#but like poppin party at the moment has the only ones that Ill go out of my way to listen to oytside of playing bandori and that suprises me

[every-aj-needs-an-angel]

Rules: post 10 of your favourite comfort movies then tag 10 people.

Thank you for the tag @its-all-ineffable 💖

The Holiday. Hot people Christmassy romcom, what's not to like? What Jack Black does with his character!! Beautiful!! And do I need to say more than Kate Winslet? Also single dad Jude Law in glasses!! Cameron Diaz rocking out to The Killers!! And driving a Mini down a country road and nearly getting wiped out by a lorry. So accurate it's *chefs kisses* Favourite scenes include: Arthur's moment to shine, Miles and Iris in Blockbuster and the tent scene with the kids with an honourable mention for Mr Napkinhead 😂 It's my go-to movie whenever I'm sad because it's just so stupidly funny and adorable.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Jim Carrey. That's all I have to say. Honestly, I've seen this film a million times. I can quote it by heart and do so regularly much to my mums annoyance. The schedule scene is very me anytime I'm invited anywhere 😂 some favourite quotes "Am I just eating because I'm bored" "Hate, hate, hate. Hate, hate, hate. Double hate. LOATHE ENTIRELY!" "We're gonna die! I'm going to throw up, and then I'm gonna die!" "The insolence! The audacity! The unmitigated gall!" "Nice kid... bad judge of character" (absolutely me with my niblings) It's just the perfect remedy whenever I'm ill.

The Muppets Christmas Carol. I love all the adaptations but this one is my favourite. Me and my mum snuggle up every Christmas Eve and sing along. It reminds me of the magic of childhood Christmases and soothes something deep in my soul.

The Old Guard. This is the only adrenaliney one cos I have anxiety and I need chill shit if I watch a film but Joe & Nicky are my perfect Immortal Husbands and the tiny details of their relationship are all-encompassing and easily distract from all the murder and kidnap 😂

Mary Poppins. Do I need to say more than Julie Andrews? Dick Van Dyke. The outfits. The songs. Suffragettes. Tea parties on the ceiling. Dancing penguins. The merry-go-round horses. When I was a kid my mum used to foster so our house was always full of kids who needed someone to love them, make them feel safe and bring them some joy. That's probably why Poppins is one of my comfort characters, my mum was her.

Alice In Wonderland. Any of the adaptations. They're all brilliant. I do love the 1951 animation though mainly bc I adore the dormouse scene but becoming BFFs with a load of weird and wonderful creatures in a dreamstate is just *chefs kisses* Any scene with The Mad Hatter in any of the adaptations is my favourite but I am a sucker for the clean cup move down scene.

Sherlock Gnomes. I also love any Sherlock adaption but this one's just hysterical. Watson is just done™️. Sherlock and Juliet's squirrel disguise when sneaking through the park kills me every time. Moriarty as a pastry mascot and the fact he has dumb gargoyles as his assistants. Perfection really. Honestly, this film is just so fucking stupid you can't possibly feel sad when you watch it.

Monsters, Inc. bc it might've been like twenty years but I still want a Sully hug!! Also the pure beautiful hilarious chaos that is this film cracks me up. "Mike Wazowski", "Always watching" and "Put that thing back where it came from or so help me" are just killer lines. I absolutely adore The Abominable Snowman too he's just too sweet.

The Addams Family. Any of the films. All of the films. Gomez and Morticia are ultimate couple goals. They adore each other. Support their kids unconditionally. So kind and generous it often gets them in trouble. They're just perfect.

Red, White And Royal Blue. Last but not least, only because it's the newest. This film was amazing!! I adored the book and although the film is different I love that it's basically a 'what if' fanfic of itself. It was genuinely lovely to be able to watch a queer story and be able to relax with it!! Don't get me wrong I love how profound queer films can be but they either have me gripped in anxiety waiting for the shoe to drop or have me reaching for a comedian to brush away the deep-seated sadness. I felt so safe and yeah they have their ups and downs like every couple but I think I'd have felt the same safety with those characters even if I hadn't read the book first. 5* 10/10 highly recommend. Will be watching this on repeat for the foreseeable future.

Absolutely no pressure tags @mickalaem @flowercrowngods @auroraplume @estrellami-1 @i-less-than-three-you @mentallyundone @hbyrde36 @penny00dreadful @adhdsummer @writingfanficsfan 💖

[chisatowo]

Man how did poppin party manage to make several songs that I've grown to really love while having a music style that just completely isn't my typical music taste rncmdmdkf

[roguestarsailor]

You know what since we’re still in quarantine and i have nothing else better to do, i need to obsess over ACOTAR. I don't like a court of frost and starlight. For the longest time I couldn't figure out why I didn't like it. I aggressively read the book in maybe a day and I closed it feeling frustrated and annoyed. My version had A Court of Silver Flames preview so that definitely contributed to my annoyance greatly.

It's because it felt too perfect. Everything that had happened -- after the entire war was fought and won, they just go back to their normal lives? Yes there were hiccups and yes there were still aspects that made every IC character feel like their problems aren’t solved yet...but it didnt feel right. yes i enjoyed the snowball fight between the bat boys, feyre + rhys sexy time, and those little comfort moments too, the slice of life type things and seeing feyre accomplishing her goals and how hopeful the future seems BUT its too fast. the good parts of the book did not offset the bad parts of it.

Feyre literally accomplished pretty much every single goal she made back in ACOMAF just like that?? within a span of what a few months? a year?? She really came back from an entire war -- probably the first war of many since she's immortal and just like that, after her 21st birthday: she gets a whole entire estate, wants to start poppin babies, opens her art studio and starts teaching kids and then acting like she can rule an entire court?? the timeline is sooo short esp since its been brought up over and over again how everyone is literally 500 years old and have a super “messy” history and their changes seems to come super dupe slowly. but feyre, who has only lived 0.000000002% of her fae life, is out here thriving just fine???

the war devastated thousands of illyrian soldiers where its changing the politics of the illyrains and the faes, all of whom feyre has responsibilities over too as high lady. the mortal queens are still at large who left the humans on prythian to die which is why feyre was willing to go to war in the first place! what about the rest of hybern and their land and residents?? they wanted to enslave humans for social and economical reasons! then what about integrating humans w deep hatred and fear with deeply prejudice fae??? there’s also spring and summer court who are literally in ruins. thats literally so much. so idk how feyre is just chillin???? she gonna let rhys do all the hard work???

like feyre sit down. u should not be having a baby. esp since it took u literally a 700 pages to heal from those 3 months UTM. ur telling me shes gonna whole heartedly bring in a newborn in a war devastated world, with civil unrest (illyrains, other courts), with the messiness of human and fae integration, with trauma u and rhys will have to continue to overcome esp after THIS war??? even helping ur sisters w their traumas??

this is a personal opinion on this subject (and maybe my thoughts will change on this later on; opened to other thoughts) but when i read the part about how that weaver/seamstress artist who made that dark quilt that feyre loved talked about how her mate of 300 years didn’t come back from the war and her biggest regret was that she didnt have a kid to remember him by i just thought ur kid isn’t some sort of memorabilia. don’t have a kid to keep the memory of ur mate alive; have a kid cuz u want a kid purely for the sake of having a kid. ur memories and photos and shit will keep their memory alive but its not having a kid. some primitive need to keep the genes alive maybe?? but the way it was phrased and then in turn how feyre was like oh i need  a baby pronto cuz rhys might die in the next war and regret not having a kid with him didn’t sit right with me. also the other couple were together for +300 years and have a rich life together, while shes been with rhys for literally two years THATS NOTHING IN FAE YEARS. thats still the honeymoon phase and also ur problems arent even close to being over!!!

everyone was shitty to nesta. in ACOMAF, we saw how much the IC went through and still did all they could to help feyre. what made them not think nesta deserve the same welcome? nesta is mean as a defense but did no one try to figure out what would help (amren got close but shes so under developed)??? feyre knows nesta feels too much and yet she continued to be shitty. continued to flaunt her wealth, her status, her familiarity/borderline know-it-all attitude about fae/night court, her ~estate~. forcing nest to the solstice party when nesta was literally like i dont belong, im looking at everyone through a window type of thing; the fire cracking triggering her, etc. what kind of power play was that when she made nesta come to her estate, where nesta could SEE how ~homey~ and how suscessful feyre is and fully see all the lovely paintings of everyone feyre loves that explicitly exclude her to tell her to fuck off to a war camp?? bro???? cas was a dick too and elaine was rude. i think a lot of his actions were meant to make her angry since anger keeps u fighting (as was the method of rhys for feyre in ACOMAF) but what he said was stupidly shitty and i demand that he apologize properly. elaine could have done more to help her sister but whatever. mor was definitely an ass too (and im upset for how little her character growth is). 

