This past Friday, October 13th! I hosted a little girls night in for me and my best friend. And I went all out! [Check out my Fall Haul] I was in need of some serious festive fun to get me out of my funk.
This is my table scheme.
Tablecloth, Pumpkin Sign, Small Pumkin: Rite Aid (50% off)
Sparkly Leaves: Christmas Tree Shop
Candle: Bath & Body Works
Banner, Pumpkin Plates/Napkins & Leaf bouquet: Local 99 cents store
*All treats were found in my local supermarket.
I just made some labels to put onto my clear cups. I just wanted to dress them up! 😀
I got some apple treats to break off the pumpkin flavors. Just in case we wanted a little something different. I also got Pistachio Almond Ice Cream because it just spoke Fall Vibes to me.
I also set up a Mini Bar:
My best friend also brought a bunch of delicious treats too- two bags of boom-chicka-bop, brownie brittle, party cake ice cream, pumpkin pop-ems, and a bottle of sangria with some frozen fruit. Needless to say we pigged out and everything was delicious! My favorites has to be the Apple Cider and the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.
For dinner we kept it simple and ordered some pizza!
We continued our girls night in with an old school sleep over like when we were kids, we still do that every now and then, because sometimes you just need to pig out, stay up late talking about all life’s dramas, and watch some rom coms on Netflix with your best friend! The next morning we made a mean breakfast and watched two Netflix movies. (It was a double feature.) 😉
We kind of went with an unintentional Christmas theme…
First up- The Christmas Spirit
Next- Holiday Breakup (The guy low key looks like Nick Jonas!)
And can I just say OMG! Each one started off pretty rocky, we wanted to change them both within the first 10 minutes, but I’m so glad we stuck it out. They definitely have that Hallmark movie feel to them…but sexier. Lol. Although looking them up now, I feel like they may be Hallmark movies, or maybe other people on YouTube are just as confused as me! Haha. They were both really good, and we just had a blast watching the hot guy in The Christmas Spirit and laughing at the Girl in Holiday Breakup, she was hysterical. What an epic best friends Girls Night In. And in turn I got my fall spirit back!
Let me know how you get into the fall spirit, and if you ever hosted a Fall inspired party!
There are often so many areas of life we feel we need to be good at all the time. And often times we struggle trying to make that happen. It’s impossible. You can do anything but not everything. You can be anything, but you can’t be everything, to everyone, all the time. If you try to, you will break.
As the summer comes to an end, the self-bashing comes for not doing half of the things I wanted to. Summer is kind of like New Year’s Eve in that way, don’t you think? We make so many promises to ourselves and then life happens.
I’ve been really thinking about my relationship with video and film making. And because of this, I’ve learned a few things. I wanted to get really real with myself about this topic. To back track just a bit, I have a Bachelor of Arts degree. I studied Mass Communications with a concentration in Film and Broadcasting. The dream-the goal- to write for television. And yet when I look at all the video projects I’ve actually finished…the total number is not many. Many unfinished scripts/ideas for scripts collecting dust too!
Back in college, I had to do a few projects- one was a music video which I did for The Civil War’s Poison & Wine and the other was a concept video which was about throwing away stereotypes- it was very abstract and I titled it “Tearing Down The Label Makers.” It’s crazy because I feel like the message holds even more relevance today. Then I worked on my thesis which as you may know was a documentary about a day/or days in the life of my Grandmother who had been struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. I did two versions of that for two separate classes- one was the full version, and one was an abridged trailer version entitledVai Com Deus.
“Poison & Wine” Video Shoot-
“Tearing Down The Label Makers” Video Shoot-
Neither the music video nor the concept video have been uploaded to YouTube, although considering these two were my very first video projects I am still very proud of how they came out and the messages behind them. I’m seriously considering sharing them. Providing the actors give their permission for me to do so, actually I’m pretty sure I had them all sign release forms!
During my college years I also attempted to shoot a script I wrote called Dumb Luck. A lot of time and production went into that but, it never got finished and the footage has been difficult to revive since my college computer died on me and I’ve gotten a new one. I am hoping to revive that and get that up, it’s super raw, and you can definitely tell I was just starting out but the story is juicy. We only got to shoot the montage sequence. But a few years ago I shared the script, if you’d like to read that…click HERE.
“Dumb Luck” Prop Pictures
“Vai Com Deus” process-
Since I graduated I’ve done a few little side projects that are actually finished- I shot a yoga video for my cousin, a poetry video for MLW- to name a few and a couple of vlogs. The vlogs are less planned and less cinematic of course.
Yoga Video Shoot (Behind the Scenes) (this is not available to watch, even though she was happy with the result-the video was for a school assignment and my cousin didn’t want it uploaded.)
