Donuts!

Yesterday I handed in my first film class project and now I'm sharing it with you guys! I'm pretty proud of it, so what better way to finish off the semester than to make a great little video!

We were given a piece of music about a minute long and the goal was to make a video that would go with the music. Everyone in my class has done some really great films and I can't wait to see them all!

**Just make sure you turn your volume on high.. The sounds is kind of low and the effect is better when it's high**

Happy Friday!

Photography

Warning: This is a picture-heavy post! :)
My aunt is an amazing photographer, my dad is just as good, and so are many, many of the bloggers I follow. I'm jealous! It's an art I've never really been able to grasp.
Today, my prof told me how great my background was, and she wanted to picture. When I told her I had taken it, she was even more impressed. It was such a compliment and it got me thinking. How many jewels out there that I have taken, not knowing how great they really are?
I went through my photos in my computer (which date back to 2011), and here are a few I really love!

Taken on our way home from Cuba, 2011

Taken on my iPhone! Doesn't it look like a painting?

This was in Mexico, 2012

Hann. Muenden, Germany, 2013

Staircase inside a statue in Kassel, Germany, 2013

Also in Kassel, Germany, 2013

Can anyone tell me what kind of flower this is? I just love it!

(This is the one my prof really liked) It was taken late at night when we went camping! I love how eerie it is.

Sunsets are always pretty, no matter what.

The moon is also, always pretty, especially surrounded by trees.

What "hidden talent" do YOU have?

PS- Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends

Doubt.

I've been doubting myself lately. I look around and I see everyone doing things and they are always so much better than I will ever be able to do.

When I see the work other people in my film class, I doubt myself. Their work is so good, and mine is just alright. Maybe it's just not for me.

When I read other people's book or manuscripts, I doubt myself. What if my story will never be as good? Maybe it won't work out for me.

When I read other blogs, I doubt myself. I highly doubt my blog is as good as theirs, or that's it's even the slightest bit interesting. Maybe it's not my thing.

When I get 50% in my favourite class, I doubt myself. I think that maybe it's not for me, maybe I should quit.

All I can think of is going back to bed and letting the world pass by, letting the storm calm before I go back outside.

I will not give up. I will not let my doubt pull me down. It's okay to doubt. I will come out of this doubt stronger, and more sure of myself than I am now.
Giving up is not an option. I will be okay.

Movie-going, Katniss Style

Saturday night I went to see Catching Fire with Alex and my friend Jessica, with whom I saw Hunger Games when it came out.

First, let's start off by my very brief and non-spoilery review of the movie:
Wow!! I loved it sooooo much! Jennifer Lawrence was incredible (obviously) and the new cast was really really good! Finnick and Mags were exactly as I had pictured them when I read the books.

One thing I found that was really well done, making the movie almost better than the book is how in the book, it's only Katniss' point of view and they changed that in the movie. In the book, we only see what Katniss feels, sees, smells, etc., while in the movie, they also added more of President Snow and  things outside of her perspective. Instead of guessing what was going on, we could actually see it.
Even though our seats were total crap and we almost had to break our necks to see, I still really enjoyed the movie and I honestly want to go back and watch it again and again! You should all go see it! Like, seriously. Go! Now!

Now, when I was getting ready to go out, I decided to wear this simple olive-green shirt with little golden beads on the neckline I bought at H&M, and realized that with my black jeans, I kind of took on a Katniss-y look! I was very tempted to braid my hair, but I thought that would be a little too much.

I also realized as I was writing this post that I somehow always end up taking crooked pictures of myself... Oops!

Have you seen Catching Fire yet? What did you think?

Lola

WE ADOPTED A KITTY!!!

Winnipeg Humane Society was doing a "sale" on their cats on Friday. Since September, they've had over 1,500 cats in their facility and on Friday they had 250 to give away, so they were $50 instead of $175. My mother thought it could be fun to at least go and check it out. I opened at 11, and we get there shortly before two and already, there was only about 5 or 6 left to give away!

We found a gorgeous little 3-month-old kitty and we got her! She's very very quiet (I've only heard her meow twice), she's very curious and playful, she loves when you pet her and hides her little head when you hold her (like an ostrich in the sand!). Meet Lola!

Our two other cats aren't overjoyed about the newest addition to our family, but they are (very) slowly warming up to her.

Isn't she just the cutest?!

So Much For Not Wearing Brands!

I've mentioned before that I'm not usually the type to wear brands. Yet, I just said in my Purse post that I love my Guess purse and now, I'm showing off some American Eagle clothing.

I rarely ever shop at American Eagle, usually because I can't exactly afford a $50 pair of jeans... Anyway, I went in, straight to the sales rack and found two nice t-shirts for $10 each!! Deal!
I'm a very consistently a t-shirt-and-jeans girl, so this is perfect.

I don't normally wear pink either, so it's another rarity!

Like my yellow socks? :)

Purse Talk

Usually at around this time of year, I make a small change. I switch my purse! It may seem silly, but I rarely ever do it. I'm always scared I'll forget to put something in it. So, I have my summer purse, which is huge and beach bag-like, and my winter purse, which is smaller and sturdier.

Alex got me this purse last year as a "souvenir" from his trip to Minneapolis, and I fell in love right away. I'm not normally a brands kind of girl, especially since I can never afford brands like Guess, but this purse is such good quality! I still can't afford the clothes or even the accessories, but they're a good investment.

