New obsession alert!

 

Last Saturday night, one of my best friend's sent me a text and said, "I have a new show for you." I was curious to hear what she had to say. I responded with, "Oh really?" Long story short, so I don't keep going back and forth, she said "Once Upon A Time." Hmm...I remember seeing the previews when it first premiered, because my mom and I thought it looked really good, but just never got around to watching it. I see everyone's tweets and posts on Facebook on Sunday night, while they're having heart attacks or picking their jaws up off of the floor because of it. It sounds really good. It has been on my list of things to watch, but something always jumped in front of it as far as priority. 

I looked it up on Netflix and tried to click the information guide, but instead clicked "play." I was in the middle of homework and thought, "Oh, I'll just watch it later," but after a few minutes, I thought..."Well, I might as well just watch the pilot, since it's on now." Let's just say, it didn't take long for me to fall in love. I'm a sucker for anything of a fairytale, but I also love dramas and I'm coming around to action. This has it all. 

So, here's the gyst: Emma Swan moves around a lot, and finds herself in Storybrooke, a small town in New England. She has had a troubled past and seems to find a lot of her answers here in this crazy town that is filled with (like many other small towns) eccentric characters. Only the twist is, they're all characters from fairytales, who don't remember a thing about their past life, because of the curse. And it's up to her to help them remember

This drama takes you on a ride through the parallels of real life and the classic fairytales we're all familiar with: Snow White/Prince Charming/the evil queen, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood and so on. It is fascinating. They deal with love, friendship, family, and good-vs-evil, so it's everything you could ever want. There are so many dynamics to the characters, and everyone seems to have scenes together at one point or another, which I love as well.

I've always had this obsession with Snow White, as she is my favorite princess and I love Ginnifer Goodwin. She's perfect for the role of Snow/Mary Margaret, with that innocence, lily complexion and hair as dark as ebony. She's sweet, but also sassy and feisty when she needs to be. I'd like to say that I relate to her the most.

 

And then, there's her story with Prince Charming. I LOVE love stories. Especially adorable love stories with adorable couples like them. Plus, they're engaged with a baby on the way in real-life. I can't. Now, I send pictures of them to my best friend so we can discuss how sickeningly sweet they are.

There's also the whole story line here, involving these three. They are all my favorites.

I'm almost done with the first season, and once I finish writing those papers, I can focus all of my attention on the show.

STOP BEING SO CUTE!

WOO HOO!

That's all for now,
Shelby :)

{When you're dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part}

 

Song playing// "Dreaming with a Broken Heart" by John Mayer

I have three papers to write. Three, before I say goodbye to this quarter. That's a relatively small number compared to what most of my friends are probably doing at this very second. Well, those who aren't on spring break, that is. I shouldn't be complaining. But, I believe that's the struggle of a writer. Sometimes it just doesn't come, and that's okay. You write the paper, you do the best you can and you hope for the best. You get through it one way or another.

I'm almost done with two of the three, so yay me! I'm also semi-watching White Collar in the background. Maybe Neal Caffrey is the secret to me getting stuff done. I will take that any day.

;)

That's all,
Shelby

The Last Long Wednesday

Today was my very last long day of classes, and surprisingly enough this quarter went by fairly quickly. I feel like I was just starting to prepare myself to return to school after Christmas break, and here we are at spring break already. Wow.

It's funny how towards the end of the quarter, it all doesn't seem quite as intimidating. Like, why can't I just have that mentality from the beginning? Something to think about for next time, I suppose.

Today was a rather different one, and much more enjoyable, I must say.

In feature writing, we had a guest speaker, who is the editor-in-chief of one of our local magazines. She talked to us about opportunities to do a bit of freelance writing, internships and told us how she got her start. It was fascinating! Then, after class I was able to talk to her a few minutes about possibly doing an internship during the summer or maybe even the fall, depending on how my schedule looks at that time.

Normally, I would stay on campus for lunch, but my mom picked me up instead. We didn't eat, but I had to pick up some food for our party at the newspaper, so we ran to Albertson's. I grabbed a couple bags of chips and then we decided to pick up some bagels for breakfast in the morning and went to Target for a little while. By the time we'd run all these errands, I was ready to call it a day! HA!

I went back to school a few minutes early, and our party started at 12:45. We all brought different foods, a la potluck style, so there were tacos, chicken, pizza, cupcakes, cookies and more. We ate a lot. There was a movie playing in the background, but I don't remember the name…It was from the 70s. I hung out with the editors most of the time, just talking and messing around. Then, we also did awards, just to showcase everyone and to honor the handwork that everyone has put in, as well as the fact that we're all essential to the team and have different roles that we play. I was "awarded" with "most optimistic!" I thought that was pretty exciting, though I can't say I'm always that way.

