When I first got out of Breaking Dawn, I had so many emotions and thoughts going through my head and I knew that I would never be able to keep them all alive for the 20 minute drive home from the theater. So I did what any crazy person would do - I turned the voice recorder from my phone on and just talked and talked and talked the entire drive home (yes, the entire drive). And this is what poured out:
"They did an amazing job on everything. It's incredible what a good director can do for a movie because Catherine Hardwicke just murdered Twilight. And it sucks because it was such a loved story, especially by me, but of course by others too. She just ruined it and made it a joke and Breaking Dawn went and stole that title right fucking back and it was incredible. They did an amazing job with everything. There wasn't a single thing in the movie where I went and said 'You know what, they could have done this better' because they couldn't. I have never, ever walked into a movie that was based on a book and walked out thinking 'That was better than how I pictured it. They took what I loved and made it better'. I have never had that happen. Not with Harry Potter, not with Twilight, not with any book ever. That's one of the reasons I was kind of nervous about going to see this, because I didn't want to see another thing I love get ruined by somebody doing a half-assed job just to make money. It's why I don't really want to go see the Hunger Games. And it kind of just restored my faith that it is possible for them to do a good job on a movie and not murder it and not make it this horrible, horrible thing, you know? It is possible for them to do the book justice. And this is the first of the movies to be produced by Stephenie Meyer, which I think made a huge difference. It, of course, also helped that they had a great director like Bill Condon who has directed amazing movies like Dreamgirls. But, I mean, it was incredible. Everything about it was incredible. They did an incredible job. I don't know what they did for Bella's body. I dont know if she lost weight for it. Obviously at some parts she was using a body double or a wax figure, but I'm not sure the extent of that (I have since looked, and Kristen said it was almost all digital. Which is amazing. They did such a good job making her look that way.). Because it is true, and I didn't really think about it or think they would do anything about it in the movie, but she did lose weight and was practically on the edge of death, and they really did make her look that way . . . I have no words. Well, clearly I have a lot of words. It was amazing. Every part of it. And they stuck so true to the book. Other than the French clan who comes to visit for the wedding...Other than that, they really stuck to every single detail. There really wasn't a part where I was like...Well, I mean, during the honeymoon they kind of combined a few nights into one night, which is fine. I mean, not a big deal. Obviously they can't show every night of them having sex, although I really wouldn't be opposed to it. That's literally the only thing that I can think of that wasn't entirely true to the books. Other than that, though...Having just re-read the book, you know, it felt like I was watching the book in action. And, the thing is, when I go see books onscreen - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Harry Potter, whatever - you know, I expect to walk out and be sad because they took my world away from me, they took what I imagined away from me. And this time I walked out thinking 'They didn't take anything away from me, they gave me something better. They gave me something. I got something out of this. I didn't get anything taken away.' Like, that, I mean, is beautiful. The entire movie I was glued to the screen. I felt like I was in the world. And, of course, it helped that I saw all 3 of the previous movies right beforehand, but, I mean, I just felt like I was, like I was watching the book. I was watching it play in my mind, like I do when I read it, except better...even better than I could have imagined. The wedding dress was beautiful. I would have changed a few things on it, but it was beautiful. When I'm reading I picture the world around the character moreso than I picture the character and what they're wearing or anything like that so what the characters look like isn't a huge deal to me, but how the world looks is, and I thought they did great. I was really worried about when they go on their honeymoon because I have that very much stuck in my head how I think it looks and they made it even better. I mean, I'm so, so happy right now...It sounds so weird right now, but I have never felt that way walking out of a movie. I always feel like they took something from me and I don't feel that way this time. I feel like I got something. They gave me the gift of seeing a world I love come to life. I love Twilight, and so many people don't. So many people hate it, and I think a lot of people just blindly hate it. They've read it, but they've read it with the predisposition that it would suck. And when you go into something thinking it's gonna suck, guess what? It sucks. You know, you have to have an open mind when you go in to things. And I think that's a lot of the problem - people went into Twilight thinking it was going to suck because so-and-so said it's gonna suck. It's hard for me to understand how somebody could hate it because, to me, I see this beautiful, wonderful story and I talk to other people and they see this horrible, horrible story and I'm like 'Where are you seeing that? I don't see it!' And I think each story is something different to somebody. The characters that I see and the story that I see are created from my memories and from my views on life. So I'm creating my own story. Yeah, the base is the same, but I'm still creating the story and these characters in my head, and, you know, every detail of every character can't be put into the book and you kind of fill those in with your memories and your thoughts and your characteristics. And the characters I've created for Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are beautiful characters. People say Bella is just a girl who bows down to Edward and doesn't stand up for herself, blah, blah, blah. I don't see that! I see her as a protector, willing to put the people she loves above herself, and I don't think that's a cowardice thing to do. I think it's a heroic thing to do. I know I couldn't do it. I would put myself first. Maybe that makes me the coward. Well, I know it does, but it's true. You could say 'She's no Hermione Granger', but of course she's not! This isn't fucking Harry Potter! Shut the fuck up! Of course she's not Hermione Granger. And people say Edward is overly protective, blah, blah, blah. Well, first of all, yeah, he is a lot creepier and over-protective in the movies. But I think you are over anybody you love. Think of how protective your parents are. You don't think they would do anything to protect you? You don't think they've ever sat there and watched you sleep just because they were amazed by the beauty of your existence? Of course they have! And you also have to realize how fragile Bella seems to him. It's just...I don't know. I don't know how to explain it. You can explain it a million times to people who hate it, but they're still going to hate it because that's how they feel. And that's fine, because you could talk to me a million times about how much it sucks and why it sucks and I would still come back loving it just because I do. I hate bringing Harry Potter into this conversation because it shouldn't even be a thing. I don't compare Twilight to, I don't know, the Hunger