Keep Moving Forward

OH WHAT GLORIOUS DAY

*~*THIS IS MY 50TH POST*~*

CELEBRATION!!!!

That was more for me than anything, but it seems like a pretty big deal to me. I'm amazed I've stuck with this thing for so long. And if anyone is reading this, I hope I don't bore you with all my interests and weird facts/thoughts.

In any case, today's post is not about it being big number 50, but instead about another of my favorite things. This time it's a movie. One of my absolute favorite Disney movies in fact. If you've seen it, you'll hopefully know "Keep Moving Forward" is a quote from the fabulous...

Meet the Robinsons.

It's really hard to do these posts without spoilers. Even though it's a pretty old movie, chances are there are still tons of people who haven't seen it. And while I realize the chances of them stumbling upon this blog are basically slim to none, I'm never going to risk that possibility.

Nonetheless, I'm still gonna take a crack at talking about how much I love this film.

First off it's a great family movie (for families/about family) so there were some really wonderfully cute moments. Plus with this being from Disney, there was obviously a bit of adult directed humor thrown in as well (love going back to the movies of my childhood and finding those gems). The animation (even for that time) was fantastic - the style they chose fit the movie's theme so well.

And I guess the reason I keep going back and watching Meet the Robinsons again and again is the beautiful message it sends in the end. This is where my title quote comes in.

"Keep Moving Forward" is a theme that comes up multiple times in the film and at times it doesn't make sense, but by the end the viewer is truly able to understand the meaning (within the film as well as their own lives).

It's also made known in the credits that Walt Disney himself was the one who came up with the phrase "Keep Moving Forward."

The gist of what I got from is it goes something like this.... No matter the mistakes you've made, they are now in the past and you need to keep moving forward, keep learning, and never give up because how else will you achieve what you want to?

...be it happiness, success, a family, love...

So yeah....and now I've made myself emotional....

I just wanted to share that with you; and maybe it was something you really needed to hear. If that's so, I'm glad to have helped. Now it's your turn to go with this message of hope and pass it on to others.

Find the beauty in your life and have a glorious day every day.

Much love from me.

See you again soon. ♥

Man, that Suit is WICKED Cool!

I really love to talk about books. I also love to get other people reading and talking about books. This is one of the big reasons I like to plug for some of my favorite series.
The title of today's post is legitimately a quote from one of such series - that being Pendragon.

I know I've mentioned this guy in a previous post, so hopefully you remember that. If not I'll try to give a quick synopsis.

Pendragon chronicles the adventures of Bobby Pendragon and his quest to save Halla over the course of 10 books. What the fuck is Halla you may be thinking? As explained in the book, Halla is everything - all worlds past, present, and future. In the first book Bobby finds out he's Second Earth's Traveler. Travelers are people who can use the flumes to move between the 10 worlds.

Honestly that's just the beginning and if it sounds weird that's because it kinda is. If you're not into the fantasy genre, Pendragon is not for you. But if you are, you should really check it out. The writing style is somewhat juvenile - but the author (D.J. MacHale) is writing from Bobby's perspective - and these books chronicle his life from 14-18 years old.
I just have to take some time to give MacHale heaping amounts of credit for his work with this series. The time it must have taken to come up with this idea and to successfully create and intermingle 10 distinct worlds with their own histories and cultures and so many details.....it blows my mind!

Not all of the books are magnificent, but as a whole, the series is literary gold. Exhibit A: the aforementioned quote. Exhibit B: (can be found in the second book) crazy silly words that are really fun to say like 'sniggers' and 'Hobey ho!'

Safe to say this series fits my tastes very well.
Regardless, there is an element of lameness that comes right alongside it's awesome levels. Personally, I believe they meld quite well and neither really outweighs the other...but for me the fact that it's lame (and it works) makes it that much more awesome.

ANYWHOOOO.....back to shamelessly plugging....

Check out the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale!!!!

Fat Kids Unite!

