How to Survive the Holidays: An Interactive Post

Hey babes,

As I mentioned yesterday, there will most likely be no videos while I’m home as I forgot my camera. There may still be some type of vlog posted, but other than that I’ll be taking this time to spend with my family. I feel like this year has been an overwhelmingly loving one among my relatives and I’m trying my best to hold onto that. However, from your tumblr messages and YouTube comments, I’ve realized how fortunate I am to have such a connection.

This brings me to the topic of this post: How to Survive the Holidays with a Difficult Family. I’m going to be posting my few methods that I used to use when uncomfortable, but for the most part I want you all to write in the comments about ways that you deal. Your contributions can then be read by other moosies and maybe it’ll help someone else out. Sharing experiences is so important, you know? Without further ado, here is my (sparse) list of dealing with some crappy circumstances.

·      Find a place to retreat to

o   Whether it is going to your room or taking a walk, allow yourself a break from all of the ignorant comments and judgmental silence we all know so well.

·      Do something for yourself

o   This one goes out to the siblings playing mom for the tiny humans. Be a little selfish! You want that candy bar at the gas station? Buy it. You need to take a nap? Do it. The thing is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with putting yourself first for the sake of your emotional health and overall sanity.

·      Call out unacceptable behavior

o   Assuming that your grandparents are set in their ways and beyond learning new things is ridiculous. If Grandpa gets racist or if Grandma’s homophobic slurs are becoming too much, tell them that isn’t cool. You don’t need to get into some political argument, just remind them that the holidays are about being together and hating on group of people isn’t worth doing.

·      Choosing your battles

o   This is a finicky one, but if you feel like speaking up about a homophobic comment will open the door to a bunch of questions you aren’t ready to answer, simply don’t react to what they’re saying. Not responding in ANY way will, more often than not, weaken the behavior (think reinforcement).

·      Educate yourself

o   If you do plan to participate in the moral Olympics, might I suggest doing some research on whatever it is you plan on correcting them on J

There’s my list! Please please PLEASE contribute in the comments, because who knows! Someone may be reading your shared stories and realize someone else is going through the same things as them. I can’t wait to hear from you all.

Thanks for being perfect,

C

YOU ASKED FOR 'EM, PLANTS FOR SALE.

Alrighty, remember the time in this video I mentioned at the very end I would be selling some easy to take care of but super adorable plants for you all? Well they're here! Meet the Air Plants:

These babes are some of the simplest plants I've ever taken care of. The actual names of these little guys are Tillandsias, getting the nickname of "Air Plant" from the fact that they don't need soil to survive.

               I MEAN LOOK AT THEM

SO if you're interested, each plant comes with an air plant, a little ball of moss for sass, and your choice of colorful pebbles! If you want, get crazy and patriotic, or stick to your favorite colors.

Go to Etsy.com/shop/plantsandpaintings and check out those dolls as well as some of Jordan's gorgeous paintings :] That's enough of me, go see for yourself!

Snacks Are College Requirements

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve written anything. Life gets busy.

As the title mentions, college and snacks seem to go hand in hand. I find that I spend more money on snack food than I do actual meal food! I’m on the go a lot so it’s easiest for me to carry something small I can snack on. The issue is that I get crazy bored of snacking on the same huge bag of trail mix I have to purchase every two weeks so my friend Allie suggested something a little different. Graze box is a snack box that comes weekly or twice a month (depends on what you prefer) consisting of four serving sizes of snacks. This adds up to $20 a month, but since I had a promo code from Allie my first and fifth boxes are free :) After sign up the site had me search through their snacks and list whether or not I loved the option. After a week and a half this first box finally shipped and I couldn’t be happier! 

You know how sometimes one thing in the group totally blows your socks off and the rest are mediocre and quite the disappointment? This time that didn’t happen! The four little boxes differed from nuts to seeds and yogurt raisins to tiny baguettes! I loved the variety and if any of you are interested, the code to get your first and fifth box free is CYDNEY6HB. Type that puppy in when you go to sign up and there ya go! Spread the word to your friends to get your own discounts and you can cancel at anytime!

www.graze.com

-C

Ink'd, man.

