Cupcakes are the new Vicodin

School can sometimes be tough, overwhelming and tear jerking. Kelly and I have figured out how to deal with the pain. The answer: cupcakes.

Just pop a cupcake whenever you feel not 100%. Being addicted to cupcakes isnt the worst thing that could happen to you.

Let's look at the picture above to illustrate the wonders of a cupcake:

1.Kelly is having a meltdown. This was caused by external pressures:paper deadlines. It's so embarrassing that she has to hide herself with her jacket.

2.Kelly is daydreaming about cupcakes because she believes they will make the school sufferings go away.

3.Kelly is correct. It's cupcake o'clock! During cupcake o'clock schoolwork does not exist.

4.Kelly is napping after eating a great cupcake.

Here are a few recommendations to find the perfect cupcake:

-Hard Times Cafe(located in West Bank/Cedar-Riverside).In the photo Kelly is eating the Vanilla cupcake with g'nosh frosting

-The Cupcake(Located in Prospect Park) I love their Smores cupcakes and Red Velvet cupcakes

-The Salty Tart(Located in Midtown)

-store on botton floor of Blegen hall(west bank)

oh, i really try my best to embarrass kelly whenever the opportunity presents itself. Hi Kelly!

here's one for the fanz

What's up with this guy? Why is he so happy? What is he holding? read further and find out!

The Intellectual Dreamboat Fan Girlz have fans, which makes them Intellectual Dreamboat Fan Girlz fans. One of our fans and friend, Bryan requested that he be given an intellectual dreamboat fruit. And guess what happened? Bryan was presented with a fruit.

Introducing the Bear (applause).

Blueberry + Pear= Bear

so if you request a fruit, we might just physically alter one just for you!!!

EDHD 5003 is where you ought to be

EDHD 5003 Developmental and Individual Differences in Educational Contexts is an awesome class.

The class just ended last week, I am mildly heartbroken. Professor Richard Rodgerson is hands down one of the best professors I have had the pleasure of learning from. He's a wonderful teacher and story teller. I have learned so much about children and their development. I have learned even more about how humans as a whole work.

Richard is hilarious. The stories he told of his daughter Emma made me giggle forevers.

He wants us to be happy. once he had us force laugh for a minute to improve our mood. Sometimes he would tell us to close our eyes and imagine our happy place.

He plans activities that we can relate to such as: discuss your own experience with puberty.

The readings for his class are so awesome. you can totally borrow my texts.

Most importantly I believe that Professor Rodgerson's class has helped me be more confident about my decision to become an elementary teacher. His tips for managing the classroom is one of the most valuable things I have gained during my college career.

please please do yourself a huge favor and take this class. You will not regret it.

ATTENTION WORLD:

It's time to register for spring semester at the U of M!

Featuring....
ENGL3090: MARXISMS with APRIL KNUTSON <3
Spring 2009; MWF @ 10:10 to 11AM.

This course is by far one of the most amazing and beneficial classes that the University offers (that the University tries endlessly not to offer). The course materials provide a super adorable fundamental background in marxism, focuses on women's and immigrant justice, and awesome international issues as well. It's materials are both historical and tackling current issues. The workload is fulfilling and enjoyable. Most importantly, APRIL KNUTSON teaches this course. YOU MUST TAKE THIS CLASS.

Click HERE for the reading list from last year. Which, by the way, is mostly online! The book list is incredibly affordable!

If you have any questions at all about my experience in this class or if you want me to rant endlessly about how amazing April is - please email me!

SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT NOWWWW.

Cavern of Love - not starring Bret Michaels.

Yesterday, Quynh and I, along with about 70 other (less giddy) history undergrads went on a tour of the Andersen Library on campus. Also known as the most magical place on the planet, Andersen Library is a haven of research dreams. While the inside of the building is an architectural sight in itself, the real prize is 90 feet underground in...




THE UNDERGROUND BOOK CAVERN


This cavern of love currently holds over 1.5 million books, spanning underneath the West Bank and beyond. It's shelves contain excess library books from throughout the state, and the rare books & special collections from the university. And it still has plenty of room to spare - it is larger than the size of four football fields. It is roughly 1.5 million times better than Christmas.

