Just Great

Wollongong was amazing. Can I go back?

Returning my focus

My week has pretty much been filled with the most (self-inflicted) stress. Really, I was asking for it. Being in such an intense program and then totally slacking off. But then on another level, I only slacked on one assignment. And that has affected the subsequent 4 assignments. #IHAVESIXFORTHISSUBJECT
Anyways, long story short. I have pretty much been having a week that's straight up shit. I feel no motivation whatsoever to do anything at all. And my deadlines are creeping up at a faster pace than ever. Oh well, silver linings? I just have 2 more weeks. Bad news? I have just 2 week left!! And I still need to study for finals. So, 2 weeks to finish 6 assignments(5 in the first week) and then study for 4 subjects? God, you've got my back right! I can do this. #IpraythatIcan

The main reason for this post though is to remind me that even through this all, I've got pretty amazing friends :) From giving me brownies to hugs and virtual ones. Ju just made my day. xxxxoooo. And I shall be waiting patiently for the mail to come the coming week or so. :D So super excited mannn. Much cryptic eh. Just the way I roll. HAHA. So, be thankful is all I can say. Be thankful, self. You've got it good and you will not realize it without times like these.

Salut,
-clare

Sufjan Stevens

Words don't even come close to describing the emotions that Sufjan is able to toy with, just with his music. It's the kind of music where when you have that silence after listening to it, that silence is almost echoing back at you, begging for more. It's amazing especially for studying IMHO. That or just thinking. The sort of thinking without thoughts. Just openness of mind in some sense.

Just look at his eyes. It's like he knows stuff. 

Anyways, to start off everyone should check out Seven Swans. Because Seven Swans, I have fallen in love with. The whole album is really great. His voice, the music. Another plus for Christians would be that you'll appreciate this album even more, from the titles to the lyrics. You'll get it the moment you check it out. WHICH SHOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT YESTERDAY BRO. Haha. Also, once you've got that covered there are like 8(!!!! #amazinginnit) more studio albums for you to enjoy!! 

Now tell me you wouldn't wanna listen to this guy ^^

Here, a pretty much all Christian song for you:

Salut,

-clare

Migrane with Boundaries

"Am I the only one I know,

Waging my wars behind my face and above my throat?

Shadows will scream that I'm alone." - Migrane

There is a side of me that has taken to these words. That question pierces hard, because all of us are fighting something within or dealing with issues that you may or may not want(or know how) to tell the people around you. This leaves me feeling like I am the only one who is experiencing these feelings. But in actual fact, that is not true. Everyone around the world feels the same things that I feel. I need to remind myself, continuously.

I guess in many ways I am blessed that I seem to be able to put my sense before my emotions. Though sometimes the brain gets sick of all the control. The shadows. The shadows are dangerous. They're all my insecurities which stem from other people. A small comment on something might have a ripple effect on things within. This is also why I've been trying really hard to watch what I say, of late. That said, I'm pretty much a tough pill to swallow at times because I tend to be very direct. I'm not balls-y or anything, but I just don't like to sugar-coat things. It's either I'll say it as it is or just shut up about it. I can't stand beating around the bush. Which leads me to the original reason I wanted to even write a post. BOUNDARIES.

This is really just my unfiltered thoughts honest opinion on the topic. In no way is it the gospel truth and I'm sorry if you have conflicting thoughts. Go ahead and write them on your own blog. This is MY SPACE(ahhah).

So, boundaries. I feel like these days there's no clear-cut way of dealing with this issue because everyone has different understandings of what boundaries encompass. I'm speaking from the perspective of boundaries within friendships, because I always seem to see this problem within friendships. Like what is private, should remain private right? Friends involving themselves in other peoples issues, to what extent? How far does the friendship autonomy go?

