In case you were wondering, Frank N. Stein is not a love story. Not that you will ever wonder. But just in case you picked up a copy of NJ artist Edward Dippolito’s grim comic book expecting a heartwarming romance, you will be shot down immediately with the series’ sarcastic tag line. You could just as easily need warning about the terrifying demons that will swirl around the pages. Complete with haunting artwork and surprisingly philosophical questions about life’s scariest battles, Frank N. Stein is definitely a series to keep your eye on.
Frank N. Stein
Red Bamboo: New York City
Could I, a longtime vegetarian, convince full-fledged devoted meat-eaters to try out a vegetarian/vegan restaurant? Sure. You know, once. But could I convince them that the food tasted just like their favorites from a conventional restaurant? That is, admittedly, a much tougher sell. So I decided to put Red Bamboo, my favorite NYU-area eatery, to the test. Its extensive vegan and veggie menu gives me tons of options to enjoy, but it turns out that my carnivorous friends enjoyed the dishes as much as I always do! Vegan-friendly foods aren’t just run-of-the-mill salads and bland boiled veggies — and I have the pics to prove it! Continue Reading »
Manicure Monday: Spring Designs
My manicures are my form of art. Whether through colors or designs, manicures are how I express my style or current mood. I’m not impartial when it comes to my manicures, though – I definitely pick favorites. One of my absolute favorites was my galaxy manicure. On the other hand, there are manicures that aren’t on my list of manicures I’d like to recreate. This is one of them. Read on to hear my rant, list of excuses, and reasons why I know this manicure could actually work.
The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight
Do you believe in fate? Destiny? Love at first sight? For some hopeless romantics out there, these lofty concepts make the endless quest for a “perfect” romance totally worth it. Others among us are probably disillusioned with the hackneyed ways these ideas are talked about. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith puts a fresh spotlight on destiny, changing the way we think about chance encounters. Even the title pokes fun of itself. We can reasonably expect that this book is going to be a feel-good young adult romance novel. But can it possibly be the one we’re used to, when we’re already trying to put a mathematical measurement on abstract emotions? Continue Reading »
Quick listens: Paramore, “Ain’t It Fun” and “Still Into You”
Paramore began as the new kids on the block in 2005 at pop punk superlabel Fueled By Ramen (lead singer Hayley Williams was only 16 when their debut album was released) and have since blown up into one of the biggest bands in the genre. The band has delved into different sounds on their latest self-titled album and “Ain’t It Fun” is a definite testament to that. Check out the crazy catchy (and dare I say funky?) song below and click on to watch the music video for the sweet feel-good “Still Into You”:
Instant Moroccan Summer Vacation: mark. Marrakesh Collection
Whether you go all out with international adventures or enjoy tons of quirky local road trips throughout the season, everyone needs a bit of a summer getaway! I mean, how nice would it be just to pop on over to Morocco for a little sun and exploring? If a trip across the globe isn’t within your reach, mark. has introduced a new way to fake a vacation. With a delightful signature scent that will transport your senses to other worlds, to a glowing bronzer that gives you a faux-glow of a two week vacay, to Moroccan-inspired accessories straight out of the marketplace, the limited edition mark. Marrakesh collection has you covered! Continue Reading »
Loova: Pittsburgh, PA
The weather is getting lovely, but as we’re all happily embracing shorter hemline season, we are starting to remember that it means showing lots of skin! If your legs are anything like mine, they have likely spent the winter months becoming pasty and flaky. I found my skin’s ultimate treat in the form of luxurious bath salts! When I was visiting Pittsburgh last summer, I picked up a trio of scents at Loova, a relaxing bath and body zone where homemade soaps and spa goodies are the norm. Check out why I particularly love their build-your-own bath salt gifts! Continue Reading »
A Beauty Review: Benefit’s They’re Real
There is no secret to the perfect lashes. I’m a firm believer that everyone is different – including your lashes. Some people might need a volumizing mascara, while others might need a lengthening mascara. One mascara might make someone look like they have doll lashes, but it might make someone else look like they’ve got spiders coming out of their eyes (yikes). I love to try out different mascaras and see the different looks I can get. I actually have different mascaras for different occasions, like one for an everyday look and another for a va-va-voom smoky eye. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a mascara junkie – so when I had the chance to review Benefit’s They’re Real, I jumped on it! Continue Reading »
Manicure Monday: Fun with Chevron
Summer is right around the corner, and I’m embracing it with open arms. With the weather warming up, I wanted to celebrate in the best way I know how – a fun summer manicure! Combining bright colors typical of summer with black-and-white that’s so on-trend this season, I created this fun chevron-accented manicure! Want to learn how to get this look yourself? Read on for a few different ways to recreate this fun chevron mani!
The Glitz…The Glamour…The Great Gatsby!
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby was one of my favorite novels in high school. As a fourteen-year-old hopeless romantic, I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of awe for the figure of Gatsby– a man so in love with a woman that he created an entire persona and empire to be near that woman…to finally win her affection and make her his wife. I also remember having an equally powerful dislike for Tom and Daisy. Figures whom Nick Carroway so justly describes as a “careless people, Tom and Daisy– [who] smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 188).
The Collabor-eight 