That's Not My Name

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Parents are given the most special and influential task when they bring a child into the world. They must name them. (And, to raise them. I guess.) Even though names are just sounds that we associate with people, they are big factors in deciding the kind of person we are going to become. (I’m not going to get into the common misconceptions and stereotypes of different names because that’s messy.) This is the story with my name.

When I was born, my parents decided to not name me after any of the 200 most common female names of 1995. They chose to name me with this obscure Mexican name, in addition to giving it a very uncommon spelling. My name became Vianey. Pronounced like Vee-uh-nay.

As a kid, I was embarrassed and annoyed of my name. It was too unique! No one knew how to say it correctly. People constantly misspelled it. Sometimes, they would even plead to call me by a different name. (There was no way out of my God-given first name since I have no middle name.) This would happen everywhere! Teachers, peers, host, and hostesses would butcher my name. People who have unique names, or unique spellings of common names, should know what I mean. If not, then Buzzfeed should give you the insight you require.

As my tastes and personality matured, I began to appreciate the uniqueness of my name. My name made me feel like an individual who stood above the basic. In my eyes, I had the best and coolest identity because of my name. Some of the things that I like about my name include that half of the letters are vowels, it looks cute written in cursive, and people rarely have to ask “which Vianey?” when I’m brought up in conversations. (I don’t care if that might have negative connotations.)

However, like most things in my life, everything great doesn’t last. When I got to high school, I realized that there was about four girls with the same name as me. From there, the uniqueness of my name was stripped away from me… People had already learned the easy way of pronouncing my name, which is saying my name like DNA but with a V instead of a D. Even though there was still some people that would add an extra “N” to the spelling of my name, they would quickly fix their mistake… I sincerely yearned to correct people. (I’m not demented! It’s just that you do something all your life and all of a sudden it stops, you miss doing it.)

I slowly began to deal with this. I was not as unique as I thought I was. That’s cool, I guess… But then, an additional turning point of life with my name occurred. At my university, I have many professors that are not native to my city, El Paso, TX. (A city with a predominately large Hispanic/Latino/a population.) Since they hail from places like Pennsylvania, San Antonio, Turkey, England, one might assume that they’ve never heard my name. And, this was assumed correctly. When they would take row, they could not, for the sake of their life, say my name. One specific professor, who has Hispanic and Irish roots in her, doesn’t even try to pronounce my name, no matter how many times I have explained it to her. (She takes row in every class. It’s halfway through the semester. This is agony, son.)

Yes, this whole rant is based on these situations. It’s annoying. My point here is that if I’m going to try in your class, you better try with my name. Like Mindy Kaling eloquently puts it in her book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, 

“I don’t think it should be socially acceptable for people to say they are “bad with names.” No one is bad with names. That is not a real thing. Not knowing people’s names isn’t a neurological condition; it’s a choice. You choose not to make learning people’s names a priority. It’s like saying, “Hey, a disclaimer about me: I’m rude.””

http://theduanewells.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Mindy-Kaling-Book-Cover.jpg 

I’m glad that there are at least three professors so far in my collegiate education who have succeeded in pronouncing my name, but there are still ways to go.

Even though sometimes I wish I could have a common name, I immediately regret that wish and I go back to loving my name. Sure, it might suck to have to constantly correct people, but I like correcting people. The biggest downside I see to my name is that there might never be a love song with my name in it. Regardless, my name is rad! It’s my main identity and I’m not shedding it, ever. Even my grave will showcase the uniqueness of it for generations to enjoy. (In addition, there has been people who have loved my name so badly that their children's names became younger copycats of my name. So, I'm the main trendsetter.)

<3

- Vianey A.K.A. The Trendsetter

Bonus: There was this 1960s Mexican singer who did Spanish covers of The Beatles with my name. (Correct spelling and everything.) Here is her cover of "Twist and Shout". 

(This makes me so happy because of five reasons. (1) I love The Beatles. (2) I love Ferris Bueller's Day Off. (3) This cover is made in my first language. (4) She has my name. (5) She is wearing cute clothes in the album cover.)

Vianey is a nineteen year old self-identified ranter who can be easily wooed by funny three-dimensional TV characters. When she is not watching sitcoms, bugging her pets, or dancing sporadically she posts every Friday on Kaleid-Eh-Scope.

What 2 Do When U Don't Feel Like U

I don't know what it is, but lately I've been having a hard time feeling like myself. Maybe I feel like I have a lot going on and start to kind of lose myself in the madness. Maybe I think too much about the way I come off to people and the kind of impressions I leave. Maybe I'm in an awkward transitional phase where I am in the process shedding my old skin and morphing into a beautiful spring butterfly. . .

