Je Suis Charlie

I wanted to put in a word or two of mine in about the event that took place in Paris last Wednesday.

The violence that took place is inexcusable, and no, I'm not putting a blame for what was done on the religion of Islam at all. I recognize that there is a clear split between those apart of the religion that believe this sort of action is not apart of the Islamic values and detest that there is a portion of believers that practice it and ones that believe it to be right and just. 

But I didn't want to talk too much about this messy part of the issue. I want to speak of the outcome.  

It's incredible to see the global aftermath of the tragedy that occurred, with people from all different backgrounds coming together to support the freedom of speech and expression of France and the arts combined. It's a movement of peaceful ways with pencils raised and the brilliant thought that one pencil broken can be turned into two. The reaction that occurred gives me the hope that for every bad person there is in this world, there are thousands of others that are just the opposite who are willing to fight for others freedoms and people who can recognize that just because the event didn't happen anywhere close to them, it can hit just as close to home as someone in Paris who personally knew the victims.

I could wish all day for killings all over the world to come to a halt and that we would all view each other as equal and love and cherish everyone for who they are, but I know that this won't happen. I could wish that people would recognize that others are going to have differing opinions on subjects regarding the world and life to come and that that's okay because their views cannot alter yours as long as you don't allow them to, but I know that this won't happen. 

What I do know is that from what I've seen come out of this event, we have the ability to unite a great majority of the world based on some basic set of human values, whatever those may be. I know that out in the universe, others share these views of mine and want to do something about it, but can't as one small person. That's exactly why it's important to stand up and unite with those around you to see the change you want to be made, preferably in a peaceful way. And I know that others in this universe aren't going to agree with these views I share with you today, and that's okay. Whatever you believe, I hope you recognize that reacting with violence to a situation only makes the outcome ten times worse. Words are a powerful weapon in the process of achieving peace, which is why it's really cool to see "Je Suis Charlie" circling the Internet. 

As much as I'd like to keep wishing, I'm afraid the world is running scarcely low on magic. 

My thoughts go out to the loved ones of the victims involved in the Paris shooting. The world has lost several more creative sparks.

-Belle xx

New Year, New You?

Hello beautiful people of the Internet, how's life? 

I'd like to begin with a big Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Boxing Day, Happy EVERYTHING! I hope all of your celebrations were amazing and unforgettable with family, food, and fun. Now, onto a bit of reflection. 

2014

What a year. This has honestly been one of my favorites thus far. It definitely hasn't all been perfect, but the majority of it has been unforgettable. I started this blog at the beginning of this year and never would I thought that it get up to over 600 views by the end of the year, and from all over the world! Like I've had people reading it in France, Germany, everywhere. I never would have thought I'd keep it up as well. I wasn't exactly as consistent as I could have been, but maybe that will be the goal of 2015. More posts, even if they're just little updates. 

The year began with more snow days than you could imagine and ended with a brown Christmas. I traveled to New York, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. I met some amazing people, and quite possibly lost a few along the way. I began to focus more on art. I saw amazing concerts. I slept and danced and ate and sang and talked and laughed and cried and experienced life for what it truly is. I thought about the future and began to be afraid, afraid of what's to come, afraid that I won't be prepared for it, but really why should I be afraid of what's yet to come, something that I can't exactly control? But the decisions I'm making now really are effecting my future, so you see my dilemma. I guess we all experience this feeling on occasions and I don't believe there's a solution or a way to prevent it. It's just a part of life. Uncertainty, the silent killer. The movie is in development now... 

What I really wanted to talk about though was not the year I had, but the scary future that I was just talking about by moving forward into the new year. You know how the saying goes... "New year, new me," and I can't help but find it a bit ridiculous. No matter what I propose to change about myself, I'm still going to be the same old Belle, sleeping until noon whenever possible, procrastinating anything involving school, eating junk food, avoiding conflict, you know, the usual. I feel like it's really hard to change yourself, especially since you develop these habits over the years that you just really don't have a desire to quit. I think you can change smaller things that make a larger impact, like going into the year with a positive outlook, that things are going to be great and they probably will be. The new year presents you with new opportunities to better yourself, but not scrap the old you. You are the only you there's ever going to be, so why not embrace it. Once you learn to do that, you'll be able to really focus all your energy on making 2015 spectacular. 

What do you hope will happen in 2015? To develop more friendships? Travel to a new place? Plan more spontaneous adventures? Whatever it happens to be, make it great. 

I'll talk to you next year. 