I'm calling out to any and all fat kids in the world. And if you're not sure that you are one, you're about to find out. Do you like good food? Do you like eating good food? Do you like how you feel after you eat good food? Are you possessive of your food? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, you're probably a fat kid. And I say unto you, welcome to paradise. :)

There is such a ridiculous amount of potential tangents with this post since it's so broad. I mean, food. The possibilities are really endless here. However, I'm going to try to limit myself to just a few topics: good food, bad food, tastes/preferences, tips/tricks, and learning to cook. If that still seems like a lot that's because it is. I'll try though to keep it a decent length (I seem to say that a lot).

Good food. What qualifies as good food? Well it's different to each person - going back to tastes and preferences - but I think some things are just universal. Same goes for bad food.
Attributes of food enjoyed universally = sweet, salty (sometimes together), savory, sour (different kinds depending on location), gooey/melty, and it could just be an American thing - but who says it should be - FRIED.
Attributes of food disliked universally (or nearly) = spoiled, rotten, spicy (also a regional thing).
I mean, seriously, I watch Bizarre Foods (hosted by a Minnesotan BTW), I know there's basically no truly universally disliked flavor - it's almost guaranteed that there's some culture that enjoys something others may find disgusting.

And it's all about tastes and preferences!!

My own are pretty standard for a southern Minnesotan gal raised in a German/Irish family. If it's cheesy, boozy, meaty, greasy, sugary, flaky, or just fantastic in any way (meaning FRIED), I will eat it all day any day.

Frozen things are easy to eat, just about anything microwavable is feasible, pre-made things too = tips for easy eating! Haha jk but also kinda seriously. #DUDEIGOTOCOLLEGE

"Anyone can cook" - Ratatouille. Well, if you take the time to learn...or spend time with your mother in the kitchen as a child!!!!!!! I learned to cook the same way I learned to do laundry - I asked my mother.

**and now I feel like Norman Bates**

Awkward pause....and that's all I've got folks!!

Post again soon (hopefully) and please please please comment!! <3

Kick It!

College makes doing life things pretty difficult - between classes, homework, and trying to get some sleep, there isn't much time left to do things for the hell of it....including blogging.

Oddly enough, that isn't even the point I was trying to make there - I was referring to other, more "pressing" things.

Things that people tend to push off because 'there's always time for it later.'

Figure out what I mean yet?

I am, of course, talking about bucket lists! Even if not everyone has a true, written out bucket list, they at least have a few things that qualify....things they want to accomplish before they kick the bucket. It's a universal concept....needing to fulfill dreams before dying - however one feels they would achieve that ambiguous concept...

So...I guess I can start with a few tips for actually making a bucket list if you don't yet have one.

1. Start small - not everything on your list needs to be insanely expensive, time-consuming, or complicated. Even the little things matter - it is the little things that define us, after all.

2. Write it down - we've all had those moments where a great idea hits us in the face, but is soon forgotten. If you make a tangible list for each item when you first think of it, that sad moment won't happen to you.

3. Think outside the box - some of the best goals you complete may end up being the most random! If it seems crazy, DEFINITELY write it down.

4. Read other people's lists - I'll admit it, my own list is pretty short right now, cause I've just gotten stuck on ideas. By reading other's lists, you can get a fresh perspective, and while not necessarily taking their goals as your own, be inspired to find more for yourself.

There are tons of other tips out there, but these are the ones that have stuck out to me the most.

Now, the hard part....actually completing your list. No matter how big, scary, and daunting it seems to you, you can't be afraid to start crossing things off. You've gotta start somewhere, they shouldn't all be difficult, and you do have a lifetime to complete it. Start with the smaller items, (but don't do them all right away) and maybe the ones you'd rather not do at 60. Life is a crazy journey and you never know what items you may run into on a 'regular' day.

I would be a terrible person for writing about bucket lists and not telling at least a couple of what's on my own...so here's a few:

#3 Visit Italy

#8 Go to ComicCon

#15 Go on a cruise

#26 Write a book

#30 Attend a red carpet event

My list isn't too extensive yet, but I have so much time to add on to it.

