Me As a Room Designer? Hey, It's Possible...

The place where you feel extremely relaxed, with no worries, tension.. you are at a state of uttermost relaxation. You feel like you are at the center of  the universe, and everything around you revolves and revolves into mist. Got the picture? Well, my room makes me feel relaxed, but it is boring, with no sparks of creativity and examples of my personality. Other than some posters, I need to add some decor which will make me feel blissful and and enjoy looking at my room after a long car ride. My plans and thoughts for my room are so exciting and appealing, yet I never have the time or energy to put these plans into action. However, today in the morning I grew encouraged to see and envision a big change in my room. Therefore, I searched the internet for crafts and beautiful answers, that trust me, will change my life forever. After realizing that I do not have these certain materials like metal hoops and other random stuff, I grew lazy, typing keywords on Google like "room designers in bay area." I mean, it would be genuinely kind for one person in this world that can transform my room for FREE. Actually, no, it is impossible. Anyhoo, today I got some beautiful craft ideas from the internet; I am motivated to actually buy small tidbits that I need to accomplish my goal and start my ideas next weekend.

1) Fabric Chandelier



I am dying to start on this project because the different shades of creme are so lovely and beautiful. It looks extremely easy, but I know that it is much harder because I can't imagine the outcome to be so pretty. However, I need a metal hoop and maybe some ribbon and off-white lace.

2) A Black and White Bedspread (Awesome!)



Okay, opposites attract; black and white are opposite colors that rule together as one! Seriously, they are awesome. The image above has unique transitions and shades of white, gray, and black. It describes the elegance of the bedspread through the fancy city Paris. However, in Bed Bath & Beyond my eyes immediately caught a similar bedspread with not only Paris, but with famous cities like Tokyo and New York City on the sheet. The overall style was so unique and modern, and even though I saw that design a whole year ago, I still remember it. This whole bed set is going to be a must for my birthday. Nevertheless, I am going to get it from my own money, by creating a garage sale, because it will be enjoyable and I have been planning to do one ever since.

3) Let's make it compliment: Fabric on your cabinet



Cabinets and cupboards are both boring necessities that are unfortunately needed in rooms. However, with fabric and ribbon they are magically transformed into beautiful decorations. Simply cut pieces of decorative fabric and glue it on a cork board or canvas, so that it can stick out. Then, pin or paste the board on your cabinet and whenever you open it to get possessions, you will simply enjoy the process with color and fun patterns. Moreover, it will certainly compliment the black and white bedspread. I am truly so happy that I thought of this idea because it is so easy and convenient, perfect for lazybums like me.

4) Meaningful Words

 

With unique fonts and lettering, you can design words, both meaningful and special to your heart. Live, laugh, love, and dream are the most common sayings found in tween/teenage rooms. However, you can create a design saying anything that you as a person are attached to. Simply paste it on to your wall, and every morning, admire those small yet beautiful words that are special to you alone.

5) Hearts of Love



Most doors are white, never expressing love, or even words. DOORS ARE RUDE. Anyways, decorate your door with hearts, or any other shape imaginable, filled your favorite quotes from books or about live in general. When your friends are about to enter your own place of relaxation, they will see the words and writings that tie you together as a well-rounded person. They will see your possessions in a different way, a way that reflects your genuine personality as a whole. Additionally, these hearts will express your personal love for others, including your family and friends.


All these decorations will fill you with a sense of homeliness and coziness, as well as a chance to reflect who you are, deep inside. When the sunlight catches your window, you will absolutely enjoy seeing these beauties.


Citation for Images:

Http://www.alittlecraftinyourday.co. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.alittlecraftinyourday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/25_Teenage_Girl_Room_Decor_Ideas11.jpg>.

Http://www.kidsroomtreasures.com/. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.kidsroomtreasures.com/mm5/graphics/levele/242Q-ellysee550.jpg>.

Http://www.craftpassion.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.craftpassion.com/wp-content/gallery/giveaway-jan-2012/fabric-ribbon-bundle-giveaway-2.jpg>.

