Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Tartine, l'amour
Labels: foodie call, photolog
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Stars & Stripes
I'm off to San Francisco for the weekend! Have a wonderful, sparkling holiday weekend for my readers in les Etats-Unis!Labels: holidays, photolog
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Sundays are my favorite.
Especially when spent doing a light load of laundry, eating cookies I made last night, taking in Kara Walker's show, reading the Sunday news, napping liberally, starting a painting, and watching The Next Food Network Star. I guess I'm ready to start the week, though I'd much rather just be a big homebody right now.Labels: daily, photolog
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
dress your family and bird houses
This little birdhouse in a tree on my street always makes me laugh. An M Cafe is opening up within walking distance too, which also puts a smile on my face. I'm looking forward to long summer days, with daylight extending its fingers far past 5pm.
In the meanwhile, I read Mary Poppins & Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. I forgot how quick and pleasurable David Sedaris' essays are to read. They make every day feel like Sunday morning.
Mary Poppins is a book I never read in my childhood (I blame Disney) -- and my, did they keep the good stuff out of the film. My favorite chapter involves an after-hours zoo birthday party. Although I'd have to say that Mary Poppins is not nearly as loveable as Julie Andrews is in the film; she's quite snooty and cold. What can I say, I don't like to work for affection.
In other news, this entry on decor8 and this one on Pikaland (thanks, Annie!) really resonate with me right now. Oh, trying to figure out what your ideal life looks like in reality.Labels: books, photolog
Monday, March 24, 2008
Happy Spring.
Here's to a new season, a good new week, and lots of healing.
Have an extraordinary week, friends.Labels: photolog
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Resting Up
 Labels: photolog
Friday, March 07, 2008
Looking Forward
...to the weekend. Photo adventures to go on, things to cook, paintings to finish, and friends to toast. I know you're not supposed to be working for the weekend, but let's throw "supposed to" out the window, k? xoxo.Labels: photolog
Sunday, February 03, 2008
California Dreaming
Between the foggy, runner-covered hills of San Francisco and smoggy, car-lined acres of Los Angeles, there is beautiful stretches of nature in California. This whole state could be its own planet, with the Mediterranean climate of southern California, the vineyards of wine country, the snowy caps of the San Bernardino mountains, and the briny north coast shores. I so needed to step out into it all, to breathe in air so clean that my lungs don't know what to do with themselves.
Late last week, I finished The Seas by Samantha Hunt and It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden. The Seas was as haunting as promised, almost like being trapped inside the head of an unwilling siren -- or mermaid, in this case. There are moments that are so manic that you feel like you're falling into this murky, unwonderland somewhere off the coast of Maine through the pages of this bite-sized novel. I found it best to read in a nice hot bath at the end of a long, bitterly cold day.
Arden's book is full of all those things someone should have told you at your college graduation. If I were to ever run a college, I would pass out a copy with each diploma.
Now my undivided attention can go to Little, Big. That and reading Bon Appetit cover-to-cover. Speaking of, I'm making Butterscotch Pots De Creme for the second time this week. They're addicting.* You should try them for yourself.
*Edit: I can't seem to get the custard just right yet. It's either too soft still in the middle or overbaked and eggy. I'm willing to work on it til it happens though.Labels: books, foodie call, photolog
Monday, January 21, 2008
Baltimore
A lovely breath of fresh, cold air. (More photos on Flickr).Labels: photolog
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Autumn Home & Wardrobe Remixing
I'm very into wardrobe remixing right now; pairing my older pieces with my new pieces in unusual ways. The last picture features my outfit today, pairing the green shirt I got from Anthropologie recently with the jersey dress I bought a few years ago for a Vagina Monologues costume (but has since been too beachy halter to wear since). The bee charm necklace that I love is from etsy seller Itsyourlife.
