tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75659955835940269442024-03-13T02:27:51.659-07:00Je Serai ÊtreAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-34961837905010822982014-04-22T16:04:00.000-07:002014-04-22T16:04:50.247-07:00I Moved!Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I moved my blog over to wordpress. So far I'm really liking it. Anyway just thought I would let you all know that I will no longer be updating this blog. If you'd like to continue following me here is the <a href="http://jeseraietre.wordpress.com/">link</a> to my new site. You can also follow my new site on bloglovin <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12159251">here</a>. Hope you're all having a fantastic day!<br />
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<br />Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-43431796277170515552014-03-17T17:46:00.000-07:002014-03-17T17:46:00.126-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Most people celebrate this Irish holiday with excessive drinking, instead my family celebrates the birthday of our three dachshunds; Oskar, Max and Leo. This has been a tradition for at least the past five years. We know that Oskar's, the oldest dog, birthday is actually today. The other two were adopted from an animal rescue shelter so their birthday is unknown. Therefore, we celebrate all three of them on the 17th of March. Every year we order this gorgeous, sugar-free, liver cake from the local pet store and let the three of them devour it!</div>
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Have a great St. Patricks Day everyone!<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-19607016451439131412014-03-14T10:00:00.000-07:002014-03-14T10:00:00.029-07:0014 Books for 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
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The other night I was sleep-deprived and stressed (HAHA that's every night!) and I decided to pick 14 books from my shelf that I am required to read this year. My shelves are a mixture of young adult literature, classical literature, adult literature and non-fiction memoirs and histories. In order to keep this balance, I chose a couple books from each genera. Here are my choices.<br />
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Adult Literature</h2>
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<b><i>I Love You, Beth Cooper </i>by Larry Doyle</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Denis Cooverman wanted to say something really important in his high school graduation speech. So, in front of his 512 classmates and their 3,000 relatives, he announced: "I love you, Beth Cooper." It would have been such a sweet, romantic moment. Except that Beth, the head cheerleader, has only the vaguest idea who Denis is. And Denis, the captain of the debate team, is so far out of her league he is barely even the same species. And then there's Kevin, Beth's remarkably large boyfriend, who's in town on furlough from the United States Army. Complications ensue.</span></div>
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Written by a former writer for <i>The Simpsons</i>, this novel is sure to be hilarious. It's also a fitting read as I will be graduating as well in a couple months. Plus, after I read it, I can watch the movie starring Jason Segal.</div>
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<b><i>Revolting Youth: The Further Journals of Nick Twisp</i> by Cd Payne</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">In the wry and subversive further journals of Nick Twisp, we reunite with America's most literate teen diarist as he accidentally ignites criminal mayhem, seeks union with his love, Sheeni Saunders, and still has to live as a girl to avoid the police - an absolute must-read for all fans of the oddball humor of <i>Youth In Revolt</i>.</span></div>
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<i>Youth In Revolt</i> was one of the first books I read upon becoming a teenager and I love it. It was amazing and taught me so much about the male psyche! I never knew there was a sequel until about a year ago and can't believe I haven't read it yet. I'm incredibly excited to reunite with Nick.</div>
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<b><i>High Fidelity </i>by Nick Hornby</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Rob is a pop music junkie who runs his own semi-failing record store. His girlfriend, Laura, has just life him for the guy upstairs, and Rob is both miserable and relieved. After all, could he have spent his life with someone who has a bad record collection? Rob seeks refuge in the company of the offbeat clerks at this store, who endlessly review their top five films, top five Elvis Costello songs, top five episodes of <i>Cheers</i>. Rob tries dating a singer whose rendition of "Baby, I Love Your Way" makes him cry. But maybe it's just that he's always wanted to sleep with someone who has a record contract. Then he sees Laura again. And Rob begins to thing (awful as it sounds) that life as in episode of <i>thirtysomething</i>, with all the kids and marriages and barbecues and k.d. lang CDs that this implies, might not be so bad.</span></div>
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<i>High Fidelity</i> starring John Cusack is one of my all-time favorite films and when I learned it was adapted from a book, I had to check it out. It will be interesting to see the differences between the two and which I will enjoy more.</div>
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<b><i>Neverwhere </i>by Neil Gaiman</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And me must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.</span></div>
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I have read two of Gaiman's books before, <i>The Ocean at the End of the Lane </i>and <i>American Gods</i>, and found his mixture of fantasy and reality deeply engaging and entertaining. On top of that, Gaiman is an amazing writer who takes the reader on a journey though a fantastical realm through the eyes of the most average characters.</div>
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Classic Literature </h2>
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<b><i>Catch-22 </i>by Joseph Heller</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">At the heart of <i>Catch-22</i> resides the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero endlessly inventive in his schemes to save his skin from the horrible chances of war. His efforts are perfectly understandable because as he furiously scrambles, thousands of people he hasn't even met are trying to kill him. His problem is Colonel Cathcart, who keeps raising the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempts to excuse himself from the perilous missions that he is committed to flying, he is trapped by the Great Loyalty Oath Crusade, the hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule from which the book takes its title: a man is considered insane if he is willing to continue to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes the necessary formal request to be relieved of such missions, the very act of making the request proves that he is sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. <i>Catch-22</i> is a microcosm of the twentieth-century world as it might look to someone dangerously sane.</span></div>
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<i>Catch-22</i> is one of those books everyone has read in high school which I will miss out on due to my choice to attend a charter school. Therefore, I feel the need to read this book to become a part of the collective consciousness in the United States. Prior to writing the previous paragraph, I had no idea what this novel was about and now I'm intrigued and excited about starting it!</div>
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<b><i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> by John Steinbeck</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">At once naturalistic epic, captivity narrative, road novel, and transcendental gospel, Steinbeck's <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> is perhaps the most American of American classics. Although it follows the movement of thousands of men and women and the transformation of an entire nation during the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s, <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> is also the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads, who are driven off their homestead and forced to travel west to the promised land of California. From their trials and their repeated collisions against the hard realities of this new America, Steinbeck creates a drama that is intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, tragic but ultimately stirring in its insistence on human dignity.</span></div>
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I recently read Steinbeck's <i>East of Eden </i>in class and, while I enjoyed the writing and characters, found it lacking in symbolism and deeper meaning. When talking to my English teacher about this problem, he suggested I try <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> as people usually like one of the two and dislike the other. I am currently about 60 pages into <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> and liking its subtly and characters much more than <i>East of Eden.</i></div>
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<b><i>The Idiot </i>by Fyodor Dostoevsky</b> (translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky)</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">After his great portrayal of a guilty man in <i>Crime and Punishment</i>, Dostoevsky set out in <i>The Idiot</i> to portray a man of pure innocence. The twenty-six-year-old Prince Myshkin, following a stay of several years in a Swiss sanatorium, returns to Russia to collect an inheritance and "be among people." Even before he reaches home he meets the dark Rogozhin, a rich merchant's son whose obsession with the beautiful Nastasya Filippovna eventually draws all three of them into a tragic denouement. In Petersburg, the prince finds himself a stranger in a society obsessed with money, power and manipulation. Scandal escalates to murder as Dostoevsky traces the surprising effects of this "positively beautiful man" on the people around him, leading to a final scene that is one of the most powerful in all of world history.</span></div>
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I love Russian literature. I could read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Chekov for days and have frequently. However, the main reason I picked up <i>The Idiot</i> is that for the past two years I have had a giant Russian novel assigned as summer reading at my school and loved reading these works. <i>The Idiot </i>will serve as my choice to continue this reading assignment alone this summer. I chose <i>The Idiot </i>as I read <i>The Brothers Karamazov</i> last year and am interested in learning more about Dostoevsky's image of a perfect man which I am told he portrays in <i>The Idiot.</i></div>