At this time and age, it all boils down to your own powers of analysing. How would the other person feel if you did something? How would the other person deal with this if the tables were turned? Always remember, you're doing something to(for) the other person. If it's not to benefit the other person, don't do it. If it's not done in a tactful fashion that shows you respect the other person, also don't do it. I'm sure you're trying to help out your friend, but really analyse what you're doing. Sometimes we fail to see that we are not parents to our friends. We need to allow them to correct their paths. Our jobs are to maintain a hand outstretched for them to walk with us, with no judgments and no lectures. Not to tell them to sit in a corner while we settle their mess out. How is that even healthy? Friends help friends grow.

Salut,
-clare

The child

You know, we can learn a lot from children. Like the normal stuff of not judging, not holding grudges and even forgetting that you're angry. It all seems trivial matters to those small people with big hearts. But of late, I seem to realize something. In general, many people treat children like they are amazing people with endless potential, which is awesome and rightfully so. With all the cooing and trying to get them to laugh etc etc. I wonder though how is it that the(as) babies/children, get so much attention but move down a decade or two and people just walk on by.

When did being an adult mean to reduce our endless potential? Reduce us to the finite, instead of being infinite?

Shouldn't there be some sort of continuation to this fascination of another person, an interest in who they are and who they want to be. I don't only mean your friends. I mean the random person you meet on the street. To just sit, watch and high five another person. To run around with each other, either mentally or physically, just because.(I don't mean mind games. More of mentally challenging stuff along the lines of Sherlock VS Moriarty, but not too intense) To appreciate everyone for the child that they were and the adult they have come to be (to mask that child).

To be adult does not mean we do not get fascinated by things, or people and things lose it's appeal. To be adult should be us growing with more fascination for this world. Just imagine for a moment, how it would be like if people actually treated others like amazing people full of potential. There would be more patience in the wait, more help given and everyone would just be way more easy-going and helpful.

Maybe it's the late night, or the lack of sleep talking. But hey, it's just my thoughts.

Salut,
-Clare

Hands Off(Or On?)

Disclaimer: This post was written under immense emotions, so I apologize in advance for the language or lack of tact that I am about to display. This is only temporary.
So after a series of (unfortunate? slightly) events, I find myself in this very interesting spot where I find a friend/several friends seem to require hand holding. Not literally, but emotionally. The sort where if you don't hang out or don't check in, they assume something seems to be the matter. Ughh. ASSUME NOTHING MOFO. NOTHING. NOTHING IN LIFE CAN BE ASSUMED.(Unless you're in risk management, in which case; thanks for doing your job and be on your merry way.) You know how much this frustrates me? Immensely. Hey sure, I like to keep in touch and all but sometimes I just can't, I do have my own life to live, even if that life is assignments 24/7 I STILL NEED TO LIVE IT.

There are only so many hours I can spend 'lepaking'. Do not interpret my casual hi and byes as an invitation to question my friendship with you. I am loyal as fuck, and you don't need to pay shit for this loyalty. You better not question it, or I will see this question as my invitation to shut the door on you. I am not even kidding.
I am so thankful for all my friends. I have so many precious ones whom I care very much for, but the best ones are those who don't fade with time. Whom I can call out of the blue and still hang out like we see each other all the time. You guys know who you are. You know where you stand.

I'm so done with this drama,
Ugh.
-Andrina

Things I Am Thankful For

Soooo, I turned 21. In lieu of a weird birthday post, I decided to list out somethings I'm thankful for. Because, what could be better?

