I try to make the best of what I have in my sour situations, and perceive better perspectives day-by-day. These are confessionals from a 23 y/o who sees the beauty in life and her city, and is willing to share her point-of-view on it.
Hello, all! This month has been a fantastic one. I turned 23 on the 7th, and I must say... The whole month was an absolute gift. I started writing this post at the beginning of August, but ended up getting into a lot of things by month's end; there's quite a bit I'm excited to share! Here's some of my favorite things I enjoyed this month:
Half-Price Books' Clearance Section
God bless my friend who led me to the cozy, clearance nooks within the bookstore. I've been going to this bookstore for years... TELL ME WHY I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE CLEARANCE SECTION BEFORE UNTIL THEN?!I even saw the book, Little Bee, which I bought from them a few weeks prior for $2. I paid $7. Blah.
The last time I made a visit, I picked up a copy of Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, which I've been wanting to read for over a year. And it was only onedollar! I was floored; I literally made a loud gasp when I spotted it. One of my best discoveries this summer. Seriously. I now have more book than I can selfishly read (in denial) at one time again.
I honestly thought Goodwill was the only place I could get a good, cheap book (paperbacks are $1 and hardcovers are $2). But some finds were as low as $.50 in there!! My friend and I spent twohours in clearance. Most of it was spent reminiscing over Boxcar Children and R.L. Stein, and muffling screams when we'd find gems like Superfudge for a dollar.
Mary and Max
Mary and Max is a movie available on Netflix that I started, and never finished. Mind you, I wanted to, but being constantly interrupted while watching a movie at home makes you lose quite a bit of morale. A friend of mine ended up watching it, and recommended it to me. She said the ending was so good that she cried; she knew I'd like it... And boy, was she right. This new motivation pushed me to finish the last two thirds of the movie and I'm so glad I did.
Max is a man with Aspergers who lives in New York. He lives alone, and indulges in his own hobbies while simultaneously getting through each confusing and frustrating day the rest of us live with a certain ease.
Mary is what most proclaimed as the typical, friendless, loner. An Australian with an alcoholic mother and thought quite lowly of herself.
Eventually, they both become pen pals and we watch their lives unfold with each others' influences. There's MAJOR ups and downs, hilarious scenes, and moving points. It all comes together and falls apart in the most beautiful way, and it ends up with you (or maybe a good lot of us... including me) in tears. Don't be fooled by the claymation; the plot is adult-themed and knowledgable.
Learning にほんご (Japanese)!
I've been teaching myself Japanese on and off all summer, and I've found some excellent resources that have refreshed me and taught me new things since my senior year of high school (the one and only time I was allowed to study Japanese before undergrad). It's been super fun for me, and I've got a whole notebook dedicated to my studies. Pages will be filled with color-coded pens and highlighters of course! Down below I'll just list all the resources I use, apps included:
** The ones with the "!!!" next to them are my favorite go-tos when I want to review quickly or learn something the best way I personally do.
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
Steal Like An Artist is a very quick, and enlightening read. The format of this coffee table book is humorous, but has that "fatherly advice" feel. A lot of the tips given, were ones I've either heard before, an epiphany, or ones I currently (and successfully) use. The point of this book being: YOU can be an artist, and incorporate an artist-like mindset into your life positively. Even a logical, mathematiciancould benefit from the lists and knowledge given. I'm almost sure of it.
Amy Winehouse and Animal Crossing It's been pretty easy to put both of these polar opposites on shuffle (or in YouTube's case, replay) all throughout the month. I miss having a reliable Jazz station, so all things the late Amy Winehouse has sung fulfills my yearnings. I'm glad I finally came across her work after hearing a friend play a few of her songs (that WEREN'T "Rehab"), because her singing truly is beautiful. Every aspect of her songs are sophisticated and internally-moving. I feel like I'm listening to a diary.
Going from brooding and deep, to cartoonish and silly, Animal Crossing for the Gamecube has lifted my nostalgic spirits! I love having it as filler music while I draw, or study, or... practically do anything, really.
I tend to listen to this full day cycle on YouTube, and repeat it once it's done. I haven't felt this type of nostalgia for Animal Crossing since I used to light these green, summer melon candles. I'd associate that smell with wintertime in Animal Crossing, because I'd always have it lit in my room while I played. There would be these little igloos your neighbors would make, and they'd have chowder in a big pot over a fire. Oh my gosh I'd always want to remove myself from my bed and into that igloo myself because the chowder would bubble and steam. Ahh... But I digress... Here's the video I use!
Disco Zoo
This cute, pixelated game is one I love because its addictiveness can be taken in controlled proportions. It's a simple game where the goal is to collect animals by catching them in the wild. How do you catch them? You pay to do a puzzle matching game. How do you get more money? By catching more animals!