P.S. I added a new story, entitled There are no lonely women in Los Angeles to Anthologie (which, btw, is looking for contributors).Labels: domestic goddess, fashion love, photolog
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
The Little Things
I rely heavily on the advice of others; of friends, coworkers, family who have experienced this and that. And I find that the web is infused with raves about fabulous products and designs from all across the globe, which I love. But what about the little things? The little daily things? The I've-tried-that-and-I-wouldn't-recommend-it kinds of little things? It's just as valuable to share the I-lived-and-learned experiences of things that didn't work out as it is for the things that were a dream. For one, I would not recommend Yves Veggie Cuisine Chicken Skewers. Sad, because I do love my vegetarian options.
What are some things you've lived and learned and would not recommend?Labels: growing up, photolog
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Changes
Don't be alarmed; many changes are afoot around here. Hope you're all having a lovely, restful weekend. We're bundled in and getting some fun work done. If that isn't an oxymoron, I don't know what is.
See you soon!Labels: photolog
Friday, September 28, 2007
Welcome to Soul Plane!
I got back from San Francisco on Wednesday and have been spending most of my time sleeping and cleaning and catching up (as always). I look forward to the day that I've finally figured out a routine where I get to clean the house/make dinner/walk the dog AND paint/read/write/draw for an hour each after work.
For now it's balancing keeping house with keeping up with my calendar. More pictures from San Francisco and life later, for now, enjoy this peek inside the new Virgin America airlines -- or as Ryan likes to call it, Soul Plane. The lighting was literally NEON PINK and PURPLE. What happened to flying with class??Labels: photolog
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Painted Pink Sunsets
Happy August. Enjoy all the sunsets left in the summer.Labels: losangeles, photolog
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Work in Progress/Life in Progress
Painting I started working on tonight for a friend.
Amazing piece bought off of Etsy.Labels: artsy girl, covet, photolog, work in progress
Saturday, June 23, 2007
B&W Vignettes around my apartment
Labels: domestic goddess, photolog
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Bloom Where You're Planted
On top of all my summer goals (including 30 stories in 30 days on Anthologie), I'm also starting my first sketchbook series. Since I suck at drawing feet and shoes, I'm going to draw all my shoes and write each one's brief history. The project will be called "The Story of Shoes" and documented here.
Lately I've just been so inspired by all the great blogs and resources by (and for) illustrators out there. Check out DrawAnyway.com and the Illustration Friday Blog for some inspiration.
Now I've got to delve into the deliciously thick pile of books I checked out from the library today, including Jeffrey Yamaguchi's 52 Projects. Reviews soon. Or join me on GoodReads.Labels: arts+crafts, books, photolog, the story of shoes
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
Saturday, June 02, 2007
There is enough time to be everything you want to be.Labels: photolog, quotes
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Favorite Evenings
Sometimes there is nothing better at the end of a long work day than curling up with a hot bowl of soup and really good magazine. In today's case, it was Amy's Organic Thai Coconut soup and the new June/July issue of Jane featuring Zooey Deschanel on the cover. I'm so happy to see that Jane is once again featuring amazing girls, instead of the sloppy lot of covers its been trotting around lately. The photo shoot with Zooey is incredible too; she's so frickin adorable (in person too!)
If there's one thing I'm getting out of this living in overpriced apartments and dense traffic, it will be the chance to namedrop as much as I'd like!Labels: losangeles, photolog
Monday, May 14, 2007
We saw another vet today, who gave us more positive, accurate news. Now awaiting test results...so in the meantime, send us lots of positive thoughts and hope!
 Labels: dogs, growing up, photolog
Thursday, May 10, 2007
I like my coffee to taste like a milkshake too.
Those are the delicious Apricot-Glazed Almond Cupcakes I made from a recipe straight out of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World tonight. I'm obsessed with this book; it has incredible, creative recipes that are so basic to make. For this recipe, I swapped out almond meal with 1/2 cup of ground flaxseed; both because (a) I didn't have almond meal and (b) I like to pretend my sweets are healthy for me. Eat your fiber and stay regular! Also, I used about half a cup of whole wheat flour and the rest in unbleached all purpose flour and I didn't notice a difference in the rise or crumb. Finally, the apricot preserves are not just pure apricot but the Organic Apricot Orange Preserves from Trader Joe's (grocery store of my heart). This weekend I'll be making the Lychee Cupcakes with Coconut Glaze for the Mother's Day bbq at my parents house.
