Summer Fun in Houston

I live and go to school in Houston, Texas. I've lived here most of my life, and so when all the college brochures bragged about what a wonderful and exciting place it is to live, I had a bit of disbelief. After all, my friends and I could never find anything to do besides eat and shop. However, I recently discovered that that is not the case, you just have to do some digging. Here are some things I've found that are on my summer bucket list. You might not live in Houston, but check and see if your city has anything like these! All of the things listed are free or under $15 to do-you'd be surprised! A good place to start is by typing "Fun Things for 20-somethings to do in [your city]" and looking through what comes up. 

Free Museum days

In Houston, this is Thursday. Some museums are free all day, some only for certain time periods. Spend a day museum hopping. You'll get to sound cultural when you explain what you did with your day, and it's air conditioned. What could be better? Also, don't turn your nose up at your local children's museum (Confession: It's my favorite museum!). 

Swing Dancing

So much fun! Google places that have it. Here in Houston, The Chocolate Bar in Rice Village has swing dancing with a live band every Thursday night starting at 8pm. 

The Symphony

Now you may think this is boring and expensive. The secret? Student rush tickets. If you go 90 minutes before each show with your student ID, tickets are only $12. They also do a lot of fun concerts. You can hear your favorite classical pieces, or enjoy one of the pops concerts like The Rolling Stones.

The Ballet

Student rush tickets to the rescue! 90 minutes before the show, go with your student ID and tickets are only $10. That's the price of a movie, and the ballet is so much nicer. However, only certain shows have this option, so check their website. Right now they have Peter Pan on June 15th at 2pm marked as a rush ticket day. 

Free Movies

Miller Outdoor theater does this, as do a lot of libraries. Check the schedules. Miller is showing the Amazing Spiderman on July 3! (Note: Miller is awesome. All tickets are free, you can sit on the hill, and they do everything from Shakespeare in the Park to symphony concerts complete with fireworks and movie screenings.)

Line/Country Dance clubs

Yeehaw! My friends and I are planning to do this soon. Cover charges are about $8 for those under 21, and $3 if you're over. 

Baseball games

Did you know you can now bring your own snacks and drinks into Minute Maid park? And if you sit at the top, tickets are a mere $7! It makes the fact that the Astros can not actually win slightly more bearable. 

Discovery Green Park

This place is awesome. You can kayak in the lake, take yoga and writing classes, watch a movie, or have a picnic. See if your city has anything like this!

What cool things are there to do in your city?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

Music You Might Not Have Heard

I am a music snob, I'm just going to come out and admit it. While I have my mainstream guilty pleasures (Maroon 5, One Direction, and Taylor Swift), I am all about knowing the bands that no one has heard of. I can actually thank my Taylor Swift obsession for this, as she led me to Snow Patrol, whose related artists page took me farther and farther from the beaten track. Here's a few of my favorite gems:

Angels and Airwaves

Features people from a couple of different bands, including Blink-182. This is my go to "I'm angry and need rockish music" band. "Anxiety" is a personal favorite. 

Bronze Radio Return 

Absolute genius. Probably my favorite. Dance music. Please listen to them, love them, and tell me how much you love them. Also, beautiful cover art. 

Fun

Okay, so you've heard of them. A lot, actually. However, I challenge you to name a song that is not "We Are Young" "Some Nights" "Carry On" or "Just Give Me A Reason". Go and sample the rest of their music. I personally love "Barlights" and "Stitch Me Up."

The Icarus Account

Beautiful love songs with amazing lyrics and soft guitars.

The Lumineers

They are quickly becoming very popular with "Ho Hey", but have you checked out "Flapper Girl" or "Morning Song"?

The Milk Carton Kids

I've loved these guys for months now. I would kill to go to one of their concerts, but sadly, it seems you have to live in Colorado to hear any indie music.

Neon Trees

You might have heard "Everybody Talks", but for the sake of everything that is right in the world, check out "Mad Love" and "Sins of My Youth". Perfect dance music.

Owl City

You have heard Fireflies. You probably knew all the words. That song is not at all representative of Adam Young's work. Look at Hot Air Balloon and Dental Care.  (Also, for more obscurity points, check out Adam's other projects, like Sky Sailing, Insect Airport, Seagull Orchestra, and Windsor Airlift.)

