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
Friday, November 24, 2006
Black Friday
I really want to start making my own clothes! I am tired of coveting clothes that are adorable on the internet/in photographs, and are hideous/made of polyester once delivered. And believe it or not, I'm not a huge fan of shopping in malls. I used to enjoy it when it was my weekly routine with my mom, but once the population of southern California has seemed to tripled since I went away to college, it stopped being nearly as fun. And I can't compare and shop with four or five different tabs open, as with commercials and television, internet shopping has ruined my attention span.
Today I did indulge myself in a little Anthropologie -- I bought a skirt and two bowls with some birthday money (because I was tired of being pragmatic and saving gift money to pay bills or buy groceries with).
Now back to spending the rest of my evening watching Season 6 of Gilmore Girls that Ryan bought for me as part of my birthday present, and resting my tired body.Labels: covet
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
Seattle's Best Coffee or Confectionary
Recently the weather in Southern California has been typical November weather -- un-autumnesque hot during the day and winterly chilly during the nights. After catching the wonderful Stranger Than Fiction (I actually want to see it again!) in Westwood the other weekend, I offered to buy Ryan a hot cocoa as reprieve from the cold (and to get us into the Borders).
There was a Seattle's Best upstairs (I think it's become a section as prosaic as Literature or Biographies in bookstores now) where I bought the cocoa and made a rather disturbing discovery for those who are diabetic and possibly overwhelmed by sugar in general. Next to the espresso bar, there was tray not unlike the ones in frozen yogurt shops. In these little wonderful compartments were toppings -- including peppermint flakes, peppermint sticks, chocolate bark, MINI GINGERBREAD MEN. It took the barista just as long to dress our hot cocoas as it did for her to steam the milk for it! There was the whipped cream, then the flakes of chocolate -- three kinds, mind you, their Mocha Trio of white, milk, and dark. Doesn't that all equal milk chocolate in the end?
And as I was reaching for my 10% post-consumer fiber paper cup -- she picked up tongs -- TONGS! TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE! -- and garnished it with a scroll of chocolate bark. INCREDIBLE.
That's when I discovered in this town of too much too soon, I can multitask even my coffee breaks -- pump up on caffeine, enough calories to skip a meal, and a week's worth of sugar intake.
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
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
I'm already plotting the delicious cheeseburger I'm going to have today for lunch. But with places like The Counter so close by, how can I resist? I'm on a mission to find all the best restaurants and cheap eats in this city.
In other news, online shopping is such a hit or miss. I got an adorable jacket from Forever21 that was the perfect fit and exactly what I expected, whereas these puppies:
were a total disappointment! La Dolce Vita's shoes run a little big, and I already have a very small foot -- and the leather was not quality "butter soft" as described on the website. The color, however, was fortunately very accurate. So now I'm still on the hunt for the perfect red shoes.
I can't help but lust after this dress, still, however:
It seems that the only cure for consumerism pains are lusting over pretty things online, yet being a safe distance and too many clicks away from impulse buying.Labels: covet
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Life is so crazy crazy lately. I've decided to start making some changes in my life, most of which involve a lot of research and doing. We'll see if anything comes of it. I'm definitely looking forward to the paid time off that comes with the holidays; the one benefit of a salaried position.
Tonight's To Do List:
- write emails to Lacey, Matt, Julie, & Irene
- research and decide about health insurance, AGAIN (groan!)
- read 50 pages
- prepare crocheting lesson for tomorrow
- write a short bio for workshop
- watch the new Gilmore Girls (!!!)
- make a sample book for workshop
Also, in an attempt to harness my consumerist tendencies, I've decided to attempt a strike on consumerism. So far, I've gone two whole days without spending money (discounting, of course, daily cost of living things like rent, gas for my car, electricity, etc.). I was reading an article somewhere about this conscience-less generation I'm a part of, where the world we live in is in a cloud of political and social amnesia and masturbating to consumerism to make ourselves feel better about all the different ways the world is falling apart. I'm focusing on what I do have, and having that be enough.
I'll leave you with this recipe that I learned from a volunteer at 826LA, and have been relying on all weekend for a quick treat:
Fluffernutter Sandwiches:
Whole wheat bread
Marshmallow fluff
Peanut butter
Toast bread. Spread peanut butter and marshmallow fluff while still hot, then SMUSH together into a melty sandwich that tastes like toasted marshmallows. Mmm, mmm winter!Labels: domestic goddess
My anxiety is a bell curve through the week, peaking on Wednesdays and ebbing on weekends. I'm trying to pinpoint what it is exactly that renders my palms sweaty and my heart racing certain mornings, where I feel like the world is about to crash and break, where I feel like I've made all the wrong choices up to this place.
Having the door open with a cornfield of opportunities is a blessing and a curse.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Toaster Talk
"Would you wipe the inside of a new toaster down?"
"Well, I don't think that most people do, and I wouldn't, but you seem like the kind of person who would."
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
Friday, November 10, 2006
The Best Friday Ever
I woke up this morning feeling sore in all the right places -- like my body acknowledges the fact I attempted to work out. Last night's yoga class was amazing, although throughout most of it I was panicking that I could only inhale through one nostril and exactly whatthehelliswrongwithme! I'm not taking enough deep, cleansing breaths! I'm going to suffocate on this mat from my inability to breathe!
But alas, the tranquil, almost romantic, garden room with its candles and Buddha statues and adorable yoga instructor were enough to keep me calm. Annie noted that the yogi at the reception desk was probably in his late 60s and had "baby smooth skin". It is now our sincere hope that we will look as youthful and strong as we continue yoga. I'm talking Madonna's muscular arms at 45.
The wholesome, honoring-yourself kind of night last night is not the reason this is The Best Friday Ever, however. It is the BFE because I have it off for Veteran's Day, and I'm going to grocery shop, and clean my apartment, and make fondue for every meal, and read, and overall loll away my time as I please!
My god, I am an old lady.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Birthday.
My birthday yesterday was wonderful. I have a wonderful family, amazing friends, and the best boy in the world. This is going to be a good year. Last year was amazing, and to think how many incredible things have happened since the same day last year is exciting -- to dream of what could be a year from now.
However, my reading goal was pathetically undermet. Out of the 21 books I was supposed to read:
1) Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
2) Life of Pi, Yann Martel
3) Killing Yourself To Live, Chuck Klosterman
4) Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
5) The Good Body, Eve Ensler
6) To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7) Madeleine is Sleeping, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
8) A Year in Japan, Kate Williamson
9) Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk
10) Wicked Gregory Maguire
11) The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
12) The Coast of Chicago, Stuart Dybek
(I didn't include the 5 volumes of Y: The Last Man, even though I am open to graphic novels as a form of literature. I'm not ready to admit to my geekery yet).
Let's hope I do much better at reading 22 books this next year! Have you read any good books lately?
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
National Novel Writing Month
Psst...also this year, I will finally be participating in National Novel Writing Month. If you'd like to follow my progress and read my 1,670 words a day, please head on over to lovelyknees.livejournal.com to find out how.
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
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