Currently - July 2016

Hello All,

I know, I know I've been missing for awhile. But what else is new here? I could come up with a list of reasons why I haven't been here but I'm not going to bore you with those. I made a goal for this week (the week of July 11th) to blog for at least 10 minutes everyday so I can try and get some cool post up for you guys. 

I figured since I have been "missing" on these parts for a while I would start this up with a currently post, so I can give you guys an update on all the haps in my life. So, let's get started!

Currently I've been...

...binging Friday Night Lights on Netflix

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For those of you who have never seen it, Friday Night Lights is about the town of Dillon, Texas, their football team and the lives of the people connected to the football team. Its a show a lot of people had recommended to me and I finally got around to watching it. I absolutely love it! I'm almost done with the series and I'm on the final season. And if we're being honest I will probably re-watch it as soon as I'm finished with it. My only problem with it is that it only takes place during Football season and because of that not every storyline gets wrapped up and leaves me with a few questions. The show in general has made me want to move down south and raise a bunch of boys who play football. 

...watching The Bachelorette (ABC), Scream: The TV Show (MTV) and Big Brother (CBS).

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This wasn't a show that I watch religiously but over winter break I binge watched the most recently season of the Bachelor (ya know the one where Ben told 2 girls he loves them *Insert eye roll emoji here). At the end of the season when they announced that JoJo was going to be next Bachelorette I knew I had to watch it. Mainly because I love her and she seems so sweet. And yes, I know you can't judge someone by how a reality show portrays them but I love her anyways. 

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I love the Scream movie series (the first one is my favorite) so when MTV announced that they were going to make a TV series based on it I was intrigued. The first season got me hooked and I was beyond excited for season two (which I have been enjoying). My favorite characters are Audrey and Noah (both of who are slightly suspicious). As of right now I have no idea who this season's killer is. 

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If y'all have been around these parts for a while you probably know I LOVE Big Brother and watch it every season. In the past I have done weekly recaps on here but those are a lot of work and I just don't have the time to write them. Although I am brainstorming another way to share my love of a Big Brother on my corner of the internet but it might take some time before ones published. What I will say about this season is one of my favorite in a long time. I think this might have to do with the returning houseguests (Frank (BB14), Nicole (BB16), James and Da'Vonne (BB17)). I feel like when they bring back houseguests the game gets moving a little sooner because they already understand how to play. And for those who are wonder I am on #TeamNicole, #TeamCorey and surprisingly #TeamPaul (even if he was the jerk the first few episode). And my pre-season picks to win (before I knew about the returning Vets) this season are Paul for the guys and Michelle for the girls.

...reading After You by JoJo Moyes

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After You is the sequel to Me Before You. I'm only about 30 pages into and haven't gotten hooked the way I did to Me Before You. Although it takes time for me to get hooked to books sometimes so I'm still determined to finish it. 

...planning a new vacation!

My mom and I are going on a vacation in January and I'm super excited about it. It's one that we have been planning since I started college since it was going to be my graduation celebration. I'm not ready announce it quiet yet (its still over 160 days out) but I wanted to drop a hint. So I found a picture (which was taken by me) and cropped it so it wouldn't give it away but you'd get a hint. 

...getting excited about graduating and my future.

Throwback to my High School graduation circa June 2012

This is it folks, the light is at the end of the tunnel and graduation is coming up! I believe, I'm like 97% sure that I am graduating in December! The reason I say I'm 3% unsure it because things happen. If you guys remember I published this post over two years ago talking about changing my major. I went through a hard time when I realized that I didn't want to be a teacher (my original major) and had no clue what I was going to do. I think I may have found my correct path. I'm going to do a whole post about it, life update style, in the next couple of weeks.

...running 3 minutes straight!

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Recently I've decided to go back to the gym (at least in the summer I'm going 5 days a week!) and I've lost 4.5 pounds (as of July 11th). But the thing I'm most excited about is that I can run for 3 minutes straight. I've always wanted to run a 5K but I've never been a big runner. So when I returned to the gym about 3 weeks ago my main goal was to start running. I based my running plan on the couch to 5K (I post it down below). But changed it up a little to work for me. I've been going but by 15 second increments every few days rather then 1 minute increments. But I follow the how many minutes to walk when I hit the new minute. i.e. I'm currently running 3 minutes and walking 5 minutes on either side of the running. I also have a 5K goal but more on that when it gets closer.

