December 2013 Favorites

Clothes:

• Jenni (brand) Yoga Pants: I found these yoga pants on Black Friday at Macy's in the Juniors section for $14! The pants are just a basic black, but the band on them in black lace print with multicolored neon polka dots all over it. They are super cute and comfortable to wear around the house or out in public
• Cheer Uniform; I've worn it so much this month that I had to put it on my favorites! Boys Basketball was so much fun to cheer for! We no longer wear our body liner because we're inside. Instead, we just wear our shell (the top that says RJH) and our skirt, as well as spandex briefs, cheer socks & shoes, and our cheer bows. 
• Brass Plum Black Leggings: These leggings have the perfect stretch and are super cute. They're basic black leggings that cover your entire legs (not capri style, where it cuts off at mid-calf). I've worn them a lot because of the cold Washington weather, plus, they go with everything.

Makeup

• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash: Yet again this mascara takes the cake as one of my favorites. This month was the last month I could use it before it went bad, and by the end of the month, it was almost gone. This was a great mascara. You can get so many different lash looks out of one tube! If you have the money to splurge on a high end mascara, I would recommend this one.
• Forever 21 Potted Lip Balm: It's a classic clear lip balm stored in a pot. It has a nice fragrance, was very inexpensive, contains a lot of product, and is super moisturizing. My lips get really dry during the winter time, so I like to have a lip balm like this. It's thick as well!
• Philosophy Hope In A Jar Moisturizer: This moisturizer is creamy and perfect for the colder months! It locks in the moisture that is already in your skin and provides more. You can put it all over your face (which is what I like to do), or you can "spot treat" dry patches by concentrating the product on specific areas.

Apps 

• Panem Run: An app made by Lionsgate (the studio that makes The Hunger Games movies) that is a "Hunger Games" version of Temple Run. You get assigned a District which you earn points for when you play the game. Do any of you play this game? Let me know what District you play for in the comments. I am District 12!
• Snapchat: I like this app a lot, and I've been using it a lot more this month. My snaps are so embarrassing :) :) (lol just double chin pics you guys)

Random

• The Hunger Games trilogy (I re-read all of the books for a second time)
• My bow & arrows, and just archery
• YouTube videos, especially those by Epic Rap Battles of History, blndsundoll4mj, and strawberryelectric48
• My cat, Marmalade!

What I Got For Christmas 2013

I'd like to start off by saying how fortunate I am to have such an amazing family and to get such great presents. This has been one of the best Christmases I've had.

I have 3 rounds of presents. On Christmas Eve, my mom's side of the family comes to our house (this includes my grandma, aunt & uncle, & cousins), and we open presents from them. Then, on Christmas morning, my parents and I open presents from each other. Later on Christmas Day, we drive to Tacoma, where my aunt lives, and celebrate with my dad's side of the family. I'll have 3 categories from each.

My biggest present was a room makeover! Would you guys like pictures? It's so cool! I'm so happy with how it turned out!!

Christmas Eve

• Forever 21 gift card 
• American Eagle gift card
• Aeropostale gift card (Bethany's collection!!!)
• Hollister gift card
• Seattle wall sign
• Duvet cover (for my bed) 
• Pillow shams (for my bed)
• Decorative New York skyline pillows (for my bed)
• Decorative Seattle pillow (for my bed)
• Lipstick Christmas tree ornament

Christmas Morning

• Betsey Johnson Bownanza Purse
• Victoria's Secret neon pink sports bra
• Deep berry colored Nike Fits
• Turquoise & orange Nike Fits
• Black/neon pink spandex
• Magnifying makeup mirror
• 2 sets of sheets (for my bed)

Christmas Day

• Fluffy zebra print slipper socks
• "Christmas sweater"-ish slipper socks
• Hollister gift card
• Forever 21 gift card
• Barnes & Noble gift card
• iTunes gift card
• Amazon.com gift card
• A couple of cute tops from Target
• $50

I am not trying to brag at all! I know how fortunate I am to have received these gifts. Christmas is all about family and celebrating with the ones you love. I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas (or other holiday that you celebrate)!

 

What's Coming for 2014

I'm not going to lie to you guys. This will most likely be my last blog post...of 2013, of course! Yes, I will be back come New Years. I think you can gather that I will have a video up in January. I feel bad that I pushed it back and procrastinated so much. But, it's all good. The video will be "What's In My Purse," one of the most basic videos that any blogger or Youtuber usually films at some point.

I'm currently on Winter Break right now, and I'm going to spend the time chilling. When we get back, we have a week or two to prepare and then it's Finals Week. At the end of finals week, first semester will be over. I still can't believe it. 

We are re-doing my room as a Christmas present. I'm so excited!! Everything (well, mostly everything) should be in order by Christmas Day. Room tour, anyone?

If you're reading this, I'd like to wish you a very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

It's been a good few months.

Talk to you in 2014 ;)

50 Random Facts About Me

Because we're all good friends here.

