I want to quickly talk about what happened today. It was my last official day of junior year (finals next week, but still... ) and some friends and I had the most amazing experience. It gave me chills. We had finished school for the day, were saying goodbyes, and then Elizabeth, Ana and I decided to walk to Starbucks. We had some time to kill since I had an hour and a half until I needed to pick up my brother. It was a nice day, a nice walk- nothing spectacular. Elizabeth asked all about Jr. year and Ana contemplated if she would return next year (she's an exchange student from China). We rounded the corner, and were just across the street from Starbucks when we walked by a woman, sitting, holding a cardboard sign. About five feet later something in me screamed "GO BACK"- so I did. Elizabeth and Ana caught on to what I was doing and didn't miss a beat.
Her Sign
Now, I'm very much of a people person. I have no issue starting conversations, but as we stood in front of this women I realized that I had no idea of what to say. I mumbled something about her sign and feeling like I needed to talk to her.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, has an unusual way with words and people. She walked right up to the woman and said "I feel like you need a hug". She was shocked, of course, but accepted the affection. The woman put down the sign and on the back was something so simple and heartbreaking: God please give me the strength and the trust that i need We talked for a bit. She told us her story and how she has been running into trouble with her abusive ex-husband, and is going to court tomorrow. As the conversation progressed, it was clear that she's a Christian. She explained how Francis Chan (who's one of my favorite, as well) has been a light in her life, how his sermons gave her the strength to get out of the relationships. The way she talked about God was so raw and open. She obviously isn't in the best part of her life, but she's managed to hold onto hope, even though she's felt bitter and angry. She knows that God's grace will cover her.
We offered to buy her lunch. She declined, but asked for a soda- diet pepsi to be exact. When we gave her the soda, she held up a pack of cigarettes. "I've got five left in here. It's the last five I'll ever smoke." Her voice was a voice of conviction and bravery and uncertainness and the brokenness. Before leaving, we prayed together. We went our separate ways, one to a support group and three to a cup of coffee.
Sometimes it's important to talk to people. It's hard, I know, and sometimes it's just not the right time, but sometimes it is. Sometimes someone needs reassurance that there's a light at the end of the tunnel or something like that. Sometimes you just need a diet soda and a prayer.
Last night, the very last episode of the Avatar franchise aired. The very last episode of my absolute favorite series... ended. I was so excited and so sad and so not ready for it to be over. But all good things come to an end, I suppose.
I had always intended to do a post about ATLA and LOK, but I never had the time or motivation. Well, now I do, and it's time to say goodbye. Perfect timing.
Here's a little history of how I even got involved: back when I was younger I saw a promo for Avatar: The Last Airbender, which was showing for the first time that night. I thought it looked kind of cool, and a little while later I was watching it. I don't remember much, I don't think I even watched the whole thing. The point is, I saw it, and I remembered it enough so that when the movie came out it 2010 I wanted to go see it (also, judging by the preview, 12 year old me thought it would be awesome. I did think it was awesome).
Unfortunately, I liked the movie so much I had my dad buy the DVD. Whoops. Now that's sitting in a box somewhere and I will probably deny that I own it. I am kind of thankful for it though, because if I hadn't seen the movie, I probably wouldn't have watched the show.
Now, fast-forward a few months. My brother was sick, we were trying to find something to watch, and so we checked out Nick... and there it was: ATLA- The Southern Raiders. Sure, my first episode of it wasn't from the first season, and I didn't even see the first half of the episode! But it became a weekly event where my brother and I would watch ATLA re-runs (which were not shown in any specific order that I know of) on Saturday mornings.
I didn't watch it in order the first time I saw it. Or the second, or third. I started randomly picking them and eventually was able to piece together the whole show. Eventually Mom decided to watch it since Dante and I loved it so much, so we watched it as a family, in order.
Never had I seen a show with such amazing characters, plot, depth, animation, emotion, or music.
The characters felt like old friends once I finished the series. I loved them so, so much. If I was sad, I would watch it. If I was lonely, I would watch it. If I was happy, I would watch it. I would watch it and watch it and watch it, and these characters became real to me. Y'all know how much I love FMA, right? And how much I love the characters? Well, it's like that, but x10, or x20, or x100 (being in the fandom for 5 years probably has something to do with that haha).
The heroes were well rounded, the villains were well rounded, the random side characters got their share of development, too. It's rare to see such excellent characterization in any show, let alone an animated kids show!
