Christmas 101: Mandi's Guide to Everything Christmas (PB)

Christmas!  "It's the most wonderful time of the year," and I truly believe that it is.  The joy that radiates off of people during the holiday season is contagious, hopefully.  So, I have created a step by step plan to help the holidays run smoothly for everyone involved.    

Step 1: Decorations
Decorations are a very important part of Christmas.  It's one of the best ways to spread some holiday cheer.  So, always be sure to decorate.  At my house, we decorate excessively.  It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!  Without decorations, my house would be very dull at Christmas.  

Step 2: Christmas Music
Don't think that it is a bad thing to play Christmas music long before the Christmas season actually starts.  (January is the perfect time to start listening!)  I think that music is almost the most important part of Christmas.  Without Christmas music and carols, what would there be to listen to?  It would be really boring to not have special music to listen to for the holiday season. 

Step 3: Gifts
I completely understand that Christmas is not all about presents, but come on, admit it; it is fun to receive presents on Christmas.   Be sure to put a lot of thought into the gifts that you give.  After all, it is the thought that counts. 

Step 4:  The True Meaning of Christmas
Throughout all of the hustle and bustle, it is sometimes hard to remember that Christmas isn't simply about the commercialized version that we have all come to love and enjoy.  During this special season, we need to remember the truly amazing gift that the entire world was given: a tiny babe wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.  A baby that would touch the world: Jesus Christ.  I believe that it is important to enjoy all the other aspects of Christmas, like Santa and gifts and pretty Christmas lights, but it is also important to keep our eyes fixed on what truly matters, and that is the true Miracle of Christmas. 

So this holiday season, enjoy yourself!  It really is such a fun time of the year, but don't forget that what Christmas is truly about.  Have a blessed and happy holiday season!  Merry Christmas everyone!

The Happiest Place On Earth (PB)

Tonight I just got back from Disney World, so I figured that I would write a blog about my vacation. 

Day 1: The Dreaded 24 Hour Bus Ride

Imagine sixty people stuck on a bus to Florida for 24 hours. Now imagine those people all, pretty much, being high schoolers. Sounds like a pretty rough trip. But in reality, the bus ride down was not really that bad. 

Day 2: Animal Kingdom

We finally had all made it to Animal Kingdom after we waited out the rain for a while. We eventually made it around 11am. While there, my group went on a safari, met some characters, and ate great pizza. The highlight of Animal  Kingdom was the safari, which was very cool. We were able to see zebras right next to our safari car and see giraffes eating from trees. It was amazing to see beautiful creatures living out their daily lives. 

Still Day 2: Magic Kingdom

Also on the second day of my crazy vacation, everyone had the opportunity to  travel to the Magic Kingdom at night to watch the parade at night, ride rides, and do other various things like meet characters. This night was one of my favorites because I met Anna and Elsa from Frozen. This was probably one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I think I almost cried when I met Anna. (She's my favorite)  

This night there was also a very intense rain storm so we had to leave early, but not before we had enjoyed a couple of rides and a good meal.  

Day 3: Downtown Disney

Today was the day that I would get to perform in Disney World with my choir. I was so excited! Also, today, everyone was able to walk around Downtown Disney and do some shopping. 

Since we were going to be marching with the band on Thanksgiving day, everyone that went on the trip met at Planet Hollywood for dinner. It was so much fun and the food was delicious. (Except for the stuffing, that was gross) 

Day 4: Magic Kingdom/Thanksgiving Day

Today was probably the craziest day of my life so far.  I was busy the entire time. I rode tons of rides, met so many character, like Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, Rapunzel, and Minnie Mouse, and I ate so much food.  The day started out with meeting the princesses mentioned above. They were so sweet!  

Today I had the opportunity to march down Main Street USA in Disney World. It was the most amazing experience of my life. There were so many people watching us. I had never felt so happy before. It was the greatest thing to be a Disney cast member for the day. I would never trade that experience for the world. 

Day 5: Epcot

Epcot is amazing. From being taken into the future, to traveling through eleven countries, I was mesmerized by all of the sights and sounds. I traveled through places like: France, Morocco, Mexico, Italy, and Germany. Every country was unique and beautiful in their own way. We also watched a beautiful fireworks show at the end of the night that was spectacular. 

