When you Google “turning 27”, you find that the general consensus on reaching this age is that it’s a weird time in your life when your whole world turns around.
Author: Elizabeth Rosalyn The
Elizabeth is a Vancouver-based writer and editor. Her first book “Beyond Black and White” is available now. She is an old soul who's young at heart, a human jukebox, and a corgi lady in training.
A Final Encore for American Idol
American Idol changed my life. I’ve written multiple essays on this very statement over the years, but I’ve never been able to fully express just how much of an impact this televised singing competition has had on me since 2002 (and specifically the last eight years).
Besides the usual suspects (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Daughtry), Idol introduced me to many of my favourite artists today, including David Cook, David Archuleta, Brooke White, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Haley Reinhart, Casey Abrams, Phillip Phillips, and last but never least, the late and great Michael Johns. The unique talents that have emerged from this show over the past fifteen years have made me sit up and listen to their creative takes on modern music with fresh and eager ears. They’ve also opened my eyes up to a global community of music lovers, and the connections I’ve made with fellow Idol fans have turned into some of the greatest friendships I’ve ever been blessed to have.
As Season 15 premieres tonight and begins the search for the last American Idol, I hope that this final season will be a fine and fond send-off for the Idol series, with a solid cast, a worthy winner to bookend Kelly Clarkson, and a huge celebration of all the years of memories that have gone by.
To me, Idol was more than just a game. It was a game-changer. Following this show has been a crazy and unforgettable ride, and I’m excited to tune into (and blog about) this farewell season with all of the Idoloonies out there.
Because this…. is American Idol! Dim the lights, Kieran, and here we go…
Image Credit: Fox
My Super Sweet 2016
“Sixteen candles make a lovely light.”
In my teenage dreams, I was always anxiously looking ahead to the next chapter – finishing middle school, getting past that nerve-wracking freshman year of high school, and culminating in the grand Sweet Sixteen celebration, when all of my awkwardness and terrors would be vanquished once I turned 16 and graduated into that pre-adulthood stage of life.
Of course, things didn’t turn out quite that way. I’m well into my twenties now and still have my fair share of insecurities, uncertainties, and fears (spoiler alert – no matter what age you are, that never goes away).
But as I sit here to reflect on the past and consider my goals for the present, I’m realizing that these past two years have been exponential times of personal and professional growth for me. Confident, courageous, and happy aren’t words I could have used to describe myself at the beginning of 2014, but I can say so now. And I think that calls for a celebration, damnit!
2014 was all about surviving the quarter-life crisis and starting my career. 2015 was all about ‘making it happen’ and streamlining myself for the future. In 2016, I want to continue to broaden my horizons, in areas like travel, career, volunteering, education, fitness, home, creativity, and friendship, and just follow the yellow brick road towards learning and experience. In addition to that, I also want to make it a top priority to celebrate both my ongoing discoveries and accomplishments, as well as extend that congratulatory and celebratory spirit to others. Too often, we forget to give ourselves a much-deserved pat on the back, but acknowledging ourselves and each other is an important element of attaining satisfaction.
With that being said, My Super Sweet 2016 is going to be all about making this year a time for celebration, along with adventure, playful indulgence, weird wonderfulness, and treatin’ yo self.
What’s your grand vision for your 2016?
2015: A Year in Review
Everything that transpired in 2015 ties back to my mission of being more focused on and involved in shaping who I want to be and steering myself closer towards where I want to go.
By challenging myself to Make it Happen – to lean in, live in the here and now, and bypass my fears by taking progressive risks – I strengthened my confidence, initiative, productivity, and overall well-being. Nothing is a better example of the positive benefits of daring greatly than my solo trip to London in April. It was audaciously outside of my comfort zone, but man, was it ever worth it! Make it happen? I made it happen in 2015!
Must-See Movies for Christmas 2015
The act of going to the movie theater on Christmas Day is not as outlandish as it may sound. It’s a common tradition for families that don’t celebrate Christmas (since the majority of business establishments are closed) and for families that balance their day of staying in for presents, food, and conversation with going out to enjoy a cinematic experience together in the evening.
With those factors in mind, it’s no wonder that theaters see some of their biggest ticket sales on the 25th and why the movie studios capitalize on the Christmas Day release date year after year. Judging from this week’s new film releases, the 2015 season plans on delivering a sack of top-notch pictures. Here are six movies up for your considerate viewing on December 25th…
Continue reading on The Hudsucker…
Elizabeth Rosalyn 