And you've got so much time for your list too! So get out there and do it! Finish that list before you kick the bucket so you can kick it hard!!!

MUCH LOVE <3

Deafeningly Fantastic

College makes blogging things hard; still, I suck. Done commenting on my rare postings.

This week we will be discussing a topic that involves plenty of noise. Get it yet?

CONCERTS! *also known widely as shows*

Hopefully everyone in the world cares enough about music, or at least a certain variation of it, to have been to at least one of these fantastic things. If not...well....why not!? Music is so essential to life its ridiculous! *if there is a valid reason...my apologies...I am moving on*

Okay...shows/concerts. Why is it they are so damn wonderful? Easy answers include loving the band, being in such close proximity to music that has changed lives, meeting other people who share a great taste in music, etc. etc.

Basically, music just means a lot to us human beings.

Now, I do not to brag, but I have seen my fair share of live performances. I've been to 2 different festivals, one of them I attended 3 times; I have also been to 3 singular shows.

Sonshine just so happens to be a 4 day, camping Christian music festival. Contrary to popular belief, that does not mean it's a terrible thing - I did attend 3 times. First of all, there are some Christian rock bands that are very popular, and it isn't widely known they are, in fact, Christian. Write This Down, Family Force 5, and The Fray just to name a couple. Secondly, it was my first real experience attending shows and it taught me a lot. Therefore, always proud of Sonshine.

The other festival is the oh so classic Vans Warped Tour (2014) in Shakopee, MN. I don't know why exactly, but this one didn't quite live up to expectations. Maybe that's what happens when you really only go to see one band and your friend doesn't share the same music taste as you. *the band was Mayday Parade by the way*

My first single show was Skillet (Yes, the Christian rock band. Shut up.) And the openers were The Letter Black and Hawk Nelson. My group (Yes, church group. Shut up.) wasn't very close, but I will still always remember it.

The next show I attended was Throw the Fight at my local venue. There were tons of precursors, mostly all small name, but I was mainly just there for TTF. Still, I learned not to hate on opening acts cause that's how EVERYONE started. TTF will be always be one of my fondest memories.

The other single show I attended was for my friend (the Warped Tour friend) and I honestly can't even remember who we saw. All I remember was we left early.

Okay, so that's my (limited) experience. There are still tons of shows I'd love to see one day....even though I can only think of one. It just so happens to be my favorite band of all time, who rarely tours in MN. A Day to Remember. I can just imagine how fabulous that show would be. I'd expect fireworks and confetti and all sorts of moshing and circle pits and yeah. *happy sigh*

Hopefully one day m'loves!

Now, Alternative Press is a wonderful venture. I read lots of their stuff. One of my favorite of their articles talks about the 9 stages of post concert depression.

Phase 1 - euphoria - self explanatory

Phase 2 - reflection - also self explanatory

Phase 3 - realization - realize you'll never experience that same thing again. SAD.

Phase 4 - reality - return to regular life. Realize it's totally inferior to show.

Phase 5 - feeling outcasted - try to go back to reflection, but no one cares as much as you.

Phase 6 - stalking - pretty explanatory

Phase 7 - lack of impulse control - wanting to go to every show ever (even 7 states away)

Phase 8 - acceptance - either buy the tickets cause it's worth it (and start cycle again) or accept that circumstances are out of your hands and you'll tough it out til next time

Phase 9 - living - eventually symptoms fade and you'll finally go back to normal - and it won't suck too hard

My last point to make centers around my generation and where we're at in life. College = broke, no time + high ticket prices = rarely shows = SAD.

But we will survive! Summer will be here.....eventually!

Night m'loves! Another time!

A Reader's Paradise

Of the many descriptors that could be used to explain who I am, I limit myself to a select few. One of which is the title of a "reader." And it's quite a vague term. What do I read? What qualifies me to be a "reader"?

Well it's actually very simple. I. LOVE. TO. READ. For as long as I can remember I've loved to read. And I read just about everything. Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Drama, Classic, Informative, Non-fiction; the list could go on and on.

