Fashion Week Designers Reveal Spring Trends
A review of New York Fashion Week for all the Fayetteville celebrities/socialites/journalists who weren’t invited to the event.
Number one on my life bucket list: go to New York Fashion Week and sit in the front row.
This glamorous, invitation-only event takes place twice a year, and is populated only by the wealthiest and most well known names in fashion and Hollywood. Though I’m not sure where exactly I will fit in when my time comes to sit on the front row of Oscar De La Renta’s premiere runway show, I will keep dreaming.
Designers presented their clothing lines for the Spring/Summer 2011 season last week at the Lincoln Center in New York City, kicking off the fashion season followed by shows in London, Milan and Paris.
White Hot Runways
Head-to-toe white will be the classic neutral next season for both men and women. The diversity of the designs complements the assortment of the designers who showcased this timeless trend. Pants and top ensembles, long and short dresses, flowing and tight-fitted, cotton and chiffon were among the all-white attire from designers Victoria Beckham, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, BCBG Max Azria and Calvin Klein, to name a few.
As a girl who never wants to hang up her white pants after Labor Day, I love this crisp, spring look. It is so traditional that you can mix old pieces with new, creating your own fashion persona, yet still adhering to the fashion industry’s wishes of white.
Mix It Up
DKNY
According to the experts it’s all about the mix-up in prints next season, specifically with florals. Designers Thakoon and Peter Som both revealed their unique floral designs with contrasting colors and patterns, while Proenza Schouler mixed florals with bold stripes, polka dots or star prints. DKNY truly took the mixing bull by the horns and threw sequins, strips and blossoms into one ensemble.
I’ve never been able to really support this trend, despite Rachel Bilson and Taylor Swift, two of my Hollywood faves, fully embracing the outfit mish mash. Perhaps I over think it too much, rather than just putting two prints together and going for the bold. However, I do applaud those who can pull it off, and if you’re daring, go for the fashion risk and keep your head held high despite the inevitable looks you will receive.
New Animal Print Snakes to the Top
Christian Siriano
Leopard print will finally have to cede its throne to the python print this spring. Multiple designers had snakeskin dresses on the runway including Thakoon’s sexy, shirt-dress, Z-Spoke’s purple, python dress and skirts by Joseph Altuzarra. Christian Siriano, winner of “Project Runway” in 2008, unveiled show stopping animal prints following his white ensembles- a red dress embossed with snakeskin and a bold turquoise, crocodile blouse.
As a professed lover of animal prints, my transition from fall’s leopard trend to spring’s snakeskin might be trickier than I’d thought. Not confident enough to pull off a snakeskin dress or skirt (or quite possibly a little freaked out by the thought of wearing snakeskin), this trend might be better suited for accessories. An exotic clutch or skinny belt would be the perfect accessory to accentuate my all white attire.
To finish reading visit the UATrav website.
Ooh La La, Leopard
I have always been a fan of leopard print, really animal print in general. I currently own fabulous Sam Edelman leopard print sandals that I basically wear as a neutral, suitable with everything. So it delighted me when I saw leopard as a hot trend for fall in nearly every aspect of attire from head to toe (not all at the same time of course).
From top to bottom Gisele Bundchen flawlessly models Roberto Cavalli’s fall/winter line. Though the only person who could pull off this entire outfit on the streets would be Gisele, it displays the diversity of the trend modeling leopard fur on the jacket, bold leggings and a stylish bag.
Rihanna posing for Elle radiates with the sultry, sexiness of wearing leopard and unveils the trend of wearing it as a hat, bandana or headband.
My favorite new leopard trend is the scarf or shawl. The girl on the streets builds upon the classic fall look with the perfect amount of leopard to spice up an outfit and turn some heads.
For the Love of Shoes
There are two types of shoes that I am most looking forward to wearing for fall. One of which I have already purchased, but have yet to wear, and the second of which I am still searching for that perfect pair. Behold the beloved peep-toe bootie and the over-the-knee boot.
The second I saw these shoes in Dillards at the end of summer, I absolutely had to have them. Though they may appear alien to some, these shoes have been flying off the shelf, and for good reason. Notice Katie Holmes’ casual attire courtside at the Lakers game pairing these Vince Camuto shoes with boyfriend jeans. (Yes, when I saw this picture after I bought the shoes I really felt like a celebrity) These shoes can function with literally almost any outfit, whether it be jeans or professional attire and they are sure to catch an eye.
I have always been a fan of boots, and the variety of shapes and colors in the fall trend of over-the-knee boots makes me giggle with excitement. I love Hilary’s black ensemble and how easily the boots pull it all together. However, the tan ones above coupled with the yellow leg warmers and the clean white outfit make for such a perfect, crisp fall look. Guaranteed there is an over-the-knee boot out there for every fashion persona.
Fashion, Part Deux
Leather, leather everywhere. When I first noticed this trend I thought it was slutty (as it can very well still be), but I’ve come to realize one can pull it off and look sexy and sleek like Kim Kardashian and trendy like the woman above from 5 Inch and Up blog. Leather is all around this year and one key piece can completely turn around an outfit. Whether it be a jacket, short shorts, or pencil skirt, leather is here for fall.
Fall Fashion Must-Haves
Fall is quietly approaching and the urge to run out and spend all of my money on the appropriate attire has taken hold of me and won’t let go.
In the few spare moments I have throughout my day, or when I need to de-stress from the chaotic life I choose to lead, I’ve taken to perusing the fall fashion must-haves in the blogosphere.
I’ve compiled a list of wonderful fall essentials that I believe every leading lady must have to complete her wardrobe in time for the chic evenings out and the comfortable, but stylish days in.
