Tuesday, July 15, 2008
One, two, three, four...
To counter my extremely sour entry yesterday, here's a list of 10 good things:
1. Project Runway starting tomorrow night! & the (secret for now) project I'm doing in conjunction with it.
2. mini chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's
3. text messages from friends
4. Feist @ the Bowl this Saturday
5. The Dark Knight coming out this weekend
6. remixing the wardrobe already in your own closet
7. planning a trip to Minneapolis!
8. the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe to try
9. this month's cover of Poets & Writers
10. You & your kind comments!
I'm attempting an official/unofficial sabbatical from shopping this month. I don't want to buy any more new clothes for the rest of the summer; but incredible vintage items that I really really love are an exception. However, with the summer heat coming on strong (read: steering me away from flea markets and weekend shopping), it shouldn't be too hard. I'm just tired of being such a consumerist, and my closet is growing to become an unmanageable monster.
Plus I hate being consumed with the feeling of coveting material items -- it's something that comes on whenever I'm back in Orange County. It's almost like there's something parasitic in the air there that turns you into a shallow, materialistic credit card-charging creature. Life is just full of too many things to be done and miraculous little things to pay attention to; it's hard to remember that when stuck in an office for 40 hours of the week.Labels: lists
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
July Goals
- finish four paintings (the circus girl portraits)
- read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle
- take a road trip to San Francisco!
- indulge at Tartine
- write an hour a day, five days a week
- meet with an admissions counselorLabels: lists
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
To Do in May
- update personal site content (inspired by this entry)
- make 5 paintings
- work on 2 portfolio pieces
- write two short stories
- finish reading a book
- bring lunch at least 4x a weekLabels: lists, to-do
Monday, January 07, 2008
"I want to be as famous as Persil Automatic*." -- Victoria Beckham
Five Good Things
1. Crafter.org's Best of 2007
2. Sewing inspiration: this big-shirt-into-a-swanky-little-dress
3. It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be. by Paul Arden
4. Planning my weekend trip to Baltimore to visit Gina
5. "In a world where celebrity equals talent, and where make-believe is called reality, it is most important to have real love, truth and stability in your life." -- Bernie Brillstein
I'm gearing up for a couple writing projects, some personal and some with deadlines. So I'm forcing myself to focus on that and reading during the weekdays. Then I'll spend weekends constructing a new sewing project. I'll factor in painting and drawing somehow, but deadlines have a way of making priorities shift. At the same time, deadlines may finally force me to get some goddamn writing done. It's a curse and a blessing to want to have your fingers in all the pies.
* one of the UK's leading detergent brandsLabels: good things, lists, writing craft
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Start Fresh.
Happy New Year, friends! I love the first few days of the new year, where you get goosebumps from the prospect of starting over and actually achieving all the things you've wanted to do in a measure of time -- even if nothing really has significantly changed except a page turn of the calendar. If only every midnight hour could invoke such fresh inspiration, motivation and cheer!
So I'm going to spend the last day of my vacation doing my favorite things: going to the movies, reading leisurely, cooking, playing with Lucy, and chilling like ice cream filling with Ryan. Though I can't say that I'm looking forward to work again tomorrow (in fact, I'm in utter denial until 9AM tomorrow), I'm very much excited about the chance to start fresh with a list of resolutions in 2008. You know how much I love lists.
Here are some of my resolutions, because The Secret says* to put what you want out into the universe and you'll get it, or something to that extent right?
1. Write a short story a week.
2. Run 3x a week and start a weekly yoga practice.
3. Read 23 books.
4. Draw every day (& finish my Illustration Certificate)
5. Make a dress & start refashioning my own clothes.
6. Study for & take the GREs
7. Release a chapbook.
8. Submit to at least 3 literary magazines.
9. Build & cultivate friendships & relationships with family.
10. Keep painting!
11. Write & complete a first draft of novel.
12. Spend wisely & learn about investing.
There are 17 in total, but I'm keeping some under wraps until I'm ready to reveal them. Always good to hold some readers in suspense, right?