Photo Source: Google
Some animals are common, like sheep and bunnies. Others are rare (and bring in more money), like unicorns and cows (I don't know why either). But a fun feature is when you spend your discobux (you either pay real money for them, find them when rescuing animals, or patrons at your zoo give them to you) to start a disco! The disco keeps your animals awake until it's over, and rakes in more cash for you.
Photo Source: Google
The longer you stay on the game, the better chance you have at collecting money and discobux. That's because little events happen while you're logged in: your animals can escape into other pens, someone may want to buy some of your animals from you, the mayor can declare it animal day and it will give you money, or you may find a lost hat on an animal you can return for money. Sometimes I'll just wake up all my animals to gain an imaginary profit and continue on with my day. So when I'm bored for just a short while, I can do some of the puzzles.
Oh! And there's a yellow bus in the parking lot on the far left of your zoo. Tap it nine times and you'll get to play a Flappybirdesque mini game! Nothing happens because of it, just a fun little feature. =)
Okami-san and Her Seven Companions
I've been on a Netflix kick this month, and started watching this anime. It's extremely short and I got done with it in less than two days. It's essentially an anime about this girl, Okami-san, who works with her friends at the school's bank. The bank does its customers favors of all kinds, and in return they're in debt to repay the bank when the time comes.
Photo Source: Google
What I really like about this series is the humorous narrator, and the fact that the characters sometimes break the 4th wall (like, actually acknowledging the narrator when usually shows aren't meant to notice them). The story also has its serious points, which I also love. Not ALL frilly bubblegum kisses. With the character development, I've grown to love most of the characters, but especially Okami-san.
Photo Source: Google
I'll just leave this figurine photo here... Cause I kinda need this figurine now.
Little Birds (2011)
This was a simple, almost cut-and-dry movie about two girls--Lily and Allison--who get sick of their life and home and runaway to California. Things I failed to mention in that first sentence is that there's one level-headed friend, and the other is the more... Sporadic and troubled one.
I have to admit, the final straw to make the move to California was convincing.
Photo Source: Google
It's all for a boy. That just spells trouble, right? This film covers peer pressure and the lot. This was like, the puppies and kittens sneak-peek version of Skins UK. The clothing (mind you, the frantically ran away) was what reminded me of Skins UK youngsters the most in this movie.
Photo Source: Google
It was somewhat predictable, but not everything was. I can tell you, if I ever talked to adults in my life like Lily did, I wouldn't be standing here, breathing today. I could kind of feel where both girls were coming from though, throughout the film. A cozy film to watch on a lazy sunday when you just can't figure out exactly what to watch on Netflix. I recommend it. Cinematography's great and raw (realistic and no censorship).
Photo Source: Google
Not a high recommendation, but a recommendation nonetheless.
Hope something piqued your interest in this August favorites post! Have a slammin' September!
Yoga is not meant for "keeping up with the Jones'" in a contortion contest. Believe it or not, it honestly is a mental and physical journey. Seeing what your body can do, learning patience, and keeping your mentality in the present makes the practice even more intriguing every time you step on the mat.
I took up yoga last summer, but haven't found the types of powerful resources and inspirations until this summer. Why not share what I look into for my specific practices, so hopefully readers can come across the same "ah-ha!" moments as I have?
Yoga with Adriene
I used to watch youtube videos here and there, but I decided to watch one of these yoga videos by Adriene and fell in love. She's a quirky, calming, and a vividly informative yogi. One of my favorite traits about her is the way she approaches each move like she's reading your mind, and solves any problems you could possibly have with a move by creating verbal visuals. I don't know how many times I've had her explain a move, resulting in me telling myself oh NOW I feel it! What a difference!
Good quality videos, a great yogi, excellent energy. Perfection, in my eyes.
Instagram: _kariooo
Her bright and vibrant photos, and captions create a lot of good vibes for me! She has wonderful tips on how to improve your practice and you can even email her if you need a list of resources to begin your yoga journey. Her email address is: k.champagnie@icloud.com.
Instagram: yoga_girl
Rachel Brathen is a woman that possesses a wonderful way with words. Her photos are beautiful, but I
love the words she speaks more than anything else. She has such meaningful captions and keeps her
emotions raw and real. Sadly, she has lost many dear ones to her heart this year, and she writes about all
of those events and just as a way to get through it. She also has ablog or two I'd read through, because her
posts-- although lengthy-- are captivating enough to read and feel uplifted and connected unlike any way I've
felt almost any other way by a collection of words before.
Get on your mat today-- especially with these motivational resources-- and start your yoga journey! Even if it's focusing on your breathing, or a gentle five-minute stretch. Just take that first step on that mat and run with it.
I regret the thousands of times I've passed this creamy ice cream treat in the frozen section of the store. I regret every time I didn't just go for it and try it. I shall kick myself for every time I've passed them up.
