Happy Birthday to Me!

  Yesterday, I turned a whole year older.  :]  I've never been quite so old in my life!  XD

  I had an absolutely awesome birthday.  :]  On Friday, I had six of my best friends over, and we just hung out all night. :3  We listened to music, Gangnam Style'd, played Apples to Apples, made pizzas, ate cupcakes, opened presents, and just had fun being the awkward girls we are! XD

  So, they all the spent the night, and on Saturday we went to our local coffee shop and all got a frozen drink of our choice.  ;]  Then we went shopping downtown, which was lots of fun!  :D

  Well, I was extremely tired yesterday, due to the fact that we stayed up . . . quite late.  XD  We all fell asleep at different times, but I was the last one to fall asleep, and I just so happened to fall asleep at around 4:00 in the morning.  LUCKY ME!  XD  Then we got to get up at 8:00 to get ready to leave.  Oodles of fun!  XD

  We took the girls home at 11:30, and the rest of the day was spent however I wished.  So, we opened presents, and I received some absolutely awesome presents from my family.  :]  I am so thankful for them all!  We also went out to eat for supper, which was very yummy!  ;]

  Now, along with my birthday comes . . . MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL!  :D

  Yes, I finally got one!  I'll be posting vlogs, random videos, dance videos, and anything else I feel the need/want to post!  ;]  So, I really hope you subscribe to my channel!  :3

{{I'm also sorry if I'm disappointing anyone by saying that I'm not going to be making American Girl videos.  I've lost quite a large bit of my interest, so . . . yeah.}}

  And this part's off-topic, but I got Taylor Swift's Red CD, and I am ADORING it!  :D  I'm not really a "Swifty", but this CD might make me become one, honestly!  I really recommend y'alls get this CD.  :3

  Well, I had an absolutely amazing birthday, and I wouldn't trade any of these memories for the world.

xoxo,
Carolyn

Goodbye, October!

  So, I haven't posted in a long while . . . eek.  I apologize.  XP  I last posted at the BEGINNING of October, and today's Halloween, or otherwise known as the last day of October.  I really am extremely sorry, guys.  But I do hope you forgive me!

  So, October was a rather good month!  Full of fall colors, smells, sights, and sounds.  :]  My dad's birthday was the 19th and my brother's birthday was 24th, and they're both A YEAR OLDER!  :O  That's the oldest they've ever been!  :D  I've had lotsandlots of dance, which is AWESOME.  :3  And for Halloween, I didn't dress up, but I do have a costume to wear . . . for our Halloween dance TOMORROW!  <3

  So, I am very really extremely excited for November!  Let's compile a list of great things that will happen once November is here!

NaNoWriMo!

NaNoWriMo is starting tomorrow, and I'm going to try my absolute hardest to achieve my goal of 25,000 words!  :D  I'm writing the sequel to my first NaNoWriMo book, The Fall of Olympus: Storm!  :3  I'm really utterly excited to become re-acquainted with all my lovely characters!  :]

The Fall Dance!

Tomorrow is also the day of my first school dance of the year!  :]  It's a fall/Halloween dance, and there's a costume contest!  :D  I'm dressing up in an extremely comfy costume that's quite original, if I do say so myself.  ;]  What is it, you ask?

  And if you guessed Harry Potter, you're wrong.  Who else wears circular, black, glasses?

. . . 

WHERE'S WALDO, OF COURSE!  :D

  So yes, I am very excited for the dance.  I'll be slow dancing with my lovely friends, because we're all #foreveralone.  XD  {{#hashtagswag #hashtagsdontbelongonblogsbutidontcare}}

TAKE ME HOME AND REACHED!

