October Thoughts: Drama, The Decemberists and Dreaming

I would like to begin this post by apologizing to you, dear readers, for essentially disappearing from the blogging community. 

The past month and a half was, shall we say, eventful. So much so in fact that I neglected writing any posts, tweeting or updating my Facebook page. I just felt so Overwhelmed emotionally that I felt like I needed to take a step back from my life on the internet.Why you ask? Well, lets start with the drama...

On August 18th, I discovered that the vast majority of my school loans were in default. What came afterwards was an endless parade of phone calls to my parents, the dept of education, and my "loan servicer" whose negligence in contacting appropriately me landed me in a financial nightmare from which there seemed no escape. When I asked them repeatedly why I hadn't received so much as a scrap of mail from these people, all I was told was "it is a courtesy we reach out to you, not an obligation." As it turns out, that courtesy only extended to contacting me via my student email at my university only AFTER I had already graduated. I didn't even know you could access your student email after you were no longer enrolled in classes. Makes so much sense right? I cannot even begin to tell you how frustrating it was to maintain a conversation with these people without bursting into tears.
I was eventually able to find a solution to my dilemma, though I had decimated what must have been at least five boxes of tissues by the time I was through. It is my plan to go over student loans, loans services and document preparation companies in great detail in my next post so that it might help others to avoid finding themselves in the same mess I did.  Soooo....look forward to that!
 The other drama that unfolded was getting a flat tire, and trying to find a good place to take my car. I suppose that my experience with the loan companies was positive in the sense that, afterwards, I was so drained of emotion that I was far less likely to suffer fools. And, boy, did I run into a lot of fools. When it comes to mechanics I always turn to my father who is the quintessential jack-of-all-trades and a mechanic with over thirty years experience. But given that my parents house is now over an hours drive away, I had to seek help in unfamiliar territory. I suppose, in addition to the post about student loans, I should also do a post on dealing with shifty mechanics who are just trying to make a sale.

(Book of Mormon, before the curtain rose)

Anyway, on a more positive note, I saw "Book of Mormon" this September! The tickets were given to me by someone special and, together, we went into Boston for a night on the town. For years I had been waiting to see the real show instead of just listening to the soundtrack.The show was even better than I imagined! I laughed so hard I almost fell into the next row of seats! My favorite scene had to be when the two main protagonists meet up with their brethren in Africa and the hilarious dance number that ensues. Along with a lot of laughs the show also had a surprising amount of heart to it. I definitely recommend going if you haven't seen it already. Although, if you are easily offended, you might be better off seeing a show like The Lion King.
While "Book of Mormon" was a truly incredible experience, the real cherry on top of my summer sundae was getting to see the Decemberists in concert for the first time ever. This was my 3rd concert ever and I made the most of it. I even have the T-shirt to prove it. Given that they just released their new album "What A Terrible World, What a Beautiful World," I assumed that they would play only the songs from that album. Boy was I wrong. Because they had previously come to Boston in April of this year, they decided to switch things up a bit. Not only did they play songs from their new album, but they also played songs from all of their previous albums! They even covered a good chunk of "Hazards of Love" which is by far my favorite album. Since this was my first time seeing them in concert it was truly a wonder to see them perform the songs I had listened to countless times but had yet to see live.

(The Decemberists Concert)

So, my dear readers, I hope you are enjoying the crisp autumn air and enjoying all things pumpkin flavored. It was a wonderful summer and, up until the aforementioned loan issues arose, I would have said it was the best summer I've had in a long time. This post marks the end of my blogging hiatus. As for my vlog, well, that might take a bit of time to return to as it takes a lot of work. But please, be patient, good things come to those who wait.

Much Love,
Hayleigh

July Thoughts: Adventures and Nostalgia

Ok, I know its August but whats a girl to do?

I don't know about the rest of you, but there are some days when I crave the joy of wrapping myself in a blanket, sitting on the couch and popping in any number of my Disney favorites. Oh, and did I mention that I do all this whilst going to town on a gigantic bowl of cereal? (P.S. I'm eating a mug-full right now)

Weirdly,  I have been experiencing this childish urge a lot more frequently as of late. Perhaps its because I haven't quite gotten used to the fact that I, a woman in my mid 20's, is supposed to be a fully functioning adult with a 40 hour-a-week job?  Perhaps its because the summer heat has me retreating to the cool embrace of the air conditioning? Or, could it be something more sinister creeping up inside my brain....nostalgia.

It doesn't quite add up given that I spent the majority of my childhood playing outside. I was never that kid who spent hours upon hours seated in front of the television. And yet, lately, my sudden craving for old animated favorites hasn't subsided. Sure, over the past few years there were times every now and then when I'd pop in an old Disney/ Pixar flick just because. But lately its the only thing I want to watch, listen to, or draw.

Once I actually sat down and thought about it, I discovered the reason why.

It dawned on me when I went to "The Science Behind Pixar" exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science (check out my instagram). I saw at least three different generations of people crowding around the entrance, eager to discover what lay just beyond the purple doors. Sure, I expected the little kids to be excited, but there were also quite a few adults there that I swear were even more excited than the kids!

Why?

Because Disney/Pixar movies are one of the few things that help bridge the gap between generations. Even my grandparents remember when Snow White graced the silver screen. My parents saw Disney movies when they were younger and, when they became parents, they took me to see them in theaters. Now, even in my 20's, I make paintings  of characters from "Frozen" to bring as a gift to kids' birthday party's. 

I know that when I have my own kids, Disney films will only have become infinitely more awesome. Maybe we will all have hologram t.v's by then. Even so, those Disney people are marketing geniuses, so there is little doubt in my mind that the old Disney films will continuously updated, recreated, or even rebooted (I loved the live action Cinderella). 

