Things I would tell my 'Then' self

This week I was reading through past journal entries, and came across a list I made at the beginning of the year, entitled "Things I would have told my 'then' self".  I think we all have valuable tips we would have given ourselves if only we knew how life would pan out, but sadly, the past is in the past.  Nevertheless, I thought it'd be fun to share my list with you, because although I have no regrets, maybe people still in high school can benefit from my lessons, or people my age and older can identify with these tips/warnings drawn from different experiences I've had so far.

Today's blog post is comes straight from my journal people!

1. Do not lose your tattoo choker because those things are now going for way more than you'll be willing to pay.

2. Remember people's last names so you can creep them on Facebook seven years later and see what they look like post-puberty.

3. You're not popular.  You don't even know what that means.  Stop being stuck up.  You're 10.

4. Cherish all the field trips you're going on because it will never happen again.

5. Don't be friends with mean people who make you feel the need to be meaner yourself.

6. The people you try so hard to impress and be friends with actually suck.  STAY AWAY.

7. But don't stay away because they will teach you that there is no need to impress and be friends with people who suck. Ha.

8. Not everyone will like you or understand you. Some will hate you for no reason but that's ok, own it.

9. You can't save everyone, and sometimes, you can't save people from themselves.

10. Maybe don't cry so much over people, because I promise you none of them will be remotely relevant today.

11. Care more about people's feelings.

12. But always do what's best for you regardless of what other people think.

13. University is as good as they say, and better than you think it will be.

14. Things get better.

15. Remember that happiness is a choice.

16. Time really does heal all.

This was just a short post, but it's always interesting to reflect on past experiences and realize that when people used to say "those things you're worrying about won't matter in a few years" they were 100% right!  I would love to know what you would have told your "then" self based on what you've learned about yourself and life in general, so don't be afraid to comment or tweet me!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Ways to tell if you have "That" Friend

The topic of having and what makes someone a good friend has been on my mind a lot this week.  This year has been great for me in terms of making really good friends, but there were times when I wasn't as lucky.  I'm sure we can all admit that we haven't always been the perfect friend to the people we love, and the people we love haven't been the perfect friends to us.  However, there are some friends..."THAT" friend, who isn't necessarily the nicest or most considerate person in our clique on a more consistent basis.  But if you're still unclear as to the kind of person I'm talking about, I've composed a list of hints that will help you spot if you have or maybe even are "that" friend (although I sincerely hope that you have a fun, loyal, honest, trustworthy group of friends in which this post would just be for entertainment).

Do you have friends like this, or the ones below?  (Source)

They only text you when they need something - And to them, that means "anything" at any time of the day.  

Source

They talk about themselves...ALL the time - Friends are supposed to make sacrifices, and your friend believes that means you sacrificing your own problems to listen to theirs.

Source

They lie to you when you ask for their advice or opinions because why would you deserve to hear their actual opinions?  They like to agree with you no matter what, in order to avoid arguments and any of the sticky stuff that comes with having an honest conversation.

Source

When you just know your friend is lying (Source)

They talk about you behind your back to, well, anyone - Yes, your friend loves you most of the time, but sometimes they can't help but vent to other people when you're getting on his/her last nerve!

Source

They don't make conversation with your family - Even though your parents are the ones who drove the two of you to the Jonas Brothers' concert in '07, or let him/her sleep in your house for three days straight, your friend doesn't feel the need to be all buddy-buddy with your fam.  They have one family they have to speak to on a daily basis, and that's enough for them.  

Source

They never offer to pay the extra couple of dollars for you- It sucks when you're missing some change to pay for your Booster Juice smoothie, but it's really not their problem now is it?

When "that" friend gives you the "you're broke" look... (Source)

They drop you as soon the people around them make fun of you- "You are only as good as the company you keep" and your friend doesn't want to be associated with someone who makes them look bad in the eyes of people he/she doesn't even care about.  

Source

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If they ever have a choice between their significant other and you, they always choose the significant other - They don't think blowing you off to be with their boyfriend or girlfriend is that big of a deal.  You should understand that the person they've been dating for two weeks means A LOT to them, ok???

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They always make excuses when they can't hang out with you - Sometimes your friend gets better offers, and he/she needs to think of a little white lie to get out of spending yet another Friday night eating pizza and watching Sex and the City reruns with you. 

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They point out your flaws or state their opinions...especially when it's most inappropriate - Their idea of being a good friend means telling you when you're "getting fat", don't have the right personality for your dream job, or that your boyfriend dresses weird.  And they believe it's best when these things are said in front of a large group of people. 

