(noun – Lan-Yap): a little something extra.
This is the category-less category, and yet everything still fits. Maybe it is a few great posts from around the web. Maybe a book review. Maybe silly photos. Maybe a product I really think is awesome but does not quite fit into the other categories. It’s fun, it’s helpful, it’s a little something extra.

The Best of Craigslist

Last modified on 2012-07-10 01:49:20 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Refinery29 recently did a round-up of Weird Craigslist posts which got me thinking: Boston and Shreveport have got to have some funny ones up! I was not disappointed and thought we could all use a laugh. As a general rule, Shreveport was much much creepier than Boston though I can’t say I am surprised.

Wooden Sea Bird, $85 Because really, who doesn’t need a two feet tall one of these? 

“You caused me to crash my jet ski into the boat.” Awesome.

Awkward City.

I don’t even know what to say to this.

“This is a high vibrational space for a high vibrational soul.” What does that even mean?

I couldn’t make this up if I tried.

Sounds like a catch!

Granny needs her pictures back! I feel sorry for Granny but I’m SO curious. What disease does she possibly have that you contracted by handling her belongings?

Yeah because I’m definitely going to answer an ad looking for a “lonely lady out there needs a guy.” That sounds like the Craigslist killer.

I believe this is called squatting. Or permanent camping? That would be an easy one to explain to the kids…

I don’t even have words. Which was your favorite? What is the craziest thing you have found on Craigslist (or do you even both looking)? 

 

Wordsmith

Last modified on 2012-02-13 19:35:38 GMT. 4 comments. Top.

Like many of you I can waste so much time on Pinterest. There is always something interesting to look at, even without using the Search feature. Lately I’ve noticed such an influx of inspiring quotes on pretty backgrounds and I thought I’d share some of my favorites.

I’ve also found some pretty funny stuff as well and since it’s Monday we could probably all use a laugh, yes?

That’s all I have for now…which was your favorite? Also, is there anyone I should follow on Pinterest? I’d love to know!

Crossing Over to the Dark Side

Last modified on 2012-02-07 20:48:20 GMT. 8 comments. Top.

I moved to Boston nearly two years ago now and, as I mention in my About Me, felt a little like a foreigner. I loved the city but found myself constantly comparing it to (the superiority of) Louisiana. When I re-read that sentence it sounds absurd, laughable even. I am so different and so much happier than I was two years ago but that may or may not have any correlation to my geographic location. But the way I live, the activities I participate in, the things I consider “normal”? Vastly different and often comical. This realization fully hit me when I saw this:

I found this via I Love Charts, who called it something like Mac vs. PC users, a guide. The full chart can be found here. Not that only people in Boston buy Macs, by any means, but the list just sparked for me a large trend of Northern vs. Southern idiosyncrasies, which you know I love.  So here we go…

Timeline of the Cross to the Dark Side (or um, LA to MA)

Month One: FREAK OUT every time you have to drive as the streets are narrow, they change names, and the drivers are total Massholes. You nearly get hit, nay, obliterated, every time you get in a car.

Month Two:  You still abhor the Masshole drivers and you find everything absurdly expensive. You cannot get over the lack of Sonic, or any drive-thrus for that matter. What if you look like a hot mess and cannot go into the store!? WHY DOES EVERYONE DRESS LIKE HOT MESSES ALL THE TIME HERE!?

Month Three:  Okay pumps every day aren’t working out. In fact they are getting torn up. OH MY GOD am I turning into one of those hot mess dressers!? Did I just walk my dog in Norts and a tank top with flip flops??? Fuck…Plus you start wearing sunscreen every day … pale is the new … pale?

Month Four: The quest to find fabulous clothing that you can walk miles in begins. Where is the damn Nordstrom in this town??? You drive twenty miles out of the way to find one, only to be disappointed by how small it is. You also fall in love (even more) with J.Crew and Lord and Taylor.

Month Five: You have turned into one of those Masshole drivers and find yourself hating cyclists with a passion. You will occasionally go to Market Basket (similar to a Brookshire’s) but find yourself frequently Trader Joe’s. The quality is so much higher, you think. You also no longer find it strange to go to a farmer’s market and pay $5 for a pint of strawberries or $8 for a dozen eggs. Pretentious, much?

Months Six – Nine: Winter hits and fashion goes out the window. You break down and buy a North Face. Oh and those hideous Sorel boots your mom gave to you? Yeah you wear them to class most days. At least you don’t wear one of those hats with the animals on it…

Months Nine – Twelve: You realize Whole Foods Market is just so much better than Trader Joe’s. You’ve officially become a food snob. You also throw out your microwave and start using all-natural cleaning products (the environment, hello?) Who is this girl? And OMG it is supposed to be 90 degrees on Monday!? How ever will you survive the walk to work?

Then there are the more subtle clues. You suddenly find yourself saying “you guys” like it is nobody’s business. And soda becomes integrated into your vocabulary (instead of the regular “Do you want a coke?” which stands in for any soft drink). You rhyme aunt with gaunt and caramel suddenly has three syllables instead of two. When did you become a Northerner?!

Then again, the more I watch True Blood the thicker my accent gets and I thought those Occupy Harvarders were the most obnoxious people around (hello, inconvenience having to show my ID to walk through the Yard every day!). And I’m placing Duke pretty high on my list of PhD programs to apply to (Ah, North Carolina). So maybe I’m still a Southerner at heart. Or maybe just a weird hybrid.

What’s the most Southern thing you do, if you are from the South? Most Northern if you are from the North, obvs. Anyone else notice ridiculous changes in yourself when you moved somewhere completely different? 

This and That

Last modified on 2011-12-06 18:48:53 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

I’m in Louisiana for a spell, spending time with family and friends. I haven’t shared link loves in awhile and thought it was about time.

I’m loving the Niches and Nooks featured on Imagine Design Blog – I wish my apartment had one!

 This photo made me laugh out loud.

All the cooking substitutions I am forever Googling, all in one place (because really, who keeps three different kinds of flour in the house?)

Delicious recipes, plus how to make your own Choco Taco!

What are you up to this Holiday Week? Any exciting plans? xoxo

Teddy Bear Wisdom

Last modified on 2011-11-06 22:18:48 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Have I ever mentioned that my favorite president is Teddy Roosevelt? Seriously he is the greatest. So maybe he isn’t the most handsome president we’ve ever had and true, he was a bit more militaristic than I like, but the man knew how to run a country. Apparently, he also knew how to inspire greatness.

For those of us in school, this time of year tends to find us a little haggard. We’ve made it through midterms but there are still a million projects to do and final papers are looming. We get a break for Thanksgiving but have to spend most of it doing coursework. Even if you aren’t in school, this time of year can start to take its toll. The days are getting shorter and there is less sunlight, the holidays are coming up and bringing with them a host of new responsibilities. In any case, it’s a Monday so I thought we’d turn to my man Teddy for some encouragement.

I first knew Teddy was onto something when I read this around the eighth grade:

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

But lately, I’ve been going to his “Citizenship in a Republic” Speech. I recently received feedback on a project I’ve been working on for almost a year. I’ve spent countless hours digging through archival material, deciphering scrawling handwriting from the 19th century, and formulating an argument. The feedback I got was good, but wasn’t what I had hoped for and I was feeling disappointed. Rather than focusing on the good, I was focusing on something I can’t control – one person’s opinion. Enter Teddy:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. 

It is not the critic who counts. 

It’s so simple, but so important to remember. And okay yes, sometimes the critic does count. Sometimes the critic is deciding your grade or if you get a promotion or something else important. But knowing that you did your best and that the rest is out of your control is much more important.

Do you have a go-to inspirational quote for when things don’t go your way? Do you have a favorite president? I’d love to know both! 

Weekday Procrastination

Last modified on 2011-09-10 19:36:49 GMT. 4 comments. Top.

I find myself looking through Pinterest far too often some days and since today is Wednesday I know you are just dying to know what I’ve found, right? Today is your lucky day my friend!

I’m obsessed with everything about this wedding. Also, I wish I had that rope “RS” tote bag.

I saw this on I Love Charts awhile back – looks complicated but actually pretty accurate.

And okay, I have no idea if this is even real but it made me laugh out loud. My aunt sent it to me a week or so back. Sidenote: what the hell kind of church name is Beulah!? Reminds me of that Chelsea Handler bit…

What’s your favorite weekday procrastination? Seen any awesome pins or charts? Send them my way! xoxo

J’ai Malade or… Calm down! I’ll be back I swear

Last modified on 2011-07-27 00:54:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Yeah this guy.

What are you up to this weekend?

Last modified on 2011-07-27 00:55:18 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hello my darlings, I thought I would drop in one more time this week because I have SO many links I want to share. One of my friends, upon discovering my blog, said he spent a good half-hour trying to decide what it is about. He turned to me and says, “Finally I just realized…oh my god it is just all about YOU, isn’t it?”

Isn’t everything???

I may be many things (ummm self-centered?) but at least I admit it, yeah? Ick…anyways, what are you up to this weekend? Heading to the beach? Going to see the new Conan movie? Going to a barbecue or bonfire? I am…

Going to Connecticut to spend time with my two favorite uncles! I love them so much and this may well be the last (or second to last) visit before I see them in August at their beautiful home in Puerto Vallarta.

I feel like My Daguerreotype Boyfriend was made for me. PS Who knew Orville Wright was such a hottie!? Or that my very own Logan Huntzberger was a Mass governor?! Okay so he didn’t age so well but those younger years? Yes, please. PPS Why must all the best ones be prisoners (ick)?

DrinkOwl just may be the most handy tool ever.

Apparently the only things you will ever need in your wardrobe, ladies.

Amen, sister!

