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
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Art Boot Camp
I signed myself up for three art classes over the summer including: an Adobe Illustrator class, Introduction to Letterpress, and another intensive life drawing class. Balancing 4 days of class a week and a full time job sure will be interesting.
But if not now, then when?Labels: arts+crafts, career jar
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Reasons Not To See Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End
So I snuck a real break in yesterday, a lost day if you will, both from work/the world and this blog/the internet. I took a real nap on the futon, read, went to a park and fed ducks, ate pizza, and made the unfortunate decision to go see Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End. Sure, I knew it was going to be 3 hours long, which is also as long as a good road trip so I got the snacks and went to the bathroom before we buckled in for the ride, etc. And it was all that you'd expect $50 gajillion dollars can buy in special effects, cameos and plotlines.
But then this morning I had this crazy awful dream that my left hand was infected with an excessive growth of polyps which I was convinced I could only get rid of by popping each pus-filled bubble in a pool. I woke up still hazy and gazing at my hand as if it were a foreign object. I also woke up with a strong, repulsive hate and anger towards a guy I used to be involved with and hadn't spoken to in YEARS, and revelation that I could do no more work on a novel that's been sitting dormant for a year.
All I'm saying is that I'm convinced the polyps were because of the mollusks and marine life growing on the bodies of many of the characters in Pirates 3. Ugh, gross, shiver!
Maybe I should get to actually writing fiction again, instead of making up excuses, even in my subconscious life, not to.
In more relevant, possibly more interesting news, I'm planning a week of practicing being an Artist in the Office, inspired by Summer Pierre's zine that I'm eagerly anticipating in my mailbox sometime this week. I'll be documenting my practices around here!Labels: daily, films
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Piece of Quiche
After spending two hours in Paris last night, we were inspired to make a French dinner. Pictured above is the delicious veggie quiche that Ryan makes often. Here's his super simple recipe:
Ryan's Veggie Quiche
Ingredients:
1 frozen pie crust
5 eggs
1 cup of half & half
1/4 tsp. each of salt & pepper
1 1/2 cup of grated swiss cheese (he uses Jarlsberg)
Chopped vegetables of your liking, about 1/4 cup of each (we used spinach, mushrooms and red peppers in this one)
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Bake frozen pie crust for 5 minutes.
3. Beat together eggs, half & half, salt and pepper.
4. Add veggies and cheese to empty pie crust.
5. Pour egg mix onto.
6. Bake in oven for 15 minutes on 450F, then an additional 15 minutes on 350F.
7. Let cool for five minutes, enjoy!Labels: foodie call
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Je suis vivant.
What a welcome break from the bells & whistles of summer blockbuster films. So incredibly charming, and for anyone who loves Paris or wants to love the idea of Paris. Sure, 18 vignettes in 2 hours might be half a dozen too many (I can think of a few I'd cut), as mentioned in many reviews, but it is so worth it. Each one is just long enough to hold the attention of the TV generation, and leaves you just satisfied. I am especially partial to the last one directed by Alexander Payne.
Oh, je t'aime, Paris!Labels: films
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
Thursday, May 24, 2007
FP Travel Swap!
Crafting after work helps me feel sane and relevant. Eiffel Tower cards made for the Free People Travel Swap.Labels: arts+crafts
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 22, 2007
Good Things
I'm tired of sad days and scary thoughts, so today how about a good old-fashioned list of Good Things?
- rereading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- sunny, breezy days by the ocean
- morning radio making my boyfriend really laugh
- the carpool lane
- dogs
- making grocery lists
- pets as therapy
- the public library
- farmers market days right next to work
- sewing class
- genuinely kind people
- crafting after work
- Summer Pierre, her awesome blog and even more awesome zine, The Artist in the Office
- Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World
- good old office gossip
P.S. Join me on Good Reads, where I'm compulsively tracking all books I've read, yet to read, and am currently reading. I love books.
P.P.S. I've been so tired of sad things that I even returned Joan Didion's A Year of Magical Thinking as I cannot handle even the idea of family death at the moment.Labels: good things
Monday, May 21, 2007
Overcast mornings, sunny by the afternoon.
