TOP 10 STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS!!!

If any of you are fans of the show Once Upon a Time, you were probably just as BLOWN AWAY as I was at the season 3 finale episode last night. I'm still in shock and awe!! LOL. The show got me thinking a lot about how much so many of the characters have changed and developed over time, so much like we ourselves do in real life. On TV and in movies we often see poor portrayals of girls and women, showing them as either ditzy, weak and overly sexualized, or overbearing, standoffish and man-hating. Neither are true-to-life at all.  I was inspired to put together this post today because there are so many GREAT female characters out there that DO portray women the right way, and with flying colors.  Here are just a few of them in no particular order, all with video evidence to back up their greatness. :) Though fictional (except for #9), every single one of these ladies represents a different type of real woman in the world. Every single one is BEAUTIFUL; not because of her body or features, but because of the light that shines from inside of her and never fades. 

#1: Regina Mills/The "Evil" Queen from "Once Upon A Time"

Regina started out good as a girl, but when her own mother murdered her fiance, a thirst for revenge started to grow inside of her, eventually turning her over to evil. Yet her character stands as one of the greatest examples of redemption and change toward a better life, regardless of one's past. Over time Regina realized the error of her actions and learned to allow the magic of "light" back into her life. On her journey back to "good," she endured blame, ridicule, torture, loss, grief, and rejection. Even after losing everything, she chose light over darkness. To me, this makes her a hero. :)

In the clip below, Regina must face her wicked sister in order to save a baby she'd stolen. Regina had only ever used dark magic, but realizes that the only way to vanquish a darkness so powerful is to use the light within her.






#2: Seven of Nine from "Star Trek Voyager"

Seven (whose real name is Annika) was just a child when she was captured and assimilated by a horrifying collective called the "Borg." She completely lost her emotions and identity, becoming nothing more than a mechanical drone in a giant hive. After the crew of the Starship Voyager took her in and removed most of her mechanical parts, she had to learn to be human all over again. She had to learn to smile, laugh, play, love, and create instead of destroy. All of this would take a great deal of time, but watching her blossom into the strong, compassionate person she was meant to be is so captivating. It just goes to show that something as simple as human love can not only change someone, it can also heal. 

In the clip below, Seven tries singing for the first time since she was a child. Never before had she shown any willingness to do anything so emotional and artistic. As you can see by the Doctor's face at the end of the clip, her progress is not only impressive, but also heartwarming. <3

#3: Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games"

Katniss has grown up in a society where her people have been under the cruel thumb of the government for as long as any of them can remember. They are forced to give over certain selections of their children every year for the annual "Hunger Games' where the children must fight to the death in order to claim one victor. Though Katniss is angered by the injustice of her world, she never lets her anger control her. All she ever does is react. In an arena where everyone is trying to kill each other, Katniss remains true to her value of human life. 

The clip below is a perfect example of exactly the kind of bravery I wish to have myself. As I mentioned, all Katniss does is react; without any hesitation or fear. When they are publicly beating Gale, the man she loves, she doesn't cower and cry. She runs straight in and shields him. 

#4: Elphaba from Broadway's "Wicked"

Elphaba was born with great powers, but everyone around her was too distracted by the green skin she was born with. For a long time she believed her abilities only amounted to what other people thought of her. But after being framed as a villain before all of Oz, something in her changed. People believed her to be wicked, but in the end it didn't matter. She chose the right path. She chose to accept both the powerful AND loving person she truly is. 

In the clip below, Elphaba gracefully rejects every bit of negativity that has been thrust upon her and chooses to carve her own path.

#5: Tracy Turnblad from "Hairspray"

Tracy is an upbeat girl who loves to dance. She dreamed of dancing on her favorite TV show, but after auditioning she was faced with harsh criticism for her imperfect appearance. Still, she not only persevered to get herself on the show, but also people of every size, shape, and color along with her. 

In the clip below, Tracy sneaks into the televised dance-off she was banned from and rocks the house!