Though I had hoped to create a fabulous graphic displaying all of the trends I’ve found, I’ve decided that my limited free time should be spent elsewhere and thus, I will simply post a picture or two each day of some of my favorite things. Enjoy and let me know what you’re excited about wearing this fall!
Though I first heard of greige just a few weeks ago, upon further study it apparently was the hot color for spring and summer, thanks to Lily Allen. However, I’ve taken the liberty of declaring it the color of fall, since I wasn’t aware of the trend and love it too much to let it pass. As a huge proponent of wearing your attitude on your nails, this blend of grey and beige is the perfect mix of elegance and edginess for fall.
“La Dolce Far Niente”
I have been reminded how therapeutic “nothing” days can be.
You know those times in your life when life is just so hectic and you are swimming and swimming, but you never seem to reach the surface? That’s where I’ve been the past few weeks and it seemed as though not only was I not going anywhere, but rather sinking to the bottom.
And possibly I did hit bottom on the fateful day when my car got towed and various other punishments ensued including finding out I have to go to the Student Ethics board. If you know me at all, you know this would make me upset, but if you really know me, you know this would make me absolutely sick. I’ve always been the perfect student who didn’t get in trouble, and the second I did I lost it. Though my skin has grown a LOT tougher since elementary school, getting in trouble still makes me upset. So on Wednesday when everything was already too overwhelming, the tears came pouring in the Parking and Transit office. When it rains, it pours.
That’s when I stepped back and took a look at my life (thanks to the wise words of someone very dear to my heart). What was I doing? Who was I living for? Why was I letting the troubles of this world weigh on me so heavily? I threw my selfish, stubborn self aside and prayed. and prayed. and prayed.
And just as I had expected, almost instantaneously God released me from this state of war inside myself that had taken hold of who I am and who I want to be.
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Let’s get back to today and how wonderful doing nothing can be.
With a peace and inside joy I’ve been longing for, today I’ve: cleaned, prayed, lay on my bed, listened, rejoiced, read- all under the soothing voices of John Mayer, Michael Buble and Jack Johnson.
And though everyone else I know is tailgating and preparing for the first Razorback game of the season, I needed this time to myself to relax and enjoy “La Dolce Far Niente” the sweetness of doing nothing.
Time for Talk with Tony
P90x, how do I even express my feelings for thee?
P.S. This is Tony, my "motivator"
This is my 4th day in a row of doing it, and though that may not sound impressive, trust me, it is. After not exercising pretty much all summer then heading straight into p90X (again, I would just like to emphasize the X because it’s Xtreme) this is a lot for me.
Surprisingly I’m enjoying it. Ask either of my roommates and they will tell you my energy has skyrocketed. Our house has been a tumble of crazy all week, and I love it.
Of course come into our house during the hour of p90x and you will hear me screaming in pain, fake crying and lots of horrific disgruntles. What can I say? Pain does the body good. I love this adrenaline that I have and how hyped I’m getting, it’s like I’m on a drug. I can’t let myself forget this feeling. Especially tomorrow when I wake up dying from Ab Ripper X.
Poll: Would it be gross if I ended up looking like Tony?
Goodbye Summer, my dear sweet friend
Ah, a breath of fresh air.
Summer is over and school has finally arrived. Thus comes with it routine (which I LOVE) and includes keeping my blog updated to the best of my ability and trying, once again…. drumroll please……
P90X.
As you may or may not know, I tried to work my way through the grueling 90-day workout plan last year and lasted about.. 30ish days. It was Christmas break then and my birthday and all was lost. But I’m back on the bandwagon and this time I WILL MAKE IT! (because I have the support of my readers, right?! Anytime you want to send me inspirational quotes or pictures, go for it 🙂 )
At the end of June I created a summer bucket list. I am now here to evaluate my summer and see what I did and did not accomplish…
1. Start a blog *obviously, CHECK.
2. Read all the books on my summer reading list *CHECK. best book of the summer/my life: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
3.Go to the drive-in movie theatre *sadly no, but I still have a few more months until it closes!
4. Do the Branson Canopy Zipline *this will be moved to my life bucket list
5. Make at least 10 recipes I’ve been saving for the last year *okay, I’m giving myself a little credit here. I didn’t make 10, but I probably made around 5 and for a girl who eats out constantly, it was a success.
6. Chase down the ice cream truck with the neighborhood kids and buy something *So I didn’t exactly chase it down, but I did run outside when I heard the song and waited for it for about 10 minutes before I realized my dreams were lost on another neighborhood
7. Go canoeing {despite my dislike of the river} *Well, I didn’t do this either, but I do have plans for this for next weekend!!!!! So I can cross it off prematurely right?
8. Go to a water park *CHECK and I earn double points for this one, since it was a water park I’d never been to and I didn’t get sunburned
9. Sleep in and not feel guilty about it *CHECK and proud of myself.
10. Go to a rooftop party *this too will be transferred to my life bucket list. I think I need to live in a bigger city..
11. Take walks after dinner to the school playground and just swing *CHECK, one of the most memorable things about my summer
12. Take fashion risks *I think I can cross this one off from just last week when I put pink in my hair, wore a leopard print shirt and had fake tattoos all over my body……..
13. Catch fireflies *Does it count if I have the firefly jar sitting outside ready for them?
14. Write a letter to an old friend *CHECK, and how refreshing it was.
15. Find several DIY projects and DO THEM *This was attempted one day with the roomies and what we ended up with was three exhausted bodies, a galore of unending puzzles and a growing pile of toilet paper rolls for my yet-to-be-started project.
