Entry #11. It's Been Real, 102.

This is not a "Goodbye", but rather an "I'll see you later".

Well, for the past 4 months I have been actively blogging for my English 101 and English 102 Hybrid courses. I have genuinely enjoyed this project and took it very seriously, completing each and every blog assignment given.

There are so many benefits to creating a blog. To start, blogging makes you a member of an online connected community. When you post your ideas, comments, opinions and feelings on a blog that allows everyone in the world who has access to the internet can see it. This publicity makes it possible for you to share your thoughts with others that are all over the planet. It's kind of fascinating how the Internet brings people together who would never be able to meet in person because of distance. Blogs also allow you to express yourself, they can be a great source for venting and relieving other internal feelings. It is almost like having an online diary!

For some reason I just really love to type and I find it to be a lot easier and faster to spill my thoughts via the keyboard rather than a pen and paper. Don't get me wrong though, I have three personal hard copy journals in my room that I do consistently write in, however, not in the way that I do on my blog. The only challenge I really found when writing my posts was initially sparking my topic ideas, sometimes it is hard for me to get the ball rolling. Once I do though, my words and ideas usually come together and flow much easier than the beginning. Other times I have to remind myself to keep the tone casual professional and not use too much informal lingo. Of course I like to add my own voice and flair but at times it can be hard to not act as if this is a personal blog.

The past few months I have learned a lot about rhetoric through writing these blog posts. Each topic, either given or self-generated, allows you to think about a specific purpose, audience and tone. I have come to understand the importance of providing the readers with enough background information to set up what I am discussing in each post. I also have found that I cannot be too biased or opinionated in my writing and never want to offend anyone online. Ending each entry with a final thought and wrap up is very important to properly sign off to the reader.

As a student, my writing has really developed because of this blog project. I feel like I am a lot more comfortable with my writing and do not hesitate as much as I did when I first began. I also enjoy reading other people's blogs and hearing different perspectives on certain topics. I also feel like I am becoming more savvy with finding videos/pictures and making my website interesting to read through.

Overall, I found blogging to be extremely useful to me. I wish I would have been able to do this assignment in my English classes throughout high school. I felt like it was much easier to express what I had to say and grow as a writer. I am very glad that we had this project assigned and I am even more thankful I had such an outstanding professor for the two courses. To successfully accomplish this blog project, it is very important to stay on top of the due dates and not plan to get them all done in one day.

Even though I have completed English 101 and English 102 I will still be using this Relayed Byt Lexy blog for personal use in my life. I feel like I have found a new passion and hobby of freely expressing myself via my laptop. For those of you that are just starting, don't hold back- let your thoughts and ideas flow out to the rest of the world. It can be a difficult project if you are not consistent with your casual professional tone and/or procrastinate, so be responsible. Have fun letting your ideas go and happy blogging to all, my friends. :)

Entry #7. Dumb Men.

www.dumbmen.com

This link above is a website literally filled with video clips and commercials about men and all the dumb things they do. It is hilarious and entertaining because it is completely accurate and true! In these videos, men are depicted as anything from incompetent, rude, lazy, or foolish. A lot of times they are seen drinking beer, watching sports and gawking over women.

One of the clips I found to be the most funny was the Miller Lite beer commercial. Watch it for yourself below:

It is funny that the guy ordering the drink is considered to be acting like a female just because he chose a generic light beer and not a Miller Lite. The female bartender's tone is very sarcastic as she hands him the drink and he is wearing a skirt walking away from the bar. The narrator then says "Man up!" as if he is missing out on a dramatic difference in taste by not choosing Miller Lite. I work in a bar and it makes me laugh when I am serving a couple of men and one makes fun of the other guy for their alcoholic beverage choice. Like most of the time the guy that order a domestic or light beer will get made fun of from the guy that prefer imported. And when it comes to hard liquor, whenever I have a guy orders a well drink and the other is drinking a name brand- the one drinking the better alcohol will joke about the other guy's drink too.

Guys are always so competitive with one another and tend to be a lot more openly expressive about it than females. I think it is rather funny, sure it can get annoying in extreme, but still humorous. At times I have to deal with some pretty dumb guys, but I feel like both sexes can have their stupid moments, haha! I'm sure there are plenty of dumb women commercials out there as well.

Did you like this commercial? Have you seen any other advertisements on T.V or online that show men in a dumb and humorous lighting? Comment and share your findings!

Entry #10. Christmas.

Christmas is just around the corner. The spirit has completely filled the air and it's beginning to really feel like the holiday season. I feel like every year Christmas comes and go even faster than the year before. Maybe it is because we live in the Arizona desert, where it is literally only cold for 3 months out of the year. I'm sure in other states where it snows or gets colder sooner they probably start to feel the winter holiday season much sooner than us.

This is a perfect time for selfless acts and putting other people's needs before yours. The holiday season brings together family and friends to spend time together making memories. Schools and businesses usually get some time off or at least Christmas Day itself to partake in different festivities. Most people have specific traditions they involve thenselves in each and every year and it's always fun to look forward to those set activities. 

A little list of fun things to do around this time of year include:

-Cooking and baking (for others & you of course!)

-Get a Christmas tree and decorate it!

-Add holiday decorations to your house and room! 

-Making cards for the ones you care about.

-Drive around and look at Christmas lights 

-Make hot cocoa and binge watch Christmas movies.

-Visit Glendale Glitters, Zoo Lights, or the holiday light parade downtown. 

-Create a gingerbread house. 

-Visit a family member or friend in town.

-Go Christmas caroling 

-Gather a box of clothes you don't wear or things you don't use anymore and donate it to a shelter of some kind. 

-Go out of town and visit a new destination!

-Shop the holiday deals! & Wrap/give presents. 