My main point that I am trying to make here is that no matter how old be get, Disney will always be there as a safe haven for our inner child. Whether you are a young girl who pretends to be a mermaid whenever she goes for a swim, a boy who longs for adventure like Peter Pan, or an old man whose preferred method of travel is via thousands of balloons. At the end of the day, we will continue to carry a bit of that Disney magic with us to infinity....and beyond.

Much Love,
Hayleigh

(see what I did there?)

Casual Workplace Cosplay: Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite

 First, let me offer a little intro. When  I first got the idea to do a series of "Casual Workplace Cosplay" posts on my blog, I'll admit, I had no idea how the heck I was going to pull it off.  Most outfits from anime, comic books or even video games are often so elaborate that they can only be shown off at places like Comic-Con. How could I manage to create an outfit that was true to the source material yet still make it workplace appropriate? I was determined though...I had to get the creative juices flowing and create something that my fellow nerds would appreciate and, hopefully, wear. Why should Cosplay be limited to special events right? Why can't we show off our nerdy side and embody the characters we know and love, even when we are sitting in a cubicle?

I got a lot of great feedback from you guys as to which Cosplay I should begin with (suggestions I will most definitely be using in future posts). But for me, there was only one choice....mostly because I already had the outfit:

From Irrational Games'  award winning video game....

Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite.

"Bring us the girl, and wipe away the debt."

 (P.S. If you want a summary of what the game is about, click here)

 I have been obsessed with this game since I saw the first saw the first screenshots. The visual design is incredible and the story even more so. The outfit I created is kind of a combination of the three Elizabeth's you meet in the video game (hint: the game involves a bit time travel) . I wanted to stick with the color scheme of blue and white and keep the basic structure of white top, blue skirt, black boots. I also added a little jacket which reminded me of the one she wears throughout most of the game (although with shorter sleeves).

Here is the finished product.

 I have actually had all of these pieces in my wardrobe for quite a while. Initially, I entertained the idea of going out and buying new items, but I thought the ones I already had were perfect. They have a contemporary, timeless feel to them. Plus, what's the point of spending excess money when I already have what I need?

 

Looking at different pictures of Elizabeth I noticed that, although her clothes change during the course of the game, they all have a very tailored look to them. This was perfect for creating a cosplay that is workplace friendly.

The setting for these pictures was the tower at Quabbin Resevoir in Massachusetts. In the game, you first encounter Elizabeth in a tower in the floating city of Columbia. Needless to say, this was the perfect place to shoot! :)

Sorry for all the wrinkles, I suck at ironing...

For those of you that have played the game, I'm sure you know that Elizabeth's main outfit is a white corset and a long blue skirt. Since a corset is definitely not workplace appropriate, I opted instead for this white sleeveless button up. It went very well with the blue midi skirt I had.

When it came to the shoes, I went  with a very simple black ankle high boots.

As for accessories,  I went with this rather unique medallion which is actually a quarter that's been laser-cut. It was perfect as it had that same vintage Americana feel that is so prominent in the game itself. It also reminded me of Songbird, the clockwork creature that guards Elizabeth in the tower.

Sooo windy! But I had to do one shot outside at least :)

I hope you enjoyed this first installment of my "Casual Workplace Cosplay" series! More to come soon enough :) Please feel free to shoot me some suggestions in the comments!

Photography by Scott Kurland

Jacket// (Similar)
Top: Target //(Similar) (Similar) (Similar)
Skirt: Comme Toi //(Similar) (Similar) (Similar)
Shoes: Forever21// (Similar) (Similar) (Similar)
Necklace: Handmade// (Similar)

Much Love,
Hayleigh

June Thoughts: Love Wins...

 

Forgive me for waiting to write this post 'till the start of July. I had a lot of family and friend related events to attend and, as this month came to a close, I entertained the idea of skipping this post altogether. Though as I was driving home from work today it began to downpour. Looking out from my car I saw a beautiful rainbow.....a lovely reminder of what came to pass this month. Needless to say I took it as a sign that I should make the effort to type out my thoughts for the month of June.

Anyway, the theme for this post... is love.

Who says love is only for February right?

We experience so many different types of love throughout our lives. The love we have for family comes first and stays with us throughout our lives. Then there's the love we have for friends we make. As we become more aware of the world around us, our concept of love expands beyond the people we encounter. The love we have for material objects, (such as our favorite toy) comes next, followed shortly by the love for certain activities like sports, painting, playing video games, or even blogging ;).

Then of course, there's.... that love. You know the love I'm talking about. Its the love you experience when that special person holds your hand, and all at once your heart feels heavy, like its rooted to the ground.... yet it also feels so light it could be carried away with the faintest breeze. If I had to pick which of the types of love changes the most over the years in terms of its strength and its endurance, it would be this one. This type of love is not for the faint of heart as it gives you strength, yet it leaves you simultaneously vulnerable. And, most importantly, its a type of love that everyone deserves, no matter who you are.

This month, America opened itself to love, and it brought me great joy to see the many celebratory tweets, pictures, videos and even flags. I am so grateful for the fact that, when I have children of my own, they will have the good fortune to be born in a country where the law of the land gives them the right to marry whomever they choose (beyond the borders of Massachusetts now). When I speak to them of the fight or marriage equality, it will be a fight that happened in the past and it will not be one they have to wait for with bated breath. It took us a while to get to this point, but I am glad my generation had privilege to witness such great change. 

Why?

 Because from this singular event, my generation has proof that the love we experience over the course of our lives inspires us to do great things.

It pushes us to pursue the things we want out of life, through the activities that have grown to become our passion. In our pursuit of other things, we also learn that the inner force that drives us can also fuel our fight for those we love.

It teaches us to share in the material things we love, whether that thing is the toy dinosaur that you've had since kindergarten, a home where all the worldly possessions you have acquired reside, or even the sharing of symbols such as rings.  Through sharing we learn the value of the material and immaterial. Through sharing we learn humility, we learn collaboration, and we learn sacrifice.

