Sounds

Any of you diggin' this video as much as I am? Jay z's newest album The Blueprint 3, is gonna be good. It features everyone from Luke Steele from Empire of the Sun, to Pharrell Williams. His two singles thus far are dope, can't wait to hear the album.

Famous faces and famous places

So to finish on what karla said about movies on her latest post, I will continue the theme of movies on mine. So today I went to Arclight in Hollywood to watch Charlyne Yi and Nick Jasenovec's film Paper Heart, not only to be ushered by Charlyne Yi herself! The film was charming, heart warming, and insightful. I loved Charlyne's raw ability to convey her personality throughout the film, she is truly someone to watch out for in the future.

Any who, to change topics slightly, I've been meaning to post something about The Tea Gardens for quite some time now. So today's post seems fitting to include it! here are a couple of pictures of what I had to eat there. If you're ever in Santa Clarita (although I could never imagine why anyone would ever be here on mere coincidence), than you should stop by The Tea Gardens. They have a variety of teas from black, oolong, darjeeling, white, and many others. Besides the fact that i'm starting to sound like a restaurant critic I will cut to the chase a and post pics.

Tea garden

Tea wall

cheese cake with strawberry

Sesame seed salad

Darjeeling apricot tea

Movies, movies, movies.

They are taking over my brain and my life. They are my passion.

My post about movies shall be continued at some later point. Just thought I'd put it out there.

long overdue

As Karla mentioned, it seems that videos are at a all time low. Back in the hay day (quite possibly before I was born, or when I was into good music) the creation networks such as MTV and VH1, allowed fans to view their favorite bands videos on basic cable with out any interruption. But as the era of technology came, so did the decline of music videos on the telly. So with the help of youtube, I am now able to share my top five videos. Now they might not be the best videos on a "directorial" stand point, but for some reason these five videos never get old for me. I stand by my choices in the fact that I can watch each and everyone on repeat with out hesitation, so enjoy!

5. Jamiroquai: "Virtual Insanity"

This video brings me back to the 90's when I would watch Vh1 with my brother and this song would come up on an hourly rotation. It's only until recently when I actually found out who sang this song, his name is almost as crazy as the video! Directed by Jonathan Glazer (he also directed other great videos such as karma police by Radiohead) this video blends in special affects with Jamiroquai's eclectic vibe. The video is pretty simple and yet simplicity in this video offers a wide variety of special affect. Right down to Jamiroquai's funky style, to the visual illusions of the room moving, this video is 90's at it's best.

4. The Strokes: "12:51"

The Strokes - 12:51 (Official Music Video) - Funny video clips are a click away

Now this video might not seem very enticing on a directors standpoint, but on a visual one it's mind blowing! Well not really, but I remember when I first saw this video on fuse, and I couldn't get it out of my head. This was the first song I've heard from the Strokes, and boy it was not the last. From the simple guitar rifts in the song to the neon infusion, this music video is a perfect companion for this song. Something about neon lights make me go GaGa, and of course Fabrizio Moretti helps too.

3. Feist: "I Feel It All"

Feist - "I Feel It All" OFFICIAL Music Video

Feist is on of Canada's greatest gems, I remember when I first heard her song "Mushaboom" when I was 16. My friend showed it to me while I was in Europe, and when I came back home I had a new found love for indie folk. This song is off of her most recent CD The Reminder and all of her videos to date are very good. I picked this video because of the vast amount of creativity it shows with minimal production. I assume that this video was fairly cheap to shoot compared to other musician's videos, and the fact that is done through one continuous shot allows me to think that Feist can do no wrong.

2. Sia: "Soon We'll Be Found"

Sia is a beautiful artist whose music always seems to touch me every time I hear it. The First song I heard from her was "Breathe Me," and soon after I became a fan. "Soon We'll Be Found" is a beautiful video that takes signing and glow in the dark to a whole new level. I read somewhere that Sia was always a fan of signing and that she is quite fluent in American signing, and that she always wanted to do a video that incorporated signing and creativity. The song and video are perfectly paired, and Sia is an artist who is always trying to break through the conventional, and venture onto the unconventional.

