Avery's Adventures!

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful 2017 and that you made some great memories. This was a crazy year that was full of ups and downs, but it also had learning and growth. We can take what we learned in 2017 and apply it to make 2018 a great year. Here's a few of my adventures from this year!

Merry Christmas!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the magic that Christmas brings. Stay safe and have a wonderful day!

Look at the beautiful things in life this Christmas. ❄ I know that we are often caught in the stress of the holidays and we are in a rush to get everything done; we tend forget what Christmas is really about. I had the opportunity to go down to Temple Square with my family, when I looked up at the temple I had a peaceful reminder of why we celebrate this magical holiday, its about peace on earth. Spread kindness to those around you, spend time with your family, and remember the birth of the Savior. Happy Holidays! ❄

  It's amazing how much we discover. The cool thing about discovery is that we can get to know ourselves and how much we have improved over the course of time. We can become better people as we learn and grow.  I have discovered some exciting and not so exciting things throughout my journey in college, those things have helped me grow in some way. I'm grateful that this world and the opportunities that it gives us to explore and see what life has to offer, I know that there's a lot more out there to be found.  I hope you will go out and do something that makes you discover more about yourself, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving and enjoy the delicious food, watching football, or whatever tradition you have to celebrate this holiday.  "Those who live in thanksgiving daily are usually the world's happiest people. And they make others happy as well." -Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

"It always seems impossible until it's done." -Nelson Mandela  There have been moments in college where I've felt that things were going to be too hard or that I wasn't good enough, but as soon as I completed the task or assignment, I realized that it wasn't so bad. Things seem impossible until it comes to pass and completed. I believe we all have a strength to do what seems impossible, then we discover that the impossible is possible. We need to tell ourselves "I'm possible." One of my professors actually said that we are more likely to accomplish something if we tell ourselves we can do it. I know you can do whatever it is you want to accomplish. You are amazing!

"Know that deep inside, you are resilient, brave and so much stronger and more powerful than your fears."  Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.  The world tries so hard to get you to believe that you're nothing, but you are something to everyone. I know so many wonderful people that have admirable strength. I hope that you take the opportunity to find your inner strength. Show your inner strength and don't let anyone try to stop you! Because you are amazing, strong, and beautiful. Be you and no one else.

"Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever." -Walt Disney   I believe that we have become too serious. We have forgotten how to laugh and be happy at the fun/little things we have in life.  Just because we grow up does not mean we have to stop having fun and stop being silly. I believe that we should look for the fun in life and have something to make you smile. Tell a joke to make someone laugh! Laughter makes anything better. It's okay to be silly and it's okay to laugh. Don't listen to anyone who judges or scoffs at that. Be happy and live your life smiling!

I had the amazing opportunity to attend Comic Con for the first time. It was such a cool experience! I loved seeing all the cool cosplays that people came as. I loved checking out all the interesting things that the vendors had. Catching glimpses of the famous guests were even cooler! I cosplayed as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. It was fun walking around as my favorite character from my favorite movie/book series. I'm really grateful that I was able to attend this year and I'm even more grateful that my Dad came a long with me. I will definitely be going to the next one. Enjoy the video of all the photos I took!

Beauty Is... Confidence Humility Elegance Kindness Charity Love    "You are beautiful, no matter what they say." - Christina Aguilera   If someone tells you that you aren't beautiful, don't believe them for one second. You are beautiful just by being you. I have met so many wonderful people that have shown their beauty from being kind and loving. Beauty shines through how you treat others. Beauty is many things, not just how you look. I believe that we are all beautiful in our own way.  Being yourself is the prettiest you can be, n ever let anyone tell you less. "True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul."-Audrey Hepburn

"I may not be perfect, but I get credit for trying."  I heard this quote in my Institute class last year, I thought this was so good and relatable. There have been times where I have a perfectionist attitude, but I am reminded that I get credit for trying. Heavenly Father knows that we will make mistakes and go over bumps in the road, and He knows that we are trying. He loves us for that. I love that we get the chance to renew our covenants every Sunday and try even better during the new week. We can tell ourselves "This week I will try to be even better." Have a wonderful week! 💗

