Boys VS. Girls: What I Don't Get

Why is it that if a guy happens to get a girlfriend, he gets a "Congrats" and a hearty pat on the back from his parents- yet when a girl gets a boyfriend, her parents are uneasy and overprotective about it?

Types of Couples

I was thinking tonight about life in general, especially after having an entire-day text conversation with a guy I have a little bit of a thing for, and it got me to thinking, and so I decided to come up with a list of couples that I most often see around.
1.The "Just Friends" Couple: This type of couple completely denies being in a relationship, even denying to themselves that it's happening. However, deep down, they and everybody else around them knows it really is a romantic sort of status.
2.The Sea Creature Couple. I call this a sea creature relationship because the pair of them are like octopi or something...they can't help but suck each others' face off every. single. moment of the day. Likely enough, this type of couple is almost always two people you pass by in the hall each day. And everybody else isn't quite cozy with the idea of them publicly making out, despite the fact that it happens each day, no question about it.
3.The Taylor Swift Couple. This is the type of relationship where it's on-and-off, all the time. Basically, this couple is the entire plot of the song, "We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together".
4.The Parent Trap. This is the couple that is constantly telling each other what to do, advising each other what not to do, just like...well, your parents.

Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment: Lush Review

After my awful experience with Yuzu and Cocoa bubbleroon, I exchanged the half I hadn't used for a luxury melt- the Marshallow Melt. This Lush product looks like a powdery little cupcake, very charming, and it fits perfectly into the palm of your hand. For $7.95, it sure did seem like a steal! It smells really nice and feminine, like a strip of Bazooka bubblegum, which made me adore it all the more, with a hint of vanilla and candy floss.  In my mind, it makes me go back to a time where all I did was chew gum, causing my jaw to pop and lock at the most inconvenient times- oh, wait. That's still me now. Oops... Anyways, I really did enjoy it by looks and scent alone, and I was itching to finally try it out. Tonight I was in the mood for a nice, long, soak, one that made me feel really girly, as well as allowing me to sink down into the warm water and relax. Something ultra decadent. Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment dissolves after about fifteen minutes of ebbing away, soaking into the water like an actual marshmallow sinking into a mug of hot chocolate. The thought made me laugh. As it melted away, tendrils of moisturizing oils slid in little beads into the water, which was slowly but steadily turning a light purplish-pink. The water soon felt very silky indeeed, though not oily as the likes of You've Been Mangoed. Once the fourth of the little "cake" shaped melt I'd placed in the tub had melted into oblivion, the scent was very strong indeed, and made me the tiniest bit queasy. I'm sure that if I'd used the entire thing in one go, I'd be leaning over the toilet right now. In fact, I still am a bit dizzy from the entire experience, but I think as long as its used sparingly, a little will go a long way. My skin has stayed super smooth and supple throughout the night, and the scent has lingered lightly on my skin as well. For me, the strength of the scent was a little bit much, even with only a quarter of the luxury melt in the tub at one time. However, sugary sweet scents in a certain quantity have always been known to make me a bit ill, so it was a risk for me to take. I must say, though, that I was extremely impressed with the outcome of luxury melt. Since this melt is being discontinued, I am very glad to get the chance to use it. Not only does this Lush product smell good, it can be used from across two to eighth baths, and still make your skin soft and smooth, turn the water a nice shade, and be relaxing all the same. I very much encourage those who haven't given it a go to do so soon, before the last of it is gone! 5/5 stars for me. Although I don't think I'll be purchasing anymore bubblegum-scented products anytime soon, this was a very positive experience and if I get the chance, I think I'll purchase another before it goes out. I think it would pair well with Twilight bath bomb, and I would love to try that combo out.

Why People Don't Open Up

My best friend has an issue with opening up, and being herself. Not exactly with telling things, but more of acting herself. And thinking on the issue, I thought up a list on why exactly a lot of people don't open up more to others, their reasons for being the way they are. In fact, my closest guy friend seems to also have a hard time opening up to me as well. First of all, I don't think that being open with somebody is pouring out your entire soul, every secret you've ever kept, to everybody you meet. But to me it seems as though most people don't like to truly be themselves and voice their thoughts and whatnot because they're insecure. I mean, that used to be me. I was so afraid that I'd be judged. I felt as though my thoughts and my opinions were stupid. I didn't like myself enough to meet new friends and truly live. I was my own worst enemy, and I think that's the problem with lots of people. And then other people blame it on other people, or their personality. And I do get having trust issues. People can so easily hurt you, beat you down, and permanently get your soul down. I mean, rape's not going to go away, as much as I wish I could banish it for all time. And as for people, I think it really just takes time to get used to a normal living routine once again. And as for the personality thing, I don't know. I mean, the grass is always greener on the other side. I think both introverts and extroverts may blame being closed off on just that- being an introvert or an extrovert. And I know it's hard either way because I've been both, but really, I think it just takes some practice and going out of your comfort zone to fix that right up. And yeah, being yourself can feel extremely vulnerable, but it's the true, real you, and it's the part of you that really matters the most, because it is you. I'm not saying everything must be revealed to be open, that you have to behave the worst you possibly can or anything. I'm saying, be genuine, because people will notice that quality about you, and will really respect and love you for it.

People I Want To Meet

-Dalton Rapattoni
-Lily Singh, aka iiSuperwomanii
-Luke Hemming a from 5SOS
-Weeknd
-Melanie Martinez
-Lana Del Rey

Lush Products To Anticipate; First Impressions

These are my most wanted Lush products to try out next, with a description of what scent you should expect when you take a whiff in stores.
-Guardian of the Forest. $7.50. This particular bath bomb conjures up images in my head of my rabbit and his hay. It gives a warm, snug kind of comfort, especially since I'm allergic to hay and cannot touch it or breathe in its aroma anymore.
-Fizzbanger. $6.25.In my opinion, this particular Lush product smells of apple, lemon, and cinnamon, bringing to mind fresh-out-the-oven apple pies and apple orchards.
-Milky Bath. $7.95. Milky Bath smells of fresh, still-warm linens, and it makes me feel so comforted, almost as though I could wrap myself in its scent for hours on end.
-Unicorn Horn. Price: ??? This bubble bar smells to me as an exact replica of Twilight, which is one of my very favorite scents- lavender and toffee. Yum.
-Karma. $11.95. Although this Lush product is supposed to smell of spices, to me it smells more like Milky Bath, and that's definitely not a bad thing.
-Ladybug. $5.95. On the Lush website, this bubble bar is described as geranium and peppermint, though I smell more of a pear, bubblegum, and slight fresh hint of peppermint. It's really refreshing, and it's at a great price for the wallet's sake.
-Floating Island bath melt. $7.95. This luxury bath melt smells like heaven to me. I'm not sure how exactly to describe it, but to me it's like a really wholesome mixture of almond and vanilla and in general, just very creamy and delicious.
-Green FUN $6.95 If Green FUN smells anything like Green bubbleroon, I'm in. With a lime and grassy sort of scent, it's just the right thing to try out for something a little bit different.
-Aliens and Monsters FUN $6.95 Upon giving it a sniff in stores, I immediately fell in love with Alien and Monsters aroma- a spicy one that begged me to purchase it and bathe in its lovely smell.
-Percup massage bar. $12.95 I love the smell of coffee, though I don't drink it, and although it is a little strong of a scent, I do still love it. Although the price is pretty high up there, I can't complain because, as usual, massage bars can be used for a long period of time, like a bottle of lotion.
-Blue FUN. $6.95. Although it smells to me of French Kiss bubble bar or Ickle Baby Bot, which are too strong of smells for me, once I cut it up into miniature pieces, I think it'll be very worth it, not to mention very cost effective.
-Too Drunk... Emotibomb.$5.95. I think this is the perfect thing for when you really want something to wake you up after a long night of partying and such, with it's spicy herbal, earthy scent. Not only that, but it's for the shower! I might just start to enjoy showers that little extra bit more.
-Sex in the Shower Emotibomb. $6.95. It smells to me like the Sex Bomb bath bomb, and although I'm not really a fan of floral scents, from what I've heard it's a lighter scent, so I think it should be just the right amount of flirty and yummy-smelling.
-Up You Gets Emotibomb. $5.95. I've always been a sucker for citrusy scents, and when taking a shower, this should be an absolute HIT.
-Ickle Baby Bot. $3.95. Though its meant for babies, with its lavender and chamomile scent and cute shape, you can't go wrong with this little guy!
-Dragon's Egg bath bomb. $6.45. This bath bomb has a very refreshing, sweet lime and orange sherbet scent that's sure to wake you up in the morning!
-Avobath bath bomb. $6.45. Similar to Dragon's Egg, but with a sharper citrusy note, this Lush fizzed is bound to get your spirits up with its color and skin-softening qualities.
-Red FUN. $6.95. With a orange smell and the great bang for your buck, its bound to be a favorite in the household!

Old Favorites to Pick Up:
-Twilight bath bomb
-Dashing Santa bath bomb
-Peeping Santa bubbleroon
-Gold FUN
-Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment Melt
-Brightside bubble bar
-Not Suggested:
-Humpty Dumpty bath bomb
-Which Comes First? bath bomb
-Yuzu and Cocoa bubbleroon
Indifferent:
-You've Been Mangoed luxury bath melt
-Soft Coeur (the Honeymooner) massage bar

5 Seconds of Summer concert Review

When I went to the 5 Seconds of Summer concert over the summer, I had very high expectations. After all, 5SOS is my guilty indulgence when it comes to music. And I certainly wasn't disappointed. I went to the performance in Irvine. I was so psyched. It was the best, let-loose concert I've ever been to. I was shouting along to every song, rocking out, enjoying my time, and fingerling over Luke Hemmings. The band really knows how to entertain, and they sing just as well and maybe even more so than in their albums on iTunes. I mean, my mom nearly went deaf, but other than that, I really loved it. I just don't get why all the girls there don't really watch it live, they watch it through their video recorder screens...why not just watch a recording on YouTube??? Anyways, though, it was an experience I will never forget. I was ever so pleased with the outcome, and I cannot recommend seeing them live enough. 5/5 star experience, for sure.

