Teen Editor

Bangerz Tour Review

2014-05-26T20:57:00.000+01:00

So a week ago Miley Cyrus came to town and I had the amazing opportunity to see her live on the Bangerz Tour. Let me just point out that Miley Cyrus was my first idol and I have stayed faithful to her through all the drama. I hadn't seen her live before this, so naturally I was psyched.

I got to the arena late due to the traffic. I had to walk about half an hour to the O2 (wearing a crop top), and let me tell you, my level of anxiety was considerably high. After queuing for about an hour, I got inside and was standing in the mosh pit. The first thing I noticed was that the inside of the arena was decorated, which made me really giddy! I tried to weave through the crowd, but I couldn't get through to the front despite my best efforts. I was just glad I could see the stage and that there was a huge screen to my right.

Sky Ferreira was the support act, and I liked her. A lot. I mean, I was one of the few people who actually knew who she was and knew her songs (everybody else was excited for Icona Pop, who weren't even in the country as it turned out). Sky opened with 24 Hours and finished with You're Not the One (which is probably my favourite of her songs). Personally, I thought the crowd didn't really work with her, so the performance was a bit dull to anyone who didn't know Sky previously, but I also understand that grunge isn't for everyone. I would definitely see Sky on a headlining tour.

Half an hour later, the stage was all set up for Miley. The atmosphere was electric when her face, enlarged by a hundred, appeared on the huge screen (I wish my close ups were that good looking!) and the beat dropped for Bangerz. Then the face winked and the mouth started to open, a lot of smoke came out, followed by a tongue-shaped slide and before you knew it, there she was. Miley Cyrus herself, welcoming the Dublin crowd with some delicious curse words and wearing a costume only she could pull off. It was a very emotional moment for me.

The next two hours were some of the best in my life. I was pushed, shoved, elbowed in the face, had to witness some ostentatious public displays of affection and smell a lot of alcohol, but I didn't care. It was all worth it.
Miley didn't disappoint for even a second. Her voice, her costumes, her jokes...pure fabulousness. She has such a country accent, it's unreal. Her acoustic set was probably my favourite part of the show. Apart from singing soulful ballads of her own writing, she covered The Smiths and Lana del Rey's Summertime Sadness.
It's hard to say which song was my favourite - was it FU, possibly my favourite one from the album? Drive, which featured thousands of lights in the audience and during which Miley wore a sparkly jumpsuit that I wouldn't mind having myself? Or Someone Else, during which she came over to my side of the stage and I kid you not, looked me straight in the eye?
Even the intervals were amazing, with awesome electronic props and professional twerkers (who sure knew what they were doing).
Honestly, I loved the whole show. My inner 10-year-old squealed during Can't Be Tamed (which also featured a GIANT inflatable husky, a tribute to Miley's dog Floyd, who passed away recently) and Party In The USA, which was the final song.

I also loved the acceptance and equality in the show, with dancers of all races, shapes and sizes, including Freakabritt. There was a kiss cam during Adore You, and the people who were featured represented many sexualities. The message was clearly that love is love, and I think everybody welcomed that.

Of course, the show was a little, hmm, tongue-in-cheek. See what I did there? Tongue...Miley...geddit? No? I'll let myself out then.
The most, cough cough, daring performances were Love, Money, Party and #GETITRIGHT. There was also an inflatable doll and an inflatable banana involved at the start of the show, but I don't think it was too obscene. However, I do not think children should be going to the show. Parents, it's your responsibility to do your research before you take your kids to see Miley. That's all I'm saying.

There were also some cutesy moments with the audience that I loved. A fan threw a handmade shirt on stage and Miley put it on while singing My Darlin'. It said 'Dirty Hippie.' She later put it in her purse. 'Nuff said.
Sweets were also thrown at her, and she picked one up and ate it, mentioning that it was pineapple flavoured. She then made a 'that's what she said' joke about swallowing, which made me realise that yes, celebrities really are just like us.

Overall, I had a great time. It was a hell of a party, probably the best party I've ever been to. If I could go back right now and experience Bangerz again, I would do it in a heartbeat. In fact, please take me back!

Drag Queens, Hamster Wheels and Butter Churning - Eurovision 2014 Recap

2014-05-11T12:38:00.000+01:00

Hi guys! I haven't blogged in over a year, but I recently started to miss it a lot, plus I noticed that I'm still getting hundreds of views each week, so I decided to officially come back.

Last night (May 10th) saw the grand final of the biggest party in Europe - the Eurovision Song Contest. The whole show was stunning, and it seemed to me like a mixture of The Hunger Games and Frozen. The musical bar was set very high, and there didn't seem to be an obvious winner - not until the results were out, that is.

The winner this year was Austrian act Conchita Wurst - a drag queen known as "the bearded lady" - with her song "Rise Like a Phoenix." While accepting the award, she said, "This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom." She was soon declared 'Queen of Europe' and was the top trending topic on Twitter.

Conchita's victory has, of course, sparked controversy. Take one look at the YouTube comments under her video and you will see divisions between her supporters and her opponents. Anti-Conchita Facebook pages are being set up right at this moment, with harsh memes and comments about the Austrian drag queen. There was also a lot of controversy surrounding Poland's suggestive performance (see below).

Tolerance and equality was a major theme among acts in this year's contest. I was jazzed by Iceland's song, "No Prejudice." They were sending out such a positive message, with lyrics such as "Let's do away with prejudice, don't discriminate, tolerance is bliss." This seems to have been a jab at Russia's anti-gay policy. Ironically, Russia also seemed to want to spread a positive message of love (on a surface level), with their lyrics "sending out a message up above, telling all the world to show some love." Ironic, given Russia's anti-gay laws. Maybe try some real tolerance for a change, and drop the pretense?

The Eurovision isn't just a singing contest, it's very political. Every year, countries usually give their highest votes to their neighbours, and divisions can be clearly seen in voting results.Tensions between Russia and Ukraine were also obvious this year, with the Russian act getting booed by the audience and Ukraine getting a lot of votes despite their weak performance (but I liked the hamster wheel yo). Even some of the lyrics in the Russian song, "Shine," seem to hint at border incursion, with lyrics such as, "living on the edge, closer to the crime, cross the line, one step at a time ... maybe there's a day you'll be mine." Suspicious much? I mean, I do feel a bit sorry for the two 17-year-old girl who were treated quite harshly by the audience, because they shouldn't be held personally responsible for their country's crimes, but they were representing Russia, and therefore their ideals, while singing a very ironic song (though I did like the performance, and I think the twins are insanely talented. Also, if they want to lend me their hair, I would love that.) Surely they realise, however, that it wasn't personal. Honestly, I was glad Russia got booed and that Conchita won, because it just shows that Europeans are responding negatively to Russia's actions, and they are not passive about it.

My personal opinions on the acts

I kept up a running commentary on Twitter last night, probably annoying half of my followers, but whatever. This wasn't an everyday situation. I might as well just say what I thought about each act here, in order of appearance.

Disclaimer: these are my opinions on the acts and performances, not the countries they are representing.

1. Ukraine - the girl's good looks almost made up for her singing voice, but not quite. This shouldn't have ended up at one of the top spots, but obviously the political situation took charge. A weak song, but nice hamster wheel.

2. Belarus - okay, I listened to this song many times, but I still don't understand it. Is his main aspiration in life to be a...cheesecake? There's just something not right about that. Also, Teo reminds me of Robin Thicke.

3. Azerbaijan - first off, I didn't even know Azerbaijan was in Europe. Second, I forgot this song right after I heard it. I was more focused on the trapeze artist. The audience was just as unimpressed as I was.

4. Iceland - I've said this before, but I was jazzed by this performance. Such a great and positive message, cute suits and they spelled out 'love' with their bodies, like a cheesy picture people put up on Facebook. They were like the Wiggles.You gotta love them.

5. Norway - I loved it. It was a beautiful, powerful ballad, well sung. They didn't make a big production of it either. There's a silent storm inside me. One of my favourites.

6. Romania - to be perfectly honest, this disco music hurt my ears. I liked the idea of an infinite piano, but he was fake playing it.. A big plus for energy.

7. Armenia - at first I thought this was going to be a snooze, and I thought they had copied Sweden's lighting as well, with the circle of spotlights. However, I was positively surprised, because hot damn this song was explosive! It could have been a little better sung, but a well deserved 4th place!

8. Montenegro - kudos for singing in their own language. I loved the ice skating on stage, and the visuals reminded me of Frozen so much! It was such a beautiful fairytale kind of song!

9. Poland - oh dear. Pardon me for being a little bit patriotically biased (being Polish, I have to try to defend them). When I first saw this, I was embarrassed. Too much boobs! And a bit squeaky during the chorus. Really though, it's a good song for the Eurovision. There is an element of folklore, a fair representation of national identity, and it's very empowering. Slavic people, I feel, understand this more than western Europeans. It was full of energy and national pride, and also, shake what your mama gave you! I kind of loved it (shhhh).

10. Greece - Twitter exploded when the Greeks came out, with their handsome boys, trampoline and party attitude. I really want to go on holidays to Greece now!

11. Austria - what is there to say. Conchita (and her beard) stole the show. A strong message, a strong performance and a strong voice! Personally, Conchita's victory restored some of my faith in humanity and made me feel proud of our society. I think we are definitely on the way to rising like a phoenix out of the ashes and becoming more tolerant as a society. Also, did Conchita remind anyone else of Seneca Crane a little bit?

