- White Christmas-Bing Crosby
- Greatest Time of Year-Aly & AJ
- Extraordinary Merry Christmas-Glee Cast
- Christmas in Heaven-Scotty McCreery
- All I Want For Christmas is You-Mariah Carey
- Five More Days 'Til Christmas-The Cheetah Girls
- The Christmas Can-Can-Straight No Chaser
- His Favorite Christmas Story-Capital Lights
- Mary, Did You Know?-Pentatonix
- Deck The Halls-Tenth Avenue North
Sunday, December 17, 2017
My Christmas Playlist
'Tis the season for constant Christmas music. It's everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. Guess what? It's here on my blog too! I've had my Christmas playlist on repeat on Spotify since Thanksgiving. Wanna know what I'm listening to? I'll tell you some of my favorite songs. You can listen to my full playlist here.
A Must-Do Christmas List
As we all know, Christmas is about more than just presents. It's about spending time with family and friends, and, of course, the birth of Christ. Here are some of my favorite Christmas traditions that cost little to no money.
- Drive around and look at Christmas lights. Some places have special light shows, some don't, but most places at least have a neighborhood or two with some lights up. Gather the kids, get in the car, and go for a drive!
- Watch Christmas movies. There are a few ways you can go about this one. Some movie theaters and/or local churches/organizations host showings of holiday movies this time of year. Redbox also stocks Christmas movies, and not just brand new ones. Or you can watch movies you already own at home.
- Drink hot cocoa. You don't need to go get the fancy Starbucks stuff. Just make the instant kind. You can get a box for only a few dollars at Walmart. There are also tons of homemade hot cocoa recipes on Pinterest!
- Make a gingerbread house. This can be done with a kit from the grocery store (they're generally not too expensive) or with some graham crackers, icing, and candy.
- Bake cookies. If you're like me and don't necessarily have the time or energy to roll out cookie dough, cut, bake, and ice it, you can get a box of Pillsbury ones with designs already on them for roughly $3.
- Sit by the fire. This is easiest if you have a fireplace in your house. However, if you enjoy being outside in the freezing cold to do it, go for it!
These are only a few suggestions. There are tons of other things to do this time of year. Check online (or in the local paper if you're old school like that) for local events happening in your community.
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Christmas Movies
Christmas is right around the corner. With just over a week left, it's time to snuggle up with some warm pj's, comfy blankets, and lots of Christmas movies and specials. Don't know which ones to watch? Well, here's a list of my favorites (and they're all family-friendly!).
- Elf
- The Polar Express
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Frosty The Snowman
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- Eloise at Christmastime
- Home Alone
- Olive The Other Reindeer
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!
- White Christmas
- The Santa Clause
- The Santa Clause 2
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town
- A Christmas Carol
Have yourself a movie marathon and a very merry Christmas!
Friday, October 27, 2017
Staying Safe on Halloween
It's almost Halloween! Just a few more days. While you're putting the final touches on your kids' costumes (or your own), carving pumpkins, decorating your front yard, and making sure you have enough candy, it's also important to make sure you know how to keep yourself and/or your kids safe. Trick-or-Treating is a lot of fun, but a lot of things can happen while walking outside at night. Here are some helpful tips on how to stay safe this Halloween.
1. Use glow sticks. This is especially important if your costume is dark, which can make it difficult for drivers to see you at night. Glow sticks are cheap and can be found in dollar stores and in the Halloween section of most other stores.
2. Don't enter a stranger's house. This should be a no-brainer, but I figured I should mention it anyway. If anyone invites you or your child into their house to receive candy, and you don't know them, do NOT go in.
3. Don't let children trick-or-treat unsupervised. Kids should not be walking around alone at night anytime of year, but on Halloween it is especially important. You never know what kind of weirdos are walking around watching these kids.
4. Don't accept unpackaged candy from strangers. If you're at the house of someone you don't know, and they give you an uunsealed/unpackaged/homemade treat, don't eat it. I hate to sound paranoid, but you really never know what people put in these treats. There are a lot of sick people out there.
If you have any other Halloween safety tips, leave a comment!
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Costumes and Cultural Appropriation
It's that time of year again. Time for haunted houses, scary movies, pumpkin everything, and...censoring costumes?
Over the last few years, people have been complaining about people wearing costumes that they consider to be cultural appropriation (i.e. dressing like a Native American). Colleges even create guidelines for costumes their students can and cannot wear by determining what is and is not offensive. What they fail to understand is that not everyone is offended by the same things.
Let's break this down a little bit. True, the definition of cultural appropriation is "the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture" (source). However, if you really think about it, going by that definition, almost everything we do, wear, and eat could be considered cultural appropriation. The Huffington Post has a neat little article that lists some of these things.
When it comes to Halloween costumes, Allie Beth Stuckey, aka The Conservative Millenial, has a great little flow chart for how to decide what costumes you should and should not wear
While some people may consider people who wear these culturally appropriating costumes to be jerks, the fact is, they have a right to be jerks. However, those of you who are offended by such costumes, also have the right to not associate with people you think are jerks. If they're going to wear a costume you find offensive, don't invite them to your party. It's that simple.
Before I sign off, while we're on this subject, if you get upset when people dress as Native Americans and such, but not when they dress as "slutty priests/nuns/Catholic school girls," you are a hypocrite. I've never understood why it seems to be totally okay to mock Christians, but if any other group is even slightly offended, everyone goes bananas.
If you have any thoughts on this subject, leave a comment. (But please be civil, thanks!)
Over the last few years, people have been complaining about people wearing costumes that they consider to be cultural appropriation (i.e. dressing like a Native American). Colleges even create guidelines for costumes their students can and cannot wear by determining what is and is not offensive. What they fail to understand is that not everyone is offended by the same things.
Let's break this down a little bit. True, the definition of cultural appropriation is "the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture" (source). However, if you really think about it, going by that definition, almost everything we do, wear, and eat could be considered cultural appropriation. The Huffington Post has a neat little article that lists some of these things.
When it comes to Halloween costumes, Allie Beth Stuckey, aka The Conservative Millenial, has a great little flow chart for how to decide what costumes you should and should not wear
While some people may consider people who wear these culturally appropriating costumes to be jerks, the fact is, they have a right to be jerks. However, those of you who are offended by such costumes, also have the right to not associate with people you think are jerks. If they're going to wear a costume you find offensive, don't invite them to your party. It's that simple.
Before I sign off, while we're on this subject, if you get upset when people dress as Native Americans and such, but not when they dress as "slutty priests/nuns/Catholic school girls," you are a hypocrite. I've never understood why it seems to be totally okay to mock Christians, but if any other group is even slightly offended, everyone goes bananas.
If you have any thoughts on this subject, leave a comment. (But please be civil, thanks!)
Monday, September 18, 2017
On Presidents and Golf Balls
If you've been on social media recently, chances are you've heard about Donald Trump tweeting a gif of him golfing, with the ball hitting Hillary Clinton and knocking her over. People are losing their minds over this. It's gotten pretty ridiculous. I've seen so many tweets about how posting such a thing is "encouraging violence against women." No. No. No. Not at all. No.
First of all, Trump didn't personally make the gif. He just retweeted it because he found it funny. Second, the golf ball hitting Clinton didn't actually happen. It's 100% fake/photoshopped, and it's pretty obvious.
The most important thing I want to say here is that Donald Trump is not just going around hitting women with golf balls. From people's reactions to this gif, you'd think he was. Don't worry, he's not.
Maybe the president shouldn't spend so much time on twitter, but people also need to learn to not take the things you see on twitter so seriously. While you're tweeting Trump calling him immature and childish, you're making yourself look pretty immature and childish.
First of all, Trump didn't personally make the gif. He just retweeted it because he found it funny. Second, the golf ball hitting Clinton didn't actually happen. It's 100% fake/photoshopped, and it's pretty obvious.
The most important thing I want to say here is that Donald Trump is not just going around hitting women with golf balls. From people's reactions to this gif, you'd think he was. Don't worry, he's not.
Maybe the president shouldn't spend so much time on twitter, but people also need to learn to not take the things you see on twitter so seriously. While you're tweeting Trump calling him immature and childish, you're making yourself look pretty immature and childish.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Analysis of Taylor Swift's New Video
For those of you that have been under rocks and away from the internet, I'll fill you in. Last night, Taylor Swift premiered her new music video for Look What You Made Me Do on the VMAs. Tay came to SLAY! This video is legit. If you haven't seen in, you can see it here.
For those of you not OBSESSED with Taylor, let me fill you in on all the Easter eggs in the video and show you just how extra she is. There's a lot, so fair warning, this will be long.
1. The dress. At the beginning of the video, we see zombie Taylor popping up out of her own grave. If you look closely, you can see that the dress she is wearing bears a striking similarity to the one she wears in the Out of The Woods video. That was the last video of the 1989 era, which essentially makes that video the end of the 1989 era. Zombie Taylor is 1989 Taylor risen from the dead.
