This is a blog post idea I've had for a while. In fact, this has been in my drafts for a few weeks now, but I never got around to posting or finishing it until this week. If you haven't figured it out, I'm sharing more about myself in this post, using every letter of the alphabet, I've chosen a word or phrase that is somehow about me.
Some of these letters were really easy to choose something for while others were definitely a struggle. But I thought this would be a really fun blog post to do.
Amanda
If you're familiar with my blog or got to this post from any of my social media, then you probably know Amanda is my first name. I'm 99-percent sure my parents named me Amanda because it starts with an A.
If you didn't already know, I'm a twin, and her name is Ashley. Ashley was born first, and my mom knew she wanted to name her Ashley after Ashley Judd. So I guess my parents thought of other names that began with A and liked Amanda.
If you didn't already know, I'm a twin, and her name is Ashley. Ashley was born first, and my mom knew she wanted to name her Ashley after Ashley Judd. So I guess my parents thought of other names that began with A and liked Amanda.
Books
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| Just some of my books! This is probably 1/4 of the books I have in my room. |
I've always loved books and reading. I do consider myself a bookworm and will forever have a never-ending "to-read" list. I have the Goodreads app on my phone and my Kindle so I can always keep track of what I'm reading. I can spend hours at Barnes and Noble browsing the shelves for new books to read (as if there aren't enough books I already want to read!).
Carmela
This is my middle name, which I use along with my first name for all of my social media usernames. It's my paternal grandmother's first name, and I really like it. I think it flows and goes well with my first name and last name. Plus, it's pretty and rather unique but not too unique.
Dance
One of my main interest is dance. With that said, I have never been a dancer. I have never taken any lessons and was never put it ballet like a lot of little girls. I've always been interested in it, though.
When I was a kid, I remember wanting to do dance. But like a lot of the other sports I wanted to try, I never did. I planned on trying it in middle school but for some reason I don't remember, it didn't work out and I never tried. However, that didn't stop me from learning about the art.
TV (and movies) have been monumental in developing an interest in dance. I've watched So You Think You Can Dance for a long time. I've watched nearly every season since season two. (This year will be season 15!) And it has taught me so much about dance and given me so much exposure to different styles of dance. And from watching over a decade of the show, I've fallen in love with dance.
I love watching all styles from contemporary to broadway to hip-hop to ballroom. I love how dance uses movement to tell a story, and it's just so entertaining to watch. Even with all the drama, watching Dance Moms for the past several years has also made me appreciate the sport and art form more.
I especially adore ballet, which is like the foundation for all dance. I don't know if I ever wanted to do ballet as a little girl, but I wouldn't mind it now. That probably began with me watching the short-lived CW show Breaking Pointe, a reality show about the Utah-based ballet company Ballet West, in high school.
Last, but certainly not least, Step Up is one of my favorite movies. The combination of hip-hop with lyrical/contemporary and ballet is so entertaining and awesome and shows how two sides of the dance spectrum can be combined and go together. (Sadly, I don't think I can ever watch this movie ever again because it might just make me too sad that Channing and Jenna have separated.)
Eyeliner
Despite the fact I've considered myself a "girly girl" since I was a kid, I've never been too into makeup. I don't think I've worn more than two or three products as a time. But my staple makeup product is eyeliner, and it has been for several years.
I wore it on and off starting in middle school but it really became my thing in high school when I started doing winged eyeliner. I don't know when exactly that happened. I just remember I saw it on the internet, tried it one day, and liked it. So I kept doing it.
I realized it was sort of my thing during my senior year of high school when I returned to classes after being hospitalized because of meningitis. I stopped doing my eyeliner for several days when I got back just because I had more important things to do and focus on in the morning. My yearbook adviser was like, 'Wow, you really were sick. You stopped doing your eyeliner!' which I thought was kind of funny.
As someone who wear glasses, makeup can be harder to wear and apply, so I really like that something as simple as eyeliner can accentuate my eyes even though I wear glasses. Now I get compliments on my eyeliner all the time. For some reason it happens a lot at coffee shops.