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<b><i>On the Road</i> by Jack Kerouac</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">During three weeks in 1951, Jack Kerouac wrote the first draft of <i>On the Road</i> - typed as a long, single-spaced paragraph on eight sheets of tracing paper, which he taped together to from a scroll. Representing the identifiable point at which his vision and narrative voice first came together in sustained burst of creative energy, this scroll is the "uncut" version of Kerouac's masterpiece - rougher, wilder, and more sexually explicit than the edited work that appeared in 1957. <i>On the Road: The Original Scroll</i> is Kerouac's signature achievement - and one of the most significant, celebrated, and provocative documents in American literary history.</span></div>
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I am really interested in reading <i>On the Road. </i>I really want to understand what the Beat Generation was trying to accomplish and their style of free writing so I figure <i>On the Road</i> is a great starting point. I'm slightly intimidated by reading Kerouac's huge first draft but hey, go big or go home!</div>
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Young Adult Literature </h2>
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<b><i>The Book Thief </i>by Markus Zusak</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. By her brother's graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is <i>The Grave Digger's Handbook</i>, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up and closed down.</span></div>
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I know, I know, it's basically sacrilege to have not read this book. I have read Zusak's work before and loved it but had yet to begin <i>The Book Thief</i> simply because I know that it's sad. I already cry at any WWII movie and knowing that this book has reduced some of the least susceptible people I know to tears makes me unwilling to read this book. However, I feel the need to get through this book. I'll just keep a box of tissues handy.</div>
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<b><i>Between Shades of Grey </i>by Ruta Sepetys</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch. Lithuania, June 1941: Fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school and looking forward to summer. In the dark of night there is a knock at the door and life is forever changed. Soviet secret police arrest Lina, her mother, and her younger brother, tearing their family apart. The three are hauled from their home and thrown into cattle cars, where they soon discover their destination: Siberia. Separated from her father, Lina embeds clues in her drawings and secretly passes them along, hoping they will reach her father's prison camp. In this dramatic and moving story, Lina desperately fights for her life and the lives of those around her. But will love be enough to keep her alive.</span></div>
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Like <i>The Book Thief, </i>I have been meaning to read this book for years but I've been unwilling due to the harsh subject matter that could reduce me to tears. However, I am extremely excited to read<i> Between Shades of Grey</i> as it is supposed to be amazing and takes place in the USSR which is a nation whose history and choices I find incredibly interesting.</div>
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Non-Fiction Novels</h2>
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<b><i>The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon</i> by David Grann</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">In 1925, the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon jungle, in search of a fabled civilization located deep in the deadly wilderness. He never returned. In this masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, journalist David Grann tells the epic story of Fawcett's quest for this"Lost City of Z," as he unravels the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century.</span></div>
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I love exploration. I love the idea of venturing into the wild uncertain of what one will find. I also love mythology and learning about non-Western civilizations. Due to this, <i>The Lost City of Z</i> ticks all the right boxes for me!</div>
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<b><i>Hiroshima</i> by John Hersey</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed but the first atom bomb ever dropped on a city. This book, John Hersey's journalistic masterpiece, tells what happened on that day. Told through memories of survivors, this timeless, powerful and compassionate document has become a classic "that stirs the conscience of humanity."</span></div>
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I find atomic/nuclear weapons an incredibly intriguing subject. I hate the fact that since the end of the Cold War the horrible power of this bomb and the necessity to rid the earth of this power has faded from public consciousness. I think it is really important for people to learn everything about this destructive power we now have in order to go about its own destruction in a correct manner. Reading this historical account of the bombing of Hiroshima is a way for me to expand my knowledge on this subject.</div>
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<b><i>The Serpent and the Rainbow: A Harvard Scientist's Astonishing Journey into the Secret Societies of Haitian Voodoo, Zombis, and Magic </i>by Wade Davis</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">In April 1982, ethnobotanist Wade Davis arrived in Haiti to investigate two documented cases of zombis - people who had reappeared in Haitian society years after they had been officially declared dead and had been buried. Drawn into a netherworld of rituals and celebrations, Davis penetrated the vodoun mystique deeply enough to place zombification in its proper context within vodoun culture. In the course of his investigation, Davis came to realize that the story of vodoun is the history of Haiti - from the African origins of its people to the successful Haitian independence movement, down to the present day, where vodoun culture is, in effect, the government of Haiti's countryside. <i>The Serpent and the Rainbow</i> combines anthropological investigation with a remarkable personal adventure to illuminate and finally explain a phenomenon that has long fascinated Americans.</span></div>
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Again, I find exploration and mythology incredibly interesting. A personal adventure mixed with the unraveling of the zombie story is like a dream come true to me. Also after buying this book, I was informed that it is a renowned book in the world of anthropology which is a field I am interested in studying in college. I cannot wait to learn what Davis uncovered in Haiti.</div>
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<b><i>Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing </i>by Anya von Bremzen</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">With startling beauty and sardonic wit, Anya von Bremzen tells an intimate yet epic story of life in that vanished empire known as the USSR - a place where every edible morsel was packed with emotional and political meaning. Born in 1963, Anya grew up in a communal Moscow apartment where eighteen families shared one kitchen. She sang odes to Lenin, black-marketeered Juicy Fruit gum at school, watched her father brew moonshine, and, like most Soviet citizens, longed for a taste of the mythical West. It was a life by turns absurd, drab, naively joyous, melancholy - and ultimately intolerable to her anti-Soviet mother, Larisa. When Anya was ten, she and Larisa fled the political repression of Brezhnev-era Russia, arriving in Philadelphia with no winter coast and no right of return.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Now Anya occupies two parallel food universes: one where she writes about four-star restaurants, the other where a taste of humble kolbasa transports her back to her scarlet-blazeed socialist past. To bring that past to life in its full flavor, both bitter and sweet, Anya and Larisa embark on a journey unlike any other: they decide to eat and cook their way though every decade of the Soviet experience - turning Larisa's kitchen into a "time machine and an incubator of memories." Together, mother and daughter re-create meals both modest and sumptuous, featuring a decadent fish pie from the pages of Chekhov, chanakhi (Stalin's favorite Georgian stew), blini, and more.</span></div>
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This book combines my love for personal memoirs and learning about the USSR. Plus it's absolutely gorgeous. Nothing could make me not love this novel.<br />
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I'm incredibly excited to read all of these great books this year. Reading always leaves me feeling fulfilled and satisfied in a way movies, television, and the internet never do. What's on your reading list this year?</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-62766438632245250672014-03-12T10:00:00.000-07:002014-03-12T10:00:02.466-07:00Life LatelyLife has been extremely hectic lately. In order to provide a comprehensive synthesis of what I've been up to, I am going to divide this post into four different sections, each one occupying a majority of my brain this past month. (Wow, I've been writing way too much for school. I mean, who says 'comprehensive synthesis'?!)<br />
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International Baccalaureate Program (IB)</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Extended Essay</td></tr>
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I am currently working toward my IB diploma. If you don't know what that is, it's basically AP classes but with international standards and many other assessments outside of the tests in May that decide whether or not the student will receive a diploma for their time and energy. Last year, I took my tests in math and french, this year I have tests in english, philosophy, history, and biology plus my extended essay, Theory of Knowledge (ToK) paper, and various other internal/external assessments. These tasks have been weighing heavily in my mind for the last month.<br />
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Spread over a year, this to-do list would not be so bad, unfortunately my school did everything in the month of February. I am currently in the home stretch, with only my Philosophy IA and the actual tests ahead of me. However, I am incredibly burnt out from the last month. Last month, I wrote my EE while finishing up my Works in Translation paper and my ToK essay. This equals producing about 30 pages of written work on top of my normal classwork. Yeah, it felt like hell. The strangest part was that there was no way to escape this stress. Everyone I talk to on a normal basis was dealing with the same deadlines so our conversations were also centered on the amount of work we had to do. This has actually hurt my friendships because I don't want to think about my work with my friends but I'm forced to.</div>
