On a day that is dedicated to giving thanks, I want to draw attention to a video I just watched. For those who don’t know, the band “Eagles of Death Metal” recently spoke about what happened at their concert in Paris.
* * * I don’t want to take away from the emotion of the interview, but if you are around small children, there is some language in the video.
My heart breaks for the band and crew members that survived because what they saw and who they lost will forever affect them. I want Dave, Eden, Jesse, Josh, Julian, Matt, and anyone else involved to know that they are in my prayers. I am only one person, but it is important to show that no matter what people around the world are going through, there are others who are aware of and care about what is taking place.
If you would like to send messages of encouragement to Eagles of Death Metal, here are their social media links:
I want to share an expression that is used by Jewish people when someone passes away. In honor of the lives that have been lost in 2015, may their memory be a blessing!
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lordis the great God, and the great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3
Happy Thanksgiving readers! I hope you have a safe, blessed day.
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This is the musical tag. If you are not interested in musicals, I would suggest that you stop reading and stay tuned for my next blog post. If you would like to watch the Youtube version, click the following link: https://youtu.be/jla9o38LHxE
If you are prepared to read, proceed. :)
Q: What is your favorite stage musical?
A: I have never seen a musical performed by a professional group. However, I saw a homeschool group from my childhood city perform plays and musicals, and they did an excellent job. The productions were so well done, they might as well have been professional. Brava!
A: I think this question refers to live productions, but that does not apply to me. I am changing the context to my favorite singular performance within a musical film: “Singing in the Rain” performed by Gene Kelly.
A: I apologize to anybody who likes these two musicals. I did not enjoy “Gigi” or “Cry-Baby.” The character Gigi annoyed me , and I could not connect to the characters or storyline in “Cry-Baby.”
A: Musicals were a normal part of my life growing up as a dancer, and they still hold a special place in my heart.
Q: Describe yourself using one lyric from a musical?
A: Defying. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles in my life, but I constantly find myself taking on challenges and completing what I thought was beyond my limits.
If you would like to know more details surrounding my answers, watch the Youtube video (https://youtu.be/jla9o38LHxE). If you love musicals, I highly recommend you do this tag. It is so much fun!
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Prepare yourself. I’m about to vent about some not-so-happy issues. Me and my mom recently relocated to the west coast to join my dad and brother who had already been living in that area for a few years. Because of college, the move was stretched out to three years for me and for my mom who selflessly chose to stay behind and help me. Words will never be able to express my gratitude! An impending out-of-state move is not easy to deal with while going through undergraduate education. As if the stress of daily homework and sleepless nights wasn’t enough, let’s throw in living out of boxes and without furniture. Fast forward to now. My family is currently sharing a mini apartment above a garage, a space I have nicknamed “The Loft”; it has one main room (a living room, table, and kitchen with no stove), one bathroom, and one bedroom (two small beds). In case you haven’t already done the math, four adults are sharing a living space meant to comfortably accommodate two people, perhaps two adults and one small child. I can’t complain because at least my family has somewhere to live. However, living in small quarters for an extended period of time is not a comfortable situation to be in. The cherry on top is I have no job, no money, and no car.
I am an introvert therefore it is important that I force myself to go out otherwise I wont do it at all. So far I am failing miserably even though living like a hermit is sucking the life out of me. I am pale from not going outside. I have no physical energy. I have way too much time to analyze and criticize myself. I am becoming even more uncomfortable around people. I am stressed to the point of regular migraines and anxiety attacks. In a nutshell, NO BUENO!!! Why the heck am I writing all this down on my blog?? Well, Tuesday was one of those days when I was stuck in the loft working on my laptop and stressing over my current project and life in general. Also, it was really hot outside, and heat is the worst possible antagonist on a stressful day. I doubt it is too late for me to get out of this awful cycle, but in my “Debbie Downer” brain, it is. Being social has not produced positive results in my life therefore I am very cautious. I am unfortunately comfortable in this way of life, but I know it is not a healthy way to live. The moral of this story is “Don’t live like a hermit if you have the choice not to.” The black hole does not magically disappear and replace itself with sunshine and rainbows; it only gets deeper. Find a happy medium between being yourself and living without regret. I am going to close with a list of things that make me happy. Let’s end on a positive note!
I spent the rest of the night playing a video game and watching a movie with my brother so I already feel much better. Keep moving forward, and don’t look back readers!
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkban”
On Monday I left Texas, my home of 13 years. My family’s 6-bedroom house provided shelter to 26 people, not including me, my parents, and my brother; I always had extended family around me. On Tuesday I arrived in California, my new home; my family currently lives in a one-bedroom apartment above a garage. Quite the adventure we are on!! The picture you see above is my room, an empty room bursting at the seams full of memories. It is amazing to recall all the things that took place in that space: Babysitting, beauty transformations, concerts, counseling, dance practice, dreams, doll shenanigans, dramatic dress up, DVD viewings, emotional breakdowns, exercise sessions, fashion shows, fights, hide-and-seek, 2+ hour phone calls, illness rehabilitation, internet browsing, late night reading, outfit planning, schoolwork, and sleepovers. One last thing: Me and my best friend Gabby officially became friends in that room thanks to “Lord of the Beans.” I moved to Texas when I was 8, and I am now 21. My middle school, junior high, high school, and college years took place in that state. Many different struggles and transitions took place in that house; perhaps now you have a better idea of why it is so special to me. It is bittersweet to move on, but I will always carry the memories with me in my heart.
