The Perks of Homeschooling

1. We don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to catch the school bus. Some people think all homeschoolers wake up at 5am anyway, to feed the goats or something. I assure you, any homeschooler with that much discipline is the exception. And we don't all have goats. That being said, we aren't a bunch of lazy lardos, either. I wake up around 7:30. A good time to start the day.

2. Great Lunches. Actually, today's fried spaghetti with pepperoni (compliments of Jojo) inspired me to draw up these top five perks of homeschooling. There are days when we have nothing in the fridge. Life kinda sucks on those days. But most of the time, we have an entire kitchen with yummy ingredients at our disposal to make a fantabulous lunch.

3. Midday dance parties. Basically, what happens is this. At noon I, despite initial halfhearted protests from los padres, crank up the Spotify. I have a killer playlist that blasts from the imac speakers for the next half hour or so. It's incredible. You don't get that in school, do ya?

4. The gremlins. Being stuck with your siblings all day can get...aggravating. But honestly, my younger brother and sisters make my day. Perk #3 wouldn't be half as fun without Alyssa belting out inaccurate lyrics, anyways. I get to take incriminating pictures of them every day, which is great. The four of us trade hilarious movie (or blimeycow) quotes every day, the majority from Nacho Libre. Also, I just love being around when Jojo has to read science to Genet and Alyssa. Their comprehension scores aren't the best, and question time makes for some gut-busting laughter.

5. Control. I seriously love having control of my own education. This power may encourage my tendency to be a little too independent...a fault which, coupled with pride, has gotten me into a lot of trouble throughout my life. However, I can't deny how much I like being able to study what sincerely interests me (for example more literature, less math). I like being in control of my own schedule, too. Sometimes lack of motivation can take a heavy toll...there have been days where I don't finish schoolwork until late at night. But overall I like the responsibility.

Homeschooling does have its faults. And it's not for everyone. Despite our aggressive assertions that yes, we absolutely do socialize, some of us really don't. I used to be one of those really quiet, stereotype homeschoolers. In hindsight, it would have been good to be forced out of my comfort zone when it came to...talking. Hahaha. But I can't blame all my social discrepancies on homeschooling, either. Some kids, homeschooled or otherwise, are just bashful...especially middle school, when most kids are either extremely loud or extremely quiet. It's something we have to overcome. Sometimes that shyness comes back...even as a bubbly, confident seventeen-year-old. But in the place I'm at right now, homeschooling is good. Especially since I'm graduating a year from now (yaaaay!), and we're involved in two fab co-ops. Is fantastic.

Not a Ninnyhammer

Everyone loves a good, creative insult...i found this list on Merriam-Webster:

 #1: Cockalorum
Definition:
a boastful and self-important person; a strutting little fellow
About the word:
If cockalorum suggests a crowing cock, that's because cockalorum probably comes from kockeloeren – an obsolete Dutch dialect verb meaning "to crow."

The Blog

I first created Scintillate because my friend and sister (not by blood but in spirit) Victoria defied the world and left Facebook. I missed seeing her posts and pictures...so I started following her blog. And I started Scintillate soon after. I love my blog. Even if nobody read my blog I would love it. I whooped for joy when I discovered, just this week, that I've reached 1500 pageviews. Not really that many, I know (and a lot of those views are probably my own, haha), but...it's still exciting. All those pageviews are really only from seven months of posts, considering I took a prolonged break from June til December. So nothing will quell my excitement.

Anyways, a couple of my friends (including my cousin ;D) are looking to start blogs. I decided that, although I'm not an expert by any means, I would share a few tips:

1. Think hard about your name...or don't think at all. The name Scintillate was perfect for me, you'll find something that's perfect for you.

2. Don't make the design too complicated. People like myself with small brains don't want to look all over kingdom come for your latest post.

3. Write about stupid stuff, write about significant stuff, write about everything. You can pick and choose when you're going to post your pieces, but there's a place for everything. Just write and write and write. It's nice to have a well of writing to draw from during the droughts of inspiration.

