Harry, There's Someone Watching Us....

Heyyy so apparently my first writing was kinda good so I will be writing a second post. Sorry I'm not the fabulous fangirl that usually posts here.

-Luna

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” ~Roald Dahl

"It's the wood that should fear your hand, not the other way around. No wonder you can't do it, you acquiesce to defeat before you even begin." ~Pai Mei

The first quote is there to justify the second. Just to let you know, Pai Mei isn't a real person. he is a character from the (by far) goriest movie I have ever seen, Kill Bill. I don't recommend for anyone to watch it, I don't know why I watched it in the first place, but that kind of movie is the last place I would expect to find a quote that I would think about for a while. Just as context Pai Mei is teaching the main character Kung Fu and is having her punch through wood at 3 inches away, and is unable to do it at first. The quote was Pai Mei's explanation.

So what does this have to do with anyone? Well, unless you are looking for inspiration to punch wood. It is the concept that you won't accomplish anything if you accept defeat before attempting it. The more you become aware of it, the more you will see it in your daily life.

I was going for a walk last summer, and I see a random shirtless guy trying to impress a girl and doing parkour/free running in a park. The girl wasn't the only one watching. I saw two guys watching from a short distance (lets call them baseball cap and NYU, as one was wearing a baseball cap and the other had an NYU t shirt on), and NYU said "Damn he's good. I'm going to do what he does, I'm even going to do it better" to which baseball cap replies "Would you look at us? We can't even get the courage to talk to a girl, much less do a backflip off a fence in front of one." NYU didn't reply, and I didn't stay around for the rest of their conversation. I only really thought about what I heard that day about a month later because I was reminded of the two, because I saw NYU (I guess it's his favorite t shirt, but I definitely recognized him) doing some sprint exercise on the side of a soccer field. I started walking in that park more often at similar times because something about him made me curious. Late August, I see NYU again, wearing that same t shirt, looks like this:


Anyways I almost didn't recognize him if not for his t shirt, waterbottle, and he had pretty nice hair too. I saw him doing pullups and sprints, and it was hot that day. I got an ice cream and walked around until sundown. There wasn't a lot of people at the park at that time, and I was the only one in the area at sundown. Anyways I watched from a distance as NYU did a similar route to the guy from 3 months ago, and it must have been his first go because he was super excited at the end. I think he was a bit miffed because I don't think he noticed me, and so he thinks nobody saw what he accomplished that day. This memory is really satisfying because what might have been his best friend told him to quit because something was impossible, and he pretty much put his summer vacation into it and won. To me it seems so simple but is so motivating, so I want to share it with all of you. By the way, should anyone find NYU or should NYU come across this post, someone saw your run, and that someone remembered. Congrats. As for the rest, may the stars watch over you

Pain Changes People

This year is coming to a quick end and yes I know I said I'd blog more often and with each post I apologize about not blogging more often...

With that said...I'm sorry about not blogging more often. 
I really really do try to whenever I remember but please bear with me. Thinking of topics isn't always the easiest and I try to think of blog topics that won't stir up debates or anger within my readers.

But I feel like this post is long overdue.

I happened to be going through a list of quotes on this social media page I found, and I find three words that I basically have been trying to explain through my words, my music, my advice.

Pain. Changes. People.

It changes our thoughts, our beliefs, our experiences, our outlook, our behavior. Everything. Pain is the one thing that allows us to evaluate ourselves in the worth way possible and believe it to be justified and logical. It makes us focus on the aspects of this that spurred on the source of the pain and then it makes us want to change it. No one wants to feel pain if we can feel other emotions such as happiness and relief. Pain is sometimes ultimately for the better but the process of working through the hurt is sometimes far too long for the end result to be worth it. At times, it's the process itself that twists and mangles the thoughts and beliefs of a person. 

I wish I could say that I don't have a personal experience to back this up, but I do. Since I don't want to delve too much into my past life, I shall briefly describe a scenario that I experienced barely ten minutes ago. 