Source

They flirt with your crush/boyfriend/girlfriend/ex, but that's only to test your crush/boyfriend/girlfriend/ex to make sure they were, are, or will be a good and loyal candidate for you.  Well...most of the time.  On other occasions, it's just to annoy you.  Oops!

Source

They don't let you have other friends - You only need one person in your life, and that's obviously him/her.  Any other platonic relationships would just get in the way of the strong bond you two share.

Source

They write rude statuses and tweets about you when they're angry - It makes more sense for him/her to share their anger at you with the cyber world than directly with you.  That way, tension can build between you, people can gossip about your friendship, and the whole situation can become bigger than it could have been if they had just spoken to you directly.

Scrolling down your timeline happily until you see that awful subtweet (Source)

They don't do anything with you unless they want to do it - Remember the "sacrifice" we spoke about earlier?  Well that only applies to you.  Therefore, your friend should never be asked to sit through a boring sports game, or spend six hours at the mall shopping for something that you're clearly not going to find.  

Well... (Source)

They say one thing, and do the other - On Tuesday, your friend tells you that he/she hates when people do something, and on Friday, you catch them doing the exact thing they said they hated.  But they can't help it...he/she is a complex person.

Cut it out. (Source)

I'm sure there are other ways to tell if you have "that" friend, but these are the main characteristics that no one ever wants in a friend.  As I said above, none of us are perfect, but I can honestly say that I've had friends say and do some of these things, and it feels good when those people are personally escorted out of my life.  So, if you spot any of these in some of your present friends, I recommend assessing whether "that" friend adds value to your life (in which you sit down with him/her and let them know how you feel), or whether they simply add stress (in which you do not neeeeeeeed them).  However, if you see these characteristics in yourself (myself included), we also need to be mindful of how we are treating the people who are most important our lives.  Because, quite frankly, we all deserve to have amazing friends...but to also be amazing friends as well. 

One of my favourite sayings is "relationships shouldn't be stressful", and they shouldn't!  Your friends should bring out the absolute best in you, and you should bring out the best in them!

xx

Check out my Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, and share this post if you liked it.  Have an amazing week!

Celebrities I Love for More than their Talent

I never understood people's genuine obsession with celebrities.  You know who I'm talking about: those fanatics who change their last names to those of actor's or actress' on social media, or threaten the person a celebrity is dating.  Most of the time, we only "know" an actor or singer from the roles they play or the songs they sing; very few of us actually get to see who they really are aside from some their interviews, tweets, or more recently, Instagram or Vine videos.  But there are some celebrities that have sold me on their kind, down-to-earth, and even funny personalities (with beauty to boot!).  They are the top famous people I would want to meet and even be friends with because they haven't gotten into trouble, take a stand against issues and support causes, and are just sooo cool!  Here are the celebrities that I adore for much more than their stage talent!

Blake Lively 

How perfect does Blake Lively look on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival?? (Source)

"...you meet those women who spend all their time cultivating their own powers, their own endeavors - but to have her say, how can I give this power to other women?  Or, every woman has this power, how can I help actualize that?  It's really amazing."

Okay, yes, she has been absolutely KILLING it over at Cannes with her gorgeous gowns, and inability to have a bad hair day...not to mention posing on the red carpet with her perfect husband, Ryan Reynolds, by her side (they are literally the modern day Barbie and Ken).  And, yes, maybe Gossip Girl is one of the best shows ever created.  But aside from all of that, Blake Lively seems like the sweetest girl with the biggest heart.  She loves to cook (and got me hooked on the show, Chopped), is an advocate for the empowerment of women, and is the face of Gucci and supports their Chime for Change campaign.  She keeps her private life private (which is admirable, but also disappointing as a fan who wants to see what's new in Blakey's life), and she genuinely seems not to notice how stunning she is.  And to me, humility is always a wholesome trait for a role model to possess.

Miles Teller 

If you haven't seen any of Miles Teller's movies, check them out this instant!!! (Source)

Follow Miles Teller here!

I don't remember when I first fell in love with him.  It could be when I watched him learn to dance in the movie Footloose, or breakdown and cry to his mother in the movie The Spectacular Now (which everyone needs to see by the way).  Or it could be his high cheekbones and winning sense of humour.  Either way, Miles Teller is amazing.  Watching his interviews on YouTube, it is obvious that he takes his roles seriously, has the best time bringing each character he plays to life, and is a total sweetheart.  He's not what you would call a stereotypical "hearthrob", but with his ability to be entertaining on and off the big screen, he's a hottie, and should make me his BFF immediately.

