My Weight Loss Tips to You

although i've gained much weight over the past year because of multiple unfortunate circumstances, i definitely know how to lose weight. at one point i lost 27 pounds in just months.

i felt and looked great and was close to having a thigh gap. i used herbal life shakes for breakfast and lunch, exercised lightly, skipped desert, and watched what i ate. it pretty simple. just stick with it. there is honestly no big secret. just don't starve yourself or your body will go into starvation mode, which will cause it to keep all of your fat and start gaining. every month, up your exercise so you wont hit a plateau of none-weight loss. if you never up your routine, you'll just end up maintaining your weight. 

you don't have to track your calories. just eat when you're hungry and eat clean and simple foods. dont over fill yourself and make sure you stay active all day.

its amazing to step on the scale in the morning after a good week of eating healthy, and seeing you've lost like three lbs. its worth it. remember, its a lifestyle, not a diet. 

good luck.

An Ember in the Ashes (book review)

An Ember in the Ashes is set in a mid-evil time with magic and warriors, emperors and princesses. The story begins when a seventeen year old girl named Laia discovers that her brother may or may not be working with the resistance who are fighting for their peoples freedom of the empire. Their people are known as scholars who are enslaved by the evil emperor. Laia's mother and father died fighting with the resistance. When Laia's grandparents are killed and her brother taken, she runs away and finds the resistance and asks them to help her get her brother free. The resistance leader asks her to spy on the Commander in trade of breaking her brother out of jail. It is dangerous, but she must do it for her brother. But is the resistance trustworthy? The Commander is a cruel woman who runs Blackclif; a training school for fighters known as Masks; talented and ruthless fighters who serve the empire. but her son, whom she hates with everything in her, doesn't agree with the empire. his name is Elias. He isn't like other Masks and is kind to scholars. he was raised by a people known as tribes men because his mother abandoned him at birth.
Both Laia and Elias long to escape the empire and they are both faced with difficult trials.

Coming from Razorbill in April 2015

I read this book in less than a week. the writing was so fluid, i got lost in it. The plot was well thought out and intricately woven. Saba Tahir writes as if she is setting up an intricate expanse of dominoes and then narrates as if she has tipped them over to create a beautiful design. The story is riddled with love triangles, feelings of resentment, longing, twists and turns. Tahir keeps you guessing the whole way through. Who loves whom? Who will be with each other?
She keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting with bated breath at what will happen next. She engulfs you with her words so you can't get out, and you don't want to.

The Secret Lives of Leaves: by Carly Mathiot

Once upon a time there was a leaf. He hung on a tree branch with many other leaves. They were all very young and green. As the wind blew they swung on their limb, frantically waving to passersby's. some payed no attention whatsoever, but the rare few that noticed them stopped in their tracks and smiled up at them. Sometimes they might wave back.

“We are leaves! We become more beautiful with age!” They whispered to the wind, “And when we become brown and ugly, we sing more beautifully!” Though leaves lives are short, their prime is glorious.

“But i don't want to get old,” Said the leaf.

As the seasons changed, so did the leaves skin. Oranges, reds and yellows decorated the tree tops, their colors creating an atmosphere of wonder and nostalgia as all creatures remembered seasons passed.

“Look how beautiful we are now! Alas, this time is so short. It is time for us to travel to another realm.” And soon millions of leaves were blown from their perches, creating a rain of colors for children to dance in. They became a rich carpet of fiery shades for all to smile down on and admire.

Some even created heaps of leaves to jump into like a huge pillow. Soon they became brown and ugly, but they were so happy with their fulfilling lives and they died slowly and peacefully becoming, once again, a part of the earth. And they sung with every step.  But one leaf never made it to the next realm and it hung tightly to it’s branch, unwilling to give away to the wind. “I refuse to die!” It said. And  this  leaf grew lonely, for all it’s neighbors had gone and accepted their age.

Sweater Weather

Crunchy leaves under yellow rain boots
The smell of loam and fresh soil
Crisp air and cold water
Scarves protecting necks

The smell of apples
The feeling of hot liquid warming cold bodies
The chilly noes
Melting in the warmth of a crackling fire in the evening

A warm cup in hand
Blankets of clouds
And blankets of cloth overhead
Cold feet snuggle in socks and piles of sweaters

What Not to Say to a Dyslexic Person

I get asked so many stupid questions from  people and get so much crap for being dyslexic. So many ignorant people make stupid assumptions about me and my life with dyslexia instead of doing research or asking good questions before they make a fool of themselves. This is some one the stuff I hear.

1. "Oh you have dyslexia? So tell me, do you believe in dog?" That is an actual quote from someone I met. Wow you are so funny. That was clever. Like I never heard that one before. Contrary to popular belief, dyslexics do not read backwards, they simply mix letters or just can't comprehend what the letters mean.