Http://imagecache5d.allposters.com/. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://imagecache5d.allposters.com/watermarker/62-6226-MN73100Z.jpg?ch=775&cw=775>.

Http://neoformix.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://neoformix.com/2008/WordHearts1.png>.

Books to Devour and Devour: Basically How I Eat

     Overwhelmed yet filled with great excitement. Those two feelings describe how I am feeling completely. I have no idea what to devour, but I am so excited. Recently, I gobbled up two amazing books, Let It Snow and City of Glass. And over the past two weeks, I am selfishly smuggling books from the library, asking my mom, maybe bugging her to pick up my holds, and asking her to buy me The House of Hades. I never buy books, but I created a tradition to buy any of Rick Riordan's books on The Heroes of Olympus series because they are amazing. Now I have a great dilemma, deciding what to read next. All of these great books are lazily lying on my desk: Delirium, The Evolution of Mara Dyer, Just Listen, Abandon, The House of Hades (for crying out loud), The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Anew, and Ruby Red. I am picky when it comes to pick books and pick clothes, when my mom and sister choose girly outfits, which is certainly NOT me. Therefore, all of the books on my desk are ones I am dying to read and devour. The snowman in the middle describes my emotions of happiness, and since he is cold and filled with Christmas feelings, the snowman shows how I feel cozy when I read a book during the winter time. The synopsis in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is not helping me since it is so intriguing and mysterious. It goes like this:

Mara Dyer doesn't think that life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can. 

She believes that there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. There is.  

She believes that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong. 

     

     So, can you see that this fascinating synopsis is certainly not helping me? I have a Harry Potter to pick up from the library on Tuesday, and after that HUGE cliffhanger in The Mark of Athena, I have to read the House of Hades, or I am going to burst. All of the other books are patiently waiting for me to discover the mystical story that is hidden deep deep inside. 

     Friends, can you please give me any suggestions on what I should read next? Leave your answers in the comment section. Tell me the book title from the books that I have waiting for me and if it is possible, a short explanation why. Thank you so much, and again, please help me solve my stupid yet important and vital dilemma. I devour and gobble books; this is how I live. Help me before it is too late! :D

My Hair Gave A Girl Self-esteem

Imagine taking one single haircut and then realizing that a girl just like you gains self-esteem as a patient suffering with medical hair loss. Just visualize the fact that you a simple, ordinary person did such an important thing, which enabled someone to have confidence and face the world ahead of themselves. It was my choice, my desire to cut my hair, now the length of just near my ear. I will never regret this decision ever in my entire lifetime because I have pride for my thoughts, and faith for the person that received my hair as a token for kindness, self-esteem, and bliss.

As the parlor ladies were cutting my hair, they were constantly asking my mom and I whether I genuinely wanted to cut my hair. There was never a time in my life so far where I seriously committed to something and gave up, so I obviously accepted them to continue. I always had a deep desire to give my hair to cancer patients suffering with this disease, and I love to know and realize that someone there around the globe is smiling, enjoying, and living life with my hair. I was never obsessed with my hair like some teenage fan girls (no offense.) Therefore, it may have been easy to give up my hair for the time-being, but a sense of generosity was always inside my heart and soul throughout the entire process.

When I went to the post office to mail my hair to an organization called Locks of Love, the woman that was taking the envelope with my hair asked us about what I was doing. I told her and she smiled graciously. She then gave us the envelope back to us, with her left hand over her right. Kindness goes and kindness comes; my mom's saying repeated in my mind. 

A sense of kindness, faith, generosity, and love always remains in a person's heart, but it is there own choice to reveal it and spread it to their loved ones. When there is passion, there is joy and pride. I have a great passion and attachment to help others and be nice. Although I am not "nice" all the time, I show it not by giving compliments or letting people borrow my possessions, but by doing genuine things. For instance, I believe that a true friend and soul is one that listens to you when you are talking and not anxiously waits to say their thoughts, shows kindness, and demonstrates bravery. I have attachment, not pity, to cancer patients because they go through a lot of tough times and stay strong. Probably it is the fact that I read books with relating to cancer characters, not the corny ones but the few beautiful ones, which have happiness and even death at the end. 