The tour itself was pretty magical, as well. We learned about the cavern's construction, and then how to gain access to some of the items in the cavern for our own research. Not only does the cavern have an amazing selection of books to be utilized, but there are even more pieces of material in the cavern that still need to be documented!
It's a serious shame that we will finishing up our undergraduate work this year.


In conclusion, I have decided that my life's path is one of an underground book cavern troll.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."-albert camus

 just a glimpse of autumn makes me swoon. Smitten is the word of the season 

As a students we probably spend all of our non-sleeping times studying. That does not mean we should forget to enjoy the blissfulness of the season that is autumn. So here are a few ways to make your studying a little more enjoyable while incorporating the loveliness of my personal favorite season:

1.Forgo coffee, tis the season for hot apple cider! I highly recommend buying high quality cider, like from the Seward Co-op or from a local apple orchard or even the hot apple cider at the Hard Times Cafe (remember to ask the kind barista to add a hint or pinch of cinnamon!).  

2. Put on a nice warm sweater. or sweater vest. for some reason a sweater with a moose, bear or deer on the front adds to the comfort. While studying, comfort is key. You should not be distracted by the temperature around you. 

3. Study at the park.  The vibrant colors of autumn leaves gives a feeling of romance. Nature is wooing us,let's fall in love(get it? fall the verb and fall the season? i'm clever). Take your book out to a tree-filled park, read and enjoy. 

4. Eat. do not forget to eat while when you are studying. I suggest a squash and apple soup. 

It is super easy to make. you can find tons of recipes online. 

I'm a bad cook, so dont rely on my recipe:

a.bake small pieces of butternut(or acorn) squash, onions and apples(preferably granny smith) until they are soft at 350 degrees in the oven.  take them out and let them cool

b.add a cup of vegetable broth, the baked squash,onions and apples  into a blender. puree

c.put in a bowl 

d.garnish with slices of apple

e.and maybe even cinnamon.

remember to purchase your vegetables locally. Make your own vegetable broth if you can. or replace broth with water instead. This soup is easy peasy. 

5.Music. find some music that goes along with the pleasant autumn's day. Actually long as you enjoy the piece of music, it will go along with the season! 

Here is a list of songs I have on my studying playlist:

"wonderlust king"-gogol bordello

"unforgettable"- nat king cole 

"too old to cut the mustard"- marlene dietrich & rosemary clooney

"natural disaster"- andrew bird

"here comes your man"-meaghan smith(it appeared in the movie "500 days of summer")

"right as rain"- adele

"space oddity"- david bowie

"un amico"-ennio morricone (it appeared in the movie "inglorious basterds")

"fly me to the moon"-frank sinatra

"Let's Do It "- Joan Jett & Paul Westerberg

"ring of fire"- johnny cash

"mushaboom"-feist

"married life"- michael giacchino (it appeared in the movie "Up!")

"cecilia"- simon and garfunkel

"more than a feeling"-boston

okay, turn off the internet and go study!

also, does Seattle have autumn? do the leaves change? I know this might sound like a silly question, but I have never been there during this season.  I need to know, if I will ever see autumn ever again after I move to the NW for grad school.

Laugh Out Loud. Seriously do it.

              Kate Winslet smiling in a movie for a change. (i love her)

      Dawson was not such a great crier. awkward

Close your eyes.

Smile.

do you feel happier?

you should. 

Laugh.

Laugh out loud.

again, do you feel happier?

you should. 

although these actions are forced, you still experience the same biological actions of chemicals being released causing a change in emotion. 

Isn't that amazing? Instead of just thinking positive, you're laughing positive and smiling positive. 

I am currently taking a class about child development in education: EDHD 5003 taught by Richard Rodgerson. I recommend this class to everyone, not just future educators. 

In lecture today we discussed emotional responses such as crying, laughing, blushing and smiling. All things I frequently do. Often times all at once. Totally Embarrassing. 

