Live. Laugh. Love. Toronto

Things We Love: Nail Art

2011-12-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

What's going on Live.Laugh.Love. readers??

Anyone who knows me really well, knows how much I love nail polish.. So much so that I have an entire drawer in my room filled with bottles of nail polish. I know, it's a little extreme, but luckily with artists like Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, and The Saturdays nail art has become much more of a fashion staple, rather than just an accessory. Even designers are getting on the nail art. For instance, at Paris Fashion Week, Chanel's Spring/ Summer 2012 campaign premiered their upcoming nail varnishes.

Chanel's upcoming Nail Varnish for their S/S 2012 Collection

I'm not the most crafty person, but I feel like when it comes to nail art, you don't need to be.. All you really need is some polish (obviously!), the right tools (e.g., cotton swabs, toothpicks, nail polish remover, q-tips), and patience.

With the holidays around the corner, now is the perfect time to get into the spirit of nail design! The following are some of my favourite nail designs:

1. Glitter

Also Jackie's favourite, glitter truly is the easiest way to ease into nail art. There are so many new shades and ways to wear glitter polish that the possibilities are endless.

One of the benefits of glitter polish, is that it actually protects your polish from chipping; at the same time, it can also cover up any blemishes or chips. The only downfall, is when removing polish you'll definitely need more than a few cotton balls.

Perhaps my favourite nail art design featuring glitter is replacing the traditional french manicure tips with glitter. Also, great for those of you who may not be a big fan of glitter, it's not too overpowering.

Base Colour 'light purple' (Forever 21), glitter 'It's Bouquet With Me' (Sephora by OPI)

2. Magnetic Nails

I was introduced to this nail trend by the UK-girl group The Saturdays and their joint collection with UK beauty-brand FashionistA Beauty. Unfortunately, their collection is unavailable in Canada, however Sephora has started to carry a similar collection. Unlike regular polish, magnetic nails give you a type of 3D nail art.

How does it work? After applying your base coat, apply 2-3 coats of the polish. While your nails are wet, apply the magnetic lid, slightly above your nails for about 10 seconds. Once you remove the magnet, you will see a cool, magnetic, metallic, 3D effect take place. Quickly put a top coat to prevent chipping.

The good? This is a fairly new trend, so if you are someone who likes to be unique then this is definitely something to try. Also, metallics are in this season.

The bad? It is a little time consuming. Expensive - one bottle costs $17 (yikes). Also, I found it chips after a couple days.

Nails Inc. London 'Trafalgar Square [chrome]' (Sephora)

3. Polka Dots

If you're a fan of retro inspired designs, or aren't too familiar with nail art, polka dots are another fun, easy, and creative way to switch up your nail design.

The good? You don't really need much to make this look work. All you really need are two colours and a toothpick.

The bad? Time consuming. Make sure your base nail colour has dried before creating the dots (to avoid smudging). Also, make sure there's no excess polish when going to apply your dots.

4. Ombre Nails

If like me, you have a lot of different colours of polish, and have trouble committing to a certain colour, then ombre nails are a great and fun way to wear multiple colours. Ombre nails, usually follow a certain colour scheme; for instance, start by painting the darkest colour to the lightest, or paint four of your nails one colour and then painting your fifth finger a different colour.

The good? You aren't forced to choose one colour. It's not as time consuming. Easy and fun way to show off your creativity. Also, colour blocking is another hot look this season.

The bad? If you don't like your nails being the centre of attention, then I wouldn't suggest this look.

Colours - Pink 'It's Genious' (H&M), Silver 'Positive Energy' (Nicole by OPI)

5. Shatter/ Crackle

Probably what started all the craze about nail art is shatter, or crackle nail polish. Like the name, what this type of look provides is a sort of antique/ cracked look to your nail.

The good? The shatter effect occurs just seconds after you apply it onto your nail. It's another cool way to show off your nails and can even be used as a type of statement for only one of your nails (e.g., ombre nail pattern). Also, it comes in a wide range of colours, so you don't have to commit to black.

The bad? Time consuming. Make sure that your base colour is dry before applying the shatter polish. Apply only one coat or the shatter effect won't be as obvious, and lastly make sure it's a thin coat as well.

Honourable mention: Half-Moon Manicure

The final nail design. Also retro inspired. This design was definitely a major trend this past summer. Basically, a reverse of the traditional french manicure. Instead, of painting the tips of your nails, you paint the bottom half of your nail.

What do you need? Two colours - one base and the other to create the half-moon effect. Reinforcement stickers to create the half-moon effect, and top coat of polish.

The good? It's a fresh way of wearing multiple colours. Very creative.

The bad? Probably the most time consuming of all previous nail designs. You'll need various nail design tools, and a steady hand to create the perfect half moon design. Make sure that your base nail colour has dried completely. For a easy tutorial click here.

Well, those are my top nail art designs. However, the most important thing when doing your nails, is to have fun, and be creative! Let me know what your favourite nail designs are! Leave a comment or tweet me @sinemtekin

-- Sinem Tekin

We're Back!!

2011-12-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

Hello Live.Laugh.Love readers!!!

It has been a long, long time since Jackie and I have written a post, to say the least. Nonetheless, Jackie and I just wanted to let you all know that, despite appearances, we have not forgotten about you all!

Over the past few months, a lot has gone on in both our respective lives.. However, we are now back and ready to start giving you fresh and exciting ideas and updates!

With 2011 coming to an end, we decided to fill you in on some of our top moments, and albums in 2011.

Ultimately, expect some updates for the rest of the year including new posts about beauty and glamour trends Jackie and I are big fans of!

As always, we always appreciate what every one of you has to say, so please leave a comment or contact us via twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

Through it all, we hope that none of you forget to Live.Laugh.Love. <3

xo,
Sinem Tekin

The Biggest Party in Toronto is Coming: 2011 MMVAs

2011-05-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

What's going on Live.Laugh.Love readers?!

While Live.Laugh.Love. is about discussing music and pop culture, we also love to highlight some of the biggest events in Toronto. That being said, what better way than to discuss perhaps the biggest and most interactive party going on the streets of Toronto... The MuchMusic Video Awards!

