Well, I was in such a rush that I forgot my camera today 
Luckily, I do have my iPhone camera. It is obviously not ideal, but it does the trick. However, I don’t want to do a post with all crappy iPhone pictures so I though I would wait to post my eats for today until after dinner when I can at least provide you with some decent dinner photography.
I have actually been thinking a lot lately about myself as a young teenager. I think it is the soon-to-be guidance counselor in me. It got me thinking about what advice I will give kids I counsel, knowing what I know now. It has inspired me to write the following letter to myself at 14 years old (half my current age). Enjoy!
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To: Ali (age 14)
From: Ali (age 28)
Date: May 9, 2011
Hi Ali,
This may come as a bit of a shock, but I’m writing you from the future- trippy right?! Ha- I am dead serious, I’m really you, but older. Here, I’ll prove it. I know you stole Jocelyn’s pink Clinique lip gloss and guess what- she does too, so you should just give it back to her. You think that you are hiding the fact that you are riding around in Mark and Matt’s cars even though you have been repeatedly told not get in boy’s cars. Mom and dad totally know by the way. However, you are right, nothing happens, you guys are just good friends. I know you would give all four of your appendages to get your braces off (hold tight- you are wearing them for 4 more years, sorry kiddo). See, I told you!!! I am you 
Ok- let me give you some good news:
- The world doesn’t end in 2000! But, please still use it as an excuse to do whatever you have planned in preparation for the world ending. You won’t regret it! But, don’t stress your AIM will still work (I actually use it as part of my job right now in 2011)- Napster won’t be around though, but that is a whole other story.
- You will not be flat- chested forever! I know you are dying to hear this. In fact, it ends up working out really, really well for you. You will be very happy with the turn out. Trust me.
- Yes- May, Colin and Lauren are still your best friends. So make sure you appreciate them, you will come to rely on their support more and more as the years go on.
- You grow into your semi-wide nose and actually come to like it. I know you are shaking your head in disbelief, I promise it is true!
- You get into college- so relax. Actually you get into every one you apply to. You do really well and actually have a blast. You go on to get a Master’s Degree too- but I will let you figure allllllll that out for yourself. It is kind of a fun ride.
But you do make some mistakes that are avoidable if you’ll take a few pointers from your older self. After all, who else knows better than the one who lived it? So please just take my word for it. I don’t want to ruin all the fun of figuring things out for yourself, but here are a few pointers!
- The lavender bathing suit you just bought from Old Navy is see -through when it hits the water. Return it now!!!!!!!!!
- Your parents turn out to be pretty much right about everything! I know- bummer, right?! But as you get to be my age, you learn to appreciate them and actually ask for their advice. I mean you can obviously still defy them, but just think twice about it!
- You know how you dress kind of strange and people usually make fun of your outlandish outfits? Keep dressing like that, that is the fashionista in you and as you get older you actually perfect that quirky style in to something pretty awesome!
- Have tea and go shopping with Nana more often, when she is gone you will have a giant whole in your heart that can never be filled. You will never find another person on this earth that looks and acts more like you or sees the world the same way you do.
- PUT DOWN THAT CIGARETTE! I am serious- I demand it. Or else you will be hooked for 11 years and regret it for the rest of your life.
- Don’t try out for the volleyball team- that is one thing Dad is totally wrong about. You will never learn to serve overhand. I recommend cross-country. I know it seems weird but you actually turn out to be a really good runner!
- Some of girls that were mean to you in Middle School get it all back 10- fold and there will be this thing in the future called Facebook to prove it to you. Don’t relish in fact that end up hot messes too much. We are not like that!
- PAY ATTENTION in English class. I know it is hard and sometimes super boring, but some day you will really, really want to be a writer and you will wish you took things more seriously.
- Peppermint Schnapps and Nestle-Quik is a VERY, VERY bad idea. Oh and so is Root Beer Schnapps. You know what, to be on the safe side- please avoid Schnapps all together! Seriously, it’s gross!
- When wearing white pants, wear flesh colored underwear- not white!
- Try to look more closely at people rather than taking them for face value or judging a book by its cover. You may miss out on some really great people and a lot of fun you could have with them.
- Don’t feel threatened by other girls. Just be you and own it, trust me it is soooooooooo freeing! And if you don’t start now it takes a whole other 14 years before you get there.
- Don’t get acrylic nails. I know you think they look good. But someday you will get so grossed out by them you will end up peeling them off with an Old Navy Fitting Room number only to find fungus going under there.
- This last one is going to the hardest for you; I say this because I know you so well. Love yourself! You are utterly amazing. You are smart, beautiful, talented and an amazing friend. You don’t need to control everything in your life to be happy and you don’t ever need to punish yourself for not being perfect. Also, not eating will not make things better. Stop focusing on the things you dislike about yourself and realize how awesome you are, for Christ sake. The longer you spend disliking yourself the harder it is to come out of it when you are an adult. I know how stubborn you are (that NEVER goes away), but really try it out. You spend way too much time and energy letting people’s opinion of you effect how you feel about yourself.
You can choose to follow my advice or not. I am just trying to make it easier on you. But, if you choose to ignore me, that is fine. You will still turn out to be a hilarious, happy, athletic, creative and gorgeous woman. You also live a life that is full of love- love from others, love for others and if you can even believe it- LOVE FOR YOURSELF!!!
Keep your head up, kiddo!!! I love you so much!
Sincerely,
Ali (I don’t want you give you my last name- but you are married at my age. You meet him really soon, trust me you will know it is him right away).