I believe that these four things are very strong markers of humanity(I am not saying that they do not occur within other species). They are such genuine responses. Blushing and crying are so hard to fake, unless you're kate winslet. Smiling and laughing on the other hand are easily to fake, but often times when that happens you can tell. 

It is healthy to express your emotions. keeping things inside does not help. Let it all out. Although maybe you shouldn't cry during lecture, that may cause the intellectual dreamboats and I to feel uncomfortable. Laughing, blushing and smiling are most acceptable classroom emotional responses. 

32nd State in the Union, but 1st in My Heart

              Bouquet toss

     snow fort, a Minnesota winter must 

Family picnic on the flats near the Washington Avenue Bridge

During my geography of Latin America lecture my professor talked about the appeal of my lovely state. to paraphrase:

Minnesota is a special place. Students who spend their undergraduate years in Minnesota will want to leave it for some new exciting place to be young adults. But eventually they want to settle down in Minnesota. 

This is one of the most reassuring things I have heard in college. 

the photos are from the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database

http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/

What came first? the dragonfruit or dragonfruit vitamin water?

As Co-CEO of Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company I am responsible for finding new and innovative ways to create fruit. So I thought I would use my summer vacation to find some inspiration. That came in the form of a 5 week long trip to Vietnam(thanks mom!). 

Living in Minnesota we do not have the chance to see a lot of tropical fruits, but instead purchase products made of those fruits or something like that. Enjoy! Salivate! or travel to Vietnam and experience these fruits for yourself!

dragonfruit at a fruit stand in Dalat

Puff the Magic Dragon [and pal]

         Dragonfruit Vitamin Water 

Sugar Cane 

                 Cane Sugar 

               pomegranate 

          Pom 

Bananas of farm town Bong Lai 

"Arrested Development's" George-Michael and Maeby at the Bluth Frozen  Banana Stand 

                      a lone Mango 

Naked Orange Mango Motion

A lady selling lychee fruit on her bike in Bong Lai 

        lychee flavoured jello

                  soy beans 

         Silk Soymilk

ripe coffee beans at my uncle's farm 

Heaven, I mean Dunkin Donuts coffee

What I learned in Spring Semester Latin...

In Latin 3004:Poetry we translated parts of Virgil's Aeneid. The Aeneid follows hero Aeneas on his long journey to Italy and then some. Along the course of 15 weeks I learned that hero Aeneas cries. a lot. 

I am sure Aeneas will cry at the sight of the Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company's latest fruit:

                             crying-like-a-little-bitch !

                    Aeneas cried when he was not one of the fallen men after the Trojan War.

 Then I am willing to wager that he cried when Jupiter sent Mercury to tell him to stop lounging around Carthage and go to Italy!

                   Finally he definitely cried a whole lot when he saw Dido in the Underworld. Maybe Aeneas and Dido did not work out because they were just apples and oranges. 

And people thought the Aeneid was a finest tribute to Rome. nope, it's the crying-like-a-little-bitch fruit!

Summer Lovin' with The Intellectual Dreamboat Fan Girlz!

ATTN: It's now officially PLUOT SEASON!

To celebrate this special time of the year, The Intellectual Dreamboat Fan Girlz will now be spending our time working on our latest project... a Pluot cookbook! This summer will be full of experimental and mostly-tasty pluot creations!

Starting with.... Pluotaide!

Pluotaide

4 Large Lemons
4 Beautiful In-Season Pluots
4 Cups Water
3/4 Cup Sugar


01. Heat one cup water in a small saucepan, add 3/4 cup sugar and stir, maintaining medium-high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let sit until juicing is complete.

02. Juice both the lemons and the pluots.
>Note: While juicing pluots is a challenging task that requires the skill of a IDFCO CEO, it is entirely worth the effort.

03. Combine juices, sugar-water, and remaining water in a pretty vase and add lots of ice!

For best results, enjoy in the company of Quynh and Kelly!

Update!

