My Happiness Project: August Ending

Dear You,

I can't believe August is already over! I spent a large portion of it with family so it feels like it just flew by but I did manage to get through some of my resolutions...

Vision Board

So I kind of did it, I have all the materials and even got some fancy picture frames and all the pictures picked out and sitting in a Vision Board folder on my laptop but guess who's out of ink? This girl. So I will print them out and post about the board when I finally have some ink and do it. Until then the frames will just sit in my closet but look how cool they are!

Signed Up For Lessons

I did this! I found an awesome teacher and had a trial lessons and start permanent lessons this Saturday which I am ridiculously excited for!!! I'm already using some new techniques to better my voice from my first lesson

Talked About Writing

This was definitely more difficult telling old friends because I can hear the disappointment in their voice. "You gave up college to write songs?" doesn't exactly make me feel good about my decisions but I did manage to do it a few times and it felt far more relieving than I anticipated. I'm glad I started doing it more. 

Worked on Videos

I wanted to wait until I started voice lessons so I could do better videos than if I just played what I already know. I really want to focus on quality over quantity but next month I'll post new videos with what I learn in lessons, also very exciting. 

1 Line Journal

So, this journal is $20 and I am cheap so I never really bought it... But I did start writing a line in the notebook about what made me happy that day, something I learned from Tyler Oakley and I enjoyed it. Sometimes it helped me realize that my life isn't as bright as I pretend it is and other times it made me realize how blessed I am with a nice home and amenities that I need to pay attention to. 

Taking Care of Body

Late night tea with my kitty and AMAZING mug

I went back and forth on this. When I get stressed out, I eat whatever I want, someone bought a huge box of froot loops and one morning I ate 3 full bowls, not my brightest moment. But other days I stuck to salads even with the worst foods set before me and I'm proud of myself for that. I started running a ton and I've been treating my body much healthier. 

I went on a lot of walks despite the crazy summer weather

One challenge I did face was having someone who was anorexic around me which brought back some old feelings but I managed to remember how important being healthy is rather than skinny. Even when I had to remind myself over and over, it was entirely worth it.

Practicing Guitar

I don't have pictures of myself playing so here's one of my vision board pics

This was my easiest task because it was also in last month's and it's one of my favorite things to do! It was difficult to find places to practice where I wouldn't bother anyone else (in a 2 bedroom apartment) but I got quite a bit in and learned a few new songs :)

Overall, there were 2 weeks with family that I didn't record my resolutions but I still remembered them and stuck pretty closely to them and I'm proud of myself for that. When I was depressed I still wrote more and when I wanted to stop running I remembered how much more badly I wanted to achieve my dreams. I would say that August was a success. 

How was your month? Let's talk in the comments below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

August Favorites

Dear You, 

Another month has come and gone, time is so deceptive like that but I did find some new amazing things...

Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

If you say that you don't like this song and haven't found yourself dancing to it yet, I'm going to assume your lying because while these lyrics aren't astoundingly deep they are catchy and good. 

This is as good a hit as 22 and We Are Never from the last album, I always want to sing loudly and have a dance party when I hear it. And can we just talk about that video? It's hilarious. But no one is more obsessed with this song than the lovely...

Ingrid Michaelson

She's been posting about it a lot! I fell in love with some of Ingrid's popular songs awhile back but I've come to learn that every single one of her songs is good and have been thinking I may need to buy them all

Take It Back by Ed Sheeran

I finally bought the last few songs on the deluxe album and they are amazing but Take it Back would have to be my favorite. My only thing is the very first lyrics are "I'm not a rapper" but this song would stand against that, he sings as fast as any rapper I know of

Dried Pineapples

My addiction to these has grown since I've cut myself off from candy, they're my candy replacement and I've eaten so many freaking pineapple rings, it's ridiculous. Like I had 4 yesterday and I'm thinking about going to get more right now.

Cat Socks

I finally found cat socks. If you know me, you know that I really, really, really, really love cats and I've never been able to find cat socks but it's been my mission lately and I have now acquired 3 pairs over the last month. I'm really excited, like elation times 100.

Vampire Diaries

I know, I said I wasn't going to get hooked onto another show for awhile but really I spend my entire life sitting at home babysitting. I've read a million books and written a million things, I needed to watch a show and this is what I ended up with. I was skeptical of actually liking it but now that seems ridiculous because this show is amazing, I'm already on season 3 and I started like 2 weeks ago, I have a slight problem.

Anyways, that's what I've been up to this month. Comment some of your recent favorites below!

