tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5529265218875630832024-02-19T03:15:51.633-08:00Perks of Being a ReaderA blog dedicated to fangirling over books, specifically YA books. Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-82620902373502849642016-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:002017-06-24T04:42:23.134-07:00Waiting on Wednesday #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release date: March 28, 2017<br />
Book: Strange the Dreamer<br />
Author: Laini Taylor<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f8ded2">The Basics:Strange the Dreamer is the story of:<br /> <br />the aftermath of a war between gods and men<br />a mysterious city stripped of its name<br />a mythic hero with blood on his hands<br />a young librarian with a singular dream<br />a girl every bit as perilous as she is imperiled<br />alchemy and blood candy, nightmares and godspawn, moths and monsters, friendship and treachery, love and carnage.<br />Welcome to Weep.</span></blockquote>
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Add it on<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28145767-strange-the-dreamer" target="_blank"> Goodreads</a><br />
Pre-order on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Dreamer-Laini-Taylor/dp/0316341681" target="_blank">Amazon </a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a9d6cf;">Why do I</span></span></i></span><i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a9d6cf;"> want to read it?</span></span></i></h4>
Laini Taylor is an amazing writer and I'm in love with her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. I have no doubt that this book will be just as awesome and enchanting. I know that this book comes out pretty much within the year but as soon as I saw it I just had to make sure it was on my WOW as soon as possible.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a9d6cf;">What Are You Waiting On?</span></span></i><br />
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a><br />
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-79968671226227906452016-07-11T22:00:00.000-07:002016-07-30T02:37:55.860-07:00Top Ten Facts About Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've had this blog for a while and throughout the two years I've spent blogging I've mentioned a lot of random things about me and my life, both if which are relativity uninteresting. However I am kind of excited to share some facts about moi, random as they may be. So without further ado here are my ten facts about myself.<br />
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10. <b>I danced ballet for 7 years.</b> I started dancing when I was about four and on and off until I was around 15. I did pointe for about a year and half before I stopped dancing ballet. It was something i really enjoyed and miss doing.<br />
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9. <b>My top three current summer jams</b> are "Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande, "The Sound" by The 1975, and "Boyfriend" by Tegan and Sara.<br />
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8. <b>The one book I could re-read</b> all the time is<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28149981-revolution" target="_blank"><u> Revolution</u> </a>by Jennifer Donnelly. I talk about this book ALL the time on this blog. I've mentioned it in other TTT posts and countless others. If you haven't picked it up I highly recommend that you do.<br />
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7. <b>I'm the type of person that always </b>has to flip over pennies if they are not head up. I'm not particularly superstitious or anything but for some reason this is a thing that I do and do often.<br />
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6. <b>I'm obsessed with bullet journaling.</b> After spending some time on the studyblr tag on tumblr I decided to try bullet jounraling and I am obsessed. It's fun and keeps you organized.<br />
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5. <b>I've been to 9 (going on 10) concerts. </b>I've been very privleged and lucky to have been able to go and continue to go to concerts. My 10th concert is actually going to be Coldplay. I'm VERY excited.<br />
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4. <b>My go to shoes are booties with heels. </b>I don't know what it is about short boots with heels, but they seem to make every outfit better.<br />
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3. <b>I saw Captain America: Civil War TWICE.</b> I love marvel and I love the Captain America franchise. The movies are amazing and I haven't been able to stop talking about this movie since I first got into the Cap fandom which was roughly a year ago.<br />
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2. <b>The top five fandoms that I always talk about are </b><br />
<ol>
<li>Harry Potter</li>
<li>Marvel</li>
<li>Clexa (not to be confused with The 100)</li>
<li>The Infernal Devices</li>
<li>Black Sails</li>
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1. <b>I'm going to university in the fall. </b>I have roughly two months before I leave and start university. I'm really excited and can't wait to meet new people, do stupid things, and take classes I want to take. It's going to be such an amazing experience :)<br />
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-38837509687386882202016-06-13T23:24:00.000-07:002016-06-13T23:25:40.536-07:00Top Ten LGBT Late 2016 Releases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to start off by saying how horrified and saddened I am by hate in this world and the people who let it drive them. This past weekend, as many of you know, Pulse, a gay club, was attacked. 50 were killed and 53+ were injured. The LGBT+ community was attacked during a month that celebrates love as it is, in a safe space they found happiness in, with people they loved and cared for. We must all stand together and stay strong for those who can't, for those we lost, and those who need out support.<br />
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Today I wanted to honor the community and Pride month and list LGBT books that I can't wait to read. </div>
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10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24955343-fjord-blue" target="_blank">Fjord Blue</a> by Nina Rossing. This follows a gay boy after he is shipped to Norway of all places. There he meets Evan, a kind boy with secrets of his own. </div>
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9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28251377-the-best-man" target="_blank">The Best Man</a> by Richard Peck. I honestly think this book is going to be so so cute. Archer's uncle is getting married to his favorite student teacher. Archer is in the 6th grade and the entire book is told from his perceptive. Archer learns about the LGBT community, love, and most importantly what type of person he wants to be.</div>
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8.<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25164304-of-fire-and-stars" target="_blank"> Of Fire and Stars</a> by Audrey Coulthurst. This follows two princesses, one of which is engaged to the Prince, who are trying to find the assassin that turned their worlds upside down. Along the way their admiration turns to friendship which turns to love. </div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1719572333"></span><span id="goog_1719572334"></span><br /></div>
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7. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28371999-the-other-boy" target="_blank">The Other Boy</a> by M.G. Hennessey. Shane woods is a 12 year old trans boy. He finds his niche in middle school but after someone threatens to expose his secrets. He finds strength and confronts the hate and continues life as the person he knows he is. </div>
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6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26530351-here-comes-the-sun" target="_blank">Here Comes the Sun</a> by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn. Margot is ruthlessly determined to shield Thandi, her sister, from the horrors she faced. When plans for a new hotel threaten their village, Margot sees not only an opportunity for her own financial independence but also perhaps a chance to admit a shocking secret: her forbidden love for another woman</div>
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5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28003097-georgia-peaches-and-other-forbidden-fruit" target="_blank">Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit.</a> by Jaye Robin Brown. Joanna has been out for a while but she is soon forced to move to conservative Rome. She tries to lie low but that changes when she meets Mary.</div>
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4.<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27414371-jess-chunk-and-the-road-trip-to-infinity" target="_blank"> Jess, Chunk, and the Road to Infinity </a> by Kristen Elizabeth Clark. Jess and her best friend Chunk take a road trip to Jess's dads wedding. Jess is ready to start her new life as an artist and college student. The last time Jess saw her father she was biologically a boy. During the road trip Jess and Chunk discover new things about each other and their relationship. </div>
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3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25760792-timekeeper" target="_blank">Time Keeper</a> by Tara Sim. This follows Danny who is known for his ability to fix clocks and the very fabric of time. In this world, everything is controlled by clock towers. They assign him to Enfield and assign a new apprentice to him. Their relationship grows, despite it being forbidden. As it turns out Danny's apprentice is the clock tower's spirit. </div>
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2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27158835-you-know-me-well" target="_blank">You Know Me Well</a> by Nina LaCour. and David Levithan. I LOVE Nina LaCour. She has written some of the most profound books I have ever read. When I saw this book I literally died. I want to read this so bad. This follows Kate who just ran away and wants to meet the girl she is in love with and a guy she meets named Mark,who is in love with his best friend.</div>
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1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28220826-when-the-moon-was-ours" target="_blank">When the Moon was Ours : A Novel</a> by Anna-Marie McLemore. I don't really have words to describe this book other than magical. Riddled with fantasy and magic realism, the novel tells the story of Sam, a transgender boy, and Miel. They struggle to protect one another and along the way learn how they wish to define themselves and their lives.<br />
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"Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside."</h4>
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-Lin-Manuel Miranda</h4>
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-70435865196538852782016-06-10T09:30:00.000-07:002016-06-10T09:30:10.038-07:00Book Talk: The Miseducation of Cameron Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Book: The Miseducation of Cameron Post<br />
Author: Emily M. Danforth<br />
Series: No<br />
Number of Pages: 470<br />
Source: My amazing sister<br />
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The Basics:When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they’ll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl. <br />
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But that relief doesn’t last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.<br />
