Coffee Shop Roundup

Hi guys! Today I am talking about COFFEE. This is one of my favorite topics. I love drinking coffee at home and I love going out for coffee with friends. Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are some good places to get coffee; however, this post is dedicated to local coffee shops in the DFW and surrounding areas. I love supporting local businesses. If you are ever visiting this area, please check out these coffee shops.

La La Land Kind Cafe { 5626 Bell Ave, Dallas, TX 75206}
This place is amazing. The main color is yellow and it makes everything feel so happy. This coffee shop employs kids who have aged out of the foster care system. The environment is fun and the shop has an area for dogs outside. The shop is wheelchair accessible.

Merit Coffee  Co. { 4228 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219 or 2639 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226}
I loved this place too. It has great coffee. The environment is hipster and a great place to hang out with friends. The service was great and they were very friendly.

White Rhino { 230 W Belt Line Rd, Cedar Hill, TX 75104 , 414 W Main St, Waxahachie, TX 75165 ,and 777 S Interstate 35 East Service Rd, Red Oak, TX 75154}
This is another great place. The Waxahachie location is my favorite because there are more options for seating. It is also one of my favorite coffee shops to study or do computer work. I love their drinks because they have fun names. My favorite drink is called " hug in a cup". In their Waxahachie location, their seasoned homade chips are amazing.

Fresh Market { 501 S Rogers St, Waxahachie, TX 75165}
This is such a cute coffee shop. It has a vintage and eclectic vibe. It is very spacious and has many options for seating. I enjoy studying or hanging out with friends. Their coffee is really good and a little more affordable than Starbucks

Please let me know what are your favorite local coffee shops. I love to visit local coffee shops when I visit new places.

~Liu Miao~

Undergrad Reflections

Dear younger me,

College is hard but you will make so many memories. You will meet so many people from from different backgrounds. You will learn to work with different types of people. You will learn that grades aren't everything. You will learn the importance of being involved in your campus. You will learn that changing your major is ok. Your patience level will be challenged and your patience will grow. You will learn to work hard despite the physical pain.  You will discover the power of To-Do lists. You will learn the joy in small things in life. You will learn that it's ok to take naps while in college. You will realize that stress is really bad and good. You will learn that it is important to cope with stress in a healthy way. You will realize it's ok to have me time. You will learn it's ok to cry. You will realize that family is so important. You will learn that positivity and gratitude are helpful for mental health. You will learn that making big decisions are very hard but it can be done through prayer and support from family. You will realize how God has provided for you. You will learn that it is very important to do your best and not to worry about what happens. You will learn character flaws and learn to change them. You will learn to have more self-confidence. You will learn the value of relationships. Most importantly, you will realize that you couldn't do it without God's grace.

Love
College graduate

Life Update

 

Hello readers. Today I thought that I would share what is going on  in my life recently. It has been awhile.

 I finished my Junior/Third year of university. Time has flown so quickly. I started blogging towards the end of my first year of university. Now I only have two semesters left! This summer I am studying for the GRE and looking at schools to apply for graduate schools. IF you have any tips for the GRE or graduate school application, please let me know.  In the fall, I will continue with a research project and we hope to get a paper in the process of publication in the spring. I love the field os psychology and learning Spanish.

I am also training my own service dog. Her name is Mi Gemela Dulce which translate as My Sweet Twin. Currently she is learning basic obedience and doing good with house training. I am also working on teaching her tasks that she will need to learn. We are working on retrieving things.(Future tasks will include: Retrieving things, helping with shoes and clothes, pushing buttons, pulling doors, finding someone when I have a bad fall. I hope to get her approved for light mobility when she is old enough.) She enjoys going to puppy class and she is almost 14 weeks old. The puppy class helps socialize her with unfamiliar dogs and gives me tips on how to better train my dog.

Isn't she the cutest? She is not hyper but does have moments of energy. Whenever she is very tired, she will lay down wherever she pleases and does not move. I would love to know your tips about training dogs for service work.

What are you doing this summer? I would love to hear about it.

~Liu Miao~

What's on my iphone?

