The Unforgivable Mistake

When Hollywood decides to make a successful book series into a movie, they occasionally (and by occasionally, I mean almost always) have to alter the physical appearance of some cast members to match the descriptions in the book.

Sometimes they have to change the hair:
-Emma Stone in The Help: I think her hair is naturally blonde (although she gained fame as a red-head in Easy A), but I'm sure it isn't the long and stringy mess that was Miss Skeeter's mop.
-Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth (yum), and Josh Hutcherson in The Hunger Games: All three main characters had to dye their hair. Gale and Katniss are brunettes, and Peeta is blonde, but Jennifer and Liam are blonde, and Josh is brunette. Isn't that funny?

Sometimes they have to change the eyes:
-Orlando Bloom (and probably others) in Lord of the Rings: I don't think this was a book issue, but the director decided that all the elves had to have blue eyes. That meant that Orlando had to have blue colored contacts, along with his long, blonde mane. You know what's a fun game? Looking for the three characters in the movie that have brown eyes. I swear, every character has enormous, bright blue eyes, except for Saruman and some of the hobbits. And Sauron of course (brief digression: I was at work, dusting off a desk, when I see this metal tool that looks like a dentist's mouth mirror, but on the part where the mirror should be was the Eye of Sauron. Seriously. I literally jumped. I felt like Pippin looking into the Palantir [although the creepiest part of that scene was Gandalf sleeping with his eyes open. Really, Mithrandir, I don't care what sort of other-wordly, heavenly being you are, you don't have to be a creep]). Moving on.
-All the vampires in Twilight: Hunger Games spent a fortune on hair dye, Lord of the Rings spent a fortune on wigs (and, you know, all the other special effects used to create either a future or past world, respectively), and Twilight spent a fortune on colored contacts. And with all the close-ups in the first movie, you could tell the directors wanted you to notice: "Hey! Look, we changed their eyes! They're gold and red, just like the book! Isn't this a great book-to-movie???"

Which makes sense. Twilight would want to boast about their successful use of color contacts, because there is another movie series, a very popular and lucrative one, which was, for some reason, unable to do likewise. In comparison to this other series, Twilight doesn't have much going for it, so they have to flaunt this one thing they got right.

Because sometimes, the biggest book-to-movie franchise in history is unwilling to make all the necessary physical changes to their actors, for some unknown reason.

Confused? Tell me, oh ye viewers-of-Harry-Potter-who-didn't-read-the-book, what color are Harry's eyes?

Blue?

As is repeated over and over and over again in the books, Harry has bright, emerald green eyes. It's not like it's some little detail that was mentioned once in a physical description and never brought up again.
Every time JK Rowling described Harry's looks, she made a big deal about his eyes. Well, think about it. Of the Big Three, green is the rarest eye color, and his "emerald" eyes are even more rare. They are an extremely important identifying feature, along with his untidy black hair, glasses, and scar.
And, of course, they were the one physical feature he got from his mother.

A few instances where his eye color is discussed:
Every single wizard who ever met Harry always said "You look just like your father, but you've got your mother's eyes."
When Mrs. Weasley bought him dress robes for the Yule Ball, she got him green, to match his eyes.
And can you forget his Singing Valentine? "His eyes are as GREEN as a fresh pickled toad/His hair is as dark as a blackboard/I wish he was mine/He's really divine/The hero who conquered the Dark Lord"
(FYI, I just did that from memory. You know that's right.)

All right, all right, these are little details that don't matter in the movie. His mom could easily have blue eyes instead (the actress who plays her does). It's kind of a slap in the face to all Potter fans that such an important physical feature was wrong, but it doesn't really matter. And maybe they didn't want to make an 11-year-old wear contacts.

However, the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT his eye color is discussed, is the Snape death scene, and that's where the movie actually does screw up. Stupidly. In the book, Snape gasps, "Look at me!" and when Harry does, "The green eyes met the black" for the last time. The last sight Snape ever saw in this life was Lily's bright green eyes, which is touching because he was Always in love with her.
In the movie, this still happens, but Snape adds "You have your mother's eyes," in case the dimwitted movie audience doesn't understand the significance (how could they? His eyes are blue.) Still not a big deal...until you go to Snape's memories. There, our lovely little Lily, who has the same eyes as her son, clearly has...
Green eyes, the way it should be?
Nope.
Blue eyes, to match Daniel Radcliffe.
Nope.
...brown eyes?
YES. BIG BROWN EYES.
Even better, when she grows up, her eyes turn light blue. Sure, eye color can change, but from DARK BROWN to LIGHT BLUE?? Not likely. We aren't cats.

So blue-eyed Harry, who is supposed to have green eyes, apparently still has the same eyes as his mother, who is born with brown eyes, but grows up to have blue eyes.

Because that makes sense.

If anyone knows why the billion-dollar franchise apparently could not afford some color contacts, please enlighten me.

This is my rant.
Don't worry, I still love Harry Potter with all my heart. One of these days, I'll write a blog post about why Harry Potter is the most amazing thing ever. Stay tuned.
And remember, my dear friends: Harry is the last hope we have. Trust him.
Emily <3

The Movies in Our Future

Okay so I just got back from watching the Hunger Games. If you know anything about me, you know that I won't be leaving my room for a couple of days. I know they aren't real, and I know that feeling this way is really immature, and a bit psychotic, but I honestly feel sick to my stomach right now. It's like when I was developing as a child, I somehow mixed up my view of reality and fantasy. Real life trauma, pain, and suffering? Yes, it's sad, but I don't feel connected to it. Trauma, pain, and suffering on a screen or on a page? Intense sobbing, and the inability to function in a social environment for several days. So if just start randomly crying during the next few days, you know why.

Honestly, the Hunger Games series is so amazing. Because of my fantasy/reality conundrum, I both love and hate dystopian future novels. The movie was fantastically done. I get so emotional because it is so good. It really touches me, and that a writer can do that is so incredible. Suzanne Collins, you break my heart and cause me severe emotional stress over and over, but you're just so darn good at it!

