To Dream or not to Dream

Hello, friend!

Recently, I just watched La La Land and I was so intrigued by it, I thought I'd do a little ol' blog post about it. If you haven't watched it, I am going to let you know that there will be !!spoiler alerts!!  a little bit later on so don't continue to read if you're going to watch it soon or want to watch it.

The movie starts out with a classic scenario, Sebastian(Ryan Gosling) and Mia(Emma Stone), destined to be together even though it certainly was not love at first sight. They both have big dreams; Mia wants to be an actress and has been auditioning for seven years, while Sebastian wants to bring jazz back into the spotlight again.

They end up singing a song that has lyrics like, "what a (waste) of a lovely night," and then BAM they're together, both doing what they love and supporting each other through the ups and downs of life and then it kind of spirals downwards from there(their relationship)...

It seemed cruel that they had to choose between doing what they loved, and being with who they loved. The cinematography itself was beautiful, yet the storyline was tragic(for me). Mia eventually ends up marrying someone else and having a baby girl, but then RIGHT before the end there's this crazy montage of scenes that let you visualize what COULD have happened if Mia and Sebastian ended up together. That relates back to the movie's title, La La Land(also Los Angeles), as Mia and Sebastian could have ended up in this dream fantasy land, but didn't. I would argue that they did both have happy endings, as they achieved their dreams, and were accepting of the fact that they didn't end up together, but it wasn't what the audience really wanted. Mia and Sebastian smile before they go their separate ways, which ends the movie peacefully, at least.

This movie is realistic, in the fact that

you can't always get where you want to be with everyone you want by your side.

and I enjoyed that. It's simply about two people who have passion finding each other, and watching passionate people really inspires me to go after doing more of what I love.  The soundtrack is fantastic as well! It's obviously very different than all of the EDM, pop music I hear everyday. The instrumental music fits the scenes perfectly and captures your attention instantly.

Even though it is a "realistic" (but not really) movie, which can take on a negative connotation, it still has hope. That's what fuels Mia's and Sebastian's passions, and hope fuels us everyday as well. It inspires us to get out in the world and do things. There's this one song Mia sings for an audition towards the end of the movie and it's dedicated to the dreamers and the mess that they make. I realized that without dreams, or vision, nothing great would ever happen or change. IT'S SO CHEESY BUT IT'S TRUE.

Anyways, as you go throughout your busy life, don't forget that taking time to dream is important too.

xx
Joy :)

5 Winter Wardrobe Essentials

Hello, friend!

Here is a list of some clothing items that I believe are CRUCIAL to have in your closet during the chilly months of Winter.

1. Turtlenecks

OH-MY-GOSH this is a must. Turtlenecks are incredibly easy to style, and they come in every single color imagined! If you're starting out, try getting a black turtleneck, or maybe a white one if you have black hair(that way it won't wash you out). I have several-- white, pink, gingham ... they're addicting. I also love mock-neck sweaters just as much, and you might want to check these out if you don't like the idea of a lot of fabric around your neck. Turtlenecks + dark wash or black ripped jeans + converse or boots = <3

2. Pom-Pom Hats

These are so cute!! I have been seeing them all over the fashion side of Youtube, and my friend Eliciane got me a black hat that has a little brown/blonde pom-pom on it! I've also been seeing double pom-pom hats at H&M, which make you look like a panda or a bear, and are adorable. Hats will help keep your head warm AND stylish if you're walking around outside in the cold.

3. Cozy Sweaters

Okay, this is pretty much a given because every girl should have like one sweater for the winter! Just like the turtlenecks, you don't really have to do much to style it, but make sure that its completely comfortable because thats the whole point! You can dress up a sweater with a necklace, or even layer a thin one over a button-down for a casual business look(I actually really like this look, but since I'm in high school I am figuring that I can wait until college to pull this one off).

4. Boots

Tall, short, bright, or shiny, all boots are widely appreciated in the winter. Tall boots are great for when you want to make an outfit more dressy and keep your calves really warm! Short boots are fantastic for when you want to keep your toes warm and let your legs breathe more. I find that wearing boots also give your feet more support and then you get to let your other pairs of shoes take a break.

5. Hoodies

For a while I completely lost interest in hoodies(because the ones I owned were all way too big for my little 7th grade body) and then I regained interest after I went thrift shopping with my friend Abby and found the perfect pink hoodie that says Niagara Falls on it(I've been there)!! I feel like winter overall is sort of a season where I am constantly in between- do I want to look good or feel warm and cozy?? And hoodies can honestly do BOTH for you if you find the right ones! It's all about the fit and the feel. I literally don't understand why people buy anything uncomfortable.

Well, I hope that this quick list has helped you a little bit! :) What are some of your winter essential clothing items?? Leave it down in the comments!

xx
Joy :)

Hazy Days

Hello, friend!!

It's that time in January where the hype from all of the holidays and real life sinks back in. I have been busy studying for finals this week, and to be honest, I think that this has been least motivated I have been to study for finals all throughout my high school career. It's just hard to get myself to be motivated for my SECOND TO LAST finals of high school. Yes, second to last EVER finals, or technically the last winter finals that I'll ever have of boring high school. 

While I've been trying to study, it hasn't helped that it's been cold and gray outside. I just want to hop into bed and take a nap!(so much for my new year's resolutions). 

I would just like to say that whoever thought that it would be a good idea to release, "Moana," during the winter was probably already living in a tropical climate(thank u very little). Okay also, that soundtrack is my favorite thing at the moment.  I have been playing guitar a lot more recently and getting more and more excited about Spring. I've found that for myself, the little things that I do(like playing guitar for 20 minutes, reading a bit before I go to bed, etc) can make these hazy days seem a lot better and go by a lot quicker!! If you find yourself in a fog, my advice is to pay attention to the little things you're doing in your life and change them just a little bit to make things more interesting.

This is just a super short blog update on what I have and haven't been doing recently, and I'll be getting back into more weekly blogging after finals! :) 

xx

Joy :)