Calling all Artists!

If you are from the Edmonton area, you may be familiar with VUE Weekly, Edmonton's 100% Independent News and Entertainment Weekly. This free paper can be found in the yellow boxes all over town. Now YOU have the chance to design a NEW look for a street box. It sounds pretty easy, just grab some card stock, paint it how you'd like the street box to appear and your design could be on the streets of Edmonton in no time.This is a great opportunity for local artists to showcase their talent... and there are great prizes too! For more information on the rules and regulations you can check out the vueweekly.com website.

One Word: Santogold

I love coming into work. It's guaranteed I'll have some time to cruise around the beauty that is the internet and stumble upon some up and comers'. Now I know Santogold has been getting some of hype, but if the New York Times AND Rolling Stone peg you as one to watch...you're for sure doing something right. Out of Brooklyn, this girl has got it going on. With her dance hall rhythms and smart lyrics, Santi is sure to hit it big in 08. Her sound has the ability to relate from here to Darfur. Working with the likes of M.I.A and Diplo, Santi's got a tight crew backing her. With a self titled album coming out this summer, keep an eye out for Santogold.

Thunderheist

If you haven't heard of Thunderheist yet.. which I personally consider a crime, stop reading right now and go directly to their myspace. These guys are blowing up all over North America and across the sea too.. and the best part is they are Canadian! Thunderheist is made up of DJ Grahm and MC Isis, not even togeather for 2 years, they are producing some of the sickest dance tracks ever. Seriously, no matter what you're doing, songs like Jerkitttt and Suenos Dulces will have you on your feet in seconds. Self proclaimed party starters, every night is a guaranteed dance party with Thunderheist.

"People get kinda crazy at our shows.. even that super chill girl that you thought you knew from way back. Next thing you know she'll be grinding up on Isis like shes a stripper pole. And also that dude that usually just does the hiphop arms crossed while bobbing his head thing but all of a
sudden hes on a table putting down moves that you've only seen on So you think you can dance??"

Can't wait till they stop by Edmonton, which will hopefully happen sometime in 08'.

Where do I start?

Ever since I went shopping Tuesday I've been pretty pumped for this weekend, I've been so stoked to wear my new dress and rock the dance floor. However Friday came and went...with no dancing to be had... which was to say the least, disappointing. So today, Saturday, I was ready for a really productive day hopefully followed by a fun night out. Naturally I sent out the mass,"whats everyone doing tonight" text. Unfortunately it seemed that everyone had their own thing going on and there wasn't really much hope for the night out I was expecting.
The only thing worse then spending a weekend at home in front of the TV, is knowing that there are so many awesome things happening that you could be at. So for anyone who actually went to We Are Wolves at the Pawnshop, or Halo tonight... I'm jealous. Very, very jealous.

BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT MY LAME SATURDAY NIGHT.

What I'm getting at is even though I'm sitting in my housecoat.. watching god knows what on shitty Saturday night cable... the past couple days have me realize even more how much I appreciate my true friends.

So instead of getting wasted and 'killin on the dance floor' as it were, I picked up the phone and called one of my best friends who just happens to be living in Kelowna at the moment. Now I always enjoy a long conversation with her, but today it meant that much more. So even though I didn't go out, I did catch up with a great friend.

Now if you ever find yourself stuck at home, like I did tonight, don't fall into the 'I wasted my weekend trap.' Just pick up the phone and call someone who will be happy to hear your voice. Trust me there's always someone, even if its your own Mom, just chat. It'll be better then Pearl Harbor on the CBC.. I promise.

The Lives of Others

Fearing Blockbuster was about to give me a life time ban,
I finally sat down and watched The Lives of Others. After sitting on my floor for 2 months, the two hour long, German subtitled movie hasn't been something I could handle. So this week Aliesha and I enjoyed the Oscar winner for best foreign film.

The Lives of Others is the story of a play write in East Germany who is unknowingly being monitored by the Secret Police (Stasi). He and his companion, a well known actress, are being monitored for suspicion of being un-loyal to the party. If you've read 1984 or know anything about it, this movie has a lot of those themes running through it. Big Brother is watching you...
Now it started out a little slow, but over the course of the movie I really found myself invested in the well being of the characters. This movie kept me on my toes and question the motives of the characters as well as wondering who was "the good guy." The suspense ran right through until the end revealing some unforeseeable plot twists even in the last 5 minutes.