As you all know, I am currently a sophomore in Highschool. I am taking two college course and while I admit that it is not nearly as stressful as my upcoming years, I still find it to be quite challenging at times. For some or other reason, I thought today was Thursday (not Wednesday) and that my homework for one of my college classes was due this Friday. I have never really made this mistake before, so it came as a shock to me. My first thought was 'oh, that's ok. Finish it and give it to her on Friday(when my next class is)' and then I proceeded to tell my friends why I don't have my binder and homework for that class to get a good laugh out of it. 

Now here's where I have a problem with the way others react. When a friend of yours has obviously made a mistake and is trying to play it off cool, casually laugh along with the person about the situation. Do. Not. Laugh. At. The. Person. 

I don't know if that was my friend's intention, but I was deeply hurt at seeing my friend laugh at me. I don't think that was her intention, but a simple act like that can and will tell your friend that s/he is stupid for making that mistake. 

What this can lead to is your friend feeling insignificant for any amount of time and then not wanting to open up to you about any other mistakes or misunderstandings that s/he has made. Please be careful whenever you say or do something because it can hurt the other person. 

I realize that this has probably turned into a little venting session for me, apologies for that, but I hope my experience has helped you realize how much a simple action can hurt a person. When you close this page and shut off your laptop or switch to another app on your phone, I do wish that my message of this post will stay in your head. 

Clara Oswald: Clingy or Clever?

Cheesy title, I know....I know, but I couldn't think of anything else that summed up the question that has been bugging me since I met her, especially once Capaldi became the Doctor. I do not deny that, as a person, she is very likeable, but as a companion she tends to bother me.

She met the Matt Smith as the Doctor and even though she might deny it, she fell in love with the Impossible Hero and she was the Impossible Girl. Sure she might have been "born to save the Doctor" but she isn't the only important companion. There was Donna, Martha, and Amy; all of them taught the Doctor the importance of family.

With all of his previous companions, there was never the obvious question of "Will a relationship between them become canon?" Even with Rose, canon suggests that the 10th Doctor might've had feelings for Rose and we all know that Rose did grow to love the Doctor but she understood the consequences of traveling with him. She knew the consequences of falling in love with him.

Martha had that school girl crush on the Doctor but quickly overcame that (Was it because of Captain Jack Harper?). She was loyal to the Doctor and knew that he would not be able to return her feelings so she took the small part of the Doctor that she could - a friend.

The Ponds were family to the Doctor. Amy and Rory. The Girl Who Waited and The Plastic Centenarian. Many people say that all Amy and Rory did was follow the Doctor's orders....but that's because they trusted him. They trusted him to know what he was doing or to follow his instincts. In the end, they became his family.

She is taking the Doctor for granted and wasn't ready to accept the 12th Doctor because he wasn't "young looking".

Is it just me or is Clara just really annoying?

Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End

Right now in my life, there are a lot of things that are changing, that are ending, that are starting a new chapter.

School started about a week ago for me, and even though it's only been 5 days of actual school (we didn't do anything the first day), I can already sense the pressure building. Being in my sophomore year and having a college-course class is tough but I know I can make it. If something is beginning and I know that I'm going to have to buckle up and get ready for the ride that's starting, it's always important for me to know that there are things out there that are beginning as well.

I'm getting ready for the school year; I'm organized, I'm taking down notes, keeping my planner updated every day, making sure I'm not procrastinating. I still feel as if I'm going to be drowning in homework and studying till midnight.

 With all of this, though, I'm keeping myself grounded by the things I love. I've listed a few things below that are going to start or have recently started that is helping me stay sane!

1. Fall Out Boy recently released their song Centuries . I absolutely love this song! It's new, it's catchy, it's different, and it will definitely bring about a slight change in the fan-base and in the band that I think everyone will be happy with.
2. Black Veil Brides have released two singles from their yet-to-be-released self-titled album called Heart of Fire and Faithless.Their new album (BVB IV) will be released in October and I just can't wait!
3. Season 10 of Supernatural will premiere on Tuesday, October 7 at 9/8c. If you guys don't know yet, I am a major fan of the TV Series called Supernatural on the CW network. I have watch seasons 1-6 and overall know what happens in Seasons 7-9 (yes I have seen the season 9 finale), so even though I haven't watched the last three seasons, I am very excited for Season 10!
4. Peter Capaldi, as the 12th Doctor in Doctor Who, has already shot two episodes which have aired. The new season for Doctor Who (BBC) has already started, but is only a few episodes in, so I'm looking forward to seeing Capaldi play the new Doctor. In my opinion, Capaldi will bring a new side of the Doctor out - the side that genuinely realizes the cost of his actions and wants to set out to rectify them. I will definitely root for him!

