Smoothie Time!

Now that it's officially into legitimate summertime territory, it's important for you to be up-to-date on all the best, brightest, and, of course, yummiest smoothie strategies for the season.

If you want to go classic...
For a delicious classic smoothie, there are three rules: keep it simple, keep it cold, and keep it fresh. For that delicious trademark "smoothie" taste, toss plain yogurt, orange juice, a banana, and a concoction of fresh berries (strawberries for sure, blueberries for probably, blackberries maybe, and raspberries if you're feeling adventurous) into the blender for a fail-proof smoothie success.
For a smooth twist on this classic beverage, add some fresh peaches to the mix.

If you want to pretend you're at a spa and taking the exotic route...
Who says that you have to go to a spa to feel like you're at one? Only the people in the marketing department for spas and luxury hotels. For everyone else out there, here are a few tricks to make smoothies that taste just as healthy, luxurious, pure, and delicious as gourmet spa-style smoothies. We commonly consider "spa food" to be a balanced, healthful mix of yummy and vitamin-y foods. However, in the smoothie realm, you don't have to sacrifice any taste bud approval to get that vibrant, rejuvenating, spa-like taste. In my house, we've applied this approach to breakfasttime by making smoothies with frozen cherries or cantaloupe and other melons. Frozen Bing cherries are naturally less sweet than fresh berries, but they still retain enough innate sweetness to make a delicious, vitamin-packed smoothie. For a lighter blend, opt for cantaloupe, cantaloupe and mint, or cantaloupe and strawberries to flavor your new beverage.

If you want to go tropical...
I strongly believe in the strength of willpower and mental concentration. Therefore, whenever I want something badly enough, I simply have to think about it--and think about it really hard--until I feel closer to obtaining it. This often happens with me and tropical beaches. You see, one of my first and greatest loves is the ocean and the shoreline, but living in a landlocked state tends to make it difficult to access the waters that I love so much. Thus, I've discovered several methods for pretending to be on or near the beach. And one of the most successful of these methods is entitled How to Feel Like You Are at the Beach--Through a Smoothie. Recently, I had the most delicious tropical smoothie ever. Try to think of it this way: it was a Piña Colada without the sugar overload; it was a fruity umbrella drink without the umbrella or concentrated fruit juice; it was a beach without sand, sunburn, or damp beach towels; it was a beach vacation, in a cup, without airfare, hotel prices, packing lists, or rental cars. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this tropical smoothie was a sort of heaven in a cup (and please prepare yourself, if you ever try this smoothie; I do not use the phrase "heaven in a cup" lightly; I've only ever used it to describe hot chocolate, which is easily one of the greatest foods in the entire world.). To create your own version of this delectable drink, use the classic yogurt, OJ, and banana combination as a foundation for your masterpiece. Then, add chunks of fresh watermelon slices, a few small pieces of pineapple, and some strawberries to the mix. After this, add a bit more watermelon for good measure. If you're one of those people who is a suckler for mangoes, papayas, or lychees, put some of those in as well. And when it's finished... voila! Enjoy your beach-without-a-beach!

If you pay attention to details...
Everyone knows that the best parts are always in the fine details. Therefore, be sure not to skip over these tips that can perfect your already near-perfect smoothie-slurping experience.
The glass: presentation and packaging matters--even when we say that it doesn't. Therefore, don't deprive your smoothie of the fashionable exterior that it deserves! Either opt for your favorite glassware, or go for something different--such as a wine glass, brandy glass, or margarita glass (champagne glasses don't work as well because they are too slender for hardcore smoothies). It is common knowledge that everything tastes better in a wine glass.
The accessories: smoothies don't always have to be enjoyed alone. By adding mixtures of granola, nuts, dried fruits, or whatever other treats that you'd like to your creation, you can make your smoothie appropriate to consume at any point in the day. Also, keep in mind that yogurt parfaits are nothing compared to smoothie ones :) .
The cleanup: just as a side note, remember this one gem of smoothie knowledge: if you forget to clean the blender or cup that your smoothie was in, the smoothie remains will become synonymous with glue. I promise. Therefore, always fill your various glassware and kitchen utensils with water immediately after enjoying your smoothie.

So now--enjoy!

Cartoon Controversy!

