An Equation

+

=

(on a slightly smaller scale, with the flames inside the stove)

I realize it wasn't a forest fire, but I was reminded nonetheless of this fantastic childhood commercial:

-hilary

Baking

I love baking.

If I could, I would bake cakes and loaves and cookies all day long. I wouldn't do any work, I would stay in the kitchen, listening to happy, upbeat music and bake delicious smelling things.

Take right now. I am sitting in the house surrounded by the delicious smell of chocolate chip cookies and only a couple of days ago I baked a wonderful banana-chocolate loaf and muffins.

Why does life have to get in the way of cookies?

-ariel.

Ooo La La

My journalism assignment for this week: Find someone different from myself and introduce them in a 400 word profile.

Voila!

Scantily clad in lacy, purple polka-dot lingerie and shiny black stilettos, burlesque dancer Koston Kreme captivated audiences with her flirtatious style of dance Saturday at Ottawa’s Sexapalooza, but it wasn’t her outfit or her routine that had people in Lansdowne’s Exhibition Hall amazed.

In front of a few hundred people, Kreme writhed, wriggled and stripped down to a pair of shiny purple pasties, all while seductively spinning a shiny silver hula-hoop around her trim torso.

The 26-year-old is a member of the Ottawa area burlesque troupe Rockalily, and has been perfecting her unique style of dance for the past 2 years.

Kreme says she realized her knack for the hula-hoop while trying to get back in shape after a nasty break up. She says she remembers being skinny as a kid, so decided to do the things she used to do when she was young – and thus began her mastery of the hula-hoop.

“I learned how to take my clothes off while I was hula-hooping because it gets hot when you hula-hoop in your apartment in front of the TV for too long,” says Kreme.

After hearing about Rockalily from a friend, Kreme, who’s always had a passion for burlesque, says she originally wanted to work behind the scenes.

“I didn’t think I’d have the…guts to do that, but it looked and seemed like so much fun, and all the girls were really confident so I figured I’d try it out,” she says.

Now, she says the only problem she has with her burlesque dancing is her family’s reaction to the occasional publicity she receives.

“My family found out because we were in the Ottawa Citizen and my grandma read it,” she says with a laugh. Since then she’s decided to take her mother’s advice and only use her stage name Koston Kreme in public.

So what’s the best part of burlesque dancing? Kreme says for her it’s the confidence boost she gets after performing. “Everybody always gets off the stage and feels amazing about themselves.”

Kreme says that the ladies (and one man) of Rockalily plan on expanding this year. “We’re trying to make our shows bigger and maybe a little more often,” she says, adding that the troupe plans on adding a Montreal show to their line-up and possibly embarking on a mini tour.

“We try and have a…variety of people…we don’t want a bunch of skinny little girls,” says Kreme of Rockalily. “Everybody in our troupe is completely different and brings something completely different to the troupe.”

- alex

The Bachelor

Being a house full of six girls, we are obliged to indulge in some girly, giggly, man-crushing time at least once a week.

With such a commitment, we were all extremely happy when a new season of The Bachelor premiered a few weeks ago! As I type, Amanda and I are sitting on the futon waiting to see what psycho things these girls are going to do to get this "perfect man" (who needs to be on a tv show to find his soulmate, hmmm...)

The sad part is that I think we all genuinely like the show. Half of it is us being pathetic girls and loving sappy shit like this (the bachelor just kissed a girl while hanging from a bungee cord after jumping off a bridge, how stupidly cute is that?)...the other half is us LOVING watching the overly-dramatic things these girls do to try and impress Jake (bachelor).

The Bachelorettes are all, obviously, super crazy (with the exception of the one we all like - the one sane girl in the house). We all really like that Jake cannot detect the crazy in some of them, and seems completely oblivious to the crazy-eyes he gets from some girls. Especially this one:

Ridiculous, right? How can he not see it?

And I would like to end this post with a quote:

"I just had the best date of my life today. The only day that will top this one will be the day I marry Jake."

I JUST BARFED EVERYWHERE (and sadly love it).

-hilary

Suit up!