Games. I just don't. Because they're 2 separate stories and in 2 separate worlds. There's no point in comparing them. But for some reason, for some stupid fucking reason, Twilight and Harry Potter are always, always put together and compared. I don't get it. For what Harry Potter was for so many people, Twilight is that for me. And I know that's hard for some people to understand. I've just cried sometimes because I missed out on the Harry Potter thing but I can't go back and change that. I can't go back and change my parents' mind. I can't go back and make them let me read Harry Potter, you know? I can't do that! And so I didn't get the Harry Potter experience and it sucks and I hate it, but I did get the Twilight experience and Twilight was that for me. I think to understand why I love Twilight so much, you have to go back and be in my head and in my shoes during the time in which I started reading Twilight. You have to understand that at that point in my life I was a very lonely, very broken girl. I was, you know, I was cutting myself, I was literally on the verge of suicide. Anything could have set me off. I have never in my life been closer to suicide than the time I picked up Twilight. There were a lot of factors that went in to me feeling like that and Twilight got to be this thing where I could escape and I could feel again. And even if I was just feeling the emotions of these characters, I was at least feeling something. You know, because at this point in my life, I wasn't feeling anything except for pain and heartache and sadness and loneliness. And when Twilight came in to my life, I started feeling again and I started feeling with the characters. Maybe that's why I feel like I'm such a part of it. It sounds so cliche, but Twilight kind of saved me. It gave me something to care about, it gave me a reason. You know, and I've heard people say that about Harry Potter, but it's like mine is a joke because it's Twilight. But it's not a joke to me. (I'm taking out about a 2 minute rant about "pretentious assholes, haha) It was there for me. It gave me something to relate to. People say that when Edward left and Bella was so depressed and blah, blah, blah...it described depression so well - that loneliness, that emptiness...I could relate to that. In her, I found a voice, I found a way to describe to the world how I was feeling at that point in my life. I didn't know how to explain how I felt to the people around me and Bella Swan gave me that voice. And you can hate her and say that she was this poorly developed character, but I disagree with you. I will always disagree with you. And if you knew the Bella Swan that I know and love, you wouldn't think that either. Like I said, characters are created by what we bring to them, and if you walk into a book thinking 'This is gonna suck', you're not going to put anything into those characters except for what you see. And the characters that you see when you read a book are incomplete. You have to complete them. To me, it's an amazing book, and I have never seen a movie do a book more justice than that movie. And I do not make it a secret that I am no Kristen Stewart fan and I think that she just killed this character that I love, and in Breaking Dawn she brought that character back to life and made me love her again. It was amazing."
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Reasons To Be Happy
Today was an exceptionally wonderful day, and I thought I'd make a list I can look back at when I'm having a not-so-great day.
1. Woke up early. I always say that I hate waking up early, but whenever I do I feel so much better and I get a lot more done.
2. Took the effort to look decent. I wore my go-to outfit of an oversized sweater and boots. Specifically, I wore plum colored boots, skinny jeans, and a tan sweater. I also added a vintage owl necklace with turquoise eyes that used to be my grandma's.
3. Met up with my best friend. When you don't get to see people as often as you'd like, it sometimes becomes easy to forget all the reasons why you love them. It's always nice to be reminded of those reasons.
4. Went to my favorite restaurant and ordered my favorite meal. With so much pressure in the world to fit into the smallest size possible, it can be easy to look at food as the enemy. Food isn't the enemy, though, and it should definitely be enjoyed (within moderation, of course).
5. Paid for lunch. Having enough money to pay for things can be a trial these days, for sure, but it's really a nice feeling to buy something for someone else on occasion.
6. Went shopping. The term "retail therapy" exists for a reason - sometimes it really does feel nice to buy yourself some nice treats! Today's treats included NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese, eos Lip Balm in sweet mint (which was a gift for my friend), The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, a Great Gatsby bag, and a plush TARDIS which makes noise and lights up (the best buy EVER!). I was very happy to find the TARDIS since I went to Hot Topic and came across a Doctor Who shirt that didn't come in my size and then FYE which was sold out of Doctor Who shirts. I was so excited about the TARDIS! All of the things may seem insignificant and unimportant, but it feels nice to get those things once in a while.
7. Enjoyed the first snowfall of the season. Living in Michigan, I definitely have a love-hate relationship with snow, but the first snowfall is always magical. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives and our jobs and our relationships that we forget to appreciate the simple things in life - like water droplets in the air freezing and then falling to the ground.
8. Came home to my Birchbox. I'm a firm believer in sending yourself packages on occasion. Everyone likes getting gifts and everyone likes getting mail, and packages are like those two combined! One of the reasons I love Birchbox is that I get a gift for myself for only $10 a month - and it's always something I want. With the surprise of not knowing what it is, it makes it even better! It's like Christmas every month! In this month's Birchbox (which I will probably do a separate post about later), I got Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee, BORGHESE Fango Active Mud Face & Body, LaROCCA Champagne and Shimmer Supreme Cremé, Paperdolls Drink Coasters, Zoya nail lacquer in Izzy from their Gems & Jewels Collection, and BaubleBar Black Wood Pop Bracelet. I thought last month's Birchbox was great, but this one just completely topped it. It was incredible! So happy with everything I got! You can sign up for Birchbox by clicking here!
9. Enjoyed the beginning of Harry Potter Marathon Weekend on ABC Family. There's nothing like watching a good movie and getting lost in a world you enjoy. There's also nothing like watching your favorite movies on TV. You can watch them a million times on DVD, but they're always better on TV. It's kind of like when your favorite song comes on the radio.
The point is, even though life can get you down sometimes, you have to remember the good and appreciate the little things.
1. Woke up early. I always say that I hate waking up early, but whenever I do I feel so much better and I get a lot more done.
2. Took the effort to look decent. I wore my go-to outfit of an oversized sweater and boots. Specifically, I wore plum colored boots, skinny jeans, and a tan sweater. I also added a vintage owl necklace with turquoise eyes that used to be my grandma's.
3. Met up with my best friend. When you don't get to see people as often as you'd like, it sometimes becomes easy to forget all the reasons why you love them. It's always nice to be reminded of those reasons.