“Secret” Society Video Shoot/Vlogs (Behind the Scenes)
Then there are more video attempts- there are bits of footage shot for a zombie horror short that my brother and I had been working on. We even got as far as building a timeline of the clips in editing, but then…life. Life came in, things got busy, I got distracted and something else needed my attention.
“Inhumane” process- (Behind the Scenes)
Its 4 years now since I graduated and it seems that every time I get close to the idea of shooting something- I may do well for a brief time but then cue the rut.
The other day I was going through some old paperwork and things, trying to organize my room and I came across some old scripts and video treatments/storyboards. Both were horror related. One was the zombie short titled Inhumane, the other titled Head Over Heels (which I think would be a bad ass Halloween upload). And when I see these scripts and how the planning process was beginning it makes me want to get back into video. But then I hit a wall and the reality sinks in. There’s just no realistic way. For the past-I want to say 2 years- I have been well involved/invested in the engagements, weddings, bridal/baby showers of many people that are very close to me. And I have had to really dedicate my time and my funds to them. When I think about doing something short/simple- I think how I don’t have the actors, or the equipment, to do so.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, my brother is a photographer and he has a lot of equipment that I’ve used in the past. But I’m very weird about using it, mostly because he’s very particular about it, lol. And I get nervous I’ll do something wrong! And so because of that I am very weird about asking him for help. I feel like it’s a burden, especially now that he is newly married and he and his wife are expecting their first child. Even though he has been hounding me to get back into shooting Inhumane, I know he simply doesn’t have the time, we don’t have the people, and quite honestly there are just so many other things I’d love to shoot instead. #HeadOverHeels #MysteriousAttractionTeaser
I also don’t have the best sound equipment or the best editing software either so it’s kind of like a million things weighing against me. I think about how people would perceive the work I put out. “Didn’t she go to school for film and video? This sucks!” That’s how I feel they would judge it. Along with all the other worries, I fear I may not be good enough at it.
I know this may seem like I’m complaining and I’m not. I don’t want pity. I understand that life is fast paced and ever changing. I love being asked to be part of special moments in people’s lives. People who mean the world to me. But sometimes when everything seems to happen all at once it can be very overwhelming. And we all know that I can get overwhelmed pretty easily and my anxiety definitely tends to spike a lot more when too much change is happening.
I just think that in life you often have to prioritize and these things in my life have been coming one after the other and they need special attention. I’m the type of person who really wants to show up for you on your special day/during your special time. My relationships with my family and friends are everything to me. And so I give 150% every time. (Or at least I really try too!)
With my bank accountant taking some serious hits over the past few years, lol-so has my time management skills. I can multi task…sure…just ask my computer- I can have 8 different tabs open at once and hit all of them. But I can’t say with absolute confidence that I can multi task well all the time. I just end up overwhelming myself and needing to narrow things down. Focus on one thing at a time. Rightfully so…no? I mean how much wedding/baby events/day to day responsibilities can one girl take at once? Ya know? It’s a lot. But thankfully, thank god it’s mostly beautiful, happy stuff, all deserving of celebration. I will always be grateful for that.
Needless to say I know there are ways around this funk I’ve created for myself. I know that fear of inadequacy, lack of funds and time are a huge part of why video has taken a back seat. But I want to try and make some solutions to these problems.
Dear Michelle,
ACTORS– ask people I know/ research sites that can help find actors willing to participate for low funds or pizza! Haha. Asking people you know, can be difficult, it doesn’t always work out. My film and video professor used to always tell us to have a plan B because people aren’t always reliable and it can break your heart when a project falls through the cracks. This I know first hand. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked family or friends to be apart of shorts and they cancelled on me because of work or life in general got in the way. It happens, I get it. But creatively, it’s heart breaking. Another thing to consider when filming is to keep the shorts abstract- quick cuts- simple images-
Avant Garde it- experimental film, experimental cinema- a mode of filmmaking that rigorously re-evaluates cinematic conventions and explores non-narrative forms and alternatives to traditional narratives or methods of working.
TIME– make time- plain and simple. Plan it out, and stick to a schedule.
SPACE/LOCATION– keep it local, go where you know- use people’s homes, lol.
FUNDS– keep things simple/super low budget- use house hold items.
EQUIPMENT– use equipment you have, or ask to borrow equipment in advance.
EDITING SOFTWARE– use what you have and make it work.
FEAR– “Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.” -A Cinderella Story. Your never going to not be fearful of new challenges. You just have to decide how bad you want it, and be brave enough to just do it, to hell with what people think!
When you’re just starting out, or easing back into something Don’t Expect Perfection! If things are a little janky, it’s ok, it’s better to shoot footage than not try at all. And Vlogs do count. I’ve noticed I like vlogging when I have some cool things to do, I just have to get better at the editing turn around. Mini Vlogmas is still only partially edited. As is the Gender Reveal Party Vlog for my brother and sister in law and a Family Trip Vlog to Great Wolf Lodge we took last Summer. I also shot a bunch of footage of a Polar Express Trip and my best friend’s engagement night. Really got to get back to editing!!!!
