Goodbye 2011: Hello to a New Perspective♥

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...

Let me just start by saying 2011 wasn't all bad. It was an ah-mazing year!

In March, I saw my friend Ryan Sheckler for the last time and he finally got to meet my dog Geniveve:

Although, I am no longer in contact with Ryan, I wish him the best in life and his career. :)

In April through August, I learned what it meant to grow fond of one of your best friends. Our romance was short-lived unlike our one and a half year friendship. I learned that when you hoard love and don't let it grow, it dies. Just like a seed needs water, light, and time to grow, so does love except it requires patience, faith, and forgiveness.


Sadly at the end of August, that divided love spoiled a really solid friendship. Sometimes in life, you have to make choices based on what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice. In 2012, I vow to not ruin friendships with love but let love develop on its own because that's the way God works through love and God makes everything beautiful in its time.-Ecc. 3:11♥

In June through August, I learned how to become independent. I got my driver's license this year and learned how to cook. I can now honestly say I make a mean shrimp stir fry. :D

In September through December, I learned what it felt like to have people hate you because they don't understand why you ended your friendship with someone or they don't know you but judge you anyway. I also lost a lot of friends this year. Mostly people who were close in my eyes but were only close because they were sharing my information with the world behind my back.

Overall, in 2011 I found peace in Jesus. Without him, I don't know how I would have gotten through this year. This year made me such a strong woman and I can say now that I'm thankful for everything I went through this year, good and bad.

What matters most is that I got through it and can still smile and thank God for each and every new day♥

My New Years Resolution for 2012 may sound simple but it's going to be a test.

To choose happiness no matter the circumstances I face♥

Other goals I have for myself this year:

1.Get more sleep
2. Eat healthier again and stick with it
3. Exercise more
4. Make the Dean's list
5. Finally get a 3.0 GPA
6. Attend all my classes unless I'm deathly ill
7. Not miss a day of work at the library even if I have a migraine
8. Attempt to get more people involved in my literary career(bigger fan base)
9. Just focus on being kind to everyone and know that in kindness, true friendship is found♥
10. Trust that Jesus will take me to heights that I have yet to see but will lift me up to them this year!
11. Cherish my family<3
12. Forget my plans and just be spontaneous. :)
13. Smile more. Laugh often. Love like there is no tomorrow.

I pray that each and every one of you have a 2012 that is BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE. I can tell you with all certainty that this is not the last year the Earth will see but that doesn't mean you shouldn't live this year to its fullest!

Until next time,


Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

On The Issue of Love: Both in Poetry and In Thought♥

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...Love. It's all we need, right? So why is it so hard to find?

These are the questions that have dogged my thinking process lately and I can't seem to let them go.

You're probably thinking, why write a blog about love at Christmas...wait till Valentine's Day. You're probably right about the idea but a blog about love shouldn't just be written for Valentine's Day. It should be written for the sake of inspiring someone to believe in love again and Christmas is the perfect time for warm fuzzies and inspiring people to believe in love because Christmas is a lonely time for most people. Yeah, it's the time when you cherish your family and friends and lavish them with gifts. Yet, if you are a single girl like myself, you want nothing more than your ultimate Christmas wish to come true: To be kissed under the mistletoe.♥

Who doesn't? Even people unlike myself who've already had their first kiss want to be kissed under the mistletoe.

Can I tell you a secret? I know nothing about romance and dating. Ok, wait let me rephrase that. I know nothing about romance and dating from personal experience. Well, I mean I've done so many romantic things in my 20 years but most of them have \ shattered like a broken glass falling off a table. I, Chelsea DeVries, have not had my first kiss yet even though I am twenty years old and I have not had my first boyfriend yet.

I've wanted my first kiss and first boyfriend since I was about twelve but doesn't mean I just went out and got them. I know some girls and even guys think I'm weird because I just don't go out and get them. I do go out but doesn't mean I want to get them from just any freaking guy out there.