As some people may know, I am a huge fan of How I Met Your Mother. After recently watching the last episode, with a very lovely tribute to suits, it got me thinking: suits are awesome. Not only does every man look infinitely more handsome in a suit, they also look more put together, more charming and altogether more desirable. So, here is a tribute to my favorite men in suits...

Alec Baldwin.

Not only is he hilarious, but the man can wear a suit. No matter how old he is getting, his voice keeps getting deeper and the suits keep him looking good.

Robert Downey Jr.

He is Iron Man, Sherlocke Holmes, a badass and can rock a suit.

Jimmy Stewart.

He is by far my favorite old-time actor, and boy can he wear a suit like it's nobody's business. Notice the TWO women on his arms.

Neil Patrick Harris.

As Barney Stinson he was the inspiration for this post, he brought the suit back. Suit up!

Jon Hamm/Don Draper.

When I think of sexy suits he pretty much epitomizes it. I'm sorry Cancer society, but there is absolutely nothing better than a man wearing a suit, holding a scotch in one hand and a cigarette in the other...

ariel.

Horoscopes are grand aren't they?

So on a Sunday night what is there to do? Catch up on my studies? Watch more How I Met Your Mother? NO! Sunday night is the best night to catch up on your horoscope! I googled mine for January and THIS is what my month is to entail:

Your ruler,the Sun conjunct Uranus this moon darkening. Expects the unexpected and see self via new eyes now. Just on for your temper affakkelen do at the flaw at optimism you off. Do not give the doubts of other belief on this moment. At the sun darkening,your ruler is square to Pluto. Enjoys your unlimited possibilities and are very gratefully for each occasion that geplaveid is your way to success. Life is PIGLET now. A holiday,trips afar take. Take your Light on the way!

NICE! I can't wait for my life to become PIGLET!

-N

Back Alley Photoshoots

The Carleton University student newspaper, The Charlatan, is usually just that - a newspaper, however once in a while it decides to publish a snazzy little thing called a magazine.

Shocking, right?

Anyways, for this last issue I was the photo editor. My favourite part of this position was making my friends dress up in ridiculous costumes and pose for photoshoots in the back alley behind our house. Thank god they are so willing to help out, huh?

These are my faves; the theme of the magazine was "subcultures and the fringe movement" and with such, my rad roommates perfectly portrayed their roles as hippies, ravers, beatniks, greasers and punk rockers.

THANK YOU FRIENDS!

Love, Hilary

Interior Decoration

In an attempt to reverse the horrible karma I experienced this past semester, I decided to re-organize my room. Yesterday evening, because we basically (and I say basically because there are no assignments yet) no work I called up my trusty twin Ariel to help me move around the mess that I called my bedroom. Let me just say that underneath a bed can get surprisingly dusty over the course of four months. 5 Swiffer pads later, my bed, desk, chair and everything else was moved. And turns out I didn't fail my poli sci exam; see, good vibes already! Also, putting my bed against the far wall has given me infinitely more floor space and therefore room for about 6 people to have a comfortable dance party, and 10 if we squish.

In Hilary's semi-last post she mentioned her favourite things, one of them being this interior decorating blog called Desire to Inspire which I myself showed her. It's written by a few people and showcases different interior photographers as well as up-and-coming trends in interior design. Needless to say, after following this blog for a couple months, I have amassed enough pictures to basically describe my ideal house. Not too shabby. Here are some of my favourites and if you still know me roughly (and hopefully) 10-15 years from now, this is what my house will look like:

So I guess I'm really into clutter and chandeliers, who would have thought?

-N

Merry Christmas!!

The title says it all. Hope you all had a wonderful day full of family, fun and friends!

Love, all of us.

GLEE FLASHMOB OMG

OMG you guys! Shaking and crying. Why can't this happen in my life?!

Slinky.

So I got a Slinky for my birthday from my brother. (my birthday is Dec.22, awesome, I know.)

Now, once I got over being slightly annoyed that I got my brother an actual gift for his birthday, and he gets me a $3 slinky, I began to really and fully appreciate it.

It is one of the true Slinkies. A perfect metal coil, with just enough spring to make quick work of any flight of stairs. It has the perfect slinky sound when you play with it.

It made me remember those old slinky commercials, with the really awesome songs that just stuck in your head... Everybody knows its Slinky!

