Wishing you a Warm Mug of Hot Chocolate

I am the type of person who considers reading a book by the fireplace in my favorite beanbag with a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows nearby...perfection. Pure perfection. This holiday season, I hope that whatever you define as your "perfect moment" may come alive, and wishing you the best in the upcoming year (: I know I'm a bit late on many respects...Merry Christmas! :D), but remember to celebrate the amazing world and people around you <3

Postcard of the Future

When your mother handed you your postcard of the future,
what did you think?

Did you dream
of fairies from far away places,
castles...
dungeons...
and dragons.

Did you truly and deeply believe
that Prince Charming
in all his elegance
would arrive
at a moment in your life,
pick up the fragmented pieces of glass
and fallen roses
and be a living dream?

Did you set your heart upon a falling star
that whatever you wished would come true,
imagine
hope
soar
and relish
of a beautiful world you knew you would see...

Then you told this to your mother
sister, father and brother,
they stared,
you felt ashamed.

But here's a little secret I'll tell you about this game.

When we were all handed that postcard,
a small, tiny fire inside
in each and every one of us,
counted upon these little lies.

Food for Thought

Silently Calling

Each scorching word

leaves another mark on the road.

Together, we dissolve in it's silence.

Silent severity

which we are unable to break.

She brushes her fingertips

gently

and deliberately

across this trail,

until their presence...

is merely lingering. 

They say...we are fighters.

Who have conquered days

moments,

fears,

who will together rise, 

and forget the cares of the world--

but they do not know of this trail.

Words Can't Bring You Down

This is such an amazing cover of such a great song. (:

Casting Away Those Whispers

[daunting.]

They say, they said, they know, 

the words echo quietly in my head.

The musings of a fairy tale--

perhaps I once read.

It pushes, it asks, it stays

lingering, unready to leave

these voices, these fears, these questions

only once hard to perceive...

My little inner self dances 

slowly across the floor

musing over these questions,

soon enough at the door. 

 [ethereal.] 

There is something utterly magical

as I take my place on the ground--

picking apart each little star,

knowing each wish has been found.

It engulfs me in it's presence,

sings me a melodious song.

Stretches widely--broadly--

wonderfully...

assuring me that nothing will go wrong.

[beautiful.]

This picturesque portrait of a tomorrow

drawn in deep blues, lavenders, a grey.

This daunting, ethereal beautiful sky,

Enchanting the world in which I lay.

And gracefully, immaculately, perfectly,

the most crooked of stars aligned,

the voices, their whispers cast away--

under my midnight sky.

Tidbits at 10 P.M.

Right now, it is 9:21 P.M. and I am sitting on a swivel chair in front of my computer intent on writing a blog post, no matter what it'll take me. Right now, it is 9:30 and I am sitting on a beanbag in front of my computer in my pajamas and with a glass of hot chocolate by my side, strongly intent on writing something.
Ah, much better. Anyhow, after feeling incredibly guilty for not posting as regularly as I believe I promised earlier, here are just a few really random tidbits I've found through my numerous periods of wasted time (hehe just kidding ;) Enjoy! (: [whoever you may be, whether a criminal in a jail cell halfway across the world or...not :P]

Alright, so first of all, I wanted to share something sweet that I stumbled across earlier--

^ The beauty of this is not just that it made me smile, but also that there is so much more meaning behind it when you stop and think about it. Family and friends are such special things in our lives and this little story just helps illustrate how sometimes even the smallest acts can be the most special because of the effort and thought put into them. "That's the best I could do under the circumstances" <--and yet, that means so much. (:

Impressive.

True, true (;

...and that's why I read <3

Quidditch. Yes.

Hehe just had to throw that one in (;

Perspective.

Ribbons and Bows--A chord she's once known.

The chords of the past

strummed on her guitar.

Dancing, laughing, crying...

 the very start.

 The faded jeans 

worn material of which

memories and emotions embedded

quietly in each stitch. 

The falling apart novel

that lies open...

page 46 on her desk.

The pages sighs softly

happy for once to be at rest.

--

The brown leather of suitcase

now propped up with her hand

the worn blue jeans

packed in and crammed.

The crisply folded 

yet browned plane ticket

lies heavy in her pocket,

 a life lost within it.

Now those baby blue curtains

that she has grown to hate and love

pulled gracefully down 

with a simple tug...

And now as she sits

watching her childhood come to an end

she pulls that same old guitar

from underneath her bed.

4 A.M. and a Fairytale.

my little fairytale

entertains itself in me

prying.

it dances lightly and lingers

staying for a while

and then departing.

as daybreak enters

my little fairytale

seems to have 

come back.

it has fallen asleep

and yet has grown.

elaborated and enchanted itself

in my presence. 

twelve hours--

and my little fairytale has returned.

the soft wings of a tomorrow

hope for the otherwise unsure. 

One More Time

I asked her

last year 

why she stands at the corner of the street 

each morning.

Cold, hungry,

shivering.

She wouldn't quite turn towards me

but I came back again.