Lucein. that man can’t catch a break tbh. im happy that hes w the band of exiles cuz he is whole heartedly accepted there. feyre was definitely an asshole to him even tho he helped as much as he could throughout the books. he tries so hard w elaine as well and it did hit my heart a bit when she was like gloves to work in my garden?? no ?? i use my bare hands see oNly aZiReL sEeS mE fOr WhO i Am. and at the same feyre is like flaunting her mate status to lucein which is mean as shit. its like this man can’t find love in prythain. then tamlin sending him his box of his things??? thats for sure brutral. tam was literally his partner through it all; savior of sorts even. no love from IC, no love from elaine, no love from feyre, no love from tamlin, no love from autumn court rejected everywhere! also HIS TRUE FATHER?? HEllo??? 

then on tamlin. i pity the guy! was i suppose to feel that way??? it felt like he is allowed to get a redemption arc and maybe i’ll even root for a redemption arc??? i was absolutely excited for freysand in ACOMAF but after ACOFAS, im like tamlin is....not completely bad??? his relationship w feyre was bad and the controlling parts were very much a no-no. i dont truly understand the dynamics of an abusive relationship but i can understand that it can be insidious and its the little things that hurt the victim. and i felt  feyre through ACOMAF and rooted for her to escape her abuser! but then it felt like i dont think he was doing any of those things out of malice. ill say tamlin is a bad leader and doesn’t know how to run a court outside of what he sees his father do. his understanding on everything is based on the traditions of the past which i think fueled most of the things he did i.e. not telling feyre she was in danger since maybe his mom didn’t do those war planning things. ACOTAR showed how he truly cared/loved and took good care of feyre and her family. he even talked about how he didn’t believe in the enslavement of humans! i think that tam wanted to preserve what he thought was the good (aka feyre + her love of painting) and get back a sense of control that he and his entire court lost while chained to amarantha. but at the same time, i think he truly thought feyre wasn’t safe. he knows rhys can crush minds and knows feyre can’t read/write so when he got that letter telling him shes safe of course hes gonna flip shit and made a deal w the devil (although those temper outbursts were DEFINITIVELY not ok!!!). he also didn’t listen and has sense of he knows best when feyre was not the type of person. but feyre destroyed his entire court. he lost all his sentries who literally went out to die for him during amarantha’s reign. he lost lucien too; his trusted right hand man. his people were cursed for 50 years and then continued to suffer UTM and was in the process of rebuilding too!  but just seeing spring court, WHO BORDERS THE HUMANS, be in ruins where his subjects left him, his people left him and hes all alone in the manson?? that was sooo sad. so im like why does what feyre did not feel satisfactory????? im mad that it didn’t feel right??? maybe there wasn’t a point where feyre talked to tamlin -- like really talked to him esp w her new found voice and power, etc. anyways, i dont hate tamlin and was like oh shit i think feyre fucked up a bit there.

rhys is a dick to nesta. which made me think, if feyre wasn’t his mate would he extend the same love and care to her???  i loved how he tried so hard to make sure feyre was ok. made sure she wasn’t breaking! all of it! but for nesta, he had the audacity to use his high lord voice and be an ass overall. even tho he can see how cas is fucken in love??? even just how he talks to cass feels off too. 

i’ll even go as far as to say because of how terrible ACOFAS was, it created this intense divide within the fandom. i remember reading the first three books and was absolutely 1) rooting for freysand  2) curious about the sister relationship and how it will be mended 3) i definitely didn’t hate nesta nor did i hate elaine either -- but i was adament about them talking it out with feyre for those tough times 4) saw a more realistic and charming healing arc 5) was rooting for feyre to be a stronger voice and grow into herself 6) love the dynamic of the inner circle + feyre

but after ACOFAS, I have this intense need to defend nesta and was super mad at how she was treated after the war and in turn a deep dislike for elaine for both her lack of agency, lack of grit that made all the other characters interesting, and lack of care for her sisters (who showed how much they would risk for her). i dont hate rhys but i was extremely not happy with him and his attitude and behavior. feyre became more arrogant and was acting like how asshole rhysand would act. like her life is perfect now and i was not rooting for her anymore. freysand didn’t feel like they have complimenting qualities that made them interesting in the first place but rather they are merging to become the same person but in a bad way. that mind reading thing was cute in the beginning but it became insufferable since all thoughts were shared so seamlessly it made reading feel weird. 

anyways those are my thoughts on ACOFAS. it was a 1/5 stars for me and im mad those events transpired. reading the other books made me excited to know what was gonna happen and i was truly ready to accept the characters as flawed and nuanced as they are. im not mad about character not liking each other but i am mad that everything felt off. ACOFAS just felt regressive in some parts and forced in other parts. i know not everything ends in a nice tied up bow but this book single handily ruined what i thought about these characters in the worse way possible. this book wasn’t suppose to wrap up all the problems that exists in the other books but it didn’t feel hopeful like i thought it would. it didn’t feel wrapped up and didn’t feel like i should be excited about the next books. theres so many missing pieces i feel that i think need explaining and at the same time, i think it introduced too many problems at once which made it feel like its jumping around everywhere. although im still excited for ACOSF because i love nesta, and nesta deserves so much better and i want to have hope that this bad ending will either make sense later on or it was just a blimp.

[deereelis]

A complete puzzle

I don't know if it was the #DollyPartonChallenge where people would post 4 profile pics of their FB, IG, Twitter & Tinder profiles that triggered this.  This challenge consisted of 4 pictures and each quadrant depicted the same person but posed or dressed differently to satisfy the community of each of those social media mediums.  Linked In had a more professional look, while Facebook would show some type of activity such as hiking, IG may show a party scene while Tinder’s pic simply solicited a more adult-oriented response.  

I started seeing these images going viral and friends and celebrities up for the challenge sharing their versions.  Something about that just didn’t sit right with me.  You see, for the past couple of years I have been working on piecing back the parts of me that society told me should be compartmentalized.  I am a mom at home, I am a writer at poetry lounges, I am a sexual being in my bedroom, I am an elected official in the City Council Chambers, I am a goddess in sacred spaces and so on and so forth.  But that to me proved to be too dangerous.  

It was as if though we were expected to perform these particular parts we play in their respective spaces with little to no wiggle room for expansion.  Is a mother not allowed to be sexual?  Can an elected official not be an artist?  Can strength and weakness not co-exist? Are we only allowed to check off 1 identifying box?  Can we experience a multitude of identities and bask in the nuances?  Of course we can. I have learned to appreciate and celebrate the intersectionalities of all of our existence. Because all of the titles we bear are reflections of our true identities that contribute to the magnificence & uniqueness of our holistic individuality.  

I’ve dedicated my adult life to battling this trauma coping mechanism by encouraging my daughter and all of the young people that look to me for guidance that you can be ALL you are and more.  You can be ALL of you and be so unapologetically.  There is much harm done in the world because loads of folks are unhappy for not being able to fulfill their calling or living as their true selves.  They subscribe to the ideology that a specific role identifies them and spend most of their lives trying to live up to the standards of that specific role.  Some people get so consumed by over-performing that they never develop self, create family, explore their true calling.  I believe wholeheartedly that Identifying with one thing doesn’t negate another.  I also feel that living up to the expectations of others does very little to bring peace within.

I have played many roles in my life and if I had kept an active subscription to the magazine of limited beliefs; I would’ve been in jail, dead or strung out on drugs.  But I never believed that individual experiences defined me; nor that they define even those that have showed harm to me.  In fact, in my reflections of those that have displayed hate toward me, their lack of truth-bearing is evident to me.  That to me defines dis-ease.

Disease (Dis- meaning difficulty & Ease- comfortable or relaxed)

What makes it difficult for one to find ease? Insecurities, fear, shame, guilt, etc.

I love even those that inflict harm; because truth be told, they need it the most. But how do we bring those that are struggling with a form of dis-ease onboard?

You see, I believe in my heart of all hearts that if we all lived in our true power, there’d be no need for vitriol.  

So how do we teach self- love?  

How do you show people how to live in light?  

How do you encourage folks to embrace their truths and live in them?  

How do you show acceptance? 

How can we teach this liberation?

You exemplify it.

You love yourself.

You live in light.

You embrace your truths (the pretty and not so pretty truths) and live and learn from them.

You accept yourself.

Liberation is inevitable when there’s real love; and that starts with loving every part of you.

I show up as a better mother because I am an advocate, artist, writer, goddess, etc.  I am not just a mother.  In fact, being able to freely live out all of my identities create expansion of each individual role that allows my whole-self to flourish.

So today, I am going to come clean about a role I play that has occupied most of my adult life.  I have kept it a secret from the public because I didn’t want it to be used against me.  But today I name it because it has had an adverse effect in how I’ve showed up in this world.  I share it because I am a living example of embracing every part of our mine & our collective existence. 

It is my role as patient.

I have suffered with chronic illness since 2007 and have had more hospitalizations, medications, specialists, second, third and fourth opinions, death scares, alternative therapies, excruciating pain, visiting nurses, bedrest than I’d like to admit.  I suffer from Sarcoidosis. (<- read about it here)

I have an advanced and systemic version of sarcoidosis that has attacked several of my organs and when a flare up ensues, I am knocked down.  At this current moment, I am knocked down.  Being knocked down does not mean I am on my death bed, nor does it mean I am a miserable sick person whose lip gloss ain’t poppin’.  

It just means that my immune system is suppressed and parts of my body aren’t functioning properly and so I must rest and heal and prioritize my health.  My condition had been in remission for a couple of years and though symptoms surfaced periodically; the stresses of 2019 took control.

Often in politics, women are told not to cry, to “be tough,” “don’t show defeat”- because we are exposed to a crap ton more pressure than our male counterparts and we shouldn’t show what ‘they’ interpret as weakness.  But see, I won’t pretend that because I am a strong woman, an elected official, an activist that I am not affected by unhealthy conditions or behaviors toward me.  In fact, I believe to not acknowledge the harm of dis-ease; whether internal or external gives power to its malignancy. So I vow that..

“…I will not contribute to the perpetuity of disease in whichever way it shows up.”  -Damali Vidot  

Being ‘ill’ can mean many things and manifests differently among the masses.  

