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Sunday, August 9

Hi everyone! Hope you had a really great week and you’re looking forward to the days to come. My week has been much better than the one before, and I really feel like I am slowly healing from the pain and stress I was going through. I didn’t have anywhere to be this weekend, so I took advantage of that and caught up on a lot of sleep and “me time.” I remember this past Thursday night I essentially slept from 6pm to 7am, and that was a huge wake-up call for me that last week took a huge toll on me. I was exhausted, so hopefully that will provide some insight into why I was falling behind on everything else.

Today my main goal was to get my new phone set up, which my mom very generously sent to me in the mail (thanks, mom!), and I’m currently in the process of backing up my data onto the iCloud. It’s apparently going to take 4-5 hours, according to my phone, but at least it’s happening! I’m also passing the time by watching Leah Remini: Scientology and The Aftermath, which is my current favorite show to binge-watch. I’ve also been really enjoying The Last Dance, which is a documentary series about Michael Jordan and several other basketball stars who played for the Bulls. No, I would have never picked this documentary to watch on my own, but Nathaniel put it on when I went to visit him, and I just got suckered into it. I honestly feel like I could get invested in any subject if the documentary was interesting enough- does anyone else feel that way?

Self-Care Quotes - Because You Deserve Them | Hallmark Ideas ...

As for other ways I’m trying to heal from my depressive episode, I’ve been trying to do a lot more journaling and raw, unfiltered writing in my notebooks to feel more in-touch with myself and my feelings. It’s been so, so helpful, and it’s really helped me to appreciate myself more and understand how my past traumas have intertwined with my current stresses. If you’re also going through similar stress and anxiety, I would highly recommend finding a list of depression-specific prompts and answering one per day. I also made a bubble/flow chart of everything that’s on my mind lately, and discovered through making arrows that several of them were interconnected. That has been really helpful for me to break my stress into smaller pieces and tackle the smaller issues first, working my way into the bigger issues.

So basically, the sparknotes of what I’m trying to say is that I’m really proud of how I’m doing and the healthy coping mechanisms I am taking to better myself. Nathaniel has also been absolutely wonderful throughout this time, remaining patient and loving even in the moments that I’m hard on myself. 

I am working tomorrow through Thursday, per usual, and then my good friend MJ is coming to visit me from New York. Don’t worry, we are fully intending on keeping ourselves safe and socially distancing. I’m really excited to see them, because the last time I saw them was last August on the day we met. So this weekend is going to be our one-year friendversary, and I’m so overjoyed to be reunited with such an important friend in my life.

Anway, I’m going to try pre-scheduling all my content for this week so that I don’t have to worry about it while I’m working. I do like blogging and writing online, but sometimes, I just don’t have the energy to get it done! So here’s to hoping this week goes smoothly and painlessly, so that I can find that little bit of “me time” to get it done. 

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(Spoiler: I haven’t really done anything.)

I normally steer away from tag posts, especially since I’m hardly ever tagged in anything. But this one seemed fun, and it was interesting for me to compile all of these tiny milestones into one post (albeit awkward at times.)

First app you check when you wake up in the morning?

Usually my gmail. 

First broken bone?

I’ve never broken a bone, actually! 

First foreign country you ever visited?

Canada, and I LOVED it.

First Instagram, Twitter or Facebook post?

I actually deleted most of my first embarrassing social media posts, so I don’t really remember. But it probably had a lot of filters and hashtags, since it was 2011-2012. 

First make-up item?

I used to do community theater, so naturally, I had a collection of cheap drugstore makeup. Wet ‘n’ Wild mascara was probably one of the firsts, and I also had one of those dark blue foundation compacts all the theater kids had to buy (but I can’t remember what the brand was.) 

CoverGirl Aqua Smooth AquaSmooth Compact Solid Foundation SPF 15 ...

First plane ride you ever went on?

I think I was six or seven, and it was on a trip to Disneyworld in Florida.

First time I ever got into trouble at home and school?

At home? I don’t remember the first time, but I used to get into a lot of trouble for picking on my brother, and he got into trouble for picking on me. The first time I got in trouble in school was in the 5th grade, when I got caught writing on a bathroom stall. 

First time you were allowed to put on make-up?

Sixth or seventh grade. I wore cheap BB cream, mint green eyeshadow, and mascara. Oh, and the Baby Lips lip balm by Maybelline. 

First YouTuber you subscribed to?

Gosh, I can’t remember! Probably Ryan Higa or Jenna Marbles.

First time you went shopping on your own?

