2014 was a year of firsts but especially a year of lasts. I took my first SAT, bombed my first SAT, took my last french class, aced my second SAT, made new friends, said goodbye to beloved teachers, went to EDM concerts, had my last first day of high school, and my last (thank goodness) midterms!! This year was the last year of being kid. After this, we all go on to college and create a whole new mess of ourselves there. But something I will treasure from this year was my ability to finally accept who I am and who I want to be. Hopefully 2015 will be kind and bring me as many blessings as this year. Happy New Year everybody!
So, not too long ago, one of my closest friends Emma Ortiz, and her friend, Sofia Ayala, started a fashion blog on Tumblr. Let me tell you, Em's fashion sense is pristine and spot on 24/7. Her style is casual chic, and she has the power to make flannel look amazing with anything. Emma and Sofi's blog is called "Behind Clothed Doors," clever, right? They're about showing off their style and writing about fashion related topics. It's fun and fresh, and simply posh to the max. This dynamic duo is one to look out for. Who knows? Maybe they'll give Alexa Chung a run for her money?
Everyone has seen the movie "Grease" (if you haven't, go now, it's on Netflix), and everyone has listened to Frenchy's whole-hearted advice throughout the film. One very classic quote from "Grease" is when Sandy (the main character) gets her heart broken for the very first time. Frenchy, being her BFF and what not, goes over to comfort her and says the most on point quote I have ever heard in my life. She says, "the only man a girl can depend on is her daddy." So true, am I right? Boys will break your heart, lead you on, friend zone you, etc, but your dad is always there to pick up the pieces. Sure they embarrass you in front of cute boys and your friends, but they do it because they (can be annoying) love you and always have your back. So, the next time you forget that your dad is just messing around, remember that he is the one who knows what is truly best for you (though we all seem to forget at times!). So with that said...
In the past 3 years, I have stood small under the shadows of the Andes Mountains. Skylines have taken my breath away and left me standing with my eyes glued onto the city. People speaking in different languages have rushed and hurried past me, not knowing that the words they spoke sounded like songs I wanted to understand. You could say that traveling makes a person more knowledgable, that it makes their world a bit smaller. I believe that when I am in another country and learning about the cultures and every day lives, the world becomes a size I cannot fathom to measure. I see one place and then thirst to see another. I begin to think about all the places I have not visited and a mental picture begins to form in my head. It's a globe of the Earth, and on that globe are small, shaded shapes, representing the places I have seen. I stare at the unshaded space, and wonder what lies on the surface. I wonder what type of people live there and what they eat- what they wear. Traveling is not about luxury or staying in the best 5 star hotels. The lessons you learn and the hope that you appreciate the people who share the same ground as you do- that's what traveling is about. I think becoming one with a native allows you to experience the place on a deeper level. Taste their food, try on their clothes, walk their streets. Take in the beauty of the next place you visit, because looking at pictures on Google and simply saying "I've been there" means absolutely nothing if you have not truly "been theirs."
So, my style of music is centered around a "feel good" mood. I listen to music to better my day or in search of inspiration. I can't say that focus on specific bands but if I hear a song I like it becomes one of my favorites. Lyrics are important to me because sometimes they cause me to think a different way and I appreciate that. I don't think that the type of music you listen to defines who you are, it just shows others what you're about. A person can like different types of music whether it be indie or mainstream but that doesn't automatically make them a mainstream or hipster person. My perfect music moment would be lying on a hammock on the beach with two palm trees giving me shade while all my friends are sat around me telling stories and laughing. I love listening to music that takes me to that place. My summer playlist consists of mainly folk and indie music, and songs that make me want to dance or sing or whatever. These song make me happy and I hope they make you happy also. Press the button to listen to my summer playlist below!
Different cities have different trends. These trends may or may not include a new type of outfit, a music style, etc. Well, ladies and gentlemen, one very large trend that has consumed the city of Miami is the act of buying a new, sporty, beautiful Jeep. These shiny mobile treasures come in almost every color a person could want, and trust me, everyone wants one. I can remember back to 7th grade and how I had so badly wished my first car would be a Jeep. As I entered high school, however, I felt as though they were "too mainstream" and therefor wished my first car would be an Audi (yeah keep dreaming 15 year old me). Since then, I have been a couple of Jeeps. I've cruised around, blasted the music from my friends' cars, sat in shotgun once in while, and I can say that though Jeeps are pretty mainstream, I can see why everyone loves them so much! They are a) pretty affordable, if you buy it at the right place, b) extremely stylish, and c) able to be driven on any type of road without feeling too much discomfort. So in conclusion, I just wanted to share my final opinion on the matter of Jeeps. Who cares if every high school boy and girl in Miami owns one? They're so worth breaking my "non mainstream" rule!