Anyway, sorry for not posting in about a decade. I have been busy/traveling home/having zero interesting things to post/say.

Merry Christmas yo.

- ariel.

More funny cartoons

Also, Hilary, nicely done with the magnets! I've bought some that I can contribute too!

-N

Family Fridge Magnets

Our fridge in the house is really quite sad. It's boring and white with absolutely nothing entertaining on it. Now that I am home for the holidays with nothing better to do than to make crafts all day(heavenly!), I decided to make a few photo-magnets to brighten up our kitchen.

The inspiration? Our crazier-than-life-hyper-decorated fridge at home:

Our new family magnets:

More crafts to come, it's a guarantee. Hope you like these!

-hilary

Bitches I'm Back

Ok.

I know it's literally been forever since I've written a blog post. This is because I have had absolutely interesting to blog about. I have spent the last three weeks in academic hell.

But... Ladies and Gentlemen I AM FREE.

(at least until January 4th 2010)

Now i must resume my packing... I've got a train to catch tomorrow morning!

Watch out for more blog posts this Christmas break ;)

-alex

The Happy List

I was recently shown a post on another blog where the author listed 100 things she disliked. That post inspired me to make a similar list where, instead of being a Debbie Downer, I would write off the top-of-my-head about the things that make me a super happy camper. So here we are, good luck making it to the end (maybe I have already bored you and you didn't even make it to the end of this little blurb -eeeek) ...

1. Driving alone at night and belting out your favourite tunes circa 1999

2. The smell of walking past that little Christmas tree lot right after Brewer Park on the way home from a boring day of classes

3. Peanut butter and jam on a tortilla

4. Watching stop action videos on Youtube

5. This blog (she actually just listed things that make her happy too, how fun!!!)

6. The build-up to Christmas/everything about the Christmas season: the lights, the gift-buying-to-match-someone’s-personality, and the anticipation of having your brother wake you up at 4:30 a.m. on Christmas morning

7. The cycling segment of Wii Sports Resort, I look absolutely ridiculous when I try it

8. Sprawling out over my double bed after months in a single

9. Anything colourful, i.e. both my bedrooms

10. The instant connection felt between me, and the perfect pair of jeans (these jeans usually belong to Alex)

11. My weakness for LuluLemon bags, its almost fatal

12. Walking on the beach in Ireland and remembering the time when I would run along the same shore and collect seashells and pebbles

13. Making colourful and time consuming paper collages wherever there a blank wall waiting to be filled

14. The Ikea scene from the movie 500 Days of Summer

15. Coming home from university to a house where there are candy/chocolate dishes on every other table. I am munching on a mini Toblerone as I type.

16. Warm, fully-matching pajamas, i.e. my purple asian pjs – the roommates know what I mean

17. Realizing that whatever journalism assignment you are working on isn’t as hard as you thought it would be

18. Positivity – screw reality, things are more fun when you dream

19. Any non-espresso based drink (minus caramel macchiatos, they are good!) from Starbucks

20. Organized closets

21. Living with six girls and having there be no stupid, girlish drama

22. The mall at Christmas time

23. Grilled cheese with ketchup

24. Realizing that I do have the ability to make double layered birthday cakes that only mess up a little

25. The most amazing store in the entire world – The Papery

26. Ariel’s Indian man impression, especially when she talks about keeping plastic on her sofas

27. Dancing/belting/being insane while listening to Taylor Swift songs

28. Impromptu dance parties with my roommates in that little space between the dining room and the kitchen

29. Italian wedding soup with extra Parmesan cheese

30. Making incredibly personalized cards for people and being super excited to see their face as they read them

31. Making lists – so organized, so comprehensive

32. The show LOST and its addicting ability to make me watch four seasons in three short weeks

33. Dropping my cell phone and realizing that “HA, it’s not broken AGAIN.” Take that cell phone gods!

34. Chasing my brother around the house when I am trying to hug him

35. Watching the recording of my third birthday party, it may be semi-narcissistic but I am an effing hilarious child

36. Creativity and crafts - fun craft blogs!

37. Chris Bailey when he is not doing one of his weird toddler/old-man voices

38. Doing something psychotically weird and having my roommates give me that oh-so-familiar “what the hell” expression

39. Playing neopets and scamming 13-year-olds while doing so

40. The noiseyness of a type writer’s keys

41. Doing Benjamin Button impressions

42. Childhood innocence

43. Whistling at the dinner table with my dad to make my mom angry

44. Leaf fights

45. Snow fights

46. Watching Glee with all my roommates + often Dane and Rayne and squealing/screaming during the entire hour… then going to my room and downloading all the songs from that episode and putting them on repeat.

