Nothing

fickle.


i first found out what that word meant in the eighth grade which is surprising to me because i think it describes me perfectly. "fickle" by definition means marked by erratic changeableness; liable to sudden, unpredictable change. my mind flips and flops back and forth from idea to emotion back to an idea that leads to a different emotion that could all have to do with one thing. i'm hoping it's something i grow out of. i don't find it an attractive trait. i may be fickle but at least i'm honest about it my sudden changes of thought, feeling or viewpoint. but if there's one thing i know that will never change about me it's my love for expression. all kinds of expression, so long as it doesn't cause physical harm to anyone. i want a life filled with expression. look, i'm expressing right now. i would EXPLODE if i couldn't express myself. there's nothing more inspiring, more touching, more human than the form of expression. 


there, that was my piece for today.


so Toronto, do you think we're going to have a white Christmas? i sure hope so. it's been pretty above the seasonal temperature though. oh, for those who don't know, I GOT THE JOB AT MAC! it's temporary as of right now but nonetheless, i'm estatic. Christina Aguilera's debut film, Burlesque, is out this weekend so please be sure to RUN to the theatre to see it! if not for the story, at least for her vocals in the songs. some of her best work yet. have you started thinking about your New Year's resolutions for 2011? i have . . .  like months ago. i reeeeeally hope i get to travel next year. to Europe. meaning Italy, France and Ireland. this post is really about nothing isn't it? yah, i know. 


well then, i suppose i should go until i have something useful to say?! i'll leave you with a little expression to end this right. please enjoy . . . 

Christina Aguilera & Hubby Split?!

my heart is breaking a little bit.


for me, this is shocking. for some, maybe not. it has apparently been confirmed that Christina Aguilera (my soulmate sister) and her husband of 5 years, Jordan Bratman have separated. they've been together since 2002 and i am so sad if this is true. her only statement about that matter is "Although Jordan and I are separated, our commitment to our son Max remains strong as ever," (via People) . . . i don't understand. i keep regularly up to date on Christina (cuz she is my soulmate sister, duhhh!) and i've seen recent pics of her and Jordy together several times . . .  a recent trip to Rome, a brand new Ferrari . . . this is completely coming out of left field. 


i truly thought they would make it. and maybe they will . . . there is certainly no harm in taking time to figure things out or regroup who you are . . . and i am secretly praying they reconcile and pull it back together.  actually, i secretly pray that outcome for most couples who separate. it's sad when relationships end. is it because we're searching for something that is nearly impossible to attain? 


i do believe that true love prevails. i do believe that it's possible to spend your entire life happily loving someone. i didn't at one point, i'm not going to lie. i didn't want to be naive about love so i had accepted that it was a nice notion but my heart didn't truly believe it. i do now though. for many reasons. one being how much i love my husband. we're not perfect and our relationship isn't perfect, but nothing is perfect. and i'm ok with that. what's important is that we make mistakes and learn from them so we can grow strongly together. my grandparents have been together since high school . . .  so has Phil's. they are wonderful examples that it can be done. 


dearest Christina,


i hope you're okay and that you and Jordan can work it out. 


love justine 

Something's Got a Hold on Me*

for your viewing pleasure.


here's a little clip from Christina Aguilera's upcoming movie called Burlesque that comes out this November. it stars Cher, Christina, Kristen Bell, & Stanley Tucci. i'm not sure how good the movie will be but i'll be getting the soundtrack for sure. Christina should stick to this kind of music and leave the pop bullcrap behind. this is "Something's Got a Hold On Me" originally done by Christina's idol Etta James.


oh if only i had pipes like her . . .

It's late and I should get to bed...

In full bloom.


Wow - the last couple weeks have flowwwwn by. Just thought I would do a little update on me and my life. Ok so first things first... Christina Aguilera. Let me just say, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Although I was filled with nerves, butterflies and anticipation the night before and the morning of (the Vh1 Storytellers taping is what I'm referring to) as soon as we got in (I brought my vocal teacher with me) and I realized how close I would be to my musical idol, it suddenly became very natural feeling. It was a very small stage, she of course, had a live band and we were 4 rows back on the right hand side... roughly about 10 feet from where she would be singing. When she came on, I couldn't believe that I finally got to experience a type of concert so intimate with such a huge presence. Because it was a taping, in between songs she was so casual and funny, joking while her makeup artist would fan her or touch up her perfect face. She talked a lot about each song she performed, going into detail about how it all came together and the meaning of it to her. Linda Perry (who has co-written and written tons of song for Christina including Beautiful and Hurt) was there to play the piano while she performed Beautiful, which was so beautiful it made me tear up. 