Treasure each moment readers! You never know when you will be uprooted and replanted.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. Jonathan Crombie, best known for his movie role as the beloved Gilbert Blythe, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, at the age 48; the cause was a brain hemorrhage. I grew up watching the Anne of Green Gables movies and dreaming of meeting and marrying my very own Gil. Me and my friends were so smitten with him that we had to designate an area specifically for freak outs; the “Jonathan Crombie Couch” will forever be a treasured memory of mine. I received an Anne of Green Gables music box for Valentine’s Day this year. At the time, the gift was thoughtful, but now it holds so much more meaning. God knew I would need a special reminder of Jonathan, my own personal piece of Gilbert. The following is a short statement given to the Canadian Press by Crombie’s Anne of Green Gables co-star Megan Follows:
“He was incredibly funny, Jonathan just had an amazing sense of humour,” she told The Canadian Press. “Truly I just remember at times just laughing so hard that you’d just be crying. He was so playful and silly and, as I said, really bright, so his humour was always informed with that, which made him even funnier.” Follows called Crombie a “sweetheart” and said a lot of the chemistry onscreen was natural during the filming of the movies. “He had that beautiful face. He was a lot of fun, he was very open so you just felt he was someone who really wanted to play and it really was a new experience for him,” she said, adding that the project was one of Crombie’s first. “We were all just in it to do the best that we could and we had a lot of fun.” (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/19/jonathan-crombie-megan-follows_n_7095258.html) I think it is safe to say Jonathan’s version of Gilbert was not far from his true nature: playful and endearing.
It seems all too appropriate to mention some of my favorite Gilbert and Anne scenes from each movie. I have more than one in each film, but, for the sake of attention spans, I will keep the list short. In the first movie “Anne of Green Gables”, one of my favorite moments is the very last scene in which Gilbert sacrificially gives up the Avonlea school so that Anne can teach there and stay at home with Marilla. They exchange the following dialogue, recalling fondly what was originally an explosive and classic moment:
Anne: “Aren’t you worried? I’m liable to break another slate over your head.” Gilbert: “I’m more worried I might break one over yours, carrots”
The scene starts at the 9:57 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPREdzRRRlY
In “Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel”, one of my favorite moments is when Gil and Anne are FINALLY a couple, and they are standing on a bridge discussing their future:
Gilbert: “It’ll be three years before I finish medical school. Even then there won’t be any diamond sunbursts or marble halls” Anne: “I don’t want diamond sunbursts, or marble halls. I just want you.”
In the third and final film “Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story”, my FAVORITE moment has to be, of course, the scene when Anne and Gil are reunited after her arduous search during World War I. Anne is on a stage with two friends singing for soldiers; they are singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, Gil and Anne’s wedding dance song. As she is scanning the crowd, Anne spots a familiar, beloved face. Running ensues as well as a heartwarming reunion. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8dc9kqaXBI
I want to give my condolences to all of Jonathan’s loved ones. My heart goes out to you, and you are in my prayers.
Jonathan: You embodied a classic book character, a portrayal that was truly a gift to the film industry. You will always be remembered and loved as Gil in the hearts of your fans. Rest in peace.
The “Anne of Green Gables” family could never forget you!! <3 <3 <3
– Lauren Michele :)
” You know, every day I would pick a different memory of you and play it over and over and over again in my mind, until every hair, every freckle, every part of you was exactly as I remembered.” – Gilbert Blythe, “Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story”
Part I was all about the beautiful costuming created by designer Sandy Powell. Tonight’s post focuses on the main motto of the movie: “Have courage and be kind.” Ella’s mother expressed these words before [SPOILER] her death. Ella took the phrase to heart and recited it in order to endure harsh treatment from her stepmother and stepsisters. Despite being treated like a servant rather than a relative, she was gracious. However, when her happiness was on the line, she had the courage to speak up. What an example! In negative situations, it is always a better choice to be the bigger person and turn the other cheek. But, never let your kindness be mistaken for meekness. The unfortunate truth is that there are people who will attempt to take advantage of compassion. Kindness should always stem from genuine desire, not obligation or fear. Have the courage to speak up if you feel uncomfortable and/or threatened.
I hope you have enjoyed this two-part Cinderella series. If you have not already seen the movie, I highly recommend you do so.
Hello readers!! I am back. I am actually in class right now, but I felt like writing, and today is a work day therefore I have the freedom to blog. First of all, I want to thank Katy Perry for her lyrics, A.K.A. the title of this post, and Brooke Shaden for her relevant photograph. This post is all about the transition from a good mood to a bad mood. My Easter weekend was amazing. I was smiling for three days straight, and at one point I was dancing around my house singing “Walking on Sunshine.” Those who know me personally know the person I am describing is a total stranger to them. Have no fear! My “holiday high” did not last long after the sun went down Sunday night. Understand that my good mood did not disappear because I was uncomfortable with being happy. Reality hit me as soon as my schedule returned to normal. I resumed working on mid-term projects, and things were going wrong left and right. Life is not a Hallmark movie. We earn moments of peace by working hard, but life requires more work than relaxation therefore the ratio is far from 50/50. When you are in a good mood, enjoy the happiness. Those are the moments you can cling to when life attacks from all sides.
Chin up readers!
– Lauren Michele :)
“Everybody wants happiness. Nobody wants pain. But you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.” – Unknown
Lauren Michele ❤️ 
