1. Mika - The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Ah, finally! It feels like it's been forever since Mika's debut album came out. More happy, upbeat, danceable songs sung at a ridiculously high pitch. Not gonna lie, I'm jealous he can see higher than I can.

2. Dragonette - Fixin To Thrill

Here's a band that I've been following for quite time. I have this thing for indie Canadian music, it's the patriot within me. Another sophomore album, although I was slightly disappointed... not that it's a bad album, I'm sure if this is the first time that you hear Dragonette, you'll fall in love with this album. It's just not quite as epic as their debut LP, Galore.

3. Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

I'm sure every one has "Bad Romance" stuck in their head at the moment. I while back I excepted Gaga into my life as my God. She hasn't failed to live up to the title yet. Not only has she presented me with this kickass CD, but the fates have given me tickets to her upcoming tour! In the name of the Lady, the Gaga, and the Fame Monster. Amen.

4. Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment

I am seriously flailing over this album. Probably my favourite albums of this year. I've always supported Adam, it's a shame I'm only mentioning him now. This album is amazing, with such a variety of songs. One moment you'll be grinding to an S&M lovefest and next you'll be crying like you're on your period to a love ballad. Yes, Adam, you are definitely here for my entertainment.

5. The Glee Soundtrack

If I have to explain why this is so, we are no longer friends. It's GLEE. Therefore, it is awesome. Why wouldn't you want it?

Merry Christmas Everyone! More gift ideas to follow!

Probably one of my biggest makeup secrets is MAC's Cream Color Base. I swear, this stuff works miracles. Sometimes, when in a rush, I just put this stuff on and run out the door - one of the benefits of a multi-purpose cosmetic that you can apply with your hands.

So what exactly does this stuff do? You know how celebrities seem to have that "glow" that pregnant mothers tend to get? It's usually high up on the cheekbones? That's what this stuff does; it makes you glow. Here's some great places to apply:

1. As said previously, high on the cheekbone. If you apply a rose-y blush to the apples of your cheeks, and the cream base on the high bone area, you get exactly that healthy celebrity "glow."

2. Corners of the eyes; this opens up the entire eye, and gives you an "awake" look. 

3. Just below the eyebrow, on the eyebrow bone; also opens up the eye.

For these purposes, I suggest you use the cream in the color "Hush."

4. As a lipgloss; for this I suggest "Fabulush," the taupe/brown colors look a little odd when used as a lip color.

5. Another great purpose for this item is that is a) can be used as a eyeshadow itself but also b) works amazingly well as a primer - applying a coat of the cream first and then the eyeshadow will make the shadow stick and last longer... even if the shadow is of poor quality!

If you're going to invest in one item of high quality makeup, make it this one. Seriously, MAC doesn't pay me to say this shit.

BUY HERE!

I have not been updating this place as of late. I prefer to blog about my life under f-locked journals so I can speak completely un-cencored. I tend not to hold anything back... still, I have this space that I could be using to speak and I'm not making any use of it.

This is the last mention of my private life on here, so pay attention... Lately life hasn't been treating me so well. I've had a rough past months adjusting to living in the US. I'm used to being able to walk over to a friend's house whenever I feel like it. I don't have that option anymore. People here are rude, not interested in creating relationships... they just want to graduate, party, and get the hell out of this place. I also went though a time of boy-troubles... you know, the typical story. Blah blah blah. 

This is something that Keltie Colleen, who I consider a friend of mine, said resently in her own journal, and it really spawned a new perspective of life on my own behalf, "Listen, you can't love someone into loving you back. You cannot even like someone into liking you back. Stop trying. It never works. The only thing we really have control of at any moment is how we allow ourselves to feel about that. It used to make me really sad, and now, I feel liberated. Why try to make a peanut butter sandwich when you have no jelly? Why not just grab a spoon and enjoy a big spoonful of the good stuff for yourself?"

The reason why I'm mentioning this is because when stuff turns to shit with me I tend to completely reinvent myself and move in a different direction. Then I get this sudden boost and I become passionate and that's when I start creating good things. It's like those musicians that write their best songs after the storm. I gain a new outlook, and then I realize how amazing my life is, I've just been focusing on one really crappy part of it.

I've decided I am going to be using this journal as a space to talk about fashion, music, advice and all the rest of that good stuff. I had wanted to do something like this for a while now, I always had thought it was a little pretentious. Regardless if it is or isn't I'm doing it. This is something that I know my friends back home will enjoy, I'm often known as the girl in my group with great skin, cool makeup tricks, etc. It was discussed a long time ago between Sarah and I that I should make makeup vlogs for Youtube... I'd much prefer to use my words rather than my face.  

If there's anything you would me to blog about, advice needed, trends to follow, yada yada, leave a comment.  

Buy now at: http://www.printfection.com/keltiecolleen

More to come shortly! :)

1. modcloth.com - Such a cute clothing site! I honestly could spend a whole day drooling over their clothes. Lots and lots of vintage peices. Just really really unbelievably cute clothes and accessories. Besty Johnson at a discount price? Yes please!

2. Britney Spears - She's back, bitch. I love this girl so much. Who could possibly hate her after her resent documentary? You go girl, you go.

3. Live in Chicago - I haven't even recieved my copy of this in the mail yet, and I'm already fangirling over it. Shane, you are amazing. The photos are breathtaking and the DVD seems to be the only thing out there cooler than play-dough. Congrats.

4. TEA - Created by the gods, obv. I'm really sick, and this is all that I've been having to drink lately. Extra honey please!

5. Hanna Beth - don't ask why, but for some reason I can't get enough of this girl lately. She seems to be such a sweetheart, and she's very pretty. Much love and good luck with your career. 

xo

Alicia Aida

However, it seems that my joy has been short-lived seeing how the state of California is currently lacking brains.

Marriage had been for years the religious union between a man and a woman, but who says what marriage truly is? We are leading into the twenty-first century and with a new day comes reestablished traditions. Imagine being refused from a civil right that everyone else is granted just because of who you are, and there’s isn’t anything to can do about it, because you can’t help being who you are. Who is anyone to deny a common right to a group of individuals based on an expression of prejudice? Homophobic reasoning is anything but compelling and is from an ideology with scientific logic to back it up.

Many believe that marriage is the institution between one man and one woman in holy matrimony in the presence of god. Supposedly marriage is for the procreation of our species strictly and that’s why we shouldn’t allow homosexuals to marry. According to these individuals, even with adopted children, same sex couples aren’t an ideal environment to raise young children. Others argue that by allowing same-sex marriage we’ll be starting a slope of mess that will lead to polygamy and other consequences. Another point many may argue that by allowing same-sex marriage to be legalized, we will be putting the religious institutes around North America in a situation where they cannot deny marrying the couple even when it goes against their personal beliefs, thus denying the church legal rights, and that same-sex marriage is an untried social ‘experiment’ in which the outcomes are unknown, therefore engaging our society in such environment could be harmful.

While many may believe such ideas, there is no absolute logic behind any of them. Firstly, the idea that “gay couples don’t provide the optimum environment in which to raise children”; many studies including “The Lesbian Mother” written by Bernice Goodman for the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (Vol. 43, 1983), “Sexual Identity of 37 Children Raised by Homosexual or Transsexual Parents” by Richard Green for the American Journal of Psychiatry (study #692, 1978), and “Gay Parents and Their Children: A Review of the Research and Practical Implications" by David Cramer for the Journal of Counseling & Development (study #504, 1986) have shown that the outcome of the child raised in such environments are practically the same as those of straight couple homes, the differences are said to be ‘insignificant.’ What makes the difference is the commitment of the child’s parents, rather than their gender, and regardless of sexual orientation you are able to present such commitment. As for the point that “marriage should only be used for procreation purposes” …then should post-menopausal women be denied the right to marry? Marriage is more about the love, sharing and commitment rather than the idea of procreating, and according to The Atlantic, a collection of literary articles that has been in business for over 150 years, one of our world’s biggest issues is over-populating and therefore an increase daily in anarchism. Perhaps having some couples who cannot procreate would do society some good.

Secondly, the idea that same-sex marriages will lead to polygamy, incest, bestial marriage etc.; such ideas are calculated to create fear within the eyes of others, without any value based on occurrence. If these consequences were fact, wouldn’t that have occurred in countries where forms of homosexual marriage had been already legalized? Gay marriage has been legalized Scandinavian countries for many years, and no legalization of incest, polygamy or any other legalizations that have been suggested have happened, nor has there been any uproar for them to occur. If the real issue here was the concern for a “slippery slope,” then there would be a equally as concerning vocal outrage as to the fact that child molesters, pedophiles, pimps, convicted murderers etc. are able to raise children and marry legally.

The argument that those who are anti-gay marriage use in defense lastly is that “gay marriage would force churches to marry gay couples when they have the moral right to oblige.” There is nothing in the law of marriage that is currently forcing any institute to marry any couple, whether it is a homosexual or metro sexual relationship. Churches and other religious buildings already have the right to turn down couples as they wish and for any reason that suits them, the legalization of homosexual marriages wouldn’t change that – it would offer the institutes the opportunity to legally marry gay couples if they wish to do so. In fact, with the legalization of gay marriage, the freedom of religion would be expanded, not contracted, as gay marriage is kindly welcomed in Buddhist culture. By allowing the right to celebrate homosexuality we would be allowing full religious freedom; after all, the bible has no standing in North American law, this was made clear in the First Amendment and as well as the Treaty of Tripoli in 1791.

