Mixtape Monday: Jazz Fest 2012

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Taking a detour to New Orleans to attend Jazz Fest this weekend. 

Here is a sampling of the artists who are playing this year - among many others too (I can't wait to listen to all the local Jazz music and Cajun Zydeco!)

Expect many a pictures and stories next week, because NOLA is magical.

1. Not Fade Away - Florence and the Machine (I've seen her once before and I will see her a million times more. She's great live. Also, this song has a very specific New Orleans feel to it)

2. Feeling Good - Nina Simone

3. I Can't Make You Love Me - Bon Iver (It's a cover of Bonnie Raitt, who is also performing.)

4. The Trapeze Swinger - Iron and Wine

5. How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix) - Feist

6. Lover to Lover - Florence and the Machine (very soulful)

7. Circuital - My Morning Jacket

8. Tamacun - Rodrigo y Gabriela

9. How Do I Let a Good Man Down? - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

10. Ceiling of Plankton - GIVERS (they hail from Louisiana)

11. Falling or Flying - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

12. 32 Flavors - Ani DiFranco

13. Little Fly - Esperanza Spalding

Charleston Lately...

Taking a break from finals to pick ruby, ripe strawberries at a local farm ... closing my last play in college ... dancing to my ringtone whenever it goes off ... starting a new job at Cupcake ... planning my trip to New Orleans next week ... and finally handing in my last paper in college.

I am done with college forever. No more tests, no more papers, no more flash cards.
When I was up late the other night writing papers and memorizing monologues I wondered if I should revel in this moment, if these caffeine driven nights are something that I will envy in the future and look back at with fond memories...but I was too tired to care.
Now, I am so relieved to be done, that I can't truly ponder how I am feeling, but all I know is that these past 4 years went by in a blink.

Middleton Place

This weekend my parents were in town to see my play, Letters to Sala. For the last 4 years, we have been talking about seeing Middleton Place, an old southern plantation 45 minutes from downtown, and finally we visited.

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather to accompany our trip. From the never ending gardens, trails and marshland to the colorful livestock, it's easy to see why this is such a sought after Charleston locale.

Plus, certain moments made me feel like I was in Pride and Prejudice...

Mixtape Monday: Scenic World

I have expressed my interest in going to India for the Holi Festival of Colors, but after seeing this video, I want to experience it sooner than ever.

This week's playlist is inspired from traveling and seeing the world - the colors, the cultures, the wonder.

1. Viva La Vida - Coldplay

2. Tonight's Today - Jack Penate

3. Scenic World - Beirut

4. There Is No There - The Books

5. Love Out of Lust - Lykke Li

6. Meheni Rachi - Laura Marling

7. Animal Arithmetic - Jonsi

8. Feeling Today - Botany

9. Feel It All - Feist

10. Sparkly- Young Magic

5 Spring Beauty Essentials

(left to right)

Cucumber Infused Water

A simple, but important part of any beauty routine. Especially with being in a show right now, I am trying my hardest to stay hydrated - and flavoring my water is an easy way to do that. I think I want to try infusing mint and lime with my water soon...

Essie Shine of the Times Nail Polish

I love this iridescent top coat - it goes over any color and transforms it completely. It's pretty and subtle for spring.

Eos Lip Balm in Sweet Mint

As the temperatures rise, I am looking for more ways to stay cool and the menthol in this balm is refreshing and soothing on my lips. I put it on every night. Plus, the shape is just so aesthetically pleasing.

Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Fruitti

I am a sucker for orange and coral lipsticks and I love this formula in particular because its not too drying but not too sticky. It's the Goldilocks of lip stick.

Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture SPF 35

Rain or shine, I use this every day under my makeup. It's a non-greasy formula and lightweight - perfect for sensitive or oily skin! I want to do all I can now in my 20's to prevent wrinkles, sunspots and moles when I am older- and stay skin cancer free!

(I challenge you to embrace your pale skin or your dark skin or your curly hair or your straight hair. Work with what you are given, not against it.)

Mixtape Monday: Pre-Summer Playlist

I have recently aquired some amazing, catchy music, and they all remind me of summer. Some are newer releases and some are oldies, but they are all new to me.

The first ocean dip is almost here...

1. Closer Than This - St. Lucia (has a strong 80's sense about it)

2. Pull My Heart Away - Jack Penate (How am I just now discovering him? This is off his 2009 album, and sounds like a cheery Foals.)