It allows us to grow through our relationship with others. Through friendship, we learn acceptance, loyalty, joy, compassion and, if its right, friendship can also blossom into romance. 

It grants us the happiness that comes with being a part of a family and starting one of your own if you so choose. Through family we learn that love is unconditional and enduring. Through family, we learn that love knows no race, ethnicity, or gender. 

Love is strange, unpredictable, and wonderful. And most importantly...

 It always wins. 

Much Love...Always,

Hayleigh

Dinos and Damsels: Exploring the Claire Controversy

Of all the things currently floating  around the ether of the internet, one thing in particular has  captured my attention. Its a movie that has a ton of dinosaurs... as well as critics, bearing their teeth.

Of course, I'm talking about Jurassic World.
 Fair warning, this may come off as a bit of a rant.

I saw this movie three times in theaters (including IMAX) and was, overall, very pleased (otherwise why go for a second and third viewing right?). It had plenty of references to the films predecessor (the very first Jurassic Park, not those other crappy sequels), the scenes involving dinosaurs both old and new were visually stunning, and the story, while predictable, was done pretty damn well.
That brings me to the characters of the story, or rather, one in particular....Claire. Claire, who serves as the park's Operations Manager. Claire, the woman who many consider to be the protagonist of the movie. Claire, whose icy, career-driven demeanor and high heels garnered a lot of rage from critics and fans alike, most notably Joss Whedon (if you don't know who that is, what are you even doing on my here?) who stated that Claire's role in the movie echoed 70's era sexism. Joss tweeted:
 "She’s a stiff, he’s a life-force—really? Still?”
I had to admit, there were many scenes in this film involving Claire that reminded me of Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom as Chris Pratt secured his role as the rough- around-the-edges action hero. Appropriate, as it was also directed by Speilberg and Pratt will soon star as the whip cracking archeologist/adventurer.  Pratt's Character, Owen, must brave the dangers of the 65 million year old wilderness, all with the bickering damsel in tow who ultimately falls for him (a.k.a Claire played by Bryce Dallas Howard).
But, is the movie Jurassic World really as sexist as critics are saying? Is the character of Claire really worth such disdain?

To answer that, I'm going to break it down here and address the specific criticisms people have in relation to the films sexist attitude.

1. The caricature of a modern career woman.
In the film, Claire is portrayed as a workaholic whose maternal compass doesn't exactly point north. When her nephews arrive on Ilsa Nublar, she all but ignores them (at least until she learns that Indominus Rex might be using their bones to pick its teeth). There is even one scene where Claire has a conversation with her sister and they exchange banter about when...if...when Claire will have children of her own. I all but groaned during the entirety of that conversation as it vaguely implied that Claire is incomplete without a brood of her own to take care of. Amazing job be damned woman! How dare you maintain a career you are proud of! This isn't to say that motherhood isn't a career unto itself. It is. But was this conversation between sisters even necessary? Did it add anything to the film? Put simply, the answer to both questions, is no. And while Claire might have initially opted out of spending quality time with her nephews, its not like she tried to feed them to the Mosasaurus either. A woman's status isn't dependent upon whether or not she has a family of her own, nor is it whether she has a career. Having one does not simply negate the other.

To be fair, while I do believe that writer and director, Colin Trevorrow could have given Claire's character a bit more depth, I personally think Claire's demeanor is not so much a caricature of the modern career woman as it is a caricature of what the park itself has become. If you really think about it, in this movie Claire takes the place of John Hammond, the man responsible for the park's existence. If you are not convinced, take a look at John and Claire's outfits when they are first introduced:
Ta Da!

 They are both wearing all white. White is also the color of naivety, a trait both Claire and Hammond share.

Both Claire and Hammond also express a desire for the park to expand, but in vastly different ways. Despite his age, Hammond's character is very childlike when it comes to his beloved park. Although he created the park from the ground up, his excitement is that of someone who is seeing it all for the first time (just look at him in the picture above). His main priority is the joy Jurassic Park will bring to the world, hence the whole "spare no expense" mantra.
Claire on the other hand, looks at everything like she's seeing numbers. Where someone sees a dinosaur she sees a dollar sign. Claire is the embodiment of  what Jurassic Park has become over the past decades; a theme park whose main goal is to create bigger and better attractions (within a viable profit margin). As Claire herself states in the film "kids now look at a stegosaurus like its an elephant." All of the joy and wonder of dinosaurs that was captured in the first movie has fallen prey to what became the death of the original dinosaurs: time (well, that and a meteor six miles wide but that doesn't really suit the poetic meaning I'm going for here.)

Anyway, back to the whole sexist thing...

2. The Outfit//Running in Heels
Besides the symbolic color of Claire's outfit, many people on the internet seem to take issue with the ensemble itself as well as the fact that this character spends the majority of her time running in heels. What do I have to say to that ladies and gentlemen?
Big F*@ing Deal....
Was it practical for Claire to don a skirt and high heels while traipsing through the prehistoric jungle? No! But guess what...Why should it be practical? Unlike Dr. Ellie Sattler (see pic below), from the first film, Claire isn't a Paleobotanist. Why would we expect to see her in a hiking boots and shorts when she has a cushy office job. Her outfit of a skirt, high heels and a flowy blouse suits her environment, just as Dr. Sattler's outfit suited her's. That being said, I did find the fact that Claire's skirt gets ripped up her left thigh a bit ridiculous, that was totally an excuse to show a bit of skin.

