Safe Haven

BEFORE SEEING THE FILM AT THE CINEMA.

I love Nicholas Sparks novels for so many reasons: the perfect characters; the beautiful feelings and actions of the characters; the obstacles the characters overcome; the moral and sometimes maybe-not-what-everyone-stereotypically-wanted endings. Safe Haven, I love for the perfect characters and heart-breaking pasts that still haunt them but I also adore the novel for the thrill.

At parts, the pace of the novel literally made my heart pound faster, fearing for the characters that I love oh so much; so lost in the plot that I may as well be alongside them. Like every other Nicholas Sparks novel, "I could not put it down" and with Safe Haven, it was definitely because of the thriller aspect of it - and, of course the perfect characters of Katie and Alex.

I fall for the male love interests in Nicholas Sparks novels every time; there'd be no point trying not to. Alex, the man in Safe Haven, I love for the way he loves Katie as well as his late wife, Carly. His deep love for his children, however is what made me fall deeply and unconditionally for Alex. It's just too sweet for my heart to take. The main characters that are fathers in Nicholas Sparks novels are always perfect and I always note, after reading a charmingly constructed part of the character's view and love of their children that it must exist due to it reflecting how much of an awesome dad Nicholas Sparks is. I genuinely don't doubt that.

I have been raving about this novel since I read it over two years ago and, like every time a Nicholas Sparks novel is adapted into a film, I have rosy cheeks and the thought of seeing the film.

Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again you must learn to trust again.

AFTER WATCHING THE FILM. 03:57 IN THE MORNING.

The cast, as it is for every Nicholas Sparks adapted film, I knew would be perfect, and sat, popcorn and sweets spread before me, I knew my love for Josh Duhamel would cause me to comfort eat to the max and oh my, it did.

The film was sweet but bitter, calming yet heart-pounding. You get the oxymoron-based picture I'm painting for you, right? My emotions were on that "roller-coaster ride" you often hear about during those two hours and I haven't yet stepped off of it.

Another thing that I adore about books written by the brilliant Nicholas Sparks is that way he sets the scene: "Lilies sprouted amid the wild grass in what once was a flower bed..." and the film adaption of Safe Haven gave me chills with the beautiful beach and the area surrounding Katie's home. Even the roads in the neighbourhood had something so homely-small-town about them. Absolutely stunning. Do you know what made the scenery even more perfect? Josh Duhamel.

The characters matched my imagination when reading the novel and this makes me incredibly happy. Alex was passionate and sweet and Katie was damaged yet, at the same time that female hero that made me be full of that strong-woman mentality. Cobie Smulders? She was just incredible.

Like the novel, I was lost in the film and the romance as well as the tension beneath the love and beauty that ended with explosions in my eyes.

HERE is the trailer for the film.

Bikes & Photos

The Girl in the Moonlight.

YouTubers: hchsknights08

So, Alyssa Bernal, hchsknights08 http://www.youtube.com/user/hchsknights08 is amazingawesomeIloveher.

Alyssa's voice is the definition of warm honey. It's so beautiful and whenever she uploads a new cover, I literally sit there with my mouth wide open. It's just pure talent and effortless. Recently she uploaded a cover of my song of the moment, Just Give Me A Reason with Josh Milan and so I was one happy camper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRZ8cn_4EYE ...just. *Sighs*, it's so perfect. She's so pwetty.

Another thing I think is awesome about her, is her portrayal of herself. She always seems so kind and genuine and you can't beat that, eh? I've spent days listening to her covers and not wanting to do anything but. Her originals are also fantastical. My favourite is Stay and her acoustic version is perfection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO0lTCPWdhw  Check out her album.

"Trying to make sense of everything that don't make sense."

 

I've been on the Bernal Journey for a long time and I'll never leave ;). I'm genuinely so proud of everything she's accomplished.

