Ingrid Michaelson : Lights Out

Nothing like some good ol' pop-y but sad songs to brighten up a day! Ingrid Michaelson ("The Way I Am" "You and I") came out with her album LIGHTS OUT the other week, and it's not the best thing in the world, but it's pretty nice nonetheless. It's catchy and light like the rest of Ingrid's famous songs, but there's a note of despair that rings throughout the album that differentiates this one from her last few. Albeit, it's mixed in with the usual pop-y production that seems as if she specifically made half of these songs with the radio in mind, but I guess I'm not too bothered by that since I just listened to this album all the way through three four times. 

So listen and take it in for yourself. And if you don't feel like putting in the hour+ of time, listen to "Home" because it's the nice and catchy, "Open Hands" and "Ready to Lose" next because they're wonderfully sad, "Over You" because it's nice and SUPER sad, and then "Afterlife" to bounce back from the melancholy. 

Waste Your Time w/ Flight of the Conchords

There's many different kinds of weird: crazy weird, unsettling weird, and "what the heck just happened" weird. Then there's good weird. The kind of weird that brings forth thunderous, guttural, and insane laughter that makes everyone around you concern for your general state of sanity. Flight of the Conchords is that kind of weird. The best kind.

Just looking at these photos may give you some idea of how quirky the HBO show is. Although the show only lasted for two seasons, it is arguably one of the best shows that HBO has produced. Ok, maybe that's just me arguing, but judging from their enormous fan base, I think I'm not completely alone. 

Bret and Jermaine are two ordinary guys from New Zealand that are best buds in a band together. Sounds normal enough, huh? And it is. Except they manage to make their mediocre lives incredibly enjoyable and entertaining. While breaking into song every so often, naturally (watch the video at the bottom and just take in the musical stylings of Bret and Jermaine). A couple noteworthy lines from their songs: 

"You're so beautiful...like a tree" 

"It's 12:02, just me and you. And seven other dudes around you on the dance floor"

The Ultimate Snack

When there are snacks, people shall come. It's one of those cardinal rules of hospitality. Snacks have the power to bring people together and make everyone temporarily satisfied. They just do.

Snacking is great because it's like the noncommittal way of eating without having to create a full meal. Amidst the chips and salsa, peanut butter filled pretzels, goldfish, cheez-its, and such, there is one snack that will always be a win.

That snack is animal crackers.

So maybe it's not the most obvious choice, but animal crackers have a lot going for them. For one, as soon as people see animal crackers, they get nostalgic about childhood and are instantly reminded of good and happy times. Animal crackers are also fun to eat. There's always the debate of whether it's humane to eat the head first and then all the extremities. There's also the joy of trying to figure out what animal you actually got because the mountain goat oftentimes looks like a llama. And on top of all of that, they're straight up delicious.

Now there's good old-fashioned plain animal cookies which are delectable by their lonesome. But when their frosted and sprinkled counterparts come out, it really becomes a party.

For future reference too, you can buy a large bag of animal cookies from any Duane Reade for $2, and the frosted kind for under $5. Happy snacking!

Photos all from Google

The Best Vietnamese Food Route If You Have 30 Minutes in Chinatown

For the longest time, I didn't think that anything in New York could come close to authentic Vietnamese food back in California. Back in Orange County, you can buy a Vietnamese sandwich (bánh mì) for under $3, and boba (don't call it bubble tea unless you want to be shamed) for exactly $1.25. And it's delicious and hits the spot every time.

But alas! New York did not fail me. Without further ado, here is my favorite quick Vietnamese food route to take people on whenever they come to visit. Start off with a BBQ pork sandwich at Banh Mi Saigon, and then top it off with some boba at Ten Ren Tea Time.

Freshman year of college, I used sit in my room sullenly and think about all the great Vietnamese food I was missing out on back at home. One night my sister barged into my room, proclaiming that she had a new Vietnamese sandwich shop for us to try. The next day we trekked over to Chinatown, tasted a BBQ Pork Sandwich at Banh Mi Saigon, and took our friends back with us three days later to make them try the best bánh mì in New York. And all for $4.50.