I am extremely proud of my own decision to cut my hair, even though it is a small milestone to an act of kindness and even courage. I would love to see the person wearing my hair, that smile that is certainly not fake, but yes, genuinely real. It brings me joy to find another soul wearing my hair, not for looks but for their own necessary amount of pride. May that person, no matter how "bad" have confidence to face the world in the near future. 

"The light bestows upon ones with love for their passions. There is generosity inside of you, so reveal it, and let it shine through your existing soul." ~Ashna Sharma

Just Stand Up- A beautiful song dedicated to cancer patients.

Artists- Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Leona Lewis, Rihanna, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood

Forest Park, A Remarkable Connection

I have started my first year of seventh grade at Thornton Jr. High School, and to tell the truth, the school has everything, except for those elementary childhood connections. Meh, my elementary school was the dream. Anywho, whenever I see something which relates me back to Forest Park, my heart beats rapidly, and I feel a rare childish emotion. For instance, when I saw a beautiful sunset in our community park, Frank Fisher Park, I took pictures of it with my mom's phone like a tourist visiting a neighborhood for some apparent reason. Moreover, I even miss the students holding stop signs on crosswalks, irritatingly yelling, "Stop the Cars!" (No offense safety patrollers.) I know perfectly well that you won't find all your elementary teachers "caring" for you or giving hugs, but most of them at least pretend to show their students the slight affection that they care for them. On the other hand, I have seen that most middle school teachers don't seem to have a friendly attitude, probably due to the fact that they teach copious amounts of students each period. Forest Park has changed so much in every way and every year since kindergarten. Suddenly, due to budget cuts, new teachers and principals come and go, leaving a remembrance in my heart. Although the school is so different, there is a special glow which radiates from the heart of the separate kindergarten playground. Trust me, it remains how it was seven years ago, and I believe that the young children still have the same bicycles that we playfully rode on long before. The main specialty in Forest Park was not the friends and teachers, but the impact that it had played in my heart for so many years. I must admit, at some time periods I did not have kind companions and teachers, but the wonderful ones never nor never will leave my soul. My friends are still with me today, and even though I didn't talk to them much in elementary school, we eat lunch together and goof around in middle school...(most people, not even my parents, have seen my goofy side). For example, on top of learning, my teachers gave me baby steps towards understanding, kindness, and perhaps even confidence and success. Today, Forest Park Elementary school proudly stands as being the largest school in the Fremont School District, with students of every shape, character, and religion. Furthermore, as there are over 1,000 students in this elementary school, the new principal is enforcing new safety rules, like not allowing adults in campus during school hours. I have stayed in this school for seven whole years of my entire lifetime, and although it changed so drastically, I will look at Forest Park through the small eyes I had back in kindergarten. Personally, I don't think that I will write something about middle school or even high school in this particular manner. To me, high school is considered a social area in life, while, on the other hand, Forest Park dug me into my soul, my genuine personality deep deep within. Usually, I put a picture at the end of each post for viewers to visualize my thoughts. However, there are no images to describe what I am feeling inside. Only words, just plain words. 

A Choice Of Living

Short and sweet. These two single words describe  the book If I Stay perfectly. If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, is a heart-wrenching, short 200 page novel that caused my mind to be filed with beautiful questions about life after death. Mia, the book's protagonist, is a musical 17-year-old teenager who hopes to go to Julliard with her cello, otherwise known as her best friend. She never knew that in one single car crash, her dreams will be shattered, but brought back alive. Even though this book was not very long, it was filling and heavy, filled with Mia's flashbacks that changed her as a person. However, it was never sad or depressing, as Mia was brought back alive by her loved ones including Adam, Kim, and her grandpa, known as Gramps. Throughout the story, Mia is never helpless or weak; she listens to the sounds around her with her ears, both perplexed and full of wonderment on whether she has the right to live even when her family is crumbled. If I Stay was a such a powerful and thought-provoking book. Trust me, you will be engaged in Mia's story, full of both captivation and emotion. 

