Reflection on Blogging

This semester I decided to take a blogging for journalism course. I didn't really know what to expect but I knew I was interested to have an outlet to practice writing.

I didn't really know what I wanted to do or what I wanted to talk about. I couldn't find one single topic that I was absolutely passionate about. So I started with the idea that I could talk about pop culture that interests me mixed with lifestyle. Luckily I have a great professor who has been very helpful during the process of coming out with a concept for the blog. I still don't know what my "niche" is but I am slowly starting to figure it out.

I feel as if I am finally starting to find my voice in writing. I most definitely want to continue blogging but am deciding that I do my best writing when there is a topic on my sleeve and just can't help but talk about it. This means there will be less frequent posts, which I am totally okay with.

It means so much to me that there are those of you who actually take the time to read my posts(rants). It encourages me to push my limits and do more.

Auf Wiedersehen, Breanna

Musical Madness: White Christmas

One of my favorite musicals is White Christmas. I could never feel blue when watching it. You would have to be crazy to not love such a classic. Once this semester ends next week it will be White Christmas and other musicals for days!

26 Reasons I am Thankful this Thanksgiving!

So, at the beginning of the month I decided that everyday I would post on Facebook what I was thankful for. Well... that plan changed, I decided that I would rather just make one long post in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Besides, Facebook has too much going on right now to see 26 separate posts of what this 20-something is thankful for.

1. Thankful for Family.
My family, as a whole, has always been there for me. Even miles away I receive much comfort from them. Even at times when they stress me out, I still love them more than anything. Thanks to technology. I always have a way to stay connected.

2. Thankful for Netflix.
Netflix is the best therapy around! When ever I feel like I am about to loose my mind I can lay on my bed and zone out watching a good portion of a series.

3. Thankful for School.
I may complain about school from time to time but I have figured out that I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to attend. Am I going to be drowning in student loan debt? You bet'cha! But it is worth it.

4. Thankful for Bees.
Yes, I occasionally swat at bees, run away from bees, or even hide in terror from them. Bees are  essential to the environment. Also, there is honey! Yummy honey!





5. Thankful for Tattoos. 
I currently have four tattoos. Some have meanings and some don't. My tattoos allow me to express myself and show what I love. I am excited to see them in the future because they will always remind me of who I am or who I was when I got it. Plus, they'll be entertaining for the grand-kids.

6. Thankful for my Brother.
Nobody can take the place of my little brother. We are ALWAYS there for each other, no matter what. I always enjoy the times we have together and I am excited to be able to see him more often. Thank you for being the best brother ever!

7. Thankful for hookah.
At the moment I have three hookahs! I love to pass time and relax by bringing out my hookahs or going out to smoke hookah. There are so many different flavors that it is always a treat.

8. Thankful for Friends.
Over the years I have gained and lost friends. True friends stick by your side and are always there for you. Maintaining a friendship does not require you to constantly be together, you just have to be there for them in any way possible. I am proud to call my friends family.

9. Thankful for FRIENDS.
I have mentioned before that Friends is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. It is perfect and I do not feel as if I need to say more!

10. Thankful for my Kitty.
I didn't realize how much of a cat person I was until I got Edie. She is so mischievous and loving. I don't know what I would do without her.

11. Thankful for movies.
Movies allow me to escape from reality. Almost any genre of movies will do!

12. Thankful for my dad.
My dad is an odd fella but I love him. He has always been there for me no matter what. I will always be his little girl.

13. Thankful for mistakes.
Without mistakes or failures we are unable to learn. Whether it be mine or someone else's it is all helpful.

14. Thankful for animals.
I love animals and always have. It irritates me when people abuse or abandon animals. Animals do not get a say in what their future holds, humans do. Any animal is worth love.

15. Thankful for my major.
My major is Strategic Communications. I do not know what made me to decide on this major, I think I just picked it. I do not regret it one bit or have any doubt in it. My only hope is that I am to prove myself with my major once I graduate.

16. Thankful for make-up.
I have worn make-up since I was in middle school. The first mascara I was allowed to wear was clear. I would experiment with all the different colors until I found my niche. I am not saying that I am dependent on make-up or that girls need to wear it. Make-up gives me the extra boost of confidence I need.

17. Thankful for music.
I have always loved music. I love music that allows me to be my true weird self.

18. Thankful for traditions.
I love traditions. I feel as if they are important for any friendships or families to have. They are what makes your group unique.

19. Thankful for books.
I have always loved reading. Before I graduated high school I read constantly. My favorite books were the ones in first-person. I was able to put myself into the character's mind.

20. Thankful for my Mom.
My mom is dorky and unique. No matter what I will always need her around. I know she will always be there for me. I love her so.

21. Thankful for trees.
Trees are always beautiful. All the time, trees are beautiful.

22. Thankful for socks.
Those who know me know that I am not a fan of feet. Socks cover feet. Socks come in many fun varieties. Lets all wear socks! (P.S. I need these socks.. winky face)

23. Thankful for my boyfrannnn.
November 23rd was our 6 months. We may have not been together for a long-time but I truly believe that he is everything I have ever needed. He is supportive and caring. I love you!

24. Thankful for baths.
The best way to take a bath is to use a bath bomb from Lush. Taking a bath is just another way I love to relax.

