For those curious, I love hands on activities. And wouldn't you know it, there's hundreds if not thousands of resources available online for DIY lovers like myself. Today's little tid-bit comes from the handy folks at Instructables, a site where practically anything and everything has instructions on how to make it yourself.

Back to the mission. Today I decided to make something practical, and of course be considerate of my budget. I've always been conscience of my scheduling, which involves a lot of time management. Starting with Point A of my day (my bed) I needed something to prop up my phone so I can have a visual of my alarm clock (instead of wearing a watch to bed / fussing with my phone at random hours of the night). So for my new thing today I made a stand - easy and FREE! All you need is an old credit card, ID, room key, Chuckie-Cheese fan club card, or some other piece of plastic in that general shape.

Working at a hotel, every now and again we'll receive room keys that flat out don't work due to high usage. Taking one of these 'busted' cards, I made something useful..yay. Use this to watch movies on airplanes, prop up your 'alarm clock' like me, or "be crafty".

The stand:
-Fold over about 3/4 of the card leaving about 1/4 sticking out
-Next fold up the 1/4 that was sticking out from the top fold.
-You should have something like the picture above at this point..

Now you're set. Watch a film, put on a slide show...do something with it I don't know. Gettin' pancakes tonight for a good cause, in the mean time give me some new ideas for stuff to try tomorrow!

Yeah I picked it...but again it was because I hadn't seen it. After the fact, I looked it up on IMDB...it gave a 5.7/10. Here's why:

Sandra Bullock plays the role of housewife that has it all: beautiful house, loving husband, and 2 daughters that mean the world to her. All of the above are fine 'n dandy...until one morning she wakes up to news that her husband has been killed in a tragic car accident. Terrible news for someone who has so much going for her...until she wakes up.

It was all a dream...or was it? Sandra wakes up from this dream of horrible news to find her husband alive and well, yet she remembers her dreams so vividly that she has trouble deciphering what's real. Every night she falls asleep, her husband is dead...and when she awakes, the events that happened in the dream are happening in real life...what to do? Bullock tries to alter the events she has already seen in an attempt to save her husband and lifestyle from coming to a horrible end.

Overall, I was confused but drawn in by this films intriguing nature. If I were to put a rating on it...I might shoot a bit higher than 5.7, but not much (probably a 7 - TOPS). Unless your a Bullock fan or simply stumbled upon this film by chance (hopefully at no cost to you), then go for it. Otherwise...check out IMDB for some good suggestions.

Speaking of suggestions...leave me some in the comments!

Today just so happened to be a necessity. Before I proceed further, I will say I truly appreciate the free meals provided by my place of employment. But on that same note, the aforementioned free lunch wasn't going to agree with my stomach today. So began the hunt for a new destination that was A. Close by, B. Cheap, and C. Delicious. My supervisor suggested BASIC - and wouldn't you know it I hadn't even tried it. Didn't go in today, but the photo says it all. Cool and relaxed, this modern bar and pizza joint offers old-fashioned style pizza sure to please every taste bud on your tongue. Food aside for a minute, this place is also a pretty popular hang out in the Gaslamp. Good food and a good social atmosphere, what more could you ask for?

Back to the food. BASIC allows you to customize your pizza exactly to your liking. Seriously, you've got a lot of options (including but not limited to Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Little Neck Clams).

The pizza of choice for this evening included red sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh green peppers, chicken, and onion. So simple, but something slightly magical happens when you eat this pizza. I can't really describe it, but its pretty good stuff - especially if you're into the thin pizzas. Normally a 3 topping small will run ya $15 bucks, but it's quality that your paying for...and a small pie will fill most stomachs. As for my pizza cost...well, call it good karma? The fine folks at BASIC hooked me up and waived the charge. I love being in the industry =D. No offense to the complimentary lunch service, but BASIC was the better option today...

On to new things tomorrow, give me ideas in the comments!

I've lived in San Diego my whole life, and been at SDSU for 4 years...yet somehow this little neighborhood of Kensington eluded me all this time. Continuing my hunt for new things involved a good friend who we shall call "Randy" for safety purposes. Names and oddness aside, he too was interested in going exploring with me, so we consulted Yelp for a quick solution...

Kensington Cafe is located about 3 miles from SDSU, on Adams Avenue between Marlborough Dr & Edgeware Rd. Serving breakfast and lunch all day, this local spot was all that I could hope and dream for - delicious and inexpensive.

I myself opted for the waffle special of the day, which as you can see included a fresh waffle topped with bananas and peanut butter, drizzled with chocolate to taste. Get a side of bacon and eggs - DAMN. My spider senses told me this place would be good, but who knew that 10 bucks (not including my mocha) would leave me a happy camper.

Anyway, my counterpart Mr. Marsh took a leap of faith and chose one of the panini's from the lunch menu, with a side of fresh chili and a Stone Pale Ale to wash it down. Like me, Randy was enthusiastic about his option and the price (~$15 for the works).

All in all, the food = awesome. The service = awesome. The location = awesome. That's 3 awesomes, which have absolutely no meaning other than its all good. Next time your looking for a good spot around State (or don't mind a quick trip into a pleasant neighborhood) then stop by Kensington Cafe for a bite! Cheers to new things!