I'm not going to give a detailed list of all the things I loved about the movie, or all the parts where I cried (there are many). Instead, I'm going to talk about the trailers that played before the movie, and how freaking excited I am for some of them:

1) Snow White and the Huntsmen: Okay, from the trailer, I can tell that there is going to be a butt load of special effects, and that I'm going to wince every time Kristen Stewart comes on the screen. The poor dear just can't act. However, Charlize Theron looks like she's going to make an AMAZING evil queen, and Chris Hemsworth will of course be kicking butt and looking super hot. (Speaking of the Hemsworths, my absolute favorite part of the movie was when Katniss kissed Peeta, and somebody in the audience yelled "TEAM GALE!" Gale was played by Chris's little brother, Liam. They have an older brother Luke, but he's not as famous. I mean, the little brothers literally look like gods, and he...doesn't, exactly.) Anyway, fantasy/fairy tale world mixed with epic war to stop tyranny.
Will I see this? Yes.

2) Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter: When the trailer starts, you see Abraham Lincoln talking about how history won't remember anything he did before he was president, even though those were his most important accomplishments. For the next couple of minutes we are shown a young Abe hurling axes around, jumping down burning mountainsides, and throwing people around in slow motion. When we are finally told the name of the movie, the entire theater bursts into laughter. Yes, my friends. This summer, you must decide if you are a Patriot or a Vampire. If you a vampire, then Abraham Lincoln will kill you. Because that's what he does. Though a bit ridiculous, it does look kind of cool. Abraham Lincoln was pretty awesome. And the actor who plays him as a young man looks kind of hot. So there you go.
Will I see this? Maybe

3) The Avengers: Speaking of my boy Chris, the biggest movie of the summer (even though it technically comes out in Spring) will include his return as the valiant and generously-muscled god Thor, who will be joining several other hot men as they attempt to stop Thor's evil step-brother, Loki, from destroying the Earth. Featuring a power struggle between the Thor, who was raised to be a king, Iron Man, who already believes that he rules the world (and is a billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist), and Captain America, who hates bullies, no matter where they're from, the Avengers will be sure to be freaking awesome. I am so, so, so excited.
Will I see this? Uh, heck yes. Is that even a question?

They're just so awesome

4) What To Expect When You're Expecting: Let's move away from the action movies for a second. When I first heard of this movie, I thought "They're making a movie about a self-help book for pregnant mothers?" Yes, my mother owns this book. Yes, in my unstoppable quest to read every book in the world I may have even cracked it open. But the movie focuses on several couples who are about to have babies, and their trials and joys. One young man is urged by his wife to spend time with a group of young fathers, to learn second-hand all the wonders of parenthood, in order to prepare him for the big moment. "It's like Fight Club, only there's no fighting, and they all have babies."  The movie looks hilarious, although it may scare new mothers away from letting their husbands watch the baby. Just remember guys, No Judging.
Will I see this? Yes, as long as it isn't rated R.


5) Dark Shadows: A human-turned-vampire, put to rest in the 1800's, wakes up in 1972 to find his descendants still living in his old home, and it great economic distress. It's a Tim Burton movie, starring Johnny Depp and featuring Helena Bonham Carter (of course). Really, what else is there to say? It's going to be full of freakishly funny morbid humor, against the backdrop of seventies culture. Everyone knows what Tim Burton movies are like.
Will I see this? Doubt it.


6) Breaking Dawn Part 2: Jacob--"You still look like you." Edward--"We're the same temperature now." Kristen Stewart returns to her breakout role as the socially and emotionally unstable Bella Swan Cullen, but this time, she's supposed to be pale and cold. Yes, folks, she is now a vampire. The trailer features a scene where she is stalking a deer, watching it hungrily with her blood-red eyes. Bella's transformation appears to be the focus, instead of the HALF-VAMPIRE BABY that tore it's way through her uterus in the last part, or the big confrontation at the end. I guess they don't really need to do a real trailer, since anyone who cares already knows what happens, and the filmmakers want certain visual things to be a surprise. So for right now, we get confirmation that, yes, Bella can finally drink blood with the rest of the gang.
Will I see this? At some point. I still haven't seen the first half


7) The Host: Speaking of Stephenie Meyer's fantasy world, the powers that be (in Hollywood) are making a movie of her "sci-fi for people who hate sci-fi" book The Host. It was supposed to be a series, but since she doesn't need to write anything ever again, it probably won't happen. Anyway, it was just a teaser trailer saying how the world was perfect now, and showing a bunch of people with silver eyes. I liked the book, so the movie might be good. We'll see
Will I see this? Yes


Those are all the trailers! Not all of them are coming out this summer, or even this year, so here are a couple of movies in the near future that I am super excited about!

Mirror Mirror: As if a TV show and action movie based on Snow White weren't enough, now we have a comedy! Julia Roberts (love her) is the evil queen, the girl who played SJ's sister on The Blind Side is Snow, the dwarf from Pirates of the Caribbean is...well, a dwarf, and some cutie I've never seen before is the Prince. Like the other recent Snow White's, she's a fighter, ready to take down the queen. What is up with all this fairy-tale feminism recently?

The Amazing Spider-man: Since the last three Spider-man movies weren't all that great, THEY have decided to put a new spin on the favorite Superhero tale. The adorable Andrew Garfield is a high school-age Peter, and the lovely Emma Stone is his love interest, Gwen. (Tobey Maguire and Kiersten Dunst are out of here!!!!) According to my comic book-fan friends, it's going to be more aligned with the original mythology than that Other series was. It looks really good!

The Dark Knight Rises: More superhero goodness. Our vigilante friend returns in the finale to Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the Batman myth. It's probably going to be really scary, and people are going to die, but I have faith that Christian Bale will save the day (and hopefully take off his shirt.) That is, as long as Anne Hathaway doesn't get in the way. I'm sorry, I don't care how many naughty, sexy roles she takes, she's always going to be a princess. Just like Amy Adams. Accept it girls!

Madagascar 3: I know some people think the Madagascar story is already too stretched out, but the next movie looks really funny! Come on, Dreamworks movies are always good! Okay, Shrek 3 was kind of dumb (except for when the princesses stormed the castle [more feminism]), so maybe this movie is going to be dumb too. Am I still going to see it in theaters? Of course!

Brave: The newest Disney/Pixar movie, it stars a ginger Scottish princess, ready to take on the world. I'm not even sure what the plot is, but it's Pixar, and like Toy Story 3 and Wall-E, it's coming out right around my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! I love Disney.

