Queens of Comedy: Anna Kendrick Edition

Anna Kendrick is one of my favorite actresses. But even more than her movies, I love her. Anna Kendrick just being Anna Kendrick is just about the BEST THING EVER. She is funny, witty, a little awkward in an endearing sort of way, and just completely amazing. She also has killer style. Her Twitter account is probably the greatest piece of social media. EVER. No seriously, it's that good. She is so HILARIOUS, she definitely needed her own section in my "Queens of Comedy" blogs, because well, she deserves it! Welcome to the club Anna, you reign supreme for SO MANY reasons, it will be hard to actually count! But I'll do my best! ;)

Can we be BFF's please?!?

Reasons why Anna Kendrick is THE BEST:

1. She acts like we would with other celebrities, which makes her super cool and real.

Exhibit A.

And B. 

2. She's inspirational.

3. She is obsessed with Queen Bey just like the rest of us. 

4. None of us are worthy of her, Anna. None of us are. I love that she doesn't try to be "cool" with her celebrity crushes, she is just a normal girl who had a panic attack when she saw Beyonce, like any of us would.

5. Not afraid to show her true fangirl status. 

6. She accepts and embraces who she is and never tries to be anything different.

7. Remember what I said about her Twitter account being the greatest thing ever...

8. I was 100% accurate.

9. So accurate.

10. Like, I couldn't have been more accurate if I'd tried. 

11. She'll call you on your B.S.

12. She's a good role model.

13. And campaigns for the spread of *love*, not hate.

14. She makes you feel good about yourself.

15. She knows that everybody needs their own dessert. She knows what she needs out of relationships and doesn't take anything less! 

16. See what I mean? She knows she deserve better and won't settle for anything less.

17. She may say exactly what she'd thinking, but it's always in a comically endearing sor tof way.

18. She's got wonderful attitude and the head-bob down on lock.

19. And she owns the RBF game.

20. Literally. Owns. They even make meme's about it.

21. She is so real.

22. REAL.

23. She contemplates the complexities of life in a way we wish we able to.

24. SHE IS JUST LIKE US.

25. Seriously, she motivates us to keep on keepin' on.

26. She's got BIG ideas!

27. One's we wish would come to fruition. Like, so badly.

28. BIG IDEAS.

29. She had one of the most EPIC Lip Sync Battle's (Spike) vs John Krasinski... 

30. In her first song, a love song, she busted out a T-shirt that had a picture of her and Emily Blunt on it, and sang away, who also happens to be John's wife. And it was AMAZING. Actually, you should just basically watch the whole episode. The second battle song is the greatest!

[Watch a clip here]

31. And because she knows where it's at.

32. Exactly where it's at.

 33. She loves adorable animals, just like the rest of us...

This panda impersonation is the BEST.

Buy all the red pandas!!

34. She gives credit where credit is due.

35. Did I already mention she's hilarious?? And humble.

36. She's self-reflective and honest about who she is.

37. She has serious #friendshipgoals with other amazing Queens of Comedy! 

38. She knows when it's time to be serious and get down to business.

39. The struggle is real, and she knows that. A Diet Coke + MAC lipstick in D for Danger = surviving the day

40. And finally, because she loves Taco Bell just as much as we do. ((Even though we'll never admit it))

We totally get it! Especially when PMS is involved... eat all the Taco Bell!!


So thank you Anna for being amazing, hilarious, insightful, and real. You inspire me to be who I am and own it! You're the BEST! 

Reasons Why I Can't Wait for TWD to Return

I don't know about you, but without my weekly dose of The Walking Dead, I start to get a little crazy. Sure, the holiday season was a good distraction, but now that it's over, I seriously have to wait another month and a half before we finally pick up where we left off at the mid season finale?? Are you kidding me?!