Drake

If you are not familiar with the MMVAs - basically every year MuchMusic shuts down Queen West and John Street, in order to put on the biggest and most interactive live show. It is a place where fans can get up close to some of their favourite artists. In previous years, the MMVAs have had some of the biggest names in music and pop culture such as: Lady Gaga, Drake, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Kanye West, the cast of Twilight, and Justin Bieber.

Down With Webster

This year's show is no exception with Selena Gomez as co-host and performer, as well as performances by Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne, Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, and City and Colour. This week, MuchMusic released the list of nominees. Overall, I am pleased with the nominees, as they seem pretty well-rounded as well highlighting some of the incredible talent we have right here in Canada. Click here to check out the full list of nominees!

JLS

Last year, Jackie and I attended the award show, and got to see some of our favourite artists like Down With Webster, Katy Perry, and Drake on the red carpet - keep in mind these are just a few of the artists. We even had the chance to meet the guys from British group JLS!

Ultimately, the MMVAs are an incredible event that also relies on the opinions of fans with the UR Fave categories. Voting has started and you can vote until the day of the MMVAs, click here to vote for UR Fave Artist!

JLS

Keep your eye on Live.Laugh.Love, as we will be highlighting some of our favourite nominees all leading up to the big show!

The MMVAs air on MuchMusic, Sunday June 19th, at 9PM! Red carpet starts at 8PM!

Katy Perry

Will you be attending this year's show?! Who are you rooting for?! Which performances are you looking forward to?! As always, leave a comment or send us a tweet @jackieopoku @sinemtekin

- Sinem Tekin-

Movie To Watch: PROM

2011-05-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

PROM

There are many stories that we observe in Disney's latest release
PROM. The film's main character, Nova, states that prom is where the

people you have gone to school with meet under one roof and the last

four years does not mean anything; all that matters, is what the
future holds in store. Prom explores the issues that high school
students deal with prior to leaving high school. Primarily it deals
with independence, self-discovery, and relationships - as some unravel
and while others ignite. This movie is great to watch with the little
ones. As we grip onto our seats we watch as they face all the
insecurities that come along before high school's most important event
- prom.

Sinem and I got a chance to attend a private screening - before the
movie hit theatres, and met up with the cast when they dropped by
New.Music.Live for an exclusive interview. During the interview, three
of the film's stars, talked about their experiences on-set and what it
meant to them being a part of a Disney movie. Prom did a good job
making me relive my high school prom days in 90 minutes. But the most
important message of this movie is to be yourself, live life, and
always follow your heart .If you want that high school nostalgia -
like falling in love, then this is definitely the movie to see.

Seen the film? Let us know your thoughts!

Blake McGrath "Time to Move"

2011-05-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of celebrities, Sinem and I have had the pleasure of meeting;
the same can be said for the amount of live performance we
have seen. That being said, Live.Laugh.Love. recently had the pleasure
to see Blake McGrath perform some songs off his debut album,
Time To Move. Blake performed two incredible songs,

his smash-hit 'Stage Fright' and his latest single 'Love Sick'. There

is no denying, the boy can move. In addition, he can sing.

I'll admit, I had a bit of a fan girl moment while he briefly sang

'Stage Fright' - I think it had a lot to do with the fact that he was

staring right at me for that brief moment *sigh... Moving on, Blake's

personality is very playful and calm; and yes ladies, his swagger

gives a very powerful performance with a bit of sex-

appeal.

More importantly. Blake is very dedicated to his fans and took the
time to sign autographs and take pictures, with fans inside and the
people waiting out in the cold outside New.Music.Live. What I loved
about the performance is his carefree attitude and confidence. His
performance truly stole the show, Blake was able to feed off the
energy that was consistently coming from the audience. My only
complaint is that I would have loved to hear more about him in an
interview. Questions I would have loved answered would be: 1. What
were his inspirations with this album? 2. What statement did you want
to make with this album? Lastly, 3. Who would you love to work with in
the future, musically?

Blake's album called Time To Move, is a master-piece of dance and
love. My personal favorite tracks are 'Lullaby' (which is dedicated to
his fans), 'Love Sick', 'Penthouse', and 'Stage Fright'. I won't lie,
I find myself listening to 'Stage Fright' on repeat, wishing and
wanting to be that girl in that video, dancing into the night with
quote on quote “the one”. I highly recommend this album and I give it
5 stars out of 5. I’m excited to hear his next album and you know
Live.Laugh.Love will be at the front of the line to watch him perform.

Backup dancer from "So You Think you can Dance"

Be sure to check out the album Time To Move on iTunes, and follow
Blake McGrath on Twitter @blakemcgrath

As always, let us know what you think, and never forget to Live.Laugh.Love.

By: Jacqueline Opoku

Adele to Rolling Stone "I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears."

2011-04-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Live.Laugh.Love readers!

As many of our readers probably know by now, Jackie and I have been fans of Adele for quite sometime! If you are new to the blog, or are unfamiliar with Adele click here to read more.

I am so incredibly happy to learn that Adele is gracing the cover of Rolling Stone for their Best of Rock 2011 issue! Nice way to redeem yourselves Rolling Stone; am I the only one still confused about the whole Snooki scenario?

Moving on, the issue hits news stands this Friday April 15th! Inside, Adele talks about the ex who inspired her to pen material for her latest album '21' - which I'm happy to say has had massive success worldwide! In addition, she mentions her father, her weight, getting stage fright, and thoughts on female pop stars.

Here are some excerpts of the interview with Rolling Stone contributing editor Touré.

On her weight: "My life is full of drama and I won't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like... I don't like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine. Even if I had a really good figure, I don't think I'd get my tits and ass out for no one."

Her thoughts on the image of pop stars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, compared to her music: "I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum, I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum. Love it. But that's not what my music is about. I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears."

To learn more click here. To read the whole interview pick up a copy of Rolling Stone when it hits news stands Friday!

