Birthday.

Birthday birthday birthday.

1. Go out for Indian with the fam bam.
2. Make an appearance at party, just like a celebrity would.
3. Hang out with friend who I lost touch with & see Hereafter with, who else, Matt Damon.
4. Eat cake eat cake eat cake.
5. Watch Arrested Development on Hulu until I fall asleep.

Okay, good deal.

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

I have no shortage of emotions. I feel things intensely. It sounds like a bad quality to have, like I would be an annoying crier, a cackling laugher, a spitty fighter. But I've found that I actually enjoy it. I feel like every second of my life is so much more potent because I know that what I'm doing actually means something; I'm making mistakes and learning from them, I'm learning what boosts my spirits to the highest of highs, I'm living.

I didn't mean to make this a serious post though. I started thinking about this as I am currently in a new phase of obsession: (500) Days of Summer. I saw it when it first came out in theaters but recently watched it again. Watching the dvd in the comfort of my own home made me enjoy the movie so much more. I was comfortable, the air wasn't full of pure salt, and I could lay down on plush pillows and comforters to enjoy everything that is (500) Days of Summer.

I'm officially obsessed: I bought the soundtrack on iTunes, I even bought some of the original score, I not-so-secretly want the movie for my birthday, downloaded an interview with the screenwriter of the movie itunes, and I even almost copied Summer's senior quote from the movie ("Color my life with the chaos of trouble." -Belle & Sebastian). At the last minute I went with "Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?" -George W. Bush. 

So it got me thinking, what are some things I absolutely love? Here's a list:

1. Matt Damon.

I fell in ABSOLUTE, no-turning-back love with him after I saw Invictus. He is my number one obsession. Hot, hot, hot.

2. (500) Days of Summer.

This is my new movie passion. I sort of want to be Summer, she is my new role model (okay, not a great one but, she makes the boys cry). And I want to find a Tom. I mean, how cute would it be to go on a date to IKEA?

3. Apples.

If you've never had a crisp, sweet and tangy, fresh-picked Washington apple in the fall, you are missing out. Truly good apples are hard to come by.

4. Raindrops

Growing up in Seattle, how can I not love the rain? It may be a love-hate relationship but there is definitely some true, deep-rooted love in there.

5. Concerts

There is something so magical freeing about being at a concert with the alternating bright lights and darkness and the loud music altering the beat of your heart and the music flooding your whole being.

6. The Charms in Lucky Charms (or are they the "lucky"?)

Let's face it, we all like to pick them out of the cereal.

7. Seattle's gray winters & being in love

It's a weird combination but for some reason I really like it. Granted I only like it for the first few months, then I get depressed and desperately seek sunlight. I think it's like how you can smell a scent and it triggers a memory, or how you can think of a certain someone every time you hear that one song. In this case, the weather reminds me of love.

8. Yellow

And converse. So comf.

9. Scribbling & doodling

10. The Kite Festival

It's just so beautiful! Plus it's on the beach so you can smell the salty waves off the cold Pacific coast.

11. Soft and Warm Seattle Summer Sun

This isn't Seattle. It's just really pretty.

12. Floral Dresses & Fashion Photos

It's just so girl pretty. And it's nice to be girly once in a while. See my fav. fashion photos here.

13. Soft Coloring

Like in "Teenage Dream".

Love, love, love it all. Recognize the little things.

-A                                       Lemon.

College Applications...

Lately, the all consuming college application process has been on the front burner of everyone's minds, including mine. It seemed like we went from asking each other, can I borrow your blue crayon? I need to draw the rain, to asking, where are you applying? When are your apps due?

I think part of it is custom. We're Seniors, we have the privilege of being the only ones in the school to talk about how adult we are. But I think it's also partially insecurity and nervousness. Whenever I ask someone where they're applying, it trips off the tip of my tongue with an edge of uneasy curiosity. It's a weird thing to contemplate the idea of having whole mountain ranges and rivers and lakes and countrysides to separate you from the first 17 years of your life.

