I was inspired to write this post yesterday when my friend casually told us that she suffered from depression. I had no idea. And I just thought it was really unfair, call me silly but I was really upset about it because I didn't think it fair (even though I like to believe that life is fair) that someone so beautiful and amazing suffered from such a terrible disease.
I for a long time was a person who thought depression was a disease that was caused by something. I mean, it can be. But depression is not necessarily caused by an event. This is what I understand about depression. Depression is when your body sends chemicals flowing through your body that make you sad or anxious or other things like that when you don't want to. It's your body literally making your emotions out of your control. A person with depression can have a million reasons to be happy and even be completely aware of that and still not feel happy. Their body is giving out chemicals that make them feel sad for absolutely no reason. That's why depression is indeed a literal disease; it's your body doing something that makes it unable to function properly.
Luckily, a lot of people have learned how to deal with this disease. It's not easy, but they've found a way to get through every day. I'm really proud of my friend, and all my other friends who have this disease.
And another reason I wanted to write this post, is I was just thinking about all the things I wasn't sure she was aware of, or people who suffer from mental illnesses such as this one may not know. Things that people may have never been told. I know that these statements cannot cure a disease. But maybe they can do something.
Did you know that God loves you? I don't know, I just feel like a lot of people aren't aware of that. Because He does. And you were given this illness. I don't know why, but God does. God gave you that disease for you. He has something planned for you, I don't know what, but I know that it's not all lost because you suffer from an illness, and a lot of other people know that too. There are people that are surviving every day like that. You can too.
My dear friends, you are a light in my life. It's something I don't say out loud, but I wish you knew that because it's so true. I would be nothing without you, and a lot of people can say the same.
Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Disney Princess Series
Okay guys, so although I write about books, now is the time for us to open our minds to all other fandoms. :)
So as many of you know and for those of you that don't, I really, really, really really really love the Disney fandom. The movies are great and as a musician the music is bomb and for really really lengthy reasons that I will not explain right now Walt Disney is pretty much my hero. And when people say that Disney is for kids I just think about how much I feel I love Disney more now that I'm a teenager rather than a young child. (Bro, I just had a birthday and my mom did this Disneyland party for me oh my gosh it was so cool.)
Well anyway, now I will tell you the stories of what so inspired this post. I kind of have a feminist spirit, like when I was in fourth grade we had to do a research paper on an inventor and the inventor I chose was the inventor of the windshield wiper who just so happened to be a woman. I was in Girl Scouts and all that good stuff. And so sometimes I have a problem with women being portrayed as weak if they make an effort to be pretty all the time or if they like to do traditional women jobs like cooking or sewing or if they don't have a paying job themselves and relying on a husband and stuff like that. Like, that bothers me. Is there something wrong with a woman being like that? You know, I think it's okay for women to have jobs but then I also think it's okay for them to not. If we're really about women's rights then we should be okay with women making choices like that. You know?
Okay, cool. But what does that have to do with the Disney princesses? Well, I'll tell a story as an example. Many of you also know that I am in color guard. My freshman year at band camp, we were working on a piece of flag work. And one of my favorite things even to this day to say about color guard is that we're like Disney princesses: we're strong and beautiful at the same time. Well I said that to the group I was working with and they were all like "That's so awesome" and whatnot. Right? And then one of my friends says, "Especially Mulan."
Okay, what?! Heck no! If y'all are thinking I don't like Mulan, you're wrong. I love Mulan; she's a great character and that's a great movie. But that is not the point I was trying to make.
Again, at this year's band camp, I said the same thing to a group of mostly new girls that I was leading in their flag work. They all loved that comparison too. And then another one of my friends said that we were all being like Mulan.
No. No. Did I say we were being like Mulan? No, I said we were being like the Disney princesses. Just because Mulan is the only Disney princess who fought in a war does not mean she is the only one who is strong and beautiful at the same time. That is my problem. I feel as if the Disney princesses are very misjudged. I have a problem with Mulan being the only one portrayed as strong. They are all strong, every single one of them.