In my eyes, I've waited this long for my first kiss so I might as well wait until it goes to the right guy. A guy who pursues me because he realizes he likes me and doesn't want me or my heart to be given to any other guy then him. A guy who can make me laugh, supports that I'm a writer with a lot of emotional baggage, and the big element that attracts me to a guy is his love for Jesus. If you don't love Jesus, I can't date you because I only date people I may want to marry and I can't marry someone who doesn't love Jesus as much as he loves me. Another thing to add is that I want a guy who is handsome in the nerdy sense. He takes care of himself, stays in shape and has a great body but he's not movie star good-looking. He's just good-looking. Nothing over the top.

The reason I can write romance novels as if I've been kissed and had a reciprocated love is because I read a lot. Most of what I read on romance is books on dating for young adults. For example, some of the titles include:

The Truth about Guys; Guys are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti; and recently Guys Like Girls Who... all by Chad Eastham. They've really helped remind me that I don't need a boyfriend but I want one and what guys really want is a friend.

The problem with me is that when I start to like a guy I obsess over him. I tend to give him too much attention because I want him to realize I like him and ask me out. Let me tell you so far, that has gotten me nowhere. I end up more hurt that way so I've decided I'm going to break my bad habits once and for all.

I'm just going to befriend all the guys in my life, no matter if I like them or not romantically. Yes, it might be hard at first but I know God will train me to be a strong women of God through this and will reward me abundantly with a boyfriend who loves me for me, and the fact that I waited for him.

Last night, I wrote a poem based on this:

It's called On the Issue of Love.

On the Issue of Love

Does he like me?
Maybe yes
Maybe no

Flower petals
fall from a
stem
as each of us
declare:

He loves me
He loves me not
He loves me.

To leave my
love life's destiny
in the hands of
fortune cookies,
horoscopes,
or numerology

leaves me feeling bleak.

At this rate
I will find my true love
only if
he's compatible
with my sign
with my number
or I happen to pick the right cookie.

I'm sick and tired
of obsessing over that.
Those lies and deceit
are making me fat.

It seems
the only guys
who like me
have creepy peepers
not to mention are
stage five clingers.

Why don't I attract
a nice handsome
nerdy type,
who loves me
as much as
Jesus.

If he likes me, great.
Over this, I will worry no more.
He will only win
my heart

By seeking the Lord.

~Chelsea DeVries~


There you have it. That's my plan for the rest of my life but especially Christmas break. I am going to obsess over Jesus Christ and believe that the right guy will follow.

Will soon be posting a Christmas blog but until then or if I don't post it in time, Have a Merry Christmas from the DeVries Family♥
Remember the reason for the season is the reason to keep on living!

Until next time, here's an excerpt from Guys Like Girls Who...by Chad Eastham: "God has a lot more planned for your life than for you to worry about whether or not someone likes you or if someone knows you like them. He has already chosen the perfect guy and the perfect path for your life, so obsessing over guys really is a waste of your time.He also wants us to spend time with Him."♥

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

Winter Formal 2011: Welcome to the Zoo♥

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...This year I was really looking forward to Winter Formal for two reasons. First, It was at the Lowry Park Zoo so I thought it would be sick. Second, I've had a rough semester and just wanted to let loose and have a good time.

My sister and I got into our dresses and before my sister did my hair she wanted to walk to the dock by the lake and take pictures. So we did. Let the photo shoot commence:
My sister looking HAWT.
Here's me in my dress♥
My sister again.
Another of me looking sick and sexified♥

As we were walking to the dock, some guys yelled out their apartment window that they would have sex with the both of us for ten dollars. Welcome to Saint Leo. Home of the "True Gentlemen" :P The only thing I have to say regarding that is my sister and I are worth way more than that and secondly I would never stoop so low as to get physical with some pig who probably has a small penis. Just saying.

After that ordeal we quickly sped walked back to Benoit and my sister did my hurr. Check it.


