Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
As mentioned in a post I wrote last year, (which you can read here) I’m an avid reader and much of my year is spent in anticipation of the release of sequels, and in this case finales, to my favourite series (plural). Just as last year, many books I spent countless hours on Tumblr awaiting came out in 2014. Of course there are way to many to mention, so I really had to narrow it down to my true favourites, which means that two authors are making repeat appearances on my list.
City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) – Cassandra Clare
Although the film for City of Bones was truly horrendous and once again made me lose faith in good book-to-movie adaptations, COHF was a real showstopper. Loose ends being tied up, my ships finally sailed and very subtle humour made for a captivating read and left me questioning how truly horrible the antagonist was. Not to mention that the art on the inside of the dust cover is pretty sweet. What a way to end the series. Although I must say, I’m going to miss it. With Lady Midnight, the first instalment of The Dark Artifices being released this coming fall, at least there’s something else to look forward to.
The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5) – Rick Riordan
I’ve been in love with everything and anything Percy Jackson since my twelfth birthday. Despite the fact that it was truly heartbreaking to finally have to say goodbye to many of my favourite characters of all-time, I couldn’t put it down. Battles, suspense and even a touch of romance make this book the crowning jewel of my collection. I really hope that there are no more movies in the works pertaining to the original Percy Jackson series or Heroes of Olympus, because what’s come out to date has made me lose slight faith in humanity. ‘Nuff said.
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) – Laini Taylor
I must admit, even though it was released in April, I didn’t get around to reading it until recent weeks. Not often do you find a book where lovers who should theoretically be against each other work together for the common good; to mend the rift between their people and reverse the fate that their world would be subject to. Most of the questions that were lingering in the back of my mind after having read the first two books were answered and I am still astonished at how well-developed the secondary characters are, considering how many of them there are. Complete with the Stelian subplot which added even more depth to this already emotionally taxing read, it was, a perfectly bittersweet way to end the trilogy.
As much as I know, most people have difficulty sticking with their New Year’s resolutions for more than one week. 2015 is just around the corner; hence, I present to you- tips to stick to your resolution.
This year, I have resolved to stop shampooing my hair and using chemical products to make it soft. Over the past year, my dependence on hair care products had increased and it was having a detrimental effect on my hair. As of now, it has been a few days since I stopped shampooing. My hair hasn’t turned greasy (yet), it’s still a little dry. I hope to rejuvenate it and make it healthy again!
What are you guys’ resolutions? Let me know in the comments below or Twitter. Happy New Year!
For the readers in Calgary, Olympic Plaza is having a free event on New Years’ Eve, from 9 pm to midnight. There will be hot chocolate, skating, music and fun! Check out the list of events on New Years’ Eve!
Out of all the other holidays that take place in a year, New Year’s Eve seems to be the one most exclusive to adults. The often romanticized image of the glamorous night probably includes sipping champagne in a renowned city; probably at a bar situated at the top of a landmark tower. As Hollywood as that sounds, we’ve all got a few more years until it even has the possibility of happening. In the meantime, instead of sitting at home and watching a movie about the events described above, here are three youth-friendly New Year’s Eve events that will make for an amazing start into 2015 — Hollywood or not.
1. New Year’s Eve Outdoor Party
(Image: Calgary Herald)
Many may have participated in this exciting annual event in past years, and if you haven’t, now’s the time! Hosted in Olympic Plaza, expect a night of music, live performances, and ice sculptures. The skating rink will also be open for use. Bring your own skates or borrow for free at the site. All the riveting entertainment will cumulate in a midnight countdown that you won’t want to miss. This is a free event and will run from 9pm-12am.
Another highly coveted event here in Calgary, Zoolights is an annual event that takes place on the Calgary Zoo grounds. Many families, couples, and friends visit the event each year for the amazing light displays, as well as free skating and other fun activities. All these features can be enjoyed on Zoo Year’s Eve, as well as a dazzling fireworks display starting at 8:00pm. This event runs from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and tickets are $13 for youth and $17 for adults. Tickets must be purchased online prior to the event and are limited in number! Claim yours, before it’s too late.
