Welcome back to Thoughtful Thursday here on All Roads Lead To Nowhere! Let's talk about money, shall we? For our entire lives, this is the reason we slave away for eight hours a day. But it doesn't start here, it starts way back when we were kids. Time and time again, it was drilled into our heads that we need to get a good education, so that we can get a good job, so that we could make good money, so that we can live a good life. But as we all know, that money goes to pay off college debts, credit card bills, rent, gas, and much more. It isn't until we are old and retired that we have the time and money to do anything. But are you really going to live out your dreams - travel the world, skydive, swim with dolphins - when you're 80 years old? Stay with me, there is a point to all of this.
This post is absolutely contrary to the mantra that has been instilled in my mind since birth - save every penny, save every penny! But you know what I think? You can spend a bit here and there if it makes you happy! No, this doesn't mean go spend all your money on clothes, alcohol, and video games. Spend it on something that will broaden your horizons - see the world, try new things! I had to remember that when I went skydiving, or when I moved across the country to Walt Disney World. It was worth it because of the experience I was gaining! So go out there, spend a little cash (please, don't get yourself into debt) and do something you've never done before!
I had actually begun planning this before I created my bucket list, and it wasn't until yesterday that I finally completed this task. I teamed up with my good friends Jordan and Mollie to produce a mash up of Fix You by Coldplay and Beautiful by Christina Aguilera. It took a couple weeks for me to complete an arrangement, then a couple more weeks as Jordan and I figured out instrumentation and harmonies. We began by recording the instruments first, then I had to edit all of it. When this was done, we were able to record vocals, then I headed to my computer to edit some more.
On top of this, we decided to make a video to post on YouTube, which you can view HERE, or at the end of this post. In the beginning of this video, I explain our inspiration for doing this project, as well as our objectives. In a nutshell, Faith, Jordan's little sister, has a rare childhood autoinflammatory disease (CAID) called Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO), in addition to Juvenile Arthritis. She has had two collapsed vertebras and multiple lesions in her fibula, tibias, sacrum, and femurs. She has also gone through surgeries and radiation treatment. Yet despite all of this, she does not let her disease define her. She always displays a positive, optimistic countenance and is an inspiration to me.
Stop CAID Now is an organization founded by Lisa Moreno-Dickinson, a mother of two boys that suffer just like Faith. CAID is a general classification for 29 different, very rare childhood autoinflammatory diseases. To learn more about Stop CAID Now, visit the corresponding tab at the top of this page, or click HERE.
To help support this cause, purchase our cover song on Bandcamp.com HERE. All proceeds will benefit Stop CAID Now. Thank you!
They say it's the happiest place on earth, but I used to only imagine fanny packs, sweaty parents, and spoiled children. Of course I watched my share of Disney movies as a child, but I was never "raised on Disney", I guess you could say. Plus, I knew all my money would be going toward college, so I never raised my hopes about going to Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
Then the Disney College Program came along - an opportunity where I can advance my education, work, and enjoy the parks here in Orlando! After a few days of check-in and training, I finally had my orientation yesterday, which was technically my first day of work. You know what that means?! We got our park passes, so today we hit up Magic Kingdom!
I didn't get to the park until a bit after noon, but I was able to ride the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Roller coasters are definitely my thing, so Space Mountain is currently my favorite attraction. I was also able to experience the infamous jumbo turkey leg and pineapple dole whip. I wasn't able to finish the turkey leg, but I'm sure the caloric intake was still ridiculous.
But my views of the Disney parks have definitely changed. The experience there truly is magical, and I couldn't help but smile the entire time! It is definitely something that takes time in order to have the full experience, which is why tomorrow night after work, we're hitting up Hollywood Studios!
This is where I'll be working for the next four months!
To read more about my Disney College Program, visit my secondary blog HERE.
