Christmas...too early?

    I am a firm believer that Christmas is for Christmas time and starting before Thanksgiving is ridiculous. Put the trees away folks! However, what I do with my money and my free time is my business. Just because I use my money wisely to purchase gifts way before hand does not mean I am being "ridiculous". I'm sorry I do not want to drop $600 in two weeks like the rest of you do for Christmas. I start Christmas shopping in October and use the next few months to slowly pay off everyone's present. A sweater here, some make up there, and a fake bird that sings a little later. I get them wrapped when I get them and pile them in my room. When Christmas time comes around I dig them out of the corner and pile them under the tree just like the rest of you! The difference is that I have all that free time to wrap other's gifts for money, bake cookies, and visit friends and family. Stop scolding me for being good with time management.

   Next, what I watch in my free time in bed only needs to be worried about by me and my little stuffed cow. I thoroughly enjoy watching "Arthur's Perfect Christmas" at any time of year. Sometimes a girl needs to watch Melissa Joan Hart kidnap a guy and bring him home for Christmas dinner. Sometimes The Family Stone just melts your heart. Who cares if it's July?! 

   I will give you all the benefit when they place Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Hold your horses radio. I honestly can only stand Christmas music on the radio on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Otherwise, knock it off. It's called a holiday cd......or well I guess kids nowadays use Ipods. There is a limited amount of time someone can listen to Christmas music before they want to rip their ears off. My limit? 2 days. 

I guess my point is the all of this extra stuff added to Christmas (and Thanksgiving) is just nonsense that we should not be arguing about. Spend time with family and friends. Remember why you are thankful and appreciate what has been given to you already in life. 

Would people buy you?

From day one of your life, the way you act determines how people perceive you. You most likely do not remember what you acted like as a baby, but you have probably been told. Did people say you were finicky or well behaved as a baby? Time progressed you decided (consciously or not) that you were going to become your own person. When you first were developing your brand, it was most likely rocky. For those of you that said you were perfection as a child, you are wrong. Children are a mess because you are growing and learning. Maybe you were independent as a child and you wanted to make your own decisions. Maybe you depended on your parents to do everything for you. The best part about your childhood? It does not matter now. Then you turned into a teenager and things seem more meaningful than they used to. You may not have been the best student. You could have even been a rebel; you could have been a well behaved teen who did exactly what they were supposed to do. Same concept as childhood; it does not matter now, but for some reason people insist on using their past to determine who they should be as an adult. Let's recap, from birth through teenage years, what you did does not determine who you can become. As an adult, you are allowed to decide exactly what type of person you want to be. However, people keep the labels they have been given their entire life to decide how they are going to act. You have never had the ability to determine what you were going to be labeled. Someone is always there to assign you a label. As much as you hate it, it happens. How funny is it that the only time you were allowed to act exactly like yourself without the influence of labels and people telling you how to act or feel, you do not remember because you were too little? I have always strongly believed that you should say, do, react, and feel exactly how you want to when it is necessary. (obviously not to drastic extents or else we would have a blood bath of a mess on our hands...) But really. Your actions and feelings are yours. You get to decide how you feel and what you do. Why should you neglect what is natural to you in order to please others? No wonder the human race has been stuck in this terrible world of awful for such a long time. We all keep living by one guy's standards (sorry ladies, but we can pretty much guarantee that it was a man) You are told "no, you can't do that" or "you have to do that, but you have to do it this way". Who decided that?! No one even remembers anymore. Like your emotions as a child, once time passes things need to change. You cannot live by the same standards just because you are told you have to. We are all free to make our own decisions and we all need to embrace that. I've been listening to a few audios that talk about altering feelings and changing the way you view certain situations in order to eliminate the emotions that most people do not want to go through (such as frustration, loneliness, etc) If you open your brain up to new possibilities you can realize things that you never thought were even possible. You may need to change your plan of action, but hey you progress by moving forward, not by standing still. So many of us chose to only live in the box we have created around ourselves and when you do that you become subconsciously stuck because on the inside you "know" that you will never leave that box. It's time to break out of that box. Anything is possible; no matter how improbable, it could happen. You can change anything you feel or any situation you are in. You need to will it to happen. The choices you make and how you decide to grow as a person are what makes a person decide if they like you. How many friends does a loner with a bad personality have? Not very many. People buy emotions and actions. It has been said that "people buy people", but they really buy what that person is about. Never sell yourself short of what you know you want to be. It is your choice to decide who to be. Would people buy you?