The Hobbit: It's not a summer movie, I know, but OH MY GOSH I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!! I LOVE THE HOBBIT AND THE LORD OF THE RINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all.

I'm glad everyone loved the Hunger Games. I'll come out of my room for church tomorrow.
Emily <3

Ridin' Solo

It's not a female empowerment song, but it's about being single, I guess.

Recently, I had a very good talk with a friend who'd been really hurt by a guy a long time ago, but she still couldn't get over him. She hated him, but she couldn't help but hope that one day, maybe, she could win him back.

It got me thinking. Sure, it's fine for me to tell all the Single Ladies (geddit, Fred?) to go out and have fun, but what if you're not a Single Lady? When it comes to dating, there are several different kinds of girls:

The Token Power Couple: A girl who has been dating the same guy for years and years, and their relationship has become one of the laws of the universe, like gravity, or that Harry Potter is the best book series ever.
The Enchantress: The girl who is always "in a relationship," but not with the same guy. As soon as she breaks up with one boyfriend, another one appears. (The phenomenon is accurately portrayed in the HIMYM episode "The Window;" I've also seen it in real life.) I call her the Enchantress because she has this magical power to make all guys love her.
The First-Dater: The girl who always gets tons and tons of dates--first dates. Her dating life is varied, and many guys are interested in her on first acquaintance, but she doesn't usually enter a serious relationship.
The Wanna-be TPC: This girl doesn't date much, but occasionally she gets a serious boyfriend. Despite the fact that she is often single, she is not a Single Lady, which causes pain and stress. She wants to love and be loved, and has difficulty being happy without a guy, even if the guy in question breaks her heart.
FCL: Future Cat Lady. I talked about her earlier. Never dates, and spends all her time whining about it. Won't take charge of her own life, so she sits around moping and waiting for Prince Charming to get a message from a sparrow informing him that the love of his life is waiting for him in her living room, eating leftover Chinese take-out and sobbing her eyes out during The Notebook.
Single Lady: Single by either choice or necessity, she relishes her independence. She loves hanging out with guys, and flirting with them, with no desire to start a relationship. She just wants to have a good time. A type of girl more suited for New York bars than the dating-philic school BYU (I mean, come on. Nobody goes anywhere with just friends. It's sickening) but she tries her best. ("You tried your best, Ron!" There's another one! Who knows where it's from?)

Anyway, what happens if you're a TPC, or a Wanna-be TPC, or an Enchantress, and you just broke up with your boyfriend (and there aren't any crawling out of the woodwork?) What happens if you're a First-Dater, and nobody has asked you out this week? Your life, your identity, is tied to these guys. Now that you're single, you're left sitting there thinking "What the heck am I going to do now?"

Now, I know next to nothing about dating and relationships, but I DO know about being Single. I've had a lot of practice. I also found a great website while I was playing therapist to my broken-hearted friend called getoveryourexboyfriend.com. (See, she made me promise that I wouldn't be overly harsh, since when I talk to girls who aren't happy being single I can be a bit not understanding, so I took to Google to see what It had to say on the subject. I ended up saying a lot of things like "What are your emotional needs?" and "Who are you really angry at?" Being a therapist is fun. You get to tell people what to do.) Anyway, I came to some conclusions about life:

Emily's Step-by-Step Plan for How to Be Single and Happy, Even Though All You Want is a Pair of Strong Arms to Hold You Close and Tell You Everything Will Be Okay.
1. Figure out why you're so upset
Obviously, people are sad when they break up. I believe that it must feel like a part of your soul has been ripped away, and now you're alone. Plato had this theory that, originally, humans had four arms, four legs, and two heads. Because the head god Zeus feared their power, he split them in half. Now, humans spend their whole lives trying to find their "other half," the person who literally completes them. I assume that ending a long and serious relationship feels like you've been split in half, and you've lost part of who you are. However, there may be more things contributing to your pain or anger. Did you feel the break-up was unjustified? Did you want to stay together? Is it really the drop of self-esteem that comes from feeling unwanted that is making you upset? You need to isolate the true cause of your grief. It may be because of him, but it may be you. Maybe you feel like you didn't do all you could to preserve the relationship. Maybe you have abandonment issues, or a fear of being alone. Figuring out the source of the negative feelings is the first step to overcoming them.

2. Get over him.
I know that in the movies, the hero and heroine always have this huge fight and break up, then realize they were perfect for each other and get back together. That is a load of crap. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people get back together with their ex, only to have their heart broken all over again. If it didn't work the first five times, what makes you think it's going to work now? In order to be happy, you have to move on. In order to move on, you need to make the conscious decision to get over him. You probably still have feelings for him. You probably are hoping that you can get back together. Stop. Right now. You feel tied to him because of your past relationship, and he will always be part of your life (remember my "splash of paint on the world canvas" theory? When someone touches your life in such a profound way, you can't erase them or cover them up), but you need to accept that it's over. It shows dignity and inner strength when you forgive what he's done to you, and use your past to create a better future. But GET OVER HIM.

3. Focus on your more important relationships
But how! you whine. How can I get over him?
There are two things you need to do. First, reconnect with your girlfriends. As a perpetual Third Wheel, I can tell you that you sometimes lose touch with your lucky-in-love friends, either because they're so blissfully caught up in the relationship they can't think about anything else, or because they're so sickeningly cute you can't stand to be around them. After a break up, it is so important to reach out to those old friends, because you need them. Don't sit around moping, and please, oh PLEASE, do not try to be your ex's friend. Not that exes can't ever be friends, but it's completely masochistic to try and be in the company of your ex-boyfriend right after a break up, even if you parted on the best of terms. Your friendship will never be the same.
Second, focus on you. I can't stress how important this is. You'll probably feel really crummy after a break-up, like you weren't good enough for him. In order to make those feelings go away, you need to do things that make you feel happy and successful. Build your talents. If you're an artist, go out to a park and just sit and draw. Relish your solitude. People don't take enough time to just sit on their own and reflect on themselves. Take a yoga class, go for long walks, try and find a sense of peace and fulfillment.