I have recently learned that travelling often is not just an indicator of a good job and plenty of money. It is a necessary activity in each of our lives, for if we do not explore the world in which we live, we will remain ignorant forever. When I was younger, I had only explored the tiny northwest corner of the United States. I had no desire to go elsewhere because I had seen all the pictures, heard all the stories, and googled all the necessary information. Somehow, I was conditioned to be content with my ignorance of other cultures. And not only that, but you don't notice this ignorance until you break free of it altogether.
Once I went off to college, I noticed this ignorance as I simultaneously discovered a world of possibility. I cant help this thirst for knowledge - I want to learn the languages, immerse myself in the cultures, and see all the sights with my own eyes! To start of this life-long adventure, I am exploring my own country. Orlando, the top tourist destination on this earth. Each day, I will have the opportunity to visit with people from around the world, people who have experienced what I yearn to experience. And hopefully, by the end of these four months, I will know what part of this beautiful planet I want to explore next.
So once a year, go someplace you've never been before, not because you have the money to do so, but because you are curious and have a never-ending desire to learn.
Last Friday, my friend Dezi and I went to the Taste of Edmonds. Ever since 1983, the city of Edmonds has been hosting this popular festival. There are tons of food booths, live music, activities, and vendors. I can remember going to this festival as a kid, so there were many deja vu moments. I indulged in a snow cone and a chocolate-sprinkle coated ice cream bar. Mmmm! We also hit up the Washington Lottery booth to try our luck on a few scratch tickets. There were no winners, but that's gambling for ya! Although Dez seemed to enjoy scratching the ticket until there was nothing left to scratch, so she was content! Because I'm going to be out of state for the next few years, I may not be able to go to the Taste of Edmonds anytime soon, so I'm glad I was able to make the most of this day!
By the way, I am officially living in Orlando, Florida as of this morning! If you'd like to read more about this, visit my Disney College Program blog HERE!
A YouTube challenge is a simple game that vloggers do with friends - in this case, the baby food challenge! All you need is a blindfold and an assortment of baby food. It works best if half the flavors are good and the other half, not as pleasant. Add some challenge to the game by including a baby food that contains multiple foods! Dez and I referred to this type as "a meal". One person is blindfolded while the other feeds them a spoon full of baby food. They then proceed to guess what flavor(s) it is. See, simple! This is also a fun game to play with friends considering baby food is very inexpensive.
Dez and I had 12 different jars of baby food and chose from them at random as we progressed through the game. Lucky me, I got stuck with a few of meat flavors while Dez's gag reflex got a good workout. To watch us do the entire challenge, click HERE!
And an update on my travel adventures: I am currently at the SeaTac airport in Seattle. My flight to Miami, originally scheduled to depart at 9:30, has been delayed nearly two hours. Luckily, I am a pretty patient person, and it gave me time to do a quick blog update! I will be sure to post again once I am safely in my hotel in Orlando tomorrow afternoon.
Through most of my teenage years, I found myself constantly wishing.
I wish I was pretty like her. I wish I had a nice car like him. I wish I could drop a few pounds to look more like her. I wish I was rich like that celebrity. I wish my hair could look like that model's in the magazine. I wish, I wish, I wish...
I was never happy because I was too often wishing to be someone that I'm not. It wasn't until fairly recently that I realized just how grateful I should be, because I am me. If we spend our lives comparing ourselves to others, there will be no time to appreciate what we do have, and we will never be happy. So stop comparing! I know, it's hard - I still have trouble with it. Try this:
Right now, name five things in your life that you are grateful for. C'mon, just do it!
Good. Now list five qualities that you like about yourself. I know, this one can be hard at first, but it get's easier as you learn to love who you are!
Whenever you find yourself wishing, just think about five things. It will help, I guarantee it!
Last week, we all gathered at a local elementary school. The paint was packed, the twister board was brought, and our clothes were far too clean for comfort. Once the classic Seattle rain died down, we set up the game and poured the paint.
"Right hand yellow."
Slap. Dezi was clearly excited to get messy, and paint splattered up into all of our faces. Let the games begin.