First Kiss: My Opinion

I haven't yet had my first kiss, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I mean, I'm still so young, and really, who am I going to kiss? And I don't get the HUGE hype around the first kiss. I mean, I don't get why it is has to be so "magical". For me personally, I just want it to be with somebody that I actually care about, somebody who I won't regret. As long as it's somewhat private and not in front of a ton of people, I think I'll be satisfied. That's all I want.

Mortal Combat: Game Review

I can only say good things about Mortal Combat. It is just my type of video game and I enjoy playing it above all other ones. I love the gory part of the game, all the detail, the variety of different characters to play as...the list could go on and on. 5/5 stars for me☆☆☆☆☆ although it may be inappropriate for younger kids. Overall, though, it's an entertaining game that  never ceases to interest and intrigue, and well, to be blatant about it, sometimes even a little bit disgusted. In the best way possible.

American Sign Language

I would love the chance to learn American Sign Language. It's just so interesting to me, different from any other language with the hand motions and signs and all. And besides, you are able to communicate on an entire new level with people, specifically the deaf. Perhaps I will get the chance over the summer!

That Moment...

That moment when Dalton Rapattoni gets voted off American Idol, so I immediately stop watching and pour my sorrows into eating spicy beans and listening to Lana Del Rey.

Memoir of a Great Friendship

I had a friend all throughout junior high. Her name was Nour, and she had just moved from Egypt to America in the start of the sixth grade. We became friends instantly. We shared and exchanged our Halloween candy. We walked together. We invited each other to our parties. I loved her accent. She spoke Arabic and her brother had been in the eighth grade her first year in the states. To me, she was the epitome of beauty, with her caramel colored skin, chin length wavy hair, her large expressive dor eyes....not only that, but I admired her so much for the way of life she lived, being a Muslim and all. She was amazing, funny, adorable in her foreign little way. She was my best friend of that time period, and I loved her so much. I still do, now that she's moved back to Egypt in January. So in her honor, I have decided to wear the hijab. For her, for her morals, for everything she stood for, beautiful in all ways imaginable. And maybe this summer I'll get the chance to go to Egypt and visit her, and for her to see the tribute of friendship I've made to her. I might even just convert. Not for her, but for me. It's hard to believe that Muslims can be perceived as terrorists, as they're some of the kindest, most hospitable people I've ever met and I'd be glad to be a part of that community.

Gold FUN Lush review

I so wanted this product to be good, to perform well in the tub, especially after what happened with Yuzu and Cocoa bubbleroon. And it really was, much to my surprise. Gold FUN is supposed to share it's scent with HIWTK, so I was expecting a sweet toffee smell similar to Twilight Bath Bomb or Humpty Dumpty bath bomb. However, when I opened up the package, it gave off this extremely strong aroma that I wasn't too sure about. I can only describe it as this sweet orangey, caramel scent, but one that smells kind of....fake, or something. I didn't particularly enjoy it too much. In fact, it made me feel a little queasy. However, I was determined to like it. And so I cut up the play doh like bar into little slivers, then rolled small parts of each sliver into about 50-something little gold shimmering balls of goodness. I ended up putting two of the smaller ones under the tap. It was surprisingly easy to dissolve, as it doesn't really crumble well, it just melts. However, right away bubbles were filling up the tub. From all the poor reviews I'd heardo on this one, especially concerning bubble quality and quantity, I was expecting the worst. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Since I hardly used any at all, it didn't change the color of the bath water except to make it a creamy white, clear color. This is a great option if you're looking for a product that will give you a HUGE bang for your buck, especially with the bubbles. I can probably take a bath everyday for nearly a month. Just sitting in the water, I felt my skin softened and my hair was gloriously smooth. Especially if you want to relax but only for thirty minutes or so, this is the one for you! The bubbles pop, making you feel like there is popping candy included in the experience. The smell is transformed from the original package scent, becoming what really DID remind me of Twilight Bath bomb. It's light and flirty and really would help if you're trying to get to sleep. In fact, I found myself almost nodding off in the tub, and felt especially sleepy for a long while after I'd gotten out of the tub! The bubbles are abundant, soft, and fluffy, and will disappear within approximately 15 or 20 minutes, so if you're somebody who prefers a shorter, simpler bath, this is for you! Although the scent put me off at first, this FUN bar really did exceed my expectations and performed very well when put to the test. After this experience, I can't wait to try out all the other FUN options, specifically Green FUN, Rainbow FUN, and the Aliens and Monsters FUN bar. As for this particular one, it boasts a strong 4/5, the extremely strong scents being the only mark-off for me.
EDIT: Over time, the scent has really grown on me and I smell more and more of the similarities to Twilight and Humpty Dumpty that I'd been expecting, but it still has its own signature scent with the slightest honey-ish, citrus-you hint. I actually very much like it now that I've gotten used to it and warmed up to the aroma a bit. I've decided to reward Gold FUN with a new rating of 5/5. Although for some it might be too much, as it was for me at first, once you warm up to it and take a sniff often it really grows on you and at least for me, may even love it.

A Random Thought

I feel so classy to sit in a bubble bath, sip some cran-mango juice from a wine glass, and to listen to Lana Del Rey. It's the ultimate experience.

What I Want To Do Over Summer

Summer is fast approaching, and although it's still not quite here, I'm already daydreaming, conjuring up sugary sweet images in my mind. Here are a few things I'd like to do in those pure, short months of the sun beating down and long days of swimming.
-I want to get some henna tattoos! I think they're so very beautiful, that I can't help but admire them whenever I see them.
-I'd like to learn to play the harp. Since I already play piano, it should be fairly easy and besides, it's a skill that you don't come across very often.
-I would really love to get the chance to go to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, or Spain. I am a sucker for travel, and whenever and wherever I get the chance, I like to practice my Spanish skills. I tend to use different languages at different times, depending on my mood.
-Perhaps learn a new language (besides what I already know: German, Spanish, Dutch, Turkish, Italian, Welsh, and French): Maybe Portuguese, Russian, Danish, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Polish, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Czech, Romanian, Swahili, Hindi, Korean,or Indonesian! Who knows? Languages are so beautiful, I'm always eager to learn the next one. The possibilities are endless.
-Earn some more money and get some new cute clothes at the mall, specifically at Hot Topic and American Eagle.
-Some more Lush. I know, I'm the stereotypical teen girl customer there, but all I can say is that I love pampering myself, and my favorite time to do it is in the shower, with a long, nice bubble bath courtesy of Milky Bath, Peeping Santa, or Ladybug, or perhaps a bath melt such as Floating Island, maybe a bath bomb like Guardian of the Forest or Twilight, an all-time classic favorite, of course. I'm also looking forward to using my Gold FUN bar, Karma, Creamy Candy bubble bar, or Comforter bubble bar. Perhaps Rose Jam bubbleroon.
-Purchase the Honeymoon album by Lana Del Rey. I especially love the songs: High By The Beach, Freak, Art Deco, Religion, Salvatore, The Blackest Day, and 24.
-Chill with my closest guy friend. I do love him, in the most "friend" way possible.

What I've Learned From Romance and Dating

I mean, not that I've really had too much experience with love before, but I have learned a few important lessons that couldn't have been known to me without a little trial and...well, failure. So obviously, I'm perfectly qualified to make a post like this. Right. Anyways, people can teach you a lot about yourself and life in general, so here it goes. First of all, I cannot stress enough how important it is to actually get to know a person without the physical part. There's nothing wrong with touch or physical closeness or anything like that, but for me personally, it really clouds the way you see a person. I've always been a person that loves cuddling and hugs and the like, but this quality in me really hurt my first "relationship", I guess you'd call it. I don't dwell on it, but I do think that I was so focused on feeling loved through touch (especially with feeling unloved, being depressed, and self-harming) that I didn't really care to get to know him better, or at least spend time simply enjoying his presence rather than worrying over a hug or a kiss on the cheek. And he let me just to make me happy, but knowing that made m unhappy, especially since I wanted the other half of the relationship to be satisfied as well. So I screwed it up there, but now we're really close friends, one of the closest, most loyal, best person I've ever gotten to know, and I feel like I enjoy our time together so much more now. I realize how great he is, and even better it is when we do touch. And my second point is, just because you like each other well enough, that doesn't mean you'll be a great couple. In fact, my first "heartbreak" I suppose is the best friend you could ever ask for, but in terms of dating...not so much. And that leads into my third lesson, that you can't change a person or wait for them to change. It's a waste of time. And, if you're really that bothered by a particular quality in a person, then it's not a worthwhile relationship anyways. Everybody has faults, obviously, but some things that people do or say, or don't do or say, can't be ignored. Of course, people will change and move on, but on their own time, and it's definitely going to be hindered by you trying to mend things in a person that they're not ready to fix themselves. And often times it's not quite a fault, but nonetheless, don't try to make someone be something they're not. Fourth of all, life shouldn't be all about having a significant other, but also don't be afraid. I was never really obsessive with anybody, but I've seen it happen to other friends, who simply can't stop thinking of, talking about, talking to, somebody they're in a relationship with or have a crush on. It doesn't make sense. A relationship shouldn't take priority over everything, including all friends, family, and all other activities, including school. I'm not saying love isn't important, but when you put aside everything for that person, it comes off too desperate, but I think some time should still be reserved for that special somebody. However, I also don't get the point of waiting around and longing after somebody, whether before or after a relationship. It just holds you back from what you could be capable of, and I can relate with this statement. But also when in a relationship, don't be afraid to go for it. Do it, don't worry about it. Live freely, because regrets for not doing something eat you alive- well, they do me, at least. I used to be so afraid of crossing a line, that I wouldn't say anything or do anything. I didn't want to make a wrong step. But confidence is the key, and I've learned that since. Another thing I've learned is that, simply, liking somebody, not even loving them makes you stupid, at least a portion of the time. But it can be so worth it, even if everything comes down to reducing it all to a friendship. I might not have much experience, but still. I've learned a lot.