Have an Amazing Day!
Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Quote

Dear You,

I have quotes and quotes for days...

So I found this one and it brought me so much comfort. As a kid, I was normal enough to survive but not enough to fit in, I was always the odd one out, the last one picked for teams, the one who sat on the edge of the playground making up songs to myself about how hurt I was watching all the other kids play. 

I was so odd and different that I didn't know what else to do. I remember that all-consuming pain (as much as an 8 year old can feel) that came from a lack of understanding why no one wanted me to play with them. 

But Marc Jacobs puts this beautifully because perfection really is boring. The things that make us unique make us interesting. People get teased for loving something too much but without that passion, that overwhelming drive, what would the world be. 

Personally, seeing that fire in another person's eyes when they talk about the things they love the most makes them so beautiful and I can only hope that society and the little kids of the world eventually learn that loving something doesn't make you weird, it makes you exciting. 

I've always been an all or nothing type of girl. When I was little I put every ounce of energy into my school work though today that gets channeled into music and writing but either way I hope that little girls learn to love that about themselves rather than feel ashamed. The world would be such a better and more interesting place. 

Leave me your thoughts in the comments below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Review: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

Dear You, 

Since the moment I fell in love with the brilliant writing styles of John Green and followed him, well, everywhere he has been recommending this book to fans. While I'm not a history enthusiast, I wanted to read something that I wouldn't normally read and saw this at the library.

It's about 350 pages but the vocabulary is old fashioned and a lot more dense than the young adult dystopian novels I'm used to. This is exactly what I wanted though it was still slightly difficult to get through certain parts. 

For example, one part of the book are quite war-centric and that is easily my least favorite genre of book. That may make me superficial but I read to escape the horribly depressing parts of the world, not delve into them. 

However, without giving it away, the premise of the book was extremely interesting. It also wasn't the most cheerful subject but it was addicting to understand the thoughts and processes behind Octavian Nothing. 

I loved reading about his life in the beginning and seeing the unique nature of how he was raised. The ending had a somber note but was equally as addicting as the beginning. Besides one dry spot, I really loved the book. Thank you John Green for recommending it. 

(Yes I'm going to thank someone who will probably never see it, I'm pretty cool)

Have you ever read this beauty? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Quote

Dear You,

Hey there beautiful person, I hope you enjoy this beautiful quote!

(Pshh, I'm not cheesy :)

I found this really interesting because I realized how true it is. I can say now that things that happened a few years ago don't bother me very much but when I reflect on songs that I wrote during some older, dark times, it still hurts. It hurts as badly as the day that it happened so it really didn't heal, I just covered up the feelings with time.

I wrote a line awhile back that I can't help but be reminded of now:

"They said time would help, but it's not helping me

Because two years have passed and you're still in my dreams"

I guess I forgot to cover that one up because as much as I'd like to forget, someone had such a large impact on my life that I am completely incapable of repressing the pain they caused me. Years passed and I'm still in pain, it's not as constant as it once was but the bandage gets ripped off more than I'd like to admit. 

In the end, time doesn't heal, it just helps us forget enough to move on.

Well that made me sad, what were your thoughts on the quote? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day,

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

New Song Discovery

Dear You,

As you might know, I love Tori Kelly, she's one of my major musical inspirations and she just came out with a new song for the Giver soundtrack that I think is absolutely beautiful.

She wrote some inspiring words about standing up for what you believe in and blended it with a brilliant beat and her breathtaking voice making one of my new favorite songs. This video has a bit of background noise but I think that makes it all the more real. 

Tori will always be one of my favorite artists and I think she deserves far more credit than she's given for her lyrics and voice. 

Hope you enjoyed the song! Leave your thoughts on it in the comments below!

Have an Amazing Weekend!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Quote

Dear You, 

Another quote day! If you don't like quotes, that's sad because quotes are my favorite so let's talk about one!

This has become my new goal in life. To inspire one person, to impact someone, to change something. I want to be the cause of some good in the world and I hope I can make that happen through something I enjoy, like writing music. 

In the end the goal isn't to write music, it's to cause inspiration or change through it. I've always found comfort in Whitman's poem, O Me! O Life! in which he explains the purpose of life as "a powerful play" that never ends to which "you may contribute a verse". And I've always thought of life as a way to contribute that verse in my own songwriting way. 

To me, the best verse I could ever contribute to the ever-longing process of life was making sure someone didn't give up. 

