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(05/16/13 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Summer is officially here. The time of the year when dorms and Greek houses empty out, students head to quarries to take the jump and everyone pushes the boundaries of what’s the least amount of clothing one can acceptably wear in public. Bloomington is no Florida or Texas, but let’s be real — it gets hot. There are few things worse in this world than the feeling of being too hot. And now, with these three simple projects, you’re one step closer to keeping cool while looking cool. So take your boring t-shirt and turn it into the perfect summertime tank! To those who aren’t so crafty with a needle and thread, don’t stop reading just yet — all you need is a little common sense and a good pair of scissors to pull off these simple t-shirt revamps. Now pull out your plain old band shirts and IU gear, and get going!The simple crop top:This is by far the easiest t-shirt project. All you need to do is cut off the bottom third or half of your t-shirt (depending on how high your want your crop top), cut a wide neck at the top of the shirt, and either cut the sleeves half-off, or completely for a tank top. In less than five minutes, you’ve got yourself a new shirt!The racerback tank:For this tank, start by cutting off the thick collar of the shirt. If you want a lower neckline, cut a few inches below the collar. Next, cut off the sleeves and down the sides of the shirts, so the armholes would extend down to the middle of your ribs. Flip the shirt over and cut the armholes deeper into the middle of the shirt, so the back of your shirt begins to look like a racerback tank. Now, for extra style, tie a piece of lace or fabric in a bow in the middle piece of t-shirt that runs between your shoulders to cinch the back into a complete racerback style. Cut off the bottom seam of the shirt to complete the cut-up look, and you’re finished!The ‘70s tied tank top:First, cut off the sleeves right along the seam. Then, you’ll want to cut off the neck of the shirt a little past the seam. Here comes the hardest part: flip the shirt over and cut off the bottom third of the shirt, like you’re making a crop top. However, only do this to the back of the shirt. (If you look at the shirt, the front will look like the original shirt and the back will have the bottom third of it cut out). Then, cut the front of the bottom of the shirt into a triangle. The point should reach down to the bottom of the shirt in the middle of your body. Then, cut a slit up the middle of the triangle and tie the two strips into a knot.
(04/26/13 1:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“The Artist” showed us last year we can still appreciate movies without sound.For the first time ever, IU Cinema will host Slapsticon, a four-day comedy film festival that features clips from the era of silent film. The screenings will run from June: 27-30, which is during IU’s Summer Festival of the Arts.The festival has been held in Washingon, D.C., since its start in 2003, and is emceed by Richard M. Roberts, a silent film and comedy historian. This is the first year the festival will take place elsewhere, and IU Cinema Director Jon Vickers is enthusiastic. “IU Cinema is very excited to host Slapsticon this summer,” Jon Vickers said in a press release. “It’s a wonderful chance for audiences to see rare screenings from what many consider the golden age of film comedy.”This year, featured films include those with comics Buster Keaton, Olivia Hardy and The Marx Brothers. However, films with lesser-known actors, such as Lloyd Hamilton and Syd Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin’s half-brother, will also screen.To register for four-day or individual day passes for Slapsticon, visit the IU Cinema website. For more information, cinema.indiana.edu.— Amanda Arnold