This latest Sarcoidosis flare-up has doctors prescribing medicines that have historically created more complications than they have healed anything.  It also has forced me to slow down as far as what I do and when I do it.  I am spending most days writing my first memoir, planning for my future, spending time with my family in between seeking alternative healing remedies to get me back on track. I often sit in my meditation space and with my eyes closed, I imagine a bright light in my body and send it to the parts of me that need the most healing.  Then I imagine the broken hearts of those that hurt other people and imagine sending my light to their wounded hearts. I pray for us all; because I believe in our collective health.

Right now, I am focused on my individual healing & feel excited to name living in chronic pain and my relationship to this condition. My maternal aunt, Ana Awilda Melendez was the only other person in my family to have this condition and to name Sarcoidosis is to lift her beautiful memory.  She passed away in 2007 after complications of the disease at the age of 54. I will continue to fight this battle in her memory and to attain the infinite ancestral wisdom that lies just beneath this condition.

Sarcoidosis is a part of my life and I have learned so much from her.  It has been a blessing the perspective that the condition has given me.  The fight that developed within me as a result of knowing what being close to the end of my life felt like.  The appreciation of life and family; knowing that these years of my life are BONUS & making them meaningful.  The urgency to give it 100% because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.  

Don’t pity me. I am not defined by dis-ease & I have a solid team of family & friends. You see, Sarcoidosis has taught me and continues to teach me how to live. And today I choose to lift ALL of me; even the dis-eased parts. I am whole & imperfectly perfect wishing healing for me and for you in however ‘illness’ shows up in your lives. 

Own it. Face it. Release it. And be free with me,

Axe!!!

[itsmultifaceted-blog]

hip-hop & mental health.

HIP-HOP! 

a music genre developed in the United States by inner-city African Americans in the 1970s, accompanied by rapping over a rhythmic beat. 

It is a relatively newer genre of music that is adored by masses (since it is currently the most listened to genre in U.S history... https://www.vibe.com/2017/07/hip-hop-popular-genre-nielsen-music/) 

BUT - it is also one that stirs up controversy, ill-feelings, and contempt for its lyrical content. 

I myself have been influenced by hip-hop from a pretty young age. Growing up with brothers, it is how I felt connected to them - and it is still how I feel connected to them. It’s a part of African-American culture that has caused division and unity, a sense of pride, awareness of important topics amongst the African-American community... as aforementioned, it is a newer but very influential genre of music. 

       In my experience, (which I recognize is limited), I’ve noticed that first generation Ghanaian-Canadians who are male have a harder time connecting with the Ghanaian culture than females. This may not be true, but it’s an observation I have made. While I was pretty accepting of both Canadian and Ghanaian culture, it appeared that my brothers connected more to the African-American male subculture. They could relate to the aggression expressed in the hip-hop’s lyrics, they found appeal in the lavish lifestyles/rags to riches success that was commonly displayed, and the difficulties in expressing emotional vulnerabilities, masked by all of the aforementioned factors.

       As for myself, I have always just enjoyed the beat of the music. Again, because I am rather emotional and vulnerable, this is was really my only connecting point to my brothers. However, the older I get, the more I’ve become more cognizant of how much mental illness is expressed and almost disguised in hip-hop. Behind the upbeat tempo, the overly sexualized women in the videos… it’s very easy to miss their cries for help. Hip-hop is scrutinized for its misogynistic and violent lyrics (which I do not deny or condone). However, it should be known that the vast majority of these artists who rap such content:

*Had an incredibly difficult upbringing (struggling with poverty, institutional racism, neglect, poor housing and schooling)

*Surrounded by violence (gang crime, domestic violence, prostitution, pimps, drug abuse and trafficking).  

*Grew up without a father (which is very challenging.) Or their father figures were violent, inconsistent or emotionally detached.

Try looking up a few of the prevalent hip-hop artists that you are aware of. Chances are, that they might’ve grown up with such circumstances.

OF COURSE, NOT ALL OF THEM, but most.

Essentially, what they rap about is what they know. It’s all that they’ve ever known.

Now - take the ones who grew up in a “normal” or even wonderful household. This does not take away from the fact that the way black men are (and continue to be) portrayed in the media is often thugs, gangsters, drug dealers, aggressive, nonemotional.

Below is an interview with an older rapper from back in the day (Styles P), with his wife. He discusses the suicide of his daughter, and how she struggled growing up without a biological father. Styles himself notes the difficulty of growing up without his father, too. 

From 25:33-27:52

In watching that, imagine the pain one would feel without ANY father figures.

A LOT of these rappers grew up this way. 

        As I had mentioned, the way black men are consistently portrayed in the media is emotionless and aggressive. In reality, they are expressing themselves the only way they know how and wish to.

Now I find myself listening to these lyrics, and I have become very concerned for the artists and their mental well-being. I wonder almost.. what is our role as consumers of this music? When we hear these artists saying they're “not afraid to die”, and that they are suicidal, and we are blasting it in our cars and at parties and almost ignoring their cries for help? I don’t know. It’s becoming unsettling for me. Below are a few lyrics of popular hip-hop songs at the moment:

I'm in pain, wanna put 10 shots in my brain I've been trippin' 'bout some things, can't change Suicidal, same time I'm tame  XXXTentacion - Jocelyn Flores 

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Two cups, toast up with the gang <- <i>(reference to lean... the leisure consumption of cough syrup and codeine)  From food stamps to a whole 'nother domain Out the bottom, I'm the livin' proof   ... My guillotine drank promethazine <- <i>(cough syrup drank for leisure. Essentially, he admits it’ll be the death of him.) TEC and beams, go to those extremes  Future - Mask Off 

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 I Feel Like That - Kanye West The. Entire. Song. 

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The skreets raised me, I'm a whole bastard I bought a 'Rari just so I can go faster  21 Savage - Bank Account 

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I might blow my brain out Xanny, help the pain, yeah < - (Xanax, anti-anxiety medication) Please, Xanny, make it go away I'm committed, not addicted, but it keep control of me All the pain, now I can't feel it I swear that it's slowin' me  Lil Uzi Vert - XO TOUR Llif3   

Not only do I worry about these artists, but I also worry about the black men (and really, any individual) who are close to me who only listen to this music, and this music ALONE, as I know they're struggling with their mental health as well. I do believe that the content you put into yourself is essentially what you will put back out into this world - whether we recognize it or not, it ultimately manifests in our actions and how we perceive the world.

While people can be listening to this music without necessarily struggling with their mental health, there are people who do. I think it’s important to recognize those who are struggling. 

How? Well.......

As individuals who care for the well-being of other individuals, (particularly our impressionable young people who listen to these artists), I think it’d be a good idea to familiarize ourselves with upcoming artists with growing popularity amongst youth.

This shouldn’t be done for the purpose of being able to relate to them, and gear them away towards that music - that is ultimately their choice. But rather...…well.... for example; I started to pay attention to the music that a young person I know, who was gravitating towards. A lot of its content talked about abusing Xanax and drinking codeine. It was through that that I discovered he was experimenting with those drugs, too.  I know that he is someone who has trouble expressing himself emotionally, and how he did it was through the music he listens to. 

~ Honestly I feel like this post is all over the place... this has been a growing concern of mine and I just have so much I want to say about it .... but I guess essentially, what I’m trying to say is: ~ 

For consumers of this music - be careful! Trap beats are infectious and poppin’... trust me, I know. I am guilty of obsessing over them... buuuut what we put in is what we put out. This is fact. 

For the binge consumers of this music - I hope you are able to find someone to confide in, in regards to the negative feelings that you have. Even if it is just showing someone what your favourite songs/lyrics are. There is help. There is hope. I am here to listen. 

For those who may have nothing to do with the music, but care how it is affecting people - Again, don’t necessarily think every black boy (or individual of any sort) listening to this music is troubled... take time to invest into the lives of young people... even if it’s regularly greeting them, or treating them to a McDonald’s gift card or something - small gestures can sometimes have great magnitudes in one’s life. Show warmth, show care, dedicate random acts of kindness (consistently!!!!!!!!) to a young person. These are different times, and they are facing a l o t of pressure.  

For the loathers of hip-hop - I hope that this post has given a bit of insight into the lyrical content, and why it’s not the most flattering. Again, I’m not trying to make excuses for the misogyny and heavily violent content...but at the same time, recognize that this genre is NOT just that. These too, are hurting people, who are expressing themselves the only way that they can. 

- danielle. 

[cinema-tv-etc]

25 Reasons 'The Good Wife' Had the Best Guest Cast Ever

Mandi Bierly - Deputy Editor, Yahoo TV Yahoo TV Staff  May 4, 2016

When The Good Wife ends its seven-season run on May 8, the CBS drama will be remembered for many things: the empowering evolution of Alicia (Julianna Margulies), the continuous delight that was watching Christine Baranski in a role that has earned her an Emmy nomination for every season to date, and some of TV’s best writing. Of course it’s that last one that is truly responsible for the show being revered for its great guest stars. But here are 25 more reasons why that roster is the best ever.

The Good Wife series finale airs May 8 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

1. The writers knew that when you have a great character, you keep him (or her) in your world.

Dylan Baker has earned three Emmy nominations for playing Colin Sweeney, an accused wife killer who first appeared in Season 1′s thirteenth episode, “Bad,” and returned often enough to be dubbed Alicia’s creepiest client (“I like you, Mrs. Florrick,” he once told her. “You feed my Mary Poppins obsession”). When the audience knows a recurring character well enough to find a cutaway shot to him scowling in a courtroom funny, you’ve done your job. (Credit: John Paul Filo/CBS)

2. They created a role worthy of Michael J. Fox.

How do you make opposing lawyers quickly feel like three-dimensional characters? You have them exploit whatever they can about themselves in the courtroom. For Fox’s Louis Canning, that’s his illness (cue the eyeroll from Alicia). Over the years, as Fox has earned four Emmy nominations for the role he first played in Season 2, we’ve seen many sides of Canning (and even his alleged deathbed). But like all great recurring characters, he continues to bring out the best — and worst — in Alicia, including that awesome fake cry Julianna Margulies performed in the series’ penultimate episode when Alicia imagined what Canning expected to see when he told her Peter was accused of having a longtime affair. (Credit: Michael Parmelee/CBS)

3. They acknowledged that judges have personalities and personal views — and how they remain fair (unless they’re being bribed or just want to move their day along, of course).