Sophia Bush 

Such a beauty who cares about the issues affecting our world.  (Source)

"We all bleed the same blood.  We all have hopes, dreams, fears, and wishes.  We all live on the same planet.  We all have to care for it, and care for one another...And we can do that through acts of kindness every day.  We can do that by choosing to speak out against inequality and injustice."

One Tree Hill has been off the air since 2012, but no matter.  Thanks to DVD boxed sets, I have been able to binge watch this popular show.  Naturally, I've looked up the actors on social media and I'm so impressed with Sophia Bush!  Aside from her cool, raspy voice, and tear-jerking OTL monologues, Sophia uses her Instagram and Twitter account to promote kindness and inner beauty, and is also an activist for women - especially those living in developing countries.  She is extremely successful, but also has her head on straight, and uses her success to reach people and share her views on important world issues.  You go girl (this is such a cheesy phrase but I actually mean it)!

Lupita Nyong'o 

Lupita is just gorgeous from the inside out! (Source)

"I hope that my presence on your screens and in the magazines may lead you, young girl, on a similar journey...that you will feel validation of your external beauty but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside.  There is no shade to that beauty." 

Of course I had to include my girl, Lupita!  I mean, she is an Academy Award winning actress, but she is also so much more than that.  Lupita wasn't always the confident girl we see today.  In many of her interviews, she talks about wishing she could wake up with lighter skin, and not truly thinking she was beautiful as a young woman.  But her composed, classy, and humble nature causes us to admire her not only for her beautiful face and totally fit body, but the kind and beautiful soul she has as well.  She gives hope to all the little girls who don't think they're beautiful because of their skin, or because they don't see girls like them represented in the media.  And I think that is one of the most powerful things someone can ever do.

J. Cole 

I absolutely love him. (Source)

"They don't have to be a rapper or an athlete, there are people who manage the rappers, who book the shows.  There are so many jobs you can do, this is about expanding their minds to those possibilities."

If I'm not obsessed with any celebrities, J. Cole is the closest I get.  As a rapper from Fayettville, North Carolina, Cole grew up in a single parent home, and remarks on many occasions that his family was quite poor.  He didn't have much, but he did have determination and drive.  He moved to New York for college (on an academic scholarship), graduated magna cum laude (which means, "with great honour" in Latin), and after several attempts at getting a record deal, he was the first artist signed with Jay-Z.  He writes and produces his own tracks, and his music is raw, honest, and relatable.  In addition to all of this, Cole has his own foundation that strives to help the urban youth in his hometown discover their dreams, and work hard to achieve success.  Marry me, perhaps?

Lauren Conrad 

Lauren Conrad has literally been one of my role models since I was 12 years old, and for good reasons! (Source)

"When we meet women who live with hope despite living with hardships, from extreme poverty to unimaginable trauma, it moves us to work as hard as we can on their behalf.  We are humbled by the women we work with and are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in their future."

People can say what they want about The Hills, but I spent the entire preteen stage of my life watching it, and it is by far my favourite show.  Throughout her time on TV, Lauren managed to stay grounded, and didn't let fame negatively affect her.  Instead, she started and now has three clothing lines, a successful blog, and is a bestselling author for her LA Candy book series.  She is also active on social media, tweeting and taking beautiful photos of the simple things she surrounds herself with.  Conrad and one of her friends started The Little Market, a "social enterprise" that showcases and sells the handmade products of female artisans from all around the world.  As the second highest paid reality show personality, She could have just donated money to these communities.  Instead, she chose to fuel their economy, giving women of various ethnicities and cultures the ability to sell their products to a wider consumer-base, support their families, and be independent.

xx

I started liking these celebrities because of their talent or prominence on my television screen.  I didn't realize until I began writing this post, that part of the reason why I started loving them so much was because of their down-to-earth personalities, and/or efforts to impact our world in positive ways.  Any celebrity can be entertaining because of the role they play, the songs they sing, or the drama they find themselves involved in.  However, it takes strong, unique, and good-hearted individuals to recognize that their status in society can do more than give them the money to buy a mansion or a nice car.  They can inspire, support, and instill confidence in regular people, and that has more merit than any Grammy or Oscar.