#6: Merida from "Brave"

Merida is a princess who loves to ride her horse and practice archery. But as her royal duty, she is expected to marry, whether it is someone she loves or not. Instead of caving to societal pressures, Merida instead chooses to take matters into her own hands, realizing that a stronger relationship with her mother is all she really needed; not an arranged marriage and not a royal title. 

In the fabulous clip below, Merida literally takes her fate into her own hands.





#7: Amy Farrah Fowler from "The Big Bang Theory"

Amy is a very intelligent young woman with a PhD in neuroscience. But growing up she was teased so much by her peers that she was too afraid to try and make friends. It caused her to miss out on the social growth and bonding that most people seek at such a young age. As an adult, Amy decided she no longer cared what labels others placed on her. She started making friends and even dating; experiencing the things she thought she'd never have. When she met her boyfriend, Sheldon, she realized he'd experience much of the same treatment growing up and slowly she continues to help his shield of  insecurities come down.

In the clip below we see how Amy uses her intelligence to help others open up. Her boyfriend Sheldon has trouble with commitment and steers clear of physical touch. She slowly shows him that growing comfortable around someone can actually be enjoyable.

#8: Elsa from "Frozen"

Elsa has the amazing gift of being able to freeze anything and create ice and snow. But after an accident as a child, she ended up hurting her sister and grew afraid that she would never be able to control her powers. After being crowned queen, everyone suddenly discovers her powers and fears her, causing her to run away. But her strength truly begins to show when she decides to "let it go" and be herself. She finally uses her powers freely and creates magnificent things with them. She soon realizes that love is the most powerful ability she possesses, and it was there all along in the love she has for her sister. 

In the clip below, Elsa lets go of her worry over what others will think of her unique abilities. She chooses to live life for herself, regardless of where judgment had steered her before.

#9: Pocahontas

(This one is actually not a fictional character, but Disney did make a lot of changes to the original story. Regardless...)

Pocahontas has a deep connection with all life around her. Though her people warn her of others who appear to be different, she chooses to "listen with her heart" instead. She becomes a symbol of peace for all people, no matter what race or origin.

In the clip below, Pocahontas saves John Smith in spite of her people's hatred for his kind. She chooses to throw herself in the way of her Father's wrath to restore peace and compassion.

#10 Clair Huxtable from "The Cosby Show"

Clair will always be my favorite TV mom. She is a lawyer, a believer in equal rights, AND the mother of 5 children. She never let injustice stand if she had anything to do with it. She treated everyone in fairness and respect, and never ceased to be a lady in every way.

In the clip below, Clair eloquently addresses the sexist idea that "a woman should serve her man."

FIGHTING ABOUT RELIGION

Our world sure is a strange one. It seems to me that more and more people are moving away from the kinds of conversations we used to have. You know, before the internet? (Oops, my age is showing, LOL. Relax, I'm 25). Anyway, I LOVE the internet. I think I wouldn't have become the person I am today without it. However, I have noticed how common it is now to use social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and such to rant and whine about every little annoyance that comes our way. One HUGE topic that sparks this whining is the topic of... you guessed it... religion. Look, if you watch my YouTube videos or follow me on Twitter, you know I myself am a religious person. But my reason for this post is not to defend religion. Actually, I would like to offer my point of view on this trend as a whole.

It has actually become the norm to start and hold entire internet conversations about things we DON'T believe in.

"Oh that person has a religion? Send them a comment telling them how wrong they are."

"Oh they aren't voting for my candidate? Tweet them that they are a monster and how they're destroying the world."

"Oh, they're a vegan? Spam them with pictures of meat and dead deers from my last hunting trip."

DO YOU SEE THE MADNESS??

I think it's amazing and wonderful that we live in such a way that we can freely express our opinions. However, when I go on these social platforms and witness my own friends fighting over issues that they don't believe in, it almost seems as if they are throwing away everything they DO believe in.

People who aren't religious: haven't you chosen to stand for treating others with respect? Upholding the freedom of people to believe as they wish so you keep your freedom to do the same?

