Dressing your dog: cute or creepy?

So lots of people trash when people dress up their pets and say that it borders on animal abuse, but what if the animal likes it?  I know my Shih Tzu doesn't mind her sweaters and I'm pretty sure my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel doesn't mind it either.  Plus, is it really wrong when they look this darn cute?!

This pretty little girl is my new puppy, Daisy!  I think she looks absolutely adorable in her little rain coat and tutu!  I can't see anything wrong with something that creates this level of cuteness if it doesn't bother the pet! Agree? Disagree?  Feel free to weigh in with your opinion and even share adorable pictures of your pets!


P.S. If you're for dressing up dogs, you're gonna love this.  American Eagle is coming out with their own clothing line for dogs this coming fall!  Click here to check it out!

Album of the week: week 17

Happy finals, everyone!  So, with the end of the semester upon us and feeling pretty fly because we're just days (or in my case, hours) away from being out of here, I thought I'd give you something that sounds about as bad-ass as you feel when you walk out of a final that you just aced! This week's album is something really new and pretty awesome.  Sheezus by Lily Allen is the album.  The song of the week is Hard Out Here.  I'm a political science major and several of my biggest assignments have been about gender and politics.  Of course, I'm a feminist.  This song is a great song for any feminist... Plus, it makes you feel like a bad-ass when you listen to it.  Check it out and you'll hear what I mean.



Click here to listen to this week's album.
Click here to listen to this week's song.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make an rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Have any requests? Leave a comment and let me know.

Album of the week: week 16

Hey everyone.  Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged.  Life has just been extra stressful lately.  Luckily, I found a little bit of time to get back to this again.  The album for this week is Ceilings by Alive In Wild Paint.  This album is one that makes me very nostalgic.  Once upon a time I was in love.  I was dating my best friend and despite the trouble we faced, it was one of the happiest times of my life.

The song of the week is Ceilings.  This song takes me right back to a very special memory.  We were in his dorm which was lit by a long string of Christmas lights that stretched along the entire room.  I put on this song and then he pulled me close and we danced.  It was a perfect moment.   The sad thing about perfect moments is that they must always come to an end.  This perfect moment ended of course, but the memory still brings happy tears to my eyes.  I can still remember the way the whole world seemed to disappear in this moment leaving just the two of us and our love for each other.
To listen to this week's album, click here.
To listen to this week's song, click here.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make an rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Have any requests? Leave a comment and let me know.

Tips for healthy living: Matcha

What exactly is matcha? Matcha is a green tea ground up into a fine powder that you actually mix straight into your water and drink.  Unlike regular green tea, you're actually ingesting the whole leaf, and you know what, it does your body a world of good.  Everyone knows green tea is good for you, but did you know 1 cup of matcha is the equivalent of 10 cups of any other green tea?

This tea is amazing.  It's nutrition content trumps some of the trendy favorites.  It contains 60 times the antioxidants of spinach, 17 times the antioxidants of blueberries, 7 times the antioxidants of dark chocolate, and 6.2 times the antioxidants of of goji berries.  Plus, a serving of matcha only has 10 calories!

It's no surprise that there's an entire ceremony surrounding this delicious green tea. Not only is it healthy, but it's also a great source of energy. I'm not talking about that jittery energy you get from a few cups of coffee; I'm talking about a calm energy that helps you focus and actually accomplish things! Matcha contains an amino acid called L-theanine.  This amino acid is known to relax the mind.  That combined with the caffeine in this green tea creates a calm, alert energy.

Not behind matcha yet? Well you will be.  This tea has so many health benefits that will blow your mind. What are these benefits?  Well here are just a few.

• Weight loss
• In 1999 a study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that green tea extract rich in catechins has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation.  Consuming green tea increased thermogenesis (the body's rate of burning calories) from 8-10% to 35-43% of daily energy expenditure. Another study demonstrated that exercising immediately after drinking matcha green tea resulted in 25% more fat burning during exercise.
• Anti-aging
• One cities where people live the longest is Okinawa, Japan. The Okinawan people's longevity has been partly attributed to regular consumption of Matcha Green Tea. Matcha is the most popular green tea in Japan, but is rapidly gaining more popularity worldwide because of its ability to combat inflammation, oxidation and aging
• Heart disease prevention
• A 2011 study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that green tea significantly lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations.
• Cancer prevention
• Green tea contains potent antioxidants called catechins, which scavenge for dangerous free radicals in the body. The most powerful catechin found in green tea is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is believed to be a powerful anti-carcinogen. A 2003 University of Colorado study confirmed that drinking 1 cup of matcha green tea has 137 times the amount of antioxidant EGCG compared to a conventional cup of green tea.
• Detoxifying
• Matcha is grown in the shade, which is why it is richer in chlorophyll than other green teas. Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for giving leaves their green color. Chlorophyll detoxifies the body. It clears the body of toxins, heavy metals, poisons, dioxins and hormone disrupters.

Wanna know another little secret? You can put matcha in pretty much anything you want! From yogurt to cupcakes to smoothies... Get creative! Here are a few of my own recipes I use matcha in!