4. Went to my favorite restaurant and ordered my favorite meal. With so much pressure in the world to fit into the smallest size possible, it can be easy to look at food as the enemy. Food isn't the enemy, though, and it should definitely be enjoyed (within moderation, of course).
5. Paid for lunch. Having enough money to pay for things can be a trial these days, for sure, but it's really a nice feeling to buy something for someone else on occasion.
6. Went shopping. The term "retail therapy" exists for a reason - sometimes it really does feel nice to buy yourself some nice treats! Today's treats included NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese, eos Lip Balm in sweet mint (which was a gift for my friend), The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, a Great Gatsby bag, and a plush TARDIS which makes noise and lights up (the best buy EVER!). I was very happy to find the TARDIS since I went to Hot Topic and came across a Doctor Who shirt that didn't come in my size and then FYE which was sold out of Doctor Who shirts. I was so excited about the TARDIS! All of the things may seem insignificant and unimportant, but it feels nice to get those things once in a while.
7. Enjoyed the first snowfall of the season. Living in Michigan, I definitely have a love-hate relationship with snow, but the first snowfall is always magical. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives and our jobs and our relationships that we forget to appreciate the simple things in life - like water droplets in the air freezing and then falling to the ground.
8. Came home to my Birchbox. I'm a firm believer in sending yourself packages on occasion. Everyone likes getting gifts and everyone likes getting mail, and packages are like those two combined! One of the reasons I love Birchbox is that I get a gift for myself for only $10 a month - and it's always something I want. With the surprise of not knowing what it is, it makes it even better! It's like Christmas every month! In this month's Birchbox (which I will probably do a separate post about later), I got Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee, BORGHESE Fango Active Mud Face & Body, LaROCCA Champagne and Shimmer Supreme Cremé, Paperdolls Drink Coasters, Zoya nail lacquer in Izzy from their Gems & Jewels Collection, and BaubleBar Black Wood Pop Bracelet. I thought last month's Birchbox was great, but this one just completely topped it. It was incredible! So happy with everything I got! You can sign up for Birchbox by clicking here!
9. Enjoyed the beginning of Harry Potter Marathon Weekend on ABC Family. There's nothing like watching a good movie and getting lost in a world you enjoy. There's also nothing like watching your favorite movies on TV. You can watch them a million times on DVD, but they're always better on TV. It's kind of like when your favorite song comes on the radio.
The point is, even though life can get you down sometimes, you have to remember the good and appreciate the little things.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
NaNoWriMo progress (or lack thereof)
I know, I know, I know. I know what's going through your head right now. She's giving up already?! Well, yes and no. Before you laugh at me, let me explain. On the last day of October one of my managers at work quit, following another manager who quit just 3 days before. Those hours (which were a collective 75 hours a week) now fall onto the shoulders of the rest of the employees, me being one of them, until we can find new managers. The one day off I had this week was the last day of October and I have no days off next week, so essentially for the first two weeks (and also into the foreseeable future) I don't get a day off. That is until the third week of November when I have some fairly major dental work happening, which will put me out of commission for at least a day, possibly two. What I'm saying is, until at least the 20th of November, my life will be nothing except work. Well, that's 2/3 of NaNoWriMo just gone out the window. And it sucks. I really love my story and I love my characters and I honestly think it has a lot of potential, but right now I just can't give it the time and commitment that it deserves. And you know what, there are way worse problems to have than "too much" work, so I'm not too sad about this (my feet are another story).
With that being said, what I've decided to do instead is something I've dubbed NaNoReMo (National Novel Reading Month) because as I sat here last night and debated NaNo I realized that I haven't actually finished a book in a long time. I've started a million of them, but then, for some reason, I get busy with something and throw it to the wayside. According to my Good Reads account, which I keep pretty updated, the last book I finished was Mockingjay on January 15, 2011. And, honestly, I'm pretty sure it's right. That means I haven't finished a book in almost a year. A YEAR. I know, it's horrible. Just horrible. And I love reading! I don't know what happened. This year was just so crazy for me I guess. BUT, this will all change during NaNoReMo. I even realized that every single book I purchased during the Austin Teen Book Festival in 2009 has gone unread. This is the list of books I am following for NaNoReMo (I'm not saying I'll finish the list, just that these are books I have to read and want to be part of this):
With that being said, what I've decided to do instead is something I've dubbed NaNoReMo (National Novel Reading Month) because as I sat here last night and debated NaNo I realized that I haven't actually finished a book in a long time. I've started a million of them, but then, for some reason, I get busy with something and throw it to the wayside. According to my Good Reads account, which I keep pretty updated, the last book I finished was Mockingjay on January 15, 2011. And, honestly, I'm pretty sure it's right. That means I haven't finished a book in almost a year. A YEAR. I know, it's horrible. Just horrible. And I love reading! I don't know what happened. This year was just so crazy for me I guess. BUT, this will all change during NaNoReMo. I even realized that every single book I purchased during the Austin Teen Book Festival in 2009 has gone unread. This is the list of books I am following for NaNoReMo (I'm not saying I'll finish the list, just that these are books I have to read and want to be part of this):
1. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (No, I don't want to hear about it. Yes, I've read it before. I want to read it again before the movie. I didn't read any of the other books over before the movie, so I thought I should for at least one of them. It's my last chance to see it in my head like I see it and not how the movie will depict it.)
2. Paper Towns by John Green (Yes, I know that it's horrible that I've never read it. I've owned it for like 3 years, but I've just honestly never read it. I think it's time.)
3. Tips on Having a Gay (ex)Boyfriend by Carrie Jones
4. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
5. The Lovers Dictionary by David Levithan
6. Matched by Ally Condie
7. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
8. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Saturday, October 29, 2011
October Favorites
Ten favorites from the month of October.
- Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep Conditioner
- I came across this deep conditioner a few weeks ago. My hair has been a dry, dull, hot mess since I had a hair color fiasco back in January. I had tried many homemade deep conditioners and hair masks and had also tried out many different store conditioners and shampoos. Nothing seemed to work, though. That is until I came across this product. It's incredible. My hair is almost completely back to how it was before I damaged it. Not to mention that it smells incredible. The best part? It's only $3!
- Laura Geller's Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer (in bronze)
- I always thought that make-up primer was a waste of money. Beauty gurus always raved about so many different ones, but they were all so pricey! I love make-up, but I do not love spending a lot of money. I got this as a sample in my October Birchbox and immediately fell in love. My make-up goes on much easier and it stays on longer. And, since I don't like spending a lot of money on make-up, I was pleased to find out that, although it costs about $30, you get a huge bottle of it. Definitely worth the price.
- Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple body wash
- I had a coupon for a free regular-sized Signature Collection item with any purchase, so me being the cheap person I am, I just bought a travel-sized item in order to get the regular-sized item. For the travel-sized item I bought the Winter Candy Apple body wash. I don't have the words to describe how amazing it smells. It's the perfect blend of sweet, fresh, and holiday scents. I will definitely be going back soon to get the full-size bottle.
- Kelly Clarkson's newest album Stronger
- On the day of this album's release it was only $4.99 on Amazon which is a deal I just can't resist. It's an absolutely brilliant album from start to finish. The title song "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" is one of the best songs I've ever heard. It's no longer $4.99, but, in my opinion, it's worth full-price.
- Befine's Firming Toner with Ginger and Willow Bark
- My love for Befine products is definitely no secret. I've never seen the point in toners, but when I was at Ulta a few weeks ago picking up the Befine Daily Moisturizer, I came across the toner, which I'd seen, but now it was in a double-pack, combined with the Gentle Cleanser for the price of only the toner. So with the power of my love for Befine and my love for great deals, I couldn't pass it up. Definitely a purchase I don't regret. The toner is amazing. It's made with ginger so it almost feels like you're rubbing a very clean (and sugar-free) version of Ginger Ale on your face. It gives a fresh, tingly feeling that I just love.
- Harvest Pumpkin Cookies
- I got this recipe from my friend Angie and, since we basically enjoy all of the same things, I figured I would enjoy these. And, let me tell you, I definitely did. So good. I've already made them once and I'm about to spend the rest of my night making them again. They're super-easy and also super-delicious.
- OPI's Fair Dinkum Pinkum Nail Lacquer
- I found this nail polish in my collection and I have zero memory of how or when I got it, but I'm so glad I found it. When you look at it in the bottle it looks like a pretty boring pale pink, but when you put it on you realize it's this incredibly beautiful nude-ish pink with hints of sparkle. I say sparkle instead of glitter because I think there's a huge difference, and this definitely has sparkle, not glitter. It has definitely become my new favorite, taking the spot from Sally Hansen's Slick Slate.
- Bioré Self-Heating Mask
- This mask is perfect for relaxing, especially as it starts to get colder outside. The heat in it feels amazing. Not to mention it smells amazing and makes your face feel super clean afterwards.
- Doctor Who
- After almost 2 years of being a self-proclaimed Doctor Who-hater, I finally started liking it. I had tried watching Doctor Who many, many times. I'd even watched almost the entire first season, but I hated it so much, but it seemed to be overtaking the world and almost all of my friends were watching it and I was like "Okay, well, there must be something good about it if all of these people I respect like it". It definitely took me at least another whole season to finally get into it, but once I did there was no turning back. I even joked with my friends not to let me turn into "one of those annoying Doctor Who fans I hate". Well, they didn't hold up their end of that bargain because I am definitely one of those fans now. I have no regrets though. So, so, so, so, SO glad I finally gave it another chance.
- How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide by Howard Mittelmark
- I'll be starting NaNoWriMo on Monday so I've been reading this to help me get ready. I've owned the book for about 4 years now, but I had never actually read it. It's incredibly useful. I enjoy how it doesn't tell you what TO do, but instead tells you what NOT to do, which works much better, because there isn't really a formula for writing a bestseller, but there are definitely things you can do to make sure your novel won't be a bestseller. Highly recommend this to anyone who 1) wants to write and/or 2) is doing NaNoWriMo.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Beauty & Fashion Challenge
1. You with makeup on:
Honestly it's 3:30 in the morning. You're not getting that out of me now. I'm sure I'll post a picture at some point.
2. Your favorite bag that you own:
This one, which I bought at Wet Seal about 2 years ago on clearance for less than $5. And since it was part of their Buy 1, Get 1 for a Penny sale, I got another purse which is equally as cute for just a penny more. One of my best purchases ever.
3. Your hairstyle:
I don't often do much with my hair. After I get out of the shower, I wrap my hair up in a towel and let it dry that way for 5-10 minutes, then I take it out and let it air dry for another 5-10 minutes. At this point my hair is damp, but not soaking wet. I then use my Orofluido Elixr Hair Serum. It is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I rub a pea-size amount between my hands, and then run it through my hair, especially focusing on the ends of my hair and avoiding the roots. I then blow-dry my hair upside down until it's completely dry. After that I just flip it over, part it to the side and I'm done. Occasionally I will add in my Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Shine Spray for a little extra shine, but not every day. For hairspray, on the occasional day I do use it, I switch between Aussie's Sun-Touched Hi-Hold + Hi-Shine Hairspray, Got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Hairspray, and Aussie's Catch the Wave Sprunch Hairspray.
4. Your favorite foundation:
I swear by Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse foundation. I've used it for at least the last 5 years. It's inexpensive and the coverage is fantastic.
5. An outfit that is totally you:
I'm very much just a jeans and sweater or cardigan girl. I don't think that requires a picture.
6. Your favorite makeup brand:
I suppose Maybelline since I wear their foundation and mascara, although I don't actually care that much. The only brand I really care about when it comes to beauty products is Befine, but they don't make makeup (yet!).
7. Your Favorite item of clothing:
My oversized sweater that I got from where I work. I'd show you a picture, but I don't want to make it obvious where I work. Just trust me, it's adorable.