2. Nils Sjoberg. In the next scene we see zombie Tay digging in the cemetery she rose from. Behind her, you can see a headstone for Nils Sjoberg. This is the pseudonym Taylor used for her writing credit on Calvin Harris's This is What You Came For.
3. Met Gala Dress. For a brief second, Taylor can be seen lying in her own grave, wearing her custom Oscar de La Renta gown from the 2014 Met Gala. Multiple sources quote Taylor saying that working with the designer on the dress was a dream of hers. One fan on Tumblr suggested that this may demonstrate her having to put her former self and former dreams to rest in order to become the darker, no bull crap Taylor.
4. Bathtub of diamonds. The shot of Taylor in her grave immediately cuts to her lying in a bathtub full of diamonds and pearls. This may be a jab at all those who have called her greedy over the years.
5. Dollar bill. Next to Taylor in the bathtub, there is a single dollar bill, which is a reference to her recent legal battle with David Mueller, who allegedly groped her during a meet-and-greet in 2013. All she asked for in this fight was a single dollar. It was about the principle, not the money.
6. Et tu Brute. In the scene where Taylor is on a throne, under her right hand are the words "et tu Brute," a reference to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, in which Caesar turns to Brutus, who is supposed to be his best friend, and says, "And you, Brutus?" before Brutus hits Caesar with the final. fatal blow. Taylor may be using this to show how she's been betrayed by people she thought she could trust.
7. Maserati and Grammy. Taylor drives full speed, in a gold Maserati, into a lamp post. This may be a reference to the title track off her 2012 album Red, in which she says "loving him was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street." When the car door falls open, we see her holding a Grammy. This could be a jab at the fact that she didn't win a Grammy for Red, or maybe it's just her predicting the future for Reputation.
8. Paparazzi. After Taylor gets into the car accident, you see a group of people just standing there taking photos instead of trying to help. She may have used this to demonstrate how, when people were tearing her down, everyone just watched it happen instead of helping/defending her.
9. Cage. After the car accident, we see Taylor swinging in a bird cage. She also appears to be wearing an orange romper. This may be indicative of how she feels like a prisoner to the media and their scrutiny.
10. Stealing money. In one scene, Taylor and her friends, who are all wearing cat masks (Tay LOVES cats), appear to be robbing a bank. This may be another jab at those who have called her greedy and money-hungry over the years, especially since that scene goes right into the Stream Co. one, which we'll get to next.
11. Stream Co. Tay and her friends are seen walking out of an office for "Stream Co." This is an allusion to the time she took her music off most major streaming sites in order to stand up for lesser known artists whose livelihood depends on record sales and money made from streams. She explained that it wasn't about her making money, it was about those other artists, and people still called her greedy.
12. Blind Follower. In the bank and Stream Co. scenes, Taylor is wearing a sweatshirt that at the bottom reads "Blind Follower." I think this may be an allusion to those who have accused her friends and fans of being blind followers who will do and think whatever she wants them to.
13. Squad. Taylor is seen standing in front of a crowd of identical women and the word "Squad" is up on the screens. During the past few years, many people have accused Taylor of forcing her friends to do what she wants them to do.
14. Mannequins. Immediately after the squad scene, we see a shot of Taylor next to a small pile of mannequins, like the ones in the squad scene. Further driving the fake, forced friends point.
15. Dancers. When Taylor enters the room of dancers, at first they are all just goofing around. Once she walks in, they straighten up and get behind her, which is yet another jab at the forced friends thing.
16. I hear TS. When the dancers take their jackets off, after Taylor snaps her fingers, they reveal that they are all wearing shirts saying "I <3 TS." Back when Taylor was dating Tom Hiddleston, he was seen wearing a shirt with the same phrase on it at her 4th of July party. People accused Taylor of brainwashing him and forcing him to wear it, even though Hiddleston himself has said that that was not the case. Her snapping and having the dancers reveal their shirts is a solid depiction of that accusation.
17. Fearless Tay vs. Red Tay. During the bridge of the song, Taylor is seen standing on top of a mountain of her past selves. Two of these are Fearless Tour Taylor and Red Tour Taylor, who begin to fight each other. This could be a depiction of her struggle to choose between pop and country.
18. Phone. When Taylor says, "I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead," she is speaking into a phone that looks very similar to the one in the Our Song video.
19. Boob grab. When dancing during the last chorus, you see Taylor reach up, touch her chest, and push her boobs up for just a split second. While this may seem like just another dance move, it may also be a jab at the rumors going around a while back that she had gotten a boob job.
20. Real Taylor. In the final scene of the video, Taylor is seen spray painting the word "Reputation" across a jet. However, this Taylor doesn't look like a past Taylor or Reputation Taylor. This had led many to believe that this is the real Taylor, but nobody listens to her and she is forced into the background.
21. Junior Jewels. In the final Taylor lineup, we see You Belong With Me Taylor wearing the same t-shirt from the video. However, there is a major change. The names on the shirt are no longer random signatures of made-up classmates. They are the names of people in Taylor's life that have stuck by her through everything. We see names like Ed, Selena, Ryan, and Blake, just to name a few.
22. Final Taylor Lineup. At the end of the video, multiple past Taylors are lined up and start saying things to each other that people have said to/about Taylor in real life, from telling her to stop acting so surprised all the time to telling her to shut up when asking to be excused from the Kanye feud narrative.
23. "Getting receipts." During this final lineup scene, one Taylor, who looks vaguely Kardashian-like, is seen recording everything on her phone. When asked what she's doing she says, "Getting receipts. I'm gonna edit this later." This could be a jab at Kim Kardashian, who, unbeknownst to Taylor at the time, recorded Taylor and Kanye's phone call where Kanye asked Taylor for permission to use the "I think me and Taylor might still have sex" line in his song Famous.
For those of you not OBSESSED with Taylor, let me fill you in on all the Easter eggs in the video and show you just how extra she is. There's a lot, so fair warning, this will be long.
1. The dress. At the beginning of the video, we see zombie Taylor popping up out of her own grave. If you look closely, you can see that the dress she is wearing bears a striking similarity to the one she wears in the Out of The Woods video. That was the last video of the 1989 era, which essentially makes that video the end of the 1989 era. Zombie Taylor is 1989 Taylor risen from the dead.
2. Nils Sjoberg. In the next scene we see zombie Tay digging in the cemetery she rose from. Behind her, you can see a headstone for Nils Sjoberg. This is the pseudonym Taylor used for her writing credit on Calvin Harris's This is What You Came For.
3. Met Gala Dress. For a brief second, Taylor can be seen lying in her own grave, wearing her custom Oscar de La Renta gown from the 2014 Met Gala. Multiple sources quote Taylor saying that working with the designer on the dress was a dream of hers. One fan on Tumblr suggested that this may demonstrate her having to put her former self and former dreams to rest in order to become the darker, no bull crap Taylor.
4. Bathtub of diamonds. The shot of Taylor in her grave immediately cuts to her lying in a bathtub full of diamonds and pearls. This may be a jab at all those who have called her greedy over the years.
5. Dollar bill. Next to Taylor in the bathtub, there is a single dollar bill, which is a reference to her recent legal battle with David Mueller, who allegedly groped her during a meet-and-greet in 2013. All she asked for in this fight was a single dollar. It was about the principle, not the money.
6. Et tu Brute. In the scene where Taylor is on a throne, under her right hand are the words "et tu Brute," a reference to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, in which Caesar turns to Brutus, who is supposed to be his best friend, and says, "And you, Brutus?" before Brutus hits Caesar with the final. fatal blow. Taylor may be using this to show how she's been betrayed by people she thought she could trust.
7. Maserati and Grammy. Taylor drives full speed, in a gold Maserati, into a lamp post. This may be a reference to the title track off her 2012 album Red, in which she says "loving him was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street." When the car door falls open, we see her holding a Grammy. This could be a jab at the fact that she didn't win a Grammy for Red, or maybe it's just her predicting the future for Reputation.
8. Paparazzi. After Taylor gets into the car accident, you see a group of people just standing there taking photos instead of trying to help. She may have used this to demonstrate how, when people were tearing her down, everyone just watched it happen instead of helping/defending her.
9. Cage. After the car accident, we see Taylor swinging in a bird cage. She also appears to be wearing an orange romper. This may be indicative of how she feels like a prisoner to the media and their scrutiny.
10. Stealing money. In one scene, Taylor and her friends, who are all wearing cat masks (Tay LOVES cats), appear to be robbing a bank. This may be another jab at those who have called her greedy and money-hungry over the years, especially since that scene goes right into the Stream Co. one, which we'll get to next.
11. Stream Co. Tay and her friends are seen walking out of an office for "Stream Co." This is an allusion to the time she took her music off most major streaming sites in order to stand up for lesser known artists whose livelihood depends on record sales and money made from streams. She explained that it wasn't about her making money, it was about those other artists, and people still called her greedy.
12. Blind Follower. In the bank and Stream Co. scenes, Taylor is wearing a sweatshirt that at the bottom reads "Blind Follower." I think this may be an allusion to those who have accused her friends and fans of being blind followers who will do and think whatever she wants them to.