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Now the most stressful thought is the tests in May. I am literally terrified. I have no idea how I'm going to remember all of the dates in history, all of the tragic plots for english, and all the philosophers for philosophy. I get overwhelmed just thinking about it and the consist review and cramming that will be crammed into the next two months. I'm fairly confident that I will earn enough points to merit a diploma come July, but the effort and stress in between now and the tests has me running for the hills. I don't think preparation is my thing, it's a put-up or shut-up mind in here.<br />
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Computer Upgrade</h2>
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I recently received a MacBook Pro from my parents as an early graduation present and I'm thrilled. I absolutely love it and it is pulling all my hipster qualities up to the surface of my personality. Literally all I want to do is sit on my nice quilted blanket, in front of a window, and scroll through tumblr. I've actually noticed an influx in smoothie-drinking, beanie-wearing, classics-reading and netflix-watching in the week I've had it! Also, since my mac has become a part of my life, I have done absolutely no homework. This has become my new normal:<br />
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Joking aside, I really do love my new computer. My last computer was bought in 2009 and for the last couple months it has been crashing almost daily. I would joke that my computer decided when it was time for me to go to bed because it would unfailingly crash if kept working past midnight. Compared to that, this MacBook is heavenly. I think the most amazing part is the quality of the image. Maybe it's because I've been making more of an effort to wear my glasses, but every image looks 10x better on this computer. While I feel a bit lost due to the changes between a PC and a Mac, so far I'm glad I've made the switch.<br />
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Compulsive Summer Disorder</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh Michigan, take me back</td></tr>
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Recently, it has been 60 degrees and storming here in California and while I'm happy for this weather due to the recent drought in CA, I'm craving summertime. Perhaps I'm simply searching for a fantasy away from all my stress but all I want to do is sit on the beach. I'm craving the warmth, sunlight, and adventures that come with summer. I have decided to call this problem Compulsive Summer Disorder or CSD. It is actually becoming a problem as I will literally stop what I'm doing to fantasize about summer activities. I have attempted to quell this craving by swimming at my local gym and blasting the heater but I think my CSD will remain a constant problem for the next few months.<br />
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College</h2>
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Last, but not least, I have accepted my offer of acceptance to the University of Michigan. I realized that, regardless of the decisions I have yet to receive, I would choose U of M. When I visited the campus, I fell in love. I felt that I would be presented with many challenges but also that I would be able to have a great college experience at U of M. Plus, it's GORGEOUS!!!!! I'm still blown away that I managed to get into such an amazing school and I cannot wait to pursue higher education there. However, that is all six months away. All I have to do now is wait for further information about housing and orientation. Unfortunately my patience is thin and I've started a large obsession with everything college related. I've begun to spend hours and hours on youtube watching dorm room tours, Q&A videos, and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIKl1NdR3rk">Michigan Transportation Musical</a> on repeat. I need to stop before I become too crazy to hide it. Hey, at least I can now wear my Michigan sweatpants with pride!<br />
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So that's what I've been up to lately. It's been rough but also extremely rewarding. I'm proud of what I've accomplished as of today but looking ahead there is still a mess of papers for me to dig my way through. For now, however, I'm going to go curl up with a big cup of tea and <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i>.</div>
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-50163993342164822712014-03-10T10:00:00.000-07:002014-03-10T10:00:02.208-07:00March's Mini Book Reviews Part 1I really enjoyed writing the smaller reviews a couple weeks ago. Therefore, I have decided to continue this series, which I stole from <a href="http://vivatramp.blogspot.com/">Vivatramp</a> (check her out, she's awesome!). So, here are mini reviews of the books I have read so far in March!<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>On the Genealogy of Morals </b>by Friedrich Nietzsche</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">04MAR14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> This was the first book I read for school this month. This is actually my second time reading this book for philosophy class and I have to say, it gets better with repetition. I find Nietzsche's writing style very difficult to understand as he buries his opinions below layers of sarcasm and contrary opinions. However, with this reading, I think I managed to unpack the words enough to have a decent understanding of Nietzsche's philosophy. In <i>On the Genealogy of Morals, </i>Nietzsche attempts to discover the origin of human morality. It grows into a discussion of the differences between master and slave morality which you can think of as predator and prey morality. Nietzsche, after claiming that humans have grown out of the master morality and accepted the morality of the slaves, advocates for a new system of morals outlining all of the faults and advantages of the other two moralities. I found the essay to provide and interesting perspective on the world, however, I would only recommend it if you are willing to analyze some difficult writing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rotters </b>by Daniel Kraus</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">06MAR14</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<i> Rotters</i> is a coming of age story mixed with horror and suspense. It follows the life of Joey Crouch who moves in with his father, whom he has never met, after the accidental death of his mom. Joey quickly becomes the subject of torment at his new high school, it doesn't help that his father, Harnett, lives in a three room shack devoid of furniture, a shower, or food. Oh, and he's a grave-robber! This is the setting for the crazy adventure which is <i>Rotters</i>.</div>
I cannot put into words how much I loved this novel. Everything was foreshadowed brilliantly. I knew certain aspects of the story had to happen thanks to the foreshadowing, but the way the events actually unfolded was unique and surprising. On top of that, the character development was superb. I'm not fantastic at picturing characters in my head but <i>Rotters</i> was so vivid and intriguing that I literally had a movie running through my mind. The best part was that while reading, my image of Joey grew and changed along with the character. I never thought a book about grave-robbers could be so moving and memorable. If you have a strong stomach, as there are graphic descriptions of corpses, rotting bodies, and way to many rats, I would highly suggest picking up this novel!<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fantastic Mr Fox</b> by Roald Dahl</span></div>
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During my reading of <i>Rotters</i>, I needed a second novel to calm my over-active imagination before bed, so I picked up this childhood favorite. If you don't know the story of this children's novel, three chicken farmers, annoyed at the consistent stealing of Mr Fox plot to kill Mr Fox and his family. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Dahl's storytelling. <i>Mathilda</i> and <i>The Witches</i> have always been some of my favorite novels and after being reintroduced to Dahl's world, I cannot wait to pick them up again!</div>
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While incredibly short, this play is so accessible and ageless that you would never guess that it was written at the same time as Shakespeare! <i>Dr Faustus </i>follows the tragic figure of Faust, a German doctor so invested in the pursuit of knowledge and power that he willingly sells his soul to the Devil. This is a story I have seen retold multiple times in modern novels and it was interesting to read a more classic retelling. There were quite a few of these now commonplace ideas, like the good angel vs the evil angel and the seven deadly sins, in Marlowe's novel and I enjoyed looking at these ideas from a different perspective.</div>
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I had to read <i>Dr Faustus</i> for class this month, but I would suggest it to anyone who enjoys mythical retellings. The language is easily acceptable to the modern reader despite being written in the late 1500s and I think this is the type of story everyone should read as it has become ingrained in our culture.<br />
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What have you read so far this month?<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-28648839312287613842014-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:002014-03-07T10:00:04.017-08:00Musical FridaysI was recently introduced to a new music station in my area and I've been listening to it constantly! It plays the type of music I love and has introduced me to a new band everyday. Therefore, I figured it was time for another installment of Musical Fridays, so here are some of my recent favorites!<br />
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<b>Come With Me Now - KONGOS</b></div>
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This four brother band originally from South America is amazing!! It blows my mind that one family can be so talented. This song, in particular, gets stuck in my head for hours and hours. I'm also super impressed by their use of an accordion. I can't wait for this band to blow up.</div>
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<b>Love Don't Die - The Fray</b></div>
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Okay, this song isn't from a new band but this song is literally played every time I listen to the radio and I LOVE it. This is a horrible music video, I hate it. The song, however, can be on repeat for days and I will still love it.</div>
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<b>Coming of Age - Foster the People</b></div>
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I absolutely love the 80s vibe of this song and video. The only other song I know by Foster the People is Pumped Up Kicks. Coming of Age sounds like it comes from an entirely different band. I love both songs and cannot wait to hear more on their new album!<br />
