Category: friends

Keeping Up Traditions.

YourcupateaLeave a comment

Love

It is always important to keep up certain traditions, family memoirs that mean something personal and connect you with those who have passed or those that are far away.

Today I cooked my Grandmas recipe for an Easter nest. In no way is the recipe extravagant or different but to me it really means something.

I was taught this recipe at the age of 3. With my pull up stool giving me a little height, but not enough for my eyes to meet the counter, I would help her as much as I could in the kitchen. When I would arrive at their house I would run into the secret cupboard retrieve the stool and run into the kitchen readily awaiting my grandma’s presence to bake our Easter nests together.

As I grew taller and could reach the counter on my own the stool grew dusty but never did the recipe in my mind of the famous Easter nest. Yearly we would bake this same recipe together; it was our tradition, until I moved away.

Last year I made the nest all the way in California but it was not the same without her there. This year I will do the same. Although in many ways it makes me sad, this ritual is a joyous motion that honors my grandmother in England and connects us through a single recipe, despite the distance. This is a recipe I will pass on to my children and one day make with my grandchildren to connect to my Grandmother wherever she may be, passing on the love that I feel for her to them through our Easter nests.

Family.

rangerthecatLeave a comment

This weekend, my Mom came down all the way from Santa Cruz to see me and take me out for the weekend. I was counting down the days until I could see her, and when she finally got here, it was the best feeling ever.

Each day, whether it is on purpose or not, I think about my family. My mom, dad, brother, and sister. All of them cross my mind at some point during the day. Even if we are fighting or haven’t talked in a while, I always think about them no matter what.

Before I came to this school, I guess I never realized the importance of family. I took them for granted more than I even like to admit and I did not pay them enough respect. But being away from them for so long has lead me to truly appreciate all of my family in every single way.

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All of the things my parents have done, whether they have been good or bad in my perspective, have been for me, my sister, and my brother. Looking back, I cannot say I would have had them do anything differently. Of course, in some of those moments, I thought I absolutely hated them because of some decisions that were made or rules that were enforced. Some punishment seemed like the end of the world. But my parents had a much different perspective than me, of course – they did things that they believed would be best in the long run rather than short-term.

Time spent apart from my family was, at first, something that I really enjoyed. And to some extent, I still enjoy it. But a larger part of me realizes that in the past years, I have not spent time with them the way that I should have. I spent more time complaining about what we didn’t do and things that didn’t go my way that I have not cherished the memories with them.

And, even though friends can be considered to some people family as well, there are only those few people related to you by blood that are truly of the utmost important. No matter who you spend the majority of your time with, or who has been the most prominent guiding figure throughout your life, family is the root of your existence. Family is the reason that you are on this earth. Family should be the most important thing in each and everyone’s life. They are the people that have made you who you are.

I will never take them for granted again.
Who knows how much longer we have left?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA AND CELESTE!!!

kirbyfullyloadedLeave a comment

It’s happened.

The unthinkable.

My sisters are coming into the end of their pre-teen years.

Or is that “tween” years…?

I really hate the word tween so let’s just stick with pre-teen.

Today my little sisters turned 12.

I met them 12 years ago in the San Diego International Airport, five minutes after they came off the plane from Guatemala.

They are twins.

Identical opposites.

One is right-handed and likes English.

The other is left-handed and likes Math.

One is an amazing artist.

The other is a technology whiz.

My little sisters, Clara and Celeste, are twelve years old today.

They were born in the year of the Dragon.  Personally, I think that’s the coolest Chinese Zodiac animal in our family (I’m a rat, so…).

I literally have the coolest sisters ever.

They know I love Doctor Who so they sent me a little email…

I'm a weeping angel give me your energy!!!!!! Rawwwwrrrr!!!!! Come and get me DOCTOR...........

For Christmas, they gave me lip gloss inside a plastic hamburger, a Pikachu t-shirt and a tiny dolphin pillow-pet.

For my birthday, they got me shea butter-infused fuzzy socks, Pink Chiffon and Paris Amour lotions from Bath and Body Works, and MADE ME A TARDIS!!!!

Love you little sises!

Your Feet

yrreskrap3 Comments

Your Feet

“When I cannot look at your face
I look at your feet.

Your feet of arched bone,
your hard little feet.

…But I love your feet
only because they walked
upon the earth and upon
the wind and upon the waters,
until they found me.”

Pablo Neruda

I love this poem because it can describe anybody that is special to you. Friend, family, boyfriend, or girlfriend.

My mother has always told me that your feet are the doorways to your well-being. If it is flu season, and your feet are bare, you are welcoming the sickness into your body.

I’ve always wondered why she said that. I mean, I could understand why she would advise me to take good care of my hands or perhaps my head, but my feet?
I figured that it was because we use them everyday to walk, to sprint, to skip, to tiptoe, to dance, to keep a rhythm. And since we use them so often, it is crucial that we take care of them.

But this poem took my perspective to another level. Your feet carries you from place to place.
It is not how often you use them or how you use them that make them so special but where they bring you and who you will meet.
That is why my mother stresses me to take care of my feet.

My feet have brought me so far these past 18 years. They brought me up and down mountains and through my life’s pinnacles and pitfalls.

It’s quite funny because my feet used to be my biggest source of self-consciousness. I hated them. I hated the way they looked. I especially hated that because of 4 years of soccer and track, I have two black toenails.
But now, I kind of admire them for where they have taken me. It is almost as if I have a strange respect for them.

Now, as I am going to college, it is time to let my feet take me wherever they choose to go. OH and the places I will see! The people I will meet!