So yeah, that's what inspired me to write this post-- or rather, this series of posts. Every post in this will feature one of the thirteen official Disney princesses in the Disney Princess franchise-- Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Anna, and Elsa. I just feel a strong desire to write about why each of these princesses is super awesome and strong in their own way. Just because you aren't rough and hard and untouchable doesn't mean you are weak.
I'll get started soon! Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
So as many of you know and for those of you that don't, I really, really, really really really love the Disney fandom. The movies are great and as a musician the music is bomb and for really really lengthy reasons that I will not explain right now Walt Disney is pretty much my hero. And when people say that Disney is for kids I just think about how much I feel I love Disney more now that I'm a teenager rather than a young child. (Bro, I just had a birthday and my mom did this Disneyland party for me oh my gosh it was so cool.)
Well anyway, now I will tell you the stories of what so inspired this post. I kind of have a feminist spirit, like when I was in fourth grade we had to do a research paper on an inventor and the inventor I chose was the inventor of the windshield wiper who just so happened to be a woman. I was in Girl Scouts and all that good stuff. And so sometimes I have a problem with women being portrayed as weak if they make an effort to be pretty all the time or if they like to do traditional women jobs like cooking or sewing or if they don't have a paying job themselves and relying on a husband and stuff like that. Like, that bothers me. Is there something wrong with a woman being like that? You know, I think it's okay for women to have jobs but then I also think it's okay for them to not. If we're really about women's rights then we should be okay with women making choices like that. You know?
Okay, cool. But what does that have to do with the Disney princesses? Well, I'll tell a story as an example. Many of you also know that I am in color guard. My freshman year at band camp, we were working on a piece of flag work. And one of my favorite things even to this day to say about color guard is that we're like Disney princesses: we're strong and beautiful at the same time. Well I said that to the group I was working with and they were all like "That's so awesome" and whatnot. Right? And then one of my friends says, "Especially Mulan."
Okay, what?! Heck no! If y'all are thinking I don't like Mulan, you're wrong. I love Mulan; she's a great character and that's a great movie. But that is not the point I was trying to make.
Again, at this year's band camp, I said the same thing to a group of mostly new girls that I was leading in their flag work. They all loved that comparison too. And then another one of my friends said that we were all being like Mulan.
No. No. Did I say we were being like Mulan? No, I said we were being like the Disney princesses. Just because Mulan is the only Disney princess who fought in a war does not mean she is the only one who is strong and beautiful at the same time. That is my problem. I feel as if the Disney princesses are very misjudged. I have a problem with Mulan being the only one portrayed as strong. They are all strong, every single one of them.
So yeah, that's what inspired me to write this post-- or rather, this series of posts. Every post in this will feature one of the thirteen official Disney princesses in the Disney Princess franchise-- Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Anna, and Elsa. I just feel a strong desire to write about why each of these princesses is super awesome and strong in their own way. Just because you aren't rough and hard and untouchable doesn't mean you are weak.
I'll get started soon! Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
Monday, August 3, 2015
The Best Paragraphs Ever Written
(Spoilers for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Roar)
Okay, so we just really need to talk about these real fast.
I have these two paragraphs that I read and when I read them I just wanted to be dead because they are so darn beautiful and so well-written. #WritingGoals So here they are:
"Harry realized what Wormtail was about to do a second before it happened-- he closed his eyes as tightly as he could, but he could not block the scream that pierced the night, that went through Harry as though he had been stabbed with the dagger too. He heard something fall to the ground, heard Wormtail's anguished panting, then a sickening splash, as something was dropped into the cauldron. Harry couldn't stand to look... but the potion had turned a burning red; the light of it shone through Harry's closed eyelids...."
--Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Is that not perfection?! You know exactly what's happening without being told it directly. You are standing right next to Harry in that graveyard. It's stuff like that that makes Goblet of Fire my second favorite Harry Potter book.