Now, let's see what in my purse! I'm that girl who always has everything. Every time someone asks if I have bandaids, Advil, bobby pins or hand cream, I've got it!

Here's what's in my purse:

• Wallet
• Blank paper (you know you're a writer when...)
• Pencil case for school
• Day planner
• Gum (always important!)
• My camera in its little tough case
• My keys
• A mini first-aid kit
• My makeup bag: moisturizer, foundation, mirror, mascara, eyeliner, lip balm, bobby pins and Advil
• A USB key
• Pens and pencils (again with the writer thing)
• A snack! (I'm soo grumpy when I'm hungry)
• My iPod (which is almost always dead) and earphones

What's in your purse?

Tapas Galore

Sunday, my sister decided to cook dinner for the family and boyfriends. She had a couple of recipes she wanted to try and so that's what she did and it was incredible! We all ate like kings!

We had Ikea-style swedish meatballs, tomato-sauce meatballs, cucumber-salmon finger food, cheese-wrapped salami, mini tacos, bruschetta, and zucchini with tomatoes and melted cheese on top.

Tapas are, for those who don't know, a spanish invention. The word "tapas" literally means "covers," or "lids," because they used to be served on top of a drink to keep flies from getting in. They are finger foods or appetizers, usually like bar food, or just a great way to try a bunch of tasty treats!

Man, can that girl cook!

Let It Snow!

This weekend, it snowed LIKE CRAZY in Winnipeg! Winter is officially here! It's all white, sparkly and beautiful!

Right when it started snowing

 

High Life

In Film class a couple weeks ago we watched the movie High Life, which was filmed here in Winnipeg by a local director named Gary Yates.
The movie is about a group of drug addicts who decide to rob a bank, and have the perfect plan, but of course, everything goes wrong.

source

The director is a good friend of my prof, so she invited him to come in today and talk about the movie, and filmmaking in general.
With him, was also the director of photography, Michael Marshall who has done a bunch of other movies, namely "The Curse of Chucky."

It was really cool to be able to ask them a ton of questions and just hear what these successful filmmakers have to say, and learn about how this specific movie was made. It's really inspiring to hear these stories and be able to meet these people in person. It makes you think "man, I could really do this!"

Who have you met that has inspired you in your career?

Happy Friday!

Study Time!

I have a big test tomorrow, so I've been studying like a madwoman, to avoid getting 50 again... How do I study? Well, it usually (always) involves a very messy desk, papers all over the floor, and something to keep me motivated!

 

There's nothing better than a Slurpee and 5 cent candy to keep me going!

Right now, I'm honestly trying to not speak German! I'm so concentrated on grammar rules and vocabulary that I have to stop myself from switching between languages!

How do YOU study for a big test? What's your favourite study snack?

Forgotten Closet

You know when you go on a trip and you end up doing a ton of shopping? By this, I mean enough to practically makeover your closet? Well, that was me in Germany. Mainly because Winnipeg doesn't have an H&M (yet!) and all the cool stores that I would normally never venture into.

So, I did a TON of shopping and somehow, I haven't worn 90% of what I bought yet! How is this possible?!

I had even forgotten about my amazingly cozy Deutschland sweater I bought as a souvenir! It's my not-so-subtle way of showing off where I've been this summer. I was rummaging through my closet this weekend to find something to wear over my PJs (yes, it was that kind of weekend...) and I found it!

Best. Sweater. Ever.

Anyway, that was my little blurb for today. I promise to post more awkward pictures of myself in my new clothes!

Now back to writing!

Thank You

My grandfather was a solider in WWII. He left his home in Quebec at age 16 (with this parents' permission), to go serve in the army like his two older brothers. He lied about his age, pretending to be 18 and headed off to England. It was only there that they realized he had lied. Instead of sending him back to Canada, they put him in training until he was old enough. Finally, at age 19, he headed off to war.

Can you imagine? Still being a teenager and facing death every day? Watching everyone around you get hurt or die? Never knowing if you'll even ever come home?
Can you imagine being their parent? Their siblings? Their friends or spouse?

These brave men and women have served their countries in WWI, WWII and all the other wars that have unfortunately happened in this world. Today is that day we remember those we lost and those who have come back. We thank them for everything they have done for us, for their country.

Lest we forget.

Wanderlust

Ever since I was little, my family has traveled around a lot. Every 2-3 years, we would take a road trip to the Rocky Mountains, or go to Montreal to see some family. For some reason, I've always loved flying. I like being in airplanes! In 2006, I went on my first big adventure over seas. We went to France! Boy, was that amazing! I was about 12, so I was still young enough to enjoy spending time with my parents, and open enough to try all these new things.
In 2011, I went to Spain with my high school, though unfortunately I lost all the pictures... (Which wasn't all that tragic since they almost all included my ex)
In 2011, my mom finally managed to convince my dad to talk winter vacations in the south, so we headed to Cuba! It was beautiful and warm and we loved it so much we went back the following year!

In 2012, I decided I would go visit some friends in Mexico City. It was my graduation present to myself and my big trip of the year. Many people were worried about me being there, but it was one of the best 2 weeks I've ever had.

This summer, I went to Germany, which was also incredibly amazing! I completely fell in love with the country and I can't wait to go back!

Happy Friday!

Red.

Did you know I used to had firetruck-red hair? I did! For almost a year I dyed my hair red and I honestly loved it! I loved the colour and it really suited me, but when I got to grade 12, I wanted to have nice grad pictures, so I dyed it brown again, and thus ended my redheaded days... I miss it.