Author: paris22

Senseless Violence

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Photo Credit: Dailymail.co.uk

Quite frankly, when I thought about writing a post on the ISIS attacks over this past weekend I was afraid. Yes, I was afraid of speaking my mind about ISIS, in fear of ISIS. But, as I mulled over this I realized how wrong it was for me to be scared to voice my opinions because of a group who threatens many others for speaking theirs. So, I am writing this blog post because I will not let a terrorist group stop me from speaking my mind, because that’s what they want me and many others to do. ISIS staged an attack on Paris, but not only them, Paris is just ISIS’ most recent victim. ISIS also attacked Egypt and Beirut only weeks ago. And for what? Because they don’t agree with the way they live? Because traditions and norms that are shared throughout the US, UK, France, and more don’t coincide with how the members of ISIS choose to live? Is that why countless people have been killed, and not just by ISIS, in terrorist attacks? I could keep guessing the reasons, but honestly I don’t know.  And it gets even more twisted when I, personally, even try to conceive or understand how someone could kill innocent people, and for what I ask again? And though this post is surmised mostly of questions, that is all I have in this situation. Because it’s something that isn’t understandable. This isn’t a hard math problem, or a trick question that you finally understand after an explanation from the teacher; this is real life. Real, twisted life. And when one tries to explain a situation like this, only more questions arise. I mourn for all of the people who lost their lives, and I am deeply saddened. But I will not let these type of people deter me from living my life the way I want. And I will not live my life in constant fear that this will happen to me, and neither should anyone else.

My Favorite Street Style Stars

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On Instagram there is a flurry of planned, blurry outfit photos with #ootd or pictures of one’s 15 bazillion Cartier Love Bracelets. But, my favorite fashion photos are the ones captured on the move, encompassing one’s street style (hence the title). So, let’s jump in.

Miroslava Duma

Photo Credit: Pop Sugar

This woman has some of the best street style looks I have ever seen. She maintains a formal look while still able to pull it off in the most casual of circumstances.

Olivia Palermo

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

10/10, Palermo consistently hits it out of the ball park with her looks, without even trying. Her style is a modernized classic, and is able to integrate trends into her look while still staying true to her personal style.

Emmanuelle Alt

Photo Credit: vanessataaffe.wordpress.com

Editor-in- Chief of Vogue Paris, Emmanuelle Alt has the classic, killer french style I love. Classic and simplistic, but never boring, Emmanuelle Alt always has awe-worthy looks.

Amal Clooney (né Alamuddin)

Photo Credit: demureonline.com

Amal Clooney, British lawyer and, yes, you guessed it,George Clooney’s Wife, has a complex, yet not too trendy style. She maintains a perfect balance, and always looks professional.

Miranda Kerr

Photo Credit: http://www.fashionmg-style.com

Miranda Kerr’s style has been on my fashion radar since I was 11 years old. Thats a pretty long time to love a person’s style, considering it is ever-changing. Miranda is able to maintain a classic look (see a pattern in these celeb’s style?) while still having fun with her outfits.

The 5 Most Beautiful French Châteaus

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When I was scrolling through my Instagram this morning I ran across a photo that was a link to an article Vogue had posted.

The article was about an Australian couple who are renovating a gorgeous château in the South of France. So I decided to do a round of up of the most amazing Châteaus France has to offer. (Let’s be real, pretty much all French Châteaus are winners.)

5. This Winter Wonderland Château

Photo Credit: Pinterest

It reminds me of the house in Taylor Swift’s Blank Space music video. Enough said.

4. The Château that Inspired this Post

Photo Credit: Vogue

Between the creeper vines growing up the house and the amazing driveway, I am envious of the owners of this estate.

3. This Grand Château

Photo Credit: thegoodlifefrance.com

This Château is majestic in the grandest sense. With the light layer of snow all around and the beautiful architecture, I am having serious house FOMO.

2. This Beauty

Photo Credit: green-landscape.com

Though this picture is worth a thousand words, LOOK HOW MAJESTIC. This should be in a Disney movie.

  1. Valentino Garavani’s Château de Wideville
Photo Credit: iTunes/ E!

Remember on the Keeping Up With the Kardashians episode of Kim and Kanye’s wedding when the whole clan casually were invited to Valentino’s Chateau for a celebratory wedding brunch?

