THE TIME IS NOW

As a college student, I spend a lot of time thinking about the future. All the somedays and the maybes. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am a dreamer. I probably daydreamed more than the average kid. When I would walk to the bus I would write stories in my head. I would spend hours and hours at home behind the computer writing stories--remember back when Word had that little paperclip dude? We were best buds. 

I was certain that I could write a book by the time I was 18. In 7th grade when we read The Outsiders, my English teacher told us that the author was only 17 when she wrote it. If she could dream up Ponyboy and the Greasers at 17, I could write a book by 18, right? A few months shy of my 18th birthday I realized that this ambition had come and gone. And sometimes I wonder if all of these dreams I have will turn out the same way. 

People throw around phrases like "there's no time like the present" and "carpe diem" without having any real meaning behind them. I want to change that. When I am looking back at my life, I want stories to tell about the times that I actually listened to that advice, and the times that I truly believed in myself and made my dreams reality. 

Today I realized maybe I spend too much time dreaming and not enough time doing. Maybe it's too late to be the girl that published a book by 18. But I refuse to give up on the rest. 

When is the last time you did something remarkable? When is the last time that you had a day you will never forget? 

So often we talk about the somedays and maybes. We make "bucket lists" and speak in ambiguous terms about things that may or may not happen in our future. But what about today? If you treat every day like it's just another day, then someday you will wake up and realize that you had a lot of unremarkable days. 

THE TIME IS NOW.

What are you putting off? Is there something you have really always wanted to try but haven't for some reason yet? Ask yourself why you want to do it. Whether you want to learn calligraphy or go on a wild road trip, you should know what you want to get out of it. 

Related: Always Move On To The Next Thing 

What is holding you back? Your answer might be life, which is valid--up to a point. Life happens. Jobs get in the way. Money becomes a factor. And sometimes our goals and expectations seem too big or unrealistic. But sometimes you have to think about what you would do if there were no limitations? Put reality aside, and think about what would make you happiest. 

What steps are getting you towards making it happen? Let's say you want to go camping. Everyone knows that you can't just roll up your sleeping bag and go wandering off into the woods with your bag and a granola bar. That would be foolish. So find out what your equivalent of packing for a camping trip is and start preparing. 

Related: How to Actively Pursue Your Passions

Why NOT?! Remember when I said to get rid of all of the limitations and think about what you really want. When I was in high school, my creative writing teacher went around the circle and had us share what we want to do after high school. I shared my ideas about what I thought I would actually do, and then I said but if I could really do anything, I would work in film. And she asked me if that was what I really wanted to do, then why wouldn't I try to go after that? So, I told her what I really truly believed, which was that I didn't think it was possible. And she countered me with "Why not?" It was the first time anyone had really done that. Now, I don't know if anyone has ever done that for you, but I am asking you now. It doesn't have to be as big as what you want to do with the rest of your life. Maybe you want to go skydiving or try unicycling. The time is now. 

I believe in you. The real question now, is do you believe in yourself?

Today's post is inspired by Helene In Between's #31PhotosInBetween Instagram challenge for July. Join now! Check out @HeleneInBetween for the full list of prompts.

ARE YOU UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA?

Remember when Pinterest was that thing that you had to get an invitation to join? We were all hearing things about this new platform to find recipes and DIY crafts. It sounded pretty fun. Then one day, like most other social media platforms, it became so much more. Now it is widely recognized as one of the best blogging resources on the web. 

So what's all the buzz about using social media to grow your blog? You may have read posts about how you can "double your traffic by doing x" or why you "should be using y". But are you really getting the most of your social media accounts? 

Here are some ways you could be more effective in using social media to grow your blog:

Hootsuite

A while back I read a post about scheduling Tweets, and why you should be doing it on on Life Could Be a Dream. It's useful, because you can still have a social media presence without being glued to your phone. We have busy lives! So must of us can't be sharing posts or quotes all day long. When I heard about Hootsuite, I realized that I could connect it to more than just Twitter.  I linked mine with my Twitter, my personal Facebook, and the Facebook page for my blog. That way I don't have to be by my computer once my post goes live--Hootsuite will share it for me. It's also helpful for those times that you find something that you want to share right after you just Tweeted. Instead of wondering if it's socially acceptable to share two things in a row, use Hootsuite and schedule the second thing for later on!

