365 Days of Happy - Day 90

Some of my classes require me to sit in front of a computer, not at a regular desk. This proves to be hard for me because I get so dang distracted by the Internet! If professors sit me in front of a computer and tell me not to log on, I will do exactly the opposite. I can't not log on. I'm like a sponge for information on the Internet. My eyes are so used to staring at a computer screen for hours on end, so if I have to look at a professor instead of the computer in front of me, I get a little wacky.

However, being distracted isn't all bad.

A few Monday's ago, in my Public Relations Tactics class, I got there a little early and decided to do a little browsing on my new favorite website, Fast Company. I found this awesome article and instantly became inspired. Eating at this restaurant and creating a memory on a plate has just been added to my bucket list.
I've copied the article I found below.

Diners' Stories Decorate Plates At London Cafe
By Joe Berkowitz

Restaurant buzz often spreads through word of mouth, but at a new cafe in London, the story is right there on the plate.

Disboom is a British eatery that sets out to capture the feel of the Irani cafes of India. In addition to quenching diners' hunger, these cafes are also known to satisfy patrons' appetites for community. Apparently everyone shares dishes while sharing stories together - no matter whether they came alone or in groups. It's a social atmosphere Dishoom hopes to conjure by rolling out 80 custom-made plates decorated with stories about diners' experiences with the old Bombay cafes.

Created by OgilvyOne UK, the new effort collects stories from diners on the Internet. Users are asked to describe these fun cafe reminiscences and stories and then pick a font. Doodles are optional, but encouraged. The plates that Dishoom likes the most are then made and used at the restaurant, perhaps while diners are in the middle of making their own memories to be displayed on future plates.

Here are some of my favorite plates. You can view more of the plates on their website.

It was my first visit to India. I was in Churchgate near the station and used to visit this old cafe on the corner for some of the best dosas and uttapas in town. The owner introduced himself and made me feel like he was one of my uncles. Uncle Satish or 'Satishbhai' as I called him, invited me to their late night card games, and I learnt all sorts and made all sorts of friends. 

Only in such a cafe, could you feel like you were part of the family as soon as you walk in, and leave with not only a full stomach, but a whole new bunch of friends.

The best thing about these Irani cafes is that you are made to feel like you're at home. There is no time restriction, no one tells you to leave if you've been there for 5 hours. 

Nothing is an issue, even if you just order chai, you're more than welcome to stay for however long you like and just work or think or read. It's so peaceful, no one to hassle you.

As a kid I loved going to my dad's office in Kalbadevi on every holiday. When I went to the office with my grandpa, we would always stop at Kyani's cafe for a bun maska and chai. I always tried to ditch going with my father so that I could get that extra treat. 

That is how I first started going to Kyani. Oh and sometimes I was even able to squeeze in a mawa cake.

Breakfast one morning, at Kyani & Co. the Bhurji was so spicy it brought tears to your eyes.

Thankfully, I didn't lose the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors we played to decide who had to eat it.

Cheap as the chai was, it was too expensive for some of the working poor who used to frequent the cafes. It was not unusual to see two friends sharing a single cup of tea.

When the tea was brought to the table, the one who was going to pay for it would slowly pour half of it into the saucer and give it to his friend; he gave himself the privilege of being the one to drink the rest from the cup.

I was new to Mumbai. I stumbled upon Leopold's Cafe, a quirky little cafe in the middle of the Colaba district. A girl smiled at me and sat down with me. It was only after 10 minutes I realised she actually worked there. It felt like an old friend had greeted me, in the middle of what was a rustic setting. 

I returned every day for 3 months to see her. It turns out I did get more than my fair share from this charming little cafe. Not only friendly service, but a companion for life. Two years later, we are engaged and due to be married in Summer. You really can't beat the charm of Bombay!

365 Days of Happy - Day 89

Overall, I'd say our spring break road trip to Niagara Falls was great! Ryan and I got along so well...except for when he was driving (I don't actually think Ryan has his drivers license...). 

We thought we would spend around $500 each, and after marking down every big purchase, such as hotel rooms, dinner, or for gas, we found that we spent almost exactly $500! So yes, it is possible to go on a week-long roadtrip for $500! Even if your car gets less than 25 mph, which Ryan's did! Awesome.

365 Days of Happy - Day 88

Thursday night Ryan and I drove to Indianapolis, IN, which is where his fraternity headquarters are. He's also going to be working for them this summer and at the beginning of the 2014 school year. Last night we had dinner at Detour with a bunch of his coworkers and the CEO of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, which was pretty awesome. Everyone who works at Alpha Sigma Phi is really good looking!

Ryan will be working in Carmel, a suburb north of Indianapolis. Carmel has an awesome Arts District with cool statues scattered around the streets.

On Friday morning, Ryan and I had breakfast at LePeep with his future coworker, Danny. We went out for his birthday dinner the night before. Then, we toured headquarters! It was very cool to see not one but two Greek headquarters over spring break!

After that, Ryan and I drove to downtown Indianapolis and wandered around.