*Current Update– Since I last scheduled this post (which was a while ago back in the Summer when I was what I like to call bulk blogging) I have edited my butt off and have finished editing Vlogmas, The Gender Reveal, The Great Wolf Lodge Trip and The Engagement. I however am torn as to whether or not I should post them on YouTube/link them on this blog. I know have alluded to the fact that I would post them, I’ve mentioned it in many blog posts [including the Vlogmas announcement], however I am not the only person in them and I don’t know if others would appreciate their images being out on the internet. I know- why announce Vlogmas, take forever to edit them, and then never post them. The truth is I did do a small Vlogmas, and I did edit them, but I don’t feel 100% comfortable sharing videos of my family. I may just keep them as home movies for me, and my friends and family. But I am excited that I got so many of them done. That’s a win for me!
When things start to settle down on the wedding/baby front, I will start to save up for some new equipment. In the mean time, I just have to do it. Pick up the camera I do have and shoot something. Stop worrying about how crappy it might turn out and just dive in. I know I’ll feel better once I do. And the excitement and natural high of doing something I love will come back. I just need to do and stop second guessing, stop making excuses and just use the time I do have for myself wisely.
The reason for this long winded post is because I needed it. Sometimes you need to reflect on all the ways you let life pass you by in order to make you realize that you need to try a little harder to make your dreams come true. Be a bulldozer – and plow through the writer’s block, through the lack of inspiration, through the Summer Blues, through the funk that I’ve been in, and just go for it!
So here’s hoping to change my mind set! Wish me luck. No Scratch that- Wish me determination!
Last weekend we celebrated my best friend’s bachelorette party.
I have been planning it as far back as December, which was when I asked her for a guest list and contact information.
This is my first go at being a maid of honor and planning a bachelorette party, so I definitely learned a lot throughout the process.
I’m not saying that I am perfect, far from it! But I love party planning and I just thought I’d share some things I did or things I learned.
For starters before getting on the phone and booking things, I sat and had a chat with the bride to be, about what she wanted to do and how she wanted her night to be celebrated.
Once you have that information you can bounce around ideas with her bridesmaids and come up with some cool spots.
I suggest getting both email and phone contact information, because I found e-mail isn’t always most efficient. It’s going out of style.
I definitely think once you know your date, sending a save the date text, (or you can use evite like I did) just to put the word out there and let them know what’s being planned. Invites and Itineraries can be sent out closer to the date.
When I had a plan in mind, I began my research of locations that would compile all the aspects of what my friend wanted. She wanted to do a little pampering, dinner, drinks, and dancing.
We had a few underage girls, so what we decided to do was include some day time and night time activities, in order to include everyone.
We started the day at a local spa for some Mani/Pedi’s, and then had brunch at a nearby place. (literally a few doors away from each other…super convenient.)
Choice of mimosa, water, or tea
Pedicures with the bride to be…these neck pillows were lovely. Warm and smelt of Eucalyptus.
Manicures!
Cheers! 2 Peach Bellini’s and 2 Pomegranate Sangrias!
I got the Paradise Salad!
We then separated, some went to get their hair done, some got ready at home.
We met up at my friend’s house later to do a little Bachelorette Party stuff and have some drinks and snacks, before heading to the city for dinner and dancing.
Ignore the date, it’s wrong, lol.
I thought these drink markers were super cute!
The place we chose was this Mexican restaurant and dance lounge and was really such a steal. Ladies entered for free! The food was delicious, we got a free bottle of champagne, and they gave out glow necklaces. What more could you ask for?
^ I ordered the Crispy Boneless Chicken with a glass of Peach Sangria and the Fudge Brownie Sundae for dessert.They had a mariachi band walking around playing music too! Haha.So good!
Once done with dinner you could go either upstairs or downstairs to dance, one level was Latin music, the other mixed with the usual radio hits. And it was such a fun, all inclusive place. You know us girls in heels were grateful for that.
Also it was super convenient that they had a coat check too, because it’s still chilly at night and I knew we’d need our coats so I called ahead to be sure we’d have somewhere to put them.
Tips I picked up on:
*Carry less cash on you and your credit card.
*Use a cross body purse. #HandsFree
*If you are drinking- do NOT mix!
*Someone should always be the responsible one, I kind of played the mom role, I made sure everyone was always accounted for and safe. We are all pretty responsible any way.
*Do not go to the bathroom alone if it’s far from your group.
*Do not leave your drink unattended or take drinks from strangers.
*CHARGE YOUR PHONE- make sure it’s full battery before you leave for a long night. Luckily my friend also carries her portable charger too.