12. Germany - I thought the accordion was fabulously unique, and I expected this to get a higher vote. One word: underrated!

13. Sweden - another of my favourites. I loved "Undo." In fact, I had tears in my eyes after watching this performance. Not just because of the song, but also because I'm so jealous of Sanna's Swedish genes. My Twitter followers seemed to appreciate this.

14. France - I watched this in French class and just laughed. France really didn't take this competition seriously this year. But it was so funny! Je voudrais une moustache.

15. Russia - I feel like I have said enough about this act. I loved their voices and want their hair. Moving on.

16. Italy - I can't even remember Italy's song. I liked the Caesar laurel wreath on her head though, it was so fetch. Good accessorising!

17. Slovenia - the only part I liked was the flute at the start. A very forgettable song.

18. Finland - such a great rock vibe; they definitely deserved a better rating. One of my favourites, and I will definitely download it.

19. Spain - I don't understand why people liked this so much, the song seemed really average to me. Her voice was very good though. The voting sparked controversy, because Portugal didn't give any points to Spain.

20. Switzerland - first of all, the flag was amazing. The whistling made the song 200% better.

21. Hungary - he reminded me so much of Jason Derulo! I like R'n'B in general, so this was cool. Maybe it shouldn't have gotten as high as 5th place though.

22. Malta - interesting instruments, everything else was a bit dull though. Actually, the start kind of reminded me of Kodaline, I may be the only one though.

23. Denmark - Danish Bruno Mars didn't impress me much. It truly was a cliche love song.

24. The Netherlands - probably my favourite. I loved the road trippy vibe, the Nashville bluegrass sound, the cute duo. They were like the Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift of the Netherlands. So soulful, so elegant. I'm sure I'm not the only one who fangirled when he winked at her at the end.

25. San Marino - she was like Giselle from Enchanted! This song belongs in a musical.

26. United Kingdom - I don't understand what all the hype was about. I think the UK were a little overconfident this year. Molly was just a bit weak..

Overall I'm quite happy with the results this year, and I'm already looking forward to Vienna 2015! I will leave you with a picture of this stunning Dutch host guy. Who even is he?

Back To School: How To Make The Most of The New School Year

2013-08-30T21:16:00.002+01:00

Hi, and welcome back! I hope everyone had a great summer!

Most of us are either already back in school, or will be back very soon. So I figured I could write some helpful tips and things to look out for in the new school year. Here we go.

Organise yourself. Whether this part is easy or difficult depends on the type of person you are. Take this quiz to find out if you are organised. Of course, it's best to buy school books and supplies a few weeks before school starts, but some people prefer to wait and see what each teacher wants instead of buying things that end up being useless. My suggestion is to get a folder or binder for every subject, if your teachers allow it. That way, you can put an A4 pad of paper in each instead of a copy, which can easily be forgotten in your locker (believe me, I've been there). You can also put notes and poly pockets in a folder. Alternatively, you can have one big folder with separate compartments inside, as well as a big A4 pad. A word of advice though - it can get very heavy as you get more and more notes.

Try not to fall behind on homework in the first few weeks. These are the weeks when you are most relaxed and not focused on school. This way, your workload can overwhelm you. Try my blog post on coping with a huge homework load for advice. Remember - don't let the stress get to you!

Sort out your locker, if your school has them. Remember to get a lock if they are not provided by the school! This way, you can be sure that things won't go "missing". If you live in America, you're lucky. You can really decorate and furnish your locker just the way you want it. Here are some videos I found which are really fun and useful for organising your locker.

If you've just changed classes or schedules, make sure to speak up if you have any problems with it. If you have any problems with your timetable or if you want to change to a different class, go to the office or whoever is in charge of things like that and get it sorted. If you don't, you're probably going to be miserable for the rest of the school year. Besides, organisational issues are best fixed at the start of the year, when schedules are still flexible and classes aren't full. Why make your life difficult later when you can sort out your problems now?

Make a conscious effort to talk to people you don't know yet. Look friendly and open. Most people are naturally drawn to happy, bubbly people. Make a lasting first impression - it will make school life much easier later on. However, don't abandon your old friends either!

If there's a new person in your class or year, reach out to them! Moving to a new school is one of the most stressful things ever. Try to put yourself in the new person's shoes. If you see the new person sitting by themselves at lunch or in class, or looking lost in the hallway, talk to them! Everyone appreciates a friendly person. And who knows, you might make a new friend!

If you yourself are new in school, make sure to be friendly. You don't want to be labelled as a loner or a loser. Unfortunately, we live in a very judgmental society and first impressions are key. Smile at people and chat to them, without being overly clingy of course. You'll make new friends in no time. Beware though - a lot of the people you meet have probably known each other for years. You don't have the advantage. Try not to come between friends. Avoid making people dislike you. That brings me to my next point...

Stay out of trouble. Try to show your teachers that you are ready for another year of school, however much you may want to be anywhere else. If they see that you are serious, at least in the first few weeks, they will like you more throughout the year. You ride on first impressions, so make them good. As well as that, try not to get in with the wrong crowd. It happens so much, we see it in everyday life as well as in the media. Remember to always stand by your morals and what you value in life. Nobody can make you do anything you don't feel comfortable doing. If you feel uncomfortable doing something, it's probably best if you stopped doing it. It's not good for you and besides, people can spot a fake from miles away.

Finally, a tip that I always find a way to sneak in: join extra-curricular activities. Find something that you have a genuine interest in, whether in school or outside it. Joining sports is always a good idea, as it keeps you fit and healthy as well as allowing you to have fun and meet new people. However, find something that suits you, whether it's drama, dance, an art class or a photography course.

That's it for today, I hope I helped just a little. Going back to school isn't a bad thing unless you make it one. If you miss summer and wish you could keep it for a little while longer, read this.

A Positive Start to Spring!

2013-04-14T15:02:00.000+01:00

So spring may not have started off like we would have expected. For the first time in years, there was snow during Spring Break!

Never mind all that though! There's only a few more weeks until summer and it's about time we put away the winter spirit and step into spring with a positive attitude!

I know a lot of people who still have the winter blues... but why sit around when you can have an attitude makeover right now?

1. Start every day in a positive way. Wake up and live. Take a deep breath and smile. Look in the mirror and say "I'm beautiful." Choose to be happy.

2. Appreciate the beauty of small things. Look out the window. It's raining? No problem! Find the beauty in rain. If it's sunny, even better! Notice things around you that you never noticed before.

3. Go outside (no matter what the weather!). We all sit inside all day every day, and our mood and confidence suffers. Go to a place that you've never been to before. Make it an adventure! Bring friends and food and just enjoy yourselves!

4. Do things you love. That way, you'll love what you do and really enjoy yourself. Remember - if you enjoy the time that you waste, then it's not a waste of time!

5. Surround yourself with positive people that you love and who make you happy. There's no point in always listening to people moaning about problems!

Just try to enjoy being you!

Sorry if I overloaded the positivity, but I think spring is a great time to start over and just be happy.

Horoscopes - are they worth your time?

2013-03-05T22:30:00.001+00:00

Can we trust horoscopes? Are they reliable? Is there any truth in them?

These are questions that people have asked themselves for hundreds of years.

Personally, I do think that there’s some truth in them.

I have a really good app on my phone called DailyHoroscope (go figure) and I use it almost daily. I also follow a few horoscope accounts on Twitter. Some people would think I’m crazy for reading horoscopes, but hear me out.

I definitely don’t think people can be grouped into 12 types – there’s way too many of us for that. However, I think that maybe there is a general pattern between the people of a certain Zodiac sign. I don’t know how astrologists can get accurate predictions from the general time of the year that a person was born – it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it. I guess there has to be some fact in the general area of expertise though. I mean, astrology has been around for thousands of years!

I don’t believe the hype that horoscopes are always 100% correct or accurate. I think that they mostly depend on our subconscious – what our mind makes of the prediction we read and how it subconsciously makes it happen. Some people believe everything they read and take it literally. I don’t think this is the way to go. I also think the reliability of a horoscope depends on the source. If you’re reading a short, general horoscope in a magazine or a TV guide, you probably shouldn’t believe it.

There’s also lots of different types of horoscopes. Apart from the regular Zodiac, my personal favourite is the Druid horoscope. This kind of horoscope doesn’t make predictions for the future, but rather tells you more about the kind of person you are (or might be) throughout your life, based on your precise date of birth, as opposed to a wide range of dates. I think this kind of horoscope is very interesting, because as a human, I am constantly searching for “the real me” and who I really am. So knowing the general characteristics of my Druid sign helps me understand myself and people around me a little bit better (because I believe it, of course). I think this kind of horoscope is more reliable as it doesn’t work on your subconscious. It also originated thousands of years ago, yet I still relate to it. You can find out your Druid sign and horoscope on the app I mentioned earlier, DailyHoroscope.

I think horoscopes are very good for coming to the realisation of what could happen, what could be waiting for you. I feel that we don’t open our eyes enough to the world around us, and the opportunities that are available to us. We don’t see many things, and sometimes, when a horoscope gets it right, it can really help us out. Maybe if you read a horoscope, you will keep an eye out for opportunities.

