In Recent News... 04/02/2013

How often do you read the news?

I have to admit that before I started working in broadcasting, I read the newspaper very little, and watched the news even less, mostly because I was so busy reading blogs. After starting my new job, I am always knee deep in newspapers and the news is like white noise to me. I thought I'd start doing a little run down of interesting news bits that have been going on so you don't have to skim the papers yourself.

Please note that this isn't intended to spark any debates and I am not saying that any opinions that I express are the ones that you should have. I just want to curate the news so it's more palatable to you. BUT I make mistakes. If you see an error, please kindly let me know in the comments!

North Korea
why you should care: The US has never been on good terms with the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), but things are starting to get seriously heated as shown by this headline: "North Korea Eclipses Iran as Nuclear-Arms Threat." Even the new Pope, Pope Francis I addressed this issue in his Easter speech.

• This weekend Kim Jong-un signed approval to send missiles to the US (HI as well as the mainland)
• Just today, they are re-starting a nuclear reactor to increase their capacity to create nuclear weaponry.  This reactor was deactivated in 2007 as part of a nuclear disarmament treaty. 
• Also today, the US moved an Aegis-grade naval vessel closer to North Korea from where it was stationed in Japan to closer monitor North Korea and to be able to intercept any missiles.

ATT (Arms Trade Treaty)

why you should care: Because constant global conflict continues to drive people out of their homes, to kill the innocent, and bring corruption to many parts of the world. It also applies to the US and the ability for US citizens to purchase assault weapons (the NRA is not happy about this). 

• This UN treaty puts restrictions on the multi-billion dollar international weapons trade in an attempt to decrease the accessibility of assault weapons to 
• Iran, North Korea & Syria do not support the ATT, while the rest of the UN member nations passed it unanimously.  

Oil Spills
why you should care: We all consume a historically high amount of oil. Even the most eco-conscious person out there. It's so ingrained into our systems that we can't avoid it- yet. Putting aside the fact that we are depleting non-renewable energy sources at an alarming rate, oil spills are detrimental to the environment. Think it's a localized problem? Think again. The ocean gets around. Remember all that garbage that's washing up on the west coast from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan? Oil is much lighter than that.

• Just a couple days ago there was an oil spill in Arkansas.
• Remember the BP oil spill? That's still not taken care of. It's still affecting the environment (including wildlife!)

Violence Against Women

why you should care: Gender equality still does not exist. That means that half of the world's population is being discriminated against. For something they can't control. 

• Tourist from the US is gang raped while her bf is handcuffed and beaten in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• A huge spread in the NYT told a story of an Afghan father who agreed to trade his daughter as a child bride in order to settle debts. The word "bride" in this case simply means that she legally belongs to the family.
• North Korea's King Jong-un made a gender-based bash on new South Korean President Park

Fun News

why you should care: Because smiling is also a part of life. 

• The White House's April Fool's prank
• Orphaned baby polar bear taken to zoo in Alaska (It's sad, but the bear is ADORABLE.)
• How one company is empowering women through accessories (Okay, this is shameless self promotion, but it's still a cool company and you should read it.)

Bridesmaid Adventures | Bachelorette Party

So I'd mentioned previously that I'm in the middle of planning a bachelorette party to....

VEGAS!

photo by Allen McGregor

I've never been there and my knowledge of it is quite limited. So far I have...

• It's in the middle of a desert
• That's where the NomadGrad is from
• Necessities: Swimsuit, sunblock, dress for clubbing
• Also I hear there are shows? 

Thankfully, Vegas appears to be pretty jam packed with things to do so we're going to wing most of it. And really, it's going to be all about celebrate my friend getting married with the girls from my sorority for the weekend. 

Some ideas that have been suggested so far include:

• Taking a pole dancing class
• Going to watch the Thunder from Down Under- In fact, one of the girls just went to this on a girl's night out and said it was a really good time. 
• Renting a cabana near the pool
• Shopping at the outlets
• Wandering through all the hotels

Have you been to Vegas before? What did you enjoy doing?

Any suggestions??

Bridesmaid Adventures: Pinterest

via

I'm far from getting married, so it's really fun to be able to be a part of my friend's wedding. Unfortunately, being on opposite coasts of the US, it's hard to be actively involved. Luckily we have Pinterest to help us shrink those miles.

We have one general wedding inspiration board: K & B | Sept 2013, which is full of teal/orange and similarly cool/warm tone mixture pins.

Aside from this, we also used it when she was dress shopping. She created a board for each boutique she was going to, and we all pinned dresses that we liked. It was so much fun to be able to peruse through dresses together, well, at least virtually together. It's times like this that you thank the internet for its communication abilities.