Now I'm out to make Nigella's Sesame Peanut Noodles from Nigella Express, which was among many books generously given to me for Christmas.
*I haven't actually read The Secret, so don't quote me or even believe me on this.Labels: daily, lists, resolutions
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Top 50 of 2007
(in no particular order, the top 50 things that made my 2007)
1. a new apartment with my boy & sweet dog
2. Waitress
3. finding amazing restaurants in LA (Luna Park & The Alcove, to name a few)
4. switching jobs 3 times, finally finding one that fit
5. Etsy.com
6. Blueprint magazine (R.I.P.)
7. painting again - finishing 12 this year!
8. Dita Von Teese
9. learning to use my new sewing machine
10. Floyd's Barbershop
11. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
12. the release of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
13. learning Illustrator
14. Paperbackswap.com
15. Pan's Labyrinth
16. life drawing classes
17. Lucy dog surviving her scary health bout in April
18. road trips with Ryan
19. Wicked
20. new friends that came with switching jobs
21. Avenue Q
22. My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living by Jonathan Adler
23. health insurance
24. handwritten letters and postcards
25. handmade swaps (valentine & otherwise)
26. NaNoWriMo, finding that writing spark again
27. Zen & the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
28. Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World
29. Summer Pierre's Artist in the Office zine
30. inspiring blogs; i.e. m. writes, inside a black apple, Pink of Perfection, The Sartorialist, 52 Projects, Orangette, to name a few.
31. Starting Things We Wore with Annie; staying in touch even when she moves away (sniff)
32. PCC & Fairfax flea markets
33. brussel sprouts & my burgeoning love for them
34. TV on DVD (Heroes season 1, Gilmore Girls season 7, Arrested Development, The Office, Carnivale, Freaks & Geeks)
35. friends, in person, in blogs, in phone calls, in emails
36. no one dying in my family
37. Illustration Friday
38. marthastewart.com
39. Rilo Kiley's album Under the Blacklight
40. working half a block from Anthropologie & all their sales
41. Amy Winehouse's album Back to Black
42. really good girl driven cheesy pop: 1234 by Feist, Misery Business by Paramour, Britney's album (YES I SAID IT)
43. Nigella Lawson, her feisty attitude about curvy females, and How To Be A Domestic Goddess & Nigella Express
44. Gina's visit, and her ongoing support and inspiration in writing
45. Juno
46. LA Public Library
47. becoming a FlickrPro; totally.worth.it.
48. becoming a domestic goddess
49. Paris, Je T'aime
50. and lastly, but certain not least, the best partner-in-crime a girl could ever dare to ask for, Ryan.
I certainly don't mean to miss anybody/thing, but these were the things that came to mind in the last two hours that was spent composing this. At first it seems rather hard to think of anything, but once you get to 30, you realize how much can happen in a year and how good you really have it.
*And for really careful readers, you might notice that this list is constantly being revised and updated. At least for the first week of January...Labels: lists, top 50
Monday, December 03, 2007
Some people do arts & crafts. We judge.
Ironically on the coattails of my last entry, I'm already overwhelmed by the holidays. Among all the wonderful tutorial and crafty idea websites (i.e. Craftzine's blog & burdastyle.com), I'm already feeling behind and it's December 4. So I think it's time to prioritize crafting, painting, and writing duties for December (are you smelling another list? Because here it comes). Realistically, there is only so much time & energy I have after a full time job to focus on all the crafting & art-making I'd like to do.
For the season:
1. Write & send out holiday cards.
2. Make/find a garland.
3. Buy a tree skirt.
4. Buy stockings.
5. Spend a weekend decorating a gingerbread house.
6. Spend time drinking cocoa and/or eggnog while curling up with good books -- or guilty pleasure style books.
7. Finish online shopping for presents.
8. Design & send holiday party invites, plan menu.
9. Finished Top Secret planned paintings.
10. Finish NaNoWriMo novel, 1,379 words a day.
11. Prepare submissions to literary magazines (far & wide).
Must find inspiration again. Inspiration I can feel in my hands or see my impact. Let me take this moment to proudly announce that the wardrobe/clothing blog I'm co-authoring with the impeccable Miss Annie has gone live! You can follow our (almost) daily wardrobe posts at Things We Wore. (It works best on Firefox, and c'mon why are you on IE still?) This is helping me rediscover my closet and curb my clothing addiction, though I must confess that I can't help meandering over to Anthropologie daily.
