I LOVE the Fourth of July and for the longest time I had no idea why. Only recently did I realize that it has everything to do with the quote from Patrick Henry- “Give me liberty or give me death!” I mean I love spending time with my family and all the yummy food that comes with that, but to live in a country where people are willing to die for what they believe is right offers such a sweltering feeling of pride and empowerment. America is a country of diversity, strength, and perseverance. That's why I love the history of this country so much - being able to look back at where we came from and all the influential people who made the nation that we are today possible. We are the Land of the Free - because of the Brave. I love the Fourth of July because it is a day where we all pay respect to them whoever they were/are for whatever they did. Whether we agree with them or not, whether or not we would do the same thing as them. July Fourth is a bipartisan holiday of respect and admiration. The Best of America -Leave your favorite historical quote on the comments below! XOXO, Hunter Speaking of the BEST of America... Have you heard of Sand Cloud?! I became an ambassador for them as a way to fulfill my calling to #savethefishies. You can use my code: "Hunterferguson99800" to get 25% off you purchase! 10% of any purchase made goes to marine conservation organizations. "Fact No.62: Plastic straws take up to 200 years to degrade, but will never fully be off the Earth, as plastics are not biodegradable.
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Music. As soon as I say that word I'll bet your favorite song pops into your head. Maybe some memories from a road trip jam session or dancing around the house while blasting Pandora. I've always loved music, literally for as long as I can remember. I've played instruments, sang in choir, and always kept up with what music is new and trendy while still enjoying the classics. I believe in my soul that music is one of the most effective tools in uniting people. I mean think about it- when you go to a concert you and anyone your sitting next to probably have completely different life experiences and world views, but your still sitting in some arena paying to see the same artist preform. Today, I want to share with you my inspirational playlist. It's a vibe- I could have went a hundred different directions with this playlist because my love of music transcends any one genre. So, without further a-due here is a playlist to inspire your best work, best dance moves, basically just your best life. Inspirational Playlist
XOXO, Hunter Speaking of Inspiring your best life... Have you heard of Sand Cloud?! I became an ambassador for them as a way to fulfill my calling to #savethefishies. You can use my code: "Hunterferguson99800" to get 25% off you purchase! 10% of any purchase made goes to marine conservation organizations. "Fact No.62: Plastic straws take up to 200 years to degrade, but will never fully be off the Earth, as plastics are not biodegradable. I'm not a coffee snob, but I do like a certain aroma to my coffee. So, if you want to get my exact morning caffeination vibes- just keep reading. The first and possibly most important step in your early morning coffee is the brew itself. If you don't start out with the right flavor there, you're pretty much doomed to a dull-lifeless cup of Joe. My Go-to-Brew is Starbucks Pikes Place. Next is the delicious simplicity that wraps everything together. That is the silky smooth decadence that is Silk Almond Milk Caramel Creamer. Mix it all together and you've got yourself a scrumptious morning beverage. XOXO, Hunter Speaking of Waves... Have you heard of Sand Cloud?! I became an ambassador for them as a way to fulfill my calling to #savethefishies. You can use my code: "Hunterferguson99800" to get 25% off you purchase! 10% of any purchase made goes to marine conservation organizations. "Fact No. 100: In the US Alone Approximately 500 Million Straws Are Used Every Day." If there is one thing I look forward to the most about summer, it's the water. I love all things pool, river, lake, and ocean, I even look forward to the occasional slip-and-slide. These things literally make summer for me! With as much as I've been working, summer is half way over and I've only been in the water once. I'm in serious Wave Crave Mode. I need the water-it's in my soul. Even though I am a red head and spending time out in the sun doesn't always agree with me I can buy serious quantities of sunscreen. Come on guys, tell me I'm not alone! Is anyone else fighting this summer Wave Crave? Lets start a conversation down in the comments of how we can- realistically- combat this. XOXO, Hunter Speaking of Waves... Have you heard of Sand Cloud?! I became an ambassador for them as a way to fulfill my calling to #savethefishies. You can use my code: "Hunterferguson99800" to get 25% off you purchase! 10% of any purchase made goes to marine conservation organizations. "Fact No. 100: In the US Alone Approximately 500 Million Straws Are Used Every Day." ** Trigger Warning: Sexual Violence Content**I feel like since the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States and the subsequent testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, everyone is expressing their opinions on all things sexual harassment/assault. I wanted to write this blog for a while and feel nauseous even attempting it now. However, I am hoping it offers me some sense of relief or closure. Back Story: During Christmas of 2018 I implemented a "12 days of Christmas" blog series were people sent in stories to me about struggles they had gone through in their lives. I posted their stories anonymously as well as one of my own. Today I am going to be revealing which of those stories was mine (but, WILL NOT be releasing any other information that would negate the anonymity of the other stories. This