47. People who are happy and optimistic. Sure I worry and complain, but in the end is that REALLY going to get you anywhere?

48. Good looking houses

49. Wrapping my Christmas present and all of my dad’s because he incompetent

49.5 Ending lists with a weird half-number because it is exactly what people weren’t expecting

WHEW. I apologize for the length.

-hilary

Why the world is awesome:

N

Taylor Swift

Have you ever noticed how there is a Taylor Swift song to match your every mood?

Right now Amanda and I are sitting on the futon in the living room crying to the piano version of "Forever and Always" and "You're not Sorry" and belting out "You Belong with Me"...if someone was to look in our window right now they would most certainly think that we were insane.

One thing that guys might not know about girls, is that we ALWAYS over-analyze songs and decipher them so that they somehow match what we're going through. If we're listening to a sad song, most of the time you can just jump to the conclusion that we're doing some major boy-bashing.

Annnnnd this is now on repeat...

Once upon a time, I believe it was a Tuesday

When I caught your eye

We caught onto something, I hold on to the night

You looked me in the eye and told me you loved me

Were you just kidding? 'Cause it seems to me

This thing is breaking down, we almost never speak

I don't feel welcome anymore

Baby, what happened? Please tell me

'Cause one second it was perfect

Now you're halfway out the door

And I stare at the phone; he still hasn't called

And then you feel so low, you can't feel nothin' at all

And you flashback to when he said, forever and always

Oh, oh

And it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong

It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone

'Cause I was there when you said forever and always

Was I out of line? Did I say something way too honest

Made you run and hide like a scared little boy?

I looked into your eyes, thought I knew you for a minute

Now I'm not so sure

So here's to everything, coming down to nothing

Here's to silence that cuts me to the core

Where is this going? Thought I knew for a minute

But I don't anymore

And I stare at the phone; he still hasn't called

And then you feel so low, you can't feel nothin' at all

And you flashback to when he said forever and always

Oh, oh

And it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong

It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone

'Cause I was there when you said forever and always

You didn't mean it, baby, I don't think so

Oh, oh

Oh, back up, baby, back up, did you forget everything?

Back up, baby, back up, did you forget everything?

'Cause it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong

It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone

'Cause I was there when you said forever and always

And I stare at the phone he still hasn't called

And then you feel so low, you can't feel nothin' at all

And you flashback to when we said forever and always!

And it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong

It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone

'Cause I was there when you said forever and always

You didn't mean it, baby, you said forever and always,

Yeah

Amanda's favourite lyrics right now:

"If you could see that I'm the one who understands you, been here all along, so why can't you see you belong with me..."

WE LOVE YOU TAYLOR!

-h

A Perfect Description

Just make that through at 19 and it's me!

-N

I'm a typical university stereotype

-N

The most wonderful time of the year

It's the most wonderful time of the year because its...

Christmas? No, you'd think it would be because of that right?

Nope, it's EXAM TIME, the wonderful period of death that all us university students need to make it through before we get to experience the fattening Christmas baking and spoiled warmth that going home for Christmas brings.

At this time, I'm sitting in the basement of the library. I just finished laughing my guts out because as I started typing this blog, I looked over and saw Nat was about to do the exact same thing. IT'S NOT EVEN THAT FUNNY... but we laughed for a solid three minutes. We're just experiencing a severe case of "library fever."

Library fever - a mental health condition that comes from spending seven consecutive hours in the subterranean vault of the library; symptoms include giggly outbreaks, hysterical silent screams and the desire to bluetooth your roommates funny pictures of cats

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it just won't come fast enough.

On a positive note, will post Christmas tree pictures soon!

- hilary