Trash Collection

Trash Collection?


Am I allowed to say that I am an art collector if I allowed myself to buy this print? And does it raise the value if I have it custom framed before hanging? I just want this so badly--like dying for it. Lucy brought it to my attention and now I cannot live without. It's super cheap but fills my personal definition of priceless.

Just feast your eyes on this and tell me I'm wrong to love it....

Serving

Sometimes I am just so pleased with myself... Serving brunch realness

BOOK WHORE

BOOK WHORE

"Then Again, Maybe I Won't"
by Judy Blume (5 stars)

I know I keep gushing about Judy Blume but once again she proves to be one of the best young adult novelists ever. I loved that this story--told from the POV of the male lead Tony--is just a strong a reflection of the juinior high years as "Are There God---It's Me Margaret."

The story is a simple one--a poor Italian kid's family becomes successful and moves from Jersey City to a toney neighborhood and exactly how this changes the entire mores of the each person. It's about being the new kid in school, figuring out puberty and esuxal urges, about class struggle and even about "the whiting" one's racial background.

I really did care for Tony and understand his concerns and confusions as his family adjusted to their new wealth and surroundings in ways that seemed to go against their nature. I loved the character of his homesick grandmother--unable to cook since it would seem unseemly, the perky and annoying Corky who just wants Tony to like her, the high end Hoober family who cause all the concerns and joy in the story.

A near perfect book and one I would read again.

The Collector

The Collector

I've suddenly become into buying art.

That sounds so pretenious.

I have recently come into the idea of buying random paintings and photographs I see and eventually framing them on the wall. And Johnno has had a say thus far so it is both of us buying the pieces.

Kind of.

It's funny cause it never really occured to me to want to do that--the idea of owning works that I liked in an original form seemed so out of reach and bougie. It wasnt until I watched Edie as she began to collect her own works and Joy found her own works that came from her family which inspired me to try own my own.

Exploring places like Esty and Apartment Therapy have given me a playground to explore and discover new artists and refine my tastes... I have discovered I like colors and mixing of media, pictures and words interwined with images of nature or irony. It's been fun to add them to our registry as we work toward our wedding--its not about resale value but finding unique things that we want to carry forward. And while it has only been two pictures thus far--I cannot wait to continue to add to the collection.

Barbie Battle Realness

Bully for the Boys

I'm not saying it is high art but something fun and unique--it may not always be campy or gay friendly and develop into something more serious but I cannot wait to see where it all goes. The fun part will be adding and blending our tastes and ideas into something uniquely us.

Unsung Favorite

Unsung Favorite

So I am kind of obsessed with Solange. I know that everyone has a certain fondess for her sister Beyonce but I think that as an actual artist Solange is so much better when it comes to her songs, her sound and her willingness to explore different styles. I honestly believe that "Sol-Angle and the Haldey St. Dreams" is probably one of the best albums of the past decade and in the same league as Lauryn Hill.

But I digress.

Truth is I have been revisiting her music and have become re-obsessed with one of her songs. With all the stress currently from my job I have turned to music more and more to shake off the day and this is usually part of the same playlist as Curtis Mayfield, Robyn, Janelle Monet, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu ect... It just makes me happy



Enjoy

The Pages of My Fantasy

The Pages of My Fantasy

I live for private libraries-the texture of the written page, the colored hardbacks, the smell of ink. There is something about having so many words at one's fingertips in your space that I just cant help but love... Add to that my love of interior design and the vastness of the internet--welome to library porn

I mean these pictures are just so lush and overwhelming and the only reason I would even want a house to do my own verison of these... And a place for all my damn books

Only So Many

There are only so many times you can go to your job and feel like you are constantly failing before you have to go to the bathroom to keep from crying. I love what I do and I'd like to believe I'm good at it but when everything feels designed to fail it is so hard to stay on point. I work from home, I've stayed late, I do all I am asked and its still not enough.... I just can't win and I'm tired of feeling like I'm losing.

I hate this feeling

Stalk Me

Stalk me through social media... Besides Facebook I also have a fashion tumblr called "Fashion Makes Me A Whore" as well as an account on Pinterest for people to follow as well.