*Do not travel alone- pay the extra cash and carpool it home. (make plans with a travel buddy beforehand.) I have at least 2 car service numbers in my phone and you can usually catch a taxi in the city-but one of the girls actually had Lyft which was super convenient they came within 3 minutes.
*If you HAVE to travel home alone, drink responsibly and check in with that friend at night, make sure they got home safe.
BUY THE ACCESSORIES!
Even if your bride tells you not too, do it anyway! The pictures will thank you! My friend was all about her tiara, she left it on all night!
Items were bought online through party city & amazon.
Although planning these types of things can become stressful, remember who you are doing it for, and why. While I was planning this, a friend told me- “You can’t please everybody.” And it’s so true. So don’t try to.
We all had a great, safe, healthy, fun time! I think it’ll be a night we’ll never forget! ❤
(These are like 10 years old, they were shot after tonight, and I had to throw them out! #WellLivedIn)
This outfit was a total steal! I was on a mission to find something both funky and elegant for my best friend’s engagement party. I looked and looked and was coming up empty for a while.
But then I saw this beautiful black and gold dress and I was excited about wearing one of my favorite color combinations.
After I decided on the dress, I thought it would be fun to funk this outfit up with a big furry jacket or sweater of some sort and that’s when I saw that leopard coat. I have been wanting something like this forever, but everything has been so expensive! But this Steve Madden Leopard Coat was $99.99, and was 70% off and ended up being $30. The dress was $30, too! So I left that store quite the happy camper!
I kept my makeup pretty neutral with browns and golds and a nude/pink lip. My nails were painted a matte gold and I added some pearl earrings and a pearl bracelet. The design on the dress was so stunning, I didn’t think I needed a necklace. As for rings I wore a simple black and gold onyx ring on one hand, and a big gold and crystal rock on the other. Rings are always my favorite!
In other news my best friend asked me for some ideas for the party and after some Pinterest and google research I decided on these ideas and thought I’d share how they came out, (via her suggestion, haha.) “You should blog about these!” Love you girl!
Date Night Ideas Jar & Advice Jar, and Guess how many kisses are in the jar?
My love formason jars and twine is real guys!
And to top it all off, my best friend asked me to be her maid of honor…and I CANNOT WAIT!
My girl knows my mug obsession is real!
Move over Marilyn Monroe, there’s a new fashion icon in town. Love you girl, I can’t wait to be by your side throughout this whole thing! It’s truly and honor. #SoulSistas
What a beautiful party to celebrate the reuniting of two beautiful souls. I am so incredibly happy for you both! We had a great time. #ThatSpanishMusicTho 😉
Gilmore Girls is a show that I have always had a special place in my heart for. I loved their fast talking, coffee loving, and their silly anecdotes. But most of all- the love stories.
Dean? Jess? Logan?
The ever begging question.
I have a love for each guy, but #TEAMJESS forever and always.
And then there’s the constant on and off of the Luke and Lorelai saga.
Will they? Won’t they? Will Christopher come between them?
Damn I did love Christopher though.
The circular story never ends. Or does it?
So you can only imagine that from the minute Netflix announced the Gilmore Girls Revival, I was losing my mind thinking about the epic viewing party I wanted to throw for all my Gilmore loving girls.
Needless to say time and life gets away from us a bit and I found myself searching for a free time to host just that.
I couldn’t let too much time pass without watching, because well…#Internet #Spoilers
So I was in the process of planning a bit and I actually ended up having an impromptu viewing. I scrambled a bit, but I think I did pretty good.
Let me know what you think, my fellow Gilmore fans…
We all know Lorelai has a special relationship with snow, so I paired our beloved Stars Hollow welcome sign (that I found online and printed out) with some sparkly blue and silver snowflakes and hung them on my door.
“I smell snow.”
The focal point of every kitchen is the table and here is where the party is at. I made these two little banners, that spell out the first few lines of the theme song. A theme song that I have grown to love so much. Every time I hear it I have to sing along and it brings me such joy. Accompanying those banners are a few of my favorite Gilmore girl quotes.
All of these are from one of my very favorite food centric episodes, the thanksgiving episode- A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving.
On the table are some things that just remind us of the fond memories, we’ve shared with our Gilmores.
We all know how much our girls love food, and how they would have the most epic movie nights with sweet treats and pizza or Chinese food, or both.
So I pulled some inspiration-candy, pop tarts, popcorn & pizza.
I put the candy and popcorn into little Chinese food containers and found an Al’s pancake world logo online. Al’s was a staple for the girls, they would order their Chinese food from there all the time. #WeirdIKnow
In one corner of the table, I set up a little ode to Lane’s band- Hep Alien. Lane was such a great friend to Rory and she was such a funky, interesting part of the show…and she loved music just like I do! So I pulled some images together to create a band flyer and set some of my favorite CDs out next to it-calling it- Lane Kim’s Kickass Music Collection.
