October Favorites

Dear You,

I am in complete shock that it is the end of October. I hate when it does that! I feel like I've wasted time but looking back I've had a very busy month... How was your October?

I'm extremely surprised that I haven't done any fall things. I guess being so far from family I forgot to do all of it. I didn't carve any pumpkins this year (I'm horrible at it but love doing it), I did drink plenty of pumpkin flavored coffee, I didn't do a corn maze this year, and I still have never been to a haunted house. 
(Maybe that last one isn't so bad ;)

So in terms of favorites...

Music: 1989

Yes, it finally came and it has lived up to the extremely high anticipation and expectations. I'm falling in love with it more than I ever thought was possible and I'm truly excited for this era of music. I can't believe she managed to create such a unique sound in a very typical genre. I'll be listening to it on repeat for quite awhile and I'm not even sorry 

TV show: The Arrow and Flash

I love superheroes and romance and action and life and things and I just love these series a lot ok? They both incorporate all the perfect parts of a good tv show with the mystery and difficulties of secret superheroes and the fact that they intertwine the 2 shows, it's amazing. 

Book: Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

Before anyone points it out, YES I REALIZE THIS IS A YOUNG ADULT BOOK, NO I DO NOT CARE. I will read all the young adult books far into my adulthood and I refuse to apologize because they are amazing. Especially the writing of Rick Riordan. I bought book 3 and forgot to read book 4 and now book 5 is already out! Last week I went back and reread #3, am currently reading #4 and plan on buying #5 as soon as I finish, which shouldn't be too long since these stories are addicting and wonderful. 

They intertwine heroism, Greek/Roman mythology (one of my FAVORITE subjects in school), romance, friendship, and all the most amazing parts of life. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.

The Great Gatsby

While I'm pretty in love with young adult fiction, I think it's also important to read the classics and learn about the history of literature. Fitzgerald is probably my favorite classic author because of his romanticism of the human race and very quotable stories. How can you not love someone who describes a woman's voice as a "deathless song", I'll never get over how beautiful that is. 

Food: Chicken Noodle Soup

I never eat soup unless I'm sick. But this month I've had it for dinner more than I've not had it... Don't judge me!

CHRISTMAS

I'm really digging this reindeer

I'm already like insanely excited. I'm not sure if it's because I didn't always get to celebrate it as a kid or if I'm just one of those people but I'm like over the top. I'm getting really excited for Saturday (1. because I have a recital) but also because I'M PUTTING UP MY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. Like I have a problem, I also know that it's going to be cold that day so I'm wearing my gold reindeer sweater. I planned out that outfit. I'm not always one to get that excited about thing but OH MY GOSH CHRISTMAS. Ok, I'm done freaking out sorry. I promise I'm cool... CHRISTMAS. *breathes deeply*

Ok, I hope you enjoyed this month's favorites... I'm in a bit of a random mood so I don't know how insane this post was but hopefully it wasn't bad. How was your month? Leave me a comment below!!!

Have an Amazing Day!
Mia B

PS if you wanted to be my favorite person in the whole wide world you could watch this video right now, or not... that's cool too

PPS I'm actually listening to Taylor's version of this while writing about this, funny coincidence... HAHAha....

Wanderlust

Dear You,

Lately the wanderlust has been hitting me particularly hard. I want adventure and excitement and new places and new things. I've just moved to a beautiful new city but it's not big enough. I'm craving New York and London and Venice and far away places. I feel like that quote: "I'm in love with cities I've never been to and people I've never met"

I think I've just romanticized the idea of these exciting places so much that I feel the need to go and see if they really are as exciting as they seem. But I want purpose there as well. I need to go somewhere and do something that makes me feel fulfilled. Maybe every other 18 year old feels the same way or maybe I just have a restless soul. 

I loved country life but it got boring, I've always been attracted to the biggest cities, where things are constantly happening on a big scale. I want lots of lights and tall buildings and fast cars. Going to Los Angeles for a day every month or so isn't enough anymore. I wish I lived there or in any other big city so badly.

Watching all of my friends in their small town colleges just affirms my discontent. I can't imagine staying in one city for 4 whole years. In my 18 years, I have never lived anywhere that long. I love moving houses and going on airplanes because it means I'm leaving. I may have a problem with commitment but I don't mind it, I love the excitement of it all. 

I know this was all very random but it was a very overwhelming thought that I wanted to share. What are your thoughts? Comfort in commitment or change? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Here is my new cover of Out of the Woods by Taylor Swift, check it out? If you want to... okay cool thanks

Comment below if you do and I will love you forever :)

My Happiness Project: October

Dear You,

I think I've found a large amount of unhappiness in the fact that I am constantly misdefining myself and while I realize this is a lifelong struggle I think it's important to take the time to figure out who you are along the way even if you know that will probably change. So I've decided to make October the month of Identity. 