My friend and I went shopping on “our own” for the first time in 6th or 7th grade, but what I didn’t know until later was that my mom actually followed pretty close behind us. 

My first BF/GF?

His name was Antonio, and he was my boyfriend for nine months when I was a freshman in high school. We’re on good terms; I hope he’s doing well. 

My First car?

Don’t have a car yet! Which is okay, because I can’t afford one.

My first Celebrity Crush?

Oh my gosh, David Bowie and Elton John. Still my celebrity crushes tbh. 

Best Elton John Songs: 20 Essential Tracks By The Rocket Man

My first cooking experience?

I don’t remember my first exact cooking experience, but I do know that one of the first things I learned how to make was boiling spaghetti. 

My first crush?

My first crush was on a boy named Ben when I was in kindergarten. We thought we were married and every time we hung out it would be our “anniversary.” 

My first ever cell phone?

It was a flip phone, and it was a brick. 

My first ever date?

A concert on Valentine’s Day. 

My first ever kiss?

First peck was with a boy named Michael in 6th grade in the science wing hallway, first actual kiss was with my first real boyfriend. 

My first fear?

I was basically afraid of everything when I was little. The things that stand out are hurricanes, tornadoes, fire drills, and spiders.

My first friend in college?

My first friend in college turned out to be a very toxic person.

My first heartbreak

Ending my first relationship was obviously sad, but being broken up with in my second serious relationship completely shattered my world because I did NOT see it coming. To this day, I still try not to think about it, and it left me with pretty serious abandonment/paranoia issues that I’m still tackling. 

My first Instagram post?

Oh man, I have no clue. I deleted my first Instagram account, but it was probably a selfie or something dumb. 

My first job?

I worked as a cashier at Marshalls for about two and a half years.

My first language?

English, and to this day, it’s the only language I’ve learned. I learned a little French in high school, but I’m certainly nowhere near fluent. 

My first love?

I did really love my first boyfriend, but I’m definitely glad that relationship ended and I feel like my tastes have really refined as an adult woman now. Nathaniel is just…10/10. Chef’s kiss. 

My first pet?

My first pet was a hamster named Cutie, and he was a SAVAGE. That dude figured out how to open his cage from the inside, and he would get out in the middle of the night and escape into our basement. We briefly lost him on a few occasions. 

My first piercing and when did I get it?

I got my ears pierced when I was 12, and that’s still the only piercing I’ve ever gotten. 

My first sexual experience?

Again with the first boyfriend thing. 

My first swear word?

Ha, when I was in middle school, my friends and I considered words like “hell,” “damn,” and “sex” to be curse words. If you said any of those things, you were pretty edgy. 

My first tattoo?

I actually do not have any tattoos, and I don’t have plans to get any. 

My first thought today?

Darn, I wanted to get up earlier.

My first time on a plane?

I think I was five or six, and my family and I were going to Disney World.

My first time on a ship?

Does the little boat that takes you to the Statue of Liberty count?

My first time on a train?

When my brother and I were little, our parents took us for a ride on “The Polar Express” one Christmas. It was actually just a service the commuter rail was running, and Josh and I saw right through it, haha. 

Hundreds of children board 'Polar Express' to South Station ...

My first toy?

My first and favorite toy was a small, blue bear who I named “Marshmallow.” He was my favorite little dude, and I took him everywhere.

My first tweet?

I also don’t remember this, because I think I deleted the first Twitter account I’ve ever made. I go through phases where I decide social media is toxic and I delete everything, hence why a lot of my current accounts are not my first ones. 

My first YouTube video?

The only thing I’ve ever posted onto YouTube was a project for health class in high school. It’s called “Spermtanic,” and you can still watch it! 

My first online profile picture?

I don’t have the picture anyone, but this was one of the firsts.

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The first book I remember reading?

I remember my mom reading The English Roses by Madonna to me all the time. I loved that book!

The first concert I ever attended?

I believe it was the concert I mentioned earlier, and it was for the band Kodaline.

The first movie I remember seeing?

I remember seeing Pirates of the Carribean when I was really little, and being scared shitless!

The first person I talked to today?

That would be my housemate, Erin.

The first person that ever broke my heart?

His name was Armando, and he was the second serious relationship in my life. Hope he’s doing well, though! 

The first person you text when something exciting happens?

Definitely Eli, 100%. And Nathaniel as well. Last night I texted him to tell him I saw two disgusting, giant beetles reproducing on my back porch while I was trying to take out the trash. He said that was “radical.”