And in my readings, I've fallen in love with countless novels/novellas/articles. And from that statement, one can figure that I have some favorites. What I consider to be "good books." Again, very vague, but ambiguity is our friend sometimes.

And while there are FAR too many "good books" to discuss, I will keep my post restricted to a select few that have truly affected (and even effected) me.

So, shall we begin?

I will begin with a few of my favorite book series

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Suzanne Collins does an amazing job with her characters and their growth and the writing itself is exemplary for a modern day writer. And what's even better is that the books translate so well into film!

The Last Dragon Chronicles

Even though they say this is a series for kids, I find the vernacular to be much more suited to a young adult - even though the nature in which they are used seems to be catered to a much younger audience. Basically I just love the idea, and the story line is fantastic and has kept me interested throughout.

Pendragon

A great fantasy series. D.J. MacHale deserves all the awards for creating such an interesting combination of worlds and developing such an intricate system and plot. As with the dragons series, the writing feels quite childish, but we must remember he is writing from the perspective of a 14-18 year old boy.

**side note: I could easily include TMI and TID in this list, but you guys already know I love them and even why. I think it's just silly to overtly repeat myself. So be aware that those books are completely a part of this list, they are just not a part of this post**

And now for some individual novels

Ender's Game

Another great sci-fi/fantasy novel. It's so complex and intricate (ridiculously more so than Pendragon!) and although it is a part of a series, I never read the rest of them and therefore it is a part of my singular novels list. But seriously aargh it's so hard to explain, but I love it so much!

Speak

Laurie Halse Anderson writes such moving and thought-provoking works, it's freaking crazy. But Speak was one of her first novels I read and it just hit me on such a level that I'll never forget that book and how it just altered my world view.

~Another book that changed my world view (much more recently)~

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green guys. John motha-fuckin Green. AJAFSFHSIDIKSJ. TFiOS man!

Wuthering Heights

A wonderful classic novel to add to your collection. I will openly admit that it took me forever to actually finish this. I even had to restart it at one point. It starts out extremely slow and just seems to drag for so long, but once you get to a certain point, it's impossible to set this book down. The love story of Cathy and Heathcliff is one that will stand the test of time.

House of Many Shadows

This is not necessarily one of the best written novels of all time, but it is one of my personal favorites. I love the plot and character development. I love the sub-plots. I love the whole thing. It's up there in probably my top 5 favorite suspense/mystery novels. I'd try to explain it, but I don't want to give anything away. So you'll just have to take my word for it.

I know it seems like I cut this off very early, but if I hadn't ended it here, it would have gone on much, much longer. I'm not even content with the lists - I desperately want to add more - but at least this gives you an idea of what I love.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments or even talk about some of YOUR favorite novels! I'm always looking for a new book to read :)

Jane Austen Fan Club

I'm sure you've noticed I like to have somewhat ambiguous titles for my posts. To keep you guessing, so to speak. Sometimes they're easy for me to come up with, and sometimes I over think it and they end up being way off the beaten path and even I get confused.

Well today's post is right in the middle I think.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen and her work, you may already have an idea of what I am referring to. If not, well you're in for quite a treat.

Today I am talking about Pride & Prejudice and its adaptations; more specifically, the YouTube series "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries."

I am extremely excited to talk about "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" (LBD), but first I'll cover some points about the classic novel.

Yes, Pride & Prejudice is a classic novel, and therefore the writing style is quite different from what most people are used to; and this scares many people away. However, once you've gotten used to where the breaks in sentences are, and the slight alterations in grammar (which isn't really that hard), it is truly a quick and enjoyable read. And the story is classic in and of itself. This romance has been alluded to for so long, and for good reason. The simplicity of it makes it seem complex, but also so easy to relate to.

Now, LBD, as I mentioned earlier is a YouTube series that adapts P&P to modern times and simplifies it some for the viewers to better understand the themes and difficult vernacular of the novel. It is so hard to explain the wonderful job that is done with LBD and not give anything away. But if I had to try, I would say that LBD takes P&P and brings it to an entirely new audience in a clever and intriguing way by providing humor and simplified, modern concepts to the classical version.