Watch your favorite movie Read your favorite book Spend time with family and friends Write in a journal Try something new Dance to crazy music

Be your best self! Study hard Meet some new people Try new things Do your best Always ask for help Be kind to everyone Capture the moment Don't let anyone get you down Live in the moment 💜   

  Don't ever give people the power to get you down, you have so much strength that you can do anything. If you have something that you love then keep doing it. You don't have to choose just one thing, there is more than one perfect fit. That is the cool thing about life, there are so many options to choose from. Don't ever stop looking for that perfect fit! So many opportunities are waiting to be discovered! Be your best self! "Life doesn't control you, you control life." -Lilly Singh

"The greatest relationships are the ones you never expected to be in, the ones that swept you off your feed and challenged every view you've had."  I love this. Some of my dearest friends have come into my life in some unexpected way, and I've cherished them. I believe that people come into our lives for a reason, to teach us an important lesson we need to learn, help us get through a rough time, or be a friend. I love all my friends/family, they have all taught me something to carry with me in my life. ❤

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." -Confucius Life is the greatest story we can make. The best part is that you can write your own story as you go along. Whatever you choose to do, give it your all.

"If music be the food of love, play on." -William Shakespeare  This has been my favorite quote since junior high. Music has brought me some of the greatest memories and the greatest people into my life. It has a certain magic that can bring people together and helps you express yourself. One of my favorite experiences with music was in my junior year of high school, the choir went on tour to San Diego and we got to perform at the La Jolla retirement home. I could tell that we uplifted them with our performance and we grew closer as a choir. To this day I'm grateful for that experience knowing that we made people happy with music.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." -J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Make your good better and your better best."  This amazing quote was also a vocal warmup my high school choir teacher taught us. We would sing that at the beginning of class, he taught us this because he wanted to remind us to always do our best. This stuck with me during my last year of high school, there have been times where I've tried to be perfect at everything I did and would get down on myself when things didn't go my way; then I remembered the quote.  To this day I'm grateful to my choir teacher for teaching us that warmup, it has helped me not to come down on myself when things don't go perfect. It was an inspiring life lesson to learn.

"Failure is not fun. It can be awful. But living so cautiously that you never fail is worse." -J.K. Rowling I know that we've all felt this way. Failure is never fun, but it can help us learn and grow as a person. One day you'll look back on the situation and remember what you learned from it, success will follow.  As the quote says 'living so cautiously that you'll never fail is worse.' I agree with that, because living our lives in a way that prevents us from failing can prevent us from living a life of accomplishment. The cool thing about this life is that we are here to learn and become better people.  Live your life to the fullest and don't let failure get you down!

 I absolutely love this video. I know that we have all struggled with finding our purpose or what fits us, what I love about this world is that there can be more than one answer on what our perfect fit is. I want you to know that you can find many things that make you happy. I hope this video inspires you!

Summer is finally here!  I can't wait to jump in the pool, spend time with family and friends, and just have fun in the sun! One of my favorite things to do in the summer is watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July with my family. It has a way of bringing people together. This summer, I'm going to focus on making every moment count. Have a great day!

"All the world is made of faith, trust, and pixie dust." -J.M. Barrie

"You have nothing to be discouraged about, you have everything to be happy about." -Elder M. Russell Ballard.   This was something I needed to hear when I attended YSA stake conference yesterday. No matter how hard things get, we must remember that we have so many things to be happy about. We should be excited and happy that we have a life to live. Trials are only temporary and we shouldn't let them take control of our life. Today is the start of a brand new week, make something happen! Heavenly Father is cheering you in because He believes in you. I believe in you. Have a wonderful week!

