What I Think Today

I don't know if you've ever been quite able to tell this over my blog, but I get real defensive real easily. I stick up for things even sometimes when I don't even agree with them/it. I do this when I believe something is getting unfairly attacked... usually due to ignorance or pride. So this blog may sound very defensive, but this is only due to the fact that people were attacking it quite frequently yesterday by claiming those who enjoy it and are paying attention to it shouldn't be interested in such "unimportant" and "fickle" "rich people" matters.

Disclaimer: This post also highly displays the idealistic/romantic parts of me. Males, beware.

Guys, the Royal Family is a monarchy of great historical importance.
Not some random celebrity who is getting married for the second time and has way too much money to do so.

I didn't jump on the Royal Wedding bandwagon until only a few days ago. But oh, was this jump a violent one. I got excited, and I got excited quickly.


My roommate and I woke up for it.
I've watched the processional like 5 times.
Almost cried the first time.
We replayed the part where he says "William Arthur Phillip Louie" and swooned probably close to ten times.
We then watched Princess Diaries 2.
And the history of the Royal Weddings on the History Channel.
The whole time while taking breaks to replay the best Harry smirks.

Favorite part?

Harry's line while she's walking down the isle, as William faces the altar.

"Wait till you see her."

Then, when she finally arrives, William's smirk and whisper of,

"You look beautiful."

The same thing his dad said as Diana reached the altar.

Least favorite part?

The ugly stepsis -- I mean, cousins of the princes.

Honesty Eugiene and Beatrice, 2 BILLION people were watching this thing. Let's wear flattering dresses and try to stay away from hats that resemble octopuses. You're beautiful girls and have the money to buy whichever dress you please. Don't they seriously remind you of the ugly stepsisters, though?

But, I think what I like most about all of this... the wedding, the royal family, monarchies... is that amidst our corrupted society we have have these timeless traditions that remain just as in tact as they did 100 years ago. 

Everything.

The dresses, hats, suits, bows, chivalry, carriages... the list goes on.

They are, with slight variations, are just as proper as they were centuries ago.

Another reason I enjoy the system of the Royal Family representing the country and the Prime Minister ruling it, is because then it creates this King or Queen that everyone loves. To love the symobol of your country without having them tied to politics is a wonderful thing, in my opinion.

Half our country hates our president, the face of our nation.

Sigh.

Now, I'm not saying you have to be interested in these things. Not at all. I'm just saying, it's a part of history... so can I enjoy it? :]

I leave you with the processional. It's a fairy tale, folks. 

Oh, and the dress? Big fan. Spot on. But that didn't even need to be said. :]

BEDA, it's been nice. I mean stressful. I mean... thank goodness you are over.

One day in 7th or 8th grade, someone gave me this song.
It means a lot to me.
Sometimes I would listen to it to calm my nerves.
The Format was my favorite band back in the day.
I still love them.
It's beautiful.


Please pray for all those affected in the area of tornados. 
Paige's beautiful campus got hit pretty badly.
It's pretty scary.

Can I tell you a secret?
I have been stealing toilet paper from public restrooms.
We're out.
No one has bought more.
There's only one week left.
So, I gather up enough for the day,
stick it in my bag,
and bring it up to my room.
We have a nice little mountain of it.

:]

Tonight's been weird.
I was on a Red Bull energy high,
and then I came crashing
crashing
down.

I can't even tell you how much this song relaxes me.
I suddenly feel at ease.
Do you have a song like that?


I promise to catch up on blogs soon. I miss reading them.

Kilnify

"Oh, tie me to the end of a kite,

So I can go on, I can go on with my life.

Every marigold I pass below will be my guiding light,

I just want to go away from here,


Oh, tie me to the end of a kite,
So I can go on, I can go on with my life.
Every time the wind blows stronger, 
I will feel my spirit rise,
I just want to go away from here. 


Oh, tie me up tightly by your side,
So I may go with you where ever you reside.
And anytime the road looks dimmer,
I will be your guiding light.
I just want to go away with you.
I just want to go away with you."

- The Kite Song by Rosie Thomas

Things significant about today:

I learned that you do not touch large objects in the kiln room, because it's probably a kiln. #burntfinger
I ate the most foul tasting meat I can ever remember tasting.
I learned that to have something in a kiln is to "fire" it.

I am now contractually obligated to live in Chicago.

I drank a large mug of regular coffee. #badidea

I passed my BEDA count from last year.

I virtually hugged all of you.
I took a lot of deep breaths.

I drew six drawings.

I experienced.

I learned.

