A Parade, My Decor, Oh and I'm a G

Yeah I've been MIA this week....life has gotten crazy!!!!

Between school, blood drive, Les Mis rehearsal and being a normal human being....there's not alot of time left over. But heres a little somethin somethin to hold you all over. On Monday, Westwood Stuco was in our towns MLK parade.

Isn't our "banner" awesome?

Love it!

Barely awake.

Me and my Bethany!


Oh Steven! We love him.


So alot of bloggers out there post pictures of your cute houses and your decorating jobs yadda yadda yadda. Well....there is only one room in my house that reflects me.
The Woman Cave.
AKA my bedroom.
So I thought I'd just give you a little taste of my room.
This little lovelie houses all my purses belts and junk.

From left to right:

*The N book was my 12th birthday present from my amazing sister Bekah! It's completely homemade and is 12 year old Natalie in a nut shell!

*The awesome Natalie sign in the background was my Christmas present from Brina, again homemade! Love it!

*The picture of me and Tyler....

Remember my post about Winter Formal and how me and Ty were dancing by ourselves at dinner and my friends were taking pictures of us?...yeah. Kair took that picture, Jessica printed it out, put it in my frame and gave it to me for Christmas. Hahaha!
*The super cute white frame was my birthday present from the awesome Ann! Yes I am such a slacker and haven't put a picture in it yet....but the frame is so cute that it's worth displaying, pictureless and all!! I will get a picture in there soon!!!!!

*In the very front is a little picture of the whole Stuco family at Winter Formal.

*And the Knight in Shining Armor......is a story for another time.

So sometimes I like to pretend I'm a gangsta.

Peace out yo!

I Know Who I Am

I had to write the following essay for my english class and I really like it, so I thought I'd share.

I Know Who I Am

I’ve always been chatty. Always. I’d accepted that it was just part of who I was as a person. But I never imagined that it would become my defining characteristic! Let me set the scene for you; I’m sitting in room 602 at Whittier Elementary school. It’s the first week of sixth grade and Mr. Ianni is giving everyone a nickname by which they will be known for the entire year. When it came my turn, and I was given the name Jabber Jaws, I really wasn’t surprised. In fact, I kind of liked it. Little did I know that this name, or rather the meaning behind it, would plague me for the next several years.

In my mind, people expected me to be loud and talkative. So that’s what I was. I liked the attention it brought me. One day, a school counselor from my junior high walked into class and said: “There are three major forms of communication. Telephone, Telegraph and Tell-a-Lewis.” All through sixth, seventh and eighth grade I was loud, obnoxious and talkative. If I had been given a dime for every time I was told to shut up I would’ve been a millionaire. My parents were always receiving phone calls from exasperated teachers. I received warnings, dirty looks and detentions. But all the trouble I was getting in didn’t bother me like it should’ve. I was just being myself. Or at least that’s what I told myself.

I wish I could tell you that I remember in vivid detail the day I decided to change. But I can’t. All I can recall is that it was the summer before my freshman year. I was tired of my peers teasing me and egging me on, and I was sick of disappointing my parents. But most importantly, I was done letting myself down. Somewhere deep down inside of the dark abyss I call my heart and mind, I knew that being a “motormouth” or “jabber jaws” was not who I was. Being talkative was not my defining characteristic. Sure it was a part of me. But not the most important part. And that was the turning point. It was then that I promised myself that my parents would never get another phone call about me from one of my teachers. I wasn’t going to let a stupid label run my life.

It wasn’t like a big poof of dust and all my problems were solved. Every day in ninth grade I worked at it. And slowly but surely I began to redefine myself. I’m obviously not perfect, so I still slip up. I’ve had several close calls, but by some miracle, I’ve been able to stop myself just in time.

And sometimes, that label still comes back to haunt me. Last year in my choir class I was getting dangerously close to being the Old Natalie again. It didn’t do me any favors with the teacher, so this year I made the goal again. I would get my act together and I would do it fast. Well again, my hard work paid off. My teacher noticed the change and commented on it, giving me the encouragement I needed to continue on. However, not everyone was as impressed as he was. A dear friend of mine accused me of not being myself. In so many words, she said that Natalie is not Natalie if she’s not talking. I’m not going to lie, this stung.

But what it comes right down to, is that I know who I am and who I want to be and nothing anyone says or does can change that.

I Am 16 Going on 17

Always loved this scene and song!

If you haven't heard the song 16 Going on 17 from The Sound of Music,

then this post won't make much sense.

Go here to read the lyrics.

So I was thinking about this song and in it, Liesel is 16 years old and she has alot of ideas about love and life, many of them, not true. As she grows older and matures, she begins to see how she was wrong. So I thought I'd do a little exercise where I, a 16 year old, write down MY ideas about love and life, and in a few years, once I've matured a bit I'll be able to look back and see if I was right.

