"Life is short, smile while you still have teeth."

Just to start off, my dad thought it would be a wonderful idea to turn off the wifi at 10pm each night. Like what? Late at night is when I do my best blogging!! What in the world was he thinking?! But, I will not let not using my laptop be that big of a hiderence. So here it goes, from my phone.
Tonight at my second home (taco amigo) I had the best experience of the whole week. I was way ahead on my closing jobs so I was helping my coworker with hers. I was helping take money and hand food out the drive-up window.  A man pulled up to the window and I greeted him as I normally do all customers. I asked how he was and told him his total. He told me he was ornery and handed me his credit card. I then proceeded to apologize for his bad day and charge him for his food. I handed his food and card back out the window and told him to have a great day. He replied, "You have a great night, too! Oh, and keep smiling!"
It is amazing how big of a difference a smile can make. Just turning up the corners of your mouth. It isn't a hard thing to do, yet we as people tend to do less and less of it these days. A smile has such power. When you choose to smile even when you don't feel like it, you could be changing someones day or even their outlook on life! So smile big whenever you get the chance! You never know how many chances you have left!
I'm grateful that that man took a chance and spoke more than the usual few words most people do. So in the words of that very friendly man "keep smiling!" You never know when someone will need it.

Do you have 20 minuets?

Jillian Michaels is a mad woman!
Since school started, I've been going to the gym 3-4 times per week (with a few exceptions). I lift weights, I do cardio, I do abs, arms, and legs. I've definitely seen a difference and I feel a lot better inside, and a lot better about myself. I feel like I'm pretty in shape,  seeing that I run almost 2 (someimes more) miles each time I'm at the gym. Apparently,  I'm not.
I woke up yesterday with absolutely zero motivation to head to the gym. So, I grabbed my Jillian Michael's 20 minuet work out video and put it in. 20 minuets, how hard could it be?
Oh my! I've never sweated so much in all my time working out! All the moves are really easy. Stuff any normal person would be able to do. The way she combined excersizes (for full calorie burning/ muscle toning benefit) was insane! In the first 5 minuets I wanted to die!
It was a great workout and I'm so sore now in my legs and abs that it hurts to walk ( and I may or may not hobble around like a grandma). But believe me, I will never underestimate the power of Jillian Michaels ever again!

Who ever said life was fair?

"As I’ve matured, I’ve come to realize that God is indeed fair, but fair does not mean equal." - Dave Ramsey.
How many times have you heard someone whine about life being so unfair? I've heard it billions of times. I think this quote replies to the whining perfectly! Fair is definitely not the same thing as equal. Have you ever heard 2+2 Fair 4? Nope! They are totally different things and so it's quite impossible to compare the two. 
It's my goal in life to quit the complaining about how my life is so unfair. Instead, I want to exude graitude and be thankful for what I do have. I want to work hard and live a happy life. Dwelling on lifes hardships wont get me anywhere. I want to be moving forward, not taking steps backwards. I can be positive, and I will keep striving to be the best me I can be. 

Out With The Old... And In With The New (Year)

2013 has treated me well, but I am so excited to start this new year. New years bring a do-over that is so refreshing. It is where you restart and do your best to make yourself better. Everyone always complains that resolutions are dumb, but I know that deep down inside everyone has their own listed in their head. Here are my New Years Resolutions:

• Make life worthwhile
• Collect more quotes
• Get skinny
• Develop a new skill
• Be more kind
• Read my scriptures daily
• Blog more
• Be more understanding
• Get away from technology once in a while
• Journal 
• Listen
• Study harder
• Save money
• Love
• Smile
• Sing
• Be a better friend
• Work harder
• Take in the nature
• Laugh a lot
• Stay off soda
• Forgive & Forget
• Grow my hair out long
• Do tons of crafts
• Be more organized
• Let life take it's course sometimes
• Love the highs and learn from the lows
• Make some new friends

Un(well not even)Invited

It's upsetting that someone I used to consider my closest friend, is acting like this. We've had our ups and downs (a lot of downs as of late), but I still think I'm your friend and you're still mine. It's sad to think that you're being outright rude to get back at me. I never did anything. I just didn't want to be treated like garbage so I told you how I felt. I thought we were fine. We still hangout a lot and I even invited you hot tubbing a couple weekends ago. It's very immature of you to make it obvious that you aren't inviting me to your party. I don't care if I'm invited or not it's just a party that I probably won't remember in a year. BUT when you outright hand the invitations out while I stand right there talking to you... that stings. For a minute I wanted to get back at you. Then I realized it's definitely not worth it. I'm not 5 and I am willing to stand up and be the better person. "Treat people the way you want to ne treated". I would think you would have caught on to that one by know, considering the many times you've complained about people not liking you.
I'm sorry for whatever I did for you to need to "get back at me". Have a fun party!

High School

I know one day I will look back on High School and remember how easy life was back then. For now, I will keep struggling in Honors Pre-Calculus and Chemistry. I will look back on high school and laugh about all of the crazy things my friends and I did. I'll cherish these memories that I make each day. I will look back and smile. High school. A place to learn and grow. A place to laugh and love. A place to cry when you suck at math. A place that sometimes is so hard to be at, so you stay home instead. A place where there are teachers who care, and notice the little things that happen. A place to be challenged. A place where you struggle through the week and look ahead to the glorious 2 days of freedom. High school The best-worst 4 years of your life. A place for stress. A place for those days when you didn't get any sleep the night before because you were so worried about your test. A place for knowledge. A place for progression. A place for responsibility and accountability. A place for loads of homework. A place for difficult projects. A place for goofing off during study hall. High school is just a place that someday will hold a lot of memories for me, but for now I've got to keep pushing through the loads of homework and the stress of my classes. I have to study hard and get the grades. So that I, Miss Mariah Gaines, can be proud of myself when I walk out of the doors in May 2015. I will make it. I know I will.

F is for Friends

Friendship is real folks! All of last year I was hoping to find a group of friends like in the movies.  Friends that are just fun and just do crazy shenanigans all the time. I have finally found them! Court, Phoebs, Rebekah and Lexie. They are easy and fun to be around and I never have to act different or try to be someone I'm not when I'm around them. I love how I can just come to them with my problems and they will listen and comfort me instead of telling me that I'm dumb. They really care about me and I love that. That is what friendship is all about. I do not know what I would do without them! They make me a better person. They help me to hold tight to the iron eod and encourage me to be my best self. I'm so lucky!  No one out there has better friends than I do!