Oridinary Miracles

This post may not be relevant to anything I originally set out to do in this blog, but I thought you might enjoy it. After all, laughing is the best form of therapy that doesn't cost ridiculous amounts of money. So to make you laugh today, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite ordinary miracles.

1.  Well, Maybe You Should've Looked Harder

How does she do it? Image courtesy of Elfarandi.

Everybody loses things, and when the time comes that you need them, a chaotic mess is created by your frenzied search. Even if you have checked every nook and cranny, no matter how improbable they may seem, some items may only be found by none other than your mother (take a moment to enjoy that rhyme). Some may say it's a keen eye that evolved through the process of being a mother, but I have a more simple theory, magic. It's the only reasonable explanation. This miracle does become a thing to keep in mind if you're mother, like mine, doesn't like to look for my things when I've lost them. That may be reasonable, but in my opinion, if your are granted such a gift as my mother's, you should use it for the good of others!

2.  Weight Lifting Wonder

While the title of this section may make this seem active, don't let it fool you. This phenomenon occurs in presence of extreme laziness. Picture this, your mom just got back to the store with a car full of groceries. She brings the majority in, but just asks you to take the remaining bags inside from the car. At this point it doesn't matter if there are two or twenty bags left, you are going to make only one trip to carry them in. You are never at a stronger point in your life than when you don't want to make more than one trip, which is generally always. While your at it, enter a weight lifting competition, or audition for superman before the adrenaline like feeling dissipates.

3.  First Try

My face every time. Image courtesy of BookBloggersInt.

Nothing makes you feel more like a boss (check out that hip vernacular yo) than turning to the right page in your textbook on the first try. If this isn't a miracle than I don't know what is. The only thing that may be more spectacular is if anyone witnesses the action happening. If so, be sure to revel in the widened eye contact that ensues because that my friend, is an improbable event. Although I wouldn't draw too much attention to it, or you may get a more common look from your teacher, the death stare.

If you want more miracles to brighten your everyday life, checkout my other posts (I flatter myself). Also, if you want to make my day better, comment or subscribe. Also, I have a page full small projects for you crafters to do in your free time (if there is such a thing). I hope you all have wonderful days and weeks to come, and I'll blog you later.

All Aboard the Struggle Bus

Come join me in my struggle today as I talk about what I hope is a shared helplessness. Today I wanted to talk about that one class we all have where we feel like Miley Cyrus will become clean and wholesome again before we do one thing right. This is going to be general advice for literally any class because if Brian from "The Breakfast Club" taught us anything it's that there is no such thing as "easy A" class.

To get the ball rolling, I'll share my experiences that inspired this post. It could've been a subplot in a mediocre high school genre film, an intelligent girl who never had any real problems with her core classes (me) decides to take a Jewelry class just for fun. As the class begins working on projects, she slowly starts to realize that she is really bad at drilling, and then sawing, and later filing. She tries to correct her mistakes, but nothing is making a large difference. The hard truth of it is, she is struggling in this class. She feels incompetent, and embarrassed. The academic confidence she once had has dissolved into nothingness, leaving her feeling seemingly weak and alone.

Me in jewelry class. Image courtesy of Barkpost.

But seriously guys, I am terrible at jewelry making, and the drill press is the worst part. As my friend Natalie nicely put it "The drill press is the bane of Allison's existence." How should I put this, I would rather write a twenty page essay on my experiences with watching paint dry than use the drill press one more time. It doesn't help that when I'm using it people are usually forming a line behind me. Those people are not really interested in how big of a challenge it is for me, they just want to drill there holes and get on with their lives. I mean who cares if I'm completely paralyzed by fear of the power tool they entrust to 9th graders (because we are supposedly so mature now. I'm trying really hard, but I'm not even living up to my own, now severely lowered, standards.

What I imagine my conversations with my art teacher are going to be like. Image courtesy of EpicPinterestFail.

  So clearly I'm having problems, but how do I, or you for that matter, fix that? my suggestion, find one part of it that you can do even slightly well, and maybe something that you enjoy. If you can focus on that, your life int that class might be easier (no promises in cases like mine), and less miserable.

This beacon of hope for me in my jewelry class is refining our pieces. This means sanding by hand for literally over an hour, and then using the buffing machine, which, by the way has scalped people. All this, just to make it look shiny. Sounds terrible, but I love it, I might even go as far as saying that I'm good at it. On a more social note, I also have good friends in that class (shout out to Sam and Franzi). They keep me from going insane, or should I say more insane.

Well, this is the end for now, but kudos to those who actually made it to the end of this post. Special thanks to my mom for at least trying to understand why I continually embarrass myself on the internet. And finally, none of this would be possible without viewers like you, thank you (PBS reference). Talk you you dorks later (even sooner if you comment on this post)!