4. Relish your independence
It's the 21st century, for Pete's sake! You can do whatever you want! Now that you're single, you don't have to worry about anybody else's needs or desires! Eventually, of course, we're all going to have to make sacrifices for the person we love, but if you're in college, like me, then gosh darn it you're young! You don't have to get married right now! Go out and have fun doing what you want to do!
There's a huge chasm between "loneliness" and "being alone," and the leap from one side to the other is all about attitude. Even if doing what you truly want to means doing it by yourself, don't let the worry about being alone stop you. Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said (the "do one thing everyday that scares you" thing). Take risks. Life has a way of working itself out. I promise.

I'm not going to pretend that being single all of the time is always a walk in the park. We all say to ourselves, "Someday, I'll be in love." We look at our TPC friends and think, "One day, I'll have that. A man who loves everything about me." We all long for a guy who will fight for us, who sees us and knows that he has to have us. I know Mr. Darcy was a jerk and all in the beginning, but we all secretly hope for a guy who will be so crazy about us that he can't stand it. "I have struggled in vain and can bear it no longer. I love you. Most ardently." No girl wants to be sloppy seconds. We want to be The One. Most importantly, we want to feel that way about someone. We want there to be a guy we just can't live without. Someone who we physically and emotionally need to be with, regardless of whatever challenges come our way. Like Lizzy said, "Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony, which is why I'll die an old maid." Well, she found deepest love, and so will many others. So will I, one day. If I don't, I refuse to settle. I care too much about myself to end up with a guy who I don't passionately love, who I can't imagine life without. Am I too romantic? Maybe. But I've seen so many examples of true love in my life that I can't--I won't--give up on the idea. There ARE happy endings in this world.

So there you go. If you're a girl who finds herself single and doesn't know what to do, listen to your heart. The world is one big adventure. Live everyday to the fullest. When I imagine going to Venice, or Rome, or Paris, or London, I can never imagine going with someone else. But I do imagine going. I might go when I'm married, I might go with a group of friends, but I'll be there. That's the important part. There is so much out there, so many adventures to discover, don't waste another second of your time getting hung up on some boy. Crap happens. But we have to keep moving forward. Like this quote by Maryanne Williamson says,

"We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Go. Live your dreams. 

Emily <3

PS: Here are the answers to the quiz in the last post--

1. Kid history, number 6.

2. Pride and Prejudice (said by Mr. Bennet when he sees all his daughters listening at the door.)

3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (said by Prince Herbert)

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (George, after he lost an ear. "I'm holey, Fred, geddit?")

5. Sherlock Holmes ("If all the rest of his family is dead, how long do you expect to survive? Food for thought!")

6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie (said by Snape to Umbridge)

7. Breaking Dawn (said by a two-year-old girl when she's choosing the rocks she wants at the beach)

8. My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle)

9. The Princess Bride (Inigo Montoya to Vizinni)

10. How I Met Your Mother (Barney, every time he tells a story)

Things People Say in My World

Have you seen that YouTube video series called "*stuff* [people of a particular group] says"? It started with "*Stuff* Girls Say," which was a video of a guy dressed like a girl, saying some of the most common phrases uttered by the average woman. Since then it's taken off. Not all of them are very appropriate, but a couple are funny:

I am now going to enlighten you by sharing some of the stuff that is said in my world. Remember, my world consists of Single Ladies and Mormons.

Single Lady friends:

"She told me he might like me, so I should be careful. I'm tired of being careful. I just want to flirt and have fun without worrying about feelings." (The Single Lady anthem.)

"One day, someone will love me." (The other Single Lady anthem).

"I'm tired of dating." (So. True.)

"I just...want a boyfriend, so he can hold me." 

My Roommate's Aunt

(Her elementary-aged daughter had said, "My friend likes this guy, but she can do better.")

"No, Monica can do better. You don't do."

This Fairly Famous Old Religion Professor and LDS Speaker My Grandma Had Me Meet

"Has anyone ever told you...that you're a cutie?"

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? Wow, if I was 20 years old and going to BYU..."

(On finding out that I'd gotten a scholarship) "Wow, pretty AND smart! You've got it all!" 

What can I say? Old people love me. 

Yep. That's my life. Here's a list of all the things I've done since Friday:

-Watched The Emperor's New Groove 

-Watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 twice on Saturday (with two different groups of friends)

-Worked on my Sunday School lesson in the Museum of Art 

-Went to a super fun dance with my roommates

-Got celebratory ice cream for St. Patrick's Day

-Watched as Eagle Scouts built a fire on a wall

-Ate pizza in front of said fire

-Ate Sunday dinner at my roommate's aunt's house

-Had two classes basically cancelled on Monday, and one cancelled today

-Went to our ward talent show, which reminded me once again that I wasted my entire childhood and am now talentless

-Was picked up by my grandparents and taken to meet the famous religion teacher and out to dinner

Basically, the last five days have been a mix of really, really good, and really, really bad things. 

Now it's time for a quiz. Here's a list of words or phrases I use as part of my regular speech, that come from books or movies. These aren't things that I quote regularly, (such as "The closer we are to danger, the further we are from harm!" "That doesn't make any sense to me. But then, you are very small," or "Nobody react to what I'm about to tell you, but I think that kid might be the Avatar!" *smack*) but actual phrases I have adopted into my lexicon. So, guess where they're from. Guess guess guess! (that's the first one.)

1. So guess. Guess guess guess!

2. Good heavens. People.

3. Sir Lancelot, I'm ready! I Am Ready!!!!! (I say this whenever someone is waiting on me to get ready before we can leave, and I finally finish.)

4. Geddit, Fred? (whenever I tell a really lame and obvious joke)

5. Food for thought!

6. Ob...viously. 

7. ALL ob dem!! (when I'm offered several things, and I want all of them)

8. I'm a good girl, I am! (whenever someone tries to besmirch my character)

9. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. 

10. True story. (Everyone says this, I know. But it's still from something)

Ok, that's enough. HINT: Nearly all of them are said in a British accent.

Since this was a really short blog post, and I have a reputation to uphold, I will leave you with some of my favorite quotes from the best person who never lived. 

"It is our choices that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

"To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." (Easy for him to say. He got a Hogwarts letter.)

"Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think we don't recall them more clearly in our times of greatest trouble?"

"You place too much importance on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what he grows to be!"

