Fall Shopping Haul *September 2017*

Hey everyone! How is September treating you? As you know, I love everything about the Fall/ Autumn. I love the styles, and the weather so much. The only slight sadness is going back to school which means back to studying, tests, and waking up early. But, there are so many back to school sales! In August, I went to the Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, Long Island to get the best deals on Fall Clothing. I go to a catholic school, which means that I wear uniform, I took the opportunity to buy clothes I can wear on dress down days and weekends. Here is what I bought :)

Vera Bradley 

I have quite a bit of trips planned for my senior year such as weekends at my friends' houses, skiing, and to Washington D.C., and I needed a new duffle bag that would fit everything I need. This bag was originally $120, and it was 70% off, which meant I only paid $36 for this huge duffle bag. I love the pattern of this bag, and the colors all go together so nicely.  I can't wait to use it!

Nine West 

 As much as I love handbags, I needed to be real with myself...and get something I'll use more. I bought a cute, small-ish, fashionable backpack from Nine West. I've never shopped there before, but my mother took me there and I was immediately drawn to the backpacks. I can definitely use this bag for going around the city, a day trip, or just to bring my computer and books on a vacation. I like the bag because it's small enough to make the distinction between going on a day trip and going to school. I can also style this with an array of outfits.

Nine West Backpack $60

Calvin Klein

At the Tanger Outlets, other stores give coupons that are valid only for that day. For example, my family and I went to Nike, and they gave us a 10% off coupon for Calvin Klein. I bought a sports bra (with cool back straps), and an "athletic" shirt that's so comfy I would rather wear it as pajamas.

(Kinda) Funny Story: I recently bought a black and white Calvin Klein dress from Century 21 for $50, and I saw the exact same dress but in red in the store for around $90. This has happened a few times, when I found the same article of clothing for cheaper at other places (it's a good thing to shop around).

American Eagle Outfitters

AEO is one of my favorite stores! I can always find good jeans, fun dresses, and cute shirts. First, I bought a $30 book bag for my senior year. I was in need of a good bag to fit my computer and binders. Since it's my last year of high school, I decided that I would go with the bag I found the best, rather than the usual one I always used (it's been through a lot).

AEO was having the buy one get one half off sale on jeans/jeggings. I bought three pairs of high waisted "jeggings", which are more like really stretchy jeans. Honestly, how did the early 2000s celebrities where low-rider jeans! High waisted are soooo much better! I can't wait to where these pants throughout the Fall and Winter.

I love socks! I bought two pairs of shoes on this day too, so I needed gray socks to go with it. AEO has the comfiest socks, and honestly if my mom wasn't there; I would've bought more pairs.

I'm not the biggest fan of shirts with words on it, but I really like this shirt. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you would know how big of a feminist I am. I am glad AEO is selling shirts with sayings like this to promote feminism and women empowerment. Girls can do anything! Also, I will 100% be wearing this shirt with one of my new pairs of jeans.

 My camera was being annoying, and this is the only shot of this shirt I got (but, there's an outfit of the day coming out with this shirt on!). This shirt is cropped and long sleeve, and has an elastic around the waist. I pair it with high waisted jeans, and it black boots or slip ons.

 This is just regular gray t-shirt with flowers, but I thought the pattern was so pretty. I am planning on wearing this shirt with a ripped denim jacket (from Forever 21 below!).

Forever 21

For me, Forever 21 is a hit or miss store. I can sometimes go in there and find tons of clothes, and other times I'll get only a few items. This time, I bought two items and I am perfectly happy with them. The denim jacket was $32 and is a sturdy jacket. Usually denim is so much more expensive, and I wasn't originally looking for a jacket, so I was pleasantly shocked with the price.

I got a pair of shorts for $12.50, and they are good for just hanging out around the house or pairing with a t-shirt.

Steve Madden

I bought two pairs of boots from Steve Madden because they were having a buy one get one half off sale (which is my weakness when it comes to shopping).

These rose-velvet boots are definitely the cutest shoes I own at the moment. They are so easy to get on because instead of lacing them up, you just zip them up on the side. I believe these shoes were around $70.

Yes, I already own about three pairs of black boots with heels. The difference between those and these are that these boots zipper on the side and is about 5x more comfortable. I can't wait to pair these boots up with dresses and jeans. These shoes were about $90 before the discounts.

Eddie Bauer

Northeast winters are freezing, and I needed a coat that would last me for years and keep me warm. This coat is from Eddie Bauer and was originally $275, but it was on sale and I bought it for around $130. I really like this coat because it's the perfect length and I can wear it over my uniform on the train. Also, there's fake fur on it which is good because I wouldn't have bought it if it had real fur.

Victoria's Secret

At Tanger, the VS outlet was one of my best buys. I bought these two sports bras for $10 each, and a regular bra for $19. Usually these sports bras at least $25, and I wasn't willing to pay that much. I was in desperate need of sports bras for my field hockey season, and VS did not disappoint.

