Twenty-Thirteen, I Bid You Adieu.

twenty-thirteen

2013

two oh one three

Dear 2013,

You've been a great year, honestly.

I've made so many new and amazing friends during you.

I found my first pair of legitimate vintage Doc Martens in a Goodwill during you!!

I've been a fourteen year old eating fondue at 1am on a rooftop in Brooklyn 

with her best friend during you.

I've sat cross-legged on a rooftop in Floyd singing Neutral Milk Hotel 

with an acoustic guitar during you.

I've gone to sleepovers and gotten to know people and things during you.

I've experienced things I've never experienced before on Saturday Nights during you.

I've learned so many new vocabulary words during you.

I've spent so many Wednesday and Thursday Nights playing Dungeons and Dragons during you.

I've been a tired-eyed flower crowned teenager dancing to indie beside a summery bonfire during you.

I've gone to Wal-Mart at 1:30am with my teacher and six other students because the showing of Rocky Horror we were going to see was cancelled during you.

I've obsessed, stalked, and cried over boys during you.

(one my friends and i wrote a song about in the closet of one of my loveliest friends)

I've been a hipster who would sit in local coffee shops (but never starbucks) while clutching my copy of Hemingway and listening to Pheonix during you.

I've been a cute and awkward child(still am to be honest)

I've read so many books during you

I've grown up... a little

during you

I've started so so so many impromptu dance parties because of you.  Some in classrooms, some outside while singing a capella to the virgins dancing around with my best friend soaking wet and enjoying every minute of it during you.

I've been a fifteen year old curly haired zine-making freak during you.

I've been a kid who listened to Indie Rock on a Monday, Justin Bieber on a Tuesday, Iggy Azalea on a Wednesday, Neutral Milk Hotel on a Thursday and Kanye West on Friday and spent my weekends sleeping it all off.

***

I've gone through many many phases this year.

First it was my hipster/indie phase 

I'd wear black tights and black shorts and button up collared shirts and oxfords all day long.

Then it was my hippie/forest fairy phase

It was all florals and flower crowns

Then, my lol wut phase

where i'd just wear whatever as long as it was comfy

then my apathetic phase

I tried to be such a badass acting like I had no interest in you, or me, or anything.

After that was my attempt at soft grunge phase.

I'd wear ripped black tights underneath denim shorts with a flannel a looot.

Next, my alternative tumblr hottie phase

I would stick to white and black and that was about it

Then, my 80's revival phase

I just tried to be as fun as possible because hey-- life's too short to wear boring clothes

Which brings us to now, 

a perfect mix of all of these

(or so I like to think)

***

I've laughed so much, Cried a lot too, I've sang and danced and read a lot.

It's truly been a great year.

There have been the hard moments that I've had to deal with, but they were dealt with

and I came out stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the future because of it.

I've learned so much from living this year, I've been in the sophomore slump, 

and came right back out of it feeling on top of the world and happy.

***

2013, you've served me kindly.

You've been a great great year. 

But, now I must relieve you of your duties and send in the next new soldier, the young and beautiful two thousand fourteen

2014, 

You've got a lot riding on your shoulders.

I hope you can deliver, partner.

I'm sure you'll be a great year, hopefully even greater than the last.

***

Love you guys, I hope all of you have a safe and lovely New Years! Drink Sparkling Apple Cider and Dance around to fun music with your friends, family, and/or pets.

enjoy your night

be safe.

until next year, 

xoxo,

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)

P.S. Most of the fun I've had this year was because of spontaneous events.

Like John Lennon said "life's going on while you're busy planning"

(or something to that effect)

Open Letter to 2013 (in photos)

2013, You've been good to me.

(All photos were taken by me or friends of mine - taken in various places throughout 2013)

xoxo,

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)

A Year In Outfits - 2013

In Algebra 2 with the School Mascot

(a studded denim collared sleeveless shirt from T.J. Maxx under an owl sweater from Strawberry)

At 16 West one night ... Gallery Hopping

(I have no idea)

School Parking Lot - Maybe? 