25. Thankful for Thanksgiving food!
Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls, turkey, apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie.....

26. Thankful for beliefs.
Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. They are what makes us what we are. It is important that we respect one another and each other's beliefs.



Thank you for taking the time to read my rambles. The goal for my Thanksgiving holiday is to stay positive and spend every possible moment with the ones I love.

Stay thankful!

Adele News

Adele has wronged me. I feel betrayed and mislead. I do not think that I will ever be able to trust her again.

I have not listened to "Hello" by Adele.

As soon as the song and music video came out I was as excited as everyone else. Her beautiful tone and lyrics have always had me wanting to listen more. I went to YouTube to listen to the song. The first word out of her mouth was "Hello." To me it sounded similar to the Lionel Richie song "Hello." I was so excited because I thought she would be singing a cover of the famous/most wonderful song in the world. The words after hello was, "it's me" instead of "is it me." She did not perform a cover...

I wasn't able to listen to the song after.  I have not listened to the rest of the song, nor do I plan on it. I can't handle the betrayal. I honestly do not know if I will ever be able to trust Adele again.

For your entertainment and mine, here is the amazing Lionel Richie.

I'm saying no.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! My favorite part about it is spending the time with my family and goofing around. Plus, all the food makes me giddy.

My first and last time I ever worked Black Friday was TERRIBLE. It is something I would never wish on my worst enemy. Well... I take that back. Working Black Friday makes you see people in a more real way. People will do anything for a good deal.

It troubles me to hear that stores will be opening early on Thanksgiving to increase sales for Black Friday. Thanksgiving is the day we all are entitled to have to spend time with the ones we love, or at least it was.

How can one be thankful if they are having to work on Thanksgiving? Why would I want to loose precious memories by standing in line waiting on store doors to open? If I will not work on Thanksgiving, why would I shop?

I have never been much of a fan of Black Friday. The “holiday” puts all that you have been thankful for and puts them to the side. I am not saying that I won’t shop on Black Friday but I definitely refuse to shop anywhere on Thanksgiving.

Shut it down!

When I am working I am able to take a great break from technology, such as cellphones. I may have mentioned this before but I work in a bookstore and a lot of the time I am at the register. 

One day at work I was standing at the register and I noticed a group of girls that came in. There were four girls in the group and they walked around browsing through our books. The thing is, they weren't even browsing they were all standing in a circle and each one of them was glued to their cellphones. They would talk to each other here or there and then would be stuck to the screen in their hands. 

Is this how it is going to be in the future, People not knowing how to properly communicate because of their addiction to cellphones? Now I know I probably have no room to talk about addiction to cellphone because I spent my morning before class going  through social media but, it took me not looking at a screen to see what was actually happening around me. 

One of my boyfriend's biggest pet peeve is when people are on their phone while he is trying to have a conversation with them (which I am guilty of). It is very frustrating. When a friend or family member is glued to their phone with you there it feels as if they have very little interest in you being there or in what you have to say. 

Cellphones seem to be the choice of drug. People are afraid that there might be something they miss if they aren't on their phone. The first 20 minutes I was on social media this morning I found out that Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are dating, not much to miss. 

My phone does help me to stay connected with friends and family that are far away from me but it does not compare to how face to face conversation feels. I want to enjoy the company. 

About Another Blog: The Wideyed Wanderer.

There are many different blogs out there that serve different purposes. If you have an interest, I can almost guarantee that you can find a blog about it. The Wideyed Wanderer is a blog that I keep up with.

I first met Caleb when I was working in the school's call center and we became friends. I can honestly say that is a great friend to have and is a good person with a great heart. He had the opportunity to travel to the Middle East and work. To me, that seems like a terrifying thing to do.

I love to read the blog because you are able to travel with him and see what he is up to. By reading the blog you also get to learn about a different culture through his experiences.

I had the opportunity to interview Caleb for an assignment and asked him what advice he would give to other bloggers. He had a long response BUT I feel that it is such great advice that I will share it all!

 "Always proofread like 3 or 4 times before you publish! After you write, walk away for a few hours or sleep on it then come back and proofread again. Nothing is more embarrassing or frustrating than catching a mistake after you have published and others have read it. It is important to know why you are blogging, and what you hope to accomplish with your blog. If you love cooking, create a cooking blog. If you travel, create a blog about your adventures. If you are starting a family or want to keep people up to date on your life, use it for that purpose. Once you have the theme, get creative! Don’t be afraid try new things. For example, I follow several family blogs. When you look at these blogs you can find favorite recipes, family vacations, videos of their kids, photos, stories, even DIY projects they have completed. It seems like a lot, but it’s all centered around one theme: their family! At the end of the day the most important thing is to have fun. Blogs provide a creative outlet for people to express themselves. Don’t blog to get famous, or because you think people care about what you have to say because there is a high probability that you will not be satisfied. Use your blog as a way to express yourself in unique, fun, and modern ways. If you are happy with your blog and enjoy creating it, there is a strong possibility that others will enjoy it as well. And if no one else likes it well it’s not really for them anyway, unless you are getting paid in which case make sure that other people like it or else you probably won’t be getting paid much longer." 

I have learned a lot from his blog and advice. It is a treat to be able to read his posts and view pictures of his adventures. Thank you for blogging!