1. One of my hidden favorite pastimes is archery. It's so relaxing to shoot a bow and hear the thwack of the arrow as you hit the target, and the gratification you feel when you hit the 100, or bulls-eye.
2. I use Google Translate a lot more than I probably should
3. I want to live in Seattle when I grow up, right in the heart of downtown
4. I want to go to U Dub, and I have since I was 6 or 7.
5. I rep the PNW (if you're not from where I live then you probably don't know that it means Pacific North West)
6. And if you think that I used the word "rep" seriously, then you don't know me, either.
7. I tend to mock common phrases that people at my school use. (i.e.: "literally," a variety of profanity, "I can't handle this anymore," "I don't even know anymore," etc.)
8. The Hunger Games series is my favorite book series ever.
9. Out of The Hunger Games books, The Hunger Games is my favorite
10. I tend to use the word "pic" instead of picture if I'm around my friends
11. School can make my mood range from: Aw yeah, son! So happy, probs gonna go build some houses for Habitat for Humanity! to If I had my bow with me right now, 98% of you would probably want to stay a safe distance away from me.
12. Haha #12. No worries I'm not a murderer :)
13. I'm a backspot
14. My favorite number is 12
15. My real name is Madison, and I was named after Madison Street in Seattle
16. My favorite stores are Forever 21, Hollister, Brass Plum (BP), Nordstrom, American Eagle, Victoria's Secret PINK, Target, and Bethany Mota's line at Aeropostale
17. One of my main goals for 2014 is to be able to throw a back handspring
18. I used to be really good at ice skating
19. I love iPhone cases, especially ones that are cheap and cute
20. Hanging out with my friends is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time
21. I have been told that I resemble Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games 
22. My favorite colors are turquoise, watermelon pink, forest green, aqua blue/green, and coral
23. I reeeeeeaaaaaalllllllllyyyyyyy wish my team wore Nfinitys as our shoe
24. I'm quite competitive
25. I'm motivated when it comes to cheer. I continuously want to get better. I'm going to try out for high school cheer and, I would love to make the team.
26. I'm currently re-reading Mockingjay, which, if you didn't know, is the third book of The Hunger Games trilogy
27. My "winter coat" is dark, dark navy blue and is from Hollister
28. I have hazel eyes that are green & brown 
29. I'm a brunette :)
30. My favorite flavor by Ben & Jerry's is the Half Baked frozen yogurt
31. I go to the gym on a regular basis
32. The only game on my phone is Panem Run, which is the Hunger Games version of Temple Run. It came out at the same time as Catching Fire was released in theatres to help promotion
33. I don't get Starbucks that often
34. My top 5 most-used apps are: Instagram, Snapchat, Camera, Tumblr, and Twitter
35. I like to check the weather a couple times during the day
36. My retainers are watermelon pink
37. I like to change the background on my blog
38. My room is festive for Christmastime
39. My favorite YouTubers are: strawberryelectric48, Macbarbie07, ta ta taylor, meghanrosette, LifeAccordingToJimmy, blndsundoll4mj, Epic Rap Battles of History, krazyrayray, and Thug Notes
40. I can walk really quietly, if I so desire
41. I'm going on a kayaking excursion in August 2014
42. I don't like the "Planet Earth" videos. I can handle animals dying, but I don't like to hear and see all of the intricate details
43. My electives for this semester are Child Psychology and French 1
44. My electives for next semester will be Food Science and French 1
45. My favorite Christmas songs are: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Carol of the Bells and Shake Up Christmas 
46. I love Owl City and 3OH!3
47. I love getting funny Snapchats from my friends
48. Sometimes I procrastinate, and I'm trying to break that habit
49. I LOVE the rain in fall and winter, and I LOVE the sun in spring and summer
50. I want to be really, really, really happy with my life when I'm old. I want to think that it's been years well spent :) and so far, I think so!

NO MORE BRACES !

As you can tell from this picture, your favorite blogger is now braces-free! I'm really happy with the way that my teeth turned out. I always get scared that my front two teeth are going to move and become over-bitten or something like that (I have to get reminded that, of course, they won't). I'm so happy with the way that I look now! My friends, acquaintances, etc. have told me how different I look. Don't worry, it's a good thing! What do you think of my brand new smile? Let me know :)

First Video Coming Very Soon!

I have finally made my first video! It's pretty short, but I think that you guys will like it :). If all goes according to plan, I should have it posted at some time between these dates: Friday, November 29th (Black Friday) to Monday, December 2nd! 

Get excited!!

Cheerleading Q & A

Hi guys! Today I will be answering questions that I get asked frequently about cheerleading! I hope that you enjoy and find this helpful!

Q: Can you do the splits, and do you have to be able to do the splits to be a cheerleader?
A: Yes! I worked very hard to get my splits, and the work pays off! Splits as a requirement depends on the coach. I strongly recommend stretching your splits and just seeing how far you can go down before you try out. My coach doesn't require them, but strongly encourages them.

Q: What is your stunting position?
A: Mainly backspot and occasionally flyer.

Q: Do you have to have good grades to cheer?
A: Yes. At my school, all athletes have to pass a grade check. If anyone has two D's or an F in any class, they are put on academic probation. The consequences get worse if you continue to have grade issues. My coach always reminds us that academics come first, and cheer second.

Q: Do you have to be able to do a cartwheel?
A: No, but it's a good thing to be able to do one. Get your cartwheel, and then nail your round-off! You can have other girls teach you how or you can watch a video! On YouTube, there are channels dedicated just to cheer, created by other cheerleaders!

Q: What are the benefits of being a cheerleader?
A: There are so many!

• Maintaining or enhancing your current physical condition
• Making new friends and bonding with your teammates (my team is like family)
• Being the "face of the school"
• Being able to attend different sporting events and learn the basics of how they work
• Performing in front of a crowd at games, pep assemblies, etc.
• At my school, the administration occasionally has cheerleaders help out at functions such as Open House at the beginning of the year. You can earn service hours for organizations such as Honors Society or fulfill requirements for a class
• Meeting athletes who play the sports that you cheer for
• Having something to do after school multiple days a week

The list goes on and on!

Splendid News For Michael Phelps Fans!

OMG DID YOU GUYS HERE I'M CRYING LIKE I AM SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW AND LOWERCASE LETTERS JUST CAN'T CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT. MICHAEL PHELPS IS CONSIDERING COMING BACK TO SWIMMING AND POSSIBLY PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER 2016 OLYMPICS IN RIO DE JANEIRO. I HONESTLY DO NOT THINK ANYONE IS MORE EXCITED THAN MYSELF. THIS IS A GREAT MOMENT IN HISTORY. IF YOU DECIDE AS THOUGH YOU MUST HATE ABOUT THIS, PLEASE TAKE IT ELSEWHERE. I AM SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW LIKE ALL YOU PHELPS FANS LET ME KNOW IF YOU HEAR ANY MORE DETAILS OR SEE ARTICLES ON YOUR HOMEPAGE (BE IT MSN OR COMCAST OR WHATEVER) LET ME KNOW!

SCREENSHOT IT AND TAG @itsmaddieeee ON INSTAGRAM!
TWEET IT TO ME! @OhHeyMaddieA

THAT IS ALL.