I wore it on and off starting in middle school but it really became my thing in high school when I started doing winged eyeliner. I don't know when exactly that happened. I just remember I saw it on the internet, tried it one day, and liked it. So I kept doing it.
I realized it was sort of my thing during my senior year of high school when I returned to classes after being hospitalized because of meningitis. I stopped doing my eyeliner for several days when I got back just because I had more important things to do and focus on in the morning. My yearbook adviser was like, 'Wow, you really were sick. You stopped doing your eyeliner!' which I thought was kind of funny.
As someone who wear glasses, makeup can be harder to wear and apply, so I really like that something as simple as eyeliner can accentuate my eyes even though I wear glasses. Now I get compliments on my eyeliner all the time. For some reason it happens a lot at coffee shops.
Fashion
I've loved clothes and fashion for as long as I can remember. That comes as no surprise to me considering I pretty much grew up shopping and going to malls with my mom every weekend. (My mom LOVES shopping.)
I went to Catholic school until fourth grade, so I didn't get to do too much with clothes and putting together outfits until I went to public school. Starting around that time, my mom would stop picking my clothes for me and I could basically wear whatever I wanted to school everyday, so that's when my love for fashion and clothes really began.
I went to Catholic school until fourth grade, so I didn't get to do too much with clothes and putting together outfits until I went to public school. Starting around that time, my mom would stop picking my clothes for me and I could basically wear whatever I wanted to school everyday, so that's when my love for fashion and clothes really began.
At the end of elementary school and in middle school, I was like most girls, wanting to wear what everyone else was wearing (so Limited Too and Justice, then Hollister and Abercrombie, essentially). That was also around the time I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer. I even did a PowerPoint on being a fashion designer for a seventh grade English project. I wanted to make cool clothes that other people would wear because I loved clothes so much.
Then later into middle school and the start of high school, I had an interesting phase where I would basically just wear skate/surf brand graphic tees/hoodies with skinny jeans and skate shoes. I was still on trend with a lot of people at school, but I wasn't as girly as I have been pretty much any other time of my life.
Near the end of my freshman year of high school, I stopped skater-ish phase and moved on to wearing whatever I wanted. I didn't really have a defined or set fashion sense anymore. If I liked it, I wore it. Yes, what I wore was still trendy, but I wasn't all about wearing what everyone else was. I started wearing dresses to school, and dressing up more.
I read Teen Vogue throughout high school, and people often complimented me on my outfits. A pair of my high school friends even told me I should be a model and fashion designer, a compliment I really appreciated as a fashion lover. I don't remember when exactly, but I was discouraged by my parents from pursuing a career as a fashion designer but still hoped to work in fashion as I reached the latter end of high school.
Now I love wearing dresses and dressing up and could not tell you what my style is like. So like whenever I'm taking a Buzzfeed quiz or something, and it asks me to describe my style, I can't use or choose just one word. Sometimes, I'm super girly and glam. Other times, I can be quite edgy, boho, or sporty.
If you've read my blog before or remotely know me from any of my social media, you know I don't work in fashion and didn't pursue a career in it but still consider it a large part of my life. I love taking OOTD photos (which you should know if you've been on here or my social media before) and helping people shop and put together outfits. As I've developed other passions and interests like gymnastics and dance, I've been able to appreciate and enjoy those fashions as well. Fashion is a big part of this blog and that's because it's a big part of me. Besides writing, fashion is my favorite way to express myself.
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| Throwback to me wearing a Volcom shirt during my freshman year of high school |
Then later into middle school and the start of high school, I had an interesting phase where I would basically just wear skate/surf brand graphic tees/hoodies with skinny jeans and skate shoes. I was still on trend with a lot of people at school, but I wasn't as girly as I have been pretty much any other time of my life.
Near the end of my freshman year of high school, I stopped skater-ish phase and moved on to wearing whatever I wanted. I didn't really have a defined or set fashion sense anymore. If I liked it, I wore it. Yes, what I wore was still trendy, but I wasn't all about wearing what everyone else was. I started wearing dresses to school, and dressing up more.