I also found the Yale Daily News logo online and taped that to a local newspaper and set that on the edge of the table to represent Rory’s college years.
I also printed out the school flag and a Richard Gilmore memorial. I added the words “Pillar of Strength” because that’s how Rory describes her grandparents in her speech as Valedictorian at her Chilton graduation, she calls them her Twin Pillars.
Next up we have some movies that we’ve heard the girls speak fondly about- Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Casablanca.
While behind them you see an ode to one of my most favorite characters-Sookie the chef of the beloved Dragon Fly Inn.
In the center is a map of Stars Hollow that I found online, I loved it because it shows all the quirky places we’ve grown to love in this small town. Like Doose’s Market, and Gypsy’s.
Now moving away from the table…I couldn’t host a Gilmore Girls Viewing without a coffee station at Luke’s Diner…could I? I just gathered some mugs and made some coffee, and posted some coffee inspired Lorelai quotes and a Luke’s sign…and Viola! It’s a Gilmore Girls Party! Shhh don’t tell them it was decaf. 😉
And last but not least….
We had to.
And Flannels for Luke.
United Front. #TeamJess
So there you have it…my Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life- Viewing Party
Gilmore Girls is such a special show. So full of heart and friendly memories. I knew I couldn’t watch it without my best friends.
Ok and now OPINION TIME-SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you really think I wasn’t going to comment on what I thought… 😉
I freaked out a bit. It was like living in an alternate universe. I was so excited to see them on my screen again. Our favorite girls. Talking in perfectly crafted circles.
It was weird. Everyone being older and slightly out of character at first, but I enjoyed it so much. I was hooked, I had to keep watching. Yes, I binged. I had little control. I loved how the town came back to life. I loved how we saw EVERYONE-each of Rory’s exes, Gypsy, Kirk, Christopher, Lane, Hemp Alien, Mrs. Kim, Babette, Taylor, Miss Patty, Sookie, Jackson, Michele, Paris, Doyle, Francine, Head Master Charleston, “Tristan” (Um where’s Chad Michael Murray these days?) Colin, Finn, Steve, Luke’s daughter April- the list is endless.
I loved the 4 mini movie, set in each season. That was such a beautiful concept. I loved that Rory and Lorelai are still close. I loved that Luke and Lorelai are still going strong. I loved how they handled Richard’s death. Emily was a force to be reckoned with, a powerhouse. I loved that she got drunk and told off those DAR snobs. #BULLSHIT
Thank you Netflix, for allowing Emily Gilmore to say the word Bullshit several times.
I loved that Lorelai still wore the funkiest clothing and that Luke and Lorelai finally got married.
I loved every single Jess moment. I love that he always happens to be the only guy who really knows where Rory’s heart lies. I love how he is the one to tell her to write a book-about her relationship with her mom. I love that he’s still pining for her….you saw that look….did you see that longing stare???? So damn good.
I love Rory’s good bye moment with Dean. I truly love what she said. Because he deserves so much. He really does. He was so good to her. Always. And although I have always been a Jess supporter I really can say something nice about any of the three guys. Rory got lucky.
Logan is sexy as hell in this revival. I always thought he was charming, in that rich guy riding on a big white horse kinda way. You can see how much he really does love her, he’s always there to save her. And he’s always there to be her shoulder and her friend. And he stills calls her Ace…..I died.
Needless to say…still Team Jess.
What I found slightly odd was Rory’s nomadic existence. No permanent housing address. Sleeping and sneaking around with Logan even though he’s engaged to another woman. Didn’t he ask you to marry him and you said…oh that’s right you said no! Keeping things from her mom. Bouncing around from job to job. She seems lost and she’s already in her 30’s.
On the one hand I thought that she was kind of unlikeable. I didn’t get it. I was very confused. I felt like it was severely out of character for someone like Rory. She had seemed like she had become this horrible person, who didn’t care about people. And Rory Gilmore always cared about people.
So imagine my surprise. And the whole time, I just kept saying this girl is pregnant. Although….I didn’t think they’d actually go there.
Lorelai seemed a little lost too. Her relationship with Luke seemed stagnant and the Dragon Fly was kind of at it’s peek-Sookie had left, and now Michele was next. She lost her dad and her mother was losing herself. So many uncertainties. Then she decided to see if Luke would like to start over and have a baby. Holy Jeez! Her/His sibling would be 32! Like what? It becomes so much that Lorelai decides to go on a hiking trip. That’s right she tries to rough it. Our Lorelai on a HIKING TRIP. Oh man shit got real.
So many weird things happened in the revival that made me question whether or not it was going to satisfy my expectations. Gilmore Girls has such a legacy. Was this the show I always knew and loved?
