alive.

I just wanted to let everyone know I am still around.  I just can't catch up on life pretty much this whole semester.  This past week was fall break so I feel more caught up on things than I have in a long time so I am hoping to write a TON of blog posts this weekend.  Stick around, I have some great stories and recipes to share!

For now, enjoy these pics of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.  I've grown up watching their shows and have always loved their style.  I think they are fabulous, despite everything they have been through.

Photos from Google.com

seattle pt 2

Before we left I wanted to make sure we went to the Space Needle.  I know it is a complete tourist-y thing to do, but I had never been in it before.  Wait, let me restate that, I may have been up in it before when I was very little...well anyways this is the first time I was old enough to remember it.  So that was the first thing on my list for the day.

There are a lot of nifty exhibits at the observation deck.  Make sure to spend time checking them out if you go to the O deck.

Doo was getting hungry and frustrated so we headed back down.  The children's museum was just across the way so we stopped by where they have a labyrinth on painted on the ground.  We ran around and around that thing, but it really does take a long time, especially if you do it properly.  Needless to say I didn't walk it properly to get out.

Next stop was Fremont.  I had never been there, but read about it so we made it our next stop.  Fremont is like the East Nashville of Seattle.  It is artsy and trendy.  We really wanted some good seafood and got the name of one from some locals, but when we got there it was closed till supper so I chose a restaurant called "9 million in Unmarked Bills."  I'm so glad we ate there because I got the veggie burger and it was so yummy.

If you are ever in Fremont, WA make sure to stop by and see the Troll under the bridge!  Unfortunately some pranksters had drawn all over it with chalk when we went to visit.

On the way home, we drove through the the University of Washington's campus and stopped at John Fluevog before heading to Seastar in Bellevue for dinner.  It was another great meal and another awesome day.

Also, let me say that the weather was so much more pleasant than in Las Vegas - at least for this northern girl.  I love me some cool fall weather anytime of year.

seattle pt 1

We left Las Vegas and arrived in Seattle later that day.  We were starving when we got in and ate at a restaurants called Sharp's Roaster and Ale House.  I got the half rotisserie chicken with potatoes and it was delicious!!  They have corn bread on the table with a sweet honey glaze and it is incredible.  I could have eaten 20 of them by myself.  I was having alcohol withdraws so I made sure to get a drink or two as well. ha.

Bo had never been to Seattle so we made sure to drive around the city before heading to our hotel in Bellevue.  It had been a long day and we were tired so we basically went straight to sleep.

Next day,  we headed down to check out the Public Market, which is my favorite place to go when I'm in Seattle.  I got to show Bo the pig and the place where they throw fish.  He thought it was really cool.

We made sure to check out the original Starbucks, as should anyone who visits.  The original design has been kept to preserve the atmosphere of the Public Market.  Though we got a coffee down the street at Local Color.  The place had awesome art for sale and a really chill vibe.

I ate the russian eatery in the alley because I was craving peirogies real bad.  If you don't know what peirogies are, they are basically mashed potatoes wrapped up in dough.  They can be boiled, fried, deep fried, baked...I can't even explain how much I love them!  If you have never had one, try one asap.

When we got back to Bellevue, we went to check out the mall.  I was especially excited about The Container Store since we don't have one in Nashville (yet..we're getting one fall 2011).  I also am obsessed with anything that helps organize everything so I was in heaven.

We ate at Z'tajas.  It was delicious, I would definitely recommend it.

O yeah, I forgot to mention that I fell flat on my face in the middle of the street.  I was trying to cross the street before the light changed.  Thank goodness there were no cars coming at the time.  Only my pride and my knees were hurt.  At least the people sitting on the bench across the road got a good laugh.

bad drivers.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

There is almost nothing as annoying as bad drivers.  I don't like bad drivers and it seems like they are everywhere.  In Nashville, I feel like people are notorious for being terrible drivers because most cannot drive when it is sunny nevertheless when it is raining or ((gasp)) snowing.  Many are freakin' terrible.  It seems like anyone can walk in and get their license...TN needs to step up their testing procedures. 

Driving a car is not that difficult.  If you know you are a bad driver, then you should be smart enough to know that multitasking in your situation is not even an option.  But then again, you might not be smart enough to figure that out either.  

Besides not checking blind-spots or keeping consistent speeds, drivers who don't use blinkers are awful.  Is it really that hard people to move your hand around the steering wheel to hit the blinker?!  It is conveniently placed there for a reason.  

There are even some friends that I would rather walk to wherever we are going then get in a car with them.  Or I will drive my car even though it is less convenient just to stay safe.  Though it always seems like the worst drivers are also the luckiest when it comes to accidents or police encounters.  