1. Family. Sometimes it's the only thing that gets me through life. Family may come with it's ups and downs, but they're the one part that you can't completely scare away no matter how hard you try.
2. God. Who gave me this family. Who gives me all the things I need at the moment I need it. He knows what I want and what I need, and knows also that not all that I want and need are tryly what I need. God, who is so humourous in his ways, I can't help but laugh at the things that happen to me. Good and bad.
3. Friends. For such awesome and badass friends. From the time I was in high school, I lucked out in the friends department, with a huge group of friends who were(still are) as crazy as I am. Moving on to college in Penang; from orientation to my first class, to drama and right up till my last presentation, I have met so many amazing people and became such close friends with em. With such an awesome time in Penang, I didn't think that Subang would in anyway have anything else to offer me. But I was wrong, and I've met some amazing people here as well. It has been wicked awesome thus far, and I hope I have been as good a friend to all of you as you all have been to me.
4. The gift of reading. I meet so many people who know not of the joys of this. I hope that one day they understand it. Because there is nothing more interesting than having an insiders view of another person's life. Don't tell me no one has ever wanted to see things from another person's view, like literally! (or literary in this case. HAHA)
5. The fact that my parents never held my "freedom" in their hands till I turned 21. I was essentially allowed to decide for myself when and what was appropriate. Hence, there is no key to give on my 21st. HAHA. Even my dad said this today: "I have no key to give, because you've had it from the start."
6. Having opportunities in my life to explore who I am and who I want to be very early in my life. This has probably made me an irritating specimen of a person. 
7. For being strong. In more ways than the eye can see, in more ways than the heart knows. For being strong enough to not leave my emotions separate from myself. To be strong enough to be weak.
8. For having lived this long. And also, all the people I have met who have touched my life and are no longer here. The memories may grow dim but every so often, there will be something what will light them up. Something that will make me smile and think of you. Particularly grandma, because you were the best and I see you in so many ways and in so many people around me. 

Heres to hoping I continue to grow(not physically I hope) and learn with each (Birth)day :D

Salut,

-Clare

[source]

Mental Thoughts

So, I've not updated my blog for a long time. I've had ample time to do so, but I just didn't. I didn't have any classes since I finished my very last finals in July. Granted, I had my FYP in August. But that ended, the first week of December. So what have I been up to? Well I could say nothing. But that wouldn't be quite accurate. The past 3 months have flew by in such a blur, I'm left with nothing but worry.

A breakdown of what happened:
I GRADUATED WITH A DIPLOMA IN IT, YO! :D
I shifted out of Penang :'( #criedadamnriver #stillmissingitlikecrazy #MEMORIESFORLIFE

I went Caroling, the usual.
I ATE AND ATE AND ATE!

Christmas, New Year and CNY, (one after another) you are the best gift to any Malaysian who loves food.
I visited Penang twice! Would have actually stayed there the whole time, if it didn't require me annoying one of my awesome peeps, everyday. (Thanks Xander, Mars(and Chun!) and Val who put up with me on separate ocassions) HAHA.
My Penang trips, with the last one ending on Friday. They make me so sad that I've left the island. Special shoutout of immense thanks to Jin Ji for being an amazing amazing friend who haz carrrrr, and is willing to drive! Glad we finally got that beer :) Also, Leigh! For being an awesome cousin, and having drinks(and buying rootbeer from KL for me), eating cake and having supper together(I love it that we can always eat at any time). Not forgetting, for also being le driver! Val for letting me crash at her place and basically coax you into eating this and that and going out with me and my friends. Twas fun! :)

I visited Subang and KayHELL to kinda settle my transfer and housing(insert main source of stress).

I built a website for La Salle Malaysia(still putting in material, but it's basically done with the design! Might even put up the link here, if I'm really happy with my work. HEH)

I slept like 6-10 hours a day, depending on how late/how early I did stuff.

I avoided meet up, I had meetups. But mainly I stayed at home and chilled.
Stayed at home, hoping that I wouldn't need to leave. Sigh. But the time for leaving is almost upon me. I have to attend my orientation this Friday. Yes, I'm not cool enough to skip orientation. Also because I have no idea where is whattttt in Subang. I really really really pray that I can find a good set of friends within my own course, people who are nice and smart(that is all I ask). I don't even care if they're funny, or if they'll get my lame puns. (That would be a plus) BUT ALL I WANT IS SOME GOOD PEOPLE WHO WON'T BACKSTAB ME OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME. *fingers crossed*


Notice how I only blog when I'm at my busiest. Sigh. So that means you'll be seeing tons of updates. That is if anyone still reads blogs? HAHA. Well, with Facebook I think not.

Anyways, TTFN and DFTBA!
Salut,
-Clare

First day of a last chapter.

