Changes...

Hi everybody!

As I often say in my posts, long time no see!

The reason I haven't written in a while is because I've actually created a new blog... Yes, you heard that right.

The blog is called Prettied.  and it will be made up of mostly fashion and beauty posts. However, I'm not yet sure whether I'm going to continue posting personal posts on this blog or not..

Also, I just got a new computer today! So I'll probably be blogging a bit more than usual so I can get used to my new machine. ;)

Have a lovely day!

XOXOXO

Golden opportunity

So for a while now I've been thinking "wow... It would be really cool to be a mentor...".
I know I have younger siblings, and I "mentor" them, but I mean how cool would it be to develop a relationship with someone who you don't really know, and become a role model to them?

There is a very nice lady I talk to sometimes who's daughter "A" goes to my dance studio.

The family is Christian, and "A" is home schooled!

So I messaged the lady on Facebook and asked her if she and "A" would be interested in starting a mentorship.

She said yes!

Now I'm excited.. Like, REALLY excited!

I feel like having somebody who I need to be a role model to will give me an extra push to do my very best in everything I do!.... Really I'm just beside myself right now!

I can't wait to teach her some of the skills I've learned over time, and give her advice, and etc...

Also, I finally got my purity ring!... My ring finger feels special now(:


That's pretty much it for now... Yep!

I love youuuu!

XOXOXO

Elysse

I've finally figured it out!... What I dislike the most about being a girl...

Here's the deal... I have these conversation cards.. They're pretty much exactly what they sound like. You pick a card, then everyone answers whatever question is on that card, thus starting a conversation.. 

Being a shy person by nature, I have used these cards plenty of times.. So many times that I pretty much have set answers for every question... Except one. 

This question:

"What is the worst thing about being a girl?"

Now, I know what you're thinking... "Ummmmm, is the answer to that question not obvious?...Hello! Does "Shark week" ring a bell???"

I could say that I think that's the worst thing about being a girl I guess.. But it would be a lie.
My problem is that I don't know what IS the worst thing about being a girl!.. I mean, I kind of love being a girl... Like, a lot!

Well, today I figured it out... 

The worst thing about being born a female... 

What is it?

Read and see!
 I don't know how this works from a guy's perspective, or even another girls perspective, but to me when I see a guy they usually fit into one of two categories.. Good looking, or not so good looking..

Of course, there are exceptions.. There are those guys who you just want to secretly photograph and hang pictures of them all over your walls... Not that I would ever actually do that.

On the other hand, as a girl I feel like there are soooo many sub categories for us it's impossible to keep them separate in our minds... 

I know, "Don't label people, it's rude!"... But admit it, you do it too. 

It's a subconscious thing. 

You're feeling pretty good about yourself, then you log onto facebook and see a new picture of that girl who you feel like is twice as attractive than you... Then that girl probably goes and does the same exact thing. 

We feel like no matter how good we can make ourselves look, we'll still just be average.

As my cousin kindly pointed out, it has a lot to do with the media.

Think about it, the "ideal" man has pretty much stayed the same over time... Blonde hair, blue eyes, blah, blah, blah... 

For girls though, the media's idea of "perfection" varies so much it's not funny... 

They tell you "everyone's beautiful!", then advertise a gorgeous example of every stereotype a person could possible fit into...

For instance.. 

 Look at Kim Kardashian with her dark hair, brown eyes, strong nose, etc... 

People idolize her for her beauty, saying that she's perfect.. 

Yet they say the same about Emma Watson..

With her light hair and button nose, she's completely opposite to Kim Kardashian.. Yet they're BOTH perfect visions of beauty?... Wait a minute.. So you're saying that to be beautiful we have to look like Kim Kardashian AND Emma Watson???.... Alrighty then...

Ladies and gentlemen, I think that due to the number of "perfect" celebrities who are supposedly the ideal example of physical beauty who we are constantly exposed to, us girls don't know which category of "beautiful" we fit in.

We might feel beautiful in one category, then go on to look at someone in a completely different category and think "Wow!.. They are so much more beautiful than me..."