As always let us know what you think! Leave a comment or hit us up on twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

- Sinem Tekin

New.Music.Live And Emily Osment

2011-04-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

Any experience at New Music Live at the 299 Queen Street West studio, is always exciting and unforgettable. It is a chance to sit and listen to great interviews of artists and groups, with hosts Phoebe and Lauren Toyota. The production team at New.Music.Live is more like a team committed to creating a great show for the audience. When you are at the show, you get a sense of family from not just the hosts, but hype man Chris Ronchon, JP, Kwame, Brian, Kathleen, and countless others. If you love music, to dance, have a good time, and are in Toronto - Sinem and I strongly recommend attending a live taping of New.Music.Live. Be sure to follow them on twitter @NML.

Recently Live.Laugh.Love. got a chance to meet Emily Osment when she stopped by NML for an interview and performance. If you don't know, Emily is an actress and more recently, a singer. Osment had expanded into the pop music scene where she integrated the sounds of alternative indie rock. Though Osment is far from just an electro pop star; in her interview she mentioned to being fans of alternative artists as well like Damien Rice and Bon Iver. During her interview, she talked about her new album called Fight or Flight. The album was released in Canada on September 28, 2010. She described the album as dance-pop, incorporating electropop with a little techno. Listening to her album her lyrics have a consist theme to it; love, freedom, and just living your moment. Listening to her interview at New.Music.Live she gave details about the album, such has she co-wrote all of the songs, with several songwriters. In fact, more recently Osment tweeted about working in the studio with Marianas Trench frontman, Josh Ramsay; an indication that Osment has a strong and eclectic career ahead of her.

My personal opinion, it is very hard not to love this album. It has a classy, electropop to it. It is a party on a disc and a great listen. The album has met and gotten great reviews from critics. Emily was given praise saying her sound was like of a little star we know as Katy Perry.

Are you a fan? Let us know what you think! nd Don't forget to follow Emily Osment on Twitter on @EmilyOsment .

- Jacqueline Opoku

E.T. has landed..

2011-03-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings Live.Laugh.Love readers!

Jackie and I have not posted for quite sometime! The month of March has been a crazy one!! Jackie and I attended numerous events around the city - including the 40th Annual Juno Awards, which you can expect a posting about soon!

Alright, so today Katy Perry's brand new video for E.T. - the fourth single off her sophomore release 'Teenage Dream' - was released. The video features Kanye West. This post will briefly discuss some thoughts about the video.

So the opening shot has viewers looking at an artistic junkyard if you will, with a futuristic-version of the tin man (while some retro music plays in the background)... With that, cue Kanye! Now when I heard that Perry and Kanye were collaborating, I was pretty excited to hear the results, as I am a fan of both respective artists. But it seems like Kanye's verses just seem out of place all throughout this song, which sadly seems to go with the overall tone of the video..

In the next scene, we are introduced to an alien descending from the sky, transforming into Extra-Terrestrial'fied Katy Perry. Visually, the video is quite stunning. The art direction is quite impressive and the hair and makeup is top-notch. Ultimately, you can really tell that a lot of time, effort, and money was put into this video. Also, it's nice to see Perry try something new. I would not be surprised if people commented that the video seems a bit Gaga-esque; however, the song is called "E.T.", so you can't really expect Katy Perry to be wearing daisy-duke's and a bikini top. Also, Gaga is not the only contemporary artist that should be given the right to create a video outside of the box. Overall, I appreciate the effort Katy; but I feel like Kanye did not really need to be in the video...

To watch the full video, click here. As always, let us know what you think! Leave a comment or hit us up on twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

Hope you are all well! And remember to Live.Laugh.Love.

- Sinem Tekin

My Top Love Songs-Perfect For Valentines Day

2011-02-14T19:12:00.000-08:00

“When you're in love you never really know whether your elation comes from the qualities of the one you love, or if it attributes them to her; whether the light which surrounds her like a halo comes from you, from her, or from the meeting of your sparks. ~Natalie Clifford Barney”.

There many ways in expressing love. Love is expression through feelings, songs, poems, letters, and flowers. The list is endless. I’m sure we all have crawled up in our bedroom, wishing upon a star how our crush would recreate the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet - which we have so long imagined and long for. Or maybe we’re walking through the hallways of our schools or workplace and he walked through the door singing the ultimate love song. Ok, maybe too many viewings of Moulin Rouge and High School Musical. But let's face it, we all have our favorite love songs that we play repetitively.

Like any good musical period, the 80s until now had its fair share of love songs. Live.Laugh.Love fans I do warn you the following selections of songs have been know to be heart felt and cheesy; but in my opinion, might make you cry. Almost every artist has dotted down one or more beautiful creative love song. So, if you are trying to seduce someone here is a list of love songs to get you started.

Top 80’s Love Song

Endless Love, Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Whisper, George Michael
Up Where We Belong, Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), Phil Collins
Do That To Me One More Time, Captain & Tennille
Lady, Kenny Rogers
Lionel Richie-hello
Sexual Healing, Marvin Gaye
Greatest Love Of All, Whitney Houston
Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler
Take My Breath Away, Berlin
Lady In Red, Chris De Burgh
(I Just) Died In Your Arms, Cutting Crew

Top Love Songs of the 90’s

All My Life by K-Ci & Jojo
Baby, I Love Your Way by Big Mountain
Back At One by Brian McKnight
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John
Can't Help Falling in Love by UB40
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams
From This Moment On by Shania Twain
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman by Bryan Adams
How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes or Trisha Yearwood
I Believe In You And Me by Whitney Houston
(I Do) Cherish You by 98 Degrees
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meatloaf
I'll Make Love to You by Boyz II Men
I'll Stand By You by Pretenders
I'm Your Angel by Celine Dion and R. Kelly
Kiss from a Rose by Seal
The Power of Love by Celine Dion
Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden
You Mean The World To Me by Toni Braxton
You Must Love Me by Madonna
You Were Meant for Me by Jewel
You're Still the One by Shania Twain
You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins
Dream Lover by Mariah Carey
I Drive Myself Crazy by NSYNC
As Long As You Love Me by Backstreet Boys
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

Enjoying the sounds ? Well come back tomorrow to continue the love and I will have my favorite top hit love songs from 2000-2010. And remember to always live,laugh, love.

-Jacqueline Opoku-

What's Love Got To Do With It?