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Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship — one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to ‘fix’ her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self — even if she’s not exactly sure who that is.<br />
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The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.</blockquote>
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My Musings:<br />
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The best part about reading are the characters and stories that stick with you, the ones you remember 10 years after you've read them, the ones you mention in random conversations. Not unlike a fond friend from high school that you mention everyone in a while because you loved them, because they were your person. Cameron is like that for me. I miss her. I miss her sarcasm, her doll house, her adventured with Jamie. I miss her.<br />
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The writing style is great; it never feels stuffy or awkward, it feels natural and real. Something that's been missing from a lot of books I've been reading lately. Danfroth creates really great character that are easy to fall in love with and relate to. The book is broken up into section one for every new part of her life. The book starts out when she is very young and we, as readers, watch her grow and mature, as she enters high school and eventually is sent of to a boarding school to "fix her". It was definitely was frustrating to see Cam go through all the homophobia and backlash to her sexuality. My heart went out to her and it was sad to see her go through that and be so helpless in those situations. I really hope that she is happy somewhere with a girl she loves.<br />
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For me, when I think of Cameron I think of two things:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Dollhouse</li>
<li>Movies</li>
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She is a much more complicated character than this but I loved her little quirks and hobbies and the way they were portrayed because it made her more of a person, a real person, somewhere in the middle of Montana, and that for me is one of the most beautiful parts of this book. The amount of detail in this book is impeccable and I loved that the author took her time to create a world and characters grounded in things everyone can relate to.Seeing her grow up made me more protective of her and even more involved in the story. Safe to say that characterization was on point.</div>
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The plot itself is just...it's great. I have laughed with Cameron, I have cried with Cameron. It has been a hard journey for her and I'm so glad that I read this book and went on this journey with her.</div>
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Overall this book was great. It's a book I really enjoyed but most importantly it's a story that I'll keep with me. It's beautiful and heartbreaking, its frustrating and satisfying. It's a book I think everyone should read. </div>
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-88456982618792132892016-06-03T09:30:00.000-07:002016-06-03T09:30:03.516-07:00Book Talk: A Bitter Pill to Swallow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release Date: January 1, 2016<br />
Book: A Bitter Pill to Swallow<br />
Author: Tiffany Gholar<br />
Source: Author (this doesn't compromise my review)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Basics: On the edge of the Chicago medical district, the Harrison School for Exceptional Youth looks like a castle in a snow globe. Janina has been there since she was ten years old, and now she's fourteen. She feels so safe inside its walls that she's afraid to leave. <br />
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Devante's parents bring him there after a tragedy leaves him depressed and suicidal. Even though he's in a different place, he can't escape the memories that come flooding back when he least expects them. <br />
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Dr. Gail Thomas comes to work there after quitting her medical residency. Frustrated and on the verge of giving up on her dreams, she sees becoming a counselor as her last chance to put her skills to the test. <br />
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When he founded the school, Dr. Lutkin designed its unique environment to be a place that would change the students' lives. He works hard as the keeper of other people's secrets, though he never shares any of his own. <br />
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But everything changes late in the winter of 1994 when these four characters' lives intersect in unexpected ways. None of them will ever be the same.</blockquote>
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Sooo before I start the review I wanted to let y'all know that Perks will now and forever simply be a book blog blogging about booksih things. I decided to start a new blog called <a href="http://ofrosesandrebels.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Of Roses and Rebels </a> to blog about lifestyle things. So go check it out and give me a follow if you want more lifestyle posts from me :) Ok now on to the review...<br />
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My Musings:<br />
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I remember when I got this book in the mail. I was so excited to open it when I saw the cover and actually held the book I died a little. It took me a while to start reading it and this review is really late seeing as it is June. I had no real expectations for this book which Is probably the best way to approach books just because it's easier to be objective and true to the actual quality of the novel.<br />
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It was in my AP Spanish class during a free period that I started this book. I have to say the plot and the basic idea of the novel is amazing. I love that this book deals with mental health and the issues within that world. As a person with an anxiety disorder, I definitely appreciated having characters I could relate to and root for. I also really appreciated the fact that most of the main characters were people of color. That's not something you see in most books which is part of the reason that this book is so special and so amazing. Essentially this follows three people and their relationships and lives. The plot itself is innovative and pretty good. There was no plot holes so it was consistent and innovative. The characters experience so much strife and deal with a lot. I developed a lot of respect for them. I really LOVE that Gholar wrote about these things because it's easy to romanticize mental issues but I really appreciated that she tried to give a more realistic, gritty feel to the novel.<br />
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That being said I wasn't a big fan of the writing style or the characterization of the characters. I felt like I couldn't really connect to the characters and I felt like so many moments in the novel were exaggerated or just to cheesy for me. The set up to some of the characters actions took the seriousness out of those moments and made them a little bit cheesy. For instance, the romance for me was just no. While I think the relationship between Janina and Devante was cute and definitely got better as the book progressed I really didn't like the fact that it was instalovey. I would have preferred seeing them slowly get to know each other rather than just falling in love right away. I definitely would have appreciated their relationships even more.<br />
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I really, really wanted to like this book. And I did love it at times. However, I couldn't really get into it and get pass some of the awkward moments and cheesy bits. The book gets better the more you read, but the initial few chapter and beginning middle were a little harder for me.to get through. <br />
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My Rating:<br />
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-37816834798601230602016-05-31T12:33:00.001-07:002016-05-31T12:57:12.815-07:00Updates and Life Changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been three months since I was last here, at my desk, writing frantically. So I figured I owed y'all an explanation as to why I have been gone for the last few months. It's not just because I was busy because I've been busy and still blogged before.<br />
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Here's the thing about senior year. It goes by so fast and you just have to enjoy the moment. In these last three months I was accepted to several colleges, visited most of those universities, committed to a university, went prom dress shopping, went to prom, cut my hair, studied for finals, took AP's, took finals, went to grad night, and graduated high school. So yeah it's been an intense few months. But I guess I neglected this blog because I wanted to fully dedicate myself to the end of my high school life, after all my graduation was four years in the making.<br />
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That being said, I will be blogging this summer and will continue to blog in college. So I will be blogging on a normal schedule and I'm even thinking about starting a new blog? Let me know what you think about that! I'm really excited for the new the new posts that should be up on here soon! I've really missed being here and talking about books.<br />
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Anyways that's it for this post, Thank you for being patient with me!<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/Perks0fReading" target="_blank">Twitter</a>Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-27226621645180850392016-03-11T09:00:00.000-08:002016-03-11T09:00:16.555-08:00Mourning the Death of a Fictional Character<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are a plethora of fictional character deaths that have killed me and have pushed me into en era of mourning. After watching an episode of The 100, I have found myself back in the abyss of mourning. Now if you watch The 100 and are currently caught up, you know I'm talking about. Now that person's death was messed up not just because it happened but because of the way it happened and the events leading up to it. #lgbtfansdeservebetter.<br />
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<br />1. Denial: NOPE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING. THIS IS A DRILL. <div>
Usually one goes into shock after witnessing or reading the death of a fictional character. Usually I take a step back and try to process the event while crying while pretending it never happened. From here I will finish the T.V episode or stop reading and ignore the fact that someone died. Then I try to create theories where that person comes back to life. This never lasts long because eventually I go on tumblr...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />2.Anger: WHYYYYY???? WHYYY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?????<div>
Now this doesn't always last very long but I get angry. Usually, while on tumblr I meet fellow fans who are just as lost and confused and daze as I am. This daze of shock soon wears off and we get angry because it's just not fair. It never is.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />3.Bargaining: This is the point where you plead for that character to come back. You wish and wish and wish. You try to imagine some new storylines, a better one, one where your fav is not dead. </div>
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<br />Depression:*sniffles* *plays sad music* *holds a box of tissues to chest*</div>
