What I have Neflixed and You Should, Too

With the recent release of Netflix own programming House of Cards, I thought it would be appropriate for me to share with you all what I have recently watched on Netflix and how that affects you.  With midterms approaching, you'll be needing a study break, so borrow you parents' Netflix account and check these out.  I'm going to give you three titles and a recommendation filled with funny quips and no spoilers.  Except that everyone dies.  Always.  Even the virgins.

Primal Fear

Have you ever just loved the work an actor does no matter what the role?  That is how I feel about Edward Norton.  He makes me laugh in Keeping the Faith, angry in American History X, and a little bit of everything in just about every movie he does.  Imagine my joy at finding a Norton film that I had never seen, and on Netflix streaming no less!  This is Norton's first movie, and it may be his best ever.  In fact, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1996, and the travesty isn't that he lost to Cuba Gooding, Jr. yelling "Show me the money!"  The travesty is that he wasn't considered the lead.  Richard Gere is actually good in this movie, too, as is Laura Linney.  However, the reason to see this movie is a historic performance by Norton in this courtroom thriller.

Warnings:  This movie has severe adult themes, including language, nudity, and violence.  It is also not very flattering for the Catholic Church.  However, the plot and its twist rise above these negatives and I would recommend this to any fans of Norton or the courtroom/murder trial drama crowd.

Craigslist Joe

Have you ever wondered who actually posts some of that crazy stuff on Craigslist?  Or have you wondered if people out there have really lost the sense of community that shaped this country?  If so, check out Craigslist Joe, a documentary about a young man from California and his decision to live off of nothing but the kindness of strangers who post on Craigslist for an entire month.  Joe must find food, clothes, transportation, and a place to sleep, but he can only ask favors on Craigslist or from people that he meets because of Craigslist.  It runs like a traditional documentary of American life, but the places Joe goes and the characters he meets are the ones who are rarely seen away from the digital community, including a karma-loving van driver, a break dancing dominatrix, a cancer patient who is also a hoarder, and even Craig himself.  

Warnings:  There isn't anything really bad here, and is definitely watchable by a wide audience.  It drags occasionally, but the emotional moments may bring tears to your eyes.  Anyone who uses Craigslist or is a child of the online generation should watch this.

Better Off Ted

Ok, this one isn't a movie, but an amazing TV show that was canceled because of ABC being a stupid company.  The show, which has 2 seasons, chronicles the lives of the employees of Veridian Dynamics, a soulless conglomerate who can turn seemingly anything into a weapon that kills people.  Ted, the main character, is the only sane person in the cast.  The narrative follows him as he navigates a complicated love triangle with Veronica (Portia De Rossi from Arrested Development), his robotic and efficient boss and Linda, a good hearted and perky employee who despises everything about the company.  However, the show is laugh out loud funny because of the antics of socially awkward laboratory scientists Phil and Lem.  The fact that there are only 2 seasons makes this the perfect mind relaxant after those tough midterms.

Warnings:  Sex is a topic in almost every episode, though it is implied and rarely depicted on camera.  Anyone who is a fan of dark comedies or just a fan of comedy in general (especially Family Guy and the aforementioned Arrested Development) will really enjoy this show.

That's what I've been watching...now back to writing that midterm paper...

~Ben

A Snack that Lowers Stress?!

With the semester in full swing I like to de-stress by cooking and baking. I think it is very important to find something you can do on your own that allows you to step back from the chaos of graduate school and just relax for a bit. The best part of my "self care" is that I get a yummy meal or treat after AND I can share with my friends and loved ones! I am going to share my favorite cookie recipe for all the lucky readers of this blog! 

WARNING: making these for others, may cause you to have to make them again and again because they're sooo good!

