have really been getting excited for winter. As soon as December comes, I get to buy myself Adobe Photoshop! I am so excited for it. I wish I had a better job and then I could get it sooner. After I get it, though, I know I'm going to want a new camera so that I can take pro pictures and edit them. So my older sister, who is also a graphics enthusiast, said she will buy a good camera and we could share our goodies. We will take pictures with her camera and edit them with my Photoshop. Eeeks! It excites me so much! The opportunities that will come with that is just so high! Maybe I should calm down about this.
   I really miss autumn a lot. When the leaves turn orange, it is the most inspiring time for me, especially for writing because the story that I'm writing takes place in autumn. It's not a really good story but I enjoy writing it. I have been spending a lot of time adding autumn pictures on We Heart It. I love that website because the pictures always have that vintage looking tinge to them. Oh and I have added a new page to the blog. If you look at the top of the page, there will be a link that says "Contact Me." On that page it has links to my social networks, including We Heart It!
   Oh, speaking of my story, I am currently doing a 100 for 100 challenge. It is hosted by the Go Teen Writers blog. You have to write 100 words for your current novel that you're working on for 100 days. It's really good for keeping myself consistent with writing. Do you write? Do you have any goals for yourself in writing?
   Sometimes I feel like no one will ever read the things that I write on here. Do you ever get the feeling of insignificance? I really hate it. I sometimes wish that bad feelings would just go away but I realize that without the bad feelings, how could we enjoy the good feelings?
   Now to work on writing my Back-to-School-Apps post.
   Love, Mary xoxo

SCHOOL UPDATE - Chemistry and Regency

Hey!  So last night I did finish my chemistry test. Only 2 more modules to go and then I'm done forever! This excites me very much. I should almost be back on schedule. I just have to finish module 15 by Friday. I'm not sure if I will be able to manage it because today is Wednesday so that is three full days I have to finish it. Thursdays I work though. Friday I usually spend it cleaning for Shabbat on Friday evening. I will have to try and finish half of the module today and the other half tomorrow and then study and test on Friday. Sounds almost doable.
   I also want to get some algebra in today. I believe I just have one lesson and then a test which should take only 2.5 hours maybe.
   I should probably tell you about something I do a lot. I am constantly reading classic books. I've finished all of Jane Austen's books, Wuthering Heights, Anne of Green Gables, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and many more. I do this partly for school and partly because I just like reading older books. They have more meaning than those vampire and werewolf books that teenagers are gobbling up... Also I enjoy school, so anything I do for school I typically enjoy. The current classic book I'm reading now is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and I have finished chapter 4. So far it is pretty interesting though I actually already know a bit about the story because I watched the movie adaptation. I didn't like the movie but the book is so far off to a good start.
    That is about all for this school update. I will post again when I have more!
BYE

August, Day 13 - Exercise, Singing and Back to School

   I have come to the conclusion that I should probably lose weight. Well, maybe not lose weight per se but at least get healthier. Because of my love for baking I tend to eat unhealthy a lot of times. Don't get me wrong, I'm not really fat. I just think I could healthily improve my size 6/8 self. I also have this little part of me that misses being a size 3 and 103 pounds (Which is still healthy for my short size!).
   So what are some good ideas for this new venture?

1. Walk Carter (My fluffy pooch)
2. Limit how much I slather mayonnaise on everything...
3. Have at least 2 servings on vegetables (Which might be hard because I'm not particularly fond of them.
4. Do 10 burpees every day (Because they exhaust the stink right out of me)
5. Experiment with healthy recipes to make it more exciting
6. Bike ride anywhere I need to go in town or just for fun
7. Go back to weight lifting
8. Drink green tea
9. Drink more water
10. Eat a serving of fruit a day (I don't think jam counts...)
11. Stretch twice a day
12.  Add less sugar and cream to my coffee
13. If I crave chocolate, eat a little bit of dark chocolate instead
14. Eat some walnuts or almonds more often

I found this article about 52 little healthy changes. I might have to do some of them.

http://www.ivillage.com/52-little-changes-big-weight-loss-results/4-b-394731#394786

   I have really been wanting to do music covers on youtube. I keep on thinking about it lots and I just never get around to it... Maybe I should set a goal! Hmmm... Well maybe not. My schedule is already too full to just put in a mandatory due date for my performance ventures. I'm thinking about doing the song If I Die Young by The Band Perry. I really like that song and I think I could do it well. Maybe, just maybe... I think I will print out the chords and lyrics to it and see if it comes about in my life. Should I play my guitar or ukulele for it? Decisions, decisions...

   Okay, I know this is going to sound silly. I got my student photo ID card today! Why am I excited over that? Well, because I've been homeschooled for most of my life and it wasn't really required for everyone to have a photo ID card, only the paper one without a picture. The photo one is also laminated all nice. I was talking with one of my good friends who is under the same home school board as I am and she was telling me about how she got a discount on Photoshop because she had a student ID card and I was flabbergasted because I didn't know that you could get the photo ones under my school board. Crazy business, eh? So the plan is that I shall be getting Photoshop and possibly the Elements program too because I've sparked an interest in video production.