LOFT

 I'm going to a christening for my new baby cousin in the end of September, and I needed a dress to wear. I've never been to LOFT before, but my mother is a big fan of the store. I automatically fell in love with this dress. It was originally $82, but I got 10% because I asked for a student discount. I can't wait to show you all my OOTD.

Question: What is your must-have Autumn clothing?

Hope you liked this post! Don't forget to comment :)
  
                                                                           xx
                                                               Christina Madeleine

Follow My Social Media:
Instagram: @chriistinamariie
Twitter: @thisfashiongirl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisfashiongirl

Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!


*Note: Tanger Outlets has all/most items on sale, and I didn't get anything for free. This post wasn't to brag at all, but to show you all what I bought. All photos were taken with a Canon Powershot.

My Favorite Fall Fashion Trends: September 2017

Hey everyone! When I was thirteen, I started this blog to talk about fashion, and it seems that I haven't wrote about actual trends in years! Of course, I have done ootds, but can I still call myself a "fashion blogger." Since my last fashion trend post (four years ago), I have been through a ton of trends to find myself. The worst being my time when I would wear galaxy tights underneath denim shorts, but let's not talk about the fashion don'ts! I, absolutely love Autumn (especially months September through November). I like the idea of wearing cute jackets with jeans, nice scarfs, faux fur coats, and knee high boots way more than I like shorts. This Summer I enjoyed wearing skirts and dresses though, so I might continue that style into the Fall.  Today, I want to talk about my favorite Fall trends.

1. Turtle Necks 

I love turtlenecks. Last year, I bought two from Land's End, and I paired with everything. I styled outfits of pink skirts with a black turtleneck, tights, and knee high boots. The trend of turtlenecks have been around for ages; we've seen Marilyn Monroe and The Beatles wear them. This trend looks classy and you can pair them with jeans, overalls, dresses that go over them (but it depends how thick the shirt is). Also, chunky turtleneck sweater dresses paired with tights and ankle booties is perfect for winter weather. Lastly, turtlenecks are SO COMFORTABLE. Last year, I literally wore them everyday because of the fact that they are usually made of cotton, and feel like pajamas.

2.  Ankle Boots 

Ankle boots or Chelsea boots have been seen on celebrities like Harry Styles to models like Kendall Jenner. I, personally, adore this trend because 1) it's so easy to have a chunky heel that is comfortable 2) it goes with everything. My staple would be black ankle boots, but there are some colors like maroon and blue that also go with many outfits. Also, wearing ankle boots gives you the excuse to wear knit socks that are taller than the boot and match it with either tights or a dress. As shown above, you can also pair black ankle boots with jeans. How could you go wrong with this fashion staple?

3. Paper Bag Waist Pants 

Paper Bag Waist Pants are definitely one of the newer trends that I really like. Pants, like these, are sold at stores from H&M to Stella McCartney. There isn't much freedom when it comes to styling these pants, but not every article of clothing needs 10 ways to style. These pants would go well with either heeled sandals (if it's warm enough out) or chunky ankle boots. With the two photos, the pants are styled with white shirts, but is always subject to change with the color of the pants. I like the style of tucking in the shirt because it makes the outfit look classy enough for a work day or just to dress up. The pants are stylish, but comfortable. This year, I hope I can get myself a pair of these pants.

4. Faux Fur Coats 

I hate REAL fur because I don't believe in killing animals for their fur. But, FAUX fur sign me up all the way. Last year, I bought a purple faux fur coat from Forever 21 for about $55 and I was so obsessed with it. You can see me wearing it back in an OOTN from last December. I find faux fur coats to be so fun, especially when they are in different colors. Also, if you style the coat well, then it can go with so many outfits. For formal events, you can wear it over your dress and pair it with heels. But for a day out, you can pair it with jeans. It's perfect for the Fall because usually faux fur coats aren't heavy, but it'll still be warm enough out to wear them. Once again, it's a cute look and no animals are killed in the making of it.

5. Blazers 

I think blazers are great. When I was in middle school, I bought a blazer at Century 21 and I wore it with everything to make it look fancier. I recently bought the blazer on the right for $50 from Century 21 and it's Tommy Hilfiger. I saw the same jacket at Macy's for $82, so now I feel a bit better for how cheap I got it. I bought the blazer because I will be joining the Congressional Youth Cabinet of New York in September, and I felt I needed it for the occasion. I might do a post about how I style it because currently I am planning on wearing it with dark jeans, a white shirt, and black boots.  Blazers in general can turn a casual outfit into a formal-business outfit very quickly. You can wear blazers over dresses, with pants (maybe even the paper bag waist pants). This is definitely a staple to have in your closet for the Fall.

