… so there's that.

Good day! Funny how I call myself a blogger, yet haven't blog in like… A month? Wow.

I honestly hate when people start saying all these excuses for not blogging. SO INSTEAD, I shall catch you up on the latest notable happenings in my life and any randomness that comes to mind. Bear with me, this might get weird.

- I gooooot glasses! Cute, huh? I love them and feel so hipster. Just saying.

- These last two weeks of my life have been totally consumed by school. Literally, that's all I've done the past 14 days. Yesterday, after finishing school at 3:30, I mentioned to my mom that uhh, I don't think I'd left the house all week. Not even a run. AWHAAT? Needless to say, I felt a little restless and went for a run and came back feeling so refreshed.

- OOH! I'm done with 9th grade in about a week and a half. 'Nuff said.

- Since my last blog post, I turned 15! Yah, ima old fart now.

-Last weekend, I had my first "photography gig"! I was invited to photograph a Purity Ceremony for my youth group. It was so cool being able to document this huge commitment so many teens were making to keep themselves pure until marriage. It's like a "marriage before marriage" sorta thing! Anyways, I had a blast taking pictures! My friend even let me take a picture of his shnazzy bow tie. Cool kid. 

- I've had issues battling the Evil Acne for years. All those washes and face creams at whatnot do nothing for my skin. In fact, I've seen my skin get WORSE after getting on meds. Wonderful. A few weeks ago, I had a total meltdown. My skin was so bad and swollen that it hurt, and I felt so gross and ugly, I wouldn't leave the house. I realized something really needed to change and it needed to change FAST. SO I went to the last resort. DIET. Yes, I, the sugar-loving, carb-craving freakazoid went on a diet. No sugar, dairy, or gluten for… Well, as long as I could deal, I guess. I'm still kind of on it and I have seen a bit of an improvement! One step closer, I guess!

- So here's a thought. Since I'm so horrible about keeping up with this blog, I was thinking I might do a weekly blog post on the baking blog. You know. Kinda like this post, with whatever's going on in my life, pictures, stuff like that. Thoughts?


SOOOO.

… there's that.

How have you been? Thanks so much for keeping up with me! I apologize for being so sporadic, but know, I'm still very much alive and thankful for all my readers!

Google Reader to Bloglovin'

SOOOOO rumor has it, Google Reader is shutting down. Not super sure what this means for GFC, BUT just to be safe, head on over and follow me on Bloglovin' for all the updates. Follow my blog with Bloglovin' here.

just take it.

Sometime last week, I was talking with my best guy friend- who I actually consider my big brother and he's just so great to talk to. I seriously love having "deep" conversations with him and hearing from a guys' point of view about some things that us girls say or do. I've gotta say, the kid gives some pretty great advice from dealing with boy problems to what girls should wear! 

Anyways, he was saying how one of the things he HATES is when you compliment a girl and they reply with "Oh, no not really..." or "Yah, I know." He said that when someone compliments you, you should just take it, accept it, and say thank you instead of coming up with a million and one reasons to prove that persons compliment wrong or sound stuck up by saying "I know." 

I have to say that I'm guilty of this whole compliment business. When someone says "Oh Soph, you look skinny!" I sometimes say "Really? I feel so fat!" Or when they say I look pretty I want to say "Sure don't feel like it." Saying things like that come off as... insecure. 

Why is it you can't just take a compliment? I'm legitimately asking this question, pondering the answer myself. Is it because we're insecure deep inside? Is it a girl thing? Do we want more attention? Is our self-esteem running on low? Or all of the above? Shouldn't you feel GREAT when someone compliments you? After all, that's why they compliment you. To make you feel beautiful, not start a stinking argument. 

I started thinking about all this this week because a friend and I went and got makeovers and did a photoshoot. {I miiiiiiiight post some pictures soon :)} It was a fun experience, but I HATED how I looked in every picture. Everyone kept telling me "Oh Sophie, you look so beautiful!" when I honestly felt like I looked like a clown. I even told them that a couple times. Then I was reminded of the conversation with my friend and instantly just shut up. I was being too tough on myself, noticing little details that no one else would notice. The next day, I flipped through the pictures with a whole new mindset and my perspective had totally changed. Why? Because I chose to believe what others were telling me and accepted the compliments instead of shooting them down. 

Moral of the story: Be confident in yourself, tell yourself you're beautiful, and take compliments when they're given to you. 

you're beautiful.

If you're a Pinterest addict like me, I'm sure you're aware of all the ads. You know what I'm talking about... People claiming they have the "Top 10 Tips to Lose Those Last Pounds." or "How to Get a Bikini Body for Summer." followed by a buttload of diet plans and exercise charts that are SO incredibly unrealistic.

The stuff drives me nuts. Those ads really take a toll on a teenage girl's self esteem. HELLO, they're basically telling you to your face- if ya ain't skinny, ya ain't pretty.

After all, they're putting out images that aren't even REAL. Pictures of toothpick models that are airbrushed and photoshopped, giving us an unrealistic view of beauty. In my opinion, those models need a cupcake or ten. Beauty in the eyes of the world is perfect hair, perfect clear skin, and a skinny stature. That's a lot of pressure if you ask me.

I have to admit, some days when I look in the mirror I have thoughts like "You're not skinny enough." "Your skin is WAY too full of acne for anyone to ever like you." and of the like. Those thoughts of destruction weight down on my confidence and make me feel like CRAP! Like I'm not good enough.

Have you ever realized that when you feel better about yourself, when you feel confident and beautiful, that you LOOK beautiful on the outside too?

The world can see when you have low self-confidence. They can see the sadness on your face and the feelings of having no self worth bubbling up inside of you. And obviously, that's not the most attractive thing in a girl.

