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. 

Twist and Shout

I realize that I haven't blogged anything in a long while and for the past few weeks - even though I've been telling myself that I should start again - I couldn't find it in me to get up and actually start typing about things it seemed I don't really care about. I just felt that there wasn't a reason to talk about them. There's nothing special about the cute dress that I'd seen two weeks ago when I went shopping. There's nothing special about the really nice guy I'd seen at the library but was too shy to strike up a conversation with. There's nothing special about a Led Zeppelin song that I fell in love with. Well that's how it seemed at the time. I never bothered about the tiny little things that we fall in love with everyday. I never bothered about how we think everything will turn out okay but 20 years in the future, our lives could be crumbling apart.

So what spurred this change?

It was, ladies and gentlemen, in fact, a fanfiction. Yes, this whole inspiring change was brought upon me through a fanfiction. 

He wished he could dream of some other memory. It used to be his favorite one. The seaside and Cas in his windbreaker, the feeling of their hands sliding over each other, the emptiness of the world. Cas’ hair touching his chin as they watched the water, his laughter when he grabbed him by the middle and picked him up, the way they’d tossed bread to the gulls and talked about flying and boats. About dreams and houses on islands. Now there was only silence, the endless void of a movie camera, the idle way Cas walked by the water, stooping to stare at crabs or watch for little fish, trapped there, in that moment. He felt so far away, and with every step Cas took the distance kept growing and he didn’t know how to make it stop. -- Twist and Shout

Many of you might be thinking "What sort of fanfiction can affect someone this much?". Well, I've copied one of my favorite passages from the fic Twist and Shout (Link is at the bottom). The one thing I love most about this fanfiction is that you learn about the hardships that two people involved in any kind of relationship (couples, best friends, family, etc) could go through. This one focuses on Dean and Castiel, who live during the Vietnam War. You have two completely different people who are drawn to each other merely by their existence. You never know exactly what it is that attracts the other in the relationship - it just does. You learn about the difficulties of having a relationship with the other (since homosexuality was heavily frowned upon in those days). Throughout the chapters, you are introduced with small moments that Dean and Cas (Castiel) spend together and at first, we think nothing of it. As you continue reading, however, we realize how much these moments had truly meant to the two. Nostalgia and a heavy sense of longing was present in both characters and while the writer was describing a fictional character's feelings, I couldn't help but start to tear up.

Just having a glimpse into how the characters felt - albeit not being real - nearly broke me. It's even worse if you are a Supernatural (the TV show) fan since Dean and Castiel are two characters on that show (granted you support Dean & Cas together). Of course, I will never understand the depth of pain that they went through in this fanfic or how deep their scars went, but I definitely understood the importance of cherishing the moments that I have the good fortune to come across - it may dwindle down to nothing as time passes.

Even though I have yet to experience everything life has to offer, I will not let opportunities pass me by just because "I don't have time". I need to take chances and learn to appreciate what I have each moment. I never know when it will be whisked away from me...

Click to read "Twist and Shout"
**Warning: Contains homosexual relationship**

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?