5. Lauren Conrad

“Boys are like purses. You’re always gonna have that one boy that you’re always comfortable with and you know you’ll always kind of like. That’s your purse that you wear everywhere. Then you have that gorgeous bag that you want everyone to see you with but the gorgeous bag is usually an asshole or costs a lot of money. Then you have those other purses that you really like but you really don’t want to be seen with”

4. Mila Kunis

“So many people put so much emphasis on what they do that they lose sight of who they are. They fight for something that is so meaningless and frivolous. My whole career could go poof tomorrow and you might never hear of me again.”

3. Christina Ricci

“We all have insecurities, and the thing that makes them crippling is that we all have the ability to blow them up into such huge issues in our minds, that we might as well have a facial deformity. It keeps us from really going out there and living our lives, and forgetting about hating yourself and just experiencing the world around you.”

2. Jennifer Lawrence

“I picked up an issue of Cosmopolitan the other day that had tips for job interviews, because I was like, ‘I need to get better at interviews.’ The article was basically about how to get someone not to hate you in 20 minutes. Every single thing they told you not to do, I was like, ‘I do that every day.”

1. Emma Watson

“I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. I want to avoid becoming something too styled and too ‘done’ and too generic. You see people as they go through their career and they just become more and more like everyone else.”

1. Do not have an opinion about how hard/not hard learning a new language is until you’ve actually tried!!  This is so important! I used to say things about how easy/hard it must be, and you really have no idea until you actually try for yourself. It’s not even that it’s so much more or less hard then you think, it’s just that it is so very different then you imagine it.

2. Consistency is so important, but also, so very difficult. It is far better to practice 30 minutes a day then 4 hours a week. But you’re likely not going to have the motivation to practice every single day. I try to balance the time and frequency of my studying for what I know is reasonable. Some days I study for an hour, some days for 10 minutes, and sometimes I don’t study for a week straight. But I have found the frequent, short bursts of studying are the most effective way to learn.

3. Being brave is literally half of the battle. I know many people say this, but damn is it true!! I think language learning is more a test of the amount I can handle being embarrassed than anything else. I literally have to take time to myself after I speak a lot of Dutch because I feel so self-conscious and overwhelmed. But it’s also the only way you’re ever going to get better! So be brave and try! And just try and remember how impressed/thankful/happy you are when others make an effort to speak your native language. (And if nothing else, at least you know you provided someone with a good laugh!)

4. You’re not always going to know more then you knew the day before. …Actually, sometimes, you’re going to feel like you know a lot less. It’s strange how it works, but sometimes my brain just doesn’t want to speak Dutch…. But the good thing is, you’ll also have weeks where all of the sudden you feel like your skill level has improved X10! It’s definitely not a linear process, but be patient with yourself, you’ll get there.

5. Try as many different methods as you can. Right now I currently have lessons once a week, do audio lessons on my computer, and do Dutch “games” on Livemocha (a language website), along with practicing with my friends and co-workers. Having a variety of ways to learn makes it fun, and keeps things interesting. It can also be helpful for different learning styles to experiment to see what is best for you. What works for one person isn’t always going to work for another.

I could really go on and on about this process, but I’ll stop there for your sake. Basically all you need to know is that yes, it’s going to be hard, but it’s also going to be a rewarding and an amazing journey…  and if nothing else, you’ll have a whole new respect for bi-lingual people!!

Ps: ya, I made that word cloud. Feel free to be impressed with my epic graphic design skillz.

-Carly  (Official Friend of Wonderly!)

Carly is a 23 year old Canadian currently living in Holland. She loves to sew, craft, travel and try new things! More recently she has taken to making youtube videos, which you can find at youtube.com/carlyfriesen. You can also read about her sewing adventures at ASewcialLife.blogspot.com or tweet her @CarlyMFriesen (and she quite enjoys getting tweets!).

1. Multicolored Bus!

2. Snake on a Bike Rack!

3. Stop Sign Flower!

4. Darth Vader Post!

5. A Whole Bridge!

6. My Favorite Tree-Bomb!

7. A Beautified Traffic Cone!

8. A Cityscape on a Fence!

9. Monster Parking Meter!

10. The Ultimate Graffiti

Have you ever yarn bombed? Do you have any favorite yarn bombing photos?

Let us know in the comments below!

