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So, for years I've been going to a place where I can get just about anything, for a relatively fair price. It is filled with all sorts of goodies that you just want to grab ahold of and never let go. If you let it, it can have the ability to be a magical place of sorts. Okay, I know you're dying to know what it is, but let me tell you a bit more about what it has to offer:

Offers of the Magical Place:

• Free Food! That's right folks, this places always has free food that you can find all around. 
• All the alcohol you could possibly ever need! There is some stuff that I had never even heard before from the wine section.
• Are you a smoker? Well, they have any type of cigarettes, cigars, chew, etc you could ever want.
• Cake!! This place makes really good cake! My family and I have been going there to get cake ever since they came by boat from the old country. 
• Jewelry. You can never go wrong with a nice big rock for the Mrs. 
• Furniture! Do you need to redecorate your house? Well, you should definitely come here. 
• A trampoline! Every time I go to this place, I'm always tempted to go on the trampoline. It's always really big, and all the kids watch it just to make sure it doesn't disappear right before their very eyes. 
• Are you thirsty? Well, you are at the right place if you want something to drink. They have absolutely EVERY drink there is! Energy drinks, juice, water, milk, Gatorade, Starbucks iced coffee, soda, and much much more! 

Seriously, aren't you dying to go there right now? If not, let me keep going with the list...

• During the Christmas season, this place looks like you went into Santa's lair at the North Pole. It has every type of tree and Christmas decoration you can find!
• Are you blind? That's right, they have a section filled with glasses, and appointments you can make to get your eyes checked.
• Do you have a flat tire, and don't feel like going to the car dealership to pay hundreds of dollars to get it fixed? Well, this place can hook you up with cheaper priced tires! 
• It even has enough candy to make Willy Wonka go out of business.
• They also have clothes, books, and tons of board games. 
• It has all types of meats, cheeses, frozen food, and junk food to last for months!

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For the past two weeks, I've been driving my mom back and forth to her doctor appointments. The drives are really long, and they are really early in the morning; so, what do you do in the car for an hour or so? Well, I listen to music. 

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Have you ever woken up in the morning and were very intrigued by your dream? I don't know why, but lately I've had the oddest of dreams! Usually, when I wake up in the morning, and there is something in the dream I feel would be significant to me later, I will write it down in my journal. I don't just mean a rough outline of what it was about, but of the full dream-scene itself. I write everything down to the last detail.

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Dear Society,

Why is it, you follow me wherever I go? Why is it YOU that dictates how I can and cannot act, the way I look, and how I think? Do you think it fair to put an image of "perfection" out there so that everyone is brainwashed into believing that the "picture-perfect-person" portrayed is what will be accepted in society today? You have ruined lives of countless people. There are those that think they are not skinny enough, or pretty enough, or social enough, or smart enough, or rich enough, or talented enough...

What is normal? Is normal the norm of what is accepted within the culturally diverse? We live in a society with all different cultures, all different people, and all different minds. Not everyone thinks the same way, or acts the same way, or looks the same way. Though, even though we know that, there is a label still being put on every male and female that is born.

So, I took this sociology course, and at first I didn't really like it. However, as I got deeper in my studies, I began to feel a deeper understanding of people, different cultures, and social norms. I have always known that there is a universal problem with the perception of how people should think, act, look, and feel, but I didn't think it was a problem of utmost importance. I've read about how insecure people are with themselves, but I just thought it was something they could change as they matured and grew up a bit. But is it really maturity that would change their perspective of their self-esteem? NO! How can you "grow up," and think more highly of yourself when society thinks so little of you? And because of all that negativity, it results in situations where there is suicide, or self-harm, or turning to drugs and alcohol, or dangerous dieting, or plastic surgery...the possibilities are endless!

Don't you think it's time to stop this nonsense? Stop making people believe that if they are not apart of the mirrored image of a "perfect" person, they will not fit in with everyone else.

I used to have the worst possible self-esteem, but as I grew up, I took two steps in front of society, turned around, and saw it for what it really was--corrupt. My whole view changed. I used to be this quiet, self-loathing girl, who wanted to fit in and be like everyone else. And as I write this, I laugh; I laugh at how ridiculous I sounded, and how happy I became once I stopped looking for a role model in today's norm. I am my own role model. I may be a little vain at times, but sometimes it's okay to tell yourself you are beautiful and perfect in every way. If you think it, then whose business is it to falsify that claim? NOBODY!

I go about this world in high spirits. I think the way I want, I look the way I want, and I act the way I want. I laugh in the faces of those that want me to change, or dislike me because I refuse to change. I don't care what anyone else thinks of me. Do you think I care if I am accepted in society, because I don't succumb to the pressure of what is considered "right" from a person? Well, I don't accept you! Don't think you can make me submissive to something I don't believe is right.

Do you think I care if I am isolated from the norm of society? I will in turn isolate you, and others will follow. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, but there will come a day where you will need to change; if you do not change then you will drown. The idea of perfection will have to be altered. It will have to be altered in a way that sees no perfection in any one person, but in every person.