In one chilly morning day, everything changed. Mia and her family went on a family drive, and then, the world revolved into darkness, or was it meant to be dark? Mia has an amazing life; she is a hardworking cellist, has a caring friend, a supportive family, and a great boyfriend named Adam. However, when her whole family dies in a car crash, she is faced with the toughest decision in life, whether or not to live. Mia's brain is shattered, and numerous amounts of doctors help her piece together both physically and mentally. She is aware of everything that goes around her, and when people talk to her when she is in this state, it's beautiful. Her grandfather talks to her while she is in a coma: “It’s okay, If you want to go. Everyone wants you to stay. I want you to stay more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. But that’s what I want and I could see why it might not be what you want. So I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It’s okay if you have to leave us. It’s okay if you want to stop fighting.” These quotes had so much feeling, and my heart broke into shreds of sorrow and joy. It also broke and warmed up when Adam told Mia to stay: “If you stay, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I’ll do that, too…maybe going to your old life will be too painful, that maybe it would be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I would do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay." I loathe sappy love stories, but the attachment in this book was not attachment at all. It was poetry, beautiful poetry with feeling, with thought.

Whenever Mia thought to herself if whether her younger brother and parents are dead or angels, my heart throbs out of sadness. The characters in If I Stay were incredible, and they demonstrated love in its many forms. Her grandfather was only mentioned a couple of times, but I heard the way he talked in my mind, and his words made my heart melt. Moreover, when Mia described her friendly friend Kim, she had a longing in her voice that never transformed into cruel desire. Additionally, when Adam talked to her, I was never uncomfortable, disgusted, or grossed out. He did not have attachment, but genuine faith that Mia will grow up to be a talented, kind, and successful woman. All these characters gave Mia hope that she would live, and they knew that she was smart enough to listen. At that time period, when she was ill, she did not have a healthy body. Instead, Mia had a STRONG soul. 

Gayle Forman did an excellent job with If I Stay. The book will reside in your heart forever, and you would never have to worry about being unjust because love in its good amounts will fly like a bird to the best souls. May all the dead live up in heaven, with no one, but only peace with angels.  

Citation for Image:

Rev. of If I Stay. Weblog post. Http://2.bp.blogspot.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013. <https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl5ythyphenhyphenO0gSltrEhOe3ztHZBh9XSA_M70HQeYhnlWP-k4fS3A5tAXFvBOF0jvnPscbAY9KWmGhm8oOr-erUwipQ3YOYVnDm2qGbpH2sSe0Ss9AzfWmyv-WYokBblHADldD9tV_zVLeEk/s200/stay.jpg>.

The BIG Problem With Movies: The Books Are Just So Good!

Whenever I check out the movies reviews of movies that were based of books, I sit and wonder, "Why are they all  hated, so loathed by millions of movie-goers around the globe?" The answer is simple; no matter how awesome, filling, and entertaining the movie is, it can never beat the book. While books capture all juicy aspects, including plot twists, emotions, and knowledge, movies give us the same things too, only with a different feeling. There are copious amounts of confusing, completely different than the book, movies-based-on-books out there like Beautiful Creatures, The Host, Sea of Monsters, and City of Bones. Overall, as movies are not bad, but just perplexing and all over the place. The movies are not to blame; it is the books. They are so awesome and everything fits together like a puzzle, that it is impossible to redoe it in any way.

Therefore, even though I have no experience with script writing, I am going to create short scenes from one of my favorite books, Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys. Though it greatly deserves to be a movie, it has not been one yet.

Scene 1
Beginning: Lina talking to news reporter, when she is 90 years old. Time: December, 2005

Lina: (with emotion) The world was so happy. In Lithuania, I felt like nothing could ever go wrong. I drew every evening; it was my time of peace. My family, my younger brother Jonas, Mom, and Dad were so strong. I never thought that something so devastating would strike us. (she sniffles some tears and wipes them away.)

