foodgasm

unless you’re really in to vampires and candy maybe skip this post on account of it is kind of embarrassing

by ameena on May 8, 2013 · 1 comment

in a day in the life, Pop Culture, television

If you want to know where I have really been all week, I will tell you.
(despite the fact that it is totally embarrassing and I seriously thought about just keeping this to myself forever and ever)

My week has consisted of lying in my bed playing Candy Crush while watching The Vampire Diaries and eating an unhealthy amount of Belgian waffles.

Don’t hate. You know you jelly.

For a while I was using the “my shoulder really hurts from my pathetic fall the other day” excuse for my behavior but now I am so far in to the Vampire Diaries hole that basically I just keep telling myself I HAVE to get through all of the episodes as fast as possible so that I can return to doing productive things. Apparently doing productive things between episodes is not an option. Have I mentioned I have a really addictive personality? Moderation? WHERE?

I am currently about halfway through the third season and I am already having serious anxiety because I don’t want to have to wait for the fourth season to come out and don’t even get me started on those illegal websites.

During my Candy Crush / Vampire / Waffle infused bender this week I have come to a couple of conclusions:

1. I prefer my whipped cream to strawberry ratio at a solid 3:1.

2. Basically I must have been on some crazy drug when I first did this because I think this is much more accurate: Twilight > Vampire Diaries > True Blood.

3. All I want more than anything is for Elena to be with Elijah (Damon works too though) and for Caroline to be with Klaus. Stefan can be with Katherine for all I care. But also? I’ve been really missing Katherine. She’s just way more fun than that Elena.

4. I am weirdly (like, WEIRDLY) attracted to Elijah. I can’t even explain it because he is so far out of the norms for my “type” but whatever I’m gonna go with it.

5. After a customer at work taught me how to get around the whole “wait thirty minutes for another life” part of Candy Crush, I am beginning to think that maybe that is the worst thing anyone has ever taught me because now not even the game can force me to take breaks.

6. Caroline is my favorite character and I hate that she is always in danger because it stresses me out, yo.

7. The second I saw that Melissa Hastings was in Mystic Falls I was just like RUN YOU FOOLS.

8. Is it just me or did The Vampire Diaries not get real good until the Originals showed up? I just feel like they are the most well developed of all the characters. Guess what I learned today though! They are totally making a spin off series about them! Kachow.

9. I really think this show is doing a great job of filling my Pretty Little Liars void. Good news though, one more month until it is back!

10. Why are Belgian Waffles so fucking good?

turkey to eat so good

by ameena on November 21, 2011 · 2 comments

in a day in the life, random musings

For the very first time in my whole life I get to be in charge of Thanksgiving. I am really excited about this, friends. I think maybe I have even been talking about it for weeks? I try to find ways to bring it up at all times. I’m always all like, oh yeah, you mean Thanksgiving? Yeah, I know what you’re talking about. I am the boss of it this year. 

Or something. I don’t really know how it works.

On Sunday I finally finalized the menu and we went shopping for all the ingredients at the WinCo. Have you ever been to the WinCo? It is the strangest place that WinCo. Whenever I find myself there I end up buying the most random of things because, hello, that place is an impulsive shoppers nightmare. or is it the best dream? I think really it just depends. I mean, oh hi {insert item here that I haven’t eaten or seen in ten years} I have missed you. Come home with me please. That’s just how things go at the WinCo. It is the food version of Target.

Thanksgiving is gonna be real good. Amazing food. Family. Running. Board Games.

But first, I have to get through the next three days of class. grumblegrumble.

And then Thanksgiving! gobblegobble.

i decided to take a day for myself, because sometimes that’s just what you need

by ameena on November 12, 2011 · 2 comments

in a day in the life, football, real girls like sports

When I woke up this morning I declared to the heavens above that this was going to be my day. A day in which I would spend some much sought after alone time and do so many of the things I had been meaning and needing to do for far too long. A day without work and minimal studying required. It has been a very long time since I have had such a day. I mean, a whole day! To myself! Can you imagine what one could possibly do with a whole day?? I can only guess it would be a whole lot because, well, spoiler alert: this day did not end up being anything like that which I had planned.

But oh it ended up being exactly the kind of day that I love so much. So while my house is still in slight disarray and my textbooks are anxiously waiting for me to grace them with my presence, I rather think this day was a success.

Why, by noon I had pretty much checked all the boxes on most of the things I had wanted to do anyway. Which, I have been wondering this a lot lately isn’t it just the most curious thing how much you are able to accomplish when you are getting up at seven instead of noon? It’s like, oh hey there time, I have missed you.