People who are religious: are we not taught to love thy neighbor as thyself? Do unto others as you would have done unto you? Are we not all brothers and sisters?

I have been practicing my expression of the things I believe in with all my heart, and ignoring any urges to point my own imperfect finger at the things I don't believe in. We are on this earth to GIVE to each other. We are here to UPLIFT each other. How can we do that if we are following the grand illusion called "DIVISION?!" Remember, if "they" can divide us, "they" can and will ultimately conquer us. If you stand for what you believe in, I have a deep respect and admiration for you, even if I don't agree with you! But if all you have to offer is your argument against someone else's belief, I feel sorry for you. There is so much more to life that you are missing.

And for the record, any time I watch a video or read a tweet, if that person were to say "I believe with all my heart that being Catholic is the one true religion (OR Islam, Buddhism, Protestant Christianity, Atheism, or WHATEVER!) the thought would never even cross my mind to leave them a nasty comment about how "wrong" they are because already I feel secure in the things I DO believe. If I find myself wanting to argue with someone, it's usually because that person is saying or doing something that makes me feel guilty, making me act defensive. Speaking from experience, once you notice this reaction in yourself, you CAN learn to stop doing it, and once you find your security in your own beliefs, it is absolutely liberating. No one can bring you down because you respect and love everyone, regardless of differences. Do we really expect everyone out there to believe the exact same way as we do? No one is on the same walk in life that you are.  If I wish to have freedom in what I believe, I know that I must open-heartedly embrace the diversity of others' beliefs as well.

Believe in something. Love each other. That is the secret. <3

I'm... a Hippie?!

Random thought alert... LOL

I've been thinking about how I've changed a lot over the years, or at least since I graduated high school. I find that I learn WAY more outside a classroom than in one. I love to learn the truth about the world around me and I seem to be driven by my curiosity every day. As the title of this note says, it seems to me that the closest social classification that can be made for me is just a big old modern hippie (minus the drugs and free love, of course). I hated history classes back in school because they seemed to just be lessons about war and politics. Two things I HATE SO MUCH lol. The thing that bothers me the most in the world other than violence is judgement. I ALWAYS seem to question authority these days, except if the authority is one who holds their title out of love and truth, not money and power.  But to this day I love to write poetry and songs, I play the guitar, I have long hair, I refuse to wear high heels, and you'll often catch me wearing long flowy skirts or bellbottoms if I can ever find them. And everyone already knows I'm vegan and I love 60s and 70s music. So... am I a modern hippie? You be the judge, LOL. 

Oh, and I should point out that I DO shower so... that could be a deal breaker, I don't know. LOL :P

In LA With BREE ESSRIG! :D

Hey guys! So I didn't put up a video this Friday as you may have noticed. If you follow my Twitter (twitter.com/meladyluna) you'll know that I recently filmed a Q&A video with my favorite YouTuber, Bree Essrig! :D Im here in LA visiting her and having a blast! I've gotten to meet some amazing people and learn so much more about YouTube. I love it!!
I apologize if any of you thought I would be at Vidcon. Bree and I kind of just had our own little "vidcon party," meaning we skyped with another of my favorite youtubers, JohnnyBerchTold and his awesome sister Kristine. It was so fun! Her dog Kirby even barked at John's cat Vinny on the screen. LOL.

I LOVE visiting LA. But when I come here I'm always reminded of how different it is from home. In Washington state everyone looks at things so differently. Everyone at home is a big cheapskate (myself included), and we love being close to nature. LA is great in other ways. I LOVE how easy it is to follow a vegan lifestyle here. I ate at Hugos for the first time yesterday and OH MY HEAVENS. Whether you're vegan or not, get their vegan mac and cheese. BEST THING EVER.

We also ate dinner at a place called The Crave. They had the most AMAZING Paninis. I had a veggie panini with no cheese and avocado added.

All in all, it's been great so far. I still have one more day left! SO EXCITED!! :D 

Vegan BBQ??