6. Jeans 

First of all, I included the image of the jeans with the fishnets underneath them because I love that style. I have yet to try it, but this Summer I saw the trend so much. Secondly, jeans are great. My recommendations for good jeans are American Eagle, Topshop, and Hollister. Out of the three, I prefer American Eagle the most just because their jeans fit so well, and come in a variety of styles from high waisted to boot cut. Also, their jeans are pretty affordable. Topshop is a bit pricey, but 100% worth the investment. I own the Jaime jeans from Topshop, and they were $80, but I wear them all the time. Jeans are so easy to style, and they go with everything from t-shirts to chunky sweaters. Also, you can wear almost every type of shoes with jeans.

7. Knee High Boots (and over the knee)

I just really like boots, okay? I recommend if you are going to buy knee high boots go to Steve Madden.  At the moment, all my shoes are either Adidas or Steve Madden, and I have no regrets about that. Steven Madden shoes are so durable, and you can get them cheaper in the Fall (student discounts sometimes!), and at the outlet stores. High Boots are so fun to style with dresses and cardigans. I don't like wearing them with jeans, so tights usually is the way I go with them.

8. Scarfs 

Once I start wearing scarfs, I know its officially Autumn. Big, chunky scarfs are good to match with sweaters (as shown above) or with dresses. Scarfs are good to wear on chilly days, or to make a plain outfit look a bit more fun. The trend carries on into Winter, so it's six months of styling scarfs! Adding a scarf can change a whole outfit, and it's a subtle accessory.

Questions: What are your favorite fall trends? Do you have any of the same as mine?

Leave a Comment! 

                                                                    xx
                                                        Christina Madeleine

Follow My Social Media:
Instagram: @chriistinamariie
Twitter: @thisfashiongirl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisfashiongirl

Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!

*None of these photos used in this post are mine. I take no credit for these pictures. If I took a photo from Google that is yours, let me know by contacting me and I will take it down *

School Tips: Resources for Studying & Homework

Hey everyone! Education is a wonderful thing to take advantage of, but school can be very hard. For me, I find science incredibly hard, and it's not my favorite subject. What've I learned in my 14+ years of being in school is that it's 100% okay to ask for help when you need it. Teachers go very fast when they are teaching, and sometimes they can't make sure everyone understands the concepts. Today, I am going to give you guys some resources and advice when it comes to asking for help in school.

1. Chegg online tutors

My sophomore year of high school,  I was having a hard time in Chemistry because I couldn't grasp the concepts in my 75 minute class. During my frees, I would meet with my teacher, but sometimes it wasn't enough. Chegg Tutoring is available at all times through the day, and it matches you with a tutor in minutes for live sessions. I have used Chegg tutors for SAT prep, Physics, Chemistry, Algebra, and Geometry. The tutors are very helpful, and you can talk to them through messaging, video chat or phone calls. You can even see the tutors credentials, and usually they are either teachers or college students who study the topic you need help in.  The program costs some money, but it's not expensive. I really recommend this website, especially since it's a 24 hour service.
http://www.chegg.com/


2. Crash Course

I am a huge fan of John and Hank Green. They are such great people to look up to, and specialize in educating younger people (as well as  adults) on what's happening in current events, and in the past. Crash Course is a Youtube Channel that has 15 minute videos in topics such as World History, Chemistry, Literature, Physics, US history, etc... Some of there videos are narrated by John or Hank, but other videos are taught by people who have degrees in the subject. The videos are very concise, engaging, and also have fun facts to not just teach students, but help them retain the informations. All of their videos are fact checked and accurate. I use these videos for history class as a review before tests.
https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse

3. Memrise

Memrise is an app and website that was originally made for learning languages, but can be used to study vocabulary of any type. I take Spanish at school, and we have vocab quizzes quite often so I put them onto the Memrise app on my phone and download the list, so that I can study on the train. This app is super helpful because you can test yourself, and it even tells you what words that you're having more problems remembering. I've been using this app since I was a freshman, and it's helped me so much in my English and Spanish classes.

4. National Honors Society tutors 

National Honors Society is a group of juniors and seniors, who have a 3.7 or higher GPA, who are designated to help out students in certain topics. Many schools offer NHS tutoring for free because it's just peers helping out, but usually these students have passed the class with high scores and can clarify concepts. I wouldn't recommend NHS tutors for all the time tutors because they are students too, but meeting with them for 30 minutes before or after a class can be very helpful. I have previously had NHS tutors in Spanish and Geometry, and it made quite the difference.

5.  Group Meetings

Everybody is different, but I prefer to study with a partner or in a small group for big tests. Every year during finals, my friend and I sit in a classroom or facetime in order to study everything we know about a topic. Talking with a partner definitely helps me retain information because we take turns explaining certain topics. At my school, you can meet with a teacher and bring three people and have a mini lesson to go over topics. Teachers are meant to help you, and they want you to succeed. Working with other people can be beneficial, and it's so rewarding when all of you do well. Tip: unless you are using your phone to study from, make your whole group put their phones on silent, so that there are no major distractions to take you from your studying.