2011-02-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

What's going on Live.Laugh.Love readers?!

This post is all about Valentine's Day, or as I like to call it - Singles' Awareness Day (S.A.D.). Now, some of you may think that I am just anti-Valentine because I am single. But honestly, I have never really counted February 14 as a holiday probably since Elementary School. I think my real problem with Valentine's Day, is that it only really tends to portray the romantic side of love. What about the love we have for our families and friends? Sure, you can buy your parents a valentine or even your close friends - but let's face it, the majority of Valentine's gifts are marketed towards the lovey-dovey couples out there.

I decided to do some research on this supposed "holiday". Turns out, the origins of Valentine's Day, are about as dark as a red rose that's been spray painted black. While there is no exact date of origin, it is said that ancient Rome showed early signs. Through February 13 to 15, Romans celebrated Lupercalia - a sort of feast. Basically, men sacrificed a goat and dog, then proceeded to whip women with the hide of the animals they had slain. To add onto the crazy, women actually lined up to be beaten - under the impression that it would make them fertile. Yeah, another reason to be proud of being a woman in the 21st century. The name St. Valentine's Day also originated from ancient Rome as well when Emperor Claudius II executed two men both named Valentine on February 14 throughout 3rd century A.D. This led to a celebration by the Catholic Church, which they named - you guessed it - Saint Valentine's Day.

It wasn't until the Middle Ages when Valentine's Day became more romantic - much thanks to Chaucer and Shakespeare... Its consumer-driven roots began during the industrial revolution in 1913, with the opening of Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. And the rest is history... According to industry experts, Valentine's Day sales this year are expected to reach $18.6 billion (who says you can't buy love?).

Overall, whichever way you spin it, being single on Valentine's does leave you feeling left out. But at the same time feeling grateful for all the things you do have in your life like family, friends, and good health. Besides, Marilyn said it best "It's better to be unhappy alone, than unhappy with someone.". It also helps knowing that, thankfully, it is just one day.

All arguments aside, whether you are pro or anti-Valentine's Day, I hope that all of you think about all the loved ones in your life everyday and don't rely on cinnamon hearts, chocolates, roses and generic cards to remind or show people how much you love them. Live. Laugh. and - most importantly - Love. Everyone. Everyday.

I leave you with these wise and poignant words from super-talented singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata's song Elephants:

"So for those of you falling in love, keep it kind,

keep it good, keep it right,

throw yourself in the midst of danger - but keep one eye open at night."

- Sinem Tekin

Keshia Chante @ New.Music.Live.

2011-02-11T23:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Live.Laugh.Love.Toronto fans!

Tuesday February 8th 2011, Sinem and I attended a taping of New.Music.Live. to check out the fabulous, talented, and Juno-nominated, singer Keshia Chante. The atmosphere of NML was amazing, and an experience LLLT fans should not miss! We arrived promptly to CTV Studios at 299 Queen Street West without having to wait in the chilling cold of -16 degrees. Sinem and I were excited to not only be at the amazing and newly renovated MuchMusic studio, but were excited to hear about Keisha’s new album and charity project.

Keshia talked passionately about her involvement with CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research). She is currently serving as a Youth Ambassador and recently started a campaign called "Have A Heart for CANFAR”. The campaign sets out to raise money for AIDS and AIDS research. Raising money starts by selling heart-o-grams across schools not only in Ontario but across all schools in Canada. To learn more, check out for her full interview with Much VJ Lauren Toyota on New.Music.Live's website http://www.newmusiclive.ca/video/?video=69648.

Not only did she stop by to talk about the campaign for AIDS and AIDS research but she also shared some information about her up- coming album. She revealed that it will be a double disc titled “Day and Night”. Disc One will have a fun, dance tracks, like her current single, Table Dancer. While Disc Two will be more R&B and Acoustic like her previous single, Test Drive. The album is set to be released in Spring 2011. Check out her recent video, Table dancer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2FZ3JIVQxk.

We also had the opportunity to take pictures with Keshia who is super sweet and gorgeous in person!

Follow Keshia Chante on Twitter @KeshiaChante

Follow New.Music.Live @NML

Remember to follow us via twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

And most of all, never forget to Live.Laugh.Love

- Jacqueline Opoku

Show to Watch: 1 Girl 5 Gays

2011-02-10T23:00:00.000-08:00

Greetings Live.Laugh.Love. Readers!

First off, thanks so much for the recent Twitter follows, feedback, and support for our blog. Jackie and I are really proud of what we have so far, and we are continuing to find ways for improvement, brainstorming new ideas and stories to bring forth to you all!

Reality TV may seem like it has run its course. Yet, reality programming continues to dominate television broadcasting and programming. Though honestly, Reality TV tends to be more of a construction of reality rather than reality itself. Luckily, MTV Canada has created a show that is both entertaining and refreshingly real.

1 Girl 5 Gays is a half-hour program where MTV host, Aliya-Jasmine Sovani asks five gay men twenty questions about love and sex. The questions range from: 'Who Would You Do?', to turn-on's and/ or turn-off's, to dealing with death, and sex education - pretty much any topic you can imagine has graced this show.

What makes 1 Girl 5 Gays one of my favorite shows is that it features real-everyday people, is unapologetic, offers unique perspectives, and ultimately talks about real life issues in a smart and funny way. Kudos to MTV Canada for creating this gem of a show. It truly makes me happy to see that shows where people engage in intelligent, open, and entertaining conversation make it to air.

The show was picked up in the US by LogoTV - where new episodes air Monday's at midnight/ 11 central. MTV Canada airs new episodes every Friday night at 11pm!

1 Girl 5 Gays is also nominated for a 2011 NewNowNextAward in the 'TV You Betta Watch' category. It's real easy to vote; simply follow the link and vote for 1G5G! http://www.logotv.com/events/newnownext_awards/2011/categories/tv-you-better-watch/.

Also follow the show on Twitter - @1girl5gays

Are you a fan of the show?! Any other shows we should feature?! Leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter @sinemtekin @jackieopoku Whichever you choose, never forget to Live.Laugh.Love.