When class was finished, I stayed in the newspaper room to hang out with some of the editors. We also got a bit of a head start on re-organizing the room, which we hope to complete over spring break. And then we laughed more…

Finally, I had to go to my next class. I thought we were going to have to present, but we ended up just listening to a lecture from his PowerPoint. I wrote notes, read a little, drew a little…Good times. As soon as class was over, I was out of there. Usually, I have another class after, but due to the fact that we were watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, there's no way I was staying. After watching it last quarter (with the same professor), I had no desire to see it again. It's one of those films you really only need to see once. Plus, I found the script online…So, there's that.

Now, I'm at home, listening to music, needing to work on a couple of papers and to start studying for finals. Also, I want to watch Once Upon A Time, because that's my new show! AH! IT'S SO GOOD!

That's all for now,
Shelby :)

Almost Done

Sipping tea! Toasting to the quarter almost being over!

It's the last week of regular classes, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Well, unless we were already on spring break, in which case, I would be more excited. But, I digress. Everything is coming to a close; classes end this week officially (though I still might have to go on Monday), last minute papers are being turned in, no pitch sessions and editing meetings for the newspaper, and I'm starting to wonder what in the world I will do with all of this free time. A bit of foreshadowing for you: I think I'll be just fine.

Just as I was starting to get used to my schedule, everyone in my classes and having my routine down, it's time to switch everything up again. And in a way, I'm ready for it.

I don't think I have ever been more exhausted from the beginning of the quarter than I was with this one. I wouldn't call it depression necessarily, but I have certainly been struggling the entire time. I've still been questioning whether or not I have what it takes to be a journalist. I thought all of this would just come naturally, and it hasn't. For so long, I've been so good at school, and there are so many things that I've had to work harder to be good or get better at, now that I'm in college, and it isn't something I've been used to. There are so many incredibly talented people around me who seem to pros at writing and running the newspaper, that sometimes it makes me question what I can do and what I'm good at. But, every day, I'm learning not to do that. I'm also learning to speak up more and voice my opinions, rather than just listening to everyone else's and saying whether I like it or not. That definitely has to change. I just feel sick and tired. All. the. time. bleh!

Since I am a journalism major, all of my classes are pretty heavy on the writing. There's feature writing, newspaper production, and theories in communication. All which usually require 2-3 papers a week. *SIGH* Most of the time, I just like not writing in my free time, unless it's something I'm really passionate about. I do love blogging and working on stories, and that's when I wonder if that's the route I would like to go on instead. I'd like to run my own website/organization that helps girls, along with a YouTube site, like Amy Poehler does with Smart Girls at the Party. I'd also like to write a book series about realistic things that happen to all of us. These are just ideas at the moment, but I feel like I'm getting closer to finding the path that was meant for me.

Standing in between me and Spring Break:

• 3 pg paper about Roger and Me film
• Relationships paper
• Story pitches to magazine editor in town
• Final paper for feature writing
• Mass Media and Society "presentation"
• One more day of the newspaper (and it's a PARTY)

I think that covers it. I'm just going to be working hard to get it all done, so next week, I can focus on the two finals that I have and enjoy the rest of the week.

That's all for now,
Shelby :)

{taking pictures in my mind}

So, it was almost 1 a.m. (possibly even later) when I decided to start looking at video clips to edit in iMovie. I usually get inspired in the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep. What can I say? Well, when I tried to click on the library to import more videos or to find clips, it seemed like everything I was looking for was missing. I gave it a few minutes and tried several times, but nothing worked.

I decided to go into iPhoto itself to check for movies, since sometimes iMovie just wigs out. When I went into iPhoto, I realized that everything was completely gone. Every single one of my pictures was gone. My heart dropped. I just sat there staring at the screen like, 'No, this can't be happening.' 

Pictures/memories are so precious to me that I'm always paranoid of losing them. But, I never planned for anything of this magnitude to happen. It keeps saying that my "startup disk" is full, so I figured when spring break comes in a couple of weeks, I would get around to organizing my videos and hopefully getting rid of a few things, like I'd been trying to do in the last few days.

It seemed like there just had to be some sort of glitch. They had to be there. I had deleted a few pictures, but I would've known if the entire library just went away like that. More than likely, it wouldn't have let me shut down the computer the night before. This was bizarre. I started googling forums to find out if there was anything I could do, I was looking in my "finder," and everywhere else to see whether they had just slipped into some other category.

I restarted the computer to see if something had just gone wonky for a minute. But, when it powered back up? Nothing.

I turned off the computer and felt sick. I kept trying to think of what else I had done that might have caused everything to just vanish, but couldn't come up with a conclusion. I started googling more ideas, then turned the computer back on to try a few more. Still nothing.

I kept praying for some sort of miracle, but then I had to face the fact that they were all GONE.