Like EVERY season of TWD, Season 6 has not been a disappointment by any means. I know some people complain certain things, and I have too, but when it's all said and done, this show is AMAZING and I need it in my life. Like, all the time. Rest assured, our beloved starts back up again FEB 14, which is probably the greatest thing ever. There is NOTHING I'd rather do on the worst holiday in existence than ((ignore it by)) watching Rick, Daryl, Glenn, & Co. fighting zombies. Especially because we left off at some pretty...dicey... circumstances, to say the least.

Reasons Why I Can't Wait for TWD to Return:

1. GLENN IS ALIVE AND WELL!!!

Some of us are still recovering from what Scott Gimble and the rest of the writers did to our hearts at the beginning of season... If you don't remember (how could you not?! I'm traumatized!), Glenn found himself in a rather precarious situation...

Everyone watching around the world gasped! And then we realized that it wasn't his blood, rather, Nicholas had killed himself with his gun in front of Glenn (hence the blood spatter). However, this caused another precarious situation, as both Nick's body and Glenn fell into the swarm of Walkers...

Not a moment I want to EVER relive again. Glenn appeared to be lost to the war against zombies, but I never lost hope. I think mostly because I DOWNRIGHT REFUSED TO BELIEVE HE WAS DEAD. Even if it had been confirmed, I would've rewritten the story in my head to be differently, because I cannot live in a world that doesn't involve Glenn.  But of course, he lived, using Nicholas' dead body as a shield, he was able to Glenn-himself outta there. That's right, I'm using it as a verb now. 

"Unable to do anything until we learn if Glenn is okay" was I think my actual post.

2. MAGGIE & GLENN FINALLY REUNITE ((AFTER EVERYONE THINKS HE'S DEAD)) AND SHE'S PREGNANT!!!

If you didn't feel all the feelings when they reunited ((again)), you're a monster. Maggie and Glenn are what keep us going, they ARE our HOPE. And Maggie is freaking PREGNANT which makes me like, over-the-moon happy. Sure, it presents a new round of complications and potential heartache, but it can be done! Please don't let Maggie die in childbirth like Lori, PLEASE!! Their relationship is everything.  [video below]

Tissues please... :::sobs uncontrollably:::

3. Hope for MORE Rick & Daryl screen time.

Much of the first half of season was spent in various locations; our heroes and heroines were dispersed here and there, our favorite archer was kidnapped in the woods, and we were getting backstory on an old friend. My one criticism about last season (other than the Glenn-is-Dead-Just-Kidding-He's-Alive aspect) was that once again, there wasn't a whole lot of scenes with our favorites together. Especially Rick and Daryl. Their 'Bromance' is my favorite thing in the whole world. I love when the whole gang is together! Give us more time spent with everyone by the campfire so to speak. Or literally, I really don't care. 

4. Carol, the Stepford Wife

Carol, our favorite Underdog-turned-professional-bad-A killer has provided most of the comedic relief necessary this season. Watching her pretend to be a 'helpless woman who bakes cookies for everyone' was seriously comic gold. I actually laughed OUT LOUD so many times, it's ridiculous. Then when the Wolves attacked, she dressed up as one, and started to SLAY, both literally and figuratively. 

Slay Queen, Slay.

Carol has had an awesome season thus far, and we wouldn't expect anything less. I know the movement had typically been "If Daryl dies we riot", which I'm a full supporter of, 100%, but I'd like to include Carol in that. If Carol dies, WE RIOT. ((And also Rick & Glenn))

Don't worry about me guys, I'm just doing the dishes is all. Nothing to be concerned about. I know nothing about weapons or being a B.A. at all!

BEST EVER.

Oh wait, BEST.EVER.

Don't mess with her. Just don't. #Cambo 

5. Morgan, WTF mate??

Getting Morgan's backstory was awesome, we needed it to fill in the gaps between how we'd last left Morgan and this new BA ninja Morgan. His episode, "Here's Not Here", was phenomenal, wonderfully executed, beautifully acted, and of course, heartbreakingly tragic. I cried several times during this episode, which is saying something. We're all happy when Morgan comes to Alexandria at the beginning of the season, but seriously, how many times did he do something that made us say or think "WTF mate?!" Keeping a "Wolf" captive in the basement because "all life is precious" is a VERY dangerous decision to have made... And the last episode in particular...well, let's get to that now.

