week 15: concerts

 Going to a music concert is easily one of the best experiences in life. Not only are you going to see someone who's music you love, live, but you get to enjoy the show with people who also love their music. It is almost impossible to be upset at a concert, (unless you're looking at the price of the food and drinks). The buzz and rush of excitement before, during, and after a concert is euphoric and nothing will energize you more. Even if you don't have a seat near the stage, you can still have the best time dancing with your friends. Just being in the same building as some of your favorite artists will put you in the best mood ever and maybe even put you in a bit of shock. The overall vibe of concerts is always a shared state of joy between everyone in the audience. When you're surrounded by so much energy and happiness it is hard to not enjoy yourself. Even the opening acts can be really fun and exciting performers, you could leave with a new artist to add to your playlists. Concerts can also be a great place to meet new friends who definitely have at least one common interest with you. Mosh pits are also another part of concert culture that add to the crazy experience, if you're at the right kind of show of course. For some reason people get a big rush out of pushing each other around, jumping, and most times throwing punches too. There are so many new and fun things to experience at concerts. and so many different kinds of concerts one could attend. The only bad thing about concerts is the sometimes inevitable cases of post concert depression you could leave with. Every show is different from artist to artist but, it is guaranteed to be one of the best times of your life.

week 14: why I deserve a dog.

    I am a simple girl. I don't care what kind of car I drive. I don't care what kind of clothes I have. I don't even care what food goes in my mouth, as a self proclaimed human garbage disposal. I don't ask for much in this life, but I feel there is one thing I truly deserve. I have lived in Huntington Beach, on my own now for 10 months, minutes away from the dog beach. So the fact that I still do not have a dog makes absolutely no sense. Every day I see people walking around town with their furry friends and a piece of my heart fractures every time. "Why can't that be me?" my heart solemnly cries every time I see a human with their dogs, strutting down the street. I walk dogs for an app called Wag!, and just walking someone else's dog for a little bit every day is enough to keep me in a good mood for days.  What I don't understand is why those people pay someone to walk their dogs for them. I would give anything to take my dogs back in Arizona on a walk every day. If only they weren't so dang far. Because I cant see my dogs every day, I have attempted to bring home a new dog several times. And every time something has gotten in the way and it hasn't worked out. For reasons totally out of my control too! So i'm gonna go ahead and blame this on the big guy upstairs... so what the hell God? Why can't I have a dog? I've spent days going to adoption fairs and rescues and researching breeders only to run into roadblocks every single time! Sounds a little suspicious right? Maybe Satan is the one doing this to me. Whatever... whoever it is, they better cut it out because summer is coming up. If I have to spend summer alone at the beach in this stupid state without a dog, I think I might just explode. I am a good person and an even better dog mom who is ready to devote her entire heart and soul to a cute puppy pal. So hopefully my days lacking a dog end very soon.

week 13: Sheldon

In the summer of 2014, my boyfriend sent me a picture of the smallest and cutest creature I'd ever seen. A red eared slider turtle the size of a quarter. He asked me if I thought the little guy was cute which of course, I did. Then he asked me if I wanted him which of course, I did. I was staying in California for the summer, but he told me that when I got back to Arizona the turtle was mine. I was so excited to come home to my brand new pet. I'd always had cute animal friends in the house. We had dogs, cats, bunnies, frogs, fish, and even rats, but never a turtle. Let alone the cutest turtle in the world. Since my boyfriend was the one who bought him out of the back of a van on the side of the road for $5, I let him have the pleasure of naming him. I should have known this was a bad idea because the last time I let him name a stuffed animal, he chose the name Beast. Like what the hell is that, right? But anyways, I let him name this turtle Sheldon. As if there aren't already a million turtles named Sheldon in this world. He was proud of the choice so I decided to let it slide, even though upon recent research we've discovered that Sheldon is a girl. Oh well. Before I arrived home from vacation, my boyfriend went out and got Sheldon the cutest little habitat. It was a circular little container with an island in the middle and two little palm trees. This was the perfect habitat for our little turtle when she was still the size of a quarter. In recent days, this space has become a bit to small for Shell.When I returned home from vacation that summer I couldn't be more thrilled with my cute little friend. Sheldon was the best gift I had ever received. I let her crawl around my room every day, threw her a birthday party, and even made her her very own Christmas greeting card. Sheldon never seemed to give back the love I gave to her though. And I do feel guilty because turtles can only grow to fit their habitat so with the small circle she lives in, she wont ever reach full size. She doesn't like crawling outside of her tank much anymore and is beginning to show signs of depression.She spends most of her days trying to flip herself on her back( a position in which turtles cant breathe) Although I love Sheldon I fear I will never be able to give her the love she needs to survive. She lives her life in a small circle as a tiny, sad, genderfluid turtle who's organs may implode on her at any time, so I suppose if she were to kill herself I would understand.I would be sad, but I cant blame her.