I also crocheted a pretty blue scarf tonight for my friend Daniel, who is moving back to South Korea at the end of the month. He loves scarves and almost bought one at the Rose Bowl Flea Market that I could have easily made, so I did. Tied up with a matching turquoise yarn bow!
Baking, crafting, and the new issue of Bust is what keeps me sane at the end of the day. Oh and a few good food blogs help me through the day! Who knew there were so many variations of cupcakes? Makes a girl want to throw a stylish dinner party soon, complete with almond champagne.
P.S. I've been collecting hilarious quotes; the title of the entry below was said by my sewing teacher yesterday, and the one above is one of my coworkers remarking on my equal parts coffee-and-cream-and-sugar caffeine fix.Labels: arts+crafts, foodie call, photolog
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Sparkle is my favorite color
A peek into Drag Queen Bingo for Choice last night.
Just a few major developments today: I had my first sewing class ever, picked up Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World for some ideas for the weekend, and desperately need to grocery shop!Labels: photolog
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Or as my friend Laura would say, Feliz Cinco de Drinko!Labels: photolog
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Baby, It's Cold Outside
So a trip up to Lake Tahoe this weekend threw me completely out of whack in terms of weather. It was snowing the whole time we were there, and by the time we geared up to leave, tree branches were weighed down with blankets of fluffy white snow. Hello, April? Where are my spring flowers?
We went to Lake Tahoe for his mom's birthday, and stayed in a cute wood cabin in the woods. His nephew is almost 6 months old and so cute, I even got conned into feeding him a couple times. After I took well over 100 photos of him.
I also took quite a few photos of the unbelievable snow, available on my flickr, and now I'm ready to start settling into life! There have been so many detours on weekends that have distracted from us just staying home and enjoying LA. There's SO MUCH I want to do, it's almost overwhelming. This weekend is Ryan's birthday, and I have some exciting top secret plans for it...along with the LA Times Book Festival (my geeky heart jumps). Next weekend, I'm finally seeing Wicked and I am so excited!
Along with busy weekends and settling into a new job, I'm also taking sewing classes next month so that I can finally put my Christmas gift sewing machine to work. But on the topic of clothes, I've become focused on losing weight and toning up. Seriously, I need to work on my fitness and get this body vicious -- so I went to the gym after work and was talked to for about 45 minutes by a sales guy there. Why are gyms so notorious for being shady, pushy places to join? I really don't understand the high pressure sales environment there; people already have enough motivation to try and join gyms, so why the uncomfortable pushy contracts and deals to confuse? He threw fifteen different plans and "deals" at me, and then seem disgruntled when I just wanted the two week trial to make sure I will force myself to go in the first place.
Regardless, I'm starting tomorrow right after work. It's my goal to lose 10 lbs. and firm up by the end of July!Labels: daily, photolog
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Flea Market Finds, Speechless
At long last, I have found a coffee table perfect for both my style and my studio apartment. This mint green number from the '50s features great details and delicate curved legs, all for $25 at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It just needs a new coat of paint and it'd be good to go. Sitting on top is also a lovely little Japanese designed mug also swept up from the flea market. Now to start preparing for my mellow swap...
I am just speechless about the Virginia Tech shootings. I'm just thinking of every single person there, and hoping that they will find some peace in their hearts.Labels: photolog, the real world, vintage finds
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
You go back to her, and I go back to black
I caved and bought the Amy Winehouse Back To Black album. I just can't resist a good soul voice that sounds like it's been dragged through a gutter of cigarette ashes and razored hearts. Some times there is nothing better than lying on the carpet of your studio apartment with a stack of NYLON magazines, a glass of red wine or strawberry soy milkshake (your choice), and a really good record on.
In other news, here is a photo I took last week on a walk seeking to document all the beautiful flowers and bushes around my neighborhood (click on it for a few more on Flickr).
