Wait...Cicadas? What Are Cicadas?
What's All the Buzz About!?
So apparently this Summer, The Summer of 2013, strange bugs called Cicadas are about to hatch beneath the soil and surface - an event that only happens every 17 years! Some people think this is an amazing occurance in nature, but you know what? I think it's absolutely vile.
According to Wikipedia, Cicadas are a species of spittlebugs and are very large in size. Reg size cicada can grow to 2 to 5 centimetres, but the largest cicada described was 15 centemetres. They live in mostly tropical climates and they feed off leaves and bark. Wiki says that about 2,500 species of cicada have been discribed- gross. Cicadas do not feed off humans, but they land on you and that could very well ruin one's day. Despite the atrocious physical features of this beetle on steroids, what cicadas are known most prominantly for is the piercing sound they produce. Some call this sound the "Cicada Song" i'll just state the truth: it's Cicada Noise.
What Does a Cicada sound like? you might ask - Its a loud buzzing sound that seems to consume the world around you. It keeps you up at night and it makes your skin crawl. Cicada Noise is similar to what I imagine would be the sound of all the worlds children crying at once - irritating, uncontrollable, and unavoidable. Don't believe me?
Cicada Noise: Watch and Listen
Some other disturbing and repulsive facts about these demon beetles are that they are actually a delicacy in certain tropical regions. According to Wikipedia: "They are known to have been eaten in Ancient Greece as well as China, Malaysia, Burma, Latin America, and the Congo.Female cicadas are prized for being meatier.Shells of cicadas are employed in the traditional medicines of China." One word: Gross.
I can just see it now - the new summer fad "The Cicada Diet: A diet highly recommended by scientologists, vegans, and yoga instructors." If you have interest in cooking with Cicada, here are some recommended reads:
Soo I guess the best way to get rid of Cicadas is to deep fry them or sautee them for a zesty meal with a crunch. I, however, plan on spending the summer locked inside with the doors sealed. You may call it paranoia, but I call it Cicadas.
Music Festivals 2013
fashion trends for summer music festivals
It's that time of year where the weather is warm, the energy is high, and the festivities begin. By festivities, of course, I mean music festival mania! This involves 2-3 day events in specific music hall locations with a line-up of artists pertaining to the genre and or genre(s) associated with that specific festival. These events acquire a large cult following of youth and older generations as well who come from all over to pay tribute to their favorite artists and bands. Because these crazy festivals last all day long and for multiple days, there is often camping involved set up in a tailgating type manner in which groups of fans set up, camp out, and live and breathe the music.
-Of course, some people come prepared more than others - and if you don't go through the list of necessities before entering the music festival culture, you could find yourself out of water by the first day - and god forbid- out of beer! Always make sure you have enough supplies to live off of based on the size of your group and the number of days you are staying. You will be out in the sun alll day so shade and lots of water should be first on your list!
Also, if your thinking of wearing the cutest outfits for music festivals, know that they will get dirty and they may get ruined. The music festival culture isn't about wearing top designer brands and looking like you just stepped of the red carpet. Music Festival fashion has evolved to mimic the culture itself; boho grunge, punk, minimalists, with the acceptance that this isnt a beauty contest; it's a lifestyle.
Just because you will have minimal access to showers, be living in a tent for a few days, and will probably smell like the alleyway behind an ethically questionable restaurant, DOESN'T mean you can't rock a good look. In fact, the bigger the music festival culture has gotten, the more I have noticed that the grunge-style within the camp culture has surfaced more prominently into the fashion world. But let's just jump to the music festivals of 2013 and the trends that you can expect, and the ones you should reject.
1. WAKARUSA 2013
Location: Ozark, AK
Wakarusa 2013 Dates: May 30–June 2
Some Featured Artists:
Widespread Panic
Dispatch
STS9
The Black Crowes
Amon Tobin
Snoop Lion
Umphrey’s McGee
Younder Mountain String Band
Gogol Bordello
Zeds Dead
Of Monsters and Men
GROUPLOVE
SOJA
Rebelution
Quixotic
Walkarusa fashion is similar to that of Woodstock: hippy, dippy, trippy. Lots of cut-off jean shorts, bathing suit tops, fringe vests, ect. Comfort trumps style in the heat, but a flowy sundress and perhaps a flower or two in your hair will do...accessorize with colorful bracelets and anklets long pendant necklaces and feather earrings. Just add your own twists of color and style with accessories and look boho chic.
