If there’s one thing I love more than listening to music from the comfort of my own bedroom, it’s listening to music live. Particularly at music festivals, where a hefty chunk of change can enable me to see like, 20 of my favorite bands all at once.

Although I always hit my local festies (including Hookahville and any festival @ Nelson’s Ledges – check them out if you’re in the area!), after my amazing, mind-bending experience at Bonnaroo two years ago, I feel that it’s time to expand my horizons and venture out of state (and of my mind) another time.

But, while scouring the internet for my next super-hippie-indie-rock-y adventure, I realized that what I really needed was one list. A list that compared not only locations and dates, but also prices of the various festivals spreading good vibes and sweet music throughout the summer. So, I’m going to create it. Here is the first installment of my semi-comprehensive list of the major (and minor) music festivals still to come this summer: the Midwest.

So bust out the flowy skirts, a nice pair of Birkenstocks and some moonshine and hit the road. And act fast, cause most ticket prices increase the longer you wait to buy them.

Midwest Festies: Read More »

Days as a Freshman: 72

Mood: Jumpy

“Grace?”

Sasha’s voice was louder this time, his hand still on my foot. He thought I was sleeping. Maybe I should pretend to sleep through his visit? I didn’t have to sit up and talk to him.

“Hey, Sasha.” But I did anyway. Pushing the pillow off my head I turned around and sat up in my bed. I rubbed my eyes a little to make it look like I had been sleeping, not like I had been wide-awake and contemplating answering him for the last thirty seconds.

“Hey.” Sasha smiled. The kind of smile I knew too well. The sweet, friendly smile that lit up his whole face and my whole chest. It’d be nice to live in that smile. Sleep on it like a hammock.

“What’s up? I thought you’d be out with everyone else.” I pulled a few stray pieces of hair behind my ears and wondered what I looked like. It wasn’t impressive, whatever it was. Nothing like the short skirts and lace up boots that were undoubtedly walking all over campus tonight. Nothing like the type of girls Sasha hung out with on a daily basis.

“Oh, I’m wearing a costume. Can’t you tell?” Read More »

Remember when you were in high school and you began to hunt for a college? As if you weren’t having enough trouble balancing those AP classes and inevitable girl drama and all of a sudden – BAM – here come like 10,000 books/essays/magazines/guides/counselors bombarding you with information on choosing the right college.

• Do you want big or small?

• Liberal arts? Science? Big city? Small campus? Close to home? Great sports teams?

Some books had statistics. Others had tests to place you in the right “type” of school. Still others were filled with advice from the students who went there. But where was the guarantee that any of this research would put us in a school that we loved, that would get us where we wanted to in life, and that would ultimately be our perfect fit?

According to some research over at the New York Times, the guarantee doesn’t exist. And if we do happen to find that perfect place, all that crap we researched does nothing to guide us. Read More »

After sporting high heeled pumps or strappy little stilettos, nothing feels more satisfying than slipping my aching feet into my trusty Reef flip flops. I practically live in flip flops during the summertime months, as do most of my friends.

Unfortunately, I recently learned that flip flops were never really meant to be worn as everyday shoes and are therefore causing young women more foot problems than ever. According to an article in USA Today, “the problem, foot doctors say, is that flip-flops offer little cushioning and no arch support, and they force their wearers into an unnatural, toe-gripping, foot-slapping gait.” Because of this, young women are getting foot pain that is usually associated with older, fatter women.

I don’t know about you, but I would like to keep as much of my youth intact as long as possible and try not to show signs of becoming a middle aged woman at the spry age of 22. Along those lines, something that grossed me out were the possible consequences of constant flip-flop wearing… Read More »