March 31, 2012

My Top 5 Characters On One Tree Hill



Haley James Scott

I love Haley James Scott! She's one of those rare "good girls" on TV that wasn't portrayed as being overly prudish, if you know what I mean She was just a girl that was best for knowing the difference between right and wrong, and she was always trying to do the right thing. Haley was someone I related to the most, even when I was younger and had only seen a couple episodes. She's the quiet girl and good student, but when she needed to she'd step up and say something, leaving everyone wondering where it came from. You do not want to piss "Tutor Girl" off ;). Some may say she's "boring", but I think that couldn't be farther from the truth. Is that because she had morals and integrity?? The people around her honored that. Honestly, there was nothing boring about her life. She was no typical girl (getting married in high school, becoming a pop star, saving her family from psychos, etc). She represents the few girls that still exist out there who have standards for themselves. I feel like there are so many sides to her: her as a mom, a teacher, a wife, a musician, etc. All labels.  And then there are those beautiful moments when Haley's being Haley; when she laughs or has a few words of wisdom, is helping out a friend or is fighting for what she believes in. She's someone I hope to be like because she knows what she stands for and she has never really compromised that. Even when she made a mistake, she rose above it and came out on the other side stronger for it. Always the voice of reason, Haley James :)

Brooke Davis
Brooke Davis. She's the girl that seemed to have it all together in high school, keeping it all inside with a strong exterior, but very fragile at the core. She's a complex character with so much heart. She's not one to fall apart or to show her weaknesses, because she has been hurt way too much in her life to let other people have that power. Even early on from the first season, you could tell that Brooke had so much love to give, if only the right person would come along...and she eventually found that with Julian. Someday you will be able to let people in. She's proof that you shouldn't let anyone stop you from going after what you want and that you're worth it. Even though she didn't have the family life she had always dreamed of growing up, she's now able to live it out with a family of her own. There's never a dull moment with B. Davis, she always has plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

Nathan Scott
Nathan's story is much like Brooke's in that they grew up with crazy parents with high expectations, not listening to the voices of what their children wanted. Nathan was a player and not just on the basketball court. He didn't have the best track record with girls until he met Haley. And all of a sudden, he wanted to be "someone that was good enough to be seen with her." He used to be an immature kid that made a mess wherever he went, causing everyone else to fix his mistakes. But, then he started taking ownership of his life and decided that he was going to change. He's now the kind of guy that girls everywhere would want as their boyfriend/husband. He's the protector of his family, he's driven, and he actually acts like a dad. Even after growing up with Dan Scott, he was able to decide that he didn't want to be that way with his own son. He fought to get past all those road blocks that stood in his way whether it was in his family life or in his career...he wasn't going to let anything hold him back.

Julian Baker
Julian is such a fun character. To be honest, he's not the typical guy's guy. He's not into sports, he's into film and quoting movies every chance he gets. I mean would you really expect anything different from a director? He's sincere, warm, and comforting, yet strong and brave when the time calls for it. He was exactly what Brooke needed. She's a feisty one and he keeps her in line, I guess you could say. They balance each other out. He's witty and charming, and will pretty much say whatever he feels even if it isn't necessarily the popular vote. Julian is super intelligent and knows what he wants. He's the kind of guy I'd like to marry (as long as he's a Christian guy as well).

Dan Scott

Where does one really begin with Dan Scott? He was one of the most unlikeable guys...probably in TV history if you really think about it. He was a downright villain, killing his own brother and treating his sons the way he did. He was one of the most interesting characters, though. No matter how much you hated him, you had to wonder why he was the way he was. Throughout the nine seasons, I think there were glimpses of who Dan really could've been had he not been overtaken by bitterness, jealousy, and what might've been. Towards the end of his life, you saw this compassionate and even remorseful side to him. He probably had some of the best story lines, because he dealt with everyone. It seems like everyone in town was affected by Dan Scott because he was in charge of the car dealership, was mayor, had his TV show, was father to two sons, etc. I think the real Dan Scott is the one we'd always see with Jamie, being the caring grandfather that he always was to him. That's the dad he could've been to Nathan. In the past couple seasons, we've really been able to see his redemption process. 
One Tree Hill has had some of the best characters on television, period. It was really hard choosing, because they all amazed me. They've all had so much depth to them and their backstories always match up perfectly to who they are right now...but these just seemed to really jump out at me. If I added one more character, it would definitely be Peyton because her passion for music and dealing with the loss of people always leaving is something I really related and sympathized with. I think I didn't pick her for the "Top 5", because I feel like at the end she just loss some of her zest/ "Peytonness."