We got on the bus after being attacked by a shitload of intoxicated "True Gentlemen." No need to point out the frat involved. If you get that reference, that's all you need. Off we headed super pumped and hella-hungry:

Once we got there and we filled our faces even though we mostly picked at the sucky food, we walked around to take more pictures. (Jayde's favorite pastime is taking pics, btw.) We only took a few before we were told to go back inside the dance. Yep, we couldn't even walk around the zoo. $15 to be caged like one of the animals.
Chelly and Barbie♥
Another of me and Jayderz♥

I went with this studmuffin: Junior Class VP and the First Lady♥

Then we danced the night away. I totes did the wiggle dance, the shuffle, and you know this ghetto booty dropped it low. ;-) My sister and I had to run on and off the dance floor because this guy would not leave us alone but we handled ourselves. We BAD Bitches♥

Before we left we had to take some more pics for you to feast your eyes on:
Can you believe a 22 yr old tried to pick her up? She's only 16.

To be honest, more guys hit on my sister. I'm not bothered by that. I already know I'm beautiful.♥

So that was Winter Formal 2011. I had a great time seeing everyone and shaking what my Momma gave me but overall, last year's formal was better.

Anyway, now going to finish up the semester by BEASTING my finals and then it's off to the 727 area for a month. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I'll explain why in a later blog.

Please subscribe to my Youtube channel because my sister and I will be posting one every week over break so please stay tuned for that. :)

Also, If anyone realized I got rid of my Facebook till 2012 then you should know so far I am so much HAPPIER without it. I still tweet though so please follow me if you have a Twitter and are not already.


Until next time, Dance like you'll never get tagged. Love like you've never been "defriended" & Tweet like nobody's following!

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

Why I'm Thankful for Thanksgiving Break♥

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...

My thanksgiving break all started and ended in the same place: The tanning bed♥
Finally went tanning again since the summer...it was heavenly.
After tanning my Thanksgiving break continued at the movie theater where I watched Jack and Jill instead of Breaking Dawn. It was funny, not laugh till you cry funny but definitely funny enough to be worth admission. On Sunday, I watched the AMA's and watched Justin Bieber basically take over the AMAs not award-wise but performance-wise where he performed "Mistletoe" and danced with LMFAO during their performance. :D

After that, my break was a blur for about four days where I did homework every day for about five days maybe. I don't really remember all I know is I learned a lot for my marketing class and studied for my accounting test but the days just flew by with all that homework to do. Luckily, I finished my homework and finally got to relax on Thanksgiving. I slept in late, woke up and didn't think about homework at all. Instead I thought of all the things I was thankful for. In no particular order, here they are:
1. Jesus♥
2. My family♥

3. My best friend Geniveve♥
4. My health♥
5. My friends♥
6. My opportunity at Saint Leo University♥
7. People still buying my books and being inspired by them.♥

Without further ado here is a picture reel of Thanksgiving at the DeVries house:
The feast.

The jailbird.

The fam about to devour the feast. lol.

Some people sleep talk or sleepwalk, Jamie sleep pics. lol. I just photo BOMB♥

Then Friday I don't even remember what I really did that day...oh yeah finished teachings by Creflo and Taffi Dollar about singleness. Very powerful teaching and it helped me believe in love again. :)

Beside that, I caught up on some reading and finally caught up on tv(Vampire Diaries doesn't come back till January 5th.-.- Yeah, now that I'm caught up.)

Also, went to the Big Busch aka Busch Gardens with the fam:



Came home and did a back to back movie night with my sisters of Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides and Horrible Bosses. Both were great movies!

Overall, Thanksgiving break was just what I needed to face the last two weeks of the semester.

I even had time to find things to obsess over beside Jesus and Justin Bieber♥ :P

Hot Chelle Rae: I've been listening to their 3 singles the whole time I've been writing this blog; Tonight Tonight, I Like It Like That, and Why Don't You Love Me ft. Demi Lovato. There new album Whatever comes out Tuesday. So stoked. Probably going to cop it. Not going to lie. :P

Sophia Grace and Rosie, the eight and five year old duo that has appeared on Ellen 3 times. They are so adorable and funny. Check em out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUWpd91UBrA

The Motto by Drake ft. Lil Wayne. Y.O.L.O----> You Only Live Once. Repping that for life, fo shizzle.

