Moved!

I've moved to Wordpress, It's easier to use and i like the layout better...

so come visit me there! Same general premise.

 http://simplymichelleraven.wordpress.com/


check it out :)

Forever Young

 I've been feeling so good lately. Spending so much time on campus and taking moments to myself. I feel like a newly defined person. I guess even other people have been noticing that too... Words I NEVER would have used to describe myself before this new year are being used.. Like outgoing. or Chill. Fun. My good friend from my old school even told me I seemed different. Lighter. I have an air about me. I don't know if that had to do with my new outlook on life or perhaps my new clothing from Forever 21. I spent way too much money, but everything was on sale and I don't even care at this point (I do however need a job).  It is so great to have found a group of people who you aren't constantly trying to impress all the time. I know that this may seem cliche.. but I seriously am finding so much about this "new" me. And I don't just mean new in the sense that it is a new year... I really think that becoming single has let me release that image of what my ex "expected" me to be. I am now dressing how I want, not worrying about what I spend my money on, as long as it is something I know I will wear and enjoy. Cleaning out my life one little part at a time and finally becoming the person I truly want to be. I was inspired by one of my personal favorite blogs The College Prepster, to take a look at my life and really define who I am. This adds to the fact that I am finding new things everyday that I absolutely love. I keep going onto pinterest or lockerz, and instagram and discovering I am so drawn to certain things. I explored that side this weekend as I splurged at Forever 21. I felt totally fashionable and beautiful all weekend. Such an amazing feeling, going from totally sucked into this image and functionality that was required as "so and so's" girlfriend, to totally fashionable and loving every minute of it. I can't say that I was totally defining myself into one "style" per say, because I totally mixed and matched. I bought some great stuff this weekend...  So, as I sit by the fireplace this evening and begin my online school work for the week, I am still feeling the left over glow from an amazing weekend. Have a great week everyone!

A surprisingly perfect night?

  I know I just posted earlier about working out and doing my small, simple workout... yet here I am.. doing another workout because I felt like I needed to. I have been fueled by a breakup playlist that a friend made for me and I just felt like I needed to work out and release some of my tension. Hopefully I won't feel too sore tomorrow considering I am going ice skating on campus with some friends.... but I think I might join a gym or something because this whole randomly trying to work out in my room thing isnt exactly working because of how small it is. I am randomly spewing out words at you right now and not exactly knowing where this is going. I just know that I am feeling all the endorphins from exercising. I don't know how I went from laying bed trying to sleep early to doing random workouts trying not to wake my mom up. I CAN DO PUSH-UPS. I usually have to do the "fake" pushups, which sounds horribly pathetic when I think about the fact that I am a young adult. I'm just so excited to be fit and to maybe have an awesome body with fit muscles and I don't even know. I'm listening to Hunter Hayes now and am in pure heaven, sipping water from my camelbak. This is such a random post. Goodnight.

Yeah... I workout!

       I've worked out the past two days, doing little simple workout routines, and I actually feel really good. I hope that i actually have the will power to keep this going. I found this workout through pinterest and promptly pinned it to my board Let's Get Physical, Physical! (like the song.. you know?) and let it alone. Yesterday I was looking for a workout I could easily do (as an asthmatic who is out of shape, that isn't easy.. let me tell you) So I found one that was super easy to do.. or so I thought. I began to regret that decision as I found myself staring at the timer on my phone as it counted to 30 seconds while I looked foolish "planking" on the floor. My small rat terrier mutt puppy was barking to get me to play, bringing my toys during what seemed like forever as I flexed my abs on the floor.  Suddenly, the 30 seconds of torture in my life was over and I felt... good. Really good. I moved onto the next part of this simple, short workout and suddenly I realized how amazing this actually felt. The stress seemed to melt away and I knew that this was something I had to keep doing. For myself and my future self. Now as I feel my sore abs, back muscles, and triceps, I realize, I feel a little lighter.. ( which may have a lot to do with my financial aid for school coming through.. WHEW!) My simply workout contained:

•   5 push ups
• 20 crunches
• 30 second plank
• 20 mountain climbers
• 50 jumping jacks 

• Someday, I hope to add more to this, but for now eating healthy and doing this everyday will work for me. It is nice because I am actually attempting my NYE goals, where are in previous years, I never took them seriously. I guess attempting to make myself feel good takes priority in sitting on the computer watching youtube videos all day. So, I encourage you to get up and workout, even if it is a short walk around the block, Trust me. You'll feel better in the end!

