Random Life-y Things, Too Sentimental, and EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016


Hello lovelies!!!

So, I'm going to be completely honest with you here- I don't have a TON to talk about, BUT, I have some really exciting announcements, so I wanted to share!!!

First off (basically the most exciting thing EVER)...*drumroll*... I'm guest posting on Abbie's blog today!!!! Honestly guys, I am SO INSANELY EXCITED about this!! Abbie is one of my best blogging friends, and her blog is one of my absolute favorites! So, when she asked me to guest post for her, I completely slightly freaked out. We're chatting about exploration and theatre, expectation vs. reality, all kinds of exciting things!!! I love how the post turned out, so it would mean a ton if you would go and check that out here!!

In other exciting news, I'm now on Twitter! So, if you're interested in checking that out, you can do so here! (@Totally_Graced) I can't promise that I'll be too entertaining because..well, I'm me, but if you happen to want to read a strange, sarcastic narration of my life, then you should check it out!

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Moving on to the life-y updates, things have been a strange mix of busy and relaxed around here. We've had a decent amount going on, but since it's fun stuff it hasn't felt super stressful, which is always nice. I'm actually in the middle of renovating my bedroom, which has been fun! We started the painting yesterday, and it's going pretty well. Not going to lie, in the days leading up to painting I almost had multiple panic attacks over it, because changing things realllllllly stresses me out. Like, it's bad. My walls have been the same for seven and a half years now (longer than that but it was my sister's room back then), so I was kind of freaking out a little over changing them. I'm such a sentimental person, guys. It's bad. One day I'm probably going to end up on Hoarders because of it. 

Anyways, back to the room renovation. I've been taking some photos of the process, and hopefully I'll end up putting together a big post for you all! I'm pretty excited with how it's going to turn out- I can't wait to show you!!

Yesterday was also a very exciting day, because I FINALLY FINISHED GEOMETRY!!!! Y'all have no idea how relieved I am. (Well, you probably do. I've been ranting about geometry on here for weeks.) I'm so glad to finally be FREE! Math is so evil. 


Now with math out of the way, I have lots of time to read! I seem to be really into spy books, recently. The last book that I read, A School For Unusual Girls, involved spies (read my review here!), and the book I'm currently reading, The Princess Spy, is pretty good so far. I'm only about a third of the way through, but so far I've been enjoying it. If it's really good, I might review it on here.

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That's about all that's been going on around here. Now it's your turn- what have you been up to lately? Let me know down in the comments!! 





Book Review- A School For Unusual Girls

Sunday, June 26, 2016


this post may contain affiliate links

A week or so ago, my mom and my sisters went to the library. I can't remember what I was doing at the time, I think I might have been at a graduation party. Anyways, they came home with a gigantic haul of books. When I was looking through them, my mom pointed out one that she thought I would like- A School for Unusual Girls. It looked pretty interesting, so I decided to read it.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I loved it.

I didn't just read this book, I devoured it. I always read before I go to sleep, and I think that this book only took me two nights, three max. I honestly couldn't put it down, I was dying to read more. I don't recommend reading this book if you have a ton to do- you probably won't knock off everything on your to-do list!

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A School For Unusual Girls takes place in Europe in the early 1800's, as Napoleon is exiled on Elba. Georgiana, commonly known as Georgie, (I've never been super fond of that name for some reason) is being taken to Stranje House, a "finishing school for young ladies" that, according to rumors, is more like a torture chamber. All because she accidentally lit her father's barn on fire. Goodness, how some people overreact. 

After being left at Stranje House, however, Georgie soon begins to realize that nothing is quite like it seems. Stranje House is no torture chamber, but it isn't your typical finishing school, either. It's a place full of many secrets and dangers, mysteries and romance. And the real reason that the girls are here may end up putting all of their lives at risk. 

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There are two things in life that I really love. Books, and lists. SO, a combination of the two in basically perfect!!

Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first and do the cons-

CONS:

1. Okay, so y'all know that I love romance. Hallmark movies are a constant thing in my house, and I absolutely adore a good romance in a novel. What's better than two shippable characters? The romances in this book were really cute, but occasionally it was just... I don't even know how to describe it. Stilted? Awkward? When the main character sees a guy she likes, one of the first things that pops into her mind is how beautiful his eyes are. Note that this took place in a situation when the attractiveness of someone's eyes really wouldn't be the first thing on your mind. At another point, someone randomly says, "You wanted to kiss me just now, didn't you?" I don't know, it just felt a little..forced sometimes? And then other times it was adorable. It was kind of bizarre. 

2. I wish that there had been a bit more development in some of the other girls at the school. I was super interested in them and was dying to hear more of their stories. I know that there's a sequel, and hopefully some more books after that, so I have my fingers crossed for more development.

3. Honestly I just wish that there had been more development in general. I suppose reading the second book will help. (My library doesn't have it yet. Grr.) If you didn't know there was a sequel, though, I think that you would step away from the book a little frustrated. Not that it was horribly confusing or anything, I just wanted to know more. 

Aaaaaand the pros! 

PROS:

1. HISTORICAL FICTION!! When it's done right, I loveeeeeeeee historical fiction. So much. And this definitely falls under the category of historical fiction done right. 

2. 19th century sass. Like, there was a whole scene where Georgie climbed a tree, so she hiked up her skirt a little, and then as she was attempting to come down, one of the male characters came outside and she was absolutely horrified about him seeing her leg. That whole scene was just hilarious. 

3. The characterssss. Oh my gosh. The book is full of all of these girls who are strong and brilliant and just absolutely fascinating. The headmistress, Ms. Stranje, is amazing as well; I'm dying to hear more of her story.

4. It's a very clean book. So if you're someone who's super careful about what you read, this book is a good choice.

5. You're constantly dying to know what is going to happen next. This book is so gripping, and I loved that about it. Like I said, I honestly couldn't put it down!

6. Everyone is so MYSTERIOUS. Like, there's one girl who has dreams about what's going to happen in the future, and one girl with Sherlock-like deductive skills, one girl has mad science skills, and someone has crazy control over animals. These girls are SO COOL.

7. I'm recommending it and since my taste in books is obviously impeccable you should totally read it. (Kidding. But you should still read it.)

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Well, what are you waiting for?? Go pick up a copy of this book! Before you do though, leave me a comment below! Have you read this book before? Did you like it? What have you been reading lately? Any good book recommendations? Let's chat!!!


The Music Tag!!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016


Throwback to when I actually had time to do photography


Happy National Music Day!! My awesome blogger friend, Aaliyah, created an awesome music tag in honor of today, and I'm super excited to do it! So without further ado, let's get into the tag!

Rules:
1. Thank the person who tagged you and include a link to their blog (bc it's just the nice thing to do)
2. Answer the questions asked below
3. Tag 5+ bloggers and let them know
4. Add your own question to the end of the tag for your nominees to answer and answer it yourself (optional, but fun)
5. Include these rules in your post

Well, thanks for tagging me, Aaliyah!! Here we go! 

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1. Do you play any instruments?

Piano! I started when I was seven, and although I don't take lessons anymore (I just didn't have time!), I still like to play. I really want to learn to play guitar as well!

2. What is your favorite music genre?

I CAN'T JUST PICK ONE!!! I'd have to say that it's between acoustic-type music like Ed Sheeran or Broadway/soundtracks. Those are honestly pretty much all that I listen to, to be completely honest. xD

3. Is there a music genre you absolutely cannot stand?

Opera. I hate it with a fiery burning passion. 

4. What is your favorite way to listen to music? (CD, MP3, Vinyl, Radio, etc)

Um, every possible way? I tend to listen to most music on my phone or laptop, just because that's where I have all of my music, and I can pull up whatever I want to listen to on YouTube. I'm also a big fan of Pandora, which I have on my phone, so I use that a lot. I've always thought it would be cool to listen to music on vinyl, but I've never owned a player. And let's be real, one of the best ways to play music is blasting it while in the car. The best singalongs happen when in the car!!

5. Top three favorite bands/singers?

AALIYAH THIS IS HARD. Ed Sheeran, definitely. Shocker I know.  See I listen to a ton of musicals so I'm struggling. Okay okay I can't just pick three. Birdy, Jasmine Thompson, Jeremy Jordan, Journey, Laura Osnes. The casts of Wicked, Hamilton, Bonnie and Clyde, Newsies, Les Mis. SO MANY.  