Accepting the status of my love life and how it still hasn't changed. I know that God has perfect timing and sometimes it seems like I will never experience true love but God's love already is true so it will stay the foundation in my ultimate goal of true love given and reciprocated♥

Until next time, No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.-Charles Dickens♥

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~
P.S. Made this for my roommate before I left: Hand turkeys never fail. :P

I need a getaway from my getaway...

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...When I went to college, I imagined that I would go there and never want to leave. That I wasn't going to go home much because I would be happy with my new life at college.

Now that I've been at college for two years already and am working on my third, that vision of college is completely shot to hell.

People don't care about you for the most part. They are selfish, and all about themselves.
People who you think are your closest friends aren't always there for you.
The classes are so much harder and even if you study your ass off, you still only get C's.
You basically pay thousands of dollars of tuition to teach yourself the material needed for class.
You almost always work the maximum amount of hours at your student job only to have to give it back to your fucking greedy school.
The guys have less balls than they did in high school except for the ballsy slime balls who only just want what's in your pants.

Speaking of guys, I've decided I no longer believe in love. I've lived 20 years with insanely high expectations of love because of Disney movies, movies in general, books, music, and television. Love is everywhere and being that I've never dated anyone in my life or been kissed, I constantly feel like this:
When is it my turn?
What is wrong with me?
Why don't guys like me?

I mean, I'm not trying to be vain but I'm not ugly in the slightest and I've got a lot to offer:
I'm smart
I'm funny
I'm classy
I've got morals
I'm polite
I've already established myself as a writer
I'm independent
I'm loving
I'm sweet
I care too much
I'm generous
I'm dramatic
I have a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ
I'm faithful
I'm loyal
I'm honest
I know how to make a mean stir fry
I'm a licensed driver
..........Do you see what I'm getting at?

Look at all I have to offer. Well, then what is the matter with the male population?
I can tell you. Those who are the greatest guys who would treat me right and realize how much I'm worth are taken, and the ones left who are single either are creepy perverts, hung up on their ex girlfriends, or don't believe in God.

So in order to finish up the semester on the right foot and get my life back to the right focus...I'm deactivating my Facebook until the new year.

I'm going to continue to blog on here, update my Twitter, and Youtube but Facebook will no longer exist for me.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving break at home with the fam<3
Going to tan for a week
Going to see some Movies at the theatres
Going to read
Going to relax
Going to do hw...online class.
Going to drink lots of wine
Going to eat REAL food cooked by my mother
Going to spend time with my BFFL, Geniveve Rosalynn♥
Going to renew my mind and forget about love and boys for a while
Going to find the joy I had over summer...
Going to surrender my license, most likely.
Going to make crazy memories with my sisters♥
Going to feel loved♥
Going to feel wanted♥

Until next time, "Love can be magic, but magic can sometimes be, just an illusion."♥

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff♥

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...I've had a lot of heavy things on my heart lately and I wanted to tell you guys about it so here goes.

Before I tell you what's been going on with me, my sister turned 16 last Sunday. Crazy! I thought 20 was a big leap but when your younger sister turns 16, it really makes you feel old and makes you realize how fast time goes as you get older.

Here's me and the bday girl:

So the semester is almost over...Thanksgiving break is in less than a week from today. Getting ready to give myself a permanent headache studying for finals and of course, Winter Formal. Yet, I recently tried to register for classes for Spring semester and I have to pay Saint Leo about 5400 dollars or so just to register for classes. If I don't register for classes before the beginning of the Spring term, I lose my housing and basically can't attend Saint Leo until I pay off the bill. For the first time ever, financial aid is working with me and they are giving me an increase on my student loan and I am awaiting to find out if I am eligible to receive a 2500 dollar scholarship. If I get both of these things, I won't need to worry and will be able to stay at Leo. If not, I will be taking a semester off to get a job to pay off my bill.

