THE CHANGE CHALLENGE!

Hello all! It has been awhile since I've blogged and I have to admit that I never thought I'd be back on this blog. I lost all motivation for this blog (and for other things as well) and it wasn't until recently that I got back on my feet!

Anyway, I could go on and on about that but that is not the purpose of this blog post! This post is to introduce to you the challenge that I have recently started and that I have decided to document! What better way to document my progress than on my blog?

So why am I starting this challenge? I was inspired to take up this challenge by famous Viner and entrepreneur, Jerome Jarre. I watched his TEDxYouth video and was instantly intrigued! To summarize, Jerome was yearning for a change in his life and he found that the only way to do that was to create challenges for himself. He started to take cold showers every day for 30 days, he lay down on the busiest road in France and started to make Vine videos even before it became famous. After overcoming these challenges, he realized his life was starting to change! If you watch the video, let's just say I said yes to his proposal. ;)

I came across this video at the right time because I currently have been looking for change in my life. Have you ever told yourself you aren't happy with the person that you are? It's a sad question but it happens. And in my case, I have constantly been telling myself that for the past year or so. I know that sounds depressing and let me be the one to tell you, it IS. What made it worse is that I had zero motivation to make a change. I was always hoping and wishing and waiting for something to happen and I thought that (magically) my life would change before my eyes. Spoiler alert: You can't wait for change, you have to be the change!

The challenge: I have to do one thing/activity, every day, for a week that is different than what I am used to. It could be something out of my comfort zone. It could be something that I have been wanting to do for so long but never got around to doing it. It could be something so simple and easy. Whatever it is, it has to be something that will change my life in a positive way. I could choose to continue to do the activity for more than a week but I have to start a different challenge every week. So for example, if my challenge is to take cold showers, I can continue to take cold showers even after the week is complete but I need to start a new challenge for the new week.

I thought about it, and I realized this challenge may seem a little selfish but that's the whole point -- this challenge is about me and me only (this includes me not caring about what other people say or think)! So after all these years of waiting for good things to happen, I'm going to get off my ass and actually do something about it!

Hope you enjoy this journey as much I will! Huzzah! LOL!

Now here's a picture of me genuinely laughing. Yes, I'm in a van. And yes, this is a screenshot from a video. And yes, I posted this because I look happy (and good).

Stop looking for change! Be the change!

What Every Student Should Know (especially the "nerds"!)

Being a student, you have to know how to time manage and organize yourself. Set goals! Seriously, it helps! But another important thing all students should know (I never really realized this until this year actually...which sucks because I have a year and a half left of school) is to get a life! LOL, seriously speaking, everyone needs a hobby. And it can be anything! Dance, sing, sew, garden, watch movies (my personal favourite thing to do), play sports -- whatever! The sky is the limit! The main goal is to leave some time for yourself.

If you're the average student like me, you will probably agree with me when I say school always seems to be getting in the way of everything. For example, this blog itself. It'll be hard for me to keep up writing blog posts because a new semester has started and work is already piling up. However, I will treat this blog as an occasional escape from school and blog as much as I can.

In the many years of being a student, I'd always have a certain hate towards school (as do a lot of students). And it occurred to me recently that it was because of the fact that I felt trapped. I would always imagine it to being very similar to prison. You wake up early, eat (sometimes), sit in a jail cell (a.k.a. classroom) for hours on end, eat again, do chores (a.k.a. homework), and then go to sleep. Boring!

Take a break from school work and do something for yourself! Be selfish! I know it sounds like common sense, but not everyone does it. 

Good luck!

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Or Happy Holidays for those who do not celebrate Christmas! Regardless of what you celebrate or not, I am wishing you a wonderful day! :) 

Cheers!!

5 Things to Do During the Holidays (only if you're single)

If you're a single young woman (like me) you'd know that these next few months are going to be painful. Snow is falling. It's cold...piercing cold. The fire is burning and the kettle is whistling. Did I mention how cold it is? This is a time of the year when the lonely get lonelier. Well, instead of sulking like a little baby because you have no significant other to give you love on Christmas day, I came up with a list of things for you to do.

1. Work Out

Specifically to "Work B*tch" by Britney Spears. If this song doesn't pump you up to get that "hot body" that she promises in the song, then I don't know what will. Let's be real here, you need to get that confidence back that you once had when being single wasn't a big deal. Get that sexy bod that you've always wanted because frankly, you have so much time on your hands so why not use that time to exercise? Working out will even give you an excuse to not hang out with your friends who have boyfriends. "Oh, sorry. I'm going to the gym so I can't third wheel with you tonight. Maybe next time." Sounds legit to me!

2. Pig Out

Ok ok. I know I said you need to work out but let's snap back to reality. You probably won't work out. And I say that because I know I won't. If we have no one to show off our sexy new bods to then why even bother? It's time to wake and bake...cookies, that is. Wanna know what's the best thing about being single over the holidays? You got more junk food to yourself! You don't have to share with anyone! That even includes you Santa! None for you. And none for Gretchen Wieners either.