That's all for now,
Shelby
xoxox

Who are your favorite characters? Tweet them to me! :)

Kelly Clarkson Concert


Last night, Kelly Clarkson came to town for her Stronger tour and it was incredible! It was so much more than I ever could've imagined. I've looked up to Kelly for as long as I can remember and this was the first chance I'd actually been able to see an actual show of hers. She was the first American Idol that really got me hooked to the show (and first American Idol period) that just really reminded me to keep singing and to believe in myself, no matter where you came from. We had amazing seats-3rd row and it was so surreal being RIGHTTHERE in front of Kelly; I can only imagine what front row would've been like, but honestly I think this was better because we weren't looking straight up. We were smack dab in the middle pretty much.
Super dark haha....



Matt Nathanson opened for her, but I was not impressed at all. I just felt really awkward for most of his set, to be honest, especially for parents with younger children in the audience. He's a talented musician, but the topic of his songs are a little too descriptive for my taste. I had heard a couple songs of his, and one ("Wedding Dress") was actually featured in season six of One Tree Hill, which I thought was pretty awesome. At one point in the show, he wanted everyone standing up, but my mom and I were just ready for him to be over, so we kept sitting, and then he called us out on it. He's like, "What's the matter with you guys? You don't want to get up?" or something like that, so we pretty much felt obligated. I was just glad when intermission came.
Finally, the moment we'd all been waiting for came...KELLY! She started off with Dark Side and killed it. From there, she just got more pumped up and the crowd was rocking with her. She sang all of her hits, including, "Breakaway", "Since You Been Gone", "Miss Independent" and her more recent hits like, "Mr. Know It All," and "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)". Kelly also did a lot of promoting for other artists as well, mentioning the covers and artists that she did, such as Florence and the Machine, Radiohead, and Carrie Underwood. It was such a fun time! I love how candid she is on stage. She isn't rehearsed and doesn't have everything down to a science. As far as the music goes, she knows exactly what's going on, but with talking in between, it's different every night. I think it makes the experience that much more special when it isn't all planned out. I seriously felt like we were all just hanging out with her, because she seems so relaxed on stage.She's so sarcastic and feisty, and that totally shows in her music.  You can genuinely tell that her heart is in the music and isn't about all the other stuff that goes with it. She had a few costume changes and a really cool set, but not so much that it took away from what everyone was there to see...her and her amazing pipes. She is truly an artist that has proved she is here for the long haul and isn't just "someone who was on American Idol."


(A couple of the collages got cut off for some reason. That's why there are band members randomly thrown in LOL). 
I kept holding up my sign that said, "Kelly, Can we duet?" on it, which is her new show coming out this Summer, but it didn't work out :/ I think she did finally see it one time. She sort of leaned in closer to read it  and just kind of winked/nodded a couple times, so that was cool. At least I know she saw it...and maybe, further down the line, I'll get that duet ;).

I got a few videos (she gave us all the okay to "YouTube away" which I was happy about) that I'll hopefully be able to edit and post sometime this weekend! If you ever get a chance to see Kelly in concert..DO IT! She's fantastic. And it's not as loud/rocker as I thought it would be.