Places to Visit

-Egypt
-Slovenia
-Albania
-Vietnam
-Philippines
-Japan
-Czech Republic
-Slovakia
-Hungary
-Kazakstan
-Lithuania
-Latvia
-Serbia
-India
-Ethiopia
-Yemen
-Liberia
-Libya
-Ethiopia
-Algeria
-Australia
-Suriname
-Wales
-Chad
-Indonesia
-Sri Lanka
-Somalia
-Singapore
-United Arab Emirates
-Uzbekistan
-

Places I'd Love To Live

I love anything travel, and especially if it's somewhere foreign or cold- cold weather is my groove. Really, anything that especially interests me. So, here we go!
-Greenland (Denmark)
-Iceland
-Alaska
-Kazakhstan
-Romania
-Armenia
-South Korea
-Turkey
-Germany
-Netherlands
-Egypt

Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon Review

I just bought the Yuzu and Cocoa bubbleroon from Lush on impulse last night, and it has been on my list to get for so long. This particular product smells like heaven, reminding me of mango, pineapplr, tangerine, coconut, and vanilla, despite the name. From all the fantastic reviews I'd seen online, I was prepared for something amazing in bubble quality (after all, it is called a bubbleroon) as well as something to moisturize my skin. I crumbled about half under the tap and used my hands and the shower head to agitate the water, which tends to create mountains of bubbles. However, I was doing that for over thirty minutes, and yet to no avail- there were no bubbles in the tub at ALL. It was just a tub of now lukewarm green water that reminded me of the Nickelodeon slime. Not only that, but I couldn't detect any scent at all, even straining to smell the scrumptious, flirty aroma. Even for people who don't like flashy, in-your-face cosmetics would probably think this was a let down. It wasn't even nearly as moisturizing as I thought it would be. In fact, the smooth, soft skin I'd been expecting didn't even happen. I was left both extremely agitated, angry, and disappointed, as well as wanting my hard earned money back or at least an exchange. I don't know if it was just a "dud" but it sure didn't provide a relaxing experience for me, and that's the most important thing considering my showerschedule and baths are the most relaxing time of my day, not to mention it's my favorite way to pamper myself, with loads of Lush items! Yuzu and Cocoa was even worse than the Humpty Dumpty bath bomb, so I'd say all that it deserves is a 0/5. No star rating, that's how awful it was for me, and it makes me mad all over again just typing up a review about it. I am not pleased, and will surely never be buying Yuzu and Cocoa bubbleroon ever again. I hate to say this, especially considering the fact that I love Lush, but it was a waste of my time, effort, and money. Now I'm hoping I can get something new, perhaps a Guardian of the Forest bath bomb, or a Milky Bath bubblet bar, or even a Floating Island luxury bath melt- Anything to help me get over this disgraceful product. The lovely scent was the only thing it had going for it, and even that disappeared upon first contact with water.

Dutch Language Review

All languages are truly beautiful on my mind, and although I think most people tend to lean towards the soft, smooth languages like Italian, I have always been drawn to and particularly fascinated by the guttural, harsh sounding languages, like Arabic. And I hadn't ever heard Dutch before, but I was watching a newscast and, listening in, discovered the language! I mean, I knew it existed, but I'd never heard it before then. I signed up on Duolingo, and I was off! I'm currently doing around 8-18 lessons on Dutch daily, and I created a Tumblr account for the sole purpose of communicating with native Nederlands speakers and to translate and truly become fluent in the language. In my opinion, Dutch is very easy, perhaps the easietc language I've ever learnt. It even tops the likes of Spanish! Although there are a few harsh sounds, they're fairly easier to get the hang of after some practice, and the hardest word for me to pronounce currently is sheep, or "schapp". A lot of words you can decipher simply because of how close in relation they are to English, and others sound like English words so much that they're easy to remember. The word order in Dutch is very similar to English as well, and the pace everything is spoken isn't too fast either. I'm more of a reader when it comes to learning new things, but Duolingo really helps to really hear the words only, for better understanding. I also am able to strike up a pretty good conversation with my sister, who responds the best she can (she sometimes learns with me). In terms of difficulty, it's probably a 1/5 for me, and I think if you studied daily, you could become fluent within a year or less! But if you do a few hours a day, like me, (I'm so hardcore), three to six months should suffice. And as a result of my practicing so long and tirelessly, whenever I switch into English, I have a moderate accent, which I really don't mind. After all, in my mind, English is just....boring. I mean, it's my native tongue. I'be always spoken it, so I guess I need a little something more exciting. Overall, Dutch is a rich and exciting language, and it's fairly easy to learn, with the added bonus of being able to communicate with people froom other cultures. Cheers to that!

Kindness

Today I took my little brother and the family dog on a walk and at one point, we stopped at the park for a while. An Asian family was there, watching their kids play, the two women and elderly man talking amongst themselves. But then they approach me, and are petting the dog, and smiling merrily at me, and even just that makes me feel at home. I felt as if they loved me, and they didn't even know me. They didn't speak much English at all, but even so, I felt like we were able to communicate well. I don't know if I was just feeling really sentimental today or something, but it just made me feel like people are just so amazing. People are great, and although no enormous act of service was done or anything, the pure and simple kindness of strangers was enough. When I left they all wave goodbye at me and embraced me as if I were family or a good friend! I mean, if all foreigners (I mean, not that they're not U.S. citizens, but probably used to live in Asia) are like this, then bring it on. I'm ready to travel the world! Or maybe I'm ready to move. Goodbye, home country, kindness is what I'm after. Wouldn't it be amazing if everybody could just be so utterly compassionate and alive and kind?

Languages I Want To Learn

-Mandarin Chinese
-Japanese
-Arabic
-Armenian
-Dari and/or Pashto
-Persian (Farsi)
-Tamil
-Filipino
-Uzbek
-Afrikaans*
-Swedish
-Frisian
-Danish
-Finnish
-Russian
(see more in similar travel-language-things to do-posts)

Greatest Travels (mostly Asia)

-Japan
-South Korea
-China
-Vietnam
-Singapore
-Philippines
-India
-Indonesia
-Armenia
-Turkey
-Thailand
-Taiwan
-Malaysia
-Pakistan
-U.A.E.
-Bhutan
-Sri Lanka
-Israel
-Maldives
-Mongolia
-Cambodia
-Lebanon
-Tibet
-Georgia
-Yemen

Being Labelled

I don't like labels. But of course, I've been dubbed plenty of things- emo, goth, boring nerd, the like. And the thing about labels is that you dont ever really know what that person's like. And for me, boring is pretty much the only word that ever gets to me. I don't know why, but it hurts me, because I'm not, in any way. And especially when people think that just because I'm smart means I don't have a life....what? No. And I've proved just the opposite. I can be downright hilarious, bad, mischievous, adventurous....and really, smarts is all some people see. But I don't really mind too much. I just wish it wouldn't be so big of a thing. After all, I wouldn't even label myself, because why in the world would I confine myself to a stereotype, a generalization, never to live up to anything else?

Regrets

I don't want to live with regrets. I used to look back on everything I screwed up on all the time. Now, I just live life freely. Nothing to worry about, because I know I messed up and why go back on the past like that? No need at all, love. It's a pointless thing, regret.

A Great Escape-Treasures and Junk

Treasures and Junk has the best and largest selection of antique things that I've ever seen, and it's the perfect getaway from the rest of the world. In fact, today I purchased a few aged photographs. 5/5 ☆☆☆☆☆

Birds Set Free-Dalton Rapattoni

Goodness, I died. Salty Dalty's performance was breathtaking. As always, it made me feel something, tonight especially more than ever with that Sia number. And when he got choked up at the end, I nearly fell of the couch crying. What a joke my life is.

Mental Health: Books: Beautiful

Now, if you're looking for a book that will uplift and edify your soul, I'm warning you, this is not the one for you. In fact, it's rather depressing, especially near the end, with the slightest glimpse of hope. And that's just the way I like it. "Beautiful" by Amy Reed has become one of the staple novels that I keep coming back to. And I assume most other teens out there will be able to relate to the happenings in this book. Cassie, the main character, is in the seventh grade. She's just moved, and is at a new school. However, with new friends comes new experiences, leading into a downward spiral of sex, drugs, violence, abuse, and depression, not to mention all the family issues you could ever possibly need. The way the book was written, I felt truly connected to Cassia and how she was feeling at every moment, the way it feels to be on drugs, detached. It was fascinating for sure. I greedily finished the book within an hour and a half or perhaps two. Although it's not going to have you cured of any mental health issues, by any means, it does give you a taste of a life that could be, once was, is, your own life, or somebody else's that you feel like you know inside and out. The ending is gloomy but gives a teeny bit of hope for Cassie, and I couldn't have been more satisfied. Five stars all around! ☆☆☆☆☆

Confidence: Books:how to be brave

The novel "how to be brave" by E. Katherine Kottaras is a great read for boosting confidence. The main character, Georgia, was told by her late mother to do everything, be brave. And so Georgia makes a list of things to accomplish in her senior year of high school, and she goes from there. It's a great book about a teenager struggling with insecurities and trying to find her confidence. From the first page, I knew I loved it, and the last didn't disappoint either. Overall, a great novel that I will no doubt read time and time again, and will surely buy sometime in the near future. And that is the highest compliment I can give, really. Five stars! ☆☆☆☆☆

I Stopped Taking My Antidepressants

I've been on fluoxetine since October. But then my psychiatrist moved offices and since he can't prescribe me anything more, I've run entirely out of stock of my antidepressants. And now my depression's back in full force. And here I was, thinking I was cured, that I was alright. I feel weak, knowing the only thing keeping me from sadness is a little pill. I now remember how crippling it is. I woke up this morning wanting to stay in bed all day,no interest in eating, wanting to cry at having to do my schoolwork at all. Everything seems to be too much. I cried last week, too, at the slightest thing. And I shook it off as post-period feels...until now, and I connect it with my withdrawal of a month, give or take. Not only did it help with my depression, it completely obliterated my bulimia. After a few weeks on it, I kinda trickled off with my habits, and then it suddenly stopped. No more throwing up. Not even an urge to stick that tricky finger down my throat. Just like that, like a light switch. And I was contemplating it all spring break. Oh, goodness. I'm a mess again. I thought I was alright, and now this. I just want to sit in the dark beneath my sheets forever, just sit there. Be alone. It hurts to know that I can't conquer my demons on my own, that I need medication to wash it away. I don't think I can handle anymore of this without my medication. I'm bursting into tears as I type this, the tears blurring my vision, making all these typed lines blur together. Goodness, I need more medication.....or at least something to take my mind off everything. Some Lush. Something.