My Azula costume... she's probably one of my most favorite characters ever!
There are so many layers in ATLA, and every time I watch it I get something new out of it. I'm not saying that kids shows can't be deep or have good meaning, but a lot of them don't, so it's refreshing to see something so amazing made so that kids can understand it and teens and adults can enjoy it, as well.
The music THE MUSIC is just beautiful and amazing and sooo perfect. So much effort went into ATLA and it's been a HUGE part of my childhood :')
When I found out that there was going to be another Avatar series, I flipped. I was sooooo happy that we would be having 12 more episodes of Avatar awesomeness! Ha. Ha. Ha. Little did I know that this so called "fun mini-series" would become a 3 year ordeal that would become one of my favorite shows.
remember when this was
all we had of Korra
You can imagine my excitement when Nick called for 3 more seasons! About half way through season two, I got a little disappointed with the writing and plot direction (which was something I could forgive for season 1, they only had 12 episodes to work with, after all), but I still loved it. Season three's writing proved to be a huge improvement from seasons 1 and 2. The writing was better, the villains were darker, the over-all plot was much more enjoyable and intense, and the characterization was fantastic. We got to see sides of character that we had never seen before, new and well developed characters entered the mix, and friendships developed between old characters. Something that I really enjoyed about seasons 3 and was the lack of romantic sub-plot between the Krew. I think that was a let-down for the fans during season 2.
Fan-made trailer for the finale
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you Avatar, thank you Bryke, and most importantly, thank you Fandom for such an amazing 5 years. ATLA was a real treasure of my childhood, and LOK was a wonderful part of my high school experience. I'm sure our fandom will last for quite a while, it was still going strong between ATLA and LOK, so I don't doubt that there will be plenty of fanworks for the years to come, but it's still sad to see such an awesome series end, Good bye, Avatar, goodbye. *and then I sob for about 10,000 years*
(heyyyy peeps I'm back from Mexico :) Had a great trip and will have a post on it soon!) Thank you Arda for the tag!!
The rules are as follows... 1. Follow the blog that tagged you (optional). 2. Include two or more pictures that include your favorite characters, books, movies, or lyrics from songs (they can also be your own edits or pictures). 3. Tag five or more bloggers and tell them. 4. Answer the blogger’s ten questions related to characters, books, movies, or lyrics. 5. Create your own questions having to do with the same thing.
Ok, so two pics to start us out:
A Stargate quote
And some absolutely perfect Pacific Rim fan art
1. Do you listen to any podcasts? Yep! I listen to Jonathan Park (it's good. listen to it. now.) and WTNV! 2. At what point did you know you were into your main fandom(s)? Well, I didn't really know what a "fandom" was until I was in 7th grade, but from the first time I saw Star Wars I was a die-hard fan :). Three episodes into FMA I knew I was in deep, and I sold my soul to Stargate: SG-1 in the TV movie cut of the first two episodes! 3. What are you currently reading and/or watching? Reading: I just finished The Joy Luck Club, and am currently reading Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde and O! Pioneers. Watching: Clannad After Story and Stargate: SG-1 :) 4. Writing in books - yes or no? Yes! Unless it's not your book to write in. 5. Who is the funniest character you like? Sokka from ATLA 6. What is your favorite soundtrack? How to Train Your Dragon :D 7. Do you like to reread/rewatch things? Only if I love it enough (but usually I won't finish reading/watching something that I don't love) 8. What character inspires you the most? WHAT??? THERE ARE SO MANY YOU CAN'T EXPECT ME TO CHOOSE ONE!! (and forgive me for not choosing Ahsoka, but I'm still not over her ending) So here's a list of just a few: Winry Rockbell for her healing hands Sam Carter for her brilliant mind Riza Hawkeye for her loyal hart Edward Elric for his fierce determination Luke Skywalker for his willingness to grow Percy Jackson simply because he was my favorite character for many years 9. What is a smaller or lesser-known fandom you think is great? Hmmm.... I don't really know? Probably the Primeval fandom. 10. What movies are you still looking forward to this year? Mockingjay Transformers Gaurdians of the Galaxy Lucy (though I doubt that I will be able to see it.) Questions! 1. What was your favorite childhood TV show? 2. What song makes you think of that character who's death you'll never get over? 3. What is your current favorite fandom? 4. Is there a character that you have many similarities, though you may not like them as a character? 5. What book have you read that you really liked, even though you expected to not like it so much? 6. What song makes you think of 2012? 7. Is there a character that you grew up with? (such as how some people grew up with Harry Potter) 8. Which book is more loved- the one that is years old but in almost perfect condition, or the one that looks like it's traveled the world and just barely holding together? 9. Which of your favorite characters has the most tragic back story? 10. What books are you looking forward to reading? Alright, I tag: Faith of Princess Faith Covert Knight of Knights Underground Shena of Pens, Thespians, and Words Aalya Rain of Fangirl & Farmgirl And Arda, if you want to do this tag again :)
I know I said in January that I would have the comparison up "soon" "soon" is a relative term and can mean some time within two minutes or two years, depending on what this "soon" was referring to. "I'll put the cookies in the oven soon"- some time within the hour "I'll see you soon"- some time within the next few days "I'll post my review soon"- when I actually have time to sit down and do it "I'll clean my room soon"- I don't want to clean my room so it'll never happen now that that's all cleared up- on to the review!