On most shows that take us inside the courtroom, you don’t even know the judge’s name, let alone that she prefers you always use the phrase “in my opinion” (Ana Gasteyer’s Judge Patrice Lessner) or his position on gun control (Denis O’Hare’s Charles Abernathy). Because they’re truly characters, we can find them punishing the lawyers either amusing (David Paymer’s Judge Richard Cuesta keeping score in Peter’s current trial) or infuriating (pretty much every interaction Christopher McDonald’s Judge Don Schakowsky has ever had with Alicia). (Credit: Craig Blankenhorn/CBS)

4. They recognized another truth: Just because you have young kids doesn’t mean you’re soft.

It turns out you can still be fierce (Martha Plimpton’s Emmy-winning role, attorney Patti Nyholm) and extremely competent (Tim Guinee’s Mr. Mom investigator, Wiley) even when you have to bring your baby to an emergency hearing or take a call from the State’s Attorney through a talking lion toy. (Credit: John Paul Filo/CBS)

5. They weren’t afraid to go quirky. Like really, really quirky.

You can also be as eccentric as attorney Elsbeth Tascioni (Emmy winner Carrie Preston) and extremely respected. She carries ridiculously large bags and has made some ridiculous entrances, but her brilliance is never questioned (even after she’s busted singing along to “Call My Maybe” while falling for Kyle MacLachlan’s Josh Perotti). (Credit: Jeff Neumann/CBS)

6. They wouldn’t let you judge a book by its cover.

Nancy Crozier (Mamie Gummer) was one of Alicia’s greatest adversaries. Young, bright, and deceptively naive, she was actually a cobra whose bite made even the audience sit up a little higher in their chairs.

7. They knew a face you would want to slap — but wouldn’t want to stop watching.

State’s Attorney Glenn Childs (Titus Welliver) was the original foe we loved to hate. His legacy has lived on, though, in that office, in the high-ranking members of the Democratic party who’ve screwed Alicia and Diane, and most recently, in AUSA Connor Fox (Matthew Morrison), who’s taking the last crack at Peter.

8. They knew opposites attract.

Christine Baranski’s Diane didn’t need a man in her life to be a great character, but we’re sure glad she found Kurt McVeigh, Gary Cole’s ballistics expert. Their flirtatious cross-aisle verbal sparring grew into a still passionate relationship befitting a man who’s willing to sacrifice his most valuable commodity — his word — for the love of his life, and a woman who means it when she vows to make him happy every day of his life if he’ll forgive her. If we were told only one romance could survive the finale — Diane’s or Alicia’s — we’d pick this one.

9. They knew people with opposing views could be civil.

It was fascinating to see R.D. (Oliver Platt), an approachable and politically conservative businessman who loved a civilized argument with a worthy opponent, in scenes with Diane. He respected her, and used her as the devil’s advocate — eventually making her question whether his retainer was worth the sale of her soul.

10. They knew how to keep us guessing.

Were we supposed to like David Hyde Pierce’s Frank Prady, a political commentator-turned-State’s Attorney candidate who insisted to opponent Alicia that he wanted to run a campaign? We wanted to trust him (he’s played by David Hyde Pierce after all), but in the world of ‘Good Wife’ politics, you could never be sure.

11. They knew how to make feminists think.

Caitlin (Anna Camp) was a promising young lawyer who wanted to leave her burgeoning career to focus on her fiancée and their planned family. For some viewers, that’s as divisive a decision as Alicia standing by Peter at the start of the series. Alicia tried to talk Caitlin out of it — you can have it all — but Caitlin said she wasn’t sacrificing anything; she was choosing what she wanted. Her generation has nothing to prove, Caitlin said. Of course, years later we learned that Caitlin is now a single mom, back at work, and wondering if she ever should have left. Is the moral that nothing can guarantee a happily ever after, or that she’ll be fine, just like Alicia was?

12. They introduced us to Mike Colter.

Though he came to the show with credits, it’s his portrayal of the stoic, imposing Lemond Bishop that was Colter’s big break. “Mike Colter is such an amazing actor, and everybody’s catching on now and stealing him from us, which we take as a personal affront,” ‘Good Wife’ co-creator Robert King joked to Yahoo TV last year. (Colter’s ‘Jessica Jones’ character, Luke Cage, get his own Marvel series debuting Sept. 30 on Netflix.) “While this guy can play the very grim drug kingpin, it’s always fun to see how there’s a real human side underneath that because he’s a dad. Being a dad myself, I shovel some of my issues into [Bishop]. It’s just like you got a guy who’s split right down the middle. And obviously, Kalinda’s got front row seats for that.”

13. They made us wish Matthew Perry could have stuck around.

The actor’s slap-me dry delivery was way more palatable as Mike Kresteva, Peter’s political rival, than it is as Oscar on The Odd Couple. Damn you, Go On!

14. They took advantage of filming in NYC.

New York is not just the home of Law & Order franchise guest stars, it’s the home of Broadway stars, and many have had memorable turns on The Good Wife, including Renée Elise Goldsberry (ASA Geneva Pine), who just received a Tony nomination for her role in Hamilton, and Laura Benanti (Sweeney’s latest wife, Renata), who just earned her fifth career Tony nomination for She Loves Me.

15. They wrote sexy, accomplished women over 40.

On a show with Alicia and Diane, you’d expect nothing less, but let’s appreciate the juicy roles for women such as Rita Wilson (Diane’s old attorney friend Viola Walsh) and Vanessa Williams (the businesswoman/donor who broke Eli’s heart).

16. They built a believable family.

We all know where Alicia gets her love of wine — from her mother, Veronica (Stockard Channing) — and why she turned out okay (she had her brother, Owen, played by Dallas Roberts, to commiserate with). It was nice to see them return recently when, for at least a moment, there was a lightness to Alicia that matched theirs.

17. They gave us a millennial we didn’t hate!

Another welcome return: Eli’s daughter, Marissa, who is the only person we like to see outwit Eli and is second only to Gary on ‘Veep’ when it comes to our favorite body man (or woman). We still wish she was working for Alicia.

18. They always found new and different foils for Eli (Alan Cumming).

Eli was always at his best when he was maneuvering against someone. It didn’t matter whether it was a savvy teen mean girl (Dreama Walker’s wicked Becca), Peter’s manipulative mother (Mary Beth Peil’s delicious Jackie Florrick), or a more accomplished peer (Margo Martindale’s imposing Ruth Eastman).

19. They made us fall in love again.

After the shocking death of Will Gardner (Josh Charles), much of the audience, like Alicia, felt hollow. But Matthew Goode’s Finn Polmar, the ASA who’d been opposite Will when he was shot dead in court, filled us up again with a simmering promise of sexual tension. Even though Goode was ultimately billed as a series regular, you sensed he was just passing through (on his way to Downton Abbey). He left because he knew he couldn’t work closely with Alicia and not have things get “sloppy” between them. He left us wanting more (i.e. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Jason).

20. They weren’t ageist, really.

Could it be the series’ happiest ending is reserved for Jackie and nap-loving firm relic Howard Lyman (Jerry Adler)?

21. They went with the unexpected.

Who wasn’t surprised to see Linda Lavin as Joy Grubick, Cary’s pretrial services officer? She was by the book, but even when she wouldn’t cut him a break for going half a mile over the state line, there was something calming in her slow-talking voice that made it difficult to get angry with her.

22. They warmed our hearts.

Clarke Hayden (played by Nathan Lane, who was nominated for an Emmy for his guest turn) was a court-appointed trustee whose job was to trim the fat at Lockhart/Gardner. He eventually grew close to Cary (Matt Czuchry) — who, in the backstory Lane created for the character in his own mind, reminded Clarke of his son who’d died of an overdose — and got to put David Lee (Zach Grenier) in his place. With the rat race tearing so many characters down, it’s nice to see the firm build someone up.

23. They created their own version of Snowden.

Some people loved the NSA story arc, some people thought it dragged on a bit too long, but everyone can agree how fun it was to see Silicon Valley’s Zach Woods recur as Jeff Dellinger. And let’s not forget about his former cubemates, led by Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie.

24. They even knew how to cast the right dog.

Just when you thought you’d seen every quirk on ‘The Good Wife,’ we were introduced to Elsbeth’s ex-husband, Mike Tascioni (Will Patton), who shares custody of their absurdly chill Chihuahua mix (played by a one-and-a-half-year-old rescue dog named Louie). “We’ve been interested in the idea of emotional support dogs, and it made sense to us, as we built the Mike character, that he might benefit from one,” ‘Good Wife’ executive producer Craig Turk told Yahoo TV. “Then it felt like high-strung Elsbeth might benefit, too. And if you begin to imagine what the dog in that situation would feel like… you get Tom. I named him Tom because, when writing the Mike character for the first time, I described him as hero-worshipping Atticus Finch — so, the ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ connection.”

25. And finally, on the rare occasion they made a misstep, the role (read: Kalinda’s ex) was cast with someone who’d make it easy to forget.

Sorry, Marc Warren.