8. A photo of you getting fashion wrong:
Skipping? Haha
9. Your favorite pair of shoes
A pair of dark purple boots that I just bought a couple days ago. So cute!
10. Current fashion/style you like:
Oversized sweaters, jeans, and boots! I've been wearing it every day.
11. Bag you want to have:
I don't need any more bags. I have like 20. Trying to cut back, haha.
12. Your favorite color of clothing:
I've been noticing that I tend to go for blacks and grays a lot. I really need to stop that.
13. Photo of your fashion/style icon:I honestly don't have one.
14. Photo of a hairstyle/haircut you'd like to have:I am a-okay with what I have :)
15. Your favorite piece of jewelry:
Well, I just bought these earrings at Forever 21 a couple weeks ago and I LOVE them. The color on them is actually much more vibrant in person and they're also bigger than they look. They're perfect for fall and SO cheap.
16. A celebrity whose fashion you don't like:
I honestly don't pay attention to the fashion of celebrities enough to care whether or not I like a certain person's style or not.
17. Fashion pieces on your to-buy list:Well those purple boots have been on the list for a month or so, so I guess I need to make a new list :)
18. Your favorite beauty guru:
MissGlamorazzi, by far.
19. Your favorite look from a beauty expert:
I quite enjoy this fall makeup tutorial from MissGlamorazzi. I've been wearing it almost everyday.
20. Your favorite mascara:
Maybelline's Falsies Mascara in blackest black. I swear by it. I occasionally do use blinc Mascara too.
21. Your favorite lipstick:
Maybelline ColorSensational in Pink Satin (120).
22. Your beauty tips for a big night out:
Statement lipstick :)
23. Your best bargain makeup item:Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania Loose Eyeshadow in Mink ($2.99 @ Ulta), and this e.l.f. palette. It's only $9.99 and has some of the best eye shadows I've ever used. Whoever said that expensive was better, never tried this palette.
24. Your new favorite beauty product:
Befine's Firming Toner.
25. Your daily beauty routine:Morning - I use Befine's Gentle Cleanser to wash my face (1-2 times per week I replace it with Befine's Exfoliating Cleanser). I follow it up with Befine's Firming Toner and Befine's Daily Moisturizer. For makeup, I start with Laura Geller's Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Bronze, I follow that with Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse foundation, and then set it with Mary Kay's Mineral Powder Foundation. For eyes I use Mary Kay's Cream Eye Color in Vanilla (discontinued color, although Beach Blonde is similar). I then use a mixture from my e.l.f. palette, followed by my Maybelline's Falsies Mascara. I also usually use Estee Lauder's Signature Silky Powder Blush in Pink Kiss.
Evening: For washing my face, I follow the same routine as the morning and then I follow it up with Befine's Night Cream instead of the Daily Moisturizer.
26. An item from your wishlist:Befine's Cooling Peel-off Mask. Can you tell I like Befine?
27. Your favorite skincare product:Befine's Exfoliating Cleanser, hands down. The BEST skincare product out there and it isn't used by NEARLY enough people. It smells incredible, is moisturizing, and makes your face so smooth and soft.
28. Top beauty item you can't live without:That'd be Befine's Exfoliating Cleanser. I honestly really love it.
29. Photo of a makeup look you would love to try out:
I'm game for anything. And it's 3:30 in the morning and I don't feel like looking for something, haha.
30. Your favorite nail polish:OPI's Fair Dinkum Pinkum. It's a very nude-ish pink nail polish. It's subtle but also makes a nice girly statement with little hints of glitter.
Honestly it's 3:30 in the morning. You're not getting that out of me now. I'm sure I'll post a picture at some point.
2. Your favorite bag that you own:
This one, which I bought at Wet Seal about 2 years ago on clearance for less than $5. And since it was part of their Buy 1, Get 1 for a Penny sale, I got another purse which is equally as cute for just a penny more. One of my best purchases ever.
3. Your hairstyle:
I don't often do much with my hair. After I get out of the shower, I wrap my hair up in a towel and let it dry that way for 5-10 minutes, then I take it out and let it air dry for another 5-10 minutes. At this point my hair is damp, but not soaking wet. I then use my Orofluido Elixr Hair Serum. It is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I rub a pea-size amount between my hands, and then run it through my hair, especially focusing on the ends of my hair and avoiding the roots. I then blow-dry my hair upside down until it's completely dry. After that I just flip it over, part it to the side and I'm done. Occasionally I will add in my Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Shine Spray for a little extra shine, but not every day. For hairspray, on the occasional day I do use it, I switch between Aussie's Sun-Touched Hi-Hold + Hi-Shine Hairspray, Got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Hairspray, and Aussie's Catch the Wave Sprunch Hairspray.
4. Your favorite foundation:
I swear by Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse foundation. I've used it for at least the last 5 years. It's inexpensive and the coverage is fantastic.
5. An outfit that is totally you:
I'm very much just a jeans and sweater or cardigan girl. I don't think that requires a picture.
6. Your favorite makeup brand:
I suppose Maybelline since I wear their foundation and mascara, although I don't actually care that much. The only brand I really care about when it comes to beauty products is Befine, but they don't make makeup (yet!).
7. Your Favorite item of clothing:
My oversized sweater that I got from where I work. I'd show you a picture, but I don't want to make it obvious where I work. Just trust me, it's adorable.
8. A photo of you getting fashion wrong:
Skipping? Haha
9. Your favorite pair of shoes
A pair of dark purple boots that I just bought a couple days ago. So cute!
10. Current fashion/style you like:
Oversized sweaters, jeans, and boots! I've been wearing it every day.
11. Bag you want to have:
I don't need any more bags. I have like 20. Trying to cut back, haha.
12. Your favorite color of clothing:
I've been noticing that I tend to go for blacks and grays a lot. I really need to stop that.