COMING UP NEXT TIME: School time reverie and a Senior Year Bucket List
Shark Week, enough said
Exposition: I was first really introduced to Shark Week freshman year. Of course, I’d heard of it (who hasn’t), but no one in my household at home really thought it was a big deal, so I didn’t really think it was a big deal (a. sharks are terrifying b. it might give me nightmares c. who wants to see what’s inside of a shark belly? d. I had better things to do with my time) My roommate freshman year, however, thought it was a big deal. Now she isn’t the typical shark-hunter, action-loving person, quite the opposite in fact, so I was rather confused as to why she loved it. This is when I realized that Shark Week doesn’t have a demographic. Everyone loves Shark Week. Every age, every race, male or female, prep or punk. It transcends the typical. And I just couldn’t figure out why. So for three years I would get the hint from everyone’s Facebook status, SHARK WEEK! and just roll my eyes and keep clicking past the Discovery Channel.
Rising Action: I’m sitting in my living room last night with my roomies J and K, the bf and K’s bf. We’re all happily talking and watching K and her bf play Super Mario Bros. when they decide to switch to t.v. It was bound to happen. Click. Click. Click. “SHARK WEEK!” The boys scream in unison. And of course, I roll my eyes and start going off about how much I hate Shark Week and don’t understand the big deal. As I’m saying this, a woman is cutting open a shark’s belly and pulling out everything inside with her bare hands. Case. in. point.
“Next on Shark Week, Shark Attack Survival Guide.” 
Okay, that caught my attention. Remember a. b. c. and d.? Well this particular show on Shark Week defied my reasons for banning it. (Yes, it might make me even more terrified, but at least now if I’m ever in a situation I will know what to do, and no I didn’t have anything better to do.) Thus, I became wholeheartedly engrossed in what to do if I’m attacked by a shark.
(Keep in mind these tips may be a little misconstrued due to the fact that K was distracting everyone by making them watch ridiculous, but hilarious Dora/Maraka videos)
1. Don’t panic. (Pretty basic, but still can’t make any promises that it’s going to happen)
2. If your fishing boat in the middle of the ocean blows up for no reason, jump out into the shark-infested waters. (Honestly, I don’t know if I would choose blowing up or being eaten by sharks)
3. Grab a weapon (I swear that’s what they said and I was very confused as to where I was supposed to get this weapon seeing as my boat just blew up and I’m doggy-paddling in the middle of the ocean)
4. Use your water bottle to look deeper into the ocean to see how many sharks surround you (Again, I think I should have paid more attention on this one because I was confused, but honestly, do I really want to know how many sharks are down there?)
5. Don’t make any odd sounds. It attracts the sharks. (Does my boat blowing up and me screaming count as an odd sound?)
6. Do not attempt to grab a shark. (PHEW, good thing you told me that DC, because that’s definitely my first reaction)
7. Punch or claw its gills or eyes out. (Alright. If he doesn’t eat my hand , I’ll definitely try that one)
8. If all else fails, get on the Discovery Channel rescue vessel waiting for you on the side. (I don’t think this needs any commentary)
How to save someone who has been bitten by a shark
Stop the bleeding, apply direct pressure, take off your shirt (even if you’re a girl, that’s what he said and you want to save your friend right?!) and use it to make a tourniquet (you can click, I didn’t know what it was either). 
Random fact on the bottom of the screen: The average adult male can die with only 20% loss of blood.
And then, when he appears to be semi-okay, even though he’s pale and shaking on the beach and blood is gushing everywhere, and your tourniquet sucks, tell him, “Hey dude, you’re not gonna die today. I got it.” And whisk him away in the Discovery Channel helicopter to a hospital.
Conclusion: Shark Week may be OK and I should probably start watching the survival tips more often. Now I’m really starting to rethink the decision to go to bed before seeing “what to do if you’re locked in a cage underwater with a shark.”
Homeless has a name
I know with this post, I’m running the risk of losing some readers who might think I’m on a soapbox about the homeless. I’m also not one who wants my blog to be completely serious with only serious topics. However, this is my blog and I can write as I please about what I please. And today I want to write about my thoughts after going to hear Mark Horvath speak last night about ending homelessness. I’ve already burned the ears of those around me with this topic and I might be all talked out about it for now, but this post is more for myself, because it is such an important topic that I don’t want to forget about. So bear with me on this rant and please, if you have any comments at all feel free to post them.
I’ve always been one who “wasn’t called to the homeless”. In reality that meant I was afraid of what I might find and afraid of my safety. I’d volunteered at Seven Hills Homeless Shelter and felt so uncomfortable. This isn’t for me. I’ll work with other people, children, sex trafficking victims. I’ll pass out food every once in a while, but that’s about it. I’ll let someone else deal with them because I feel uncomfortable.
I can’t even express how ridiculous that sounds to me now. First of all, I didn’t realize that sex trafficking victims and children ARE homeless. Did you know the average age of the homeless in America is 9? 9 years old. That blows my mind. You can show me pictures of people on the streets with signs all day and it won’t affect me, but children? Half of the homeless in Arkansas are under the age of 18. Please, read that again. Half of the homeless in Arkansas are under the age of 18.
Now as I was sitting in the talk last night listening to Horvath speak and leaders from homeless shelters in nwa and homeless themselves, I was thinking.. what can I do? What talents has God given me to help? There was an amazing story about a homeless man who went to the awareness rally on campus last year and met someone who ended up taking him to breakfast every Saturday and eventually who got him a job and a place to live.
So often we get scared and use that as an excuse. This business man, family man, took this man home for Thanksgiving. When his friends asked him how he could invite a stranger into his home with his family for Thanksgiving, he looked at them and said.. I’m not inviting a stranger in. I’m inviting a friend.