week 12: Jersey Shore

    Few things in life bring me as much joy as Jersey Shore. In class a few weeks ago when the role question asked what our guilty pleasure was, I said Jersey Shore. This was a lie because I am not even in the least bit guilty about it. I am shamelessly addicted to it actually. There is something so mesmerizing about their unapologetic partying and sloppiness. Every episode begins with a sample of DJ Pauly D's music. Next we hear Snooki yell, "I'M GOING TO JERSEY SHORE, BITCH." Followed by Mike (The Situation) saying, "Alright we gotta situation". Next we hear Ron's dolphin like chuckling, followed by Sam claiming that she is "the sweetest bitch you'll ever meet." Jenny then says, "After I have sex with a guy, I will rip their heads off." Then we see Vinny, the educated one, fist pumping in the club. In the first and second seasons Vinny is followed by Angelina, but she  was too boring and annoying so she was quickly replaced by Deena, who in the intro asks, "YOU LIKE THE BOOBS?". All of that is only in the first 24 seconds. The show only gets better from there with big fights, wild dancing, and lots of smushing. It also gave us brilliant catchphrases such as "CABS ARE HERE!" , "Its t-shirt time" , and "I'm a blast in a glass". Also its hard to deny that there is anything in this world better than Snooki and Deena as a combined entity. And on this show we are able to see Jenny come together with her now husband, Roger, after ditching a toxic relationship with Tom. Sam and Ron's drama is the main element of comedy in the show in my opinion as its over things as simple as him making fun of her big toe or her not believing he cheated on her. If anyone is ever looking to raise their self esteem or put themselves in a good mood, Jersey Shore is definitely the show I would recommend.

week 10: the friendzone

    A lot of people now a days like to complain about being stuck in "the friendzone" . I, for one, think that the friendzone is total bullshit. There is the rare occasion of girls claiming to be stuck in the friendzone but they are far and few in between. The friendzone is an excuse, usually used by guys. So, I guess my gripe is with guys using the friendzone. My problem with this term is the fact that guys like to use it to place blame on the other person. It is nothing but a tool to make it seem like they could do nothing wrong. Instead of complaining about being stuck in the friendzone, you could be doing a lot more with your time. Such as trying harder to win the person over or even moving on. (crazy, I know.) Some people try to use it as a way to not take "no" as an answer, which in most cases is the wrong thing to do. There is nothing wrong with kind gestures to show someone you care, but there is a fine line between caring and overbearing. Once you cross the overbearing line there is no "friendzone" there is just the "please leave me alone zone". Many people, (again, usually guys) like to use the friendzone as a way to cover up embarrassment from being turned down. It is the same defense mechanism as when they call girls ugly when they are told no. It is nothing more than another band-aid to patch up their fragile male egos. Some guys just cant handle the fact that some people don't see them in a romantic way and resort to lashing out. People who claim to have been friendzone are people who have given up but do not want to admit defeat. The friendzone is a pathetic and embarrassing mental concept that people create for themselves when they either don't want to hear the truth, or are too proud. The worst thing about the friendzone is that it makes the other person look bitchy which is almost never the case. So, since it is 2017 and times are changing, we should all agree to stop making each other look bad. This should be the year we all agree to let go of the idea of friendzoning and accept the fact that we are the cause for our own romantic mishaps.