I won't bore you too much with the Christina details but in short, she is a very dedicated artist who makes belting out those huge notes look very easy and she made it quite clear that from a young age, nothing was going to get in her way when it came to succeeding as a singer. She certainly gives me someone to look up to in the determination meter and not compromising who you are for others (although, like I said in my last post, I do think she stretched it a bit thin in her most recent video). Speaking of not compromising yourself for others... I really don't think it's necessary in order to be successful. I just read a great quote from a cute little coffee table book I just bought called Good Person and it says... "People should know what you stand for and what you won't" -Unknown. I'm really not in the business of succumbing to others or having to put up with any sort of disrespect. What's the point of being an individual if everyone thinks you should be just like them? I just want to say, I know I'm a growing human being, but I do know what I will stand for and what I won't, and I think that's a very important trait. In any aspect of life... relationships, jobs, careers, family, friends... you name it - I know I try my best to be a good person and I'm not going to let anyone make me feel bad about myself.


Sorry for the detour but I just had to get it off my chest. I am very excited for this week because one of my very best friends is finally coming to visit me in LA and I can't wait to show her around. I'm trying to get my house looking as homey as possible before she comes and so far, so good... considering I don't have tons of extra money to spend on decorating... it's an unfortunate thing. I will definitely post pictures next week of our weekend together and all the fun things we do! Until then folks, hope you have a fabulous second week in May (my favorite month besides June because my birthday is June 13th).


Sending love your way... always... <3

Gone too Gaga?

Christina Aguilera's newest video.


So, if you know me at all, you'll know that I am a HUGE Christina Aguilera fan ( i don't even like calling myself a fan because it sounds so impersonal and i truly believe Christina and i have a connection that goes deeper then just pure admiration for her talent... that calls for another post in itself ) As some of you may know, I did enter myself into a little contest for the possibility of being selected to attend an intimate VH1 show with Xtina and to my absolute surprise and delight, I was selected! It films this Tuesday ( May 4th ) and airs on June 13th ( my birthday ).  As I posted earlier this month, Xtina just hit the airwaves with her new single Not Myself Tonight, from her VERY ANTICIPATED upcoming album - Bionic - that comes out June 8th ( just giving you all these dates incase you care ).


I dig the song. I mean yes, any recent R&B/pop artist ( Rihanna, Gaga, etc ) could have laid vocals on that track and sounded just as good, which means it's a little on the manufactured side but oh well... I guess she doesn't want to feel left out. I always put Christina on a pedestal. I mean, no one can deny that she has vocal talent that comes from the Gods, and a range that blows most out of the water - she is ( a word i've just learned... ) an anomaly. An exception. A rarity. A gift. So naturally, I was excited to see her new video, and knowing Christina, she does like the shock factor, but I must say... Christina, it looks like you've sold out. There are many Madonna and Gaga elements to the video which can be confusing to some - is she paying homage to these artists or just copying them? 


Christina doesn't need to "wow" anyone by pushing ridiculous boundaries anymore. She's done that with Dirrty, kissing Madonna during Like a Virgin, and other sexually explicit things that she has needed to get out of her system. And believe me, there's nothing wrong with sex. Or expressing yourself sexually. I'm game for that. But don't do it the same way Gaga just did in her recent video Telephone. I don't know if this is an act of her record label or just Christina herself? I haven't lost respect for her, but I do believe she's more then that. She's beginning to send the wrong message. It's unoriginal and a desperate cry for attention that she doesn't "need" to do. Her monstrous talent, creative ability, vision, morals, down-to-earthness and pure class is more then enough to keep her fans loyal and then some. I don't want anyone laughing at Christina for being a copycat ( i'm protective of her ) and I really feel that she took this vid a little too far...


Take a look for yourself.

Christina Aguilera's new single!!!!

My number one is back... and reinventing herself again!

Christina's new album titled Bionic will be released June 8th, 2010 and I CANNOT wait. I love how she takes a good chunk of time off between albums so that you begin to miss her. I'm sure you guys missed her right? She is somethin else that's for sure... check out her brand spankin' new single (a dance hit for sure!) Not Myself Tonight enjoy listening to those pipes let loose on those notes. Rock on Xtina <3