"Brew Age"- A beer web series by Michael Baca

Two of the greatest things possible have come together: beer and the art of beer. My long time friend, and San Francisco photographer/videographer, Michael Baca, has just released a new web series he created called "Brew Age." Michael films everyday people who have one thing in common: their love and craft for beer. Make sure to check out this craft beer revolution and while you're at it, check out Michael's website if you want to see some beautiful photography. 

3 Biggie Small Remixes You Should Have

Whenever my friends ask me to recommend them some good songs or burn them a CD (yeah, I still do that), I always have to put one of these remixes in. They're just too good. And yes, a 21 year-old blonde white chick can like a little Biggie Smalls. Just listen to these three songs and you'll probably stop judging me.

 Notorious B.I.G. "Juicy" vs. The XX "Intro"

Can I Get Witcha vs. Con Te Partiro

Viceroy Jet Life Remix of "Going Back To Cali" 

Throwback Thursday

In case your iTunes only consists of artists like One Direction, Pitbull, or Kei$ha, I thought I'd do a little throwback of some classic songs that everyone should have, for all of our sake. Sure, there are some great new artists out, but I always find myself going back to the 90s, before dub step and overly processed music. Here are a few "go to's," enjoy them.

Mazzy Star- Fade Into You

New Radicals- You Get What You Give

Tracy Chapman- Fast Car

The Shins- New Slang

Blur- Song 2

4 Non Blondes- What's Up?

The Cranberries- Linger

The Flaming Lips- Do You Realize

Band Of The Day: Imagine Dragons

I had only heard a few songs by Imagine Dragons before I saw them live this past weekend in San Francisco. After seeing them perform live, I've downloaded their entire new album and I can't stop listening to it. This is a band that I would bet money on that they get huge in the next couple of months. In my previous post, "The Best Day Ever," I talked about how myself and friend Suzanne saw them live at The Independent in San Francisco. I've seen a lot of live shows, and this was one of the best I've seen. I've posted 3 of my favorite songs below. Don't forget to add this band to your playlist.

Radioactive- Imagine Dragons

It's Time- Imagine Dragons

Demons- Imagine Dragons

The Best Day Ever

There are certain people out there who have a spontaneity about them, that every time you're around them you're bound to have a great time. That is my best friend from high school, Suzanne Cox, in a nut shell. She is one of the only people I know who just does whatever she wants, and I love it. Some of the best times of my life have been with her. No matter how long we go without seeing each other, we pick right back up where we started. Well, Suzanne moved to San Francisco from San Diego recently so I decided to visit her for a weekend while I was home on winter break. And what do you know, I had one of the best nights I've had in a long time. I've always loved the city, but I fell even more in love after this weekend. While I was growing up, I'd go to the city with my parents for some pretty incredible dinners or to see the typical tourist side of San Francisco. However, I got to see a different side of the city this past week, and now I'm actually thinking of applying to a few companies in San Francisco after I graduate. Who would have thought? If you want to have one of the best days of your life, read below:

Saturday we woke up and went to a great restaurant in the mission called Lolo's. If you want a mean sangria and uniquely authentic Mexican food with a flare, check it out. The waiters even comped our dessert. Which made their mini ice cream sandwiches drizzled with warm chocolate even more worth it.

One of the things I love most about San Francisco is how many amazing "hole in the walls" you can discover. After lunch we were driving and saw the cutest coffee shop I have ever seen called Stable Cafe. It just so happened they had a "pie pop up" going on outside the cafe where they had fresh baked pies for sale. We got the BEST slice of key lime pie i've ever had in my life.

After stuffing myself with sangria, tacos, and key lime pie we decided to walk it off and get a little culture. We went to the San Francisco Modern Art Museum, which was unbelievable. We saw artists from Picasso to Matisse to Warhol. It was quite humbling. There are so many different museums in the city, but if you must chose one, SFMOMA should be at the top of your list.

Suzanne posing with a Picasso 

 After the museum, we weren't quite ready to go back yet so we went to the Top Of The Mark at the Mark Hopkins hotel for cocktails. The Mark Hopkins is one of the finest historic San Francisco luxury hotels. It was built in 1926, and when you go inside you feel as if you've teleported back to the 20's. That is another great thing about the city of San Francisco, the history. You turn a corner or walk into a building, and you feel as if you've gone back in time. Whether it is the late 60's on Haight street, or a glamorous evening in the 20's at the Mark Hopkins, San Francisco can give you a taste of history. Top Of The Mark has one of the best views in the city. We got a glass of champagne, soaked in the beauty of the city, and pretended we were Bette Davis for a few moments.