A little nonsense can be a good thing

I am one to talk about exactly what I am thinking no matter how inappropriate the situation. Thank goodness I have this blog or I would have many grumpy people listening to me go on and on about Tuukka, Market America, and my love of shopping. Many of these people believe these ramblings are nonsense and are going to hold me back. I beg to differ though because without nonsense we would not have creativity. Who ever believed that a little box of metal and plastic, that some today would question was a computer, would one day connect the entire world? How many do you think way-back-when thought that electricity would one day be a thing? They probably thought those ideas were just...nonsense. I have started to catch myself when I realize I am crushing others' dreams. Collectively, as a human race we have started to believe in only one mind set. There are rules for how you should be thinking and you are exiled and made fun of if you do not believe in this way. I finally completed a book about Steve Jobs (I'm a slow reader) and even though I hated him for a good majority of the book, I enjoyed the person he turned into. Many of us start out believing that we know everything and that we are the only person that matters. Even though this can get you much of what you want when you wanted, it hurts so many others. I have tried to solve others' problems recently, or at least help them come up with a solution. Everyone has their problems whether it be loans, relationship problems, weight problems, kid problems, hating their job, hating where they are in life. I have problems of my own sure, but my problems are going to be solved with time and growing. What is the point of me sitting there worrying about my problems when there are so many other's that can be solved with my help? My nonsense is going nowhere and will be there when I need to start focusing on them. I enjoy helping people so I decided to spend my time more productively and do so. What has been bothering me lately is that people are so wrapped up in their own problems that they are getting no where to get out of them. I know this is a little taboo for most of you, but I have found that most problems solve themselves when you aren't focused on them. Problems depress people. When people focus on the problem, people stay depressed. Stretch your wings, folks. Do something that makes you happy!! What is the point in being depressed about something that is not going to change over night? Are you going to come up with $2,000 overnight to pay off your credit card? Are you going to lose 30 lbs in a day? Are your kids going to behave with one stern talking to? I'm sorry to say that the answer is no. On the flip side, do you think you are going to feel better seeing a friend for a cup of coffee? Do you think that walk is going to calm your nerves and kill some stress? Do you think taking your kids out for ice cream will make them a little more bearable for the night? Yes. Would you all rather be worrying about that nonsense or have fun doing nonsense. Nonsense as a thought can be detrimental and haunt you, but nonsense as an action can be powerful and wonderful. Don't think nonsense, do nonsense. Get out there and live your life. Stop questioning everything and go out and do. One of my favorite quotes comes from kids t.v. show. "Take chances, get messy, and make mistakes." That's the way to do it, loves.

An Interesting Concept

As a few of you know I work with Market America, running my own business and all that jazz. We have a really large training program which spans from in person training, online training, phone conferences, etc, etc, etc. So I was watching a YouTube clip of my friend and as the video went on, more people were introduced. A woman named Tami Gaines started to speak and she brought up an interested concept that really has me thinking about the way I have treated myself and the way I treat myself now. If people treated strangers on the street the way they treated themselves, they would get punched in the face. There are so few people out there that treat other people they way they would want to be treated, but on top of that they do not treat themselves they way they should be treated. Why are we all so hard on ourselves and treat ourselves so terribly? We are the only person we have to live for. Why would you treat yourself so poorly? We put ourselves down, tell ourselves we can't, and take away any faith we might possibly have in anything. We are so quick to tear ourselves down and I just cannot figure out why. I used to be the type of person who did this and one day I just decided I would be happy. I know that sounds like something a psychotic person would say. I know I'm a little crazy, but it is really a mind set. We all have bad days, there will always be something wrong, there will also be things that you cannot control. All of these bad things are not going to change overnight so what is the point of worrying about them?  You are not going to make enough money to pay off your bills overnight. You won't lose all that weight in one day. Things are not going to come like magic (unless you are rich...and if you are reading my blog you are most likely not. no offence) You need to work towards these types of things slowly, so why would you concern yourself with it every single day of your life. If you just had fun for the majority of your life then half the garbage you concern yourself with daily won't even matter! If there is nothing you can do, then why concern yourself, ya know? Stop telling yourself you can't go do something because of something else. Just go do it. If you want to just do it. You are given roughly 100 years (some of us not so lucky) and we waste days and days stressing about how nothing is getting any better. You can complain all you want, but you won't get that vacation until you book it. You won't try that new food until you order it (or cook it). You won't lose that weight until you get on a treadmill. And guess what! Those bills will still be on your counter when you get home. That food will stay at that restaurant when you don't show up. And those pounds will keep hanging out with you. You can wish all you want, but I stopped believing in wishing a while ago. I now believe in doing. Stop wishing yourself happy and start making yourself happy.