13. Squad. Taylor is seen standing in front of a crowd of identical women and the word "Squad" is up on the screens. During the past few years, many people have accused Taylor of forcing her friends to do what she wants them to do.
14. Mannequins. Immediately after the squad scene, we see a shot of Taylor next to a small pile of mannequins, like the ones in the squad scene. Further driving the fake, forced friends point.
15. Dancers. When Taylor enters the room of dancers, at first they are all just goofing around. Once she walks in, they straighten up and get behind her, which is yet another jab at the forced friends thing.
16. I hear TS. When the dancers take their jackets off, after Taylor snaps her fingers, they reveal that they are all wearing shirts saying "I <3 TS." Back when Taylor was dating Tom Hiddleston, he was seen wearing a shirt with the same phrase on it at her 4th of July party. People accused Taylor of brainwashing him and forcing him to wear it, even though Hiddleston himself has said that that was not the case. Her snapping and having the dancers reveal their shirts is a solid depiction of that accusation.
17. Fearless Tay vs. Red Tay. During the bridge of the song, Taylor is seen standing on top of a mountain of her past selves. Two of these are Fearless Tour Taylor and Red Tour Taylor, who begin to fight each other. This could be a depiction of her struggle to choose between pop and country.
18. Phone. When Taylor says, "I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead," she is speaking into a phone that looks very similar to the one in the Our Song video.
19. Boob grab. When dancing during the last chorus, you see Taylor reach up, touch her chest, and push her boobs up for just a split second. While this may seem like just another dance move, it may also be a jab at the rumors going around a while back that she had gotten a boob job.
20. Real Taylor. In the final scene of the video, Taylor is seen spray painting the word "Reputation" across a jet. However, this Taylor doesn't look like a past Taylor or Reputation Taylor. This had led many to believe that this is the real Taylor, but nobody listens to her and she is forced into the background.
21. Junior Jewels. In the final Taylor lineup, we see You Belong With Me Taylor wearing the same t-shirt from the video. However, there is a major change. The names on the shirt are no longer random signatures of made-up classmates. They are the names of people in Taylor's life that have stuck by her through everything. We see names like Ed, Selena, Ryan, and Blake, just to name a few.
22. Final Taylor Lineup. At the end of the video, multiple past Taylors are lined up and start saying things to each other that people have said to/about Taylor in real life, from telling her to stop acting so surprised all the time to telling her to shut up when asking to be excused from the Kanye feud narrative.
23. "Getting receipts." During this final lineup scene, one Taylor, who looks vaguely Kardashian-like, is seen recording everything on her phone. When asked what she's doing she says, "Getting receipts. I'm gonna edit this later." This could be a jab at Kim Kardashian, who, unbeknownst to Taylor at the time, recorded Taylor and Kanye's phone call where Kanye asked Taylor for permission to use the "I think me and Taylor might still have sex" line in his song Famous.
Back to School Survival Guide
Here in my hometown, summer is officially over. Students headed back to school this morning. For some, this is an exciting time. Reuniting with friends and being back on a regular schedule is fun for a lot of people. For others, back to school can mean back to stress. Have no fear! I'm here to help! Having survived school up through undergrad, I have plenty of tips for getting through the school year.
1. Breathe. This is so important. Things get busy fast when school starts. Remember to breathe.
2. Make time for you. Between homework, extracurriculars, and trying to keep up with your social life, it can be hard to find time for yourself. Whatever you do, make sure you're taking care of you.
3. Keep an agenda. If your school doesn't provide you an agenda, go to Walmart or the dollar store and get yourself a planner. This makes it way easier to keep up with assignments, due dates, and activities.
4. Get some sleep. This is another one of those things that can be hard to do in the midst of all the craziness, but it's important for your physical and mental health.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether you're dealing with bullies or falling behind in a class, don't be afraid to speak up and ask for help. Go to tutoring (if your school offers it, or ask a friend or teacher for help), talk to your teachers, go to the counselor. Do whatever you need to do.
6. Be yourself. Don't let anyone tear you down for being you. Own it! You are awesome!
7. Pay attention in class. I know, some classes are boring things you're required to take. Trust me, I understand. It's still important to pay attention. If you don't you may miss some key information needed for the exam.
8. Study. Even if it's only for a few minutes a day, make sure you study. It'll pay off in the long run. (Hint: flashcards are your friend. You can also try quizlet.com, it's free and saves you from buying tons of index cards!)
9. Do your homework. I'm sure your mom and your teachers ride you about this already, but if you don't get your homework done, your grade will suffer.
10. Get involved. Don't just sit idly by and let the school year pass. Find a club/activity that interests you and get involved. It can help you to find friends with similar interests while also having a good time at school.
11. Have a presentation coming up? Make note cards. And number them. It will help you stay on track when you present.
You got this! Have a great school year!
1. Breathe. This is so important. Things get busy fast when school starts. Remember to breathe.
2. Make time for you. Between homework, extracurriculars, and trying to keep up with your social life, it can be hard to find time for yourself. Whatever you do, make sure you're taking care of you.
3. Keep an agenda. If your school doesn't provide you an agenda, go to Walmart or the dollar store and get yourself a planner. This makes it way easier to keep up with assignments, due dates, and activities.
4. Get some sleep. This is another one of those things that can be hard to do in the midst of all the craziness, but it's important for your physical and mental health.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether you're dealing with bullies or falling behind in a class, don't be afraid to speak up and ask for help. Go to tutoring (if your school offers it, or ask a friend or teacher for help), talk to your teachers, go to the counselor. Do whatever you need to do.
6. Be yourself. Don't let anyone tear you down for being you. Own it! You are awesome!
7. Pay attention in class. I know, some classes are boring things you're required to take. Trust me, I understand. It's still important to pay attention. If you don't you may miss some key information needed for the exam.
8. Study. Even if it's only for a few minutes a day, make sure you study. It'll pay off in the long run. (Hint: flashcards are your friend. You can also try quizlet.com, it's free and saves you from buying tons of index cards!)
9. Do your homework. I'm sure your mom and your teachers ride you about this already, but if you don't get your homework done, your grade will suffer.
10. Get involved. Don't just sit idly by and let the school year pass. Find a club/activity that interests you and get involved. It can help you to find friends with similar interests while also having a good time at school.
11. Have a presentation coming up? Make note cards. And number them. It will help you stay on track when you present.
You got this! Have a great school year!
Friday, August 25, 2017
Finally, We Have New Taylor Swift Music!
As I'm sure many of you know, Taylor Swift just dropped the lead single, Look What You Made Me Do, off her upcoming album, Reputation. I've seen mixed reviews of the song, but, personally, I've had it on repeat for the last 24 hours.
If you live under a rock and have not heard the song yet, you can see the lyric video here.
A lot of people have been hating on Taylor (surprise surprise) for this song. I've seen a lot of "oh, it's just more of her playing the victim and blaming others for her actions." No. It's her saying she's done taking everyone's crap. She's not going to let the media, or anyone, walk all over her anymore.
For years, Taylor has been "America's Sweetheart," but now? Now, she's showing us what being taken advantage of and dragged through the mud for a decade does to a person. Everyone has been giving her so much crap for simply writing about her experiences.
NEWS FLASH! That's what literally every artist does. Do they get told they're just "playing the victim card"? No. And no, not every Taylor Swift song is dissing an ex-boyfriend.
I'm proud of Taylor for finally standing up for herself, but I am sad that she had to do it in such a dramatic way. I guess that's the only way to really get her point across.
I'm excited to hear the rest of the album, which drops November 10th. You bet I'll be at Target ASAP that day!
If you live under a rock and have not heard the song yet, you can see the lyric video here.
A lot of people have been hating on Taylor (surprise surprise) for this song. I've seen a lot of "oh, it's just more of her playing the victim and blaming others for her actions." No. It's her saying she's done taking everyone's crap. She's not going to let the media, or anyone, walk all over her anymore.
For years, Taylor has been "America's Sweetheart," but now? Now, she's showing us what being taken advantage of and dragged through the mud for a decade does to a person. Everyone has been giving her so much crap for simply writing about her experiences.
NEWS FLASH! That's what literally every artist does. Do they get told they're just "playing the victim card"? No. And no, not every Taylor Swift song is dissing an ex-boyfriend.
I'm proud of Taylor for finally standing up for herself, but I am sad that she had to do it in such a dramatic way. I guess that's the only way to really get her point across.
I'm excited to hear the rest of the album, which drops November 10th. You bet I'll be at Target ASAP that day!
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Everything I Need to Know About High School, I Learned From Taylor Swift
Way back in 2008, Taylor Swift was a country singer and she released a little album called Fearless. The second song on the album, Fifteen, was written about Swift's early days of high school, from meeting her best friend, Abigail Anderson, to the ups and downs of teen romance. If you really listen to the lyrics of the song, you can learn a lot about how to survive high school.
1. "You take a deep breath, and you walk through the doors." This is important if it's your first day of high school and you're a little nervous. Just take a deep breath before you walk inside.
2."Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say, 'you know, I haven't seen you around before.'" There's a good chance you are hoping for this. However, if a senior boy is flirting with you, run. He's almost 18, if he isn't already, and you're 14-15. That is not okay.