The Only Good Reason To Destroy a Book

As the title of this post may tell you, at this point in time I believe there is only one good reason to destroy a book. Give me some time, and I could probably think of more, but for now the only reason is for it to be in the name of arts and crafts. You might be thinking, "That's nice Allison, but what does that have to do with us?" Well, today I'm showing you what I think is the book DIY to end all other book DIYs, the jewelry box book! This project is a little bit challenging and time consuming, but worth the effort.

Also a great for hiding that stash of junk food your parents don't know about.

First, you're going to need some supplies. The most obvious of course, is hardcover book you are willing to cut apart. Mine was a discard from the school library with about 300 pages. Keep details like these in mind when picking your book, it needs to be deep enough to hold your jewelry, but it can be hard to make if the book is extremely long. Next, you're going to need an x-acto knife to cut out the center of your book. You can find them at Michaels, but if you have never used one before, watch this safety video (you can skip the first part about the parts of the knife), and use this practice sheet first. I'm not going to get into the graphic details, but x-acto knives are dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Last on our mandatory list is mod podge. As always, there are infinite possibilities for other supplies to decorate your book including: patterned paper, stickers, and ribbon.

Next, measure an inch border around your pages as an outline for where to cut. I was able to cut through at least five pages each time, and more if I went over my cuts multiple times. Try to keep all the pages lined up as you cut to keep an even border. Use a binder clip to keep the pages you already cut out connected to your cover, and out of the way. Also, once I got about half way I decided to start working from the back so I didn't have to worry about the pages I already cut getting in my way. This is the most time consuming part of the project so stay patient. Your inside may not be perfect, but that's okay.

I don't even think I need a jewelry box, but I guess it's never really about what I need.

Now, if you wanted to put patterned paper over the cover, this is the time to do it. I like to cut mine about an inch longer than what I need around each edge so I can fold them down and glue them to the other side to prevent the paper from peeling up. Next, glue all your pages together with mod podge by coating all the sides including the newly created inside. Make sure that while your back cover is glued down to create your bottom, the front cover remains unstuck. I coated everything twice just to be sure. Wait for it to dry, and your done!

I hope you enjoy your jewelry box, and if you want to see the original video click here. Check out my new page filled with other things I have made, and watch out for the occasional poll. Feel free to comment, and leave suggestions. See you wonderful freaks later!

Polished to Perfection

Only some of my many creations.

So, If you guys know me, then you you might know that I really like doing nail art. It might've been frustrating for me at first, but the more I got the hang of it, the more calming it became for me. Not only that, but I love the satisfaction it gives me when someone asks me where I got my nails done, and their amazement spreads through their eyes as I tell them that I did them myself. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I think I have gotten pretty good at creating fingertip masterpieces. I did not however start out that way, it took a lot of practice, and a lot of failed attempts before I was able to make creations like those to the left. Working my way from easier designs to harder ones was really good practice, so I wanted to share some of the designs that got me started. And for you male readers out their (here I am hoping you exist), don't be afraid to grab you sister's nail polish and try it out, it may not seem like it, but it is an art form, and girls will be impressed by your nail painting skills.

1. Seeing Spots

I lined my dots up in an alternating pattern, but you can also make it random.

To start, I would like to apologize for using fake nails to show these designs, I didn't feel like taking off the design I already had on my fingers. Plus,  it was easier to take pictures that way. First paint your nails a solid color of your choosing (I feel that goes without saying for all of these designs). Then, to create the dots, you can put a blob of polish on a napkin, or any piece of paper, and dip the end of a bobby pin in. You can also use a tooth pick by repeatedly dipping the end in polish and letting it dry to create a rounded tip. To make your dots look three dimensional, start by placing black dots first, then placing more dots slightly offset of the black ones to make it look like a shadow. I use white dots on top for the best results.

 2. Beautiful Burst

I have loved this design with every base coat I've tried.

 This design takes very little time, and looks beautiful after a little practice. After your base color is dry, begin your burst by making a a curved line from the corner of you nail outwards using a striping tool, thin craft brush, or even a tooth pick dipped in polish. Repeat this to make the burst. After my first color, I added to more layers in different colors (white, and gold glitter), alternating where they were placed.

3. Fancy Flowers

I made this one simple, but you can add more flowers, or even vines.

This design is almost a combination of the last two. Start by adding five dots in a circle on top of you base color. To make the lines in the center of the petals like you see in real flowers, drag a toothpick, or a pencil through the polish, starting in the middle of the petal and ending in the center of the flower. Make a dot, or add a rhinestone to the center of your flower, and add leaves on the sides with a toothpick to complete it.

I hope you try all of these, and play with these ideas to make them even better. It can be frustrating at first, but the more you try, the better you will get. If you want more beginner's nail art designs, MissJenFabulous on YouTube has an entire playlist, and adds another video every month. Make sure to vote on the new poll on my sidebar, and check out the new page filled with DIYs I made that are too easy to blog about. Thanks for reading!

