Spring has sprung!

Yep, that's right---I have survived my first winter. And guess what:

It wasn't that bad.

Everyone from New York laughs at me when I say that. They say that my opinion is invalid because I wasn't here for the giant storm after Christmas. But got snowed in a couple of times! I must say the icy wind and snow slush were absolutely horrible, but seeing the city covered in a fresh blanket of snow was just amazing. My favorite thing to do was to get up early and walk around outside before the plows came. Everything just looks so peaceful and perfect. I probably looked like a little kid; running around outside at 6:30 with knotted bed hair and in pajamas jumping around in the snow by myself! I just think that I would rather have winter around than have to go through the awful humid New York summers....yuk. Not looking forward to that.

But anyway, the last few days have been beautiful. Yesterday it even got up to 70 degrees! Everyone was running around in shorts and a t shirt! Today it went back down to 45 degrees (I am still struggling with the idea that the temperature can change so drastically in a matter of 24 hours.....still used to HI's constant temperatures!), but thats still kind of warm!

Seth was on spring break this week...but I definitely was not. I had multiple presentations this week and had to pull multiple late nights in order to prepare for them---speaking is one of my weaker points. My longest presentation was for Friday's lab meeting, and after stumbling through that, I am so glad its over and get to enjoy the weekend! I think its lame that our spring breaks don't overlap. My spring So lame.

So we are making the best of our weekends. In NYC, weekend brunch is a pretty big thing. Whenever my friends want to get together, they always suggest brunch! I still can't figure out the point of it, because brunch is served the same time as breakfast, and has the same menu as breakfast.....so whats the deal? Anyway, all of the good brunch places are always packed on the weekends, so we were prepared to wait, and chose Good Enough To Eat to try. We didn't have to wait that long because we were only a party of two, and it was sooo worth it!

Going out to breakfast (or brunch I guess) is one of my favorite things to do! The food was freaking incredible. Incredible!! We ended up getting french toast, bacon waffles (I know that sounds gross....but it is SO GOOD!), potatoes, biscuits, and bacon. Oh, the bacon! So good! They are also famous for their strawberry butter, which is also incredible. Ok I'm drooling just thinking about this again.

Just a note: all of this NYC food is starting to become my kryptonite. I need to stop eating like I'm about to go into hibernation and get to the gym! Summer is coming!

Since the weather is a bit warmer, people are starting to get out! Central park was filled with people today. I LOVE CENTRAL PARK! It so nice to get out of the concrete jungle and see some scenery! And now there is some vegetation and life starting to show, now that spring is here. I am always down for a walk in CP.

Some other things we did was venture over to Park avenue, where there are a bunch of giant flow art displays, from like 57th-67th? Anyway, they were awesome because they remind me that spring is here.

We also made it down to Bryant Park and the New York Public Library.

I love meandering around the city. There are so many things to see. I think thats why its so painful for me to spend so much time in my research lab---I just keep thinking about how many things there are to do and see in this amazing city! It will probably get worse as the weather gets better too. Eeeek.

:)

Shade Clothing

Maybe someone can explain this to me...

I thought Shade Clothing went out of business a while back? Last year maybe? I only think this because I remember everyone trying to frantically buy up stocks of their layering tees/tanks before they went out of business!

Well it looks like they're back...? ..Or never left in the first place? Check it out here.

Either way I'm happy! Now I can have more layering tees!! Wahoo!

What about the dogs?!

I can't even believe how much devastation the tsunami in Japan has caused. I can't even watch the news because it makes me so sad. I sincerely hope and pray people are able to find their loved ones and that they're safe and being helped.

I saw this video, and it made me wonder who is saving the animals?

The article this was in posted an update to say that both the animals are receiving veterinary care. This just reminds me how badly I want to become a vet.

I can't even imagine my Fatty being stranded and hurt with no one to help him!

And I would like to think my Fatty would wait around and help if another animal/person was hurt too. :)

10 things I'm always reaching for

This week has already gotten the best of me, and its only Wednesday morning! I seem to have all of my classes/exams/presentations/problem sets all combined into one week (the perfect storm). On Monday I had a 21 page essay exam on immuno/cancer/cell cycle/apoptosis and I nearly developed carpel tunnel handwriting all of those essays over the course of 4.5 hours. ahhhhh! Yesterday I was in class all day and today is full of catching up on lab experiments for Friday's presentation. Anyway, now that the worst is over (hence Wednesday being "hump day"), I can just focus on finishing the week and counting down the days until spring break (3 more weeks)!

Anyway, I love posts where people talk about products/items that they use and love, so I thought I would cluster a few of mine into one post. All of these things are things that I LOVE.....love meaning I panic at the thought that the company would one day discontinue these items! ha!

So here we go...

1. Sephora Collection Professionnel Platinum Natural Rounded Powder Brush

One thing that I have learned, is that it that it is worth investing in good makeup brushes! The difference is incredible. It applies powder so evenly and smoothly! I invested in this brush, and have never looked back. Sephora makes great brushes! I also have some eyeshadow brushes and they are amazing. I have heard MAC makes good brushes as well, but I haven't tried them myself. I really want to try a contoured angle blush brush next!

2. Genes Vitamin E Creme

My mom introduced this to me, bought at Sam's club. My skin has been crying out for moisture this harsh winter, and this lotion has been the answer to all of my problems! What I love about it is that it keeps my skin moisturized the entire day [without being greasy/oily...big pet peeve of mine], and a little goes a long way. It comes in 16oz bottles, so this stuff is going to last me a looooong time. Best moisturizing lotion I've used yet.