Wakarusa Fashion Trends
(Left to right) Born Janna (shoeline.com), Frankie straw fedora ($30 - swell.com), CHRISTINER DRESS ($65 - bench.ca), Lennon Small Round Hippie Style Sunglasses ($10 - 80spurple.com), Born Crown Aberlin ($115 - shoeline.com), FULL TILT Cross Back Button Front Womens Top ($22 - tillys.com),high waisted shorts light denim ($45 - etsy.com). Dream Catcher Feather Effect Earring ($19 - debenhams.com)
DO:Embrace your inner flower child
Cut off jeans, Aztec patterns, and of course - Fringe and flowers, is all you need to captivate the free spirit living of the Wakarusa Music festival.
DO:Spend time with friends, camp out and enjoy the musical atmosphere around you!
DON'T: ....Just Dont....
DON'T: Bring your kids...come on people! A music festival - although awesome on so many levels - is no place for children. There are weirdos and creepers and drinking and partying...I don't care if your kid's named rain water star-dust - leave em' home!
Want more info about wakarusa 2013?
Visit http://www.wakarusa.com/ for more information on Ticket Prices, availability, The 2013 Wakarusa line-up, and vendor information!
2. Movement 2013
Location: Detroit, MI
Movement 2013 Dates: MAY 25-27, 2013
Some Featured Artists:
Adult. - live
Al Ester
Alton Miller
Ataxia
Audion - live
Azari & III - live
Ben Sims
Big Chocolate
Break Science - live
Brodinski
Bruce Bailey
Carlos Souffront
Daniel Bell
Dantiez Saunderson
DJ Godfather & DJ Zebo
See Full Line-Up for Movement 2013
Maybe it's the electronic vibes of Movement or the people that it attracts, but as far as fashion is concerned, movement is the most vivacious yet. If Music festivals were holidays, Movement would most definitely be Halloween. Originally called the Detroit Electronic Music Festival or DEMF, fans come adorned in pleather, plaid, neon, and chains. From head to toe, their bodies are bejewled in steam-punk accessories, straps, and frills as if Jersey Shore meets The Mad Hatter. If you go to movement wearing anything less than costume decor, you will find yourself a bit under dressed. So go crazy with your style and let loose! Movement is most definitely a festival that truly allows you to embellesh your look to the max.
Movement Fashion Trends
(Top Left to right) Know When to Fold 'Em Sunglasses ($3.99 - charlotterusse.com), Dana Top by Motel ($34 - topshop.com), New Look Aztec Backpack ($31 - asos.com), Neon Episode Post Earrings in Neon Yellow and Teal ($22 - etsy.com), Bubble Necklace (fab.com),Sofft Pedra in Ocean Multi Patent ($99 - shoeline.com), Black studded shorts ($70 - etsy.com), River Island Black festival pattern bracelet pack($7.68riverisland.com)
DO: Wear Glow in the Dark Gear for the Light Show
DO: Color Co-ordinate Bright Neon colors with friends
DON'T: Dress like a Cartoon Character
DON'T: Dress like a pole dancer
Want more info about Movement Electronic Music Festival?
Visit http://movement.us/ for tickets, line-up, special guests, room rates, and more!
3. BONNAROO 2013
Location: MANCHESTER, TN
Bonnaroo 2013 Dates: JUNE 13-16, 2013
Some Featured Artists:
PAUL McCARTNEY
Mumford & Sons
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
BJÖRK
Wilco
Pretty Lights
R. Kelly
WU-TANG CLAN
Daniel Tosh
The National
The Lumineers
David Byrne & St. Vincent
Passion Pit
The xx
Nas
Bob Saget
Kendrick Lamar
Grizzly Bear
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Animal Collective
Of Monsters and Men
Empire of the Sun
See Full Line-Up for Bonnaroo 2013 at: http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/
With 700 Acres filled with up to 80,000 fans/campers, Bonnaroo is a festival that has quite the hype. Over 150 performances and 10+ stages, is what makes Bonnaroo one of the biggest festivals of the summer. For 4 days, fan camp, eat and sleep on the grounds and packing all the necessities to last your group during these days is a task in itself. The hot hot weather, along with the length of this gigantic party, are recipes for dehydration and too much sun exposure. This is why packing cute AND comfortable is key to the fashion trends at Bonaroo.