My dad had to be the one to cave-in (? not really... he just thought they looked like something I'd like so he got it). And whoo-WEE, they're so good!
Paletas (according to Wiki) essentially refers to the little stick that's in the frozen fruit/etc. This one is coconut-flavored, and so delicious! Super creamy, sweet, and pieces of coconut throughout. It's pretty much mind-blowinly good ice cream conveniently on a stick. They come in tons of other cream-based, and fruit-based flavors as well! Can't wait to try those, but I'm a huge sucker for coconut.
Calbee Shrimp Chips
I know I've seen these once or twice and decided to give them a try, and man I'm glad I did! I am OBSESSED with these!!
The Hot Garlic flavor was a glorified accident, I was in a rush and got them instead of two Originals. I'm a pansy when it comes to hot foods, but these are just tolerable enough for me. The flavor of them are delicious as well! And the garlicky tang doesn't linger the rest of the day like some garlic snacks and foods can.
They're baked, so they're remotely healthier than a bag of potato chips. 55 pieces are around 120 calories, 2 grams of protein, and 1 gram of sugar for the Hot Garlic ones (that stay by my side thankyouverymuch). The best way I can describe it is like a super crunchy, shrimp-tasting, cracker. Light but hearty with its crunch. My mom tried it and wasn't thrilled, but I'm to the point where I need to have at least one unopened bag at my disposal.
Celestial Seasonings: Honey Vanilla Chamomile and Green Tea (w White Tea)
I've loved, loved, loved these teas for months now. I've just been getting back into them more because the household likes keeping the house at a solid cold temperature. Can't decipher whether it's summer or winter in here due to the frigid cold. It may just be me, because I love the sweltering heat. But I digress...
I've been drinking a ton of the Honey Vanilla Chamomile tea lately. The reason this one is wrapped is because I just finished the old one. The green tea one is one of the only green teas I drink. I don't enjoy the taste of liquified and bitter dirt, and this one doesn't taste like that to me at all. It's pretty smooth and both smell super good. I've literally tried thinking of ways to capture the smell of the green tea into my clothes and things.
I could drink it hot, but I usually brew a big batch iced with honey. Both get honey, hot or cold. They're divine, smooth, sweet, mellow, tasty, and so complex and satisfying to me.
Mind you, I'm no tea snob. So please don't scoff at my delirium over $2 boxes of tea, haha.
Very few, but very great favorites in the food department for this month! Enjoy August! I know I will. (Leos for-the-win!!)
the spider-like percussion that sneaks in pass the booming bass the first few seconds in
and the wafting sound of what I can only guess is a muffled mallet thrusted onto the surface a jumbo drum, causing the beat to melt down the bridge of the song (along with my body... down a wall...)
I have a handful of songs in my life that've become attached to memories instantly triggered as soon as the first note plays. One's "Let It Be" by The Beatles, which I can no longer listen to because it was played at a funeral I went to. Another is "Trying to be Cool" by Phoenix, which automatically brings me back to the night (slash morning) I spent in the hospital with my mom. Takes me straight back to that thin, cold cot; my Colts Snuggie; my Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood marathon on the school's rented laptop; and the RAW vegan Coconut Butter Brick cupcake I was munching on quietly with a plastic fork.
This song reminds me of gloriously sweltering summer days-- specifically this summer. It fits like a dream: hand-in-hand with the bonding days I've spent with a friend just this summer. The same friend who actually introduced me to this song months ago. I'd vaguely listened to the Arctic Monkeys' newest album a long time ago. Liked it, but nothing stuck... Until this was played to me through the intricate workings of a subwoofer-- DJ'd by the driver.
Preeetty much play this song all the time now, wherever I go.
Pretty much a necessity.
Super Rich Kids by Frank Ocean ft. Earl Sweatshirt
I've been listening to this album, but it took a loooong minute before the lyrics of Super Rich Kids struck me as genius. Like... This summer. Probably in the past month or two.
I mean...
Not only do I love the clever play-on-words (she wash my back three times a day/the shower head feels so amazing... COME ON NOW!!!), but I adore the rhythm and especially the soulful, smooth feel it eventually pulls into the song. Initially, the beat sounds monotonous like a metronome... Like a continuous routine, but then loosens up as Frank Ocean spits truth about "Super Rich Kids"!
I just love the artistry that was mastered in this song.
Like I said, it took me forever to fully appreciate a song like this. So yes, I was late on understanding the hype that is Frank Ocean.
Hope you enjoyed my music favorites of July 2014! The words came rushing to me at 5:40am, and I HAD to entertain it. I'm pretty proud of this write-up; I hope you are too!
Now if you'll excuse me... It's past 6am, and I don't think my mind's able to produce much else. It's been fueled by music and has writing haikus for hours now. Definitely time to take a breather and rest. Good (night) morning!