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/25-reasons-good-wife-had-223854699/photo-5-they-weren-t-afraid-to-1462401610717.html

[buttermybooks]

GUYS!!! I have the BEST post for you today! Natalie C. Anderson, Author of City of Saints and Theives, is stopping by to give us a playlist inspired by her book! Natalie is an absolute DOLL and reading through her song list is just.. so fun! Not only am I completely smitten with CoSaT but Natalie is a new favorite author!

Make sure to pick up City of Saints and Theives, which released last Tuesday! This book was amazing and I cant wait for you all to experience it! Ill leave buy links below! Also make sure to follow the tour and stop in at the other blogs participating for a chance to win a copy of CoSaT!!!

buy on amazon

add on goodreads

Natalie’s Playlist:

I had so much fun putting this playlist together! (Warning - all original versions, so some are explicit) I grew up in the era of the mixed tape, which is so much different than making a play-list. You couldn't just move stuff around when you had all the songs you wanted. You had to figure out exactly which songs, in what order (very important!) and then listen to each one as it was recorded. Pressing play, record, stop at exactly the right moments. I still have some of the tapes my best friends gave me as a teenager. I just can't part with them. They're like little love letters. 

This playlist is old classics and new stuff, and a mix of artists from all over the world, but mostly Africa, or diaspora artists. It's not something I could write to, but boy can I dance to it! :) I think it pretty well captures Tina's badass personality, and the modern African feel of Sangui City, the fictional city where City of Saints and Thieves is set. 

Here's the Spotify Link

Petit Noir - Down - Both danceable and deep, this is just a great start to a playlist. It feels like setting off on an adventure. Petit Noir is Angolan/Congolese/Brussels-born/Cape Town raised, and has a voice like warm honey. 

Batuk - Puta - this song feels like something you'd listen and shake to with your girlfriends while getting ready to go out. (And in fact, it's actually all about not putting up with cat-callers and chauvinists. hells yeah.) Batuk is a collective of several artists from all over - South Africa, Mozambique, Germany, etc. 

Sikane - U'Huh - I love this, because while Sikane is a new artist, U'Huh feels old-school, like some of the great Ethiopian funk/jazz classics or Fela Kuti. He's Sudanese, but has lived in the US since he was six. 

Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba is the grand dame of African music. Her beats are infectious, her singing is soulful, and she is rightly revered. This is one of her most well-known songs, a universal favorite across Africa. Still dancing? Yeah, thought so. 

Brenda Fassie - Vul'indela - If Makeba is the grand dame, Brenda Fassie is the original bad girl. This song is a classic dance tune. Fassie was a huge voice in South African anti-apartheid music, but also had a complex personal life and struggled tragically with fame. Her life should be a movie. 

Mafikizolo - Kucheza  - I've loved South Africans Mafikizolo since I was a studying in Capetown back in 2002. They're just so cool. This song slows things down a bit, and gets a little romantic. 

Laura Mvula - Phenomenal Woman Afro-Caribbean British artist Laura Mvula is getting some well-deserved attention for this song, which is a great girl-anthem. 

M.I.A. - Bad Girls M.I.A needs no introduction, and this song is just so her. Tough girls, "bad" girls, doing what they want, having fun and not apologizing for it all over a poppin beat. 

Little Simz with The Hics - Gratitude Don't be fooled by her small stature. The UK's Little Simz is a phenomenal rapper and singer. And actress. She reminds me the most of Tina. This song slows things down a little, and I think the instrumentals on this track especially are just so gorgeous. 

FKA twigs - Two Weeks Tough and dreamy, I love FKA twigs. She packs a punch for a tiny girl and always manages to look crazy-beautiful doing it. Tina (and Boyboy) would approve. 

Baloji - Entre Les Lignes We're still in a contemplative mood here. Baloji feels a little bit like a Congolese Tupac. His rapping is so smooth, but intense and politically charged. He's one of the new Congolese artists who feels both African and universal. Watch the video for this one, if you can - incredible shots of Eastern Congo. 

Santigold - Disparate Youth Okay, we're waking up a bit now. This song feels like something you'd listen to with your crew with the windows rolled down, riding into the sunset.

T.I. feat. Rihanna - Live Your Life This song just always reminds me of dance-parties in Kenya. American music is huge there, so I really feel like I didn't miss out on an era of great pop music. I love Rihanna's vocals on this, and the sentiment behind the words. I think of this, in fact, as a Rihanna song, not T.I. (sorry, T.I.)

KRS-One - A Friend Okay, this is one of my favorites from way back when. KRS-One is such a tough guy, but this song has the line "all I really need is a friend." Friendship is a big part of this book, and I think the song just fits. Bring it in for a hug, K.

M83 - Midnight City Taking it out on one of my new favorite songs ever. It doesn't really have much to do with Africa, but I listened to it a LOT while working on City. It also feels like a bursting through the gates, triumphant outro. Like the ending of a great 80's movie.

Follow the tour below!

Week One:

1/16 – Margie’s Must Reads – Review

1/17 – Children’s Book Review – Guest Post

1/18 – YA Wednesdays – Favorite Quotes

1/19 – Here’s to Happy Endings – Interview

1/20 – The Moral of our Stories – Review

 Week Two:

1/23 – Oh the Book Feels – Review

1/24 – Bibliophile Gathering –Guest Post

1/25 – A Page with a View – Interview

1/26 – Icey Books – Quote Candy

1/27 – Reading Nook Reviews – Review

 Week Three:

1/30 – Twinning for Books – Review and Pinterest Board

1/31 – Dark Faerie Tales – Interview

2/1 – Reading is Better with Cupcakes – Review

2/2 – ButterMyBooks – Guest Post

2/3 – Folded Pages Distillery – Review

[antisemitism-eu]

UK: The hateful whispers that make me want to move from London to Tel Aviv

Via The Spectator (by Simon Wilder):

As a Jew, the city where I grew up and have always lived feels less and less comfortable

I’ve always lived in London. I grew up near Baker Street and went to school in Camden. Even when I was at college in Kent, I lived in Islington and commuted. Five years ago I moved to Belsize Park and I’ve been here, the nicest place I’ve lived, ever since. I didn’t mean to stay — I was going to see the world, but my father died and my mother said she needed me to be close. She said it with a tremor in her voice, so I stayed. 

London is in my heart and in my blood, but the wind has changed, like it did for Mary Poppins, and I think it’s going to blow me out of the city, all the way to Tel Aviv. (...)

There’s a train of thought among right-thinking people in London at the moment that Israel is culpable; that it is responsible for all the ills of the Palestinians, all the woes of the Middle East. If it weren’t for Israel, they say, the world would be a better place. If you go to a dinner party you can hear things that wouldn’t have sounded unfamiliar in 1930s Germany. They say they’re just ‘anti-Zionist’ but to be anti-Zionist is to be anti-Semitic. No one is anti- any other country. No one questions, say, Iran’s right to exist. (...)

If only those people who wish ill on Israel, on Jews, could know what it’s like to hear their hatred — to live in London and hear that Jews are the puppet-masters of the world, that Israel only helps in disaster zones to harvest organs. My father would have known. He spent time in the 1940s in Nazi concentration camps, because he was Jewish. His parents and sister were murdered for the same reason. My father would feel the same dread chill, and know — first-hand — where all this blame and hatred of Jews leads. If you think I exaggerate, then tell me; where do you think it leads? It may be only the first ugly murmur, from stupid people, but it won’t end there.

I’ve been to Tel Aviv four times in five years, and it seems to me a place of positive things: hope, investment in the future, strength and patience and humour. This is why I’m thinking of moving. 

A large section of the city was designed by European émigrés who had studied at the Bauhaus in the 1930s. The lucky architects who managed to leave Germany in time, of course. The buildings are rarely more than three or four storeys and often have curved balconies. These are lovely streets to walk along, not least because of the exotic trees planted close together, casting cool shadows.

read more The New Antisemite: http://ift.tt/2jBXqSK

[survivor-marianas-trench]

“I TOOK A PHOTO WITH AN ONCOMING TRAIN!!!” - EPISODE 2

Me not being first boot??? *NUT BUTTON MEME* Amanda slaying and staying??? *NUT BUTTON MEME* Carson going and me, Liana, Christine, Lily, and Sam still being here even though we aren't officially aligned???? *NUT BUTTON MEME*

Ahhh me and kait did that i didnt expect it, im not sure how everything worked ut but it was wild whew, so many votes, im wary of kait cause she mightve lied to me but im hoping i can trust her

i only sent 1 pic for immunity so then i get lowest and i have chance of getting to cave or exile or whatever the heck and then hopefully i get idol and win the whole game woohoo

Well, that was a messy af tribal but it worked! I mean after the hell I went through, voting rob, then voting Amanda, then voting daisy only to find out I was too late and had to stick with rob! Like wtf. And for daisy to go home on a 3-2-1-1-1 with 2 null votes.  Like ok. And now we have a selfie olympics!!! Currently I'm sitting pretty with a 30% advantage in the challenge and 84 photos of things with the beginning letter for M or T!!!! I really would like to win this and stay immune for as long as humanly possibly lol. These tribals are messy right now because loyalties are just being formed Speaking of loyalties!! AMANDA!! I already love her #ThanksAHud! And I'm so glad that we are buddies! I'm just hoping that things work out for the both of us

That vote was a mess it seemed on Rob and Kait's tribe. Glad they stayed and Christine survived too. I'm not surprised Kait's tribe already voted for her, meanwhile the rest of us are sitting over here like: https://68.media.tumblr.com/894a6591ab3e2d171e8fec5d31ecbaeb/tumblr_omkup57QeN1r1gu3po1_400.gif

So Darian wins immunity.... https://media2.giphy.com/media/Rhhr8D5mKSX7O/200.webp#6 but I am also like  https://media0.giphy.com/media/IqO3mXbMLztHa/200.webp#4 See, I love Darian, but the issue is, I'm not sure if i can trust him, so he sort of needs to go soon,  but I see him sort of clean sweeping these immunities and that makes me a little worried honestly. I don't know what to expect this time around, and I am about to start sweating.... https://media0.giphy.com/media/VB5WwlZIt8eRy/200.webp#1

I'm a mess *takes a shot of vodka* I had 125 photos and forgot to turn them in. I TOOK A PHOTO WITH AN ONCOMING TRAIN! 