The horoscope apps are very convenient, because you can check them every day on your phone. They are quite short, and take only a few seconds to read. I would recommend the DailyHoroscope app, as it has many additional features such as the Druid horoscope, the Chinese horoscope and Zodiac sign compatibility. They are also quite general, so they don’t just apply to a certain person. They don’t tell you what to do, instead it helps you realise what kind of person you are. Horoscopes can also be motivational or inspirational.

Overall, I think that horoscopes are worth reading, as long as they come from a reliable source and you don’t get too caught up in it. Of course, there are always people who don’t believe in that kind of thing, and that’s okay. For a lot of us, though, I think horoscopes are worth thinking about, even if it is just to keep your eyes open for opportunities and to help you realise what kind of person you are.

Who do YOU want to be?

2013-01-25T22:08:00.000+00:00

Who do you want to be when you grow up?

It's such a popular question, and I think we've all heard it several times over the years. However, it's also one of the hardest questions to answer.

Years ago, people didn't have so many opportunities. If you were a girl, you were gonna end up being a housewife. If you were a boy, you would probably do the job that was passed down many generations in your family. You just didn't have the options. Now, it's different. There are so many different paths you can take. We see them every single day. Yes, we're in a recession, but with the right qualifications and ambition you can go very far. With so many choices, though, it can be so difficult for young people to choose a career.

It's so hard for us to decide what we want to do every day for the rest of our lives. We're at the beginning of our lives and we haven't experienced life enough to make such an important decision. What if we get bored of our job? What if we can't do things right? What if we're gonna dread going to work every morning just like we dread school? How do we prevent this happening?

There are many ways to find out what career is suitable for you, like online surveys, reading magazines and journals, and going to see your career advisor in school. However, I think the only person that can truly decide is YOU. You're the one who's gonna make the choice and you're the one who's gonna have to live with it for the rest of your life. So make it right. Start thinking. Brainstorm things you like doing, things that you enjoy, things you're good at. Research your dream career online, find out what you need in order to achieve it. Really focus on it.

Even watching movies can help. This is probably the only time I'd ever tell you to take advice from Twilight (cause in real life if someone tells you they want to kill you and/or drink your blood you should just run for your life). Watch the following speech from Eclipse. I think it's really inspiring and many of us can relate.

Even watching movies that feature confused teenagers searching for the meaning of life can help. You know the kind.

So get out there and get involved. If you want something, you have to go out there and get it through hard work and dedication. It's sad but it's true.

Good luck!

My New Years' Resolutions

2013-01-13T21:13:00.000+00:00

Welcome back!

We're almost two weeks into 2013 now, and it's about time I did my New Years' Resolutions.

Do you do resolutions? And if you do, do you ever stick to them?
I have to admit (shamefully) that I never stick to any of my resolutions, but I think there's value in them. Maybe if you display them enough and make a poster with them or whatever, you might actually stick to them. Listening to cheesy power ballads can help too.

I'm putting my resolutions up here so that they're official and public.

By the end of 2013, I want to:

break bad habits and overcome my weaknesses to become a better and stronger person.
be a more consistent person and finish what I started.
be able to say that I achieved something great.
work on my greater ideas.
write something that I'm really proud of.
be a more open and honest person.
be independent.
put the past behind me and look towards a better future.

There you go.

Also, here's an idea I found on Tumblr recently and I think it's absolutely amazing. You make a 'memory jar' and write down all your memories throughout the year. You empty it on New Year's Eve. This is something I'm definitely going to try.

Happy New Year everyone!

The reasons behind fangirling

2012-11-21T22:51:00.001+00:00

Why are girls in love with celebrities? Especially of the male variety. Some examples: Justin Bieber, One Direction, Josh Hutcherson, Zac Efron...the list goes on forever.

A guy friend of mine asked me a while back why I liked Justin Bieber so much. For a little while I was completely thrown. If a girl had asked me the same question, I'd probably say something along the lines of "because he's perfect" or "he's my whole world;" however, this was a boy I respected and cared about so I didn't want to look like a total fangirl. So instead of saying the first thing that popped into my head, I started to think. Well, there's the voice, the hair, his looks, the personality I see every day through the media. But could there be something more, something I wasn't immediately aware of, but it was still there in my subconscious? Why are people, and girls in particular, so attracted to famous people? In a girl's case, why is she so attracted to famous boys and men, but she complains about the real boy in her life all the time? Famous boys aren't perfect, right? And yet we still fall for them. I decided to investigate further. Here are the reasons I came up with:

First of all, celebrities seem better than everyone around us because they're famous and they seem to have it all: good looks, money, the personality... They're not real people in our eyes, but idols, perfect people.

We see them everywhere, all the time. Because of this we think they are with us everywhere we go, no matter what happens. If you're having a bad day, listening to your favourite artist's song can really brighten your mood.We think they will never fail us and that they are always there when we need them (unlike some of the boys we really know).

We forgive their imperfections and faults more easily because they don't directly affect us. For example, Harry Styles from One Direction is well known for being a womanizer and a heart breaker However, most of his fans just think it's cute. If they met a player in real life though, they wouldn't like him so much, would they? They still might be attracted to a bad boy, but they wouldn't forgive him if he broke their heart.

The ladies man

We communicate with other fangirls who always put that particular person in a good light. Whether you're reading fanfictions or simply scrolling through your Twitter newsfeed, other girls are always gushing about how perfect that person is, and expressing their love for them. It's difficult to resist joining them in their excitement.

We always see them at their best - when they're well dressed and groomed, when their hair is perfect and they're in a good mood. What about the bad days? Everyone has them, right? When we feel moody and snap at everyone, when we're depressed, sick or tired. We don't really see our idols like that. Because of this, we can't fairly compare them to the real boys we know.

They always say the right thing. Celebrities say what is best for their target audience. Therefore, our idols usually say what we women want to hear. For example, the song Little Things by One Direction. Most of the girls I know, even the ones who don't like One Direction, swooned over the lyrics of that song. This could be because of Ed Sheeran's songwriting skills, of course. It is relatable. We like to hear these things. Another example is Justin Bieber's song, Boyfriend. Every girl wants a boyfriend who will never let her go. The song makes us feel like we deserve love, and when we go back to reality, we realise that all the boys around us aren't like Justin Bieber, and they probably will let us go..

"If I was your boyfriend I'd never let you go" - Justin Bieber

Last but not least, we think we can relate to our idols. We think that if we met them in real life, we would be able to talk to them about anything simply because we think we know everything about them. We are convinced that we would have an instant connection with that person. Fangirls tweet or message their idols obsessively to be noticed. We feel like our idol is the only person who would understand what we're going through, because they have always been there for us. This, unfortunately, is an illusion.

The next thing that boy said to me after asking why I like Justin Bieber so much was really interesting as well, and it intrigued me. He gave me a boy's view on famous boys. It was a typical boy's outlook, so I really felt like sharing it. So here is a real boy's opinion - what boys REALLY think about our idols.

I really hate to say this, but most boys look at a picture of Justin Bieber or One Direction or any other famous man and immediately say "gay." This is a horrible thing to say and it shows how narrow-minded and judgmental people are. And the thing is, it doesn't even make sense. They've seen these men out with their girlfriends, and there is absolutely no reason to be homophobic anyway.

"Gay"? I don't think so..

They criticize everything from the way the boy dresses to his facial expression. Honestly, I think most boys these days dress like Justin Bieber, One Direction or whoever else is in the spotlight. What regular boys fail to understand is that those famous people NEED to dress and act in a certain way so that they are not judged. If they went around looking like slobs and acting rude all the time, who would actually like them? Not me.

Jealousy. A boy would never admit that they are jealous of a famous guy. But I really think that deep down they totally are. Come on: what boy wouldn't want to have money, talent, good looks, fast cars and millions of girls falling for him all over the place? They would want to swap places with that man in no time, just like a girl might be jealous of someone like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lawrence and other famous women.

This brings me to the most important issue: insecurity. Deep, deep down, men are just as insecure as women. When they see a girl swooning over someone famous, they think that they could never compare to that guy. They know they can't be perfect and therefore they think that that girl would not like them for who they are. My theory is that because of this insecurity, boys are jerks these days. They also don't want to be themselves anymore. They become sheep, copying each other. They wear what they think is cool, and they act different when they're around their mates. It's kind of ironic really, since I don't think girls want boys to act like this at all.

The points I'm trying to make here:

GIRLS: notice that your idol isn't perfect and have a look around for a real guy who can make you happy.

BOYS: don't sit there randomly hating on girl's idols - get out there and prove yourselves! ;)

If you think you've fallen in love with a celebrity, read this.

All Saints Day in Poland

2012-11-09T18:24:00.001+00:00

I was in Poland this midterm break, and I went to the cemetery to celebrate All Saints Day on the 1st of November. It is a day devoted to the dead - relatives and friends who have passed away. I think it's much more special than Halloween. While I was there I had these feelings and experiences that I just had to write down and share. So here we go.

You've never seen something as beautiful, and yet so sad, as a cemetery in Poland on All Saints Day. It's a very sad occasion, with everyone mourning their loved ones. The people take a break from their busy everyday lives to devote this day to the ones who passed away. It's really interesting to see the people's faces in the graveyard. Older people remembering their friends and family, perhaps thinking about their own death. Are they afraid? Some of them tell stories from their past, remembering the people who are buried underneath them.

