I will probably at my happiest when I am at the age of 33.
I’ve clearly been doing something right by cramming right before I go to bed the night before a final/presentation because studies show that sleep helps you retain more information. [Source]
Being a little drunk and sleepy can actually make you more creative. [Source]
Watching sad films can actually make us happier. Funny how that works. [Source]
- Bloggers are making their mark on the world! The Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine will be releasing a new book slated for next year. [Source]
- Pinterest puts their foot down when it comes to thinspiration images on their website. [Source]
- Could H&M be on the verge of launching a luxury brand? [Source]
- The lyrics slay me.
- Britney Spears is joining X Factor y’all! [Source]
- Maroon 5′s new album “Overexposed” will be released in June. [Source]
- A new MGMT record will be released this September! [Source]
- Australian music group, Jet, has decided to part ways. [Source]
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros will release their second album together by the end of the year. [Source]
- A Hunger Games vacation. [Source]
- JJ Abrams isn’t letting anyone see Star Trek 2 before it comes out! [Source]
- The Weinstein Company has decided to retaliate against the MPAA and will release the new documentary, “Bully,” as unrated. [Source]
- Direct R.J. Cutler (The September Issue) will direct yet another fashion-based film. [Source]
- We said goodbye to one of my favorite series, Skins. [Source]
- Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle is going under the knife. [Source]
- Mike “The Situation” has checked into rehab for prescription pills and alcohol. [Source]
- 30 Rock will do another live episode next month. [Source]
- Lifetime has pulled a controversial episode of Dance Moms featuring the young girls as little showgirls. [Source]
- Jo Rivera from Teen Mom 2 attempts a rap career. [Source]
- Here’s a first look at AnnaSophia Robb as a young Carrie Bradshaw. [Source]
- Camille Grammer is not returning to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. [Source]
- ABC Family has picked up the network rights to The Hunger Games – will air in 2014. [Source]
- Jimmy Kimmel will host the Emmy’s! [Source]
- Everyday Music has officially moved across the street. [Source]
- Ballard burger spot, The Counter, has closed. [Source]
- A store I recently discovered while in San Francisco, Bevmo, will open up two locations in Washington in Silverdale and Tacoma. Um…I think they really meant Seattle, but that’s not happening. [Source]
- Seattle Restaurant Week begins April 8th! [Source]
- There is a Vintage Wedding Fair going down this weekend. Swoon swoon swoon. [Source]
- Miami Heat show their support for Trayvon Martin. [Source]
- Jason Russell’s naked meltdown was because of a brief reactive psychosis. [Source]
- Tori Spelling is pregnant again. [Source]
- Kim’s flour shower. [Source]
- Megan Fox has spent $60K + on plastic surgery. [Source] Yikes.
- Hilary Duff gave birth to son Luca last week.
- Khloe Kardashian turns her back on PETA after her sister’s incident. [Source]
- VS Angel Adriana Lima is also pregnant. [Source]
Out of my group of friends back home, I am the “workaholic.” At Seattle University, I’ve realized that I’m friends with a bunch of workaholics though so it’s nothing out of the ordinary. It is true. I love my work and doing work. The last time I was ever bored was probably in high school, but that may or may not have something to do with this blog here.
Today, I am beyond thrilled to say that once again I have finished my second to last quarter here at Seattle University. It is practically my last though and now I am looking forward to spending my last quarter with my dear friends of mine and truly taking advantage of the “college life” before I am headed into the real world. While I may be a workaholic to some extent, I would also like it to be known that I am someone who knows how to celebrate at the same time. I’m always the friend that rallies everyone together for a social gathering whether it is relevant or not and that is probably because I’m an event planner too.
At the end of every quarter, I like to hold a little celebration for myself and here is what it entails:
Every time I drive past the Taco Time in Wallingford, I ask myself, “How is it possible for a Taco Time to look THAT good?” Every other standard Taco Time in Washington looks like a normal fast food restaurant, but not this one. The one in Wallingford has beautiful glass windows and is modern looking in a neighborhood that is…not. Its mint sheen makes the restaurant’s exterior extremely attractive and though I have never eaten at this location, its appearance alone makes me want to.
It didn’t make Flavorwire’s list of of Most Beautiful Fast Food Restaurants in the World, but Starbucks’ Tukwila location did!
Check out the rest of the restaurants here.