Growing up I always loved listening to and being involved in music, because it always made me so happy. It still does to this day. I just love how music can have a huge influence on how we feel, act, etc. Throughout my years of school, I was heartbroken to see music get overlooked. Music has a lot of benefits that people don't often realize. For me, the biggest benefit that music has is the mood boosting effect it has. Music has a big influence on others these days. Everything we listen to has some sort of message in it. It can be good and bad. I just love how happy I feel when I'm involved in music. Whenever I do a choir or theatre performance, I feel free and confident. Like no one can bring me down (Wicked reference 😃)  I challenge you to find one song that makes you happy, it could be your theme song that gives you that boost of confidence. It could be a popular song or one from your favorite Broadway musical. I have lots of favorite songs, but my new favorite song is

I want to dedicate today's post to my amazing mother! I am so grateful to have someone as wonderful as her to be my mother. Thanks for always being there for me and supporting me in all I do. Thank you for being my rock and my best friend! Your support and love mean the world to me. I don't know what I did to deserve to have such a wonderful mother. 💓 Happy Mother's Day! I love you!

Happy May! I'd like to start off today's post with a joke: Since we celebrated Star Wars Day yesterday which was May the Fourth be with you, does that mean today is Revenge of the Fifth? 😃 Comment below with your favorite Star Wars joke! I love that there are little things in life that can make us laugh, finding those things can make life a little easier. Another thing that I love about laughter is how happy it can make people! There have been a number of times in my life when I have been around friends and we laugh at the silliest things! That's my favorite kind of laughter. I challenge you to find that thing that makes you laugh!

“Beauty isn't about the fairest skin. Its about the purest heart.”

  I think it's quite amazing how there are so many people with unique talents. Those people make this world an exciting place! Never be ashamed of your abilities, embrace them. There have been times where I have felt my talents weren't enough, but I decided to use them to help and make people happy.  Who knows? Someone could be needing your talent for comfort or help. Be proud of who you are and embrace your abilities. Enjoy your week!

Happy Earth Day!    I feel so lucky to live in this beautiful world and get to see beautiful things. I visited Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point and saw so many beautiful flowers! The pictures above are just a few of the flowers I saw, it made me realize that Earth has really beautiful things. I believe that we should take better care of our planet, so that these beautiful things can stay. Have a great day!

  Have you ever felt alone? Like no one understands what you're going through? Believe me, I have. We live in a time where things aren't always easy. People can be cruel. One of my favorite talks in General Conference said "We can see the blessings above when we look up." and "Hold onto your faith in those hard times. Look up to Christ for strength, balance, and healing." Like many others, I wish things could be easier. That's why we have Christ to help us through our trials. If we allow Him to help us, then He'll lift us up! “Don't look around, look up!”   -Elder Yoon Hwan Choi

Happy Easter! I hope you all have an enjoyable day and eat lots of chocolate eggs! Be as happy as the dancing bunny!   I'm also so grateful for another wonderful reason to celebrate Easter. On this day, the Savior rose from the tomb. Knowing that He loves us enough to go through the Atonement makes me feel important and loved. He is always watching out for us because He loves us. My heart is full in having that knowledge. Have a wonderful day.

 "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell, and for once it might be grand to have someone understand, I want so much more than they've got planned." -Beauty and the Beast 

Hilarious video from Studio C! Hope this puts a smile on your face!

"Always know that there is nothing between you and your dream except you. You're in control of your destiny- be the best you can be." -Criss Angel   This is one of my favorite quotes. There is no one else but us that is controlling our destiny. We all have the power to become who we want to be, we have the power to follow our dreams and become something great. Be your best self and go out there and make your dreams come true.

   I'm so grateful for the amazing life that I have.  Some people aren't so lucky. I've seen people who are hating life and wishing that it would end.  It saddens me to think that someone is needing someone to listen, but no one will reach out to help. My heart aches for those people.    It also really breaks my heart to see the way people treat others. There is absolutely no reason to treat someone poorly. What you say can make or break someone's day. You don't know what they could be going through.   Throughout my life I've seen the cruelest things people can do to others just to feel powerful, It makes me so sad to see someone who has the need to put down and discriminate people for their differences. No one is perfect.    I challenge you to reach out to someone who could use a listening ear, a friend, or a shoulder to cry on. Give more compliments than words of put down. The simplest things can have the biggest impact. "Someone is on your side,

“Replace fear with Christ's perfect love. " -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  I'm grateful to have this knowledge. We need to replace fear with Christ's perfect love. It makes me sad to see people using fear to get others to do what they want. Bullying and aggression will not get you anywhere.