I asked her 

last month

why she stands at the corner of the street

each morning

hot, hungry,

scorched.

She shifted in her worn brown shoes

but wouldn't quite turn towards me.

I came back again.

I asked her

last week

why she stands at the corner of the street

each morning.

Lonely, hungry,

afraid.

She raised her head, 

drew in a breath-

--but stopped,

and wouldn't quite turn towards me. 

One more time.

I asked her 

yesterday

why she stands at the corner of the street

each morning...

she turned to me

"it's a hard life."

then smiled.

Watching the World Pass By

you know how some songs make you feel like you're in a movie?
staring out the window, raindrops falling by, watching the world.
I'm pretty sure that I just found a song like that (: Admittedly, I first heard it on Pretty Little Liars, but the beginning of the song is what I think is just absolutely beautiful.

Three States of Thoughtful

If I could stand here 

forever

and count the clouds,

I would.

And when the darkest of the dark skies

rose before me

I would stand

and watch the raindrops fall 

quietly and deliberately into my hand.

If I could sit here forever

staring out the window

waiting, watching 

for time to pass by

I would. 

And when the most precise of precise clocks

struck noon

I would sit up straight 

adjust the yellow lace curtains

wonder what comes next.

If I could lie here

forever

and dream

of my perfect place,

then I would.

And when the most beautiful of beautiful dreams

approached me

I would close my eyes

drifting slowly back to sleep.

Yes, I am a teenager. So what?

         What do think about when you hear the phrase “American teenager?” If you answered a) “troubled insecure child with an uncertain educational future” then I can assure you that you’re not alone. It seems to be that the majority of the adult population (and even youth from other countries) associate American youth with the so called “trashy pop culture” and such stereotypes that undoubtedly have their place in American culture but at the same time by no means represent everyone. Being a “teenager” myself, this doesn’t just strike me as demeaning but also can be incredibly frustrating.

          Sure, most teens share certain things in common—perhaps a particular liking towards music, clothes, video games—but these materialistic things do not necessarily mean that every teen with their headphones listening to music is a “bad child.” Picture this…what comes to mind when you hear the phrase “group of teenagers hanging out the mall”? Perhaps a group of troubled children with uncompassionate parents who, instead of busy studying their SAT (as they should), resort to pulling pranks and giving off a ---shall we say---“bad vibe.” Throw in a pair of all too low pants, chains, and unruly clothing and you’ve basically got the picture there, huh? Wrong. The frustrating this is that this is often far from the case. Why can’t we instead visualize a group of decently dressed youth shopping around the mall and checking out their favorite stores just like any other group of mature and responsible adults would? The truth is, part of it is the fact that teenagers have earned a bad reputation for themselves, but also that the media and Hollywood often projects adolescents as following the endless cycle of “party hard, get yourself into trouble, okay then rehab” and such. Now I’m blaming anyone who makes their assumptions just on media—but seriously? I would say that a Hollywood produced film that you’ve rented is hardly ever a reliable source of knowledge. 
         I guess what I’m just trying to say is that it’s exasperating to hear the same critical and judgmental remarks and see the same cautious and wary looks whenever the words “American teen” are mentioned…To have the almost insulting expectations of getting a low-to-average G.P.A. in school, be disinterested in life in general, and having an almost “corrupt” social life. Having to challenge these stereotypes and first impressions daily has really put this in perspective for me and almost seems unfair—sure, we all can’t help but make our judgments, but is every 13 year old really a shallow and depressed child on the verge of committing a crime? The answer is no.

There Will Be Light At the End

Brought my camera along when taking a  night walk around the neighborhood with my family (:

In Her Faded Glory

stationed on the edge of a porcelain star

whose four tips have already broken

shreds of violet confetti

long since fallen

my deep blue sky

faded with wear

the traces of gold glitter

perhaps once there

a lone girl sits

broken, torn wings

all that is left of her

the notes she sings

TEDxRedmond 2011 - The Spark in All of Us

     To those of you who have heard this numerous times from me...well, one more time wouldn't hurt, right? (; Haha anyhow, I highly recommend you (whether youth or  adults) to come to TEDxRedmond 2011, which this year will be held at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, Washington. This year's theme is "The Spark in All of Us" and the goal is to share the diverse ideas, perspectives, and thoughts of numerous young speakers in one fabulous event. Although you could say that I'm terribly biased, I honestly can say that as an attendee last year (and nothing but an attendee), the event was truly inspiring and opened my eyes to really see the big impact that our generation (youth) can have on the world  [last year's event was themed "Power to the Students"].TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading and holds an annual conference in Long Beach, California. It includes included speakers such as Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Sir Richard Branson, and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In the spirit of "ideas worth spreading," TED has created TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

At TEDxRedmond, TEDTalks videos and live speakers and performers will combine to create an amazing event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized. A few of the numerous speakers which will be featured this year include Stephanie Engle, founder of the nonprofit organization RAISE; Felix Finkbeiner, President of the first Global Board of Plant-for-the-Planet; and Ray Ushikubo, who earned first place in the International Russian Music Piano Competition and has performed at Carnegie Hall. But that’s just to name a few—Many other performers, athletes, humanitarians and talented youth will be speaking at the event, to read up on more, check out http://tedxredmond.com/speakers/.