It all comes down to relationships. Focus on the person, not the problem.
Anyway, so I’m thinking about what I can do to help. I’ve always been drawn to children and mentoring those younger than me. If HALF of the homeless in Arkansas are under 18, I think I can do something to help. God is practically throwing himself in front of me with flashing lights and a megaphone. I can’t stand by. I firmly believe, Once you know about a problem, you have the responsibility to change it.
Now I understand not everyone wants to mentor people. But there’s SO MUCH you can do. It really got to me when a leader from the Samaritan Community Center said, “We need people to answer the phones.” How simple is that? Who doesn’t have time for that a few hours a week? And it may not seem like anything, but it is. That’s a need that they are having.
All of the leaders discussed the proper ways to help end homelessness, and guess what, it’s not handing out sandwiches every Sunday. Hate to break it to you, but that’s not exactly getting them off the streets is it? If you really want to help, partner with a homeless shelter, because what they REALLY need is jobs, housing and healthcare.
Well, there’s my two cents. Thank you Mark Horvath and all of those who spoke last night for opening my eyes.
“Make the invisible visible”
On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God; “Why did you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it?’ For a while God said nothing. That night he replied, quite suddenly:
“I certainly did something about it. I made you.”
I found this on Mark Horvath’s vlog, invisiblepeople.tv/blog/ and it completely took me off guard. How many times have we asked this question? And how simple of an answer is that? Mark Horvath, a homeless advocate, is coming to the UA campus Saturday at 6 p.m. The videos on his vlog are very powerful and I encourage every one of you to watch at least one and challenge you to do one thing about the issue of homelessness, whether it be donating money or time, prayer, writing about it, sharing about it on twitter, facebook or your blog. This is a major issue in the world, in the US, and in every one of our communities and we can make a difference.
Homeless advocate returns to Fayetteville capturing the faces of the invisible
By: Mille Appleton
With more than one million people sleeping on the streets each night, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, one advocate is traveling the country and using a video blog to capture the faces of the homeless and raise awareness.
Mark Horvath, founder of InvisiblePeople.tv, will be making his second appearance in Fayetteville Saturday to discuss with the homeless and shelters of northwest Arkansas ways to end homelessness.
Horvath will make the sixth stop on his “Road Trip, USA” at the UA Global Campus on the Fayetteville Square at 6 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by the Cobblestone Project and the Community and Family Institute at the UA.
“It’s a topic for every city in the country, particularly given the economic downturn over the last year and a half,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, director of the Community and Family Institute. “This region isn’t really any different. Some might have argued that we enjoy a fair amount of prosperity and that is true, but we absolutely have not escaped the downturn.”
Following his talk, Horvath will lead a discussion among homeless people in northwest Arkansas and leaders from Seven Hills Homeless Shelter, Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter and the Samaritan Community Center.
“There are people who are new to homeless, absolutely, and then of course there continue to still be people who were homeless in 2009 and still in 2010,” Fitzpatrick said. “We continue to ask the same question, how is that possible in a nation as wealthy as the United States?”
Finish reading the article on The Arkansas Traveler website here.
Life Lessons from the Twin Cities
1. Urban cities may elicit culture shock to young, Arkansas-bred girls.
2. Sometimes it’s nice not to be a camera whore and instead take no pictures at all and just live in the moment.
3. Never try breaking in your new heels in a big city. It will end badly.
4. Staying up until 2 a.m. more than 4 nights in a row will cause exhaustion and dehydration.
5. It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
6. Play ‘never have I ever’ to really get to know people.
7. Always act confident, even if you know nothing.
8. Take comprehensive notes, and go back and read them.
9. First impressions can be very misleading.
10. The best form of entertainment is public transportation.
11. Step up and be a decisive person. It will be appreciated.
12. Always carry a water bottle.
13. Don’t always rely on technology to get you somewhere. Use common sense.
14. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
The evolution of movie-going
St. Louis, Missouri, May 1910
As I was sitting in the movie theatre Friday (for about the 3rd time that week) I started thinking about how much has changed since I first started going to the movies. It brought back lots of memories and I wanted to revisit some key points in, most likely, all of our movie-going careers…
Family Outing: It was always exciting to go to the movies on a Sunday afternoon when there was nothing else to do. It was either with my parents, my grandpa or family friends. Either way, it didn’t matter, as long as we got to get out of the house, go see the newest G or PG rated movie and try and finagle some popcorn or candy out of the parental supervision.
Titanic… I’d say this movie was a transitioned me into the next phase. I remember seeing it in theatres 7 times, starting with my parents of course to make sure my little ears and eyes could handle it, but then seeing it with friends…
The Cool Kids: Then there came the time when FINALLY my parents let me go to the movies without an adult. I saw an occasional movie with just a couple close friends, but the most important movie time in this phase was group movie time. There were always the “cool kids” who went to the movies in a huge pack. For starters it mattered if you got invited, and then what you wore, who you sat next to, who you talked to, who you flirted with and so on. This was the biggest deal ever, and began…
The Backseaters: Enter in boys. As I get older and wiser, I realize how scary of a time this probably was for parents to let a child go to the movies alone with a boy. But at the time, it was the most exciting possibility ever. In this phase, it didn’t really matter what movie you went to see because the entire time (sitting in the very back seat of the theatre if you could) you would be worried about how you looked, what he thought of you, if he was thinking about you, if he was going to reach for your hand and help us all, if he was going to kiss you. It was all about the ambiance of the movie and nothing about the movie itself.