I grew.
<3

It's The Final Countdown

I'll still write my Easter blog later. That's what you get to do at the end of April - find loopholes.

I went back on Facebook yesterday, and what have I done? Deleted 108 of my "friends." It wasn't even hard, and it's kind of nice. It needed to be done. I don't need this site for any other reason than to keep in contact with people I personally care about. So having over 500 friends is just unnecessary for me.

Who am I listening to? Selena Gomez.

I have a girl crush on that girl. She's wonderful, beautiful, respectable, a good actress, and has proved to be a solid role model. And you can dance to her music. ANYWAY.

Countdowns:
9 days till home
7 classes
3 final projects
3 papers
2 sketchbooks
1 portfolio
1 exam

OY. The thing is, 90% is due by Thursday. So, that adds excitement to my life.

I've been having to turn down fun things left and right. This makes it no fun. I just turned down NEWSIES with a kiddo who loves it just as much as I.  Sigh.

I need a hug.

Easter

Happy Easter, guys. :]

I'll write this later.

Thoughts on Places: Minnesota

I have 12 days left.

Things I will miss:

Stacy.
Having a car.
Hockey games.
Living on campus.
Late night impromtu Bdubs trips.
Birthday parties.
The two boys who watch over me of me like a little sister, make me laugh every day, and treat me like a gem.
The most chivalrous boy I may ever meet, his kindness, and our frequent baseball banter.
(Stacy and I never were very good at making friends with girls here. Not really at all. Period. Ever. It's kind of the running joke.)
Kristi.
Being half an hour away from some of my best friends.
The Current radio station.
Being able to drive to church in less than 10 minutes.
Having a computer at every workout station, and having Hulu entice my workouts.
As superficial as this sounds, I really like the Mall of America.
My job.
The Noodles and Company two blocks from my dorm.

See, the thing is, I'm not leaving because I'm unhappy. I don't have a long list of "Things I Won't Miss" (although there are a few!)  I'm leaving because I want to take the bull by the horns and start dreaming out loud, and right now, Chicago is that tool. Sometimes you need to let go of good things and being comfortable to let the great life-changing things happen. Even if that means being uncomfortable for a little while in the process.

And while I'll miss these things,
I know that the impromptu Bdubs runs will be replaced by new late night traditions. I know the awesome people I will miss will still be in my life, and I'll be able to meet all kinds of new people who will be able to teach me so many new things and look at life from a different perspective. 
I know that having to commute to school will force me to regulate my routine better.
I know that taking public transportation will teach me patience, timeliness, and provide a daily dose of eclectic people watching.
And finally, I know that not having Hulu everytime I work out will give me motivation to find new ways to workou...... HA who am I kidding. That will make me lazier. I'm an idealist and a realist, not completely unrealistic!  :]

Hah, take that BEDA. A real post!

Chirp

Kevin will be pleased to hear your comments, I'll tell him soon. :]

Technically, guys, I haven't missed a day because I haven't slept a wink since Wednesday evening. So, huzzah. Last night was one of those "Oh look, the sun is coming up... let's go to Perkins" evenings. It is now 7:36 am, my body hates me, and I am off to work.

I think it was at around 4 am that I said, "Sleeping doesn't make memories." So, that was my decision.

Then I chirped a few times, because apparently imitating birds is hilarious at 4 in the morning.

Oh, and at 6 am I put contact disinfectant in my eye without the saline stuff on it (or whatever it is!) to clean it off, because I DIDN'T KNOW. My eye became INSTANTLY bloodshot, the guy who owned said contact stuff just kept on laughing and saying, "Oh no!" and "That's acid!"

ACID AND EYE DO NOT GO TOGETHER.

I flushed my eye and thought I was going to go blind.

Five minutes later he tells me he's done it before and it's not a big deal, your eye just stays red for a long time.

WELL DON'T FREAK OUT, THEN. You had what I like to call a BAD REACTION. Here I was thinking I'd have to go to the ER or something, for goodness sake. It still stings, though, and it's still red. Bah. Issues.

However, most importantly, it is Good Friday and I am ever so thankful for that.

Have a blessed day.



(ps i had coffee. kbye)

Guest Blogger - Your Love is My Drug

So, I have come to hate April. Therefore, I have a guest blogger today. His name is Kevin, and he would like to talk to you about his love for Ke$ha. Also, he likes advertising himself via the printed word. Sorry about that. APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE... he's a crazy kid. I was desperate for a blog!


-----


You know how there is that 'love at first sight' saying? Well, I had this experience, except, instead of seeing her, I heard her. When I first heard the song Right Round by Flo Rida in January 2009, I wondered who owned the annoying girl-toned voice in the background during every refrain. After doing some research, I found out Ke$ha Sebert owned that annoying voice. Little did I know this voice and foxy female would soon become my lover and future wife. 

