Hallow-green!

The spookiest holiday of the year is coming up....what's not to love?  Candy? Costume? Time with friends? Who can resist? The only way this special day (night?) could get any better is if it can love the earth too! So here are some festive holiday decoration tips:

-Compostable

Make your external decoration even more authentic with branches, leaves, even mud! A classy touch would be to make an autumn wreath. Collect large leaves and bendable branches from around your neighborhood and local parks. Weave them around a large wooden hoop, (an embroidery hoop will work well, a couple bucks art Wal-Mart). Hang them on your door, maybe with a little pine sprig for fragrance, and BOOM you have a perfect holiday touch that can help fertilize your garden right after.

-Energy Efficient

Strings of lights aren't  just for Christmas anymore. Orange, purple, and even black lights have become very popular. However, no one wants a power outage on Halloween. Places like Lowe's and Home Depot should carry strings of energy efficient LED's that will look great. They'll also make a perfectly lit path for every candy seeking superhero, princess, or monster that comes to your door

-Money Saving
I can understand not wearing the same costume every year, but, honestly, what's wrong with your candy bucket from last year? Pull it out from under the cabinet and carry it proudly! And if you simply must change your candy receptacle every year, buy a cute, matching bag that can be thrown into the recycle bin after the candy is gone. It saves money and resources.

Well, now it's up to you to make this holiday fun and green-tabulous!

High Class Chick

Who doesn't like something expensive? It feels heavier, prettier, more meaningful. It doesn't make me dirty, it just makes me a little more normal (hate that word!!).

This post is on a definite tangent, but I felt like talking about it. Money, clothes, all that jazz. I'm no gold digger, but if there's a nugget on the sidewalk, you better bet I'll pick it up! I don't even have to be genuinely expensive to feel famous. I feel it when I walk across campus in my Betsey Johnson sunglasses, my iPod plugged in, Avril Lavigne blasting through my brain. I feel like some sort of celebrity.

I want to feel like all eyes are on me, so I can bask in it. Feeling famous and having confidence go hand in hand. The way I see it, you can either think everyone is talking behind your back, or you can demand that they say it to your face....and just take it!

I said, 'Even the time on my hands cost me an arm and a leg. Can't find this in the States, had it flown in from Madrid'. ~ PCD "Whatchamacallit"

Going Back To School Earth-friendly!!

Earlier this month, I received my first ACE Earth Ambassador assignment: how do you go back to school eco friendly?
I came up with this tip that is great for the environment and fun, too!

Before the era of BYOB, more earth conscious shoppers would choose paper over plastic. But since earth warriors everywhere now have their own ways of carrying groceries home, you may have some paper bags laying around. Here's a fun way to get rid of the bags and cover your books.

You'll need a textbook, a paper bag, tape, and a pair of scissors.

First, take the bag and cut down the thinner side panels to make the bag look like a giant plus sign, kind of like this.

Second, take your book and place it in the middle of the thicker panel of your "plus sign". Open your book to the front cover and press it flat against the bag. Then, fold the paper over, maybe halfway onto the cover and tape it down.

Flip to the back cover and repeat. Now, you can cut off the thinner panels, because you won't need them anymore!

After that, you can fix the sloppy edges by folding them towards the inner cover and taping them down, like so:

Repeat for any "sloppy edges" you may have. And voila! You have a clean slate to decorate with pens, stickers, markers, even glitter!!!

A quick tip: a great place to order reusable bags for every aspect of your life is from Mixed Bag Designs. They have all sorts of colors and patterns for lunchboxes, tote bags, even  iPhone covers. I bought a bag from them and now by school books always have a place to be.

Happy Earth Saving!!

Achingly Beautiful

Recently, the first season of Switched At Birth, a show on ABC Family, ended. The whole show is very dramatic and soap opera-ish, but that's what makes it entertaining. But outside of the breakups and makeups, there is some great music featured.
One of my favorites is Stranger by Katie Costello. It is haunting and uses an effective amount of whisper-y and whiny tones. I think it's beautiful in it's own unique way. The song is so inspiring to me that I've decided to write a story with characteristics like the song.

My favorite line is : I found you, lost, with a compass in the fog.


The Possible's slow fuse is lit
By the imagination
~Emily Dickinson

Voices

Sometimes, all you need is a sweet sound. A murmur, a tickle of joy, just barely audible, but just enough for you. All I want to hear is what you say, all I want to say is speak to me. I know what you are, who you are, and it's enchanting. Something I never thought could exist has been embodied in you. And I found you. How amazing is that? How amazing is it that we were brought together.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we're drifting, I think we're going deaf. So just to check, I want to hear your honey-gold voice. And soon.