Click on the quotes and links to read the rest of the articles and learn more about some of the organizations these celebrities are involved with!  And if you liked this post, be sure to share it with your friends, and follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.  Have the best week ever! (Read my last post here)

Reasons why I'm loving social media right now (and forever)

This post was supposed to be up on Friday, but after a series of events (TONS of homework, and my laptop's hard drive dying on me), I had to wait until today.  Another reason I've been busy, is because I've been so entertained by the internet!  If you know me, you know I'm basically obsessed with social media and all it has to offer, but this past week I've loved it even more.  Here is why!

1. Memes/Gifs

Nowadays you can literally find a meme or gif from any movie and TV show, as well as admire the creativity and sense of humour of those who create their own witty captions for ordinary images.  These memes are incorporated into so many different yet relatable situations on Twitter and Facebook that make me die of laughter.

2. Valentine's Day jokes

So yeah...Valentine's Day really means nothing to me, but the Valentine's day cards do.  They are presented as simple, hilarious "love" messages on a colourful background, bad grammar, and look like they were edited by an 8 year old on Paint.  And that's what makes them so enjoyable.

I also love the Anti-Valentine's day gifts Seventeen.com suggests.  These gifts will perfectly and explicitly portray the feelings of of bitter single girls (or strong independent females who don't need a man to know their worth), but on everyday clothing and accessories.

3. Being able to see what my old friends are up to

I haven't been out of high school for a year yet, so I don't feel the need to have conversations with each of my classmates in order to find out what they are up to.  With Twitter, I know just enough about what people are doing with their lives (sometimes I know way too much), and still have somewhat of a connection with them.

4. The creation of Vine

Roll over the vines and click on the speaker for sound!

If it wasn't for social media, apps like Vine wouldn't have existed, and that would have been a tragedy.  As I mentioned in one of my Friday Favs posts a while back, Vine is amazinggggg.  People can start, stop, loop and do and say unthinkable things in only 6 seconds, and the results always have me in hysterics.  Basically, if you don't have Vine, I highly recommend you download it!

5. World updates without a push of a button

Some people listen to the news in their cars or watch it on TV, but with just a scroll through my timeline, I can learn about world events hours before any of them.  Of course, some of the info found on certain cites should be verified by more reliable sources, but it really is nice to follow accounts that tweet about the news, and stay constantly updated and aware about local and global events.

6. You get to have this weird cyberspace family

Whether it's everyone participating in a trending topic, having a conversation with a group of people you don't see in person, or gossiping about something surprising in the news or in Hollywood, we're all a big, loving family, making jokes and bonding over our individual WiFi connections.  This is probably most evident on award show nights, where most of us tweet and update our statuses with thoughts about celebrities' outfits, performances, and awards.  It's almost like we're all in the same living room watching together :))).

7. Lightens (or should lighten) your mood

Regardless of the terrible things happening in the world or in my world in particular, I can always count on a post, tweet, Instagram picture, vine, or pin to cheer me up and improve my mood.  This is definitely my favourite part about social media; even though it has its days where users are being offensive, obnoxious, and just plain nasty, it also has this incredible ability to expose us to people we never would have crossed paths with in real life, who unintentionally and unknowingly make our day...and even give us hope in the next one.

8. I get to share my blog with my followers

The last reason for my renewed love of social media is the fact that I can share my blog posts with my followers and friends on multiple platforms.  I really appreciate everyone who takes time out of their day to click on the link to my blog, and reads what I have to say.  So THANKS!!


What have you been especially loving about social media lately?

*Click on the photos to be directed to their original locations*


Don't forget to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Hope you had an excellent week!

~

Why I'm Glad I'm NOT Famous

I haven't written a post in a long time, as I've been busy making the transition back to going to school all week, instead of sitting and doing nothing all day during Christmas vacation.  However, I have watched some good movies, an award show or two, and follow celebrity accounts on social media.  By seeing these beautiful, talented, and rich men and women literally all over the place, it is only normal to be a tad jealous of famous people from time to time.  But not I.  You see, friends, not everything celebs experience should be envied; there are also some really annoying things that come with being famous.  Nope, despite the seemingly amazing life these celebrities lead, I am extremely satisfied with my own.  And here are just a few reasons why (Note: This post is for fun.  I am not belittling acting or singing as a meaningful profession!)