3. "Count to ten, take it in, this is life before you know who you're gonna be." Yes. This. Freshman year, and high school as a whole, doesn't last forever. Use this time to explore new things and figure yourself out. Enjoy it.
4. "In your life, you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team." So true. If you do end up dating the boy on the football team and it works out, that's great. Just don't get so focused on making that happen that you lose yourself. There are way more important things like friends, doing things you love, and figuring out who you want to be.
5. "Don't forget to look before you fall." This is one of my favorite lines in this song. Before you do something or date someone, really think about if it's right for you. Ask yourself, is this going to lead me closer to who I want to be? Will I be happy if I do this, or just end up hurt? These are important questions. If all else fails, ask your friends and family.
6. "I've found time can heal most anything." My other favorite line. It's 100% true. You're going to make mistakes. It's what teenagers (and humans in general) do. What's important is that you don't let those mistakes define you. Just give it time and move on. You'll be fine.
Now, go own this school year like the rock star you are! You've got this!
1. "You take a deep breath, and you walk through the doors." This is important if it's your first day of high school and you're a little nervous. Just take a deep breath before you walk inside.
2."Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say, 'you know, I haven't seen you around before.'" There's a good chance you are hoping for this. However, if a senior boy is flirting with you, run. He's almost 18, if he isn't already, and you're 14-15. That is not okay.
3. "Count to ten, take it in, this is life before you know who you're gonna be." Yes. This. Freshman year, and high school as a whole, doesn't last forever. Use this time to explore new things and figure yourself out. Enjoy it.
4. "In your life, you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team." So true. If you do end up dating the boy on the football team and it works out, that's great. Just don't get so focused on making that happen that you lose yourself. There are way more important things like friends, doing things you love, and figuring out who you want to be.
5. "Don't forget to look before you fall." This is one of my favorite lines in this song. Before you do something or date someone, really think about if it's right for you. Ask yourself, is this going to lead me closer to who I want to be? Will I be happy if I do this, or just end up hurt? These are important questions. If all else fails, ask your friends and family.
6. "I've found time can heal most anything." My other favorite line. It's 100% true. You're going to make mistakes. It's what teenagers (and humans in general) do. What's important is that you don't let those mistakes define you. Just give it time and move on. You'll be fine.
Now, go own this school year like the rock star you are! You've got this!
Sunday, July 30, 2017
A Response to Marie Claire's Dunkirk Article
A couple days ago, Mehera Bonner published an article on the Marie Claire website about the movie Dunkirk, a recent release about the Battle of Dunkirk in World War II (read Bonner's article here). I have yet to see Dunkirk, but I have pretty much only heard positive things about it. However, this article was not your average movie review. Bonner referred to the movie as "clearly designed for men to man-out over," claiming that that was her main problem with the film.
Again, I haven't seen the movie yet, so I can't necessarily agree or disagree with her statement, but I wouldn't be surprised to find it is a manly movie because, spoiler alert, WWII was primarily fought by men. According to the timeline on history.org, women weren't actually sent into combat until about the early 1990's. Before that, they mainly served in non-combat roles (i.e. nurses, mechanics, administrators).
Is having a movie geared towards men really a bad thing? Not to mention, Harry Styles makes a cameo in the film, which you know was probably done to attract a few women. We have so many movies geared towards women, including action movies, most of which have romantic subplots and muscular men in tight suits. Wonder Woman was just released at the beginning of the summer and they even remade Ghost Busters with an all female cast. Let the guys have this one.
Before I go, I'd just like to remind you that it is 100% okay for women to like "manly" movies and for men to like "girly" movies. Your taste is your taste.
Again, I haven't seen the movie yet, so I can't necessarily agree or disagree with her statement, but I wouldn't be surprised to find it is a manly movie because, spoiler alert, WWII was primarily fought by men. According to the timeline on history.org, women weren't actually sent into combat until about the early 1990's. Before that, they mainly served in non-combat roles (i.e. nurses, mechanics, administrators).
Is having a movie geared towards men really a bad thing? Not to mention, Harry Styles makes a cameo in the film, which you know was probably done to attract a few women. We have so many movies geared towards women, including action movies, most of which have romantic subplots and muscular men in tight suits. Wonder Woman was just released at the beginning of the summer and they even remade Ghost Busters with an all female cast. Let the guys have this one.
Before I go, I'd just like to remind you that it is 100% okay for women to like "manly" movies and for men to like "girly" movies. Your taste is your taste.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
A Letter From Gavin Creel
Hi friends!
A few weeks ago, I sent a letter to the one and only Gavin Creel. I've been a fan of his for a while now. Through the theater nerds of the internet, I learned that sometimes when you write to shows or specific actors on Broadway, you can get a signed playbill back. I did just that. With my letter, I included a few questions so I had something to share with you guys. (Photos of the playbill and answered questions will be posted below)
1. Q: Of all the characters you've played, which one was your favorite?
A: Claude Hooper Bukowski from Hair. Being in the tribe was the best.
2. Q: Is there a particular character you've been able to relate to more than the others?
A: There is a bit of my in all of them. Sometimes more than a bit so...all of them I guess.
3. Q: What would be your dream role?
A: Something new...in a great new musical written by some great new writers.
Have you ever sent fan mail and gotten something back? Comment or message me and tell me about it!
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Dear Miley Cyrus
Dear Miley Cyrus,
When I was about 11 years old, I discovered this cool little show called Hannah Montana. From the moment I started watching, I was hooked, not only on the show, but also on you...ok, that sounds creepier than I meant it to. What I mean is that, I thought you were just the coolest. You could sing, dance, and act. You were a brown-haired, goofy, southern girl, not much different from me (except you were way cooler than me). I really enjoyed watching you grow, and feeling like I was growing up with you.
Before I knew it, you had taken off the wig, revealed to the world that Miley Stewart was in fact Hannah Montana, and the show was over. Then, things changed, and not really in a good way. You started wearing less clothing, smoking more weed, and just generally acting very weird. So many people had said that this kind of thing would happen as you got older. I, and many others who were just as naive, defended you endlessly, but it happened. I get that you were trying to shed the Disney girl image, but I'm not going to lie, I was really starting to worry about you.
However, recently, it seems like things have been changing again. You're back with your love, you've stopped smoking, and you've been showing a little less skin. It's nice. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Malibu for the first time. It's a simpler, cleaner song than some we've heard from you the last few years. I actually really like it.
I hope that you keep on this cleaner, healthier path. You've come a long way, and I'm proud of you. Keep it up!
When I was about 11 years old, I discovered this cool little show called Hannah Montana. From the moment I started watching, I was hooked, not only on the show, but also on you...ok, that sounds creepier than I meant it to. What I mean is that, I thought you were just the coolest. You could sing, dance, and act. You were a brown-haired, goofy, southern girl, not much different from me (except you were way cooler than me). I really enjoyed watching you grow, and feeling like I was growing up with you.
Before I knew it, you had taken off the wig, revealed to the world that Miley Stewart was in fact Hannah Montana, and the show was over. Then, things changed, and not really in a good way. You started wearing less clothing, smoking more weed, and just generally acting very weird. So many people had said that this kind of thing would happen as you got older. I, and many others who were just as naive, defended you endlessly, but it happened. I get that you were trying to shed the Disney girl image, but I'm not going to lie, I was really starting to worry about you.
However, recently, it seems like things have been changing again. You're back with your love, you've stopped smoking, and you've been showing a little less skin. It's nice. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Malibu for the first time. It's a simpler, cleaner song than some we've heard from you the last few years. I actually really like it.
I hope that you keep on this cleaner, healthier path. You've come a long way, and I'm proud of you. Keep it up!
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
College Life Tips
It's your freshman year of college. You're living in a new place with new people. It can be scary, I know, but I'm here to help. Here are some tips to help with the transition and help you get the most out of your college experience.
- Get to know your roommates/suitemates. Getting to know the people you are living with will make living with them a lot better and a lot easier.
- Bring pictures of your friends and family. Put them up on your side of the room. Trust me, it'll help with the homesickenss.
- Use your headphones. Not everyone wants to listen to the music or movie you're listening to. Be respectful of that.
- Invest in some noise-canceling headphones. As someone who lived near some of the loudest people ever, not having noise-canceling headphones is probably one of my biggest regrets. Don't know which ones to get? Review.com conducted thorough research to find the best. Read all about them here and decide for yourself.
- Keep the noise down. When you're just hanging out in your dorm, don't be blasting music and talking as loud as possible. The people around you are trying to study. Keeping your voice down will also help keep the wrong people from learning things you don't want them knowing about you,
- Flush the toilet. You would think with everyone being 18 and older this wouldn't need to be said, but it does. In most college dorms, bathrooms are shared by multiple people.
- Keep your personal items in your space. It's really frustrating when you go to brush your teeth and some other girl's stuff is all over the counter...and she's not even in the bathroom. Or when you go to take a shower and the girl who showered before you has left her clothes and shampoo everywhere.