If you’re looking to escape the busy city festivities for a different New Year’s Eve experience, Canmore will be hosting its annual Party on the Pond event, featuring hot dogs, an on-site DJ, ice-skating, and two separate firework shows to accommodate for guests of all ages. This event is free and will run from 6:00pm to 10:15pm. Party on the Pond will conclude with a midnight firework display at Millennium Park.
The fleeting passage of time will never cease to amaze me. In one blink, another year has already passed, but with the number of crazy events that went down in 2014, it felt like several years to me. I was blessed with many amazing opportunities this year, and I also made many milestones. Reaching my final year of high school has really made me slow down and reflect on all life that has to offer (and that’s a lot). In case you don’t remember 2014 too well, my fellow Youth Are Awesome bloggers have hit some of the highlights from this year.
{January}
Humans started our journey to exploring other planets by launching the Mars One mission.
Obviously, there are some events missing due to bad timing and exams for the bloggers. (Though, our lovely Youth Are Awesome members did try to cover them all.) Moving on to some events that haven’t already been mentioned, YouTube released its annual Rewind video and I must say that this one is my favourite so far.
Many of the events covered by Youth Are Awesome were quite sad (as sad events are usually what end up on the news), but 2014 was also a great and prospering year. From Buzzfeed, we can see some great moments in 2014 for feminists. There were some great Vines as well, which you can check out on Distractify. Rotten Tomatoes shares the 100 best movies of this year, SPIN gives us a list of their 101 best songs, and Goodreads presents the best books of 2014.
I wish everyone the best in 2015, and maybe this post will inspire you to take a moment to reflect on the year that just passed. What were your favourite moments of 2014? Comment down below!
Hey guys, one of the things I adore most in life are ironic moments. These moments make you take a quick break out of life and just make you chuckle. Hope you enjoy some of these ironic photos.
Get it?Get it?Get it?Get it?Get it?Get it?
Get it?Get it?
Get it?Get it?Get it?Get it?Get it?
I hope you guys understood and enjoyed these ironic photos. It’s very interesting to see how irony can be easily played with.
Most of you probably have never heard of the Calgary Wind Symphony (CWS). Originating in 1947, the CWS was just a small-town band who performed at the annual Stampede Parade. Currently they play at many festivals worldwide. The symphony has been conducted by numerous talented music directors and is currently being led by University of Calgary saxophone professor, Dr. Jeremy Brown. This concert was composed by Christaan Venter, who just so happens to have previously conducted my school’s band. I was given the wonderful opportunity to attend the CWS concert–my first, but certainly not my last.
The Calgary Wind Symphony
This concert displayed a song called Double Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Cello this colourful piece was commissioned by the Calgary Wind Symphony and it featured the saxophonist Jeremy Brown and cellist Morag Northey as the soloists. The unusual combination of saxophone, cello, and wind symphony allowed for the blending of classical and jazz musical traditions in a modern idiom.
I especially enjoyed the performance of the song “Greensleeves” which as originally written by King Henry 8th. I’ve always wanted to hear the song Greensleeves after doing a research project on King Henry 8th. There is a persistent belief that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for his lover and future queen Anne Boleyn. Boleyn allegedly rejected King Henry’s attempts to seduce her and this rejection may be referred to in the song when the writer’s love “cast me off discourteously”. This song was played to perfection by the band.
Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
Overall this was a very enjoyable concert. However, I feel that there were some parts that could be improved. I would have enjoyed more variety in the music. The music that was selected was not showcasing different instruments in the band. In all of the songs the clarinets and saxophones were only instruments that were showcased. I would like to see a variety so that the clarinets and saxophones aren’t always the melody. I feel like the diversity in the instruments would have made the concert overall more enjoyable. The balance of the band was the main issue that I found. Although the instruments were well blended often the sound of some instruments would get lost. I think if the band was better balanced they would produce a improved sound.
The Calgary Wind Symphony is definitely a must-see Calgary talent group. The ensemble is an excellent example of individually great musicians coming together to form beautiful music that will appeal to all ages. I highly recommend seeing them live, and tickets for their upcoming concerts in the 2014/15 season range from $12-15 per show, with a discounted season package. For general information and future show dates, head over to http://calgarywindsymphony.com/.