Also, I own this…as Joanna calls it, the rug for forgetful people!

Hello, spare glasses!

And finally, of course, Friday wouldn’t be complete without a video. I am rolling over here. Here, by the way to make things awkward, is the middle of Harvard Business School. HBS defies all expectations. The cafeteria, if you can call it that, has a fully stocked bar and there is a vending machine (next to the normal drink and snack ones natch) that contains everything from razors to laundry detergent to Advil.

I officially start French on Monday so no promises on prolific blogging but I’ll be around. Tell me what you are up to this weekend and stay cute! xoxo

When Common Sense > any MBA

Last modified on 2011-06-23 14:03:31 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

So if you don’t know me in Real Life you may not realize that I have an incredible ability to spend money in bizarre places. It isn’t that I am a hoarder or even that I have shit tons of random stuff lying around my apartment. In truth I’m in the middle of a huge streamlining and simplification; I have about ten packing boxes of clothes for Goodwill and my recycling pile by the curb regularly gives the illusion that I am moving because of its enormity. It is just that I can always think of things I simply must pick up, be it a new lamp, a sunhat, or some fancy Parisian tea blend (true story).

So not long ago I realized I desperately needed a French Press. What is the point of serving specialty coffee in a drip Cuisinart? Furthermore, if you greatly increase the quality of the food you buy (and greatly decrease the quantity, natch … Grad student over here!), should you not also increase the quality of the things you use to prepare and serve said food?

(picture found on Amazon of course)

So anyways I buy a French Press and I’m very pleased with myself and the product until I happen to turn the box over and see this:

Boiling Water and Children Should Be Kept Apart.

Well no shit, Bodum.

We have all seen that old e-mail forward (who SENDS those anymore btw? Thank God) with the absurd labels but most were made up. Who has seen an ACTUAL ridiculous label like this one? What did it say? Spill it! xoxo

What are you up to this weekend???

Last modified on 2011-06-10 15:30:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

My darlings I had a big post all lined out then realized it was better suited to Monday. But as I get slowly back into this world I still have my one question:

What are you up to this weekend!?

Via We Heart It.

One of my besties Allie has spent the past year traipsing around Europe. I am SO jealous but even more excited for her to arrive home next week! In the interim I’ll be babysitting, yoga-ing, and going to a fabulous Black and White party on Saturday. In the meantime, some favorite links.

Via Polyvore.

When the weather gets warm I am all about beautiful nightclothes. Isn’t this number from Anthro beautiful?

Awwww.

I find this SO ridiculously hard to remember...

Or alternately, think about it this way.

Both of the above from Indexed.

Pretty much my favorite Passive Aggressive Note ever:

Have a sweet weekend, loves, and let me know what you are doing.  Stay Cute! xoxo

Winning

Last modified on 2011-05-02 18:00:41 GMT. 5 comments. Top.

So A) I think this falls perfectly under the Betch Category of Winning.

B) (and most important, I think) There are like 1,000 girls that live in Miller.  Even if it was a helluva portrait y’all are only going to get charged like, $1 each.  I say stash the evidence in your boyfriend’s off-campus apartment until August when you can hang it proudly in your new, R.A.-free Pad.

Love it.

(True story.  Legit E-mail.  … I love all things ridiculous so e-mail me yours.)

Yin and Yang (or Brat and Brattier)

Last modified on 2011-04-22 14:03:01 GMT. 5 comments. Top.

Umm… This post made me cry.  And then made me realize what an awful sister I am for having not blogged today of all days.  If you don’t know her in real life, you know her around here as simply

B

While B could just as truthfully stand for brat, bitch (affectionately!), or beautiful, for me it has always stood for one thing:  Rebekah Elizabeth Stevens, my fabulous little sister.

I always get pegged as the ridiculous one, the dramatic one, the brat but really she is just as bad.  It is just that I have the big personality, the voice that can be heard from twelve rooms away, and the need to say exactly what is on my mind in no uncertain terms.  People peg Rebekah as shy, quiet, reserved, gentle and she may be all of those things — but she is so much more.

She is honest, brave, and has a smile that lights up an entire room.  She’s witty, gorgeous, and loyal.  She has the type of body Jennifer Anniston spends 3 hours a day at the gym for yet is hungry every two hours.  She has a plan – always.  She is the LEAST anal-retentive, most laid-back person I know…but she’s also the girl who kicked me out of her room during the Holidays because I keep everything too messy.

She’s sincere, she is lively and I miss her every single day I am not around.  Growing up I would always get so annoyed because every time I mentioned my birthday was “almost here” she’d reply “mine’s first!”  But in truth I LOVE that our birthdays are so close and today is hers.  Happy 19th birthday my love!

She is about the only girl in the world who doesn’t feel the need to know every single detail or hash out her life in drawn out soliloquies — she just knows what she wants and somehow, instinctively, what you need no matter what you are going through.

She’s the girl who with one glance can say, “WTF?” or “OMG did that really happen?” or “Can we please silently make fun of this in our heads right now?”

She’s the one who will obnoxiously laugh out loud with you over things no one else finds funny.  Or the one who will never let you forget – not even years later – that one time you broke a chair (and subsequently began an eating disorder) in the middle of a HUGE mall food court.

She somehow strikes a perfect balance between sweet and innocent and classic Southern snob but no matter what, somehow hilarious things happen when she is around.  She is the one who went on all the Bike Tours with Debbie and I – and ran Debbie INTO a fire hydrant then laughed her head off when the entire tour had to come to a screeching halt so Debbie could untangle herself.

She’s the only one who would laugh her ass off with you when the tour bus you were on literally CAUGHT FIRE and the two Arabic men in turbans were running around yelling, “Fi-YAH Fi-YAH there’s a fi-YAH!”

She’s the one who, if her life depended on it, could easily beat every single member of my family (well…me and my mom anyways) in terms of agility and endurance, but take her shopping for more than an hour or make her walk more than two blocks and she does this:

She’s the one who will tell you the honest-to-God truth (“Umm take that off right now” to “OMG it was probably your dog’s fault he was bitten by the other dog at camp) but whom you can somehow never be mad at.

I always moan that I love her way more than she has ever loved me but in truth, it is just that loud over-the-top gestures and elaborate schemes are not her style.  She’s still the girl who started sobbing in the middle of her initiation ceremony when she realized you flew into town to surprise her.  The girl who, when you complained that some sisters publicly declare their love for the other through web posts, etc. said “I don’t need to write a blog for you to know how much I love you sister!”  And most recently, the girl who threw a fit when she realized you were planning to come to Louisiana but stay with friends while your mom picked her up from her first year of college down South — and insisted you come along too.

I could give you a thousand more reasons to love her but it wouldn’t be enough.  She is everything I could never be and my little Jackie O (but with better self-worth).  She’s lovely and precious and I wish her the happiest birthday ever! xoxo

A Hard Day’s Night…

Last modified on 2011-07-27 01:04:31 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

I’m writing papers which is not that cool, so instead I thought you might like…

A Day In The Life Of Yoda

Yoda brings a toy over to the coolest human being he can find (sadly, he usually only finds me).  If this human being is lucky, the toy is one Yoda can play with alone.

Then he goes to camp where they call him Meatball and treat him like a rockstar.  He LOVES camp.

He does not love when I make him wake up to use the bathroom in the 24 hours that follow camp.

If he isn’t getting as much attention as he would prefer, he does things to make the humans in the house feel guilty.  Exhibit A:  Going to the one tiny patch of sunlight and sitting with a defeated look on his face.

It works.  He gets a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie from Rosie’s Bakery (don’t worry, Yoda isn’t allergic to chocolate).

And repeat.

I HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU…

Last modified on 2011-03-03 12:02:42 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

… But unfortunately, my life (and thoughts… and every surface of
My apartment) looks like this:

It’s midterm season my loves, which normally doesn’t stop me but when you
begin to throw around terms like Masoretic texts, Ugaritic, Mesopotamian Mythology, and ketib qere all in RELATIONSHIP to Classical Hebrew Poetry well… It creates a different ballgame.

Love you miss you will be back ASAP — stay cute!

Arctic Circle Adventures

Last modified on 2011-02-18 02:22:09 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Even when everything (somehow) goes exactly according to plan, I spend every Wednesday running like a chicken with my head cut off…seriously.  The drill?

• Up at 6 or 6:30 get ready
• 6:30-7:30 take Yoda to camp (if I leave after this I get stuck on the Concord Turnpike for ever with the commuters)
• 8 Pick up booster chairs from Twins’ house for later in afternoon
• 8:30 or so arrive at school via Explorer
• 10-11 Class in Rock Hall
• 12-1 Class in Sever — about 3/4 of a mile away from Rock
• 1-4 Class in Andover — back over by Rock…I have 6ish minutes to do this
• 4:15 Arrive at the Dance Studio in Central Square (10 mins away) for the dance class the twins I nanny take.
• 5:30 Take twins home, dinner, homework, baths, read books, bedtime
• 8:30-9ish Pick Yoda up from Camp
• 9:30 – Homework at Home

Love Anne Taintor.

CRAZY. I was so excited this Wednesday when I found a parking spot right away by the Div School.  Even better, it only had a car in front of it (as opposed to one in front and one behind) so I didn’t have to parallel park.  Pull in, no big deal, go to class.

At 11 I decided to go move my car a little closer, mainly because sometimes they are finicky about how long you park your car in one spot and I was near an intersection…I’ve been paranoid ever since the whole “we towed your car so it wouldn’t be damaged in the event an emergency vehicle wanted to turn down that street” debacle.

It has been warm lately so there wasn’t any snow where I parked except for a little (MAYBE a one foot mound?  Sounds like a lot to you Southerners but before they cleared it the mounds on my street were seven feet tall or so) right by the curb.  Get in the car, pull into reverse and….I’m stuck.