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Let's Talk About Divergent

Dear You, 

So I finally watched the Divergent movie and while I was disappointed at the loss of a few scenes that I loved in the book, it was still a very good book-movie adaptation. However, I realized that I never wrote a post on how inspiring I found Divergent, which I truly did. 

In Divergent, the societies are split into 5 separate factions:

Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite

Based on the most outstanding characteristic in that person, respectively:

Selflessness, Kindness, Honesty, Bravery, and Intelligence

After reading the books I went through a thought process of how I wanted to live my life based on these five characteristics. I've never been so great at honesty but I've always worked to incorporate the other 4 into my life (though I think creativity deserves a spot on the list as well).

However there is too much of a good thing. Too much selflessness leads to suicidal actions, too much kindness leads to being pushed over, too much honesty leads to hurt feelings, too much bravery again, leads to suicidal actions, and too much intelligence leads to arrogance. I can think of a time in my life where I have been called every single one. 

Roth's book has become a simple yet effective way to view life for me. Or at least view the characteristics that I choose to incorporate. 

I've been able to strongly identify with Tris, the main character in the book. I grew up in a restrictive religion that highly encouraged selflessness. And when I was 16 I left the religion and moved to California, my own Dauntless choosing. While I wish my life was as dangerous and exciting as Tris' I still don't regret choosing the riskier life. It's hard leaving what you know but can be highly beneficial in the end. 

In the past I think I've tried to be too much of a push over and terrified of things and forgot to be brave however recently I've been constantly reminding myself to Be Dauntless (it's a commandment in my Happiness Project). I want to be brave in my everyday life even if that doesn't include throwing knives or jumping off trains (though that would be really cool). I've been trying to speak up, and be myself and speak my mind, which always seemed difficult in the past. 

As a kid I always had too much kindness and intelligence, I became a push over at times and arrogant at others though I think as I've come to a sense of self-actualization I realized how dangerous too much of those could be and worked to counteract them. 

Overall, I found Divergent to be an unconventionally inspiring book. I know the books and movie blew up and every little girl wanted to be Tris as bad as they wanted to be Katniss whenever a new Hunger Games movie comes out but the underlying themes were still very inspiring. I think I liked the Divergent series more than the Hunger Games but anything that teaches girls to be strong, brave, and good is amazing to me. 

What were your thoughts on the series? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day!
Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Quote

Dear You,

If you go on my tumblr (that little button with a curvy t over there or right here) you saw this quote recently and it has affected me quite deeply. 

I've struggled with this my entire life, always comparing myself to others and making sure I was doing the right thing, the same thing as everyone else. I was always self conscious about what I was doing because I was a little different, I didn't like what everyone else did and I would have rather stayed home to practice my violin than sit around while a bunch of girls did each others makeup. I was just different. 

And all of these differences made me incredibly self conscious leading to a very nervous teenager who felt the need to validate every move and action through life. 

However, recently I've learned from Emma Watson that it's okay not to like what everyone else pretends to love. I just need to focus on myself and stop comparing myself to everyone around me. It's been a huge revelation in my life because really why do I pretend to be someone I'm not?

I'm hoping one day that I can have the confidence to be someone who doesn't need validation. To do whatever I want to, even if it seems insane and different than everyone else. I'm working on not comparing myself but nothing happens overnight, if I just keep reminding myself that it's okay to be different, I think I'll be alright. I'm my own person and I need to remember that. 

Leave me your thoughts in the comments below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

My Happiness Project: August Half-Way Mark

Dear You,

So I took a week off because I had some family come into town and honestly I felt no urge to write and the only reason I write is because I feel that familiar desire to jot all of my thoughts down. Without that overwhelming want, writing is just a job, something I have to do and I never want it to become that so every once in awhile I need a break. However, now that my break is over I am back and ready to write my heart out. 

We passed the mid-month checkmark! So today is the halfway check in on the Happiness Project. 

This month's theme was Ambition!

Some things to do were signing up for singing lessons and making a vision board

I have, in fact, signed up for lessons. I had my first one last Saturday and it was really good, I loved hearing what I could fix and to have my voice stretched, it helped me realize just how much I love singing and music in general. 

My vision board only exists in digital form thus far. I have the supplies but I need to print the pictures and my printer is out of ink! Look out for a post for that soon because I will finish it before August ends if its the last thing I do. (The picture is going on my board)

Some of my everyday goals were: talk about writing more, make videos, practicing, write a one line journal, and take care of my body. 

