29.6.11

Summer Cine


Sunday morning and afternoon was my "gym time", where I spent hours on the treadmill (walking, not running, no worries) and took part in Zumba class. After all this gym time I was feeling good, and when my Dad suggested dinner and a movie, I was feeling even better!



We originally were going to see Bad Teacher, but after I checked critics ratings and showing times, we changed our minds and went to Midnight in Paris. I absolutely loved the film! I had no preconceived notions of what the movie might have been like, considering I had seen one preview and was completely confused by that; this helped, because I went in expecting nothing and left completely pleased and intellectually stimulated (a little, not a lot, don't get too antsy). The movie ended up being more about a blast to the past, mixing in the nostalgic artists, writers, and icons from the twenties with modern day life. While I don't want to give up too much about the movie, I will tell you that it takes a number of jabs at society and groups of today, particularly the tea party, which provided some of those "funny and true" moments. Whoever wrote this movie obviously studied hard in their Art History and Literature classes, because they had everything pretty historically accurate, while intertwining a lot of comedic relief. 



So, with that movie being said, here are the summer movies that I am dying to see. Some are just for fun, and some look super interesting. Let me know if you want to join! 

Release Date: July 1, 2011

Release Date: July 15, 2011

Release Date: July 29, 2011

Release Date: August (TBD)

Release Date: August 12, 2011

Release Date: August 26, 2011











28.6.11

Fourth of July Drinks!

This week we are all preparing ourselves to celebrate the fourth of July, in style of course. Thus, I found it entirely appropriate to dedicate today's post to the one thing we all love about the fourth--- the alcohol. After perusing the internet randomly, I have found a few drink recipes that I want to try and perhaps you all will as well. I have pasted their instructions on making the cocktail, a picture of the drink, and a link to the original website in the title of the caption. If you try any of them, please let me know how they taste! I'm sure I'll be taking part in some celebrating as well, and would love some insight. 

Enjoy!

Fourth of July Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce watermelon schnapps
  • 1 big splash cranberry juice
  • 1 very thin slice jalapeno or serrano pepper
  • 1 slice lemon
  • 1 slice lime
  • 1 1/2 ounces tequila
  • 1/4 ounce blue curacao
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.
Muddle the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired.

All-American Shooter

To achive the "layered" effect of this patriotic pleaser, place a cherry on the inside edge of the shot glass and slowly pour the curacao and then the vodka over said cherry. This will keep the liquors separate and makes for a nice garnish. 

  1. 1/2 Part Grenadine
  2. 1 Part Blue Curacao
  3. 1 Part Vodka
Layer in a shot glass and enjoy! 



Roman Candle


3 oz. Three-O Berry Vodka
½ Oz. Cranberry Juice
Dash of Grenadine
½ oz. Blue Curacao

Shake vodka, cranberry juice and grenadine in a shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass. Pour Blue CuraƧao gently down the side of the glass so it comes to settle on the bottom.

Red, White, and Blue Daquiri's
The Cocktail Base:
1 - 6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate (2/3 c.)
1/2 of a 6-oz. can frozen limeade concentrate (1/3 c.)
2/3 c. light rum 
*you can use the 6 oz. lemonade can to measure
1/4 to 1/3 cup powdered sugar (or more to taste)
3 c. ice cubes
Garnish (see 'tips' below)
White Daiquiris ~
In a blender combine lemonade and limeade concentrates, rum and powdered sugar. Cover and blend until smooth. Add ice blending until slushy.
Makes 6 ~ 5oz. servings.
Blue Daiquiris ~
Prepare as for white daiquiris, except add 1/4 c. blue curacao along with the frozen lemonade and limeade concentrates, rum and powdered sugar.
Makes 6 ~ 6oz. servings.
Red Daiquiris ~
Prepare as for white daiquiris, except use one 6-oz. can of frozen lemonade 
or limeade concentrate. Add 2 cups frozen unsweetened strawberries or slightly sweetened red raspberries to the blender with the concentrate, rum and powdered sugar.
Makes 6 ~ 6oz. servings.
For Non-Alcoholic Daiquiris ~ Substitute pineapple juice or water for the rum. Add a touch of blue food coloring for the blue "daiquiris".



