It’s Thursday again and that means it’s time for another round of Weekly Obsessions!

This week has been a mix of the last days of warm weather and the gray dreary days of Fall, so I’ve been trying my best to counteract any kind of gloominess with tons of color and fun!

First things first:

Fashion Obsession: Colorful Hair!

On Monday, I woke up feeling like I needed a change–any change. Simply, I was bored. And what do I do when I’m bored? I change my hair color! I’ve had all sorts of wacky colors and cuts through the years but I wanted something drastic.

I made my way down to SoHo to the Arrojo Studios where I asked my awesome colorist to make me as blonde as possible. She took one look at my dark brown hair and I could already tell it would be impossible. Going from dark brown to platinum would be a painful, all-day process.

Such a bummer. (Sidenote: If Japanese girls can go blonde, why can’t I?)

She salvaged the situation by putting some (subtle) blue and pink bits all throughout the front of my hair which I completely love. Maybe after a little more planning I’ll be able to go lighter, but for now, I’m loving the new streaks.

For those of you not quite ready to take the plunge? Get a wig! Halloween is coming up so there’s no better excuse to try out something completely ridiculous (and hilarious!).

Leisure Obsession: Zines!

To me, Zines scream “1999!”, but for some reason, this week I’ve been totally infatuated.

For those of you who are in the dark right now, according to Wikipedia, Zines are a small circulation, non-commercial publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest.

You can usually find zines within any kind of underground movement, or in a lot of our cases, on college campuses. They cover all kinds of topics. I’ve seen some fantastically creative ones that cover anything from vegetarianism to punk rock.

Lucky for us, there are lots of places to find interesting zines online. And for you ambitious folks out there, you can read up on how to self-publish here.

Tech Obsession: Completely Useless (But Fun!) Gadgets We May Use…But Probably Won’t!

Maybe I’m nuts, but when I read about new inventions or concepts that are pretty much useless it doesn’t matter–as long as they look cool, I’m so down.

So, it makes sens that I freaked out when I saw this. Amazing!! It looks like Lite-Brite which, anyone who knows me personally can tell you, I adore.

Apparently, they do this kind of stuff in Vegas but I’ve never been there so I’m going to just have to swoon over these pictures until I can get my butt out to Nevada to gamble my savings away.

And check this out! I know people, I know. We can all just wipe our mirrors off with a towel or something, but this is just hilarious. They should sell these babies with a guarantee that you’ll have a good giggle every morning after your shower…that should move a few off the shelves, right?

Food Obsession: Shabu-Shabu Restaurants!

Have you guys seen these? If we’re talking fun this week, these Japanese restaurants are it. It’s basically like beef fondue, if you want to put it simply.

What happens is, when you sit down you get raw beef (or pork, lobster, crab, chicken, or duck) which you submerge in a pot of boiling water to cook. Then you get an array of dipping sauces to spice up your poached meat.

To me, it’s like a welcome variation to sushi (thank God) that everyone can enjoy together…and that’s the most fun!

Work, classes, friends, family…sometimes it gets a little too routine for my liking. So, I decided to make a change and really spice things up.

This week? I’m channeling Grandma. After 92 years, my grandma knows what’s up…I mean she better after almost a century, right?

Right.

So if you’re feeling like you’re in a bit of a slump, try out some of these suggestions or come up with your own takes on ways to make the week fly by!

Perfect Time-Waster: Crossword Puzzles

The internet is great and all, but this week I’m on a low-tech kick.

And for someone who majored in Journalism and minored in English, it would only make sense that I have been completely enamored with crossword puzzles.

It started out as a time-waster on the subway (thanks AM New York!) but has evolved into a true pleasure that I’m willing to spend a whopping $2.99 on. You know those puzzle books you see old ladies on the bus with? Yes, I’m totally into them.

Still addicted to the net? Check out some amazing crosswords here.

P.S. Try making it a couples thing…it worked for them.

Fashion: Head Scarves (or turbans if you’re daring!)

Anyone in the office can tell you I usually show up to work in jeans, a t-shirt, and my short hair wrapped up like I’m an old Ukrainian woman.

But you know why? Because not only does it look f*cking rad, but it makes my life so much simpler that I almost want to cry. I have no shame in telling you that I can’t remember the last time I styled my hair for more than 30 seconds. It’s insanely liberating.

Not convinced? Check out major scarf enthusiast Gala Darling (love her!) here.

Perfect Life Advice: 30steps.com

Get dumped? Fail your Bio quiz? Fighting with the roommates? All can wreak havoc on your ego, and why wouldn’t it?

This week, I’ve sought the lovely advice of Brad Bollenbach and his blog 30steps.com. His article on a human’s fear of rejection tells it like it is, lays it out on the table, and never talks down to you.

My quote of the week comes from him: “Stand up for your own truth“. Exactly Brad, exactly.

Perfect Life Saver: Passport Panties

Okay, I don’t think grandma would need these after all these years, but who knows? The point is, if she was getting laid she’d certainly always be prepared.

PP saved my life this week when I had a sleepover and no change of clothes. What’s even better was that not only do you get a pair of adorable (really!) panties, you get a little packet of mouthwash and deodorant too, all in a faux-passport case. Love it.

Perfect Tech-y Thing You Probably Don’t Need (but really want): DigiWalker C720T

If there’s one thing I get from my grandmother it’s my love of taking walks. But what really gets me, especially in Manhattan, is when you find a new spot that absolutely makes your day…only to never stumble upon it again.

Well, start reaching for your wallet because this 2 megapixel camera also boasts a GPS system that will allow you to re-locate the exact spot your snapshot was taken. It’s a technology that I didn’t know I needed, but I could surely use!

Must…save…$599…