Most of the year, Sadie Hillier is a university student in Texas, but this summer she is a Wonderly intern in Los Angeles. She aspires to one day be an adult that makes enough money to feed herself while also doing something she loves. In the meantime, she is the editor-in-chief of a website dedicated to YouTube interviews and recommendations called “Watch It With Me.” You can find her on YouTube at SadieTeachesThings or tweet at her @shadesofsky

And you can find Watch It With Me in all of these places:

• Website: http://www.wiwmonline.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIWMOnline
• Tumblr: http://wiwmonline.tumblr.com/

1. “Weightless” by All Time Low

I remember when I was going through a tough time I would always think of these lyrics to feel better: “maybe it’s not my weekend but it’s gonna be my year.” This song is about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, taking action to make things better, and wanting to live every moment of your life to the fullest.

2.    “The Heart Of Life” by John Mayer

This track always puts a smile on my face because the lyrics are so honest and relatable. Basically, it discusses the ups and downs of life. He’s saying that even when life throws you down, “the heart of life is good”. When I’m having a bad day this song is a good reminder that life is really good despite minor bumps in the road.

3. “I Am Bulletproof” by Black Veil Brides

Almost all of Black Veil Brides’ songs are empowering and revolutionary but I picked this one just to give you a taste of what their new album “Wretched & Divine” has in store. “I Am Bulletproof” is a song about having a purpose in life and fulfilling it full force without giving up (because you are bulletproof!). Black Veil Brides’ message as a band is all about believing in yourself, staying strong amidst difficult times, and being proud of who you are. They are one of my all-time favorite bands and one whose message I am very passionate about.

4.    “Living Louder” by The Cab

This is one of my favorite songs by The Cab; everything about it is so inspiring. The lyrics are about leaving the world a better place than you found it, while living every single day to the fullest potential. In fact, this song reminds me of a cool quote: “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die tomorrow.”

5.     “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has such an inspirational story and she is someone that I look up to as a role model. This song in particular is about going through a difficult time but coming out stronger and better than ever; that is exactly what Demi has done in her own life. She is so brave to share her story with the world, and it has helped so many other girls (including myself) deal with their struggles too. “Skyscraper” is an empowering, beautiful song and it is a perfect example of why I love Demi Lovato so much.

6.    “The Reckless And The Brave” by All Time Low

Yes, one more All Time Low song on this playlist! This one is about growing up in a typical town but having bigger dreams. It’s about going after your goals, feeling inspired, and not staying stuck in a bad place. Aside from the message of the lyrics, the vibe of the song is so anthemic and exciting…perfect to bring up your mood!

7.    “Legacy” by Memphis May Fire

These lyrics make me want to go out and change the world. Fun fact: this is the song that made me fall in love with Memphis May Fire. This track is all about following your heart to achieve your goals and never giving up on them. My favorite line from this song is in the chorus where they say “you were created to do great things but words only come to life when you believe”. So good!!

8.     “Not Your Birthday” by Allstar Weekend

When you’re feeling sad one of the best things you can do is find a random excuse to celebrate. This gives you the perfect reason to throw a party…because it’s not your birthday (unless it is your birthday and then you should probably have a birthday party instead)!

9.    “I Am What I Am” by Jonas Brothers

A major issue that many teen girls experience in school is bullying when others don’t accept who you are. That is something I experienced a lot in middle and high school but I was determined to stay true to myself despite my surroundings. This song is so fun and upbeat but has a very important message that is often overlooked. Be yourself and if the people around you don’t like it, go hang out with someone else; there’s no need to surround yourself with negative people! Never let anyone tell you who you should be and always be proud of who you are.

10. “Everybody Breaks A Glass “ by Lights

Rather than explaining this song in my own words I think it would be more effective to reference one of the wisest pop artists of our generation…Hannah Montana. She said it best: “everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days, everybody knows what I’m talking about and everybody gets that way…nobody’s perfect!”

For real though, we all need a reminder from time to time that “everybody breaks a glass” and nobody is perfect. Aside from the great message, I must admit that the rapping element in this song is super cool!

11.  “Happy” by Never Shout Never

I think the title says it all! The soft ukelele and soothing voice of Christofer Drew goes perfectly with the whimsical lyrics. This song is so adorable and it’s great to send to someone who makes you happy!

12.  “The Great Hendowski” by Of Mice & Men

Many people look up to Austin Carlile as one of the most inspirational lead singers in his genre and this song proves it. The lyrics portray a conversation between someone experiencing a bad time in their life and someone else trying to show them the hope and love that is still left in the world. Something about the lyrics sound so sincere and beautiful. I have a lot of respect for Of Mice & Men for releasing a song like this. If you ever see them live pay close attention to Austin’s speech before they play this song as well, it gave me chills!

13.  “Feel” by Sleeping With Sirens

This is the first track  (and the title track) from Sleeping With Sirens’ new album and I love the vibes of this song. It’s about coming out of a bad time and finally feeling good again. To me, it’s all about celebrating life and being happy (pretty good for an uplifting playlist, huh?).