The first text I sent today?

The first text I sent today was to my roommate, Erin, in response to her asking if I wanted to go shopping. And yes, I did agree! 

The first thing I do every morning?

I check my phone, brew my coffee, and make my bed.

The first thing I do when I get home?

I check the mail and usually get a snack. 

The first time you ever got drunk?

I actually don’t know if I’ve ever been properly drunk. I’ve been buzzed and a bit tipsy, but never flat-out drunk.

The first wedding I attended?

I attended a wedding when I was really little, but I don’t think it was anyone I was close to and I definitely don’t remember it. I think I was five or six. 

When did you go to your first party?

The first party I ever attended  was a Halloween party on Mission Hill, senior year of high school. 

When did you have your first sleepover?

When I was in elementary school, I used to have sleepovers with my neighbors and the kids in my neighborhood all the time. 

First time I got a speeding ticket?

I don’t have a license, so I’ve never gotten a ticket for anything!

First time I got in a fist fight?

I’ve never been in a fist fight, thankfully.

As you can see, I definitely have not done much, but it was still very enjoyable for me to go sift through all of these memories. I hope you guys enjoyed learning a little bit about me!

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Considering that we’re living in such strange times, it probably comes as no surprise that the contents of my bag have changed as well. I also relocated to a new city about a month and a half ago, so that has also really influenced the contents of my bag.

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Let’s start with the bag itself. This lovely over-the-shoulder bag was actually a gift from my mother, as I didn’t previously own a bag that zipped and she was worried about me losing my wallet or having something stolen. It was a very lovely gesture, so thank you, mom! I love the soft, pastel color, and I also really like the material. It feels strong and durable, unlike the canvas tote I was using before this bag. You can’t see it in this picture, but I have a silver key chain on my bag handle that is actually a panic button. If I am ever in an emergency or if I feel unsafe, I just have to press it a couple of times and 911 will immediately be called. It also would send a text notification to my mom, my roommates, and Nathaniel. I thankfully haven’t had to use it yet, but when you live in a city and you’re a girl, you can never be too careful. 

The two smaller bags, the blue and pink zip ones, are actually sets of bamboo utensils and reusable straws. You never know when you’ll be in a situation that requires a set of utensils, so I like to keep two sets on hand: one for me, and one for Nathaniel. Now that I’m writing this, I’m realizing I should probably wash those. Nathaniel’s two year-old cousin took quite a liking to them the last time I visited, and I’m pretty sure he was gnawing on the fork at one point. 

I have two sets of headphones in my bag, but one of them is enclosed in a container so they don’t get tangled up. My headphones ALWAYS get tangled in my lanyard, by the way. I haven’t been able to figure out a good way to stop that from happening yet. Speaking of my lanyard, it’s nothing fancy. Now that I have finally graduated from Lasell University, I can safely publicly reveal that yes, that is where I went to school! I don’t have a car yet, so the only keys on my Lasell lanyard are my apartment keys and my mailbox key.

I have my pandemic supplies on hand as well: two cloth masks, just to be safe, a pack of tissues, and two mini bottles of hand sanitizer. I try not to go too overboard with everything, but since I do take public transit quite a bit, I feel like you can never have enough hand sanitizer. Actually, you can. Remember that guy who bought 18,000 bottles of it? Don’t be like that guy. 

I’ve had the same wallet for years, hence why it’s looking pretty beat-up and dirty. I don’t have anything fancy in my wallet- certainly no money at the moment! However, it does have my driver’s permit and my state ID, which are two very important things I need right now. Interestingly, I don’t carry any change in my purse because loose coins actually gross me out. My friends and family think I’m crazy, but I would literally rather refuse change than have to hold it and put it in my purse. I think it has to do with the dirty smell and the notion that change itself is very dirty that bothers me the most.

Don’t be fooled by the Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses case- it’s just dollar tree sunglasses in there. I’ve never really been a huge fan of sunglasses, probably because I wore glasses for so long, but these ones are actually very cute and functional.

The rest of the stuff is mostly miscellaneous. I have Advil and allergy medicine, because the pollen this time of year is horrid, and it’s definitely something I need to be prepared for at all times. I have a couple of pens in my bag as well, because I seem to always need them, and a small bottle of lotion from Bath and Body Works called “Cactus Blossom.” Lastly, and probably most randomly, I have a contact case from Dollar Tree that I exclusively use for holding false eyelashes. I mean, it makes sense to me; if your lashes are bothering you and you need a place to take them off and put them, a contact case is the perfect place. It keeps them nice and clean, and you can just pop them back on whenever you want!