3. Neu Chicago - Clive Tanaka y su orquesta (Not new to me, but it is still one of my favorite summer tunes)

4. sol. - Mausi (They sound like a more dance-y Slow Club)

5. The Only Place - Best Coast (pure California surfer music)

6. Ho Hey - The Lumineers (folksy / I predict this to be this summer's "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

7. Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies (I have gotten into these guys lately thanks to Pandora stations)

8. Crush - Sleigh Bells

9. My Body - Young the Giant (I am loving these guys!)

10. Hits Me Like a Rock - CSS (sounds like old-school M.I.A.)

11. Where is My Mind? - The Pixies

Banh Mi Sandwich

A marriage between Vietnamese local ingredients and France's culinary national treasures is the Banh Mi. Being one of my favorite and most memorable meals, I had to recreate it myself. It's a unique combination of ingredients that equal a complex flavor.

But enough jabbering, here is how you make one:

Banh Mi Sandwich

French Baguette (I love Le Petit Francais frozen baguettes)

Sriracha

mayonnaise

Honey Roasted Ham, thinly shaved

shredded carrots

thinly sliced cucumber

Mushroom Pate (Trader Joes makes a delicious and affordable one)

cilantro

1. Cut the baguette hamburger style and cut off a section, according to your hunger needs.

2. Mix the Sriracha and mayo in a small bowl. I did a 2/3 mayo and 1/3 Sriracha, but it all depends on how spicy you like it. When you have achieved the right ratio, spread it on both sides of the baguette.

3. On the bottom baguette slice, layer the ham, shredded carrots, cucumbers. Cut thin slices of the pate and affix over cucumbers.

4. Sprinkle with cilantro, place the top slice on and eat.

The flavors are so fantastic together, you really just have to experience it.

It's a cool, refreshing sandwich perfect for spring and summer.

Postcards from Italy

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I am so behind on magazines, I am just now reading my July '11 issue of InStyle, which contained this gorgeous editorial starring Clemence Posey modeling 50's style clothing while basking around Portofino, a town along the Italian Rivera.

(which reminds me so much of this music video)

I've been on an Italian high as of lately - looking through photos from my trip there after graduating high school, listening to the Beirut Pandora station (though I guess they sound more French or Baltic), watching Italian films on Netflix, and of course, treating myself to a prosciutto provolone pinwheel from Traders.

Mixtape Monday: High School Favorites, Pt.3

(see also: Part 1 and Part 2)

1. E-Pro - Beck (Beck was major for me in high school, pretty sure this was in a car commercial way back when.)

2. I Hate Everyone - Get Set Go (I love a seemingly cheery song that has not-so-cheery lyrics. My dance teacher loved this song, so we warmed up to it almost every day.)

3. Publish My Love - Rogue Wave (Had it not been for The OC soundtracks, I might have never discovered the indie music scene. Even though I didn't watch the show, I owned all of the music played on there.)

4. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (This is a favorite of my mom's too. I remember it being huge in France when I went summer of 2006.)

5. Dirty Laundry - Bitter:Sweet (seems like a song that should be in a 007 movie)

6. Yesterday Never Tomorrow - The Stills (my best friend in high school gave me this song on a mix cd, super fun)

7. Fix You - Coldplay (one of their best songs and this entire album was on repeat the entire summer of 2005)

8. Sleeping Lessons - The Shins (I can't believe that this was their most recent release until their newest album that came out this past week. After watching Garden State, I was a Shins fan.)

9. Moon River - the Innocence Mission (Enamored by Breakfast at Tiffanys, I acquired many covers of this famous song in the movie. This is one of my favorites.)

10. Cartwheels - The Reindeer Section (a perfect first day of summer song)

11. 5 Years Time (Sun Sun Sun) - Noah and the Whale (pure sunshine and rainbows)

12. Across the Universe - Rufus Wainwright (loved Rufus in high school too, this is a wonderful Beatles cover)

13. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers (Hot Fuss still stands as an all-time favorite album of mine, this song only supports that statement.)

14. Walking with a Ghost - Tegan and Sarah

15. Cosy in the Rocket - Psapp (Grey's Anatomy was another one of those shows that I never watched but their soundtracks influenced my music taste for the better.)

What were your favorite songs in high school?