Mind Your Manners 01

I am starting a manners series because obviously most of you in the world seemed to forget what they are. There are so many chapters to this that I cannot even decide where to begin! ...Honestly, I have spent all day staring at this page trying to decide. I guess I will just begin with the acts that are bothering me at this second. When people post things on Facebook that are serious or you know they aren't really the sarcastic type, then don't post garbage on their post! Just shut up. They obviously do not want your nonsense on their page when they are posting something professional. If it's a silly post then sure go ahead, but really when someone is posting an important message then shutttt uppppp. This also brings up the point about if you should like sad posts or not. If someone posts a sad message are you allowed to like it? What if you like how well it was written or the fact that you appreciate the thought behind the message? If you like it does this mean you have to comment on it to ensure you don't actually like the sad part? It is a very confusing, awful mess of a situation that we as a population have to figure out on our own. There should be rules and a manual for posting on Facebook. Common sense though does play a huge part in what is acceptable to put on the internet and what should stay hidden in the depths of your phone. I do not want to see you pretending to lick people in inappropriate places, gushing over how perfect your significant other is, how drunk you got a few nights ago, every update of every medical procedure you have ever had, etc. Trust me, I've had my fair share of garbage on Facebook and I have been working very hard to fix that to clean up my reputation a little bit. You are allotted so many times of mess ups before we all just think you are a waste of our news feed, sweethearts.Cheers!

Cannot Keep My Stupid Mouth Shut

Dear friends and fellow readers,
I have this problem where I CANNOT seem to contain the thoughts that cross through my brain. If you do not believe me....check out my Twitter. It is incredibly inappropriate and off the wall. twitter.com/vstraitt  It's a mess. To sum up for all of you I talk about my drinking, my lack of wearing clothes, and the Boston Bruins. It just sounds awful, which makes sense on why no one follows me; honestly, it is a wonder anyone follows me. At least I am not a huge tool and subtweet garbage about people (except that one time someone started a subtweet war with me, which I obviously won). I just cannot seem to keep my mouth, or technically fingers, quiet. I have only ever been able to keep one secret in my entire life. You are welcome to the one person that I have kept your secret, to everyone else I am sorry, but more likely than not I told at least one person. Oops? On the bright side of that, I never gossip within the same group. So luckily, none of our mutual friends know your secret. How do people keep secrets? I can't even keep my own secrets. If you ask I will tell you. I think this possibly has something to do with the face that I can't lie. I just lied...I can lie, I'm just terrible at it! It is so obvious when I am lying that anyone could call me out, even if they don't know me. Not being able to lie is really a double edge sword. I could have used the skill of being able to lie a few times in my life. Oh well, what can you do?

Twitter, Procrastination, and Other Nonsence

I love Twitter. However, I seem to be the only one who LOVES to communicate through Twitter. I talk to my friend Alyssa primarily through Twitter and I search what I am thinking about to see what everyone else thinks of that topic. Not only do I read those posts, but I also 'reply' to them. I like to keep the conversation going. The downside to this is that no one else seems to appreciate my enthusiastic tweets as much as I do. I have a feeling that I have been blocked by many people. I feel as though my tweets are not as exciting as everyone else's. I mostly post about alcohol (including the wine club I am part of), the Bruins (aka Tuukka haha), and cute animals. All of this is most likely the reason that I am not followed by many people; you need to be interesting to have followers.

Part II
I forgot I started this. Procrastination, thou art a bitch. I do not even know what I was doing that I neglected to finish writing this, but I believe I might have been looking for muffin recipes. Whatever. Moving forward. I have been focusing so much on the Bruins that I don't think that I have accomplished anything for the past week. Also it is extremely hot, which makes doing anything remotely energetic completely improbable. My life is coming so fast that I am kind of freaking out. I graduate with my associates in August. I get a new tattoo, go on a whale watch, and go to some concerts pretty soon. I also am going on a business trip soon. www.shop.com/vstraitt  <<
I am drenched in sweat and this post is going no where. Until next time. 