Current Inspirations...

Lately, I've been all over the map. Finding amazing youtubers (such as my favorites, which you've seen me mention often... their blogs are off to the right). These girls have been my inspiration to dress better and feel better about myself. My long, long post from yesterday was part of this "Inspiration". It started out with Sarahbelle93x, I randomly found her on youtube one night, spent the entire night watching all of her videos and became obsessed with youtube. Within the next few days I found myself falling in love with Michael Kors, Lilly Pulitzer, Cashmere sweaters and coffee. If you go to Biggby coffee soon, get the Teddy Bear.. if you love caramel and white chocolate, you won't regret this! Anyway, Through Sarahbelle93x, I found Arose186 and Meghanrosette. They have such amazing personalities and great advice for anything. I don't know exactly what draws me to be so interested in these videos, but I would for sure suggest them to anyone. My new years resolution was based off of these videos. I've been jealous of how awesome they look all the time, and then pinterest made me feel drab all the time because I was living in clothes that never made me feel good about myself. I guess besides suggesting you go watch those youtubers.. I'll just show you the pins that have me going crazy for shopping. Yes. Crazy.

Source: qtpiekelso.polyvore.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: worldmarket.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: simplyme091909.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: archimedes16.polyvore.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I'm sorry if this is one of my lamer posts. suck it up :D

Inspirational Quotes

So, here are some of the inspirational quotes I found on pinterest, I hope they do the same for you that they did for me!

Source: pin4fun6359.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: pinklemonadedesign.blogspot.ca via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: 28.media.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: fallinlove-withdisney.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I hope these make you're day or give you something to ponder!

So much yet to learn

         Tonight, as I lay in my own bed and ponder whatever seems to pop into my brain, I begin to think of how exciting the future is. I have been enjoying (or wasting...) time on pinterest, repinning different inspirational quotes that seem to be very similar to my own life right now. I realized a few days ago that I need to love myself. Not necessarily change myself, but to just feel love. I started by changing my pinterest board for workout routines (that I never do...) from Need to be Skinny to something quirky and cute like the lyrics " Let's get physical, physical". Changing the objects around me to be more positive toward my own image is my first step towards loving myself. I also have found that when I begin to feel bad about something, I am stopping myself and saying "no, not today. today, I am happy and beautiful".  Another step towards self love. I realize that multiple times a day with friends or even by myself I put my own body or quirks down. . Such as last night I said " Oh my god, I'm so weird, you'll have to introduce me as that weird girl who is obnoxious". That needs to change. The more I say it, not only will I, myself, be more likely to believe it, but those around me will as well. I've always been the type of girl who is insecure in her surroundings. When in a large group, who I feel is "better" than myself, I always worry about how I come across. Am I obnoxious? Annoying? Do I smell? Is my face okay today or am I a total red, pimple-ly mess? I find myself going to say... snap chat someone or tweet at someone and then I stop myself, so I don't become annoying. This too, must change. I understand that this is such a hard time in life, but it is also the best and most exciting, wild part of life as well. I long to be carefree, but by longing for these things and not making them happen myself, I keep my mind from achieving the ultimate peace with my body and my personality. I tell myself all the time that "today will be the day that I will be awesome" and then the same insecure thoughts pop into my head. 2013, you have brought me so many realizations and it is only the third day.  I looked in the mirror this morning and thought of ways to make myself "prettier", then stopped myself. Who will think I am beautiful and amazing and wonderful, if I don't myself? I found the face in the mirror answering back, " you need to fix this and this and this and this". In reality, however, I don't need to fix these little things, such as my face breaking out, or my nail polish being chipped.  Life is way too short to be spent worrying over the little things. Tonight, as I devoured the repins on my dashboard for Pinterest, I saw many quotes that were so inspiring and put them onto my board called "Inspiration".  I think that I may create a new board and label it "loving myself" and begin a new path in my life.