Either way, I can't seem to wrap my finger around the source, and whatever it is, it's bumming me out. I'm out of place; Something is off. It's as if my past selves are clashing with my present self and fighting for the same space of my potential/future self, and I'm not sure which 'me' to show at any given time. I'm a believer in feeling out emotions and awkward times of our lives so that we can learn from them and try to improve our lives, but once that is done, all the lame feels have to be kicked to the curb. If you ever find yourself feeling out of your element, I hope these tips can make you feel like your damn fine self again.

1. Do something nice for yourself.
Sometimes when I don't feel like myself, it's because I'm tired: mentally and physically drained. And when you're tired, nothing feels right. To remind yourself that you are important and amazing, be nice to yourself. Get yourself those wings that ALWAYS leave you satisfied or take that nice and well-deserved afternoon nap or do your makeup even if you don't have plans to go out or light a sweet-scented candle and drink some nerve-calming tea like the sophisticated scholar that you are. Treat yourself with the gentle care and consideration that your body and soul deserves.

2. Listen to your jams.
Does it make sense when I say to listen to music that just feels like you? Not simply songs that you like. I can't say it any other way than to listen to songs that remind you of who you are. This could mean songs from your childhood (the ones you may or may not feel embarrassed to say that you still have on your ipod) or songs from a good time in your life. Dramatic spanish-ballads that remind you of your mom, rock and roll classics you remember hearing when you helped your dad wash the cars as a kid, or those songs they overplayed on the radio when you were 10 that you now love. Songs that make you happy and that have shaped you over the years. I think this step is a lot more effective when the songs are from your past. I find that these types of songs make me a very specific type of happy and they never fail to fuel my present self with the strange wisdom of a past where I was younger.

3. Wear something that feels YOU.
I know this seems kinda broad and a little weird but I hope you have that one shirt or that one hoodie or cardigan that never fails to make you feel way in your element. Sometimes I like to think of what we wear as our armor. I like seeing articles of clothing as ways of making us feel like fierce and unstoppable forces. When feeling out of touch with yourself, always go for the timeless pieces in your closet, whether it's a favorite dress you've worn a million times or an old, holey, and comfy pj shirt.

4. Hug your dog or cat
I'm going to talk about dogs here because I've never had a cat but you can mentally replace the word dog with the word cat or whatever other animal you have that you feel loved by. Dogs are never judgmental and to them you are the brightest star in the whole of their universe. Your dogs are your biggest fan and are always there to remind you with a lick to the face and a vigorous tail wag that you are a fantastic person.

me and my love, Ginger

5. Watch your favorite movie or tv show.
Having a good laugh or a good cry can be exactly what you need when you're feeling this way. Tune in to that show that always makes you laugh no matter what and whose reruns you never get tired of. Put on that movie you've watched a countless amount of times and that still never fails to make you cry. Tears, laughter, anger, fear...all these emotions that movies and shows evoke in us bring us closer to ourselves. Sometimes while watching my fave movies or TV shows I find that I get lost in their worlds and sometimes even feel like I could be one of the characters. Whether you get strength from the tears, laughter, or from embodying your favorite character, get lost in the movies or shows that are classics to you.

Now and Then (1995)

The Office

6. Look through old photos
I love looking through old albums. Seeing pictures of my parents while they were my age is one of the coolest and most surreal experiences. Being in touch with some aspect of your history, whether you know your entire ancestry or like me, you rely on photo albums to retell the past, is a big part of understanding who you are. Your ancestors, parents, grandparents...don't always have to define you, but they can remind you that you are apart of something big, you belong somewhere, and often I am able to learn or understand something new about myself while flipping through our 90' styled photo albums. When it comes to seeing pictures of myself, I always think about how different I feel now, but that "OMG, that's still me." A me that I could even learn a lot from. Plus there's also proof that at one point I was cool, so I'm bound to be cool again at another point in my life right???

me as a sassy baby who can't b bothered w flash photography (ignore my big phone in the reflection of the photo) ((I hope I didn't just make you realize it's there))

7. Talk to someone who knows you well.
We all have those people in our lives that we feel just KNOW us and GET us in a way that not just anyone does. That person that accepts every side of who we are and makes us feel appreciated and loved. These are the kinds of people that laugh at our jokes, make us laugh even harder, and that are just always on the same wavelength as we are. In our everyday lives we may not get to see these people on a regular basis. Instead, we may find ourselves surrounded by people who mistaken us as mean, dull, unintelligent, overbearing, underwhelming......and we may begin to feel like their perceptions define us. BUT THEY DON'T and that's why I think it's important to surround yourself with people who remind you of why you are important and special.

Feeling completely in touch with myself is always a constant struggle. If you ever find yourself in this position, make sure that the things you surround yourself with are timeless. Things that are always constant and hardly ever have side effects. That's what we need when we start losing touch with ourselves. Solid, reliable, and stable sources of happiness that restore our balance and sense of purpose every time.

best best weeshes to everyone,

Kristal

Uninspired DIY: Writing Letters in 2015

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I realize that many of you know how to write letters and believe that writing letters should be a basic understanding within the world. However, ever since the emergence of the internet, people don’t need to write letters as much as we used to. The internet makes communication with those far from us easy, fast, and free. 