(And random fandom-ey stuff at the end) _________________________________________________________________
As you know, I have finished both "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood", and absolutely loved them both! After finishing FMA:B, I didn't feel the need to make a review for it. Why? Well, my original review for the 2003 version pretty much covers what I need to say about the plot and warnings (mostly), so no need repeating myself. I'm going to refer to the 2003 version as FMA and the 2009 version as Brotherhood ((The next part is really just me talking about the depth/ violence/ rating of the series. It would be more useful for someone who has not seen the series before. Fell free to skip and resume after the picture of the candy. That's where the real comparison starts.)) So, as I have mentioned before, both versions are intense. Scale of 1-10/ Fruits Basket to Hunger Games? It averages out to a five or six. But then there are scenes that are total fluff (obviously), and then there are those shocking scenes that sky-rocket to "Hunger Games" level. But then again, I'm just talking about the action/violence/gore. Not the in-depth look at moralities, the grey between right and wrong, and the well defined black and white. That's something that I loved so much about both shows- there was the laid out black and white, but there was also the grey zone, just as it is in real life. Ed and Al grow up fast. They have to, and though much of the story takes place when they're 14/15/16 (ending when Ed's around 18 in Brotherhood), they also have episodes when they're very young. You see the boys mature, but the circumstances start off just as awful as they end. Violence peruses them (or they pursue it. It's hard to tell), but more importantly the show is very layered. Layers upon layers upon layers of story and plot and orals and symbolism and metaphors and analogies. It's like a jaw breaker. (Brotherhood more so. Mostly because it's longer, but it also has fewer plot holes)
You can always count on me to compare something to candy
My brother, who is relatively smart, is 13. He watched FMA / Brotherhood, and understood it to and extent, but I honestly don't believe that he got the best experience with it (I know I wouldn't have at his age). I, at 15, understood it better than him, but I know there are some things that I missed. It will take a second and third watches, as well as maturity, for me to grasp it all. So, yes, as a general rating, I would agree with the TV rating: TV-14. But the decision is really a question of maturity and understanding than age. Brotherhood, in general, was much more in-depth than FMA, and had more condensed violence, as well. ((Ok, now onto the real comparison)) I'm going to look at two main things here: The plot and characterization. Other aspects of the show really just aren't that important when comparing. Finally, I'll conclude with the question of "What should I watch?".
I spent a lot of time on this. Appreciate it.
The Plot
The beginning of FMA and Brotherhood are parallel, due to them both following the manga. The first 10 to 15 episodes of Brotherhood seem rushed, though, because so much is crammed into them. On the other hand, FMA devoted almost double the episodes to the same plot. It allows viewers to get more connected to the characters, and to enjoy the rest of the series without feeling rushed.
I think that one of the main reasons the writers of Brotherhood felt like they could just rush through such an important part of the story is because it is assumed that fans already watched FMA, so they had no need to go into detail, which makes sense.
But this doesn't change, so don't worry, you're not missing much there :p
So, for the question of "should I just skip FMA all together?" my response is this: If you do not want to watch all of FMA, then don't, but please, please watch until episode 25, then watch Brotherhood from the beginning. There are minor differences in the beginning of Brotherhood's series that need to be seen, even if the episodes aren't that great.
Also, watch "The Flame Alchemist, The Bachelor Lieutenant; and The Mystery of Warehouse 13". It is in FMA and not worth missing.
For the rest of the series, Brotherhood is longer, so it has more time for things to develop well. This left less room for the larger plot holes (which happened in FMA) and helped keep the continuity.
