Popular by Maya van Wagenen (vintage wisdom for a modern geek)

One of my friends let me borrow this spectacular memoir by Maya van Wagenen, who was reeeeeaaally young when she wrote it! Like 15 or something. Anyways, it's about her doing a social experiment of sorts. The summer before eighth grade she finds the book Betty Cornell's Teenage Popularity Guide. Written in the 1950's by a teen model, she gives tips on becoming more socially acceptable and things like that. Though some of it is out-dated and you'll hardly find a 14 year old girl wearing a girdle, straw hat and pearl necklace at the same time anymore, Ms. Cornell also gives tips on simple dieting, tasteful makeup and how to talk to people around you. Maya decides to dedicate each month of eighth grade to a chapter of her book. The response she gets at first is not what she wanted, but she powers through, and at the end, her results are amazing! 

I hear you thinking. Being popular is overrated! They are all terrible people! She's fine just how she is! But in this book, Maya learns very valuable lessons and shows some serious gutsiness. I would never have been able to do what she did. And it really worked for her. Following the book pushed Maya out of her shell and her school's atmosphere was enormously improved by her, just one person! I also really loved the fact that the "vintage wisdom" is still mostly applicable today.

I'd recommend this for any teen girl, popular or shy, rich or poor. It was a great eye opener on how you don't have to look like a  paper doll to make friends. If you read it, please let me know what you thought of it!

Before

After

IF YOU'RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR HANDS

Sooo so sorry I haven't been able to blog anything in a while, but I just got so busy with trying to learn guitar and watching Bob's Burgers ( I know, I'm pathetic) that I haven't had much to talk about! 

I decided I needed to sit down and write something for you anyway.

Here is a collection of some great songs! They aren't really for any purpose other than they make me happy. 

•  How He Loves is a Christian song about how much God loves us, and I really enjoy the rhythm and flow and the description of His perfect grace

• Budapest by George Ezra it's a love song and if this guy didn't have such a deep voice, I wouldn't love it as much as I do. But it is very sweet

• Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran another cute love song. I've never listened to Sheeran before but it's a great song!

• A Whole New World by ALADDIN AND JASMINE aggh I just can't stand how much I like Disney. It's a bit dangerous

• True to Your Heart by Stevie Wonder The singer's confidence in this song comes across as cockiness to me but it's just so catchy and dance able I can't help it

• Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson I really admire the message in this one, plus it's Jackson, so who can't like it! 

• Let Me Fly arranged by Rollo Dilworth is a song we're doing in choir for competition next month. It's about wanting to go to heaven like Elijah did in the chariot. I love the jazz/soul swing!

• King of New York from NEWSIES!!!!!!!! That beautiful musical that I saw last year. Oh man. This is my favorite song out of all of them. 

• So This is Love by Cinderella and that Prince Charming of hers~when they realize they've found true love. It cheers me up about 500000000% percent

• How to Save a Life by the Fray It really hits home to me, because I've talked to lots of friends about this and I don't want them hurt

• Rolling in the Deep by Adele I'm not really sure why I like this. I think this goes in the same bin as George Ezra, I just love her voice!

• Lean on Me by Bill Withers Just brings back so many memories of my old choir in Washington
• When I was Your Man by Bruno Mars regret/break up song very sweet, again, choir memories! Miss you Ms. Flemister!

• Hey there Delilah by Plain White T's? I don't know who originally sang it, but it's this guy singing to his girl, and it's kind of the perspective of they are so foolishly in love and they don't know it because they love each other so much. Plus long distance relationship.

• Tomorrow from Annie I really really love musicals...Annie is one of my favorites :D

• Bird and the Worm by Owl City This is literally the adorablest love song I have ever heard in my whole life. 

Ok I am a music lover and I could keep going for hours, so perhaps a part 2 is in your midst! 

QotD: How would you explain your taste in music? Comment below!!!

Have a great rest of your week, lovely readers, and thanks for sticking around!

Tim Gunn Moment

Have you ever wanted to do something artistic really really badly?

But it turns out you have no talent?

That's where I'd have to raise my hand. 

Last night it started snowing like crazy and it was gorgeous! Then this morning I went outside and there was a plump little robin sitting on a bare branch. And automatically I wanted to paint it.  I wished I could put it's charcoal wings and little white freckles on a canvas and MAKE IT WORK DESIGNERS (sorry I had to...Tim Gunn moment)

It's like that meme with the moon and the camera...only I'm the camera because I can't interpret the image I see into the paper in front of me. 

Which is why I want to have a contest for everybody else who does have skills! But I need help devising a plan. So if you wouldn't mind hopping your little artistic cutie self over to the contest page, it would help me sooooo much if you gave me some ideas! 

Like for instance, what kind of art do you people like best?

QOTD: What's your favorite medium? Or best medium, I should say.

AOTD: Pen to paper :)

Comment feedback pleeease!

There You'll Find Me

There You'll Find Me
A Catholic story that takes place in and around Abbey glen, Ireland, by Jenny B. Jones.

So I got this book for Christmas along with another book (which I''m reviewing once I finish!) and I brought it along with me to Washington! Oh yeah, by the way I'm back in my own house now I read about half of it at a time on each flight. I really enjoyed it!
The main characters are Finley, a previously spoiled American exchange student and Beckett, the young Hollywood heart throb. They visit around Ireland together, following Finley's deceased brother's travel journal. As they go about their journey, a love story is created, but it's not just that. Finley's walk with God is taking some big detours. While going to a Catholic school and visiting an elderly woman in her last few months of life, Finley's life changes drastically. It kept me interested the whole time (even though I had nothing else to do...) I understood the characters thoughts like they were my own. I recommend this book! Make a note that I'm not Catholic, but I still really enjoyed it :)

COMING SOON~  SECOND CHANCE SUMMER BY MORGAN MATSON
QOTD:  Do you like any Christian fiction?

#reunitation

I'm home! The Olsons safely flew here to Washington yesterday :D

Last night my little sisters went to friend's houses, I went to Julia's and LC3 youth group!

I miss Lakewood/Parkland/Tacoma so much and I just got here! 

To be honest, it felt like I had never left, or I went back in time. Like I just got home from school or something. It's great here.  I find it kind of scary how much growing up somewhere can change your perspective on other places. This place hasn't changed at all, and it's very comforting to me.

Netflix, now what? A teen's Biography

This was a few days ago, I just forgot to post it... hehehe

I'm sure most everyone nowadays knows the feeling of finishing something, like a book series or TV show that has been their hobby or favorite thing for a while, and then they don't know what to do.

WELL GUESS WHAT GUYS WHAT DO I DO WITH MY LIFE NOW

Ha....ha....ha ha...ha. 

Sooooo.........

I need some big girl non-normal teen stuff to do. Like other than sitting in bed all day watching TV. That has not worked

for me at all. What's your favorite thing to do? 

What I guess I'm trying to say is, I need to be productive. All right, I've got it. A review on Gilmore Girls!

I love it, it's hilarious, especially if you need something to do late at night while you crochet a scarf for your best friend. I felt like I moved to Stars Hallow and did dance lessons with Ms. Patty and went to Luke's Diner for coffee every morning. My only problem was how TV perfect it was. They were all financially stable and never actually payed for anything. Lorelai would make a joke about having to pay for coffee and a donut and then she'd walk out of the diner. But other than that, it was perfect. I even cried at one point.
Now I guess I'm watching Supernatural and maybe Friends. Yes, Luke, I do have a problem.