Vacation Procrastination

We all do it. In fact, that's exactly what I'm doing right now. I am in Las Vegas until Sunday for a dance competition (Youth America Grand Prix), and I have decided to write in impromptu blog post instead of finishing the essay due in just a couple of days. When you are on a vacation, you put off doing your homework as long as you can, and often times until the journey back home. This is the definition of unnecessary stress. While I understand wanting to relax on your vacation, ruining the end by cramming all your homework into the last day puts a negative spin on those good vibes you had during your trip. Here are some of the best ways to keep up with school and paradise without one dominating the other. Bonus, I am determined to only use images from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, so enjoy.

1. Find The In Between Moments

Image courtesy of The Prospect

During a vacation you will always have those moments of pause before you head to your next adventure. If you have half an hour because your mom couldn't stop taking pictures around the hotel, then use that time to read your textbook, finish an essay, or hey, write a blog post. Even if you only have two minutes you can finish a math problem or two. Little by little your workload is lightened and your sense of accomplishment grows. I know I am proud of myself when I finish my homework early (for me that means not in the last minute before class).


2. Car Rides

Image courtesy of Blogramme.

Although I just said no to leave all you homework for the car ride home, I didn't say you couldn't do some of it then. Not to mention, if you are capable of completing assignments on your way home, then you can do it on the way there too. I don't recommend this if you get car sick easily. Also and advantage of the road is the constant access to gas stations and their candy. Sometimes I will reward/bribe myself with candy to get my homework done. One Reese's Piece at the end of each paragraph sounds like a good deal to me. I don't recommend that if you are allergic to peanut butter.

3. Makeup Work

Bueller? Bueller? Image courtesy of Bitcointalk

This is a big one guys. I know it's hard to accept the consequences of playing hooky, but unless you want to spend the rest of the quarter digging yourself out of a hole, it has to be done. Of all my vacationing sins, this is the one I am most often guilty of. Half the time, I don't even check Canvas before I go back to school. This always backfires, and is one of the most obvious things that needs to be done. I understand the frustration that comes with being sick, and not completing your math assignments while feeling like you've just eaten a carton of rotten eggs and went back for seconds. I understand that, but everyone is guilty.

Well I hope you all keep these tips in mind for the upcoming winter break. I also hope you aren't getting tired of Ferris Bueller, I know I'm not (please help, I may be a little obsessed)! Also, if you want to prove to me that you readers are existent, and are not just ghosts, then try commenting, or following this blog.

Just kidding, you guys should go read my other posts. Image courtesy of Wikia .

Five Movies I Watch On Loop

There are some things that just never get old. No matter how many times I watch these five movies (five like five out of five stars), I can't wait for the next socially acceptable time to watch them again (My brothers keep track of how often I watch them). If you haven't seen these, I know all of them are on Netflix, all praise the mighty god of procrastination.

1. Rent

Original image courtesy of Theater Mania, super cool quote added by yours truly.

 How do you measure a year? I personally think you can measure it in how many times that song has gotten stuck in my head. I just recently watched Rent for the first time over break, and I have already memorized the lyrics to all the songs. First on Broadway, this musical is about eight people struggling to live their lives in New York. With AIDS, drugs, and swearing, this is an inappropriate movie at times, but it's worth watching if you haven't.

2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Crushable, you're my hero, for providing this image.

Has anybody else seen this movie? Anybody? Bueller? This is the story of a senior in high school who takes an unscheduled ditch day with his best friend and girlfriend, all while avoiding the determined principal. It is incredibly clever, and I appreciate its humor more each time I watch it. If you haven't watched it you are missing out on a classic, not mention all references you haven’t understoood. Stay until the end of the credits and there is an extra scene that made me laugh the first time I saw it.

3. Phantom of the Opera

Original picture from Love to Know

Yet another classic. The story follows a girl who has a unique bond with the so called "Phantom of the Opera." Who knew murder and love stories went so well together? Trick question, everyone already knew that. My two favorite parts are the Phantom and the music: the music will haunt you for hours after you watch it, and the Phantom's complex character will give you conflicted feelings that will last twice as long.

4. The Breakfast Club

Original image courtesy of MyBlogTho.

A band of high school students from all different social groups are all called to detention. While all seems stereotypical on the surface, each has something they are struggling to deal with inside. You don’t know how involved in the story you get until suddenly it’s the ending. On the topic of the ending, it's perfect. Just when you think that there is so much left to say, all is resolved, and you will want to begin clapping (even though you’re alone in you house watching Netflix).

5. Grease

Let's go get this from IAmTypeCast

 You all know the story one way or another, The popular, cool guy meets the innocent new girl. They find what looks to be love, but in order to keep it they must overcome their social status quos. All this, and it's a musical! This movie gives you the full high school experience with prom, spontaneous music breaks, and teen pregnancies!

I hope you all decide to check these movies out. Quick warning, make sure you know what you're watching; some of these movies if not all are inappropriate and have swearing. Be sure to add me to your blogger reading list to know exactly when I post, because that isn't creepy. I'll see you all after this weekend's movie marathon! (P.S. If haven't viewed at least three of these movies by Monday then you're not even allowed to look at me.)