About a year later in January 2009, a song by the name of Tik Tok started to make its rounds on the radio. This incredibly catchy song, caught my attention and I started listening to it. I'm one of those people who really enjoys discovering new music before it hits the airwaves of Milwaukee radio. However, Tik Tok was not one of those songs. Anyway, after listening to this song like a cult member, I finally figured out who sung this song. Low and behold, it was Ke$ha. After awhile, I realized this crazy kid named Ke$ha actually released her debut album in January. I slowly started listening to the rest of her cd and fell in love with songs such as Your Love Is My Drug, Blah Blah Blah, and Party At A Rich Dude's House. In early summer of the same year, my friends and I discovered Ke$ha was going to be stopping in Milwaukee for a late August concert. Of course, we had to go because she had good music.

At the concert there was hundreds of hotties and not a lot of guys. Before Ke$ha took the stage, I felt overwhelmed because I had never been around so many beautiful girls. But then, after the crappy DJ got off stage, the beautiful, ever-charming Ke$ha appeared. She belted out one of her smash hits, I think it was Blah Blah Blah. During the concert, as I dodged sweaty, nasty people, Ke$ha and I made eye contact. It was brief, but it was good. If you'd ask her, I'm pretty sure she would remember me. My love for Ke$ha inspired me  to design a tshirt specifically for the concert. I enjoyed it so much, I haven't washed it since! From this concert, i've made it my goal to marry this lovely individual.

Two months after the concert, Ke$ha released another CD called Cannibal. I liked this song less mainly because the songs were not as up beat as her original cd. I did enjoy a few songs like We R Who We R (I know every word), The Harold Song, and Blow. Then, in February 2011, my beloved future wife released ANOTHER cd entitled I Am The Dance Commander & I Command You To Dance. Basically, it was a remix of all Ke$ha tops songs. I enjoyed it because I love techno/club music. It makes me want to dance. 

As you can see, I love Ke$ha.

Love,

Kevin 

P.S. I am taking girlfriend applications. If you are interested, you need to have at least three references. Also, you need to indicate if we've ever dated before. (Actually, I've never had a girlfriend, so you can leave that part blank).  Next week, April 24th-30th, I am looking for a girl to have a practice relationship with. The other girl, no, not Ke$ha, she is wayyyy to reliable, decided to dump me. I am quiet sad. Let me know! May 1st-7th is already reserved for another girl. GOOD LUCK!

kgworm09@gmail.com

Memories: Freshman Edition

August Something 2005 - The first day of high school.


I remember being extremely intimidated by each and every upperclassmen. 


I remember wanting to make friends with an upperclassman on the cross country team, but making myself look like a complete and utter fool with coherent words whenever I tried.


I remember running my very first varsity cross country race.


I remember being called ugly. Girls remember this stuff.


I remember going up to this girl named Alyson in my class at homecoming and saying, "Hey, we have the same name, let's take a picture together!" Then she became my best friend. (These two events not directly related.)

I remember my very first room for my very first forensics meet and listening to a very overdramatic interpretation of the poem "The Raven" and hating this poem ever since.


I remember going to Forensic state and having a weekend, that remains to this day, one of my favorite memories.


I remember singing the Food Rap in Freshman choir. I can promise you there is not a kid in my class who would not remember how to rap a verse to this day.
("Ice *beat* CREAM. Give me ice *beat* CREAM."
"Hot Dog. Hot dog. With mustard ketchup pickles YES.")


I remember the songs we sang in Freshman choir and could still sing them. Thankfully, I have forgotten the coreography.


I remember being introduced to Sudokus. They got me through pit orchestra.


I remember my first track meet. My friend and I peed about 15 times each, complained for about 4 solid hours, worried, complained, probably got yelled at by the coach, and ran a few times. Later that night we talked on MSN till 1 in the morning. She was dancing and making muffins, I was also dancing. And probably bingeing. Guys, I hated track.


Two words: Bus Rides. One time my friend and invented a whole work out routine for eyelid weights. 


I remember the very first story we read in English was "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe. Creepy, guys. It's creepy. We also read Lord of the Flies.


Freshman year was more fun than I think I can pin point memories on, and I'll probably add more later... but... for now, this is all. xx

April Lacks Coffee

Today was a good day.

Last night I watched the Coachella live stream.

Mumford and Sons were much hairier men than when I saw them live last fall.

But their live performances still give me major goosebumps.

