"Team Ugly Brown Dress"

Because of my lack of sleep, I fell asleep watching the new episode of Project Runway last night (Asleep?! During Runway?!? Impossible!!). I was so disappointed in myself, but I watched the rerun this morning, with no knowledge whatsoever of what had happened, therefore I was very much so on the edge of the sofa.

The episode began with Suede waking up and talking about 'Suede' again. (Go figure) This guy seriously needs to stop speaking in third person. It's getting a little 'psycho-narcissist' and downright annoying. And I'm not the only one complaining of his annoyance and tacky wardrobe, seems like the other designers are as well.

Moving on to the challenge, the designers had to design a cocktail dress using 'green' ( environmentally-friendly, not the actual color) fabrics. The designers got very excited, until they were informed that their MODELS would be picking out the fabrics needed for the design. Models. It's bound to be a disaster, no? Well, I guessed right. It was painful watching the models running around with no knowledge of coordinating colors...or even just colors whatsoever. Some models picked the same fabrics (including that ghastly brown that would lead to a painful bottom two) and hot pink jersey (jersey?!? for a COCKTAIL DRESS?!) Honestly, these girls had no idea what they were doing. And not only that, they didn't get enough fabric, which resulted in some horridly short minidresses. I could feel the designers's pain as they watched the models take out the fabrics out of the MOOD bags.

The designers continued on with their work, and many were stuck and not confident with their ability to make it work. There was the stint of Stella babbling on about how she wants to make everything out of leather. Although I thought that it was right for Jerry to be eliminated in the last challenge, hers was just god awful. I personally just don't see her making it very far in this competition from what I've seen. Where is the innovation and creativity if garments must be made of animal skin? Why not expand a little further and create something out of your realm and try to 'wow' the judges? After all, they are going to get mighty bored of 'leather leather leather', especially that nitpicky Nina Garcia. If she's just going to complain that she can't use leather for ONE measly challenge, why on earth is she on Project Runway? I'm not a fan of Stella whatsoever, and she's starting to get on my nerves.

The next day the designers sent their creations down the runway for the panel of judges, which included the gorgeous, talent actress (and my idol) Natalie Portman. When I saw her come out I squealed with joy along with the other designers. Finally, a decent guest judge! I'm pleased to see her, and it was fitting that she would guest judge at this certain challenge, for she had just released her line of Vegan shoes with Te Casan. I never thought that a low-key star like her would appear in a rather popular reality-TV show, but apparently it's one her favorite shows! Something else we have in common besides being fans of Beirut...

Anyways, I'll cut some of the lullagag. The top three:

My personal favorite was Kenley's dress (Go figure). I thought it was so brilliantly chic and flattered the model perfectly, and the collar was very Victorian-esque yet edgy.


To my surprise, STELLA was in the top three with this number. Nina, why on earth do you like it? I personally thought that this dress was not top three material. To me, this dress was tacky and the shortness along with the sheen was just not 'classy'. The silhouette is lackluster, it could have been more subtle and not try to purposely scream 'hardcore leather lady'.


Please someone amuse me with why why why this won the challenge? Suede's cocktail dress was too sloppy, in my honest opinion. I don't understand how the judges liked this mess. The bust was just too much and it just looked altogether...very odd. Like he just ran some masking tape around her front. Ugh, it's atrocious.

Bottom Three:


Korto's dress had a lovely top bust, but those seams look like it is inside out. The model resembles a golden rocket, and not in a good way. In my opinion, probably the worst of the top three.

Perhaps the fault comes from the choice of color (dumb model), but the loops on the shoulder and the back are just overkill. I can understand that LeAnne wanted to approach this being more edgy and mod, but sometimes less is more if you do it correctly.