27.6.11

I have found my dream rooms


I am super excited to eventually have some kind of home, preferably a cool loft or apartment, that I can decorate all on my own! I love color walls, with furniture and cool pieces to match. My favorite room to decorate, however, is the bedroom. If you know me well, you know I tend to ignore the typical bed-in-a-bag, generic type rooms; I don't care if it's Ralph Lauren, it's still boring.  My room is my favorite place to be, because it's usually where I spend my time on my computer, writing, or just lounging around doing some random craft of the week. I tend to go for more of a bohemian look-- hence why my room at school was dark purple, with orange accents, blue and green tea lights, and a bright blue and green Anthropologie bedspread (pictured below in a different room) with some bright colors in between. So, in order to celebrate my most sacred and favorite space to decorate, I have compiled a few of my favorite decor-inspiration pictures. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Dreaming Place
Outdoor Heaven
Attic Space Getaway 

Brickyard Beauty
Circular Luxury



 

Ceiling Obsession   

Windowed Loft


This is my bedspread!!!! ...in a different room

Rustic Blues





26.6.11

yellers, cake fights, tequila shots, and old frans

So on Friday night I went out to this new Latin Night Club called 20/20 (or maybe it was just Latin Night, who knows). It was pretty cool, but reminded me of my old colosseum days... which is only because it is the old colosseum. You remember, the place we all went to in order to shake our 15 year old shit on Saturday nights, only because we couldn't get into real clubs. Yeah, that place.

Anyway, I decided to go and meet up with some people from work and their friends, only because Liz leaves for Canada on Sunday night and I won't get another chance to do anything with her. It was actually pretty fun. The music changes from Salsa, to Meringue, to Reggaeton. Obviously, there is a huge dance floor filled with people, although last night wasn't so filled that you couldn't more. Thank goodness! The night was totally calm except for this creepy Brazilian man who did not understand the meaning of personal space. Liz took care of that one for me. Some words of advice: if you say the same thing to me more than three times, give up. I can't hear you and probably won't be able to hear you. And, you're just pissing me off by yelling in my ear over and over. 


Finally we left the club, only to get thrown in some massive cake fight with a group of people that were celebrating a birthday. Gross! Liz and I went back to Lalo and Mariano's house, and spent a few hours talking before I said my final goodbye and came home. Solid night. 

Then, the next night I took a lovely trip down to the ever classy-Comfest of Columbus, Ohio. No, Comfest does not stand for communist festival; it means community festival and is basically Columbus' version of hippie-fest. Always an entertainment, this is one of the summer events I most look forward to each and every year! However, this year I didn't get to see too much of it on Saturday night. Brigette and I are thinking of going today, so if that works out, I will get to see everything.

I started my night at the house of my friends and old roomies, Meredith and Christian. From there we waited until Erin and her friend got there, and walked down to Comfest. We got there around 9pm, and after the pizza line, were a little late for pretty much anything. We stopped by Gas Werks in the Arena District, where I got a tequila with lime on the rocks. You know, gotta keep the drinking calories to a minimum. From there we went back to their house and they all decided to turn in early. I don't blame them, they went out the night before. Also, I never go out so I can't say anything.

I left them and went to pick up Brigette from a house that was surprisingly only two streets over from Meredith and Christians' apartments. We met up with my old fran Brett at Ugly Tuna, and after a round of tequila shots, went to a dub-step concert at Skully's. If I gained anything from the tequila, I lost it after two hours of non-stop dancing. The groups were cool; when we first got there it was some random DJ group (one of them looked exactly like Scott Southwick) and after came on some DJ guys dressed with these really creepy robot masks. I didn't even flinch or think that was weird at all. I don't know, this is my life. By that time we were with Brendan and Nick and decided to take the party back to Brett's house, where Adam was stationed, and we hung out for a good hour or two, talking about life. Everyone left/went home and I ended up staying with Brett in the living room, having him tell me "stories" and jokes, until I finally passed out on his couch watching some ridiculous show on the television.

It was good to see a lot of people this weekend. Now that all I do is hide out in a cave, I hardly ever know what's going on in peoples lives besides what I randomly see flash through my mini-feed. It was also nice to run into some good high school friends; it's funny, even if you're apart and don't talk for a long time, you can always find a good friend and feel as if you haven't missed anything. 