For a quick little sample of this year's conference, here's the trailer (:

\

There truly is a spark in all of us.

For more information about TEDxRedmond, check out the website: or catch us with frequent event updates on Twitter,  as well as Facebook. Additionally, for questions, feel free to ask us on our Formspring page.

Painting My Perfect

On the bedside table

in a wooden frame,

our family picture

from two summers ago

Each night

I stare 

and stare

at the picture

but it never quite seems perfect to me.

I remove the blue hat

from my baby brother

and the bottle of sunscreen in my mother's hand.

I fix my sister's smile

and the wilting flower in her hair.

More and more things that

don't have a place in this picture.

For perfect is what I long for

as I make each fixture.

Friendship at the Fish Tank

The other day I was at the doctor's office just for one of those yearly check-ups that you get every year and in the corner of the office there was a fish tank. The purpose of fish tanks I think is to not only just to entertain children but also, I once read that fish tanks make the tense atmosphere of a doctor's office (or hospital) more reassuring and welcoming. I remember the days when I was younger and I would play a game where I would pick one certain fish to follow and just trace it's path around the fish tank, around rocks, fake seaweed and treasure chests and so forth. (: Haha sorry anyhow, aside from that small rant which had nothing whatsoever to do with anything (but you know me and my tendencies :P), I observed something quite interesting that day. 

A small  boy (who looked about five or six years old) came up to the tank, holding his little sister's hand (and she was oh I would say about three). They were ooh-ing and ahh-ing at all the colorful fish (which just saying, still amuses me, even though I'm far past their ages, so you're never too old for fish tanks :)) when the boy points out a blue and yellow striped fish and says "Hey look, it's Dory!" The girl, who I now assume hadn't seem Finding Nemo before gives him a confused glance and says "who's that?" (just in the most adorable voice you've ever heard :)). Her older brother seems to be proud that he knows something that she doesn't and then launches into full detail about Finding Nemo, giving a long plot synopsis of the movie and then finally   getting to the part about Dory, at which he explains the fish simply as "basically Nemo's dumb friend." His sister looks confused and asks, "Well why would Nemo have a dumb friend?" And the boy replies, "I never said he wasn't a good friend."

Dory: Come on, trust me on this one.

Marlin: Trust you?

Dory: Yes, trust. It's what friends do. 

There was just something so wonderful about the boy's answer to his sister's question that made me go "yeah that's right!" (In my head of course--I wouldn't want the whole doctor's office to think I had problems beforehand, haha just kidding  :)) But honestly, hearing this conversation strike up from such young kids just made me think about what would happen if this same way of thinking was carried out in the adult world. A lot of times we judge people by their intellect and how much they've accomplished in life, how much they know--just overall how smart they seem to be. People make decisions on their friends and who surrounds them based on this, and sometimes even make the decision of whether they are going to try to become friends with someone based on first judgements like "well...is this person smart enough?" I completely agree that it's good to have people who surround you who are respectable and who are a positive influence on your life, people who will encourage you and help you grow, but I don't think that you can judge someones character and personality just on whether they are "smart enough" or not. Additionally--and yes, even I'll admit to this--I'll see a very prosperous, well to do person (or maybe even just smart person) with someone else who doesn't quite seem to be on the same level of them (an example of this is with celebrities--you know how sometimes some of the most famous and successful people have very contrasting friends) and I'll wonder how that friendship is there if they are both  very different people. The thing is, their friendship isn't born out of the ability to think at the same level or because they share the same talents (maybe they do, but not all the time) or capabilities. They are just able to talk and share a connection with each other, despite their differences, and that is the truth beauty of friendship.

I can't even count how many times I've seen two kids approach each other, a potential friendship at hand, when one of the parents comes in and deems the other child not "fit" to mix with theirs. Is this right? Absolutely not. The truth is, I guess after the "fish tank incident" (shall we call it? :)) I realized that judging people this way isn't fair...it's almost like stereotyping, you never can judge someone's character and ability to be a good friend just by what you see on the outside. Intelligence most definitely is never the way to measure how big (or small...) a heart someone has.

Our Life, A Song

"Life, he realized, was much like a song. In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation, but it's in the middle where all the emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile." -Nicholas Sparks

...how interesting. Yet, how true. There are melodies, harmonies. The stray notes that never quite had a reason to be there, but still are there. The low notes, the high notes. The... rhythm of life. 

You are Beautiful. [pass it on]

I'm going to start with a really quick question: Are you beautiful? [Or, if you're a guy and you're going "uh...awkward.", well you know what I mean...] And now I'm going to answer it for you: You are.

Keep this question in mind, and I'll explain to you why I asked you it later.