Happy December, friends. Be decadent.Labels: arts+crafts, lists
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thankful
The next 15 hours are going to be pretty whirlwind between dropping off Lucy at my parents' house, packing, and getting to LAX for a 6:30 a.m. flight...so here's to starting it with positive thinking by making a thankful list.
Things I'm Thankful For This Year
1. Finally finding a good job.
2. The experiences, however painful & soul-crushing.
3. An extraordinary boy.
4. marthastewart.com & many glossy magazines.
5. Finding the discipline to write, paint, and design.
6. Family, old and new. & none of them dying this year.
7. Friends who love me, near and far. & their support & inspiration.
8. Films that make you cry, good, hearty tears.
9. Confidence and freedom that comes with age.
10. Old, beautiful things waiting to be discovered, and Los Angeles, with everything here waiting to be discovered.
What are you thankful for this year?Labels: holidays, lists
Friday, November 16, 2007
this week, doing & loving
reading: My French Whore by Gene Wilder
listening: Sondre Lerche on the Dan in Real Life soundtrack
watching: Dan in Real Life
eating: apple cinnamon popovers
making: felt ornaments for the holiday swapLabels: lists
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
6 Good Things (on the web)
A spiderweb of things that have been inspiring me & influencing my to-do list:
1. 52 Projects: A Not-To-Do List
2. Signing up and feeling fully dedicated to National Novel Writing Month.
3. Martha's lacy candles
4. pulling favorite but worn tees out of the donation pile to make a doggy jacket
5. StyleBubble & darling Etsy dresses to inspire some wardrobe refashioning
6. FreePeople's Dark Fairy Swap
For some site business-y things: I've updated the About page (in case you've been wondering), and I've relinked Anthologie -- with an updated story + prompt! A lot of soul-searching (how terribly cliche) has brought me home to the house of writing. I'll be updating Anthologie pretty regularly for the rest of the month, and then may take a break from that project to dive into NaNoWriMo as mentioned above. This year I'm truly committed to it; and I'm taking these Anthologie practice prompts and a pile of writing books to start mapping out a practice.
I'll be/I am reading:
1. Writing Down The Bones, Natalie Goldman
2. Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury
3. Reading Like A Writer, Francine Prose
4. On Writing, Stephen King
Do you have any good writing or creativity-inspiring books to recommend?Labels: good things, lists, site update
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Brushing the summer dust out of my eyes.
Dreamy crocheted neckwarmer courtesy of Etsy seller JewelLace. Perfect summer-to-autumn transition wear.
I'm trying my hand with gouache again, after a rather lackluster experience in a Color Theory class a few summers ago. Acrylics are too cloying for coloring my sketchbook, and watercolors are rarely the effect I'm looking for. I love flat, opaque, dreamy and bold. This doll of a gal is dressed in Erin Fetherston's Fall & Winter 2007 collection. I didn't mean for her expression to be so sour, but I'm probably channeling my frustration with a sore throat/mean cold rearing its ugly head.
In other news, I'm actually moving along with several of my priority projects for October, which include:
- studying for the GREs
- redesigning this site
- read three books (at least)
- finish a short story
- finish two paintings
- decorate & bake for Halloween
- clean out closet, hem & mend
- sew red riding hood cape costume
- make skirts and napkinsLabels: artsy girl, fashion love, lists, sketchbook
Thursday, August 30, 2007
For the Love of Lists
Things To Do This Fall:
- write a first draft of my novel
- collaborate on a children's book with Raye
- create a story with Ryan
- take drawing (life & advanced) classes
- read to complete 22 books read goal
- volunteer at 826LA once a week
- take an online writing course through a university extension
- pick apples from an orchard
- cook many new exciting things
- purge the closet
- make more lists of things to do in LA
- keep a writer's notebook
- make a pledge to Wardrobe Refashion
More lists are to come in September, I'm predicting. I love lists and I love the fall. I'm out on the town this weekend with one of my best friends, Gina, as she visits from the East Coast. Have an amazing and safe Labor Day weekend! Cross your fingers for me that I'll get internet at home soon!Labels: lists
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Projects
More for my own purposes than for your readership, but I'm always inspired by other people's working projects.
- writing: 30 stories in 30 days @ Anthologie
- The Story of Shoes
- redesigning this site
- developing a portfolio for either school admission or professional use
- one-line/ink drawings everyday
- paintings
- reading 8 books this summer
- making skirts with my friend Alanna (the fabrics below from ReproDepot make this project even more enticing)
- a hexagonal afghan inspired by this one that I'm over the moon for
   Labels: arts+crafts, lists
Friday, June 08, 2007
The Freakin' Weekend
I am so HAPPY it is the weekend! This past week has been insane at work, knocking my personal life out of whack because of irregular rhythms, which are not all bad, but I am definitely appreciating a break from work. Now if only I could plan out a decent mini-break for the summer so I can really take a break...
Professionally, though it has been a draining week, it has also been fantastic in that I landed my first proposal! So now that I've earned my keep at work, and feel adequately safe on the streets of LA now that Paris Hilton is behind bars once again...I have a bunch of things I want to do this weekend in celebration. CELEBRATION OF FUN! With last weekend all cooped up indoors because of Ryan's cold, and this past crazy work week, I am ready to be reckless and actually relax.
Things I want to do this weekend:
- go to a karaoke bar!
- go to the Museum of Jurassic Technology!
- read out in the sun (with 55 SPF on, of course)!
- shop SJP's new line Bitten!
- finish reading a book!
- illustrate things & play with my scanner!
- decadent breakfast at Urth!
- see Waitress & Paprika!
Out of all the creative advice books, the most important thing to note would be to SEPARATE your creative work time from your relaxation time (which might actually include creative work). I know it's hard for me to sit down and read a magazine or book without feeling guilty that I should be writing a short story or doodling in my sketchbook, which is the WORST FEELING EVER since now something fun seems like WORK.
RELAX YOUR WEEKENDS, friends. I just bought a new vintage dress from Wasteland and popped a multi-vitamin; I'm ready to rock.Labels: daily, lists
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Magenta on the Brain
Also known as Coxcomb, but it's much more interesting to call it My Brain on Open Examination (picked up at the Farmer's Market today). I do love bizarre flowers.
In a completely unrelated note, here are my summer goals:
1. Do 1 month's worth of short stories prompted by 3 AM Epiphany
2. Read 6 books (or more!)
3. Participate in Illustration Friday!
4. Learn Illustrator
5. Take life drawing
6. Develop online photography & illustration portfolio
7. Start a novel draft
8. Read (and possibly do) The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
9. See a bunch of good films
10. Write/illustrate a children's book
I just (finally!) bought a scanner, which I should be receiving tomorrow. I am beyond excited because this means so many things in terms of developing as an illustrator! I'm also very (geekily) excited because I just put three books on hold that will be available for pick-up at my local library. Say what you will about the cons of L.A., but I'll be happy as long as the public library stays amazing!Labels: lists, losangeles, photolog
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Six Things
Just short and sweet today as the weekend was oddly consuming and I have my first Illustrator class tonight; six things you might not know about me:
1. I secretly like hiking.
2. I'm a vegetarian.
3. I boycott Forever 21 for its corrupt business practices.
4. I hate celery, onions and cilantro.
5. I've had three jobs since I graduated college. (I plan to stay at this one).
6. I obsessive-compulsively count things (street lights, trees, lane reflectors) when I'm driving.
Dear readers, wherever you are, feel free to share six things about yourself.Labels: about me, lists
Friday, May 25, 2007
Some things I'd like to do this marvelous three day weekend:
- See Paris, Je t'aime
- Go hiking in a nearby park
- Feed ducks at said park
- Amanda's Swedish-themed birthday party
- Brunch with Susie & Amanda
- Finish package for FP Travel swap
- Shop at H&M with my Friends&Family discount this weekend!