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What music have you been loving recently?<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-3473922841312867802014-02-26T13:40:00.000-08:002014-02-26T13:40:00.750-08:00Mini Book Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is only rarely that I have enough to say about a book to write an entire post about my experience reading it. When I don't have a lot to say, I will clump a couple recent reads together with a short paragraph of my thoughts. So, without further ado, here are mini reviews of the two books I've read this week.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Fortunately the Milk</i> by Neil Gaiman</b></span></div>
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This book is the most adorable thing I've read in the past few years. It is the story of a father who goes off in search of milk for his children's cereal. However, this tale is much more than just a trip to the store. The dad is whisked away on a floating time machine meeting vampires, dinosaurs, aliens and more along the way. Gaiman's writing is captivating, like usual. None of his talent in storytelling is lost in this picture book. The illustrations, which are similar to Tim Burton's art in style, are absolutely gorgeous. I love how the slightly creepy illustrations mesh with a very loving children's story. If you have a young child, I would definitely suggest reading this book to them. If you don't, I would still suggest reading this picture book, however I wouldn't buy it. Just sit at your local bookstore and read it. It won't take more than an hour but you'll finish with a smile on your face, I promise.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Allegiant</i> by Veronica Roth</b></span></div>
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This book was such a disappointment. If you don't know, it is the third and final book of the Divergent series. I read the first two books almost two years ago and loved them. I loved learning about the different factions and their different approaches to a good life. Tris and Four, the main characters, were always engaging and interesting but my heart lied with the minor characters like Uriah and Christina. I was looking forward to learning more about this world in <i>Allegiant</i>. However (spoilers ahead), in <i>Allegiant</i>, the characters leave the city of Chicago and find a world that was just not interesting. Much like<i> Maze Runner</i>, it's all just an experiment conducted by the government. I did not find the genetic plot line interesting, I didn't feel connected to either Tris or Four at all. I was bored throughout the novel. I don't think it was a good idea for Roth to completely change the setting and reveal so much that was not even hinted at in the last book in a series. So much had to be explained leading to a slower book. All in all, not a fan. I'm actually going to give this book to my local re-seller and pretend the series was never completed!</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-66783771203153887882014-02-23T18:39:00.000-08:002014-02-23T18:39:02.812-08:00Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqLH8VOX2bArzYR9fVDRL97m2IhNy4toVSQZBhMqtGDBBrk6holj4h26J56Q0joaGpTnMmj8GpbTFJ6do3dFxQwGkYszIJWlxgRJJH1mW2c1bKYiDVr7AuA-YQBt8mZp3WDiEaurqxOV7/s1600/2014-02-18+17.59.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqLH8VOX2bArzYR9fVDRL97m2IhNy4toVSQZBhMqtGDBBrk6holj4h26J56Q0joaGpTnMmj8GpbTFJ6do3dFxQwGkYszIJWlxgRJJH1mW2c1bKYiDVr7AuA-YQBt8mZp3WDiEaurqxOV7/s1600/2014-02-18+17.59.51.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a><br />
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<i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Travels with Herodotus </i>by Ryszard Kapuscinski</div>
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Pages: 275</div>
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Rating: 5/5</div>
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From the master of literary reportage whose acclaimed books include <i>Shah of Shahs</i>, <i>The Emperor</i>, and <i>The Shadow of the Sun</i>, an intimate account of his first youthful forays beyond the Iron Curtain.<br />
Just out of university in 1955, Kapuscinski told his editor that he'd like to go abroad. Dreaming no farther than Czechoslovakia, the young reporter found himself sent to India. Wide-eyed and captivated, he would discover in those days his life's work - to understand and describe the world in its remotest reaches, in all its multiplicity. From the rituals of sunrise at Persepolis to the incongruity of Louis Armstrong performing before a stone-faced crowd in Khartoum, Kapuscinski gives us the non-Western world as he first say it, though still-virginal Western eyes.<br />
The companion on his travels, a volume of Herodotus, a gift from his first boss. Whether he was in China, Poland, Iran or the Congo, it was the "father of history" - and, as Kapuscinski would realize, of globalism - who helped the young correspondent to make sense of the events, to find the story where it did not obviously exist. It is this great forerunner's spirit - both supremely worldly and innately Occidental - that would continue to whet Kapuscinski's ravenous appetite for discovering the broader world and that has made him our own indispensable companion on any leg of that perpetual journey.<br />
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In <i>Travels with Herodotus</i>, Ryszard Kapuscinski explains his intimate relationship with the ancient Greek writer Herodotus. When Kapuscinski embarked upon his first trip overseas, his boss handed him a copy of Herodotus's <i>Histories</i>. When shocked and overwhelmed by India, Kapuscinski retreats into Herodotus's writings. In this historic text, Kapuscinski finds a deep appreciation for the world. Herodotus, alive in 400 BCE, wished to write down the history of all people regardless of pertinence. He gave the Persians and Greeks the same amount of care and attention as the Scythians and Phoenicians. Kapuscinski, inspired by Herodotus's view and dedication to history bring the book, and the reader, along with him to various nations and provides thoughtful insight on the passage of time, history, and people. Full of quotes from Herodotus's <i>Histories, Travels with Herodotus</i> is both a memoir and great introduction to the ancient work.<br />
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This became one of my favorite books ever within the first 50 pages. I actually picked up other books and set this book down simply because I didn't want it to end. <i>Travels with Herodotus</i> did a great job of weaving different cultures and time periods together to take the reader on basically a whirlwind tour of the ancient Mediterranean and various places Kapuscinski has visited. I really loved seen the common trends between each population. I find the similarities between people and cultures really interesting so this book captured my interest right from the start and never let go. I actually plan to go out and buy this book as soon as I can because I know I will want to reread this book multiple times. If you like memoirs, history or culture I would definitely suggest checking out this book!</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-41437100370466863002014-02-21T17:20:00.000-08:002014-02-21T17:20:00.028-08:00Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK62AhpFzxmijlP8UPLg7DnM7J-XrCeGK5Ugc27miybTNclyUjVzci_O9PevafULA_aCPwBWhQH2-uLT4pbJothxjjYsvrbZBR3iepCs745_aDXcuP6NfUr5W3Dke6oY9AYienZyAIU9CL/s1600/2014-02-17+14.14.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK62AhpFzxmijlP8UPLg7DnM7J-XrCeGK5Ugc27miybTNclyUjVzci_O9PevafULA_aCPwBWhQH2-uLT4pbJothxjjYsvrbZBR3iepCs745_aDXcuP6NfUr5W3Dke6oY9AYienZyAIU9CL/s1600/2014-02-17+14.14.51.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a><br />
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<i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Micro </i>by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the locked office of a Honolulu building, three men are found dead, with no sign of a struggle except for ultrafine, razor-sharp cuts covering their bodies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the lush rain forests of Oahu, groundbreaking technology has ushered in a revolutionary era of biological prospecting. Here, seven brilliant graduate students recruited by a pioneering microbiology start-up company are thrust into a hostile wilderness that reveals profound and surprising dangers at every turn. Prey to a technology of radical and unbridled power - armed only with their knowledge of the natural world - they must harness the inherent forces of nature itself to survive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Melding scientific fact with pulse-pounding fiction in vintage Michael Crichton fashion - completed by visionary science writer Richard Preston - <i>Micro</i> is an instant classic of sophisticated, cutting-edge entertainment.</span><br />
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Micro centers on the survival story of seven graduate students; Karen, Rick, Danny, Peter, Amar, Jenny, and Erika. This team is recruited by Nanigen, a new company located on Honolulu, to study the various plants and animals found in their highly diverse forest. The students, excited to do their work in such a nice environment, quickly fly out to the island. Upon landing, they learn that Eric, Peter's brother and a Nanigen executive, has gone missing. Peter, suspicious that CEO Vincent Drake had something to do with his brother's disappearance, brings his colleagues deep into company corruption, government projects, and bugs, lots of bugs.<br />
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It is really difficult to explain this book without giving a major part of the plot away. It happens close to the beginning of the novel, however, I do not want to give it away as it completely surprised me. That's one of the things I love about Michael Crichton's books. The plot and progression of <i>Micro</i> was completely unexpected. With so many twists and turns, I was never bored or hit a low point even though the novel was 529 pages long. What impressed me even more about <i>Micro </i>was the amount of factual information on bugs and the natural world within the novel. I now know about the interior of a solitary wasp's nest and the ferociousness of ants among other things. I love knowing that I am learning in my leisure time. Plus, how cool is it to read a fictional book with a bibliography?!<br />