(04/25/13 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This marks my last DIY column. This is a sad day.But this isn’t the end. For those of you who have followed me throughout the semester, I hope you continue to do DIYs. Whether you’re making a honey and ginger concentrate for tea or growing herbs indoors, you’re having fun and creating something original. Plus, the best part about DIYs is you can modify the instructions to fit what you have and what you want to create. So continue to create. While I’ve enjoyed all my DIYs, what I’ve liked the most is learning how to get creative with “garbage” and keep it out of the trashcan. By simply saving up tin cans, wine bottles or even beer cans, with the help of some glue or string, there are endless opportunities as to what you can create. Plus, you’re sending less waste to America’s overflowing landfills. Therefore, I had to end my column by doing a project of this nature.My last and final DIY is one that everyone can — and should — do, because it’s cheap and beneficial in so many ways: build your own compost bin for Earth Day. I know the holiday fell on Monday, so this DIY is a little late, but a belated present to the Earth is better than no present at all. Now that summer is around the corner and it’s dead week, there’s no excuse to not spend fifteen minutes making this outside. With a compost bin, you can dispose of food scraps, leaves, cut grass and any other organic material. Yeah, you can leave old clumps of grass in your yard and throw food down the garbage disposal, but when you compost, you’re keeping waste out of landfills. Plus, if you garden, the compost helps flowers and vegetables grow. And if not, lay the compost around existing trees and plants in your yard. Now that’s good Earth karma.What you’ll need: a large plastic bin (no less than 18 gallons) with a lid.1. Make approximately 20 small holes in the plastic bin. Do this on the top and bottom of the bin.2. Fill the bin with a shallow layer of leaves or newspaper. Throw in organic waste (leaves, vegetables, coffee grounds, etc). You want your compost to be damp, but not wet. If it’s wet, add shredded newspaper. If it’s too dry, spray it with water.3. Keep the bin outdoors and in the shade. Gently shake the bin every day to aerate it. When the waste has broken down into small pieces, sprinkle it in your gardens.— acarnold@indiana.edu
(04/18/13 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From high school football games to Halloween, everyone has worn face paint at one point or another.It’s just one of those things you never outgrow. Your parents smeared it on your face when you dressed up as a vampire for Halloween 15 years ago, you wrote your friends’ names on your arms with it at high school football games and band competitions and, one day, you’ll put the greasy paint on your kids’ faces. But this year you’ll smear it on your cheeks as you celebrate IU this weekend for Little 500. While I enjoy all the Little 500 activities, what I enjoy most is the simple act of celebrating in the name of IU. Between the numerous concerts, the bike races, the celebration of the history of IU and the anticipation of summer, it’s an exciting time of the year. That is why I’m making a simple, homemade face paint that won’t cost you a fortune — because what better way to show your enthusiasm than smearing paint on your body?This week’s DIY is practical for everyone: it’s not gender-specific, event-specific or age-specific. While it’s useful for people supporting friends and teams in the races this weekend, who says you can’t paint an “IU” on your cheek and walk around downtown? I made a red face paint using all natural food coloring in the spirit of IU, but this recipe can be used to make paint of any color for any occasion. But if you make a color other than red or white for this weekend, get out of here. This is Little 500 — show some IU spirit.What you’ll need:1 teaspoon corn starch1/2 teaspoon water1/2 teaspoon cold cream (plus more to help remove paint later)2-5 drops red food coloring1. Mix all ingredients together. Add as much red food coloring as you want.2. Put on face powder or extra cornstarch to help keep the paint in place.3. To remove the paint, rub cold cream on the desired area until the paint starts to slough off.WARNING: This paint can temporarily dye your face, so I suggest using an all natural food coloring dye. I also suggest you not put this on your face if you have a job interview the next day.
(04/11/13 4:00am)
Because it is undeniably springtime,
and I want to dedicate every bit of my living to appreciating life, I
made treats for the other inhabitants of my house: the birds.