December 3rd, the journey had begun. I now set out to prove a point I made with very little information. “Christmas songs aren’t that difficult, let’s make one.” Although I never enjoyed Christmas music, I have a lot of respect for those who produce any music so I thank those who are dedicated to the art of music production.
Without further ado, the inside story of our very own Elvin Limpin. We spoke soon after beginning our collaboration on “Peace To All”. And I asked him the following questions in hopes of getting to know the esteemed music producer:
When did you first get into music?
I’ve always been into music, I played piano when I was little. I got into electronic music when my cousin got into rap and I was like “Hey why don’t I produce beats for him?” I started to meet more people in an electronic music summer camp so that’s where everything really started.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start producing their own music?
Don’t think that you can do it all on your own. Ask for help and creative input. But at the same time, don’t let them limit your creativity and be open to different genres and styles.
What inspires your music style?
What I’m feeling today. My friends usually have a big influence. My influence continuously evolves depending on the life stages I’m in, and I think that’s true for a lot of artists. Other artists also inspire me as well and direct where my music goes.
What was a really defining moment for you as a musician?
Defining moment…Last summer I took a music production course at Beat Drop. Back then I had no idea how to DJ. Interacting at Beat Drop, I learned how to DJ and what my friends like and how to produce what the public likes. Also in grade eight choosing to join band helped me focus more on the theory part of music. I used to be one of those people who liked music based on how catchy it was but band gave me insight into the more technical side of production.
Who is your greatest musical role model?
Nicholas Senaraine or ‘axiom.’ because I’ve known him for years and I’ve seen his progression in music and his perseverance and persistence despite people telling him that music is not for him. It’s these qualities that I really admire and strive to adopt. [https://soundcloud.com/imaxiommusic]
What are your intentions in music?
I believe that music is constantly changing and I want to be one of those drivers of change in the music world.
How has music helped shape your life?
A lot of my friends are into music. It’s somewhere I can communicate my emotions and hear from others. It’s like a different language. But the most important thing music has done for me is giving me a way to have fun. It’s what fills my down time and it’s something I enjoy.
What are you most excited for in 2015?
I’m excited to go further in my music and in discovering new artists like Elene Otte who will be featured in this son [I did not pay him to say that]. I’m also open to pursuing a couple other directions, perhaps starting a new band or getting more into DJing and perhaps composing more and trying some song writing.
And of course I saved the hardest question for last:
What’s your favourite song?
I like a lot of songs and it changes a lot but at the moment it’s probably Varien by Valkyrie because it incorporates a lot of styles and genres. A lot of songs nowadays all sound the same because they’re all trying to make a song that once sounded good. This song manages to combine the best of everything yet remain unique. [https://soundcloud.com/monstercat/varien-valkyrie-feat-laura]
I have never been a fan of Christmas music. (Sorry to those dedicated fans!) I find carols quite repetitive, the kind of songs that once you get into your head, they just never become unstuck. They’re repetitive, not overly complex (complexity being something I appreciate in music) and just a little too bouncy. So what was my plan? To make a Christmas song to prove that there wasn’t much to it.
I initially set out to write a single article on the relative simplicity of the music in terms of a standard recipe of “How to Make a Hit Christmas Song”. I planned the article to go something along the lines of “Step 1) Bells. Step 2) Cheesy lyrics. Step 3) Repeat.” Although it’s not quite like that, this was the initial idea I held as I contacted someone to help me with this task of actually composing a song. This is honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Elvin Limpin, also known as ‘Nestryle’ to the music world, was the person I had the honor of working with for the creation of the song. I approached him with the idea one morning in band, having only recently heard some of his music, and he agreed immediately. I had nothing but the idea formulated so the next morning when we met to discuss, we had both the tune and the lyrics that didn’t match up. I wrote the lyrics just based upon the stereotypical Christmas, combining the craziness of the season with the peace and family that it brought together.