For example: the one time a good driver doesn't make a complete stop at a stop sign, a police officer will pull him/her over, but if a terrible driver blows thorough a stop sign almost causing an accident, cops are no-where to be found.  

I could go on and on and on about terrible drivers, but I am already starting to get angry so it might be best to cut it short.  Below I have included a list of common characteristics of a bad driver:

1. lack of alertness: many people are bad to begin with, but factor in distractions like a phone, radio, and friends...well these drivers might as well just hop in the backseat with them because they aren't paying attention to the road whatsoever.  

2. brain function: maybe bad drivers lost all their brain cells in their latest accident?  Seriously people - 90% of driving is common sense.

3. bumps and dings: many terrible drivers have scratches, bumps, dings, etc on their car.  These are caused by carelessness like backing into poles or other cars.  Sometimes I just wanna smack some people in the hope that some sense will suddenly come to them.  

4. no understanding of what blinkers or mirrors are for on a car:  there is no typical vehicle that bad drivers are drawn to, so basic distinctions are people who don't use blinkers in any situation and people who just drive anywhere on the road whenever they want to.  Lanes were painted on the road for a reason.  

I may add to my list later, but my blood has begun to boil so peace out for tonight.  

no clocks in casinos.

The trip was a treat for bo’s graduation and my 21^st birthday.  It was awesome, though I will say that a week in Vegas is a long time.  However it was nice because we were able to explore the entire strip.  With multiple occasions coming up in the next couple years in which we will return to Vegas, we were able to decided where we would like to stay and what we wanted to do then.

Our room was suite with an awesome view.

Basically we went out and gambled every night like anyone would in Vegas, but in addition:

On Friday night we saw Cirque de Soleil’s O at the Bellagio.  It was incredible.  The way the performers’ move is amazing and adding water…well that just took it over the top.  I would definitely recommend it.  I want to see it again already. 

On Saturday night we saw Cirque de Soleil’s LOVE at the Mirage.  It was extraordinary.  I am a huge Beatles fan so I was singing and dancing to every song.  The show is performed in a 360-degree room so everyone has a good seat.  There are even speakers in the headrests of the seats so you actually feel the music. 

I can’t decide which show was better because they were so different.  The one thing I do know is that the stage and set design are remarkable.  Pieces would disappear and reappear instantly.  For example, in O, there would be a pool then the next minute performers would be on a stage where the water was. 

Another show we saw was Peepshow at Planet Hollywood starring Holly Madison.  Some parts were kind of cheesy and weird, but overall it was a decent show.  Actually some parts were really funny on purpose, though some Holly can’t really act. 

Lastly, I will leave a bit of insight.  When you arrive, purchase a bottle of favorite or most versatile alcohol.  Many of the drinks I got from the hotel whether I was at the bar, at the casino, or at the pool, tasted like they didn’t even have alcohol in them.  With your own bottle, you can add as much as you would like.  Delicious!

potato patties/white wine sauce.

bo and I have made this recipe a couple times and have enjoyed it every time.  Now that we have tweaked it, I feel I can share it. 

Also, we usually cook for two so this recipe is tailored to that.

Potato Patties

2 large Russet potatoes, grated

2-3 tbsp of flour

olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

2/3 c of onion, chopped

1/3 c of red bell pepper, chopped

¼ c of parsley, chopped

1. Sautee the onion and pepper then add parsley. 
2. Peel and grate the potatoes.  Squeeze a handful of the grated potatoes to remove as much water as possible.  Place them in a new bowl and mix with the sautéed vegetables and flour.  Salt and pepper to taste. 
3. Heat on low a non-stick pan*, add some oil, then add a large spoonful of the potato mix in the pan and flatten with a spatula to whatever size is desired.  The thinner the patty, the quicker they will cook.  If the patties are too thick, they won’t cook all the way through. 
4. Continue cooking the patties until the bottom side turns golden brown.  Flip until the patty is cooked through.  Then remove from heat and plate. 

*The non-stick pan is key.  We tried with a normal pan once and it was a huge flop. 

For the chicken, we use organic chicken breasts from the grocery store.  We lightly salt and pepper them before cooking them on the stove with some chicken broth to keep them juicy.

White Wine Sauce

1/3 c onion, chopped

½ c chicken broth*

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp chives, chopped

1/4ish c dry white wine

           

1.     Heat a pan over medium-high heat.  Add oil and sautee onions. 

2.     When the onions become soft, stir in chicken broth, white wine, and white wine vinegar.  Bring to a boil, stirring frequently so as not to burn the sauce. 

