Things we're obsessed with

Spotify karaoke

Before you judge, hear me out. If you, like me, have friends that treat karaoke as a competitive sport, a bit of DIY on Spotify might just give you the edge you’re looking for. First, search for the karaoke version of a song, like so: “Spark, Tori Amos, karaoke version.” Select one version, and as you play it, click on your Spotify MusiXmatch app, which will run the lyrics in time with the song. Connect your device to an amplifier for a more profound musical experience. Spark is not a song you’ll see at most karaoke venues. It’s also not a song people would dare sing in front of a crowd — strangers or friends. Having the option to try it out, or in my case, practice, is valid reason to get even just a little excited. Tori Amos singing backing vocals for me? I never thought I’d see the day.

 — Chonx Tibajia

Started from the bottom, now we’re here

It almost pains me to admit that, for well over a week now, my Rouge Noir-tipped fingers have been glued to my iPhone because of a ridiculous game called Kim Kardashian Hollywood. (I’m blaming this in part on the fact that I’ve been mostly confined to my bedroom  — it’s the fever causing this dementia, I would never actually be playing this were I in full control of my mental faculties.) I’ve never been the smartphone gaming type — says she who has all Final Fantasy games in their own app folder — but I couldn’t resist the call (kall?) of Kardashian.

Basically: Kim discovers your character working in a downtown L.A. store, sees the X factor in you, and promises to help you work your way up from the Z (okay, in the game it’s E) List to the A List, which you accomplish by doing celebrity things — posing for shoots and campaigns, making appearances at events, schmoozing with other personalities — and spending some Kardashian Kash on clothing items. It’s mindless fun, which must be why it’s so addicting. I kid you not, I have actually set alarms to remind me when my “energy” will be fully replenished so I can continue to play. As if I wasn’t already unproductive enough. Hey, at least I’m not exchanging actual money for virtual money (contributing to what is said to be a $700,000 a day profit — seriously?) in order to keep playing constantly…yet.— Regina Belmonte

Party Down

Once again a little late to the party, I only recently discovered the hilarious sitcom Party Down and have been watching it non-stop since last week. If you haven’t seen it yet, this offbeat and drily sarcastic comedy series from the Starz network is about a group of struggling actors in Hollywood who part-time at the eponymous catering company. Each episode sees the hilarious cast of characters (most of whom you may recognize from cult classic television series Veronica Mars) catering different events ranging anywhere from a Sweet 16 birthday, a gay couple’s wedding, a porn awards night and even an orgy. Having only two full seasons before it was canceled back in 2010, Party Down is currently my favorite Internet find of the week. Each episode is only 30 minutes and available for streaming online. — Carla Villanueva

The awesomeness of Awesome Mix Vol. 1

I’m pretty sure everyone has spent at least a few days listening to the perfection that is the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Never has it been more cool to be, well, kind of uncool, because we jettisoned all pretenses otherwise (“Sorry, I only listen to really indie stuff you’ve probably never heard of before”) straight into Knowhere. You're dancing around your room to Come and Get Your Love, Star-Lord-style, right now.

Unlike with the previous Marvel movie offerings, only a handful of people actually knew anything about the Guardians of the Galaxy prior to the hilarious trailer that played Blue Swede’s Hooked on a Feeling in the background, and that’s precisely what drew me in: the promise of a really good time, regardless of who the heroes are. (Who the f— is Star-Lord? Hell, even bad guy lackeys in the movie don’t have a clue.)

It was the incongruous but strangely appropriate mix of Star Wars-ian space opera and Sixties/Seventies hits that really launched the movie into my list of favorites for the year (so far), and the film’s soundtrack seemed a character in itself to match Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax: toning down the gravity in heavier moments, kicking up the cheese in silly ones, and providing a familiar tether in a two-hour interstellar spectacle. I stepped out of the cinema needing to hear all those songs again, and I know I’m not the only one.

Also, it must be said: If Marvel can make almost a hundred million dollars in a weekend with a franchise that next to nobody but the nerdiest really knew anything about, featuring characters familiar to hardly anyone, with its arguably biggest star (Bradley Cooper) voicing a raccoon, how is it possible that a Wonder Woman movie still doesn't exist, DC? How?— Regina Belmonte

Maja Wyh

I’ll be very honest. It’s been an extremely long time since I’ve found a blogger that I actually like. With everyone on the internet doing their OOTDs and looking hella basic a.k.a. super alike in every way, I had almost given up on the idea of there being a fresh, new blogger out there who’d peak my interest (the last being Karla Deras of Karla’s Closet back in 2010 – and she’s still good). Most bloggers have one or two good looks before they enter the dark abyss of blahness that seems to curse bloggers (most of whom are trying in one way or another to be trendy/please their readers rather than themselves). A couple of months ago I stumbled upon German blogger Maja Wyh whose oversized, maximalist approach to fashion is luxurious, sexy and a refreshing change from the almost identical and often copied looks of what seem like every fashion blogger out there (I’m looking at you, local bloggers). I suggest you check her out at majawyh.com for some inspiration on how to be cool without trying so damn hard. — Carla Villanueva