Island of the Ending Summer

Dear Summer,

I am going to miss you dearly. 

Why do you have to leave so soon?

Here are some things I'm going to miss.

1. Living in a swimsuit, being somewhat tan, never getting ready and not caring in the slightest. 

2. Spending all of my nights outside, usually with chocolate all over my face. 

3. Having absolutely nothing to do, so having to resort to doodling. (result=crazy dragon princess genius that likes good music. Thanks urban outfitters!) I love doing nothing. Or more not having to do anything I don't want to. 

4. The big dipper and north star. Luckily, those will not leave me when summer goes, but they will always remind me of this summer.

5. Spending time with friends and eating chicken the size of Africa.

6. Surprise Fries! Mcdonalds runs all hours of the day and night. 

7. Campfires and S'mores. This happens to be the one all over my face in #2 (I know you can't see it, but I promise it's there)

8. My Mother Dearest. I am going to miss our gym routine, and eating lunch together at delicious places everyday. Menu including conversations about everything life has to offer! Thanks for helping me straighten things out Mom :)

Come on school year, throw everything you've got at me!

From the stressed out islander,

Hannah

The Island of a Brilliant Dance

Today was a Dashboard kind of day. Beginning last night I have been constantly humming a Dashboard Confessional song,  one that I rarely listen to but was stuck in my head anyway!

"Even now I can see you smile,

I can hear you hum

I can hear you sing!" 

They are a band that I have been listening to every summer since the seventh grade. So each song brings back a flood of crazy summer memories! Their sound just sounds like it has the essence of summer. 

What a beautiful thing to have in music, the essence of summer. 

I want some!

With the acoustic guitar and talk of sand, sun, and love, it kinda makes me melt. 

So as I was humming my day away, I decided this would be one I would add to the collection of memories. Starting off bright and early in an outfit that I wore yesterday but I loved so much I didn't really want to take it off. Being so busy by running the most random wonderful errands, feeling somewhat productive and a part of something. Then realizing that I am really going to like my new job. Finally calming down with a lonely float in the pool, singing more Dashboard songs at the top of my lungs to the birds! (I hope the neighbors enjoyed too) And going to a movie, bawling along with the entire theater over incredibly amazing stories of love and faith. (sorry, another list!) The only thing that was missing, was a good view of the big dipper and north star.

Thinking back on this summer, I noticed something strange. 

There was a lot of good, and a whole lot of bad.

But it made it one that I will surely never forget!

This has crossed my mind quite a bit lately.

Even though there were some hard times, it helped me to take notice of the truly great moments in life and to really appreciate all of the people and blessings involved.

And from one year into another I think of you when I feel summer! :)

Okay, I have finally jumped on the instagram bandwagon. So I tested it out. 

Cue dramatic posing.

Maybe next post will be all my new photos!

 Wishing she was belle of the boulevard,
Hannah

Island of Plans

 Dear friends, I am going to tell you a story. 

Once upon a time there was a girl. A girl with summer skin, trying to find a place in life where the soul meets body. It was difficult task, but she didn't feel right where she was, it just needed to be done! Sadly though there seemed to be a strange lack of color in the girl's life, no sunlight anywhere to be found. She realized the ice was getting thinner, and she was starting to get a little crazy. So crazy in fact she found comfort in a talking bird! And she was scared, scared to take this journey without really even knowing what she was looking for.

Then one Monday morning as she was watching the portable television, some boys with crooked teeth came. They started talking and, maybe out of pity and fear, said to her, 'someday you will be loved.' She found a new lightness with this news, and so at the beginning of the new year she decided to attempt her important journey to find where soul meets body once again. She put her worries aside and set out, across the bixby canyon bridge, past the marching bands of manhattan, and on tiny vessels over the ocean only to find herself trapped in the passenger seat of a strangers car. As she was contemplating her next move and strange music coming from the speakers (later she found out she was listening to the stable song) she came to understand the driver's name was Sarah. Sarah had a lot to say. She told the girl,

'You are a tourist. You felt that way in your own town and that is why you felt compelled to go on this journey to find your soul. At the moment, your heart is an empty room waiting to be filled with the one that will follow you into the dark. The one that will say you can do better than me, but in all reality will be the only one to posses your heart. It will be hard, and you will pass through many grapevine fires, you might even find that your home is a fire, but doors will be unlocked and open to you so you will be able to find a way. You will first have to go through title and registration, calculate out some long division, but don't let the codes and keys intimidate you! There are different names for the same thing, that means there are many possibilities for you to find a way. So stay young, go dancing! Listen closely, and you will one day be able to hear the sound of settling.'