6. Seriously, W.T.F.???

Morgan, if you even THINK about hurting Carol, WE WILL FIND YOU. AND WE WILL KILL YOU. ((Wow, a Taken reference in my Walking Dead post?! That was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.)) But seriously, DO NOT HARM A HAIR ON HER HEAD!!! Normally I would say that Carol can handle herself, but in this situation where we left off, I'M CONCERNED. Carol is a B.A., sure, but Morgan has turned into a crazy Ninja Warrior and I'm not so sure that if they battle it out, she'll come out unscathed. Dear Mr. Gimble, please please please don't kill Carol off!! PLEASE!!! 
I have to say, this is what I'm worried about the most leading up to episode 9. 

AND WE WILL. Make no mistake about that.

7. I'm missing the heck outta Rick...Seriously. 

I miss our fearless leader desperately. I love Rick. LOVE him. Without seeing him every Sunday night, I have to tell you, it crushes my soul. I don't think I can wait any longer!!

 8. Daryl's had a rough go at it all since Beth died. ((Or really, since forever))

I loved the idea of Daryl basically having his own episode. Heck, I'd watch a prequel series about Daryl BEFORE the apocalypse, even if all he did was hunt squirrels and eat 'em. Daryl has been through a lot recently and I really wanted him to finally find some peace and love. ((with Carol, just saying)) Being kidnapped was not the way I thought "Always Accountable" was going to go. 

After all, not many people point a gun in Daryl's face and live to tell the tale. As he once said to Andrea...

I don't think we've seen the last of the two snatchers from the woods, but the way they left Daryl to die in the woods, after he risked his life AFTER THEY KIDNAPPED HIM to return the insulin to save the girl, I could never forgive them or welcome them into the fold. SO if we run into them, they better get what's coming to them. Karma-and-all. Poor Daryl, he tries to be the 'good guy', and he keeps getting screwed over for it. 

I also basically l

I mean, they STOLE HIS BIKE. AND HIS CROSSBOW. WTH?!  I really hope Daryl gets them back sooner rather than later... He can't be our Daryl without his bike & bow!! Also, can we resurrect Daryl's angel-winged biker vest?! Please and Thank you.

February couldn't come soon enough. I'm dying waiting for it come back. Until then, I'll be over here, re-watching old episodes, praying that none of our favorite characters die in the premiere. 

A Birthday Memoir: Or How Turning 27 Was the BEST Thing Ever

Well, it's that time of the year again, when Brown Eyed Girl turns another year older and wiser too (or so she'd like to believe). Don't worry, I'm not going to write in the 3rd person this whole time... ;)  I have a yearly tradition I rather enjoy keeping up, where I write a short Memoir on my Birthday that sort of reflects on the last year and looks towards the coming year. Isn't that what New Years is for? you ask. Yes, many (most?) people go through the same sort of process on New Years, but my Birthday is my special day and I'll do what I want. ;)

So I turned 27 this year and I have to say, it's ALREADY quite different than any other birthday I've had thus far. It wasn't necessarily a conscious decision, but it seemed like once I turned 27, I no longer cared what people thought of me and my life. You see, this had always been a problem in my early twenties; I used to spend a great deal of time worrying what others thought and I never felt I measured up. I worried how they saw me, as a person, my life, the decisions I've made, the way my life had turned out, etc. 

Yes, a great deal of stress and anxiety had been devoted to worrying about all these things and more. Maybe it was because my life had gone in a direction contrary to those within my sub-culture and I didn't have the self-confidence to get past expectations and reality. But suddenly, I didn't care anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still have insecurities and other things I'm dealing with, but I no longer cared or thought about how people thought about me or my life, and I started living for me. It's so freeing when your thoughts are Will this make me happy? or This is what I want/don't want instead of how will this make me look? or I hope it looks like I don't care about ____ or Maybe if I fake being happy long enough, it will actually happen. 