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This typically lasts the longest for me. This is the part where you cry and cry and cry because there is nothing left to do. You mourn the loss of your fav and try to piece yourself backtogether in order to finish that book or that T.V show, or in some cases never return. Both are valid options. By this point I'm still on tumblr because tumblr gets me looking at quotes, gifsets, all of it and crying because that person will never exist in this world again</div>
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<br />Acceptance: I'm glad this person existed, I will miss you.</div>
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Fanfiction is such a lovely thing. Now hear me out, fanfiction might seem like you're not moving on but in reality it's a way for you to allow those characters to live on in a parallel universe or something. By this point you know that they're are gone, but there's no harm in adding to the story. If you are not a fanfiction person then this is the point where you branch out and find another book, movie, show etc that makes you happy. </div>
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Unfortunately there are some fictional deaths we just won't ever get over. But we all go through it and we all make it onto the other side. So what are some fictional deaths you can't get over? how do you cope/not cope?</div>
Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-3595382155024336092016-02-14T11:51:00.000-08:002016-02-14T11:51:32.969-08:0014 Films to Watch on Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Valentine's Day! Today is the day we celebrate all the love in our lives whether it's romantic, familial, or platonic. Personally I think today is a little bit overrated with the roses and the chocolates and the giant teddy bears. You shouldn't really need a day to but someone you care about something sweet. But regardless, I do like this holiday and there are no shortage of romance movies you could watch. Here are a few of my favorite</div>
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1.<b>Stuck in Love. </b></div>
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This is one of my favorite movies ever! It's got everything you could ever really want in a movie. It's cute and funny and tragic. </div>
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2<b>.10 Things I Hate About You.</b> </div>
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How could you not love this movie? </div>
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3.<b>Friends.</b></div>
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Okay I know this is not a movie and I now it's not really in the rom-com section either. But, hear me out on this, it's a great thing to watch with your friends on Valentine's day. It's the perfect binge watching show. </div>
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4. <b>Silver Linings Playbook</b></div>
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I love J-Law and her role in this movie is amazing! This is heavier than the other movies I'll list but I think the story is amazing and why not watch it today?</div>
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5. <b>How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.</b></div>
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This movie is hilarious and adorable!</div>
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6.<b>Imagine Me and You</b></div>
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It's a cute rom-com that I absolutely adore! Some of my favorite quotes come from this movie. </div>
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"Don't Forget me."</div>
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"I won't remember anything else"</div>
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7. <b>Love, Rosie</b></div>
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I rented this movie last year over summer break and I fell in love with it! It takes place in both America and Britain. Its a great story about being in love your best friend at all the wrong times. Plus I'm a sucker for British accents. </div>
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8.<b>50 First Dates</b></div>
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It's one of the few Adam Sandler movies I actually like. </div>
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9. <b>Like Crazy</b></div>
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This is a kind of poetic story about love and relationships and how life makes those relationships work. Its a little frustrating at times but I honestly really enjoyed it!</div>
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10. <b>He's Just Not That Into You</b></div>
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Because how could I not list this movie? </div>
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11.<b> Spanglish.</b></div>
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I first watched this movie with my sister and didn't really get the plot but now that I'm older I really enjoy this movie. </div>
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12.<b> Rent.</b></div>
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Not gonna lie I did cry. I also ended up singing a lot of the songs from this musical. Also not really ashamed about either statement. This is a great movie about a group of people struggling with life but trying to make the most f it by having fun and falling in love. </div>
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13. <b>The Prince and Me.</b></div>
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Don't judge. This is a cute movie,</div>
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14. <b>Shakespeare in Love.</b></div>
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How could I not list this movie! It's a tragic love story about two people who can't be together. Sound familiar?</div>
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-11135891147145251432016-02-12T11:47:00.001-08:002016-02-12T11:47:51.390-08:00Book Talk: This Raging Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release Date:<br />
Book: This Raging Light<br />
Author: Estelle Laure<br />
Series: No<br />
Number of Pages: 288<br />
Source: Netgalley (I received this book in exchange for an honest review)<br />
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The Basics:Can the best thing happen at the worst time?
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Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23208417-this-raging-light" target="_blank">Add it on goodreads </a><br />
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My Musings:<br />
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When I was perusing on netgalley I came across this book and I thought it looked really interesting. Plus I love contemporary novels. To be honest I haven't read a good fantasy novel in a really long time, but that's beside the point. I requested this book not really realizing the buzz surrounding it. I'm so very happy I was able to read this book! It's honestly so good!<br />
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Books about heavy topics have to be done well or else they come across cheesy, dramatic, and overdone. The premise of the book is very heavy and dark at times. But the way the author went about it made it realistic and easy to empathize with. I loved the story line. I think it's a story that's important to tell and the way Laure did it was perfect. I kept waiting for some sort of happy ending but there's really not. If anything Lucille's life just kept getting worse. She took blow after blow and I think that instead of overdoing writing, the author allowed the story to unfold simply and without forcing it. That, for me, made it such an amazing read!<br />
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The whole theme of the book is too keep fighting even when everything seems to falling apart anyways. The characters each had their own struggles, their own obstacles to overcome and the way they came together to help one another was so inspiring. The characters are beautifully developed and showcased. Lucille's best friend is my favorite even though you really don't get to see her too often. I think that she represents the person we all want to have in our lives; kind hearted, funny, and supportive. Digby is great, for the most part. None of the characters are without flaws and I think that those imperfections only add to the story!<br />
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One of my favorite parts of the book is the way relationships are developed. The parents here lean to much on Lucille and that takes it's toll on her, and leads to this big falling apart moment. But the relationship is not without love, it's just twisted and unbalanced. Lucille's relationship with her sister is my favorite relationship in the book. It's this give and take that is so heartwarming. For the actual romance part of the book, it's a little weird at first but I learned to love it and ultimately ship it!<br />
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Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book! It's a beautifully tragic story about strength, love, and life. Whether you like contemporary or not, this book is a must read!<br />
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Coffee for this book: Okay no coffee today because this book requires something a little more comforting. A nice cup of lavender tea is perfect for this! Am I the only one who thinks tea just makes everything better?</div>
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-5284147986576245882016-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:002016-02-08T21:26:43.661-08:00Top Ten Fictional Quotes about Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my last TTT I talked about my favorite ships of the moment, Clexa taking the number one spot. This week is another love centered post. I'm actually really excited about this weeks Valentines inspired post and I'm happy to combine it with my love for quotes. </div>
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10. "For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary", </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10964.Outlander" target="_blank">Outlander</a> by Diana Gabaldon. </div>
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9. "We accept the love we think we deserve", </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower" target="_blank">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</a>, by Stephen Chbosky. </div>
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8. "I fell in love with you the way you fall asleep: slowly then all at once", </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars" target="_blank">The Fault in our Stars</a> by John Green. </div>
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7. "So I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you" </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/865.The_Alchemist" target="_blank">The Alchemist</a> by Paulo Coelho.</div>
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6. "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6185.Wuthering_Heights" target="_blank">Wuthering Heights</a> by Emily Bronte</div>
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5. "When we are in love we are both completely in danger and completely saved."</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18140047-love-letters-to-the-dead" target="_blank">Love Letters to the Dead </a>by Ava Dellaira</div>
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4. " <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3777732-city-of-glass" target="_blank">I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I will love you then</a>" </div>
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City of Glass by Cassandra Clare</div>
