DIY? Yes, Please!

Lately, I've been feeling really crafty. I made two outfits for a Project Runway type thing at my college; for one of the outfits - a dress - I knitted twenty-two flowers to make up the bodice. I might post pictures at some point. Then I made a halo for my halloween costume (a cop-out costume, yes, but the halo was rockin'!). And then last week I made a wreath made out of book pages, an idea I found here. And I LOVE it! I might actually make another one. And the thing is all this crafting just makes me want to do more. It's like my hot glue gun is calling to me, "Come on, you know you want to burn your fingers."

Anyway, here are some pictures (and by that I mean two) of the end result of my book wreath.

Do You Smell Burning?

Here is the latest comic by yours truly that I just haven't been able to upload here yet. You know, until now.

We Need to Talk...

About Hygiene.

Since having been in college, I've observed (quite anthropologically, I think) the hygiene habits of those in my surroundings, and to be honest, I've found a few things lacking. Now, yes I can be a bit of a germaphobe, but I don't think that asking you to wash your hands is exactly equivalent to demanding that you do so 497 times a day using only the purple hand soap (but not the antibacterial kind) because using the clear kind is like washing your hands with hand sanitizer. You know, for example.

So, I've taken it upon myself to provide you with what I think are essential health facts - hygiene lifehacks if you will.

1. When buying hand soap, most people generally reach for anything with "Antibacterial" printed on the label. HOWEVER, antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular hand soaps but can sometimes even be more expensive. Also, triclosan (a chemical and active ingredient in these antibacterial products) can screw with your sex hormones.
   
2. While we're on the topic of handwashing, doing so can prevent the spread of foodborne disease (because it is most often spread by way of contaminated hands).
   
3. Before you jump into the pool next summer, remember this: each swimmer in the pool contributes about .14 grams of fecal matter (fancy phrase for poopy particles) into the pool within the first 15 minutes. The CDC recommends showering with soap before getting into the pool in order to prevent this nastiness. And don't forget about all the kiddies who literally use the pool as a toilet.
   
4. The kitchen sink has 100,000 times more germs and bacteria than a bathroom or a toilet. You might think about using a fresh sponge every now and then. Maybe washing your hands before you cook and stuff. Especially since food poisoning originates more often from the home than a restaurant.
   
5. When using public restrooms, you might be accustomed to using a particular stall, but studies show that the stall closest to the door of the restroom is overall the cleanest.
6. Let's talk about dust mites. There are millions (sometimes even tens of millions of them) of them. In your bed. Yep, it's sick. And it gets worse! They feed on your dead skin cells that you shed when you sleep. Dust mites can also cause allergies and asthma or make these conditions worse. If you've used the same pillow for more than two years, consider this: 10% of the weight of that pillow is composed of dust mites and their droppings (yes, their poopy particles). Also, it's important to note that during the fall and winter, this problem tends to worsen due to being indoors so much and in a closed space. To remedy this, wash your sheets regularly (it's suggested that you do so once a week) in hot water and then either hang to dry or dry in the dryer. Since dust mites can also be in your carpets and other upholstery, vacuum regularly.
7. Money: it's nice, green, and you know, useful. But the germs on money... Considering how many people don't wash their hands after using the restroom, it makes sense that there are so many fecal germs on money. So next time you go to a coffee shop and get that yummy looking muffin, maybe wash your hands before you devour it.
   

Especially during cold and flu season, i.e. NOW, in order to prevent getting these viruses or to avoid giving them to others, wash your hands properly and keep your hands away from your face. By properly, I mean with soap and lathering for at least 10 seconds before washing off the soap. Otherwise, all you're doing is getting your hands wet. And if you touch the handle of the bathroom door on the way out, you might as well have just licked the floor of a public bathroom.

I'm aware that I probably sound pretty neurotic with all of this hygiene talk, but I have to be if I ever want to not be sick. Maybe you have a good immune system and that's great. But that doesn't mean you should skip regular hygiene. That would be like having a great alarm system in your house with guard dogs, a gate, and a security tower, and then just leaving the front door open with a billboard in your yard that says "If you can carry it, it's yours."

And hey if you don't believe me, check it out for yourself. I'm gonna go wash my hands.

Sometimes I Hate Technology

Here's the story: I need to make a halo for Halloween (because I'm too cheap to buy something that I can make myself). Hence, I mapquested my craft store destination and set out with a plan. And after my last class today, I ventured into the unknown (i.e. traffic) to Hobby Lobby. After 40 minutes traveling to another town entirely, I realized Monsieur Mapquest had led me to some strange string of delivery warehouses next to the interstate. Frustrated, I quickly i-Phoned (according to my friends this is a verb) another close craft store and found that a Michael's was nearby. Thus, with renewed hope, I put my blinker on and pressed my foot on the gas. Two miles later I found myself not in the shopping complex you would assume, but another series of businesses and warehouses. Feeling defeated and impatient, I abandoned my quest for craft supplies for another day and journeyed home.