24.6.11

10 reasons I obsess over the Kardashians

10. They are the most famous family who is famous for being famous. 

The Kardashian family has a number of reasons why they became an interesting idea for a show. First of all, Robert Kardashian, their deceased father, was the defense attorney on the O.J. Simpson trial, and made a name for himself through that very public ordeal and the music label he used to run. Kris Kardashian, the mother of the clan and manager of Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim remarried to Bruce Jenner. Bruce is the Olympian medalist who currently spends his days golfing, playing with remote controlled airplanes, and giving motivational speeches around the country. Kim, who initially was famous due to her friendship with Paris Hilton, stylist work, and sex tape with Ray-J, has since become a model, actress, and all around socialite on the scene of Los Angeles, and most recently New York City. Kourtney is simply famous for being Kim's older sister, and holding down the fort at the DASH stores across the nation. Khloe was once the hard-working middle child, but now has grown into her own modeling and promotional career along with her sisters. There is also Rob, who really does nothing but live off his sisters, Kendall, the young and aspiring model, and Kylie, the youngest of all. The family's fame has definitely grown since the first season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians started and only continues to develop. Reason I hate them: they just keep getting more famous.

9. They are always dressed like they know they're being filmed


Which is probably due to the fact that they are always being filmed, but hey! They look like they're getting ready to go to a movie premier with every lunch date or shopping trip they do. Even when they're working out with a trainer, they look like they are party ready in their cute matching work-out clothing. T-shirts and gym shorts? You would never see them in that shit! Imagine working out in the gym next to one of the sisters. Not only would you look ridiculously fat and poorly dressed, but you would look hideous next to their perfectly spray-tanned bodies. Those betches!

8. They have a family who is legitimately crazy, and they embrace it


We all come from families who are a little out of the norm, who fight, and who have moments that are absolutely ridiculous. The only difference is that we are not being filmed 24/7 and we don't get our most embarassing, angry, or exciting moments shown to millions of Americans. This family definitely shows that although they're famous, they still have issues that plague the typical American family. However, the Kardashians have embraced their issues, and prove that although we can fight with one another, the bonding love of a family goes much deeper. Yuck, too sappy.

7. They get to do all the crazy cool shit we wish we got to do


Marrying pro-basketball players, traveling the nation to promote some shitty book/perfume/nail polish/whatever, "modeling" for freaking everyone, walking red carpets, meeting celebrities, and having all the money in the world to take the vacation or buy the dress of a lifetime; we hate you, Kardashian family. I can barely balance a job at vaqueros and working for my Dad with any kind of social life, let alone promotional tours and time to take care of myself. Like, what am I not doing? Blows.

6. They think it's exciting to get three million followers on twitter


We thought it was great to have one hundred people follow us, maybe fifty that we actually knew. How's that for a popularity fail?

5. Their nails always look so fucking nice


Doesn't anyone else notice this? God, this really pisses me off. I have NEVER seen so much as a chip on their freaking nails. Seriously, I get my nails done and in three hours theres something wrong with them. Those betches paint their nails black, and they don't get fucked up for weeks! Kardashian girls, teach me your ways!

4. Dark hair and tan ass skin


Fuck them.

3. They call everyone "dolls"


Ok, I'm twenty two, sitting in my sweat shirt and jeans, watching them on the couch with a bowl of raspberries and a diet coke. I don't feel like a doll, nor do I want to be a doll. I hate the fact that they call their friends, family, and fans that word. And yet, I'm sure if I ever met them and they called me "doll", I would die of excitement. Slap me, please, if that ever happens.

2. They're always on television

With a number of different shows on E! revolving around the Kardashian clan, how could you not want to stop and see what our favorite family is up to. The Kardashian family has Keeping Up With the Kardashians Season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Kourtney and Khloe take Miami, Kourtney and Khloe take New York and Khloe and Lamar. Am I forgetting something? Oh well. All of these shows seem to have a different focus point, yet all revolve around the family and what kind of issues come up within it.

