No Alcohol, no coffee, no caffeine… sort of? The reality television hit The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives recently made the rules followed by modern Mormons, and the ways they break them, abundantly clear.

As you can imagine, deceit, relationship drama and great lapses in Mormon Judgment play out on screen. However, a great, yet sinful, loophole was able to shine through all the scandal and controversial antics. The popularization of Swig and dirty soda makes me thankful for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and their undercover methods to drinking caffeine.

Recently, I’ve had the great pleasure of experiencing an authentic dirty soda myself. This past November, I took a solo trip to Arizona to visit my older brother and his girlfriend. My brother, Sam, moved to Arizona about six months ago. While he’s changed a lot, and adapted to the west, he has not become a Mormon wife. However, he has indoctrinated me into the world of Mormon soda.

After one of  Sam’s long days of working as a one-to-one aid for elementary school students, we drove fifteen minutes to Swig. Swig is a chain of drive through soda shops that are mostly found out west. They are popular in Arizona, as well as Utah, better known as home to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Swig offers a large menu of sodas, energy drinks and tea, with the option to add in cream, flavored syrups and fruit juices. The add-ins are what turn the typical soda dirty.

My soda of choice was the “The Founder,” a diet coke with fresh lime, coconut syrup and coconut cream. It was amazing. The concept, while so simple, never crossed my mind before. Sure, lime in my diet coke wasn’t outlandish, but what had been stopping me from adding more?

After my first Swig run, I’m left with many questions, and post-dirty soda depression. When can I get another? Why does anyone care about Mormon Wives’s other secrets? How do I tell Swig’s owner to expand to the Midwest?

As much as I obviously enjoyed the dirty soda, I do wonder what about it is so enticing to the women in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives? I understand they act as a filler for the typical Starbucks or Dunkin run for coffee, yet they still have caffeine. Caffeine is typically prohibited by Mormon ideology, so what justifies a coke with cream and syrup? 

I could dig deeper into the thinking behind the choices of these Mormon women, but I’m choosing to appreciate them for the joy they have brought me. Who am I to question the caffeine habits of people who so generously introduced the concept of dirty soda into my life?

If you ever happen to drive past Swig, do yourself a favor and pull into the drive-through. Then, do me a favor and tell me what you got, so I know what  to try next time. 

As seen in Leela’s (another Shaker Writing Center intern) blog titled The Beauty of Letterboxd, I am very into the app and have pushed many people into joining—at this point I’m just an unofficial spokesperson for them. Just this past week, I have successfully completed my 1,000th watch logged on Letterboxd, marking the semi-large milestone with watching the record-breaking, Oscar nominated film, Sinners. In my devotion to the app, here I am, defending the films I placed in the sacred top four, the question many actors get asked on red carpets, and the holy grail for users. The top four is presented at the top of your page, for all to view and judge one’s taste upon immediately, which creates a fearful thrill when one must choose a mere four favorites between hundreds of beautifully crafted and touching stories.

1. Train to Busan

This 2016 zombie horror film, directed by Yeon Sang-ho is the film that I tell people is my favorite of all time. Whilst it is the most difficult question to be asked, this film truly deserves all the love and praise, as its incredible camera work, acting, writing, and plot pulls a deep emotional reaction from viewers and enacts them to contemplate humanity and the true ‘monsters’ of the world. With its context of being inspired by the Sewol ferry tragedy, an awful incident where a ferry in South Korea sank, killing 304 people and leaving many missing and unidentifiable people, many being children who were on a school trip, the layers of meaning become even more deep — truly showing the truth of society, humanity, and governments. I also personally connect to the emotional storyline of the two main characters, a father and daughter, which just encapsulates me even more in the story. This movie is truly the epitome of what I enjoy in movies, and brings it all together so beautifully, I cannot describe how much this film has emotionally torn me apart and brought me back together again.

