WHATS UP IN SEPTEMBER

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THE FALL WEATHER THAT FINALLY DECIDED TO MAKE IT'S APPEARANCE LIKE
TWO DAYS AGO (#PTL). 
The fact that JacyRayn and I have either been FaceTime-ing or calling
each other pretty much every other day (BLESS) (#PTL). 
JESUS. CHURCH. MUSIC. (#PTL)



hehe uh hehe
The Newsies soundtrack won't stop playing?? Help?? Jk I LOVE IT!  CARRYIN' THE BANNER!
Switchfoot (as always). 
And I just discovered Sleeping At Last a few days ago and I AM SWOONING, LEMME TELL YOU.



Not much, actually. The only thing I've really watched this month was a documentary show from The History Channel called American Genius and I love it. I haven't finished the series but I am a complete sucker for these types of shows. #historyfanaticssayWOOT



Um. Um. Um. Um. SAME AS LAST MONTH???? Except fall is actually here now. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T DO MUCH, OKAY???!!! *laughing emojis*


Pretty much just my Bible still. We've been doing a lot of ministry related stuff at church and getting home super late. So I just read my Bible and go to bed. 


LITERALLY THE SAME THING. WHY DO I EVEN HAVE THIS CATEGORY I HAVE NO IDEA.
Well, I did get some new fall clothes.. But I mean still the same types of clothes, haha!!! 



JJEEESSSUUUSSSSSSS!!!!!!! Music. Jesus giving me music. Jesus and music.



TEEAAAA ALL DAY EVERY DAYYYYYYYY!!! I also had two PSL's so yeah.


THE EXACT SAME THINGS AS LAST MONTH.


I could really use a cold brew with vanilla sweet cream from Starbucks.


"Rooftops" by Jesus Culture
"Santa Fe" from Newsies
and anything I feel like lol


I HAVE THE TIME AND MOTIVATION TO BE INSPIRED. I WANT TO GET POSTS OUT, GET MY PAINT OUT, JOURNAL, DO ALL THE ARTSY THINGS. YES. PLEASE.


happy last day of september 
-aaliyah

FOMO/GOMO AND SUPER RAD IDEAS



Hey, y'all!! I have a very awesome post to share with you today!! I am going to share about Eventbrite's FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and GOMO (Going Out More Often) campaign!! Eventbrite is the largest self-service ticket platform in the world (aka awesomeness). I would highly recommend checking out their site to find tickets for events in your area!

This is kind of ironic for me to write about because I stay home a lot.. haha!! I'm not involved in any sport, I'm homeschooled, and I can't drive yet. My life consists of school and church and music (...at home and at church, haha!). Which I am totally okay with but I'm not necessarily the best person to give advice on GOMO! BUT NEVERTHELESS, I AM HERE WRITING THIS POST! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  Today I'm going to share with you a list of things I do to GOMO!

I constantly struggle with the fear of missing out. I see people all over social media doing things and I always leave feeling like I don't do anything "cool". First of all, nothing is as perfect as people make it seem on Instagram, and second, you can have just as much fun! Sites like Eventbrite have software that can help you create your own event and invite your friends to RSVP.  It could be a fundraiser, festival, party, anything really!! So I am going to give you a list of ideas to make your end of summer/fall AWESOME. *puts shades on* 





Nothing like a good trip to the library. I love running my hands over all the backs of the books. Taking in the smell. The quiet. AHHH I LOVE IT :'') My mom and siblings equally enjoy going so for those of you who can't drive this is great for you!! Always my first option.



COFFEE DATES ARE MY FAVORITE EVER OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!! They are super easy to set up with friends and you get some good coffee and treats along with the company :))) 



This one is P.E.R.F.E.C.T for the ones like myself that can't drive but you want to do something EPIC with your friends when they are over! Get you some blankets, a tapestry if you have one, some food and drinks, music, and your camera and have a boho picnic! You could even make a teepee of sorts by hanging an extra big blanket over a tree! I can't wait to do this. 


JUST TAKE A WALK. Whether you live in a subdivision and you walk around the block or roam around the fields on your farm, just take a walk. It's so peaceful and it helps you think. One thing I like to do as well is take my journal and my headphones and go sit somewhere and chill out and write.