3.     Continue to cook until the sauce reduces to ¼ c (about 3-5 minutes). 

4.     Add in the already cooked chicken to heat them up a bit more and add the butter and chives.

5.     Remove from heat and plate. 

*We usually buy fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth.  Wolfgang Puck makes a great tasting one. 

roo.

Well Bonnaroo has come and gone. And just like last year, I am already planning for next year. 

In case you all are unaware of what The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is, it is a 4-day music festival held on a huge farm in Manchester, TN.  To simplify: Bonnaroo = Awesomeness!

People were being let in earlier on Wednesday night than previous years to help reduce traffic flow on the interstate during prime hours, but since were close to the site we left the same time we did the previous year on Thursday morning.  Last year we waiting 10 hours in traffic and this year we only waited 2 hours.  Well we actually didn’t really wait 2 hours since we only had about 20 minutes of stopping time.  It was a breeze, though the wait is usually really fun.

Despite the weather being 100+ degrees everyday without factoring in the high humidity, the company and performances were worth the struggle against the heat. 

It is hard for me to decide on a favorite performance, but my tops would be between Eminem, The Strokes, and Florence + The Machine.  I also enjoyed Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, Girl Talk, Ray Lamontagne, Pretty Lights, Amos Lee, and Matt & Kim, amongst others.

I really could go on and on...the beauty of Bonnaroo cannot be expressed through a blog entry.  I encourage everyone to experience a summer music festival ASAP and as often as possible.  Seriously, I already can’t wait to find out who will be performing next year and so begins my non-stop travels…

summer.

Once again I apologize for the lack of blog posts, but I’ve been traveling for 3 and a half weeks and have rarely had Internet nevertheless time to write anything.  Stay tuned for multiple posts coming soon.

For now, enjoy some beautiful photographs of the night sky. 

atl.

I know it has been awhile but I have been traveling since it is officially summer.  This afternoon I returned from Atlanta, Ga.

The main purpose of our trip was to take my brother to the airport there.  He is studying abroad in Russia this summer.  I am so excited for him; I know he is going to love it.  Even though I will miss him, the experience will be unforgettable for him.  Only my parents and youngest brother have been "across the pond" so I'm so excited for him.  I can't wait to visit different places and meet lots of different people.  He is studying Russian as a language...I wish I could pick up languages like him....I would love to become fluent in at least one language eventually.

Anyways since we were down there we decided to get some shopping and touring done.  I would like to say I found lots of things, but I didn't.  I need to clean out my closet so I can figure out what I really need.  But my favorite areas to shop at are Lenox Square Mall, Little Five Points, and Atlantic Station.

I had a WONDERFUL dinner at Seasons 52.  This restaurant is modern and chic specializing in local, organic entrees - all under 475 calories.  They are known for their flatbreads so I couldn't pass the opportunity to try one.  I got the Garlic Chicken Flatbread--it was delicious!!

For dessert, they do mini indulgences.  Our table got the key-lime pie one, carrot cake one, and oreo/chocolate mousse one.  They were all amazing!!

I finally got to go to the New World of Coke.  I have been dying to go since it opened and let me tell you it did not disappoint.  I wish we would have had more time there but we had an event we needed to get back for.  I did not see the 4D movie since we were running low on time and they usually make me motion sick.

The taste testing room was so much fun.  The sampling is not just Coca-Cola but in fact coke products so there is Fanta, Inca Cola, and Nestea.  Make sure to look around the store, there are some pretty neat things.

YEAH!

special edition aluminum coke bottles

coke products

tasting room

olympic torches - pretty cool!!

This is terrible.  There is no way anyone enjoys this drink.  Do not drink this one, if you 

do only get the BARE minimum because you will want to spit it out.  For real.  

Lester Bealle.

During the month of April, the southern United States has been hit with some of the worst tornado outbreaks in recent years.  These tornados have completely devastated areas in states like Alabama and cost hundreds of people their lives.  In lieu of these circumstances, we were given the opportunity to create posters in the style of Lester Beall and his Rural Electrification Administration posters to help raise awareness about helping those affected by the storms.


Bealle was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1903.  He studied at the University of Chicago and also took classes at the Art Institute of Chicago.  He is most well;known for his work with for the U.S. government's Rural Electrification administration.  He died in 1969.  

I used the following posters as inspiration. 

Beall’s posters were very simple in design.  Common characteristics of his work include, angled objects, horizontal lines, arrows, black and white images, color blocks, simple shapes, and red, white, and blue, to convey his message.  The red, white, and blue, helped to show that the issues he was promoting affected all Americans.

In my image, I used red, white, and blue, but with a twist.  I chose crimson red to represent Alabama and from there decided to darken the blue so it would compliment the crimson better.  One of the largest tornados touched down in Tuscaloosa, right outside of the University of Alabama, which is why I felt the color change was appropriate.  I used the crimson as a color block, like the ones Beall’s images often contained. 

