Music Mondays: Marina and the Diamonds

Happy Monday guys!

Today I would like to introduce one of my favorite artists: Marina and the Diamonds!

Don't you love cuddly artists! Especially if they have animal hats!
Image courtesy of Idolator.com

Marina is a Welsh singer-songwriter who I believe to have a strongly unique voice. Her music is a mixture of pop, punk, and rock (they described it as indie pop, new wave... but who really knows what that means?) I first discovered her when I accidentally click on an ad in grooveshark. It was a Victoria's secret ad where they filled my playlist with 'sensual' music that will probably make me buy their lingerie (they succeeded). The first song was "Rootless by Mariana and the Diamonds and I absolutely fell in love with her voice. There is something soothingly odd about her pitch that just caught me and never released me. Here is "Are you satisfied" for your enjoyment.

 Another song I adore by her is "Hermit the Frog." So far she only has one album (Family Jewels) out. BUT her NEW album Electra Heart is coming out in April!!! I'm so excited and you should be excited too!! Please check her out and let me know what you think! Other artist that I will probably do a Music monday for is Katie Melua. Both have music and voices that are hauntingly beautiful.

Enjoy!

<3 Nibs n Ink

STOP KONY

Don't know who Joeseph Kony is? Watch this video and find out.

Here are a few more links on other aspects of this topic:

 

http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/post/18890947431/we-got-trouble

http://justiceinconflict.org/2012/03/07/taking-kony-2012-down-a-notch/

What do you think about this?
 

<3 Nibs n Ink

Where ARE you from, really?

After failing my road test on my birthday 1.5 years ago I've decided that it is time I tried again now that I've moved to an area where tree sex is a fad. 

Observe the tree sex.
Image courtesy of dosomething.org

After calling a local driving school I scheduled my 5-hr video class and my first lesson for Saturday (the one that passed already). The 5 hr video was standard (aka BORING). Now the lesson was when things got CRAZY. 

My instructor picked me up promptly at 4:15pm. She was already in the passenger seat so I took the drivers seat feeling super nervous. I am not trying to feed to the belief that Asians (especially females) can't drive, but I know my own abilities and I know that my anxiety of driving hinders my abilities to drive logically and well. I told her so and said that I've only drove for 12 hrs of my life. 

Image courtesy of drivinganxiety.net

My instructor seemed nice enough. She is a middle-aged, caucasian woman who is very blunt. Shakily I started driving following her directions. While trying to focus on driving (not crashing) she progressed to tell me about her day. Every mistake I made she would comment on how everyone she taught that day did the same thing and how they didn't listen to her when she tried to teach them. I apologized because I know that I basically suck at driving (which is why I'm paying her to teach me) and am sincerely sorry for hurting her neck from braking too hard. She retorted with "You don't mean that so stop apologizing and just listen to me. I teach a lot of foreigners and they all say the same thing and never listen to me." 

After telling me to turn right she then asked me "So, where are you from?" I answered as I normally would with "Brooklyn." Normally, I would not be offended when asked this question but it was her response to it that irked me. "No I mean where are you from, really?" I responded steadily with Brooklyn. She looked at me and said "So you were born in Chi-." "I was born in Brooklyn, my parents were from China though." 

I know I may have a very 'Fobby' face, but they usually get that I was born here when I say Brooklyn and would just ask where my parents were from. Am I too sensitive towards small talk? Did she really mean nothing from this? Am I feeding too much to the Chinese stereotype? This is the thought that has been racking my brain since Saturday. Where is the line that divides thinking too much and letting people get away with being racist? I feel like I should be offended but I also can't help feeling like I am just getting angry about something she didn't even mean. (BTW when I told her I worked for a pharmaceutical company she responded with I figured that much.) 

What I can't figure out is why I didn't say anything to her. But then what could I have said? I've always had trouble with confrontation especially if it is concerning myself. I think it is her passive racism that brought me back to a time in my childhood where I was basically helpless in defending myself against such acts. Have I grown soft and learn to accept the racism? 

What are your thoughts? Should I switch instructors or should I man up and confront her?

Until next time! 

<3 Nibs n Ink

Music Mondays: Don Omar

Weeeeepa!! I am getting my reggaeton/salsa on (salsaton? I might have just made that up.  I am a visionary), people.  


My gawgeous sistah, @CraftyBelka, got engaged a little over a week ago and I am HBIC a.k.a Maid of Honor, so I've been doing lots of preliminary planning (but only the kind I enjoy), like online dress shopping and mentally creating DJ lists of songs I want to hear at the wedding.  


Currently on my list and on repeat in Grooveshark is "Hasta Que Salga El Sol" ("Until the Sun Comes Up") by Don Omar.   

Sadly there's no video yet, but this shall suffice.  Don Omar's a pretty cool bro.  I have a ton of his music on my iPod and he's done collaborations with some pretty famous Latin artists like Aventura, and most recently Lucenzo for "Danza Kuduro" which became ridiculously popular. 