Day 6: Hollywood Studios

Today was our last day at Disney. It was the nicest and warmest day, as far as weather goes. (Of course, the day we leave)  In Hollywood Studios, there were a lot of shows to watch. They were all absolutely beautiful.  My two favorite shows were the Frozen Sing-Along, and Beauty and the Beast. They were fabulous. I was very sad when we had to leave such a wonderful place. 

Day 7: The Journey Home

Everyone was completely exhausted. We all were sleep deprived. Pretty much everyone slept well on the bus ride home.  It was sad to be leaving Disney World, but happy to be coming home. I had had a fantastic trip, but I could not wait to sleep in my own bed. I was really happy when we made it home. 

So there you have it, my trip to Florida in a nutshell. Goodnight everyone!

My Puppy's First Birthday is Tomorrow (PB)

This is the abridged story of my puppy's, Bentli's, life, in honor of his first birthday tomorrow.

Going to pick up Bentli in Clarion; January 18th, 2014:
It was a really cold, winter day when my family, and the "adopted" family member of the day, Lindsey, got in the car and drove the two hour journey to pick up this puppy that I had found on Pennswoods about two weeks before.  I had fallen in love with a little two pound puppy that I had only seen in pictures.  After the long drive there, I was about to burst with excitement when we had arrived at Deb's house, the original owner of Bentli.  When my family, Lindsey, and I first walked in the door, right next to us sat a little, dark brown puppy that could melt the coldest hearts.  I literally almost cried when I saw him I was so happy.  (Ask Lindsey; it's true.)  During the car ride home with Bentli, we discovered that he was afraid of the dark.  Lindsey had to hold Bentli up in the palm of her hand when cars went by with their lights on because he would cry if you didn't.  Bringing Bentli home was a very fun and interesting experience.

The day we picked Bentli up

The first few nights with the puppy:
He did not want to sleep alone.  Long story short; I did not get a lot of sleep.

The day Bentli got fixed:
While Bentli was at the vet's office almost the entire day, it was really boring and quiet at my house.  When we were finally allowed to go pick Bentli up, he was heavily "drugged."  He would not move on his own.  We had to physically move his paws out from under him to make him lie down and take a nap.  He slept the entire rest of day and watched movies with my mom and I.  Bentli also loved the cone that the vet's office gives you to put on your animal after surgery.  (That was extremely sarcastic)  He HATED it.  He was pretty miserable for the next few days.

Miserable Bentli

Bentli's first time going to the groomers:
The first time we took Bentli to the groomer's, Bentli was really bad.  All that he had to have done was get the hair around his eyes trimmed and his toenails clipped, but, apparently, he could not handle that much excitement.  He was terrible and was probably considered the worst dog at the groomer's for the next couple months.  Since that first visit, though, Bentli has become a little angel at the groomer's and looks forward to getting new "fur-styles."

Bentli on the 4th of July after being groomed

Today: 

Today I love this little puppy just as much as I did the first day that I met him.  My life would be pretty dull without this rambunctious little spit-fire.  Even though my parents were sceptical at first about getting a dog, I do not think that they can imagine a life without Bentli in it.  He is definitely a permanent part of the family that we would not trade for the world.  Bentli might not always be the best behaved puppy, but he is our puppy.  So, Happy 1st Birthday Bentli!  Love, Your Family

Horror Films Might Do More Than Just Scare People (PB)

Last night I was at a Halloween party where we watched the movie "Carrie." I was crying while being surrounded by my friends that were not scared... at all. I seriously thought that Carrie was going to jump out of the television and kill me.  So why did I put myself through that?  Why would I watch something that I knew was going to the me nightmares for the next week?

For those of you who don't know what the movie Carrie is about, here is a short synopsis: A girl gets bullied.  Her name happens to be Carrie, hence the title.  **SPOILER ALERT**  She ends ups getting revenge on everyone at her senior prom by killing almost everyone, including her mom, using her magical levitation powers. Carrie dies in the end.

I think that the reason that I watched this movies was because, first of all, all of my friends were watching it.  I couldn't be the big baby that had to walk out of the room (peer pressure at its best), but second of all, I knew that there was a greater meaning than just a crazy teenager going around killing everyone.  Why do you think that Carrie killed everyone in the first place?  SHE WAS BULLIED.  None of the girls that bullied her in the beginning could have ever thought that they were going to die at their senior prom because of what they did to Carrie.  They never considered how the things they did to Carrie could really hurt her.