1. Weezer: "Buddy Holly"

Not only is this one of my most favorite Weezer songs, it is my all time favorite video. This video is one of the 90's best video, Weezer took an old time show Happy Days and went back in time to the Happy Days diner in order to completely transform into a "diner" band. This video was the first of its kind, it took a huge amount of editing and directorial achievement to complete this video. Weezer is a band that I grew up with and that I continue to listen to as I grow older. This video will never get old for me, and "HEEEEEY the fonz" is in it!

Visual stimulation

These days, I've noticed the quickening decline of music videos on television. Remember the days when MTV and VH1 were solely devoted to music? With a few entertainment shows on the air. Given that was many years ago, but it's something than many miss. Lately, it's been a culmination of horrid reality television that is sure to make our brains melt to jelly. Thanks to the invention of such sites as youtube, music video sharing has become readily available to the masses and I am grateful.

This leads me to explain my post. Me and Sharon will be sharing our top 5 music videos of all time. We realize the amount of time it takes to create something so magical in such a short time frame and we have such an appreciation for it. Also, our sharing of our top 5 kind of becomes a segway for us transforming our blog into a general interest blog, rather than a 'how-was-your-day' blog.

5. Another Day by Jamie Lidell


I've always had this thing for the quirky and the humorous. Such a treasure is found in this music video directed by Partizan's Timothy Saccenti. I love the idea of him walking through this path of light, only stopping by to help those who are lacking in the senses and provides them an alternative. Jamie Lidell's soulful voice aides this montage of hope and happiness and manages to bring a smile to my face. True to the rest of the video's style, are the back-up dancers, dressed as if they were conceptualized to be theater dancers or something of the sort.

4. One More Time by Daft Punk


Any one that's ever known me up to my early high school years knows my fascination with anything that is anime related. It is probably something that will stick to my roots no matter what, even if I'm not as passionate as I once was. The song is almost ethereal in quality and the music video ties in very well. The synthesized voices of the track seem to reflect the alien characters. What I love about this is that it acts as an opener to an entire storyline that encompasses the entire album known as Interstella 5555. I mean, come on! Rarely do you find albums that have a music video for every track that ties in so seamlessly, it becomes a movie. Leiji Matsumoto does this perfectly. And if you knew me even just a little, you would know my deep love for film and stories. I had to pick just one music video out of Daft Punk's Discovery album, so why not choose the one that starts it all off? Plus, there is something about One More Time that always reminds me about celebration of life and I always want to just jump up and down in joy.

3. Sweety by Clazziquai


As I mentioned earlier, my love for the quirky will always be prevalent in my inspiration and my appreciation for any forms of art, music videos included. Which is why I cherish this video so much. It follows the lives of two people attempting to scientifically figure out what love is. The silly experiments that they do definitely embody the title of the song, Sweety.

2. Chasing Pavements by Adele


Who could ever imagine that something so tragic as a car crash could be beautiful? The amazing and soulful voice of Adele puts the viewer in another world. The presence of a synchronized dance playing with the use of shadows, illusion, and repetition is just... amazing. There's not really much I can say about this. I just feel that people need to see this video to see it's beauty and feel the raw emotion that is emphasized by this video.

1. Walkie Talkie Man by Steriogram

Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man from NZ Beats on Vimeo.

What happens when you give Michael Gondry a chance to create a music video for a such as rapid and hectic as a song by Steriogram? This music video. Gondry has to be the most creative genius in the business and he is probably one of my favorite directors of all time. His use of different mediums, such as clay, felt, and yarn, are so creatively used, I don't even know what to make of all the chaos that ensues in this music video. Lots and I mean LOTS of yarn are used in this music video. Such creativity is the reason why this music video tops off my list of favorite music videos.

Changing times, changing minds.

So the other day I ran into an old friend of mine and wow, have they changed. I thought to myself if they thought the same of me. I wondered if they thought I changed a lot since i've seen them. Then came to mind the question of the day folks: Is it better that people change throughout the years, or is it better that they are still the same old person you once knew? For instance I feel as if I haven't changed since the beginning of high school, so do I take this as a good quality of mine, or does it mean that i'm unwilling to change for no one but myself... hmm crazy times we live in, just thought i'd put my two sense in, or is it cents? i dunno it's a crazy play on words that saying!

By the way I would like to eventually turn this blog into a general interest blog like with postings of delicious food, amazing music, and clothes. So I guess I will start off with Astrud Gilberto, she's this Bossa Nova era singer whose voice is like none other. If you're in the mood for french cafe easy listening then you should listen to "meditation" by her, it's brilliant!

