My New Workout Playlist

I just got a gym membership.  I used to be a complete gym rat, but sometime since my move to New York, that has totally taken a backseat to everything else in life.  And that totally shows whenever I try to get up in the morning and make it to the gym.  So I've decided to make a killer new playlist to help get me moving in the morning, thought I'd share part of it here:

• "Army of Me"- Bjork
• "Baptism"- Crystal Castles
• "Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued"- Fall Out Boy
• "Telephone"- Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce
• "The Dope Show"- Marilyn Manson
• "Perfect Drug"- Nine Inch Nails
• "U + Ur Hand" - Pink
• "Sleep Now In the Fire"- Rage Against the Machine
• "Le Disko"- Shiny Toy Guns
• "Seven Nation Army"- The White Stripes
• "Baba O'Reilly"- The Who

So what gets you motivated at the gym?

Ways to Be Green in NYC

Last week I got caught up watching The Lazy Environmentalist on Netflix, and I started to realize that most of my daily habits are pretty environmentally friendly.  I thought I would just take a second to share a couple of those tips and everyday things here.

• Recycling.  I grew up recycling and I have taken that to my adult life.  My roommate and I recycle everything that's possible.  While it still takes energy to recycle, at least I can feel better knowing that it isn't sitting in a landfill.
• Carry a reusable cloth bag everywhere! I hate when I see people with one item that is getting a new plastic bag when they already have one or don't really need them for that one item.  I have been known to get a little bit extreme with this, but after reading some shocking plastic bag statistics, it's made the transition much more natural.  
• Start a compost.  I know that this can be a kind of gross subject for people, but if you have the space and ability, it's a great way to turn your food waste (veggies, fruits, leaves, etc.) into something that you can actually use!
• Shop locally.  This can be more expensive and difficult, but I've managed to make it a priority on my meager salary.  It usually just means skipping a night out with my friends.
• Eat less meat.  I know it's unrealistic to assume that everyone will become a vegetarian, but if you reduce your meat consumption by 1 meal a day it can make a huge difference in your carbon footprint, as well as your health.
• Carry a reusable water bottle.  New York State has compiled a great list of quick facts about plastic water bottles.  And most bottled water is city water anyway, so why spend the extra money?
• Choose natural hygiene products.  I've recently started making the switch to paraben free cosmetics, sunscreen, and natural toothpastes.  I've talked to various doctors about these choices and have been encouraged to do so.  And with parabens possibly being linked to cancer, it seems like not only the most environmentally friendly, but also the safest choices.  

Being more environmentally friendly can be not only be a difficult start, but a daunting task.  I've found that by slowly implementing a few of these things at a time, it quickly becomes second nature!

Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes

Lately, I've been eating mostly vegan.  Now, I'll spare you all the gruesome details as to why I made this "crazy" choice, but part of the reason is that I wanted to have the opportunity to experiment with vegan cooking and baking.

So last night, I decided that I would welcome my love of fall with these vegan pumpkin cupcakes.  I used a  modified versions of this recipe, and then topped them with a vegan cream cheese cinnamon frosting.  I added some crystallized ginger on top.  So far, they are eliciting great responses!

The heat in our house made the frosting a little bit melty last night, but after popping them in the fridge they got much better!

Sorry that the pictures aren't great, I'm still learning to use my new camera!

Welcoming the Fall

Fall is my favourite season.  It always has been.  I'm not much a summer person, and when it gets to be about mid-August, I cannot wait for the fall to get here.  Fall has always kinda been like my New Years, I make tons of resolutions and it feels like a natural time for growth and change.  I just wanted to share a few fall events and things I'm looking forward to:

• My trip to Fire Island on the 13th.  I can't wait to do a post-season trip when the island will be more empty
• Shorter, colder days made for watching movies, reading books, and doing crossword puzzles
• Pumpkin flavoured everything! I can't wait to find new pumpkin inspired recipes
• Trips to the green market when things get a little more root vegetably
• Boots, coats, and sweaters! 
• Solo movies on a cold afternoon
• Going back to drinking hot coffees and teas
• Halloween! My favourite holiday and I have some amazing costume ideas for this year!
• Going back to the gym now that it isn't a million degrees outside
• Getting some redecorating done around the house 
• Taking walks in the park with all the leaves changing colors

Now if only the humidity would take a hike and the fall would actually come!

My Sad Little Album Collection

On my second blog entry ever, I discussed my love of collecting albums.  Well, this definitely hasn't changed at all, and in fact, it's only gotten more exciting.  Upon my arrival to Montana this past week, I saw that my parents had graciously updated my album collection for me, and while I still have a collection that pales in comparison with theirs, I thought I'd share a few pictures I snapped of my collection.




The funny thing is my collection is still very full of music I listen to on a daily basis...

3 45's my parents have added to my collection- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Kylie Minogue (which was my favourite when I was a kid), and Prince.

Top Row, from left:

1. Scarecrow- by John Cougar Mellencamp

2. Planets Conspire- by The Meligrove Band

3. Wincing the Night Away- by The Shins

4. Paisley Park- by Prince

5. Purple Rain- by Prince

6. Rumours- by Fleetwood Mac

7. Live at Leeds- by The Who (which I just convinced my dad to give me after finding a duplicate in his collection)

Middle Row, from left:

8. Heart- by Heart
9. Diamond Life- by Sade
10. Thirty Seconds Over Winterland- by Jefferson Airplane
11. Precious Time- by Pat Benetar
12. Lone Justice- by Lone Justice

Bottom Row, from left:

13. Random Spirit Lover- by Sunset Rubdown
14. The Cure- by The Cure
15. Ill Communication- by The Beastie Boys

The two albums I would LOVE to add to my collection, but my dad refuses to gift them to me: Guns and Roses Appetite for Destruction, and The Who's Tommy.

A picture of my parents album collection, which is absolutely amazing.  I grew up in a very musical household, and one of these days when they aren't looking, I'm going to steal them all. 

Hipster Must-See: The Fall

I rarely have time to watch movies right now.  Between my internship, working full time, and the copious amounts of reading I've been doing, my usual love of movies has taken the backseat.  However, I had an opportunity to watch Tarsem Singh's The Fall a few days ago and I can't stop thinking about it.

The Fall is a period piece about a stuntman in 1920's Los Angeles that, while in a hospital, starts telling stories to another patient (a 5 year old immigrant named Alexandria).  Without going into too much detail, the real world they are living in begins to bleed into the fantasy world he is creating.

But who really cares about the plot?  What really matters is that this is one of the most visually stunning films I have watched in a very long time.  Having been shot in over 26 locations in 18 different countries, the beauty of this film is unparalleled.  It takes on a surrealist feel that is reminiscent of Dali and Buñuel, with the color palette of Burton.

The visuals in this movie were worth the two hours of my life.

Where Have All the Smart Girls Gone?

I am hoping for a cultural shift.  For some time now I have found myself extremely discontent with the way our society, particularly our pop culture and the figures we lionize.  Now I don't mean to get all hippy-dippy here, but hear me out.

I miss the 90s.  I miss the empowered female singers like Fiona Apple, Jewel, Liz Phair, and the like.  It used to be so cool for chicks to have a fuck you attitude towards both the men in their lives as well as the culture that reveres them.  I miss the fact that it used to be cool for chicks to be smart.  I miss Daria, and Tabitha Soren.