I think I'll go to Austin

While I really do love Kansas City, and it actually does have it's very own special hipster factor, there are a few cities I DREAM of living in because of their undeniable, gigantor hipness. Austin, TX is one of those.

Not only is there a great music (Austin City Limits, hello ?) and art scene, but there are tons of little quirky things to explore.

I discovered The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema while browsing all things Austin on the web the other day, and I think I'm in love. Let me lay this out for you...it's both a sweet, arthouse movie theater, AND a restaurant where you can eat during the movie. The downtown, or Alamo Ritz, location (as there are several) in particular seems to have a lot of cool, and often themed, stuff going on.

The thing that won me over completely, is that on select Saturday mornings they host a SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON CEREAL PARTY. Your ten dollar ticket buys you 2.5 hours of classic 80's cartoon viewing (we're talking Ghostbusters, She-Ra, ThunderCats, and Care Bears) AAAAAANNND ALL YOU CAN EAT OF 50 KINDS OF CEREAL!! Mmmmm.... *sigh*

Heaven, thy name is Alamo...


(Photos courtesy Katie Spence and Pacfolly)

The Stuff that Dreams Are Made Of....

...is apparently beef and cheese on a toasty bun. Do not adjust your computer screen. This is actually exactly what it looks like, and yes, it's real.

The Hamburger Bed's owner and creator, Kayla Kromer of Austin, Texas made it in honor of her favorite food. On The Hamburger Bed facebook page (yes, it has one), Kromer says that the bed was inspired by her love of burgers, and the movie Hamburger. It measures eight feet in diameter and is three feet high and features lettuce sheets, a cheese quilt, and pickle and tomato pillows. Kromer also say that "It is the most comfortable bed I have ever owned... ever."

I'm sure it is.

Discriminatory Snacker

There comes a time in every office worker's life when he or she finds themselves in need of a between meals pick-me-up. I usually try to plan ahead and have healthy stuff on hand for just such an emergency. Still, there are days when I find myself with a rumbly tummy, no go-to's in stock, and a pocket full of quarters. This is dangerous, friends.

I make my way upstairs to the dreaded vending machine, knowing already what will happen. I scan quickly and punch in the same number as always, watch the crunchy foil bag drop, and claim my prize.

I'm going to make a confession. I am a snack discriminator. Hostess Cupcakes?...cute, but come on, that frosting is pretty gross. Chips? Too much salt. Those 'real juice' gummies? Fail...try again. I can think of a reason that every brightly packaged snack staring out of the glowing vending machine is a bad choice...that is, except for my beloved Mini Chips Ahoy. I'm not going to claim their healthiness above others, or wholesome ingredients. We all know they're chock full of all kinds of refined garbage and sugar like the rest, but for some reason they have a special place in my heart. Oh, how I love that little blue bag, and nothing else will ever do it for me quite the same :) (photo courtesy jaac. )

The Audacity of Soap?

I'm all about some good bar soap. However, I found a new product today that, while I'm sure it serves it's purpose well, I'm a little hesitant about.

The product in question: The Obama Bar. You heard me right, there is a bath bar in honor of our 44th president. True, I giggled a bit at slogans for the different scents like "United We Scrub!" and "Cleans Lipstick Off a Pig!!" I'm all about the natural ingredients and supporting worthwhile charities, but not sure I'm entirely comfortable with producers commercializing our nation's leader in this way.
Not to come down singly on the Obama Bar people too hard (because frankly your marketing is pretty genius and your product seems pretty wholesome), but I think we may be getting a bit numbed by the huge fascination with celebrities and public figures. After all, this isn't a tarty pop star, or hot young actor we're selling, but a man we've entrusted with the future of our country. I just have to think, today it may be harmless soap, but where will his image be used next?

Gone are the days of reverent respect for our elected leaders, and frankly that makes me a little bit sad. True, some of our leaders could conduct themselves in ways more fitting of high level decision makers, but do any past or present deserve to be plastered on less than flattering greeting cards, made into dog toys, or molded into cheap Halloween masks? At what point are first family members unfairly dragged into the frenzy?

Maybe some use the image as a way of paying homage rather than mockery, but I feel like the line there is so fine and easily crossed that it should probably just be left alone to begin with.

A Bloody Good Time

Along with a few people from my work, the BF and I made our way down to Municipal Auditorium this past Saturday to check out our very first roller derby match at the KC Roller Warriors season opener. We were most definitely not disappointed.

It was a really good time, and though it was definitely full contact, it was not as rough as I had thought. After about three matches we really started catching on to the rules and loved it.

For those of you visually oriented like me, this fab little illustration found on the website explains it all:

This would have been helpful to know beforehand (since we couldn't hear the announcer's explanation for the echo), but we eventually caught on. Anyway, it was well worth the money and I highly suggest checking it out if you ever get the opportunity.

It was definitely fast paced, exciting, and overall everyone was very down-to-earth and seemed to really enjoy themselves. Most of the ladies have day jobs and do it simply for love of the sport. Refreshing considering the attitudes of many athletes today.

Despite the edgy reputation, we didn't see any blood, biting, or punches thrown (that I could tell) but there were plenty of rowdy spills and blocks. I'm sure a few KC ladies are sporting some pretty sweet bruises this week.

Not going to lie, I'm kinda intrigued, and kinda want to do it. Next tryouts are in the fall sometime. Looks like I need to brush up on my quad-skating abilities :)

(photos courtesy basurablancaphoto)

Life in Technicolor ii

Just when I think I couldn't love Coldplay more...

Love Update

Good news! I Love You More Than ________ (that I posted about last week) has been so popular, they've had to move to accomodate all the love!! You can now find them here.

Go visit their new digs, and don't forget to share the love.