 I hope these resources help you. I start school on September 6 (the beginning of my senior year of high school!) and I want to do my best, so I wanted all of you to do your best as well! A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so become educated and get excited to learn. School can be tough, and sometimes defeating, but it goes faster than you think. 

                                                                     xx
                                                       Christina Madeleine

Follow My Social Media:
Instagram: @chriistinamariie
Twitter: @thisfashiongirl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisfashiongirl

Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!

What Books Are On My Reading List (Young Adult)

Hey everyone! I love reading (as you know), but lately I haven't been doing that. During the school year, I usually read on the train, but even that started simmering out. Why? I was very very stressed during the end of the school year, which meant lack of posts, lack of reading books, and more procrastinating with Netflix. Since the school year is coming closer, I decided that I want to read more books for fun. I've also been very into young adult books, especially since I am going to be a senior in high school, and most YA books are about that time. Part of me thinks that I am just not ready to go fully into "adult" books. Lately, I've been inspired to write an YA adult book, like what John Green does, but alas there's so much on my plate that maybe that'll happen when I am older. Further ado, here's seven books that are on my GoodReads To-read list. You can also follow me on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/55538660-christina

1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Synopsis from GoodReads: 
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Why I Want To Read This Book: I was browsing through Barnes & Nobles a few weeks back, and saw this book. By the name alone, I knew that this book was written recently. The United States is filled with so much hate right now, and I am sure this book touches upon it. I feel it will be interesting to read a realistic fictional story about a similar event that's happening currently. I am excited to read this book because all the reviews are very good, and the book is hard-hitting and relevant. 

2. The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle 

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Quinn Roberts is a sixteen-year-old smart aleck and Hollywood hopeful whose only worry used to be writing convincing dialogue for the movies he made with his sister Annabeth. Of course, that was all before—before Quinn stopped going to school, before his mom started sleeping on the sofa…and before the car accident that changed everything.

Enter: Geoff, Quinn’s best friend who insists it’s time that Quinn came out—at least from hibernation. One haircut later, Geoff drags Quinn to his first college party, where instead of nursing his pain, he meets a guy—okay, a hot guy—and falls, hard. What follows is an upside-down week in which Quinn begins imagining his future as a screenplay that might actually have a happily-ever-after ending—if, that is, he can finally step back into the starring role of his own life story.

 Why I Want To Read This Book: The cover of this book definitely drew me in. I like movies and books about films. I don't believe that I've read a book in awhile (if at all) which entails a LGBT relationship. Most of the young adult books I've read are usually a girl likes boy situation. My only worry about this book is that it's been compared to Me and Early and The Dying Girl, which if you haven't seen my Twitter, is one of my least favorite books. I have high hopes for this book though. 

3.  Maybe In Paris by Rebecca Christiansen 

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Keira Braidwood lands in Paris with her autistic brother, Levi, and high hopes. Levi has just survived a suicide attempt and months in the psych ward—he’s ready for a dose of the wider world. Unlike their helicopter mom and the doctors who hover over Levi, Keira doesn’t think Levi’s certifiable. He’s just . . . quirky. Always has been.

Those quirks quickly begin to spoil the trip. Keira wants to traipse all over Europe; Levi barely wants to leave their grubby hotel room. She wants to dine on the world’s cuisine; he only wants fast food. Levi is one giant temper tantrum, and Keira’s ready to pull out her own hair.

She finally finds the adventure she craves in Gable, a hot Scottish bass player, but while Keira flirts in the Paris Catacombs, Levi’s mental health breaks. He disappears from their hotel room and Keira realizes, too late, that her brother is sicker than she was willing to believe. To bring him home safe, Keira must tear down the wall that Levi’s sickness and her own guilt have built between them.

Why I Want To Read This Book: To be honest, the name of the book (Maybe in Paris) drew me to want to read this book. The cover is also very beautiful, even though you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover. The book seems to have potential because it does deal with mental health (which is a very relevant topic), and takes place as a traveling story. My concern is the mixed reviews of this book. Either people give this book one star or five stars, so I want to take it upon myself to actually see what's up with this book. 

4. Me Being Me is Exactly as Insane as You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy 

Synopsis from GoodReads:
A heartfelt, humorous story of a teen boy’s impulsive road trip after the shock of his lifetime—told entirely in lists!

Darren hasn’t had an easy year.

There was his parents’ divorce, which just so happened to come at the same time his older brother Nate left for college and his longtime best friend moved away. And of course there’s the whole not having a girlfriend thing.

Then one Thursday morning Darren’s dad shows up at his house at 6 a.m. with a glazed chocolate doughnut and a revelation that turns Darren’s world inside out. In full freakout mode, Darren, in a totally un-Darren move, ditches school to go visit Nate. Barely twenty-four hours at Nate’s school makes everything much better or much worse—Darren has no idea. It might somehow be both. All he knows for sure is that in addition to trying to figure out why none of his family members are who they used to be, he’s now obsessed with a strangely amazing girl who showed up out of nowhere but then totally disappeared.