Company was coming over expecting dinner, but what to make with leftover chicken breasts?! Doing a quick search on allrecipes.com and was almost disappointed until kitchen staple Campbell soup came to save the day. What's on the menu? Pan fried chicken breast, rotini pasta w/ chicken mushroom sauce, and garlic bread. Running short on time, I didn't really put in the effort to make the bread, though its super easy and delicious (props to my mom for showing me how to make it happen). The $2 store bought stuff is just as easy to prep, and also delicious (I mean...its prepared for you, just throw it in the oven for God sakes and your good - IMPOSSIBLE TO SCREW UP!).

The Run Down:
1 box rotini pasta
1 can of your favorite cream of whatever campbells soup
4x chicken breast
3 large carrots
1 red pepper
1 bag of pre-prepped garlic bread

In one pan, heat skillet until hot. Add cleaned and thawed chicken breasts, cook evenly (flip regularly to avoid burning). Season with pepper and parsley if desired.

Boil 4 quarts water, throw in the pasta for 10 minutes or until tender
--While the pasta water is boiling, throw your bread in the oven per instructions (usually bake for 10-15 minutes at 350).
Drain pasta, rinse with hot water.
Add 1 can of cream of chicken and mushroom (or whatever you choose) and 1/2 cup milk (for creaminess)
Stir well until pasta is well covered

While your pasta is boiling, skin and chop carrots into small pieces, discarding ends
Clean pepper of seeds and also chop into small pieces
Heat skillet until hot, add 1 tbsp. vegetable oil.
Add chopped veggies (which you can also choose on your own) and pan fry for ~10 minutes. Add to pasta.


Timing is everything, as no one wants cold food. Enjoy yourselves...and look around. New stuff may have been staring you in the face the whole time (how many times have you passed campbells soup and never considered using it as sauce?). Leave me ideas in the comments, and munch on!

Something told me today was going to be off...and it started with so much hope! Starting with two new movies, I suggest you heed my warnings and avoid watching these box office failures...

The first cinematic disaster was "The Goods" starring Jeremy Piven (aka Ari Gold from Entourage), as well as many other recognizable faces including Ed Helms (Andy from The Office, Stu from The Hangover), Rob Riggle (SNL), and Kathryn Hahn (Step Brothers). With such a talented staff, how could it go wrong?

A horrible plot that's how. Don Ready (Jeremy Piven) is an expert used-car salesman that travels the country helping struggling dealerships move their inventory. One particular job has Ready thrown off his game, yet he has no choice but to improvise and live up to his reputation...otherwise the dealership will fall into the hands of rival auto dealer Paxton Harding (Ed Helms). It just isn't as funny as I thought it could have been...so to Mr. Neal Brennan - I had never heard of you before this, but I'll never watch one of your movies again.

I blame ignorance on the selection of the last one, but the following film was chosen by my peers so I had no choice but to hope. IMDB was created for a reason, God help you if you choose to ignore its wisdom.

Instead, our party opted to believe the Netflix ratings and choose "The Education of Charlie Banks" as the next movie on the playlist. Garnering 3.5/5 stars on the rating scale, it seemed to be a safe play. Within 30 minutes, Norkin had seen enough...I should have stopped the horror then. Fred Durst, you did us dirty on this one...

Charlie (Jesse Eisenberg) stars as a college student that encounters an unpleasant surprise from a high school bully that shows up on campus years later. Just when Charlie thought he had escaped the drama, Mick (Jason Ritter) brings with him bad memories and an unstable ego - just what Charlie didn't want. As Mick is friends with Charlie's roommate, he sticks around essentially making Eisenbergs life a living hell. I could provide a further synopsis, but I'd rather not. Rotten Tomatoes didn't even give this film 50% on the Tomatometer, but lets be fair...those guys can be rough some times. IMDB gave it a 6.7/10, which would be a D+ in the classroom for those thinking positively. If you've got 100 minutes, do yourself a favor and put together a puzzle, nap, or polish your fine china - but do not by any means invest your time/money into this.

To top off my day, I had never stood in line (before the gates open) to get into a basketball game, or any other game for that matter in my life. Not really a big deal, but #4 SDSU squared off against #7 BYU today in battle for the top spot in the Mountain West Conference. Jimmer and the Mormons couldn't miss if they tried today, and it left my school as quiet as a ghost town (it's truly depressing stuff to lose to your most hated rival). So to my friends that waited in line for 3+ days, got rained on, and left your voices in the arena - I salute you. With only two losses, SDSU can still hold its head high. On a high note, at least we can still party! Cheers to best fans in college basketball! (See the vid below, but add 10x the intensity to duplicate last night)

Here's to hoping for new and exciting things on Sunday...

With my boarding plans canceled, I made good use of my time today and ventured  out to Toronado, located in North Park. Not the biggest of places, there were probably 20 people there and it seemed pretty busy (right around 4:30ish). Regardless of that, the bar has a nice neighborhood-like feel to it - making it a nice place to grab a beer and kick back. Toronado offers a good variety of craft brews, including beer from locals such as Alpine, Stone, Pizza Port, and Green Flash breweries.