Daisy's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 stick plus 6 Tbsp of unsalted butter, at room temp.
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter (crunchy gives more texture)
2 1/3 cups all- purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup or more of chocolate chips (you can chop them if you want)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Cream sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mix well in between. Then mix in vanilla and peanut butter (at a lower speed if using electric mixer)
Add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix well until dough is smooth! Stir in the chocolate chips until evenly dispersed.

Scoop out cookies onto cookie sheet ( i say the bigger the better!) and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges, and quite flat. Then let cookies cool on a wire rack and they should be perfectly soft and chewy.



Enjoy these with a large glass of milk and call it a day of studying!

with love,
Daisy 

Live Music...It's Good for the Soul

In my opinion, one of the BEST things about living in this area is the access we have to different music venues. In the past, the only live music I would ever see would be going to huge outdoor arenas for country concerts (what up MegaTickets?!) But, all that has changed in the last year and a half since I moved up this way. Since moving, I've been to three different shows at two different venues, and I have NO intentions of slowing down!!

Yea...pretty close to the stage!! I didn't even have to throw
elbows for this shot.

My favorite venue I've found so far is the 9:30 Club in D.C. 9:30 has a lot of up and comers, along with some more established musicians. Last year, I saw Matt Nathanson there, and this past fall I got to see Of Monsters and Men. Both shows were AMAZING!!! 9:30 Club is pretty small, so no matter where you are, you can actually SEE who's playing...no Jumbotron needed!! And, a lot of the openers will come out in the audience during the main attraction, and I've heard from a couple people that if you hang out long enough after the show, you have a decent chance of meeting the performers! Also, it's all general admission, so if you're kind of a groupie (like me!), you can throw some elbows and get as close to the stage as you'd like! Or, if you're a little more laid back, you can sit on one of the balconies up top, and still have a fantastic view of everything. One of the downsides to 9:30 is that it is all the way on the Green Line...a far distance for someone on the Orange Line. They also do have a parking lot there...if you pay in advance (I think it was 15$-ish?), you're guaranteed a spot in the lot, or you can get there early and take your chances. For Matt Nathanson, I took the Metro (I had no car at the time). For OMAM I drove...luckily, the show was on a Sunday, so there wasn't really any traffic, and it was a MUCH shorter ride home! If you have people riding with you that are willing to kick in for parking, I'd recommend it. Not an awful experience compared to other places in D.C.

I spy a Mumford!!!

Close up!

Not a close-up, but a pretty great shot!

Just this past week, I made my way over to George Mason's Patriot Center for Mumford & Sons. Ho-lee cow. Those boys can put on a show!!! The Patriot Center is George Mason's basketball arena, so it's obviously a larger venue, but it's not as extreme as the Verizon Center in D.C. Even the 'bad' seats in the Patriot Center aren't too bad! And, as amazing as a more intimate show is, there's definitely something to be said for the pure awesome-ness of singing along with 10,000 of your closest friends. Parking at Patriot Center is included in the price of your ticket, but it's a college campus, meaning that the parking situation in general can be...iffy. But, the closest Metro is the Vienna Station, 20-something minutes away. Sooo driving looks not to bad after hearing that :) But, the actual show....OH MY-LANTA!!!! It was absolutely incredible!!! Hands down the best arena-setting show I've ever seen, and definitely one I'll remember for a long time...I really hope I can see them again sometime.

In the past, I thought going to concerts and shows was only for special occasions, but oh how my attitude has changed. Seeing one of your favorite bands, or an up-n-comer that you just heard about, can be an amazing experience, whether you go with a friend or by yourself. It can give you some great memories, and just let you forget about your daily stresses for a couple hours. Some shows I'm looking forward to? The Band Perry and The Lumineers, both at Merriweather, an outdoor venue over in Maryland. FYI, another venue in D.C. to keep an eye on is DAR Constitution Hall...one of my roommates saw Fun. there a couple weeks ago (who, by the way, will also be at Merriweather this summer!), and loved it!!

So, the moral of the story is...go see live music. You won't regret it!!!!!

Katelyn