♡ Music Spotlight ♡

I was crying devastatingly over doing some homework, but it got to be too much so I took a break and played some cool tunes. I remembered how I practically abandoned this blog so I was inspired to make a post about my favorite music artists. I was always crippled when asked the questions, "What kind of music are you into? Who's your favorite band?" But I think I've finally got it figured out. I've been a fan since I was in grade seven, so for four to five years now, and I haven't gotten tired of any of their music.

They are a pair of sisters, Bianca and Sierra, who go by the stage name CocoRosie. Sierra and Bianca were born and raised in the US, but CocoRosie was formed in Paris after the sisters were reunited. The genre they are most commonly placed in is Freak Folk. They have raspy, occasionally high pitched, but soothing and harmonious voices, comparable to that of Janis Joplin. They play music using an array of obscure instruments including children's toys, bicycle bells, harps, pianos, synthesizers, etc. Their lyrics are beautifully written and really tragic. Honestly, they really make you think. I want to say their music is sad, but to me it's not sad at all. I'm never upset listening to their music, they actually have quite the opposite effect. It's more nostalgia inducing than anything.

CocoRosie has five studio albums-La Maison de Mon Reve, Noah's Ark, The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn, Grey Oceans, and Tales of a Grass Widow, their most recent. Along with two EPs--Beautiful Boyz and Coconuts, Plenty of Junk Food. It would be impossible to pick a favorite album because all of my favorite songs are scattered throughout the five. So, I'll list for you my favorite CocoRosie songs as of now, which, is a lot because I don't get tired of old songs, I just add to the list.

Easily their more famous songs are Lemonade and Werewolf. Both of which are very good songs. These are a couple of their more upbeat and poppy songs.

The songs I can't stop playing at the moment are Lyla and Butterscotch. Lyla is a song about a little girl sent into prostitution. I didn't pay much attention at first, I just liked it for the beautiful noises they make, but when I really listened to the lyrics I was hit, and I'm not sure exactly why, I just have a weird connection with the song.

Butterscotch talks about loving things, or people, but not being able to have them. I actually connect to this one a lot being gay and crushing on all the straight boys hahaha. Maybe this is just my analysis of the song, and they're truly singing about butterscotch candy, but it's a really pretty song regardless. 

I don't want to make this post extra long by embedding all my favorite songs, so I'll just list them from here:

Japan is really cute and fun.

Good Friday and Madonna are really melodious and peaceful.

By Your Side is really simple, but the lyrics are really impactful.

Animals has been a favorite for so long, it really shows their lyric and musical abilities. Really dig this one. 

I hope you guys give them a look into, I know they're not everyone's cup of tea but I figured it was worth sharing. Please let me know if you guys like them, they're really special to me. 

Side-note: I think I may be seeing them in October and I might actually be a bit more excited than I was to see Marina!!!!

Have a lovely day u lil lumps of sugar xx

Losing Weight ♡

Hello guys!

My whole life I remember being super frustrated with my body because I've always been overweight. I got my share of mean words from the school bullies and I even remember one day I locked myself in my bedroom sobbing (started my role as drama queen at an early age) because I didn't want to go to school and hear the whale noises being made at me in class.(nine year olds were ruthless ok) I always tried different diets and workouts but I always got discouraged and quit. A while back one of my best friends introduced me to this iPhone app she had been trying and she really really enjoyed it, and I couldn't stop looking at her in admiration because of the progress she had made. The app is called myfitnesspal and boy i'll tell you what, it's literally saved my life. What the app is, essentially, is a food journal/calorie counter/exercise tracking extraordinaire. You start off by punching in your personal details like: 

current height/weight

goal weight

gender

activity level 

and age
(Unfortunately, the app wants you to be 18+ and I'm only 16 but this is our secret don't let the myfitnesspal business dudes find out) 

After this it will give you your calorie goal for the day and you can start your dieting. 

Once you begin, you punch in everything you eat in the day. From the eggs you have at breakfast to the very last sprinkle on your ice cream at dessert, you want to include it all! What you do is simply go to your diary, click add, and search the foods you eat! Make sure to plug in the accurate portions you ate! The cool thing about this app is that it has a bar code scanner as well, so you can just scan scan scan your day away. (I always get the strangest looks when I scan in public) (it's well worth it though!) 

Here are some tips: 

• Just because you have a set calorie limit, doesn't mean you can eat a bunch of junkie food and keep it at the goal. (okay you probably can, but you wouldn't want to) If you used all your calories on junk, you will feel tired and groggy and really grumpy!! you will have wished you used those calories on some really nutritious fruits and veggies homeboy. 
• I personally stopped drinking as much soda/Starbucks/most juices/any sugary drink really. THESE ARE EMPTY CALORIES. Like I said, you're wasting your calories in the day on things that aren't fulfilling. (now, you CAN always work off these calories, but you won't have the energy to do so living off of these junkie liquids) I practically drink nothing but unsweetened tea and water now. Tea has so many benefits for you and your body temple!! I'll make another post on that later <3
• Contrary to what I just said though, a little bit of these junkie foods are okay. I think it's acceptable to occasionally work a drink or piece of chocolate into your day, little sporadic splurges keep you from losing your sanity!!
• I personally don't count calories on special occasions, holidays, celebrations, etc. I even kind of let myself slide on some Saturdays.