Who here has a tattoo? (Come on, don’t be shy)

For those of you who follow me on instagram you’ll see that I recently got a lavender tattoo. For those of you wondering what that’s about look into the women’s movements of the late 60s/early 70s. In the beginning, lady-lovers were shunned, given the name “Lavender Menace” by Betty Friedan. Joke’s on her though, the name was adopted by these women as they protested such discrimination. It is to be noted that for awhile, a woman who identified as a lesbian took this as a political title and they did not necessarily have sexy time with other women…I mean some did, but who can blame them?

ANYWAY

I got this tattoo as I always wanted a something to remind me of how significant my sexual orientation is to me and how much it has already shaped my view of life and my experiences.Wanna know something? I got it on a whim while I was in Louisiana with Jordan. You see, this wouldn’t be a big deal had I not already made an appointment with an artist friend of mine to do a big ole piece on the side of my chest. Whatever, right? I mean, it’s going to happen regardless, just thought I would share :)
As I’m sure you’re DYING to know, currently I have three tattoos on ma bod.My BuddhaMy fern leafMy lavenderWho’s excited to see big honker number 4?!
I know. The anticipation is killing me, too. Until next time, my question for you is: Do you have a tattoo AND how was your experience? (Pictures much appreciated!!)

-C

20s Feel Weird.

My birthday was a few days ago and I figured that I'd document some of the happenings via pictures. If you're interested, take some time and follow the path of my birthday...day.

-Alrighty, so let's start out with birthday outfit: I got the dress from Urban Outfitters and it's comfy as all get out.
                         

-Next, I got my ass upstairs and made myself a greek yogurt parfait with blackberries, chia seeds, strawberries, and walnuts and HOLY YUM it was quite yummy.
         

                         

-Next on the list is a fun fact about my birthdays: I always always ALWAYS prefer as many breakfast foods as possible SO I went with a simple egg over medium  aside a slice of buttered wheat toast. I won't lie, my mouth is currently watering an embarrassing amount.

                        

-Now it's time for birthday shopping! Now, not all is listed here, but I'll go ahead and name a few things I got then post a few pics.

• Sadie got me a Beyonce DVD set which I've already seen twice (pictures on my instagram)
• Moms got me some money to throw into my savings which I always need
• My Pops and his wife got me a gift card to Nordstrom (bless)
• Hayley of Hayley and Megan was nice enough to send a teavana gift card my way (which I'm using to restock my rock sugar thank you very much)
• My Grammers sent me mucho moneys as any grandmother does..half will go to savings as the other half is going to "something wild and crazy" as she likes to call it :]

NOW FOR DA PICHAS
Gramps sent me some stationary of a Loon which is a little thing we have going between us. 

                       

My friend Amber allowed me to get any plant of my choosing on her dime :D This is my little Plumosa Fern, Puff.

When I visited my lady friend Jordan, she surprised me with this set up! 

Complete with:

• Birthday Balloons
• Roses
• Cookie Cake
• Champagne 
• Labradorite Necklace
• Blown Glass Turtle for My Collection
• The Feminist Porn Book
• And a Lowe's Gift Card because she knows me

Somewhere during the day I bought this beautiful creature then devoured all of it.

-And by the end of the day Sadie and I treated ourselves to chips and salads from Lutz's

 ....And I MAY HAVE started Sadie on a downward gambling spiral. MAYBE.

-All in all, I'm so pleased with how my birthday turned out and waking up to a bajillion birthday wishes on Tumblr was a perfect way to start the day. I will be forever thankful for the hand I've been dealt. 

For all of you who had May birthdays: Congrats for being kool kids.

-C

This is the beginning.

Alright, well.
Ok ok I'll start.
I've decided that it's time to finally start myself a blog.
Something for stuff that makes me happy, sad, amused or what have you.
This blog will be a space that is completely and totally my life. No YouTube, just my every day.
I'll post about my foods, feelings, and outfits as well as my monthly favorites and other crap I feel appropriate. For those of you reading this, this blog will act as a safe space for us to discuss life crap, good and bad in an area we can all feel welcome and accepted on.
Sound good?
Let's go. I have a lot in mind for this blog.

-C