      2. Bones and All

I am a huge horror movie fan, and this, just like Train to Busan, is a beautiful and enrapturing story of a young girl (also aptly named Maren — which gave me a huge dopamine hit every time they said her name) who is a cannibal, and goes on a journey through the crossroads of America and finds love, understanding of herself, loss, fear, etc. This film is incredibly beautiful in the color scheme and style of film the director, Luca Guadagnino employs to fulfill the disenfranchised feeling the main characters continuously feel. Also in the very end, a horrible tragedy happens to the two lovers. The ending is hauntingly beautiful with (SPOILERS!!!) Maren feasting upon Lee (her boyfriend) after he begs her to eat him, “bones and all.” This might be the most romantic movie I have seen thus far, surprising as it may be. Whilst the overall plot of the movie remains gruesome, the theming and tonality becomes romantic in nature. The movie has a great understanding of the message of overcoming trauma, finding acceptance, love, and compassion for others and oneself. I have only recently seen this masterpiece of a film, and while I have only seen it once at this point, it has completely taken over my mind and heart.

      3. Lars and the Real Girl

Finally moving on from horror films, Lars and the Real Girl, directed by Craig Gillespie, follows a man named Lars, who is a socially inept and lonely man, shutting himself out from his small community who all love and support him. Through a coworker however, he buys a sex doll and uses her as a girlfriend. He fully believes she (Bianca) is a real human, and he parades her around town, using her as a shield to hide his shyness and inexperience. In the very end, Lars is able to shed Bianca, due to the help of his small family and community, and begins trying to improve his relationship with others. This film, while not perfect, is very near and dear to my heart. I relate quite a lot to Lars, being a very shy person for years and struggling with deep social anxiety issues. Ever since I saw this film for the first time, I genuinely felt represented in the way Lars’ issues with socializing was portrayed. To this day, I believe this is the only film which I have felt fully attached to in such a way, and although many pieces of media display such issues, many sensationalize or downplay the struggles at hand. Through this, the very sweet exploration of new love, baby steps to understanding oneself, and acceptance of help from others, this movie is a perfect comfort film for a cozy, rainy day.

      4. La La Land

This film truly needs no introduction, as the nearly Oscar winning film, La La Land is a treasure to an exuberant amount of people around the globe. With the in-depth use of color in the film to represent the characters standing in life at certain points in time, cinematography, lighting, music, and acting, the story of Mia and Sebastian comes to life, immersing the viewer into a gorgeous and emotional story of the two lives interweaving and falling apart. This movie is perfect to me in every sense, and it cannot be encapsulated into words how this movie is able to accomplish that. I do believe that no matter how many wonderful films I will continue to see, this will always be at the top of my list, as it has completely gripped me for years, and there is no world in which the legacy of this movie will die out.

While I strongly believe in the effectiveness of therapy (yes, everyone should go), sometimes I like to employ alternative methods to manage and work through my emotions. In no particular order, these are my favorite methods:

1. Baking

Okay, I know I said this was in no particular order, but this is certainly my favorite, especially during the winter. I’ve been baking since I was a child, and I’ve always found it very therapeutic. The process is calming and you’re rewarded with a delicious treat afterwards. My favorite thing to bake is chocolate chip cookies!

2. Long walks

Believe me, a nice long walk can do wonders for the mind. To make it truly effective, though, you have to craft the perfect playlist. I love tailoring the music to my specific situation; it really helps me expel all of those unwanted emotions.

3. Coloring

Even if you’re not the artsy type, coloring is so therapeutic. I’ve recently upgraded to watercoloring (they have coloring books for that too!) and I’m absolutely obsessed. You can also find all different kinds of coloring books to suit your interests, which makes it extra fun!

4. Baths and long showers

I absolutely love the occasional hot bath, but if you’re not a bath person, a long, hot shower will also do the trick. Of course, this should involve music too. I also like to shut off the lights and maybe light a candle. If you do it right, this can truly be the most relaxing thing ever.

5. Naps

I try not to make a habit out of napping as that can quickly spiral out of control for me. However, I’ve found that the occasional, short nap on my rough days really helps. I often fall asleep upset and wake up having forgotten what was bothering me. Trust me, everyone can use a little extra rest.

6. Shopping

…you knew it was coming. Retail therapy! I try to use this method sparingly, but a new accessory or piece of clothing can really brighten a bad day. Recently, I’ve bought a couple Sonny Angels, which are blind boxes with these adorable little characters. They have a ton of collections, but mine have been from the fruit and veggie one, and so far I’ve gotten the tomato and the eggplant!

Every once in a while, there is a very specific two-week period when everyone suddenly returns to their roots and gets really into Minecraft again. For me, these phases always end when I get bored after finishing the exterior of my house. I’ve been playing since I was about five, and Minecraft has always had a serious lack of interior decoration items. I am tired of scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration, so I’ve gathered a list of my go-to blocks over time that double as both functional and decorative.