To my dismay, this is the dress that got Wesley sent home. Yes, the adorable, questionable-shorts-wearing guy with the cute smile.** He was one of my favorites and he is a talented designer, and it's not fair that the model's choice of fabric and lack of yardage got him sent home. Because really, the silhouette wasn't horrendous. It's the matter of the fabric, which did not compliment the shortness and luster of the dress. I couldn't believe my ears when Nina Garcia said that the shortness, shine, and something else (frankly I can't remember, I was still fuming over the decision) makes a 'cheap' dress. I'm sorry, Ms. Garcia, but Stella's was NOT very classy. Hell, half of the dresses were much shorter than Wesley's. I'll admit, the seams looked sloppy, but you can tell that he really put some detail and thought into it and tried his best., such as the bow at the top of the dress. The judges accused him of being too 'ambitious'. And being 'safe' is just fine, right guys? *Rolls eyes*

This was by far one of the most disappointing Project Runway episodes in a long time, if not ever. It's incredulous that such utter crap like Suede's dress gets higher acknowledgments than Kenley's, while Korto's oddball insideout jumbo is safe, while Wesley's is auf-ed. The problem of that dress was the seams, which is the result of the fabric. The shortness was the length of any minidress out there. I'm highly disappointed in the ridiculous judging so far, and I have a feeling that the show might be going downhill. It's sad that for a great show like Project Runway, it seems that drama and personality overkill win over true potential. I'm still mourning over Wesley's loss, and I do wish that he has a second chance at becoming a designer, for he deserves it.

**Yes, I do realize that he's gay. But don't stomp on my heterosexual Wesley dreams, alright? I already know that I have a tendency to fall for non-flamboyant gay guys (i.e. Daniel V. from season 2, among others I'm embarrassed to mention).

Cooking with Jenny Crocker: Crepes

Yes, a new segment. From now on, all food and cooking-related posts will be called 'Cooking with Jenny Crocker'. Not the most creative, but it gets to the point. So I was in such a French mood today that I decided that I would at least make some delicious French crepes. I remember last year I used to always make different variations of crepes, and it's ashame I haven't made that many this year. The recipe was quite easy, though I expected more batter out of the ingredients. Anyways, they turned out rather well, and I cut up some strawberries and whipped up my own whipping cream. To my disappointment we don't have any Nutella in our house at the moment, so I had to suffice with a dark chocolate sauce. The crepes still tasted delicious and enjoyable. A perfect dessert with a nice cup of herbal lemon tea and listening to the Amelie soundtrack. Ah, vive la France.

Meet Patinho, the Portuguese Duck.

Even now at the ripe old age of 16, I still have a soft partiality towards stuffed animals. They are so adorable, hugable, and innocent, and they bring me back to my days of youth when there were no worries and full of happiness.

I got Patinho last Easter as a present. He's so cute and squishy and he sits on my bed everyday. Sometimes when I'm bored I throw him up in the air or hold him while I'm reading a book. As dorky as it sounds, it really is comforting when I hold him. And crazily enough, it's almost as if he's my own little tot himself.

You might wonder how to pronounce his name, since it's in Portuguese. It's not difficult really, it's basically pat-een-yo. Just like anything else that I have to name, the origin of Patinho's name comes from an odd, long train of thoughts upon getting him. Since he's a duck, I thought of 'duck' in Spanish, which is 'pato'. That reminded me of the Brazilian young football player with the same name, which then took me to Portugal, since Brazilians speak Portuguese. And since he's a small little ducky, I thought of the word ducky in Portuguese, which is 'patinho'. All these thoughts that popped into my head were stringed together to bring me to the conclusion of his name. And voila! That's my little stuffed Patinho.

Isn't he adorable? I don't usually keep stuffed animals on my bed, but he's one sole exception. I know you are probably thinking, "is she six or sixteen?" Hehe well there are many things that I grow out of, like clothes and boy bands, however I don't think I can give up on little Patinho anytime soon. After all, everyone needs a little bit of youth in them, no?

Young Guns, Pretty Snapshots, and Unemployment

Happy Weekend my fellow readers, hope you all had a splendid couple of days. I started off Saturday with a nice early start, waking up at 9 in the morning so I could be prepared to watch the Arsenal friendly against Barnet. Even though the match wasn't supposed to start until 10, I could not find the heart to sleep for another few minutes, despite being incredibly tired from staying up until 3 in the morning reading The Count of Monte Cristo. Last night I actually had a dream that there was no live stream for the match and I was extremely upset! Yes, it's that important to me, and yes, I am a dork. Anyways, I was relieved to find a working stream, and even tuned in early to catch the pregame show. I was squeeing in excitement as the match began, it was so heart-warming to see my red-and-white army once again.