Nevertheless, there is something special and personable about writing letters to someone that you care about. Take Sam Shakusky’s and Suzy Bishop’s love affair in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012). It was innocent and sweet, and it all started out with correspondence letters between the two. 

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Writing letters is a nice gesture that doesn’t need require romance to be special. They can be send to your friends, parents, enemies…

As of lately, some of my friends have moved away. It’s hard to keep in touch. We all have school. Therefore, I figured that letter writing was a nice sentiment to use as compensation. The letters will remind my pal about the great aspects of our friendship as well as serving as a medium for miscellaneous conversations. (Although, I haven’t really gotten around to writing any, I did buy the materials I needed for writing and I also informed myself on how to mail them.) Therefore, I’d like to share with you the ways to write and send letters in 2015. 

Bonus: I also included a playlist so that you can have fun with this process. (Yes, this playlist totally features the score from Moonrise Kingdom to spike productivity.)

Materials 

• Paper
• Pen
• Envelopes
• Stamp(s)
• Pictures (if applicable)

(There are many ways to get these materials. The simpler solutions would be to just buy a stationery set, or buy a one dollar pack of fifty envelopes, or simply get the paper from the printer. However, since I yearn to be cute and I couldn’t find any inexpensively cute stationery sets, I decided to customize my letters with adorable materials that I found at Office Depot. Which include these cloud-printed envelopes and these pink-colored sheets of paper.)

Instructions

1. Think of something to write and write it.

Thinking of content to have in your letter might be somewhat overwhelming. It’s like, “What aspects of my life do I share with you, friend?” Well, I’ve taken it upon myself to help you ease the brainstorming process with a nice and simple outline. (Do remember that you don’t have to follow this outline because you’re an individual and you can make your own decisions. All of these are just suggestions.)
Don't forget to be as honest and frank with your writing. We all appreciate humblebrags but remember that you're writing to your pal, not your enemy.

a. Introduction

It's up to you to decide the content of the introduction. Fret not guys, you do not require a thesis. Letters can definitely act as “Lonely Scattered Thoughts”. (A word Kristal coined in her article about theses.)  

Maybe start off by reminding the person about your appreciation and love towards them before you get to the nitty gritty.

b. Recall past event that you shared with the one that will receive the letter
This is made so that the other person remembers how much they appreciate and miss hanging out with you.

c. Anecdote(s)
Anecdotes are fun because they create a connection of happiness and nostalgia between you two. 

d. Updates
Share with your friend the new updates of your life. Don’t be afraid of getting deep and real with them.

e. Offer suggestions and ask hypothetical situations
This is all part of the pretty scheme that makes the other person correspond back.

f. Conclude
Say what you must to wrap up your thoughts.

I wrote a sample letter showcasing the usefulness of this outline. You can see it below. (Or if the print is too small for your eyes then you can read the letter and all of its contents here.)

2. (Optional) Include pictures, magazine scraps, newspaper scraps, CD’s, etc..

Envelopes can secure within themselves our letters and whatever images we decide to attach. Just remember that if you do include an attachment please explain it for whoever your writing for. You don’t want the person to end up confused by the image you provide. (Unless you want them to end up confused.) For example, in the sample letter that I provided above, I included a photo that I found of my mom being a fashion blogger before it was cool. I made sure to explain the image within the letter so that my friend doesn't end up confused.

3. Insert the letter and all attachments in the envelope

Basic tip: Fold your letter(s) like you would fold a flyer.

4. Seal it in an envelope

Lick the seal. Or add cool holographic stickers because the glue from the seal tastes gross.

Money Saving Tip: If you’re using the U.S. Postal Service make sure you’re using a rectangular envelopes to mail your letter. Square envelopes, doesn't matter if they're smaller in size than some rectangular envelopes, are more expensive to mail.

5. Add the Addresses

It’s crucial to know the address of the person that you’re sending the letter to. If not then there is no point of writing the letter because they will never get it. 

Their address goes in the middle of the envelope. The format of placing the address goes as follows. (This format is solely used for the correspondence of people living in the United States)

Person’s Name

Address 

(P.O. Box if applicable)

City, State, Zip Code

On the left hand side of the envelope should be the return address. Or were you put your address. This format is the same as the first one.

Your Name

Address

(P.O. Box if applicable)

City, State, Zip Code

6. Stamp it

(This is the most boring and expensive part of letter writing.) Stamps are a fee used by the Postal Service which signifies that your letter is ready for mailing. Each stamp has a specific estimated value and it also serves as a measuring device to see how much weight your letter hold. Letters that are within 1 oz. only require one stamp. If your letter is heavier, you may require additional stamps.

