A Few Questions

Alright, so while I was sick I got a little restless and decided to look through my book of questions. I found some of the ones I thought were best, and answered them...Enjoy! HAHA. 

What singer would you like to duet with? 

Taylor Swift hands down!

What TV character do you think is most like you?

I would say a mixture of Rory Gilmore and Haley James Scott

"Behind the Scenes" look: where would you like to have it? 

There are a lot of processes I love seeing come together, like how tours work out, how movies are made, how shows film, etc. I think I'd really like to go on tour with Taylor Swift and just see how she does it night after night and what it takes to put on a show like that in so many cities and countries like she does. I'd like to visit Warner Brothers during a filming of one of their movies to see how long it takes, how actors get into character, etc. And I've seen how shows are filmed, but I'd like to be on set helping out with everything and to watch a drama being filmed, because they shoot differently than sitcoms. 

What is your favorite website?

I'm obsessed with Bethany Galeotti's blog at the moment! She always posts the most inspiring things whether it's having to do with fashion or just some thoughts she came up with. I love just reading Tumblr and seeing all the random things people post, Pinterest for the same reasons, and Style Me Pretty (a wedding blog that has the best ideas). I'm a little too into the web sometimes.

During which movie did you cry the most?

I think that would be The Notebook, because it reminded me of my grandparents. I cry during a lot of movies though, LOL.

What movie or TV prop or piece of memorabilia would you like to own?

For movie, I would want to own something from Titanic, 13 Going on 30, or Sweet Home Alabama. From a TV show, I would definitely want something from Gilmore Girls. That has been my favorite TV show since I was about 12 or 13, and it has made a huge impact on my life. More recently, I would want something from One Tree Hill!

Do you believe soul mates meet by accident or destiny?

I'm not sure if I totally believe in soul mates, but if they are out there then I'd say they meet by destiny. I think if two souls are meant to be together, nothing and no one could stand in the way of them meeting.

What public figure has inspired you?

I've been inspired by a lot of people in the industry for a lot of different reasons. First, it was LeAnn Rimes, the Olsen Twins, and Hilary Duff. Then, Taylor Swift came out and she was IT. She's the main one that inspires me, but I also really admire Carrie Underwood and Bethany Galeotti. I have a lot in common with both of them as well.

Ten years from today what will you wish you had done by now?

In 10 years, I will be 29...WHOA! I hope to have a job in the entertainment industry, whether it's writing, reporting, singing, or acting. I hope to have made a positive impact in the media and the lives of others in some way or another. I also hope to be settled down or to at least have found "the one", and to be ready to start a family. Basically, I just hope to be on the path that God has planned for me.

What have you learned from your past?

I've learned not to be so hard on myself, to not care so much about what others think and to not let them control my happiness. 

Will God answer your prayers?

God always answers our prayers! It might not always be what we want to hear, but he hears them and gives us an answer back at some point.

When you look at someone who is hugely successful, do you think of him or her as a lucky person who was in the right place at the right time?

No, I don't think luck has anything to do with it. I think those successful people are the ones that treat others right, work hard, and don't think that they're entitled to anything. I think the right opportunities and the right people come along to help them, because that's how the plan was supposed to go for them. The ones that are the most successful and talented are usually the ones with the kindest hearts. Look at Taylor Swift!

What is your favorite way of wasting time?

Probably looking at Facebook and Twitter....

My Purpose in Life

All of my life I've known what I wanted to do, or at least the department I wanted to get into. When I was 5, I wanted to be a singer (and I still do), but as life goes on you realize you need an actual profession to get you through. I've always had a huge passion for writing, and for a long time that was what I wanted to do as well. I guess I've never limited myself or have never seen myself doing just one thing the rest of my life; more like incorporating all the things I love into one really awesome job. For as long as I can remember, I knew exactly what I was going to major in when I got to college: Journalism.

But, as I started taking classes for that, I started having my doubts. Was that really what I'm supposed to be doing? It feels like I'm taking all these classes for absolutely nothing. Then, I started praying about it, and I asked for friends and the Young Adults group at church to pray as well. And lately, I've started to get my answer. I want my voice to be heard...I have a lot to say, but I can't always speak it as well as I can write it.  I want to tell other people's stories, and I never realized how interested I am in everyone's backgrounds until recently. I want to know more about the people that I'm close with, like what made them who they are? Why do they act the way they do? What were they like as kids? Everyone has a history, and I want to tell it in a unique, honest way. I think there are ways of telling the truth about a tough situation, without being too blunt or heartless about it. There's a way to show compassion through words and to paint a picture of sincerity through them.