WILL remain anonymous). Now, here is the reason I'm sharing this. In the last week, I can't even count the number of times that I've heard a conversation involving " those money seeking hoes that wait decades to speak up just for attention or fame." Now perhaps it is my own personal experience in this area, but I believe in saying that let alone thinking it is incredibly naive. Except for talking to my therapist and anonymously posting on this blog, I have never mentioned it before and - it's been over 10 years. Actually, I take that back- I have mentioned it previously. When I turned 18, it was like my brain gave me some access to memories it had repressed until then so, it actually took me 10 years just to mildly remember what had even happened. Once I did, I was hurt, angry, and most confused. No matter how hard I try even to this day, it's like my brain will only let me remember what it has deemed unacceptable. Now, me being the take action person I went on a mini-crusade or a fact-finding mission if you will. You see, at the time in my life this happened I was around a lot of older kids- so I reached out to a few and discovered that I was not alone. As far as I was able to tell 5 girls had experienced very similar traumas, including myself. Now here's why I'm even picking at this wound. NONE OF US SAID ANYTHING. That does NOT make what happened to us any less real or any more up for debate. Even to this day, I'm the only one that knows about all 5 of us girls who are survivors of a teenage predator. The others didn't want their stories shared, so I kept them to myself and will continue to do so. I also want to say that I do not consider myself a victim - this is one of the reasons I've never made a report. I do not want to be victimized because I am more than that experience, I survived and work to overcome it. Many women who have experienced similar situations and I are SURVIVORS - because we take ownership of our stories and do not give power to the one who assaulted us. It is also my considered opinion that if you don't know the extent of what people around you have gone through this topic should not be openly discussed. For help or Support you can Contact: RAINN: https://www.rainn.org National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org Joyful Heart Foundation: http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/learn/sexual-assault-and-rape/resources/hotlines-and-more-information You are more than your struggles. XOXO, Hunter I don't just fight for myself... Have you heard of Sand Cloud?! I became an ambassador for them as a way to fulfill my calling to #savethefishies. You can use my code: "Hunterferguson99800" to get 25% off you purchase! 10% of any purchase made goes to marine conservation organizations. "Fact No. 100: In the US Alone Approximately 500 Million Straws Are Used Every Day." Hello, "Wisdom Warriors," I'm Back! If you follow me on social media (if you aren't you should) you saw that about a week ago a project I've put so much time, energy, and heart into reached its completion! The "Cuddle for Noah" project was inspired by my cousin "Noah" who was born sleeping at 18 weeks. The whole process started when I came across this youtube video... Before this, I had no idea what a Cuddle Cot even was. However, by the end of the video, I knew this was something that I wanted to do. With no idea where to begin, I took to "Google" and found that this is a widespread desire, yet they rarely reach completion. Right off the bat, I wanted to give myself an important deadline so that I could push myself to reach my goal. With my 20th birthday right around the corner, it felt like perfect timing. So, I knew that if I was going to start this fundraiser, I wasn't going to stop. I knew that I would get this done no matter what. I would pound the pavement if I had to, but I wouldn't let this endeavor fizzle out. Naturally, when I started the fundraiser, I initiated a "GoFundMe" page. However, for me to do that I needed to know how much this was going to cost. Which led me to reach out to the company- Flexmort. They gave me a fantastic price, and in my mind, I was off to the races. By the time my birthday arrived, I had $0 in donations having only promoted it on social media. Immediately I began plotting my next move on what was going to make this happen. I knew that for any of this to happen, I needed a larger audience to hear how vital "Cuddle Cots" are which led me to reach out to an area newspaper. It took a while to get a plan together as far as the article went and in the meantime, I had contacted "William Newton Memorial Hospital" - the hospital I planned to donate the "Cuddle Cot" to. While the article was being put together, the newspaper reached out to the hospital for a comment, and they hadn't even seen my email yet. It was right around this time that I received a call that I believe altered the fate of my project entirely. I was called in for a meeting with the Foundation Director at William Newton Hospital. Going into this meeting, I was terrified. I mean here I am - 20 years old- trying to accomplish something that feels so hugely important to me, and I just found out that a hospital executive wants to meet with me. At the time of the meeting, I sat down with the aforementioned Foundations Director - Annika Morris, as well as "William Newton Hospital"'s Director of Marketing - Sarah Bryant. Needless to say, I felt entirely out of my element, but that feeling didn't last long. These women were so incredibly wonderful to me and felt just as excited about this project as I was. They began planning and strategizing with me, and by the end of the meeting- the "Cuddles for Noah Project" was born now under the "William Newton Hospital Foundations." This change not only made me completely ecstatic and thrilled, but it facilitated a significant change in pace. Right away, everything that I