3. Her "Romance" with Chris Pratt's character Owen. 
I do agree with Joss Whedon regarding the overall dichotomy of Claire and Owens relationship. It is exactly as he says, shes a control freak, hes a rebel. I know opposites attract, but still, to say these two are lacking in chemistry is putting it gently. The only thing that we, the audience have to go on as to what sparked their initial attraction is that it is revealed early in the movie that the two went out on a date in the past....one that did not go well.
I know that the writers used the differences between these two characters to infuse a bit of comedy in the movie. Personally though, I would have found it more interesting if their "one date" past was replaced with more of a shared history, one where the two had a deeper relationship that simply lost its spark and they had to find it again. That would have been more compelling story as far as the romantic part of this movie was concerned.
I will say, neither one does all the heavy lifting in this movie. The two do save each other an equal number of times. I suppose that accounts for Chris Pratts final line in the movie "We should stick together, for survival." Still though, that line and this romance seemed very outdated. I don't care if the two are frolicking amidst the dinosaurs, it takes place in the 21st century for crying out loud!

4. Embracing ones "Femininity".
This kind of elaborates on what I already stated in point number 1. I've seen a lot of articles/tweets stating that Claire's whole journey throughout the  movie culminate into her learning how to be more "motherly" and therefore more "feminine." I don't think this is necessarily true or, at the very least, wasn't intentional on the part of the writers. As I said before, the minute Claire becomes aware that her nephews are in danger, she springs into action. She may be a bit of a perfectionist, but she certainly isn't heartless. Also, side note... implying that a woman who doesn't have children isn't feminine is extremely insulting. Likewise, looking after children doesn't necessarily make a woman "motherly" it just makes her a good human being. I could go on and on regarding this point....but  for the sake of being succinct I'd rather not.

Overall, If somebody asked me directly if I thought this movie was sexist...I would offer them a casual shoulder shrug and a hesitant "sort of". It would be far too easy to see Claire's character in black and white, especially since not all the women in this movie fit a single mold. For instance, Vivian, played by Lauren Lapkus had many facets to her character, even though her time on screen is extremely short. Shes very bright, interesting, warm and professional (even with a dino-hybrid on the loose). (Spoilers!) When her coworker tries to play hero and kiss her, she stops him and tells him point blank that she has a boyfriend whom she didn't care to mention as she wanted to keep her private life private. With such a strong, positive female role model like Vivian around, it begs the question...why the hell isn't she in charge?!




But I want to know your thoughts dear readers. What did you think of Jurassic World? What did you think of the women in this film? Does it's portrayal of women fall short when compared to other films such as Mad Max: Fury Road? Tell me below in the comments!

Much Love,
Hayleigh

May Thoughts: Graduation and Being Kind to Yourself

(Source)

It's hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that just one year ago yesterday, May 17th,  I was walking in my college graduation ceremony; my head filled with aspirations as well as fear. At the time, I honestly had no idea what I, or my life, would be like a year from that point.
 Lets recap, shall we? 
Over the past year I have moved a total of three times, left two jobs, and had countless meltdowns along the way. The first 6 to 8 months after graduation felt like an endless April, where mayhem and mishaps rained upon me like I was sitting under a permanent thundercloud. I had a wonderful support system to guide me through it, but I still wondered if there would every come a day when the storm would clear.
Thankfully, that day finally came... slowly, but it eventually arrived.
 I learned very quickly after college that its good to have a life infused with a certain amount of unpredictability. A little variety is what makes life fun. However, I also learned that "unpredictability" loses it's luster very quickly when you have no solid foundation on which to stand. Ultimately, I succeeded in my fight to achieve my independence.Hurray! In hindsight though, I realize that I was a bit harsh with myself along the way...something I have come to regret. My decisions were my own, but nevertheless I agonized over the smallest things. The hardest thing was dealing with the fact that even the best laid plans can slide through your fingertips like sand.  

No one can prepare you for what life will be like after college; granted, they say the same thing about having a child for the first time. I find that to be an incredible coincidence, especially considering that once you graduate college, its up to you to, essentially, "raise yourself." Sure, your parents can help you with certain things, but ultimately it's YOUR job to make sure you pay your college loans on time, to make sure you take your car in for routine maintenance, to wake yourself up before you sleep through your alarm in the morning, and to get yourself to your job interview on time.

I know that last paragraph came off as lecture-y. I don't mean for it to be. After all, in case you didn't notice from the picture at the beginning of this post, the overall message is not to push yourself to perfection.That is impossible to achieve and don't bother even trying. Its just not going to happen. Also, after college I wasted countless hours comparing my success (or lackthereof) to others in my age group. Don't bother doing that either. It wont do you any good. The one thing I want you, dear reader, to take from this post is that, once you find yourself in the process of "adulting' as they say, there will be times when you need to give yourself a swift kick in the butt and there will be many more times where you need to be gentle with yourself.  Be gentle with yourself for not doing the dishes right away and opting for takeout a bit too much, be gentle with yourself for letting the laundry pile up in that corner while you focus on adjusting your resume for the hundredth time, Be gentle with yourself for not always landing that job interview, be gentle with yourself when you see on social media how well your other classmates are doing, be gentle with yourself when you lie awake at night and cry because it all gets to be a little too much...

But mostly dear reader, remember, don't stop trying, because part of being gentle with yourself is holding on to the fact that your happiness is important and its worth fighting for.

Much Love,
Hayleigh

A Weekend At The Boston Independent Film Festival

Sorry that I haven't written a post in a while. I'm still getting adjusted to having a consistent 40 hour work week. Not that I'm complaining, I love my job. I just need to find my own rhythm again when it comes to pursuing my creative endeavors. Anyway, I digress...
 