Ladies and gentlemen, you may never have thought it possible, but yes, unfortunately, Disney has fully entered a stage of cartoon controversy! It is a point of animation atrocity! Of sketching scandal!
A drawing disgrace! An immoral infamy!
We all adore and cherish the headstrong, independent, confident, and entirely-uninterested-in-romance Princess Merida, of the movie Brave. We love her for her determination and spirit, and, of course, for her red hair (shout out to all my fellow redheads). We especially love her for her refusal to conform to unfair standards and obey misleading stereotypes that she does not believe in.
Disney, however, has seemed to hold a different opinion of our favorite (and only...) redheaded, self-sufficient princess. The Princess Merida, you see, has recently undergone a true princess's finest dream: a makeover. This makeover, however, has become rather more of a nightmare than a dream in the eyes of critics, concerned mothers and female role models, and, oh, just the majority of the public around the modern world. Merida's makeover consisted of the usual: an "improvement" of her naturally lovely looks. But many of us contend that this makeover--which was entirely unnecessary in the first place--went far too far. Merida's comfortable-looking gown has been tailored; additional trimming has revealed a larger portion of Merida's previously covered décolletage. Her wild and unruly hair has now seen a very large bottle of conditioner and been tamed into a smoother sort of frenzy. And the trademark expression of blatant innocence and the knowledge that her way is best has been erased, and replaced with a dewy-eyed, longer-lashed, redder-mouthed young woman with curvy hips enhanced by a form-hugging gown. Disney relatively quietly released the new "and improved" Merida, but her debut into society incurred (in Disney's opinion) shockingly hostile results. I, personally, am simply offended by Merida's transformation. Disney has done it again--and created another young princess who is set apart by her beauty and has an outfit and countenance that appears to be designed not to encourage strong young women, but rather to encourage the eyes of men. The new Merida seems to be less, somehow, even though in Disney's world, her sultry pout, feminine dress, and captivating eyes would certainly grant her a sort of power. I just can't help thinking that the new Merida's "confidence pose" (hands on hips with a high chin) looks more flirtatious than strong.
In response to the widespread uproar over the so-called Loss of Merida, Disney has temporarily removed the new Merida and replaced her again with the old. It is unclear as to whether or not the old Merida is here to stay.
Here's a picture of the new Merida to be compared with the old, so that you can decide for yourself if you think that the new Merida is more or less empowering as a role model and standard/ ideal for young girls around the world.









I hate to say it, but the old Merida would never actually be caught dead with other princesses like these...

Lipstick Diaries

My high school has had senior theme days for the past week. For one day's theme, USA Day, my friend and I dressed as matching Wonder Women--blue star eyeshadow, red, white, and blue color schemes, patriotic stars, and all. The finishing touch to our makeup look was statement red lipstick.

In case you are wondering, red lipstick is a stellar finishing touch if you ever intend to be in a large public space that is populated by people that you know. There's something tempting, you see, about living kiss marks on as many people as possible.

My friend and I went around the school distributing kiss marks on hands and cheeks, to the point where we could walk around school the rest of the day and never worry about not being able to find someone wearing a kiss mark. And the best part? The kisses stayed on for nearly two days. Lesson learned: kiss marks are very nearly permanent. So make sure that they match your outfit, or at least are strategically located, becuase they tend to try to be there to stay.

Senior Pet Day

If you are one of the many people out there who has always desired to experience senior pet day but never had the opportunity to do so, then continue reading this post to experience it first hand.
Last Friday, my high school had senior pet day. I had looked forward to senior pet day for seven years (I still grin when I think about it!). It lived up to all my expectations.

Henry, my beautiful, handsome, smart, charming dog, was my date to senior pet day. He represented himself fabulously well; he only peed on one other dog, sniffed politely at all of my teachers, posed for adorable photos, and paid more attention than anyone else in my entire math class (he was fascinated, I believe, because he had never seen an Expo marker before). Henry even resisted the temptation of eating other dogs during math class. I can imagine the doggy thoughts running through his head as he panted and wagged his tail at the assortment of mutts, cotons, and fancy-looking scrawny lap-dogs that was my math class: "Woof. You guys are all dogs. And I am a dog. But I've eaten steaks that are bigger than you!" He heroically abstained from tasting.

Henry also conducted himself amazingly during a break period that I shared with my friends. During this period, Henry met his first-ever hamster. One friend had brought her pet hamster to school, hamster ball and all, and was introducing everyone and everyone's dog to her furry rodent friend. We squeaked "hi", and then in a stroke of genius she opened the ball to let the dogs put their noses in and sniff hello. One friend's dog gave the hamster a sniff and promptly walked away. This three-year-old dog, however, is more blissed out in social situations than either of my dogs will ever be in their lifetimes. Henry, safe to say, was not blissed out to meet the hamster. I think he thought he was being offered a serve-yourself buffet. Just in time, I cried out to my friend-- "No! Hide the hamster! Henry will eat it. It looks like a mouse, and he can eat a mouse in approximately one bite!" In a flurry of motion, the almost-dinner and almost-diner were separated, and I think that Henry is a bit bummed out that he will never know what hamster tastes like.

Henry also had a chaotic first encounter with a cat. This occurred in my Spanish class. A large conference-style wooden table is in the middle of the room, and we were all sitting around it discussing Spanish literature when I noticed Henry leaping about beneath the table. This is quite a feat, considering the fact that the space between the table and the floor is ladden with obstacles in the form of feet, gum, and table legs. Henry was still on the leash, so I gave him an amused little tug and a bit more lee way. Suddenly, Henry bounded back to the other side of the table, and I realized that he was stalking a cat! One instant later, a quivering gray cat was being smothered in love by a nervous owner. Henry began to look at me with a puzzled expression on his face--as if to say "where is my toy the cat and why did it run away?"-- but just then, another friend's dog attacked him! Henry must've landed with a paw or two on this huge dog's tail, for the dog and Henry engaged in full-on battle. Hackles rose, snarls sounded, and my friend ended up running out of the room with her dog as quickly as possible. Class was dismissed ten minutes early (a miraculous miracle caused by the dogfight), and Henry, poor thing, gave me the most mornful look with those lovely big brown eyes. Henry has never attacked anything except a chew toy in his life; the poor baby had to have his first fight on a leash halfway under the table with an irritated dog who didn't understand him.

Here is an example to help give you an idea of how friendly Henry is: A few years ago, a rabbit was trapped in our window well. My parents and I devised a contraption using boxes to help the bunny escape. Being a Labrador, Henry is a natural hunter. So he approached the escaping bunny and easily caught it in his mouth. Instead of killing it, Henry took the poor guy on a joy ride through the yard for half an hour, carefully carrying it so that it could admire his entire territory. Henry, therefore, would never start a fight.

But throughout the entire day, he did fantastic. I could not be more proud of my darling dog. I love you, Henry. Thanks for the best senior pet day ever! <3

Songs!

Here are a few songs that help get your energy up/ concentrate all that nervous energy into something that projects a semblance of control:

"Blackout", by Breathe Carolina
"Breakaway", by Kelly Clarkson
"A Thousand Miles", by Vanessa Carlton
"Homeless", by Ed Sheeran
"Imaginary", by Evanescence
"Hopeless Wanderer", by Mumford and Sons
"Sister, Mother", by Sixpence None the Richer
"Feel Again", by OneRepublic

Enjoy!

Why X-Ray Vision is Overrated

Superpowers come in all shapes and sizes. We have X-ray vision, telekinesis, telepathy, and immortality. Some of us can fly, some of us have bendable arms and invisible powers, and some of us (including yours truly) have the infallible, uncanny ability to always discover new knots in our hair. I know that you have a superpower, too. I do not have a problem with that; in fact, I commend you for it! I do have a problem with our fascination with having the superpower dubbed "X-Ray Vision". 

Problem 1: X-Ray Vision, contrary to popular belief, would not be as interesting as everyone thinks. It's a misnomer. Do you want to see in X-Rays? Most likely, you do not; you want what should be called The Power to See Through Things/Long Distances. 

Problem 2: We all say that we want to see through things. Perhaps this is due to the societal value that we place on being able to "see through the BS" or the lies or someone's demeanor to understand what they are really communicating. And don't get me wrong; being able to cut through the crap is possibly one of the most valuable skills in the world. But ask yourself this question: do you want to see through things, or do you want to see past them? 

When we skim through pages, breeze through life, and rush through the motions of perfunctory tasks, we get things done--at the cost of not noticing so many important things out there. When we look through things, or people, or ideas, or obstacles, we sacrifice the knowledge, experience, and awareness that we would have gained by taking the time to actually see what was going on. If you are merciless with a peer who is getting on your nerves--if you decide to see through him or her--in the hopes of driving home the fact that, to you, he or she does not exist, any potential for improvement in your relationship vanishes along with the original "problem".

How powerful would it be if we had the superpower to see past obstacles, into the future of potential and realization and aspiration? If we focused on seeing everything--including the things farthest away? How many things would we do differently? How many changes would we be encouraged to make? 

I believe in having not X-Ray Vision but in having Vision. In many religions--and even in everyday idioms--seeing is associated with believing and understanding (ie "You see?"= "You understand?"). If we can see possibilities and possible outcomes, then we immediately enable ourselves to believe that those outcomes can exist--or will exist. All that's left, then, is to make it happen.

So maybe try out ditching the X-Ray Vision for real Vision. Who knows what you will find!

My Life Philosophy