That's all for now,
Shelby

March 29, 2012

One Tree Hill Recap-Anyone Who Had A Heart



Where to even begin with last week's One Tree Hill episode? It was so emotional. There was the return of Nathan, which sort of got overlooked with the rest of the craziness that was happening with Dan, but the very first scene between him and Haley hit everyone. I think that was actually powerful enough that they didn't need to say anything else, but just look at each other and embrace one another. Now, I can't listen to "Never Let Me Go" by Florence and the Machine without crying, but it was beautiful. I NEVER  thought that I would be on Dan's side, or that anyone else would be for that matter! After all the crap he's done and put everyone through, I never expected to actually feel something for him. But, the genius that is Mark Schwahn and the acting that Paul Johannson delivers week after week was the best combination. I don't think I've cried that much since the last death on the show (Lydia James).
My favorite scene of the entire episode would have to be the scene right before Dan passes away in the hospital. It's the first chance we really get to see what Dan has been dealing with since the school shooting. When the two of them are on the basketball court, it was just perfection at its finest. I'm so glad that Nathan and Dan's relationship ended on a better note than it's ever been. They might not have to time to do anything differently, but I think Nathan was finally able to forgive him and we all saw that Dan had changed from that evil guy he had been for so long. 

"Love means giving chances when there are no more chances left to give!" 
~Haley~
Last night's episode was much more calm, working us up towards next week's final episode. It focused a lot more on Brooke and how her family has finally come together after so many years of wishing and dreaming for that; dysfunction and pain. Through it all, she found Julian and he was the best thing to ever happen to her. I think that's what we all hope for in our lives, that we'll meet that one person that makes us believe in love and really live it out. It's incredible to see how she has evolved through the years of being that cheerleader in high school to the strong woman she is now. As far as Julian's concept of The Ravens TV show (obviously paralleling OTH), I love it, but I'm not crazy about him being written into it. As much as I love him, he wasn't in the high school years; if he wants to tell the story how it happened, that's not it. I also thought that him making the basket was far fetched too, his show or not. We're talking about the same kid who chased butterflies in right field when he played baseball.

I loved that they were starting to prepare us with the few hints of sentimental mentions with the burning boat festival and the mention of Jimmy Edwards. The scene between Haley and Brooke at the Rivercourt where Haley is telling her about the night that she lied to Lucas about tutoring Nathan, during the last Burning Boat Festival (season one). That was definitely the first scene I thought of when I heard about the Burning Boat event in this episode. Since we're getting down to the wire, I really wish Jamie and Nathan would have been in this episode, but due to James' shooting schedule, I don't think it would have worked out. It would've been nice to have seen them bonding on their camping trip, especially with Nathan having been missing for the last however many weeks and Dan dying. But, it still definitely worked out for this week, and we've had plenty of wonderful Naley moments over the past eight seasons, and I have a feeling there will be some in the episode to come. AH!

Yay for Quinn and Clay! I love that Logan is adapting so well to all the changes that are going on in his life and how good Quinn has been with him. They make one adorable family. It showed a different side to them than we've seen before! I thought Jamie was the most adorable/intelligent kid, but then Logan came into the picture and I have to say it is one tough call. The show seriously knows how to pick out the best kids. 

Some of the story lines this season, I feel like we never really got a chance to see them full develop or we didn't have time to necessarily see WHY it was happening (Mouth getting fat, Xavier coming back, Nathan's disappearance-I know it was with the Europen basketball dealings, but still, Julian leaving his baby in the car and feeling bad, etc.) But I'm not going to be one of those fans who complains, because I still thought everything was fantastically done. They didn't even have to come back for a ninth season, but they did. I have to say that even in the midst of the chaos of this season, there was a lot of warmth and so much heart in each episode whether it was just the acting, the voiceovers, the plot, or the directing style. Each and every single one of the cast members gave everything they had. 

And last, but certainly not least, how can I forget about the last scene between Brooke and her parents. I lost it right about there! It was such a sweet moment for Brooke to get that simple dream that she had always wanted with her parents...to signify that they were really a family. 

Next week, we say goodbye to a place that has welcomes us with open arms and made us feel at home. We say goodbye to characters that have become our friends and people that we have identified with and represented us over the years, no matter when you started watching. This is one of the last shows on TV that you can tell had real heart; a real honesty and integrity. It's a show with morals and life lessons, not just another show to entertain. In all honesty, I think that's why it wasn't necessarily "popular" among the more mainstream audience, because it hit the hard topics that other people might've been afraid to touch on. But, obviously it worked, because it has lasted longer than most shows. It had a real voice, and reminded others that they do too. 

If you want to check out exclusive videos and past episodes, check out the CW's site here:

Until next time,
Shelby

March 28, 2012

Just One Of Those Days


Maybe I'm the only one, but, have you ever had one of those days when you just don't want to do anything but staying in bed all day? If so, then you're right there with me. Although, I've had this feeling the past couple weeks. Maybe it's something about Spring Break coming up and I'm just ready for summer or I just need to get a life. Lately, most of my days have consisted of not doing anything until after 10 or so, staying in my PJ's until the One Tree Hill marathon on SoapNet is over, and being bored out of my mind.

I need to get a life, in case I haven't said that yet. I feel like right now I need to be doing so much more. I keep wondering why things aren't going anywhere and why I'm staying in the exact same place? Maybe it's because I'm scared and this all just seems so easy right now. Maybe I'm waiting around for something that's never going to happen. But, I think I'm mainly afraid of the reality of it all. It used to be this far off idea in the distance, that honestly I guess I never thought I'd have to deal with. And here we are. I'm 20 years old, and pretty soon I'm going to have to grow up. I'm going to school, but sometimes I just feel like that's not enough. Until that starts speeding up, I've just been trying to enjoy this time, because I know once it's gone, it won't come back.

That's all for now,
Shelby
xoxox

March 27, 2012

A Few Facts About Me


For those of you who might not know me or have just started reading my blog, you might not know a lot about me. So I thought I'd make a quick list of random facts about myself as an introduction:
  • I love Jesus! I believe He died for me and I'm surrounded by his grace. I live for HIM.
  • I'm a big fan of Peace tea (and just about any other tea for that matter)
  • I compare just about everything to a scene from a TV show or movie (but usually Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill are the top references)
  • I've never been on an "official" date
  • I like making lists, even sort of pointless ones such as this
  • I absolutely LOVE using big words
  • I spend too much time online and on my phone: blogging, texting, instagramming, tweeting, etc.
  • I've always wanted to be a singer, but I also have a huge passion for writing and acting
  • I'm sarcastic, but not as much as I used to be
  • If I could go to school for something other than Journalism, I think it would be for design-I've always loved designing clothes and drawing, and just fashion in general
  • Lately, I've been thinking about wanting to get into directing somewhere down the line. I'm a very visual person. When I'm writing a story, I can see little mini movies in my head of how I'd do things if it were an actual movie. Or how I would have done things with music videos and TV shows if I were in charge ;)
  • Is it bad that sometimes I'm more emotionally involved with fictional characters' relationships than my own? Oh yeah, because I don't have one...LOL. I also sometimes make playlists on my computer for them. But, let's keep that on the dl.
  • People I really admire in the business: Carrie Underwood, Bethany Joy Lenz, Taylor Swift, Sophia Bush, Danny Gokey, and Nick Jonas. In my life: my best friends!
  • There's always a line from a song to fit my every mood or something from a TV show to describe my day
  • Winter used to be my favorite season, but now I can't stand the cold...yay Summer!
  • I can easily memorize things I've heard and seen only once (i.e TV shows/music, etc). I can also usually tell you what the name of the episode is and what's going to happen after only a couple minutes. 
  • I've always wanted to smash a pie in someone's face
  • If I could date any fictional character, it would be Dean Forrester of Gilmore Girls 
  • If I could BE any fictional character, it would be Rory Gilmore or Haley James Scott
  • I choose favorite teams based on locations (Dodgers-LA, any North Carolina team, etc)
  • I want to change the world and make a difference, even if it's just through a smile, a song, or something someone related to through my blog! If I can touch one life and remind them that it's worth living, things will get better, and God has a plan...then I've done my job here! :)
That's all for now,
Shelby

Top 10 (Part One)


Hey guys! I'm starting a video segment where I'm going to talk about some of my favorite things and all that good stuff; hopefully at least once a month or so!

Let me know what you think! :)



Part Two: 

That's all for now,
Shelby

March 26, 2012

Saturday



Yesterday was my dad's birthday, so we were actually celebrating on Friday night as well! He opened a few presents a little after midnight, which was fun :)


Collage I made in honor of the day :)
Yesterday when dad got home, he opened the rest of his presents and we all started getting ready. Last night we went to this restaurant called, The Orange Blossom, with my grandpa. Such cool name for a little country place like this! It's about an hour and a half away from us, but it was really cool. Any chance I get to go out of town, I take it. It was quite a drive but I kept taking pictures of the scenery to pass the time and we were talking, so it was fun. Dinner was really good. I had this Chicken that was in Orange sauce on top of a sweet potato cake! I was so full after, but it was totally worth it. They also had live music; there was a band playing in the corner, which made it a really fun atmosphere. I guess the restaurant is closing pretty soon (they're turning it into a concert hall of some sort), so I'm glad we got to try it before it does.



Not the outfit exactly, but close enough for Polyvore!







Dessert! Dad's on the left; mom and mine on the right-Lemon raspberry something =SO good!


After dinner, we drove around the town a bit and then headed home. It was a great night spent with family and I'm glad my dad had such a wonderful birthday! :)

That's all for now,
Shelby

March 25, 2012

Always and Forever

Is it just me or all young couples pulling a Nathan and Haley by getting married in high school or right out of high school? Back in the day, I get that that was the norm, but these days life is just not that simple. The cost of living has gone up, jobs are harder to come by, and people just have a different mentality than they used to. We want things now and we don't want to have to work for them, but marriage can't fall into that category. I don't think my generation or the ones even younger than me are prepared for that. Some are and I guess it's not fair of me to group everyone together, but a good majority are not thinking things completely through. They think 'we're in love now' ...and well that's really the end of the thought process.

I don't doubt young love. There is no certain age to fall in love or to find that person you want to spend the rest of your life with, but in my opinion, I would want to have a college degree and a steady job before I jumped into making a life with someone else. In fact, I'd like to venture out on my own and find out who I am before I start to blend with someone else. I think we should all get out from under our parents' wing before we're married to discover who WE are and what WE want. For so long, we are told what to do and I think it's important to see what kind of decisions we make outside of our families. Or maybe I'm just bitter because I'm nowhere near starting a life with a "special someone" LOL. But, truth be told...I have a lot of life to live before I'd want to settle down. But, I know that when the right time and the right one comes along, it'll all work out and the rest won't matter so much.

That's all for now,
Shelby
xoxo


One Tree Hill-The Tide That Left and Never Came Back

This has to be one of my favorite episodes of One Tree Hill ever. As all of the episodes do, the message of this one just really struck a chord with me. This is my favorite dialogue/scene of the episode: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW50-jpJOx4 <--------------- Here's the clip!

Brooke: George Bernard Shaw once wrote: "There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it." Clearly, Shaw had his heart broken once or twice.
Nathan Scott: As far as I'm concerned, Shaw was a punk. Cause you know what? Tragedies happen. What are you gonna do, give up? Quit? No. I realize now that when your heart breaks, you got to fight like hell to make sure your still alive. Because you are. And that pain you feel? That's life. The confusion and fear? That's there to remind you, that somewhere out there is something better, and that something is worth fighting for.
Haley James: This year, I got everything I wanted and everything I wished for. But in a way, I lost even more.
Lucas 'Luke' Scott: Shaw was right. As we strain to grasp the things we desire, the things we think will make our lives better: money, popularity, fame... we ignore what truly matters, the simple things, like friendship, family, love. The things we probably already had.
Mouth McFadden: So Mr. Shaw thinks that getting your heart's desire is a tragedy? I say he's wrong. I mean, clearly Shaw never kissed Erica Marsh.
Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer: Yes, losing your heart's desire is tragic. But gaining your heart's desire? That's all you can hope for. This year I wished for love... to immerse myself in someone else and to wake a heart long afraid to feel. My wish was granted. And if having that is tragic, then give me tragedy. Because I wouldn't give it back for the world.

I have to agree with Lucas' commentary most. I think we get caught up in trying to achieve so many things or that if we just had _______________ (fill in the blank) then we'd be happy, but it's not that simple. When we're so busy to reach that certain point, we miss everything along the way. Usually those things that are truly fulfilling to our lives. Like Luke said, "The things we probably already had." George Bernard Shaw was right. Sometimes we lose our heart's desire in seeking it. It's all about priorities and knowing what is truly important in life.

That's all for now,
Shelby
xoxo