I read Teen Vogue throughout high school, and people often complimented me on my outfits. A pair of my high school friends even told me I should be a model and fashion designer, a compliment I really appreciated as a fashion lover. I don't remember when exactly, but I was discouraged by my parents from pursuing a career as a fashion designer but still hoped to work in fashion as I reached the latter end of high school.
Now I love wearing dresses and dressing up and could not tell you what my style is like. So like whenever I'm taking a Buzzfeed quiz or something, and it asks me to describe my style, I can't use or choose just one word. Sometimes, I'm super girly and glam. Other times, I can be quite edgy, boho, or sporty.
If you've read my blog before or remotely know me from any of my social media, you know I don't work in fashion and didn't pursue a career in it but still consider it a large part of my life. I love taking OOTD photos (which you should know if you've been on here or my social media before) and helping people shop and put together outfits. As I've developed other passions and interests like gymnastics and dance, I've been able to appreciate and enjoy those fashions as well. Fashion is a big part of this blog and that's because it's a big part of me. Besides writing, fashion is my favorite way to express myself.
Gymnastics
This is already a long blog post, and I could go on and on about gymnastics, so I won't. Instead, I'll write a short blurb and link to some old blog posts that discuss what gymnastics means to me.
I was never a gymnast, so that's not why gymnastics is on here, even though I've always wanted to do gymnastics. Regardless, gymnastics is my passion and my favorite sport. There are so many things I love about it, from the combination of athleticism, power, elegance and artistry, to the leotards, to the athletes who've participated in it and inspired me.
I was never a gymnast, so that's not why gymnastics is on here, even though I've always wanted to do gymnastics. Regardless, gymnastics is my passion and my favorite sport. There are so many things I love about it, from the combination of athleticism, power, elegance and artistry, to the leotards, to the athletes who've participated in it and inspired me.
And to read more about why gymnastics is part of me, read any or all of these blog posts:
Gymnastics: More Than Just a Sport
Where It Began: A Growing Passion for Gymnastics and Its Impact on My Life
National Gymnastics Day 2015: How I've Shown (and Will Show) My Salute to the Sport
Gymnastics: More Than Just a Sport
Where It Began: A Growing Passion for Gymnastics and Its Impact on My Life
National Gymnastics Day 2015: How I've Shown (and Will Show) My Salute to the Sport
Hair
When I have to answer the question "What's your best feature?" or "What do you think your best feature is?" I always say my hair.
I have long, thick black hair, and it's been that way for several years now. And so many people have complimented me on it and how they wish they could have it.
I have long, thick black hair, and it's been that way for several years now. And so many people have complimented me on it and how they wish they could have it.
It's interesting, though, because my mom pretty much hates my hair. She's the only one to have ever told me that it's ugly. My brother can attest to this because his friends have said how nice my and my sister's hair is, and then he'll go, 'Really? Our mom hates it and thinks it's ugly.' And because my mom doesn't like long hair, I had short hair (like really short, Asian bowl cut hair) until probably first grade. And then I couldn't grow it out long until middle school.
And now my mom has accepted that I won't have short hair and I keep it long. And I love it. I love to braid it and put it up in different ways, like a sock bun or a topknot.
And now my mom has accepted that I won't have short hair and I keep it long. And I love it. I love to braid it and put it up in different ways, like a sock bun or a topknot.
Introvert
I think this one's pretty obvious. I'm an introvert. Socializing, being around people, and being out and about for too long is draining for me. I need alone time. I like alone time. I'm totally fine with staying at home on a Friday or Saturday night instead of going out or something because time by myself is something I enjoy. It allows me to recharge and prepare for times when I need to be out and socialize.
Journalist
Journalism is what I got my degree in. I've been a journalist/reporter since I was in high school and started doing yearbook as a junior. And I still consider myself one now even though I just freelance.
I've always been a curious person who asked questions. I like writing and telling people's stories. And even though it requires a lot of talking and socializing, which is interesting considering I'm an introvert, I like it.
I've always been a curious person who asked questions. I like writing and telling people's stories. And even though it requires a lot of talking and socializing, which is interesting considering I'm an introvert, I like it.
Kate Spade
I love Kate Spade. I'm pretty sure I got it from my mom, who used to love Kate Spade and buy purses and whatnot from there all the time.