-Belle xx

You're Not Valued by a Score

Do you ever just feel poorly about life? Like not a really sad or angry poorly or a sick poorly but just like almost a melancholy feeling of the word 'ugh'? Maybe it's just that this week has been incredibly long for it only to be a Wednesday, or I'm longing for Christmas break, or that the past few days have been below par, or that I actually haven't felt physically the best today, I just don't know.

Probably one of the major factors causing this feeling is my AP English class. The teacher has this mentality that the only right way is her way, which is by far one of the worst opinions you can have in the entire world. English is full of analysis and thought provoking questions that are going to be answered differently by each person depending on their background, what they've gone through in life, what they think about the universe. And to dictate that one learning approach is not acceptable over the other one is not okay. I strive to put a valiant effort into work that is intended to help me grow as a reader, writer, and person... not to please you. I don't understand why this concept is so hard to get through her head. I've never disliked English, it's been my favorite core class being it's my best subject. But thanks to her, this year I've been thinking otherwise. Teachers are suppose to encourage people on their learning paths and to keep them interested and learning in the subject they teach. Not turn them away from the subject completely. Now do I hate writing and reading because of her? No, but I sure as hell don't enjoy attending the class that leaves me with anxiety and enormous amounts of work. I really really tried to give her a chance, but I'm done. 

I think the other explainable reason as to why I'm feeling the way I am is because over the past couple days I've been comparing myself to others. Not in a way that you would assume, like the "She has prettier hair than me," comparison, but in the "Oh my God why do you test better than me/score better than me/accomplish life better than me and don't even have to try to accomplish it all?" way. I've always been an A student. I work hard, do well with my studies, but when it comes to taking a standardized test I feel like the stupidest person in the world. My scores aren't horrid, but they aren't what I really want them to be, you know? I just get really nervous when test taking. I'm also the kind of person that, if I work at it, can memorize stupid information fairly simply but then forgets it as soon as it's no longer relevant to my life which sucks when you need to remember math from a lesson in the prior year. All of this wouldn't nearly matter as much though if I wasn't so curious and have to know what other people scored because then I get that little thought in my head that I'm not as good as them and that I'm stupid and this is where the vicious cycle starts. It shouldn't matter! Everyone is good at different things in life and my skill happens to not be test taking. I'm good at art, I'm not the worst writer on the planet, I've heard I'm not shabby with a camera, and English is my strongest subject, no matter if the teacher hates me or not. Some people are just really good test takers. What about you? What's your strengths, your weaknesses? I'll tell you a secret. I've been told about a book that talks about improving yourself in the work place or just at life in general and they say to always keep your main focus on improving your strengths in life. We're all different, so let those differences shine! Your strengths are what put you above the rest (in the most non-conceited way possible). We can't all be doctors. We can't all be artists, we can't all be mathematicians, or English majors, or cops, or engineers. We need variety in life. So why focus your time and effort into improving your weaknesses that may or may not benefit to the rest of your life when you could be using that time and energy perfecting your craft and doing the things that make you happy? Cause isn't that the ultimate goal? Aren't we all striving to live life to the fullest, happiest way possible so we don't wake up at fifty years old hating the career we're stuck in with goals left un-achieved and a mess of questions left unanswered? Now I'm not going to avoid working on taking standardized tests or quit trying to figure out chem forever because one of the things that makes me happy is the feeling of achievement. And I'll be honest, grades matter a ton to me, so good grades = a happy Belle. But if I work on those weaknesses and don't get the best results in the world, I'm not going to let it define how the rest of my life goes. It is what it is, you know? I hope someone out there understands. And hey, comments are fun (although I've never gotten one, so who really knows). Comment your strengths. Be proud of who you are, because there's only one you. 

Oh! I almost forgot. I've reached over 500 views on my blog and I think that's pretty cool. Just knowing that someone out there is reading what goes on in my life is just so weird in a really good way. Thanks for anyone who's read it and who knows, maybe this whole thing will take off someday. Spread the word about Belle was here! (Fun self promo, YEAY!) 

