It occurred to me that the voracious ambition of humans is never sated by dreams coming true, because there is always the thought that everything might be done better and again.
- The Fault In Our Stars, John Green
frangipani princess xoxo
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Monday, 21 May 2012
Movie Review: The Woman In Black
I was in Sydney over the weekend for an English study day, and on Saturday night the teacher we were with suggested a trip to the movies. A quick consultation of the paper and vote decided that we would be going to see The Woman In Black. I had wanted to see the movie since I heard of it's existence, because, hello, Daniel Radcliffe. I was interested to see how he'd go playing someone other than Harry Potter, and I'd also heard good things about the movie, so I was as eager as anyone as we headed to the theatre.
Before I continue you should know two things about me:
I had read reviews before I went, and I knew it would be scary, but as far as I could tell, it was nothing overly terrible.
Wrong.
I was jumping within a few minutes of the opening, and within half an hour I had my first out-loud scream (there were to be two more before the film ended).
The movie basically told the story of a widower, Arthur Kipps, who is sent by his law firm to a creepy estate to sort out some paper work. The people in the town act bizarrely towards him, but that doesn't stop Arthur from continuing to investigate the mystery. Out at the abandoned estate, he continues to see a creepy figure of a woman dressed in black, and then experiencing horrible situations. Still, in true scary movie fashion, he keeps investigating, even after the children in the town keep dying horrific deaths.
Everything is resolved by the end of the film, but of course, just when you think you're going to get a happily ever after, BAM, the movie makers have to leave you with a terrible situation and you leave the cinema deeply upset.
Daniel Radcliffe did his best, but to me he will always be Harry Potter. To try and diffuse some of the tension, we would whisper spells and make Harry Potter references that could have made everything a lot easier, and maybe if he'd had magic the film would have been a more enjoyable experience.
I tried to like the film, I really did. And maybe it's just the two factors I mentioned at the beginning that prevented me from walking away and not regretting going, but the fact of the matter is, I just didn't enjoy it at all. Discussing the film with the group after it finished, we couldn't quite put our finger on what the point of it all was. Especially after the ending, it felt like we'd all wasted two hours of our life and come away with nothing but nightmares to show for it. The film...went nowhere, and maybe that was it's point, but I prefer movies with laughs and happily ever afters to those where you are left with the world as a horribly creepy place.
I wouldn't recommend going unless you really want to experience it for yourself, but it's really just an upsetting film. Even the "jump scares" would be easy enough to forget and get over if it wasn't for the continuous child deaths, child ghosts, and *that* ending. It was almost traumatising, and unless you're cool with that kind of thing, save your money.
Rating: 2/10
frangipani princess xoxo
Before I continue you should know two things about me:
1. I hate horror movies. Hate. Hate. Hate.
2. I dislike movies with upsetting endings.
If you've seen The Woman In Black, you would know that those two factors would equate to a not very enjoyable movie experience for me. I had read reviews before I went, and I knew it would be scary, but as far as I could tell, it was nothing overly terrible.
Wrong.
I was jumping within a few minutes of the opening, and within half an hour I had my first out-loud scream (there were to be two more before the film ended).
The movie basically told the story of a widower, Arthur Kipps, who is sent by his law firm to a creepy estate to sort out some paper work. The people in the town act bizarrely towards him, but that doesn't stop Arthur from continuing to investigate the mystery. Out at the abandoned estate, he continues to see a creepy figure of a woman dressed in black, and then experiencing horrible situations. Still, in true scary movie fashion, he keeps investigating, even after the children in the town keep dying horrific deaths.
Everything is resolved by the end of the film, but of course, just when you think you're going to get a happily ever after, BAM, the movie makers have to leave you with a terrible situation and you leave the cinema deeply upset.
Daniel Radcliffe did his best, but to me he will always be Harry Potter. To try and diffuse some of the tension, we would whisper spells and make Harry Potter references that could have made everything a lot easier, and maybe if he'd had magic the film would have been a more enjoyable experience.
I tried to like the film, I really did. And maybe it's just the two factors I mentioned at the beginning that prevented me from walking away and not regretting going, but the fact of the matter is, I just didn't enjoy it at all. Discussing the film with the group after it finished, we couldn't quite put our finger on what the point of it all was. Especially after the ending, it felt like we'd all wasted two hours of our life and come away with nothing but nightmares to show for it. The film...went nowhere, and maybe that was it's point, but I prefer movies with laughs and happily ever afters to those where you are left with the world as a horribly creepy place.
I wouldn't recommend going unless you really want to experience it for yourself, but it's really just an upsetting film. Even the "jump scares" would be easy enough to forget and get over if it wasn't for the continuous child deaths, child ghosts, and *that* ending. It was almost traumatising, and unless you're cool with that kind of thing, save your money.