Girl Power: Literature: A Girl Called Fearless

"A Girl Called Fearless", a book by Catherine Linka, is about a particular teenage girl trying to get back her own independence and freedom in a dystopian world ruled by men who are oppressing the slowly dwindling female population. It's a great read for anybody looking to feel empowered in themselves, although near the end it starts to get a little dull. However, I loved the fact that it shows a world in the very near future, a place that could be our world soon. It's scary to think that girls could have all basic rights taken away. It really does make you think. 4/5 star rating. ☆☆☆☆

All-Time Favorite Playlist

Marina and the Diamonds
Zella Day
Everybody Wants To Rule The World-Lorde
Faded-ZHU
Pity Party (XVII Remix)-Melanie Martinez
Melanie Martinez
Fetty Wap
5Seconds of Summer
Weeknd
Halsey
Drake
The Way She Feels-Between the Trees
I hate u I love u-Gnash
Fly Away Hero
Dalton Rapattoni
Love Yourself-Justin Bieber
As Long as You Love Me-Justin Bieber
G-Eazy
River Flows in You-Yiruma
Lana Del Rey
Nicki Minaj
Sia

Batman VS. Superman Movie Review

To put it plainly, the Batman vs. Superman movie was disappointing. Trust me, it wasn't bad. It actually was a good way to spend my evening. I was captivated. It's just that there were too many scenes that were confusing, and left me thinking "what the heck is going on??" Some things just didnt make sense, and if you decide to give it a go, you'll see what I mean what it comes to Batman and Superman's rivalry. It didn't live up to the Dark Nights and Justice League movies. It was forced. And, this is just personally, but every time Jessica Eisenberg, AKA Lex Luther, spoke, all I could think of was a giant blue bird, namely Blu, from Rio. I was practically bursting out laughing. It was just a wild night. 60% for this movie. Enjoy

Some Bucket List Items of Interest

-Attend Holi festival in India
-Go to Oktoberfest in Germany
-Ride a camel in Turkey
-Anything in Alaska
-Visit the Lush in England
-Hike in Iceland and Switzerland
-Visit Venice, Italy
-Go see 5SOS perform in Australia
-See all the beautiful architecture of Spain
-The Luvre Museum in France
-Romania and Russia in the winter♡
-Hideaway in Kosovo
-Drinks in Ukraine
-Discover the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina
-Go skiing in Bulgaria
-Clubbing in Ibiza
-See the wildlife of the Tarrant Mountains in Slovakia
-Visit the Czech Republic with a loved one
-Krakow, Poland for the nightlife
-Berlin, Germany!!
-Go to the beach in Albania
-Get food in Leon, Spain
-Visit Antarctica in the summer

Go To Spots in Newport

If you live in California, going to Newport is a must. It's nearly sinful if you haven't been. Since I practically live in Newport for a few weeks in the year, I know first hand what a great getaway it is, and I wanted to share a few fantastic ideas for how to spend your time in Newport to make it the best it can be.
1.Go to the beach. Newport, Laguna, Corona Del Mar, it doesn't matter, all are perfect examples of the way to relax. As a plus, you're bound to get a sea life show! There's always dolphins, sharks, and even seals around to keep you interested. It's also a great place to find some sand crabs or sea shells or simply lay back and tan.
2.Another great spot to hit up in Newport is Rita's Italian Ice. I've already done a review on this establishment, but it's the perfect way to cool off after a day at the beach with some custard or cool ice.
3.Food, food, food! I also recommend Ruby's Shake Shack. It has an enormous selection of anything shakes. Yum, yum! A peanut butter shake is right up my alley.
4.Balboa Island is a great area to go shopping, get some food, and pamper yourself! If you end up strolling the streets there, it's absolutely mandatory to get a Balboa Bar or a chocolate covered frozen banana! If you're in the mood for really spoiling yourself, I suggest Sinfulicious. They carry bath bombs, scrubs, lotions, and you can even costumize your own bath bomb or scrub with any scent you please! My personal favorites are hazelnut, brown sugar, coconut, yuzu, and patchouli. It's like the lovechild of Lush and Bath and Body Works. If you're looking for a shopping spree, I really like Crush. I just bought an adorable and affordable jumper to wear. And if you're really wanting a sugar rush, Balboa Candy is the place to go! Theyve got the best selection of taffy candy that I've ever seen. Yum yum!
5.If you're stuck on where to stay in terms of hotel, I always stay at the Marriott. They've got a Koi Fish Pond, several pools and Jacuzzis, and even places where kids can hang out! There's also a great view of the ocean, some firepits, a sand volleyball court, and playgrounds. It's a great place to relax, hang out, walk around, and play. Plus, there's oodles of cute people.
6.The Fashion Island Mall is the best place to go on a shopping spree, to chill and hang out with friends, and to get energy out. I personally think all their shops have better selections of their items than the ones at home, like Lush, the pet shop (there were baby bunnies!!!), everything was much better in terms of variety and space.
7.See a theatre movie! I really love kicking back in the theatres that have the reclining seats and trays to put down your food. It makes you feel like royalty.
8.Eat out for breakfast! The best places to go are any crepe places (no surprise there for me), IHOP (pancakes are a no-brainer) and my personal favorite is this one restaurant inside an actual grocery store. It has the best potatoes, toast, and pancakes. Delicious!
I'm going to stop there, as the number "8" is my all-time lucky number. Hope if you ever chance going to Newport, you enjoy!

What They Dont Teach You In Sex Ed

Sex is more than just the typical,"this goes in that" definition that you're meant to know. No, it's more about, to me at least, about truly and really loving somebody that much, that you could perform such an intimate act with each other. It doesn't matter about the anatomy or whether you're straight, gay, or bi, or even trans. I think this is what they should teach in the classroom, not the rubbish technical stuff. For me, the emotional part of it really hits home. That's what really makes it special.

The Longest Ride: Movie Review

"The Longest Ride" is based on book by Nicholas Sparks. It's based around two couples romances, and it's very cute. I loved seeing the parallel universe between an elderly couple, and the current one between Sophia and Luke. I also loved the element of contemporary art that played into the plot. It was very refreshing. This movie is rated PG-13, though there is one particularly steamy scene that you might want to avoid with younger viewers. The love stories that play into the plot is about risk and sacrifice, though I must say that although it was a great way to pass the time, it was all too predictable throughout the entire movie, and so I give this movie a 4/5. It's anot entertaining story to watch unfold, yet I found myself calling everything, and I prefer hanging on to the very end for a shocking reveal or twist.

Self Harm

Lately I've been itching to hurt myself. I shouldn't feel like that on spring break, yet change always gets my anxiety through the roof. Even a good bubble bath, courtesy of a Brightside bubble bar, was only enough to keep me sane for an hour or so. And today I took a good look at myself in the mirror, my full physical self. And the scars are numerous, the scars that I prefer to call my map of intertwining tiger stripes. It's a gentler term, in my opinion. Here's the thing. Cutters face a lot of stigma if they choose to show their wounds freely. Most people will either run the other way or make fun, saying it's all for attention, all such rubbish and the like. My heart goes out to everybody struggling with self harm, bexcuse I know the pain and whenever I see somebody's "tiger stripes" as I would say, I just want to embrace them and never let go. But the majority of people's reactions just make things worse. But, on the other hand, I'm tired of hiding what I've gone through. I'm going to wear what I want, go swimming, live life as I please, and my scars, little angry dashes across my wrists, thighs, hips, breasts, it's not going to stop me. I'm proud that I didn't give up andinner that I didn't end my life, and screw everybody who's going to point and mock, or run off in fear. I'm happy with my life now and I may be currently in a rough patch, crying myself to sleep, but I'm in a much better position than I ever was before, and I have the confidence to kick butt now. I think it's time to bring more awareness about on self harming, because people need an education to understand. I'm gonna take it upon myself to help others get help and help others become more aware, and most of all, I'm gonna let it loose.

LUSH: Peeping Santa bubbleroon review

This morning was very trying for me. With all the pacling I had to do, it made me stressed to the max, to the point where I was almost ready to self harm once again. I decided that a nice bath would be the perfect solution! So, I broke out my Peeping Santa bubbleroon. Peeping Santa is described by Lush as a "cheeky, softening strawberry-scented Santa" that will help you to "get sleigh-loads of bubbles". Needless to say, I was very enthusiastic and had high expectations for this little guy based on his looks and smell alone. Peeping Santa is the cutest thing I've ever seen- he's got a red hat with a white tip and a nice flat bottom. He's in the shape of a Hershey Kiss and sandwiched in between the two slabs of red, is all the moisturizing butters you could think of, coupled with two vegan chocolate eyes to pull everything together. And the smell, too, blew me away. Peeping Santa has the best strawberry scent I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. It's a wholesome fruity type of aroma, similar to the likes of Strawberry Feels Forever massage bar, with a nice floral undertone. This bubbleroon conjures up images of strolling leisurely through strawberry patches, and it is absolutely scrumptious. Once put beneath the water, it was at first a little stubborn to crumble but after a few seconds of rubbing, it began to slide smoothly into the water. This bubbleroon can easily be used across three baths, and I used about a third for mine. Even just that much is enough, and in no way does the small amount take away from the experience. The water turned a lovely dark pink color, bordering on a shade of red. The bubbles rivaled even the likes of Brightside bubble bar, so silky smooth and enormous, nearly spilling over my bath onto the floor. From the moment I stepped into the tub, I could feel the butters at work, instantly making my skin soft and moisturized, the water around me like bathing in silk. The scent remained strong throughout my entire bath, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that once in the tub, the scent morphed into a deep and decadent strawberry milkshake aroma, and I was practically dying to take a taste of my bath water (something I would not recommend). The scent stayed with me after I'd exited and for hours to come. I was extremely impressed with this Lush product, and will definitely be purchasing an abundance of these asap. Rivaling the best of the best, Peeping Santa sweeps its competition across the floor and comes in with a strong 6/5 star rating, because it was just that amazing.

International Day of Happiness

Today is International Day of Happiness, and in fact, I am quite happy! Looking back into the past, though, it was rough. I was depressed, suicidal, my skin a dull pasty color, decorated with what I called my "tiger stripes" aka cuts. But, boy, things sure have changed. Sometimes I wish I was still miserable, but now, more than ever, I am ever so grateful for this opportunity I have to be happy, to be so joyous in everything I am, and everything I have. I am so happy that I have my family, my friends, food (yes, of course), my lovely home, that I'm educated, and I'm healthy, for my personality and my love of books and animals, for this very blog, for everything, really. Looking back on my post last year about today, I realize how amazing everything really is. Why not be happy? For today, at least, crack open a Dr. Pepper, take a sip, sit back, and smile. And if you can't do that, at least make others happy, make their lives just that little bit better, and I assure you, everything will start to look up.