"Awen stayed on the bed and watched Mika get up. Mika pressed his ear against the cupboard door and listened. The noise didn't sound like a Telly Head. It was gentle and purposeful, as if something was being made. Feeling reassured, he carefully opened the door and his lungs filled with air that was so cold and fresh, he felt as if he had eaten a whole packet of mints in one go. The cupboard was filled, floor to ceiling, with a plant that was growing before his eyes. It reached out, waving soft green tips, leaves unfurling and arching back like moth wings. Awen jumped down from the bed and walked into its midst, and as Mika tried to follow, something amazing happened-- as he took a step forward, his body folded over and suddenly he was walking on his hands as well as his feet, and when he looked down, he saw in the dim light that they had transformed into paws just like Awen's. He had become a dog. Awen's head reappeared among the foliage and he yapped playfully, as if this was a "chase me" game, and then he disappeared again. Laughing, Mika made to follow but woke up instead."
--The Roar, Emma Clayton
You can feel it! You can see it! Can't you just imagine exactly what that's like? She uses familiar things, "moth wings", "a whole packet of mints", so that we can feel and see exactly what Mika sees. That is so excellent! This book got terrible reviews and I have no idea why. It got excellent reviews and is absolutely beautiful and a super fun and creative story. You all should definitely check it out!
Any favorite paragraphs? Feel free to comment!
Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
Okay, so we just really need to talk about these real fast.
I have these two paragraphs that I read and when I read them I just wanted to be dead because they are so darn beautiful and so well-written. #WritingGoals So here they are:
"Harry realized what Wormtail was about to do a second before it happened-- he closed his eyes as tightly as he could, but he could not block the scream that pierced the night, that went through Harry as though he had been stabbed with the dagger too. He heard something fall to the ground, heard Wormtail's anguished panting, then a sickening splash, as something was dropped into the cauldron. Harry couldn't stand to look... but the potion had turned a burning red; the light of it shone through Harry's closed eyelids...."
--Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Is that not perfection?! You know exactly what's happening without being told it directly. You are standing right next to Harry in that graveyard. It's stuff like that that makes Goblet of Fire my second favorite Harry Potter book.
"Awen stayed on the bed and watched Mika get up. Mika pressed his ear against the cupboard door and listened. The noise didn't sound like a Telly Head. It was gentle and purposeful, as if something was being made. Feeling reassured, he carefully opened the door and his lungs filled with air that was so cold and fresh, he felt as if he had eaten a whole packet of mints in one go. The cupboard was filled, floor to ceiling, with a plant that was growing before his eyes. It reached out, waving soft green tips, leaves unfurling and arching back like moth wings. Awen jumped down from the bed and walked into its midst, and as Mika tried to follow, something amazing happened-- as he took a step forward, his body folded over and suddenly he was walking on his hands as well as his feet, and when he looked down, he saw in the dim light that they had transformed into paws just like Awen's. He had become a dog. Awen's head reappeared among the foliage and he yapped playfully, as if this was a "chase me" game, and then he disappeared again. Laughing, Mika made to follow but woke up instead."
--The Roar, Emma Clayton
You can feel it! You can see it! Can't you just imagine exactly what that's like? She uses familiar things, "moth wings", "a whole packet of mints", so that we can feel and see exactly what Mika sees. That is so excellent! This book got terrible reviews and I have no idea why. It got excellent reviews and is absolutely beautiful and a super fun and creative story. You all should definitely check it out!
Any favorite paragraphs? Feel free to comment!
Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Hourglass Door
Guys, I just finished Heroes of Olympus.
Do you remember that feeling? You were in about sixth grade? You loved Percy Jackson. And then you found out about this series that everyone was really excited about because it was like a continuation of Percy Jackson. The book was called The Lost Hero. It was one of the popular books of the time, along with Mockingjay and The Red Pyramid. And you were skeptical. Because could he really do this? Was he going to ruin your beautiful series for you? Was he going to continue writing because he was a weak writer who couldn't bear to let go of his characters?
My dear friends, I can assure you that Rick Riordan was not a weak writer who couldn't bear to let go of his characters. He was a genius.
I can't imagine the Percy Jackson universe without our new friends that we met, or the new quest. Heroes of Olympus is such a part of the Percy Jackson universe that it would feel wrong to read just one series. They go so beautifully hand in hand. The Seven are the closest I have ever gotten to characters. Who knew it was possible to hardcore ship so many couples? Leo is definitely my favorite character in the series. (Don't worry, Commander Tool Belt, I am totally on Team Leo. Can I get a t-shirt or something?) This is some of the best modern literature in the world. Well done, Uncle Rick. You did a great job.