The new One Direction CD comes out on November 13, and I am COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!  Ahhh, so excited, as I am me, the obsessive fangirl Directioner!  :D Which reminds me, my Jack-o-Lantern this year was the 1D symbol.  ;D

And also on the 13th, Reached by Allie Condie-the third book in the Crossed series-is coming out!  I can't wait for this, either!  <3

MY BIRTHDAY!  {{And my mom's.  XD}}

I am SO excited for my birthday!  November 17th, only 17 days away!  :]  We're having our family birthday party this weekend, and my birthday party with friends will be on the 16th and 17th!  :D

My mom's birthday is on the 30th, too!  :D  We're both November birthdays!  ;]

~ ~ ~ 

  So, I've got a LOT to look forward to in November, and that's not even all of it!  :3  November's going to be a good month.  I can just feel it.(:

xoxo,

Carolyn

Today

--Wearing a very Hunger Games-esque outfit

--Writing in my journal for the first time in forever

--Wishing I wasn't out of mints

{{not pictured}}

--Morning practice

--Having amazing friends that cheer me up when I'm down

--Hanging out at the coffee shop with these lovely girlies <3

--And then doing homework at the park together

--Listening to One Direction and feeling all happy

  I had a kind of rocky start to my day, but it got better as the day went on.  And I'm just content now.  Yes, yes, I am.  :3

xx,

Carolyn

And listen to this, my dears.  <3

Of Lovely Music

  I had a bit of an emotional day today, but I have some songs that I've been adoring like crazy lately that make me smile.  So I shall share them with you.  :]

  Now listen to them.  Lots.  Because they're lovely.

  My school dance is tonight, and I'm very excited.  :]

Love,

Carolyn

Updates, FAQ, and Etc.

  Yes, this is a rather large post.  XD  Well, since it's so large, how about I get started with ze updates!  :D

{Updates!}

1.) Changing this Blog a Bit

No, I'm not talking about having a new background or header or even a new look entirely, I'm talking about something bigger.  What is that something, you ask?  Well, Eternally 18 Inches is no longer going to be . . . 

NOW!  Before you get all upset or before you ask if I'm growing out/have grown out of dolls, READ ON.  Por favor.

Eternally Eighteen Inches isn't going to be its own blog anymore, I'm simply going to post EVERYTHING on this blog.  I'll copy and paste all of my dolls' posts to a page that will be up top, and if my dolls ever feel like posting again, they can post up there!  ;D  This way I won't have one blog that is posted on frequently and another that is barely posted on at all!  If you don't want to read my American Girl blog posts, you don't have to.  But I'd like you to.  ;)

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS PHOTO WITHOUT PERMISSION.
I loved this picture, then just a little editing on Picnik and VOILA!  :D

2.) Honor Band

Yesterday was honor band, and it went really, REALLY, well!  :D  I had a lot of fun, met a girl I could consider a friend that was JUST like me {both play French horn, both play piano, both dance!}!  We got along really well.  I got SECOND CHAIR in chair placement, which-if you were wondering-is GOOD!  Especially because there were nine French horns.  I was surprised because I messed up on one of my scales A LOT.  But I was nervous. :P  But I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the experience immensely!

3.) Picnik is CLOSING 

Yes, the famous free photo editing website is closing . . . :(  BUT!  Until it closes on April 19th, all of the Premium {which is the not-free part.  XD} features are open to the public!  YAY!  :D  I've been editing quite a few pictures.  You'll see them throughout the post. :)

One of my favorite doll pictures EVER.

{FAQ INFO!}

  Yep, I'm having my first FAQ {frequently asked questions} on this blog!  :D  I will answer all of the questions in a post and put them on their own special little page up there.  :)  So, PLEASE ask a question or two . . . or as many as you'd like.  ;)  I will answer all questions unless they are personal or inappropriate.  As far as "personal" questions go, no, "What state do you live in?", "Where do you live?", "How old are you?", "What grade are you in?", etc.  Alrighty?  Thanks.  :) 

{This'll do as my signature for the post.  ;)}

Honor Band and Braces

  I've been practicing for something pretty important lately, and that thing is honor band.  It's this Saturday, and I'll have to have chair placement.  What's that, you ask? Well, I go into a room with just me and a judge {or judges} and I play through three scales {two scales of my choice and one octave of the chromatic scale}, and then play though all of my music.  Then I will be put in a chair, first, second, third, etc.  So, PLEASE pray for me!  I am really worried because, although I must say that I do really like it and am pretty good {not to brag, sorry if it seems like it}, I know there are a lot of AMAZING musicians in my state.

