Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

12 August 2013

MUSIC (VIDEO) MONDAY

Just some music videos to enjoy on your Monday. 
First up, Jay Z's "Picasso Baby" performance art piece. So sad I was at work while they filmed this - I would have killed to be there! Very cool to watch him interact with the crowd. Also, props for being able to rap for ten hours straight, the same song over and over again, while people like Jemima Kirke are jumping on your back.


Next up: Mumford and Sons' newest video for their song "Hopeless Wanderer". An excellent song, excellent parody, and an excellent cast. Always nice to see bands that can poke fun at themselves. Also features excellent banjo-playing and more excellent facial hair. Excellent.




06 August 2013

FACTORY BOY


Happy 85th birthday, Andy Warhol!
Celebrate with some of his most iconic quotes - on pencils with multicolored erasers, of course.


05 August 2013

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY, THE O.C.!

Happy 10th anniversary to everyone's favorite show! Truthfully, I didn't watch it when it first came out, but years of sleepovers and marathons and DVD sets later, I've seen it all and I've seen it many times.  So here's to Seth & Summer & Marisa & Ryan, a great theme song, and the show that put my home county on the map, prompting years of stupid questions about whether or not I know Marisa Cooper. (Hint: she's a fictional character.) 

image via.

MUSIC MONDAY: BLURRED LINES




Some tunes for your monday - now get up and dance around and go make something happen!

24 June 2013

MUSIC MONDAY: FALLING BY HAIM


This is my current on-repeat, can't-get-it-out-of-my-head jam. I've read about the three sisters of HAIM before, but for some reason I'm just now getting around to listening to them and I wish I had sooner. This song is so catchy - just try to get the chorus out of your head.  Also, what great lyrics.  That might be my new mantra: And if it gets rough, it's time to get rough. If this song isn't already on your iPod, put it on right now - you won't regret it.


18 June 2013

BOOKMARK: SUMMER READING EDITION



I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I really love to read.  I mean, really. As in, when I was a kid, if my brother or I got into trouble, our punishment would be for our mom to take our book away.  At the time, getting a book - especially one where you were just getting to the good part - ripped out of your hands mid-chapter was the absolute worst punishment EVER. It's only now, especially when it comes up in conversation with friends, that I realize how abnormal it is.

While I don't get to read as much as I used to, I'm still probably one of the only college student/PR intern/sorority girls who uses her library card regularly. Whenever I'm home during the summer, I head over and get a big stack of books - that way I always have something to ready by the pool, at the beach, in the backyard, at night when there's no good TV shows on, etc.

Obviously I'm not at home right now, and with work I don't have as much time to read, but I've still got a mile long wish list of books I'd love to crack open some time this summer. It's got a bit of everything -  hot new books, the "next-Harry-Potter/Hunger-Games", girly chick lit for the beach, stories, novels, etc. After all those years of mandatory summer reading of books you hated, it's nice to finally be able to make my own summer reading list - and definitely much more enjoyable to work my way through it!

And if you have any recommendations, comment!

01.  THE BONE SEASON - samantha shannon
02. CRAZY RICH ASIANS - kevin kwan
03. THE SUITORS - cecile david-weill
05. A HUNDRED SUMMERS - beatriz williams
06. THE INTERESTINGS - meg wolitzer
07. ALL THE SUMMER GIRLS - meg donohue
08. WEDDING NIGHT - sophie kinsella
09. THE SILVER STAR - jeannette walls
10. DARE ME - megan abbott
11. THE ENGAGEMENTS - j. courtney sullivan
12. LADIES NIGHT - mary kay andrews
13. THE YONAHLOSSEE RIDING CAMP FOR GIRLS - anton disclafani
14. QUEEN OF THE TURTLE DERBY - julia reed
15. REVENGE WEARS PRADA - lauren weisberger
16. THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER - junot diaz

11 June 2013

COPYCAT: GOV BALL


Just in time for festival season to get into full swing comes this look from Governor's Ball this past weekend.  While I was sadly not in attendance myself, it seemed like a lot of cool, well-dressed girls were - this one being no exception.  Your own easy breezy festival formula: wear a men's shirt for a boxier fit, tie it up, and throw on a pair of leopard-print shorts and cool sunnies and call it a day.  (If it rained all day Friday like it did here in New York, add wellies).  If you didn't get a chance to go to Gov Ball, put on this must-hear playlist from Teen Vogue and pretend you're there!

photo via vogue

05 June 2013

INSTALIFE

Just a day in the life, ya dig?