- Close the curtain when you shower. When you shower with the curtain open, it gets the bathroom floor very wet, sometimes to the point that it feels like it's flooded. Don't be the girl that leaves the bathroom floor all wet for the next girl.
- Wear flip flops in the shower. In fact, just never go to the bathroom barefoot. It's college. You never know what you might step in. Dorm bathrooms and showers tend to be quite gross.
- Be aware of dorm rules. A lot of schools have certain rules to follow when living in a dorm (i.e. quiet hours). Be aware of those rules and follow them. It will save you a lot of trouble, literally.
- Join clubs. Most schools have some kind of club fair to show what activities they have available. Go to it and find at least one group/activity that interests you. It'll help you make friends that share your interests, and you'll get more out of your college experience.
- Go to events on campus. Just like joining clubs, going to campus events (i.e. dances, movie screenings, cookouts, etc.) will help you meet people and make friends. They're also super fun and sometimes include free food.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether it's going to a tutor, talking to your professor during office hours, or talking with a counselor, don't be afraid to reach out when you need help.
- Don't be scared of the RAs. Your Resident Assistants (RAs) are there to help you. Don't be afraid of them. Get to know them and let them get to know you. Getting to know them will humanize them a little bit and make it easier to reach out when you need help.
- Make time to study. Most of this post has been about the social aspect of being in college, but don't forget about the academics. With so much happening on campus, it's easy to get distracted. Be sure to schedule yourself some time to study and get homework done. (Hint: one way to study AND be social at the same time is to join/create a study group)
Don't be scared. You've got this! Have fun and be safe my dear freshies!
College Packing List
You're about to leave home and be on your own for the first time. It's okay to be unsure of what exactly you need to bring with you. I got you.
Essentials
Essentials
- Sheets/pillow/comforter
- Any medications you need
- Backpack
- Pens/pencils
- Planner
- Notebooks/paper
- Textbooks (obviously)
- Laptop/charger
- Headphones
- Cell phone/charger
- Shampoo/conditioner/soap
- Towel
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Clothing
- Laundry detergent/dryer sheets
- Quarters, if laundry is not included
- Shower shoes (flip flops-trust me, college showers can be gross)
- Shoes (enough that you're prepared for any weather)
- Jackets (enough that you're prepared for any weather)
- Fridge (if your school doesn't provide one)
- Microwave (if your school doesn't provide one)
Not Essential (but still very helpful)
- Printer
- Tape
- Stapler/staples
- Photos of friends/family/pets
- Travel mug (you'll want to bring coffee to class)
- Decorations for your dorm
- Air freshener
- Mirror
- Curling iron/straightener
- Your favorite musical instrument (there will likely be people you can jam with)
- Books for pleasure reading
- Flashlight
- Umbrella
- Fan (if AC not provided, or you get hot easily)
- Small space heater (if heat not provided, or you get cold easily)
- Rug
- Your favorite stuffed animal (trust me, nobody will judge you)
- Scarf/hat/gloves (if you're somewhere where it actually snows)
- Volleyball/basketball/frisbee/soccer ball
If I forgot anything, tell me in the comments!
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
A Letter to The Notre Dame Grads
Dear Notre Dame Class of 2017,
I saw some footage from your commencement. Your speaker was Vice President Mike Pence, and many of your were clearly not happy about that. Several of you were so unhappy that, when he took the stage, you walked out.
You had every right to do that, I'll admit it. However, you should know how disrespectful that was. Whether you like it or not, Pence is our vice president. It is important to note that he was not there to discuss all of the political agendas that you all gave as reasons for walking out, he was there to give a commencement address, which typically involves simply encouraging the graduates in their pursuit of their dreams. The closest he got to political discussion was his discussion of the importance of free speech.
Your walk out was kind of contradictory in regards to free speech. You used your constitutional right to free speech and protest to walk out of the graduation, but you also demonstrated how you're all about free speech...but only when it agrees with your views. You walked out of your own graduation because the speaker was someone you do not agree with. You weren't even willing to listen to what he had to say. So much for free speech, huh?
One last thing, if you didn't want to hear the views of conservative Christians, you probably shouldn't have chosen to attend one of the largest Catholic universities in America...or any Catholic university.
Sincerely,
A Conservative American
I saw some footage from your commencement. Your speaker was Vice President Mike Pence, and many of your were clearly not happy about that. Several of you were so unhappy that, when he took the stage, you walked out.
You had every right to do that, I'll admit it. However, you should know how disrespectful that was. Whether you like it or not, Pence is our vice president. It is important to note that he was not there to discuss all of the political agendas that you all gave as reasons for walking out, he was there to give a commencement address, which typically involves simply encouraging the graduates in their pursuit of their dreams. The closest he got to political discussion was his discussion of the importance of free speech.
Your walk out was kind of contradictory in regards to free speech. You used your constitutional right to free speech and protest to walk out of the graduation, but you also demonstrated how you're all about free speech...but only when it agrees with your views. You walked out of your own graduation because the speaker was someone you do not agree with. You weren't even willing to listen to what he had to say. So much for free speech, huh?
One last thing, if you didn't want to hear the views of conservative Christians, you probably shouldn't have chosen to attend one of the largest Catholic universities in America...or any Catholic university.
Sincerely,
A Conservative American
Manchester
I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to the victims of the Manchester bombing that happened last night, as well as their families. You all are in my prayers.
My heart also goes out to Ariana Grande herself, since it was her concert that the attack happened at. A lot of people have given the celebrities that have posted on social media in support of their friend a lot of heat for doing so. The majority of these celebs have also expressed support and condolences to the victims and their families. However, people seem to be upset that they are supporting Ari as well. Why? Don't you guys think she feels awful about this? It was HER concert. Yes, she is safe while many others lost their lives or were injured, but she still deserves some love and prayers.
My heart also goes out to Ariana Grande herself, since it was her concert that the attack happened at. A lot of people have given the celebrities that have posted on social media in support of their friend a lot of heat for doing so. The majority of these celebs have also expressed support and condolences to the victims and their families. However, people seem to be upset that they are supporting Ari as well. Why? Don't you guys think she feels awful about this? It was HER concert. Yes, she is safe while many others lost their lives or were injured, but she still deserves some love and prayers.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Babies and Graduation
Earlier today, a friend of mine who works for Students For Life shared an article (which you can read here). This article was about high school senior, Maddi Runkles, who happens to be pregnant. Runkles attends a private Christian school in Maryland, and, due to her pregnancy, her school is not allowing her to walk at graduation. They say she will still receive a diploma, but she cannot participate in the graduation ceremony. This isn't right.
I understand that the school wishes to uphold it's clean, Christian reputation. However, is excluding a girl from graduation for choosing life really very Christian? Christians are supposed to support life from conception to natural death. Now, I know many Christians who do not follow this, but even pro-choice groups have posted in support of Maddi.
One of the reasons the school does not want Maddi participating in graduation is that premarital sex is a sin, and they don't want to celebrate that. However, regardless of age or circumstances, we are called to love and support pregnant women. Technically, we're called to love everyone, no matter what. Anyway, the school doesn't want to celebrate this "mistake" and make other girls in the school think that having sex and getting pregnant before marriage is okay.
What kind of message is this really sending though? To me, it seems to be telling teen girls that if they get pregnant, they will be punished. All this does is discourage young women from choosing life.
The school wants to promote chastity and abstinence, which is all well and good, but studies show that abstinence only sex education doesn't work. Teens are going to have sex. We can educate them and try to discourage it, but the truth is, it's going to happen. When it does happen, and results in a pregnancy (which is the biological purpose of sex), we shouldn't be shaming the girl for having sex. We should encourage her to choose life for her child. If she doesn't wish to keep the child or doesn't think she's a fit mother, we should direct to adoption resources.
If you agree with me, I suggest you contact the school, which you can do here, and stand up for Maddi.
The school wants to promote chastity and abstinence, which is all well and good, but studies show that abstinence only sex education doesn't work. Teens are going to have sex. We can educate them and try to discourage it, but the truth is, it's going to happen. When it does happen, and results in a pregnancy (which is the biological purpose of sex), we shouldn't be shaming the girl for having sex. We should encourage her to choose life for her child. If she doesn't wish to keep the child or doesn't think she's a fit mother, we should direct to adoption resources.
If you agree with me, I suggest you contact the school, which you can do here, and stand up for Maddi.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Letting Children Decide Gender?
Recently, a friend of mine shared a video (you can see said video by clicking here). This video suggested that expectant parents should not have gender reveal parties, or otherwise announce the gender of the baby, because they need to let the child decide what gender they are. The comments, and many comments on the original post said things I agree with. Pretty much everyone pointed out how ridiculous such a suggestion was.
The video says that "sonogram technicians can make their best guess, but it's ultimately up to your child." It also suggests you should wait until the child is 35, and let them decide their gender. No. I know a lot of people argue about the difference between gender and sex, but a lot of dictionaries list the two as synonymous, but do acknowledge that gender is more specific to the social aspect. Your chromosomes determine your gender, not what you "feel like."