 

Favourite cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYX3dva4gO4 OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ52z2oMFPY

Favourite colab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh6pHanO6C0&list=UUO_u7exReRkRxAKPdjFlj0g&index=42

Taylor Swift cover I cannot stop listening to right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h3vMOlyoLc&list=UUO_u7exReRkRxAKPdjFlj0g&index=4

 

Hugs & Unicorns,

 

The Girl in the Moonlight.

YouTubers: AlexGMusic7

This blog post is about Alex G, AlexGMusic7: http://www.youtube.com/user/AlexGMusic7 as her covers and originals make my wee heart melt. Subscribe to her for virtual cupcakes.

My love for Alex began after seeing her in a video with Tyler Ward and Alex Goot when she had only 21 subscribers!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7gUcEPaGs

I loved her more and more in the next few videos with Tyler: her voice and how funny she was. I watched a few Ustreams with her and Tyler and she read out one of my comments and as I fangirled, this obsession became real. I loved her and Tyler's friendship and she always seemed so real and genuine. All I seem to be doing is typing out a list of her awesome qualities and that's the only way I can think of portraying her awesomeness without you checking her videos and seeing what the hay I'm talking about.

I am writing about Alex now because of her recent cover of Demi Lovato's Heart Attack  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwANwqorm74 which I had on replay for two days straight. The things is, this happens every time she uploads a new cover and I end up procrastinating my day away simply because she's so talented. One which literally had me up all day and night listening was her and Jon D's cover of Everything Has Changed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm6YB4XsQXE

"And my story book is better off with pages still unwritten."

Her originals are also another attribute to her sheer awesomeness and I love every single original she has shown. You should definitely check her and her EP out on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/foun...

Oh yeah, and she is ridiculously pretty.

*Christmas 2013*
Dear Santa,
Please can I have her voice?
x

Favourite original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1pqZfOVx70
Favourite cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TnJF8osk5Y
Favourite Alex, Tyler & Epicc video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzPcLtpHtRc&list=PLF077C9DD67E5CF3D&index=51 OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL0pIPVOfkM&list=PLF077C9DD67E5CF3D

Dinosaurs & Apple Pie,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Birds

Verse 1
Birds flying high in the sky,
A cliché without disguise,
People just keep walking by,
“He’s too far, he’s too gone to fly”,

Verse 2
A sad broken man all alone,
No place or no one to call home,
No memories or thoughts, please hold on,
Some day you’ll be free, just hold on,

Chorus
But he can’t see the sunshine,
It’s there I promise you,
And he can’t see the sunshine,
Happiness overdue,

Verse 3
Waking up just past 2 a.m.,
She’s back in his dreams again,
His love, his heart, his friend,
Now all that remains is the end,

Verse 4
He cannot see past her mirage,
No water or her, it’s his heart,
He’s waiting and he won’t give up,
He’s praying that soon she’ll be back,

Chorus
But he can’t see the sunshine,
It’s there I promise you,
And he can’t see the sunshine,
Happiness overdue,

Middle 8
The rain glitters past his fingertips,
The sweet droplets singing her song,
When the puzzle pieces all fit,
He’ll realise that she’s not gone,

Adjusted Chorus
And he will see the the sunshine,
Because I promised him it was there,
And when he sees the sunshine,
He’ll be free like the birds again.

Loving a Band is...

People looking in on the outside of those with a deep love - yes, love - for a band can often judge and more often than not will not understand. Now, this can be frustrating; incredibly frustrating.

