Dear Diary,
I get to travel to the UK this summer, and I have never been so excited or blessed to do anything in my life. My mom and I are going to fly out to see my sister, who has been studying abroad in Ireland this semester. We will be there for fifteen days-just enough time to see all I want to!
Since I get to go to my dream country, I have been thinking about a lot of the other things on my bucket list.
Here are the top ten things I want to accomplish/do before I die.
10.) Run a full and/or half marathon || Back in high school, my best friend ran the Buffalo Marathon at 17 years old. My friends and I went up there to support her, and ever since then I have wanted to try to run one. Just imagine how accomplished you would feel-like you could do anything!
9.) Learn how to surf || I can't swim very well, so I'd have to practice my water-treading skills before this...Surfing looks like so much fun and such a good workout. I also love all the little fishies as well!
8.) Go on a hot air balloon ride || Unfortunately, my boyfriend is afraid of heights, so this might be something I do with a friend or my sister. I've actually always wanted to be proposed to in a hot air balloon. I'd love that view.
7.) Study abroad || My sister has now studied abroad twice. I've always wanted to travel, and I'm so excited to study in a whole other country! Maybe London, maybe Amsterdam, maybe Athens!
6.) Swim with dolphins || Dolphins are so cute! Again, I really should learn to swim, but I've got time!
5.) Go on an African safari || How amazing would that be?! Giraffes are my favorite animal, and I would love to be able to see them up close and personal. That would be beautiful, and such an amazing experience.
4.) Go on a mission trip to Africa || In high school, I was apart of the Interact Club and we were lucky enough to donate three water wells to a community in Niger. Ever since then, I have wanted to volunteer in that area. I feel like it is a life-changing opportunity, and I feel bad that I have everything I need and more, but the people who live in third-world countries have close to nothing. That is not fair.
3.) Live in a tiny home || I did a whole post on tiny homes here, check it out!
2.) Have my own talk show || This is a lifelong dream of mine. Jimmy Fallon, Johnny Carson, Ellen DeGeneres. I have always wanted to be a talk show host. (Eliza Grace at 8!)
1.) Have a family || I've dreamt about my wedding since I was 11 years old, and even walked around with a water ballon baby for a year (his name was Horatio). I've always wanted a family!
What are some items on YOUR bucket list?
Until next time,
Eliza Grace
Dear Diary,
It's that time of year again. Each year I decide on making a New Year's Resolution. Now the problem with this is that I either start off fantastic and and forget about it by March, or I forget about it until March-and then start.
I have a problem.
I need to stop this pattern of resolution destruction. Picking easier resolutions could help, but so could better motivators.
Here are some resolutions I believe everyone should try to make this coming year:
1.) Take a walk each day. || Not only can this make a stressful day a little bit easier, it can also take the place of your daily physical activity. Take a 45 minute break and walk briskly around the block. You can do this first thing in the morning as a wake-me-up, or try it in the evening after work.
2.) Stop drinking soda. || I'll be the first to admit that this one is the hardest for me. Unfortunately, these sugary drinks are bad for your teeth, let alone your waistline. If there is one food you cut out in 2015, let it be soda. Try infused water, tea, or soy milk (I love almond milk!).
3.) Go on a technology diet. || I don't mean completely cut technology out of your life, but take an hour from each day and don't look at your phone, laptop, TV. I know it's hard. Spend quality time with your family and friends, read a book, or maybe you can use this time for your walk.
4.) Sleep more. || I'm not giving you an excuse to sleep during the day. I mean try getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night. As a college student, I know how difficult this can be. Sleeping has so many great benefits including focusing more, fighting of sickness, and improving your physical and emotional health.
"Sleeping can do all that?" you may ask.
Yes, yes it can.
Here are some tips to keep you motivated all year long:
1.) Start a Pinterest board! || I can literally write for hours about how much I love Pinterest. They have amazing articles about working out and healthy recipes (If that's your resolution), as well as motivational signs and posters you can hang up.
2.) Let your friends in. || Don't do this on your own. Friends and family make a great support team.
3.) STAY WITH IT!! || Experts say it takes approximately 21 days to turn a new activity into a habit, and 6 months to become apart of your personality. Be sure to remain patient and reward yourself when you reach your goals.
Hopefully this helps those of you who were wanting some help deciding on what to do this year.
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
Until next time,
Eliza Grace
Dear Diary,
I love reading. I grew up with books being that my grandfather is an author and my mother loves to read and write.
Reading is like an escape for me. I can pretend to be in another life. I love picturing what the characters and places look like in my mind.
A few books that are on my reading list are:
1.) Girl Online by Zoe Sugg || I have been subscribed to "Zoella" on YouTube for the past 3 years. She is an amazing woman, and I love what she has to say. This book is said tohave a combo of romance, social media, and drama. She even sold more copies of her book than any other debut author from the UK-even J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter book.
2.) My Life With The Walter Boys by Ali Novak || I love, love, love this story. I read it online a few years ago, and fell in love. It's another teen romance, that I just can't get enough of. Check it out on Wattpad-trust me.
3.) Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire || This book is about a good girl who meets a bad boy in college. Cliché? Maybe, but I don't really care. I love a bit of drama in my teen romance book.
4.) Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
|| This is more of a sad book in my opinion. It is about a woman who grew up in the foster care system, struggling to find who she is.
I'm excited get on these books. Let's see how many I can tackle before I have to go back to school for Spring semester!
What books are on your reading list?
Until next time,
Eliza Grace
Dear Diary,
My views on Christmas time are a little bit different than other girls my age. My sister adores Christmas. When I say this, I truly mean it. She starts listening to Christmas music in March. She wants to put up decorations on November 1st (although earlier would be more ideal to her), and she has a countdown started on or before New Year's Day.
I, on the other hand, get rather tired of it. The meaning of Christmas is amazing. I am a Christian. I grew up with the stories of Jesus Christ and the Christmas ceremonies, complete with plays, at church. I love Christmas, so please do not get me wrong when I say it is somewhat played out.
Unfortunately, I grew up with my sister wearing out Christmas for me. I don't blame her for being so spirited about the holiday, honest. I just don't get as excited as I used to about it.
Christmas is a special holiday for me. The family all comes together, and no matter how much they annoy me year-round, Christmas day is full of love and patience and kindness.
Each year, though, it seems as though Christmas loses its flare. People start celebrating earlier and earlier, causing them to forget the true meaning. Don't worry, I won't relay the story to you-hopefully you know it.
To me, Christmas should be celebrated with the extradorinary specialness it deserves.
Does anyone else feel the way I do?
Until next time,
Eliza Grace