There is so much pressure and anxiety in your early twenties, and somehow, that just sort of evaporates in your late twenties. Maybe evaporates is the wrong word, shifts is probably more accurate. In your early twenties, you care more about how OTHER people think about you/your life/your looks/your happiness/your choices/etc. In your late twenties, you sort of realize that you have to live with yourself the rest of your life, so you'd better find a way to enjoy it. You become concerned with your happiness, for your own sake, and not any others. You may still be doing the same actions, but the motivations are different. You notice that you're doing them for you, and not for anyone else. 

I'm not sure if that makes any sense, so in full disclosure, I'll give you some examples from my own experiences:

     1. You start listening to your "guilty pleasures" without turning the "private session" button ON on Spotify, or listening with your windows down, loud and proud. And you realize that it's not even a "guilty pleasure" anymore because WHY SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT LIKING WHAT I LIKE?! Now they're just pleasures, screw worrying about being "cool" or whatever the heck that's supposed to mean anyways. 
          Ex: Taylor Swift. Loud and proud. 

     2. You find yourself wearing make up because it makes YOU feel good or you like doing it, not because you feel like you "NEED" to or people expect you to.
         Ex: Running errands Saturday morning without makeup on because I can now do it without feeling disgusting or wearing a super dark shard or lipstick because I LIKE IT, regardless if other people think it's "too dark" or whatever. It makes ME happy, so I'm doing it. 

     3. You find yourself wanting to do yoga/run/lift weights or go to the gym (or whatever form of exercise you do) not to "be thin" or "lose weight" or fit societally based gendered expectations or so that other people are attractive, but because it makes YOU feel good and you ENJOY it. 
        Ex: Yoga. Not because it's "cool", but because it genuinely makes my muscles feel good, alleviates my stress, and makes me feel more relaxed. Oh yeah, and my joints are already arthritic and it's low impact. :)

You also start completely changing behaviors you'd never really thought about before. Such as:

      4. You start being choosy with your group of friends. Friends are extremely important, and you notice that while your amount of friends may be dwindling, your relationships are actually growing, in new, sturdier ways. You have fewer friends, yes, but you also have fewer "frenemies" and A LOT less drama. And the friends you do have are so close, they're like actual family. Oh! And your family becomes more of a group of friends than ever before.
       Ex: I used to have a lot of friends and a lot of different groups of friends. Nowadays, I'm content with hanging out with the same set of people, without feeling the need to keep adding to my friends circle. Not that I wouldn't if I didn't meet someone who I really loved, but I don't really go out looking to make new friends anymore. I have amazing friends, they are few, but they are AMAZING, and my relationships with them are deep and complex and vital to my being. And my family has become a group of my best friends. I actually hang out with them the most!

     5. You start appreciating nights/weekends spent IN rather than going OUT. You are busy now, always on the go, and you may even commute A LOT, which means you actually look forward to getting home, getting into your pjs, eating dinner on the couch and catching up on your shows. You rarely go out on the weekdays, and if you do, it's to the store on the way home because you need something essential. (tampons, deodorant, Panda Express, or you know, chocolate.)   Weekends are spent basically the same way. 
        Ex: If it's 8 pm on a Friday and Saturday and I haven't left the house to go out, it's not going to happen. Unless I'm going to Bestie's ((in my pjs)) for a movie night. And NOTHING happens on Sunday evenings after 6. Helloooooo, I have work in the morning. My accomplishments will be showering and going to bed on time,not getting stuck on Pinterest looking at AMAZING bathrooms .  Have you seen how big some of those free-standing tubs can get??  :::drooling:::
         
     6. You realize that sleep is the HOLY GRAIL and almost NOTHING else matters as much. 
        Ex: I'm still a night owl, but I WILL make sure that on the weekends, I get a full 9 hours of sleep. maybe even 10 if I'm feeling jazzy. On the weekdays, the struggle is real, and it's more like 7. Which is awful. Because no human being should have to live off of 7 hours of sleep. It's inhumane. But I deal with it until the weekend and the sleeeeeeeep. Gloriously. Do NOT expect me to be out of bed, or heaven forbid showered, before noon. It won't happen and you'll only be disappointing yourself, because I'll be living the dream. 