Rating: 2/10
frangipani princess xoxo
Thursday, 17 May 2012
In Which I Disagree With Mia Freedman (Again)
I've always looked up to Mia Freedman in a major way - she was my first career crush. As the years go by, however, more and more of what she writes infuriates me, and it's mainly her postings on one topic: the death of magazines. We all know Mia made her name in big glossies, but then quit for a short lived stint at television producing, and then began her super-successful blog/website Mamamia. What annoys me is that Mia then uses her website as a way of glossy-bashing, proclaiming the death of magazines at every single opportunity.
As someone who wants nothing more in life than to work on a glossy magazine, it really gets on my nerves. Magazines are dropping in circulation, yes. More people are reading online, yes. But in no way does that give Mia the right to declare that magazines have no future. There will always, always be a place for print. Just because Mia was lucky enough to be my age twenty years ago, at the absolute peak of mag-land, doesn't mean she can now look down smugly from her spot online and poke her tongue out and declare how much better she is. Take today for instance, comparing her readership to that of Vogues? Just a giant boast, and one that is definitely not needed.
A career in print is what keeps me going through the long days of the HSC, and all the hours of work experience I put in. It's actually offensive to have Mia - someone I look up to - turn around and tell me that there's not going to be a career there, so why bother? She might be happy in online, but I love magazines, and as long as there are people out there like me (and there are lots of us), they will always have a home. Maybe they won't be the same as when Mia worked them, times change things, but they will still exist. Magazines are still a way for many people to escape, a way for them to get advice and just generally enjoy reading. Yes, it's all available online, but sometimes it's nice to get away from screens for a while. Magazines and online also work together, in today's age it's a multi-disciplinarian process where social networking, print, and websites work together. The mags that will survive - and I believe that will be a majority of them, even if on a smaller scale - will be the ones who work out how to utilise all mediums to a maximum effect.
As a side note, magazines will never die because everyone knows teen girls need posters, and blogs/websites can't really give those in the same way.
I still respect Mia, but her career is her career, and she doesn't have a right to go around bashing the careers of others. Mia also left glossies after many years there - she needed a change, she was sick of them, but that doesn't mean everyone else is. I haven't totally ruled out a career online myself - I have been blogging for over five years, so it's something that definitely interests me - but my main passion will always be print, and no-one, not even Mia Freedman, can take that away from me.
Long Live Magazines, I say. Websites will never overtake you in my life.
frangipani princess xoxo
As someone who wants nothing more in life than to work on a glossy magazine, it really gets on my nerves. Magazines are dropping in circulation, yes. More people are reading online, yes. But in no way does that give Mia the right to declare that magazines have no future. There will always, always be a place for print. Just because Mia was lucky enough to be my age twenty years ago, at the absolute peak of mag-land, doesn't mean she can now look down smugly from her spot online and poke her tongue out and declare how much better she is. Take today for instance, comparing her readership to that of Vogues? Just a giant boast, and one that is definitely not needed.
A career in print is what keeps me going through the long days of the HSC, and all the hours of work experience I put in. It's actually offensive to have Mia - someone I look up to - turn around and tell me that there's not going to be a career there, so why bother? She might be happy in online, but I love magazines, and as long as there are people out there like me (and there are lots of us), they will always have a home. Maybe they won't be the same as when Mia worked them, times change things, but they will still exist. Magazines are still a way for many people to escape, a way for them to get advice and just generally enjoy reading. Yes, it's all available online, but sometimes it's nice to get away from screens for a while. Magazines and online also work together, in today's age it's a multi-disciplinarian process where social networking, print, and websites work together. The mags that will survive - and I believe that will be a majority of them, even if on a smaller scale - will be the ones who work out how to utilise all mediums to a maximum effect.
As a side note, magazines will never die because everyone knows teen girls need posters, and blogs/websites can't really give those in the same way.
I still respect Mia, but her career is her career, and she doesn't have a right to go around bashing the careers of others. Mia also left glossies after many years there - she needed a change, she was sick of them, but that doesn't mean everyone else is. I haven't totally ruled out a career online myself - I have been blogging for over five years, so it's something that definitely interests me - but my main passion will always be print, and no-one, not even Mia Freedman, can take that away from me.
Long Live Magazines, I say. Websites will never overtake you in my life.
frangipani princess xoxo
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Musings On Friendship
I've been thinking a lot about friendships in the last few weeks, as I've drifted away from some, grown closer to others, and generally observed the dynamics of all. Most friendships around me are not large, but various groups of three or four. I don't necessarily speak to them all daily, or hang out with them all the time, but they all hold special places within my heart.
What I've come to notice lately is that the friendships, no matter which group I am observing, are not equally divided by however many people there are. My closest friends at the moment are a group of three girls (and myself) from my school. But I'm closest to one of them in particular, share a different bond with another, and lately only seem to see the third in fleeting moments. But the one I see in fleeting moments is very close to another one of the girls, and so the circle continues. At the end of the day, however, we can all sit and laugh together, share secrets, make fun of each other, and know that when push comes to shove, the others will always be there. Seeing us all separately at school an outsider may not put us together as friends, but we share a brilliant connection.