The Friday nighters: Then we get to the part where the Friday night social scene was at the movies. You had to be there, every single Friday night, to hang out with new friends, flirt with boys or spend “alone” time with your boyfriend. Of course it was all very particular, you had to arrive at a certain time and leave at a certain time. Your mom couldn’t pick you up too early because then you didn’t get to talk after the movie, but if she waited too long everyone else would be gone and make you look like a loser. This era was still not about the movies and unfortunately, includes sneaking in to movies that were sold out, but the boy you liked got tickets to.
The Car: The invention of the car was never as sweet as when you got your license or your boyfriend got his and could take you to the movies sans parents. You didn’t have to coordinate schedules with your parents, which could definitely be a pain as a bratty teen, and often times had a hot, older guy taking you to the movies. What could get much better than this?
Life: Shortly after everyone got their own car, everyone started getting a life outside of movies. Sure, everyone still got together once in a while to go see a movie they really wanted to see, but the real movie lovers continued going to the movies and began going for very different reasons: you actually wanted to see the movie. It wasn’t about the food and drink (well, okay still sometimes), the gossip, the shameless flirting, the perfect outfit or the backseat.
As I sat in the movies Friday, I realized how much had evolved throughout the years because of a simple building with a large screen. I sat there in my favorite seat (close to the front), no drink or popcorn in hand, next to someone I genuinely cared about and knew I could grab his hand and waiting in anticipation for a movie I really wanted to see.
Remember
As I have been struggling to find what I want to do in my life, specifically how to use my talents to glorify God, I come across people who truly inspire me in everything they do. One of those people is Freedom Rodriguez. I’ve met him several times before at a Not For Sale Event and another art show and how he’s using his talents for God absolutely blows me away. Check out his newest project that I wrote about for the Arkansas Traveler…
Artist turns abandoned books into portraits of abandoned children
Art is not only about beauty. To some artists it stands to a higher standard that is meant to move people and service a purpose. A northwest Arkansas man is attempting to do just that with his collection 100 Faces of Uganda.
Artist Freedom Rodriguez has taken discarded children’s books and painted them with the faces of neglected children of Uganda to make a statement art piece and raise awareness.
“These children also feel discarded or abandoned or no longer wanted because for whatever reason they feel damaged or something is wrong in their life,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez noticed the books being given away at his hometown library in Siloam Springs and the contrast he could make with “these children who didn’t have a storybook life.”
“Nevertheless, these children need to feel and know that they have a story still worth reading about,” he said.
Using photographs he had taken of orphans while visiting Uganda, Rodriguez painted 100 book covers to show across the United States, starting his tour in Siloam Springs this weekend.
“I’m raising awareness for these orphans, giving them a voice. They feel like they’re voiceless, that they’re not being heard. Through this artistic expression, through my faith and what I’ve experienced in Africa I’m giving them a voice,” he said.
Finish reading the article here.
The new and improved 1-day cleanse
Well, I failed. My 2-day cleanse did not go as planned. Here’s the rundown of day 1:
- Woke up and made a delicious smoothie per directions, couldn’t even drink all of it. Boy did I think I was getting off to a great start.
- Since I woke up at 10, making it to lunch wasn’t too hard, so I put my snack of cucumbers on my greens and made a nice vinaigrette of oil and balsamic vinegar. I then put some Italian seasoning on my 4 oz. of chicken and grilled it on the stove. It was a delicious meal that was very satisfying and reminded me how much I enjoy eating healthy and how easy it can be.
- 2 hours later- I was starving. Now I think it was all in my head since I knew I was on a diet, but I was literally starving. I was headed to Borders and ordered a big cup of green tea that I was allowed to have as a snack (remember my post about tea?!). Needless to say, it wasn’t a great snack.
- I headed home for dinner where my mom was making me a delicious dinner according to my cleanse (the exact same thing as lunch). Thank goodness I got home and my parents said, “We’re starving. We’re eating early.” So once again I ate a delicious dinner of 4 oz. of chicken and greens.
- Now the plan probably would have been great if I’d gone to bed 2 hours after dinner, but I didn’t. I went over to the bfs where he was snacking on chips and coke and I was starving and wanting a chip more than anything. BUT I was good and knew I couldn’t eat just one, so I didn’t eat anything and sat there in starvation.
- I woke up this morning prepared to go forth for the second day of the cleanse. However, I was soo hungry and shaky that I felt like I could barely walk and was going to pass out. This is when I decided I was going to stop this silliness.
What I learned: Cleanses are kind of ridiculous. You should never starve yourself. I enjoy eating healthy. I love diet coke. so. much. I hate green tea. so. much.
I did eat healthy today though and even made a wonderfully delicious treat: Monkey Bread. This recipe is definitely one to be shared, as it tastes just like normal monkey bread, but so much healthier for you.
Ingredients:
3 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated), divided
2 tsp. cinnamon, divided
2 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
2 tbsp. sugar-free pancake syrup
2 tbsp. brown sugar (not packed)
1 package Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Directions:
Fresh out of the oven
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix 1 tbsp. Splenda and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a large bowl or container. Set aside. Spray six cups of a muffin pan with nonstick spray, and set pan aside as well.
Place a small pot on the stove, but do not heat it. Add butter, syrup, brown sugar, 2 tbsp. Splenda, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Leave this on the unheated stove, to be melted and mixed later on.
Roll out the dough on a clean dry surface, and sprinkle evenly with baking powder. Gently smooth baking powder into the sheet with your fingers.
Cut dough sheet widthwise into six strips equal in size. Cut each strip into four squares. Roll each square into a ball, for a total of 24 dough balls.
Place 12 dough balls in the bowl with the Splenda-cinnamon mixture. Lightly toss to coat, and then place them gently in the muffin pan, with four dough balls in each of three cups. No need to press the dough balls into the pan — just let them fall naturally. Repeat with remaining dough balls, so that each of the six muffin cups contains four coated dough balls. Set aside.