I watch some families laughing at funny anecdotes, others hanging their heads in silent prayer. For some families, this day is the only chance to catch up. I watch people, young and old, hugging, laughing, chatting. I see little children praying, holding hands with their parents. They don't understand what is going on, but they realise that they have to behave and be serious on a day like this.

The cemetery itself is beautiful. The amount of flowers in here is shocking. They come in all sizes and colours. There are wreaths and potted plants. There are huge quantities of lights, the flames inside the coloured glass flickering. It's pretty and serene in the daylight, but it's truly beautiful in the night-time. There is a red hue all around the cemetery, like you would see around a huge bonfire, except a thousand times bigger. There are no streetlamps needed, because the reddish-yellow light is everywhere, and it's very bright. It's like you're walking through glowing colours. There is a unique scent in the air, of flowers, matches, and burning candles. Also, during the month of October leaves are burned, especially coming up to November. The smell of burning leaves is almost traditional. I've always loved that smell, it reminds me of warmth and mystery and fires. It's a pleasant smell.

People lighting lights at the front of the cemetery

The weather at this time of year is usually bad. Cloudy, rainy weather is almost guaranteed. There is an old tale which says that when it rains on All Souls Day (2nd November), it means the souls are crying. Maybe that's why All Souls Day is a much sadder day.

It's difficult to avoid feeling sad and a little bit depressed. Especially when you take a close look at the graves in the cemetery. I've seen several graves from the 1800s. And still, the buried people's relatives remember them on this day, leaving lights and flowers. At least in most cases. It's not uncommon to see an abandoned grave with no lights and no flowers. Weeds grow on the grassy mound. Some of them don't have names on them. Nobody remembers. Some have an old wooden cross, a lot of them are just mounds, overgrown with weeds and grass. The saddest of all, though, are the tiny graves at the end of the cemetery. No longer than a metre long. And the dates on the headstones are heartbreaking. Some birth and death dates are the same, others a few days or months apart. They're so sad I feel a lump in my throat.

Despite all that, this is not an entirely sad occasion. The brightly coloured lights and huge amounts of flowers everywhere are quite a cheerful sight among all the grey stone and gravel. I really think it's magical.

I think All Saints Day is a beautiful tradition and a big part of Polish culture. Even these days, when Church attendance is decreasing and people don't practice their faith as much as they used to, this tradition will live on.

How to cope with a huge homework load

2012-10-25T19:25:00.000+01:00

There are those amazing days when teachers are lazy and forget to set homework, or it's coming up to a holiday and nobody seems to give homework. Those days are a luxury, and they don't happen often, especially during exam year. Use them well.

Picture this now: you get ridiculous amounts of homework for every class. As if that wasn't enough, you have other things due tomorrow that you were supposed to do yesterday but you just weren't bothered... You also have a class test to study for. And you just don't know where to start and you feel like you don't have time for all this. Sound familiar?
Yep, it happens all the time.

I have a system for doing homework quickly that I want to share with you. I've used this for ages and it works really well for me. People are always asking me how I got all my homework done so fast, or how come I have so much time to go on Facebook etc. Well, I follow this plan:

1. Write down a list of everything you have to do and when it is due. It doesn't have to be in a particular order, as long as you make sure to write everything. This takes about 1 minute, and it's really helpful because this way you can see what you have to do and when. It will also help you with the next step.

2. Sort your list into subjects and write down a small list of just the subjects.

3. Number the subjects in the order you will do them. I recommend this order:

one easy, short subject
subject(s) you find difficult
time consuming subject(s)
your favourite subject(s)

This order works because first you focus on doing homework, then while your brain is still working very well you can do harder things, after that you do something that takes the longest. At the end, when your brain is tired, you can do something easy or something you like. And then, hopefully, you're done!

Note: If you're really stuck for time, do the things in the order that they are due, i.e. due tomorrow, then the day after etc.

4. Cross the subjects off the list as you do them. The reason people love lists so much is that you can clearly see what you have and haven't done, and there's a great sense of achievement when you cross something off or tick it, because you know that you're finished with it.

THAT'S IT!

Tips (READ THESE AS THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT):

Music - I used to think music helped me study. This year I realised that while it doesn't really affect the quality of my work (because I can really concentrate on two things at once) it really slows me down. When I listen to music while doing homework, I do homework about two times slower than I would if it was quiet. It's involuntary - your brain does it. You may think you can concentrate perfectly well, but how do you explain those song lyrics being stuck in your head? So anyway, I would suggest not listening to music, but if you really want to, then let it play quietly in the background, don't listen through headphones or earbuds.

Phone - yes, we've all been there. You get down to studying, start writing, and then suddenly you get a text or a call or a notification and you're just itching to know what it is. Then you break your concentration, text back, check notifications, check all your social networks, and suddenly you realise that an hour's gone and you haven't done anything... A phone is such a distraction. I'm on mine practically 24/7, I have to admit. However, when I'm doing homework I always silence my phone until I'm finished. Turn the vibrations off as well, they are really distracting. Don't worry, your texts and messages will still be there when you're finished.

Internet - have you ever gone on your computer to do research on a project, or to do some homework, and then completely forgotten what you're there for? The siren calls of Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube...they're so damn hard to resist! I know, I have the same problem. What I would suggest doing is that you leave any Internet-based homework till the end of your list. Then put the homework in front of you while your computer is turning on and stare at it. Literally stare. Think about what you need to look up. Then do it, but try not to give in to the temptation of other, non-homework related websites. If you do it quickly, then you're finished for the day and you're free to go on whatever websites you want.

Studying - if you have a test to study for, then it's very easy to leave it till the last minute. I'll do another post on my study methods, but for now let me just say that it's not always the best option. Trust me, I've been there. It's not a nice feeling when you stare at a test and you know that you know something, but you just can't remember it. So I guess it's best to study a few days beforehand, and then revise it on the day before the test.

I hope you found this helpful, and I hope you will be able to get through a homework load much quicker.

Amanda Todd: How cyberbullying led to suicide

2012-10-18T20:27:00.000+01:00

Lots of you might have heard Amanda Todd's heartbreaking story. She was bullied to the point where she couldn't take it anymore and took her own life. The problem of cyberbullying is getting worse, and it has to stop. You have no idea how much something you say can affect someone. This is just one in hundreds of teen suicide stories, but as it is so publicised, I decided to do a bit of a case study on her.

15 year old Amanda Todd was bullied and committed suicide.

Amanda was just 15 years old when she took her life on the 10th of October 2012. She lived in British Columbia, Canada. I'll just explain her story very quickly.

When she was 13 she went on chat rooms with her friends to meet new people. She was approached by a stranger, who complimented her. He called her "stunning" and "perfect". He asked her to flash, and she was flattered, so she did.
A year later, the man messaged her on Facebook. He wanted her to put on a show for him or he would send a picture of her boobs out to everyone. He had her name, address, school, relatives, friends...
A few weeks went by, and one night the police came to her house at 4 a.m. A picture of her breasts was sent to everybody.
She got sick and depressed and anxious. She couldn't face the bullies at school so she moved schools. She started drinking and taking drugs. The man found her again and posted the picture up again. He made a Facebook page with her boobs as the profile picture.
Amanda got bullied in school. She had no friends, no one to talk to. Everyone judged her, called her names and worse.
She started cutting. She moved schools again. Things were better, but she was still all alone.
She started texting an old guy friend. He led her on, made her believe that he liked her. He had a girlfriend. One day he told her to come over, so she did. They hooked up. A week later, his girlfriend and 15 others came to her school. The girlfriend beat Amanda up. People filmed it, but nobody tried to help her. She lied in a ditch, waited for her dad. When he brought her home, she wanted to die. She attempted suicide by drinking bleach. She was brought to the hospital and flushed, and by some miracle, she survived.
When she came home, she saw that the bullies had written on her Facebook. Some said they hoped she was dead, others said she deserved it. Others recommended different brands of bleach. She moved cities. She overdosed. She had councellors and took anti-depressants.
Five weeks before her death, she put a video on YouTube, explaining her story. She doesn't show her face in the video, and there is no sound, but she confirmed her identity with the last notecard, which says her name. I'm posting it down below.
On 10th October 2012 Amanda's body was found in her house. She had hanged herself because she couldn't deal with the bullies anymore.

Amanda's story is really sad. It touched millions of people in the world. Facebook memorial sites for Amanda Todd have popped up all around the world and thousands of people have posted onto them. The Facebook Page R.I.P Amanda Todd has over a million likes at the moment.

The police is still looking for the man who harrassed Amanda online. The hacker group Anonymous have joined in too. They claim that they already found the people responsible. They sent the following message to the bully on YouTube:

Amanda was such a beautiful and talented girl. She did cheerleading and she could sing. She was very strong too. She tried to make a new start several times, but the bullies followed. Her death could have been avoided if only people realised what was happening earlier.

Amanda made a mistake, or a few. They ruined her life. She knew it, too. Five weeks before her death, she said, "I can never take that photo back. It's out there forever." But just because she made a mistake, it absolutely does not give anybody the right to bully her. Or anyone else. Amanda would still be here if she had the support of friends and peers. Nobody has the right to put a person down. Is it fair to judge someone on something they did years earlier?