Many people discard FMA after watching Brotherhood, but in reality, FMA is a well done show in and of itself. True, there are some obvious plot holes and general weirdness that happens, but it's not worth calling the anime "worthless" over.
The two shows ultimately go in totally different directions, so it's almost pointless to say one it better than the other when it comes to the overall plot and spirit. I would like to believe that FMA is just an alternate universe version of Brotherhood :) (and it's possible, considering how FMA ended)
Characters
There are sooo many wonderful characters in both shows, but lets face it: Brotherhood's characterization, character development, writing of character interactions, and female characters are way better than FMAs.
It's true- ask anyone who has watched both shows.
In FMA, the characters are great. You get attached and the main characters have some development and depth. I wouldn't call it bad... just lacking. Especially since so many of the lovely ladies just got pushed aside.
Epic people who I will cosplay. Thank God I'm blonde! Credit
Ed and Al's character arcs obviously carry the most weight in the story, but in Brotherhood, they share the spotlight a lot more. It becomes a story of how they initiated saving the end of the world and worked as a team to save it, not a story just about Ed and Al saving everyone's butts.
Also, Brotherhood has a lot more characters that are absolutely amazing! Because there's more episodes, there's more time to get to know all of those characters. It's really great.
And here we arrive at the big question. "Should i watch Brotherhood? Or FMA? Or Both? Why should I even watch it?"
Yes
Yes
Yes
Because it is amazing and is beautifully done. There is action, adventure, romance, comedy, tragedy, and a truly amazing hero's journey. It is considered one of the best animes of all time for a reason. Sure, it gets violent and makes you cringe, but that's why it's so good. It wakes something up deep inside of you, it gives you hope and then takes it away and then builds it back up from the ground. It will leave you crying tears of joy and sadness and anger. There is something for everyone, even if it typically isn't your type of show.
Also Izumi's pretty hot (and I mean that in the straightest way possible).
So go and watch it! Watch both!
Watch FMA first, and enjoy it. Love the story for what it is and remember how much you liked it when you watch Brotherhood. Both are amazing, but in totally different ways. Leave a good month or so in between watching them, so that you can keep the story straight in your mind.
If you watch Brotherhood first, then FMA will be crap.
So, I heard it was Royai Week, and jumped on board :) I didn't do every day, just no time, but yep... here you go!
Way cuter than intended, but that's OK :)
Day 1: Stolen- a short and simple poem from Roy's POV
-----
My vision has been lost, But with you by my side, My dream cannot be stolen __________________ Day 2: Constant (tw: suicide)- This time Riza's POV. I don't believe this to be canon.
She pledged her life to him when he asked. Not like he need to, she would have followed him anywhere. He didn’t have to ask. ----- She never asked him to stick by her side, but she knew he would. They had sealed the contract of their trust after the war, in the burning of her back.
Those scars were reminders of what had happened. Constant reminders that two idealistic dreamers could never change the world by good deeds alone. There had to be losses and pain and suffering, but at least they had each other.
The scar on her neck from the events of The Promised Day refused to fade. The angry red was a constant reminder of the flames she had accidentally released on the world. But in the end, they still had each other.
The second set of dog tags around her neck were a cold and grim reminder. A painful memory of the fact that he was never coming back. They no longer had each other.
The gun in her hand made it a possibility for her to stand by his side again. They would forever have each other.
___________________
Day 3: Crossover/AU Stargate AU! He takes O'Neill's place, and she takes Sam's :) (and yes, his face is all unproportional and crazy, oh well :p) -----
Day 4: Opportunity
Some inconsistency, but it was written quickly, because I wanted to watch Stargate lol!
