Make-Up Your Mind

"Am I hiding, or is this just me? Am I not allowed to be who I want to be?"



This wonderful song I've placed above was written by the wonderful Dodie Clark. In the song (which, like all of her originals, is just wonderstruckingly beautiful) she makes it clear that is completely unjust to judge someone for the make-up they wear. There could be many reasons to wear it; just because someone wants to, but also for other reasons, like anxiety. "There's nothing wrong with a little bit of paint."

I think this song has a wonderful message, and as well as this message that I think should be portrayed everywhere, there are others I want to talk about.

Over the years I've heard comments thrown at people who choose to wear make-up. It's always things like someone wearing "too much" make-up, or that the way they have put make-up on their face determines the type of person someone is, much like what "Paint" explains. This isn't cool. People should be able to wear make-up how they wish and be able to experiment with it how they wish without any fear or experience of unnecessary and cruel comments.

I also think it needs to be more widely known that it's completely A-Okay if you don't want to wear make-up! Make-up isn't a "thing" that you have to do as you "grow up". I feel like this is what is thought; like suddenly you have to wear make-up, like you'll have to pay taxes. Make-up is optional! People shouldn't have to wear make-up because they feel they have to.

There's another little branch that comes off of this. If someone feels anxious and wants to wear make-up to feel comfortable, like it says in the song, then that should be totally cool. Of course, if someone feels they'd live a happier life with it, then that is just fine! Yet, it should be known that people shouldn't feel anxious- although that can be easier said than done! In turn, naturally if they feel anxious and don't want to wear make-up, they shouldn't have to. It seems obvious to me from all of these different thoughts that make-up simply is a personal choice.

I watched THIS video a while ago where Bribry also discusses the stigma attached to make-up and ultimately makes it clear how it's a person's decision and it doesn't affect who they are. He also speaks about the fact that he wears make-up and that too is not a problem! *Claps excitedly.* You simply should watch this video because Bribry just says it right!

I wear more make-up some days than others and sometimes none at all. Sometimes I like wearing make-up, sometimes I don't. I don't feel particularly nervous not wearing it, but it sometimes is a habit. There are no reasons for why I personally wear make-up, and so I don't expect to be judged on it.

Ultimately, I think the message of this post is: To wear make-up, to not wear make-up; it's personal choice, and doesn't reflect who someone is, and that's all that matters.

Paint & Pandas,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. I became attached to this title even though it may seem contradictory because it might look like I'm telling people what to think like people may be attaching negative thoughts to make-up and inflicting other people's views. I just mean, to anyone who believes make-up determines who someone is or creates any other negative thoughts towards someone because of it, then people should change their mind like people change their make-up! I don't think I explained that very well, but still!

P.P.S. After re-watching Bribry's video, it may look like my ideas are exactly the same, and although they are my views that I created with my own mind, I think that my views reflecting the views in these videos shows how important this message is!

You're The One That I Want - Giovanna Fletcher

22nd May 2014

The sun had risen, I was awake, and very excited to allow my hands to glide happily over the front cover of Giovanna Fletcher's second novel. The day proceeded and I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

It arrived in a smiling box, delivered to the hands of an excitable girl.

I thought, as I stared lovingly at the pink and blue sky of the novel, I was ready for the heart-wrenching rollercoaster that is Giovanna Fletcher's You're The One That I Want. The tears on my face at the final pages of the novel tell a different story: The Story of Maddy, Rob and Ben.



























15th June 2014

Since finishing Billy and Me (plugplugplug: you can read my review for that HERE, if you wish) last year, I couldn't wait for Giovanna's next piece of written sunshine. In the form of the gorgeously-beautiful You're The One That I Want, there, in front of me sat the novel that was about to entrance me completely.

You're The One That I Want is about three best friends, Maddy, Rob and Ben. It's a story of a first love, an unrequited love, and a raw love that is maybe not unrequited after all. Yet, the story that makes my heart smile and cry is also a concoction involving the loveliest friendship. A friendship that was maybe more fragile than it appeared, and they didn't want it to break. I didn't want it to break.

Maddy is about to walk down the aisle to marry a true love... Rob. Yet, is there always only one true love?

I think Giovanna tackles having two loves wonderfully in her second novel. Without a doubt, I only sympathised with Maddy and hoped her heart was happy, while aching for Ben and smiling still at Maddy and Rob's relationship. It could be a subject that's hard to make innocent, but my heart was completely attached to each character, each relationship and each friendship, wanting everyone to have their happy ending.