A Creamy Sweet Treat: Rita's Italian Ice

I had my first taste of Rita's a few years back and ever since then, nothing else can compare. I haven't ever gone back. At Rita's, not only is the customer service and the general atmosphere great, but their custard is to die for! I highly recommend the vanilla custard. However, their main focus is their ice, and with the large variety of flavors, it's sure to be a hit. You can also get the custard and ice mixed, or together, and it truly is heaven on earth. 5/5 star rating! I'm glad I don't live too near to one, though, because I'd be getting some every day and by now, I'd be a pretty hefty sight to behold!

Sub Sandwich Places

I am a sucker for sub sandwiches. And today I just got back from a grueling workout at the gym and, hungry as ever, I decided it was high time to make a food review, because who doesn't love food, right? Anyways, when it comes to the holy sub sandwich, there are a few select places that I absolutely adore and are my go-to's for food. FIRST of all, the ever beloved Subway chain. This is the classic choice for most people in the mood for a sandwich, and what can I say? It really is a great choice. The six-inch sub is very affordable, but the foot long is great to have for two days of yummy munchies for lunch or dinner! You can also gobble up a fresh cookie for 75 cents. Or, you can get the kids meal, which comes with a bag of chips and a side. Subway's sandwiches are very healthy in comparison to other food chains in the area, like Wendy's or Five Guys. And THEN there's Togo's. Togo's is a great little place, and very similar to Subway. However, the subs have more calories, so if you're looking for the healthier option, I'd say go the way of Subway. But, in the very same shop across the counter, there's a Baskin Robbins, so you get a two-for-one deal! Ice cream and a sandwich, so that's nice. NEXT is Firehouse Subs. I think Firehouse Subs is the least known in comparison to the other two sub places, but in my opinion, they have the best quality sandwiches. Plus, their chip selection is greater and has more variety, and with the children's meal, you get a drink included! Not only that, but on Sundays the kids selection comes free, so that's a huge plus. I always, without a doubt, stay with the good ol' meatball sub, and Firehouse never disappoints! Although both Subway and Togo's are wholesome, tasty choice of sandwiches, if you're near a Firehouse Subs, you should definitely try it out and see what you think.

Lush Review: Dashing Santa Ballistic

After my last encounter with the Humpty Dumpty bath bomb, which was all too disappointing, I really wanted my next Lush product that I used to be a big hit. And I was not disappointed. Since I'm leaving for the beach tomorrow and will be residing there for the entire week of spring break, I decided I didn't have time to wait for my order to be delivered, and I certainly wasn't going to pay a hefty price of $36 for one day shipping off the Lush website! So I turned to Amazon. The prices off there are marked up, usually a few dollars more than the usual in-store cost, but I was willing to pay, especially since I have Amazon Prime and can get two-day shipping without a cost at all. I finally decided on the Secret Santa gift set, which includes Dashing Santa Ballistic and Peeping Santa bubbleroon for a total of only $13! I also ordered the Stardust bath bomb, as well as Father Christmas, so reviews on these will be coming later. Anyways, Dashing Santa ballistic- it's definitely worth the money. As soon as I received the box, I could smell it through all the packaging. Despite being a few months old, it was very strong. Dashing Santa is described by Lush as a, "...jolly satsuma-scented bath bomb." I'd say their description is spot-on. Brightside bubble bar, for comparison, has a very sickly sweet, straight-up orange scent, one of freshly squeezed mandarin oranges. However, Dashing Santa has a different kind of orangey, citrus scent, and it very much surprised and pleased me the first time I took a whiff. Packed with mandarin oil, bergamot, and orange flower absolute, it smells to me like a sweet orange, coupled with a floral note to it that was unexpected for me, but I absolutely fell in love with the scent. Today I had a tennis lesson and came home exhausted and drenched in sweat, and I decided on a little pick-me-up bath to keep my spirits and energy up. Dashing Santa stood out to me right away. This bath bomb has a cute, festive design. In the shape of a Santa in a running position, with a parcel in hand and his golden boots, I can imagine that this item could easily be cut and used across a few baths, which is a definite perk. However, I was feeling greedy today and was in no mood to cut anything short. Once placed in the hot water that had filled the tub, this cheery ballistic bobbed at the top and immediately began to spew out the most beautiful baby pink and some cherry reds, and the gold drifted off Santa into the water like liquid gold might. Despite the name, this product fizzes away at slow rate, and it finally melted all the way into oblivion after about 12 minutes. I was very pleased with this, as I'm more of a person for a nice long soak and a good show, and by no means short-lived. Upon it finally disappearing once and for all, the water was a lovely color. Although I've heard of so many dedicated Lushies claiming this ballistic turned the water a "period blood" color, I couldn't disagree more. The shade of my water, a nice, soft, peach color, reminded me right away of Raspberry Peach Snapple. And the smell remained just as strong as ever throughout the experience. Although this ballistic didn't leave my skin feeling particularly moisturized, I didn't want to leave the tub ever! And once I did grudgingly exit and drain the tub, I smelt of orange and orange flowers, leaving me as living proof of the best perfume ever made. I gladly give this Lush product a 5/5. With it's slow melt-away time, the wonderful show as it fizzes away that it puts on, the fantastic smell it gives off and clever design, it can't be beat.

Getting High

What, who ever heard of getting high on drugs? ...Well, whatever, who needs that? Me, I just get high on life. Those little moments, fun, excitement, it's the best natural high you could ever get. Trust me, drugs aren't real important. The real world is waiting...

Missing Mental Illness...

Sometimes I wish I was still in the worst of my depression, self harm, anxiety, all of it. Not really because I want to experience all the pain of that again. It's still here, but not as bad as it used to be and sometimes I think that maybe I would be a more interesting person, people would like me more if I were still really roughing it. I know it's not true. I used to be such a mess, and I could barely talk to somebody or leave my room! I wanted to die! I don't want to go back to that. It's painful and making me feel badly just thinking about it. It's hard to deal with the fact that I treated my own self so harshly through everything, so no, I don't want to live through that again. No, it's not going down. Been there, done that, check that off the list of everything bad and sucky. All I can say is, "screw it" I'm gonna do what I want, because I'm punk rock...just kidding, I'm totally not. I wish. But anyways, I'm happy, confident, and I kick butt, so what's there to really miss now? Yeah, that's right. I'm a rebel. You wish you were me.

Dalton Rapattoni

Damn. That's all I have to say. I love Dalton. I love his look, the way he sings, everything. And just...damn. Without a doubt, I would go to a concert of his, I'd buy every album he put out there. He is my jam. And tonight's episode of American Idol...man, I cried. I literally cried, and my mom and sister were looking at me like I was some strange new creature. I don't care what anybody thinks. I love whenever he sings anything, it always sounds great. When he sings, no matter what, it always makes me feel something, and that's what I love about music. And then there was that bit about having bipolar...that was when I really burst out the tissues, a carton of ice cream, and Adele lyrics, because I can kinda relate. With depression...I mean, I'm on medication and everything, but it's still hard, you know? Sometimes I just feel like a nobody. And I still self-harm sometimes. But there's always that cloud of sadness, always heavy on my chest, and I don't know, everything he said just hit home. And about the extremes...well, the sadness is already there, but then I was drinking "lean" to help cope and...that was where I got super energetic, wild, crazy, party animal, but I don't know, I stopped. I needed to face reality, and cough syrup and all that jazz just made it worse. Anyways, enough about my sob story. I just really love Dalton Rapattoni. I guess through everything he's said, everything he's sung, I feel as though I know him...crazy as it sounds, I know, but it's true. He's one of my favorite people and I don't even really know him personally. I support him all the way, and I hope he makes it far. I used to think being a nobody was an awful thing to be, that I was a failure. And now, I am proud to say that I'm a nobody. Much love <3

Easter Must-Haves

Easter is just around the corner, and in the true spirit of the holiday, I wanted to say a few things I absolutely must have at this time of year. First of all, the Cadbury Creme Eggs. Let's be honest, they're the best and I'm not embarrassed about the fact that I can gobble down twelve of the things before you can say "Ghirardelli" five times fast. Yes, I know. My parents must be so very proud. Second of all, I must have the Peeps. I am a proud addict. They're just so creamy and scrumptious, so what can I say? It's really a feat that I haven't found the time to buy my fair share of the sweet treat just yet this year. I also have to have Lush, but that's really a no-brainer for me. I mean, I must have Lush at all times of the year, but even more so of a supply once the holidays roll around. And nothing makes me happier than a couple of limited edition or discontinued bath bombs and bubble bars to snuggle up with in a luxurious bath. I know, I'm so cheesy. And then I also really appreciate a good book to have in hand, one of my favorites, of course, especially if I don't have the actual copy yet (a lot of my favorites are on the Kindle, though that's not my first choice of way of reading). Not only that, but I also really do adore my expansive collection of gel pens and stress-relief drawing books. It's very therapeutic, especially when paired with a good Lush bath product and a few creme eggs or Peeps. Right now, I'm in serious need of a new iPod, since my little rascal of a brother stole mine and hid it for all eternity, so an electronic device is always a nice addition to an Easter basket for your teen. It's also a nice thought to receive something that really speaks to you....for me, that would be anything that's shark-themed. I love sharks, and that may be an odd addition to anything Easter-related, but it's the perfect thing for me. And anything that has to do with seals, sea lions, penguins, and such wouldn't hurt either. I'm a softie for sea creatures. Ooooh, and stingrays. Definite plus. And gift cards are a nice surprise as well, and if it were me, I'd want an Ebay gift card (Lush!!!!), an actual Lush gift card, Starbucks, I don't know, something like that. But those are just a few of the ideas that really suit me, so hopefully it helps you guys pick something to pamper you or your teen child as well! Much love. xoxo

Spring Break Ideas

Spring break is upon us! Well, at least for me, anyways. So I decided it would be a fantastic idea to brainstorm some fun activities to do if you're spending the week at home and not on vacation (luckily, I'm going to the beach, but anyways...)
-Go to the beach
-Go to the mall
-Raid the 7-11 for their best snacks. Or go to your local grocery store for the huge tubs of ice cream. Pig out on junk food and sweet treats back at a friend's house and have a movie marathon
-Go to Mexico
-Go to Florida
-Go to Hawaii
-Go to Puerto Rico
-Go to Canada
-Go to a festival (for example, there's one near me coming up that's a pie festival...yum!)
-Learn origami
-Learn to cook
-Go to a concert
-Plant a garden
-Go hiking
-Have a picnic at a park
-Ride a bike
-Go horseback riding
-Fly a kite
-Climb a tree
-Feed ducks at a pond
-Bake cupcakes
-Buy and devour a package of Peeps and Cadbury Creme Eggs
-Get a bunny! No, seriously, roaming the pet shop is actually pretty exciting.
-Read a favorite book (my personal favorite is "Tiger's Curse", "Dear Killer", or a Shannen Crane Camp read)
-Camp in your backyard
-Go out to eat with friends!
-Take a wonderful bath (a few bath bombs, bubble bars, or bath melts wouldn't hurt!)
-Paint or decorate eggs
-Have a spa day, or a "me" day, and full-out pamper yourself- make some DIY foot scrubs, lip scrubs, face masks, etc.
-Dye your hair
-Do volunteer work! Maybe visit an elderly home and hand out homemade cards, do some kind of kind gesture for people to make them smile
-Organize your closet or bookshelf
-Do some brainteasers, like a crossword puzzle or some sudoku
-Do some yoga
And on that relaxing note, I need to head to bed. Night, everybody and much love ;)

What An Eating Disorder Really Is...

