Self Known

I've always wanted to do one of these posts. If not for the enjoyment of others, for the enjoyment of my future self to look back on and realize how much my style and space have changed. My door. I think I'm sooo artsy for taping paint swatches to my door. And I actually love how it looks too. I was going for "Starry Night" with my own little twist -- and without the actual paint. ;) This is what my room looks like from the doorway. Can you guess what the theme is? It's funny -- a few weeks ago I was discussing with Kenzie how my room has this coral and aquamarine vibe to it, yet my Instagram theme is focused on yellows and blues, and my actual fashion style is very grungy/hispter/artsy. So it all comes full circle, I guess? Still, I love my room. It's my safe haven. Now come on in so I can give you the full tour... Right as you walk in, you will see my DIY jewelry hanging on the wall to your right. It's quite a balancing act when I ...

Hi friend. How are you? I hope this post meets you well. Today I wanted to write about this little space. My corner of the Internet. After many attempts to give it a major face lift / rebrand / vibe / mission I figured out that the girl I was in 2012 when I originally started this blog is no longer who I am. So let's start fresh. Hi, I'm Rosie. I am a college student and a creator of many crafts. I enjoy writing Young Adult fiction, playing piano, singing at the top of my lungs, and, above all, making other people laugh. Right now I am pursuing a degree in art therapy, which means my future job will be  helping people express themselves in a safe environment with someone who loves them.  I have tried to be many things on the Internet, from an American Girl doll hoarder to a make-up artist, but nothing has really clicked with me. Not until now. I have always been a Christian. My entire life I have identified as being a follower of Jesus Christ. But the thing ab...

Have you ever had that one thing you've tried to make work but never could? This could be anything in your personal life, from piano notes to paragraphs in a blog post. Well, I've been trying and trying and trying and trying for years  now to get blogging to work for me. At one point in my life, this was my passion. I lived for your comments, your friendship, and the purity of sharing whatever was in my heart with the world. But I don't feel warmth or connection anymore. In fact, I feel rather lost. Like I'm shouting into an abyss, vying for attention and something to fill my inner void. This feeling comes more often than I care to admit, and I've pushed through all this time with the thought that it will get better. That all I have to do is keep trying and it will work out . But it hasn't. And I'm out of ideas. This isn't to say I won't be back. That I won't hit a creative stride in the next week and decide to share something epic with you...

This is an exercise that popped into my head while I was trying to work on my last project of the Fall semester. I thought I should share it with you because it was really helpful to me see these all these things that I've wanted (and most I've never reached) and compare them to what I now know about myself. What I’ve wanted to be What I am not A popular beauty guru on YouTube  An Instagram star with millions of followers A solo pop star with a raspy but also epic voice that even Sia could be jealous of I am not someone who wants to spend HOURS doing my make-up I am not someone who wants to dedicate their time to a social media site -- I desire connection, but not at a surface level where there are only likes and comments like "QT" I am not the most amazing singer, nor am I built for the stage or even willing to subject myself to such a stressful lifestyle. I could go on, but you get the point. Sometimes the ideas in our brains don'...

Once upon a time, there was a princess with a fear. Now, this princess did not fear the arrival -- or lack thereof -- of her prince. She did not fear peas under mattresses, letting down her hair, or the loss of glass slippers (such shoes were awfully uncomfortable anyway!). She feared her duty to her kingdom. Now, the princess was next in line for the throne, but she knew that her loyalties to her people began long before the crown would be placed upon her brow. There were hearings where great hoards of people gathered to ask the King for advice on their troubles. She would listen in and come up with entirely different solutions than her wise father and their royal ruler. Every week she would attend a banquet or party of some kind with her friends and listen to their gossip and troubles. They would give each other advice while she listened, piecing everything together without a word. These were the moments she would replay in her head until it kept her up at night ...

Throughout the entire Fall semester, this burning question continuously popped into mind: How do people do it all? In high school, I listened to upperclassmen semi-ranting and semi-bragging about how busy they were. The piles of homework, how late they stayed up, how long of a shift they worked over the weekend... Nowadays, I look at the freshman in college and witness them doing the same. Always working, always engaging--and in some cases feeding a child. I've observed my friends partake in extracurriculars, brag about binge-watching Netflix, and skip over the fact that they're also working part-time while they're in school full-time. I've always been one for productivity, and yet... It baffles me. I yearn to know how they do it. How they get so much done per day with less sleep and more obligations. My only true responsibility was school. When I told others -- mainly college graduates -- I was taking 14 credit hours, they would always reply with, "Oh my ...

