A little something ♪ over the rainbow ♫

After work, my mom and I rushed down to Lebreton Flats to see a free concert featuring Nikki Yanofsky and Time for Three. It was FANTASTIC! I absolutely loved Nikki, she's so talented and wonderful. In between songs she'd talk a bit about herself, try to speak in french and was ever so cute. I love that she's so down-to-earth and easy going. She is so gorgeous and so lucky to be dressed by DSquared, I absolutely loved her outfit tonight which was a black sequin dress. Though I do find that she wears way too much black for a 16 year old.... When she sang I Believe, it was wonderful! Even better than the recording, she's just so talented, I wish her the best of luck in the future!!

Here's a video about her from CNN, she's amazing and I'm proud to say that she is a CANADIAN!!! =)

And here is her FIRST ever music video, and at the concert tonight, she said that the director had given her casting papers to choose the guy in the video, (she made a great choice ;P ) but sadly she said that he arrived on set... with his GF.

"A girl can dream"

-Nikki Yanofsky

♥Charz

♫ Here Comes the Bride ♫

Is it just me or are weddings getting more extravagant and expensive each year? It seems that everyone wants to top everybody else. It’s no longer solely focused on the whole aspect of loving your spouse forever, it’s about having the most amazing wedding ever, that everyone will forevermore remember. The memory of your wedding may last longer than your actual marriage.

The trend can be seen quite clearly in the media. You here of stars spending millions on just their wedding rings (got to have the biggest rock in Hollywood). Shows like: Say Yes to the Dress, Rich Bride Poor Bride, and Battle of the Wedding Designers; are feeding a new generation of girls who are already imaging their perfect day which comes with a cost. That cost isn’t even known to these girls! The wedding industry is pushing to gain more money, and its working!

On average, a newlywed couple in Canada, spends $20 000 on their weddings. That’s a lot of money! The cost for just the wedding dress of the bride alone can range from $500 to $10 000 (or more). Not to mention the cost for location, photos, food and drinks, invitations, decorations, transportation, rings, and the list goes on and on and on.....

Better start saving up soon!

And then all you’ll need to worry about, is saying “I do!”.

♫Charz

... then comes the baby and the baby carriage?

I cannot believe this subject did not hit me in the face sooner so I could address it.  I mean, pregnancy (teen especially), seems to be all around me these days.  In the past week, I have learned of at least 5 new buns in the oven, not to mention the countless expectant women that come in to my work, or are just out and about on a regular day. 

It's almost as if pregnancy has become a trend or fad.  And the media has not been much help to control this issue.  Pregnancy is prevalent in almost every TV show I watch (maybe I subconsciously stray toward those shows out of fascination?), including: The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 90210, Glee, 16 & Pregnant, Degrassi, etc.  All of these shows, with the exception of Degrassi, have either kept their babies or given them up for adoption, which I feel is a great message to send to teens, if anything.  Teen pregnancy is definetely one of the most difficult experiences a young girl will ever have to go through if she finds herself in said situation, and being able to have the courage to give an unwanted child life and the life it deserves is the most loving thing a young mother could do.

original ad for the series when it started about 2 years ago

On 90210, Adrianna found herself pregnant with a guy she had a one-night stand with, while dating the guy of her dreams.

Maci from the First Season of "16 & Pregnant"

I must admit being pregnant can look glamourous at times, I mean, Amy Juergens (Secret Life) had an amazing figure before she had her son, and she looked the same, if not better afterwards.  And let's not forget famous young starlets who met motherhood early in life: Jamie Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin anyone?  16 & Pregnant is probably the closest one can get to reality when delving into the teenage perspective of motherhood, because the girls on that show are going through pregnancy without a predetermined storyline; they do not know what the future holds for them, their relationships, and most importantly, their unborn children, which can be absolutely terrifying. 

Bristol Palin, teen daughter of state senator Sarah Palin, and son Tripp

Jamie Lynn and daughter Maddie

Pregnancy is a complex and controversial topic when analyzed from a general point of view, but the best way to keep an unwanted pregnancy at bay for you teens out there is to USE PROTECTION, or better yet, PRACTICE ABSTINANCE!  You can have a loving relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend without having to feel like you have to go all the way.

xoxoxo, melissa