There are different ways in which you can get the stamps. Your local Walgreens probably carries $9.20 stamp booklets that have 20 stamps within them. Or if you go to your local Postal Service they’ll charge you $0.49 per stamp.

(This was so boring to write.)

7. Mail it. 

Place letter(s) in the nearest Blue Mailbox to you.

---

I hope you all have fun writing your letters. If it all fails then that's fine. You can always use social media or email. (However, if you're using email then, you're definitely stuck in the 1990s). 

<3

- Vianey

Vianey is a nineteen year old self-identified ranter who can be easily wooed by funny three-dimensional TV characters. When she is not watching sitcoms, bugging her pets, or dancing sporadically she posts every Friday on Kaleid-Eh-Scope.

Routine and Carpe Diem

I know the translation of Carpe Diem is pretty self-explanatory. Seize the day. It's everywhere. On t-shirts, in twitter bios, home decor. . . It's the type of phrase usually accompanied by a wanderlustful photo like this:

Still, no matter how often I would see it or how inspired others seemed to be by it, it never spoke to me in any way. I could imagine what it meant to other people, a sort of YOLO or Live Laugh Love type of thing. Recently however, I FEEL THAT PHRASE INSIDE OF ME. I have been able to identify with it so much lately because it's something that I realize I've been struggling to do: seize the day. There are three things that often block me from being able to live out these two lil' words, Carpe Diem:

1. Routine 
With school back in session, the days seem to be flying by with unforgiving speed. One day its "Ugh, barely Monday..." and in the blink of an eye its, "OMG, already Friday!" Before you know it you've become buried in routine. Routine, of course, is a pretty comfortable and pleasant state to be in. It's what we crave to establish when we have to get used to something new in our lives. For example, being used to the summer and winter break habit of going to sleep at 2 am and not waking up till noon the next day, is something that takes a while to get UN used to once school has us waking up at 6 am.

Stability, comfort, security. These are all the great things that routine provides us with. However, routine is a double-edged sword. That comfort and sense of security can quickly turn into complacency. We begin to move through the days in a robotic motion. Do this, then this, then that then if you have time do that. This leaves little room for change and excitement and makes you forget all about taking life by the reins or spicing things up. Routine has the power to cloud up our minds with tight schedules and make us forget that life is happening right under our noses.

2. Living in the Future
Another thing that keeps me from seizing the day is planning. Yes, planning. Another great thing to do in order to manage your time effectively and stay on top of things. The downside is that I'm constantly thinking about what it is I have to turn in in a few days, what I'm doing on the weekend, what errands I have to take care of next week…I get so caught up in thinking about the future, that before I know it, my present is pulled from right under my feet. I always catch myself in anticipation for what is going to happen in a few hours, a few days, a few months even. Instead of embracing all the wonderful things happening NOW, I try to guess what good things might happen tomorrow. This leaves me detached from my current reality. Distracted by what will be's, that in return, make me forget about what is actually happening, causing my present fade away.

3. Living in the Past
With the present being gone quicker than you expected, it becomes tempting to look back on what if's and wonder what you could have done better. The past can creep up on us is many ways. It can come to us in the form of old friends, mistakes, regrets…

But as Florence implies, it's hard to dance while living with the weight of the past on your shoulders. too often I think about what I SHOULD HAVE said, what I COULD HAVE done instead, and how my life might be better if I WOULD HAVE taken that chance. But how can we embrace today if we are wrapped up in what happened yesterday? Or wrapped up in what COULD HAVE happened? Our present deserves more attention and love than than we may be giving it.

Life can be very tiring with all the things it makes us juggle on a daily basis. It seems like the more we have to do, the harder it is to slow down and make the very best of our present. Carpe Diem reminds me that I have to snap out of it and seize the day by seeing it as a unique being with a lot of potential to be great. Not just as another gray part of my routine.

As cheesy as it may seem, I want to be that person in that first photo up there! Even though we won't be standing on a majestic green mountain everyday and living through a vintage-y filter, we can pretend we are.

I know that Carpe Diem is seen so often and in so many places that it loses its power and meaning, but forget all about the fact that it may be overused and just SEIZE THE DAY.

:-)

Kristal

Free from Masculinity: A Rant

On Thursday of last week, I got my hair did. As Kristal pointed out, hair has a lot do with the way you feel and the way you act. I wanted to look good, hell I look good okay, so I wanted to look damn good and I wanted to feel good. I decided when I walked into the salon that I was going to do something that I had been wanting to do for the longest time, two words, blonde highlights. I sat down in my chair, told my cousin what I wanted (she’s amazing with hair by the way) and watched some of my hair become devirginized. I had only wanted highlights around the area where I wanted to go for a pompadour/fohawk type thing, so it was very little. Here is the end result:

I really like it and I feel so confident and have great friends/co-workers who lie to me and say it looks good so whatever. I couldn’t help but notice something after my cousin started the process of highlighting my hair. I was being looked at. Women across the room and women sitting next to me stared as my hair went from pure dark brown to cool crisp blonde. The expression on their faces didn’t seem to say that they were at all curious about the dying of hair process but rather stated clearly that they were confused. I pondered for a while at what they might be confused about and it didn’t hit me until after we watched the documentary Tough Guise 2: Violence, Manhood and American Culture in my Sociology class that I was a boy getting highlights and in their eyes that was something to be very confused about.