(My reviews for The Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena, The House of Hades, and The Blood of Olympus. Feel free to follow me on Goodreads!)
I just started reading a few pages ago (Oh! How great would it be if time were measured in pages?) the Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum. The trilogy includes the books The Hourglass Door, The Golden Spiral, and The Forgotten Locket. It's about Abby, who meets the Italian foreign exchange student Dante, who she finds relatively attractive, but whenever he's around weird things start going down, things that involve time.... Based off of what I've read it seems interesting, and I know a lot of other people who liked it. It was ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Award winner. This is going to be great!
Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
(Haha, oh yeah, that's my name!)
Do you remember that feeling? You were in about sixth grade? You loved Percy Jackson. And then you found out about this series that everyone was really excited about because it was like a continuation of Percy Jackson. The book was called The Lost Hero. It was one of the popular books of the time, along with Mockingjay and The Red Pyramid. And you were skeptical. Because could he really do this? Was he going to ruin your beautiful series for you? Was he going to continue writing because he was a weak writer who couldn't bear to let go of his characters?
My dear friends, I can assure you that Rick Riordan was not a weak writer who couldn't bear to let go of his characters. He was a genius.
I can't imagine the Percy Jackson universe without our new friends that we met, or the new quest. Heroes of Olympus is such a part of the Percy Jackson universe that it would feel wrong to read just one series. They go so beautifully hand in hand. The Seven are the closest I have ever gotten to characters. Who knew it was possible to hardcore ship so many couples? Leo is definitely my favorite character in the series. (Don't worry, Commander Tool Belt, I am totally on Team Leo. Can I get a t-shirt or something?) This is some of the best modern literature in the world. Well done, Uncle Rick. You did a great job.
(My reviews for The Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena, The House of Hades, and The Blood of Olympus. Feel free to follow me on Goodreads!)
I just started reading a few pages ago (Oh! How great would it be if time were measured in pages?) the Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum. The trilogy includes the books The Hourglass Door, The Golden Spiral, and The Forgotten Locket. It's about Abby, who meets the Italian foreign exchange student Dante, who she finds relatively attractive, but whenever he's around weird things start going down, things that involve time.... Based off of what I've read it seems interesting, and I know a lot of other people who liked it. It was ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Award winner. This is going to be great!
Love ya, mean it!
--Lizzo
(Haha, oh yeah, that's my name!)
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Harry Potter Fandom
(Spoilers for Harry Potter)
Today I want to pay tribute and reminisce in all the glorious memories of a great fandom, the first fandom I was ever in-- the Harry Potter fandom.
What can one say about the Harry Potter fandom? We can say that it began with the novels written by an awesome lady, Joanne Rowling, who was not in a great place when she started writing these books. She wrote these books, and started something amazing for herself, while starting something amazing for the entire world. The books are absolutely beautiful, the most incredibly real fiction I have ever read, with characters that you can get super close to and stories that you can get really involved in. Then films were made, and the stories and fandom expanded, and suddenly we weren't only getting close to the characters but also to the actors and filmmakers and their stories. A theme park was made. The Harry Potter fandom is so big, everyone knows what it is, and there have been so many things created due to the Harry Potter fandom. The Harry Potter fandom is where you can find a family. If you meet someone, and you find out they're a Potterhead, you're suddenly bonded, so easily, effortlessly. The Harry Potter fandom has connected so many people. It has given people friends that they will probably never meet. But we're still united.
I remember when I was seven years old Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the book, was coming out. The night the book was put in stores, a library in my city had this book premiere party, and my friends that were also in the Harry Potter fandom invited me to it. Gosh dang it, let me just tell you it was so dang cool. I was a little seven year old wearing Hogwarts robes running through this banner decorated to look like a brick wall and the music from the films was playing and there were people dressed like the characters walking around and we played a game of Quidditch and had butterbeer and Harry Potter candies and it was an all-night event waiting for the book to come out and wow. That's just such a great memory.