The novel follows the best friends' story through the point of views of Maddy and Ben. I love reading books with a  male perspective and reading a story of love through Ben's gorgeously romantic eyes was simply lovely. The way both of the characters tell the story had me completely hooked, and as in love with their love and friendship as they were in love.

Giovanna Fletcher has done it again. I couldn't be more in love with the tale of her second novel. I adore this novel. It felt like I was growing up with the characters throughout the novel. It's sweet, sincere and innocent, and yet heart-breaking and confusing for both me and the characters. It's the most charming read.

Hand Squeezes & Paris,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

In That Moment

While the world restlessly excited the air around them, they remained intertwined. With tranquillity labelling the air they breathed in unison, a new happiness quickened their heartbeats.

Fiddling with her fingers, he knew the feeling of her head on his chest relieved the pain of reality and truth. In that moment, she was the only truth he believed to be untainted by a single lie. The stars had taken their place in the sky, awake and alert among the darkened picture. He whispered that they should go and watch them. He was thankful when she whispered that she liked the view of them from where they were. If they stayed like that for for ever and a day, he wouldn't complain.

Enchantment closed the distance between the two of them and she felt her heart persistently and happily tell her everything that made a smile linger on her lips like a silly, giggly child. An echo of worries was abandoned like the way the sky disowned the day. Commotion continued, but she was unaware. In that moment, she hoped everything she felt was matched by his quiet. She felt a swarm of wonderful new truths accompany her heartbeat as he lifted her fingers to his lips and planted something mirroring her heart's song on the tip of each finger.

He whispered a secret in her ear and their smiles together were one.

A song of excited contentment passed the time as the two of them remained happily quiet.

Magic travelled around their hearts and she told him that it was the best night; her favourite night. He told her there would be more nights, exactly like this, when this one had flown and another had arrived. She told him that he must promise it, and without even the trepidation of a heartbeat, he promised. She must promise him something though. She would, of course. She must always feel special and if she didn't, she must make sure that she soon did.

People smiled knowingly, but they didn't know anything. She did, and he did, and the stars in the sky did.

Their hearts' harmony told each other the words they didn't dare taint the air with; even if they could hear them singing softly in their ears. A duet of stars hummed, and with the reflection of his heart in her eyes, confirmation was not needed; in that moment, two hearts joined.

~

"Youth offers the promise of happiness, but life offers the realities of grief," Nicholas Sparks; The Rescue.

Walks & Benches,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

A Bit of Book Chatter | May

IT'S BOOK HAUL TIME. This makes for a very happy blogger as May has been a beautiful month book-wise!


























You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher

I have been waiting for this glorious delight since I fell deeply and unconditionally in love with Billy and Me, Giovanna Fletcher's first novel. I am well into this stunningly sweet and captivating book and I can't wait to get my review up! (I'm going to cheekily link it HERE when it is up!) The book that I would describe as a heart-warming sunset to read, is about three best friends, Rob, Ben and Maddy. An unbreakable bond between them could be weakened, though, by love.

Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon

New Paige Toon books make me giddyishly (I personally think this should be a word) excited. She writes books that, to me, are the equivalent to eating many butterfly cakes in the sun with lemonade by my side. I can't wait to start this. Thirteen Weddings is about Bronte and the re-introduction to a short-lived romance, Alex. Named as a "bittersweet novel", I am feeling butterflies at the thoughts of Paige Toon making me fall in love with another fictional character.

Lolito by Ben Brooks

I am so very intrigued by this book. The wonderful Amanda from Adventures from the Bookshelf and I decided to read the same book and review it. After a gruelling contest of picking a genre and name out of an online decider, Lolito by Ben Brooks was the winner and I am more than excited to read it. It's about a young 15 year old boy that has a relationship with a middle-aged woman and I feel like it's going to teach me a lot.

Confetti & Bike Rides,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

A Memory

When I think about my childhood, I have many poignant memories and one of them always makes me feel some level of guilt.

It is a memory from when I was on holiday with my family. I can't tell you what age I was exactly but I would have been about three or four. I was sat up on a sunbed and although I can't be certain, I think it was a hot day. Most of my family were in the pool but I didn't want to go in and sat with my mum instead. My dad came up to the side of the pool and excitedly asked me to go in with him. Three or four year old me seemed to have replied with something along the lines of "no" in an angry tone, and seemingly for no reason. "Please," my dad would have continued to ask, still excited and grinning stupidly. I continued to be angry and rejected his offer even though he was seeming sad, both feigningly (whether this is a word or not, I cannot be sure, but I enjoy it) and legitimately too.

Whenever I think of this memory, I hear the phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

I don't feel like my memory is lying when I remember saying "no" just because I wanted to and then becoming even more worked up when my dad protested, thereby making me want to prove a point: I supposedly didn't want to go in.