However, Amanda's story is not the only one. There are thousands of teenagers in the world. Every day there are approximately 11 youth suicides. And that's not all. For every suicide, there are between 50 and 200 suicide attempts. Approximately 2.7 million students are bullied every year. Over half of surveyed teenagers have been bullied online. 1 in 3 teenagers say they have experienced cyberthreats online. With these shocking statistics, it is obvious that bullying and cyberbullying is a huge problem.

"Bullying" seems like a very general term. It could range from a mild insult to life-threatening assault. What this man did to Amanda was not bullying. It was stalking and harrassment, via the Internet. Amanda was also depressed. She attempted suicide several times, she cut her wrists, she cried all the time, she took drugs and drank alcohol. She was reacting this way to the pain that comes with mental illness - physical, emotional and spiritual pain. She thought suicide was the only way out, she didn't realise there were other options. She tried to make a new start though, and she told her parents. However, in the end the pressure was too much for her.

In Amanda's case, she's gone. It's too late to help her now. The million people who liked the memorial page on Facebook won't help her, and we can only hope that she is in a better place now, where she feels safe and where nobody can hurt her. However, there are other people who need help. Someone might need your help right now. Once a person's dead, it can't be undone. So if you see someone who is sad or depressed or alone, talk to them. Imagine if that was you. If the situation was reversed, how would you feel? Would you be grateful if a person talked to you, reached out, told you that everything was going to be okay? You really have no idea how much a little thing can make a big difference in someone's life. Don't make the person feel like a charity case though - they don't want your pity, they just want someone to be there for them.

Rest in Paradise, Amanda. <3

RIP to all teen suicides.

And to everybody who is contemplating suicide, just remember that there are other ways. Don't take your own life. You have so much to live for. Things can't get better if you give up.

To everybody who is being bullied, remember that there are people who love you and remember to stay strong. Don't let the haters own you.

Please comment and share this story because it's so important for people to be aware of the consequences of bullying.

Justin Bieber's biggest prank yet!

2012-10-14T02:19:00.001+01:00

Justin Bieber shocked everyone this week with the release of his video for his new single "Beauty and a Beat" featuring Nicki Minaj. He not only released what promises to be a "slayer on the charts" but also got back on all the rumours and gossip that have surrounded him since the beginning of his career.

"Since i was 14 i have had a lot of things said about me, from dying, to taking hormones, to dying again, to stuff about my family ...To saying i had a baby with a woman i never even met. nude pics, drugs, my family, my character," Bieber tweeted on Friday. "But today...today i get to be in on it..."

When the news that Justin Bieber's laptop and camera were stolen from his tour manager's office while he was performing surfaced on the 10th of October, a lot of his fans were shocked. Everyone questioned the security at the venue - Beliebers couldn't get in and some randomer found his way backstage somehow? Justin's fans all thought it was disrespectful. Justin tweeted the following:

Of course, Beliebers got really mad at the thief then. It was obvious the footage meant a lot to Justin, and lots of people were wondering what it was. Things heated up when an unknown person tweeted Justin from the account @gexwy, showing obvious signs of blackmail. He also implied he had outrageous videos. Of course, celebrity bloggers and gossip sites started rumours. Read Perez Hilton's version of the story here. People started to get really curious about what Justin had to hide, and fans became worried and distressed. Justin fired back at the mysterious tweeter, saying that his fans would be there for him no matter what.
The supposed thief threatened to release the footage at noon the next day...and the world was waiting.

What nobody was expecting was that Justin had pranked everybody! At noon, both the popstar and the "thief" tweeted a link to Justin's Vevo account - it was Justin's new music video! It was completely out of the blue. I'll post the video down below. By the way, notice that it was written, shot and directed by Justin Bieber, which really proves that he is a talented young man, despite the controversy.

I am in love with this video and everything about it, from the unusual promotion techniques right down to the choreography. Anyway, nobody's ever done this before. It's totally original and put together very well. Here are a few screenshots of tweets from fans and critics which started pouring in minutes after the video was posted. They all seem very impressed, right?

Anyway, to wrap it up, I have to say I've never been more pround to call myself a Belieber. This prank really showed people how creative Justin can be, and I hope it helps people realise that they should look beyond all the gossip and rumours, because there is very little truth to them.

Back to School

2012-08-28T21:16:00.000+01:00

Summer's over guys - we might as well face it. Yeah, it's sad, but let's move on, shall we?

Okay, so this is about the time when we go back to school. Back to books, teachers, studying, homework, tests....do I have to go on?

Here are a few ways to keep summer for just a little bit longer:

Keep in touch with the people you met on your holidays. I met so many great people this summer that I want to keep in my life. It's so easy these days, with social networks like Facebook and Twitter, Skype, and by phone of course. Just add them and don't forget to chat every once in a while to keep up. It'll always cheer you up to remember the good times you had together.
If you have pictures from the summer, of the people you met or the places you visited, then do something creative with them - display them in your room or put them in a scrapbook, whatever you want. There's nothing better than a summery picture to cheer you up in the winter, when you're cold.
Don't let the bad weather depress you ;D If it's raining, either find something fun to do inside, or go outside and dance in the rain..
Enjoy spending time with your friends in school.

Keep fit. You always hear people going on about losing weight for the summer, but they forget all about it afterwards. You don't have to run to the gym every day. Just remember the small things like walking to school if you can, going out for a jog once a week, dancing in your room...anything at all. My summer tips work during the cold months as well!
Have time for yourself every day. You really have no idea how important this is. Just stop everything for an hour a day. Silence the phone, switch off the computer and do something just for yourself. Staring at the ceiling? Why not? Reading your favourite book? Learning a new song or dance routine you found online or writing in a diary, drawing or just having a really relaxing bath...the possibilities are endless. The whole point of this is to keep that feeling of freedom that you had during the summer.
Just enjoy every day, because life's too short to even care at all.

My Favourite Book Series

2012-06-17T11:38:00.000+01:00

The summer is here, and to be honest, it's kind of boring right now. So I decided to reread a lot of books. Then I made a list of my very favourite book series, in order of preference. Here it is:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This is obviously number one, even though it's one of the most recent ones I read. Most of you probably know the story, and you can read my movie review of The Hunger Games film here. I love everything about this trilogy - the characters, the setting, the fact that it's a probable future. I also like the violence - what kind of warped society is this, where we all enjoy watching violence so much? I love the main characters of Katniss, Peeta and Gale (although Gale kind of irks me). I love everything from Katniss' little sister Prim and her cat, Buttercup, right down to the fact that Peeta is a baker. Yep, I'm pretty obsessed. The trilogy is a must read for any teenager, regardless of age, gender or hobbies and interests. Check out the Hunger Games wiki here if you need more convincing.

2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I'm pretty sure Harry Potter is a classic by now. The series about the young wizard with the lightning scar on his forehead, in a magical school called Hogwarts, and his battle towards defeating Lord Voldemort is immensely popular. After all, who doesn't want a little bit of magic in their lives? Most people have seen the films, but honestly, I think you need to read the books to really get the full Harry Potter experience. Check out the dedicated wiki here, and if you're a Potterhead like me, log onto Pottermore, if you haven't already.

3. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. Of course, there's a lot of teasing going on about this series - Edward sparkles, Bella is whiny and the whole story is messed up. Well, honestly I think that this is just a purely enjoyable series, really romantic and unreal. That's the point - it's fantasy. There's two dream guys fighting over one normal girl, there's vampires and werewolves, there's a marriage and a baby and action and happy times and sad times - it's a perfect pleasure read. Girls, I dare you to read this and not fall in love with either Edward or Jacob (I'm totally Team Edward by the way). Check out the wiki here, and also have a look at the author's website, with exclusive content. If Twilight isn't your thing, watch Vampires Suck. It's truly hilarious.

4.The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. The story of Mia, HRH Princess of Genovia, is actually nothing like the movies based on it. These books are impossibly funny, dramatic and relatable (well, except for the whole princess thing). Mia is just a normal 14-year-old girl in high school when she finds out that she is the heir to the throne of a small European principality. After that, she has to deal with her annoying and scheming grandmother (yep, she's not nice like in the movie), her genius best friend, Lilly, and of course, boys. Especially one Michael Moscovitz, whom I would marry if he wasn't in fact a fictional character. There are 10 books in the series, and they're really easy to read fast. I recommend them to all teenage girls. If you haven't read them, then go and read them. Now.

5. The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison. This series of 10 comedy teenage diaries is probably the funniest series I have ever read. You'll probably recognise Georgia from the hit movie Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Anyway, the books are an instant pick-me-up and hilarious. Georgia and her Ace Gang do things that you wouldn't even dream of doing, like making up "disco inferno" dances and calling the bathroom the "piddly-diddly department". Seriously, the girls are bonkers. Read these. You'll crack up.

6. Angel by L.A. Weatherly. This is an up-and-coming trilogy, with the last book soon to be released. The books re-invented angels as we know them. Now they are bad creatures, almost aliens, who invade Earth and practically suck the health out of humans. It's not all science fiction though. Alex is an AK, an Angel Killer. He comes across Willow, a half-angel. The angels suspect she has the power to destroy them, and so they want her dead. Soon, Alex and Willow are on the run. What unfolds is an action-packed love story. I love these books. Enough said. Also, keep an eye out for the first movie. People are choosing the potential "face of Willow" and "face of Alex" on Facebook right now. Here's the Angel website.