I just love everything Kate Spade. Kate Spade is about color, a little bit of flair and quirk, bows, a little bit of classic prep, and playfulness.
I just love everything Kate Spade. Kate Spade is about color, a little bit of flair and quirk, bows, a little bit of classic prep, and playfulness.
Lover of pink
My favorite color is pink, and I wear it virtually everyday. Most of my clothes are pink or have pink on them. I try to buy pink everything honestly, whether it be a water bottle, a backpack, a phone case, or clothes hangers.
To my friends and family, I'm known for how much I love pink. My junior year high school yearbook superlative was "Number one supporter of pink" or something along those lines. If you've ever seen that video on Facebook of the lady who has a pink house and everything in it is pink, that's me but toned down a lot more. Like take that and split it in half. I don't know how else to explain how much I love pink.
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| "When in doubt use pink" |
Music
I don't think I could live without music. I listen to it when I read, while I go on social media and browse the internet. When I write articles, papers, and blog posts, I listen to music. Music makes me feel less alone when I'm sad or feeling down. It can lift up my spirits when the right song comes on.
One of three
I have two siblings, so I am one of three children in my family. I am also one of three friends in my squad, which consists of me, my sister, and our best friend Carly.
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| My twin sister Ashley, my brother Winston, and myself |
Philippines
My family is from the Philippines. Both of my parents and all of their siblings were born there. Everyone in my (immediate) family has been there except for me and my sister, so we're still waiting for the day we can finally see the motherland.
Quiet
Overall, I'm a pretty quiet person. I don't really like to talk unless I have to or if I'm around certain people that I feel very comfortable with. When I was in elementary, middle, and high school, my teachers would always tell my parents how I was pretty quiet. In college classes, I was also quiet and didn't want to talk, even if participation was graded. I know introverts aren't always the quiet type, but I am. I'm totally fine with listening rather than talking.
Ryan Sheckler
Is it weird for another person to be part of my alphabet? I can't think of something better to be R, so Ryan Sheckler it is.
In case you have no idea who he is, Ryan Sheckler is a professional skateboarder. He's my favorite action sports athlete and is the person who got me interested in action sports like skateboarding, BMX, surfing, and snowboarding.
I'll admit the first reason I liked him was because I thought he was attractive. (Give me a break. I was in seventh grade. But I still think he's attractive, not going to lie.) But as I watched his MTV reality show Life of Ryan, it was easy to see he was also very talented and good at what he did. And from watching LOR, I started to watch Dew Tour and X Games, discovering other action sports athletes and sports, becoming fans of other athletes (regardless of what they look like).
In case you have no idea who he is, Ryan Sheckler is a professional skateboarder. He's my favorite action sports athlete and is the person who got me interested in action sports like skateboarding, BMX, surfing, and snowboarding.
I'll admit the first reason I liked him was because I thought he was attractive. (Give me a break. I was in seventh grade. But I still think he's attractive, not going to lie.) But as I watched his MTV reality show Life of Ryan, it was easy to see he was also very talented and good at what he did. And from watching LOR, I started to watch Dew Tour and X Games, discovering other action sports athletes and sports, becoming fans of other athletes (regardless of what they look like).
Now I've never been prouder to be a fan of his despite him not being as successful of a skateboarder as he was in the late 2000s and early 2010s. From his charity work with kids and his non-profit, Sheckler Foundation, to taking care of himself and getting help for addiction, I have come to admire him for who he is as a person and not just his looks or skateboarding ability.
Sweet tooth
I love sweets. They're my favorite food. Dessert is my favorite. I love ice cream, cookies, cake, chocolate, and candy. My sweet tooth is probably why I love baking. I know it's why I had a few cavities as a child.
Twin
In case you didn't know by now, I'm an identical twin. If you've ever read my blog post about why I named my blog "Identically Unique," you already know that. Like any twin ― especially an identical twin ― knows, being a twin is usually a big part of your identity. Your twin is your automatic, built-in best friend and other half. And that couldn't be truer of me and my sister, Ashley.
