#62

Hello. I will be moving my blog to lantru.blogspot.com. Please visit me there!

#58

The past few months have been a blur. I’ve sent grad apps off to two schools and hear back from both sometime in March. I was going to apply to a third school, but I’m reconsidering that at the moment. There are students out there who are applying to dozens of grad schools, and here I am, debating whether or not to apply to a third one. Err.

Also, my mother tried to get me to stay in Michigan for graduate school by promising me a car. I can’t stay in Michigan. I have not even looked into grad schools here, let alone sent in applications. I promise I’ll visit!

rambling #53 @ 11:20pm

I’ve really been getting into baking these past few months, and I think it has something to do with the kitchen in my co-operative housing (not to mention my adoration of @MarthaStewart and smittenkitchen.com). I really like the size of our kitchen.

We have drawers full of baking tools and bakeware, but there’s always room for more! These items would make baking a little easier (and a bit more fun) for me and my housemates.

1)  5-piece Parker Bowl Set. I really like the metal mixing bowls we have now, but I love the colors of these bowls!

2) Microplane Grater-Zester. We don’t have a Microplane, and trying to zest a lemon with a box grater is no fun. I usually try to avoid recipes that call for lemon zest or orange zest because I hate breaking out the box grater (it’s also hard to clean), but if we had a Microplane, I’d be up for anything. Especially these lemon ricotta pancakes with sauteed apples.

3) Lemon Squeezer. Okay, so we have a lemon squeezer. And it’s been loved. It’s also kind of old. It sort of looks like this, but it’s green, plastic, and not as nice. It’s also difficult to store in a kitchen drawer because of its shape and size. This red one would be a lot easier to slide in a drawer.

4) Flour Sifter. We have sifters like this, and the work wonderfully–I just really like the clicking involved with this sifter.

5) Porcelain Measuring Spoons. We probably have 4 different sets of measuring spoons. They’re all missing at least one spoon, and we’ve lost a few measuring spoons to the garbage disposal. I’d say we have three complete sets now, after some mixing and matching. I like that these are porcelain, a material I’ve recently become greatly interested in/slightly obsessed with.

6) Creme Brulee Dish. We don’t have any dishes like these. I’d love to make quiches with them, or mini-pies, or mini-tarts. Or creme brulees.

7) Cake Slicer and Cake Knife. We have these huge rectangular spatulas that are great for flipping omelettes or grilled cheese sandwiches, but not so great for plating cake. It just gets too messy.

8 ) Pop Container Set. We have 2 huge shelves filled with storage containers…we just can never find the lids that go with them! It’s like the sock that goes missing when you do your laundry. Does the dryer eat it? Does our dish sanitizer eat storage container lids?

rambling #46 @ 2:12am

In my room.

Listening to Jack Johnson.

I just went online impulse shopping. Dammit.

When I walked by across the Diag earlier today, there was a film crew setting up.  They’re filming Trivial Pursuits on the U-M campus.   Christopher Gorham, who plays Henry Grubstick on Ugly Betty, is playing the lead role of Paul Tarson. There’s a brief blurb about the movie on annarbor.com, and to be honest, I don’t think it sounds that interesting.

Speaking of annarbor.com, I’m not really feeling their website.  It’s not very organized and there isn’t an order or hierarchy.  Annarbor.com is replacing The Ann Arbor News, which closed its doors on July 23rd, 2009 after 174 years.  Annarbor.com will have print newspapers twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, and everything else will be online.  View photos of the last day of printing here and read an article about the closing here.

I signed up to be a guinea pig at the dental school, and I go in Wednesday for x-rays to see if I’m eligible for the study.  I’ll also get my teeth cleaned.  I actually like going to the dentist! I’m also taking part of a focus group about library services and resources Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, @sara_bee, @LaraZade, and @jasminezoo and I are going thrifting! We’re planning on hitting up Treasure Mart, PTSO Thrift Store, the Salvation Army, and Value World. I’m pumped.

The list:

1) marthastewart.com: I’ve started visiting marthastewart.com a few times a day, and this morning, I found a recipe for quiche and made it for breakfast!  I didn’t have any broccoli, half-and-half or ramekins, but I did have tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, spinach, heavy whipping cream, and a bread pan. I think I was a little heavy on the nutmeg, but it was still pretty tasty. I’m going to start making quiche more often!

My quiche didn't turn out this fabulous looking. Image courtesy of http://www.marthastewart.com/.

2) http://twolucys.tumblr.com/. @lucyjb, a friend of mine and Daily alum, started this blog, and it’s hilarious. After graduation, she moved in with her grandmother in Chicago.  They’re both named Lucy! @lucyjb blogs about life with grandma.  Her grandmother seems pretty cool.

rambling #42 @ 11:09pm

in my room

Currently listening to nothing.

The Ann Arbor Art Fairs took place last week, and though I didn’t buy any pieces of art, I had fun walking through it.  I did buy a few skirts and tops from Urban Outfitters though.  They always have a huge sale during the Art Fairs.

