Hello, 2019 & HELLO, DARLING DRAGONS! 😘

I'M FINALLY WRITING THIS POST.

Something that started as a belated May highlights, then morphed into May/June, and eventually made it all the way to some "May/June/July/August/September/October/November/December Highlights BASICALLY I FAILED AT BLOGGING LAST YEAR" hybrid. So, yeah.

I've been gone for a while, and, to be honest, there are a lot of reasons why (you can read my full post on that here). 2018 was rough. Jam-packed of wonderful new people + amazing experiences + SO MUCH FUN, but rough nonetheless.

My goal and prayer is for 2019 to be better.

Today, I'm going to take a look back at just a few of the blessings 2018 had to offer,* and some dreams + plans I have for this year. 😉

*Fair warning: all the photos might make this post look a little wackadoodle on some phones/tablets/feeds. 😅 I did my best!

Without further ado, let's dive in!

J A N U A R Y

• Returned from my first ever New Year's Meeting
• Stayed up late with my mom on Sunday nights to watch Victoria (PBS) 😊
• Finished my fifth semester of high school + started my sixth

F E B R U A R Y

• Returned to Universal Studios / the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 😍😍😍
• Had my wisdom teeth removed (WHILE AWAKE???)
• Probably did something else significant but it's been almost a year since then so I honestly can't remember rn?? 😅

M A R C H

• Took the SAT for the first time
• Finished my editing job
• Grandparents came to visit 🙂
• Spent spring break hiking + visiting coffee shops / museums / beaches with da bestie and our families 💚

>> January/February/March Highlights <<

A P R I L

• Attended Placerville's Youth Meeting
• Took the SAT for the second (& LAST!) time
• Went to tea with Tasha @ curlycovering
• Realized my smol love for edible floral arrangements 😂😂😂
• Co-hosted a giveaway with Victoria Lynn @ Ruffles & Grace

>> April Highlights <<

M A Y

• Joined Instagram (my handle is @livkfisher, btw 😉)
• Went on a jeep caravan to Borrego Springs
• Traveled to Sacramento for a friend's graduation 😭💞
• Took my first ever AP exam 😏
• Launched The Language of Worlds linkup
• Da bestie came to visit! 😁

J U N E

• Volunteered as a poll clerk on Election Day
• Finished my junior year
• Discovered I was quoted on Introvert Dear, thanks to the lovely Lisa Pickle!
• Attended SoCalCWC (& met THE Nadine Brandes and Hailey Rose! 😱😻😻) (click here to see Hailey's vlog on it!)
• Got my driver's permit 😃

J U L Y

• Passed out flags for a realtor
• Watched fireworks from the driver's seat 😍
• Launched my readers' group (!!!!)
• Spent a day at SeaWorld + watched fireworks from the sky trolley 😍😍
• Camped for a weekend in Julian
• Found a TARDIS-styled little free library

A U G U S T

• Da bestie came to visit again 😊
• Attended my church's twelfth annual Youth Meeting (ft. sermons by Jonathan @ Pure & Simple Bible)
• Went on a two-week road trip with my family & went on SO MANY ADVENTURES 😍😍😍 camping, exploring, etc... the whole trip felt very lovely + bohemian! 😍😍😍
• Decided to go full-blown vegan 😬 (food-wise, at least 😉)
• Started my senior year
• Attended Livermore's Labor Day Meeting

S E P T E M B E R

• Registered at community college 😱😱😱

O C T O B E R

• Outlined Ignis (formerly titled The Scent of the Stars)
• Had a fun, pizza-filled Halloween with a school friend 🙂

N O V E M B E R

• Started writing Ignis
• Saw The Crimes of Grindelwald (totally noteworthy & honestly probably my new most favorite movie EVER 😍😍😍)
• Had my senior pictures done by the lovely Gina Lee Photography
• Attended Oakdale's Youth Meeting
• Grandparents came to visit for Thanksgiving 🌝

D E C E M B E R

• CHRISTMAS!
• Attended Oklahoma City's New Year's Meeting

chasing shadows by ashley townsend // where trains collide by amber stokes // the moon master's ball by clara diane thompson // an enchantment of ravens by margaret rogerson // scarlet by marissa meyer // fawkes by nadine brandes // waltz into the waves by sarah holman // common by laurie lucking

books: 53/53

writing: started ignis

travel: hollywood, ca // placerville, ca // borrego springs, ca // sacramento, ca // la miranda, ca // seaworld, ca // julian, ca // lost coast, ca // livermore, ca // oakdale, ca // oklahoma city, ok

work: finished editing job // volunteered at polls // delivered realtor flags

education: finished junior year // started senior year // registered for college

books: read 30 // join netgalley // re-read the harry potter series

writing: finish + revise ignis (draft 1) // write fey novella // write two books in medieval fantasy quadrilogy

travel: fullerton, ca // julian, ca

work: complete socalcwc registration job // find + start part-time job

education: finish senior year // graduate high school // start college

soul: spend one hour+ with God every day

health: stay vegan // eat more greens // do 15 min. yoga every morning // walk dogs three times each day // do stretches every evening

art: start + keep + add to bullet journal

HAPPY 2019, DRAGONS!!!! 😘💕 I hope you had an amazing 2018 + your 2019 is completely FANTASTIC & everything and more than you hoped for!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the love and support you've given me -- this past year especially. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you, and I pray your new year is absolutely wonderful. 💖

Now...

