Things That Are Cool

My boyfriend’s blog is cool.

I might be a little bit biased, but who cares? He’s really knowledgable about movies but not in that annoying, in-your-face kind of way. Best of all: he is always discovering some movie that’s really awesome that I’ve never heard of. His reviews are honest and fun. He doesn’t put on a fancy facade to build up or tear down a movie; he focuses on the best parts and why he thinks you should watch them.

Check it out, because he’s pretty cool, too.

Honey Nut Chex is cool.

When I found out I had a gluten intolerance, I was pretty disappointed. Bread is basically my favorite food, and cereal is a close second. I thought I would never find a yummy gluten-free cereal that was easy to find in different grocery stores and wasn’t super expensive. But then I found Honey Nut Chex.

My first bite was perfection. It was crunchy, flavorful and just plain good. It mixed so well with my 1% milk, and it got better the longer it sat in the bowl. And it tastes great when drinking black coffee. Needless to say, I went through my first box in three days. The best part about the whole experience was it prevented morning stomach aches that I had grown used to when eating gluten-full cereals. 

Now I probably go through a box a week. It’s a morning staple. I usually have about three boxes in my pantry at once so I don’t ever have to go a morning without it. I want to start trying the other flavors, but it’s kind of hard to break away from my usual. It’s really just that good. Some times I have a bowl for lunch. And dinner. Or dessert. 

Flintstones Vitamins with iron are cool.

If you’re like me, then you forget to take your vitamins on a daily basis. Your mom might call you while you’re away at college and ask, “Did you take your fish oil today?” To which you’ll reply, “Um I don’t remember. Maybe? Love you byeeee.” First of all, why my mom still calls me to ask about my vitamin-taking habit might tell you that she is possibly a “helicopter parent,” but let’s get past that. Second of all, taking a vitamin full of fish oil is the last thing I want to do in the morning. Sure, I love being healthy as much as the next girl, but what if the capsule leaks into my mouth and I taste actual fish oil right after I finish eating my (delicious and gluten-free) Honey Nut Chex? Ew. Just, ew. 

So what do you do when taking gross-sounding vitamins makes you want to gag? Take Flinstones Vitamins, of course! My doctor actually told me to start taking these because she apparently sensed I was mature and stuff like that. At first when she suggested them, I was like, “What? Lady, are you a real doctor? I haven’t taken those since I was like seven-years-old. They’re for children. Also, the grape flavor was nasty.” But when she explained that this delightful multivitamin (plus iron) would help give me some extra energy and prevent me from getting sick (or thinking I’m sick. I have some bad hypochondria), I decided to try it. It was actually pretty good. My first pick was the red one. That used to be my favorite so I thought I’d ease myself back into the habit. It as actually pretty good! Fruity, maybe cherry-flavored? They even added a new flavor: peach! It’s probably my new favorite. Grape is still kind of weird-tasting, but whatever, I can dig it. 

Now, I am a firm supporter of Flintstones Vitamins. I’m sure all the varieties are great, but I like the one with iron because it helps when you’re low on energy (or so I’m told). So, next time you’re at your local grocery store, pick up a pack and get to being healthy!

Calculator watches are cool.

I know what you’re thinking, and no, it’s not 1985, but I DON’T CARE! Calculator watches should be are making a comeback any day now. They currently sell them in Walmart, so that must count for something.

I love my calculator watch even though it’s a knock-off and may seem dorky (but it was only $10. Digi-Tek from JC Penny). I’ve gotten tons of comments on it and some compliments, too! There are plenty of reasons why I recommend everyone buy themselves a calculator watch, and I will share a few with you.

1. It tells time: How many times a day do you wonder what time it is? Probably a lot. Sure, you’ve got your cell phone you check a million times a day, but wouldn’t it be more convenient to glance down at your wrist and instantly know what time it is and what day it is?! It’s a necessity.

2. It adds things: If you aren’t math savvy (like myself), you may not be able to do seemingly simple problems in your head. That’s where a calculator watch comes in handy! Here’s a hypothetical situation that did not happen to me yesterday: Say you work in a clothing store and there’s a sale. A customer asks you how much a blouse is with the 40% off promotion. Simply multiply the amount by .4, subtract from the initial price, and voila! You solved the problem quickly and efficiently while looking incredibly smart and professional.

3. It looks awesome: Forget your fancy Fossil or Swatch watches, calculator watches provide a streamline design while evoking feelings of nostalgia for a better time. A time when big hair, blue eyeliner, acid wash jeans were stylish, and John Cusack made more movies (while calculator watches were actually introduced in the 70s, most people associate them with the 80s). You can show everyone you know what’s up when you sport one of these bad boys. 