I've found that talking about writing is really easy with strangers and highly difficult with the people that I've known since I was a kid and hid it from out of embarrassment. It makes me feel like that little kid, as I'm writing this I have a text from yesterday on my phone explaining my situation that I haven't sent yet, because I'm scared. *HUGE SIGH*

I haven't made another video after the first, I'm not that confident in my singing yet, but maybe I'll just make that a one time thing. By the end of August I will put up another cover video, promise!

Practicing guitar and singing is really easy, I already did it from last month and I love doing it. I miss a day here and there because I can only play certain hours in an apartment complex but during the week it's pretty normal for me and makes me very happy. 

I haven't gotten the one line journal yet. It was $20 at Barnes and Noble! However I have been writing a few things that made me happy everyday on the side of my resolution chart. It's not always huge things just small accomplishments or writing a good song.

Taking care of my body was definitely difficult. I did a 5 day cleanse that I actually stuck to and made me feel wonderful. I've had good days and not so good days but in the end I've gained a new appreciation for begin healthy. One thing I have struggled with is comparing myself to other people. I'm definitely working on trying to change my mind set on that one, it's incredibly unhealthy but I'm slowly getting better. :)

This month was definitely more difficult because my resolutions weren't as clear cut as last month but I've been getting through them, everyday gets better. I've definitely learned things and I'm still happy that I started this project. 

Comment below one thing that made you happy recently!

Have an Amazing Day!
Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

The One Review

Dear You,

Last week I read a lot and by the end of the week I had this one left. I wasn't expecting to read that much of it but I finished it in exactly one day. 

Kiera Cass' writing is amazing, I noticed a distinct similarity to Cassandra Clare's descriptive style though not quite as visual as hers yet still good.

The main character, America, is clumsy, stubborn, impulsive, and makes a few really frustrating decisions throughout the entire trilogy (The Selection, Elite, and One). However she is independent, well-spoken, and brave, incredibly, undeniably brave and I want to be her so badly. It's impossible not to admire that bravery, independence, and innovation. She believes in herself and her ideas without anyone else's validation and I want to be her. 

The love story throughout this series may, perhaps be one of my favorites ever. It's unrealistic because of the fantasy premise behind the story but mirrors real people. The author was brilliant in the fact that she put two very realistic personalities into characters in an unrealistic world. They fight and do stupid things constantly because they're human, they grew as the story did and became people in my mind rather than quick thoughts. This as probably my favorite part of the book. 

They keep trying to make this story into a tv show but every time Cass has released a new installment in the series, I got it and read the whole story in one day because it's not meant to be read one chapter at a time. It's addicting and I think it would make a beautiful series of movies rather than an obselete, under appreciated tv show. But that's just one girl's opinion :)

Overall, this series was amazing, it will forever hold an important spot in my heart and I would love to see them do more with this inspiring series. I'm also really excited to see what Cass writes next. 

Have you read the book? Leave me a comment below

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Why I Write Music

Dear You, 

This is my 50th published post on this blog! And I wanted to do something different from my normal posts, something more personal. Since I started this blog because of my passion for music, I decided to write about something dear to me in the world of music: writing

I started writing music shortly after I turned 13, I can't believe it's been 5 years already. I had some problems in life and I needed a way to escape. I am the type of person who refuses to burden others so I tend to internalize my problems. It's a horrible problem of mine but I've never been able to overcome it. 

Around that time I had just become obsessed with Taylor Swift and her music. I wanted to be her so badly, to blend such powerful emotions with my one true love in life: music. I'd been enrolled in as many music programs I was allowed since 5th grade, when music classes were introduced. No matter what program whatever school I went to had, I knew I just needed some kind of music in my life. 

Writing was definitely a learning process. I started with a random notebook (that I still have) on my dad's back deck. I loved the sounds of the birds out there and thought it would be inspirational but that didn't help because my first song was easily my worst, I never even finished it. But as I got older and wiser, my vocabulary and grammar improved, I experienced more, and the songs gradually got better. VERY. GRADUALLY.

Writing for me is much easier when I have a source of pain, it's what drives me in my writing. The strongest emotions are always the best ones. I think it took awhile simply to learn how to bring up that pain and be able to write from it. It's definitely hard to write with passion but is there any other way?

About a month after I started writing lyrics, I had really wanted a guitar. But I didn't want to ask for one because my mom was already paying rent on a saxophone for band class. One of the most amazing coincidences in my life happened, my grandpa had an extra guitar and without me saying one word about it, asked if I wanted it. I couldn't believe it. 

I didn't want to ask for lessons so I practiced on that guitar, all the time. I started with the scales, like my multiple music classes had taught me and built my way into chords. I played the same Taylor Swift song at least 100 times before I mastered singing while playing and the rest is history.