Some of my resolutions are...

Define myself

I'll probably have a few posts this month in quote thought form just trying to figure out the type of person I am. It's important to know that. 

Be myself more

With the new job I have, I've been told several times that they "like me" but they're going to "change me". After truly thinking about it, I realized how terrifying that is. 

Of the few things I truly know and enjoy about myself, being kind and courteous is near the top. I have devoted a large part of my life to being kind and I'm not going to let a temporary, meaningless job change that about me. 

Take good care of myself

I have let go of my strict eating and fitness schedule. Which is fine, I'm taking a break, but all breaks need to come to an end so after my getaway this weekend I'm going back to a healthy diet. I also really enjoy things like yoga and tea that I need to remember to enjoy more. 

Put myself out there

I'm very used to sitting in the back seat and letting life happen around me but I think it's important to also be a part of life, which often requires doing uncomfortable things. However I've discovered that uncomfortable situations often bring good things. 

Speak up

A part of putting myself out there is having the courage to speak up (in true Gryffindor style, I'm rereading Harry Potter) and put myself in those uncomfortable situations. Speaking up is definitely something I'm not good at but an extremely important life skill, happiness project or not. 

Anyways, those are some of the things I'll be working on this month. They're definitely not the checkmark kind of thing but hopefully I can change my state of mind enough to make me a better person. I also realize this is more of a selfish month but sometimes you have to be selfish, however there is definitely a fine line between the two. 

Any thoughts? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

If you wanted to be really awesome you could check out my New Youtube Video :)

My Happiness Project: September Ending

Dear you,

Now that September is over I have to talk about how my month of resolutions went!

Find job

I did this! I officially have a job. However it is a job that requires a bit of aggression and that's definitely not who I am so I might try and find a place that's looking for mild tempered people. If it doesn't make you happy, leave it behind :)

Inspire Someone

I don't think I've been able to do this. I definitely want to but I think I'm still stuck on how. I'm going to start performing my songs so maybe I'll find my dream in performance. 

Care Less About What Others Think

I think this will be a lifelong struggle but I have noticed a difference in my state of mind. When someone asks if I'm going to college (like they always do) I gladly tell them I chose to focus on songwriting. And I love it, I love it so very much. 

Make New Friends

I haven't successfully accomplished this, I work at a place that doesn't exactly allow people to talk. Hopefully next month, because what is life without hope?

Contact Old Friends

I have done this and it makes me very happy to hear how everyone's doing even if their life is quite different from mine. I love knowing how everyone's doing at college and life and hearing from them makes my day. 

Work on Social Media

I've been tweeting more!!! Has anyone seen? I consciously think, 'I haven't tweeted today, I need to do it', I'm getting better I swear and if you want to feel free to go click all my social media buttons in the upper right corner, they're so cute and nice :)

Especially my Youtube, which you can click, right there and here 

Overall, my month hasn't been perfect and I didn't accomplish all that I hoped I would but I did some things and that definitely matters. I have had a slight increase in happiness but I don't think I'm just there yet. 

How was your month? Leave me a comment below, I'd love to talk!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

If you wanted to be really awesome you could check out my New Youtube Video :)

My Happiness Project: September Half-Way Mark

Dear You,

It's already the middle of the month! Can you believe the passing of time? I always think I'm witnessing it, the boring days and wasted nights but somehow I'm always astounded by the amount of time that passes. 

This month I've been attempting to work on the social aspect of my life and improve it enough to make me happier. Here are some of my resolutions:

Find a job

I diiiiiiiiiidddddddd itttttt!!! I'm now an employed sales associate. If only I was a waitress, I could fit the stereotype of entertainment industry-hopeful but I get discounts so it's not bad :)

Inspire Someone

I've found this one harder. How do you know if you've inspired anyone? Does a light automatically go off in the world or a billboard sign "THIS PERSON MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE" I've yet to find a way to accomplish this one

Care Less About What Others Think

Now that I think about it, I really have. (Almost) everyone in my life knows what I want to do with my life despite their judgey eyes and I dress the way I want to dress and do the things that I want to do. It's great and feels really good even though it was hard. 

But the most wonderful part is, I wasn't forcing myself to do it. I would just come out with what I wanted to say without overthinking what everyone thought of it. It's become a state of mind that I am very happy to be in. 

Contact Old Friends

Yesterday, in fact, I was thinking about this resolution and decided to text a friend that I thought was mad at me from her silence. Turns out, she thought I was mad at her and we were both being silly (yes I used silly, I realize I am a grandma/5 year old). But now I have a great friend back in my life, it just took a little bit of courage.