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3. "Love, it never dies. It never goes away, it never fades, so long as you hang on to it. Love can make you immortal" </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4374400-if-i-stay" target="_blank">If I Stay</a>, by Gayle Forman</div>
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2. "You are not the last dream of my soul.You are the first dream, the only dream I ever was unable to stop myself from dreaming. You are the first dream of my soul, and from that dream I hope will come all other dreams, a lifetime’s worth."</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince" target="_blank"> Clockwork Prince</a>, by Cassandra Clare</div>
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1. "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.",</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Sonnet XVII, by</span> Pablo Neruda. (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11339.100_Love_Sonnets" target="_blank">100 Love Sonnets</a>)</div>
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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and Bookish</a><br />
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Love,<br />
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-56195793189222308942016-02-08T08:30:00.000-08:002016-02-08T08:30:22.152-08:00Book Talk: Pixelated by L.S. Murphy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release Date: June 30 2015<br />
Book: Pixelated<br />
Author: L.S Murphy<br />
Series: no<br />
Number of Pages: 226<br />
Source: I received an epub from the author (This has no bearing on my review)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Basics:
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Senior Year.<br />
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Middle of nowhere.<br />
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What's the new girl to do?<br />
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For Piper Marks, the answer is simple. She’s determined to have her photography rock the cover of National Geographic someday, and moving to Clarkton, Iowa for her last year of high school is not going to stop her. Even if her usual subjects have changed from bright lights and skyscrapers to fields, cows…and more fields. <br />
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But when photographer at the local paper quits in a huff, she steps into his spot. Her new job keeps Piper busy capturing tackles, and zooming in on first downs and end zone dances, not to mention putting her directly in the path of varsity football star Les Williams IV. Her new friends warn her off, but she can’t resist the pull she feels toward this mysterious country boy. But this small town is keeping a secret, and it’s one that could destroy any chance they have to be together. <br />
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It’s up to Piper to decide what to do with the distorted truth. Can she risk exposing her heart? It might be worth it, 'cause Les is about to change her world from black and white to fully saturated color.</blockquote>
My Musings:<br />
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So I first received this book over summer break and finally was able to read it over winter break and am now finally reviewing it. The reason I said I would review this book was because I was starting my senior year I could relate with the book a lot better. There are a lot of great qualities about the book that I really enjoyed but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped nor was it as good as I wanted it to be,<br />
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First things first: the problems I had with the book. For me it moved slowly at first and didn't really pick up until close to the end of the novel. In fact once it was over I couldn't really believe it was over. The pacing was sporadic and not in a good way. That being said there were parts where I just had to keep reading and find out what happened, but for a large part of the novel I just felt a little bored. My only real issue with the romance is that it's kinda a insta-lovey situation. It wasn't a classic case of insta love, but it did start off that way. There were parts of the romance I enjoyed but it was also really cheesy, sometimes the good kind sometimes the bad kind. This novel is really cheesy and it made it really hard to relate to Piper because a lot of things felt fake. It was hard for me to see genuineness in her friends (past and present) and in her school troubles. In fact the only really developed character is Piper. The writing style was good for the most part, the only issue I had and I think is the cause of the cheesiness, is that it feels like it's trying too hard. Like it can't quite capture the teenager of it all so it goes overboard a little.<br />
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Now for the things I did like about the novel. It was surprisingly funny. Piper is kind of hilarious and her internal monologues and rants are pretty similar to mine, now that I come to think of it. The humor is spot on and one of my favorite parts of the novel. I also really liked how the author portrayed Piper's family life. Her parents were somewhat realistic, but I think the little plot twist at the end made the characters more likable and respectable. Looking back on it, the parents and family situation were portrayed really well and I think that it was woven into the story line rather well. That being said, while i'm not a big fan of the romance, there were many moments I thought were cute. While the initial start of it was too insta love for me, the relationship did develop in a cute and good way. Lastly, the plot was good, It was developed pretty well despite the slow start. The plot, while centers around the romance, does a good job of incorporating other things.<br />
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Overall, the book was decent. It's not my favorite but I did have fun reading it. There were a few issues but if cheesy novels are your thing then this is a good option for you.<br />
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My Rating:<br />
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Coffee for this book: A dirty chai latte, trust me it's got enough caffeine and enough sweetness to compliment the book.</div>
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-87944138900145005962016-02-01T09:30:00.000-08:002016-02-01T09:30:00.571-08:00Motivational Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First Motivational Monday of the year! To be quite frank it's the first one in a long time. Recently I've started my second semester of my senior year. This means two things.<br />
1) Senoritis is starting to hit me.<br />
2) I'm really nostalgic.<br />
The first thing kinda gives me more time to think therefore increasing the rate of the second thing. If that makes sense. I've played most of my high school life safe. I've focused on trying to get into different colleges, dreaming of my future college days. However, I've had my fair share of failures. I've failed at tiny things that only I remember and I've failed spectacularly that still haunt me to this day. But those moments I think have created stories and shaped me.<br />
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So this week go do you. Be happy, take failure in stride, have pride in your successes. Go make stories that you can tell your grand kids too. Failure is not a bad thing, it's a learning experience, a funny story, or both.Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-42242943706812276512016-01-25T22:00:00.000-08:002016-01-26T07:53:02.451-08:00Top Ten Fictional Ships at the Moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a professional fangirl I have amounted my fair share of ships. For those of you who don't know what a ship is, it's a relationship you really like and support. I have many ships and to be honest I'm sure that there are many I forgot and that at some point this list will change. But as of right now these are my top ten fictional ships.<br />
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Disclaimer: while I love all these ships with all of my fangirl heart, I want to say that there's more to all of their stories than just romantic relationships.<br />
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Honorable Mentions: <b>Elena and Damon</b> from The Vampire Diaries, <b>Jemma and Fitz</b> from Agents of Shield, and <b>Blair and Chuck</b> from Gossip Girl.<br />
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10. <b>Hannah and Caleb</b> from Pretty Little Liars.<br />
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9. <b>Rose and Dimitri from Vampire Academy.</b> I have to admit I had a giant book crush on Dimitri. I really loved this series and this relationship still remains one of my top ships.<br />
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8. <b>Tessa and Will and Jem from The Infernal Devices.</b> Yes I know that there are three people in this ship. I ship Jessa and Wessa all the same. It's so hard to choose one or the other.<br />
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7. <b>Meredith and Derek from Grey's Anatomy</b>. I'm a giant fan of this show and although I've hated them both at different points of the emotional roller coaster that is Grey's Anatomy, they both fit so well together.<br />
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6. <b>Cath and Levi from Fangirl.</b> They are too cute and I can't even.<br />
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5.<b> Lincoln and Octavia from The 100</b>. This is one of my favorite shows of all time and Linctavia is one of my favorite ships ever.<br />
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4. <b>Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes</b>. Bucky and Steve is the only couple on this list that isn't cannon and maybe won't ever be. But the truth of the matter is they are a great team. They both mean the world to the other and would do anything to help each other out. That being said I LOVE Peggy and I ship Peggy and Steve hardcore as well.<br />
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3. <b>Mara Dyer and Noah Shaw.</b> Noah Shaw gave me really high expectations in the guy department and remains my biggest book crush ever. That being said, Mara is one of my favorite characters ever! I love these two so much.<br />
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2. <b>Finn and Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. </b>OMG! I love these two so much! TFA is a really good movie and I really enjoyed it. I love Finn so much, he is on of my favorite characters ever. Rey, on the other hand, I love just as much. They work so well together! I can't wait for the next installment!<br />
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1. <b>Clarke and Lexa from The 100.</b> I love their dynamic and the way they relate to each other. The politics of it all complicate their relationship but I feel like at the end of they day they understand each other in a way that no one else really does. I am I die hard Clexa fan and I'm so beyond excited for whats in store for this season!<br />
<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-32413943962147446162016-01-19T22:00:00.000-08:002016-01-19T22:00:05.847-08:00Waiting on Lady Midnight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release Date: March 8 2016<br />
Book: Lady Midnight<br />
Series: Yes<br />
Author: Cassandra Clare<br />
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The Basics:
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Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.
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Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.