The girl thought about what Sarah said, and was entirely confused. So she ventured to find a spot underneath the sycamore tree with an unobstructed view of St. Peter's cathedral, a place where she could ponder. And here is where she first felt the true sense of the word transatlanticism. She now understood what Sarah was trying to say! The one she loved was far away, in some unknown land waiting to be found! Maybe even looking for her too. And her journey was to find this person, so the emptiness in her heart could be filled. The place where soul meets body. So off on the road she was once again. As she was traveling, she met a couple brothers on a hotel bus who said, 'we look like giants, but at least we have each other.' Strange she thought. She asked them where they were going and they said, 'to the expo '86, to find where our souls meet our bodies.' She laughed, because she knew they would never find what they were looking for there.

As she climbed into her new twin sized bed that night, and dreamt of the death of an interior decorator, she realized that she had to let go of her fears! Let go of the fear of never finding what she was looking for. Let go of the fear of letting someone in, exposing her heart. Being vulnerable. She could no longer be afraid because the place where she would find her soul and her body, would be in the arms of someone who would take a death cab to a dead end just for her, the cutie.

When there's a burning in your heart

An endless yearning in your heart

Build it bigger than the sun

Let it grow, let it grow

When there's a burning in your heart

Don't be alarmed

18 days :)

Tourist of the Island,

Hannah

Taming lions on the Island of Infinite Confusion

The summer days are getting long. And I have been left alone, stuck in my silent house with only my thoughts to keep me company. When left alone with one's thoughts for too long, they start getting all jumbled together, mixed up, and utterly deranged. This is exactly what's happening to me. I can't tell right from wrong, up from down, 

backwardstwistedinsideoutsidesmashedintoawholelottapleasepassthecrazysauce.

(see what I mean? I'm having a hard time trying to figure all this out) 

And now it seems my heart and mind have been hurled together in one giant crock pot of complete bewilderment. I only have two words for you. No bueno.

Through all this weirdness going on in my head, the most interesting things lately have seemed to bring me an odd sense of comfort. So I have decided to list them as follows:

-The weight of a friends stolen watch heavy on my wrist. This friend trusted me enough to let him wear his (insanely awesome) watch. Comforting? Yeah. I'm not a thief I promise! I really didn't mean to steal it, the watch was returned.
-Familiar music in a stranger's car.
-The smell of fireworks and burned rubber on my driveway.
-Dancing like a certifiably insane person in public, and not caring in the slightest.
-Tears. If tears could fix everything, I'd have the whole world mended ten times over.
-Man Repelling. Yes, you heard me! Definitely my new favorite hobby. Please check it out. Now if there were only any men to repel...I call this little guy 'nappy neon meets the crazy hobo going to a party.'

Okay. First of all, I hate mirror pictures. They're awkward. They just are! But you need to understand, this was me alone at my house, board out of my gourd. And I wanted to show off the beginning stages of my man repelling. Awkward mirror pictures repel pretty much everyone, so I think I'm on the right track.

Complete with velcro!!

And top it of with an arm party, guest staring my snap on boyfriend Franchesco!

Yay for crazy!! Now on with the list.

-The mysterious vibration coming from my pocket, it's like someone is trying to tell me something..but it's a comforting tickle.

-Missing things. Having something to miss in the first place is comforting, because I know what I once had or will hopefully have again was awesome and something worth the emptiness inside. 

-Wearing a snowboarding beanie in the middle of July.

-Going and getting a tattoo of a mustache on my finger!! Do you like it? It's been my dream for the past 3 years.

 

Okay, nobody panic. It's temporary.

-Making lists. One of my all time most favorite things! It helps me organize my blended thoughts into something more sift-able. I highly recommend it. I hope you don't get sick of them, because I can see lots more coming into my blogging future.
-Church and the entire book of Joshua.
-Strumming my guitar.
-My mom calling me Shannah Sheagy and laughing at my lame jokes.
 -And this. Seriously, peed my pants. I was crying. But be prepared it is really weird, I don't know why I found it so funny.

I hope you enjoyed the random mash of thoughts that brought a strange peace about my mind. 

Too bad it didn't tame any of those lions.

Always your lost island hopper,

Hannah

Island of Happy Endings

So remember how I said I was a little excited about a the dress that I got the other day? Well, I said I'd put up a picture, and here it is thanks to my lovely friend Abi :) and I think that one day she will be a professional photographer/model. She even helped me out on sharpening up my photography skills so you should definitely go check it out! (Abi. You are probably the only one reading this blog. So hello. And I just had to say all that stuff for practice, when one day I do actually have more than 7 followers. Not that I don't love all of them.) Anyway! Kinda fun. And in case you were wondering, the bandaid is Dora the Explora. (Sorry, I can't say it any other way.)

I also have to share the awesome moment I had in church today. So I was just chillin' in sacrament meeting, listening to the wonderful speakers of course when I noticed the little boy in front of me. He was staring off into the distance, not moving a muscle (weird for a 4 year old) completely transfixed on something. I figured it was something shiny.

So I followed his unwavering gaze. 

Directly in his line of sight was the most adorable little girl about his age with blond curly locks and a bright yellow skirt, coloring the meeting away. 

(sparkly silver shoes too, that covers the shiny) 

I noticed at the perfect time, because right then she looked over, made eye contact with him and a small smile crossed her sweet little face.

He looked at her like she was the only thing in the world!

The sparks were flyin' let me tell ya.

I feel like I just witnessed the most precious meet cute ever!

(And if you don't know what I'm talking about please watch the Holiday)

I am so glad I got to witness such a tender moment, maybe one day it will happen to me too!

I can only hope and dream. 

Also in my hopes and dreams, these two littles will grow up and get married.

And they lived happily ever after :)

Island of Frolicing Fancies

Reason of happiness #1

For some reason, dancing around a room flailing your arms around like a penguin that's trying to fly is very freeing. This morning I took body jam at the jim (see what I did there) and shook my little booty off. The thing I love about body jam, is that you'll find all walks of life there! Its a basic hip hop work out class, and let me tell you the old ladies rock it harder than I do. It's really cool actually because it doesn't matter if you look like a rag doll being thrown across the room seeing as everyone else does too (except for the sick teacher of course) It's the ultimate acceptance, everyone is in the same boat just looking to party it up and get a good work out in while your at it.
I highly recommend this awkward awesomeness.

Reason of happiness #2

Yesterday I went shopping with the girls! (After an amazing surprise breakfast <---for the most hilarious girl in the world who I love so much, Carissa) and guess what I got.... :) Okay, well I was going to post pictures but I can't find any so I will have to take some of my own and post them later. But for the longest time I have been looking for the perfect maxi dress, and wala!! I have finally found it. I die. So awesome. 

It goes with absolutely everything, and I want to go put it on right now because it feels like I'm wearing sweats all day long, but I look less like homeless person (finally!)

  
Reason of happiness #3

(can you say completely awesome? bananas, I've become slightly obsessed)

Reason of happiness #4

  I get to party with these beautiful people tonight! The Aheeews :S 

You might be asking yourself, I like it. What is it? 

That my friends is a secret, but you should know these people because they are really cool.

Reason of happiness #5

The Daybook. Look it up. You will be overcome with overwhelming happiness.

From your delighted island hopper,

Hannah

Island East of Paradise

 It finally happened! I am home. And it's good to be here :) They say that summer is all about vacationing. On a vacation, taking a vacation while vacationing. Dear lassie, too much for me! Sometimes all that forced 'relaxing' and vacationing turns into a work party and living out of a suitcase isn't so much fun anymore. Not to say I didn't love the adventures to Lake Powell, Park City, Mexico, and Montana because I had unforgettable experiences there that I wouldn't trade for the world! But the glorious summer fever actually hit me, whilst lounging in my new pool that I've finally been home long enough to use. Just me, the water, and the sunshine. Nothing that absolutely had to be done, or someplace I had to be. Ultimate lazy bones! I could do whatever my little heart desired and didn't have to worry about it! 

So ya wanna know what I did?

Ate a fatboy.

On a floaty. 

Now picture a fatboy on a floaty.

Then take that smile and turn it into the realization that this is what summer is all about.

So go, float on you fatties ;)

From your local island hopper,
Hannah

This is just the beginning

Blog. A few weeks ago the only reason I had one is so that I could follow other blogs. But since obsessively following these blogs everyday, anxiously waiting to see if the blogger had posted something new just wasting my life away, I have been inspired! I have decided I want to be like these people. Cute, funny, honest, and awesome on so many levels. It's bananas. On another level really (Rachel Zoe reference, yet another inspiration.) So here I am! Starting off on this lovely blog adventure, I don't know what I'm doing or how to do it yet but I am willing to learn! I want to learn how all these beautiful people do it. I have never been good about keeping a journal, or blog up to this point but I figured right now would be the perfect time to learn how to do it. So bear with me 4 followers, Hannah is taking on the blogging world, starting on this perfect little island south of......sandwiches :)

That one girl's lover

ERIN               The most incredible thing that has ever happened in Ally's life.
Faces. Erin Faces. :O                                              



                     We open on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Cherry Hill, approximately 4:00, or 4:03 to be exact. The red headed, dry humored girl sat scooping ice cream for work, not expecting the biggest impact in her life to walk through the door at any second.
                 "Sorry I'm late," the big mouthed, short girl with short curly hair, long eyelashes, bright red lipstick, and an eclectic style said. The red head couldn't move. She was in awe by complete beauty.
               "Hey, you're C.J.'s little sister! Ally right? I'm Erin. Has anyone ever told you that you look and act exactly like Kat? Man, I think I'm going to call you Kaj."Ally stood in silence, not knowing what to say. Then, "Okay," awkwardly fell out of her mouth. The rest of the day at work went as usual, but the meet cute between our two character's, Erin and Ally, will have changed both of their lives dramatically. One into an obsessed love struck teenager, the other into an in like best friended college student.
                     That night, Erin and Ally were closing up shop. It was pouring rain outside, the beautiful sunny day had turned into a horrible flood of salty rainwater.
                "Hey, I'll walk you to your car," Erin said helpfully. They both started off in a mad dash to Ally's car! And both of them end up getting in, because obviously neither wanted to get wet.
                 "Hey, I guess I'll drive you to your car," said Ally, also in a helpful manner. As they were driving to Erin's midnight blue wet van, they started talking....and talking...........and talking. Turns out they talked deeply about life until 1:30 in the morning. After the chat finally came to a close and Erin got out of the car, Ally finally realized that she would fall insanely in love with this girl, and they just met mere hours before. The epic meet cute ends in two girls that will be best friends till death do they part.

There is something

There is something about Fridays that make me want to sing! I think a huge part of that reason, is because they remind me of summer. Once you're out of school on Friday's you're free for a blissful 2 1/2 days! Freedom, that's what it is. It tastes so good, mmmmm............ but you do pay for it with school, because without school it wouldn't feel like freedom, weird how that works. I am grateful for it though, that free feeling, it makes life worth living!


I also found this quote on another blog I was reading today, and I loved it so I felt the need to post it so I won't forget it :)

“…I’d rather help than watch. I’d rather have a heart than a mind. I’d rather expose too much than too little. I’d rather say hello to strangers than be afraid of them. I would rather know all this about myself than have more money than I need. I’d rather have something to love than a way to impress you.”--Po Bronson

This is what I want to be like.

Amen.

Row, row, row your boat

My name is River, that's what people call me anyway. I like to run, as fast as I possibly can, to get to where I need to be going! But where is it that I'm going...........Good question. I haven't had a chance to think that far ahead. All I know is that I need to always be going somewhere, so somewhere I shall go. It feels like a race! What am I racing? Time perhaps? The what does not matter, the where is the more important part. Constantly going, that's the goal! Oh dear, looks to be a land mass in my way, but I can't stop moving! Who do they think I am!? So, I shall continue on, stick it to the rocks, carve them away as if they were nothing! Wow, I never knew I had that ability. I always thought I was too soft, I can be penetrated, therefore I never would have guessed I could cut through rock. Cool. Oh boy, it's getting so blazing hot outside.