They sang a new song. It's up there. "Lover's Eyes."

I like it.

Today I got a prescription for my ever increasing anxiety problems.

I made the mistake of reading all the side effects/bad experiences people had with it online.

But I really like my doctor.

A lot.

So I'm just going to have a sit down with the man if this doesn't work out.

Because of the fact that my anxiety symptoms have skyrocketed in the last few weeks, I have forced myself to drink less coffee.

Coffee makes it a lot worse.

But, I want coffee.

But, I need to get better.

So, coffee is put on hold.

But, I will be back you tasty, energetic little beast of a beverage.

I enjoyed reading what everyone had to say about the "Interesting" post.
In conclusion:
"Bloom where you're planted." - Allie :]

And as far as this whole book club people seemed to be quite on board for, I shall head it up! I'll take book suggestions in the comments or via e-mail. I'll also work on some schedule of sorts and bring it up with you guys later for tweaks/suggestions/ideas!

My Weekend In Food.

This weekend I went to visit a few friends. First up was this girl.
For some reason, we only took pictures of food.
This blog is the result of such.

Noodles & Company is definitely a staple in my life.
Except, I'm not very exciting when it comes to food.
I like boring things.
Therefore, my usual Noodles order is simple Buttered Noodles, Seasoning, and Brocolli.
DE-LISH.

THEN WE ATE PIE.
For some reason we decided it would be a good idea to order TWO pieces.
This was the snickers one, the other one was blackberry cream cheese.
With hot chocolate.

We ate like three bites.

BUT, we took them home for late night noms.

Our morning coffee was accompanied by this guy.

We read Romans 12 while we drank our lattes.
Then we talked more about Jesus.
And church.
And boys.
And summer.
And friends.
And music.
And memories.
And everything else conversation over coffee is good for.

... time to catch up on everything I've neglected while away. :/

Two more weeks of classes! TWO. Two!!!

Oh, also... hello, new followers. :] Let's be friends.

Interesting.

(Edit: I was going to post this tomorrow, but I have to leave for the weekend now and have no time to blog today. So, most likely there will be no blog tomorrow. This is a post I want lots of conversation on, though, so I've decided I would rather have this sit here for two days than crank out a poop blog now. Have a great weekend!)

I genuinely, honestly believe every human is equally interesting.

Now let's talk about that sentence. (You honestly didn't think I would let that go without at LEAST three long and exhausting paragraphs of explanation, did you?!)

Last summer I was talking to a girl about my plans for this year, including my plans (now non-existent) of going to Greece this summer. Her response was, "Allyson, you're such an interesting person!" I kind of just tilted my head like dogs to when they're particularly curious. Me? Interesting? How am I any more interesting than the next person?


It seems like, in our society, people who travel a lot and are able to visit many different countries instantly become more "interesting" to others and like they have "accomplished" more in their lives. I often feel behind in every aspect of my life. Behind on the things I've accomplished. Behind on the direction on my career. Behind on experiences. Behind on places I've been. It seems like every college student is going to every country and their neighbor for every reason. All the time. I began to almost feel like if I didn't have an experience like this pronto I would somehow not be as interesting or accomplished as these people.


Last fall as I was contemplating a lot of seemingly large life decisions, it was looking more and more like studying abroad and mission trips oversees were not in my immediate future. Personally, I was okay with this, because I know there will be plenty more opportunities, but I was concerned about being "interesting" to other people. And this bothered me. What if I never leave the country during my entire four (five?) years of college? Everyone else leads so much more interesting lives than I!

This is a silly, stupid thought.

You know when you get stubborn about your problems and you get in your head that nothing anyone is going to say can make you feel better/ change your opinion? But then you hear someone say something from a direction you've never thought about before, and you just go, "Oh. Wait, that makes... a lot of sense!" I was whining about this traveling thing to a good friend here (from whom I have grown and learned a lot) and he said, "Allyson, a man who has never left his town of 300 people could be way more interesting and influential than a man who has been to every country and back."

Whoa.

Whoa.

How true is that statement?! Everyone has stories to tell. Just because they take place in foreign countries doesn't mean they are more exciting or made more of an impact on someone or something. Take advantage of everything. Strive to accomplish what you expect to receive from a journey to a foreign country right in your backyard. I know you can't see the Eiffel Tower or ski on the Alps, but there are endless amounts of experiences here just waiting for you. You just have to want them.

So, I still want to travel. I want to travel to be inspired. I want to travel for new experiences. I want to travel to help. But I don't want to... we don't need to... travel to become more interesting or complex or accomplished as a person.

That we can do riiiight here. Well, maybe I should get off this chair.