As you will notice, our Pluotaide was served in clever fresh lemon cups hand-crafted by our new intern here at the Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company. To protect her delicate entanglement with other less-fulfilling corporate enterprises, we will henceforth refer to her as 92.

We came across this promising new employee as she was wandering the aisles of the local Rainbow Foods, with a new age space fruit that she was unable to afford. Impressed with her interest in hybrid fruits, we decided that she would make the perfect intern!







Here at the Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company, though, we treat our employees with the highest of labor standards! Immediately following a day's work on Pluotaide, 92 was able to enjoy the literal fruits of her labor.

Yea, she likes it.

Black Diaspora in Historical Perspective coming fall semester to a classroom near me!!!

You thought JTT was awesome. Well, 2009's JTT for me is Sarah-Jane Mathieu.(other intellectual dreamboats have Tigerbeat star equivalences too). 

Sarah-Jane Mathieu is teaching another class this fall semester!

The class is History 3863: Black Diaspora in Historical Perspective! 

click on this link  for a detailed course description

http://onestop2.umn.edu/courseinfo/viewCourseGuideTermAndSubject.do?institution=UMNTC&searchTerm=1099&searchSubject=HIST#HIST3863

reading list for the class so far:

African America Encounter w/Japan & China, Auntobiography of Malcolm X, Destined To Witness:Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany, and Negrophilia. 

Kelly and I took History 3010W: Historical Research Seminar 1950s with Professor Mathieu in Fall 2008. The course was absolutely amazing in every way. Fantastic videos, creative writing assignments and a very enthusiastic professor landed the course on my "best classes taken at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Everz" list. In addition Sarah-Jane's writing workshops really taught us how to be good writers. I always turn to my magical transitions page when it comes time to write an essay. 

I highly recommend this course. Kelly and I are already registered. If you enjoy history then you will enjoy this class. If you are a cool person you will enjoy this class. If you want to be my friend you will enroll in this class. If you want to remain my friend you will enroll in this class. If you want to remain on my bff list you will enroll in this class. If you are looking for a wonderful educational experience you will enroll in this class.  Register now!!! You will not regret this decision!!!

Dreamboat Course Review: Marxisms

ENGL 3090 MARXISMS
feat. APRIL KNUTSON <3



Marxisms is a comprehensive introduction to Marxist theory and practice. It covers a wide range of topics, such as THE MARXIST THEORY OF SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT, HISTORICAL MATERIALISM, STRUGGLES AGAINST SLAVERY AND RACISM, HISTORY OF RELIGION, APPROACHES TO GENDER STUDIES, & GLOBAL RESISTANCE TO GLOBAL CAPITAL. The class is great, regardless of your exposure to Marxism.
You can check out this semester's syllabus here.

You need this class in your life!

The (many) readings covered in the course make one very worthwhile, full-blown commie 1001 session. The actual layout of the course is filled with exciting guest lecturers, which gives an awesome array of experience. It covers many historical and modern issues that all create an understanding of both the capitalist problem and the socialist solution. Most importantly, you get to spend two and a half hours a week with APRIL!


The problem is.... it seems that the course may not be offered again in anytime soon. There really isn't any other course like this at the University.

SO, please please pleaaaase let the University know that this is a course students are interested in! Email Paula Rabinowitx (rabin001@umn.edu), head of the English department, and kindly let her know that you are, in fact, very interested in taking Marxisms.

Fair Trade?:Hopes and Childhood Dreams for Profit

Where was  the shirt you are currently wearing made? My high school track t-shirt was assembled in Mexico. Chances are the shirts that you and I are wearing were produced in a sweatshop. As a consumer I do feel some guilt when I purchase my clothing. The problem is that there is not a feasible solution for the average person to avoid sweatshop made clothes. Our incomes do not make it easy for us to afford specially tailor made clothes or other friendlier choices but rather mass produced clothes. Isn't that disgusting? Workers tend to only be able to afford shirts that were made with cost to workers elsewhere. The guilt should not be put on the workers. 

The blame lies with capitalism. A system that rewards those who take financial risks with wealth. A system that encourages private interests. A system that makes stepping over others to reach the top acceptable. A system that doe not take morals into consideration. A system that does not take human beings into account. That is okay? I do not agree. 