So without further adieu:

Natalie Rose's

Ideas About Life and Love

Age 16

I am a firm believer in true love.

Though I would LOVE to find love at first sight, I don't think its possible.

I firmly believe in the institution of marriage.

Life's what's you make it.

You can't always choose your circumstances, but you can choose how you react to them.

Boys: Can't live with them, Can't live without them.

Friends will be there for a time, Families are Forever.

If I Could Write a Letter To Me

Dear Future Natalie,

Greetings from the past! At this moment in time, you are 16 years old. It's the summer before your junior year. You love to sing, talk, flirt, eat and blog! You have a plan for your life, did it happen? Are you the 3rd grade teacher you thought you'd be? Are you married to Prince Charming and raising your babies? Or did you go on a mission first? The 16 year old you has thought about that....only time will tell.

Being a sixteen year old girl, you naturally are quite....how do I put this....

BOY CRAZY.

You have lots of crushes.....

But the boy that truly has your heart is your nephew Warren, who just turned six yesterday.

You also adore his sisters, Abigail, Avery and Madeleine Rose.

You probably have several more nieces and nephews now.... I'm sure you're still playing with them and acting like a nut!

You start summer school tomorrow. You're not happy about it, but it'll be worth it come fall. If you don't take history now, then you can't do student council, and we both know how much you want to do that! Also, this summer you're going to be participating in ASU Star Talk program. For two weeks in July you'll be living in the ASU dorms. In the morning, you'll be learning the chinese language, and in the afternoon and evening, you'll be learning about the culture! You're VERY excited! Ever since you went to Paris, you've wanted to learn about the world around you and about the way other people live.

You have several mottos that you live your life by:


"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass,

it's about learning to dance in the rain."

"Go big or go home."

"Love it or Hate it, its your life. Live it."

I'll see you in the mirror in a couple years,

Natalie

RatalieNose from A to Z

A

Amazing!!!!

No I'm not calling myself amazing.

Amazing is the most over used adjective in my vocabulary.

B

Boys

I'm a teenage girl, what do you expect!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

C

CHOCOLATE!

COOKIES!

CHOCOLATE COOKIES!!!!

CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!!!!

D

Death

That's how I've been feeling these last couple days.

Blasted Sinuses!!!

E

EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My english teachers are always getting on me about them.

I don't understand why......

F

I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with shart.

Yeah yeah yeah I'm disgusting.

Sue me.

G

Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I'm a girl.

And I enjoy it.....

Most of the time.

H

Happy but occasionally hostile.

True story.

I

Immature...

Heck I'm a teenager it's my job!!!

J

Jokes

I don't have any good ones.

K

Kindness?

I have some in my heart.

L

Love Love Love Love Love Love Love

I don't know if you noticed but I LOVE the word LOVE!!!!

I apply it quite Liberally.

But not Lightly.

M

Music!!!!!!!!!

"Sing, Sing a Song

Sing Out Loud

Sing Out Strong"

Don't Mind If I Do!!!!

N

Natalie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes that is my real name.

Who knew?

WhoNose????

O

Open Arms!!!!

I LOVE HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!

P

Princess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I am.

Q

Quirky.

That sums me up quite nicely.

R

Rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's like Magic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

S

Sassy but Sweet....

If you're lucky.

T

Twilight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need I say more?

U

Understanding....

Yeah, I'll give myself this one.

Being somewhat irrational I can understand other peoples special moments.

V

Villains!!!!

Love them!!!!!!!

W

Westwood Warrior!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Blood Runs Deep Orange!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

X

Xrays

I've had several of these.

The one I hated the most was the one that told me that I'd rebroken my broken toe and I had to have surgery.

LAME!!!!!

Y

Young.

"Forever Young

I want to be forever young.

Don't you want to live forever

Forever Young"

Z

Zoo

No I don't belong there.

Thank you very much.

Quirky Analysis Part 3

From My3Daws:

What do you do when your dad won't let you do something you want to do? Seriously, don't leave out any details! :) Kicking and screaming would be quite funny.

A: Honestly, I had to think long and hard about this one.

It took me forever to remember the last time my dad

(affectionately known as Harold or JerBear)

wouldn't let me do something.

Not that I always get my way.

Because I don't.

But A.

I don't usually ask for unreasonable things.

And B.

I almost always ask my mom.

The last time I can remember getting upset with my dad because of a rule was eighth grade.

He had just instated the

"No hanging out with boys rule"

This was a HUGE bummer because that's what ALL of my friends were doing!

They'd all be somewhere and I couldn't go becuase there were boys!!

Now I wish I had a better story to tell you, but to be honest.

I just cried.

There is no kicking and screaming when it comes to JerBear.