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Boston's Independent Film Festival for the first time ever. I had no idea what to expect. I've never been to a lot of festival's to begin with; but a film festival? This was something completely new for me.
I could've just seen just one film, but I opted to see four. Why not get into the festival spirit right?
So last Thursday night my little indie-film adventure began. All the films I got tickets for were playing at the Somerville theater, and let me just say, finding parking there was a nightmare. If you ever find yourself going to a movie, let alone a movie festival at the Somerville theater, be sure to get there at at least an hour early! Space is limited!
First came the parking, next came the waiting. Even though I had a premium ticket for the movie I saw that night, the only thing that separated me from the standard ticket-holders is that my line was located on a different side of the theater. One really great perk though was that the festival volunteers came over to us with buckets of free goodies like potato chips, coffee and salted caramels. Given that my post-college policy specifies never turning down free food, I grabbed what I could, making my bag all the heavier.
I have to say, the interior of the Somerville theater is far more decorative than its exterior. It has a very vintage movie theater hipster vibe. My favorite part though had to be the owl lights that lined the rows of seats. You can check out a picture of them I took here on Instagram. I want those lights in my bedroom.
On my second night of the festival I saw two movies in a row, something which I have never done before. You wouldn't think all that waiting could be so exhausting, but it is. Not to mention that I almost didn't make it to one of them because of the parking situation. Close call doesn't even begin to cover it. Here's the thing; in Massachusetts, fighting over parking spaces can be a brutal and even bloody affair....they don't call us "Massholes" for nothing.

By the end of the third night, I was in relatively good spirits despite the fact that last movie I saw at the festival was, for lack of a better word, terrible (read the description of The Keeping Room). Still, it was a truly great experience and I do look forward to potentially going next year. I know that sounds super non-committal...but I will go provided I do more research on the movies that are playing
Now we come to my favorite part of the post. Below you will find my "Mini Reviews" for each of the movies I saw at the festival, some of them were really good, and others were....well...keep reading...


Slow West

This was the first movie I saw at the festival. It starred Michael Fassbender (aka: Magneto) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The voice of Laika's ParaNorman). The story focuses on a young Scottish boy named Jay who traverses the dangerous Colorado Plains in search of his lost love. On the way, he encounters bounty hunters, tribes of displaced Native Americans and the harsh elements of the American West. Needless to say, the kid is in over his head. This was an excellent start to the festival. I'm not really big on westerns, but this one held my interest. The performances are excellent and Fassbender really shines in his role as the bounty hunter/traveling companion. "Slow West" has all the hallmarks of a great western, but most of the violence occurs off-screen or is only partially shown (Something which another movie in my list should have done). This allows our minds to create the level of bloodshed we desire. If your a western fan, or you are just looking for a good action movie that keeps you in suspense, go see this movie.

7 Chinese Brothers
 

Honestly, I didn't know what to make of this movie. Make no mistake, Jason Schwartzman is great in his role as Larry, a deadbeat whose life is an endless booze cruise. I got a big kick out of Jason's clever quips and his devil-may-care attitude. And there were moments in the movie that truly made me laugh out loud. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself torn by whether or not I wanted the story to continue, or rather, whether it should continue. Jason's character does go through some level of character development, and its that transition that held my interest. Overall though, I didn't feel very invested in the story or any of the people in Larry's life for that matter. Except, of course, for Larry's dog which is actually Schwartzman's real life dog Arrow. I could have just watched the scenes containing only the dog an I would have walked out of the movie happier than I did. Even though there was a live Q and A with one of the actresses from the movie, I remained unimpressed. I even began to wonder at a certain point if the poor girl even remembered what actually happened in the movie. It might entertain some audiences, but for me, 7 Chinese Brothers was a very mixed bag.

The Keeping Room

Hailed for its supposedly feminist message, "The Keeping Room" intrigued me from the moment I read the movie description. Four women who have to defend themselves, and their home from soldiers during the Civil War? Sounds so promising! Right!?
WRONG! Warning, spoilers ahead!
I had such hopes for this movie. Truly I did. I thought for sure it was going to be the civil war version of "Home Alone," with three young women MacGyver-ing crazy traps made out of wood and petticoats. Nope. I thought the union soldiers stalking these women would run away with their tails between their legs. Nope. I thought that there would be some semblance of a happy ending! NOPE! What did I get? One of the women, named Augusta, is badly wounded, the youngest girl Louise  (16 at the most) is violently raped, and the third woman, Mad, loses her long lost love after he comes to rescue them (as he gets accidentally shot during the fire-fight that ensues). Depressing doesn't even begin to cover it! Don't get me wrong, the level of acting in this movie is high caliber; perhaps even a bit too good at times. The overall problem that I have with this movie is that it doesn't deliver a feminist message. Sure, all the women make it out alive. But you get the sense that all of them are basically dead inside by the end; not only because of the horrors they endured, but also because none of them truly got a "win" throughout this entire film. Oh, and their house that they tried so hard to defend? BURNED! This is just a movie about suffering in all its forms. Do yourself a favor and skip seeing this movie.

Iris

 

Now we come to the part of the post where I discuss my favorite movie of the festival which, surprisingly, turned out to be a documentary! Iris focuses on the life of Iris Apfel, a vibrant,  93 year old icon whose is widely known in the fashion community as "The Rare Bird of Fashion." Through the lens of Albert Maysles, the audience gets an an in-depth look into Iris' life as a former White House interior designer, a collector of costume jewelry and of course, a prominent artist in the New York fashion scene. I found this glasses-loving-gal both witty and charming. She delivers so many great one liners that I only had a moments rest before I was laughing again. This woman is in a word...incredible. All the things she has accomplished, the places shes been; its just so inspiring. However, if I had to pick one aspect that I loved most about this documentary, its the light that it shines on Iris's marriage. The love shared between Iris and her husband Carl was too adorable for words. There is even a scene where she wordlessly places a blanket around Carl while he is being interviewed, to which he responds by stating into the camera "She thought I was cold, she was right!" If that isn't love, I don't know what is.
Rather than shrinking away from this woman's unique and quirky style, the fashion world embraced her with open arms. And even if you don't consider yourself particularly interested in fashion, I encourage you to embrace this documentary. Iris is the woman we all wish was our grandmother, filled with wit and, more importantly, wisdom. As she herself says: "I don't care about pretty, I don't like pretty. The whole world might be against me, but I don't care."
If you opt out of seeing all the other movies listed in my post, at least see this one.