had already started was coming together and worked in perfect time with the new trajectory of the project. Within a day or so after my meeting with the "William Newton" team, the article I had been working on with the newspaper was released... Once the article came out - 12 HOURS LATER - One donor (Shelley Funeral Home in Arkansas City, KS) stepped up and funded the ENTIRE project. Of course, other donors stepped up as well and grew the "Cuddles for Noah Project" even more. With the remaining funds to go towards bereavement training in the OB department. Ultimately, I couldn't be more thrilled with the way everything turned out. I feel like I genuinely answered my calling and honored my cousin Noah in the most fantastic way. Even though I put in a ton of leg work I do firmly believe that this is not a project that was mine, it was always Noah's - he worked through me, but this was all him. I hope by sharing this journey that someone else out there will be inspired to spark a much-needed change in the childbirth experience. XOXO, Hunter P.S. Keep Scrolling ... Behind the Scenes Photos:Speaking of answering a calling... Have you heard of Sand Cloud?! I began an ambassador for them as a way to fulfill my calling to #savethefishies. You can use my code: "Hunterferguson99800" to get 25% off you purchase! 10% of any purchase made goes to marine conservation organizations. "Fact No. 100: In the US Alone Approximately 500 Million Straws Are Used Every Day." I find myself increasingly ridden with anxiety with the passing of any life milestone. Not the kind of anxiety that leads to a single panic attack, but the kind that gets you so wrapped up in your mind that you can't even focus on anything except for how badly you feel. I've been continuously trying to dissect why exactly I feel this way. I've come up with this central point of contention in my mind- Am I where I'm supposed to be? Everybody struggles with this question at some point I'm sure; however, this question literally keeps me up at night. We live in this society that idolizes social media so much that we expect what we see on Instagram to be everyone's normal, everyday, average lives. Yet, we are also expected to work ourselves to the bone until the day we die. This is where my internal battle ensues. I want this beautiful Instagram life, but we gotta have the money to do that right? So, where is the balance, and again, am I where I'm supposed to be? The only answer that ever calms me down or makes me feel comfortable or confident in my own life is that I believe there is something bigger than myself navigating my life. When I really get to questioning myself and letting the judgmental comments of others get to me, I stop and think... I may not be where other people expect me to be or even where I think I'm supposed to be, but I'm where I meant to be. We don't get to control every aspect of our lives, no matter how hard we try. There are always the unforeseen circumstances, accidents, and hardships that pose as obstacles for us all. All any of us can really do is try our best to live a meaningful life, whatever that means to you. While you're working and gaining life skills, you never even knew you needed - don't forget to take time to have fun and make memories. I know that I'm still trying to figure out what direction I'm steering my life. I struggle with what is expected of me by others and what I think I want for myself in my life right now. Can you relate? Audrey Hepburn said it best: " The most important thing is to enjoy your life - be happy - that's all that matters. " While I'm shooting for that Instagram life - I'll aim just to be happy. We should all just shake the stress, hateful and judgmental comments, and just be happy. XOXO, Hunter While I teach for some deeply seeded life purpose I knew I wanted to do something right now to help make a difference. So, I became a Sand Cloud Ambassador! "100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.Our mission is to protect and save our oceans and all marine life 🌏10% of every purchase is donated to nonprofits that work to save these beautiful animals" One of the most exciting things, when summer rolls around, is that - it feels like a new beginning. The cool mornings, toasty afternoons, and chilly nights are like a cyclic reset to the day. Just like the summer days, we too can reset ourselves in three different aspects. Much like the three phases of a summer day, we can reset ourselves in three different ways. Reset Your Mind I feel like I preach on this a lot - But it is so true! We all have to really take the time to tend to our mental state of wellbeing just as much as we do our physical. Deep Breathe everyone. Summer is usually portrayed as this care free time with fun in the sun and not a care in the world. That isn't the case for everyone - summer can be a time of uncertainty. It can be the downtime in between some significant life changes and believe me that can make a fun summer feel miserable. But wait - we are here to reset these feelings. Remember when I said - Deep Breathe? That's the key... I know it doesn't sound like much or sound too simple to solve all of your problems, but its a start. Taking the absolute deepest breath you can, holding it for a few seconds, and slowly releasing it can act as a literal - Mental Reset. Once you do it, it can feel as if you just pressed down on a big red reset button in your brain, but this is so much simpler. Deep Breath - and press on. Reset Your Body Resetting your body requires a bit more work than just deep breathing even though they go hand in hand. Remember it is summer, so we all need to be drinking TONS of water. This has the potential to literally make you feel like the most rejuvenated person there ever was. A tall glass of ice water *mouth watering* during a long and hot summers day - color me reset. All jokes aside doing other things like limiting your sodium intake (yes, I mean nix the sunflower seeds), eating more fruits and vegetables, and MOISTURIZE. I can not stress this enough. The summer heat mixed with sunscreen or tanning lotion combined with long term sun exposure will take a toll of your skin. The kind of toll you can reset - so get out in front of it - use SPF and after you shower the best moisturizer while your pores are wide open is coconut oil. Coconut Oil has no added perfumes or alcohol - it may take a bit for your skin to absorb, but it will only take a few uses for you to notice a big difference. Disclaimer: Coconut Oil is fantastic for your body, but will clog the pores in your face faster than you've ever seen so please keep it off your beautiful faces. Reset Your Soul This can look different for every person. All you need to do to reset your soul is ask yourself what makes your soul sparkle. This can mean spending more time with family, finally going on that vacation you've been saving or all year, or just having some actual alone time. Try a mid-morning dance party! I know you're probably thinking to yourself there is no way you would ever do that. However, cutting loose to your favorite song and just taking a few minutes to let loose can be like chicken soup for the soul. If it makes you uncomfortable strap on your best pair of headphones, lock yourself in your bedroom or maybe the bathroom at work or supply closet and after a song or two, your soul will be ready to take on the seemingly never-ending summer days. Believe in the fact that you have the ability to Reset. XOXO, Hunter You know what else need resetting? The way we treat our oceans and marine life. "100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.Our mission is to protect and save our oceans and all marine life 🌏10% of every purchase is donated to nonprofits that work to save these beautiful animals" Hello Everyone, I have someone I'd like to introduce you to-- Meet Sand Cloud! Sand Cloud is an amazing company who's mission is to save marine life! They support six different organizations by taking 10% of the profits from every item ordered and donating it. They take part in beach clean up projects, animal rehabilitation, and make their Recycled T-Shirts and Towels from plastic bottles. Summer is quickly approaching and how great would it be if the beach towel you got this year served a greater purpose than just keeping you dry? Well, now it can - Oh Yeah, and I just became a SAND CLOUD AMBASSADOR! I'm so beyond excited to be involved with this company. Now, this isn't one of those things were I'm going to spam your eyeballs with not so vailed attempts to sell you something. I'm just going to show you the amazing stuff that I purchase so you can see the benefits of you doing the same. For my first purchase as an Ambassador I ordered: I'm so in love with everything I've gotten so far! Follow Sand Cloud on Instagram to see some of the great things they do. But, if you need a better reason to buy here is a fun fact- "100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.Our mission is to protect and save our oceans and all marine life 🌏10% of every purchase is donated to nonprofits that work to save these beautiful animals" If your interested to see how Sand Cloud got started just keep scrolling... If you are falling in love with this company the way I am join me on my mission to #savethefishies XOXO, Hunter
"Be like a snake; Only bite if someone steps on you" -Taylor Swift This morning I was listening to a Podcast by Kalyn Nicholson - Go check out here Coffee Talk Podcast if you haven't already- Anyway, she took this considerable dive into emotions and how to stick up or yourself by imitating a snake. Weird concept- I know. But, as she went on to explain, I started to understand. Snakes are very go- with- the- flow creatures until they are stepped on (or made to feel as if they are in danger). Someone could be mowing their yard, and the snake will move, or if someone moves the rock it was sleeping under it will quickly move away, why? Because snakes only want to fight back when they need too. As people, we could really take a lesson from this. Let's be honest 9 times out of 10 we react to situations (i.e., comments, things people say, or the actions of others) in the way of the snake- we strike. When I was listening to the Podcast, this was described as reacting with your ego. Your reflex is to respond to your bruised ego based in your own insecurities. For instance- the self-doubt we feel within ourselves- if we feel shameful or aren't confident with who we are as individuals- we protect our ego and strike. Heres the thing- this really isn't the healthiest way to handle these situations. This is where that Taylor Swift quote comes into play. We as a society need to learn only to strike if we are genuinely being stepped on. We have to determine if the hurtful words coming at us are something we should be taking personally or if they a merely a reflection of someone else's insecurities. If we try to take the words someone says in as if we had thought them ourselves- only then can we know how we should react. When choosing to react, we must again, respond without our ego. Express how we fell based on an action, not reiterate what someone did to us. This is SO much easier said than done! Trust me, I am working very hard to "only bite when stepped on." I challenge all of you out there to try and do the same. XOXO, Hunter
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Hunter FergusonHolding her Associates of Arts in Political Science, Implementing Beneficial Community Project, and having Led a Student Collaboration team at her college of attendance- Hunter chooses to blog about the world around her as well as her personal experiences in hopes of creating a Powerful group of like-minded people. Archives
July 2019
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