gezelligheid

(n.) the coziness, warmth and comfort of being at home, or being together with friends or loved ones sharing time in a pleasant and nice atmosphere.

I kept saying to myself  "tonight I'll blog, I'll do it tonight, today, this morning, during lunch...." Sadly my dear friends, it just never happened. The fall semester is long gone, as is my winter break. Spring semester is about to start and my homework will start to pile up again.  Can you believe my Physical Geology book was over 300 dollars? That is just absurd. smh. college. egh.

Fall semester - what I am now calling my "Semester of Loneliness"- ended nicely for the most part. I decided to call it the "Semester of Loneliness" because I attended classes at the downtown campus by myself. I have 10+ friends at the same college as me but they all chose a different campus, and the downtown campus while beautiful, is not a good area to try and make new friends or socialize, if you know what I mean.  To top that off my friends and I all had completely different schedules so even when one of us had time to hang out, the other didn't.  Hence "Semester of Loneliness." The downtown campus truly is lovely though, right in the heart of downtown Norfolk. Red brick sidewalks line the streets next to tall regal looking office buildings, hipster coffee shops, and old theaters with vintage marquees. If i didn't miss my friends so much, and if the sketchy people at that campus didn't bother me so much, I would never have considered switching campuses.

Winter break finally came and my lonely semester came to a fast close. First party on the list was the Chick-fil-A Christmas party. We started the night off right with a ugly sweater contest, and then a white elephant gift exchange where our store's owner/operator bought all the gifts instead of all the team members. It was a lot of fun seeing people's faces light up when they opened the bag that held their gift, then see that same face turn angry when someone stole it from them. After that was birthday party, after birthday party, after birthday party. For some reason a good half of my friends have birthdays in December. Every weekend I had a different birthday party to go to, or parties I should say because sometimes I had more than one. (if you ever saw my tweet "my dad says I party to much" now you know why) It was refreshing to see everyone. I hadn't been around people or friends really, all semester... It was like my internal battery had died and I needed a spark of energy to wake me up again.   I never realized how extroverted I was until the end of this semester. When I'm not around friendly people I kind of just die.

Christmas day was nice. I think we all gave eachother some pretty cool (some strange) gifts. I received a shower curtain! My mom got a butter dish; My dad, a vacuum cleaner. Tyler somehow ended up with a huge amount of shoes, and my sister got an infinity scarf. Now you might think an infinity scarf isn't really a strange gift but to her, it was. You should have seen her face when she pulled it out of its box. She was really confused; She had no clue what it was. *laughs* My bad.

Anyhoo...

Happy belated Christmas and New Year's to you all!

-H

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Falling For Fall // Pinterest Weeding

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Falling For Fall

I LOVE LOVE LOVE FALL // The air is finally getting colder and my house is finally getting warmer. Sleeves are getting longer and days are getting shorter. The leaves in my yard are starting to crisp and fall to the ground and I now have an excuse to sleep under 3 cushy, fluffy, totally-awesome duvets without people judging me too harshly.  Its time for hot tea, cocoa, warm gooey brownies, chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, and everything orange. I'm in a really happy mood right now. Can't you tell? I'm in love with fall! <3

 

Pinterest Weeding

MY BOARDS ARE TERRIBLE // Ok, so my boards are completely terrible but over the past two years since I've had a pinterest I've changed what each board means. I've made them more specific and I've tried to be more organized with how I pin and now almost everything has a place ( or so it seems at the present moment) But deep down at the bottom of some of my older boards are pins that don't belong there because the boards purpose has changed. I've been putting this off for a while now ( part of me hoping I would forget about it ) but I'm going to do some gardening on my pinterest this week - yes, I'm taking an entire week - I'm going to weed through all my pins and put them in their correct places. The only problem is I'm not quite sure how to go about this... I'm either going to have to scroll to the deep dungeons of each of my boards and physically move each pin to its correct place or I can create a separate pinterest account, re-pin everything in an organized fashion to that account and some how switch over all my info to that account or after re-pinning everything to the separate account I could delete all the boards on my current account and re-pin everything back to it from the separate very organized account.... Is this confusing to you? Dear, I hope not but I'm terrible at explaining things. I can never explain my reasoning, or thought process, or ideas.... (never ask me for directions - no, seriously don't. unless you want to end up in a different state) But do you guys have any ideas on what I should do? Ugh, I just can't keep doing what I'm doing right now. The crazy organizer person inside me who, usually I can control is going crazy! I have to change something WELP.