The Top Christmas Songs: 

•The Christmas Song

•Do you Hear What I Hear

•It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

•Holy Night

•White Christmas 

•A Holly Jolly Christmas

•The First Noel

•The Little Drummer Boy

•It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

•Sleigh Ride

•Winter Wonderland

•Jingle Bell Rock

The Top Christmas Movies:

•A Christmas Story

•Elf (personal favorite!!)

•The Nightmare Before Christmas

• It's a Wonderful Life

•National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

•The Santa Clause 

•How The Grinch Stole Christmas

•The Polar Express

•Miracle on 34th Street

•A Charlie Brown Christmas

•The Holiday

•White Christmas 

There are tons and tons of festive activities around this time of year to involve yourself in, don't be a Scrooge and enjoy the season! Spread love and cheer to everyone around you and try to go out of your way for someone else this month. HAPPY HOLIDAYS FELLOW BLOGGERS!

Entry #9. Media Synthesize

Media has ultimately taken over our world. Every day our society becomes more knowledgable and developed. The technology we have access to is constantly growing and our lives are greatly affected by this advancement on a day to day basis. Since I live with my grandma, I like to compare our generations opinions on  media and she constantly reminds me that my era is much too reliant on it.

I feel like just about everyone has a smartphone in today's age. And most of the smartphone users have apps downloaded that allow them to stay in constant connection with the world. From social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, to instant discussions with friends via text messages, FaceTime and Snapchat- our technology give us this capability.

Video games have developed so much since when I was a little kid and even more so when our parent's generation were kids. The graphics and details on the screen are so unreal it is almost like you are actually in the game! This can be a major reason why there is so much violence among men, because there is a large number of the male population who invest quite a but of time into them.

Women are also greatly affected by the advancement in technology. Commercials, advertisements, billboards, magazines, te and other sources of media portray women in the most unrealistic ways. Photoshop and other programs are used to alter features on the women's body to make them look much more attractive than they really are. Models are supposedly the world's idea of a 'beautiful' woman and so many females strive to be this skinny, pretty idea of perfection. It becomes harder for women to be able to accept their flaws and be comfortable in their own skin because there is this constant influence of fake beauty.

News can be another factor about media that is extremely influential. There is so much bias information shared through political channels and other shows that discuss events going on in the world. Reality T.V is also huge- there are countless shows from Keeping up with the Kardashians, American Next Top Model, The Real Housewives, The Bachelor, Top Chef and so many more that have millions of viewers following their series. These are huge sources of entertainment

It's crazy to think that literally only a decade ago, social media was nowhere near what is it today. I remember in 7th and 8th grade when Myspace was the most popular site online. Now, there is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Tinder and a bunch of others that literally control our society's lives. I feel like now, we are all way too reliant on these apps and websites on an everyday basis. So many people rely on "likes, comments, retweets and shares" to determine their level of popularity in this world. It should not matter what other people think; you are who you are no matter how many likes one of your posts gets.

I think we are a very blessed generation to be able to have access to all of the technology and media that we do. However, there are a lot of downfalls to these advancements- such as too much distraction and dependence on it. Don't get me wrong, I love my social media, constant internet access, and cable television but I am just as guilty of wasting too much time on them. Our technology is only going to get more developed as time goes on and it will be interesting to see what will be invented and how much more will change in the future. How much time do you spend using media and technology? What do you think about where we have come as such a developed society?

Entry #8. An Eye Opening Experience.

This crazy world we live in is filled with so many different dangers and obstacles. At one point or another, we all experience challenges that give us a reality check and ultimately a new perspective on things. These challenges could be a death of a loved one, tragic accident, illness/disease, or just a traumatic situation that we are faced with. It is important to stay strong while overcoming your problems and try to find a lesson to learn from it in the end.

Recently, I went through a pretty eye opening experience. The Saturday night before Thanksgiving this year I was in a car accident and totaled my vehicle. Before this night, my driving record was clean (besides a little speeding ticket), I have never been in a car accident before. This was the first Saturday I was not scheduled at work and I had spent the entire day being lazy, sleeping and doing some homework. I decided to be spontaneous around 8:30/9pm and drive to Las Vegas to pick up my little brother and mom for the holiday. My idea was to just drive out there, sleep and drive back Sunday morning- super quick trip. I drove by myself and thought the 4 hour trip would be a breeze since it was later at night. Boy, was I wrong. 

I was driving on the 93, the highway that is basically a straight shot from Phoenix to Las Vegas. The speed limit was pretty much 65mph the whole way there, however, at one point in time it reduced to 50mph. I guess I just didn't see that and took a bend way turn too fast. My car got too close to the guard rail and I slammed into it completely losing control of the vehicle. I blacked out from the impact and my car spun about 7 or 8 times, hitting the other guard rail and landing in a ditch. I woke up to an awful smell and was unable to get my car door opened. My hazards would not turn on because my battery literally flew 100 ft away from my vehicle. On top of all of this, about 30 minutes prior to my accident my cell phone fell in between my passenger seat and the middle console. I had just accepted it and popped a CD in for music; however, once the accident happened I could not get my phone out from where it was stuck! I was in a full anxiety attack, uncontrollably shaking and crying.

I managed to push open my car door and get out. It was pitch black outside, now 11pm and probably about 55 degrees outside. I was so cold and so scared, I literally had no idea what to do. My phone could not get a signal so i was unable to contact the police for a solid 10 minutes. Finally when I got ahold of someone, they told me they were sending a highway patrol officer out to me right away. I turned the flashlight on my phone and tried to flag down every single car that drove by me. A semi truck caught sight of me and pulled over, he let me sit in his truck and checked the conditions of my car and myself. He also called the police and his son, who happened to be a firefighter- I am extremely thankful for that man. From the time of my accident it took 45 minutes until a police officer and fire department crew found me. I was about an hour and 30 minutes away from Kingman, literally in the middle of nowhere. I was claiming I was in no pain and I literally did't have a single scratch on me. The fire rescue team performed a bunch of tests on me and hooked me up to the EKG machine to check for problems with the electrical activity of my heart. 