Trapdoors

Trapdoors are a classic for a reason. They can be used far beyond their original purpose, whether that’s as shelves, cabinets, or detailing on walls. They’re also perfect for putting on the sides of dirt blocks to act as a planter on a window sill, immediately making a build feel more lived in.

Barrels

Barrels are newer compared to chests, but they completely changed the appeal of storage. They work as shelves, counters, or furniture pieces while still being useful for holding items. They’re also way prettier than chests, which makes them ideal for keeping items where you actually need them, like kitchens or farms, rather than hiding ugly chests in their own room.

Campfires

Campfires are extremely underrated as decoration blocks. When used normally, they can add a cozy atmosphere to outdoor areas like campsites and can even generate smoke for realistic chimneys. When extinguished, they become even more useful and can be used for shelving, bridges, roofing details, fishing docks, and more. Their texture adds depth to a build without looking out of place or drawing away any attention.

Carpets

For a long time, I avoided carpets because they felt useless. You can’t place blocks on them, so the only time I really used them was on top of fences in animal farms so I could jump in and out while animals couldn’t. Over time, though, I began to open up to the idea of carpets. They make a house feel like a home when used as rugs or tablecloths, but they also make creative ideas possible, like their unique ability to cover light blocks and create softer, ambient lighting.

Stairs

Stairs have always been essential, originally serving as a classic chair or couch. More recently, however, they’ve become useful in less obvious ways. Stairs are perfect for giving a space character by adding texture to walls, mimicking crown molding, or acting as countertops. They give intentional detail and dimension to a build that would otherwise appear bare, lifeless, or unfinished.

There was this group of old men who seemed to live at the market. (For this whole story just imagine Van Aken but dirtier and all outside and you’ll get the vibe). They hung around all day, waddling from store to store without ever buying anything, seeming to only exist to happily talk to whomever would listen. At noon, they’d congregate at the only table in the market and play chess. They stayed in that penguin-esque huddle for hours on end, only stopping when it got too dark to see the board. I didn’t get it. Couldn’t these folks be doing something else with their time? Is there no one at home who they oughta be looking after?

I couldn’t keep these questions to myself however, and soon I broke one of them off from the huddle to ask if they didn’t have anything else they could be doing.

He laughed a deep laugh that sort of seemed to linger after it was gone and asked me what else in the world would be better than chess. 

I looked back on this moment a lot during my college application process. I found myself sleeping less just to finish homework and write and refine college essays. Stress of applying to and subsequently getting deferred from and reapplying to schools weighed heavy on me, and I began to question the idea of reaching in the first place. Those men who seemed to amble to and fro lived the antithesis of what I considered a ‘useful’ life, and yet in it they found happiness day by day. What was the point of going through all this work if it wasn’t to be happier in the end?

Now that I’m coming out of application mania, I know that that the feeling of not seeing the value of work was only a phase. That being said, my experience in that market and my college application experience has given me a respect for the peace that must come with “bummism” (The act of being a bum) and knowing where to set your limits. 

While the plan is to have a good career and all, I do look forward to retiring    and becoming a bum myself. I don’t think I’d be a chess bum though– more of a feed the ducks by the pond bum or maybe even a miniature ship in the bottle bum.

The Grammys are usually loud. Flashing lights, overdramatic outfits, and perfectly choreographed performances to impress the audience. Spectacle is the expectation. So when Justin Bieber stepped out onto the Grammy stage and did the exact opposite of everything we expect, it caught everyone off guard. And that was exactly the point. 

Instead of relying on visuals, Justin Bieber’s performance felt raw and almost uncomfortable in how real it was. It felt like a moment we weren’t entirely sure we were supposed to witness, as if the audience had been let into a private performance. 

What stood out most was how intentionally he directed all attention to his voice. There were no distractions pulling your eyes away, no overproduction to amplify the experience. Whether people loved the performance or thought it lacked dramatization, one thing was undeniable: everyone was listening. It’s no shock that Justin Bieber understands the captivity and strength of his voice. He knows it’s powerful enough that people will listen no matter what he’s wearing (or not wearing, in this case), or how much is happening on stage.

That confidence completely changed the meaning of his performance. It didn’t feel like he was trying to impress the audience or prove anything. By taking all other factors away, he forced listeners to confront his music, without any distractions.