Eating disorders are plain hurtful. And, word to the wise, never buy into that "thinspiration" crap on social media. It just makes things worse. In fact, message those who are struggling with that occasional positive, loving, and kind message to let them know that you're thinking of them. It can be much appreciated. Anyways, take bulimia for example. Anything is and will be considered a binge. You'll feel weak for eating at all, and the only thing that relieves the guilt is purging. And even purging sucks to begin with. You'll be dehydrated and absolutely exhausted all the time, so beyond tired that you can't even sleep, a craving so strong for water but too afraid to gain a single ounce that it'll keep you up at night staring at the sink faucet, itching for a single drip. Your skin will become an unhealthy, crusty, rough leather. You'll throw up blood. The sides and roof of your mouth might bleed, and your fingers will be bruised from scraping against teeth. You'll throw up a little in your mouth if even the tiniest bit of food is consumed. Your period will stop altogether, out of the blue. You'll lose weight, sure, maybe thirty five pounds, but it's a roller coaster of numbers, ups and downs, from pound to pound. Your heart can become irregular, slower, or really fast with only a few paces on the carpet, and it might even just stop. It's scary. And recovery is even tougher, but you'll be glad and very appreciative to be happy once again, at peace with your beautiful existence. So linger at the mirror as long as you want to admire every little piece of you, because I will make it known, that you're completely and utterly worth it and beautiful, inside and out.

My Thoughts on Dating

Here's the thing for me. I'll chase after somebody, whether it be a guy or a girl, but if end up finding out that they don't like me in that way, then there's no reason to keep going after them. I mean, the way I see it, why waste your time on somebody who's not going to put the effort into spending time with you? It just holds you back from far greater things that you could be doing with your life. But, by all means, if you can maintain a friendship without pining after them, brownie points for you. ;) But if all they do is hurt you, then what's the point?

Humpty Dumpty Bath Bomb: Lush Review

I have been sick the last few days, and today I woke up feeling refreshed and so much healthier. Yesterday, though, I was miserable. To cheer my spirits, I went to Lush and picked out the Humpty Dumpty bath bomb. I needed a nice bath to keep me sane because being sick is literally my worst nightmare. Anyways, although it's described as smelling like orange, caramel, and bergamot, I picked up more of a scent like the Twilight bath bomb, which is my all-time favorite Lush product so far. This bath bomb comes for a hefty price of $8.95, but it's supposed to be reusable, good for up to three baths, so it seemed pretty justifiable. As soon as I got home, I started the water in the tub and tried to get open the bath bomb. I tried literally EVERYTHING to get it open. However, to no avail. I couldn't get it open at all. That was very displeasing for me, so, disappointed, I just plopped the entire thing into the bath. The scent remained strong throughout the entire bath, which I loved, and it spewed out lovely shades of yellow, green, blue, and pink. I was thinking it would take several minutes to fizz away. Since it smelled like Twilight to me at least, I guessed that it would be a spectacular and long-lasting sight to behold. However, the show lasted less than a minute! In the end, it turned the water a lovely dark ocean blue color, and after getting out I realized it really did give my skin a smooth feel to it, but I was extremely disappointed in its performance and longevity in the water and the fact that it would not budge open so that it could be used across three baths no matter how hard I tried. Overall, the scent was absolutely divine, but in all other aspects, the Humpty Dumpty bath bomb failed to please me. 2/5 stars for me. Hopefully I'll soon be able to return and pick up something that is more worth trying out, perhaps a Big Blue, Guardian of the Forest, a Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment luxury melt, an Ickle Baby Bot, another Twilight bath bomb, or a Rainbow Fun. Something that will actually be worth my hard-earned money. Because the Humpty Dumpty bath bomb definitely didn't do it for me.

Mystic Woodland Mud Pie: Homemade Bath Bomb

Tonight I was really looking for something comforting and relaxing. I was looking to spoil myself. And, considering the fact that I've run all out of my Lush supply stock, I deduced to get creative and make my own bath bomb. Here are the instructions on my "Mystic Woodland Mud Pie" bath bomb, and later I'll review how it performed compared to Lush's products:
Ingredients
-Peppermint oil
-Cocoa Powder
-Baking Soda
-Cinnamon, stick or powder
-Glitter
-Lemon juice
-Vanilla Extract
-Water
-Salt
-A few drops of any food coloring of your choice, especially green or a red, orange, or yellow color
-Coconut oil
-Bowl
-Spoon to mix together

First of all, I ended up mixing all the ingredients together, in no particular order. I was feeling a little risky. And, it really depends on the color you're looking for, what smells you want to dominant, and how fizzy or moisturizing you want it to be, so the measurements for each ingredient varies on your own individual wants. I didn't measure how much of each item I used, but it seemed to be just enough for a very enjoyable, yet different bath. After all the ingredients were in the bowl, I stirred everything together with a spoon. Make sure not to put too much water, otherwise it'll be too wet and won't stick together very well. Though I didn't use much water, my concoction had a thick, muddy consistence and coloring. However, I was not deterred. I put one small clump into my tub, filled with steaming hot water, and as soon as each hit the water, it burst into an explosion, like a mini colored tsunami. Once everything had been settled, the water was this murky green, hence the reason why I deduced to dub my bath bomb a "mystic woodland". A lovely luster lingers on the top of the water, shimmering and shining all gorgeously. I actually quite enjoyed the look of my homemade bath bomb once it had dissolved into the water. For me at least, it's a very calming color to behold, and especially with the lights off, it's like leaning back to relax in an undisturbed lagoon. As far as the smell goes, it's a mud pie. It's a delicious scent that every foodie would enjoy, one I have yet to encounter at my local Lush shop. Unsurprisingly, all the scents mix together rather nicely, smelling of a minty-chocolate-cinnamon pie with a hint of vanilla and coconut. It really is a lovely smell, like heavenly dessert that demands to be bathed in. Although my homemade bath bomb didn't turn out the way I thought it would in solid form, (although I must admit, I didn't feel like using a mold and letting it sit around all day to harden, so...) it was a breathtaking, as well as calming bathing experience. It really helps you to relax all the tension in your mind and body, and once you've grudgingly exited the bath tub, your skin is baby smooth. Although it does leave a slight glitter residue, I am extremely proud of my creation, and am glad to bestow upon it a 5/5 rating.

Daphne's California Greek Grill: Review

Today I went with my mom to try out a dining place we've been dying to try out for a little while now. I never really have had much interest in Greek food before, even though I would consider myself a rather adventurous person as far as food goes. But, I was willing to give Daphne's a shot. As soon as you walk in to order, it's a wonderful, friendly atmosphere to be in. After several minutes of contemplating, I decided on the Rustic Greek Flatbread. Although  it's on the Starter portion of the menu, it's more than enough to feed a single person. After my mother ordered a Mix-and-Match option, with the grilled chicken kabob, a salad, and rice, we headed to a table outside to dine. Our food was made speedily, and we had our plates served to us in less than ten minutes. The quick service definitely deserves brownie points in my mind. The Rustic Greek Flatbread is heavenly. Ingredients included on top are: tomatoes, cucumbers, tabouli, mozzarella, feta, green peppers, red onions, and kalamata olives. It was like a Greek version of an everything pizza. Delicious. I was pleasantly surprised that although it's flatbread and is very thin, even with all the other ingredients to top the meal off, it's a very filling meal and I'll definitely be getting this again. I also had a taste of my mom's dish. It was absolutely scrumptious as well. The grilled chicken kabob was seasoned well enough to my liking, and the rice was the best I'd ever tasted. Whatever they did to it, it was absolutely excellent. I also stole all her pita bread slices, which were divine as well. And not only is Daphne's delicious, it's also very affordable, healthy, and nutritious as well, so that you can go out for lunch or dinner guilt-free. Oh, and the plus is that if you get a drink along with your meal, they have flavor shots that can go with you drink! I got Dr. Pepper with vanilla flavor shot in it. But anyways, it was a fantastic eating experience. I'd highly recommend Daphne's for those of you who are looking to try something new, to explore something other than the age old, classic burger, along with the benefit of still eating something pretty healthy. 6/5 stars for me, because yes, that's just how much I loved it.

