#31-32 Pan For Gold & Go To The Mountains!

August 8, 2012

#32 Go to the mountains.

Summer Challenge #31 and #32

#31 Panning for gold.

So this past weekend, I went on a family vacation to the mountains instead of the beach. It was a bunch of fun and a great way to get away from the extreme heat. The temperature up there was around 80 degrees and I was loving it! 

We went panning for gold and gems and found a bunch of cool stones. We found some amethyst, clear quartz, crystal, calcite, onyx, and other unidentifiable rocks and ones with names I cannot remember nor pronounce. xD My brother found the coolest of the bunch though in his bag. He found a small amethyst geode rock and it is so pretty! o.o' 

While at the mountains, we went to a place called Santa Land so my brother could ride some rollercoasters and rides. It was awesome walking around and seeing all types of different animals; there were baby bears, porcupines, a type of deer, kangaroos, monkeys, gigantic koi fish, a jungle cat, and a camel and some llamas.  

Mini-golf, gem mining, cool air, chilling with the family....I'll say this was a great and much-needed vacation. :) 

Next week, I'll be hitting the beach so definitely another blog post will be needed once I get back. :D 

~Keep those lights shining bright, even in the darkest of times much like this lantern in a mining cave. ^w^

This picture above is not mine. All the others on this blog post  are my own. :)

*~KayKay

#25 Get My Braces Off...FINALLY!

August 3, 2012

Summer Challenge #25

Get my braces off.....FINALLY!!!

After 4 horrible, metal filled years,  my braces are finally off and I just can't stop smiling!!! My teeth are beautifully straight and honestly, it's a huge confidence boost.  It feels so very weird not to have metal stuck to my teeth, preventing me from *comfortably* eating food without the worrisome thought if something got stuck in them and then talking to someone else...gross, right? But now, that thought is gone. I can now eat whatever I want without worrying if it gets stuck and pulls a bracket off or something of the sort. 

I never realized how BIG my teeth are. Like for real.. Well...I suppose going 4 years of not seeing my full teeth without bulky brackets and wire covering them can really make a person forget what life was like pre-braces. xD 

I really expected it to hurt like pure heck. But it didn't hurt at all...well only a little bit when they pulled the top braces off...but that's only because a few of those teeth are sensitive. 

I admit, I did keep my eyes closed for the most part. Why? Because, after all the brackets and junk are off, they use a drill-type thingy to scrape the excess glue off...which sends tooth dust a-flying. Did I want tooth dust in my eyeball??? No. Not at all. Word to the wise, it's best to keep your eyes closed during that part. x)

It's odd how getting braces on and then after a period of time, getting them off, can make a person look different. If I had taken this picture when I had braces still, it would not have looked as good as it looks without braces. Honestly, myself with no braces can now take better pictures. xD It's just amazing. Yay for a better smile!! :D

...and just in time for Senior year, which starts on the 20th, way too soon. :/ 

And now, I must leave and go pack my things. I'm off on vacation for the weekend, completing more challenges as I go...hopefully. ;D

*~Keep your lights shining and your teeth smiling!

*~KayKay