This choice also challenged what we expect from artists on big stages like the Grammys. For such a big event, he showed that authenticity and simplicity in performances can be just as powerful, if not more.

The New York Times captured this moment perfectly with the headline, “How Justin Bieber Forced the Grammys to Stop and Simply Feel.” In a room designed for excess, Bieber chose minimalism. And by doing so, he reminded the audience that music should be felt no matter how it’s delivered. 

All this to say, when Justin Bieber starts singing, you listen. 

I was really struggling to think of an idea for a blog this week. I wrapped my head around anything interesting I had done recently, but could only think of the endless movies I watched after catching yet another winter cold. In the end, all I could think about were summer vacations.

So, I asked AI to be creative, imagine five incredible vacation destinations, and explain them in detail (from what music would be listened to, to what touristy activities would be done). I will say, I definitely want to go on a summer vacation now. I listed all five of them below. Prepare to be amazed.

• Starting off strong, Puglia, Italy

You wake up in a huge stone villa, with a beautiful pool and arched doorways. You eat nothing but Burrata, grilled seafood, and fresh peaches, while listening to Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence and old French love songs. Huge, elegant olive trees grow everywhere. You live spontaneously, drive a tiny Fiat, and swim in bright turquoise waters.

• Second, Isla Holbox, Mexico

You’re living in a boho beach bungalow with fairy lights and hammocks that hang over turquoise waters. You eat fresh fish tacos and coconut ice cream. All you see are pink flamingos and pastel sunsets. You bike everywhere because that’s your only option, while listening to Beach House.

• Next up, Azores, Portugal

You stay in a modern cliffside guesthouse that has floor-to-ceiling windows. You eat grilled fish, local cheeses, and passionfruit desserts, and you listen to Hozier. You see nothing but waterfalls, free-roaming cows, and volcanic landscapes. You spend time hiking, and you go swimming in hot springs.

• Fourth, Lofoten Islands, Norway

You live a very simple lifestyle, in a red fisherman’s cabin, which sits over the water. You eat fresh cod, cloudberries, and warm bread, while drinking coffee constantly. All you see around you are beautiful mountains. You listen to Phoebe Bridgers as the sky continues to stay golden for hours.

• Last but not least, Jeju Island, South Korea

You stay in a modern guesthouse that has a rooftop terrace. You enjoy constant tangerine desserts and drink delicious iced lattes. You wake up early in the morning to hike, and swim under the waterfalls in the afternoons.

I had never heard of a single one of these places, and every single one of them is absolutely beautiful. I think my top three that I would love to see would be Puglia, Italy, Azores, Portugal, and Jeju Island, South Korea.

If this taught me anything, it taught me that the next time I’m looking to travel, I should ask AI to pick a trip and plan it for me. It also made me even more excited for the warm summertime (if we can ever make it out of below 30 degree weather).

Most of the time when I sit down to watch a movie or a TV show, I skip past anything that has come out recently and go straight to the 2000s and 2010s. Many of my favorites are from these eras, and stuff now just doesn’t cut it. While I am a fan of shows like Outer Banks and Abbott Elementary, something about them just isn’t as enjoyable. Despite me not even being born until 2009, I prefer the feel of 2000s media to movies and shows nowadays. Here are some of the reasons why I feel that way:

1. Scared to make a joke

I think that many filmmakers now are scared to make controversial jokes because they think that they will get “canceled”. While I do think that representation and equality in media is important, I also think that people know a joke when they see it, and won’t be offended. One of my favorite movies from the early 2000s is White Chicks, and I highly doubt a movie like that could come out today and not be criticized on many levels. I believe that the laid back feeling of White Chicks was a quality of a lot of media at the time, and is part of the reason why I find it so entertaining. Another movie that emulates this is She’s The Man. I know this is a little less popular than White Chicks, but it also can be considered to be controversial. I, however, love this movie, and I love that, similar to White Chicks, it is able to take on serious issues like sexism and racism and create a more lighthearted, social commentary out of it. I think that directors and writers now shy away from this, and that’s why a lot of film now feels stale.

2. Too high quality

This might seem like a weird thing to complain about, but I think that camera quality now is almost too good. I don’t need to see every single detail of the scene, and I definitely don’t need it to feel like its a set. When I watch media that has come out recently it doesn’t feel like I’m there, it feels like a set for a movie. For some reason, I also feel like seeing modern technology in a film kind of takes me out of it. This actually leads me to my next point.