I then started to think about some bigger questions, what defines femininity and masculinity? What are actions that define manhood today? What are actions that are not considered manly or macho? Why are we so tied up in setting standards for the sexes and why the fuck do we expect each and every person to follow them?

Growing up in a pre-dominantly Hispanic and Christian cultured city and also being openly gay has been tough in itself. However, I never thought about the fact that from day one we are categorized into classifications that we have coined as sex. Even before birth, parents are able to find out whether or not their baby is going to be male or female and what they are told automatically defines the expectations that they, our families and the surrounding society will have for us. Times are changing and so are the attitudes of people but we still place so many expectations on individuals based on their gender. By analyzing my childhood and the society I have grown up in thus far, being male means some of these expectations:

·        Emotions are for sissies

Keep it in, take it like a man and move on.

·        Your eyes are meant for the Ladies

Though this can have a lot to do with the bordering cultures/beliefs in a society, most people expect their kid whether male or female to be heterosexual. I am very fortunate to have loving and accepting parents but still I am looked at as an outsider because I’m male and I like other males.

·        Get a job, any job, settle down and start a family

Because of economic circumstances, many males in my society are taught that making money is way more important and primary over going to college/getting a degree. They are also taught that heterosexuality is key because procreation is mandatory.

·        Women should please you, that is all.

This one makes me cringe but so many males are taught to look at women as objects and that they are their property.

·        Violence and talking shit is a good way of proving you’re a man

If someone talks bad about you or tries to de-masculinize you, prove that you are a man by means of fighting and by showing how great you are at cussing and chastising another human being.

·        There are things that are meant for women and if you take part in them, then you’re so gay.

Don’t dye your hair, don’t care about fashion, like women not men, you can’t wear certain things, don’t get mani’s or pedi’s, don’t like the color pink or purple or teal, blah blah blah…

               I’m not excusing any man for his actions of violence or saying that all men are taught this but I am telling you to think about the fact that the notion of masculinity and what defines it exists and whether you believe it or not, it’s a lot of pressure. Often people define feminism as having to do with a cult filled with women who hate men and want to be in full control but that is not the case. Feminism is thinking about things like this: How has sex formed over time and what attributes to the way people act that we end up at a standstill of inequality? We have to think about the fact that there are so many standards for what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman but ultimately we forget that we are all just fucking people with the same emotions and the same colored blood. What it comes down to is underneath all the layers of skin and tissue there is a plethora of bones forming what we know as a skeleton and the amount of bones and the color of those bones are for the most part the same. Often we forget to look past the sexuality, the ethnicity and the gender of one another and forget that we are all just humans figuring it out.

Click This: February 2015

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I love pop culture. I love reading about it. I love being updated about it. I love that I can spruce up any conversation with it. I am not embarrassed to admit that I check out Buzzfeed frequently to see what is the latest 101 on my favorite celebrities, or to take their “What are you” quizzes. (My favorite being the “What kind of Supreme Court Justice are you?” quiz. I always knew that SCOTUS Justice Kennedy and I had a lot in common!)

My Facebook newsfeed is subscribed to a bunch of informational pages that share great articles that I wish everyone I knew read. (Yes. I’m the kind of friend that will send you weird links that remind me of you with the caption “OMG”.) I would like to show you some of the things I check out online.

This week has been insane in terms of pop culture happenings.  From the Grammy’s to new music releases here are some of the links you should click.

Televised Events that are Happening 

Before I get to links of it all, I feel compelled to let you know about all the juicy events that are set to be the talk of pop culture soon.

- Saturday Night Live’s 40th Anniversary Special.

This is a three hour and a half once in a lifetime star-studded event. It’s on Sunday February 15, 2015. It’s going to feature Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Taylor Swift, and many more talented celebrities. The complete list of celebrity performers is via this link http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/01/whos-performing-snls-40th-anniversary-special)

- Parks and Recreation

This wonderful show is ending. NBC is trying to end it fast. It is scheduled to end on February 24th, 2015. It’s not too late to catch up. Some of the newer episodes are available on Hulu http://www.hulu.com/parks-and-recreation. And, the ones that aren’t there I recommend finding a third-party site or even using the week trial for Hulu Plus because you need to get caught up before it ends. If you haven’t watched this show yet, then I suggest to watch it on Netflix ASAP. Seasons 1-6 are there and they’re amazing and you won’t be disappointed. (Plus the most recent episode was so feminist, I loved it!)