The moral of the story: I'm buying an atlas and a Zagat.

More Humorousity

Here's another installment of Awkward: Party of One. This one is more about my experience at my college so far, so if you don't get it, don't feel... well, awkward.

Awkward: Party of One

A few weeks ago I did a comic for my college's newspaper, and the editor told me that I could do one every other week, which excites me because it means that there are probably at least 4 people on campus that think I'm funny. Well, relatively speaking. Ok, maybe not, but still, it's exciting! IRRegardless, I figured I'd post my submissions on el bloggo for your possible enjoyment. Hopefully you'll like them. :)

I appreciate you, Grooveshark

****Update: I have a twin. We're also married, but that's a separate story. So, the author of this awesome blog and I were both enamored with Grooveshark's site maintenance message and blogged about it. At the exact same time. And then told the other about it. It's freaky sometimes how alike we think.

A few minutes ago, I'm trying to load Grooveshark to listen to some gnarly grooves, when I get this message. If more companies gave messages like this when their sites are down for maintenance, I'd get less annoyed.

Bear With Us

Going down for a bit.

To those of you who were redirected here, we apologize.

In an attempt to befriend Asian investors and increase office morale, we here at Grooveshark established some connections with the Chinese black market and imported our very own black-and-white Giant Panda (hereby known as "Pickles"). Unfortunately, due to circumstances no one could have foreseen, Pickles became agitated at the fluorescent lights and near-constant belly rubs and began clawing at our computers.

Pickles is currently thrashing about in the server room, causing the technical difficulties and temporary outage you just experienced. As soon as our interns return from Pier 1 with synthetic bamboo, a picnic basket and an oversized net, we will be able to return the servers back to normal and, if we can, rescue the coder that Pickles has taken as a prize.

Thank you for your patience.

This is Completely Random...

BUT I had a thought the other night when I was trying to go to sleep (this isn't the random part).

Have you ever imagined if musicians or actresses listened to or watched their own work? I've been fascinated with this question, quite honestly, for about a week, and I have a theory. I think the reason stars are so self-obsessed is they hear their music on the radio or maybe even on their iTunes or watch their movies on Netflix, and they think, "How awesome am I?!" Really, that's the only explanation I can come up with, but if you have another one feel free to share.

But seriously give it a think: Cher singing If I Could Turn Back Time on the drive to Wally World and thinking, "Damn, that's catchy."

And you know Brad Pitt has watched himself in a movie and thought "Well, who's that handsome devil?" Answer: not him. Seriously, not cute. Sorry to burst that bubble.

I'm Sorry, Who?

Name five actors or actresses. I'll wait.




...





Time's up. So who'd you come up with? Did George Clooney, Gerard Butler, Orlando Bloom, Angelina Jolie, or Jennifer Aniston make your list? Most likely they did, and even if not, the people who did are big names too.

But what about the "others"? I don't mean in any kind of sci-fi way. I mean, what about the actors and actresses who get nothing but supporting roles as the quirky best friend or the asshole boyfriend and yet are still exceptional actors?

Take for example Judy Greer (pictured at left). She's performed in a number of top movies like 13 going on 30, 27 dresses, The Wedding Planner, and What Women Want, as well as a number of guest spots on TV, but if I were to drop her name in a conversation about actors, I would probably be accosted with a response such as "Oh, I think you mean Judy Blume."







Another good example of an overlooked talent is Emily Blunt. She's probably most known for her role as the snarky and starving secretary in The Devil Wears Prada, but she has also been featured in Sunshine Cleaning, The Jane Austen Book Club, and Dan in Real Life. Now, she is rising up in the world. In 2009, Blunt played the title role in The Young Victoria. She also recently married my true love, John Krasinski (don't think I've gotten over that yet). But this young talent's career is only just beginning.




And my last example, though there are so many of them (including guys - sorry, didn't mean to exclude the guys) is Sasha Alexander. She played Kate on NCIS which I think was her first big role before landing some minor roles in Yes Man and He's Just Not That Into You. Now she's on the apparently hit new series Rizzoli and Isles. I don't know about it. I haven't seen it or anything but it sounds like a pasta dish to me. Ohh, pasta.

Judging a Book by Its Cover

I'm quite familiar, as is the rest of literate and illiterate humanity with the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover." However, when actually talking about books, this might not be the rule to follow. Think about it: if the typeface is ugly and illegible and the illustration is bad or nonexistent, then most likely, the book won't sell. But if the title is witty and eye-catching, the illustration vibrant, and the overall cover concept innovative, it's going to sell in a fashion similar to hotcakes (apparently they are quite the bestseller).

Personally, I only buy pretty books. When I'm in B&N, I get tired of reading the book summaries on the back covers and the authors' blurbs, so sometimes I find the prettiest book with the coolest or most meaningful title (to me) and I buy it. And most of the time this method proves very effective. I bought my favorite book, The Devil in the Details, this way (cover art here).

