Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A story about friendship in Vermont












This past weekend I took a tiny break from studying to go skiing up in Vermont. While it wasn't my wisest choice academically, everything worked out in the end. It's always nice to get a break from fast-paced city and just slow things down. It was a great weekend with lots of good food and laughs.

One of the highlights of the weekend combined struggle, fear, and hilarity all in one package. Chloe and I went skiing at Pico mountain on Saturday. We are both intermediatish skiers, but we decided we wanted to do greens/blues because we were just there to have fun and not really to try to prove anything. We skied over to a small lift in order to take a long green. At first we thought the lift was closed because the lift operator was building a snowman (turns out he was just having a good time). We get on the rickety double lift and descended over a mogul field. I took off my gloves to do something much less embarrassing than taking selfies. At first I have Chloe hold my gloves, but I eventually take them back and place them on my lap. A gust of wind comes and takes my glove which lands dead center of the black diamond moguls. I yell a string of swears, followed by a bunch of "I knew its!" because i totally did, I knew that was going to happen and I did it anyway....which was followed by hyped-up encouragement that "we totally got this! We can pizza down the moguls, get my glove and we'll be golden." We were on a small side on the mountain where the 45 degree mogul field was our only option to get my glove. So fast forward about twenty minutes when we've gone down about 100 feet and honestly I'm terrified. There was a much larger chance that I would tumble down the mountain than successfully ski down it. Chloe suggests we take off our skis and carry them down. Even then the path through the woods that this part of the trail went through was too steep and icing to walk down. Chloe gets on her butt and quickly slides through the forest I, of course, join her. The fun didn't last long because soon we had to walk toward the trail before we lost through snow so deep that once in a while your leg would plunge through, but we wouldn't fall because we would still be standing with snow up to your thigh. We teetered down like infants learning to walk - experimental, unsure steps that would sometimes keep you standing and other times knock you on your bum! I was yelling a combination of swears, sorrys and promises that I would do this to Chloe if this ever happened to her! We eventually got to my glove and eventually back to the ski lift were we got our buns out of there (on a green)...fast! 

I yelled after to Chloe that I felt more bonded to her, half-kidding and one-hundred percent serious. Though the only thing sore were our egos, it was pretty scary to come to a task where you stop for a moment and say out loud "I don't know what to do, because I can't do THIS." Even though it was a minor situation, in the moment it felt like going down that black diamond was our only option and I was just happy to have my best friend by my side!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Bringing Human Rights Home









*Note: Pictures are a combination of some I took and some from the internet

A couple weeks ago Chloe and I went to the Amnesty International's Bringing Human Rights Home Concert at the Barclay's Center. Talk about a star-studded event! Performances by Cake, Imagine Dragons, BLONDIE (let me tell you something, Debbie Harry can still shake it), and so many more not to mention speeches by Susan Sarandon, Madonna and Pussy Riot! Between the speeches, stories, and music there was passion everywhere! The crowd was fired up to shout for their favorite artists and just as loud yell about injustices all around our world. I had been feeling burnt out, probably a combination of the cold weather and being a senior without a plan. This was just the thing to light a fire under my bum. It opened my eyes and urged one important message, change. The next week I got an internship with Environment NY, where I'm excited to be part of something important, even if it is just behind the scenes. I've finally gotten the motivation I need to push me into spring and eventually accept some much needed change.




Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Because of the YOLO






Furry jacket//thrifted, sweater//billabong, jeans//f21

The title for this post came from a story a friend told me once as dictated by her mother who came home to find her daughter and friends putting their faces in bowls of milk. Turns out they had taken turns macing each other, which according to her mother was "because of the YOLO." I got this shirt from my friend Katherine who bought it down the shore and knew I would wear it more. How could I say no to a polo YOLO shirt?

So about this coat...I didn't buy it the first time I saw it because a friend remarked that it made me look like an old lady. It was only about four dollars, so next time I saw it I didn't pass it up. I regretted not getting it because I'm into anything that makes me look like a fluffy green giant.

These pictures were taken in Williamsburg. Chloe, Kong, and I went to the Brooklyn brewery, followed by way too much karaoke, and dancing at one of my favorite spots - Home Sweet Home. I like going there for dancing because they play old school jams. When I was there the other night they started with 60s and worked their way through the decades. Sometimes you just have to jump around while singing "Girls just want to have fun," (which Kong refused to dance to because he's a wet blanket)...oh well, YOLO!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Recipe: Buffalo Cheese Dip


I hope you all enjoyed watching the Superbowl yesterday! I was rooting for Seattle, so I don't have too much to complain about, but it's always more entertaining when it's a close game. I have to be honest, I was pretty disappointed in the commercials. Though I'm not even going to pretend I didn't cry during the puppy/horse budweiser commercial, I know I'm not the only one. Other than the commercials, I'm all about the food. Chloe made the most delicious vegetarian buffalo cheese dip and I'm very excited to share the recipe with you! Since it was just the two of us, we decided to have a fully vegetarian spread. The rice in the dip is to replace any meat and it adds substance. I always like having veggie dips in my arsenal, because when they're this good no one is going to care that there's no meat! 




Buffalo Cheese Dip
Serves 4-6 people

What you need:
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice (about a cup of uncooked rice)
1/2 cup ranch dressing
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup buffalo sauce (more in my opinion)
1 cup shredded cheese 

What to do:
1.
Melt cream cheese and ranch dressing together in a sauce pan

2. Add and stir in about a third of the cheese
3. Add buffalo sauce and stir until thoroughly mixed together
4. Stir in the cooked rice and the rest of the cheese
5. Serve hot with tortilla chips!

Something I learned while documenting this, it's pretty hard to take a picture of dip and have it look appetizing. Though dip is probably one of the best party foods, it's not great to look at. Rest assured that though this dip isn't winning any beauty contests, it's oh so addicting. I recommend making a big bowl for guests, then strategically planting yourself next to it so you can subtly eat it all. Or if you're not as food-sneaky as I am, maybe just eat a bunch while you're making it before guests come over to judge you.






Saturday, February 1, 2014

Oui!






Sweater//Brandy Melville, Halter//Urban Outfitters, Jeans//Forever 21

A couple days ago my hair saw a pair of scissors, something unknown for about three years. Last time I can remember getting a haircut was when, egged on by my freshman year roommates, I hacked my long hair off to my shoulders while sitting on the floor of my dorm room. I tried to get it as straight as possible, but I eventually had to go to the professionals to even it out. That was the last time that I've cut my hair...months turned into years and years turned into, well three. My hair was pretty unhealthy because of all the dying it went through in the last couple months. I have strong opinions about what I'm willing to spend money on, and the thought of spending sixty dollars to cut off an inch or two is something I just can't bring myself to do. When I got offered a great package as part of a salon promotion, I jumped on the opportunity to cut off these split ends for practically nothing.

I took advantage of my hair looking nice/manageable and forced chloe to snap these photos of me. I'm wearing some jewelry I picked up from forever 21 for cheap, cheap, cheap. Chloe and I got matching necklaces, hers saying NON and mine OUI. I also got a tiny heart knuckle ring for $1.50. It's finally tepid outside, which means I can be outside for more than a couple minutes without freezing my bum off. I'm STOKED for the superbowl tomorrow. Though I have no stake in either team, my love for the food and commercials means that it's sure to be a good time.