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!
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This post may be 3 weeks too late but as I listen to the beats of house music this afternoon the thought dawns on me, "why have I not written about my Ultra experience?!" If you haven't heard of the Ultra Music Festival, sorry to break it to you, but you may have been living under a rock your whole life. Ultra is the world's premier electronic music festival...period. In some situations, my inner creeper truly comes out. I decided it would be fun to take pictures of people in New York City, people I have never met, and give them fake or "stereotypical" back stories based on what they look like. I enjoyed doing this a little too much...scroll over the picture to see the captions! 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. Nothing better than a nap under a palm tree! Just wanted to share a couple of pictures of pure paradise…Happy Saturday!
We've all been there. That one day where you seem to be drowning in all your problems and/or issues. That day where nothing seems to go your way, even when you need it. A plain old crappy day. Here's a post to get you to notice the good even when you think everything is crumbling.
1. Talk it out. Keeping negativity stored inside you is never good. You mind as well be wearing a sign saying, "Caution! Subject to explosion at any given time." Talk it out with a trusted friend if possible. He or she can give some advice or even a nice hug will do the trick. If you're not that outspoken with your feelings [like me], try writing down your problems and think of solutions. Getting the negativity out of your system will really help change your outlook on the rest of your day. 2. Try some comic relief. A good laugh never hurt anybody! On a bad day, try to watch or listen to the things that make you laugh the most. A good, funny vine or youtube video does the trick for me! Believe or not, what you watch actually can have a prolonged affect on your mood. *I personally recommend a Joe Santagato youtube video. I am literally laughing at the top of my lungs during his videos!* 3. Take a nap. This may not work if you have a bunch of stuff to do (if you do, you may want to read #4), but it will help you relax. Now i'm not talking a 6-hour "nap" but maybe a 20-30 minute rest from a stressful day. And who knows, you may even get a happy dream out of it :) 4. Make a to-do list and cross out an item every time you complete a task. This one is for those days where your work is practically taking over. My friend recently gave me this advice on my bad day. This helps to make sure you don't get overwhelmed by the work you have to do. Crossing out tasks gives a feeling of achievement, with every item crossed out is a step closer to less stress in your day. 5. Focus on the positive. This is something I personally think we all forget to do. Look back at your day and point out the GOOD things rather than the bad. A good mark on a test. A smile in the hallway. Even a nice, warm cookie at school. Once you start to look at the good, the bad doesn't seem that terrible anymore. 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. All photos found on Pinterest.com
"Miami influences me to dress the best that I can to keep up with the way people see Miami," said Freshman Megan Fernandez. Fashion in this town represents the people as a whole and their desire to look as great as they feel. Style is used by people here to make a mark on those around them and to inspire. It is used as a tool to express to everyone that Miami's people are just as beautiful as their vibrant and luminous city. Clothes are said to be the greatest form of self expression, and if it wasn't already obvious, the people of Miami have much to say! When asked about the relationship between Miami and self expression, Junior Brianna Espinosa said, "I think that Miami's night life and the fact that its all about having fun here inspires me to dress excited and trendy like the people that visit the city."
As a city that hosts many high-end events and welcomes a range of celebrities, people can not help but be inspired by the newest trends from around the world. This town is appealing to visionaries and stylish people from different places due to its inspirational sights as well. While being brought up in Miami, it takes a person little time to fully appreciate the artistry of each graffiti wall in Wynwood and the sounds of loud music while walking down Ocean Drive. The mood the city sets is a blissful one and this mood translates through the clothes and style of each person walking through the town. Bright colors exhibit these constant happy-go-lucky emotions, short lengthened shorts and sleeveless tops are worn to embrace the sun's warmth and the ocean's cool breeze. Miami overall is a capital of self expression, whether it be through the clothes a person wants to wear, the music that they listen to or even the cultures they represent. Karl Lagerfeld once said, "wearing sweatpants is a sign of giving up." Little did he know, however, that gym and casual wear would one day rise and become an up and coming trend. Designers have recently found interest in a type of attire that people have stowed away deep in their closets for the past couple of years. It's the type of clothing that has been thrown around, stored away, and have never been considered as fashionable pieces. Not to mention, these are also the type of clothes that were probably bought only due to huge clearance sales. Gym clothes have been worn solely on long shopping, cleaning, and lazy days, and maybe a couple times to the actual gym. But it seems like over the past year or so, living a healthy life has moved on from being categorized as an unaccomplished New Year's resolution to a lifestyle that can not only be obtained, but is also trendy. Ordinary yoga pants and halter tops are now transforming into glamorized activewear by designers and celebrities like Alexander McQueen, Kate Hudson, Stella McCartney, and Heidi Klum. Teaming up with some of the most renowned sports brands in the world, these men and women have created versatile clothing that can make any man or woman feel great and inspire them to become more active. It seems like finally, fashion has accommodated this new trendy way of living actively, as well as men and women who want to experience the refreshing feeling of dressing in style while also working out at the gym.
It is evident that the Hunger Games franchise is a successful one, but when a hint of Alexander McQueen is added, the film's beauty is only enhanced. The label designed smart and clever, yet also stylish training attire for Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson to wear in the most recent Hunger Games film, Catching Fire. The characters of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark resembled futuristic warriors during the training scenes while dressed in black and gray. These simple silhouettes were recently revealed to cost up to $600. The public then went crazy, saying they wanted to look like Katniss and Peeta when they go to the gym, and begged for the brand to create a gym line. Stella McCartney, however, has been in the activewear business a little longer than most. She has been partnered with Adidas and has created consistently refreshing designs for their performance collection since 2005. She was one of the first designers to influence this uprising of fashionable sports shoes, pants, and T-shirts. Like Stella, Heidi Klum has recently collaborated with a trusted sports brand, New Balance, as well as the show Project Runway on Lifetime. Heidi has given activewear a new, smart, and tasteful look by combining casual working out pieces with bright, attractive colors. On Project Runway, a show known for keeping up and setting trends, the contestants were asked to created a look especially for Heidi's performance line. The winning design is available on the New Balance website along with the rest of Heidi's collection. As for Kate Hudson, her latest line "Fabletics," was released not too long ago. The actress/ active life enthusiast paired up with the face of Ann Taylor Loft to help guide her in the right direction. So sorry to say it, but there is now no reason for ladies not to live healthier and more vibrantly! All these athletic clothing options are on sale and ready to be worn. |