#SSSS: Second Semester Senior Status

I may be prematurely calling myself a second semester senior as I will not be completely done with the semester until 4pm Tuesday afternoon, but I already feel like one. This semester went by so incredibly fast. I can't even imagine what it's like to be graduating right now because they're just done. That's it. No ceremony until May. I'm not one of those people who wants to stay in school forever, but I certainly don't want to miss out on the Senior activities that take place in the spring!
This semester I ended up really enjoying two of my classes. I had heard really good things about the social media class (which was new last semester) and it fit into my fields of study, so I figured why not. The professor is amazing. So good that I wish I had taken senior media seminar with her this semester (though it is very likely that I wouldn't have gotten in). And she is the main reason I am taking fashion and power next semester. I would say I'm not a huge social media enthusiast. I love using social media (duh), but I don't really think about the cultural concepts behind the usage. The class definitely taught me some really interesting theories about technology that I literally use every day. The second class I enjoyed was TV Nation. I've always watched a lot of TV, like when I was in high school, whenever we got any tv show's season dvd set, I would watch the whole season as fast as possible, staying up all night and telling myself "just one more episode." I kind of explained the concept of the class in my last post, so I'll just tell you about our final pitch. My group was Bravo, and we picked up a reality competition show about window dressing called On Display. The tagline is "whose dreams will be shattered next?" and the send off line is "I'm sorry, you're no longer on display." The host would be Simon Doonan, and the judges would be Nicola Formichetti, Scott Pask (Tony award winning set designer of Book of Mormon) and Sarah Jessica Parker. I didn't really like SJP as a judge because I didn't understand how she was an expert in the field, but I got my way with Simon Doonan as host, which I think was more important. Our team did really, really well. The class was overwhelmingly positive with the critique--many students even said they would watch the show. But, we ended up losing to AMC and their show Olympia.
Now that both the semester and my internship are over, I'm shocked with all the free time I have. I'll go from working 7 days a week to working anywhere from 2.5 to 5 days. Next week I'll only be working 2.5 days at my weekend job, so I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. Do a little research and see what exhibits are where, hopefully do more cooking, definitely want to go to Flushing with Xiali at some point, maybe a trip to Housing Works? The options seem endless!
Yesterday, I did go to the Open House New York Hello Kitty! Hello Art!, which is showing this weekend only. There was a lot of pop art inspired by Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters. They also had a silver tinsel Christmas tree with all plush Hello Kitty ornaments. aka my dream. I had to get the coffee table book that accompanies the exhibit from the gift shop. I also took a picture (well, several) with these giant Hello Kitty light up Christmas decorations. Super happy I went, since I by chance found out about it at the last minute.
On a random side note, I am supremely surprised and disappointed by Blogspot's 1GB picture limit. I seriously had no idea there was such a thing, and I hate not having pics in my posts. I've kinda been considering switching to Wordpress, because it would force me to learn more of the technical stuff (yet another thing I want to learn!), but I've had this blog for three years as of 12/13! I have to keep it up at least until I graduate. I literally started this blog one night, at the end of freshmen year exactly three years ago (it was also Santacon Saturday!) really late at night when I was supposed to be studying in the library. Literally the first and last time I willingly studied in the library. My how things have changed in those three years, and I feel like this blog documented all of it. I don't want to give it up quite yet. Decisions, decisions.

Why this was the best week ever!!

Despite having one presentation and one exam this week, I think this was my best week of the semester! Both the presentation and exam went well, and I'm now done with two classes! Stern even has their own blue books, which actually have better quality paper than normal blue books.....

Thursday, Eunice and I organized a holiday party and Secret Santa exchange for our Shanghai friends. It was a major success!! We decided to go to Gyu-Kaku for their happy hour, when their menu is half priced! We ordered sooo much food for ten people, and it was so much fun to grill it with everyone.

For my Secret Santa gift, I got Melisa these really cute things you put on your glass so you know whose is whose. For me, Eunice got me slippers! It's seriously like having little stuffed animals on my feet.