IT SHALL BE A VERY HAPPY WEEKEND :) :) :)

Everything You Need To Know About My New Top Secret, But Not So Secret Anymore, Project

STOP.
IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE TEASER TRAILER, CLICK HERE TO GET LINKED TO THE POST THAT IT IS ON.   http://maddogontheblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-teaser.html
YOU CAN NOT LAY YOUR EYES ON ANY MORE OF THIS POST UNTIL YOU WATCH IT.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the sake of being organized, I'm going to write this in a Q & A format. The questions will be in bold and the answers will just be regular.

When will the first video be up?
Hopefully sometime this month. If not, it will be up in the first week or so of December
Where will the videos be? Like, will they be on the blog or on YouTube or what?
I am planning on having them on the blog. A few days ago I was able to open my video files on my computer and I think I can put them in to blog posts. As for right now, I will NOT have anything on YouTube.
Are any videos going to be on YouTube?
As of RIGHT NOW, I DO NOT HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL. If any of my videos are showing up on YouTube, please let me know so I can do something about that. If I did create a YouTube channel to start posting my videos, I would post an announcement on the blog.
How often will videos be posted? 
I am thinking once or twice a month. It honestly all depends on demand of videos, if my page views are rapidly increasing, and most of all my own time. I am a very busy person during the week days and can not commit to posting videos twice or three times a week like popular YouTubers do. It takes A LOT longer to film, edit, and upload videos then it does to write and publish blog posts.
Will it be announced when a new video will be posted?
I don't have a set schedule, but I may slip it into a blog post, so you must read very carefully (:
What will the videos be about?
Anything that I can think of. I'm thinking about doing mainly fashion, makeup, etc. type things.
**And just a note for all of you creeps out there, I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, WILL NOT be posting videos with "inappropriate content." You can find that on other websites, but definitely not here.
Can we request videos?
Absolutely! In fact, I really want you to! I read any comments that I get, so that is a great way to request things. I want to know what you all want to see. Just remember my little note from above (:

I've thought long and hard about this and I am so excited to start making videos. Who knows? Maybe it will work well and I can start an actual YouTube channel ;) ;) . Remember, COMMENT VIDEO REQUESTS!!!

THE TEASER!!

I hope you guys enjoy the teaser! I'm so excited to begin this new "chapter" on my blog :) A post with more information on this new endeavor will be posted on Wednesday, November 13th!

Just a Few More Hours (:

Teaser will be up in a few hours!! Check back frequently and get excited! For those of you on the computer, check my social media gadget on the right side of my blog (where the About Me, Translate, etc. are located) and tweet or Instagram me!

Big Things To Come

Hi guys!

Blogging has successfully worked for over two months now, and I am thinking of taking it to the next level. I want there to be a closer aspect between you and I. Like I'm actually talking to you. Once or twice every month this might occur, and if demand and page views increase rapidly, I may increase the amount of times I post.

Can any of you guess what I might start doing?

Hint: It will start on this blog.

Monday is the day that I release the "teaser" for this new endeavor. If I get positive feedback, then I will start as soon as I can.

Can you handle waiting until Monday?

Sorry guys wanted to be dramatic there.

Happy weekend...(:

Current Favorite Movies

Monsters University: Mike Wazowski has all of this optimism and drive to be a scarer. TBH, he motivates me to study. Like Mike always wanted to go to Monsters University, I have always wanted to go to University of Washington. Probably around the age that Mike decided that he wanted to go there. I remember loving Monsters Inc. as a kid, and when this movie came out, I flipped. I bought it the day that it came out in stores and watched it that night!! I've probably seen it 3 times this week :)

Easy A: Well, we just studied the Puritans in my Humanities class, and this movie is hilarious! Emma Stone plays the role of a girl who is falsely accused of soliciting sex for money at her school in California. It's hilarious, and I guess you could say that it's a modern day take on The Scarlet Letter. 

Legally Blonde: Elle Woods is my fave!! She is so confident and I honestly have watched this movie a million times. I've loved it since fourth grade and I always watch it when I'm sick because it has away of cheering you up!

Well guys, I don't watch movies often. Believe it or not, this is it. So I guess it tells you how good they are!

Have a perfect day (:

Best Pics from October 2013

From the All-District Dance at the beginning of October! I took sooo many pics

This was from the last football game :)

The pumpkin patch!

Through the corn maze!

From Twin Day during Spirit Week

From School Color Day on Spirit Week

❤️❤️❤️❤️

What happens when I get bored on the bus

Toe touch!

Right herkie!

During Child Psych

Accidentally twinning on Halloween!

Lovely November...

Happy first day of a brand new month! November 2013! What are your plans and goals for this month? Do you have a checklist of things that must be done before Thanksgiving week rolls around? Or are you taking this month to chill and just enjoy the last month that it still feels like fall outside.

Around my hood (well, more like my cul de sac. I just kind of went with it), half of the leaves are on the ground. The other half are clinging to the trees desperately. I have loved fall this year, and I want to make the most of this month.

This upcoming Monday marks the beginning of second quarter at my school. First quarter flew by. This quarter's highlights include: Winter break, first semester Finals Week, boys basketball season, all kinds of holiday-like activities, the start of 2014, and student-led conferences. In case you don't have those at your school, I'll give you the gist of it. Students present a PowerPoint to their parents (the subject that it's about differs by grade level. This year, my PowerPoint had to be on My Future. Colleges, careers, etc.) at a scheduled time after school in their homeroom classroom. The week of Thanksgiving is a week full of short days (all of the junior highs in my school district get released from school at 10:30 on these days), and, of course, no school on Thanksgiving or Black Friday.

Other than that, I am hoping to get some good posts up this month. Do you like my new background? I don't know if you've noticed, but I change the background on the first day of every month, or as close as I can after that day! What would you guys like to see?

And, also, I am adding a "Find Me!" gadget on my blog (like the About Me, Translate, etc.). It will have all of my social media usernames and links if possible :)

Happy November everyone! Thanks for sticking with the blog.

The Deal With Homework.

UGH.

I hate it.

With a fiery passion.

Homework.


I've had quite a bit of it this month, and getting to bed at a "reasonable time" is no longer within my grasp. This has been the cause of my absence from the blog for a week!

And now, how to deal with it!

