10 Prompts #4: 5 Things You Want To Know/Learn

I want to know and learn a lot of things.

I want to be able to speak fluently in Italian

I want to know how to sew on my sewing machine more proficiently

I want to learn how to SCUBA, and then do dive trips in the Caribbean

I want to learn how to make a corset properly

I want to learn and learn and learn and learn everything that i can possibly learn

Books of 2014 (Pt. 2)

Meada
Author: Euripides
Published: 431 BC
Genre: Tragedy
My Thoughts: Well, if Greek tragedy is your thing, go for it. I personally think that most plays should be seen, not read. 

Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Published: September 17, 1954
Genre: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction, Allegory
My Thoughts: As a plane-full of boys find a way to survive on a deserted island, Golding explores the human condition, and the animalistic nature that people can revert to in a time of crisis. It was pretty interesting, and if you're into stories like Fahrenheit 451 or Animal Farm, you would probably enjoy this as well.

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters
Author: Lesley M. M. Blume
Published: January 8, 2008
Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Youth
My Thoughts: Ok, so this is a children's book (like, middle grades reading) but it has been my favorite book since I was 10 and it was the 4th time I've read it and omg memories. Eleven year old Cornelia becomes friends with her neighbor who spent her 20's traveling the world with her sisters. The various escapades they go on are hilarious and all the characters are surprisingly developed for a children's story.

Steampunk Fashion
Author: Spurgeon Vaughn Ratcliffe
Published: November 1, 2012
Genre: n/a
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book, but I don't recommend it to anyone who's not familiar to Steampunk. It is mostly pictures of various steampunkers + a biography/write up on how they make their outfits. It's more of an inspirational showcase for those of us who make our own steampunk gear. 

Huckleberry Fin
Author: Mark Twain
Published: December 1884
Genre: Adventure, Satire, Humor
My Thoughts: Well, it was assigned for school, so as far as summer reading goes, it was pretty good. I enjoyed the majority of the book, and thought it was a fun follow up to Tom Sawyer. To be perfectly honest, the last two chapters were unnecessary. Twain obviously included them simply because he wanted to draw a connection to the previous novel, and it did nothing to further the plot- it left the book with a weak ending.

10 Prompts #3: Your Most Prized Memories

Now that we've gone through a few fun lists of generic "getting to know your blogger", we have a more interesting topic to cover: memories! I guess this blog really is a compilation of memories, but here are a few of my favorites.

Farmers Market: I love going to the farmers market, and I always walk away with great memories from there, but there are two occasions that really stand out to me. On was when a street performer (who was really talented!) caught my interest because he was playing some music that I liked. I went over and put a dollar in the guitar case, so he asked if I had any requests. I didn't, so I just said "what ever's your favorite to play". He played one of my favorite songs! It was really awesome! I ended up talking to his friend/wife/girlfriend, too, and she was really sweet! My next memory is when a lady and I got into a conversation about fashion (I was wearing my steampunk dress, and she had some fun clothes on, as well). 

The general concept of going to the market is something I value- every time I go I always have interesting conversations with interesting people, and it's fun to spend time with my grandparents :D

CVI: Then entire trip is one amazing memory! I had such a great time with the Lakehouse Girls, and I can't wait until the next time I see them! I remember when I finally met Grace and Autumn, the first two girls I saw in person. Mom and I were checking on a room, making sure it's where were supposed to be for the HU cupcake party, when we walked out and there was Ashley Eckstine. I was so star-struck that I walked into a sign xD I went  over and I was so shocked that I couldn't really talk, so mom asked if we could get a picture together. Ashley was surprised that we came all the way from Cali, so when mom told her I was there with the Lakehousers, Ashley said "Oh my goodness! Well, if you're with the Lakehousers, then I have to give you a hug!" It was really awesome! 

After that, I was a little shocked about what had just happened, but on the way down the escalator, I heard someone at the bottom say "Amanda? Is that you?" 

I don't recommend running down an escalator. It's kind of hard.

But off I went, running down the escalator, where I was greeted by Grace and Autumn. It was one of the best moments of my life!! Then they brought me over and introduced me to the other girls! 

My mom told me that as she watched us, it didn't seem like we were meeting for the first time, it was more like we were old friends meeting up for the first time in a few months :)

(I'm the one in the blue dress... even though you can't really tell by this pic lol)

Prom: At the end of 10th grade I was so done with my school. My main goal was to get out of there and finish up my high school career within one year at my local community college. Obviously, that didn't happen, but I did make it a goal to have the "high school experience", which included prom. So I talked to my best friend, Anna, and she was on-board. She invited her boyfriend (Anthony), I invited another one of my best friends (Jaymes), and we all went to prom together. 

My grandparents volunteered to make us dinner, and so we all ate at their house, took pictures (and took an obscene number of selfies on Anna's phone), then sang 70's/80's classics on the ride over (doing full harmony of Bohemian Rhapsody... even though Anna and I are the only ones with any formal voice training xD).

Europe Trip: Nothing in particular stands out- the entire month was an amazing experience that gave me a whole new view of the world. Venice was probably one of the most amazing places I've been- the whole city is literally built on water!! And I was talking to my Italian tutor, and the canals are put under the same titles as streets in Italian (road/street/boulevard and such). Meeting my family in Lucca/Ceva was really cool, and I can't wait to see them again- hopefully this summer :D  Switzerland was the most beautiful place I've ever been... the alps are beautiful and the water is beautiful and the towns are beautiful and the sky is beautiful and... everything about it was beautiful! 


Well, I'll stop the list there, but I have soooo many other awesome memories that I could share xD but i just posted the first that came to mind. Others would be Fall Kraken Con 2014, 8th grade graduation, "Into the Woods" (the first time I was in a real production), horseback riding, making lava cakes to eat while watching Legend of Korra... as you can see, I barely scratched the surface.

So what are some of your favorite memories? I'd love to hear them!

I am 16 going on 17...

Ok, so the most amazing thing happened and i am so excited and happy and omg

i worked really hard for the entire first semester to get our art club to get involved with the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards and so after months of waiting the list of winners was sent out and I GOT AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR MY POEM

after putting in so much work with the school and submitting for the past 3 years to finally win an award is the most amazing feeling! The Scholastic awards has always been a big deal for me, and so to get an honorable mention was the most fantastic way to conclude my 16th year :D

So now that i'm 17... i don't really know. I don't really know what to think of this- 16 went by so fast! And it's weird, having the most hyped-up teenage year end lol

I did some pretty cool things, though, being 16:

-My party was pretty rad
-My first major stage performance
-Kraken Con (twice :D )
-ATLA/LOK ended 
-Watched Stargate, which is now my favorite sci-fi show!
-Prom
-Mexico
-Got my license/car
-Started writing my book
-The Dickens Fair
-SCHOLASTIC AWARDS OMG


so, yeah, 16 was a pretty good year :)