All-in-all, I'm glad 26 is over, it was a rough year for me, dealing with A LOT of things emotionally, and I'm actually REALLY glad my early and mid twenties are over, because I actually think I'm really going to ENJOY my late twenties. It's been wonderful this first month! Here's to another year, hopefully my next year's Memoir will be just as hopeful! 

#WCW: Favorite Fictional Females

Women are awesome. That seems like a generalized statement, and it is, but it's still true. I love women. I am constantly inspired by amazing women, both fictional and in real life. I think that comes from the fact that I come from a family of strong, intelligent, independent women who were constantly showing me that as a girl, I could do anything. While my Mom was in nursing school, my paternal Grandma would watch me everyday. She was a retired school teacher, a single mom since my dad was little, and boy was she strong and tough! But not only that, she was kind, tender, loving, and one of the most generous people I have ever known. She had very little money, but I never knew that until I was older. It didn't stop her from splurging on pizza when we came over, or buying ice cream cones, or taking me to get a new doll or stuffed animal at the store. She didn't have much, but what she did have, she gave freely and wholeheartedly. She taught me how to read, how to be strong, but most importantly, she taught me how to give. 

And my mom, who had 5 young kids (I'm the baby of the family) while in nursing school, still managed to get an award for excellence in grades. She is a freaking ROCKSTAR if there ever was one. I mean, she was a NICU nurse, for heavens sake, you don't get more amazing than taking care of sick premi- babies! She's always devoted her life to taking care people, and she taught me how to be kind, compassionate, and loving, and also, how to have FUN. My mom loves with all her heart; she is truly a healer, both for body and soul. Her mom, my maternal Grandma, was one of the people that touched my heart the most. She was so funny, witty, sassy and boy was she resilient. She taught me how to laugh at myself, how to make life-long relationships, and how to tie a big ornate bow with wired ribbon.        

Growing up in the 90's, we had *girl power* and many awesome female idols to look up to. We had the Spice Girls, Mia Hamm, and Kerri Strug, who all taught us that A) If you wanna get with me, you gotta get with my friends. B) Anything you can do, I can do better [Remember Mia's Gatorade commercial with Michael Jordan??] and C) Even in the face of the most extreme adversity, we can RISE, and we can run, vault, and STICK THE LANDING. 

Nowadays, we celebrate #WomanCrushWednesday, which is probably the greatest hashtag ever. To celebrate, I've been working on a list of all my *FAVORITE* fictional females and thought I'd share it with you. 

My Favorite Fictional Females

1. Pink Ranger/ Kimberly Hart, Mighty Morphing Power Rangers 

This might not make sense to a lot of people, unless you're a girl that grew up in the 90's. Then this makes perfect sense. Kimberly aka Pink Ranger was our first girl-fighting-can-do-it-just-as-good-as-the-boys idol. She was awesome and taught us that girls can kick serious butt, whilst wearing head-to-toe pink if they wanna.

2. Mulan

MULAN IS THE GREATEST FEMALE DISNEY CHARACTER EVER. Sorry Belle, I love you (like, LOOOOVE YOU!!) BUT, Mulan is the greatest. Because she taught us that if you are determined enough, you can do ANYTHING. She pretends to be a BOY (because women weren't allowed in the army) to save her Father from being drafted into the Chinese Army, goes to boot camp and kicks the boys' butts! After some serious down-and-out moments, of course. She comes back even after they all ABANDONED her to save the Emperor and ALL OF CHINA. YEAH. She is a serious Bad A. And yes, she fights like a GIRL, which is the greatest compliment I could possibly give her. Bravo Disney, Bravo.  