Hmm, they ground seems to be getting farther and farther away. What?! Am I flying!!!?? I didn't know I could do that either!! Some unknown force is lifting me through the sky! Ah, but I was doing such a good job of moving....no matter. I seem to be moving still, so shant be problematic. Mmm, the world looks amazing from here! I never knew there to be so much of it. Ah, I seem to be moving again, good hanging out in the sky is not my idea of fun. Falling is a strange sensation, I seem to have been separated from the rest of me, hm yes yes quite strange. I am constantly changing, but that makes things exciting so I have decided that I like it. Dear me, the ground seems to be getting much too close......CRASH!!! Ok. That didn't feel good. But I feel still intact, I am the indestructible river!! Wait, river? Is that the proper term......?

I am not sure what I am now. I did like the changing, but changing into or out of what is the real problem. Ok, I need to figure this out before I go any further. Hold the phone! What's a phone I wonder, no matter. I was once a river, but what was I made out of when I was a river........I believe the term is water. Yes, that must be it. I must be water! The indestructible, forever changing, but never really going anywhere force of nature. And I like it.

I now seem to be in a vast expanse of what seems the be the same as me. More water then I have ever seen! I feel like I should be calling this the Ocean. Yes, Ocean. Seems like a good word. It just keeps goin' on doesn't it? Interesting, very interesting. I wonder if this is where I was trying to get to all along? Or maybe that's the idea, I always have a new place to be once I get to where I once thought I should be going! And then something amazing happens!!!! I am always where I'm supposed to be! Ah, feels good to have that finally all cleared up. Now I guess it's my duty to keep going wherever the world takes me, and be where I am in that moment in time and live it to my fullest ability! I think I'm going to like this job.

I am and always will be,
yours truly,

Water

Gouth Gandwich Islands

Yes, this post is just 5 minutes after (no good synonyms for after, so I just had to use the actual word.) my last post......but it had to be posted. Sure, the font is different, sure my blog is not really called the gouth gandwich islands, but it really is the same blog I promise.
I hate liars. They're everywhere.
Are you mad at me?I hope not. That would be no bueno for sure.
People are innappropriate and unneccesary. And they change. Also no bueno.
Once upon a time there was a manchild named Justin Bieber. He fell in love with Hannah. They lived happily ever after. The end.
People are also creepy. Again, no bueno.
This post is pointless. But I like it anyway. It needed to be posted.
Talk about Word VOMIT!!
I wish people followed my blog like Abi's blog. But then again, I probably should write more often then once a month, then maybe I would have more followers.
PCR reactions are stupid in case you were wondering. But it is kinda cool that we can extract the protein from corn chips and test their DNA to see if they were genetically modified.
The girl in the green scarf, that's me!!!
I wish I could write poetry.

End

Blah Blah Blah

Once upon a time,
There was an eel. He was just swimmin' around minding his own business then.........BAM!!! He was snatched up and put into a Vegas roll. But not really, because Vegas rolls don't have eel in them. They consist of tuna...maybe some salmon...............................................................and the Funky roll does NOT HAVE EEL IN IT EITHER.
so the eel survived.
The end.

Penpals, Post-its, and lots of stories!

I love people!!! 
Can I just say, they make my day?
They make me smile in absolutely every way
They pick me up when I am down
And help turn around my obnoxious frown
Without them I don't know where I'd be
Probably hiding beneath a tree
Hoping that one day I might be found
By someone who actually wants to keep me around
I don't know what I'd do without the laughs
In a roundabout way they keep me on the right path
But with all the happiness and the joy
We come to know sadness, it is no toy!
We help get each other through
It is no easy task to do
But we move on and survive
And with a shoulder on to cry
It helps us get back on our feet
Without my friend I just don't think I could compete!

The questions without answers soon to be solved
Hopefully I'll get over it and won't completely bawl
But you should know when I make it through
The only reason is because of you :)

A Mess it Grows

You always want what you can't have.             The grass is always greener on the other side.                                                                                                    You don't know what you've got until it's gone. 