If you are reading this, that means that the first month of 2018 is over . Already the time escapes me! But I am not phased - I'm actually really happy. January was a month of experimenting, working, and the start of school. I have been all over the place, in a good way. I'm starting to love this whole figuring out what to do with my time thing. It's a scary and exciting journey, all in one. Let's jump in, shall we? This month's goals: Reach 100 followers on the Miraculous Ladybug Amino app [COMPLETE] Create an email opt-in [NOPE] Outline The Visionaries  Book 3 [COMPLETE - aha, sorta] Determine the plot of The Visionaries  Book 1 [SOMEWHAT - as in not really] Start Spring Semester [COMPLETE] 4/5 isn't bad, huh? Especially since school has been the focus for more than half the month. :) Daily habits: Exercise - I've gotten into the routine lately of taking at least 5 minutes to do something , whether that be focusing on my arms ...

Many months ago I fell in love with this song. And like anyone who has fallen in love, it's stuck with me -- to the point where I can now play it with my eyes closed. I think I love it so much because the lyrics go like: "You can, you can do anything, anything You can do anything" Over and over. In these past few months, I've needed those power phrases on repeat. Thank you, dear music, for being the inspirational piece to get me back into taking piano lessons. Thank you for inspiring me to learn other pieces (and yet always return to you). It scares me to share this with you because it is imperfect, our piano needs tuned, it's not visually stimulating, or even a good quality soundtrack. But I think I would be doing myself an injustice if I didn't. Besides, everyone has to start somewhere. Enjoy.

We have a big library downtown near the community college. It's a bit shady when you visit because you'll have to squeeze down an alleyway if you want to park in the parking garage for easy access. You can almost tell on the way in what it's going to look like because the accents against the concrete floor are bright colors -- sharp lime and sky blue. You ride the elevator one floor up, completely oblivious and honestly, not ready for the doors to open. Everything is white. You see peeks of marble around the corner, and the eye candy of empty space lures you in, allowing the elevator to close after you with a ding. An invisible cable from the center of the building winds around your waist, pulling you in. Around the corner, the building explodes, and it's no longer just white and marble, but beautiful stone, pillars, and wooden hand railings. Above there are decorative balls that look they're metal feathers silently welded to one another. Security asks how y...

Hey friend. Today I wanted to talk about something I have been combatting for a couple of years now. Social anxiety. Now, this is something that is very serious to me, and I would never want to overexaggerate things or blow them out of proportion. This is not something I am writing for sympathy or for anyone to feel sorry for me. This is simply a post about what the world looks like from my perspective. I know when I read blog posts or watch videos that detail what other people are dealing with it makes me feel closer to them. It helps me understand why they do what they do and what colors their world is painted in. And it is always nice to know you are not alone. That is why I am taking the time to write about this today. When did you realize you were socially anxious? It actually wasn't me. It was my mom. Back when I was dancing (2011), I got good enough to be moved up a level -- a level above all of my friends. This caused a very stirring conflict in me beca...

I have a condition. It's been going on for quite a while now. Months, maybe even years. Every time I sit down to write a blog post, a weight settles in around me. My head gets fuzzy. My fingers slam on the keys and I produce pure inconsistent words that stay mushy, even after rounds of editing. Everything seems like it's set on fast forward when I write, and so all these good post ideas I have never get published because they lack the quality I wish to produce. There are the rare moments when the muse strikes and the floodgates open. My heart pours out and a piece of myself is written in a way that leaves me with a feeling much too close to pride. But a majority of the time I struggle. I really want to break this cycle. So from now on, instead of MOVING REALLY FAST AND PRODUCING ALL OF THESE  W O R D S . . . I want to slow down. And. Breathe a little. Take the time to form thoughts. Develop thoughts. Polish thoughts. We live in a fast-paced world, my friend. ...

I hadn't planned on posting anything until next year (WHICH IS WAY TOO CLOSE - BACK OFF BRO) but this idea fell into my head as I was working on my 2018 goals, and I HAD to write about it before the New Year. The 2018 Focus Workbook. This is my own personal creation. Year after year I have made big goals and NEVER gotten them done. This year, however, will be different. (Famous last words, eh?) I figured out during finals that if I list out the projects I have and then further break them down into bite-sized steps , I feel way less overwhelmed and much more focused. So when I was making my own breakdown sheets for my goals, I thought to myself, "Oh my gosh, I bet other people will want this too!" I basically followed my goal breakdown process and put it in a worksheet format for you. I aimed for a very simple design so that the action steps wouldn't be outshone by fancy fonts or wild colors that didn't meet your personal taste. It's also very...

I'm taking a break. Don't miss me too much while I'm gone, eh? (Read the quote.)

