May 2010
1 post
POST GRAD
I promise this blog won’t be nearly as bad as the movie which holds the same name. I watched it on a flight from Miami to Chicago. My headphones weren’t working and I still understood and predicted the whole thing. You know what movie I am talking about? The one with the chick from Gilmore Girls? Bitch should have stuck with that show instead of making this awful movie.  Anyways. On...
May 21st
April 2010
7 posts
Apr 22nd
PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
These are seriously the shit. I am bringing them to a class potluck tomorrow.  OH YEAH. 2 Cups Peanut Butter 1 Pound Powdered Sugar 3 Cups Rice Krispies 1 Stick of Butter MIX WELL. Form into BALLS. Refrigerate for an hour.  Melt 1 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips in microwave. With a spoon, cover balls with chocolate.  Serve immediately or keep refrigerated in the mean time.
Apr 21st
Apr 15th
Apr 15th
Apr 10th
Movierecipes.net
Check out my movie reviews at www.movierecipes.net  What you watch is what we cook!
Apr 10th
iPad vs. Poop
I was woken up at the crack of 10:30 AM Saturday by my mother. She was wondering if I wanted to go to an outdoor mall with her and my dad. I can already recall why I love going home so much…no sleeping past 10:30 and guilt trips when I don’t want to hang out with my family.  “No.”  “Why not?” “Because I’m sleeping.” “But it’s...
Apr 6th
March 2010
1 post
Mar 1st
February 2010
1 post
Oreo Balls: Special Occasion or Just to Gorge
Oreo balls are truly out of this world. Even if you don’t like Oreos, you’re bound to fall in love with these scrumptious balls of awesomeness.I made them as an experiment for the first time this past Christmas. I was hesitant they would be a disappointment compared to my usual peanut butter balls, but to my surprise (and satisfaction) my family devoured them before I even got a chance...
Feb 15th
January 2010
6 posts
Are There Whales in Peru?
I followed my two friends past the waiting line and as they went through I was abruptly stopped with a hand in my face and a voice saying “No. You must wait.” I shifted in place, fidgeting with my hands, and crumpling my money in my fist. In moments I would be suspended in air, floating over the Pacific Ocean and hundreds of people. “You. Come.” The voice said finally. I walked past the entrance...
Jan 10th
Helado: La Gatita
I saw the parlor the day I arrived in Miraflores, and without control my mouth began to salivate.  It’s my guiltiest pleasure, my comfort, my celebration. I’ve been craving it since day one of my Peruvian adventure, and after stuffing myself full of savory crusted chicken florentina and yellow risotto, I was determined to have my treat.  The ice cream parlor across from John F Kennedy...
Jan 8th
Dine and Dash...Sort of
Rude is rude in all languages. But what do you do when you can’t understand a menu or nothing appeals to you? You get up and leave. Or maybe you suck it up just to be nice. But if you’re me and my three classmates, you would go with the first option.  Scenario 1: I was really dead set on Chinese food, and heard that there was a good place right around the corner from our hotel. I love...
Jan 7th
Jan 6th
1 tag
La Fiesta con Estudiantes de Peru
Here in Peru we are using a classroom at a local school, Instituto Peruano de Arte y Diseno. Last night, the students threw us a ¨reception¨ which gave us a chance to meet and mingle with Peruvian students our age. The language barrier made things difficult at first, myself feeling like an awkward teenager again. It was like a dance in middle school: boys on one side, girls on the other, accept...
Jan 6th
1 tag
My first day in LIMA
When I arrived at O’Hare Sunday morning at 8:45, I was sure that I was going to miss my flight. It was scheduled to leave at 10:35, boarding began at 9:50, and I was  300 deep in the baggage check line. I have no idea how to act at an airport, or what’s going on, but it was okay because my dad was there to monitor my every move. Fortunately I found out that I could check my bag on a computer, and...
Jan 4th
December 2009
4 posts
3 tags
Party's Over
Christmas is over and New Years Eve will quickly follow. No more family gatherings until April, where we will pretend the Easter bunny still exists to flatter the only cousin still under 10. I learned today that there are approximately 124 calories in a single shot of vodka. Maybe I should skip the food today so I can drink as much as possible. That would be a pretty sight… In 72 hours...