Bye for now,

-Belle xx

Let Them Eat Cake

Recently I've started to consciously realize that I subconsciously get annoyed at little things people do. Things that may be apart of their daily routine or things that they've developed a habit for subconsciously as well and accidentally end up doing over and over again. A couple nights ago, I realized that I need to get over this ridiculous annoyance of my own. I noticed that the times at which I'm bothered by these things often occurs right away in the morning when I'm busy hating myself for staying up way later than needed the prior night, when I'm trying to concentrate on something, or when I've just had enough of the world for one day, but this shouldn't be an excuse to turn to annoyance for a solution. We're only on this planet for so long, and people will be people. Humans are the most fascinating things this world has to offer. Why do we choose to do the things we do, why do we feel the way we feel, why is my favorite color teal? These questions are just a shallow dent in the vastness that is the unknown of what makes us tick. And me being annoyed for the purpose of my own sanity isn't going to change the fact that people will be people. They'll still sing loudly off key, continuously tap their pencil on the table, say "like" every other word (guilty of this one myself on occasions), manage to tell you the same story twelve times, ask a question that's answer has already been stated multiple times, clear their throat over and over and OVER again, and talk about how great/shitty their day has been when yours was just the opposite. I can't control anyone but myself which means the only attitude that needs an adjustment is my own. Just the simple shift of how you choose to view things can  take a horrible day and make it a great one. Have you ever come across someone that you just cannot stand for whatever reason? Of course you have, we're all human and we all find some qualities in a person more annoying than others. It's a complete waste of your time to put all that energy towards hating that person when you could just let it go and move on with your life. Your life and your attitude drastically improves when you aren't concerned about seeing this person and having to make eye contact with them or even worse, speak to them (gasp). Focus that energy onto making you and your day the best it can be because when you're at your best, it tends to have an effect on those around you. And hey, maybe that person you formally hated will come around. What I'm trying to get at is just let them eat cake. Let people enjoy their lives and don't let the way that they choose to live effect you in a negative way because the last thing this world needs is more negativity. We've already got plenty of that. 

I challenge you to tell some people in your life that you appreciate them, and I can guarantee that appreciation will spread. Say if you tell five people, you'll be happier, they'll be happier and it'll make those around all of you happier because they're not dealing with negative people. And if those five people that you told decide to go out and each tell five more people and those people tell five more people and so on, we could maybe, just maybe, make the world a better place for everyone. 

Just a thought.

-Belle xx

It's Been a While...

I'm not quite sure how to begin this other than the obvious.

It's been a while. 

August. August was the last time that I posted my thoughts on this blog and I do feel like a bit of a failure. All the times I spent scrolling through endless news feeds of nonsense, I could have been writing about Europe. But as you know, It's been a while since July as well and my life did not come to a screeching halt after Europe, no, just the opposite. This incredible year has surely kept me alert and on my toes, so I figured I could spend an hour letting my thoughts flow and this could be more of like a chat between two old friends about what's gone on in my life for the past four months. That is, if you're interested. I'll get back to talking about Europe eventually (trust me, I talk about it every other day) but for now, hold tight and enjoy the now (well, I guess the past ((just forget it))).

August

August, the last month of summer. Moments that taste so sweet, but leave that bitter aftertaste behind in your mouth when it's over. Yet often, they can end up being the best moment. The beginning of the month was very calm with many visits and chats with friends that hadn't just been to Europe with me. I caught up on sleep, ate some good ol' American food and slept some more. That's when life began to pick up again. Some of my family rented a house on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin (or should I say a house that was advertised to be ON the lake but ended up being hidden by trees ACROSS THE STREET from the lake). Nevertheless, it was a relaxing time filled with some art, some YouTube, a bit of exploring mixed with, you guessed it, more food. I had to pack up and get back home after the vacation for a short week before me and my lovely friend, Elli, drove to Chicago for the final weekend of summer to see none other than One Direction at Soldier Field which was quite the experience. We stuffed ourselves at Giordano's, took an architectural river cruse, discovered a famous boy bands hotel, explored our own hotel to find a gorgeous ballroom, shopped in a very large Forever 21, went to the top of the John Hancock, toured SAIC (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), went though the institute of art museum, walked our feet off, and unfortunately, had to leave Chicago. It was a lovely trip back to one of my favorite cities. 