This feeling around camp has been so strange and I'm not sure if it's because I won or just because every tribal isn't gonna be the same. I had more people talking to me for the first tribal like right after results were posted and serious game talk with the whole tribe. Yesterday night only Sam, Lily, Christine and Dan messaged me but we didn't even talk game. (Well I guess that's about the same amount of people, but like the conversations were less in depth like they were the first time.) I just feel aimless in this game and I don't really have a good strategy. I'm not even sure I want to make it far because it always gets ugly once you get far enough. Lily just solidified our alliance of 4 (Dan, me, Sam, and her) and I think it'll be easy enough to ride it out with them for a while. I'm wary because I don't have anyone I'm really close to (because these are people I usually don't play with!) so I kinda feel like I'm on the bottom. Lily and Dan seem to closest and I know in the past Sam will have multiple close allies and not necessarily stay loyal to one overall. Kelsey freaking randomly disappeared again! If anything I'd trust him a bunch because he's new and I can influence him more easily probably into giving me information and voting with me, but I can't do that with this weird continued activity/inactivity. Might he actually be a catfish? We will never know. Also!! Silly Gabby and Jonny having too much fun in One World last night. I knew Jonny was in Rakiura but that's basically it. Now I know they know each other irl probably thanks for the tea y'all!! (ricky, goodness, you have too many friends in this game since I'm pretty sure you know sara irl too with all these Washington/barista coincidences!)

Moments later...

Oh! Yeah I forgot to mention that I'm trying to get the tea about the loser place since unfortunately I did not lose. I'm not close to Veronica (as in I have not talked to her since Day 1) so I have low chances of finding out from her, but I talked to Billy last night and asked him to ask Chrissa about it. Though he said earlier how he's not close to Chrissa so I'll probably end up asking her myself! :/ Since I don't plan on going to loser place, I need to make friends with everyone who goes so they can give me all of their idols/advantages...or at least agree with me on how to use them!!

I want Sam gone!!!

Why was I stupid enough to pick the thing that makes me inelegible to compete in challenges? I'm an idiot. 

so i don't know how to vote this round and no one is talking! like are you guys serious omg 

Sorta feeling indifferent about the challenge I tried super hard! But either way congrats to all that won! Someone had like 100ish I think I saw? Oh hellll no girl doing the most. Nervous for trible tonight it'll be my first! I don't think I'm going home though, I talked to Jordan and he said hunter because he didn't submit anything for the challenge and is pretty quiet. I don't even know the kid but as long as it's not me ya know! TBH if it had been my decision I would have voted Julia. The girl has "I love being beautiful" or some shit like that as her fucking quote on skype like ew girl your hella extra. 

i like kait and amanda

I'm just like so over Sam so I'm trying to get him out as revenge for Eddie. Fake ass. If I can't get him out in Emathia, might as well get him out here.

20 minutes later...

My allies are Rhea, Kait, and Darian (even if he did vote for me). I like Emma but I know she's probably upset about the first vote. Sam and Steven, you can go. I can try and bring in Andie and Amanda close to me, but it will be fishy to do it now. That's on my tribe. I like Jenn too, and Sam, and Shea <3. You never know in this game, I might go out, but I think my position in the tribe may increase? I can see it. I love Rhea so much. She's the purest cinnamon roll I've ever met. <3 100%

OKAY! So now that I actually have time, I've been talking to people on my tribe a lot more. I've been talking to Billy, Chrissa, Jonny and Gabby and they all are reasonable people. Whilst talking with them we talked about how Hunter is pretty inactive in the game and that we could look at him as a potential first boot from the tribe. The whole twist of us being in One World and only have individual immunity has kind of flipped the entire game on it's head. Usually, weaker members of the tribe are targeted because they're a liability but weaker players don't really matter as much this season because tribal immunity exists. Which means that people that are stronger in challenges may start to be targeted to give those weaker people a better chance at winning individual. Honestly, good job Ricky and Monty because I've never seen this before and it's kind of fun. 

Well I didn't win the last challenge... My document glitched and I lost most of my pictures, but the fact that I would have won still keeps me going!

Kait is the best duo every she cuts the shit and gets right to the point and we murder everyone together its so fun. That being said I can't wait until i get to a point where i can work with my loves Luke and Dan. Also im going out and ACTUALLY having a social life so this is all the updates youre getting from me tonight! Wooooo

i cant believe i worked to get a self vote when i already had one like the FUCK why do bad things happen to slightly nice people 

I literally don't know what's happening bc I've been gone all day bc it's spring break, but I know I'm not going so BLESS

Well. Officially in an alliance with dan, Sam, and Liana. I love it. We are called the game changers but I wonder if everyone is doing that right now. Veronica should be going tonight, but I question if it should be shea. But I think Veronica is a good vote right now and shea would be better for the following vote. I don't know honestly if either goes it doesn't matter too much to me. I love this whole tribe but someone has to go. 

I confess to shovin a whole bag a jellybeans up my ass.

so basically this round i lost immunity again but idc bc i know these ho's and they not gonna do anything... I hope. So basically the plan was for veronica to throw immunity and get last so she could go on the reward and scout it out for steven and i bc us 3 r in a alliance. she did but she got a self vote. basically everyone wanted to vote veronica but bc of sheas fight with carson we r voting shea. i feel bad bc i like shea but i cant lose veronica this early. i put my neck out on the line so if i get sent home ill be sad but ill def understand why

ALLL RIGHT so this round i haven't done much/heard anything BUT IM WATCHING BAYKOR WILSON PLAY MUSIC AT JONNY FAIRPLAYS BIRTHDAY PARTY AND THE DEAD GRANDMA IS HERE 

My drunk ass needs to write a confessional in the next hour oops!! I hope that Veronica goes but apparently it's either Veronica or Shea. I just really hope it's not me. My tribe is quiet as fuck so I have no clue what's really hoping. Here's hoping my drunk ass makes it through 

i'm dead @ finding the idol. my goal is to idol liana out i think that'd be a boppin time, but for now i just wanna like continue not really doing a whole lot and let rob keep being out there on everyone's radar while i just say that no one talks to me so i can get more tea from them bc they think i'm in their back pocket. voting sam tonight.............i'm poppin' bottles! nah idrc about him leaving, he never talks to me and it's always like really forced when i go out of my way every fucking time to start a conversation with him. it's just really frustrating like i hate this tribe so much. social game says hello, freaks! i kinda hate having the idol because it's so much pressure to like play it at the right time and premerge is so delicate, especially with so many people and with me not really having a TIGHT alliance i just whew.

I think I'm going :( no ones socializing with me. Billy is just a cop out, says he doesn't want to throw out a name. Pssstt

My, my, my. What a LOVELY week this has been. So currently, our tribe is back at it again with dat council swag. I didn't do well in immunity, like I knew I would. However, if anyone can win, I'm very glad Miss Moana SNATCHED the title. Last tribal council, I flopped. I was inactive and that's unacceptable so this week I'm really pushing myself to be a deciding factor force like Ariana Grande deciding to snatch weaves when she breathes. With my reputation currently, I don't think people really assume that I even have it in me to be strategic. Little do THEY know...they are wrong. AHAHAHAHAHAHHAA. Now, Seamus has informed me that the vote is Shea. However, Seamus is a GOOBER. Shea and I have really become close and the fact that Seamus literally pms me to vote Shea BEFORE asking me how I am shows his inner Kesha: his True Colours. I don't really like the fact that Seamus is just treating me like a free vote because I know what his intention. I already can smell that he wants to drag me as a cute, innocent vote until he makes the merge with his best friends and takes me out. THAT'S going to be a no zone. Although that is the persona I'm going for, I feel like Seamus already has suuuuch a big plan for getting to the end and...I'm not a part of that. And if you're going to count me out, henny, count on getting to stepping. Or something exotic like that, tee hee~! I feel really nervous for Shea. I told her that Seamus was wanting to eliminate her and she immediately almost spoiled everything. She's an emotional player and that's the kind of I want to keep around. Those are the ones who never see through my fakeness and the kind that are targeted before good ol' sweetheart me. The only other option is Veronica so for this week, I'm going to try and flip a few people to do so. The last vote was so unified that it's quite scary actually...if things keep going the way they are, I have no doubt that eventually it'll be my log chopped by the axe. My advantage for this week's vote is that no one really has a reason NOT to trust me. With Veronica, they KNOW she's a scrappy player. And I believe I can use that to my advantage. Y'all don't know me, y'all don't know what I've been through! And NO ONE is going to believe that cutesy little Arianator weeabo is pulling strings. I learned from my past Tumblr competitions that playing aggressively gets out fast. I know now playing passively gets you treated like a child. Here...everything has to be subtle. Small little touches, here and there. And if you do enough of that, maybe the trickle of water can erode the rock. That's what I'm hoping to do here. If somehow, we can do the impossible, not only will I establish myself as a real C.O.M.P.E.T.I.T.O.R in this tribe, but I'll have pulled off a blindside that's really shocking and game changing. Maybe it's a bit too early to be calling shots...but I've got to do something. I think people already have caught on to the fact that something's afoot and the alarms are already blaring. I'm past the point of no return, so even if I wanted to, I can't allow myself to have regrets! I carry the name of a queen of BBCAN and a king of The Vampire Diaries. I'm here to slash throats, save my family and wear ugg boots. And hopefully...this is the start of something legendary~! Wish me luck, darlings! Certainly sincerely, Canada's Self-Proclaimed Favourite; Kelsey Mikaelson! <3

ALRIGHT...So I'm really hoping Shea goes this tribal cause like....He can't be chill for one second in this game.  Literally the plan was to get Veronica out but once he hears his name he quits? C'mon now.. Don't even get me started on Kelsey telling him his name was thrown out cause like!?!? We're doing that so no one gets in trouble here why are you doing this!?!? I just don't understand Kelsey like I really wanted to like her but...She's on thin ice at this point. I just hope this isn't a ploy and something goes wrong but I guess we'll see!

