Guest Post: What The Reality Of Life Taught West Vee

For the next week I'm going to be super busy moving and settling into my new place so I've asked a few lovely ladies to come over and keep you company! Thanks so much West for guest posting! It's interesting thinking about what life was like growing up, and this is what her incredible life has taught her! I can't even imagine being burdened with so much responsibility at such a young age!

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Once upon a time, we were born as babies with no thoughts about what the world offers, but unfortunately we can’t stay on that state. We were made to grow up, to face the world and deal with it.  It really is a mere fact that life doesn’t always give us all the comfort. I also believe that even though it’s not always comfortable, still, it is not unfair. Some asks what makes it unfair? I know that they know the answer but they don’t want to acknowledge it.

That Kid

Seeing my childhood photographs gives me mixed sentiments.  It’s like an album of evidences that I was raised with care and love.  Seeing myself flashing candid smiles to the world that I barely know. Yes, as a child, everything seems easy. 

That Teen in the Making

Being a kid, I know I’m allowed to cling to dependence but in my early teenage years things started to change. I realized that I’m standing between two doors- dependence at my back and independence in front of me. Banging and entering those two doors back and forth became a part of my life. Yes, I was guided by concerned people around me but because of curiosity, what they said I should not do, I do and what they said I should do, I do not. That explains the crossing between the two doors.
 I never had vices like smoking, drinking or the likes, but I knew that during this stage, I learned how to lie hardcore, bully my sibs, not accept my mistakes, and blaming others for the faults I did. The Brat Stage, I should say. To sum it up, a vivid picture of immaturity.   

Seventeen: Reality Slaps
If my memory serves me right, this was my age when I really felt the momentum of reality. Childish games are over. This time, it’s about me withdrawing from the grasp of dependence. It’s time for me to face the world, to face certain situations of life by myself. 

The turning point was this:
I grew up with a dad working abroad and a mom always at home. But things changed when my mom decided to also work out of the country because we had experienced financial problems. Dad won’t allow mom at first but my mom really insisted. It’s true that they can earn more if they both work so they could settle our financial issues and because I’m also going to college. That is why mom really insisted. Therefore, I have my two younger siblings left with me and a whole lot of responsibility. It’s time for me to face the world without my parents physically.  
Being seventeen: Life is not a mere game, you don’t mess with it.    

Miss Independent
I’m West, a daughter, a sister, ‘acting parents’ of my siblings, a friend, a student, an organization leader, and a Filipino citizen. Yes, at a young age I was able to see that life isn’t always about just myself, it is not about my sake but it’s about how I put myself in situations where others are involved. 

I DON’T CARE! I’LL DO WHAT I WANT! THIS IS MY LIFE! 

Nah! I can’t say that, and I don’t want to. My life does not just involve me but it involves “others”. I now know that what I’ve learned about the reality of life is not enough but what I knew is enough to remind me that life should be given importance. Living wild and free, they said it’s fun but risky. Unfortunately, you can’t blame curiosity all the time. 

There are some things that I wanted to try but if I do it, I know that my responsibilities will be affected. I cannot exchange important responsibilities for a unimportant-short time fun and excitement. 

Carrying many labels and responsibilities may be really exhausting but I know that it’s for my own good. I know that these responsibilities and identities will help me grow as a person. 

I’ll soon be turning 20 and …

• I’m thankful that I am having a good college education in a good University.
• I’m thankful that I’m a daughter, sister, and an “acting-parent” at the same time making me responsible to my family. Monitoring my sibs and also teaching them manners and conducts, doing house chores, paying the bills, making budgets and the likes.
• I’m thankful that I am being honed /trained how to deal with situations in different aspects of transactions. Like, applying for investment/ insurance, having conversations with real estate agents. Lol! That what adults do! Haha.
• I’m thankful that I learned to become more careful in making decisions.
• I’m thankful that I grew to be more selfless and being considerate with others.
• I’m thankful that I have been with great friends that add up color to my life.
• I’m thankful that my parents put their full trust in me. I’m thankful that  my parents put their full trust in me… financially.
• I’m thankful that I was born as a Filipino; a race who can still smile even though problems comes along the way. 
• I’m thankful that I’ve prefer not to enter a bf-gf relationship. Just admiring someone is also good.  I’m considering point #11.
• I’m thankful that I learned about the seasons of life (learn-earn-earn-earn-earn-earn-marry)
• I’m thankful that reality taught me to be serious in my study, the market place is a competitive dimension, and I must be equipped. Plus, I don’t want to disappoint my parents. I know that graduating college and having a decent job is one of the best gifts that I can give them.
• I’m thankful that I have hardworking and loving parents.
• I’m thankful that at a young age, my siblings fully understand why our parents need to work and be temporarily away from us.
• I’m thankful that my siblings have respect in me and my decisions.  
• I’m thankful for the people who also motivate me to run this kind of race.
• I’m thankful that my mindset helps me convert any kind of problems into “this will help you grow as a person, conquer it” kind of thought.
• I’m thankful that at a young age, reality slapped me and awakened my thoughts.
• I’m thankful that I can juggle all these things.
• I’m thankful that God gave me this kind of life.