Bring the small pot on the stove to medium heat. Stirring frequently, heat just until butter has melted and contents are mixed well. Evenly spoon the butter mixture over the dough balls.
Bake in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes, or until puffy and firm. Allow to cool slightly, and then plate and enjoy!
MAKES 6 SERVINGS (Well, I don’t know about that…What can I say? It’s just too good!)
Zucchini for breakfast, zucchini for dinner
My latest eating healthy adventures have been all about the zucchini, and both have surprisingly turned out great. So pick up some fresh zucchini at your local Farmer’s Market and try these out.
Zucchini Rotini from Women’s Health
2 c whole wheat rotini
1 c fat free cottage cheese
2 tbsp salt-free Italian seasoning
1/2 c shredded zucchini
1 c canned, diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 c reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
This recipe was very easy to make and very delicious, reminding me of spaghetti squash for some reason. I couldn’t find whole wheat rotini so I used linguine instead. Also, I HATE cottage cheese, but wanted to try this recipe anyway and loved it. I honestly couldn’t taste the cottage cheese at all. I baked mine in the microwave in a small bread pan and it worked perfectly. Though the recipe claims it’s only 2 servings, ours was easily 3.
Zucchini Zazzle from Hungry Girl
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini (about 1 large zucchini)
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/3 cup brown sugar (not packed)
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
3 tbsp. crushed walnuts, divided
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, combine both types of flour, Splenda, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a separate medium bowl, mix together the zucchini, egg substitute, applesauce, butter, and vanilla extract. Slowly add this mixture to the first bowl, and stir until thoroughly blended. Mix half the crushed walnuts (1 1/2 tbsp.) into the batter.
Line 9 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with baking liners and/or spray with nonstick spray. Evenly distribute batter among the 9 cups. Top each cup with a sprinkling of the remaining 1 1/2 tbsp. crushed walnuts.
Bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes, until a toothpick poked into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool and then enjoy!
Review
These turned out GREAT! The zucchini taste was very subtle and really just tasted like a good, healthy muffin. Though the ingredient list may look daunting, you most likely already have a lot of it in your kitchen. I used a bit more walnuts in mine than called for, and the batter actually made 12 servings instead of 9. One thing I would be wary of is how long they are in the oven. After 20 minutes my toothpick came out clean, but there were still random gooey spots in a few of the muffins I’ve found as I’ve been eating them.
Well, my next foodie adventure is this 2-day cleanse, starting today with one of my roomies and my mom. I’ll give you the reviews Thursday!
From Florida to reality
Well, my no-technology stint has been over for several days now and I haven’t had the desire to blog at all, which is unusual for me. I also haven’t been spending my free time on the computer as much, but reading, reading, reading. So I guess my vacation really did help me with my computer attachment. However, I don’t think I could just leave my lovely followers hanging so here’s an update on my life.
Orlando was the perfect vacation with the perfect people and the perfect atmosphere. Here are a few of the most noteworthy things from the trip, including pictures:
Relax, baby 
Of course a vacation is all about relaxation, which we did plenty of by the gorgeous pool, smoking my first cigar and the occasional afternoon naps (okay, maybe everyone took a nap every day, but hey, Universal, shopping and eating a lot of great food is exhausting!) I also relaxed by reading one of my newest favorite books: Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer- by far some of the best writing I have read in a really long time. I finished right when we got back, and then the adorable bf surprised me with another one of his books!
Food
Speaking of food, boy was the food we ate incredible- everything from gourmet Macaroni and Cheese from The Kitchen, fresh sushi from Emeril’s Tchoup Chop and greasy nachos and wings from Margaritaville. Just wanted to share with you via picture two of the most delicious desserts I’ve ever eaten, Smore’s Caramel Dulche de Leche and Peanut Butter Kahlua Cake.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 
If you didn’t know, the thing I was the most excited about for Orlando was Harry Potter world. I’ve read all the books (multiple times), seen all the movies (multiple times) and always been a HUGE fan (even after my piano teacher in middle school told me I wasn’t a Christian if I read them because they were the devil, and yes, I stopped taking piano promptly). Anyway, I was more than pumped for Harry Potter world and guess what, it exceeded my expectations. I literally felt like I was in the movie, walking the streets of Hogsmeade and the corridors of Hogwarts. Now I don’t want to tell too much, because I wouldn’t want anyone spoiling it for me if I was going to go, but I’ll say this: if you are even remotely a fan, GO! and even if you’re not, GO! because the Hogwarts simulator ride is by far the most incredible ride I’ve ever been on.
Drinking butterbeer in front of the Three Broomsticks!
Shop until you drop
On the vespa at our Italian villa-styled hotel
As you know, I was dead set on finding a fedora before I left for Orlando… and I didn’t. So, I just made it my mission to find one in Orlando, and guess what I found TWO and wore them nearly the rest of the trip, including just sitting in bed watching t.v. The one pictured is from J.Crew and my other one is from Urban Outfitters- of course two of my favorite stores that we don’t have in Faytown. Even the bf found one he likes! We are such a cute pair!
But, now we are back to reality, and my newest reality craze besides reading is eating healthy and exercising. I’ve started a new plan that consists of lots of cardio intermingled with several p90x routines and very healthy eating. I am also going on a two-day cleanse Tuesday and Wednesday that is meant to “jumpstart losing weight”. Needless to say this will most likely be the discussion of upcoming blogs, with delicious healthy recipes and pictures and the outpouring of how great I now feel not eating junk food and lounging around all day (we will see…). Of course I might also have to throw in a few p90x complaints just to keep things interesting.
