YouTube Channel

As I'm starting up my blog, I am also starting up a YouTube channel called "The Perogi Viking." I'm going to be doing Vlog and comedy videos. I just uploaded my first video "An Ode to Nutella" last night. It's a love poem parody, where I confess my feelings for Nutella. Please check it out and subscribe because I have a bunch of funny video ideas that will be uploading very soon!

My 5 Favourite Book Series

1. Divergent Trilogy, Veronica Roth

Why: I can sum it up in one word: Tris. Tris, or Beatrice, is the protagonist of the Divergent Series. She is probably, like, the coolest chick ever. She's so real, not because she's super relatable (she's more badass than most people), but because she is so unique and so complex. The concept is also fun. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic society where teenagers join a "faction," a group of people that stress the importance of a specific trait: kindness, intelligence, bravery, selflessness, or honesty. My favourite part is that they have to go pass intense initiations to keep their spot in the faction they choose.

Critiques: The second book stared off a bit too slowly for my liking, but other than that I can't think of any. I haven't finished the third book yet, though, so maybe I won't like the ending.


2. The Underland Chronicles, Suzanne Collins

Why: I read the books for the first time in elementary school, and then re-read the series about a year and a half ago. They are aimed at a tween audience, but anyone who loves a good fantasy series should enjoy The Underland Chronicles. The stories are imaginative, crazy fun, and jam-packed with adventure! I mean there are giant roaches and rats for crying out loud! The series is filled with really good life lessons that resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Critiques: Suzanne Collins cannot write endings. The last book in Underland Chronicles, like Mockingjay of the Hunger Games trilogy, left me feeling a tad empty. Maybe it's some literary choice Collins is making––I don't know––but it didn't really work for me.


3. The Mortal Instruments, Cassandra Clare

Why: I am a huge fan of the supernatural and this book series is stuffed with them (fairies, vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and of course... Shadowhunters <3). The main characters in this series are all very vibrant. The plots are really fun and gripping. There are some pretty funny lines that make me chuckle to myself.

Critiques: The books can be a little cheesy at times.


4. Matched, Ally Condie

Why: I really liked the writing style in these books. They were very pretty books. I know that sounds like a weird thing to say, but that's the best way I can describe them. Condie really brings the reader into the main characters heads... I loved that. The dynamics are quite realistic: not all the "good" people always get along. The best part of the series though has got the be how everything comes together at the end. I guessed a big part of the ending about half-way through the second book, and I am still really proud of myself... thinking about putting that on the old resume haha

Critiques: I don't really have any critiques. This was a solid all-around series. The reason it's not number one on my list is just while I enjoyed reading the books, I didn't have the desire to re-read the series.


5. Harry Potter, JK Rowling

Why: I mean it's Harry Potter. It's iconic. The plot of this series blows my mind. Wow. Rowling set up stuff in the first few books that is brought up again way later on. There are so many pieces that tie together it's nuts! A school of magic is such and intriguing concept. Love that romance is in the series, but that it plays a very minor role.

Critiques: The first three books were not very good. The stories were still good, but I didn't dig the writing in them. In my opinion, Rowling didn't figure out her style until the fourth book. From there on out she was golden though.

5 Great Spoken Word/Slam Poems

So I go through my stages when I get really into watching Slam Poetry/Spoken Word on YouTube. I love how both of these styles mix poetry with performance. After all, poetry was originally written to be performed. Here are some of my favourite pieces that I have watched over the years. I hope you enjoy them! Comment any of your favourite poems below :)


When Love Arrives by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye
––This one is just about love. It is honest and adorable. Both Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye are crazy talented. The fact that it's a duet just adds to the poem. This piece truly stresses the performance aspect of Spoken Word.

Pretty by Katie Makkai
––This one made me cry. It is about how our societies ideals are very centred around looks. It reminds me a bit of the quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby: "...the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” I totally feel what this woman is saying. This one's for all the pretty excellent people out there!

Worst Poetry by Sarah Kay
––Again, I love this one because it is a cute poem about love. But it is also pretty funny. Sarah Kay is just great to watch. She's such a performer.