This song is fun, it's happy, and it's exactly what I need when working in a window-less, oxygen-less, box of death.  


Have a listen and let us know what you think! 
-Beetle, xx 

Project 10 Pan

Happy weekend everyone!


I know it's not a custom to post on a weekend at Alpaca Clouds, but seeing how I've been M.I.A. this whole week, I thought it wouldn't hurt to post on this lovely Saturday afternoon, or as Sheldon Cooper would call it "pre-evening."


So not only am I posting quite late, I am also jumping onto this whole New Year's resolution wagon late as well. I mean, I did write it up somewhere (meaning, I have a list in my head, which isn't hard to remember because there's only two things: 1. Get employed and 2. Move out). But I'm late in the sense that I'm announcing it to the blogosphere almost 2 months later New Year's. Leetle Beetle was the only one who did post about her New Year's resolutions at an appropriate time at AC. Just today, as I was looking at my vanity and playing around with my make-up, I decided to take on Project 10 Pan. This project was started by some beauty guru(s) who have accumulated an ungodly amount of make-up and thought it was about time to dedicate a few months to using them up until they've "hit pan." Although you can only hit pan on eye shadows, blush, powder, etc., this project is useful for those who want to use up skincare products and hair-care products. I watched one video where the youtuber recommended for book collectors too!


Continue reading if you want to see my list!

Food TALK

As much fun as reading 30 pages of standard operating procedures on how to use a glorified dishwasher sounds, I find myself trying to find many ways of keeping my hands busy while at work. Whether it is fiddling with my pen or sipping some tea, my hands can't seem to find peace while I'm sitting at work reading long procedures on how to do the most mediocre thing. 

Image courtesy of Dirtybutton.com!

One of the quickest solution I found was eating finger foods. I've eaten tangerines, clementines, granola bars, cereals, cheese with crackers, cheese without crackers, crackers without cheese and an assorted (absurd amount) of candy. As unhealthy as this sounds I always find myself hungry in the work place. I think that the healthiest (cheapest) of my choices is cereal. Which makes my grocery shopping very fun and exciting since I get to try out many new cereals. For example Cheerios came out with a new Dulce De Leche flavor.. and YES it is as good as it sounds!!

Yum!
Image courtesy of foodbeast.com! 

AND Honey nut chex!!!!!! 

Image courtesy of Totallyfreebies.com

As you can imagine... I've prob gained 10 lbs since I moved.. and it's barely been a month! 

On another note I've found a replica for a delicious cereal my dear Leetle Beetle shared with me one rainy high school day. It was a crunchy chocolaty cookie-like outer shell with a melty chocolate inside. I shared some with my younger sister and she fell head over heels in love with it. My sister then asked me to ask LB what it was and where she can get some.  Turns out LB's awesome grandmother got it for her in some random Jewish place in Brighton. But lo' and behold I've found it in the form of Kellogs Krave!!!

Image courtesy of Kellogs.com!

Turns out my sister has already tried it and did NOT tell me about it (that jerk/DW). 

Anyways what is your favorite cereal?? 

Thanks for reading!

<3 Nibs n Ink

Help Us Win the Naked Palettes!

So... you can't really help us do this, but maybe if you send out good vibes to the universe and the lovely Megan of The Frugalista Diaries, she'll give us these two Naked palettes from Urban Decay!   

I've only recently started getting into make-up thanks to Wah Yizzle (I know, late bloomer.  Are you shocked?) and learned that people use multiple brushes for your eyes!  Who woulda thunk it?  I'm getting pretty obsessed with this stuff and when I heard about Urban Decay's Naked Palettes, I had to get my hands on them .... until I found out how much they cost.  Sadly Mama hasn't won the lotto yet.

Now, if we do win them, the question is who will get them?  Perhaps we'll duel over them with a fair game of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock.  I feel that's the only way.  

img courtesy of www.thefrugalistadiaries.blogspot.com

Check out the give away here and follow her blog too!  (She's a badass and can find ridiculously affordable clothes like none other.)  

Wish us luck!

-Beetle, xx.

Experience Required Part II

The future is a topic that has been on my mind since I was old enough to know what it is. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an ophthalmologist when I grow up. Now that I am actually grown up (nice old age of 22,) I've noticed many more options out there. I went into college for a bachelors degree for Biomedical engineering and pre-med. After two years and organic chemistry, I've realized that going to med. school seems bleak. I've decided to look for a job within BME instead. I graduated, like most of my peers, in May 2011 (except for leetle beetle who got out a semester before us...smart/broke-ass). I started job-searching in the beginning of my last semester of my college life. However I was not getting any on-site interviews. 

Thanks Seanrock @Photobucket.

Also my trip to Hong Kong RIGHT after I graduated didn't help. (My parents wanted me to go in hopes of my finding a job there... yeah right and leave New York? I don't think so.) But I was still applying to positions in America EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. If I had to make a list of all the jobs I applied to, I think it might be around 3 digits. For everyone of you who had job searched before or is job searching still, you know that it ain't easy. I even have the wrinkles to prove it. 