One of my songs!  :D  This one's really fun and quite difficult, and I like it A LOT.  <3

  I'm really excited, though!  Only one problem.  I'll have SPACERS for the performance . . . and I would've only had them since that Thursday.  I really hope these don't affect my playing too much, I'd be practicing a lot for nothing! :{P  {HE HAS A MUSTACHE!}

  I am extremely thankful, though, that I won't have my BRACES for the performance!  I'm getting my braces on the 26th, AKA in two weeks and two days. {Ha!  Two two's! XD}  Please pray it won't be too painful.  ;)
 

RANDOM PICTURE OF MY LAPTOP!  C for CAROLYN!  :D

{Love, love, Reginald and Charles the French horns, love, love}

Music

  Music is a very important part of my life in MANY ways.  I use music for enjoyment, I make it on my piano and French horn, and I use it when I dance.  Where would I be without music?

  So, I'm going to just share some of my favorite singers and my favorite song(s) by them!

Britt Nicole

  Britt Nicole has been one of my favorite singers for a very long time!  I've been a fan for quite some time now, and originally found out about her from listening to music on Quinny's blog!  :D  She's a Christian artist, but her songs are also very upbeat and lively.  Through Britt, I have truly become closer with God.

Favorite Song: Headphones

Sara Bareilles

  Sara Bareilles is a really great artist.  Her music is very powerful and pretty.  The lyrics are always so fun to listen to. I originally became a fan of Sara Bareilles is because of one of my best friends, Makenna.  :)

Favorite Song: King of Anything or Kaleidoscope Heart/Uncharted 

Ingrid Michaelson

  I haven't always been a fan of Ingrid.  My mom got a CD of hers a LONG while ago, and I wasn't a big fan of her voice.  After watching some girloftheyearstudios {{AG YouTuber}} this summer, I heard Parachute and fell in love with the song!  Ever since I've been a huge fan for quite some time.  Her voice is so sweet and just makes you feel good inside. ;)

Favorite Song: You and I {{currently, I love a lot of her songs, though!}}

Rachel Platten

  Rachel is more of a new favorite singer, but she's GREAT nonetheless.  I got interested in her because of girloftheyearstudios again!  She has a great voice and GREAT enunciation {which is random, but true}!  XD

Favorite Song: 53 Steps

Mindy Gledhill

  Mindy Gledhill is a VERY new favorite singer, as in I got interested about last week.  Her voice is very soft and Indie, which is what I like.  :)  All of her songs are very, VERY, pretty and so sweet!

Favorite Song: All the Pennies

  So, hope this wasn't too boring for you!  ;)  If you haven't heard of any of these singers, I 100% recommend you looking them up!  You won't regret it!

lovelovemusicalovelove

Thanks ;)

{{A response to Hannah's post.}}

  Okay, I started writing this yesterday, so . . . yeah. XD  I didn't have a chance to finish because of having relatives over, I was planning to write more.  I apologize. :P

  I woke up this morning to light streaming in from my translucent curtains and smells of turkey, vegetable, and ham wafting through the air.  I quickly reminded myself that it was Thanksgiving.  My relatives were probably on their way to be here right now.  A smile spread across my face.  I gazed at the clock tiredly, seeing 8:50.  I was tired, so I closed my eyes for ten minutes, got out of bed, and began walking towards the kitchen.

  "Good morning!" my mom and dad chorused.

  I smiled.  "Good morning," I repeated groggily.

  "Happy Thanksgiving!" my dad told me.

  "Yes, happy Thanksgiving!" said my mom, capturing me in a hug.

  "Happy Thanksgiving!" I repeated again.

  I then made my descent down the stairs to get ready to type up this very post, the post where I post {man, lots of posts!} things that I am thankful for.  So, here I go!