Told entirely in lists, Todd Hasak-Lowy’s debut YA novel perfectly captures why having anything to do with anyone, including yourself, is:

1. painful
2. unavoidable
3. ridiculously complicated
4. possibly, hopefully the right thing after all.

Why I Want To Read This Book: The synopsis of the book doesn't make entirely much sense. I understand that the main character wants a girlfriend and it seems that all his family members are leaving him in someway. It's the typical coming of age novel, right? I like the idea of road trip books, one of my favorites was Mosquitoland (which you can read my review of here ). The thing that's interesting about this book (besides it's incredibly long title) is that the whole book is written in list form, and I've never read a book like that. Despite the relatively okay reviews, I am going to try this book out. 

5. Two Summers by Aimee Friedman 

Synopsis from GoodReads:
ONE SUMMER in the French countryside, among sun-kissed fields of lavender . . .

ANOTHER SUMMER in upstate New York, along familiar roads that lead to surprises . . .

When Summer Everett makes a split-second decision, her summer divides into two parallel worlds. In one, she travels to France, where she’s dreamed of going: a land of chocolate croissants, handsome boys, and art museums. In the other, she remains home, in her ordinary suburb, where she expects her ordinary life to continue — but nothing is as it seems.

In both summers, she will fall in love and discover new sides of herself. What may break her, though, is a terrible family secret, one she can't hide from anywhere. In the end, it may just be the truth she needs the most.

From New York Times bestselling author Aimee Friedman comes an irresistible, inventive novel that takes readers around the world and back again, and asks us what matters more: the journey or the destination. 

Why I Want To Read This Book: I love the idea of this book. At first glance, I thought that the book was about a girl who is talking about her two summer vacations, but if you look closely...the main character's name is Summer.  The book has two stories going on at the same time in parallel universes, one where Summer is in France, and the other where she is Upstate New York. Overall, the reviews are pretty good for this book, and I am excited to read it. 

6. To All The Boys I've Every Loved Before by Jenny Han 

Synopsis from GoodReads:
What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once? 

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

Why I Want To Read This Book: I have seen this book everywhere. I believe that it's even being made into a movie, and that Janel Parrish from Pretty Little Liars is going to be in it. This book usually gets around 4 stars, which is pretty good to me. The synopsis seems interesting enough, but makes me cringe a bit- because imagine everyone finding out how you felt about them. It kind of reminds me of the movie Read it and Weep which was a Disney Channel movie. I want to read the book because I want to see what the hype is all about, and I've heard that Jenny Han's other books are very well written. 

7. Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman 

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Anise Sawyer plans to spend every minute of summer with her friends: surfing, chowing down on fish tacos drizzled with wasabi balsamic vinegar, and throwing bonfires that blaze until dawn. But when a serious car wreck leaves her aunt, a single mother of three, with two broken legs, it forces Anise to say goodbye for the first time to Santa Cruz, the waves, her friends, and even a kindling romance, and fly with her dad to Nebraska for the entire summer. Living in Nebraska isn’t easy. Anise spends her days caring for her three younger cousins in the childhood home of her runaway mom, a wild figure who’s been flickering in and out of her life since birth, appearing for weeks at a time and then disappearing again for months, or even years, without a word. 

Complicating matters is Lincoln, a one-armed, charismatic skater who pushes Anise to trade her surfboard for a skateboard. As Anise draws closer to Lincoln and takes on the full burden and joy of her cousins, she loses touch with her friends back home – leading her to one terrifying question: will she turn out just like her mom and spend her life leaving behind the ones she loves

Why I Want To Read This Book: I found this book when I was (once again) browsing through Barnes & Nobles. I like the concept of this book because it brings together a variety of characters that seem to not have much in common. Also, the only book I've read that takes place in Nebraska is My Antonia, so I think it'll be cool to read another book whose setting is there. 

Questions: Have you read any of these books? What are books on your reading list?

Leave a comment telling me what books you recommend or want to read. 

                                                                   xx 
                                                      Christina Madeleine
Follow My Social Media:
Instagram: @chriistinamariie
Twitter: @thisfashiongirl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisfashiongirl

Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!

What I've Been Watching: Summer 2017

Hey everyone! I'm starting to update every Sunday! I might start doing other days during the week, but as of now I am excited that I am starting a schedule. If you have been reading this blog for awhile, then you might be familiar with the posts I do with tv shows I watch. This summer I, unfortunately, haven't been doing a lot of reading, but I have watched some television shows.