The firefighters and police officer both told me I was not forced to go to the hospital, but they all thought it would be a very wise decision considering I blacked out during the impact. They told me I could be in complete shock and my adrenaline could be preventing me from feeling the pain I was really experiencing. So I decided to go on the ambulance. 74 miles later we arrived at the Kingman hospital and the doctor ended up not even running tests on me. Since my adrenaline had worn off in the ambulance ride, I was much more calm when I got to the hospital and still did not complain of any pain. The doctor told me he wasn't going to do anything with me and that I basically was just staying at the hospital so that I could wait somewhere safe for my ride. 

Coincidentally, a friend of mine was in Las Vegas for his construction job and he drove to come pick me up from the hospital. I paid him to take me to my mom's place in Henderson and stayed with her and my brother until my grandma was able to drive from Phoenix and get me. It was all such a nightmare. All because I decided to make an impulsive decision and make a late night quick trip to Vegas. 

I missed some school and work from this accident, have been experiencing neck/back pain and re-occuring headaches. It seems like I am overwhelmed with the stress of finding rides to where I need to go, investing in a new car and payments, drowning in school work and trying to finish up everything for finals week. Life has been pretty rough for me because of this night but I have taken a lot from it. The biggest lesson I learned is that materialistic things do not matter and can be replaced, we only have one life. I could have easily lost mine that night and I am so beyond gracious I didn't. I had an angel watching over me, that is for sure. Another lesson I am learning is to not stress about school and work. It will all end up getting done eventually and I should not let myself get overwhelmed. Even in the worst scenarios, you can find a lesson to be learned out of it. I encourage you to try to find a positive light to every situation, I know it can be hard when you are being tested. Can you think of a time you were put through a challenge that was life changing and gave you a new perspective? 

Entry #6. Love Yourself First.

In this day in age it seems like everyone is looking for a significant other in their life. All of our peers constantly post things on social media saying "Relationship Goals" or "Bae Goals". Or always wanting someone to "Netflix and Chill" with.  It seems like there is a constant need for love and attention in our world. In the 20 years I have been on this Earth, I have learned that the most important love you can seek is for yourself.

I previously discussed a relationship I was about to pursue in my getting to know me post. Well, I guess I jumped the gun and spoke to soon because things didn't exactly work out like I thought they were going to..which is okay! I have been out of a relationship for over a year and a half so this new thing recently was something I was very hesitant about. I just haven't felt that i am in a position to be with somebody else at this point in my life. 

Relationships are crazy. They bring out so much emotion and can be a lot to handle at times. When you choose to love and pursue someone, a lot of your time and feelings go into that individual. You most likely spend hours with them, plan dinners and dates with them,  and travel or create memories with one another.  You build a bond between the two of you that can only be felt and experienced together. 

Relationships can bring you the most happiness and greatest blessings around. However, they can also cause some painful heartbreaks and sadness. It is all a learning experience and is meant to happen in order to find the one significant other that you are destined to be with. You should never settled for less than you deserve and most importantly, do not love until you are ready. 

Learn to LOVE YOURSELF. This is your life, you are the star of the show and make all of the calls for you; before looking for a soul mate, find yourself. Understand your feelings more and vent them in some kind of way, whether it is to another person, in a journal or through an electronic blog. Develop your physique the way you dream it to be by dedicating more time to healthy eating and working out. Sign up for school or other classes to educate yourself and expand your knowledge on all different subjects. Learn a new talent, hobby, or participate in an activity you never have involved yourself in before. There is so much to do with yourself in this world and so many different paths to take. 

It doesn't matter what is being posted on Twitter or Facebook about ideal relationships and love goals.  There is no rush to finding a significant other. After all- I always heard that you shouldn't have to look for your destined partner, they will find their way to you in this life. Everything works out for a specific reason and you should always be ready and well prepared when deciding to get into a relationship. Discovering and loving yourself first is what it all comes down too, my friends. You don't want to risk stressing yourself out and having certain insecurities or trust issues come out because you simply weren't ready yet. You are the most important. :)

Happy blogging!

Entry #5. ASU Offers More Short Classes.

Arizona students!

Or anyone who plans to attend Arizona State University, listen here!

There is an article from Arizona Central online that discusses a new change that will be starting in January of next year for our AZ college. To follow along with what I am discussing and read it yourself click on this link: http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/02/22/20110222arizona-state-university-shorter-classes.html

Ultimately, this change is to offer more classes that can be completed in half of the time than a typical 15 week semester. This means students can take more class hours, finish courses quicker and ultimately graduate sooner with a lower tuition. How awesome!

In my opinion, this is a great opportunity to reduce the amount of time spent earning your degree. This semester at GCC I have felt very accomplished by taking the english 101 and 102 hybrid courses. This is a similar concept to ASU's new idea. I have loved the fast pace and feel like I work harder to get the work done because there has been double the work. This idea of shorter classes also saves a lot money- not only because you spend less time in school but there is more opportunity for electronic uses as well. A lot of the shorter courses that are going to be added are online- this is more convenient for students who are working a lot but still trying to complete school at a quick pace. 

This article definitely relates to me because I plan on transferring to ASU when I am finished with my studies at the community college. I hope to look into taking some of the shorter classes myself if they are offering ones pertaining to my degree. All students are different and everyone has their own way of learning in class. Some people just can't complete a shortened class because it is much too big of a workload for them or too fast faced, and that's okay. It is not like these shortened classes are mandatory, they are simply being put in play to help those who are trying to complete school quicker. 

Of course, there are the complicated subjects and classes that could probably use the full 15 weeks to really break down the material and teach the students successfully. So I am sure the shortened version will only be available for certain classes that are manageable in half the time of a regular course. 

Overall, I think is is a very substantial idea to offer short classes and will bring a lot of success to Arizona college students.  What are your thoughts?