But after I thought about it, I realized all of this…everything makes sense. Rory and Lorelai have always been spiritually linked. So as Rory hits a point in her life of uncertainty so does her mom. Age doesn’t matter here. It’s life. We all struggle, we all question our next move, we all feel the burden. Lorelai had always been a free quirky spirit so it makes sense. Rory had been trying to be perfect for so long that it was bound to catch up with her. And if you remember correctly there was that whole rebel Rory phase-Quitting Yale, Sleeping with Dean while he was separated/not separated from his wife. So yea, she’s had this inner vixen in her. I don’t think we should hate on her that much. Because in the end….the real Rory Gilmore eventually does stand up.
Now lets talk about those last four words….oh my damn…..
“Mom?”
“Yea?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Rory confessions to her mother just before the credits pop up and the screen goes black and Netflix suggests a new show for me to watch. #StrangerThings #HeyHowAreYa
Holy crap. Did they really just go there.
Sure it was expected. Sure I called it within the first few minutes. But somehow I was still so shocked.
Who’s baby is it?
Logan’s. It has to be Logan’s right? Or is it One Night Stand Wookie’s?
Or in some miraculous way she and Jess had a few go’s and it’s his? #ThatLongingStare
In my opinion it looks like Logan’s. It makes sense. It’s full circle. Just like Lorelai says to Emily during one of their massive fights.
Lorelai and Rory are kindred spirits.
No matter how different they may appear at times, and how reserved you may think Rory is, she is Lorelai’s daughter and she has spunk.
Lorelai had her Christopher and her Luke.
Rory now has her Logan and her Jess.
Logan is Rory’s Christopher, the wealthy guy that can breeze in at a moment’s notice and take her on adventures and save her financially. He knows her, and is there for her always.
Jess in Rory’s Luke, the hometown vagabond that was thought of as not good enough and who has been pining over her for years. He knows her in a way no one else really does, and he loves her so much. Not to mention he’s Luke’s nephew and he’s already part of the family. #NoItsNotIncest
Some people may argue this whole theory but that’s how I see it.
And as Amy Sherman Palladio has said in interviews, this is how she always envisioned the series ending. With Rory telling her mother she was pregnant.
There could be a fight made saying that we don’t need to see what’s going to happen, because we’ve already seen it play out with Luke and Lorelai. Rory will be pregnant with Logan’s baby, but will end up with Jess who will eventually help raise her child-who I can’t help seeing not being a girl. It has to be a girl.
However, I’m sorry I don’t buy that shit, the way that revival went down, the crazy twists and turns, that baby could be anyone’s. In fact there is a crazy theory that Rory is acting as Lorelai’s surrogate, so that she can have a baby with Luke. HOW CRAZY WOULD THAT BE!!!! Needless to say I am not down with this being the ending for good.
I think I need to see more. There has to be more. The story is not over. No matter how parallel Rory and Lorelai’s experiences may be, I still think they are individuals and they handle things differently. That “History repeats itself” crap can keep moving right along, because there’s more story there. If Rory has Logan’s baby but ends up with Jess, I want to see that. I want to see it all. So can we get a Season 2. Because I think we need one. There’s far too much to still tell. And maybe next time….bring back my theme song….I missed it!
If you haven’t watched Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. It’s first season is streaming now on Netflix…
****LETTERS OF LOVE & FRUSTRATION-The Walking Dead Edition****
Dear Glenn,
You were a leader, a loyal man of honor. You took whatever came your way and handled your business like a boss, but with an odd heir of grace in a rather grace-less world. You were our heart, our family. And the thought that you will never crack a joke, kiss Maggie, or meet your baby, well it just breaks my heart to pieces.
Glenn- from your first words, “Hey Dumbass” to your last “Maggie…I’ll find you.”- I have never not loved you, believed in you, or trusted you. Unfortunately you were the heart and moral compass of the show that got taken away from us this season and in the very first episode of the season, none the less. You will be greatly missed, there aren’t words to explain just how much. Maggie will never be the same without you, and The Walking Dead will never be the same without you.
You truly were one of my favorites and this to date (and forever) will be one of the most felt Walking Dead deaths ever. I think you deserved better, I think you had more story to tell. I think you would have made an amazing dad. Forever and always, your loyalty, heart, fearlessness, bravery, friendship, love and kindness, will be with us. We love you, we’ll miss you, and….we’ll find you. This isn’t goodbye it’s see you later.
RIP GLENN Love you, forever. ❤ #Family
Dear Steven Yeun,
I hope you know how much we love you. How deeply your portrayal of Glenn as impacted millions of us. I already miss seeing you on my tv screen every Sunday night. And I wish you the best of luck on future projects. Can’t wait to follow your career. But to me, you’ll always be my Glenn.
