Mmmm Chocolate

For those of you giving up chocolate for Lent, I apologize. Tupperware parties may never be my thing, but chocolate tasting parties definitely are. Check it out.

Something Macnificant

Last year, I gave in. I got a Mac. (Sorry PC!) Before I got my Macbook, I had used Macs, but having my own was definitely a learning experience. In fact, I'm stll learning. And Mac (they do really think of everything) is making it easier for veteran PC users like myself to convert.

Mac stores offer lessons for navigating almost every feature of their computers. One of the best thing about Macs are all the creative things they offer for photos, music and movies, and I haven't been able to take advantage of all the capabilities. The hour-long workshops in the Mac stores are completely free, and range from iMovie to Podcasting workshops.

The closest Boston location is in the CambridgeSide Galleria store, and classes are offered everyday of the week.. so basically this is the final step in my Mac conversion and I have no more excuses in only using Word and iTunes on my Mac. Wish me luck!

Happy Eating Disorders Awareness Week!

Last year my roommates and I all made it a point to watch a documentary together on HBO called "Thin." The film followed a group of girls (from adolescents to adults) with eating disorders who were living under the strict rules of a rehabilitation facility. As relieving as it was to see these beyond sick girls getting help, we were more than disappointed at the end when the show revealed most of the girls had relapsted after getting out. Turns out, insurance only pays for the patients' to stay in a certain amount of time, which was far less than the girls needed who had been battling the dieases of anorexia and bulemia their entire lives.

For Eating Disorder Awareness Week, the creator of the documentary and a related book called "Girl Culture" will be in Boston this week. A Harvard graduate, Lauren Greenfield will be part of a free event that happens tomorrow night at the Brattle Theatre, where the documentary will be shown with questions for Lauren to follow.

The documentary was eye-opening, and it's definitely worth learning about the disease/lifestyle that is effecting our cousins, friends and maybe even ourselves.

Movie Madness

I've been slacking. I haven't seen ANY of the Best Picture nominees for this year's Academy Awards. That is why I'm so excited AMC theaters, including the one in Boston Common, is showing all 5 nominees in a marathon this Saturday. There isn't even a catch- to see all five movies, the usually pricy theater is only charging $30 for entire day!

Babel kicks things off at 11, followed by The Queen, The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima and finally Little Miss Sunshine at 9:45. Not only are you saving at least four dollars per movie, the promotion includes a free large popcorn and drink with free refills throughout the day. It could be a long day if your attention span with movies can't withstand 12-plus hours of movies, but hey- the seats do recline...

Spray it ain't so!

Not sure what to get your sweetie (whether it be yourself, significant other or furried friend) for Valentine's day? Roses and candy are out- lip spray is in! No, it's not for bad breath, although that may enhance the effects. The lip potion, called Stay in Love Forever Lip Spray," is guaranteed to take your partner by surprise, which is very hard to do on Valentine's Day.

"Stay In Love Forever Breath Spray from Blue Q has a romance-enhancing cinnamon flavor. Helps keep the passion, mystery and magic in your modern-day fairy tale!" Besides it's love potion spell, it will also be the ultimate test for your Valentine.. if they act like they love it- you know you have a keeper.

It's not just a web site that sells these unsual gifts, just hop on the Red Line to Quincy.

16th Minute of Fame

I've been a Justin Timberlake far too long to condone anything like this, but if you're really hurting for plans tonight- check whose coming to Gypsy Bar. It's an anti-Valentine's Day Party tonight, hosted by FedEx (I won't even say his name). I guess it's a step up from Taco Bell...

IM Overdose

I can't deny it. College students, including myself, are known for being lazy (and for good reason). Our laziness comes in many forms, such as using your rommate's printer instead of getting your own or deciding altogether class is interfering with your nap schedule. Another time when this laziness seems to shine is when it comes to hunger and eating meals. It is true we often choose take-out over a two minute walk to the grocery store. But how can we resist, when restaurants offer takeout late at night and some web sites make ordering food as easy as a click of the mouse?

Web sites such as Campusfood have a list of restaurants to choose from, and for an extra charge they let you order off the menu and they will pick it up and bring it right to your doorstep. While it is not complicated, you just fill out an online ordering form and fill out your contact info, it looks as though taking out is being made even easier.

In a February 3 article in the Boston Globe called IM Starving it looks as though restaurants, such as the Angora Cafe, are allowing eaters to simply send an instant message that serves as placing your order at that restaurant. This method of take-out does skip a few steps that are currently necessary in ordering from the food web sites. While there are only a few places taking part in IM'ing your dinner order, students already taking part think it may catch on.

One of the students projected in the artcile that in the coming years, all companies will have a screen name. So much for the idea of burning the calories you are going to eat by actually walking to the place, or at least picking up the phone! And we wonder as Americans we are seen as lazy and overweight ...

Misery Loves Company

So Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away, and what better way to celebrate (if you aren't already booked) than with someone who is actually worse off than you on the day of love?

Valentine's Day is like New Years eve- lots of fuss for something that usually ends up letting you down. And if you haven't got a Valentine, the day has the ability to make you feel even worse.

But there is a bright side to everything. Just be thankful your husband didn't steal thousands and thousands of dollars from you while embarassing you on your own tv show of your life. Lost? It's ok. That's what happened to Kathy Griffin, the comidienne who is taking her own comedy show to Boston that day. The star of her own series on Bravo, "Life on the D-List," Griffin is not afraid to make fun of herself, but more importantly, call out the craziness of the stars she comes into contact with. The self-deficating funny woman who speaks about her own plastic surgery and does impressions of Celine Dion and Star Jones will surely make you feel better about your own love-life situation.

The show starts at 7:30 and and tickets are available for $32 and $42. Just go to bso.org if you're interested.