 



Hello readers, I thought this would be a fun post to write. I love seeing what kind of apps people have on their phones. I have an iPhone because my friend gave me her old iPhone when she upgraded to a new phone. I have the IPhone 5s. Even though it’s an older phone , it works really well. I currently do not have it connected with data. I just use wifi and most places have wifi. I have phone that is connected to a phone plane so I can call and text without needing wifi. My real phone does not have the ability to have apps nor is it touch screen. (None smartphone aka dumb phone)So I use the iPhone to use apps. It is cheaper to pay for a none smartphone than it is to pay for a smartphone. Now on to the fun part.

I have all my apps on two “pages” on my phone. I like to keep my phone screen neat and organized.

 

Here are pictures of the apps in the folders. PicsArt is my favorite app to edit pictures because it doesn’t leave a watermark on your pictures after editing. I love spanishdict because I can get word of the day and learn new Spanish words. It also comes in handy when I need to look up a word in Spanish. Blackboard is used by my university. Yes I know that I have a lot of messaging app but I use all of them. WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger,and Kakao Talk are great apps to message friends that are international or if you are traveling internationally.

I would love to know what apps you have on your phone. Have a great day!

~Liu Miao~

My Spoonie Story

Hello readers! Happy Spring Break and I am so excited to be on spring break. Now I have time to write and relax. Today I share my spoonie story. 

The spoonie theory was created by Christine Miseradino and here is summary of the theory. She explains how some people have more spoons to get through the day. People with chronic illness or disabilities have limited spoons and have to use their spoons wisely. Doing things will cost you a spoon. Sometimes the activity will cost you more than one spoon. I really this theory because it is a great picture for people to understand people with chronic illness and disabilities.

I have a disability and a chronic pain. My disability is severe bilateral hip dysplasia which includes atrophied muscles near my hip area. I have had this disability since I was really young( from the age of 2 that we know of). My disability really didn’t really cause to much physical problems. I had surgery around the age of 4 and the surgery helped me walk a little better. During my senior year of high school, I started having a lot of pain. I went to a lot of doctors. All the doctors say that i have a lot of pain because the structure of my hips and it causes stress on my hips(That’s why I didn’t really have a lot of pain while I was growing up). So it has been almost 4 years since my chronic pain has started. I can feel by bones get worse. I have not been diagnosed with arthritis, but I do have a lot of joint issues.

In conclusion, it is hard to be a spoonie. For me, I have pain most of the time, but I do have Good days. I like to celebrate my good days. I have been able to relate to others since joining this community of spoonies.

If you are a spoonie, I would love if you consider being on the #SpoonieSeries. This is a series on the blog that allows spoonies to have a voice. These posts can be informational, be a story(encouraging, funny) about being a spoonie.

Have a great week and May the Spoons be ever in your favor.

~Liu Miao~

My Adoption Story

*Hello readers! Today i share my adoption story so far. This is not my whole adoption story because i continue to live in the adoption journey. * This is a very long post