LIFE IS NOT MEANT TO BE PERFECT.
BUT PERFECTION IS FELT IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICES/DECISIONS IN LIFE 
YOU ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS AND FEARS. CONQUER IT.

Responsibilities are meant to be heavy, so gather up all your strength and go on with your life’s journey.

There’s more ahead!

West Vee

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Thanks so much for posting West! I really admire your ability to be positive even when faced with a tough situation, I admire what you're thankful for and think that you are so strong and brave!

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Guest Post: Kristen's Fall Comfort Foods

For the next week I'm going to be super busy moving and settling into my new place so I've asked a few lovely ladies to come over and keep you company! Thanks so much Kristen for guest posting! Mmm, with fall right around the corner for all of my North American friends, I can't help but salivate over the thought of a big bowl of chili or beef stew... guess I'll have to look from afar, seems a bit much right before a summer day at the beach in Australia!

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While some of you are probably glad to bid winter adieu, I'm itching for the days to get colder and to cozy up with warm drinks and comfort foods. Certain meals just seem to pair perfectly with specific seasons; savory, hearty beef stew doesn't really work when your kitchen is already sweltering from the summer heat. 

Whether you're chasing the crisp days away or welcoming them in for another go, what better way than to curl up with a warm, steamy bowl of your favorite comfort food? I'm looking forward to meeting up with these old friends for a new autumn: 
Kale & butternut squash soup makes for a nice toasty bowl (or twelve) of goodness to cuddle up with on chilly days. 
Chicken & biscuits, chicken & noodles, pot pies, casseroles, or any other variation on the "how many carbs can you pile onto one another in a single serving dish" game. 
Creamy pumpkin pasta might sound strange, but turns into a great way to use up leftover pumpkin as autumn progresses (I'm guilty of stockpiling as much canned pumpkin as I can get my hands on at the store to make this autumnal variation of macaronic and cheese).

Baked gnocchi. I jumped the gun a bit early and made this for dinner the other day. What can I say, it was particularly fall-like out. My motto is, "the more cheese, the better", and baked gnocchi delivers. Sure you can eat this dish any time of year, but it's more fun to have cheese, potatoes, more cheese, and melted cheese, baked and served in a rustic looking bowl to settle in to fall (or chase the chills away!). Make a roux, add your favorite cheeses, toss, and bake with some Parmesan on top? Oh yes.
Beef stew. Nothing says fall comfort like letting the crockpot simmer away all day and having a warm, hearty meal when all's said and done.

What dishes make you all cozy and content inside?

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Thanks so much for posting Kristen! I'm super excited for fall comfort food, yum!!

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Guest Post: Tayrina's Journey, Finding Strength

For the next week I'm going to be super busy moving and settling into my new place so I've asked a few lovely ladies to come over and keep you company! Thanks so much Tayrina for guest posting! I love this post because it shows her amazing strength. Although I am not personally religious, I admire the strength her faith has given her in such a time of crisis...  

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The beginning of our journey…

In life, there are situations that happen and they are out of our hands.  This happens very often. There are changes in life we can assimilate and others that are more difficult.  When my husband and I got married a few months later, came into our lives a time of difficulty.  After several months of married, I got pregnant. But after several weeks, I had a spontaneous abortion or a miscarriage.  It was a time of pain and sorrow. In a way we could not understand, conceive, and much less assimilate so easily.  It was a loss.  At that time, there was nothing that could make us feel differently.  Apart from that situation, also we had one big economic pressure. We didn't know what to do. It was a difficult time.  But within all this difficulty, there was nothing that could give us the comfort we need, except the Lord.  In all that darkness, in that precise moment I got to think, to meditate and above all things to rest in the Lord.  It was a crisis, and so we were there for a while.