      I have decided (just now actually) that I want to change my way of thinking. I have been thinking of all the things that make me feel good inside and good memories. For example.. a group of friends and I got together to watch the "scary" movie Jack Frost. (it is a very lame movie, in case you were wondering). I had spent the day making sugar cookies and decided to take some with me, and everyone loved them, making me feel really good about myself. On NYE, girls that went to my high school and that I have never had much contact with told me I looked beautiful in the dress I specifically bought the day before. My best friend has been taking the time to send me long, wonderful quotes to help me feel better about myself (if you're reading this, I love you!). There are so many things to be thankful for in life, it just takes a little reminder sometimes to put you on the right track.
   So, as I continue to type this long (my apologies!) post to all of you, I sit back and wonder.. what do I really love about myself? It is about time I find that out.
         I have always said "Everything happens for a reason", and I have ALWAYS believed that. Lately that statement has changed to " God has a reason". In finding myself this year, I have also found God. In a way that I never have found him before. As mushy gushy as that sounds, it is so true. I feel in my heart, that someone is watching over me. Even though sometimes, it may be easier to not believe that life has a way of working itself out.. it really does. For the better. It's like that song in Wicked that Glinda and Elphaba sing towards the end of the show called "For Good"... " Because I knew you, I have been changed for good". The people that come in and out of life are there for reasons unknown to us. There is some ultimate plan that the universe has deemed necessary. I suppose the point to this entire post is I am ready to love myself. I've learned so much already these last few weeks about life and love, happiness. Yet, I have so much more to learn.

Reality and 2013

Welcome to Reality,

    It is a new year, with new hopes and expectations. Those little resolutions that sounded so wonderful while toasting with champagne are now little things nagging you're brain as you catch up on sleep from an exciting night. As many times as I say "this is going to happen", deep down i know that it most likely won't. My resolutions to work out and to eat a certain way never do, but as I mentioned in my previous post, there are things that I can make sure happen ( and already are). It's time to give back to myself, beginning with enriching my mind in a world of literature and encouraging thought. I have a whole slew of books and things I want to read (Including this month's Cosmo.. .). I don't want to just read romance novels with dashing, strong, sexy men  in them and enticing stories that lead to a happily ever after... I want to read those books that everyone says you should read, but deep down you know you won't get to it. For example: "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin has been on my kindle for almost a year now, and I still have not picked it up. "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte has also made it's way onto my kindle, but alas, has not been touched. It is the award winning novels that make it onto the best sellers list that I long to be reading and challenging myself with. Although, I still love a good romance novel... even if it is the cheesy Harlequin Romance books. So after I pondered these new goals for myself, I spent NYE watching my recent ex of three years flirting with other girls and was wallowing in my own self pity for awhile, but today I have turned a new leaf. We finally gave each other our stuff back at this gorgeous snow covered little park with deer back in the small trail I found while waiting for him to show up. I turned my music up a little bit, and listened to Natalie Weiss' rendition of "quiet" from the musical Thirteen Stories Down. The subtle increase in emotion in Natalie's voice combined with the soft falling of the snow seemed so magical for such a heartbreaking event in my life.  I cried as I walked away, without saying goodbye and went back into the simple routine of hating myself and what my life turned into. As I went into Biggby coffee a few hours after leaving the park, I met up with a friend who soon put things into a different perspective for me. Yes, breaking up with someone who took over your life for three years is difficult, but the future holds so many wonderful things for me. I have a fresh start ahead with transferring to a new school and trying new things. My friends have not left me because I am no longer in a relationship, they love me just the same. I suppose the question I need to ask myself is what do I want out of life? My previous NYE goals just contained simple things that don't necessarily make myself feel better. So, today as I sit here writing for you all, I am beginning to think of all the things I want to become this next year. I think that becoming a strong, independent woman who can provide for herself and doesn't need a man to make her happy. So today I turn a new leaf. I am truly going to move on. It's time. There is no more time to be living in the past and wallowing in my despair. With this new year I ring in not necessarily a new "me", I ring in a new point of view, a new beginning, and a new sense of self and love for myself. On that note, I leave you all with good tidings and wishes for this wonderful year. Happy New Year!