It begins the year 1996 and in Changsha Hunan China. I was born between April-September. My papers say that I was born in September and found near a bridge in November.I lived in the orphanage for about 4 years. I lived in a good orphanage and the ayis (aunties-care takers)loved the children. There is an organization that works with the Changsha 1 social welfare centre and I lived under the care of them for some time. I was adopted in June 2000 by an American family. Almost didn’t get out of Guangzhou ( this is where Americans finish up the adoption process and can leave the country)because of some mistake with paperwork. My mom said that I was somewhat bad on the plane but she wasn’t upset with me because she knew that I was going through a lot of changes. It was a very long flight home because we had two layovers one in South Korea and L.A California (USA). We got to Texas around June 21. Family and friends greeted me and my parents as we came off the plane.( this is prior to 9-11 ). I do not remember a lot from this time probably because it was traumatic with all the changes. Most of this information is from what people told me. I didn’t like dogs at first and my family had a lot of dogs at the time. I have one older sister adopted from China and 5 older siblings ( my parents biological kids)The next year I had major surgery to help me walk better. I remember going to the hospital a lot. I was homeschooled from k-12. We did activities with other homeschool families and I volunteered at a children’s hospital in high school. My high school graduation was just me.My life was pretty normal. I grew up meeting people of different ethnicities or people who lived in different countries ( my dad is a pastor and we would have missionaries come talk about the work in that country). I also have a couple of friends who were adopted. While growing up , I struggled with being adopted and having a physical disability. My parents , family and friends helped me through these struggles and still help me when I have struggles. I did grow up in a Christian home and went to church. I became a Christian around 7-8 years old and continue to grow in my relationship with God. I think of becoming a Christian was my second adoption. I am not afraid to share my thoughts with people but I will be kind when i share my beliefs. There is one more part of adoption story that I want to share. Early 2016, I try to find one of the ayis in a picture. she is in several pictures and my parents remember her. This ayi meet my parents because she took me to the hotel to meet my parents. I contacted the organization that works with Changsha 1 social welfare centre. The organization was able to find her contact information and I was able to email her. I was able to thank her for being a part of my life and helping so many children. She email me back and we continue to be in contact. She also helped me get in contact with other kids from the orphanage ( those around my age or older).Last summer I was able to visit her in Switzerland. It was a very nice trip and it was great too see her. I was able to visit a girl in Switzerland who lived in the orphanage at the same time as me. I am happy to build a friendship with them and get to know them again.

This is my Adoption story. What is your adoption story?

~Liu Miao~

Goals for 2018

I

Hello, Readers! I can't believe that is 2018.  How did you spend New Years Eve? I am not a party type and keep it simple celebration. Due to weather, I stayed home with my family. We relaxed and watch tv all day. Drank hot drinks all day. So much has happen in 2017 and i hope that 2018 is full of adventures.  There are some goals that i hope to accomplish in 2018

•  Keep my room and desk organized this year. 
• Practice hand lettering
• Study and Pass the GRE
• Try not to procrastinate on homework and other important tasks
• Stay consistent with Bible reading
• Apply to graduate schools
• Get a summer internship
• Show kindness to others in small or big ways.
• Have more faith and worry less.
• Blog on a consistent schedule. I am thankful for those who have stuck with me even though i don't always post.

I hope to reach these goals to the best of my abilities. I would love to hear about some of your goals. Let us encourage one another to keep our goals.

~Liu Miao~

A reflection of 2017

I can't believe 2017 is coming to an end. I decided to include my best nine from Instagram.  I love that 3 of 9 pictures are Vietnamese food.This year was so amazing. It was full of adventure and growth for me personally and for A Word with Liu Miao. Here are some thoughts about this year:

• I went on my first international trip alone. It was kinda scary and stressful ; however, I am so glad that I went. I have wonderful memories with great people.

• I have meet so many bloggers this year through Instagram and facebook blogging groups. I love how this community is so helpful.

• The blog is growing. I have gained new readers and so excited to see the growth. I tried to connect with new readers this past year. In the new year, I will work to blog on a schedule. I am working to make A Word for Liu Miao better for readers in the new year. If you have any suggestions, comment below.

• One important lesson that I am learning is Trust on God. This theme was very noticeable to me this year. God didn't have the answer that I wanted but He had the answer that was right for me.( though I don't always like his answer)
  

• Making decisions is hard to do. This involves trusting God too. I decided my major for college, and I decided to postpone major surgery.

What are some important things that happen in your life? I would love to hear how 2017 went for you.

Have a good week.

~Liu Miao~

Christmas Traditions

Hello readers, I can't believe Christmas is quickly approaching. The year has gone so fast this year. I really enjoy because it represents Joy of our Saviour. I love the christmas lights and christmas songs. Christmas traditions is one of my favourite things about the holiday since christmas traditions are only done during this time of the year. Here are some of my christmas traditions:

• Listen to christmas music. I prefer to listening to christmas music after Thanksgiving. This year I started listing to  christmas music early because I am doing special music at my church in December so I needed to learn the songs

• Watch Christmas movies. Some of my favourite movies include: Christmas in Connecticut, Hallmark Christmas movies, It's a Wonderful Life, the Santa Clause series, The Christmas Shoes. (* This is not sponsored and these are all my own opinions)

• Christmas Desserts. I love making christmas desserts and eating them too. Some of my favourites include Peppermint bark, Christmas Hash ( it is a mixture of sweet and salty ingredients with melted almond bark so it sticks together. Kinda like making a potatoe has casserole but a dessert.)