Vegan Green Tea Ice Cream
Vegan Green Tea Frappé

sources: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-wonders-of-matcha-green-tea.html

150 calorie vegan green tea frappé in 3 simple steps

What you'll need:

• A blender
• 1 1/2 cups of ice
• 1 cup vanilla soy milk
• 2 tsp. matcha powder
• 2 packets stevia

Step 1: Add soy milk to ice and blend

Step 2: Add stevia and green tea powder and blend

Step 3: Enjoy!

Album of the week: week 15

This week's album is something angsty, flirty, and full of energy.  This is an album that's fun to belt at the top of your lungs while jumping on your bed and singing into a hairbrush.  Seriously though, I'm really falling in love with this album.  The album is Fortress 'round My Heart by Ida Maria.  The song of the week is one I can relate to.  I am a good girl, so the chorus doesn't quite apply, but the inability to think or act normal when I'm around my crush REALLY applies.  The song is I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked.  This is a song is so much fun to sing when you've failed at flirting.  It helps you joke away all the angst.

Click here to listen to the album of the week.
Click here to listen to the song of the week.


If you haven't done it yet, you should make an rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Have any requests? Leave a comment and let me know.  

Album of the week: week 14

Hey guys.  Sorry I haven't posted in a few weeks.  Life has just been super hectic.  This week I'm picking an album that's pretty popular, but still great.  The album is All The Little Lights by Passenger.  This album is soft and beautiful.  The lyrics are truthful yet romantic.  It's just something great to listen to for a calm and peaceful smile.  As you might have noticed, I like to pick a song of the week that applies to my life.  This week won't be any different.  The song of the week is The Wrong Direction.  It should really make you think.  I've been reevaluating my life lately, and I feel like I have been running in the wrong direction.  This song is talking about love, but I think it can apply to several aspects of life.  Check it out and you'll see what I mean.

 Click here to listen to this week's album.
Click here to listen to this week's song.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Have any requests? Leave a comment and let me know.  

Album of the week: week 13

This week's album is the self titled album from Walk The Moon.  For me, this album is daydreaming of new beginnings.  Seeing as this is the start of a new semester of college, I find this to be very appropriate.  Also, it's great for me because I'm dating a little bit again, and it's fun to daydream about the possibilities there.  This album is just dreamy and romantic and fun.  It's also a great album to dance around with your friends to.  The song of the week is Anna Sun.  There's something just very light-hearted and young about this song.  It's like taking on the world with optimism despite your circumstances.  It's a great way to start any new beginning. 

Click here to listen to Walk The Moon.
Click here to listen to the song of the week.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Album of the week: week 12

This week's album is one that I find comfort in and fall asleep to almost every night.  The album is In Defense Of The Genre by Say Anything.  When I listen to this album, I like to close my eyes and let all the things I've thought and felt that day catch up to me.  I've found that this album has a song for everything I feel.  The song of the week is About Falling.

Click here to listen to In Defense of the Genre. Click here to listen to the song of the week.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Album of the week: week 11

This week's album is one that's helped me get through a number of breakups.  It's the self-titled album from Fountain Of Wayne.  It's not too happy, angry, angsty, or sad.  It's just right for that weird post-breakup phase where you're not sure what exactly you're feeling, but you know that anything too happy will make you miserable because you used to be that happy and anything too sad, angsty, or angry will drag you down.  The song of the week is Sink To The Bottom.  There's not really a good reason for this week's song other than that I really just like it.

Click here to listen to the album of the week.
Click here for this week's song.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

orange chocolate vegan ice cream

Want a delicious, easy to make snack? Here's something will satisfy your sweet tooth without "shrinking" your clothes.
This snack is a dairy-free orange chocolate ice cream.

 What you'll need:

• 1 cup (plain or unsweetened vanilla) coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk, or soy milk (coconut milk works best)
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. orange extract
• 2 ziplock freezer bags
• 3 cups ice
• 1 tbsp. salt

Directions:
Add milk, sugar, cocoa powder, orange extract, and vanilla to one bag.  Seal bag and set inside second bag.  Then add salt and ice to second bag, seal, and shake for 7-10 minutes.  Pull out your bag full of ice cream, scoop, and serve.

Vegan green tea ice cream

Want a delicious, healthy snack? Here's something easy to make that satisfies you sweet tooth without "shrinking" your clothes.
This snack is a dairy-free green tea ice cream.

What you'll need:

• 1 cup (plain or unsweetened vanilla) coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk, or soy milk (coconut milk works the best).
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. green tea powder (I use matcha)
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 ziplock freezer bags
• 3 cups ice
• 1 tbsp. salt

Directions:
Add milk, sugar, green tea powder, and vanilla to one bag.  Seal bag and set inside second bag.  Then add salt and ice to second bag, seal, and shake for 7-10 minutes.  Pull out your bag full of ice cream, scoop, and serve.