Oh my gosh. My parents would never even let me open up the minibar. I was a strange child – even though I knew I could never have it, I just wanted to be able to see what the hotel was offering and be able to rank them based on their goods. I like Jennifer Lawrence already because she’s like me!
So…who’s excited for The Hunger Games? It looks like I never achieved my goal of reading the books first so it’s looks like I’m going to have to just get on that film track.
[Source]
Sometimes when I learn about products like these, I wish so badly that I could be a kid again. This contraption is just so strange to me, but at the same time takes out the hassle in buying things like orange juice. Basically, you stick this diddly into a fruit (orange, grapefruit,..not sure what else right now) and spin the green top round and round to churn the juices. After removing the device, insert a straw and begin drinking.
The entire procedure seems so simple, but knowing me, I would probably mess the entire thing up.
[Source]
When I think about my friends at other universities, I constantly wonder what their lives are like and who they have in their lives. I feel pretty special knowing that I go to school and am friends with some unique individuals. This past weekend, a group of them got together to make a parody music video of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” The original version features Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Ashley Tisdale and a few others that I just couldn’t remember. I think I prefer my friends’ version though.
Also, while we’re on the topic of friends, I remembered that Erin and Kiki had made this video back in December in an attempt to meet one of Ellen’s writers, Amy. Unfortunately, they never got on the show like they had hoped for, but Amy did tweet Erin back.
Baby steps.
And since we’re on the topic of YouTube videos…allow me to bring this back to all of y’all!
I know there are multiple versions of this, but this is the first one I ever saw and I remember even back then that this video had left such an impact on me that I wanted to recreate my own version. I kid you not, there is actually a photograph of my friend and I posing with a gallon of milk and a box of cheerios taken by my parents, but you’re never going to see that. The things I did as a kid teenager…
Where are these two UC Berkeley guys now?
The Oscars are tomorrow and I’m basically on the edge of my seat waiting for the red carpet show to happen just so I can yell out the names of the designers that the celebrities are wearing. It’s basically a game that I play by myself. Veronica and Bree can vouch for me. Nothing beats the satisfaction I get out of being correct though.
If you’re not into making my made up game your game, you can always play the Oscars Drinking Game provided by The Frisky.
ONE DRINK
SHOTGUN AN ENTIRE BEER
For the rest of the rules, click here.
Let the fun begin!
For as long as I’ve been at my workplace, my co-workers and I have always had this weird obsession with puns. This YouTube video of hipster kid playing in a grocery store acting out puns is dedicated to them.
It’s funny, but it’s not. I barely cracked a smile. Why post, you ask? Because of relevancy.
[Source]
I never drank caffeine or tea until I came to college because I was definitely someone that preferred Jamba Juice smoothies or Starbucks frappuccinos in high school. Yes, Seattle University turned me into one classy college student. Of course, if I wanted to pull all-nighters, blended fruit juices and sugar just weren’t going to cut it. Since being here at school, I have moved on from vanilla chai frapps and graduated onto white mochas – thanks Bree for introducing them to me.
In addition to the caffeine, I was able to let my wall down with tea. Both my parents are huge fans of it so after some convincing, I finally gave in. When Colangelo PR reached out to me recently to ask me if I was interested in trying Kusmi Tea, I was -of course- excited! They sent me this Essentials packet above featuring 12 of their best selling flavors (two of each – ie) 24 tea bags) which then prompted me to call Veronica over so that we could have a night of tea sampling.
Kusmi tea is a brand known for its traditional Russian style teas for the last 140 years and apparently is a favorite for Hollywood IT couple Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom. Here he is below with Kusmi bag in hand after leaving their shop.
Katie’s Review:
Since I’m a huge fan of fruity flavors, I decided to try out the Prince Vladimir [citrus fruits, vanilla and spices.] What I loved about this flavor the most is that it was incredibly fragrant. The smell of it lingered the rest of the night and all I could think to myself was that I wish I had it in scent form. After finishing the tea, I felt at ease and calm. Some teas have been known to make me a little bit jittery, but this wasn’t the case at all with Kusmi. After splitting the flavors in half with my parents, I still have nine more left to try out on my own and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the flavors will bring to the table.
Veronica’s Review:
This past weekend, my dear friend Katie gave me the chance to try a classy new tea with her! Known as Kusmi Tea based in Paris and New York, we had a variety of flavors to choose from. While Katie tried “Prince Vladimir” I gave “Sweet Love” a shot. Meant to be a black tea with a kick, I was interested in the guarana that makes up the tea’s composition. To no surprise, I loved the subtlety of licorice and pink peppercorn that fit well with the hot beverage, giving it a kick. If anyone is looking for a new tea, I recommend looking for some Sweet Love.