Emerson Explorer is HUGE…My uncle Clint swears he has had apartments smaller than my car.  It also is a bad-ass; this was proven when the lovely Pat’s Towing employee showed me that I didn’t actually have to shovel the four feet of snow out of the way, my car could straight up cut through it with a little maneuvering.  So I did the whole “rock back and forth” thing for….20 minutes.  No dice.  Some dude even stopped to give me a push (in his work clothes…I felt SO bad) and couldn’t move it.  Awesome.  I didn’t technically need the car THEN, but I needed to hop in and go right at four to make it to the studio in time.

As I walk to my next class I ponder which construction workers on Div Ave look like the type who would abandon their tasks and come help me get out.  I then realized I would have to be late/miss class for this and my 1-4 class is only once a week so this is no good.  Cue Freak Out.

I remembered a guy I met about a month back who (for a fee obvi) shoveled out cars/did cleaning and detail work in the winter.  I called him and explained the situation.  He said no problem, he would take care of it.  Go to class, I’ll text you when I’ve got it done and you can pay me later.

Around 2:30 he says I am good to go so at 4 I go out to my car and….no dice.  It is JUST as stuck as it was before….WTF!?!?  I start to panic, then realize that my most important priority at the moment was getting TO the dance studio….no matter how.  To make matters even better, my phone had about 12% battery left.  I called the cab company, then called the Twins’ mom and left her message letting her know.  I also wrote her an e-mail hoping she would see one of the two.

I decide I’ll take the cab to the dance complex then find an ATM (I never carry cash) and pay for the twins and I to take a cab to their house…I’ll figure out my car at some point.  All this works out.  I don’t know how this is even possible but the twins’ house did not have a SINGLE iPad/iPhone/iPod charger in it….seriously.

So I use the remaining 8% of my battery writing down phone numbers from my phone of people I might could ask for help.  My neighbors are incredible but they are older so 1) it was going to be late by the time I could go get the car 2) if the sprightly yuppie couldn’t get my car out I wasn’t going to ask a 65 year old man to help and risk him getting hurt.  It isn’t that I have no friends here so much as none of them have cars…I wasn’t very well going to ask someone to ride the T then walk 3/4 of a mile to my car to help me.  Also I needed a guy.  I finally decide on my friend/tutor A.

I call him and he’s in a movie so I text him to check his e-mail when he gets a chance.  In typical Rachel fashion, the e-mail basically explains all of the above then says something along the lines of “please please please do NOT feel obligated, I know it will be late and kind of far from where you live, but if you can help me at all you will be rewarded with a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and/or h.  Seriously.”

Fortunately he agrees so once I take my third cab of the day home and charge my phone enough, I call him and he heads my way.  In the meantime I went to the neighbors house to get de-icer, salt, and sand.  I didn’t realize this sounded weird until I was telling Mod and she was all, “you just knew they would happen to have some around?”  Technically EVERYONE has this stuff in the winter because it is essential for making sidewalks walkable and for getting your car out without spinning the wheels.  That is, everyone but ME has this stuff…I never got around to buying any (imagine that).

SO….off we go to dig out my car and by we I mean A, with me supervising, making not-very-helpful suggestions because I don’t have a clue what I am doing, and sitting in the driver’s seat turning the steering wheel as directed.

We try de-icer.  No dice.  We try sand.  Nope.  We try to dig out the areas around the tires.  Nope.  Somehow, my back right tire wasn’t even freaking touching the GROUND.  What?!  Yeah…I’m impressed with myself too.  We try the rocking back and forth trick.  We try him pushing the car while I reverse it.  We try him pushing the car  while I gas forward (dangerously close to the car in front of me).  Nope.

45 minutes pass.  At least nine people stop by, none stop….

“Okay I know this is extreme, but how do you feel about this: ________?” says A.

“I’m game let’s go.”

The plan?  Get A’s car (also an SUV) and (slowly, carefully, so as not to cause [much] damage or set off the airbags which would probably kill me as I sit an inch and a half from my steering wheel [small person, big car]) run it into the back of MY car, *hopefully* pushing it forward and free.  I’m to honk as soon as I hit the car in front of me.  I’m not kidding…this was our plan.

He hits the back of my car once, twice, I move a few inches and HONK!  I hadn’t hit the car but it was a knee-jerk reaction.  Get out to look and I have about eight inches before I hit them.  A goes to back up for take two and…

He is stuck.

ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING!? It was a classic RMS “Is my life a joke!?” moment except this time I had someone to share it with.  That part was nice because it was like, “Oh, you really are THIS ridiculous…you don’t make all those stories up.”

Fortunately, it only takes a few seconds of me behind the wheel and him pushing to free HIS car, then take two of the hit-and-run plan.

SUCCESS.  We seriously felt like we had just captured a country.  I wanted to do a victory lap around the block to the Rocky theme song wearing an American flag as a cape or carrying a big-ass trophy ala Kirk in the Gilmore episode with the 24 hour dance competition.

It was reeeeediculous.  But made for quite an adventure.  We celebrated with drinks and a bite to eat at Temple Bar.  I had never been but it had an awesome vibe…though that could have been the euphoria of conquering the black ice on Museum Street.

WHEW….Hopefully my weekend will be MUCH less eventful.  I’ve got plans with a few people, a nannying gig with two precious girls, and a lot of reading to do.  We also have Monday off for some BS holiday so I will definitely be getting lots done.  What are YOU up to this weekend?  Going clothes shopping?  Having a Netflix marathon?  Cooking a special dinner?  I would love to hear!

As always, some great posts from around the web.

As you probably know, I adore Anthropologie, but their prices hurt my grad student pocketbook…not that it stops me but still…I can’t buy as much as I love.  So I laughed out loud when I saw Fuck You Anthropologie.  Too funny!  Oh yeah, they make wedding dresses now.  Of course they do.  See the collection here. PS Jenn, B and I would look presh in either this with a Tiffany blue or coral sash/belt or this for St. Thomas in November don’t you think? Just sayin’!

I was super excited to learn that Whole Foods Market revealed this on their blog.  I don’t have a problem with people eating meat, I have a problem with factory farming and other inhumane practices.  This is where I will be purchasing meat products when I cook for people from now on.

Documentary idea:  The Pickle Industry

Hahah have you ever been to Found Magazine’s Find of the Day?  People submit notes and documents they find on the street/in public.  Some are really sad, some are ridiculous, some are just awesome.

WTF Moddie???  I now need this to arrive on my doorstep by next week.  Seriously.  I’m OBSESSED.  Find it here (size small please! )

She also tweeted this at me which made me LMAO.

I wasn’t sure if this was legit until I noticed Mass’s title.  Aaaaand I’m pretty sure I have heard the gonorrhea thing about Louisiana.  Better than “Ugliest Residents” (AHEM…North Dakota).  The United States of Shame:

Have a sweet long weekend my darlings…let me know what you are up to.  Stay cute!

The ABCs: Awesomeness, Brahmins, and Coonasses,

Last modified on 2011-07-27 01:10:47 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Laura over at Becoming the Odd Duck told me about the “Dialect Vlog” a few weeks ago and I agreed to do it, but every time I was in a position to I either looked like a hot mess or had just showered.  I will not even leave my home in fitted sweats, there was no way I was breaking my Vlogging Virginity in them.  So when I woke up an hour and a half early this morning (after having unsuccessfully tried to fall back asleep for 45 minutes…insomnia I hate you) I decided to do it now before school because I would be “fixed” (a Southernism) anyways.

Laura and I had a conversation about this so she says some very similar things — if you want people to take you seriously and not immediately assume your ACT score was ten points lower than reality, you learn to drop the Southern accent quickly.  I purposefully began cultivating an almost-Brahmin, Audrey Hepburn style voice (a fake accent, if you will) around the age of twelve and by the middle of college could go anywhere in the world and they would never guess I was from Louisiana.

Today when I tell people my home state they do not believe me at all.  I always tell them it means I do not feel comfortable around them.  I make friends really easily but I only let a select few hear my Southern accent.  It is not entirely on purpose…I no longer can pull out a Southern accent at will.  To be honest I actually had to call someone before the second vlog to get my accent going.

The first video (Awesomeness) is entirely unrelated.  Let me just get this out on the table if you have yet to figure it out:  I have an English Bulldog named Yoda…and he is part human.  People always think I am kidding until they meet him.  The dog does exactly what he wants, acts deaf if he doesn’t want to hear what you have to say (as in, he’ll either turn his back, or concentrate on a spot on the wall 90 degrees away from you), and is ridiculous.  Example?  In our intermediate training class he learned like, ten skills.  So for brevity’s sake let’s say they were stay, walk nicely on a leash, lie down, and wait.  He knew them all but each week he would pick one to do and refuse to do the rest, but he changed the skill each week so you KNEW he knew them all.  One week he would walk nicely but refuse to do any other “tricks.” The next week, he would refuse to walk nicely but would wait like a pro.  He also refused to do a skill more than two or three times during class.  We would have “practice time” where they were supposed to do a skill 10-20 times and get a treat after each for a reward.  Yoda would do it once, do it again so you knew it wasn’t a fluke, then lie down, roll onto his back and start writhing back and forth.

So when the people at camp (yes, he goes to dog camp) told me that he loves the little Fisher-Price playhouse I didn’t think they were lying exactly I just couldn’t picture Yoda playing on it.  Plus I figured he probably would get stuck.  In case you don’t know what I am talking about it looks like the image below.

Okay so imagine my surprise when I took him to nanny with me and he did the following…multiple times.  That is a full-sized fort like you probably had growing up.  If the ladder were upright it would be over five feet tall…as it stands it hits me around eye level…not saying much since I am only 5’2″ but still.

