Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A Day in the Life

Man oh man... So much going on. If I could tag some topics that are relevant in my life at the moment, the list would look like this :

Kitsch art.
Double major.
College applications.
Shit Girls Say.
All the dumb stuff the people running our country say.
CoSA life.
Self portrait.
Pinterest.
Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest.

I have a lot to think about this week. I've been writing a lot, as well as reading. Had a talk with the school counselors about SATs, GPAs and all those scary college words. I've had my eyes set on UC Berkeley since 5th grade, but I think it's time to start looking around and giving myself more options... Yknow, in case I somehow don't get to a 4.3 GPA and happen to run into a large inheritance that would cover my tuition.

So I see Mr. Grumpy Gills Gingrich is doing well in Florida polls... Politics these days don't do much but anger, frustrate, confuse and utterly shock me. Both left and right. The hubby is ready and registered to vote, being that he will be turning 18 a week before elections... I leave the debate-watching and poll-stalking to him. He's much less emotionally and vocally expressive of his distaste of things than I am. {This blog won't turn into my personal soapbox, cross my heart.}

Another thing, I hope y'all have caught on to my blogging pattern of posts every two days. A) I'm a busy little high schooler, and as much as I dearly wished from the bottom of my heart I had more time to spend on the marvelous Interwebz, I don't and B) All the exciting things in my life just so happen to occur on odd-numbered days :)

As for kitsch art and CoSA, well, all is well in the art school world. I feel truly comfortable and free to be myself in that classroom, and that's a feeling I hold seriously dear. It's not everyone who gets to spend two hours a day expressing themselves creatively and laughing endlessly with great friends :)

Today was kind of a long-expressive-blogpost kind of day. Feels mighty nice to get it all out of your system, dunnit?

love,
nat


Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Hungry Games

Sunday lovely Sunday...
It's been a long week for me. Stayed home sicky from school on Thursday, and contrary to 99% of all mentally healthy teengers out there, I absolutely despise missing school. Make-up work is such a pain, but most of all, I miss my friends! I'm still battling out the cold with a high-caliber tissue box and endless rounds of lozenges and vapor rub.

I would like to add another bulletpoint to my list of reasons why I love SoCal -

* it's January, and it's been 80 degrees for the past five days.

Oh yes. At 11 o' clock AM, I put my shorts and tank top on, grabbed my iPad and a tall glass of iced tea and laid outside to read The Hunger Games in the splendid sunshine.

SUCH. A GOOD BOOK. {I intend on finishing the book before the movie premieres, so pumped to go see it now!} Nobody misses the Harry Potter series as much as this girl does, but Katniss and Peeta make damn good replacements. High action, intense characters and lots of talk about bread. Really. Bread's kind of a big thing in District 12. Made me crave a loaf of raisin and nut bread. I highly reccomend it for teens who are looking for a worthy post-Potter novel to get sucked into.

No better time to go tan in my backyard with a spot o' dubstep and an ice cream bar <3

Have yourselves a lovely little Sunday

love,
nat

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Mid-Week Crisis

We've all had them. Your body refuses to get out from under the sheets, you're basically sleeping goldfish-style by third period, and you melodramatically exclaim to your friends, "JUST GO ON WITHOUT ME!" I guess going to bed an hour ahead of schedule still isnt enough. {At least the weather is cooperating-78 degrees today!} Id just like to take a walk down to the beach, breathe in that breeze and hold the salty air in my lungs... Sand and ocean water: the only spa treatment I'll ever need. I cannot wait for summer to come. There is no inspiration to be found in a classroom, no joy to be found in being given a death sentence of homework assignments to go home to. {This post itself is pretty melodramatic, if I may say so myself}

I'm just a little nostalgic, that's all <3

P.S. If you were my hubby and you wanted to make me happy on Valentine's Day, you'd buy me an adorable little pet chameleon (:

love,
nat

Monday, January 23, 2012

Zombie

I am half a soul today. I left one half in my warm, fluffy bed this morning at 5:30 A.M.
Back to the ol' post-finals 8-hour-CoSA day grind.
Now I know I shouldnt be complaining, I'm just a sophomore in high school and that if I were in college, sleep would be a rare occurence.
But dear gawd, I am so exhausted. There was rain and clouds and cold weather today, three things I wish would just wait until after school when I'm home on some other day that ISN'T Monday.
I shan't moan anymore, there are people in the world who work far harder than I do to support families and have more taxes and mortgages to pay than I have homework to do.