I know that as the year passes by, I will have less and less time to root for and support the bands and TV series that I love because I will be extremely busy. Even though I won't be able to publicly show my love and support for everyone that is starting a new chapter of their lives, I will definitely keep them in my heart and wish them luck along the way.

I would like to do that to all of my readers as well. You guys are so amazing and you might be started or have already started something new and unique in your life. It may be out of your comfort zone and you may not be used to it and there probably will be some aspects that you completely despise, but I'm here every step of the way. I get the discomfort, I get the nerves and the uneasiness and I want you to know that you are strong and independent; you have the courage and strength to finish this new chapter and begin another one later. Just get through the first few pages, you never know what you will find. 

Summer Days drifted away to the Summer Night

Well it's been at least 5 months since I've last posted and I want to apologize profusely to those of you who have been reading all of my posts since I've started. What with my finals and summer homework and summer classes I'd totally forgotten about this blog. I'm terribly sorry.

But the past is the past and I want to start a new leaf with this year's summer. I've fallen behind on many of my Blogger Challenge posts and I promise I will make up for it over the course of the next 2 months.
Now let's get on to the main post shall we?

I actually really wanted to dedicate this post to the almost-over summer and talk about what I did over the two month break. I should have been studying for the SATs and trying to get ahead of the next school year's syllabus but I wanted to recharge this summer. I joined the Supernatural and Sherlock fandom! Yes...I'm a SuperWhoLockian now :) I also started watching Criminal Minds and CSI. With all of these TV marathons over the summer, I needed to balance out the fun with the work.

I thought more about what I'd want to be  when I go into college and how I can improve my life in order to get there.
(I.E. First step: Be Organized! School is about to start and I bought new binders and notebooks for each class. )
As I continued catching up on the SuperWhoLock episodes, I got ready for my new school year and even started studying for the SATs towards the end of summer! I know, crazy right?

I also went to Montreal and Quebec in Canada. It was beautiful there, especially Quebec. I found it so interesting because of all the culture that's been embedded in the walls of the city, It's colorful and entertaining and informative. I found that going there definitely helped me end my summer in a positive note because of all the things I decided I wanted to know more about. And what better way of doing that than going back to school and paying attention in History Class!?

School starts tomorrow for me, and even though I'm excited for a new year of learning, I also don't want to forget all the fandoms I've joined and the friends that came along with it. I've decided to decorate my notebooks with quotes from the SuperWhoLock Fandom.

• Supernatural quotes are on my English notebook
• Doctor Who quotes are on my History notebook
• Sherlock quotes are on my Cultural Anthropology (Semester 1) and Intro to Human Origins (Semester 2) notebook

This way, I remember the fun I've had over the summer while reminding myself that fun and education can go hand in hand.

My English Notebook =)

That's the thing with music...it demands to be felt

What's up guys? It's Ash here and fair warning you might see a hint of fangirling here and there because this post is

ALL.
ABOUT.
MUSIC.

DUN DUN DUN

Annnnddddd..................if any of you know me in real life or have talked to be before, music is a big big big big BIG part of my life. I love singing and I love playing the piano and most of all I love listening to music so today I'm going to be talking about the top three of my favorite bands and why I like them.

If you haven't noticed already, there's a list of my favorite musicians on the top left of my blog. (P.s. It's not in the order of most to least favorite).

