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I moved to a different blog!

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You are 17 Going on 18

Hello again! It's been several months since I posted...sorry about that!

     Yesterday was my birthday and I thank each and every one of you who wished me a happy birthday!! I did have an amazing first day as an "adult."

     Even though I didn't get to do anything "over the top," I was still blessed to be able to spend it with my family. Even my brother got to sing me happy birthday!

Don't worry oppa, you look adorable in this picture.

     The passed 18 years of my life are irreplaceable. I would not change a single memory or experience I had gone through because if anything changed, I wouldn't be the person I am as of today (so cheesy, I know). Hard times built me into a strong person and happy times molded me into a young girl who loves to smile.

     Many people have always asked me if it was hard moving around so much. In a way, of course it was! I had to make new friends, go to a new school, church, you name it. But on the other side of it all, I learned so many things about life. My once-narrow mind is now as wide as the galaxy.

     Not once did I regret a passed experience and I don't plan on regretting anything! Through God's grace and power, I really hope to continue living as a child of God.

     At this point in life, I have never felt so loved and supported. Thank you everybody <3

Puppy Who Gives Me Happiness

     I haven't been posting and I noticed how some of you actually check in every Friday. I might move my blogpost day to Saturday since I usually have other stuff to upload and turn in on Friday. Thanks!

     Thank you to everybody who gave me so much positive feedback on my cover of Photograph by Ed Sheeran!! I couldn't even imagine how much of a success it was in less than 24 hours. So I sincerely thank each and every one of you who checked it out <3 From the bottom of my heart, I was extremely excited and happy that the song I worked so hard on had reached out to so many people.
     I've had people, who I haven't contacted in years, message me about the video and I've had people encourage me to continue making covers. I will do my best to make more!

     If you are friends with me on Facbook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat. OR you watch my YouTube videos *wink wink. You probably noticed that I got a puppy!! If you haven't seen it... The link is right up there ^.

     Her name is Alia, which is short for alegría which means "joy" in Spanish. She truly is a blessing to me and she brought color back into my life. After so many hard times and tons of stress I was getting from finish up high school, Alia helped me let go of it all and calm me down.

     Regardless of her constant whining and howling for the first two nights, it was hard to get mad at her because she was so cute and I just couldn't stop smiling whenever I saw her. She really helped me calm down and get a grip on what I wanted to get done in life.

     I personally thank God for this amazing creation of puppies, my parents for letting us get our second dog, and to Alia for being such a sweet creature.

    I just realized that I had described this blog as "Perquisites in Life." SHE is a perquisite in life. She is a privilege to have in my life :)

     So other than the happiness she gives me, I am happy to also mention that she is potty trained. Which is amazing considering she's only about 40 days old. And she's only been living with us for 6 days *applause.

     Thanks for reading and I hope you have a lovely weekend!

 

9 Must-Haves Before Getting a Puppy

October 4, 2015

Are you getting a new puppy? Are you excited?? Caring for a puppy can be a lot of work, but with just the right tools and materials, you'll be alright! Before you splurge or go on a shopping spree for cute doggy outfits or fancy collars with rhinestones, let's start with the basics to help your dog feel at home in its new home!

1. FOOD

     Your baby's gotta eat something in order to live. Depending on the breed and age, make sure to find the best nom noms for your pup to eat. Puppies would prefer soft foods while big dogs would like something to munch on. Make sure it has the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fat to keep it healthy and happy!

     It will be hard to find the "perfect" food for your dog, but it would never hurt to try new things! Talk to a vet or a fellow dog owner about what type of food to buy if you want suggestions. It's better to safe rather than be sorry. 

2. Bowls

     Food was important, now, where are you going to put the food? If you are getting a pug, a boxer, or any dog with a squished up snout, it's good to have bowls that are not too deep. Dogs with long snouts on the other hand, would feel more comfortable with deeper ones.

     Even though the plastic water and food bowls are the cheapest ones in a nearby store, they can contain unwanted bacteria and easily wear off or break. 

     Stainless steel or ceramic are good choices! Make sure to wash them at least once a week so your babe can be healthy and not consume any harmful bacteria. They're also harder to be pushed around by clumsy puppies so you wouldn't have any accidents with food or water.

3. Treats

     Treats are needed to be used for awards. When disciplining your dog, you need to show them whether what they did was good or what they did was bad. You can choose to make DIY (do it yourself) treats or buy them from a pet store.

     Who doesn't enjoy watching their pet enjoy a good snack?

4. Collar and Leash

     A new dog is going to have tons of energy and curiosity. In order to fulfill their needs, a walk or jog will help! Going outside with an untrained animal will definitely be hard without a collar or harness with a leash. It will help the happy little pup to stay by your side and even to be safe!

     The collar can be made out of nylon that is adjustable along with a buckle. If you can slip two fingers between the collar and the puppy's neck, then you're all set! The collar should have a place for a dog tag as an identification and an emergency contact in case the little thing gets lost.

     As the dog gets bigger or older, change the collar and leash accordingly.