To learn more about Kusmi Tea and to make a purchase, click here.
[Don't Call the Cops]
Over the weekend, my friends and I ventured over to Ballard for the SXSW Send Off Show at the Tractor Tavern where we got to preview a couple of the bands that will be performing at the festival in March. After living in Capitol Hill for the past four years, all of us have sort of became too comfortable in our own little neighborhood that we rarely explore anywhere else. For us, Ballard was a completely new experience. The crowd over there is much older than what we’re used to being around and reminds me of a rowdier and busier Bellingham. However, that doesn’t mean we didn’t still enjoy ourselves because we definitely did. Before going to the show, we made the rounds at Conor Byrne and a place called Macleod’s.
My friend Liz had recommended Conor Byrne to me over the summer because they have a great open mic sesh on Sunday nights and we thought it might be a good fit for Taylor. At the time, I didn’t actually know it was a bar, I just thought it was an open mic event. While we were there, Henry, Jennie, and Ashley snagged some sandwiches for $5 that they were pretty pleased with and our favorite hard cider. As we were there, the band was setting up for Soul Night! Unfortunately, we left before the party got started.
Our next stop was just a block down the street from Conor Byrne. Jennie and I wanted to pick a random place, but nothing seemed perfect for us. Macleod’s was right on the corner though and it seemed busy, but not overcrowded. THIS place has some incredible drinks. I just did a little bit of digging and found out that the Scottish pub is actually new in Ballard as of December, but it is a place that we will all need to come back to and one that I would recommend to all of you. I can’t seem to find a website for it or remember the drink that I had, but it’s a cocktail. It’s red and it has amaretto in it and maybe lemon. I’m like 72% sure of it.
[The Young Evils]
It was over a year ago (Jan 11, 2011) when we learned that Starbucks would be introducing their new “Trenta” – a cup that holds 31 fluid ounces. Trenta was supposed to be hitting stores May 3, 2011 but Seattle locations never saw it. I assumed that maybe the corporation was just not going forward with the idea, but it turns out the cup was released in just a few states at first. Come March 6th – the Trenta is ours here in Seattle! Get ready to have your favorite cold drink fill a cup that holds more liquid than the average human stomach. I guess that means you’ll have to plan your bathroom trips accordingly…
I can’t wait to take a picture of this cup next to my head…bout to be ridiculous.
[Source]
Every so often, I’ll get asked from someone who reads my blog the question of how I decide what goes on Yow Yow. Well, that’s a very interesting question that comes with a full circle answer. I read the news everyday from a number of sources across various topics. Generally, I like to stick to things that I’m genuinely interested in, but other times, I’ll write posts based on what I think my own friends would like to read. Before starting Yow Yow, I used to run into this disconnect with some of my friends in a group setting when I would always say to them, “Oh! Did you hear about…?” (probably something related to what I write on the blog now) and they either didn’t care for it or had never heard about it.
Yow Yow was not only an expressive outlet for me and a past time, but it was something created for my friends that was relevant to my generation. It was something that they could read or relate to while they were in class, being distracted from homework, or reading on their own time.
With that, I happened to stumble upon three pieces this morning each reminding me of three of my friends.
My dear friend Megan, who you will seeing a guest post from next week, used to make these beautiful handmade journals for herself and for her friends as presents. This journal, pictured above, was constructed out of vintage materials by Odelae. This one was made out of leather, but she also seems to have another journal bound between oyster shells! [Source]
During our recent snowy Sunday, Veronica invited me to trek through the snow to share a cup of cocoa with her. I never made it, but I did come across this simple, but adorable way of making hot cocoa and gifting it to friends and family. How chic, right? It’s so modern, but makes perfect sense. Making hot cocoa has never been so easy. Check out the recipe here.
Lastly, my friend Bree loves cats. Every time I see cute cat-like things, I am instantly reminded of her. She doesn’t have one right now, but I think she would love these “cats as human hipsters” pillows. Or…maybe she’ll be creeped out by them. Either way, they’re too stinkin’ cute. This Boyfriend Girlfriend Pillow set was made by graphic designer and illustrator Nicola Rowlands. [Source]
