Do the Waka Waka

So, I don't know about you, but this dance looks like fun, and yes, it's Shakira, but it's for her 1 Goal: Education for All Campaign. The song has also been selected as the official World Cup jam, and it's pretty darn catchy. For the campaign, official sites and individuals are submitted their own videos of people doing the Waka Waka, and tomorrow morning in NYC, Shakira's camp will be filming at Dance Theater Workshop. Best part? It's open to everyone... see you there!

Janelle Monáe

This girl is a STAR. I'm absolutely blown away. If you haven't already listened to Janelle Monae's epic first album, you had better get on it! I watched this video for the first time and thought "this girl is gonna be a game changer". Her dance moves have MJ quality staying power and I have literally been trying to do her "tightrope" move for the past week. Obviously I have a huge crush on this girl (so does my boyfriend)- and I wanna shout it out loud! I promise, watch this video and you'll have one too.

Steep It

I'm half Indian, and the tea taking ritual has been an important part of my day since I can remember! In fact, as a little girl, if I got upset, my mom would come up to my room with a pot of tea and we'd pour it into my miniature tea set for a wee tea-party (I couldn't play "it's my birthday" ALL the time). Even now, when I go back home, within minutes of walking in the door, my dad will start brewing a pot of our favorite import "golden tips". I just found this great new diffuser pot for my precious loose leaf teas, and when I brought it back to my apartment my roomie Trevor sent me this cool link, it's an internet tea timer for every kind of tea! A happy treat after my less than happy post yesterday. Enjoy!

A Sad Day

Today I am disappointed and deeply sad. It's been 32 days and the explosion that caused the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is still wildly out of control. At least 6 million gallons of oil have been released into the gulf, and reports say that attempts to plug the gushing leak with mud wont be made until Tuesday.

For better or for worse, after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, laws were passed to hold oil companies completely accountable for cleanup (including all expenses) in case of similar disasters. Call me paranoid, but I have to ask how much of these expenses include BP's efforts to downplay the dangerous facts to the public. Unlike the 1989 spill, the BP oil rig that is leaking today does not contain a finite oil supply, and will keep pouring oil into the ocean until it is plugged. I only fear that the severity of this disaster is much greater than we are necessarily being told, and that in addition to an oceanic cleanup, there is imminent threat of groundwater contamination (already marshes have been contaminated in Louisiana) and permanent damage to the region's eco-system.

These eerily beautiful images have made a deep impression on me, and today my only hope is that from this tragedy, our government and big businesses will understand the urgency of making changes to prevent the outright destruction of the environment.

All images from Huffington Post.

Daily Affirmation

We all have moments when the downward spiral of "I can't do it", "I'm not good enough", "everything sucks" takes over. Thinking like that even for a second never leads anywhere positive (you might think there's hope in that bottle but there's not! JK calm down!!!!) and it certainly doesn't reflect the grab-life-by-the b*ll's attitude I've had since I was a kid. My amazing power-woman room mate, Erica, sent me this video of the tiny inspiration that is Jessica, and now I'm seriously reconsidering all previous judgments I've made about people who talk to themselves in the mirror. I'm gonna do this every day! Dance moves included.

Swing Time

Apparently when I was a baby and my family was living in India, we had a wicker swing in our living room. Ohhhhhh what I would give for an indoor swing in my lil Brooklyn apartment. More floor space anyone? I love this whole set up A LOT, but the swing really makes it special!

Dinner with Friends

Sometimes it really is the best thing on the menu. After a stressful week recently I had dinner with the lovely Brit and Erica at my apartment. I wanted to eat something healthy, wonderful, and low-key, and this turned out to be the perfect choice. I cooked two boneless chicken breasts in a pan with a tiny bit of EVOO, sliced them up, and layered them in a dish with sliced avocado, organic heirloom tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. Copious salt and pepper and a drizzle of balsamic on the top and we were good to go. While the chicken was in the pan for about 8 minutes, we nibbled on crispy baguette and epoisses cheese. Even the Three Thieves Bandit totally-drinkable-wine-in-a-box that Brit brought matched the tone of the meal delightfully. The three of us were beyond satisfied...and relaxed. Mission accomplished! PS. Doesn't having pretty flowers on the table make such a difference?!?! Ah the little things.

Art of the Valley

In 1986 the Arte Sella project was started in Italy's Sella Valley. Since then, various artists have decorated the paths of the valley with natural art, using the valley's geographic features for inspiration. I'm thinking about a pilgrimage to these other-worldly structures, aren't they so magical? Learn more here.

I'm still an aminal

I mean animal. Happy MONDAY!

Courtesey of Eric, who told me these 3 swedish guys also wrote TOXIC and other pop smash hits. UHHHHmazing.

Birthday Party 2011!

Jk!

Sort of. These are photos from a diy toddlers birthday party by Armelle , but I'm not gonna lie, I did have a moment where I was like "DRAT! I should've done Where The Wild Things Are instead of Alice!" Let's face it, I spend WAYYY too much time thinking about my birthday and the last one is already history... it's never too soon to start thinking about next year's bash.