September

September seems to be the start of the second year within a year, you know? Like summer ends and classes begin and life seems to grab a hold of you and violently shake you in attempt to recall any information from last year that people assume you've held close to your heart over the summer, but we all know that's not the case. Friends re-enter your life that haven't been there for three or so months, and the routine kicks in that drives you insane. The same maddening, repulsive cycle that you so eagerly couldn't wait to get rid of is back once more. But there's a catch, it's ten times more stressful than the previous year. To add to the stress and entertainment simultaneously, I was asked to be assistant stage manager for Cinderella which was an incredible experience with some awesome people and an even more awesome stage manager, Caddie. The whole musical process runs through September, October, and ends a few weeks into November so that kept me plenty busy. I also am taking an AP drawing class which needs to have a portfolio of 24 compositions by March-April consisting of 12 breath pieces and 12 concentration pieces (I may do another blog post going into more detail on this subject). Long story short, September consisted of friends, little sleep, lots of work, lots of stress, some tears, and more stress. OH HOW COULD I FORGET. I saw Ed Sheeran's concert for Multiply and I was on the floor and he was so amazing. Like I've never been in a venue so big where it felt so personal. He has the ability to silence a crowd and the voice of an angel with lyrics and chats that make you feel like you've been best friends with the guy since you were four. I've never seen a more genuine musician and I cannot wait to see more of Ed. If you have the chance to see him live, please go. It will change your life. 

             

October

October has always been one of my favorite months of the year. It's when the holiday season seems to officially begin. Fall too, fall officially beginning. September is like borderline summer/fall so even though September may be trying to join the fall squad, my book won't allow it to join. Halloween was fairly calm. It was a Friday night, which was awesome so the actual physical squad of Belle's friends and not the months that make up seasons squad got together at Elli's house and we just ate lots of food and talked about life and the universe and everything while the Conjuring was playing on mute with Halloween music played overtop of the film making it much more manageable to watch even if I was still watching through the little slits between my fingers on as my hands covered my face. I don't do scary films as you can probably tell...

November

November consisted of a lot of the same things that September consisted of but this month was a bit more stressful, yet a bit more manageable, more or less tears (it depends on how you look at it), additional adventures, and a lot more food (Thanksgiving). Speaking of Thanksgiving, lets speak of the highlight of the month, shall we? This year, I went to Texas to visit family (but mostly their dogs). I got to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, In-N-Out, Krispy Kreme, and some restaurants that I've never eaten at before. I spent my time catching up with family and chilling on the couch watching movies and driving all around Fort Worth. I also got to check out the impressionist exhibit at the Kimble which was beautiful. 

            

December

This brings me up to now, and the adventures left in the year of 2014. It's been a hell of a ride so far, and I hope this month is able to top it all off. 

Talk to you guys soon, and that's a promise. 

Much love, Belle xx

A ‘How-To’ Guide of London

London has been a city that I’ve dreamed of visiting for a very long time. How long, you may ask? Well, take today’s date and subtract it by a couple of centuries and that’s still not long enough. So you shouldn’t be surprised that the moment I stepped off the plane into Heathrow I was ecstatic. Even after only an hour of sleep. I believe my first words to my friend, Ellie, were, “Do you know how may awesome people have been in this very airport?” Quite a few, my friend. Quite a few.

This is your all-access guide on how to properly take over London!

*Disclaimer: Belle has only stayed in London, England for a total of four days or so. Being said, her knowledge of ‘How to Properly Take Over London’ isn’t very extensive, yet she believes it to be so. Whatever she says, just smile and nod and give her the moral support she needs. She honestly believes she lives there. Thank you for your understanding.

1.    Look RIGHT

This one is for you, my fellow Americans. Wait, that’s a lie, it’s for the whole world BUT Britain. I put this rule as number one because it could save your life the second you leave Heathrow and almost get hit by a double-decker bus hurling down the opposite lane than you’re used to. England is super awesome about reminding the rest of the world about this rule on the sidewalk right before you cross the street. So if all else fails, look down.

2.    You’re a tourist, so please don’t act like one.

Tourists often get a bad reputation for being, well, annoying. Especially Americans such as myself cause we’re viewed as loud and self centered. I try my best to avoid this label while traveling anywhere. Including in America. Some examples of what NOT to do include…

-Taking up the entire walkway. Stick to your designated side, which for some reason is still the right side of the sidewalk even in England… quite ironic.

-Being obnoxiously loud or screaming unless there’s an emergency and no, this does not include spotting your favorite band member. In case of that emergency, please calmly approach them and ask for their hand in marriage.

-Not accommodating the culture you are currently in.

But the overall major reason to not act like a tourist is there are pickpockets everywhere and they prey on tourists that are unfamiliar with the area and aren’t necessarily paying attention to all their belongings. So stay alert and aware.

Just be respectful.

3.    Talk to as many Brits as you can.

The Brits are some of my favorite people. They’re all incredibly friendly and welcoming and usually hilarious. Not to mention, their accents are just a pleasure to listen to. And you never know whom you’ll end up talking to. It could very well end up being Ed Sheeran’s second cousin Tom…

Yes that IS Ed Sheeran’s second cousin Tom on the left. And you thought I was joking. Now strike up a conversation!