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Sick sad world.

Fevers of 104? Not cool. Extreme coughing attacks? Not cool either. I hate being sick. Then again, who really likes being sick? My entire family got sick, with the exception of my dad. Bless his soul for escaping this germ fest sickness.

Other than my recovering, all is the same. Congrats to the birth of Connor, my world history teacher's baby! Must visit her and Connor ASAP.

Currently listening to the album Manners by Passion Pit. They're awesome. Electrifying. High pitched. Can't wait to see them live in October! <3

RIP Michael Jackson

It still feels surreal that he's dead. I just can't imagine a world without Michael Jackson. Yes, there were numerous allegations against him, but one cannot forget the magic he brought to the world through his music. And that is what I choose to focus on. I cannot dislike a man who brought such wonderful music. Music that brought me such laughter and happiness whenever I would dance to it. I thank MJ for that. And may his soul rest in peace.

Lazy summer days

This wasn't the homecoming that I'd been looking forward to all year. I yearn for the late night kickits with the friends, the cool summer nights doing absolutely nothing, and the tanning in the hot summer days. This is nothing like I had expected. Nothing like the summers that I used to have when I was in high school. Days and nights I spend inside the house. On the computer. What am I doing? Have I really changed that much while I was away for college? So much that I feel like I can't just call up my friends to hang out? I feel like it's such a struggle. I am not who I am when I am home anymore. I long to be with my friends from Aldea. I think they really helped me find out who I was, accepting who I was unconditionally. Though we can all be mean to each other and though drama can arise from the most smallest of things, we all learned to stick by each other as if we were family. We were a family. We are a family. I hope my friends from Tracy don't take this wrong or anything with me missing my Aldean family. It's just hard when you live with people for a whole year, spending all your time with them, and then suddenly... they're not there anymore.

Maybe I'll blog more this summer. These days, I try to find random things to occupy my time. I even volunteered to taking down the Christmas lights. And yes. They are still up. I don't know why, but I'd prefer to take it down if no one is going to. If you knew me well, you would know my love for the Christmas anything. But when it's a hot summer day in June, I feel that Christmas lights lining my roof just aren't right.

Another thing. I remember I used to have so many pictures. Lately, I have become the type of person that is too lazy to take pictures. Maybe I should resurge that need to take pictures that I used to have...

Goodbye.

Stressed out days and nights.

I am so exhausted. 20 units is a killer. I knew it was going to tough, but it's way worse when you actually go through it all rather than imagining it in a hypothetical kind of way. I'm pretty sure I haven't slept for more than 5 hours every night this past week. Had my chemistry midterm on Tuesday. Literally failed that test. Just found out today. Going off on a tangent with regards to this in a sec. Anyway, I have my calculus midterm on Friday, so I started to study tonight. I have to study all day tomorrow. Hopefully, I go through with the whole 'locking myself in my room to study.' Probably not, but I can only hope. Then after I'm free from my calc midterm, I have to study for my Japanese art history midterm on Monday. And just when you think I'm free, you're wrong! Philosophy paper due on Wednesday. My stress level and exhaustion level has literally peaked. It's sad. I'll get through it, though!

So off to my tangent: My horribly low score in chemistry makes me realize how bad I am at chemistry. A subject has never made me as miserable as chem. It is this observation that makes me want to switch out of biology. I am in this internal struggle to stay in bio or to just switch. It's hard. I so badly want to stay to go to medical school, but I don't want to be miserable. Oh, how the pain of the college life aches me.

Due to my busy schedule, I will post about my past few days later, when my schedule clears up.

Ooh! On a happy note. It is my lovely partner's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHARON! I freakin' love you! When we do talk about whatever, it's so fun. I can't wait to see Phoenix with you this summer! Which reminds me, when are we going to buy our concert tickets?! haha. You deserve the best on your birthday! Love you!