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This book was just what I wanted. I was looking for a break from the non-fiction books and memoirs I've been reading lately and found it in this thrilling mystery. I was also extremely pleased that this novel, due to its facts, would not feel like a deviation from my goal to grow this year. If you're looking for an exciting, page-turner but not willing to sacrifice intellectual growth, I would definitely suggest picking up <i>Micro.</i></div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-62932998964288304962014-02-19T06:30:00.000-08:002014-02-19T06:30:02.997-08:00The Creative Collective // Anything-Goes Art<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">This week's Creative Collective really pushed me out of my comfort zone. The project was to gather random artifacts from around your house and compile them into something. I found this task oddly difficult, I have taken many art classes in my life, but being artistic without a sense of direction has always been difficult. This is probably why all my scribbles are either hearts or song lyrics! Anyway, I find it extremely difficult to just sit down and create art. For this reason, I put off this project until last Monday when I just sat down at my desk and decided I wasn't going to get up until I finished my piece of art. With this determination, I grabbed a stack of index cards and made this:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While this may be headed to the trash can after I write this post, I am happy that I took the time to make it. It forced me to think outside of the box and experiment with a new material, i.e. index cards. I'm really enjoying these projects from the Creative Collective. They're a nice break from the monotony of school work and routine in general!</span></span></div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-54845976932869510822014-02-17T15:45:00.000-08:002014-02-18T17:42:15.415-08:00My First Road Trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This past weekend, I went on my first road trip sans parents. My friend Emily and I headed down to the Bay Area to see Panic! at the Disco play in Oakland. We decided to get a head start, hitting the road about 8 am and arriving in Berkeley around 1:30. After a little food and shopping, we decided to visit the botanical gardens at UC Berkeley.</div>
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Then, we continued to head up the mountain and got completely lost in the search for steam trains in Tilden Park. We eventually arrived at the closed building but we were rewarded with an amazing view of the Bay Area. It was absolutely spectacular. We could see everything from downtown Berkeley to the Golden Gate Bridge. </div>
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Once the sun set, we headed over to Oakland for the concert. The Fox Theater was packed. Panic! at the Disco definitely pulled out all the stops. Brendon Urie's high notes were amazing and the atmosphere was just fantastic. I absolutely love seeing a band perform. Unlike listening to a CD or watching a movie, at a concert or show, you are sharing an experience with the artist rather than just enjoying what they made. When Panic! played 'I Write Sins Not Tragedies', the joy on the band's face as we sang louder than them was fantastic. Brendon actually stopped singing and just listened to us. It was so wonderful to see us, the viewer, make the band as happy as they make us. </div>
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I am incredibly happy that I was able to take this trip. It was really exciting to be both without my parents and outside of my normal environment. This was my first trip entirely independent and without much of a plan. The fact that it went so well makes me more confident about the rest of the new experiences coming up this year. Also, I'm already planning to go back in late July to see the Neighborhood! </div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-44620366859352708542014-02-11T15:00:00.000-08:002014-02-11T15:00:03.663-08:00Valentines Day PreparationI love awful Valentine's Day cards. They are probably my favorite part of the entire month of February. I think it stems from having to pass out horribly cheesy valentines to my classmates every year. Being forced to write valentines to people you don't like is something I do not find pleasing. I would rather give no one a valentine than everyone! Or maybe I'm just cynical because I've never had a true valentine. Either way, I hope you enjoy my collection of tumblr-made valentines this year! For more, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/02/awfully-wonderful-valentines.html">here</a> is my blog post from 2013. Also, I may have been collecting these ever since I made that post exactly one year ago, no judgment right?<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-81354423099056590772014-02-10T23:13:00.001-08:002014-02-10T23:13:37.281-08:00I Got In<br />
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It has been almost a week and a half since I received my email notifying me of my acceptance but I didn't believe it until my letter arrived in the mail today. I can't remember the last time I was so excited. It was hard to breathe and I just kept dancing!! I guess I can't pretend I don't want to go now!<br />
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I haven't shared this here, but I was actually deferred from Umich back in December. It was an awful experience that grew into one of the worst days of my life thanks to other mishaps. Yet I am glad it happened this way. Being deferred forced me to actually look at my other schools as possible future homes. I had to reevaluate what I actually wanted now that my first choice was less certain. Therefore, I am now more certain the Umich is the college I would love to attend. I just think I would fit in well and have amazing opportunities! I am so lucky to be able to attend my first choice school and I literally cannot wait to get on that plan in August. Now I just have to apply for ALL the scholarships...<br />
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Is it weird that I keep the tab showing what my future dining hall is serving for dinner up and look at it everyday? Probably.</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-34151753599039650262014-02-05T17:22:00.000-08:002014-02-05T22:54:32.462-08:00The Creative Collective// New Music<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Creative Collective is back and today's prompt is to create a playlist full of new music. The expectation is that I would utilize Pandora, Spotify or another music source to find some new artists. I have not had the time to do that. I've been writing my Extended Essay. I literally spent four hours at the library writing yesterday! Therefore, I do not have enough songs to create an entire playlist so instead I have complied a playlist of non hits from some of my favorite artists as well as some new songs I've been listening to recently.<br />
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This playlist is a strange collection of songs. From stand-up to punk to country to indie it's a good reflection of my actual music collection. I would probably listen to this playlist while driving. I would sing my lungs out to Hunter Hayes and Panic! At The Disco while Volcano Choir and Snow Patrol are nice to sit back and truly listen to. Where would you listen to these songs? What songs have you been loving lately?</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-68989692984660442472014-01-19T19:35:00.002-08:002014-01-19T19:35:55.476-08:00Lola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My friend Brian got a bunny named Lola. I love her, even though she pooped on me!Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-91623571655973133082014-01-15T13:46:00.000-08:002014-02-05T22:54:57.250-08:00'Growth' // The Creative Collective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Melyssa from the <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/">Nectar Collective</a> has started The Creative Collective. She brainstormed 23 creative activities for bloggers to participate in throughout the year of 2014. I'm really excited to participate in this collective and actually made my collage almost a week early because I was so eager to start! The first prompt, for January 15th, is to create a collage of materials in your home which embodies the word you want to focus on in 2014.<br />
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For 2014, I have decided upon the word 'growth'. This word will remind me to grow with change and work on my intellectual growth. With my freshman year in college fall 2014, change is going to happen and I want to be okay with that. I think the word growth will remind me that with every change comes an opportunity to better myself too. Another aspect of growth is intellectual growth. It takes a lot of effort to sit down and read nonfiction instead of just going to sleep or turning on the computer. However, I feel more accomplished by finishing a book than a TV series. I hope the word growth will help me remember to further my education outside of school.<br />
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My collage is made entirely of college pamphlets. I have been sent at least a pamphlet a day for the past year and a half which has added up to a large pile of paper. For some reason I have kept all of these letters but there are no magazines my house! I actually find the use of college pamphlets very fitting as college is what a lot of my growth will be centered around in 2014. It is also incredibly easy to find inspirational images in a college look-book! I really like the combination of reading and adventuring in my collage. I think they're both valid ways of expanding your worldly knowledge which is my main goal this year.</div>
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While searching through the mass of leaflets, I found these great quotes in a letter from MIT. Unfortunately, the did not fit on my collage but I just pinned them up underneath it. These quotes are great inspiration to begin your dreams. My favorite has to be "The most effective way to do it, is to do it." which Amelia Earhart said. <br />
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I'm really excited about this series of posts for 2014. Creativity is a great thing to foster and can easily be lost in the day to day. If you decide to participate in the Creative Collective make sure to visit the master list of days and prompts on Melyssa's blog (<a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/2014/01/announcement-creative-collective/">link</a>) and comment below with a link to your post!<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-8024327757690985162014-01-12T18:43:00.000-08:002014-01-12T18:43:00.015-08:00Trinidad, California // Car Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u74wOl_LOeXbwWDd1n9Bu3gG8QEZ7R-Zq1UyC1CFwFPUQeo8wgxSJRAJ0MUBuQNbni3_vxlUUCrvcZ0_TzoMdNjh1X-iW8vm9GDsgTzd38e7KdMOgCZ2QTtB6CNQWRG5Cr_PCcRfcV8v/s1600/2014-01-09+16.57.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6u74wOl_LOeXbwWDd1n9Bu3gG8QEZ7R-Zq1UyC1CFwFPUQeo8wgxSJRAJ0MUBuQNbni3_vxlUUCrvcZ0_TzoMdNjh1X-iW8vm9GDsgTzd38e7KdMOgCZ2QTtB6CNQWRG5Cr_PCcRfcV8v/s1600/2014-01-09+16.57.19.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The other day my friends and I went on a drive and found this wonderful vista point. We were driving along the coast in Trinidad and just decided to park at this random turnout. It had a little path which lead from the turnout to a rock that jetted about 500ft into the ocean. It was really cool to be up so high and have waves crashing all around you. Plus it was absolutely gorgeous even with the misty rain coming down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1wFwNlzCCofjdC4ba-ijJRtIr-DA4anHXsc6NxHOA_I7HrERCASqudPqvP9GfqpDqnNaDs64oiMx63MRNmrAdBYUkWOnV5cnK3VOjIlbgy9udEHUtUQAT2ihcrV1ojPzi-x9UuAa2FPi/s1600/2014-01-09+17.01.00+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1wFwNlzCCofjdC4ba-ijJRtIr-DA4anHXsc6NxHOA_I7HrERCASqudPqvP9GfqpDqnNaDs64oiMx63MRNmrAdBYUkWOnV5cnK3VOjIlbgy9udEHUtUQAT2ihcrV1ojPzi-x9UuAa2FPi/s1600/2014-01-09+17.01.00+edited.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I really love finding places like this in my own backyard. No one has to travel hundreds of miles to find something exciting or beautiful. If you look hard enough or just travel outside of you're comfort zone, you'll find something amazing. I used to be frustrated by living three hours from a decent mall or movie theatre but recently I've accepted that certain entertainments are not available where I live and I need to appreciate the ones I do have, namely nature. </div>