Everyone knows these sayings, and are taught them from the very beginning, and yet they are rarely ever taken to heart. They are usually learned the hard way, you don't realize the truth of the matter until after the fact. Always just a little too late do you realize what these saying are trying to say, then you feel stupid because you knew better. Ironic really! So what do you do? Most people make the same mistakes again, it's part of being human. Okay, you're right, you usually want what you can't have. But what if you actually had it? Would you really be happy? Maybe what you think you want, isn't really what you actually need. Things sometimes happen for a reason, even it's not exactly as you had pictured it. The grass is always greener on the other side, no matter what side you're on. Hand in hand with you want what you can't have, because even if you make it to the other side, where you thought the grass would be greener you realize where you originally were was better. Sometimes I should say, I guess this is not always the case but it often is. Then it leads right into you don't know what you have till it's gone, once you make it to the other side of the grass you understand how good you actually had it. Then you want it again, but you know for a fact you can't have it. All connected into a never ending downward spiral, doomed for sure. Can you ever stop the madness? I don't know, I haven't figured that out yet, and it's driving me crazy.
         Just the other day, I was talking to a good friend of mine, and he said something I thought to be very interesting. He was telling me about a friend of his who kept saying that she would be happy once she got to college, then she would be happy once this happened, then if that happened. I will be happy when....life doesn't work that way is what he told me. You can't think that you will only be happy when a specific event happens, because that's not always the case. What makes you happy is yourself, how you look at the situation you're in. Your attitude shapes the paths of your life, and how satisfied you are in it, not the events that take place. It's how you handle each situation and trial that life hands you, that is what controls your contentment. So why not, instead of think when you will be happy, just decide that you will be happy now? Make the best of what you have in this very moment in time, and not worry about what will happen because that is not what is the most important at this very second. Live in the now, in the moment, appreciate everything around you including the people involved! There is a slight drawback to this theory in my opinion though. Because if you are not looking a slight bit ahead you might not see a roadblock that would make life a little bit worse, and there might have been a way to avoid it if you were paying attention. Then again playing the movie all the way through is important sometimes, but it isn't always the answer. So I think that you need both to be balanced, enough to enjoy where you are in life but be aware enough of things ahead so you can be prepared. Getting this formula right is hard, and I don't think that I will ever be able to master it! But as long as we're trying that's all that really matters, right?
         Maybe by just being aware of both being happy in the moment and looking slightly ahead, can help in finding the cure to the downward spiral of doom. It is inevitable that we can't avoid bad things happening all the time, but there are ways to make the best out of every situation. It's hard to see it most of the time, but all you can do is try. Certain things happen for a reason, so you can learn and do better next time. It's all a part of being human, and it sucks sometimes but I know that it is only to help us become the best that we can possibly be.

Traversay Island

Blogging. 
           That is what this Island is all about!
Traversay is an uninhabited island in the chain of South Sandwich Islands, so it fits this quite well seeing as my island of blog has very little, to almost no habitation. But that's okay, because the only people to visit my Islands are the only people that really matter :)

It is quite an experience really, blogging, much different from anything I have ever done before. It feels like I am writing a column in a newspaper or hip magazine, the only difference is......only cool people read my writing! I also like it because it helps me get out all of my thought vomit, in a more enjoyable format. Hopefully I will be able to keep it up better than a journal, or diary, I always feel awkward writing in those because there is really no audience to enjoy. I mean who the heck am I writing to!? But here there is a slight bit more than a plain notebook with no feelings, and I like that. I hope that those random travelers who come to visit will enjoy the spontaneity of the delicious Sandwich Islands!


<3Hannah

to caden.

No questions. Top ten pictures you have ever seen. One thousand words right here baby. But, I think we'll sum it up in one. Abi.

Hello Everyone! (Abi)

Abi!! Welcome to the South Sandwich Islands, they are quite lovely and I think that you will enjoy them. The real location is actually off the coast of South Africa, Eastern South Atlantic Ocean if you will. There are 7 of them, all of the names will be later posted. Like surprises, you will just have to wait and see!! Maybe I will name all of my posts after cool places. Like a travel blog. I am now a blogger!