Connections- "It's a Small World After All!"

Life is all about meeting people; making connections and making friendships with them. A lot of times, I'm quiet when I first meet people, or feel awkward, but once I get to know people, I'm fine. Lately, or I guess it has been a process that God has been working with me over the course of the past several years that I have started coming out of my shell more. So many wonderful opportunities have come from getting to know other people, and so many great friendships have come from not holding back.In no way am I saying use people! That's the last thing I'm trying to say, because that's wrong. I'm
just saying it's cool getting to know people from other places, and aren't necessarily always like you. It makes things more interesting that way.

It has been so cool to get to hear so many incredible stories of where people are from, who they know (there are a lot of musicians at our church that have shared some pretty cool things they've been able to do; touring with bands as drummers, guitarists, and backup singers/meeting other artists; one guy from our church's band was even featured on an episode of One Tree Hill-his music was), learning about their families, etc. It's just funny finding out who knows who...One of my friends told us about his connections to Kris Allen, Edens Edge, and Lee DeWyze..which I thought was super cool! Some other friends also like to keep us informed with things about Disneyland and other premieres and events that happen in LA. And apparently I'm related to some guy that was in the Grand Ole Opry back when it first started, Uncle Dave Macon...LOL; so you just never know! Then, of course there have been other connections on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr where I have learned so much about other states, things that are going around in that area, and the people that live in them; what's important to them, and places to check out if I'm ever in the area.

I love meeting new people! It may make me a little nervous at times, but ultimately I love it. Now I can say I have all different kinds of friends with different interests, from different states, but usually we've been bonded together by music. It's a universal love and connects us, and we find later on that we have more in common. It's amazing! :D And I'm thankful for all of the friendships I've made whether through social networking, church, school, or on vacation! It has been an exciting ride, and I can't wait to see who else I meet along the journey of life.

Past Events

Here are a couple pictures from back in the day of Hilary Duff! We went to the Lizzie McGuire movie premiere and Cheaper by the Dozen premiere. Good times, good times :)

Cheaper by the Dozen premiere

Lizzie McGuire movie! More pics than this, but they wouldn't fit on the page! Lol.

October is Here!

Today is October 1, and finally, it is starting to feel a little more like fall. I walked outside this morning, and there was a cool, brisk air blowing; so nice! That means it is time for festive decor, leaves changing color, cooler weather, pumpkin flavored treats, and Halloween. Fall is such a beautiful time of year! There's something fresh in the air that reminds us to keep going and finish the year out strong, no matter how hard the other months might have been. It feels like Fall makes us slow down a little more before all of the main holidays come around.

This is my new wallpaper in honor of the season :)

Lauren Conrad posted some great Fall craft ideas on her blog the other day; I would love to try some out! I'm really into going all out for whatever the occasion may be, so I hope to try out some of these great ideas. Go big or go home, right? Here's the link:

http://www.laurenconrad.com/post/tuesday-ten-lets-get-crafty

That's all for now,
Shelby

P.S- What's the weather like in your neck of the woods? Any traditions around fall time you'd like to share?

"I'm Intimidated by the Fear of Being Average"-Taylor Swift

This is how I feel. I don't want to be just another face in the crowd; I'm tired of blending in, everyone forgetting who I am, and feeling like as soon as I leave somewhere, that I haven't made a lasting impact on the city or the people I've met there. It's time for me to find what makes me different from everyone else and focus on that! We were all made for something special. Each of us has a talent and plan from God if we will follow through with it. It's time to keep going forward with that :)

It's Finally Friday

Thank goodness for Fridays! According to studies, it has been shown that people are happier on Fridays...at least that's what Joel Osteen said, and he wouldn't lie! Anyway, today was great, and I'm glad this week is over! Homework is annoying, but it has been a productive week and I'm on the right track for what I need to and want to do. I only had one class today, won meet and greets for Kellie Pickler tomorrow, ran errands with my mom, ran to Home Goods for something to do, had lunch at Chipotle, and decorated our house for Halloween since tomorrow is the first day of October! It's crazy how time just seems to keep flying by!

Hilary Duff on her birthday!!

I sent some pictures of Humphrey Bogart to my best friend who loves him! ;)

Thought this was a cute outfit!!

Mom made smoothies last night

I want to go to Disneyland for Halloween, sounds fun!!

 Some things I found at Home Goods:

Christmas decorations! ah! It's just around the corner...

the car wash lol

Picture I'm gonna have Kelly sign of us at CMA Fest :)

Here's my weekly video blog update! Enjoy...LOL.

 

My New Obsession: One Tree Hill

It doesn't usually take long for me to become obsessed with something, if I'm going to be obsessed at all. Usually I'm either all into it or I'm not at all, and completely bored. If I don't like a movie within the first few minutes (at home), more than likely I'm gonna turn it off and do something else. But, when I get hooked, I'm all into it for months and months on end, then move to the next phase.Well, it looks like a new one has hit, and it's One Tree Hill.

I had tried to watch a couple episodes back in the day, when I was into Chad Michael Murray, but wasn't into it. I think it probably had to do with the fact that I was only in like 6th grade, and a lot of the things they were dealing with didn't apply to me at all...well, flash forward a few years, and I'm at the age group that they are on the show. I was hooked within the first ten minutes with the characters, setting, and storyline in general. It's so profound and insightful; it really is all about life and they don't sugarcoat anything or hold back. What I'm starting to love most about Haley and Nathan's relationship is how real it is. Most of the time in shows and movies it's all that sweet fluff, where everything works out perfectly, but theirs shows how two people can still love each other so much, but things can get really bad and messed up at the same time. I really need the first season, so I can start from the beginning, and watch as the characters grow and mature!