I've always thought that I have a pretty weird memory. No, not meaning that I have Alzheimers or anything of that sort [haha speaking of which, how ironic is it that it took me so long to remember the name of that disease? :P] but it's more like the things that I commit to memory are often the smallest most unexpected things. It's usually things that speak out to me, or strike me as particularly memorable....impactful. The other day, I was at a camp and on the last day, we had a particular assembly on "empathy." After that assembly, I had one of those weird memory moments, and until today, I'm unable to forget it...it was just that impactful. The tone of the assembly was morose, serious, and definitely touching. If you're wondering what in the world "empathy" means [and don't worry, I didn't know for a while either :)], here, I'll actually give you the dictionary definition of it:

Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings (such as sadness or happiness) that are being experienced by another sentient or semi-sentient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. <---Why thank you, Wikipedia (;

Empathy. It can be such a powerful world because of it's affect on others. Did you know that even the one small action of reaching out to one person could quite possibly prevent them from making the decision to end their life? (I've heard personal accounts of this happening before.) Anyhow, this assembly in particular was oriented towards the number of teens each year who resort to suicide because they are being bullied, those who suffer daily in their life because of factors (like abuse, an unstable family, moving) that they are not in control of, but still get picked on for. Now I'm not sharing this being I feel like I'm the perfect role model for helping others out (because even I'll admit, sometimes even I am unable to go up to a bully and say "hey...cut. it. out.") but because I feel like this is a topic that as many bullying assemblies that we have in school, never really is taken as seriously as it should be.

I think part of what puts everything in perspective is when you hear a personal story. When another person the exact same age as you (who you would have thought is completely content and happy with their life) opens up and you hear some of the scariest yet most eye-opening things. You never would have guessed that he's blind in his left eye because he was abused when he was younger, I mean he's so happy. You never would have guessed that she was anorexic and about to run away before, I mean, she's a cheerleader now. So, what makes people bully others? What makes people resort to the negative actions that can often negatively impact others' lives? The answer is simple: They don't think that they are beautiful. That sounds awfully cliche, but it's true. Somewhere along the path of their lives, a tiny piece of their self confidence broke off, and ever since then, they've felt the need to take it out on others. You can argue about whether it's their personal choice or not, but that's besides the point. The point is, if we all truly did believe that we were well, beautiful, things would be better.

Haha okay, I sort of feel like I just gave a mini lecture up there (and you're probably thinking to yourself that this is so overrated and you've heard it a million times...but that's okay.), and it's okay if half of you didn't read it (: But if anything, I hope that you take away these final words: You are a unique individual unlike anyone else. You are special, different, and there is no one out there who can take that away from you. 

...And if you ever meet someone who doesn't believe this, well, tell them it's true. You never know how big of an impact it can have on their life.

Where Will This Train Take You?

"You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure. But it doesn't matter. How can it not matter to you where the train will take you?"

The funny this is, no matter what, I always find myself coming back to this quote (from Inception if you didn't already know) and I really have no clue why. When I first heard it in the movie, I remember committing it to memory (which is weird...even for me ;P) So...naturally, I made myself figure out why I like this quote so much. I think that it's because it's absolutely beautiful in encompassing well...life. A lot of times we look around at the world and want it to be linear, logical, and perfectly sequential: with everything in order and everything making sense. The fact is, many times it's much deeper than that...there are some things we can't control, some things we can't help, and in the crazy ride we call life, you just have to trust that all the puzzle pieces will fall perfectly together in the end. Maybe that's why that quote has stuck with me for such a long time? (Aside from the fact that the movie was amazing, of course :)) But think about it...How can it now matter to you where the train will take you? If you always believe that in the end, it'll take you to a wonderful place. (:

Oh also, on a different note, check these out...these Youtube singers have done absolutely amazing covers and it's great that they've finally released their own singles:
- B-e-a-utiful - Megan Nicole
- Advice - Christina Grimmie

To the Wilderness! ...and Alpha Academy.

My list of things you should know when you go camping:
- Never ask whether the jellyfish in the water can electrocute you. Limited aquatic knowledge or not, people will laugh at you.
- As fun as it is to roast marshmallows, there is a point at which if you keep them near the fire too long, it will shrivel up and turn black. At this point, you shouldn't eat it. I repeat, shouldn't. 
- 50 person hide and seek games are fun. ...But only if you have a way of contacting everyone and telling them to come back once you've given up.
- You might think that if you're 16 and can fit on a four year old's bike, you can ride it. Sure...until it breaks.
- Never yell "snake" at any point during your trip. Especially if you're hiking on a trail where it's very narrow and if everyone were to turn and run in the opposite direction...bad things could happen.
...for a full and unabridged list, please consult...me (: Trust me, it's a long list (;

Anyways haha, aside from that...guess what series I finished, hm? I'll give you a clue...It starts with A and end with lphas. Pshh not saying that I made myself go and buy the last book (Top of the Feud Chain) the day it came or anything...(; Anyhow, before you judge me on my utterly weird taste in books, I'll admit that most of Lisi Harrison's novels have been sort of a guilty pleasure for me, because they're not exactly the best kind of literature, but nevertheless, they're addicting. Nothing will ever replace The Clique for me, but it was pretty cool to check out a series by the same author. For those of you who do not plan to touch this book in the near future, here's a quick synopsis.

