Anime Review (WITH SPOILERS): Steins;Gate

Time travel is a famous topic in TV shows, but it's not always talked about in a way that can be easily understood. Steins;Gate, however, makes time travel look and sound easy, because all you need is a microwave, a cell phone and a banana. 

This anime follows a young man who considers himself to be a mad scientist (named Rintarou Okabe). He attends a seminar, and while he's there, he meets a woman (Kurisu Makise) who ends up dead moments later. This leads to feelings of confusion and curiosity, so that's where the time traveling aspect picks up.

Okabe has been into science ever since he was a kid, so that kind of made him a loner with the exception of one person (Mayuri Shiina). Because Mayuri has been in his life for so long, her role in this anime is not limited to just one story line.

The pacing for Steins;Gate isn't perfect as some episodes are more driven by dialogue than others. The suspense from the action and dialogue however will keep you on your toes as the story continues to develop. I'll warn you now that there are a lot of deaths involved with this anime, and for the most part, those deaths are limited to just one person. There's also one suicide by hanging, but that's with a different character whose role is fairly minor. 

To make up for the amount of deaths in this anime, I will say that not every scene is dark or conspicuous. Okabe does meet other characters along the way who have friendly and upbeat personalities, one of which wears a cat costume and likes to say "meow" often. 

The second season (entitled Steins;Gate 0) isn't that great in my opinion, but the openings for both seasons are great in their own ways. Both of the opening themes are sung by the same artist (Kanako Itou), and while I kind of enjoy the first one a little better (Hacking to the Gate), I do like how the second one (Fatima) has a more ominous feeling, especially with the ticking of the clock before the second verse starts. 

So overall, I'd say that Steins;Gate is truly an unforgettable experience. It's been a while since my first time watching it, but once you start that first episode, there's no stopping and you'll be too immersed in the anime to think about anything else. In some of ways, it'll feel like you've traveled to a different world filled with unique characters that make the scenery feel less dreary. 

Insight Post: Compulsive Buying Disorder (The Shopping Addiction)

For as long as I've been in my 20's, I feel like forming better and healthier habits has been somewhat stressful, but also rewarding. Shopping out of boredom or impulse was a challenge for a long while when I first got started, because I kept making decisions based on emotion or out of impulse.

There are two ways to look at impulsive shopping. The first one is when you do it in a moment of emotional overwhelm, whether if that response is triggered by a certain situation or person in your life. If someone in your life is causing you to feel stressed, angry or upset, ask yourself the real reason as to why that is. Is your perspective based on clouded emotional judgment, or has the person actually harmed you in some way? Everyone has their own unique personality, and sometimes, the way we respond can be irrational depending on the situation. So if the effects of your shopping habits are because of certain situations or people, try to either communicate with that person calmly about the issue, or just allow yourself to have some alone time before doing anything.

Whenever I went out to shop in my earlier years, 9 times out of 10, I didn't have any plan or list in mind. I just bought whatever I wanted, and my reasoning wasn't always rational. If I saw something that was on sale, I would buy it. If I found a certain clothing item that was cute but not suited for my lifestyle, I would buy it. For the longest time, I was always drawn in by colorful pieces or things that were trendy, and while I would wear them for 2 to 3 months at a time, I would later grow bored with those items. This in turned created a habit of producing more waste than what was necessary. Not only that, but in the long haul, I also found that half the things I was buying at the time weren't adding any value to my life.

In my honest opinion, shopping should NOT be a hobby. It's one thing if you're shopping for other people (which makes it more of a job than a hobby), but if you're shopping for yourself, make a list with only the necessities in mind. Another thing you could do if you're struggling with your finances is to create a budget. For example, let's say you just received your paycheck of $500 for the week and you're tempted to spend it all on stuff that's not essential for you. To budget this out, try putting 50% of that towards your bills, 30% towards your savings and 20% for your shopping list (this includes groceries, toiletries/personal care, clothing and other needs). This way, you have a certain amount of money to spend on each category of your life, and you won't have to worry about what to do with all that money once it's in your account.

Shopping out of boredom is something that I struggled with for quite some time, so if you have this problem as well, then I completely understand. One thing that I'd suggest for this problem is just let yourself sit with that feeling. Don't over analyze it, and don't worry too much about finding ways to "cure" it. I know how easy it is to fall into this mindset of always being busy or always having something to do, but sometimes, boredom can be a positive thing. The general census of boredom in most cases is that it's a psychological state of restlessness, or not knowing what to do next. If you're a naturally anxious person or if you struggle with this feeling of restlessness, that's okay.

Sometimes in the hectic pace of our lives (or in our minds), we can forget to take time for ourselves and just be in the moment, not doing anything. If you're someone who doesn't have a lot of free time, I'd suggest taking 10 or 15 minutes at minimum to be alone with yourself. If you're someone who has an average amount of free time, but perhaps you're spending that time scrolling social media, YouTube or browsing the Internet, try opting for silence instead. If silence makes you feel uncomfortable however, try listening to calming music with no voices as opposed to an album from your favorite artist.