In addition to this, I thought that I would add something a little more "me" so since I'm a travel photoblogger, I started creating a basic wedding shot list. A shot list is a list of photographs that you definitely want a photographer to take during your session. They can be as simple as "headshot" as mine was for the picture I'm currently using on my sidebar to the right. With all the planning and lists that most brides have on their plate, I thought I would try to help out by curating photographs that I think are both basic & creative for a wedding. Enjoy!


How do you use Pinterest? | Do you have any fun group board ideas?
Do you pin? Leave me the link below and I'll follow you!

Win a Trip via NY Travel Fest

Photo by ZeWaren

Who doesn't love a free trip? 

The New York Travel Festival is holding a story contest where the grand prize is a trip for 2 to... Prague!!

You'll need:
1- Your story about how travel inspires you within 800 words
2- Why you want to go to the Czech Republic within 100 words.
3- Your cell phone number
Send the above to czechcontest@nytravfest.com 

Deadline: April 1, 2013

You can find more info here.

Please note that this is not a sponsored post.
I just like traveling, especially when some of the expenses are covered and equally enjoy telling other people of such opportunities!

NYC transportation

Transportation in NYC is just as famous as the city itself with both the yellow cab and the subway map used as common symbols of the city. The buses in NYC are a complete underdog of transportation, yet I find myself taking them over the others, if possible.

I used to be a huge believer in the subway system, preferring to take public transportation over paying at least triple the price for a trip to sit in behind a bulletproof glass mounted to the back of the front seat(s). That was, until one day when I hopped on my regular train, only to have it not move. The announcements over the intercom kept promising to move momentarily. The entire time I was debating the pros and cons of sticking it out and popping back above ground. 

Minute 25 of waiting was when I decided to just go for it and dashed out of the station and hopped on the first bus that came by. The lady sitting next to me asked me what happened since there were so many more people on the bus than usual. I explained that the train wasn't moving and then asked her where the bus was going. She kindly explained where it went, and what bus she thought I could take afterward.

I got off at the last stop of that route, which got me less than half way to work, started briskly walking to cross the park when I found another bus that would take me even closer. Hopped on that one as well, and asked the gal next to me where exactly the bus went. She doubled checked on her phone for me, and advised me on how best to get to work. 

Whoever said that New Yorkers are not nice have never tried talking to one. 

Another thing that I realized that was beside the fact that I had quite a bit of anxiety while waiting for the train to start moving, besides the sea of people that were swarming the buses, besides the fact that I was 15 minutes late to work, I felt a lot more calm, and actually quite happy. WHAT? Happy first thing in the morning in a stressful situation?

Then it dawned on me. 

Maybe it was because I was under the sun, instead of holed up in a dingy labyrinth that is the NYC subway system. I'm a complete bus convert and take the bus now, even though it takes a touch longer and just enjoy the city go by on my way to and from work everyday. 

Bridesmaid Adventures: Bridesmaid Info Packet

Sometimes I think the bride knows me too well. Either that or it's because she's so organized that we work well enough together to not only remain such good friends (despite the distance) and to even travel extensively together. In the last episode of bridesmaid adventures, I mentioned the irrational anxiety that comes with being in the wedding. The photo below is what made it all go away. 

Behold, information amazingly organized (and in her wedding colors) packet! (and an adorable handmade "Will you be my bridesmaid" card)

Included is:

• How she knows each member of the bridal party
• Her request for what we wear to the wedding
• Wedding colors and her aesthetic vision for it, as well as requests as to what she would like from the bridal party. 

Since I carry around a paper planner, I tucked the "Attire" page from this packet in it so I can always keep an eye out for the perfect dress:

Seriously, cutest idea ever. All the information all in one place, to reference when needed.

Also included in this bridesmaid packet was a bikini-bag that she made as well as some adorable flower hair clips that I love using when I put my hair up. I don't know how she finds the time to plan a wedding while working a lot at an amazing job, and then handmaking all this stuff. I really need to learn time management from this girl.

The reason this is a bikini-bag and not just a bag with a zipper on it is because it's lined with plastic so you can put your wet swimsuit in it. Such a good idea and fitting, as it's a beach wedding. I'm also really excited to use it at our bachelorette party destination because we're going to...._____!!!!!

Next time, on Bridesmaid Adventures... Bach Party Planning ;)

Happy Friday!

I started taking the bus, even if it takes a little longer than the subway because it's just so nice to see the city go by as well as, gasp, the sun. It's such a great way to start and end the workday.

On the way home from work, I stopped by a couple places to pick up some treats. This is the first week that I was all on my own at my new job so I figured I could use a treat ... Or 4, after which I hopped across the street and finally got erase paste concealer from benefit.

Little things, I know, but they made me happy :)

Clockwise from top left: olive bread from Eric Kayser; eclaire and pain au chocolat also from Eric Kayser; eggplant tapenade from Kashkaval

What snacks do you get to treat yourself?