1. Start no more than 30 minutes after you get home. Whether it's 30 minutes after getting off the bus or coming home from sports practice, you DO NOT want to wait too long to start.
2. Prioritize. What is due at the end of the week, what is due 3 days from now, what is due tomorrow. Get done what HAS to be done TOMORROW first.
3. Easiest first. Do the note taking, worksheets, and math problems BEFORE you have to move on to the things that could be most stressful and most time-consuming. This way, you won't get done with the larger homework items and forget about the smaller ones. 
4. Take little breaks. These should occur every hour for simple homework, and every 45 minutes for homework that requires critical thinking and/or complex concepts. These breaks should only last around 10-15 minutes. I like to watch a little Netflix, go on Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr, or eat a snack.
5. If you REALLY need to focus, it's best to not watch any TV. This is especially hard for me for some reason. I like to sit at the computer desk but have no webpages open. The desk is wide and gives me enough room to sprawl all of my binders, composition books, etc. all over the place.

Okay, I'm ending this now before you fall asleep! Just remember  to keep cool and stay in school. 

*end of public service announcement*

The Completely Unabridged Version of What's In My Purse

Basically a $20, cross body, brown fake leather black hole, courtesy of Icing's. I'm not leaving anything out. Everything you're reading is true. 

Okay, now that the disclaimer is over, let's dig in!

The Purse (:

• Cell phone. I have a white iPhone 4 (:
• Evian Facial Spray
• A skinny Crayola marker in Red
• Up & Up Oil-Absorbing Sheets
• A mini hairbrush/mirror. The little top of it twists off and reveals a mini sewing kit! 
• A Bath & Body Works Raspberry Pink Peony PocketBac
• Mini Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon Body Lotion
• A blue raspberry flavored lollipop
• A hot pink Sharpie
• Lint roller
• A black pen
• Grey Fossil wallet with different colored keys on it. Inside is a little cash, lots of coins, membership cards, etc.
• A Post-It Note with the different ideas I had for blog posts this week
• A stack of index cards held together by a pink hair tie
• The book Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I've been meaning to switch it out for the book that I'm currently reading, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 
• Carmex Soothing Lip Balm in the squeezy tube.

And that's it! Really not that interesting. Stuff kind of just collects in my purse and, until I clean it out (which never happens), it is just "stagnant." 

Have a GREAT week (:

It's All Fun and Games Until Freshmen Bring Out Their Crowns

The last three days of mixing and matching outfits, twinning, and repping your favorite sports team are now irrelevant. Well, for the most part anyway. It wasn't until today that everything got real. School color day is by far the most important day included in the entire Spirit Week. It's one of the few days a year that it is the norm and socially acceptable to paint football-style lines on your face and prance around in tutus. At my school, the freshman have this tradition. They all go to Burger King, get crowns, and spray paint them black. They write "FRESHMAN" or "freshlady" all over them and decorate them to their liking. It's a way of showing their "superiority" to the other grades I guess.

But my grade, the 8th grade, was not going down without a fight. In our section of the bleachers, it was a sea of white. I sat on the gym floor, close to the action with the other cheerleaders and some of the cutest guys in my grade, in my humble opinion. But, that's beside the point. I have never heard people scream and yell for one cause at school as loud as they did today. And, it was great. We found ways to try and upstage the freshmen on multiple occasions :)

In the end, we came in second place, only loosing by a few points. It was an outrage. When the 9th graders won, they all ran on to the gym floor to hold up the Spirit Trophy. For the next hour my Instagram feed was flooded with people taking selfies with the trophy. "OMG I TOUCHED IT!" Next Spirit Week, however, we are going to try our hardest, and if we beat the freshmen, we become legends.

...and if you happen to go to my school and you stumbled upon this post, comment what you think about the results of Spirit Week :)

10 Things To Know About Seattle

We didn't choose the hipster life.

The hipster life chose us.

1. If you take one picture on your entire visit to Seattle, it should be of the skyline. Whether it's taken from the top of the Space Needle or on the ferry, this is the one picture that you need to be sure to take. The skyline looks breathtaking any time of day :)
2. Trash talk the Seahawks, the Huskies, or (:'( ) the Sonics? Yeah, if I were you I REEEEALLLYYY wouldn't go there.
3. If you don't want to look like a tourist, don't freak out when you see the Starbucks in Pike Place Market. It wasn't even the first Starbucks location, guys. But a little bit of fangirling is okay, just keep it to yourself.
4. Don't dress fancy. I promise you, you will regret it. Chances are, you're going to be doing at least some walking, so heels might not be such a good idea. Welcome to the land of jeans, flannels, North Face, riding boots, and comfy sweaters. 
5. Which leads into my next thing to know. It gets cold, especially in fall and winter. You don't want to be that person walking down the street that we are looking at with the she must be new around here look. 
6. The city is stunning every season. In fall, multicolored leaves scatter the ground and the crisp autumn air is back. In winter, you can find the Christmas carousel, throngs of people flooding the doors of Nordstrom, indoor snow at Pacific Place, and Winterfest at the Seattle Center. In spring, the famous U Dub cherry trees are in bloom and the sun starts to peak through the clouds. And in summer, it's actually somewhat warm and sunny, and there are plenty of places to have your fun (Green Lake, anyone?)
7. We are technology geeks. No really! We are the home of Amazon.com and Microsoft. Holla at that.
8. Seattle is one of the most physically fit cities in the U.S.! Cute walking neighborhoods, steep hills in Downtown, and the fact that lots of people don't have a good spot to park pretty much account for this.
9. There ARE lots of hipsters. On multiple websites you can find Seattle as a common "hipsterhood."
10. If you can hike with us, then you're cool with us.

Enjoy All of the Months!

It's no secret that some months are more, well, dull than others. I used to think that about October, but this month has been completely great! I want you, dear reader, to fall in love with the month. So... I guess this is my list of how to do so!

1. Re-decorate a little bit in your room. November? Bring in some mini pumpkins or gourds and scrumptious-smelling candles. February? Pink it up a little bit for V-Day

2. If it's a month when you have school, enjoy the sports season that's happening! This can be especially helpful for athletes. Show your spirit and attend a game/match/meet. Bonus points if you wear your school colors.