I recently watched "Zoned for Slavery:The Child Behind the Label" (1995).  This short documentary focuses on the young women who work in a sweatshop in the Free Trade Zone of Honduras and the abuse they face at work on a daily basis. It is heartbreaking and terrifying.   The young women work long hours with very little pay.  Their wages are inadequate dismal compared to the retail value of the shirts. They receive 12 cents, when it costs the consumer $20 to purchase them. Not all of the $19.88 goes to the costs of production, it is a safe bet to assume that most goes to the capitalists. PROFIT. At $20 a shirt these girls will never be able to afford the shirts that they themselves assembled. I'm not a mathematician, but I know that is ridiculous.

 In addition to less than livable wages, the young women face tremendous abuse by the hands of management. Forced overtime, beatings and insufficient breaks plague the workplace. I am sure this will make anyone angry, not just feminists. The factory forces its workers to take birth control pills daily. And if a young woman ends up getting pregnant they administer a shot to abort the fetus. Taking away a woman's right to choose for profit??? Absolutely inhumane.   That made my blood boil. The thing that made me tear up a little bit was when the interviewer asked one of the young women, "Do you want to go to school?" and she answers with a big smile  and you can see all of her hopes and dreams appear and disappear "Yes".  These young women work long hours which makes it impossible for them to attend school. They are poor young women who do not have any other choice have to work in such grave conditions in order to help their families. Their circumstances do not allow them to enjoy the childhood that one should. Loss of innocence,loss of dreams, loss of hopes for these young working women. Gain for the profiteers. 

are the profits worth such high prices? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

It's that beautiful time of the year again...

....it's time to register for next semester!


True fact: the Class Schedule webpage is my favorite webpage on the interwebs.

We, as Intellectual Dreamboat Fan Girlz, take registration season very seriously. This is a process that will require several revisions and a mourning period for the classes we will not have time to enjoy the following semester. Followup activities include gazing into the pages of our books until class begins!

Here is my own personal list of possible history classes for fall 2009:

HIST 3000 - The Family from 10,000 BCE to the Present

HIST 3415 - Migrations in Modern Global History

HIST 3417 - Food in History

HIST 3797 - History of Population

HIST 3802 - Religion in Early America

HIST 3821 - The United States in the 20th Century to 1945

HIST 3863 - The Black Diaspora in Historical Perspective
~STARRING SAJE MATHIEU

So many dreamboat experiences just waiting to happen!

With How to do History and a looming required math credit, it has become clear that only two history courses are possible for my next semester. The tragedy may, however, provide ample time to savor each class even more!

A Scientifical Nipple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away

                                      I wonder why nipples are not served in school lunches.

You put the banana in the coconut, drink them both up.

You put the banana in the coconut, drink them both up,
You put the banana in the coconut, drink them both up,
You put the banana in the coconut, drink them both up,
Put the banana in the coconut, you such a silly woman!

Put the banana in the coconut, drink them both together,
Put the banana in the coconut, then you feel better.

INTRODUCING... THE BOCONUT!

(available in both its natural form as well as
in the handheld Fup, for your convenience)

Love,
The Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company

NEWS BREAK!

This week, along with the infinite excitement of the BOCONUT, the scientists of the Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company encountered real, offseason, amazingly delicious PLUOTS. We assume you are as excited as we are.

The Bapple Incident

Sure Connor Drummond can draw faces, but does he make a reliable Creative Director for the Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company?

We found ourselves pondering that very question on Tuesday.

Viewers discretion is advised :the following image will cause distress to lovers of Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company scientifical fruits. 

      What could have caused the downfall of the mighty Bapple?

      Let's go back to the beginning...

On the afternoon of February 17th, 2009, two eager History undergraduates were busy studying for their Central American Revolutions midterm exam/love letter. Usually they spent that time inventing fruits for their Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company, however due to lack of fruits in their respective refrigerators, they had to postpone scientifical genius. In layman's terms, NO FRUIT SADNESS. However after examining the counter fruit at Mapps Cafe, one of the inventors realized that nothing should prevent them from advancing their fruit company, nothing. So the Bapple was born.