Despite having some first team players in the starting 11, Arsenal were lackluster compared to the Division 2 team, who bagged the first goal of the match. I wanted to slap the computer screen because of Bendtner's screw ups. And although Theo Walcott was not of 'super-sub' quality as he was last season, I can't get too upset with him. By halftime it was one-nil to Barnet. In the second half, Arsenal's starting 11 got a major spin, with changes to all eleven positions. Basically, the reserve team was playing now. And I must say, despite being extremely young, they very much so impressed me with their determination and footwork. In fact, they were more entertaining and consistent than the first half. Though it could just be because they are used to playing with each other; the first half consisted of a mix of first teamers, new faces, and reserves. Many, including Jack Wilshere and Jay Simpson were very impressive, and the reserves scored 2 goals in the second half, sealing a win once again. Upon seeing these reserves, I could not contain the teenage fangirl in me and tried to scan the pitch for some possible suitors. After all, they are of my age. And it doesn't hurt to get a head start from the other gunner girls. Speaking of new faces, I must say that Aaron Ramsey's debut as a gunner really wowed me. He's only 17 and has the great potential of starting in several matches this season with the big boys. (He's not too bad on the eyes as well, but that's another story).

After having lunch at my aunt's house...I would later on get the digital camera I had wanted!! I was so shocked, because I didn't think I'd get it so soon. And I felt awful getting it, because my dad said I didn't have to pay him back, even though I should have. -___- I still will anyways, but sometimes my parents kill me with their spontaneous niceness. It's so small and sleek, and I love the pretty pinkish color. I tested out the camera by taking pictures of our new, ethereal garden.





So far I'm very satisfied with the camera, and I would like to thank Chelsea for the recommendation!

Today I did the usual Sunday errands, and I went around asking Starbucks if they had any open positions, but since many stores will be closing, I come home with application still in hand with no store to give it to. Oh, wish for me that I will find a job soon! After my late morning washing up, I got a chance to watch the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, Germany. I got my dose of Formula 1 and it was exciting to watch, though I was disappointed that Lewis Hamilton won again. -___- Until the next race! I'm only starting to get the hang of this sport, so I don't have a surefire favorite yet. Though Ferrari does seem like a decent team. Hopefully with a few more races I'll be able to differentiate the good from the bad. Until then, I have an Arsenal friendly waiting on Tuesday. :]

Potato Snacks and European Adventures

When there is very little for the mind to concentrate on, I can easily get sidetracked in a myriad of thoughts. And as they pile up into that small brain of mine, it gets so cluttered and to be honest, it's hard for me to find the focus and purpose to blog. So I figured, Why don't I just blog my thoughts out? That way, you know that I'm certainly not dead (yet) and that there is in fact many things to keep me going. So without further ado-- here it goes.

1. I cannot stop eating Pringles.


I really shouldn't eat while sitting at the computer. Since I've been working on my stories and reading articles nonstop, I tend to keep food as my company as I type away. And while I feel my writing growing more vast as I finish chapter after chapter, I'm afraid to say that the same could be said about my thighs. The ultimate addictive pleasure? Pringles. Potato or no potato, it doesn't really matter. The fact is that I have been consuming way too many of these cans of goodness, and I seem to not be stopping any time soon. Delicious, yes. But figure-friendly, not so much. But they really are so good and satisfying. Pringle du jour would have to be Ranch, if you are wondering. And $1 a can sales are not helping me cut my cravings either.

2. I miss my Gunners very much.


I am getting way too emotional for my own good. Yes, I am a total crybaby that I cannot handle two months without them, but it feels like years ago that I would wake up early every Saturday morning to watch Arsenal matches. I miss hyped-up-on-prescription-meds-on-the-sidelines Arsene Wenger, Adebayor's lucky hair (don't get me started on those transfer rumors...), Cesc the midfielding extraordinare, Eboue's embarrassingly screwed up dance moves against Derby, hell, even Robin 'My bones are made of glass someone please bubble wrap me thrice' van Persie. Although Euro Cup was enjoyable, I don't think it would ever surpass my never-ending love of Arsenal FC. To make matters worse, the club seems to be going through a massive overhaul, which started with Flamoney Flamini leaving, which then would follow with Hleb and Gilberto (I cried when I found out Gilby was leaving...*sigh* what a classy guy). Luckily tomorrow begins the new season, with a friendly against Barnet FC. I've been squeeing in excitement for about week now, and it's about time. Will I be waking up with the morning sun? Most definitely.