Dec 31st
3 tags
Tasty Trio
Customized cakes, authentic ice cream, and unique chocolates can all be found under one roof in Chicago’s Lincoln Sqaure neighborhood. Cathay Rayhill, master of cakes and pastries, Lauren Prett, chocolate enthusiast and candy maker, and ice cream guru, Alison Bower, joined forces to create the Sweet Collective. Upon its opening in October 2007, this co-op bakery has been serving up all sorts of...
Dec 18th
Gluten Free Bakery
Gluten, a key ingredient in most foods, is toxic to over 1 percent of the American population, and that number is only increasing. The condition is called Celiac Disease, and the hardest food for these people to avoid: baked goods. Some bakers and bakery owners are catering to the needs of Celiac Disease victims, but many are not. Baking gluten-free is expensive, and with the price of ingredients...
Dec 18th
3 tags
Sweet, Savory, or Both?
Meatloaf: big, gooey, crumbly, good. It’s a comfort food and reminder of Mom’s homemade cooking, and for one unique chef, a window for creation. Cynthia Kallile, owner and creator of the Meatloaf Bakery in Chicago, has put a new spin on home style cooking. Cupcakes, pies, cakes and other pastries, line the glass counter of this unusual bakery in Lincoln Park. As colorful and cute as they may be,...
Dec 18th
May 2009
10 posts
New Clues to how Art Evolved →
May 14th
American Journalists Detained in N. Korea →
May 14th
"Slumdog" Actor's Home Demolished. →
May 14th
MULTIMEDIA!!!!
I never really realized how much I rely on media outlets to feed me news and information. I didn’t think I was all that into that sort of thing until recently. Suddenly I have noticed just how many videos I watch a day, how many sound clips I preview, how many websites I visit and pictures I scroll or flip through. Multimedia is everywhere, and I truly do feel lucky to be a part of a...
May 14th
Gays Attempt Marriage in Moscow →
May 14th
Mexicans Back to Work →
May 7th
SIDEBAR
If any of you read this….can someone PLEASE help me make a sidebar for my blog? I am seriously HTML challenged. Maybe tomorrow during break or something…? Maybe…?
May 7th
Free Blackberry
Somehow I got a free Blackberry Storm. Verizon called me and told me I could have it. So…I went in and got it. I have heard from friends and other people that just like when the iPhone first came out, this phone has some kinks to work out. But what happened when I visited the Verizon store? They “ooo-ed” and “ahhh-ed” its capabilities and raved about its striking and...
May 7th
May 5th
It's Britney...Bitch.
I went to the Britney Spears concert last Wednesday, and let me just tell you…O M G. Yeah, I said it. OMG. OMG. OMFG. Outta this world. It doesn’t even matter if she didn’t really sing a single lyric that night. The visual stimulation was so incredible.  No matter WHAT Britney Spears does, the world will always be on her side. I don’t care what anyone says. She is the...
May 5th
April 2009
7 posts
Paranoid or Cautious?
As we all know, the swine flu has swept through Mexico and into the United States. Scary for sure, but are US citizens now becoming paranoid? A friend who attends the University of Illinois told me that the health clinic was overloaded with students claiming to have the swine. The line not only crowded the waiting room, but leaked outside and wrapped around the sidewalk. Facebook statues, AIM away...
Apr 29th
Apr 22nd
It's Illinoy. Not Illinoise.
If there’s one thing I just completely do not understand, it’s why people insist on mispronouncing the word Illinois. I know there’s an S on the end. I know. I also eat a lot of RasP-erries and see my P-sychiatrist weekly. Just so we’re all clear on this, some words have letters that aren’t pronounced. This would usually be referred to as a “silent...
Apr 16th
Everyblock
Everyblock is actually pretty cool site. With nothing but my address and the click of a search button I am instantly in the KNOW of everything that’s going on in my neighborhood. From who’s getting their liquor license, to what gas station got held up at gunpoint, I’m covered. (However, it is a bit discouraging to read about thefts and violence 2 blocks away from my home, but at...
Apr 16th
Podcasts
I have to be honest here. I don’t listen to podcasts and it would be really hard for me to act like I do. They are hard for me to get into because I would rather watch people talk than listen. When you’re listening to a conversation you’re missing out on all the hand gestures and facial expressions that really help you understand a person’s character. I also get really...
Apr 9th
Online Journalism
I really think this class could be split up into about 7 different classes. That kinda stinks, too, because everything we’re learning is going to be super beneficial in the long run, but it’s possible that I might not remember half of it. Like HTML code for example. I have always wanted to learn that and have been really interested in website development, but I would have to spend more...