(Polka dot Peter Pan collared dress from TJ Maxx & red and white letterman sweater)

After we went to see a ballet at VA Tech

(striped peplum dress - Burlington Coat Factory)

After traveling for four hours with Allie & Daquan and I singing

Ariana Grande the whole ride

(white T shirt, Leather jacket, Leggings and Doc Martens)

(my faux homecoming dress - because it was

actually from us sneaking

out of a luncheon and taking pictures outside because

i thought it looked like a french balcony)

(HORSE DRESS!!! - from target )

The lovely Sarah Bourlakas and I <3

At VTAs with the coolest kid I know - Stuart!!

Wearing the signature Lilly-made Cat Ice Cream cone t-shirt and a black skirt

(my favorite outfit like ever)

(this was me pretending to be Twiggy)

(this was literally the best trip I've ever been on)

(see From Raleigh, With Love)

(my floral pajamas and Doc Martens at a creek on a bridge near Lilly's casa)

(idk man, we were coming back from dinner in Raliegh & Sarah and I took soooo many selfies on that trip it was fabulous)

(my Magenta from Rocky Horror costume - and me on a thingy that they use in hotels to carry luggage)

(Sarah & I again!! - during my all black everything phase )

*call it King Arthur, Angst, and Pizza

one night we all just sat around watching movies about Arthur and eating pizza

I was wearing a super cute black and white sweater over a basic red button-up

I paired it with a skater skirt, black tights, and oxfords.

I was in Brooklyn... yup.

*Eve-Lynn the great took this*

(we were at a castle-y thing in Central Park)

*most recent* 

like two weeks ago

This was me attempting to look like Isolt from the Arthurian Legends with Saint Saline(I made her dress btw) ahah

Okay, so those are a few of the outfits, and stories behind them from 2013.

My favorite isn't even in there.

So my favorite is on the first day back from Thanksgiving Break, I wore this awesomely hideous hawaiian shirt with the sleeves rolled up and I tucked it into a black skater skirt with black tights and dark brown oxfords.

Well, Thats it, loves.

Thanks for being here this year.

It was only the beginning,

Next year I promise to update more and 

Show more love and affection towards this blog.

xoxo,

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)

Happy New Years Eve you guys!!

Love you all 

xxx

Exam Week Playlist

(photo cred - google images)

OH MY GOD.

I really really really hate exam week.

Like it literally sucks.

And there's nothing you can really do about except sit there and take it. 

(ha ha ha pun intended)

OK, but anyways there are certainly some things you can do to make it a heck of a lot less painful

One thing I always make sure I've got is my Exam Week Playlist

Just a bunch of songs to get you in the test-taking conquer all bad bitch mood

And then a few to calm you down

And then another few to just make ya happy. 

5 ARTISTS(and songs) TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE THE BADDEST BITCH

1. Beyonce - Ego, Single Ladies, Irreplaceable (basically any Beyonce song)

2. Anything by Lady Gaga

3. Work by Iggy Azalea

4. Primadonna by Marina and the Diamonds

5. The Virgins - One Week of Danger and She's Expensive

5 SONGS TO JUST MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD

1. Lizstomania by Pheonix

2. Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds

3. Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

4. Venus by Lady Gaga

5. Lana Del Rey - Lolita

5 SONGS TO CALM YOU DOWN

1. Fernando Pando by the Virgins

2. Greatest Prize by Nat and Alex Wolff 

3. Moments by Herro Sugar

4. Flightless Bird by Iron and Wine

5. Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls

okay well, 

that's my exam playlist

You might have different tastes than I do and I respect that.

I love you all. You'll do great. 

Rock those tests!

xoxo, 

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)

In Formal Mourning

It was around 10am on a Saturday.

I was laying in bed, checking twitter and procrastinating

instead of studying for my exams and i decided to look on The Virgin's twitter account to see if they had any funny new tweets(because they usually do)
But no, all that was there was a farewell tweet from Donald and a link to an article in Rolling Stone Magazine about their split.

If you haven't heard already I hate to inform you that my favorite band, The Virgins has made like a banana.... and split.

After two albums and seven years. :(

I literally cried when I found out. 

I only found out about this band earlier this year at a sleepover with my two best friends Celine and Lilly. It was one of those typical teenage sleepovers where we talked about boys, our feelings, and ate teeny goldfish crackers on my best friends bedroom floor.