Dear Abraham,
Thank you for rocking the trendiest mustache ever, for being a sassy ginger, for having the best southern accent, and for- my favorite of all- thank you for the countless hysterical zingers. You brought a little laughter to a very dark world, and we will miss your leadership, and your safe soul.
Dear Michael Cudlitz,
Thank you for being your bad-ass self and for honoring your fans to the very end of your Abraham journey. The next show or film to get you, is very lucky. I’ll be watching for you. 😀
Dear Maggie/Lauren Cohan,
You got this. We got you. Hand in hand we walk.
Dear Scott Gimple and Robert Kirkman,
A little something comes to mind…oh yea that’s right…
Dear Daryl,
I love you, I love your southern slang & twang, your ability to own any situation, your worldly training and variety of skills, your fashion sense ;), your tough guy exterior and most of all your big ole heart of gold. The guilt of causing Glenn’s death will probably get you killed this season, but I hope you kick some serious ass before you go. (Please don’t go!)
Here are some images from my Walking Dead Season 7 premiere party…you know before my heart was ripped out of my chest.
This table scape is also perfect for Halloween!
This is a chocolate two layered cake with butter cream frosting and crushed Oreos in the center, surrounded by crumbled Oreos again and gummy worms, topped with a raspberry/jello/cool whip concoction as the “brain.” It looks kinda like a heart. #SorryNotSorry Lol.
I used red “fruit punch” flavored Gatorade for the Walker Blood and Lollipops for the Walker Claws. (my brother found them at the dollar tree they are originally called zombie fingers!)
Death Predictions :*/
Seconds before watching the premiere…
DISCLAIMER:
I’m going to be posting quite a few things about The Walking Dead this weekend, my usually scheduled Monday post, was a no go. It was just too soon for me to fully write up and process all that I had to say. I tried, but it wasn’t ready. I will fill out the rest of this week with new posts. I need to get them all written and ready and then I will post accordingly. I need to get it all out, by week’s end, because then I can hopefully start to heal and move on. This is my venting. I hope you understand, fan to fan. 😀 If you aren’t a Walking Dead fan or you disagree with my thoughts, come back soon for a different vibe. Right now this is my RIOT time. xoxo
*I do not take credit for any images/gifs used is the first portion of the post.*
This past weekend I had my cousin’s 15th birthday party. Every year they host a big memorial day weekend BBQ filled with good food, and good company. It is one of my favorite family traditions.
The theme was Hawaiian Luau and you know I was all about that theme life. #IfThereIsAThemeIKnowAboutIt
Here’s my look-
OUTFIT & ACCESSORIES:
*For this Hawaiian inspired look, I based the colors I wore, off of the flower crown (and sunflower ring) I had made a few years ago. Yellow & Orange were my basis. Believe it or not I had all of this in my wardrobe and didn’t need to spend a dime.
I wore this burgundy sun dress with orange design on it. The dress is a bit low cut, so under that I wore a peachy pink tank to match the dress design. Over the dress I wore a orange sleeveless button up and buttoned it half way, tying it at the waist, to create a top and skirt look. #HulaGirlStyle. Then, lastly I paired it with some tan sandals.
I accessorized with my flower crown, sunflower ring, a yellow party lei I had, a white dangly shell bracelet and pineapple earrings. As my sister in law and friend Lauren said “Why wouldn’t YOU have pineapple earrings.” haha It’s true I’m weird, and I actually have strawberry earrings too! 😉
MAKEUP & HAIR:
*For my hair I basically, again, used the same curling products, however, the night before I had actually braided my hair so that when I took it out the next day, it would leave me with some beachy waves. I kept it in all morning and while I did my makeup and then took it down added my products and some water and scrunched it- and there you go beachy hair. I had it down but swept it up in a messy beachy bun when it got hot out.
For makeup I was basically just going for a bright fresh faced look. Peachy pink blush and lips and a mix of bright white and pink eye shadows. A little bronzer went a long way for some sun kissed skin in this look too and just like that, I was Luau ready.
As promised more embarrassing acts of my teenage self.
Long story short, this is me trying to pull a “My Super Sweet 16” circa MTV style and get a celebrity appearance at my 16th birthday party. (um FYI this is from 8 years ago and now I feel ancient.)
In this letter, I really crack myself up, who did I think I was….haha.
This is back when fanmail was a thing, before the days of twitter.