Each person is perfect in his or her own way. It is not up to anyone else to decide if a person is weird, ugly, fat, or stupid. If you can't accept that, then oh well, because I am part of the resistance that will fight against you every step of the way. I will not surrender to the futile attempts to change me. I will be the change that destroys the inaccurate perception of humankind. Catch me if you can.

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Today, I would like to take the time to really show appreciation to my pup. When someone says, "dogs are a man's best friend" they really mean it (well, excluding the fact that I'm a woman). This statement is true on so many levels. I feel like you never truly know how precious a pet can be until you get one of your own. My family used to have a golden retriever, but she was an outside dog, and I never used to play with her (I was really young when she was around). Whenever I saw my friends letting their dogs lick them, I became really grossed out. I just didn't get why they treated their pets like they were part of the family.
However, in my freshmen year of college, my brother and I decided to get a puppy (we live together). Him and I used to come home and just be stressed out to no end. We just needed something that would keep our minds off the misery of school--I know everyone has felt that same feeling at one point or another in their lives.
Anyways, my brother and I picked out a yorkie-poo (mix of a Yorkshire Terrier and a poodle). He was the runt of the bunch, and I really wanted a dog that stays tiny. When he first came home, he was very timid, but shortly became very rambunctious. It was the end of November and very cold; so, when I first laid eyes on him, he was traveling inside my brother's jacket. I saw this shaking little bundle of joy and instantly fell in love. I've never had a child of my own, but I imagine the love I felt when I first met my pup is the same love I would have for my child.
It took us a couple of days to think of a name, but my younger brother thought this dog needed a unique name, so he thought of Giorgio Armani. We tried a bunch of names on him, but none of them really stuck. When we called him Giorgio for the first time, he turned his head and ran to us. We then realized this was the perfect name for him.
When we first got him, he was a whopping 4 lbs. He looked like a black hairball. I have wooden floors in my apartment, and he couldn't stand on them. Every time he stood, his legs would give out from underneath him, and he would end up on his stomach again. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. The first few nights, he slept with my brother on the couch, but we had to put a little pad underneath him, since he couldn't control his bladder.

The first night at the apartment

His first meal

Him laying on my bed

The first night he slept over

My brother and Giorgio on the couch

Trust me though he was hard to handle. He had to be placed in a little play-pen while we were at school. He bit into everything--clothes, wires, shoes, his bed, his own clothes I put on him, etc. He peed everywhere, and was really really loud. As a puppy, he was an absolute terror, and I could not handle him. However, my mom came to stay with us for a month or so, and she trained him to go on his pad or outside, and behave a little more properly. He grew up and calmed down a little bit, which I am most thankful for, because I couldn't afford to replace everything he chewed in my house.
What is weird about Giorgio is that he changes colors! When we first got him, he was black with a speck of brown on his face. After his first haircut, he turned a brown/black color. His second haircut mad him turn gray with specks of black. Each haircut he has had has made him change colors. His hair then became gray and white, and then pure white. He just recently got another haircut and he turned back to dark silver with a cream colored face.

The Evolutionary Color of Giorgio:

A smiling puppy :)

I would give my life up for this dog. He knows me as "Mommy," and when I leave for a bit, I come home with this little fellow whining for me to come pet him. He talks back to me; he cries for and with me; he plays with me, and I don't know what I would do without him. He has become such an integrated part of the family. Even my dad, who does not like dogs, loves Giorgio (even though he won't admit it).
Dogs are a great responsibility, I know, but I make sure Giorgio gets as much love and attention as he needs. I feel that if you get an animal as a pet, you need to be able to take care of them. Being neglectful to your animal is just as bad as physically abusing them. They are like babies that need every once of love and time you can possibly give. They might only be here for a part of your life, but for them, you are their whole life. Their world revolves around you. They wait for you to get home; they cuddle with you when you are sad; they are always there for you when you need them. Cherish them to your best ability, because you don't really know what you have until they're gone.

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So, from time to time, I get bored and am in the mood to read a good book. Okay, to be honest, I'm always in the mood to read, but for some reason I haven't been able to find books that strike my fancy! I'm always in search of an easy read that I can just take to bed with me, and have it be rather enjoyable. I'm in this awkward stage of life where I should start getting out of the teen section of Barnes and Nobles, and into the more adult section. Though, I really love reading books of mythical creatures, and other fantasy literature, like Harry Potter.
However, I have recently come across a book called Forget You by Jennifer Echols that is a pretty good novel! It's based on the life of a high school girl, who loses her memory, and is having a lot of difficult troubles in her family life. This book is aimed at young adults, but the problems she is faced with are on the borderline of adulthood. It has a realistic feel to every day life problems, and I feel this book is a good transition into more adult-like books!
I know a lot of people my age that are having the same difficulties with finding good books, especially ones that are age appropriate. Therefore, I would recommend this one be put on your summer reading list! I hope you enjoy the book!

Questions:
What good books would you suggest reading?
Have you read Forget You, and if so, how did you like it?

