wild wild west

As my time in Tucson is nearing to a close, my roommate Casie and I wanted to soak up as much Tucson fun as we can. That means frequent Eegee's trips, old haunts, and so on. We also went to Old Tucson for the first time, an attraction that boasts being the set of very famous Westerns. It's now a (slightly cheesy) fun attraction, complete with saloons, bargirls, cowboys, and photograph stations...

time for changes

Well, I felt like it was time for a change.

Goodbye Ariel, hello Belle!

summertime and the living is easy

10 Things I Want to Do this Summer

I have major things I have to do this summer: find a temporary job until I go to grad school, do some grad school research to figure out which grad school I want to go to, find scholarships, so on and so on. But here are some things I'd like to do just for me, just for fun.

Find new summer clothes. I've gained weight this past year, and I no longer fit into a lot of my old tight skirts! I want to find a new, affordable, summer wardrobe. Maybe I'll finally learn how to thrift?

Finish my scrapbook. I've been working a scrapbook of my trips with my roommates for a long time now, but I stopped sometime around last year.

Finish my craft projects! I have so many! I start them and then let them wait...

Read for fun!

Get on a regular blogging schedule.

Learn to sew at least skirts. I can't say I'll ever be talented enough to create dresses or costumes, but skirts seem so east and so cute!

Learn how to cook (MORE than macaroni) and start eating healthier. I've gotten slack in my eating habits this year, and I really need to reteach myself good eating habits. Cooking, well, that goes hand in hand with growing up!

Hula hoop! I first learned about hooping from one of my favorite blogs, San Smith, and I've been dying to learn/start! I did some searching today and didn't see any hooping classes, but maybe with the start of summer some will pop up in Phoenix. If not, I can buy a hoop on my own.

Go to the library more.

Spend time with my family. I've lived away from my parents, brother, and dogs for a few years and I'd like to spend some time with them before grad school and the rest of my life.

What are your plans for this summer? Anything fun?

Confession!

I have a major confession to make... I love horror movies!

I used to be terrified of them, but my brother is a fanatic, and in university, I've taken not one but two classes dedicated to horror movies or horror literature. It's a lot of fun for me to read into the the movies, think about the "rules" of horror movies and what it means... I know, I'm such a nerd.

However, because I love reading too much into horror movies, my favorite is the original Scream! We rewatched it last night and today we went to see the new Scream 4, so much fun!

So in honor of Screams 1-4, tell me! What's your favorite scary movie?

Monday thoughts

Hello friends!

I have a confession to make. I've decided to become a high school English teacher. For most of my life, I didn't know what to do. I spent five years in my undergrad because I wasn't sure- I did double major, but still. This decision comes after years of uncertainty, different dreams, and constant reminders that teachers don't make any money, that teaching is what you do when you fail at everything else, that kids "these days" are harder, meaner, don't want to learn anymore.

As for the money, I'll learn how to live with the pay I get and I'll learn to be happy with it. As for the failure, this is the only dream I've had that I can envision myself doing successfully and being truly happy. As for "kids these days", that's what every generation says about the generation after it. I believe kids want to learn, kids want to be loved, kids are willing.

I have a long journey ahead of me: grad school, student teaching. Being a teacher is about speaking publicly and clearly about ideas and being a leader. Neither of these come naturally to me, so I have a lot to learn as well. But I can do this- I want to do this.

Thanks for listening. Here's what I'm wearing today:

Golden glitter Toms! They're my favorite shoes, and I have to wear them sparingly. I decided a busy Monday morning was as good as any to use their magic on them.

My James and the Giant Peach shirt. Roald Dahl is one of my favorite authors of all time, and I love this shirt to pieces. I wear it all the time! + blue cardigan, but only for inside our cold house and inside my cold classrooms, it's hot in April in Arizona!

Have a good Monday, everyone. Worst day of the week, I know!

return!

I'm sorry for my unannounced absence! I went on Spring Break with some friends, and we went to the beautiful San Diego, California where we rented a beach house and spent some time on the beach. We also went to an aquarium, where they had an exhibit on seahorses and I fell in love with those weird and cute animals! I did a lot of reading and crocheting, which was so nice and relaxing. It was a lot of fun. It was a bit cold and windy on the beach, but I still managed to get sunburned!

My roommate taught me and our other roommate how to crochet amigurumi and we all made some owls! Mine is the rather chubby pink and yellow one... I love it! Next, I want to make a Totoro and a toy from Yo Gabba Gabba for my dear friend Chrissy's daughter Charlie.