After the monstrosity that was "Cinderella" on Broadway, I was hesitant to watch "Matilda" at a different theater whose name escapes me. My class and I walked into a fairly small theater to find our seats at the very top row (which were still not too far away from the stage). The show started only to hear British accents and right away my friend Vivian and I were holding on to our seats hoping this play would not be completely terrible. After a short singing and dancing number, I could say I was hooked. The small girl who played Matilda, Ripley Sobo, automatically won my heart. Her small yet impactful voice merged with the whimsical and well written script had me crying one minute and laughing the next. Miss Trunchbull's character, though unexpected, was geniously casted and played by a man, Ben Thompson. Mr. and Mrs.Wormwood's characters were brought to life by Lesli Margherita and Matt Harrington. The two on the stage shared the perfect amount of chemistry and brought a large amount of laughter into the audience. Now, the children in this production of "Matilda" were something else. Both their amazing dancing and singing skills were displayed during their roles in the majority of the play. I am telling you, these kids each demanded the stage, and when put together, they made the most impressive child cast I have ever seen. They say music really determines whether or not a movie or play has the power to control the watcher's emotions. Well, the music in "Matilda" was phenomenal and achieved just that. In each musical scene, the orchestra was able to set the mood perfectly, whether it be through heart racing pieces or sad, emotional ones. At curtain call, I feel as thought they got the loudest claps from the audience! The totality of the play owned a very fun and whimsical feel to it. The lights were so compelling as well as the special effects throughout the production. The sets were detailed enough so the audience could tell where they were. Surround sound and spots in the theater where cast members would appear during the plot aided the production in making the audience feel as though they were really in the play. I bet you're thinking, "how could 'Matilda' the play possibly be so exciting and suspenseful?" Well, the people at Broadway smartly changed up the story in a subtle yet noticeable way. They added small parts to Roald Dahl's Classic children's novel. In conclusion, watching this play made it seem as though I was watching history in the making. I personally think "Matilda" is a classic, and the best play Broadway has put on since "Annie."
New York City, to me, is a place filled with opportunity and wonder, but surprisingly, I didn't always feel this way. When I first visited the city back when I was in seventh grade, I did not want to go in the first place. My family and I were going to leave on Christmas day, and being from Miami, Fl, I was not used to weather below maybe 65 degrees. I had to wear 3 layers of clothing to keep myself warm, and my sister and I would have contests testing how long we could resist the cold before wanting to run into a warm room. I was snuck into hidden pathways and rooms in China Town only to discover multiple fake Prada and Chanel Bags. At the end of this trip, I could say I had a good time, but it was not a place I longed to return to. Over time and as I discovered that I wanted to become a journalist, I found myself longing for a place that is different from my warm home town. I wanted to live in a place that is constantly filled with drama and excitement, and that would serve as a canvas free for artistic expression. New York City is that place for me. Manhattan reminds me of the island of Neverland, a magical place from the novel Peter Pan. Large sky scrapers replace the tall, plunging mountains. The city's lights are like stars, guiding everyone's path as they're on their way to do something exciting. The mermaid lagoons and pirate filled oceans serve as the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. I'd like to think that I'm Peter Pan, and Manhattan is my island. I am free to roam around encountering new and distinct creatures. I have the ability to go on adventures and form memories that never fade. I go back to New York tomorrow with my class to attend classes at Columbia University. I return to not only my home, but my beacon of hope that one day I will become successful, and that one day I will reside with the strongest, smartest, and most creative people in all the country. It gives me strength to believe that one day I will live in the city of champions: the people who know they've made it. I go back to Neverland.
So, as most who are close to me know, I love and enjoy doing special things for others. I made this set for Caro Dalia Gonzalez. We all know her as "Dalia," however. She is a close friend of mine and she inspired me to create this for her. It is based off of her favorite place in the whole world: Paris. I chose the blue as the main color for these outfits due to its, in my opinion, timeless look. I played around with formal- looking pieces as well as some casual- looking ones. Below you can read about where to find each item!
Ruffled Blue Top: American Eagle Outfitters, $30 White Long-Sleeved Shirt: Topshop, $15 Black and White Varsity Jacket: 6KS.com, $37 Fur Vest: GOODNIGHTMACAROON.com, $88 Alexander McQueen Pencil Skirt: netaporter.com, $1,230 Blue Shorts: MISSSELFRIDGE.com, $57 Black Sandals: Zara.com, $60 Lower Left Black Sunglasses: SHADESDADDY.com$30 Top Right Black Sunglasses: LINDELEPALAIS.com, $405
In two weeks, two aspiring city dwellers will travel to the city of dreams, the empire state, the big apple: New York city. NYC has been known as a living, breathing art exhibition. Every corner you turn holds stories, inspiration, and self expression. As two members of our school newspaper, you can assume that we are very excited. Time slowly (and excruciatingly) ticks away until we board the plane, and with each passing day we get more and more pumped! As the trip gets closer, we'll be writing more about our expectations and what we plan to do on our trip.
Maybe one day this mini "About the Author" will really matter to people. I want to be a journalist because I love to uncover the truth and set things straight. I love Macbeth, Miami Beach, Peter Pan, vintage bikes, Matty Healy, and clothes. Here, I am going to write about the places I love, the food I never want to stop eating, and what fashion is to me. Please Enjoy!
"The parties were bigger, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher and the morals were looser -The Great Gatsby