"Harry, suffering like this proves you are still a man! This pain is part of being human … the fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength." (Then Harry yells, "I DON'T WANT TO BE HUMAN!" That scene is intense.)

"It is the unknown we fear when we look on death and darkness, nothing more."

"People find it easier to forgive others for being wrong, than for being right."

"Don't pity the dead. Pity the living, and above all, those who live without love."

"Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do! Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back." (This is probably my favorite quote. For those who say that there is no deeper meaning to Harry Potter, you're being just as blind as Voldemort and Fudge.)

So, I'm currently rerererererererererererererererererereading the first Harry Potter book. I freaking love Harry Potter. I could literally go on for hours about how amazing the series is, but I'll spare you. For now. 

Keep calm and catch Snitches.
Emily <3

This One's For the Girls

Most of my blog posts are for the girls, actually. Because they tell you to write what you know, and this is what I know. How to be a girl. Impressive, no? Actually, I was just running out of female empowerment songs to title my blogs with. I still have "Man, I Feel Like a Woman," but I'm not exactly sure what that particularly blog post would be about. Anywho...

The topic of today's post is how to survive weekends at BYU if you're a Single Lady. BYU is, how shall I say this? Ridiculously obsessed with getting people together. It's like, Hey, there's a theater performance tonight! Bring a date! Hey, they're opening a new exhibit at the Natural History museum! Bring a date! Hey, the governor signed the order for a lethal injection this weekend! Bring a date!


It's pretty bad.

So what's a Single Girl to do? What do you do when it's Friday afternoon, all your roommates are either getting ready to go do something or being lame and refusing to leave the apartment, and no guy has called to ask you out? Do you stay at home and whine that no one will ever love you? What if you really wanted to go see the movie playing at the Varsity Theater? You can't possibly go without a date, can you? Then everyone will know you're a huge social leper!

At least, that's how I feel sometimes. Like Friday and Saturday are "date nights," and going out to some event will ruin the nights of the couples there. But I'm about to break that feeling. I want to show BYU that, no, actually, I don't need to bring a date to this event. Let's face it. In my circle of acquaintances, there are way, way more girls than guy. So even if every guy asks someone out, there will still be some dateless girls. And with my dating track record? Yeah, the phone's not really ringing off the hook (an outdated expression since our phones don't have hooks anymore.) Thus, I must make other plans. I try to go do things with my friends, like last weekend! Last weekend was phenomenal. But now another weekend faces me, and you, dear Single Lady reader. What are we to do? Well, there's actually a lot of stuff to do, even if you're trapped on campus without a car. And it's pretty cheap! Let's look at the list...

If you're into kinda nerdy stuff, we have:
Planetarium: 2 shows Fridays starting at 7 and 8. Price: $2 (I really want to do this at some point. I forgot we had a planetarium)
Museum of Art: Yep, BYU has it's very own art museum! I've already waxed at length about how much I love this place. Some cool exhibits, including Beauty and Belief, the Islam exhibit (plus a fantastic store.) Price: FREE!!!!
Bean Museum: I haven't explored here too much, but it's full of stuffed animals! How can you go wrong with that? Plus, they have weekly animal shows, I think. And a gift shop (yes, please.) Price: FREE!!!!
Museum of Paleontology: aka the Dinosaur Museum. I haven't been, but it has fossils! Of dinosaurs! Sounds cool! Price: FREE!!!!! (but donations are accepted. If you weren't a poor college student, that is)

Now if you're a sporty person, and you're tired out from playing soccer/frisbee/football all weekend in the gorgeous weather we've been having, go check out:
Rugby Game: This Saturday, in the early afternoon. I have never seen the rugby team play. I have actually never seen a rugby game in real life. But it's a pretty cool sport. I think we might be good. For more information, ask one of the guys handing out flyers in Brigham Square. You'll know he's a rugby player because he'll be bigger than everyone else. Price: $5
5k and 10k: Not really a sporting event, but it's an athletic activity. Plus it's raising money for cancer! It's at the Outdoor Track, on Saturday, at 8 AM. I avoid athletic activities like the plague, so I can't help you with more information. Price: $10 for the 5k and $15 for the 10k, except there's an additional $5 fee if you pay on Saturday.
Hmmm, I don't actually know of any other sporting events this weekend. I'm sure you'll be watching March Madness in any case. I've come to realize that it's kind of a big deal.

Next, if you're in the mood to just sit and watch something, you have plenty of choices:
Varsity Theater: This weekend, they're showing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, aka the movie that should have SWEPT the Oscars. Stupid artistic snobs. Two shows each, Friday and Saturday night. Price: $1.
International Cinema: If you want to feel a bit more cultured this weekend, check it out! It's in the SWKT. They show foreign films, which, according to the website, are "edited in keeping with the University's standards." I just thought that was funny. Their claim to fame in my world is that it's where Jim Hawkins took his future wife Renée on a date in the second Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites book. But you can go with your friends, it's ok! And...the price is FREE!!!!!!
Lots and Lots of Things in the Harris Fine Arts Center: A production of the Shakespeare play Love's Labour Lost, BYU Singers and Concert Choir, dancEnsemble, and various other performances. Go support your fellow students! And why not go all out, just for the heck of it? Maybe make a run to DI for some outrageously fancy old-fashioned dresses, elbow length gloves, opera glasses etc., and pretend like you're the grandma in Anastasia, watching the Russian Ballet perform in Paris. It could be fun! Price: Anywhere from $6-$15, depending on the event. Check it out at byuarts.com.

If you do have access to a car, or are willing to brave the bus system, there's always the Provo Mall (I don't think it's too bad), or the Riverwoods, or either the Dollar Cinema or the real theater (I really want to see This Means War! Someday...). There's also a (probably sketchy) St. Patty's day dance in Lindon. For more information, see the flyer I saw laying on the stairs of my building. If you are going on a bus adventure, or to a dance, please take a couple of burly guys with you. I know it sucks to have to rely on people to protect you from pervs, but it's worth it.

There you go. Don't sit at home eating ice cream and watching Valentine's Day alone in your bed again (oh wait, that's me!) Go explore campus, if you haven't already. Yes, dating is super fun, but if you don't happen to have a date this weekend, don't let that stop you from seeing what's out there. If you have a bunch of friends to go with, that's awesome. If you don't, call me up. I am always willing to go do something. If nobody will do anything with you, and you're just dying to watch those rugby players smash each other, go anyway. Why not?