Not only that, the pub food offered from the kitchen is pretty damn tasty. Reynolds and I both ordered the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich, and is was agreed that we had found bliss on a bun.

Great food, great beer, and a great staff. The bartenders were happy and alert, always ready to grab something for us when we were ready. If you go on a Monday, drafts are $3 bucks from 6-10pm! So if you're looking for a new spot, drive through North Park and check it out.

Speaking of new things...leave me some ideas in the comments box!

A recent Amazon shopping spree included the purchase of a new hand mixer...which could only mean one thing - more time in the kitchen. Specifically, I'm venturing into the baking department. I was recently browsing when I stumbled upon a site by the name of foodgawker. Curious to see what delicious ideas might be waiting I continued on to the All-Time favorite list. Currently sitting at the #3 spot was a delicious looking piece of baked greatness simply known as espresso chocolate chip shortbreads. As the original creator of the recipe writes "These cookies are like money. They will soon replace currency. People will want them more than gasoline. Sorry OPEC..." About to pull em out of the oven, we'll have to put it to the test...

Here's the rundown (copied verbatim from Use Real Butter):
1 tbsp instant espresso powder (I like Medaglia D’Oro)
1 tbsp boiling water
8 oz. unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped OR 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (optional)

Dissolve espresso powder in boiling water. Set aside to cool to tepid. Beat butter and confectioners’ sugar together on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is very smooth. Beat in vanilla and espresso, then reduce mixer speed to low and add flour, mixing only until it disappears into the dough. Don’t work the dough much once the flour is incorporated. Fold in the chopped chocolate or chips with a sturdy rubber spatula. Using the spatula, transfer dough to a gallon-size zip-loc bag. Put bag on a flat surface, leaving the top open, and roll the dough into a 9 x 10 1/2 inch rectangle that’s 1/4 inch thick. As you roll, turn the bag occasionally and lift the plastic from the dough so it doesn’t cause creases. When you get the right size and thickness, seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or for up to 2 days.

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Put the plastic bag on a cutting board and slit it open. Turn the firm dough out onto the board (discard the bag) and, using a ruler as a guide and a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer the squares to the baking sheets and carefully prick each one twice with a fork, gently pushing the tines through the cookies until they hit the sheet (okay, I didn’t poke the cookies and they’re fine). Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back at the midway point (I didn’t do that either – I bake one sheet at a time). The shortbreads will be very pale–they shouldn’t take on much color. Transfer the cookies to a rack. If you’d like, dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while they are still hot. Cool the cookies to room temperature before serving. Makes about 3 dozen.

Wait for ittttt. Yes, there's a pretty good reason that these things might be considered currency. If you're a fan of shortbread, you'll need to bring a change of pants along when you try these. Serve with coffee or milk, and you're gonna be walking on sunshine. Even the roommate thinks so. Now on to Friday, with my plans to visit the mountain being canceled yet again (HOW DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!)...what to do? I'll let you let me know in the comments.

You may have seen it around the streets of LA or on a high billboard someplace in Manhattan...Paris, England, or just about any other major city for that matter. I'm referring to street art. A recent development that started as a form of 'graffiti' has since evolved into mainstream media and art galleries. For those of you curious what street art is: take traditional icons with some sort of significance , change it around to reflect a different meaning, and post it for the world to see...even if for just a short while. Post it any way you can really, stickers, murals, posters...whatever. Just post it, no rules apply (some of the most visible public places have been hit by the street art movement - even Disneyland).

Tonight I was actually able to finish "Exit Through the Gift Shop" - without Netflix crapping out (last time an error popped up some 5 minutes into the documentary), so after a long day I suppose it'll count..guess I'm the only one really counting new things anyway.

The title stems from the 'creation' of a street art icon. A man obsessed with filming practically anything life had to offer was given the greatest gift he could have ever asked for - a purpose. By having a family tie (his cousin) into the street art world, our main character transitions from French shop keeper and family man into street artist accomplice / film maker practically overnight. As experience and film accumulates, the role of accomplice isn't good enough for our 'star', so he progresses his vision further and becomes a street artist himself. This film was put together by world renown street artist Banksy and was apparently all the rave at the Sundance Festival (as I would find out later after completing the film...). I would have to agree with the critics, its pretty interesting to see what motivates some of these visionaries walking our streets. One may call it graffiti, but I see good taste and creativity. All in all, I'd say stop by your local blockbuster (what?) and check it out, it's worth a view. On to new things for tomorrow...

Taking a tip from one of my fellow classmates, I decided to check out BitLet. In short, BitLet allows the user to download torrents (assuming you have the correct torrent metafile URL) without the need for a client like uTorrent or BitTorrent, among others. I found this very useful today when I was on a friends computer who had no client to be found, but knew what he wanted to get. While this tool doesn't allow the customization of clients (bandwidth allocation, stacking, etc.), it's definitely useful in a pinch. As far as security goes, I can neither confirm nor deny how exposed you are in using this service...either way nice find Alan, thanks for showing me somethin' new! Give me more tips in the comments!