week 9: skincare

    As an 18 year old girl, it is quite normal to have some skin problems. Lately, mine have been through the roof though. I feel like I have the unruly skin of a 13 year old. It all started a few weeks ago when I decided to use makeup that most definitely was too old because I am too broke to buy new makeup. (tragic)  I used this makeup for about a week until I realized I was breaking out intensely where the makeup had been applied. So, I threw it out and immediately invested in several cleansing and repairing masks. I went makeup free, and even bought jugs of water to ensure i'm getting my daily amount. But still, my acne persisted. Frustrated, I decided to say frick it and wore makeup again. Obviously that didn't help my problems at all. I bought myself some new moisturizers and face washes, but they didn't help either. I steamed, extracted, and exfoliated but still, nothing worked. Desperate for results, I decided to splurge on a facial. This was a big mistake that I feel could have been prevented had my mom known if I had any allergies. Apparently, my skin doesn't love seaweed and this only irritated it further. After hearing my month long struggle, do you understand my frustration? As I type this my skin is burning under one of the most painful face masks I've ever used just hoping to get my skin back to adequate levels of angelically smooth. I've yet to explore the realm of home remedies besides toothpaste and cactus because I feel like these are almost always duds. If you or anyone you know has any good tips or tricks to prevent scarring ( which I will no doubt have after this journey.) please comment or leave a link in the comments, because this entire experience is becoming exhausting.

week 8: Bob's Burgers

    Few adult cartoons have ever impressed me. In fact, there was a time when Adult Swim was just too much for me because every show was either too political or violent for the fun of it. Bob's Burgers is the exception to that. It has the perfect amount of dry humor to either make you laugh or roll your eyes. It's episodes are smart and often mock popular movies like The Goonies or The Shining. The best thing though is probably the intricate and hilarious characters. Bob, the dad, is the person that everyone loves to hate. He has perpetual bad luck, with the occasional small victory and often simultaneously shows love and disappointment in his family. Linda is the dorky, loud, over the top mom that everyone knows. She loves singing and everything showy. Her mama bear personality makes her one of the most lovable characters ever. Tina is the oldest daughter who is only 13. She loves boys, butts, and paranormal romance. Her awkwardness and dry comments are so painfully relatable. Next is Gene. He is the middle child who is loud and obnoxious and constantly making fart noises. Everything you'd expect from a little brother character. Louise is the youngest and easily the most confident and smartest. Her slightly violent and determined nature add just enough of that element of the show. There are other notable mentions such as Crazy Aunt Gale, Talkative Teddy, or Jimmy Pesto. Each episode is totally different and keeps the best kind of comedy going throughout the series. The kids get themselves and their parents into crazy situations. And whether it be saving their failing restaurant, or getting into shenanigans around town, each character has an equal part in the hilarity. If you still haven't experienced this show, please do before Netflix removes it in April.

week 7: A Series of Unfortunate Events

    A Series of Unfortunate Events is a good way to summarize what it is like to drive with me. It isn't that I am a bad driver or have no idea what i'm doing, but bad situations always have a way of finding me while i'm in my car. While these bad situations I mentioned happen pretty regularly there seems to have been a surge of them this past week. If you read my previous post then you know that I was pulled over for the very first time last week. And while that was technically my fault for almost hitting a cop's car, I also attribute it partly to the confusing intersection and my bad luck. Another event that left me shook while driving this past week was when one of Orange County's wild green parrots flung himself into my windshield.(RIP) I did not set out that day to kill a bird, nor did my car, but that is what we did. I cried for about 10 minutes for that dumb bird and though he may have been suicidal, I wish I hadn't contributed my part in his death. I own a very depressed, certainly suicidal turtle (a story for another time) , so this hit close to home. Speaking of hitting things close to home, while driving back from school, someone who was definitely on drugs almost walked right into my car on purpose as I made a right turn. If it hadn't been for my fast reflexes and quick thinking, she could have ended up just like my poor green parrot, or slightly injured collecting insurance money, who knows. As I slowed to make my turn, I made eye contact with this person and thought we had a mutual understanding of what was happening, little did I know, I had been played a fool. Lucky for both of us, I realized that she had some kind of wild idea and I swerved away from her. All of these incidents occurred with someone in my passenger seat, the lesson here being, don't drive with me if you'd prefer to have no bumps in the road along the way. Unfunny pun fully intended.