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...playing Best Fiends on my phone

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While the rest of the world is chasing Pokemon I have been trying to kill slugs. I heard about this game through a lot of YouTubers and thought it sounded fun. It is a lot like candy crush where you're matching (what looks like fruit) and you built your team in order to kill slugs. I love it and I'm completely addicted. I recommend it for anyone who enjoy(s/ed) candy crush. 

And that's what's been going on in my world. What has been going on your guy's world? Let me know in the comments down below!

Summer 2016 Bucket List

Hello All,

A few weeks ago I was playing around on the internet when I found a campaign that Eventbrite is running called, GOMO is the FOMO. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) has become popular with popularity of social media, I notice it the most on Instagram when you see friends posting awesome pictures from their vacations, parties or days at the beach. But Eventbrite (When you can find and organize you own event) wants us to start looking at life differently but GOMO-ing. GOMO stands for Getting Out More Often. I think this is an awesome idea to focus on, especially because I want to have the best summer ever!

After learning about GOMO I was inspired to write my own Summer 2016 Bucket List. Although not everything on my bucket list involves going out they are things that will make me happy or help me eventually be able to go out. Either way these items are going to help me squish the FOMO.

1. I want to go on some adventures

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I love to create memories and have fun. This summer I want to go on some adventures with friends. and explore the world around me.

2. Read as many books as possible

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I love to read and during the school year I feel like I never get a chance to read. But during the summer I have plenty of time to read. This summer I want to read as much as possible and immerse myself in different worlds (wow corny much?😂). Plus I'm taking a young adult lit class next semester and I'm hoping the professor will put the list online ASAP so I can read the books ahead of time and save time during the semester. {PS - Currently reading Me Before You so keep an eye for a book review in the somewhat near future}

3. Daily Vlog!

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This summer I want to vlog everyday! I've actually started on my channel. You can check them out by clicking here. Although because of my work schedules I don't post videos everyday I am vlogging everyday and combining the days together.

4. Go to the beach more then once

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Every year my friend Tori and I go to the beach but that's normally the last time I go. I wouldn't mind go a few more times this year. It's nice to lay on the beach and read, I may even just go by myself so that I can read. LOL. PS you check out the post about mine and Tori's beach days here.

5. Save some molla

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College graduation is right around the corner. Which is scary. I need to start saving some money so that I need to buckle down and save some money. Plus I'm trying to save money to start traveling more. I have a bucket list of places I want to travel and there are even more location then when I originally wrote my Travel Bucket List.

6. Get a new car

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I love my car and I wold drive it for years to come but its starting to get old and I'm worried that it won't last much longer. So, this summer I'm going to safe some money and hopefully get a new car.

7. Blog a lot

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During the school year I don't have a lot time to blog so during the summer I want to blog as much as possible and get a lot content out on the blog. If you guys have any post requests let me know.

And this is everything I want to get done this summer. What's on your summer bucket list? Let me know in the comments down below. 

NETFLIX REVIEW: 23 Blast

Hello All,

Today I'm back with another Netflix Review!

 A couple of weeks ago I watched a movie on Netflix called, 23 Blast.

23 Blast based on the true story of Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka) who was the star football player on his high school team. One day Travis wakes up to his eyes being swollen shut because of a serve sinus infection. Which causes him to need emergency surgery. When Travis wakes up he no longer has his ability to see. In the beginning Travis has his hardships with his new disability but with the help of parents (Dylan Baker and Kim Zimmer), his friends Jerry (Bram Hoover) and Ashley (Alexa PenaVega) and special education teacher Mrs. Crawford (Deirdre Brennan) he's able to see the good life again. Travis' love of football causes him to suggest changes in the line up to his football coach (Stephen Lang) which gets his coach thinking that maybe Travis can still play. 

LtoR: Coach Farris (Stephen Lang) and Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka)
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I love sports movies, especially the ones that are based on true stories.  This story was inspiring and serves to remind us that even when life hands us lemons that you can always make lemonade. I loved seeing how positive Travis remains even when he was having difficulty learning new a football position as a blind man. 