3. Make some kind of exciting plan each month. This could be going to a relatives' house that isn't close to you (just an hour away works), going to a school dance, your birthday, etc.

4. If there's a holiday that you celebrate during the month, enjoy it! I love Christmas, so obviously December is one of my favorite months. 

5. And finally, just try living in the moment. Not planning your makeup routine for summer in January, that sort of thing :)

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Thursday, October 10th, 2013 marked the end of football season. It was our last game cheering for varsity football against our cross-town rivals. We won 30-12, I think. These past weeks have honestly made a huge difference in the start of my school year. It's been so much fun-with practices, mini lessons on how football works so we don't go out yelling "Touchdown!" while our team is on defense, Athletic Study Hall on Thursdays, wearing our uniforms to school, the forever awkward, long sleeved crop top that, in the cheer world, is called a unifit, fixing teammates' bows in between chants, turning around and watching the game, doing push-ups whenever our team scored (we we would do as many were on the scoreboard, and today, we did around 80-ish), and getting track burn on my knees from doing various cheers and landing jumps in a not-so-cute way.

Now, we don't have any more games to cheer for...that is, until basketball season starts. Then "winter sports" start up and a handful of cheerleaders will be trying out for soccer. I, however, will be staying on the squad and cheering for guys' basketball. One of the reasons I loved football season so much was that everyone who had made the team was there. But, I wish the best of luck to those who are trying out :) The next few weeks, my fellow cheerleaders and I will be busting our booties to get ready for the first basketball game. 

I don't know what I would have done if I didn't make the squad. Everything has been so worth it. Believe it or not, people respect the bow. A high school cheerleader came to our pre-game practice today. She was gorgeous, and had PERFECT cheer hair-I'm not even joking. I saw her talking to our coach about next year, and about "9th graders" and "cheer squad." That was all I could catch because we were busy rehearsing our dances. She was like a recruiter in a sparkly bow and cheer shoes. But that is the future, and this is now. So no need to think about that at the moment. 

Have a great weekend! For me, it's a 3 day one, so....I'll be enjoying that. Talk to ya later, if I'm even talking to anyone :)

Little Update

Hi guys :)

Let me just start by saying school is hard. 8th grade is hard. And this week, in particular, it's almost like pre-finals week no where close to the time finals happen. So, I just wanted to tell you all that my posts on the blog might be a day (or possibly two) late once and while. School, cheer, and social commitments have priority over the blog. I just haven't found time to sit down and write good posts. However, there's always time for social media that doesn't take a long time. So, down below are links to my social media sites!

Twitter: www.twitter.com/OhHeyMaddieA

Instagram: @itsmaddieeee

Tumblr: www.maddies-life.tumblr.com


Anyway, that's all for now. I hope you're LOVING the fall season like I am!

The Best Feelings :)

Just a little happy post to lighten your day up if ya need it :)

• Waking up to snow
• Having no school
• Acting like a kid
• The first swim of summer
• Long texts with your best friends
• Being alone, but not lonely
• The sound of rain
• When your favorite sports team wins a game
• When he texts you first.
• Being silly with your friends
• Finding jeans that fit perfectly
• Meeting an inspiration
• Mastering a new skill
• That look on your teacher's face when you answer a hard question
• When you break your stereotype
• Or, when you act like your stereotype just for the fun of it.
• Visiting the big city
• Road trips with your family
• Taking jumping pictures
• Sweating after a hard workout
• Figuring out what you want to do with your life
• Knowing that everything is going to be okay.

Fall Faves

A list of basically everything I love right now, from food to makeup.

BEAUTY

• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara. This stuff is genius and if you haven't tried it and are looking for a perf high end mascara, this is the one for you.
• Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple. I love this because you can wear it as a sheer red or layer it and make it really bold! It also goes great with my cheer uniform, and on many a game day could you find me in homeroom using this product.
• Crimping my hair in general! I'm not sure of the name of the crimping iron I use. My hair is naturally straight, so I like to use this to give it a little wave on some days.
• Urban Decay Primer Potion. Okay I rediscovered how much I love this stuff. It keeps my eye shadow on from around 6:20 a.m., through the school day and cheer practice, until I remove my makeup before I go to sleep.

FOOD

• Hot cocoa, especially with whipped cream! I'm addicted and I just can't get enough (holla for song references that are completely out of context with what I'm talking about)
• Open Nature Strawberry Greek Frozen Yogurt. OH LORD THIS IS MY FAVEEEEEE.
• Whole wheat English Muffins. I usually have one of these for breakfast every morning! They are a great way to stay full until lunch (especially for my junior high people)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• TUMBLR. Oh my I've caught the fever. It is so addicting! No worries, this is still my personal blog where I actually write posts and stuff. That's basically just my giant black hole of random stuff that describes my life.
• IGers: @simplyseasons ; @holidaysyay ; @justgirlythings 

alright guys! my second month of actively blogging. happy october!

Best Pics from September 2013

iPhone only ∞

So I stuck my foot outside the window of a car with my friend driving. Basically, I'm amazing.

This crewneck is so huge on me and I love it ❤️ Jumping pics for life

Candles ❤️❤️❤️

Full moons are the bomb ☾

A close friend and I after school. My algebra book photobombed :)

Idk I thought it looked cool.

Just a cute little bow from a BBW candle 

Finally fall ❤️

Hello October, please...

☂ Be rainy

☂ Have plenty of chances for me to accomplish things on my Fall Bucket List

☂ Be full of photo ops

☂ Have candle-lighting weather

☂ Be down with the sweater-almost-every-day plan

☂ Be the month when lots of lost internet folk stumble along my blog

☂ And, of course, allow for the perfect Halloween 

Wednesday Night Lights-Part 2

Last year, I was in the stands, spilling Cheetos on my lap and watching the football players lose pathetically. And this year, I was on the track, in a uniform and bow, cheering on a football team that won-not pathetically. My dear readers, this is Wednesday Night Lights, Part 2.

We got to the stadium an hour and a half before the game started, running through all of our chants, cheers, and dances. And, to be honest, most of us were nervous for the players. We were playing a notoriously good team. We'll call them CJH. So, it was RJH versus CJH in the epic Night Game of the 2013-2014 school year.