I'll just go have a cupcake with milk for dinner and call it a night <3

I pray your day went better than mine!

love,
nat

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Cup of Tea

So in celebration of my great achievements during finals week {A+ in my toughest subject, Geometry!} I allowed myself the weekend off from homework, stress and blogging. Sometimes having no commitments and responsibilities is nice.

I didn't do a whole lot, apart from buying The Hunger Games on my B&N nook - my rule is that I must read the book before watching the movie, because the book is always better. I drank a lot of tea, too. There's something about brewing tea and curling up in my egg chair with a blanket and iPod that just feels so relaxing and reenergizing. It's one of those things you treat yourself to even if you don't really deserve it. Love that feeling.

Today was also a splendid day - and the adjective "splendid" is a very high honor to be bestowed in my world :) The hubby and I went out on a casual little date, nothing too romantic or extravagant - just lunch at a sports bar and bowling. So maybe its not fine dining on a dinner cruise, but sometimes it's more fun to pig out with your sweetheart and watch the football game. He brings out my feisty, competitive side, and if I couldn't beat him on the lanes, I'd have to beat him in the arcade. We came home and instinctively knew what to do... Turn the kettle on and bring out our favorite mugs. There are certain things in life that you like to do on your own, but love to share with your loved ones. <3

Have a SPLENDID week, people!

love,
nat

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Is It Safe To Go Out Now?






Oh my. That was by far the longest, most stressful three days of the school year so far. My brain was just too flooded in to-do lists and to-study lists and to-finish-now lists that risking getting sucked up in the black hole that is the interwebs was just not an option. Finals are over, I can move on to the second semester of sophomore year with a clean slate. The three-day post-finals apocalypse weekend is also nice little bonus :) I spent the afternoon with my three best friends at the lovely Balboa Park; it was so great to get some vitamin D after being locked away in a grey classroom for so long. We're geeks, so we go to the art museum for fun. (The friends I surround myself with would rather spend an evening watching bad horror movies with some In 'N' Out than spend an evening partying with a bottle of vodka.) ♥

And just for kicks, I went ahead and treated myself to some cosmetic therapy - what girl doesn't love buying a new nail polish color? I think I may have an addiction... I picked up a bottle of essie's "ballet slipper" lacquer, a sweet, bridal pink - a pick-me-up for my pinkies :)

No school tomorrow...you know what that means...
15 hours of uninterrupted sleep!

love,
nat

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Modern Family


Second day in desert paradise - studying up for French and Bio poolside sippin' a virgin Colada. Oh yeah, I'm totally stressing.

I'm here with my grandparents, aunt and uncle, and three not-so-baby-anymore cousins {Nick, Ryan & Sophie} - and usually I try really hard to not be a moody, anti-social teenager around them, but it's been so much fun. Dinner at Mikobu was lovely, especially the part where each of us got hit in the face by shrimp instead of catching them in our mouths like the chef instructed (: Did I mention the only way to get to that restaurant was by boat? Did I also mention I'm in the desert? I kid around, it's a fantastic little place at the Marriot Desert Springs. Anyways, I'm having a splendid time.

The Golden Globes were also tonight - there are only certain people on Hollywood I respect and admire, and they were all there tonight. Clooney, Streep, DiCaprio, Scorcese, Jolie, and the entire flipping cast of my favorite show on TV, Modern Family. So happy they won Best Comedy. Take out the gay uncles and make my spicy Latina mother the same age as my dad, and the Pritchett-Delgado-Dunphy-Tucker family is basically the Rahimzadehs. It's a brilliant show, if you dont already watch it, go watch it. Now. It's so good you should just get up out of your seat and go find it on DVD.

Seriously.

i'm quite sleepy dears, all this sunlight and delicious food is wearing me out

love,
nat

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Desert Love


Why hello darlings - I do apologize for not posting last night. The school week took a huge toll on my sleepy time, and some Fridays are meant for coming straight home and getting in bed.

