If I didn’t have people I loved and I wasn’t an indentured servant to my student loans, the chances are high that I would be a full-fledged hermit woman by now. All I would need is a good cave, a good book, and maybe some Hot Cheetos. Still, somehow, when I receive a social invitation, my first instinct is to say yes. It’s only hours before the event that I realize I’ve made a huge mistake. For fellow introverts, here is my humble hermit advice:   Under-Promise and Over-Deliver TheRead More

We pick up right where we left off last night— Britt’s meltdown and the impending rose ceremony. But first- a date with Becca that maybe never even had a date card. They talk on a couch in a loft and hold hands awkwardly. Becca has never been in love; never even had a serious relationship. Then they go to the roof and watch the sun set over Iowa. The end. As Kaitlyn (already in possession of a rose), Britt, Becca, Carly, Jade, and Whitney prepare for the cocktail party andRead More

Sunday night was a rough one for anyone with indecision or varied interests. NBA All-Star game, SNL 40th anniversary episode, The Walking Dead, and, of course, The Bachelor, which started off with Chris Tells All and closed out with a regular episode. Sunday was part of a two-night special with hometown dates airing Monday night. This episode, more than any other, gave me the feeling that Chris could marry and end up happy with one of the women in the house. It also gave us a glimpse into life on theRead More

Punk rock and basketball certainly aren’t the first things that come to mind upon listening to singer-songwriter Stefan Pruett’s debut single, but both make up the cornerstone of “Carefree” – a smooth slice of 80s dream pop that plays like a lost track from The Breakfast Club and the National’s first foray into EDM. If that sounds like an earful, listen and judge for yourself:   If the culture clash of punk and hoops isn’t immediately apparent, Pruett wouldn’t blame you. The evolution of his music into the dark popRead More

  Record 25: Malibu, Saturday, July 5th, 2014. Day. in the coffee bean today. it’s the afternoon. i don’t feel well. there’s a crumbling that starts in my forehead. it spreads to the back of my skull, and charges down my spine like lightning. i don’t want to lose again. last game was a wrecked train. 42-6. and it was cuz of me. coach said. i remember this and feel upset. today is another day. i drink my venti iced white mocha latte and do my stats homework that iRead More

People love to hate on Valentine’s Day.  But why?  It’s just a stupid holiday created by Hallmark, right? Maybe.  Maybe not.  Let’s not take it so personally.  Quite frankly, “Singles Awareness Day” is getting old.  I’m over it.  She’s over it.  He’s over it.  Yes, I am aware that singles outnumber married people in America, but can we just call it “Saturday”?  Or, like, “Wear Something Sexy and Eat Chocolate Day”?   And besides, are any of us really alone?  Grab your best girlfriends and toast to singledom!  Dear single, youRead More

For Valentines Day, I’m sure you’re all going out to a fancy dinner with your loved ones, significant others, flames, or f*ck buddies. However, since Valentines Day falls on a Saturday this year, I imagine your plans for the evening will also include a little bit of “love potions,” if you will. So instead of picking up a box of Franzia or heading to a dive bar, why don’t you wow your sweetie with some unique homemade cocktails? Here are some exciting new Valentines-inspired cocktails from Crown Royal and PieholeRead More

-Alexis Krauss- Instagram: kraussingaround Known for: Being the lead singer of New York indie-pop band Sleigh Bells. -Maybe I just have a weak spot for girls with musical talent, but Alexis Krauss is this week’s featured lady, due to her great looks and great music alike. An indie songstress, Krauss is one half of the indie-electropop duo Sleigh Bells, who have earned great critical acclaim with their first two albums. It certainly doesn’t hurt the band’s reputation to have a girl like Alexis Krauss as the face of the project.    Read More

Recently I was approached by a teenager who had seen me editing my music in the library. This is how our interaction went down: Kid: “Whoa, are you a DJ?!” Me: “No, I’m a guitarist.” Kid: “Oh…” (walks away). My oh my how times are a changin’. Dylan is still right. That’s why this past weekend was refreshing. Between the Grammy’s and MusiCares awards, we saw a renewed appreciation for actual musicians.   MusiCares An annual event honoring the lifetime achievement of the greatest musicians in history wouldn’t be completeRead More

Next season on Serial, did Kelsey kill her husband? #TheBachelor — Aaron Chewning (@AaronChewning) February 10, 2015 I’ve probably said this before, but this was one of the best episodes of The Bachelor in the show’s history. If not the greatest, it was definitely the most quotable. As per usual, I missed the first ten minutes of the episode, so I have no idea how the bathroom panic attack played out. I do know that Kardashley (formerly known as Ashley I.) and Kelsey got the last two roses, thus sendingRead More

Goddamn! Oh! Baby! I found myself shouting at regular intervals as I witnessed Andre 3000 work the crowd, make love to the microphone stand, and milk the life out of his performance at Lollapalooza. I thanked God, Allah, Buddha, Oprah and Tom Cruise that I was blessed with the opportunity to witness Outkast perform live. Unless you are legally deaf, there is no acceptable excuse for not liking music. Studies show that people who don’t enjoy music are actually mentally messed up. That isn’t a joke, there is a realRead More

I am not a doctor. I do not hold a PhD. I am not writing this from a research lab strewn with papers on the subject I am (sort of) going to discuss. I am a 23-year-old creative writing graduate that lives with her parents. I am currently student teaching high school English. And I am writing from this bed where my clean clothes still lie in a pile (and will probably never be put away because that’s just how I roll). I have no authority on this matter andRead More