 

 

 

 

17 & Driving

Guess who finally almost got her license? yep, this girl! Virginia's driving laws are terrible and it was unfair of the DMV to make me wait so long to get my license..... and then after I passed all the tests and drivers ed I had to wait, and wait, and wait for the court date so that I could get my actual hard copy. yes, court date. I have to go before a judge, who will grant me my license. BUT ALAS on September 25th, I will have an actual license, not just a silly paper that says I'm a licensed driver. Happy are here again! :)
-H

A Little Gathering

This evening was nothing special, just a starry night filled with; fun, friends, and cake! Mocha and chocolate cake to be exact. The festivities included volleyball, a photo booth, good music, and a movie on the lawn. Although I turned 17 way back in July, I wasn't able to celebrate it with all of my family and friends until now. This night was mine to spend with the friends I hadn't seen all summer. Also it was the night I realized I was getting old because it took me 6 times to blow out all my candles. :)

be blessed

-H

Texas... a while ago...

I would like to move to Texas. Honestly, it is one of the most beautiful, non-humid states I have ever been too! There is so much to see, and do. So much history there - I love it! Also I got to see my Mama & Papa, who I haven't seen in FOREVER!

 

 

 

 

Have a fantastic week y'all.

xoxo

-H

Swing Time Salute

Let the drums roll out... Let the trumpets call... While the people shout...

Strike up the band!

 

( I sang that song in choir... seemed fitting for this post.)

Virginia Stage Company's Swing Time Salute: USO Tour; on the Battle Ship Wisconsin. It is set in the 40s, to give you a live interpretation of what it would be like for sailors back then to be on a ship for months at a time, when an exciting USO tour visits their ship to perform. This play was so incredible. I loved all the music, costumes, and the dancing. It reminds me of when times were much simpler... aghhh...... *slips into a daydream* Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers... all those classics... if only it were a different time. *sigh*


-H

little homeschooled angles..

H.E.A.V. - Home Educators Association of Virginia
(note: if you say heav and not H-E-A-V at the convention you will be glared at.... and then rudely corrected)

Have any of you ever been to a homeschool convention? What about the children's program at a homeschool convention? I'm not sure if every convention has one but if they do you have probably heard the "volunteer horror stories"! You know, the stories of the teenagers who volunteered to watch all those little kids for the day while their parents shopped for used curriculum and looked at all the booths in the exhibit room? The "These kids are crazy, they take up all your energy, and then they run off, then you freak out because you think you've lost a kid! They yell and they kick and they scream at you! Its horrible! Don't volunteer! These Kids are little devils, with an unlimited supply of energy!!!" horror stories. Well, I am here to tell you, while those stories may be true, my experience was completely different.

It was a huge shocker when I found out that all my kids wanted to do was color. After hearing all these crazy stories about how I will be chasing my kids around all day, all I actually did was sit on the floor and color with them or play a game of don't let the beach ball touch the floor! The didn't run off and they didn't kick or scream. They were sweet angles, who loved to share and color, and play don't let the beach ball touch the ground with out leaving the bounds of home base. When we had to line up to go to the games station, art station, or the inflatable station everyone got in a perfect line and they stayed in that line. My assistant and I were sooo surprised. It was amazing! Right at noon the kids parents came to pick them up for lunch, giving us a little break and time to enjoy some lunch of our own in the company of the other leaders and assistants of the program. Then at 1 the little kiddies came back and wouldn't leave again till 7.

My group of kiddies only fault? They were strongly against cheating. I mean, cheating is bad, but they took it to a whole new level.

On the first day (Friday) I had two assistants, Maegan - who I've already mentioned - and Ethan. Ethan was only with us for the first half of the day before he was moved to another team who needed 2 assistants more than I did. But anyway he was a Blue Agent long enough for my kiddies to realized he cheated in all of the games so our team would win and let me tell you my kids did not like that. By Saturday morning they had created plan to make a boat load of paper air planes that said "I hate Ethan" and "Cheating Is BAD" to throw at him in a huge ambush! Once I found out about it of course I stopped it all but still.... throwing paper airplanes at a person because they cheated in a game? Its a little extreme for little kids isn't it? haah.

Anyhoo, usually when I go to things like this I post a bunch of photos that I took with Eduardo, but  I didn't take any because I was in the Children's Program, literally all day. Not to mention I gave my camera bag and only camera battery to my friend Janelle who was one of the H.E.A.V official photographers to use. So instead of posting pictures that I took, I'm posting just one awkward photo of myself, taken by Janelle.

isin't that just a lovely photo?