You always end up regretting the things you don't do in life, more than the things you do.

(Note: All of this applies to guys too. I know your bishop probably told you to go on lots and lots of dates, but I'm sure it's okay to just hang out with a bunch of friends once in a while.)

I'm excited for this weekend. I thought I'd finished with the Provo thing, but there is still stuff I haven't done. Plus, they're playing Harry Potter. In the theater again. On campus. Yes, please.

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Emily <3

Very Deep Thoughts from an Overly Analytical Mind

I love people. I really do. The intricacies of human existence and behavior are so overwhelmingly fascinating. If I could sit in coffee shop window and watch the world go by for hours and hours, I would be perfectly content. 

When I watch a movie, I find myself dwelling on the other characters, the extras, whose only role is to fill in space around the main characters, to create a more realistic atmosphere. Who are they, really? What are their stories? Everyone has a story. Watching a movie, reading a book...it's like looking through binoculars, focusing on the life of one person, while just beyond the rim are a thousand more stories that will never get told. 

When I walk down the street, when I’m sitting alone in a crowded room, I watch the people around me. They all have stories. They all have hopes and dreams, fear and pain, exquisite joy and unimaginable loss. Who are they? I’ll never know. But the things I see, the snippets of conversation I overhear, are significant. They leave an impression on my life. What’s more, they alter the world.

Think of it this way: the world is a huge canvas. At the beginning of time, it was completely blank. A beautiful, white landscape aching for a splash of color. Throughout the history of time, every single person who has ever lived has taken the paintbrush of their life and made their mark on the world canvas. For some people, it’s just a little splash of paint. For others, it’s a huge, sweeping brushstroke that covers an enormous amount of space. Regardless of size, every single stripe of paint touches someone else's streak. You can’t go through life without affecting someone else. You can’t go through life without making your mark on the world canvas. 

The things I hear and see on a daily basis make wonder who the people around me are. I can’t tell their stories, but I can share what I observe. Who knows where they will go from here? All I know, is for that moment, their splash of paint has brushed against my own. In an instant, they have made their mark on my life. 

Walking through the Humanities building, I see a couple. They are about to part ways. She is standing at the beginning of the hallway, preparing to leave the building. He has already started walking away, but they are continuing their conversation. It is an extended good-bye, as well as an exchange of “I love you”s. Wondering at their relationship, I glance at the man’s hand. Ringless. Proceeding down the hallway, I check the girl’s. A rather thick silver band, containing a single large diamond, rests comfortable there. Ah, so they’re engaged. Probably for a while too, as they don’t ooze any of the nauseating cuteness one normally associates with newly-engaged couples. As I pass by, I catch this conversation:

Man: “You have a Doctrine and Covenants test today!”

Woman: “I know, but I’m 90% done!”

Man: “With studying?”

Woman: “No with the Hunger Games! I’m 90% done.”

In that moment, I felt a connection. How many times in my life had I put off studying or homework in order to finish a book I just couldn’t put down? With Hunger Games, especially. If you want to finish a book in a day, you need to be willing to put your life on pause, which is difficult to do in college. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to read the Hunger Games series in college. Not if I wanted to do well in school. When it comes to priorities, amazing books have always trumped schoolwork. And the Hunger Game series? Like Harry Potter, or Artemis Fowl, or Percy Jackson, or the Da Vinci Code, they are most definitely one-day books. 

After I left the Humanities building, I was reflecting on this little exchange when my allergies got the best of me and I sneezed. Quite fiercely. A random man, sitting on a wall in the courtyard, holding his afternoon meal in a Tupperware container, said “Bless you!” Surprised that a stranger  would observe this social nicety, which many (including me) find unnecessary, I replied “Thank you!” He responded with “And Happy Pi Day!” Now, that closing statement may seem very odd, but today is March 14. 3/14. 3.14. Pi. BYU is very into the celebration of the Pi day. Today on campus, they had a math festival. The mathletes had emerged from the dark recesses of the Engineering and Science buildings to grace my lovely Brigham Square with their numeric glory. There were also copious amounts of pie. The dessert, not the number. In other words, the expression “Happy Pi Day!” is not odd at all, but a friendly reminder of this most hallowed holiday. It leaves me to wonder on the nature of this young man, who wishes a small, female stranger a Happy Pi Day. I would assume that he is a math-lover, but he could just be an enthusiast of unusual holidays. One thing I can be sure of, however, is that he is kind. 

Or he could just think I’m cute. Either works. 

Many more strangers crossed my path this day, whether it was an actual interaction or simply something I observed. There was the woman who asked for helping finding the lost and found (note the irony), the elderly female professors who rode the elevator with me and established an extremely brief connection, the girl I performed the “passing shuffle” with (that is, we tried to pass each other, but performed an intricate back-and-forth dance instead). All of these people left their small speck of paint on my life. Will this matter in the future? I don’t know. Will I remember these times years from now and recognize their impact on my life? I don’t know. Will they have any impact whatsoever on my life? I don’t know. 

When a butterfly flaps its wings in China, does it cause a hurricane in Florida?

Probably not, but then again, you never know. The smallest incidents can have an enormous affect. You just never know. 

Food for thought.

Emily <3

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single lady, in possession of a sense of fun and a spirit of adventure, must be in want of fellow single girls to do awesome things with.

A billion points to anyone who gets that reference.

Although it is possible to be a happy single girl by yourself, life is always better when you have friends. Single Ladies need other Single Ladies to party with, because only other Single Ladies understand what it's like to be a Single Lady.
I have Single Lady friends here at school, I have them at work, I have them at home...just a bunch of girls trying to help each other survive in a world dominated by happy couples.