Well that about wraps it up for this post! Again, sorry for not writing more consistently, I'll try to be more productive in the future ;)

Much Love,
Hayleigh

April Thoughts: Goodbye Winter!

 

Hello Spring! Goodbye Winter!

Okay...I know the first day of spring was a few weeks back but lets be honest, it hasn't really felt like spring until now. I know April is famous for its showers, but I will take showers over snow any day. So help me, if I see so much as one more snowflake fall from the sky there will be consequences...

But I digress.

This morning I was pleasantly awoken (those two words form a paradox) by birds chirping outside my window. And when I went for my run, I saw buds on the trees! This means its about to get a whole lot green around here, and, sadly, it also means I will soon be suffering from the customary bout of springtime allergies. I have waited what seems like an eternity for the temperature to remain consistently above 55. Fortunately, all the snow has melted. Still, it feels like I'll be waiting a bit longer before I can twirl around in a sundress.

I know for many people, New Years is usually the time to commit to change. They promise themselves to start eating better, to exercise more, to commit to positivity. But as I said in my New Years Resolutions Video, such changes are difficult to make in the middle of winter when its cold and miserable and all you want to do is curl up in a ball on your couch with a bowl of steaming mac-and- cheese. I personally prefer to commit to self-change in the spring, when the warm sun helps fuel my motivation. With that said,here are my goals for spring:

1. Go outside and explore!
2. Buy at least one flower crown.
3. Learn the Boston T system better so I can visit friends.
4. Commit to cardio at least three times a week.
5. Start writing more, no matter how tired you are.
6. Clean out my car and wash it.
7. Paint a beautiful springtime scene.
8.Stop abusing the snooze button on my morning alarm clock.
9. Do more vlogs outside.
10. Get a nice indoor plant.

Well, Thats all the goals I'm going to set for now, I'm sure by the time summer rolls around the list will have grown. Do you have any springtime suggestions for me? If you do, let me know down in the comments!

Much Love,
Hayleigh

Book Review: "The Coldest Girl In Coldtown" by Holly Black

I love books.

I love the texture, the smell, the feeling of turning page after page; but, if I had to pick what I loved about books the most, its the escape they offer from everyday life....and boy do I need to escape sometimes. 

So without further ado... this is the first of the many book reviews I plan on doing in the future, and what better way to start off than discussing the work of my favorite author: Holly Black

I first discovered Holly Black when I was in high school (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). The first of her novels I picked up was "Tithe" which is part of her " Modern Faerie Tales" trilogy. To this day, I cannot remember if Tithe was recommended to me by another individual or if I simply stumbled upon it in my local Barnes and Noble, what I do remember is how much I fell in love with the story and its characters. Tithe was also my first introduction to dark fantasy. And just as I found myself immersed in the second book in the  Modern Faerie Tales Trilogy, my brother found himself wandering the world of The Spiderwick Chronicles; Miss Black's most popular series which was subsequently made into a movie. 

Seeing that my eyeballs are magnetically drawn to anything with Holly Blacks name on it, I purchased "The Coldest Girl In Coldtown" in a most expedient fashion. It took me a while to finish as my schedule became very hectic over the past few months, but as of last night I found myself experiencing what I refer to as "post-literary-withdrawal"; an affliction characterized by extreme sadness that you have just finished reading a truly good story.

So what is my full opinion on "The Coldest Girl In Coldtown?"
Well, in the words of the owl from the Tootsie Pop commercial...Lets find out...

Book Cover

THE STORY
Tana wakes up after a high school party one morning and, instead of finding herself surrounded by red solo cups, she finds herself surrounded by corpses...(hows that for a beginning, huh?). Why? Because of a certain blood loving, sunlight-fearing infestation that now plagues the human race; that's right...Vampires. Once bitten by a vampire, you become infected, or as they say in the book you "go cold" and its not until you drink human blood that you become a vampire. All of Tana's friends are dead-aside from her exboyfriend, Aiden (who has been bitten and tied up as a "leftover" so to speak) and a mysterious but docile vampire she finds shackled next to him who goes by the name of Gavriel. Against her better judgment, she manages to rescue both of them before the fanged menace who murdered her classmates returns. However, it is during their escape that she herself is bitten, leaving her and her companions with a short time to get to one of the walled cities known as Coldtowns. Coldtowns are essentially the governments solution to a world overrun by Vampires; quarantined areas where both Vampires and humans (both infected and non-infected) live together. Tana believes that by taking them all to Coldtown, she is  saving her loved ones, and herself, from unnecessary peril. But there is far more to the Coldtowns, and their history, than meets the eye, and her new vampire "friend" Gavriel has a few secrets of his own.
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WHAT I LOVED
Not gonna lie, when I first read the back of the cover in Barnes & Noble, I had no clue this was gonna be a Vampire story.  There was no mention of the V-word anywhere (clever girl..) and, as far as fantasy goes, this is a new chapter for Holly Black; who has always stuck mainly to fairy lore. However, after reading the the entire book, I can firmly state that it wasn't really a major deviation for Mrs. Black or her writing style. The story maintains a satisfying balance of  the dark, the elegant, and the witty. Her characters have complex backgrounds; infused with plenty of emotion and a touch of madness. The only difference that distinguishes this book from Mrs. Black's previous books, is that this one keeps you "on the edge" throughout the whole story. It doesn't have that slow buildup, or peacefully quiet moments that you might find in her other books (not that there is anything wrong with those other things). No matter what happens in the story, you always have fear that Game-of- Thrones-Style-Feeling that someone will die or, in some cases, die and become the undead. And, big surprise...they do! There is a lot of bloodshed (and blood-drinking) in this book, not to mention Tana's horrific back-story. Sometimes this can bring a story down because all the violence can distract you from anything truly meaningful about the characters themselves. That, happily, is not the case with "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown."
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FAVORITE QUOTE
"Maybe it's just us, us with a raging hunger, us with a couple of accidental murders under our belt. Humanity with the training wheels off the bike, careening down a steep hill. Humanity freed from the the constraints of consequence and gifted with power. Humanity, grown away from all things human."
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WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
There was only one thing I didn't like about the book and this may sound a bit nitpickish, especially for someone who considers herself a huge admirer of Holly Black's work. But, I didn't feel like the main character's name  suited her very well. All of the characters in Holly Back's other books have names that seem to fit the character's personality or the world they occupy; the name "Tana" didn't seem worthy of either. I cannot pinpoint exactly why I feel this way, its not as if the main character doesn't deserve an usual name; shes not an ordinary girl. Perhaps if it had been made to be more unusual (like adding an "H" at the end), it wouldn't have bothered me so much. However, this one minor critique.
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CONCLUSION: A