Nothing too exciting happened over the weekend.  I had an exam in Communication Studies 451: Ethics Issues in Journalism.  I think it went well. COMM451 is the only Summer class I’m taking; I was registered for three classes, but after some debate, I dropped my other two classes. I am very happy with my decision.

After my exam, I met up with one of my housemates (@BCBodnar) and her friend, and we headed over to the Alumni Center for an ice cream social.  That was pretty fun, and a nice way to end the evening.

I’m back to working at the Hill Dining Center for the Summer.  I worked there last Fall, but didn’t return during the Winter because my schedule was pretty intense. It’s really slow at the HDC during the Summer, but I’m always beat tired when my shift ends–I’m usually running around for 2-3 hours putting away dishes and silverware.

I’m almost done with Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris.  I have about 15 pages left, and then I’m going to start reading Naked, also by David Sedaris. I’ve been reading a lot of his books lately. I’ve also been getting into LOST, thanks to @BCBodnar.

The list:

1) Green (and Efficient) Pizza Box Design. This is what I want to do with my life. I want to create packaging that is green, efficient and nice to look at (this pizza box design is just missing the last element).

2) More Green and Efficient Design.

rambling #41 @ 11:45pm

in my room

Currently listening to Audioslave.

I ran into my bedframe earlier today and I think I may have broken a toe. Or two. It hurts to wiggle them.

I spent most of today at the Daily office, working on the fourth (and second to last!) section of the New Student Edition. I have to go in tomorrow evening to finish it up, and I hope I won’t be there past 10pm.

I’ve spent the past few months debating whether or not to return to the Daily in the Fall. Everytime I get close to making a decision, I just can’t. I’ve had a good run at the Daily, and I feel that I’ve done all that I can there. The New Student Edition is coming along nicely, and I think that if I decide to leave, I’ll be leaving on a good note. I’m also interested in joining other student organizations during my last year at the University, particularly the U-M AIGA Student Chapter and the Michiganensian (yearbook). Then again, I kind of want to stay involved with the Daily during my last year at the University. Crap. I don’t know what to do.

I’m also trying to decide if I want to stay with SHEI Magazine. Decisions, decisions.  Should I flip a coin?

On to other things:

I really want to study abroad during my last semester here, Winter 2010 (from January to June 2010).  In London.  I’ve looked into a few schools, but I need to go to the Office of International Programs sometime this week and talk to someone about it.  They don’t really encourage you to study abroad during your senior year, let alone your last semester at the University, but I don’t care.  I just really want to study abroad.  I may graduate in June or July instead of May, but I’m completely fine with that.

I started making a paper dress out of the U-M student directory.  Let’s just hope I’ll be able to finish this paper dress.  My last one turned out horribly/I gave up on it.

The list:

1) Martha Stewart Weddings. I love looking at their projects/DIYs and photos of the cakes (!) and wedding ceremonies.

Image courtesy of http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

2) The Bride’s Guide. A lovely blog by Darcy Miller, Senior VP and Weddings Editorial Director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Other staff members contribute posts too.  Again, I like looking at their projects/DIYs and photos.

rambling 40 @ 8:43 pm

at my parents’ house

currently listening to my sister talk to herself

So I’m at my parents’ house for the Fourth of July weekend.  I got here early yesterday morning, and I’m leaving for Ann Arbor early tomorrow morning.  I have to be at work at 11am.  Boo.

Nothing exciting really happened here.  I ate a lot.  And slept a lot.  And read a lot (for both leisure and class).  I finished David Sedaris’s When You Are Engulfed in Flames and absolutely loved it.  But then again, I’ve never been disappointed by Sedaris.  I am now re-reading his book Holidays on Ice.

I went to the Salvation Army last weekend and found a super cool suitcase for $6!  Now, I just need somewhere to go…

Another cool find at the Salvation Army.

The list:

1) Paper Heart. A documentary/story about love starring Charlyne Yi and MICHAEL CERA! I saw an ad for the film in a magazine yesterday and went online to check out the trailer.  I have since watched the trailer about 6 times.  Paper Heart comes out on August 7th, and I can’t wait to see it.

Image courtesy of http://www.paperheart-movie.com/

2) Prologue. @CrossTheStreams suggested that I take a look at this website, and they’ve got some pretty amazing stuff on here.  The guy behind prologue, Kyle Cooper, “has directed over 150 film title sequences, and has been credited with ‘almost single-handedly revitalizing the main-title sequence as an art form’.” (imdb.com).  Prologue’s most recent work?  The 2009 MTV Movie Awards (though I only watched about 5 minutes of it).  Be sure to check out Prologue’s reel/montage.

Image courtesy of http://prologue.com/

rambling 39 @ 10:00pm

in my room

Currently listening to Snow Patrol.

Holidays: Manila Day in the Phillipines and St-Jean Baptiste in Canada.