 Labels: music, photolog, spring
Punch Drunk Love
So despite all my time off last week, I neither blogged nor uploaded photographs. Instead, I spent most of my time reading fashion magazines, sewing felt cozies, drawing for ATCs instead of Marker Rendering, catching up with friends by phone/mail/AIM and wallowing in a deep funk mostly induced by isolation but possibly also created by an overbearing mother. Oh, and I watched Jesus Camp and Thank You For Smoking. My Netflix queue is coincidentally arranged so that the pairs of films I receive seem to be perfect companion films for each other. Jesus Camp was really quite disgusting. But in a brighter outlook, I have La Dolce Vita and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg coming tomorrow.
I also cleaned my apartment and baked these owl sugar cookies (spiked with half a cup of flaxseed to counteract the two sticks of butter) from the owl cookie cutter my friend Darlisa gave me a few weeks ago:
On Saturday, I went to Disneyland and then had the best chocolate milkshake of my life at Denny's afterwards. On Sunday, I helped Ryan streamline the cut-out editing process for his film ;) I'm leaning towards graphic design and illustration as a future career path; my ideal future career is to be a writing professor and a freelance illustrator. I'm planning on spending this next year developing my drawing skills, while steadily expanding on graphic design skills (to be moved forward this summer when I purchase a nice scanner!)
In more exciting news, Ryan got an Airport today and I'm playing my iTunes playlist from my laptop out of the loudspeakers in the apartment while he's printing Andrew Loomis books out of our now-wirelessly-connected printer! We're officially in the 21st century, and it feels so good.Labels: daily, foodie call, photolog
Monday, March 19, 2007
The Beginning
So much has happened, friends, since I last wrote! I can finally break my mysterious silence; I gave notice at my last job on Friday (effective immediately) and man, was that empowering. I was working upwards of 10 hours a day, commuting an hour, had taken a pay cut, and living under gestapo-like watch. Then two weeks ago I received a fantastic job offer, and will be starting this new job in two weeks. Which gives me two glorious weeks to sit still, in silence, breath deep, take in everything that has happened in the last six months and choose my next steps carefully.
Over this past weekend I went on a wonderful, short hike with Ryan and his family. All the hatless acorns made me realize how I should spend my next two weeks: taking the time to stop and marvel over all the little things. To see what acorns REALLY look like, to know what actually working on my novel feels like, to experience what sitting still and relaxing is all about.
Ryan and I also saw 300 yesterday, which turned out to be a lot better than I had expected. It was really quite beautiful, the story just hanging on enough and the gore didn't make me want to throw up -- however the gratuitous nudity did. I give it a B+.
I stocked up on magazines (including Blueprint, Glamour, Elle, and Preen), books to read (The Anti 9-to-5 Guide, The History of Love, Fast Food Nation, Jane Eyre, The Glass House), felt, drawing pencils, stamps, ATC swaps and food. I'm ready to start enjoying my next two weeks, and be sharing it all along the way with you!Labels: films, photolog, twentysomething
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Roadside Dinosaurs
Don't mean to be so quiet lately, but so much has been going on. How do people balance whole families and houses and mortgages with full time jobs and lives? Of all the life lessons I'm learning this first year out of school, I think the most important and pleasurable one I've learned so far is that it's important to HAVE FUN and play hooky once in awhile. Be a little reckless in your twenties; I know I'm having fun being rebellious.
Went on a road trip to Arizona for a wedding this past weekend; it was so much fun. Especially the ride home, where we meandered through the California stateside and pulled over whenever we saw something bizarre and kitschy (although we realize that this is how most horror films start). But when else are you going to experience dinosaurs on the road side or the General Patton Memorial Museum?
Last night I saw Zodiac, which turned out to be better than other friends had been suggesting. But how can you go wrong with Jake Gyllenhaal for me?
And even though I should have been cleaning my apartment, I made a bigger mess by making my first ATC (Artist Trading Card) for the ATC & Teabag swap on SwapBot. It was so much fun; I want to make many more soon.
I'm also so excited about TV on the Radio later this month and Wicked in May!