While I was in the middle of making a list of even more things to accomplish on this great day, I got a phone call inviting me to attend the Utah football game. I actually hesitated for a split second before saying yes on account of this being my quiet day to myself. But if you know anything about me, I’m pretty sure you know I will never be able to say no to Utah football. Never. And I’m thinking it was exactly the right decision. I know I had promised myself and the heavens a day that most definitely does not include 45,000+ screaming football fans, but when it is a day for yourself, you actually get to do whatever it is you please – judgement free. And a football game is something for which I always yearn.

And that’s how I came to find myself happy as can be with toes on the verge of serious frost-bite while big fluffy snowflakes melted softly in my hair standing on the field at the ten yard-line during the second quarter of the football game. I mean, I was so close I could hear just how terribly loud it is when the players slam in to one another. I was so sure that that UCLA running back must have been dead it was that loud! But then he immediately stood up like nothing had happened and ran back to the middle of the field ready to do it again. It was the most amazing of experiences. I miss it already. Also? Those players are way bigger than they appear on my tiny television screen.

After our delightful victory against those blasted Bruins, we headed to a friend’s house where I got to see some of my favorite people and have all of the conversations I love so dearly. We talked about movies and the Oscar Season and all that is wrong with The Walking Dead lately and the many awesome aspects of Bill Simmons and all of the televisions shows I am obsessively watching right now (SO MANY) and sexy times of Twilight and how my never having seen Ghostbusters is apparently a crime against humanity and more tv and more movies and even some music and have I ever mentioned that pop culture is my favorite thing? I could talk your ear off about about pop culture.

Oh and then there is the part where I made a marvelous discovery called banana caramel milkshake. I’m kind of in the middle of a serious love affair with caramel lately. Like, caramel all the time in my mouth please. And my love for bananas has always been strong, so I knew there was no way this combo could lead me astray. I am still a wee bit astonished it has taken me my whole life to figure this out.

Oh my.

Yes, I think I rather liked this day.

(31) days of autumn

by ameena on October 8, 2011 · 2 comments

in a day in the life, life and times of bilbo baggins and mr toad

This (31) days of autumn has gotten off to an amazing start. I know you already know this but October rocks my world, y’all. Never before have my nails been the source of infinite happiness – for both myself and others, my fireplace is cobwebbed and potentially haunted, my free time has been sacrificed to the anti-Cullens of True Blood, my window was recently privy to a serious crime, I have eaten my weight in Pumpkin Curry Soup, Apple Crisp, and Nicole’s Insanely Delicious as Eff pumpkin bread (see me consume it below), and since I cannot have wine I have taken to drinking my apple cider out of wine glasses so they don’t feel neglected.

And now I’m off to Blockbuster (I know, right?) so that I can pick up the last few discs of True Blood Season 1 because I am too impatient to wait for Netflix. You now know where to find me this weekend – snuggled under blankets, consuming absurd amounts of apple crisp, and watching a sexy vampire television show that is quickly ruining Twilight for me.

Goodnight!

reasons to smile // archer is the shit

by ameena on August 21, 2011 · 2 comments

in reasons to smile

This week’s reasons to smile:

adele. I think I’m in love. When 21 came out in February it just spoke to my soul and I could not stop listening to it (like many of you I am sure). When tickets went on sale a couple of weeks later we were ALL over that. After months of waiting the big day finally arrived in May. Just as we were about to leave my house for the concert I got a phone call that the show had been postponed. Oh the heartbreak! Well, six months later I am happy to say that I finally saw her live and HOLY SHIT BALLS. She is the absolute best. I wish it never had to end.

the danger zone. I’ve decided to name my fantasy football team the danger zone due to my love for Archer. When shit gets really intense I plan on changing my picture to Tom Cruise as Maverick. You guys, I have so got this. Everyone should just pay me the prize money now.

wednesday night. first of all, the night started off at the Red Iguana. You guys, The Red Iguana is home to the best mexican food in all of Salt Lake City. It speaks to my stomach. The enchilada sauce is to die for. During dinner we decided it was of the utmost importance that we see the Glee movie immediately. Unfortunately, we had an hour and a half to kill between the ending of dinner and the beginning of our movie. As it turns out, an hour and a half is just enough time to stop by the ol’ tattoo parlor and still make it in time for the movie. Sadly, the tattoo was not mine. BUT I’M GETTING CLOSER. Also, Glee movie was everything I wanted it to be. And by that I totally mean all I wanted was for Artie to sing Safety Dance AND THEN HE DID. Oh and also, the Tiny Asian Baby Warbler. You’re welcome.