I find the weather forecast metaphorical for mood shifts throughout the day.
The weekend was overwhelming, tense, and relaxing. Most of it was spent indoors nursing a post-surgery pup back to health as she lounged in her patient bed aka my futon. I'll save the unsavory details of how hard a rear-end region surgery is on passing excretory motions, but I will relinquish the fact that she wore on me with her onset of nighttime anxiety. She mostly slept or lounged about on the futon during the day, being her adorable fuzzy petable self while I watched a marathon of Sex and the City and sewed a felt cozy for Ryan's new camera, but come bedtime, she sits up and is absolutely convinced that she just cannot lay down or she will die. Leading to about 2-3 hours of pitiful whining and gazing woefully at us in bed before she finally lies down and resigns to sleeping since she no longer has our conscious attention.
Unfortunately the poor pup doesn't get the drain out of her bottom until Wednesday morning, but hopefully that will cheer her up immensely. And by then we should get news that her biopsy came back uncancerous, which will cheer me up immensely. I've been less than sunny lately, if not just an utter rain-heavy cloud, which makes me feel terrible for Ryan. Once we're out of the thick of dog health drama, I promise that I'll be 100 degrees sunnier and ennui-free.
Speaking of ennui, yesterday at Otis' Open House, I only wanted to sign up for the Adobe Illustrator and Silkscreening class. Of course the Silkscreening class was full, throwing me into an indecisive tizzy. I'm so indecisive. So badly indecisive. Especially inflicted with such apathy for art and disinterest in, well, quite honestly disinterested instructors. Now I'm leaning towards taking Letterpress since it sounds really fun despite the lackluster instructor, and Annie will be taking it too! Always need that extra dose of estrogen and kvetching.
Which leads me to this interesting MSN article about the five girlfriends every girl should have.
1. The Uplifter
This woman's favorite word: yes. You could tell her you're trading your six-figure income for a career in offtrack betting, and she'd barely pause before yelping "Go for it!" Don't you need someone who looks past the love handles to notice the extraordinarily gorgeous you?
2. The Travel Buddy
When the hotel in St. Lucia is a bust, one characteristic becomes all-important: flexibility. This agreeable companion need not be the girl you traded pinkie swears with on the playground; it's enough that she's comfortable with quiet (between gabfests) and is a teensy bit mischievous (as in tequila after midnight).
3. The Truth Teller
Intent is what separates the constructive from the abusive. Once you've established that the hard news is spoken in love (not in jealousy or malice), you'd be smart to seek out this woman's perspective.
4. The Girl Who Just Wants to Have Fun
One Saturday a pal and I—and yes, we're both over age 12—pored over every glitter lip gloss in a drugstore aisle for an entire 45 minutes. Forget the crisis download (for that, see the Uplifter); this partnership is about spontaneous good times.
5. The Unlikely Friend
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive," Anaïs Nin wrote. My friends—some twice my age, others half, some rich, others homeless, some black like me, others Korean, Mexican, Caucasian—have added richness to my life that only variety can bring.
Now the only question is, my friends, which girl are you?Labels: arts+crafts, daily
Friday, May 18, 2007
I love these cards from Some ECards. This would have been the perfect card to have received this week. Love that dry sense of humor.
The next couple days are still going to be stressful and possibly packed, so wish me luck and send me dandelions and wry ecards.
Through it all, it's almost enough just to know that I am very lucky to have such a wonderful partner in crime.
Regular daily posts for the rest of May will hopefully follow shortly.Labels: good things
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
State of the Union
So many things have been distressing me this past week, friends, both personally and professionally. Sometimes you hear your deepest fears verbalized by a "professional" and in a moment, you suddenly believe. Perhaps it's part of our development to want to believe what we hear, what we are told by other people who act confident, knowledgeable. When we lose that trusting nature, if ever, is that moment a great loss for humanity? When we turn a deaf ear to all the information out there by writing it all off as slanted, biased, subjective, what do we have left to inform us?