LtoR: Travis (Hapka) and Jerry (Bram Hoover)
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I felt like the acting was only subpar. There were many times that it felt like the characters should be showing more emotions and they seem to have blank expressions. I read online that it was the directional debut of Dylan Baker and I'm not sure if he wasn't pushing the actors enough or if the actors just weren't that good but something was definitely missing in this movie.

LtoR: Travis (Hapka) and Ashley (Alexa PenaVega)
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Another thing I didn't like about this movie was the lack of chemistry between almost all of the characters. It felt like none of the actors had ever met before filming each of scenes. It was very strained and at times hard to watch. 

LtoR: Unknown, Travis (Hapka) and Jerry (Hoover)
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Although I will say that Mark Hapka did a fantastic job protraying a young man who had gone blind. He did it in a smart way that did seem like it would be offensive to others. 

Travis (Hapka)
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Although I loved the story I wouldn't say the movie was a life changing by any means. I don't think I will ever watch the movie again nor would I recommend this movie. I also wouldn't say that it was the worse movie I have ever seen, I think I would rank this movie a 4/10. 

LtoR: Ashley (PenaVega) and Travis (Hapka)
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Have you seen 23 Blast? What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments down below.

BLUE AND GREEN WALK 2016

Hello All,

At the end of April my mom, my family and I did a walk for Organ Donation. For those of who don't know my cousin has had 2 heart transplants during her life as well as a kidney transplant, which is the reason we do the walk. For the last three years my family has taken part in this walk, you can check out the post from last year by clicking here. 

This year our team was smaller then it has been in the past but we still represented. It was a beautiful day out, it was the mid-seventies and nice and cool. The walk is 2-miles long and for the most part is a very easy walk, there is only one part that's narrow and dirt and uphill. 

I believe that our team raised just over $700 but overall the walk raised just under $90,000 which is AMAZING. 

I don't normally like to get preachy on this blog, I would never tell someone what to do with their body, but I do want to thank everyone out there that is a register organ donor on their license and/or have had to make the decision to donate a love one's organs. I am so incredibly grateful for people like you because without people like you one of my favorite people in the world wouldn't be here today. 

As for pictures I didn't get many, actually I only got two but I'm going to show them to guys.

The starting line

This wasn't our shirt but I thought it was really cool. I believe the team's name was Lili&Meg. Also this picture is courtesy of my Instagram {judy_judy94}

I also vlogged the walk, although my camera started to die so I didn't get a lot of footage. You can get the vlog out below.

3 Year Blogiversary

Hello All,

How is possible that I have been writing "Hello all" for 3 years? Yup, that's right I have been blogging for 3 years! Every yearly milestones I'm in shock that I have one kept up with this for that many years but also surprised at how fast times time has gone. 

Its weird to think of where I was when I wrote my first post I was a freshmen in college, shy and kind of reclusive. Now I'm a senior who can dimly see the light at the end of the tunnel (which ends in December), I've grown into myself and became very outgoing and love to meet as many people as possible. And now I have dreams that 19 year old Emma wouldn't have dreamed of having, sometimes I wonder if 19 year old Emma would even recognize 22 year old Emma.

For this year's milestone I want to share three things that I want to see happen with this blog.

1. I want to see get back to a somewhat regular schedule. Right now I know that having set days isn't something that's possible for me, even promising 1 post a week is pushing it, but one day I hope that I can get to a place where my schedule would allow at least one post a week. 

2. Beautiful picture. I don't think that the pictures I post here are horrible but I want them to be even better. Its a skill and I'm working on developing better skills with photography. I think I need to invest in a better camera. 

3. I want this blog to be around when I have kids. I'm no where near ready to have kids, heck I don't have anyone in my life to have kids with. But I would like to think that one day when I am ready I will be sharing their pictures and milestones and stories with my little corner of the internet. 

And those are just three things that I want to see during my blogging career. I know that sometimes it may feel like I ignore the blog but if we're being honest I'm a very busy person who doesn't always have time to write, which is heartbreaking but true. I can promise no matter that I still love this blog and want to return as often as possible. 

And since this is a lot of words and no pictures I've decide to add on some transformation photos now.

April 2013

April 2016

I feel like I look so different and so similar at the same time.

And now I want to thank every reader who clicks on this blog. I appreciate your continued support. And now here's more many more years to come!