football. I went to my kid brother’s football game friday night. I don’t know how many times I referenced Friday Night Lights during that two hour game, but I’m pretty sure it was close to 2,000. It’s just when your brother is the Varsity Quarterback and he has a pretty amazing game and you still find yourself missing Coach Taylor and the gang and you’re still not able to get yourself to finish the final season because it’s just too sad to say goodbye – things get a little emotional. Did I mention my brother did amazing? ‘Cause he did.

your kind words. This week I received a lot of compliments on my blog. It was hard not to let it get to me. It seriously means SO much to me. I feel like I struggled for a really long time with finding my voice and figuring out what I wanted out of this whole experience and it just feels so nice that you all care. Thank you so so much.

the internet. I just really appreciate people like Katherine for making videos like this and Pham for his always encouraging words and general badassery, oh and all the people in this video who remind you just how amazing the internet is at making the geographical distance between us disappear in order to be there for one another. lovelovelove.

Some more of my favorite internet finds: 

I have a mad crush on the bride in this photoshoot. Yowza.

I cannot stop listening to the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat soundtrack. I just wish I had known about the Donny Osmond version sooner.

Some amazing tips on peaceful roommate living.

Zen at Play.

Ragtime renditions of Mario, Harry Potter, and Star Wars. Amazing.

Oh and, papaya salad, “If Gmail worked like Twitter, I would favorite the shit out of that email.” – Nicole, sushi dates, homes with rock climbing walls and halfpipes in the basement, adele, police conventions, my job, clean room!, my roommates (i think great things are in store for us), musical pandora stations, my red hair, rooftop parties, summer nights, and hikes that end at breathtaking water falls. 

Yeah, this week was pretty great.

Now tomorrow – school! ugh.

reasons to smile // she’s my person

by ameena on August 7, 2011 · 2 comments

in reasons to smile

Kristin finally coming home. She’s my other half. She’s my person. She completes me. This girl sees the craziest side of me and still hangs around. That’s dedication, folks. Oh and she completely supports my whims. Like, one time we were watching Nightmare on Elm Street and the message we took from that movie was, “We need men’s dress shirts to wear around the house because that’s hot.” So then the next day we went to the DI and bought oversized men’s dress shirts because some girl looked damn good wearing nothing but her boyfriend’s button-up before Freddy killed her. Although now that I am telling that story I realize I probably should have said the reason we wear oversized men’s shirts despite the fact that we are both single is because of Tom Cruise in Risky Business. But then I wouldn’t be able to tell you that she’s also the kind of person who will watch Practical Magic with me on a Friday night and consequently dance to the Lime in the Coconut song while drinking Jarrrgaritas. And when we are driving down the street throwing fake temper tantrums because I don’t even remember why and I turn to her and say, “Sometimes I wonder how we are still single, and then other times I know,”  she doesn’t get mad but instead giggles along with me and rejoices in our inevitable spinster crazy cat-lady future. See? My person.

MashUps. So I’ve kind of been going on a massive mashup binge lately and it’s beginning to get a little out of control. If you are going through the same thing (and really even if you are not) you should totally listen to Xaphoon Jones’ Passion Pit x Jackson 5 mashup. Genius.

Crazy Stupid Love. I absolutely adored this movie. Oh and, RyanGoslingRyanGoslingRyanGosling. 

Parade of Homes. Basically this is a tour of some of the most gorgeous homes in the Salt Lake Valley. Re: a voyeur’s dream. So. Many. Fancy. KITCHENS! And oh my goodness. THE DECORATING. I want it all. We didn’t make it to the UP house yet, but we are going this Tuesday and I am so incredibly ecstatic. I have some great pictures to share with you all.

Love Yourself. Search it on Tumblr. Realize that the world is a beautiful place.

Seeing my #BiSC roommate. It was just so great to see her for the first time since Vegas. Mikael is kind of amazing if you didn’t know.

The Red Iguana. Definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in the SLC. amazing.

Yard Sales. Our first time going to Yard Sales was a roaring success. I didn’t even have to do any bargaining, the sellers did all the work for me. This is how one conversation went,

Me: “I would like to get this, please.”

Her: “Okay! How much does it say it is on the sticker?”

Me: “Seven Dollars”

Her: “How does five sound?”

See, I didn’t even have to say anything! And five dollars was exactly what I wanted to pay, but because I’m far too shy for bargaining I was just going to pay the price on the sticker. Thanks lady.

Finally getting a record player. After an exhaustive search involving so many emotional highs and lows I finally found a record player. And now I basically never want to leave the house, unless it is to go to a record store. Now all I need is a man to slow dance in the kitchen with me while Billie Holiday plays in the background.

my favorite pieces of the internets this week: 

It’s kind of embarrassing how hard this video makes me laugh.

How To Survive When Everything Sucks.

An Entire Chapter of Harry Potter painted on a wall.

reasons to smile // the i’m a grown-up edition

by ameena on July 30, 2011 · 1 comment

in reasons to smile

Okay, so I know I totally skipped a week (I’m inconsistent at best) but here are this week’s reasons to smile:

Grown-up dinner parties. Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a real life grown-up dinner party, I even got to dress up! I felt so sophisticated. We drank wine, cooked an amazing meal (okay I mostly watched, but still!), and ate some of the most amazing cheese bread I’ve ever had in my entire life. It was a night full of good conversation with friends I haven’t seen in far too long and a relaxing escape from the constant party/bar scene I have found myself in lately. We even played board games! Which is like one of my favorite past times of all time.

Pioneer Day. Here in Utah we basically get to celebrate the fourth of July twice in one month. You see the 24th of July was the day that Sir Joseph Smith and his people made their way in to the great valley that is Salt Lake (or was it the day we became a state? I don’t actually know). Either way, the Pioneers were involved and it is an excuse for us to get a three-day weekend, drink lots of beer, and blow up some fireworks. This year I spent it surrounded by friends, cooking indian food, laughing, and watching fireworks across the valley from the top of one of Salt Lake’s “skyscrapers”. Amazing.

Thai food. Hi, I’m Ameena and I have a serious addiction to Papaya Salad.

Born to Run. So I only started reading this yesterday but I am already hooked. I have been dying to read this book for quite some time and so far it has yet to disappoint. Have you read it? What are you thoughts?

Kitchens. I have a very passionate voyeuristic interest in kitchens. I think it is partially because living with a painfully small non accommodating kitchen and an overwhelming desire to be constantly baking and creating in said kitchen do not go very well together. I love looking at other people’s kitchens and seeing what they have chosen to do with the space, I feel like I can learn a lot about someone just by looking at their kitchen. Last night, while at a friends barbecue, his mother gave me a tour of their kitchens and I nearly died from amazing kitchen overload. It was everything I could ever want from a kitchen and more. The copper sink, the drawers that are actually refrigerated to store produce, the hidden appliances (I love a hidden microwave, mostly because I hate microwaves), the counterspace, the drawer compartment for the garbage can. I want it all.

Thrifting. I have been spending an absurd amount of time (but hardly any money!) at thrift stores lately. My favorite part is going through all of the old records to see what I can find. The other day while I was at the DI I watched in horror as someone picked up a record player and placed it in their shopping cart. I have never seen a record player there before and if I had been there five minutes before it could have been MINE. I seriously contemplated asking them how much I would have to pay them to not buy it, but they didn’t seem overly friendly and I’ve never really negotiated before so I decided to let it go. I guess that’s how the thrift stores are sometimes. They giveth and they taketh away.

Television/Netflix. You guys, I am in the middle of a lot of TV shows. Like, sometimes I feel legitimately overwhelmed and agitated that I do not have enough time to watch all of the TV that I so desperately wish to watch. Between all of the Mad Men, The Wire, Community, Archer, South Park, Breaking Bad, It’s Always Sunny, West Wing, and True Blood it really is a miracle I have time for anything else. But I can’t give them up. I just can’t.

Stratejoy. I feel perpetually lost when it comes to what I want out of life and how I want to go about attaining it. I have found a lot of solace/comfort in this gem of a website. Molly Mahar and all you members of The Tribe, you have secretly saved me.

Giving up alcohol. Okay, so it’s only for the month of August, but still! Sometimes I just really hate the way it makes me feel. Other times I hate that I use it as an excuse to do the things I am normally too shy to do. Most of the time the hangovers are hardly worth it. All the time it is expensive. And I really want to spend the month of August working on some serious self-reflection and really pouring my heart and soul in to this half-marathon training and I could really use one less distraction. Oh and also, running hungover is probably what death feels like. Probably.

Oh, and some fabulous internet finds this week:

The Walking Dead season two trailer. Look at that, another TV show!

Someone needs to buy me this book. Actually I am going to buy it as soon as it is available.

10 Really Easy Ways You Can Love Yourself More Today.

If you love Pixar you will love this nostalgic medley.

asking myself what would don draper do, being unapologetically awesome, and beating kristin at life

by ameena on July 8, 2011 · 2 comments

in reasons to smile

Oh what an incredible week! The past seven days have been full of happy holidays, good friends, delicious food, and the added bonus of a four day work week to top it all off. Basically, it was destined for success of epic proportions.

Here are this week’s Reasons to Smile:

Fourth of July Weekend. When I wasn’t busying myself with beating two of my favorite boys at Beer Pong* I was spending my time outside enjoying the cool summer air at one of my favorite bars, eating late night breakfasts at the Bayleaf Cafe, watching grown men passionately debate who would win a two-on-two basketball match without ever actually setting a time to settle the matter, watching episodes of Archer, playing Texas Hold ‘Em, watching fireworks light up the Salt Lake sky from our perch high above the valley, and somehow managing to squeeze in three shifts at work. It was by far the happiest weekend I have had in a while.

*we defeated them 3-0, for the record. But who’s counting, really? (Also, YAY COLLEGE)

Seeing Transformers 3. Very important note: I hated Transformers 3. Just talking about it makes me stabby. But the company made it bearable and the fact that the person who convinced us to see the movie in the first place ended up falling asleep for about twenty minutes when Michael Bay was at his explosioniest is what made it completely worth it. Oh and three hours of air conditioning when your house seems determined to win the heat war with the great outdoors is always a plus. Also, what did Chicago ever do to Michael Bay? Also also, can you really claim to hate a movie when it almost made you cry at one point? Actually, don’t answer that.

The new Mumford & Sons single. I have had this song for less than 12 hours and it is already my most played song. I won’t be happy until I see them live.

Miss Eleni Zoe’s eye-opening post on confidence. So, I recently realized that I don’t have game. Whenever I get the slightest indication that someone is hitting on me, I instantly go in to Bruce Willis circa Die Hard mode and start shooting down his every attempt as if he were a German terrorist. I can’t even explain it, I think it’s just my body’s emergency response system or something. Not only that, but it also recently occurred to me that my obnoxious tendency to apologize for everything has gotten entirely out of hand. Oh you sneezed? I’m sorry. What’s that you say? It’s raining outside? I’m so sorry for the bad weather. For the past couple of weeks I have been obsessing over what these two revelations could mean and, more importantly, what I ought to do about them so when I read this post it was exactly what I needed in order to see the big picture. Confidence. I. Must. Be. More. Confident. With that I bring you my latest mantra: “Be unapologetically you.” I can totally do that.

Ben Affleck. I don’t even know how or why but I really love this man. Even despite his participation in Bennifer.

The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain. When I was in Tenth Grade I had the most amazing AP European History teacher to ever exist. She taught us such things as The Oliver Cromwell song, that only the best days start with a pink cookie in one hand and a hot chocolate in the other, and that Istanbul was Constantinople now it’s Istanbul not Constantinople. But I think my most favorite thing about Ms. Goble’s class was the day she showed us this brilliant movie starring the adorable Hugh Grant. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend you drop what you are doing and watching it as soon as possible. Then you can find out answers to such questions as who measured the first hill?

Dinner dates with Tian. My former roommate just returned from an epic journey to her motherland (re: China). She brought me back the most amazing gift: Deep Fried French Toast. Here is all you need to know: peanut butter + texas toast + butter + sweetened condensed milk = foodgasm the likes of which the Cottage has never known before.

I’ve decided to start living my life by the code WWDDD? Because really all you ever need is some alcohol and a one night stand at a seedy hotel to solve all of your problems. Don Draper is like the epitome of unapologetic awesomeness. Oh Jon Hamm, the things I would let you do to me.

FINALLY CLEANING MY ROOM. So I moved to the upstairs bedroom about six weeks ago and I only just got around to cleaning it and oh how I love my room! Turns out there is actually hardwood floor beneath my piles of dirty clothes and so much more bed than I ever could have imagined. I used to always bitch (er, joke) to KJ that it was completely unfair of her to get an upstairs bedroom and then treat it like shit all the time so then of course she all of a sudden decided she was going to always have a clean room just to spite me and it secretly killed me inside to see her room all clean and pretty. But now my room is totally cleaner than hers! Haha! I totally feel like one of those women on Maury who were taunted in High School and then come back to be all like “Look how hot I am now, I bet you wish you could get with this. Sucks to be you, asshole.” Too far? Probably.

Oh and if you haven’t heard by now
the lovely ladies of Shatterboxx are launching a new iPhone app - Paper’d
in order to help your iPhone be it’s most stylish self.
Their custom design wallpapers are some of the best I have ever seen
and they are also friends of mine,
so please be sure to check it out and spread the word.

You know you totally want to.

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