2. "You're using your disability as a crutch." I am not leaning on my disability to get through life, I am fighting it and working around my problems to get through life. How can you use a disability as a crutch? If you are a cripple, you don't use your crippled leg as a crutch, you get a crutch so you can walk. My crutch consist of hard work, education, and a lot of help from people who care. Idiot.

3. "You don't seem dyslexic. You are reading perfectly fine out loud so you must be lying to get attention or to cheat in school." WOW...I worked very hard to be a fluent reader. It took blood sweat and tears to get where I am today. I could not read fluently until the age of eleven. Why would I lie about that? If you think I'm lying, go ask the multitude of doctors and psychologists who diagnosed me.

4. "dyslexia is just when you read backwards." actually dyslexia is an umbrella term for Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Anomia, and an auditory processing disorder. I was diagnosed with all of these.

Hilarious, Weird and Unfortunate Disney Couple Crossovers

okay, lets go ahead and create a back story for this. maybe Ariel wanted so much to be human, she promised a sorcerer her hand in marriage so he would use his magic to make her human. and perhaps later she fell in love with Erik and regrets everything? lol this is just the creepiest thing I've ever seen.

"come on baby, i forgot to take fish of the menu!"

okay...im ok with this.

im sorry but these two would be hilarious together. but honey, get that hand checked out. 

Ariel, choose! my goodness. no but this is kind of adorable. ;)

see this is just perfect! i see nothing wrong with this. lol but really. imagine him running when she turns back into a giant squid woman. unless he's into that kind of thing. ;) bow chick a bow wow.

i feel like the mutual intelligence here could get a little tense and no one would like being around them because they would get into heated debates about stuff that no one could understand. so if they went out to sushi with friends and they got into it, they might go off into a corner debating on some sort of statistic. 

what do you think? which ones are just to weird and what crossovers do you want to see or think are kinda sweet?

Dumb Ass Songs of 2013-2014

#1. Story of my Life
Not creative, not original, self centered, boring, repetitive.

#2. Wiggle
It's self explanatory

#3. Katy Perry's Birthday
Promotes sluttery, whorishness, and objectifies women, pissing on all our progress on sexism. I wouldn't be surprised if we were all required to wear thongs and nipple covers to work and are no longer allowed to vote in the next year.  "It's time to bring out the big balloons..." Thanks Katy.

#4: Bubble Butt
Although the singer may be complimenting us curvaceous girls on our bubble butts, the things he wants to do to our bubble butts are quite embarrassing and unspeakable.

#5: Fancy:
Even though I cant help but roll my windows down, and throw some glittery shades on while listening to this song, there is no fast lane from LA to Tokyo. I'm sorry Iggy.

#6. Best Day of my Life
Really? What is this?

#7. One Less Problem
Typical, insecure, desperate, whiny, pathetic, need i say more. This song gives off the feeling that she is desperate to be confident and to be independent. This  song says to me, "I cant have you so I'm going to hate, and dis you as much as possible to make myself feel better."

#8 hello kitty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiaYDPRedWQ

There is to much wrong with this...

#9. Selfie
Pointless, no taste, horrible lyrics, not funny, not catchy, trashy, horribly done, no actual singing, not a real song so why is it even on this list?

#10. Mirror
So self centered! Not romantic at all, just utterly and painfully narcissistic. And what is with this line "I couldn't get any bigger with any one else inside of me." ?? I mean if you really listen or read the lyrics, it is the most self praising thing I've EVER heard in my life. I'm done! I'll tell you one thing though, if any man looks into my eyes and says, "its like your my mirror staring back at me," God forbid I continue associating with him.

What Does it Mean? (slam poetry by yours truly)

What does it mean when someone touches you and you can barely breath because the electricity in their touch is almost unbearable?
When they touch you and it's all you can think of for days?
What does it mean when you want to take care of someone and give them everything you have in you?
What does it mean when you can't form words around them?
What does it mean when they look at you that one way and you can't look back because it's to much?
When you feel safe around them?
When you trust them?
Is it lust?
Is it love?
Is it idolatry?
Is it stupid of me to want what I know I can't have?
Am I in love with an idea?
Am I just a stupid little girl?
It's all of these things.
But I've cultivated my love before and I can do it again.
I can prune it to death.
I can lock it behind a brick wall and throw away the key.
I can cut it down until its close to nonexistence.
I'll do this for my own good.
I'll live like this because I am afraid of my families judgment and condemnation.
I'll live like this because society would think I am sick lost, disturbed, I need therapy.
no.
I just know what I want.
I'm just to scared, brainwashed, pressured and conditioned to take it.
So I can do it.
I must do it.