So…onto the vlogs!  First up you will hear my every day voice, then the second video is my “coonass” voice.  It would have been even stronger had I been able to wake up the fabulous B with my 7 AM (her time) phone call, but I made do.  Ready for this?

And now me being a coonass.  It would have been a thicker accent had it not been early morning/me by myself but oh well.

What words do you say differently?  Did either of my “accents” surprise you?  Does anyone else have multiple accents?  Or words people in Louisiana say that I have forgotten?  I would love to hear!

What are you up to this weekend?

Last modified on 2011-01-14 14:50:37 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Happy Friday sweet readers — did you have a good week? It was crazy up here with the snow emergency and I (rather impressively I might add) managed to do nearly nothing for two and a half days…not like “oh I just watched movies” or “oh I read a book” … I seriously accomplished one load of laundry, washing a few dishes and….making lists.  The end.  Onto something much more interesting — what are you up to this weekend???  Going sledding?  Taking a weekend trip?  Making S’mores?  Hiking through the woods on a snowy evening?  I am…

I’m once again combining loves and links so consider this….links of things I love?  Here we go…

Have you heard of Pinterest?  It is THE coolest site — kind of like making vision boards but you do it on the web.  You can look at what other people have pinned, create boards for different subjects (books I want to read, awesome design ideas, delicious food, etc. etc.) and there is even a button to put on your bookmark bar so every time you come across something you want to pin you can just hit the button instead of logging in to Pinterest.  An example of part of my General Inspiration board is below.  It is invite only but if you want in let me know!

Like Jess I am a big fan of Stumble Upon.  So when I found the following I knew I needed to share it with you guys.  What I also need to share?  A very small part of the awesome Christmas present this guh gave me.  She knows that I obsessively flag the books I am reading — it is easy to find important passages etc.  She also knows how ridiculously uptight and ridiculous a lot of the kids at Harvard can be — they take themselves SO seriously.  So she bought me the following to flag my books with.  Combine it with the Viagra post-its my Uncle Dave thoughtfully passed out at Christmas and I’m ready to shock.

Having a slight obsession with the fact that Emma Watson is all grown up.

Love the book you finished but can’t figure out what to read next?  Check out The Book Seer!

I can’t get enough of these perfect French-girl Breton stripes.  Apparently neither can J.Crew.

These rules are from 1938 but most of them are truish still (especially in the South — gotta make the man the center of attention ;P ).  I love the look on the guy’s face in this one:

YUM.

And of course, a video.  My brother showed me this back in November but it. is. AMAZING.  If you loved Billy Bob Thornton’s Bad News Bears, you’ll love this.  If not well…I don’t know what to tell you.

Have a sweet weekend loves, I will see you Monday!

Survivor!: Ivy League Edition

Last modified on 2010-12-01 19:10:00 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Hiiiii sweet readers! How are you?  Remember the old reality show Survivor?  I am actually pretty sure it is still on but really, who watches it anymore?  Anyhow I am pretty sure I am entering the Ivy League version of Survivor except they call it Graduate School:  Survival of the Fittest.

 

I know, I know…I’m so dramatic.  It will be fine and I’ll get through it like we all always do, but it is a hard balance to strike.  I have until the 15th to write about 40 more pages and prepare for a three hour Classical Hebrew final that the broad outline of the format was a full page of notes — seven key passages to know both how to translate and grammatical idiosyncrasies, some sight reading, lots of parsing (telling the type of verb, case, person, number, gender, etc.).  I tell you all of that to tell you this:  I probably won’t be around as much on here.  I will aim to post a few times a week but did not want you to think I had disappeared. 

 I know a lot of YOU are having crazy weeks as well so you may not be checking in anyways, but in case you get bored, here are a few things to occupy you.  xoxo

Maybe we should just go look at Lisa’s tumblr?  I LOVE it.  See?

Sad day!  But this site lives up to its name.

Because who does not like a good Facebook fail?

I’m such a white girl and have #whitegirlproblems all the time as you well know.  But at least I am not alone.

Ummm someone sent me this video last night and I am nearly 100% positive they were saying, “Oh hey this is you.  Calm the F down.”  So I simply responded with, “if they were real the Harvard Sailing Team would be my besties.”

 

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-10-29 21:29:38 GMT. 3 comments. Top.

Happy Friday my sweets!  Have you had a good week?  Mine has been bizarre, a little dramatic, and a lot of fun so I am not complaining, just glad it is Friday and Halloween weekend!  I’ve been getting in trouble with a few people about not posting as often — and a few threats of pseudo-violence if it was a certain person(s?) fault — so I am definitely doing some pre-blogging this weekend in addition to regularly scheduled activities.  What are you up to this weekend anyways?  Going to the annual Asbury hayride or visiting a haunted house?  Keeping it chill and watching scary movies?  Participating in Halloween only by eating hella ridiculous amounts of sugar?  I am…

It looks ridiculous, the drink specials are awesome, and the $5 entry fee goes straight to charity (my kind of philantrophy!).  Plus, how often do you get to hang out with lots of fellow Bostonians all in ridiculous costumes??  My biggest dilemma now is deciding between my flapper costume (beautiful, classy but there might be other flappers) and my Freshman year of High School dance finale costume which we will call…Jane Goodall-post-Tarzan (It’s a leotard, it’s got sequins AND mesh…and it is awesome…I will pic MSG you a photo if you would like).  Thoughts?  Votes? 

As always, a few ridiculous posts from around the web to take you into the weekend.

I joke around a lot about the Fratty/Sorostitute culture partly because they don’t have it here and it makes me (ALMOST) miss it and partly because it is just so outrageous.  Though most of the things on TFM are sad-but-true I really truly did not know this existed.  These girls are serious!  I mean, yes a lot of these rules are unspoken truths but omgggggg — the poll on which baked good is your favorite to make for your fratdaddy?  SO ridiculous.

Joanna introduced me to Annily Green’s Etsy shop via her blog.  I am in love (again!).  I really want the “I love this town” print.  How adorable is this?

Um okay, even I recognize this as ridiculous but could someone please put all my files and music on an external hard-drive then blow up my computer with a nasty nasty virus so I can go custom-make one of these?  I am seriously in love (for real this time)…and I am jonesing for one SO badly.  But I have an iPhone, 2 iPods, an iPad…and a perfectly respectable custom Vaio.  And yet…just look at that bad boy!

This is super-old news by I just had to share.  Awhile back Dina Goldstein did a series called Fallen Princesses where she placed the classic Disney Princesses in what she imagined as their modern settings.  So thought-provoking don’t you think?  Check them all out here.  It was SO hard to pick one to share but this one breaks my heart. :/

And because I can’t resist…a little Keenan to get your weekend party started.  I am SO behind the times because I have no idea what song this his but I must say…Keenan is stepping up his game!

Have a Happy Halloween my sweets!  Let me know what you are up to and if you are in Boston come join us on the Pub Crawl!

#WhiteGirlProblems

Last modified on 2010-10-19 12:35:06 GMT. 7 comments. Top.

I mentioned on Twitter yesterday that I had 500 pages to read just to prepare for lecture today.  “NBD!” I said, and hashtagged it with #mylifeisajoke.  Laura countered that it was a total white girl problem which made me realize how many ridiculous white girl problems I find myself with.  We will talk about today’s specific one in a minute but just for kicks here are some of my favorite recent #whitegirlproblems tweets:

“This is my first and last time coming here so no, I obviously do not have a Rite Aid Club Card.”

“Trying to decide on what to spend this $100 giftcard is the hardest thing.”

“Nobody wants to make me happy”

“The car better be driven by somebody else.”

“Getting dressed is really hard when you have so many options.”

“I burnt my veggie burger :/ .”

“Plan B is only $40, the other is $500.”

And my personal favorite, “I just get SO tired of not having cute cupcake holders!”

So what’s my white girl problem du jour? I’ve spoken about my love for canvas wall art before…the kind that puts your favorite photo on a canvas square.  That’s great but they are kind of expensive and I am supposed to be a broke-ass.  So when my local Group-On featured a $130 canvas print for $45 I definitely snatched it up.  I am SO excited about my impending new piece of art but now I simply cannot decide which photo I want to use.  I know there are a lot of lurkers out there (i.e. non-commenters) so I figured I’d set up a little poll.  One click and you are done!  Want to see the choices?

Choice One:  “Railroad Rebekah”

Call me crazy but I am mildly obsessed with this photograph.  It was a random shot taken by my sister B’s senior photographer right before it started raining.  But it is AMAZING and it would be super unique.

Upside:  It is visually striking and unique.

Downside:  B thinks I am a creeper for wanting a portrait of her.

Choice Two:  The Poppies

Poppies are my favorite flower in the world and happen to be (rather gruesomely) a symbol of WWI.  When I toured the Western Front in Belgium and France with my Oxford group we saw tons and tons of poppies — I was in heaven.  I took this picture while there.

Upside: I actually took the photograph.

Downside: It is pretty generic.

Choice Three:  “We’re On A Boat!”

I love love LOVE this picture.  We took it on a catamaran on the Virgin Islands and it turned out famazing.  Somehow it captures all of our personalities plus the trip as a whole was so incredible it would be nice to have a cool memento.

Upside:  This photo is ballin’ out of control

Downside:  We are missing a sibling.

Choice Four:  Vintage Great Gatsby Cover

I love the Great Gatsby so much it hurts.  I tried to pay like 12 different people to recreate this image on a canvas for me but none of them were willing to risk me hating it (geez guys am I that much of a bitch!?).  It could easily be put on the canvas and be awesome.

Upside:  I’ve wanted Gatsby art for years

Downside:  It’s a photograph of a book cover, not a painting.