Look for the magic in life. 

I am beautiful Today will be a good day I will get things done I am talented I am interesting Things will get better I matter My life is great Something great will happen No one  will bring me down

   See the good in life. We may live in a time where things aren't always easy, but that certainly doesn't mean that it's all bad. Extraordinary things are happening everyday! We just need to intently look for them. There are kind people who help make the world  better place everyday. Think of someone who has helped you recently or think of ways you can return the favor. All those things can help you see the good things in life, not just the bad things. Stay strong and be happy.

My heart has been so full. I was pondering the things that I learned from General Conference, and I feel so happy. There have been times where I have felt alone, but I'm reminded that I'm never alone. I have a wonderful family, amazing friends, and a loving Heavenly Father who is always there for me. This knowledge has made me feel optimistic about things. When things aren't easy, remember that things will work out.  Be happy 💙

I love spring time! The sun shining, the flowers blooming, and the bright blue sky are absolutely beautiful. Nice weather equals positivity! I am optimistic about this month. Things will be great.  General Conference increased my optimism. I learned that we are never alone, we can overcome trials, and we are all of great worth in His eyes. It's amazing what uplifting words from amazing people can do. Have an enjoyable weekend!

  Have you ever had those days where you feel like nothing is going right? We've all had those days. They may seem like the end of the world, but don't despair. There's a saying that goes "There's a light at the end of the tunnel." Its so true. Something wonderful is going to happen to you. Look to your family and loved ones for help, do something that you enjoy, go on a fun adventure with friends. Do anything to help you stay positive. I hope you all had a wonderful time during the month of March. Remember: you are beautiful, you are wonderful, you are enough!

  Dreams are wonderful things, but it's up to us to make them come true. Think of all the extraordinary people who are making a difference in the world because they worked hard to make their dreams come true! Walt Disney said "If you can dream it, do it." You are in control of your destiny, you make the choices for you, you can decide what makes you happy. You can make your dreams come true because you are amazing, you are capable of doing extraordinary things!

Beauty and the Beast A Knight's Tale 10 Things I Hate About You Alice in Wonderland The Wedding Singer Trolls Harry Potter Safe Haven The Lord of the Rings Edward Scissorhands 

  Don't you love those days when you wake up feeling happy? I most certainly do! I've been having those feelings where I'm thinking "I've got this!" life is a hard thing, but that doesn't stop me from being confident! Don't let anyone stop you from thinking that.  You're doing enough just by being you! You've got this! You're amazing! Be you and no one else!

Our biggest critics in life are ourselves. We tend to cut ourselves down and compare ourselves to others; we need to remember how amazing we are at our abilities. Are you a good cook? Are you a gifted singer/dancer? Do you tell jokes to make people laugh? Remembering the things that you're good at can increase your confidence. We need to build ourselves up, not tear ourselves down. Remember: you are beautiful, you are wonderful, you are enough! Have a wonderful week!

Dress up for yourself Write down your talents Have a task oriented day Watch an inspiring video Pamper yourself  Have a "power pose"  Tell yourself positive affirmations Be kind Try something new Expand your talents 

Moana Zootopia Big Hero 6 All of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies Tangled Maleficent Cinderella Alice in Wonderland (both classic and remake) Beauty and the Beast The Little Mermaid

"If you can dream it, do it."         -Walt Disney 

Say hello!  Give them a compliment Offer a listening ear when someone needs one Ask them to hang out Build someone up, don't tear them down Offer help  Be understanding Show your love Be a friend Smile! 

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”       -Eleanor Roosevelt  When we go into a new day, we should wake up with a positive mindset. If you had a bad day/week before, then you can tell yourself some positive mantras like: This week will be better!  I will get stuff done! This is the day that something great will happen!  I am beautiful  I'm amazing I am happy Enjoy this week! Stay strong and be happy! 