I'm excited as I am nervous, don't get me wrong. But who's to say that I'm even ready to go to college? I mean, I feel ready and I think I'm ready but gut feelings and thoughts do not equate to readiness. I thought I was ready to cut my own hair when I was four years old but, and we have the pictures to prove it, I was grossly mistaken. Luckily for me, and for you and for everyone else, if you fall off your bike (or cut your hair off, or wear bell bottoms, or fall in wrong with the wrong person, or any other mistake you could possibly and will likely make in your lifetime), you can always get back up and try again.

-A

Sometimes I Pretend...

Sometimes I like to pretend that I don't know what I'm doing. When someone asks me if I'm ready for the test, sometimes I say no, just because. Or when we're navigating the city back streets at night and you ask me if I know where we are, I say no, even when I do. It's nice to feel like I'm not in control, to pretend that everything in the world is a new experience waiting to be made into a shared memory.



-A

Laugh Out Loud Moment of the Day (but it is almost midnight, so don't hold this against me)...

"I want to share with you an interesting program -- for two reasons, one, it's interesting, and two, my wife thought of it -- or has actually been involved with it; she didn't think of it. But she thought of it for this speech." --George W. Bush, discussing a company that improves access to clean water in Africa, Washington D.C., Oct. 21, 2008

Aritzia.



Aritzia: Fall/Winter 2010


V and I went shopping at the mall today. Walked into Aritzia and, AH. Beautiful. Clothes. But, of course, we made a fool of ourselves when we commented on how we didn't get the clog trend and we turn around to see one of the sales ladies wearing clogs...That'll teach us to keep our big mouths shut.

Trying to decide what I want for the big 1-8.

A thick knit sweater?

From Free People

A brand new hardcover book?

I started reading this book but it was overdue at the library and I was racking up the fines.

Lemon scented lotion?




From the Body Shop


Anyway, it's time to stop browsing online and time to start sleeping. I have another glorious day of school to look forward to!

-A

Reality Check...

Three miners rescued so far in Chile.

Every time the capsule comes up, I cry. It's surreal. I have to keep reminding myself that yes, this IS happening. It seems silly to state this in a blog post, but I almost have to record this to be able to prove to myself later that I witnessed it along with the rest of the world.

It's weird being 17 and realizing that these events will end up in my children's history books.

3.1 Phillip Lim: Fall 2010...

This is beautiful, is it not? I love the sheer blue tinted nylons that they are wearing. It adds a hint of color without looking comical, as some solid colored leggings do.

Photo 1: I absolutely love the color of the blazer and the pearly satin accent on the edge. Not to mention the shoes, which remind me of the Pierre Hardy Wedges that I talked about before.

Photo 2: This reminds me of Alexa Chung. Gosh, I wish I could find the photo. It's in Teen Vogue, I'm assuming. Because Teen Vogue loves Alexa Chung and loves to publish photos of every outfit of hers.

Photo 3: I am loving the oversized sweater trend this fall. Not only is it the most comf thing you could possibly wear on a cold Seattle day, but it is easy to throw on and covers up winter weight from all that pumpkin pie and turkey and hot cocoa.

Photo 4: Again with the crossed straps, which I think is really visually pleasing, as is the silhouette. When in motion, the skirt paints a nice hour glass shape which is a nice step away from the straight lines of skinny jeans and leggings.

Photo 5: Do you not just love the shape of the skirt? It reminds me of a white calla lily.

Floral is in...in a new way.

-A

You Know You've Had an Eventful Day When...

You know you've had an eventful day when your voice goes hoarse from talking so much.

My throat is sore because I've been complaining a LOT today. It's not exactly a redeeming quality, being a complainer, but it happens to even the best of us. Also, I have been singing and rapping a lot lately. I have this thing where I break out into rap. Only when I'm in a very good mood, obviously. My mom and I were trying to harmonize in the living room earlier today as well. I harmonized well. She sang the first note, I sang the third. It was nice sounding. But when my mom harmonized with me, she made it sound all sad. It was like a minor chord. It sounded like a scary movie. It was weird.

Anyway, I totally used my daily quota of "inspiring words" in my diary (or journal, as my mom likes to call it, because "diary" is for eight year olds) so I'm sorry that this post is grammatically incorrect, there are tons of spelling errors potentially, it doesn't make sense, it's off track, it has no focus, and is a boring read.

I'm also watching Iron Man 2, so I don't know why I'm even trying right now.

I'm avoiding college apps again.

Feliz Dia!

-A