Bonnaroo Fashion Trends
Jane Norman Cap Sleeve Crop Top ($12- janenorman.co.uk), Black Floral Lace Swing Crop Top ($20 - newlook.com), FOREVER 21 Bolted Stud Denim Shorts ($20 - forever21.com), 953 Festival Studded Frayed Shorts (runwaydreamz.com) Ecote Dillon Smocked Strapless Dress ($49 - urbanoutfitters.com), Mali Sabatasso Gold and Emerald Teardrop Pendant Necklace ($205 - maxandchloe.com), Born Crown Gayla ($130 - shoeline.com), Minnetonka Thunderbird Mocs ($49 - Shoeline.com) Cut N Paste Fringe Crossbody ($59 - lorisshoes.com), Born Delano ($80 - shoeline.com)
DO: Cool Down in the Sprinkler
DO: Layer Up in colorful scarfs when it gets cold and the sun goes down
DONT: Wear Kids Toys as a part of your costume
DONT: Try and get on stage...it's not worth it
REMEMBER: You're NEVER too old to party...
Want more info about Bonnaroo 2013?
Visit http://www.bonnaroo.com/ for ticket info, line-up, special guests, camping, and more!
Shoe So Funny: Cheap Shoes and Gingers
Any Boardwalk Empire Fans out there? If you are a fan, you are most definitely familiar with Steve Buscemi -known for his significant role in the show as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the powerfuly corrupt political treasurer of Atlantic county. However,despite Buscemi's gain in popularity for his role the hit show Boardwalk Empire, I believe that Buscemi's true celebrity lies in a feature he has carried with him his whole life; his eyes. It was his early roles in Adam Sandler movies such as his role as "Crazy Eyes," the homeless man in Big Daddy, that gave his unusual, and rather creepy looking eyes a celebrity of their own. However in recent months, these wide, bug-like, and seemingly forever tired eyes have made waves in the meme scene as many have found humor in photoshopping Steve Buscemi Eyes onto celebrities. With the addition of Steve Buscemi's eyes, the faces of these once beautiful looking people are suddenly transformed entirely, resulting in a hilariously frightening and (quite truthfully) fugly looking face. I personally think the outcome creates a look similar to the mix between celebrity and swamp-monster, but you tell me.
Before I go on to show you my personally made memes using the "Buscemi eyes," I must say that I am secretly obsessed with Steve Buscemi. Even though his eyes pop out like a bush baby, or an overly- alarmed cartoon character, I still want to meet him and eventually become best friends. Weird? Maybe- but not as weird as this celebrity colaboration I have created using Steve Buscemi's famous eyes...
Angelina Jolie
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And I though she looked like a big-mouth bass before the eyes...
Jennifer Lawrence
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Sorry Jennifer, there is no Silver Lining to a face like this...
Ryan Gosling
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Ryan Gosling...you look like a crack addict with pink-eye
Katy Perry
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...Wait isn't this the photo Russell Brandt Posted of Katy with no make-up? Hmm - oh wait that was this:
Similarities are uncanny!
Natalie Portman
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V for Vile...
Megan Fox
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Looks like she took her role in The Transformers literally...and probably why she didnt star in The Transformers 2...
Leonardo Dicaprio
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It seems my heart will go on after all..
Taylor Swift
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Your eyes are never, ever, ever, going back together...
Justin Bieber
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This is what he looks like after you have taken the vaccine for Bieber Fever. Watch out ladies, it's not pretty...and I'm not even sure he's a guy.
Mila Kunis
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Wait a second!... Marion Cortillard - Is that you!?
...maybe?