My life is perfect, even when it's not.Labels: arts+crafts, photolog, twentysomething
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
Monday, January 29, 2007
Golden Rules
I am LOVING art classes; I had my first life drawing class tonight. Pictured above is the set up for my still life for Marker Rendering, but it's also my favorite new workspace. My sewing machine is sitting on the other side of this corner table.
What is your favorite work space/situation?
On a completely unrelated note, speaking with my friend Laura who is doing the Vagina Monologues again this year makes me miss all those Sunday mornings of check-ins. In my perfect world, all my friends would sit in a circle on late Sunday mornings and check in with each other. We all need a context, community, of people. I know the only thing that has gotten me through these past very difficult months were my incredible friends who have shared precious, embarrassing pieces of themselves to help me understand and accept myself in all my ugly moments.Labels: arts+crafts, growing up, photolog
Sunday, January 28, 2007
All Happy Couples Are Alike, It's the Unhappy Ones Who Create The Stories
This past week has been pretty insane. All I know is that more changes are bound to be afoot very very soon.
I started art classes at Otis this weekend. The Marker Rendering Class turned out even better than I had hoped. I've been wanting to take a perspective class even though Otis doesn't offer one, but the instructor for this class is not only teaches marker rendering techniques, he teaches and emphasizes perspective! I'm so excited to become a better drawer in these next few months. Tomorrow I start Life Drawing at night, and the best part will be Ryan taking the class with me!
I've also watched Charade & An American In Paris this weekend, which are both really good (despite the extremely drawn out dance sequences in the latter). I'm almost done with Feast of Love by Charles Baxter, FINALLY. It's rich with beautiful passages, but also skillfully nuanced in how well Baxter captures the individual voice of each character. The novel shifts first person POVs between the few main characters in the book who are only loosely related to each other, and does it so well. I highly recommend it. I plan on digging into The Alchemist, The History of Love and Jane Eyre next, I really need to step up my reading goals for this year.
Thursday was our one year anniversary and I handmade a reconstructed sketchbook for Ryan. I don't think I want to say much else about it all except that I revel every day in how incredibly lucky I am.
I'll leave you with this short excerpt from Feast of Love:
People don't go to psychiatrists and pay good money to talk at length about how happy they are. Talking can spoil it. As a rule you don't settle down at the end of the day with a beer and tell your friend the particulars of how you lucked out and how well the day and the week and the year went, unless you're the gloating type. You just don't do that. It's provocation. You find some other neutral ground. If you're smart, you keep happiness to yourself.Labels: arts+crafts, books, films, photolog, quotes
Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Rememberlings and Things.
I'm becoming so obsessed with my new Pro Flickr account. Which definitely means good things for my photo year resolution.
Today I finally got to eat at Real Food Daily, which was so good. We went to the one in West Hollywood, so of course our waiter was adorably gay. It's a good Sunday for me when it starts with a vegan brunch and a pretty gay boy. It was our goal to go to Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School today, but we missed it because I forgot how addicting Paper Source can be! I bought many beautiful papers for a top secret project I'm working on, along with finding some presents for Lacey with Ryan.
To make up for missing our dose of art for the day, we stopped by the ThinkSpace gallery to see Lola's new show, The Rememberlings. Not only is the work charming, the titles are especially clever.
Now that I'm flexing my photography skills, I've just got to up the ante on my writing practice. For now, I'm nervous about starting my new job tomorrow and the 6 million hours of commuting that will come with it. But as the wise little owl on the chalkboard in my kitchen says, "Que Sera, Sera."
Wish me luck.Labels: arts+crafts, losangeles, photolog
Photography for the New Year
Last night I made grilled cheese. Not the glorious grilled cheese pictured above, which my friend Lisa made me at 2am sometime last Sunday night, but a more humble version sans avocado. I'm telling you this for no other reason except to excitedly announce that I have finally caved and upgraded my Flickr account to Pro so that I can keep up with my New Year's Resolution of taking more pictures this year. Gotta put this photography degree to use!Labels: foodie call, photolog
Friday, December 22, 2006
Countdown to Christmas
Half an hour of work left before I get the whole next week off to enjoy with family, Christmas, many friends, and some time to take an inventory of my life and grasp all the thoughts swirling around my brain from all that's happened in the past year. I'm not (for once!) going to make a list of the amazing things that have happened to me in the last year, nor my New Year's Resolutions just yet. Taking things one holiday at a time.