When the crowd finally started arriving, it was a little scary at first. I mean, you mess up, and all these people see you. And people talk. And have phones with cameras. Luckily, nothing too big of a deal happened to me, or any of the other girls, and it was like this rush of adrenaline. It was my first game ever as a cheerleader. And I was so, so, so happy. I thought back to the day of tryouts. Seriously, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't made the squad, because it's such an amazing feeling to go out and perform for a crowd doing something that you really love.

And, to the best part. RJH won! I mean, it was 6 to 0, but still, we won. Can we just focus on the fact that CJH got ZERO POINTS!! CAN I GET A WHAT WHAT UP ON THIS BLOG?!?!?!?!

The day after at school, everyone was ecstatic. Some football players on my bus yelled "Yeah!" "Go cheerleaders!" at me. And I was all "Oh, thanks :)" Even a few people who don't usually talk to me complimented me on a few of our cheers.

Happy weekend!

XOXO
Maddie.

20 Things YOU Can Do This Fall!

• Go to the pumpkin patch
• Run through a corn maze
• Host/go to a Halloween party
• Go trick or treating (because why not?!)
• Get some riding boots or combat boots
• Have a lazy day 
• Buy some of the new Bath & Body Works fall candles (my favorite is the Pumpkin Cupcake)
• Try out some of the fall fashion trends-chambray tops, man.
• Try hard in school (boring, I know, but might as well start first semester with a 4.0)
• Join a new club or start doing a new sport (most school sports have already started, but you can always do other activities un-affiliated with your school)
• Bake cookies for a friend
• Try the Pumpkin Spice Frappucino at Starbucks 
• Make a fall bucket list
• Buy a couple super-mini pumpkins to put in your room (does anybody know what I'm talking about over here!?)
• Drink apple cider!
• Go to one of your schools' football games!
• Jump into a leaf pile
• Twin with a friend for a day
• Accomplish a goal (i.e. get your splits , in my case. Check!)
• Do something daring!

Marvelous Melodies of the Moment

Good music, good life.

End of story.

Counting Stars-OneRepublic: Can I even explain how absolutely perfect and amazing this song is in words? I listen to it on repeat. The lyrics are so packed with meaning, but the song is super catchy. My favorite lyrics from it are probably "And I don't think the world is sold on just doing what we're told," "Everything thing that drowns me makes me want to fly," and "No more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars." Aaaaahhhhh it's just so perfect.

Wake Me Up-Avicii: This is my workout jam!! The beat on this is super catchy and upbeat. It just makes you want to go run and dance and go frolick in a meadow of flowers. Haha. Does anyone else think of that?

Tiny Little Bows-Carly Rae Jepsen: This is such an adorable song. Legit, that's the only reason to describe it. The end.

Love Like Woe-The Ready Set: Um has anyone listened to this in the last...ever? It's so peppy and can always put a smile on my face, even after a long day at school.

Roar-Katy Perry: Not sure how marvelous this is, but it definitely gets you pumped up. I mean, after you listen to it, you're like: "Yeah, world! I've got the eye of the tiger! I'm a fighter! You're gonna hear me roar!"

Hope you enjoyed :) Let me know if you go and listen to any of these after reading this post!

What To Wear When You're Sick

Since the quote-unquote "cold and flu season" is among us, I thought now would be a perfect time to write a post like this. I, myself, am sick, along with 1/2 of my school. A ton of people caught this coldish-headachey virus or something.

Anyway, to the point of this post. I'm one of those people that tries to look presentable at school (in other words, I try not to come to school often in over-sized hoodies and sweatpants, no matter how tempting that sounds). So, I came up with a little outfit plan for you, including what to do with hair and makeup.

Hair: I like to leave my hair down. It's the most comfortable plus it keeps me warm #longhairdontcare

Makeup: Wear as little as possible. Your immune system is busy fighting that virus, so it doesn't really have time to keep your pimples at bay. It's really important to wear moisturizer, as well! I used my Hope In A Jar one from Philosophy because it's really thick and hydrates my skin nicely. For the rest of my makeup, I just used concealer on a few breakouts, curled my eyelashes and applied mascara, put on some lip balm, and then topped it with a lip gloss.

Top: I'm wearing a plain black "cami" tank top from H & M (super cheap and super cute), and an oversized white sweater from BP @ Nordstrom. It's a great sweater because it's not a thick knit. It gives you room to breathe.

Bottoms: I'm wearing some dark wash, distressed super skinny jeans. They are cute, but also comfy, and easy to move around in.

Shoes: Today, I chose to wear some black "booties" with a kitten heel. You could also wear some flats if that suits your fancy.

Accessories: I kept it minimal today by wearing a teal-ish green colored scarf with different sized dots on it. It's very abstract and adds a pop of color.

Or, you could also join the Scrub Club and wear a crewneck and leggings. The main thing is being comfy, darlings!

Rainy Day To Do's

On many a September mornings, outside waiting at my bus stop, you can hear me singing "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!" And on most of the days here in Washington, it's cloudy or rainy! I particularly love the rain, so I compiled a little(ish) list of things for you to do on a rainy day!

• If you live in a city or close to some sort of nature trail, grab your rain gear and take a stroll!
• Go shopping
• Listen to music
• Make hot cocoa
• Watch Netflix (post coming soon about the Top Teen TV Shows on Netflix)
• Have a sleepover
• Have a themed movie marathon (for example: Rom-Coms-The Proposal, 27 Dresses, ya know, the works)
• Or, just watch your favorite movie (Legally Blonde is my all time favorite!)
• Snooze
• Just sit and listen to the rain (believe me, it's relaxing)
• Go to the movies with some friends (okay there are quite a few things on here related with movies and TV, what can I say?!)
• Bake/cook something!
• Spend the day with family! Visit people that you seem to only see on major holidays
• If you can, go into the city if you live in the 'burbs (i.e. take the ferry to Seattle if you live in a place that has a ferry. Obviously this only applies to people in Washington)
• DO NOT sit around and be bored. Because the people who let themselves be bored tend to be the most boring ;)

30 Random Facts About Me

Because why not :) :)

1. life is CHEER is life ❤

2. My favorite emojis by far are the tiger face, the city-at-night skyline, the cheer bow, the umbrella with rain, and the face with the tongue sticking out! Ooh and the little confetti thing! 🐯🌃🎀☔😋🎉

3. I took a selfie with my new graphing calculator #uhhhwhaaat

4. Blogging & Instagram are the best social media outlets, in my opinion.

5. Seattle is my favorite place in the world. The Emerald City really is magical!

6. I am obsessed with the songs Counting Stars by OneRepublic, Wake Me Up by Avicii, and Love Like Woe by The Ready Set (old song, right?)