The past two years of my life in photos are completely gone. Visiting "Tree Hill," concert footage from Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, etc., pictures with family and friends, Catalyst, Nashville trips, my daily life around school, the vlogs I've been making of this new journey I'm on with following my dreams, the Golden Globe awards, etc. I could go on and on. I take pictures of just about every detail in my life.

But, then something occurred to me. Just because the pictures aren't there anymore doesn't mean the memories didn't happen. It doesn't mean I didn't take those trips or meet those celebrities or laugh that hard with my family. It sucks, yes, because I love making videos and I love watching certain moments again. All I can say is that I'm thankful for social media in times like these, because I still have my moments documented all over : Albums on Facebook, edited pictures on Instagram, and of course, blogs. Luckily, I journal in every little detail as well…And I'll always have the memories in my heart. Yup, cheese fest.

That's all for now,
Shelby

I am going to Paley Fest and have lost the ability to even.

Saturday night, while having dinner with my parents at Chili's, I decided to tell my dad how the cast of Parks and Rec (only one of my favorite shows in the entire world) would be at Paley Fest. I explained to him how cool Paley Fest is supposed to be. Usually, the entire (or most of the) cast will be there to answer questions, and how they usually sign autographs at the stage after the event. It also just so happens that I have no school that day either. Fate? Probably.

When we got home later that night, my dad called me out to the living room and said that my mom was looking at tickets.

This was basically my face.

I helped her pick out the seats, and then it was
official. I AM GOING TO PALEY FEST. I have always wanted to go, because they always have a ton of casts from all the top shows (The Vampire Diaries, Glee, White Collar, How I Met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars, etc.) and at least one of my favorites tends to be there, but it just never worked out.

I did that really annoying thing where I asked myself: is this real life?

Leslie Knope accurately answers my question!

And then it started sinking in that I will be in the same room as Amy Poehler and Adam Scott (as well as several others from the cast):

Then, I started talking to Jim O'Heir (Jerry/Gary/Larry) on Twitter, because he practically always answers my questions. He told me that they have usually signed autographs in the past after, so he doesn't see why they wouldn't now. So, I was all….

That is so exciting (*insert Ron Swanson giggles*)

Now, the planning sets in…

I take after Ben in that department (also Leslie). I want to make a shirt that expresses my love for the show and how much I admire Leslie/Amy.

This will be in the car with my mom. My mom probably won't be as excited, though! haha.

However, I'm still sad that Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones won't be there….

That is lit'rally the worst news ever and I am extremely sad about it.

But, the rest of the cast will help me get through it.

I AM SO EXCITED. 13 DAYS.

Until then, I have to keep myself busy with school (BLAH) and watching Parks and Rec episodes on Netflix and every other channel that they're on during the day. I am okay with that.

That's all for now,

Shelby

{it's raining, it's pouring}

Late last night, the wind started kicking up and howling into the middle of the night. It was supposed to be raining all day today, which had me feeling all kinds of giddy inside. There's something so romantic and poetic about this weather that I think a lot of people tend to ignore.

However, I woke up this morning, surprised to see that the sun was shining and it was warm out, which made me question the sweatshirt and jeans I had chosen to wear. I skipped my first class this morning, because there wasn't much I would be missing, and it seemed like the perfect day to stay home and watch movies with a hot cup of tea. Those are my favorite kind of days.

After running a few errands with my mom and having lunch, the sky turned back to gray and started raining around the same time that I had to go to my editor's meeting for the newspaper. The rain was pouring down, so I pulled my hood on over my head and tried to stay under the awnings while walking to our classroom. Even inside, you could hear the wind and rain coming down, and it was COLD. Well, I mean for California standards it was cold. We're wimps and don't do well with "winter" weather.

Our meeting was short and sweet, which was nice. But, I was dreading the moment of coming home, since I have a big to-do list of things that need to be done by Sunday night/Monday morning.

As for the past couple of weeks...I'm over it. It has been extremely hard to focus and keep up with everything I have due, from scheduling interviews, writing papers, working on two presentations, etc. I feel like I'm kind of starting to lose it. I feel like I just don't have the energy.  I just don't feel like I'm doing enough. I feel like I'm out of my mind in all honesty. But, instead of rushing through the quarter, I'm taking it as it comes. I'm embracing the struggles, the annoyances, the "what's going to happen next?" I don't want to know anymore. I just want to get through this week first, HA. HA. There have been trying times, but I'm praying it will lead to something really beautiful in the end.

I really just want spring break! I want to watch YouTube videos all day, write more for me with stories I'm working on, read, and honestly, to wake up without my heart POUNDING in my chest dreading the day and wondering what surprise project is going to throw me off will be nice.

ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS and ONE WEEK OF FINALS!

Then, I'm free....Only for one week, and it's back to the grind. DEEP BREATH AND BREAK.

That's all for now,
Shelby Parker