Related: Blogging With Purpose

Pinterest

Up until about a year ago, I was definitely underutilizing Pinterest. I had no idea how powerful Pinterest was, and I never imagined how much it would help grow my blog. Last year I found out you could create "Pin-it" icons to help users Pin posts directly from your blog. It makes it a lot more likely that people will pin your content, rather than just re-pinning it if they come across it on Pinterest. In November I wrote a post that got more attention Pinterest than I had ever experienced before. My post "7 Things I Never Want My Little Sister to Feel" has received around 15,000 views to date, and Pinterest seems to be the primary way that readers find it. Do not underestimate the power of Pinterest!

TIP: I recently learned from The Nectar Collective that Pinterest uses a "Smart Feed" which means pins are not shared chronologically, but rather "best pins" are shared first. One of the things that Pinterest looks at is the quality of the user, so if you go through and delete pins that have not been re-pinned, you will improve your user quality!

Twitter

I don't know about you, but I love Twitter. I would even go as far as to say that I love Twitter more than Facebook. Twitter is a great way to connect with other bloggers. If I come across a blogger that I like, the first thing that I do is follow them on Twitter, because it is a great way to get your content out there. It's also a way that I have gotten to know some of the bloggers I follow better. I have engaged in Twitter conversations and Twitter chats, shared other bloggers' posts, and increased my blog following through Twitter. Many people spend a great deal of time on Twitter, especially since it is so easily accessible to scroll through on your phone. So take advantage of that!

TIP: Schedule to share content around lunch time, because a lot of people are looking through social media while they are eating or waiting for lunch!

Facebook

For a while I questioned whether or not Facebook was really helping me increase my views. But when I looked into where my traffic was coming from, I realized a good portion of it is still coming from Facebook. It also came as a surprise to me how many people that I knew in real life were actually reading my blog. I have had people Facebook message me or come up to me and tell me how much they enjoy reading my blog (some of these people I haven't seen or talked to in years). And you have no idea how much that means to me! Seriously, this thing is my baby, and it still shocks me when people tell me that they are actually reading it. I actually had someone message me THANKING ME for inviting them to like the Facebook page that I created for my blog. Can you believe that?! That was back when I was just figuring out what the heck I was actually doing in the blogosphere, and it was one of the best compliments I have ever received. Thank YOU for reading my blog! So if you have questioned whether or not Facebook is really worth your time, I urge you to keep posting. You never know who is actually reading and who you could be having an impact on through your words. 

TIP: Share other relevant articles, pictures or quotes on the page for your blog. It will help you keep an active social media presence even when you don't have a post to share. 

Bloglovin'

Here's what I like about Bloglovin': you can have all of the blogs you follow right in front of you. Most serious bloggers have a Bloglovin' account, so it's likely you can follow them this way. It is a feed of all of the recently published content of the bloggers you follow. Additionally, you can go to anyone's account and scroll through their posts. It is a quick and easy way to find content that you are interested in! You can also save posts to refer back to later, and now you can even put them in certain categories--kind of like Pinterest. Also, once you connect your blog with Bloglovin', it automatically publishes your new posts to your account. So it saves you that extra step of having to post it yourself!

Related: DIY: How to Make Pinterest Worthy Photos. Or Not...

Instagram

I love Instagram almost as much as I love Twitter. I am in no way an insta-expert. But I highly envy those who are, and if you could share your ways (or maybe just take pictures for me), that would be stellar. Regardless, it is such a fun way to share photos and even promote your blog! I have noticed a lot of my favorite bloggers rock at Instagram, which is no surprise, because they already have amazing photos on their blogs. I like to think of it this way: what does my Instagram say about me? Since I have a public profile with a link to it on my blog, I want everything I post to fit with my brand and best represent me. (P.S. Whitney Blake, if you ever see this, you are an Instagram Goddess, and I love all of your Instas!)

TIP: Use the Location feature to share the URL to your blog if the pic is related to content you are sharing that day!