Funny Poems for moms everywhere
I'd like to dedicate this Mother's Day Poem for my weekend post to my mother dearest, who has had the torturous and inconceivable duty of mothering me for almost 24 years. Ma, I know you would never claim these things out loud, but I know I have not always been an easy kid and by "not always" I mean, "never." Your relentless dedication to motherhood has almost fully shaped me into adulthood. By "almost" I mean that i'm still not fully there yet as far as maturity goes, but I blame that part solely on Dad - so no worries! I hope you enjoy this poem of which I made for you to enjoy on your one day-a-year of rest. May these poems in all entirety make up for all of the times I made you angry beyond belief, made you want to pull out your hair, or made you want to drive me out to a uninhabited place and leave me there...I also hope these poems makes up for the gift I did not yet get you because I am poor. That being said, enjoy, I love you!
NOTORIOUS M.O.M.
Mother, mother, mother, cant you see
without your womb, I simply wont be
and I just love your nurturing ways
but that is why Im broke and you've gone craze
I Know I'm In Trouble
Once upon a time, a few mistakes ago
You brought me to life, you gave me a home
You ground me, you ground me, you ground me
Guess You were always there, and I always liked that
And when I fell down, you fed me snack packs
You raised me, your raised me, you raised me
And its been long since my last house party
And I realize, the blame is on me
Cause I knew I was in trouble when you walked in
My party’s over now
You cursed me to places I had never been
Until I cleaned the whole house
I knew I'm in trouble when you walked in
A keg lays on the ground
Told me I had no idea how deep i'm in
Now im lying in my room grounded
Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble.
Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble.
Dear Mother
You've been the very best mother for me
It doesnt help that I am prone to injury
Im sorry for the teenage angst and college life benders
And the time I accidentally stuck my hand inside the blender
Remember the time, at the grocery store in line,
I hid up on a shelf, which collapsed in Aisle 9?
Or the time when I decided that it would be quite nice
to fool the school nurse into thinking I had lice?
That day I was sent home, and tried to run away
and climbed high in a tree and sat there for a day
All these childhood fails, I got through and prevailed
Whenever Im in trouble, you are my sheild
You are always there, Through every wear and tear
Even though I wasnt always child of the year
Being that Mother's Day is comming up, it seemed fitting to celebrate Mom's all over by sharing these hilarious letters to moms from kids. Enjoy!
1. Dear Mom, Love the Artist.
2. Sorry Mom
3. Mad at Mom
4. Mean Mom
5. Tattling on Mom
6. Lucky to Have you, NOT your Nose
7. Forgiving Mom
8. Don't Touch The Bacon
9. Thank you Mom
10. A Cheesy Note To Mom
11. Sorry For Calling You a Piece of Poo
12. Dear Mom, I've Made a Mess
13. Got a Boo Boo
14. Running Away
15. Love You More
To All Graduates
Warmest congratulations on reaching your life’s ultimate peak. May the dismal years ahead be trumped by the memories of your once whimsicle and free-spirited youth...
Seeing as Spring is just around the corner (even though we were supposed to get 10 inches of snow during today and tomorrow), I got in the mood to look on the bright side for a change, you know something I believe they call "optimism." In doing so, I took a look at our new spring style guide for 2013 and I must say Im digging the bright colors and the multi-colored combinations in store. These energetic, Kaleidoscopic schemes make me want to step outside wearing 50 shades of pink instead of hermiting around inside, wondering if ill ever read 50 shades of grey...
But enough about me, I want to introduce you to the bloggers featured in this up and coming style guide. And uhh yeah, they are real-life bloggers who were blessed with beauty AND talent... good genes and good jeans. Punny, huh? (when you make a pun and it's funny - or so you think). I'm going to show you some great pics from the spring style photoshoot featuring these stylish bloggers and show you how they add their personal and unique flair to the Shoeline.com's new spring styles. If your into fashion blogs, there's alot to learn from these ladies- so check em out! Ive listed their blog sites under each blogger's introductions piece - so click to get new style ideas on the reg!
Say Ello To Christina
Fashion Blogger at Trop Rouge Blogspot
This is Christina Caradona, model, and fashion writer of the blog Trop Rouge. Growing up with a model for a mother, living in France and then in New York City, Christina knows fashion like the back of her hand. To Christina, however, it's more than just knowing fashion, it is being able to create it. Christina canvases her quirky and fun personality through her style, mixing and matching fun pieces with urban streetwear for a unique look that's all her own...now if only I could
Christina is wearing our Born Naura flats in Cereza. Love the nautical crop top she chose with the high waisted shorts. I am officially motivated to hit the gym in order to reciprocate this beachy look for summer...just a matter of time now!
