All About Me

Ever since I was a freshman in high school I've taken interest in makeup and basically all things beauty related. To me, makeup is a type of art. One where your face is the canvas! And you can show off a different look everyday. With makeup you can transform into anything you want.

I started out my obsession with makeup when I looked into youtube videos to find advice on how to do certain eye shadow looks. Then, after clicking from one video to the next, I found myself becoming totally obsessed with improving my makeup skills. I would tune into my favorite beauty gurus every week to gain more knowledge about makeup. As the years went on, my makeup skills improved and my passion for it grew.

Now, after about four years of practicing and collecting beauty products of all kinds, I do other people's makeup for dances, weddings, and any kind of special occasion. And after saving up my money I now have my own mirror with giant Hollywood style bulbs and a makeup tool belt. Although I have never charged anyone for doing their makeup, I do plan to make money off doing this as soon as I graduate. I plan to work at either Sephora or Mac so that I can do what I love everyday and make a little money while going to Marshall.

Altogether, makeup is a huge part of my life and I consider it to be my "calling". It's what brings out the best in me and makes me feel like I'm good at something. When people ask me, "What are your hobbies?" or "What do you like to do?" The only reply I can come up with is makeup!

Starbucks Red Cup Controversy

Every year, Starbucks comes out with a new design for their holiday cups. Over the years, the cups have featured snowflakes, reindeer, ornaments, and other Christmas decorations. But this year, Starbucks went with a more simple, plain design. One that has caused a huge outburst all over social media. The controversy started when former pastor, Joshua Feuerstein posted a video on Facebook stating that Starbucks hates Jesus.

His video led to thousands of people accusing Starbucks of starting a war with Christmas and Christianity. In his video, Feuerstein says he told the baristas at a Starbucks that his name was Merry Christmas so that they would write that on his cup. He also said that he wore a Jesus Christ shirt and brought along a gun with him. His video got over 500,000 shares. Presidential candidate Donald Trump says to boycott the company for now.

Starbucks says that the idea of the new cups came from customers doodling on them, they say the plain red mimics a canvas. "In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cup designs. This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories", said Starbucks Vice President of Design and Content, Jeffrey Fields.





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http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=starbucks+red+cups&view=detailv2&&id=293E78BBC23336BB6E9E35254B02025BF886A34F&selectedIndex=3&ccid=afN%2bK2LG&simid=608029419845782611&thid=OIP.M69f37e2b62c672e0518d4a1916085787o0&ajaxhist=0

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http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Starbucks-Red-Holiday-Cups-Stir-Up-Controversy-345231242.html

Stevee Williams

A letter to myself in 10 years

     Dear 27 year old Ashtan,
                                           By this time you should be a nurse at a hospital or off in another country helping people come to Christ, and nursing the sick ones back to health. I pray to God that everything works out for you, and that you will succeed in everything you do. I hope that you have papaw Barnett's old farm and that you will have the farm you have always wanted, with horses, goats, cows, Golden Retrievers and all of the jazz.

Also I hope you are a leader in the Fusion youth group helping Nick and Chris show the love of God to all of those wonderful teens, and that you still love to sing and play your saxophone, and that you do that with your kids and show then your love of music. Always know that God is with you no matter what, and that you can go to mom about anything she has been through more than you think and can help you with whatever is going on, and I know sometimes dad can be a grouch, but he loves you with all of his heart and wants the best for you.

Make sure that you still stay close to Cooper, he loves you a lot, and he looks up to you, so help him with his walk with God. To quote your favorite song right now; These are the words I would say by Sidewalk Prophets "Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope, your gonna do great things I already know. God's got his hand on you, so don't live life in fear, forgive and forget, but don't forget why you are here. So take your time and pray." These ARE the words I would say to you.
                                                                              Sincerely,
                                                                                               your younger self

A letter to my sister on her wedding day

Dear Sister,

I am writing this letter to you in November of 2015 and I am planning on giving it to you when you get married (if that will ever happen). You get on my nerves almost everyday, but I love you. Even though I strongly dislike you a lot I don't know what I would do without you!