4.    Attend a musical if you have the time.

The show I saw while in London was none other than Les Miserables and it was phenomenal. I figured this would be my only chance to see Les Mis with people who had the closest thing to a French accent without the dialect being in French. Not to mention, they had a circular rotating stage that made scene transitions look smooth and effortless and a cast filled with amazingly talented voices. Oh, and Marius was drop dead gorgeous.

5.    Follow-up on ‘You’re a tourist, so please don’t act like one’. Please DO act like one in all the right ways.

I really really hope I’ve got you all confused now. I don’t suggest you act like the bad side of the tourist title, but you should take advantage of seeing all the touristy things such as…

-Big Ben

-The London Eye

-Eating fish and chips, bangers and mash, and    sheppard’s pie

-The Tower of London

-Buckingham Palace

-Tower Bridge

-The National Gallery

-Trafalgar Square

-Piccadilly Square

-And so many more.

They really make the trip exciting and adventurous. Especially when you finally get to see all the places you had only seen in pictures come to life before your very eyes.

6.    Take so many pictures, and dare I say it, vlog.

Pictures are immensely important. You don’t realize how fast your stay really goes until you’re off on a coach to the next country. Don’t let your camera get in the way of your memory making, but make sure to take some time for it. Your mental snapshots may fade, but a photo helps you keep the memory in check for a very long time. London is filled with great photo opportunities and sticks to a very lovely trilogy of colors: black, white, and red. It really makes your photos interesting without trying too hard. May I also suggest one, or twelve hundred, jumping photos in front of significant landmarks with your friends.  For some reason people suspended in air with interesting backgrounds makes the trip worthwhile. If you didn’t jump in front of Westminster did it really even happen?

Now let me explain vlogging. For those of you that have not yet been sucked into the world of YouTube, vlogging is basically blogging with videos at random exciting or uneventful parts of your day. You update the camera on what’s currently happening, where you’re going, and who are the losers your with and I promise you you’ll record some hilariously stupid conversations to look back on.

7.    COFFEE SHOPS

I don’t care who you are or what your opinions on a cappuccino are, but please stop by 9 out of 10 coffee shops you see. The atmosphere in them is so calm and their drink selections are endless. Not to mention many of them sell awesome Panini’s that I’ve been craving for about two months now thanks to those wonderful pressed sandwiches in London. Even if you’re like “gross, coffee” you can always get a hot chocolate or even just a bottle of water. Just chill and enjoy the free wifi.

8.    Have fun.

London was everything I hoped it would be and more. The culture is perfect and surprisingly the whether was very sunny which is quite unusual. It was probably just fate drawing me farther into the city, where I hope to live for at least some period of time in the future. I don’t need long, but I need it. Probably the most important rule to properly take over London is to have fun. The city is full of promise and opportunities if you take advantage of it. It’s able to accommodate any personality there is, you just have to find what works for you. Whether that be exploring all the museums there are, taking on the night life, going on a river cruse, a ride on the London eye, attending a festival, shopping, or just relaxing by a window in a cozy restaurant with your fish and chips.

Now if you would care to request a follow up including more tips, you can come visit me in my newly established flat in the heart of London.

-Belle xx

Paris, you’re next. 

Cheers To The Brits, But Not To The Airline Food

Once upon a time there was a girl. That's quite an unoriginal opening for a story, but there has been, and will be, worse. It just as well is an opening for the universe, or perhaps a song. "Just a small town girl living in a lonely world..." Okay, so maybe that wasn't what I was going for but there was a girl who has long wavy blonde hair, brown eyes, a craving for adventure, and a love for boy bands that went to Europe for a month and decided to never return. She had a lovely time gallivanting across the following countries: England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Germany. Are you ready to live vicariously through this blonde-haired-brown-eyed-adventure-craving-boy-band-loving girl? Then lets begin.

Chapter 1: Cheers to the Brits, but not to the Airline Food

     It was a lovely Sunday morning. Well, if you can call waking up at a semi ungodly hour, yet pleasurable hour for airport travel as a lovely Sunday morning. Two days after America's "birthday", (or as anyone other than Americans would call it; The Fourth of July), was the departure day for Belle and the rest of the crew to head out of their home land and over to an uncharted territory, for Belle anyways. 