Honestly glad to have the music, I embarked upon the most difficult task in my life up till now. Writing lyrics to a song I didn’t fully understand. I come from more of a classical choir background in terms of singing, so writing lyrics to electronic music was something I’m glad I had the opportunity to do and will in the future.
I’m not going to lie and say that I always had respect for electronic music, more than once jumping the “it’s-not-music” bandwagon in my ignorance. I can easily now admit that I had no idea what I was talking about. Electronic music is more than what I thought with many aspects and genres that I still barely understand. Music has so many different outlets even in a singular style. and I can compare this to my classical background in terms of different time frames having completely different styles and feels. This task was certainly not as easy as I had initially thought upon embarking on this journey.
The song will be officially released on Christmas Eve and it is entitled ‘Peace To All’.
Last week, I shared 10 awesome posts I found on my journey through my Pinterest dashboard. As promised, I am back again this week to highlight some more amazing tips, tricks, and inspirations.
There are some people out there who can do amazing things with a little pen and a photo editing software. The fan art that I find on the internet never fails to blow me away (whether it is breathtaking or atrocious). This rendition of Jack Frost gives him a little bit of an anime edge, but he is just as cute. The soft glowing details really contrast the cool nature of Jack Frost, and we can’t forget about that mischievous grin.
I’m not going to lie, after reading this list I had to reevaluate my makeup habits. Since I don’t wear makeup frequently, I often forget to do things such as clean my brushes or throwing out makeup after a few months. As long as we are all contentious of our faults we can work towards fixing them.
Any and all subject matter related to Harry Potter is worth mentioning, in my books. I find this toilet decal hilarious, and it also makes a great gift for lovers of the (book and/or movie) series.
Before I read this post, I didn’t even realize that I was considered a petite woman. Considering the fact that I have a height complex, it took me a while to digest. Alas, I had to accept my fate (of being 5’5″ for the rest of my life) and work with my “short” stature. This post also gives really great tips for styling on curvier petite girls, so all us body types can rejoice in knowing that there’s a style out there for us.
The pictures used in this article just made me drool buckets. If you don’t want to learn how to make this after looking at these photos, then I assume that you are the type of person who is okay with eating cardboard. If you love food as much as I am, you will appreciate this simple yet delicious recipe. It can make for a very nutritious breakfast or brunch, and you can customize the cheese and bread to your dietary standards. You no longer have an excuse for not eating breakfast.
I love experimenting with new styles for my hair, but I am not very coordinated. These hairstyles may take some of you a lot of trial and error, while others will find it a breeze. No matter what, the articles for each hairstyle break down the steps with pictures and word instructions, so you can follow along at your own pace. Many of these hairstyles look intricate, but you will find that they become quite simple with practice. (Sorry short haired gals/guys, I’ll try to find something for you next time.)
We all have a love-hate relationship with Frozen and The Hunger Games. They are both quite brilliant in their own ways, but the hype that each franchise has received makes us roll our eyes whenever either is mentioned. Whether out of love or spite, someone has decided to come up with this hilarious text post poking fun at the “uniqueness” of Frozen and THG. Although, Frozen did come out almost a year after the first Hunger Games movie… Suspicious…
To me, this quote basically means to live for yourself and to do things for others (not to do things to gain their attention). If what you do is genuine and heartfelt, you’ll automatically gain the respect of those around you.
This is a brilliant invention that allows you to re-seal your opened chip bags. How many times have you been looking forward to eat that bag of chips, only to find that they had gone stale after someone carelessly opened them? No more! You can get these little contraptions online (I don’t know if they have them in stores), and you will never have to worry about biting into a stale chip again.
Ombré nails are quite the hit right now, and I just love the gorgeous colors in this design. If you so choose to go for this look, no professional nail tools will be required, which is always a bonus! The brown/red/orange tones are perfect for the autumn-winter seasons, or even the summer.
Hopefully you were able to find something in this post that made you laugh, inspired you, or just wasted a good few minutes of your time!
FTC: This is not a sponsored post, and all opinions are completely genuine. ♥
We can’t just skip over the Roman Empire when we’re discussing world history, right? With midterms or finals coming up, I wish you the best of luck and hope this blog will help you with your revision.
A noticeable piece of information that is skipped is in fact, one of the most famous stories. You’ve heard of a guy named Julius Caesar, yes? That’s the name that makes everyone wonder if the guy was named after the salad or the salad was named after him. In world history, though, he has no significance at all. So we shall move on.
Roman Religion
I’ll bring back this reference again, but I’m sure most, if not all of you have heard of the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan right? The latest released book being The Blood of Olympus in which Percy and his Greek demigod friends join Jason and his Roman demigod friends to save the world. The gods are in chaos; their Greek and Roman forms are fighting each other to choose one dominant figure. Etcetera. Etcetera.
The truth of the matter is, the Romans appreciated the Greek culture including its religion. When Rome conquered Greece, the Romans didn’t have official gods and myths and the Greeks did. So, the Romans took the Greek culture and pasted their own words into the stories. Zeus became Jupiter, Poseidon became Neptune, and more. This merging of culture is called syncretism.
Roman Republic (507 – 31 BCE)
Everyone always thinks of the Roman Empire first when talking about its history. But before Augustus was even part of the picture, Brutus deposed of the 7th king, the last of his period, and established the Republic. It’s hard to actually explain what the Republic is because it refers to a period of history in the Roman history rather than an actual concept. The changes included a new membership requirement of the Senate and the shifting power in the Assembly.
Rome had a Senate, in which each of the approximately 300 members was the head of elite families and an Assembly, where the rest of the people were included. This was much like the Greeks, and it was in fact, derived from the Greek democracy. When the Roman kingdom became the Roman Republic, the Assembly embraced sovereign power. The votes of the wealthy were worth more than those of the poor. Additionally, certain positions were elected annually.
The Greek city-states had a tendency to not extend citizenship to foreign people. Compared to that, the Romans allowed others to take up the Roman citizenship as a way to assimilate the conquered people.
Military was made compulsory. Every male citizens with specified amounts of land had to be in the military. The equipment was similar to that of the Greek hoplites, but the lines were more flexible and were divided into units. This allowed efficient conquering of Italy and the Mediterranean.
There was an emergence of latifundia, literally “broad estates”, because while the peasants were away from their land for military duties, wealthier men unified land to create a single estate. This slowed the economy until the failure of the empire because the peasants were forced to work for lords but the lords kept the wealth to themselves.
The Roman Principate (31 BCE – 330 CE)
Octavian, Julius Caesar’s grandnephew and heir, created the Roman Principate. He never called himself a king or emperor, rather, he called himself the princeps, or “first among equals”. But he did receive the honorific title of “Augustus” from the Senate. In reality, he was a military dictator, but the title justified the unjust seizure of rule. Augustus Octavian allied himself with the equites. They were generally well-to-do Italian merchants, or landowners, 2nd in wealth and social status. When he died, 4 of his family members succeeded him, but by Augustus’s definition, the position was not hereditary.
During the periods of the Republic, there was a body of laws: the decrees of the Senate, and bills by the Assembly. In contrast, the Emperor in the Principate was the only source of law.
Bulliet, Richard W., Pamela K. Crossley, Daniel R. Headrick, Steven W. Hirsch, Lyman L. Johnson, and David Northrup. “An Age of Empires: Rome and Han China, 753 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.” The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. 5th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. 148-77. Print.
The Last Emperors
Diocletian
Diocletian divided the Roman Empire by 2, each with 2 subordinates. Although he meant to create a diarchy (having 2 rulers), it is still technically a tetrarchy (having 4 rulers).
Augustus Diocletian, and his subordinate, Caesar Galerius, ruled the Eastern Empire.
Augustus Maximian and Caesar Constantius ruled the Western Empire.
Constantine converted to Christianity and made it the state religion of Rome, causing a great increase in Christians. He also created the Council of Nicea, made up of Christian teachers, and ordered them to organize the official book for Christians, now known as the Holy Bible. The first 5 books of the Bible are actually the Jewish Torah, known in Christendom as the Pentateuchs.
He unified the divided Roman Empire into one. However, he enjoyed spoiling himself with wealth and goods, so he moved the capital to Byzantium, the capital of the former Eastern Empire. By this time, the east was a rising star while the west was a failing glory.
Theodosius
He divided the Roman Empire between his 2 sons again, creating a diarchy.
End of the Roman Empire
In the 5th century, Ostrogoths and Visigoths sacked Rome and installed a puppet emperor, Romulus. (Not the guy who got raised by a wolf and killed his twin brother to become the first emperor of Rome). However, the barbarians were unaware that there was a power shift in the Roman Empire, from west to east. They left the Eastern Empire unscathed. There, the Romans flourished, but in the Western Empire, the barbarians were unable to control the urbanized empire.
Source:
Bulliet, Richard W., Pamela K. Crossley, Daniel R. Headrick, Steven W. Hirsch, Lyman L. Johnson, and David Northrup. “An Age of Empires: Rome and Han China, 753 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.” The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. 5th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. 148-77. Print.
It’s that time of year again! Christmas is only a few days away, and people everywhere are scrambling around to get the last of their gifts ready and wrapped. If you’re like me, then you never seem to have time to buy gifts until the week of Christmas and now you find yourself in a tizzy, running around and getting everything just barely in time for the 25th. If you’re also like me, you may happen to have a very limited budget. But fear not, fellow last minute shoppers! Just like I did last year, today I have searched and compiled the ULTIMATE list of homemade last minute Christmas gift ideas. Ideas that are both affordable, easy and quick to make! Just skim through to find the category you are looking for, check out what’s there and viola! A nifty idea for a Christmas present. Click the picture or link to go to the tutorial, and soon you’ll have plenty of gifts made.
For Family:
For those creative (but messy) little siblings, here’s a homemade crayon holder that’ll keep all those stray crayons in place.Why buy play dough when you can make your own? Great for a little brother of sister to create and play together!For aunts, older siblings, uncles and anyone who likes drinking coffee, a chalkboard mug is sure to be neat.For all the moms out there, here’s a cool spa in a jar.
For Food Lovers:
Oh candy tree oh candy tree, how yummy are your branches!
Or, if your gift recipient isn’t the sweet tooth type, what about some homemade salsa in a jar?
For Pets:
How about some yummy homemade dog treats?A cute Christmas cat wand for the little guy.
For your cat, try making this Christmas catnip toy,sure to delight.
For Friends:
Do-it-yourself phone case: custom cases are not only made by you, but they can look great and be great gifts for others too.
A cute DIY Stranded scarf, no sewing required for all you fashion lovers out there.Bring out your inner geek with these awesome homemade Space invaders Christmas ornaments.
For Anyone:
Nothing like an adorable snowmen filled with materials for hot chocolate to warm up the season.Rudolph the red nosed root beer…:)Word lover? Why not hang it on the tree as an ornament?
Still unsure of the perfect gift? Hold on, there’s still so many more ideas on Pinterest. Give that a go and see what you can find.
Christmas time doesn’t have to be a burden to the environment. Do something totally amazing this year – give a gift to the Earth! Here are some simple ideas on how to have a greener holiday season:
1. Opting for silverware instead of plastic when possible
2. Suggesting that people and businesses opt for non-toxic de-icing substances
An awesome de-icer that works great is the well known Sodium chloride (NaCl). It is especially great if you buy rock salt. This was first used as a de-icer in the 1940’s. We have came a long way since then. Why rock salt, or salt in general is great – is because it draws heat from the environment instead of releasing it. Side note: it loses most of its de-icing effectiveness as the temperature goes below 25 degrees F or -4 degrees Celsius. In addition, more heat is generated by friction. thus with moving cars or traffic the rock salt’s effectiveness increases.
3. Using recycled material for wrapping gifts or gift tags/cards
4. Opting for some vegetarian dishes (an abundance of meat is consumed over the holidays)
5. Be sure to place organic material, including trees and wreaths in a place for collection.
The city mulches this material for use in residential or parkland. Here is the website that has further information on how you canrecycle your Christmas tree.
6. DIY gifts: Gift Baskets
For all you master chefs out there, this is the perfect DIY gift for you. You can whip up a batch of your loved ones favorite cupcakes, cookies, candies, and so on so forth. Also, pick up some fuzzy socks, hot chocolate, and a cute mug then put all of these goodies into a cute gift basket. You can always switch the hot chocolate with coffee; the possibilities are endless. For more of a festive touch you can add a couple candy canes, as well as some cinnamon sticks. Now you have a customized gift basket that your special someone will be sure to enjoy, and everyone else will be jealous of.
As an athlete, student, and a teenager, life has a way of completely turning upside down on me every second day. Sure, it may be the hormones but some days it really takes a toll on my drive, focus, and determination. I constantly need to be inspired and reminded of my goals and dreams for the future to continue on strong and as a passionate individual.
We all need inspiration time to time, and to keep you all motivated during this lovely break arriving in a few short hours I would like to share a short yet encouraging video with you all. Just because the holidays are less than 24 hours away doesn’t mean you should slack or not work towards achieving you dreams and goals. Rise and Shine, even when it is not a school day.
Are you interested in photography and advocating youth culture? If so, then you may have heard about the Youth of YYC Facebook page; an initiative designed to celebrate young individuals whilst promoting Youth Week Calgary.
Since the start of this facebook page, we at the Youth Week Steering Committee (the six-person group includes three YAA bloggers; Rebecca, Audrey, and myself) have come to realize the importance of the page in allowing youth to voice their insightful thoughts and opinions. I am happy to announce on behalf of my committee members that starting this holiday season, Youth of YYC will now be open to submissions! Submissions can be sent to youthofyyc@gmail.com, and must include an image at least 500×500 pixels in size. We do ask that the photo must be of a youth you know, and that a caption is included as well.
We hope to post all of the submissions we receive, but please keep in mind that the page is meant to be a safe and respectful environment. If your submission is found to contain inappropriate and/or offensive content, we reserve the right to refrain from posting it. Since we are a public page, we hope that consideration is taken of those featured in the photo and that you receive consent from the individual for their image to be posted on the page.
If you happen to have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to drop us a question through our page or email! We thank you for your continued support of our content and are looking forward to seeing your contributions on the page!
Happy Holidays from the Youth Week 2015 Steering Committee!
Anyone can walk into Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie or Starbucks to buy gifts for the people on one’s Christmas list. But… what’s much more fun is to shop in eclectic stores where the shelves and racks are filled with weird and wonderful items. While some of their offerings may be borederline useless or just outright stupid, many are a) practical, b) hilarious enough to be perfect, or c) just plain amazing.
Here is a list of retail stores I highly suggest checking out during your last minute Christmas shopping trips, because you really never know what you’ll find!
Twisted Goods – There are three locations in Calgary: Market Mall, South Centre, and Aspen Landing. So regardless of where you live, check out this store full of practical things that are unique but actually usable. They’re the kinds of things that you can live without, but with them, life can be even better :).
Ten Thousand Villages – I’ve never actually been to this store, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. And by shopping at Ten Thousand Villages, you’re supporting fair trade and a better world! Feel-good shopping 🙂
Rubaiyat – If you’re walking along 17th Avenue, be sure to stop in, maybe not to buy anything, but even just to have a look, because Christmas time in this store is sparkly and
magical and unlike any other place.
Reids – Also located on 17th Avenue, this store is similar to Twisted Goods, and is full of not only stationery but pretty much any sort of gift-like thing you can think of, from games to fancy journals to quirky cooking supplies.
Of course, another option is to check out farmers’ markets. My favourite are the Calgary Farmers’ Market (Thurs-Sun, 9-5PM), Kingsland Farmers’ Market, and Symons Valley Ranch Farmers’ Market(Fri-Sun, 10-5pm). From food to clothing to candles, you can find just about anything at these markets, plus you get a fun experience (don’t forget to have a wonderful lunch while you’re out).
Last but not least… I am a firm believer that the best gifts are homemade.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!
City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) – Cassandra Clare
mpus (Heroes of Olympus #5) – Rick Riordan
can be even better :).