Entry #4. Be Thankful.

Well, the orange and black has been put to rest and all of the skeletons, jack-o-lanterns and witches are back to their cozy place in storage. The stores have already switched their music playlists to the Christmas station and all of the winter seasonal decorations have been put on the shelves. Even though the entire planet automatically starts thinking about Christmas as soon as Halloween is over, we cannot forget about the most important holiday, Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is such a beautiful day and a time to be appreciative for everything you have in your life. This is a typically a holiday for family get togethers and bonding experiences, good food and gratitude. A lot of families have specific traditions they follow every year on this day and it truly brings together the members as a unit.

This is the last few days of November, just before the Christmas hype reaches full throttle and takes over completely for the rest of the year. It is a great opportunity to go around at the dinner table and share what it is you are thankful for and maybe reminisce on a blessing you received this year.

I cannot believe that 2015 is already coming to an end..Why is the time just flying by? I feel like I blinked and October practically came and went. Take a moment right now to think about all of the crazy, challenging and rewarding experiences you went through during this year. I'm sure there have been drastic changes, pain and a ridiculous amount of memories and adventure. Think about all of the blessings you have received and what kind of life you have been given. It is important to constantly self-evaluate and this time of the year definitely reiterates that concept.

October through December has always been my favorite time of the year ever since I was a little girl. There is something about the cooler weather and the cheery mood that makes the season that much more enjoyable. All of the holidays are so fun to involve yourself in and celebrate- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.. and I got lucky with a December birthday on top of that! People seem to be so much more willing to do things for others around this time of the year. Donations are made to charities and the less fortunate and the world tends to put aside their personal wants for other individual's needs.

Every year for Thanksgiving, I go back to Las Vegas where I am from and spend the holiday weekend with my family. We always get the huge newspaper and store catalogs and plan our Black Friday shenanigans. Then on the night/morning of we hit the stores to shop until we drop, which is always fun and a rush trying to beat others to the deals. On Thanksgiving day, we spend the entire morning preparing the meal together as a family. Usually every member is in charge of a different food item and we all come together at the end of the night and feast. The meal is always so delicious and we usually get so full that we get stuck lounging on the couch watching Christmas movies after. Later in the evening, we always meet up with the rest of our family members and go to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory to look at all of the Christmas light decorations. Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?

I hope this year you remember the real meaning to the holidays and take time to think about what you are thankful for. I encourage you to make a list of things you want to accomplish to "give" and help others this wonderful month of November. Maybe you can pick one person or  family to bless this year or surprise with a plate of baked goods. You don't have to go out and spend a bunch of money in order to shower someone you are grateful for them. Cooking and baking is always a great gift for  others and is equally rewarding to you as well. Homemade presents are always so much more sentimental anyways and it shows you put time and thought into it. Cherish this holiday season, it always seems to come and go way too fast. Xoxo.

Entry #3. A Slanted Report

While browsing the internet I came across many news articles and entire websites that shared thoughts and informations swaying to a particular side or viewpoint. Media and news reports can be extremely bias and it is important to recognize when a piece of information you are reading forgets to include the opposing opinion. 

One article I found very slanted, happens to be a report from the Washington Times by Kevin Sabet; the title of this piece is "Colorado will Show why Legalizing Marijuana is a Mistake".

Here is a link to read the article yourself: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/17/sabet-marijuana-legalizations-worst-enemy/?page=all

This is a perfect example of a slanted or bias report in the news/media. This specific article describes all of the negative sides and troubles pertaining to legalizing marijuana, however, it fails to address any good or positive aspects of the plant. This is most definitely a one-sided post because it fails to address the opposing viewpoint and benefits. I have read numerous cases about people being medically healed from cannabis. There are tons of individuals in this world either fighting cancer or other illnesses, dealing with physical pain, handling emotional instability, or suffering from depression who rely on marijuana as a medication. Many PTSD sufferers use medical marijuana as an antidepressant and for their high anxiety.

This author, Mr. Sabet clearly omits certain information from his article to focus only on the negative side of this issue. He also only uses specific stories and examples to back up his point and disregards all other perspectives. He puts in an example of a 2 year old girl ingesting a marijuana cookie and needing immediate medical attention. There is also mention of this drug increasing the rate of addiction, car crashes, and mental illnesses. No where does he include a medical benefit or positive outlook on the subject whatsoever. This author clearly wants his reader to agree with him that marijuana is bad and should not be legalized in this country; he shows this opinion by highlighting the negative risks and "what if" scenarios that ultimately makes marijuana come off as all bad and dangerous. 

I found this website, medicaljane.com, that shares tons of stories about people who have positively utilized marijuana to cure all sorts of illnesses and cases. One specific article I found on this website was about a boy from Phoenix, Arizona by the name Zander Welton who suffers from autism and epilepsy which result in violent seizures. At times these seizures would cause poor little Zander to stop breathing and ultimately slowed down his cognitive development. Surgery was the only option along with a heavy amount of pharmaceutical drugs as well. This ultimately failed to help Zander and actually resulted in even more harmful side effects. The Welton family was introduced to medical marijuana as an extract, a form of cannabidiol oil and an herb. His mother admits that it was difficult decision at first but cannabis was the only thing that finally eased the suffering for her son. 

Zander was able to walk backwards for the first time in his life, maintained a lot more focus in kindergarten, slept more peacefully at night and was actively playing around with his brothers and friends. He could go weeks without having a seizure and the marijuana oil ultimately made a huge difference. A claim was made by an attorney in Arizona stating the use of the cannabis oil could actually result in prosecution because it is a much stronger dose than the plant form itself. This was a big concern and fear for Zander's parents because this oil happens to be the only thing making a difference to his condition. 

“My husband and I made the heartbreaking decision to stop giving Zander the medical marijuana oil,” stated Jennifer. As heartbreaking as it was, both Jennifer and her husband wanted to follow the law as strictly as possible so they could protect their beloved son from prosecution."