The inventors of the Bapple during happier times. 

After a long and awesome study session, the two young inventors skipped to their class to show their Creative Director, Connor Drummond, their new scientifical invention. They placed the Bapple on Connor's desk, eagerly awaiting his arrival. After 20 minutes, he still was not there. Seriously, wtf? Well, our lovely Professor Pat, arrived earlier than expected and saw the fruit sitting on Connor's desk. Pat was amazed? He said "a banana-apple fruit cup? And there is a straw. Are you going to drink it? Whose is this?". Then Kelly pointed to both herself and Quynh and answered "it is ours". Embarrassing? For sure. Beet red Kelly placed the Bapple on the floor after the incident. And so, that was the downfall of the Bapple. Well, we both blame Connor for this incident. If Connor continues to neglect his job as Creative Director of Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company, well, he may need to find a new job. We hear that there is an economic crisis going on... Don't fuck with us!

Blood, sweat, and cheesy fries.

The Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company proudly presents its latest and greatest creation...

Bloody Mutiny!

At approximately 4:38p.m. on February 12th, 2009, we scientifically bonded several daring Red Grapes to one very brave Blood Orange, creating not only a tale of epic triumph, but a cutting-edge fruit experience!












Bloody Mutiny also marks the addition of Connor to our team. As our Creative Director, we expect many exciting things from him!












In the upcoming weeks we look forward to several developments in the Intellectual Dreamboat Fan Girlz blog, such as book reviews, guest appearances, and the world premiere of a fruit that is bound to change lives.

Stay tuned! We certainly will!

History of the Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company(IDFCO)

The Intellectual Dreamboat Fruit Company(IDFCO) company started with the February 3rd lecture given by adorable professor of Central American Revolutions History, Patrick McNamara.

This lecture was about bananas. Pat is bananas for bananas!

As the result of bananacentric lecture, I ended up thinking about going to the grocery store to buy bananas. And somehow thinking about bananas got me thinking about pluots. What are pluots? If you did ask that question, I pity you. Pluots are the best thing the scientific community and Jesus ever came up with. It is the result of two teenage apricot and a plum falling in love and having a baby out of wedlock.

I turned to Kelly at the end of class and said "I know pluots are out of season, but do you think they still sell them at the grocery store?". My grader Boyd, who by the way was eavesdropping, turned around and gave me the "god damn it , not another dumbass undergrad" look.

Well, Boyd, pluots are always in season. I figured this out after spending 15 minutes at Cub Foods grocery searching for pluots. No pluots in sight. No pluots. No pluots. No pluots. I was quite depressed at this point, then the light bulb went on in my head. I grabbed one apricot and one plum. Hurried to the check out line. The cashier at Cubs1 asked "What are you going to do with an apricot and a plum?". I said "make pluots". She did not know what a pluot was so I spent the next two minutes telling her about pluots. Needless to say, she was amazed. I paid the $0.70 grocery bill and left. After leaving the grocery store I went merrily on my way to the bus stop to catch the 21 bus westbound to the Underground for Zombie Night. When I got there I told Kelly "our grader was wrong" in reference to the pluots. Then I told her to close her eyes. I gave her the two fruits lovely wrapped in the Cub Foods plastic grocery bag. Best gift ever.

On February 10th we decided to actually physically engineer the fruits. We cut the two fruits in half. We paired apricot and plum halves together. The result was love. Love is pluot. Thus, pluots are always in season. That was our first physically engineered fruit. The birth of the Intellectual Fruit Company. So every Tuesday and Thursday(every day we have Central American Revolutions lectures) we will physically engineer a new fruit. Very scientifical2!

So the main players in IDFCO are:

Kelly Bellin President and scientist

Quynh Nguyen President and scientist

Connor Drummond Creative Director

1Quynh-word

2Kelly-word

Dear Boyd,

Pluots are always in season.

Love,
Quynh & Kelly