7. I actually like my handwriting

8. I want to be in a sorority in college

9. My favorite shows on Netflix are Ugly Betty and GRΣΣK

10. My iPhone is always with me, and I named her Naomi :)

11. The mascara I'm using right now is MAC's Haute and Naughty Lash in Black.

12. U Dub >>>>>>>> WSU

13. I am getting my braces off in NOVEMBER :D

14. One of the electives I'm taking is French 1, and I absolutely love it! 

15. I just painted my nails with Deborah Lippman's Brown Eyed Girl (gearin' up for fall). 

16. I have hazel eyes that get greener when light gets brighter or if I'm outside

17. My backpack is from PINK and it's galaxy print!

18. My cheer shoes are one of my favorite pairs that I own

19. I really want an old-fashioned chandelier for my room. Am I alone in this?

20. In French class, we got to choose any French name to be called during class, and je m'appelle Valérie. Figure out what it means, I dare ya ;) (it's really easy)

21. I still have obvious tan lines from the summer. 

22. Texting is one of my faves

23. I hate it when people try to be hipsters. Please stop because you're embarrassing yourself.

24. I LOVE to kayak

25. I own a LOT of makeup. Like, a lot.

26. I love drawing arrows ➳➳➳➳➳

27. Corn mazes are one of my favorite parts about fall

28. I actually enjoy school!

29. I love the way fire escapes look on buildings

30. I'm happy with my life :)

So there ya have it.

LA-LAT-LATEPOST! Late post! Late post!

So much chaos has happened over the last days! Tons of homework and long cheer practices! So today, I will just be writing a quick update :)

For starters, I am no longer in the math class that I was in on Monday. We took pre tests for the class, and I ended up scoring pretty high on the pre test. Administration at my school got ahold of my math state standardized test scores from my 7th grade year. They recommended that I switch into a higher level math-9th grade math to be exact. And I did it! Now, I'm in Algebra 1 with a text book that has a questionable substance on the front cover from the last person who used it. Ummmm.....

Cheer has been HARD these last few days. The gym we practice in is probably about 95 degrees and super stuffy. Plus practicing the dance to our school's fight song and chants upon chants and jumps. But no matter how hard the work is, it's worth it. I love cheer ❤ 

And that's all for now :) back to homework...

Fall Bucket List

Even though the "first day of fall" hasn't technically happened, I would say that autumn is in full swing! Big sweaters, riding boots, and leggings are replacing muscle tanks, bandeaus, and high-waisted colorful shorts. Honestly, I am really excited for this fall season! It will be a good change of pace. And I know this is a little weird, but I will be so happy when it starts raining on a regular basis. We had such a beautiful, sunny summer, but this Washington girl needs a little, um, downpour of rain in her life. Luckily that won't be a problem for too much longer.

And don't get any naughty thoughts about those last couple of sentences. Believe me, I know all of the "that's what she said" jokes.

So now that that is covered, we can move on to my Fall 2013 Bucket List

1. Volunteer at my old elementary school's fall "festival" of sorts called Harvest Hay Day. I volunteered last year and it was lots of fun :)
2. Go to the pumpkin patch
3. Run through a corn maze
4. Dress up for Halloween (in good taste of course. Obviously I'm going to try and look cute ;). What? There's no shame in my game.)
5. Jump in to a leaf pile
6. Put away my summer clothes
7. Burn through a candle, even if it's just a mini one
8. Help make the food fabulous on Thanksgiving
9. Try a Light Pumpkin Spice Frappucino at Starbucks (DONE!!!)

There were a couple more, but they were kinda personal, so I decided not to post them :)

What's one thing you're looking forward to this fall? Comment down below!

Best Instagram Accounts

Hello there :)

If you don't already know, I am ADDICTED to Instagram. It's one of my favorite apps, and by far my favorite social media site, I guess you could call it. I've had my Instagram for about 5 months now, and I have found some of the coolest accounts with some amazing pictures!

Just a quick disclaimer: If you personally know me, know that I will not be mentioning anyone that is my friend, someone that I go to school with, or anything like that, for the sake of my privacy and theirs. Don't get your feelings hurt :)

Here are the accounts! Enjoy!

@haileyjunkin : I love her pictures! They are always well-edited. She's also a singer and she has a real gift! Go check her out on YouTube as well as on Instagram! Her YouTube username is haileyjoy14

@barkleysircharles : This adorable French Bulldog! I know, I'm kind of a dork! His owners made an account where they post pictures of him! He is just so cute! Go follow him if you LOVE sweet animals.

@starbucks : Aside from the fact that their drinks rock, they always post a bunch of cool pictures. There is rarely an advertisement posted. They take their pictures mostly in Washington state (Internet high five if you're a Washingtonian like myself)

@starbuckssecretss : A must-follow account if you're hooked on Starbucks drinks, especially frappuccinos. They give out all of these really cool recipes for drinks you can order while you're there, complete with a picture of what it will look like, and how to order it.

@mycheerwishlist : If you're a cheerleader, regardless of you cheer on an all-star team or on your school team, you need to follow this account! It's a really great cheer bucket list and I always enjoy seeing their posts appear on my Instagram feed.

@izkiz : I am not sure who runs this account, or if it's just an account run by a specific company, but this account has legitimately the most beautiful pictures. Complete editing genius behind these pics. They are so amazing. They have TONS of pictures as well. This is an account that I know will post frequently.

@bestsayingss : Quotes. Quotes. And more quotes. With cool fonts and backgrounds. All of the pictures are made with an app called PicLab (which by the way is also a great app). They usually post multiple times a day, and most of the quotes usually are motivational, and positive, to help you get your day started or if you just need a little mood boost.