There were times when we could really look at ourselves and see how we were to each other in the middle of the crisis.  While it was a big crisis, it also became a time of learning, time for knowledge of each other.  It was a time in which we could see what we had, what we had lost and what we really needed in our lives.

This is our way, our journey ... This was the beginning of something extraordinary.  Of course in that moment of pain I could not see that.  Knowing that our trust was in the Lord, for more hard the road it was. Knowing we were going to deal with it and would learn to depend on God.  

Just in that moment, the Word of God it was so sweet to me… 

 [Psalm 121 ] I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NIV.  

I could think right now about that moment, I look back and see how hard we have been fighting.  How we've been taking care of each other.  I have to say we could not survive this moment of pain without the Lord.  He is our strength, Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

If you are going through a difficult time, the only thing I could say to you is that there is nothing could give you peace than the Lord.  Resting in Him is the only thing for sure you can do.  The better thing is going through the process, live every minute of it and learn from the moment.

Now, time has passed and we are learning from each other every day.  Enjoying good times and hard times.  Waiting for the moment when we could bless someone, with this story of life… with our journey in life.  I hope that these few words could let you know that there is Hope, there is time for more love, tears, sometimes pain, but there is a lot to learn and grow in the Lord.

Photos and words provided by: Tayrina González (Blessings Craft Studio)

Bible Verses from: Bible Gateway (http://www.biblegateway.com/) / New International Version

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Thanks so much for posting Tayrina! I really admire your strength and courage in the face of crisis!

Guest Post: Rachael's 5 Tips for Moving Away

For the next week I'm going to be super busy moving and settling into my new place so I've asked a few lovely ladies to come over and keep you company! Thanks so much Rachael  for guest posting! Moving is always tough, but super fun! These are some great tips to make the transition easier!

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Hey, friends!  My name is Rachael and I blog over at Pretty in Pink.  I'm taking over for Miss Becky while she moves her booty across Australia!  But first, a little about me...

I'm a college student studying to be a teacher.  I blog about life, friendships, tea, books, Carrie Bradshaw and of course, the color pink.

I live in the good ole USA (Ohio, to be exact), but last summer I spent two months in Atlanta, Georgia!  I lived with my aunt and uncle, so I had family, but I had to start all over when it came to making friends and finding things to do.  I needed a change of pace and moving away for the summer seemed like a good idea (turns out, it was!)  Today I want to share 5 tips for moving to a new place on your own and how to make the adjustment easier.

Make connections
When I moved to Atlanta, I knew that I had a cousin that lived in the area that I wanted to reach out to.  I also knew my boss at work had friends in Atlanta, so she gave them my number as well.  The point is, reach out to people you may know in your new area!  You can use face book and your blog to do this.  I met one of my great friends through blogging in ATL and I am visiting her in December!

Enjoy me time
If you’re moving somewhere new and don’t have the usual social calendar, it’s okay to start enjoying some “me” time.  Write, read, journal, do your nails, or start up a new hobby.  For me, I began going to the gym because I had more free time.  Look at it as a good thing and not a bad thing!

Pick up a hobby
Along with number two, you will have more time with a cleared social schedule.  Look on your Pinterest boards and see what you've always been wanting to do but haven’t.  Knitting?  Sure, why not!  Learn how to paint your nails in a cool way?  Let’s do it!  Always wanted to read a book about aliens? Go for it!  This can be a time in your life to re-evaluate your life and priorities!

Explore
So you just moved to a new city, awesome!  There are so many places to explore, people to meet and adventures to be had!  So get out of your comfort zone and go meet new people and try new places.  The Internet is your friend.  I tried to eat at new places, went to Six Flags, and even went to the mall by myself (which was a little scary, I’ll be honest!)  Pushing myself past my comfort zones helped build me into a better version of myself and gave me confidence!

Stay in touch
I’m grateful we live in a society that is so technological (is that a word?)  Skype, snapchat, texts, phone calls… they all make keeping in touch with friends and families in your new home easy.  Don’t be afraid to call friends and reach out to others.  

Have you moved to a new area? What tips do you have for me?

Thanks Becky for letting me post!  I would love it if you stopped by my slice of the Internet and said hi.  

Rachael

Blog : Twitter : Facebook

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Thanks so much for posting Rachael! Definitely some amazing advice about making friend in a strange place - I'm going to need it!