I hope this post is helpful to you in some way. Too often, I feel like we normalize this issue of being addicted to shopping, but in truth, it can lead to other issues in our lives like financial debt, severe depression or anxiety, loneliness or even being homeless. Now of course, there's also the issue of becoming a hoarder and not having enough space in our homes to actually live in. These issues are real and they should not be taken lightly, and I'm not pointing these things out for the sake of being hurtful or judgmental. We're all deserving of living a well-balanced life that brings us a sense of peace and/or joy. So for today, my question for you is this: When you walk into your own house, would you rather be invited in with a bunch of clutter and messiness with no open space, or with an atmosphere that feels calming, relaxing and like a real home?

Musical Review: My Fair Lady

So this musical has been around for many years, and yet, I've grown quite fond of the music. The story's main characters are Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins, and their relationship slowly builds after an bet is made that Higgins can turn Eliza from a poor flower girl into a lady who can speak proper English.

The supporting roles in this movie musical are Alfred P. Doolittle (Eliza's father), Colonel Hugh Pickering, Henry's mother Mrs. Higgins, Freddy Ensford-Hill, Mrs. Pearce (Henry's secretary) and Zoltan Kaparthy. And while all of the songs are catchy and easy to sing along to, I find that the songs from the supporting roles (especially Freddy's On the Street Where You Live and both of Mr. Doolittle's numbers [With a Little Bit of Luck and Get Me to the Church On Time]) are my favorites.

When I saw this live in Nashville, it was a lot of fun. The setup for Professor Higgins' house was put on a revolver which made getting from one room to the next easy and simple. Of course, all of the cast was talented, but one thing that I noticed with this performance in comparison to the movie is that Freddy's character sang with a bit more expression and not as much bravado. Of course, this certainly makes for a more believable performance as an actor as you can tell that he's in love with Eliza, so I can't complain too much. He brought forth his own unique version of the role and seeing that on stage was honestly amazing.

Another thing I've noticed with Eliza's character in the stage production is that she puts a bit more emphasis in certain syllables when she speaks- especially with the English vowels. Audrey Hepburn, of course, is an icon and her use of southern draw just felt more natural, so this isn't to say that the stage actress didn't do Audrey justice. I guess her southern draw just felt a little more heavy in some places, for lack of better word.

So overall, I think the film version as well as the stage production are both deserving of 5 stars. Prior to seeing this live, I had the songs stuck in my head a lot. I'd also say that this musical can and should be seen by just about anyone young or old. Of course, anyone who saw the movie when it was first released would probably know it better, so I'd say go ahead and share that memory with your grandkids or anyone else in the family.

Capsule Wardrobe Guide: Work Wear Essentials

To be honest, this is all going to vary depending on your workplace’s dress code, so I’m going to whittle this list down to two different categories: business casual and business formal. Within each list, I’ll be sharing some pieces that I wear on the daily at my job. Feel free to tailor these suggestions to your own personal style if your occupation gives you room for creativity.

Business Casual:

1. Basic T-shirt (white, black or grey)
2. Black jeans
3. Dress pants- I personally have 4 pairs of dress pants, and the colors I’ve chosen are all very versatile (maroon, khaki, navy blue and black).
4. Sneakers
5. Blazer- I have one in black and another in khaki, but if you’re allowed to wear something other than those options, then go ahead.

Business Formal:

1. Blazer or suit combo- if you go for a suit with a skirt, make sure it follows the rules and guidelines of what’s appropriate. Of course, suits can be mixed and matched to your own style if your profession allows it. If you’re unsure in any way and have already talked to your boss, I recommend that you go with dress pants and a blazer as that’s the safest option. 
2. Dress pants
3. Collared shirt
4. Heels or pumps
5. Tote bag

Styling Tips:
One thing that I’ve found helpful with my options is to go for colors that are either neutral or versatile. Maroon goes with a lot of lighter colors, but if you style it with another color, make sure that it doesn’t clash or compete with your base color. Black and white are fail safes as they can go with literally anything.

If you work in a business formal environment, you don’t have to go all out with your budget just to look stylish and professional. Something as simple as popping your collar out of your blazer or sweater can help you stand out a little. Also, don’t be afraid to mix up simple basic pieces with more casual options if your workplace allows it. I think a white button down shirt paired with a sweater would look good on anybody; I also think pairing a brown belt with black jeans or dress pants if they have belt loops would look nice.

When working the classic work tote, you can either go with black or brown as those options go with a lot of different looks. I personally have a navy blue tote with gold detailing that I sometimes use if I need to carry more, but of course, my workplace is pretty relaxed, so I don’t need it all the time.