Well, now that I'm back in the swing of things, I'll be posting more frequently. Thanks for reading!

tip on the tightrope

I'm obsessed with Janelle Monae this week. I love her album the ArchAndroid. I love concept albums because they're basically albums that tell a story- a little like a musical! And you know I love stories. Plus she's just so darn cool! I can't embed this video, but I highly recommend you check it out- Tightrope!

I have a million things going on this week but I'm trying to blog more so I hope it works out so I can!

My outfit today. Forgive the messy room. Tights + kneesocks + dress from Target, poodle sweater from Forever 21. It'll probably be way too warm out for this outfit but I was determined to wear it so oh well!

Messy hair + handmade bow

Me and my crocheting once more! I'd like to find a pattern for a crocheted bow... I think that'd be a nice next step for me! I'm getting a little tired of making scarves. I have a lot that I never wear!

Thanks for checking in!

now now lady don't give up

This post is more of a reminder to myself: I can do it if I just set my mind to it!



For years, I've tried to crochet. I've been knitting since high school, no problem, and I love it. There was just something about crocheting. I had multiple friends try to teach me and I just gave up after muddled and tangled chains. My mind just couldn't wrap around the way the hook worked. I didn't understand it, and I got frustrated.



This weekend, I had my roommate Casie show me once more, and then she left for the weekend. I had the weekend alone to work on homework. I ended up crocheting for the whole weekend! I didn't do ANY homework. I just watched Veronica Mars and crocheted straight through the weekend.


I was amazed. I'm not a great crocheter by any means, but I DID IT. I'm working on a scarf- I know, as spring is starting.

But I've learned. I still have to learn to crochet in the round and the different stitches, but the important thing is I didn't just give up! I set my mind to it and powered through. Yay!

positivity + disney day

I chose the name of this blog because 1) it was from Peter Pan, and 2) it had the word "positive". I was a very sad girl in high school, and only in recent years did I make a conscious decision to be more positive and optimistic. Positivity and optimism isn't always easy. It's sometimes a battle to overcome sadness and general gloominess, especially for someone who has battled depression for my whole life. But I'm growing all the time, and I'm learning to dodge sad thoughts and duck behind optimism.

I decided a long time ago that just because I'll grow older does not mean I'll ever grow up, or just because I'll grow up does not mean I'll grow old. On my walk to school, there is graffiti on the sidewalk that says "Be Positive" and reminds me. Sometimes it's a struggle to be happy, but it's worth it.



I feel like by saying I like Disney movies, people might assume I think life is simple, that romance is fated, that defeating a bad guy solves your problems. But I don't think that at all. Even Disney princesses fought for their happiness, albeit without swords (except Mulan!)

Anyway, let's do a brief little disney day!



(thrilld)
(doven)


(disney-gifs)

How perfect is this gif for a post about positivity?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

I'm celebrating Galentine's Day with my good friend Michelle. We're eating junk food and watching bad movies. I encourage all of you, single or taken, to express your love for someone today!

And if that doesn't work, take heed, my fellow nerds! There is an online Great Gatsby video game you can play! As one of my favorite books, I'm thrilled. Take a shot!

http://greatgatsbygame.com/

a few pictures

Just a few pictures from today!

I bought color-changing nail polish. They are blue inside, but when I'm out in the sun, they turn purple! It's Del Sol sold at Walgreens.

My roommates and I got In n Out (so good. I always get my fries well!) and I wore my Harry Potter scarf. I also wore it to my literary club meeting at school, Persona.

Now I'm sleepy! We're watching Anastacia, a favorite! I was going to say that I don't just always watch animated movies, but I can't promise that haha. We watched James and the Giant Peach yesterday!

about me!

It might be time for an introduction!

My name is Laura. I love adventures big and small, magic, ghost stories, witches, nail polish, hair bows, Disney movies and fairy tales. I'm 23 and I live in Tucson, Arizona where I go to school. I'm double majoring in English and Film, with a minor in Spanish. I collect Disney princess things- you can see some of my collection scattered through my blog, but some of it is here!




Two of my major hobbies are knitting and reading. I'm trying to expand into more crafting. My other favorite craft is making hair bows! Soon I'm going to learn how to make bow ties... I love boys in bow ties!




I love all things nerdy... Especially Pokemon on my Nintendo!




Here at A Positive Must (named from a line in a song from Peter Pan), I'm just trying to find a way to express myself on the Internet. As I'm growing up and getting older, I find words coming differently than they did before. Maybe a little more difficult. I'm trying to use a blog to keep my words and my creativity flowing; I've always been a writer, and I'd like to share my personal life and dreams with people who share my interests!



To be honest, I've never been quite able to grow up. I've always loved fairy tales and adventures, and I'm embracing it. C.S. Lewis once said, "One day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again". I'm starting now.