Confessions of a Teenage Girl: Tea Lovers

   There is nothing I love more than taking a few moments each and every day to sit back and reflect on life while sipping a hot cup of tea, sometimes coffee but mostly tea. These moments of contentment can leave a big impact on the rest of my day, if I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed, a cup of tea can calm and soothe me or if things just seem to be going a bit haywire; tea.

Enjoying some raspberry tea and creative time

 Herbal tea is one of the greatest things in the world (to me) and for almost any type of health problem or condition there is probably a tea for that, low metabolism? Green tea can help with that, green tea extract can speed up metabolism rate by 4%, that's equivalent to about 3-5 cups of tea a day, and if you're an avid tea consumer, then that may be very achievable.

  Now while there isn't a huge amount of scientific evidence that shows that any type of tea can help you sleep better, some studies show that lavender or passion fruit contain chemicals and flavinoids that may help you fall asleep or just help you sleep better when you finally manage to doze off. Spearmint to decrease testosterone levels, peppermint to aid digestion, oolong for lower cholesterol, my favorite chamomile (often spelled camomile) is quite the herbal tea powerhouse with studies showing its beneficial effects ranging from anything from upset stomach to menstrual cramps, chamomile can even help reduce blood glucose levels (which can be very beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes), chamomile tea can also be used topically on the skin and scalp as a relief to such skin irritations like, eczema and psoriasis.

Ginger root, lemon and honey

  I can consume a few mugs of tea in one day so because of this I rarely ever use the steep method, which is pretty much sitting a tea bag in a cup of hot water for a few minutes, I typically put a tea bag in with water and boil it or if I have fresh herbs I'll use a tea ball. From experience I've learned that not only can I make a few cups of tea with just one tea bag, but it is stronger and more potent when I boil the tea as opposed to simply steeping it. A few of my go-to favorites are chamomile for when I'm feeling a bit frazzled and stressed, when I feel myself slipping under the weather I opt for fresh ginger root, honey and lemon, and lastly when I want something to sip on just for the hell of it, I reach for good ole
linden tea.
   Tea is more than just a delicious beverage of choice for me, its a way of life, the health benefits that come with consuming herbal tea ( on a regular basis that is) are amazing and the wide variety of herbs and flavors ensure that you are bound to find one that you like. But the only way to be sure of what flavor you like best is simply to try them, sip, sip. While finding which herbal teas to taste test first can be tricky, knowing the health benefits of certain types is not. So always be sure to conduct your own comprehensive research, and sip slowly.

    Sincerely, Teenage Girl

Confessions of a Teenage Girl: Secondhand Smoke and Growing Up

It hit me.

 I'm already 19 years of age, this is it, in less than one year I'll be twenty years old. As the days creep by I find myself worrying over the slightest of things, like, if I sleep in an extra half hour will it effect the rest of my life? Like a snowball effect, will I go tumbling and falling down this path of arduousness?
Of course not! I'm simply overreacting, right?
Suddenly any decision I make is the rest of my life, that's what I am, it will forever define me.
    It's not that I'm afraid of growing older, I'm also not in any rush either, I'm more afraid of not doing something worthwhile with my life, I'm more afraid of regretting things that I have and haven't done. All of the what if's that linger in the air and swarm around you, suffocating, forcing you to choke on them like secondhand smoke to the cigarettes of poor decisions. But its not so bad, I'm slowly realizing that all of these doubts and fears I'm having are simply the result of a life change or more so, a change of perspective, and this is good, viewing the world and the people in it with a seemingly fresh set of eyes and a broadened mindset is a wonderful advantage that my younger self used to crave, unfortunately she also used to think it would be impossible to break away from the injurious mindset she allowed herself to be molded into.
       Becoming aware of yourself in such a manner is simply a part of growing up, I'm at a point in my life where I'm not sure who I want to be but I wake every morning knowing very well who it is I don't want to be, and that's a good start. I don't wish to grow old filled with regret and longing for things I no longer can change or have control over, mistakes will be made and lessons shall be learned. 19 down, so far so good.