It's taken me eighteen years of having friends, but I'm finally learning that friendship dynamics can be wildly different, and just because your friends aren't acting like the ones on television, it doesn't mean that they're not perfect. I used to get stupidly jealous over the silliest things when it came to friends, and would get so upset if someone paid more attention to someone else than they did to me. When I was younger, I would constantly be fighting with all my friends (yes, I was that person), just because I wanted everything to work out like the friendships of my dreams.
Of course, true friendships, and in turn, happiness, came when I realised that there is no such thing as a dream friendship. You will argue with each other, get sick of each other, bitch about others in the group behind their back (I'm not perfect, I'm just a teenage girl), and sometimes you really won't feel like seeing them, but you are there for each other at the end of the day.
I used to be so caught up in the notion of having a 'best friend' that I didn't stop to consider the consequences, and whether I was just choosing people so they (and I) could have a title, rather than choosing them for being my perfect soul-friend. I don't have a specific 'best friend' anymore, but I have an amazing list of people that I consider to be my 'best friends'. They all have their various roles - from shoulder to cry on, to co-pity partier, to study buddy, to crazy random fun friend... I have someone for everything. I realised just how amazing they were at my birthday this year when they gave me the most thoughtful, perfect presents in the world. The standout for me was the candle that said "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light". My friends know all my big secrets, and to give me something like that to remember that something as simple as lighting the candle and thinking of them (and Harry Potter) to make me smile a little more, is just the greatest gift I have ever received (yes, even better than the iPhone).
My friendships (and yours) may not be what you see in chick-flicks and on tv, but it's personal and special, and it's as close to perfect as I've ever had, and I wouldn't change my crazy bunch for anything in the world.
People come and go from our lives for reasons that we may not understand at the time, but looking back it becomes perfectly clear that it was God's way of saying, "Hey now, this person isn't quite right for you, but in a minute I'm going to introduce you to someone who is". And when you meet those people, it's like everything clicks into place. You could live in different towns, states, or even countries, but there's just a connection there that will forever hold you into place. When I was in France, my friends and I deemed it "soul friendships", and "soul groups". Like soul-mates, they're friends that were created with you perfectly in mind, and it doesn't matter what happens, you're meant to be friends.
It's a cute idea, and as I get older, I find myself slowly but surely amassing my soul group, and every time someone else fits into place, it just feels so very right. I am very lucky to have the friends I do, and I hope that you feel like you have a soul group too. And if you don't, I can promise you, something amazing is just around the corner.
frangipani princess xoxo
What I've come to notice lately is that the friendships, no matter which group I am observing, are not equally divided by however many people there are. My closest friends at the moment are a group of three girls (and myself) from my school. But I'm closest to one of them in particular, share a different bond with another, and lately only seem to see the third in fleeting moments. But the one I see in fleeting moments is very close to another one of the girls, and so the circle continues. At the end of the day, however, we can all sit and laugh together, share secrets, make fun of each other, and know that when push comes to shove, the others will always be there. Seeing us all separately at school an outsider may not put us together as friends, but we share a brilliant connection.
It's taken me eighteen years of having friends, but I'm finally learning that friendship dynamics can be wildly different, and just because your friends aren't acting like the ones on television, it doesn't mean that they're not perfect. I used to get stupidly jealous over the silliest things when it came to friends, and would get so upset if someone paid more attention to someone else than they did to me. When I was younger, I would constantly be fighting with all my friends (yes, I was that person), just because I wanted everything to work out like the friendships of my dreams.
Of course, true friendships, and in turn, happiness, came when I realised that there is no such thing as a dream friendship. You will argue with each other, get sick of each other, bitch about others in the group behind their back (I'm not perfect, I'm just a teenage girl), and sometimes you really won't feel like seeing them, but you are there for each other at the end of the day.
I used to be so caught up in the notion of having a 'best friend' that I didn't stop to consider the consequences, and whether I was just choosing people so they (and I) could have a title, rather than choosing them for being my perfect soul-friend. I don't have a specific 'best friend' anymore, but I have an amazing list of people that I consider to be my 'best friends'. They all have their various roles - from shoulder to cry on, to co-pity partier, to study buddy, to crazy random fun friend... I have someone for everything. I realised just how amazing they were at my birthday this year when they gave me the most thoughtful, perfect presents in the world. The standout for me was the candle that said "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light". My friends know all my big secrets, and to give me something like that to remember that something as simple as lighting the candle and thinking of them (and Harry Potter) to make me smile a little more, is just the greatest gift I have ever received (yes, even better than the iPhone).
My friendships (and yours) may not be what you see in chick-flicks and on tv, but it's personal and special, and it's as close to perfect as I've ever had, and I wouldn't change my crazy bunch for anything in the world.