"I'm a a ship sailing and the seas are rough
I'm a satellite in the space above
When I'm holding here
Or I'm hanging up
In the suspension"

We'll see how the epilogue turns out. Because then only will we know how this ends.

Technically, today is the first day of this semester. Meh. But I'm still in Ipoh, because my enrollment day is tomorrow. So I'll be travelling back to Penang today! Oh the joy of the Island and the sadness of not being home. All you college/uni people will get this mixed feelings I always always experience.

So, Idk why the heck I've been feeling so 'lost' in the mind sector. I need to get my shit together and figure out what I want/need to do for my final year project, which is to be complete during this semester. Yeah, no classes whatsoever this sem, just the project! (Which I've yet to decide on it's content or my advising lecturer.) Damn, damn, damn. ANDDDD, on top of that, I need to figure out which IT sector I wanna major in for my degree next year.

Which also leads to the source of my lack of decision making. The fact that this is my final semester means I leave Penang and say goodbye end of this year :'( Which makes me have slight anxiety as I've called it home for close to 3 years?(Okay, maybe 2 1/2 years!) And I really really love Penang. It has so much to offer and so much more, I can tell. *SIGHS*

But we all need to move on, close old chapters and open new ones in other places and spaces. Subang would be the next destination! Not the biggest fan of KL and it's surroundings. Meh. I don't even know where is what. Lack of interest in knowing, stemmed from the lack of like.

Several things to look forward in Subang though:
like being housemates with Daniel!!
and also having older people around?
(The no 1. problem in Penang is that the bulk of students are from Pre-U programs, which ultimately mean they're younger than me. Ish betul one. At least in SU, there will be a mixture due to the bulk of Aussie degrees being only available here.)

Here's what I'm probably gonna dread in SU:
food?(either the lack of good food or the price of food)
having to introduce yourself to everyone
(ALSO, having to judge college activities and picking which ones would mesh well with me. Though, I told Daniel to join and scout which clubs are interesting and nice to join. Hopefully he gets good intel!)
and finally, having to start over again in a new college in a new city.

It's scary how we're pushed into places we'd not normally go, but after it's over and you look back, you thank God that you were pushed there, to help you grow and to help enhance your perspective of things. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Penang, but I'm sure God's just laughing at my senseless worrying and saying "You'll know what's in store for you, soon enough".

Salut,
-clare ;)

Busy Busy Busy

How is it that the only time I feel like updating my blog is at the most busiest times? HAHA. I have drama coming up, (which I'm super hyped up and worried for at the same time!) a website due tomorrow and my finals a week after drama. In other news, I'm almost doneee! One more semester of only my FYP :P Which is probably gonna be a killer :/

 So, drama. I like that I'm the narrator who's just damn 'kepoh' in every scene. And oh, the teasing I get from having a good looking co-narrator. I pity him more than me. :/ I think he could do with better teasing? (Sorry, I'm insecure like that.) AND, Mars(my roommate) and I managed to get our drama lecturer to agree to a grey dress, instead of a white dress for narration part. I just don't think I could have pulled a female Morgan Freeman in a dress. HAHA. That would be weirdddd.

 I feel the urge of creating a list of some sort. :) Maybe awesome new artist? Wait, does anyone still check my bloggie? HAHA. I hope so. HEH.

 Salut,
-Clare ;)

Because the Past is the Past and I wouldn't change a thing :)

"So my semester break has finally begun and it's for a whole month. Since it's a whole bloody month and I have not managed to secure a job of any sort, I shall finally update my blog, cos I haven't done that this whole year. I should be given two slaps, since I've had ample time to do so. Anyways, let's move away from my failure to blog and think of other stuff. One thing I haven't done in a bit is blog about artist and music stuff. :/ Haha. I need to do something about that soon." As you can see from this post, I started writing it at the start of my break. That break, which is already coming to an end. I resume classes next week. The only thing I'm looking forward to is being back at the apartment and hanging with my homies. It's amazing how fast Mars and I have become such good friends. Maybe it's cos we're both equally weird. I take that back, she's weirder. But that's why I love being homies with her. And Ruve! The more studious of the 3 of us. ;) Love being homies with her too. Between the liking for shows and movie marathons of the 3 of us and le bro, we pretty much mesh very well. :) I think the selling point was when I found out all of us love Supernatural.

