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  

Special announcement!

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

I've got a big announcement to make!

For Christmas this year I got a new camera with HD video... I've been wanting to start vlogging for a long time now, but never had a decent camera to do it with... But now I do, so I am going to start focusing on vlogging!

I love blogging, but recently it's been extremely difficult to express my feelings with mere words... I'm not saying I'm never going to blog again, but I am most likely going to be posting a good deal less.

I haven't yet set up my channel, but when I do you'll be the first to know!

I'm also planning on creating a new blog (That is if my youtube channel is fairly successful), and gradually transitioning to posting on there as apposed to this little blog.

I hope the rest of your day is filled with sunshine and jingle bells! ;)

XOXOXO

Elysse

Thirty days.

Hello, you!

As usual I haven't written in a while, but I'm writing now so lets forget about that and talk about what's been happening lately..Because it's incredible.

Remember when I posted a little while ago about "accepting myself"?
When I said that I despised being so shy, and that I didn't understand where I was supposed to be?

Wanna guess what happened?

Well...I don't know why...or how...but once again, God set everything straight!

I'm not going to go into detail about what happened since this isn't the main topic of this post, but long story short, last weekend I was put in a situation that completely changed my attitude.
It inspired me, motivated me, and taught me that I'm not as "weird" and alone as I used to think I was!

I cannot express how amazed I am at this revelation... I feel like the train track of my life has been switched over, and my train is now carrying me towards my destiny... A destiny which is greater than I could ever imagine.

Anyways, on to the main topic!

A while ago I discovered TED talks, and since then I have become just a little but obsessed with them. ;)

I'm watching one now as a matter of fact!

One of my favorite talks of all time is "Try Something New For 30 Days." by Matt Cutts.

In this talk he explains how life changing it could be to try doing things you've always wanted to do for a period of thirty days... Though, you probably could have guessed that by the title.

The coolest thing about what he's saying, is that it's the absolute truth!

You CAN write a book in thirty days! You CAN make big changes, in just thirty days!

The problem with most people is that we're too lazy to get up and TRY... Maybe there's a hint of fear of the change that could come out of trying.

Before I say anything else, take a look at the video of which I speak!

Did ya watch it? What do you think? Cool right?

Monday was my Birthday, and the first thing I thought about when I woke up that morning was how I've been on the earth for another 365 days... And how my life has changed in those days.

Then I decided that the best way to do great things, is to start now... So I'm starting now.. That is, first thing tomorrow, because I'm dead tired at the moment. ;)

What am I challenging myself to do for thirty days?

1. Study Korean for at least an hour a day.

2. Study the bible an hour more^

3. Draw one thing every day.

4. Learn how to read music.

That's pretty much it!

Now it's your turn! What will you challenge yourself to do for the next thirty days?

XOXOXO

Elysse

 

Hey you!... You're lovely(:

Hello you!

I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you some things that you may not already know... Even though you should!

I want to start by saying, you are incredibly beautiful!

Every single thing about you is stunning!

Your smile, which shows the world that you are stronger than your struggles... The one that makes strangers stop and say "Wow!"... The one that is hopelessly contagious... Yep, you have an amazing smile! 

Your eyes, that twinkle like stars in the clear autumn sky.. Their warmth welcomes people from clear across the room to come take a better look.. They're incredible!

So you don't like your nose... Maybe you think you're a little to "curvy", or that your skin is too flawed...

Don't even worry about those things, because I guarantee that they're a lot more noticeable to you than anyone else! People are always to critical about themselves. Step away from the mirror a bit and examine yourself as a whole person... A whole beautiful, talented, amazing person!

Do you know that someone out there loves you for all the things you hate about yourself?

It's true! 

I do!(:

Second... Your personality and uniqueness..

Where do I even start here?

It would take me forever to list all the wonderful things that make your personality... Well, yours!

Maybe you can talk to anybody as if you've known them for years... That's beautiful.

On the other hand maybe you're shy... That's just as beautiful!

Go getter, procrastinator, Inspirer, wallflower... Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

Sometimes we don't appreciate ourselves enough... 

We wish we were more outgoing, or more peppy.

When really, out personalities shine just as much as those who have those attributes!

Let's not forget your special abilities!

Maybe you're an artist, such as myself.

Or maybe you're super smart!

Can you dance? Sing? Learn? Memorize? 

Do you love babysitting, writing, fashion, etc?

I'm 100% positive that if I were to meet you I would be thoroughly impressed with all your talents!

I realize this entire post has been scattered around and written without much grammatical attention.. That's because I have to use all my focus to find the right words to explain how amazing you are!... 

I still wasn't able to do that by the way. ;)

Wherever you are, wherever you've been... YOU are an incredible, special, talented human being!

You were put here to sparkle, and you have a purpose!

You are loved by so many people, even some you don't realize!

Did you feel that?

It was the gigantic hug I've just sent directly to your location!

Perhaps now you should spread that love, no?

Have a perfect night/day!

Hugs, hugs, and more hugs!!!

Elysse<3 

OOTD November 4th

I've come to the realization that I'm not very good at this blogging thing. 

Once again, I've been MIA for a few weeks... Sorry for that!

Here's an OOTD to make up for being a bad blogger!

P.S. Yes, I really do need to clean my mirror! Ha ha ha!

Today I layered my favorite lace tank (brand unknown) over a plane white cami (VS).

Over that I wore my favorite cold weather sweater (Kohls), a scarf (Brand unknown), and my favoritest necklace of owl time-Oops, I mean ALL time... How could I have made that mistake?

Oh, also.. I wore pants too. Dark wash jeggings from Kohls to be exact!

                         

               

Favorite vintage necklace that was given to me by my Grandmother! I almost literally wear it with everything!

 I topped this outfit off with my favorite scent ever, Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger! 

As far as shoes go, I wore a pair of black knee high boots with this outfit. I don't have a picture of those. (:

So the articles of clothing that have graced my body this lovely autumn day! 

Hope your day has been incredible!!!! <3

Hugs!

XOXOXO

Elysse 

Happy Tears......

Happy tears... 

As human beings, we tend to be emotional. 

There are many types of emotions.... Sadness, anger, frustration...

Many times emotions can lead to tears.

We find it so easy to cry tears of sorrow, but what about tears of happiness?

What about tears of joy, liberation, appreciation....?

Last week I had an eye opening experience... 

For the first time in years, I found myself sobbing... Not sad tears, but happy tears. 

Before I tell you exactly what lead to those tears that night, I'll tell you about a time when sad tears were a very frequent visitor in my life...

Now I'm not going to go too much into details about this, because there's a whole other post telling this story (You can read that by clicking here , but I'll tell you enough so that you can hopefully understand a bit of what I went through...

From the time I was born, until a few years ago, I went to the same warm country church... The kind of church where people genuinely care about you, and aren't afraid to let you know... As a homeschooler, that church was pretty much my everything... My best friend was there, my Grandparents were there, everything was there... 

One day we left because there weren't a lot of kids at that church to make friends with... 

We started going to a huge, fancy church, with hundreds of attendees.

I liked it at first, but with the years, I realized how prejudiced most of the people were... 

I developed a fear of people. All people. I felt alone. I had no friends, I had grown apart from my family, and most importantly, I grew apart from God.

I felt like I was completely alone.

Nothing was right back then, and I felt like nothing would ever be. 

I didn't know what the reason was for me to wake up each day... 

Everything was falling apart. 

That lasted for about three years... Eventually, my family realized that this church wasn't going us any good... More the opposite. 

We started visiting other churches, but none of them felt right... None of them felt like home, and I knew they never would. 

We decided to try out original church again... Thank God!

The second I walked through those doors, I was welcomed back by the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of my childhood.... It felt like home.... It was home. 

That was the end of that, but last year, up to around Summer break this year, I went through another tunnel... 

This one was explainable. To this day I don't really know what to say about it... 

I was depressed again. I was mad at the world. My attitude was dreadful.

I hated my life.

I didn't want to accept the way things were. I didn't think about other people... 

I don't know how to explain... It was bad... That's all I can say.

Over summer break I had a chance to reevaluate my life, and boy did I!

I don't know what happened... It was like a switch had been flipped on in my heart! 

I was happy for the first time in about three years.

And happier and happier I got over the months...

Last month I was able to stop caring about what other people think about me, and let me tell you, it feels incredible. I don't know how I did this, I just suddenly forgot all the reasons I put other people on such a pedestal... 

Three weeks ago I started nurturing my relationship with my Lord... Whom I hadn't been close to for the longest time... 

Of all the changes that have happened this year, this change is the most unbelievable.... 

I have already developed such a passion for him, and getting as close to him as I possibly can... 

I have lost the ability to worry. I mean that. It's gone. Poof. 

I am now able to have complete faith that he has everything in my life figured out... Everything. So how could I worry? His plan is perfect.

After saying all that, this is the reason I found myself bawling last week...

For the first time in months I picked up my nearly empty diary... 

My heart was filled with so much joy, it all began to pour out in the form of neat cursive letters.... 

Then, I found myself writing this:

"I don't know what to say to explain how I feel right now... I am completely overwhelmed with happiness."

In the middle of that word, it hit me. 

Happiness....

I am happy.

Truly, genuinely, HAPPY.

That's when the tears started... Before I knew it I found myself on my knees, thanking God for letting me go through everything that I went through... Because without it, I wouldn't be the happy person that I am now!

Everything that happened hasn't just made me a happier person... It's helped me realize so many dreams that I was too blind to see before! 

One thing that I didn't mention before was that when I was going through the second hard time, I had my heart set on doing something that I wasn't meant to do. I cried over it, I tried to force it on God... It made me miserable. 

I describe it to people as being locked in a dark room, with just a flashlight to help me find my way.. I kept that flashlight aimed on one thing, that there was no possible way to get to.

Once I stopped trying to make things happen that weren't meant to happen, God opened my eyes to so much!

That thing I wanted to do was become a ballet dancer... 

Although I may not be a very good ballet dancer, and I will never be good enough to go pro... I realized that I don't have to be in a company to dance... I can still love it without being the worlds best dancer!

So maybe I can't do a perfect jete... I can learn dances from music videos in no time, and choreograph new ones! 

After I found my way out of the tunnel I was in, I discovered talents and hobbies that I never would have imagined I would get into!

There are so many things I want to do now, that I don't know when I'm going to have time to do them all!

I understand 100% now that I wasn't born to dance... I was born to inspire people!

I was born to be an artist, and to use my art to make people smile!

Another thing that hit me recently... 

Before I thought about it, I thought that everyone probably has gone through things like I did by the time they  were my age.... But after talking to several people, I realize that that's not the case... 

Then it struck me....

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.

The more I think about it, the more sense it makes!

Making people smile is one of my greatest passions... I live to inspire people, and to share the joy that inhabits me with them! 

Nothing makes me feel better then knowing that I've helped somebody through a hard day.... Nothing... Not even when I finish my best drawing... Though I admit that does come close sometimes!

God gave me a story, and I love to share it! 

It makes so much sense to me!

But even if that's not the profession God picked for me, I will continue to share my story, and inspire people to the best of my ability!

So basically, the point of this post was to say that sometimes, our scars end up the most beautiful, valuable things we have!

Keep the faith, and if you don't already see them.... One day you'll find all the reasons to cry happy tears, instead of sad tears!

XOXOXOXO

Elysse<3