So, when I found bookcoverarchive.com I was so overwhelmed, and so was my Amazon shopping cart. This website features some of the most gorgeous and some of the weirdest book covers I've ever seen, but all of them are unique. To save you some time, though you should absolutely check it out for yourself, I've picked a couple of my favorites.

A Really Beautiful Take on a Classic



I'm fascinated; it's a contents page as a cover page. Mind-blowing.



I am so reading this book.



I adore Elie Wiesel and vintage photos so I would totally pick this book up.


There are no words. Well, clearly there are because it's a cover to a book, but you get the point.

Trust Me: I'm An Expert

I'm a chick flick connoisseur. I'm a rom-com movie maven. I'm that girl. And I figured I'd make a list of my favorites. Keep in mind, that these are my favorites, and while I do have very discerning tastes when it comes to a girl meets boy type of scenario, you don't have to agree with me. It's likely you won't, considering how contentious we hopeless romantics can be about our movies. Nevertheless...

1. Garden State
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Return to Me
5. The Proposal
6. Ever After

Now, while most of the recent attempts at romantic comedies have been wanting at best, these are classics. If you haven't seen them yet, you have to at least once. And if you don't like them, don't complain about it to me.

But Don't Get Crazy...

Most people who have mingled at least a few times with other human beings over the past three years are very familiar with Bon Qui Qui of MadTv fame, known to her mom as Anjelah Johnson. She's become a household name and one of the most quoted videos .... ever. However, what's unknown to a surprising number of people, she is actually an accomplished comedian outside of the King Burger Franchise.

Here is the video that made "Rude" my sister's favorite comeback.

And here is some of her stand-up:

Braid Crusade

Lately, I have been obsessed beyond comprehension with braids. And it doesn't help that there are so many different types of braids: traditional, French, lace, fishtail, Dutch, twist, etc. The fun is endless. There's only one problem: I have never really mastered French braiding, and my "patience quota" only goes so far when I'm trying to learn new braids.

But alas, I shall not give up. Why? Because they are so freaking pretty, and I will rock the braid.

Here are some of my favorite hairstyles that feature this gorgeous style!

Dutch Braids

Cascade Braid (ha, it rhymes)

Lace Braid
(Click here for a how-to on Lace Braiding)

A Must(ache) for the Puppy in Your Life

Find it here.

Why does nothing please you?!

Twilight sucks. No pun intended. If you agree, welcome to sanity! If not, you might not want to keep reading - this is your one warning.

In case you didn't know, I hate twilight. Hopefully you do too. Alex Day certainly does. He was a simple guy (or bloke, as he would probably say in that ridiculously adorable British accent) with a mission: to figure out what all of this Twilight mania was all about. So, he decided to read the now international sensation cover to cover with this mission in mind. And to video blog about it along the way. The result? The funniest commentary on any book you or I will ever come across.

The best part is that he embarked on this sometimes treacherous mission with a completely open mind, but after reading a few pages of this not-even-fit-for-bathroom-reading excuse for literature, he was convinced. Twilight sucks. And he's ready to tell you why.

Here is the first in his series of "Alex Reads Twilight" which he covers chapter by chapter.



If you enjoyed that as much as I think you did, visit his YouTube channel for even more hilarity.

MIA Google Logos

I know I'm not the only one that loves all of the cute Google logos, especially the working Pacman logo from a little while back. They're so innovative and cute! Even the really random ones.

This one is from friendship day. Who knew?

Here is a list of Google logos you've probably never seen celebrating holidays that no one has ever heard of. Enjoy!

A Vital Life Question

How Many Justin Biebers could you take in a fight?

Confession Time

Hi my name is Olivia, and I spend an egregious amount of time on Etsy.

Not to say I buy everything I love because we all know I would be tripping over vintage suitcases and cufflinks shaped like octupuses... octupi?

But the addiction is there. It's the homemade-handcrafted monkey on my back. And now that I have my job back, I'm only being enabled. I should give in, right? It's all so pretty, and it wants to come home with me! I'm like 82% sure.

Anyway, here are my top favorites of the moment. (Check back with me in an hour for a refreshed list of favorites)

The designer of this headband has it in so many colors and styles. Check out the item's page!

What? Don't judge me.

SO Beautiful!

It's so sad how much I love shoes compared to how infrequently I can find them in my size and how infrequently I can actually afford the pretty ones.

Viva La Polaroid!

I don't pretend to know anything about photography. I leave that to my uber-talented friend and author of Word of Mouth. However, I've always loved polaroids - even the ones me and my sister used to take when we were bored during long summer days.

Here are some stunning examples of beautiful polaroid photography that give me chills!

Florence and the Machine

Some of the best and most innovative music I've heard in years. An absolute must!