Here is a video to see more of what I am discussing.

This led the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  to file a lawsuit in order to clarify Arizona's medical marijuana specificities and help young Zander. The Maricopa County Superior Court ruled in favor of Zander, reassuring his parents and doctors that they could continue treating his epilepsy with cannabis extracts without the fear of being prosecuted by the law. 

As you can see, I have shared a case where marijuana was not just all negative and "dangerous". This drug has positively impacted the lives of so many individuals in our world and you can find countless stories and cases highlighting marijuana benefits. This first article, by Mr. Kevin Sabet was very slanted and failed to recognize that marijuana is good in any way. It is harder to be convinced by this author because he seems to have tunnel vision on the specific subject. A good author is aware of the opposing viewpoints on their topics and addresses them to avoid being bias in their writing. 

Whether you are watching the news, reading an article online or listening to the radio, you should always be aware of biased media and slanted reporting. A lot of credibility is taken away from the piece when it is too one-sided. Along with recognizing slanted reporting in the media, it is also very important to not write in this way either. Sometimes when you are really passionate about a certain subject it can be hard not to be biased. In some cases biased ideas can be okay ( like maybe for a blog post, debate or court case); however, in a professional situation, it should be avoided. Good luck out there, there is TONS of slanted ideas in this big world. Happy writing my fellow readers. :)

Entry #2. The Big Apple

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

And there is something even more meaningful about that picture when you are the photographer. The image above was snapped by yours truly in New York City's Central Park. December of 2013 I was a senior in high school and had the amazing opportunity to fly out with a group of students and stay in NYC for 4 days. The best part about it was that my grandma was interested in chaperoning and got to go with me; we stayed in our own hotel room and just took the tour bus schedule with the rest of the group. I also celebrated my 18th birthday on one of the days we were in the city and can say it truly was a trip of a lifetime. I took tons of pictures and today I want to post some of them with you and share some of the great sights and points of high interest. In all honesty though, these pictures can't even compare to the true beauty in New York.

Central Park is in Manhattan, New York and is the most visited urban park in the United States. There is a 2.5 acre section in Central Park by the name of Strawberry Fields that is dedicated to the former Beatle John Lennon and is where this "Imagine" memorial is located. I was there on December 8th, which happened to be the same day back in 1980 when John Lennon was murdered in NY. In honor of his passing there were strawberries outlining the "Imagine" and flowers and other sentimental objects towards Lennon were covering the memorial. A man was sitting next to it playing an acoustic guitar singing all of John Lennon's songs; it was absolutely beautiful. 

The next phenomenal sight I captured happens to be the Empire State Building, which is a 102-story skyscraper in Manhattan and is thought of as an American cultural icon. It is currently the 5th tallest building in the world.

The picture above, I took at the National September 11 Memorial where the former location of the Twin Towers has been transformed into two pools with the largest man-made waterfalls in the United States. There is also a forest of trees and a lot of greenery; one tree in specific is fenced off from the public and is actually the only thing that survived the horrific incident on 9/11.

On one of the days, we took a ferry to see the lovely Lady Liberty and all of her wonder. We had a lot of things scheduled for that day so we were not able to stop on the island and climb/ explore her. However, the ferry ride was so amazing and the view was just breathtaking. Above is a picture of my grandma, girlfriends and I on the ferry. Next time I visit the city, I hope to actually touch The Statue of Liberty.

This photo was captured in Grand Central Terminal which is a well known train station in New York. It covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms, which is more than any other train station in the world. 

The next two pictures I took are of the Rockefeller Center. This is actually a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres in the city. The dark picture is a view from the top of the centerpiece building, which is also known as the Comcast building. We went to the very top and viewed the city from the observation deck. It was chilly and started to sprinkle on us while we were up there- it was so refreshing! Radio City music hall is an entertainment venue in the Rockefeller Center and hosts T.V shows, sports, music and more. We got to take a tour of the inside and see all of the behind the scenes which was really cool.

I took this picture while I was inside the tour bus. It just captured the chaos of all the traffic and taxi cabs there are in the heart of the city. If you travel to New York, you HAVE to visit Time Square. It is just so cool to look at all of the things and people around you, especially at night with all of the lights.  

I was fortunate enough to go in December when the entire city was covered in Christmas decorations. There was Christmas music playing, hot chocolate being sold, holiday shops and seasonal smells all over the place. It was the best time of my life and I am so thankful for that opportunity. I know traveling is expensive but if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend making a trip to New York in your lifetime. I was fortunate enough to go with a tour group, so i was taught a lot of cool information and got to travel to a lot of difference sights and attractions in just a few days. When traveling to NY on your own without a group, it could be a lot harder to navigate through the city- especially when it's mostly walking or taxi. I am hoping to make another trip out there within the next few years and of course I will make sure to go around Christmas again because it was just too perfect.    This was a trip for the books, that is for sure. :)

Entry #1. Gotta Love Blogs

Blogs are just so cool! I am not going to lie- I really really really love to type on my blog. It's such a great way to express your ideas, much quicker than writing and you're able to connect your ideas with people all over the world. I enjoy reading other perspectives on topics and seeing videos or pictures of interesting ideas shared. The blogging world is fascinating and it has a wide variety ranging from personal, formal, news, fashion; there are blogs covering just about every topic you can think of!

The greatest blog in the entire world has to be http://blondevsworld.tumblr.com; this is a personal favorite because I absolutely adore and worship the author Nikki Blackketter who is a sponsored fitness freak and bodybuilder. I follow her on every social media account and even have her on snapchat haha- but anyways, she is such a badass! She has a strong passion and drive for lifting weights, pushing her limits and reaching phenomenal goals. She is a macro coach and has a love for healthy foods. To top it off she is also the most gorgeous girl on the face of the Earth, has an incredible body and is so motivational. She has a YouTube account where she posts great workouts, exercises and awesome techniques. Her and her both have both competed in shows and won competitions; the two of them are the ultimate power couple I swear!