3. Coldplay at the Wachovia Center


I was quite upset that the show was first postponed from June 29th to July 25th, but now that the show is only a week away I am so bloody excited!!!!!!! This is my first ever concert, and I wanted my first concert to be special by seeing my favorite band ever. I can't believe I've gone this far without seeing them live, but now that the time has come I cannot be happier. I wonder how they would work Viva La Vida on the tour, and if it would be different than their talk show performances so far. It would be awesome if they had hired some strings players on the tour, for that would be sheer bliss!! And of course, I want to hear those A Rush of Blood To The Head classics such as In My Place and The Scientist. Perhaps I should bring a ziploc bag with me so I can collect some of that butterfly confetti!!!! Hopefully the show won't disappoint, but something tells me that it's going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life so far.

4. Snapshots on my mind....

I've been using a lackluster, crappy digital camera for some time now, and since there are some new adventures I'll be embarking on this year, I think that it's time for a nicer quality camera. And after checking out some models and asking around, I think I would like to settle with this gem. It takes excellent pictures, is great with audio and video, and is pretty frugal as well! Perfect for me. Not to mention it comes in a variety of pretty hues, me being partial to 'plum'. Hopefully I'll be able to get it before the concert!

5. I need to get my passport renewed ASAP.


If I am to go to Paris and London this Christmas holiday, I really need to get my passport renewed NOW. The thought of it still invalid irks me beyond belief. I really need to make this trip feel more so like reality, because as of now it seems so much like a dream, and it bothers me. Even though my prospects of going are sure.

6. I want to go shopping so bad...


...but I can't. For one, I need to save money. Oh, scratch that, it's not like I even have money. I am pretty much dead broke, having spent my holiday money on other clothes and books. And I just can't plead my parents for money, that's just not right. So, I'm stuck with the drab, humdrum clothes I already own. Internet window shopping doesn't make this longing for new clothes easier either, like this gorgeous Alice + Olivia frock that would probably cost me two months salary.

---

*sigh* Well, I suppose that's better. At least you are up to speed with me now. Anyways, I hope everyone had a lovely Friday (I for one forgot that it was Friday and almost missed The Soup!).

Hopefully I'll have time to inform you all of my ongoings tomorrow!!

A Late Bastille Day Celebration

I apologize for the lack of posts in the past few days, my summer is at an unusual standstill right now. But I'm back with some proof of my tasty creations!

So the 14th, as well as being Loreto's birthday, was Bastille Day! Now if you are not familiar with Bastille Day, it's the French independence day, therefore it's very much so like our 4th of July. Here is some help from my pal Wikipedia:

Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is called Fête Nationale ("National Celebration") in official parlance, or more commonly quatorze juillet ("14 July"). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.


Anyways, it wasn't until 5:30 in the afternoon that I realized it was Bastille Day, and I totally forgot to make something. I wasn't the only one though, for I reminded my mom that it was Bastille Day was today and she appeared to have forgotten as well. Not fit for a French woman! I was quite disappointed with my forgetfulness, so I decided to bake little cupcakes with a homemade whipped cream frosting and topped off with fresh fruit last night. A nice, healthy, light, summery cake! And it came out pretty amazing! The cake was spongy and moist while the cream was not too sweet.


And coincidentally, my family got a package from my grandparents in France yesterday, and I opened it to find French coffee beans and candies galore! I felt so awful getting nice sweets, but they were pretty tasty. I must say, French candy surpasses American sweets by miles. Well, I suppose French anything is better really. *teehee*


How lovely can a Bastille Day celebration be (although belated) even when being across the pond from France! Cakes fit for Marie Antoinette's lavish dinner parties in the summertime with little French carnaval candies to enjoy...all I needed as well were some fireworks sparkling in the sky by the Eiffel Tower.

Fake Tales of San Francisco.

After my first trip to San Francisco two years ago, I could understand why Tony Bennett loved this city so much, hence why he sang that famous song. It is so full of culture and splendor, it is definitely my favorite city on the west coast, far surpassing Los Angeles. When I went to California again earlier this summer, I pleaded with my family to revisit the bay city. And with enough determination, we finally cleared a day to drive to the wonderful city.