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The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25494343-lady-midnight" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads </a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a9d6cf;">Why do I</span></span></i></span><i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a9d6cf;"> want to read it?</span></span></i></h4>
It's Cassandra Clare. It's Shadowhunters. That means I have to read it. I really like Cassandra Clare's writing style and the way she creates lovable characters to root for and swoon for.I'm really excited for a new taste of the shadowhunter world. I have a feeling this is going just as epic as her previous books.<br />
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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a9d6cf;">What Are You Waiting On?</span></span></i><br />
<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-45432671845933622332016-01-18T11:43:00.000-08:002016-01-18T11:45:01.497-08:00Book Talk: The Trouble with Destiny <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release Date: December 8,2015<br />
Book:The Trouble with Destiny<br />
Author: Lauren Morrill<br />
Source: Netgalley ( I received this in exchange for an honest review)<br />
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The Basics:<b>
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<b>It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey... </b><br />
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With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize. <br />
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Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition.<br />
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But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea.<br />
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My Musings:<br />
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To be quite honest with you I didn't think I was going to like this book. I thought it was going to be a cheesy romance filled with cliches. I don't know why I picked this book to be honest but I did pick it up and I'm happy I did.<br />
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Now I wasn't totally wrong about this book being cheesy. It is. Very much so. But please don't let that deter you from reading the book. There's a lot more to it than romance and unrealistic scenarios. The writing style, while not special, creates the interesting and laugh out loud voice of Liza. I think it was her voice that made it easy to relate to her. She's neurotic, nerdy, and sarcastic. I think the voice of the story is a large part of why I really liked the book.<br />
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Furthermore, characterization is pretty good. We get to see Liza go through a lot and she proves to be really strong but oblivious. I love Liza, I feel like if she went to my high school we would be friends. She's very real and you get to see multiple levels. But I feel like she's the only person we get to see on multiple dimensions. Most of her friends serve to help the plot or the smaller issues within the story line. I honestly think that this was the biggest problem with the book and the reason why it felt cheesy. You only got to see one side of most of the characters, which I guess makes sense considering that the plot only really revolves around a few people. However, eventually you get to see different side to Demi, which was predictable but nice to see all the same. I think that because this book is as much character driven as it is plot driven, characterization was focused on Liza.<br />
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That being said, I really did enjoy the book. The plot was funny, cute, and most importantly relatable. I actually really liked the plot. I thought it was such an amazing journey. Liza had her eyes set on the prize and honestly I really admired for dedication to the band. I was rooting for Liza the entire time, really hoping that the band would win. Romance, however, was just as important as the money needed to save the band. The romance was cute and all but I wasn't the biggest fan of it. It was predictable and to be honest you say one side of it for the entire novel. Then all of a sudden the other realizes they have feelings for the other. Like I said there were a lot of cute moments and I do ship them, I'm just not the biggest fan of it. As for the band plot, I really liked it. I liked the rivalry, the drama within the band, the way Liza fought for her band. This aspect of the story was on point and I did like how the romance was intertwined with the main part of the plot.<br />
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Overall, it was a good book. It was cheesy but the good kind. The romance was cute at times but not my favorite. I did like Liza and I loved how realtable she was. It was a good story if you want a nice fluffy read.<br />
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<b>Coffee for this book: Machiato</b><br />
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-2306107226352201202016-01-11T23:36:00.000-08:002016-01-18T11:45:01.483-08:00Top Ten Books I Never Got To Read in 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjTZgK82YdWDbGomcjNmrtpkYmpkAEe7we9cPTYZ5ZinyPYphdVpGKLml6cemTWz2oDROSKemVBb8bgnuY5wTfIl7KAw059zoqF-AIZhqaoxMUkjdB52j6jJ5kLFW-kZ6866qdhI8pgsO/s640/top+ten+tuesday+ttt.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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So I have been gone for a LONG time. I've been hit with college application, waves of school work, and the holidays. It's been an interesting and very busy few months and to be quite honest with you, I'm surprised I'm alive. That being said because of all the crazy of 2015, I actually didn't get to read a lot, which is very very sad. Thankfully, the few books I did read where fantastic! Now without further ado, here are the books I wanted to read but never did<br />
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1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17661416-made-you-up" target="_blank">Made You Up</a> by Francesca Zappia</div>
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2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17285330-the-last-time-we-say-goodbye" target="_blank">The Last Time We Say Goodbye</a> by Cynthia Hand.</div>
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3.<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17878931-red-queen" target="_blank"> Red Queen</a> by Victoria Aveyard</div>
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4.<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22465597-vanishing-girls" target="_blank"> Vanishing Girls</a> by Lauren Oliver</div>
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5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23734628-carry-on" target="_blank">Carry On</a> by Rainbow Rowell</div>
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6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16096824-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses" target="_blank">A Court of Thorns and Rose</a>s by Sarah J. Mass</div>
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7.<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18879761-i-was-here" target="_blank"> I was Here</a> by Gayle Foreman </div>
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8. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560137-an-ember-in-the-ashes" target="_blank">An Ember in the Ashes</a> by Sabaa Tahir</div>
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9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18300869-city-of-savages" target="_blank">City of Savages</a> by Lee Kelly</div>
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10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23399192-rook" target="_blank">Rook</a> by Shannon Cameron</div>
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-89440596966704511082015-12-21T13:08:00.001-08:002015-12-21T13:15:09.489-08:00Letter to December #2<h2>
Dear December,</h2>
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It feels like a long time since I last talked to you but it's only really been a week and a half. And how eventful was that week and a half. I volunteered to put together care packages for families in need, I took my finals, I went Christmas present shopping, I went to Disneyland. It's been great! Let me tell you this month has been a whirlwind of craziness and it's not even over yet.</div>
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For the past four years I've been part of a club that allows it's members to give back to it's community. This is really important to me. Every year since I've been a part of it I've been part of our holiday drive. It's our biggest event and my personal favorite. While our packaging day is long and crazy it's so worth it. That day was a really long day but it was great to be able to give back and do something meaningful. After packaging was over I went to my little brother's bad concert which was great except he missed the first song because he was late. *shakes head*. He's had a run of bad luck recently. But once he showed up on stage, he did really well. </div>
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I've now been to Disneyland a total of three times; once when I was too young to remember, once when I went with my middle school band, and once last Friday. I think there's something to be said about feeling an infinite sort of moment. The entire day felt like a dream. I went on roller coasters and little kiddie rides and I felt really happy. I loved being able to be a kid and have fun without a regard about what comes next. That's what I love about you, December, I have the liberty to be as childish as I wish and be happy within that scope. I can be crazy about my holiday decorating, I can wear a a whipped cream mustache without being embarrassed, I can find the joy in the little details and smile like a dork. December is a time where you can look back and be happy about the year you've had, the past years you've lived, and find your inner kid amidst all the holiday cheer. </div>
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I'm listening to Christmas music and i'm freaking out about college apps. With one chapter of my senior done and sealed with the end of my exams it's bloody insane to think that I'm at the end of my high school career. While high school is not something I would willingly relive, it's still bittersweet to be at the end, about to leave. Finals, as usual were stressful, but there was a new tinge of finality to these exams that made me both REALLY happy and sort of sad. </div>