Yesterday, I went to EPCOT on the junior class trip but it was mostly populated by freshman, sophomores, and seniors. It was so much fun...
Here's me and the guys :)

We rode Spaceship Earth, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Living With the Land, the boys rode Testtrak, Mexico, and the Norway ride. We ate so much food (most of it was paid for by Saint Leo except for the twelve dollars I spent on pizza, soda, and coffee)-.-
We went to Club Cool and tried the sodas from around the world, and we "totes" took shots of Beverly, our fave flavor. By fave, I mean gross because it basically tasted like flat club soda and burned like vodka. Needless to say, I won't be drinking soda if I ever visit Italy. :P

Overall though, I'm so glad I decided to go on the trip. I made so many memories and had a blast! On the way home back to Leoland, I was talking to my friend Mike on the bus.
My friend Mike just recovered from appendicitis. What he said to me about that and everything he's been dealing with both stuck with me and made me feel less alone: "I feel God had [the appendicitis] happen for a reason. God didn't give me the appendicitis but it happened because God wanted me to slow down and appreciate all that I have."♥

I've decided no matter what happens, everything happens for a reason. Whether I stay at Leo or not, I've learned a lot from being here and if I can financially find a way, I will be back if I leave. I've decided despite my circumstances, all things are possible with God so I'm trusting that God will get me through this. I'm giving this circumstance to him now and will no longer stress over it. I'm going to enjoy the remainder of my semester here at Leo, and also appreciate what I have and that is:
an ah-mazingly blessed life♥

I would ask that you please pray for me regarding this circumstance because when two people are in agreement about whatever they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in Heaven♥-Matthew 18:19. I love to pray for my friends and family so if you read my blog and would like a prayer request, please feel free to comment below or message me on Fb or Twitter. Together we can BE the change we wish to see in the world. :)

Until next time, here's a quote that I found on the wall beside my bed(I have so much on my walls that I sometimes don't pay attention to what they say.): "I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good."-Phillipians 1:19♥

Also, please remember that prayers aren't wishes. They are faith filled words presented before the throne of the Almighty God. Don't be afraid to approach the throne. Your heavenly Father loves to sit and chat with you. Some of you haven't given him your time lately. You should change that. Seek Him First and all these things will be added unto you.-Matthew 6:33♥

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life...Today I feel like a really strong person because today people just piss me off. Scratch that. All week people have pissed me off. Scratch that. Since last week people have pissed me off. You know why people piss me off is because they can't just be nice. They have to fake being nice just to get people to like them. Fuck that. I pride myself on being nice and smiling at people I don't know. Like for instance, the girls in my hallway. I smile at them and some of them smile back but most of them give me a dirty look as if I killed their mother or something. No. You don't even know me. Why do you think you have the right to judge me?

Another thing that is pissing me off is people pretending to be my friend just to know my business and then acting like I'm the bad guy. Squeeze Me? Hell no. The people that are guilty of this have been deleted and blocked from both my Facebook and my life.

Lastly, I am fed up with people mainly of the African-American race constantly pulling the race card. They constantly have to remind everybody that they are black and they suffered so much, and they are still suffering. It's not enough that Obama is president. They still got to whine and complain, and every other word out of most of their mouths is that they are black.
This is America. It is 2011. Your skin color does not define you and it doesn't make you any different from me. A life is defined by how it was lived not by what it was lived for or whether someone was gay, straight, bisexual, black, spanish, purple or orange. God looks at all of us the same.

I wish more people realized this. I wish more people realized how real and honest I really am. Actually, I bet most people do and they cannot handle it. That is why I have so many haters. They hate me because they are confused as why so many people love me.

If you are dealing with haters just like me, then remember to keep your head up because for every one person that hates you, ten people love you. And hey, if like me, you got haters that hit the double digit range, that's a whole lot more love than hate. So all my haters out there, keep hating. It motivates more people to love me. It motivates me to just continue being me.

Until next time, Give thanks. Give hope but NEVER Give up♥

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~