Moskovskiy Metropoliten

I have studied Russia since the start of my academic career. It still amazes me as to how many people do not know the beauty that Russia has to offer, especially architecturally. There is St. Basil's, which is probably the most famous architectural monument in Russia, but one thing that really makes me squeal in delight is the Moscow Metro. Designed during the reign of Stalin, the metro stations were supposed to be a highlight of the sophistication and opulence enjoyed by the Russian people (although this may not have been the case factually, these metro stations still truly scream luxury).

The Komsomol'skaya Station
Designed by Shchusev


The Novoslobodskaya Station


Other Stations along the metro:

Opulance

Detail. Opulence. Around the world.

England



India



Mexico


Russia



America

I <3 Moorish Architecture

So inspiring!
I want these to be an inspiration for my own house (when I get one!)








All images from Architectural Digest

Exam Treats!

Its exam time! And everyone I know is either super stressed or super busy. I always find during exam time my craving for sweets goes WAY up, so I try to curb this by making my own baked goods. I try to eat somewhat healthy when I’m stressed or not stressed, and I love to bake and cook. These banana muffins are a perfect study pick me up and always make me feel super good.

Recipe:
2-3 very ripe bananas (I like to wait until mine are black!)
2 eggs (or 1 if you want to make it really low fat)
2 tablespoon of oil (for moistness)
½ cup of sugar
1 ¼ cup of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

1) Mix the flour, sugar and baking soda together in a large bowl
2) In another bowl, put the banana, oil and eggs into the blender until completely smooth
3) Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients
4) Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350ͦ

5) Enjoy!

You could add a table spoon or so of chocolate chips if you wanted banana chocolate chip muffins, but I find these to be perfect!
For those of you that have exams as well, GOOD LUCK!

Sad Story

I read the saddest article that says that due to the recession, pet owners are choosing to give up their beloved dogs and cats or put them down in order to save on medical costs for pets. Since most people do not have pet insurance, the thousands that it costs to take care of an animal is just not affordable on any level. I feel so horrible for these pets, as I do for the owners that have to give them up. I have a wonderful sweet cat and I could not imagine giving him up for any reason, especially financial, so my heart really breaks for those owners who have to give up something they love so they are able to afford a place to live. I know the only way to really make a difference here is to give more to local animal shelters that are being overworked due to the large amount of pets that no longer have homes. Or if you can afford it and want a pet, please go and adopt one of those pets in need from your local humane society. Pets are a wonderful, loving addition to your household and provide the best unconditional love that you can ever imagine!

Angry Side Note: Greedy Universities

I was appalled, no, make that disgusted when I heard of UofT’s flat-rate tuition fee program that the university would like to start in 2011. All I can say is that thank god that I am graduating from UofT in 2010 (hopefully), and that I won’t have to deal with the horrible ill-planned mess that the university is about to introduce for students. Any student who is taking less than four credits would be downgraded to part-time student status, meaning they cannot have access to interest free OSAP or any of the other benefits of full time student status (like child care on campus). Those who chose to take four courses will have to pay around $1200 more for something they are not even getting a benefit out of. The only people that will be getting a ‘fair deal’ from this are the students taking six courses a year, and honestly, that is tough on any student who also wants to work and go to school at the same time. I hope that UofT will come to their senses and keep tuition fees as they are now. Or a better novel idea: lower the tuition fees for students like we’ve been lobbying for!

And this is just a side note: I don’t personally know where all my tuition dollars are going to now! My campus constantly looks like hell. This is not a joke. The moral of the place is constantly low. And despite our new library and our wonderful “communications” building which looks like a supped-up prison cell, there hasn’t even been a slight improvement in campus food, or recreation space for the students. There aren’t even backs on half the chairs at the meeting place!

I love what I study, but I cannot support a program that will disenfranchise so many students and leave so many more without an education. Honestly, I thought that in the recession, the goal was to educate as many young minds as possible to create new jobs in the future to get us out of this mess, not introduce a bogus policy that would keep talented people out of a post secondary education!

For those interested here is the article outlining the policy.

Kindness

I just read a quote today that made me yearn for my boyfriend. I haven’t been able to spend enough time with him outside of school lately as exams are coming up, but when I read this, it just hit the right note:

'Listen, what you guys really have to do is be kinder to each other.' It's such a simple concept but it's a really important concept with a relationship...when you're in a relationship; it's really not just about you anymore...'People throw away relationships too easily -- marriages especially in this town... not only in this town, but in this world.'
-David Arquette

Agreed. Life is rough enough, and relationships are one place where you should be able to escape to a safe place for a while.

image: deviantART