3. Sydney Bristow, Alias

Seriously one of the most awesome female characters of all time, I don't care what you think. Sydney is as close to a female James Bond as it comes. She is a spy who continually risks her life to save America (and other countries), all while kicking some SERIOUS butt in her 5 inch stiletto heels if needs be. She is super intelligent, brave, courageous, and loyal, and will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves and the greater good. 

4. Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars


Veronica, Veronica. Oh how I love thee. Veronica, the sarcastic, witty, smart, tough P.I. that I always wanted as a friend and never as an enemy. Veronica taught us to do what you liked and not give a rats A if anyone liked it. Sure, she was a flawed character, she had trust issues, but who doesn't??  Amirite?? Veronica fought tooth-and-nail for her friends and family, and always stood up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. She was a tiny but feisty girl who could seriously TAKE YOU DOWN, with a well-timed insult or a little help from Backup. 

"Why do you insist on pissing me off??"

"This face right here? My over-the-moon face."

"After all these years, do you not instinctively fear me?"

"I hope we're still friends after I taser you."

"It's a very powerful thing when someone sees you as the person you wish you were."

"Should I check myself before I wreck myself?" 

5. Dagney Taggart, Atlas Shrugged

“I’ve always been unpopular in school and it didn’t bother me, but now I’ve discovered the reason. It’s an impossible kind of reason. They dislike me, not because I do things badly, but because I do them well. They dislike me because I’ve always had the best grades in class. I don’t even have to study. I always get A’s. Do you suppose I should try to get D’s for a change and become the most popular girl in school?”  I met Dagney at the perfect time in my life, when I was really learning and challenging my preconceived notions of the world and what being a "woman" meant. It didn't take very lone for me to fall in love with this character. SHE IS FREAKING AMAZING. She taught me to ignore haters, go with your gut instinct, and to stand up and FIGHT for what you believe in and not let others persuade you otherwise.    

“You don’t have to see through the eyes of others, hold onto yours, stand on your own judgment, you know that what is, is–say it aloud, like the holiest of prayers, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

6. Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Okay, okay, judge all you want, but I LOVED Buffy. Again with the 90's kid stuff, I know. But she was AWESOME and she seriously #SLAYED before it was cool. ;) She was a vampire/demon/werewolf hunter and continually saved everyone's lives, all while surviving high school. Who didn't want to be Buffy, I mean, come on!  Girl was bad in the best possible way and always had perfectly coiffed hair. Jealous!!

7. Elizabeth Bennet, Pride & Prejudice

Lizzy Bennet is perhaps the greatest character in literature.  She was waaay ahead of her time, and I'd like to think, she was a big part of Jane Austen herself. Lizzy is smart, witty, speaks her mind, and willing to wait for true love, no matter if it comes or not. I love that about her. Especially in that time, to refuse a "prosperous marriage" was rather unusual, to say the least. Lizzy is passionate and willing to wait for something more, even if it never comes. She knows that even the prospect of it is so much better than settling. Elizabeth Bennet always speaks her mind, which I whole-heartedly admire and respect, she stands up for herself and others, and is basically the original #BOSSLADY if there ever was one. 

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” 

8. Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games Trilogy 

Katniss is one of my favorite modern-day heroines. She is SO AWESOME, I've truly loved reading and watching her character and story unfold. Katniss is flawed, yes, but she is brave, tenacious, incredibly loyal and fierce, and will stop at nothing to save Prim, Peeta and Gale, amongst everyone else. She is always willingly and constantly  sacrificing herself for the ones she loves. She may not love easily, but when she does, she does so with her whole heart. Not just anyone could be the Mocking Jay and stand up to the Capital and lead the Rebellion. 