In The Alphas, three girls, who have come from three diverse and different backgrounds  all have one common goal: They have been invited to Shira Brazille (completely multi-millionaire)'s exclusive Alpha Academy. Shira, while very manipulative and business smart, is also very competitive and thus, so is her school. The school is made up of one hundred talented girls, each accustomed to always being the alpha, always being the best in their area of talent...but one hundred people can't all be the best at the same time. Alpha Academy is driven towards on keeping the best, and as the series comes to a close, more and more girls are kicked out of the prestige school. In a final test of "do you have what it takes?" only one true "Alpha" will rise to the top at the end... and Skye, Charlie, and Allie might just do anything to achieve that status.

In my opinion, the ending was actually quite surprising, and although I'll refrain from spoiling it for you (if you do plan to read it, that is), I will say that it truly emphasizes the importance of friendship and loyalty, even as the girls try to bring themselves to the top. In my opinion, Top of the Feud Chain brought an unforgettable, yet sweet ending to the series.

The Beauty of Life

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

- Maya Angelou

Her song

is a lullaby.

her slender hands reaching the low ebony keys

of a piano,

slowly and drawn out 

at first.

melody.

crescendo. 

now in this dimly light room

her hands pound keys on the piano

faster and louder

expressively yet...

harsh.

faster

and louder

louder

and faster.

 she travels through the piece 

at last reaching the finale

but abruptly stops.

 her blurred figure begins to move freely

to the achingly slow

yet painful melody

that she had visited in the beginning.

but this time 

she does not want to leave.

with the final glide of her fingers

a mere teardrop hits the ebony black. 

her song

a story.

Waiting to Be Found

beneath those amber eyes

there are secrets

unspoken words.

behind that tinted glass

there are things

they haven't heard.

within the mirror

lies another world

facing the future

uncertain, unsure.

and yet we still lay our promises

right on the ground

hoping, praying

waiting to be found

Vampires and a Lock & Key

With summer, I've had more time to catch up on all the books I've been meaning to read (or usually just the books I've promised people I would read... :P)but anyhow, that means...book review time! I haven't done this in a while (actually, just kidding, I haven't reviewed a book on my blog ever, with the exception of Harry Potter) but hopefully my style of reviewing is enjoyable. Oh, and ---wait-- one more thing...what could be better than a book review? hm? what about a...double book review? ahaha anyways, here goes (:

"I didn’t even believe in vampires before I was one." ~ Bree Tanner

So, first up, I finally got myself to finish the Second Short Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer and was...mildly surprised. Okay, actually I'm lying, I was very surprised. I picked up

the book expecting another romance novella with a small but cliche element of danger and... just that. To be honest, I really didn't expect very much, thinking that Meyer had just written another nice little addition to the series, something that she could have to nicely stack with her other books on her desk. The Second Short Life, however went beyond that and specifically made me understand the mindset of newborn vampires- which is briefly touched on in Breaking Dawn-but other than that, isn't really thoroughly explained in the other Twilight books. To those of you who are wondering what in the world I'm talking about (or more specifically, those of you who refuse to give Twilight a chance...oh trust me, I know who you are ;)), this short novel is told from the perspective of a newborn vampire named Bree Tanner who is briefly introduced in Breaking Dawn. She fights on the side with Victoria & Riley and the rest of the newborn vampires that opposes the Cullens (with Bella and Edward). What was captivating about this novel (and striking in comparison into the rest of the books) is that the novel goes into detail on how it really felt to be preparing for battle against the Cullens as well as the overarching experience of how it was to be a newborn vampire, period. Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn are forever told in the black and white perspective of Bella and therefore, you never really get to see things from another's point of view (except for those chapters in the final book that are told from Jacob's perspective). It was just refreshing and very interesting to see things from Bree's point of view...not only because it was, well...just different, but because she was on the "evil side" as well. For those of you who have read Breaking Dawn, you know that Bree's fate ends up not being the best (yes, I'm going to spoil it for you...she dies), but do you know what exactly was going through her head those final minutes of her life? I'm not going to spoil that for you because I highly encourage you to read the book...It just puts a whole new perspective on things. Normally, when we think of the Twilight Saga we think of Edward & Bella romance lalalala but after reading this, I felt more strongly about the element of danger that is always present in Meyer's books...I actually really liked it. (:

Alright so that's that, but another book that I finished this summer (and decided would be perfect for reviewing) was Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen.