7. Airhead by Meg Cabot. This is a really enjoyable trilogy for girls. Em Watts, a geeky tomboy, spends almost all her time on her computer playing Journeyquest against her best friend Christopher. She doesn't care about fashion or makeup. Suddenly, a potentially fatal accident occurs, and she finds herself trapped in the body of supermodel Nikki Howard. Worse, she can't tell anyone about it. She is Nikki Howard now. And that means goodbye Christopher and Journeyquest, and hello fashion, clubbing and money. Lots of it. From dealing with Nikki's exes and strange taste buds to her crazy loft mate and celebutante Lulu, Airhead is a perfect girly read. As the series goes on, it gets more sinister, and threatening. Em discovers that being a supermodel is not as easy as she thought it was. I ADORE these books, and I think a lot of girls would agree.

8. The Mediator by Meg Cabot. This series of six books tells the story of Susannah Simon. She is a teenage mediator - she can see, touch and talk to ghosts that haven't reached their "final destination" yet. When her mom remarries, she moves to a new town. She finds herself sharing a room with a 19th century ghost called Jesse. Throughout the books she falls in love with Jesse. The bad guy is another mediator, Paul, who likes Susannah and tries to exorcise Jesse. Read this if you want something to do. Really, it's good - romance-fiction usually is, especially if it's written by Meg Cabot.

9. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad. This trilogy, written by MTV darling Lauren Conrad, is another girly read. The main character, Jane Roberts, moves to Hollywood with her best friend Scarlett to intern for an event planner. They get a reality show made about them and two other girls. The show, L.A. Candy, turns into a huge hit and the girls find themselves in the limelight, which isn't as easy as they thought. With backstabbing, secrets, romance and paparazzi, these books are really fun to read, especially during the summer. A movie was supposed to be in the works, but somehow I don't think it's gonna happen.

10. The Abandon Trilogy by Meg Cabot. I only read the first book so far, but I love it. I'm waiting for the sequel, Underworld to come out in Europe. It's already been released in America. The book is about Pierce Oliviera. She has died before, and met John Hayden, the death deity, in the Underworld. She escapes and is brought back to life. John reappears many times, usually to protect Pierce from some kind of danger. He's always there when she needs him. Of course, since this is a book for teenagers, the unexpected happens and John and Pierce fall in love. This is another promising series from one of my favourite authors (as you may have guessed by now), Meg Cabot.

11. Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson. Okay, so this book is recommended for ages 9-11. So what? It's a very interesting story about a young orphan girl growing up in Victorian England. She is brought up in the Foundling Hospital and has a tough life. It's a bit childish, but kind of important to me personally as I got the book signed by the author when it was first released. Maybe recommend it to your younger sisters if you don't want to read it yourself.

The Hunger Games Movie Review

2012-04-26T18:41:00.000+01:00

The Hunger Games has been getting a lot of publicity lately - both the books and the movie that came out recently (well, fairly recently, anyway). For English class a few weeks ago, we had to write a review on our favourite movie. I guess it's good enough, as I got an A for it. Sorry about the delay - I had a week of exams. Anyway, enjoy!

The Hunger Games is a film set in post-apocalyptic America. Its main characters, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, have been chosen to fight in a televised game, and to fight to the death until a lone victor remains. The film was directed by Gary Ross, and is based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins. It was produced by Lionsgate. Packed full of action and intense scenes, this movie is suitable for all audiences. It has been rated 12A.

Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, lives in District 12 with her mother and sister, Prim. Every year, the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games - a televised game in which two teenagers from each of the 12 districts are reaped to fight to the death for entertainment. When 12-year-old Prim is reaped, Katniss immediately volunteers to take her place. Katniss and Peeta are forced to leave District 12 and go to the Capitol, where they train and prepare for the Games. A few short weeks later, they find themselves in the arena, where they will meet their fate.

This is the first film in the Hunger Games franchise. The sequel, Catching Fire, will be released on 22 November 2013, and is hugely anticipated.

The film is full of action and suspense. The characters are very lovable, and the heroine, Katniss, is a strong and independent young woman. The story is interesting and reflects a might-be future. This movie will definitely leave you awake and thinking for days. The story is very powerful and the actors are excellent. Jennifer Lawrence plays the perfect Katniss, while Josh Hutcherson plays Peeta Mellark. Liam Hemsworth co-stars as Katniss' best friend, Gale, and Elizabeth Banks is the stylish, if not unusual, Effie Trinket. The CGI effects are very realistic and packed with action.

This is one of the few movies that everyone would enjoy watching. It is definitely worth it. I would recommend it to anyone aged 12 and over. The Hunger Games is already a blockbuster. I give it a rating of five stars.

How To Get Fit Before Summer

2012-04-25T19:06:00.000+01:00

Summer is only a month or two away, and most of us want to look good. We want to wear shorts and bikinis and summer dresses, and it really wouldn't hurt to look good while doing it. Losing weight, toning and burning fat never came easy. Fad diets are definitely not an option - you mostly lose water weight and not fat while torturing yourself. So instead of trying out a "lose-10-pounds-in-a-week" diet, start following some of these tips:

1. Change your thinking

The first step to looking good is feeling good. You have to remember: getting fit isn't about dieting, it's about a healthy lifestyle. Before you start changing the way you look, you have to accept the way you look right now. Honestly, you're the only person who can take control.

2. Start right now!

I know how hard it is to start changing your lifestyle. It's easy to read about it, talk about it, think about it...but it's really hard to actually get up and do something. Trust me, I've been there. So, I recommend that instead of carefully planning your weight loss program, get up and do some exercise (after you finish reading this post, of course). You can always plan after you have exercised.

3. You are what you eat

I know it's a cliche, but sadly it's true. If you eat fast food all the time, you can't expect to be fit and skinny. So stop eating junk food - it'll be worth it! Don't limit yourself completely at the start - have a treat once a week. Stop snacking between meals, and don't eat after 6-7 p.m., depending on when you have your dinner.

4. Eat your fruit and veg

Spring and summer are probably the best seasons for fresh fruit and vegetables. remember - healthy does NOT mean disgusting.

5. Be responsible for what you put into your body

Remember - the decision is up to you! If your family doesn't cook much and just get take-out, in the end you're the one who's gonna suffer! So make the right decisions - you want to look good, right?

6. Choose healthy snacks

If you are feeling peckish, don't starve yourself. It's so easy to grab a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar, but make the right choice and choose something healthy and light. Here are 12 healthy snack ideas, all under 100 calories. They are truly delicious!

7. EXERCISE!!!

A healthy diet is definitely not enough. You have to exercise and train so that you burn the fat. Obviously, it's not going to go away on it's own. Research exercises for different body parts, and work on it EVERY SINGLE DAY! Even a 20-minute workout, done regularly, can make a huge difference in the long run.

I recommend Pilates, particularly by YouTube instructor Cassie Ho, and cardio such as jogging, swimming, skipping, etc. This is something everyone should research on their own, as everyone's body is different.

8. Get thinspiration

I know looking at loads of skinny and fit models and girls on tumblr can discourage you, but sometimes it really helps. It gives you a positive kick to start doing something with your body. So here are some tumblrs I found that you might find interesting:

I wish you all the best in your summer fitness programme! I hope you all achieve your goals and feel good about yourselves!

Kony 2012

2012-03-15T21:11:00.002+00:00

If you haven't been living under a rock for the past week, chances are you probably heard of Kony and the campaign to stop him. Here are some basic facts you need to know about Kony and the Invisible Children charity:

Joseph Kony is the leader of a rebel group in Uganda called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
The LRA kidnaps children from their homes. They make the boys into child soldiers and the girls into sex slaves.
There is a new charity called the Invisible Children that aims to raise awareness about Kony. They made a video (see below) about Kony's actions and their effects on the people of Uganda, and how to get involved in the charity (which obviously requires donations)

Here is the half-hour video on Kony by Invisible Children:

Okay, so you watch the video. You see the high-tech editing, the high definition images, and you think, "Wow, this is amazing." Then you see the little blond guy, and Jacob crying, and you think, "Aww that is so sweet!" and you feel really bad for a while. Then they show you the ways you can get involved, and how YOU can help to stop Kony. It makes you feel special, like anything is possible, and you immediately want to get involved. You go onto the Invisible Children website, you make a purchase. Simple. And then you start thinking, "Wait, is this charity actually legit? Will the money I paid go directly towards stopping Kony?"

And that's when you realize that you mightn't have been thinking straight. They have captured you with their marketing skills. You remember the start of the Kony 2012 video. Jason said it himself, right? "The next 27 minutes are an experiment." What kind of brainwash is that?

So here's the thing: I believe in Kony. I know that he exists, I know that he's one of the most wanted people in the world. I know that he has committed terrible crimes. Inhuman crimes. I suffered when I watched that video, but the people in Uganda suffered a 1000 times more. However, I don't believe in Invisible Children. What kind of charity is it? They have like 10 different t-shirts on sale, and all the "action packs" are so over-the-top. It's nice to see a proper campaign for once, but where is all that money going? There is proof that Invisible Children only gives 30% of their donations to the victims or the Ugandan government. Where does the remaining 70% go? What are they doing with it?

Almost 80 million people have watched the video so far. It is the most viral video in web history. I think this shows that people actually care. If we tried to help countries where poverty exists, we could do it. This video alone proves it. However, our generation has heard it all before - we see starving babies in Africa on TV and then just switch the channel, because we don't want to watch. So why did everyone get so involved in Kony?