Life is remarkable.

Animals are GREAT!

r3t5nomLeave a comment

I think that in this world people take animals for granted way too much. Animals are what keep us fed,and are what keep us interested in the possibilities out around the earth. But most importantly, animals are what keep the earth in check.

Wild animals are not meant to be in cages or confined to a small area but they are and it breaks my heart to see the animals inside a zoo who shouldn’t even be in the weather that they are in. Animals are like humans, they take care of their young, feed their young, and would do anything to protect their young.

It is unbelievable to me when people make it a huge deal about being attacked by a mama bear with cubs in the wild when those people should have never been there in the first place. The people are the ones intruding. If a bear was to come in to someones house and go into your kids room and be standing near just to get a “closer look” you would kill it without thinking because your kid could be in danger but when people are “getting a closer look” on some cubs and they get attacked the bear is the one who should be killed…? that makes no sense to me.

Animals aren’t infinite, that has been made very clear by the california state bear, which is on the california flag but was killed off and is extinct. Bravo humans, bravo.

One day we will all pay for neglecting the fact that we NEED animals. even if it’s just because we need a hug…

Hopefully we can just learn instead of decimating the animal populations of the world but by the looks of things, that is looking like it will never happen.

My Best Friend Kira

r3t5nomLeave a comment

Kira is not a person, Kira is my dog but she is the best friend anyone could ever ask for. She is as loyal as they come and she more loving than most people could ever be.

Kira is a Blue Heeler which is an australian cattle dog. She is the big mama in our home, taking care of two other dogs and a beautiful cat she definitely keeps them all in check.

She has fun, and is fun and she has been there for me for almost 8 years. I love her like family, we treat her like family and well at the end of the day she is without a doubt a member of our family.

She smiles like a human, she is a happy dog, but once I leave she becomes super sad.. To me she is a human and I love her!

Family.

YourcupateaLeave a comment

Group Hug.
Family is one of the most important things in someone’s life. They are the people that support, surprise and sometimes sadden someone. Family is the people we treasure throughout our lives whatever happens. They are the friends we never forget.

This October my big sister will be moving out to California to reunite with our family and once again become part of the unit. The 2-year separation has now finished and my best friend is returning home.

I can say whatever the distance and whatever the situation the love of family will never change. This is because family are ultimately our best friends.

The Dailey Method

yrreskrap1 Comment

With summer (and graduation) just around the corner, I have been trying to get fit. My goal is to lose about 5 pounds and get muscle tone.

Well, this weekend was a good step towards achieving my goal.

This morning, I went to the Dailey Method in Santa Barbara with my friend Emmy for the first time. I thought this class would be a breeze but boy was I wrong.

The Dailey Method kicked my butt (or, if i wanted to use proper Dailey Method terminology, it had kicked my seat).

The Dailey Method is a system that combines barre, core, yoga, and orthopedic exercises. There are multiple Dailey Method locations all around America, although many are concentrated in California.

What drew me to the Dailey Method was the way it toned your body to keep it in alignment. I have scoliosis in my upper and lower back that often makes me very tense. The end result of this tough workout was, surprisingly, a more relaxed body. My back feels great and I am not sore at all.

I only wish that they had a location in Boston, where I hope to go to college. For now, I will try to go to as many classes as I can!

Please check out the website: http://www.thedaileymethod.com/index.html

And the video:

A Music Journey

Yourcupatea1 Comment

Every event has a soundtrack in my mind. After going cross country skiing in Yosemite, this past week, my mind is full of new bands, new songs and new rhymes that highlight and sum up the fun times of the trip.

Of course there’s always the classic artists that play a large role and debut on such a trip these artists include people such as Johnny Cash and Bob Marley as well as bands like The Who and The Clash. With these pastimes also come old, iconic songs such as Jolene as well as new alternative covers of these past hits.

Next comes the worst of the songs: recent pop songs. These songs are often synthesized rubbish by groups who lip synch and Hip Hop artists that try and impress by remixing old classics. These along with other cheesy artists will irritatingly stick in your head but make you laugh because of their catchiness.

Finally there comes the new music, new tastes, different sounds and great bands.

By sitting on long car journeys everyday I heard lots of different songs and artists, which is very exciting for me as a music lover.

So now that my tastes have been expanded and my pallet rejuvenated with the fresh sounds of others I am ready to get exploring on the biggest music journey now that I am home.

The Musical!

rangerthecat1 Comment

Well, this week has been a big blur of practicing for the musical. It has been very busy and very, very hectic. From sorting costumes to remembering cues, it has been a very challenging feat for all involved. But, tonight, it all payed off in our opening night performance of Utopia in America.

We have been preparing for so long now, but I still didn’t feel extremely ready in the beginning of the night. I was extremely nervous, but we had run through it quite a few times, so I was confident that everyone else knew what they were doing; it was just me I was worried about, because I’m so air headed sometimes.

Musicals are so stressful and time consuming, and get me really nervous. I mean, we’ve been practicing since a few months ago, and our directors have worked harder than ever to make this perfect, and everyone in the cast wanted to make it nothing less than that for them.

There were some extremely funny moments, some moments where we messed up a bit, and some moments where it was more perfect than I ever remember it being in the past. Even though it was very hectic and busy, it was still extremely fun and, in the end, not as stressful as I had thought.

I’m just glad to have the first performance out of the way, so everyone is even more prepared for tomorrow’s two showings. And, everyone that watched it said they liked it, and I think they genuinely meant it. Overall, it was a very solid first show and I couldn’t have hoped for anything better.