Work On Social Media

I'm still posting on Tumblr plenty (http://miabrielle.tumblr.com seen above) and I have tweeted slightly more (http://twitter.com/miabrielle) but not as much as I meant to and I still haven't posted a Youtube video. I need to but I'm always second guessing myself like if I just practice a few more days I can make it better. This week, I will, promise :)

Yeah, so overall I'm getting there. I got pretty used to being the lonely writer but I think the rest of the month will be a time to change that. I have a random work schedule this week but I'm actually doing something like outside my home. Crazy, I know. Be proud ;)

Do you like being social? Leave any thoughts in the comments below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

Thoughts on Songwriting

Dear You,

I wasn't feeling particularly inspired yesterday but I had nothing else to do so I thought it best to work for awhile. I watched some concerts on Youtube, specifically of a song I'm having trouble on, while practicing some chords that I'm horrible at. And heard Ed Sheeran say something along the lines of...

'When you're stuck you have to clean out the clog, just write for awhile and some dirty mud will come out but eventually you'll get clean water, you'll get something good"

Which I thought was brilliant and wrote for quite awhile and then added chords to a bunch of songs (which I've been avoiding) and I'm very proud of how they sound. And I'm proud of how much work I got done but it's not all sunshine and daises. 

I realize that songwriting isn't exactly taken seriously in the world. Some people think I'm just being stupid and others think I'm probably some stereotypical copycat writing horrible teeny-bopper songs. Which maybe I am, I don't know my songs sound to another ear. However it's not as easy as you'd think.

When I work, I'm taking every emotion surrounding a situation and attempting to put in words that sound intelligible, interesting, inspiring, and that rhyme. I have to find chords that are unique yet fit the situation. And taking a thought, a feeling, an event and trying to pair some random guitar chords to it may be one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do. I seriously wanted to throw something.

Songwriting is frustrating and sometimes while doing it, I just want to scream. But I still do it because in the end, creating a song is better than any feeling I could ever describe. It's some mix of proudness and vague interest and curiousness at how I even managed to create something that sounds so nice and sums up something that affected me in something so wonderful as music. 

There's a quote (of course) that sums it up perfectly from one of my favorite authors...

"That's what you gotta find - the things that tear you up when you suck at them, and feel pretty good when you're good at them" -John Green

For me, the only thing that describes is songwriting. Which is why, I'm not going to college this year, why I'm sitting at home writing on a blog, and why I cannot stop smiling right now thinking about the songs I just wrote. I am in love with writing songs. 

What is your thing that "tear you up... and [feels] pretty good"? Leave me a comment below!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

My Happiness Project: September

Dear You,

It's a new month! Can you believe it? August was ridiculously long for me but now that it's over, I can't help but wonder where the time went but don't we all. While I'm nostalgic for the lost time, I am insanely excited for fall! It doesn't feel like it in Southern California yet but I'm hoping it does soon. 

Now that it's the beginning of a new month, I'm starting a new chapter in my Happiness Project! September is officially the month to work on Social aspects in my life.

This has always been a rather weak part of my life and especially is now! I've moved to a new place where I have no friends, no school, and no job but hopefully I can do something about that this month. 

My resolutions are:

Find a Job

I've been filling out applications for the past week and still nothing. While my main focus will be writing songs and focusing on my career, I do need a job in the meantime. 

Inspire Someone

I realized that this is what I want in my life. I want to write songs so I can inspire someone, anyone, to do something or not to give up the way that some of my heroes have. I can't think of anything more I want out of life. 

Make New Friends

I have none, literally none, in this new town. Or really anywhere. I think the whole "not going to college like literally everyone else is" thing makes it a bit difficult. 

Contact Old Friends

I did this once last month and while it was difficult to explain my unique situation, it felt freeing. I still have a few friends from a few thousand miles away that I haven't talked to in months and while I know they might judge me, I trust them to believe in me. Or at least accept my decisions. 

Work On Social Media

I'll mostly be focusing on my Youtube channel but my tumblr is always active and I'll try to start posting more other places as well. Some people discount the advantages of social media but I think it's a perfectly acceptable way to communicate with people we don't get to see everyday. 

Anyways, that's what I'll be up to this month as well as the other ongoing resolutions from July and August. You'd think it would get more difficult with every month but now it's all just habit to wake up early and practice everyday and hopefully by the end of month I'll find some happiness in this month's as I have in others. But you'll have to read the post to find out :)

Comment below with your thoughts!

Have an Amazing Day!

Mia B

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 :)

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 :)

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,

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 :)