- Film Independent Spirit Awards

This is happening on Saturday February 21 on IFC. Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell are hosting so it is bound to be funny.

- Oscars

Even though their nominations have been extremely controversial, they’re happening on Sunday February 22 on ABC. At least they have a good host this year, Neil Patrick Harris.

-The Breakfast Club

Since it’s the movie’s 30th anniversary, it is coming back to theaters from March 26th to March 30th. And, I am dragging my friends along even though I’ve watched this movie so many times and without the movies’ prices. http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/12/breakfast-club-returning-theaters-its-30th-anniversary

- Grammy’s

I’m not going to cover Kanye's attempt at interrupting Beck, or Kanye’s shade towards Beck during the Grammy's after party. However, I am going to suggest you read this really important piece from NME. During the Grammy's President Obama, survivor Brooke Axtell's recollections, and Katy Perry's performance were all in theme of condemning the horrors of domestic violence. However, if the Grammy's really want to condemn violence against women, or violence in general, then they need to stop glorifying artists that have participated in domestic abuse. You can read more in the article below.

http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/if-the-grammys-wants-to-condemn-violence-against-women-it-should-look-at-the-artists-it-rewards/?recache=7&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=grammys

Galentine’s Day

Galentine’s Day is the wonderful and beautiful holiday that Leslie Knope, from Parks and Recreation, created. It’s the day to celebrate your friendships, whether they be with your friends who are girls or friends who are boys. Even though officially Galentine’s day is on February 13th, doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate Galentine’s day every day. Get yourself informed on how great this holiday is, and make plans for tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or even next year to celebrate your pals. http://hellogiggles.com/galentines-day

New Music

2015 is a very anticipated year in music. So many wonderful artists are releasing their long awaited follow up t their previously successful albums and they're not disappointing. This week was specially sweet in the artist that released new tunes.

(And, if you want to see which artists to look for this year check out Buzzfeed's 52 Reasons 2015 Will Be The Year For Music Since Ever.)

Florence + The Machine 

(Some aspects of the second video are NSFW)

Florence + The Machine are back! I have been looking forward to this since 2011 after I learned all of Ceremonials by heart. Their new songs are certainly very big on art content. There is no one I trust more with making me feel more cultured that Florence + The Machine.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift just released the video for her new single “Style” this morning. This video is stunning. It doesn’t need any fancy dancing, or jaw dropping acting. Even though the video reminds of “Back to December”, it is a delightful throwback. The basis of this song was a short story. And, it’s still my favorite song from 1989. 

Kanye West

Aside from the the interview that Kanye gave “E!” after the Grammy’s, Kanye West has been killing it with the anticipation to his new album. I know that not everyone likes or appreciates Kanye’s artistry like I might. However, it’s pretty insane that Kanye has gotten Paul McCartney, Rihanna, and as of yesterday Vic Mensa and Sia to be a part of his upcoming album. He debuted this song yesterday during his fashion show. (Link to song below)
http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/02/kanye-west-debuts-new-song-wolves-featuring-sia-and-vic-mensa-listen/

(The media was also talking about his daughter's tantrum during his fashion show. http://www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/north-west-didnt-have-time-for-kanyes-bullsht-fashion-show#.rg7PQm2DX) 

Kanye also released his new Adidas sneakers design during his fashion show. 

(If you need to remind yourself of reasons to appreciate or even like Kanye please click this link. http://www.rookiemag.com/2014/03/kanye-roundtable/)

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie are releasing a new album this year, Kintsugi. They just released a new single with a music video that Ben Gibbard, the band’s front man, directed. This is Black Sun.

Calvin Harris featuring Haim

Almost forgot to talk about Calvin Harris's collaboration with fabulous Haim. The song is pretty great. The video's aesthetics please me. And, Danielle's voice is always on point.

Visuals

- Buzzfeed BFF released this wonderful pun for ‘90s kids that love James Franco (AKA me). 

- This is the true tale of the most loving love story of our time. Let's share it with those that we love on Valentine's Day.

- More Valentine’s Day cards that are important to you Bob’s Burger fans. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/annas31/21-hilarious-valentines-only-bobs-burgers-fans-942y?bffb&utm_term=4ldqpgy#.jeKD0vj35

- If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed look at this kitty.
http://i.imgur.com/CYU8JsN.gif

-If you’re not feeling as fabulous and great as you should feel then listen to the motivational words of this penguin.http://24.media.tumblr.com/04ea8c12b48b8fa8b8715a2b8d77c946/tumblr_ml81dvBphx1qc4uvwo1_500.gif

Interesting Links

- So, this guy wrote 121 love songs and counting by using 121 of the most popular Female names. It’s insane! They’re all different. If you're a girl, I dare you to try to find your name there. 
http://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/he-wrote-you-a-love-song#.dkKaY8xkL

- So, this guy drew his girlfriend as all the different Disney Princesses. They're both fans. They're both in love. This is insane!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/a-man-had-his-girlfriend-drawn-up-as-disney-princesses-for-t?bffb&utm_term=4ldqpgp#.bg6J4z0xY

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Okay, so this is a lot to process. I hope you all click on them and have an excellent month. Happy Keeping Up!