What we don't get though is that there are very few people who actually look like Kim Kardashian, or Emma Watson... Furthermore, beauty on the outside only gets you so far... The most beautiful features you could have are a sparkling personality, a loving heart, etc... These things will get you so much farther than perfect hair or a flawless fake tan... 

I admit that many times I feel a lot less than physically beautiful.. But I take pride in knowing that I have a kind heart, filled with love to share with anyone who is willing to take it!

I may wonder how any man could ever find me remotely attractive on the outside, but I know for a fact that I'll find one who thinks I'm absolutely gorgeous, both on the inside AND out!

Don't let the media's ideas of "perfection" make you feel like a potato... Because you're not!... You're an absolute peach!

So yeah.. That's what I dislike most about being a girl.. The fact that we're all made to feel average and potato-like by the media... 

It's really late, and I don't know how good of a post this was, but at least it's better than nothing!

XOXOXO


Elysse

All I need is you, so take all of me...

Lord, I come to you tonight in total awe of your grace and power..

I have done nothing, nor could I ever do anything, to deserve the blessings which you unceasingly pour upon me.

You've changed my life for the better... You've broken my chains and given me the strength to spread my wings and fly to places I never knew existed... Why?

Tonight I felt your presence as a hundred people lifted their hands and voices in continuous praise.
"Here I am Lord, consume me." they cried... "Take all of me."
I pray that I will never forget that sound, because I've never heard one so beautiful.

Tears and knees hit the floor as we prayed.. All asking the general question, "Lord, empty me of myself so that I can be filled with you."

How is it that you are able to make a room filled with strangers, feel like a room filled with family? Perhaps it's because we all share the same heavenly father..

You turned what could have been an ordinary day into one of revival, and of profound beauty and passion...

I do not possess the ability to be nearly as thankful as I should be... I honestly don't think anybody does.

There's not a language in existence equipped with the proper words to describe your greatness. 

 I ask that you will help me keep this fire inside of my heart kindled until the day that I see your face.

Lord, you are my greatest desire.. Without you I am nothing, and to be with you means everything. 

Though I may stumble daily, all I truly want is to please you.

Please take all the selfishness, ungratefulness, and imperfection from my heart, and replace it... Replace it with you, and all that you are.

All I need is you, Lord... So take all of me.

 

 

Yeah, about that...

Alrighty, so it's really late and I'm incredibly sleepy due to literally not sleeping a wink last night (another story for another sleepless night haha!), but before I go to bed I wanted to give everyone reading this a heads up about what's going on with my Youtube channel... 

I have the channel set up for the most part, and I filmed a video to edit... That's where the problem is.. You see, the editing program on the computer I'm having to use (since videos will for some reason not upload on my own ancient computer..) isn't suitable for editing HD videos, so I'm not able to edit with it... And there's nothing else that I can use at the moment. I spend three hours trying to get it to work with the Youtube editor, but all attempts failed miserably... 

I will get a video up as soon as I possibly can! I swear from the bottom of my pinky!... That made absolutely no sense, I am aware.. Ha ha ha!

If you don't believe that I really tried editing, here's proof.. Kind of... 

 

 P.S... Check out these adorable sushi erasers that I found at Target the other day! I'm just a bit obsessed to say the least... ;)

Hugs and sparkles! <3 <3 <3

~Elysse~

My New Years Wish For You...

Hello, you!

As you've probably noticed, it is now 2013... We're now back to the very first page of the calender.

You can be sure that the year will be filled with many ups and downs, but what fun is a roller coaster if it's always on the same level?... What matters is that you're moving FORWARD!

My wish for you this year, is that you spend it being the best YOU you can possibly be...

I wish that you'll always see the positive, and not the negative, and that you will always have a smile on your face!

I hope that you discover a whole new world full of marvelous things, and that you take every opportunity to explore it!

Know that the most beautiful thing that you can do is be yourself, and be proud.. Not just of yourself, but of everybody around you who has done something to be the least bit proud of!

Reach out a hand to someone you don't usually associate with.. You never know what that person could be going through that your beautiful smile could help them survive and thrive!

 Treat everybody you meet with love, and much respect... Share with them some of the happiness and inspiration that you possess in your heart!