Being a twin also gives you an easy fun fact for all those icebreaker, start-of-the-year school things, which is nice.
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| Me and Ashley at a Bulls game |
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is my alma mater. I graduated from there in May 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in News-editorial journalism.
It was one of the only two colleges I applied to, and it was where I wanted to go since my junior year of high school. Even though seventh-grade me didn't want to go to Illinois because two and a half hours in the car to get there seemed too long, I got over that and could not have imagined going anywhere else.
It was one of the only two colleges I applied to, and it was where I wanted to go since my junior year of high school. Even though seventh-grade me didn't want to go to Illinois because two and a half hours in the car to get there seemed too long, I got over that and could not have imagined going anywhere else.
Volleyball
Volleyball is the first sport I fell in love with. It's the first sport I really played. It's my favorite sport to play (but probably only because the only gymnastics I can do is a cartwheel.)
I starting playing in sixth grade and stopped the summer of 2010. It's a sport I always wanted to try as a kid but never got to until middle school, and when my mom enrolled me in my middle school volleyball camp before eighth grade, my passion for the sport began. I loved playing it and still do.
I played pretty much every position except for middle hitter/blocker (because I'm only 5' 3" and reached that height in eighth grade and stopped growing then). I was a manager in middle school. Then during my freshman year of high school, I finally made the team as a player and went from outside hitter to right-side/opp/backup setter quickly. The summer before sophomore year, I moved to defensive specialist/libero because it was the position that was open and fit me better.
I liked playing right-side least, but that's probably because freshman high school teams don't back-set or set right side much. My favorite was DS/libero. I stopped playing my sophomore year of high school because I didn't make the school team and my mom wouldn't let me play club. Despite that, I think my jump serve and serving are better now than when I played.
While I played and even after I stopped, I volunteered at my middle school's summer camp and helped coach the younger girls. I enjoyed helping younger girls learn the sport in the same spor I developed a passion for it. Plus, I got to play some games and scrimmages and participate in drills, too.
I starting playing in sixth grade and stopped the summer of 2010. It's a sport I always wanted to try as a kid but never got to until middle school, and when my mom enrolled me in my middle school volleyball camp before eighth grade, my passion for the sport began. I loved playing it and still do.
I played pretty much every position except for middle hitter/blocker (because I'm only 5' 3" and reached that height in eighth grade and stopped growing then). I was a manager in middle school. Then during my freshman year of high school, I finally made the team as a player and went from outside hitter to right-side/opp/backup setter quickly. The summer before sophomore year, I moved to defensive specialist/libero because it was the position that was open and fit me better.
I liked playing right-side least, but that's probably because freshman high school teams don't back-set or set right side much. My favorite was DS/libero. I stopped playing my sophomore year of high school because I didn't make the school team and my mom wouldn't let me play club. Despite that, I think my jump serve and serving are better now than when I played.
While I played and even after I stopped, I volunteered at my middle school's summer camp and helped coach the younger girls. I enjoyed helping younger girls learn the sport in the same spor I developed a passion for it. Plus, I got to play some games and scrimmages and participate in drills, too.
Wanderlust
Wanderlust is basically a strong desire to travel, and I very much think I have that. There are so many places I want to go to and explore.
Going to all 50 states would be cool, but I especially want to go to Europe, the Philippines, and Australia. I want to eat pizza and pasta in Italy, see the beauty of Greece in person and not just Pinterest, see where my family and ancestors are from, and watch surfing in Australia.
Going to all 50 states would be cool, but I especially want to go to Europe, the Philippines, and Australia. I want to eat pizza and pasta in Italy, see the beauty of Greece in person and not just Pinterest, see where my family and ancestors are from, and watch surfing in Australia.
X Games
Honestly, the X Games are not that significant in my life, but it's here for the lack of a better noun to use for the letter X.
I do enjoy watching the X Games every summer. It's my favorite action sports competition because there's so much to watch, from skateboard street to Big Air to BMX park. It's the Olympics of action sports, and it's always so cool to see action sports on a major network like ESPN and on a basic channel like ABC.