(04/04/13 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Birds are chirping, students are “dartying,” and UGG boots have (almost) disappeared. Has spring finally arrived in Bloomington?While I’m wary of making this statement for fear of scaring it away, it appears that our colder days are behind us. I’m not one who dislikes winter, as I’ve lived in Indiana all my life and appreciate all four seasons, but once April arrives, I’m ready to put away my winter coat. And when it’s warm out, I’m ready to stop being a hermit and get motivated to rejoin the outside world. This season started with an enjoyable stroll to interview for my online journalism class.Upon arriving at my source Lucille’s house, I couldn’t help but take note of the incredible gardens in her lot. While they were barren for the season, she kept her passion for gardening alive in her house. We talked about genetically modified foods for half an hour, and recognizing my passion in organics and gardening, she gave me a seedling of pineapple sage as we parted.As the weather warms up, it’s a great time of the year to start growing produce and herbs inside before transferring them outdoors. Therefore, my spring-themed DIY this week is DIY: indoor garden edition. While I now have pineapple sage growing in my window, you can care for any herb that you desire. Then, when the weather is warm enough, you can transfer your herb outside or even trim it and keep it indoors. No green thumb is necessary for this. Just pick an herb or produce, use your search engine research skills about caring for it (how often to water it, if it likes sunlight, etc.) and get out there! What better way to thank Mother Nature for the warm weather than sending some oxygen back into the atmosphere? The world is a beautiful place — let’s keep it that way.What you’ll need: a small pot, a seedling (also known as a baby plant) or seeds, potting soil1. Pour potting soil loosely into your pot, about two inches high. 2. Add your seedling or seed, and fill the soil up approximately one to two inches.3. Water your plant, keep it in (or out) of sunlight and care for it.Why to grow:Are pets too high-maintenance? Not enough return on investment? If you can’t handle a cat, try a plant. Specifically, grow some herbs (notice we said herbs, not herb). You get to put the love into them that you’d give to a pet, and when they get big enough, you get to eat them. Find small pots and containers at Goodwill, buy some nice gardening dirt, and you’re set — cute decorations and edible pets, all in one.Pro tips: Make sure your containers have holes in the bottom, and buy a shallow dish or tray to push under them. The soil needs to drain as you water it, and you can use the amount of pooled water as a gauge of how much more your plant needs. Turn your plants often to make sure they grow evenly. Only harvest from them when they’re at least 6 inches tall, and don’t take more than a few leaves at a time. Wait for growth equal to the amount you took before you harvest again. HERBSMint:This herb prefers partial shade and does better in containers than it does in actual gardens. Mint will overtake other plants at a frightening speed, so it’s best to keep it isolated. It’s not too particular about soil. As long as you water it a lot and put it in the sunniest window you have, it should do well. GOES IN: Mojitos. And roasted vegetables and light salads.Lavender:This flowery herb does well inside as long as it has lots of sunlight. You can actually water lavender less than your other plants — it prefers looser, more arid soil. If you’re not satisfied with the fabulous smell, the blossoms are actually edible. GOES IN: Your flower vase, aiolis, salmon, dense breads and cakes Oregano:Oregano definitely needs full sun (it requires six to eight hours of light a day), but it does well in container gardens as long as it’s in a sunny place. They only need to be watered once in a blue moon. GOES IN: Italian food. Duh. Oregano always plays nice with tomatoes. Parsley:Parsley can take partial sun in a pinch, but it will grow faster in an east- or west-facing window. It’s a hardy plant that grows well in normal soil — you don’t necessarily need fancy gardening dirt. If you move it outside in the summer, it attracts butterflies. GOES IN: Rice dishes (like taboulehs and pilafs), pastasRosemary:This herb grows well both inside and outside and does well in containers — it’s basically stupid-proof. Rosemary actually prefers soil with lime content, so add a few crushed eggshells to the dirt you pot it in. Grow it in a south-facing window for best results. GOES IN: chicken and fish dishes, savory breadsChives:These pretty little herbs do well in containers, and they’ll brighten up your kitchen with their pink blooms. They like sun and need six to eight hours per day. Don’t start your chives from seed — replant an already established plant and cut off the tops to encourage new growth. GOES IN: pretty much any savory dish. They have a mild oniony, garlicky flavor that tastes particularly good with creamy sauces, white meats and potatoes.