-xoxo
Hannah

graduated?

well my lovelies... its happened... I've graduated...

now for some of you, you may say "how is this possible when most people don't graduate till they are 17 or 18 and your only 16?". Well its because I'm cool like that (and I was homeschooled). :P

My senior class was 18 amazing, totally awesome, and unique kids! I loved them all so much! I consider them family, this past year we all became so close, and it was amazing to see everyone grow as a person, and change as a person. I've have made and strengthened friendships that I know, I will keep for a lifetime.
Now YMV graduations are very different from regular graduations. One difference is the parents actually graduate the kid, they come up on stage, and flip the tassel, hand you your diploma, and say some cute things about you. A second is the seniors actually perform at the graduation with a senior song.  I think my favorite thing about YMV graduations though is the senior boards. A reception follows the graduation ceremony and there is a "senior display" there where each senior makes a tri-fold board that represents them and their life. Myself being a pathological picture taker filled mine with photos... a lot of photos.... I really went over-board with mine... haha o well.

Overall though it was an amazing experience.

getting my diploma / my senior board / my amazing sister / my siblings and grandma

 

My Senior Class singing the call by Regina Spektor
 



you know im crazy, but you're so awesome, you read my blog anyway!

well, some of you may cringe at the sight of what I'm wearing in the photos I'm about to show you but let me just say it was all for a school spirit day! And what kind of spirit day you ask? CLASH DAY!

Now I know I'm crazy and I thank you all for sticking with me this long.
Clash Day is definitely my favorite spirit day of all time! I have been doing clash day since my very first year at ymv 5 years ago. Its so hard to believe that my last ever clash day was on Tuesday. If I could, I wouldn't graduate early just so I could do clash day one more year!

Life is just so crazy right now. I just finished my first year at Tidewater Community College, I'm halfway through finishing drivers ed and I'm graduating from High school in just a few weeks! Its all very exciting. I have Senior Prom coming up this Friday and my family is hosting a pre-prom dinner for that, then its Hipster Day, Senior Luncheon, Field Day, High School Choir Concert, Art Show, and then Graduation after that I'm off to Alabama with my lovely Grandparents. That is my next 3 weeks. If your thinking "when do you have time to sleep?" I'm right there with you! The only thing that keeps me going is the idea of spending time with my grandparents, sleeping in til 10, not having to work or do school, and being lazy. I seriously think I may be running off of just fumes right now.  (hehe. that was a joke... just so ya know)

Well I need to go now, I have a busy day tomorrow filled with lovely things like making prom decorations and for those of you who are not homeschooled; no prom is not in my living room, contrary to what most people believe! ;)

-Hannah

P.S. If you think I look like Mrs. Frizzel from the Magic School Bus in the photo above, you are not alone. about 6 people came up to me at school and told me the same thing.

music for listening...

I have a huge obsession, like most kids my age. Its with Music! Weather that be country, rock, pop, indie, heavy metal, gospel, Christian, classical, or *insert different genre here*. I love to listen to everything! 2 months ago I was obsessing over RED's new album, then I switched to the Last Bison, then I rediscovered We The Kings and Lecrae. Right now I just can't get enough of Anthony Green.

Is it wrong that I don't stick to one type or genre of music? haha even if it is I don't care. I think music is here not only to entertain us but to also to get us thinking, to open our views and to push us outside our comfort zone or personal bubble. Music is here to help us, sometimes its almost like a therapy. Music can be a drug, an anti-drug, a sign, an eye opener, a pressure releaser, it can be anything and everything if you let it. And while you may get that from just one artist, or genre, I think everyone should open their minds and maybe try something new every once in a while. It's good for you! ;)

Recently I've been trying to listen to some lesser known music and I thought you guys might want to give some of these songs a listening to. You can listen to them if you'd like, but you don't have too.
oh, and if there is an asterisk ( this * ) then it means they are a Christian band.