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Now that I'm looking at where I will live next year for college, the idea of being away from the ocean worries me. I go to the beach at least twice a month and drive past the bay every single day. Living in a non-coastal town will be different, to say the least, but I want to make sure I appreciate the ocean while I have it.<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-52967170995586970192014-01-10T16:42:00.001-08:002014-01-10T16:42:30.621-08:00Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNofXF3udIz_ffhCbSUgfjN4L5sFcdh35Hx0VzkP4ryqYeh_qnsV4S3Do2a2c_2B4xpUAgsqRF3nXVmzNuoe8w5fiNc7sGk5lUloPf7p6Sl8N0_zBRzl2xYWOfrXR8drDTW_RelbHjxta/s1600/2014-01-10+14.29.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNofXF3udIz_ffhCbSUgfjN4L5sFcdh35Hx0VzkP4ryqYeh_qnsV4S3Do2a2c_2B4xpUAgsqRF3nXVmzNuoe8w5fiNc7sGk5lUloPf7p6Sl8N0_zBRzl2xYWOfrXR8drDTW_RelbHjxta/s1600/2014-01-10+14.29.37.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a><br />
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<i><br /></i><i>Suite Scarlett </i>by Maureen Johnson</div>
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Pages: 353</div>
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Rating: 4/5</div>
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<i> </i><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small Art Deco hotel in the heart of New York City.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet and world traveler. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes an unexpected turn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery and romantic missteps. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.</span><br />
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<i>Suite Scarlett</i> opens with Scarlett's fifteenth birthday. A day that should be filled with happiness and excitement but is clouded by the financial hardships the Martins are facing. Instead of a wonderful meal of Belgium pancakes, Scarlett finds a burnt substitution as her parents have had to fire the chef. Welcome to life with the Martins. Scarlett's parents and three siblings; Spencer, Lola, and Marlene, live inside a gorgeous, slightly out-dated, and usually empty hotel named the Hopewell. However, the Empire Suite is soon filled by Mrs. Amberson, a once actor and looking to reconnect with New York after years in Thailand. The addition of Mrs. Amberson to the Hopewell brings career opportunities, costumers, and love the Martins have waited so long to find.</div>
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I really liked this book. It was fast-paced and I finished it in about a day. I have read Maureen Johnson's other books (<i><a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2011/04/devilish-by-maureen-johnson.html">Devilish</a> </i>and others)<i> </i>before and I was glad to find the same type of lovable and engaging characters in both books. I fell in love with Scarlett's brother Spencer which is odd considering he isn't the main love interest in the novel. In my defense, he is written splendidly with interesting character faults, like being unaware of the effect of his words, plus he has the strong yet thin and wiry body type which is always attractive to me. I was less thrilled with the actual love interest for Scarlett. I felt Eric was not the right person for Scarlett and didn't even find him attractive! This is amazing, I find trees attractive. During multiple interactions between Scarlett and Eric, I had to physically close the book and verbally display my annoyance with the proceedings. In other words, I had to yell to my empty room. However, while this was aggravating, it does show that I was invested in Scarlett's life so bravo to Maureen Johnson.</div>
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The main driving point of the novel is that Spencer must land an acting job or unwillingly enroll in a culinary school. This motivates Spencer to join a production of Hamlet which is where Scarlett meets Eric and so on. I found Johnson's portrayal of the production of a play endlessly entertaining and fitting as I'm going to be spending the next two weeks locked inside a theatre! I especially loved the physical comedy routines between Eric and Spencer. They helped to lighten the book and who doesn't want to picture two hot guys riding unicycles and having fake fights? Just me? Okay.</div>
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By far my favorite part of <i>Suite Scarlett</i> was the emphasis on family. So many novels, especially young adult novels, focus on romance, love and relationships but that all takes a backseat in <i>Suite Scarlett</i>. The focus of the novel is really on Scarlett and how this summer help strengthen her connections with her siblings. Over the course of the novel, all four siblings learn more about one another and come together as a more cohesive family. I love to see groups of people overcome their clashing personalities and come together to make something awesome. Yeah, it's one of my favorite types of plot.</div>
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To round up my thoughts, I'm really glad I took the time to read <i>Suite Scarlett. </i>It has pumped me up for my own production as well as reminded me that not every YA book is centered on romance. If you're ever feeling a bit stuck or low on energy and want a quick fun read that still has some depth, <i>Suite Scarlett </i>is the way to go.</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-68756591564229563022014-01-06T15:09:00.002-08:002014-01-06T15:09:27.346-08:00Book Buying Spree ChallengeThis challenge is hosted by <a href="http://www.bookishcomforts.com/">Bookish Comforts</a> and the idea is 'Imagine you've just won a $100 book buying spree for The Book Depository. What would you buy?' I love the idea of this challenge and clicked right over to The Book Depository to make my list!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2y5gVUuNopaK6MrPQOyBXoJkHHh2nG7SrWxXTzbKXDAWXMsfhQfhpVntDRa11ZYykUDnKkgbHnOPp5Hhhh6Jc7q8TMcMGHI08cOnGF9v96Yq_CHlK-Uy1SqMw5uk1dDSdEwribHEMQUQ/s1600/Book+Depostitory.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2y5gVUuNopaK6MrPQOyBXoJkHHh2nG7SrWxXTzbKXDAWXMsfhQfhpVntDRa11ZYykUDnKkgbHnOPp5Hhhh6Jc7q8TMcMGHI08cOnGF9v96Yq_CHlK-Uy1SqMw5uk1dDSdEwribHEMQUQ/s1600/Book+Depostitory.png" height="640" width="416" /></a></div>
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This would be my list, coming in only $1.50 under $100 dollars! I didn't opt for many cheap books but I've been really lusting over these six books. The two that I'm most excited about are Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking by Anya Von Bremzen and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking is actually a memoir of her life in Soviet Russia which I would love due to my infatuation with anything that has to do with Soviet Russia. Fangirl is a story about the clash between the world of fandoms and real life. It is centered on a girl's transition to college life and, as I am entering college this fall and I am involved in the Harry Potter fandom I little too much, it would be a perfect read for me!</div>
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I really loved this challenge from Bookish Comforts and hope to be involved in one of their read-a-thons this summer!</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-28222277711528680722013-12-31T19:32:00.000-08:002014-01-06T14:35:56.574-08:002013 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj849Be4DAlt0I85X1GXoOwVsqVy1O35X-u7ZJZxJas56sTKvw1BbBL5YIzdP1zKHY6-5DtYxKAXws1pTgHGOfXEdTFyHlDjxmptE3xZQVKL3QN8fLKJNbcYsUU-o960pjETgH9MMOYkbR5/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj849Be4DAlt0I85X1GXoOwVsqVy1O35X-u7ZJZxJas56sTKvw1BbBL5YIzdP1zKHY6-5DtYxKAXws1pTgHGOfXEdTFyHlDjxmptE3xZQVKL3QN8fLKJNbcYsUU-o960pjETgH9MMOYkbR5/s640/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
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2013 was a long year....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQISzNB3md1QskEYxAJjwmoN2Dxc5Tb04k3uentxgNZYUYDmsIxGpY5ec5ZjPnfoR1wIVkvMEz6GFyCuXAurWY7Fsw80OpjBmVHAuHTTUgamBRcfCPYr3dRcQFObJQjxRse6TfzwBsO-Z/s1600/january.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQISzNB3md1QskEYxAJjwmoN2Dxc5Tb04k3uentxgNZYUYDmsIxGpY5ec5ZjPnfoR1wIVkvMEz6GFyCuXAurWY7Fsw80OpjBmVHAuHTTUgamBRcfCPYr3dRcQFObJQjxRse6TfzwBsO-Z/s400/january.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
In January I painted my room making it a place I enjoy living in and I spent hours in a room for my Biology group 4 project. It made us closer but we went a little insane and started checking the ducts for dead bodies. To be fair there was blood everywhere.<br />
Posts:<a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/01/car-adventures.html"> Car Adventures</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/01/upgrading-is-compulsory.html">Upgrading Is Compulsory</a><br />
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In February, I took a 6 hour round-trip road trip with my friends to explore Bridgeville. I also visited went to the local zoo. And, of course, a lot of school work.</div>
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In March I spent a lot of time exploring Humboldt County. I went on hikes with my dogs, visited various beaches, went to a cemetery, and went to school tennis games. I even found my favorite place in Humboldt! (the 4th picture). All this exploration made me feel more comfortable in my hometown. I also dyed my hair and of course, visited Redding for Easter.</div>
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Posts: <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/03/car-adventures-ferndale-cemetery.html">Ferndale Cemetary</a></div>
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My adventuring continued in April as my friends began to say "A Pirate Who Falls Behind Is Left Behind". We had an Easter Egg Hunt for ourselves, went on a lone camping trip, and, of course, went to the beach some more.</div>