After the holiday bbq at work (yes, I know, only in California!), I plan to go home and stuff my laundry, bags of presents, and bag for the weekend in my car and drive to my parents to RELAX. Last night's yoga class really kicked my ass, but talking with a good friend who really understands the stage of life I'm struggling through right now helped stretch and relax my state of mind. I'm so scared of making the wrong choices and needlessly dwell that I'm forgetting to enjoy the moment of it all, enjoy being 22 and the enormous wealth of love, creativity, and support in my life.
P.S. I am LOVING the new blogger labels. That was the one thing I was missing in my life and made me consider switching over to either typepad or moveable type. But Blogger, my one true love, you have come through for me once again.Labels: arts+crafts, photolog
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Winter is Here!
Happy Winter Solstice! I hope your winters will be full of warmth and genuine smiles.Labels: photolog
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
On the Brink of Winter Solstice in Los Angeles
 Labels: photolog
Monday, December 04, 2006
"Trusting people is nice sometimes."
Apologies for being MIA recently. A lot has been happening in shaking up my little snowglobe corner of LA, and I'm happily stimulated to say the least.
First a little tidbit -- Anthropologie had an incredible sale on Black Friday; I bought several things (including the above skirt) on an assistant-in-LA's budget. I know. Mark your calendars for next year.
Last Wednesday, I taught a workshop at 826LA with my fellow intern Stacey, where we had a wonderful turnout (we scrambled to make more books as two unexpected students showed up!) It was so fun, albeit exhausting, to teach a group of excited kids how to crochet cozies for their books. And so fun to work more closely with other interns and volunteers!
At work on Monday, we had received a call at the office to facilitate an event on Friday for Corinne Bailey Rae, whose music as you know I'd been adoring since the summer. Yes, as in in four days Friday. Although a little chaotic and subject to some miscommunication, we pulled it off and it was incredible to meet and then sit in on a SoundCheck session with CBR - she is so sweet and talented. I loved her delicate yet powerful voice, with a hollow edge that sounds like crackling firewood in early winter.
Last night, Ryan and I went to MOCA's Skin+Bones exhibit. We had a minor incident where both of us had no cash for the cash/check only parking lot in the middle of downtown LA. But the parking attendant let me park and pay him after visiting the ATMs upstairs, based on the fact I'm trustworthy because "you're a lady". (Did he not notice the 6'5" male in the passenger seat?) When we went to pay him, he seemed surprised.
He said, in his wide-eyed accented English, "Oh, you're back so quickly?"
As I gave him my twenty and he found change, he remarked slowly, thoughtfully, "Trusting people is nice sometimes."
That was incredibly refreshing to hear in a place like LA, for a cynical girl like me.Labels: 826LA, losangeles, photolog
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Doomcave Daydreams and Square Foot by Foot
Last night Ryan and I went to Camille Rose Garcia's show at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery yesterday, and it was full of bright, adorably grotesque creatures.
Then this afternoon we went to the Sq. Ft. show at ThinkSpace Gallery, full of more amazing hip young artists. Going to galleries inspires me to start pursuing my own art education; without the weight of tuition or homework at the moment.
We also stopped by Madame Matisse, and although I wanted to stop by the Reform School since we were at Sunset Junction, we didn't get a chance after driving through Griffith Park (yay picnics and pony drawings and merry-go-rounds and light festival trips to come). I had an incredible beet and apple salad, Ryan had their famous blueberry pancakes, and it was an adorable atmosphere as we sat among cattails out in the sidewalk dining area.
Tonight, we're going to make tacos, watch more Season 6 of Gilmore Girls and I'm going to do some paintings. FINALLY. Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving Weekend as well!Labels: arts+crafts, losangeles, photolog
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thankful
You've truly made it into the clear with vegetarianism when seeing all the uncooked turkey carcasses flashing around on television ads, billboards, and print ads makes you physically ill. ICK! How can people eat meat when it still resembles the animal?
