Tunes Tuesday: Norah Jones

Today, I woke up with a terrible head cold - the kind that makes you just drowsy enough to feel lethargic, but not so overpowering that you can't sit in class due to the waterfall spouting out of your eyes and nose. I was just telling a friend I avoided the usual winter cold in February, and now karma caught up with me. Damn.

Thus, it's been one of those days where I'd like nothing more than to hole up in my room with some Netflix and a bowl of chicken soup. I'd fall asleep watching Mad Men (which I started this weekend - it's streaming live - huzzah!) and sleep for days. How glorious.

Until then, I'm left to catch up on homework, and enjoy a little Norah Jones now and then until her album is released in May. Enjoy!

1935 Book reader

Check out this hilarious book reader of the future from 1935! 

The Kindle kinda got the same idea, yeah? Haha! 

Joy the Baker, Emma the gazer

I could look at food blogs all day, it's true. My sister showed me Joy the Baker when she was home over Christmas, and I just discovered that her cookbook came out last month - hooray! Anything that is subtitled "A celebration of butter and sugar" has already won my heart. 

Just check out some of the gems she has posted on her website... 

I'm sold. 

Austin's food culture

Before leaving for South by Southwest last week, I told myself I wouldn't miss out on any of the food, and that meant hitting up some of the food trucks in Austin. When I heard "food truck," I immediately thought of the metal steam machine food carts off the side of the street in New York where you never know quite what it is that you're eating... 

However, I was surprised at the variety of food trucks in Austin, and the (mostly) absence of jankness, for lack of a better term. The third annual street food fest had everything from this incredible taco served on warm indian naan bread to surf and turf to dim sum - all from a truck! The Today show even had a truck set up where you could even get free breakfast all day. Free french toast with blueberry sauce? Yes, please! Austin is, without a doubt, a foodie's heaven. 

This pork taco I had reminds me of this tasty little treat. I blame the newspaper packaging.

They even had kim chi fries - served at a truck that fused mexican cuisine with korean cuisine. One truck was even offering Korean hamburgers, and something about them just worked. 

And check out this brightly decorated indian food truck. Indian food, yum! Down from the festival, we also found one truck serving pad thai, another nothing but coffees, and one that even served fried sandwiched with a side of jam. I can promise you, nothing that I tried disappointed. 

Austin's food culture, I can promise you, you are dearly missed. 

Mmmm, macaroons

Did you ever play communion with Nilla wafers when you were little? Embarrassingly enough, my sisters and I did. There's nothing that makes you feel less weird when you realize a friend of yours did/ does the same thing... Lo and behold, today my friend referenced playing communion with nilla wafers. Comfort in numbers, people. Comfort in numbers.  

My sisters and I would get fancy with the puffy wafers that had the sugar beads on the inside. Long story short, I had a nice chuckle when theses same beads made a reappearance on these gawgeous little  macaroons -- takes me right back to my childhood. Kind of. 

p.s. I always accidentally spell macaroon with two "r's" and one "o," making it a macarron - sounds like a tasty little mexican dessert if you roll the "r" just so. Or something you might find on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," yikes. 

Look at all that space!

A friend and I were just complaining that there isn't nearly enough space to be alone in our sorority house (nothing like the first day of 80 degree southern Indiana heat to bring out the complaining, eh?). Sometimes, a break from 80 girls is all too necessary.

Check out this dreamy loft in Boston. I'd hide in the upstairs next to the closets with a good book - and all that natural light, yes please!  Every once in a great while, I'd make my way down to see the view from that incredibly comfy-looking couch. Until then, I guess it's hiding in Starbucks to find some peace and quiet.

p.s. They called their "Biggest embarrassment: our bitchy cat." I'd make an excellent addition if this heat keeps up! 

SXSW Interactive

(I spoke to the co-creator of this app - Glomper - and he said this little creature is a hamster. I don't care what he is, there is no denying that thing is adorable. And yes, I did get the free T-shirt with him on the side.)

I just got back from a Spring Break trip to South By Southwest in Austin, TX. I traveled as part of my New Devices class at IU. We study social movements, how they take shape, and things of the sort. Each of the students in the class is working on a different project. Mine is focusing on the design of social forums and their differences, which ones have succeeded and why. Our professor required us to gather interviews with panelists and speakers which led to some pretty interesting conversation.