Whatever the reason, it still doesn't change the fact that Invisible children earned a stunning $5 million in the first 48 hours of the video being up on YouTube. That's enough money to send over the American advisors and train the Ugandan army. And yet, they made so much more on their products and the video.

The hacker group Anonymous, known for their Guy Fawkes mask, also made a video proving that Invisible Children is a scam:

I suppose the real question is: where is Kony? How do you hide an army of 30,000 children?
Kony hasn't been seen since 2006. That's 6 years of peace for the people of Uganda. He hasn't attacked since. So why do they want to find him now, when the people of Uganda aren't at all worried about trouble from the LRA? The people of Uganda aren't happy about Invisible Children. Here are quotes from Ugandan people talking about the campaign:
"They come here to make money and use us"
"It makes us feel terrible to be presented as being so stupid and helpless"

Here is a Ugandan vlogger with what she has to say about Kony:

In my opinion, the whole thing is greatly over-exaggerated. Yes, Kony is still on the loose, and he needs to suffer for the inhuman crimes he committed. But why are they making such a big deal out of this? He committed crimes 20 years ago. He hasn't been seen for 6 years. He might as well be dead by now.

However, I think it's great that young people like me are getting involved. I mean, I would have thought the people in my school were the laziest teenagers ever, but the day after the video came out, there was a petition going around to have a fundraiser to stop Kony. The day after, the whole school was covered with homemade "Stop Kony" posters. Some of the teachers were ripping them of the walls, causing even more uproar. Honestly, I haven't seen teenagers involved in something like this. It's a sign of hope. A sign that we can do anything, as long as we're working together.

In a recent interview, Angelina Jolie said Kony is "an extraordinarily horrible human being who, you know: his time has come and it's lovely to see that young people are rising up as well."

Well, that's my post about Kony 2012 finished. Let me know your opinion - are you for or against Kony 2012? Are you getting involved?

Are you giving up something? Or maybe taking something on?

2012-02-22T20:47:00.000+00:00

Okay, so for us Christians, it's the time of Lent. At this time, a lot of us decide to give up something they like for the time between Ash Wednesday until Easter. Mostly it's about a new start, so it's actually suitable for everyone, regardless of their faith.

Today in school we had a Mass and we got ashes on our foreheads. The priest also said a lot of inspiring things during which a lot of us had a little snooze or a daydream, looking out the stained-glass windows.. The times when I actually listened, I heard that this is a time of prayer and penance. Um, yeah, but what has that got to do with my blog, right?

Well, I decided to give up something I really like - chocolate. Come on, who doesn't like chocolate? I know already that it's gonna be really hard for me, but by putting it out here I'm making it official, and it might help me remember. I don't know if it'll make me a better person, but at least I'll be healthier.

If you want to change something in your life, remember that it is never too late. You can start any time, not just Lent. Even if you're not a Christian, you can choose to change. After all, only you have the power to do it.
I decided to come up with a list of suggestions that a lot of you might find useful:

Like me, you can give up junk food. Are you the type of person who lives on snacks and fizzy drinks? Well, maybe it's time to change that. I promise you will feel better after a few weeks.

Do some exercise. Just go outside while it's still bright, go out jogging with a friend (or with your iPod) or go to the gym. You can also go swimming, cycling, or maybe join a local sports club? Exercise doesn't have to be boring. Who knows, after a few weeks you might even get runner's high!

Get off the Internet, or the TV. Give up or limit the time you spend on Facebook or Twitter and go out and find something useful to do instead. You have to live your life, not watch someone else's.

Spend some quality time with family. Talk to your parents, brothers or sisters, grandparents.. I know it sounds really bad, but they're not going to be around forever..

Go out with your friends and have a laugh. We young people are very privileged. There's a reason people say school years are the best time of our lives. Use the time you have, stop trying to grow up too quickly and just enjoy being young!

Be nicer to others around you. Everyone can improve on that, right? Because nobody's perfect. Just accept people the way they are. You don't have to like everyone. In desperate times, use some of these techniques:

And most of all: it gets old but I have to say it: Just be yourself! You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not just to fit in or impress someone. Everyone can spot a faker.

Why I feel sorry for Niall Horan

2012-02-01T21:01:00.000+00:00

Let me get this straight - I'm not a HUGE One Direction fan. I mean, they have a few good songs, and they're all good-looking, but I'm not obsessed with them.

Don't get me wrong - I am NOT a hater. Read the last paragraph of this post to know why.

However, I have a lot of friends who live and breathe One Direction. So there isn't a day when I don't hear anything like "Oh my gosh, it's Harry Styles' birthday today!!" or "Look at this picture of Liam!!". One thing I've noticed is that nobody really notices Niall. And when you point this out, they get mad and shout "Everybody LOVES Niall!!" So this is an important issue I want to deal with today.

First of all, why should I feel sorry for Niall Horan? He's in one of the most popular boybands in the world, he has thousands of girls screaming for him, he's rolling in money, and he's travelling all over the world on tour as we speak. You'd think he has everything, right?

Well, here are some things I've noticed about Niall Horan.

Has anyone beside me noticed that Niall doesn't get any solos? Maybe this video will explain it:

He is the least popular member of the band. Fact.

I quote: "The One Direction boys think that Niall Horan would die first in a horror movie because he wouldn't know what's going on." This suggests that he's a bit slow and clueless. Ah, but everyone loves Dopey, right?

They're like twins...just kidding!

When One Direction were on iCarly, Niall wouldn't stop laughing, so the producers got really annoyed. I have to say, I'd laugh too if I was on iCarly. And for this, everyone called Niall a "legend". Actually, I quite like Niall's laugh. Just watch this and try not to smile or laugh. Go on, I dare you.

This is one of the funniest videos I could find. Keep pressing 3 after you've watched it. Sooo funny.

Basically, everyone just laughs at him. Is that always a good thing? Who even cares? This is hilarious!

His teeth..of course, he got braces since then, so they're much better now, but....

He loves food. Wow, so do I! We have so much in common!! That was Directioner language.

He's Irish. Therefore, everyone expects him to Irish dance. I feel sorry for the lad, though he seems to enjoy it.

Okay, I don't think this post even makes sense anymore, since I mixed up the good things with the bad things. I hope I got my point across though - Niall Horan is the least popular member of the band. And I feel sorry for him because of that.

However, after all this research, I must say that Niall seems like a really fun person to be around. I think he's my favourite out of all of them. I don't know if it was his laugh or his fall that did it, but all of a sudden I like him. Yay! I feel really bad for posting this now, but whatever. Don't give me too much hate, okay?

xoxo

Funny X Factor Auditions

2012-01-23T22:09:00.000+00:00

Most of us know about that overrated TV show that finds "real talent" and over the years has created pop stars such as Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS, One Direction, Jedward, Cher Lloyd and others. Yeah, that one. It keeps getting worse over the years, doesn't it?

But have you ever seen the people who, unfortunately, didn't make it to the whole 'pop star' thing and ended up as a laughing stock? They show a few of them sometimes, just for a laugh. I feel kind of sorry for them, because they had a hard with the judges, but I just love watching them so much. So today I decided to put all my research to good use and show you all. I hope you laugh as much as I did. One last thing - just watch the judges' expressions..

So without further ado, here is a list of my 10 favourite funny X Factor auditions.

1. This is a 55-year-old man singing "I Feel Good." Actually, the best bit of this video, which was Pixie Lott almost falling off her chair, was not included in this one, but she says it at the end, so it doesn't matter. All I'm asking is: "WHY DID WE NEVER SEE ROB AGAIN??"

2. This is a woman supposedly singing "My Heart Will Go On" and failing completely. In this one, just watch Simon almost biting into his glass...priceless.

3. Well, there's not much I can say about this one. Except "WHAT??"

4. In this video, I think the guy in the black shirt is actually pretty good, but his brother just ruins the whole thing by doing some hilarious rapping. Har har.

5. I'm not sure what this girl said at the start, but Simon actually had to ask Louis and the other judges to leave the room because they were laughing so much.

6. Rachel was the judges' worst nightmare - cocky, lazy, untalented...see for yourself. I just find her extremely rude.

7. Ariel says she's a "holistic vocal coach". Umm...I think she actually needs coaching herself. Not just on singing, but on some basic manners as well.

8. Abi and Lisa, also known as Ablisa, were best friends. If you get bored of their rudeness after a while, just skip to the end and you will see why I found this video hilarious.

9. I feel really sorry for this contestant, who obviously needs some professional help. At least she's not rude or cocky about it.

10. This guy obviously thought he was a great rapper. I'd like to meet some of the people who deluded him into thinking that.

And that's it! Hope you laughed. My personal favourites are numbers 1, 2 and 3, but the rest are in no particular order (because they're equally bad).

How to Make an Inspiration Board

2012-01-17T21:53:00.000+00:00

I feel like I haven't posted in weeks. While this is not necessarily true, I really haven't posted for a while. I do have some ideas on future posts, but for now, here's some tips for making your very own inspiration board. Just in case you need a quick dose of inspiration, you know?

Inspiration boards, also known as vision boards or mood boards, are a really good way to motivate yourself to "follow your dreams."

Note: You can make an inspiration board using Photoshop, but I'm not going to do that, because I like that 'handmade' feel to my boards. If you want to use Photoshop, just Google it.

