The Office

The Thankful Project's topic for yesterday was to talk about a room we are grateful for. So, here it goes!

 The Office in all it's glory! (Lots of books included)

So, a room I am grateful would be my mom's office (technically it's for both, my mom and dad; but mom has the bigger desk).
I do, indeed, have a desk in my room, but mom's office is warmer, and brighter. (And closer to the fridge, if you know what I mean!). Why am I grateful for The Office? Because it's getting me some pretty good marks at school, of course! (I rocked my Chemistry exam the other day).
See, but I'm not sure my mom likes it when I occupy her desk. But what can i do, even Maggie likes the place!

Maggie in the office!

And that is, basically, why I am grateful for this room (& for my mom who kindly let's me work on her desk. Most of the times).

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Is there a special room you are grateful for? :]

Dear My Facebook Friends (some of you)

I'm so glad I got over the phase when I was obsessed with Facebook. I do occasionally open it, but it feels like "Wooh, I'm not obsessed. Good Lord."

Anyways, the Blogtember topic for the 27th of September was to write a letter to your Facebook friends without using any names:

Friday, September 27: An anonymous letter to your Facebook friends. Be as snarky as you'd like.

Dear My Facebook Friends,

Below are some of the things I wanted to scream out at some of you...

• Please, I beg you, stop sending me Farmville requests. No, I will not send you a goat (or a log of wood, either) so please, just don't.

• Don't writing pathetically sad quotes about your broken heart and miserable life. It gets nauseating after the 100th post.

• And really? You think you're cool because you "smoke all day" and know how to make 'smoke circles' (or whatever they call them) with your hookah? Get a life.

• You know, you can say hi to me in real life. I don't bite (except if you try to physically harm me. In that case, I can't guarantee you won't get a flesh-deep bite plus a permanent scar).

• And, a piece of advice, you don't have to post 33547 pictures of the time you went to the local park with your hubby. Or another 9001 pictures of your child's 'adorable little blue shoes'. It's cute when you post one or two pictures, and very far from cute when you practically spam the world with photos.

• Don't post a pic I'm in if I look weird. Please don't.

• You can post on my wall and like my pictures and Facebook page, I really don't mind. I might just return the favor someday. (Ever heard of the Bank of Favors? When you do a favor to someone, he/ she has to return it back to you someday. So yeah.)

• There's a reason why I'm offline 99% of the time on Facebook, and it sure as hell isn't because I want to open a conversation with you that basically goes like "Hi" "Hi" "How are you?" "Good. You?" "Good." (+ just keep repeating those questions in various ways over and over again).

• Do you really think I'm interested in "I Will Love You Forever", "Cute Grade __ Students", "Tears of Love" pages? Just don't invite me. (Except if it's a page about John Green or The Hunger Games, then I won't mind being invited).

• Don't, just don't, send me a message to ask me why I read so much when I don't have school. It's an insult, even if you don't realize it. 

That's pretty much it. I love all my Facebook friends (almost all of them). And some of them are pretty cute actually.

What would you want to say to some of your Facebook friends if you could? :]

The Book Thief

Topic:

Tuesday, September 24: Review a book, place, or product.

I decided to review a book I recently finished reading:

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Mark Zusak

Paperback Edition: 554 pages

First Published: January 1st, 2005

GoodReads Average Rating: 4.36/5 stars

The Book Thief tells the story of a girl, Liesel, who lives near Munich in Germany during World War II in 1993. Liesel learns how to read and write with the help of her foster father, and soon becomes so attached to books that she steals them. She is friends with a boy named Rudy, and soon becomes friends with Max; and Max is a Jewish man who hides at their house in fear of being caught by the Nazis.  It also shows the indecency and brutality of war and of the Nazis, it reveals the torture Jewish people (and anyone who sympathizes with them) faced. Liesel loses so many people she loves during this war, and there are very hear-touching scenes; such as when her foster father gets whipped after throwing bread for the Jewish, or when she recovers the dead bodies of Rudy and her foster parents... Overall, the book is very emotional (I read too many emotional books!), and something I really liked about it was the fact that it was narrated by Death. (yes, Death.)

The book is very well written, the events are realistic, the characters are easy to get attached to.

Check my GoodReads review of The Book Thief here.