    The card also excites me more because it is 19 days until the first of September!!! Then I shall officially be starting school! I have already been doing my school work but the first of September is the start of that school schedule I have constructed and showed you in a previous post. I think a week before the start of September, I will tell you what I got in preparation for school, including all the apps I use and such. I'm kind of an app-aholic.

    Now, back to my summer school work!

   Love, Mary xoxo

August, Day 11 - Progress and Plans

   I am a funny person. I plan, a lot. I make so many plans that I have a hard time keeping up with them all.It's kind of annoying. Today I will follow suit and make more plans! Why? Because I always have to have a focus in life. Without my plans I end up sitting around wondering why my life is so boring and miserable. It's depressing really. I am happy to say that I did read a lot while camping. I got back from camping on Friday and so I'm trying to adjust to my clean self and not smelling dreadfully like smoke and body odor! It is wonderful to be clean again!! That is one of the reasons I used to hate camping so much, I couldn't stand being stinky and gross. I have now learned to be comfortable in my natural odor... I know what you're thinking. Ew, right? Well if it makes you feel better about me, no one could smell me because of the constant smell of campfire. It's a natural deodorant... or at least it was while camping. :P
    So for the progress of my reading, I finished the book I was working on, Hitler's British Slaves by Sean Longden. It was a very interesting book to say the least. The writer was very good at keeping my attention throughout the whole book. After I finished that book, I started reading Dancing Under the Red Star by Karl Tobien. I have finished half of it and I might read some more today. It is a very interesting book so far. I love historical books! Oh and both of those books are during the time of World War II.
   I also want to start on my art project for Art 10. I'm on the 3rd lesson and I have nine more after that. It shouldn't be too hard, I think. I love art. Maybe I should get around to finishing the other two paintings that I started... I started them both a month ago and I haven't really made any progress on them... hmmm... I should also write some letters. I was going to write a whole bunch of letters to my friends but I never got around to it. You know what I would really love?! A signet seal! I could have a seal on all my letters that I write. It would be just so neat. Maybe I'll buy one after I get my antique pink typewriter. They sell pink typewriters on Etsy and I'm quite determined to get one eventually in my lifetime.

(source: http://www.etsy.com/listing/156161570/pink-smith-corona-silent-super-vintage?ref=sr_gallery_19&ga_search_query=pink+typewriter&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all)

Like seriously! Isn't that just cute?? I'm in love. It's perfection.

   Maybe I should do some chemistry and Algebra too. Man, I need to make a list of things I should do today. Here it goes.

• Write Letters
• Art 10 project
• Algebra 2
• Chemistry
• Read more of book
• Personal Finance 
• Private Law
• Do nails
• Clean room

   Okay then, I have my work to do today. I best be on my way to them, I think. Maybe while I'm at it, I should work on my grammar. I apologize to all you people who are really strict with grammar. I'm sure you have found a billion mistakes. Not to fear! I shall improve! Eventually... When I am not busy.

Good bye then!

   Love, Mary xoxo

August, Day 5

   Today had been an interesting day. I feel like I have been quite productive. I woke up today all early and ready to do schoolwork. I started doing some algebra and after about 8 questions I was suckered into playing a game of electronic life with my brother and sister. It was a decent game. Afterwards, though, I didn't feel like doing any school work so instead I browsed for fun pictures on We Heart It, the app/website.

   After say about an hour, I decided that since I didn't feel like doing any school work, I could still do something school related! So I spent like 2 hours on Microsoft Excel and I started to construct for myself a calendar for the 2013-2014 school year. The best part was that my dad finally got coloured ink for the printer, so I was able to have pink on it! It thrilled me! 

   After it was finished being designed, I printed it all out and spent the next 4 hours scheduling in all 12 of my subjects into 10 months and was successful! I will even be able to relax a bit in he spring time unless, of course, the advanced math ends up being too hard and strenuous. I'm sure it shouldn't be too hard though. Here is what it looks like:

   I just need to get a graphing calculator. I think there are graphing calculator apps. They would probably be cheaper than a normal one. If I do find a good one, I think I will do a review on the favorite apps I use for school, as well as other things that get me ready for school. I think that would be cool. What have you done so far in preparation for the school year?

   The other day I was so pleased to be able to purchase one of the nail polish colors on my wishlist. I got to nude color! Here is what it looks like with two coats of polish:

I am really enjoying it. Tomorrow I have my advanced road test and I had planned to reward myself with more nail polish colors if I pass. I'm pretty confident that I will pass this time. I failed the first time... I usually never fail anything except for the occasional algebra test once a year so it felt really weird failing my advanced road test. I passed my learners test and drivers test fairly easy. Okay, my drivers test wasn't that easy. I was one point away from failing... *blushes* It would have been embarrassing. Anyways, I SHALL PASS THIS TIME! I'm praying I do. If not, I will sink back into oblivion and stay in a state of shock over it... Well that is a bit of an exaggeration. 