First of all, think about who you want to be, and what you want to achieve in the future. What is your dream job? Where do you want to live? What do you want to look like? Who is going to be around you - family? Friends? I guess it's all up to you!

Then you need some kind of board. This doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, you can probably get it for free. Here are some options:

Do it on your bedroom wall. This is free, but make sure you are allowed (I know it sounds childish, but it's no fun if you make a great collage and then have to take it all off. Trust me, I've been there). So just get some Blu-Tack, and get sticking!

Get a cork board. Depending on the size you want, you can get a regular board in shops like Ikea, or some cork floor tiles that you can attach together to make practically any size you want. Wouldn't it be brilliant if you had a whole wall of inspiration? Unfortunately, I had to stick to a smaller size (boo!). One more thing - don't forget your pins!

Lol :D

Or, if you're feeling a little rebellious, why not try a magnetic board? Any old piece of metal will do, including that old fridge thingy in your kitchen.

You could also get a mountboard in your local art shop. They are a bit pricey though, so you can just use a piece of cardboard. Go on, you know you want to...

When you have found a suitable board thing, you are ready to start collecting stuff to put on it. Since it's called an inspiration board, you should only use images that inspire or motivate you, to avoid it getting cluttered. So unless you have a wall to cover, you have a limited number of pictures to collect.

You can use anything - photographs, magazine clippings, drawings, designs and quotes. Just make sure that it inspires you to do something about your life. Then arrange them the way you want them on your board thing, and pin/stick them down. Put the board in a visible place where you will see it every day.

I think I'm going to make an inspiration board this week. If it turns out good, I might put up a picture of it. I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Remember - I LIKE COMMENTS!

How to Be Creative During the Holidays

2011-12-29T16:18:00.001+00:00

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy New Year.

Maybe some of you are feeling creative this week and don't know how to pass the time without wasting it.
Here are a few solutions that will let your creativity show this winter break. And they don't even require a lot of time! Enjoy!

Note: everyone is different and has different hobbies and interests. Therefore I couldn't possibly list every type of creativity. If what you like isn't on the list, just keep on doing it. It might pay off someday! Plus, you'll have great fun.

1. The Artist
Whether you like drawing or painting, sketching or cartooning, art is a great creative outlet.
For example, last winter break, I really wanted to try drawing anime/manga. So I got a book from the library and started practicing. It went great! I'm sorry to say I didn't stick to it, but at least I had some great drawings to put up on my wall.
So get out some paper, pencils or paints, and get sketching!
You can then share your works of art on DeviantArt.

Even random doodles can turn into something cool.

2. The Writer
Maybe instead of drawing, you use pens for writing. There are many ways of being creative by writing. Here are a few:

Keep a journal or diary. It's very easy to do this. Just write down your thoughts, feelings, news etc. If absolutely nothing happened that day, add a bit of creativity by "embellishing" the events. No, this is not lying! And who knows, maybe when you're old, you'll sit by the fire on a winter evening and remember your youth.Read books such as 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' 'The Princess Diaries' or 'The Fab Confessions of Georgia Nicolson' for inspiration.

Write poetry. I know what you're thinking - poems are boring, and meant for school. But in fact, they don't have to be boring if you don't make them. Try writing one with a friend. Poems don't even have to rhyme. If you want a rhyming one, though, get a bunch of strange or funny rhyming words and try to put them together. It's actually fun!

Write a story. Maybe you have stories in your head just waiting to be written down. If you don't, try writing down a dream you had, and adding things to it until it becomes a story. This is how 'Twilight' was written, and now it's a major worldwide bestseller! So when you're a published author, mention my name (wink, wink). Also, check out my friend Verona's blog with lots of stories.

3. The Photographer

You can be very creative by simply capturing what's around you. All you need is a camera - even a phone is good. You can go to a beautiful place where the scenery is amazing. But an even more CREATIVE way is to make do with what you've got. Just go outside and capture anything - an overflowing gutter, clothes drying on a line, anything at all. The key to this is to make something boring look interesting to look at. Have fun!

4. The Scrapbooker

You can join all of the above - art, writing, photography - and make a scrapbook. You can make one about anything - from a family holiday to your favourite band. Just get an album, sketchpad or special scrapbook. You will also need scissors, glue and pictures - lots of them. You can use photographs, magazine clippings etc. This takes a good bit of time but it is worth it in the end when you have something to be proud of.

Here are two links to help you get started:

How to Start a Scrapbook - WikiHow

Scrapbooking.com

5. The Musician
If you are musical, you probably already play an instrument. If you're not, why not try now? Maybe you have a guitar or keyboard at home, gathering dust. Tune it, and find some online courses or lessons. It's easy!
The easiest instrument to play is the ukulele. You can find lots of free online classes, and they are very cheap. You can learn to play it in a week. So go ahead and start practicing!

I hope you found this helpful. If you did, please comment and share.

My new year's resolution is to blog more, and therefore you can expect a lot more blog posts in the near future. I have something cool planned, so watch this space!

How I stopped believing in Santa Claus

2011-12-10T15:01:00.001+00:00

This is the story of how I stopped believing in Santa.

Disclaimer: if you DO believe in Santa, DO NOT read this post..

I guess most kids stop believing when their parents drop a hint such as 'we don't have money for presents this year' or 'we need to get some presents'. Also, I've heard lots of stories about kids finding their Christmas gifts before Christmas and being really disappointed. I was lucky enough to believe until the age of 8 or 9. My parents were very convincing. Sadly, this is the age where your common sense starts kicking in and you start thinking on your own.

That's the time when I started to doubt the existence of that jolly old fellow known as Santa.

I was one of those kids who never missed a chance to meet Santa. Therefore I visited his grotto every opportunity I got. After a while I started noticing that every Santa I met looked different - their beard, their eyes, their padded stomachs that felt like pillows, even their costumes felt different. One of the "Santas" even resembled my dad a little. Interesting...

This is like Where's Wally. Spot the real Santa!

Eh, looking kind of creepy there, Mr. Claus...

So I decided at the time that maybe Santa's helpers dressed up as Santa sometimes to help him out.

Then there was also the thing where everyone kept saying Santa stopped by and left a gift for me. So I wondered why I had never seen him myself. I mean, if he had a present for me, why didn't he come and give it to me in person? And even though I met "Santa" lots of times, why did he never mention that gift?

So that also made me doubt Santa.

The last straw was when I was about 10 years old and I read Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 days". I realised that it was completely impossible to visit every child's home in one night.

So that was the end of my childhood fantasy. I was very proud of myself at the time for figuring it out all by myself, but now I can't help but regret it. My Christmas will never be the same...

Happy Christmas everybody!

Comment rant!

2011-12-07T19:01:00.001+00:00

Okay, there's something I just don't get.
That thing is: CREEPERS.

You see, if you're reading this right now, that means you are on my blog. And you obviously have an opinion about what you're reading, as we humans have a tendency to have an opinion on everything. I mean everything. Even if you think that you don't, you DO.

So here's the thing: I have 172 page views on my blog at the moment. And guess how many comments? That would be a zero.

Why? I mean, doesn't everyone have an opinion? It only takes 2 seconds to post a comment. I don't even care if it's nice. Constructive criticism is valuable. And it can be anonymous as well. I'm not asking you to put your name and details on my page.
So the question is: why don't people do it?
I mean, I'm not gonna risk saying that my readers are lazy. I don't have very many readers yet, you see.

What I'm trying to say is: it would be great if people posted a comment on my blog once in a while. Just being nice. Or critical. Whatever. I would really appreciate it.

Without comments, I don't know what my audience likes and doesn't like, what they want to see more of, and whether they think I'm making a complete fool of myself.

So please (and I'm NOT trying to sound desperate here) comment on my posts sometimes. It would make a big difference to me. Thanks.

Exams...

2011-11-29T19:52:00.001+00:00

This week is exam week in my school. I have 10 exams, each of them 1 and a half hours long. It seems that they will never end.

See, that's the thing about exams. They seem endless, but at the same time you never have enough time to write everything that you know. Another thing I've noticed is that you study beforehand, and you can remember everything perfectly but once you go into the exam centre, your mind goes blank. Of course you remember everything again when it's over, usually just after you hand up your paper. Yet another weird thing is that they always ask you the things you DON'T know, rather than what you do. It's like they don't actually want you to do well. Argh! It's so frustrating! Okay, overall I think exams are very strange.

However, there is debate over which is better: class tests every so often, or a week of exams every day. Personally, I think a week of exams is better, but here's a list of arguments.

Class tests are better because:

you don't have to revise as much
less stress
they are shorter and sometimes easier

A week of exams is better because:

they only happen twice a year (in my school, anyway)
you know exactly when they're happening (for example, I know I'll have exams next June)
more time to revise
you get off school early for a week, and if you're lucky like me, you get a day off
teachers prepare you for them, usually wasting class time, not that anyone minds. Sometimes they even tell you exactly what is on the exam, which isn't very smart of them, but definitely appreciated

So you see my point. Exams are better. Let's face it - they're there, and then they're over and there's nothing to worry about for about 6 months. Class tests just get in the way.

Okay then. That's it for now. I hope you found this more interesting than my beauty posts. Click here to read my rant about them.

PS. This post was originally written during an exam. For proof, see my Twitter.