Keeping up with Trendz

The Orange Glow.

2009-04-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've noticed the campus has gotten a lot brighter lately...and by that I mean there have been more sightings of The Orange Glow. Don't know what I'm talking about?

Okay, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But you can't deny the amount of orangy-tans strolling across campus lately. Not just here, but everywhere you go...girls are going tanning because summer is coming up.

Now, I am all in favor for a healthy glow to your skin. It makes you look thinner, healthier, and vibrant. But when I fear I am going to get second-hand skin cancer from standing too close to you, you may have a bit of a tanning problem.

I really don't want to dedicate a post to the health risks involved with going to tanning booths, because I think every girl who's ever been tanning (myself included) has been yelled at, ridiculed, and scolded about how we're going to get skin cancer. Unfortunately, my mom just recently got basal cell melanoma and had to get surgery to have it taken care of. I have since sworn off the tanning bed, and instead get my tan from a tube...the way nature intended it!

But really, I do promote the use of self-tanners if you do want that look because not only are you preventing cancer, but you are preventing looking like a leather handbag by the time you are 30. My favorite self-tanners are:

St. Tropez
Jergen's Gradual Self Tanning Mousse
Oil of Olay Touch of Sun in Medium
Neutrogena Spray Bronzer
Fake Bake

I do not give The Orange Glow look any stars, but if you practice safe sun care, I give you 5 out of 5 stars!

★★★★★

Rolling Backpacks.

2009-04-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here at George Mason, we are given a 15 minute break in between classes. For many of us, that time is usually spent rushing to our next class...which is likely a mile hike across campus. Although I'm sure many of us wish we could leisurely stroll to class, the fact is that we need to haul it ASAP in order to make it on time.

That's why I am here today to vent to you about the number one thing that gets in my way when trying to get to my next class:

Rolling Backpacks.

Look, I am not here to hate on you about your choice of backpack. But really people...these things are a hazard! Our campus is a huge, huge place filled with LOTS of people. Lots of pushing and shoving goes down in our crowded hallways, and if you are one of the Rolling Backpack-ers, you sure as hell are making things dangerous for us just trying to survive.

I can't tell you the amount of times I have tripped or have seen people trip over these things. I rate these backpacks a measly 1 out of 5 stars, because unless you are physically unable to carry a backpack or bag, you should not be dragging your books behind you for others to fall onto.

★/✩✩✩✩

Revamped: The One-Piece Bathing Suit

2009-04-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

Summer is just around the corner, and every girl I know has been hitting the gym to get that bikini body ready for the beach. It's this time of year that girls are checking out what new bathing suits Victoria's Secret has to offer, and then going to Target to find the cheaper version.

But there is one bathing suit that you will be seeing a lot more of this summer. And that is the one-piece bathing suit.

No, not like your grandma's one-piece. This one-piece brings sexy back...kind of.

The new one-piece features many new holes in places you would not expect. A hole around the belly button? Okay. Two on the sides? Sure. Both!? Wait a minute...

This James Bond-esque suit is not meant to be worn by the conservative beach goers. In fact, I wouldn't recommend this bathing suit to be worn at all unless it were at a James Bond themed party.

The reasoning is this: Who want's to have those tan lines?? If you lay out on the beach in that suit, you have made a commitment to your wardrobe that you will only be wearing this suit for the rest of summer, because those tan lines are going to be out of control.

I give these suits a 3/5 stars, because while some of them are very cute, they are not practical for the typical summer day.

★★★/✩✩

Gladiator Sandals.

2009-04-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

It seems like every year, there is some ridiculous shoe trend that surfaces from the depths of radical fashion designer's minds. I remember when I was in third grade, the cool shoe to have was the platform tennis shoe.

I believe it was this exact pair that I owned and "rocked" in third grade, making all the boys want to date me and all the girls want to be me...or something like that.

I first noticed the newest shoe trend while skimming through Perez Hilton. Of course, who other than Mary-Kate Olsen was one of the first to start wearing...

The Gladiator Sandal.

I think my reaction was much like the rest of America's when this shoe made its debut: Why? Why? Why? I was scared, nervous, and mostly uncomfortable to see poor innocent legs caged in by strappy patent leather. They looked completely uncomfortable and not even attractive. I just didn't get it.

But then, like most things, I began to warm up to the idea of gladiator sandals...or at least the tamed down version:

I actually bought a super-cheap, super watered-down version of the gladiator sandal at Target not too long ago. I still don't think that the Gladiators that climb up to your knees are attractive, but it's good to see fresh ideas coming into the fashion world...even if you do need to alter it every now and then to fit your own style.