May all your days be filled with sunshine, and when the clouds come, may you have the courage to dance in the rain!

HUGE... HUGS!

And Happy New Year! 

XOXOXOXO

Elysse

"B-A-R-B-I-E" photography and update!

 Hey girls, and guys!

Today I wanted to test out my new camera, so I made some calls and got a very famous lady to come and be my main subject! ;)

Check them out and tell me what you think!

Then at the bottom you can read a little update on my life. If you're interested that is!

That's not dust, that's nostalgia!

See this hand? Yep, this one... Talk to it.

***Update***

Alright, so I know that I haven't been posting very much lately... Okay, I haven't posted AT ALL lately.... The reason for this, besides the fact that I believe I've lost my ability to create a decent blog post, is that I have been taking some time to explore and rebuild the foundation of my life...

A lot of things are changing for me at the moment, and I decided that I needed to spread my roots so that the ground that's dissolving under my feet won't hurt as much.

In this time I have done some things that I thought I would never posses the confidence, or power to do...

I've begun to rebuild me relationship with my family, and I've made many amazing new friends...

The most exciting thing for me, is that I've started going to a new church on Friday nights. I'm not going to get too much into detail about it, but I will say that I love it.. Like, a lot. 
Now, the thing about this church, is that it's a church where mostly Korean people attend... Does that sound crazed? My bad, I didn't know how else to word it.
If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll probably know that I'm learning to speak Korean, and that I will be traveling there for me senior trip.. So going to this church and being around so many native Korean speakers has been absolutely amazing!

Being surrounded be people who share the same interests as me and further more, don't think I'm a freak (at least they don't act like they do.. Muahahaha!),    has made a huge difference in the way I view myself... I no longer feel like the weird chick who sits in a corner by herself listening to Korean music... I'm a HUMAN BEING with unique tastes! Tastes that I now know I'm not the only person in the world with!

Two years ago if you'd have asked me to go to a new place, all by myself, with tons of strangers, I would have laughed in your face... But truth be told, I've only gone with a friend one time in the month I've been going.

Maybe this is dangerous, but I've kind of taken this place and mentally said "Here, you're a part of my life now."... The people there may not know about this yet, but they'll find out eventually! ;)

 This past month has given me so much to be thankful for! As well as so much to look forward to, and so much to be inspired by!

Knowing that I can actually use the Korean that I learn, is a lot motivating than "Well, I'll learn it now so that I can use it...erm... sometime in the future..."!

Anyways, I guess it's also a change that I turned a year older on the third!... I don't think I blogged about that at all haha. 

The funniest thing happened Christmas morning! I got a camera, as you may know, and my Mom didn't want me to be able to guess what I got so she wrapped the memory card in a smoke detector box... 

Once I opened it, I was more confused than I had ever been. I also thought it was hilarious, so I laughed ridiculously hard and ended up crying. Later on that day I cried even harder when my Mom was on the phone with my aunt telling her what had happened! 

"I couldn't even cry when I opened my real present because I was already crying!" was what I told my Mom afterwords.

Here is a picture my Mom got in the middle of a laughing/crying fit! 

 

 About that camera... I've pretty much not put it down since I opened it.

He has a name.. It's Bae.

I'm so excited to be able to make youtube videos now! I'm actually in the midst of uploading my first one now! I will be posting it on here as soon as it's finished!

I'm currently in the middle of about three hilarious conversations with my cousin, Jess...  I'm sending the link to this post to her, so I know she's reading this... I LOVE YOU, JESS!  YOU"RE THE MOST AWESOMETASTIC COUSIN IN THE HISTORY OF MARS!... Which is apparently where we're both from.

 We're sitting here texting each other ridiculous derp faces... Can you believe that?

Anyways, that's pretty much what I've been up to!

I'm planning on having some kind of giveaway in the near future, so you should check back often! ;)

How did you spend your Christmas? Are there any special Christmas traditions that your family has? 

Comment below along with your blog url, and I'll promote you on the blog, as well as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr!

Stay sparkly!

XOXOXO

Elysse! <3