However... when they see a girl filled with true happiness and joy, with a big old grin on her face for no exact reason, THAT is beauty, whether she's skinny or not.

The great thing is about how God made us is that we're all different. Different shapes, sizes, heights, colors, different eye colors and hair. The list goes on. And that means that each one of us is beautiful in our own unique way. In a way that no one else on this earth could be. Isn't that so cool?

I don't care what other people say. You're beautiful. I'm beautiful. We're beautiful. Let it shine.


I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

sicky.

I woke up this morning with an esophagus so sore I could hardly swallow. 

My head throbbed. 

And my nose was all stuffy. 

I trudged out to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee to loosen things up. 

I don't do tea, people. It just tastes like watered down herbs. 

WHY WOULD YOU WANT THAT! Yuck. 

I was just sick a couple weeks ago with the exact same thing, but here I am again. 

I'm thankful that it's nothing more than a cold. 

I've been blessed in not having the stomach flu since I was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago! 

It's awesome. 

I'm taking the day off of school today. {hallelujah.}

Laying in bed. 

Lounging in my jammies.

Eating fruit.

Working on a new blog design for the baking blog.  

And spending stupid amounts of time on Pinterest and Instagram. 

This. It's what I do. 

Until this afternoon when I'll drag my sick butt out of bed for French class. 

Ha, that'll be great, I'm sure. 

Toodles,

sicky chicky 

freshest is the bestest.

I've talked about my "healthy" life here a lot, but I've never really... talked about it. 

If you follow my baking blog, you know I have quite the sugar intake. 

I seriously love sugar, I really do. 

But in the last year, I've realized what a lot of sugar does to me. 

It makes me feel sick, my face breaks out with {even more} acne, and my hunger isn't really satisfied. 

In the last months, I've become a little bit of a "health-nut" or as my brothers like to call it... 

 a "health nazi." 

I still eat sugar. I still eat carbs. 

And I still have days where I sit on the counter and shove my face with tea biscuits smothered in peanut butter. {I love those days.}

But I've come to have more of a balanced diet, low in calories, and high in fruits, veggies, fiber, and protein. 

When I first started watching what I ate, I had a lot of trouble "cutting things out". 

Turns out, that's just the issue. 

Totally cutting stuff out of your diet and depriving yourself makes it a million times harder. 

The trick is, cut down on refined carbs and sugar and only eat them every once in awhile. 

Now, it's not so much of a "diet." It's a lifestyle. 

I actually love healthy food and exercising. 

I'd rather have a yummy salad with chicken than a fat juicy burger and fries. 

I'd rather be outside and play basketball at youth group with the boys than sit inside with all the girls. 

Moral of the story: it takes a lot of time and self discipline. But eventually, it will become routine.

Let's talk about food... 

I try to set aside an afternoon each week to make ahead some healthy foods that I can have in the fridge for the week or at least a couple days. 

That way, when I have a packed day, I can throw some fruit salad and yogurt in a bowl for breakfast. Grab some already chopped up veggies and hummus for a snack. 

Or whole wheat pasta for lunch. 

My absolute FAVORITE breakfast right now is mixed fruit, plain yogurt, and granola.

It's super quick and easy, especially if you already have some fruit prepared. 

I'm also totally crazily addicted to hummus. I eat unhealthy amounts of the stuff. 

Which is great because I don't think there actually is an unhealthy amount. 

It's full of healthy fats and fiber!

My favorite way to eat it is with some chopped red peppers OR on top of dark rye crackers. 

That. is. the stuff. 

DETOX WATER! I love it. 

At first, when I saw ideas on Pinterest, I stuck my nose up at it and thought "Oh how nasty." 

But I tried it, and whooooooa, I'm not going back. 

It's super refreshing and great on a hot day. 

I make mine with slices of cucumbers and chunks of lemon. 

At youth group last night, I brought a water bottle filled with ice and cucumber/lemon water. My friends were all saying "EEEEEW! Gross! It probably tastes like watered down... cucumber."

Which is true. But it's good. 

Pheeew, I think that's all for now. 

I've got to go get ready to on a run with some friends tonight :) 

I'm coming back at you next week with part 2... Exercise! 

So stay tuned!

robot.

I feel like my life is becoming too routine. Like I'm going through the motions. 

To the point where I can hardly tell the difference between today and yesterday. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my life. But something has got to change. 

My day starts by waking up to the sound of birds chirping on the trees outside, roosters crowing, and cows mooing in the back of trucks that roll by.

After laying in bed for a couple minutes, relishing the cool moments of morning, I throw on a pair of yoga pants + a t shirt, grab my iPod + running shoes, and head out the door for a run. 

I go by the houses with the yummy smelling flowers. 

Wave to the cute little ladies walking together to work and the kids going to school. 

Be attacked by stupid dogs that jump fences. If their fence is even closed that is. 

I come back home all energized for my day ahead. Jump in the shower quick.

Scramble up a quick + healthy breakfast {preferably eggs and an apple. Or fruit, yogurt, and granola.} 

And by this time it's around 8:00.

I then turn on the water kettle to heat up some water. Spoon some instant coffee into my favorite mint colored coffee mug, and plant my tush on the couch to get some school done. 

This is where the issue is. I start my school day at 8 and trudge through until about noon when I take a lunch break. After lunch, I get back on the computer and finish school. And then on Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to French class at 2. A great excuse to get away from quizzes, essays, and tests. 

It's too routine. Every day is the same. 

In my free time, I bake, watch Food Network, hang out with my friends, or read. 

After dinner, our family sits down to watch some Duck Dynasty or American Pickers. Then I read and go to bed. 

And in 8 hours, it starts aaaaaaaaaaaaall over again. Like a robot.

All I can say is... Thank God for weekends.