I give Gladiator sandals 3/5 stars, because I still think there are much cuter sandals out there.

★★★/✩✩

Guidos.

2009-04-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Every straight girl has their own taste in guys. Some like athletes, others like computer geeks. Some of us like those bad boys who we know are just so bad for us.

And then there are the girls who find these guys attractive:

GUIDOS.

I can't help but think back to one of my favorite shows ever -- True Life -- and the episode where the young couples are getting married. There was a guy who resembled the chaps pictured above, and I think that was the first time I was introduced to the concept of the guido. Jet black hair, stereotypical Staten Island accent, gold chains, spiked hair...basically, the Gotti Brothers.Believe it or not America, some girls actually find this breed of human "hot." Speaking only for myself here, I do not think it is acceptable to date someone who uses more hair and face products than I do or goes tanning more than I do.

Besides, what's with the lip gloss?

That Guy.

2009-03-31T20:38:00.001-07:00

As a professional college student, I've learned a thing or two in my day about taking pictures at parties. There are unspoken rules which we all must obide by, and here, in no particular order, are the most important.

1. If you are a girl posing with fellow females, be sure to get as close together as possible and make the kissy face.
2. If you are a bro posing with fellow bros, hold up your beer if you have one...and if not, throw up the horns.
3. If you happen to be in the background while one of the aforementioned photos are taking place, do all you can to avoid being...

THAT GUY.

"That guy" is the creeper in the background of many party pictures. The most severe cases of That Guy occurs when said dude happens to glance at the photographer at the exact moment of snapshot, causing a creepy, staring look on his face when really he probably just was cruising by. But have no fear, because there are multiple ways to avoid being That Guy and being made fun of forever.

The first way to avoid having an unwarranted stalker reputation is to not look. Use those peripherals, guys! Think you see a group of people posing out of the corner of your eye? Don't look until you see the flash! This one is the easiest way to avoid becoming That Guy.

The second way to lighten the situation is to make a face. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but at least you can act like you were trying to be funny.

Personally, I like "that guys." I think my favorite photos are the ones with some poor, innocent bystander creepin' in the background. It always gets a good laugh, and frankly, we've all been "that guy" once in our lives.

★★★★★

Pop Music.

2009-03-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

We all have music on our iPods that we don't want anyone to see. For me, it might be every Britney Spears song ever recorded. Or perhaps it's Lindsay Lohan's latest song, "Bossy." Regardless, I know all of you have a secret song that you jam out to in your cars when you think no one's looking. This song might be something that you discovered while "accidentally" listening to HOT 99.5 the other day, or perhaps one of the girls in your Bio lab was singing it incessantly to the point where you had NO CHOICE but to go home and download it! There's no shame in that. My point here is this...

At some point in everyone's life, you will fall victim to liking some form of pop music.

Believe it or not, a lot of people find this fact embarrassing. This is because when many people think of pop music, they envision this:

(Image courtesy of themusicstories.com)

I would be embarrassed too, if this were the real definition of pop music. But it's not. Pop music stands for "popular music," therefore any song or band that is "mainstream" or popular to the point where they are on the radio, on MTV, or selling out huge venues for concerts -- they could be considered "pop."

Pop music is no longer synonymous with bubblegum dance music. It's artists like John Mayer, Kanye West, Coldplay, Keith Urban and John Legend. These artists that produce music in genres like alternative, country, and hip hop are now also being categorized as pop.
(Image courtesy of Breakpoint.es)

So while many of you out there actually tend to listen to music that is by no means considered mainstream, a lot of us out here are guilty of listening to pop music. And does that make us conformed consumers of a money-hungry society? Maybe. But if giving up secretly listening to my NOW 5 CD means I can be cool, than I'd rather not be.

Miley Cyrus.

2009-03-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

For a few years, there seemed to be a lacking of wholesome, tween-friendly celebrity role models in the world. Girls as young as ten and eleven were looking up to scandalous, moral-hating, BELLY-BUTTON EXPOSING women such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Just before things could get any worse, a light beckoned down from the heavens and graced us with none other than....

MILEY CYRUS.

Young, innocent, pure Miley. Daughter of one-hit-wonder Billy Ray Cyrus, she hit the scene on the Disney Channel hit show, Hannah Montana. And little girlies everywhere freaked. Some say that the merch sold purely from the Hannah Montana empire saved the economy from hitting "depression" status.