My personal favorite blogs always tend to be blogs with a lot of passion put into them. I am a health nut so the blogs I tend to read on my free time happen to revolve around fitness, exercise techniques and good clean recipes. I love to hear other people's weight loss stories and see transformation pictures; this is so incredibly motivational to me. I admire other's who care about their physique and personal health and I love to hear tips and advice on how I can improve myself. I love to cook and spend time prepping the foods I eat so blogs with recipes and food discussion is also a preference.

I also find beauty and fashion blogs to be interesting and fun to browse. Being a girl, there are so many different ways to do my hair, make-up, dress; it is incredible the amount of opportunity we have when it comes to beauty. Hearing about techniques and hints and helpful and exciting to try firsthand. There is an amazing blog at http://prettyshinysparkly.com that is written by a woman named Kristina who has a great passion and love for style, beauty, luxury and life. Her posts are informing, give helpful advice and suggest specific products.

I have a weakness for life stories and personal events; I can't tell you how much I love reality T.V and  personal accounts. I just genuinely enjoy reading or watching someone recap their life experiences or opinions. There was specifically I found that I enjoyed- it is bitchphd.blogspot.com; I feel like the author is very real and I love her ideas on feminism. She cusses and is informal throughout, however, still maintains structure, punctuation and a great deal of organization. I love her voice all throughout the blog; you can tell she is very blunt and strong in her beliefs.

In my blog exploration I also came upon another amazing blog that I fell in love with. This is http://decor8blog.com; the author is Holly Becker and she is an interior writer, book author and stylist. Her blog is filled with delicious recipes and great posts with decorative ideas. This website is at the perfect go-to when looking for ideas to expand your creativity and try new things. I love to read and see new ways to design or decorate a room. I have always been a fan of watching home interior design/renovation shows on the television so it's clear why I have such a great interest in reading about it as well.

In contrary, some blogs that I don't care to read include ones discussing politics and historical events. I mean- if the historical fact/ story is really interesting-okay. However, if it drags on and shares events like a digital timeline, then count me out. A boring blog such as http://www.thegwpf.org, discussing the global warming policy, would zone me out of concentration or put me to sleep. I would much rather spend my time on the present tense and learn how to enhance my life in different ways.

I honestly really appreciate blogging. I love that my ideas are permanent on here, once I hit publish this baby is final! It is a product to the world online and open to absolutely anyone who care to read it. It is like a digital diary and very convenient to be able to access it 24/7 and re-visit old posts from the past. I love reading comments from my peers and other bloggers, feedback is the best. If you do not already have a blog, I strongly recommend you make one. Blogs are filled with so much information and can teach so many valuable lessons. :)                  

HEY. HI. HELLO.

Hey there! 

For those of you who have visited my blog before..welcome back! This post might be a little repetitive to my very first post as it is mostly directed towards my newcomers. For those of you who don’t know, my name is Alexis McCall and I am 19 years young. I will be 20 on December 6th and I feel like it’s a big road mark in my life;no longer a teenager!

So much has happened this past year.. I have been serving at this new bar (The Moon Saloon) and making great money. I have also chose to pursue an educational path and have been taking many prerequisite courses to get my associates degree. My plan is to stay at Glendale Community College until this degree is met and then transfer to Arizona State University for further studies.

I also purchased my very own car from a dealership, a light blue Scion tC ($10,000) that I put a $5,000 downpayment on and continue to pay monthly for. I’m close to paying it off and have been working very hard to build a savings account and good personal credit. This is an accomplishment that I am very proud of.

My favorite hobby would have to be working out; whether it is outside, at the gym or at my house I love to be physically active. I get a sense of happiness and peace of mind when I make time to exercise. I also enjoy cooking and preparing good, healthy wholesome foods. I am a very peculiar eater so I like to meal prep. I do not eat meat of any kind except for fish. My favorite meal to cook would have to be a delicious piece of salmon! I also love sushi, tuna and shrimp as well. I am a huge fruit, vegetable and organic consumer. In my free time I also enjoy spending time with my grandma(who raised me) , friends, boyfriend and little shih-tzu dog.

Another change in my life recently actually happens to be a certain man. I have been single for over a year and a half so it is definitely a change for me to be this interested in someone. About four months ago this guy and I met through a mutual friend. In the matter of time we have connected on a different level and he has become my best friend. I never really thought of him as a potential relationship because we had such a great time together as friends. We are so open and comfortable with one another and constantly laugh and joke around when we are together. He makes me feel so important and goes out of his way for me each and every day. I love spending time with him and just being in his presence; I finally realized I just couldn’t hold back my feelings for him any longer and took a chance on a relationship.

I am so happy and look forward to what the future holds for us.

I’m also excited for more active blogging; I have some great ideas I can’t wait to share. Stay tuned my bloggers!

Entry #11. Blogging.

Blogging has literally changed my life. I have never gotten more joy out of doing an assignment before this English blog; it didn't even feel like homework. I found out that I am a much better writer than I thought I was and I really enjoy discussing topics that interest me to others.

I feel like people are really good at giving their standpoint or opinion on a subject but never really reflect and analyze why they have this opinion. Blogs are a perfect opportunity to tell the world your perspective and explain why you feel the way you do. It is a wonderful way to connect with people all over the world who are interested in discussing similar subjects with you.

Blogs bring motivation and knowledge about so many different life aspects. One can learn how to better their eating habits, change their physical activities, learn more about a specific hobby, and ultimately enhance their lives.

I love that blogs are so personable and visual; you can add all sorts of videos and images in between your text to make the reading much more creative and enticing. They are organized by date and easy to navigate with specific hyperlinks.