• Going to Christmas Eve Service at my church. I have done it ever since I can remember

• On Christmas morning, my family reads the christmas story from the Bible before we open presents. This is to help us remember the true meaning of Christmas which is Christ is the true meaning. 

I would love to hear about your family Christmas traditions. I think it is interesting to learn what others do for the holiday. Have a great week and Merry Christmas.

~Liu Miao~

I am thankful for....

Thanksgiving is over but I can still tell you what I am thankful for. I love this holiday because it helps us to remember to be thankful for things in life. Yes life can be extremely hard but there is something to be thankful for even if it something small. I would like to share what I am thankful for list.

My family: God allowed me to be adopted into a good family. I love my family even though we don't always agree with everything. I know that my family loves me and cares for me.

My basic needs: they  are taken care of for example, food, medical care, a home etc. I know that not everyone has the opportunity to have these things  and I appreciate having these things.

Friends: Friends make like more fun. Friendship is powerful.

Switzerland: I really love the Swiss chocolate. but No I am really thankful for my ayi and friends from Switzerland. I was very welcomed when I went in the summer. Switzerland holds a big place in my heart.

My Church family: they care about me and teach me about God and how to be the best Christian I can be.

Education: I know that not everyone has the opportunity to go to college. I am very blessed to go and have the opportunity to educate myself so I can help others.

Health care: I am super thankful for this. I can get steroid shots, and pain medicine which are not super expensive.

I save the best one for last... God. I am super thankful for  HIM. He is the reason why we are here. He gives me comfort that he is in control ( though sometimes I don't trust His timing). He takes our brokenness and makes us into new creations.

~Liu Miao~

Blessed to Bless

( picture from Pinterest)

About a week ago, I was at my bible college group. I love going to this group when I come. It is a great time of fellowship and being in the Bible together. We were in 2nd Corinthians 9:6-13 and on verse 13 someone summarized that verse in these words "Blessed to Bless".

2nd Corinthians 9:13 says "Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all"

This verse really stuck in my mind this week and this verse was convicting me.  God has blessed us through Christ and we are suppose to share that good news. There are many ways to share the gospel. You don't have to preach a sermone to someone. You can share about the gospel in 5 minutes while checking out. My dad likes to wear shirts with a spiritual message and people ask him what the shirts mean. This gives him a chance to share the gospel in a short amount of time.  These are subtle ways to share the gospel. I think that this verse can apply to other blessings that God has given us in life. In this world, it can be hard to be grateful. There is so much advertisement for the newest model of something and that we should buy the new model. We have so many blessings in our lives. Family, the gift of life,  food, the opportunity of education, and having a place to live are some of the blessings that many of us and sometimes take for granted. I have caught myself complaining so much even though I have so many blessings in m life. I need to stop and think about them. If you don't have one or more of these blessings, you can still bless someone. You can comfort someone who is going through a similar struggle and being able to relate to someone can impact someone in big ways. This is such a good reminder for me. Though my struggles are hard, I can help someone with the same or similar struggles.There are so many ways to bless people besides giving money. Giving your time to help them, send an encouraging text or card, or just listening to them are ways to bless people.

Have a wonderful week.

~Liu Miao~

21 lessons

Hello readers! I hope everyone is having a good holiday and enjoying the long weekend. My weekend consisted of sleeping, homework, and some fun. Happy Labour Day and it is also my birthday.  I am turning 21 and I can't believe that I'm turning 21. It doesn't seem that long ago I was turning 13.  Today I wanted to share 21 lessons that I have learned. These are not in order of importance.