And then...something happened. Maybe it was the Disney Channel curse. Just look at Brit and Xtina. But no one expected it from loveable, giggly, baby-toothed Miles. While some people think that she was just a growing, teenage girl who was discovering her body for the first time...others called it Myspace. Suddenly, the pictures were everywhere. Not just of Smiley Miley in her pool, but pictures of her lifting her shirt to expose her Limited Too training bra, and laying on BOY'S LAPS! Mothers everywhere united, protesting Hannah Montana and her dirty, dirty deeds.
(Image courtesy of HotGossip.com)

Since the leaking of these photos, Miley has been the center of many tabloid controversies. And since I am on a roll here, let's make a list, shall we?

The scandalous Vanity Fair photoshoot, wherein Miley posed "topless"
Photo of Miley purposefully slanting her eyes, causing mass hysteria in the Asian community
Hannah Montana Chocolate Granola bars being recalled due to suspected salmonel la contamination
Miley Cyrus Fan Club members being snubbed out of promised "first dibs" on concert tickets
16-year-old Miley dates 21-year-old Justin Gaston, a model who has recently posed in various sexual poses and magazines.
Miley causes a stir in the gay community when she takes over Disneyland for her "Sweet 16" during what is usually the annual Gay Day.

(Image courtesy of Vanity Fair.)

I literally could go on for at least 84 more bullets, but I think you get the drift.

Hannah Montana. Miley Cyrus. Whoever you are, I rate you two stars, because no one else on earth has caused this much drama before they were legally able to drive. No one.

★★

Rock of Love.

2009-03-15T19:44:00.002-07:00

Reality TV is nothing new. Ever since Survivor: Borneo debuted in 2000, people have been bringing "reality" to television in every shape and form possible. Reality dating shows have proved to be some of the more popular forms of RealiTV, especially those shows whose bachelor/bachelorette is a celebrity.

Which leads me to the latest craze in Celebrity-Dating-Reality-TV:

Rock of Love.

This show, hosted by none other than Bret Michaels, takes America's finest ladies into one single house (or in the case of this season, a bus) and Bret gets to pick and choose who his faves are and who will not stay in his house, and continue to rock his world. Now, if you have never seen this show and have absolutely no idea what kinds of girls are on this show, please let me elaborate a little:

THESE GIRLS SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME!

One girl has pins sticking out of her face, most of their chests could be used as floating devices, and all of their hair is fake! Its absolutely...fabulous!

But anyway, I have to admit something: this makes for wonderful reality tv! I can't tell you how many times me and my friends or boyfriend have found ourselves watching episode after episode of Rock of Love. This is one trendy TV show that I, admittedly so, watch almost relgiously.

So, for this show, I give 5 out of 5 stars (gasp!) because as much as I try to not watch it, I can't stand not knowing who Bret Michaels chose to share eyeliner with.

★★★★★

Girl Scout Cookies.

2009-03-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

I come from a family of sweet-tooths (sweet-teeth?). If there's one thing my family cares about, it's how to get a quick fixin' for our cravings. And there is one season, one time of year that is looked forward to more than Christmas and Thanksgiving combined as far as sweets go...

Girl scout cookie season.

That is why I have decided, for your viewing pleasure, to discuss with you and rate these treats, to help people of all kinds, and to live by the girl scout law.

1. Thin Mints
Thin mints are described as being round, mint flavored cookies covered in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate?? Whaaaa? I am not a fan of dark chocolate, but there is something about these cookies that make me want to marry the next person I see. In fact, funny story, I used to hate these cookies. Now, put down your weapons and rocks because I was a young, stupid girl at one point and everyone gets a "Get out of jail free" card, am I right? But yeah, these cookies are obviously the most popular of the GSC's, with good reason. I rate these 5 out of 5 for pure popularity, simplicity, and PMS-friendliness.
★★★★★

2. Samoas or Caramel Delights
You guys, this was so hard for me to rank these as number two. The perfected mixture of coconut, chocolate, caramel in a tiny donut shape makes me loopy. I can't even tell you how many times these cookies have helped me through the worst exam cram nights, break ups, and slumber parties. Besides expanding my waist line, these cookies expanded my heart...for girl scouts. I now actually care about the girl scouts because of these cookies. I also give these 5 out of 5 stars, because in a perfect world, this would be the only food available.
★★★★★