(03/28/13 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Starting and ending with songs full of soothing vocal harmonies and lyrics about sunrise, Phosphorescent’s “Muchacho” is the ideal album to wake up to, listen to its entirety in bed and fall back asleep to.Frontman Matthew Houck delivers the first half of “Muchacho” with conviction, as his cracking voice brings authenticity to his devastating lyrics of redemption. He also experiments with different styles, such as eclectic indie-rock and country-rock, but his best songs are those that flaunt fewer ties to the latter style.While the second half of the album isn’t as strong as the first, the only song that fails is waltz “Down To Go.” While the opening and closing tracks concern morning time, “Down To Go” sounds like a song a gloomy cowboy would slur at a karaoke bar in the early morning hours.Houck brings the album full circle. While it starts with a call for the upcoming day (“Sun, Arise!”), Houck’s “wish” is granted in “Sun’s Arising,” leaving the album on a fittingly harmonious note.
(03/28/13 3:07am)
Amanda tells a little bit about projects she picked up in Japan!
(03/07/13 5:00am)
As you pack your bags for spring break, make yourself your own little
notebook. One day, you’ll pull it back out and smile at the note to
yourself to buy your mom a souvenir.
(03/07/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You’re getting out of here, you lucky ducks. Here are a few checklists to fill before you go.The international traveler1. Your passport This may seem obvious, but one of you out there is going to forget yours. Don’t let it be you.2. Acceptable clothes for the culture No, not every country is OK with denim cutoffs and spaghetti straps. Do your research.3. Walking shoes Pro tip: Many countries are full of Converse-wearing locals. Dig into your old sixth grade clothes and pull out your beat up Chucks to look like a true European. Stick with low tops. 4. Camera Show your Facebook friends how worldly you are. 5. Journals Even if you’re not a writer, just jot down notes about your day. One day, you’ll happily look back at all the funny thoughts that passed through your head.6. Travel plug adapter Look for one that also converts energy or risk blowing up your hairdryer. 7. Cash Bring debit cards as well, but make sure they’re accepted. Warn your bank if you’ll be making any foreign transactions, or prepare to have your account frozen.8. A map No one wants to look like a tourist, but better to be the one holding a map than the one panicking and crying. 9. Medicine and small first aid kit There’s nothing like good old Ibuprofen for the morning after drinking too much French wine.10. Anything to “protect” you There’s no need to go into detail here, you dirty college kids.The party beach breaker1. At least two forms of ID Have at least your driver’s license and your school ID, and maybe even your passport. Don’t be that person who left their identification at home. 2. A jacket or sweatshirt Even warm places get cold snaps. Don’t get caught in one with only a bikini and a sarong to your name.3. Your checkbook Stuff gets stolen or lost on spring break. Don’t be stuck completely without money. Stash your checkbook somewhere safe, just in case.4. Aloe vera gel You’re probably winter-pale, and you’ll probably stay in the sun (glorious, glorious sun) for a little too long that first day or two. Bring aloe for your burns. 5. Ibuprofen Bring your pain reliever of choice. We may not endorse it, but we realize there will be many, many hangovers next week. 6. A reusable water bottle Try to drink at least one bottle of water for every alcoholic beverage you have. We don’t want you to end up dehydrated and in the hospital. 7. Body lotion and facial moisturizer You’re going to get dried out on the beach every day. We’re talking real lotion, folks. Bring facial moisturizer with at least SPF 30. 8. At least one nice outfit It could turn out that the hottest new restaurant requires nicer dress. Or you might meet someone you want to look nice for. Pack more than junky shorts and tank tops. 9. A disposable camera There’s nothing like taking photos on the fly and giggling at them a few weeks after break when you’ve finally gotten around to developing them. Instant memories.10. A boombox or speaker Make some CDs for your old boombox or bring an iPod player — most will take batteries. You can’t be sure your hotel will have a sound system, so it’s good to have a backup. Party on the beach!