If you are into foreign films, or German history, or even just a suspenseful 2 hours I recommend you check out the The Lives Of Others.

My Green House

So I mentioned that I am working for a production company here in Edmonton. Over the summer they actually produced a 13 part series called My Green House and it is currently airing on Access as well as CLT (Canadian Learning Television). I've seen all the episodes and they are full of great information on how to "green" your lifestyle. You don't have to change your life dramatically or anything, I just think there are a lot of cool tips and easy things we can do to reduce our impact on the environment.
Their website is www.mygreenhousetv.com

Zuppa Cafe

Last week my boss and I were in downtown Edmonton for lunch. She is big into the organic lifestyle and being "green." It's really starting rub off on me as well. The point is she informed me we were going to a place called Zuppa for lunch. I had never heard of it, but I could only assume good things when we pulled up and there was a line to the door. We waited in the line, which was moving quickly, and she explained to me how each day Zuppa has a special soup, sandwich and pasta of the day. She filled me in on her favorites and all the different combinations.
Overwhelmed with all the choices, I couldn't help but notice the modest staff working quickly and with such a pleasant demeanor, while they had a line out the door. My boss informed me the cook does everything himself, and uses nearly all fresh, organic, fare-trade products. Not bad.
I opted for the half order of chicken caesar salad, which by the way could have passed for a full order any day. It was delicious, freshly grilled chicken, fresh salad, fresh caesar vinaigrette. Basically it was the freshest, most filling, guilt-free salad I've ever had. Not to mention the worldly/eclectic music, the up-beat friendly atmosphere and the huge variety of people who were dining there.

If you are ever in the downtown area, I strongly recommend you check it out.

Zuppa
9843 - 110 Street
Edmonton, AB

They even have breakfast! But get there early, they have a full house at lunch hour and finding a seat might be difficult.

Paint

Did I mention I work in an office now?
Don't get me wrong I love my job and I do actual work there. The thing is I sometimes end up with free time, which has given me the opportunity to mess around with a program called Seashore, its just like MS Paint. It's the best. So these are some of the things I get done when it's not busy.

Kid Sister

HOW COULD I FORGET TO MENTION KID SISTER?!

The chick is off the hook. Her recent collaboration with Kanye West for her song Pro Nails is impossible to deny.




I highly recommend you check out Kid Sister, she's rockin Chicago and more recently has been touring with the likes of Chromeo, Kanye and A-Trak. OH and her DJ/BROTHER (yes I mean the biological kind) is J2K of Flosstradamus, how sweet is that?

Shopping

So I got off work early today and since I'm only a 10 minute drive from Whyte and have next to no will power, I'm going to be broke within the month.

I've been looking for some new jeans because the ones I'm rockin at the moment have two holes in the inseam and some how that doesn't seem professional for work. But that's just me. Either way, I'm cruising around and land in bamboo ballroom. I don't normally shop there, but I ended up trying on a pair of high waisted jeans... and I mean high waisted, like 5 buttons up right under the boobs and holding it all together. Turns out I actually liked em. Then I found out they were on SALE so I'm sold.

The best part about the jeans are that you can wear a regular long top over them and you can't even tell they are high, or you can tuck in a shirt and it looks rad.

The jeans look a little like this, not that I look like this girl, but you get the picture.
No matter what anyone says, trendy or not, in or out, these jeans are sweet and so comfortable. You don't have to buy a pair, I'm just sayin.

Kanye West- Can't Tell Me Nothin

So I was hearing that Kanye's new album is next to perfect, so I youtube it and this is what I found. Keep in mind this isn't the actual video, but it might as well be, its really well done and ironic too.

Fancy Footwork

So in advanced videography we were given a "close-up" assignment:
This is what I came up with.





Big thanks to my good friend Julie who was absolutely fabulous in the video.

Away We Go

Here goes nothing.