fotos, and fashion, and fun-tastics! oh, my!!!

"wait! wait!!"

2011-06-08T10:02:00.000-05:00

"not my gumdrop buttons!!!"

not sure what possessed me to post this, but i'm just feeling it today....hee hee

but i know i've been SO remiss in posting here, but i'm working on it. it's just been crazy lately at work, and after getting over my broken arm, it's been tough with the typing, but i think i'm ready for the challenge, so i'll start posting about my CRAZY life again soon.

so in a last ditch effort to any readers i might actually have out there, "WAIT!!! don't stop checking in here, cause i'm updating again!!!!"

love you guys! and check back soon!

head gear is popular?!

2011-02-17T23:24:00.000-06:00

just after i got back from my ski trip...minus the broken arm that is, i have been VERY inspired by winter hats. i just love that hats come out to play during the chillier weather.

i have been officially dusting off my own hat collection and rocking some adorable head gears in the last couple of weeks...well, at least the couple of days that we've had a semblance of winter here in houston.

so here are some of my fav hats for this season, both stylish and silly...as well as how i would wear them. enjoy!

i'm loving each of these hats...haha. i would wear almost all of them.
so trendy--i think i would wear this one with a tunic, and liquid leggings for a more daring look (maybe my feminine leather jacket too?), but to casual it up, i might do some skinnies, chuck taylors, and a old man t-shirt...just to do the whole emo trendy thing. haha...maybe not.
so alice--too much to say a cute party dress? i just love alice in wonderland so much....hee hee
so aqua--i LOVE this hat. with an all gray outfit maybe? some wide leg trousers, either gray or denim, and a gray turtleneck. all together with the black pea coat. and a side braid.
so grandpa--with black pants, black turtleneck, black booties, and my black pea coat. all fitted. love.
so pirate--i'm feeling this one with a white button down and some slacks. too crazy? well i don't care. i'm feeling some stick straight hair, and maybe really big hoops....haha.
so scottish--better question....what NOT to wear this one with???
so mine--with everything!! i did buy the hat after all...
so lumberjack--haha. i love this one. i'm feeling the jcrew look with this one. that would be a chambray or denim shirt half tucked with some light wash jeans or khakis. and, of course, duck boots.
so newsies--this one's a little tricky to pull off without looking totally newsies. but i love the feminine touch of this one, with the bow on top. so i'm thinking, maybe a cool blue button down and some high waisted trousers. with a great belt...like carrie's valentino belt from the sex and the city movie? and some super high platform heels. that could be a hot look. with a great loose side braid.
so, the rest...well, with whatever, cause they are so silly...so silly to meeeeeee!!!!!

2011-02-15T11:41:00.017-06:00

ok, so i know that you've heard of radiohead. how could you not? they've been around since 1985 (from oxfordshire), and rock better than just about everyone in the business. the band is made up of thom yorke, jonny greenwood, ed o'brien, colin greenwood, and phil selway.

via

if you're not sure, just ask me about it. i'll tell you. :)

if you haven't heard though about their newest release, it's because it's coming out today!!!!!!

get excited people! it's called The King of Limbs, and you can purchase it at the King of Limbs website, so don't even bother looking on iTunes...just download and enjoy peeps!!!

have a great post heart day...hopefully you guys aren't still in sugar comas...

(and this is an awesome link of thom yorke...it's funny!)

HAPPY HEART DAY!!

2011-02-14T16:32:00.001-06:00

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HAPPY HEART DAY EVERYONE!!!

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i hope you have someone to share today with....

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or maybe a fun note from a friend...

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or maybe something heart-felt in your garden....

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here are some conversation hearts from me. so read which ever one applies the most to you...and take some love with you today!

BHLDN

2011-02-14T16:19:00.000-06:00

today is valentines day. it is also the first day of the launch of a greatly anticipated line, directly related to anthropologie. welcome ladies to BHLDN!!! stemming from the word 'beholden,' this new line will cater to brides and bridesmaids alike with the most beautiful and unique wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and accessories for the new bride!! the line appears very anthropologie inspired, with lots of ruffles, pleating, romantic feels in the clothes, with a very jcrew feel as well. but don't worry, i see no dyeables, or scary colored lace, or anything that would make you cry as soon as your bride showed it to you...ensuring a 27 dresses moment of "but i can just shorten it, and wear it again!"

the gowns are just beautiful and i can't wait to see my friends all wearing some of these stunning things.

check out the website at BHLDN, and you can read about the launch on culturemap if you like!

happy love day everybody!!

all images are courtesy of BHLDN...enjoy!

i heart paper.

2011-02-04T22:30:00.000-06:00

so most of you that know me know how much i love paper. i do. i love it. i wanna marry it. with beautiful letterpress invitations on cardstock dyed the lightest shade of ivory with letters made with loops and flurries and the color of the most beautiful copper penny.

ok, so maybe i'd rather marry a fabulous man that can change a light bulb and make me a delicious grilled cheese. who looks like he stepped off the pages of a j crew catalog, but could also build me shelves for all my shoes. but i do love paper. in fact, for those of you that know me well know that i would LOVE to own a paper and stationery store some day. and that is truth.

i found some of the cutest little cards both at work (anthropologie (sorry, not available online) & the CAMH store) as well as online. i love this card with the pinata party on it....reminding me how much i love cinco de mayo....

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i would want to carry that and some of these in my shop!!

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there are two card stores that i adore on etsy....and i'm going to give you the inside scoop. that's right, i'm going to give you their websites. enjoy blueeyebrowneye and the wheatfield.

and think about investing in my paper store. i know i'd appreciate it.

dvf mania!!

2011-02-01T16:01:00.002-06:00

looking back today on a posting i did back in may about dvf. loving it and looking at the pics i posted. i only wish i had done more....so i'm thinking tonight, i'll go through all the pics that i left out of this post, and fill in....hee hee

pony-obsessed. and i'm not talking horses...

2011-01-31T23:54:00.001-06:00

so i'm completely obsessed with this amazing ponytail from a feature in this month's asos magazine (a british fashion magazine). i want to recreate this look for a fun night out on the town....and i'm including the instructions, so you can too!!!

paris needs a special camera.

2011-01-20T12:40:00.000-06:00

i love this camera from urban outfitters. it's so parisian. it really almost warrants it's own trip to paris just to use it.

all images & camera found at urban outfitters

i'm still here...

2011-01-07T00:05:00.000-06:00

sorry i've been a little MIA guys...but i broke my arm snowboarding in winter park over new years, so the typing thing takes a while now. but as soon as i'm up & running again, you're the first place i'm checking in!!!

go ahead. call me a music snob.

2010-10-11T13:51:00.003-05:00

i'm so picky about song covers. i usually have a physical reaction or a knee jerk when i hear a cover come on the radio or tv, i usually have to turn the station. some people call this 'music snobbery,' but i choose to call it 'selective listening.' (my grandpa had it too, but that was a little different) the artist put out the song how they wanted it to sound, but that's just what i think. (and don't worry. i love karaoke. that's COMPLETELY different.)

now i have been a fan of glee for a while, and when i got back into town from my european excursion, i was psyched to sit down and watch two episodes of the show back to back. but you can only imagine my disappointment when i saw that one of the episodes was (yet another) tribute episode. (i happen to think that the madonna one was brilliant, but lady gaga pushed it, and britney pushed it over the edge, quite frankly.) but i thought i would give it a shot.

i have to say that the production team did a remarkable job, as did the dancers and choreographers. i mean, REALLY top notch. their dedication to creating a britney rich world, and recreating some of her most iconic looks was incredible...but i was only impressed up to a certain point.

for me, the only redeeming number of the episode was the "Toxic" number at the end of the episode. that is what i expect from a glee episode that's featuring pop music. the arrangement is really good, and the dancing is also exceptional. i really liked this number and at the end, i realized that i had hoped the whole episode would have been that good. i think that's the heart of my disappointment.

in case you missed it, glee - toxic clip for britney episode

and i just have to ask, what happened to the show tunes??? wasn't that the whole point at the beginning? i know that pop music can draw more fans, but half of the gleeks out there started watching the show for the references to broadway, both in music and choreography...and less for the trite pushing of the songs to fit the 'theme' for the week.

come on glee.

you're better than that.

absence makes the heart grow fonder...

2010-10-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

ok, so i know i've been a little absent from the blogosphere lately, but i've been doing a little traveling. so i have good news and bad news.

GOOD NEWS:
you'll be getting some post dated pics and postings all about my trip!! YAY!!!

BAD NEWS:
i'm still editing and uploading photos, so it's gonna be a little while before you get to see anything....

but stick around and keep reading, because i promise they will be well worth waiting for! love you guys!!!

xoxo

UPDATE: yessssssssss!

2010-09-19T13:57:00.004-05:00

so good news readers....my old hard drive was RECOVERED!!!!!!!!!! i'm so relieved/excited!!! you guys have no idea. i was so worried about losing all my pictures and music....YAY!

sad. sad. sad?

2010-09-17T11:37:00.000-05:00

so i haven't been posting in the past couple of weeks, but my hard drive CRASHED! i mean, dead. dead. dead. so i'm trying to 'recover' my hard drive and save my pictures and things, so there will be a blogging hiatus, so to speak, until it finishes. cause i love for you guys to see my life in pictures, not just words. i love to share that with you!

so see you soon!!!

if you haven't seen "The Cove" yet, watch this.

2010-09-05T20:02:00.001-05:00

this is one of the most moving and shocking PSAs i've seen in a long time. if you haven't ever really taken an interest in animal rights before, don't be fooled into thinking that it's only about the animals that we eat, or the animals that we see in captivity here and the way that they are treated. while those are of great importance, think about how animals are treated in countries that don't have as many animal-conscious people as the united states does. think about the animals that are harvested for food, and are toxic to those that are eating them. think about the lack of education that exists in other countries about animal cruelty. and think about what profiteers are doing to keep their money flowing in, and ignorance at a high. then watch this video.

i will warn you that the subject matter is unsettling, and while there are celebrities in the video, there is also some video shots that are a little bit graphic, so don't let your babies watch it....just thought i should warn you...

if you haven't ever been involved in animal rights, or heard anything about dolphin poaching, please visit the take part website here, and watch the cove (you can get the dvd on netflix), or even get it on itunes.

it is truly powerful.

i have seen some inhumane things happen to animals in my life. things i couldn't do anything about, or anything to really help. but this is somewhere that i have felt empowered to help, and i challenge you to do the same. i feel very strongly about this. we can help these unwitting creatures to find some peace in their home. to save them from endangerment and possible extinction. and show these monsters giving orders and killing, that they can't just harvest the ocean. they have to answer to someone.

really think about taking some action. this cause has really broken my heart. i'm sure it does yours too.

Day 14 - Post a picture taken on your iPhone

2010-09-03T22:39:00.003-05:00

I took this one today of my nephew. He is the most precious thing in the world...after my niece (but only cause I've known her longer) :)

2010-08-30T12:51:00.015-05:00

so i was doing some harmless online looking...and i found some of the cutest things on the pottery barn's teen website. i know what you're thinking-- "that stuff's all for teenagers and pre-teens." and you might be right...BUT you might also be surprised by how cute everything is, and how easy it might be to incorporate some of those things into a grown-up's room!!

so check out these things...and i've included links, so it's easy to shop while you blog-stalk! enjoy!!!

first is this adorable pom-pom pillow. which would be so cute on any cream covered bed!

then there's this really cool idea of a create-your-own-wall-mural...which i think could be great for a number of things...a cool graphic in a baby's room. or a sophisticated image in the living or dining room. the possibilities are limitless!!!!

closely followed by the personalize-it-wall-mural, that allows you to give a warhol-like effect to any image you want! that's pretty cool, right?!

i love this peace sign light-up lamp for the wall...i think it's so cute for a game room!! (and i think you could hide that cord behind the wall too....)

i think these word bookends are so adorable!!! i would put them on ANY desktop or bookshelf.

i love this pillow for its simple message and it's adorable graphic! and you should "love your ocean" pillow! (and i might have to get this as a gift for someone i know who loves oceans!!)

this XOXOXOXO pillow is almost too cute for words. i just love it...and i would really love it on a plain cream sofa.

i think this light cube table would be so chic in an ultramodern living room. next to something with horns on it...hee hee

these laundry bags are so adorable, and they have some closet organization to match. and the pattern is great. i love the teal (pool)!

i love the simplicity of this big apple! i would love it on the kitchen counter, or as a cookie jar, or in the bedroom as a loose ends holder...you get the idea!

TOMS! (even on vacation!)

2010-08-24T16:41:00.002-05:00

check out scarlett johansson wearing toms monday in austria!!! so exciting! i love when i see celebrities wearing them!!! if you aren't familiar with toms shoes, an old friend of mine started it, and you should check it out!!! click that toms shoes just above here, and get some cute shoes too!!!

i'm totally planning on wearing them on my vacations....nyc in a couple of weeks, and europa later in the month!

i got the picture here. just so you know.

Day 10 - A picture that you took at one time that you love

2010-08-20T18:18:00.002-05:00

so here it is. a pic that i LOVE and that i took.

my monkey dog loves to get on the couch and go to sleep on TOP of the pillows....you know, like a cat. so i indulge him in that one, and it's fine with him.

so here's my cute little dog. in all his adorable glory. feel free to adore him from a distance. and comment on his cuteness!!!

ps - and jq is coming over tonight to bake for tomorrow!!! so excited for the brunch!!!

Day 9 - Take a picture today that showcases motion

2010-08-19T17:14:00.046-05:00

well, i don't exactly have the most time to go and take pics, so i utilized my iphoto to find some fun pics that showcased motion...

ENJOY!!!!!

my niece on her bouncer...she loves jumping!

monkey attacking the sprinkler. it's one of his favs.

girl talk at free press summerfest. SO FUN!

tilt-a-whirl = one of the motiony-ist things ever!!

i love the breeze.

trip to ikea = MUCHO inspiration!!!

2010-08-18T23:02:00.001-05:00

i'm giving a brunch this weekend, and i'm a little bit nervous...

...not because i can't cook, or i don't think i can pull off some delicious dish that my friends will think are yummy, cause i've got that covered. i'm making a smitten kitchen (unofficially) sponsored brunch, creating in multiple some of her delicious brunch recipes for my friends (if you haven't seen the blog yet, click it, and you'll thank me later, i promise!!)

i'm nervous because i don't know what i'm going to put all this delicious foon ON. as a young unmarried adult, i haven't received all those vital entertaining pieces for my kitchen that you're just SUPPOSED to have when you offer to host a brunch.

Q: so what do you do when you find yourself without serving pieces in a pinch??
A: you travel across the freeway to your neighborhood IKEA!!!!! and i did!

so what did i get, you may ask?! well i'm gonna show you!
first, i borrowed this lovely oven safe baking dish (it's different cause it has no handles on it, and for me, that makes it a little more oven-to-table ready) for my version of smittenkitchen's boozy french toast.
then, i found something to display the zucchini bread and blueberry boy bait...this lovely SMARTA serving dish. and with a $8 price tag, i couldn't resist (and i got so many compliments on it! go figure!
(i was also considering this pie plate, but i was trying to stay on budget a little bit...)
then i'm making a simple fruit salad and putting that in a stainless steel bowl i already have, and making smitten kitchen's white bean red pepper dip, and putting that in my mom's vintage ceramic veggie tray (i'll post a pic later...i'm OBSESSED), making cold press coffee, and spiked watermelon lemonade, and i'm done!
christy's bringing mimosas and pitchers AND all her wonderful stella and dot jewelry, so it should be a BLAST!!

i did some biodegradable plates from solo and some different napkins from IKEA...for 50 FANTASTISK cocktail napkins in a pack (in medium green) for $1.49 (on special) and 30 VARSE dinner napkins in a pack (in that light summery blue) for $2.49, how could i resist!! (and i didn't have to do too many dishes!!!)

this is my version of a delicious and pretty easy brunch to pull off! i hope you enjoy the sharing, and get out there and do some delicious cooking! (AND hosting!!!)

(and i'll try to post some pics of the event for your viewing pleasure!!!)

Day 8 - Post a picture from your commute

2010-08-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

a picture from my commute?!!! really? ok...although it's pretty lame, here's what i found on my phone.

this is how my radio spells ke$ha...haha

sticker reads: "i do all my own money shots"

well hello again.

2010-08-16T17:09:00.000-05:00

so i know i haven't blogged in a while, but i have been emersed in the newest dan brown book. and i have to say, i'm a little OBSESSED. i have enjoyed all the other ones that i have read, mostly because of the rich italian history and art references (and despite the references to jesus having procreated with one of his disciples (mary magdelene) and carrying on the lineage of God's holy family - i feel like this is a bit sacrilegious...maybe just me)...but the lost symbol, brown's newest book, is really great! it's about masonry and the scottish rites...something my dad was really involved with while he was alive. and it's been something really cool to be involved with learning about.
so you should check it out. it's been really cool. (and the book is open right now next to my computer, so i'm going to get back to reading now, but i'll check in later. don't worry)

and i'll post date a little bit too, just to fill in on my pics of the day challenge. yeah, i'm falling behind. BIG surprise!

Day 7 - a picture from a recent vacation

2010-08-12T00:04:00.001-05:00

from recent vacations, i have many a picture. however, i chose to use pics from the vacation i took with matty!!! we went to north carolina to see our lifelong friend josh get married. but FIRST, we stopped in washington dc. cause we had never seen it, and thought it was time to fix that.

so to washington dc we went. and we had a BLAST! (and since you know me, and my excellent decisive skills are awesome, so i'm including some highlights from the trip. ENJOY!

day 6 - a picture that inspires you...

2010-08-11T09:40:00.001-05:00

lots of things inspire me. outside. friends. my brain, i guess? so, to find ONE picture that inspires me....that's really hard for me. so i picked a couple. so enjoy the landscape today, cause that's what inspires me the most.
let me know which one you like best!

ireland. ahhhh...it's like a breath of fresh air, right?!

this makes me want to cook...SO bad!

i love bridges and ny. great pic for that!

lovely pic that a friend took!

i love christmas. and christmas at the waldorf in nyc?! perfection!!!

ps-all these pictures were from websites and things...if you took them, please don't get mad. just let me know, and i'll give you FULL credit! thanks for your awesomeness.

Day 5 - a picture of your morning

2010-08-09T16:05:00.000-05:00

so i didn't do anything exciting this morning, so i'm including a pic from my morning a couple of days ago. i went to the galleria, and after going up the escalator, i saw this to my right!!! and i FREAKED OUT!!!! so exciting!!!

turtle racing. yeah, that's what i said.

2010-08-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

so last night was interesting. i was going to play bingo with jq and her boyfriend (and some of his friends), and well, things didn't really work out like we would have liked.

jq and i were late in leaving my apartment and got to the bingo hall a little bit late, and they wouldn't let us in!!!! can you believe that?!! the people at the bingo hall were SO rude. it was delightful.
but we went to cedar creek instead, and had a blast before going to meet the boys at little woodrow's in midtown.

we went to meet them for turtle racing. this could officially be my new favorite pastime in houston. we had to park far away, and walk a little, but we made it, and just in time! we met up with ryan and the boys, just as they were getting in line for tickets. here's how it works. you walk through line and get a ticket. this ticket is your pick for which turtle will win two out of three races to the outskirts of the 'field.' after you pick your "winner," (i picked a turtle named 'tweedledum' - obviously! i'll always go for the alice in wonderland reference....see some of my other posts on the subject if you don't know...) you wait for the races to begin. there is an announcer that comes out to get things started, but he sounded like the teacher from the charlie brown cartoons, so it was tough to hear, but they basically pick someone from the audience to be the "bucket babe," meaning that she lifts the lid of this bottomless trash can and sets the turtles free. then they try to race from the center of this platform to the outside of this turf lined circle or 'field.' each one of the turtles has a number on their back so you can tell who to root for.
it was pretty fun to watch, and i wanted to take a picture for the posting, but mine turned out like this:

yeah, i know. awesome. so luckily, someone else got a good pic and posted it on her blog. hers came out better, and i hope it helps to make sense of the wicked awesome fun that is turtle racing!

oh, and just so you know, my turtle WON!!!!!!!! that's right! free beer for me...cause TWEEDLEDUM IS AWESOME!!!! (i secretly wanted to take him home...)

check it out, cause it's awesome!!!!!

have you tried these yet???

2010-08-05T15:02:00.000-05:00

ok, so i don't get to shop at whole foods very often. it gets kind of pricy, and well, there isn't one close to here (yet! they're building a whole foods at waugh and dallas....just fyi!!!!). but sometimes, other grocery stores get a little bit clever, and start carrying yummy HEALTHY foods in the unhealthy aisles. i don't know if you've heard of the brand 'food should taste good,' but they make delicious chips that taste really good!!! AND are made with healthy ingredients to help you make healthy snacking choices (and who couldn't use them in this culture!). not everybody loves carrot sticks, you know.

i have had these before, cause they sell HUGE bags of them at CostCo (thank you for that by the way), but the only ones i've had are the multigrain. and they are super yummy....but have you had the sweet potato ones????? cause they are the BEST! you've got to try them...cause they are not only worth the calories, but they are healthier than those over salted tostitos, and they taste better too!!!! so check them out! (they carry them at most grocery stores, and if not, i've heard they're at starbucks...boo)

these images came from the food should taste good website...check it out! cause it's really cute!

Day 4 - picture of where you went today

2010-08-05T00:07:00.000-05:00

so today, i went to work. then i went to my house. neither of those sounded like things i wanted to take pictures of....

....and i went to the galleria to help a friend get ready for her trip to los angeles this weekend...no pics there either (except for a pic of an embarrassing entree that we shared with shredded cheese and queso, beans, and some other REALLY healthy stuff)....until we left the galleria.

we were on our way out of the nordstrom parking garage, and saw a magical thing sitting in the parking lot...i'll give you a hint.

my bologna has a first name. it's o-s-c-a-r...

that's right!!!! it's the WEENIEMOBILE!!!!! so fun! so this is officially where i went today! to see the weeniemobile! official. see you tomorrow!

favs...?

2010-08-03T15:04:00.000-05:00

so i know i already posted for today, but i was laughing at some old posts from this year....so check these out, cause they're really funny!!! i loved these two posts.

drugstore!!!

hilarious.

who wants their portrait done?

and i'm always post-dating posts, so be sure to dig through the archives for some older good stuff. (i'm not always good about keeping up, but i always have the pictures ready to go...you should see my desktop...yikes!)

but what are your favorite posts???? on your blog or mine!

Day 3 - picture of your street

2010-08-03T14:29:00.000-05:00

my street is ugly. with its car dealerships and industrial-ness...so i decided a pic of where i drive into my apt complex is better. it's technically my street?

oh well. enjoy! i took these earlier this year, when the honeysuckle was blooming. it was a beautiful spring day, and it smelled DELICIOUS!!!!

and i'm craving some jack in the box tacos...so i'll check you guys later.

Day 2 - a beach picture you've taken

2010-08-03T00:55:00.000-05:00

in looking for pictures that i've taken at the beach, i realized that i haven't been to a GOOD beach in a while...that makes me so sad.

but here's a pic from the santa monica beach that i took a couple of years ago. enjoy it and i'll see you tomorrow friends!!!

OH...and i found this one too while looking...one of the scariest/funniest things ever.

and just so you know, he thought he was God's gift to women....seriously.
(and he tried to pick us up...all four of us...so clearly galveston.)

not much energy today....

2010-08-01T21:35:00.000-05:00

so i've been sick all day today...just feeling crummy and icky, and really sick. so in lieu of writing something fun and witty, i'm going to leave you with one of my favorite things...

my childhood friend misty and i went to school together from kindergarten through high school, and we were friends for that entire period of time. she has three older siblings, two significantly older and one that was 8 years older than us...so she was in high school when we were in elementary.
well, lesley, misty's sister, was an alternate for the show choir (which was a really big deal to be in at our school), and got to perform in the spring concert her senior year. well, it didn't go very well....and was featured on america's funniest home videos in the 90s. it was that funny.

so click the link to see what happens to lesley at the spring concert.

and that giggling you hear in the background is misty laughing after "the incident..."

Day 1 - picture of yourself

2010-07-31T23:17:00.000-05:00

ok, so here we go with the photo challenge!!! excited! so here is my picture. and don't worry, i really scoured iphoto for this one...

this is what i look like when i paint...

this is when i try to be artsy...it doesn't work out sometimes.

hi.

taken by genebean.

...but couldn't decide between silly and serious, so enjoy them and i'll see you tomorrow!

who doesn't love a challenge???

2010-07-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

so i found this on a blog from a girl that commented on my blog (yeah, i look), and i got inspired by it, so the next 20 days are going to consist of these....who doesn't love pictures?? and a good challenge to come up with something cool? so here it is...and it's gonna be good!

The (Revised) Photo Challenge

Day 01 - A picture of yourself

Day 02 - A beach picture that you have taken

Day 03 - A picture of your street

Day 04 - A picture of where you went today

Day 05 - A picture from your morning

Day 06 - A picture that inspires you

Day 07 - Post a picture from a recent vacation

Day 08 - Post a picture from your commute

Day 09 - Take a picture today that showcases motion

Day 10 - A picture that you took at one time that you love

Day 11 - Post one of the oldest pictures you have in your iphoto pics

Day 12 - A black and white photo

Day 13 - A picture from last summer

Day 14 - A picture taken with your cell phone

Day 15 - A picture that you edited

Day 16 - A picture of you more than 10 years ago

Day 17 - A picture of what you wore today

Day 18 - A picture of you and a best friend

Day 19 - A favorite picture of yours

Day 20 - Any picture that you want!

and i'll link these up as i go so you can look at them all together! you're welcome! :)

who else read seventeen???

2010-07-29T23:41:00.000-05:00

inspiration: 1990s seventeen magazine covers
location: le intranet
what i love: oh, the nostalgia

i can almost smell the aquanet in the air. and feel the pink sponge rollers in my hair before i went to bed. oh my middle school years. it all came rushing back after i saw some vintage seventeen magazine covers today. and you better believe that i looked up some of my favs after that...so enjoy!

my fav!!! i still have this one at mom's!

oh my so called life...and jared leto...so dreamy!!

i always thought he was so cute...so sad that he passed.

i think this one made it through too...

i definitely took that quiz...i was awesome!

i have always loved her!

these were just some of my favorites....i read this magazine for far too long i'm sure....you know, until i was about 15....haha
(and all images can be found here)

2010-07-28T16:50:00.000-05:00

i have found one of the yummiest little treats to date!

i love dark chocolate. that's no secret. really, it's not. if i have to pick a "sweet treat" to have, it's not ice cream or some crazy nougat or caramel filled candy bar (though i don't judge those that love them), but i usually pick something spicy like hot tamales, or some dark chocolate. yum.

i have a real soft spot for trader joe's little dark chocolate snack bars (i love them with peanut butter), but i have always loved the special dark chocolate from hershey's too...when my mom would buy those bags of miniatures, she would always eat all but the dark chocolate, and i would eat them....they were so yummy! i guess that's where it all started... ;)

but do you know, that there are now some little snackies called hershey's special dark pieces??? they're like reese's pieces, but filled with dark chocolate instead of peanut butter! so what might my favorite mixture of candies might be you ask??? um, reese's pieces and special dark pieces! DONE!

you can find them (and that lovely image above) on hershey's website....enjoy! (and you're welcome...) :)

(there are also some other flavors...like almond joy pieces and york peppermint patty pieces....i KNOW!)

worishofer sandals...how do you even say that??!

2010-07-27T23:45:00.001-05:00

today, as i was getting on yahooooooo to check my email, i saw this article in their news feed about these "old lady" sandals that were becoming popular with hollywood stars (well, the ultra indie-cool ones...) and i thought to myself, "self, what are these sandals that they are talking about??"
i figured they would be either so ugly i couldn't stand it, or just some new style of birkenstock or something. well, i was wrong on both counts.

they are called worishofer sandals (pronounced wer-sher-fer), and they were created by a pediatrist in Germany. and don't hate me, but they have a totally cute style to them (in my mind), with their perforated pattern on the top of the sandal, and their fun colors....i really like them.
so you might be wondering who these stars are that are wearing these worishofer sandals, and the ones i've seen are maggie gyllenhaal, who i LOVE, michelle williams, M.I.A., and kirsten dunst...just to name a few. check out the article from ny daily news here! (and the picture is from there also...)

and here are a couple of other sites about the shoes...
momlogic trend alert
tip top shoes blog
things i like to look at blog

not about the sandals, but one of my favorite shoe stores...shoe market in brooklyn!!! (but they do carry them!)

little, little details...

2010-07-26T17:23:00.000-05:00

inspiration: some hand + made details
location: camh-y
what i love: um, the details?

so the hand+made show closed yesterday, and today was the big packing day...we took everything apart, and packed things up to be shipped on wednesday. and i have to say, each show has things that i like, but nothing i'm ever really sad to see go when the show is over. but, with this show, the small details of the show are the ones that are sticking with me. the delicate ceramic flowers on cynthia giachetti's piece, the buttons and individual sequins on nick cave's pieces, the hand crafted felt pieces from saya woolfalk's installation. so enjoy some pics that i snuck as i was packing...i certainly had some fun...

tim tim hard at work...

(all pictures taken with my iphone...so don't get mad.)

to be....or not.

2010-07-24T18:32:00.000-05:00

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages." -Shakespeare (as you like it)

so i'm inspired today by some shakespeare. i love the richness and weight of shakespeare's words, not only because of their ability to last for 300+ years, but the fact that the words capture human nature and soul.
i think it is beautiful that shakespeare died in 1666, upwards of 350 years ago, and yet we study him in school, write about his perspective, investigate his characters, visit his settings, and try to capture the brevity of his writing...but how much do we really understand about who he was and what he was really trying to accomplish with his writing??

just curious about what you think...let me know. in the meantime, i'll include a few more of my favorite quotes......

Absence from those we love is self from self - a deadly banishment.

The course of true love never did run smooth. (a midsummer night's dream)

There's daggers in men's smiles... (macbeth)

He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man. (much ado about nothing)

Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better. (twelfth night)

gossip girl in paris?? ooh la la!!

2010-07-22T22:56:00.000-05:00

inspiration: gossip girl fashion
location: paris francais
what i love: the chicness....oui oui!

i know it's lame, but i've told you guys that i watch gossip girl. and it's not really about the story for me, but it's about the costume and set design. i'm a little obsessed. but it's ok...i've received medication and i'm in therapy so that i don't talk about it ALL the time. :)
but today, i found an article at celebuzz detailing with photos the shooting that's going on in paris, and i must say that i'm obsessed. the clothes are just beautiful...and if you know any of the designers of the clothes, LET ME KNOW! i found a dress that i WANT, but you'll have to fill me in on where to go!!! hee hee

this is the dress i'm OBSESSED WITH!!! if you know the designer, let me know!

love the styling on this outfit!!

i mean, really...so sexy!!

all images can be found here...enjoy, and can't wait for gossip girl season 3!!! (i'll most likely be obsessed to see what they create in there too!!)

do you like tarts with your art?

2010-07-20T21:56:00.000-05:00

inspiration: tart cafe
location: 4411 montrose
what i love: it's so yummmmmmmmy!

so connie and i had lunch today at tart cafe...it was supposed to have really good salads and it was close to work. i was thinking, eh. but i was more like "AHHH!!" when we left. we went in and ordered at the counter, but i couldn't decide what i wanted to eat...the menu looked too yummy. but i thought i wanted the spinach salad, topped with roasted mushrooms, goat cheese, and prosciutto bits (like fancy bacon bits), but then i saw the chicken pesto tart on the menu, and since it was my first time there, i thought i would try that.

i was blown away! the flavor was really delicious, with its basil pesto and herb crust...it was served with a side salad, simply greens and some dressing...it was delightful!!! and of course, the company was wonderful as well!

so go by when you get a chance...here's the exterior of the building, and enjoy some really awesome goodies!!!

you guys give up, or you thirsty for more??!!!

2010-07-19T14:41:00.000-05:00

alright...i feel like i've been on a movie kick lately, but whatever. it's entertaining, and this one is part of a series, so here goes.
so i little while ago, i wrote about john hughes movies. i love them, and in fact, this is the third installment of my favorites... they are the best rainy day/sunday afternoon/sick day movies in the world. one of my other favorites is home alone. if case you've been 'cast away' living and have somehow missed it, the story goes like this:

an 8 year-old boy wakes up on christmas morning to find that his family is gone. he thinks he has made them disappear after being a pain in his tushie, but in all actuality, they have left for family vacation without him...and they don't realize it until they're on the plane over the ocean. so the rest of the movie contains his struggle to make some petty burglars leave his house alone, his mother trying to make it home to get back to him, and the continued mystery of the man with the snow shovel. now, i know its july, and it's not christmas, but just work with me people. i love this movie so much....i'm even watching it right now...

"buzz, your girlfriend, woof!"

"look what you did you little jerk."

"keep the change, you filthy animal."

"a lovely cheese pizza, just for me."

"This house is so full of people it makes me sick. When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone." (just think about it. you'll get there.)

"I took a shower washing every body part with actual soap; including all my major crevices; including in between my toes and in my belly button which I never did before but sort of enjoyed. I washed my hair with adult formula shampoo and used cream rinse for that just-washed shine. I can't seem to find my toothbrush, so I'll pick one up when I go out today. Other than that, I'm in good shape."

kevin: Is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association?

lady: Well, I don't know. It doesn't say, hon.

kevin: Well, could you please find out?

kate mccallister: This is *Christmas*. The season of perpetual hope. And I don't care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son.

"Ma'am, I'm eight years old. You think I would be here *alone*? I don't think so."

"Marv, I think we're getting scammed by a kindergartener."

kevin: I wish my grandparents did that. They always send me clothes. Last year I got a sweater with a big bird knitted on it. marley: That's nice. kevin: Not for a guy in the second grade. You can get beat up for wearing something like that. Yeah, I had a friend who got nailed because there was a rumor he wore dinosaur pajamas.

"Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen."

Kate: Have you ever gone on vacation and left your child home?
Gus Polinski (John Candy): No. But i did leave one at a funeral parlor once. Yeah, it was terrible too. Uh, we were all distraught, and me and the wife left the little tike there in the funeral parlor, all day. You know, all day. When we went back, when we came to our senses, and there he was. Apparently, he was there all day alone with a corpse. Pfff, he was okay. You know, after like six, seven weeks. Came around, started talking again. But he's ok, you know, they get over it. Kids are resilient like that.
Kate: Maybe we shouldn't talk about this.
Gus Polinski (John Candy): Well, you brought it up. I was just, you know, trying to cheer you up.
Kate: I know. I'm sorry I did.

(p.s. all photos were found on public domain websites...for info, just search yahoo images for home alone movie)

lobster killer...qu'est-ce que c'est?

2010-07-19T01:50:00.000-05:00

inspiration: julie & julia child.

location: my dvd player

what i love: her. all of it.

so when i was a small child, i watched a lot of pbs. i'm not really sure why, outside of a deep desire to potentially see grover run 'near and far,' or watch bob ross talk about happy trees, or become mister rogers' neighbor, or maybe to watch old episodes of 'the french chef' with julia child. who knows...but those are the four programs i remember being fascinated with at a young age from pbs. and i mean really fascinated.
so much so that i would not only impersonate grover's opposites, i would try to enter the puppet world in mister rogers' neighborhood, and i even painted a piece of furniture in my room, trying to imitate bob's style of trees (and i needed a bigger canvas). but the elusive one of those had to be julia child. she was mesmerizing. i could watch her and listen to her talk for hours. i just loved her voice, and the fact that she looked like she could be my grandma, and she always seemed to make the world sound relatable, like she was explaining something so that i could understand it. i loved that. and i still do.
somehow when julia would explain something, it just seemed to make more sense. that she is quite consistent, it's one of my favorite things about her instruction. and she always started at the beginning. "now when you go to cook a lobster, the first thing you need to do is...." it all seemed so doable.

you can find some clips at this link...it's a youtube video from pbs...enjoy!

so in honor of a modern version of julia, today's inspiration is julie and julia, which i have watched today for about the 100th time, cause it's about as close as i can get....well, without watching all the dvds of 'the french chef' that i have....(true confessions, i guess.)
so remember that lobster i was talking about...well, enjoy this clip of the julie and julia version:

i loved seeing some of the things i read about in julia's book, my life in france, come to life in the movie...and seeing what it looked like to create seemingly crazy things, like aspics, in the modern cooking age. or like this moment that julia realized that food was her true love:

some of my favorites of 'the french chef' include her episode about roasting chickens, making omelettes, and the cuteness of this episode about a chafing dish dinner!! enjoy it! and let me know if you need to borrow julie and julia...i'm happy to let you!

...and i hope you are enjoying julia as much as i do!

...and i guess i should read the book at some point, so buy julie and julia and give it a shot! i will too!

ARTY!!!!!!

2010-07-17T18:08:00.000-05:00

17 july 2010

inspiration: the birth of art
location: tyler?
what i love: that my friend art is another year older

today is arty's birthday!!!!!! so pumped! so today's inspiration is just a simple happy birthday wish for arty!!!

happy birthday dude!!!

HAPPPPPPPYYYYYYYY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYY AAARRRRTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-15T23:29:00.000-05:00

so i don't normally do this, but today i'm re-blogging.

that's right. i'm not feeling very creative today, but after going through my blog updates, i came across a posting that made my heart ache.

i miss italy so much. the everyday walk from school to home. the noises outside that made my ears perk up over the excitement in the street. the smells from the restaurant, il sasso di dante, outside our open window. i can close my eyes and be transported back there in a heart beat. so when i saw this blog posting from the sartorialist, i just had to repost it here, because it literally took my breath away.

seeing something so simple, but so very italian. this is one of the things i miss the most about life in italy. simplicity. a willingness to let the world pass by. people that own a business NOT open 24 hours a day, but open when they want to be.
now ask me how badly i want to go back.

photo and link courtesy of the sartorialist.

so fill this out and send it to 10 people, or else....

2010-07-15T00:07:00.000-05:00

inspiration: hattie's particulars

location: la computadora

what i love: it's reminiscent of all those surveys we filled out when the internet started....ah, nostalgia...

so i was reading on some of my friends' blogs today, and i was struck by my friend hattie's. she's so cutie and i love reading about what's going on with her, and i got a little inspired by her particulars, so i decided i would fill them out for myself. cause i love questions. and i love to talk. and isn't a blog just another way to talk about yourself??

PARTICULARS

FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD: Rome, the quiet part. QUOTE WORTHY: “All human wisdom is contained in the words wait and hope." - The Count of Monte Cristo. I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER (AND OVER!): Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Troop Beverly Hills, Summer Magic, High Fidelity, Coming to America, Wayne's World. BEST PIECE OF ADVICE: “love is all you need.”-the beatles. CLOSET STAPLE: probably toms. and jeans with t-shirts. ON MY IPOD: Citizen Cope, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Timbaland, Teddybears, MIA, Led Zeppelin. BLOOM DU JOUR: Peonies. REQUIRED READING: The Count of Monte Cristo, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wuthering Heights, Like Water for Chocolate, The Sun Also Rises, The Lovely Bones. SIGNATURE SCENT: Marc Jacobs. FAVORITE HAUNT: Gallant Knight, Houston (i dig live music). ALWAYS IN MY PURSE: iphone, NARS lipgloss in Female Trouble, green Orla Kiely wallet, wayfarers, plethora of bobbypins. ALWAYS ON MY WRISTS, FINGERS, NECK AND EARS: ESQ watch, David Yurman sparkly diamond ring, necklaces by ginette ny or something else crazy, diamond earrings (25th bday present from momma). GREATEST DISCOVERY: sounds cheesy, but my relationship with God (a continual discovery). BIGGEST INDULGENCE: fish and chips with a pint of beer (from the Black Labrador, ideally in Houston). RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: finishing Wilderness Ranch hike...20 miles in the wilderness. yeah, really. MOMENT I LOOK FORWARD TO: my ah-ha moment. i don't know what it's going to be yet though. CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS: this blog, man.

grillin ain't necessary, but it's easy.

2010-07-13T18:28:00.000-05:00

so the one true advantage to the uber hot weather is that it's the perfect time of year to be outside grilling!!!! and my only question is, what should i grill next?!

i have some ideas.....

bourbon-glazed baby back ribs

vegetable kebabs

grilled zucchini pizza

grilled sweet potatoes with lime-cilantro vinaigrette

and for dessert.....

grilled pineapple with brown sugar, coconut, & rum

where do you go to shop???? - home edition

2010-07-11T18:51:00.000-05:00

so sometimes, not often, but sometimes...people ask me where i find the stuff i put in my apartment. they either like my style, or ask me out of pity, or just actually dig my finds. so in addition to coming photographs of said space, i'm going to include some websites for some of my favorite shops. i have either shopped, browsed, or stalked these stores in both my many travels, or just in home-towning there for a while. so enjoy the browsing, and please let me know if you find anything good there...i love me some feedback.

in houston:

first off, there's always anthropologie. it is not only a former employee of mine, but also one of my first true loves. i first discovered this store about 6 or 7 years ago, and i have never looked back. it makes my favorite christmas gifts, my favorite rainy sunday shopping, my favorite surprise gift bags, and i miss it when i'm not in the store. (i think i might be a little co-dependent....or obsessed. you pick.)
after anthro, i have to say that my mom is another source of inspiration/style/booty. now before you get too excited mom, just know that i am very inspired by your style, but in a different way than you might thing. my mom owns a business, and through that business, i have had WAY more exposure to the world of retail than i probably should have. this includes, but is not limited to, 10 years of buying at market, 6 years of doing window displays, and about 2 years collectively of creating things and signage for the store. she has spaces at both heights antiques on yale, and the yale pharmacy...all there for your shopping needs.
i love shopping in the heights. there is so much eclectic stuff out there...from vintage home wares to persian rugs, old stuff, new stuff, and everything in between....you can find it all in the heights. my fav store was The Homestretch, but Maura closed up a little while ago, and moved stock to heights antiques. so it's like one stop shopping...you can shop my mom and Maura, all in one parking job.

there's the cardinal boutique - with their super fun mexican imports, and never a shortage of mexican colored floral dresses, you can always find something fun and unique in this cute little store. and about 90% of the store features handmade stuff...not too shabby (chic). there's also the texas junk company, where you can find some cool salvageable pieces, and if not, you can always find a crazy colored pair of cowboy boots. cause it is houston after all, and you will need them at some point. another really cool place is adkins architectural antiques and treasures on fannin. it's worth the dig, and if you're looking for glass knobs or depression glass, this is the place.

other places:

LA -
apartment number 9 - the design in the santa monica store is so inspiring...i just love it. just go there. it's on 26th.
eurochic llc - love it.
hollywood at home - amazing interior design. the textiles are pretty incredible. you won't regret that one.
i draw a lot of inspiration for outdoors from patio culture...but the prices are a little beyond my means, so i take some of those vibes to places like ikea and pier 1 and really let the style aspect shine through.
west third street - one of the places i miss the most about living in LA...i loved just shopping it out on 3rd (both w third st and the third street promenade in santa monica...oooh, and montana st...i think there are too many to list...)

NY -
i miss brooklyn flea. i have had such a blast over the years picking up stuff there...my only restriction being that i would have to fit it in my suitcase...heehee brooklyn
brooklyn general store - they have great stuff for home improvement, especially if you're going a little retro....milk paint, vintage fabrics, curtain rods, yarn, etc. it's all so adorable and stylish.
i haven't been yet (def. on my next trip to ny), but i'm hearing awesome things about brooklyn indie market....great items and amazing designers working on some really kick-ass artisanal items!

OTHER -
french quarter linens - some of the most beautiful linens ever. simple. beautiful. elegant. sophisticated. what more could you ask for?
if you can sew at all, you should consider these fun modern designs from marimekko...they are phenomenal and really hit the mark for pops of color in any room as well as providing super fun and dynamic patterns!
i love cath kidston's design...her little boutique in nyc is adorable, and the store in london is awesome. check it out if you have the time.
based in london, graham and green is one of the only stores that i truly hate. meaning, i HATE that it's not here in texas. i mean really. couldn't they just open one in my neighborhood??
and don't even get me started on mint's gorgeous store display. i only wish my house looked like it.
the lollipop shoppe - such cool accessories. just don't even doubt me there.
the portobello market and the spitalfields market are great places to browse. i love just walking and not only people watching and shopping, but also grabbing a coffee and talking with the stall vendors. i love london.
tate modern shop - great gift shopping, but they have some wicked cool stuff for your flat as well. cool teapots, small rugs, and all the kitschy art knickies you could think of. it's so fun!

i also get really inspired by set design. i don't know if it's the art lover in me, or the registrar in me that pays so much attention to details, but i always notice the little details whenever i'm watching a movie or tv or whatever...so i don't know how to tell you about set design or where to find it, but it's really inspiring to me whenever i look around. so i guess just pay some attention when you watch a rerun?

so that's it for now...let me know if there are more questions. i'd love to talk interiors shop with you. and hopefully, i've given you a head start on some great finds in a city near you!!

Despicable Me - A Despicable Good Time. Featurette

2010-07-11T00:59:00.000-05:00

10 july 2010

inspiration: agnes from despicable me

location: edwards' marquee

what i love: the cuteness!!! it's so FLUUUUFFFFFYYYYYYYY!!!!

i know the featurette doesn't contain agnes, but it's a cool one. check out the movie on youtube or something and get to the theaters to check it out, cause it's great!!! (there was even a single tear rolling down my cheek...like when the grinch's heart grows to three times its size and breaks that measuring device...)

yl wilderness ranch 2010 recap

2010-06-26T17:49:00.000-05:00

26 june 2010

inspiration: my young life girls
location: the wilderness of colorado
what i love: the word inspiration isn't enough...these girls are awe inspiring.
well what did i learn in a week long trip into the wilderness with 14 girls, 2 guides, and a base camp summer staffer/cook?? better question = what didn't i learn????
i learned about love. about God's love. about the love God gives me for these girls.
i learned about the mystery of God. His desire to meet me in my mess. in my worst state of mind, and not only pick me up, but drag me out, clean me off, and deliver me to his grace. ah, God is good.
so enjoy a little bit of the craziness, some of the nostalgia, and hopefully, you see some of the beauty that i see in these girls and in the wilderness.

the group on day 2

a little more how we were feeling on the inside.

our celebration on peak day!!!

last day! we were wearing half of the woods' dirt, but we made it back to the drop point!!

what? serious pics are overrated...

God's beauty. it never disappoints.

the whole WHYL group!!!

fear? we're so there.

2010-06-18T13:09:00.000-05:00

18 june 2010

inspiration: fear.

location: h-tiz-own

what i love: that it makes me rely on the Lord.

i've heard that fear is a great motivator. it pushes people to try all sorts of new things. it allows people to go beyond themselves, and get out there for some new adventures.

well i'm getting a little bit fearful about this trip i'm leaving for tomorrow. i'm taking my young life girls to wilderness ranch for a week. that's right. getting out to the wilderness to be a part of God's creation for a week. without bathroom. without bed. without security blanket. without, well, without distraction.

it's pretty scary, but i'm thinking that it's gonna be great. i'm pretty out of practice with the whole hiking thing...but i know the Lord will provide some comfort. so i found some fear verses....and i'll pretty much be reciting these until we get done with the mountain. so wish me luck...

psalm 2.11

serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

psalm 25.14-15

the Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. my eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

psalm 24.3-4

who may ascend the hill of the Lord? who may stand in his holy place? he who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

psalm 56.3 (message)

when i get really afraid i come to you in trust.

i'm still laughing...

2010-06-14T22:42:00.000-05:00

dance is in the air....

2010-06-11T18:29:00.000-05:00

11 june 2010

inspiration: ballet
location: camh office
what i love: the nostalgia/the beauty of dance

we are getting ready for the next show at the museum in the pr department...meaning connie. and sometimes me. in preparation for the show, we are working on some press releases and such. the next show we have coming up is called dance with camera, and in looking though the catalogue, i was really inspired by the past. days upon months upon years that i spent in toe shoes and ballet slippers. wearing pink tights and black leotards....i really miss it. so today's inspiration is about ballet and it's effect on me.

the catalogue (which i don't have images from...sorry) has a whole variance of dance, from both dancers and nondancers, artists and subjects, black and white film and color. there is a whole gamut of dances in this show, from nudists to ballerinas, and the like. i think it's a lot like dance, and ballet by extension. there are so many different various forms of dance now, not just ballet or tap or modern dance. movement by pure definition appears to be it's own form of dance. so get inspired by dance, cause it's coming to a CAMH near you (august 7-october 17).

back to ballet. it only took about 11 years to fall in love with ballet. really, it only took about 2 days. but i spent a LOT of time after that standing at a barre with my hair in a bun, correcting my form. and i loved every minute of it. from the tights and tiaras, i was hooked. it was the only place i ever wanted to be super girly. so my dance costumes were like my play time....i loved it so much! in fact, the only thing that made me quit was my dance school moving too far away for me to continue...and i never found another school that i loved the same. tear. but enjoy some fun pictures, including one of me at a recital! hee hee

i'm the one on the left... :)

scary. but funny.

2010-05-31T23:33:00.000-05:00

31 may 2010

inspiration: fatal attraction
location: my couch. in my apartment.
what i love: that the reference made it into a girlie tom hanks/meg ryan movie.

"there is no way that we're going on a plane to see some woman who could be some crazy sick lunatic. didn't you see fatal attraction?...well, i did. and it scared the shit out of me. it scared the shit out of every man in america!"

so sleepless in seattle is on tv right now....and i know what you're thinking. 'amy. really? a chick movie? a rom-com???' (in the most mocking voice ever please.)

but before you judge, there is one line that cracks me up every time i have ever seen this movie. and it's the quote at the top of the post. and even reading it now, i'm smiling. you just can't see it. hee hee

i love that tom hanks has made all these silly movies in the past. don't worry though. he's actually really funny, and now he's making ron howard movies where people die in crazy scary ways and stuff. so street cred in tact. whew. but movies like the money pit, big, joe vs the volcano....all so good. and while not quite oscar winners, they're some of my favs. if you haven't seen them, NETFLIX NOW!

and meg ryan. don't even get me started. while she's dabbled in some serious films, her success lies in the rom-com and all its lady-captivating glory. the movies like joe vs the volcano, french kiss, when harry met sally...you get the idea.

while it's no fatal attraction, i'm enjoying sleepless in seattle tonight as i wrap up the memorial day weekend...so you enjoy your last hours before the next work day.

i was a photographer in my past life.

2010-05-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

so i got really inspired by this photo shoot from 2008 by by peggy sirota for vanity fair...so today's inspiration is all about those pics i guess. just cause i think they're really cool. (forgive the fact that they're all about the twilight cast, but i stumbled upon them looking for some pics of kristen stewart from the june issue of elle...i was looking for those, but found these instead!!)

so enjoy and get outside and take some cool pictures of your own!! happy tuesday!

they're so great, right?! you can find a whole lot more of these pics at kristen stewart source's website here...

an up-do can give you perspective....

2010-05-23T15:27:00.000-05:00

23 may 2010

inspiration: the love of my Maker

location: in my car somewhere on 610

what i love: details. it's all in the details.

so today i was on 610, on my way to work, and i just all the sudden got tickled at the fact that God knows the number of hairs on my head. i mean i literally laughed out loud. it wasn't a scoff or a reaction to an outrageous idea, but a true amazement at the fact that the God of the universe, who takes care of us all everyday, provides for the needs of millions and billions of people, knows the exact number of hairs on my head.

like when i take my hair down, and the hairtie pulls a few hairs out, it's like God tallies that change on his "amy's hair" counter. it just made me giggle a little bit to think about of all the things that God takes care of in my life and the lives of others, He never forgets to update that tally...cause i lose a lot of hairs.

hee hee.

bueller?.....bueller?.....bueller?....

2010-05-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

so i little while ago, i wrote about john hughes movies. i love them. they are the best rainy day/sunday afternoon/sick day movies in the world. one of my favorites is ferris bueller's day off. if case you've been living on mars and have never seen it, the story goes like this:

a high school dude decides the weather is just too nice to go to school. so, he creates pretty much the best day off ever, including singing in a parade, driving a ferrari, going to a cubs game, eating at one of the most exclusive restaurants in chicago, going to the art institute, and almost getting busted all day by his crotchety principal and his sister. so in tribute to the brilliance of ferris, and john hughes by extension, i'm going to post some pics and quotes that are my favorites! so enjoy, and just so you know, 'life moves pretty fast. if you don't stop to look around every once and a while, you could miss it.'

"The key to faking out the parents is the clammy hands. It's a good non-specific symptom; I'm a big believer in it. A lot of people will tell you that a good phony fever is a dead lock, but, uh... you get a nervous mother, you could wind up in a doctor's office. That's worse than school. You fake a stomach cramp, and when you're bent over, moaning and wailing, you lick your palms. It's a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school."

"Ladies and gentlemen, you are such a wonderful crowd, we'd like to play a little tune for you. It's one of my personal favorites and I'd like to dedicate it to a young man who doesn't think he's seen anything good today - Cameron Frye, this one's for you."

"Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude."

Mrs. Bueller: I just picked up Jeannie at the police station! She got a speeding ticket, another speeding ticket, and I lost the Vermont deal because of her!
Mr. Bueller: I think we should shoot her.

"Gummi bear? It's been in my pocket; they're real warm and soft."

Excuse me: if whoever was in this house is still in the house, I'd like you to know that I've just called the police. I'd also like to add that I've got my father's gun and a *scorching* case of herpes.

"There is an intruder - male, Caucasian, possibly armed, certainly weird - in my kitchen... M-my-my-my name is Bueller...Look, it's real nice that you hope my brother is feeling better, but I'm in danger, okay? I am very cute, very alone and very protective of my body. I don't want it violated or killed, all right? I need help! Speaka de English?"

vampire. crazy.

2010-05-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

so the song "tic toc" by ke$ha has been pretty popular....and some people just don't get it. except for this girl, glozell1 on you tube. she takes it upon herself to translate line for line the ke$ha hit, and it is freakin' hilarious!!!! watch it...like NOW! cause it's awesome!

you can find the video here...and just enjoy it, cause it's awesome! vampire. crazy!

2010-05-05T23:12:00.035-05:00

happy five of may guys!!!

and what better way to celebrate (other than with a pinata) than a music update!! do you know about paper tongues??

if you don't, then you should. and you'll thank me. they are so fun, their music is great to dance to, and you can jam out for days.
the band is from charlotte, and pumps out all these different elements of rock, funk, r&b, pop...all into a unique sound. you should really check them out!

and a little for the record for you guys...my 2 favorite traditions for today were also successfully celebrated--margaritas. and pinata.

if you've never busted into one of these bad boys, you need to make a trip to your neighborhood fiesta (supermercato), arne's (party supply), or target in the hood, and pick yourself up one immediately. then fill it with some delicious treats. some individually wrapped snackies. and put them in. then get a bat or a strong stick, or night stick, or something with the word stick in it, blindfold, spin, and swing (with some paper tongues in the background). instant and harmless fun! haha

so have a great margarita day guys.

and bust some pinatas today fools.

(rainbow pinata, paper tongues, lots of pinatas)

fav quote of the day

2010-05-02T13:35:00.025-05:00

date: 2 may 2010
inspiration: diane von furstenberg
what i love: her practical yet beautiful outlook on life

via

"color is magic." diane von furstenberg said this. and i love that she did. it really is. color creates an overwhelming feeling of magic. color provides and stimulates imagination and creativity. where would art be without color? without magic?? what about fashion?

dvf wearing signature wrap

diane von furstenberg created patterns and colors that were tremendously versatile. women of all ages and sizes could wear her clothes and feel beautiful and sexy. and with a woman like this at the helm, how could you not?? the clothes were beautiful and flattering, with whimsical colors and patterns that fed the need to stand out in the working world and in day to day life. (read more about her inspiration in Amanda Miller's article about her in the Huffington Post.)

her clothes are timelessly sexy, without trying. and isn't that the best sexy around?

love whitney port's effortless romantic yet structured look!

love this pattern

at dvf show spring 2011

via

love this image of dvf...classic.

so enjoy some images today, and think about how much color is really magical. and if you can, go lust after some beautiful dvf creations.

yum, yum, bubblegum. i mean, koolaid.

2010-05-01T10:51:00.031-05:00

via

ok, so don't judge me. i know i'm not six years old, but. i'm in love with a lip smacker. i know.

via

last night i made a trip into the art deco kroger to get some beer on the way to a party (i would love to say wine, but i'm not always that classy...). on my way to the checkout with jq, i spotted them. a six pack of koolaid flavored bonne bell lipsmackers. WHAT?! so excited. i told her, they must be mine.

via

and so they were. so pumped about it.
don't worry. i tested them all as soon as i got in the car. and i never looked back.

via

so here's to you bonne bell. and your delicious flavor choices.

2010-04-28T17:29:00.000-05:00

28 april 2010

inspiration: alice...in her wonderland
location: imagination?
what i love: the intrigue, the dedication to imagination ruling our lives

this adorable print was created by etsy artist booksontape and can be found here

so alice in wonderland has always held a special place in my heart. i don't know why, but i've always been fascinated by the story, the book, the disney movie....all of it has really been a part of my life in a real way. (and i guess right now, the story is more popular than ever with the release of the tim burton version recently....)

to that degree, in my free time today, i started looking on etsy, one of my favorite sites for creatives selling their wares, for some "alice inspiration," and i found some cool stuff. so check it out! i'm sure you'll love it...

these were created by etsy artist inknpaint, and you can find one like it here

this cool bracelet was created by etsy artist justbedesigns and you can find it here

this cool ring was created by justbedesigns and can be found here

i'm sure i'll have more to list on alice this year...it's such an inspiring story to me, with so many fun and interesting characters. so stay tuned.

(and all the links were found after the post, but they are still awesome and inspiring)

local natives?

2010-04-27T14:27:00.002-05:00

via

you should know about this band. they are awesome. their name is local natives.

look them up.

no, really. look them up.

fun in the texas desert...

2010-04-25T01:39:00.004-05:00

swinging in the yard was fun!!

so, i went on a little field trip to zapata to visit my new nephew and help some overstressed fam pack up their house. they are moving so that jake can start working in a little less scary neighborhood...

here are some highlights from my trip...enjoy!!

somebody's nap time.

trying on aunt amy's shoes!!

a little bored on the drive down...and
showing off my "manicure"

trip to dairy queen??

so much thistle down there!!!

last chance to take pics in zapata.

defender of our needs

2010-04-20T14:39:00.000-05:00

20 april 2010

inspiration: psalm 10.17-18

location: the bible

what i love: the comfort and peace it brings

"you hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, listen to their cry - defending the fatherless and oppressed."

i love these two verses. the simplicity of the message. it is beautiful that the Lord not only hears our desires, but encourages them, listens to them, and defends our needs. did you get that?

DEFENDS OUR NEEDS.

ok, so we pretty much know that God can hear us when we call. that he can answer our prayers before we even know the problem. we know that he provides us with encouragement, whether through a hug, a kind word from a stranger, a sweet gesture...

but how often do we ask for protection? we ask for protection when we're hurt. we ask for protection when we're scared. we ask for protection when we think we need it. but do you ask for protection when you aren't sure what you need? what about when you have no clue what you need?

wouldn't it be amazing to give up all our "control" and rely on the Lord to know what we need, provide it, and protect us when we're at a disadvantage?! could we do that? could we abandon our limits and give up our fear of losing control in order to let the Lord take control and not only find us in our need, but defend us when we're without a protector and under attack?

i love that. the Lord wants to protect and provide. and i'm totally on board with that. and He fights to defend me. i'm on board with that. these are two verses i have really needed right now. it allows me to take a deep breath and say "ok. Lord take it, and defend me! thank you for your love and encouragement."

amen.

2010-04-20T00:12:00.009-05:00

i'm obsessed with this new dress for spring from thurley!!! great for a work meeting or sunday afternoon brunch!!! love.

check it out at net-a-porter!

2010-04-19T22:23:00.010-05:00

so i did it. i finally broke down and joined the twitter phenomenon. can you believe it???

so if you feel so inclined, follow me at http://twitter.com/amylane7!!

have fun! i mean, #havefun

hiking at the gym...

2010-04-18T23:15:00.001-05:00

ok, i officially wish that i had seen this in person...however, i know i would have fallen off my own elliptical machine! haha...

hiking at the gym

so i got inspired by this since it was so funny...i decided to find some other pictures of hilarity from the gym...so enjoy.

and please laugh as hard as i did...at these gym things...just people workin' on their fitness.

barkley hendricks, you're my hero...

2010-04-18T22:34:00.000-05:00

inspiration: barkley hendricks

location: camh-y camh

what i love: PORTRAITURE!!!!

so barkley hendricks is leaving....insert sad face here. i'm kinda sad this one is over. i loved the intimacy that existed in these paintings, and now that the show is coming down, i'm soaking up my last few days with them. we started de-installing after the museum closed last night, and it will take a couple of days to finish the de-install. we've got some help with registrar stuff from the nasher, and we are blowing through the conditions pretty quick. this one has actually been fun cause it's not so time constrained. well, it kind of is. but in the mean time, enjoy a few pics, and i'll see you soon!

a cool hipstamatic pic of Slick

who doesn't love an action shot?!

2010-04-17T19:20:00.000-05:00

17 april 2010

inspiration: art history lectures
location: camh-y camh
what i love: the knowledge...the information you get to glean from someone else

Outside view of the CAMH - so pretty!!!

so i went to see one of my favorite profs from TCU speak today at the CAMH>> Dr. Colpitt. She is one of the art history professors at TCU, and one of the most amazing teachers i ever had during my undergrad. she came to speak on the Odita show in the downstairs gallery at the camh, and i hadn't heard her talk in a long time. i was blown away....i forgot how good she was.

i'm going to piece some thoughts together about the show from her lecture...well really just some points she made, cause i don't want to give any info that might not be right (that would be embarrassing...)

LACMA show in 1959 titled "California Hard-Edge"*

*named was given to this show when it traveled abroad
featured artists Karl Benjamin, John McLaughlin, Frederick Hammersley, and Lorser Feitelson
term 'hard-edge abstraction - coined by Jules Landsner, art critic, and was to be the title of the show
later used to describe artists like Frank Stella
relates directly to Odita's work...the solid, plane-like sharp lines of his paintings

color form - shape and forms made of color
Mondrian was a different kind of painter, drawing then filling in
the illusion of movement, distinction of life al exist in Odita's work
Brave Men Run - quite illusionistic; looks a bit like a Cezanne landscape

with three distinct panels of ground - foreground, middle ground, background
similar title as Rucha's title "Brave Men Run in My Family"

the Television series is like the flash and scramble of turning on a tube television
as viewers, we often confuse intent with content

sadly, these were the only notes that i took today...i wish i had more paper. but it was so good to hear her lecture again, and so fun to chat with her about working at the camh and about art history...i just love it so much!

shelfari - do you know about it??

2010-04-15T14:36:00.000-05:00

inspiration: shelfari.com

location: le internet

what i love: so easy to keep up with

so have you heard of shelfari?? it's this great website/program where you can keep up with books you've read and books you want to read. books you want to own, and even your favorites!!! you should check it out! it's the coolest. and while you're there, add me as a friend! i'd love to see what you're reading too!

campies!

2010-04-15T00:17:00.000-05:00

14 april 2010

inspiration: matthew 11.28-30
location: lauren's house
what i love: comfort.

so tonight at young life, we had campies. for those that aren't memorial juniors, that's campaigners. we talked about resting. gene and i showed up in jammies and talked to the girls/boys about resting, too much rest, and resting in the Lord.

we asked them questions about rest, what it means to rest, why we should rest, what happens when we rest too much, what happens when laziness takes over, etc. we read a lot of verses about rest, when God gives us rest, and when He encourages us to rest.

one of the verses that i had them read was matthew 11.28-30.

"come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

those verses have a special place in my heart, as they have gotten me through some tough times. since i got so pumped about sharing them with the kids, i'm going to tell you about what i told them.

when i was little, i spent a lot of time with my grandpa...papaw is what i called him. he was my favorite thing in the world. i loved spending time with him and sharing interests...we had a big one in common--horses. he took up horses and trail riding when he retired from welding, and i always had such a soft spot for them. i thought they were so beautiful. when i was extremely young, i started my journey into riding horses, which took me into barrel racing (for a little while), and into teaching horseback riding to little kids.

when i got a little older, my grandpa started with mules and pulling things...he had a sled, a covered wagon, and all sorts of stuff for the mules to pull. it was awesome! (i even got to ride in the rodeo parade for a couple of years in his wagon! so cool!!!) but when you pull mules or oxen or whatever, you need to use a yoke, because the animals need to be pushed in order to be directed. the yoke helps to share the load of weight and pressure between the animals, and help direct them in order to work together. so the yoke that Jesus talks about in those verses, he talks about the shared weight and about showing us how to take on those burdens and work through them. he will take on that load and shoulder the work in order to help ease our burdens and lighten our burdens.

i think the most important part of those verses is "take my yoke upon you and learn from me..." i think it's so important because not only are we to share the burden with Jesus and give him our problems, sure, but we are also to learn from him. we are to learn how to be more humble and gentle from him, as well as to learn how to deal with those burdens, and with his help, maybe we can learn to deal for the future.

and i think that's a beautiful thing.

new baby love!

2010-04-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

13 april 2010

inspiration: birth!

location: katy, texas

what i love: my new nephew is finally here!

today i got to meet my new nephew! what could be more inspiring than that! he's perfect and beautiful and such a blessing!

kristen is doing great and is perfectly healthy...getting to meet him was so exciting! that's all for today...i'm so sleepy after the day!

can you help me find this song??

2010-04-11T14:05:00.000-05:00

inspiration: this song

location: ellen show

what i love: it was really great

i really loved this song, but i can't find it anywhere...can you help me out???

you are the light

it's the greatest find in a world full of wrong

you're the thing that's right

finally made it through the lonely to the other side

my hearts in motion

every word feels like a shooting star

i'm at the edge of my emotions

watching the shadows burning in the dark

i'm in love, i'm terrified

for the first time and the last time in my only life

i only said it cause i mean it

i only mean it cause it's true

so dont you doubt what i've been dreaming cause it keeps me up,
holds me close, whenever i'm without you

you said it again, my heart's in motion

every word feels like a shooting star...

Up. (Baltimore Version)

2010-04-10T16:13:00.001-05:00

Up. (Baltimore Version)
Originally uploaded by BrianEden

i love this photo!!! so fun!

...and i love those mysterious deltas in the background!! :)

turn to the left. turn to the right. oooh bop. fashion.

2010-04-09T22:47:00.000-05:00

9 april 2010

inspiration: fashion
location: camh, houston
what i love:

oooooh, bop. fashion. so last night i worked the fashion show for the camh teen council, and i have to say that i was really inspired. not because of usual reasons, but because these kids have worked really hard to produce really fun things. i didn't get to take many pictures, as i had to keep the kids in line and such, but the ones i got were fun.

now granted, some of the fashions were a little out there...and some were WAY out there, but then some of them were just beautiful and some were really really cool. and there were all sorts of fabrics and textures and materials to work with. it gave all of us old people (aka museum staff) the chance to play project runway staff...i got to be michael kors. so you know i waved my sharpie around in the air, saying things like "that was chic," and "how is that modern?"...none of this to the kids, just playing like kids ourselves...haha. shelby was heidi and connie took on nina...so funny!

but the kids did a ood job of finishing all their designs, and minus a few names out of order, the show went off without a real hitch. so turn to the left, and turn to the right....and girl you better work!

day without shoes.

2010-04-08T17:07:00.000-05:00

8 april 2010

inspiration: a day without shoes
location: all over the country! wow!
thing I love: blake's ability to think big, and the kids that actually did it!

i have been a toms follower for a long time. i started wearing blake's shoes years ago, because i believed in what he was doing, and i believed in his cause (if you don't know about toms, click the toms). i also have a friend who worked for him, distributing shoes in austin, and in order to help him keep a job, i started buying them.

last year, toms sponsored a day when people would voluntarily go without shoes for the day, in order to give a voice to children who live without shoes. it was a huge hit, so this year, they went BIG! they went national with the "day without shoes," inspiring all sorts of kids all over the country to go without shoes. even in this city, where the concrete gets uber hot when the sun shines on it...

so today's inspiration, while short, is all about my love of toms!! support them by going without shoes for the day...then get on their website, and buy a pair!!! for every pair you buy, a child in need gets a pair for free!!!

"scout"

2010-04-06T00:08:00.000-05:00

5 april 2010

inspiration: richard phillips' painting "scout"
location: gossip girl
what i love: the painterly-ness

irony of all ironies. i watch gossip girl. yes. feel free to judge, i don't care. i think the story is silly too and i think the actors could use some help delivering some of their lines, but it's no pun-ridden CSI, or cheesy sitcom with little to no comedy involved. so i enjoy it. and my favorite part of it has to be the set design.

i don't know what my problem is, but my favorite thing about watching television shows is looking at the set design and artistic choices art direction and set design have taken to create the character environments. maybe it comes from my art history background, or my job and looking for so much detail, but it's really my favorite thing...i only wish that could be my job. combining my two loves, shopping and detail orientation...heaven.

so this week on gossip girl, well, the story isn't all that important to what i'm talking about, but there is a painting being taken off the wall, and i just was finally struck enough by it to try to look it up. here's the picture i took...

well, turns out it is a painting by richard phillips, called "scout," and just ask me how much i want it. it's just breathtaking. i love this painting.

i used to hate portraiture. i really did. when i took art of mexico in college, i hated the portrait section. it just seemed so frivolous and pompous for people to commission portraits of themselves. but then i started studying renaissance and dutch paintings, and something shifted. i started really looking into the eyes of the subjects, looking for meaning and subject matter, and i started to like them more. i think its come full circle too with the show up at the CAMH right now. we have a retrospective up of Barkley L Hendricks, which is primarily portraits. i have really started looking at some of my favorite modern artists lately, and portraiture is actually in most of my favorites...yoshitomo nara, richard prince, elizabeth peyton, richard diebenkorn, hiroshi sugimoto, etc....so tricky. how i wish i hadn't been so quick to decide my feelings in the past...haha

but this painting, with its smooth strokes of hair and almost cartoon-like style, i just love it. the big sunglasses. the play on the boy scout uniform and the color contrast. i just love it. the whole painting is just beautiful. trust me.

my picture for this one isn't as awesome as the original, but there's some nudity in the original, and i didn't feel like i could post that on my blog since i'm not sure how many of the mommy friends read this while their kiddos play....so nixes on the nudes, but the whole painting is really beautiful, so check it out if you like.

easter eggs and chocolate bunnies?....nope.

2010-04-04T18:22:00.000-05:00

4 april 2010

inspiration: the love and grace of Christ
location: my heart
thing i love: that i can't earn it.

a few of my favorite things about easter:
1. it actually feels like things are in bloom on the day
2. one of the most celebratory church days ever
3. i always feel humbled...it's delightful to feel that way sometimes.
4. rejoicing for He is risen!

so not everyone looks forward to easter. i mean, it's no christmas. for kids, they've done all they can to foster a sense of silliness and fun, with easter egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, easter grass, and all sorts of colorful jellybeans and other candy, but it's just not the same as the surprise of christmas.

for me, it's different than that (i guess it should be since i'm not a child...). for me, christmas and easter alike are celebratory days, in which i take a look at the word, and relish in the gift that is the grace and love of Christ. what a beautiful thing. the birth of Christ is something we look at with such great expectancy. we can't wait until the story of the life of Christ unfurls and we get to meet this precious baby, who will give us new life...i mean, let's be honest, who doesn't LOVE meeting a new baby?!?!!! but the beauty of the revelation of a new life on earth that has been created by God for the sole purpose of saving us from hell...His coming, that we might have life...it just blows me away and makes me feel humble. undeserving. small.

but easter. easter is the day we all embrace that love. we say to the Lord, thank you for this gift. thank you for the love you unconditionally give. thank you for your Son. and we tell Him how much He means. to us. we celebrate.

this is one thing that i love about easter. another thing that i love about easter is my church. for those that don't know, i go to ecclesia, a small-ish community church here in houston. i love being a part of this heavenly family. these people are almost as much a part of my family as my family is. they love me in the best and the worst circumstances. they accept me just as i am. and they want what is best for my life, while encouraging me in the word. i love that. it makes going to church the most positive experience--to see the love of Christ in the faces of my church family....it's beautiful.

well, all that to say, the easter season is my favorite at ecclesia, as we spend days both mourning and celebrating the life of Christ. there is a stations of the cross art show installed for the duration of lent, there are services on ash wednesday, maunday thursday, good friday, and of course, easter sunday. and there is always beautiful music, beautiful words, and beautiful contemplation. this year, i went to the sunrise service, since i had made plans to help my mom work in the garage at her house in the afternoon, so i headed to church as the sun was coming up, and had the most wonderful time once i got there.

i wasn't feeling very well on my way to church, but as i received my candle and headed into the service, a calm and a joy washed over me and allowed me to sit and be comforted and humbled at the feet of the one who saved me. what a beautiful sunday. i didn't sit with anyone i knew, and i didn't see my friends when we greeted the others seated around us. it was all about newness for me on sunday. the newness of my heart, the newness of my fellow ecclesians, and the newness of the day.

like i said a wonderful easter.

pretty little packaged plan...john hughes style.

2010-03-31T18:47:00.000-05:00

31 march 2010

inspiration: john hughes movies

location: chicago usually.

what i love: the neat little wrap up.

i love things in my life being a bit unpredictable.

sometimes i think my life would be easier if it all wrapped up as easily as a john hughes movie.

i mean wouldn't it be great if my dream guy showed up on my birthday with a cake and we shared a candlelit kiss? or if my family showed up on christmas morning just as i woke up in time to find things just as i had wished for them to be? or if i just barely got away with the ultimate day in downtown chicago?

but i think i'm still in the plot development stage, in which my family has forgotten my birthday, i have realized that i'm all alone and the burglars are coming, or that my parents are about to bust me for skipping school and i'm face to face with my principal. i guess we all feel that way sometimes.

but then there are those other days, when we get marooned with the prom queen in a rolls royce, get to go on vacation to france, or get to cruise town on a free pass because my best friend is a bad ass. you know, those days when the stars align and we catch a break.

i've never been much of a planner. i've always left that to those people that make lists - and have to check off at least one thing a day. i must admit that i've always kind of envied those people. those that have at least one of the big checks taken care of - husband...check. kids...check. you know, the together people. and on the other side of the room...me.

you see, i've always been more of the 'go where the day takes you' kind of soul. lend my panties to a geek. overcome my fear of the furnace in the basement. sing in a parade and inspire choreographed dancing in the street. take a risk and see where the day can bring you. and doing all of it in good time. in my time.

and i think that's ok. i've spent some time thinking about it, and i think that being organized can be great. making lists can bring you closer to your goals. i spent a lot of time making plans when i was younger, trying to finish my life before it started. and all it did was bring me to the conclusion that my life is not for me to plan.

it's like when you think you're going to be slick and grab a quick sip from the water fountain, and just as you lean over, turn the knob/push the button, a HUGE rush of water comes barreling out of the fountain, spraying your face, getting your hair wet, and leaving you no less thirsty, and in need of a paper towel. or maybe just a towel. you think to yourself, 'well sure. why wouldn't that happen?' well, that's pretty much how i feel when i try to plan things too detailed in my life.

so i've decided that i might not get my john hughes ending. my candle studded birthday and parade days may not be in the making in quite the same way, but i'm going to have a bad ass time trying to make those moments happen.

in my time.