As we were gathered around the ipod Celine said "You guys should listen to The Virgins" and then she proceeded to play "Fernando Pando" muttering the words "Don't worry, it gets better." 

It didn't need to get better for me, I was already in love. 

Days went by before I actually listened to them again, but when I did, man the impromptu dance parties in Simon's classroom were endless.

Those guys got me through a lot of bullshit to be honest. In my opinon, their music just gives off a cool vibe and it makes me feel better about almost whatever situation I'm in the middle of.

And could we take a minute to talk about how great their tweets are(were)?

(i could go on, but i digress..)

I mean this band has only been with me for a short amount of time but I don't love them any less.  I don't know what it is about them but I just can't not feel something to know that they've split... I kind of feel like my entire freshman year soundtrack was of The Virgins self titled album and my Sophomore year has been just like their "Strike Gently" album and now what's going to become of my junior

and senior years? 

Hopefully I'll find another band who can replace this virgins sized hole in my heart. :(

(except I doubt that that will ever happen because The Virgins just get me, man)

But, with that being said.
I love you, lovlies.

Cherish your bands... while you still have them

xoxo,

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)

From Raliegh, With Love.

(photo cred - sarah squared *caplan and bourlakas*)

(outfit from second and third pictures - dress: thrifted docs: thrifted)

(outfit from first and fourth pictures - in a previous blog entry here)

Hi lovelies,

I'm extremely missing those amazing four days I stayed in Raliegh with some of the coolest people ever...

There was just something about that trip

that was like magical or something

We were just being teenagers.

Not how it is usually with angst and stress

But we were REAL teenagers for four days, 

the kind like in the movies y'know?

Not caring about assignments, or boys, or grades. 

Just roaming the streets of the city enjoying eachother's 
company and getting lost and not even caring 
that we had no idea where the hell we were.

We were a group of degenerate beauty queens

we were carefree

and nothing at all really mattered

we were living the dream

I should stop, nostalgia is for geeks as Gaga says.

Anyways the bottom line is, Raliegh was a rad trip and I miss it... a lot.

love you all, 

xoxo,

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)

10 Fashion-ish Movies/ TV Shows to Watch

(photo cred - google images)

Hey guys, How was your Thanksgiving?
Well, I know that when I'm on Thanksgiving Break I always spend the Friday sleeping and feeling stuffed and content. But it's not much fun to just sit in your bed all break. I've made a list of ten rad movies and/or shows to watch while you're chilling out and enjoying your break... here's the list.

(They're also some of my all-time favorites -- and new favorites as well)

1. The Carrie Diaries - This is my favorite show right now, as a huge fan of Carrie Bradshaw, this shows what she was like as one of us... a stylish teenager with big hair and big boy problems.

2. Clueless - Okay, there is nobody who can understand my love for this movie, I mean it's seriously the best

3. The Devil Wears Prada - Kind of a classic nowadays, right? 

4. Jane by Design - This was a show that is now discontinued, but it was on ABC family and it was perfect ahh, I miss it. 

5. John Hughes Movies (Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off & Sixteen Candles) - You can forreal never ever go wrong with John Hughes movies -- Plus a Molly Ringwald mini marathon is never ever a bad thing.

6. Ru Paul's Drag Race - Everybody loves Ru Paul and you can seriously never ever go wrong with this

7. Heathers - Because Winona Ryder's outfits are exremely rad and I have a huuuge crush on JD (Did I mention that I wrote a mini-paper on him, classifying him as my favorite psychopath?)

8.  The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Because Emma Watson's outfits in that are extremely adorable, plus it's a really good adaptation of the book (but the books are always better in my opinon)

9. Sex and The City - I mean come on, it's the best.

10. The Great Gatsby - As much as I love Fitzgerald's writing (I really don't) -- The costuming in this movie is absolutely phenomenal I mean seriously the dresses and headpieces and everything is just stunning.

Bonus #11 -  Factory Girl -- It's about Edie Sedwick's relationships with Andy Warhol... It's just a really cool movie
Okay Extra Bonus - If you haven't watched it already, you need to watch Freaks and Geeks... it's not fashion-ey but it is seriously one of the best shows ever... and it features a young James Franco as the hot bad boy... hmmm....

Well, that's it, enjoy them!!

xoxo, 

gossip girl

(jk it's alijah)