However you celebrate, paying tribute to a turkey on your dinner table or divulging in a meat-free feast, I hope that you feel truly lucky from the top of your head to the wiggles in your toes.
Despite all my mucky depression and unrest lately, I am so so grateful for so many things this year:
1) My health
2) The health and happiness of those I love
3) Being so truly and healthily in love with the most amazing boy in the world
4) My family
5) My friends
6) All the factors that have converged in achieving my goals
7) Graduating college
8) All the amazing professors and teachers and students I've worked with this year
9) Peace in my heart
10) Beautiful additions to my family
11) Starting a yoga practice and a writing practice
12) Moleskine journals
13) Drawing and having the courage to take a risk
14) The journey itself
Thank you for reading, day after day. I am so thankful for you.Labels: arts+crafts, photolog, twentysomething
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Breaking the Bread
So my iPod harked the beginning of the holiday season today when I put it on, pressed play, and found Death Cab for Cutie's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) on random.
I have a dull headache stirring in the back of my head and overall crankiness from waking up this morning to grey weather and having to go to work instead of Thanksgiving being here already. Does it ever get to a point where you are excited to go to work every morning?
The overall stress of the holidays is already hanging heavily over my head, more so this year with the lack of a winter break (merr!). I'm not sure who to put on my Christmas list this year anymore, but hopefully I will find some adorable cards at Felt Club next month and send the message of peace, love, and appreciation to many friends.
My main goal this whole year though, is to NOT stress and fret over the little things. I'll find perfect presents for all my favorite people, and enjoy the time off drinking cocoa, checking off films on my Netflix queue, searching for new opportunities, preparing for art classes and this new track, and perhaps even find myself dwelling in the loveliness of stores this time of year. I sure am looking forward to big steaming mugs of cocoa with marshmallows, the smell of evergreen branches, and taking walks in the twinkling lit up neighborhoods.
And of course, the thing I love most about the upcoming winter is the abundance of soups. Pictured above is a delicious Tomato Rasam soup with rice. I substituted lemon for cilantro because I hate cilantro, and I didn't have any ginger on hand, but it was still so delicious, filling, and healthy! Yay, my favorite food!Labels: domestic goddess, photolog
Monday, November 20, 2006
To the left, to the left...
The results of Day 1, Tiramisu Blanket
I am really obsessed with Beyonce's Irreplaceable song right now. It's so goddamn catchy and I'm such a sucker for I-Don't-Need-A-Man-I'm-Gonna-Be-My-Own-Best-Friend type songs, and she's getting the best ones lately. Need I remind you of Me, Myself, & I of '05?
Too bad she, as a human, is terribly boring and all gloss and perfectionsim. Bah.
In other news, I started the Tiramisu blanket pattern I'm testing out from Alicia's site. I just realized it was a baby blanket pattern today; no wonder it was much narrower than most blankets.Labels: arts+crafts, photolog
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Flea Markets & Bird Calls
Ryan and I went to the Melrose Trading Post this morning, which is way sweeter than the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Entrance is $1 (show your student ID) and some proceeds go to the school.
Overall everything is cheaper and more open to bargaining, though I didn't partake in much of it (I'm such a chicken).
I'm collecting frames and art for my walls, and though I decided to try and cluster black frames, I couldn't turn down that really lovely olive and gold frame for $1, or that Art Nouveau print of Sarah Bernhardt for $10. Mostly I'm trying to collect meaningful/favorite prints/drawings/paintings or doing my own or framing Ryan's. I'll take a picture when more things go up on my wall. I also bought two boxes with tiny paintings of zebras, deers, and tigers, one to use as a sewing box.
The picture of the horses through the frame is actually the cover of a book called The Personality Of the Horse (also $1!) which Ryan is using as a sketchbook, despite discovering it is an amazing collection of stories about horses, including The Red Pony by John Steinbeck. Now he feels guilty because he always makes fun of me for cutting up old books and reconstructing them into journals/using them for art.
