last words: 9.48 pm

there was too much blood. I attempted to lift my head, then gave up immediately when a piercing pain sliced through my chest. my mind spun, trying its best to calculate as the thick haze of death began to settle in. at most, I probably had only 5 minutes left.

a few seconds passed as I lay bleeding on the dirt. I closed my eyes, then suddenly reopened them. a single thought flashed through my brain over and over.

“Caroline…Caroline..” I muttered weakly, fumbling in my torn pocket for my phone. Speed-dialing her number, I prayed that she would pick up.

“Rowan!” her familiar gentle voice rang out.

“Caroline,” I sighed, relieved. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, love….how are you?”

Grimacing, I answered, “I’ve been better. How was your day?”

I could almost see her dark green eyes shining as she spoke wistfully. “The usual. I miss you – when am I going to see you again?”

the pain sharpened. I tried my best to stifle a groan, but it slipped out.

“Honey? Are you alright?”

“Yeah. Yeah. Hey, listen.” I spoke urgently, knowing my time was soon drawing to a close.

“Okay?”

deep breaths.

“I love you,” I whispered, as the agony grew stronger with every moment.

her voice faltered for a second. “Rowan? Are you-”

I cut her off. “I love you so much, Caroline Davis. I just want you to know that no matter what, I will always love you.” tears began dripping onto my cheeks.

I fought for breath. Just a few more seconds.

her smile leaked into her voice. “I love you more, Rowan Cooper.”

I savored each syllable, for it would be the last time I would ever hear those words.

“I love you the most.”

 

those were my last words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home

 

 

that one word can trigger a million different meanings:

it could be a place – your childhood home where you grew up.

it could be a certain moment, locked away inside a box of time that you regularly open, just to feel all the emotions rushing back and bringing a smile to your face.

it could be a specific feeling – like that one time you and your best friend stayed up talking til 2 am, and finally falling asleep hours later with the taste of that ben and jerry’s caramel ice cream on your tongue.

it could be a person – someone that sends you into spiral of joy, nervousness, and happiness all at once. someone who, just by seeing them or hearing their voice, refreshes your entire soul and body.

or it could even be

yourself.

---

so before you build a home within anyone or anything, remember that you should find home within yourself.

your happiness does not depend on another person, so don’t put yourself in that empty prison.

repeat after me: your happiness does NOT depend on how another person treats you.

when you are nervous, falling apart, and afraid, pray. learn to forgive and accept yourself; even better, to love yourself. learn to love others. and finally, love God, because dwelling in Him is the most peaceful thing that you’ll ever experience~

Not That Simple

hey guys! sorry I haven’t posted for a whole month ahh – life has gotten way too busy! so, to reward you guys for being patient, here’s a little story for valentine’s day :)

she loved him, and he loved her…but it wasn’t that simple. nothing ever was. and nothing ever will be.

she was the sun — an endless ball of fire, energy, and passion, blazing into infinity. a bit on the wild side.

and he was the sky, calm, steady, and reassuring. ever present. holding her up. accepting her flaws.

it seemed like they had been with each other since the beginning of time – no one really remembered when they met. but they were quite the dynamic duo, fearlessly pacing through each day and night – she was always in the lead; he was always at her side.

“opposites attract,” everyone said knowingly of the pair.

“peanut butter and jelly.”

“fire and ice.”

“sunshine and rain.”

“peanuts and popcorn.”

“we’re just friends,” they responded, laughing. but everyone knew they existed only for each other.

they thought they would be together forever…but it wasn’t that simple. you see, life has a tendency to pull apart the most committed and dedicated of lovers.

— eventually, the sky became too distant from the sun, who in turn, became too fiery and unmanageable without him to keep her in check. no one could handle her; no one could reach him.

so they faded from existence, each completely lost without the other. the universe cracked at the seams, and their story was gradually forgotten.

never to be relived, and never to be told again.

 

 

 

9.22 pm

“Miss? Are you alright?”

I snapped to attention, quickly glancing around the tiny coffee shop – the only coffee shop, in fact, that existed in my tiny town. I’d been drowsy, lured to sleep by the golden smiles of sunshine glimmering through the antique windowpanes. “Sorry,” I blurted, looking up – and stopping.

she looked at me over her tinted, jeweled sunglasses with eyes so blue I thought I might drown in them. reaching out a velvet gloved hand, the flawless woman touched my arm. “Are you alright, darling?” her voice had a touch of an accent as she repeated the question.

normally, I would’ve been creeped out. I mean, this woman looked like someone from…well anywhere but here. 2 seconds were all I needed to sum her up. fancy purse, perfect makeup, jewels across her throat – she’d fit in a lot better posing next to the Hollywood sign than standing over the cracked and scratched coffee table that wobbled when you leaned on it.

“Um…yes, I am.” I stirred my macchiato as the lie tumbled out. without a second of hesitation, the movie star worthy woman pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down with perfect grace.

“Tell me all about it,” she declared.

“Excuse me?”

“You know, as well as I do, that your heart is weary.” the stranger sipped her drink that had seemingly come out of nowhere. figures.