"It’s never something huge that changes everything, but instead the tiniest of details, irrevocably tweaking the balance of the universe while you’re busy focusing on the big picture." ~ Ruby

Go ahead, make all the assumptions you want that all Sarah Dessen books are about cliche romances, and that's fine with me, but I still encourage you to give it a chance...I'll just let you know that if I were to summarize Lock and Key in a few words, that would most definitely not be one of the first things that comes to mind. The novel is more about finding yourself in this big world and creating an identity (I know, I know...nostalgia of an entire seventh grade unit in LA about 'Creating an Identity') and throughout the novel, the main character Ruby changes phenomenally in her attitude towards life, in the way that she approaches the world, and just her entire character as a person. The book starts out with a girl by the name of Ruby who is 18--no scratch that--17 and a few months from turning 18. Those few months make all the difference

in her life, though. After her mom abandoned her and she was forced to make her way living in the old yellow house by herself for months, the Social Services finally figured out about her living situation and sent her to live with her sister Cora. Ruby hasn't had contact with her sister in years, ever since Cora moved out of the house, determined to get an education and start her own life. Ruby struggles and is frustrated by the world around, unable to figure out who she is and what she is doing in Cora's prestigious, prim world. The only thing that keeps her in touch with her old life is the key to her old yellow house that she wears as a necklace around her neck. After a few incidents, however she begins to feel herself change, and develops a unique bond with the boy next door, Nate. She grows closer to people around her and actually cares about them-something new for her. Things keep on coming back from her "old life" and it's hard to let go...but Lock and Key beautifully illustrates how growing up, finding your place in the world, and having a fresh start are things that can be done...I will be completely honest...I enjoyed this book very much. (:

On My Bookshelf

I just wanted to share something really quick that I thought was interesting, but I guess I'll start by telling a story (haha you know me, I can't help it...) So anyways, Once upon a time...

haha just kidding, no fairy tales here (: Anyways, back to the story. Usually, you can look at someone's bookshelf and learn a lot about them. For example, if you were to find...adventure book about sailors and pirates and things of that sort, well...you might conclude that they are one who indulges in such types of things. Then, let's say, if you were to look at another's shelf and find...murder mysteries, well, you could make your own assumptions thereof (not saying anything about that, of course, I myself used to be addicted to Agatha Christie :)). To be honest, if you were to look at my bookshelf, though, you might be a tad bit confused. I myself will admit that I have a quite odd selection of books...Yes, you'll find Twilight but right next to it you'll see...The Jungle Book (right after the MLA Handbook of course :P) I guess that part of this is because I've collected books over time and often each book has a back story to it, making them very disparate, but at the same time, it reflects me pretty well.

Anyhow, I was going through my bookshelf and found a book is completely hot pink, no kidding. And I've really never taken a look at it...I think that it was from a book exchanged at our school about five or six years ago and I happened to pick it up. Anyhow...it's an approximately twenty page book written by a girl named Ashley Rice (and titled Girls Rule.) Yes, go ahead, ask me why this book is sitting on my bookshelf and I honestly have no clue, but yesterday I picked it up anyways and read it, interested in what it was about. Despite the fact that the title is quite cliche and it was written by a child, I was surprised to find that there actually were some words with quite a lot of impact in it...[about bringing your aspirations and hopes for your future to life...dreaming big doesn't do any good unless you're willing to strive to achieve those dreams.]

pretty powerful words for a child, hm?

Teardrops of Violet

let me fall freely

fall

back into those times.

peel away the black and white layers

and see the color hidden right behind.

let me turn the page

turn

to a blank face.

free of stray marks

of memories I'd cast away.

let me dance

dance

to the rhythm of the rain.

which perhaps never even existed

but echoes in my head

complicated

yet plain.

but most of all...

just let me cry

cry

cry my tears.

my teardrops of violet-

never to disappear.

Until The Very End

Harry. Potter.

As most of you know, this week is the final week before the series that has gotten the hearts of so many readers finally comes to an official end. Although I wouldn't exactly called myself a fanatic, Harry Potter means so much to me and I guess that you could say that I'll always have a special place in my heart for Ron, Hermione, and of course Harry (in addition to a few other random characters that for some reason I've grown to adore...Luna for example :)). I really can't put into words how amazed I am with J.K. Rowling, who had this entire enthralling plot line and world all made up simply from her ideas and head. There are a million emotions that come with knowing that the last movie will be released this Friday (excitement, joy, but then of course sadness and dread that it is all coming to an end.) To those of you who are reading this thinking *wow...she's crazy...* that's okay, the magic of HP is something that maybe only crazy people like me get (; haha just kidding, but anyhow, I'll keep this short. I'm unbelievably excited for Friday and I'm sure that the movie will be the most unimaginably perfect ending. I can't believe that I'm saying goodbye to fictional characters, but you know what? It's so much more than that. After years and years of watching the movies, reading the books, and continuing with Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their journey, I guess this is finally it. <3

For now, here are a few of my personal HP favorites (: (most of these I found randomly online or stumbled across...enjoy!)

Oh Starbucks...

if only Geometry was like this (:

Oh Ron and Hermione...