Oh yeah and of course the top posts of The World According to Emma's history.
5. So you want to start a blog?
4. Bucket List Recap {August 2013}
3. Your Perfect Pup {A Guest Post}
2. What I Love Wednesday...blogging {A Guest Post}
1. 12 Months Blogging

xoxo.

-P.S. I just want to announce that I crossed something off my bucket list by hitting 500 posts here on the blog! You can check out the post here! Although I didn't realize it was the 500th post when I wrote it. 

NETFLIX REVIEWS: Like Sunday, Like Rain

Hello All,

Recently I was watching a movie that I had never seen before on Netflix and I thought to myself "Hmm...I really want to write a review. To bad this movie isn't new". But then it hit me I could write review because anyone with Netflix could watch this movie (or it could probably be found somewhere else online).  And then hit me even more then I so many movies on my Netflix list that people may enjoy. So, why not write about them? So, without further ado, I present my first Netflix Review.

For this review I'm going to be talking about the 2014 movie, Like Sunday, Like Rain.

I was original intrigued by this movie because of one the title has my favorite day of the week and rain both of which I love. But also because it has one of my favorite actresses, Leighton Meester. The movie is the story of Eleanor (Leighton Meester) who breaks up with her boyfriend (Billie Joe Amstrong) and it becomes messy when he con confronts her at work which leaders to her getting fired. Eleanor finds a new job nannying for a young twelve year old boy, Reggie (Julian Shatkin) who is too smart for his britches. Together the form a special bond because of the feeling of being an outsider, their love of music and their crazy families who seem to over look them. 

Although this movie has many moments where it feels like a remake of The Nanny Diaries. It was its own movie in many ways. These characters brought together a new heart that The Nanny Diaries didn't have. They had an instant connection and the chemstry between Leighton Meester and Julian Shatkin was adorable. When I noticed the movie was near its finish I was sad to see it ending because I was sad because I didn't want to return to the world where Eleanor and Reggie weren't. 

The ending was heartbreaking and feel and raw. Both Meester and Shatkin brought their A-game for the final scene together. Although in my opinion both of them were all-stars throughout the whole movie. I already loved Leighton Meester during her time on Gossip Girl and in other films I had seen her in but this movie just made me love her even more. This is the first time I had seen Julian Shatkin in anything and I have to say he was a great performer. I hope to see him in many more projects as the years go on. 

This is definetly a movie that I would reccommend for one of those days where you just need a good cry. And a perfect setting would probably be a rainy Sunday afternoon. (Yup, I'm that corner) 

Have you seen Like Sunday, Like Rain? What did you think of it?

Life Update Picture Edition

Hello All,

Long time no talk! I feel like I never have time blog...at least not as much time as want to. Anyways I recently was transferring a lot pictures from my phone to my computer and I figured I'd do a quick life update using those pictures. I hope you guys like it!

New Hair

In the end of February I decided to change my hair. I got about 4 or 5 inches off my hair and dyed it a dark red. Its taken a little while but I may have finally gotten used to it. Also I got a lot of compliments on it.

My 22nd Birthday

 Over my spring break I turned 22 years old! I spent the day getting my nails done and shopping with my mom. I got a lot of amazing birthday wishes and I'm so grateful for everyone who took the time out of their day to wish me a happy birthday.

Bird in the Building

The Wednesday we came back from Spring Break it started out with the school not having power which cancelled all classes before 5 PM! It was such a cool day off because it was like a snow day but it was nice out. People had their windows open and two birds flew into our building! Our hall director, a few of the RAs and some other staff members tried to catch them. They spent a lot of time flying around but eventually they flew out! It was a pretty exciting!

Diana's 21st Birthday

Diana

LtoR: Diana and Me 

LtoR: Megan, Diana and me

A few weeks ago my roommate, Diana turned 21 years old! Diana, myself and Megan who are all 21  went out to celebrate her birthday. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed ourself.

And that's pretty much everything that's been going on in my life. Sorry that I've been kind of MIA lately but school comes first! But the good news is there is post coming up on Wednesday too!

Also if you want more consistent updates you can follow me on Instagram, Twitter and SnapChat which I update some what frequently, my username for all 3 our @judy_judy94.

{Edited April 2016} This post marks the 500th post here on The World According to Emma!