3. Do-Si-Dos
Without going into the entire background of my weird eating choices, I am not a huge fan of peanut butter in some things, like Reeses cups. Maybe it's the peanut butter and chocolate combo. ANYWAY. In regular cookie world, peanut butter cookies are my absolute favie! The girl scout version of my heart in cookie form are called Do-Si-Dos, and they measure up pretty nicely to the competition. Only downside: veryyy crumbly. (But what peanut butter cookies aren't?) I rate these 4 out of 5 stars, because they can kick any peanut butter craving you have right in the crotch.
★★★★

4. Tagalongs
Like I said previously, I'm not huge on the chocolate-peanut butter combo. But one of my good friends could seriously eat nothing but these Tagalongs for the rest of her god forsaken life. Now, I don't know if it's because everytime we hang out she pulls a box of these bad boys out of her purse, but the more we hang out, the more I appreciate Tagalongs. I give them 3 out of 5 stars, because there are DEF other GSC's I'd rather eat.
★★★

Honorable mentions include: Lemonades, Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips, and Dulche De Leche's.

(Images courtesy of Girlscoutcookies.org)

Horoscopes.

2009-03-01T16:36:00.000-08:00

Although everyone may not know theirs, everyone has a horoscope. From Gemini to Capricorn, these astrological symbols don't just represent the star alignment you were born under..they reveal who you are.

Zodiac Sign pinback buttons
Originally uploaded by jnhkrawczyk

In almost every women-oriented publication you come across, somewhere in there is your daily star reading. These usually reveal how your day will go as far as work and love, and sometimes try to reinforce your belief in them by giving you some vague characteristic you supposedly have.

Many read these horoscopes religiously, as if these mini-predictions were the be-all, end-all of their future. Others, on the other hand, think...well...

Astrology is bull
Originally uploaded by thebadastronomer

Personally, I do not see the harm in reading these every now and then for fun. However, just because I have found that almost NONE of mine tend to be accurate, I do not believe in horoscopes or that my star sign determines what kind of person I am.

I will rate this trend a 3 out of 5 stars though, because I think that The Onion's take on horoscopes is probably one of the funniest things to ever happen to me.

★★★

Designer Sweatpants.

2009-02-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

It has come that time that I finally review a trend that I absolutely love. This trend is not something that I necessarily think looks amazing or is the cutest outfit choice ever...it's not even close. I am simply a lazy gal who likes to look good...while being lazy.

I'm talking about designer sweatpants.

Wherefore Pink?, originally uploaded by Boris Badenov.

The Uggs, the Victoria Secret PINK sweat pants. The whole look screams, "I can be cute and lazy too!" And that, my friends, is my goal in life.**

I feel that this look appeals to both men and women alike: Guys see the girl sporting their cute yet comfy threads and think, "Gee, that girl is really laid back and not a potential psycho girlfriend." Girls, on the other hand, are constantly checking out other girls' outfits and this is no exception. Hello, it's cute!

sweats_049, originally uploaded by Footie Fan.

Also, notice how versatile these sweatpants can be. They're not your average sweatpants that require some sort of stained wife beater and 10-year-old sweatshirt that says "Hard Rock Cafe." Instead, you can wear regular shirts and jackets with them, as well as a number of different shoes!

Overall, I give this trend a whopping 4 out of 5 stars. It would be a 5 out of 5, except the fact that these cute sweat pants usually cost anywhere from $30-50, which just ain't right for sweatpants.

★★★★

**Extremely inaccurate, but works in the context.

Uggs with Mini-Skirts.

2009-02-22T17:25:00.001-08:00

In the wintertime, you will not see me in anything other than Uggs or some form of knock-off. I almost will refuse to wear anything else, unless I am going to the gym. Now, my thought process during this time of year is something like: "Hmmm, I know it's going to be freezing today. What will keep my toesies the warmest?" And I slip into my fuzzy boots and jeans and head out.

HOWEVER.

I do not understand the mini-skirt and Ugg combination!

coffee bean boots, originally uploaded by Malingering.

Why girls think that exposing 12 to 16 inches of skin and bundling up everywhere else will somehow be anything but dumb is beyond me. I know some people might sport this look during the warmer days, but I kid you not America, I have seen this very look sported on days of 30 degrees or colder on my own college campus.

Camo-Uggs at the Getty Villa, originally uploaded by Boris Badenov.

Let's be real. Look at the elderly woman checking out this girl's outfit. This is why older generations hate us, guys!! And another thing! Why would you want to wear Uggs at anytime OTHER than the winter?! My feet sweat if it's any warmer than 40 degrees and I'm wearing those bad boys!