Oh boy that was tough.

As I hope you know, LBD isn't the only adaptation of Austen's Pride & Prejudice out there. There are revised editions of the novel, as well as a mini-series on BBC, and a few movies (one even adapting it to a Bollywood style). Perhaps the most common of the other adaptations are the mini-series with Colin Firth and the movie starring Keira Knightley. I have not seen the mini-series, but I have seen the 2005 movie and I quite enjoyed it. I had already seen LBD and was partially done with the book when I watched the film and I think that caused me to enjoy it even more.

Basically I am saying that I'm a huge fan of Pride & Prejudice and all of its adaptations I've been exposed to. You can't beat the classic novel and if you've never read it but are interested in doing so....if I may recommend something - watch LBD first. It will help you understand the complex language a bit more if you already have an idea of what situations the book has to offer.

So lastly, if I have convinced you to take a gander into the literary world of Jane Austen, I am humbled and grateful. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.

And if you want to watch LBD (for the first time or AGAIN) here is a link.

Love you guys, keep reading!!! <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KisuGP2lcPs&list=PL6690D980D8A65D08

UH OH IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN.....!!!

You know what I'm talking about ladies and gents. Summer is over and the dreaded school season is upon us.
If you're in college, comme moi ('like me' for you non French loving folk), your classes just began today - or they will super soon. WHATEVER.
However, if you're still a young'un and haven't left high school yet, you most likely have until the day after Labor Day to be prepared.

For me, gone are the days when I had to wake up at 6, and here are the days where I wake up at 8. Holy lord two more hours of sleep!!
Gone are the days when I had to endure 7 hours of life with people I couldn't stand. Here are the days when I have to deal with 2 or 3 classes with people I don't even know!
Gone are the days when I lived in the cushion of my parents' home. Here are the days where I have to survive on my own for 9 months.

College sure has its benefits, but it sure as hell ain't easy guys.

But c'est la vie.

The time is upon us to fix our sleep schedules and eat at semi-regular hours and not have 40 hour Netflix binges [except on weekends ;)].

SCHOOL.
HAS.
BEGUN.

Caution to the MAX

Now that we have successfully fangirled over TFiOS as much as humanly possible, I can speak of a new random subject. However, it is not quite as random as it may seem...I did allude to it in one of my previous posts (and I realize that's not a very helpful hint so BACK OFF).
I've actually been working on this post for quite a while now and I think it's finally ready. The only true question is, ARE YOU READY FOR THE REVEAL?!?!   Cause it's coming in 3...2...1...
~DOOMSDAY PREPPERS~

Yes, I am speaking of those with questionable sanity who obsess over the apocalyptic predictions of the world and (perhaps) over-prepare for the potential consequences that will arise when that day of judgement (maybe never) arrives.

If you've seen the show on NatGeo then you know just how extreme these people can get. And at times it's humorous, but at others it can start to get scary.
In my research of this....interesting topic I came across a site that categorized all preppers into one of three groups based on what they're preparing for: Just Enough, Ready For Almost Anything, and See You When the Dust Settles.
I'll do a kindof synopsis of their info whilst adding a tidbit of my own opinion here and there. It should be an interesting review...

Just Enough
These guys are just getting ready for the power to go out a couple days or so. No huge conspiracies on alien invasion or government corruption here! They essentially believe they don't have to be prepared for major disasters because they don't happen. And even if the 'impossible' occurs, they think the government will come and save the day anyways.  <--HA!
Basically they will have a few gallons of water stored away (with no means of replenishing it), some canned and boxed foods (maybe without any way to open or cook them), several gallons of gas - "I have no idea what we'll use it for, but it should be helpful!", and some flashlights, batteries, and cash on hand.
Bare minimum, severely lacking strategy to most extreme preppers.