Procrastination

So when procrastination kicks in and I've done almost everything, (from sitting on my bed listening to music and staring at the wall to having a whole season marathon of a show) I head back to the first thing i procrastinated doing: Blogging.

The number of drafts I have in my "All Posts" section is just overwhelming. I finally figured out why I haven't been blogging. I'm running out of ideas. Inspiration is running dry. It's barely there anymore. I can imagine I still have it, but it only makes me realize how much of a shell i have become.

When did we end up being such robots? Doing the same thing over and over again until you know it by heart. Why? I swear some days I feel like there's no purpose, some I 'think' I've found it. But what if that's just me talking myself into something. Sigh. Growing up is painfully real, sad to say.

I just wish that with time, I don't loose who I am. And with that, I don't end up being something I always said I won't be.

Salut,
-clare

Awesome apps to amuse yourself with ;)

I have decided to share some apps that are the best on days where you just wanna sit down, do nothing an explore stuff or read interesting articles on you phone/tablet.

1. 8tracks

 Google Play Link

8tracks is like a music doctor, it has every and any sort of playlist you could imagine. 8tracks may come off as slightly sticky at first when it comes to skipping tracks in a playlist. In an hour, there is a limit to the number of times you can skip songs. This may sound irritating, but it really helps in some ways. :) The best feature 8tracks has, is that it allows you to search by artist, genre, tags and the standard titles. So, no matter what sorta search you wanna carry out, they've got you covered. 8tracks also has a web version, besides their Android and Iphone apps, so even if you don't have a smartphone you can still enjoy it. A side note, 8tracks loads a little bit of the song before playing, to allow for a smooth and uninterrupted play :)

Screenshots:

2. Sumbleupon

 Google Play Link

Stumbleupon makes the internet seem like a playground. Essentially, the more you use the app, the better the app is at suggesting you sites that you may like. Stumbleupon takes a whole new look into stumbling upon an awesome webpage. This way, you can stumble upon all the types of stuff you like, with their multiple categories of stumbling.

Screenshots:

3. Drippler

 Google Play Link

If you're one to keep track of your phone's updates, best apps for your phone and just generally anything to do with your android phone, Drippler is the app for you. It has an app for almost each android phone on the market. And if you're not interested in your phones updates, you can always install the default one and select which phones you'd like to get updates on. Everyday, it updates the articles related to the selected phone.

Screenshots:

 

On my Tablet:

On my DEFY:

4. PLAY by AOL Music

Google Play Link

Another music app that helps you find awesome singers/bands. PLAY is where artist have full-length listening parties ;) You can listen to the latest album releases of the week and just explore new artists. Not only is it an app to discover music, it can also act as your music player. It's UI is clean and simple to use. :D

Screenshots:

Salut,
-clare ;)

Semester four.

So in this semester, I have a subject called Digital Image Editing, aka DIE. It's not exactly the hardest subject, but still tough. This is because for our finals, we have to give an explanation of the steps in doing a certain style of editing. Like WTF. Some stuff you can only do, but not explain as well right? Sigh. Well anyways, here's a sample of a page i had to design for my project. A magazine page. I think this was the most simple one among those i did. :)

Salut,
-clare

Thinspo and Fitspo. Skinny and Strong.

So everyone has some problem with the way they look. Either their eyes aren't big enough, height isn't tall enough, skin isn't fair enough or tanned enough. The list goes on and on. For most of these problems there are almost immediate solutions which aren't going to burn a hole in your fairly average pocket.

BUT.....
there is one thing that can't be solved like the above problems. Weight issues. Or most commonly known as the 'I'm Fat' syndrome. Am I the only one who is almost going deaf with all the complaints of perfectly normal sized girls and guys (mostly girls) complaining or whining about how fat they are? AND, how eating the big F is going to worsen the problem.