That's the way its always been, you don't throw fits in front of him.

I don't think any of us have,

I doubt anyone ever will.

(But that didn't stop me from calling him names under my breath once I was out of hearing distance.)

These next few questions are all from Molly:

What is your favorite color?

Answer: YeLlOw

What is your favorite animal?

A: I can't stand housepet animals.

So probably monkeys.

What is your favorite dessert?

A: CHOCOLATE ANYTHING!!!!

But I especially adore Pazookies!!!!!!!!

If you could do one wildly rebellious thing, what would it be?

Answer: And not get caught?

Burn down an abandoned building.

From Ann Marie:

What was one of your happiest moments in the last 2 months??

A: Definently the birth of Sweet Madeleine!

From RatalieNose:

What's your biggest fear?

Well, my one and only fear is this:

Boys.

Getting close to them,

Getting hurt by them,

And living without them.

Stupid, Immature and Juvenile.

But it's the truth.

So you tell me,

What's your greatest fear?

The person with the best fear will get......

Well, you'll see.

Q&A: Quirky Analysis

So we're going to take a break from the Extraordinary today in order to answer your questions.

From Lauren:

What hair product do you use?

A: Like shampoo?

Whatever's in the shower.

Hairspray? I rarely use it, but when I do, I just use whatevers lying around the house.

And that's about it...

I usually go for a natural look...

Ha!
Who am I kidding I'm just waaaay too lazy!!!

From Camille:

What's Shirt Boy's name?

A: I know you were kidding but I will give you a hint: You've been in his bedroom before.

(Don't go all crazy on Camille, she was in there filming for a girls camp video!)

Also from Camille:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A 3rd Grade Teacher, preferebly at my old Elementary school, team teaching with my 3rd grade teacher!

Camille Again:

If you could travel anywhere in the world this summer, where would you go?

A: Crazy.

Oh wait I'm already there!

Yar gar gar.

I'd travel the rest of Europe and go visit my sister in North Carolina and visit my best friend who's moving to Texas.

From the Amazing Cherie:

What's your most embarassing moment?

A: Oh my there are FAR too many to choose from! I'm basically the biggest clutz on this side of Texas

(aside from NancyFace of course! Love her!)

Hmmm I'll just share one that Shirt Boy and I were discussing today.

Last year, several of the boys from my school were driving home from playing basketball around 6:30 am. I was out walking my neighbors dog. I had just woken up two seconds ago. It was cold, I was tired and had no shoes on. So I'm walking with my eyes shut, all bundled up with my hood on and looking like a hobo and the boys drive by LAUGHING AT ME. Later I walk into A hour and they all start bustin' up!

Ridiculous!

From Shelby Lou:

How many boys have you kissed?

A: Two. One kissed me for $30.

The other kissed me becuase he wanted a New Years kiss.

*A little sad note about the second one, when he tried to kiss me, I started hyperventilating. Nothing scares me more than boys!*

From Ann Marie:

Did you steal the shirt from Shirt Boy?

A: Sadly enough, I did not. He really wanted it back. So I washed it, and rode my bike to his house to return it. Thankfully, he or his parents did not answer the door.

From Holly Janeen:

Did you come up with the name RatalieNose

all by yourself?

A: I wish I could say that I'm that clever, but if I'm being honest (which I always am, Lieing is MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE) my big sister Bekah created my wonderful nickname!

Well that was quite fun!

Keep the preguntas coming!

We'll be exploring more of the extraordinary tomorrow so stay tuned!

Nick Names Part 2

I had so much fun telling ya'll about my nicknames last time that I thought I'd share a few more with you.

(Oh and btw you still have until Wednesday to comment on this post.)

Miss Rose

This one was given to me by my dear friend Doride.

If you can't figure out why.....

We'll talk later.

No, my nickname is NOT Lady!

Bah!

A very good Gentleman Friend of mine calls me

Pige.

You know, like the Tramp calls Lady?

Uh huh.

Seems weird right?

That's what I thought.

Until he explained why.

He said that I remind him of her for several reasons.

1. She's very persistent

2. Really down when she doesn't recieve enough attention

3. Fun to be with

4. Goes back to people, even when they've hurt her.

At first you may think uhhh rude!

But in all honesty, he was exactly right!

I am all those things.

And proud of it.

This one I just recieved this past weekend.

NatalieNoPants

Think what you will.

Please Don't Stop the Music

Yeah I'm lame, doing a tag when the person didn't even tag me....

but whatever it looked fun!

But yeah thanks Christie!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Put your Ipod or other music player on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the NEXT button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.-

"Tag, You're it...let's see what ya'll are listening to!"