Notes about other social media 

A lot of bloggers have a Google+, but honestly I don't use mine that much. I feel like my time is best spent on the aforementioned social media. Also, I have noticed that bloggers like, Helene from Helene In Between, are now using Snapchat to promote their blogs as well! And I think that is a really neat idea. Snapchat has definitely evolved in the last few years, and a lot of celebrities are even beginning to use it as a way to share more intimate moments with fans. However, you probably won't see me making my Snapchat public anytime soon. It was a little difficult for me to make Twitter into a space to promote my blog at first, because it was originally just a fun place to share my thoughts with friends. So for now I plan to keep Snapchat as something fun I do with friends, but who knows, maybe one day I will join the Snapchat-Promotion bandwagon, too. 

Happy Fourth of July weekend! I can't wait to see what you are all up to via social media! Do you have big plans for the weekend?

Related: On Being That Blogger Friend (Can't believe this was a year ago!)

JULY GOALS

Where is the summer going? I can't decide if I feel like I have done a lot or nothing at all. There is still so much that I want to do. At the beginning of summer it feels like you have time to do everything. But before you know it is winding down and people start using words like syllabus and welcome week again. Ew. 

So this month, I have decided to make some concrete goals, and maybe if I share them I will be more likely to accomplish them. Who knows? It's worth a try. 

//ONE// Blog 2-3 times a week. I haven't been great at this lately. During the school year it was nearly impossible to find the time to sit down and actually blog. Most of my posts were re-posts from my Her Campus articles, and I felt awful about it. I wanted to create more posts just for the blog, but I definitely over-committed myself last semester. 

//TWO// Actually open the case to my guitar. I have wanted to learn the guitar for ten years now, and I have yet to put in the effort to actually learn, even though I have a guitar. So my goal for this month is to actually take it out of the case and put some work into learning how to play it. 

//THREE// Learn more about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I love coding websites. As nerdy as it sounds, it's true. I probably won't try to learn anything more complicated than JavaScript. I know some HTML/CSS, but I keep telling myself I am going to learn Java. There's no time like the present, right?

//FOUR// Read for 30 minutes a day. This is something I have wanted to do forever. I read a lot--but mostly from a screen. My goal is to finally make it through some of my books. I just got Aziz Ansari's book, Modern Romance, and it is already helping with this goal. It's so good. 

//FIVE// Keep my curls at least 3 days of the week. Taming my curls is nearly impossible. I find it hard to wear my hair naturally usually, because I just can't get the curls I want. Especially with the humidity, my hair gets large and frizzy, and sometimes I can't help but straighten it. 

//SIX// Exercise 3-4 times a week. Admittedly, I haven't been working out as much as I want to this summer. I was so good about it at the end of the school year, but I definitely need to get back into making it a part of my routine. 

//SEVEN// Try something new every week. I think summer is the perfect time to try out new things. One of the things I really want to try out it kayaking. Hopefully I can make that happen this month. 

//EIGHT// Take more pictures. As I have been trying to find more images for the blog, I realized that I haven't been taking that many pictures lately. I plan to take my camera with me more often so that I will force myself to take more pictures. 

//NINE// Eat more veggies. I love fruit. I could eat berries all day long, because they taste like candy. The thing is they are like nature's candy, because they are sugary. So I have been trying to be conscious about incorporate more veggies into my diet, too. Any suggestions about how you do this? 

//TEN// Comment on other blogs more often. One of the ways that I love to get inspiration is by reading other blogs. There is so much to learn from other bloggers, but I want to focus on commenting more. I know how much it means to me to receive comments, and I want to return the favor!

What are your goals for July?

13 THINGS I LEARNED HALFWAY THROUGH COLLEGE

After my first semester of college I wrote a post called, "10 Things You Learn At College." It was the first time that I saw a post really take off. To this date it is still one of my top-viewed blog posts. Looking back on it makes me laugh a little bit. I still believe in everything that I said, but in a short time my life is completely different than it was then. So since I am about halfway through college now (I still don't fully believe this), I decided to check in and share what else I have learned.

1. What you learn outside of the lecture hall can be just as important. Not to sound too cliché, but you learn a lot about yourself in college. You learn from the people that you surround yourself with and the experiences you have with them, and these lessons help you grow as a person.

