Days 26 and 27

 I've been so busy for the last few days and now I'm sick.  So sorry for posting two days at once. ;0


Day 26: A childhood memory:

 

 I thought this picture was really creative. :D

Playing with my American Girl doll Kirsten is the side yard and pretending to be a pioneer is one of my favorite memories.  We made mud pies and everything.

Day 27: A physical feature you love:
In myself or others?  In myself I really like how petite I am (even if people DO often thing I'm younger than my age).  In other people, I usually notice their hair and smiles first. :)

Days 24 and 25

Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love 

 The Great Mouse Detective is a highly under rated movie that is absolutely brilliant.  I think people would be surprised I liked it so much because it didn't do very well in theaters, plus it's a cartoon movie.  But it's so good! :)

Day 25: A recipe 
You can find a recipe I did relatively recently HERE.

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered

   I want to be remembered as being happy, kind, and at peace with myself and others.  I want everybody (or at least most everybody) to smile when they think about me.  That's pretty much it. ♥

Days 21 and 22

  Day 21:Something you know you do differently than other people
  Haha....um....what don't I do differently than other people?
  But one thing that stands out I think the most is the way I am with relationships.  I don't really date - I'm like, a really serious person when it comes to relationships.  I guess I more court people.  My parents are always involved with the guys I've been interested in, and the guys are expected to rise to a certain standard when it comes to interacting with me.  Guys sometimes don't seem to understand why I won't go out with them, because the way I am is very different from the worldly "teenage"  lifestyle.  But I'm looking for Mr. Right...complimenting me and being nice will not automatically make me fall in love with you.  I'm not going to be intimate with you before marriage, except holding hands and maybe kissing once we've been together awhile.  So see, I'm a little more work than a lot of girls.  Which is fine.  Because the guy that's been chosen for me will gladly embrace my lifestyle, my values, and me. :)

  Day 22:  A website 
  My Pinterest!  There is not much on there at all yet lol - mainly just fashion ideas.  But yeah, if you want, follow me! :)


Picture from Pinterest.com

Day 20: A hobby of yours

 Me and my Holga camera.  :)

  My favorite hobby is photography.  Even though I don't get to do it as much as I like (nor do I always have the best subjects), it's something that is really interesting for me.  I like lomography (or analogue, whatever you want to call it) the best - using real film and not knowing what your photos are going to turn out like until they are developed gets me really excited.  Digital photography is cool, too, plus it can be a little easier and less expensive since you don't have to pay for film or pay for developing said film.  I like messing with the settings, and finding resourceful ways in using my rather inexpensive point and shoot camera. 

One of my favorite digital photos.

One of my favorite analogue photos.

You can find my photos here at my Deviantart, here at my Flickr, and here at my Lomography page.  ;)

Day 19: A talent of yours

  I hope nobody is getting tired of hearing about the piano...but uh...I can play it! :D  And it's the talent I am most proud of (ending on a preposition, wut).  I've been playing since I was 11, and although I only had a teacher for a few months and have not been extremely dedicated to practicing the last couple of years, I'm planning on getting better.  And all of YOU guys will get to hear about it. ;D  (And by the way, no, I do not sit on top of my piano.  That would be very awkward, considering I only have a keyboard. :P)

Picture from Pinterest.com

Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive

  Hm.
  This is a tough one.  I don't think I've ever really had a moment specifically where I felt "passionate and alive", or at least it wasn't memorable enough because I can't think of any right this minute.  I can, however, list some things that make me feel very passionate and alive - just not one particular, outstanding moment.

  1. Driving while listening to the radio.  I don't k now why this makes me feel so good, but it just makes me forget my problems and gives me something to concentrate on while at the same time providing me with good music (if it's not some creepy song).  My favorite jam is "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction. ;)

  2. Playing a moving song on my keyboard.  It like, runs through my veins man.  I get so into the playing, that it's like nothing else exists.  I just love pressing notes that make the most amazing sounds together.

  3. Listening to favorite songs.  I don't know about other people, but there are some songs that I literally get chills from and this feeling inside that I can't even explain.  Owl City's "Fireflies", "Aberdeen" by Cage the Elephant, and "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield always do that for me.

  4. Going out somewhere random and fun. I like those unexpected rides to the mall, going out to get a Frosty, or just dropping by a friend's shop.

  5. Doing things independently.  Usually I'm with either one of my parents or my sister, so it's kind of rare that I do stuff on my own.  But it always makes me feel very alive to do something and make decisions by myself - either at school with a few friends, by myself at the library or when I'm taking an exam, or even just alone when I'm texting somebody. 

  So yeah...looking at my list, I guess music, activity, and independent thinking make me feel passionate and alive. :)

Day 17: An art piece

  Norman Rockwell was a genius.  Look how skinny they are!

A few other favorites:

  Are they looking at Vincent Price?

I love the colors in this one!  It reminds me of the American Girl Kit Kittredge books.

  This one is so cute.  :D

Day 16: A song that makes you cry

  "Someone Like You" by Adele.  Ugh.  Her voice is haunting, the lyrics are written perfectly, and I just always feel so bad for her and anyone else who has gone through what this song is about.  I always turn it when I hear it on TV or the radio because it's just too sad.

Days 14 and 15

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take 

 Someday, I'd really love to visit Japan.  I'm not one of those people who watch a ton of anime and like to pretend I'm Japanese, but I have been really interested in Asian culture for a long time.  As well as Hello Kitty. ;)

Isn't the architecture amazing?

If it's not too kooky, their fashion sense is awesome.

Food!

Aw, bunnies!