News Reporter: I understand how difficult it must be for you. Do you want to give us a flashback of your story?

Lina : Yes, the world deserves to know this devastating story, hidden between shades of gray.

Scene 2
Lina's story starts here. She is fifteen years old. Her mom is sewing; her dad is not yet home from work.

Time: Evening

(Urgent pounding on the door)

Jonas: Mother, aren't you going to open it? It might break down.

Mother: (quietly sitting on a chair, praying) Of coarse, darling. I will open it.

Jonas: (face is deeply pale, he looks scared) (whispers) NVKD! I heard that they are arresting people.

Lina: No, not us.

(A tall officer stands there near the doorway, holding the family's passports).
Mother: (calmly) Give us more time. We will be ready by the morning

Officer: (gruffs) Only twenty minutes, or you won't live to see morning.

Mother: Please lower your voice. I have children.

Officer: (barks) Fine! 20 more minutes. (He throws his cigarette wad into their house, and stomps on it)

(Note: Parts of the dialouge from Scence 2 were taken from the Ruta Sepetys's writing.)

The scenes that I wrote were difficult to act, as the book was very emotional. If I continued the script to have more scenes, it would have been impossible for to write, as it would be too cheesy and awkward. So, do not blame the movie's horribleness on the movie. It is the book's fault, they are so good, giving me a love to imagine.

                     


Both the Dutch cover and U.S. cover of Between Shades of Gray have beautiful meanings. 

Which cover do you personally like better, and why?

Citation for Images:

Review. Weblog post. Http://2.bp.blogspot.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2013. <https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_zmpklYrkLRXleK2FVfFATKElUCUPMIjW0r99Jcu7GIZtVVgMLy5EWL9gcw9lt_FSrjMwzt1BIoqT246R2-Be28pxOUDm8Qc4M6pAZbQnJB0KSy8JofdR8B6bt0hIMGFIw1zY5Mk_5Q/s320/Between+Shades+of+Gray.jpg>.

Review. Weblog post. Http://rutafans.files.wordpress.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2013. <http://rutafans.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dutch-bsg.jpg/2013/06/dutch-bsg.jpg>.

That Familiar Scent of Books and Coffee

Every time I pass the closed Borders bookstore in Fremont Hub, old memories and reading inspirations wash over me. When I was in 2nd grade, my dad and I used to go to Borders and buy books every two weeks. The chairs for readers and the warm smell on chilly winter nights made this bookstore the perfect reading environment. Going to Borders and getting books was one of the main reasons I was inspired to read and now write. Yesterday, while I was passing through the Fremont Hub complex, I remembered these sweet memories. It is still very vivid in my mind. "While everyone grows imaginative in their own book, and travels to an alternate universe, they are engrossed in the warm and overwhelming coffee. They are cozily cuddled up in furry chairs, awed by the author's beautiful words. After the book ends, the reader learns a valuable lesson and just thinks in the book's character's point of view." To tell the truth, when I was young, I was obviously not very wise. Therefore, I didn't buy very meaningful, moving, or emotional books, like I do now. I just remember that I bought many books of the hilarious Junie B. Jones series, and a short story relating to Sacajawea. Surprisingly, the bookstore Borders played such an important part throughout the twelve years of my whole life. Just when I entered that magical bookstore, I felt a special connection and that familiar scent of books and coffee. I was always looking forward to going there with my dad. However, in 2011 Borders sadly closed all of its 399 remaining store branches because of a struggling market. This amazing bookstore was most probably not important to many others, but to book lovers like me, Borders sent me shocked. 

I missed the bookstore, I still miss the bookstore, and I will always miss the bookstore forever and ever in my heart. (That is my oath to Borders) :D

Do you have a connection with Borders? If so, how?

                           

Citation for Image:

Http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Sept. 2013. <http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/borders%20timonium1.jpg>.