Retro Peep-Toe
Im loving the fun and flirty personality Christina brings to this new collection. In the above image, Christina is showing off the peep-toe pump Olivia by Sofft. Christina and our other fashion bloggers created their own looks exclusively for our collection- and I must say she rocked this retro peep-toe look. I love the flowery shirt she matched with the embelleshed heel of these Olivias - and I want that necklace ASAP.
Love the attitude in these shots, another great outfit paired with the Korkease Blythe Cut-outs. Gotta say I would never thing of mix-matching these pieces together, but I love the entire look...maybe I need a stylist...Christina, you busy?
The Statement Thong
In these shots, Christina is sporting thong Sandals by Born. These Born Farrah sandals come in a variety of colors and can definitely add come color to your look. I love these relaxed fit pants she paired with these Born Farrah's...light, fun, and comfortable... I like it.
To get to know Christina Caradona better, check her out at:
Blog: http://troprouge.blogspot.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/troprouge
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trop-Rouge/114092251935061
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/troprouge/
Polyvore: http://troprouge.polyvore.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/troprouge
Again I must apologize for the absense of blog articles, but I was off having the most amazing time at SXSW in Austin, TX. For those of you that don't know what SXSW is, heres a brief description. Firstly, SXSW stands for South By South West and it is, according to www.sxsw.com, an "Annual music, film, and interactive conference and festival held in Austin, TX. Includes schedules and band and film lists." I went for the first week to engage in the interactive sessions that start the first week of this whirlwind of a festival. The music follows suite after the Interactive and changes the scene to a concert-like atmosphere. I was appointed to come to this amazing place and attend various sessions (of my choice) held by a slew of intellectuals with different focuses in business, technology, and media. I was especially excited to get out of the cold weather and go to a place I have never been before! I traveled to SXSW with a few of my coworkers including my biffle, Sandal Bullock. I had heard that this place was fun from those of my employers that had been going over the years, but I had not expected the amount of fun and excitement - and of course -valuable learning (in case the big man reads this) that would transform this trip into one of the most amazing yet! Let me start at the beginning...
Luckily, no treacherous incidents happened to me on the plane ride to Austin so I was already feeling pretty confident about this trip - oh wait I did forget the cab driver who drove Sandal Bullock and I to the airport at 630 in the morning and had no shame in telling us he was probably half in the bag from the night before. We did arrive to the airport in one piece, but I swear if I ever see that dude again I'll give him more than a hangover to worry about.
Arriving in Austin, I expected to find many buildings and people in suits ready to attend the sessions on big business and technological expansion, but as we drove to the city through quiet streets with small houses stacked tightly along the side, I knew I was not in Boston anymore. In fact, the first thing that caught my eye when I looked out the window was this:
I took one look at this sign and thought: "hmmm that number is a heck of a lot easier to remember if you are ever in a pickle..." I took a mental note as we approached the 5 skyscrapers that make up the city of Austin and never looked back...well, I did, but on the way home..
Shortly after checking in, Sandal Bullock and I arrived in our hotel room, exhausted and hot from wearing layers upon layers made for Boston weather. In wondering if I had anything remotely weather appropriate to wear, I allowed for my suitcase to throw up all over the floor and wrinkle everything inside it:
...This only got worse as the week prevailed...
Walking to meet our group at the Restaurant, I already started getting the vibes of Austin, TX during SXSW when I passed signs that said this:
Immediatly I knew this was going to be fun
We sat down to dinner at a high end brazilian buffet called Fogo de chao. It worked that there were red and green sided coasters on our table and when you flip the coaster to the green, the waiters (who are walking around carry variety cuts of meat such as Pork Shank, Filet mignon, prime rib, ect. and offer as much as you want until you turn your coaster to red. It was a pretty great experience to sit and converse with our coworkers, while eating amazing food and drink good quality wine...for that moment I almost forgot that in my apartment back home I had been living off frozen pizza, Raman noodles, and boxed wine. In fact, I don't think I could ever go back to those things until im to lazy to cook and am out of money...Fogo DeChao is a chain and does reside in Boston if you feel like checking it out. Click on the Map Below to redirect to a restaurant near you:
When we left the restaurant, the guys took us to the main "bar" street known as 6th Street, which was alive with music and celebration. I could just feel the excitement in the air and got a wave of energy looking around me. However, even at that point this "energy" meant something entirely different than it would the next...when I met this guy:
either this guy is possesed by the devil or had one very "methy" weekend (that's not a type-o, Im referring to the fact that perhaps he smoked a lot of crystal meth over the weekend)...things got interesting from there...