2. Living in an apartment is very different than living in dorms. Yes, you had your freedom in the dorms--away from your parents that is. But life after the dorms is a whole other game. Welcome to land of cooking and buying your own toilet paper.

3. It's not always about the grade. It can be difficult to accept a lower grade if you are someone who is used to getting straight A's. Sometimes the most valuable lesson is learning to not overwork yourself just to get the A.

4. Sometimes you need to dance in the rain. A while ago at work, someone said they needed to pull me out of my shell more. It's something that I have been trying to work on. In general, I would say that I am a pretty outgoing person, so I have been trying to be more social--accepting invitations to grab a meal with coworkers on break or joining the conversation when we have downtime. But I have a tendency to hold back a little. As I was walking back from the gym earlier, I realized that sometimes you just have to let go. You have to stop thinking about what other people are thinking or what they could think. This is definitely easier said than done, but you can bet that I will continue to break out of my shell and that I totally danced in the rain all by myself just because I could.

5. The calendar doesn't expand just because your schedule does. I always say I wish there was more time in the day. But I know I would only fill it with more activities. Be careful not to overload your schedule, you will soon regret it if you do.

6. Eat the ice cream. I love ice cream, and I am not ashamed of that. Sometimes I think society makes us feel like we need to be embarrassed about eating things that are bad for us or that we need to have excuses about why we didn't get to the gym that day. I work hard to be healthy--both mentally and physically. And I won't let one get in the way of the other.

7. Coffee habits are really easy to form. At the end of the school year I felt like I wouldn't survive if I didn't get my daily dose of caffeine. Good sleep is so important! I know it isn't always possible to get that ideal 8 hours, but beware that you can quickly become dependent on that cup of Joe.

8. FOMO* is so real. The first thing that comes to mind is the title of Mindy Kaling's book, Why is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Maybe that has to do with the fact that I am obsessed with The Mindy Project right now, but is also super relatable. Sometimes your friends are going to be doing something fun, and you won't be able to join them--but you will be tempted to.

9. If a guy/girl is not putting in any effort, he/she is not worth it. Your time is valuable. And if someone likes you, they should respect that. If they want to see you, they will make the time and they will put in effort to make real plans with you. I've liked plenty of guys. In fact, sometimes I think I fall in love every other day.** But that doesn't mean that I am going to settle for uncertain plans or hoping that a guy will want to "hang out" because going on a date is too much of a "commitment".

10. Your parents did a lot more than you ever noticed. After living in my own place for almost a year now, I have become so much more appreciative of everything that my parents did. They always made sure I was fed, and that I had clean clothes. But they also washed the kitchen floors and cleaned the showers. When someone isn't around to do these things for you, you quickly notice.

11. Acting your age is overrated. So you are legally an adult now, that doesn't mean you always have to act like it. There is a time and place to act grown up. But sometimes it's okay to act silly and have a little fun.

12. Forget about the little things. Don't get bogged down in the details. Being annoyed and bitter is really easy, but being happy is way more satisfying.

13. People will come and go. It has always been hard for me to grasp that some people are only meant to be in your life for a certain amount of time. There have been people that I considered really close friends that I don't even talk to anymore. It's a shame, and sometimes I miss having those friends. I think of those people as long-term guest appearances. And the people that stick around are the regular cast members. Watch out for those people: chances are they are pretty special.

What have you learned so far outside of the classroom?

Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll do another version of this post when I graduate.

*Fear of Missing Out
**This isn't real love. The only guy I have ever really loved is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But since he's off the market now, I am trying to keep an open mind--or rather, an open heart.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW...

Stories are fun. You get to tell a little information about yourself and something you have experienced. One of the things I love about blogging is that you get to know other bloggers through their stories, but there is still plenty you never get to know about them.

Here are a few things you probably don't know...

I secretly wanted to be a child actress. In middle school*, I wished that they would have a spin off of Gilmore Girls, and that I could be on the show. I have since then learned acting is not exactly my thing, but I secretly used to get so excited when the commercials about casting for new Disney shows came on the radio.

I was a bit of a tomboy in elementary school. This wasn't always the case. But I went through a couple of years where the idea of wearing a dress or skirt was repulsive.