So the point is, this look is just plain odd. It's like wearing an oxymoron. Not to mention, this trend is WAY OLD! Just check out this article posted back in 2006!

I rate this trend 1 out of 5 stars, because maybe...just MAYBE if they were some other boot, it would be cute.

★

Vintage [Anything].

2009-02-16T09:40:00.001-08:00

Mushrooms, originally uploaded by drew-o-rama.

I consider myself mostly a "girly-girl." I love pretty dresses, I have floral sheets, and my room is pink & white. I feel like I have a magnet in me that draws me to the shabby-chic section of any store, however...

There comes a time when "vintage-chic" turns into "wow-how-have-I-not-thrown-that-away-yet" chic.

No Concept
Originally uploaded by !Ms. Allison Wonderland

Don't get me wrong. I definitely like the "old-school" feel when it comes to certain pieces of furniture or artwork. However, many new-age hipsters and scenesters prefer to feel as if they live in a time capsule that hasn't been opened in 50 years. {Pictured right: Girl in hipster glasses (see below) with her new favorite thrift-store purchase.)

Smithy
Originally uploaded by drew-o-rama

These people like to buy the scariest, oldest, dust-ridden plates and pictures to line their shelves and walls, as if they were paying tribute to what our grandparents called the "golden years." I don't want to hate on this too much, but if I walk into your apartment and I can't distinguish whether a 22-year-old or an 88-year-old live there, we have a problem.

I rate this trend 3 out of 5 stars, because even though some of the things people buy are heinous to no end, they usually cost about 5 pennies.

★★★

If you still really like this style, check out some nicer places to find not-so-hideous stuff.

Temporary Item: Jose Antonio Vargas Story

2009-02-11T21:44:00.001-08:00

Jose Antonio Vargas Interview

He may be the only journalist to have analyzed to such extent the use of technology in the latest election, because his stories all focus on the relationship between politics and the Internet. Jose Antonio Vargas is a reporter for the Washington Post, and may be one of the first journalists to cover the up-and-coming topic of Internet communications and our government.

Lately, Vargas has put out many pieces regarding the Obama administration and the new and innovative ways our president is connecting with U.S. citizens. “[Everything] is going to operate through Whitehouse.gov,” Vargas explained on Thursday, January 29 to CSPAN-3’s “Distance Learning” program. “One of the things they are trying to do is to create a level of engagement…and to have a discussion [among citizens] about certain issues and topics.”

According to Vargas, had Obama not utilized the Internet in the way he did during his campaign, he may not have been elected. Vargas explained that through websites such as MoveOn.org gave supporters a feeling of inclusion in the government process, unlike the traditional approach to campaigns where candidates attack one another constantly. “[Their approach was not to be used] to attack one another, but to be more issue oriented,” Vargas said.

One of the biggest changes to come with this new presidency is the transparency level on Whitehouse.gov. George Mason University student Lauren Jost was impressed by the amount of interaction and up-to-date news the new website provides. “My favorite part of the website is the ‘Weekly Address’ that President Obama gives every Saturday morning to update us on the latest issues,” Jost explained. “It’s a great feeling knowing that our president wants us to be aware and up to date with the happenings in our world.”

The success secured under Obama’s online campaigning seems to have inspired all the branches of government to become more connected with U.S. citizens. Members of the House and Senate have started their own YouTube pages in hopes of informing the people about issues and topics of importance. However, Vargas believes that rather than simply informing the public, politicians should use these websites as platforms for discussion. “I’ve watched some of these congress members, senate members and house members’ YouTubes, and I think many of them think this is a broadcast TV model as opposed to sparking some actual dialogue,” he noted.

Although our president may be advancing as far as technology is concerned, many politicians seem to accustom to outdated ways of communication. Vargas explained “politicians are in the Britannica Encyclopedia [thought-process], while the rest of us are in Wikipedia.” Especially when it comes to the conservatives in our government, they have a lot of catching up to do. “McCain ran a no-frills campaign,” Vargas said. He went on to explain that by not utilizing such social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, the republican party may have lost crucial votes.

Whatever the current situation may be, it seems that things are only progressing in the online world of communication. Since the internet is rapidly climbing to the top of the news food-chain, it is imperative that our government utilize all that they can to keep us informed and stay away from the attack methods of campaigning. “On Google, everyone is equal,” Vargas explained, “and it is up to us to distinguish fact from rumor.”

Twilight.