I read a quote recently that you have to find the thing in life that builds you up when you're good at it and tears you up when you're not. For me, that's writing music. I hate when I write a bad song and feel on top of the world when I really like one. I don't even know how I would have gotten through the past five years without writing songs, it feels like such a monumental part of my life. Once I started writing, it's like I knew that's what had been missing the whole time. 

I don't let many people read them and I've never recorded a single one but just because they're not famous doesn't make them unimportant. They're important to me. 

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Quote

Dear You, 

I'm not going to write my normal commentary on this beautiful piece of writing because it speaks for itself.

(I swear I'm not being lazy ;)

Carpe this Amazing Diem, 

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

If I Stay REVIEW

Dear You,

I recently read If I Stay and I noticed parts of the book that I never have before. 

In most books, even young adult books, the vocabulary is advanced. I can tell you from grading peer work, almost no teenagers write at the advanced level of an author. But that's expected because authors go to school for years to learn how to write with correct grammar and how to use a few superfluous words (does anyone else love how much of a superfluous word superfluous is?). 

While reading If I Stay I noticed a downgrade in the level of vocabulary that my super-reader mind has grown accustomed to. I'm all for originality in writing and considering the book was in first person, the writing was closer to that of a teenager than most other YA authors have used in the past. However, it bothered me. 

I'd like to say that it was fine because the author enveloped a character and wrote with that character's probable voice in mind however, as a reader, I love the advanced vocabulary and beautiful metaphors that no reasonable teenager would write but brilliant authors would. 

Anyways, aside from the writing level I would grade the book rather average. It was an interesting take on a realistic fiction story however some parts of the books were dry and I started skimming the pages, it was only 200 pages but it still lost my attention after about 40 pages. I read the book in two sittings and the 2nd time I was just trying to get to the ending. I've been told that the second is more interesting throughout than the first and have promised I'd read it so I'm hoping it's true. 

My biggest praise for this novel is the ending. I loved the emotion put into the ending scene of the book, I cried which rarely happens for me in books. The ending was extremely well written, though I wish the rest of the book had the same quality as the end. There is one part at the end that I think could have been more well explained but explaining it would give it all away so I'll just keep it to myself ;)

One other compliment I have for Gayle Foreman is the vivid picturing throughout the book. It was very well explained and well articulated in that way and I think the book (if the producers stick closely to it) will make a beautiful movie and I'm genuinely excited to see it. 

I have this problem with movies where if it was based on a book, I am incapable of watching said movie without reading said book. I still haven't seen Divergent even though it's one of the best YA-fantasy series, ever because I was stubborn enough to need to read the book first. (It's released on Redbox the day I post this so you'll find me at Ralph's this morning :)

Anyways, like I said there were things I thoroughly enjoyed in the book and parts I would have preferred differently but overall it was an enjoyable book and I'm excited to go see the movie coming out soon!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)

Quote

Dear You,

My favorite quotes have and always will be the ones that make you think harder than usual. I love ones that make me realize something about myself or change my perspective on something. And this one definitely did. 

When I first read this quote I thought 'Isn't it easier to only fall in love with a few things and fall deeply in love with them?' but I continued on the trail of thought and realized that love is not limited. For me, loving music more wouldn't make me love my cat any less, it might change the amount of time I spend on pursuing each love, but the feelings will always be there. 

I want to be able to compare this to the emotions behind romantic love but I'm sad to say I've never been in love. Though now I can't help but think about it. When someone falls in love with someone new do their feelings for the last person they loved cease to exist or is the new love just bigger. Trying to measure abstract concepts like love in a physical way like size gets mind-boggling. 

Either way I put together a list of things that I love because I knew it would make me happy...

The way music touches my soul

How writing feels cleansing

The way reading can take me to another world

The infinite number of stories in the world

The sound of guitar strings

How dressing nice can make my day seem brighter

Coffee’s effect on me

A Cat’s purr, specifically my cat, Sammi’s

The feeling of a brand new book

The smell of a house filled with candles

Finishing a long project

Experiencing something brand new

The look of seasons changing

The decisions of shopping for clothes

The complex simplicity of human noise

The thoughts caused by a good quote

Even if I don't have some guy in my life, I have all of these things, they're what I love and what make me happy and I'm content whenever I have all of these feelings in my life. I don't know what I would do without them all. 

What are you in love with? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Also, if you wanted to be the coolest person in the world, you could take a look at my new Youtube video :)