(ps - another day i'll post some fun stuff from each of these movies....cause i love them each so much....haha)

welcome in spring with some spring cleaning!!!

2010-03-28T14:20:00.000-05:00

28 march 2010

inspiration: spring cleaning!!!

location: my mom's garage/my apartment

what i love: organization!

i love spring cleaning. who knew. i used to think i was organized. that i liked things in order. that i was someone that liked things tidy. boy was i right. but execution and intentions are so very different. i didn't fully understand that until i started really cleaning my room.

i am finding all sorts of crap everywhere. i'm trying to just weed out and clean, and THEN, my mom called me today and asked if i would help her clean out her garage....i couldn't BELIEVE it!!! i have been waiting to get my hands on that garage since we practically moved in!!! i'm so excited to clean and move and clean some more! hooray!

but more on that later. i've attached an article link for a story about cleaning and organizing your house, complete with some dos and don'ts, just so you don't get too overwhelmed with the state of the world and your garage.

how to clean it up

if ya thinkin ya dun, ya naut.

2010-03-22T23:24:00.000-05:00

inspiration: jersey shawre

location: jersey, duh. (or mtv)

what i love:

so i officially have a new found love for the jersey shore.

i didn't have any clue what i was missing until i got assigned to be a jersey shore character for young life club tonight. boy did i not know what i was missing!!! these characters are so freaking hilarious, i can't even tell you.

so i got my best spaw-klees aoown, and i sprayed my heeair up big. real big. genie and i put our best hair doooses four-waad and went for it. the kids played a hawt dawg game and laved it. they did. they laved it big. real big.

we had grant playing "a situation," and he literally drew a six pack on his stomach with a sharpie. hilarious. he was so funny when he lifted his affliction shirt up in the air....i died. haha

so attached is the link to the hilarious makeup training video we found on youtube....and a pick of snooks...just for your enjoyment.

snookie how-to

alice, alice, alice!!

2010-03-08T01:40:00.000-06:00

7 march 2010

inspiration: alice's journey through wonderland
location: the imagination via tim burton
what i love: how crazy tim burton is!

so this movie has been all over the place....it's all Alice! Alice!!! ALICE!!!!!
but that's OK with me....i have loved this story ever since i was a child. the characters, the journey, the imagination required to actually read the book. when i was a kid, i read the book, even though it scared me a little, and after watching the disney version...

...i wanted to be british, fall down a rabbit hole, meet tweedledee and tweedledum, and eat little cakes (no matter what they might do to me...), but i never guessed a version of this movie would be made that would be quite like this one.

tim burton created something both whimsical and a little creepy, with a jabberwocky, a creepy set of twins, beautiful flowers that have human-like faces, and well, johnny depp. in a way, it's every alice fan's dream...not to mention anne hathaway with white hair and black eyebrows....which i still don't entirely get. but that's ok.

so enjoy some of the images i took with my iphone at the movie tonight...they aren't that great, but go see the movie and you'll see just what i missed! it is truly a brilliant film! and you won't want to miss it!!!! (i plan to see it again...and again...and again. and maybe one more time after that.)

and all the images belong to disney...just don't make them mad.

rodeo art awards are today!!!

2010-03-06T22:27:00.000-06:00

today is the school art awards!!!!! we are on the way to see who the winners were and see all the adorable kiddos get their awards, and see their art!!!

ok...back i am. and i was WAY off on my prediction of the grand and reserve champions!!! oh well. the winners were good, and i'm excited to see how the auction goes!!!! enjoy the pic and i'll see you tomorrow!!

opening day of the rodeo....

2010-03-02T11:14:00.000-06:00

2 march 2010

inspiration: hlsr
location: htowwwn!
what i love: it's awesome.

today's inspiration is the houston lifestock show and rodeo...it's OPENING DAYYYYYYY!!!
i work on two different rodeo committees, one that raises scholarship money for art students and one that gives directions to rodeo patrons....i love being involved with the rodeo, and i knew i would do it one day...and here we are.
i'm so excited!!!! my mom has been involved with hlsr since i was a little girl, and i loved getting to go with her to events and loved that people respected her involvement with the committees, and now, i get to do that! i'm helping out kids with a dream of arts scholarships, and helping lost kids and people all over reliant grounds...such fun!

so come and join the fun and visit me at the rodeo!!! (and if you haven't given money to the school art auction committee yet, you know where to find me!!!)

i'm becoming a coffee junkie...

2010-02-24T01:27:00.000-06:00

23 february 2010

inspiration: the beverage known to most as coffee
location: my tummy
what i love: it's yummy.

so it's called by many names...java, coffee, joe, mocha, cappuccino, caffeine in a cup, americano, cafe.
and you can go to plenty of places to get it...deidrich's, starbucks, jo's coffee, taft street, agora, brasil, empire cafe. (...and some of them are even good.)

but i love it. pretty much any way, but i'm really picky about where i get it from. i always love deidrich's...it's my go to for yummy coffee. the cold press coffee is my fav. it's all the things you love about coffee, but without any of the things you hate. no bitterness, but all of the flavor. YUMMY!!!!!

so if you get a chance, drive by...you'll probably see me there with a book. (this might be becoming a problem....)

2010-02-21T19:02:00.000-06:00

21 february 2010

inspiration: BROADWAAAAAAY!!!
location: barnes & noble on w. gray
what i love: the 5-6-7-8!

i have always loved broadway, and musicals by extension.....it's what i wanted to do for a LONG time. well, that didn't really work out that well, but my love for the music and the experience never died. so when jq went to work for tuts, i was so pumped (she has always been my friend that loves musicals as much as me...and this was her dream job!!)!!! and one of the first events she has had to do was tuts day at the w. gray b&n. so of course, i told her that i would go by and buy some books and give some monies to tuts. cause who doesn't want to support musical theater?!??!!!

so if you can get there before they close today, then pick up some books (or some of that other crap they sell at b&n), and tell them you want part of the purchase to go to tuts!!!

who wants their portrait done???

2010-02-19T01:17:00.000-06:00

18 february 2010

inspiration: this little portrait frame card from the family guide for the barkley hendricks show at the camh
location: bingo hall in the heights
what i love: it was so cute and hilarious!!

so i had to work before going to bingo tonight, and i was kind of bummed about it, but don't worry. when people aren't in the museum, i can always find ways to amuse myself. like tonight...i found an extra family guide for the barkley hendricks show, and i thought it was really funny that you could hold it up, and put your own face in a frame...so i decided to take it with me to bingo. as you can see, it made really fun portraits of the group...well i liked it!!!

oh, and i happened to make a perfect bingo dot in my free space....no big deal.

neiman marcus. i know. it's awesome.

2010-02-13T19:42:00.000-06:00

13 feb 2010

inspiration: neiman marcus

location: houston, galleria

what i love: um, what don't i love?

so neiman marcus is by far my favorite place to shop. i mean, hands down. there is something about the store...everything about it makes it my favorite. from the customer service to the retail, the selection.....oh, i could go on and on.

but today, i made one of my best purchases to date. i have been eyeing this david yurman ring there for months...since christmas. i went through neimans with my mom a couple of days before christmas on our way into the galleria, and started looking at the yurman counter in the jewelry section, pointing out some of the rings my friends had....it seems it was a bit of a rite of passage to receive a david yurman ring in our group (for graduation, anniversary, christmas, etc.). so i started trying some on, as per my mom's suggestion, and i fell in love with this one ring. instead of a solid stone in the middle, it had lots of little diamonds. but i was thinking, it's too expensive. but mom thought it might work out somehow if i really wanted it. so mom and i were talking and she was like, well, we'll see...

so christmas came and went, and no david yurman. but that was ok. i wasn't really expecting too much, and i was blown away by the gifts i received...such sweet things from my friends and family! after christmas, mom and i were talking about it, and i just couldn't seem to get that ring out of my head. so mom told me to really think about it, and if i really wanted it that i should just go get it.

so i thought on it for about a week, and then, today - valentine's eve - i went and picked it up. i got my ring!!! i'm so pumped about it!!!!!!! just ask me to show it to you some time. cause i will bust that puppy out!

you always need a towel...

2010-02-10T15:21:00.000-06:00

10 february 2010

inspiration: yoshitomo nara beach towel

location: nara beach towel

what i love:

it sounds really stupid, but today's inspiration is in fact a beach towel. yeah that's right...a beach towel. i am so ready for summer...so ready, in fact, i started looking at beach towels and swimsuits online...but i want to go away for the summer...somewhere where i can fall asleep in the sun and read style magazines all day long. isn't that the dream for everyone come summertime??

but my dream is my own, i guess, and i would like to have a nice blanket to lay on...and my blanket of choice is definitely this one....she's just so cute.

when i was working for the modern, we had a show called pretty baby come through the museum, and i was so taken by one of the artists, yoshitomo nara. i thought his paintings and sculptures were so fun, and of all the japanese pop art that i have run across, the most inspiring. so this beach towel, in all it's adorable simplicity, is just my favorite thing today. i'll put it on my wish list, and maybe i'll get it for valentine's day!

2010-02-07T21:58:00.000-06:00

inspiration: my PUPPY! (and his cute cupcake)

location: mom's house

what i love: how adorable he looked

i took some things over to my mom's house today, and had a cute new toy for tucky. and when i saw him with it, it was pretty much the cutest thing i'd ever seen...so i took some pictures.

you know, i have always wanted to have a cupcake and paper store. i don't know why the two go together...maybe because cupcakes come in paper?....but there it is. and if i ever get lucky enough to achieve my goal, that picture up top is going to be behind my counter. cause it could be one of my favorite pictures ever!!! so sit back, have a cupcake, and be jealous that your dog isn't as cute as mine... :)

buyer's dinner = beautiful flowers!

2010-02-04T01:43:00.000-06:00

3 february 2010

inspiration: FLOWERS!!

location: river oaks country club

what i love: the beauuuuuty!

ok so tonight was our buyers' dinner for the school art auction, and it was lovely. we had dinner at the river oaks country club, followed by presentations for some of the high bidders. it was really fun! i sat with some of our other rookies, and we had so much fun with the food and the open bar...

at the end of the night, we got to pick whatever flowers we wanted to take home, and i picked some white hydrangeas and these beautiful fire and ice roses...the pictures don't really do them justice (but the inside of the roses were this pretty peach color, and the outside of the pedals was this beautiful fuschia color....amazing!). really, all of the flowers were so awesome, with their delicately colored pedals, and their beautiful colors...i should really grow some of those or something.....

my little makeshift bouquet!

closeup of one of the roses

wiiiiiii love wii fit plus!

2010-02-03T01:03:00.000-06:00

2 february 2010

inspiration: wii fit plus

location: wii land!!!

what i love: it's hilarious!!! and awesome!

this was the most fun! we had a blast playing wii fit plus....from the advanced kung fu to the parade route...it was all amazing! thanks genie for upgrading, cause it was awesome!!! and we all laughed so very hard playing this one. and laughing at who the wii chose to fill in the rest of the workout.