If you're on any social networking site (which you probably are), you'd probably have stumbled across Thinspiration(thinspo) and Fitspiration(fitspo) as hashtags of pictures. If you haven't, then I guess there is still hope for humanity.

• Thinspo

Thinspiration is basically inspiration via pictures of skinny people to get thin, which I'm not against.(the getting skinny part) The idea behind thinspo is that it helps motivate and inspire you to lose weight and become or stay thin.The idea is fine, but when it is used by people suffering from eating disorders to help keep them inspired, I think that's a little too much. The technique to getting skinny is just scary.

Here is a couple of tips of an actual tip sheet:

'1. Drink one glass of water every hour. It will make you feel full.'
'12. Wear a rubberband around your wrist. Snap it when you want to eat.'
'24. Make yourself a snack, but instead of eating it throw it away. Leave the dirty dishes where your parents can find them. They will think you ate.'

'34. Eat in front of a mirror naked. See how much you can eat then!'

The Full List

This was what Isabelle Caro looked like in the documentary.

Recently I watched this documentary on a french model (Isabelle Caro), who died at the age of 28. Isabelle Caro's anorexia started during her childhood where her mother feared that she would grow. Which is just sad, because 13 year olds are supposed to grow and enjoy their childhood. Isabelle died on my birthday (17th November) in 2010. After watching that documentary, I've been trying to write a post on her for some time. But I just can't seem to get it right, you know? So I decided to write about Thinspo and include her in it, because she fought for her life against anorexia. Why would someone inflict that on themselves willingly?


For those who don't know what is thinspo, here is and insight on what it is:

This is a picture I found on photobucket on thinspo.

Just your nomal dose of thinspiration

After I read these, I got a little bit defensive about how I live my life.
I mean anyone would right? Unless you're pro-ana (in support of anorexia)

Young girls are throwing away their youth, trying to be as thin as they possibly can be.

Tell me how THIS is inspirational:

I think everyone needs to take a good hard look at the meaning of inspirational and figure out how it got so messed up.

• Fitspo

On the other hand of this extreme line of life is fitspiration which ultimately means obtaining similar results as thinspo (getting slimmer) BUT with different and healthier methods. 

Fitspo inspires via pictures or quotes of active, strong, and fit women that promote proper exercise and diet.

Most fitspo is very encouraging to everyone (girls and guys). Especially if you're more of an athletic person or built like one.

But fitspo, though it seems to have good intentions has the same pressure on physical appearance. And, may even lead to over-exercising.

 No doubt between the two, I'd go for fitspo.

Ultimately, you'll have to decide if you want to look good or feel good. Cos they're both different in certain aspects. Looking good is how people perceive you. Feeling good on the other hand is your own feelings towards yourself. Having both is a rarity, not impossible just hard. ;)

Hope this post was interesting :)

Salut,
-clare

The only DIET i'm on is the SEEFOOD DIET.

So, these days I feel like I'm the only girl at college who actually eats. It doesn't really get to me cos all my course mates are guys. 

Anyway, i noticed that more and more of my friends are going on some shit diets and stuff like that. Like seriously? 

People sacrifice a ton for love, for education, for family but for self satisfaction? Just so you can become the 'ideal' you? What's the point? 

Your problems aren't rooted in the fact that you're not as slim/stick-ish as you'd wish to be! It's just sad, the way skinny people who are seriously skinny tell me they're fat. Even when I point out to them that they're half the size of me, they can defend that by saying "You're taller la, it's different." Really? That's your justification?

So there are two types of people who diet out there. (And by diet I mean don't eat a minimum of 3 healthy meals a day.)

The first kind: Those who are skinny and want to stay skinny.

The second kind: Those who are plum or bigger sized and want to become skinny.

So you end up with two kinds, where the first kind influences the second.

Sometimes I think it's because of the way people judge us on looks alone. But if you truly think about it, the people we love are all the same to us, they are all awesome and not rated according to looks.