With women's right to choose so under fire lately (if you haven't heard about the Supreme Court ruling, please take a moment and catch up with the world. I'll wait.), it's so hard to continue to trust that your peers will know that it's important to be a part of this big big world, that it's important to keep open the avenues of choice and liberty not only for ourselves but for each other. It's all too easy to be overwhelmed because you're being inundated by the amount of information out there, and to deliver yourself apathetic. By being apathetic, you render yourself invisible, unimportant, insignificant, victim.
I'm so distressed with this world that will probably never change in its dissidence, but hopeful that it can someday in its ignorance. It's so strange to me that this is not something I can speak openly about with all friends. we can talk about the intimate details of our very particular lives, and never once share an opinion or thought on the very laws and order that govern our ability to live these very lives. Nowadays, this isn't so much an option for me because of my work, and I love that.
Be visible.Labels: the real world
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
State of the Puppy
Her tests came back fine, which means if it is cancer it hasn't spread. Our next step is surgery, where she'll get all the infected tissue removed and sent to a lab to see if it is just an abscess or is a dangerous tumor.
Cross every finger and send every positive thought our way. Thank you for all your support.Labels: dogs
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
Sunday, May 13, 2007
The reason for my lack of updates the past two days is because of a routine visit that became life changing that leaves me devastated. My dog Lucy, my sweet Lucy-dog, the dog-I've-wished-for-on-every-birthday-and-at-every-wishing-well, when other girls wanted ponies, I wanted a puppy, was rudimentarily diagnosed with cancer on Saturday. She has a tumor on some swollen glands that, according to the vet, is likely malignant because of its location. I've been driving back and forth between my apartment and my parents' house, where she lives. Tomorrow, I'll hopefully take off from work early so that my mom and I can take Lucy to a pet hospital for tests and an X-ray to see if the tumor is indeed malignant and/or whether it has spread to her lungs or brain.
My head is aching from an unebbing tension headache, and I am devastated.Labels: dogs, growing up
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
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
Monday, May 07, 2007
The History of Love
 I finally finished The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. It took me quite some time to read it; although everything has been taking me quite some time to read it since I'm in the middle of 5 books -- but it was worth it. There is an unexpected surprise at the end, although the book doesn't string you along to think that there was a huge mystery to solve in the first place. Instead, you trod along trusting that the author has given you these two characters and a fractured timeline on purpose, and you truly experience every moment as you're in it. It's hard to stay interested in sometimes because of the character/time shifts, but once you get and stay in the swing of it, it's truly rewarding how visceral and honest some confessions on the human condition are.
Here is my new rating system:
!!! = Best book I've read in awhile, order it off Amazon now! (A)
!! = Good book, check it out at the library or find it at a used bookstore(B)
! = Pretty good book, check it out at the library (C)
... = Decent/indecisive, your call (D)
!? = WTF, why did I waste my time (F)
The History of Love: !!Labels: books
Sunday, May 06, 2007
No one mourns the Wicked...
I saw Wicked for the first time tonight at the Pantages Theater, and it was so very good! Quite a departure from the novel, which in some parts made more sense. Can anyone tell me what the oversized puppet characters were when Glinda and Elphaba were visiting Oz?Labels: losangeles
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Or as my friend Laura would say, Feliz Cinco de Drinko!Labels: photolog
Friday, May 04, 2007
Don't They Have Drugs for This?
I will start off by saying that last night's Grey's Anatomy heavy with spin-off fat was terrible. I fell asleep after the first hour and didn't even realize that Meredith's step-mother had died, it was so buried underneath all of the rapid-fire of plotline set-ups for Private Practice (Addison's show).
Now I'll continue on to say that I am quite cranky, and have been this past week, so I am so grateful that I live alone right now. Nothing but the sound of the wind outside my window and the stillness inside my studio apartment.
Inspired by the Phone Date with (Style) Destiny article in the new issue of Domino: A Guide To Uncovering Your Inner Brand (by answering these few questions designed by Carrie & Danielle, personal style branders who charge $500 for a 90 minute session to give you two words that describe you, although Ryan just branded me with two words for no cost at all).