(:

ahaha this one just made me smile :)

until the very end. <3

A Few Tidbits

For those of you who're looking for things to cure you of boredom during the summer (just kidding :)), here are a few things to take a look at. A lot of them were recommended by friends, but a few are just random things I came across:

-A cover of "Firework" by Cimorelli (these sisters are really talented, check out their other videos)

-Airplanes Medley Mash-Up by Megan Nicole

-Another Mash Up (Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift, etc.)

-Just a Kiss ~Lady Antebellum, Cover by Madilyn Bailey

-Enchanted ~ Taylor Swift, Cover by Megan & Liz (these girls are great as well, check out their Youtube channel)

Each Ending is a New Beginning

"You don't get another chance. Life is no Nintendo game." -Eminem

oh, Eminem. As much as I love your music, this quote made me stop for a moment and go "wait, whattt?" I agree that our lives are about as close to Mario Kart as black is to white (if only you could pick up Question Blocks in life that would give you extra powers :)) but does that mean that we can't have second chances? No way. I actually sort of understand where this quote is coming from, considering that he's probably had a hard life and is just sharing his personal experiences, but I don't think that that's necessarily true.

Well, now that we're talking a bit about music, let me quote from what used to be one of my favorite songs (let me apologize in advance if you disapprove of my music taste...anyhow, that's not what's relevant right now):"sometimes goodbye is a second chance" [bonus points if you can guess what song!... because I'm not telling ;P] Anyways, this particular line spoke out for me because most of us, when approaching our life, see the "end" of things as...well, the end. Is it possible that we can actually see these ends as the beginning of something new, though? Sure, it's not like the whole Nintendo "okay, you lost one life? oh well that's okay, moving on to your next brand new sparkly life" thing, and I understand that everything won't be perfect, but maybe sometimes the end of one "chance" is the opportunity to start on an even better one.

Unwritten

She remembers when you used to blend into the faces of a crowd

just one among many others.

There,

but really not.

She remembers really seeing you for the first time,

as you walked into that door

hopeful,

but doubtful.
She remembers when there used to be a glass door between you and her,

standing like the unwritten rules of your friendship,

open,
except not.
She remembers the countless painful days of ignorance,
when silence spoke more than words...
when really all you both wanted most
was it to end.
But most of all she remembers that one special day
that you finally opened up...
"hello."

Summer & Sunshine

You might be wondering why there is a lovely blank space over there-- but, to be honest, I really don't know. All I know is that Blogger has been extremely...uncooperative, and therefore, you might have to grow close with that blank space, because it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon :/ For that same reason, well...there goes all the tabs that used to be on the toolbar to your right. I apologize for the possible inconvenience, hopefully everything gets back to normal soon.

Haha anyhow, I guess that I didn't get the chance to officially wish you all happy summer (or Sun Ultimately Makes Most Everything Right, that is) (: To those of you who have been dedicated readers of my blog throughout this school year, thanks, you guys are what makes posting on here worthwhile (: Our weather, which has been acting just a tad bit bipolar seems to be getting into the summer mode though, because looking out the window right now I see...sun! The last weeks of school seemed to pass by in a breeze with end-of-the-year projects and finals and here we are, the fourth of July. I'll admit that I feel slightly bad for not posting as regularly that I hoped, however, in the midst of traveling, hanging out w/ friends & just plain enjoying summer, I'll try to check back here frequently. (last year I tried the one-post-per-day challenge...let's just say that that didn't work out the best :)).

Anyhow, have an absolutely wonderful Fourth of July and enjoy the sun (while it lasts!) Sidenote: I fell in love with that cupcake the minute I saw it...doesn't it make the 4th of July seem so much more appetizing? Just kidding (;

who are you?

You are a star.
A star...

whose five delicate point are glowing

but still have yet to meet their absolute best.

who perhaps has dimmed

and faded

and maybe even dissappeared,

but always comes back, brighter and stronger than ever.
A star.

Now you are...

the moon.

Who lights up the closing dark sky

of yesterday.
and parts before a new tommorrow may begin.
but whose silver light-barely there
brings hope to the vast night.
The moon.


And finally, you are...
A beautiful human being

who has made themselves

unique-
an individual.


Who has picked up new things,
grown,
and
seeks a brighter future.


Who has collected memories
had experiences,
and created dreams.
Who are you?
You are [insert your name here].

oh how I love Winnie the Pooh. (:

A Note or Two

"Music is a total constant. That's why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in your or the world, that one says the same, just like that moment."

-Sarah Dessen, Just Listen

I just wanted to share a little thought that I had when I came across this quote while reading Just Listen (good book so far by the way!). I was actually just revisiting a bit of older music...(well not really that old, some from a few months ago, but still) and the funny thing that I realized is that with almost each and every single song, there are memories and thoughts connected to it. For example...hmm, listening to Hot N' Cold reminds me of the days of singing this on our bus in sixth grade as a big group (: Other songs remind me of other things, like I'll listen to song and remember perhaps...the first time I heard it, or maybe a particular moment/time when I heard it that maybe stood out to me in some way or another. They can remind you of places, conversations, memories, and even sometimes people. It's really much more than eight notes strung together in some random way or another to appeal to people...it just is so much more than that. I guess...that's just the beauty of music. Just wanted to share that note or two (no pun intended ;)).