My guilty pleasure snack is potato chips. 

I used to get really bad hives as a kid. One day in first grade, I convinced my mom let me go to school with them, because I wasn't sick otherwise--and I was the weird kid that begged to go to school even when I was sick. During our free time some kid drew a picture of a girl with red dots all over her face and said, "Look, it's Taylor!" I never went to school with hives again. 

I once named a fish Duke after Channing Tatum's characters in both She's the Man and GI Joe.

I used to say I was never going to wear makeup. This only lasted until 8th grade--where I experimented with wearing purple eyeliner. What was I thinking?

My favorite movie series is the Back to the Future movies.

I have been trying to teach myself the guitar since 4th grade. Similarly, in 4th grade my friends and I were convinced we were going to start a band. We used to spend hours coming up with names for it. 

In middle school I asked for a medical terms book, and I would spend hours studying it--to the point that I understood some of the stuff they were talking about on House M.D. more than most people would. I thought I could get a head start on studying for medical school.

One summer I watched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl nine times.

What's something I probably don't know about you? 

Join the linkup at Helene in Between!

*Many of my awkward moments and stories of course come from middle school. 

LESSONS FROM DAD

Some of my best memories with my dad involve late-night food runs, just the two of us. Having that one-on-one time with him, even if it was just over a little meal, was special. Sometimes it was just because he saw a taco bell commercial, and other times it was a chance for spontaneous father-daughter time.

Once in high school he brought me to Perkins at midnight, because he knew I was upset over a boy. And he gave me the best advice, reminding me that it was better to have a bunch of guy friends instead, because there's no one to be jealous if you have other guy friends. Of course that advice simultaneously accomplished his fatherly duty of encouraging me not to date until I was at least 25 (sometimes it was 40). But through these late night talks and 18 years under his roof, I have learned so much from my dad.

Here are just a few of the many lessons I have learned from him:

1. Have confidence. 

Growing up I always envied my dad's confidence. When he walked into a room, he walked in like he owned the place--and not in an arrogant overly-self assured way. He is the kind of person that can talk to anyone, no matter the situation, and 99% of the time he is making them laugh. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be like that, and I continually aspire to be as charismatic as he is.

2. Be outgoing. 

My dad taught me to have a firm handshake. He said first impressions mean a lot, and a handshake can say a lot about a person. This one goes hand-in-hand with having confidence, because if you think about it being outgoing is really showing others that you have the confidence to engage with them and really communicate. He also taught me leadership through this, which has taken me a long way already.

3. It's okay to be silly.

As a kid I always thought it was embarrassing that my dad was so silly around my friends and when we were in public. But he always managed to make people laugh, and even friends that only met my dad one time would tell me how funny he was.

4. Do not care about what other people think.

Caring about other people think limits you. If you are constantly worried about what other people think, you aren't being yourself. So if my dad wants to act like he's five or talk in an accent that doesn't actually exist for a while, I'm going to support him. What's that one quote, the people that matter won't mind, and the people that mind don't matter? It's true.

5. Find humor in every situation.

Sometimes it frustrates me when I feel like he isn't taking something seriously or tries to make a joke out of everything. But one of my goals for this year has been to stop taking life so seriously. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and being able to find humor in any situation makes the hard times a little easier.

6. Hard work produces results. 

My dad has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen. He is one of the best in his field, and I can see why. Very few people have the dedication and commitment to work as hard as my dad does. It is part of what makes him the best. He knows what it takes to be a successful businessman, and he has the personality to make things happen. Every once in a while, I hope he remembers that it is okay to take a break, and not stress so much about how business is going.

7. Sometimes you have to do things you don't like so that you can do things you do like.

Whenever I am frustrated with a job or school, he reminds me that I am doing this now so that I don't have to do it later. He taught me to be ambitious and have big dreams. But even at your dream job, you are not going to like every second of what you are doing. So he showed me how special the times you are doing what you enjoy can be when you put in the work to make those times possible.


Well, here I am a little teary eyed in a Starbucks by one of the most beautiful places in Madison, because I miss my dad. I needed to go away for college--it has been good for me. But sometimes I can't help but stop and think about how much I miss our talks or when we watch movies together.