- Make decadent weekend breakfasts
- Pick up a painting to finish
- Go on a photoshoot
- Sleep in!
- Read, maybe even finish a whole book
- Update the Archives!
Never fear, I will keep up my goal of posting everyday in May over the weekend as well. Maybe even with pictures, since I won't be bound behind a Flickr-blocked work computer!Labels: lists
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
If our occupation were to define our life...
Here are all my labels (in no particular order) --
- candystriper
- library volunteer
- congressional intern
- Disneyland stores hostess
- barista
- teaching artist
- guest services administrative assistant
- film production intern
- marketing intern
- staff writer
- photographer
- senior staff writer
- 826LA intern/writing tutor
- non-profit admininstrative assistant
- photo image editor
- development associate
- crochet instructor
I think of myself as a newbie to the workworld, being just a fresh year out of college. But now that I look back at all the titles/jobs I've had where people have counted on me & I could number my responsibilities, I can see how much I've really existed so far. What would your list include?Labels: lists
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
For the moment, I'm enjoying 8pm sunsets and 75F evenings. It's lead me to rediscover simple pleasures like the public library. After work yesterday, Ryan & I walked two blocks (much to my protest in the beginning, as two blocks in my urban terrain meant up a steep hill and over an interstate freeway overpass) to our local library, where we both filled out applications for our shiny new Los Angeles Public Library cards. Then I collected an armful of hardcover books I can't wait to crack, including:
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- On Beauty by Zadie Smith
- The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
- The Nanny Diaries by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus (necessary fluff)
All the potential for the impending summer is too exciting to nail down.Labels: books, lists, losangeles, twentysomething
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Sick Day
Since I'm sick in bed today, I decided to compile a grand list of movies to watch for days just like this. Or any day when you are just suffering from the blues, the blahs or the mean reds.
1) Breakfast at Tiffany's
2) Amelie
3) Legally Blonde
4) Mean Girls
5) Saved
6) 13 Going On 30
7) How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
Clearly, a girl-biased list. Any other suggestions?Labels: films, lists, the blahs
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Good Things
- my new job with my very own business cards
- powerwalk breaks to the beach
- TV on the Radio live
- homemade banana-strawberry bread
- ink wash life drawings
- buying tickets to the Decemberists playing with the LA Philharmonic in July
- all my new music: Lily Allen, Mika, Sondre Lerche
- successful Jetrag trips
- MILK, a fantastic new ice cream shop in LA
- friends visiting & making spring rolls in my kitchen
- Meet the Robinsons
- gorgeous mid-70s weather for weeks and weeks
- Easter candy
- This American Life (so addicting, I'll listen to 4 episodes in a day and drive Ryan nuts)
- The Art of Teese by Dita Von Teese
- red nailpolish
- tea lattes
- farmer's markets
- Essential Fashion Illustration
- Markers & mixed media illustrations
- BAZAAR's photo spread with Reese Witherspoon
- starting a writing project with my best twin
- designing my new office
- talented Marta and her darling Mellow Yellow swapLabels: good things, lists
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Make It Work
I miss Project Runway. Although if it were on, I suppose I would have to subscribe to cable, which is not really high on my list of purchase priorities. So much has happened, friends, in just the last 10 days and it's amazing how a 10 hour day job (I know) starts to not feel as long. There's too much to say just to catch up, so here is a list of things that have happened, will happen, and have been on my mind.
+ Went to Disneyland last Saturday
+ Signed up for Swap-Bot, and consequently joining 3 swaps already!
+ Chinese New Year two weekends ago
+ Road trip to Arizona this weekend
+ Fun co-workers to make the daily grind more bearable
+ Fully stocked fridge
+ Hopefully buying tickets to Wicked soon
+ Letters from friends!
