There Is Only One Tree Hill

Some people may say that a TV show is just a TV show, but to me, One Tree Hill was much more. I would probably name One Tree Hill as the most quotable TV show I have ever watched as well as the TV show with the best music.

Not only does the show have amazing storylines but the show has some of the best character development I have ever seen on television. Characters go through redemption, grief, depression, happiness and so many other emotions that make the characters seem real. Characters that you hate at first soon become characters that you love.

For me, I see a video, TV show or movie and connect with it. There are certain scenes that stand out to me - the filming, the lighting, the music, the acting, the script... or all of the above. These scenes give me hope that something magical does exist in the world. I think everyone can find this in something they are passionate about and for me, I found a lot of it in One Tree Hill. This show constantly re-inspires me to create magic for other people to believe in.

Out of the whole show I have two favourite scenes. The first one is when Peyton and her brother Derek are boxing. Peyton has been through so much in the first few seasons of the show and at this point she finally decides to fight back. I think this is an important scene because we all need to be reminded to fight back. No matter what has happened to you just keep fighting, like Peyton, and one day you will get your happy ending.

Soldier on.

"They say before you start a war, you better know what your fighting for." - The Cab

There are strong people who wake up everyday and enter the battlefield for the greater good of the world. They set aside their worries and fears and fight for who they are and what they believe in. They take strength from within themselves even when they think they don't have any strength left.

Sometimes life gets tough. And when life gets tough you have two options - to let it over take you and consume your every thought, or become tougher.

Some people have it rougher than others and I know that there are people out there that have problems worse than mine. But that doesn't mean your problems are any less real... any less serious. You have a right to get angry. You have a right to be sad. You have a right to feel any emotion towards things going on in your life because truthfully, no one else understands unless they have gone through it themselves. Things are tough now, but they will get better. You just have to soldier on.

Sometimes you need to strap up your boots, zip up your jacket, tie up your hair and fight. Fight for the life you once had or fight for the life you would like to have. Fight for the people you have lost or fight for the people you are going to gain. Fight for the past memories that bring you joy or fight for the future events that will bring you happiness.

Even the greatest of soldiers don't stay in combat forever.

Love, Nicole Marie

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Guidelines; Fashion

A lot of people have specific fashion inspirations. Whether that be a person or brand there is something that inspires them to dress a certain way. I guess I am not like most people because I don't really have any specific fashion inspirations nor would I say that I have a specific 'style'.

However, I do have a lot of different clothes that I fall in love with but am either not game enough or not rich enough to buy. Most of these can be found on my style board on my pinterest if you are interested in taking a look. It's funny because what I wear in real life couldn't be more opposite to what I pin but one day I wish to have my dream wardrobe.

Here are a few of my favourite outfits at the minute:

Los Angeles; The City of Angels

Dad: Excuse me, I have a weird question.

Waitress: This is LA, nothing's weird.

Los Angeles is a magical place. It is a place where you can hike mountains to reach breathtaking views whilst escaping the busy streets of California.

It is a place where happiness can come from the smallest of things such as meeting a celebrity. For me it was Nathan Fillion and Seamus Dever from Castle. These guys are the first real celebrities I have ever met and I couldn't be happier with my experience: 

Internet Detox.

This post relates a bit back to my blackout post (if you are interested in reading it then here it is)

There comes a point where it is all too much. Constantly checking to see how many people have liked our photos or checking messenger to see if the person you are waiting on has been 'active' or 'read' your message. This can make a person go insane, I have felt it first hand. It can bring a constant feeling of worry or fear. It's like the phone that you hold in your own hands now represents the power of hundreds of people who could potentially hurt you.

I was watching The Princess Diaries recently and a quote was mentioned that applies to this situation:

'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent' - Eleanor Roosevelt 

In this day and age there are so many more ways that people can make you feel inferior; instagram, facebook, twitter, youtube, tumblr, personal messages etc. We are all so attached to our online presence that it now has the power to destroy people. In my opinion, this is too much power for any one thing.

When talking to someone in real life you can use all of your senses - sound, sight, touch, smell and taste (not that you would be tasting a conversation). This means you can see the emotion on their face and hear the lightness in their voice. Over text messages things can get easily misunderstood. People can assume the worst, read what you said in the wrong tone or think you are attacking them when you really aren't. Where does this constant need to reply to messages come from? Why can't we spend time alone without talking to someone numerous times a day? I don't know for sure the answers to these questions but I do know that it has created a reliance on other people's opinions and this isn't necessarily a good thing.

When you think about it, whose instagram really represents their lives? Just because you post a lot of pictures with your girl friends, doesn't mean you don't know any guys. Or just because you always post pictures with the same person, doesn't mean you don't have any other friends. Or just because you hardly ever post anything at all it definitely doesn't mean you don't have a life. Your profiles online are anything you want them to be. It is all an illusion.

As Roosevelt said, they can't make you feel that way without you allowing it yourself. You can not check that message that you know will make you feel bad about yourself. Or you can not look at other peoples pages to see what they have and what you don't. You don't have to scroll through comments in a self destructive mission to find hate. All of these things are choices.

We have become so addicted to the internet that it takes all the self control in our bodies to keep from doing these things. So I am proposing an internet detox. Now I am not talking no internet completely. Don't constantly check to see if someone has replied or seen your message, don't keep refreshing when you post a photo to check how many likes you have, turn your phone off before bed etc. All of these little things can make you feel a lot better, not only about yourself but about the other people in your life.