My Ethnicity/Culture Struggle

So here's the thing. I feel like any other culture, or ethnicity, has so much interesting background. I mean, in terms of dating, I'm a sucker for Indian, Latino, Middle Eastern, and some African individuals. That's just me, and I find that even just these groups of people have such fascinating stories behind who they are. And then there's white people, like me. I know I descend from people who were German, Swedish, Armenian, Russian, Greece, Switzerland, the like. But in the US, I feel like white people just get all their culture from other people's culture. And I just want to feel, for once, that white people actually have something to contribute to society, as for culture. I don't know. I mean, some have told me I'm a "Nazi". And that's just for the blue eyes, fair skin, and blonde-brown hair. Does that count? I'm not so sure it does. But anyways, I still do love who I am and perhaps someday I'll be able to visit Europe, pay homage to my ancestors. I love travel, and I especially look forward to going to Greece and Turkey. But anyways, I don't know, I guess I just think that the world is full of such beautiful people, inside and out. And that makes me happy, but also melancholy that I have nothing to contribute. I want to do something to change things for everybody, in the most positive way. So, whatever you look like, whatever your skin, whatever your culture, be proud of who you are, because I'm still learning to do the same. We can make this journey together. ;)

Anxiety: The Truth

Having anxiety is like drowning at all times, your head just below the churning, dark waters with no way of pushing your way up to the surface. The slightest change in anything can set you off, like an antelope leaping away to safety, away from the cheetah bounding after him. And your heart races, and you can't breathe, and there's tears and the ever-present fear of rejection, of failure, of anything really, that holds you back is something you never get used to. Anxiety can hinder you from meeting new people and tasking risks that could ultimately help you in life. It plain sucks to have to deal with every single day, but we're strong and we can kick anxiety's butt. Yeah, that's right. We can get through it together. Love anybody struggling right now. If I could, I would reach out and embrace you, but for now all I can say is virtual hugs for all!

JustServe.org

If you're looking to do some good in the world, if you're feeling like doing some service, then I definitely recommend JustServe.org! As soon as you sign up, it allows you to see all services that you can help out with in your general area. It's a great way to get involved with your community and to make others smile! 5/5 stars for me. There's something for everybody, from helping senior citizens, participating in blood drives, cleaning up land, making murals, helping in festivals, churches, volunteering at and schools, and, my personal favorite, giving back to people, like pregnant teens and women, and raising awareness about child abuse. I especially love helping children and young girls, anything to help and inspire. It's definitely a treat to see people's faces light up at all the good things you've done. I absolutely love it. ;) Oh, and for those of you who are in high school, it looks good on a college application, so that's always a plus.

Supporting Muslims

Right now, I just feel the need to stand up for Muslims. There's extremists in just about every single religion out there, so I feel that there is no need to generalize and oppress every single Muslim person out there. Not only that, but I don't get how people can reduce Muslims, especially Muslim women, into a piece of clothing, that they're only worth their hijab. Sure, they stand out for it. But that's what's considered modest for them, and I don't think it's a problem AT ALL to stand out. It truly is a great thing. Muslims are absolutely beautiful people, and every time I see one, I just want to go up to them and give them a huge bear hug. The Islam religion is beautiful as well, and I see no reason to disrespect someone for their religious beliefs and practices. Honestly, we might as well all join hands around the world and sing kumbaya. Why not? It could do a world of good for us all.

Distractions from your Depression!

Techniques That Have Helped Me:
-Exercise!!!
-Spend time in a social atmosphere
-Watch a funny show, movie, favorite video, etc.
-Cut out inspirational photos and quotes from magazines
-Make an "achievement box" of all the things you've done well to remember these accomplishments by
-go through old photos
-make art: paint, draw, use stamps
-Take a relaxing, warm bath, with a magazine and perhaps a Lush bath bomb or bubble bar (this is good for anxiety as well)
-Go to the library or a local coffee shop
-Talk to a friend for support
-Make a nice meal for yourself
-Spend time with a pet
-Play an instrument
-Do a crossword personal or (my personal favorite) Mad Libs!
-Listen to some upbeat, happy music and dance around your room
-Journal about what you're currently feeling to get it all out in the open
-Take a nap
-Organize your desk, shelf, or closet
-Do some volunteer work
-Sew, crochet, or make a quilt
-Cuddle with somebody :)
-Count and organize your money
-Read the book "How to Be Totally Miserable"

Book SNEAK PEAK

It's no secret that I'm absolutely ecstatic about writing this current book of mine. My aim is to write it about a girl struggling with mental issues, based off of real events that I have seen in lives around me.  Enjoy!
1. Ghosting away from the faded gaggle of chatty girls, the ones who never saw her. She seeped into the gray of the concrete, slugging along in the cracks, a statue of stone etched out of milky white bone. Crumbs made a trail after her, the entrails of chicken nugget bits and chocolate chips. She imagined she were a goddess, a bronze tiger brushing through the reeds. Tiger stripes, a map of angry red lines leading to nowhere. Her feet pressed upon the hot white tiles, all her secrets stored within  the haunted, echoing walls. A rusty mirror cracked at her ragged figure, stony eyes sunken in, an ever-prescent ghost of a smile about her thin, cracked lips. Red glowing beads peered into her head, thoughts threatening to break into two. She brushed a hand against the sinks, the water pooling at her feet, cloudy mists lingering in the musty old air. Fairy's dust sprinkled in the ground, a golden luster leading into a stall confining the the shouting and frantic numbers. Mechanical, glint of silver to her milk white pallor. Screw groaned as she bent over, her plain volcano face drowned by toilet water. A quartet of wriggling worms, eager to slide down her throat. Creamed corn, still warm as a hearth, launched a farewell dance into the air. Then, PLOP! flushed into the deep indigo oblivion. Color stained her fingers and mouth crimson with both guilt and pleasure. An angry red shriek sounded, and she waltzed out into the wilderness, slipping into a bubbly crowd of feigned innocence. Oh, Lenny.

Supporting the LGBTQA+ Community

So when I stepped onto the treadmill at the gym today, I turned on the small television that is in place before all the machines in the cardio room, and plugged in my earbuds. The station it turned to was the news, and they were discussing how both trans teenage girls and boys are being highly discriminated against in schools. And it got me to thinking.... And I just really would like to get myself out there and stand up for the LGBTQA+ community. I mean, schools are denying trans teenagers from being on sports team and fellow students are criticizing them for being in the same locker room. But that's denying basic human rights! And I think if this is what makes somebody happy, then you should be able to be whoever you want. Because what's the point of living life miserably? And self-esteem is so low for trans kids, all because of the trials they have to endure for being "different". A trans girl on the news program I was watching cut herself because of the tremendous pressure she was put through. You know, this is why the T.V. series "I Am Jazz" was so great. It promoted the idea that, hey, she's still la normal teen just like anybody else and gender identity doesn't matter. And, guys, imagine what life would be like if being LGBTQA+ was the norm, and being straight was stepping out of line. Honestly, if I could, I would change everything and make it all okay. *tear streaming down face* *hugs to the entire LGBTQA+ community* Lots of love. The way I see it, just because you may not believe in this sort of thing doesn't mean that you can't be nice.

Twilight bath bomb: Lush Review

Last night I had a killer headache and I just wanted to be soothed and let all my thoughts and my body rest. So I popped out my Twilight bath bomb so that I could use it. To me, it smells of lavender, as explained in the online description, but also of toffee and honey or something sweet like that. It's a very nice scent. It's a light purplish pink color, and it's decorated with stars and half moons. It's such a cute little thing, and only for $6.55. That might seem expensive, especially for only one use at a time, but it was a treat definitely worth it, and especially in comparison to many of Lush's other bath bombs. I filled the tub and got in, and then plopped in the bath bomb. As soon as it hit the water, it began to fizz and the smell of lavender, toffee, and honey filled the room. Soon enough, these lovely tendrils of pink and blue came out and swirled around in the tub before melting into the mix like liquid cotton candy. It dissolves very quickly, and after several minutes, all that was left was a thin shell of pink, which I crumbled into the water. At first, the water was a deep purple, but soon enough it was a midnight coloring, like a mix of blue and purple together. It was a very relaxing show and the scent stayed with me the entire end. By the end of it, I was already feeling pretty heavy-lidded. Oh, and on the top of the water is this very pretty luster to add even more to the beauty of this product. Once the water is drained, there may be a bit of sparkle residue left over, but nothing that can't be fixed with a splash of water. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this product. It's my favorite Lush item so far, and it will definitely be a staple in my household. 6/5 star rating for me. And yes, it was just that great. This makes me rather excited to try other lavender scented products, like French Kiss, Ickle Baby Bot, Blue Fun, and such. I can see why it's such a popular product.

Lush Cocktail: Brightside and You've Been Mangoed

I absolutely adored Brightside, and You've Been Mangoed was delightful the first time around. And I needed a nice, warm, relaxing bath to soothe my headache last night. So, I threw in the last half of my You've Been Mangoed luxury bath melt and a fourth of my Brightside Bubble Bar. The bubbles were even more overwhelming than ever, smooth and frothy like bathing in liquid silk. My skin was very soft. However, I did find that the luxury bath melt scent of lemon did slightly overpower the Brightside bar orange scent. And, at least for me, it smelled kind of like lemon air freshener, with a hint of orange. So the second time around using the bath melt, it was kind of tiring, though it was still a nice bath. The bath was bright orange, like the sun rising up in the air. Together, the bath products make for a very soothing, soft, colorful bath, with an overall score of 4/5. This makes me very excited to try out Pink Flamingo bubble bar and Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment bath melt as a bath cocktail, as I think these will go well together. And, judging from the Brightside bubble bar, I'm also very interested to try out the Comforter. Lush is honestly so great for my anxiety. Love it.