I did go to another premiere.... This one was at midnight, for the very last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. These midnight movie premieres, these are big events for fandomeers. I am so glad that while I still had the chance, I got to be a part of one. Me and my sister painted Harry Potter scars on our foreheads. I saw my friend there in Hogwarts robes, and my other friend there with her wand. My sister and her friend took a picture with a guy dressed as Dobby, and we sat by a group of friends covered in branches-- they were the Whomping Willow. Everyone there is celebrating their fandom and it's so great. The entire theater applauded when Bellatrix and Voldemort died-- and cute little eleven-year-old me started the applause for Voldemort. When I walked out of the theater, one of the signs in front of the theaters said:
Today I want to pay tribute and reminisce in all the glorious memories of a great fandom, the first fandom I was ever in-- the Harry Potter fandom.
What can one say about the Harry Potter fandom? We can say that it began with the novels written by an awesome lady, Joanne Rowling, who was not in a great place when she started writing these books. She wrote these books, and started something amazing for herself, while starting something amazing for the entire world. The books are absolutely beautiful, the most incredibly real fiction I have ever read, with characters that you can get super close to and stories that you can get really involved in. Then films were made, and the stories and fandom expanded, and suddenly we weren't only getting close to the characters but also to the actors and filmmakers and their stories. A theme park was made. The Harry Potter fandom is so big, everyone knows what it is, and there have been so many things created due to the Harry Potter fandom. The Harry Potter fandom is where you can find a family. If you meet someone, and you find out they're a Potterhead, you're suddenly bonded, so easily, effortlessly. The Harry Potter fandom has connected so many people. It has given people friends that they will probably never meet. But we're still united.
I remember when I was seven years old Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the book, was coming out. The night the book was put in stores, a library in my city had this book premiere party, and my friends that were also in the Harry Potter fandom invited me to it. Gosh dang it, let me just tell you it was so dang cool. I was a little seven year old wearing Hogwarts robes running through this banner decorated to look like a brick wall and the music from the films was playing and there were people dressed like the characters walking around and we played a game of Quidditch and had butterbeer and Harry Potter candies and it was an all-night event waiting for the book to come out and wow. That's just such a great memory.
I did go to another premiere.... This one was at midnight, for the very last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. These midnight movie premieres, these are big events for fandomeers. I am so glad that while I still had the chance, I got to be a part of one. Me and my sister painted Harry Potter scars on our foreheads. I saw my friend there in Hogwarts robes, and my other friend there with her wand. My sister and her friend took a picture with a guy dressed as Dobby, and we sat by a group of friends covered in branches-- they were the Whomping Willow. Everyone there is celebrating their fandom and it's so great. The entire theater applauded when Bellatrix and Voldemort died-- and cute little eleven-year-old me started the applause for Voldemort. When I walked out of the theater, one of the signs in front of the theaters said:
THANK YOU
LOYAL POTTER FANS
ACCIO POPCORN
(Which was really terrifying for me, because I had accidentally dumped out a huge bucket of popcorn onto the floor and I was certain they knew.)
Another one of my fondest memories. This fandom has been so much for so many people and is still going strong.
Any favorite memories from the Harry Potter fandom? Feel free to comment!
Any favorite memories from the Harry Potter fandom? Feel free to comment!
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Books are Diamonds!
Guys, I have a little blog I would like you all to check out! My friend Casi looked at my blog and decided she wanted to make her own, and I just checked it out and think it's really awesome! Check it out and follow it!
http://booksrdiamonds.blogspot.com/
Love ya, mean it!
http://booksrdiamonds.blogspot.com/
Love ya, mean it!
Book Recommendations: GO!
(At the request of my dear friend and follower!)
You heard me, fandomeers! Comment away your favorite books!
If I could recommend a super sensational and horrendously underrated book series to you, it would definitely be the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter.
Alright, go!
You heard me, fandomeers! Comment away your favorite books!
If I could recommend a super sensational and horrendously underrated book series to you, it would definitely be the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter.
Alright, go!
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