The next day began our session line-up and Sandal Bullock and I went to a session called: Travel Blogger's Meet-up. We had figured since we were bloggers and technically, this was a travel experience, It may be a great way to meet other people and learn ways to get further engaged to our audience. As we walked away from the party on 6th street, we found ourselves off the beaten path a bit as if we had just walked into another state. It was much quieter and there were abandoned buildings to the left and right of us, but I was certain we were headed in the right direction. We got to the blog meet up early and were told to come back so we wandered around a bit and stopped short when we saw this guy:
This guy was standing amongst others of his kind (moustache people) and girls wearing pink. Of course I had to snap this pick and ask him what he was doing dressed like that (not that anything at this point would surprise me since landing in Austin). The guy said that they were spokes people for a new app called Lyft whose premise being:
"Lyft is your friend with a car. Download Lyft in the App Store or on Google Play and request an instant pickup from a friendly, background-checked community driver for less than the cost of a cab. Lyft is currently available for rides originating in San Francisco and Los Angeles."
Pretty cool concept to me, and although not on the east coast YET, I have high expectations that they will be soon. I then asked why the wore mustaches and how they were promoting their app, and they said they are giving away piggy back rides...yes, you heard correctly, piggy back rides. Again, how could I say no to a piggy back ride from a guy wearing a bright pink moustache? Thats like saying when being asked to accept an oscar for an all star performance (which is also on my bucket list, might I add)...so, yeah. I took the ride..
To learn more about the App called "Lyft" got to their facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/lyft?ref=ts&fref=ts
After receiving a piggy back ride from my friends, Sandal and I noticed we still had some time to kill before the meet - up. We couldn't help but notice the loud music coming from up the street and followed it into a bar called coyote ugly...yes, it's exactly what you're thinking...
Before you draw any conclusions (especially you, mom and dad), none of those bras hanging above the bar belong to me! In talking to and befriending the bartender there, she told us that this Coyote Ugly bar is one of the originals outside of the New York location that became known for the movie that took place there. In case you were wondering, this bar really does not serve water. Hence why I had to change shortly after this visit, but all in all it was a very unique experience to say the least. What I liked the best is when our new friend, London, tried to teach us the harlem shake. However, as soon as she saw the moves I was sporting, I think she gave up trying. In return, I got to show her some of my best dance moves, including my favorite, the robot. I think I may have scarred our dear friend with my moves that day, but luckily she was saved by the clock and we had to go to the meet up.
Ok, I think you know why I might have taken this picture...If you dont, this might clear things up:
I guess fitting for the Travelers Blogger club, since he looked like a mongolian prince, but he seemed nice and open to pictures with those who thought he was dressed as captain hook from the Robin Williams feature...either way it was quite entertaining and I desperately wanted - and still want - his hat..
The rest of the meet up went extremely well with Sandal and I. The set up was in an outdoor tent and we went around in a circle telling everybody who we were and what we did. It was nice to see the many different types of bloggers and non-bloggers share their insights and experiences. The tent was sponsored by SXSW through this group that promoted "Free Food Friday." Yep, that's right all of it was free - and no lie, free beer too. Soo yeah I really enjoyed this meeting. Drinking, socializing, learning, drinking...it really was a swell time.
Our favorite part of this meeting was when Sandal and I met a charming UK broad named Vickie who had me when she said "wanker"...uhh huh, we're besties now. Vickie works for UK travelers blog called wayoutfar.com and we were able to talk about our experiences over some beers and then we took our conversation to the next session on google and bing ranking. It's always a good day when you can meet new people, Even if your not a consistant traveler, meeting people from all over is definitely a way to broaden your mind.
Finally, we met up with our coworkers for dinner and hit up 6th street again. I have never seen a place so alive have you?
There are people dancing in the streets, music swarming out of every venue and of course the costumes being warn by various promoters and fellow SXSW fans, were awesome!
