Now this is what I am talkin' about!

OMFG

I have four words for you:

Live.

Streaming.

Puppy.

Camera.

This will change your life. If you are me. And you don't have one.



Is it weird that I only post about dogs? I think so.

To all you Crocs Haters out there . . .

You have clearly never worn Crocs before. Because if you have ever worn them- to work, to chill, post work-out, on a quick bagel run, or whatever- you would know that they are the most convenient, most comfy shoes in the land.

On an unrelated note- plain soy milk is disgusting. Vanilla is much better. I'm just sayin'.

"Now, what we've got here is a failure to communicate."

Paul Newman was a babe. Even his sketch on my balsamic vinaigrette is smoking hot. And what better way to live the pura vida than to slap your photo on some organic salad dressing? No way at all, I say. Paul Newman was down with la pura vida in major ways. To honor that, I suggest you go Netflix yourself my favorite Paul Newman flick, Cool Hand Luke.

Now there is a guy who knows about la pura vida. I mean, he eats 50 eggs. He speaks in a low, even drawl. He cuts the heads off parking meters. Also, he's a BABE! Sha-wing!

When I was in high school, I loved staying home on a Friday night (popular gal that I was) and watching this movie. It's so good it almost makes you want to be imprisoned with a 1940's southern chain gang, so you can say things like, "Takin' it off here, boss?" Also, so you can, preferably, have inmates that look like him. Pura vida, indeed.

Chicago 2008. Labor Day Weekend. from Kyle S on Vimeo.

Also, why have I been sitting on this for the past two months? This album is INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dogs: The Perfect Chillin' Accessory for the Modern Woman.

I have noticed, through astute observation, that many of the posts here on HMPV are seasonal or weather-related. In order to break this trend of ephemerally-relevant topics, I think we need to discuss a universal asset of chillin’ that transcends boundaries of time and space: the dog.

As an example, I will use my dog, Franklin Fachento, to illustrate the finer points of Chillin With The Pooch, although I know many of you can relate to this overlooked topic (insert shout out to Jeffrey here).

Franklin is a great companion for chillaxin, as illustrated below:

Don't have a bed? No problem. Dogs will sleep anywhere.

Don't have a Petsmart within 2,000 miles? That's cool; dogs will chew on palm fronds (or other location-appropriate branch):

Bored? Living in the third world without a television and need some at-home theater entertainment? Dog will help put on a show!

Finally, and most importantly, tired from all that chillin'? It's naptime. With the dog.


Dogs: The Perfect Chillin' Accessory for the Modern Woman.

Toodleloo, summer. It's been real.

This post is borderline irrelevant, since summer is almost over, but we have at least a month of hot weather left and I'd like to note some ways to stay "chill" (get it?).

1) The city pool. Words can't describe how much time I've spent at the pool this summer. There is something very old-fashioned about a city pool, especially in Pittsburgh. For one, it costs, like, two cents to get in. Once there, it's just you, a snack bar on wheels, a towel, and the lifeguards that range from age 14 to 52 (though all of them will hit on you). It's also great for people-watching. My Pittsburgh BFF Kelly and I have seen all walks of life these last months: a man with elephantiasis, a mother telling her young son, "Fuck you," and a pot-bellied snack bar worker who tried in vain to convince me to buy a funnel cake by saying, "Nice and round, nine inch ones. Good round funnel cakes," as though the roundness was particularly unique and appealing.


2) Popsicles. Need I say more? I mean, I will, but I don't think I need to. Fruit flavored. Icy. Ideally from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. Low calorie. All around keep-cool deliciousness.




3) Good tunes are cuh-RUCIAL for summer chilling. I've been going through a Neil Young phase this summer, but other diddies include:

Matt Pond PA - "New Hampshire"
The Microphones - "I Felt Your Shape"
The New Pornographers - Challengers
Bonnie "Prince" Billy (I saw him live with his brother Ned Oldham and they were incredible)
The Four Tops - "Walk Away Renee."


I'm not saying you need these tunes in particular to have a good last month of summer, but I am saying you're probably retarded if you don't like them.

Happy Pura Vida,
Smashleigh

CT, Wheat Tortillas, and 24.

Times are hard here at HMPV. Nobody blogs anymore. I guess we are all just so busy chilling that we don't have time to blog about chilling. Funny how that happens.

Here is the deal, folks.

I challenge all people that live la pura vida to post a blog. It can be about anything your heart desires. For instance, I love baklava and I ate a ton of it this week. If I wanted to, I could tell you more about it . . . in a post! But I will wait and put baklava in a decadent dessert post- coming soon! Let's talk about my favorite subject:

The Cocteau Twins.

Right now, I am supposed to be working on med school applications. Snoozefest! You know what gets me through it? Elizabeth Fraser's voice. Her ethereal voice and CT's hypnotic melodies are the perfect background music for productivity.

In fact, I have cherry-coloured funk and ella megalast burls forever on my "being productive" mix. Dig it.