Before Job Hunting- NO Wrinkles! (I'm on the left BTW)

Look how young I look.. and then BAM:

LOOK at ALL that under-eye baggage!

Believe it or not, I'm not trying to complain, but trying to show you that all hard work will get rewarded. It's been Half a year But I've landed a offer from my DREAM company. :) The only fall-back is the fact that it is in Albany. But you know what? Better in Albany than Utah. (Yes I applied to Utah jobs and Michigan jobs and Georgia jobs and Florida jobs.. it's and endless list... sorry.) 

So for all the people who are still searching for the light at the end of the tunnel where the workplace is not a personal hell, it IS possible. Just be persistent and know what you want. Just keep trying no matter what!!

Please let me know where was the most random or weird place you applied to! My weirdest place is applying to be a painter for a Hospital In NYC. XD 

Until next time~ <3 Nibs N Ink

Wednesday Webcomics

In the spirit of things I love, I thought I'd write a little sut'm sut'm about two favorite webcomics.  I honestly cannot start my day without reading these two web comics and I've been with these characters since the very beginning, to the point that I think they're real people. (which is terrible.) It doesn't help that the authors have made Twitter accounts for them either.  So I blame you, Jeph Jacques & Danielle Corsetto. 

Up first is none other than Questionable Content (aka QC.  This got very confusing when I started working and found out that QC also stands for Quality Control) by Jeph Jacques.  QC follows the life of Marten, a socially-awkward 20-something guy who is constantly surrounded by a group of crazy girls and a horny anthro-PC named Pint-size.  

img courtesy of www.questionablecontent.net

 My other morning necessity is Danielle Corsetto's Girls With Slingshots, which follows Hazel, a loud-mouthed, kind of drunken but hilarious writer.  She says whatever first comes to mind, drowns her sorrows in alcohol, and is pretty violently insulting.  Is it terrible that I think she reminds me of myself sometimes? 

img courtesy of www.girlswithslingshots.com

Check them out and let us know what you think!  Do you have any favorite webcomics?

(P.S.  sorry for the weird image sizes.  It was either too small or readable, but too huge for the blog.  Zoom in to read the text or, better yet, go on the websites & read them all!) 

-Beetle, xx.

Valentine's Day! Let's get sexual.

As someone who has never had an actual Valentine on Valentine's Day (gal pals & family aside.  YES YOU ARE THE LOVES OF MY LIFE), I honestly don't feel any different on this day than any other day.  I've definitely had teenage angst-y Valentine's where I wore Claire's jewelry and black clothes, wallowing about how emo my life is and how no one will ever love me. 


....so glad last year's over.  (Just kidding.  Kind of.  No, really.)  


These days Valentine's Day for me is just another day to celebrate the people and things that I absolutely adore and make me laugh.  Last night, my fabulous sister, @CraftyBelka, and I took our mom out for a Galentine's Day dinner a la Parks & Rec.  We bought her flowers, treated her to a delicious meal at an adorable restaurant called Penelope, and topped it off with strawberries & nutella.  

img courtesy of newyork.cityvoter.com

It was a night full of food, chocolate, hugs, and love.  Who could ask for a better way to bring in this Day o' Lovin? 


As for today, I'm surrounding myself with all things that put a smile on my face.  (Mainly to distract myself from the hell cave.)  A peak into what's on my list today -- 


1.  Jenna Marbles' Face:  For those bitter souls out there who don't want to even think about significant others (I've been there.  I'm mostly there about 80% of the time), I give you Jenna Marbles' famous "Face."  This video is genius and I've even gone so far as to perfect my own face.  I must say, I'm pretty good at it.

2.  Krav Maga:  Tuesdays are krav days.  I can't tell you all how much krav maga has changed my life.  Whenever I get overwhelmed or worried, I go to krav and it all goes away.  (Mainly because I'm too focused on how much pain I'm in.)  It's the BEST stress reliever, teaches you how to defend yourself, and just be more confident as a woman overall.  My instructors recently made it onto the Anderson Cooper Show and kicked serious ass!  I'm so proud to train with them.  

3. The Brooklyn Brainery:  Words cannot describe my love for this place.  The Brainery is changing the way education happens in this city one funky food/karaoke class at a time.  But seriously, this little organization gives ridiculously affordable classes on anything, ranging from economics to beekeeping to whiskey.  It's all taught by community members (I even taught Spanish there!) and they're quite possibly the nicest group of people I've ever met.  

4.  Michel Telo "Ai Se Eu Te Pego":  Wouldn't be a list of things I love without my current musical obsession.  Most recently on repeat on my iPod is this little Portuguese ditty.  Although I do speak Spanish, I haven't the faintest clue what he's singing about, but it sounds happy, so I'm gonna go with it.

What are you loving today?  How are you spending Valentine's Day? 


-Beetle, xx.