If you're not amazed yet, here's one for ya:
They had vending machines where you can buy these as gag gifts...So of course here is my embarassing story of the night:
Saw this machine in the bathroom and thought: Ha ha ha this is so funny that I might actually buy it for my friend Amy as a joke... I put in $10...pressed the button...nothing came. I pressed the button again...nothing. Now it's at this point I realize I am not getting that sheep and I was just jipped out of $10. Meanwhile my friends and coworkers are out in the bar, and im thinking: No way in HELL am I going to ask the bartender for my money back from the inflatable sheep machine that just ate my $10...that's something that I would never want to admit in front of anyone let alone my fellow employees. Of course, I am admitting it now, but it's for the sake of the story!
The next day, we woke up and walked to our first session about Women in the Media Industry...beforehand, we made a pit stop on the way to fill out what we want to do before we die:
My favorite response was: Before I Die.. I want to smuggle midgets over the border
what and interesting concept...
aaaaannnnnnnnnddddd Jump!
If you are wondering if I jumped into a giant ball pit at 9am in the morning, yes, yes I did. This was at the Chuck Lorrie Exhibit and it represented anti-censorship on TV. Chuck Lorrie created a space where people can be free to exercise their rights without network censorship interfering. I must say, I couldn't have gotten a better start to the day...
Then I wrote our names on the chalkboard:
...but wait there's more!
After a few sessions in the morning, we hurried over to see Elon Musk speak at the convention center. If your wondering who Elon Musk is, LEAVE NOW! - Kidding, but he is only just the most interesting man in the world, inventor of Pay Pal and founder of Space X, a company dedicated to making space innovation a priority. DID YOU KNOW that he has built a rocket capable of landing back on earth? A rocket that can go to space and return safely with the ability to hover like a helicopter? If this doesnt interest you, I can only say that I am a space nerd and I LOVE IT. Elon Musk is possibly the love of my life, but it may be too soon to tell...I wonder if he has myspace orrr...
After seeing Elon Musk, Sandal Bullock and I went to the trade show located on the first floor of the convention center. It was amazing! There were booths lining the entire room representing the latest tech, uncovering brands, and of course, SWAG! The first thing we did is go to the Vimeo booth and was asked if we would box on camera for free vimeo accounts...we did.
After Fighting, I just had to say hello to this guy:
...what a fairy...and an awesome one at that!
In passing, I had to take this pic...Big man, little dog, pretty funny!
We ended our day on 6th Street, and went to a highly recommended burger place called Casino al Camino where there was an hour wait because of how famous it is! It was pretty cool inside, had a gothic feel, and was so dark we forgot it was daytime
Totally worth it....and so were these:
...I kid, just water
Later at another session led by the creator of Tumblr, I found these funny cards on our seats:
After a long day and a fun night with everyone it was bittersweet to say goodbye...Great time. Great people. Great experiences.I would recommend this to anyone out there with a love for culture and an interest in future of technology...oh, and you got to have fun too! Cheers to the best SXSW experience!
The 2013 Academy Awards was a smooth ceremony. Some highlights of the night were: quotes by Host, Seth MacFarlane, Jennifer Lawrence's face-plant, Anne Hathaway's melodramatic acceptance speech, Helen Hunt's H&M get-up, and lastly lets not forget that Kristen Stewart has now switched over from Twilight to meth. For now, lets start from the Red Carpet and see which Celebrities took advice from their stylist and which ones went rogue...Here's the Good, the Bad and the Fugly.
LOVE - THE - LOOK!
1. Amanda Seyfried - Custom Alexander McQueen Gown
I really liked this custom Alexander McQueen gown worn by Amanda Seyfried at the Oscars. It reminds me of a Mid-summer nights dream with the floral accents and hint of lavender coloring. It really fits well to her body and with all the embelleshments on the dress, I'm glad she was simple with the hair and jewelry.
2.) Sandra Bullock in Elie Saab
Girl got it right with this Ellie Saab Dress right from the runway. The dress looks great on her figure and I love the ornate beading throughout the dress. I'm glad Sandra, like Amanda, kept it simple with no excess bling... it's classy. If I ever were to look as good as Sandra Bullock when I get up to 48 years old, it would probably require some serious lifestyle changes for me from now up to then. However, considering my inability to inhabit any form of willpower, I'll probably just be cruisin around in one of those automatic scooters at a walmart somewhere....woof.