SECRET'S OUT! One of my biggest fears is asking my mom to take me somewhere, lol!! I get so nervous and most the time I just end up not asking. But here's another secret: 99% of the time, she doesn't care. In my experience, unless my mom is busy she usually doesn't care to take me places. JUST MUSTER UP THE COURAGE AND ASK, OKAY!!!???




I hope you all enjoyed this post!! Many thanks to Eventbrite for this opportunity!
-aaliyah xx

SOMEWHERE THERE IS STILL A SUN | BOOK REVIEW



FIRST THINGS FIRST: I almost died over the comments on my last post. I AM SO GLAD YOU ALL THINK I AM FUNNY AND GOT A GOOD LAUGH OVER THE THING THAT IS ME. I actually didn't think I was that funny but apparently you all think I am, idk. SO YEAH! If you commented I always reply sooo yeah you can check dat out. And if you haven't seen the vlog I ever so conveniently linked it right HERE. You're welcome. 


What you are about to read is a review of my new favorite but also my least favorite book. Confused? Thought so. Read on.

*also warning: there's a lot of gifs in this post ok*

I found this book while aimlessly scrolling through the children's department. I have this problem where I literally can't find any books to read because my family is very strict about what we read/watch. I hope that doesn't sound like I'm annoyed by that? I am actually all for it I'm just annoyed at writers, not my parents *laughing emojis* LIKE WHY YOU HAVE TO PUT ALL THESE CUSS WORDS AND RAUNCHY SCENES THAT REALLY DO NOT BENEFIT THE STORY AT ALL??? Rant over.

SO ANYWAYS. I was walking around and I go to the section where you can find biographies/memoirs/etc.
Not really expecting to find anything. AND THEN! THE GLORIOUS MOMENT! The cover is what attracted me and so I picked it up.


"A memoir about a boy in the Holocaust. RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!" *

Little did I know this book would tear my heart into a million pieces and thrown to the ground only to be trampled time and time again with every chapter I read! *smiles sarcastically*


*backstory: I have always been extremely interested in WWII/Holocaust/anything historical actually. And I love autobiographies/documentaries?? I like real life stuff, I guess. Idek why I like them but I do.

I checked it out, brought it home, put it on my bookshelf. But I really just wasn't DYING to read this. Maybe it was because I had other books to read and this was just one I was like, "Eh, I'll give it a shot." IDK! But I do know that I REALLY underestimated it. So I finished my books and then I finally picked it up and started reading it. And then the magic (and sadness) begun.

Yes, yes, hush child. WE ARE DOING THIS NOW YOU JUST HAD TO BE PATIENT.



I'm not good with describing books to the fullest extent so I found this from Simon and Schuster and used bits and pieces:

Resilience shines throughout Michael Gruenbaum’s “riveting memoir” about his time in the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust.

Michael “Misha” Gruenbaum enjoyed a carefree childhood playing games and taking walks through Prague with his beloved father. All of that changed forever when the Nazis invaded Prague. The Gruenbaum family was forced to move into the Jewish Ghetto in Prague. Then, after a devastating loss, Michael, his mother, and sister were deported to the Terezin concentration camp.

At Terezin, Misha roomed with forty other boys who became like brothers to him. Life in Terezin was a bizarre, surreal balance—some days were filled with friendship and soccer matches, while others brought mortal terror as the boys waited to hear the names on each new list of who was being sent “to the East.”

Those trains were going to Auschwitz. When the day came that his family’s name appeared on a transport list, their survival called for a miracle—one that tied Michael’s fate to a carefully sewn teddy bear, and to his mother’s unshakeable determination to keep her children safe.


This is written like a diary. But it's also a memoir. It's completely true and what actually happened. I think I read that Todd Hasak-Lowy (the contributor, but Michael is the main author) said that some of the things he elaborated on himself but he did extensive research and even visited Prague so he could know how to describe his hometown. He questioned Michael's friends that he roomed with in Terezin and pieced everything together and made the stories. But most of it was all Michael.


Memoir.


The age group recommended for this book is ages 10-14. But I honestly think this is all about your maturity level. I mean.. This is the Holocaust we're talking about. This book completely haunted me. Michael went through the war as a child. So everything that goes on is described as a child would describe it. A lot of things he described he was so confused about and he wondered why the adults wouldn't tell him and what even was "the East"?? We all know what is going on because we learned this in school but he didn't. And everything is very detailed. I mean, I'm already pretty educated on this stuff and it was hard for me to fall asleep. And there were many tears. It really all depends on how sensitive you are and how much you can handle. 


This is actually a very new book! It was published August of 2015.



It has 384 pages. But honestly, once you get into this book I promise you won't be able to put it down.


None! I think there was one part where Misha saw his older sister, Marietta, kissing her boyfriend but like, that was literally it.


gUyS. It's WWII. Yes, there's violence. And it's quite detailed. But I am so glad it is detailed. It opened my eyes to what really went on and how the Nazi's really treated Jews. It's so terrible but it gave me a completely new, awful, broken perspective about the Holocaust.

None!!



There wasn't any alcohol or drugs but I can't be sure about smoking. I think it may have mentioned that one of the officers was smoking but that's it. I honestly don't remember... But I don't think that's a big deal...?




Definitely a five-star rating. The rating I seen on the website was a four but I really don't understand why..? It was so wonderfully written. It's such a horrible but AMAZZZIINNGGGG book. Yep.



UMMMMMMMM, YESSSS! I literally forced this on my poor mother. And also several friends but none of them listened to mE AND READ THE BOOK. DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THAT??


Same, Mary.

This book left me with no words. I can't even begin to describe it to you. You just have to read it. And die. And cry. And be thankful. And praise Jesus you aren't Michael "Misha" Gruenbaum. It will open your eyes. PLEASE, EVERYONE, I BEG OF YOU! READ.THE.BOOK.



If you made it this far I shall personally send you a certificate. Jk I won't but thanks for sticking around, lol. I'm such a nice person, aren't I?!



LOVE YOU ALL! Or... I will.. if you.. reAD THE BOOK THAT IS THE BEST AND WORST BOOK I'VE EVER READ!
-aaliyah xx

THE TOTALLY EPIC AESTHETIC BAEGELS Q&A VLOG

SURPRISE!

You may be confused about the title of this. *laughing emojis*
"What even is 'aesthetic baegels'?????!!!!!"

Watch the video and I shall explain ALL THE THINGS! I had so much fun doing this and I hope you enjoy putting the voice to the face! And also I know you'll enjoy my southern accent. ;) I'm shocked that I didn't feel awkward at all doing this vlog. BUT YOU ALL ARE MY FRIENDS SO WHY SHOULD I??? So yeah... If you ever wanted to know the real Aaliyah.. Here she is! In all her weirdness.

*OH, DISCLAIMER THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION IN THE VIDEO: AS YOU CAN SEE I WAS TOO LAZY TO USE MY GRANDMAS CAMERA SO IT'S MY WEBCAM HAHAHAA*

Very ashamed of this video quality. *cringes*

Also cracking up because I don't think I ever gave just one answer to any of these questions.

AND ALSO I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT TOM BRANSON IS MY FAVORITE DA CHARACTER AS WELL!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW HE MISSED MY THOUGHTS!!!!
And I also figured out that I like the '52 Chevy Bel-Air over the '56. ;)


ENJOY!
-aaliyah xx

HELLO SEPTEMBER || GOALS



HOW THE EVEN IS IT SEPTEMBER??!!!?? I'm sO EXCITED! I'M SUCH A FALL GIRL! Post coming on that soon *winkwink*

Go me for actually getting this post up on the first. SO LET'S GET INTO THIS!!



1. Actually be a decent blogger and get posts out.
F. We all know I failed.

2. Finish planning and making a girls day with friends happen.
FFFFFFFF. Well, actually, this wasn't my fault, haha! Everyone was busy!

3. Read more. 
errr.... D..? I always read my Bible but I haven't really been reading anything else.

4. Go to bed earlier.
lol F!!!! But I have good reasons for not getting to bed early.

5. Learn a new song.
A! I DID LEARN TWO!

6. Finish Acts.
A!! I did this!

7. Drink more water.
A! Did this as well.

1. Do better at my THM diet. (Even though I love eating healthy it's still hard not to cheat, haha.)
2. WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER WITH THE GIRLS THIS MONTH, AALIYAH!!!
3. Get super motivated about school. (I don't know why I'm setting this as a goal cause we all know this ain't gon happen lol)
4. Get over my artists block and GET THE ARTSY THINGS DONE!
5. Try really, realllyyyy hard to get posts out.