SPRING WEEKEND + MGMT = Fordham Craziness!

So Fordham has an annual tradition of SPRING WEEKEND, a jam packed weekend containing all the live music, Mr. Softee, and fun college stuff that we are normally deprived of during the rest of the year. And let me tell you, Fordham students get every last drop of fun out of Spring Weekend. And each year it seems to get better! Performances from Ghost Face Killa to Yellow Card have graced the CAB Spring Weekend stage the past few years, and this year it is none other than [everyone's favorite] MGMT. I DIE.
I have loved MGMT since I heard of them almost 3 years ago... the greatest feel good dance music ever. Their single "Electric Feel" I think they had everyone at hello, and the craziest music video too-- think nymphs in the jungle. Amazing.
MGMT also just released their new CD, "Congratulations" that at first listen is a little more tame than their first CD "Oracle Spectacular" but I'm sure is equally as good!! Their singles "Kids" and "Time to Pretend" are faaantastic as well!
That is why everyone is SOO EXCITED for MGMT to hit the stage (hopefully Dean Rodgers doesn't have a heart attack due to all the craziness that will ensue). Be on the look out for lots of neon, bathing suits, and fanny packs, that's my forecast at least :)
SO everyone, ENJOY SPRING WEEKEND 2010 and MGMT!! Here's a preview of the amazingness we're about to experience, their beloved single, "Electric Feel" !!! uhhhh-mazing!

Talk Trends: Friendship Bracelets, yay!

Do you love your friends? I sure do! That's why FRIENDSHIP bracelets are super in this season! The favorite childhood accessory is back! They are so fun and easy to wear and wearing them is like carrying happy thoughts of them with you on your wrist :) There are so many cool and eclectic places to acquire them too. This weekend a friend of mine is coming to town and I'm sure we will be scouring the streets of New York to find some new ones!
I love neon brads with charms, evil eyes, anything sparkling, and mixing metals like silver and gold. There really is NO right or wrong way to wear them. Layer them on-- it seems that more is better this season! Plus they look so great with any outfit because they are colorful and sparkly! Yay! What's coolest about them is that you can find them from anywhere from $1 on the street or at flea markets or a little more pricey (usually for more glitz) and cute boutiques throughout the city!
Here are some of my favorites from the ETTIKA boutique-- shop their website, they have the most amazing designs!!







...now don't you want to go get some?!

Something new.... TIESTO

A friend of mine told me about how she had recently gotten into techno and dance music... and I laughed. Laughed very hard in fact, until she had me listen to what she had been listening to. She explained how she had gone to a dance party the previous weekend in Seattle called "Tiesto," named after the famous world renowned DJ who travels around the country putting on these laser and music shows..
They are PHENOMENAL. Hundreds of colored lasers shoot across the sky while the most electrifying music plays from this little man Tiesto way above the crowd. He does his own music as well as some of the coolest remixes. She said there was so much energy in the room it was amazing! Sooo after that I had to give some of the songs a listen. I didn't like them all, but I liked a lot of them! Super feel good music, upbeat with fun lyrics, definitely something new and worthwhile and perfect for those summer parties.
Check out his artist profile on PANDORA here
And listen to one his most popular songs, "Escape Me" featuring CC Sheffield here:

ALICIA?! Video, Please!

OK, so many, many weeks ago I posted about the highly anticipated Alicia Keys and Beyonce duet "Put It In a Love Song" premiere video which was supposed to be released in MARCH. Not only did I check back several times in March and April, but as we near the end of the month there is still NO word on when the video will be released.
The music video was supposed to premiere mid-March on BET and has been postponed without further notice since then. Not only is the song struggling on the charts because of the lack of video, but other video collabs like Lady Gaga and Beyonce's Telephone have been sky rocketing on the charts because everyone loves the video.
All I can search for are "behind the scenes" and "the making of..." videos! ALICIA, we want to see your new video, please!!! In the meantime, at least check out what we're in for...

[It's an OGRE!] Nail Polish from OPI

Who knew that Shrek was that big of a deal that OPI would want to go and make limited edition SHREK nail polish... but they did! This is just a small limited edition of just 6 colors, but they are sooo fun why not get them all! Chose from "Rumple's Wiggin"- a pretty lavender, What's With the Cattitude?"- a pale blue, "Fiercely Fiona" a light golden hue, "Ogre the Top" bold turquoise, "Funky Dunkey" - (my favorite) a great purple color, or "Who the Shrek Are You?"- the signature Shrek green. All are fairly bright really nicely saturated colors- perfect for the spring and summer neon looks that are so in season!! Order at Amazon.com or most beauty retailers near you!

Talk Trends: Patterns, "shake em up, shake em up!"

I am usually a pretty conservative girl when it comes to patterns.. if I'm wearing a busy print I try to tame it down with simple accessories and a great pair of shoes.. until this season when mixing patterns has become the "IT" thing to do! Mixing animal prints, tribal prints, graphic prints, along with bright bold colors, is the new way to do it! I've seen a ton of spreads in various magazines such as Marie Claire, Elle, and Vogue, all of them are really embracing the new trend!
I love mixing animal prints with bright colors, and using finishing touches like a braided wedge to complete tribal pieces. Animal print (as I've noted before in other "Talk Trends" posts) is going to be THE finishing touch this summer and into fall. Be careful not to get too cray with the mixing and matching-- avoid colors that might clash too much and mixing too many busy prints together. But other than that, have fun and go wild!!

That's my take on how to mix patterns and prints this season, courtesy of polyvore.com!

TOMS Shoes: slippers or life savers?

I first started seeing TOMS Shoes about 2 years ago in smaller upscale shoes stores, like Tani on the upper west side. At first I thought they looked a little funny and didn't know why a pair of [basically] slippers were so expensive. Yea, they were cute little slip-ons for spring and summer, but man at $50-$70 a pop they really thought they were special. Then I realized what TOMS mission statement is: for every pair that we as consumers by, TOMS donates the same pair of shoes to children in developing countries and I was like "awwww ok". That changed my view on these shoes quite a bit.

But recently, amidst natural disasters occurring left and right and poverty still being combated, I'm wondering if TOMS is really living up to the wonderful philanthropic company its been labeled as. A friend pointed out a lot of these problems to me. First of all, the shoes are made outside the U.S. in Argentina, Ethiopia, and China- probably saving a bunch of money in labor and production costs. Second of all, if the shoes are being made for a tiny portion of the price the shoes retail for (around 15 cents compared to on average $60 for retail) it seems that TOMS could afford to donate more than just ONE pair of shoes per child-- why not 2? Yes it is great that retail and philanthropy have joined forces to help others, but are the two forces living up to their full potential? I don't really think so.

But that was just my small rant on the matter. If you want to buy the shoes because they are cute in a kind of relaxed hippy sort of way (a lot of TOMS shoes are "vegan") and because they come in a variety of prints, colors, and glitter assortments, then by all means, indulge. BUT, if you are buying them as a means of philanthropic contribution on your part, maybe think again if there is a better, more effective way, to help people in other countries. That is all :)

Last but not least, if you want to shop the website and learn more about the company click here for TOMS website!