@appsandapps : This account is so great! They reveal the apps that many popular Instagram users use to edit their pictures. I have found my favorite editing apps from this account.

@tipsforchicas : If you're a girl with an IG, go follow them ASAP. They have super cute tutorials, and obviously tips specifically for teen girls :) They post about pictures, makeup, hair, clothes, and so on! Nifty account.

Hope you liked the list! Again, this is all my personal opinion. If you have any favorite accounts, don't forget to leave their names in the comments below :)

This Year Is Gonna Be Better

So, it's 6:05 in the morning on September 4, 2013. Why am I up so early? Well, the sunny days and starry night are over for this girl. Today marks the first day of my eighth grade year. And I could not be more excited.

Today, I am proudly sporting red, black, and white, my school colors, by wearing my cheer uniform. We have this "first day back" assembly at my school, and the cheerleaders get to take part in it. I couldn't be more thrilled. I get to be a role model, someone for the seventh graders to look up to. Along with my cheer shell, which is the top that has the school's letters on it, and my skirt, which by the way is also adorable, I get to wear my cheer shoes and these super cute zebra print socks that say "CHEER" on them that the entire team got.

My nails are polished quite nicely, if I do say so myself. Hot pink with multicolored chunky glitter nail polish at the base of the nails.

But other than that, I am really pumped for my classes. I can't wait to see all the people I didn't see at all over summer break. Plus, I got tan, therefore, it looks like I had an amazing summer outside. Which, I did. Ain't no fake tan up in here (except for a teeny bit on my face, so that the color of my face matches the rest of my body).

I think my eighth grade year is going to be different. Mainly because of cheer, but also because I won't be the youngest grade in school. Maddog is movin' up in the world! I woke up at 5 this morning just so that would have enough time to get ready. Yeah, from now on, I think I can wake up at 5:30 and be fine :)

You know that nervous-excited feeling you get whenever something really big is going to happen, like on a rollercoaster, right before you shoot forward down the steep drop? Well, that's exactly how I feel right now. But luckily, I fastened my seatbelt, pulled down the safety bar, and threw my hands up in the air. I couldn't be more ready to be shot forward on the rollercoaster that is my 8th grade year.

Capture The Moment-Best Pics from Summer 2013

Straight from my iPhone Photo Library :)

This was taken at the beginning of July! I was super sunburnt at the time. My friend and I jumped off this dock into the best lake I have ever been to!

This lovely flower bloomed through the crack in my aunt's fence! 

I was crabbing with my friend's family and when we stopped to drop the crab pots, we climbed on to the front of their boat and had a mini photo shoot

Went hiking with one of my best friends. There was a spectacular view!

An Ocean Shores beach picture! g∞d vibes!

 

Ocean Shores jumping pic at sunset!

My grandma's adorable cat, Sweet Pea

Went to Seattle, and took an amazing skyline pic! I used a reflection app to make it look like this.

I was at the waterfront! No clue what that black thing on my shoulder was.

Through the course of the entire summer, I took almost 400 pictures. For my privacy, I didn't post any selfies! Sorry :) But here ya go! Summer 2013 was one of the best summers I've had!

Comment below which of the pics is your favorite!

XOXO,

Maddie

An Apology. And Some News. And Maybe A Little Surprise.

Could you tell that I was winging it with the title? Yeah.

The Bad Blogger Award goes to me. It has been almost 9 months since my last post. And you might wonder, why? Because I simply forgot. I got lazy. And all of these other stupid reasons. And I am sorry. And you have absolutely no reason to be reading this. Why should you? It's not like this in an "active blog" or anything. So, to anyone who ever checked from time to time and only saw that same old post from some time in early December of 2012. So, I am going to give you a brief summary (from what I remember) of all of the months that I didn't blog

January: 2013 started off good for me. This month I finished up one of the electives that I hated at first, but really enjoyed at the end-Wood Shop. I got this oversized cobalt blue sweater from Hollister that, to this day, I still love. And had my first ever junior high Finals Week. Or, as lots of people like to call it, Hell Week.

February: Not much happened this month. I was ready for winter to be over. My favorite song, as I distinctly remember, was Tiny Little Bows by Carly Rae Jepsen. I listened to that song OVER AND OVER.

March: This was a kind-of-exciting month. The sun finally started to peek out from behind the cloud cover that had taken over the Washington sky for the past months. And, at the end of the month, right before Spring Break started, my best friends decorated my locker. They took up two lockers. And I was so happy! I remember that during math that day, my friend Taylor and I drew pictures of each other driving white vans. It's an inside joke.

April: This was a good month. Spring Break was much-needed. And then, three of my friends started to do track. It was mainly bad because one of them rode the bus with me. And during my seventh grade year, my bus flat-out SUCKED. They had practice every day, and she was NEVER on the bus. But, no fear, I was able to handle it!

May: One of my best months. I made my school's cheer squad! I am a cheerleader!!! That was the main highlight from that month.

June: Great month. It was amazing during the end of school. Our school puts on this big show called the Variety Show and it is one of the most amazing things. All of these students audition and they pick the best acts, and they perform. They have a huge set, and props, music, and lighting. It's one of the moments that I realize how happy I am to go to the school that I do. And the last day was a giant celebration!! Everyone was ECSTATIC for summer

July: This month was great!! At the beginning of the month, I thought I had lost a friendship permanently, but by the end of the month, everything was fine. I went to so many different lakes and had such an amazing time. A great kickoff to summer

August: I went to Ocean Shores with my cousin and family. It was amazing. And by the end of the month, I was ready to go back to school.

And now. School starts in two days, and I will proudly be sporting my ADORABLE cheer uniform like the rest of the cheerleaders. I have had an amazing summer. And I am so ready to start eighth grade.

And now, for the most important thing. I don't know if I can honestly say "I will post 'X' times a week on this blog." I will be committing myself to one blog, and that is Anonymously Ours, the blog my friend (you might know her as Rhodo) and I started at the end of our 6th grade year. This does not mean that I am giving up. I will try my hardest to post at least once a week on here.

That's all for now.