Ready For Almost Anything
Their premise is: Shits gonna hit the fan at some point and we better as shit be prepared when it does!
Doesn't matter if the disaster is natural, economic, or whatever....they're just looking out for pretty much anything. They view prepping as more of a necessity than a convenience in tough times. And they're going to be much better off than the Just Enoughers if and when shit DOES hit the fan.
Stored water, but also a means or system of replenishing the supply, several months worth of food with nutrition in mind and also a plan of growing their own, a generator with a supply of gas and oil, tools of all kinds - for cutting, building, etc., weapons for defense (A LOT OF THE SHOW IS FOCUSED ON DEFENSE - WHICH GETS EXTREME AT TIMES), and cash, gold/silver, etc. for bartering or whatever.
Pretty well prepared to survive a disaster...but nowhere near the level of the last group.

See You When the Dust Settles
These guys are the ones on TV! They're the people we think are absolutely fucking nuts, but will probably outlive most 'normal' people by fricking years if anything gets fucked up. They are basically the previous group with a plan, and then a backup plan, and a backup to their backup, and etc. Multiple plans for multiple scenarios, and MAJOR preparedness.
Everything from the previous group is optimized, even with solar panels for generating their own electricity. Most have plans to "bug-out" in case their location is compromised...and even their bug-in locations are intricate as many have plans to go underground. DEFENSE IS ON A WHOLE NEW MOTHERFUCKING LEVEL HERE BITCHES. And according to the site, most have one or two unique items they see as vital. (I can't think of any, but if you watch the show you'll see)
As their name suggests, these guys will be around when the dust settles (and they may be the only ones).

***

Okay so this post got long, but there's tons of info out there on preppers and prepping. Whole websites and forums dedicated to the topic. And just based on that....I almost wanna get started a prep situation of my own. BUUUUTTT there's a few issues:
1. it's a daunting ass fucking task
2. I am extremely lazy
3. I don't even support myself as of yet
4. I have zero time or space since I'm a goddamn college student!!

And that's doomsday prepping for you folks... A really good idea, but most of us are too intimidated or lazy to do anything about it ourselves.
So we just make fun of those with more initiative because what else would we wonderful Americans do?

'Murica!!!  

Respect Earned

So I have just come from one of the most heartbreaking and utterly satisfying moments of my life that I have yet experienced. Obviously, I am speaking of the theatrical portrayal of Hazel Grace and Augustus in the one and only The Fault in Our Stars.

I honestly don't even know how to start. Well, I suppose I could explain my title. As most everyone knows, Shailene Woodley had her first big role as Amy Juergens in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which aired on ABC Family. Your typical [modernized] soap opera/drama. I think we can suffice to say it was not her best work; and she has been working very hard since then to move on from that and find a new (and better) piece of work to be recognized by.
Some would say she achieved her goal in the new movie, Divergent, but I would have to disagree. It was quality acting, but it just didn't feel like the character fit all that well with Woodley as the actress. I believe this role was leaps and bounds more appropriate for her. And it certainly showed in her portrayal of Hazel Grace Lancaster.

I believe this to be her best performance as an actress to date in her career. And therefore, respect = earned.

Now, let's say we talk about Augustus Waters' character. Ansel Elgort (who also played Caleb Prior alongside Woodley in Divergent) was born to be cast as Augustus. The upbeat moments were great, but he did an even better job with the more difficult, 'Bam! here's reality' scenes.

**side note: Know how some people are ugly criers? How you just don't want to watch them cry because it's just disgusting to watch? Ansel Elgort crying is simply heartbreaking. You don't want to watch him cause it'll just make you cry more.**

And as for the movie juxtaposed with the book....
I'd say they did a very fair representation. Nearly all of the best lines from TFiOS (both witty and crushing) were put into the movie, and beyond that, were said in the exactly correct manner.
And the parts they left out were, in fact, the parts I thought they might; and also the parts I was okay with them omitting.

Overall, my final opinion on The Fault in Our Stars movie is this:
Whether you've read the book or not, it will hit you on every level possible. And I believe the true fans will be quite pleased with it. Just as I am :')