If you're supposed to wait until they're 35 to determine their gender, should you wait til they're 35 to give them a name? Or not feed them until you know their preferences?
The video says that "sonogram technicians can make their best guess, but it's ultimately up to your child." It also suggests you should wait until the child is 35, and let them decide their gender. No. I know a lot of people argue about the difference between gender and sex, but a lot of dictionaries list the two as synonymous, but do acknowledge that gender is more specific to the social aspect. Your chromosomes determine your gender, not what you "feel like."
If you're supposed to wait until they're 35 to determine their gender, should you wait til they're 35 to give them a name? Or not feed them until you know their preferences?
Monday, April 24, 2017
13 Reasons Why
**Warning: This post discusses the recent Netflix phenomenon 13 Reasons Why, which is centered around a suicide and also discusses the issue of rape. Also, there will be spoilers.**
Also,fair warning, this will be kind of long, as I have a lot of strong feelings about this.
Unless you live under a rock somewhere, I'm sure by now you have heard about Netflix's latest original series, 13 Reasons Why, based on the book by Jay Asher. Now, I haven't read the book, but I have watched the show. Honestly, I am not impressed and I don't recommend it, and it is certainly not for the faint of heart. There is one good message in it, be nice to people, you never know what is going on inside their head and what they may be going through outside of your interactions with them.
I had heard so many mixed reviews of the show. Everyone either loves it or hates it, there seems to be no in-between. As someone who has spent the last four years of my life studying psychology, I was not a fan. Many other articles I have read on the topic have mentioned that the creators of the show met with experts in the field who gave them all kinds of advice, that they did not follow, regarding portraying this kind of subject matter in the media. Normally, when a TV show deals with suicide, or really any sensitive subject matter, they put a warning at the beginning of the show/episode, and, if applicable, at the end there is usually something about what to do and where to go if you are dealing with whatever was shown in the episode and need help. 13 Reasons Why does not do this. There are warnings at the beginning of the last few episodes because they deal with rape and showing Hannah's suicide, but there is no "if you need help call this number" disclaimer at the end of any episode.
A lot of things also bothered me about the actual content of the show. Instead of having a ridiculously long paragraph, I will break it into bullet point.
If you or someone you know is in danger of suicide, do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or, if the danger is more immediate, call 911.
For more information you can also visit their website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/#
If you live outside the U.S., you can find information on your country's suicide hotline at, http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html
You can also visit http://www.crisistextline.org/get-help-now/ for information on resources for a variety of struggles from domestic abuse to eating disorders.
Also,fair warning, this will be kind of long, as I have a lot of strong feelings about this.
Unless you live under a rock somewhere, I'm sure by now you have heard about Netflix's latest original series, 13 Reasons Why, based on the book by Jay Asher. Now, I haven't read the book, but I have watched the show. Honestly, I am not impressed and I don't recommend it, and it is certainly not for the faint of heart. There is one good message in it, be nice to people, you never know what is going on inside their head and what they may be going through outside of your interactions with them.
I had heard so many mixed reviews of the show. Everyone either loves it or hates it, there seems to be no in-between. As someone who has spent the last four years of my life studying psychology, I was not a fan. Many other articles I have read on the topic have mentioned that the creators of the show met with experts in the field who gave them all kinds of advice, that they did not follow, regarding portraying this kind of subject matter in the media. Normally, when a TV show deals with suicide, or really any sensitive subject matter, they put a warning at the beginning of the show/episode, and, if applicable, at the end there is usually something about what to do and where to go if you are dealing with whatever was shown in the episode and need help. 13 Reasons Why does not do this. There are warnings at the beginning of the last few episodes because they deal with rape and showing Hannah's suicide, but there is no "if you need help call this number" disclaimer at the end of any episode.
A lot of things also bothered me about the actual content of the show. Instead of having a ridiculously long paragraph, I will break it into bullet point.
- There is no real mention of the complex mental health problems that those who choose to take their own lives often suffer from. It is simply a blame game. Hannah blames those around her for ending her life, which results in them blaming themselves, and leads to lots of destructive behavior. Some may agree that people treating Hannah like garbage are to blame, others may say that, ultimately, it was her choice. It a way, you're all at least partially right, but there is more to consider. Her classmates bullying her, the things she witnessed happening to her friends, and what Bryce did to her likely triggered her depression. Her attempts to cry out for help went unheard, making her feel like suicide may have been her only real option, even if that wasn't true.
- The faculty of Liberty High are extremely dismissive when Hannah tries to get help. The note she leaves in the class discussion box in one of her classes made it quite clear that, although it was submitted anonymously, there was a serious problem. That teacher should have taken it to an administrator or the counselor to determine what to do. When Hannah did see the counselor, he essentially told her to get over the assault she had made fairly clear she had experienced.
- After Hannah's death, the faculty seem more concerned with saving themselves in the Bakers' lawsuit, than actually helping the students. Instead of addressing the issue of the horrible insults written on the bathroom wall, they paint over them. I also don't recall there being any scenes where the teachers really talk to the students about suicide, although, the show does begin several days after Hannah's death, so that may have happened earlier. All they seem to do is educate parents on the warning signs, telling them to keep an eye on their kids, and put all these "you are not alone" posters up in the hallway. Unfortunately, in many cases, this is exactly the kind of thing that happens, but it still makes me uncomfortable and needs to be discussed.
- The show romanticizes suicide. They portray it as the only way to truly be heard, get the love and attention you craved in life, and get revenge on the people who hurt you. As mentioned above, suicide is an immensely complex issue. Portraying it in this way is very inappropriate.
- In the last episode, they actually show Hannah's suicide, with one of the main characters narrating as it happens. This essentially makes it a step-by-step guide to taking your own life,which is not something anyone, especially teens, should be watching. Studies show that when there is talk of suicide in the media, the number if suicides increases, which is why the news rarely reports on suicides, and have to be extremely careful when they do.
If you or someone you know is in danger of suicide, do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or, if the danger is more immediate, call 911.
For more information you can also visit their website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/#
If you live outside the U.S., you can find information on your country's suicide hotline at, http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html
You can also visit http://www.crisistextline.org/get-help-now/ for information on resources for a variety of struggles from domestic abuse to eating disorders.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Life of A Psych Major
Being a psych major is great. Here are some struggles all psych majors understand.
1. Taking abnormal psych and self-diagnosing everything you do all the time
2. APA Style.
3. Finding the perfect article for your paper...and it's in a foreign language
4. ...Or you can't access the full text
5. When you tell people you're a psych major and they don't want to talk to you anymore
6. Taking developmental psych and re-evaluating your entire childhood
7. ...And thinking you're an expert on parenting
8. Looking for an article for your research paper and getting lost in the databases for the rest of the day
9. When your friends say something causes something and all you can say is "correlation does not equal causation"
10. SPSS. It's the worst.
1. Taking abnormal psych and self-diagnosing everything you do all the time
2. APA Style.
3. Finding the perfect article for your paper...and it's in a foreign language
4. ...Or you can't access the full text
5. When you tell people you're a psych major and they don't want to talk to you anymore
6. Taking developmental psych and re-evaluating your entire childhood
7. ...And thinking you're an expert on parenting
8. Looking for an article for your research paper and getting lost in the databases for the rest of the day
9. When your friends say something causes something and all you can say is "correlation does not equal causation"
10. SPSS. It's the worst.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Theatre Kid Problems
If you have been in theatre, you know all the joys and sorrows of it. You're having the time if your life, but you're also stressed to the point of tears. It's the best!
Here are some of the struggles and excitement you know as a theatre kid.
1. Knowing exactly how many minutes are in a year
2. So. Many. Bobby pins.
3. So. Much. Hairspray.
4. Making musical references your non-theatre friends don't get.
5. When anyone else makes a musical reference, and you're the only one that gets it.
6. Having to tell your friends, "I can't. I have rehearsal."
7. Having to tip-toe backstage in character heels or tap shoes.
8. Putting up with that one cast member who thinks they're the director
9. Having to avoid milk to prevent mucus
10. Losing all sense of modesty when doing quick changes around other people backstage
11. Correcting people when they call it "play practice." I mean, everyone knows it's called rehearsal.
12. Correcting people who call the musical a play. Call it a show, but never call it a play.
13. When the boys complain about having to hear make-up
14. Going out in public in full stage make-up
15. Waiting for the cast list to be posted
16. Getting the part you auditioned for
17. Getting yelled at for talking backstage
18. Getting yelled at for not talking loud enough on stage
19. Mouthing along with scenes you're not in from backstage
20. Having to run around and find your friends and family after a performance
21. The week before the show.
22. The rush of opening night
23. The bittersweet feeling of closing night
24. The end of the last show your senior year of high school
25. The cast party
26. Sharing stories at your last cast party senior year
27. Cast t-shirts
28. Looking back at old scripts and having no idea what the notes mean
29. Hearing a lyric or line from a show and momentarily losing it
30. Not wanting to trade any of the stress and craziness for anything in the world
31. The family dynamic of the cast
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Pepsi Protest Commercial
Real talk. This whole Pepsi commercial controversy is kind of ridiculous.