Here's what I did this weekend:

No I did not get married! Haven't you been paying attention? A friend from work and I went and visited Salt Lake. We both needed to get out of the BYU-bubble. Just a couple of Single Ladies, walking around the outdoor mall, and doing a couple of Mormon-y touristy things. Speaking of Single Ladies, those sister missionaries around Temple Square are TENACIOUS. We toured the Beehive House, which is the house where Brigham Young lived and worked after the Mormons moved to Utah, and at the end, the missionaries who took us through desperately tried to get some names from us for people they could call. One even asked us to pull out our cell phones and give her some numbers! Don't get me wrong, I love and the gospel and I love the church, but is it too much to ask to let me just enjoy a nice spiritual and historical experience and at cool place without being guilted into siccing bored sister missionaries in Salt Lake on my friends? Geez. 

(Okay I sounded really cynical just there, and I need to do my part to build the kingdom, I know, I know. Still, they make me feel like a bad Mormon! I'm a good Mormon! Any questions my Mormon friends have about the church, they come to me! Or look it up themselves. Again, geez!)

Oh, backing up a bit, Friday night I went with two female friends to see DIVINE COMEDY!!!! They are so awesome. Seriously the funniest people I've ever seen. Here's the story: On Monday at 11:45, I went to go buy seven tickets (note the odd number) for my friends and I. The tickets went on sale at 8 that morning. By the time I got there, there was ONE left. That's right, one. A more insecure or dating-obsessed person would balk, but I bought that last ticket, because I knew no one else on campus would. I was fine with going by myself. Divine Comedy is hilarious no matter who you're with. But then, some things happened...and nearly all of the couples in our little group dissolved. So if I had been able to get all seven tickets, it would have been two recently broken up couples, a guy and his date, and me. Fun, right? And then, something amazing happened. One of the newly singled girls in this little group was able to score two tickets from an actual member of Divine Comedy, and I didn't go by myself after all! It just goes to show, if you take a risk, things will work themselves out. Life is good :)

After DC Monica and I got Abduction, starring an EXTREMELY attractive Taylor Lautner, from RedBox. That was very enjoyable, as you can imagine (winky face). 

So back to Saturday, after the lovely Salt Lake adventure, (I want to live in a big city so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait for summer. Gah) I attended a Pride and Prejudice watching party with another Single Lady friend. I love that movie so freaking much. In case you didn't know, the first sentence of this post was a paraphrase of the opening sentence of the P&P book. The version we watched tonight was the Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen one. That one's my favorite. In the words of Jane Austen, who is one of my heroes (see last blog post) the story is "light and bright and sparkling" which is why Single Ladies throughout the ages have loved it. It gives us hope that there's a Mr. Darcy or a Mr. Bingley out there somewhere for all of us. You see, one cause of Single Lady-hood is their inability to accept the truth that the guys in chick flicks are not real. They're what we want guys to be like: all manly and caring and perfect. The problem is, real guys can't read girl's minds, like they do in the movies. And guys who are total jerks don't magically change. The guys in chick flicks are essentially girls with testosterone and ridiculously defined pectorals and abdominals. But I digress. P&P is a perfect story. Very few girls dislike it. And how could you not like it? To prove my point, I'm going to leave with some of the very best quotes from my favorite version of the movie.

Lizzy: "Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony, which is why I will die an old maid."

Lizzy: "If every man does not end the evening in love with you, I am a poor judge of beauty!"

Jane: "Or of men."

Lizzy: "No, no they are far too easy to judge!"

Darcy: "I have struggled in vain and can bear it no longer...I love you. Most ardently. Please do me the honor of accepting my hand."

Darcy: "Might I ask why, with so little endeavor at civility, I am thus repulsed?"

Lizzy: "And I might as well enquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me, you chose to tell me you liked me against your better judgement!"

Lizzy: "And these are the words of a gentleman! From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others, made me realize you are the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry!"

Mary: "What are men compared to rocks and mountains."

Lizzy: "Men are all either eaten up with arrogance or stupidity."

Charlotte: "We are all fools in love."

Darcy: "What endearments am I allowed?"

Lizzy: "Hmm...let me see. Lizzy, for everyday. My Pearl, for Sundays...and Goddess Divine, but only on very special occasions."

And the absolute best one, that makes all Single Ladies go AWWWWWWW!!!!!

Darcy: "You must know, surely you must know, it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope, as I had scarcely allowed myself to hope before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but a word from you will silence me for ever. *short pause, followed by excited intake of breath* If, however, they have changed, I have to tell you you've bewitched me, body and soul (awwww!!!!) and I love, I love, I love you.

Sniff, sniff. I love this movie. Mr. Darcy is my soulmate. If only he were real...your homework: go watch the movie (technically BBC miniseries) Lost in Austen, and then report back to me, explaining in full detail how the writers of the show stalked me and exploited my fantasies. 

Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock (negative 5 million points to those who understand this one)

Emily <3

All the Single Ladies

Previously, on My Princess Diary blog…

I discussed the intricacies of BYU dating. I’ve hinted at my “journey of attraction,” i.e., liking a bunch of guys, focusing on one and trying to make him like me, whining when he doesn’t like me, and then, this semester, finally entering into a relationship.

It lasted six days.

I ended it for a variety of reasons, but after it was over, I was different. I didn't want a boyfriend anymore. For the first time this year, I didn't like anybody. I wasn't on the hunt, looking for someone to like, trying to get someone to date me. I felt...free.

And I officially embraced my status as a Single Lady.

For the rest of the semester, this blog will be dedicated to my exploits as a Single Lady, which will be much more interesting than reading my endless complaints. To begin, let's discuss what a Single Lady, as I mean it, actually is. 

Single Ladies:

-Either love independence or fear/hate commitment (usually both).

-Are not afraid to venture forth alone on a Friday or Saturday night

-Usually break hearts, rather than have their hearts broken

-Have quite a few guy friends

-Often flirt with their guy friends, but staying far away from anything serious

-Don't go on many dates

-Have no problem staying in on a weekend (should they choose) and watching a movie in bed 

-Are happy with themselves, not needing anybody else, ESPECIALLY NOT guys, to make life enjoyable or interesting

Single Ladies rock, and I'm proud to be one. You see, relationships can be stifling. If you're like me, you like to be fully in control of your own life. I believe the point of a relationship is compromising, and setting aside your own happiness so that the person you love can be happy. One day, when I fall in love, I'll be able to do this. Maybe. But for right now, I'll do what I want, even if I have to do it alone.