People come and go from our lives for reasons that we may not understand at the time, but looking back it becomes perfectly clear that it was God's way of saying, "Hey now, this person isn't quite right for you, but in a minute I'm going to introduce you to someone who is". And when you meet those people, it's like everything clicks into place. You could live in different towns, states, or even countries, but there's just a connection there that will forever hold you into place. When I was in France, my friends and I deemed it "soul friendships", and "soul groups". Like soul-mates, they're friends that were created with you perfectly in mind, and it doesn't matter what happens, you're meant to be friends.
It's a cute idea, and as I get older, I find myself slowly but surely amassing my soul group, and every time someone else fits into place, it just feels so very right. I am very lucky to have the friends I do, and I hope that you feel like you have a soul group too. And if you don't, I can promise you, something amazing is just around the corner.
frangipani princess xoxo
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Horrible History
In Ancient History we're learning about the Julio-Claudian emperors. My favourite part of history is learning about the people, because they're what makes it so fascinating. As my teacher said today, it's better to learn the stories, and then the facts and figures because the stories and the people are what get you interested. Try as I might, I just can't get as excited about the archaeology of Pompeii and Herculaneum as I do about personality studies. I especially love the Julio-Claudians because they were so insane. Like, I'm talking Caligula and Nero here, you don't get much more evil and crazy than them.
One of my other favourite parts of history is watching Horrible Histories (because I'm really still twelve). I am so snowed under with work at the moment that I'm just going to leave you with my two favourite Caligula videos (and two others I enjoy just because), and a promise to post again soon.
frangipani princess xoxo
One of my other favourite parts of history is watching Horrible Histories (because I'm really still twelve). I am so snowed under with work at the moment that I'm just going to leave you with my two favourite Caligula videos (and two others I enjoy just because), and a promise to post again soon.
frangipani princess xoxo
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Magazines And Body Image
Today I sat in on a public speaking competition that was on in the library during one of my study periods. As a veteran of comps myself, I always like to listen and see what others have to say (but it's not as fun when I don't get to win). There is one cliched speech, however, and it pops up in every competition, that just drives me insane. And that is the "Magazines are responsible for all of the body image problems in the world."
Stop. Just stop.
The girl giving the speech today thought she was so high and mighty, and you could tell the only magazine she'd think about reading would be Frankie (side note: not completely generalising, she's a friend of a friend). She spoke for eight minutes about the dangers magazines pose to our young and impressionable teenagers, and how even their best efforts are still failures.
I will admit, I am biased in this regard, but I have seen how magazines are put together, I have spoken to numerous editors and art directors and writers, and when it comes to magazines aimed at teens, the last thing they want to do is encourage eating disorders or poor self image. Yes, I know in a recent post I stated that I felt magazines were in part responsible for issues with teenagers, but I was more writing about the idea that they make girls feel like they have to grow up quickly. Under no circumstances do I believe that they only want girls to be skinny.
The girl who gave the speech today mentioned that she had spoken to numerous magazines, but only quoted "the PA of the Editor of a notable women's magazine" who told her that "plus sized just means bigger than normal models". Upon further questioning, that magazine turned out to be Madison, and she admitted to also talking to Dolly. Do you want to know why she didn't quote Dolly in her speech? Because Dolly is all for positive self-image, and they would have told her that. If she'd asked Girlfriend, they would have told her the same thing. I am so over this belief that is held by members of the public when it comes to magazines. They are not these completely evil things encouraging girls to become anorexics - they can be the most useful and helpful things a girl has in her teen years. They're like a bible for getting through teenage life successfully, and no one (especially someone who has probably never read an issue of a teen mag, or at least hasn't in recent years) has a right to criticise them for promoting negative body image.
We're not talking about high fashion magazines here (and let me clear up that neither was this competitor), we're talking about magazines aimed largely at twelve to sixteen year olds. They show real girls - heck, I've even been in a photoshoot for one of them, and if they can include me, they're definitely not picky. I remember that in my first year or two of reading Girlfriend, then-editor Sarah Oakes put a ban on featuring certain celebrities who weren't role model material. That was seven or eight years ago, and things have not gone backwards in anyway.
People need to get off their anti-media high horse and do some proper research before they go spouting their unfair opinions to the world. Mainstream media can do good, and more often than not, it does an awful lot more good than harm. Maybe some aspects of the magazine industry do cause girls to want to change their body image, but at least it's not like tumblr with it's thousands of 'thinspo' blogs, because we all know that's where the real damage can occur.
frangipani princess xoxo
Stop. Just stop.
The girl giving the speech today thought she was so high and mighty, and you could tell the only magazine she'd think about reading would be Frankie (side note: not completely generalising, she's a friend of a friend). She spoke for eight minutes about the dangers magazines pose to our young and impressionable teenagers, and how even their best efforts are still failures.
I will admit, I am biased in this regard, but I have seen how magazines are put together, I have spoken to numerous editors and art directors and writers, and when it comes to magazines aimed at teens, the last thing they want to do is encourage eating disorders or poor self image. Yes, I know in a recent post I stated that I felt magazines were in part responsible for issues with teenagers, but I was more writing about the idea that they make girls feel like they have to grow up quickly. Under no circumstances do I believe that they only want girls to be skinny.