Hey guys! I think I'm a little late posting on this topic, considering yesterday was Independence Day, aka, America's #1 barbecue day, LOL. But I noticed posts by lots of vegan people I follow who were kind of down or nervous about going to a bbq without the intention to eat any of the burgers, hot dogs, cheese, or mayonnaise-based salads that are so popular. What else is there to eat, really? Well, I have tips!! :D

My #1 tip would be to definitely throw your own bbq if you can. That way you can invite all of your friends who you know will not make a huge fuss over there being no animal products and who actually might enjoy a more healthful variety of DELICIOUS food! You can grill things like portabello mushrooms to use in place of burger patties, or just cook up some good old Boca or other vegan burger patties. Smart dogs and tofu pups are my favorite kinds of vegan hot dogs, but if you're tired of the same old dogs, spice them up with the awesome vegan sausages from Tofurkey or Field Roast brands. They're really tasty!! :) Veggie kebabs are a great option too as both a side or an entree and they are completely customizable for each person. 

If you're wanting some great sides, cook up some roasted corn on the grill and make sure to have lots of fresh, juicy watermelon available for everyone. I mean, what's 4th of July without watermelon?! SO GOOD! You can also make potato salad or macaroni salad easily by replacing regular mayonnaise with veganaise, usually found in the health food sections of several grocery stores, plus Whole Foods and Trader Joes, of course. Simple!

Okay, tip #2 is for those who are attending a bbq someone else is holding. Don't panic! Just go, be social, and know that some people may ask why there's no hamburger or hot dog on your plate, but it doesn't have to start world war three. First, if you can find watermelon slices or any other fruits, veggies, and/or a nice green salad to load on your plate, go for it! Tortilla chips and salsa or guacamole are usually served, plus corn on the cob is a classic bbq food, so just get it without butter and you've got yourself a nice looking plate! If there's only meat products being served, it's best to plan ahead and pack a little vegan meal in some tupperware to take with you just in case. Or, if the hosts are good friends of yours, kindly ask them before the bbq if you can bring some vegan patties or links to grill separately so you can just have your own without making it a big deal. There's lots of options! :)

The hardest part, I think, is not choosing what food to eat, it's the fear of dealing with some difficult questions people may throw at you for eating differently than they do. Just be your friendly self, answer respectfully, and as hard as it sounds, don't go into any deep discussions on animal cruelty or saving the planet. If the person is asking you about those things, tell them "Oh well that's actually a really great topic, but it's too much to explain right now. But I will definitely tell you another time soon. We'll talk!" Or something along those lines. It is important to get the word out about compassion, but in the mean time, eat your yummy vegan meal, and when people ask why just say "I'm just a healthy eater and I really like this food." If they persist, you can definitely tell them you're a vegan or on a plant-based diet. If they ask why about that, just say "I like to eat healthfully." Honestly, it's hard to argue against pursuit of good health. :)

Have a great time at your future bbqs and let me know your thoughts on this. Have you ever had experiences like this as a vegan? What did you do?

Love you guys, click back soon! <3

MOVIES FOR VEG-HEADS

Hey there, Lunatics! I've been thinking a lot about my favorite movies lately and realized that a good handful of them seem to revolve around some vegan/vegetarian theme. Gee, wonder why that could be? LOL. Truly, I'd never noticed this before now, but I thought I would share some with you in case you're a veg-head like me, or just if you would like to check out some awesome movies! LOL

The first one, hands down, is "Year of the Dog." This movie made me bawl my eyes out, which I usually hate, but the message of this movie was a touching one, and a very important one at that. The main character goes vegan in the movie... and goes a little crazy too... Well just watch it, you'll see. LOL.

The next movie is, of course, "Babe." I've loved this since I was a kid and I think it's a huge influence on why later in life I decided to stop eating animals. In my book, this is the best movie about animals ever made. :)

Another great "barnyard exposure" type of movie is "Charlotte's Web." I actually grew up watching the 1973 musical cartoon version, not the live action movie. My version is SO much better! Especially for kids. It's a true celebration of all forms of life, be it people or animals alike. :)

Just as there are stories telling the trials and tribulations of pigs, there is one about chickens too. "Chicken Run!" I love the message of this movie, along with all the cheesiness too. Not to mention, the claymation is amazing!!