2009-02-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

So there's this book called "Twilight" that has everyone freaking out. It's about some kind of teen-vampire-romance novel that has enough fans to warrant five books in the series (so far). Apparently, this book is the new Harry Potter and if you don't read it then you can guarentee to be left out of 74%** of girl's (even women's) conversations for the next decade.

I, personally, have not read the books nor do I have any undying desire to read them. Something about vampires and magic and love don't really sit well with me. For example, I was never one to suggest watching "Lord of the Rings" or "Chronicles of Narnia." However, I will admit that after seeing "Narnia" I have never been so happy to have watched a movie in my life.

I think I'm scared to read these books because I know I will never want to read anything for school again.

However, my trusty roommate (and credible movie critic) informed me that (and I quote) "The movie was awful and nothing like the book and I've never been so dissapointed ever! I love Edward!" So one can see how I haven't had the uncontrollable "bite" (get it?) to see this movie or read the book.

Either way, I know I will be missing out on something...whether it is a great book and movie or doing actual homework.

I rate this trend 0 stars because I never have and never will see it or read it. So there.

✩/★★★★★

**Statistic completely made up, by me.

Wide-framed Glasses.

2009-02-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

From Cisco Adler, to Jay-Z, there seems to be a new trend that no one is safe from.

Wide-framed glasses.

The urban-Brooklyn-chic style has grown popular due to generic and overpriced clothing stores such as Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, and these glasses seem to be the designated symbol of Hipsterdom.

While the tiny population of self-proclaimed "hipsters" find these 1980's styled frames to be attractive, the rest of the world seems to be walking around with question marks lingering over our heads:

What are some people thinking?

The worst part about these glasses is that Hollywood seems to be embracing this trend and flaunting it in the most unsuspecting of places...

The hip-hop scene.

Yes, it's true. Nothing screams "gangster" like glasses my dad wore in what he calls "the most embarrassing years of his life."

(Image courtesy of Danasdirt.com)

Many Americans fear that the economy is to blame for this sudden uprisal in ugly eye-wear. Are thrift stores to blame? Are these kids digging through their parents storage to save money on pricier glasses?

We may never know the answers...we can only hope the 80's inspired looks stays on the face, and away from the shoulder pads.

I rate this trend 2 out of 5 stars, because hey, recycling is always a positive.

★★

Pomegranates.

2009-02-02T19:07:00.001-08:00

With the economy in the toilet and everyone closing their wallets to things they'd normally want to splurge on, there seems to be one thing people can't get enough of.

Pomegranate.

I don't know what it is about this fruit that suddenly awe-struck an entire nation, but we Americans can't get enough of pomegranate.

Completely curious and new to the fruit, I decided to venture to my neighborhood Giant store to pick up a few pomegranates. To my surprise, I had to pay $8 for two of these somewhat onion-y looking things! I had never tasted anything pomegranetized, so you can bet I was a little annoyed and praying that my next snack would be worth the possible "five-dollar-footlong" I was sacrificing for research.

First of all, figuring out how to actually get to the good stuff in the fruit is quite a challenge in itself. One of my roommates told me she watched a video on YouTube about how to cut the fruit, and although I do not recall the exact directions, she explained that it involved soaking it in lukewarm water, a dash of salt, and traditional Native American folk dance. I decided against the YouTube idea and found that cutting it clean in half worked pretty well. I was a little surprised to find what was waiting for me when I cut it open...

Did I accidentally buy a cow's brain? What exactly is going on here? Again, my trusty roommate explained to me that the seedy/brainy looking pods inside were actually the fruit. So I carefully spooned out the little buggers because apparently (i.e. this happened) if you roughhouse with them, they WILL spray you.

And then I ate them. And I enjoyed them. But I still was curious...why all the fuss? There are definitely fruit on my list that I would much rather eat, smell like, drink, and shampoo my hair with than pomegranate. Sure, the pom has a sexy antioxidant that fights cancer and crime, but what fruit doesn't these days? And sure, the pom has a unique texture and form...but excuse me, BANANAS ANYONE? Bananas have an easy-grip shape and smooth texture making for the perfect comfort food. With the pom, you still have seeds you either need to chew up and swallow (ew!) or spit out!

TOO MUCH EFFORT.

Don't get me wrong, I plan on eating a pomegranate for lunch tomorrow. I just don't plan on buying any of the following:

Nice try, pomegranate. But I saw "The DaVinci Code" and you were no where in it!

All in all, I give this trend 3 out of 5 stars because while I do like the taste and its interesting shell, I can't believe they have pomegranate chandeliers.

★★★

To read more about the phenomenon that is pomegranate, click here.