14.  “Fire (Aim Your Arrows High)” by VersaEmerge

I love this song so much that I have a shirt with these lyrics on it. “Aim your arrows high” is a metaphor for going after big dreams. Goal setting is such a great way to stay inspired! An awesome idea is to start a dream board with pictures representing all of your goals. Taking the pictures of your board after you accomplish them is the best feeling ever. VersaEmerge has such a unique style and this song seriously rocks (forever)!

15. “The Death Of Me” by Asking Alexandria

I never thought I’d see the day when one of Asking Alexandria’s songs makes it on a playlist for uplifting tracks but now it is official! They have traded their “I Am Rock n Roll” attitude for a new perspective. They still mention their dark past but rather than relishing in it, they say that they won’t be brought down again. Although tough times can leave some scars, staying strong and fighting against negativity is the first step to living a healthy and happy life.

16. “Liberty Walk” by Miley Cyrus

“Liberty Walk” is totally different from everything else on the playlist since it is a dance song but that’s what makes it so awesome. It’s about breaking free and living your life the way to want to. Girl power!

As you can clearly see, I included a wide variety of genres on this playlist so there is something for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully these songs lifted your spirits and put a smile on your face. So now, do the same for someone else and share this blog post with your friends!

What began as a thought floated out by us, transformed into a full fledged campaign. The girls did a poll on what charity they most wanted to represent and decided on Women for Women International. After that a script was written and all the girls filmed bits and pieces of it.

Carly Friesen then edited it all together for the Rally.org page that Jenn Null set up.

We are so incredible proud of not only the video and campaign but of how well these girls were able to work together and collaborate.

Now let’s help them reach their goal!

-The Wonderly Team

1. BrizzyVoices for Operation Smiles

2. MaliaAuParis for Heifer International

3. eLizzieBooks for The Humane Society

4. Kylie Sparks for Central Oklahoma Humane Society

5. Abb3rz07 for Melodic Caring Project

6. The Friends of Wonderly for Women for Women International

I was perusing Old Navy the other day, and I almost didn’t buy some flip flips for $1.99 because they were too plain. Then I realized that I was passing up an opportunity to CRAFT. So I bought three pairs. Here’s what I came up with:

I have some brief descriptions below, but I also have a video of how I did the whole project, which you can watch here:

First, I took some ribbon, and wrapped it around the strap, using hot glue to secure into place. I used really thin ribbon because I like blue and orange together and I wanted both colors to be visible. You could also do this with a thicker ribbon and cover the whole strap, if you’d like.

Next, I dug out some lace trim that has an awesome heart print in the rainbow variegation in it. I used hot glue to attach it, and this one went by super easily, so if you’re looking for a quick way to dress up a pair, I suggest this one.

Finally, I really wanted to attach rhinestones to this pink pair. I bought the pink pair to PUT RHINESTONES on. But then, as I was digging through my boxes labeled “craft stuff,” my rhinestones were nowhere to be found. All I could come up with were some glass beads with a flat bottom, so I glued those on. I actually like these a lot more than I thought I was going to! They do look pretty fancy on, because the glass beads reflect nicely.

So those are my suggestions for how to dress up some plain flip flips! If you dress up flip flops (even if you do them completely differently!) I wanna see them! Send me a picture on twitter or instagram @techni_moments.

Good Luck!
Jenn

1. Supernatural

The fandom behind this CW show is incredible and we can see why. The show is based around two brothers following in their father’s footsteps as “hunters” fighting all types of evil supernatural (get it?) beings. It doesn’t hurt that the brothers are played by the adorable Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.

2. The X-Files

While this show may have ended in 2002, it’s 9 seasons still hold up! X-Files deals with two FBI agents, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully,  investigate all the strange and unexplained while other forces strive to stop them. If nothing else, you should watch the show to get all the references that are sprinkled throughout other popular shows.

3. FireFly

From the brilliant mind of Joss Whedon comes this sadly short lived western/sci-fi show.  It features a rag-tag team of space travelers as they embark on adventures and piss off the powers that be. The impeccable casting mixed with Whedon’s notoriously enthralling story-telling makes this show a must watch!

4. Fringe

Centered around a quirky institutionalized scientist and a straight forward FBI agent, Fringe explores the unexplainable in this hit drama series. Mix in interesting plot lines and Joshua Jackson and you’re got a happy viewer on your hands!

5.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer

We couldn’t create this list without the kickass Buffy Summers. Showing that female characters can be complex AND badass, Buffy is a role model for all. The bubbly teen fights Vampires and (spoilers!) even falls in love with one!

What shows did we leave off the list? Let us know in the comments below!