Well I do, and I must say GOALS. This Château is jaw dropping. From the beautiful interior, to the amazing gardens, Valentino’s Château definitely secures the place as #1.

And since this is the #1 Château here are some more amazing pictures of the grounds and of my favorite episode of Keeping up With the Kardashians (no regrets).

Photo Credit: iTunes/ E!

GOOOAAALS

Photo Credit: iTunes/ E!

And of course, Versailles is amazing in every sense, but if it was in the list, there wouldn’t be much competition.

Halloween

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Photo Credit: Drafthouse

As I prepare for my four-day weekend and Halloween, I think back to my favorite Halloween movies that I watched in elementary school, or even younger.

To this day I am not one for gruesome, gory Halloween films, but movies that resonate more with Hocus Pocus (AKA the best Halloween movie ever) rather than Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

What I’m saying is my Halloween is more Disney than AMC ( I’m looking at you The Walking Dead). But while some may be gearing up for Trick or Treating, going to Six Flags or Universal Studios to be scared senseless, or staying at home diving into a bowl of candy, Halloween, in my opinion, is a very retrospective holiday.

Whether it be looking back to all the things you did to celebrate years ago, getting the type of sugar rush that usually only seven-year olds are acceptable of getting, watching scary movies, or any other time-honored tradition.

But one thing I do know is that I won’t have to go to sleep tonight thinking that my dog coming up the stairs is actually a serial killer.

Live by Curiosity, Not Fear

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Photo Credit: mymarketingdiary.wordpress.com

Friday October 23rd my parents and I made the relatively strenuous drive at 8:30 at night to Redlands University to see my brother at his college Homecoming.

To be honest, I couldn’t care less about football. In fact, I chatted the whole time and not about the plays being made on the field.

But, on Saturday, the day of the largely anticipated game (admittedly, not by me), I went to see something truly unforgettable.

A few hours before the game, Redlands hosted a guest speaker and that speaker was Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love.

I read the book a few years ago and loved it, so I was looking forward to her speech. The main idea of Gilbert’s speech was her desire to live a creative life, her journey to attaining that life, and to encourage others into also living this life.

First of all, she was very clear: to live a creative life, you must follow curiosity rather than fear, and the two are closely intertwined.

This deeply resonated with me, as I am the type of person who thinks of every bad side to a situation and lets those (usually improbable) reasons sway me from not doing something.

Gilbert was inspiring, intuitive, and an amazing speaker. The speech was definitely worth having to watch a football game afterward, though I did leave at halftime.

Boys with Attitude

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Photo Credit: http://www.ptable.com/Images/periodic%20table.png

Mr. Killeen assigned a project to his chemistry students to research an element of their choice, but there was also extra credit involved.

This extra credit was to create a periodic table song and play it for the class. One song definitely got my attention. That memorable song was from Liam, Kase, and Jacob’s LIVE performance.

Unlike the other songs – it was not edited, auto-tuned, and more on a laptop, but nevertheless, a performance.

When asked their group name before they went “on stage” their reply was: “White Boys with Attitude.”

The boys did a spoof of “Straight Outta Compton”, but instead of a rap, the boys were just shouting different elements on the periodic table. 

Kase, one of the group members, also dressed for the part in a hat, 3-D movie theater sunglasses, and a microphone.

“Straight Outta Carbon” was hit with the students, and a chemistry class one would be hard pressed to forget.

Gender Bias

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There is a strong double standard in today’s culture.

For a woman, it is considered “improper” to show as little as show her bra strap. Yet, I see multiple men and boys sagging their pants, walking around shirtless, and more.

Most people today, including myself, don’t give it much thought when this happens. It’s normal for a guy to be able to show most of his body, while a woman is reprimanded or judged for showing a strap on their shoulder. 

CBS wrote a very interesting article about the dress codes in work places, and the “dress codes” seem to transition into people’s personal lives too.

There also seems to be an uproar when a woman asserts herself in her career and lays down the law, and she may be called some less than polite words.

I’m not calling anyone out here, or placing blame. But, the expectation for how men present themselves is, in some cases, much lower than the expectation for women.

Gender Inequality

Of course, this double standard goes both ways. Men aren’t expected to be emotional or sensitive, and in some cultures, are judged for it.

Men are also though of as “weak” if he is a stay at home dad, does the laundry, or cooks dinner because it is thought to be a woman’s role.

Why should the public be able to judge two different genders completely differently, on the same subject, and have it be thought of as OK?