Dear Bethany Joy Lenz-Galeotti,
(now currently back to Lenz)
First of all let me start off by saying hi, I’m Michelle DeSantos and I love One Tree Hill. In fact it’s my all-time favorite show. I love your character Haley, in fact my friends and I call each other oth names and I’m Haley because I’m so similar to her. I mean I can’t sing quite so amazingly as you and I’m not a married 16 year old but we have a lot of the same qualities. Anyway I love the whole Haley and Nathan relationship, it’s so sweet and you guys are so good together. I love James he’s an amazing actor and I think he’s really grown from season 1 as did you. However as far as all the women on the show you are my favorite, I just admire you so much. You are truly my idol. You are beautiful, smart, and amazingly talented. The main reason I’m writing however is because, my sixteenth birthday is coming up in March, the 26th actually. I was just wondering if you could possibly come and perform a song or two. I understand if you can’t, I mean I know I’m asking a lot and I know that you’re a busy woman but it’s just that it killed me to miss the oth tour and if you came it would be the ultimate icing on, my cake. It would be an honor to have you share in my birthday experience with me. Also if any of your oth co-stars can attend that would be so COOL! Pass it on, especially James I LOVE HIM!!!!
Thank you for your time,
God bless,
Love,
Michelle DeSantos ❤
P.S. the actual invitation with all the details is attached.
(haha I was so fancy!) I really laid the compliments on thick, huh? #flatterywillgetyoueverywhere 😉
*2015 Update: I still adore this woman! She still inspires me, and cracks me up!
I had the DJ play the oth theme song “I Don’t Wanna Be”- By Gavin Degraw on a loop throughout my candle lightings. Here I’m lighting a candle dedicated to my oldest friends and my dais girls.
I’m pretty sure I never sent this letter and my present self thanks my past self for that. #embarrasing16yearold #sorrybethanyjoy #ILied #sorrynotsorry #ImAFanGirlForLife
Hey Bethany maybe we can meet up one day, and do brunch? Isn’t that what all the cool kids are doing nowadays? haha 😉
What would that look like… #crappyedits
#besties 😉
I mean let’s not forget this DID happen, and I DID freak out!
My goddaughter’s 2nd birthday was in May and since we have two other babies in the family who were also turning two, my family did one big party for all 3 little kiddies. It was a farm themed party! Now if you follow along with my blog regularly, I’m sure you’ve seen me post things about the parties I host. And you also know I love a good theme. I LOVE to dress up to match the themes, so I was all in for this farm themed party.
Here’s how I transformed into a farm-girl/cowgirl. Hair, Makeup, Outfit & Accessories. ❤ (via crappy cellphone pictures as per usual.) 😉
Howdy Partners 😉
HAIR:
I washed my hair the night before, and left it in a bun with some product in it overnight; just some mousse and hairspray. This was just so that I would wake up with some body to my hair. In the morning I just parted my hair to the side in the front, and down the center in the back, and braided my hair into pigtails. I like to use two hair ties per braid, one for the top of the braid and one for the bottom, I just think it was a cleaner look, and held my braids in all day, due to my thin hair. But to each their own. This was super simple, and in my opinion a signature farm girl inspired hair look. To make the look at little sweeter, I just pulled out some pieces like my bangs and curled them to frame my face. Add some hairspray and you are done.
MAKEUP:
For my makeup, I kept things pretty simple. The eyes are just a mixture of golds and browns. I like to use whites to brighten up the under eyes, the inner corners, and the eyebrow bone. Add some mascara, and fill in those eyebrows. My lipstick was just some light pink lipstick and some pink gloss, that I dabbed on with my fingers to make look more natural. To make this look really pop, add some bronzer and some blush. This creates a really pretty glow, and it almost makes you look like you’ve been kissed by the sun as you work hard on your farm related chores. 😉
OUTFIT/ACCESSORIES:
A plaid shirt, I opted for a sleeveless one, since the party was in June. And I went for one with blues and reds. For some reason that’s what comes to mind when I think of a farm girl; milking cows and feeding hens on the farm. I paired that with some knit blue jeans that I cuffed up a few times at the ankles. Now I couldn’t find any cowgirl boots, so I opted for these toms look-a-likes; in a kaki green color. My accessories included a big tan snakeskin belt, a red handkerchief tied to my belt hoop, and of course the key to pulling this look off; a tan cowgirl hat.
As for jewelry I kept it simple, with home wooden hued and turquoise pieces. My earrings were just some wooden oval-shaped hanging earrings. My necklace is just this brown and gold-colored medallion on a brown felt chain. And I had on some simple brown, and black rope friendship-esque bracelets along with some bangles and such.
Whenever a party has a theme, my advice is to embrace the hell out of it. It’s super fun, and gives you a reason to step out of your comfort zone. Play the role. It only adds to your unique personality.
*All images belong to me, please refrain from using elsewhere.*
As is the Gender Reveal Party Vlog for my brother and sister in law and a Family Trip Vlog to Great Wolf Lodge we took last Summer. I also shot a bunch of footage of a Polar Express Trip and my best friend’s engagement night. Really got to get back to editing!!!! 
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Michelle Leigh Writes 