LET'S CHAT!

How was your 2018? What are your goals for this year?

❤,

8 Steps for a Better Night's Sleep

IT'S OFFICIALLY EXAM SEASON!!!! Which means "yaay!" bc SCHOOL IS ALMOST OUT but also tears bc NOBODY LIKES EXAMS.

{Source.}

⮙⮙ Current mood, right there. ⮙⮙

Besides preparing well and eating a hearty breakfast on Exam Day™, one of the best exam-related pieces of advice I've ever received is to get plenty of sleep the night before the test. And because REST IS AWESOME and May = the month of AP exams, SATs, and state testing (😱😱😱), I guess you know what I'll be talking about... I'm proud to present: my favorite evening routine for a better night's sleep. 💤

Also, shoutout to Ella Marie @ February Fairy for her evening routine post, which inspired this one! Go check out her blog, Dragons -- IT'S AMAZING! 💟

Now, on to the post... 😉

SWITCH YOUR DEVICES TO

AIRPLANE MODE + STORE THEM AWAY

SOCIAL MEDIA IS SO TEMPTING. Right before bed, at the end of the day, that nagging temptation to just hop on Facebook for a quick moment, or Instagram to see what your best friend is doing, or Twitter to see if there are any new notifications... THE LIST GOES ON. Switching your devices to airplane mode and storing them away in a purse/backpack or desk drawer will lessen the temptation to check "just one more time," and ultimately provide your eyes with a well-needed rest.

EXCHANGE YOUR MUSIC FOR WHITE NOISE

I think most of us can agree that MUSIC IS JUST AMAZING. From those enchanting notes flow sweet songs that can alter our mood and provide (or take away) inspiration. MUSIC = MAGIC. But right before bed, it's easy to get caught up in song selection or humming along to the lyrics. So exchange your music for white noise! This can be a fan, a heater, a machine -- anything that has a steady rhythm to give your mind something consistent and lulling to focus on.

BRUSH/COMB YOUR HAIR & REMOVE ALL MAKEUP

Makeup makes all the difference in a good night's sleep. Half-asleep, rubbing at smeared mascara and enraged glitter is no way to spend a night. Remove all makeup, wash your face, and give your hair a thorough brushing for a neat, natural sleep.

GET READY FOR BED

Do whatever you need to do. Brush your teeth, slide your retainer into place, dose yourself in lotion, load the dishwasher -- whatever "get ready for bed" means to you. 😉

PLAN THE DAY-TO-COME / WRITE IN YOUR DIARY

If you have anything to jot down, do it now. This can be planning tomorrow, adding that meeting to your schedule, or doing a quick summary of your day. This will drag any nagging thoughts out and onto paper.

SPEND ALONE-TIME WITH GOD

Now comes Bible time. 💕 Spend alone-time with God; tell Him your worries, your concerns. Pray for tomorrow, thank Him for today. Review a verse or sing a song. Spending time with the Savior restores peace, renews our relationship with Him, and further strengthens our bond. Plus, there are so many people to pray for! I'm certain God loves our quality time more than we could ever comprehend. 💗

STRETCH

A few minutes of sit-ups or yoga relieves tension and strengthens your body. Happy muscles lead to an even happier sleep. 😉

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, GET COZY, & READ

Now is the time to get cozy. ♡ Flick off the lights, slide into bed, and read for a while. Soon, you'll be fast asleep and dreaming sweet dreams...

REMEMBER TO...

• Have your lights out at a decent hour. None of this "after midnight" business!
• Pray. Turn to God for peace-of-mind.
• Get your bags ready. Your morning will flow much more smoothly when all your pencils are sharpened, water bottles are in place, and electronics are on vibrate.
• Prepare a cold breakfast. A pre-made breakfast will make your morning faster and easier. You'll need that fuel for the exam!
• Relax. Tests are just a thing, and God's got your back. 💓

Have I missed anything? What tips do you have for a better night's sleep?

❤,

December Highlights ft. Oklahoma Wanderings + 2017 Wrap-Up + 2018 Resolutions

I LIIIIIIIIVE!!!!* Yus, THAT'S RIGHT DRAGONS, I'M NOT DEAD YET and I CAN FINALLY SPILL ALL THE BEANS TO YOU ABOUT MY TOP SECRET MISSION (a.k.a. why I was suddenly gone for 465685600248086568 years two-ish weeks).