Have you ever actually thought about it? Like seriously why you liked that one person way longer than those other crushes you had? It's cos you weren't only attracted to their looks. You liked them for what they stood for and how they react to their surroundings.

That is all for now. I think I shall talk about fitspo and thinspo in an upcoming post. Seems to be a trend among our generation.

Salut,
-clare ;) 

Google Play

So over the years, the popularity of Android has increased drastically. With popularity comes changes. :) One of those changes is Google Play, formerly known as the Android Market. 


The Android Market was the Android version of the Nokia's Ovi Store, Apple's App Store, Windows Phone's Marketplace and Blackberry's App World.


Google Play is a combination of  music, books, apps, games as well as a cloud media player. Prior to this, the Android Market only had apps and games.


Here is a comparison of how it looked then and now:

So, as you can see not much has changed layout-wise. The only noticeable difference is the logo and the location of the search bar. 

Here is what you see when you click on learn more (which leads you to the about page):

Here, you can see a list of the 4 different things you can access on Google Play. :)


Overall, I think Google is just expanding. :) This change is a big step in the right direction and I can't wait to see what Google has up their sleeves. Not all change is bad, but most take time to settle with us. Hope all Android users like the transition. I know I do :D


Salut,
-clare 

Advice: Semester Break

Once you're in college or uni, you'll be having long breaks between semesters.

It'll be (almost) like a complete break from the stress. Like a walk in the forest after a couple of months in the city.

You know why breaks always past so fast? Because you spend the first half of it planning. Planning stuff that may or may not happen. Out of the things you 'plan' to do, only 20-25% actually happens. It's just a fact. Then by the time you get over that fact, you're close to the end of the break and you're probably trying to rush and plan stuff you wanted to do all along in the back of your head. How on earth are we to solve this? How do we make it move slower? I think I've got it.

PLAN NOTHING.
Just live from day to day. Don't plan anything in advance. Unless it's something planned by another person and all you have to do it attend or make an appearance.

FACE THE FACTS.
Let's face it, the reality of the situation is that we plan stuff that's probably not gonna happen.

ERGO,
stop planning and just enjoy the break, because believe it or not something will come up. Something not of your making but still as interesting and real.

Take it a day at a time. Don't think about the end of the break. Just think about the day you want to have and the day you are having.

Salut,
-clare

Music in everyday life.

Most of us tend to have a favorite genre that we cling to. One that we seem to always come back to. For me, it's possibly post-pop-indie-pop-indie-folk sort of sounds. :) It's just infectious. Once I've heard it a couple of times, all I want to do is just lie on my bed and listen to them all over and just rediscover what I love about the song.

In lieu of creating a list, I decided to just suggest the artist of last month for me :) I'd have to say Regina Spektor. She was just on loop, like ALL THE TIME. Gotta love her voice and her talent.

Therefore, here is my list(obviously there would be one in this post (; ) from the artist for my month of February! :)

Top songs to check out from Regina Spektor:
1. All The Rowboats
2. That Time
3. Samson
4. Us
5. Laughing With
6. Fidelity

Just download all albums! :D

P.S. Ez, if you see this, you should know I think of you everytime I hear her songs :D Hahhahaah. Love you babe (:

Salut,
-clare ;)

20 Movies in 2012 :)

So here is a list of movies that you, me and everyone should at least check out ;)


1. G.I. Joe Retaliation
So, what's hotter than having Channing Tatum AND Dwayne Johnson in the same movie? Okay, maybe the next movie on this list. Plus, Jon M. Chu directs the movie. Which is awesome :) Love his Step Up movies and also LXD.


So this movie is basically a retaliation of what happened in the first movie. Looks freaking kick ass.


Synopsis: When Cobra spy Zartan has most of the Joes assassinated, the remaining Joes band together to strike back.


Trailer:





Pictures:

2. The Avengers
 If someone tells me they are not looking forward to this movie, you're fucking bluffing. NOBODY, I tell you, NOBODY is not hyped up and waiting for this movie to be released. At least all movie buffs will be looking forward to it, for sure. Come on, such a star studded cast? That doesn't happen very often. Or even when it does, doesn't end well.