April, Y U Not Over Yet?

I'm going to be gone this weekend, so I wrote a post for Saturday and have it scheduled to be posted Saturday morning. #dedication! It's one of those think-a-lot lot posts, but it's something that I struggled with a lot in my head for a while and learned a lot from. I feel like I've almost come full circle with it, but I'd really love your input.

My April Thus Far:

April 1- "YEAAH. BEDA. So many ideas! So much enthusiasm! Let's do this!"

April 5 - "Oh yeah, goin' strong! Imma kick BEDA's butt!"

April 10 - "I'm just a blog writin' machiiine, babeh."

April 13 - "Running. out. of. ways. to hide the fact that my life... is... boring."

April 14 - "The sky is blue. You are cute. I just drank an Izzy."




You know what we should do this summer, guys? Read a book together. Let's do it. I'm up for suggestions. 


I promise I will try to start making these posts more interesting. Have any questions for me? Ideas for blogs? This would be very welcome. :] For now you get a song and a quote.


When I'm With You - J.J. Heller


"Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ." - C.S. Lewis

Oh the Thinks!

Bombay Bicycle Club - Ivy & Gold

Today is definitely just going to be a casual, sporadic post. I was a bit sick today. I think I had a fever. Either that, or I was sweating in a cold room for no reason.

I found this band per the request of a delightful girl named Melinda. She is wonderful, poised,  intelligent, and has a YouTube channel worth watching. I think she'll be reading this post, but if you go to her channel, you should tell her I say "hello." :]

On a post a few days ago, I absolutely loved Paige's comment:
"If you ever become a popstar, you can pull a Ke$ha and be &llyson."


THIS GOT ME SO EXCITED. Honestly, I want all my username's everywhere to be this. Unfortunately, very few allow an ampersand to be a username. My next banner will definitely have this on it, though. Paige, you genius.


You're all so lovely. I really really wish that Blogger had a better way of comment replying/notifications. Sometimes it's easier to reply in the comments, but then you don't know if they'll ever read them. So then I try referring to it in my next blog, but that gets long and silly, too, because it has nothing to do with the 
topic at hand.

Yesterday Lex talked about the Munchkins from Wizard of Oz, and how she hates their butts. Just kidding. Kind of. Anyway, it got me interested, so I looked for munchkin videos on YouTube and came upon this gem. It's an interview of them, 70 years later. They are adorable. One of them had a quote that made me ridiculously happy. This tiny 90 year old woman was asked the question, "You don't feel especially sad to be 90, do you?" To which she replied, "No, I'm having a great time! I don't mind it at all! I thought it would be terrible, but it isn't." If this doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will.

That's all for today! xx

How to Make the Most Out of Your Tea Drinking Experience: A Guide

Step 1: Be sick, tired, and slightly dehydrated. 

These three elements will greatly enhance the enjoyment you receive out of your cup of tea.

Step 2: Make your tea while listening to this song.

Getting in the mood is always a wise choice, and by listening to this song, you will have unrealistic expectations for where your cup of tea could lead you in life with your nonexistent, tea loving dream boy!

Step 3: Drink your tea alone, eyes closed, and sitting indian style while listening to this song.

Congratulations! Now that you are sick, tired, slightly dehydrated, and saddened with unrealistic expectations, you are now in prime condition to thoroughly enjoy your cup of tea. This song will help you remain in the mood. 

You may have expected an explanation about which teas to make or how best to prepare them. Well, my friends, you are wrong. It is all about setting the mood, silly. If you need to know how to make tea, Charlie has so graciously already told us. (Seriously, I hadn't watched that video in ages, so it made me laugh quite hard again. You should go watch it.)

Contrary to the sarcastic tone this post displays, I do love tea. I want you to like tea, too. I bet I could get you to love tea. Most people who don't like tea have only had crappy store bought tea bags. I want you to like tea.

Stop by Teavana in the mall and have their samples. Then you'll like tea. (Hint: If you go at an hour that isn't as busy, they don't have employees working the sample station, and you can get away with refills much easier.)

Tell me if you don't like tea, and I will give you suggestions. :]

What kind of tea is your favorite? My favorites, as of late, are anything loose leaf Rooibus (especially fruity ones), loose leaf Oolong, and any mint tea bags. 

Thanks for being so nice about my first vlog, and I hope you have a great day. :]

V..Vl...Vlog?

In which Allyson talks about not being able to vlog, Justin Timberlake, nutella, and burnt toast. 

Nice to meet you, and I am sorry in advance. Sigh.