The girl who gave the speech today mentioned that she had spoken to numerous magazines, but only quoted "the PA of the Editor of a notable women's magazine" who told her that "plus sized just means bigger than normal models". Upon further questioning, that magazine turned out to be Madison, and she admitted to also talking to Dolly. Do you want to know why she didn't quote Dolly in her speech? Because Dolly is all for positive self-image, and they would have told her that. If she'd asked Girlfriend, they would have told her the same thing. I am so over this belief that is held by members of the public when it comes to magazines. They are not these completely evil things encouraging girls to become anorexics - they can be the most useful and helpful things a girl has in her teen years. They're like a bible for getting through teenage life successfully, and no one (especially someone who has probably never read an issue of a teen mag, or at least hasn't in recent years) has a right to criticise them for promoting negative body image.
We're not talking about high fashion magazines here (and let me clear up that neither was this competitor), we're talking about magazines aimed largely at twelve to sixteen year olds. They show real girls - heck, I've even been in a photoshoot for one of them, and if they can include me, they're definitely not picky. I remember that in my first year or two of reading Girlfriend, then-editor Sarah Oakes put a ban on featuring certain celebrities who weren't role model material. That was seven or eight years ago, and things have not gone backwards in anyway.
People need to get off their anti-media high horse and do some proper research before they go spouting their unfair opinions to the world. Mainstream media can do good, and more often than not, it does an awful lot more good than harm. Maybe some aspects of the magazine industry do cause girls to want to change their body image, but at least it's not like tumblr with it's thousands of 'thinspo' blogs, because we all know that's where the real damage can occur.
frangipani princess xoxo
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
The Greatest Photo In The History Of The World
Now, we all know that I love The Jonas Brothers. We all know that I love Harry Potter. And we all know that I love Team Starkid. We also all know that I freaked out when I found out that Nick, Dan and Darren were all going to be playing the same role in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, because, come on, three fandoms, one musical? How often does that happen?! If only I had been in NYC to see it all three times (or, you know, once).
Today is the Met Ball, and because Joe Jonas is the greatest person in the universe, he took this photo, which may or may not have caused me to scream.
 |
| photo courtesy of Joe Jonas' instagram |
frangipani princess xoxo
In Which I Contemplate Magazines, Age, And Inspiration
I seem to be at a crossroads in my life, and nothing could illustrate that more than today when I walked out of the newsagents holding Cosmo and Total Girl. I've now been eighteen for two months. I have bought alcohol and lotto tickets, and I've even been 'out' once or twice. I only have five and a bit months until the end of my hsc, which means the end of school forever. To everyone else, I am an adult. Old enough to be handed responsibilities, but somehow I want to decline them all and hide under the covers and colour in. When I went out with my friend in Sydney last month, I got talking to some of their acquaintances, and I loved the look of shock I got when I would tell them "Oh, I'm still in high school". Likewise, in all my work experience, I love being seen as young and getting out there. I did my first week as a workie at fifteen, which is definitely on the younger side, but now I'm nothing special - just the same age as the thousands of other wanna-be journos.
The juxtaposition of my purchases today only served as a giant wake up call, which came when I could relate to most of Cosmo, and uh, none of Total Girl. I first read TG when it first launched, and like you hold your first editor near to your heart (Sarah Oakes was my first editor - being in charge when I started reading TG, and then when she moved to GF, so did I. I was actually lucky enough to meet her last month - definitely a star-struck moment!!), you also hold your first magazine. In my head I still think of myself as "young" but I really need to start adding "adult" to the end of that phrase. I've actually stopped buying Girlfriend and Dolly, because after eight years of devoted readership, I decided I'd seen it all and it was time to move on to the next stage in my life. There was separation anxiety involved, but there'll always be a special spot in my life (and cupboard) for them. And I will continue to stay in touch with all the fabulous people I have met at both titles - just because I'm too old to read doesn't mean I can't dream of taking part in creating them.
What saddens me about the youth of today is that so many of them are turning to Cosmo and Cleo straight out of Primary School in an endeavour to appear 'cool' and 'grown up'. Ignoring the issue of age appropriateness, it just breaks my heart that they feel they have to skip the joys of being a tween. Society is so skewed these days, and I just want to shake the media industry (though I do know it's not entirely their fault) and asked them when they got the stupid idea of telling young and impressionable girls that they have to live their lives in a certain way in order to be accepted. I just want to hug all the little girls (and despite what they may feel within themselves, that's what they are) that I see on Facebook or tumblr who feel like they have to cover themselves in make-up and pose provocatively in order to gain popularity. I want to give them all copies of God Loves Ugly by Christa Black and let them know that it's okay to be themselves (and I do not believe for a minute, no matter how much they protest, that acting like they do is being their true selves). It's okay to be awkward and daggy and spend Saturday night in pajamas instead of at parties. It's okay to be a nerd, or not be a nerd, just as long as you're not changing yourself to fit in. Being eighteen, I now enjoy a drink or two when out with my friends, but hearing thirteen year olds boast about getting plastered absolutely shatters me. We only get one childhood, and then have the rest of our lives to act like grown ups, so why waste the amazing opportunity we are given. Life goes fast enough without feeling the need to help accelerate the process.
