shake it up

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past few weeks and I've come to the conclusion that I need a better purpose for my blog.

I love sharing glimpses into my life and the occasional rant, but I've never really shared my true passions with you.

Starting this week, I'm brainstorming a bunch of posts to begin writing and sharing!  I'm also tweaking the look and layout of my blog to make it more accessible and nice to look at.

So what's the new path I'll be taking with Artistically Me?  I want to share DIY's, tips and tricks, reading lists, music, and still the occasional rant. And like always, I'll be sharing my life, but maybe not to the extent I was before.

I'll also be working out a schedule so I can handle the work load of school and blogging when the time comes (less than a month!).  I've been looking into ads and ways to make money from your blog.  Please keep in mind that I'm not blogging to make money, I think that if I'm going to be spending this much time and effort into my posts from now on, I might as well get paid for it.

My planner is bursting with scheduled posts on holidays and other exciting events!  I'm compiling a very large, color-coded (the only way to make a list!) list on posts and series ideas that are tumbling around in my mind!

Thankfully, my upcoming camping road trip (I really should be packing for it, we leave tomorrow!) will give me some time to really process all the information I've seen today and allow me to sort myself out a bit better.  Maybe it will help me calm down a bit as I'm about to burst with excitement!

I'm so excited to begin this new path with you and my blog!  Stay tuned for new posts, series, and a revamped look!

we all scream for ice cream

Well I scream for non-dairy frozen yogurt but, whatever.

This past weekend (I'm a huge procrastinator, I know) my family went out to frozen yogurt at the little place up at the corner.  It was so delicious!

I'm trying to include more pictures in my posts and this next week I'll be camping my way around Colorado, so be prepared for a visual overload!

crazy comes out when no one's home

I used to be homeschooled so I got used to being alone.  Though it sometimes it can get depressing, there is quite a list of things I have a tendency to do when no one's looking.

I honestly was thinking about if other people do the stupid things I do.  So here's my list of what I do when no one's looking...let me know what you do!



01;;  Sing.  Really loudly.

02;; Watch tv.  Really loudly (I do everything loudly when I'm home alone)

03;;  Dance around to my loud music in my underwear.

04;;  I bake.  A lot.

05;;  Write songs.  A lot of songs.  And I scream them.  A lot.

06;; Shave my legs...don't ask me why.

07;;  Tan

It's a short list, but it gives you a little peek into my life when I'm alone.

There's something about being alone with yourself that changes the way you think.  I seem to be much nicer after a few hours, or days, alone.  It's cleansing and satisfying.

through the decades

I'm not going to be one of those obnoxious people who complains about how they were 'born in the wrong decade'.

But I will say that if I could live in any other year, it would be the 80s.  I go through these phases a lot and the 80s have taken my attention.

The movies from that time are just amazing and guess what else is amazing?  The music.

Thanks to my mom, I've listened to a lot of 80s music growing up and recently my love for that music has been reignited.  So have a listen to some of my favorite mixes right now.

music my mom listens to from ninanesbitt on 8tracks Radio.

80's hits from katie182 on 8tracks Radio.

oldies from agronselise on 8tracks Radio.

PS. I'm considering Music Mondays...but I'm not quite sure if I can actually blog every Monday and not forget. We'll see.

living the life you want

We all have our own ideas of what a perfect life looks like.  What is one thing that they will always have in common?

Positivity and happiness.

Only the true sociopaths in this world would admit to never wanting love or a happy life.  I want a happy life, you want a happy life, we all want happy lives.
I'll be the first to say it; I cannot fathom living my ideal life today.  But I know how to start living how I want to live today.

Think positively. Because of what we are exposed to in our lives, it is common to think negatively about the world.  By trying to think more positively, we can relieve stress and anxiety about the negative because we just don't see it.  There is a fine line between being naïve and thinking positively.
Spend one day, just 24 hours, looking for the positive side of things.  It is not hard in theory, but it is more work trying it.

Break free from routine.  Change it up; go somewhere new for your daily cup of coffee, go for a walk during your lunch break instead of playing on your phone, meet new people and do new things.  Variety is the spice of life and we need to apply that.

Have no regrets.  Personally, I've probably spent the majority of my life worrying about what I've done and whether or not it was right or wrong or if I should've said yes or no.  Instead, we need to let it go.  Our lives our full of choices and once we make one, we must move one.  Say no, say yes.  Sing loudly in public places.  Go to that concert or festival that you've wanted to go to since you were a kid.  Spend your money on concert tickets or a new yoga mat.  Love with no regrets.  Stop waiting for 'the right moment' and start living.  What was done in the past is in the past; the only thing we can change is the future.

Live your life.  Don't worry, don't regret, love everyone, think positively, say you're sorry, travel, break free from routines and judgmental people.  Don't include people in your life who don't truly want to be there.  If they fight you, think your choices are wrong, or even hate little things you do, say no to them.  Just let them go.
Live happily.  Eat good food.  See nice people.  Do kind things for others.  Say I love you.  Wish only the best on people.  Live.

Pictures:
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