Ode to the Ampersand

"My dearsest Ampersand,

I admire gazing at your beautiful curves flawlessly adorning the top row of my keyboard. 

You adjoin my thoughts with poise and elegance." 

This a poem I wrote a long time ago. I just found it today. See, guys, I really love ampersands. I often browse Etsy for ampersand stuff. You know how women have that one thing that they claim to love, so then everyone gives them a variation of that item for every birthday/holiday? Well, I want to be that person you think of when you see an ampersand. I really love them.  I think this is stems from my interest in clean, neat typography. It's so pretty, guys. 

Sigh. Why couldn't I be interested in something legitimately fascinating, like... mitosis. 

(Thus begins my desperate attempt to convince you this is legit.)

It has an interesting history! 

It's.... versatile!

 

...want

Okay. I'm going to go now. I have successfully convinced myself I will be a boring old lady wearing crazy clothes, writing crazy blogs, and collecting conjunctions. 

Today is awesome because... it reached over 70 degress, we found a new coffee shop, and the Brewers game is on tv in Minnesota. :]

Vastness

I think I'm scared of vast, empty things. And being in them for extended periods of time.

Like, looking out into an ocean is as terrifying to me as it is fascinating.

One time, when I was a kid, we watched an IMAX movie about someone climbing Mt. Everest and it freaked me out so much. My parents (hi, Mom!) bought the soundtrack and would play it during dinner sometimes. I would get sad, but I couldn't tell them why, because I didn't really get it. But all I wanted to do was go to my room and definitely not listen to that soundtrack.

One time I cried during an episode of Sesame Street because something made me think of heaven. And heaven made me think of forever. And being somewhere forever freaked me out. So I cried.

Tonight we watched 127 Hours and I never ever want to watch it again.

I mean, it was very well done. But every time I thought about it, I would just start freaking myself out about everything. Life. Vastness.

It's not death. Death doesn't scare me.

I have this friend. I write him e-mails a lot late at night. Sometimes, they are very much not coherent. Sometimes they say things that spill out of my brain before I even get a chance to think about them. In some cases, this is a good thing - fresh thoughts. In some cases, this is a very bad thing. But, he is a good friend. He lets me think weird things and say things that make no sense. Sometimes, he even stops making fun of me. Also, he doesn't get afraid when he looks at an ocean. He's alright.*

This blog entry is my first thoughts, and I'm not sure if it will make any more sense in the morning. April might bring a few of these rambles, I hope you let me say a few things that make no sense.

In other news, I officially own a romper. After about a year and a half of trying on rompers that fit me ridiculously poorly, I found one that doesn't look half bad. I feel like this is a milestone of some sort!

The guy cut off his own arm. Like, okay. I'm going to not think about this movie anymore.

xx

*and by alright, I mean he's pretty much my best friend.

Wet Willy.

This is Cloud Cult, a band I am very much interested in as of late. I saw them live this week, and it was one of the best live performances from a band I've ever seen. Not only are they great live, but it's just an experience like none other. Besides the plethora of instruments (violin, guitar, cello, xylophone, french horn, keyboard, trombone, drums, trumpet, electric guitar, megaphone) they have two painters in the background who start off with a black canvass and paint during the whole concert on an easel that they're able to spin. After the concert they sell the paintings. They. Were. Gorgeous. and painted in just an hour. At a concert full of college kids, the paintings went for $500 each. 

They make you feel so much. I picked this song to post just so you are able to see the painter, and because the quality is good as well. 

Plus, the drummer never. stops. smiling. :]

-----------------

"I love James McAvoy."

"James McAvoy is delicious."

"Mr Tumnus, ahhh. Two thumbs up."

"James McAvoy is so dreamy, it's ridiculous."

"James McAvoy definitely is worthy of this list."

Guys. I was only talking about the fact that he is a good actor...

bahaha, who am I kidding. :]

-------------------

Diana askeed if I had any hair tips. If I had figured out the perfect solution to my hair problems, I would be as pushy a salesperson as political commercials become before elections. I. Wish. What I've found most effective for my thick thick curly thick uncontrollable hair is lots of layers, thinning, and pretty frequent hair cuts. Thinning does wonders. For out-of-the-shower curly days I use Aveda Be Curly or Tresemme Flawless Curls. Aveda, albeit expensive, is so worth it and so my favorite for everything. And I always have my straightener. 


It's super late and past my deadline for the day, so I'm going to say goodnight. I just got back from watching Free Willy, the movie of choice by the four guys I was hanging out with this evening. They stopped playing Wii because they wanted to watch Free Willy. I was confused, but I definitely didn't protest. 