Over all, the true definition of marriage isn’t something that can be pin-pointed. Its main idea is the celebration of two individuals regardless of gender of either. The vague declarations against gay marriage through out the past years are hardly gripping and are more of an expression of prejudice rather than a real argument. How is it that by allowing people to get married we are threatening marriage’s existence? The stability of heterosexual marriage is currently weak because we’re encouraging gays to marry those whom they are not attracted to. By the legalization gay marriage we are strengthening the concept of marriage even more, as the stress of homosexuals who have to force themselves into heterosexual relationships will be unchained. Furthermore, if the straight community cannot show facts that don’t have a bias, the legalization of gay marriage has no evidence to be denied.

Afterall, the concept of denying people their rights without an undeniable reason goes against the very concept of the basis of the North American ideal of human rights.

My computer got disconnected last weekend and me and mom ripped out all the carpet in the house and replaced it with brand new hardwood flooring... it looks so amazing and it's cold so it's nice to walk on with your bare feet in this painfully hot weather Vancouver is sporting... what's up with that?

Last Saturday was the HELLOtomorrow show... I still haven't uploaded the photo's from that... I'm so behind.. things are so hetic right now for me (in thirty minutes I'll be off to work again ew ew).. anyways on Saturday we went to the show and then hung out at the bus stop... Kevin went the licor store and got boose for everyone.. I had to work the next day so I didn't go to the "after party." Duane kept on cracking Bernie Mac jokes, hilarious shit.

On Tuesday I finally went and got my hair cut off... good bye long hair! My hair is so short. It's growing on me and I'm starting to love it so much. More still needs to be cut off but I'm going to leave it the way it is for now.

Yesterday Sarah, Avery and I went shopping at the local mall and then met up with Jon, Kent, Chris, Andrew, Jen and Cecilla and went to see Mama Mia, which was so hilariously chesse-y.. the boys were going to kill us by the end of it for dragging them there. Pierce Brosnan should never sing. Or take his shirt off. EVER.

We also saw the new Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie... also VERY chesse-filled. Totally worth it for Amber, I love her she plays Tibby so well.

..and the hot guys too of course. Leo was like... DAMN.

Well, I'm off to work. Sorry this can't be any longer or contain any sort of witty life lesson, I'm in a bit of a rush.  :)

The HELLOtomorrow show was amazing. I'm in love with Kevin's voice. First time meeting the guy (I'm good friends with Duane, his fellow band member, on the right in the pictures) and he was so sweet. 

Come to their next show: it's at The Vineyard in Langley on the 9th. Come out, you'll see me there. You can listen to their music at http://www.myspace.com/htomorrow, "fixes fixed stitches stitched" is my favourite song. :]

Me and Shannon have a shoot on the 7th. I need to go school shopping while I'm out there... I broke my backpack in half... typical. Haha, don't ask.

Well, two more days until another 4 days at work. I hate this new rotation. It sucks so much.

xx


 

My trip was so much fun! We put so much milage on our rental car, we drove from Maryland to Virginia to DC to Maryland, it was crazy. Way too hot, I'm glad to be back in the north-west where things are raining and driery but it's very comforting. Nothing is worst than having a heat rash, trust me. We went to Busch Gardens in Northern Virginia... the rollercosters there are nothing compared to anything on the west coast.. it made 6 Flags in California look so getto haha. We also went to Luray Caverns (also in Virginia), which was a great way to escape from the heat. But, as always, Maryland was the best. I love the city, no matter which one it is. Things in suberbia are always so fake, everyone drives the same car, lives in the same kind of houses... life is perfect. It's all a façade.

Did you know in certain parts of WA, your grass needs to be cut to a certain length... and if it isn't, they actually fine you? That is why I prefer the city, you feel free. There's a sense of danger that seems to some naturally in life.

Well, I'm working today, tomorrow, sunday and Monday. Wee, can't wait for that. I have several projects coming up, I'm suppoced to be working with a band called HELLOtomorrow. I'm really good friends with them, I'm suppoced to be shooting their promotional pics. I'm also suppoced to work this model named Shannon Ostrom sometime within August. I can't wait... I've been putting off developing my portfolio for quite some time... now I'm taking it on.

xx 

I've had the same friends for such a long time and we've never foughten until this year. I think we were all so afraid that if we were to speak our minds to eachother then it would lead to a fight and a falling out. It seems at the end of the year after all the silent agruements we're as close as ever...

This summer is about sushi, movies, shopping sprees at Value Village, playing guitar hero to the wee hours of the morning, "photoshoots" (Mireille has discovered a new addiction to my camera), and so much more...

It's all offically over next tuesday when we have our final exam. Wednesday there's a party at Jen's house... hopefully the Vancouver weather will cooperate because it's outside...

Today we hung out and BBQed for the seniors.

Four weeks until I leave for the west coast. Virgina, DC and Maryland. Can't wait to see my grames and grampy!

"The gang" might hang out tomorrow... hopefully we will I want to make the best of this summer.. maybe we'll go see a movie.. hmmm.

xx

ps. hct was sooo much fun! review here: http://reinventlove-xo.livejournal.com/14980.html#cutid1 :]