And Dad, I know you urged me to pursue a career in science, but don't forget you sparked my love for movies and television. Maybe one day one of the many shows you DVR will be something I worked on. I promise to take everything you have taught me with me wherever I end up and in whatever I end up doing with my life. More than anything, I want you to know how grateful I am for everything you do, and how lucky I am to be your daughter. I love you, Padre.

Happy Father's Day!
Daughtré

TOP 10 FAVORITE TV COUPLES

*Spoiler Alert* I apologize if you have one of these shows on your to-watch list, and you don't already know that these couples get together. But when you watch it actually happen, I promise it will still be magical, because these couples are meant to be. 

10. April and Andy // Parks and Rec

Admittedly, I was a little weirded out when April first had a crush on Andy. But as soon as I realized how perfect they actually are for each other, I was on board. 

9. Marshall and Lily // How I Met Your Mother

Forget Ted. Marshall and Lily are my favorite part about this show. They really get each other, and they are always supportive of each other, no matter what ridiculous idea Marshall has. 

8. Mindy and Danny  // The Mindy Project

Mindy had a few different boyfriends before Danny. Then they went through the whole "will they, won't they thing" for a while--which is always exciting, yet frustrating. Mindy's old boyfriends were okay, but I am team Danny and Mindy forever. 

7. Brooke and Julian // One Tree Hill

Brooke Davis is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. Seeing her happiness with Julian was one of my favorite parts of this whole series. Every girl dreams that a man would love her as much as Julian loves Brooke. This is the stuff in fairytales. 

6. Ben and Leslie // Parks and Rec

Who wouldn't love a guy got eclairs in the shape of the first letter of their name? (Hint to future love-interests: I feel like a T wouldn't be that difficult to make happen). Plus, Ben resigns from his job just so that they can be together. That's commitment. 

5. Nick and Jess // New Girl

I swear they are meant to be together, and I don't understand why they would ever break up. These two are great friends and all, but I think they are much better in a relationship. 

4. Monica and Chandler // Friends

Ross and Rachel are overrated. The real couple in this show is Monica and Chandler. I mean look at them; they are perfect together. 

3. Jim and Pam // The Office

Just look at the way he looks at her. As I said in one of my recent posts, work relationships might not be the best idea, unless you are Jim and Pam. I fully support this relationship. 

2. Blair and Chuck // Gossip Girl

Admittedly, Chuck and Blair have a somewhat rocky past. But the couple you should be rooting for is never Dan and Serena. These two are a power couple. 

1. Nathan and Haley // One Tree Hill

It's crazy, because when the show starts this seems like the least-likely combination. It never even crossed my mind that they might become friends. Her best friend just happens to be his enemy (and half brother). Yet, these two ended up being my favorite TV couple of all time. 

These are only a few of the fictional relationships that I have loved watch develop. They have made me smile and laugh. And I can only hope that some day I have a relationship with this level of awesomeness. 

What are some of your favorite TV romances?

A LOVE LETTER TO SUMMER

Dear Summer,

I have never been in love. I have been in lust (as you can see here, here, and here). But with you it's different. I promise this isn't something I say to every other season.

The time I spend with you is extra special, because I know it cannot last forever. But the truth is I am happiest when you are around. You invite endless adventure and time to do everything I put off during the rest of the year. My smile is a little bit brighter when I'm with you. And I get a little sad when I think about what it will be like without you, but I am appreciative of the time I have with you now. 

I could spend hours gazing at the lakes on the warm summer nights. Mornings by the lake are serene. Afternoons by the lake are lively. And nights by the lake are a part of some of my favorite memories. 

I know our relationship isn't always healthy, but sometimes you just want a little danger in your life for the thrill of it. You know? I'm tempted to forget the SPF 30, because of the beautiful glow I know I could have. But I know it's not good for me.

It makes me giddy just thinking about all the fun times we still have ahead of us. The late night talks that last until we are convinced we have uncovered the meaning of life at 3am. The random ice cream runs, because it is too hot to eat anything else. And the spontaneous adventures that turn into stories we will tell for years.

I'm usually not one to broadcast my relationships, but I want the world to know about our love affair. I am madly and hopelessly in love with you, Summer.