I wish I did go in.

Throughout my life, when situations - especially involving my dad - like this have occurred, I have thought of this memory and reminded myself that I might feel the regret that I still genuinely feel for not going into the pool after I have potentially said "no." Naturally, this wouldn't apply to situations that have the chance or will end badly for me or others, but with other situations, I can't help feel a feeling in my stomach - that I'm not sure has a name - when I may reject an offer that could mean me and someone bonding. I think it should be called "pre-regret." (Okay, I just searched it up in case it does exist and, well, it does: pre-emptive regret.)

I feel like my rejecting of making my dad smile happened because I couldn't bite my tongue and swallow my irritable mood and, because I regret it so much, in my head my dad was really sad (even though he probably was only momentarily sad) and this upsets me!

Naturally, sometimes I'll have other reasons for not taking up an offer (I might even just not want to or lack motivation) and this is okay, of course, but the moral of this memory is: I try not to cut off my nose to spite my face!

Does a memory of yours tell you something important?

This memory taught me a little lesson that I keep close to my heart.

Making Memories & Trips to the Pool,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

One Minute Past Nine

Scream internally. Scream eternally. She wishes she could scream externally.

Scrunching her hair up in her hands, her mind tormenting her every move, she whispers with complete conviction, "Please."

While her family are downstairs, happily naïve to her struggle, she dares to cry; sadness finally steals her composure. Over time, she realises the rain has stopped: The time has come. She hears her mother call, "We're going for a walk!"

"Okay!" her voice breaks. A whimper dares to escape and panic runs through her veins, fearing her mother heard. Hoping her mother heard.

It was five minutes before she believes she is alone; the silence willing to confirm her confusion; begging her to hear the verdict. You always wear trousers. She hears a voice. You've never worn high heels. You've never wanted to. The cruel voice sneers and pokes and snipes and jabs. You always wear your hair up. "Yes, but," she responds. You never had any feelings for him. You did what everyone else was doing. "I liked him." She looks down at her hands; her blood-red hands.

A voice louder than her heart's persisted every day; a voice she's heard before; a voice that's defined by someone cynical, someone bigger than her. Someone bigger than everyone. And everyone seems to ultimately answer to it. It relentlessly presses on, focussing on every insecurity, every fear and what it believes is a lie.

Unjust, but today, spitefully truthful, she thinks.

She pledges no responsibility to the tears that tell her everything. She was, she wasn't. She doesn't care for the ignorant technicalities; she cares about the knowing. 

Helplessness defines her every breath. Like glass smashing, an invasion of shivers become the girl on the floor in the middle of her shadowed bedroom; the bedroom that feels like a cellar, despite its moments of freedom. In her head, sirens tell her there's no time.

Darkness finally completely surrenders with no fight left in it and she looks at the clock.

It was one minute past nine in the evening when "I'm gay" escaped Hollie's lips without trepidation.

~

It frustrates me so incredibly much that it's society's expectations that can trigger a person into wondering about their sexuality; it's not another person's decision. It also REALLY isn't down to the clothes people wear or how they behave. It frustrates me, too, that it can be a completely draining and unfairly emotional and isolated experience. I've watched a couple of people struggle so much and it's completely heart-breaking and unjust.

We can change it.

Hot Air Balloons & Picnics,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

The Story Behind the Book

In my world, reading is an experience that is more than just the pages I'm turning. The act of reading itself is one that can produce and accompany so many situations.

A book can make a bad situation less bad because time is being spent, alongside enduring a day full of rain, thinking about characters and stories and delving into their worlds. Equally, books will be my best friends in awesome times. They also carry me through lazy days or days without plans.

A few years ago I read The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. At that point in time some rubbish things were happening but with these events being accompanied by one of my favourite novels, I had something to look forward to and to completely savour when I could pick up the book again. It caused me to feel relief throughout the day- even when I wasn't reading. When I was going through those days, I could spend my time excited to read my book and the same when I was reading it. It made the days happier.

I've said that books are exquisite company when the sun is shining in my world. For example, last year, at the point in which I was reading Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher, I was having an awesome time and, thereby, I assign Sophie May and Billy Buskin's story with my positive story last year.

More recently, I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. At that point in time I was having a happy time mixed in with a lot of tiredness and stress but this wonderful story made my current story even brighter. I was completely entranced by the story (and still am!) and getting into bed to have a good ol' read really made my days!

Books really are my best friends.

Do you have any book memories that are attached to a certain book? Has a book ever made you feel more relaxed or more excited or more content?

Blossom & Butterflies,

The Girl in the Moonlight.