I want to be the kind of Journalist like Diane Sawyer is. She's interested in whoever she's interviewing; she answers the hard hitting questions that everyone wants to know, but she does it like a friend would. You can tell she genuinely cares about what that person has to say, rather than just being determined to get an answer. I want to make an impact like Oprah did; I know there will never be another Oprah, but I want to talk about bigger issues than just who wore what or Jennifer Aniston's latest hairstyle. I think Journalism should be more than that, and it should help people feel like they're not alone in life, with the issues we face, because it's not an easy task. I want to approach topics or interviews with a light heart, to not focus on just getting the answer, but more to focus on getting to know the people in front of me...to tell their story the way they would, and the way they might not be able to. I want to help people find the good, even in sucky situations.

So, maybe I'm still wondering exactly what I'm going to end up doing after college, but now I do have a better idea. I know that journalism is a career that I want to have. I'd really like to work somewhere fun like a magazine or newspaper in the entertainment area. Maybe my own editorial on the "it" thing of the moment, like TV shows, music and movies. And I'm also starting to be more comfortable with the idea of doing a TV show and actually being in front of the camera. These are just a few ideas I have in mind, but I know that whatever God has planned is going to be sooooo much better. I'm just getting warmed up to His ideas.

That's all for now,
Shelby
xoxox

What're you doing New Years Eve?

New Years is such an exciting time! I thought I would make a collage
showcasing the beauty of it! I also love the dressing up, though,
I usually don't go anywhere that requires dressing fancy like
the above picture shows. I've always had a thing for the sparkle,
but what girl doesn't? It's a great time to say goodbye
to the great memories, the bad memories and look
forward to whatever lies ahead. It's scary and extremely exciting!
I don't have any plans for the weekend as of now, but as long
as I'm with the ones I love most that's all that matters.

That's all for now,
Shelby

Christmas Vacation Quotes

Christmas Vacation has always been a family favorite this time of year! In fact, we love pretty much all of the "Vacation" movies because something hilarious is bound to happen when Chevy Chase is behind the wheel of the vehicle.
I watched the movie so many times this year; I can pretty much quote most of the main lines ;) haha.

Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old fashioned Christmas.

Clark: Dad, you taught me everything I know about exterior illumination.

Aunt Bethany: Is your house on fire Clark?
Clark: No, Aunt Bethany those are Christmas lights!

Clark: Can I refill your eggnog? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I'm doing just fine Clark.

Eddie: Clark, Audrey's frozen from the waist down.
Clark: That's all part of the experience, honey.

Clark: I dedicate this house to the Griswold family Christmas.

Ellen: I don't know what else to say except it's Christmas and we're all I'm misery...

Clark: All my life I've wanted to have a big family Christmas!

If you haven't seen this movie...do it. What are you waiting for? Although you might want to watch the TV version, because Chevy Chase goes off a little bit towards the end LOL.

That's all for now,
Shelby

Christmas Memories

Christmas Memories- Alabama (great song, especially for a slideshow)

I have so many wonderful memories and traditions that have taken place at Christmastime, from the traditional things like leaving out a plate of milk and cookies for Santa, Christmas plays, and Christmas lights to trips with the family and other original moments. So many magical things happen in December, because it's the time of year that we can all feel like kids again, no matter what age.

Here are a few of my favorite memories:

• Opening a present every Christmas Eve, usually at 5:00 sharp; all day I would stare at the clock waiting for it to be that time.
• Being in church and school Christmas plays...that was always a HUGE deal for me!
• Putting up Christmas decorations right before Thanksgiving the past few years
• Hanging the Christmas lights the day after Thanksgiving
• Going to CALM to look at lights with the Newtons
• Ice skating with my best friends freshmen year of high school
• Reciting "The Night Before Christmas" when I was about five, and everyone was so impressed that I could remember it
• When my aunt, uncles, and cousins from Utah visited and we were gone practically all of Christmas week. We went to LA, the beach, and had an AMAZING time.
• My grandma and grandpa's house all decorated like Santa's Toyshop practically when they were here. We'd watch Christmas movies, have a fire going, and doing all sorts of festive things
• Baking cookies at my aunt's house after finals one day, my sophomore year of high school
• Christmas parties in elementary school and Jr. Hi
• Going to Disneyland at Christmas
• Singing George Strait's "New Kid in Town", and every year saying we'd record it for Grandma. Well....now I'll never get a chance to :*(
• Making a gingerbread house and Christmas music videos with my best friend a couple years ago
• Driving around to look at Christmas lights usually in the same neighborhood every year
• Hollywood Christmas parade this year
• Christmas Eve service the past couple years
• When we used to get together at my aunt's apartment every year. We'd eat something like a platter from Subway, open presents, play the "find the pickle in the tree" game, and just enjoy being together
• Watching all the holiday episodes of my favorite shows
• Doing "Secret Santa" with my best friends