"Soylent Green" is a very thought-provoking film that I definitely have to include in this list. Yes, there is a scene where they eat beef, but once you see the end of the movie, you will see more of the "big picture," and how it can tie in to abstaining from meat. Several parts of this movie are a bit boring, but the most important parts REALLY stand out and are memorable without a doubt. Worth watching for sure. 

"Sweeney Todd" is one of the creepiest, BEST films I've ever seen! It is classified both as a musical and a horror flick. Veggie eaters like me especially find it scary that the movie revolves around the setting of a *gasp!* meat pie shop!! Not only that, but not all the meat in the pies comes from animals... if you get my drift... ;) While this seems very disturbing, it actually really made me reconsider what I ate after I first watched it (which was way back before my deciding to go vegetarian and later vegan.) I had a hard time looking at meat the same. Also, fun fact: the little boy in the film who plays Toby said in an interview that he's "not a big fan of meat," so when he had to bite into "meat" pies in the film, the pies were actually meatless and instead made of corn, mushrooms, and gray coloring... uh... yum?? :P LOL But so cool that he doesn't eat meat! Kind of just confirms how I feel about this movie, haha. It does have a lot of fake blood in it, but if you can handle watching those documentaries exposing the cruelty of factory farms, you can definitely handle this. No sweat. :)

And now, for one of my FAVORITE movies of ALL TIME; "Lagaan!" Now keep in mind, the theme of this movie doesn't really have much to do with veganism or animal welfare. Even so, the entire story starts with a ruler in India who is challenged by an English jerk to either let them double his people's taxes or eat some meat in front of him. The man refuses, saying he is a vegetarian and will not go against his morals. Also, there's a part in the movie where it looks like the main character Buvan is hunting a deer, but he's really trying to scare it away so the English hunters don't shoot it. LOVE it!! :D Plus, you should just watch this movie for its amazing music, choreography, touching love story, and pure AWESOMENESS. :)

Keep in mind, "Sweeney Todd" and "Soylent Green" are NOT appropriate for children because of violence and heavy topics. "Year of the Dog" is also much too dramatic and tear-jerking for kids, so I would avoid that too. But "Babe," "Charlotte's Web," and "Chicken Run" are PERFECT to watch with the whole family! "Lagaan" is completely family-appropriate too, but you need to be old enough to read the English subtitles as it is a Bollywood movie. :) So go ahead! Pop some vegan popcorn and start your next movie night! :D

Ch-ch-ch-CHANGES... :)

Hey Lunatics!! So I thought, since there's no Friday video today, I would do a little personal blog post for ya'll instead. For those of you who follow my twitter, you may have seen me post this tweet earlier today:

 "Sorry no vid today, guys. Going through some hard things right now & need a little break. Next week! But I'm in a great mood today. Luv u!"

First of all, I just want to let you guys know that I'm FINE. Some of you have expressed concern because I'm not usually one to tweet negative things. But really, it's just some personal things going on. Some of it is with family, some of it is just with me. However, I promise that no one died, I am perfectly well mentally and physically, so there's no need to worry. :)

On the bright side, I've still been in a totally awesome mood today! The weather's been great where I live and it feels like summer's on the way! 

In other news, I got five inches cut off of my hair today and I LOVE the result! (As seen above). My hair's been able to touch my butt for some time now and I felt I needed to get a less warm hairstyle for summer. Hope you guys like it. It turned out great! :D 

And finally, the last change I thought I'd run by you guys is that, at last, I have decided to go vegan. Yup, no more meat, eggs, and dairy for me. I already was vegetarian, for those of you who didn't know. Plus I have been lactose intolerant for forever, so not much of a challenge there. I just figured it was time and I'm really happy that I am able to do it. :)

Anyway, I hope you all have an amazing weekend and I will have another video for you next week! Love you all! <3