... at the end of the movie I found out 90% of the reason they wanted to watch it was for "Will You Be There?" by Michael Jackson. This was the only part of the movie no one was allowed to talk. So, I leave you with this question, "Will you be there?!"


 Tomorrow, lovlies! xx

FAVE.

First of all, I loved all of your happy song suggestions. It reminded me of awesome wonderful stuff like Coconut Records, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Ellie Golding, Beatles, Dashboard, and Mika, and oh my gosh "Roll to Me" I never even knew the name of that song! And then you introduced me to some to stuff like Dispatch and a Decemberists song I had never heard. I listened to all of the songs during my break today.

So. Today I'm just making this a bit of a "Favorite Things" blog. These aren't necessarily my most favorite things in the world, they're just things I use quite often and do love so very much. You know how you try all sorts of makeup or hair junk or clothes or whatever, but then you find the right stuff and just absolutely can't live without it? Yeah. This kind of stuff. Here it is!

Teva Sandals

I'm about to buy my third pair of these guys. The past two summers at camp, I wore these all. summer. I've walked miles and miles and miles in them, and my feet never ever ever get sore. I'd say 80% of the girls of staff wear these. And their families. They. Are. The. Most. Comfortable. Flip Flops. And you can usually get them for under $20!! Oh, goodness. They are just... fantastic. I try them on every time I go shoe shopping, just because.

M.A.C. Concealer

I am so far from being a make-up expert, but I love this stuff. It covers everything. 

Covergirl Line Exact

Okay. Pencil liner always made me look like a dying raccoon by the end of the day. Liquid liner was harder to apply on my bottom lid than it was to stay in the lines when I was two. So, some time in high school I bought this stuff. SO fantastic. It's liquid, so it stays all day... but it's like a marker pen, so it's way easier to control. I've pretty much been a salesperson for this stuff since Junior year.

Somoa Cookies

Okay. I went through three boxes this Girl Scout season. This isn't that bad, I feel. But seriously. Favorite. Cookie. Ever.

Raisinetes

... speaking of comfort food. These are it. Bad days? Broken heart? Feelin' down? Bad Weather? Pimple? Can't decide what to wear? Nothing a Raisinet can't fix! Okay, so I took that too literally my freshman year of college. Honestly, it's probably the weight I gained.

Neutrogena Hand Cream

I have tried every lotion and its mother on my hands. Even the stinky stuff dermatologists recommend. They get so very awful during winter. Cracky bleedy awful. But this lotion makes hands softer than a baby's bottom. I feel like this is the universal phrase to compare soft things by, so I'm using it! I have about three bottles on this stuff. One for my purse, one for my backpack, and one for my dorm. People will complement you on your soft hands, I promise!

Lastly,  James McAvoy

Just Kidding. But Really.

xx

Time!

I have no time for you, bloggeh!

Since I compare my life to Gilmore Girls on a daily basis, I will share with you what I came across today.

Recently I watched this episode, where Loreli opens a present from her parents. The present being Wolfgirl, a painting.

Today we had to research a few artists in Graphic Design, and one was Kiki Smith. I google imaged Kiki Smith and saw it. Wolfgirl.

Oh goodness. The poor, unfortunate child. Anyway, I pretty much laughed out loud when I recognized it. I now fully understand another Gilmore Girl reference. One more down, 4378461 to go! Someday I'm going to watch all the seasons again, pause when there's a reference I don't understand, and look it up. This would be a time consuming process.

Now I have a question. Can you be in love with a feeling, or do you simply become addicted to feelings? Can you both be in love with and be addicted to something?

These are the seemingly irrelevant questions that flood my brain all too often.

You guys should also name a song you're into right now. One that makes you happy. I'm all for new happy songs! 

More tomorrow! xx

Le Spieling Peter

Someone come with me to Disneyland. Please.

Sometimes I feel like I'm Drew Barrymore pretending to be a high school student only to write an article on it. Except art school is my high school. And my future is the article I'm writing. Sometimes I feel like I'm an outsider being let in on the ins and outs of being an art major. I mean, I'm learning pretty well. But it still seems fake. I'm mostly just talking about sculpture here. I know what to say, and I know what will make Todd extremely excited in an artsy sort of way. But when we critique pieces and just say what it reminds us of, I'm not going to lie... it gets silly. Today I compared someone's sculpture to a leg of chicken. And this is acceptable, because it's art. I also compared one to pokeballs attacking a pokemon. In all honesty, it really looked like it. This isn't completely just the nerd in me. (After I said it, a boy responded, "That's what I was thinking, too! Secretly." We had a nerdlike moment.) Anyway, between comparing something to a leg of chicken and using a blow drier to dry my sham-wow full of charcoal*, I had another one of those, "Art major, Allyson? Really?" moments. Computers. I like computer art.