Not So Mainstream

Recently, through Pandora, friends, and Youtube, I have discovered all sorts of new music that I really like. It's not as popular as, say Britney Spears or Rihanna, but that's ok. I enjoy knowing about artists that aren't in the spotlight as much. I love the feeling of knowing a song that others may not. It's not that I feel better, it's just that I like the unique knowledge.
The artists, like Nine Days, The Cranberries, Passion Pit, and more are great. There is a lot of emotion in the music and I feel that I can relate to most of the songs.
They may not be as popular, but they are every bit as good.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~ Berthold Auerbach

Some Things Blow My Mind...

WARNING!! SLIGHT SPOILER!!!

I just finished watching Final Destination 5, and I must say, it was great. I am a pretty big FD fan and this really astonished me. The end was incredible and I think it will be great for anyone who really enjoys Final Destination.
The deaths themselves are not very remarkable, however the ring that is created within the movie, and the series is perfect. I don't think it will win any awards, but it definitely adds a different take from all the other FD movies.

All in all, I would certainly watch it again!

Earth Friendly Hydration

A few months ago, I was watching a nigahiga video on  Youtube. It was about these GlobalTap fountains in the San Francisco area. There was even one in the San Francisco Airport!  Basically, a GlobalTap fountain is a public fountain designed for reusable water bottle. Each fountain is a clean, filtered, completely free source to refill a reusable water bottle. This promotes use of an eco-bottle instead of individual plastic water bottles.

A few weeks later, I was travelling through the San Francisco Airport and look what I found!

Sure enough, there was the GlobalTap fountain in the food court. I did take advantage of the opportunity and filled my own eco-bottle.

I think this is a great way to get people involved in using eco-bottles and helping the environment. To check out more about GlobalTap Fountains and locations, click here. Happy sipping!

I'm not an environmentalist. I'm an earth warrior. ~ Darryl Cherney

Movie Thoughts #1: Final Destination 5

Before I get started, I want to just acknowledge everything that Kingsley said about this movie because I am a huge fan of his. This time, we have to just agree to disagree.
Summary: it's a bunch of crap, don't go see it.
That's done. Moving along.

I have yet to see this particular Final Destination. However, I have seen all the rest of them and I must say that I am a fan. Sometimes, the "accidental" deaths are pretty morbid but that is the plot. Let's face it, if no one liked them there wouldn't be five.
This movie appeals to the side of people who believe in fate. I think fate has some factor in a person's life, but most of it has to do with their personal decisions. That aside, the examples of "fate vs. accidents" and "life vs. life is too short" in this movie is super intriguing. At the end of the film, I really start to think about how short life is and I how you have to seize the moment. FD makes you think about that because the scenarios are somewhat believable. Bridges collapse, laser surgeries go wrong, and sometimes acupuncture tables have rickety legs.
The only part of these movies that annoy me are people who become paranoid after watching them.

Listen to me: one day, somewhere in the future, you will go across a bridge. Get over it. You will also experience planes, trains, and automobiles, but someone who truly wants to live doesn't cower in the presence of machinery.

Sure everything has a risk, but part of living is taking that risk.

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is? ~ Frank Scully

Giving Back

Maybe it's the fact that I am African American, or maybe I was just raised this way, but I feel that giving back is a major part of who we all should be. No matter how much you have, you must remember that someone will always have less than you.
In my life, both of my parents grew up with siblings and not much money. Sure, they were taken care of, but some days were a struggle. Everything they have today comes from things they have done themselves and people who have helped them along the way. Whether it was a teacher who believed in them, or a coach who saw their potential, someone new that they could make it and decided to help.
So, today when I look around and see people who are less fortunate, I feel compelled to help them. I know that just because you have a  house doesn't make you safe. Just because you ate yesterday doesn't mean you aren't malnourished. I think about the people who go to shelters and soup kitchens and know that, had the tables turned, that man or woman could have been my mother or father.
Sometimes, I even think back far enough to the Middle Passage and know that, had it not been for the strength of an African whose name I will never know, I would not be here today.

Yesterday, I went to the community food bank. I worked three hours, standing, shucking corn. It may not sound like a lot of time, but it was enough time for me to really understand that every ear I shucked and packaged was destined to be a blessing for someone else. And that really stuck with me.