After the flea market, we also dropped by Giant Robot 2 to take a peek at Susie Ghahremani's show Bird Call. I can't believe how small some of her pieces are, and they look even more charming and endearing in person.
It's my goal in the next four years here in LA to develop a life as an artist and have my own shows in one of the little galleries that line this city.
Oh! I almost forgot -- I also cut all my hair off again. Sooo much more liberating. That's it, have a splendid rest of your Sunday!Labels: arts+crafts, losangeles, photolog
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Lying is the Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
This weekend was really lovely, what with the extra day and the completely empty calendar. To my horror, however, I slept almost 24 hours between Friday and Saturday. But my reasoning is, if the average person needs 8 hours a sleep every night, the average person spends 1 out of every 3 days sleeping anyway. So if I hadn't slept at all on Sunday, then I would have broke even. But I didn't. I slept in, leisurely and wonderfully, despite strange dreams of cursing out old professors (man bitter sure takes awhile to fade out) and albino turtles with bulging orange veins...
We watched Stranger Than Fiction this weekend and it was wonderfully surprising. It was definitely the first time in awhile that I didn't check the time several times, longing for the film to end, in a movie theater. What happened to my attention span? Maggie Gyllenhaal's character was adorable and I want to be her with her bakery and her apartment.
Did I ever mention that we had watched The Prestige last week? It was good, albeit overhyped after the weeks, and interestingly twisted. The cast was really fun to watch, I love Michael Caine, Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, and Scarlett Johansson's boobs. However, I did check the clock several times during this film.
Digressing back to baking, I made dark chocolate raspberry chip cookies tonight, to follow up my COMPLETELY HOMEMADE Aloo Matar Rasedaar from the amazing Indian Vegetarian Cooking book Monica gave me for my birthday. The spices she gave me were extra motivation (Thanks, Monica!) to try out a recipe.
I really want to center my life and my head, and starting yoga last week was a good way to start working towards that this year. Another of my main goals is to quit being such a whore for consumerism. Starting now, after I watch Ryan put together my new chalk board/spice rack that I bought from Ikea today.Labels: photolog
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Peace Out, Halloween!
I am fully Halloween'd out. Friday night, I dressed up as the Queen of Hearts and got pathetically drunk off of half a beer (I have the tolerance of a 5 year old, okay?? and I haven't had a drink since June!) at the CalArts party. Saturday day, there was a Rocket Science workshop @ 826LA, where I got to wear a labcoat (!!!) and play on a Wacom tablet. That night we went to the Mommy, Mommy, There's a Monster Under My Bed! opening reception, which was also like a fun Halloween party. I am LOVING LA and all its little galleries. There's an opening reception somewhere every single night. We left early however, because Ryan got pretty ill and then spent the rest of the night vomitting, the poor boy. On Sunday, I really wanted to see The Prestige, but the debacle as mentioned below happened.
Yesterday, I dressed up as The Girl With The Black Ribbon (easily transitioning from work to play, as pictured above). I went to 826LA for a surprisingly low Drop-In population, then headed home to start cooking for Monica & Justin coming over for a small apartment warming (is 2 months too long to wait for that?). I made spinach & parmesan ravioli and shrimp with vodka sauce, yams with butter and brown sugar, a salad, and finished off with tiramisu. Monica brought a burgandy wine for dinner, and then a German white wine for dessert (which was DELICIOUS!). Then I experienced my first time carving a pumpkin! I gave mine sweet eyelashes, Justin gave his a dimple, and Monica made Jack Skellington. We ended the night falling asleep to The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Now I'm ready to move onto the next holiday...my birthday!Labels: losangeles, photolog
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Sunday Kind of Love
I love Sundays because it means things like:
(a) tacos
(b) making tacos to the Frida soundtrack
(c) Rocket Science workshops
(d) cleaning my apartment (one of my favorite things to do, because I feel so accomplished after)
(e) whittling my time away as I please at such things like watching March of the Penguins, and reading Lolita, and writing in my novella
(f) catching a late flick without the crowds
(g) doing it all with my boyLabels: photolog
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