13. Photo of your fashion/style icon:I honestly don't have one.
14. Photo of a hairstyle/haircut you'd like to have:I am a-okay with what I have :)
15. Your favorite piece of jewelry:
Well, I just bought these earrings at Forever 21 a couple weeks ago and I LOVE them. The color on them is actually much more vibrant in person and they're also bigger than they look. They're perfect for fall and SO cheap.
16. A celebrity whose fashion you don't like:
I honestly don't pay attention to the fashion of celebrities enough to care whether or not I like a certain person's style or not.
17. Fashion pieces on your to-buy list:Well those purple boots have been on the list for a month or so, so I guess I need to make a new list :)
18. Your favorite beauty guru:
MissGlamorazzi, by far.
19. Your favorite look from a beauty expert:
I quite enjoy this fall makeup tutorial from MissGlamorazzi. I've been wearing it almost everyday.
20. Your favorite mascara:
Maybelline's Falsies Mascara in blackest black. I swear by it. I occasionally do use blinc Mascara too.
21. Your favorite lipstick:
Maybelline ColorSensational in Pink Satin (120).
22. Your beauty tips for a big night out:
Statement lipstick :)
23. Your best bargain makeup item:Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania Loose Eyeshadow in Mink ($2.99 @ Ulta), and this e.l.f. palette. It's only $9.99 and has some of the best eye shadows I've ever used. Whoever said that expensive was better, never tried this palette.
24. Your new favorite beauty product:
Befine's Firming Toner.
25. Your daily beauty routine:Morning - I use Befine's Gentle Cleanser to wash my face (1-2 times per week I replace it with Befine's Exfoliating Cleanser). I follow it up with Befine's Firming Toner and Befine's Daily Moisturizer. For makeup, I start with Laura Geller's Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Bronze, I follow that with Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse foundation, and then set it with Mary Kay's Mineral Powder Foundation. For eyes I use Mary Kay's Cream Eye Color in Vanilla (discontinued color, although Beach Blonde is similar). I then use a mixture from my e.l.f. palette, followed by my Maybelline's Falsies Mascara. I also usually use Estee Lauder's Signature Silky Powder Blush in Pink Kiss.
Evening: For washing my face, I follow the same routine as the morning and then I follow it up with Befine's Night Cream instead of the Daily Moisturizer.
26. An item from your wishlist:Befine's Cooling Peel-off Mask. Can you tell I like Befine?
27. Your favorite skincare product:Befine's Exfoliating Cleanser, hands down. The BEST skincare product out there and it isn't used by NEARLY enough people. It smells incredible, is moisturizing, and makes your face so smooth and soft.
28. Top beauty item you can't live without:That'd be Befine's Exfoliating Cleanser. I honestly really love it.
29. Photo of a makeup look you would love to try out:
I'm game for anything. And it's 3:30 in the morning and I don't feel like looking for something, haha.
30. Your favorite nail polish:OPI's Fair Dinkum Pinkum. It's a very nude-ish pink nail polish. It's subtle but also makes a nice girly statement with little hints of glitter.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
NaNoWriMo Challenge
I just had a sudden realization that NaNoWriMo begins in just a couple weeks and I am nowhere near ready. Wasn't it 2 months away just yesterday? Well, shit. Anyway, I thought I would do the NaNoWriMo 30 Day Challenge in preparation for the big day. I'm going to be doing it all at once though because God knows I'll never actually finish it if I spread it out over the remaining days. I found this when searching NaNoWriMo stuff on the Internet and thought it'd be interesting even though I don't have answers to all the questions yet.
1. Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before? If so, which years and what was the end result?
I sort of participated last year. I quit about a week or so into it because it was coming up on finals for my sophomore year of college and it was just too much stress and way too time consuming. I'm sure NaNoWriMo is possible in college, but not for me! Luckily I'm taking this semester off so I don't have that as an excuse this year.
2. What's the title of your story? Why did you choose the name you did?
I haven't picked out a title. I'm don't really think you should pick a title before you even begin writing it. Things can change. I don't know where my story will go yet so I don't want to jump the gun and give it a name that may not properly represent it.
3. Pick one of your female characters. Introduce your readers to her from here point of view and her words only.
"Hi, I am an as-of-yet unnamed character because my author is a lazy piece of shit who hasn't really planned enough shit out yet."
4. What genre is your novel? Why did you pick it?
I would say it's a bit futuristic, a bit sci-fi, a bit romance...It's a lot of things. I don't know why I picked it. It's kind of everything I never thought I'd ever write about.
5. Name two songs that you feel are connected with your novel, and, if you like, explain how they are.
I honestly don't really listen to or get inspired by music while writing, so...
6. What is your one biggest stressor related to forcing yourself to write at least 50,000 words in a span of 30 days?
I'm lazy. I mean, that's just the honest truth. There are a million things I'd rather do than the things I have to do. If I have to do something, something else always seems a lot more interesting.
7. Where's your favorite place to hunker down and write?
My bedroom.
8. List your current, most up-to-date word count.
Clearly this is meant for after NaNo has started....
9. Have you told anyone else you're doing NaNo this year? Who? What was their reaction?
Just online people. And considering they're pretty much all doing it too, I guess it wasn't much of a reaction at all.
10. How does your love of writing manifest in non-NaNo months?
It doesn't really. I'm trying to rekindle my love with writing.
11. Ever tried collaborative writing?
No.
12. Imagine you're behind in your word count goals and are going to pull an all-nighter to catch up. Screencap a playlist of inspirational music you would use to get you up to speed.
LOL no.
13. Name a male character from your novel.
Well, I haven't officially landed on a name for him, but I'm thinking about Valik. Like I said, it's futuristic so I'm kind of going for weird names. The name means "choice" and that's the main theme of the book.
14. Is the sexuality of your characters a large part of your novel's story? If so, are there characters who deviate from the heterosexual "norm"? In what way?
It's basically the central theme. There are characters, but I'm not going to say who or how as it will give away a large part of the story :)
15. Do any of your characters have a disability or mental illness?
Not as of yet, no, and I don't believe they will.
16. What else do you have going on in your life, and just how much are you shafting it to win NaNo?
Mostly just work and not nearly enough of it, so I'm pretty much all set.