Choice Five:  Plantation Ball

Some of my favorite memories have been made at Plantation Ball and this past one was no exception.  Patrick and I have been besties since we were babies and we laugh that our friendship is photographed in formal event pictures.  His dad caught this candid while my guilty-pleasure song was playing (Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl) and it is captivating.

Upside:  It is just so damn happy.

Downside:  Is it creepy to get a blown-up picture of me and the guy biff?

Alright guys, it is time to vote!  Make your selection below.

Which Photo Should I Choose?

• Railroad Rebekah — So stunning and super original
• Poppies — They are classic
• We’re On a Boat — “get your towels ready it’s about to go down”
• Great Gatsby — fabulous and time-honored
• Plantation Ball — FTW it is adorable

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Feel free to leave additional comments below and tell me, do you have any canvas art?  What did you get on it? And (my favorite part) what are your whitegirlproblems? or whiteboyproblems?

Better Late Than Never, Yes?

Last modified on 2010-10-02 15:13:03 GMT. 4 comments. Top.

Happy Saturday morning my sweets! This post is super late as my weekend took a definitely unexpected turn (I had to have a semi-emergency procedure Friday morning!).  Everything will be fine, it just threw off my schedule.  What are you up to this weekend?  Going to a concert (jealous!)?  Visiting family?  Watching the bound-to-be-exciting Alabama vs. UF game?  I am…

I am behind on all the most important things in my life — work, school, Gossip Girl, sleep… .  I am still not feeling awesome so I will probably stay pretty low-key though some of my Div School friends are hosting the Half/Whole Party tonight and there is of course that football game.  Hope you are all enjoying yourselves and this beautiful first weekend of fall.  Here are a few great posts from around the web.

My friend J and I headed over the Museum of Fine Arts yesterday afternoon where there just happened to be a brand new fashion exhibit.  I am a little concerned that Don Ed Hardy is their “special guest,” but even J admitted that some of the fashion photographs from the 1940s – 1970s were striking.  Check out the calendar of events here and remember that a Harvard ID equals free admission if you possess one.

I will (only slightly embarrassed) admit to wanting to see The Social Network.  But what I find incredibly intriguing is this article which talked to friends of Mark’s who were around as everything unfolded in real time.  They say Mark is protrayed as an ass but I guess that is Hollywood, yes?

Say Whhhaaatttt?  This NYT article says penguins used to be over five feet tall and red/brown in color.  Anyone else feel betrayed?

Ah Etsy, you keep stealing my heart!  For $7, I really want some of these to hang in my apartment.  So cheery for winter! I am jonesing for this as well.  Love this bag.  I’m not black, I don’t have a ‘fro, and I can practically see B shaking her head, but I really want this!   Though even I must admit, WTF would one do with this???

And finally (of course) a video.  My brother (yep, the same asshole one leaving the mean comments about the Lost Weekend) sent me this hilarious video a few weeks back.  Who IS this kid!?  His YouTube profile says he is 15 but I am not sure I believe it.  In any case it is hilarious in the most inappropriate way.

Happy Weekend dolls.  See you Monday!

Even a Thousand Miles…Can’t Keep Us Apart

Last modified on 2010-09-30 02:30:15 GMT. 5 comments. Top.

Today has been ridiculous.  So it started out with Yoda and I getting locked out of our apartment.  I rang my landlord’s doorbell but he wouldn’t answer, so finally I had to disturb the other tenant.  Problem:  said tenant is a writer who does his best work late at night so he usually does not wake up before 1 PM…it was 8 AM.  I grimace and ring the bell, he groggily answers. 

We all have separate keys to our own places of course, but I was told that all of the outside entrances (front door, back door) are the same lock.  I borrow his key, it does not work on my front door.  So then we go through the back door thinking maybe I can get in through my back door.  No luck.  I walk up the stairs to my landlord’s, bang on the door…no answer.  His truck is in the driveway.  Go down, walk around to the front and ring his doorbell…no answer. I repeat this for 20 minutes and go wake the neighbor (again!) to borrow his phone and call the landlord.  He does not answer his house or cell phone…awesome.  Neighbor finds ONE more key and luckily it works, BUT by this time I had to leave for school right then and had done nothing besides get dressed.  Ugh…Oh and did I mention I fell down a flight of stairs?  Not a wonderful start to the day.

BUT WAIT!  I arrive home from my afternoon class to find this waiting for me:

As always, she did not disappoint.  Everything was carefully chosen and thought out.  She individually wrapped each item too so it was like Christmas morning unwrapping them.  And in our usual style there was a note on every piece.  Want to see the loot?

It included:

• Beggin’ Strips (Yod’s favorite junk food) with a note that said “Because I think I love him more than he loves me.”  NOT true– he just shows his love in slobber and sitting on your lap.
• Milano Cookies — my very fav growing up and something that brings back wonderful memories with this guh.  She circled that they were “distinctive cookies.”
• 4 Fabulous Anne Taintor-style Magnets with a note that says “I couldn’t contain myself!”  Not only do I need magnets, but these were so damn appropriate.  They say: “They raised my credit limit!” “Please Don’t Interrupt Me While I am Ignoring you,” “Try Organic Food…or as your grandparents called it, ‘Food’,” and my personal fav, “My therapist thinks I am too judgmental but that’s because he’s an idiot.”
• DUNKAROOS! I have not had these since 4th grade and I did not even know they still existed.  Jess came across them though and I cannot wait to be nostalgic.
• Monjuni’s Sauce — I have professed my love for this many a time on the blog and you CANNOT get this anywhere but Shreveport.  The note said “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that’s amore”
• A fleece coat for Yoda!!!  LMAO Yoda loves to wear sweaters and Boston winters are cold.  He actually sat for me to put it on him when I took it out of the box, but it is too hot today.  It is Red Sox colors and says “So Yoda Won’t Get Too Cold or Too Naked.”

As for the title, Jess used to let me play DJ in her car on our nights out and I would always make her listen to the likes of High School Musical and Miley Cyrus (I put good stuff on there too, don’t worry!).  She would compare me to Maureen in Rent (esp. during the Take Me or Leave Me song) but right before I left we decided the Zac Efron and V Hudgens ballad “Can I have this Dance?” symbolized our relationship in a completely heterosexual way…because we are ridiculous (and had consumed a significant amount of gin).

Love to one of the best girlfriends a woman could ask for — A return package is heading your way!  How has everyone else’s Wednesday been?  I am headed to bake Divine Brownies for the neighbor whose morning I disrupted (recipe to be posted later!). 

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-09-28 15:59:56 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Happy Friday dolls!  I don’t know about you but it has been an insane week for me.  What are you guys up to this weekend?  Curling up with a good novel?  Getting together with a bunch of friends?  Traveling?  I am…

Debbie and her friend Laura arrived yesterday from Louisiana and I am so excited!  I had prior engagements last night but they ventured into the North End for dinner at Giacomo’s and a requisite trip to Mike’s.  Tomorrow after my Hebrew test I am taking them to Salem, then Saturday we plan to spend all day shopping along Newberry, the Pru, and Copley.  This of course means that Sunday will be a major catch up day but it is definitely worth it. 

As always, a few great posts from around the web.

This Bing search is awesome.  You can always guarantee that Gaga will be outrageous.

Looks like Boston Bars are stepping up in terms of bar foods and offering the likes of crostino with lobster salad and risotto.  This makes me laugh as Amber and I definitely spotted PBR tall boys on the KO Prime (a pretty swank, $12 cocktail kind of place) menu for $4 not too long ago.

Sophie Blackall paints some of the best “Missed Connections” on Craigslist.  Aren’t they awesome?  Though I never check them, I sometimes secretly wish someone would look for me on missed connections.  Check out some of her other work.

As a friend and I were taking a little driving adventure a few weeks ago, I literally stopped the conversation and gasped at the site of the fabulous boutique, Poor Little Rich Girl because I am ridiculous.  It looked SO cute and right up my alley.  Turns out it is a vintage store so maybe not but I just might have to check it out.

The fabulous JMOD of Sister Time shared this video a few weeks back and I have been obsessed ever since.  I am a total musical geek and equally as into embarrassing myself in public, so all I could think of was immediately flying to Belgium and joining their group IMMEDIATELY.

Have a great weekend my sweets, let me know what you are up to!

What are you up to this weekend?

Last modified on 2010-09-17 19:24:46 GMT. 5 comments. Top.

Happy Friday afternoon my sweets! This week has flown by, yes?  Anyone going apple picking (my Chi-O sisters totally are)?  Cooking/baking up a storm (Hey Mod!)?  Going on a weekend adventure?  I am…

No sadly, I am NOT going to visit her. :/  B has always been the super social butterfly out of the two of us, flitting from this group to that, while I always had a small close circle.  Lately I think she has gotten some of my charm and I have gotten some of her mad social skills, because we are both taking over our respective new towns (I kid, I kid…ish).  Anyways I’ll be catching up with a few different people for everything from shopping, pep talks, and heavy drinking.  Hopefully there will be some major house cleaning going on as well (ummm….anyone want to come clean? I’ll pay you!).  As always, a few great posts from around the web.

As the weather gets cooler I am sad to have to put away my beloved straw Fedora.  I’m thinking of either a wool one or a Cloche hat but now that I see this I might be changing my mind.

I think this is totally a girl pretty vs. guy pretty thing, but I have been obsessing over these Steven Alan Ruffle Panties for ages.  Wouldn’t they be darling with a camisole for night?

After seeing Sarah’s bouquet, I think Dahlias might be moving up on my favorite flower list.

Oh Hey Amber Steckel do not buy This Hat.