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY? Umbrella Acoustic (Marie Digby)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Roots (Bob Marley)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Save A Horse Ride a Cowboy (Big and Rich)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Morningside (Sara Bareilles)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?Last Call(Lee Ann Womack)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? I Don't Trust Myself (John Mayer)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? More(The Ten Virgins)

WHAT IS 2+2? That's What I Love About Sunday (Craig Morgan)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? See You In My Nightmares (Kanye West)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Fearless (Taylor Swift)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?? Why Why Why(Billy Currington)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?? What Is This Thing Called Love

(Billie Holiday)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Jammin (Bob Marley)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

What I Need (The Ten Virgins)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Oh Holy Night(Mariah Carey)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Bottle It Up

(Sara Bareilles)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? The Seashores of Old Mexico(George Strait)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Write This Down (George Strait)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? Show Me Everything (The Rocket Summer)

HOW WILL YOU DIE? Silent Night (Kenny Rogers)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? Interlude #4(The Ten Virgins)

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Misty Morning (Bob Marley)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? It Won't Be Long (Across the Universe)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? Come Come Ye Saints (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Fool Hearted Memory (George Strait)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? Boondocks (Little Big Town)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? What We Do Here (Brian Mcknight)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? Troublemaker (Weezer)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna)

Totally did not plan that!

Promise!

I tag anyone who feels like doing this!

It's pretty entertaining....

The Joys of Technology

The Top Five Things on My Happy List

1. This Picture: 2. What teenage girl doesn't ADORE chocolate??

3. BEST INVENTION SINCE TOILET PAPER

4. There are no words strong enough to describe my love for these books.

5. I think its impossible to be born and raised in Arizona and not love the rain!

Sometimes We Do Weird Things

And you know what???

I love it!

Being weird is what makes life interesting!

I have had real good times when all these pictures were taken.

This one was after our third choir concert my eighth grade year.

We went to Iceberg and I had WAAAYY too much sugar!!

Exhibit A:

Same night. I remember having an obsession with lips that year..................


My fourteenth birthday.
Good times.
Waiting for the lake to open up.
Really
Really
Really
Bored.


One of many Sunday Night Adventures at the Temple.

I'm such a rebel.


The point to all this?
Uhhh there isn't really one.
Except this:
All of these were taken during amazing times I've had with Mi Amigas.
No muchachos involved.
Alot of teenage girls are convinced that they need boys to have fun.
WELL LET ME TELL YOU
That is SOOOO FALSE IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY!!!!!!
Some of the best times of my life have been just me and my friends acting like freaks!
And that's why I love being a girl!

*Disclaimer, I know what you're thinking "What friends is she talking about she's the only one in all these pictures." Well...I have pictures with others, but I haven't asked their permission to put them on the internet so ya.... That's why.

One of My Most FaVoRiTe Words

Random

Seven Random Things, to be exact!

Got this Tag from Ann Marie

(Whose blog is great btw, go take a gander.)

Anywho.......

Seven Random Things About Ratalie Nose....

1. I lOvE hAvInG cApItAl aNd LoWeR cAsE lEtTeRs MiXeD tOgEtHeR!Don't ask why.

Becuase I don't know.

2. I love to cry!

It rejuvanates me!

I really feel for this girl!2. Lauren (whose blog is also fantastic!) is going to hate me for this one but....for me, Disneyland is not the happiest place on earth!! I've had too many sad/stressful experiences at that darned place. I mean its fun and all but....man.

3. I've played the piano for a decade. But my ability is that of about a third or fourth year student.

Why?

I don't practice. Sad day.

4. Back in 2006, I really liked sitting in my closet.

5. I BlogStalked people for a year and half before I finally got a blog of my own.

6. My family is the greatest family EVER. No. Lie.

7. My nephew is the only boy in my life!

And I love it!!!!

I tag anyone who needs something to post about!

NaTaLiE RoSe

Also known as..........

Rat

Filthy, I know.

Noodle

Or Batman

Or Robin Hood

OR...............

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE.................

(drum roll please...........................................)

Belle!!!!!!!!

There are many many more.....but onto more important things.

Like Bravery.

It is a fickle friend, bravery is.

Actually I have no idea what a fickle friend is, I've always just wanted to say that.

Or wait, isn't it like a good and a bad thing?

Cause if that's the meaning, then yes, bravery is quite fickle.

I mean, you're able to do what you know is right.

But you still have to deal with the consequences...

Regardless of being brave or a coward.

But then there's got to be some kind of reward eventually......

In the long journey ahead.

Wow, I feel so philosophical.

WhoNose?

Well I sure don't. But here ya go. I am here. My name is Ratalienose.

Welcome to my Life.

If I were a food: I'd be Pop Rocks

If I were an animal: I'd be a chipmunk

If my life had to be described in one song:

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

My life in four words: A Poorly Written Sitcom

Would I ever change it????

Not for all the peanut butter M&M's in the world!!!!