Why are we so offended by literally everything? I get that maybe having the most privileged white girl in America play the role of the hero/peacemaker was not the best move. I also understand that it appeared that Pepsi was trying to make money off of what you perceive as a hurt and a real struggle. However, I honestly do not think they were intending to hurt anyone or belittle anyone's problems. They were just trying to use a current event to make their ad more relateable and more powerful. I don't think any of them realized people would take it so personally.
I'd also just like to point out that the protest portrayed in the commercial was way more peaceful than some of the protests I've seen over the past year or so. It simply showed a bunch of people coming together for a cause, not looting and rioting like what has happened in a lot of cities, including one close to where I live.
Please don't blame Kendall Jenner for this nonsense either. She didn't write the commercial and probably didn't realize how offensive people would find it. Pepsi probably offered her a bunch of money and she took the job. Simple as that.
There are way more important things to worry about than soda commercials and Kardashians.
Why are we so offended by literally everything? I get that maybe having the most privileged white girl in America play the role of the hero/peacemaker was not the best move. I also understand that it appeared that Pepsi was trying to make money off of what you perceive as a hurt and a real struggle. However, I honestly do not think they were intending to hurt anyone or belittle anyone's problems. They were just trying to use a current event to make their ad more relateable and more powerful. I don't think any of them realized people would take it so personally.
I'd also just like to point out that the protest portrayed in the commercial was way more peaceful than some of the protests I've seen over the past year or so. It simply showed a bunch of people coming together for a cause, not looting and rioting like what has happened in a lot of cities, including one close to where I live.
Please don't blame Kendall Jenner for this nonsense either. She didn't write the commercial and probably didn't realize how offensive people would find it. Pepsi probably offered her a bunch of money and she took the job. Simple as that.
There are way more important things to worry about than soda commercials and Kardashians.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Dress Codes
Ladies, listen up.
It's that time of year again where it's getting warm and more girls are or will be getting in trouble at school for their dress code violations. I've already seen the posts circulating around the internet about how sexist dress codes are.
When a girl gets sent home, or has to have someone bring her a change of clothes, she rants about how it's so sexist that she has to do this in order to "not be a distraction to the boys." Yes, many school dress codes are in place to avoid distractions, but this doesn't just apply to girls and their booty shorts and tank tops. Some schools also have rules preventing everyone, boys and girls, from wearing extremely baggy clothes, which can become a safety concern due to how easily weapons can be concealed, shirts that promote illegal/dangerous activity, or even dying your hair an unnatural color (i.e., pink, purple, blue, etc.). The only way this is sexist is if the rules about girls not showing too much skin are the only rules that are enforced, which I'll admit does happen more often than it should. If all dress code guidelines are equally enforced, I see no problem here.
The real issue I have with this topic is when girls say that instead of teaching girls to cover up, we should teach boys not to sexualize/objectify girls, or that school dress codes are teaching girls to be ashamed of their bodies. I'll agree that boys should be taught to not objectify girls, but it's a two-way street. You have to do your part to help them. Also, by dressing modestly, you present yourself in a much more respectable manner. There are a lot of girls who dress inappropriately with the purpose of getting the attention of guys. It's hard to tell the difference between a girl doing this and one who is simply dressing for the weather. Dressing in a modest, respectable manner will also make it harder for other girls to say catty things about you.
Dress codes are also not about shaming you or your body. It's about all the things I've already discussed. There's nothing wrong with your body. Stop using this argument.
All I'm saying here is, we need to get rid of this "women can do what they want and men just have to deal with it" mentality. It's incredibly selfish. Stop playing the victim and blaming the men for everything.
It's that time of year again where it's getting warm and more girls are or will be getting in trouble at school for their dress code violations. I've already seen the posts circulating around the internet about how sexist dress codes are.
When a girl gets sent home, or has to have someone bring her a change of clothes, she rants about how it's so sexist that she has to do this in order to "not be a distraction to the boys." Yes, many school dress codes are in place to avoid distractions, but this doesn't just apply to girls and their booty shorts and tank tops. Some schools also have rules preventing everyone, boys and girls, from wearing extremely baggy clothes, which can become a safety concern due to how easily weapons can be concealed, shirts that promote illegal/dangerous activity, or even dying your hair an unnatural color (i.e., pink, purple, blue, etc.). The only way this is sexist is if the rules about girls not showing too much skin are the only rules that are enforced, which I'll admit does happen more often than it should. If all dress code guidelines are equally enforced, I see no problem here.
The real issue I have with this topic is when girls say that instead of teaching girls to cover up, we should teach boys not to sexualize/objectify girls, or that school dress codes are teaching girls to be ashamed of their bodies. I'll agree that boys should be taught to not objectify girls, but it's a two-way street. You have to do your part to help them. Also, by dressing modestly, you present yourself in a much more respectable manner. There are a lot of girls who dress inappropriately with the purpose of getting the attention of guys. It's hard to tell the difference between a girl doing this and one who is simply dressing for the weather. Dressing in a modest, respectable manner will also make it harder for other girls to say catty things about you.
Dress codes are also not about shaming you or your body. It's about all the things I've already discussed. There's nothing wrong with your body. Stop using this argument.
All I'm saying here is, we need to get rid of this "women can do what they want and men just have to deal with it" mentality. It's incredibly selfish. Stop playing the victim and blaming the men for everything.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Date The Boy Who...
Date the boy who watches your favorite movie with you, even if he hates it.
Date the boy who sees you in your sweatpants and still calls you beautiful.
Date the boy who saves your favorite flavor of gummy bear for you.
Date the boy who makes you laugh.
Date the boy who makes you feel safe.
Date the boy who makes you feel loved.
Date the boy who answers the phone when you need him.
Date the boy you can cry in front of.
Date the boy who believes in your dreams.
Date the boy who doesn't judge you.
Date the boy who encourages you.
Date the boy who's proud to have you.
Date the boy who'd do anything to see you smile.
Date the boy who builds you up, instead of tearing you down.
Date the boy who treats you like the most special and beautiful girl in the world, not the one who flirts with every girl he sees.
Ladies, you deserve the best. Don't settle for anything less than that.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Faithful, Not Successful
"God does not call us to be successful. He calls to be faithful."- Mother Teresa
In the midst of school, work, family, friends, faith, and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to balance everything. Trust me. I know from experience.
However, God doesn't need us to be perfect. He just wants us to try and do our best. That's it. I know, this is hard to remember sometimes. There is so much pressure from to world to do everything and to do it all perfectly. All the magazines, TV shows, movies, and everything else can make you feel like you have to work out all the time so you can be a size 2, make sure your hair, makeup, and outfit are always "on fleek," maintain a 4.0 GPA, work at least one job, join every club and/or sports team, have a million real-life friends and social media followers, and still somehow manage to get an adequate amount of sleep. But here's the thing....you can't. It's literally impossible. You can do a handful of those things, but you can't do them all, at least not perfectly. AND THAT'S OKAY!
We don't have to be perfect. In fact, none of us are perfect. We're human. All we have to do is our best. That's all God asks of us. He wants us, in all of our messy imperfection. All we have to do is be faithful and try.
Don't let the world convince you that you need to be perfect. It's a lie. God loves you for who you are right now, inside and out. Let Him.
In the midst of school, work, family, friends, faith, and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to balance everything. Trust me. I know from experience.
However, God doesn't need us to be perfect. He just wants us to try and do our best. That's it. I know, this is hard to remember sometimes. There is so much pressure from to world to do everything and to do it all perfectly. All the magazines, TV shows, movies, and everything else can make you feel like you have to work out all the time so you can be a size 2, make sure your hair, makeup, and outfit are always "on fleek," maintain a 4.0 GPA, work at least one job, join every club and/or sports team, have a million real-life friends and social media followers, and still somehow manage to get an adequate amount of sleep. But here's the thing....you can't. It's literally impossible. You can do a handful of those things, but you can't do them all, at least not perfectly. AND THAT'S OKAY!
We don't have to be perfect. In fact, none of us are perfect. We're human. All we have to do is our best. That's all God asks of us. He wants us, in all of our messy imperfection. All we have to do is be faithful and try.
Don't let the world convince you that you need to be perfect. It's a lie. God loves you for who you are right now, inside and out. Let Him.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
#ADayWithoutAWoman
Hi friends!
I have been hearing a lot about people celebrating International Women's Day by partaking in A Day Without A Woman. For those of you who are not aware, A Day Without A Woman is something the creators of the Women's March have come up with to "empower" women. They are encouraging women to take the day off of work, avoid shopping at businesses not owned by women or minorities, and to wear red in solidarity. The purpose of this is, supposedly, to prove how important women are.
Ladies, we do not need to prove our importance to anyone. We know we are important. Staying home and avoiding work and shopping doesn't really prove anything anyway.