“My spirit. This is a new thought. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but it suggests I'm a fighter. In a sort of brave way. It's not as if I'm never friendly. Okay, maybe I don't go around loving everybody I meet, maybe my smiles are hard to come by, but I do care for some people.” 

9. Hermoine Granger, Harry Potter series

Hermoine!! Oh, how much I LOVE Hermoine!! She is one of those characters that you love more and more every time you read/watch them. My love for her grew so profoundly by the end of the series, I could hardly stand it. And the scene pictured above, it seriously broke my heart. Hermoine is the glue that held it ALL together. Harry and Ron would have been NOTHING without her. That's the honest truth. She is super intelligent, compassionate, loyal, loving, and kind. Hermoine is one of the best ever role model for girls. She a powerful #BOSSWITCH, both literally and figuratively. On countless times she saves the day, whether it's through using her head or using her heart, she always finds a way! (Okay, that rhymed and I totally did not even try. #winning)

Carol, The Walking Dead


This was a tough decision between Michonne and Carol, but I couldn't NOT pick Carol. She is a grade A, Bad A-- B! When we meet Carol, she is a helpless, broken women, married to a wife-beater, who never stands up for herself. But OH HOW SHE CHANGES! Carol's progression through the story line of Walking Dead is perhaps the greatest. She becomes a tough, no-nonsense warrior, who protects everyone at all costs. (Sometimes she takes it too far, but her intentions are good!) She loses her husband and her daughter, and two pseudo- daughters, and still manages to be loving and compassionate to the close few of her inner circle. And she constantly takes care of baby Judith. The others would not have survived as long with out her; she is integral to the gang, and can hang with the likes of Rick and Daryl and hold her own! She is a serious BAD A #Boss!! Carol's cookies...need I say more?? 

Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter series

Luna has to be just about my *favorite* Harry Potter character. I love her whimsical, quirky outlook on life. She is definitely a little out there, but that's what I love about her. Luna is incredibly kind, accepting of others, and always loyal and supportive. And maybe my favorite thing about her...SHE DOESN'T CARE WHAT ANYONE ELSE THINKS ABOUT HER. She just is who she is. She's so real, so honest and always true to herself. And she's always there for her friends. She definitely has NOT had an easy life, but Luna always looks on the bright side of things, finds the silver lining, and cheers everyone up! Did I mention she's whip smart?? 

The Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey

I love the Dowager, she is my favorite Downton Abbey character (After Matthew of course, RIP!) Violet is sarcastic and sassy and I just love everything she says. She has, by far, the BEST lines on the show. She's always ready for an awesome one-liner. 

"Vulgarity is no substitute for wit."

"All life is a series of problems we must try to solve."

"It's the job of Grandmothers to interfere."

"Oh dear, you flatter me. Which is just as it should be."

"At my age, one must ration one's excitement."

"Is this an instrument of communication or torture?"

"I wonder your halo doesn't grow heavy, it must be like wearing a tiara round the clock."

Lorelai Gilmore

Lorelai is the BEST TV mom there is. She's also somebody I wish I could have as a friend in real life, because she is AMAZING. Lorelai grows up in a wealthy privileged life, but when she gets pregnant at 16, she leaves, and  works her butt off to raise her child (Rory) alone, even eventually opening up her own B&B, the Dragonfly Inn. She is tenacious, relentless, and one of the most WITTY characters to have ever been written. She is funny, smart, supportive, and has a killer knowledge of all things Pop Culture. She is THE BEST!

"If you're going to throw your life away, he better have a motorcycle!"

"This is a jumbo coffee morning. I need coffee in an IV."

"I have a New Years resolution for you; become more cynical and self absorbed."

"It's all any of us wants- to find a nice person to hang out with till we drop dead. Not a lot to ask!

"I am the Oracle. I carry all the knowledge".

"Oy with the poodles already."

"It's not too much food. This is what we've been training for our whole lives. This is our destiny. This is our finest hour!" 