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A week and a half. That's all it took to end a chapter, to start a new one, to go to the happiest place on earth. December, you've been good to me, so thanks.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-45210594123208927722015-12-07T09:30:00.000-08:002015-12-07T09:30:01.537-08:00Book Talk: These Shallow Graves <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Release Date: October 27, 2015<br />
Book: These Shallow Graves<br />
Author: Jennifer Donnelly<br />
Number of Pages: 496<br />
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The Basics:Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.<br />
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Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.<br />
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The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.<br />
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The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.<br />
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My Thoughts and Musings:<br />
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When I first saw this book on netgalley I fangirled because of the author. I LOVE Jennifer Donnelly, Her writing style is beautiful and lyrical. I love how she weaves stories and how she makes characters come to life. I was really excited to see and even more excited to have the chance to read it. Due college apps among other things I had to put off reading it until recently and now have finally read and fallen in love with it.<br />
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The plot is impeccable. I absolutely loved all of it. Donnely has an amazing way of creating a world and story that feels really real. The plot is original and different. It has social commentary for the time as well allusions to well known people and events of the time period. I love the depiction of society and the way Jo's world and the "real" world contrasts. The storyline is so fluid that it is able to take so many turns. Jo's journey to find the truth about her father becomes this giant thing that encompasses her world. Within this journey to find the truth about her father's death she also finds the truth about love and even herself. She discovers that her world is as broken as the one outside of it, just with a better, more beautiful facade. Jo has been sheltered and protected and has never seen the world for all that it is. She's seen the good, golden, happy bits and through this journey she is able to realize she was right in wanting more than what was being given or rather forced upon her. I love everything about the story line. It is well developed and intriguing, trust me you'll want to stay up reading it! The plot twists are mind blowing!<br />
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I can definitely relate to Jo. And I think that's why I love this book so much. Most of the characters are like that. Characterization is on point. You get to see different sides to different characters. Jo is strong but has her moments when she's not as strong. Jo is sweet, but also a badass. Eddie is snarky know it all, but a kind soul. Theres so many aspects to the characters that it's very easy to fall into the story. Like I already said I loved the social commentary and the secondary characters really helped drive that point in. Fay and Tumblr are kids that were taken in by a man and as a result they are forced to steal and the like in order to make him money. These characters where some of the most heartbreaking to read about but also the most inspiring. Fay is one of those characters that while doesn't have a lot of space in the book, makes a really big impact.<br />
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As for the romance...not gonna lie I loved it but it's also very frustrating. Eddie is kind of a jerk at first but once he lets his guard down, he's hard not to love. The love story is secondary to everything else going on in the book, which I loved. It allowed other things to shine and never overpowered the book. It was well developed and sweet. It was a little bit cliche with the whole "not part of the same social class thing" but I think it fit in with the social commentary of the time. I think that this part of the book was really powerful in showing how girls of the time period were treated and how they were stripped of their own free will at times (no matter the social class). Eddie never treats Jo differently, which is a big reason why I love him and why I ship them!<br />
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Overall this book is awesome and you should read it!<br />
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-84183777834199219272015-12-04T08:30:00.000-08:002015-12-04T08:30:01.187-08:00Letters To December #1<div>
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Dear December,</h2>
Life has been all sorts of crazy. It's a miracle I'm even alive at this point. But it's December again and I'm writing to you again. I can't believe it's been a year, so much has happened, so much has changed. I've grown and become a different me than I was last year. <div>
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I'm so glad it's December. I love the chill in the air and the sweaters that come with the gloomier days (although it's always sunny in SoCal). I've been waiting to start my letters to you for a while and I'm so glad to start again. December, you are my favorite month. It's busy yes, with finals and apps to worry about, but there's a certain lightheartedness, a happiness that only really comes out when it's a little colder and Christmas lights up. </div>
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There are so many people that don't like winter. They think it's too harsh, too deadly even. I love it though. I love the dark, long nights. I even can see the beauty in the bear tree's. I think Winter is a time of peace, of reflection, of dreaming. Even as the year draws to a close I can feel myself excited to make the most of the end of 2015.<br /><div>
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I've been thinking a lot about the future, or rather fearing it.With one batch of college apps in and another in the works I can't help but wonder how different my life will look like a year from now. I haven't been able to appreciate the time I have because I'm to busy worried about all the "what ifs". To be honest I'm a little scared. Mostly i'm excited about going to college and growing more as a person and student, I can't help but be apprehensive and nervous.I spend so much time thinking about the tomorrows that I feel like I've lost a few of my todays. I want to appreciate them more, especially since it's December, the final chapter of this year.</div>
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I guess this letter is more of a mess than I anticipated. But December, I want you to know that i'm excited about what this month will bring. I might be nervous and stuff but I think I can put that aside long enough to enjoy the things I love about this month. Like the hot tea and blankets; the sweaters and scarves; the jolly warmth of coming home after a cold day out; the laughter that comes with playing in rain. </div>
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It's nice to see you,</div>
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Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-10923427873179450632015-11-13T08:00:00.000-08:002015-11-13T08:00:05.475-08:00Top Five Superstitions<div style="text-align: center;">
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It's Friday the thirteenth which is bad luck. I'm not really a superstitious person but I thought this would be a fun post to do today. Yes I have been planning this one for a while. So without ado here are my top five superstitions.<br />
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1.Finding a penny heads up = goodluck. I kid you not, if I see one tails up I will flip it over for someone else to pick up. This is one of the few that I actually do practice. I'm not sure I believe the whole "luck" thing but I think it's a nice thought to find one or to help someone else get some "luck"<br />
<br />2.Opening umbrellas indoors is badluck. I may not think it's true but I'm definitely not going to test that hypothesis.<div>
<br />3.Knock on wood. No one wants to jinx themselves. Better be safe than sorry right?<br /></div>
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4.Breaking a mirror = 7 years bad luck. So apparently Romans believed that humans were renewed in 7 year cycles and because a persons soul and reflection were intertwined when a person's reflection was shattered so was their soul, until the seven years were up. </div>
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5. Sneezing. I read this book once that said that when you sneeze your soul leaves your body for a little bit. So to protect your soul someone has to say "bless you" or the like. I did some research and that seems to be the common consensus on this one. </div>
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<br />Here are my top five! What are yours? </h2>
Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-43880476456455544752015-10-31T10:48:00.001-07:002015-10-31T13:49:50.089-07:00Happy Halloween: My Costume<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"This is Halloween, this is Halloween</div>
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Pumpkins scream in the dead of night</div>
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This is Halloween, everybody make a scene</div>
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Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright</div>
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It's our town, everybody scream</div>
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In this town of Halloween"</div>
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So it's Halloween which means I have a costume ready to show you. I'm actually really excited for this costume! So this year I'm... JEMMA SIMMONS</div>
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"It's true what the other guys say-- you are the smartest person to come through here."</div>
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"Is that what they say? Yeah, well, Simmons is probably smarter, technically, but that's because she likes homework more than life itself."- Fitz</div>
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"I have a duty to you, sir, as my commanding officer. But I also have a duty as a S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist to pursue this, to save lives!" - Simmons</div>
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"It's science, Fitz! I have to dissect something!"- Simmons</div>
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"Nine of the longest days of my life. When it finally broke, he couldn't speak. He just stared at me, confused. All I wanted to do was help him. All I wanted was... My best friend back."-Simmons</div>