1. I love to hate them

As much as I hate them, and am dying from jealousy, I will religiously watch those betches until I die, or they go off air. I HATE IT! Every stupid re-run, which is on everyday, has been played numerous times on my television, and I have actually been sitting there watching it.  Now I am off to go watch the latest episode somewhere. Later dolls!

...damn it!


23.6.11

Some things are just better in Spanish

Last night I watched the movie "Letters to Juliet", and while it was incredibly cheesy and lame, it provided me with a couple hours of entertainment and a new love story. The plot focused on one twenty-something girl named Sofia, who was planning a pre-wedding vacation with her soon-to-be husband, an italian living in New York City and planning to open a restaurant. The couple takes a trip to Verona, Italy, and basically throughout the movie we see how he is super wrapped up into his work. He opts to go to different tastings, auctions, and cooking classes instead of spend his time with his fiance, and leaves her for days at a time in Verona with nothing else to do but wait and explore on her own. While exploring the city, Sofia takes a trip to see the "place" of Giulietta (what we in English know as Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet). She sees a number of women writing letters and placing them into the walls, only to be collected by a woman and brought to a room where four other women spend their afternoons and evenings answering the women with letters of reply by "Giulietta's secretaries". Sofia finds a fifty year old letter in the wall, which was located behind a brick that miraculously nobody had ever budged before, and writes the woman back. Long story short, the woman, who is an elderly widow, comes to Verona a couple days later in order to take the advice of Sofia and look for her love, Ricardo. She is accompanied by her love-sore grandson, who discourages the search throughout the movie. The story goes on from there, searching city after city for Ricardo. After almost having given up hope, they are reunited. Meanwhile, Sofia has fallen in love with the grandson, but feels awkward and leaves for New York with her fiance. Upon receiving an invitation to the wedding of 50-year long love couple, Sofia decides to break up with her fiance and return to Verona, only to fall in love again with the grandson and have her happily-ever-after.





While this story is incredibly predictable and would never happen that way in real life (honestly, in real live Ricardo would have been dead or something), the movie creates this wonderful love story that is pure and honest. Not many movies now a days have that effect. Many are centered around crazy modern-day issues, and almost none really focus on the heart of the issue--the romance.

This is something I have been thinking about lately. The allure of pure poems, lyrics, movies; where has our sense of romanticism gone? As I was listening to the radio the other day, I became aggravated when a particular song came on. This song is Enrique Iglesias' new hip-hop infused, piece of crap, Tonight I'm Loving You, which actually has a dirtier title in the explicit version. Enrique?! What is this?! I hate it.






Enrique used to be this Spanish love-bird, who had awesome videos and only an album or two out in English. Now he has turned into some sort of English-speaking horn-dog, possessed by the reggaetoƱeros and rappers that surround him in music videos. While his Spanish music still remains true to form, romantic, slower, and holding the same sort of passion and emotion I love about him, his English music leaves nothing to the imagination besides gyrating movement and words from the penis. To say that Enrique is losing my heart is untrue, I still love his music; however, I am only beginning to like his music in Spanish.

The same thing happened with Paulina Rubio, when she attempted to take on the English speaking world. Paulina's I'll be right here is nothing but an orgy in the video and a dirty thought in the lyrics. The rest of her songs, in Spanish, have a little more sentimental value and feeling to be expressed. While in Spanish she remains a pop-artist, and still has her moments, nothing is as bad as I'll be right here.





So why are some things explicit in English and withhold the romanticism we used to enjoy so deeply in Spanish? Is it due to our culture? Perhaps, but I would attribute a lot of it to the idea that people are genuinely scared of romance, and in order to mask fear, they create these alternate worlds where promiscuity and sex highlight the epitome of success and overshadow the foundations for love. I mean look at who we see as successful people. They are the music artists who are single and flaunt it, or who aren't single yet give the illusion that they are. These are the people who are making money; sex sells. When was the last time a genuinely good person had more true, genuine love songs on the radio than Britney Spears' latest dirty jam. Don't get me wrong, I do love Britney, which is perhaps due partly to the culture I have been raised in and partly due to human curiosity. However, I would love if someone came on the English-speaking scene and promoted genuine love and life songs. The trick, however, is whether or not they can stay that way.