17. In what time period is your novel set? Is it in this world or another?
It's sometime, many, many years in the future, although I haven't actually decided on a specific year. It's semi-irrelevant to the story. It's in this world.
18. Who is the antagonist in your novel? What drives their actions?
I would say that at least the main antagonist is not a person at all. You could say it's the main female character, but that's pushing it a little. I would say the antagonist is the issue they're dealing with, which I can't really explain more without giving way too much, but, I swear, it makes sense!
19. Which authors or books have inspired your own writing the most, and why?
I would say probably John Green. He just writes so honestly and connects with you on such a deep level, it leaves the story and characters inside of you. It's wonderful.
20. If you could meet one fictional character from any book you've ever read, who would it be, and why?
Dexter from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen. He was the very first character I ever fell in love with and that book is the reason I love reading so much now.
21. What are your plans and goals for your novel?
Well, I'm not sure. I really just want to finish it.
22. If you've participated in or won NaNo before, what happened to your other novel efforts?
Saved somewhere on a flash drive. I don't even remember what it was about anymore!
23. Do animals play any part in your story? If so, how do they add to it?
No.
24. Is religion featured in your novel at all? If so, which ones? If it's/they're your own creations, describe it/them and how it/they play(s) a part in your characters' lives.
I haven't decided. It will either play a HUGE role in the story or none at all. I can't decide which way I want it to go. I know, I know, I should really decide.
25. What are the names of at least two of your main characters? How did you choose their names?
Well, I think one of the main characters will be named Valik. I'm not 100% on board with it yet, but I do like it. The other main character... I really haven't decided yet. She might not get named til the end, haha.
26. Was any research involved (historical or otherwise) in your NaNo prep?
Well, I'm sure some will be but I haven't done it yet. OOPS.
27. What's your would count now?
Shut up.
28. Irrelevant so I'm skipping.
29. Irrelevant.
30. Share a link to either your NaNo profile or a location on the Internet where your story can be found.
Well the NaNo website appears to be different and I haven't quite figured it out yet, so....
1. Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before? If so, which years and what was the end result?
I sort of participated last year. I quit about a week or so into it because it was coming up on finals for my sophomore year of college and it was just too much stress and way too time consuming. I'm sure NaNoWriMo is possible in college, but not for me! Luckily I'm taking this semester off so I don't have that as an excuse this year.
2. What's the title of your story? Why did you choose the name you did?
I haven't picked out a title. I'm don't really think you should pick a title before you even begin writing it. Things can change. I don't know where my story will go yet so I don't want to jump the gun and give it a name that may not properly represent it.
3. Pick one of your female characters. Introduce your readers to her from here point of view and her words only.
"Hi, I am an as-of-yet unnamed character because my author is a lazy piece of shit who hasn't really planned enough shit out yet."
4. What genre is your novel? Why did you pick it?
I would say it's a bit futuristic, a bit sci-fi, a bit romance...It's a lot of things. I don't know why I picked it. It's kind of everything I never thought I'd ever write about.
5. Name two songs that you feel are connected with your novel, and, if you like, explain how they are.
I honestly don't really listen to or get inspired by music while writing, so...
6. What is your one biggest stressor related to forcing yourself to write at least 50,000 words in a span of 30 days?
I'm lazy. I mean, that's just the honest truth. There are a million things I'd rather do than the things I have to do. If I have to do something, something else always seems a lot more interesting.
7. Where's your favorite place to hunker down and write?
My bedroom.
8. List your current, most up-to-date word count.
Clearly this is meant for after NaNo has started....
9. Have you told anyone else you're doing NaNo this year? Who? What was their reaction?
Just online people. And considering they're pretty much all doing it too, I guess it wasn't much of a reaction at all.
10. How does your love of writing manifest in non-NaNo months?
It doesn't really. I'm trying to rekindle my love with writing.
11. Ever tried collaborative writing?
No.
12. Imagine you're behind in your word count goals and are going to pull an all-nighter to catch up. Screencap a playlist of inspirational music you would use to get you up to speed.
LOL no.
13. Name a male character from your novel.
Well, I haven't officially landed on a name for him, but I'm thinking about Valik. Like I said, it's futuristic so I'm kind of going for weird names. The name means "choice" and that's the main theme of the book.
14. Is the sexuality of your characters a large part of your novel's story? If so, are there characters who deviate from the heterosexual "norm"? In what way?
It's basically the central theme. There are characters, but I'm not going to say who or how as it will give away a large part of the story :)
15. Do any of your characters have a disability or mental illness?
Not as of yet, no, and I don't believe they will.
16. What else do you have going on in your life, and just how much are you shafting it to win NaNo?
Mostly just work and not nearly enough of it, so I'm pretty much all set.
17. In what time period is your novel set? Is it in this world or another?
It's sometime, many, many years in the future, although I haven't actually decided on a specific year. It's semi-irrelevant to the story. It's in this world.
18. Who is the antagonist in your novel? What drives their actions?
I would say that at least the main antagonist is not a person at all. You could say it's the main female character, but that's pushing it a little. I would say the antagonist is the issue they're dealing with, which I can't really explain more without giving way too much, but, I swear, it makes sense!
19. Which authors or books have inspired your own writing the most, and why?
I would say probably John Green. He just writes so honestly and connects with you on such a deep level, it leaves the story and characters inside of you. It's wonderful.
20. If you could meet one fictional character from any book you've ever read, who would it be, and why?
Dexter from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen. He was the very first character I ever fell in love with and that book is the reason I love reading so much now.
21. What are your plans and goals for your novel?
Well, I'm not sure. I really just want to finish it.
22. If you've participated in or won NaNo before, what happened to your other novel efforts?
Saved somewhere on a flash drive. I don't even remember what it was about anymore!
23. Do animals play any part in your story? If so, how do they add to it?
No.
24. Is religion featured in your novel at all? If so, which ones? If it's/they're your own creations, describe it/them and how it/they play(s) a part in your characters' lives.