Before this, the only time I would ever "blog" was when I was updating my statuses on social media. I have an Instagram, Facebook and Twitter that I update pretty regularly but I never took the time to create a more serious and lengthened blog. After this experience with blogging, I am going to continue to post regularly on this Relayed by Lexy website and hope that people still read my posts.

I am taking English 102 next week and was told this will be included in that course as well which made me very happy. I am excited to be able to continue the rest of this semester on my blog and share many more ideas and perspectives with the world.

I loved to read and keep up on my classmates posts as well. It was very interesting to hear the opinions of the others I attend school with and I loved to see the different self-generated topics that were chosen. There is such a wide variety of people in this world and we are a blessed generation to be able to connect with this entirety through technology.

If you have not already made a blog, I would highly suggest you consider it. It is a calming experience to be able to vent the thoughts that are in your head and pour them out onto a computer screen. Your words could impact someone or even change a life and you don't even know it. Even if you don;t think you are a good writer, take a chance and challenge yourself. Tell me how a few weeks of continuous blogging affects your life.. Are you a natural blogger?

Food Inc.

The movie that changed my life a year and a half ago. Food Inc. was the ultimate reason I decided to become a pescetarian (a vegetarian who eats fish). And the sole reason I choose to eat an organic diet over processed, unnatural foods. This film scarred me and completely changed my perspective on the food industry,

So many people are unaware of where our all of our food comes from. From fast-food chains, to restaurants, to super markets- it seems as if we have hundreds of options but in reality a lot of our food comes from the same sources.

Industrialized farms have taken over the world in order for the farmers to get an animal or crop to grow in half the time it naturally would and at a much fatter size. Farmers will inject hormones and anti-biotics into their products which can potentially harm us as the consumer.

The part of the movie that got to me the most was the chicken coops and following the chicken farmers. Tyson is the biggest meat packager in the world; they essentially redesign their chickens to have large breasts in order to profit more. They didn't even want to show the inside of their chicken coops on the documentary because of how disturbing it really is! The chickens never see sunlight and their environment is filthy and covered in feces. The chickens can't even hold up their own weight because they are too fat from the hormones that are fed to them and their bone structure and strength can't support their bodies.

It is so disturbing to watch the chicken farmer just throwing the dead chickens around and clearing them out of the coop like it was nothing. She was wearing a face mask and gloves but i'm sure she has picked up illnesses from the environment she exposes herself too. 

All of the industrialized famers' concept revolves around mass production like an assembly line in the factory. They profit more money obviously by raising a product at a quicker rate and larger in size...However, what they are not thinking of is the consumer's overall health.

In my opinion, all processed and industrialized foods should be avoided, especially meat. Companies should not be allowed to sell food that has been exposed to and cared for in an improper way. It is not fair to the animals and it is not fair to us human beings as consumers. Do not support industrialized farms. 

Entry #10. Strive for Happiness.

At almost twenty years old, I have been faced with many challenges and obstacles just like any other teenager in this world. There have been periods in my life when I thought I didn't make much of a difference and felt very low about myself. I remember being 16 years old and going through the craziest phase of thinking how unfair everything in life was. I feel like everyone goes through or has been through depression at some point in their life. It is vitally important to not let this take hold of you or affect you in the long run.

Depression can affect your eating habits, sleeping habits, energy, concentration and self-image. If someone who is depressed does not seek help it can further lead to substance abuse, self-harm or even suicide. Sometimes you won't even be able to tell someone is suffering from depression; not all instances do they wear all black and act stand-offish. Some individuals can fake it pretty well, so always try to be a good person and give off positive vibes to the people around you.

Life is so beautiful. There are so many different places to go, people to meet and experiences to be made. I want to describe some ways you can enlighten your life whenever you feel like you are in a slump or want to give up.

Always turn to family members and friends that make you feel loved and cared for; it is never good to isolate yourself from the people in your life. A lot of individuals struggling with depression feel as if they are a burden on others and don't want to bother them with their issues. But the truth is, that the people in your life care about you and are in your life for a reason. Even if you don't want to turn to the same group you always do, re-connect with an old friend or go out on a limb and meet someone new.

Travel to a new place or visit a new restaurant/store in your area. Learn something new about the world; whether it is tasting different food, visiting an interesting building/sight or even going outside of the state or country borders. Expand your perspective on the world around you and do not be afraid to branch out. Visit a zoo, or a museum, or a science center, or even a library and expand your knowledge on something. There is so much out there to learn more about and sometimes we get caught up in this tunnel vision.

Develop a better understanding of expressing your feelings and ideas. Even if you are not a very good writer, get a pic of paper or notebook and just jot down how you are feelings. Or write a list of characteristics and goals you want to achieve for yourself in this life.

Go on a walk, hike or join a fitness center/gym. Working out releases endorphins within the body that naturally make you happier. Even just taking a step outside and breathing the fresh air can give you a refreshing mind change. Exercise can help you to relax,increase your brain power, activates more blood flow and improves your body image.

Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep each night but also make sure to not sleep too much every day. Sleeping is very important for the body to recover from the day and help you to be more productive for the next day. However, often times people suffering with depression will use sleep as an escape to hibernate from their problems.

Ultimately, I want you to strive for the most happiness you can in life. If you are going through a tough time or in a slump, never let it completely take over you. Each day is a new start and you will not truly be living a life if you are constantly dwelling on the past or stuck on the negative. If you notice that nothing seems to bring you happiness don't be afraid to seek guidance from someone else. You are not alone. Everyone feels low at one point or another in their life and it is very important to do anything possible to change that mindset. Be happy. Enjoy life. After all, you only have one chance at it.

Entry #9. Pink Slime.

I am completely disgusted after watching the short clip I have inserted above. This is just absolutely ridiculous and corporations using this "pink slime" should be utterly ashamed of themselves. In a previous blog post I discussed the fundamentals of the movie FRESH- in regards to avoiding industrialized foods and improperly treated meat/crops. This just flairs up more of my strong opinion on avoiding meat altogether in the United States- even if it doesn't come from a fast food chain.