I truly enjoyed this book. As always, Holly Black delivers a superb story with clever characters. I would recommend it to anyone, especially those desiring to read a good Vampire story without any sparking...

New Video: 50 FACTS ABOUT ME :)

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Much Love,

-Hayleigh

March Thoughts: Money On My Mind

 

I don't know if its because of St. Patty's day, the fact that I can see the first sprigs of grass appearing amidst the melting snow, or simply because its my favorite color, but March has me seeing green...

And by green, I mean money.

I know that sounds terrible. After all, I'm a firm defender of the whole "money cant buy you happiness" principle.  But bear with me here as I continue my stream-of-consciousness-style typing. Up until three weeks ago I was an anxiety ridden mess who, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, had the good and also very bad fortune of finding herself among the unemployed. 

Why good? 

Because It gave me time to focus on projects like finding a new job.

Why bad?

Because I had to find a new job.

It was difficult, but as of three weeks ago, I managed to secure a really good job; one where I actually don't mind getting up early in the morning (Go Me!). After what I experienced in my previous job, I didn't believe such a thing was even possible. Though I dare say I have become a bit too dependent on coffee....but I digress.

With no job in sight and absent of a steady paycheck coming my way, my anxiety was at an all time high. What if I ran out of money? What if I missed the deadline for one of my loan payments? What if it took me months before I found another job? And what if, god forbid, it was like the previous one? Fortunately, none of those scenarios happened. This whole experience has given me a new appreciation for my parents, who have had to deal with the ups and downs of the job market for longer than I've been alive. That being said, I suppose the whole "worrying about money" concept is a serious milestone in the beginning stages of adulthood. And when I say worrying about money, I am not talking about "saving-for-that-concert" or "buying-that-dress" type of money saving. I am talking about financially mapping out your future. Some people start early when it comes to prepping their finances; others much too late. As for me? I don't honestly don't know where I am on that scale, but I'm hoping I'm on the early side of things.

I know how to balance a checkbook, I have a basic concept of what an IRA is, and I know when to save and when to hoard away my money like Smaug in The Hobbit. But do I know how to file taxes? No (my parents helped me). Do I know when or how to apply for a credit card? No. Do I know when I'll ever finish paying off my student loans....definitely not, but I shall consult the magic 8-ball on the matter because, lets face it, that's the only foresight I currently have (cue the violent shaking).

As I type, I know this whole thing is sounding like one of those lectures your parents gave you as you drove back to college to begin a new semester. I honestly don't mean for it to sound like that. I suppose I'm just nostalgic for the time when I didn't have to worry about establishing  a line of credit in order to apply for future loans, paying back current student loans, or if I'll ever be able to afford a house. I fondly remember a time when those concerns couldn't even penetrate my much younger skull....those were the days my friends....those were the days...

 I have had many safety nets to rescue me from the many pitfalls of life. However, this realization is accompanied by another; the realization that, in planning for the future...my finances will slowly play a greater role. Money certainly cannot buy happiness, that is an absolute fact, but if you plan accordingly, you need not worry about something as trivial as money getting in the way of your real goals. Cash is cold and hard, but life is too sometimes.

Maybe I'm just typing away like a madwoman here...does anyone else feel the same way? Share the same thoughts? Anybody else reach this milestone in adulthood? Let me know down in the comments.

As always, much love..

-Hayleigh

The Vintage Barn: My Favorite Store

If you ever find yourself in Massachusetts, do me a favor, take a little trip down the Daniel Shays Highway. Keep driving until you come to the center of Belchertown, drive though the light and bear left on to Mill Valley Rd. Stop driving when you see this...

 Congratulations, you have just found one of Belchertown's best kept secrets .
This ladies and gents, is The Vintage Barn, a.k.a my favorite store.

  Warning! this post contains a TON of photos (I couldn't help myself).

Vintage Barn: Exterior

I first discovered the Vintage Barn on an outing with my mom. We were just driving around; which is another way of saying we went shopping. It wasn't until the end of our journey that we happened to stumble upon this little red building. We turned into the parking lot, not thinking anything of it. I was impressed by all of the beautiful antiques placed on the porch, but it wasn't until I stepped inside that I had an Alice-falling-down-the rabbit-hole experience.

Talk about a treasure chest! There was just so much to look at...if it wasn't vintage, unique, sparkling, or just plain gorgeous, it wasn't in the store. The store also features the work of local craftsman. As I said in my previous post, my personal style leans toward the side of whimsy. Needless to say, I was in heaven . Seriously, there was something special tucked into every nook and cranny. We immediately received a very warm welcome from the stores owner Lisa Allen, who has since become a very good friend. After looking around...for quite a while (Seriously, my dad called and asked if we were ever coming home), I made my first purchase; an absolutely gorgeous lamp which is sitting on the table to my right as I type this.