For the next two years, my bánh mì cravings were satiated, but the boba was never as successful. In moments of weakness I went into any shop that proclaimed they sold "bubble tea," ordered the milk tea, and always left feeling disappointed that it was either too watery or sweet. I'm still on the hunt for my all time favorite boba place, but Ten Ren Tea Time on Mott St. in Chinatown is close to the most authentic I've tried. If you're up for something a bit different, order the taro milk tea with boba ($3).

Photos all from Google

Barge Music at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

If you like classical music, New York is all for you. There are no shortage of concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the dozens of music schools across the city. All of those are nice and grand, but let me ask you this: How's the view?

Barge Music is unlike any other concert venue you'll ever attend. Partly because, well, you're on a boat that's moored right smack underneath the Brooklyn Bridge (the barge used to be a floating coffee shop). Partly because the New York skyline is the perfect backdrop to the impressive and highly talented instrumentalists. And partly because the setting is so intimate, it's hard not to be completely absorbed by the music.

Check out the website and event calendar HERE. Also, every Saturday at 3pm, there's a free one-hour concert especially for families in the neighborhood. And bonus: there's a student discount of $15 tickets instead of the regular $30! 

All pictures from Google

The Top 4 Fashion Blogs to Follow (In My Biased Opinion)

1. Fashion Toast by Rumi Neely [www.fashiontoast.com]

Fashion Toast was the very first fashion blog that I started to follow so it will forever remain my favorite. If you roam the archives all the way back to the year of its inception in good 'ol 2008, you'll find Rumi Neely in department store brands, taking photos in front of her garage. Now, her outfits are ludicrously expensive ($1,000 Balenciaga shoes, whew) and she seems to travel to a different country every few weeks. BUT, the photography is stellar and her writing is what keeps me coming back every time. I can't help but not like her and want to be friends with her. Plus, she had ombre hair way back before ombre was a thing. Plus, she still wears clothes from Forever21 mixed in with all her luxury garments. Did I mention I want to be friends with her?

2. Song of Style by Aimee Song [www.songofstyle.com]

Yes, it is true that I first clicked on this link a few years ago simply because our names are spelled the same. However, Aimee Song's sense of style is fantastic. She's got that whole West Coast cool and casual thing going on, but amped up with every color in the rainbow and enough patterns to rival the Anthropologie home goods section. She also posts almost every day which is lovely and convenient when trying to avoid doing anything productive.

3. Kayture by Christina Bazan [www.kayture.com]

If you're looking for a high-fashion blog that's fancy and elegant, then Kayture is just for you. Although I love it too, and I possess none of the above mentioned qualities. Christina Bazan is only 20, but is absolutely stunning and so stylish that she puts all other 20-something year olds to shame. Every blog post looks as if it came straight out of a magazine, and I can only imagine how early in the morning she has to wake up to look like this every day. Yet despite all the glamour she still seems like a genuinely nice person, so good for her!

4. Tuula by Jessica Stein [www.tuulavintage.com]

Not only is Tuula Jessica Stein's personal style blog, but it's also her travel diary of the dozens and dozens of countries that she's traveled to over the past few years. Most of which involve warm and tropical places of which I scour the photos of sand and ocean and weep a bit as I sit under four layers of clothes in a freezing apartment. Her style is timeless and simple, but still young and fun. And as I mentioned before, the pictures are seriously awesome.

A Brush with Asia at The Met

One of the best parts about living as a meager college student in New York City is that museums take pity on you. Twice a year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts a themed College Night for all college students who want to be infused with a bit of culture. Students get to explore a featured exhibit for a few hours and flirt with one another in a high-art setting. If that doesn't sound appealing, did I mention there's free snacks that can definitely double as dinner? Oh yeah, good stuff.

This year, the theme of the night was A Brush with Asia and the featured exhibit was Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China. Here's a smattering of photos taken by Jo (who was smart, didn't listen to me, and brought her camera for which I am eternally grateful). The exhibit lasts until April 6, so go and see it before it's gone forever! Even if you're not a fan of contemporary art, it's too fascinating to pass up. Be sure to check out the four portraits of a young man with Chinese characters inked onto his face. Believe me, you'll know it when you see it.

For more information on the exhibit, check out:
Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China