+ Responses to resumes
+ Life Drawing & Marker Rendering classes
+ Zodiac coming out on Friday
+ Fully stocked fridge
+ More photos to come
+ Seeking cute everyday boots
+ Can't get the "Can Polyester Save The World?" NYTimes article out of my head, boo fast clothing
+ So many letters to write, but e- and snail
- Spending my whole life at work
- End of the month bills
- Seeing (most of) Superman Returns (thumbs down)
- So many letters/music to catch up on, so little time b/c of life-consuming job
- Developing a sore throat from the recent cold wave
- Not enough sleepLabels: lists
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Weekend Update
- Finished VDay swap gift and wrapped it up to send tomorrow
- Received fabulous VDay swap gift!
- Sweet Getty picnic date despite the cold grey weather
- Completed Marker Rendering homework/went to Marker Rendering Class
- Watched Idlewild and Tuck Everlasting
- Missed surprise date because of haircut
- Cleaned apartment
- Went to Lisa's School Daze opening at Reform School
- Found Mala, a great bar in Silverlake
- Cleaned apartment
- Got a hurrcut
Now so much more to do in this busy week; I don't know that I'm doing much in changing gears to a slower life. But I am trying harder to notice that this life is a beautiful one.Labels: lists, losangeles, photolog
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Slow down, you're moving too fast. Frames can't catch you when you're moving like that.
Don't laugh, especially those of you who know me personally, but I am shifting my interest towards the Slow Movement as a lifestyle change. Reveling in the pleasures of life, like walks or delicious meals with great friends, and using all the speedy technology for things like work.
Even as I say this, I'm sitting in bed with my laptop, five photographs torn out of magazines for my Marker Rendering homework, my sketchbook, The History of Love, and my phone. I don't know if a slowing down of life will ever apply to me, as I love to watch a movie while reading blogs, drawing, and talking on the phone/with Ryan. But I do want to focus on really being present, especially with my full focus and patience in a situation.
Needless to say, here are all the things I need to do in the next few days:
- Draw one b&w photo, marker render one color photo
- Life drawing homework
- Search for contributing writer/freelance positions
- Join flukiest.com, my friend's boyfriend's networking website.
- Upload photos
- Check to see if my PC has really crashed this time, and then transfer all consequent music to sync up for a mac.
- Go to Marker Rendering and Life Drawing Class
- Finish and send swap gift for Free People's Valentine Swap
- GET MY HURR CUT
- Super exciting picnic date at the Getty
- Super secret plans post-date
- START WRITING, especially in journal
- Grocery shop
- Clean apartmentLabels: lists, twentysomething
Friday, January 12, 2007
Don't Stay Still.
Stay was a really bad movie. So bad that I had to put on Season 6 of Gilmore Girls to get the ache out of my brain from the bad.
I feel all over the map the last few days, but I'm slowing down and circling the idea of what I really want. It's funny that there are a million things you dream about happening in the course of your life, but when you're taking the path day by day it's never what you imagined. Hopefully, it's better.
I'm so happy for this three day weekend, two of which days I'll be seeing my family and my wonderful friends in a far-away land called San Diego, and overall enjoying burrowing in bed working on all my New Year's Resolutions.
Just for my own sake, I'm reiterating all my New Year's Resolutions in one list:
1) Learn to sew; collect vintage fabrics and make own clothes!
2) Lose 10 lbs.
3) Continue yoga practice.
4) Eat healthier; learn more recipes; cook more.
5) Finish a draft of my novel.
6) Draw every single day.
7) Find a new job.
8) Manage stress better.
9) Maintain good correspondence and relationships with friends far and near.
10) Read 22 books.
11) Create an online photography/art portfolio.
12) Discover LA, and make it my home.
13) Learn Photoshop and Illustrator.
14) Become a contributing writer.
15) Make 15 pieces of art.