The Spanish speaking culture (which, yes, I understand encompasses a lot of people) are people who still give significant value to romance and pure sentiments. This comes from my experience with some Spaniards and many many Mexicans. While Reggaeton exists, with it's catchy beats and upbeat tunes, the majority of the people I have met enjoy the allure of traditional, folk, pop, rock, or whatever kind of music that embodies the sentiment of everlasting love/the true sentiment of pain due to love. I can't decide whether it's the lyrics, the people, or simply the sounds of the language that makes Spanish artists so much more appealing to me. To me, everything sounds better in Spanish; it flows better, it rhymes better, and the grammar just makes more sense. In fact, in Spanish there are two ways to say "I love you". One can say "te quiero", which refers to the type of love one has between himself and his closest friends or family. When looking for a truer, deeper type of "I love you", one would use "Te amo". The distinction between the two allows for the use of "I love you" to mean more, and also incorporate all the innuendos that "love" really holds. I find that in English, we throw "I love you" around so much that it has almost begun to lose meaning. Also, it is difficult at times to distinguish between a true love and a friendly sort of love. The distinction between words really assists ones understanding as to what kind of "love" the other person is talking about.

All I really know is that I feel more romantic, more emotional, and more sentimental after listening to a song by a Spanish-speaking person than I do from the typical English-speaking person.

...and that's why some things are just better in Spanish

22.6.11

skype-rando's

Don't you just hate it when you get on your computer and theres about twenty notifications... only to find out that none of them you actually want/care about? Yeah, me too.

I have a serious love/hate relationship with Skype. I spend probably around $1,000 a year or more on Skype credits, just because I no longer have my phone plan to call Mexico. Thus, I have to buy Skype points and Skype subscriptions in order to communicate with everyone south of Texas. Usually Skype works wonderfully, with the occasional dropped call. However, it is very expensive.

Anyway, the worst part about Skype is all the rando's who search for you and attempt to "be your friend" or whatever its called. I get messages all the time like, "hey I was doing a search and saw your profile. You look like you'd be fun to talk to." Ok, creepy. No, I do not want to talk to you random person and yes I see that you live nowhere near me, do not have a name that I recognize, and probably have like four other friends on your list. This is weird!

It's just like Facebook. I hate when I log on and have twenty different people asking to be my friends. Half of these people are porn stars or something like it, and the rest are creepy men who I have never seen in my life and have one profile picture they probably stole off some Google search. Why do people do this? Do you seriously think I am going to accept you, allow you access to my plethora of photos on Facebook, and maybe even carry a conversation with you? No. I can barely keep up with the people I do know.

Rando's are weird.

With that being said, if I KNOW you, please follow me on FacebookTwitter, and on Skype! Also, if you haven't already done so, please click "Follow" on the sidebar of this blog! It will automatically connect this blog with your social media tool of choice!

It all started with a recent Shakira obsession...

and soon enough I was LOCKED IN to attending as many Zumba classes in one week as I possibly can!

For those of you that don't know what Zumba is, you are really missing out! Zumba is a type of workout-dance class that blends Latin music and international "upbeat" music into one very exciting workout. The songs go from salsa to hip-hop to reggaeton, mixed in with some belly dancing skills and merengue footwork. In other words, this stuff is right down my alley!






I went to my first class this past Sunday. I went on the official Zumba website and found an instructor in my area (actually, there are about 40 instructors, all having class at different times). Because my Club only has one Zumba class per week that is offered, I decided to cough up some cash in order to get back into shape. Man, was I glad I did or what?! The first class kicked my butt! I left being more sore than I had been in a long time. I think it was due to the fact that my instructor is really great, but I think another part of it was due to the fact that I was actually working out hard without even realizing it. I mean honestly, if you like to dance at all, you will LOVE Zumba class.

So how does Shakira tie into this whole mess?

Well, let me explain. I was listening to Shakira's newest song, Rabiosa, and got into looking up what Shakira does in order to stay in shape. I have been on a health kick lately due to the new all-fresh stuff diet that I am on, and decided that whatever Shakira does, I should get into. Zumba was on the list of numerous dance activities she takes part in. She also does belly dancing, but I decided I would leave that for later on-- you know, once I get all the steps down perfectly.