What would you wear to the Oscars?
If Annie Leibovitz took your photo, how would you art-direct?
What's top on your list of places to travel?
What piece of art has moved you the most in your life? (This can be music, literature...)
Where do you feel most at home?
These questions remind me of a more intuitive, essay format survey of the ones you used to fill out and forward through email that have since evolved to MySpace bulletins. But somehow, I suspect in the middle of a quarter life crisis, it's not a bad idea to reevaluate your position and ideas about yourself. Or get on a really good mood elevator.Labels: twentysomething
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Twentysomething Budgetry
One very dangerous thing about working where I do is the plentiful SHOPPING. Just now on my break I skipped on over to Old Navy and nearly spent my week's lunch budget on an armful of clothes -- because it's only at Old Navy where you can get an armful of clothes for $40 -- but fortunately whittled down my pile to two things I've actually been looking for: the perfect long charcoal grey tee and a new sports bra (to go with my new gym-friendly life, but specifically for yoga tonight).
I'm rediscovering my high school flirtation with Old Navy. After I got into college, I turned my nose at Old Navy for its frumpy period and family-friendly attire in favor of digging through vintage thrift stores for stylish wear. Recently though, while learning the restraints of a twenty-something budget along with lack of time because of hours spent earning said budget, I find myself coinciding with Old Navy's return to cute. I also find it easy to find work-clothes there for relatively cheap; they're having fancy pants for $20 sale (normally $30-40).
Well there goes my hypocrisy, since I just ranted about referential ad blogs. But rest easy knowing that I am not getting a single red cent raving about the virtues of a corporate company that probably exploits children in India. Just negative karmic points.
Also in case you haven't noticed, I've made it a goal to blog daily if not multi-daily in the month of May. More for my selfish consuming need to write again.
We'll see how long my attempt to save money lasts, especially with Michael's a few blocks away, shiny with the new Martha Stewart Craft collection. Oh Martha, how'd you get so fly?
 Labels: 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
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
You Are Made of Stardust
Happy May Day!
I'm having a bit of spring fever lately; I can't seem to stay still or inside or grounded. This past weekend was Ryan's birthday, and I got him this all-weather all-terrain microwaves-your-popcorn-and-spot-treats-your-laundry-all-in-a-2" x 1" case digital camera (exaggerating just a bit), so expect more out-and-about pictures soon. We went to the Griffith Observatory and I learned that it was more than telescopes -- it actually only has one major telescope aimed directly at the moon. Did you know staring into the moon is a bit like staring into the sun minus 100x brightness? Did you also know that you are made of stardust, as I learned at the Planetarium, since we are all a result of a great cosmic explosion many billions of years ago? Just doing my part in spreading knowledge on your average Tuesday.
This weekend we also: went to the L.A. Times Book Festival (consumerist marketing orgy), traversed the landscape of public transportation in Los Angeles (adequately confusing and 2 parts kismet), saw Year of the Dog (anti-vegan/spinster propaganda), ate a lot of Angel Food Cake (truly food of angels).
I feel scattered like little bits of stardust lately, actually. There's never enough time! I'm Jesse Spano and even caffeine pills won't help because I'll just get cranky from my lack of sleep. I just finished my last Life Drawing class yesterday, and I'm contemplating my next foray into the illustration world. Contemplating what moves me to draw, what kinds of marks to make across a blank sketchbook. I also have to write. I realized the less I write here, the more scared I am of putting words to a page of any kind (except work obviously, in which canned language is all too prevalent). So I'm going to be writing more here, about whatever comes to mind, whether you read it or not.
That reminds me -- what is going on with the blogs lately? It's either some variation on a theme of design, which is some echo of Domino or Blueprint or any other Martha Stewart or Time Inc. publication, OR it is a personal blog ladden with entries bloated with links and referrals to the former. Is this all people are comfortable talking about nowadays? I am so bored with blogs nowadays. Instead of showing me some pretty art or illustration you found on Esty, let's read about YOUR art process, YOUR journey, YOUR work.
Kind of makes me believe in the integrity of theAd-Free Blog.Labels: daily
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