                              

Guest Post: Dee's Three Awesome Experiences

For the next week I'm going to be super busy moving and settling into my new place so I've asked a few lovely ladies to come over and keep you company! Thanks so much to my new friend Dee for guest posting! We're both ENPF's and clicked immediately, totally awesome! 

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Hi readers of Seductive Mania! My name is Dee, and I blog over at Deecoded. Becky and I "met" when we were assigned to be partners for the Cara Box exchange program, and I was totes excited when I found out that we have the same ENFP personality type, which means we're both charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. What, that was how we were described on an official looking website, so you have to believe that it's true, right? Right??

One other fact about ENFPs is that we're very energetic, passionate individuals who have a zest for life. That's how lots of my friends describe me anyway, so that means I'm always game to try new things. Here are three awesome new things I've tried.

(1) White water rafting

This is one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done in my life. We did this in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. We traveled for 12 kilometers through 14 major rapids, paddling our canoe as instructed by our in-canoe guide. Our guide Gary, I later found out, was a member of the Philippine olympic rowing team. He gave names for every rapid, and my favorite was the one he called the ‘washing machine’ because we could cross it while turning the raft around circles, just like a washing machine! So cute! I also loved the one with the big rock where he made us all transfer to the back seats and paddle towards the big rock to get our canoe’s front to tip upwards against it, while we leaned back, and it felt like we were in a flyfish.

(2) Became an extra in two films

Now my job is in finance, so being part of a movie is way out of my line. But one time when I was in between jobs, I attended a writing seminar conducted by a writer-director in Singapore. It turned out she had an upcoming movie and later asked if I could play the part of an extra, as a teacher. I excitedly said yes. I ended up going back three more times and another director of an indie short film also asked me to be an extra at his film, and let me tell you, those moments turned out to be some of the most memorable experiences in my life! I learned a lot about how movies are being made, things like continuity, and did you know it takes a bazillion takes of a single scene before they wrap it up? I have renewed respect for actors and directors alike.

(3) Color Run, the happiest 5K on the planet

I'm the least athletic person in the world (okay, so maybe that's a teensy bit exaggerated), but when I found out that the Color Run, the happiest 5K on the planet, was being held in Singapore, I just had to sign up! It was really fun, we ran (or more like walked) through Sentosa and got doused by different colored powder at each kilometer, ending up looking like a unicorn had upchucked on us in the end. And guess who rode the train home looking that way?

And those are just some of the really weird fun stuff I get myself to. You can read more on my corner of the internet, so please do come over! I adore visitors! :)

Let's connect!

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Thanks so much for posting, Dee! I've always wanted to do a colour run, and love your accomplishments, everyone should be so proud of all the cool stuff they do!

Guest Post: Getting to Know Brisbane ( And Rowdy Fairy!)

For the next week I'm going to be super busy moving and settling into my new place so I've asked a few lovely ladies to come over and keep you company! Thanks so much Tania for guest posting! Brisbane is near and dear to my heart, it was the first city in Australia I ever saw, and Tania is lucky enough to live there! 

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Hi there everyone! My name is Tania and I have come to invade Becky’s blog for the day! Usually you can find me over at the Rowdy Fairy Blog, however today the lovely Becky has asked me to guest post and I am so thrilled to help her out!

Where is home for you? For me, home is the city of Brisbane, the city I live and grew up in, and I would love to share a piece of my home with you.

When people think of Australia, their minds often turn to Sydney, Melbourne, the Outback or the Great Barrier Reef, however not many people know of Brisbane.

Brisbane is a fully fledged capital city with a population of 2.2 million people. The city centre is full of sky scrapers that tower over the beautiful Brisbane River which runs right through the centre of the city. 

Brisbane has also often been called the most typically Australian City in the country because of the warm weather and the close proximity to some of the country’s best beaches and outback areas. 

Brisbane Highlights:

Mt Cootha Lookout 

Mt Cootha and the area around it is a great spot for tourists! Head up the mountain to the lookout and you will find the best view of the city. It is one of the best city views you will find in the country. Around the mountain you will also find a nature reserve full of great bush tracks as well as the botanic gardens and planetarium. 

Here are a few pictures from the last time I visited the lookout from my ‘On The Weekend’ Post. 

Southbank

Southbank is another great spot for people to visit, and as the name suggests, it is on the South bank of the river opposite the city centre. Southbank is full of gardens, cafes, restaurants, shops, markets and a bunch of other fun recreational stuff, however the one massive highlight to this place would have to be the man made beach overlooking the river and city sky scrapers.