Album of the week: week 10

Greetings, angel-faces.  You're going to love this week's album.  The album of the week is Cardboard Castles by Watsky.  This is an album that I've listened to on a loop when driving to and from school. It's witty, funny, and even a little serious.  It has some great songs for putting things into perspective and then some great songs to listen to when chilling with friends.

The song of the week is Sloppy Seconds.  This song isn't romantic, but it can definitely restore your faith in love.  For me this song is two different things.  It's cramming into a car with a bunch of my close friends to make a midnight Sheetz run after hanging out with an even bigger group of friends.  It's also holding hands with a boy who knows everything that's wrong with me, but accepts me for who I am because he can relate.  If you only ever listen to one song I recommend, make it this one, because it really will change you.  I hope you enjoy it.

Click here to listen to this week's album.
Click here to listen to this week's song.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Album of the week: week 9

Hello music enthusiasts.  This week's album is one of my favorites and has been for years.  The album is ...Is A Real Boy by Say Anything.  This album is the perfect combination of serious and snarky.  Some of the songs could be a little shocking if you take them seriously.  I decided to pick two songs for this week since this album has two very different sounds.  The first song is soft and sweet.  Song number one is I Want To Know Your Plans.  The second song is serious and snarky.  It's actually a song I think a lot of people really need to listen to.  Song number two is Admit It.  This is another album that sounds great on vinyl and was one I was so excited to get.

Click here to listen to this week's album.
Click here to song number 1 for this week.
Click here to listen to song number 2 for this week.

If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Happy New Year (almost)!

Here's an amazing cover of a classic song to get you ready for the new year!

Album of the week: week 8

Happy holidays, music lovers!  I have a fun little treat for you.  This week's album is something a little harder than what I usually recommend.  I honestly can't remember who recommended this band to me, but I remember someone telling me I'd love them, and that person was right.  The album of the week if Exister by Hot Water Music.  This is hands down their best album.  It sounds great on vinyl and was actually one of my first records.  I hope you love it as much as I do!

This week's song was really hard to choose because I have four favorites from this album.  After lots of time and consideration, I finally decided on Drag My Body.  Listen to it; you won't regret it.

To listen to this week's album, click here!
To listen to this week's song, click here!
If you haven't done it yet, you should make a rdio account.  It's the easiest way to keep up.  I have a playlist that's strictly devoted to my songs of the week.  For that playlist, click here.  I actually add the songs before I publish my blog, so you can use it to get a sneak peak of what I'm going to recommend.  I'm constantly making new playlists and updating them, so if you want to see what I'm listening to and enjoy what I've put together, you can follow me by clicking here.

Album of the week: week 7.5

Merry Christmas!  So, now that I'm home with my family and my dog and sleeping in my own bed, I'm no longer a Grinch!  Since my earlier album for the week was only an EP, I'm going to give you a second album.  This week's album is one of my Christmas favorites; it's Home For Christmas by *NSYNC.  This is album is full of Christmas tradition for me.  Every year when my mom, sister, my sister's best friend, my best friend, and I all decorate the Christmas tree together, we listen to this and drink hot chocolate (or hot tea).  Though the tree, friends, and house have changed, this tradition stays the same. 

The song of the week is one that will get you in the Christmas Spirit without fail.  This song is Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.  If it fails to get you in the Christmas spirit, I honestly don't know what will. 

Click here to listen to this week's album.

Click here to listen to this week's song.

Beauty is not about size

Every girl has struggled with self esteem based on body image.  "I'm too short.  I'm too fat.  My arms are too big.  I wish my legs were longer.  I wish my thighs didn't touch.  I wish my neck was thinner."  Do any of these things sound familiar?  I know they hit home for me.  As a teen I struggled with eating disorders to try to achieve that perfect body.  The thing is, that perfect body is unhealthy.  I'm not naturally built to be a size 00.  It took me all of my teenage years to learn to accept my body for what it is.  The important thing is being healthy.  Beauty isn't based on size.  I think Robyn Lawley is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, and she's considered plus size.

Album of the week: week 7

Merry Christmas!  This Grinch is only days away from being home, so here are those Christmas songs you've been waiting for... But I still have a few finals left, so they're a little snarky and sarcastic.  There are a few Christmas classics, though, so don't be too sad.  This week's album of the week is actually an EP.  The album of the week is Have Faith With Kate Nash This Christmas by Kate Nash.

Since I have no love life right now (things didn't go the way I was hoping back during week 5), my song of the week isn't going to be very cheery.  The song of the week is I Hate You This Christmas.  Enjoy!

Click here to listen to the album of the week.
Click here to listen to song of the week.

music blog update

Hey music lovers.  If you have a rdio account, you should definitely follow me.  To view my rdio page, click here!  You can see my top albums, what's new to my collection, and listen to playlists I've created.  I also have a playlist that's solely my songs of the week.  If you want to check out that playlist, click here.  I'm adding the songs of the week to that playlist before I publish my album of the weeks post, so you can preview what I'll be writing about a little early.  Before you can access my rdio page, you'll need to set up your own account.  You can click here to do that.  Well, I hope you follow me and I hope you enjoy what I have for you.

P.S.  For all of you college students, happy finals week!