3. Shop 'til You Drop!

Now, I'm not too fond of shopping (crazy, right?) but think of it this way: You have more money to spend...on yourself! It's like your candy. No sharing is required! But before you get carried away, I am going to advise you to perhaps donate some of your cash flow to a charity. You DO have the extra money, so why not? And c'mon, you'll feel good about yourself! AND HEY, you can eventually tell your future bf that you one time gave money to charity during Christmas! You little angel, you! *whispers* It's a win-win.

4. Listen to Music

To be more specific, listen to "Blue Christmas" immediately followed by "Single Ladies". This one is self-explanatory. Just do it. Then do it again.

5. Don't Shave

Because guuuuurrrrl, you don't have to! Why shave when no one will even see it anyway! This calls for a celebration!

The pains of having to shave cannot even be described in words. And instead of trying to explain, let me do you a favour by giving you a GIFt (see what I did there?) of this handsome man shaving/razoring HIS legs. Because, why not? (You're welcome).

Because we don't have to shave anymore, we have that extra 2 hours to do something else! Watch a movie on Netflix or something! Speaking of Netflix: stay on Netflix all day, every day. And by that I literally mean 24/7. Trust me, you need something to tune out the fact that you're alone this holiday season and what better way to do that than immersing yourself in a fictional (or non-fictional if you like documentaries or reality t.v.) person's life? If you don't have Netflix, then watch free movies/shows online. Or turn on your t.v. Or put in some DVDs or VHS tapes. Just DO NOT go to the movie theatre. That place is craaaawling with couples during the holidays. And we all know we definitely don't want to see that, am I right? Can I get an AMEN? 

Now I know how it feels to be alone during the holidays but you need to listen to me when I say, don't fall into desperation! You will survive this holiday season a strong, independent woman! And trust me, the men feel lonely too. But don't buy into their (sweet) words! Walk away! Just walk awaaaay!

All joking aside, the main focus of the holiday season should initially be about family. Whether you live at home, are home for the holidays, or live in a far away land, spend as much QUALITY time as you can with your family. Call, video chat, or book the next flight to your parents' town! We'll have plenty of time to sulk over being single once Valentine's Day rolls around...in 2 months...greaaaat.

Thanks for reading! If this list made you smile, then that's a plus! :)

5 Movies to Watch Over the Holidays (Classics Edition)

If you're a movie fanatic like I am, you know that along with the holiday season comes cheesy movies about Santa Claus and nostalgia. I don't know about you but I have yet to find a Christmas movie that leaves me satisfied. So instead of naming Christmas movies for this list, I am going to share with you my must-watch (classic) movies list for the holidays.

1. Pride and Prejudice (2005) - Rotten Tomatoes rating: 85%

If you ask me what my favourite movie is, I will tell you (without hesitation) Pride & Prejudice. This movie, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden, is based on Jane Austen's novel by the same name. Now this movie is not only one of the best films but also the best romantic film. Yes, that means it beats The Notebook, P.S. I Love You and Dear John. You can disagree with me all you want but this movie just gets better the more and more you watch it. This holiday season, watch this movie with a loved one or by yourself and it will leave you with a feel-good emotion that one cannot control and let's be honest, who doesn't want to feel good during the holidays? The character development, script, acting and even the music creates a perfect blend of beautiful. I can't even count how many times I've watched this film. All I know is that I watched it enough to be able to quote numerous lines. You may even be able to catch me quote a line from the movie on this blog! So, if you have the urge of watching a romance movie this winter holiday, I advise you to stray away from Nicholas Sparks and enter the world of Jane Austen. And if you're like me and have already watched this movie...then watch it again. And with the slight chance that you don't end up liking it...could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your circumstances?


2. Cast Away (2000) - Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%

If you haven't watched this movie yet then what is the meaning of life? This movie is for the people who are craving a good drama, action and adventure film. Tom Hanks never fails to amaze his audience with his acting that makes you truly believe you are there on the island with him. If you watch this movie, it will remind you to appreciate even the little things you have during this holiday season. So don't fret if you don't get what you want this Christmas! For parents, if you think your child needs a good, firm lesson on appreciation, let them watch this movie. If you weren't able to get them the present that they wanted, let them watch this movie so they won't hate you as much (LOL). Now I don't want to spoil the movie but it could even teach a thing or two about survival. With all the talks these days of zombie apocalypses and doomsday, learning how to survive with minimal resources won't do any harm! Overall, this movie is definitely a classic and a must-watch during any season! WILSONNNNN!!!!


3. Lilo & Stitch (2002) - Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%

Speaking of children, this movie is for those that still have that inner-child in them that's dying for a good children's movie. I know this movie isn't really considered a classic but it sure is a classic for me (any Disney movie is a classic)! I asked Santa (my aunt lol) for this movie when I was like 7-8 and I got it, included with a poster! The obsessive child in me ended up watching the movie 10x a day for a week during the holidays. Not only is this movie visually appealing but it can leave you with a nice message as well! The movie's main theme is about family and it reminds you that family is more important than you think. This holiday season should be all about family and this movie can remind you of just that. It also gives you 1 hour and 4 minutes of that Hawaiian getaway that you've always wanted ;). You can never go wrong with watching a Disney movie, so do yourself a favour, gather your ohana (that means family...and family means nobody gets left behind) and watch Lilo & Stitch.