Essentially, being a Single Lady is all about attitude. It's purely attitude that distinguishes a Single Lady from a Future Cat Lady, or FCL. One spends her dateless weekends complaining that no one will ever love her. The other looks at her dateless weekend as a chance to do whatever she wants, with whoever she wants. For instance, last weekend, I went and walked around an art museum for an hour and a half, because I love art museums, and I had no other obligations. The next day, I went and had a movie night with some other Single Ladies. Two extremely fun and dateless weekend-days.

Yes, relationships are important, and learning how to put other's desires and needs before your own is important, but I'm young, all the guys I know are about to go on missions, and the whole world is waiting for me to take it by storm. I love being single. 

For the rest of the semester, you can look forward to tales of my exploits as a Single Lady. Before I go, let me leave you with a list of a couple of awesome Single Ladies from history (note: these ladies never got married, but Single Lady-hood is not a permanent state. It's more of a state of mind that helps one navigate life in the shallow end of the dating pool.)

Queen Elizabeth I: What a beast. Under her reign, England shook off the ashes of the failed religious tyranny of Henry VIII and Bloody Mary, experienced a cultural Renaissance, and became a world power. One of the best rulers England has ever had. 

Jane Austen: I love this woman. I think that if we'd lived in the same place at the same time, we'd have been best friends. Wrote the original chick-lit books, which are not only hilarious and perfect (or "light, and bright, and sparkling," as she described Pride and Prejudice), but actual social commentaries, worth studying in school. Two hundred years later, girls are still gaining hope and strength from her books. If she'd gotten married, she wouldn't have been able to dedicate her life to writing, and the world would have really missed out.

Princess Jahanara: I first learned about her through the Royal Diaries book series. She was the daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mumtal, who became the most important lady of the court after her mother's death. She was an adviser to her father, and took on many social aid and community welfare projects, like an Indian Princess Diana. When I first learned about her, I pitied her because she never was given the chance to marry, but I later realized how much she was able to benefit the world as a Single Lady.

Please join me on my adventures in Single-hood. For all you FCL's out there, don't be afraid to be alone. It's not the same as loneliness. For all you happy couples, congratulations. I wish you the best. For all you single guys who read my blog...I don't actually have anything to say to you. I'm not a guy so I can't give you any advice. Sorry.

What new surprises lie in store? (A million points to anyone who gets that reference)

Love from the Single Side,

Princess Emily <3

Pouring My Soul Out On the Internet Part 2

Listen up. I am not writing this to elicit pity. I do not want to receive tons of messages telling me how wonderful I am. I'm writing this because there are a lot of people who read my blog and tell me "I feel exactly the same way!!!!!!!!!" I know I can't be the only one who experiences what I'm going to talk about, and if there are others out there, I want them to know that I understand and I care.

As I was wandering around the Internet, I came across this picture:

How true is that??? When I read it, all I could think was "If I don't let others treat me and speak to me badly, why on earth do I think it's okay for me to?" I have a confession: I have awful, awful, awful self-esteem. No matter how many times I look in the mirror and think "Hey, I'm not that bad-looking," no matter how many times my friends tell me how they enjoy having me around, no matter how much I think about the things that I have accomplished, I can't keep the negative thoughts away.


I have lots and lots and lots of negative thoughts. I am being completely honest here, in attempt to give somebody, somewhere, some help. My two biggest fears are that 1) I'll drive my friends away, annoy them so badly that they'll not want to hang out with me and 2) I'll never find someone amazing to love, and I'll have to "settle," like when Charlotte Lucas married Mr. Collins (which would never happen, because--let me paraphrase a quote from one of my favorite books--"I would rather die a dried-up, never-been-kissed old maid" than marry someone I don't really, truly, passionately love. But I digress).


So yeah, I really struggle with this. I'm not depressed, but sometimes it's really hard to have to get out of bed in the morning. For anybody out there who is silently suffering with crippling awful self-esteem, obviously I still have a long way to go before I can become completely comfortable with who I am, but here's how I survive from week to week. It's all about attitude, appreciating the little things in life, and memorizing uplifting quotations.


First of all, church helps a ton. I have a phenomenal ward, and every Sunday I get just enough reassurance and spiritual uplift-ment to get me through another week. Without fail, there is always something in Relief Society, Sunday School, or Sacrament Meeting about how we're children of God, and he loves us. Those little reminders keep me afloat.


On the same note, this talk by President Uchtdorf did wonders for me. 


Secondly, I like to take time to do things just for me. Friday, I spent an hour and a half wandering around the Museum of Art by myself. It was glorious. I think the biggest problem with relationships is that sometimes people think that their happiness HAS to be dependent upon another person. If you can't be happy on your own, there is no way to can add to anyone else's happiness. So if you're feeling down about yourself (whether you're single or in a relationship), once in a while stay home, rent a movie, make some popcorn/scoop up some ice cream, and snuggle up in your bed. That's the best medicine. 


(If you're a really outgoing and extroverted person who thrives on complex social interactions, maybe going out and partying will make you feel better. I'm not that kind of person, so I wouldn't know.)


Finally, keep a journal. Yes, I know we're supposed to keep a record for posterity and all that, but for me, writing my problems down makes them seem less...problematic. People often get upset if you complain and vent to them all the time, but a notebook never tells you to shut up. Happiness is a blank page and a purple pen.


Well, that's what I've got. I'm going to leave you with a couple of my favorite self-esteem-boosting quotes. These are the things I repeat to myself whenever I'm having a particularly awful day. 

(If you couldn't see, the Kingsley quote says "We're all human aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving." Powerful stuff. JK Rowling is a genius.)


I hope that if you're having any difficulties with who you are and what's going on in your life, this helps. If you are perfect and have amazing self-esteem, the quotes are still nice. 


I love you!
Emily <3

Watch These. NOW

So my friends Tyler, Bryant, and Mike have a very funny web show, so you should watch it. The reason you should watch it is:

DirecTV Commercial

See? You don't want that to happen to you! So watch the show!

If you need more convincing, watch this...

Another Commercial

They're so funny! Yep. It's an enjoyable show. So go watch it. Now. Here's the link to their blog:

Overheard in 23

Just scroll down until you find a video that says "BTA" on it. Try it, you'll like it!

And if you don't, then tell me and I'll bake you some cookies.

Much love,
Emily <3