---- The sudden lurch jolted Riza awake. A panic clutched her heart as she looked around for the enemy. All that met her eyes was Roy and Maes who were sitting across from her. They were on the train back from Ishval. The war was over, but her nightmarish life would forever follow her. Sighing and looking out the window, she thought about how her life could go on now, after all of the chaos she had caused. Maybe she would go back to her childhood house, live out the rest of her life in seclusion, she would have the opportunity to "retire" once she was back in Amestris. It was a possibility. She doubted that she would ever be able to live a normal life after what she had done. Hell, it was practically her fault that Ishval burned to the ground. She glanced at Roy. He looked so troubled sleeping. "Roy", she whispered. She hated to wake him, especially after all that they've been through for the past two years. After another unsuccessful attempt to awaken him, she drifted back into a deep and troubled slumber. ===== "Riza, Roy, I'd like to introduce you to Gracia, my girlfriend!" Hughes had immediately gone from tired and dreary to an over-enthusiastic fool in love. Riza couldn't help but smile at him, and was happy to finally meet Gracia, happy that Hughes had the opportunity to live out the rest of his life with the one he loved. She had no family to meet them at the platform, so she had agreed to accompany Roy to his aunts bar in central the next day. Before she left Madam Christmas pulled her aside. "Riza, darling, you are a bright girl, and I'm sure you'll go far in no matter what you do," her rough voice was oddly comforting, "But if you ever need a job, or just a place to call home, I'm here, and so are my girls. Don't forget that." "Oh, thank you very much, Chris," replied Riza, startled at how readily Christmas would take a killer like her under her wing. Madam Christmas's demeanor changed, she straighten up and with a devilish grin added "Besides, a beauty like you would certainly bring in loads of customers!" Once they were out the door, Roy asked her what that was about. "Oh, she was just giving me a job opportunity." "Don't think your going to stay in the military?" "I don't know," she looked down, studying the concrete sidewalk- something so simple but so beautiful. She let her mind wander through the wonders of sidewalks, and people, and the people that walked on those side walks and how they were so foreign from the dust and sand of the desert and- "Riza?" "Sorry! Sir! I... I just got lost in thought there for a minute."
"It's alright. We've been off duity for barely a week, but you should make your decision soon. As soon as you can." "I need a reason to stay," she turned and looked him in the eye, "I didn't just join the military for you Roy, or just because I had no where else to go. I joined because I, too, want to protect people. How can I protect people after I helped slaughter an entire race for the sake of a pointless war? How can we possibly consider ourselves saviors after what we have done?" Her voice was hushed, with a quiet rage behind her words. Her eyes grew stone cold as she spoke and her index finger tapped impatiently against her leg. Her posture was ridged and ready to strike. Taking a deep breath (fresh city air, clear of dust and the smell of blood- something he hadn't gotten used to yet) he put a hand on her shoulder. "I need you Riza. I need you by my side. I've known you for a long time and you aren't the type to give up. You can help people. I have a way..." "By all means, tell me how I can help. Because I'm beginning to think that none of use belong here anymore." "I've been transfered to East City, and, as a state alchemist, can choose to take an 'assistant'. If you stay, I'll bring you. Protect the knowledge you gave to me... and if I don't stay on the straight and narrow, put a bullet through my head. Help me climb the ranks- help me become fuhrer!" "Why." "Why? So that things like Ishval don't happen again! So that no one else has to suffer at the hands of those in a higher position of power! Riza, you know more than anyone the pain and destruction that Flame Alchemy can cause. Protect me- protect it." ====== "Why did you stay in the military? Wasn't it hard after Ishval?" "Yes," she glanced over at the new Fuhrer, "but I was given an opportunity."
So, I got some really random inspiration the other day and wrote a poem. I think it turned out pretty good :)
The Brown-Haired Girl (A Common Love Story)
Part I
I fell in love
With a brown-haired girl
Her eyes were the deepest blue
Oh I fell in love
With a brown-haired girl
Her beauty it was true
Across her face, her freckles rest
Matching the ones upon her chest
And in the night
Her eyes would light
As she marveled at the stars
Tall and thin
It's hard to begin
To describe the way she walked
Evenly paced
were her steps of grace
Aesthetics weren't her beauty, though
Her smile was much too wide
But it added a sense of realism
To the way
She laughed
Or cried
Part II
I fell in love
With a funny girl
Her eyes were sparkling blue
Oh, I fell in love
WIth a funny girl
Who's compassion was quite true
Her jokes were often strange
But they were a nice change
The way she laughed Was like a draft
Sending shivers up my spine
She smiled at all
I do recall,
To even those who frowned
Her laugh would lighten up my heart
I had to love her from the start
Humor was not her beauty, though
her laugh was much too loud
But it added a sense of comfort
When she tried
To help
Us out Part III I fell in love With an intelligent girl Who eye's were not quite blue Oh I fell in love With an intelligent girl Who's eyes would challenge your view She would share her thought, But rarely fought Oh she was strong For when proved wrong She wouldn't hesitate to change Oh I fell in love With a wonderful girl Who's eyes were dark blue Oh I fell in love With an unusual girl But this story is hardly new
So, first installment of my convention notes from the past school year! I went to 4 conventions (Anime iCon, Dickens Fair, a local con, and Kraken Con), and have notes from three of them. Yep! So to start off, here are my notes from Strawberry Censor's cosplay panel at iCon! (the main topic was makeup). I'm going to write my side notes in italics.