Yes you heard me right, a beach right in the middle of the city with lifesavers and all! Check out the pictures below and you must admit it looks pretty damn cool huh.

Riverfire

Riverfire is a yearly celebration in Brisbane to mark the end of Brisbane festival which lasts for a month every September. To celebrate Riverfire, which pays homage to the Brisbane River, a huge display of fireworks is set off right in the middle of the city on top of buildings, along the river and on the story Bridge. 

Some lasers and spot lights are also thrown in for good measure. This fireworks display is also much bigger than the new years fireworks. It certainly is a sight to see!

So if you are planning to visit Australia or if you are from Australia and want a new place to visit, why not pop over into my neck of the woods, Brisbane. It is pretty great here and I know you will love it just as much as I do! :-)

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Thanks so much for posting Tania! I'm super excited to go back to Brisbane now!

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Guest Post: A Little About "Drugs" (and How to Feel Kick Ass!)

Pink. Desperately in love. Hopeless romantic. Dreams of sweet sixteens’ and dream weddings. Shops from places like Hollister and Abercrombie, and frets about losing weight to be liked. Insecure. Girly. NOT ME.

These words describe your average, every day teenager. But these words don’t describe me. I’m NOT that girl. Instead I’m the girl who listens to rock and alternative music, whose iPods ‘most played’ songs freak people out at times. The girl who plans her dream ‘underage’ club, for teenage kids to use as a retreat and dance like crazy. The girl who wishes  to interview bands, and help out in setting up and planning underground concerts. The girl who wishes to change lives, have a voice and KICK BUTT!

My name is Maham Insha and I just recently started blogging over at Light and Dark. I’m a high school student and a beginner blogger. I play guitar and sing, I write, I do weird and crazy things with my friends, I stargaze, I listen to pretty awesome music and I dance like no one is watching.  I always, ALWAYS mention which songs I have been listening to while writing a certain post, so that people know EXACTLY what was going through my mind at the moment, and so that they can play the given list of songs while reading my posts, and feel what I feel, and for a little while, BE who I AM. I believe music has the power to change peoples’ lives, or drastically alter them.

Today I am guest posting for the pretty awesome owner of Seductive Mania, Becky! And I thought I’d write a small guide to drugs for you guys... ;)

Wait! Don’t run away yet! Let me explain. The ‘drugs’ I’m mentioning is really just a reference to music! Music does give you a kind of high. Only the right kind. (hehe). Today, I’m going to let you guys in on what I do to feel KICK ASS and ALIVE!

Everyone has setbacks, big and small. Everyone starts to feel insecure about themselves, and EVERYONE (even the tall, gorgeous popular girl and the rebellious confident bad boy) feel bad about themselves at times, feel like they are good for nothing, worthless and that their passions and dreams are stupid and a waste of time( or they have controlling parents over their heads constantly making them believe so). Everyone has experienced depression, including me. But you know what? I learnt how to get back on my feet, move on with my life, be strong and kick serious butt!

Everyone has their own ways for feeling alive and awesome. One thing I do is create play lists. I create play lists of songs that motivate me and make me feel good, I create play lists of songs that describe my life.. i even create playlists for other people! To reassure people who have problems with their appearance, to comfort those who have lost a loved one. There are songs out there that adhere to EVERY SINGLE possible situation you might be in, or have experienced. You just have to look for them, search for the people who have gone through the same thing as you, so that you KNOW that you are not alone!

Another thing I do is that I go outside to a public place, like a mall, a park, or heck even the drive way outside my house, and listen to music with my earphones on, and look around. You can walk, run, skip, hike, whatever you want with a selected play list on, and just be alone with your self and your thoughts. Something about the surroundings and the music playing in the back ground energizes you and helps you make self realizations. Also, you feel like you’re the main character in a movie with all the back ground music and emo talk!

 Other things I do to feel alive and happy include watching action packed adrenaline boosting movies, like the Fast and Furious series, and pretending like I’m in the movie kicking butt and performing dangerous stunts; dressing up in my nicest clothes, doing my hair and makeup, and then dancing to music like a crazy mad woman; sitting on my off white couch named Burt and talking to him and doing things people say i cannot do!!

I hope this post helps you guys realize just how awesome you can be, that music can help you more than you realized, that it’s okay to be different and weird, and how it’s completely NORMAL to name your couch and talk to him..right?

My current playlist:

xoxo Mana

Thanks for posting Maham! If you are interesting in guest posting or sponsoring Seductive Mania (for free!), shoot me an email here!

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