01. The view of the early morning sun over the East River on my run this morning.  
(Yes, I dragged myself out of a bed at 6 am to go on a quick 25 minute run.  
Still not sure where the willpower came from. Will now accept applause, and extra servings of dessert.)

02. My new jeans, thanks to the Current/Elliot sample sale.  
These are more coral-ly in person (Instagram filter changed it a bit), but they're simple and skinny and summery 
- and marked down to $40! Booyah!

03. Today's (Wednesday) NY Times' crossword puzzle, all filled out 
(with only a minimal amount of cheating...)

all photos via yours truly and my handy dandy iphone.

04 June 2013

CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC


If you didn't have a chance to make it to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic yesterday, don't worry - neither did I.  Though champagne, sundresses, men-who-ride-horses are right up my alley. (Not to mention host Matthew McConaughey). Unfortunately, tickets to polo matches and overflowing glasses of Veuve aren't in the budget, so even though the event was so close I would taste the bubbly, I too am content to stare at pictures online.

What I should have done instead was host my own little Clicquot Classic - with a lot less polo and a whole lot more champagne.  Next time, I'm making these: champagne (or prosecco) with popsicles - perfect for a hot summer's day.  (Giant sunhat optional).
  




22 May 2013

BOOKMARK

These two books ended up in my library bag during my last trip. I'd already read the first Freakonomics book and loved it, and of course, J.K. Rowling is J.K. Rowling.  Superfreakonomics is just what you'd expect if you've read the first book - filled with interesting observations and studies and ideas that you never would have thought of.  Extremely interesting and awesome dinner table conversation material!  

As for the Casual Vacancy, I'm torn. It was really slow in the beginning - not that much action, and so many characters/relationships that I couldn't keep them straight.  Finally, around the middle it got really good. The plot picked up, I got involved in the characters' lives (and because of all that build-up, felt like I knew them really well).  And then I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Something you were lead to believe was important didn't end up being that important, and the end of the book felt a bit abrupt to me. Then again, I'm one of those people that likes a lot of closure, so you never know. I definitely recommend Superfreakomics if you like books that like, and if you've got some time on your hands or are a fast reader like me (it's a thick book), pick up the Casual Vacancy and see what you think!



09 May 2013

THE GREAT GATSBY

Are y'all excited for the release of the movie? I just finished the book in anticipation, though I've heard some mixed reviews - long on spectacle, short on plot, though I'd have figured as much.  Nonetheless, the spectacle is one of the reasons we all want to see it (at least it is for me), and if the outlandish, champagne-fueled parties that Gatsby is famous for (set to the tune of Jay-Z and Florence + the Machine and wrapped in Prada sparkles, of course) live up to the previews, I'll be a happy girl.

ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR

22 April 2013

MUSIC MONDAY: THE GREAT GATSBY


Are y'all as excited for The Great Gatsby as I am?
It was one of my favorite books in high school, and the 1920's are one of my favorite eras.  I literally cannot wait. I'm a big fan of Baz Luhrmann as well, and I love his tendency to use modern music in a period piece.  The first Great Gatsby trailer with Jay Z and Kanye's "No Church in the Wild" was absolutely killer, and the rest of the soundtrack has been hotly anticipated.  
Here is the just released sampler, to tide us over until the album comes out in early May!

15 April 2013

MUSIC MONDAY: COACHELLA EDITION

In case y'all live under a rock, the first weekend of Coachella just happened, so pretty much all week my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds have been chock-full of Coachelly goodness, inspiring a serious case of FOMO.  One of the things I was sad to miss out on was this gem: Phoenix rocking out with the man, the myth, the legend: R. Kelly. Ignition x 1901? Strange on so many levels, but it actually kind of works.  Hope this makes your Monday a little bit better!