So get on down to Walmart or start a bidding war on eBay, and find the calculator watch of your dreams! Always knowing what time it is and mastering math? Seriously, nothing is better.

Reptar is cool, and I will tell you five reasons why.

1. Their sound: Their music has a hint of almost every genre mixed together and then put on crack. It’s fun, crazy, and will definitely make you shake your booty. They have been compared to Animal Collective a bunch, and I can definitely see the similarities. Their music is the definition of a contradiction, as they cite The Talking Heads, Jackson 5, Marky Mark and Prince as some of their influences. Call it what you want. It rocked.

2. Their dancing: I’m pretty much the most awkward dancer of all time, so I avoid it when in public, but seeing them going crazy all over the stage made me want to dance. So I did. And while it was most likely mildly embarrassing for my boyfriend (even though he would never admit it), it was a blast. The keyboardist was basically having a seizure on stage, bobbing his red, curly afro to and fro. They all looked like they were having the time of their lives, and the audience was too.

3. Their name: Any band named after a Rugrats reference is a band worth listening to. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, look here. 

4. Their references: Reptar has worked with some pretty big names and gotten some pretty good publicity since they began. They worked with Gnarls Barkley, P. Diddy, Ben Allen, Matt & Kim, and Animal Collective (explains some of their musical influence) on their debut. They also gained attention at this year’s SXSW, and they’re opening for Foster the People with CULTS. I’d say they’re doing pretty well for themselves.

5. Their keyboardist: As I mentioned before, the keyboardist was going NUTS on stage, and it was awesome. He stole the show. Every time he started dancing like a madman, the audience cheered, laughed, and attempted to imitate. His outfit was also insane! It looked like a small, color-blind child dressed him. He was wearing short neon gym shorts, a psychedelic-printed shirt, a sweatband, and a FANNY PACK! He rocked the fanny pack. Couple this ridiculous outfit with his tall, pale frame and ginger afro, and you have the man of so many hipsters’ dreams. 

Hopefully these reasons have persuaded you to go out and listen to all of Reptar’s music and YouTube their live performances. You won’t be sorry!

New Girl is cool.

I watched the pilot episode a couple of days ago on hellogiggles.com and fell in love. Sure, it’s a little cheesy and predictable, but who cares?! Zooey Deschanel is perfect as “adorkable” Jess, and the scenes of her singing to herself or doing anything generally nerdy are perfect. It’s refreshing to see a beautiful woman who is totally herself and embraces her weirdness. Some girls who are really awkward (but not me, of course) need to see that. The three guys are pretty great, too. They each have their unique faults and redeeming qualities that I can’t wait to watch unfold. Also, there were multiple Dirty Dancing references, and that’s definitely a sign of a quality show. Who hasn’t cried while watching Dirty Dancing when Patrick Swayze walks up to Jennifer Grey’s dad and tells him “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” (Ah, catchphrase of my teenage years.) 

To sum it up: I can’t wait to watch the rest of this show, and I think it’s here to stay. They put it right after Glee and right before Raising Hope, so it’s kind of destined to be a ratings hit. Watch on Fox Tuesday nights!

The two-story Whataburger in Corpus Christi is cool.

Corpus Chrisit is the home of the original Whataburger. The two-story building is a marvel and I love eating there when visiting the beach. How many two-story fast food restaurants have you seen? Because this is the only one I’ve ever been in. You can even sit on the upstairs patio and see the ocean! Such a classy place.

Austin, TX is cool.

I like Austin despite how obsessed the natives are with their city. Festivals, art, outdoor activities, thrift shopping and good food are all things I can appreciate. Austin isn’t the most humble city but it’s still pretty great. And the Capitol Building is super interesting. There’s so much to do in Austin and so many interesting people to observe, it’s definitely a cool city to visit.

Hometown friends are cool.

You know the ones I’m talking about: the group of kids you ran around with in middle school/high school. I remember these friends as the ones who I could do nothing at all with and still have the best times I can think of. Hometown friends are the best because you shared some of the most challenging and exciting times together. Your hometown friends know you, they know your family and they know things that you’ve been through that your college friends probably never will. They’re the friends who were there the time your 6th grade boyfriend dumped you for another girl. They’re the friends you constantly fought with but now you laugh every time you think about them because you remember the night you made music videos to Aaron Carter and laughed so hard you literally peed and caught it all on camera. They’re the friends who you spent the whole summer sunbathing with, swapping books from the library and driving around because you finally all had your licenses. They’re the friends you won’t see for three months and then when you hang out again it’s like nothing ever changed. Your college friends may be cool, but your hometown friends are really cool.