Anyway, those are the very random and chaotic contents of my bag. I actually feel like I have a very “normal” set of things in my bag, minus the contact case hack and the copious bamboo utensils. What do you guys think- do we carry any of the same things? Let me know in the comments!

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It’s been a while since I’ve published any unpopular opinions, so today felt like the right day. I did one of these articles in the past, and I have to say, it’s a bit terrifying to put such unpopular views out into the world! That being said, I don’t think any of these unpopular opinions are particularly polarizing or problematic. Enjoy reading and let me know if you agree with any of my opinions!

Who is Billie Eilish?: The 17-year-old pop star ruling the ...

Celebrities

Singers I don’t care for/haven’t listened to much: Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Selena Gomez, and Travis Scott. In fact, I think Billie Eilish is extremely overrated.

Lifestyle

I much prefer at-home workouts as opposed to going to the gym.

I’ve never been on TikTok or even downloaded the app. All the TikToks I watch are from Jenna’s Marbles compilation videos.

TikTok is the best place on the internet. We should all delete it ...

I love caking on a full face of makeup instead of following the dewy, natural, ‘glowy’ trend I’ve seen popping up in 2020. My skin is just way too textured and red for a ‘natural’ face!

I’d much rather stay in and watch a movie at home than go to a movie theater; movie theaters are boring and uncomfortable.  

Surfacebook Pro > Mac.

America should get rid of tipping culture and just set a fair minimum wage instead.

Making the bed is NOT a pointless chore!

Food

Milk chocolate is better than dark chocolate.

Coffee tastes best black.

All fast food hamburgers taste the same; I’m not sure why some people so strongly favor a McDonalds burger over a Burger King burger, and vice versa. 

TOMATOES RUIN SANDWICHES.

Other

Going on a hike or spending the day in a forest is much more fun than going to the beach or going somewhere tropical.

New England travel | USA - Lonely Planet

New England is definitely the best place to live in the US!

Everyone has the potential to be a good singer with practice.

Kids who succeed academically deserve scholarships over kids who excel at sports.

Cold better is MUCH better than warm weather.

College grads deserve to be paid a liveable wage.

And finally, babies should be banned from movie theaters.

I hope you guys enjoyed this article! Do we share any unpopular opinions? Let me know in the comments below!

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It’s unbelievable to me that I’ve already had my blog for approximately two years. I started this project not knowing what direction it would go in and if anyone would even be interested in my writing. In fact, when I first started, I sometimes wondered to myself, ‘What’s the point of this?’

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Little did I know that my blog would quickly become of my favorite hobbies and pastimes, and beyond that, it’s even helped me in my professional life as well. When potential employers learn that I have operated a blog with a tri-weekly posting schedule for over two years, they’re usually impressed and interested in learning more. Not only has blogging so much improved my writing, it has also improved my knowledge of social media marketing, site analytics, graphic design, and general organization skills. For that, I’m so grateful to have WordPress as my teacher!

I never get tired of what I do. I love this site, and I love interacting with my readers! Today, I want to go through all of my stats and achievements from 2019, and share with you my goals for the future.

In 2019…

-I made 179 posts on The Diplomat’s Digest (up from just 62 posts in 2018)

-I received 101 comments, 1,361 likes, 13,533 views, and 9,801 unique visitors. 7,500 of those views were from search engines, so thanks, Google! 

-I wrote 190,766 words, up from 50,422 words in 2018. As of today, I have written 278,689 words altogether! That’s the equivalent of a 1,000 page book. 

-I started my “Weekly Newsletter” feature as a way to document my day-to-day life in an online diary form. It’s so rewarding and interesting to look back on past entries and see, in detail, what exactly was happening in my life at that exact time.

Really, the best birthday gift I can ask for in April is the gift of writing and having a platform to share my work. I love seeing my progress grow and evolve as the years go by, and I’m so excited to see how much things change by April 2021! I can’t even begin to imagine what my life is going to be like in a year. If you had told me in April 2019 that this would be the year I’d find so much love and happiness, I’m not sure I would have believed you. My goals for the future are simply to continue my adamant posting schedule and hopefully upgrade to a premium plan once I can afford it. I’m so excited to see how my content changes over the next few months and years. Thanks for sticking around and joining me for the ride!