So like wtf is happening, cause I don't have a clue. I'm loyal to Emma and I guess maybe Rhea. Idk Rhea just talks to me sometimes but right now that is good enough for me. Right I'm just waiting for a tribe swap so we can stop going to tribal every round

[ghostie-hoe]

Film Studies - Relationship between audience and production

The Princess diaries is a cult favourite amongst the younger demographic born in the early 200s and follows a young girl called Mia who is at the very bottom of the social ladder and finds out that she is in fact the princess of a small European country called Genovia by her grandmother. Films inflict feelings and impact onto audiences, in addition, audiences can impact the success of a film through fandom activities such as blogging, review writing, YouTube channels, writing fan fiction, websites, attending film premieres, collecting merchandise and being influenced to get into film production. Other films and shows can also help to promote a certain film by referencing it either directly or subtly that only fans of that film would understand. The Princess Diaries has been referenced in 90210, Orange Is The New Black, Bring it on and Miss Congeniality When the film was originally released in 2001, there would have been an active audience as social media wasn't as influential and part of everyday lives as it now. Audiences now would possibly be passive due to flourish in social Media, however, the timeless talent of Julie Andrews and the lighthearted humour would grip the audience and turn them into an active audience. The film is inspired by the popular Princess Diaries book series by teenage author Meg Cabot. Unlike most film adaptions of books, this film lives up to the expectations and standards of the books enough to satisfy the portion of the audience from the book series. However, some fans of the book series may not enjoy the slight change in the film. For example, in the books, Mia's father is alive but has testicular cancer and cannot conceive more children. Disney adapted the film and aimed it at families and therefore having her father be dead and her next in line to the Throne is easier for the younger demographic to understand and resonate with. The character of Mia's grandmother isn't supposed to be warm and friendly like Disney's Clarisse. However, as stated before, Disney adapts popular books into films and changes their origins to reflect on their family based audience and they wanted Julie Andrews for the part - someone who couldn't pull of the eccentric values of the original character - Julie's Clarice is much more toned down. In addition, Meg Cabot wasn't involved with the making of the film or the changes to the characters she created and I feel as though, the film would be far more satisfying if she were to have input. However, the books stay true to the tone of Mia being that she's resistant to take on Princess duties and just wants to get through her high school years. Despite Meg Cabots lack of contribution to the film, the following book after the release of the film references the film through the characters such as Lily being angry at the portrayal of her character, Lana being perfect and her Grandmother a warm and friendly soul. Not to mention the death of her father. Mia was Anne Hathaway's break through role and earned her many similar roles later on in her career such as Ella in Ella Enchanted and Fountine in Les Miserables, all films showcase Anne's vocal talent. Anne fit the character of awkward Mia perfectly through her clumsiness which was what actually landed her the role. The scene where Mia falls down on the bleachers wasn't in the original script, Anne herself fell and improvised and the producers decided to keep it in as it portrayed Mia's character perfectly. Apart of why the film fits the family genre is having Julie Andrews as Clarise. A huge portion of the audience would come from other classics such as The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins and Clarise are both warm and welcoming characters and therefore Julie was perfect for the role of Clarise. There is forms of intersexuality in this film as Mia goes from rags to riches in the beginning of the film after her makeover from normal girl to princess in relation to Sam in A Cinderella Story. Both of these characters have a glorifying moment where they walk down the stairs at an event and all eyes are on them. The Princess Diaries can be compared to both Mean Girls and Clueless as each of these films have the main character go through a transformation which changes the way they are treated in high school. Once bullied by viscous mean girls as they don't meet the expectations of social norms. Each of these films convey the struggle of being a teenage girl in high school. The producer, Marshall uses the same actors in his films and one who portrayed a waiter, Hector Elizondo quoted a line he used in Pretty Woman "It happens all the time." When Mia drops a grape at a dinner party and sets off a chain of laughter through the room. Social networking wasn't a huge factor in our society at the time and therefore films back then weren't widely discussed or advertised on social media. However, there were discussion boards and fan pages for the fans of the books. The film did have a trailer but that's the only involvement of social media within pre and post production. If the film were released now, there would be brand advertisement through Twitter including behind the scenes pictures and videos, trailers, fan made videos, Facebook pages, YouTube reviews, blog reviews, Tumblr fan accounts etc. The pre and post viewing of a film can be influenced by a few factors; how the individual watches it, where they watch it ect. If the audience member was dedicated enough to watch the trailers, read the books and interviews with the stars, it could raise their expectations for the film and the film could fail to reach their expectations - An example of this is Return to Oz, another Disney adaption. It failed to live up to the first film, starring a young Judie Garland - the film wasn't terrible - just incredibly dark and not suitable for children, in the sense that it would give them nightmares. The first film was a fun musical based comedy about friendship and adventure. In contrast, this film goes against everything the first film stood for and shows darker elements such as the character of Dorothy being in a state of depression - not being able to sleep after he first adventure in oz - and her Aunt Em puts her on a mental institution for electroshock therapy. Baring in mind, this is a Disney film. Dorothy's true agenda isn't addressed in this film, instead of being seen as a child with a vivid imagination, as most children are, her family are quick to identify her as mentally ill. This film is far more terrifying and sinister version of the original as Dorothy arrives in the ruins of Oz to find the people turned into stone by a woman who has a vast collection of woman's heads. The Demons of the story are psychotic wheelers, strange creatures with wheels in place of hands and feet. As I said before, the film wasn't terrible - just not what the audience was expecting. Trailers showcase the highlights and best points of the film - and sometimes this gives an expectation the film doesn't meet. Guardians of Galaxy 2, the second instalment to the franchise lived up to the hype and the incredible trailer. The film was gripping enough for me to watch it three times at the cinema. The storyline was incredible and the cinematic values - CGI, etc were phenomenal. Reading reviews of a film after watching it for yourself can be more giving than reading before to make a decision of wether to see it as the words of an individual can get into your head and affect your personal viewing pleasure. Reading reviews after can change your full prospective of the film. Viewing experience can impact the relationship between film and viewing - Watching a film alone on a phone or a tablet is a totally different experience to watching a film in a cinema with other audience members. The real experience is lost if watched at home as it doesn't have the same atmosphere as a cinema - especially if the film relies heavily on sound and picture. Watching at the cinema is magical as all sense heightened due to the darkness, screen size and sound. This adds to viewing pleasure. The audience also tends to be interactive wether that be laughing at humour or screaming at horror. The uses and gratifications theory suggest the four main pleasure viewers get from films such as personal identity, diversion, personal relationships and surveillance Most people watch films that reflect on their values or characteristics. Teenage girls may relate to Georgia from Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging as they struggle through high school in the boyfriend sector. Georgia is very relatable due to her awkwardness and being targeted by the villain of the film, Lindsey. Other people may watch films that reflect on a lifestyle they lead, for example, people who attend Universities or boarding schools are likely to watch films that showcase these things such as House Bunny or Wild Child. Diversion indicates audiences using cinema to escape reality. These types of audiences prefer supernatural or fantasy elements to their viewing pleasure, instead of a real life feel. An example of this comes from The Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars and Twilight. Some people may use films as a substitute for personal relationships. Films may contain a character that an individual would want to form a friendship or relationship with. Stories of friendship such as the Perks of being a wallflower is perfect for these kinds of audiences. Other audiences may find their viewing pleasure from surveillance, films that are education and breed information on a certain subject such as Saving Private Ryan which shows the struggles and triumphs of the war. As you can see from my analysis, the relationship between film and viewer are a complex one - yet one that is thoroughly engaging and fascinating

[kingseyes]

My Weakness (27.02.2017)

Today Has Actually been a surprisingly positive day considering everything i’ve done today that usually would mess me up heavily! 

Started off with a very determined couple of eyes poppin open at 6:00 AM. i laid in bed just thinking for a couple minutes before i popped on my Younow and streamed while i was waking up. a very uneventful stream. a couple of people left some comments. one in particular loved my raspy morning voice. something that was dealt with efficiently once i got some coffee in my system.

Once the Coffee was ingested and an apple was consumed, I got dressed and headed to the gym to do a Chest, Back and Triceps session. Because i want to be as effective as possible i arrive with all my gear on. Its the very first time ive trained in a long Sleeve almost compression like shirt. I bought it last week along with a new Polar Balance weight scale. Anyway. 