Bruins

I need to start off this blog with the fact that I love Tuukka Rask. I don't care what any of you say and I understand that he has a long time girlfriend, but that man is going to be my boyfriend one day. Don't care. On that note I am not impressed by him tonight. I will give credit to the Bruins for holding it together (barely) through the entire game, but this is for the Cup. Let's be real. I will start this rant with the person who pisses me off the most. Daugavins. You need to pull yourself together man. Every time he is on the ice something terrible happens. He put HIMSELF OFFSIDES! wtf?! He can't pass or get the puck where it should be going. It is so frustrating that he is even on the team. No one likes you (as a player. I'm sure you are plenty nice, but seriously grow a pair and learn to play hockey). Jager, stop trying to shoot goals. You are too slow.  You do well when you set up the plays and pass the puck. Please stop trying to shoot. Those days are over. Paille, Peverley, Seguin, Bergeron, and on some occasions Chara, thank you. Dream team, thank you. ps. Chara stop fighting with people. You are a skyscraper, calm the F down or you are going to ruin someone's career. And for all you players who think standing 2 inches from Tuukka's face is going to help him stop the goals, you are sorely mistaken. Figure it out. I love you boys and wish you the best of luck, but do not let your shitty qualities get in the way of winning the Cup. This is for Boston, not just you. I think I am done venting now. Love you all so much. Good luck in Chicago....and by good luck, I mean you better win.

Here I am.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XIYNhregAY

I figured I would start off this post with the song that is stuck in my head. It makes the post more relevant to something, as opposed to any other post I have written. I have been struggling this week with th emost popular question in any 20-whatever-year-old's life. What do I want to do with my life? I am not being modest. I really am not fantastic at anything. I am mediocre at many things, which is awesome, but my calling has not yet come into the picture. It is so frustrating. Why couldn't I just be born into a Russian gymnast family? I hate that I have to figure out this nonsense on my own. Self-discovery and all that emotional blahhhhhh. I have read blogs, newspaper articles, and listened to adults and they all tell me I am fine. I "still have time to figure it out". Awesome. I have time. I'm bored now!!! I want to find what I love now. Is that so much to ask? I wish I could go to sleep and wake up just know. That will never happen because you need to go out and experience life to understand which place you belong. It is hard to experience life when you are poor and the world is full of vicious people. I wish I could do what Thoreau did and live on a lake and write poems. However, I am not a poet, animals are dangerous, and murders are INSANE now. Fear outweighs the chance to grow and understand yourself nowadays, which is extremely sad. I wish I had more courage in many aspects of life. The spectrum of the things I fear is so large; it ranges from little tiny mice to plummeting towards the Earth from miles up in the air after being sucked up in a tornado. I am so scared of so many things that I am holding myself back from doing so many amazing things. This is a new day. I want to be brave. I want courage. I want to try new things and go new places to experience new things. This is the time. There is no better time than right now for me to get out there. I do not want to live with the regret of not trying things just because I am "scared". It is time to get going on my life.

Money, money, money

Why is there so little money present in my life? I recently decided to figure out where all my money goes because I have none by the time the month is over. I thought I spent a lot of money on nonsense and the truth is I do. I shop so much for clothes and food, I could feed and dress an entire army (of women...I don't think many men can fit in a size 2 haa). I did spend a whole whopping $2.99 for cupcakes for my brother for helping me finish my math final on time. I have been writing down all of my expenses, which has helped me stop shopping online because I'm too embarrassed to write down that I spent $200 on tank tops and shoes. I even paid some of my student loans because it makes my sheet look better if anyone happens to stumble upon it. I was doing so well and was really on track until I bought $345 bar tending classes. Is it worth it to spend money on something that will potentially boost my income? Is a little bit now worth it for all that I could make in the future? Maybe instead of sitting on Facebook in my free time, I could be somewhere making money, so I can buy $200 worth of shoes, which with my recent window shopping experience on Zappos is not that difficult. Tax refund time will be very welcomed by me this year, but I just read that it is important to not blow all of your refund. I am hoping to pay off some bills and pay some of my student loans, but we'll see how strong my self-control is. I just want to be responsible with my money, but it is just so hard when everything I want is worth something. Can we go back to the time where we traded chickens and beads for things?