Hokay.

Sometimes I have days where I feel dizzy. all. day. Today was one of those days. I've tried everything. I think it's just something I have to deal with. Someone told me it might have something to do with weak adrenal glands. Well, hokay. Great, hormones. Way to get all weak on me. I thought you an I were good.

Guys, I had some fun on Google Maps today with my new address in Chicago. Then I did this:

What a company. That's all I have to say. I really like Starbucks, but I mean... can you believe a company can be something like this and still thrive? Coffee. Coffee drives the routine of our society. I mean, I don't really have an opinion on that, I just think it's such an interesting thing that the coffee industry is able to sell $4 lattes. Some people say it's sad, but I kind of think it's brilliant. No matter how much people complain, we all do it. What a business. With all that said, I won't lie. This got me excited. Say what you will!

Let me leave you with a little bit of adorable that is Spieling Peter Pan.

Sorry for this blah of a blog. I already know what I'm doing for tomorrows, though! Off to read about your days!

* It's technically a chamois cloth, but it's french so you say it like "sham wah." This is too hard for me to say without sounding like I'm completely faking the accent, so I call it a shamwow. But really, that's where the name Sham Wow came from. It's pretty much the exact same cloth. Fun fact o' the day for you.

Notsome Days.

" I will give you this, my love, and I will not bargain or barter any longer. I will love you, as sure as He has loved me. I will discover what I can discover and though you remain a mystery, save God's own knowledge, what I disclose of you I will keep in the warmest chamber of my heart, the very chamber where God has stowed Himself in me. And I will do this to my death, and to death it may bring me. I will love you like God, because of God, mighted by the power of God. I will stop expecting your love, demanding you love, trading for your love, gaming for your love. I will simply love. I am giving myself to you, and tomorrow I will do it again. I suppose the clock itself will wear thin its time before I am ended at this altar of dying and dying again. God risked Himself on me. I will risk myself on you. And together, we will learn to love, and perhaps then, and only then, understand this gravity that drew Him, unto us." 

-Donald Miller

(Recently I've rediscovered my love for this man and how he is able communicate his thoughts on paper in such a way that helps everything make a little more sense. Reading his stuff gives you a lot of fistpump moments.)

Sometimes, you are given days that make you appreciate the good days even more. These days are also known as Bad Days. I woke up this morning exhausted, a few things quickly transpired that put me in an awful mood, and I just trudged through the day until I could come back and take a nap.

However, a number of good things kept happening on this day I had already determined as "bad." I think it was God's way of poking me with a fluffy stick and saying, "Hey, you, with the great life. Stop trudgin'' around. Look at all the fantastic things I have given you today. Here, have some coffee and smile, woman."

Also, great friends are absolutely awesome to have. They remind you that the thoughts you have that put you down are not always stupid. They remind you that just because other people may think the doubts/insecurities/worries/questions you are having might be stupid or insignificant, doesn't mean they are. They remind you that you don't just have to "deal with it." No, it's not stupid. No, if you think it's an issue, you don't just have to "deal with it." People are different.

People need to respect the fact that people think/comprehend/feel differently. And sometimes, you need to take a step back and humble yourself to be able to understand how to better communicate what you are trying to get across to that person. And sometimes, that means doing things differently than what you personally think is the right way. This is really hard. This is like taking everything you have learned in your life to come to the conclusion you have come to, and setting it aside for a second in order to love the way another needs you to love.

So, my day is looking up. I can't shake this nasty headache, though.

UConn just won the NCAA tournament. This makes me happy. In 6th (7th?) grade I filled out my first bracket, sent UConn to win it, and they did. Just for me, I'm sure of it. Anyway, my friend Jeff and I were the class winners, so we both won something from the vending machine. I think I tell this to everyone every single March Madness, because I am so proud of it, but my slogan in 6th grade was, "U CONN DOOO IT!" I know, I know. It's pretty much more clever than anything you have heard in your life. Ever since then I have claimed the right to proclaim I am "good" at filling out brackets. To keep this true, I haven't filled out out for a few years now. :]

Hope you learned to love your Monday.

Ps: Remember how I accidentally got on the PETA e-mailing list and have come to enjoy the hilarity that fills my inbox on a weekly basis? Ah, yes. Well, have you ever considered yourself the cutest vegetarian alive? Well you're in luck, because there is now a contest for you! *facepalm*

Pps: Emily, I'm talkin' to you. Win this thing, gurrl.