16) Take a photograph every single day; document it on Flickr.Labels: films, lists
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Sweet Escape
I wanted to write a nice long update, and perhaps add some photographs, but the new BUST came with Gwen Stefani on the cover, and then Ryan and I had to scout out this ramen restaurant mirage (we never did find it), and then I had to catch up on all of my friends' blogs and ljs...and now I'm too tired.
So in short, a few announcements, revised resolutions, and things:
- I have resigned at my current job.
- I have accepted an offer for an online photo editor position with a new company and will be starting in two weeks.
- I like Gwen Stefani's new album The Sweet Escape (especially the title track) a LOT. I also really like The Weepies album Say I Am You that I got as part of my Christmas package from Gina a LOT.
- I need to send Gina her package that has been sitting on my floor since the weekend :(
- Resolution 13: Draw every single day, document some on the blog.
- Resolution 14: Learn Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Resolution 15: Become a contributing writer.
- Resolution 16: Make 15 pieces of art.
- Goals this week: Finish one book, send Gina's package, start making Lacey's package, call friends and catch up, send late holiday cards (sorry!), buy seeds to plant flowers and more herbs.
- I had ramen tonight in honor of Momofuku Ando.
- Pan's Labryinth = sad sad sad!Labels: growing up, lists, twentysomething
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Year of More
Happy New Year! I am more excited for the developments of this year than I have been for any other year before; maybe because the most liberating thing about being out of school is the possibility that anything can change in a second.
A few more things to wrap up here from last year, and I'll move into the New Year. Pictured above is the Tiramisu Baby Blanket I crocheted from Alicia's test pattern. I didn't weave a ribbon around the scalloped edge because it was for a one month old baby boy. The night before Ryan went up to San Francisco for Christmas, I madly dashed to finish the blanket while he was creating a frame for a painting he did for his new nephew.
I'm really pleased with the way it came out, it was my first crocheted blanket and first time following a pattern! Alright, slide into the senior center over.
Here are some of my New Year's Resolutions; I'll keep it brief because I didn't realize until now that people only made one or two? I usually make twelve. And instead of doing things "less" like common resolutions seem to be, this is going to be my year of MORE. My year of excess and decadence in being good to myself and those whom I love. MORE LAUGHING. MORE TALKING. MORE LETTERS. MORE 'I LOVE YOU's. MORE THANK YOUs. MORE LOVE. MORE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. MORE YOGA. MORE TIME STARING AT THE SKY. MORE GUILTY PLEASURES. MORE CUPCAKES. MORE PHOTOGRAPHS. MORE GIVING. MORE KISSES. I want more more more of life. And these:
1) Learn to sew; collect vintage fabrics and make own clothes!
2) Lose 10 lbs.
3) Continue yoga practice.
4) Eat healthier; learn more recipes; cook more.
5) Finish a draft of my novel.
6) Be well onto an illustration track.
7) Find a new job.
8) Manage stress better.
9) Maintain good correspondence and relationships with friends far and near.
10) Read 22 books.
11) Create an online photography/art portfolio.
12) Discover LA, and make it my home.Labels: arts+crafts, lists
Sunday, December 31, 2006
A Bailey Happy New Year
Hello friends!
It's been awhile, I know. I sincerely hope that you've had the happiest holidays to date, and as Clare said it best: that the most you wished for be the least you received. Right now I'm sipping hot cocoa with Bailey's while waiting for a Bailey's cake to bake, so I should be down for the count soon. Tomorrow I'm going up to a cabin in the snow for New Years', so before the year is over, I want to wrap 2006 up with a list.
Top 50 of 2006
(in no particular order)
1) Graduating college
2) Moving to LA
3) Ryan
4) Adventures with Trinh
5) Stranger Than Fiction
6) First post-college job
7) Starting a yoga practice with Annie
8) Internship at 826LA
9) Writing dates with Dori
10) Staying in contact with favorite friends from college
11) Red velvet cake at Doughboys
12) Working as a photography teacher to 4th and 5th graders
13) San Francisco, and so many trips!