Whenever I go into the Vintage Barn, my wallet practically opens itself. That is not to say that I spend a fortune whenever I go there; quite the contrary. Everything at the vintage barn is fairly priced and entirely unique. Aside from the lamp I mentioned earlier, some other purchases I have made include: a chandelier made to look like a tea-set, a metal "@" symbol to hang on my wall and a packet of barbecue-spice rub which was made locally.

Try some of the free samples!

Wanna see some of my favorite items I discovered on my most recent trip? Scroll on down!

This box of felted mushrooms :)

These adorable pink baby slippers!

Homemade Candles

Vintage Signs

Hand-knitted hats, scarves and socks 

Sparkly!

Spotted some infinity scarves in the corner

cute pillows 

If you want to discover the rest of what the store has to offer you can check out their Facebook Page

or you can pop on by for a visit. Oh and one more thing...

I want to take him home with me!

If you happen to see this friendly ball of fluff in the store, don't be alarmed, his name is Buddy and he is the store mascot. Be sure to say hi to him when you walk through the door.

Seriously, if you ever find yourself in Western MA, go to the Vintage Barn. Step inside, have a free fresh cup of coffee (oh yeah, they have that too!), say hi to Lisa and buy yourself something nice. I promise you wont regret it! :)

Much Love
-Hayleigh

New Video! "What's On My Bookshelf?"

One of my biggest obsessions is collecting books. I cant aptly explain the high I get just by going into a bookstore and bringing home some new reading material. I'd like to think that, when I die, my ghost will haunt Barnes & Noble. Wanna know what books are currently sitting on my bookshelf? Check out the video below!

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How To Tastefully Geek-Up Your Workspace

 I don't know if its because of my artistic temperament or its simply a Libra thing, but its always been extremely important to me that I feel comfortable in whatever space I claim as my own. This means that, be it desk or bedroom, my inner interior designer will take over and start changing things to suit my own personal aesthetic which, weirdly enough,  lies somewhere at the intersection of whimsical, nerdy and contemporary. Growing up I was very fortunate to have parents that gave me the freedom to do whatever I wanted with my bedroom... including painting a mural on my door. Now that I am older and have even more freedom, I find myself devoting even more time to finding bits and pieces that I can use to dress up whatever area I occupy.

Since I will be starting a new job soon (hurray!), I thought it might be fun to do a post about creating an ideal workspace that tastefully shows off your inner geek. After all, if most of your day is spent in a cubicle, its important that you create a space you actually enjoy working in. Unless of course you are a minimalist who prefers to focus their creative energy elsewhere...nothing wrong with that. :)

Dressing up a cubicle is challenging . You don't have much space to work with and, depending on where you work, your creativity might be restricted to a few items. Furthermore, as most jobs require you work in close quarters with others, you have to be careful not to go overboard when it comes to bringing in items that suit your personality. However, if you have a serious geeky side like me, designing your workspace is easy because you can incorporate any number of items across a wide spectrum (especially technology!). Whether it be the mug you put your morning coffee in or the mouse pad you use, creating a geeky workspace can be a fun process.

Here are a few ideas for you to transform your workspace from boring and drab to a nerds paradise!

1. These awesome Test Tubes for organizing desk supplies

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I cant believe I never thought of this! This is perfect for anyone working in a science-related field or for anyone looking to creatively organize those pesky paper clips. This particular set is available from ModCloth and it comes fully stocked with the supplies shown according to the reviews. But, in my opinion, its a bit pricy. If you are determined enough I'm sure you could find the supplies to make a cheaper version. 

2. Make a Nerdy Terrarium!

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Why settle for a boring office plant when you could have an awesome terrarium with stuff from your favorite fandom inside?! I particularly like this doctor who-inspired terrarium shown above which also comes with a DIY description on this lovely blog I found. I also found pictures of of some other geeky terrariums inspired by Star Wars, The Hobbit and Adventure Time. I want to make one with a Totoro in it :)

3.  Lego Calendar

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I don't care who you are you never outgrow playing with Legos! They make everything awesome (see what I did there?). Basically, this puzzle calendar gives you an excuse to play with Legos everyday. What could be better than that?

4. Tetris Desk Lamp

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Want a cool desk lamp that will save space? This Tetris lamp is the perfect choice. Actually, thinking about it, anything with a ton of color in it is a good choice for an office.

5. Game of Thrones Letter Openers

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 These letter openers inspired by swords from Game of Thrones will help you open the company mail and feel like a bad-ass at the same time! I think my weapon of choice would have to be Jon Snow's sword "Longclaw".

6.  Frame Fandom Artwork

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I am LOVING this art print someone did of my favorite show, Sherlock. Its simple yet creative and it reminds me of so many of my favorite moments from the show itself. It just fills my heart with glee.  Having something like this like this to look at in the workplace is a good idea especially when I start to feel really stressed. Or at the very least, it will help remind me to visit my mind palace when I'm faced with a problem I don't know how to solve. I highly recommend framing a bit of artwork from your favorite Fandom and sticking it in your cubicle.

7. Grab Yourself a Geek-Chic Mug

(Source)

It doesn't matter if you drink coffee or tea at work, what does matter is the mug you use to drink it! Ok, a little dramatic there...but seriously, there is nothing I like more than typing away on my computer with a steaming cup of whatever nearby and I'm sure I'm not the only one. What's even better is that the mug I use has a design or quote on it that makes me smile. The mug shown above with a quote from the Tenth Doctor is a subtle way I can show off my Whovian pride at work.

 Okay! Thats all the suggestions I have for this post. Feel free to let me know in the comments if you have any other ideas, or if you plan on incorporating one from this post into your workspace. :)

Much Love,

Hayleigh