My whole life I have dreamed of working at Girlfriend or Dolly, but the more I examine my life, the more I realise that maybe I should be out there helping to benefit the world and practicing my preaching of self-love and acceptance. Magazines like Bella Magazine are a breath of fresh air in the media industry, and maybe I should adjust my goals and aim for something like that instead. Or maybe I should work at GF or Dolly, but encourage positive change. They are making steps, but the overall message I still get from them is "you have to act like this, this, and this in order to be popular, accepted and happy".
People like Christa Black have been an overwhelming influence on me, and I just want to be able to inspire girls the way that they have inspired me.
If you're a young teen and reading this, please promise me you will enjoy the next few years of your lives. Saying no to societies pressures can be hard, but I can promise you it's worth it, especially when you remember you have years and years ahead of you to act like an adult.
frangipani princess xoxo
The juxtaposition of my purchases today only served as a giant wake up call, which came when I could relate to most of Cosmo, and uh, none of Total Girl. I first read TG when it first launched, and like you hold your first editor near to your heart (Sarah Oakes was my first editor - being in charge when I started reading TG, and then when she moved to GF, so did I. I was actually lucky enough to meet her last month - definitely a star-struck moment!!), you also hold your first magazine. In my head I still think of myself as "young" but I really need to start adding "adult" to the end of that phrase. I've actually stopped buying Girlfriend and Dolly, because after eight years of devoted readership, I decided I'd seen it all and it was time to move on to the next stage in my life. There was separation anxiety involved, but there'll always be a special spot in my life (and cupboard) for them. And I will continue to stay in touch with all the fabulous people I have met at both titles - just because I'm too old to read doesn't mean I can't dream of taking part in creating them.
What saddens me about the youth of today is that so many of them are turning to Cosmo and Cleo straight out of Primary School in an endeavour to appear 'cool' and 'grown up'. Ignoring the issue of age appropriateness, it just breaks my heart that they feel they have to skip the joys of being a tween. Society is so skewed these days, and I just want to shake the media industry (though I do know it's not entirely their fault) and asked them when they got the stupid idea of telling young and impressionable girls that they have to live their lives in a certain way in order to be accepted. I just want to hug all the little girls (and despite what they may feel within themselves, that's what they are) that I see on Facebook or tumblr who feel like they have to cover themselves in make-up and pose provocatively in order to gain popularity. I want to give them all copies of God Loves Ugly by Christa Black and let them know that it's okay to be themselves (and I do not believe for a minute, no matter how much they protest, that acting like they do is being their true selves). It's okay to be awkward and daggy and spend Saturday night in pajamas instead of at parties. It's okay to be a nerd, or not be a nerd, just as long as you're not changing yourself to fit in. Being eighteen, I now enjoy a drink or two when out with my friends, but hearing thirteen year olds boast about getting plastered absolutely shatters me. We only get one childhood, and then have the rest of our lives to act like grown ups, so why waste the amazing opportunity we are given. Life goes fast enough without feeling the need to help accelerate the process.
My whole life I have dreamed of working at Girlfriend or Dolly, but the more I examine my life, the more I realise that maybe I should be out there helping to benefit the world and practicing my preaching of self-love and acceptance. Magazines like Bella Magazine are a breath of fresh air in the media industry, and maybe I should adjust my goals and aim for something like that instead. Or maybe I should work at GF or Dolly, but encourage positive change. They are making steps, but the overall message I still get from them is "you have to act like this, this, and this in order to be popular, accepted and happy".
People like Christa Black have been an overwhelming influence on me, and I just want to be able to inspire girls the way that they have inspired me.
If you're a young teen and reading this, please promise me you will enjoy the next few years of your lives. Saying no to societies pressures can be hard, but I can promise you it's worth it, especially when you remember you have years and years ahead of you to act like an adult.
frangipani princess xoxo
Friday, 27 April 2012
My Weekend
My cousin is getting married this weekend, and because she knows how to party, she decided to hold it in Canberra. I don't even know.
But not only am I stuck in Canberra, I'm stuck in a motel room in Canberra studying for the HSC. While my family shops and takes part in wedding preparation, I'm confined to this, at least until tomorrow afternoon:
I'm sure the actual wedding will be lovely, but Canberra is even less interesting when you're chained to a desk with a mountain of homework to complete.
frangipani princess xoxo
But not only am I stuck in Canberra, I'm stuck in a motel room in Canberra studying for the HSC. While my family shops and takes part in wedding preparation, I'm confined to this, at least until tomorrow afternoon:
frangipani princess xoxo
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
I'm Halfway There
On Thursday I dropped in for a visit to Dolly Magazine. It's one of my favourite places, and seeing as I'm not going in for work exp this year, it was a nice chance to catch up with everyone who works there.