Moving on, I just wanted to talk about wheat tortillas. I always eat them! I buy the high fiber ones and lather them with guac or mayo. Then I stuff them with delicious veggies or scrambled eggs. For some reason, I feel like I am being "healthier" by stuffing my face with tortillas instead of pillowy white bread.

Also, I just finished season 1 of 24!! So tight. Except for Terry, she sucks. For anybody who hasn't seen 24, you don't know JACK. For reals, go stream that shizzy off surfthechannel.com.

Yello.

Dudes,

I don't have cable anymore. Let the blogging begin!

Love,
Kiks

How to Chill:

1. Fly to Orlando, FL.

2. Rent Ford Focus. Drive Focus to Winter Haven.

3. Chill the eff out at Indians Spring Training.

4. Hit up the Billy Bones attached to the local Ho Jo.

5. Pony keg party in the hotel room for the Duke-UNC game.

6. Get photo with Casey.

Lesson Over.

Hanes My Way

Many moons ago, I realized that not only are white men's undershirts hot as shit when men wear them, they are hot as shit when WOMEN wear them. But finding the perfectly fitting, snug-but-not-too-tight, not-too-thin (and therefore see-through), not too stretchy-outty white men's t-shirt can put a girl in quite a pickle.

Friends, look no further.

Hanes V-Neck Premium Comfort Soft white t-shirts are the MFing HOLY GRAIL of white t-shirts. Soft. Snug. Well-fitting in the female shoulders, which by nature are, of course, much daintier and delicate than the big strong men usually purchasing things. It's as if these things were made for women, and accidentally marketed for men. Pair them with a cute summery skirt and you'll charm the pants off male babes with your casual "I didn't try too hard and still I'm smoking hot as fuck" look.

Furthermore, I guarantee you wear a size small in these babies (unless you're into over-sized t-shirts, which I am not, and which you shouldn't be, either). Just buying a fresh pack of three (only ten bucks) Target today made me feel like an itsy bitsy little baby girl, the slimmest in the land.

Quick Q.

Maybe its the kilograms of salt I eat everyday, maybe it is my ability to replace water with soda- whatever the reason, my adorable face is not so adorable in the morning.




Why? Because it is swollen, puffy and beyond recognition.




Usually, I try not to fix the marshmallow on top of my neck and just wait for it to deflate by lunchtime.

But, Time, she is up.

This morning I attempted to treat my face as one would treat a sprained ankle:




RICE. Rest. Ice. Compress. Elevate.



Well, I didn't really elevate my face, but I did lie down on the couch and pressed ziploc bags of ice on my face.



So here is my Q: Does anyone know how to depuff a morning face? In a timely fashion?

Thanks,

Kiks

So I haven't posted in awhile. Because I have been been so busy. Sike! I have been chillaxing per usual! Regardless, there is some really dope stuff I just have to blog about.

Bread Pudding.

"Ooey Gooey" Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding to be exact. This artery clogging, carb laden treat is perfection in an 8 x 8 pan. Guests will be amazed at the "Artie's" dessert menu taste and melted chocolatey presentation- and surprised when you tell them how easy it is to make! Hopefully, the rich decadence of the pudding won't give them the 'rhea like Artie's desserts.

Here is the recipe:

2 large eggs at room temperature
2 1/4 cups whole milk (I mixed whole, 2% and cream to make 2 &1/4 cup)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
5 cups cubed or torn stale white bread (I used a stale french baguette)
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

Heat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together the eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Add the bread and stir gently until all of it is fully covered with the egg mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 8- by 8-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean and the pudding is lightly browned and puffed up on the edges.

To add a little panache- I served it with freshly whipped cream.

Apes and Androids.

Their album "Blood Moon" is pretty tight. Electronic, rock, pop perfection. To start off, one should listen to "Nights of the Week". "Radio" is great. Listening to the album makes me want to put on a cute-ass outfit, drink some light beer, and dance the night away.

http://apesandandroids.com/

Baby Powder.

I wish I knew about the multiple uses of this sweet smelling powder in college. I would have saved myself from ugly hair, smokey smelling clothes, and un-presentable days.

I live by the "only wash your hair every other day" motto. This means my hair is sometimes slick with a day 2 sheen. Enter baby powder. Just throw a handful on your scalp and let the powder get to work. Before you know it your hair will look as fresh as day 1 and NOT GREASY. Seriously, I should have been doing this in high school- when a good day was throwing on sweats and a colorful kerchief to cover my oily rat's nest of a scalp. Also, it miraculously blends well with my mousy brown hair.

Note: Blonde hair is still the easiest color to work with when you feel like powdering the wig.

You can also sprinkle BP on smokey clothes for a quick fix before a night on the town. This function also works when you apply it to the whole body. Basically, BP is never a bad idea before going out- whether it is hair, clothes, or bod.

Okay, I am off to bed- but plz plz plz at least listen to "Nights of the Week" and eat bread pudding. I understand if you don't want to powder your wig. The Apes and Androids stuff is really great and accessible. It isn't at all like the Cocteau Twins which I usually shove down my friends' throats.