*Rend Collective Experiment - Build Your kingdom Here (also listen to their cover of Matt Redman's 10000 reasons!)
Camera Obscura - French Navy
Anthony Green - Lullaby
*Sent By Ravens -  Salt and Light
*Remedy Drive - Heartbeat
Anthony Green - Love You No Matter What
Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound
*Jesus Culture - Dance With Me
*The Michael Gungor Band - Grace For Me
Zelos - Liberation (*possibly Christian. not really sure)


Well I have to go now... my dad has been yelling at me the whole time I was writing this post to clean my room. haha ;)

Blessing,
Hannah

random ramblings

Some say shopping is the best therapy but I'm stuck at home on this cold spring day which means shopping is out of the question, so I propose a new kind of therapy....  PINTEREST THERAPY! haha I have never noticed how many inspirational photos are on pinterest. There, you can find lovely photographs that just makes you feel so calm & relaxed inside, or simple pictures with quotes and such written on them, their sweet words just sinking into your mind, and brain and erghh I need a cup of tea. The heater in the house is not working for some reason and I am currently sitting in my bed room under 4 heavy blankets (plus I'm wearing my onesie) and I'm too cozy to get up. I'll just have to try texting my mom. She will make me some tea. anywho, I have found pinterest very inspiring and therapeutic right now. don't ask me why because I have no clue.

 

photos via

pinterest one  //  pinterest two  //  pinterest three

 

Happy Easter Everyone!
xoxo -Hannah

To Ashville We Went...

 

 

long bus rides // seeing the cousins // performing // fun depot // eating // taking lots of pictures // Biltmore Estate // watching Prince of Egypt // not sleeping // walking a lot // crying // singing // praising our Lord // braiding hair // making memories

 

It's not about the destination but the journey.

 

 

I went on a journey last week. It started with a long, long bus ride and finished with a long, long bus ride. In between those two long bus rides was; an arrival to Ashville North Carolina, two performances at two different retirement homes, a fun night at fun depot, a performance followed by a tour of the Biltmore Estate, and a departure from Ashville North Carolina. Not to mention the eating, sleeping, not sleeping, talking, walking, short bus rides, braiding and photography that took place while all that happened.

 

 

When God closes a door, he opens another.

 



 

I hope everyone is having a blessed week! Please pray for my family as we travel to D.C. tomorrow, I'm supposed to be the one driving. eeek!

 

-Hannah



 

 

p.s. yes, that first photo is a horse head. its a rubber mask, the nose part is actually hollow. also if your wondering why I randomly shared a picture of my friends hair with you its because of the awesome lighting and shadows, not because his hair is just stinkin' awesome. :)

its time... ROAD TRIP!

It is time for one of my most favorite things in this world! ROAD TRIP! *does happy dance* I love road trips so much. I'm not sure if it’s because of the excited and nervous emotions at the beginning of the trip, the constant snacking I have an excuse for, or the adventures and memories that are ahead of me. I just really like going on trips, weather they be by plane, train, or automobile! (Or by bus or overnight ferry) *does another happy dance* I'm just very excited... and hyper.... and writing this post because I need an excuse not to pack. I don't like packing. I'm to much of a perfectionist, everything has to fit in the suit case a certain way and it has to look neat and ahhhh it takes way to much time. If I start packing, then I won't be able stop till I'm finished and it looks perfect, so I'm just going to put it off till the absolute last minute because i'm a kool kat and that's what kool kats do! :)

- Hannah

p.s. what do you think of these earrings? I'm trying to decide if the cute-ness of them weighs out the actual weight of them. (i don't normally wear heavy earrings)

Jam On 2013

capitol kings / obb / matthew west / red / jamie grace / newsong / tobymac / jason castro / sidewalk prophets / royal taylor

"I am with you
I will carry you through it all
I won't leave you I will catch you
When you feel like letting go
Cause your not, your not alone"
Not Alone by Red

My best friend Kenzy and I went crazy with taking photos. I'm pretty sure the other friend we went with thought we were crazy because we kept leaving our seats to go take pictures! But I mean, we had floor seats, we were so close and aghhh.... the base was awesome, its not our fault that we were drawn to the side of the stage like a magnet! Myself and the two friends I went with even got to meet one of the bands: Red got them to sign our t-shirts! (you should really listen to Not Alone or Release the Panic by Red) I can not wait to go again next year! :)

-Hannah

new years already?

2013 can not be tomorrow. January first can not be tomorrow! It just doesn't seem right, it doesn't feel like winter, and it doesn't feel like the end of the year. Now that may be because there is no snow here what-so-ever. Not even one little flake. But still, its wrong. This year has just rudely flown by with out telling me. Half of the school year is already gone! I only have one half left before i graduate & never see any of my darling friends again! One half of a year before i start college full time! I'm kind of freaking out right now. Life is just to fast for me. way to fast.

we haven't even taken down our tree yet!

have you made any new years resolutions? i haven't. For some reason i can never follow through on them! but if you have any i would love to hear them!

-Hannah