Olivia Pope

It's handled. Olivia is one of the most powerful women on television. She is BAD A. What I love about Olivia is that her relationship with the fictional POTUS does NOT define her. She is brilliant. She is the BEST fixer there is. She has her metaphorical big white hat and she fights for injustices no matter the consequences. She is a gladiator in a suite, gosh dang it! She also has some of the best lines ever. Thank you Shanda Rhimes for creating the baddest #ladyboss of them all! 

“I am not the girl the guy gets at the end of the movie. I am not a fantasy. If you want me, earn me.”

“I am very good at what I do. I am better at it than anyone else. And that is not arrogance, that is a fact.”

“I’m choosing me. I’m choosing Olivia. And right now, Olivia is dancing. Now, you can dance with me or you can get off my dance floor. I’m fine dancing alone.”

“I don’t want normal, and easy, and simple. I want painful, difficult, devastating, life-changing, extraordinary love.”

“If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but you have to try, because if you try, if you leap and you try, and it doesn’t work out, it’s not on you.”

“I am many things, stupid is not one of them.”

Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter series 

Professor McGonagall is one of my heroes. She is like that one teacher you had in high school that was hard on you, but was also your favorite. She is incredibly brilliant and an amazing witch. McGonagall is brave and loyal and while she can be stern, you love and respect her. She is an excellent teacher and overall the OG #bosswitch. She actually sorta reminds me of my Grandma who was a school teacher. Maybe that's why I love her so much! :)

Ron: [Harry and Ron arrive late to Transfiguration, relieved that Professor McGonagall isn't there yet] Whew, made it. Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?
[the cat sitting at the head of the class suddenly transforms into her]
Ron: That was bloody brilliant!
Professor McGonagall: Well, thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley. Perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? That way, one of you might be on time.
Harry: We got lost.
Professor McGonagall: Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats.

So here's to all the lady boss' slaying out there.  You go girl! Girl power! And er, Who run the world? GIRLS.

An Ode to My Best Friend

Today is my best friend’s birthday!! So in honor of her, I decided to write a little something… 

Brown Eyed Girl has a Blue Eyed Bestie and it’s her BIRTHDAY!!! Not many people can say they’ve been best friends with their BFF since they were born, but WE can!! Although, we generally say that it ALL started when I was 1 and she was 2, because that’s the first photo-graphical evidence we have. 

SEE. We are born exactly 11 months apart and have been besties ever since. Best Friend or even BFF, is a title that doesn’t quite seem to do our friendship justice. She is my SOULMATE. We have been through EVERYTHING together. And honestly, I wouldn’t change a single second of it.

She is the first person I text in the morning and the last person I text at night. We have been through births of kids, deaths of loved ones, the hardest, darkest moments together as well as the happiest most wonderful ones. We’ve been through break ups, heartaches, side-splitting laughter, every birthday, every holiday, vacations, concerts, soccer games, band performances…you name it, we’ve been through it. I cannot imagine my life without her, nor would I ever want to.

I actually can’t remember a time before we were friends... probably because I was an infant, but there’s something to say for someone who has literally been through your entire life with you. It’s almost as if we were friends even before we were born. You can scoff at that all you want, but I know that it’s true. We are not the same people we were as 5 year old besties, or 10 year old besties, or 15 or 20 or even 25 year old besties, but somehow we’ve always grown up together, grown closer together, even sometimes in the most impossible ways and circumstances. That’s why she is my SOULMATE.

Every relationship has rough patches, but ours have been almost nonexistent. She has been the one constant thing in my life since the very beginning. Everything I am, everything I’ve done, has been because of her, because of our friendship. I am not me without her, nor am I anything without her. She is as much a part of me as my own soul, like two old trees whose roots have grown completely entwined, immovable, and stronger together than on their own.

So to my BESTIE, my SOULMATE, on her Birthday…I love you to the moon and back and a THOUSAND times over.

You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Here's to the next 70+ years and on through infinity.

Xoxo