- Sinem Tekin

Music Spotlight: Jessie J

2011-02-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

What's going on Live.Laugh.Love readers?!

As you know, Jackie and I are always on the hunt for new music, and today we shine the spotlight on Jessie J. Some of you may already know about this insanely-talented, UK songstress! Well, if you don't - Jessie J, is definitely a British export you should get to know!

Real name, Jessica Cornish, this 22-year old from Essex, England, is all about empowerment and positivity - which, I must say is a breath of fresh air. Her first single, "Do It Like A Dude" may not have you initially convinced, but after surfing her YouTube channel, this girl can definitely sing! Not only are her vocals other-worldly, but she is also an incredible songwriter! At just 17, she wrote the emotional, vulnerable, and utterly beautiful song 'Big White Room'. What makes 'Big White Room' so moving, is that Jessie J wrote this song based on her experience of being hospitalized at 11-years old. While in hospital, she shared a room with a young boy - who unfortunately passed away. Ultimately, Jessie states that "'Big White Room' is my comfort blanket, and I'm so happy that people can personalize the meaning of the song..." Have a listen, and let us know what you think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKfzXq1gcG4&feature=relmfu

Before making it big, Jessie J spent the past few years songwriting for some heavy-hitters in the industry, like Chris Brown. However, her most notable songwriting mention, was contributing her own experiences to the hit song , "Party in the USA" performed by Miley Cyrus. In fact, Jessie J stated that she thought it was a joke, when she found out that the song reached number 1 on iTunes!

Lucky for us, Jessie J is no longer just a songwriter and YouTube sensation. She has scored a deal with Universal Music Group, and recently announced that her debut album, Who You Are, is to be released February 28 - a whole month early!

Check out Jessie J's official website http://www.jessiejofficial.com/
Jessie J's YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/JessieJVEVO

Do you agree?! Any artists you would like to be featured on the blog? Leave a comment, or hit us up on twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

-Sinem Tekin

40th Annual Juno Awards

2011-02-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

Environment Canada may have issued a major snowstorm to hit the Greater Toronto Area, but Canadian music lovers woke up yesterday morning to excitement to discover the nominees for this year's Juno Awards. Those of you unfamiliar with the Juno's, simply put, they are Canada's Music Awards. This year the Juno's celebrate their 40th anniversary. The awards show will be take place in Toronto, at the Air Canada Centre, Sunday March 27 on CTV.

The list of nominees this year are quite diverse - some obvious, some surprises, and some snubs. However, Toronto-rapper Drake leads the pack with six nominations: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Rap Recording of the Year, and Juno Fan Choice Award. Drake is also hosting the festivities - seems only right seeing as the big show is in Toronto, no?

Following with four nominations are: Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Hedley, Johnny Reid, and Justin Bieber. To celebrate 40 years, the Juno's have also decided to include a new category, Electronic Album of the Year.

Aside from Drake, some of my personal favorite nominees include: Down With Webster nominated for Group of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. Polaris-Prize winner Karkwa and Radio Radio both nominated for Francophone Album of the Year. Shad nominated for Rap Recording of the Year. All vying for Dance Recording of the Year are: Chromeo, Deadmau5, and Dragonnette (actually, this whole category is tough, as each of the nominees are pretty awesome). Lastly, Kardinal Offishall who is nominated for R&B/ Soul Recording of the Year - okay, since when is Kardinal an R&B artist... anyone?

Ultimately, despite some surprising choices, the overall list of nominees is impressive. As well, Down With Webster, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Hedley, and Johnny Reid are the first set of performers announced to take the stage. Thus, to say the Juno's are going to be an entertaining show - is a safe bet.

For the full list of nominees, head over to http://junoawards.ca/2011-juno-award-nominees/

What do you think about this year's nominees? Who are some of your favourites? Will you watch the show? Let us know what you think! Leave a comment, or hit us up on twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

- Sinem Tekin

We're Back....

2011-02-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

What's going on Live.Laugh.Love. readers?!?!

Jackie and I realize that we have not been posting as regularly as we should, but we promise we have good reason!! We have been really busy attending various tapings, applying for grad school, and brainstorming stories and ideas to be featured on the blog! Stay tuned as we have some interesting artists to discuss - some you may or may not know, but should - and other cool places and people!

Also, please feel free to hit us up with any cool artists and stories that we should be on the lookout for! Leave a comment on the blog, or hit us up on twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin - and remember it may be winter, but never forget to Live.Laugh.Love.

- Sinem Tekin

Q and A with Veronica N.Davis -BLIND THIRST

2011-01-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

Veronica N. Davis was born February 22, 1991, and is the youngest of four girls. She got started writing when she was 8 years old. She always knew she wanted to be a writer. She carried pen and paper with her everywhere she went. She wrote everything from poetry to fiction novels. She was born and raised in a small town 2 minutes outside of Chicago, Illinois, USA called Maywood. She is best known for her first novel BLIND THIRST [published Sept. 24, 2009].

Where did you get the inspiration?
I get it everywhere. Music, movies....I'm big fan of Linkin Park, Paramore, Evanescence. Ya know? The ones that really just...tell stories in their songs that can help mold a novel. It's a lot of them on my play-list for Blind Thirst. For the novel I'm working on now there's a lot of Robin Thicke, Lauryn Hill. When the genre changes, the artists change.

What should your audience except from the book?

A more realistic take on vampires. Hopefully they'll develop a connection to some (if not all) of the characters. Since it's my first novel, I'm hoping that people just enjoy it. Maybe they'll get a sense of how deep connections can go for family...for friends.

What is the difference between your book and the other vampire books out there?

I get that question a lot. I kind of answer it within other answers. One. It's more realistic. Two. It's written by a teen, therefore it is in the language of which a teen would use. Three. It's more comedy in it! There's some drama, but like...there are a lot of fun scenes I guess you can call them. Fun chapters.

How did the you start writing?

I started writing when I was 8 years old. It was just something that kept me entertained. I always enjoyed creating a universe I could control. It played like a movie in my head and....I just....loved it.

What was the your favorite part of the book?
My favorite part of BLIND THIRST is actually the excerpt that is available on Xlibris. I guess that's why it's the excerpt, huh? Haha.