I do enjoy watching the X Games every summer. It's my favorite action sports competition because there's so much to watch, from skateboard street to Big Air to BMX park. It's the Olympics of action sports, and it's always so cool to see action sports on a major network like ESPN and on a basic channel like ABC.
Yearbook
I was involved in yearbook for six years of my life. I joined my high school yearbook staff as a junior and instantly loved it. I stayed on staff for my senior year and was a copy editor. I was lucky enough to go to a college that has a yearbook, so I continued my involvement in yearbook at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for all four years I was there: one year as a staff writer, one as assistant writing editor, one as writing editor, and one as co-editor-in-chief. And while I'm no longer involved with yearbook in my post-graduation life, I will forever be a yerd (yearbook nerd).
What I love about yearbook differs when talking about high school yearbook versus college yearbook. High school yearbook is so enjoyable and fun because it is such a team effort that requires a lot of team bonding and working together with everyone on staff. My high school yearbook experience included a lot of fun team bonding activities, like Yerd Christmas and Thanksgiving, funny memories, and end-of-the-school-year field trips to celebrate the book's completion. I even went to yearbook camp for a week at the end of the summer before my senior year to help kick-start the creation and planning of our yearbook.
College yearbook honestly wasn't as fun because it was more work and not much time for play and staff bonding, but I still enjoyed it. I loved getting to preserve the events and memories of my alma mater, knowing generations of Illini to look back on for years to come. I loved developing my writing, editing, photography, and design skills that made me want to be a journalism major. I enjoyed trying to make college yearbook more fun while I was co-editor-in-chief, doing some staff bonding activities and showing my staff members how much I appreciated them and their hard work. And honestly, being co-editor-in-chief and finally getting the book I was in charge of was the most rewarding thing I've ever done.
What I love about yearbook differs when talking about high school yearbook versus college yearbook. High school yearbook is so enjoyable and fun because it is such a team effort that requires a lot of team bonding and working together with everyone on staff. My high school yearbook experience included a lot of fun team bonding activities, like Yerd Christmas and Thanksgiving, funny memories, and end-of-the-school-year field trips to celebrate the book's completion. I even went to yearbook camp for a week at the end of the summer before my senior year to help kick-start the creation and planning of our yearbook.
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| Me hugging my baby aka the yearbook I put my blood, sweat, and tears in |
College yearbook honestly wasn't as fun because it was more work and not much time for play and staff bonding, but I still enjoyed it. I loved getting to preserve the events and memories of my alma mater, knowing generations of Illini to look back on for years to come. I loved developing my writing, editing, photography, and design skills that made me want to be a journalism major. I enjoyed trying to make college yearbook more fun while I was co-editor-in-chief, doing some staff bonding activities and showing my staff members how much I appreciated them and their hard work. And honestly, being co-editor-in-chief and finally getting the book I was in charge of was the most rewarding thing I've ever done.
Zero
Zero represents sort of an abstract concept in that there are a lot of things I haven't done that a lot of other people have. And for a lot of my childhood, I was upset with some of these things, but now that I've matured, I'm okay with it and don't mind it much. Sure, there are some things I've missed out on, but I could better enjoy some of these things now than I would have before.
I've never had or been to a sleepover. I've never been on a different continent. I've never broken a bone, sprained an ankle, or torn a muscle/ligament. I never got detention in school. I've never gone on a getaway trip with my friends. I've never played sports competitively outside of school. I've never had a boyfriend. I've never been to a real beach.
I've never had or been to a sleepover. I've never been on a different continent. I've never broken a bone, sprained an ankle, or torn a muscle/ligament. I never got detention in school. I've never gone on a getaway trip with my friends. I've never played sports competitively outside of school. I've never had a boyfriend. I've never been to a real beach.
This was such a fun post! I'm really impressed that you came up with something unique and perfectly fitting for every letter. I don't know if I've told you this, but I also love your middle name! I agree that it flows so nicely stringed together. And I didn't even realize how much I associate your look with your eyeliner until now! It's so true, though, it's your signature. You are going to have your first sleepover soon, because we need our squad sleepover to finally happen! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carly! (:
DeleteYes, our squad sleepover will happen! Maybe over the summer?