Long Sleeve was a good and a bad call. it looked awesome on me is one thing. but it was hindering me during the lifting to some extent because there was so much fabric down at the elbows. Which you will know if you saw my instagram from last week. i injured both my elbows in the same kind of session. so any added pressure on this Area is propably not a good call. :)

My Elbows did not hinder me at all though and even with a week away i felt like my strength had gone up slightly, i was able to do more reps, and did more different lifting with free weights than i did last week when i inadvertently hurt myself. i also tried Creatine Monohydrate in my drinking water for the very first time. It’s a very strange substance. it doesn’t like nothing at all. but it makes the water Murky, and adds a strange consistency to it. Almost like how it tasted when people would dip your head in puddles of rain water as a kid... that didn’t happen to you guys? -.-

The only Massive Gripe i had with myself working out today were my shins and calves. i couldn’t run for more than 10 minutes before they completely cramped up on me. pissed me off royally. but i know myself well enough now that by the time i step on the mill tomorrow to try again. ill at least be able to run 15 minutes before the same shit happens again. -.^

i Spent 2 hours at the Gym before taking a shower, getting changed, and heading to work. Once i got there i threw down a Protein Shake i had prepared the night before. and i was ready to go. didn’t feel at all bad or whimsical like i usually do when i work out in the mornings..

Interestingly today. Me and my boss actually had no like sour undertone to our conversation. We spoke calmly and openly on how we should arrange the store, new products we were keen on bringing in, a couple of things that needed to be done and all in all i’d review today as propably one of my best Mondays at this job ever. At the very least the best monday ive had at work so far in 2017.

We even shared a laugh one point. thats not standard! 

Soon enough i went home. i chilled on the couch, i had a look at myself in the mirror with no shirt on, and i smiled. i’m really liking the progress im making on my chest and shoulders. so ill keep the routine of working those on Mondays. tomorrow is either Legday, or just full on Core and abs. because thats definately where im lacking at this moment. can hardly do 20 situps for crying out loud... i can do like 70 speedy russian twists though. but 20 situps is unacceptable! 

Today I also settled finally on a proper training program that i wish to start doing. and it is Out Of Your Mind Fitness. Currated my John Hennigan, AKA Johnny Mundo from Lucha Underground. He made, and does that program himself, and he is everything id ever aspire to be as far as physical shape goes. minus the wrestling. i can’t be asked doing that! but Movies, Parkour, Kung Fu, and other Flippy shit along with his ridiculous physique. Thats my aim. 35 weeks and some good old determination will get me there! 

Today i also Discovered an actual weakness that will push me to tears everytime. Soldiers surprise homecoming. those videos, and the thought that they have risked their life for their country, and been away from their loved ones for so long. that Reunion, where both parties jump for joy, Shed Tears. and you see the smiles on their face. that moment will forever put tears in the corner of my eye. and a big big joyful smile on my face. 

Today i also edited who gets to see my story on Snapchat. Theres such a heap of people on it that just give no fucks. and quite frankly im not bothered talking to. those people don’t need an Insight into what i think, or what i do. they want to see it, they can bother asking for it.

I think that leaves it off for today. Now im heading to bed. Getting some good hours in of sleep before its back up, and one hell of a leg session before work tomorrow! 

Speak to you later! (Or Tomorrow!?)

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

4 Secrets Moving Across the Country Taught Me About Thriving with Celiac Disease

New blog post! For many people, the New Year is equivalent to change. A new date to write on their papers. Some new goals and dreams for the blank slate that is 365 new days. For this college celiac, though, the "newness" of 2017 began a few weeks early when I flew into Colorado.

Let's just say that as soon as I stepped into the terminal and saw my breath, I knew I wasn't in California anymore. 

While I've definitely loved getting to see my family and being "home" (though it's a different one for me), adjusting to Colorado hasn't been without its challenges. And as I was freezing at the local zoo a few nights ago, I realized: I could say the same about celiac disease. 

In fact, the more I thought about it, the harder it hit me: moving across the country actually taught me four secrets that make thriving with celiac disease - or any chronic illness - more possible than ever in 2017.

1. Prepare for success or prepare to despair.

Okay, this tip may sound a little corny and dramatic at first glance. However, when preparation can make the difference between happiness and pain - even life or death - I think a little exaggeration is warranted. 

The truth is, when I landed in Denver airport, I wasn't prepared for the -10 degree weather. All I had were San Diego clothes that I layered as much as possible...so, when I stood outside for five minutes waiting for my shuttle, it's no surprise that my glove-less fingers started to go numb and I started crying from pain. 

The most pathetic of all selfies...

Living with celiac disease is similar in a lot of ways. If you don't eat beforehand or bring your own food, the pizza party with friends will probably feel more torturous than fun. If you don't have a list of easy recipes or frozen meals for when time gets rough, you may end up crossing your fingers and eating out at a less-than-celiac-safe restaurant instead. 

It's now been over three years since my celiac diagnosis, and I've come embrace the fact that while I'm low-maintenance in many ways, food isn't one of them. I always have a bar in my purse, food prep whenever possible and call restaurants ahead of time to ask about their gluten free protocol. 

I can survive weather in the negatives with the right amount of coats, gloves and layers. In the same spirit, I  - and anyone - can thrive with celiac disease as long as we've curved our c's and dotted our i's. 2. Keep trying new things. Maybe you're a preparation ninja. Your purse mimics Mary Poppins' (if she had celiac disease or an addiction to gluten free snacks and meds, anyway) and you never forget to read your ingredient labels. Even after you find a routine that works for you, though, you should keep experimenting. 

A few days after I got home, I felt like I was doing purty dang well at building up a winter wardrobe. Long underwear? Check. Thick fuzzy socks? Check. Scarf, hat, gloves and so many layers, I lose count? Check, check and check. Yet, when we went to see the Christmas lights at our local zoo one night, I felt like I was naked. The bitter cold seeped right through my four layers - and it freakin' hurt! 

The lesson I learned? Well, first of all, always put on one more layer than you think you need. But more importantly, keep looking for new ways to improve your life - like fleece leggings and a winter shirt specially designed for insulation. 

My face almost froze like that (bonus points if you realized it was an animal eye)

In the past years, I've similarly kept tweaking my gluten free diet to see what works for me. Yes to probiotics, no to tomatoes. Yes to small amounts of sweet potatoes but definitely no to butternut squash. I'm extremely fortunate to get to partner with companies and try new products that way. However, experimenting as a celiac can also be as simple as buying the new GF cereal that's on sale one week or trying a restaurant with raving reviews on the Find Me Gluten Free app.  

Celiac disease, by nature, is restrictive. It limits what we can eat, what products we can use and, many times, how we choose to socialize or live our lives. Through experimentation, you can take back a little of your control - and possibly make your life even more awesome than before. 

3. Accept - even embrace - moments of discomfort.

Sometimes, though, discomfort is unavoidable. Even once I get some crazy warm clothing, there will still be days I'm cold. That's just a fact created by my cold-blooded nature (my sister inherited my dad's natural furnace abilities) and Colorado's cold weather. But that's not going to stop me from enjoying myself and the beautiful Colorado scenery. 

Because, honestly, the discomfort is minimal when compared to the joy I get from exploring the outdoors. I get to see huge groups of deer chillin' in a yard across our street. I can revisit the nearby river I loved to walk to this past summer and see the icy designs winter has drawn on the water. My cheeks become frozen in a smile - only partly because of the brittle wind. 

A bit chillier of backgrounds!

The longer I've been diagnosed, the easier it is to apply the same mindset to celiac disease. Sometimes, I'm going to attend parties and feel left out, even though I've brought my own food to enjoy. Sometimes I'll even choose to avoid social events (like I did with Thanksgiving) because I don't want to deal with the food offers, my polite rejections and the resulting questions. And sometimes my stomach will freak out for absolutely no reason, and I'll hate that celiac disease keeps me from eating anything like a "normal" 20-something. 

But these bittersweet moment are becoming fewer and farther in between. I've surrounded myself with people who care about me and not about my dietary differences. I've educated my friends so they know what to expect, from my food to my finicky stomach. I've learned that celiac disease, for better or for worse, is part of my identity...and that needing to eat gluten free doesn't make me any less of a bad ass. 

4. Know that practice makes progress - not perfect.

You've heard the cliche before, whether about your fifth grade math worksheet or challenges at your new job: Practice makes perfect. I'm sorry to ruin your fairytale ending, but I've discovered that advice isn't entirely accurate. My parents have lived in Colorado Springs since July, and they're still discovering plenty of challenges about living in a snowy environment. Like: ice may not melt for weeks, so you need shoes that won't slide. Like: stock up on food before a snow storm because you may not leave the house for a few days. 

Our family photo this year

Even after years of practice, I'm 100% not the "perfect" celiac. I recently discovered the probiotic I used for months contains gluten; since it was gluten free the first time I bought it, I never bothered to check the ingredient list again. The truth is, I'm human. I make mistakes - and while mistakes should be avoided as much as possible when it comes to eating gluten free, I also won't beat myself up for it. 

Because with every misstep comes a lesson. I nearly froze at the zoo; I need to buy clothes specifically designed for winter. I glutened myself with a product I "trusted"; I need to not take GF for granted and always scan the ingredient list. My goal isn't to be perfect - as a celiac or a snow survivalist. Instead, it's to be and do better than before. 

This New Year, you may have a lot of worthwhile goals you want to check off your list. Maybe it's losing or gaining weight, or maybe you want to spend more time with family and less on your phone. Whatever you're striving for in 2017, just remember: the secrets to thriving in life often emerge from (even seemingly unrelated) challenges. 

Walking in a winter wonderland...

Or, in my case, the secrets to thriving with celiac disease may emerge from some very cold, Colorado-livin' feet!

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