I, on any other day, would’ve run out of the shop a longgg time ago. but there was something about her that compelled me to stay. so I did.

“I can’t let go of him.” the words escaped my mouth as easily as a breath of air. “Even after everything that’s happened…I can’t.”

she looked at me over her sunglasses, legs crossed like she was at a photo shoot. a whiff of Chanel perfume washed over me as she leaned across the ancient table.

“Darling,” she whispered, “not everyone you lose is a loss.”

 

and then I woke up.

 

 

Day 17: 7 Things To Do When You’re Feeling Nostalgic

1. Take a walk in nature.
2. Watch the sunset – there’s something captivating about watching a fiery golden ball throw purple, pink, and orange hues across the indigo skies.
3. Look at old photographs – this is one of my absolute favorites and always transports me back in time.
4.  Read an old entry in a journal or a diary.
5.  Go on a long drive with that nostalgic playlist going.
6. Read a book in a quiet, little cozy corner of your house that’s preferably naturally lit.
7. Take a warm shower.

I hope you’ll find these tips useful :D

 

inspired by Free People’s blog

Day 14: My Fears

1. Being late for class
2. Falling and tripping in front of everyone
3. Passing out on an escalator going up and causing everyone behind me to tumble down the escalator >.<
4. Batman (Collin told me to put this here)
5. Bugs
6. When the refrigerator is empty
7. Big rooms

 

 

Day 7: My Biggest Regret(s). Real Talk.

I’ve waited too long to make some decisions. Been too scared to take the risks and jump. Underestimated His power.

Maybe I’ve been too stressed about school, you know? Sometimes I look back and regret not placing my trust in Him.

Maybe…maybe I’ve waited too long to forgive people. There are the ones who deserve it the least, but at the same time deserve all of it because He has forgiven me first.

It’s quite possible that I’ve let other people influence me in negative ways: forcing me to mask my personality, change my interests, even mold the way I act into someone that’s not me.

And perhaps I’ve been too afraid to try new things and step out of my comfort zone. I wonder, how many amazing adventures have I missed out on simply because I’ve been too scared of what risks may be involved?

The most important thing is that everyone makes mistakes. We all have flaws; we all are human. Even if you or I make mistakes….

We can make or break the chains that hold us.

Bottom line: Do everything, regret nothing.

💕

I miss…

This. <3 Have an amazing Monday, loves.p.s. ~ obsessed with @thehappypage and her amazing, inspiring quotes.

 

If you could stay one age forever, what age would it be?

A Tribute.

 

September 12, 2014.

This was the day that my blog was launched. I was inspired to start a blog when I learned about the story of Malala, a girl who used her blog to reach out to people and educate others. I wanted to do that too. And so, livelaughsurf12.wordpress.com was born. Over the years, it has gone through numerous blog names, site adjustments, and even a site address change. Today, Thee Adventurette stands in its little corner among the other fabulous websites of the Internet.

Almost 2 years have passed since my very first post was published. No matter how long you’ve been following me, just know that you mean the absolute world to me and I feel so honored to have 100 supporters at my side. I know that 100 supporters might not seem like a lot to some of you, but to me, it’s completely mind-blowing.

*throws confetti and sparklers everywhere*

Thank you all so, so SO MUCH for all your love and support! I love you all from here to the next galaxy and back.

 

 

Summer Adventuring – Mermaids

The beach is especially packed during the summer days, but I managed to find a beautiful cove that wasn’t too crowded about a couple weekends ago.

Enjoy the photos of my inner mermaid spirit :)

Ft. my favorite backpack ever from Twig and Arrow and my messy hair u.u

PC: my amazing photographer (aka my sister) and my photographer in training (aka my dad)

I give you an A for effort, Dad u_u

The more I look at this picture, the more I realize how tiny I am xD

I’ve grown up 10 minutes from the beach, and I know that I must have saltwater in my veins <3

Keep scrolling, I know you can make it u.u

Probably my favorite one <3

~ I must be a mermaid – I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.

Make every day an adventure (:

The Huntington Library

A few days ago I visited the Huntington Library in LA! It is largely famous, not only for its books but also for its gorgeous botanical garden. Yup, we are continuing the LA theme from The Broad Museum :) If you haven’t read it yet, you can click on the link right here: The Broad Museum. Enjoy the pictures I got with my trusty Nikon! Also, I tried a new photo formatting – do you like it?

 

{ Beautiful and dangerous }

 

Lush bamboo grove at the Chinese Garden

at the Children’s Garden u_u

 

Chinese Garden (again)

btw, the Chinese Garden had a bunch of places with food…that might be the reason why I was there for quite a long time u_u

Look closely at what this person put as their dream job in the 1910s :)

I hope you liked this post, and I definitely recommend going to the Huntington Library whenever you’re in LA! They have a variety of gardens and exhibits that could take all day to enjoy. It’s a great place to get away from the city and yet be in the city at the same time lol..It’s also a really good way to get exercise *cough* I walked about 5 miles in a few hours. If you go to the H, tag your post with #AtTheH so I can see them! Love you all~

 

That Girl Over There

Diamonds

“Like a diamond, the more I’m cut, sliced, and hurt…the more I shine.”