Here I Am

dreamers are believers, believers are fighters.
these are the people who shall forever inspire...
mountains and valleys,
oceans and plains,
hopes and dreams,
sun and rain.
so here I am world; close and then afar,
closing my eyes, wishing upon a star.

Words and Wondering

If you ever happen to be scrolling through some of the posts here, you might notice that the spacing is rather odd...to be honest, Blogger is being quite frustrating right now and so I apologize for that...just know that I didn't intentionally make the spacing crazy (:

Anyhow, just a minute ago, I was staring at this blank post, wondering what to write (as often happens) but as I glanced around at my desk, I noticed a striped spiral bound notebook that I honestly haven't touched (as in physically wrote in) in...oh, say about two or three years. [brace yourself for a story] The funny thing is that this notebook brings back memories of quite an odd time that occured when I was reading Cornelia and the Audicious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Leslie M. Blume. I honestly thought that this book was alright if you're ever bored, but not particularly outstanding. But hey, when you're in fourth grade and need a book for reading time, anything will do (; haha just kidding, but anyways, back to the story. So, to give a brief background of the book, it's essentially about a girl who experiences different cultures as she travels around the world etc. (you know, the whole Eat Pray Love concept...except not really.) The thing about this book is that it introduces a bunch of foreign words, unusual phrases and such because the main character, Cornelia is...well, just eccentric that way. So I, for some reason I am still unable to understand, decided that I would record every single "different" word/phrase that I found in that book. Why? I don't know. But I do know that now I have over ten pages of those phrases in a notebook. Actually, here is a scanned page of it. (please excuse the messy handwriting)

For your reading pleasure (although you probably could care less :)) , here are a few:

quidnunc: one who is forever anxious to know about everything that is going o
bavardage: foolish or empty chatter

Arrete! C'est Ki L'empire De La Mort: "This is the Empire of Death" (because that will definitely be useful in the future :))

Chien bizzare: "a bizzare dog lives here" (I don't even know...)

incommodius: uncomfortable

linguistic recluse: person who withdraws from the world and into words
Parisology: when you use words that are unneccessarily complicated so that no one understands what you're talking about (well I guess that these words are useful after all :P)

Now, you might wonder why, out of the strange stories (oh and trust me, there are many :)) I could tell, I picked this one. Well, you see, the other day someone told me that "it would be much easier if the entire world spoke English. Why can't it just be this way?" Because...languages are what bring us together and unite us as people. Of course some people might argue that everyone speaking English might just further unite us in this way...but really, what's the fun in that? Different cultures and their own unique ways are what makes our world interesting and diverse and even though you might say that I'm not one to talk (because I'll admit it, I only can speak English and understand most of Portuguese)...it's fun to see what the world has to offer. Even for those of you who think that there's no point in learning any more vocabulary as long as you know the basics (enough to strike up a normal conversation with someone), sometimes, it just is useful...and even fun to have a few unusual words in your back pocket. Haha well anyways, I feel as if I just went on a "importance of languages" type rant that has no absolute connection to anything, but that notebook just brought back a few thoughts.
Alright well, Adios (;

Lavender Petals and Long Time No See

ahhh, finally, I can take a deep breath, sit down at my computer and revisit here...
why hello (:
I know, I know, I apologize for not posting in a while, but hopefully I'll get back to posting more regularly. To be honest, I can't believe that summer is coming along so fast, it seemed like only a while ago that the sun being out at seven never happened, but now...well, time flies. (:
Well anyhow, quick (quite random) update:

-I finished A Tale of Two Pretties (last Clique book! I know, I know, I'm addicted. (: anyways, make fun of that much as you want; Massie, Alicia, Claire, Kristen, and Dylan have become characters who've I've grown to get to know really well and it's dissapointing to have to say goodbye to them...ah well. Wishing them an ah-mazing future ;))
-I'm reading The Social Network right now...haha thank you for letting me borrow it (and then getting me hooked on it), anonymous person...you know who you are :) so far it's actually quite interesting, especially since Facebook is something that we seem to use quite frequently...maybe I'll post a book review once I'm done.
-Also, this is interesting, a song made entirely by Windows 7 sounds. I thought that it was pretty impressive...
-Oh and finally:

there will always be

a flower petal
that doesn't belong.
a lavender piece
that's made it way this far,

but really,
never quite fit.

days and days
the endless feeling of being out of place.

people look at the petal
and wonder why
it doesn't just fall
it would be much more beautiful...without.

more days
and the petal decides
that maybe it's time.
slowly and gracefully to the ground
it falls.
now, on the white windowsill
there is a small speck of purple.
that same lavender piece
that once never really belonged...
but now they stop for a second
and
stare.

see, the thing about this petal
is that it's beautiful

by itself.