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May, the month of IB tests but also the month of freedom. Our tests were the only homework we had so this month was full of ditching and relaxing in the sun in preparation, or avoidance, of our tests. This month was full of mini-adventures and sunshine. There was also Cotillion and the Junior IB Theatre play (Candide). I hope May 2014 is as much fun. </div>
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Posts: <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/05/like-child.html">Like A Child</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/05/kinetic-sculpture-race.html">Kinetic Sculpture Race</a></div>
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In June, I became a senior. I bonded with my friends with more adventures to the river and a Zoo. I also traveled to Michigan to meet extended family members and visit colleges. I also read The Brothers Karamazov for school but that was the only downside in an amazing month.</div>
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Posts: <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/06/ocean-world-car-adventures.html">Ocean World</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/06/university-of-california-santa-barbara.html">UC Santa Barbara</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/07/marshall-michigan.html">Marshall Michigan</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/08/michigan-state-university.html">Michigan State University</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/07/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor.html">University of Michigan</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/07/local-sand-sculpture-festival.html">Local Sand Sculptures</a></div>
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July was a very chill month. I finished painting the other half of my room, went camping with my Dad (where we tried to burn everything. FYI graham cracker's have amazing longevity), and, most importantly, flew to Boston to hang out with friends for a week.</div>
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Posts: <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/08/camping-richardsons-grove-edition.html">Richardson Grove</a>, <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/08/bostoncon-2013.html">BostonCon</a></div>
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August was a perfect month of relaxation before school started. August began in LA with VidCon and college tours. I visited UCLA and UCSD. At VidCon I saw We The Kings and many others perform live with my good friends Emily and Olivia. After VidCon, I went to Disneyland with my cousins, an experience I want to repeat. Once back home, I went to the Humboldt County Fair mostly just to watch the horse races! I can't wait to bet on them this year.</div>
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Posts: <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/08/vidcon-2013.html">VidCon</a> </div>
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September, the dreaded return of school. Besides the constant thought of college, it actually wasn't too bad. The annual trip to Ashland was fantastic and the sun stuck around.</div>
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Along with the colder months came more homework and college essays. Thankfully, there was fun interspersed. My school took a trip to the pumpkin patch and the opera house, also my friends and I occupied ourselves with kittens and hidden views.</div>
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I turned in 5 college applications this month. Figures crossed that next May I get 5 acceptances!! I also went to Fern Canyon to help my friend's photo shoot for IB art, traveled to San Francisco again for Day of the Dead, traveled to Redding again for Thanksgiving, and participated in my high school's Halloween House.</div>
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Finally we have December. It's been really good. I've been able to connect with my family more with the holidays and my birthday. I also got an iPhone which has upped my selfie-taking considerably. The horribly freezing weather has stopped a lot of adventuring but we've had a lot of fun indoors.</div>
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Posts: <a href="http://anibelle.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-christmas-tag.html">Christmas Tag</a></div>
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All in all, 2013 was wonderful. While it was, in the big picture, only an interim year with no major life stepping stones, 2013 was full of good memories. This past year I feel that I have begun to feel more comfortable in my own skin and this has allowed me to for closer bonds with my friends and family. It's easy to forget what happens in your own life. Looking back at my 2013 today has made me realize that the little adventures do count. Getting out of my house and having fun with my friends is what made this year great. I can't wait to continue that in 2014 with the added adventure of college! I will keep you informed, probably. HAPPY NEW YEAR!</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-48671185690613511462013-12-29T13:02:00.000-08:002013-12-29T13:02:48.770-08:00Ladies of the Field: Early Women Archaeologists and Their Search for Adventure by Amanda Adams<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim__b4ueBSTMpplVn1nlrog6nIrmrrKjhyphenhyphen6tzU7BKcu4uBbuN5kqXJ3VlfbBhIgEjYTWVk43CdUaw-U9Rm5vnLbz3HntTPfXELGJi8HxbSDEYbhLODqKL4HFhABotvq6NaKtbsxT-uCkVE/s1600/2013-12-29+12.28.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim__b4ueBSTMpplVn1nlrog6nIrmrrKjhyphenhyphen6tzU7BKcu4uBbuN5kqXJ3VlfbBhIgEjYTWVk43CdUaw-U9Rm5vnLbz3HntTPfXELGJi8HxbSDEYbhLODqKL4HFhABotvq6NaKtbsxT-uCkVE/s1600/2013-12-29+12.28.00.jpg" width="263" /></a><br />
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<i><br /></i><i>Ladies of the Field: Early Women Archaeologists and Their Search for Adventure </i>by Amanda Adams</div>
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Publisher: Greystone Books</div>
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Pages: 192</div>
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Rating: 5/5</div>
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<i> </i><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first women archaeologists were Victorian era adventurers who felt most at home when farthest from in. Canvas tents were their domains, hot Middle Eastern deserts their gardens of inquiry and labor. Thanks to them, prevailing ideas about feminine nature - soft, nurturing submissive - were upended. Ladies of the Field tells the story of seven remarkable women, each a pioneering archaeologist, each headstrong, smart and courageous who burst into what was then a very young science. Amanda Adams takes us with them as they hack away at underbrush under a blazing sun, battle swarms of biting bugs, travel on </span>camel-back<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for weeks on end, and feel the excitement of unearthing history at an archaeological site. Adams also reveals the dreams of these extraordinary women, their love of the field, their passion for holding the past in their hands, their </span>fascination<span style="font-family: inherit;"> with human origins and their utter disregard for convention. (from Shelfari)</span><br />
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Whenever I have been asked what I want to be when I grow up, I have always answered archaeologist. Something about the adventure and monotony of archaeology attracted my attention as a toddler and remains to this day. So when I saw this book at my local library, I had to pick it up. Before this book, I didn't know of any female archaeologists but now I know of 7 amazing ones. In <i>Ladies of the Field</i>, Adams does a fantastic job of outlining these women's archaeological accomplishments as well as their lives. The seven female archaeologist examined in that novel are Amelia Edwards, Jane Dieulafoy, Zelia Nuttall, Gertrude Bell, Harriet Boyd Hawes, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy Garrod. For each woman, Adams tells of their life-long struggles, romantic interests, career paths, education, opposition to typical female stereotypes, and, of course, their contribution to archaeology. While it was definitely interesting to learn about the contributions these women have made to history, it was more inspiring than informative. Reading about how these women overcame Victorian stereotypes to follow their passion has inspired me to continue to aspire for a career in this field. If you're looking for some female empowerment I would definitely recommend this book. I know the stories of these women will be a source of inspiration for me.</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-38218243903974906482013-12-26T17:05:00.001-08:002013-12-26T17:05:36.382-08:00The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what pictures to use so SELFIE.</td></tr>
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Instead of a normal book review for <i>The Happiness Project</i>, I'm going to share with you what I found to be most interesting and what I would like to adopt in my life. If you don't know, Gretchen Rubin set out to spend a year of her life focusing on how to boost her happiness in daily life. She wanted to appreciate her life while she lived it. In her own words: "I wanted to change my life without changing my life". To accomplish this, Gretchen decided upon 12 areas of her life she wished to improve in and assigned one per month, created area based goals she wished to work on each month. The entire novel is full of interesting food for thought. I'm going to share 6 ideas I found most interesting and want to incorporate into my own life, one per month (January-June; don't want to give everything away!). The Happiness Project isn't a how-to guide for happiness but rather a memoir by a friend. She is honest about her failures and misgivings throughout the novel changing it from a definite guide to a personal exploration inspiring the reader to discover how to change their own life. I'm not even scratching the surface of this novel. If you find the following insights interesting, I encourage you to check out the rest of the book! <br />
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January - Buyer's Remorse Clutter<br />
This is one of my greatest nemesis. Too many times I've bought clothes which I have never worn. For example, I own a mustard yellow pea coat. I thought it was awesome when I bought it, however I have only worn it 10 times in the 4 years I've owned it. Yet, I cannot throw it away because it was expensive and I haven't used it enough. Gretchen hits the problem right on the nose: "rather than admit that I'd made a bad purchase, I hung onto things until somehow I felt they'd been 'used up' by sitting in a closet or on a shelf". I need to throw these things away.<br />
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February - Dealing With Anger<br />
