Rainy Day Adventures

So, if there's anything I hate more than meat and having to wake up early, it's rainy Sundays. I mean, after all, it is called SUNday, therefore I always feel a little sad and dreary when a Sunday comes around where it is not even a little bit sunny, a day much like today. This afternoon turned out to be better than expected though, despite gloomy skies and pouring cold rain.

First of all, my family stopped for a quick doughnut run at Dixie Donuts, which is probably the cutest doughnut shop I have ever been in my entire life. They are constantly inventing new flavors of doughnuts, so of course I have to try a new one every time! This time I tried German chocolate (which was a chocolate doughnut with dark chocolate frosting and walnut creme stuff in the middle... YUM) as well as the 'OMG' doughnut (a vanilla doughnut with chocolate frosting and a chocolate doughnut hole in the middle with vanilla frosting and caramel and chocolate drizzled over it... help I think I'm going into chocolate overload... oh wait that doesn't exist...)

 Car selfies with the ever stubborn Meg

Meg looks cute even when she eats doughnuts...

After Dixie Donuts, my family and I went to the VMFA, the HUGE art museum in RVA. We decided to check out the South Asian Art exhibit because that is what I'm going to be learning about in art this year, so we figured it'd be cool to check it beforehand. This exhibit was filed with lots of pieces of art depicting Hindu and Buddhist gods, such as the above statue of Shiva, the all-powerful creator of the universe in the Hindu religion (at least that's what I read on the description plaque... I'm not actually Hindu so correct me if my facts are wrong...) 

 Chihuly is probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen...

After checking out Southeast Asian art, Meg and I ventured over to the Chinese and Japanese art since that is what I learned about this year. Meg actually seemed to like it a lot, especially some of the tapestries and screens, and I took pictures of some of my favorite things such as the picture of the bird in the branches and the two ink drawings.

This was Meg's very favorite thing in the entire museum... I think she liked that it had animals on it... I have to admit, I like it too though.

We found this room at the very top of the building where one wall was made completely out of windows, so you could see the whole city. 

What I'm wearing:

Dress: H&M

Boots: Target

(I had taken my belt off at this point because I was being lazy, but I usually would wear a belt along with this outfit)

If Meg and I work together, we have enough arms to portray Shiva, unfortunately with an extra set of legs...

After I got home, I did chores, ate Caprese Salad (possible recipe coming later!) and worked on my birthday gift for Reshini. I was actually pretty proud of it, I made her a CD of 15 love songs since she's 15 and I love her... Ok fine it's cheesy but she liked it. After dinner I went to Reshini's house for a couple hours to celebrate her birthday, and although I didn't get any pictures, almost EVERYONE I made missed from school was there, and it was so awesome to see everyone again! We all ate too much ice cream and hung out in Reshini's living room with the extremely soft rug and watched Identity Thief and looked at videos of our young embarrassing selves. Now I just have to wait a couple more weeks before seeing them all again... I'm already starting to go into deprivation...

So no matter how muggy you "Sun"day was, I just hope it was a happy day!

Happy List

So this post is inspired by one of my favorite blogs, a fellow Richmonder, A Girl Named Leney. I discovered her blog after she shot wedding photos for my former camp counselor and good friend Amber, and just love her random, happy posts. So here goes:

HAPPY LIST

raw cookie dough. chocolate milk with bendy straws. windy fall nights. loud thunderstorms. yummy smelling candles. warm cinnamon rolls. ginger cookies. fuzzy socks. hot showers. catching fireflies. tall trees perfect for climbing. sour candy. walking around barefoot. cheesy romance movies. banjos. doodling on yourself and others. star gazing on perfect summer nights. peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the perfect ratio of peanut butter to jelly. swimming deep underwater. overalls. going thrifting. large empty fields perfect for running. rope swings. honeysuckle. days when there are no clouds in the sky. crazy picture taking. writing with new markers. the jumbo 64 crayon box everyone had in the 2nd grade. tree houses. old family pictures. getting mail. cute weddings. playing a song over and over because you love it. retro friday nights on Lite 98. 

True Colors

So I remember back in 7th grade chorus, our eccentric yet rather wonderful chorus teacher, Ms. Burford, made us sing this song called "True Colors"originally by Cyndi Lauper and later covered by the Glee cast, which, if you were born around the same time I was, unfortunately is probably the version you know. Anyways, the song has a good meaning, and trust me, I have nothing against Cyndi Lauper or good old 80's music, but I admit, my friends and I sometimes remember our awkward middle school years by singing this song... Which is kind of what happened today.

We had a good reason though. Many people have probably heard of the Color Run, Richmond held one back in March and they have been happening all over the country, which has inspired many other organizations to host color runs, many of which are in RVA. So this morning, me and my two best friends from middle school, Emma and Courtney, all got back together again to do the run together, get covered in colored corn starch, and sing really loudly the whole way through, as well as for hours afterward. It was a wonderful day, despite having to wake up at 7 o'clock to get there on time (why anyone would want to love all the way in New Kent and drive into the city every day is beyond me... of well, to each their own)

Before and After

Emma looking snazzy with her packet of color

Just ignore my really unfortunate face in this...

Emma looks sassy even when she throws color.

You can just ignore my face in this too...

I struggle.

Emma's selfies during the race

Mid-race selfie of the three of us

Emma's selfie featuring random other runner // otherwise known as the best picture to ever exist

Hardcore?

Aftermath of the Color Vibe

This was the result...

Mr. H, staying classy as always

I slightly resemble Shrek

Best friends <3

So, even if we all went to different high schools, even if we only get to see each other on occasion, and even if we know different people and lead different lives then we may have before, there's nothing big enough to bring us apart. Everyone has a rough time in middle schools, lets just admit it, but finding the two best friends in the world to go through that awkward stage with you and still love you once you get out of it (actually, I'm not sure if I'll EVER get out of it) it something that not many people can say they have. I am so lucky to have friends like Emma and Courtney. Here's to 6 years and counting!

Also, just watch this:

The Year in Review // Scheduled Camp Post #1

Hey everyone! So, I'm currently at camp for the next two weeks, but I figured it would be a shame for this blog to go that long without being updated a couple times, so even though I won't be updating about my current happenings since I'll be too busy caving and rock climbing and getting eaten alive by mosquitos, I have written some posts which are scheduled to post at random times throughout these next two weeks! Here's the first one!

There are so many amazing photos taken this year, so I just wanted to share some of the amazing moments this year with you! I hope you like them!

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

1. I played field hockey and had WAY too many strange photoshoots with Lori. 

2. Homecoming happened.

3. I more than occasionally third-wheeled.

4. I hung out with new friends...

5. And was reunited with old.

6. Strange things happened at swim team, including MEETING KATIE LEDECKY!

7. Around came 2013.

8. I went to some parties, spent a lot of time doing homework, and hung out with my friends.

9. I GOT MY PERMIT!!!!

10. We did the Color Run and Alt-Prom.

11. I got bangs.

12. The Great Jacksby deserves an honorable mention. 

13. I went to weddings, beach adventures, and ate popsicles.

It's been an awesome year! Thanks for all the memories!