Friday, May 30, 2014

teen's at the moment list

what i'm highly enjoying this week:
the secret life of walter mitty (2013):
i'm not the hugest television/film fan in general, or maybe i should say i wasn't. because honestly being married to a screen-writing major has been slowly softening my heart... but i'll save that for another post. any ways i can not guarantee no animals were harmed in the making of this movie (cause i seriously think about those things), but since most movies these days don't give a what-what about the environment (and the messages they're sending), i have to often get past that and decide if the meaning is worth the means. and in this case, i suppose it was. ben stiller did an AMAZING job acting and directing this movie of adventure and inspiration. simple yet oh so deep. and after a little research i discovered it was originally a short story by james thurber. ultimately folks, i realize i'm behind the times cause this came out awhile ago but if you're like me and forced to have a movie night with a friend... choose this! you won't be disappointed.

what i'm feeling so-so on this week:
the honest life by jessica alba (2013)
my sister gifted me this book as part of a wedding gift and i think i had pretty much finished it by the end of the honeymoon. i am a huge sucker for non-fiction informative stuff... if it involves self-help or ways to improve the environment, i am there! now, there was a LOT i enjoyed about the book. you get the sense that alba has really done her homework when it comes to household products and food. and really, the book is a great advertisement for her company the honest company. i've already been on the hunt for some of her products. what totally rubbed me the wrong way was that ultimately, it was about how to keep her and her own family safe. yes, she implies caring about the environment to a certain degree, but where's the chapter on how to choose your clothing, for example? oh that's right, in typical celebrity fashion she does have a chapter on clothing, but it's more about fashion, and those 'classic pieces' we all need. okay, she does suggest organic material, but jessica? what about how the environment is harmed by clothes being shipped across the ocean, coming from factories polluting not only the air but the minds of the children trapped there? come onnnn.
ultimately i would recommend this book, but it doesn't really present us with any new information and her suggestions aren't forward enough.

what i'm passionately enraged about this week: 
meriam yehya ibrahim on death row in sudan
so, i am super into internet petitions these days. as an activist of some sort i was pretty sceptical when i signed up to start receiving emails from sites like change.org... too good to be true right? but over the years i have seen countless petitions i have signed ACTUALLY make changes. it's been amazing. and even when things haven't succeeded to a degree, the site keeps me up to date with injustices all around the world. this particular case really has been laying heavy on my heart.this sudanese mother is being sentenced to death for being a christian (and married to a muslim). she was just recently forced to give birth IN the prison... where her and her two year old son are at the moment. this is so grotesque. i can't imagine how they are being treated. the times of holding back people for their beliefs is well over. please take the time to help meriam 

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/government-of-sudan-don-t-execute-meriam-yehya-ibrahim-for-being-christian-savemeriam

have a righteous weekend my friends!

-teen

Friday, May 23, 2014

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Jean Cottrill

Today I called my Grandma. Confession: the first time since I've moved here. Ya... that'd make it like 3 months :| Let's just say I'm not always the best grand-daughter. Any ways, I'm so glad I did. My Grandma is such an amazing strong woman. She had an extremely hard childhood during the depression, never finished high school, but found God in the midst of it all. She met Edward, fell in love, and got married. They had a family which she is so proud of, but tragically while my dad was in college and my aunt and uncle were still in high school, Ed died suddenly. 

My Grandma and I are very different people and do not agree on many things. But she is always so happy to hear from me and we have a great time talking. Due to a broken hip at Christmas, she wasn't able to make it to my wedding, and I missed having here there indeed. 

We had fun talking about the wedding, her recent birthday, and all the family kinds of things, and she gave me some needed (and unneeded) advice. But the one thing that stuck with me the most, near the end of the conversation, was when she said,

"It doesn't matter who you were ten years ago. It matters who you are today."

We hear these kind of cliché quotes in every movie, and God knows I read them too many times a day on Instagram. But having a wise woman who has really LIVED life say something like that to you... it sticks. It's one of those kind of truths that seem to bounce right off my heart no matter how many times I repeat it in my head. I needed her to say that (although I wouldn't say that it was exactly ten years ago I regret... try a few years forward). And now I need it to settle into my mind for a good while.

Thanks Grandma.

-teen

Friday, May 9, 2014

los angeles and the nights are scandalous

the other night was supberly fun and i took some great shots. 
me and blaze's dear friend (and recently awesome m.c.) took us to some fun little places around downtown l.a., something i shamefully haven't taken the time to explore very much of. some of the friends we went out with our the best and most genuine people i've ever met. aren't friends the best?
thanks tedley! (and sorry for the bad relationship advice).

married and matching

there's a drought right now

model jacob


this car was straight up running in the middle of the street with no one in it









diva




so in the moment



channelling high school

Monday, May 5, 2014

joy vs. happiness

joy is a lifestyle,
happiness is a moment.
i love the emotion of being happy, but it's fleeting. joy is something you have to work for, but if you welcome it in properly it might just stay around.
-teen