I used pages from the Ikea catalogue as wrapping paper. hehe

The gift exchange was so much fun, and I was really happy that (almost) everyone could go!! And then there was Gian's present (wrapped in the Financial Times), which everyone giggled at.

Friday, was the last day at my internship. And it was a super busy day for me, since I was the only intern. But, all the hard work definitely paid off when I was allowed to choose more clothes!! I was shocked and so happy the rest of the night!

I couldn't help myself from trying on earmuffs

love the delicate detail

Today, I went to the New Museum to see the "Experience" exhibit with Ben. The exhibit was super fun, because it is very interactive. The exhibit starts in the lobby, where we got these crazy upside-down goggles. I seriously felt like I was going to fall over, it was so confusing! It took me a long time to get used to the goggles, and by then I was developing a monster headache. Other highlights included a giant slide that went from the museum's fourth to second floor.

mirror carousel 

animals

Ben getting ready!

the basin at the bottom of the pill clock

the gorgeous view from the sky room

Upside down goggles. Ben said I looked nerdy.

Snapshots from the week:

My nails this week, Essie Nice is Nice

my love for sweet potatoes continues

playing at Pier 1

carving wood reindeer right outside my dorm!

really scary performance art in the ACE 14th st station

super cute slippies

a heaping pile of hk waffles!

switched to my fleece sheets!

and my new skirt finally arrived from Bloomingdales!! I felt so cool and trendy when I tried it on.

yummy cupcakes from Butterlane! I got all banana cake with blueberry, rasberry, caramel and coconut frosting.

My awesome week

This week was terribly busy and exhausting for me. I had four interviews for potential spring internships! I haven't officially made any decisions, but I think next semester I'm going to learn so much more about PR than I had thought. And combined with my classes, I think it's going to be a really fun semester!
The week started off quite warm, a record breaking 70s in Central Park! But the rain on Tuesday cooled things down. I quite liked my outfit on Tuesday for my second interview. I wore a skirt that I've had for nearly a year and a half, but have never found a way to wear it that I liked. I paired the skirt with a crewneck sweater, jeweled collar necklace and glitter oxfords (that I desperately need to replace).

At the interview, they were filming Law & Order: SVU right outside! I was so surprised to see their huge set in the Meatpacking District.

I also experimented with Butternut Squash this week. It's quite difficult to cut! I'll have to figure out a better method, because I became quite impatient with the slow cooking time.

My current internship is almost done (one week left!) so I finally got to choose my clothing allowance after working 400+ hours! I chose two dresses and two blouses. I'm really happy with my selections. I think the pieces definitely fill a void in my closet. And I chose a lot of mint green, which I don't really have, so that was a happy accident. As per Eunice's request, I'm going to wear one of the blouses tonight to Rui's birthday dinner!

Speaking of my internship, I was quite bored last night, so I got an extra head start on my thank you notes. I don't even remember the last time I got out stationary and wrote a thank you note.

On Wednesday, President Obama was in town for a charity function, which took place right across the street from one of the NYU academic buildings! The police shut down the entire area and gated all the streets. It was quite the production!

This week, I wanted to give my poor nails a rest, but when I found out I had four interviews I couldn't go with bare nails! I decided to do a nude glitter color. quite subtle, if you ask me.

I also used my beloved Hello Kitty waffle maker for the first time this year! and I didn't even burn any of them!

And I took out my pink tree, complete with Hello Kitty ornaments!

For my last bit of kitty related news, I changed my phone wall paper to this:

Snap shots from the week:

sample of press on nails that my roommate highly recommends 

hello kitty vans collection (!!)

This June, Hello Kitty and Vans will be teaming up to create an insanely cute collaboration—the Hello Kitty Vans Collection! I'm admittedly a huge hello kitty fan, and I think this collaboration with Vans (the epitome of street style) takes Hello Kitty into a less familiar direction.

Prices range from $37 for the children's slip on, to $55 for the high tops and will be available in Vans stores/online and select Sanrio boutiques/online.

I want this pair!!

(all images via refinery 29)