I am dying to see this film (it looks so intriguing!) but I am the world’s biggest baby when it comes to scary/suspenseful movies.  So actually I need someone to go with who is also willing to camp out at my place all weekend and protect me from whatever happens in the documentary (one reviewer DEFINITELY compared it to Paranormal Activity).

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-09-03 03:33:12 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

My sweets, what are you up to this holiday weekend?  Going to the beach for one last time?  Boiling crawfish?  Hitting up the Labor Day weekend sales?  Fleeing Hurricane Earl?  If the weather holds out I think I am going to go see…

I know it is going to be cheesy and probably end predictably but it looks cute and I love Justin Long.  If the weather is ridiculous I’ll probably switch to The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo on my iPad and catch up with some friends.

As always, a few great posts.

Flipboard is by far the coolest iPad/iPod app ever (my boss introduced me!).  It turns your Twitter and Facebook accounts into a magazine.  You can do the same thing with your favorite online newspapers, plus they have Flipboards for design, art, technology…everything. 

College Candy features 13 healthy foods to keep around no matter how tiny your fridge/pantry.  Check it out here.

This news clip makes me regret all those $3 bottles of Honest Tea I’ve bought throughout the years.

This NYT article makes me want to turn my kitchen into a laboratory this weekend.  Any Bostonians want to join me?  I’m thinking Lemongrass Gin but I’m game for suggestions.

Oh my goodness — I might have to save up for this.  The Wall of I Love Yous in Paris is amazing and someone put it on canvas.  Find it here.

Have a lovely weekend dolls! I will be taking the holiday off along with most of you but will be back Tuesday with some great posts. xoxo.

Just Don’t Call Me Ma’am!

Last modified on 2010-09-01 01:09:34 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Anna Mitchael moves from Texas (close to Louisiana!) to Boston right after college.  She laughs about being able to make big decisions (moving cross-country) arbitrarily, but stressing over tiny things…I knew I was going to like her memoir.

Most “small town girl in the big city” novels are, well, boring.  So you had to learn to ride the subway?  You once got lost in Chinatown?  Who. Cares.  Anna begins her story with a break-up.  THE break-up if you will.  The guy she moved to Seattle with, then to New York for his job suddenly is leaving “their” apartment.  She talks about ordering two of everything from the Chinese restaurant down the street because she doesn’t “even want the neighborhood Chinese restaurant to know your change in relationship.”

“What did ‘better’ mean to you when you left the South? Independence? Freedom from the idea that you had to marry young, have children quickly, develop an interest in Bunko?”

And then we are off!  Mitchael starts with her first love (she was twelve) and how it was the turning point for the usual highlight of her summer “Camp Grandma.”  We follow her through her relationship with her mother, her time in a sorority (something my friends in the North just don’t quite understand), and her adventures on her own throughout her twenties. 

It may not be Kierkegaard, Berger, or an equally impressive academic tome, but it is a helluva good read.

What books have you been reading for pleasure lately?  Any I should pick up right away?

Just A Little Something to Brighten Your Monday…

Last modified on 2010-09-01 23:05:49 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

When I first saw this I thought it was a fake.  My bulldog has been known to watch TV for hours, but I have yet to catch him in a seated position like this.  LOVE!

If You Want An Excuse To Spend Money…

Last modified on 2010-08-27 05:00:21 GMT. 3 comments. Top.

Someone from the South was visiting me in Boston awhile back and remarked, “Why does everyone look so unhappy?”

“What??  What are you talking about?” I asked.

“They are all scowling!” he replied.

And then it hit me…I had become one of them.  In the South everyone is all smiles all the time.  Entire conversations are had and friendships formed because I was walking down the street and you were mowing your lawn.  In Boston…not so much.  It is not really that people are unfriendly or upset, they just tend to stick to their own worlds…headphones in, books or phones out send the message “do not disturb.”

But…I don’t always want to send the do not disturb message.  I get too bored to just sit…anywhere.  So I usually bring a book.  But let’s face it, books send the message loud and clear.  But according to this New York Times writer the same does not hold true for ebook readers of any kind.  Considine notes that when Amazon dropped the price of the Kindle in June, they sold 180 Kindles for every 100 regular books in the ensuing month.

Not to get all spoiled brat on you, but I have both a Kindle and an iPad and I have to say that I have had more interaction with people over those two devices than I ever had with any other prop, if you will allow me to use the term.  Even (and I would argue especially) in unfriendly Boston.  I have not gotten a date (yet!) but I have made tons of temporary friends strictly because they noticed me with it…even when I had headphones in.  They want to know if you like it, how it compares to x, y, and z.  They want to know what you are reading, if you use it in business, in class, instead of a laptop.  They want to touch it, hold it, play with it (very similar to my bulldog as a matter of fact!).

On the plane ride out to California I had my seatmate so entranced by the fact that I owned both that not only did we talk intermittently for the rest of the flight, but he even offered to help carry my luggage and give me directions.  All because of an iPad.

I doubt any of you will rush out to buy one or the other solely based on the fact that it might make you friends, but if you needed an excuse…there it is.  And actually, if you want to know more about either let me know! I truly love them both and see a need for both.

Do you have an iPad or Kindle?  Have people approached you?  Any questions about either?  And while we are on the subject…favorite apps?

Two Truths and a Lie

Last modified on 2010-08-29 16:13:07 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

You know the classic game, right? You tell two truths and one lie and people guess which is the lie.  I am not going to make you play the game.  But I am going to tell you two somewhat embarrassing truths as a precursor to the real subject of this post.

Truth One:  I don’t have a boyfriend, but I have been planning my wedding since I was ten.

Seriously.  I have a minor obsession with weddings — I love looking at the new season’s designer gowns, offbeat weddings that are slowly becoming the norm, checking out what other people have used (songs, readings, invitations, favors), and deciding what I myself would like.  The crazy part is I am not that girl who is dying to get married — I actually don’t want to be married for years.  I think it is that I am good at (and enjoy!) event planning, and your wedding is the ultimate event to plan.

Truth Two:  I had to stop reading Nicholas Sparks’ novels because I would become legitimately upset over completely unrealistic scenarios.

Yep.  It is one thing to have a good cry over a book…it is quite another to be crying a week later because “it is just SO tragic.”  Please.  You don’t spend the weekend at an inn, fall in love with the girl running it for her friend, promise to come back and get married just as soon as you wrap up things at home because you cannot live without her, then tragically die when your car runs off the edge of a cliff while you were in Argentina (oh HEY Nights in Rodanthe).

Both of those truths were necessary because you might be surprised when you see what I have to show you. Glamour magazine tweeted about these fabulous engagement photos the other day and of course my curiosity got the best of me.  I hate the typical Southern engagement photos of “me and my fiance lying casually in the grass or sand, arms wrapped around each other” but I equally hate those quirky, only-half-our-heads-are-in-the-picture shots that are popular among artsy circles.  I for sure wouldn’t go for this myself, but are they not incredible!? Take a look…

Aren’t they lovely?  You can see more photos (taken by the fabulous Blushing Bride Studio) as well as the couple’s inspiration for the photo shoot here.

Any other wedding lovers or Nicholas Sparks haters out there?  What do you think of these engagement photos?  And more importantly…anyone brave enough to make two confessions? I’d love to know!

Why I Love Hanging Out With My Dad

Last modified on 2010-08-24 04:33:52 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my WHOLE family but one-on-one Rachel and Leo time very rarely happens so when it does it is pretty sweet.  He loves my dog as much as I do, so he does not get bored with my tales.  We trade funny stories, eat AMAZING food, and laugh…laugh…laugh.  After my weekend, laughter and the California sun was JUST what I needed.

I landed at the airport, checked out my rental car (A silver Camry…really Life Tech?  Do I look like a Camry-driver? I kid I kid…I am very grateful you rented me a car at all and I was not schlepping rides) and headed to “The Compound.”  No one at Life calls it this, but I randomly met this girl who as a side job does on-site trainings and she compared Life’s facilities to a cult.  It would have to be a hell of an expensive cult but…okay.

My dad was originally not supposed to be here this week, but I am so glad he was!  After we wrapped up work, we asked our friend (well…his colleague, my “friend” who found the job for me) to meet up with us for drinks/dinner.  We hit up a place known for their beers and I had…

I only had one because of the whole deadly headache weekend, and a few bites of our appetizers (flat-bread pizza, avocado egg rolls) but it made me remember how DELICIOUS hanging out with Leo can be as well.  He’s a total foodie and has exquisite tastes because he wines and dines clients so often.

Oh and my swag-of-the-day?

Not to worry, I won’t wax poetic all week about hanging with my dad.  Plus I have been up since 2 AM California time and have to, you know, work in the morning so I should go.  Who do you love to hang out with? And what are some of your favorite activities? I am so curious!

The Dog Park Debacle

Last modified on 2010-08-23 01:21:50 GMT. 5 comments. Top.

I don’t know if you have figured it out by now but I have a dog.  Not just any dog.  A 65 pound part-human English Bulldog.  He is manipulative, way too smart, and though we have been through 24 WEEKS of training he refuses to do anything unless he wants to.  Case in point?  During our last training class we would all walk the perimeter of the store doing different tasks.  So to get out of the training room the dog had to wait, let you walk out then wait for the command to exit the room.  Loose-leash walk down one side of the store, practice staying in “sit” or “lie down” while the instructor did things like bounce balls and squeak toys at them, then “heel” to the other corner of the store and practice “stay” while the owner walks away, etc. etc. etc.  Each week my dog would pick one task he wanted to do and refuse to do the others, but he would switch tasks every week so we knew he could do them all.  I could literally be shoving dried chicken, cheese, or treats in his face and he would nonchalantly turn his head the other way. 

