So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Shoe Boots with Kiltie" by Nicholas Kirkwood

Retail: $931.17

Foursquare: Yet another social-networking service I'm the last one to know about...

The world is becoming more stalker-friendly.

At least that's the first thing that I think of whenever someone explains this up-and-coming social-networking outlet to me.

Foursquare is a smart phone app that allows you to 'check-in' at certain public locations and post reviews and tips about that hotspot for all of your friends to see.

I really don't think, as an individual, I could ever see myself using this. It's just plain creepy. However, I was at a meeting where a woman from Seattle Weekly was discussing using the service under the name of an organization in order to promote events and the businesses of local partners/neighbors, and that's pretty brilliant.

While Foursquare may not be the most familiar of the social networking giants, 41 percent of its traffic comes directly from Facebook (500 million users) and Twitter (100 million users) as users share check-ins (That Agency via Hitwise), and that's a statistic to take notice of.

Slingback Scoops: December 21, 2010

• You go to college for four years and the neighborhood goes to hell--Shooting; Human Skull.
• Despite the popularity (and my own obsessive love) of shows like Teen Mom and 16 and Pregant, the CDC reports that birth rate among teens age 15 to 19 is the lowest its been in seven decades...go figure. NPR
• Ho ho ho-ly moly that's a lot of Santas, someone going to have to explain this to the children... Fremont Universe
• Expect fewer buses and higher fares over the holidays under Metro's two weeks of "reduced service," Merry Christmas...My Wallingford
• Hope he has insurance. Queen Anne View

Featured Slingback: Stella McCartney

GRADUATION!

The countdown has finally run its course and I am no longer an undergrad! So long lecture halls and late-night library lock-downs! Adios 20 page papers and tear-inducing accounting homework! Adieu pointless, GPA destroying GUR's--I'm free, at last!

Fun with Google Maps: Cassis

View Larger Map

In my French Culture class this quarter, we have been learning about the south of France. The tiny,

très chic village of Cassis is about a 30 minute drive from Marseille. Someday...someday...

F.I.N.A.L.S.

After several weeks of blizzards, presentations, papers, group projects, exams, quizzes, desperate last- minute preparations, farewell dinners, birthdays, 62 cups of coffee, a dozen e-mails, too much turkey and a few tears--I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

My 3.33 years as an undergrad and as a Bellinghamster are finally winding down; while I will in no way, shape or form miss trying to decipher Montaigne's essays or being dumbfounded by accounting and finance classes (that I never should have taken and should have just left it to the aspiring CPA's/masochists), I will definitely be a little heartbroken to leave behind the City of Subdued Excitement!

I will be posting a list of Bellingham "musts" before I graduate, based on my time here, so that future Vikings will know that there's so much more of this city to experience beyond Holly & Railroad. 

How to Walk in High Heels: Courtesy of InStyle

InStyle article link after the jump...

JUMP!

Midterms

Please excuse the blogging hiatus--midterm has been killer!

Bellingham's Best Late-Night-Food Battle: Man vs. 'Meni

The Contenders...


Man Pies:

Man Pies opened its doors at the beginning of the summer on Railroad Ave. and gave the the impression of being a late-night comfort food establishment that could rival its long, unchallenged neighbor-- Pel'meni.

These pies are sure to fill up even the hungriest of men and are entirely capable of soaking up copious amounts of alcohol. The best thing about Man Pies is the price-- a fixed $5.99 per pie across the menu; The worst? The pies.

I have had these pies before; I've made them; with Bisquick and canned meat; a recipe probably not too far off from what's actually used. The pies serve their purpose--to fill you up in a hurry--but if you have a choice, just stop by Haggen and buy one from Marie Callender. 

Pel'meni:

Pel'meni--a tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant on N. State Street that serves not-your-everyday Russian dumplings. Instead of using the traditional unleavened dough, the restaurant makes the dumplings with eggnoodle and serves them up piping hot with curry, cilantro, hot sauces, various spices, sour cream and a fat slice of homemade bread.

With only two options on the menu (potato or beef dumplings, either is the standard $6) it's easy to be skeptical; however the long lines and packed tables at 2 a.m. prove the point that quality always triumphs over quantity.

Pel'meni currently operates out of Juneau, Alaska and Bellingham--the restaurant has also been a vendor at Sasquatch, Bumbershoot and Bite of Seattle and is currently in the works to open up another restaurant in Seattle. *Fingers crossed!*

The winner?



Pel'meni.

Sorry Man Pies; You can't beat a classic.

Whatever happened to spooky paper bat cutouts?

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Iris" by United Nude

Retail: $1,047.15

Slingback Scoops: Friday, October 15, 2010

• Viaduct will be closed this weekend for semi-annual structural review. Queen Anne View
• Magnolia volunteer finalist for Cox Conserves Heroes Award. Magnolia Voice
• Baby flamingos hatch at Woodland Park Zoo. Phinneywood
• Jimmy Carter to UW bookstore. U District Daily
• Forgotten Facebook co-founder, Eduardo Saverin, speaks out on film portrayal. Mashable
• Full body scanners to be introduced as new security measure at SeaTac. Seattle PI
• Tastemakers reveal their picks for fall essentials. Tory Burch

A Wales of a Time

View Larger Map

On a rainy day such as this, I've decided it would not be a bad opportunity for some traveling! Today, I've felt like journeying to the tiny village of Betws-y-Coed in northern Wales. My great-great grandfather worked at this hotel when it opened in the late 19th century. Someday, I hope to be able to visit it in person!

Website: http://hotel-snowdonia.co.uk/index.html

Bellingham State of Mind

With only two months to go until graduation, I'm starting to realize how much I'm going to miss it here! While I am so, very desperate to get out of the classroom and out into the real world, leaving this city will be heartbreaking. The one thing I have heard most from Western alumn, over the years, is that if they could have found a job here, they would have never left. I think I'm beginning to see their point.

Video: "Bellingham State of Mind" by Nathan Cox ft. Rashawn Scott

Bellingham Herald article:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/09/17/1624498/bellingham-state-of-mind-video.html

Slingback Scoops: Sunday October 3, 2010



• 
  
  Vigil held at Auburn skate park for missing Western student, Dwight Clark. KOMO News
• 
  
  French Connection: Gaultier brings a little "Joan Jett" and "David Bowie" to Paris Fashion Week... Harper's Bazaar
• 
  
  Despite controversy over film's message, The Social Network is well "like"-ed by moviegoers. New York Times
• 
  
  Anyone hear the sound of thousands of people all groaning in disgust and defeat around noon today? Seahawks
• 
  
  Target will have iPads on its shelves just in time for the holiday season. KING 5
• 
  
  Titanic actress, Gloria Stuart, passes away at 100. The Washington Post

Featured slingback: "Sofia" by Gucci

Dwight Clark missing for over a week...

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Ronfifi" 100 Boot by Christian Louboutin

Retail: $947.98

Quick and (nearly) painless Samosas!

I started making these almost a year ago when I read the recipe in the Kent Reporter. Samosas are mostly thought of as being Indian, but really everyone has a version of them (except maybe the U.S./Canada...all of the countries who consider cabbage a main food group...) and they are all delicious! The selling point: It's just not possible to screw them up--pan fried, meat/veggie stuffed pastries...they're going to taste good no matter how horrible of a cook you are! The biggest problem I've run into, however, is after I make them I realize that they really do need to be dipped into something...what has worked best for me is using a plum sauce or mango chutney, both of which can be found in the international/kosher section of most grocery stores or at any Asian food market.

Ingredients:

Filling:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 large chopped onion
• 2 tsp grated ginger/ginger paste/(or just use the 1 tsp of the spice, really doesn't matter much)
• 3-4 cloves of minced garlic
•  SPICES! (I always make a spice mix of 1 tbsp garam masala, 1 tbsp curry powder/tumeric, pinch of salt, cinnamon and nutmeg) 

Dough:

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tbsp veggie oil/canola oil
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup water

Directions:

For filling
1. Combine spices and using your hands fold into the raw ground beef.
2. Cook meat with onion and grated ginger in a skillet over medium heat. Set aside.

For dough
1. In bowl, sift together flour and salt. Using your finger, make a divet in the center of the dough (deep, but not to bottom) and fill with oil and water. Using a fork, stir quickly until sticky dough forms.
2. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes on generously floured surface until elastic. Cover bowl with damp towel so as to allow the dough to not dry out when not in use.

For assembly
1. Break of a piece of dough about the size of a golf ball and with your fingers, stretch out into a flat circle (like you're making a tiny pizza).
2. *This part varies, depending on what shape/consistency of dough you want your samosas to have* I usually stick a spoonful of filling in the center of the dough and wrap in up like a potsticker; if you would like to make triangles (thinner, crisper dough) you should cut your dough circle in half, place filling on one side and then place the other half of dough over the one with the filling as though you are making a sandwich; then, use your fingers to seal the edges and form samosa into a triangular shape.
3. Once you've assembled your samosas, heat 1/4 cup (probably more) of oil in skillet and fry pastries four or five at a time until crisp and golden brown on all sides.
4. Serve with plum sauce/chutney. Enjoy!

Photo: Taste.com
Recipe: A la moi and the Kent Reporter

...Aaannnd we're off!

As Fall Quarter gets underway, my days as an undergraduate are officially numbered (literally, check the upper left hand corner!). The panic among my public relations peers is practically palpable (I couldn't help myself) and everyone is in a frenzy trying to prepare for life after college.

Wherever I go, I see seniors packing away mini skirts, flannel and artfully torn jeans and dusting off their interview suits. While the sophomores and juniors are playing beer pong, we're frantically sprucing up the old resumes, updating Linkedin profiles, retweeting and tweeting to potential employers and posting our availability and desperation for work to the masses! The race is on ladies (and the 15 percent of the PR field which is men) and may the best grads (from Western!) win the unpaid internships!

Fun with Google maps: Marseille

View Larger Map

Sometimes, when I'm feeling down in the dumps after hearing one of my peers recount their recent trip to Paris/backpacking across Germany/skiing in Switzerland/eating waffles in Belgium, etc, etc...I like to travel the world with Google maps! Oh the places I'll go; oh the things that I'll see; I can't afford airfare; but Google maps is free!

Fries and a Shake with Manolo Blahnik

Ready. Set. Go.

Today is the last first day of classes I hope to ever experience in my life. Six books, three language classes and two cups of coffee later, I can already tell that I will be spending most of my time in the library this quarter. I'm really starting to wish that countdown would roll a little faster...

Slingback Scoops: Thursday, September 16

• Twenty Seattle styles--no, we do not all walk around in flannel and torn jeans... Seattle Magazine
• ...Someday...*sighs* BBC
• Mexico celebrates 200 years of independence. CNN
• Uh oh...Le Monde
• Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington contest is open for voting! Duo Dribble 
• Check out this awesome blog on Seattle street fashion! Le 21eme Arrondissement

and...DONE!

With screwing the last knob in on my dresser, the last of my summer projects is finally complete--and with no time to spare! In six days, I move back to school for my last quarter of college and then (hopefully soon after) I will be able to move all of my renewed furniture into my new place!

Nine years...

Keeping up: Google Docs

My office is thinking about experimenting with Google docs and I have only used it once or twice; this video is both amusing and educational and I will dedicate it to the ladies of WLC!

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Flesh lace pump" by Alexander McQueen

Retail: $667.75

Best Burger Battle: Five Guys v. Red Mill

Burgers have, over the years, become a staple of the American diet. While the concept is fairly simple (patty + sauce + buns = magic), perfecting the recipe is a labor of love. While it's easy to find a place to buy a burger on almost every corner--hunting down those truly delicious, works of greasy art is like the quest for the holy grail.

Five Guys:

Five Guys is an east coast burger chain that has a restaurant over by Northgate. Five Guys prides itself on its fresh patties and unmatched flavor. The fries (cooked in peanut oil) were pretty good, but the burger was pretty blah. I've had better burgers at backyard barbecues and I'm not really interested in re-patronizing somewhere that sells food I could have made (and made better) myself. But then again, (despite all of their attempts to mask the restaurant as a family-owned greasy spoon), Five Guys is a chain and it's to be expected that quality gets lost in translation. I just don't understand all of the hype!

Red Mill:

Red Mill Burgers is a local business with two restaurants in the Seattle area (one in Phinney Ridge off of 99 and the other in the Interbay area). This is the best burger I have ever had in. my. life. Man versus Food even paid the Phinney Ridge restaurant a visit just to sample their mouth watering onion rings! The inviting, intimate atmosphere is just as wonderful as their food. When you visit, remember cell phone use is discouraged and they only except cash or checks!

Winner:

Red Mill; hands down!

Five guys photo: Courtesy of Sun-Sentinel

Red Mill photo: Courtesy of Phinneywood

The last of the summer projects...

My last project in refinishing my bedroom furniture is this mammoth dresser. It's made out of different kinds of wood, which is going to make it a monster to try and fix up, but I think it's possible! Wish me luck!

Drawers, sans pulls

Slingback Scoops: Friday, September 3, 2010

• Estimate of oil spill cost rises by $2 billion in the past month. BBC
• Gypsies boycott french products over civil rights. Le Monde
• Everyone is hating on Taylor Swift! Leave Tay alone! Dlisted
• How to follow Hurricane Earl's path of destruction from the comfort of your own home! (which hopefully isn't any where near the eastern seaboard...) Mashable
• Did you know you can use table salt to remove stains from tea cups? New uses for old things at Real Simple
• No need to check for blue mountains; 200 year old champagne and beer recovered from ocean floor. CNN
• Fall fashion, hot off the runway. Harper's Bazaar

Featured slingback: "Clou Noeug Shoe" by Christian Louboutin

New York Times on the PR catastrophes of BP, Toyota, Goldman Sachs

Very interesting article after the jump. JUMP!

What is good public relations?

"The goal is not to get people not to hate them. It’s to get people to hate them less.” -Eric Dezenhall, communications strategist, Washington D.C.

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Boot with lace-up front" by Gianvito Rossi

Retail: $1,423.85

Where to live: Belltown

Keeping the optimistic perspective that once I graduate I will eventually find a job and be able to move out of my parents' house within a year--I would love to be able to rent a small studio in downtown Seattle! I have therefore been trying to do some research about possible living situations that would meet most of my predetermined criteria. Knowledge is power; I think that being informed will give me a decent edge when I go on the hunt for my first place!

I have therefore compiled a list of various apartment communities and have arranged them in descending order based on both my personal preferences and ratings on Apartmentfinder.com and various other review sites.

MY PREFERENCES:

-Safety (Belltown is the center of Seattle's nightlife...and has a bit of a crime problem; for living in this neighborhood--security is definitely my main concern. A lot of apartments that I vetoed did not offer enough secured access and online reviews commented on drug dealings/homeless loitering/prostitution propositions occurring in their lobbies. For living in Belltown, I would say you cannot judge a book by its cover. Apartment communities (like Moda) may look swanky and promise to cater to the Bohemian/hipster lifestyle, but really their debts and lack of resources cannot compensate for their unsubstantiated promises of security and dependability.

-Price

-Size

-Amenities (Although, considering my price range, having a washer/dryer in unit would be exceedingly hopeful-- it would be awesome...)

-Policies (I want a puppy!)

THE WINNERS:

1. Avalon Belltown

Address: 2800 Western Ave.

Studio: 463 sq. feet, Price: $900?

1-bedroom: 742 to 862 sq. feet, Price: $1,200 to $1,500

Pros: Full kitchen--include microwave and dishwasher; Walk in closets; Pet friendly; Fitness center; Gated entrance; Controlled access to parking garage; washer and dryer in apartment!

Cons: Some tenants' reviews stated that the apartments lacked appropriate ventilation; were overpriced (Let's face it--everything in Belltown is going to be overpriced!); slow elevators, etc.

2. Archstone Belltown

Address:  500 Wall St.

Studio: 423 to 507 sq. feet, Price: $800 to $1,000

1-bedroom: 659 sq. feet to 851 sq. feet, Price: $1,000 to $1,300

Pros: Hardwood floors; walk-in closets; sweet views (Sound, Lake Union, Space Needle, downtown); Pet-friendly; large rooftop garden; walking distance to downtown, market, etc; pretty secure.

Cons: Laundry on-site; older building; spotty internet access.

3. Metropolitan Tower

Address: 1942 Westlake Ave.

Studio: 511 to 639 sq. feet, Price: $$$

1-bedroom: 751 to 1114 sq. feet, Price: $$$$ 

Pros: Super secure; excellent location (hooray for shopping!); live in downtown without the risk of being shot; a/c in every unit; pet friendly.

Cons: You would have to sell your soul to afford to live here.

I'm trying this tomorrow!

Confessions of a Shoe-a-holic...

Time to clean out the shoe closet..all of this came out of a 3x2 closet...Good Will, here I come!

So Good: Put your foot in it...

  "Leather pump" by Gianmarco Lorenzi

Retail: $698

Keeping up: Linkedin for Dummies

It seems that whenever I get up to date on some sort of networking channel, another one pops up that I have never heard of, but everyone I know already has and is an expert on!

Right now, that's the case for me as a new member of Linkedin and I am definitely in need of this video! Hopefully, I will soon be just as savvy as my friends!

"New" furniture, new life

Hope chest (still drying!) with new, nonfunctional pulls

Old pine nightstand with new pewter pulls!

Back when I was in high school, dreaming about the day when I would be out on my own and in a small apartment in the city, I always imagined that someday I would decorate that apartment with the espresso colored furniture I would see in the Pottery Barn magazines. While there's no way I'm going to be boasting a Pottery Barn kind of budget any time in the near (or distant) future, I do happen to have a lot of unfinished pine furniture and wood stain is $9 at Home Depot!

Considering that this could very well be my last summer living at home, I have commandeered the garage for the past week and have been sanding and staining and drilling and screwing my way toward faux fancy living!

With my nightstand and hope chest finished and drying, all that remains is the monstrosity of a dresser I have had for over 20 years. The beast is solid wood, hand made by an old carpenter at least 30 years ago--the problem with trying to refinish it is that the dresser is made out of several different kinds of wood...so staining the whole thing does not seem to be an option...the plan for the moment is to stain the frame and top "espresso" and paint the drawers "sandwashed driftwood"...

This whole project is going to be a headache, but I will persevere!

Now what?

With that damn countdown ticking away in the corner and my checking account draining away at about the same distressing speed, now's the time to figure out the answer to two pesky questions I have been determinedly trying to ignore: "What am I going to do?" and "where am I going to live?"

Up at campus I hear a lot of my classmates asking themselves these exact same questions. As for what to do, (though like me, they differ from day to day) the answers du jour are: "grad school", "internship" and "any job I can find." In slightly-less-differing comparison, the response offered in terms of living situation is echoed among most of my graduating class-- "moving back home with the parents."

In the Moneywatch video above, all of the students interviewed said they would want to give themselves the deadline of one year to move out of their parents house after college. In avoiding the Italian lifestyle choice of living at home until I'm in my thirties, I am also shooting to be out of the house and in my own place asap after getting that bachelor's degree.

Lately, much of my parents' generation has been suggesting that I look for a tiny apartment somewhere in Kent/Auburn/Renton and commute to Seattle for work--while I can see this as being very practical, it is really cramping my dreams of getting the hell out of the valley and into an cramped, overpriced studio apartment in the city surrounded hobos, prostitutes, drug dealings and the soothing sounds of incessant construction. Call it a lifestyle choice, but I want what I want; the only breaking point to living in such luxury might be my budget.

Which is why I will be introducing a new segment about the best apartment complexes (offering the best value, amenities, security, access) from a few of the various Seattle neighborhoods. I am always looking for advice, so anyone with insight into Seattle living, your comments would be greatly appreciated!

I love these videos...

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Metal flower pumps" by Stella McCartney

Retail: $795

Basic Beer Bread

Ingredients:

1. 3 cups self rising flour
2. 1/4 cup sugar
3. 1 1/2 cups grated cheese
4. 1, 12 oz bottle of beer--room temperature

Directions:

1. Using a wooden spoon, mix ingredients together one at a time. (Be very careful not to over mix, you want it to be lumpy!)
2. Dump into greased loaf pan, bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees or until toothpick comes out clean.
3. Serve warm or toasted. Enjoy!

*Taste will vary based on selected beer. While I haven't tried it, I would guess that darker beers--like a porter--might be more appropriate*

Recipe source: My grandma

Public relations a la British Petroleum

Slingback Scoops: August 2, 2010

"Leopard Suede Strap Slingback" by Christian Louboutin

• New York Times claims iPad RSS app in violation of terms of use. Mashable

• The value of Facebook fans: quality vs. quantity. The Social Media Examiner

• Hugh Hefner...ever the feminist...The Huffington Post

• Are you using social media to its full potential? How effective is your outreach? Communique PR

• Elderly couple hit by car running red light in lower Queen Anne. Queen Anne View

• Dinner For Schmucks fails to live up to potential of comedic ensemble cast. The Stranger

PR papa, Edward Bernays, on Letterman

This is precisely why I want a doctorate...in anything

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Lace platform pump" by Giambattista Valli

Retail: $$$

Head Over Heels: Giambattista Valli

Maintenance Notice

Please stay tuned while the site undergoes a mini-makeover!

-Kendall M.

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"High Heel Jewled Sandal" by Pierre Hardy

Retail: $1,070

Head Over Heels: La magnifique Pierre Hardy

The Joy of Low-Budget Gardening

Thyme

Hooray it's summer; and during the summer, while I'm all cooped up in a dark and dreary and somewhat pungent apartment, I love to grow plants in my window to make things seem cheery amongst a never ending heap of finance homework!

Greek Oregano

Slingback Scoops: July 24, 2010

• 18 killed at Love Parade in Germany. BBC

• $34.9 million housing plan launches for homeless U.S. veterans. PR Newswire

• How to get people to "like" you. Mashable

• Social media and small business. Small Business Trends

• Snooki "dissed" by New York Times. Huffington Post

Pictured slingback: Nicholas Kirkwood

Homemade Pel'menis

Ingredients:

For dough
1. 1 1/2 cups flour
2. Pinch of salt
3. 1/2 cup cold water
4. 2 eggs

For filling
1. (1) large russett potato
2. 2 tbs. butter
3. Thyme, salt, pepper, greek oregano, basil...


Directions:

To make dough, quickly combine flour and cold water in a mixing bowl and mix together with a fork. Stir in eggs and add salt, to taste. Using generous amounts of extra flour, roll dough into ball and set aside.

To make filling, cut potato into chunks and dump into pot of boiling water. After potatoes become soft, strain out the water and place into a mixing bowl. Let cool. Using a pastry cutter (or your hands) mash potatoes along with butter and herbs/spices until blended.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

To asssemble pel'menis:

1. Grab a chunk of dough about the size of a 50 cent piece (generously floured) and roll it out until it is very thin medallion.
2. Drop a chunk of filing in the center of the medallion and using your fingers, gently fold the dough in half over the filling. Pinch the dough together along the crease and around the shape of the filling. Fold the creased dough up and shape it around the filling--like a person reaching two arms around their beer gut and clasping their hands at the center.
3. Dump the pel'menis into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface. Strain and serve with sour cream, hot sauce & cilantro.

Back with more from Mr. PR!

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Snakeskin peep toe sandals" by Nicholas Kirkwood
Retail: $876

Reality Check

View Larger Map

In my favorite book of all time, Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, la Rue du Champ de l'Alouette was the road Marius would go to find solitude and to reflect on his lost love, Cosette. Apparently today, it is also a great place to go and pick up some Vietnamese food..

Omg, shoes

This should probably be the theme song for this blog...

The Great Unknown

With graduation only months away, me and several of my friends are faced with that pesky and simultaneously devastating question that we cannot possibly ignore for much longer: "Now what?"

As a kid in high school, my life plan seemed obvious: Graduate with a good GPA, get into a good college, graduate from that college and then it would be fancy living from there on out! With a diploma in hand, doors would swing wide open all around me and it wouldn't be longer before I found myself in a cushy job with a respectable apartment and my own top-of-the-line espresso machine.

Now with the countdown widget constantly blaring at me from the lower right hand corner, I discover for the first time in my life that I have no plan for myself; that I'm just going to have to just go with the flow...

Move back home or try and find work in town? Go to grad school? Internships and part-time nanny-ing? Run off and join the Peace Corps? Run off to Quebec where they're always hiring?

Life has never been more terrifying and exciting.


Photo: Breville Barista Express BES860XL
Retail: $599.99
Available at Bed, Bath & Beyond

It's...so...beautiful...

Slingback Scoops: July 18, 2010

• Progress on Bellingham waterfront development. City of Bellingham

• Public Relations is not DEAD! PRSA

• This gives me heartburn just looking at it... PR Newswire

• Dreamliner makes first appearance at international air show. BBC

• The Fremont Flower Man strikes again at Seattle PR firm. Duo Dribble

• Inception raked in $60 million this weekend. Just Jared

Pictured slingback: "Lady Dragon Shoe" by Melissa by Vivienne Westwood
Retail: $150

What is Public Relations?

I love this guy. Instead of Glenn Selleck, I will call him "Mr. PR" and I will be posting much more of his fun, informative videos!

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Crepe Satin Flower Pump" by Christian Louboutin
Retail: $138.25

Slingback Scoops: July 13, 2010

• Put down that book and start playing Farmville! PRSA

• Legal battle continues over Washington sales tax exemptions for Canadians. City of Bellingham

• Solutions in bloom for gulf clean up efforts. PR Newswire

• Spokane Community College teacher loses ethics case over e-mail. Seattle Weekly

• Christopher Woitach Trio with Larry Holloway and Jud Sherwood perform tonight at Boundary Bay! Boundary Bay Brewery

• The power of Twitter in media outreach. PR News Online

• Spoonshine with Pete Farmer performing tomorrow at the opening day of Downtown Sounds. Downtown Bellingham Partnership

*Pictured slingback: Christian Louboutin "Slingback Pump."

What is Public Relations?

How to "Twitter"-pate an audience

Twitter.com is a whole new arena for marketing and is a tool I have recently been trying to experiment with.
The above photo is linked to a free pdf of a how-to manual for nonprofits on Twitter. While most of what it discusses is common sense, there were a few handy tips about establishing one platform to relay the same message through all of the different social channels and how to encourage small monetary donations.

Based on my own personal research of various nonprofit Twitter accounts, I have come up with a few ideas for how to attract followers and maintain a successful page.

1. For nonprofits, it may be difficult to find something to post about several times a day--from what I saw, most organizations (with a lot of followers) were posting three to five times a week.
2. Following similar organizations (which are not national) may win a few followers, but I think it may be helpful to branch out and also follow high-profile personalities who are/have been advocates for a related cause.
3. Provide posts with links to video, photo albums, etc.---I think a lot of people are more visual.
4. Make sure all posts are easily related back to the organization's cause--people viewing the page should be able to tell right away what the message is and whether or not they would be interested in following.

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Ulona 140 Platform Sandals" by Christian Louboutin

Retail: $1,329.93

Sole Food: Pinching pennies post-grad style

Horchata

In light of this recent heat wave, I thought it would be nice to post a recipe for horchata = refreshing and delicious summer beverage made from rice milk/water/cinnamon.

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/3 cup uncooked white rice
2. 1 cup milk
3. 5 cups water
4. 2 sticks of cinnamon (I prefer using sticks--they're $1 for a package located in the hispanic foods aisle at most grocery stores) Otherwise, use 1/2 tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
5. 1/3 cup - 2/3 cup sugar
6. Splash of vanilla (to taste)

Directions:

1. Add rice, 2 cups of water and cinnamon sticks into blend and blend until sticks and rice are ground.
2. Add the rest of the water and continue to blend. *
3. Place out in hot sun (on porch or balcony, etc.) and let sit for 6 to 12 hours. **
4. Strain mixture into a pitcher through a sieve (I bought a handheld one for about $1 at Haggen--baking section)
5. Stir in milk, sugar and vanilla---serve over ice. Delicioso!

*Be careful not to over mix this part; I always do and a lot of grounds make it through when I use the sieve.

**Direct sun is best, but next to a window or in the fridge is just as good too!

Photo: foodnetwork.com

Original recipe + tips from comment by "Serena" from July 16, 2008

It's...so...hot

During the disgusting heat wave, my tiny, top floor apartment gets hotter than a broom closet in the seventh circle of hell.

In a state such as this, my roommates and I try everything to cool down the apartment---from opening and closing certain windows, to strategically placing fans to try and invite in as much cool air as possible. Nothing seems to be really working.

If anyone has any advice, please let me know before we all melt!

Photo: Inhabitat.com