1. Learning how to cook is important. I love using new recipes. One should not eat out all the time or buy takeaway.
2. College isn't that scary. It seems intimidating but there are many people/resources to help you.
3. Chocolate and bread is an amazing snack.
4. Not all Swiss mountains have snow year round.
5. knowing a second language( or more)  is important. you will never known when you will have to use that language(s).
6. It is ok to change your goals in life. I changed my major in college.
7. Don't let people discourage you
8. My identity is in Christ. It is Him who defines who I am. Ethnicity, gender, personality and etc are apart of me but they don't define me. I am nothing without  Christ.
9. Comparison is not good and makes you ungrateful.
10. Don't worry. God is in control. His answer may be different than you expected.
11. Tea is amazing
12. Blogging community  is very welcoming and helpful.
13. Hand lettering helps keep me calm.
14. Changes are hard
15. International traveling can be stressful but it is so much Fun.
16. To do lists are super helpful.
17. Memories from the pasts can hurt.
18. time management is hard.
19. think before talking
20. technology is a great way to keep in touch with friends.
21. Community within your family, friends is important

I hope you enjoyed reading 21 lessons that I have learned. Have a good holiday and great semesters. I would love to hear some lessons that you have learned.

~Liu Miao~

Blogger Recognition Award

Hello readers, I was nominated for the Blogger Recognition award by forthesakeofgoodtaste.  Thank you so much for nominating me. As a blogger it is nice to be recognized by other bloggers. The blogging community is so nice and I have met some great people. I like to see how people can write about the same subject but see something different in that subject. I discovered this blog through Instagram and I enjoy reading this blog. It is a super interesting and helpful blog.

The rules of this award are:

"Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog
Write a post to show your award
Give a brief story of how your blog started
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created ( for the sake of good taste)"

How I started blogging:

I started blogging towards the end of my first semester of college. I wanted a creative outlet and I enjoyed writing. Blogging involves helping people and I wanted to help people through the lessons that I have learned. I also wanted to encourage people through my blog and to build community.

Advice to new bloggers:

  -Be Personal. As a blogger, I want to be honest with my readers. My life isn't perfect and I won't always get a blog post out every week. It is tempting to portray a perfect life especially in social media but this is not the case. Who wants to be around a perfect person?  Generally speaking, being personal attracts more people. It is ok to share a little bit of personal life on the blog.

   - Have a social media account and interact.
This is very important and helps get your blog out there. Most people have one form of social media. Social media is a great tool to share  about your blog quickly. Referring back to my first tip, be personal on the social media.  Don't just post about your blog because you will look like whole bunch of ads. Post about your life occasionally. Social media also gives the opportunity to interact with readers and fellow bloggers. Interacting offers benefits of meeting/learning from fellow bloggers and connecting with readers.

Bloggers I nominate:

Fiona Gaile  @  fiona gaile
Emily @ emsessentials
Tori @  The Freckled Prep
Kaylan@  honestwomanhood
Dani @ danidearest
Samantha@  aslifegrows
Tanna@  collartocollar
Allison@  cacocoblog
Maddy@  nogreaterloveblog
Melissa@  elephantontheroad
Megan@   apronstringsandstickyfingers
Hannah@   honestlyhannahblog
Hannah E. Hay@    alifetransformedblog
Amanda@       thehappyarkansan
Riley @       northernprepster.com

Thank you again For the Sake of good taste for nominating me. The bloggers that I nominated write amazing content on their blogs. Show some love and go check out their blogs.

~Liu Miao~

Life Update

Hello Readers!

I have been home for almost two weeks. I was in Europe for almost a month. It was such an amazing trip. Sorry that I haven't posted while I was gone or since I have been home. During the trip I was very tired or super busy to post on the blog. Instagram was easier to keep you guys update. Since I have returned, I have been busy with school stuff and been tired( trying to hang out with  friends bed uni starts). Also I have been dealing with some ear problems and I haven't feel up to writing( maybe some writers block?). I did manage to get one post up on the blog the day after I return. Here is what is new with me:

-I start my junior year in the fall!!! I am so excited. Maybe start my project ( still trying to get a professor to accept my project idea)

- I want to try to connect with my readers more. When I read other blogs, I like it when those people connect with the readers. I want my readers have that ability to do it with me. For example: answering comments on Instagram and the blog. I will do more Instagram stories.

- I am going to try to blog more consistently ( though sometimes I may not blog due to my health.)

- I will change my blogging schedule. I will post Mondays!  I think Mondays will work better. I am working on posts. I have so much great content to share with you guys.

~Liu Miao~

Q&A with Malan

Hello readers,  and greetings from Europe. Today I am doing a Q&A with Malan. I met Malan through Instagram  and discovered her blog. You can read her amazing blog here. The blogging community is so amazing and the ability to meet new bloggers. After a recent collaboration, I wanted to work with another blogger again. I was very happy when Malan agreed to collaborate. We decided to do an interview type post. I am interviewing her on my blog and she interviewed me for her blog. Here are some questions that I asked her. I love getting to know other bloggers better.

1- why did you start blogging ?
I started blogging because I love to write and I have a lot of different interests. I thought surely I could help or inspire someone!

2-What us your comfort food?
My comfort food would have to be Spaghetti! It's so good and reminds me of when I was a kid!

3- Favorite color?
Royal blue is my favorite color

4- what is your favorite subject to blog about?
I love to blog about movies! I do a lot of reviews and I love going to the movies so it's easy to keep up with them!

5- favorite book?
My favorite book is probably the outsiders! I just love that time period and the author. It's a good read!

6- favorite thing to get a Starbucks/ or other coffee shops?
I love iced caramel macchiatos! I can drink them before the ice melts!

7- Favorite movie?
It's hard to choose this one and it really depends on the day and the season but right now I'm just in love with Wonder Woman! It's mega inspiring!

8- Favorite clothing piece ( shorts, tank tops, skirts, etc)

This may be odd but I love crop tops! They are fun and and easy way to be cute but comfortable. I know that's not always the same for everyone but that's just how I am!

Malan is a great blogger and I enjoy reading her blog. Here are some of my favorite posts by her :

School is Important

How to cut a watermelon ( love this life hack and watermelon)

8 ways the Iron Bowl is like the Hunger Games

Thank you again Malan for letting me interview you.  I enjoyed getting to know you better. Hope you all have a great weekend.

~ Liu Miao~

The Liebster Blogger Award

Hello Guys, It's a double post today! Wow that doesn't usually happen. I was nominated by  Charlotte for the Liebster Blogger Award. Thank you so much. It is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers. This award is about spreading community in the blogging world! Charlotte mentioned that this so important and I agree. Sometimes the world encourages competition but we need to encourage one another.

Rules for the Liebster Blogger Award:

-Accept/Decline the award. You don't have to accept the award, but who doesn't like getting one? It is nice to get recognized for your writing.
-Write 11 facts about yourself
-Answer 11 questions from your  nominator
-Nominate 11 bloggers: This is where building community comes in. You get to pass the award along to other bloggers and help people discover amazing blogs.
-Ask 11 questions to your nominees

11 Facts about me

1) I really love rice and noodles. Stir fry and ramen are some of my favorites. Pho is another favorite.
2) I really enjoy languages. Currently, I am learning Spanish and can communicate pretty good. American Sign Language is next on my list.
3)Mini pigs and Great Danes are some of my favorite animals. I hope to own both someday.
4) I love watching cheesy Disney Channel Movies and Tv Shows.
5) Velvet is my new favorite tv show. It is on Netflix and is in Spanish. You can get English subtitles.
6) Love going out with friends and getting coffee. My favorite drink right now is an iced  caramel macchiato with extra caramel.
7) I want to be a child life specialist. They help children and their family cope with staying in the hospital or having various procedures done at the hospital. I know what it is like to be in the hospital a lot because I have a physical disability.
8) I go to a small university and still live at home. I say tons of money by living at home. Really enjoy small university because it has a family feel. I know so many professors.
9)  Spicy foods. I enjoy eating spicy foods. Hot sauce, spicy ramen, spicy chips are some examples. Where I am from( Changsha, Hunan China), it is known for spicy foods. I like to say that spiciness runs in my blood.
10) I am adopted. Lived in china for almost 4 years.
11) Gummy candies are my go to snacks. Peach rings, gummy bears and twizzlers are some of my favorite. I like food and sweets.

My answers to Charlotte's questions

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world for two weeks (without money being an issue), where would you go and what would you do? I would travel Asia. Kimchi, pho, sushi, noodles are some of my favorites. There are so may sites.
2. What is the best book that you have ever read and what did you love so much about it? I love Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The story is sweet and I love that the main characters are girls. It is a classic book and I love that it is set in the 1800s.
3. If you could spend a day with any person in the world (deceased or alive), who would it be and why? President Franklin Roosevelt is the person I like to hang out with.  He was our president during some hard times in the USA ( Great Depression and most of WWII).
4. What is your favorite season? (Interpret this however you want: in terms of weather or a television show.)  I like spring because it feels great out. Summers in texas can be super hot. Spring feels nice and refreshing.
5. What is your favorite Christmas movie/show? Christmas in Connecticut is my favorite.
6. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I would drop my American last name.
7. You find a wallet on the ground containing $1,000. You have two choices: return it to the owner or keep it. Here’s the twist: the owner will never realize it’s missing if you decide to keep it. Which choice would you choose and why? I would be tempted to keep it but I would return it. I would feel so guilty until I made things right.
8. What is one talent that you would love to have? photographic memory
9. What is your favorite hashtag?#communityovercompetition I love this one because I love to encourage people.
10. If you could only choose to live one place in the world for the rest of your life, where would you choose and why? I love north Texas. There are so many nationalities near me. I can go to so  many different restaurants and markets.
11. Why did you decide to start your blog? I wanted a creative outlet when I started college and wanted to help people. Since I love reading about other people's stories and their advice, I wanted to share my story and give advice. I love reading different viewpoints about the same topic since we all see life differently.

I Nominate .

1. Mel from  http://www.polished-professionals.com/
2. Melissa from https://elephantontheroad.com/2017/05/25/keep-friends-close-when-they-live-far-away/
3. Megan from https://apronstringsandstickyfingers.com/
4. Mary-faith from https://maryfaithmartinez.wordpress.com/
5.  Dani from http://danidearest.com/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=Instagram&utm_campaign=Instagram
6. Amy from http://www.pastelnpink.com/
7. Krista from  https://linktr.ee/kristabeldubois
8. Samantha from https://linktr.ee/aslifegrows
9. Alyssa from http://thewisewillow.com/
10. Gabby and Hannah from https://linktr.ee/theswirlblog
11. Sara from https://sara-katherine.com/2017/05/11/redefine-mental-health/ 

My 11 questions to the nominees.

1. What is your middle name.?
2. favorite dessert?
3. Favorite language?
4. Where were you born?
5. Favorite childhood tv show/movie
6. what are your favorite christmas traditions?
7. Favorite international food?
8. What is your hobby/hobbies?
9. Are you an only child?
10. Why did you start blogging?
11. What are you studying in college / what did you study in college?

Thank you again Charlotte for nominating me. Hope you enjoyed this and discovered new blogs to read.

~Liu Miao~

Get to know me

Hello guys! Hope your summer is going well. I have enjoyed my summer so far. Binge watching Netflix, eating junk , and watching a Rangers game are some of the things that I have been doing. Since I have new readers , I want you guys get to know me a bit. It has been a while since I have done a get to know you type post. Here I answer some questions: 

Favorite song? Thy will by Hillary Scott. This song talks about God's timing. He has a reason for things. Sometimes there are hardships and  Good times that God brings.

What is your favorite language? American Sign Language is my favorite language but I don't know it very well. I know a few signs but I am learning more. Spanish is my second favorite language. I know a lot of Spanish and communicate pretty well. Occasionally I post in Spanish.

What is your favorite food? I love Asian foods. Carbs is one of my favorite foods. I love spicy foods.

What is my favorite makeup product? Eyeliner is my favorite products. 

What are you studying in college and what are your career goals? I am studying psychology and Spanish. Child life specialist is the job that I want to do. I love being in a children's hospital and I want to help children cope with being in a hospital. I also want to research in the areas of adoption and children.

what challenges have you faced and overcome so far this year? Health has been a big struggle. I learned talking about my struggles help me cope with it it. Accommodations has also helped with my challenge. School had some struggles. I really had to learn patience. I learned to work better with people and handle stress better.

I would love to get to know you guys better. Please comment below and tell me about yourself. Have a great weekend and stay tune for next week's post. I have a lot of posts for incoming freshmen.

~Liu Miao~

Sophomore Year Reflection

  Hello!, I am finished with my sophomore year of college. I can't believe it. These past two years have gone quickly. There were many changes that happened this past year. Here are a few things that happen this past year :

- In the fall 2016, I took 17 credit hours. This was a lot for me but I learned a lot on how to manage time. In the spring , I took 15 credit hours.

- Assisted As with mesa de español. This was so much fun. It was a time that the Spanish 1 class got to practice speaking Spanish during lunch. They were able to practice in a more informal setting.

- Changed my major. I was a biology major. When I started helping the profesora, I found my love with Spanish. I also realized that I did not enjoy biology and chemistry. Now I am a psychology major with a minor in Spanish. I plan to get a Masters in educational psychology with a emphasis in Child life and continue learning Spanish.

- I TA in Spanish 1 class. This was such a great experience. I learned to interact with student in a different way. I learned that profesora did a lot for that one class and she teaches other classes. Worked closely with the professor and help tutor some of the students.

- Presented in my school research symposium. I loved it and it gave me great practice for public speak. In the fall, I will start on another research project.

- Found out that I will be getting a hip replacement surgery ( plus some ligament work) this summer. This surgery will help reduce pain and give more functionality to my legs. I am not doing this surgery to fix my disability(i.e. try to be "normal"), but I am doing it to give me a better quality of life.

This was a good but hard year. My health did become worse during this school year but a lot of good things happen. I am very excited for the summer. It will be a nice break. I will be blogging on a more consistent schedule.

~Liu Miao~

Happy New Year 2017

I cannot believe that it is a new year! I apologize for not blogging regularly. There is so much going on right now. This year I will have a regularly schedule for posts. My holiday break has been great. I have two weeks left of vacation left. School is quickly approaching again. I am very excited for the new year and I have many ideas for the blog this year. Thank you for following A Word with Liu Miao and I hope that I can help you with my writing.  There are a few secrets that I want to share and some of these secretes explain why I haven’t posted on a consistent basis:

-      I have been going through some health and school problems. I didn’t have the energy to write for the blog and I needed to rest.  Even though I did well this past semester, it was a hard semester dealing with school and health problems. This spring semester, it is a lighter load and I will be able to keep up with the blog.

-      During the fall semester, I was in the process of changing my major. I went from biology to psychology with a minor in Spanish. I needed time to think about it. There are several reasons that I change and I will go into detail in another post.

-      I am working on a project which is taking a lot of time. It is a writing project. I can’t give details until it is done. There is a possibility the project doesn’t work, but I think the project will work great.

- I am traveling to Europe this summer! I have been given this amazing opportunity to travel.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts. I have much planned for the blog! What are you doing for your holiday break? Happy 2017

Christmas Break

I have finished my first semester of sophomore year. It was a hard semester because I took more hours than ever and took two science courses at once. I am not a person who can handle 17 hours and two science courses. There are people who can do it, and I applaud them. I am very excited that I can think about Christmas break. This is what I like to do on break:

- hang out with friends. Christmas time is a chance to see friends since the semester is over.

-sleeping in. I love it when I can sleep more. Finals week is tiring and it is nice to relax a bit.

- tv watching. I don't usually watch much tv during the semester. Christmas movies are my favorite to watch during break.

-I like to color or do hand lettering since I have more time.

- blogging. I didn't blog as much during the semester that I wanted. During Christmas, I will be having more posts for you.

What do you like to do during Christmas break? I would love to hear about it. Don't forget to follow this blog on Instagram:awordwithlm and Facebook:A Word with Liu Miao. Stay tune for the next post.