Posted by Erika

MTV Awards: Emma Stone

Was there an actress at the MTV Movie Awards last night that was cooler than Emma Stone? I flipped on the awards last night when Hulu suddenly decided to stop streaming Psych last night, and woah, am I getting old? Through the mess of men wearing pre-prohibition head attire (Johnny Depp), actors suddenly picking up a guitar and declaring their rock stardom (Johnny Depp) and awkward acceptance speeches (Johnny Depp) – only one thing stood out to be as genuine.

I’ve been a fan of Emma Stone’s for awhile (I think Easy A probobly sealed the deal), so this wasn’t like an epiphany, but her speech for MTV Trailblazer was flawless. Where most mumbled about their costars and tried to figure out something funny to say, Stone told an audience of riveted teenagers that what makes them weird might look like a burden now, but it’s actually the best thing about them. Not to mention, her list of trailblazing heroes included the likes of Bill Murrey and Charlie Chaplin. My girl crush used to be a tie between Mila Kunis and Zooey Deschanel, but I think this one just blew straight past them.

Also, how did Stone and Ryan Gosling not win for Best Kiss in “Crazy, Stupid, Love?” That movie was awesome.

Tagged

Pink

Pink is known for having a calming effect, and for being the most romantic of the colors. This is why when you juxtapose it with something peculiar, or with something frozen in motion, it’s especially interesting. Side note: they used to use pink in the rooms for crazy inmates with the intent of calming them down (similarly with guest locker rooms for opposing teams in football), but they found that after you get used to the pink, it actually has the opposite effect. People became MORE aggressive. This is a result of the emotional claustrophobia caused by too much pink. Is that why Pink’s music makes me so mad? She’s been doing that song and dance for YEARS.

#pink

Tagged , ,

My Two Identities

I’ve been thinking lately about how living in Florida for the past two years has changed me. I moved down here knowing no one but grandparents who sometimes didn’t know me. Down here there has always been a deep fear thinly veiled beneath the surface. It was more acute in the first year, but hasn’t completely evaporated. My original fear was about how I was going to make friends, how I could get a job when I have no contacts, and how I would survive in a state that, frankly, read like a different country. After these things were tackled, the fear then shifted to “what am I missing at home?” After a few months the deeply unsettling thought crept in that life back home moved on without me. People got married, they’ve had babies, and they’ve become different people. Even scarier — so have I.

When I moved away from Minnesota I was not utilizing my major, I had bills that felt heavy on my parents’ faces, and my lease was up. I wanted to escape who I was. I had built up an enormous system of the same bars, the same regulars and the same fights. While I’ve realized some of these things are worth returning too, there were just too many bridges that have were burned, too many things that went sour, and I needed to wipe the slate clean. I needed to go somewhere where no one knew who I was, nor cared to ask.

I spent a lot of my beginning days going everywhere by myself. The guy at the movie theater stopped asking if I wanted to upgrade to the large popcorn, the bartender at the pub and I began our own repertoire, and I was able to sit at a restaurant reading alone with ease. It was amazing being able to start from zero and rebuild everything. To figure out how this completely solo version of myself wanted to carry out daily activities. I soon realized what traits of myself were based on my situation, and what stubborn parts of my personality would never go away.

It didn’t come without it’s own cost. Back home everything kept moving. The longer I stayed here, the more obvious these changes became. Easy conversations with some of my best friends suddenly felt strained. I was suddenly not “in” on inside jokes, and big events were sometimes found out through hearsay. Yes, I’ve built up a new group of friends with its own dramas, jokes and events, but it became harder to pick up the pieces of who I had been. Everyday I seem to become closer to this new person, even if sometimes I don’t want to be.

So now I’m on the verge of moving back to Minnesota, and I realize I now have two identities. Both Minnesota and Florida are home to two versions of myself, and in both states I have incredible bonds with people I truly love. I feel divided into two. I’m afraid that this feeling wont go away. That I will forever be looking at the other with a “grass-is-greener” eye, yearning to go back.  Needing to be that other person. And the people who took me into this strange state and became my new family, I can’t just toss them out now that I’m moving away.

I cannot be in two places at once, and now I will always wonder what I’m missing in my other life.

Tagged , , ,

Birthday Wish List

Today is my 11/12ths birthday, which means my 25th birthday is only a month away. Despite getting made fun of for it, I will be sending out invites. Want to get a sneak peek?

It’s also about that time my mom starts asking what I want. The top of my list includes:

1. Books. Preferably cool copies of my favorites like Alice and Wonderland.

2. Stuff for my upcoming trip to Norway, like this Patagonia Sunshade Hoody. It provides 30SPF, which will come in handy with all the hiking.

3. A puppy. This might need to wait until I find a new place up in Minnesota.

4. Cute outfit items that can be worn for casual patio brunches with the girls. This Doting Dots Skirt is perfect.

5. Platform heels. These two years in Florida have gotten me jaded from flip-flops. Shoes like these Jeffrey Cambell Litas scream city life.

For more of my birthday wish list, go here.

Tagged , ,

Lazy

# lazy

Tagged ,

Overnight Website Challenge

I wanted to take some time out to highlight The Nerdery, an interactive development firm that occasionally does this thing called an Overnight Website Challenge. What they do is volunteer to spend 24 hours fixing up nonprofit sites, and whoa, do they put that time to good use. Here are some of my favorites:

Before:

After:

 

Before:

After:

 

Before:

After:

I’ve never really been into those home renovation shows on HGTV, but THIS I could get into.

source

Tagged , , ,

I Do

#weekend

How To Make The Best Breakfast Smoothie

You probably don’t know this about me, but I’m the daughter of THE BEST smoothie maker in the world. While I’m not as good as my mom, I did want to share with you my breakfast smoothie recipe. It’s so good your kids will want to lick the blender, and so healthy you’ll feel good all morning.

What you’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup milk (I use Publix’s GreenWise Organic Fat-Free Milk)
  • 1/2 cup  juice (I use pomegranate)
  • 1/2 cup frozen fruit (I use raspberries)
  • Scoop of Whey protein (I use vanilla flavored, but my mom uses cake batter flavored) – note: this ingredient makes the smoothie’s texture better and adds a flavor base. If I have nothing of athletic value to do all day, I still add half a scoop to make it taste better. 
  • Scoop of Green Superfood
  • 1 Tbsp chia gel (recipe below) or flax-seed

What you do: Put it all in your blender and blend.

How to make Chia Gel: In a Tupperware container combine 1 cup juice (I just use my pomegranate) and 2 Tbsp chia seeds. Close lid and let sit for 15 minutes. Shake the container before using. It will last in the fridge for a week.

Why is chia gel important? Chia seeds are a nutritionally dense food. They contain antioxidants, vitamin Bs, minerals and your omega 3 fatty acids. They also digest slowly, so your blood sugar is stabilized. This means that you wont crash at 10am. Unless you were out all night, then chia seeds can’t help you. You’re supposed to make the chia seeds into a gel so we can digest it better. It also helps hydrate you if you’re working out a lot, and makes you feel fuller.

“But I’m running late!”

Cool. I’m always running late, so I created this quick “smoothie” recipe.

Take a tall travel mug and fill half way with your juice (if you use orange juice, this ends up tasting like an Orange Julius). Then add a half scoop protein and a full scoop Green Superfood. Fill the rest of the mug up with your milk. Mix as you run out the door and/or search desperately for your keys.

Tagged , ,