3. Less dramatic

I feel like modern cell phones and technology almost make everything too easy for characters in film. Instead of  dramatic runs to the train station and almost missed flights and plots driven by letters sent between two friends, now solutions to characters and problems with miscommunication are very easily solved, and I think that it takes away from the film. Anyone can contact someone at any given time, and the internet is there to give them every solution

4. The decline of entertaining reality TV

I will admit that I do love reality TV, and have watched many different shows. Some of my favorites are The Simple Life, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and Survivor. There’s just something about these shows that is unique to the 2000s, and those will always be when the best seasons were released. Although Survivor still runs today, and season 50 is actually about to come out, my favorite thing to do is to throw on one of the old seasons to enjoy the better vibes, and to see Ozzy play of course. I think that as time went on they kept adding new twists to Survivor, but the original seasons will always be the best. My favorite is actually season 28, Cagayan.

On February 3rd, the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Clippers for James Harden. This season, Harden has averaged 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. His numbers far outshine Garland’s lackluster performance this year, even while playing 18 more games.

James Harden is arguably the greatest scorer of all time. He averaged an astounding 36.1 points per game in the 2018-2019 season, having an average of 40 points over a 32-game stretch. He utilized his tight handle and extreme foul baiting to trip up defenders, scoring both from the three-point line and in the paint. His foul-baiting became so effective that the “James Harden Rule” was implemented to penalize offensive players for using unnatural motions to draw fouls.

Darius Garland was selected 5th overall in the 2019 draft by the Cavs, and has been a great asset to the team. He is a two-time all-star and was a significant part of the Cavs’ electric season last year.

Personally, I am hoping that this trade can elevate the Cavs’ offense past its lackluster appearance so far. Last year was so much fun to watch the ball movement and shot selection of the Cavs, and this year has been a major let down. While Harden’s defense is a concern, I don’t think it’s much worse than Garland’s, and I believe that Harden will elevate the team far beyond what Garland has been providing this year. It’s sad to see Garland go, but hopefully this move will finally get the Cavs past the second round and win a championship.

Go Cavs!

Contrary to the title, I’m not talking about Jeopardy. As the holiday season comes to a close, the season of hairspray and frolicking in tights is upon us. We all know how last year’s competitions went… are we ready to leap right into it this year? With my lovely shin-splint filled weekends approaching on my calendar, here are my most-asked questions, ranked on how little to much I enjoy answering them:

#5: Can I come watch you?

No, no you may absolutely not. I didn’t tell you about it for a reason and I would prefer if the amount of people seeing me in that costume is as close to none as possible.

#4: So did you win your competition?

Awards and placings in the dance world are rocket science to most outsiders (and me too half the time), so I usually just answer “no”. The ones who are intent on me explaining the entire process definitely regret their decision by the end.

#3: Can you guys wear your hair down for this one?

Our dance teacher is under the impression that a hard hat of gel and hairspray pops out of the hair tie in voluminous loose curls, ready to go onstage in five. Makes sense, as he is nearly-bald. So I try my best to appease his demands, but the sticky tangles unfortunately do not always live up to the Sabrina Carpenter blow-out.

#2: Oh you got gold, so that’s like, really good right?

If that’s what you think, sure! Never mind the fact that it’s one of the lowest placings you can get… Again, dance awards are confusing.

#1: Do you want to get Chik-Fa-La after?

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, would make me happier than strolling out of Chik-Fa-La in my 5-hour old makeup and matching warmups with a milkshake and fries in hand.

Honorable Mention: I didn’t know Raiderettes did dance competitions!

As much as I would love to be kicklining it all year round, I do belong to two separate dance teams, and bake sale funds unfortunately do not cover competition fees for twenty people. Specifically for college applications, the too-often confusion would have to land this one at the bottom of the list.

With my first competition being this upcoming weekend, I’m definitely excited about some questions more than others, and even reminiscing on those that aren’t on the list. “Do you wanna walk to Starbucks?” ending in a three-block trek through a literal snowstorm in tights for a latte; “Mom can you drive us back?” creating an iconic clown car scene from said Starbucks trip; and “Do you want to join the competition team?” being the first and best one of all. I’ve created such strong bonds these past few years, and I’m looking forward to many more memorable questions in my upcoming senior season.