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In the two years I’ve had my blog, I’ve actually never posted a Q&A or really anything in that vicinity. I think my number one goal for a while has just been to establish a small online presence and a portfolio, and now that I have that, I can branch out a bit and do something a bit more personality-based. So today I’m sitting down with my coffee and my favorite blanket, and I’m going to be answering some general questions/fun facts about myself.

What’s your zodiac sign?

Aries sun, pisces moon! I forget my rising sign, but I think it might be sagittarius 

What are your top three fears?

Abandonment, death, and rejection

What are three things you love?

Cows, bread, and coffee

Who is your best friend?

I can’t pick one, but Eli, my mom, and Nathaniel are up there!

What’s the last song you listened to?

‘Say So’ by Doja Cat

How many tattoos/piercings do you have?

I have no tattoos, and I only have my ears pierced

How do you feel right now?

I feel pretty good right now! I had a lot of coffee, so I’m feeling very energized and productive

What’s something you really, really want?

A job lol

What’s your current relationship status?

I’m dating my lovely partner, Nathaniel!

Favorite movie:

The Shining

Favorite song:

Really anything by Regina Spektor

Favorite band:

Right now I’m really into The Strokes and The Velvet Underground

What are three things that make you happy?

Potting plants, baking, and falling asleep next to Nathaniel

Who is someone you miss?

I miss pretty much all of my friends and professors, since I haven’t been able to see anyone in self-quarantine 😦

What’s your relationship with your parents like?

My mom and I have a great relationship, but my relationship with my biological father is rocky. We tend to bounce back and forth between being on okay terms, and then not talking for months on end

What’s your favorite holiday?

I love Christmastime because the atmosphere is so cozy and wonderful. I love the music, the smells, the traditions, and being with my friends and family!

What are three things that annoy you easily?

Slow walkers, drivers who don’t use their turn signals, and rude people in general

Favorite animal:

Cows and rats!!

Do you have any pets?

I have a very chonky yellow labrador named Duke

What’s one thing you’ve lied about?

My professor asked me how I’ve been holding up in quarantine, I said everything is going great 🙂

What’s something that’s currently worrying you?

I’m worried about finding a job, because the economy is essentially frozen at the moment

Where do you work?

I intern remotely for a nonprofit in Boston

What’s something that’s currently on your mind?

I gotta go to the bank to deposit some money into my savings!

What are three habits you have?

I bite my nails, I constantly have to pee, and I cannot function without a coffee every morning

What are your future goals?

I’d like to escape the corporate slavery of America and raise a family with Nathaniel on a nice, quiet farm

Favorite store:

If you’re from Boston, then you know what the Garment District is!

Favorite food:

Grilled cheese + soup. Particularly broccoli and cheddar soup

What did you do yesterday?

Yesterday was a lazy day; I just hung out on the couch, watched Netflix, and scrolled through Pinterest

What’s something you’re talented at?

I like to think I’m a decent writer, but who’s to say? 

What’s your idea of a perfect date?

It would start with coffee in bed, going for a hike/walk on the beach, having a picnic, and end with some classic Netflix + chill

What’s your favorite blog?

I’ve been a fan of In The Flux, sapphireroses, Simply Eleanor, misswongx, and hils (the deep blue day) for a while now; we all follow each other’s blogs and I really enjoy keeping up with their stories!

How many kids do you want?

Ideally, between 1-3

Do you smoke or drink?

I’ve never smoked anything, but I occasionally drink from time to time. I’m a big fan of moscato and margaritas

And lastly, what was the last gift you gave?

So, Nathaniel and I have this big box we periodically pass back and forth with little gifts for each other. The last gift I gave him was some new stuff in the box, including some chocolate, colored pencils and a coloring book, one of my hoodies, a book, and a few other things that I can’t remember 

Anywho, I hope you guys liked this article and you learned some new things about me! Thanks for reading and stay safe 🙂 

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Tuesday, February 18

Good morning, everybody! I hope your week is off to a good start. The weather has been a bit nicer than usual lately, so I’m really appreciating that, especially since I do so much commuting throughout the week.

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I’m not going to lie, I feel (physically) like shit this morning. I’ve been able to sleep pretty well for the last couple of months, thank goodness, but last night I woke up around 3am and it really threw me off. I did fall back asleep after a little bit, but I’m still paranoid that my insomnia will come back. Nonetheless, I’m trying not to think about that so I don’t go down a total anxiety rabbit hole.

Besides that, I’m doing pretty well! My life has been very confusing and turbulent lately, but also extremely nice. I was thinking this morning on the train that I feel like I have the sun in me, because I’m so happy and bright lately. Although it’s been crazy, I feel like I’m really starting to come around to a sense of clarity, and that feels amazing. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to offer up more details, depending on how things pan out.

Anyway, I have my internship today, so hopefully I can stay energized despite my rough night of sleep. My PMDD is still lingering on a bit, but I should be feeling much better tomorrow now that I’m on my placebo pills. 

Thursday, February 20

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all having a great end to your week. I’m feeling really good today, and I’m finally not exhausted every morning now that my PMDD is subduing. I’ve had a pretty eventful week, I have to say, filled with a lot of ups and downs (but primarily ups.) I’m looking forward to tomorrow, as I’m going to be attending a MIRA volunteer event for a school project, and then, a very dear person and I are going to the MFA afterwards. I’ve been really big into art appreciation lately, as I’m sure you can tell. 

So, that’s all very good. I wish I could say more about the wonderful things happening in my life, but admittedly I’m scared to jinx it! So I’ll wait a little bit, and see how things are still going, and then maybe I’ll spill the tea to all of you.

Saturday, February 22

The weekend is here, and I’m enjoying sleeping in and drinking coffee today! I haven’t had much time to write lately, because the last couple of days have been quite busy. Like I said before, I went to the Museum of Fine Arts yesterday with a very special friend of mine. I happened to be in Boston anyway for a MIRA training (required for a class project), so it made sense that yesterday would be the day to go traveling. It was a really fantastic day, filled with calm energy and happiness and pure gratitude. I love looking at art, and it’s even better when you get to enjoy it with other people. We also had a lovely stroll around the city and got some food, so altogether, it was a really special day. Afterwards, I hung out with my friends for most of the night and saw a really interesting play called Vagina Monologues, which is all about girl love and embracing the female body. It was really inspirational; I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up a bit.

Anyway, I really need to get cranking on my ethics paper, so I’ll leave y’all with some pictures of my day. If you ever have the chance to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, I highly recommend it!

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With the end of the year coming to a close, I decided it was time to revisit the resolutions I set for myself at the end of 2018. Here is a quick report of how I did:

-Write a book about my life. ✘ I actually started, but I never ended up finishing it. Maybe next year… 

-Have fifty followers on WordPress. ✔ I was genuinely shocked at how quickly I surpassed fifty. It was a goal for the entire year, but the number went over fifty within the first month of writing this. In total, I currently have 208 followers.

-Have 100 followers on my Diplomat’s Digest Instagram page. ✔ I reached 100 in November!

-Dye my hair a new color; maybe teal again!  ✔ I did that! I got my hair dyed teal in mid March, and I absolutely love it. Right now, it’s blonde. 

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-Get my driver’s license. ✘ Nope, not this year, but definitely the next!

-Host a collaboration on my blog. ✔ Check! Got that done in January, actually. As of right now, I have completed two collaborations for the entire year.

-Host a giveaway on my blog (!) ✘ Not quite yet, but hopefully soon!

-Figure out how to properly use wet-set foam rollers. ✘ I kind of cut off all my hair…

-Buy an authentic 1940s dress. ✘ Nope, I saved my money. See my last resolution 😉 

-Learn how to knit something besides a scarf. ✔ Does a dish cloth count?

-Go to bed and wake up a little bit earlier every day. This could be tricky, as I am a notorious night owl… ✔ I surprisingly did this. I usually get into bed between 8pm-9pm, and I’m asleep before 10 if I take a unisom and a melatonin pill. 

-Learn how to manage my money better. I struggle with this big time. Do you guys have any tips for managing money? ✔ I saved $1,000 over the summer, so I’d consider that successful finance management! 

Looking back, I’m pretty happy with the progress I made on my resolutions this year! 7/12 certainly isn’t bad. I noticed while looking back at my list that many of these goals were materialistic based, and I’d like to change that going forward. For 2020, I’d like to focus more on personal milestones, such as maintaining my happiness and continuing to spread gratitude. My 2020 resolutions will be published on January 1, so keep your eyes out for that!

 

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Monday, November 25

Good morning, everybody! I hope you’re all having a great day. I’m looking forward to a short week; tomorrow is my last day of classes before Thanksgiving break. Then, I come back for two weeks, and I’m done for the semester on December 14! Very exciting stuff.

I’m especially happy today because I got a lot of work done with my advisor this morning. We decided that Analog, the new publication I started, is going to be my capstone (for those of you who don’t know, my capstone is basically my big senior research project). So spring 2020 is going to be all about developing Analog, and managing some great content on there. With that being said, I’m going to start posting twice a week instead of thrice a week on The Diplomat’s Digest starting in January, because I’m going to have my hands quite full as it is. We also got some work done for my internship search, and I’ve started filling out forms for my graduation ceremony. So that’s all been very eventful.