______________________________________________________________



I have been on a super huge Latin music kick lately, and have been especially obsessed with Shakira. Zumba has only been fueling my obsession, and has been creating a new obsession with the class itself. I went to class on Sunday, then Tuesday afternoon, and am going tonight and tomorrow night. Thus, it'll be about four classes a week, give or take depending on my weekly schedule. That means a lot more Latin music is about to be introduced into my life. Hopefully I start on more salsa and merengue. That music is so fast paced and upbeat-- everything you need for a great workout/good playlist.

Some songs I currently have on my itunes playlist include:

Enrique Iglesias-- No me digas que no
Don Omar-- Danza Kuduro
Shakira-- Loca
Enrique Iglesias-- Cuando me enamoro

...obviously Enrique tops the charts!

15.6.11

I hit up the point

...Cedar Point that is.



Yes, that's right. Yesterday I woke up at seven AM only to fight the crowds (which were surprisingly not that bad) and bounce from ride to ride throughout Cedar Point Amusement Park. I went with a couple people from El Vaquero, one of their friends, and my brothers friend Nick, who is living with us for the summer. It was a great time. For those of you that don't know what Cedar Point is, let me explain!

Cedar Point is probably the best thrill-ride amusement park in all the country. I say that after having been multiple times to MANY--  all the Universal Studios in both California and Florida, Disney Land, Disney World, Kings Island, Six Flags, Geauga Lake, Dixie Land, etc. etc.. While I would have to say, the other parks are probably better themed and have more to do than ride coasters, Cedar Point takes the cake for providing for the ultimate thrill seeking experience. Not only does Cedar Point have every type of coaster, but they have all the best "thrill-rides" as well.

We started off our day riding the NEW "Maverick" roller coaster. This one was a great start to our day. The best part of this ride is that it takes little to no time to get to the top, and then you are dropped at a 90 degree angle down to the ground. No lie, 90 degrees. It then takes you barreling through numerous corkscrews, quick turns, and fast paced adventures. Upon finishing this ride, we were ready to begin a day of non-stop thrill seeking.

Maverick Roller Coaster

We then waited in line for the largest and longest wooden coaster at Cedar Point, the Mean Streak, but one train in front of us, the roller coaster broke down. Instead of waiting for what could have been hours, we decided to head up toward the front of the park and hit up the Magnum XL roller coaster. This coaster, build in 1989, has been a huge hit at Cedar Point ever since its initial construction. The coolest part about it is that from the top of the coaster, one can look out over the water and see Canada. So even though I can't say I have ever been to Canada, I've seen it multiple times from afar.

After a number of rides later I was hit by the hunger bug. Unable to wait any longer, I went to one food stand and ordered a $9 basket of shitty chicken fingers and french fries. My, oh my, did those taste GREAT at the time. After munching, the Vaqueros crew told me they were hungry and were going to the car to get the sandwiches we made in order to save money. That plan didn't end up working out so well for me. Instead of going to the car, due to our already full stomachs and hunger for more thrill, Nick and I waited the hour long line for the Millennium Force. This coaster, world famous, is the tallest continual roller coaster ride in all the park. Many other theme parks don't have anything that would even compare to the beastliness of this ride.

Millennium Force

We finished our day by taking on a number of other rides, having that sandwich we never got before, and enjoying the time together. The scariest ride for me then, and I hold to it now, is still the Ferris Wheel. There's just something about sitting in a stupid little car that your friends think is funny to rock back and forth, praying you don't break off and fall to your death.

Our last ride of the day was the record breaking Top Thrill Dragster. This ride is INSANE! It goes VERY fast and VERY high into the air. The whole ride took about thirty seconds, but it was the fastest and longest thirty seconds I have ever had in my life. What a scare! When it was constructed, it was the worlds tallest and fastest roller coaster. My brother told me that some Six Flags park went in after Top Thrill and constructed one just like it that was one mile longer and one foot higher in order to hold the record. I couldn't even imagine.



The only thing I see lacking at Cedar Point is the failure to establish a consistent theme throughout the park and throughout each individual ride, the lack of something to do other than kiddy-rides or thrill-rides, and the lack of entertainment events or shows. However, I love the experience of Cedar Point. Like I said, I think it's the best "thrill-seeking" park I have ever been to.