What was the hardest part to write in the book?
The ending because I was so sure I was writing a second one that I kept it open-ended....Turns out I'm not writing a second one. I figured I should put a conclusion on the net though. As a treat to my Team for all their hard work. But the end was so hard. But I've actually come to like the ending because since it IS open-ended, the reader gets to make their own assumptions. Which is pretty cool to me!

What did the you wish was different about the book?
Not a thing. It is what it is. It's written. I can't change it. So why would I want to? [smiles] It's my first novel. I know what I did wrong and what I did right....I wouldn't change a thing.

What are the your favorite authors/books?

My favorite authors are Dean Koontz and Nora Roberts/J.D Robb. I like pretty much all their books.

If the you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Hahaha. Oh my God. That's so random. That would definitely be the late singer Aaliyah though. Since I've already had dinner with Kat Graham. I absolutely love Aaliyah so...it would be her.

To order your copy , click below :

By: Jacqueline Opoku

O.U.C.H 2010 - DC Brings It Home

2010-12-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

So You Think You Can Dance? ‘GeekFreaks’ Certainly Can!
‘GeekFreaks’, a dance group which is part of the Student Association at Durham College/UOIT’s (GTA) club H.E.R ‘Hip Hop in its Essence and Realness’, ended host university McMaster’s four year reign as Champions by winning O.U.C.H (Ontario Universities Competition for Hip Hop) on November 27, 2010. ‘GeekFreaks’ championship winning dance ‘Like a Boss’ combined old school tunes with current flavour to wow the capacity audience. In addition to winning the dance competition they also won ‘People’s Choice Award’ and ‘Best Mix’.

GeekFreaks’ 12 dancers - Majoire Santos; Jonny Wallace; Wayne Carrasco; Khaila Charr; Cindy Lam; Jason Cuison; JD Raymundo; Aaron Providence; Nakia LF; Fatima Mohammdi; Dominque Cole; and Peter Yoon brought the audience to their feet with their funky moves, smooth mixes and sly costumes. The group started in 2006 as friends practicing breakdancing, popping and locking and other moves. In 2008 they began to dance competitively all over the GTA and Durham Region. Only a year later they won their first competition at the biggest post-secondary dance competition in Ontario called the University Dance Challenge. They have won other competitions such as Humber Hype, Summer Jam and BAM. ‘GeekFreaks’ continued their success in various dance competitions and capped off an amazing 2010 with their impressive win at O.U.C.H.

As a Student Association club H.E.R. aim to inform and express the true essence of hip hop by holding events in the school community and would like to hold workshops and showcases to show that hip hop is more than just music – it is a positive lifestyle. As winners of O.U.C.H they now have the privilege of acting as hosts for the competition in 2011.

‘GeekFreaks’ can be contacted at:
geekfreakstv@gmail.com
www.geekfreakstv.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/geekfreakstv
www.twitter.com/geekfreakstv
www.youtube.com/geekfreakstv

By Jacqueline and Sinem

TAYLOR SWIFT AT MUCHMUSIC -TORONTO

2010-11-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

She’s called the bestest, the greatest, the coolest because Taylor Swift is…fearless.

Taylor Swift came down to Toronto on Thursday November 4^th and what a memorable day it was. Taylor signed T-shirts, who just finished selling over 1 million of her title album “Speak Now” in its opening week, which hasn’t been done in the last 5 years than non other than lil Wayne. Fan of course camped all day outside for the chance to take and meet Taylor Swift.

She is called an artist, a role model, Grammy award winner, the greatest, the coolest, she is simply the best, she is Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift makes you believe that the only person that can make you happy is yourself. She has truly surprised me in her musical journey, her lyrics are advanced and mature and her songs are full with heartfelt emotions and full of great passion. She is able to connect with audiences in such a deep and intimate level and bare herself in such a truly genuine manner.

What I adore about Taylor is that she is a true artist, not afraid of following her beat of the drum, and doesn’t allow outside influences or pressures destroy what she believes in---she stays true to herself. She is inspirational because she shows us her vulnerable side, creating songs that we can relate to, sharing a connection, and leaving us with an understanding that it’s ok to be you. An understanding that’s it ok to be different, unique, since she herself is too. She has all the traits of a great role model, good character, charm, sound mind and talent, all a refreshing change in the current music industry.

-By Jacqueline Opoku

Adele: Music Spotlight

2010-11-17T17:21:00.000-08:00

First off, big hello to all old and new live.laugh.love readers! Want to thank all of you for checking out our music spotlight on Down With Webster! Jackie and I really appreciate you taking the time to check the article out - hopefully you all enjoyed it! We have tweeted the band and posted the article on the boys' Facebook fan page, hoping they have read it as well... Hey, a girl can dream, no?? Anyways, leave your comments/ suggestions on any of our articles; we would love to hear from you! You can also follow Jackie and I on twitter @jackieopoku and @sinemtekin

Earlier this week I discovered that one of my favourite artists, Adele, has released some new material from her upcoming album '21'! Unfortunately, the album won't be out until February 22nd, 2011. Luckily for me and other Adele fans, she released two new songs! Sadly, they won't be available to download until January 24th, 2011, but you can play the songs over and over to your heart's desire on YouTube. The first song titled 'Rolling in the Deep' has a total folk, Florence and the Machine-esque feel to it with the drums; but still Adele's beautiful soulful voice makes it original! Check it out for yourself, and let us know what you think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lazyDlfaptM

I have already lost count to the number of times I have listened to this song! An added bonus of the link, is that we are provided with studio footage of Adele recording the song and album! I read that the album was recorded in Santa Barbara, CA so it should be interesting to see how recording in Santa Barabara has influenced her sound, as opposed to her debut album '19' which was recorded across the pond in London, England...