(03/07/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sadly, you’re not jetting off to the beach, but you wouldn’t be caught dead hanging around the ghost town Bloomington will become. Instead, for spring break you’re headed home, to a familiar land where fridges are fully stocked and the floors don’t reek of stale beer and day-old Pizza X. Sure, being home isn’t always easy. Parents feel like they still need to monitor your every move, and the confines of your bedroom will slowly but surely begin to close in. But it isn’t all that bad. Here’s a list of things you may want to consider doing while you’re home over break, lest you get suckered into watching hours upon hours of Lifetime movies with your mom — unless that’s your thing. Visit your old high school, middle school or elementary schoolYes, it’s as lame as it sounds. But there must be some good reason you haven’t considered. Maybe you have a sibling and you could take them lunch. Nothing could be cooler to them than their college-aged big brother or sister bringing them some swanky meal, like sushi or Chipotle. Or perhaps you haven’t seen that one teacher who you really connected with in a while. Dropping in would be a nice reminder of how much you’ve progressed since graduating and where you still plan to go. Seeing tiny playground equipment that used to look so huge is always a nice bit of nostalgia. And let’s be honest: being a suave college kid around scads of pimply teenagers does make you feel pretty good about yourself. Find a show you’ve never seen on Netflix and watch the whole seriesSurely there’s that one TV show you’ve never watched that everyone has always told you need to check out. Or maybe you’re like me and you pretend you’ve seen “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” so people won’t judge you. Either way, see what Netflix recommends for you and knock out season after season to avoid doing anything productive. Work on the spring break beach body you don’t needSure, you won’t be hitting the sand and showing off your flat, oily stomach, but that’s no reason not to hit the gym or go for a run. Take the time away from classes and boozing to cleanse your system and start spring off on the right foot. Running around your neighborhood is a lot less intimidating than trying to keep up with all the inhumanly attractive, eternally energetic marathoners casually running around campus. Actually read a book for pleasureWith all the reading we have to complete for classes, students rarely have time to read for fun. Spring break is the perfect time to lock yourself in your room and read that novel that’s been gathering dust on your desk for months. If nothing else, read “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” for the ninth time. Plan a day visit to a big cityAssuming you’re cooped up in the suburbs, get together with your friends and road trip to the closest major city. Shop, see a show, explore a museum or find a hole-in-the-wall dive with great food. Pretend you’re a cool city slicker/actual adult.Reorganize your bedroom and closetNothing says spring cleaning like taking the time to change it up in your bedroom at home. Seeing as you’ll spend plenty of time in there avoiding your family, you may as well take that Fall Out Boy poster off the wall and find a new corner for your bed. Also, donate anything to Goodwill with Hollister or Aeropostale across the chest. You’ll thank me later. Find your center Now is the perfect time to spend copious amounts of money on yoga sessions at your nearest studio. While approximately $15 per single session normally may seem high, just think of all the money you’re saving by not buying souvenirs and plane tickets. Yoga is a great way to increase flexibility, relax and feel at peace. Afraid you won’t be able to keep up? Just stay in child’s pose the entire time – yes, this is acceptable – and take some time to clear your mind. Just try not to fall asleep. Plus, at the end of most sessions, most yoga studios rub your neck with lavender oil and offer free tea, so your $15 is totally worth it.
(02/28/13 5:00am)
Weirdly attached to your pet? Can't take your pet to school with you? Make them into a pillow! Sort of!
(02/28/13 5:00am)
Weekend’s got the top five trends that showed up on womenswear runways at New York Fashion Week.
(02/21/13 4:07am)
Sometimes I wonder if professors plot out certain weeks of the semester to schedule copious amounts of work.
(02/14/13 5:00am)
Make your own delicious Valentine's Day chocolates!
(02/07/13 1:56am)
I’m from a family with weird sleeping patterns.
(01/31/13 7:48am)
Grab a few of these energy bites— not a Pop-Tart — next time you’re in a rush for the most important meal of the day.