       Sincerely, Teenage Girl

Confessions of a Teenage Girl: View from the Outside

Sometimes I feel like an outsider, an unwelcome one.
   I stand in the corners shadowed by their darkness, trying to be inconspicuous, hoping that no one notices the figure lurking, gazing at them and their never ending psychotic fantasies. Being a loner isn't a bad thing, it gives me the opportunity to observe others and reflect on things. As I stand in my designated corner some of what I see makes me smile but I mostly feel sorrow. Is this what we've all come to be? To represent? Shallow, narcissistic, unconscious beings striving to be accepted by a society that is not designed for them to live prosperously in? Its having a detrimental effect on the youth and only a few seem to notice or care. It's hard to imagine what life will be like when I'm thirty, what tragedies I'll face or be subjected to but its even harder to imagine what life will be like next week.
    Wishing and wanting things to change and be different isn't enough anymore, action and solutions are much need so I slowly gather myself and take steps out of the light and into the darkness but I'm terrified, will I become like them? Be infected with the same bizarre psychosis that makes them believe all is really right in the world, things are only coincidental, that we're safe and sound? I wonder how we ended up here, when the turn was made that lead us all down this self-destructive path headed towards a black hole, an abyss of despair and anguish. With each waking moment we wander further and further down becoming lost, forgetting what we once were, until there's nothing left, until were all a mass of lost souls, faces in a crowd, bodies in the wind, desperately attempting to grasp what no longer is, what we no longer are. Then the realization kicks in, its too late.

               Sincerely, Outsider

Into The Woods

I had a load of fun taking these photos with my mom, lets give her a standing ovation for even helping me out with these. When I asked her to take pictures of me wearing some of my designs, she agreed even though she had just got off work, but when I suggested heading into the woods behind our home....lets just say it almost didn't happen.

          The skirt is something I've recently made, its a very simple design, but the beauty of the polka dotted chiffon gives it a little something extra, not to mention it moves wonderfully in the breeze.

 

                 I made the top almost 2 years ago out of this beautiful, blush tone colored crocheted lace fabric ( there's a mouthful), I got for a steal on the scraps rack at the local fabric shop.

Confessions of a Teenage Girl: Crouching Retriever Hidden Fool

   I always wait until the last possible moment to take out the trash, every night somewhere between 10 pm and midnight I finally manage to lug myself to the duty that is garbage disposal ( I'll get back to that).

    I live in a town that is a pleasant cross between backwoods country living and semi bustling city life. My neighborhood is a quiet secluded cul-de-sac, behind each home is a nice amount of wooded area. Behind my home is a very large portion of wooded area with a lake just beyond (it belongs to our neighbor's that live one street over), so we receive lots of lovely creatures in our yard and driveway. Anything from frogs and turtles, to lizards and rabbits and I've even spotted a few turkey and geese, it really is quite awesome.
   So sometime last night as I was fulfilling my duties, I took notice of a rustling in the woods, not the average wind or small creature rustling that I'm used to either. It was a lot louder and occurred more frequently, and it isn't a short walk to where we keep our trash cans, down the walkway, all the way to the end of the driveway just past the fence, so I'm talking a good one hundred yards or so, give or take.
    As I continued my journey down the pathway, bags in hand, the noise not only grows increasingly louder but noticeable closer. I stop, look around (our flood lights just so happened to blow out a few nights prior) not seeing anything out of the ordinary, or so I had thought. As I stood half shrouded by darkness, these two  glowing eyes stare me down, not sure of what it could be I become more than slightly apprehensive, then something strange happened, a switch went off and I tossed the bags down thinking, its a wolf! How cool would it be to take down a wolf!!? I was so pumped and ready, adrenaline flooded my senses as the creature continued to lurk forward, 'this is it,' I thought, ready to pounce on Coco. Wait....what the... Coco? Suddenly I'm no longer surrounded by darkness as the neighbors sensor lights all come on almost simultaneously, I see the man that lives in the house beside mine come out from his garage, calling and cooing for the dog to come inside.
Looking back in the direction of the glowing eyes, I see the big, golden overweight retriever that is Coco, the neighbors timid dog.
     How awesome is that? I almost attacked my neighbors dog!
A middle aged golden retriever named Coco, so apparently my dream of fighting in the dead of the night with a wolf, has been crushed by a Martha Speaks! look alike. I watched the not- so- little dog trot on home as I completed my nightly duty.
     So surely there's a lesson to be learned here, right? Like uh, if you plan on getting down and dirty with a wolf, perhaps wear shoes?
Or when the flood lights are out either replace them asap or always have a flashlight on hand, take the trash out before the night gets darker than a plumbers butt crack? Well if you thought you came here to learn a lesson, hate to burst that bubble of yours, but clearly I'm not qualified to teach life lessons. Now if you need brushing up on wolf attacking techniques, I'm your girl.