La technologie, au revoir!
I would consider myself a very technologically savvy person. I own an iPhone that serves as my phone (rarely), text messaging device (always), email-checker (constantly), iPod, internet source and gaming console. My current journalistic pursuits revolve heavily around a computer. Sadly, I would say that I spend at least 50 percent of my day in front of my trust-worthy, bestie Mac.
But it is now time to challenge myself. Now to some of you this might sound ridiculous and too easy, but trust me, for me, it won’t be. While I’m on vacation in Florida with the bf and family, I will not check my email or Facebook or Twitter once. I will text and call while I’m away to keep in touch with a few roomies precious to my heart (and see how the dogs are doing), but not nearly as much as usual. I want to cleanse my soul from the technology that so easily ensnares me. I don’t want to worry about all of my emails piling up- I don’t need to know any of it (I did perhaps set an automated vacation response, which I have never done before, and felt extremely professional doing so). I will be in a sunny, beautiful, magical (HARRY POTTER WORLD HERE I COME!) place with wonderful people I love and I don’t want to waste a single minute of it.
I asked the bf to come up with a reward for me if I make it the six days. He said that if I didn’t make it, I just couldn’t shop anymore while we were there (he knows me too well).
So, wish me good luck, and adieu!
Let me share with you the 340,293 reasons why YOU should drink tea
I need to let out a short rant, so here it is:
I don’t like tea.
I will drink iced tea on occasion, but on the whole, I don’t like tea.
Yes, I know the BAJILLION benefits of it. I’ve read it in magazines, I’ve heard it on tv, health conscious friends have told me. But I don’t like it, and I don’t want to drink it. I am genuinely trying and have been trying for a while to get into the tea craze. I went through a stint (during p90x, HA) where I was only drinking hot tea in the morning as my caffeine for the day (another HA). I thought I had turned into a tea drinker, but after about a week and a half I remembered how much it just tastes like nothing. Hot water with a little flavor. There are so many more wonderful drinks out there. Yes, I know, not with ALL OF THE PAGES of benefits of tea.
I really do want to be that healthy person. That person that just drinks tea and water, and eats organically and is just putting wonderful things into their body, but it’s not realistic and it’s not me, at least not right now.
So please, allow me to drink my water and coffee and diet coke. And someday, maaaaybe, I’ll come around to tea.
Can I get an amen?
Here’s to Life
It’s 2:45 a.m. and I’m more than a little hyped for the hour. (You’re talking to someone who’s normal bed time is around 10:30). I just went to the midnight premiere of Eclipse and as ridiculous as this sounds I can’t stop thinking about it. I also have a lot of thoughts floating around in my head that I’ve been meaning to blog, so here is insight into my mish-mash.
Team Edward vs. Team Jacob
Two years ago when Twilight was the biggest thing to drop onto the earth, I was completely against it. I thought it sounded ridiculous and the biggest waste of my time to read. I had much better books to read that would teach me and invoke serious thought. (“But it’s a looooove story!” I can’t tell you how many times I heard that) My roommates and I even banned it from our apartment: no Twilight paraphernalia or talk, at all.
Fast forward a year later when I was forced against my will to watch the first movie- ridiculous and probably one of the worst movies I have ever seen. However, part of me was intrigued, so I promised a friend I would go see New Moon in theaters with her.
I walked in a skeptic. I walked out a twi-hard. My roomies from the previous year couldn’t believe it, and wouldn’t let me live it down (they still won’t). I saw the movie in theaters three times and began acting like a love-struck teenager when either Taylor Lautner or Robert Pattinson was seen or mentioned. I had decided that I was on Team Jacob (Taylor Lautner, the werewolf, for all you non-Twilighters). Friends told me it was because they weren’t portraying Edward correctly in the film, which may be true, he’s just too depressing and pale for my taste.
Which all leads upto tonight. I LOVE movies and LOVE going to movie premieres, so I thought the Eclipse midnight premiere would be an experience, and it definitely was. I had just one problem. I’m almost positive I was the only person in the theatre that hasn’t read the books. Thus, I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, heart pounding, during the battles of flesh and the battles of love. I would gasp and get wide-eyed, when no one else even flinched. The plot was no surprise to them, just to me.
I’m very glad I haven’t wasted my time reading the books. I am getting much joy and excitement waiting for the next installment of the movie, not knowing what’s coming. I can also say I’m not too much of a twi-hard since I haven’t read the books. (Well, let’s be honest…..)
My Future Career
After my post about acting as a passion, I received several very concerned texts about what I was going to do with my life. Apparently I left everyone hanging. Which, in all honesty, not even I knew what I was going to do. I was left hanging.
I’ve always prided myself in not worrying about the future. I worry about everyday things a lot, way more than I should, but I’ve never been one to worry about what will happen after college or how much money I will have or how my life will turn out. I’ve always had a peace about it, knowing God has already made my plans, so why worry?
After writing that post I thought back on other posts I had written, about how I wanted to mentor students, how I wanted to write something that affected people and now how I want to act. It seems like I don’t know what I want. And I don’t. But that’s okay. I don’t have to know. I trust that God will lead me where he wants me and that I will be most affective with the talents He has given me. I can’t, however, sit around and just wait for him to shove the perfect opportunity my way. I need to keep stepping through open doors until He closes one. Thus, I will mentor, I will write and I will find a way to act. And when he leads me to the position He wants me in, I will know. In the mean time, why try and figure out His plan?