Loving a band is watching those members through a computer screen and just grinning. That grin, I tell you, is more than a grin: it's an action expressing the pure happiness those members inject. A grin that, for the moment replaces those three words (that they, every day express for the band members) into a silence. That's not "just a grin". Sometimes, a video, a simple four minute video can protect that girl/boy from the "outside world" and that's more important that those on the outside will ever know. Loving a band is days, weeks, months of excitement before they appear on TV. That moment, when they're presented before many people is a chance for everyone else to experience their sheer talent and flawless personalities. Loving a band is defending them. Defending them when those opposing the party will never quite understand. Defending them because they're perfect as, for you, they're always there. Loving a band is saviour. A saviour from every day life; a saviour from normal struggles; a saviour from deeper struggles. A saviour nonetheless. Listening to the music they create; the music that speaks volumes to those besotted with the band is more than "that tune on the radio". It's seeing the meaning behind the studio versions, the talent behind the acoustic sets and the happiness of the band members when watching them perform live. Loving a band is seeing them live and for that hour and a half not believing what's happening; for that hour and a half it's simply them and the band. Loving a band is mourning for days, weeks, however long after a gig; knowing that that night was more beautiful than their continual excitement will ever be able to portray.  Loving a band is falling for not only the band members, but the relationships inside of the band: the relationships of the band members. Do not underestimate her/his happiness for the members' love for one another. The members' love is their happiness. Loving a band is the music. Loving a band is smiles, crying, excitement. Loving a band is forever.

Jelly Beans & Apple-Flavoured Lip Gloss,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

YouTubers: Sprinkle of Glitter

I'm going to write a series of blog posts about my favourite youtubers and I'm going to start off by talking about Louise, Sprinkle of Glitter: http://www.youtube.com/user/Sprinkleofglitter

Her youtube channel consists of videos relating to beauty, her lovely daughter Darcy (Baby Glitter) and life in general.

The reason I shall start with Louise is because of a video that I watch fairly often as, like a lot of people, I have issues with the mind-set regarding how I look. This video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa5aaA-zvxY and although I can tell myself to get out of the mind-set; "there's more to me than looks", sometimes it's difficult so I sit back, watch Louise and think, "yeah, I'm am good enough". I, personally think everyone should and can be positive about themselves and when I forget for a moment, Louise reminds me. I think Louise deserves endless glitter and hugs for this.

Not only this, but Louise's attitude towards life in general and being happy is so bright and positive. It's refreshing, especially considering some horrible, personal experiences she has been through. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzKl5-xVRY - This is her video on being happy.

She's so jolly and sooo pretty and spreads positivity that can always cheer me up! I love her blog posts and tweets and her relationships with everyone in her videos and yeah...she's so gwweeeeat! I just hope that I can possess her positivity and outlook on life. Just, yeah...subscribe to her. She's awesomesauce.

Favourite Louise & Zoe video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KImIGX_27lY&list=UUfAEEhKikW1676DCa_0OWLA&index=8
Favourite vlog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht71Jc5qxt0
Favourite collab video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0UqcuVcTQs&list=UUfAEEhKikW1676DCa_0OWLA&index=14 OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?

Smiles & Milkshake,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Eyes Alight

The Eyes Alight appeal is a part of BIRT (Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust) formed due to Izzy Judd being "inspired" by her brother, Rupert and his sad story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T1wUWyjfJg

Not only does this bring floods to my eyes (every time), it's even worse to think about the amount of people with these stories. Yet, the Eyes Alight appeal is a way to make, as Izzy says, the process "brighter".

"Eyes Alight is totally inspired by my brother Rupert who suffered a serious brain injury as a result of a car accident. Rupert's story is just one of so many stories about people who, sadly, are going through long term brain injury rehabilitation. After getting to know other service users at Kent House, I noticed that there were things that would make a big difference to their lives. For example, laptops to help them keep in touch with their family and friends, developing a sensory garden for everyone to enjoy, and providing music therapy sessions which are both fun and an aid to rehabilitation. By supporting the Eyes Alight Appeal, together we can make brain injury rehabilitation a little bit brighter." - Izzy Judd [Johnston].

When I sit and think about it, I just think how sad it is; how much it - quite frankly - sucks: that all these futures have been altered; all these lives of their families - of the victim - have been changed but then I think (and as heart-wrenching as it is): this stuff happens all the time and look at what an awesome charity has been a result of such a terrible thing.

Their aim is simple: the money raised helps patients smile a little more. This could be by having new equipment for their favourite hobby or going on a day out. It, in turn, makes the eyes become "alight".

Be sure to check them out and donate if you can! http://www.thedtgroup.org/brain-injury/eyesalight

Hearts & Gumdrops,

The Girl in the Moonlight.