Some believe it is better to vent all anger. I am not one of these people. I view anger as an incredibly unhelpful emotion which only breeds more anger. I find that when I express anger I inwardly hope that the person or object I'm frustrated with will change, which is usually impossible. However, if I accept that something is difficult, I begin to look for ways to cool my anger myself instead of forcing change on something else. I was vindicated in this belief when Gretchen talked about how expressing anger only amplifies it.<br />
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March - Expanding Your Self-Definition<br />
Many people advocate for trying new activities and learning new things but Gretchen added another factor besides the joy of learning, expanding self-definition. She claims that buy having more talents and activities, one feels less threatened and unhappy when one of them is attacked as you are comforted by that fact that you have other things to work on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Mo's artwork</td></tr>
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April - Acknowledge People's Feelings<br />
During this month, Gretchen focused on parenthood and I thought it was very interesting how the acknowledgement of other people's feelings helps you toward the outcome you want more than arguing would. Plus no one feels mean or hurt in this scenario! I would love to be conscious enough of what I say to do this.<br />
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May - Enjoyment Lasts<br />
While focusing on leisure, Gretchen asks her friend for help discovering what she liked to do and her friend answered "What you enjoyed as a ten-year-old is probably something you'd enjoy now". The simplicity and truth of this statement has made it stick in my head. <br />
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June - Spontaneous Trait Transference<br />
Gossip never feels morally correct anyway but the spontaneous trait transference makes me want to never say another negative thing. Basically psychologists have shown that when you call someone arrogant, mean, or other adjectives, the person listening to you automatically associates the speaker with that quality. So quite literally talking bad about someone only makes you look bad.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed this little segments from The Happiness Project. I really do love this book and can see myself rereading it multiple times in the future so do yourself a favor and pick one up next time you go to the bookstore or your library!<br />
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(Oh and Happy Holidays everyone. I hope you all had a great Christmas/Holiday season and will have a great New Years!)</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-48056704812290230502013-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:002014-01-06T14:36:16.609-08:00Musical FridayIt's been quite a while since I've written one of these posts and I'm loving some new songs.<br />
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<b>Let It Go by Idina Menzel in Disney's Frozen</b></div>
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I recently saw this new Disney princess film with my friend Dana and loved it to bits. I really like the direction Disney has been moving in with Tangled, Brave and now Frozen. Every time I listen to this song I get the shivers, in a good way!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QaBhyuBbROk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>R U Mine by Arctic Monkeys</b></div>
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I've had this album on repeat in my car for days and I've discovered that this song is my favorite. I don't listen to the radio but I think Arctic Monkeys have been gaining some popularity in America which I think it really cool. I've been a pop music junkie all my life but it's really cool to see a more 'indie' style of music becoming the norm. Plus Alex Turner's greaser look, yes please.</div>
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<b>Of The Night by Bastille</b></div>
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I can't get over how much I love this band. Usually I listen to an album on repeat until I hate it entirely but this has yet to happen with Bastille and I've been listening to them for about 6 months now. They're re-releasing Bad Blood with extra songs in January and I can't wait!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LILL0AV0938?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>Afraid by The Neighborhood</b></div>
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Almost everyone has listened to Sweater Weather but I prefer this song. Plus this video is amazing and raw.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJt7gNi3Nr4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>No Church In The Wild by Kanye West</b></div>
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A slightly older song then the others but still just as good. I tend not to like rap but then beautiful songs like this one show up and I make me reconsider my world.<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-85007165072156740212013-12-15T00:36:00.000-08:002013-12-15T00:36:00.149-08:00Product Review: Rimmel London BB Cream and NYC Sparkle Eye Dust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ7HxdjyqblFjTXWjJrxsW6lvIxtCeuFDBsfwIIe3LUpBoMKU9ZDg_31NVlQruU0lFweQwxT2wLbGAnaFj1MwR9pPzfroDDBqzbwH9k1NrMs7XqpTcgneymTn2CZ9zmb_4DF_Fm_k6oJV/s1600/Makeup+Review+Dec+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ7HxdjyqblFjTXWjJrxsW6lvIxtCeuFDBsfwIIe3LUpBoMKU9ZDg_31NVlQruU0lFweQwxT2wLbGAnaFj1MwR9pPzfroDDBqzbwH9k1NrMs7XqpTcgneymTn2CZ9zmb_4DF_Fm_k6oJV/s1600/Makeup+Review+Dec+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A couple of weeks ago I picked up these two products at my local drug store. I was intrigued by the lip-gloss like applicator on the NYC Sparkle Eye Dust and I've been dying to try a BB Cream since I learned of their existence. Now, after using these products, I've developed some opinions on them which I would like to share.<br />
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<u><a href="http://newyorkcolor.com/products/eyes/eyeshadow/sparkle-eye-dust-0">NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in 881 Pink Topaz-$2.99</a></u></div>
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I love this eye shadow so much. It's fabulous for lazy/late mornings when I don't have time to use my normal combo of three eye shadows. It's weird but incredibly easy to apply as it is literally the same as a lip-gloss container. The only slight annoyance is that it's hard to keep the power from straying above my crease. However, this could easily be because I'm horribly lazy/late when I use this product. All in all, it's really nice to use when you have little time in the morning.</div>
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<u><a href="http://us.rimmellondon.com/products/face/bb-cream">Rimmel London BB Cream in Light-$6.99</a></u></div>
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I hate this BB Cream. I love Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation everyday around my eyes so I figured that this BB Cream would be a good transition into a lighter foundation, no, that was a bad assumption. This BB Cream makes my skin look really bad and kinda like cake. I can visibly see the product on my face which is weird as the normal foundation blends right into my skin. I just can't wear it. Do you know of a good and cheap BB Cream I could try cause I really want to love it. (side note: I'm not wearing this in the picture)<br />
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565995583594026944.post-43642006383585315492013-12-14T19:44:00.001-08:002013-12-14T19:46:01.460-08:00The Christmas Tag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I helped my mom set up the variety of Christmas Trees we have each year. However, this time we went a little overboard and set up 5 trees laden with ornaments. I find it interesting how my mom comes up with more and more unusual trees every year. Anyway, I've been channeling the Christmas spirit all day so I figured I'd answer the<a href="http://anacelinelabod.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-christmas-tag.html"> Christmas tag</a> as well.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1. Favorite Christmas Movie</span><br />
How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carry. I just love it. Except that weird part in the middle when they shove food in his mouth....The Nightmare Before Christmas is another must see.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">2. What Is Your Favorite Christmas Color?</span><br />
White, red and brown are my favorite winter colors. They are the majority of my wardrobe right now.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">3. Do You Open Your Presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?</span><br />
Christmas morning for sure. Once I stayed with the German part of my family for Christmas and we opened everything on Christmas Eve. It felt so wrong.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">4. What's Your Favorite Winter Fragrance?</span><br />
Recently I've been using White Citrus from Bath & Body Works because it's still flowery but with a hint of a woodsy smell which fits well with winter.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">5. Favorite Christmas Smell?</span><br />
Shortbread cookies because my mom and I, or just her, make them every year. Also, that awful smell that emerges the first day you turn on you're heater. It just reminds me that it's time for the holidays.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">6. Favorite Holiday Drink?</span><br />
This year I've been LOVING the Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks. But Martinelli's always boosts my Christmas Spirit.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">7. Candy Cane or Gingerbread Men?</span><br />
Neither, I don't like mint and never thought gingerbread was yummy...sorry!<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">8. Favorite Christmas Song?</span><br />
Each year my high school goes caroling at the local retirement homes. This tradition has fostered deep love for Feliz Navidad and Carol Of The Bells because they're so fun to sing. I also really like Auld Lang Syne.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">9. Have You Ever Made A Snowman?</span><br />
Unfortunately not. As a California native, I've had very little experience with snow. Probably the only time it will snow this year happened while I was taking the SAT Subject Tests and it wasn't enough to stick.<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">10. What Is Most Important To You About The Holidays?</span><br />
Spending time with my cousins who come up from LA each year. Over the past 8 years these two boys have grown into my psuedo-brothers and I can't wait to see them again.<br />
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I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season so far! If you decide to answer these questions make sure you leave me a link.</div>
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Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521526116009858128noreply@blogger.com0