The second song 'Someone Like You' has a hauntingly beautiful piano melody - a perfect compliment to Adele's voice.. Honestly, this girl doesn't need much to sound amazing - part of what makes her so refreshing, especially considering the heavy use of autotune most 'singers' rely on... The first ten seconds of this song have a bit of a Moonlight Sonata sample to it, in my opinion.. Nevertheless, the moment the song starts, you find yourself immediately drawn in to its beauty and complexity... Check her out performing the song live on 'Later... With Jools Holland' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHciwrfQQpU&feature=related

For more information on Adele, check out her official website http://www.adele.tv/

Also, be sure to check out her debut album '19' - I guarantee, you will not be dissapointed!! Here's one of my favourites off the album 'First Love' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8hWNyb0bNM

Any artists you would like featured?? Hit us up on twitter or leave a comment... Whichever you choose, never forget to live.laugh.love

- Sinem Tekin

Down With Webster: Music Spotlight

2010-11-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

Here at Live.Laugh.Love we are constantly on the lookout
for hot, fresh, innovative talent - especially right here
in Toronto. The following group meets - and in my opinion,
exceeds - all of the criteria above.

Down With Webster is a seven piece group from Toronto. The group is made up of Tyler - bass and keyboards, Pat - vocals and guitar, Marty - drums, Bucky - vocals, Cam - vocals, Kap - hypeman, and Diggy - DJ. The group started out way back when members Tyler, Pat, and Marty were in the same music class in junior high. The boys initially set out to play a talent show at school - which they won. Soon after the group evolved to the seven piece genre defying group we know and love.

The guys grew up in the Beaches, a neighborhood right here in Toronto. Reading up on their bio and watching interviews, this is one band that is no overnight success - they have been together for over a decade. In fact, their rigourous work ethic led them to sell out shows in their hometown - before they even relased a single, music video or were signed to a major label. Along the way, they also caught the eye of industry heavy hitters Timbaland and Gene Simmons of KISS. Both who were in a bidding war to sign the group to their respective labels. Instead, they opted to go with Motown/ Universal Records.

In 2008, the group won the Rogers Mobile/ Universal Music best unsigned artists in Canada award. However, it seems that 2009 was their breakout year. In 2009, they made a month-long appeareance on Warped Tour and Virgin Festival; and their debut album, Time to Win Vol.1 was released. Their success has continued to grow in 2010. They became Juno nominated artists. Hosted MuchMusic's Spring Break special - where they also got to open for Lil' John. Were nominees and performers at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards. Performed to a crowd of at least 10 000 in their hometown this past summer at the CNE. The CNE Bandshell was my first Down With Webster concert. I remember Cam mentionning to the crowd that evening, hoping that one day the band will get to play and sell out the Air Canada Centre.

Cut to a month later, and the start of that dream became a reality. Down With Webster were listed as one of the performers - openers actually - at WEDay in Toronto; a rock concert for social change. Twenty thousand youth gathered into the ACC on September 30th; while not a Down With Webster show, they showed how hard work and dedication pays off.

Down With Webster is most definitely one of the most dedicated bands out there. These guys are always on the road. They are currently touring with 3OH3! and Hellogoodbye across the U.S. (with four
Canadian dates - unfortunately, none in Toronto). I can honestly say it's one thing to enjoy their music and videos, but seeing them live is essential. Unlike a lot of bands, they are all about the power of the live show. These guys have definitely set the bar high for any future shows I'll attend. They have incredible energy, as they interact and challenge their crowd to have as much fun as them. Their concert at the CNE Bandshell this past summer was hands down, the best concert I have ever been to!

Fans who were unable to catch them on The Streets of Gold Tour, can rejoice! The boys will be headlining their own tour, WINtour, across Canada in the new year. In addition, their much-anticipated sophmore release - Time to Win: Volume 2 is set to hit stores early 2011!!! Still not convinced??? Check out some footage I captured of their show at the CNE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDFWeZRoPig. Visit their official site www.downwithwebster.com where you can become a fan on Facebook (they are one of the few bands who actually replies to their fans!), and follow them on Twitter. Request their latest single 'Whoa Is Me' at your local radio station! Spread the word, and while doing so never forget to live.laugh.love

- Sinem Tekin

Geekfreaks/// Exclusive with Wanye Carrasco

2010-11-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

I recently sat down with the creator and co founder of the Geekfreaks and talked in depth about the his dance crew . In this exclusive interview with Wayne Carrasco, I realize the hard work and inspiration that still continues in his mist.
Geekfreaks are a dance crew that consists of 13 official dancers. In 2006, The dance crew began as a group of friends practicing their solo arts in dance such as bboying, popping, and locking in a designated studio and decided in 2008 to form a competitive dance group together. This enabled them to expand their expressive movements from the private confinement of a dance studio to the views of the public eye. We come from all over the Greater Toronto Area and the Durham Region.

In 2009, the Geekfreaks competed in our first competition in the biggest post secondary dance competition in Ontario known as the University Dance Challenge (UDC) representing Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In this competition, the Geekfreaks won 1st place in our category, Small Group Hip Hop, Best Small Group Overall categories, and Judges Choice Award. These were all the best awards that were possible to achieve in that competition in the category. Geekfreaks placed in the top ten best hip-hop dance groups in Ontario, November 2009. Since then, Geekfreaks have won several other competitions such as 1st Place Overall Duet at Humber Hype 2010, The Choreography Scholarship Award of $1000 for the Geekfreaks routine at Humber Hype 2010, 1st Place Hip-Hop Award at BAM 2010 , Best Small Group Overall at BAM 2010 , and most recently attained the title of SUMMER JAM 2010 DANCE CREW CHAMPS.

As the crew's competitive achievements grew, so did their opportunities to take part in the entertainment industry outside of competitions. Members of the GeekFreaks have been discovered and casted to take part in music videos, commericials, concerts, and other grand public events such as International Festival 2009 in Oshawa, SpringFest 2010 in Montreal and Youth Day 2010 in Toronto for example. Furthermore, some of our members have performed with popular artists and groups such as such as Kardinal Official, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes , T-Pain , Fabulous, Drake, 112, Blake Mcgrath , Lights , Down With Webster , USS, Kid Cudi, ASHES, iLLScarlett, Najjah, Enrique Iglesias, Cascada , Lady Gaga and many more! Our future goals are to further add to our collection of prominent titles, and to continue being more involved in the community and entertainment industry.