      Belle dragged herself out of the lovely bed that was engulfing her in warmness and out into the frozen tundra of her bedroom. She was surprisingly well rested for one that usually has a hard trouble sleeping before the night of a trip due to the overwhelming levels of excitement coursing through her veins. She got herself to an acceptable state via airport standards and forced down a bit of breakfast while despising every minute of it. Belle is not a morning, or a breakfast person if you haven't yet noticed. After checking, double-checking, and triple-checking her suitcase and backpack, it was officially time to head off to the airport on yet another adventure.  

     Belle was to the airport with plenty of time to spare, but after waiting for the rest of the crew, checking  bags, and getting through security, she had barely enough time to sprint into a coffee shop, throw her money at the cashier, and grab the nearest smoothie she could find (or as fast as the Batista could make it). The connecting flight was boarding and Belle was anxiously making her way back through the familiar halls to her designated gate while partially hoping that she wouldn't have to wait around for any stragglers that were still god-knows-where. 

     She boarded swiftly, tucking her boarding pass safely back into her purse. She'd need that later for the second boarding pass she'd be receiving when she reached Detroit; the layover location. After finding her seat located in the middle of someone she did not know and someone she did know, she settled in for a quick hour flight filled with enjoyable tunes and some Coke. Don't forget the little Delta pretzels. The part of the day that nobody was looking forward to was the 8 hour layover they were about to experience. I mean really, 8 hours? That's unheard of. Who was the twat that picked that connecting flight out? Certainly not Belle.
     The Delta terminal in the Detroit airport is not too shabby. It's one long building complete with a monorail to take you from end to end, a multitude of restaurants to choose from, and a pretty cool fountain.

     The group scanned the list of restaurants, trying to pick one that would occupy a large chunk of the eight hours they had to waste. The decision was made to eat at Max and Erma's, if that is the correct name of the little bar and grill. They had incredibly delicious old fashioned Oreo shakes and wonderful burgers. So if you ever find yourself in the Detroit airport, hit that place up. 

      Card games occupied much of the time as well, four hours if you can believe that. The group found that the excessive amount of time really wasn't too much of an issue. When you have a little fun and some pointless conversations, you can go quite a long way. 

     Belle scanned the empty gate of the terminal they had chosen to play cards in, her eyes falling on the  large clock they had posted at each gate and figured that they should head back to their gate in case of any possible last minute gate change and/or to grab a snack before the flight. Both of the tasks listed had to be done as well as the exchange of a conversation with a lovely British lad before the six hour flight coming their way. 

     The flight boarding process went fairly quickly and Belle was lucky enough to not only get a window seat, but not have anyone sitting in the seat in the middle of the three person row on an international flight! How much better could it get? Her head turned for the window only to discover that, what? 'There's no window?!' The words echoed through her skull and her heart sunk. She had been seated directly in the middle of the wing where the support beam ran over the plane. How could this happen? Gets window seat...without a window? Unheard of. But, at least it was dark out.

     Once the plane had left the ground and was in route to Heathrow, it was time for a movie and some dinner at 11 o'clock at night. The dinner was a mistake. So was the movie. Belle had made the selection of Anchorman for the first couple hours of the flight. She had seen Anchorman 2, but not Anchorman 1 and she was not very impressed. She personally thought the sequel was far more entertaining, and apologizes for all the die-hard original Anchorman fans. The second mistake: the dinner. She chose the pasta that looked to be semi appetizing. No part of it was appetizing. Take a look...

     Belle finished the movie and began to get tired, but the next problem struck. She cannot for the universe sleep vertically and no mater how she attempted to squish herself into a different "comfortable" position, none would prevail. Long story short, the twelve hour sleep she prefers to get was painfully reduced to a 1 hour nap. But don't worry, it's not like they had a full day ahead of them or anything*.

*For those of you that didn't notice or unable to decode the Internet language, that last sentence was dripping with sarcasm. The writer has little patience for those that cannot distinguish sarcasm. This shall be the one and only note. Thank you. 

We're so close to London that I can taste it. 

I'm just a particularly lazy writer that likes a bit of suspense so I'll leave you with this. 

To be continued...? 

I hope so. We've barely made a dent in the Euro trip.

Please comment and tell me if the story format is a good and entertaining idea.

I think it's a bit more fun instead of, "And then we did this, and then we did this."

Is third person bad? Do I sound crazy when I talk about myself (Belle) in this way?

I want to know your thoughts. 

GIVE ME YOUR IDEAS!

Thank you. 

-Belle xx