1. My family: I don't know where I'd be and what I'd do without them.  I love them SO much and am so grateful to have such a wonderful family. ♥
2. My friends: The family I get to choose.  ;)  I absolutely love these people.
3. My house: Not everyone has a nice house, a nice bedroom, nice cars, and nice things overall {such as couches, chairs, desks, computers, etc.}.  I am really blessed.
4. Food: I am very lucky to be served food whenever I need it or be able to go out and get food to eat.
5. Dance: I am EXTREMELY blessed that my parents allow me to dance and they pay for it.  I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't dance!  I am also extremely blessed that I get payed for working at dance.
6. Education: I am very lucky that my parents send me to school and I can get an education and eventually go to a good college.
7. The internet: It's kind of stupid, but I really LOVE the internet.  I love how I can write, read, draw, and interact with people from all around the world that I can call FRIENDS.
8. This blog: Gosh, you don't know how much this means to me.  After my blogs were deleted, I didn't know if I would ever earn back my followers or my views, but I'm getting there.  I know I have the same amount {if not more} of followers that I had around this time of year last year.  :)
9. American Girl: American Girl is so amazing.  It's a creative outlet and a great way to meet new friends, through the internet AND in real life!  I am so grateful to have my four gorgeous dollies.  ;)
10. The American Girl Fan Message Board: Through this amazing, wonderful, spectacular, message board, I have met amazing girls, learned to love my dolls EVEN more, fall more in love with dance than already, and even get closer to God.  The American Girl community is so warm and welcoming, I am very happy to be a part of it!
11. NaNoWriMo: Man, NaNoWriMo is SERIOUSLY one of the best things I have ever done.  I wrote like a maniac, and accomplished my goal of 9,000 words, then went on to do over 2,000 more words!  :D  Through the forums I have met lovely people that I really have enjoyed getting to know.
12. Music: The world would be rather dismal and depressing without music.  I listen to music when I write, when I do homework, when I'm bored, when I dance, and even more!  It's a way to bond with family in the car, those hours of driving to and from dance with my mom, singing together.
13. Instruments: I'm very lucky my parents let me play the French horn and piano.  They are a large part of my life and I enjoy them both immensely.  :)
14. Books: Man, what would I do without books?  I love to read them, AND write them!
15. Pointe shoes: Go ahead and call me crazy, but I absolutely ADORE pointe shoes.  There's just something about them that makes you feel beautiful and elegant.
16. Ghillies: My Irish dance shoes are too special not to include on here!
17. Tap shoes: Loud, clear, sounds coming out of these normal-looking shoes . . . so beautiful.  :)
18. My classes: The dance classes I teach . . . oh, I love these little girls!
19. My room: I love my room.  It's bursting with inspiration and color.
20. My desk: I just rearranged it yesterday and cleaned it and such, and I'm really happy with how it turned out!
21. Snow globes: If you didn't already know, I collect snow globes.  :)
22. Clothes: I love the clothes I have, and feel really lucky to have them.  Not everyone is so lucky.
23. My teachers: My teachers this year are pretty great.  I really enjoy them and my classes!
24. Hot chocolate: This time of year, I love to sit around and sip hot cocoa.
25. Cameras: Whenever I see a DSLR, I clutch my mom's arm and say, "LOOK AT THAT PRETTY CAMERA!"  Hehe, hint hint.  ;)
26. Holidays: Holidays are so much fun, being with family, huge meals, and giving thanks.

  What are you thankful for?

Doodling in the Clubhouse

  Today my little neighbor and I went outside into our clubhouse.  It was a nice day, warm with a faint, cool, breeze whipping through the air.  We decided to do a fun thing, bringing out the towels.  Why is that so fun, you ask?  Well, we make a little secret clubhouse where we put the towels up in the little "windows" so no one can see us, and we draw, talk, and do whatever else it is we want to do!  Today we drew and listened to music.  I drew six drawings, she drew four, and I drew two for her.  :)

  It was a simple, happy, day where we goofed off and talked and sang along with songs, dancing while sitting.  It might not have been like yesterday when I went to a huge waterpark, but it was fun nonetheless.

take some time to appreciate the little things in life

Fouettes,
Carolyn