Mollie and I after game #1
If you don't know what messy twister is, let me explain. All you need is a twister board, a spinner, and a few bottles of paint that match the colors of the circles on the board. Pour the paint onto the corresponding circles, and have at it! You can even change up the commands to make the game interesting. Here are a few that we had to follow:
Left ear yellow
Forehead green
Left butt blue
Right forearm green
By the end of the game, we were plenty messy and decided to turn the board into a painted slip 'n slide. But to all my readers, learn from our mistake and make sure you have somewhere nearby to clean off! We couldn't get back in the car and had to walk all the way home, then hosed off in the front yard. The looks we got from passing cars were priceless. I think it's safe to say I've played enough messy twister to last me a lifetime!
I love hiking, and there are so many beautiful destinations in the Pacific Northwest! Two of my friends had never been overnight backpacking before, so I took them on an easy 3-mile round trip hike last summer. It took a bit of preparation and planning, but we had a blast. This year, we decided to continue the tradition!
Pratt lake is located in the central Cascades, slightly west of Eastern Washington. It has an elevation gain of 1530 feet and is a whopping 11 miles round trip. There are tons of streams and bridges to cross over on the way to the lake, and a few amazing views. Once we got about eight miles in, the trail started a steep decline into switchbacks. The entire time down the mountain, I was thinking, "Crap, I'm going to have to climb back up this tomorrow..." Luckily, it soon evened out as we started walking along a huge rocky mountainside. By this time, we could see the lake, but it was only a teaser seeing as we still had another couple miles to go.
Finally, we reached the lake, and it was beautiful! We set up camp, explored the area, and then started making dinner. Little did we know, our box of noodles needed milk and butter, but water made a decent substitute. And let's face it, I would've ate anything after six miles of hiking! After devouring some s'mores and hanging all our food up in a tree, my warm sleeping bag was like heaven on earth.
Although the hike back up those switchbacks was grueling, it's worth it for the sense of accomplishment you feel when you reach the trail head once more. Time to start planning for next year!
Video coming soon! It's all edited, but I'm just hashing out some technical difficulties in the exporting process. Stay tuned!
This past Wednesday, Shannon and I decided to go geocaching, as it was on both of our summer bucket lists. Compared to skydiving, we assumed that this should be easy enough! To the contrary, it proved to be quite the feat considering neither of us had smart phones or a GPS. We were able to narrow down the area enough by looking at a map, but it still wasn't sufficient. We ended up on a nice paved hiking trail in town that contained two caches. Each time we went poking around in the bushes, the passerby's reactions were a bit concerned. Unfortunately, we weren't able to locate any hidden treasures, but we did stumble upon a nice little lake and a family of ducklings that we couldn't help but share our lunch with!
At this point, I wasn't sure if I was allowed to cross this item off my bucket list seeing as we didn't find anything. This confusion quickly resolved last night when Shannon and I were at a friends house in Seattle. She remembered stumbling upon a nearby cache by accident, so we quickly sought it out and snapped a picture with it. Inside the bottle was a plastic lizard, as well as a small notebook and a pen. We mimicked those before us and recorded our names and the date in the notebook, and returned the bottle to it's hiding spot. Finally, I felt accomplished enough to cross this one off my list!
To view the rest of my summer bucket list, click here!
I don't know how it works where you come from, but where I'm from, everyone takes drivers ed, gets their license at 16, and is driving themselves to school by their sophomore or junior year of high school. So it's pretty pathetic that I'm getting my license at 19, but that's how it works in my family. We don't have the money to put everyone through drivers ed, so you have to wait until you're at least 18 to get your license. And since I wouldn't have a car in college, I just didn't bother getting it last summer. But I was tired of asking people for rides, and being known as that one friend without her license, so I wanted to get it before I left for Florida.
I had my permit for four years before getting my license, so the driving test was not too difficult for me. Not to mention the fact that I totally aced parallel parking, and in a car that I had only driven twice before! But it is so handy to be able to drive myself places, as I have a lot to get done before I leave next week. Jeez, I can't believe it's August already. And to think, in a mere ten days, I'll be in Orlando getting ready to check into my hotel for the night. Wow!