She&Him

Did you know Zooey Deschanel sings? Now you do.

Snow Patrol

Fairly well know, so no obscurity points, but the perfect music for bubble baths and rainy days. 

Vampire Weekend

Preps from Harvard do music. My favorite thing is that they have a song called "Oxford Comma". 

Wild Child

If I were sitting in a cafe in Paris drinking coffee with a cute boy, I would play this band. 

Yellowcard

I knew about them when I was about 11 because of their song "Ocean Avenue" (which for some reason used to play on Radio Disney??). They're great. 

Blind Pilot, Capital Cities, Freelance Whales, Good Old War, Hey Marseilles, The Jezebels, The La's, The Lighthouse and the Whaler, Release the Sunbird

All very relaxing chillout music. Perfect for background music while enjoying a cup of tea and a good book. 

Here's a playlist that features some of my favorite tracks from each of these bands. 

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Obscurity Points

Do you have your favorite indie bands that only a few people have heard of? 

Lots of Love,

Sophie

Room Tour

As you may know, I am currently living at home, and will be for at the very least the next year of college. As a show of gratitude for caving to their will, my parents gave me my own room in December. I've been decorating ever since, so I thought I would do a room tour post!

This is my dresser and one of my bookcases. 

My bed and the Christmas lights over my window. 

Snow Patrol is my soundtrack of choice for the evening. 

My desk. I'm currently trying to learn to use oil pastels (and it is not going well) so it is a mess right now. 

I keep my Bible, devotional, planner, stationary, journal, Self Therapy notepad, and a medical encyclopedia on the shelf next to my alarm. I currently have a vanilla candle burning, and I'm drinking a delightful cup of Earl Grey tea. 

On the other side of the shelf is where I have all of my school and art supplies. Since I'm using them right now, it's chaos. 

Wide view of the desk area. 

Another book case, which is usually more full. However, I already sold back last semester's books and have not yet purchased next semester's (because I am broke), so it looks sad right now. 

Wall art of owls. (Purchased at Home Goods.) It says "Being with you makes me happy."

My bulletin board, which I use for cards, things people have made me, souvenirs, and some of my own artwork. 

Wall of art made by me (all quotes from songs and books). 

The inside of my closet. I have things separated by type of clothing and then colored coded. 

The door of my closet, where I have a basket for scarves, wallets, clutches, etc., and a rack for bags (and my cheat shirt from Business Law, which I for some reason can not bear to throw out.)

More wall art. The S was a gift from one of my best friends. You can't really see it in the picture, but it has my name and little phrases that describe either me or things she and I did together. 

More wall art (and a contracts flow chart I keep meaning to take down now that finals are over, but it was a good memory and a pretty chart, so I'm working my way up to it.) All the art is my own, except the hedgehog painting which my sister made for me. 

So yeah, that's my room! Next time, I think I'll do a post on the wall art specifically so you can see what I spend most movies I watch at home doing!

Lots of Love,

Sophie

What I Learned From Pride and Prejudice

As I sit here drinking my mint tea on this bizarrely cold April day, I listen to the soundtrack of Pride and Prejudice and ponder the question "What did I learn from Jane Austen's most famous work?" Now, normally, I would not be pondering this. I would be writing case briefs or memorizing brain structures or drawing graphs of different types of economic markets. But today it has occurred to me that my last ever English paper is due next Thursday, and that I had probably better do something about that. So I wonder, what did I learn from Pride and Prejudice? A multitude of things, none of which I can get 5-7 pages out of.

1) Don't be an obnoxious flirt. Caroline Bingley is one of my favorite antagonists of all time, in that there is not a single scene is which I don't want to slap her and yell "HE DOESN'T LIKE YOU GIVE UP ALREADY!" Why do I hate her so? Because she is one of those girls. Everyone knows at least a few of them-the ones that listen with rapt attention to every word that falls from the attractive guy's mouth, no matter how inconsequential. The ones who compliment them for breathing. The ones who walk around is short skirts and high heels, then pointedly flip their long shiny hair to get attention. These modern day incarnations of Caroline Bingley are the bane of my existence, as I would like to walk down a hallway without getting a faceful of fruit-scented hair. These ladies also make it difficult to be just friends with a guy, as all men are now inherently distrustful of any girl who spends any significant amount of time around them. I can attribute all of this to the overly attentive Caroline Bingleys of the world.

2) Don't be a pushover. How much easier would Jane and Bingley's lives have been if only they had been a little more vocal and forceful with their wishes? If Jane had shown more interest in Bingley, Darcy would not have had as much ground to persuade Bingley to go back to London. If Bingley had more of a backbone, he wouldn't have listened to Darcy, and he and Jane could have been happy for the whole book. 

3) Manners matter. Most of the Bennet family's problems could have been avoided through proper conduct. If Mrs. Bennet wasn't such a busy body (and a loud one at that), Mr. Darcy would not have had such contempt for her and her family. If Lydia was a well behaved young lady, she would not have attracted the scandalous attentions of Mr. Wickham.

4) Being stupid gets you a stupid man. Lydia, Lydia, Lydia. Why. Because of her foolishness and her refusal to follow the proprieties, she ends up saddled to George Wickham, the cad to end all cads. You can just tell that won't be a happy relationship.

5) Avoid hot guys who just want money. While Georgiana learned her lesson in this realm, Lydia clearly did not. 

6) Don't run off with people's little sisters. They will get mad. And hate you.

7) There have always been "frenemies". Caroline-the original "frenenemy". Sweet to your face, but can't wait to talk bad about you the second you are out of the room. 

8) Don't believe everything you hear. Everyone tells stories in the way that is most flattering towards themselves, but some are distinctly more biased than others. 

9) Everyone has good and bad qualities. (Except possibly Wickham-still haven't found anything good there, unless we count "extremely hot" as a good character trait.)

10) Sometimes it requires a grand gesture to set things in motion. Now, I'm not saying that in order to ask your not-yet girlfriend for coffee you have to rescue her little sister from a ruined reputation, but sometimes it takes a little bit to get noticed. Staying up on Skype with her when she has a big exam and needs to stay awake (and a nice cup of coffee in the morning to counteract the side effects of the all nighter) should be sufficient. 

11) Pride and Prejudice is a cult. Have you SEEN how many spinoffs there are? It's kind of ridiculous. My personal favorites would include Bridget Jone's Diary by Helen Fielding (and the movie!), and the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, which is a YouTube series that tells a modern day interpretation of the story through Lizzie Bennet's vlogs. As far as the movie versions go, I've seen it come to near bloodshed over which is better, the Keira Knightley or the Colin Firth (I go back and forth. Colin Firth is my favorite Darcy, Kiera my favorite Lizzie. Her version also has the better soundtrack in my opinion.) There is a Jane Austen Society, that holds tea parties and balls and lectures. It's a world-wide phenomenon, and why not? Jane Austen changed the culture when she wrote Pride and Prejudice. She showed that the poor girl could get the rich guy, no problem. After all, the rich guy was kind of a jerk and needed to be reformed before the poor girl would deign to have him anyway. She showed the world that being smart and well read was far more important than where in society you were born. She showed how manners make the man, not the rank. In short, Jane Austen was a revolutionary. 

Now if only I could write my paper.

*NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS POST ON www.romanticpremed.blogspot.com THIS IS MY POST (THAT WAS ANOTHER BLOG I CREATED AND DECIDED NOT USE AND THEREFORE DELETED, BUT NOT UNTIL I WROTE THIS POST)

Book Club

So here's what I've been reading:

1) Paradise Lost by John Milton. As you may have guessed, this was not by choice (does any one actually read this book by choice?), but I did end up liking it. It was for my Great Works II class, and I wrote a pretty good midterm paper on pride vs. humility in Paradise Lost. (At least, I think it was good. I don't know my grade yet.)

2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This is also for my Great Works II class, but it's the reason I signed up for this class. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books of all time, and this is probably my 12th time reading straight through it. Lizzie with her sarcasm and Mr.Darcy with his contempt just pull me in for hours and I can't help but laugh out loud and wish for cucumber sandwiches, tea, and a dashing gentleman who would sweep me off my feet. 

3) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Oh how I cried. I wept. It is so sad. I probably also have highlighted more the half the book because it's just that good. I should have seen it coming. I should have prepared myself better. But I didn't, and so I cried horribly. But I also laughed a lot and fell in love with Hazel and Augustus. Read it right now if you haven't yet. It took me about 2 hours (because I refused to move under any circumstances because it overtook me and I couldn't let go). 

4) Paper Towns by John Green. Another cry my eyes out, but also rip my hair out in frustration because I wanted them to resolve the conflict (which I shall not even hint at, in case you haven't read it yet. Which you should.) It's a fantastic mystery, and John Green does not disappoint.

5) The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. I reread this for the fourth time in preparation for the new movie in May. I get something new out of each time (the second time was admittedly the first time I understood anything that was actually happening) and this time was no different. I have come out of this not only with a deeper love for Gatsby, but also a huge desire to name my future daughter Jordan. Oh, and I bought a 20's style lace dress. And I'm having a Gatsby party. And I have a Gatsby playlist. What can I say, I'm obsessed.

6) The Catcher and the Rye by J.D.Salinger. I tried to read this in 9th grade and didn't understand and didn't like it and gave up. I'm told I'll like it a lot better this time, so fingers crossed. I'm starting it tonight, and will report back soon. 

What have you been reading this fine Spring Break?

Lots of Love,

sCa

Spring Break

So far on Spring Break: photoshoot in the park, and a day trip to San Antonio. Today's agenda: study, run, do laundry. Tonight: Rodeo with Jake Owen!

Jake Owen – Barefoot Blue Jean Night

What are you up to this Spring Break?

Lots of Love,

sCa

Avengers Appreciation Post

The Avengers. One of the greatest movies (series, actually) ever made. Joss Whedon, we exalt you for your brilliance. The new Iron Man 2 trailer is being played in theaters now (saw it the other day when I went to see Silver Linings Playbook. Which was brilliant and everyone should see because Jennifer Laurence is brilliant. You will cry. Fair warning.) Consequently, I am in an Avengers mood right now. Reasons to appreciate Avengers:

1) Scarlett Johanson as Black Widow kicks serious butt. You asked for a fantastic girl superhero, and Joss Whedon provided. She ends up saving the guys. She's the only person brave enough to stand up the Hulk. But she stills get her fabulous pseudoromance with Hawkeye after she saves his butt from Loki.

2) Loki. I must admit, I cheer for the villain. Tom Hiddleston, I swoon. (For more Tom Hiddleston action, check out Wallander which is a British detective show on Netflix.)

3) Robert Downing Jr. is his usual perfect genius-playboy-billionare-philantropist as Iron Man. Or is he being himself? Or is he really Iron Man? It's impossible to separate him from his characters. 

4) Intrigue. WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED IN BUDAPEST. NATASHA YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THINGS LIKE THAT AND NOT TELL US WHAT HAPPENED. (I'm sorry, I feel very strongly about this moment and did once spend 48 hours reading fan fiction that attempts to explain these two lines of the movie. There is a lot of it. I think the only solution is a Black Widow/Hawkeye movie.)

5) Hawkeye. He's my favorite Avenger. Bow and arrows people. 

To get you in the mood for an Avengers party, here's the trailer for Iron Man 2, the latest installment in the Marvel series. 

Since you are now unbelievably excited for all future Joss Whedon glories, here's the upcoming Marvel movie schedule

2013:

Iron Man 2

Thor 2

2014:

Captain America 2

Another Marvel movie is booked for this year, no news on what it is though. Speculations include The Incredible Hulk 2, or a solo movie about Clint and Natasha (*which would fulfill all of my hopes and dreams and desires and PLEASE JOSS PLEASE I NEED THIS TO HAPPEN*) or a solo for Nick Fury (*shakes head violently and throws a script for BlackHawk at the Marvel people)

2015:

Avengers 2

Right now these are all speculation (information comes from this article), but it looks like a great timeline. I'm pumped for these great new movies, and I hope you are too.

Lots of Love,

sCa