Parents are the Hardest to Please by Suli Breaks
––I think this one will resonate with a lot of people. Even if your parents are supportive, society may not be. I hear so many people say that they want to be doctors, lawyers, or business people, and I wonder how many of them are just regurgitating what has been shoved down their throats by their family, by their educators, by society. If law or medicine or business is your passion, by all means go for it. All I'm saying is none of those things have to be what you love. As cliché as it sounds, you only live once (#yoloswag), so do what makes you happy, not what'll make you money or make your family "proud."

S for Lisp by George Watsky
––This is just pretty badass and hilarious. I commend George Watsky for responding to all the people who have made fun of him with such sassy confidence. LOVE it!

I was thinking about music

Give yourself to music. It is so powerful. You don't have to be a singer or a musician to taste the notes on your tongue or feel the melody twitching your muscles. Be picky with the music you like. Find stuff that physically changes you. Listen to music that puts a smile on your face even when your in the worst mood. Listen to music that gives you philosophical revelations. Listen to music that makes you want to shake your booty like no one's watching, or like someone special is. Listen to music that is so beautifully tragic that you tear up every time you hear it. Never be afraid to feel. Emotion is the most wonderful thing in this world. It is at the very core of what makes us human. Let yourself cry when you're upset. Let yourself scream when you're mad. But more than anything, let yourself laugh when you're happy. Laugh louder than everyone else. Laugh so loudly that just the very sight of you laughing sends others into a spur of giggles. Dance when you want to dance. Remember that you are just as powerful as even the most powerful music. Use your power for good.

My Writing Story (So Far)

Every once and a while from the time I was eight until I was thirteen, I would have a "genius" idea for the opening scene of a book. I would always sprint to the computer, open up a Word document, and start clacking away at the keys. But each time I got one of these bursts of creativity, I would hit a road block about half-way down the first page. I would read and re-read what I had written, but I would have zero clue how to continue the story.

So when I got another one of these ideas when I was 13 (about half-way through grade 8), I was expecting to hit my usual road block. It didn't come (at least not for a while). I got through the first page no problem, and the second, and the third. In fact, I got about 30 000 words into that first real attempt at writing a "novel." But by the time I had hit that 30 000 word mark, I had improved so much that the first few chapters sounded like they were written by a whole other person. I scrapped that piece. 

My next attempt was a darker, much more mature book with a bunch of legal elements. While I was writing this book, I started telling people that I wanted to be an author. Almost all of the comments I got were, "I can't wait to read your book. I bet it's hilarious!" The comments made me freak out a bit because my book was not funny....like at all. It was super serious. I wrote myself a mental note to make my next book a little lighter, but I finished writing the serious novel because I was pretty invested in my characters. I owed it to them not to leave them hanging in the middle of a life-crisis.

I had just finished my first draft when I went to a summer writing camp. The instructor read an excerpt from it, and while she had some nice things to say, her critiques made me realize that I was a bit too young to give such a serious concept justice. So I put that novel to rest for a while and decided to write a fun book, sprinkled with humor.

After my first two tries didn't pan out, I was adamant about making this one work. I wrote my third book during the summer and fall of 2012. And now, just over a year later, I am finally finished editing it!

It's a crazy competitive industry, and I'm not expecting anything, but I have decided to give getting published a shot. Right now, I'm starting to write my query letters, which, for anyone that doesn't know, are letters that you send to literary agents to give them a small snapshot of what your book is like.

Thanks for reading! Comments are encouraged :) If you're reading this and you're a writer yourself, I'd love to get in touch with you!

"Five Reasons to Date a Girl with an Eating Disorder" Parody

This is a post in direct response to this sick article: http://www.returnofkings.com/21313/5-reasons-to-date-a-girl-with-an-eating-disorder.

If you don't want to read the article, it basically gives reasons why dating a girl with an eating disorder is good. For example: "her obsession with her body will improve her overall looks" and "she costs less money." It is disgustingly sexist and insensitive to both eating disorders and obesity.

Five Reasons to Date the Guy Who Wrote The Article

1. His insecurities caused by Small Penis Syndrome will make him obsessed with working out

Because men who suffer from Small Penis Syndrome (SPS) have "size" issues, they try to compensate for it by becoming huge everywhere else. Luckily for you, his large muscle mass is not an accurate reflection of his interior confidence. His self-hatred will make him easy to manipulate. You'll be able to make him do whatever you please, and his toned body will make him look nice and manly while doing it. He is sure to impress all of your female friends. Just make sure you don't let them see him in a pair of tighty whities!

2. He provides you with endless problem solving fun!

If you're the kind of girl who loves never ending puzzles and impossible quizzes then the guy who wrote this article is your ideal man! His fear of confident women and his desire for power in a relationship clearly illustrate his excessive amount of baggage. But he's not the kind of guy that you can fix quickly––he's an endless knot you'll be forever loosening. How enjoyable!

3. You'll have him all to yourself

There is no way such an ignorant jerk has any friends, so you will never have to worry about him being busy. You also won't have to worry about him cheating on you with other girls because his very essence repels all females.

4. You're certainly more intelligent than him

Although most girls are attracted to intelligent, ambitious males, maybe you're interested in being the superior intellect in the relationship. This guy lacks all knowledge about the severity of eating disorders. In fact, the only thing he does seem to know about is patriarchy and misogyny––practices that are virtually obsolete in Western society today. His ignorance is adorable and will make for great stories to share in the workplace.

5.  He's a rebel

Girls are usually into the rugged, tattooed, motorcyclist rebels––I don't know if the guy who wrote this article fits that description, but he certainly does rebel against social norms. Reasonable human beings see women as equals and are considerate when speaking about illnesses like eating disorders––but not him! He's a politically-incorrect, misogynist hipster. Who knows what lines he'll cross next? Maybe he'll start preaching domestic abuse. Bad boys are soooo hot!

Love or Life?

I am currently experiencing one of those moments when you are awake reading at god-knows-what hour and you start thinking really deep things. The concept I am currently pondering, as evoked by John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, relates to death and love: if I had to choose, would I rather live a long life without ever falling in love or a short life that could double as an epic love story?

Now, before I delve further into this big and somewhat pointless question, I should tell you a bit about myself. I am an over thinker and an over feeler, who spends a lot of time deep inside her mind, imagining scenarios that are often implausible––which explains the fact that I want to be a writer. Because of this attribute, which I have yet to define as either a vice or virtue, I find myself near-constantly enthralled with the future and all the possibilities it holds for me. Unfortunately, as a die-hard romantic, yet single, seventeen-year-old, thinking about my future often leads me to certain worries pertaining to my romantic life. In simple terms I live in fear of being, in internet terms, "forever alone." However, as a girl who regards people who value having a romantic life above everything else with disdain, I am conflicted. This internal strife has lead me to consider how important falling in love is to me. I have come to the conclusion that, although I hope I have a full romantic life, I would still be able to lead a complete and happy life without one.

Though the other relationships in your life cannot give you the same satisfaction that a romantic relationship can, I reject the concept that without a romantic relationship you are "forever alone." If you are surrounded with loving friends and family, you are far from alone. This takes me back to my question of love or life. If I were to choose life, I could go on to do great things: I could leave some sort of significant mark on the world, positively impact the lives of others, raise children. If I were to choose love, I would get a sort of happiness that only people who have been in love can know. Because of this, I have to answer the question in an obnoxiously roundabout way. It doesn't matter which option you choose. 

I say this for one reason and one reason only: you cannot miss something you haven't experienced. You can't miss a long life you've never had anymore than you can miss a love you've never felt. The wonderful, yet horrible, thing about life is that when we are at a crossroads we are not allowed to peer down each path and choose knowing how things will pan out. We have to choose based on intuition, and hope we lead ourselves someplace decent. We cannot live our lives wishing we could turn back the clock and make different decisions. I've had one or two instances when I've wanted a "13 going on 30" miracle, where you get to go back and unmake your bad decision, but I've moved on with the simple hope that I made that dumb choice for a reason. I'd rather feel the guilt and pain, learn from it, and move on than let regret drag me down with it.

The art of being friendly

I am probably one of the least friendly people on the planet. I've been thinking about this tragic flaw of mine lately and I've come up with the reasoning behind it. I'm sure all of you have––at least at some point in your life––felt pressured to fit into the little box society has set aside for you. Society has made me believe that a teenage girl should be agreeable, kind, sweet, nurturing, that a girl who speaks out and voices her opinions is rude or arrogant or "has to be a lesbian".

This box may seem trivial, and of course it is compared to the gender inequalities that people face elsewhere in the world, but my mom always told me––and I firmly believe that––you can't judge other people unless you are perfect. In Canada, every man, woman, and child of every gender, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation has equal rights. But it isn’t what is written in the Constitution that gives us equality; it is the way we perceive one another. How can we preach equality when we have stopped trying to master it in our own country?

But I'm digressing. My point is, like most people, I do not fit into the box society has made for me. Although I have many typically feminine tendencies, I always have a strong opinion to voice, I love playing aggressive sports, I have a witty sense of humour, and I am blunt. These qualities are at the very centre of my being, and yet I hide them from people at first for fear of judgement. Because I don't let myself be myself around new people, but I also don't know how to be anyone else, I end up going almost completely silent. The other day, I was out on date kind of thing with a boy, and I found myself acting completely unlike myself. Whenever he asked what I wanted to do, rather than being honest, I pretended not to mind, so I would seem agreeable. I answered his questions politely, but rarely elaborated, and asked him questions back. In the end, I just didn't talk very much and we didn't have very good conversation. Looking back, I am disgusted with myself.

People in general need to accept who they are more and show their wonderfully complex selves off to the world. Although the boxes society puts us in are roomier than they were in the past, we need to get rid of the boxes once and for all. Humanity's fixation on order and classifying people is quite frankly ridiculous and stupid. If we all try to be openminded about ourselves and other people perhaps we can provoke others to do the same. 

"John Tucker Must Die"

I'm going to talk about something I like to call the "John Tucker Must Die" scenario. If you aren't familiar with the movie, I am referring to when a guy cheats on his girlfriend and the girlfriend gets mad at the other girl instead of the boy. Now listen, I'm all for flipping out on the girl if she is your friend, but when the girl forgives her boyfriend and goes ballistic on the other woman... that is so not okay. I'm going to try my best to not go all feminist on you, but come on. Yes I know it's wonderful that woman have equal rights in most places in what we call "the western world" and everything, but you can't exactly wonder why there are still immature, sexist boys on the internet posting memes that read, "Go get me a sandwich" when girls aren't even standing up for each other. No, actually it's worse than that. So many girls take the boy's side because they are so pathetic that all they care about is having boys like them. And if you're sitting there right now reading this, thinking that ganging up on other girls isn't a problem, shut up and keep reading.

If you haven't heard of the Amanda Todd story, here is a quick rundown. Basically Amanda Todd was on a chat site, some guy asked her to flash him, and she did. Yes, I know––not the best idea––but it's not that big of a deal. A while later the guy tried to blackmail her into doing more stripping by threatening to leak the photo online. When she refused, the photo went up for everyone to see. She was bullied so much so that she had to change schools. At some point during the bullying a boy she knew reached out to her, and they ended up hooking up even though he had a girlfriend. When his girlfriend found out, she beat Amanda up with a group of friends. The utterly horrendous conclusion to the story is that Amanda Todd killed herself.

The number of stories like this that I have heard in the last while makes me feel sick. So many girls kill themselves because they are taped being raped at a party and rather than empathizing with them, their female peers side with the boys, claiming that the girl "asked for it" and "is a slut." If you are a girl who finds herself ganging up on other girls because boys are doing it or because it's "what's cool", I strongly suggest giving your priorities a serious re-evaluation. If we as women decide to support one another rather than oppose one another, imagine the strides we could make in the world: we could help the teenage girls that feel as though it is them against the world, and the girls and women in countries that deny them their basic rights. We need to stop revolving our lives around males (pleasing them, getting them to like us, etc), and start doing things that are important and benefit other women. The next girl to get drugged and raped at a party could easily be you or your sister or one of your best friends, so instead of judging other girls when they are going through a tough time, try to support them. You could literally save someone's life.