14) The Devil Wears Prada
15) The Time Traveler's Wife
16) Crafting blogs (especially: Alicia's, Stephanie's, and Lisa's)
17) Food blogs (Vegan Lunchbox)
18) Meeting so many famous people since moving to LA
19) DOMINO magazine
20) "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae
21) Gruyere
22) Tutoring 8A Fiction students
23) LTWR 100 with Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
24) Happy healthy relationships
25) Design blogs (i.e. FreePeople, DesignSponge)
26) My new sewing machine!
27) Audrey Kawasaki's painted girls
28) POETS&WRITERS magazine
29) McSweeney's
30) Meeting Fiona Apple
31) Digital Rebel XT
32) Vagina Monologues 2006
33) Susie
34) Becoming vegetarian
35) Flavor of India
36) Entourage
37) Owning my first vinyl records
38) Gilmore Girls
39) My exponentially compounding love for Trader Joe's
40) Stuart Dybek's writing
41) Ryan's tacos
42) Madeleine is Sleeping by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
43) Packages from Gina
44) Flea markets
45) Sew U
46) Opening my tubes of oil paint for the first time in three years
47) Finishing upper division French literature classes
48) short hair!
49) Netflix
50) TV on the RadioLabels: lists, top 50
Monday, December 26, 2005
Top 50 of 2005
1. San Francisco
2. fredflare.com
3. My apartment two blocks from the beach
4. BUST magazine
5. "My Humps" by Black Eyed Peas
6. ice wine
7. The Believer magazine
8. Mary Kate & Ashley
9. Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire
10. Vagina Monologues 2005 (& 2006)
11. best roommates ever: Alice & Shauna
12. This American Life
13. America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5
14. mochas from Amelia's
15. REAL SIMPLE magazine
16. Jenny Lewis (and Rilo Kiley, and More Adventurous)
17. the Hollywood machine
18. Fiona Apple & Extraordinary Machine
19. Louis Cannizzaro's artwork and loveable spirit
20. craftster.org
21. Craft blogs <3 (some good ones: loobylu.com, littlebirds)
22. Rose Bowl Flea Market
23. Project Runway
24. bookmaking
25. Tristan Prettyman & twentythree
26. Boston
27. Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith
28. making my first book: Little Wings
29. first dates four years in the making!
30. Paper Source
31. TURNING 21!!!
32. alphabet stamps
33. handwritten letters
34. postcards from all over the world
35. H&M, opening up 2 in SF
36. Miette Patisserie
37. high heels
38. Uggs
39. Book Club
40. Gmail
41. Lacey. Just Lacey!
42. "One Love" cover by Jason Mraz
43. Team Aniston
44. Cappy's Coffee & Tea
45. "Boyfriend" by Ashlee Simpson
46. curly hair!
47. Grey's Anatomy
48. Otis College of Art & Design
49. clear skin
50. my new iTrip!Labels: lists
Monday, December 27, 2004
What a year can change!
I'm so incredibly grateful for all that has transpired in 2004. What a year can change; what an amazing year can do! I'm a bit sad to close the book on 2004, but terribly thrilled to see what challenges 2005 has for me. But before everything comes and goes, here are some of my favorites of 2004.
24 Highlights of 2004
01. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
02. Studying abroad at Cambridge
03. All my amazing friends from Cambridge
04. Before Sunset
05. A long weekend in Paris
06. Gina's visit, helping me rediscover the beauty of where I live
07. Such Great Heights by the Postal Service
08. Garden State
09. Going to Colorado with a best friend to visit another best friend!
10. Finding Neverland
11. Becoming a barista
12. A long weekend with Jason in Seattle
13. Road trip to New York with Gina!
14. Manhattan
15. one best date ever with dream boy
16. attic room in Botolph Court
17. learning to let go
18. one lovely afternoon with April
19. all those walks around Cambridge with Nicole
20. good talks with my mom
21. Edinburgh Festival & Frankenstein
22. being serenaded on my birthday by Pete
23. Jason Mraz & the Curbside Prophets Tour
24. Shy That Way by Tristan Prettyman & Jason Mraz
What are yours?Labels: lists
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