Hello, friend. You may or may not remember me, but I'm Rosie. If you're new or seasoned, welcome to Self Known. You may want to grab a cup of tea because I like to make it cozy in here. Please introduce yourself to me in the comment section below. Give me your (nick)name, a unique fact, and tell me something exciting that's happening in your life. Now, without further ado... * * * Constantly Combating: The eternal feeling of giving up. I am a Project Starter. Maybe you've heard of my kind before? We usually get LOTS of ideas, especially in the middle of the night. We keep notebooks on our nightstand, in our cars, and in our bags. We have lists and notes on our phone. "Shampoo bottles for the blind" and "Evil villain that disguises himself as Pikachu" are just a few of the things we've written down when struck by our muse. When we're inspired, it's as though there's a fire lit under our bums. We GO. We DO. We already have...

Honestly, the things that work for all the big shot writers have always scared me. "I push through the writer's block." "I get up at 5AM to watch the sunrise as I write 1,000 words. Once I hit that goal, I stop and starve myself until the next day so I can continue writing." "I'm J. K. Rowling." "Writing is my life. Without it, I would die." It scares me because I don't work that way. I never have. I came into the writing game "late" so to speak. I only really  started when it felt like the real world wasn't safe enough for me to live in anymore, and in order to escape, I had to make up my own. I would write for hours, staying up late (which was just past 10 o'clock back in those days -- nowadays "late" is after midnight), hiding the light of my laptop from my parents and always thinking about my work. I'm no longer like that now. Don't get me wrong! I love writing! I love...

This is a concept I came up with a million years ago * but I am just getting around to expressing. I guess some ideas take longer to formulate than others... * Approximate Humans fight for their rights all the time. It's time for your favorite characters to fight back as well. I feel like everyone has read a book that clicks with them. That book that you want to share with friends, family, teachers, and even random people on the street because you feel it's just that good. (Bonus points if you've actually told a stranger about your favorite book.) I know that when I talk and rant about a book to my family members their eyes tend to glaze over, or their attention flits back to what they were originally doing. I don't blame them. I'm not the best at explaining things verbally. But that's not going to stop me from spreading the love I have for The Book . On the flip side... There is a small chance that when you do share your book, and someone does pick...

I got a new laptop recently -- it's one with a working hinge!!! Eep! -- and while I was waiting for 1242 photos to upload to my computer, I came up with a brilliant idea: Why don't I clean out EVERYTHING I own? I've actually done this several times before, due to room rearranging and weird urges to clean thoroughly. For some reason, it's almost compulsive for me to clear the cache on my phone or remove clothes from my wardrobe I haven't worn in a while. I like to make sure I have the maximum amount of space. I strive for efficiency and order in my life. But there are some things I just don't set time aside to sort out. That's why I compiled a list to share with you. Because I can't be the only one who wants to get organized, eh? :) Also, it comes in PDF format, free of charge AND email sign up, if you click right... here . How to Take Care of the Stuff I Own Clean out your... Electronics Laptop/Desktop Wipe down the screen with a gla...

*blows dust off keyboard and wipes screen with sleeve* Yo. *taps device* You still there? It's been awhile. BUT I'M BACK. Did you miss me? Or more importantly, did you miss Sienna and her friends? ;) Especially that Lief boy. I mean come on now... Thank you for waiting for patiently for this *cough* last *cough* update. What? Who said that? Hey! Come back here! - - - Sienna was silent for the rest of the day. Her smother would have been very proud. She’d always asked Sienna to stop talking so she could hear the person on the other side of the phone. “Sorry, what was that? There was a pest buzzing around my ear.” At least Sienna knew what it was really like to have pests buzzing about her ears. The tent Lief had stuck her in lived across from the paddock the green people kept their livestock in. Fat flies skirted in through holes and tried to wash their hands on her sweaty forehead. Lief hadn’t unbound her or left her with any sort of instructions. He had...

New things are happening in my life. Which is good, because that means I'm progressing and, you know, living. And whatnot. A lot has gone on. If you're interested, keep reading... I broke up with a friend a while  ago, but it seems that lately, while I have a ton of things on my plate, it's something that's been haunting me in the back of my mind. I am now "free", but with freedom I now know there comes an emotional toll. Sometimes it still hurts and I crave that closeness of another human who understood me. It's hard to step back and remind myself that I'm better now, less angry, much freer, and almost -- dare I say? -- happier. But even with all the good, this fresh start has made me realize how much I have isolated myself. Even from other bloggers. I beg for community yet make no effort to reach out. Scratch that, I have tried. Every time I did, though, it felt... awkward . Is this because I'm so used to the rhythm of past friendships? ...