Very humid.  Very hot.  Very uncomfortable.  Trying to escape the heat by sitting in front of a fan (my co-op doesn’t have air conditioning). It’s working.  I just checked the weather and its going to storm tomorrow; the high will be 85.  Heat + humidity = miserable.

Today was the first day in a long time that I didn’t have class or work.  I just bummed around my co-op for a bit, walked around Ann Arbor, went to Target, and then came back to my co-op to watch King Corn, a documentary on corn (@CrossTheStreams recommended it).  I ended up falling asleep for a bit; I’ll finish watching it sometime this weekend.  So far, it’s ok.

I checked out In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan in book-on-CD form from the district library and am really excited to start listening to it.  I’ve become quite fascinated with food lately (i.e. King Corn) and wonder how my views on food will change after listening to In Defense of Food and watching King Corn.

I also have The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan on hold at the district library.  The book-on-CD copy.  I love auidobooks.

The list:

1) Banksy.  The famous English graffiti artist  has an exhibit up at the Bristol Museum in the UK.  Read an article here and here and view pictures of his exhibit here and here.

Some of his street work has recently been vandalized.  Ironic, as some people consider what he does to be vandilization.

One of Banksy's pieces at the Bristol Museum.

2) Sustainable Design.  Last week, on my way to work, I listened to an amazing podcast about sustainable design on Read Between the Leading.  It really got me thinking, as I hope to go to art school after undergrad to pursue a degree  in communications/product packaging design.  To listen to the podcast, search Read Between the Leading in iTunes.  The podcast aired on 5/22/2009, episode #17.  And while you’re at it, listen to their other podcasts!  They’re freeee.

rambling #35 @ 8:30pm

Currently watching NCIS.

I went to see UP with a couple of housemates on Friday, and it was AMAZING.  I wanted to see it in 3D, but we got there late and ended up seeing it in digital.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.  I wanted to cry at a few parts. A-MAZE-ZING.

Today was pretty uneventful.  I had classes from 9am-4pm, straight, with no breaks.  Blurgh.

In my drawing class today, we went to the U-M Stephen M. Ross School of Business and drew the lobby in perspective.  It was really hard.  And I got so confused.  For homework, we had to go back and finish what we started in class.  I think my drawing turned out okay, though there are a ton of random marks on my paper.  Oh well.

In my first Comm. Studies class (Citizenship and the Media) we spent two hours talking about neoliberalism.  We’ve been talking about neoliberalism for a couple of classes now, and I still don’t really understand it.  All I know is that its about individual rights and free markets.  I have a paper on neoliberalism due in a few weeks.  Ha.

In my second Comm. Studies class (Masculinities in the Media) we spent two hours talking about the Moynihan Report, Bill Cosby, and A Raisin in the Sun.  P. Diddy plays a main character in A Raisin in the Sun, and my classmates and I agreed that he cannot act.

The list:

1) Richard Sweeney.  Supercool awesome flickr set!

Kind of reminds me of making snowflakes.

2) Bloesem.  Supercool awesome blog!  I love the photos that’s on this blog.  So bright, so vibrant, so cheery (usually).

Probably the coolest furniture I’ve seen to date.  Not sure what the photo in the lower-left hand corner is though.

rambling #32 @ 5:13pm

in my own room!
Currently listening to nothing.

I moved out of West Quad on Saturday, went home for a couple of days to attend a wedding, and moved into my co-op early Monday morning.  I absolutely love my co-op, and I have my own room!!  I haven’t met all my housemates yet, but everyone I’ve met so far is great.  I think there are about 12 other girls living in the co-op.

Classes started on Tuesday and I’m going to be running around like a mad woman this Spring.  I like all my classes so far–there’s just a ton of reading to do for my Communication Studies classes (no surprise there).  Both of my Communication Studies instructors are really cool.  They know each other and one even said that she’d talk to the other to make sure that there isn’t a ridiculous amount of reading for both classes, as a couple people (like me) are in both classes.

I’m really enjoying my drawing class.  So far we’ve drawn one of our classmates, our hand, a plant, and a building.  I actually have to drawn another building tonight for homework.  I was thinking of drawing Hatcher Graduate Library, but it looks like it might rain, so I think I’ll just draw my co-op.

I met with the content editors of The Michigan Daily’s New Student Edition on Sunday and we’ve come up with some good ideas for the issue.  I want to start designing the pages, but I have to wait for the ads to get placed and for the stories to come in and get edited.  I think I can start designing in a week or two.

The list:

1) The Sartorialist.  My friend Sara suggested this website, and though I’ve only skimmed through a few pages, everything I’ve seen so far is amazing.  Go here for some fashion inspiration!  Thanks Sara!

This kid has way more fashion sense than me.

2) Made in England.  Pretty neat portfolio.  The only thing is, the person behind it stopped updating it on April 9.  There’s still some cool stuff to check out though.