Synopsis: Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.


Trailer:





Pictures:

3. The Expendables 2
This movie is definitely Chuck Norris approved. I'm serious. Have you taken a look at the cast? He just happens to be on the cast list ;) AND,  Jason Statham is in it, for one. Who doesn't like his accent? As a contrast to all the American ones we hear in almost all the movies he acts in. It's just a few tons of badass-ness all wrapped into one package. ;)


Synopsis: Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.




Trailer:





Pictures:

4. The Dark Knight Rises
So, The Dark Knight was epic. Lets hope this one is just as good? But I highly doubt it can top The Dark Knight, but lets wait till after the movie to be the judge of that :)


Synopsis: Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes.


Trailer:





Pictures:

5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
 ONE THING TO SAY: LOTR!!


Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.


Trailer:





Pictures:

6. The Hunger Games
Okay, the book was just kickass. Hopefully the movie doesn't screw too much with it.


Synopsis: Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.


Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgssLmsOa2s

Pictures:

7. Madagascar 3
 Need I say more? Madagascar has like some of the most epic characters EVER. Like King Julian. Who doesn't laugh at the stuff he pulls?


Synopsis: Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo join a traveling circus in an effort to get back home to New York.


Trailer:





Pictures:

8. The Amazing Spider Man
I THINK, it looks pretty good. Trailer wise anyway.I'm ready for some change. :) Plus, Spiderman should start out really young. And, its not exactly a remake of the original Spiderman movies, it's got a different side to it, with the same characters.


Synopsis: Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner.


Trailer:





Pictures:

9. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Book was cool and awesome. Can't wait to see how they turn it into a movie. Hope they don't kill the awesome-ness.


Synopsis: President Lincoln's mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.


Trailer: UNAVAILABLE :'(


Pictures:

10. Step Up 4
 So, I loved the first one. Loved the second one even more. And totally LOVED 3D :) Moose is the bomb. I have no idea how they're gonna top the first 3, without Jon as the director or any characters from the previous movies. Well, I'll still watch it anyway :D


Synopsis: Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations to become a professional dancer. She sparks with Sean, the leader of a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily's father's development plans.


Trailer:





Pictures:

11. Brave
 A badass Disney Princess. #nuffsaid


Synopsis: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.


Trailer:





Pictures:

12. MEN IN BLACK 3
 MIB MIB MIB. You suck if you don't like MIB.


Synopsis: Agent J travels in time to MIB's early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.


Trailer:





Pictures:

13. Tangled Ever After
Tangled was a nice movie, different from the normal classical tales you watch. This short film of Tangled looks promising ;)


Synopsis: The kingdom is abuzz over the royal wedding of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.


Trailer:





Pictures:

14. Magic Mike
 Male Strippers? With Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer AND Alex Pettyfer. I cannot even ahgadjdgdhalkfaiofyueifoeiffsklfajk. *drools*


Synopsis: An upstart male stripper is taken under the wing of a more experienced colleagues.


Trailer: TBA


Pictures:
I LOVE THESE ;)

15. AMERICAN REUNION
American Pie RETURNS :) Hahaha.


Synopsis: Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.


Trailer:





Pictures:

16. 21 Jump Street
The trailer is freaking funny. HAHAHAHAH.


Synopsis: A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.


Trailer:





Pictures:


17. The Dictator
Just watch it. Funny shiz.


Synopsis: The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.


Trailer:





Pictures:

18. This Means War




Synopsis: Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman.


Trailer:





Pictures:

19. Mirror Mirror
A comedy sorta tale of Snow White. Wicked. AND, because Snow White and the Huntsmen is too MAINSTREAM.


Synopsis: An evil queen steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.


Trailer:





Pictures:

20. Dark Shadows
JOHNNY DEPP. Enough reason to watch.


Synopsis: A gothic-horror tale centering on the life of vampire Barnabas Collins and his run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts. Based on the cult TV series.


Trailer: TBA


Pictures:

LONGEST POST EVER, i think.


Salut,
-clare ;)