Though he is obnoxious in the sense that he does what he wants to, he is not aggressive in the least.  He loves to play, he doesn’t bark, he just wants to be a part of the group.  And though my sister might say otherwise, I am not one of those “my dog can do no wrong” owners.  The only caveat to owning a bulldog is that other dogs sometimes mistake their breathing for growling.  He cannot help the way he breathes though.

I swear I am not waxing poetic about my dog, I just had to tell you all of that information for you to understand the story.  When I moved to Boston, I asked my landlord if there were any dog parks nearby.  We did not have them in Shreveport, but I would just take Yoda to my mom’s house so he could play in the backyard with her two dogs.  Come to find out, the only off-leash enclosed dog park in the entire city is about a half-mile away.  Perfect!  The first time my mom and I took him he was so worn out from the walk that he could not be bothered to play with the other dogs — he just sat with us on the picnic table. 

He gradually built up his strength however, and now he loves the dog park. Loves it.  He runs back and forth, finds dogs to play with, whatever.  He occasionally goes to Day Camp (go ahead, roll your eyes) and he loves it there too – the employees say he does great with the other dogs.  One problemo at the dog park however.

So the first time we see this dog at the park, he (she?) literally leaps off the picnic table, runs towards Yoda and starts attacking him.  The owner, who acted like she was a prissy Park Avenue Princess but actually looked more like an overweight hot mess, squeals, “OH My God Oh My God Oh My God!!!!!   Get your dog AWAY!!!!!”

Um seriously?  The whole time Yoda was just chilling, standing there like “Dude you can attack me if you want, but I eat your weight for breakfast every morning.”  But whatever, I grab Yoda and throw a toy in the opposite direction of the nasty dog.  About five minutes later, he comes BACK up to Yoda and does the same thing.  This time, Hot Mess tells me, “You know, if he is going to be aggressive towards the other dogs you need to take him out of the park.  He is disrupting the entire energy of the place.”

It was easier to just leave, so we did.  We go to the dog park a few times after that, no problems.  Maybe two weeks later, we arrive and I see Hot Mess.  “Great…” I think, “She is going to try to kick us out again.”  Just like the last time, her dog leaps off the picnic table and attacks Yoda.  Just like the last time Yoda looks at him/her with utter disdain. 

Hot Mess:  “OMG  we have had problems with him before… we are just going to go!”

Me: *Giving her the same look of disdain Yoda is giving her nasty little dog.*

Meanwhile, Yoda goes over to the water bowls and begins to drink his weight in water.

Hot Mess: “UGH can you just restrain him while I gather my things!?!?”

Me:  “Umm sure but he isn’t even doing anything.”

So I put a finger through Yoda’s collar because, you know, he is just being awful while she takes her sweet time talking to all the other dog owners about how horrible Yoda is.  She leaves, about 18 other dogs show up, Yoda plays happily with all of them.

Moral of the story?  Bitches don’t just exist in the South…they are all over.

Anyone have dog park debacles to share?  Encounters with bitches to share?  I’d love to hear!

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-08-20 13:43:22 GMT. 4 comments. Top.

Hey sweet readers, what are you up to this weekend?  Anyone going on a end-of-summer vacation?  Seeing a new movie?  Celebrating Bid Day with the rest of your new sorority sisters?  I am…

I actually have a great deal of work to do in preparation for Monday’s jaunt to Southern California (the joys of working remotely — you can work on the weekends lol).  But I do plan to hit up what is always being recommended as “the place to go” with the other novel by the author of my beloved The Secret History and spend a few hours checking out the scene (aka the people). 

I hope you have had as much fun as I have with theme week and that you check back in Monday for our regularly scheduled programming.  As always, a few great posts from around the web.

The Ten Worst Lyrics from the Ten Richest Rappers.  My Favorite?  See the rest here.

 To continue up on “eat well, look well” Glamour offers 21 Healthy Snacking Tips here.

One of Manhattan’s hottest vintage boutiques, Beacon’s Closet, has an online shop!  I have never been one for vintage clothing (I hate to dig) but this just may change my mind. Check it out!

Oh my goodness – any history nerds out there??  You MUST check this out:  If Facebook was around during WWII.

 And finally a video — I don’t know how I just discovered these.  “Comedy Kids Re-enact” take on all sorts of TV Shows and events.  Below?  The Jersey Shore.

Take Me to the Movies!

Last modified on 2010-08-20 00:54:25 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Ever fall in love with a movie?  Not just the plot, or the characters (though those count too!) but with the home, the clothes, the furniture?  I know I do, and apparently I am not the only one.  Amy Merrick of Design Sponge takes a cue from movies from all genres and time periods and creates a piece for her “Living In” series.  Would you like to take a look?  Here are some scenes and her picks from one of my favorites, Mamma Mia! I know, right? So embarassing — it is cheesy and ridiculous but by god if it doesn’t want to make you go to a little Greek island for the summer and flirt with cute Greek boys then we are not friends (unless you are a guy…we can still be friends. I would be a little concerned if you loved Mamma Mia!). 

Here are a few of the movie stills:

And here is what Amy picked out:

Aren’t the colors rich and stunning?  I love the fabrics she chose.  To see the exact pieces and prices, click here.  And check out her other Living In posts.

If you could “live” in a certain movie, what would you choose?  Would you have one for design and one for style? Any of Amy’s other posts hit spot-on with you?  Let’s discuss!

Page Turners: Hands-Down My Favorite Book

Last modified on 2010-08-06 05:22:38 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Like I talked about in this post, I adore reading.  So to call a book my hands-down favorite is serious business.  Ask me for book recommendations and I can give you hundreds, most with the aside “omg I love this book SO so so much.”  But there is one book that reigns above them all.  What is it?

RUN…don’t walk to your nearest bookstore or library and pick it up.  It combines some of my favorite elements of literature — intrigue, camaraderie, the dichotomy of good and evil, and of course, personal narrative. And don’t be intimidated by its heft — the book reads quickly and most of the time, you won’t want to put it down.

“The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.”

And that my dears, is how the novel begins.  Genius.  Who is Bunny?  Our situation.  What exactly IS our situation?  Please don’t be put off by the ridiculous name Bunny – it is somehow a nickname for Edmund and when you meet him you realize it fits perfectly.  The first half of the book leads you up to Bunny’s death, the second half deals with the aftermath and consequences.  Okay…but what is it about?  Our narrator, Richard Papen, grew up in the suburbs of California an introverted melancholy child, whose parents had little-to-no interest in him. On a whim he applies (after two years of college) to Hampden, a small liberal arts college in Vermont.  He admits that to this day it seems a series of bizarre coincidences and circumstances that he ended up there, but somehow he does.

Richard meets with his advisor and tells him he wants to study Classics.  The advisor tells him it is impossible, for the Classics professor is terribly selective and rarely lets anyone in.  Richard, intrigued, takes to  following around the Professor and his five pupils (discreetly, he thinks) and finally becomes a member of their club.  This is when the heart of the matter begins.

The story lasts only one year and it is difficult to tell details without giving away the plot.  There is suspense, but there are also rich academics (they study Classics after all), a secret society of sorts, and a cast of characters flawlessly created to appear terribly realistic.  Every time I read the novel I find myself wishing to become a part of the group, much like Richard did.  A bit of the more pedantic side of the book?

“It’s a very Greek idea, and a very profound one. Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it. And what could be more terrifying and beautiful, to souls like the Greeks or our own, than to lose control completely? To throw off the chains of being for an instant, to shatter the accident of our mortal selves? Euripides speaks of the Maenads: head thrown back, throat to the stars, “more like deer than human being.” To be absolutely free! One is quite capable, of course, of working out these destructive passions in more vulgar and less efficient ways. But how glorious to release them in a single burst! To sing, to scream, to dance barefoot in the woods in the dead of night, with no more awareness of mortality than an animal! These are powerful mysteries. The bellowing of bulls. Springs of honey bubbling from the ground. If we are strong enough in our souls we can rip away the veil and look that naked, terrible beauty right in the face; let God consume us, devour us, unstring our bones. Then spit us out reborn.”

 

As you can see, we are not dealing with Dan Brown “academics” or the intrigue normally found in paperback thrillers.  And that is what makes Tartt’s book so phenomenal.

Have you read The Secret History?  Do you plan to?  What is your “hands-down favorite” book?

Why I Left Louisiana

Last modified on 2010-08-10 01:44:27 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

No really, this is routine.  And I suppose it is the mark of a true Southerner (and proof that I have not completely“crossed over to the dark side”) that I find this hilarious.  I have a hunch that most of my neighbors would find the following abhorrent.  First, the following news clip.  True story, though it actually occurred in nearby Alabama…this is not a doctored clip:

LMAO I love that she calls him “an idiot from the projects” as she is standing in the projects.  And Antoine…OMFG what can I even say about dear Antoine??  “You are so dumb.  You are really dumb.  Fo rill.”  Fortunately I don’t have to.  They made a song based on his statement (can we call it that??) which I will show below.  If you really like it (as my whole family does…we are over here ROLLING in the Virgin Islands) you can buy the extended version on iTunes.

So now that I have offended half of my readers…who loves this? Who hates it?  Be honest!

xoxo

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-07-30 20:49:41 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Sweet readers, what are you up to this weekend?  Pretty sure your weekend plans top mine as I am…

Hopefully you will think of me as you are jetsetting across the country, lounging by the pool, or spending Sunday watching movies in your pajamas. 

Here are a few great posts from around the web:

I am all about encouraging body diversity, but I am going to have to agree with this NYT writer that things have gotten a bit out of control.

How precious are Mila’s daydreams?

Zoo-babies from around the world — including the Zedonk, a cross between a zebra and a donkey.