week 6: being pulled over

This weekend my mom flew into town from Arizona. I went to go pick her up from the airport that night, exhausted from cleaning because I knew she would be nagging me about how messy my room is. I had even vacuumed out my car and put in a brand new air freshener. Once I had picked her up I was showered with relief when her first comment was, "It looks good in here." But, that relief quickly went away when I remembered what a backseat driver she is. Every 10 seconds I heard comments to the tune of, "Slow down." or "Did you even check your blind spot?" To which I always calmly asked her to please stop talking.(She never did.)   The drive from John Wayne Airport to Huntington Beach is a pretty short one, except for when you and your passenger are both tense and nagging each other. We had almost made it home when we got to a big intersection that came over a hill and curved in the middle. It seemed like the lane next to me ended there, so I thought that once across the intersection I would drive straight into the middle lane. That was not the case though and the second we made it across the intersection I saw blue and red flashing lights behind me. I instantly panicked because I had never been pulled over before. My mom started laughing hysterically and I got over to the side. A cute young officer came to my window and asked for my license and registration. I handed him both and my mom of course chimed in. "Hi officer, i'm her mother, i'm sorry she hasn't been driving too long and she's not very good at it." He laughed and admitted he thought he'd be pulling over a drunk driver not a little girl and her mom. Luckily he let me go without a ticket and told me not to almost hit any other officers. I was mortified but glad my mom was there to help me handle it. I doubt i'll ever hear the end of it though.

week 5: Arizona

    California has its ocean views and some really awesome food. New York has the fun busy city life... and some more really awesome food. But one state that is highly overlooked in it's scenery and its food is Arizona. Being from there, I may be a bit biased, but there really is so much that State 48 has to offer. First of all, nothing beats a pretty desert scene with big saguaros and giant mountains. In Sedona, you'll see red rocks dotted with deep green pine trees. Of course, there is also one of the seven wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon. Arizona is even prettier up north in winter, when all the red, taupe, and beige tones are blanketed in fresh white snow. And one of the prettiest things you'll ever see is an Arizona sunset, which for some reason is even deeper and more colorful than anywhere else. The wild dust storms, technically known as haboobs, are really something to watch and are usually followed by beautiful lightning shows. Another thing that makes Arizona so great is all  of the cool universities it offers. NAU is way up north with the pine forests and snow. ASU is in the middle of Tempe, one of the liveliest and coolest cities in the whole state. UofA is located in Tuscon which is mostly desert and one of the prettiest areas in AZ. Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix also have some of the best foods ever from pizza to giant ice cream sundaes. It also surprisingly has some of the best sushi places (some even better than ones in California) This gorgeous state has so many beautiful places and things to see and deserves way more recognition. It is definitely the best state for sunsets, hikes, and some seriously yummy snacks.

week 4: Dogs

    Few things in life have the ability to bring almost anyone pure joy. Not everyone loves mac and cheese with a passion. Some people hate cats and the allergies that come with them. But, something pretty much everyone can agree that the closest thing to an angel on Earth, is dogs. The happiest, furriest, and sweetest creatures known to man. If you're having a bad day, nothing will cheer you up like a cuddle with your favorite pup. If you're having one of those days where you feel like getting outside, the most fun way to do it is to get out and have fun with a dog. Besides being one of the sweetest friends you'll ever have, dogs are also the smartest. Even if you take time to teach your dogs some cool tricks, (which they'll easily pick up on) dogs are smart enough with they're own intuition. Like working dogs. Herding dogs use their instinct to help farmers with livestock and do a great job. Dogs like that even get bored if they aren't working their brains enough. Dogs that are bred to hunt can help their owners out by sniffing out prey or even retrieving small animals they've killed. Police dogs are especially trained to use their instinctive smelling abilities to sniff out drugs or any other type of danger. Some dogs are trained to help out people with disorders like epilepsy, to alert others when their owner is having a seizure. In any job, one characteristic all dogs possess is extreme loyalty to their owners. Dogs will cuddle you all day if you're sick or sad. And they're more than happy to celebrate and play with you on good days too. Dogs can also be the best judge of character and will protect you in any situation. There is absolutely no possible way that anybody could ever hate dogs. They're helpful, happy, and pretty much everybody's best friend.