I’m just finishing up my morning black coffee; next I’m going to print out some school forms and work on my writing projects until my 2pm class. It feels surreal that the semester is almost over, doesn’t it?

Wednesday, November 27

With the end of the semester in sight, I’ve been running around like a headless chicken trying to get all my work, academics, and projects wrapped up. I’m pursuing a directed study capstone, which means I’m going to be working completely independently on my final senior project. I’ve also been doing a lot of applying, interviewing, and researching for my spring internship. I’ve discovered some really interesting organizations, and I would be truly happy to work for any of them. I’ve never had a “big girl” job like this before, so I’m really excited about the prospect of having an internship. Many of them are looking for a person who can juggle multiple tasks at once, and that’s definitely my specialty, if I do say so myself.

Additionally, Eli is home for Thanksgiving and I’m SO excited to see him. We’re probably going to hang out tonight, and maybe take Duke for a walk downtown. I don’t get to see him very often, so I cherish the time that we spend together.

Speaking of Duke, he just came in from his afternoon walk, so I’m going to go cuddle him now!

Friday, November 29

To those who celebrate, I hope you all had a safe, happy Thanksgiving! I had a perfectly lovely time with my family. My mom and I spent most of the day cooking in the kitchen, which was a great bonding experience for us. The meal was also delicious, and my apple pie came out amazing. It was a very low-key, relaxing holiday, and I’m grateful that I was able to spend it with the people I love.

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My mom and Cooper being absolute angels!

Wednesday night was also a ball. Eli and I went to Olive Garden and spent some quality time together. We talked about how much we’ve changed since high school; I told Eli I found him to be more confident, and he said something along the lines of me being more comfortable with myself. I also asked my mom how I’ve changed since high school, and she said I’m more “reasonable.” I’d have to agree with both of those things.

My sleep schedule has improved a lot since being home, by the way. There’s something about sleeping in a big, comfy bed with my dog and some fresh-smelling sheets that always puts me to sleep instantly. Right now, Duke is sleeping by my feet while I write this. He’s had an exciting couple of days, too, rolling around with Cooper and playing hide-and-seek with me. We’re both a bit tired from all the festivities, so I’m happy to be doing some work in bed with him. I already had my morning coffee, but some wake-up tea might be in order as well.

Saturday, November 30

Thanksgiving break has been absolutely lovely so far; I’m already looking forward to coming back home for winter break in two weeks. Today has been a very relaxing, low-key day, and I’ve spent the entire time by myself (an introvert’s dream!). I’ve primarily been taking care of Duke, because my mom is up in Maine with my stepdad. Today I cleaned most of the house for my mom, scrubbing and vacuuming and all the such. Now the house is sparkling clean, and I’ve got the winter candles burning while I enjoy a cup of tea. By the way, Winter Wake Up tea from Trader Joe’s is AMAZING, and I highly recommend it.

For those of you wondering how my anxiety/insomnia is, both have greatly improved over the course of the last few weeks. I’d say the escitalopram is definitely back in my system and keeping me pretty calm, so that’s been very helpful. The insomnia is still a bit of a bother, but I can usually get about 4-5 hours of sleep when I’m at school. When I’m home, however, I sleep fabulously. These past few nights, I’ve been hitting the sack at 9:30pm and sleeping straight through 8am. It’s such a luxury!

My mom should be home in an hour or two; around the same time my old friends Mara and Eli are coming to hang out for a night of hot chocolate and Christmas movies. It’s never too early for the holiday spirit, as I say 🙂

by on

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Monday, September 16th 

I’ve been feeling really great and calm for the past four days or so, and I’m expecting it to last for the rest of the week. However, once I reach the 3rd week of my pills, pure havoc is definitely going to break loose on my hormones. Better appreciate the calm before the storm while I can.

I was able to sleep in pretty late today because my Monday morning class only meets once a week, and the rest is done online. I got up around 11:30 and did a full face of makeup, had a sit-down breakfast, and now I’m working on some writing before my 2:00 class. I was able to sit and chat with one of my favorite professors today, and catch her up on all of my life happenings.

Today I’m working on my book gift guide and my Fab Fit Fun review, which will be out next week. I like to push about a week in advance when writing articles, at least. I love having something to constantly look forward to, something to constantly write.  

Wednesday, September 18th

The work is starting to pick up a bit, which is good. I haven’t really been up to anything exciting, now that the initial chaos of my first week is over. I’ve definitely established my routine, and I still have extra time for self-care and adequate sleep. Maybe I’m just a fast worker, or maybe my workload just isn’t that heavy. It’s hard to say. I also feel like my temper is a bit more fiery than usual, but that comes and goes regularly. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately that I wish I had more friends, but specifically, more older, nerdy guy friends. Being on a college campus, of course, I’m surrounded by men and women in the 18-22 age range. I know this makes me sound arrogant, but I can’t stand being around most people in that age demographic. It’s especially annoying at my particular school, where cliques are rampant and drama spreads like wildfire.

18-22 year-olds are inherently selfish, and they should be. You’re still figuring yourself out and what you want to do with your life- it should be all about you. But being selfish makes it easier to hurt other people’s feelings, willingly or not. I prefer to spend my time with older, wiser, more experienced people, who (more or less) have their immediate life figured out. I like to hang out with people who have cars, apartments, and money, who are more inclined to talk about capitalism and American politics instead of trivial matters. 

I know that this is what I prefer, because I’ve already formed these types of friendships in my young adult life. One of my best friends is a thirty-one year-old straight dude who lives in the Boston suburbs. I generally get along better with my professors than my classmates, and I’m sure many of them would attest to that. Drama really just seems to follow me when I start associating with other kids my age, especially catty girls.

I feel like it’s really not unheard of for lesbians to have more dude friends than average. I mean, what could be better than playing video games and talking about how hot girls are over a greasy bag of Burger King fries? Sounds like a pretty good gig to me.

I’m a little worried about my Micro-economics class. You may remember me saying last week that I was sure the abstract, big-picture ideas would go right over my head, and that’s exactly what’s happening. I’m trying to memorize the steps of the math, but in all honesty, I have NO idea what I’m doing. Thank goodness my professor only assigned four homework assignments for the entire semester.

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Eating at the dining hall, as you can see, is not going great. I’ve been doing a lot of my own grocery shopping, as as I edit this, my order is actually on its way!

Thursday, September 19th

It’s 11:59pm, and I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed with my computer in my lap. This week in general has been pretty uneventful, but I do have some exciting updates for the future. For one thing, I am going to see The Lion King  musical with my family in about a month, per courtesy of my school’s uber-cheap tickets. I miss my mom and Mark a lot (even though he’s not my biological dad, I refer to them together as my parents), and I especially miss my dog. I don’t mention him a lot on here, but you can find pictures of Duke peppered throughout my social media!

I’m also considering joining my school’s fashion/beauty magazine, and it’s pretty much a done deal at this point. One of my classmates, who is a lovely friend, reached out to me and asked if I wanted to write for the magazine. From what she told me, the articles I would be writing are exactly the type of content I already love to put out. I’m very passionate about fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, especially when it’s creative and unconventional. I’m looking forward to this opportunity!

Like I mentioned a bit earlier, I usually refer to Mark as my dad now because I am estranged from my biological father. I’m not sure if that’s something I mentioned before on here. I obviously think it’s important to keep some parts of your life private, but I would like to open up about that more in the future if it’s something that became relevant to my viewers. Especially if there is a young man or women going through a similar broken relationship with a parent, I want to be a voice for you and share as much of my story as I can, because I think it’s important to talk about these things. Even though the damaged relationship with my father is not my fault, I still feel a lot of guilt as a result of his manipulation and gaslighting. If something tragic ever happened to him, I would probably feel responsible for being a bad daughter. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot, but like I said, I seldom tell people about that situation unless I feel it’s relevant or helpful. 

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Mom jeans + a jacket is my new favorite lewk.

Besides that being on my mind from time to time, I’ve been staying positive lately. I’m still working on finding the best treatment for my PMDD, but it might be something I have to take care of when I go home for my next holiday break. Many of the clinics and offices in my current location are booked out until the spring, so I might as well just talk to my primary care doctor when I go home instead. Or, best case scenario, maybe I’ll adapt to my current combination birth control pills sooner than later and I won’t end up needing to add another pill into the mix. That would be ideal, because I really want to get a cocktail on my 21st birthday and I certainly can’t do that while taking an SSRI!

Coming up this week

9/23- Gift Guide: The Perfect BOOK for Everyone on Your List

9/25- Gentleman Jack: A Celebration of History and Feminism

9/27- My Hair Color History