The number one musician/band just has to be Black Veil Brides. I admit that I don't listen to them daily and/or 24/7, but that band really just has been there for me and helped me through a really rough patch in my life which I don't think I would ever be able to repay them for. I find them to be a really inspiring group of people who look out for each of their fans and love their fan base. The way they talk about their fans, it really awes me because of how much passion they have for their music and their love for every single person who they've helped through their music. If I'd continue, my post on Black Veil Brides would take up the entire page, so I'll just leave it at this: It's because of them I am where I am today. I owe everything to them.

My second favorite musician/band usually varies since I listen to a widespread area of genres, so I'll go with Pierce the Veil. To be honest, I just really love their songs and how, at first glance, it sounds like its just a catchy song with nothing more to it, but then when you really listen to it, it has a much deeper meaning. Both the band and the listeners have that kind of connection to each song and it's that bond that makes Pierce the Veil so special. Even if I don't listen to one of their songs for months, I will still be able to come back to that song and enjoy it as much as I did when I first heard it; that's something I really like because then it's like you'll never grow too old for that band. It's always there for you.

My third favorite musician/band (again it varies) is Ed Sheeran. With Ed Sheeran, there's always a nostalgic quality that I like listening to in his songs. The way he's able to pour his feelings out into each song and make it something that we all can relate to is amazing. I also love the fact that most of his slow are on the quieter side (even if he does rap in them). Ed and his songs are a great inspiration when I want to write something meaningful and I almost always end up daydreaming whenever I listen to his songs. They just bring out that dreamer in all of us.

There you have it folks! My top three musicians/bands. Like I said before, I listen to a wide variety of genres so if you have a band that you like or think I should check out, leave it in the comments below! I'd be thrilled to find new music to listen to and if you want to listen to some of my favorite musicians/bands I'd be more that happy!!

She's like cold coffee in the morning...

Hey guys! It's me Ash here with a Cold Coffee Recipe. It's just getting warm outside and there's nothing better than kicking back with a glass of cold coffee to pass the day away, so I have my favorite cold coffee recipe that I'd love to share with you guys!

Ingrediants

For coffee:

4 1/2 ounces coarsely ground coffee (about 1 3/4 cups)
3 1/2 cups cold water

For Serving:

milk, half-and-half,or water

Simple Syrup

Ice

Procedure:

1. Place the coffee grounds in a 2-quart pitcher, add the water, and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and let sleep at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
2. Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth or coffee filter and fit it over a cup/mug. Working in batches, slowly pour the coffee into the filter until all of the liquid has passed through the strainer. Stop when you reach the solids at the bottom of the pitcher. Take a spoon and gently push the solids so the rest of the liquids will seep through. Discard the grounds and the contents of the strainer.
3. Wash and dry the pitcher. Transfer the strained coffee into the pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 5 days.
4. For each cup of iced coffee, dilute the concentrate with an equal portion of milk, half-and-half, or water. Sweeten with simple syrup if desired and top with ice.

So there you have it folks! A recipe for the perfect cup of cold coffee. As I said before, this is one of my absolute favorites and feel free to mess around with the recipe to fit your needs!

Which new nail style will you try today?

Now a lot of people over look the whole "nail" thing while others take it a little too far. What I like to do is take my nails seriously but still maintain the whole "subtle look" (a.k.a french nails, plain nude, or a light pastel color that won't draw attention).

That was before.

Today I'm going to look at some mani-pedi combos I found online that I want to share with you guys. It's sparkly, glittery, and a pop of colors which I cannot wait to try! You can get the entire list of 10 mani-pedi combos on Seventeen and pictures of how the nail polish looks like. I didn't include every single picture since I figured it'd take up a lot of space

Leggo!
 