I was chatting to Jess for a while about her interview with One Direction (Harry totally checked her out), and then editor Tiff asked me the basic question, "so, what's been happening in your life?".
I drew an absolute blank.
And because Boy Bands are always relevant, here's Big Time Rush with Halfway There:
I was chatting to Jess for a while about her interview with One Direction (Harry totally checked her out), and then editor Tiff asked me the basic question, "so, what's been happening in your life?".
I drew an absolute blank.
My life has been so consumed by year twelve, I literally have nothing else to report. It's like everything cool in my life has been placed in a paused dimension, just waiting for November to tick around so they can be freed.
Yesterday the second half of year twelve began, and as I sat contemplating all the work I needed to do to just be up to date, let alone on top of things completely, I started freaking out. My parents have been telling me that I'd need to study five hours a day to get through this year ahead, and I'd always scoffed at them...until now. I could quite clearly see a future where I'm chained to my desk for the next seven months, and when awesome people like Ed Sheeran are coming in that time, it's not a pleasant thought.
No matter how many times people tell me year twelve doesn't last forever, the light at the end of the tunnel seems pretty dark to me.
I will get through this year though, and with a trip to America about to be booked for the day after grad, I'm creating my own lights where they were otherwise invisible to me. I have awesome friends to have study days with, and we will make it through this together.
I may not be able to answer what's been happening in my life with a decent answer right now, but I have the rest of my life for that.
And because Boy Bands are always relevant, here's Big Time Rush with Halfway There:
Frangipani Princess
Thursday, 19 April 2012
In Which I Get Preachy About How Girls Act Around Alcohol
I went out with my life long friend Em last night. Em is in her first year at
Macquarie Uni, and so as a celebration of my recent birthday we hit the clubs. If by the clubs you mean the Epping hotel.
As it was a Wednesday and I had work exp this morning, I didn't drink too much, preferring to sit and people watch.
The effect alcohol has on people always amazes me. What becomes glaringly obvious is the absolute lack of self esteem and respect most girls have. Even if you ignored the fact you could see their underwear, the way these girls were acting broke my heart. They were my age, some maybe a few years older, and I just wanted to give them a hug and let them know that they didn't have to act like that to find worth.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a drink or two with friends, but I just don't see the point in drinking to the point where I can barely stand and then throwing myself at the nearest guy. Maybe I'm lame, but I'd much rather meet a guy sober and have him judge me on how I really am, not on how little I'm wearing.
Not that there's anything wrong with meeting guys in bars, it is how my parents met, after all.
Last night, and other stories I've heard recently have really made me just want to find every teen girl and tell them that it's okay to be themselves. That there are people who will love them for that, and not for who they become after one too many vodkas. Too many of the girls I either saw last night or know of through my school rely on alcohol to determine their self worth, and that's not the way it should be. You're all amazing, beautiful girls with so much to offer the world, and swallowing poison isn't the answer to anything.
Sober is sexy guys (as the campaign says), remember that.
Frangipani Princess
Macquarie Uni, and so as a celebration of my recent birthday we hit the clubs. If by the clubs you mean the Epping hotel.
As it was a Wednesday and I had work exp this morning, I didn't drink too much, preferring to sit and people watch.
The effect alcohol has on people always amazes me. What becomes glaringly obvious is the absolute lack of self esteem and respect most girls have. Even if you ignored the fact you could see their underwear, the way these girls were acting broke my heart. They were my age, some maybe a few years older, and I just wanted to give them a hug and let them know that they didn't have to act like that to find worth.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a drink or two with friends, but I just don't see the point in drinking to the point where I can barely stand and then throwing myself at the nearest guy. Maybe I'm lame, but I'd much rather meet a guy sober and have him judge me on how I really am, not on how little I'm wearing.
Not that there's anything wrong with meeting guys in bars, it is how my parents met, after all.
Last night, and other stories I've heard recently have really made me just want to find every teen girl and tell them that it's okay to be themselves. That there are people who will love them for that, and not for who they become after one too many vodkas. Too many of the girls I either saw last night or know of through my school rely on alcohol to determine their self worth, and that's not the way it should be. You're all amazing, beautiful girls with so much to offer the world, and swallowing poison isn't the answer to anything.
Sober is sexy guys (as the campaign says), remember that.
Frangipani Princess
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Camp
Last week, I volunteered for three days at a camp for kids with disabilities. Growing up with a brother who has Down Syndrome and a mum who works in Special Education, I vaguely knew what to expect, challenges wise.
What I didn't expect, however, was how much pride and enjoyment the kids would get out of it. The laughter and smiles and absolute joy I saw in those kids during the camp would be pretty hard pressed to be rivalled. As would their shuffling skills during the disco - they certainly put us vols to shame!
We were each buddied up with a kid who became our responsibility for the duration of the camp. My little guy was named Jared, and he is one of the most determined people I have ever met. He persevered and persevered, never giving up until he reached his goals, whether that be reaching the top of the rock climbing wall, or shooting baskets from half court. And although I may have had to remind him a few times that kayaks are for paddling. Not pushing people into the water, he was a brilliant buddy.