And the night hadn't even started. Later that night Suzanne took me to one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Not to brag, but I've been to some pretty damn good restaurants. I grew up with a father who loves fine food and the art of a tasting menu, so I know good food when I have it. If you're ever in San Francisco, go to Nopa. Their usually booked out a month or two for reservations but they have community seating and a large bar with phenomenal cocktails, which makes the wait very enjoyable. We started out with warm goat cheese with kiwi and asian pear on crostinis, next we got poached farm egg, tasso spiced ham, and sherry onions with frisée and celery root, we then got
flatbread of spicy fennel sausage, romesco, arugula and crescenz. Throw in a few fresh squeezed cucumber lime cocktails, an IPA, and some veggies for good health and you have yourself a meal. Top 5 meals and cocktails of my life without a doubt. I would recommend it to anyone. 

After our amazing dinner, we made our way over to The Independent to see the band Imagine Dragons. Along with my expertise in food, I've also seen a lot of live shows. Maybe it was thoughs cucumber lime cocktails that got me, but Imagine Dragons was not only one of the best bands I've seen perform live, but the most fun. The Independent is the perfect size venue, to where you don't have any wannabee punk rock preteens stepping on your feet or getting hit in the face in a mosh pit. I danced for over 2 hours straight, looked like an idiot, and had an amazing time. Check out my upcoming blog post on some of my favorite songs by Imagine Dragons. 

We met some people from Cornell University at the venue who were really great, and continued our fun at Madrone Art Bar. It was Michael Jackson and Prince remix night, so things got pretty crazy. Suzanne told me that Madrone often has a "Smiths Remix" night where a DJ comes who remixes a bunch of songs from The Smiths. I'd die to see this.

Us and MJ

 I had a pretty bad hangover the next morning, but memories that were well worth it. If you haven't been to San Francisco yet, go. It can change your life, and you may just have the best day ever.

(Insert Cliche 2013 Quote Here)

So you're probably thinking, "Oh great. Another cliche 'this is my year!' post about how you're going to lose 10 pounds and 'live, laugh, and love' through life." Well I can be cliche, but I promise I'm not that bad. Actually, I'm scared as hell for 2013. I have a semester left of college, I have to get a big girl JOB, and I won't have my lovely father putting money in my account every month. Well shit, 2013 sucks already. Ha, I'm kidding...but not really. So yeah, I'm a little scared. But I'm also insanely excited. I've had this winter break to kind of prepare myself mentally for the job search in the coming months. Thankfully, I'm confident enough in my self and have the self motivation to not give up until I get a job, and hopefully get one I love. I decided I'm going to stay in Dallas for a few more years. I'm not ready to leave Texas yet. I know I'd always wonder what would have happened if I left.  Love ya California, but this is something I just know I need to do. So..back to this 2013 issue. I think with each year, good and bad things happen to us. Take 2012 for instance. I can sit here and say that it has been the best year of my life so far. However, it wasn't sweet bliss the whole year through. Shit happens. So in 2013, I'm just going to go out there and try my hardest. As cliche as it sounds, I really am planning on embracing every single moment of my last semester of college. And when it comes to jobs, I'm handing my anxiety and worry over to God and I'm just going to make it happen. I'll figure it out, we always somehow do. So cheers people, here is to 2013; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the fabulous. Let's do this.

Oh and here is one of my favorite songs to start your year off right:

Can You Tell- Ra Ra Riots

Must See Movie: Silver Linings Playbook

I saw Silver Linings Playbook a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. For that fact alone, this movie deserves to win an Oscar, sorry Les Miserables. There are very few movies out there that make you think more after seeing them, and that is what makes this movie so great. David O. Russell, the director of another one of my favorite films, The Fighter, has a way of capturing his characters in such a real and relatable light to his audiences. In each of his characters, the audience is able to see someone they know. The movie is about a man who catches his wife cheating on him, and beats the man almost to death. Instead of prison time, he is ordered to spend time in a mental institution and is diagnosed as bipolar. After his mother brings him home from the hospital, an unexpected love story unravels. Although the story line seems "heavy," I actually found myself laughing more than crying. What I love most about the movie was the ending. I won't spoil it for anyone, but it reminds us that all of us are a little crazy. Yes, some more than others, but we all are nuts whether we admit it or not. Sometimes life won't go as planned, but no matter what, there will always be a silver lining. Now go see it...