week 3: Valentine's Day

   For some, February 14th is one of the most fun and romantic days in the whole year. A day to receive chocolate, flowers, and tons of attention from someone they love. For others, it can be the most dreaded day of the year. Surrounded by couples and their pda, and feeling like a giant loner. For those people, the day is spent brooding and avoiding any mention of the word "love". But there is no reason that the day should be spent drowning your sorrows in discount candy. There are plenty of fun ways to celebrate the love all around us, even without a significant other. Lots of ladies now a days are celebrating "Galentine's" which is just a fun night with your gal pals.  Whether making a night of it and hitting the town, or staying in and bonding over pizza, Galentine's could be just what you and your friends need to celebrate your friendship with each other. Or if you're someone who is brooding over a recent break up, then Hooters has just the deal for you. On Valentine's Day, Hooters has just started "Shred Your Ex" day. This is a day where if you bring a picture of your ex to shred, they will give you a free basket of wings, which seems like a pretty decent trade if you ask me. If free wings and shredding an ex's face doesn't sound like an awesome day to you then there is probably not much that wont make you a Valentine's Day Scrooge. And as a last resort, if you have absolutely nobody to share this fabulous day with, take time alone to appreciate all the happy things around you. There is nothing wrong with finding happiness in the happiness of others. In fact, sometimes that is just what we all need. You could even spread a little love yourself by doing some good deeds. Give a little money or food to someone in need, send someone a text just so they know you're thinking of them. You could even give a random stranger a Valentine, you never know who could use a little extra loving. And if you feel the spirit enough, we could all try to keep the love going every day of the year!

week 2: Thrifting

    When you type "mom jeans" in the search bar for Forever 21, you will find a few pairs of ripped up, baggy jeans. They might even have some weird or flashy pieces of embroidery on them if you're lucky. Most people who take the Forever 21 route will end up paying anywhere from $30-$40 for that 80's looking staple. If you type "Tommy Hilfiger" or "Calvin Klein" in the search bar for Urban Outfitters, you'll find $200 denim jackets or $50 sports bras. While this stuff is all quality and is definitely in style, there is a better option that most people refuse to open up to. If you're a sane person who actually likes saving money while looking good, there is nothing wrong with checking out your local Goodwill, or any other thrift shop. What we sometimes fail to realize, is that the clothes of today, in some cases, were the clothes a couple of decades ago. Searching the racks at thrift shops could leave you with some really cool finds. Those brands that could break your bank at an expensive retail store could cost you two or three bucks at a secondhand store. And even if you cant find that ripped pair of jeans you've been wanting, you could always find a nice piece of denim and distress it yourself. If you'd like to let your creativity shine through your wardrobe, then upcycling might just be the hobby for you. Try thrifting for something old, then adding your personal touch to make it seem brand new. Its a fun way to get creative, while saving money. And if you're lucky enough to find a good vintage piece, it'll be totally one of a kind. When people ask where you got that cute, and exclusive ensemble, you can proudly let them know that it was thrifted. Unique, fun clothes at a bargain price is all a shopaholic could ever ask for!

week 1: 90's trends in 2017

    It is a well known fact that history tends to repeat itself. That is especially true in the world of fashion and personal style. And while there are certainly things that should never make a reappearance, such as shoulder pads and jnco jeans, there are other trends that are worth giving another shot. One style from the 90's that recently made a comeback was wearing a t shirt under something spaghetti strapped. While some people were on board with this look others would rather keep their exposed shoulders. What was so fun about this look was the fact that you could dress it down or up for either a chic slip dress or a cool band tee. Something else that has had a major resurgence in the past year is choker necklaces. This is something that honestly, should never have left.  Besides the fact that they're entirely versatile, they add the smallest bit of subtle flare to any outfit. In the 90's they could be worn by anybody. They were worn by punks and preps alike and somehow fizzled out by the early 2000's. Another trend that somehow slipped away was knee high socks. While this look can be particularly more difficult to pull off, it is a staple that everyone should try to dawn at least once. They add just the right amount of "school girl prep" to any skirt or dress. While on the topic of "the school girl" look, there is something to be said about plaid skirts (or skorts). Anybody can pull them off, literally anybody. They also look even a bit festive, and should definitely be considered for next winter's holiday ensembles.  And last but certainly never least... scrunchies! The ever faithful hair ties that look way better than some boring thin black elastic. And a bonus to wearing scrunchies is they're less damaging to our hair. Hopefully this year we can all learn to channel our inner Cher Horowitz and Kelly Kapowskis' and hop on to some of these cute trends.