          Sincerely,
                    Foolish Wannabe Wolf Fighter

Confessions of a Teenage Girl: Dear World

   I have facial hair, it's not a lot nor is it thick, but if you stand close enough it's visible. I don't know when it sprung to life but I do know I've had it long enough. It's daunting some days, seeing beautiful girls hairless and not ever worrying about who's judging them for the peach fuss that rests so carelessly upon their lip. I've been picked on, I've been judged, my sex and sexuality have both been questioned numerous times in my precious youth, I've even turned on myself quite a bit.
    Am I a freak? Why is this happening to me? Why can't I be like other girls?
Does this mean I'm not a real woman? Will anyone ever like me?
Being a teenage girl in today's society is hard enough, hell being anyone in today's society is hard enough, dealing with all the judgemental assholes in the world, is hard enough, so you giving me your unwanted two sense sure as hell isn't helping. Having facial hair as a woman does not by any means make me any less of a woman. It does not play a role in my femininity and does not affect my sexuality.
     The thought of getting rid of it was once appealing, but if I do that now I'll be hiding it for the rest of my life, and I might be too lazy for that.
Most people notice it and some people don't, but after 18 years of being judged, denied, daunted, teased, ashamed and confused I stand tall at  the top of the world ( my bed will do for now) and I say: If my appearance bothers you or you take offense to the way I am, if you can't handle me in all my weird and hairy glory, then you my friend...can go fuck yourself.
I'd drop the mic, but it may break from up here on top of the world.

                   Sincerely, A Hairy Teenage Girl

Madame GRES

Madame Gres wanted to be a sculptor, and that's what she became, just not in the traditional sense. She was a sculptor of a different kind, her medium was fabric, her tools were pleats, and with those she shaped and molded gowns that were far beyond her time. Hundreds of tiny pleats would reduce yards of the finest fabrics down to just mere inches, with nimble fingers and acute precision she would sculpt works of art. She was a true artist, blood to bone. Hours, days, at times even weeks it would take just to produce one of her designs. Madame Gres was revolutionary, she was innovative, and now, she is my inspiration.  

I've only known of Madame Gres for a few weeks now, and I am absolutely obsessed with her ethereal designs. The simplicity, elegance and sensuality of her gowns has inspired me to make an attempt at recreating one of her gowns, using the tedious pleating method that she was known for. While Madame Gres preferred to use silk jersey, I will be using cotton and chiffon.
I don't know how this will turn out, but I hope I could do myself and Madame Gres some kind of justice.

 

 



  After about 15 hours over the course of two days I've finally finished placing
the pleats, but only half of the bodice front is ace sewn down. I'm not very skilled
at hand sewing, but over the past two days I've gotten much better, which makes
me very happy

  Creativity is one of the strongest ways to express yourself. While its impact may differ from person to person its nonetheless something to behold...to cherish. Creativity has so many diverse outlets, music, dance, design, art, fashion l mean the list goes on, but when you can't quite to tap into that creativity none of that seems to matters. This is something I struggle with more often than not, but creativity is like a muscle — we all have the capacity to build muscle mass if we exercise if we fail to do so, our muscles atrophy. The same is true with creativity ( as written by Josh Linker). And like a muscle, it gets stronger each time you challenge it. So, I challenge my creativity, no more blank pages or seeing the glass as only half empty. The world is my canvas and I will do as please.