9.6.11

What Do Bad Hair Days, Golf Balls, Fish and Puppies Have In Common?

They all held an integral part of my day yesterday.

                                                                         The blonde disaster  

Once I woke up I dyed my hair with what was supposed to be highlights of a caramel color. Instead, it turned out to be chunks of puke-a-licious blonde. If you know me and my "style" of hair you know two things 1) I hate short hair and 2) I hate blonde hair. I am pale skinned with blue eyes. Blonde hair just doesn't work on me. And with a naturally round face, I need to stick to long luscious locks. Today I have a great $100 appointment to fix my $30 mistake down at Charles Penzone. If this lady tries to cut my hair or make me keep this color, I might freak out. One thing you don't want to do to any woman is fuck her hair up more. The claws might come out.

So thats what happened pre-9am. At 9:15 I went in to Charles Penzone, where I should have gone before for the original hair situation, in order to get a quick eye brow wax. I like going to the Master's because they are quick and keep it relatively painless. Also, they never fuck up. A bad eyebrow wax is almost as bad as a horrible hair-do, although I'd still probably put the hair thing a notch above in the rankings.

After my quick wax, I went home and grabbed my golf clubs and went up to school where I met my Dad. We soon left on an adventure out to Mill Creek Golf Club for a day of 18 holes in the hottest and most pulsing sun of the summer. While I played the worst I have played since the beginning of Spring, I had a great time. Dad and I got a hotdog, chips, and about 20 bottles of water throughout the day. Thank God Dad wanted to get the cart, because if I was carrying my bag in that heat, I might have passed out. The lady at Mill Creek knows my name, from being on the OWU Women's Golf Team, and knew my Dads name from being boss-man of OWU sports; it's always nice going somewhere where the people care enough to learn and remember your name.



Immediately following our three and a half hour golf excursion, Dad and I went and got some bait. With a tackle box of goodies, fresh bait, and five or six fishing poles, we headed to our old next door neighbors house to go fishing in our old pond. Scott and Jana (our old neighbors) weren't home, but told us we were welcome to do as we pleased out there. As I looked around the property, I realized our old back yard was a little smaller than what I remembered. Perhaps this is due to the fact that when we lived there, I was just graduating middle school, but it might also have been due to the fact that the past few years all I have done is fantasize about re-purchasing the property one day and calling it my own. The pool, outdoor changing rooms, and tiki-hut are the highlights of the backyard in my mind, but the huge property, pond, and fact that it backs up to a nature preserve are some awesome draws to the house as well. My cousins and Uncle James came out a little later, and we enjoyed two or three hours of non-stop catch and release. For a while I wasn't fishing, and instead was using my time to put bait on the hooks for the little girls, but after a while (and some constant insistence by my Dad) I found myself using small croppie fish as bait for the bigger bass. I almost caught the monster, but he got off as I was pulling him to shore. Finally I got a bass, who was the biggest of the day, but was by no means the monster. The girls were all catching fish and seemed like they were having a great time. A little later they all took off, and Dad and I went home.

We didn't have much time to lay around before dinner was ready (chicken breasts, broccoli, and rice). Brad wasn't at dinner because he was still up at the Strand showing off his new puppy to all the children and workers. My Mom was literally sitting on the porch after dinner for an hour, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Brad's new addition. Finally, Brad made his way home (after about twenty "where are you, come home" texts from my mother) and we met the new dog, Molly. She got about five different names last night, but I think Molly was the one Brad decided to stick with. Let me tell you about this demon child-- she is a total and complete heathen. Our other dogs were especially pissed off after this Lab-Retriever mutt came into our house and began sniffing their butts, jumping around like an idiot, and chasing them across the room. Molly doesn't understand that she is a lot bigger than Mitzie and Mandy and began trying to play with them immediately. Mandy, who in dog years is about 77, was completely annoyed after about two minutes of the heathen child being in the house. Mitzi took a little longer, like five minutes. That dog better not get into any of my stuff, so help me, or I will literally freak out. It's not like I can put everything my eye-level or higher, because this "puppy" is a freaking dog-size already.

...and that was my day.

