I buy my music. It is something I have realized is a moral thing to do and it keeps my computer free from viruses. I usually download music from iTunes. I am a “poor student” and do not have a ton of money to buy full albums all the time (my last purchase was Britney Spears’ Blackout, what was I thinking??). So when I find free music it is very exciting. Sometimes iTunes has a good free single of the week, but it seems really rare that it is worth the memory it takes up on the computer.

So when I find good free music, it is exciting. Until May 6 you can download Coldplay’s song Violet Hill from their upcoming album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends for free

The entire album will be released June 17.

I am still waiting for it to arrive in my inbox.. Hopefully it will arrive soon.

And for all you vinyl lovers: N.M.E. magazine is giving away a free limited edition 7″ vinyl single CDs of Violet Hill and A Spell a Rebel Yell in their May 7 issue. It is a UK magazine, but maybe they carry it in bookstores here?

UPDATE: I have not received the e-mail yet!

UPDATE 2: I received the song. I tried a different e-mail address. Listening to it right now, sounds awesome.

I love this bathing suit. And the cap that goes with it. I searched the internet, but couldn’t find any knock offs for sale…

Though white isn’t really practical for bathing suits.

..But.. it shows modesty can be hot!!

I have two papers due next Friday (the 25th). One is a 12-14 page paper for my 500-level Contemporary Shakespeare Adaptations class. The second is a 5 page take-home final for my International Literature class. This is pretty slack compared to past semester end’s and is incredibly slack compared to a lot of other people who are different classes who have more exams and papers than I do. And as much as researching, thinking and writing should be #1on my list of priorities, I know that I will do a lot of procrastinating and I know I’m not alone. I also have a massage booked on Wednesday morning.

I will probably spend a lot of time on Facebook, a lot of time sleeping in, a lot of time watching useless TV, maybe I’ll blog a bit and a lot of time playing silly little games.

Here is a random smattering of games you may find me on:

DOWLOADABLE TIME MANAGEMENT GAMES:

I love time management games. I have even shelled out the $20.00 to buy them to own a couple of times after the one hour time limit has expired.

Jane’s Hotel Family Hero looks pretty cute.

This is the best time management game I’ve ever played. It is cartoon sitcom/game. And it incredibly funny. And there is a ton of variety. Incredibly addictive.

POINT-AND-CLICK GAMES:

Really cute and short. Help Anika save her bunny. Good for a short break.

Samorost. Very artsy. I’ve only spent a little bit of time on it so far. I’m saving it for a much needed break later on.

WORD GAMES:

Scramble is a Facebook application game where you compete to find more words on the board than your competitor. Spread the procrastination around and challenge your fellow students.

Improve your vocabulary and for every word you get right, Free Rice donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Programme to help end hunger! Procrastinate and feel good about it and help feed the world’s hungry! Feeding the hungry is arguably of greater importance than writing a paper or studying.

Another way to contribute to the UN World Food Programme more directly is through their “Fill the Cup” Program. Just 25 US cents fills “one of the “Red Cups” that the World Food Programme uses to give hungry children a regular school meal of porridge, rice or beans. US$15 would feed 10 children for a week.”

I love this song! I finally figured out that it is by The Cranberries. That took me sooo many years to figure it out after listening to it on the radio.

It reminds of summer for some reason. Maybe radio stations usually play it in the summer. I cannot wait until summer. I’m taking 5 awesome courses in order to finish my degree (Art History 201, History of Broadway Musicals, Contemporary History, Sociology of Gender, and Photography). I’ve decided not to work, so summer also promises lots of possibilities for hiking, camping, trips to the beach, biking, bbqs, parties around fire pits, and summer love.

Dr. Weil’s Favourite Ginger-Carrot Soup

Ingredients:

-3 cups sliced carrots

-1 medium sliced potato

-8 cups vegetable stock

-2 tsp. canola oil

-1 medium chopped onion

-3 tbs. finely chopped fresh ginger

Directions:

-Put carrots, potato, and stock in pot

-Bring to a boil

-Cover and reduce heat

-Cook for 30-45 minutes

-Heat oil in skillet

-Saute onion and ginger until onion is translucent, then add to pot

-Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and boil gently until the vegetables are tender, about 30-45 minutes.

- Purée the soup in batches in a blender or food processor.

mmm good!

I love the colour green. It remind me of summer’s green grass; spinach, peas in the pod, lettuce and other yummy green vegetables; and green lights. It signals healthy to me.

I have been seeing a lot of people on campus with green smoothies from Jugo Juice. So I just asked for one of those green smoothies, not even knowing what it was. The girl in front of me told me it was good.

Turns out it is the Mighty Matcha Smoothie. And I just wanted to let you know that if you love Matcha, you should definitely order up one of those green smoothies.

The ingredients are: Matcha green tea, soy milk, low-fat frozen yogurt & non-fat milk. I think it just goes to show that green is always a swell choice when it comes to food.

^ Look what I found written on an ugly bathroom stall door yesterday.

It encouraged me and brightened my day. I hadn’t cared to put on any make-up that morning (I was just attending class, and there is no one to impress) and that always leaves me feeling rather dowdy. But reading that changed my perspective on how I looked.

There is something about sincerely told that “you look beautiful” or “you are looking good today” that just makes me feel beautiful.

For all the girls and women out there, I just wanted you to know that that message is as much for you as it is for me.

I hope you feel beautiful today. Regardless of the make-up that is or isn’t on your face; despite where your clothes are from (whether it was BCBG Max Azria, Jacob, Walmart, the Thrift Store); regardless any imperfections (acne, scars, wrinkles); and regardless of how well your body and face does or doesn’t meet societies unrealistic standards of “attractiveness.”

I truly believe their is goodness in us all. I also believe there is beauty in the inside and on the outside of all of us.

If you hear something often enough you start to believe it. Good or bad. When you see yourself in the mirror, stop constantly picking out your imperfections. Try accepting compliments when they are given to you, instead of brushing them off. Try telling yourself “I am beautiful.”

Just try it.