Thursday 24 April 2014

First Youtube Video Ever-Ever

Hello friends!

I originally had this video written out as a blog post, but a couple friends encouraged me to try making Youtube videos. I was pretty nervous (it's weird to watch your whole face fill up your computer screen, trust me) but I decided to go for it.

So without further ado, Things Old People Do On Facebook:






Friday 18 April 2014

Worst Trends of Spring and Summer 2014

A lot of the time, when I see what a season's "trends" are, I'm surprised at how much I hate them and can't believe that people would actually follow them. So because I'm bored and exams are over, I scoured the Internet for Spring and Summer 2014's worst trends and made fun of them so you don't have to. You're welcome.


The Kitten Heel

If you focus hard on them, you can almost feel yourself teleporting back to 1965.
Photo by glambistro.com

Apparently, this is becoming a thing again. When I'm looking for a pair of heels, or any summer shoe for that matter, I like to steer clear of the ones that look like a pair my grandmother would wear to a wedding. There are so many questions that go along with this type of footwear. Firstly, what are you? Are you casual, or formal? Where do I wear you? Church, or a party? If you ask me, the answers are neither, and nowhere. There is no need for this shoe. I just can't do it.

White on White


Hope you don't plan on sitting...or moving around...much today.
(Photo by Brian Ach/ Getty Images)

A entire white outfit could look amazing on some, but is potentially disastrous for a klutz such as myself. The last thing I need is a blood red tomato sauce stain on a white dress so it looks like I got shot. On second thought, I don't know what's worse, getting a stain, or it being so stark white someone could mistake me for a nurse. So while a look like this is nice in theory, you've got to try it at your own risk. 

Culottes


She's doing the white on white and the culottes, double the trendiness.
(Photo by: IMAXtree)

I'll be honest, I didn't even know what these were at first. But upon further investigation I know exactly what it is- something that will never be seen in my closet. These may be the least flattering bottoms I've ever been subjected to. For someone without modelesque long legs, these pants make me look way shorter than I am, which, at 5'4, I could really do without. Plus, I feel like a strong gust of wind could send a culotte-wearer into the sky. I mean, why all the extra material?

Metallic

(Photo by Patrick Kovarik/AFP/ Getty Images)

And by this I mean pants, tops and dresses that are completely shiny silver or gold. I love metallic accents but this is way too much. Even on the runway this looks tacky. If I wanted to look like a piece of tin foil, I could fashion a garment out of the contents of my mom's kitchen cabinets.

Wool Sweaters


(Photo by Arun Nevader/ Getty Images)
I love cozy sweaters for the fall and winter, but for spring and summer? Apparently, they're meant to be paired with a pair of shorts, which may be one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. If it's hot enough outside to get away with shorts, a thick wool sweater is the last thing I'm going to be wearing with them. Sorry, deodorant companies, I know this would probably lead to a boom in your sales, but I hope this trend doesn't catch on. Mostly because every time I see a girl in a wool sweater in the dead of summer, I'll think about her discomfort and inevitable perspiration and that's not exactly what I want to have on my mind in the July heat.

Friday 11 April 2014

5 Skills to Learn Before We Leave the Nest

Let's be honest, people, we need to learn these things. Maybe some of you will read this and be like, "Wow Christina, you're an idiot, I'm so great at all these things, you're going to be a failure at life", but I feel that almost everyone has at least one or two of the things below to work on. The first step to progress is realizing we have a problem. We've got a few things to learn before we're considered "grown ups" and that's okay. We're all in this together, 18 plus crowd.


Photo from real-estate.com.au


1. Taxes and Other Moneyish Things

Or anything bank related for that matter. I've realized that I know nothing about the finances in my life. Today was actually the first day I've been present while my taxes were being done (hence the inspiration for this post), and I was completely confused. A few weeks ago, my mom told me that she had made an appointment for me, and to start gathering everything I would need. Everything I would need? Like what? I was completely at a loss for what this whole tax thing required. Do you need a lock of my hair, or a goat for sacrifice perhaps? I really think all young people should have knowledge of at least basic bank/tax/whatever knowledge. That math is a whole lot more important than quadratic formulas and algebra with more letters than numbers.