I was also busy packing for a spontaneous trip to Palm Springs with the fam {courtesy of my lovely aunt and uncle}, and because I'm female, "packing" means taking out ten shirts and ten pairs of jeans and ten skirts for a three-day trip, and later deciding that I don't like any of the shirts or jeans or skirts, and starting over.Not to mention spending hours at the swimwear section at Target making up my mind over which black bandeau top would look cuter. I was also a little stressed due to upcoming finals exams, and finding time to fry my brains out with geometry and history in between getting gloriously tan and playing tennis and doing nothing. {On top of that, I missed my darling friend's sixteenth birthday party - happy belated birthday, Kaitlin!}

Well, I'm here in splendid Spring of Palms now, the weather is d e l i c i o u s. Nothing more beautiful than a California desert sunset over dusty, rocky mountains.
The hotel amenities are adorable too - Sicilian Blood Orange bath scrub and body butter {totally stealing those}.

Will be posting pictures of all the majestical desert beauty - I absolutely love it out here.

happy three-day (:

love,
nat

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Rock n Roll High School

So I woke up today thinking it was Friday... Oh well, not all dreams can come true.

I was feeling social and enlightened today; I studied for a history test with girls I'd never bothered to talk to but judged from afar - and I learned a lot {and not just about history}. I realized that behind the trendy boots and belly shirts, everyone else here is just trying to get through the day and go back home to the bed they rolled out of the same morning.

I love that about high school. We all think we're on the outside looking in, and we point and judge and draw invisible lines between the soccer players, the skaters, the theatre freaks - but in reality, each of us brings something different and beautiful to the community as a whole.Over the past year, my campus has come together as one to speak out against homophobia, mourned the loss of two too many fallen colleagues, and won something close to eternal glory at water polo championships {high school water polo games in Coronado are like high school football games in the Midwest} I am SO proud to call myself an Islander. I want to hug each and every one of them. The side affects may be nausea, dizziness, paranoia and insomnia, but god it's such a fun rollercoaster ride.

besides, I dont know anyone else who can say they can walk to the beach during off-campus lunch (:

love,
nat

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

What I Got


Wednesdays...the peanut butter part of the weekday sandwhich. They're not always great, but at least we're halfway there to Fridays.

So following my last post about staying positive, I'd like to add an amendment to my personal constitution - because it has to do with a pretty big thing in my life, as I'm sure it is in a lot of other teenagers' lives - those bloody body issues.

For 15, I'm petite. Haven't even hit 5'2" yet. Which means the rest of me is petite as well. Everybody has those mornings where you almost want to punch the mirror because nothing is right about what's looking back at you. Sometimes you want to yell "WHERE IS THE VICTORIA'S SECRET MODEL?!" (or "BRAD PITT?!") Sometimes you just give the mirror the silent treatment. Nothing looks good with those jeans, nothing will keep your hair tamed, nothing will cover up that pimple.

I know these mornings all too well.

But I really don't want to anymore. I want that mirror to be my new best friend, and every girl's out there who feels strange and unfit for her own skin. Those Victoria's Secret girls don't roll out of bed looking the way they do on the runway, love. I'm throwing out my insecurities with 2011's issues of Vogue, cuz putting myself down is so last season. (Okay, that was corny, but you get what I'm saying.)

So the First Amendment of 2012 is this -
To love myself, every last inch of small chested, clumsy footed, large nosed, messy haired me. Because honestly, this is what I've got, and I intend on making the most of it.

Hope this inspires you to love looking in the mirror ♥


(tomorrow's post won't be about me, promise) ;)

love, nat

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Om

Good morning to all :)
Here's a little something for your Tuesday commute. This is a great attitude to have!


It's good to start your day off with positive thoughts - but considering how early some of us may have to get up, positive thought can be kind of a bitch. In case of a karma emergency, or emergency of any other sort, check out another fellow Coronado Islander's blog, http://www.thellielife.blogspot.com/

This girl's got some really beautiful things to say, and anyone in need of a confidence boost should listen.

Hope this helps, little ones!

positive thoughts
love,
nat

Monday, January 9, 2012

Day 1 of the Bad Karma Diet

It's not fair to say "Happy Monday", because we all know - teenagers especially - that that idea exists just as much as unicorns or low-calorie chocolate.
Don't you hate those days where it's not even second period yet and you've already forgotten 4 out of 5 things you reminded yourself to remember the night before, and you just know...today's gonna suck. Well dear readers, today was one of those days. It's finals season round here, and I'd like to think I do fairly well under pressure, but the hard truth is that I am most definitely not. I am impatient, almost always frustrated with something, and to top it all off, I'm a p-word... I said it, I'm a flipping perfectionist. Nothing I do is ever really finished or good enough; there is always somethng to scrutinize or re-adjust. Which for the great and famous journalist I plan on being, that's a good and bad quality to have. For the growing artist I currently am, it's mostly a bad thing.