Did you know that multiple school districts had to cancel classes for today because of the amount of teachers unwilling to show up for work? It's ridiculous. We are depriving children, many of which are young women, of education in order to make an unnecessary point. You might not be aware of this, but millions of children are on free and reduced lunch at school. For some of these children, the meals they eat at school are the only meals they eat. So, not only are we depriving children of a day of education, but many are being deprived of a day of food as well. Let that sink in,
This all just seems very backwards to me. The early feminists fought for women to get basic rights such as the right to work and an education. Today, we are proving our worth as women by not going to work and depriving children, male and female, of education? It just doesn't make sense. In all honesty, there is a good chance that at least one employer is considering the possibilities for replacing those who are refusing to show up for work for no reason other than "empowerment."
Think about the choices you're making ladies. This isn't just about you and your feelings. It's about the future of our country and our children.
I have been hearing a lot about people celebrating International Women's Day by partaking in A Day Without A Woman. For those of you who are not aware, A Day Without A Woman is something the creators of the Women's March have come up with to "empower" women. They are encouraging women to take the day off of work, avoid shopping at businesses not owned by women or minorities, and to wear red in solidarity. The purpose of this is, supposedly, to prove how important women are.
Ladies, we do not need to prove our importance to anyone. We know we are important. Staying home and avoiding work and shopping doesn't really prove anything anyway.
Did you know that multiple school districts had to cancel classes for today because of the amount of teachers unwilling to show up for work? It's ridiculous. We are depriving children, many of which are young women, of education in order to make an unnecessary point. You might not be aware of this, but millions of children are on free and reduced lunch at school. For some of these children, the meals they eat at school are the only meals they eat. So, not only are we depriving children of a day of education, but many are being deprived of a day of food as well. Let that sink in,
This all just seems very backwards to me. The early feminists fought for women to get basic rights such as the right to work and an education. Today, we are proving our worth as women by not going to work and depriving children, male and female, of education? It just doesn't make sense. In all honesty, there is a good chance that at least one employer is considering the possibilities for replacing those who are refusing to show up for work for no reason other than "empowerment."
Think about the choices you're making ladies. This isn't just about you and your feelings. It's about the future of our country and our children.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
The Lenten Struggle is Real
Hi friends!
With Easter approaching in just a little over a month, we have entered that lovely season in which everyone brags or whines about what they have decided to go without for forty days. That's right. It's Lent.
I'm not going to lie. Lent can be a real struggle. Most people I know give up sweets or social media. Personally, I don't always like telling a lot of people what I'm doing for Lent. Usually, I tell a few close friends so maybe they can keep me accountable. For example, my junior year of high school, I gave up Twitter. I had told one of my best friends, and every time she would see me pull my phone out, she would make sure I wasn't tweeting.
A few years ago, one of the priests at my home parish told me that you don't necessarily have to give something up. You can also add something to your routine, like praying a rosary every day or something like that. This year, I decided to go that route and make an attempt to go to the adoration chapel on campus every day. I also decided at the last minute that I was going to try to read for a little bit every day as well. These are two things I like to do, but am often too lazy to really make time for.
I know, I just said before that I don't like telling a lot of people what I'm doing for Lent. I'm telling you all this year because I need some help being held accountable. Keeping my Lenten promises can be a struggle. My boyfriend has already been a big help. We had been hanging out last night, and when we passed the chapel as he was bringing me back to campus, he turned and asked if I had been to the chapel yet. After that nice little reminder, when I got out of the car I went straight into the chapel instead of going straight to my dorm to go to bed.
Is anyone else doing anything for Lent this year? Or do you have any prayer requests I can take to the chapel with me? Let me know in the comments!
With Easter approaching in just a little over a month, we have entered that lovely season in which everyone brags or whines about what they have decided to go without for forty days. That's right. It's Lent.
I'm not going to lie. Lent can be a real struggle. Most people I know give up sweets or social media. Personally, I don't always like telling a lot of people what I'm doing for Lent. Usually, I tell a few close friends so maybe they can keep me accountable. For example, my junior year of high school, I gave up Twitter. I had told one of my best friends, and every time she would see me pull my phone out, she would make sure I wasn't tweeting.
A few years ago, one of the priests at my home parish told me that you don't necessarily have to give something up. You can also add something to your routine, like praying a rosary every day or something like that. This year, I decided to go that route and make an attempt to go to the adoration chapel on campus every day. I also decided at the last minute that I was going to try to read for a little bit every day as well. These are two things I like to do, but am often too lazy to really make time for.
I know, I just said before that I don't like telling a lot of people what I'm doing for Lent. I'm telling you all this year because I need some help being held accountable. Keeping my Lenten promises can be a struggle. My boyfriend has already been a big help. We had been hanging out last night, and when we passed the chapel as he was bringing me back to campus, he turned and asked if I had been to the chapel yet. After that nice little reminder, when I got out of the car I went straight into the chapel instead of going straight to my dorm to go to bed.
Is anyone else doing anything for Lent this year? Or do you have any prayer requests I can take to the chapel with me? Let me know in the comments!
Saturday, March 4, 2017
April the Giraffe
Hi friends!
Unless you live under a rock, there is a good chance you've heard about April the Giraffe at the Animal Adventure Park in New York. April is currently pregnant with her fourth calf and due any time now. The park has set up a live webcam feed so people can check in and see when she has the baby. If you're anything like everyone else on the internet, chances are you have been watching obsessively. Everyone loves this giraffe and her caretakers, Cory and Alyssa. It's getting a little out of hand, but seeing everyone obsess over a pregnant giraffe is far preferable to a lot of the political junk posted elsewhere on the internet.
As much as I am loving watching this sweet giraffe and seeing everyone's reactions to her, it is raising an important question in the back of my mind. Why is it that when an animal at a zoo is pregnant, we obsess over it and anxiously await the arrival of the baby, but when a human gets pregnant people act like it's not a huge deal and even give the mother the option to kill her child if she does not want to be a mother?
A priest friend of mine pointed this out, and he even pointed out how people are acknowledging that April's baby is indeed a giraffe, but when a human is pregnant, the baby is referred to as a clump of cells with no value. Why is this unborn giraffe considered a baby, but a baby human isn't? Seems a little odd, doesn't it?
I am in no way trying to degrade the value of the baby giraffe. Heck, I'm watching the live feed just as obsessively as everyone else. I just think that if we're going to be excited about baby zoo animals and treat them with respect and dignity, we should be doing the same for the baby humans.
If you would like to hop on the bandwagon and watch April with the rest of us, you can do so here.
Unless you live under a rock, there is a good chance you've heard about April the Giraffe at the Animal Adventure Park in New York. April is currently pregnant with her fourth calf and due any time now. The park has set up a live webcam feed so people can check in and see when she has the baby. If you're anything like everyone else on the internet, chances are you have been watching obsessively. Everyone loves this giraffe and her caretakers, Cory and Alyssa. It's getting a little out of hand, but seeing everyone obsess over a pregnant giraffe is far preferable to a lot of the political junk posted elsewhere on the internet.
As much as I am loving watching this sweet giraffe and seeing everyone's reactions to her, it is raising an important question in the back of my mind. Why is it that when an animal at a zoo is pregnant, we obsess over it and anxiously await the arrival of the baby, but when a human gets pregnant people act like it's not a huge deal and even give the mother the option to kill her child if she does not want to be a mother?
A priest friend of mine pointed this out, and he even pointed out how people are acknowledging that April's baby is indeed a giraffe, but when a human is pregnant, the baby is referred to as a clump of cells with no value. Why is this unborn giraffe considered a baby, but a baby human isn't? Seems a little odd, doesn't it?
I am in no way trying to degrade the value of the baby giraffe. Heck, I'm watching the live feed just as obsessively as everyone else. I just think that if we're going to be excited about baby zoo animals and treat them with respect and dignity, we should be doing the same for the baby humans.
If you would like to hop on the bandwagon and watch April with the rest of us, you can do so here.
Why The Bird-Themed Title and URL?
Hi friends!
I started this blog to give my view on things happening in my life and around the world. The reason I titled it "A Bird's Eye View" and got the URL littlecatiebird is actually because of my friends. My sophomore year of college, a couple of my friends, for whatever reason, decided that I reminded them of a little bird. I have no idea why, but it stuck and they still call me bird from time to time. That year we also had a friend who was really into sign language and he taught us the sign for bird, which of course resulted in him, and my two friends who gave me the nickname, greeting me with the sign or bird whenever they saw me.
Ironically, my friends are aware that birds actually kind of freak me out. Don't ask me why, I have no idea, but they do.
So, yeah, that's the story. Enjoy reading my opinions of random things,
-Catie
I started this blog to give my view on things happening in my life and around the world. The reason I titled it "A Bird's Eye View" and got the URL littlecatiebird is actually because of my friends. My sophomore year of college, a couple of my friends, for whatever reason, decided that I reminded them of a little bird. I have no idea why, but it stuck and they still call me bird from time to time. That year we also had a friend who was really into sign language and he taught us the sign for bird, which of course resulted in him, and my two friends who gave me the nickname, greeting me with the sign or bird whenever they saw me.
Ironically, my friends are aware that birds actually kind of freak me out. Don't ask me why, I have no idea, but they do.
So, yeah, that's the story. Enjoy reading my opinions of random things,
-Catie
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