Pink slime is an expression to describe a product in the meat industry called "lean finely textured beef" and/or "boneless lean beef trimmings".  It has been used as a food additive in a lot of our country's ground beef. A huge machine heats and removes fat from the beef trimmings; in this process, the product is ultimately exposed to ammonium hydroxide gas and citric acid to kill the bacteria.

I can't believe that companies would be willing to put unnatural chemicals into their food products in order to make more money for themselves. It absolutely blows my mind that the USDA consider this product safe for human consumption. Ammonium hydroxide is the same chemical in the cleaning products you would use at home- why would anyone want that inside of their body?!

Thank goodness for Jamie Oliver, a chef, whose goal was to show the world the truth about what the food industry was allowing to happen to meat products. At one point in time school cafeterias and restaurant chains were serving this pink slime in their meals. How much of this pink slime do you think the children of this day-in-age have ingested with happy meals and daily school lunches?

This next video I inserted, is the man Jamie himself showing a group of children ultimately how pink slime is made. Watch how he cuts the great pieces of meat and explains to the kids that those are the most expensive and best parts. Then he shows them the carcass that remains and all of the children can't help but to be disgusted. They all back away from him as Jamie holds the gross looking remains in the air. However, it is insane to see the kids reaction after blending the poor cuts of meat up and adding the hypothetical "additives" to enhance them. The children are actually willing to eat the garbage after Jamie disguises it to make it look as if it is a good piece of chicken.

This just proves the lack of knowledge the world has on what is really inside of our food. And specifically, children, who are completely unaware of the difference because the two different cuts of meat that can be made to look, smell and even taste the same. The bad cuts and scraps of meat used to be made for dog food and other animal feed because their stomachs could handle it better than humans. Personally, I wouldn't even want my dog to ingest this pink slime and feel like it should be illegal to sell in our country. What do you think?

Entry #8. Kardashian Kraze

So, in case you were not already aware, the Kardashian-Jenners are worth TONS of money! But who are these people and why is the world so crazy about keeping up with them? Well.. let me me give you a little background on how this family became so famous.

What most people do not realize is that Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob were wealthy enough to not have to work a day in their lives even before they started their TV series in 2007. Their father, Robert Kardashian, left his wife (Kris Jenner) and kids with a $100 million estate in trust when he lost his life to esophageal cancer in 2003. Robert was a powerful attorney and businessman; he gained most of his recognition as OJ Simpson's friend and defense attorney in Simpson's murder trial. Kris and Robert divorced in 1991, however, they remained good friends up until he passed away.

A month after her divorce, Kris married former Olympian Bruce Jenner and together they had two girls- Kendall and Kylie. Bruce won first place in the 1976 Montreal Olympics Decathlon event and has an estimated net worth of $100 million alone. As you can see, just between Robert Kardashian and Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner-after transitioning to a woman this year) there is already so much money being discussed. Nevertheless, money isn't the only thing that made them so well known.

Kris' oldest daughter, Kim Kardashian, sparked a lot of the attention for the family when a home-made "sex tape" of her and singer Ray J was leaked to the public in 2007. She filed a lawsuit and received a great amount of money and fame from it. In the same year, the family also aired their first season of the popular reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The show is currently in its tenth season and solely focuses on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family.

Do you keep up on them?

This TV show has an average of 3.39 million viewers. And so many people not only watch the series but follow many of the family members on social media sites as well. Each of the sisters (Kylie, Kendall, Khloe and Kim) all have their own apps in the iPhone app store and Kim even has an animated game of the family and life you can play virtually.

The sister are entrepreneurs,  have modeled in fashion shoots, created clothing lines/ beauty products, written books and have made countless appearances. However, I believe most people know and understand them from their television series. I used to LOVE to watch the show and kept up on a lot of the seasons years ago when it was much more popular and new. There was just something about them that is SO entertaining. Yes, ridiculously dramatic and extreme at times but that is what makes this reality TV show so interesting. I don't watch a whole lot of TV now but every now and then I still enjoy some Kardashian drama.

I feel like within the last year, the sister that has received the most attention and news in the media is Kylie Jenner- the youngest. The beginning of this year, the 18-year-old purchased a $2.7 million 5-bedroom 5.5 bathroom mansion in Calabasas, California. She has also physically transformed and grown up; filling her body and curves so much more. She received lip fillers and the news blew up all about her and her new facial feature. She also has a Mercedes Benz G-wagon, Range Rover and even a Ferrari- that was actually a birthday gift from her boyfriend Tyga. AT 18 YEARS OLD...I'm 19 and still question whether or not i'm going to purchase the extra guac at Chipotle! Can you image having that much money at such a young age?

There is a lot of controversy over this family that say they didn't have to do much of anything for their fame and wealth. To a certain extent, I believe that is true- just as I described in the beginning with the two father's worth. I feel like it is almost impossible to not find something to do with your life when you are given a great deal of wealth from the start. Do you think any of them invested money into an educational pathway? Only one of them, Kourtney Kardashian, has a bachelor degree; all of the others do not. But with your career and wealth already set for life..is college even  necessary?

Anyways, from an outside standpoint, I think the show and family themselves are very entertaining. Sometimes I wish I had that amount of money to be able to do whatever I want or purchase whatever I want at any given time. Or have the opportunity to travel the world, meet famous people and experience the things they do. On the other hand, they have no privacy.. They are constantly monitored- on the television and in the public with paparazzi. When one little life event happens or a mistake is made then the entire world is made known of it and often times lies are even created.

If for some obscure reason you have never heard of the Kardashians, take a look on the internet or television and view a little snippet of their life. Check out their lifestyles and tell me what you think about them. Would you want to have your family aired on a reality TV show like theirs?