It's amazing how San Francisco is so much different than other California cities. Although San Francisco does have similar rolling hills as the rest of the Silicon Valley, the weather was so completely different one the day that we went than in San José. On our drive to the city, we encountered weather like this:


Nice, sunny, blazing hot! But then as we wandered into the city, things took a 'cooler' turn.


Windy, gloomy, and-- to California standards-- COLD! I was fine, but every one of my family members were complaining and nagging. Some of my aunts even stayed in the car as we took pictures outside. I personally liked the weather. I was exhausted of the deathly heat wave, and getting a strong breeze was a nice change. I'm used to cold weather, after all, I am familiar with running around in a tshirt in 40 degree weather. Anyways, the coldness didn't damper my spirits, for the view of the Golden Gate Bridge was stunning and majestic in its classic glory.



To warm up, we went to this seafood restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf. I was so happy, for this was the reason why I really wanted to return to San Francisco:

Clam Chowder served in a bread bowl! I was super excited to be able to relish in its fine taste, and as well as chowder, I order a nice plate of fried calamari.


My day in San Francisco was fabulous, and I'm sorry that this post is a couple of weeks late. :P I highly recommend checking out this city if you ever have the chance!

And if you are curious, this is the restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf:

It's Such a Perfect Day.

So I have finally gotten around to finishing Eat Pray Love tonight, and I must say that it had exceeded my expectations. My hopes of being enlightened with stories of self-love and happiness were fulfilled. And this has conveniently coincided in my life at a perfect time.

During the school year, I had been a very skeptical personality. Skeptical about other people, life, my ambitions, love, the works. And, as other would say, I was rather a pessimist, despite me arguing back that I was merely a realist. But now, I can say that I'm a bigger realist than ever, for now I have a newfound hope that grew inside me during these first few weeks of summer. It took a while at first for me to figure it out, but after some time alone to reflect what I want and what I have, I can truly say that I am a very happy camper.

In the first few days of summer, I thought I had chances of something more. Something new. Something unexplored by the cold heart that was me of which I really was curious to experience.This something, although it was tempting in its potential at happiness, had a catch. And the catch was undeniable heartache in the end. Although I did have hopes, my hopes were diminished after pulling my head down from the clouds, and realizing the truth in the situation. My first my emotions were of desperation. I felt a longing to be elsewhere, somewhere not alone in the mess that was my life. Then anger rushed through me, because I even bothered pursuing this situation. Why hadn't I just sat still, kept my mouth shut and let things go by, just as it had done umpteen times in my life? It wasn't until I came home from California that I realized, you know what? maybe this isn't so bad. Maybe there's something underneath it all...

And that was when I truly understood that there indeed is a silver lining to everything. One looking from outside at my debacle might see me heartbroken, but as a matter of fact, my heart has not beaten with more umph and liveliness than ever before. The silver lining to this was that I finally realized how much my life already had. My life was full of passions and loves that I have full adoration for, whether they be my ambitions or the people in my life. I had a huge love for so many things, as well as a thirst to find more journeys to embark on. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how many things I had going for in my life, things that other people may not be able to claim for themselves. My love and knowledge of eclectic music from all over the world, fashion, food, football, and personal ambition are only the first few. I thought, wow, I know a hell of a lot of random stuff....but that's good! Right? means I'm well-rounded, and perhaps interesting... And these things that I already love, well, I can enjoy them already in my life right now. Although I might not have a heavenly pair of Christian Louboutins or have been to any World Cup match, I feel like the love I have captured though my recent years have been enough to get me through, and perhaps enough to persuade me to venture on and obtain even more parts of it to love. With my ambition, I will one day have those red-soled pumps, and with enough determination and connections, I will one day get to see a World Cup final of epic proportions. That being said, perhaps my love of many things is not my mind telling me what I can't have, but rather a sign that there's so much ahead of me to explore further.

I know my rant about the things I love might sound a little 'Julie-Andrews-in-The-Sound-of-Music', but it makes me realize, why the fuck should I care for something as silly as a possible frilly teenage soul connection, when I have so many things to forward to in life? I should just enjoy what I already have, because I have so much to love and adore and spend my time with. Reading many books, learning about other cultures and exotic things. Those would make me way more content than beating around the bush with my feelings. Furthermore, I have this unbelievable relief and joy that I'm single. Usually I would look at my loneliness as a sign of melancholy reflecting the future, but now, I don't think I could ever be bothered with being single. I personally think it's the greatest way to be when one is maturing and becoming wiser. I should learn about what I want and need on my own, so that extra baggage does not sway me towards a different path than I should follow. As a matter of fact, I suppose it makes sense, for I have a terrible fear of commitments. Even the thought of marriage scares me. So why would I want a relationship now, when I have no want of it in the future? I have the things and people in my life already right now to love, and frankly, I think that's all I need.

Which leads me to saying that although I am happy with my life at the moment, there is absolutely no harm in having a thirst for more. And by more, I mean breaking out of my shell and exploring what the world around me, as well as across the seas, has to offer. I have learned to never let go of little opportunities, because I can surely find a little pleasure in it, and learn something new about myself as well. I realize now what I really want, and I am willing to work for it and am not hesitant to dream about my numerous opportunities waiting for me.

Not even a month into a summer of self-exploration, and what have I learned already? That I can make my own happiness with the little pleasures and wonders that I already have, and that this is only the beginning of what will be an adventurous life, and that I should not be afraid to call the shots for some important life situations. After all, it is my life, I should decide how to get what would fulfill my happiness. Even if I don't succeed, at least I know I have loves that perhaps surpass that want and that are more worth living for. These days, I wake up to the sound of beautiful music and thoughts of potential accomplishments during the day. I feel blissful for no apparent reason. Sure, things are probably the same as it has ever been, yet I can't help but feel so happy and 'in my place' (to quote my favorite band). I have never felt this way before in my life, and although it was kind of scaring me, I quite enjoy my independence and happiness.

What's in store for me for the rest of the summer? Well, if I got this far in just a couple of weeks, imagine how I'd be by September...

Independence Day '08

Hello everyone! I hope you Americans had a splendid fourth of July.

I spent my Independence Day at my parents's friends's house, arriving for lunch. I felt awfully guilty for downing so much food!! All that fillet mignon and shrimp cocktail put me in a bellyful daze. After some scrumptious Italian cake, we all spontaneously decided to go to the nearby orchards and go fruit picking! Although usually I would have passed, for the thought of picking food under the summer heat seemed painstaking, but lately I've been in such high spirits, and I got very excited at the baked concoctions I could make with the fruit I picked. My family and I picked 5 pounds of blueberries, all a beautiful indigo hue and luscious. Sadly, there were slim pickings for the raspberries (no pun intended), so we did not pick any. And it was such ashame, because I was looking forward to those little berries. In fact, they are one of the my favorite fruits ever, surpassing strawberries! If anything, I think that raspberries are strawberrie's classier, more demure cousin. And lastly, we went down to the peach trees and picked some plump white peaches. I was starting to break a few beads of sweat when we were finally finished and ready to get back to the house. After resting for some time we had dinner, and although it was an American holiday yesterday, we had a simple rustic French dinner of salamis, prosciutto, and brie on warm baguettes. Afterwards I had my favorite dessert: fruit tart. Two servings of it to be exact. I'm telling you all, I don't think I've eaten this much in awhile. Yet I did not feel so gross, for everything was delectable and pleasureful. Even the three pound difference on the scales when I came home didn't seem to faze me.

Here are pictures of my pickings:

BYOB

[[photo from bringyourownbag.ca]]

No, I'm not talking about bringing your own bottle of Chardonnay from the cellar, but rather bringing your own bag to the grocery store. I could write a blog about how 'green' America is trying to become these days, but I don't think I can find the heart to talk about ethanol pumping.

Anyways, upon reading about Chelsea's journey through Rotterdam, I was quite impressed with their 'stricter' enforcement of bring-your-own-bag. All the eco-hipsters here have been trying to revive this, but people still ask for the paper or plastic. I think it's quite a nice way to bring home your groceries, and in the end it will save everyone money and resources.

Maybe I won't buy those trendy $30 tote bags, but perhaps I'll get a nice durable one from the craft store, of which I can decorate on my own. I highly doubt my family would jump on the bandwagon, but I suppose I can try. If not, I can always wait until I'm slightly more independent and able to buy my own chips and nutella galore. :]