So here I go on a little internet detox.
Let me know if you decide to do it too :)

Love, Nicole Marie

New York; The Big Apple

'Take as much from the city as the city took from you' -Among Savages 

The iconic New York City is a complex yet amazing place. It is a city where you can get to most places you need to go by simply walking. It is a place where you can have the hustle and bustle of city life with some nature thrown in the mix, found in the serenity of Central Park. When I was in New York a few months ago, I was lucky enough to experience the beauty of Central Park covered in snow... Have a look for yourself:

The Best Of Me.

Don't worry! No spoilers :)

Nicholas Sparks is one talented man. And that is an understatement. He has the ability to move people to tears while making them feel something just through his words. Many of these words have been translated into film making the stories available to be shared on a whole other level.

I recently watched the movie The Best Of Me and I am absolutely in awe. The storyline, the script, the actors, the filming, the editing...the list goes on and on. Basically, to me it was a perfect film. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me question my own purpose in life.

Purpose is something I have talked about before and it is always something that will fascinate me. Why are we here? What are we meant to give to the world? These questions are two that are constantly in my mind. I have always believed that each and every human being has a purpose. Something bad might have to happen in order for something better to come of it. You may be going through a rough time but that is only to shape you into the person that you will become. And the person you will become will shape another person. And that person will shape another person. And another... and another. And who knows? Maybe one of you will be the one to change the world.

When you think about it we are all still alive, still breathing, for a reason. It is because we still have something left to give to the world. Someone else to shape.

This movie just confirmed everything that I always believed in. Purpose. Fate. Destiny. Everything happens for a reason and in the toughest of times we need to believe that.

I would highly recommend watching this movie if you haven't already - just make sure you have your tissues handy! It really is a tear jerker.

Love, Nicole Marie

Florida; The Sunshine State

Now I know it has been a very long time since my American holiday but today I have found myself reminiscing on the good times I had on holiday.

Since I got home from my holiday at the beginning of the year, life has slapped me with reality and the harshness of the world has become clear. 

I believe travel makes you grow as a person and visiting Florida was no exception. We spent some time in Miami and during this time I came across many homeless people but one in particular caught my attention. There was one man who seemed young enough to be just a little older than me and yet he was sleeping on the side of a busy road, ignoring everyone that walked passed just like everyone walking past was ignoring him. My first instinct was to help him. So we went back to our hotel and gathered all our food and gave it to him. Small acts like this make me feel like I have done something good but then again, I feel like it is never enough. 

For me, Florida gave me a lot more than just that experience. I conquered some of my personal fears in Florida. I went on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas which I was terrified for due to my proneness to motion sickness. Although I was sick for most of those 3 days, I look back on the experience and smile. I smile because I experienced life on the water and got to visit one of the most beautiful resorts ever built. This memory takes over the memory of feeling nausea and weakness for days straight. 

I also was faced with another fear of motion sickness when my family and I went to the alligator park and went on the airboat. Now in no way did I enjoy this experience but it will always be a reminder that I survived it. No matter how much I disliked riding through the wind at a fast pace in water full of alligators, I survived.  

We stayed at South beach in Miami and this brought me another new feeling. It made me relaxed and peaceful. Watching the waves crashing on the sandy shore during the day and walking the streets full of restaurants at night. I can only describe this wonderful feeling as 'being on holiday', and I constantly find myself craving this feeling. 

Here are some of my favourite photos taken while in Florida/Bahamas/Cruise, I hope you enjoy. 

The Brain.

Recently I posted a video with some small ways to change your life. Now I'm talking about changing your life for the better when it comes to your mental health.

So if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, anxious or stressed at the moment give this video a watch. You might find it helpful!

I always wonder why people find it so hard to accept help when it is their brain that needs it. Your brain is just another organ (a very important organ) and deserves the same attention as any other part of your body. If a doctor told you that you need heart surgery you wouldn't even blink before accepting the news and making an appointment. But when a doctor suggests you see a psychologist then the automatic response is 'no'.

I think this is because society has made mental illness something to be ashamed of. But in no way is that true and in actual fact, it takes the strongest of people to admit to needing help and it takes an even stronger person to accept help when it is given.

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Give it the attention it deserves.

Love, Nicole Marie

Bitterness.

"Hard times make you bitter or make you more compassionate" - Jewel

There are two types of elderly; the cute little old lady who pinches your cheeks and tells you how much you remind her of her grandkids OR the cranky old man who yells at you for getting in his way and being disrespectful to the elderly.

I have recently formulated a theory. The people who turn out to be sweet old married couples are those who lived a fulfilling life. They achieved what they wanted, they explored the world, they loved with all their heart and lived a life worth remembering. Whereas the cranky old people who make the world miserable for anyone who is younger than them are simply bitter. They are bitter with missed opportunities, wondering 'what if'.

I don't want to become bitter. I don't want to wonder 'what if...'. I don't want to resent people in my life for holding me back. I don't want to become the old lady who is rude to the waitress because she didn't make the coffee hot enough.

So how does one not become bitter with age?
Well, I have thought of a few things to help:

• Don't regret the choices you make. If you learn something, it is worth it. 
• Say 'yes' to more things, you never know how it might turn out. 
• Don't be afraid of the future, no amount of anxiety can change it.
• Remember what's important; friends & family, health & happiness.

Sometimes it's important to look at what you have and be thankful. To look at the few true friends you have, the family members in your life and the possessions you proudly own and simply be happy. It is when you take these basic things for granted that the bitterness has the capability to take over your life. 

So don't let it. 

Love, Nicole Marie