Online Class VS Traditional Class-Essay by Carly Mathiot

Online Class VS Traditional Class

By Carly Mathiot

An online class and a traditional class are two very different ways of learning. The choice of either one is a big decision. To choose the right one for you, you should know what kind of learner you are.

SOCIAL LIFE

Online school is much less hands on; You stay at home alone all day on the computer and you never see your classmates. There are no study groups but there may be support forums. You never make physical contact with anyone including your teacher.  

In a traditional class you get out of the house, go to school, meet your teacher and get to know them in person. You sit in a class room with all your other classmates and sometimes even critique their work.

ASSIGNMENTS  

In an online class after you read the lesson and  teach yourself about the subject, you take the quizzes assigned to you, do the assignments and turn them in via internet.

In a traditional class, the teacher verbally gives you assignments and you go home, do the work and then physically turn in your work to them.

LEARNING

In an online class, if the teacher is not good at conveying their thoughts into words, then you must find a way to learn it another way.

In a traditional class, this problem is less common because you learn in the classroom and are easily able to raise your hand and ask a question or ask them to explain it to you another way.

Communication is less interactive over the internet. It's harder because you have no direct access to you teacher. If you need to ask a question, you must email them and wait for a response. If they don't get the email then what happens?

You can’t call them, you can't meet them. If your internet is down you have no hope of getting anything done and are set behind, much like when you get sick and have to skip a day out of school.

Online school is much less hands on. Interaction with your teachers and the other students in your class is important for your learning experience.

Being disciplined to sit down and read the lesson is the hardest thing. You become tempted to skim over the lesson, especially if its seven pages long with thirty questions, and to look up each question on the internet. When you sit down to do your quiz, you end up knowing nothing about the subject.

An online class and a traditional class are too completely different ways of learning and living.  

To make the right choice, you must know the best way for yourself to learn.  Making the right choice for yourself can affect your future and can make your school years much easier and pleasant for you. Not only that, you will get much more out of your education.

The Effects of Facebook-Essay

The Effects of Facebook

By Carly Mathiot

        I used to be a social butterfly; I was outgoing, I never felt like I had to make excuses not to see my friends. I was always nervous to make the commitment of seeing someone. What if I had nothing to say?

        Until I was fourteen, there was no other way to communicate other than making a phone call, making plans and talking to your friend in person. That's how I did it. I didn't text much.

        Ever since then, I slowly started hanging out with my friends less. I'd talk to them on Facebook and then when we got together in person, there was nothing to say.        

        When you're on facebook, it feels like you're being social. You are in this virtual world where you have friends and you chat with them and see their pictures. It gives you the illusion and the feeling  socialization, but you are really all by yourself.

       

        I began to be afraid of going out and talking to people because I was afraid of having nothing to say. For a while I literally became a hermit and for quite a while, I didn't text or talk to anyone on facebook or otherwise.

        I could never tell who my friends were. on facebook I currently have 188 friends. I hardly know any of them. I read their posts, like them, comment. its very rare we see each other in person and I'm sure there are some I've never met.

        Sure, facebook claims to connect people, but only virtually, not physically. Having a facebook and letting myself build a comfort zone around myself has caused me to miss so many opportunities.

        I get invited to hang all the time, but because its out of my little virtual comfort zone, where you can leave the conversation anytime, I miss out on having real relationships. There are no commitments, there's no face to face, there's no confrontation on facebook. on facebook i am safe.

       I have never been on a real date or ever had a boyfriend. i'll talk to boys on the internet, but if they ask me out face to face, I lie. I lie and tell them I can't. I'm to scared to go out. Having a facebook has affected my romantic life as well as my social life.

        once again, being put on the spot, being taken out of my comfort zone, I instantly recoil from the thought and hide in my bed to watch others live via facebook.

        I'm not blaming facebook, but I am blaming myself for letting facebook be my happy place. It's become a wall, cutting me off from the world with only a brick missing so I can see what's out there, but I can't be a part of it.

       

        I've become lonely and depressed. I'll go on facebook to seek social interaction on a holiday or spring break, and there will literally be no one on facebook. that's when I really feel alone and desperate.

        The illusion of a social life is shattered and the realization that everyone else is out living their lives without me hits home. I've slowly been reaching out again. I even joined a dating site. I call people I trust to hang out, but still its hard for me to be alone with someone.

        I still feel the need to be in a group so I don't feel pressure to make conversation. I still hide among other peoples lives instead of making a path of my own. I'm a tag along girl who only comes out at night because she's afraid of what sunlight will show her. no one really knows who she is and what she's like. This is what I have let happen to me and now I have to pick up the pieces.