My Travel Dreams...Europe (The UnKnowns)

.Albania
.Andorra
.Armenia
.Austria*
.Bosnia and Herzegovina
.Bulgaria
.Croatia
.Czech Republic*
.Denmark*
.Estonia
.Finland*
.Germany
.Greece
.Hungary
.Iceland*
.Italy
.Kazhakstan
.Kosovo
.Latvia
.Lithuania
.Luxembourg
.Romania
.Russia
.Serbia*
.Slovakia
.Slovenia
.Sweden
.Switzerland*
.Turkey
.Ukraine
*Places of most interest as well as safest

Dear Killer Literature Review

"I know how to surprise somebody. You just gotta stab them."
Those are the words of my nine year old sister. I'll be watching out for her on April Fool's Day, for sure. Which leads me into the review of the day...
"Dear Killer" was a book that I knew I wanted to read the moment I picked it up in my local library. I have only praise for this particular book. Written by Katherine Ewell, the main character, Kit, is a teenage serial killer. I've never read a book with the point of view being...well, a killer. I was very intrigued by the Kit's thoughts, and how she justified murder. It truly was an interesting read, to get inside the mind of the killer. I also felt that the other characters were well thought out and developed smoothly throughout the book. The ending was very satisfying, at least for me. The only thing I'll say is, I like when the main character has a little bit of...well, we'll say, trouble, at the end. "Dear Killer" is probably the most intriguing and captivating book I've read in a long time, and for that, I give this literature pick a 5/5 star rating. I definitely recommend it. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Lush Review: Brightside Bubble Bar

Oh, snap. The best decision I EVER made was to buy the Brightside Bubble Bar. It has a very sweet and uplifting orangey scent that I was automatically attracted to. It retails for $11.95, but it's HUGE and can be used for several baths, so in my opinion, it is well worth the cost. I had a grueling workout today via Just Dance 2016 (which I may or may not be reviewing later on) and I smelled like greasy Wendy's french fries, so I wanted to take an enjoyable and relaxing bath. I decided to get out my Brightside bubble bar. I put it beneath the faucet as the tub filled up with hot water, and almost immediately the water began to turn this lovely, vibrant orange. Once it softened a bit, I crumbled about a fourth of the bar into the tub and put the remainder of the bar out to dry. My current Snapchat story is filled with pictures of my bath. It smelled just as strong as the bar had originally, and it was like bathing in orange juice. Oh, and the bubbles were absolutely fantastic! So many came from just a tiny portion of the bar, and it was absolutely breathtaking. This Lush product really packed a punch. I soaked in it for a good hour and a half, purely enjoying myself, until my fingers were completely pruned up. Once I exited the tub, my skin was soft and supple, and still smelled faintly of orange. There is a tiny bit of cleanup to do afterwards, as some of the bubbles collected around the rim once the water had been drained, not to mention the fact that bubbles were all over me, too!!! But, it's an easy fix with a little bit of water to coax it down the drain. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Brightside. 5/5 for me. It was lovely. I loved it.  I could imagine it going well with Avobath, or perhaps Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon, and You've Been Mangoed luxury bath melt. Anything citrus, I think, would mix smoothly. I highly recommend this Lush product, and to be honest, now that I've tried it out, I'm tempted to go out to the mall and buy some more Lush products. Maybe splurge a little bit. We'll see.

TV Tuesday: iZombie Review

Oh my goodness. No words can describe my admiration for iZombie. It's my all-time favorite television show. And tonight's episode certainly did not disappoint. It was very intense. I think it's always very interesting to see Liv taking on different personality traits in every episode and to see every. single. recipe. she makes with the brains she has to eat to survive. Forget solving murders, just get your own cooking show for zombies. And then there was the murder case to solve, which always teaches Liv a lesson in her life. And there's the bad guys: Blaine, Major, Max Rager, and Drake. And honestly, I cried over Blaine tonight. Honestly, I can't help but fall for at least one of the bad boys. He came back to life and it was like BAM YES PLEASE. And can we get more of him in just the boxers? And we can't forget that Major almost ends up spilling the beans about him being the Chaos Killer to Liv, but then Rita gets home and runs into both Major and Liv. On Major's way out, he calls her by "Rita" and Liv ends up finding out the truth, about him and her roommate having a "thing" with each other. Mind blown, guys. I can't wait until the next episode.

Music Review: Melanie Martinez

I first picked up a Melanie Martinez album due to my best friend, who'd introduced me to her music. Right away, I was hooked. Her album, "Crybaby" is pure genius. My sister describes her music as "creepy", but I say otherwise. "Crybaby" is the likes of nothing I've ever listened to before. Each song is like an intricate story, each one leading into the next seamlessly. It's dark and slightly pessimistic, which suits me just right. I may be a fairly happy and confident person, but my taste in music is a different story. The songs tell tales of very real problems in these days, and it's nice to relate. Additionally, every track has well-written lyrics and a catchy beat, and I've been listening to this album every single day since the day I purchased it. I can't praise Melanie Martinez's first album enough, and I highly recommend it. It's a 5/5 for me.

Drugs: An Honest Review

Drugs seem to be an integral part of the high school society, all the fun of being a teenager. People in the eighth grade are already doing it, and so now I'm really stirred up on the subject. Doesn't matter what you're on, cough syrup, benzos, ritalin, meth, it's all the same. It's like the best antidepressant ever made. Until it's not. From Delsym, to codeine, to norcos, to ritalin. Even if you never get on to the illegal stuff, doesn't matter. It sucks, and sure, you can say you "only" do it once in a while, but whenever you're not on it, you crave it. And once you're off it, you go through all the withdrawal symptoms. And it utterly and completely sucks. The same goes for drinking and smoking. Honestly, if you want have a good time without, like, dying of an overdose or something, I don't know, just...drink a Dr. Pepper and have some friends over or something. I don't know. You do you. But no drugs for me, thanks.

Soft Coeur (the Honeymooner): Lush Review

Before I deduced to hop into bed one night, I decided to put the Honeymooner massage bar to the test. It smelled of white and milk chocolate to me, as real as though I felt like I should eat it. I typically go for scents that are citrusy, smell of vanilla or coconut, chocolate, or any other such sweets, so this was right up my alley. I rubbed it around in my hands a bit, and it came pretty easily on to my hand. It rubbed well into my hands and arms, and the smell is as strong as ever. However, I must admit, it is a bit oily (though after about ten minutes it should sink into your skin nicely) and it was pretty costly, but I think it'll last a good while and besides, it smells like chocolate. I mean, why not? I can see myself carrying this with me, whether on vacation or to school. It's a chocoholics most beautiful dream. I rate it a 4/5 stars, because I think the price would've been more reasonable at, say, $8 rather than nearly $11. However, it's definitely worth trying out. I love to use it for my elbows daily, and this massaged bar has yet to disappoint me. It's been more than six weeks already. Honestly, though, just shower me in this lovely fragrance and I'll be eternally grateful and all set to go.

The Nom Noms: TGI Friday's Review

It's Foodie Friday! So, I'm critiquing TGI Friday's. I'd never been there before and I was expecting it to be much like any old Red Robin, something similar to that. The reality exceeded my expectations. I ordered a BLT on ciabatta bread, no avocado, with fries. The fries were okay, but the sandwich was absolutely fantastic. I could've done with a little less bacon, but it is a BLT, so what can I say? After devouring my entire meal, I ordered an Oreo Madness. That was the icing and the cherry on the cake. Oreo Madness is an ice cream sandwich with two slabs of Oreo cookie and cookies and cream ice cream in the middle. Fudge is drizzled generously over the top. The taste is indescribable, it's pure heaven. It tasted very similar to a recipe my mom makes yearly, an ice cream cake also with a fudge drizzle and cherries to top it all off. Overall, it wasn't too pricy, although each component of my meal was probably loaded with enough calories to make my head spin. But that's to be expected as far as eating out goes. Not only that, but all the staff were friendly and helpful, so that's a definite plus. TGI Friday's is a must when it comes to eating out, with my personal marking at 5/5 stars.

Crepes de Paris Review

I was very excited to try out Crepes de Paris at my local mall. After all, crepes are my all-time favorite food. I'll eat seven or eight in one sitting. Oink oink, I know. It's no secret that I'm a pig when it comes to sweet treats. The atmosphere in Crepes de Paris is lovely. It's cozy and you feel like you've been transported into modern day France. Quaint little tables are set up around the room, and flowers are placed in soda bottles in the center of each table. It's an adorable place. I ordered a Normandie crepe, which has apples, cinnamon, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and alcohol. It was scrumptious. The crepe tasted like an apple pie descended from heaven. No exaggeration there. Although it was on the pricy side, it was well worth the cost. I definitely recommend Crepes de Paris, with a 4/5 star rating. A crepe is the perfect meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even dessert, so why not?

EOS Lipbalm Review

In my opinion after trying an assortment of EOS lip care products, it's just like any other lip balm. Although the lip balms last a substantially longer time than the typical chapstick out there, I just wasn't feeling it. The variety of flavors didn't particularly please my nose or stand out in any way. In fact, I especially disliked the blueberry flavored lip balm. The scent made me feel sick to my stomach. However, I would recommend the mint lip balm. In my eyes, it's the best on the line. The smell is strong, fresh, and just minty enough to my liking. Additionally, it actually keeps my lips soft and smooth and I can feel it working. When applied, it tingles. It's a very outstanding sensation. I also liked the strawberry and creme lip balm, though it didn't seem to work as well as the mint. Overall, I'd give EOS lip care products a 3/5. Although I'm not a huge fan, I do think highly of the mint lip balm, and that is precisely the line's saving grace, at least for me. Enjoy ;)

You've Been Mangoed Melt: Lush Review

I went out on a shopping spree with my sister to the mall last Saturday. Our first stop on the list was Lush. I'd been to Lush before with a couple of friends, but I'd never bought anything. I must admit, I wasn't looking forward to this trip, but it turned out to be worthwhile. I ended up picking out the luxury melt, You've Been Mangoed, and the bath bomb, Brightside. Tonight I decided to put the mango melt to the test. You've Been Mangoed feels oily, rubbing off onto your hand like a bar of soap, but it's not so much a problem because of the lovely strong scent. Contrary to its name, it has more of a zesty lemon scent, and although I'm not particularly fond of lemon fragrances it really did blow me away. I highly appreciated the strength of the scent. It fits perfectly into your palm, and it's a tropical orange color. Very cute, although I must say that for an ounce, it was pretty pricey, at a whopping $6.45. However, it's worth the price, if I do say so myself. I was certainly not disappointed. I filled up the tub halfway with hot water and placed half of the bar in. As it slowly melted in the water, it made these lovely tendrils of bright orange, like little streams of orange juice. Once it had melted completely, the color soaked into the water and my bath turned a subtle orange color, very pretty. The scent remained strong and citrusy, which was very pleasing to my nose. As I soaked in the tub, I could feel my skin softening, smoothening. Even once I'd drained the water and stepped into my towel, my skin was nice and baby smooth. The citrus fragrance lingered both in the bathroom and on my body for a long while, like a nice perfume. All in all, the You've Been Mangoed luxury bath melt is a Lush product that I highly recommend. Although it's expensive for something so small, the scent is strong and fruity in the best way possible. The melt has a lovely visual display once in the water and leaves the skin soft, smooth, and smelling of lemon. I bestow it a 4/5 star rating. Being my first Lush product ever, the mango melt made a great impression on me and if I needed a little bit of moisturizing or wanted a light bath, this would definitely be my go-to.