Jacqueline Opoku

To find out more information of the Geekfreaks and follow them check out:

http://www.youtube.com/geekfreakstv

Geekfreaks Online store

http://66thieves.com/?cat=41

Toronto Film Festival (TIFF)

2010-09-12T16:13:00.001-07:00

Alright Toronto .It is this time of year. The Toronto Film Festival (TIFF), which is a film festival that is held in Toronto, Ontario. The Toronto international film festival runs from 9^th -19^th . There is over 300 to 400 films that are screen in downtown Toronto.

The festival is considered a great launching pad for films to gain an “Oscar buzz”. Recent examples of this are movies such as Slumdog millionaire, Ray Charles, Precious.

The Toronto international film festival runs from 9-19 . Check out this website for Film& schedules and tickets information http://tiff.net/thefestival?sdate=11/9/2010.

Stars such as Blake lively and her co-stars have been spotted around Toronto. Recently the cast of “the town” was seen having a special dinner in a upscale ltalian restaurant Sotto. Bake lively seen at the premiere of her new movie, was held at the AME on Saturday 11.

Coincidence, that's all anything ever is. Nothing more than coincidence...

2010-08-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Being that it has been a while since our first post, I decided that it was finally time to write a new blog entry. Since the start of Ramadan, my social life has been put on hold. Besides working, I have been watching lots of TV, movies, and random YouTube videos to pass the time. Eventually my random YouTube video viewings led me to the trailer of the film (500) Days of Summer. I have always wanted to see this movie, and since I had a good two hours before dinner, I decided to give it a go. From my initial viewing of the trailer, I knew this would be the kind of movie I would enjoy. Yet, I can honestly say, this movie surpassed my expectations...

Without wasting any time, the film lets the audience know the following: this is a story of boy-meets-girl, but you should know upfront that this is not a love story. This alone, makes it standout from other run of the mill Romantic Comedies crafted from Hollywood. The realistic dialogue and characters, cinematography, and killer soundtrack all demonstrate that (500) Days of Summer is more the thinking man and woman's Romantic Comedy.

The films stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tom) and Zooey Deschanel (Summer). Tom has grown up his whole life believing that he will meet "the one" and fall in love. Summer, on the other hand, holds a far more jaded view on the subject. Yet despite Summer's beliefs, Tom sees Summer as the girl of his dreams, and ends up falling in love. One of the reasons that this film is so brilliant is that it demonstrates how our perceptions and beliefs affect how we see others, and in turn - how we allow others to see ourselves. Also, realistically speaking - we all know people like Tom and Summer. Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel have great chemistry on-screen and they, along with a stellar supporting cast, portray their characters in an honest and relatable way.

The film does not chronologically follow Tom and Summer's relationship. Rather, the films goes back and forth to the good and bad moments Tom has experienced throughout his relationship with Summer. Thus, allowing the audience to develop a strong relationship with Tom and in turn teaches a valuable lesson: with love comes ignorance; meaning, we can love - or love the idea of - someone so much that it has the potential to make us completely oblivious to the true emotions and feelings that they have towards us. Ultimately, the film is a modernized version of unrequited love. I do not want to spoil the film for anyone, but perhaps the best scene in this film has to be where director Marc Webb aligns Tom's expectations versus the reality he faces at Summer's rooftop party. This is one scene that everyone has or will relate to. This scene shows us that there will come a moment when our expectations towards a situation or person will not align with the reality of the situation. It is simply an unavoidable universal truth that is beautifully and painfully unfolded on screen.

The film showcases the beatiful landscape and architecture Los Angeles has to offer. In addition, an incredible soundtrack - standout tracks are 'Sweet Disposition' by The Temper Trap and 'Hero' by Regina Spektor, a well-written and paced screenplay, seamless editing, and strong performances from lead and supporting characters, give it a thumbs up. Overall, (500) Days of Summer is a movie you should definitely check out because it is a realistic and bittersweet portrayal of love and relationships.

Already seen it? Please, leave a comment and let us know your thoughts...

- Sinem Tekin

Untitled.

2010-08-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

All our lives - wether we would like to admit or not - we have always
been labelled; in turn, this label alots us into a select group,
category,
and community. Female, daughter, sister, single - the list is endless
really. Each of the labels mentionned can be used to
describe who I am today. Most recently, as of June 4th to be exact, I
became a member of an entire new group - 'post-grad'. Now, it's
important to understand
that the term 'post-grad' holds different meanings. For me, it meant
the end of written assignments, midterms, and required reading.
The end of a long commute.The end of being a "kid". The end of seeing
familiar faces, and random ones.
The end of frustration. The end of a chapter.

While it may seem that graduating has allowed me to breathe a giant
sigh of relief, as the summer comes to an end - I realize that I could
not be more wrong.
Like many other first time post-grads I have decided to take a year
off from furthering my education and work. Like other post-grads, I am
searching for a career
within my 'field' of study. As a Criminology and Justice graudate, I
can tell you that if your interests are outside of Policing,
Corrections, and Immigration -
your chances of securing your"dream job" are slim to none. Well, maybe
not none, but a lot like searching for a needle in a haystack.This
Criminology and Justice graduate has big dreams of making it as a
Broadcast Journalist. Meaning, this recent graduate finds herself lost
in a gigantic haystack.
As talk of going back to school begin to resume, questions about the
future keep me company day after day, and night after night.

I suppose this post can simply be summed up as a part of growing up -
meaning I am supposed to just deal with it. Yes, these decisions are
inevitable. Yet, times are
changing. This topic is perhaps one of the major issues youth face in
contemporary society. Sure these past four years have provided me with
many valuable life lessons - but
it is very unfair to think that in these short four years I will
discover who I truly am. As I decided to write this post, I asked
myself, "Who am I?".
Honestly, after four years, I do not know - and I have a feeling I am
not the only one. Four years are simply not enough to have it all
figured out.
In fact, if there is one thing I learned, four years later, is that
time only adds to the complications in our lives.


Nevertheless, with all these endings - comes a new beginning. That
being said, Jackie Opoku, and I would like to welcome you to our blog,
and remember that no matter what
life may throw at you never forget to Live.Laugh.Love