4. Avatar (2009) - Rotten Tomatoes rating: 83%

Now this is a movie that I, as an individual, have been itching to watch again. I watched it once when it came out but never again and I can't wait to finish typing this post so I can finally fulfill my desires! Written and directed by James Cameron (& starring hottie Sam Worthington and the beautiful Zoe Saldana), this film takes you to a world that you wish existed in real life (or if you're like me, you believe it actually does exist and you think the government is hiding it from you). A drama-suspense-comedy-mystery-science fiction-action-adventure-fantasy movie all in one! Forgive me, for I do not have a holiday-related reason for you to watch this movie. You should just watch it, just because. If you don't want to watch this movie, then let me ask you one question: how does it feel to betray your own race? Mankind depends on you watching this! Please! LOL jk, but seriously. Watch the movie...and I mean watch the movie right now.


5. Mean Girls (2004) - Rotten Tomatoes rating: 83%

Seriously? Do I even need to give you a reason why you need to watch it? This movie starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams and Tina Fey (she wrote it too!) is a classic on its own terms. It's STILL quoted everywhere around the world, even after almost 10 years. If you want a good laugh, then watch this movie (or rather, watch it again since it's almost impossible to find someone who hasn't seen this yet). This movie also brings us back to good times where Lindsay Lohan was still naturally pretty and seemingly "normal". There's even a little bit of Christmas spirit in this film with the famous "Jingle Bell Rock" performance and Santa handing out candy canes (none for Gretchen Wieners). Watch this feel-good flick as many times as you like this holiday season. I give you my permission.

Annnd there you have it! If you have any other suggestions for must-watch movies for the holidays, let me know! Or if you'd like me to make more lists like these (where I suggest movies for you), let me know as well!

Thanks for reading! If this post made you smile, then that's a plus! :)

Interpreting Songs: Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera

I first heard this song while studying for my exams. Like any student, I was procrastinating and browsing on Facebook when I came across someone's status about how this song made them sob to death from beginning to end. As much as I was bothered at how much that was obviously not true, I decided to watch the video anyway. My first thought? Christina looks AMAZING.

If you know me well enough, you'd know that I have a secret hidden passion for poetry and that the first things I listen to in a song are the lyrics. Initially, when I first heard this song (and by the influence of the video) I thought it was about love. My interpretation: a person is in love with someone, but that person does not feel like that someone loves them back enough and so this person is giving that someone one last chance to prove their love or else that person is going to leave that someone (run-on sentences FTW). As sad as this interpretation sounds, it wasn't something that I could generally relate to and connect with so I thought to myself "uhh...I'll give this song a B-" (clearly, I was still in school mode).

It wasn't until I listened to a cover of the song by Kina Grannis that I fell in love (and listened to the song repeatedly for hours) and that I realized that love was NOT the sole topic of this song. It could also be about faith. Regardless of what religion you are, losing faith and having doubt is a phase that we all go through. Some have short phases, some have long phases and some have intermittent phases...but I think one would be lying if they said they have never experienced this phase. In the song, when they sing "Say something. I'm giving up on you" it is like a message to God (or *insert your God's name here*) from someone who is losing faith. "Say something" is not taken literally, rather it's more along the lines of "Why aren't you answering my prayers?". When I thought of this, it hit home because I admit that I have had phases of doubt before and I believe even the most religious of the religious have had these phases too. Another line I found very faith-related was "Anywhere, I would've followed you". I interpret this as "Ok, you know I believe in you and I would listen to you and accept you no matter what, but just show me a sign that you're actually there because I'm starting to doubt"...Am I making sense or am I pushing it too far? LOL. Anyway, this is my own interpretation. At the end of the day, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. In this case, I'm the beholder and beauty is in my interpretation of this song LOL!

Let me know if you agree or disagree with my interpretation. I love hearing what other people interpret! Here's the cover by Kina Grannis that I fell in love with. Check out her other videos too! You'll fall in love! (Random fact: This video inspired me to learn the song on the piano! It's really not that hard!)

If you watched X-Factor this season, you probably saw Alex & Sierra's cover of this song too. All I can say is: WOW! I love them and I love this song so you can imagine my excitement. They are so cute and I envy their relationship! I WANT A LOVE LIKE ALEX & SIERRA's! *crying*...okay, let's get back on track.

I think it's awesome being able to find songs that can have a hidden/double meaning about faith. It makes the song more relatable and somehow therapeutic. Another artist that has songs with hidden meaning about faith is Lights! Go check her out and let me know what you interpret from her songs!

Thanks for reading, and remember...if it makes you smile, that's a plus! :)

Just a Regular Day #1

Christmas is in a week, there is a huge snow storm about to arrive and my sister is in the middle of baking cookies...so why doesn't it feel like it's the holidays? Is it just me or do you feel it too? Or rather...do you NOT feel it too?

Maybe it's because we haven't finished putting up our Christmas tree. Here's half of it though.

*Sigh*...Christmas spirit...where are you?!