Song of the Day - Friday Favorites

Sea Wolf - You're A Wolf

365 Days of Happy - Day 87

One of the reasons Ryan and I went on a road trip was to visit my sorority headquarters and his fraternity headquarters. 

Delta Zeta was founded in 1902 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami U is named the 'Mother of Fraternities' because many prominent fraternities and sororities were founded there.

The Epsilon Kappa chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was established on October 24, 1956. I was initiated in November of 2009.

Here are our 6 founders when they were about my age!

The Lamp of Delta Zeta is the official magazine of the sorority and is published three times a year. Below are old hardcover copies of The Lamp.

Shameless plug: you should definitely check out the Delta Zeta - Epsilon Kappa chapter blog! I'm the Webmaster for my chapter and I write and manage the blog, and I'm really proud of how it looks :) 

Song of the Day - TBT

This might be my favorite piano song. I first heard it in middle school, when I was a young'n who played the violin and piano. I stopped playing the violin when I got to high school, where it was cooler to be in Band. I played the flute for a few years in high school, and kept taking piano lessons too. Piano was my real love. I still play the piano sometimes whenever I can find a tuned piano, which is usually in the basement of the dorms. I can play the first part of this song

Claude Debussy - Clair de Lune

365 Days of Happy - Day 86

Today, Ryan and I drove from Buffalo, New York to Oxford, Ohio. The trip took about 7 hours and we didn't do much, except go shopping at an outlet mall outside Cleveland and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in a middle school parking lot while watching hooligans skateboard in the parking lot. So here's a flashback from my first big spring break trip in college. I was a sophomore and my friend Nelson and I went to New York City for the week!

Here we are at a store in Times Square! Clearly I didn't shave my legs that day. Or my face. Or my arms.

When we stopped at The New York Times, the CEO was there, and Nelson and I struck up a conversation with him. I explained how I was a journalism major in college and he told me the New York Times needs more "young, beautiful, brilliant people to work for him." He told me I fit the criteria and he offered me a job right on the spot!

The New York Times even offered me a house in Chelsea, and a free limo service to and from work every day.

I also found my long lost brother. Do you see the resemblance?

We got so cold in Grand Central Station that we had to make a little fire out of french fries and ketchup. It didn't work so well. And we were out of a dinner.

Here I am again! This morning I shaved my face and put on my makeup.

Just then, I told Nelson a really funny joke. That, or he's unbelievably scared but doesn't want to show it so he put on a happy face.

We made a friend!

Nelson fell asleep standing against the wall, so I attempted to be poetic.

And then he attempted to be poetic.

Song of the Day

The Doves - There Goes The Fear

365 Days of Happy - Day 85

Because Ryan and I wanted to get out of Toronto (and Canada in general), we drove to the Niagara Falls area on Monday night and arrived in Grimsby, Ontario. Today was our day to see Niagara Falls!

I visited Niagara Falls when I was like 10 years old. My parents, older sister and I went on one of the boat rides that go into the falls.

The falls were SO magnificent.

After we wandered around the super touristy Niagara Falls, we just wanted to get out of Canada. I didn't get Internet service on my phone (a major bummer for a social media nerd like myself), we almost got Ryan's car towed, we felt like we were spending so much money, and we were starving. So we drove down to Buffalo, NY, where the chicken wing was created.

Song of the Day - Covers

I'm a huge fan of Mumford & Sons. HUGE FAN. So when I found this cover, I was really hesitant to listen to it. Nobody can cover Mumford & Sons and be GOOD at it! However, this band has done a great job covering this song, I think.

Two Door Cinema Club - The Cave

365 Days of Happy - Day 84

Today was our day to spend in Toronto! We were super pumped and had a whole list of things to see. Our expectations were high. We heard that Toronto was like a mini NYC AND that it had an awesome Chinatown. The first place we visited was Casa Loma, which was recommended by practically all of the Toronto tourist guide books.

There was an underground tunnel for Sir Henry Pellatt to walk through so he didn't have to walk across the street to his stables. He's antisocial! I like him!

Casa Loma took three years and $3.5 million to build and housed Sir Henry Pellatt, a smart businessman, world traveler and military soldier. He founded the Toronto Electric Light Company in 1883 and brought hydro-electricity to Canada for the first time. Casa Loma, or 'house on the hill' is the largest private residence constructed in Canada.

Henry Pellatt married Mary Dodgson in 1882 and then Catharine Welland Merritt in 1927. He had one son with Mary. 

This is Lady Mary's Sitting Room. She did all of her sitting in here. She had a different chair for each day of the week.

Casa Loma has been a popular location for movies like X-Men, Chicago, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and The Pacifier.

Our next stop was Chinatown! The Chinatown in Toronto is one of the largest in North America. 

We went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch.

I have no idea what we're doing.

Then, Ryan's car almost got towed. We wandered around Chinatown, got ice cream at Dairy Queen (we're such American's, I know), got lost, and then as we were walking back to Ryan's car we saw it get lifted up onto the tow truck! We raced to his car and realized we had parked without buying a parking ticket. Ryan negotiated with the towing guys and they lowered the ticket down by more than half. After that scare, we just wanted to get out of Toronto.