I haven't decided. It will either play a HUGE role in the story or none at all. I can't decide which way I want it to go. I know, I know, I should really decide.
25. What are the names of at least two of your main characters? How did you choose their names?
Well, I think one of the main characters will be named Valik. I'm not 100% on board with it yet, but I do like it. The other main character... I really haven't decided yet. She might not get named til the end, haha.
26. Was any research involved (historical or otherwise) in your NaNo prep?
Well, I'm sure some will be but I haven't done it yet. OOPS.
27. What's your would count now?
Shut up.
28. Irrelevant so I'm skipping.
29. Irrelevant.
30. Share a link to either your NaNo profile or a location on the Internet where your story can be found.
Well the NaNo website appears to be different and I haven't quite figured it out yet, so....
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Choosing a College Major
I chose to write this post for two reasons. 1) It's been a long time since I wrote a blog post and I clearly bombed the 30 Day Challenge in September, and 2) I'm having a pretty difficult time deciding on a major and I thought this might be a way to help me decide.
I'm basically torn between 3 different areas of study - child development/teaching, graphic design/photography, and political science. The reasons why I'm drawn to each of these areas of study are completely different, thus making it even more difficult.
I've been saying since just after I started college that child development was what I wanted to study. After working at a summer camp with children for the past few summers I realized how much I truly loved working with kids. I later added a teaching degree on to it just for good measure and job security. I can still do the other things I wanted that have nothing to do with teaching, but I could teach if it came down to it.
Graphic design/photography is something that's always interested me. My dad's a professional photographer and owns a photography company, so it's something that I've always enjoyed and been surrounded by. When I really think "Hey, if you had to wake up tomorrow and whatever you did was what you had to do for the rest of your life, what would you do?" And I think the answer is that I would open up Photoshop and start designing. I'm not very good at it, but that's the whole point of studying it, isn't it? Not to mention, it's not like I couldn't take over the family business if I wanted... I mean, I don't think it is something I'd want, but it's an idea.
Political science is the major I wrote on my first application to college and it's the major I went in to college to study. Politics and government are some of my favorite things in the world. I know a lot of people hate anything to do with politics, but I just love it.
Here's the problem, though...I let fear run my life and it's the reason I can't decide what I want to do. If I could just wipe away the fear and the doubt and the "That's too hard, you can't do it"'s out of my head, I know the answer would be sitting clear in front of me. Is it smart to make a choice about what you want to do with your life based on how easy you think it'll be to find a job in 10 years? Or is that smart? I don't know, but the fear that I won't be able to find a job in whatever area I study is absolutely terrifying to me. I'm scared that if I choose graphic design/photography I'll sit at my computer all day and gain 300 pounds. I'm scared that I'm too shy to be involved in government, even the backseat of government. I'm scared that I won't get the hang of graphic design and I'll get angry and give up. I'm scared that I'll hate having to get up super early every day for child development/teaching and start hating my job and resenting the kids. I'm scared that if I major in political science I'll have no choice but the move to Washington, DC, which has always been a dream place for me, but I also don't want to be stuck there, and I'm not necessarily interested in city or state government. I'm scared that I'll make the wrong decision and I'll be so far in debt that I'll have no choice but to work my ass off at a job I hate to pay for the schooling that got me there.
And if I take all of that fear away, what do I have left? What is it that I want to do? If I stop worrying about the money or the location or the difficulty or any of that, if I just ask myself "What do you want to do?", what do I have left? I think the answer might be graphic design, but let me know what you think.
I'm basically torn between 3 different areas of study - child development/teaching, graphic design/photography, and political science. The reasons why I'm drawn to each of these areas of study are completely different, thus making it even more difficult.
I've been saying since just after I started college that child development was what I wanted to study. After working at a summer camp with children for the past few summers I realized how much I truly loved working with kids. I later added a teaching degree on to it just for good measure and job security. I can still do the other things I wanted that have nothing to do with teaching, but I could teach if it came down to it.
Graphic design/photography is something that's always interested me. My dad's a professional photographer and owns a photography company, so it's something that I've always enjoyed and been surrounded by. When I really think "Hey, if you had to wake up tomorrow and whatever you did was what you had to do for the rest of your life, what would you do?" And I think the answer is that I would open up Photoshop and start designing. I'm not very good at it, but that's the whole point of studying it, isn't it? Not to mention, it's not like I couldn't take over the family business if I wanted... I mean, I don't think it is something I'd want, but it's an idea.
Political science is the major I wrote on my first application to college and it's the major I went in to college to study. Politics and government are some of my favorite things in the world. I know a lot of people hate anything to do with politics, but I just love it.
Here's the problem, though...I let fear run my life and it's the reason I can't decide what I want to do. If I could just wipe away the fear and the doubt and the "That's too hard, you can't do it"'s out of my head, I know the answer would be sitting clear in front of me. Is it smart to make a choice about what you want to do with your life based on how easy you think it'll be to find a job in 10 years? Or is that smart? I don't know, but the fear that I won't be able to find a job in whatever area I study is absolutely terrifying to me. I'm scared that if I choose graphic design/photography I'll sit at my computer all day and gain 300 pounds. I'm scared that I'm too shy to be involved in government, even the backseat of government. I'm scared that I won't get the hang of graphic design and I'll get angry and give up. I'm scared that I'll hate having to get up super early every day for child development/teaching and start hating my job and resenting the kids. I'm scared that if I major in political science I'll have no choice but the move to Washington, DC, which has always been a dream place for me, but I also don't want to be stuck there, and I'm not necessarily interested in city or state government. I'm scared that I'll make the wrong decision and I'll be so far in debt that I'll have no choice but to work my ass off at a job I hate to pay for the schooling that got me there.
And if I take all of that fear away, what do I have left? What is it that I want to do? If I stop worrying about the money or the location or the difficulty or any of that, if I just ask myself "What do you want to do?", what do I have left? I think the answer might be graphic design, but let me know what you think.
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