3. Sephora Collection Blush [in Rose Rebelle 1]

I've always been a little hesitant to wear blush because I've seen a lot of women go overboard on the blush----they either look like clowns with red dots on their cheeks or have a giant line of blush up their cheekbones. Definitely didn't want to look like that....so I veered away from blush. BUT this color is perfect for me. It adds a little bit of color to my [now white] cheeks to give it a rosy, healthy look. Plus I've kinda needed it since the lack of sun in NYC has caused my skin to go ghostly WHITE! (ahhh!)

4. Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes

Seriously, could I rave about this brand any more? I LOVE Benefit. And this eyeshadow kit is one of my favs! I'm not much of an eyeshadow person, meaning I don't know how to put on eyeshadow too well (someone want to teach me?!!). So this kit gives you some instructions on how to create a good natural eye, and comes with the colors and brushes that are needed to do so! The results turned out great, it gives me a little bit of eyeshadow without looking overdone.

5. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil [in zero]

My biggest pet peeve about bad eyeliners is how they smudge throughout the day, and give you raccoon eyes. This stuff is awesome because it stays put! At the end of the day, it looks just like it did when you put it on in the morning. Who could ask for more? And it really does glide on when applying!

6. Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam

I'm not much of a hair product person, but the last time I got my hair cut the stylist used it on me and I fell in love. First of all, it makes your hair smell amazing. Secondly, it gives life to your hair without the sticky hairspray-mousse feeling! I use just a tiny bit in my hair and it takes my straight and boring hair and gives some life to my layers.

7. Manduka ProLite mat

I had to throw this one in there. You probably wouldn't think a mat makes much of a different in yoga practice, but I have learned [for me anyway] that it does! I actually would prefer the Manduka Pro, but it seriously weighs a ton, and I couldn't carry it around NYC, so I settled for the ProLite, which is a little thinner. My last mat (from Target) was a good one, but it started to hurt my back and neck after a while from inversions and other poses that require you to use the floor, or to put pressure on your neck/head. After investing in this mat--problem solved. No more back and neck pain! Wahoooo!

8. Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub

I used to be an avid Proactiv fan, but the price destroyed my bank account and the benzoyl peroxide kept bleaching my clothes and towels, so I just stopped using it. My skin put up the worst fight---gross! But I have found that this facewash has worked equally as well as Proactiv did for me. My skin is once again happy!

9. Stila Lip Gloss Set

Every year around the holidays Sephora sells a kit of Stila lip gloss for only $25 (An individual Stila lip gloss costs $22)! I look forward to the holidays!! And this kit sometimes lasts me longer than a year! I love this lip gloss; it stays on all day and comes in the best colors.

10. Chi Ceramic Straightener

Ok I know you're thinking that this kit is too pricey, right? But this is the only straightener that doesn't fry my hair and does the best job--worth every penny. And you know what? Mine has so far lasted me SIX YEARS without one hint of a technical malfunction! So the way I see it, its better investing in one of these and getting the best results, than getting multiple bad straighteners that fry and damage your hair. Plus you can get them at Target for a discounted price.

So that's my list! All of you should come up with your lists so I can see the products you love too! :)

Happy hump day!

PS: Who's excited for the Bachelor Finale next week? I can't wait to see who he picks; I really could see him picking either one!

Colbert Nation

Due to some intense ticket stalking, we were able to go and see the taping of The Colbert Report Yesterday!

And it was AWESOME! I just couldn't believe that after years and years of watching Stephen Colbert on TV he was actually standing in front of us live!! This time we only had to wait 3.5 hours. The overall wait wasn't too bad. It was warm that day, but as soon as the sun went down it was cold. I was freeeeeezing, but we were entertained by the "Colbert Wall:"

And when we finally got inside and had to wait another hour, we were entertained by Stephen posters and a screen playing re-runs:

Our seats in the studio were GREAT (we were 11th and 12th in line)! Stephen Colbert's desk was seriously only 10-15 feet infront of us! The warm up comedian was hilarious, just like the one at The Daily Show---I am impressed by these guys that Comedy Central hires to warm up the crowd! The one at Letterman sucked! But I forgot all about it as soon as Stephen showed up! The audience got a Q and A session with him (I shot my hand up immediately and he called on me first!) and he was hilarious, even though he was out of character! He even told us this cute story of how he met his wife. :) I was just so excited that I actually got to talk to him, even if it was just for a few seconds!!!

The show was even more amazing in real life than on TV. Stephen is hilarious in between commercials, and when he messed up and had to re-tape segments, he always made some sort of joke out of it. He also started flinging is "Wrist Strong" bands out into the crowd and I totally snagged one! Ahhh he actually touched my wristband!....haha.

So I thought that the Daily Show was more exciting for me because I got to see JON STEWART!!---but I thought that the Colbert Report was more fun to go to because the studio was smaller and you could see Stephen better, and Stephen's character was so much fun to watch. Plus I got my wrist strong bracelet that Stephen himself touched! In the end I would definitely wait in line again for either show! And now that I am an expert ticket stalker (these tickets are so hard to get ahold of--you have to be fast!), maybe we'll go again sometime. But this experience was amazing, and now we can check The Daily Show and The Colbert Report off of the "Things to do while in NYC" list! :)