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So this past weekend, I went to Ann Arbor with my friend, Krysten. Her birthday is about to come up, so I decided to take her on an adventure, and give her a day of pampering. We first started off the day by going to the spa! She had never gotten a massage before, so I decided now was a great time to introduce her to this pleasant experience. We received the full spa package by starting off with a massage, and then getting manicures and pedicures.

Next, we got lunch at a place called No Thai! I would recommend going there at least once. There are all sorts of items on their menu! A lot of it has rice and curry (a mix of spices; typically has a spicy taste) with their dishes. However, there is also chicken and rice that you could get, which you can also order at a Chinese restaurant, so you know it's not something new to the taste buds. I stuck with that dish, but got a spicy sauce to go along with the chicken. I personally love spicy food. The hotter the food, the better! If you are into that sort of food, then I would definitely advise you to try this place out. Though, the heat should not discourage you, because they have so much on the menu that is not at all spicy!
After lunch, we ventured into downtown to look at the shops! I feel like the stores you wouldn't think to look into are the ones with the most interesting items. For instance, we went into this small shop that looked like it had hand-made jewelry, but as we walked farther in, we saw all sorts of stuff! I found a few little random things like Shakespeare insult gum and insult bandages. I, being the nerd that I am, found these enjoyable, and was tempted to buy everything that was Shakespeare related. In my sophomore year of high school, I had this English teacher that absolutely loved writers born before the 21st century, like Edger Allan Poe and Shakespeare. Her love for these writers made me obsess over them as well. I had half a mind to buy them just for her! She is a very lovely person and influenced my life greatly. She deserves the best from past students!
Later, we ended up in a store that had a ton of sorority items. I love buying anything that has my letters on it, so you can imagine my excitement when I came across this shop. I found one thing in particular that really caught my eye, which was a sorority stamp. You can customize your own personal stamp for your sorority. I know that my sorority would really benefit from it! It would be really convenient for letter writing, or invitations!

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For many years now, I have watched people come into my parents' store and buy lottery. All types of people come in, and try their luck with instant scratch offs and the big games like: Mega Millions, PowerBall, the three and four digit, keno, etc. I see many people that turn 18 that want to come in and try it out now that they're of legal age. However, they never know what to buy! I, being on the side who sells the lottery, know exactly what to play, and when to play it. So, for all you newcomers in the gambling world that are looking to make a few bucks, here are a few tips to know before purchasing lottery...

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What inspires you to do something? Is it the call of nature, on a Sunday afternoon, or the sweet caress of music wrapping its melody around, like a blanket of protection?
 It is the small acts of everyday life that make me want to do something great. I think the hardest problem for me is consistency. I always am inspired to try something new, make someone's day, or do something that has the possibility of becoming something bigger than anticipated, but as soon as I start, I lose that focus or drive to follow though with it.
Inspiration is the key to maintaining an equilibrium of the mind, body, and soul. The word, "inspire" literally means, "in-spirit." You look upon yourself at a deeper level to do, well anything. What inspires you to become the best person you can be? You need to be inspired to follow dreams, or achieve your full potential in life.
How? How can one keep inspiration alive, and what can they do with it? Well, I'll let you in on a little secret: everything you do on a day-to-day basis has the ability to become inspiration that can be used in the future.

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How to Keep Inspiration Alive:

• Find something that "speaks" to you. 
• Take a walk outside and enjoy your surroundings.
• Turn on some of your favorite music, and let the lyrics take you to another place--a happier time. 
• Read a book! It can be a book you haven't read or a book you have read a million times! Let that story transport you to anywhere you would want to go. When I read books, it really gets my juices flowing, and makes me want to get up once I am done, and do something in the "real world," instead of staying the world I was living in while I was reading that story. 
• Do whatever you enjoy doing. When you enjoy something, you are more likely to get a euphoric feeling, and that feeling will blossom into an idea, which will then turn into a motivation or an inspiration to do something that makes you and other people happy. 
• Surround yourself with people.
• Everyone needs to have some kind of contact with people. When you have no one, you get lonely, and that loneliness leads to a "bland" life.
• Make sure you choose the "right" kind of people. Do not pick those who leave a negative residual energy wherever they go. Make sure to befriend those who help you grow, and support you in all aspects of your life. 
• Accept yourself and the people around you.
• There needs to be a happiness that comes from within. Look at your beauty from the inside and outside. Do not look at the flaws you possess, because they are only flaws if you make them so. If there is something that you see that could be improved, then do it! Take, for example, a bad habit like, saying mean things. A bad habit can be changed, but if there is something like the way your face is shaped, then accept it. You don't need makeup or facial reconstruction to see beauty, because you are beautiful without it. 
• The people around you also need acceptance. Do not try to change someone if they do not want to be changed. Give them compliments, because sometimes people really need to hear it. When you see their faces brighten up, then so will yours. That one little act may give you the inspiration to want to do something more that could benefit so many people! 

What you can do with the Inspiration:

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