Why am I me?

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You!"

  -Dr. Seuss

Everybody is their own individual person, as illustrated in the quote by the Einstein of poetry/kids books, Dr. Seuss.  

We are different because of our genetics of course, but what about our environment?  The things we experience, the things we are drawn towards, and, of course, the media.

There are several specific things that have changed the way I think, act, or view the world.  

For some of them, I don't exactly know how they changed me because I encountered them when I was too young to remember my exact age.  For others, it's obvious how they changed me.  

Here are just three of the things that have changed me.  Of course, there are sosososososo many more (:

1. Desperado

Desperado is a song by the Eagles.  The lyrics are super meaningful, and the music itself is... well... amazing.  But it's more than the lyrics and the tune that are important to me.  Rather, it's the fact that my dad used to (and still occasionally does) sing it to me before I go to bed.  A lot of the time with music,  I think it's the experiences we have with the songs that make them special. 

Image Credits: pinterest

2. Matrix Club

Matrix Club was the club I was a part of in Hong Kong.  We worked with refugees, and it made a huge impact on me.  I learned so much from it - more than I have from any other experience.  I learned empathy, which is a big deal to me. I think empathy is the most important thing anyone can ever learn.  Matrix Club also made me realize how messed up our world can be, but also how wonderful it can be, how strong a person can be, and how much impact one person can make.

3. The Breakfast Club

Image Creds: Movie Pilot

In my movie blog post, I said that the Breakfast Club was the only movie that changed my life.  It's hard to explain why I love this movie so much, honestly.  I guess, for me at least, it's a metaphor for all of the people in the world.  No matter who you are, where you belong, you have serious problems.  It also is great because I think each one of the kids in it is represented in a little part of everyone - there's always part of you that's smart, that's rebellious, that's a diva, that's competitive, even that's a little bit crazy.

And that's what makes us who we are. 

Movies!

Film. Cinema. Theater. Entertainment.  MOVIES!

One of my favorite fun activities to do is watch movies, especially with friends and family.  Not only is it entertaining, but you don't have those awkward moments during them, which is always a plus.

So here it goes...

The Best Sad Movies:

1.  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

2.  The Notebook

3.  The Fault in Our Stars (It's not out yet, but it's going to be great and it's going to be sad, so it belongs here)

4.  Marley and Me

5.  Because of Winn Dixie 

6.  UP

Honestly, this list could go on forever.  I think I've cried in every movie I've ever watched, but these are  some of the best of them.... I know, I know, I'm such a baby when it comes to movies(:

The Best Rom Coms:

1. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
2. 27 Dresses
3. 50 First Dates
4. 13 Going on 30
5. Silver Linings Playbook
6. Love Actually

Another one that could go on forever... I'm just a sappy movie kind of person, what can I say?

The Best Chick Flicks: (yeah, I know most of these are Rom Coms...)

1. Mean Girls
2. The Nanny Diaries
3. Easy A
4. Brides Maids
5. P.S. I love you
6. Letters to Juliet
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic
8. Legally Blonde (Don't judge me... I said don't!  No, please, really, I'm usually a good person...)

Yep... I'm a girl at heart

The Best Disney Movies:

Let's start with all of them, shall we?

We all know that Frozen is automatically the best, other than that though...

1. Monsters Inc.
2. Ice Age (all of them)
3. Despicable Me (I want a minion more than you know....)
4. Mulan
5. Cinderella
6. Snow White
7. Sleeping Beauty
8. Beauty and the Beast
9. Finding Nemo
10. Tangled
11. Cars
12. Toy Story (I refuse to give away a single stuffed animal because of Toy Story 3)

I don't want to type them all, just watch all of the Disney movies that have ever come out and your life will be semi-complete.  It will be complete when you know every line of every song of every movie.

The Movies that Have Changed My Life:

1. The Breakfast Club

Image Creds: IMDB

That's it. Honestly.  If you haven't seen it yet, watch it!  Of course there are other ones that I really love, but none of them have overwhelmed me as much as this one.

Christmas is Coming!

I don't know about everyone else, but I can't wait for Christmas.  There's snow (at least where I live), cookies, a Christmas Trees, Santa is coming, and of course, everyone is giving gifts.

For a lot of people though, the weeks leading up to Christmas are stressful.  There are gifts to give, presents to wrap, and houses to decorate.   Getting presents for all of your family is difficult, and the goal of this blog is to give some great ideas for family and friends that vary in price range.

Amazon saved my life this holiday season, and all of these ideas can be found on amazon.

Idea 1: Rubik's Cube

Although these were created in the 1980's or whatever, they're becoming more popular again.  Most of my friends can solve them,  and my friend Devon just ordered about eighteen different types.

You can order a Sheng Shuo Rubik's cube on amazon for under $7.

Idea 2: Hoodies

If you live in a cold place like I do, hoodies are your life!  Hoodies make great gifts because there are a bunch of designs out there and are affordable for some of your better friends and family.  They also work for both genders. Did I mention that they are comfortable and warm?

You can get this hoodie, along with many others on amazon.  This hoodie is $25.  

Idea 3: Jewelry 

Yes, this may apply mainly to females, however unique jewelry means a lot to a lot of people.  Instead of getting the normal "best friends" split apart necklace, you can find some really interesting designs of jewelry online that would make anyone feel special. 

You can find great jewelry similar to this online at amazon.  You are sure to find one that fits the person you are shopping for! 

Idea 4: Coffee Cups

Coffee mugs are definitely on my Christmas list mostly because I'm currently living off coffee.  

Just kidding, however coffee mugs are practical and you can find many styles and designs that fit a person!

This adorable cookie monster coffee mug not only holds you famous warm drink, but cookies fit his mouth!  You can find this and many other cute mugs on amazon.  

Idea 5) Movie Gift Basket

Who doesn't love candy, popcorn, and movies?  A really great gift for a movie buff friend this Christmas is a popcorn bucket filled with their favorite candy and movies or a cinema gift card.  While these are super easy to make, you can also find them online.  

Yummy (:  I love food!  This gift basket can be found on amazon.

Idea 6) Fuzzy Blankets 

Affordable and warm, blankets are a great idea.  They come in many different colors, patterns, and designs, and you are sure to find one that suits your friends. 

This too is found on amazon, and even though there are millions out there, these are simple, bright, and incredibly soft! (Trust me, I have one)

Have a great holiday season and I hoped I helped to relieve some of the holiday stress this winter (or summer, if you live in the southern hemisphere).  

Happy Holidays!!!

Family Carving

Last night, after deciding that homework could wait for another day, I sat down with my family and carved some sick pumpkins.

After looking online for awesome carving templates, I finally settled for the templates on Zombie Pumpkins because they were free and some of them were at my level of pumpkin carving–crappy.

For those of you who aren't "cool" enough to know what these are, they're Iron Man (the most amazing super hero ever that is played by my favorite actor) and the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo.  Yeah, I know, they're beautiful.

We eventually settled for Iron Man and the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, because they're awesome and we had the ability to draw it on the pumpkin then cut it out.

I'm really proud of how they came out, judging by the fact that we haven't carved pumpkins in 4 years because they're 50 US dollars in Hong Kong for a small one... yes it is crazy.

The entire night was a really great time, and I loved doing it so much because I had the chance to spend time with my family, who I rarely have the time to talk to, and almost never get to do something fun with.

Yes, maybe I'm a bit behind on my homework now, and yes, maybe my hands got a little messy (okay, a lot), and yes, I may have had pumpkin gut fight with my sister (my hair looked... interesting... after that experience)  but the entire night was so much fun.