My Juicing Craze, And An Amazing Story

One of the things  I love best about going home to California is all the fresh produce and farmers markets that are available. You're not considered a "hippy freak" if you like to juice like you are here in Texas. While I was home over winter break, my mom had gotten really into juicing. We would juice every morning and night. I felt such an amazing difference in my body, that I couldn't stop. I felt so much more energized and I no longer needed coffee or tea to get me through the day. I ended up getting my own juicer for Christmas, so I brought my new passion for juicing back to Texas. Thankfully, Fort Worth does have organic food options. I get all my produce at Central Market where they have a really large selection of fresh all organic produce. Today while I was grocery shopping, the most amazing thing happened. I saw an old man with a huge cart that was filled with bulk bags of fruits and vegetables. He had an enormous bag of carrots that looked like he had special ordered. As soon as I saw him I knew he was a fellow juicer. We both were reaching for some ginger, when I asked him if he was juicing. He told me that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago and they decided not to do chemo. Instead, they decided to completely change their diet. They juice several times a day, cut out all red meats, dairy, and processed foods. Want to know what the most amazing part is? Her cancer has shrunk significantly within just 3 months!! I got teary eyed and continued to watch him stalkerishly as he continued to shop. The passion and love he had in his eyes as he was picking out his all organic produce for his wife was really touching. I immediately called my mom and told her. I've always  been a strong believer that what you put in your body can directly effect your body more than anything else can. My boyfriend who used to make fun of me for juicing and only wanting to eat all organic, actually is starting to consider the legitimacy and benefits of juicing. I urge all of you, take a look at what you're feeding your body. Juicing has changed my life, and it can change yours too.

Morning Rejuvenation Recipe:
4 large organic carrots
4 organic celery sticks
1 large piece of organic cucumber 
1 organic beet
1 organic apple
1 organic grapefruit
1 organic orange
1 small piece of organic ginger

-Enjoy over ice. Serves 2 people or extra for yourself!

Daily Advice: The Only Approval You Need In Life Is Your Own

Alright, I usually cringe at people who post quotes about "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" or spill their intimate life details to the social media world. I'm not here to blab and reassure myself that I'm "strong" by writing on my blog. I'm just here to share a few words of wisdom that I had lost sight of for awhile until this past week. We live in a world of insecure people and expectations we are supposed to live up to. No matter where you go, or what you do, you will constantly be judged and criticized. That is just life. What you wear, what you say, what you do, you will never be completely free of judgements unless you allow yourself to be. An experience happened to me this past week that made me more frustrated than I had been in a long time. A picture was sent out by an unknown suspect and that person claimed that the picture was me. Anyone who knows me, knows I have too much self pride and dignity to send a picture like that. If you send a nude picture of yourself to someone in 2013 and don't expect it to be seen by the world, you're an idiot. While growing up, I have constantly been watching what I have on Facebook and any social media sites. You are your own PR, so you better make it good. When I found that someone sent this picture out, and put MY name on it, I was livid. Not only was I livid, but I felt pretty helpless. To be accused of something you didn't do, may be more frustrating than getting accused of something you actually did do. At least if you did it, you can accept it and try to move on from it. But for me, I wasn't going to let this happen. I have worked too hard to get where I am, and I was not about to let some immature guys who can't control their hormones tarnish my name. Long story short, I think I handled it and that rumor is pretty much squashed. But now here I am. Left with a lot of frustration and a whole lot of anger. A part of me is glad that this happened, because it reminded me of who I am. It is so easy to lose yourself and fall into working so hard to create this "image" of yourself. Everyone wants to have the best body, and look their best and I've felt that pressure my whole life. What I realized after this incident though, is no matter what you do, you will be criticized. If you're ugly you'll be criticized for not being pretty enough, if you're blessed with beauty you'll be constantly scrutinized and judged, and if you're cursed with a larger chest like myself, you'll have guys sending out fake pictures of you. It's a loose loose people. That is why you need to realize that the only approval you need in life is your own. You're the best friend you will ever have, and it's time I start remembering that. I have people who I know will always be there for me, but if you can't look in the mirror in the morning and smile at that person looking back at you, then what do you have? Nothing. Accept yourself, and once you do you'll realize none of this bullshit ever really mattered.

Jay Z vs Lana Del Ray- Dirt Off Your Shoulders/Born To Die Remix

Remix of The Day: Mouthful of Diamonds- Phantogram (The Jackals Remix)

Play this loud. That is all...

Artist of The Day: Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes everyone. If you haven't heard their music already, then you need to get to listenin'. This rock band originates from Athens, Alabama, where their funk and rock and roll music seems to collide together seamlessly. Lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard is my idol. Straight up girl power at it's finest. This girl has soul. Get them on your radar.  I love when I come across bands like this, it gives me hope for our generation of music.

Hold on- Alabama Shakes    
 " Bless my heart, bless my soul. I didn't think I'd make it to 22 years old."
-This song is perfect for this time in my life. A lot of stress and a lot of bullshit, but you just got to "hold on."

Always Alright- Alabama Shakes     This song + this movie= pure greatness

Song of The Day: Feeling The Landslide ft. Fleetwood Mac & Jay Z

The Melker Project has put together some amazing remixes. You usually don't even mess with Stevie Nicks, but this remix has blown my mind. The song isn't on YouTube or iTunes but you can download this whole album for free here on sound cloud.

New RAC Remixes

1. Feed Me Diamonds-MNDR (RAC Remix) 

2. Pacific Air- Float (RAC Remix) 

 

 3. The Killers- Runaways (RAC Remix) 

4. Youngblood Hawke- We Come Running (RAC Remix)

Song Of The Day: Sol- Old Him

This is real hip-hop. Seattle based artist Sol already won me over with his song "Stage Dive," but now he has done it again. His new song "Old Him"is hip hop in it's purest form.  If you ask me, he's a breath of fresh air in the regurgitated genre of music we call hip-hop today.

Old Him And in case you didn't catch "Stage Dive"

"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...

Artist of the Day: Broken Bells

For all you indie lovers out there, say hello to Broken Bells. What I love most about this American indie rock band is that each of their songs are unique and has it's own sound. It is hard to come across bands like that anymore. The High Road, The Ghost Inside, and October are three of my favorite songs. Click below to listen.

The High Road- Broken Bells

                                                      The Ghost Inside- Broken Bells

                                                            October- Broken Bells