1. I don't get special privileges on the train

I love that the hundreds of people that take the train every day don't show me mercy as we all try to get on the vehicle at the same time.  It's every man or women for themselves, so any "gentle" or "accidental" shoving and elbowing that I experience in order to fight for a good seat is extremely normal.  Why would I want to be able to get on the train first, eliminate conflict, and choose any seat I want, just because I was a famous actress or singer??  And if I was a famous person, I'd probably have to get a limo or a slick black car and ditch the train altogether.  What a terrible thought...

2. I get to do my own hair and makeup 

I only look decent about 2% of the time, but that's entirely by choice.  I don't need a skilled professional to create trendy hairstyles and makeup product combinations so I would never have to worry about looking like a Sasquatch ever again.  If I wanted to, I could totally whip up a gorgeous hair and makeup look that would be just as good and even better than any Hollywood artist.  I just...choose not to...

3. I don't have to receive countless Twitter and Instagram notifications

The Kardashians each get hundreds to thousands of likes on their pictures every second and who wants that?  I mean, all those people telling me how much they love me, how beautiful I am, and that they wish I'd be their friend; ugh it would be too overwhelming.  I guess I'm just saying I don't think I could handle being showered with compliments 24/7.  In fact, I'm happy with my 11 Instagram likes, ok?

4. I don't have to dress up to watch award shows

All the celebrities get dolled up in their gowns and suits for the Golden Globes, Oscars, Grammys--you name it.  But what's watching these shows while wearing some elegant designer gown that accentuates my personally trained figure, compared to the luxury of laying in bed in my pajamas and stuffing my face with popcorn, chips and pizza?  I know what your answer is.  I'm sure as a talented celebrity it would be exciting to be in the presence of other stars, and take part in the live festivities.  However, not everyone at these shows can win an award, and as far as I'm concerned, being snuggled up in bed always makes me a winner.

5. I won't have to get offended if a store clerk looks at me like I can't afford anything

Because chances are, I'll walk into the store, she'll look at me, I'll look back at her, a moment of silence will pass, and then we'll both laugh and laugh about how broke I am.  As we wipe our tears, she'll escort me out and lock the door behind me.  And that's okay, because I'll probably never intentionally surround myself with things more valuable than my net worth again.

6. I don't have to make my followers feel bad with updates on my fabulous life

I don't jet set to Bora Bora or Europe, I don't go to concerts or perform at concerts, and I don't know Leonardo DiCaprio personally.  But can you imagine if I did?  I would just make my followers feel bad that I was doing so many fantastic things, while all they could do is double-tap or retweet from their iPhones.  And the last thing I want to do is make my followers uncomfortable or upset.  This is obviously the main reason why I don't partake in such activities as taking private vacations and posting selfies with my movie star besties.  Consider me doing you all a favour by not rubbing anything in your faces.


Why are you glad you're not famous?


*Be sure to click on the photos to find their original locations*


Don't forget to check me out and follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Have a great weekend!

~

Weekly Friday Favs - Social Media Edition

1. Favourite Tweet

Definitely my favourite tweet this week!

I love how accurate this tweet is.  As much as some may try to deny it, the majority of us try to post our Instagram pictures during a time where the most people will see and click the "like" button.  Nothing's worse than posting a really good selfie and getting fewer likes simply because of bad timing. HA.

2. Favourite Instagram - TASTETORONTO

How delicious does all this food look?? Follow Taste Toronto for more!

This instagram account is beauty and torture at the same time.  Tastetoronto posts pictures of meals from "restaurants, markets and street corners" in Toronto, and I am being 100% honest when I say I would try every single thing on this collective menu of Toronto's best eats.  Your stomach will grumble and salivation might occur, but I doubt you'll be able to stop scrolling because every meal is perfection.

3. Favourite Vine - Tasia Alexis

If you haven't already, download Vine for the funniest and most random looping videos from normal people! (Run your mouse over the video and click on the speaker for sound)

Vine is definitely one of my favourite apps because it makes me feel good knowing I'm not the only one who thinks, feels, or says certain things (the only difference is that these Vine users are extremely creative and super funny!).  Although this hasn't happened to me, TasiaAlexis is definitely showing one of my struggles of never having friends over.

4. Favourite Youtube Video - Joey Graceffa 

I love this video!  Watch it here.

British Youtube Star SprinkleOfGlitter joins JoeyGraceffa in a short but hilarious game of Would You Rather.  Sooo funny (not to mention Joey dying of laughter the entire time)!!!

5. Favourite Pin

No explanation needed.  Let this be all of our mottos for 2014!

What are your favourite posts from the social media realm this week?  

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Have an excellent week!

~