Enough ranting, I'll show you some photos from the app:

myfitnesspal is also a kind of social media for all your healthy living buddies! You can add people and see their progress and leave encouraging comments, it's all very sweet.

I started my myfitnesspal diet November 1st. Today is April 24th and as of today I've lost 36 lbs!! I was sized Extra Large in tops and had a 38 inch waist, and now I'm a Medium in tops and have a 34 inch waist! I'm so happy to see such progress because I know it would have only gotten worse. Mind you, I lost 36 pounds and I didn't even count calories during my fall or winter breaks, I completely ate like an animal. THERE WAS SO MUCH THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS FOOD IT WAS INSANE. 

Here's a disclaimer. I've seen a lot of debate on social media about body shaming. There are some fat positive people who are really cute and fun and cool (I'm one of them), but of course, there are others who are fat positive, but then shame the people who are naturally skinny, or are doing something to lose weight. This is not okay. I started this diet because I wanted to for myself, to be healthy and be happy. I am in no way saying I am better than anyone who is fat and happy. (By the way, I'm not using fat in a negative denotation--in no way saying ugly or unsatisfying.) And I am only sharing this so others who want to try it, can, and see how they like it. 

Please, this is a new world. We must be accepting and loving of others. Strive to be body positive. Strive to be people positive, to be happy with yourself and your fellows.

Much love and good vibes. 

xx~

p.s. this was all a very vague gathering of thoughts. if you would like, I can make a separate post that focuses more specifically on diet and exercise. xx

♡ Lazy day in the life of yakobutako ♡

today was so blissful! i'm really happy and calm and at peace ☺ 

I woke up feeling very refreshed and i had this dream that hot lollipop mix was raining down from the sky and got all over my dog and we had to break the lollipop off of all the surfaces and it wasn't even yummy lollipop it was flavored like grandma buttocks or something. BUT THEN i got hungry for real life food so I made a bagel wee. *and i laughed at the serving size being only 1/2 a bagel* 

*and then cried because i could only eat 1/2 a bagel before i got stuffed and i do this literally every time*

and i had the weirdest urge to put strawberry nesquick into my coffee?? 

it was less than ideal....

i then remembered that my blog is really ugly so i painted a banner for it!

the watercolor pencils pictured are really amazing! i'll save that for another time tho hehe. 

the weather was beautiful today! i soaked in the sun for a big part of the day ☺

come on sun give me all your vitamin d punk my pale body needs it!!

also, i got this sunblock that is literally like the prince of all skin protectants EXCEPT it's Neutrogena brand, and Neutrogena blindly tests on animals :c meaning it's owned by a company that tests on animals thus using products tested on animals without knowing, or you know, just ignoring. and that kind of thing really gets my panties in a twist!! does anyone know of a really good sunblock that doesn't feel greasy, isn't smelly, and is high spf?? AND ISN'T MEAN TO BUNNIES. 

i would give you ten dozen kisses if you could find one for me xx

lastly, the good vibes of the day:

 

Alpine - Gasoline

Passion Pit - The Reeling

Miike Snow - Animal 

Rooney - When Did Your Heart Go Missing?

and of course some show tunes had to be thrown in:

The Rocky horror Picture Show - Time Warp 

Hello Cavities Review

                     

Hello!

This is my very first blogspot post and what better thing to post about then a package full of cute?

I had discovered Sharon, the owner and creative hands behind Hello Cavities, on Instagram (@sharodactyl) a few months back and she posted the cutest photos and art that I instantly grew a schoolboy crush. Then I noticed she has a shop up, and I absolutely had to have some of her things for myself!! I had actually placed my order back around my birthday (sometime in December) but there was always an error. This was all my fault though, nothing she did was wrong! She was actually very sweet and patient and we emailed back and forth until I finally put in my order correctly. (Sorry about that Sharon! Pay pal is such a butt sometimes)

Anyway, the order came in very quickly and IT WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH SO MUCH CUTE STUFF. I originally ordered myself the mint gooey shirt and HELCA beanie which are my favorite things at the moment.  

Here's a picture from the day I got the package. I was literally so excited I got onto my kitchen table to snap this shot. 

The t shirt I got in a size larger than my actual size so I can slouch it and style it how I like, but it was actually smaller than expected. No biggie though! It fits perfectly and I actually changed my mind about styling it any different. It's very soft, I love the graphic, and the colors are perfect. Once summer rolls around (which, for Californians, will start feeling like very soon) this will fit perfectly with my lighter outfits. 

 The beanie is the comfiest beanie I own and I want to wear it everyday. A random cold front rolled in recently so it might be acceptable for me to do so. The colors are so cute and people thinks it says hella, which is a word I can't stop saying, so bonus jonas!

Sharon didn't just stop there though! She also included the cutest stickers, note, print, and some sweethearts (my favorite candy!) All of her art is amazing and it makes me green with envy that someone could be so talented, sweet, and all around perfect!

Thank you so much Sharon!!

The print is titled "Ultimate Fan" I believe and I squealed when I pulled it out of the parcel. I love anything and everything Disney related and so this print fit me to a t. There's also a slight resemblance between the print and I, eh? *cheeky*

So, do I recommend buying from her? 

Yes!! A thousand times yes. Customer service is A+, quality of products is A+ and I feel really cute with it all so it gets another A+. I would definitely recommend buying from this sweetheart. 

If you don't already, follow her Instagram accounts @sharodactyl and @hellocavities

And check out her shop!