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I've been obsessed with Agents of Shield and I love Jemma. She's just plain awesome. This costume was pretty easy to recreate and I had fun talking in a British all day. My friends dressed up as other SHIELD agents so it was amazing. Shout out to my friend who made my badge and my ID card!! </div>
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Hope you have an awesome Halloween filled with candy and spooky movies! </div>
Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-53413597188123882972015-10-28T09:30:00.000-07:002015-10-28T16:36:51.124-07:00Simple, Easy Halloween Costume Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's that time of year when those of us who lose track of time, or are lazy, realize that Halloween is coming and we don't have a costume. This year I actually had some time to figure out a costume but it fell through because finding a 1940's suit is actually really hard to find. So I went with a new costume which I will reveal on Saturday! Anyways, here are some easy costumes you could pull together.<br />
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<li>A SHIELD agent</li>
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXJ_8AAMAHPquNVfMyT_Q1vFHHltMNLSTgXHftw1v_O7lK-fWtNwqg78q0VUUsLBXRFGXd5tnuaWTyt3gtqZtcA6J64F5eNbI-JeXxIfesL1lTXU2JrBJ_vaRdcY2m96RAe-C8pBKCO99/s1600/shield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXJ_8AAMAHPquNVfMyT_Q1vFHHltMNLSTgXHftw1v_O7lK-fWtNwqg78q0VUUsLBXRFGXd5tnuaWTyt3gtqZtcA6J64F5eNbI-JeXxIfesL1lTXU2JrBJ_vaRdcY2m96RAe-C8pBKCO99/s400/shield.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<li>This is actually a lot easier than you would think. </li>
<li>What you need: Black everything, a leather jacket if possible and some combat boots. You can print a SHIELD logo and stick it onto an ID holder so that you seem like a legit agent. You could also attach the SHIELD logo to your shirt or jacket.</li>
<li>It would also be funny if you went up to random heroes and say "I'm here to talk about the Avenger Initiative"</li>
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<li>A cat/Bear</li>
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQSdAvzV2qjlWZ1ZmDPKvUVDtN35uqT2O5jBfob6BWzUw9la7upSkjwvsVV7Yc9mqU7MgTmtqaruGaWInu-ZbhspNUjBObcpElTSbVzI50h0ch3aoIo_J5f-WSGYqyChPaATn7ZLAKzEY/s1600/pinapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQSdAvzV2qjlWZ1ZmDPKvUVDtN35uqT2O5jBfob6BWzUw9la7upSkjwvsVV7Yc9mqU7MgTmtqaruGaWInu-ZbhspNUjBObcpElTSbVzI50h0ch3aoIo_J5f-WSGYqyChPaATn7ZLAKzEY/s320/pinapple.jpg" width="213" /></a>
<li>Ik this one is soo overdone, but it is really simple to do.</li>
<li>What you need: Wear all brown or all black. You could totally make this cute and wear a skirt, dot and knee high socks, or casual with a t-shirt and leggings. As for the ears I think this would be<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQmbNe-0Xfs" target="_blank"> cool </a></li>
</ul>
<li>A pineapple</li>
<ul>
<li>What you need: A yellow dress and a green headband and green construction paper. All you have to do is cut strands and attach it to the headband so that they stand up</li>
</ul>
<li>Miranda Sings</li>
<ul>
<li>What you need: lots of red lipsticks, an oversize shirt and red sweatpants. </li>
</ul>
<li>A Super Hero</li>
<ul>
<li>This is also a little overdone but I think it's pretty cute. </li>
<li>What you need: A tutu, tights, and your superhero of choice t-shirt.</li>
</ul>
<li>A Unicorn</li>
<ul>
<li>What you need: something white and a DIY horn which you could learn to make <a href="http://www.howtogal.com/2014/08/how-to-make-unicorn-horn-headband.html" target="_blank">here</a>. You could also make a simpler unicorn headband with construction paper and an old headband</li>
</ul>
<li>Sam/Dean Winchester</li>
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLyOGiiAby9T68gaInEcGNIMzo02lVUw7LE1HOU-dwGb7QYw5PSF2_TbyG9ym7fnfV11laqiAMv_vv_HbcOKGXD24xuwtnHaGB21KOvMvsTQSe089_2DyzCkNUGlschregUQEfwN5Y80W/s1600/WIN_20141031_180100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLyOGiiAby9T68gaInEcGNIMzo02lVUw7LE1HOU-dwGb7QYw5PSF2_TbyG9ym7fnfV11laqiAMv_vv_HbcOKGXD24xuwtnHaGB21KOvMvsTQSe089_2DyzCkNUGlschregUQEfwN5Y80W/s400/WIN_20141031_180100.JPG" width="400" /></a>
<li>I was Sam last year and it was pretty easy to recreate. All you need for same is a flannel either an olive coat or brown leather jacket, jeans and combat boots.</li>
<li>For Dean you need a black tee, a flannel or leather jacket, jeans and combat boots. </li>
<li>You can also make yourself an FBI badge to go along with the costume. </li>
</ul>
</ol>
Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-78914945363762877622015-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:002015-10-28T17:14:31.185-07:00Quotes and Things: Growing Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-QDRdQy_DSzvlbQw-OeU4m3sOMbVmwStykxS_tThf0UwqRU9Yg4Fl_yCCoMYO7LCA8gvKPQXR8kwec6ZdOUosccOcMOzlq4Mb6T8Zz0tM1f9ZakO7PF5n8eMklxE7HvDbTHTTWvC2QmC/s1600/mM+this+is+where+I+leave+uu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Perks of Being readers" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-QDRdQy_DSzvlbQw-OeU4m3sOMbVmwStykxS_tThf0UwqRU9Yg4Fl_yCCoMYO7LCA8gvKPQXR8kwec6ZdOUosccOcMOzlq4Mb6T8Zz0tM1f9ZakO7PF5n8eMklxE7HvDbTHTTWvC2QmC/s640/mM+this+is+where+I+leave+uu.jpg" title="Growing up:Perks Of Being Readers" width="640" /></a></div>
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I started this post with the intention of doing a motivational Monday post then realized that this was more of a rant/opinion/here are my thoughts on this quote thing. To be frank this post feels a little all over the place but it sas fun to write so i hope ita fun to read.<br />
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This quote is one of my favorites from one of my favorite movies and books "This Is Where I Leave You". I watched the movie first and just had to read this book. This quote stood out to me because I could relate to it, it struck a chord, cheesy as that sounds.<br />
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This is my senior year. The last year of the most stressful years of my life to date, then again I've only been alive for 17 years. I keep waiting for all of that to just hit me. For me to just wake up and realize that soon i'm going to have to try to be a functioning adult, It's probably not even going to actually hit me until I'm at prom, at graduation, at move in day. I'm going to look back and realize that I'v actually grown up already. That I've let go of being a kid. And it's sad. It's sad to think about the things I've given up, that everyone has to give up to be an adult, to be grown up. It sucks so much. Just because I'm turning 18 next year doesn't mean I'm full fledged adult, it just means I have to take care of more things and let go childish notions and ideas. It's sad.<br />
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It's sad when you realize Santa Clause isn't real. Or when Halloween becomes less about dressing up for fun and getting candy and more about parties. Or when you realize your parents aren't perfect. It's a sad regardless of what type of childhood you had. It sucks even more when you have to grow up faster, when you have to face things as they are instead of being carefree. It tragic and sad and it sucks.<br />
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You grow up and you don't even realize it. You grow up everyday and it isn't until you look back that you realized just how much you really changed. I'm different than the freshman me or the 7th grade me. I'm not the same person. We all joke sometimes about how we cringe at our younger selves but it's usually within those laughs and smiles that we realize that somewhere down the line we realized that that hair wasn't for us, that that shirt was a little embarrassing, and that we were a little immature. At that time we were just the purest version of ourselves that we knew how to be. And at the time it was okay. Now we understand what looks good on us, we understand more about fashion, and we understand more about ourselves and life. In someways growing up is not bad because we just become who we are and know ourselves better which is never a bad thing. Thing is we grew up and we grew out of that version of us. We let go of friends and find new people, build a new version of who we think we need to be. Suddenly people's opinion matters more, suddenly the media and society matters more.<br />
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The world tends to want to mess people up. People tend top suck. Growing up tends to be tragic. There's so much trade off happening while the years pass. That's not to say there aren't good moments, but I think sometimes we forget to appreciate those moments as what they are.<br />
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I'm scared to grow up and mess up somewhere down the line. I'm scared of what's going to happen once I've left home and let go of a lot of what defined me as a person. Part of growing up is being able to define yourself through your own terms and that's ten different types of terrifying. Thing is growing up isn't just tragic for me or you it's sad for those who are around us.People watch us become who we are and see what we go through to get there. It's sad to see a kid become jaded. It's not always sad to watch people grow up, but it is sad to let them go once they do.<br />
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I get caught up in the sadness of moving on sometimes. Growing up is sad and tragic but there are good things that come from it. The experiences that force you to mature help serve as examples for future reference, to help teach you more about yourself. Its easy to focus on what I might lose versus the fear of what I might not gain. It's weird . I guess what i'm tying to say is that it's okay to feel sad about this because it is sad. It's okay to be upset and scared and anxious, that's part of growing up, feeling the emotions that you could avoid knowing as a child. 18 isn't a magic number. I'm not going to be an adult just because I'm 18 but list definitely the biggest leap I've taken towards adulthood I've ever taken. It's scary for the most part. Growing up, as sad as it is, is also really terrifying.<br />
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It's important to realize the sadness of growing up but embracing the chance to become someone you want to be in this world. Maybe you want to be extraordinary, or maybe you are okay being ordinary. That's all great. I know I talked a lot about why growing up sucks but I think there's something beautiful in there somewhere. I survived high school, for better or worse the me now has survived the most stressful, and surprisingly not too sucky four years of my life so far. There's something awesome in surviving in thriving, in becoming someone better, someone you could be proud of a few years ago or a few years down the road. There's beauty in tragedy sometimes. Experiences give way to who someone wants to be and we have to take those moments on. Growing up sucks and being an adult on only really a little fun from what I gather, but that doesn't mean something good can't come out of it.<br />