3. Jessica Chastain in custom Armani Prive
I am diggin this Armani Prive Dress on Jessica Chastain. She has the perfect amount of curves to pull of a glamorous cut like this. I love the champagne coloring and the asymetrical design of the glitter on the dress, which adds more dimension. With a dress like this on a fair-skinned red-head, you would think it might wash her up, but the birght red lipstick gives her the boost she needs to pull off a look like this.
4.) Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture Dress
Despite being the ultimate blame of her face-plant on the stairs while going on stage to receive her award, this gown looks beautiful on Jennifer Lawrence. I know there are mixed feeling about her looking like a bride, ect., but I think she looks so elegant. I may have a biased opinion considering she is now one of my favorite actresses thanks to Silver Lining's Playbook, but I love the dress. I mean, if I had this dress back in the day for my senior prom, I'd be able to hide an entire keg in plain sight - just sayin..
5.) Jennifer Garner in custom purple Gucci dress
I just love this color purple on Jennifer Garner, it is absolutely stunning. Mind you, i'm not a huge fan of the mohawk located down the spine of the dress, but I must say for an A shaped body type, the mohawk gives her some curvature that she otherwise wouldn't have. All in all, very pretty and it gave us something different to look at for a change.
W. hen T. hey F. ail
...There's always a few that wander off the beaten path of style...
1.) Holy Banana-Hammock! Jane Fonda wore the Yellow Submarine!
Oh Mwoy FONDA you've done it again! Is it me or did Big Bird just perch for a picture on the red carpet? I don't mind the cut of the dress, but man that's a lot of yellow. She looks like like she got dunked in cheese before her red carpet debut. I think I'll call her Jane Fondue from now on...
2. Anne Hathaway Hath Withered Away into an Oscar
Anne Hathaway presented herself on the red carpet looking like she hasnt eaten anything since the actual storming of Versailles. I get that she had to lose weight for the part, but hasn't the movie been over for half a year now? Anyway, it's not so much about the body as it is about the dress. Did she really beam her you-know-whats around all night for everyone to see or do you think that she's really an undercover fem-bot? Either way, it made me nervous and so did the lining of her dress. The dress being cut straight down without some sort of flare at the end or train, makes her look like an old school polly pocket. I feel like I can just pick her up and place in the shallow hole in front of the stage to recieve her award...or she was aiming to look like an oscar, maybe she dreams to BE the award!
3. Naomi Watts Has a Grim Reaper Fettish
In any other cut I would say this dress is pretty, but she went for the "I just had a hot night with the Grimm Reaper" look instead. I mean whats the point of a cut like that other than to say: "yeah, I'm showing you this one because it's the bigger of the two." Dont get fancy with a cut-out dress like that. If you needsomething to cut, I hear Kristen Stewart has one good foot left...
4.) Hally Berry is stuck in the roles of her past
After playing a Bond Girl, Cat Woman, and Storm from X-Men, Halle Berry can't seem to get away from the tight pleather jumpsuits of her past. Although these kind of suits are not fit for the red carpet, she did find the closest resemblance to it, with this sci-fi, shoulder-padded, alien-like costume. She may have wanted to act in the way of her past roles and was just suiting up incase she needs to fight any villianous crimes, but unfortunatley the only crime committed at the academy awards was her with this dress.
5.) Kristen Stewart, What Happened To You?
Is it just me or did Kristen Stewart show up to the oscars on methamphetamine? I understand she cut her foot on glass before the Oscars, but unless she cut her brain stem, I cant give her an excuse for ruining this possibly beautiful look by roughing up her hair and avoiding all eye-contact with the press. One thing she did help with, however, is that she inspired me to write a song called Kristen Stewart's Limp. PS - Did anyone see her present the Oscar with Daniel what's-his-face from Harry Potter? It was painful - and I'm not just saying that because of her foot, I think it was more painful for the audience to watch her fidget like a rabid squirrel. Just look at those hands move - it's like she's rolling a meatball!:
And I'm not the only one that believes the drug theory. I was going to create my own image, but I found this gem online:
