First Love

I recently sat down to watch a few surf films, one of which was a documentary of three teenage girls from Phillip Island, Australia.

It was one of those films that just spoke to me. The kind you want to watch over and over again because it leaves you with such a lasting impression. 

First Love

"First Love is about love, friendship and following your dreams. This feature length film follows the lives of three passionate young girls from Phillip Island and documents their trip to Hawaii – the first step on their journey to making a career out of surfing."

It's the story of Jess Laing, Nikki van Dijk, and India Payne. Seventeen-year-olds, each sponsored and each surfing the same breaks. And although they're each so different from the other, they share the same first love - surfing. 

While watching the footage and hearing the story of the women who put this documentary together, I was left with several important feelings. I remembered my first love. Not my first "boy" love but my first life love. You know - the first thing your heart longed for. The thing that made life complete. It made life make sense. It's the thing or place that was home for you. Without it, you weren't the same.

It took me back to that first love of mine. I was reminded yet again, as I constantly seem to be lately, that the passions and loves we have never really go away. They're a part of us always. Sometimes life "gets in the way" or we think we have to go this one specific route in life, only to be drawn back to our true love at a later time. I've often caught myself thinking about my first love and constantly talking myself out of it. In fact, I talk myself out of the things I want the most. It still surprises me that I actually made it out here to San Diego as it was one of my life's biggest dreams. But I'm not done yet...

The film pushed me. To never settle. To stop thinking I have to go that ordinary, boring, safe route in life. It reminded me that it's okay to sacrifice everything, go against the current, and paddle out twice as hard to reunite with my first love. I'm here. I'm in San Diego. Now it's time to make it happen. To make a living doing what I love.

What's your first love? Have you pursued it yet? Or are you still paddling out?

--

For more on First Love, visit the website here or find the film streaming on Netflix!

A Katy Perry Weekend

It was a much-needed Katy Perry kind of weekend.

I've just loved Katy since the first time I heard her very first single and couldn't get it out of my head or off my playlist.

Throughout the years, I've continued to listen to her music and consider her one of my favorite artists ever.

This weekend, I finally was able to go see her movie, Part of Me.

[via]

And, yes, we saw it in 3D.

Before the movie even ended, I thought to myself several times, "Man, I can't wait to BUY this on DVD!"

It was just that good.

I had tears in my eyes throughout the entire movie.

Tears of joy, sadness, and inspiration.

It showed the story of her trials getting into the music industry, some insight behind her creativity and vision, the personal struggles she encountered while on tour, and her passion and drive for LIFE.

She is an amazing woman. One-of-a-kind. She makes everyone truly just want to be themselves.

She makes it "okay" to be a little weird, awkward, goofy.

And she certainly just makes you want to say, "Forget whatever is socially acceptable to wear in public. I just want to wear something spectacular!"

She just makes you think. About what really matters in life.

And to me, what really matters is achieving your wildest dreams. Touching others' lives. Leaving this world a different and better place.

Three things that she is doing so great of a job at.

I'm not done talking about Katy Perry, but today, I'll finish by saying this: Go see Part of Me!

It's Magic Mike Day/Letters

Dear Magic Mike – I am renaming you to Magic Matt because, let’s be honest, I am going to see this movie for my man Matt Bomer. I will probably miss half of the movie because of either a) I will be freaking out or b) I won’t be watching/listening to Channing Tatum because I will be too busy watching Matt in the background. It’s too bad I won’t be able to pause/rewind/slow-mo the movie… yet. Check for a follow-up post/review soon!

[via]

Dear Bloggy Friends – Have I told you lately that I love you? Because I do. A lot. I had another first blate last night with Shannon and I just love her already! So, whether I’ve met you in real life or chat with you every day via email/social media, you brighten my life. And I mean that in the least corny way possible. I feel like I can trust and rely on so many of you… more than many people I’ve known for years. I think that says a lot about the caliber of people in this blogging community. And knowing that there are still so many of you out there to meet, sure makes me happy :)

Dear New Car – I’m so happy to welcome you into my life. After seven years with my last car, you’re new and exciting [and smell really nice too] I promise to take care of you and park as far away as I have to in order to stay away from all the crazy door-hitting parkers of the DC area. I just know we’ll be making lots of great memories together.

Dear Real Housewives of Orange County – I know that I’ve written a letter to you recently but I have to write another. I guess that goes to show you how much I like you. And I know I’m about to really go out on a limb and sound slightly crazy, but this past season I saw a lot of parallels with my own life. I’m sad that the season has come to an end. My weeks will be missing something now. What am I supposed to think – will Vicki & Tamra ever be friends again? Will Gretchen & Slade get married? Will they replace Alexis? Will Heather continue to make me want to be her? Sigh.

Dear Acting Class – I can’t wait for you! Week #2 is going to rock. I just know it. I’ll be running through my lines every chance I get until tomorrow morning. I plan to soak up every bit of knowledge that I can from you. As I’ve already mentioned, you make me come alive and that’s one of the greatest feelings I know!

Love Always,

Chelsea

P.S. Raise your hand if you're going to see Magic Mike Matt this weekend, too!

Oh, and don't forget to enter the giveaway for one of my After Sunset bracelets over on Julie’s blog, The Girl in the Red Shoes :) Only a couple days left!


Now, go link up with Ashley!

My Week With Marilyn

Recently, I saw another film I had been wanting to see for ages. Some people read books about Chelsea Handler. Or perhaps Kim Kardashian, Katie Couric, or Jackie O. I’ve always read books about Marilyn Monroe. My bathroom for years was even inspired by her with quotes, some pictures, and old Hollywood glam. That changed when I got married :)

Anyway, Marilyn has always been my icon for as far back as I remember. Her story has always fascinated me and seeing how far she got given her circumstances has always inspired me. I’ve loved her films, her “autobiographies,” even her poems written on scrap paper. Then came this movie:

My Week With Marilyn

{via}

Michelle Williams played Marilyn perfectly. She captured the playfulness and dark moments on and off screen and brought Marilyn back to life, if only for a while.

The film is based on the journal of Colin Clark, a London film student working on set for Marilyn Monroe’s movie. He’s invited into her world where she struggles with love, fame, and her burning desire to be a wonderful actress. We get a glimpse into what life as Marilyn Monroe was really like. The loneliness, the heartbreak, and her constant dream to find happiness.

The line that really got me was,

“People always see Marilyn Monroe. As soon as they realize I'm not her, they run.”

{via}

In this film, we can see Norma Jean – the girl without the glitz and glam of Hollywood. We see her scars. Her fears. Her playful spirit. In one scene, after Marilyn had been spending some time alone with Colin Clark, a bunch of fans show up and Marilyn whispers, “Should I be her?” after which, she begins to strike her “Marilyn” poses. It made me think, like the above line did as well.

Everyone knew Marilyn Monroe as a blonde bombshell; a Hollywood star.

But, as Michelle shows us, there is so much more to her. So many more layers to peel back. Not many people took the time to do so.

If you haven’t already seen My Week With Marilyn, I strongly recommend it. It’s certainly a movie that I will be adding to my collection as soon as it’s released :)

The Help

This weekend I went and finally saw The Help. I know many of you have already seen it so I echo you when I say how much I LOVED this movie. It was inspiring, beautiful, and sad all at the same time. I’m one of the few who hadn’t even read the book yet!

I could write an entire post on how heart-breaking it is to think about living in a time like that where human beings were treated inhumanely because of the color of their skin. However, in my opinion, this film so wonderfully depicted many of the real-life issues that were going on, many of those issues being shown from the perspective of “the help.”

Source: imdb.com via Juliana on Pinterest

 

 

 

My favorite character had to be Aibileen.

Source: miscfinds4u.com via Denise on Pinterest

 

 

She was funny, kind {see above}, and had the warmest heart.

If I could choose a character to play, it would most definitely have to be Celia Foote!

Source: google.com via Hallie on Pinterest

 

 

Source: google.com via Sheila on Pinterest

 

 

The scene when she hires her first maid {I won’t say which one} was one of my favorites :) It looked a little something like this…

Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

 

I’m sure you’d want to be her too :) But mainly so you can carry around a glass bottle of “Coke-Cola” and wear fun outfits!

As much as I would hate to live in a time of such civil injustice, sometimes I wish I could go back in time just for the outfits and hair! {Okay, and the cars!}

I wouldn’t even know which hairstyle to start with!!

Source: thehelpmovie.com via Courtney on Pinterest

 

 

If you haven’t seen The Help yet, do yourself a favor and go see it. Or at least go rent it as soon as it comes out on Redbox! People in the audience were clapping, crying, laughing hysterically, and it made me grateful to be sitting there watching the movie in a theatre full of people from all different races. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come as a nation and how far we still have to go. More importantly, it’s a reminder of what’s really important in this life… being kind. Beautifully done.

Have you seen The Help? Who was your favorite character?

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Here’s to the end of Summer and the start of a new season :)