5. Bed

     Make sure your new puppy has a place to sleep. A snug box with a nice blanket will work just fine but make sure it is breathable and the puppy is comfortable in it. This will be the dog's happy place where it can rest and take a nap so it is best to keep the place as a "personal space" for them.

     You can also choose from the wide variety of plush beds to small mattresses. Pick one according to your own taste and enjoy watching your baby sleep in it!

6. Time-Out Space

     I usually like to have a certain time-out space or a place where the dog can "reflect" on his or her wrong doings. When the puppy goes to this certain place, she will know that what she did was wrong and that she should fix it.

     It can be a certain corner of the house, it can be outside, it can be in her crate or cage, or it can even be her own chair! Just make sure she has a place to go when she gets in trouble in order for her to be disciplined.

7. Grooming Supplies

     Whether the dog is a long-haired breed or a short-haired breed, you need a comb or brush! For long-furred dogs, it is necessary to untangle knots in their fur because it can get easily tangled from running around. For short-furred breeds, it's good to have a brush that lessens a dog's shedding by combing out the stray strands of fur.

     You will also need:

◇Nail clippers

◇Tooth brush 

◇Hair dryer

◇Doggy towel

◇Scissors

◇Shampoo and/or conditioner (ask a vet or fellow pet-owner for suggestions)

◇Medication for when the dog gets sick

◇Wet wipes (for paws or wrinkles for certain breeds)

     A handsome looking dog, is a happy dog.

8. Toys

     Now for the fun part! Make sure your little one has tons to play with!

     There should be one for teething. A bone or a chewable rubber bone will help relieve the gums of a puppy. This will keep it from chewing on furniture, shoes, and its own bed!

     Rope toys, fetch toys (frisbee or ball), treat toys (where it contains a treat if the dog turns it at a certain angle), or a cute little stuffed animal.

     Make sure to keep an eye on your puppy whenever he or she is chewing on something because it will chew off little pieces of material and get caught in their throats so ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS. 

     Recycling is always good for the planet, and your dog would enjoy it too! A plastic bottle to chase around are a big favorite to dogs all around. Cardboard boxes where pups can play hide-and-seek and maybe even rip up will help the dog feel good. Old socks or balls of cloth will be fun to play tug-of-war with.

     I usually have a box or a basket to keep all the puppy's toys in.

9. Potty

     Whether it is going to be your backyard, front yard, or diaper pads, you need to have a place where the dog can go pee pee and poo poo. Make sure it is a sanitary place and it does not get in the way of where you step.

     When you first train pups, it's usually easier to start with diaper pads. As it grows, you can train it to use a doggy door or to ring a bell when it needs to go "do the deed."

10. Optional

     The following items are optional and are not 100% necessary:

     Gates or fences to keep the puppy from entering certain rooms or falling down the stairs.

     Vitamins and supplements to keep the dog healthy!

     A bell to know where your dog is around the house.

     Cute little outfits such as a raincoat, boots, or tutus.

     If you're a traveler, you should have a small crate or traveling bag to keep your dog with you!

     Travel harnesses can keep your dog safe in the car. It's like their very own seatbelt!

You Shall not Covet

September 26, 2015

I am 100% aware of the fact that I did not post a new post last Friday and yesterday. I had run into a writer's block and I didn't know what to post about.

     After reflecting over what had happened the past few weeks and looking back over the whole year I was in Uruguay, I noticed I had struggled with something. The tenth commandment that God had given us says,

     17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:17

     Even though I don't covet my neighbor's house, or wife, or servant, or ox or donkey, this had been my greatest struggle after leaving the United States to come live in Uruguay. Even though I made new friends and experienced new experiences in this new country, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic about being in Costa Rica or the U.S. Why is that you ask.

     Looking at pictures my friends post about homecoming, prom, and pep rallies, I can't help but want the community that they're in. Would I even have a graduating class? Would I be able to go to high school reunions in the future? I don't even keep in contact with my old classmates.

     I'm going to admit that homeschooling or online-schooling had been my toughest experience yet. I had to self-pace myself, be responsible for what I get done, and do my best not to procrastinate (the hardest). These, of course, help me as an individual, but all in all, it does get quite lonely.

     My biggest fear used to be drowning but now, it's being alone for the rest of my life. Imagine having no friends (even if you do, you only see them once a month), being alone for twenty four hours, and always having to be told "I'm busy." The little voice in the back of my mind doesn't help either since it makes me question myself as a person.

     But what I do know is that I'm actually not alone. Even if I don't have friends that contact me at least once a month, I still have God. He has constantly reminded me to look to Him and pray to Him whenever I am in need. I have always put him off because I was "studying" or "doing something that I enjoy," but I really need to think about Him.

     In Philippians 4:8 it says,
"...Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect.
               If anything is excellent or worthy of praise,
     think about those kinds of things."

     I've learned that I need to be optimistic and instead of looking at what I don't have, I need to look at what I do have. Although I am alone, I have had plenty of time to self reflect and think about the importance of life (that's deep bro) and I have come to the conclusion that I need to let go of what isn't important and hold on to what is important.

     Using what I do have, I need to do my best.

     Here's a praise: My mother and I finally got our sedulas/visas after a year of being in Uruguay!