Electronic Bliss

I usually only can justify spending money on one of 3 things: Food, makeup, or electronics. Larger electronic purchases give me the most long standing fulfillment, as I end up using these items everyday and they very much become a big part of my life. Well, when I first saw Panasonic's Retro Styled headphones on Urban Outfitters, I instantly knew they must be mine. A nice trip to Target proved that all of UO's stuff is soo overpriced. I got these headphones for $5 bucks cheaper at Target. :)

Those who know me know that I move all of the time which means that I can't own large items that are difficult to transport. That means no tv, no desktop computer, no furniture, and most tragically of all, no stereo! Instead, I have travel friendly items such as a laptop, an iPod, and a Nintendo DS. Since music is such a big part of my life, I felt completed as a person to finally have headphones that don't suck!

These Panasonic headphones drown out all of the background noise and deliver awesome sound that can bring out even the tiniest details of a song and they can pump out the bass in any electronic sound with due justice. Very nice!

Shiny Toy Guns at the Picador

I must be musically deprived lately cause I have music on the brain non-stop. One of my old loves, Shiny Toy Guns is coming soon to the Picador in Iowa City. On April 14th, to be exact. Too bad it is an all ages show, which means it starts at 6 p.m. and lots of snobby hipster scene high school kids will be there. Eh, in this case, I will ignore the obvious and dance it up!

Shiny Toy Guns

with other acts to be announced
Tuesday, April 14
ages: ALL AGES
doors at 6:00 p.m.

For more shows at the Picador: www.thepicador.com

Puberty Ain't Easy

Thank God for free trials of NetFlix to entertain me on rainy days. Yesterday, my honey and I snuggled up on the couch to some Insta-Cued movie goodness via X-Box 360 and watched 2005's "The Motel."

The movie takes place in the middle of nowhere and is about a 13 year old Chinese American kid named Ernest, who lives and works at his family's sleazy, pay-by-the-hour motel. Puberty is super duper embarrassing and there are definitely parts of the movie where you bury your face into your hands in shame for the poor kid. Like take for instance when Ernest is forced to kiss one of the white trash girls in the parking lot and she says, "Hey, you have a boner!" Busted!

Things start to get a little bit better for Ernest when he befriends a 20-something Korean American guy who is all torn up from a breakup with his wife. He takes on a fatherly role and teaches Ernest things about girls, life, and how to become a man.

If you missed it in 2005, go back and check it out!

Free Music is Good Music

Love 'em or hate 'em, Urban Outfitters often has cool stuff, although sometimes at prices beyond my range. At the very least, their website and store gives one a clear idea of what is hip at the moment. Annnnnnd, Urban Outfitters is sometimes a bit generous, as well.

Enjoy downloading an entire CD's worth of music. Free.

Get it at: http://blog.urbanoutfitters.com/projects/lstn_4/

And if you like it, then you can download the other 3 "U.O. Listen" CDs they have put on their site. Hey, its more than Abercrombie has ever done for any of us, right?!

Mag Love

I am being serious here: Few things in life are better than getting a cool magazine in the mail. Totally makes my day pulling a bright, sassy magazine out of the mailbox and to flip though those glossy pages is just heaven! MISSBEHAVE Magazine is the ultimate cool girl, hipper-than-thou eye candy you have always dreamed of. Trust me on this one.

Every month, cool ladies such as Chloe Sevigny, M.I.A., Lily Allen, and Bijou Philips grace the cover and the many pages to follow do not disappoint. The writing is witty and hilarious, the fashion is colorful and playful, and the girls are gorgeous but real. Love it!

Check them out at: http://www.missbehavemag.com/
http://www.myspace.com/missbehavemag

3 Cheers for Gay Marriage in Iowa!!!!

Today is a monumentally awesome day for all Equal Rights supporters. My awesome state has just announce that Gay Marriage is now legal in Iowa!!!!! In just a few short weeks, gay and lesbian Iowans across the state can be legally joined. Can't say that we were the first to do it, but hell, to say we are #3 isn't too bad :)

New P.J. Harvey

As a teenager growing up in the 90's, my musical taste has naturally gravitated towards the grungy and distorted sounds rather than the squeaky, over-produced music of this day in age. Seeing as P.J. Harvey has just put out a new video, this is reason to rejoice!

The video is done in slow motion, P.J. looks as gorgeous as ever, and the song definitely did not disappoint me. As could be said of anything else P.J. Harvey has done- Bravo!!!

Easter Done Cheap

Sometimes, I really wish I had children, or at least someone to celebrate the cheesy part of holidays with. Easter is no exception! I would totally be snatching up these beauties from the special Easter aisle at the Crowded Closet in Iowa City, Iowa.

Look at the cute plastic rabbit tray- it looks like a painting from a 1960's coloring book! I would have a Easter party with jelly beans stowed away in the ears, and neon colored marshmallow Peeps in the rabbit's basket. Oh, and I would totally make those delicious chocolate and coconut bird's nests treats too!

In my fantasies, I would be the super kitch mom from the 1960's running around with an apron cooking and dying Easter eggs for the big family Easter Egg Hunt. Oh, a girl can wish, can't she?

Cold Day Inspiration

I have to remind myself not to lose hope on these cold, windy days we have been having lately. Winter is taking forever to go away this year! I am ready for sunshine, people everywhere dressed in inappropriately tiny clothing that reveals more than I wanted to see, and days so hot, that the bottoms of your feet burn right through your shoes!


A Letter to Mother Nature:

Dear Crazy Seasons,

Summertime, please be here soon. And spring time, please have mercy on us and don't forget about the good people living in Iowa waiting patiently for you.

Your good friend,

Iowa Girl

Terrible Sushi Alert!

This urgent news just in:

OYAMA Sushi in Iowa City is terrible! I remember eating there several years ago and remember liking the sushi at this joint, and as I recall, the service was great too. Well, one day, the boyfriend and I decided to re-visit the restaurant just for a change in pace.

I should have known better than to eat sushi from a restaurant situated right next to a pet store. The food tasted like it was either dog food straight out of the can, or created from a special blend of all of the dead fish floating at the top of the tank at the end of the day.

My boyfriend was lucky and ordered a bento box with teryiaki steak. They did a decent job. It was eatable at lest. My order on the other hand was gut wrenchingly disgusting! My spicy tuna roll tasted like it was canned tuna with a bit of red food coloring added for the "spice" appeal. My other roll was a mish-mash of soggy unknown products with rice caked on thick all around it. Yuck!

The final verdict: I have to admit, the service was decent, but that was only because we were almost the only ones in the restaurant. The food, on the other hand, was something I would not wish upon my worst enemy!

Don't eat at OYAMA in Iowa City! It's the pits!