Right now, I'm actually talking to one of my friends on Tumblr; she lives near Wilmington, North Carolina, where the show is filmed, and she's been an extra on the show. She's telling me some stories of what it was like and all that! Pretty cool stuff :) I'm fascinated with behind the scenes information. I've heard Wilmington is a beautiful town! My aunt and uncle live in South Carolina now, and I'm really looking forward to visiting sometime soon to get that small town feel, or like I'm stuck in a Nicholas Sparks book ;) Haha.

Well, that is all for today. Until next time,
Shelby

If Life Were a Movie...

I'm a big Hollywood junkie, anyone who talks to me five minutes will know this! And while I'm not a big movie junkie, I wish I was. There are SOOOO many movies (and classics) I have yet to see; I end up sticking to Disney, family or chick flick genre. They just make me feel good!

Anyway, I have this problem with daydreaming, as if my life were a movie. I get to pick the setting, the people that I associate with, the wardrobe and everything else...I get to call the shots, and escape reality for a little while. I guess that's probably why I fell in love with writing and stories from an early age. A pen is the best weapon to have in my opinion, and also one of the funnest ways to use your imagination. It helps you save those daydreams, and who knows, maybe one day they'll turn that idea you had into a book or TV show?

So, I always think about the dream cast I would love to work with, or who would I cast to play my family and friends if they ever made a movie about my life...why? Maybe I have too much time on my hands, but also because I think it's fun. Why not?

Here's a list of people I wouldn't mind working with or would cast in my fake life/daydream:

• Steve Martin
• Steve Carrell
• Shane West
• Patrick Dempsey
• Josh Duhamel
• Ryan Reynolds
• Matthew Perry
• Sandra Bullock
• Reese Witherspoon
• Jennifer Aniston
• John Stamos
• Miley Cyrus
• Demi Lovato
• Emily Osment (I've been told I look like her, so I guess she could play me)
• Carrie Underwood (She could play an older version of me-hahahah I wish!)

Who would your dream cast be? Or who do you imagine playing the parts of friends/family in daydreams sometimes?

That's all for now,
Shelby <3

September 27

Today. Not much happened. Went to school, worked on homework, a story I'm working on, and now it's time for a little TV...Gotta love Fall right?

Kelly Clarkson's New Music Video-"Mr. Know It All"

I think all girls can relate to this song in some way or another! It has such a great empowering message. It makes you  feel like you can sing back to all those people that think they know everything there is to know about you, (the ones that try to put you down, when they don't know your story) and say "Ya know what? You don't know it all! You can't do anything to stop me from going after what I want."
We can do anything, and nothing can stop us from going after what we want. We can't let small people belittle our dreams or us as people. The only opinions that should matter are our friends and family. I LOVE Kelly, and this video is amazing. Her attitude is great; she has so much sass. Midway through, if event that long, you'll be making the same facial expressions and bobbing your head along with her! I'm so excited to hearing the rest of the album when it comes out in October! :D

http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/09/26/kelly-clarkson-mr-know-it-all-video/

Moving Forward

Yesterday, I had a really great meeting with my counselor at the community college I go to. We went over the credits I have so far, what I need, and basically where I want to go when I transfer. I'm a sophomore at the moment, and found out that I'll be graduating in MAY! I can't even believe it. I will still technically have to be out there another semester for math, but I'll be able to apply to the university in town in April of next year, and by the time everything goes through it'll be ready for the Winter semester in 2013. In a perfect world, I would love to go to Belmont in Nashville, TN, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
It seems a little far off, but so close at the same time. I finally feel like I'm getting extremely close to what I've always wanted to do. Of course, I'd love to be singing, acting, and even doing some writing...but, right now, this is what I'm meant to be doing. I'm on the right track, and whatever else comes my way, I'll be ready for it.

Last Week/The Weekend

 Friday:

Worked on speech on the Grand Ole Opry

Watched the Iheart Radio event on the big screen

YUM!

My friend sent me this of Ian Harding from PLL LoL.

Last week was busy with school as always. I haven't been doing much else other than school. This past weekend was rather interesting...But it turned out to be a lot of fun!

Saturday: I got Taylor Swift's perfume, Wonderstruck, that smells amazing! Ran some other errands with my parents, went on a bike ride with my dad, and we stayed home the rest of the night. It was a fun day!

Christmas stuff is already out! It's not even Halloween yet!

My Taylor perfume kit

My cat was scared of the bottle lol

Sunday:

We went to church, then had lunch at BJ's which was good. Not too long after, we went to the movies to see Dolphin Tale. It was such a cute movie, and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, the newcomer of the cast, did an incredible job. She's such a natural! After the movie, we went up to my grandpa's for dinner and hanging out. It was a good time :)

My fried artichoke from BJ's ...so good!!

I so wish this was true! I love them together :)

 Looked at some interior design magazines my grandma had on her coffee table and took pictures of some of the rooms I liked!

I want a place like this!!!

Love this backyard.

Great summer house ;)

 

We could all use some reminding of this! I know I sure did...some things just aren't worth it.  God will take care of it in the right timing!

That's all for now,
Shelby