1. Silver Glitter and Hot Pink
++Milani Jewel FX Nail Lacquer in Silver ($4.55)
++Pixi Nail Color in Summer Pink ($8)
 
2. Black and Red
++CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Black Diamond ($4.99)
++Formula X For Sephora in Pyrotechnic ($10.50)
 
3.Gray and Radiant Orchid
++e.l.f Essential Nail Polish in Misty Haze ($2)
++Butter LONDON Molly Coddled Nail Lacquer ($15)
 
4. Chocolate and Rose
++Zoya Nail Polish in Louise ($9)
++Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Pink & Proper ($2.99)
 
5. Nude and Cobalt
++March Jacobs beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer ($18)
++Fuse Gelnamel Gel Plolish ($6.39)
 
6.Raspberry and Magenta Glitter
++L'Oreal Colour Riche Nail Trend Setter in Crazy For Chic ($4.99)
++Blackheart Magenta Glitter Nail Polish ($3.75)
 
7. White Texture and Creamy Beige
++China Glaze Sand Dolla Make You Holla ($6.99)
++Sonia Kashuk Nail Color in Nudist($4.75)
 
8. Peach and Dark Purple
++Color Club Nail-Robi ($8)
++eddie Resort Fling ($8.50)
 
9. Gunmetal and Hot Purple
++NYC New York Color Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Rock The Party! ($0.93)
++Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Grab ($17)
 
10. Bright and Yellow Pink
++OPI I Just Can't Cope-acabana ($9)
++Nicole by OPI Selena Gomez Collection Nail Polish in Naturally ($7.04)

Well there you have it, 10 Perfect Combos to try when you get your mani-pedi done! I'm definitely going to try one of these out!!

My Favorite: High-Street Brands

Like almost every other girl, I have those shopping spree moments (#guiltypleasure) even though I'd hate to admit it. Every time I go to the mall, there's always that one store (or stores) that I just need to go to.
They have the cutest clothes with prices no one can argue with.

O1. dELiA*s

+Delia's is a pretty known store around the east coast, not exactly sure if its out there in the west, but what's shipping for right? This store has possibly the cutest outfits ever for Spring, especially if you're a teenager. They just got 250 new spring dresses and swimsuits start at $19.99! They also have 2 for $10, 2 for $20, and 2 for $25 deals with the most adorable tees. what's not to love?

 

O2. Forever 21

+ I don't know a single girl who hasn't shopped at Forever21 yet. They've got a sale going on at all times and have about 1,400 new arrivals right now. Forever21 has extended it's inventory to include outfits and accessories to include men, women, and girls of all sizes! They're stocked with the most chic styles.

 

O3. Lucky Brand

+Now this is one I haven't heard of before and by skimming their website I'm getting a good feeling. They're got one of those hipster looks about them that I feel will definitely help you bring out your inner style!

 

O4. Nordstrom

+Yes, I have included Nordstrom on here. Yes, I know it's expensive, but its Spring. So treat yourself for making it through the winter! The Junior's section has these amazing tops and fabulous dresses. They're definitely an eye-catcher. Who says you can't be unique AND fashionable at the same time?

 

O5. Zumiez

+Zumiez is definitely a to-go. They hold the latest trends for teens and they're super comfortable. From crop tops and high-waist skirts to hoodies and jeans, this store will be able to fit your style. If you want to switch up your look for Spring, Zumiez will be perfect for you!

 

Spring shopping should never be something dreadful that we just can't decide on what to buy! Choosing the right stores will help you save money and save time while still making the right choices! What could be better than that?

Skincare

Hair/Skincare

The second topic of the 2014 Blogger Challenge in skincare. I'm not much of a person who focuses a ton on skincare, but doing this post helped me look into a lot of easy and natural ways to improve your skin which I may end up trying!

1.  Java Lip Exfoliator 

   Ingredients:
   1/2 teaspoon of moisturizing lotion (such as Olay’s Active Hydrating Body Fluid)
   1/4 teaspoon fresh coffee grounds
   1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
   
   Directions:
   Mix well in a bowl. Apply to entire mouth area and massage around for five minutes. Wipe clean with a warm wet washcloth.
   
   I haven't tried this yet. I usually use Burt's Bee's Natural Lip Balm to moisturize my lips. It works great in the winter! I have a habit of licking my lips often, and in the winter it leaves my lips cracked with  a slight red irritation under my lips. Using the lip balm  easily gets rid of the cracks and irritation.