Sick
As it turns out, I have gotten my week of sickness I’ve so desperately desired in the past, and I know even more now that I never ever want this again. I’ve literally come home every afternoon, taken a nap, then watched 24 pretty much until it was time to go to sleep again. I’ve interspersed other things I needed to do in between, but I’ve felt so terrible that all I want to do is lay down. I feel so unproductive, so useless, but I know I need to learn how to be still and let my body heal itself. I’ve also actually been learning a lot through my t.v. watching. Everywhere I go I feel like I’m being watched and snipers surround me in the bushes. However, I feel like I could protect myself in any situation and know not to make the stupid mistakes they make on t.v.
Et Cetera
Other things I’ve learned today include: waiting two hours for a movie is the best time for conversation, D.O.D. means Department of Defense, laying out is bad for you while you are sick (and yes, maybe not the best when you are healthy either), the new Harry Potter trailer is incredible, you can always learn something new about someone you thought you knew everything about.
Endless Summer
Pensacola, Florida May 2008
Summer is the time to do all of those things you just don’t have time for during the year. All spring I think of ways I’m going to spend my summer and things I’ve been wanting to do, then it seems like August comes too fast and I didn’t do half of them. So I’m starting my summer bucket list and hopefully, by the time school starts, I will revisit this list and cross them all off. I’ve already got a start!
1. Start a blog
2. Read all the books on my summer reading list
3.Go to the drive-in movie theatre
4. Do the Branson Canopy Zipline
5. Make at least 10 recipes I’ve been saving for the last year
6. Chase down the ice cream truck with the neighborhood kids and buy something
7. Go canoeing {despite my dislike of the river}
8. Go to a water park
9. Sleep in and not feel guilty about it
10. Go to a rooftop party
11. Take walks after dinner to the school playground and just swing
12. Take fashion risks
13. Catch fireflies
14. Write a letter to an old friend
15. Find several DIY projects and DO THEM
Sick, sick, sick
I rarely get sick. If I do it’s a cold or something that passes quickly and doesn’t make me feel too bad. I also never have a fever, making it worse when I do feel sick, because if you don’t have a fever, most people don’t believe that you are sick.
As weird as it sounds, I’ve always wanted to be really sick for at least a week. I’ve wanted to not be able to get out of bed, to be forced to watch movies and television shows and read books and have people bring me food. I’ve never really gotten that and always wanted to. I’ve told this to multiple people who have experienced this and they tell me I don’t understand. I will get sooo bored sooo fast. Nah, I don’t believe them.
Today, I wake up and feel sick. My throat hurts more than it ever has before and my glands are swollen, which has never happened to me before. I quickly get on WebMD and diagnose that I have mono, strep or tonsilitis. Yes! This is my time.
I go to the doctor. I take a strep test and wait in the exam room for my results for an hour. As I’m sitting there, feeling awful, I realize I really don’t want to have strep. I’ve always prided myself in being a healthy person. I have plans this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow. I leave for vacation in less than a week. I can’t lay in bed for a week, I’m the busiest person you know, and I would go crazy. I can’t have strep. My dreams of being bed-ridden are suddenly washed aside as reality rolls in.
The doctor comes in..
I don’t have strep. But I do have a severe upper respiratory infection. I do need to rest, but I’ll be fine in a few days. I deem my Saturday the “week” I’ve never gotten before. I’m going to watch movies and t.v. shows out the wazoo. I’m going to make the bf take care of me (as I know he gladly will). I’m going to not leave my spot on the couch or bed.
And then tomorrow, I’ll be back to myself.
Don’t Stop Believin’
Why do people give up on their dreams? Why do so many people get complacent in where they are, the job they are in and hold back on what they are really passionate about? Is it fear? Too much hard work? Low self-esteem? This may not resonate with college age people as much as it does older people, because hopefully we are pursuing our dreams in college. Hopefully, I say, because there are those who aren’t. Like me.
In high school, theatre was my life. I loved performing. It made me happier than doing anything else. I wanted to get on stage, live a life different than my own and make the audience feel what that character was feeling. I wanted to make them cry, laugh, connect to these characters that are only a two-hour part of their life.
But I decided not to pursue it in college, despite people telling me I was very talented. Why? Because I didn’t want to live the life of an actor. (Assuming I made it to the big time) I didn’t want to live under the constant scrutiny of the paparazzi. How ridiculous that reasoning sounds to me now. I LOVE acting, and if that’s what I want to do the most, that’s what I should do. I don’t want to look back and wonder what if. I don’t want to think I didn’t try because I was afraid of what would happen if I did make it big or what would happen if I didn’t make it big.
Don’t get me wrong. I love journalism. I love interviewing people and sharing their stories and writing. But it doesn’t fulfill me like acting does.
What got me on this path of thinking was watching the finale of my latest favorite show Glee. The show is about a group of high school misfits coming together in a glee club because they love singing and dancing. It doesn’t matter that they get thrown in trash cans, ‘slushied’, or bullied by everyone else in the high school. It’s their passion and they’re going to do it no matter what.
I was watching the finale and bawling. Partly because of the show and various storylines, but partly because it was hitting home. They knew they weren’t going to win regionals and wanted to just give up all together. Then their coach said to them, “Who cares what happens when you get there, when the getting there has been so much fun.”
So here’s to my journey, and that I don’t stop believin’ in what I want to do.
My newest fashion obsession is fedora hats. They go in and out of style a lot, and I’ve never liked them before, but now I want one so bad. The problem is I’m not sure if I can pull it off and I can’t find the one that is just perfect. I’m going on vacation to Orlando in a week. That’s my timeline to find one. Let me know if you have any leads for me.
I love that you can dress it up or dress it down, wear it on the beach or the street and I LOVE that even Zac is in on the trend. But Miley.. I just don’t know about that leopard.
m.davis xoxo 