How many people really think about their actions before they actually do them?  I don't think that many people do.  People can only be hit with mean remarks towards them before they break.  Nobody should have to go through something like that.  Each life is precious in its own way, even if you don't necessarily think that about everyone in your life.  So, think before you say something that you might regret.  Encourage people.  Compliment people.  You never know, but a compliment that you give someone might make someone's day.

"Don't let anyone's hate, drama, negativity stop you from becoming the best person you can be."

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Disappointment: A Fact of Life (PB)

When somebody works very hard for something, they expect to get good results.  People should receive the result that reflects how much effort they put forth. So what happens when someone works extremely hard for something, and gets terrible results?  Doesn't that seem unfair? 

This weekend I was at a Marching Band Competition.  We all, well most of us, had worked so hard this past week at practices to try to pull ahead of the competition.  We felt so confident in our performance on Saturday that noting could take the pride of putting on a good show away from us… until the awards ceremony.  Everyone was waiting anxiously to hear our placement.  Holding hands, saying little prayers in our heads… those tactics didn’t work.  We ended up taking third place.  The disappointment that overwhelms you when you put forth so much effort only to get shot down is unbearable. 

How does someone go about recovering from such a let down?  First, we should consider possible mistakes that we might have made.  Learning from your mistakes is key to making improvements the next time you participate in the same activity.  Disappointment is something that everyone will have to deal with, and it is something that we should use to grow in our lives.  Second, make the improvements that need to be made after analyzing the mistakes made previously.  Third, pick your head up and move on. 

Life is too short to live with your disappointments forever.  In reality, life won’t always hand you first place on a silver platter, which means that you need to always have an optimistic attitude.  So, keep on learning from your mistakes and keep your head up.  Even through discouraging times, stay positive and you will, most likely, get what you deserve. 

So, I guess what I am trying to say through all of this is to think positively.  Have an optimistic outlook on life.  And even though the band did not win their competition, there’s always next week. 

“Keep moving forward.”  ~Walt Disney

The Purrr-fect Companion (SSR)

Disclaimer: This blog is about cats, so it is going to be ridiculously cheesy, but I don't care.

Pets are something that people have had since the beginning of time.  From Siamese cats in Egypt to the heart-warming story of Lassie, pets have a way of finding a spot in our hearts.  It seems, though, that whenever people think of the most loving, compassionate pet, they usually think of the phrase, "Dogs are man's best friend."  What about Grumpy Cat?  When walking through a pet specialty store, I noticed that there are a lot more isles for dogs, and other animals for that matter, than cats.  As an owner of a wonder cat, I took personal offense to that.  Why don't cats get as much recognition for all of the positive things that they do to help people.

When trying to figure out what I was going to write my blog about this week, I found an article that talked about ways cats improve people's health.  I found this topic to be very interesting, so I figured, hey, why not read it?  While reading the article, I began to gain a whole new perspective of service-animals.  I understood that blind people have dogs that will walk with them to help them successfully complete everyday tasks, but I bet you did not know all of the benefits that a cat's purr has on people's health issues.

^^^Cats are the coolest^^^

I was amazed.  As an avid cat-lover, I had no idea that my cat could help me deal with illnesses that I might one day suffer from.  I found it amazing that the purr of a cat could help heal the bones of the humans it interacts with everyday.  The vibrations that are made when a cat purrs are proven to be therapeutic for people.  

Another way that cats have helped people is by being a loving companion.  A really nice cat is not hard to find.  The love that a cat has to offer is astounding and creates a beautiful relationship between the cat and its owner.  Many cats are owned by elderly people.  After researching pros of owning a cat, I learned that cats can help improve the mood of older people.  As people get older, they tend to not be able to get around and out and about as easily and become lonely and depressed.  If they are able to keep a cat around as a companion and someone to have around when they are lonely, that is fantastic.  Cats are, fairly, low maintenance, which means that they are pretty easy to handle at any age.  Dogs are, usually, very high maintenance, and older people cannot handle that at their age.  