As you can see, I could go on and on....These are just a few I could remember off the top of my head! I love Christmastime, and it will always be a big deal for me. 

That's all for now,

Shelby 

xoxox

What are some of your favorite holiday memories?

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas-may your days be merry and bright!"

Christmas Eve:
I went to Denny's for breakfast with my parents, which was great. I was able to showcase my Kardashian impressions, and we had a lot of laughs. The rest of the day was devoted to squeezing in last minute preparations for the next day (baking, cleaning, etc.) That night we had dinner with my aunt at this amazing Mexican restaurant in town, that was all dressed up for Christmas, and went to the Christmas Eve service at church where my other aunt and uncle met us. It was about making room for Jesus, despite the hustle and bustle of the "holiday season". We came back to our house for presents, then a couple of my cousins came over for a few hours. I haven't seen them in so long, so it was great for all of us to catch up. I had such a fun time :)

The jello salad

decorations at Mexicali

The coolest thing ever...this was a result of the steam from the tea pot on top of the plate

Me and my cousins

Christmas Day:
I actually woke up a lot earlier than I thought I would yesterday morning. My parents and I opened presents, then watched the Disney Christmas parade (It's a tradition). I was really lazy at getting ready, but I finally got around to it. Pretty soon, the family was filing in and the house was filled with talking and laughing. I love it when we all just come together; it doesn't really matter what we're doing. The guys watched basketball and football, the girls talked at the kitchen table, and I was went back and forth between the two the entire time. And we ate...A LOT. I felt like I was eating all day, but who cares? I was sick several days before that, so I was making up for it. I went to bed very grateful for all that I have and for my entire family, because I don't know where I'd be without them. We have our ups and downs, and our annoying habits, but we're family; we stick by each other through thick and thin.

drinking coffee out of my new mug

You have NO idea how excited I am for this!!!!!!!

Our technology party

Me and my cousin!!

You have no idea how many takes it took to get a good one...this wasn't it...lol.

Watching one of my favorite episodes of OTH on my new MAC ;)

Hope your Christmas was filled with a lot of love, laughter, and many blessings!

Love,
Shelby

"It's a different kind of Christmas, in a different kind of world. Even though it looks the same, everything has changed. It's a different kind of Christmas!" ~LeAnn Rimes~

I can't believe that another Christmas season has already come and gone. It seems like it was just beginning, and here we all are preparing to bring in a new year in just a week. Christmas is such a wonderful time, and has always been my favorite time of year of celebrating Jesus' birth, everyone being together making memories, parties, festive outfits, food, lights, cute movies, and presents. I'm only 19 years old, but I think back to Christmases as a kid and how everything was magical and beautiful.

However, as you get older, you experience more; you learn about heart break, pain, and a darkness of the world that you never see as a kid. Sometimes Christmas loses a sense of wonder and excitement that you used to know at five. But, I think that's when we lose sight of what's important. Maybe that's our reminder that everything doesn't have to be perfect the way we think it ought to be in our minds (I know mine is pretty unrealistic most of the time). Christmas might not be the same as when we were little, due to the loss of loved ones, we've strayed on our walk with God, we've become greedy, bitter, and obsessed with what's under the tree rather than why we have a tree in our living room in the first place. I think when we get our priorities right, everything else just sort of falls into place.

I'm sure as most of us have learned by now, nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. Things change very often, and we're always on our toes wondering what's going to happen next. With every season of our life comes a great change, and the Christmas season is no different. So, maybe this Christmas wasn't exactly what it has been in the past, but out of that new traditions can spark. Something really beautiful can come out of something that you'd never expect a good situation out of. I know that's what has happened to me the past couple of years. I used to get really disappointed when things didn't go the way I'd planned all along in my mind, but now I think of it as an adventure, and it has worked out really beautifully.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, despite what circumstances might have occurred this year.

With Love,
Shelby