2. Talking on the Phone Without Having a Panic Attack

Ask my best friends, and they'll tell you the last thing I have a problem with is talking on the phone. I can go on and on and waste hours... but only with them. The second someone asks me to call and make an appointment for myself (exactly why my mother called to place my tax-appointment in the first place), I start imagining the awkward situations that will no doubt happen. "What if they ask me a question and I can't answer? Then we'll have an awkward silence and I'll stutter and they'll judge me and tell their coworkers about me and...." until my mother accepts I'm a psycho and does the appointment booking for me. In this electronic age, it's important for us to have telephone skills, if only to be able to make appointments and call 911. ("Hey 911, do you mind if I just text you the description of the burglar in my home? It'll make me feel way more comfortable. Okay, thanks.")


3. Running a Household and all that Jazz

And by that I mean everything, cooking, laundry, mowing the lawn, ensuring the house doesn't burn to the ground, you know, the basics. In all honesty, I know very little about this sort of stuff. I can make a mean Mr. Noodle, even scrambled eggs when I'm feeling super fancy, but I'm assuming that's not enough in the real world. Before one leaves the nest, I feel like they should probably know enough about domestic duties to not be afraid to have their mother over for dinner. (And that goes for girls AND guys!)


4. Paying Bills

I know this is covered in number 1 but I feel like it needs it's own point, because this one will just be an issue for a cheapskate such as myself. Bills are slightly less fun when you're the one who has to deal with them. Donations are always welcome.


5. Weening off the Cell Phone

I know, guys, this ones a hard one. Don't freak out and close the page yet, hear me out. Young people, myself included, spend waaaaaay too much time on cell phones. Texting, tweeting, Instagram-ing, Facebooking, and all the other social media "-ings" we do. Believe me when I say I love social media, and my phone is one of my prized possessions (I mean, what could be better than a device that can save you from boredom and awkward moments when you run out of things to say during a real-life conversation?!) but we have to remember the value of actually sitting down with our friends and spending time together. Gossiping about others in person is always better than doing so over text messages, you can trust me on that one. So go outside, squint into the sunlight (I know it's been a while, take a minute), and put the phone away once in a while. 

Friday 4 April 2014

If Guys You Meet at Parties Were Alcohol

Parties are always a mish mash of different personalities. You can meet a potential best friend, or a potential stalker. It's like a lottery, except the odds of hitting the jackpot are probably way less. We've all met these types of guys...


Photo by drinkinginamerica.com



1. The Wine Cooler


Sickly sweet, the Wine Cooler tells you everything you want to hear. By the end of the night you've received compliments on your hair, shoes, eyes, and personality, and when they run out of normal things to compliment they start to grasp at straws, "I like your curly hair, it's really big." Now, like the drink, the Wine Cooler can only be handled in small doses, or else you're sure to get a headache by the end of the night. This one's probably a creep, be ready to do your "get me out of this conversation" hand signal to your BFF.


2. The Beer


Athletic and manly, the Beer is a guy's guy. Expect some chest bumping or a baseball cap sporting some logo that you couldn't place if your life depended on it. Bubbly and laid back, the Beer can be found over by the pong table, or chugging back a few with his teammates. But, like most girls' sentiments on beer, they just aren't our taste. The Beer is too busy entertaining the guys than impressing the girls. Even if you do get a second to talk to him, he just doesn't know how to interact with the opposite sex, and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Next!


3. The Wine


The Wine just doesn't belong here. Quiet and reserved, the Wine sports an air of elegance not visible with the other gentlemen at the party. While you wouldn't be keen to approach him, because he would just slow down your party mood, you appreciate his charm. Don't write this one off though, he's probably just better suited to a nice dinner one on one. How did he even get here anyways? 


4. The Vodka


The Vodka is the life of the party. His motives are clear and transparent, this guy just wants everyone to have a good time. Mixing with everyone, the Vodka is the one you want to be around. But, unfortunately, so do all of the other girls, so be ready to pull out your best pick up lines to stay on top. A word of caution, too much time with this guy will get you on the roof of the house or facedown on the lawn before you know it. Maybe the Vodka is a little bit of a troublemaker, use discretion...


5. The Water


This one should be obvious. The Water is the "boring" one. You know he has to be there, to be the DD or to make sure his friends don't end up in a jail cell by the end of the night. With a clear head, this is the guy that, if your mom was a fly on the wall at this party, would want you to spend time with. On second thought, he's the guy you should talk to, just not in this party setting, maybe somewhere with less drunks everywhere.

Let's be honest here, very rarely does one find a lifelong friend, or husband material, at a wild bash. The guys above are no exception. My advice? Head to the party, stick with your best girlfriends, and you're sure to have a great time no matter who you meet!