This was probably the cheesiest blog that anyone has ever written, but I really love cats, and I think that they are fantastic companions, no matter how old the owner is.  I thought it was wonderful that a great companion can be more than that.   They create a way for people with poor health to possibly find relief by spending time with a loving animal.  People are never alone when they have a pet, and a cat offers many great qualities.  A cat finds a way to love us, even when we don't feel like we deserve love, or are loved.  Pets are always there for us, no matter what we are going through, and that is a reassuring feeling.  So thank pets, but mostly cats, for always being there and being the purrr-fect companion whenever we need one.

Selfies, Selfies, and More Selfies (PB)

In our world today, taking pictures of ourselves is completely normal.  Whether it's from showing off our outfit of the day or just taking a picture of our own face, people do it all the time.  In our society, we have named those pictures "selfies."  But what really is a selfie?  Is it something people that are full of themselves post on social media, or is it more than that?  Is it a self-image thing?  Is it to get attention?  Is it about being comfortable in our own skin and being happy with who we are?  I'm sure the answer to some or all of those questions could be yes depending on who you are.  So to start defining what a selfie is, I googled the definition.

Selfie:A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media

This is obviously a very vague definition.  As a teenager, I have first hand experience with selfies.  The stress that comes with trying to take the perfect selfie is unbelievable.  Does my hair look okay?  How is my smile?  Did I take this picture at the right angle?  Like I said... STRESSFUL!  So why would we put ourselves through all of that?  The things we put ourselves through to take a picture is crazy.  But, hey, maybe it's worth it.  

Maybe selfies help with self-image.  Every young boy or girl should be happy with who they are.  That is something that I feel very passionate about.  As a teenager, I get it because I've gone through the same stuff, we are put under so much pressure.  Between advanced level classes to sports and extra-curricular activities, we have a lot on our plate.  There's not enough time left at the end of the day to be putting ourselves down for how we look.  Accept who you are.  Embrace it. 

Not all selfies are necessarily to boost confidence for someone with self-image issues.  Sometimes selfies can be pretty "risk-ay."  There is a huge difference between an innocent selfie and a selfie that shows a little too much skin.  Good for you if you are really comfortable in your own skin, but use your good morals when taking selfies.  Remember, you can never take that picture back once it has been posted.  Not all pictures that we take of ourselves are the original either.  Thirty-six percent of people have retouched or edited their selfie. If you're going to take a picture of yourself, at least let it be the real you, not some re-touched version.

After considering these things, I came up with my own definition of a selfie.  A selfie is a self-expression of ourselves.  It shows confidence in ourselves.  It shows bravery.  Posting a picture of yourself for everyone to see takes guts.  You are giving everyone the opportunity to judge you and you do not care.  That is admirable.   So keep taking selfies.  I don't mind seeing them all the time.  I just hope that the person in front of the camera is taking the picture for themselves and not just for other people.

 "What if it becomes less about how we look and more about how much we care?  Imagine a world where who we are in our hearts is the ultimate status symbol."

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Controversy (SSR)

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Controversy Article

A lot of controversy has been happening over the recent ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and I wanted to put my opinion out to everyone.  People are arguing that the challenge is ridiculous, stupid, and it is probably not "safe" to do due to the drastic, sudden change in temperature because of the ice.  If someone feels that they are going to be in danger if they participate in the challenge, then they do not have to do it.  If someone does not wish to participate, then they also do not have to.  It should be something fun to spread awareness of a disease that many  people did not know ever existed.  I think that it is great that people have been spreading awareness.  People should know about the different illnesses people deal with everyday.  Also, I think that all of the money that they have raised for patients with ALS is great.  Nobody is forced to pay money, and even if someone does not complete the challenge, they are not forced to donate by anyone. 

I think that the challenge should stay just that, a challenge.  Challenging people to step outside their realm of thinking and considering the hardships of others is a challenge that I am willing to accept, and I hope that others are too.  The Ice Bucket Challenge is simply the visual representation of something so much greater than dumping ice water on our heads.  It is a representation of acknowledging that we do not want people struggling with ALS to feel alone.  People have learned more about the disease and have therefore become more aware of what it is.  I think that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has done more good than bad, and that people have learned about something that normally they would know nothing about.