<3

- Vianey

Vianey is a nineteen year old self-identified ranter who can be easily wooed by funny three-dimensional TV characters. When she is not watching sitcoms, bugging her pets, or dancing sporadically she posts every Friday on Kaleid-Eh-Scope.

What Crushes Do To Us...

Tis the season of heart-warming love letters, secret admirers, and the soul draining ruthlessness of crushes. These things come packaged in heart shaped boxes with ribbon bows laced up top, and while they are mostly sweet, there's always a catch...There's a reason the Jonas Brothers call it a LoveBug. Once you've been bitten, you'll find yourself doing things that you'll later be cringing at. Here are 4 reasons why crushes drive me crazy.

1. THEY ARE SO DISTRACTING

Forget about giving your undivided attention to class lectures, and say hello to zoning out while watching your favorite show and having to rewind it. Distraction is the best and worst thing about crushes. Sure, thinking about our crushes always makes us smile whether we're driving home, washing dishes, or pretending that we are paying attention to someone talking to us. But pretty soon that girl or boy will find a way to creep into your thoughts at every. second. of. the. day. Everything finds a way to remind you of them. Sample thought process: Gosh, I'm really hungry.... I wonder what [name of crush] likes to eat...Probably foods that describe them. Like Great Value heh heh heh...Okay FOCUS you still have 50 more pages to read...I wonder what they'd think of this book....Do they read at all?...Are they good at reading the signs?....I mean, obviously we are meant to be together.. 

2. You overthink every encounter you have with them

A glance is worth a million words when it comes to crushes. All of a sudden you swear you’ve got faster reflexes, Spidy Senses, and a trusty intuition that together tell you whether your crush is into you or not. You become fluent in the hand movements and facial expressions of body language. A wave and casual 'hey' from them will never be simple again. How long did they wave for....was it more of a 'salute' wave or an excited wave...Did they mean hey as in hey or as in hheeeeeyyyy ;)...? Despite your senses being heightened, you become oblivious to everything else around you. All you can seem to do is read into every word, tick, and chuckle that comes from them. You link their every last breath to the conclusion that they must be crazy about you. And once you get home you replay every bit of conversation exchanged, dissecting their every word like the crazy, mad, love scientist that you are. 

3. You may only be ‘In Like’ with the IDEA of them

I detest when people say this. Leave me and my hypothetical relationship alone!!! Unfortunately, they are right. This is one of the worst side effects of having a crush on someone. You create these ideal scenarios, putting words in this person's mouth and assigning them certain characteristics, actions, and reactions. This may be great and dandy in a harmless daydream, but in reality, you actually have to get to know this person. Sometimes it’s hard not to get carried away in some romantic reverie of them, but doing this can leave us disappointed in the end because our interactions with them may not always go as we imagined them. When we do get to know the real them we may be disillusioned and not because they turn out to be total jerk faces (although they might) but simply because they are real people. That’s why it’s important to not base their actions off your ideal situation, but just get to know them for who they really are. A crush can feel unattainable and therefore seem like an other-worldly being, but they are real people, and deserve to be treated as so, not just as ideal manifestations of your love-bitten imagination.

4. They make you subconsciously alter your behavior

This one can be tricky because its not always intentional. Changing yourself for someone is never worth it, but on a small scale, we sometimes can’t help it. This kind of behavior varies between two extremes: A carefree you who tries really hard to be nonchalant and blasé OR a giddy you who catches yourself laughing a little harder and longer than everyone else at their jokes (complete with a thigh slap and a fist to the table). 

When they’re around, you may find yourself talking AT your friends instead of talking TO them because all you can think about is the fact that your crush is only a few feet away can probably hear you and OMG did I just see them staring at me from the corner of my eye?? You filter certain actions and phrases out and try to emulate the person that you think your crush might be attracted to. I am guilty of all of the above and it is way lame because the real you is shoved under your bed like a bunch of dirty socks. But you are not a bunch of dirty socks! You are you! Great ValYOU. ok too far. ANYWAY, acting like someone you're not never works, so don't let the butterflies in your stomach change who you are.

Even though crushes can sometimes be the worst, more than often they are plain CUTE. We all overthink our interactions with someone we like, set aside a little more time in the morning to make sure our hair is on point, and let ourselves get distracted by daydreams. We all get them, and even though the start of all my crushes begin with an 'Uh oh, here we go...', that lil' bit of love, whether it's reciprocated or not, always makes our lives a bit sweeter.