While waiting in line for a comedy show by Upright Citizen's Brigade, we met a guy whose claim to fame was that his cat is the one that takes the lid off in the Fancy Feast commercials - hilarious! Where else would I have met this guy? Answer: probably nowhere.  

Admittedly, before the trip, I knew little about the festival aside from the fact that the Real World interns dealt with the music portion, oh how little did I know. I didn't think I would take away so many new experiences and so much information during the six days while we were there. Even as I sit typing this, so many memories from the trip are flying through my head, I don't know where to begin.

Alas, a smorgasbord of experiences would be too much. Overall, my biggest takeaway? I'm into graphic design (for the time being), and I met so many like-minded people who told me to keep doing what I'm doing: when you're doing what you love, that's when you make your best work. Duly noted.

Guess who started a fashion line

Kanye West! Who knew the man could design and keep the models surprisingly conservative. Also, check out those boots - wild!

Tomato, tomatuh. Frittato, frittata?

I can't wait until I have my own kitchen so that I can cook my own food, like this delicious frittata! We have a kitchen here at the sorority house, but because everything is industrial-sized, we're not supposed to use the oven and such. 

Remember how I said I love being home because my Dad makes great breakfasts? In an attempt to get the fam on board with eating healthier, I requested we try making a frittata once. It was delicious, but my Dad said unsatisfying. I'd love to try for round two and maybe throw some sausage and tons of veggies in to bulk it up! This must be what moms feel like when they sneak fish onto the table and tell their kids it's chicken. 

Tunes Tuesday: Band of Horses

Their latest album release date is May 18. Hope you like them as much as I do!

Twenty-first century recipes from back in the day

I'm pretty sure my Dad could like nothing more than this "The Back in the Day Cookbook."

...except maybe for this map of the U.S. made of cast iron skillets. 

My dad is all about good hearty cooking - stews, dense cakes or pies, and most everything includes crazy amounts of butter (Paula Dean would be proud). The molasses ginger cookies in this book would be right up his alley! Every time we come home, he always insists on making a huge breakfast of fried eggs and hash browns, toast - you name it, the man cooks it (all on a cast iron skillet, might I add)! Homemade meals are just one of the many plusses of being home. We even say no one cooks tea quite like my Dad, too. It's just boiling water, but the man's a culinary genius! Everything just tastes better when you're home, wouldn't you agree?

Frankenweenie by Tim Burton

Although Nightmare Before Christmas used to scare me terribly, I realized a long time ago just how great Tim Burton's films are. The Grdinas have always been big fans of his, and you know how much we love our dog Bailey; I can promise you all five of us will be going to see this film about a boy who tries to bring his dog back to life and succeeds. Also, did you notice it is in black and white? Perhaps The Artist is making bigger impacts than we realize!

Have a productive week!

(via citified.blogspot.com)

Bloomington just got the most beautiful snow, and I am finding it incredibly difficult to be productive today. With Spring Break arriving this Friday, I've got a bunch of work to get done before I leave a day early on Thursday! Here are some fun things I found around the internet that I'd like to share. 

Another one of my favorite red carpet stars

I don't think I will ever grow out of my peanut butter phase (and I'm ok with that)

How to make a fondant asparagus cake - crazy!

Vests are back

Beautiful collages

Who doesn't love a little plaid?

This movie is (finally) coming out at the month's end!

Everything looks more glamourous via Instagram, don't you think? 

Have you tried any fun nail art yet?

Have a wonderfully productive week, friends! 

I'm a (greek) mom!

Today was initiation! It's hard to believe a year has gone by since I was in the new initiate's shoes. 

Here are some of the things I made for my kid in the house. Thankfully, she likes glitter as much as I (as you can tell by her gifts). I think it's the start of a great friendship!

Run for your lives

Have you heard of the Zombie Run? Competitors literally run for their lives in a 12-obstacle 5K with zombies chasing them the entire way. Everyone wears a flag football belt. The number of flags you have left (if any) at the finish line determines whether you win a prize or not. Although I find zombies terrifying, my roommate did point out that the concept would make you run faster. Sounds like a good training tool if you ask me! 

Want to know more? Be sure to read this blog post from a "paranormal pop culture" specialist!

Lady in red

This gown, my heavens! 

Check out more breathtaking NY Fashion week coverage here.