4. Convince yourself that you're speaking to an audience. Even if no one is reading your beloved blog. It's working well for me as we speak.

5. Don't conform to anyone else's writing style. Mine may be boring and rambling...but even though I do make an effort to be more succinct as my style matures, i don't change the sound of my writing.

Most of all, just have fun with it. Obviously. Your family will enjoy it at least. And don't be afraid to let people know you have a blog! Spreading the word doesn't oblige anyone to read it, but they can't read it if  you don't tell them your blog exists. If any of you reading this has a blog, comment or msg me so I can follow you!

Ode to Joy

Much of my writing is just a lot of hot air with an attempt at wit (heavy with sarcasm) and a charge (be it positive or negative) of personal opinion. However, the time has come for a legitimate update. We're now members of two new co-ops! Huzzah! Let me tell you a little about ODE (one day enrichment OR origami discipleship elitists).

#instaplustumwitbookerest

I just got an instagram. I love photography, so I love my instagram. You can follow me if you want; my username is sarainelli. Now, the first couple of days as an instagramer I went a little wild. I've only had a profile for about five days, but I already have upwards of twenty photos posted there. When I discover new things like instagram (or ios games i legitimately enjoy, for another example), I'm addicted for several days. Everything makes time (often suffering for it) while my new thing is in the limelight. When I started Scintillate I spent a week straight designing my blog, and wrote like words were going out of style. It took over my life. I'm always either all in with something, or completely apathetic. That's just the way my brain is wired, I guess, making it difficult for me to take a passing interest in something without first learning its details backwards and forwards. When I joined twitter and instagram, that involved understanding the art of the hashtag...and looking up lots of acronyms in the urban dictionary. hahaha
And then there's tumblr, twitter, google+, facebook, pinterest, and whatever other social networking fads are in style. I only have profiles on facebook, twitter, pinterest, and now instagram. I can't keep up with it! If only I had an iphone, then everything would be easier, right? lol. But I just don't understand how people update their facebook, instagram, twitter, google+ (i actually have no idea what google plus is), pinterest, and tumblr every day, several times a day. Especially the people who don't have apps. I have lots of profiles in different places but I don't check all of my social apps on a regular basis...I spend all my time with one network and don't bother to check the others. I guess I could link all my profiles and post the same thing on all different platforms...but that defies my creativity. Besides. Instagram is only for pictures, Facebook statuses are practically novellas in themselves, and twitter is a little of each. I don't even know how to link pinterest to that.
The point to this is...
1. Instagram is way fun. Get an instagram and follow me, because I need more followers than Rachel (I led her to the light a few hours after I made my own profile).
2. It's okay to be a little addicted to something for a few days, but don't miss out on the conversations and fun that make up the context of that picture (or tweet or status) you just posted.
3. Remember that most of your followers are only imaginary friends.
4. Go play outside.
5. My half-birthday is coming up...and fyi I'm saving up for an iphone.
lol jk ^

Unfinished...

I was reading some of my old blog posts, when i found an unfinished piece about unfinished projects...ironic, i know.
"Today I was looking at my writing archives when I decided to flip through some of the stories I wrote when I was little. Well, some of the stories I started, anyway. I have begun writing so many books, you have no idea. And I only ever finished two of those projects. One was a blessedly short, illustrated childrens book about a kiwi (as in the frumpy, flightless bird, not the fruit) that I had to complete for school. The other was "Adventures with the Petersons". I wrote it when I was in second grade. Ouch. I say I love to write but the only book I ever finished was a rambling narration of the Petersons' lives that i penned as a seven year old? It's tough to own up to, but, yes. It's true. I think it's because I was so little that I didn't really care about what other people thought of my writing, so it was a whole lot easier to just...write!"

Boston

My heart is in New England today more than ever. Life is fragile, everyone. Make every day count. </3