Always wear makeup, regardless of your gender or your character's. Why? Well...
Pictures- it is easy to look washed out or for blemishes to show
Character accuracy- even if your character doesn't wear makeup, using a bit can make you look more like that character
like if you have a round face, you can shade your face to make it look more square or whatever you need for said character.
most characters (especially in anime) have flawless skin
Makeup Basics
Keep your face clean. This is not only helpful in cosplay, but in day to day life, as well ;)
Moisturize!
Use primer [I have actually never done this and don't feel the need to. I honestly think it's a waste of time/money]
Contouring/ highlighting your face can give a better illusion of the character your trying to cosplay (especially if they have a different face shape than you)
Just don't over-do it. Too much can look caked on and "fake"
this is also very useful for crossplaying. You can easily make yourself look more masculine/feminine with the right shading
Urban Decay (they have a 120 color eyeshadow set that is great for cosplay)
Really there is no need for brand name makeup, local drugstore makeup works just fine!
Face
Lots of concealer can cover up droopy eyes
an inverted triangle of concealer helps hide dark circles
Potatoes or cold spoons help get rid of puffey eyes. Just stick the spoons in the freezer overnight, and hold them over your eyes in the morning
Simulate puffy eyes by using lots of eyeliner and then smearing it a little
Use a spray to seal makeup
Use liquid latex for scales
Doing a zombie? Use diluted jello mix, let it dry, and then make it crack.
Eyes
Highlight your eyes
It draws focus to your eyes, and helps to avoid making them look strange in photos
you can use makeup to narrow/widen your eyes, which is especially helpful with anime characters.
Eyelashes
thin lashes look more natural
larger eyes means you can wear more lashes
they can either make your eyes pop or make them look more narrow
it is more comfortable to put false lashes a little higher up than you're actual lashes
as i am typing this i wonder "why do we call them lashes? it makes no sense..."
Using Contacts
Great not only for changing your eye color, but can also make your eyes look bigger
You can order prescription contacts from some companies
Get a prescription if you are getting contacts. Most problems that you hear of from color contacts don't come from the contacts themselves, but because they don't fit right.
Effects contacts can add a lot to a costume (such as white mesh or full color, whatever fits your character) but they can be hard to see out of, and uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time
Lips
To create the "perfect cupid's bow", here is a good tutorial
To make lips look thinner
use concealer to make your lips relatively invisible
color darker in the center, in order to draw attention to the colored part, not the concealed area
To make lips look fuller
line lips just on the outside of your lip line
highlight on upper lip (especially cupids bow)
So here I combined both- used concealer over my whole lip, and then used liner around part of my lip to create the "porcelain doll" look
Other
Guy Makeup
Thicken your eyebrows. I personally use an eyeliner pencil a shade darker than my eyebrows
No eyeshadow or blush
a bit of eyeliner (NOT A LOT) helps the eyes stand out
Nude lip! Use a bit of concealer if you want!
Eyelash glue is great for not only keeping eyelashes on, but putting any other objects (such as rhinestones) on your skin!
Coconut oil or egg yolk work as moisturizer
Use brown sugar + olive oil to exfoliate/ moisturize
Make a face mask out of egg whites
To get rid of stretch-marks / scars: put bio oil over the marks after showering
Alright, there you go, the first set of con notes! Hope this was helpful for any of y'all that cosplay!
So, now that I'm out of school, and summer is here, and life is good.
My last few weeks of school consisted of Prom (which was awesome!), Town Hall (my performing arts final, we all dressed as a character and had to spend an hour and a half being that character), scrificing my BFF in a rain dance (oh, the things you do on the last day of school ;p) and playing lots (and lots and lots and lots) of mafia!
Finals week was insane, and I'm not entirely sure what happened. I do know that on Thursday, after finishing our last exam, a bunch of friends and I went to the mall and hung out for a while. It was really fun and somewhat sad, since we won't be going to school together next year.
Oh, yeah, I'm going back next year! After a lot of indecision and weighing options, I decided to stay. I'm praying that I made the right choice... I'll be taking honers Chem and English, so that should be good. Yep.
On Friday my family packed up and went to my second house, where we stayed the weekend. My mom's side of the family came up on Sunday, it was so much fun! The tops of my hands got burned, though :p