My goal is to attain 100 volunteer hours at the food bank before applying to college. In those hundred hours, I do believe I will be able to feel the difference I make, passing through my hands and into the hands of others.

Everything you touch while you are here will be a blessing and a benefit to someone else ~Sheila Burks

Pampered

A while back, I discovered an amazing new cosmetics place in Chicago. It's called Lush and they make all natural soaps, moisturizers, and select forms of "makeup".

I have come to love this place and I visit whenever I can. I think this is a great way of getting people (especially girls) excited about earth conservation. All Lush products are organic and their packaging is recyclable, if not compostable. It's a very green way to experience luxury.

So far, I have only tried a few of their products, and I love them all! They include:

The Avobath bath bomb. You put this in your bath water for a silky feeling and a zingy scent experience.

The Up You Gets emotibomb. It is a flat version of bath bomb for the shower. This particular emotibomb is very citrus-y and is meant to wake up your senses in the morning.

Sexy Peel soap. A play on the phrase sex appeal, there are chunks of peach and citrus scents in this block soap. It is very moisturizing and has an irresistible scent.

BB Seaweed facial mask. This mask doesn't have the greatest smell, but it draws all of the toxins out of your pores and really clears your face. Unfortunately, it also pulls out the moisture, so have some facial lotion on hand after use! Note: if you bring in five empty face mask containers, you can get one for free!

Herbalism facial scrub. This scrub has a very earthy smell and makes your face tingle. It's perfect for oily skin as it cleanses and unlike BB Seaweed, it leaves an appropriate amount of moisture on your face.

Lush strives for earth friendly beauty and frankly, I'm hooked! With locations in almost every state and most major cities, you can get your organic beauty fix started anywhere! Check out their website here, select a language, and explore the faboo world of Lush!

Goodbye

The pinch you feel in your heart when saying goodbye is not meant to be ignored. It is to be recognized and cared for, until you don't feel it when you say it. I've felt that pinch many a time over the past few weeks. Friends made, friends lost, family left behind. But not forever.

As my summer trips come to a close, I look back on my memories fondly and beam my light upon the future.

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. ~ Dr. Seuss

It's....

....the smell of rain before it drops
....the way sunlight catches my eyelashes
....the smell of the pages in a loved book
....the touch of soft earth beneath young feet
....the way fingers perfectly interlock
....the satisfaction of a cool drink
....the sensation of a first kiss.

It's life. And the way we live it.

The Fairest of Them All.....

It seems like lately, most female popstars are trying to out-do each other, whether it's with their fashion or their lyrics. Everyone wants to be on top. For instance, everyone says that Lady Gaga stole her style from Madonna, even though Madonna never wore meat.
On the sidelines, we have Florence + the Machine and their video for 'Dog Days Are Over' which expresses their unique sense of fashion. This is paralleled to La Roux's 'Bulletproof' and the technological element they bring to the party. A take on punk rock is seen by Avril Lavigne and Orianthi. They make it cute and easy to relate but still tough. Of course, Nicki Manaj is the face of the female rap industry, on the scene with her raw lyrics and fast rhymes.
One artist that I feel keeps everything fresh and evolves with the industry is Beyonce. Ever since her 'Crazy In Love' days and her beautiful duet with Luther Vandross, she has proved that she is a diva. She owns the industry with her music and has changed her style as seen in her videos for 'Halo' and 'Video Phone'.
At the moment, Lady Gaga and Beyonce are dominating the industry, both with their music and fashion. At the same time, there are quite a few people to watch including Rihanna, who is making a serious comeback. Adele's mysterious soul music appeals to a darker side of the traditional love song with 'Rolling In the Deep'.

Overall, the music industry will continue to change. The people who make a name for themselves will continue to change with it.

ACE

A few months ago, ACE (Alliance for Climate Education) came and did a presentation at my school. It was really inspiring. This company developed a realistic plan to reduce the world's carbon emission to zero. I am very passionate about keeping a healthy environment.
The first step was to pledge a D.O.T. (Do One Thing). My D.O.T. was to unplug more devices that aren't in use; like my computer at night, my toothbrush, and my cell phone after it's completely charged.
I really want to become more involved with ACE because I feel they may have a chance at making a difference.

Undefined

With everything around us, it's difficult to blog about just one thing. The world is so amazing and it seems to never end. I wish for my life to be rich and fulfilling and I want to share the experience. So here I go.