In present time I am 17 years old and you are 20. Lets hope you are not over 40 when you receive this letter. You have already came really close to saying your vows and leaving the house forever. I waited for that day for years, but to be honest when it came closer I realized I would miss you like crazy. You listened to God and did what he wanted you to do and because of that God will bless you. He will send you Mr. Right as long as you serve him and wait for that man.

I hope and pray you grow closer and closer to God as the years go on. We have grown up together in church our whole lives and I am forever grateful for that. I pray that I will always be there for you and help you grow in your faith and I would expect that of you.

I know you may be mean to me now but when worse comes to worse I know you would be there for me. I am going to try my best to respect and appreciate you because you may not always be around. I would truly miss you if you weren't in my life. Happy Wedding Day! I love you sister!

Can Stereotypes in High School be both good and bad?

Does stereotyping in some cases, make it easier on the student to be categorized, or to help them fit into cliques in their social circle? That's the biggest question here.
Yes, stereotyping is a terrible thing. It has been around for a long time and evolved and changed. It is better to treat everyone equal and respect them even if you don't know them. Obviously today there are more than just racial stereotypes. All labels are false; stereotyping someone based on one's race, how one dresses, treats others, and certain beliefs, could have an extremely negative impact on a person. What one person perceives as promiscuous behavior, color of skin, laziness, ignorance, intelligence, athleticism, and attractiveness, could be perceived entirely different by another person. The best thing any person can do is treat everyone with respect and appreciate their individuality. I believe we all portray ourselves the way we want others to see us, and racism in the past was predominately handed down generationally. Today there is such a push for cultural diversity that racist comments are made towards people. I think that there will be no way to erase stereotypes, but we as the future generation should not embrace them. I believe that high school years are defined as the most impressionable years of ones' life, and stereotypes can often be very hurtful. So break the tradition and don't allow stereotyping to define you.

(Want to take a quiz to see what clique your in? Click on one of the two links below)
https://quizsocial.com/what-high-school-stereotype-are-you/
http://www.quotev.com/quiz/1344024/What-stereotype-do-you-fit-best

History of Veterans Day

World War I, also known as "The Great War," due to there never being another war like it at the time. World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Later in the same year, November of 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 with these words:

 "Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of the date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate, that the President of the Unites States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."

Today, Wednesday, November 11, 2015, we celebrate veterans day to show how much people truly do sacrifice just to keep this country safe.


http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

Indian Summer

An Indian Summer is an unreasonably warm time period that occurs during autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. It usually happens from late-September to mid-November. During an Indian summer the weather is usually dry, with above-normal temperatures. There are similar phenomena's that occur such as a warm period during autumn is called "Altweibersommer".

Hunting Season

Hunting season is a season where people can go out and hunt for game, but they can't hunt for just anything. There are certain seasons for different game. Deer season is probably the most common right with turkey season, squirrel season, different types of bird seasons. It's a fun sport because it only comes in on a certain time. That's what makes it intense and enjoyable. Hunting for different game has a lot of different requirements and different stuff you need. Deer hunting is a lot more calm and don't need to be as still as like turkey hunting. Turkeys have much better seeing and can see you clear from 100+ yards away. When deer have poor vision but very good sense of smell. When turkey hunting you have to be still as possible and can't talk at all. They are just very fun to do and intense. I enjoy hunting for anything when possible and just being in the woods itself.

Cross Country

Cross Country is a long distance running sport where you run a 5k or roughly 3.2 miles for every meet. The objective is to get as good as a time as you possible can.

It may be a so called individual sport but they score as a team by adding the times of the top 5 runners for each school, however if you wish to compete in a run with less than 5 runners they aren't scored as a team at all.

Then they place the top 40 in each race individually, so it is still technically called an individual sport.

Many people do the sport because they cherish running and the competition and others do it to get in shape for other sports. There were a few people on the Spring Valley Cross Country team that decided to do it to get in shape for the upcoming wrestling season.