Wishing you guys a super sweet week

:-)

Kristal

A Wish for My Innocence

It's called Crossing Over from JacobHenrie on 8tracks Radio.

Sometimes it's okay to just lie on your kitchen floor and think. I made this playlist for thinkers, for

 lovers of life, for those trying to find a reason. Today is for you, tomorrow is too, do what you love

and love what you do. You is kind, you is smart, you is important.



-Jacob

The Metaphorical Ghosts Of Your Past

(http://www.serialmente.com/wp-content/uploads/baggage.jpg, http://data3.whicdn.com/images/129694601/original.gif, http://33.media.tumblr.com/438b853324e4bca3a8b960b5177809a2/tumblr_ni5s2mpXPG1t0rpy4o2_500.gif)

Whenever I walk around my university (also known as the time when I’m perfecting my resting bitch face), I can’t help but think about the lives, backstories, and points of those walking around me. Where is he going? How did you do your hair? Is the reason why she’s wearing workout clothes because she worked out earlier or because she feels comfortable wearing what she’s wearing? Whoa, partner, why are you rushing? When was the last time he cried? (You know all the normal stuff people think about when they’re walking to class.) I also attempt to decipher the things that run through their individual heads. Are they worried about anything? If so, could they be worried about their current or lack of a relationship? Maybe they’re worried about their past. Could it be possible that they haven’t hugged their mothers in a long time? What if they don’t have their mother anymore? I realize this might sound vain but, would they find it weird that I’m trying to figure their lives out? Would they even think of me? (Yeah, I have a way of turning things into some existential BS real quickly.)

Evidently, I think a lot about baggage. For those of you who haven’t heard this term ever, the third available definition for baggage by Urban Dictionary is described as “an issue regarding a person's past that can affect their current disposition”. What bad thing happened in this person’s past that shaped the senile behaviors within them? This is the juicy stuff that develops a character on TV. Or, if you want a in real life example, once you learn about another person’s baggage you see them another way. You will probably find yourself justifying their actions by what you know about their past.

I’m no stranger to this term. I have my fair share of baggage. As much as I cover it up with my Boss Bitch attitude, there are metaphorical ghosts from my past that like to pop up and cause me to have cringe-attacks. Oh, I shouldn’t have done that! Oh, that could have been easily avoided! Oh, I should have known better! My past really does affect my judgement. 

(http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0133edd51ff3970b-pi)

Earlier I hinted at my reflective tendencies while I walk around my university. (I need something to keep my mind off of how exasperated I feel after I walk-up the stairs. And, since it is publicly frowned upon to sing out loud, what else am I supposed to do?) While at uni, I don’t only see strangers. Sometimes I’m surrounded by people I know. Some are great friends that I love and appreciate. Some are former-strange people that I used to friend. (I have been known to be bitter.) 

(http://33.media.tumblr.com/438b853324e4bca3a8b960b5177809a2/tumblr_ni5s2mpXPG1t0rpy4o2_500.gif)

(http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lubvgxT8Lr1qccblvo1_1280.jpg)

Whenever I see those people, anger fuels my veins. There are reasons to not be fans of them and they’re valid, by my calculations. My displeasure towards them isn’t solely constituted by the ways in which they’ve smitten me but, by the fact that they’re walking-proof of the kind of person that I used to be. (Yes, my biggest annoyance with my baggage(s) is a selfish one.) This baggage is a constant reminder of the embarrassing things that have happened to me. 

It sucks to be bothered by baggage. I’m stuck and I don’t know what to do. There is no room to win against the ghosts of your past (A.K.A. baggage). You can’t express bitterness because they’ll have the upper-hand. You can’t swallow up your pride because there is too much bad blood to shed. You can’t avoid them because they have as much as a reason to be there as you do. This baggage is here to stay and haunt me, for the time being. 

I guess all I could do, or all anyone who might be dealing with this issue can do is take Ted Mosby’s advice. As Ted so eloquently puts in season five of How I Met Your Mother, “Everyone’s got some baggage; it’s part of life. But like anything else, it’s easier when someone gives you a hand with it.”

 (https://samsonlinejournal.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/baggage.png)

If the best we can do to get over our baggage is seek people out, then that’s a pretty good reason to have a good crew behind you. Our loved ones will know how to handle the perfect balance of “treat yourself to a good rant” to “you’re better than this; get over it”. 

The people that can help us deal with baggage don’t necessarily need to people that we know or even people. They can be found by the music that we listen to or, by playing with your pets or, by doing activities that make us happy, like sports (probably). A good album to listen to when you're dealing with stuff is Trouble Will Find Me. Then again it is one of my favorite albums and it will always have my seal of approval for everything. 

<3

- Vianey

Vianey is a nineteen year old self-identified ranter who can be easily wooed by funny three-dimensional TV characters. When she is not watching sitcoms, bugging her pets, or dancing sporadically she posts every Friday on Kaleid-Eh-Scope.