I know, I know. You’ve been told all your life that that your “good” wasn’t “good enough,” that your “best” wasn’t enough. Nothing hurts more than giving your absolute best and being told that it wasn’t “good enough.” But you know what? That should only inspire and motivate you to prove them haters wrong. We are all more than “good enough” in God’s eyes. We’re all diamonds. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought that I didn’t play violin or piano “good enough.” But you’ve got to pick yourself back up and keep moving. Run, walk, or crawl – as long as you’re moving forward.

 

scroll down for some rebel pictures I got during a makeshift photo shoot ;)

~shaking off my troubles like~

And in the end, we’re all diamonds. You just have to believe it.

That Girl Over There

Road Trip Essentials

Hey there! You look beautiful today :D Where I live, it feels like a beautiful, perfect summer day and I just can NOT wait for summer. Everyone’s obsessing over how “spring is in the air” and what not. It definitely is, so much so that it feels like a June day. Anyways, let’s get on with this post.

So one of the common things you would see on tumblr are cute pictures of road trips. Road trips are like the best if you want to do a photo shoot, hang out with your friends, or just simply relax! So below I have listed what I love to bring on road trips. This isn’t a rule that everyone has to follow for road trips, it’s just a suggestion :) Enjoy!

1. First things first: bring a hat and sunglasses. You don’t want to get burned, and plus they look great ;)
2. I literally bring my lip balm everywhere I go. My lips get dry easily, and using lip balm really helps moisturize them. Currently I’m using the EOS blueberry lip balm~
3. Another thing for skin care is to bring lotion and sunscreen, to keep your skin looking fab.
4. You would also want to bring a good book, and perhaps even a small notebook to sketch and journal in. The Baltic Club has some amazing hand drawn notebooks that I would recommend.
   
5. BRING A CAMERA! This is probably my favorite thing to bring on a road trip. The camera I’m using is a Nikon D5300 and I have two different lenses that I absolutely love <3
6. MUST HAVE: your playlist and your earbuds/headphones. My favorite Christian artist would probably be Kari Jobe :) Current favorite song: The More I Seek You
7. Infused detox water – this tastes even better than just normal water and it’s super pretty too! All you have to do is just put slices of whatever you like (strawberries, cucumbers, or limes are a good way to start) into your water and voila! A refreshing drink without all the extra calories that are in soda. Actually, this actually makes me wants to drink more water, which in turn hydrates my face and keeps it clear.
8. Perhaps you will want to bring a blanket, just in case it gets cold :)
9. Snacks! Bring some trail mix, some fruit, anything you like! (I only bring healthy snacks *cough* most of the time….)
10. And last but not least, bring your friends! Because who goes on a road trip all by themselves? You can take cute pictures of each other too as a bonus :D

I really hope you enjoyed this post, and don’t forget to hit that like button if you did enjoy this post! If you didn’t enjoy this post…hit the like button anyways.

Love you all to the moon and back <3

That Girl Over There

HALLO.

It’s me :)) *gives you a wink because you are supposed to know this song reference*

 *technical difficulties…*

HIII! I’ve missed you so so so much…I haven’t posted for an entire week! *gasp* Also, I’ve been rewriting this post and this is like my 3rd try…stay tuned becaaaause….

   I wanted to give you a quick DIY for Valentine’s Day! Yas, it’s coming up. And yes, I will be alone this year for V-Day…duh. Unless you’ll be my valentine :3

Here we go!

 

For this DIY, you’ll need:

• cute origami paper…preferably Valentine Day color-themed
• inspiration
• cardstock
• a stamp (optional)
• glue
• scissors

simple, right?

Instructions:

1. First of all, ya gotta know how to fold origami hearts. Use this link to choose a type of heart to fold! The instructions are super detailed and even have videos! You should start with the easy origami heart if this is your first time. Make two hearts, set them aside.
2. Second, fold your card stock paper in half to make a card. You can trim the edges to make them rounder, as shown in the picture above.
3. Glue your paper hearts onto the front of the card.
4. Then, if you have a valentine’s day stamp, stamp it across the bottom of the card. If you don’t have a stamp, writing is fine too!
5. Write your lovely message inside the card~
6. Give it to your valentine!

I think these valentines are so super cute and would definitely make anyone go “aww!” Whoever receives these valentines from you sure is lucky!

Happy Valentine-card-making!

Love you so so so much,

That Girl Over There

 

*All photos and inspiration from Omiyage Blogs! Thanks so much for this fun idea!

 

Real Beauty

Hello lovelies! It’s a beautiful day today where I live and I hope it’s equally beautiful where you are! So, I was out visiting a friend on a Saturday afternoon and spied some gorgeous, pink flowers.
Of course you know what came next….
I enlisted my friends’ help to photograph the blooms, and the lighting was perfect! The clouds in the sky helped create a soft glow that illuminated these beauties. I literally took so many pictures in my excited bliss. I don’t know the name of these buds o_o but if any of you recognize them comment below!

Live the life you think you deserve.

~Imperfection is beautiful~

God makes no mistakes – you are amazing just the way you are :)

Love,

That Girl Over There