I didn't just learn lots from the kids, however, the other twenty four volunteers were such an interesting mix of people and stories. After we put the kids to bed we were allowed to say up and hang out, and the conversation was fascinating. I wouldn't necessarily have spoken to some of the vols had we been at school together, but as life continues to teach me, we can't judge people on first impressions, and everyone has something to teach us. From the vol who at my age was on deployment in East Timor, to the girls younger than me who dedicated their free time to volunteering, the stories people had to tell were fascinating.
I had the best time on the camp, even if I did have to leave my beloved phone and Internet at home. My life lately has been teaching me the values of patience and appreciation of the life I get to live. Helping people is the best feeling ever, and I can't wait to have more learning experiences like it.
Frangipani Princess
What I didn't expect, however, was how much pride and enjoyment the kids would get out of it. The laughter and smiles and absolute joy I saw in those kids during the camp would be pretty hard pressed to be rivalled. As would their shuffling skills during the disco - they certainly put us vols to shame!
We were each buddied up with a kid who became our responsibility for the duration of the camp. My little guy was named Jared, and he is one of the most determined people I have ever met. He persevered and persevered, never giving up until he reached his goals, whether that be reaching the top of the rock climbing wall, or shooting baskets from half court. And although I may have had to remind him a few times that kayaks are for paddling. Not pushing people into the water, he was a brilliant buddy.
I didn't just learn lots from the kids, however, the other twenty four volunteers were such an interesting mix of people and stories. After we put the kids to bed we were allowed to say up and hang out, and the conversation was fascinating. I wouldn't necessarily have spoken to some of the vols had we been at school together, but as life continues to teach me, we can't judge people on first impressions, and everyone has something to teach us. From the vol who at my age was on deployment in East Timor, to the girls younger than me who dedicated their free time to volunteering, the stories people had to tell were fascinating.
I had the best time on the camp, even if I did have to leave my beloved phone and Internet at home. My life lately has been teaching me the values of patience and appreciation of the life I get to live. Helping people is the best feeling ever, and I can't wait to have more learning experiences like it.
Frangipani Princess
Monday, 9 April 2012
Holiday
It's the holidays, which usually would be a cause for celebration, but this year the jokes on me, because it's year twelve which means if anything, my work load increases. Of course, I thought it would be a great idea to fill my holidays with work experience and volunteering, so just how I'm going to get my massive piles of work done is something yet to be worked out.
From tomorrow until Thursday night I'm volunteering at a camp for teenagers with disabilities. It will be a great chance to give back, make lots of new friends, and gain some awesome experience. I'm definitely looking forward to a fun three days.
Friday I'm off to Sydney (ONE DIRECTION!) , then Saturday sees me heading to my cousins hens night (I do not feel old enough to be allowed to attend one of these!). From Monday I'm at The Sydney Morning Herald for a week to experience Newspaper land (fingers crossed I get to meet the team behind Column Eight!), but as usual I'm staying at Gosford which means at least two hours on a train each day. In between all of that I have to fit in catch ups with some lovely friends, and there's the little problem of my homework, but I'm sure my teachers will understand if I tell them I was too busy hitting up Sydney clubs to complete my essays.
Because I'll be having little time to breathe, blogging until I get home on the 21st or 22nd will be more sporadic than usual, though I'm sure I'll have to log on for a mega post about my amazing concert experience this weekend. And there may just be a frustrated rant about Directioners in there as well (do not get me started on those silly girls at Sunrise. Ruining fandom much?!).
Hope everyone had a lovely Easter, and those of you lucky enough to be on holidays, have a good one!
frangipani princess xoxo
From tomorrow until Thursday night I'm volunteering at a camp for teenagers with disabilities. It will be a great chance to give back, make lots of new friends, and gain some awesome experience. I'm definitely looking forward to a fun three days.
Friday I'm off to Sydney (ONE DIRECTION!) , then Saturday sees me heading to my cousins hens night (I do not feel old enough to be allowed to attend one of these!). From Monday I'm at The Sydney Morning Herald for a week to experience Newspaper land (fingers crossed I get to meet the team behind Column Eight!), but as usual I'm staying at Gosford which means at least two hours on a train each day. In between all of that I have to fit in catch ups with some lovely friends, and there's the little problem of my homework, but I'm sure my teachers will understand if I tell them I was too busy hitting up Sydney clubs to complete my essays.
Because I'll be having little time to breathe, blogging until I get home on the 21st or 22nd will be more sporadic than usual, though I'm sure I'll have to log on for a mega post about my amazing concert experience this weekend. And there may just be a frustrated rant about Directioners in there as well (do not get me started on those silly girls at Sunrise. Ruining fandom much?!).
Hope everyone had a lovely Easter, and those of you lucky enough to be on holidays, have a good one!
frangipani princess xoxo
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