   I should probably put an end toy conversation with you. I still have some more jam to make, dishes to do, and some packing to do for camping. I will spend the whole time fishing and reading, I think. Do something productive while away from school. ^_^

   Ps. My mom gave me two really pretty, vintage-looking fabrics to use for sewing dresses with! I'm going to probably sew a dress with a bit of a 50s flair to it. Here is what the fabrics look like:

I love them! Anyways, good day to you and talk to you soon!

Love, Mary

Nails, Check! School, Not So Check...

   Well, I was able to have my nails did. :p They are a really pretty pink with white tips. I love it a lot. I slept over at a friend's house and she did them for me. I was pretty excited if not ecstatic. Here's a picture:

   It looks a little bit messy but that's just because we haven't had enough practice. When I get more nail polish, I will practice much more. I can't wait to get more nail polish! Eeks! I just need to save up more money... Maybe I'm being too dramatic over it... I don't know what has come over me that makes me want to do my nails all the time. Weirdness... 

   Let's change the topic from my silliness. I had a yummy breakfast this morning. My favorite actually. I had whole grain French toast. Mmmmm. I enjoyed it a lot with my hazelnut coffee. Too bad the coffee has run out now. At least dad is coming home with some tonight so I won't be deprived. Ok, enough of that...

   I haven't done schoolwork lately. I know what you're thinking. Who does schoolwork in the summer? Well, this person right here. Why? Because I actually really enjoy it. It makes me feel good about myself. It's like solving the mysteries of life all from my very own room. I can be my own Sherlock Holmes. It's quite wonderful, really. 

   Anyways, so I haven't done any schoolwork for at least two weeks and I'm starting to feel a bit guilty. I should be more dedicated than this! I want to actually graduate next year! Well determination is going to kick in. Here are the subjects I need to finish to graduate:

• Algebra 2

• Advanced Mathematics

• Chemistry

• Advanced Biology

• Grade 12 English

• History book 2

• French level 1

• Home Economics

• Art 10

• Personal Finance

• Consumer Math

• Private Law

   Maybe that seems like a lot to you but I'm going to finish that all this year and maybe do a Human Society course if I have time. I also have several classic books to read but I've been working in that over the summer a bit so I don't have to worry about that as much, thankfully. When we go camping, I will spend most of my time doing my book reading. I have about 16 books left to read and I think I can finish at least two during the 3-4 days of camping. Maybe I should relax a bit too considering that it is vacation... Naw! I will be fishing and reading at the same time. Maybe I will do my nails too. :p

   I'm thinking about actually getting my school schedule I made on Microsoft excel printed out. It's just hiding away on my computer. It looks nice too. Do you make schedules for school? You should show me what yours looks like and I'll post what mine looks like. :)

   I should really get back to reading now. I want to at least feel like I've done something productive today.

   Love, Mary

Simply Introductions

Hey there, you lovely person reading this! I'm glad you're here! I would like to introduce myself as Mary.  :) To tell you a little bit about myself, I must first say that in person I am really, really weird. Online I think I'm fairly normal but whatever. Who needs normal anyways? It's just not as fun.

 So anyways, I am a student, currently in high school but hopefully in college/university soon! I am homeschooled and I love learning and I mean love. I actually really wish it was fall right now... Autumn. Autumn sounds nicer than fall. Oh sheesh, I feel like I keep on going on bunny trails.

 I love the color pink, I enjoy listening to Celtic harp and ambient electronic tunes, and I have this fashion style mixup consisting of these styles: professional, girly, 50s, vintage, and florals. I love my florals. And scarfs. I have this really pretty scarf; it is floral print. 

 I am currently writing this to you from my desk in my room when I should really be doing algebra or chemistry but I'm not because writing to you is just so much more distracting right now. It's better than earlier. I was kind of sucked into Pinterest all morning looking through college related pins. Oi.  That's another thing about me: I tend to procrastinate... A lot. I've been doing a lot better than I used to but it still lingers and pounces on me every once in a while... Especially when Pinterest is so available. *sigh* 

 So here are some things that I hope to post on this blog:

1. Random updates of my school life, interesting or not

2. Outfits that I have magically put together from my wardrobe that happen to look quite cute

3. School tips

4. A yummy snack recipe every once in a while

And

5. Any silly thing I wish to post because I am the boss! Mwahahaha!!

Ahem.. Anyways, I think that's about it. Now I'm sure I should stop procrastinating and eat a cookie-I mean do my algebra! Hehe

Love, Mary