(01/24/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the midst of freezing temperature and little daylight, Foxygen’s “We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic” is a glimpse of a warm summer night, despite the mouthful of a title. After receiving Pitchfork’s title of Best New Track for “No Destruction,” Foxygen set a high bar for themselves to meet. This duo lets their laidback California attitudes shine through on this nine-track album and proves that 2013 may have potential to live up to the standards set by 2012.From Bloomington’s own label Jagjaguwar, Foxygen looks back to sounds of bygone eras. The band clearly shows influences from artists of the 60s and when vocalist Sam France moans out “there’s no need to be an asshole” in “No Destruction,” he effortlessly delivers these jabs in the drawl of a young Bob Dylan. This is an album Lou Reed, Paul McCartney and Dylan could’ve released had they been born a few decades later.As the album progresses to “Shuggie” and “Oh Yeah,” the songs jump a few decades and resemble more closely Devendra Banhart’s endearing freak folk. The smooth psychedelic undertones, however, can only be credited to The Beatles.Yet while the album pulls heavily on sounds of times past, nothing about it sounds old. Songwriters Sam France and Jonathan Rado deliver lyrics that innocently mock the carefree attitudes of 60s youth and the result is an album that sounds fresh. They sing of California — as well as the locals’ favorite illegal pasttime — with its innocent and not-so-sweet love. And while “No Destruction” and “Shuggie” don’t tell stories of successful relationships, the songs travel along in the nonchalant spirit of a flower child.Only toward the end of the album does the duo feel out of control when they delve further into freak folk and psychadelia, losing the easeful tone that held the album together. Foxygen closes the album with “Oh No 2,” a track full of nonsensical lyrics and eerie voice-overs that slowly progress to controlled chaos. At the end of the song, the duo quickly pulls together the clamor with a harmonious piano melody that makes you forget about the awkward noise preceding it. After a quick 36 minutes, the album seems to end just after beginning.“We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic” may be one of the first albums of 2013, but it’s an album we’ll keep coming back to all year.
(01/24/13 2:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you step into my room, you’ll immediately notice one thing: I live in a shrine of all things French. You’ll see pictures of me by the Seine, clothes adorned with Breton stripes and yes — even the French flag.But if you look past my obnoxious obsession with France, in the glass cabinet by my desk, you’ll notice another fixation that steps outside French aesthetic. Tea. I love it. There’s green (my personal favorite), black, white, red or herbal — but that’s not even including all of the fruity, herbal accents that can grace a flavor. You may think owning 18 different cartons of tea is a little crazy, but when you drink three cups a day, you have an addiction to satiate. So in the spirit of flu season and this opportunity for me to talk about how wonderful tea is, my first DIY is honey, lemon and ginger tea concentrate. I chose this recipe for lemon’s Vitamin C, honey’s antibacterial properties and ability to coat your throat, and ginger’s gift of soothing everything from nausea to indigestion. This is the ultimate combo to kick a cold. And hey, if you’re not sick, just drink this tea because it’s easy and delicious.What you’ll need: 7-8 oz. honey1 large lemon Raw ginger root8-oz. mason jar (or your airtight container of preference)1. Cut the lemon in half width-wise and save the other half (you can use an entire small lemon, but you won’t have big pretty pieces of lemon.) Keep cutting the lemon in quarter-inch-thick pieces and slice the circles down the center. You’ll want to have eight to 10 semicircles.2. As for the ginger, peel off the skin and cut the chunk into dime-sized pieces. If you’re new to ginger, cut a teaspoon’s worth. If you’re a worshipper of the spicy root like I am, cut two teaspoons.3. Throw the lemon and ginger in your jar (or spend 10 minutes arranging it like I did) and pour the honey on top.4. Pop the jar in the fridge and let the delicate flavors mingle. The longer it sits, the stronger it gets. When you’re ready for tea, just boil a cup of water and drop a big ol’ spoonful of the sweet nectar in your mug. This mixture will last for months in the fridge.Or if you’re me, it’ll last you a couple of days. Drink up, future tea lovers.
(01/10/13 6:30pm)
With a title like “Heavy Feet,” you’d think the song would feel weighed down. You’d think.