Lately, I...

Topic:

Monday, September 23: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. 

Hmm... Life lately...

• I've been eating healthier for a while now, so no more chocolate and cakes during recess time, but carrots and cucumbers instead. I used to walk (twice everyday, actually, in the morning and afternoon) as part of the healthy lifestyle I'm adapting, but I stopped. I don't even know why.
• I bought new glasses, and that is actually a huge relief because I don't have to take my glasses off whenever someone talks to me while wearing them (that's how old-fashioned my old ones were!).

• I started school a few days ago (I'm still getting used to waking up and getting dressed in the morning. It seems like no matter how early I get up, I'm always a little late).
• Today was our first history period and it was such a letdown. I usually love history, but this period was seriously boring. The "I-would-rather-sit-and-watch-an-empty-living-room-for-45 minutes-than-sit-in-history-class" type of boring.
• I have to study well and concentrate in all classes because this is a critical school year. I actually feel nervous and a little scared when I come to think of the official exams I'll have to go through, but I guess that is just normal.
• I have to take my SATs as well, and I should have studied for them in the summer. So I feel bad. (It's not a nice feeling FYI).
• I'm still working on Rawafid's library wall, coloring it is taking so much more time than I thought it would take! But it's loads of fun.
• My room is neat, (really neat. It was never this neat before.) And not because I'm forced to clean it by my mom, but because, apparently, I'm neat right now. Kinda.
• Our two kittens died not too long ago, Fluffy was sick and Beaky was hit by a car. :(

• I haven't worked on the book I'm writing for a while now, and I miss the characters and I miss writing, but it just feels like I need to be in a specific mood to write. And I'm caught up in so many things, and working on my book is not one of those things.
• I'm happy that Fall is here! I love the rain and chilly weather, hoodies and sweaters...
• I recently finished reading The Hunger Games Companion and The Book Thief. I want to start on The Host or Me and Earl and The Dying Girl, both books seem nice. I miss being able to read all day long and not have anything else to do. :(

• Internet has been exceptionally slow, and it keeps coming and going. It is such a struggle. 
  
  

Really, I could go on forever, but I think that's enough LOL. How has your life been recently? 

Comfort

Topic: 

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort

What is comfort to me? Comfort is...

...Time spent with family,

TV with my dad,

Cracking jokes with my mom,

Nights on the balcony with Leen,

Taking silly pictures with Amin,

Drawing with Rafah,

Singing with Yaman,

Friends I can trust,

And people I can discuss ideas with..

Comfort is...

....Books, books, books,

Sitting near the fire in winter,

Hoodies and pajama bottoms,

Autumn and rain and red tree leaves.

Doing what I like,

Coloring, Reading, Writing, Drawing..

Knowing that there are people there for me.

Comfort is living healthily and positively,

Comfort is envisioning a bright future,

Comfort is dreaming..

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What is comfort for you? What comes up to your mind when you hear the word comfort? :]

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

Yes, I realize I haven't blogged in like... 6 days. Mainly because I was too lazy to charge my laptop, and because I've been reading The Book Thief (you should definitely check this book out), and because I've been going to Rawafid.Anyways, here is today's Blogtember topic:

Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

(Yes, I know, I know.. there should be no writing, only pictures. Aaannyywayss, below are some of my favorite pictures by Leen- No captions, because.... A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS! :])

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Blogtember Day 8: Social Media

Topic:

Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you. 

How social media changed me... Hmmm...

• I was addicted to Facebook then Twitter in the past. That consumed so much time from me. I'd spend hours just scrolling through my news feed or timeline! Thank God it was only a temporary phase.
• Social media sites (especially Facebook) made me more aware about the environment I live in; Facebook made me realize that some people just want something to talk about. A picture you share, a comment you make, a friend you have... it's crazy how some people can craft a huge story out of these things.
• I haven't been blogging for a long time, but recently, I've discovered some very inspirational blogs that made me realize that there are people/ bloggers I can relate to, and it's a nice feeling (plus, there's plenty of nice blog posts to read!).
• Another way blogging has affected me- and I really hate this- is that it takes so much time from me. And after I started blogging regularly, I started working less and less on my book. Which is not a good thing.