2. Shea Butter:

   High in fatty acids, shea butter is an emollient — meaning it provides a layer of oil on top of the surface of a hair strand, significantly reducing the amount of moisture (water) lost
   
   
   I don't use Shea Butter, but it has been recommended to me before by my aunt, not for my hair though. If you shave your legs and start getting dark spots on your legs, (I will make a post later explaining why) Shea butter can help clear those up. I believe you can find some in Victoria's Secret.

3. Coconut Oil:

   Many natural hair products contain coconut oil, another emollient perfect for sealing moisture into the hair. Coconut oil provides both shine and strength to locks, making it a popular ingredient for naturals.
   Coconut oil can also be used as a leave-in conditioner for for thicker textured hair. Because the natural hair oils have difficulty sliding down the curls, you'll need to use an abundant amount of coconut oil.
   
   
   This is one that I currently use. The one thing I don't like is the scent it leaves, so I suggest massaging it onto your hair on a Friday or Saturday night, and wash it off the next morning so you have the oil in your hair now and the scent is gone too  

4. Dry Brushing

   Dry brushing improves circulation in your skin, which is necessary because your skin is the largest organ there is! It removes dead skin, eliminates clogged pores (i.e. the red dots on your legs after shaving) and cellulite (a condition in which the skin appears to have areas with underlying fat deposits, giving it a dimpled, lumpy appearance. It is most noticeable on the buttocks and thighs, and usually occurs after puberty. Read more)
   The directions copied from Mind Body Green:
   
   1.} Start on dry skin before bathing & work in gentle circular, upward motions, then longer, smoother strokes. You can use an exfoliate too ( I like this one ).
   2.} Always begin at the ankles in upwards movements towards the heart – the lymphatic fluid flows through the body towards the heart, so it’s important that you brush in the same direction.
   3.} Your back is the only exception to the preceding rule; brush from the neck down to the lower back.
   4.} After you’ve finished with the ankles, move up to the lower legs, thighs, stomach, back and arms. Be cautious of softer and sensitive skin around the chest & breasts, and never brush over inflamed skin, sores, sun-burnt skin, or skin cancer. ( Also: ensure you shower to wash away the dead skin cells and impurities ).
   Tip: alternating temperatures in the shower from hot to cold will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bring more blood to the outer layers of the skin.
   Then follow it up with a slick moisturizer to nourish the skin— coconut oil works great!
   
   
   
   So there you have it folks, my top four recommendations for Hair/Skincare. I hope you liked this short tip. Sorry about the short descriptions, but I found one website very helpful in learning about new ways to take care of your skin: The Skinny Confidential. Take a look at the site to look at more in depth explanations. 

*Quick Note*
I found another great post on Mind Body Green on Why Everyone Should Get To Know Ghee. I want all of you to know this because my family's been using ghee ever since I can remember! (I am Indian, so it would make sense!) The article is completely true and I suggest giving it a once-over.

Whew! Ok, this has been my longest post yet. Thanks for reading this far! ^.^
Have a great fantastic naturally beautiful day <3
*Muah*

New Year's Inspiration: May you never forget what is worth remembering nor ever remember what is best forgotten

     Up until now, few things have inspired me to do something other than finish my homework, finish my projects, and get off my lazy bum sitting on the couch watching Doctor Who, so here I am, sitting in front of my computer to start a project due after Christmas Break....

Haha..his face is hilarious in this one XD

     Really though, I'm not doing anything in life right now, but I was browsing Tumblr today (as a normally do to procrastinate working) and came across this amazing quote that just blew my mind.

 

 Well, this really isn't inspirational, but I really liked the quote/saying (and the picture itself is beautiful). To me, if this was up on my wall, I would definitely be able to start the day with a clean, fresh, and happy mind. This quote is all about dwelling on the things you need to and burying the things in your past you don't need. Certain events made you stronger, so remember your strength, not your weakness.

     This New Years, 2014, call up an old friend and reminisce, go to your favorite coffee shop that you haven't been to in years, or even try something new with the people you love! Forget that grudge you've been holding for three years, stop stalking your ex's Facebook profile to see how his new relationship is doing, and for God's sake cross out his face in all the pictures on your wall. 

     Oh, and one more thing, go inspire someone else.