Think Ben Franklin and George Washington came from spotless families?  Then check out the Founding Uncles.

And finally, what would happen if Jane Austen and Fight Club mixed?

Have a great weekend my loves!

Excuse the Mess, but Enjoy the Posts!

Last modified on 2010-07-30 18:07:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hey readers!  You know how when iTunes or Internet Explorer says “Hey a new update is available! Click here to download?” and you do then go about your life?  Well WordPress told me there was an update so I clicked it…and promptly lost my fabulous theme.  WTF WordPress?!  Not to worry, it is being fixed but it may take a few days — that custom theme took a ridiculous amount of hours to put together. 

Until then, please try to ignore the creepy man walking down the road and enjoy the posts nonetheless.

Thanks for your patience!  PS Any wordpressers out there that know how to undo this??

Cheap Thrills: Summer Date Ideas

Last modified on 2010-07-29 20:22:12 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Dating can be a bit of a nightmare.  Let’s not even talk about the potential awkwardness/awfulness of your suitor and talk about the actual date.  Dinner and a movie is fine but for one you can only do it so much before you either run out of movies or get bored and two it can be really expensive.  I always get made fun of because I do not like cheap food…you and I are never going to grab Circle K hotdogs or McDonald’s at any point during my life.  So throw in a restaurant dinner, tickets to the movie, and perhaps movie drinks/snacks and we are talking an easy $75.  So this is fine and well but again, we cannot spend that kind of money all the time and it is going to get old. 

A great date does not have to be expensive, it just needs to be thoughtful and fun.  Not all of these ideas will appeal to you (or your date) so take from it what you will.

Date One:  Garage Sale Hop

My brother and I used to love buying each other presents from the gas station.  WTF!?  Because gas station presents are awesome simply for their sheer ridiculousness.  Have you ever actually browsed the gas station wares?  Garage Sale hopping provides the same potential for ridiculous gifts and the best part is you don’t actually have to buy them as the other person is with you already.  If you get bored, go to a different sale.  If you get incredibly bored, go grab breakfast (you might can even talk her into McMuffins and lower the price of this outing but IHOP, Denny’s, and Waffle House are dirt cheap and go along with the kitschy factor of garage sale hopping).

  Date Two:  Get Wet

If you live by the ocean or lake, awesome but there are plenty of cheap-to-free public pools around.  This again, depends on your personalities and circumstances but there are myriad options.  Maybe you are super lucky and have access to a jet ski or boat?  Perfect date right there.  Perhaps you surf.  Even if you just go to the beach there are always pick-up volleyball games, and people around to make fun of.  Pack a lunch or save that for the next date of…

Date Three:  A Picnic

Lots of guys hate picnics but I guarantee you there is no quicker way to a girl’s heart.  Find a cute park, and depending on your culinary skills make or buy a picnic lunch (think lots of appetizers as opposed to “here is half of a $5 foot-long”).  At a loss for recipes?  This post hit the New York Times two years ago and I am still drooling over the dishes (101 that take less than 20 minutes to prepare).  Once you have made the food pack up drinks, a picnic blanket, some books or magazines if you’d like, and maybe a Frisbee if you are feeling athletic (do not ever bring a Frisbee if you are with a girl like me…just don’t).  Best date ever.

Date Four:  Outdoor Concerts

Lots of towns sponsor outdoor concert and movie nights for free.  Even my old town did “Movies and Moonbeams” where once a week they would show a different film for free in the park.  You can build a picnic into this one or just bring a blanket and enjoy the music/film.

Date Five:  Ride A Bike

Lots of places allow you to rent bicycles for the afternoon, or you could do a bonafide bike tour.  They are a little more expensive (anywhere from $15-$40/person depending on the length) but a ton of fun.  If you decide to rent bicycles ride around for a few hours then stop for ice cream.

Date Six:  Museums/Aquariums/Zoos

Particularly in the summer these places often offer “free days” or certain times where you can visit for free.  There are always conversation starters at these places so it is great if you do not know your date that well.  Go laugh at the monkeys, see the seals, or pick your favorite piece of art. 

Date Seven:  Learn to Dance

Community centers always have nights of dance instruction on everything from salsa to waltzing.  It usually costs less than $15/couple to go and is such a blast.  Even if you are a horrible dancer you can laugh at yourself (and if you are awesome secretly laugh at the people around you). 

Date Eight:  Amateur Night at the Comedy Club

There are lots of great comedy clubs that feature improv or amateur nights for around $10/person.  You never know what you are going to get but you can always laugh about how horrible it was afterwards (and maybe convince him/her to come back to your place and watch Comedy Central). 

Date Nine:  Cook a Meal

This is such a fun date, but perhaps not the best for a first date.  Go to the library and browse the cookbooks until you see something awesome.  Check out the book(s), and head to your local market to grab the ingredients you do not have at home.  Then get to cooking!  You can always order delivery if it turns out awful but between two of you it will probably be pretty delicious.

Date Ten:  Check out Your Local Newspaper

Even in the smallest of towns there are events listed every day in the local paper.  Maybe it is a school play, maybe a quirky festival or fair, perhaps an art showing.  You are bound to find something that appeals to you and your date.

So there you have it, my top ten summer date ideas!  I’ll be bringing you more as the seasons change. 

Any other cheap summer date ideas?  Worst date EVER (so we all know not to do it)?  Let’s Discuss!

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-07-25 19:24:32 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Hi sweet readers, what are you up to this weekend?  I am…

A friend found out about a great massage therapy school in Boston that gives 45 minute massages for $35! Don’t worry, only their nearly-graduated students give the massages.  We’ve both been tense from the stress of graduate school and moving, plus during my last physical the doctor suggested massage, so I feel like I should follow her orders, yes?  The rest of the weekend should be pretty low-key.  Anyone doing anything exciting?

I just realized that all of the sites I wanted to share have expletives in the title.  Whatever.  Don’t get offended enough not to click on them because they are awesome.  Enjoy your weekend!

He recently turned his site into a book, but I love Shit My Dad Says.

Ever run out of ideas for dinner?  This silly site helps you decide.

A blog that “tells cute animals what’s what.”  I am a big fan of the Whale and Hippo.

My brother introduced me to Don\’t Even Reply: E-mails from an Asshole awhile back and I cannot stop.  Check out “Free Couch” in the archives and I guarantee you will be rolling.

All Kidding Aside: Southern versus Northern Humor

Last modified on 2010-07-22 14:20:53 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

People at Harvard find me hilarious.  I like to think it is because they are quick and intelligent enough to get my jokes, but more likely they find me a novelty, a silly trifle to laugh about.  Either way, it is nice to finally have people understand my humor (aside from one random friend and a brother).  So then I started thinking that perhaps there are differences in Northern and Southern humor.  I do not think that I have a “Northern” sense of humor necessarily but maybe I do.

Example:  Southern folks will always enjoy a good black joke.  Though they are racist, Southerners find black jokes funny because “they are just so true.”  I have tried to explain to people around here that it isn’t just racism and segregation at work when we say “the black grocery store” or “the black neighborhood.”  The South, and particularly where I am from, has one of the nation’s highest disparities between the very rich and the very poor.  What this means on an every day level is that the majority of people in a given town (we are using my hometown as an example here because I know these facts are accurate…I cannot speak with certainty about the Deep South as a whole) are not only going to be racial minorities, but they are going to be very poor, have low levels of education, and pressure to fit into their given surroundings.  This leads to high levels of violence and crime in these “black areas.”  Is it right? Absolutely not.  Are we trying to change it?  Yes, actually.  There is a Shreveport Community Renewal project that buys homes in these traditionally minority areas and creates community gardens, after-school programs, community gatherings (cook-outs, potlucks, etc.) in an effort to strengthen the entire community. 

This difference in humor and societal differences can be found on a number of topics, but I won’t bore you with the details.  Instead, I thought we could use visuals.  Thursdays are always rough to me because I have a test every Friday and it is almostthe weekend but until 7 PM on Friday evening I have lots of tasks to accomplish.  So on this Thursday, let’s have a laugh.  The first video is one in a collection being passed around the internet.  Most of them relate to Shakespeare so I did not really want to post them, until I found this one.  Northern Humor at its best:

My favorite line is when he says, “You can’t plan a good themed brunch in seven days let alone paradise!”  This next video is one that people in the South find hilarious.  I know for a fact that most of the kids in my class would stare at me in horror if I passed this around on my phone but you have to admit, it is a little funny.

Alright readers – weigh in!  Any hilarious videos to share?  Discrepencies in humor between the North and the South? Let me know!

Gandalf Goes to the World Cup

Last modified on 2010-07-20 19:37:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Any Lord of the Rings fans out there?  I actually took a course on Tolkien during my summer session at Oxford and it completely solidified my obsession.  Even though I love the books so much more than the films, Peter Jackson did a great job.  So when I saw this spoof on my German friend Schalk’s facebook page, I knew I had to share.

What Are You Up to This Weekend?

Last modified on 2010-07-20 19:36:30 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Hi sweet readers, what are you up to this weekend? I would love to know!  I am…

I am not a big baseball fan but I love the Red Sox (such classy uniforms!) and cannot live in Boston and not see them play.  I even bought one of those old-lady chairs to take with me as we have bleacher seats.

In addition, here are a few great posts from around the web to kick off your weekend:

This hilarious site has me rolling.  It takes pages from catalogs then makes fake dialogue around them.  I love home design but some of the set-ups are SO unrealistic.

If I had a farm (or you know, a backyard) I would totally get this dog.

These ladies started a website to find potential mates for their single children.  It sounds like “Because I Said So” in real life.

Ever notice that pregnant women are, well, a little smug?  Yes I said it!  And so did this hilarious duo, Garfunkel and Oates.  Check it out!