1. That 70's Show

I have been watching so many comedies this year. I had finished The Office and Parks and Recreations early this year, so I decided to jump into That 70's Show. I am currently on the final season, and I am quite the fan of this show. That 70's Show started the careers of Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, and Topher Grace. Most of the show is just the daily life of six teenagers who live in the fictional place of Point Place of Wisconsin. Although this show was on from 1998-2006, the whole timeline of the show is from 1977-1979. The show is very light & funny, but sometimes some of the jokes are a bit touchy (there's a lot of humor regarding degrading women) which is the producers trying to get the mentality of the 70s. Also, it's so fun to see all these actors so young (especially the now married Mila and Ashton).  All the characters 100% pull off the styles from the 70s.

2.  Riverdale 

If you haven't heard of Riverdale, where have you been? This show is from the same channel, CW, that made The Carrie Diaries, Reign, and Gossip Girl. All the characters on this show are supposed to look and be named like all the characters from the famous comic books called The Archie Comics. There's Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), Veronica Lodge (Camilia Mendes), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), etc... Except this series is almost entirely different than the comic books because it's a murder mystery series. The whole first season is how a web lies formed after the death of the character Jason Blossom. I really like this series. The only thing I don't like is how awful all the adult characters, not the actors, but there isn't a single nice adult. I highly recommend binge watching this show on Netflix before the next season comes out in October.

3. Orange is the New Black 

I feel like I don't even need to talk about this show much because it's been on for FIVE SEASONS. I started the show awhile back, but I decided to restart it, and now I am almost done with season one. The show hits a lot of topics such as sexuality, race, and gender. This show is very relevant. A terribly brief summary of this show is it's about Piper Chapman's experience in a women's prison. I don't think I am fully absorbed into the show, but I definitely want to watch more of it. Also Laura Prepon, from That 70's Show plays a whole different role here. Some of the scenes are intense, but the whole show is very good.

4. Anne With An E

I can't even express how much I loved this show. Anne With An E is the new version of the classic book Anne of Green Gables. There's only seven episodes of this show, and it covers only part of the book, but the adaption is so good. The show is about a girl who is adopted by a brother and sister who live on Prince Edward Island, on a ranch called Green Gables. Anne is an orphan who loves to learn, is always chatty, and has a big sense of adventure. This show didn't have high ratings in Canada, so Netflix started streaming it, but I really hope they make more episodes. The costumes and scenery are incredible.


Question: What are you watching this Summer?

Leave a comment and don't forget to come back on Sunday for another post, and maybe another day this week. 

                                                                 xx
                                                   Christina Madeleine

Follow My Social Media:
Instagram: @chriistinamariie
Twitter: @thisfashiongirl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisfashiongirl

Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!

OOTD: Last Night in Long Beach Island

Hey everyone! How's your summer going? Last week, I went on vacation to Long Beach Island, New Jersey with my family and a friend for the week. I hadn't been down to LBI since I was 12 because the whole island was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, so it was a great experience to go back there. I'll do a post with all the pictures I took soon because LBI is such a beautiful place. On the last night, the four of us went out to a Mexican restaurant called La Bamba, and before that Bree (my friend) and I decided to do a tiny "photo shoot".

 I usually wear my hair down in my OOTDs, but that day my hair was wet, so my friend braided my hair for me. I do love braids, but I can't really do them myself that good.

 This is my friend, Bree, and I at the bay before going to dinner.

My outfit is from  a local store in LBI called B&B, and they have super cute outfits from Billabong and other "beachy" brands. I've always liked the Boho look, so I instantly fell in love with the pants and outfit. The white shirt was $20, the pants were $29, and my shoes were Steve Madden sandals.

I was a bit dressed up for the restaurant we went to, but it was my last night on vacation, so I felt the need to be a bit more fancy.

I hope you guys liked my outfit. What are your summer plans?

                                                                              xx
                                                                  Christina Madeleine

What's Going On In My Life?

Hello everyone! To start of this post I am going to insert a poor quality PhotoBooth picture of myself.

This is me. I am seventeen years old. My skin has a ton of acne right now. Also, I have bright blue hair. This looks like a fake smile, but trust me there's a lot for me to be happy about.

So, why am I talking like I've never blogged before?

I feel like I haven' truly been in touch with this blog lately. I have been doing OOTDs or just where I go with my friends. I just want to have a post where I just gave some updates on my life. Every time I blog, I always make the excuse that I need to post more and I definitely do, but sometimes I just don't feel it. I have so many thoughts in my head, but how do I just express it?

Here are some updates about my life...

1) I applied and got accepted to join the Youth Cabinet of NYC. This entails that I will be sitting with one of the Congresswomen of New York once a month and telling her what I believe is important to have in politics. I am excited because young people barely have a say in what happens before they can vote.

2) I am/ will be done with an internship at an awesome technology start-up located in Chelsea. Basically, I got to see how a business start-up works, and my voice will be in one of their projects on the app! I only was there for three weeks, but it was super fun and a great experience! If you want to hear more about it, I would be happy to talk about it.