The element that stood out to me the most from Beall’s posters was the arrows.  I knew I wanted to include them so I decided to create a spiral shape to represent the tornado.  I placed it at an angle on the paper to add movement to my image. 

I found an image of people sorting through a devastated building in Alabama to represent the need to rebuild.  After disasters, people tend to pull together to accomplish a common goal so this image represents people working together to overcome this tragedy.  I altered the picture so that the colors are the American flag would come through.  I wanted to incorporate that spirit of patriotism and togetherness within the U.S.  I wanted people to feel like by helping the tornado victims in Alabama, they are helping the country as a whole.  I feathered the edges of the color on the flag to allow the flag to still be connected to the black and white image behind it.  I just wanted to mention that in case someone thought I just didn’t want to finish masking the image. 

I also tried to find a font similar to the type found on Beall’s prints from the 1930s, to bring in more elements of the inspiration. 

Here is the finished product.

Let me know what you think.

I also posted this image on a couple sites to help promote disaster relief efforts in Alabama.  Here are the sites: 

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mq3wis&s=7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62705729@N02/5707398475/

http://shalant.deviantart.com/art/Tornado-Poster-208338430

"Joy of Design" Facebook Forum:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_124675937593174

Then, I posted it on my personal facebook and twitter as well. 

previous entries.

The last couple entries are from my other blog for class, but the information was interesting so I thought I would share.  Two of the entries were articles I wrote for final questions.  Cheers!

Media Portrayals of Political Figures.

In 1968, Esquire magazine ran an issue with the cover depicting Richard Nixon having his makeup put on.  The copy read, “Nixon’s last chance (This time he’d better look right!).”  This of course, is in reference to the 1960s election vs. JFK, where Nixon’s appearance on television was his downfall. 

The stock photo of Nixon has to been altered to appear like he is having his makeup put on for a television appearance.  The brushes were even colored pink to further emasculate him.  This is only one of the gender reversal covers that the magazine has run.  Even without copy, this photo creates a visual statement undermining his credibility as a political figure. 

This is not the first time a parody has been made of a political figure, and it certainly is not the last.  These images send messages to the public - especially voters - about the subject's campaign and image.  People may end up not taking the figure represented as seriously as they should.  These images could also sway voters' opinions of candidates.  

I just thought this was funny.

During the most recent presidential election in 2008, the prominent political candidates were under brutal fire from the media in regards to political parodies and cartoons.  These spoofs were designed to satirize political figures in order to make social and political points.  While some parodies seem like sarcastic attacks on the political figure, many are done with respect and appreciation for the subject. 

One more controversial example would be the cover of July 21, 2008, edition of The New Yorker magazine.  The cover features caricatures of, at the time, Sen. Barak Obama and wife Michelle, in the white house.  Barak is dressed in traditional Muslim garb while Michelle pictures with an afro and a gun slung over her shoulder.  The couple is “fist-bumping” while an American flag burns in the fireplace under a painting of Osama Bin Laden.  The New Yorker intended the cover to be a satire on Barak’s patriotism. 

Personally I think this cover is very distasteful on the part of The New Yorker.  Their cartoons are usually witty and ironic, not slanderous.  Both political parties are reported as having found the magazine cover very offensive and inappropriate. 

In August 2008, Vanity Fair magazine created a cover featuring Sen. John McCain using a walker and “fist-bumping” his wife Cindy while the Constitution burns in the fireplace under a portrait of President Bush, as a spoof on the highly controversial cover The New Yorker unveiled the previous month.  This cover was not the official cover of that month's issue.  

These covers have no additional copy and are therefore, left for interpretation by the viewer, even though, I think most people will agree that the images of these political figures are being undermined.  I find a lot of these spoofs unnecessary.  


I believe that these covers are much harsher than the 1968 Nixon cover.  Although, it may have been controversial at the time, the Nixon cover has nothing on the brutality of today’s political parodies.


Design-wise, all three designs are similar in using lighter shades of colors in the image.  Placement on the page is different as well as the fact that the newer images are illustrated, whereas the Nixon image is a photograph.   

These images are about visual associations of political figures, however, if you enjoy verbal and visual associations of political figures, check out Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as  Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton.

Check out one video here: (The video actually starts about 20 seconds in.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdDqSvJ6aHc

Then check out this article about advertisers paying to be associated with the parodies...

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/10/political_parodies_pay_in_elec.php 

...and these other political magazine covers.

http://rakesprogress.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/top-5-funniest-political-magazine-covers/

Enjoy!