Day 15: A person you admire 

 Nina, my sister, is someone who I admire.  She's pretty, intelligent, dedicated, artistic, kind, funny, caring, protective, my best friend, and just overall a great person.  It's kinda like that song, "Sisters, Sisters".
  
"Sisters, sisters,
There were never such devoted sister..." 

Pictures from Pinterest.com

Day 13: A guilty pleasure

  My guilty pleasures change from time to time.  But right now I have to say McDonald's Cherry Berry Chiller is so so so so so so good.  It doesn't make me feel guilty, but I do know that one should not eat at fast food places too often.  But this drink is the perfect mix of sweet and sour, plus I have a really good memory attached to it.  :)

Picture from Pinterest.com

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding

  I personally have never been one of those girls who have dreamed about their wedding day.  I've planned nothing, except for the fact that I don't want a wedding that's particularly "big". I want something intimate, sweet, small, and family-oriented.  A wedding where my man and I are celebrated but don't get caught up in the pleading of everyone else.  I don't want to be stressed.  I don't want a ton of guests.  I want it to be about me and Mr. Right.

  I also don't want my wedding to be too lovey dovey or sad because I'm getting married.  I want it to be fun, sweet, and happy.  One song that I'd like played at my wedding, then, is "Smile" by Uncle Kracker.

 "Don´t know how I lived without you
'Cuz every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild."

  It's just so sweet and happy and just the way I want to feel about my husband, and how I want my husband to feel about me.  ♥

Photo from Pinterest.com

Day 11: A photo of you taken recently

  Again, I don't like posting pictures of myself.  BUT I will post a picture that my big sister Nina drew of me awhile back.  It's in her own style. :)

  Obviously this is kind of a cartoon version of me (for some reason the pic here looks kinda blurry)- but it captures my blue eyes, big smile, wavy brown hair, high forward, and youngish-looking-for-17-face perfectly!  Now if it only could show that I'm just 4'11 in height....haha. ;)

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago

  Hmmmmm....not a fan of posting pics of myself online.  But when I was little, my family said I looked like Shirley Temple because I had very curly, short hair.

  And it's true!  I did lol.

Days 8 and 9

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday...I got really sick and just didn't feel like it.  But I'm better today!  So let's get to it. :)

Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life 

   Dear boys who have come and gone,
     Some of you have made me really happy, some of you have made me really angry.  But I want to thank you all.  Thank you for helping me realize my priorities and getting my standards straight.  Thank you for forcing me to work through my emotions in a way that I can recognize them when they rise again and deal with them appropriately.  Thank you for making me appreciate my family even more than I already did.  Thank you for pushing me closer and closer to God, even if you don't realize that you did - I know He will love me unconditionally and never hurt me.  Thank you for opening my eyes to the type of guy I want and my own likes and dislikes that make me who I am.  Thank you for exhibiting signs that I can look for in the next guy so I can decide whether to stay or run like the wind. Thank you for helping me be content with being single.  Thank you for the things you have said, the ways you have acted, and the things you did and didn't do because I have learned something from it all.  I should probably be hurt and angry with some of you, and some days I am.  Some of you have been so kind and loving that you have given me faith in the opposite sex.  Mostly though, I'm thankful. I'm thankful, boys, that you you made me stronger.  You helped make me the type of girl I am today.  And I like me. :)


  - Lydia ♥

Picture from Pinterest.com

Day 9: A photo you took 

 

Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without

1. My religion. My faith has helped me through so much.  It's so amazing. It's definitely not something I could through life without - I'd be a mess without it.

2. My family.  Seriously.  I talk to my mom about everything, my dad is so loving and hilarious, and my sister is my bestest friend.  They're the only people I need in my life. ♥

3. Books! My number one source of entertainment.  And you can learn so so much from them!

4. Showers.  Because I need them...I couldn't imagine being filthy all the time. Then again I guess there are rivers and things lol.  But showers are just so convenient!

5. Cameras.  Capturing memories is the sweetest thing ever. I love taking photos.

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive

  Honestly, all the precious moments I've had are in my past.  Though they were awesome and meaningful, I wouldn't want to relive any of them.  It sounds kinda cheesy, but those moments happened then and at that age for a specific reason.  Reliving them now when I'm older might ruin those moments, because they might not be as awesome or meaningful to me as I remember.  I plant on just savoring each amazing moment as soon as they come along. :)

Picture from Pinterest.com

Day 5: A favorite quote

 

   I have two favorite quotes.  The one above is one of them.  It's just so true - and it's helped me realize some things in my own life.

  Another favorite one of mine is actually a quote that my mom came up with.

"Lead wisely; others will follow!" - Mama

  So true!  Do you have any favorite quotes? :)

Day 4: A favorite TV show

  A favorite TV show of mine is Lark Rise to Candleford.  I really, really, realllllly like it.  It's just so easy to watch - I don't have to be careful about turning the channel whenever a gross commercial comes on (yay DVDs!), nor do I have to worry about something inappropriate coming up in it.  It's clean, moving, interesting, a costume drama (swoon) and just all around lovely.

Day 3: A favorite book + a photo challenge!

A favorite book of mine is Middlemarch by George Eliot.

   I first read this book when I was 13 (I think).  I fell in love with the characters, the quaint story, and the thrill of reading and understanding such a long book.  Soon I'm going to re-read Middlemarch because I'm sure I missed some of the symbolism (and I specifically remember not paying attention to certain parts I thought were boring at the time).  Plus, I'm older and will probably be able to relate to some of the characters better.  You know, that feeling you get when you read something that's just so true and relevant in your life.  Yeah, I'm hoping for that. :)

Also, I wanted to show my entry for the:

Here it is below!