Which leads me to the part where I explain the title of this entry. I have made three (3) and only three resolutions this year, all of which I have inscribed on my lovely whiteboard hanging above my bed - three of which I will carry with me every day and keep to the best of my ability. So help me Gawd.

1. To stop judging, scrutinizing, criticizing, or thinking any more bad-karma thoughts about anyone - including myself.
2. To give up and let go of fears - fears of being wrong, fears of being judged, fears of not being perfect, and fears of spiders. I have kept myself from learning so many things and missed so many opportunites because I've been too afraid to see myself fail.
3. To take each day and enjoy every minute of rain, fog or sunshine - be greatful for this moment and for everyone surrounding me I am lucky to enjoy it with. Look towards the sun, and the shadows will fall behind you.

It's on the Internet now, so I can't hide from it :) I should start feeling more beautiful, radiant and happy after about a week of this new diet - I highly reccomend it.

peace

love, nat

Sunday, January 8, 2012

It's a Polka Dot Pajama Kind of Sunday




I'm working this blog from a PC, so please excuse my sub-par webcam skills

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours

Happy Sunday to all!

Since I'm relatively new to the blogging world, and you as readers may be relatively new to me, how bout I do y'all a favor and tell you a little about myself. Fifteen little thiings you should know about me -

1. I simply cannot stress enough - I freaking love living in Southern California. There's nothing better than getting to school and smelling salt water in the air as you drive across the Coronado Bridge overlooking Downtown SD. Born and raised California girl.

2. I wish I was alive during the 1960's. I'm a complete hippie at heart - plus the music of that time is my favorite. Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys, oh my! <3

3. I am Mexican-American-Iranian. Kind of a strange combination, but the advantages are delicious food and being trilingual :)

4. It's a dream of mine to live in New York City for at least a year when I'm older. I love that city.

5. My dream job is to write for The New York Times. (It helps that I wouldnt mind moving there at all.) If I don't make it, I can settle with writing for Rolling Stone, The New Yorker or Vogue. I just want to be in journalism.

6. I'm a Leo. Fierce, passionate, creative, sometimes bossy, sometimes vain, but über social, funny and energetic.

7. Ironically, I' m deathly allergic to cats. And basil.

8. For my 16th birthday, I don't want an Audi or a Benz. I want a VW Bus. Grooviest cars on the planet. A Prius will also do - can you tell I'm a liberal yet? ;)

9. This may sound terrible, but I never want to have more than one child. I break the stereotype that all women have a nurturing instinct - my genes must not have gotten the memo. I would like to be a mother, but one is the most I can handle.

10. I paint a lot. I doodle a lot. I laugh a lot. I daydream a lot. I write a lot, and I read a lot. I think it's important to dance often, and to sing in the shower.

11. I force myself to watch the news - and listen to everyone's opinion. Including those of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, the funniest mnen in their field.

12. My dream school would be UC Berkeley - you guessed it. They have a brilliant school of journalism. And I love San Francisco.

13. I got a guitar last Christmas - and I'm trying reallyreallyreallyreally hard not to give up on it yet. I have learned a few songs....just a few....

14. Five favorite things : steak, the beach, my watercolor paints and paper, my iPod touch, and movie nights with friends.

15. I'm pretty confident in myself that whatever it is I end up doing, I'll be happy. They say if you choose a job you love to do, you'll never work a day in your life.

You may say that Im a dreamer, but Im not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one - John Lennon, my idol and inspiration.

joyous end of week to all, enjoy it while you can!
love, nat

Saturday, January 7, 2012

I'm A New Soul

why hello there stranger :)

i've just moved in! i think i'm going to love it here. i've always wanted to start a blog, but i've kept myself from doing so, in fear that no one would read or no one would care and my thoughts would be left out in the cold to dry out. but it's a new year, and with this blog i will leave my fears in the dirt. (or because i'm a california girl, in the sand. but who doesn't want to roll around on the beach?) anyways, i'll be posting often, sometimes with a journal-type entry,sometimes with music. sometimes with poetry, sometimes with prose.
2012 is going to be a beautiful year, and i'm so excited to start sharing my daily thoughts and opinions with all you lovely people of the interwebs. i do solemnly swear to be honest, open, and hold nothing back - you've been warned :)

more to come
- love, nat