Coachella Fest '09

This is my first blog post and what a way to start with Coachella Fest '09! I've always wanted to go to Coachella ever since I found love... that is my love for music. This festival emulates all aspects that are music, art, and love. So where should I start? I suppose I can start my coachella experience with Friday. I didn't do much friday but wake up and go to school, but later during the day I met up with Karla and off we went to drive into the night to Palm Desert where we would be staying with my cousin during our Coachella rendezvous. Saturday came and off to my first ever coachella ever! I was filled with expectations but I would have never guessed how amazing it was going to be. We arrived at Coachella at 11:30am and walked around in awe exploring the massive field that held home for thousands of people during the weekend. I walked onto the field and heard M.I.A. practicing her set and knew that Karla and I were going to have the best experience ever. Anticipating our first show we sat around with a couple of her friends and talked about coachella and who we wanted to see. An hour passed and we left them to see Ida Maria (this up and coming artist from Sweden), and what a way to start off my weekend she was beyond amazing, her voice is a mixture of Amy Winehouse and Bjork. Then we were off to see Joss Stone, who performed a beautiful set of about 7 songs not to mention that a girl to our left passed out during her set due to lack of the essential H2o. Away from the main stage we ventured off to the tents to see Dr. Dog, a band that is a little bit of folk/alternative rock, and 100% amazing. Besides the constant smell of weed, and yet another girl passing out at Dr. Dog show Coachella was going well. After that we went to see TV on the Radio, to say the least they weren't that spectacular but we didn't let them get the least out of Karla and I! Then came night, where all the headliners were performing back to back beginning with Fleet foxes, Karla and I took it easy and just layed on the cool grass listening to the easy flow folk music of fleet foxes.. boy, were they amazing, their soft and gentle voices along with their simple yet beautiful beats made it a nice rest for the both of us. Then came the big hits, we waited and saw Theivery Corporation a eclectic band with many members from different spheres of life and countries. Waiting we made it to the front of the stage to see M.I.A., who by the way is a performer in her own right. After M.I.A. we saw Jenny lewis, MSTKRFT, as well as many other techno/house artists, Atmosphere, and lastly The killers. What a way to end the night with the Killers, fireworks, music, and dancing into the night. Than came Sunday, we bought a shirt and started the day with the Knux, and off to the tents with Friendly fires (the singer was too cute, his moves, style, voice... everything!) Then it was off to Lupe Fiasco, whom might I add knows how to put on a show. After Lupe we left to see the next big sensation from Sweden lykke li, her voice is soft yet powerful and her style is like none other. After we sat and listened to Peter bjorn and John, and waited for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. We met up with Karla's friends to see the Yeah yeah yeahs and wow i've never experienced such a voice like Karen O's, when 'maps' came on I almost shed a tear. Karen O= perfection, her smirk, style, hair, everything, she's so cool.. and then the show ended. We didn't really want to see anyone else so we walked around for quite some time and said Au revoir to Coachella till next year. 2010 get ready!

Barefoot Beginnings

Hello! Karla here. This is the beginnings of Karla and Sharon's barefoot adventures. Not everything will be done barefoot, but that's just how we started off. Barefoot.

In a time where the weather is scorching hot, the sun blaring on your skin, and your skin sticky from sweat, I think it's time to let loose and just walk barefoot. Live free and get rid of those flip flop tan lines. Or even worse: gladiator tan lines. Which I have, by the way.

My weekend was full of relaxation. Saturday was UCI's Wayzgoose in which I enjoyed a drink out of coconut, which is one of my favorite choice of refreshments. Reminds me of the Philippines, actually. Dressed up very hippie-like as a homage to Coachella. I loved my outfit, I guess you can say. Whoo. Sadly, I couldn't go because it was too expensive, but I am definitely going to save up for next here. There is no way I'm missing out next year! I already regret it. Sharon, my fellow barefoot buddy was fortunate to go. But I'll let her tell her about her Coachella adventure.

You know what I love about the hot weather, though? Being able to go to the beach. Especially studying in the beach. There's something about the beach that is just so relaxing and you feel so free and you're just happy to be alive. It also makes me fortunate that I go to UCI. I guess everything does happy for a reason. I always forget that when certain things happy in my life and I feel sad about it. Studying at the beach is a great release, too. Sunday, I spent my day getting hit by waves and reading philosophy while laying out in the sun. It was a stress-free day that I think that all of us need to take some days in our lives. Veryy nice.

Now, for the story of the whole 'barefoot wonders' thing. Sharon and I were walking to class when all of a sudden, her sandals broke. And we still had a long way to go. Plus, we were going to starbucks. She ended up walking to class barefoot, along with the fact that we were late, but that's okay. So anyway, after class, on the way back to the dorm, I had the idea to walk barefoot with her so that she wasn't alone. And that's how the story goes. In memory of our first barefoot adventure: