Dance to your Heart's Content

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s official: I am done class and all of my assignments. People of the world rejoice!!

To everyone who’s finishing up, I salute you. To everyone who isn’t –

a)     Sorry for rubbing it in.

b)    Tuck this one away for when you ARE finishing up.

Check out this video. It’s people from all over the world doing their happy dances. I know it’s nerdy (the guys who made the video even call themselves Nerd Fighters) but it’s strangely satisfying.

Just let it out and let it go!!

The Scandinavian Way

Now that there’s some snow on the ground, people are getting pumped to hit the slopes (myself included). So, for anyone that’s planning to be near Blue Mountain for the holiday season, allow me to make a recommendation.

Hit Le Scandinave.

Nestled in the woods just off Blue Mountain Road, this Scandinavian bath spa is the perfect way to relax. With a mix of hot and cold pools, as well as a sauna and a steam room, you just lounge around, alternating between the temperatures.

I like to go at night in the winter – between the snow falling, the lights, and the steam rising off the hot pools, it’s just gorgeous. Plus, you can’t see any of the couples macking (which they do… just fair advance warning).

Try it – it’s only $45 (they also offer massage packages).

NINE Out of Ten

I’m a sucker for 1960s Italian film (Monica Vitti and Michelangelo Antonioni were gods), so when I saw a preview for NINE, I was ecstatic.

NINE is a musical following the world famous film director Guido Contini through a devastating creative and personal crisis as he prepares for his highly anticipated ninth film, ITALIA.

Not only do the musical numbers look extravagant and fabulous (it’s a Rob Marshall film, the same guy who did Chicago), but the cast is actually epic.

Daniel Day-Lewis plays Contini.

Marion Cotillard plays his devoted wife Luisa.

Penelope Cruz plays his mistress Carla.

Nicole Kidman plays his film star muse Claudia.

Judi Dench plays his confidante and costume designer Lilli.

Kate Hudson plays an American fashion journalist from Vogue.

Sophia Loren plays his mother.

And Stacy Ferguson, better known to us as Fergie, plays “the whore from his youth” (the film’s website said it, not me..).

My personal favorite detail is that all of these musical fantasies are enacted on the historic Stage 5 at Cinecitta Studios in Rome!!!

Check it out – it comes out Christmas Day.

This Is Why You're Fat

Last night, having spent the entire day sitting like a lump in front of my computer (seriously, the farthest I walked was to the bathroom and back), I shamefully prepared myself a dinner of *gasp!* microwave popcorn doused in dill pickle seasoning.

Yea I know, not exactly the dinner of champions. I’m sure the sodium alone could dry up the Nile. But what can I say? When the going gets tough, the convenience food abounds.

So does the guilt. The next day, I usually end up burying my head shamefully into my crisper until I emerge with freakish amounts of fiber. Recently, however, I stumbled upon something much more entertaining.

It’s called, “This is Why You’re Fat.”

This blog is a collection of the greasiest, fattiest, heart-stopping, artery-clogging, calorie-crazed concoctions you will ever encounter. Some of them are so indulgent it’s hard to look – witness the, “Picnic Popsicles: Bacon cheeseburger chunks, ketchup, mustard and onion frozen in strawberry KoolAid." But if you’re feeling bad about those greasy fries you scarfed down in the car, or the double mocha espresso you chugged on your way to the library, this is guaranteed to make you feel better (just hopefully not because you’ve turned to the recipes as comfort food – I don’t want to be responsible for turning anyone into a human blimp).
So take a look (they’ve released a book too). Your guilt is guaranteed to subside. And let’s face it: with so much on your plate (literally), it wouldn’t hurt to somehow lighten the load… even if it’s just your conscience. 

Spiraling Under Control

So it’s about that time of year (and I’m sure you’re feeling it too) when everything just seems to be spiraling out of control. My to-do list keeps stacking up, my apartment is absolutely filthy and my hair hasn’t been anything but jammed into a ponytail or shoved under a hat for two weeks.

Ahh yes, it’s a beautiful life.

So when I saw this, I couldn’t help but giggle. My mom emailed me a link to an online Spirograph tool – yea, that’s right – SPIROGRAPH!! You remember the bright colored plastic disks that you stuck a pen in and swirled around to make awesome designs? Well some nostalgic soul has put one together online.

It’s simple but it’s sweet. Plus, you get a strange sense of satisfaction watching it spin… or maybe that’s just the sleep deprivation and extreme caffeination finally getting to me.

Either way. Small victories people.