6. What are your three favorite chords?

...I really don't know. I'm sorry, Aaliyah!

7. What is your favorite song because of what it means to you?

Oh my gosh, and here I thought that #5 was hard! In the genre of Christian music, either Oceans or This Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham. I also adore Try by Colbie Caillat, and Lego House by Ed Sheeran is just my favorite song of all time, hands down. I feel like there are more, but I'm blanking at the moment. 

8. (My question!!) What is your current favorite song? 

Even my own questions are hard! I feel like all I do is ramble about musical theatre songs, so I'll pick something a little different- 7 Years, by Lukas Graham. :)
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My nominees:

Aaaaand, YOU!! Please, do this tag!! If you do, let me know in the comments!!

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Thank you again for nominating me, Aaliyah! I hope you all enjoyed this! Now it's your turn! Either answer these questions, or answer them in the comments!

Weekly Wrap-Up

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Hello, lovelies! How is everyone doing? I hope you're all enjoying summer- I know that I am! (Not that my love for summer is obvious or anything...psh.) It feels like time is flying by, with craziness even during the summer. I love it though- summer craziness is much more enjoyable than the craziness that seems to ensue during the school year!

This week has been fairly busy, but it's been a fun one. Lots of time with friends, which is always good. Some not-so-fun stuff as well, though, like geometry and events that I'd really rather skip. XD Oh well- that's life!!

Heh, so, funny story. I went to a sleepover on Friday night, and we didn't fall asleep until around 6 a.m. I had a blast, but apparently I need more than two hours of sleep. Anyways, sometime before dinner I went up to my room and ended up passing out. When my family woke me up for dinner, I was 100% convinced it was the next morning and could not understand why everyone kept telling me to make myself a sandwich. Then when my family was finally able to convince me that it was nighttime, I became convinced that I'd slept a day and a half. XD I was honestly so confused for at least ten or fifteen minutes, and my family was concerned that I'd gone off the deep end. Yay for awkward Grace Anne stories.

Also in the range of sleepover stories, we attempted to put a rain cover over our tent. Let's just say, when you're all a foot shorter than the tent, it doesn't go too well. It's an adventure, to say the least. XD

Made Me Smile:

Coffee dates with friends <3

Fun ballet classes involving barre work to Lion King music!

THE TONY'S!!!!!!!!!! They were literally the best. If you watched them I love you.

Bonfires and sleepovers and fun.

Ugh:

Geometry. I just cannot seem to finish it to save my life. It's killing me. I'm hoping to finish it this week.

Geometry

Geometry

Did I mention geometry?

Loving:

Warm, sunny days

The Fault In Our Stars. I just watched it for the first time, WITHOUT CRYING! I was so proud XD

Finally having time to READ again!

I slept in a tent for the first time and didn't die. Was pretty proud of that as well. XD

Pinning:


I save way too many home decor pins and I'm not even sorry. 


Um, total hair goals right there.


This story absolutely cracked me up!!


*insert heart eye emojis*


I love the idea of filling clear balloons with glitter! If I work up the nerve to have a Sweet Sixteen, I'll totally do that. 

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How was YOUR week??

Summer 2016 Bucket List

Thursday, June 16, 2016


~ Summer 2016 Bucket List~

// Go to the lake!
// Have a water balloon fight
// Get further into my novel
// TURN 16!!
// Go shopping with friends
// Eat way too much ice cream
// Redo my bedroom
// ^ Have a painting party with friends in the process
// Take a million photos
// Read constantly
// Journal
// Finally watch the Harry Potter movies
// Become super flexible
// Play piano more often
// Go on picnics
// Be a bit more social than usual ; )
// Chalk my hair
// Letter a wooden sign for above the mantle for my mom
// Be more spontaneous
// Go swing dancing
// Have a water gun battle
// Do temporary tattoos
// Make lemonade
// Learn to cook (My mom says it's necessary. I might burn the house down.)
// Watch the Hunger Games movies
// Have sleepovers
// Wear less makeup
// Make homemade ice cream
// Create my photo wall
// Play games outside in the pitch black
// Make s'mores
// Work on upgrading my blog
// Go to the giant book sale
// Have game nights
// Finally be semi-tan (aka a shade darker than being basically sheet white. Porcelain foundation is too dark sometimes. It's bad.)
// Write letters
// Make jewelry
// Start working on Christmas presents NOW
// Hand letter
// Bake more often
// Finish planning a big blog surprise for you all;)
// Do a photoshoot
// Enjoy the half-off milkshakes at Steak 'n Shake
// Go to see a musical
// Sleep in
// MAKE LOTS OF WAFFLES
// Catch fireflies
// Build a blanket fort
// Eat tons of watermelon
// Make smoothies
// Create chalk art
// Attempt to paint
// Cut my hair (JUST A LITTLE LIKE TWO INCHES)
// Watch Hallmark movies
// Enjoy life

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I honestly love summertime so much. It's my favorite time of the year, by far. Having a break from crazy schedules and the evils of math is basically the best thing ever. I'm already enjoying it- I wish it would never end. <3 What do you want to do this summer?











Summer Days // Doughnut Adventures

Friday, June 10, 2016


Let's be real- doughnuts are basically little beautiful circles of happiness. The different kinds of doughnuts are basically limitless, and it's pretty hard to find a bad doughnut. I see no cons in this situation.

(If you're currently in the midst of the no-sugar challenge, I'M SORRY. I'm weak. I can't.)

There's this really cool place near to where I live where you can build your own doughnuts, and we've been wanting to go for forever. Now that we've finally had our schedules calm down a bit, we decided to head on over! We were hoping to do some shopping nearby as well, but there weren't as many shops nearby as we had hoped. We visited my uncle and my papa at work though, so that was fun!


Before I start talking about the doughnuts, though, can we have a moment of appreciation for this purse? IT'S AN OWL. I'm obsessed, guys. Like, how cute is that?


Also, for all of you who lean toward the healthier side of things, a photo of some bright colorful veggies that I snapped during out Aldi run!

Now, to the doughnuts.



Basically how it worked was you were given a little form to fill out, to build your doughnuts. The base of all the doughnuts is a basic cake doughnut, and you then get to choose an icing and a topping. There were literally so many options that you could try, it was incredible.

Since it was our first time, we decided to get a dozen so that we could try lots of different kinds. I have to say that my personal favorite would have to be chocolate with chocolate chips, although chocolate with Reese's pieces is definitely a close second!


Obviously I didn't mind the sprinkle too much either.


In conclusion? Doughnuts make the world go round.

p.s. Shoutout to my sister for being an epic photographer and capturing my awkwardness for the world to see. You rock.

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So, let's have a lovely doughnut discussion! What's YOUR favorite kind of doughnut?? Have YOU ever built your own doughnut? Do YOU agree that doughnuts make the world go round?? Let's chat!!






99 Things That I Learned From Sophomore Year

Monday, June 6, 2016


Ah, Sophomore year. It's had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of crazy. Lots of good and lots of bad. But I can honestly say that it was one of the best years yet. Which is kind of funny, because things didn't go perfectly, not by FAR. But sometimes I guess the good can outweigh the bad. It helps when you have some incredibly awesome friends with you. I learned a lot this year. Here's a peek. 

1. Musicals make life better (but I already knew that)
2. Use the planner. Just use it.
3. New York is simultaneously an incredible and terrifying place.
4. Anatomy is evil.
5. As are dissections. But having a guy friend helps a lot.
6. Time management is the most important thing ever.
7. Just be yourself. It's so much easier.
8. Dabbing gets old xD 
9. People can seem really great but end up being really toxic.
10. The hardest part about novel writing is just starting.
11. Literally no one cares if you don't wear makeup, so if you want to go without it, go without it.
12. Prom is 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000x more fun without a date
13. Sometimes you get put in a super overwhelming situation like TEACHING A DANCE CLASS and you freak out but then it turns out to be really fun.
14. When you find people who actually help you to feel MORE confident, you know they're the right people.
15. Mexican food can solve an abundance of problems.
16. Ordering Starbucks is a terrifying experience but frappuccinos are worth it.
17. VSCO is a lifesaver.
18. Talk less. Smile more. Yes I'm quoting Hamilton but it's actually really good advice.
19. Life is short. Eat the chocolate.
20. Don't stress yourself out over silly things. It's not worth it.
21. Non-tapered curling wands are glorious.
22. Don't procrastinate. I still haven't completely learned that lesson BUT I'M TRYING.
23. Social media isn't usually worth the time.
24. People aren't half as critical of you as you are of yourself.
25. The best kind of friends are those that you can call five times in the same day and they don't kill you.
26. Change isn't always horrible.
27. Dress codes are honestly the worst.
28. Laughter really is the best medicine.
29. Some people are going to be rude no matter what. Just ignore them
30. Write it down. Write everything down. You're gonna want to remember.
31. Some things you just can't change. Accept it.
32. Wash your hands. It's always a good decision.
33. Graduations can be happy and depressing at the exact same time.
34. Enjoy life more than you stress about it. 
35. If you've wanted to do something for ages, just do it. 
36. Hand lettering is super therapeutic.
37. Reach out. New people can be really cool.
38. Put birthdays on your calendar and get them a gift. Text them. Make them feel special.
39. Hide your phone from yourself. You'll get a lot more done.
40. Compliments are easy to give and you can make someone's day. 
41. Texting makes things confusing. Talk face to face. 
42. Waffles are better than pancakes. 
43. Just because you don't get to be a part of something that you wanted to be a part of, the world isn't over.
44. Start your graduation gifts in September. Trust me. 
45. Do the extra credit.
46. Boy Meets World is never a bad decision.
47. There's a Bible verse for everything. 
48. Stay hydrated. It's a good decision.
49. Likewise, don't forget to eat. This seems semi obvious but you wouldn't believe how often I do it. xD
50. Don't be scared of everything. You'll miss out.
51. Listen more than you talk.
52. If you stress yourself out to the point of feeling sick, it's probably not worth it. 
53. Putting just a little more effort into how you look can completely boost your mood/confidence.
54. Embrace craziness.
55. Be thoughtful.
56. High school relationships are stupid.
57. Will it matter a year from now? Probably not.
58. Keep a list of all of those inside jokes. You'll want to remember them.
59. Bad days are just that- a day.
60. Eyeliner saves lives.
61. Nothing lasts forever. This can either be a really sad thing, or a REALLY good thing. 
62. Thinking about college is the most stressful thing e.v.e.r.
63. Don't just stick to people your age. People who are older than you or younger than you can be awesome.
64. Try something new.
65. Even if someone treats you like crap, don't sink to their level. Don't let there be anything that can be blamed on you. 
66. Stretch.
67. Some of the funniest memories can be created while doing almost nothing.
68. Don't stay at home all the time, even if you're an introvert. Push yourself. 
69. It is possible to sprint in heels if you want to badly enough. 
70. Yoga pants are the best idea.
71. You're never too old to dress up for Halloween.
72. Eat the donut.
73. Hand-written notes are better than a text any day.
74. Zyrtec is a good option when you're allergic to Christmas trees.
75. Take thousands of photos. Take photos of people. Take photos of the mundane. One day it won't be mundane, it will be a memory. 
76. It's okay to screw up sometimes
77. It's also okay to forget sometimes
78. Army jackets are always a great idea.
79. Don't be a to-doist 
80. Cannoli was sent straight from heaven. 
81. You can make it through any class for just a year.
82. Sometimes you've just gotta binge-watch.
83. Compare/Contrast essays will never be fun.
84. Jesus is enough when nothing else is. 
85. Pandora makes school bearable. (When you don't have Spotify)
86. There's a reason why people love Netflix.
87. Standardized tests are about as evil as it gets.
88. Cleaning your room also clears your mind.
89. Having a list of audition songs makes life easier.
90. Don't get behind on your schoolwork.
91. Get a good pair of sneakers.
92. Avoid fake people at all costs.
93. Happiness is a choice.
94. People are never as perfect as they seem to be.
95. High school is much more fun with a good friend by your side.
96. Sometimes you need to give people a second chance. But some people run out of chances.
97. You can have fun with almost anything if you just try.
98. Sleep when you're tired. You can finish that thing tomorrow. 
99. Life is short. Enjoy it.
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So, what are some of your takeaways from this year? Which of these points do you most relate to? I'd love for you to tell me in the comments. Also, my friend Rachel and I apparently share a brain, because we both are posting about what we've learned this year today. Plus she makes dabbing cute. Go check her out. 

Happy June!

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

.....June.

How in heaven's name is it already June?

School is coming to a close. The weather is warm, and shorts are the official uniform. Parties are being planned, pools are being splashed in. There are piles of books waiting to be read, and stories begging to be written. I just love it.

But how did it get here so quickly?

I feel like I blinked, and it went from forty degrees to eighty. From bare, dead trees to trees bursting with life. From piles and piles of schoolwork to grades being turned in and classes ending. It's honestly kind of bizarre. I know that the older you get, the more quickly that time seems to pass. Well, that's definitely the truth. Everything is absolutely flying by! I'm hoping that this summer doesn't fly by as well, because I really want to be able to enjoy it.

May was a strange month. Busy, but quieter. It was odd not to have days filled with rehearsals. I had two final exams, and I'm pretty sure that I did well on those. I'm almost done with school- all that's left is geometry and history. I cannot wait to finish those up and be able to fully enjoy summer!

Graduation was a few days ago, and I watched 10-12 people that I care about throw their caps in the air. That was definitely a bizarre feeling. I spent most of the day helping to set up for the reception, so I didn't have too much time to dwell on it (making over 600 kabobs is a bit of a distraction), but the reality of it is strange to think about. Going back to school without them is hard to wrap my mind around, but I'm convincing myself that it's going to be perfectly fine.

Some other highlights of May were senior recitals, a cast party, bunches of Starbucks runs, late night trips to go get custard (which is basically like ice cream and is incredible) while wearing a fancy dress and heels, getting my novel completely outlined, and bunches of other things that I can't remember right off. Aside from graduation, I have like, zero photos from May. Not exactly sure why. My mom and I were just discussing whether or not May actually existed. xD

June is going to hopefully be a quiet month. I don't have any major plans so far, but the plans that I do have are fun, so I'm currently looking forward to June. A couple of graduation parties, and I'm going to get to hang out with a good friend who I haven't had a chance to spend time with in ages. Aside from that, I'm hoping to just get to spend more time with some friends, and to finally get my life in order. I feel like I say that every single month, but since I'm almost finished with school, maybe I'll finally get to. My novel has been calling me- I need to get back to work on it!

Having this amount of free time is really exciting. I'm hoping to have lots of more time to blog! Not blogging as much over the past few months has been kind of annoying. Blogging almost became a chore for a while, but now I'm craving it. Hopefully I'll have lots of new posts for you all!!

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R E S O L U T I O N S

- - - - -

I didn't set many resolutions for May, nor did I keep up with them very well. So, here, let me show you all my shame. 

// Post 9 times - Nope. Try 7. Yay me. 

// Reach 50 followers  Complete!! Thank you all so much!!! <3 *sends hugs to everyone*

// Read 3 new books for fun - Well, I requested three books from the library! I only actually got around to reading one, though. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. I'm a huge Wendy Mass fan, but this book wasn't my absolute favorite of hers. It wasn't bad, just not my favorite. 

// Drink more water  I think that I did! I noticed that I definitely feel much better when I drink more water, too. 

// Get back into journaling - I really didn't. Hoping to do more of that this month. 

// Come up with some creative graduation gifts for friends  I have a post coming about this soon! I was really pleased with my graduation gifts. : ) 

// Post about prom!  You can see that post here

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J U N E

- - - - -

// Post 9 times. I WILL DO THIS EVENTUALLY.

// Read at least 5 books

// Get back into journaling

// Buy paint to redo my room

// Create a blog plan

// Start back on my novel again

// Finish geometry and history

// Finish up my photo project

// Organize my room

// Make a summer bucket list

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So, how do YOU feel about June? Any exciting plans coming up? What are YOU doing this summer? Did YOU have a good May? Let's chat in the comments below!!!







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