“Everyone deserves a chance to fly!"          -Wicked

   Lately I have been pondering on how lucky I am to have so many wonderful things and have met so many wonderful people in my life. These days we are in such a rush that we forget to slow down and appreciate these things. If we do so, then we will become more thankful people. Throughout this week, take the time to slow down and ponder the things that make you happy and the things you are blessed with. Have a wonderful week!

Life can be a really hard thing, but there is opposition in all things. There are times where I've felt like I was completely alone but then I realize that I'm not. I have a wonderful and loving family who always sticks by me and I have amazing friends who cheer me on. They have made life enjoyable! The next time you're feeling alone, turn to someone you trust and love. With supportive people by your side, you can get through anything. “Life should be enjoyed, not endured.”   -Gordan B. Hinckley

"For with God nothing shall be impossible." -Luke 1:37 I'm grateful to have this knowledge in my life. At times we feel like we can't get through tough times, but we have someone always looking out for us.

"When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." 

“Rule #1 in life, do what makes you happy.” Seeing Split with my friends! 

   Look at the positive side of things Try something new Spend time with loved ones Don't put others down for their differences Stop and take a look at the little things around you Capture the moments Look for the good in others Share your favorite hobby with a friend or a family member Step outside your comfort zone Keep moving forward 

I am so excited for the month of February! Since this is the month of love, I'm going to find ways to express my love to my family and friends. Even if you don't have a 'special someone' you can still spend the month of February with family and friends. Those are the people who are always going to be there for you. Be kind and show your love this month! You'll make a positive impact on yourself and your loved ones. Have a wonderful day!

    We live in a time right now where people don't treat each other the way they should. I believe that's one of the biggest problems we have in this world. There are so many people who come down on themselves or have a low self esteem because the feel like they aren't enough. Words can have the biggest impact on anyone. I hope you will make the effort to be kind to someone and watch what you say. It will not only benefit the person, but it will benefit you as well. "Have courage and be kind." -Cinderella

Lin-Manuel Miranda Twenty One Pilots Pentatonix Peter Hollens Reeve Carney  La La Land Regina Spektor  Ed Sheeran  Taylor Swift Moana Soundtrack

Harry Potter series Harry Potter and the Cursed Child The Twilight Saga The Maze Runner Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them  Me Before You After You The Fault in Our Stars The Hourglass Door Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined

Listen Be there  Do a kind deed. Even if no one is watching Be understanding Show your love Ask what you can do to help Don't wait for a moment to be kind to pass by Smile or say hello Give someone a compliment Even if you don't agree with someone, express it in a loving way

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. Its about learning to dance in the rain!"

Spend quality time with your family Read your favorite book Go outside  Watch a funny movie Have a girl's/guys night Try something new Do a kind deed for someone  Listen to your favorite band Make a new friend Live life without limits!

Family My faith  Music  Theatre Books  Traveling  Laughter  Movies Writing  Living life without limits 

“Always be the first-rate version of yourself and not a second-rate version of someone else.” -Judy Garland     I love this quote so much, because in this generation we are expected to keep up with the trends and be like every one else. We forget how much we have to offer! Everyone is so amazing in their own way! The world would be a really boring place if everyone were the same. I love seeing so many beautiful and unique things made by talented people. That's the great thing about this world.    Remember to be your best self and embrace it, because you are amazing! 

 Yesterday was a somber day for Disney fans. The Tower of Terror is now closed. I was very sad to hear this news, but it brought back some beloved memories from riding this thrilling ride. I took this photo from my trip to Disneyland last year. I will never forget the suspense of the elevator climb and waiting for it to drop.     I loved the adrenaline that I would feel when the elevator would drop. Every time I came to visit Disneyland, the Tower of Terror would on the top of my list of things to do at the park. I'm sad that this fun ride has to go, but I know that Guardians of the Galaxy will be a fun ride. Farewell Tower of Terror! Thanks for the thrills!

 During 2017, I want to make sure that I make every moment count. The one thing that I really love about the new year is that it gives you an opportunity to start over and make a clean slate. I'm looking forward to improving myself and looking for positive experiences around me.  We should decide for ourselves what kind of year we are going to have. Make a list of resolutions or things to look forward to during this year. Make 2017 an enjoyable year. “Adventure is out there!”