08 April 2013

MUSIC MONDAY: THE STELLA SISTERS

Do y'all watch Nashville? It's one of my current must-see-TV picks.  I love the country music, the drama, and of course, Connie Britton.  They also have great music that's never overdone, and on the most recent episode Connie Britton's character, country singer Rayna James, lets her daughters up on stage for the sound check and they absolutely blow everyone away.  The girls are Lennon and Maisy Stella, real life sisters from Canada - and most impressively, they're only 13 and  8! So crazy.  Check out their performance of the Lumineer's "Ho Hey" on Nashville last week, and I definitely recommend adding the show to your DVR list!


04 April 2013

HISTORY OF RAP


In honor of Jimmy Fallon makin' moves to the Tonight show, I give you this gem:
the most recent installment in Jimmy and JT's "History of Rap",
one of my favorite moments on the show.
#obsessed

12 March 2013

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

I had such a wonderful time in Paris this past weekend! It was my first time in the City of Lights, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it.  I feel like there was so much hype about Paree that it would be a letdown, but I loved the city!

We stayed in the Hotel Du Crillon, which made me feel like a princess.  I had a big bed and a thick fluffy robe and pretended that I was there for the Ball du Crillon and was wearing a haute couture gown.  Since I had never been before, we hit all the big sights - the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, etc.  It was gorgeous on Saturday and not-so-much on Sunday, but it worked out.   I ate crepes and frogs' legs and macarons and drank lots of champagne and loved every minute of it.

My only two requests for the weekend were Laduree and Colette.  Laduree was easy enough - there was one right by our hotel, and my Mom and I stood in line for about 20 minutes to get a box, but they were worth it. I then dragged them to Colette, where I felt infinitely uncool.  My Dad felt very out of place.  Luckily, I couldn't feel too out of place because the store was less Parisians-actually-shopping and more people-from-out-of-town-who-were-dying-to-see-it.  Plus, my mom was feeling generous and bought me Carven's new perfume.  It's light and flowery and makes me feel graceful and French - an excellent souvenir, if I do say so!  Paris has definitely been the most fashionable city that I've been in.  Walking down the streets, especially on the Rue Saint-HonorĂ© where all the shops are, was like a fashion show of tall skinny girls in cool outfits.  I felt inadequate.

But it was a fabulous weekend trip and so nice to do it with my parents.  
My new goal in life: become a chic skinny French girl. ( I'll let you know how that one goes.)

louvre + lauduree by me; colette image viacarven le parfum

03 February 2013

SUPER SUNDAY


01 / 02 / 03 / 04 / 05

Today, I am homesick. While I love being in Barcelona, today, there is no where I'd rather be than on a couch at home or at school, with a cold beer in one hand and a chip loaded with guacamole in the other.  It's Superbowl Sunday, and unlike those who just like beer and 7-layer dip, I really enjoy football and always love watching the championship game.

Anyway, being 6 hours ahead of the East Coast means that kickoff in BCN will be at approximately 12:30 tonight. Stellar. So instead of sitting on a couch and munching on treats and yelling at the TV, I will be in a bar filled with American students, elbowing my way to get a view of the TV and paying 5 euros for a beer I don't really want.  But I will do it because I love football and the Superbowl and America, and even being in Spain isn't going to stop me from watching.  
(Though probably just the first half.  12:30 on a Sunday is L-A-T-E people!!)

But lucky you - y'all still have the chance to whip up some snacks and get your spot on the couch all worn in before the game begins this evening.  If you're looking for some good suggestions, here's what I wish I was snacking on today.  
Enjoy watching the Superbowl at a reasonable hour, and have a beer and some onion dip for me!

30 January 2013

MUSICA MIERCOLES

Hey party people.
A little music to get you through your hump day.


YOLO - the lonely island.
Kendrick Lamar is giving financial advice. Need I say more?


MMMbop - hanson.
A more recent version of their famous song that I recently stumbled across.
It's still sounds just as good and just as catchy - just a little bit more grown up.


* Also, for you sad monolinguists, miercoles = wednesday.
 I hope you can figure out what musica translates to on your own...

21 December 2012

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

Talk about a twist on a classic.
Only four days left!!!!