Eight Day's A Week...

Wow! This week has gone by so fast, I had so much going on, that I didn't even have time to blog! My Birthday was on Wednesday, it was such a low key event, just the way I wanted it to be. Sometimes its nice to have a simple birthday, with no loud shebang! Although, my friend A and I are having a little party tomorrow with some friends, it should be very fun, and I can't wait for it! We went out for Thai food for my Birthday dinner, it was so yummy! I just love the more "exotic" foods compared to standard "American" foods, it just tastes so much better. Give me a plate of Thai, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Jewish/Middle Eastern foods and I am happy!

Yesterday, my schools Amnesty International club (of which I am a member) had it's annual Coffee House. Our Coffee House's usually have singers or guest speakers, this time we had both! We had a lady who had lived through the Bosnian War come and speak at our Coffee House, her story was so interesting to listen to, she was seventeen when she left the country and fled to America! Our other guest speaker, was someone who I found his story to be so heartbreakingly sad. He is an Iraqi refugee, who is not that much older then me! His father disappeared when he was about thirteen or fourteen, his family is not quite sure weather he is dead or alive. His family then fled to Syria after his fathers disappearance, and from there they have all been scattered across the globe. He is study here in America for four years and during this time, he is forbidden to leave the country and then after four years he must leave the country and continue his studies elsewhere. I think it is terrible that he cannot see his family since they are scattered in places such as France, Australia, and Syria. His story is so sad, yet it seems to me that he is greatful for the opportunities which he has been given. To him, education is the most important thing in the world, besides family; yet here in America many people don't take advantage of the opportunities which we have been given. He also stressed the importance of the realization that everyone is human, and we are all the sane, no matter what people say. After the Coffee House some of my friends and I stayed and chatted with him for awhile, just talking with him made me realize how "normal" everyone is, no matter what background you come from!

Jem

P.S. I am terribly sorry about the wickedly long blog post its just that I really wanted to tell you about the Coffee House, I was so moved by his story, that it made me realize that I want to do something with my life where I can help people tell there "stories." That's why right now I am thinking about majoring in photography, that way I can be a photographer and take pictures to help tell peoples stories (although, I could end up changing what I want to major in, I've done that several times already!).

Animoto

I thought I'd share this really cool website called Animoto. It lets you make slideshow videos of your pictures, except it puts in all these cool effects. They are so easy to make you just pick the pictures you want and the music for the background and then they do the rest of the work for you. It only allows you to have 30 second clips without paying but it's still really fun!
Here's the link for the site: http://animoto.com/
And here's a video I made with pictures of me and my friends:


-Mad

I Capture The Castle

"Just to be in love seemed the most blissful luxury I had ever known. The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return -- that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness. For a moment I felt that I had discovered a great truth." ~Dodie Smith (I Capture the Castle)

Recently my friend A lent me a wonderful book, which I have not been able to stop thinking about! I just love it when you read a book which captures your heart, and you cant put it down until you know how the characters end up. Though admittedly I am always a little bit sad when I Finish a good story, it's a bit like loosing an old friend (I can't remember who said this, I paraphrased it too). The nice thing about novels is that you can always go back and visit those beloved characters once again, therefore your reminded of all those wonderful adventures that you had together. You might think that I am a babbling fool, but it can't be helped when it comes to books! My face is always buried in a book, which might be part of the reason that I'm a klutz (but that story is for another time), I am constantly reading. The book which my friend lent me was (as the title suggests) I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith, it was the most magical book, I didn't want it to end! The protagonist is 17 year old Cassandra who tells the story, through writing in her diary. The novel is essentially a coming of age and romance story, and by far one of the best books I've ever read. I couldn't resist sharing my wonderful find, with you, in the hopes that you too might read it (trust me, you will love it)!
Jem

Holiday In Paradise

Both Photos where taken by moi, during my trip to the Keys which seems like so long ago, when in reality was only less then three short months ago. With all my school work piling up, lately I keep wishing I was on holiday again in Florida. Ahh... to not be bundled up in wool clothes and be able to wear sundresses and flip flops, lazy days poolside, and visiting my family; that would be a dream come true. Instead I am stuck in the cool dreary winter weather with homework as my source of fun (not!). It would be lovely to have a holiday in paradise right now, but alas it isn't so. I shall keep myself content for now by looking through my photos from my trip, well all the while dreaming of my next escape.

Jem

Snap Shot

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Unknown, (often attributed to Albert Camus)

The Picture was taken by Tim Walker, I cannot seem to get enough of his photos. It seems to me that he has such a rare, special talent for finding the perfect picture. I can't figure out how he does it, yet every time I see one of his photos I sure try to! To me he is the ultimate photographer, the kind of photographer that I aspire to be. If I could even get one picture, just nearly as good as his then I would be content. The quote doesn't have much to do with the Photo, but I thought I would share it with you anyways.

Jem

Topshop Is Myshop

I am coveting this dress so bad, its the perfect shade of pale blue. It seems like it would

be the kind of dress that one would wear to a tea party (I love tea party's, there so whimsical!).

This bolero is so sick.... its like a party on your arms! I love ruffles, yet this somehow seems

quite an easy item to have in ones wardrobe, you can dress it up or down.

This bag is not leather (yay, mad! she's a vegetarian and doesn't wear leather products, therefore she would be happy to know this!) although it looks like it could be. I am just crazy about its soft buttery look that it has, plus the fact that it has a long enough strap (that's always a plus!).

This shirt makes me want to show off my inner french girl; with its perfect summer blue colour and the perfectly placed black ribbon it seems as though its made for the french girl at heart!

Ruffles make me happy. This shirt is rather plain but it shows that its whats on the sleeves that count!

I think that most everyone knows by now about the "store" which is Topshop, and if you don't; where the heck have you been living, under a rock?. So today I was browsing there online website, and I found several items which I am currently wishing for (see above). Just browsing the site though brought back some fond memories for me of visiting my auntie and uncle in England. My auntie and I spent several days in good ol' London Town and while we were there, we went to the Topshop on Oxford Street. I had been into Topshop several times before, I just had never experienced it at this level. Its shear madness, the store on Oxford Street is the largest Topshop in the world, at four stories tall it is a dream come true for any fashion lover. I walked in and I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I ended up getting quite a lot of lovely items, including a blue dress which I wore to my sisters Bat Mitzvah. I am so excited to check out the new flagship store in NY, next time I go to the city. At first I was rather disappointed that it was coming here to the states since I was worried that people would discover my secret store, which I guess is not so secret! Then I realized that most everyone who lives in my dull town, hasn't even herd of Topshop! So at least I don't have to worry that someone at school might have the same clothing items, which is good.

Jem