Apr 8th
Get With the Program, Columbia.
The other day I was in Magazine class and we were all talking about how we need to work out more. Summer is coming up, and we were all freaking out about having those summer abs we know we won’t commit to obtaining. In the midst of this conversation, it was somehow brought up that UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) has a….drum roll please…LAZY RIVER. That’s right. a...
Apr 2nd
March 2009
4 posts
Scrabble and Mario Kart
The two greatest skills in my life derive from the two best games ever invented: Scrabble and Mario Kart (Nintendo 64 version OF COURSE). These two games bring more drama and intensity to my life than any argument or heavy situation. They make me happy when I’m sad, and make me angry when I’m content. They are great ideas when there’s nothing else to do, and you and your friends...
Mar 19th
Pet Peeve
If there’s one thing that really pisses me off, it’s unpleasant employees. It’s like, I’m sorry you hate your minimum wage retail/fastfood/grocery store job but I am a customer and you better be nice to me, dammit. I don’t care if your boyfriend dumped you last night and your cat Fluffy is in the hospital. I am a paying customer and it’s a part of your job...
Mar 12th
Just CALL
I don’t get why people rely solely on communication via e-mail.  Suddenly I will have a friend or family member pissed at me for no reason. When I confront them about it they’re all like “well I e-mailed you like 2 days agoooo.” Wow. Good job. You E-MAILED me. If you really want to get the message across why don’t you just send me a letter in the mail mail. You know....
Mar 5th
Experimenting With the Social Web
I’m not entirely sure if AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) constitutes as the social web, but for the purposes of this blog it does. And that’s because it encompasses about 90% of my life. If I am on my computer and NOT on AIM, something is up. Either I’m depressed and trying to shut myself away from the world, or I am only planning on using my computer for a short period of time....
Mar 5th
February 2009
8 posts
All I Wanted to do was the Music.
When I was a senior in High School I took a Sociology class. It was great. Loved that class. The best thing about it was that my teacher was the shit. His name was Mr. Waddlington. We called him Wads for short. He was a plump guy, but he was awesome. I always though it would be awesome to be married to him. Anyways… Towards the end of the semester, our final project was to film a...
Feb 25th
Internet. Impact. Life.
I really cannot remember life without the internet. I mean, I know that there was a time in my life when it wasn’t there, but for the most part it was. I don’t think there’s a question of “how the internet has impacted my life.” The internet pretty much IS my life. I’m constantly connected, constantly searching, and I don’t do much else. I had to buy a...
Feb 18th
A Pardon for a Sin
For women in Costa Rica, having an abortion could place them in excommunication from the Catholic Church. Such an act is considered “a break from the way of the Lord” and is strongly looked down upon in this dominantly Catholic culture. Just like in the U.S. abortion in Costa Rica is also an apparently sticky issue. The difference is that abortions are strictly prohibited in Costa Rica, and are...
Feb 12th
Questions to Ponder
OK. When I was in high school I used to always bring this question up to my friends. After getting into numerous arguments and being completely shut down, I told myself I would never bring it up to another human being ever again. But I can’t help it. I still think about it. The question burns my brain everyday.  Do people see colors the same?  For example. We all know the sky is blue. But...
Feb 11th
Hungry Mag!
Hungrymag.com is a website that I recently started getting into. I love eating, and this is a great site for anyone who shares this love, loves to cook, or just likes to learn about food. I think this site is a great example of New Journalism and social tools because it gives you a bit of everything. You can watch clips of Top Chef, (and read of the writer’s commentary after), listen to...
Feb 5th
The Changing Face of Journalism
Every year when I go back home for the holidays, I’m always eager to tell my parents and relatives about how much fun I’m having at school and that I’m excited for my future career. This year when I went back, things were different. Instead of telling them how inspired I was, or how much I’ve learned, I was letting them know that my own teachers were telling my classmates...
Feb 5th
Feb 5th
Chicago Burrito
I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I absolutely love burritos. Steak burritos, chicken burritos, veggie burritos, you name it. Take some cheese, beans, sour cream and lettuce, wrap it inside a tortilla and you’ve got my attention for the next 20 minutes until I make it disappear. I love Mexican food and make sure it’s in my belly at least once a week. But I am...
Feb 3rd
January 2009
1 post
1st Time Tumblin'
Yeah!!! WOOOOO!!!! Yee-HAH
Jan 29th