7.6.11

Take a dirty picture

What is with people today? It seems like the only way for celebrities to get their dying (or perhaps un-existing) career off and running is to have some kind of a sexual scandal, whether that be a tape or some raunchy cell-phone pictures. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson, and Pamela Anderson have all been made famous by the tapes that were "leaked". Many other celebrities like High School Musical Star Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, and many other celebrities have been the talk of the town due to released scandalous photos of themselves. Then, after the tape or photos are released, the star immediately issues a huge apology to their fans and insists on pursuing legal action taken against those responsible for the release.

Heres a bold idea --- DON'T DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! I mean seriously, there are plenty of ways to be scandalous and not have something like this happen to you. As Reese Witherspoon said in her MTV Generation Award Acceptance Speech: "if you wanna do it, just don't take a picture with your face in it"!

This all brings me to my next point. If you're not a celebrity, AND you're not dating someone, sending them inappropriate pictures is more along the lines of harassment than excitement. One man, who is a frequent bar visitor at my work, seems to have a problem with these guidelines. Not only has he sent a picture to one lady, who I might add has never shown and will probably never show interest in him, he has sent a picture of himself to someone I know well and dear. Why?! This doesn't make you more attractive, and trust me by being creepy like this, you are just eliminating any chance EVER of having anything more than a simple conversation with avoided eye-contact.

So why is this "issue" occurring? It seems as though it's becoming ingrained into society, and this is a problem. Shows like 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, and even the music videos and music lyrics we watch and listen to only exacerbate the problem. While we can point fingers at Rihanna for her S&M song, we really need to be pointing the finger at those who have done it and continue to do it, and of course Ke$ha. I blame her. Everything bad happens in a Ke$ha video (just kidding Ke$ha, your songs are those that I love to hate on and then can't help but rock out to on the dance floor). And from there I will leave you with this little gem:

6.6.11

I'm BACK!!!

This summer I am working up at OWU and am still bartending a couple nights a week at El Vaquero Restaurant.Thus, I might as well get back on the blog/online journal shin-dig. I have time, and the time I use doing this will deter me from using the time going shopping or out for drinks (well, maybe... it was a good thought at least).

So, what's going on in my life?

                                                  Friends Carolyn Shapiro and Rachel Cairns with me above 

Well, I just graduated college with three majors (I saved one Spanish class though so I could study abroad in Spain so that one is technically still on hold). Ever since graduation I have spent my time off laying around the house watching all of Khloe and Lamar and all the seasons of the Real Housewives. I am pretty sure I have the HBO and Showtime On Demand completely memorized. So far I have been really good so far at saving up my money, because frankly, I don't want to use any of it until I am in Spain and find things I absolutely can not live without.

Oh, this Spain thing... let me explain. On August 31st I leave for the adventure of a lifetime. For four months I will be parading around Salamanca, Spain, and all parts I can afford to go to in Spain and around Europe. I plan to visit everywhere IN Spain before I really go out and get around to countries, but I would like to have a couple weekends of new passport stamps! No worries -- I will have a blog while I am in Spain, which I promise to keep updated more than the blog I had for Mexico. I am learning some new tricks and will add some photos perhaps to jazz it up!


                                                    Jack Waas and Jourie Palumbo pictured with me above

I went on my first Chicago trip to drop off my application for my Spanish Visa. It was nice because I was able to work my trip in with Jack's birthday party, something that Jourie also joined us for. I stayed in Chicago from Sunday until Wednesday and had plenty of beer, good food, and genuine fun. I think I spent about 20 dollars just on the train pass and God knows how much on the rest of everything. Oh well. Next time I go out there I want to see everyone again and hopefully get a chance to meet up with some of the friends I was unable to see out there. I also plan to make my rounds to some of the suburbs and see parts I didn't get to see before.

I have been having fun around here with friends, but not too much fun, as I am usually working. Today, however, I began my day with a Costco run with Mom and then spent the rest of the time lounging around the pool with Brigette. We enjoyed a nice lo-cal barbecue and I later went on a walk with the family to CVS and back. It was nice to walk our trip rather than drive it. The MTV Movie Awards were on tonight, but I am not too worried about missing most of them because usually they are replayed on MTV for a million hours after the original airing.

I think that's good for the first update in a long time.