*BC honestly who knew whether or not I'd make it out of Christmas / New Year's alive?

Ya see, I went to Oklahoma. Two days after a very mundane and very dreary Christmas* that could've done with a lot more twinkle-lights and a lot more snow.** But, our Christmas Adam (Christmas Eve Eve 😉) celebration (ft. me + my parents + me lowkey painting my mom's gift five minutes before wrapping and giving it to her) was lovely! 😀

*JK, Christmas wasn't that bad! Just empty with so many family members in Arizona.

**You can never have too many twinkle-lights and let's face it SAN DIEGO DOESN'T HAVE ANY SNOW. #rude

Le Christmas haul:

The Color Project by Sierra Abrams, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young,
The Princess & I by Rebekah Eddy, and FOX PAJAMAS. 🦊 😍

Anywhozens, back to Oklahoma -- IT. WAS. AWESOME.

But Charlie, why'd ya go?

An epic gospel meeting. And guys, ALMOST ALL MY BESTIES WERE THERE. AND I GOT TO MEET NEW FRIENDS, TOO. 💗

Amazing things that happened:

• I SAW FALLING SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME. And guyyssss IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL 😍😍😍
• Besties and I ate ice cream OUTSIDE in 15℉ WEATHER. #soworthit
• Went to a restaurant called "the Garage", and we joked that their food probably had a lot of oil (YOU'RE WELCOME 😉), but LOL, IT ACTUALLY WAS THE GREASIEST FOOD I'VE EVER EATEN
• I not only went ice skating but also successfully third-wheeled with a bestie + her new "friend" and my old roommate + her husband 😜
• I found out that the best way to fall asleep when your brain is a disobedient little child is to listen to sad music, curl up in a ball, and ignore life until your alarm goes off (in other words, I TOOK SSOOO MANY NAPS IN OKLAHOMA)
• Casually ran from the car into the church building because LOL we forgot our coats and IT WAS A WHOPPIN' 4℉ OUTSIDE
• Eating three cookies because "they're Oreos and they're vegan, right?" and then discovering that "oops THOSE WERE NOT OREOS AND THEY WERE NOT VEGAN"
• I pulled my first "not for school" all-nighter and I SURVIVED (JK I actually died)
• THE MIDNIGHT SINGING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH OVER 900 PEOPLE. NO SONGBOOKS. NO INSTRUMENTS. ONLY VOICES. ENTIRELY FROM MEMORY. HARDLY ANYONE WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, PEEPS. (I only recorded a couple of the songs, but you can listen to them below. 😊)

Our God He Is Alive (first verse + chorus):



Who Shall Stand Before the King? (last part of the chorus):

BASICALLY, THE WHOLE THING WAS EPIC AND AMAZING AND psfogo ;fg b I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! 💜💙💜💙

JANUARY

// wrap-up post

• The Magic Flute rehearsals began
• I became A-Series-of-Unfortunate-Events-on-Netflix-supernerd (totally noteworthy, BTW)
• I was voted a finalist in SpecFaith's winter writing challenge

FEBRUARY

// wrap-up post

• I won SpecFaith's winter writing challenge (!!!!)

MARCH

// wrap-up post

• The Magic Flute performances happened
• I turned sixteen
• I visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in LA for the first time

APRIL

// wrap-up post

• I started blogging here
• I was a part of the MEA Theatre Company's "mini" production of Matilda: When I Grow Up
• I worked as a math tutor (for a whole hour!)

MAY

// wrap-up post

• Our congregation's gospel meeting with Michael Fox
• I visited Hollywood
• The Magic Flute DVDs arrived
• I finished my sophomore year

JUNE

// wrap-up post

• Summer began 🌞
• I spent a bajillion years at the library
• I met Sierra Abrams

JULY

// wrap-up post

• REALM MAKERS 😍😍😍

AUGUST

// wrap-up post

• Our congregation's annual Youth Meeting
• I started (and completed!) my first beta-reading project
• My mom started blogging
• I started my junior year

SEPTEMBER

// wrap-up post

• I was quoted in Conqueror by Mandy Fender
• I hosted my first giveaway
• I met Ashley Townsend

OCTOBER

// wrap-up post

• Our congregation's gospel meeting with Wayne Fussell
• I became president of the MEA Theatre Company
• I switched WIPs to start The Scent of the Stars

NOVEMBER

// wrap-up post

• I got my first editing job

DECEMBER

// wrap-up post (oooh, look! You're reading it! 😜)

• 2017 OKC NYM

WRITING GOALS

The Scent of the Stars:

• Finish draft one
• Draft one edits
• Find beta-readers

SPIRITUAL GOALS

• Read the Bible at least once a day
• Be a light to others
• Deepen my relationship with God 💓

BLOGGING GOALS

• Keep-- to-- the schedule!
• Enjoy it (more) 🌟
• Take time off for adventure

How was your Christmas, Dragons? Did you experience snow?

❤,