3) I am officially an editorial writer and social media manager for The Weekly Buzz, which is a website/magazine written by teenagers from around the world for teenagers. This website basically will cover what is happening in the world in a fun way. We are also accepting guest writers, so you should definitely check it out! Also follow the social media for updates.
          Instagram: @theweeklybuzz (https://www.instagram.com/theweeklybuzz/ )
          Twitter: @theweeklybuzz09  (https://twitter.com/theweeklybuzz09 )
          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theweeklybuzzers/

4) I don't have to take any more SATs and ACTs. I am not going to dwell too much about this, but I am happy with my scores and it's a big relief to be done with the standardized tests. In December, I will hopefully be telling you guys about where I will be going to college. Right now, I am just trying to keep a positive outlook and not let a test define me.

5) I get to play my last season of high school field hockey in a month. Long story short, my school was going to cut the team without telling us. My friend and I fought the school, and sadly we only get to keep it for one more year, but it was an accomplishment in itself. I am planning on making the most of it and be the best senior on the team I can be.

6) I'm trying to be the best version of myself that I can be. I've dealt with a lot in the last two years, but lately I have been trying to have more positive thoughts. Also, I am starting to care less about what people think of me. I've learned that you can't please everyone, and that sometimes you have to back away from an argument even if you aren't wrong. I think going into senior year I am going to try to patch up some broken relationships. I tend to be a different person at school (kind of quiet and shy), and I am so tired of people walking all over me, so I am working on becoming a more confident person.

7) I joined a gym for the month of July! It was such a great experience because there's something about doing Zumba, and working out that makes me so happy. I don't judge any people at the gym because hey! we are all working on ourselves.

8) My hair is blue! On the last day of school, my friend came with me so that I could dye my hair. It took four hours at the salon and almost all my babysitting money, but it's blue! I am so obsessed with it. I never want to get rid of it, but sadly in a month I am going to have to dye my head a "natural" color because I go to catholic school.

So those are some of the big updates on my life, but this post isn't over yet! I want to spread some positivity:

Right now, the world is full of hate. We can't let the hate get to us because hate brings on more hate. Being positive starts with learning to be happy. There are times when I am so insecure that I can't look in the mirror, and then there are times where I am like, "heck yeah! I am beautiful!". Compliment people! Find hobbies that make you happy! Find friends who support you and love you! Read happy books! Go on adventures! The world is amazing and people are beautiful. I know this all over the place, but once you start trying to make other people happy, and finding things you like...the world becomes more clear and beautiful.

I hope you guys have a wonderful rest of your week! I am going to try to get another post up this week! 

Let me know what are your achievements this month, and things that made you happy!

                                                                         xx
                                                            Christina Madeleine

Book Review: Mosquitoland

Hey everyone! Today, I am going to review the book Mosquitoland by David Arnold. Originally, I heard of this book because my friends who are in my school's book club told me about it. I didn't want to buy this book because I thought that I can probably borrow from many people because I believe this book is now a best seller. I saw this book in the Lost & Found auction at my school and decided that it was time to read it.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange.

After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the "wastelands" of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland.

So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane.

Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, Mosquitoland is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.

My Thoughts:
   
 I really liked Mosquitoland because it was quick, fun read and it kept me hooked. I was doing a summer camp for a week, and every morning and afternoon I would read this book. It took me about four days to finish because I was so interested in it.

The plot, basically, is a sixteen year old girl wants to get from Mississippi ("Mosquitoland") to Cleveland to go see her mother. The main character has been through a lot in the last year; her parents were divorced, her father remarries, and her mother has a "sickness" that isn't uncovered until later in the book. Mim has a very active imagination throughout the whole story, and most people in her life are afraid she is borderline schizophrenic which makes her point of view even better. Mim is a tomboy who loves Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Talking Heads (*the band*). She is the narrator od the whole story and makes many references to musicians, especially when she is on her journey.The thing I found annoying about the main character is that she is too rash, and spends most of the book hating adults. To be fair though she deals with some very bad characters on her journey i.e a child molester and other characters. Also you don't find out about why she runs away until the last few chapters of the book. One other thing I don't like about Mim is that she caused a rather serious injury to herself (I'm not saying what because I won't spoil it) a few years back and she told no one. Overall, Mim is a great character though because she brings to life some of the plots of the book that would have been boring without her version of the story. 

Many of the characters have stories that aren't fully developed, but the reader meets more teenage runaways. It's bit frustrating at times to read because the characters either lie a lot about who they are or they don't get to the point very fast. Even the main character, Mim, gets frustrated when people take too long to answer. Most of the adult characters are written as villains with the exception of a few that Mim changes her opinions on. 

I really liked the book, and it was very quick to read. I feel like the plot is so unique that once you get past the first few pages, you'll be absolutely hooked. I recommend this book as a summer read for when you are just relaxing by a pool or have some free time. 

Some Favorite Quotes:
“I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange.” 


