Why Grad school is Actually the Hunger Games

After some particularly harrowing weeks of school and Catching Fire finally coming to theaters, I've been inspired to write this blog post comparing the Hunger Games (books.movies/scenario in general) to my short time in grad school.

That being said: SPOILER ALERT. If you haven't read the Hunger Games series, you really need to get on it ASAP. And go see the movies. But read the books first.



During the first week, you actually have stuff due. It's still "syllabus week" like in undergrad, but you're expected to have shit done already. It feels like coming up into the arena for the first time after you've just possibly said goodbye to your stylist for the last time.

During the first month, some professors expect you to already know what your thesis (or project) will focus on.

There's that one person in your program that ruins things for everyone else, naturally everyone starts an alliance against this person. We'll call them the Career.

If you're lucky, you have an awesome professor that everyone loves. They'll help you with your projects and be genuinely interested in your success in school, not just their class. This person is like your mentor and sponsor.

Of course, not all the professors are awesome. Some dislike you for no reason.

Sometimes you feel like you're in a literal fight to the death. With yourself. And the worst feeling is knowing that you've done this to yourself...

But you make great friends.

And you surprisingly laugh. A lot.

So maybe grad school isn't always completely like the Hunger Games, but some weeks it is. I'm just glad I've got my grad school besties by my side to help me.

MY Fashion Police: Golden Globes 2013

I just caught the end of E's Fashion Police and I couldn't disagree more from them! Especially Joan. I'll have to catch the whole episode later this week because normally I agree with Giuliana or Kelly but tonight... Not so much.

Anyway, I decided to list my best and worst dressed from the Golden Globes. Also, I love Awards Season. When I have my own place I will make my friends come over to watch and make wagers on each category and well as decide our best and worst dressed. Beware, friends.

Jennifer Lawrence looked divine in Dior Haute Couture. (The chest area was a little odd, but otherwise, "j'dor Dior!")

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I guess I was digging the reds and Dior this year because Marion Cotillard also hit it out of the park last night in this little number. I love the hem line.

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Let's talk about Olivia Munn. This is Giorgio Armani so different, but just the right amount of different. She didn't cross a line and looks gorgeous. Also, this lady is hilarious.

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And now worst dressed.

The ABSOLUTE worst was Sienna Miller. I don't know WHAT she was thinking. She said something about wanting to represent the 60's, but I think this is more BAD 90's meets 60's... It's awful.

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And Lena Dunham. I don't get it. I haven't seen Girls, so maybe I need to see it, but I don't understand the current obsession with her. What I have seen of her? Not that funny. Not to mention, please don't wear a dress like this with your nasty tattoos all over the place. Awards Shows are all about class and elegance and I just feel like the tats ruined it for me. Also, this dress does not fit her well at all.

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Joan decided that T-Swifty was her best dressed of the whole night. Well, Joan, I have to disagree. I normally LOVE Taylor's dresses and style in general. But I have to assume her stylist is under quarantine and couldn't help the poor girl out for the Globes because she looked terrible. The helmet hair, the darkness, it's too much. I understand the Globes are a little bigger than her usual CMAs and Teen Choice Awards, but she tried WAY too hard.

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And now to our wonderful hosts. Tina and Amy KILLED it last night. They were hilarious but definitely underutilized. They both looked gorgeous and definitely need to host everything forever. If Ricky Gervais can not be that funny and host for three years, Tina and Amy should DEFINITELY get at least 2 more years, right?

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Do you love Awards Season? Who were your best and worst dressed? What were your overall thoughts on the kickoff for the 2013 Awards Season?

Hunger Games Link Up!

My new blogging friend, Alyx at Everyday is a New Adventure, made a Hunger Games link up for all of us to GEEK OUT together about our HG experiences!

Kendall, me, Macie, and Lindsay after the movie - we're so pumped!

Kendall ordered her shirt about a month ago and ordered me to either make one ("because your crafty") or find one and order it ASAP. Naturally, I waited until the last moment to look online and couldn't find one I liked so I made my shirt. It turned out pretty awesomely, but being the perfectionist I am, there are a few things I don't totally love haha. Macie got her shirt the day of and Lindsay is wearing a Chuy's shirt with a HG parody.

My shirt after I finished it Thursday night

Now onto my review. Ummmm, is there a better book adaptation on screen? I think NOT. Gary Ross and whoever else did a phenomenal job of bringing the book to life. Since I just finished re-reading the book lst week, there were several things left out that I got nitpicky over, but overall they did an awesome job of bringing the book to life. Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss. And after watching JL on her press tour last week, I want to be her best friend. She's hilarious. And Elizabeth Banks IS Effie, moreso than any other actor in the movie is their character. She was perfection. I could go on about all the actors and their characters but I have ot make myself stop. I also LOVED how they deviated from the book's sole Katniss POV to show us what the gamemakers were doing throughout the time in the arena and how District 11 reacted to little Rue's big moment. I was terrified of the scene between President Snow and Seneca in the rose garden. Snow is so effin' scary (mainly if you've read all the books).

I'm still mourning the loss of Madge in the movie. I think she was REALLY important. She was like an insider who opposed the whole thing. Her dad was the mayor. He was an ultimate piece in the games by having to subject his district (and his own child) to this crap. And Madge's family had history with the games. I just don't understand why they cut her out. This is the one thing I'm allowing myself to nitpick about in the movie.

I will say that I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't anything at the end of the credits (please correct me if I'm wrong). I mean, even if it was just Prim and Katniss hugging or something. I just like stuff after the credits. I'm a sucker for it ever since the Pirates franchise. What did you think? Have you seen it more than once? (I've already got tentative plans to see it two more times.)