I guess that is all I can think about. Oh, and I skipped Blogtember yesterday because that topic was about our favorite online shops, and I don't really shop online. Although, I've seen tons of things I like on some etsy shops and other online shops, and that's the nearest thing my online shopping experience has gotten to.

Did/ does social media affect you? If yes, how? :]

Blogtember Day 6: Make it Happen

Topic: 

Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

(Yes, I do realize that I spelled 'either' wrong in the picture, but I don't have the original picture saved- courtesy of Google images- and I don't feel like looking for it and editing it again. Okay. To the topic now!)

I think my life changed when I read the book, The Secret. I have always considered myself positive, or at least more positive than all my friends, and even they admitted so (I had some pretty pessimistic friends). But the way I viewed everything, the way I viewed the problems I faced, the people I met, the things I saw… the way I viewed my life and surroundings, changed: I could see, or at least try to see, the bright side in everything. I started believing that I could do what I put my mind to. I still tell my best friend that “your thoughts become things” whenever she has a negative thought (it was mentioned in the book).

And one change led to another change, and I became more organized. I began to value time more; if we’re going to Beirut and I forget to bring a book with me for the one hour and thirty minutes drive, I feel so bad because I can’t simply waste this much time doing nothing!

One of the quotes that really stuck out to me from the book was one by Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, wither way you are right."; and I think- no, believe- that everyone should live by this quote.

When was a point when your life changed? :]

Blogtember Day 5: Personality Types

Topic:

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even google your type and find more info on it!) 

Oh my God! I've been so preoccupied working on this huge drawing for Rawafid School that I totally forgot about Blogtember! So, I'm going to post yesterday and today's topics.

I took the personality test, and I tried to answer all the questions accurately but I just didn't get some of them lol. Anyways.... VOILA: My personality type is, apparently, 

ENFG:

Extravert (11%) iNuitive (25%) Feeling (38%) Judging (1%)

I wonder if I'd get the same results if I took the test a year from now.

I searched this personality type and, apparently, we ENFGs:

• Have excellent social skills
• Tend not to give themselves enough credit (Ooookay?)
• Have good money skills
• Maintain good eye contact (Look me in the eye! Yeah, you!) 
• Are great leaders
• Are optimistic idealists, which may lead them to trust people when they shouldn't sometimes

ENFGs are usually

• [V]ery charismatic...
• eloquent, finding it
• natural and easy to communicate their ideas and opinions, especially in person.... 
• [T]he ENFJ will not be afraid to stand up and speak, regardless of the audience

I don't really like the career suggestions for ENFGs though: teaching, physical therapy, nutrition... GRRRR WHHAT?

Famous ENFG's are people like Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck, Bill Clinton, Dr. Phil McGraw, Martin Luther King Jr, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan... (Not too bad, eh? Maybe I'll have my own talk-show in the future. Or I'll be a basketball player. An actress. Or even better. Maybe I'll become *drum-roll* the president of the United States! lol)

Are you an ENFG? Take the test and figure your personality type out!

Blogtember Day 4 | The Unknown

Topic:

Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid.

So, I skipped a day (only because I was sleeping over at my grandparent's) . Below is what I wrote yesterday, although it's not exactly a 'story':

I'm afraid- no, terrified- of choosing my major in university one year from now. It may seem ridiculous (especially because a lot of people my age still haven't even thought about it. Or that's what they say.). Why does it scare me?

It scares me because it is such a huge choice that will highly affect my future life. I want to do something I like, I want to go to work because I want to go to work, not because I have to. I don't want to be like all those people that are so caught up in making money to pay the rent/ run errands/ buy food, clothes etc.. that they forget to live. Oscar Wilde says that "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist", and that is why I'm scared: because I don't want to simply exist, I want to do something, be someone, I want to leave a print doing what I like. The choice may seem easy, picking something you like. But the world now is so different than what it used to be years ago. Whether you like it or not, you will have responsibilities to take care of, and a job as a graffiti artists might not cover those responsibilities up for you.

I know deep down that I won't settle for something that does not make me happy, but I can't help but fear the unknown.. It is scary, but exciting at the same time; & I just want to dive into this life and do so many things and go so many places and see so many people.

What about you? Does the unknown scare you? Does it excite you? :]