<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-30296303198252850812015-10-18T12:25:00.000-07:002015-10-18T12:25:54.644-07:00How to Wear High Waisted TrousersI've been gone for a while and I'm so sorry for that. I'm going to try and be better with my blogging, but life is just so hectic right now that it's hard to promise anything. So I thought it was about time I did an OOTD for you guys! *Disclaimer this post is sponsored*<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKbFxV99v3XA82AYZ2oTmXZ-eHOkPuyuawxWUS7en6MusND5ogxysBR7Lz0yoDGfLom5Q830CeAeYp_q9nuS9j6vnXDPuSymfB2rjhkirHFUUBSxvskKYqcUir6BkgvuXKpSJ6TOpmow-/s1600/WIN_20151018_105639.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKbFxV99v3XA82AYZ2oTmXZ-eHOkPuyuawxWUS7en6MusND5ogxysBR7Lz0yoDGfLom5Q830CeAeYp_q9nuS9j6vnXDPuSymfB2rjhkirHFUUBSxvskKYqcUir6BkgvuXKpSJ6TOpmow-/s640/WIN_20151018_105639.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So I recently fell in love with high wasited trousers but it took me a while to figure out how to wear them. That's how this post came to be. High wasited trousers look best with crop tops. The length balances out the high wasited-ness.<br />
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I love this crop top because it's super comfortable and easy to pair things with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-ysjJm6gZI1AttRmeXefWzSNBsIs8zTHZLm9-J0pdO0OZTYifDmhCLgsTWcWrL-jvntgup5kR0O6mXDMOt_IyVCKxEUwJZXf7FRlbkV2JFICDSvJ3_JdVbOVGFRAe4LbsfjscAgDFZNw/s1600/WIN_20151018_110339.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-ysjJm6gZI1AttRmeXefWzSNBsIs8zTHZLm9-J0pdO0OZTYifDmhCLgsTWcWrL-jvntgup5kR0O6mXDMOt_IyVCKxEUwJZXf7FRlbkV2JFICDSvJ3_JdVbOVGFRAe4LbsfjscAgDFZNw/s640/WIN_20151018_110339.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL3XAGdxDLg9pXfvqf-FCrRp48J7ltmmDjL6pgjcyQxUOJ_Etd-qlvvGmS2T7ofeNz_Okc4m_nYq-caCDbfxyogPJybnrNxj7cBq4s3fCBn6fX97WX3NgLXT2Dd33hvGvWci112EpqZvf/s1600/WIN_20151018_111618.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL3XAGdxDLg9pXfvqf-FCrRp48J7ltmmDjL6pgjcyQxUOJ_Etd-qlvvGmS2T7ofeNz_Okc4m_nYq-caCDbfxyogPJybnrNxj7cBq4s3fCBn6fX97WX3NgLXT2Dd33hvGvWci112EpqZvf/s640/WIN_20151018_111618.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
You could also do a tighter fitting crop top like this or just a tighter fitting shirt. A cute loose top tucked in would also look really cute.<br />
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White Crop Top: <a href="http://www.dresslink.com/sexy-women-casual-oneck-short-sleeve-solid-beach-crop-tops-short-blouse-with-tassel-p-22900.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Carly94" target="_blank">Dresslink</a><br />
Blue Crop Top: <a href="http://www.dresslink.com/stylish-ladies-women-sexy-polka-dot-sleeveless-back-zipper-crop-top-tank-top-p-26688.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Carly94" target="_blank">Dresslink</a><br />
High Waisted Trousers: <a href="http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Bottoms/Pants/Pleated-Tapered-Trousers/pc/3390/c/0/sc/2636/302214.uts?colorCode=301924766_001" target="_blank">Charlotte Russe</a>Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552926521887563083.post-49056286011437720182015-10-10T11:35:00.001-07:002015-10-10T11:35:42.467-07:00Lets Talk About Mental Health: World Mental Health DayYou know mental health is just as important as anything else in your life, maybe even more important. Mental health doesn't deserve the stigma attached to it. People deserve to be able to talk about it without people running away, without people looking at you differently. That's why today's so important. Today is about bringing awareness to mental health and mental illnesses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-aIKvJS6Dxq5RoeJBCAYsTj5PmOsIKOZTOPMZFuqDv83NMgNjHNgOMnqYXbUhgwXd5jdUYl47M6Vyx5gbassnCQ4JgPGd6ZIxtzfNx3hH732C0SLgg8gJK7iMgwArf6UUbwkcppfRzyB/s1600/self+care+animal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-aIKvJS6Dxq5RoeJBCAYsTj5PmOsIKOZTOPMZFuqDv83NMgNjHNgOMnqYXbUhgwXd5jdUYl47M6Vyx5gbassnCQ4JgPGd6ZIxtzfNx3hH732C0SLgg8gJK7iMgwArf6UUbwkcppfRzyB/s640/self+care+animal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from <a href="http://thelatestkate.tumblr.com/post/129807542529" target="_blank">The Latest Kate Blog</a></td></tr>
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A few weeks ago my friend and I were talking about life, complaining about all of it's little problems when all of a sudden we found ourselves talking about depressions and the like. I can count on one hand how many people I've talking about my mental health illness. I don't like to talk about it because whenever I did people looked at me differently, treated me differently, which made me feel even more isolated and even more alone. As time went on, I got lucky, I found people that are accepting to be my friends. But that doesn't make it any easier to tell them about, to talk to them about, because the stigma is still there. And honestly its absolutely ridiculous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuov71vK4EFQlhMCNm5WHxHUfZhsHbpl_vp7AgDJaCi8kw9Cw3EQiCgSnk1ttlbgPw3dx-lShzAcmIMpKcVM1i1AL2BiEcgtTrYQXmPxfyXIjDsFLyPOzKmyOXifHpzFCGJrLxSFmr7R30/s1600/self+care+cat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuov71vK4EFQlhMCNm5WHxHUfZhsHbpl_vp7AgDJaCi8kw9Cw3EQiCgSnk1ttlbgPw3dx-lShzAcmIMpKcVM1i1AL2BiEcgtTrYQXmPxfyXIjDsFLyPOzKmyOXifHpzFCGJrLxSFmr7R30/s400/self+care+cat.png" width="400" /></a>I was watching a video, and i'll post the link<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y97VF5UJcc" target="_blank"> here</a>, and in the people in the video talked about how the hardest part of it all was the stigma. Mental illness is a thing, It's real. And it sucks just as much as any physical ailment. Suicide is still the third leading cause of death, 90% of those deaths had an underlying mental health issue. That says something. Mental illness isn't something that just goes away, it's not something we can pretend doesn't exist. People line up to sign casts, create get well cards but as soon as anxiety, depression, an eating disorder comes up, they leave. In some places people with mental health problems are abused and stripped of human rights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqlHK7MT95aemZJvxPkMEgf5OYL3kiqJi_mSkzFDwCJGQgFHYHK38soc7bkC3TxiO7Q8q9pZyFc0tishHeK9EAmNfMOadg65XI5IGF_MV8Y7CSljVTgcn4-32Dcow2V_xghBrrxf_ApiK/s1600/cat+care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqlHK7MT95aemZJvxPkMEgf5OYL3kiqJi_mSkzFDwCJGQgFHYHK38soc7bkC3TxiO7Q8q9pZyFc0tishHeK9EAmNfMOadg65XI5IGF_MV8Y7CSljVTgcn4-32Dcow2V_xghBrrxf_ApiK/s320/cat+care.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from <a href="http://thelatestkate.tumblr.com/post/129594669284" target="_blank">The Latest Kate Blog</a></td></tr>
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Mental illness has this way of making people feel isolated people don't need to help with that. 1 in 4 adults suffer from a mental illness, so that means that even if you don't have one, the people around you might. Just because people seem fine doesn't mean they're fine. Just because people suffer from a mental illness doesn't give any one the ability to take away basic human rights. Just because people have mental health problems doesn't mean every one needs to run away. Some people just don't understand mental illness and don't see it as a real thing. We need days like today to educate those who don't know much about this, to bring awareness, and ultimately destroy the stigma attached to it. "People with anxiety aren't rude, people with depression aren't lazy, people with mental illness aren't crazy", I saw this quote and I just thought it was perfect for this post and that it is incredibly true.<br />
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The stigma doesn't make it any easier to get better. It makes people embarrassed to get help, to reach out, to even talk about it. I know I was afraid for a really long time to go into therapy, but trust me it's really helpful. I'm lucky, in that I'm part of a program that allows me free therapy through my school system. Not everybody has that chance. If you can, you should take advantage of it. If you don't, find an adult you trust, a friend maybe, a counselor, because reaching out to people who aren't going to stigmatize you or marginalize you, is going to help. There also hotlines and websites you can visit where you can talk about what you need to get off your chest. Here are a couple : <a href="https://www.imalive.org/" target="_blank">IMAlive</a>, <a href="http://www.7cupsoftea.com/" target="_blank">7 Cups of Tea</a>.<br />
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We also need to focus on helping individuals with mental health issues, finding even better ways to treat them. We need to make these treatments available to everybody. We need to help those in countries that mistreat them.<br />
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That being said, I also wanted to talk about the things that can help with mental illness. Music is incredibly helpful, so is a hot cup of tea (if you have anxiety don't have caffeine, it makes it worse). Mindfulness is great, I don't do it enough, but it definitely helps:<a href="http://www.pocketmindfulness.com/6-mindfulness-exercises-you-can-try-today/" target="_blank"> Pocket Mindfulness.</a> Sometimes it even helps for me to hold ice cubes in my hand. Yoga helps too because it calms me down and gets me to a calm state. Part of living with a mental health issue is learning how to cope. (<a href="http://www2.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Find_Support/NAMI_on_Campus1/Tips_and_Tricks_for_Dealing_with_Mental_Health_Issues.htm" target="_blank">Here</a> is a little post on how to cope wit mental illness.)<br />
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Just know that you are not alone, you are more than kind of awesome, you have survived this much and that means something. Sometimes just getting up in the morning is a great accomplishment. So breath and take care of yourself. Self care is important, it's not selfish, it's not stupid, its important, a priority. <a href="http://philome.la/jace_harr/you-feel-like-shit-an-interactive-self-care-guide/play" target="_blank">Here's</a> a little interactive guide thing. <br />
Take some time for yourself, and take care of yourself.<br />
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Stay Awesome,<br />
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<br />Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06059763019227259219noreply@blogger.com0