 “Every great character, Iz, be it on page or screen, is multidimensional. The good guys aren't all good, the bad guys aren't all bad, and any character wholly one or the other shouldn't exist at all. Remember this when I describe the antics that follow, for though I am not a villain, I am not immune to villainy.”

“When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice.”  

“I swear the older I get, the more I value bad examples over good ones. It's a good thing too, because most people are egotistical, neurotic, self-absorbed peons, insistent on wearing near-sighted glasses in a far-sighted world. And it's this exact sort of myopic ignorance that has led to my groundbreaking new theory. I call it Mim's Theorem of Monkey See Monkey Don't, and what it boils down to is this: it is my belief that there are some people whose sole purpose of existence is to show the rest of how not to act.”

“As simple as it sounds, I think understanding who you are—and who you are not—is not the most important thing of all Important Things.” 

Questions: Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

                                                                    xx 
                                                     Christina Madeleine
 

OOTD: 4th of July 2017

Hey everyone! I count Independence Day as the beginning of Summer (so does most of America I suppose), and I was able to spend the day with some friends. The 4th of July is filled with American Flags, Barbeques, music, and tons of memes. On television, there was a hotdog eating contest at Coney Island. A few of my friends and I went to a roof top to watch the sunset before going to the East River to watch fireworks.

                                             My outfit:
                                             One shoulder dress- American Eagle Outfitters
                                             Shoes - Adidas Stan Smiths $60

We waited for the firework show to start for over an hour and I might've been so annoying to the people around me that a couple moved away from my friends and I. My reasoning was that it was a public place so it was completely fine for me to start clapping when the show started or when any bright colors came. My friends and I might've also sang songs like: Party in the USA, Firework, and I'm Proud to Be an American...

When we are on the rooftop, we had a view of the whole entire city. The sunset was super beautiful, and it felt like a perfect summer night.

                                         Here's a picture of Aubrey and I sitting on the roof.

It was very nice to see my friends and spend this holiday with them.

I hope all my Americans out there had a nice Independence Day. Although the country isn't perfect, it was a day to celebrate the freedoms our country was based off and acknowledge that we have ton more work to do. I was glad to spend it with my friends.

Happy 4th of July (one day late!)

                                                                      xx
                                                         Christina Madeleine


 

GOOD V18ES!? + FOUR YEARS OF BLOGGING

Hey everyone! I guess you could tell I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus recently. Last month I was in my school's rendition of The Little Mermaid. I had practices four days a week, and I was in about five number (Under the Sea being a personal favorite). This month I turned 17, went to Smorgasburg (a food festival that goes through the whole summer), went to the Women's Foundation Breakfast, went to two semi-formals, visited to Rhode Island, and had a ton of tests and quizzes. Next week I have three finals, an SAT, and an ACT. Basically my life has been pretty busy lately between outside activities, test prep, and school work. I am not trying to make excuses, but I really need to start budgeting my time better (I say that while I have a test to study for and finals oops). I know I've said this a million times, but for the Summer I will be updating a lot (especially since I will be in New York for almost the whole time).

First thing I wanted to mention in this post is that I have been blogging on This Fashion Girl for four years now. May 3, 2013 I created this blog and it's crazy that I still continue with it four years later. Blogging is something I really love to do, and I have made some pretty cool blogger friends because of it. What I've learned in the past four years of having a website is that as long as you love doing something, it doesn't matter what other people think. Something in particular that has happened many times is that people have made fake accounts under names like "unknown," "anonymous,"and even "ThisFashionGirl4," in order to comment/ takeover my account. As annoying as that is, I have learned to ignore things like that because I am part of a very supportive community of bloggers that build each other up. This website, for me, has been a way to keep in order things I have done and talk about things I like to do. Having a website has been a part of who I am for four years now, and I plan to continue doing this in the years to come.

Next thing I wanted to talk about in this post is about "good vibes." Next year, I will be a senior in high school (I was only in seventh grade when I started on here), and each year the rising senior class gets to have a party and pick a name for their senior year. My class is called the class of good v18es.  Since that is a big part of my classes' identity, I just wanted to touch upon the importance of having "good vibes." My class had a kind of hippie theme going on for our party (pics below), but our decorations included pride flags and peace signs. Especially in current times, I feel like we, as people, focus so much on bring negativity to others. We point out things we don't like instead of things we do. There's just so much hate in the world. We get stuck in our own heads with opinions, and don't listen to others. We judge so many people for things that they can't change such as sexuality, race, ethnicity, and location. Having good vibes just means working towards something better, and trying not to be negative. I, personally, love the term because it's a way of promoting peace, justice, and inclusion.

Here are some photos from my classes' party:

I am going to try to post in the next week (but finals might get the best of me), but once school is out in two weeks I will be posting everything I missed in the last two months + the whole summer of 2017.

Thank you for FOUR wonderful years of This Fashion Girl, and I can't wait for so many more.

                                                                             xx
                                                               Christina Madeleine