It's all so riveting!

Enjoy

Adulthood

Just when you think you're an adult you suddenly see the Man Crush collage you have on the closet door in your apartment. What makes it worse is its in the living room and still growing even though you're in your 30s.

BOOK WHORE

BOOK WHORE

"Something like Summer"
By Jay Bell (3 stars)

I really wanted to love this book but I just couldn't do it. I didnt care for either Ben or Tim after a certain point because they became such awful people to each other in ways that didnt make sense. And that was a recurring issue in the book--these characters doing things that dont add up. Ben just joyriding in Tim's car without even a thought, Tim suddenly wanting to have gay sex, just the dynamic between the two of them never made sense or was rootable.

What sad is when the flash forward happens I started to care for some of these characters and wanted to know what happened to them in this life beyond high school. Allison--the best friend--herself was one of the best new characters I've read in awhile and she does make the others sympathetic at points. But whatever movement the story gained in the middle was lost by the cop out ending that felt shonehorned in--it was obvious that the author had a mission and wasnt listening to his characters anymore. It made me sad and felt cheapened.

The book is really getting 3 stars for Allison and the middle years--that does hold up well and makes me wish for better books from this author in the future.

PS And I do know that there is a second book that is "Tim's side" but honestly the characters left such a bad taste I dont really care to know it.

Project Ror-rayyyy

So I have been trying to get more into my office life. Not because I want to work more or am worried about my career but because I have realized how much time I spend here. And I want to make it pleasent and friendlly and with people I enjoy in a comfortable setting. Which is all just a reason for me to do this:

It's pretty-brightens up the office--reminds everyone what the next big day is... and I have been trying to get more into arts and crafts type stuff recently to just be doing something different for a change.

Field of Frost

I know it is silly to bitch about the cold in LA but when the buildings feel like they are made paper mâché it's hard not to have your teeth chatter.

I've take to layering sweaters & wear suede pants to work..... Thank god I over shop.

Frost people--frost

Praise Jesbus

Thank you h&m for giving the gift of Becks... Just thank you ever so much

The Artist's Way

The Artists Way

It started with a small conversation--I had been doing some wedding planning work over the break and Johnno noticed that I had spent some time sketching out possible looks for the wedding center pieces. I had made the drawing to just try and plan out what we would need more of down the road--it was quick and sloppy but just there.

Johnno told me his wished I drew more often cause he liked what I did. It was an innocent comment but made me start thinking about how I have not been creative in a simple way like that in a long time and that maybe I needed to get back to it. When I was younger I always thought I would be an artist of some sort and would sketch away while living somewhere exotic like NYC or Paris--but I never felt I had the touch I needed to make something more of it. And then I discovered writing.

All bets were off

But nowadays I feel like the more I try and focus too much on certain things the better it would be for me to diversify my interests. It's not about being great at everything I do or making it perfection but about allowing myself to spread out and try new things to add to my own process. That and I still think I would make a great artist for the front of Vogue patterns

(THE ABOVE ARE NOT MINE BUT ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS I WOULD PROBABLY DRAW)

BOOK WHORE

BOOK WHORE

"Good In Bed"
By Jennifer Weiner (4 stars)

I was really hesitant to read this the book cause it seemed to be part of chick lit subgenre that I usually cannot abide. It was given to me by a friend as part of a recycling program and she really pushed me to give the book a shot.

I'm glad I did.

I really did come to love Cannie and her crazy, disfunctional, madcap world because she was the opposite of most "chick lit" characters between her looks, her emotions, and her wit about herself and others. And though the story did follow a lot of the same traps that chick lit faces with obvious plotting and romance storylines--I found myself falling in love with all the characters on some level.

Plus it helped that there was a couple of messed up, out of the blue, solid twists in the story that kept me reading much quicker than I would have guessed I would. I just really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more from Jennifer Weiner

I WILL DO THIS

This idea is totally on the short list for my next place to live--cause I would love to have this as it's own little area for me to releax and hide away.

It is the most amazing thing I have seen design-wise in months and I'm kind of obsesssed with it right now!!!!

Whatever It Takes

Whatever It Takes

This past year I decided to change tactics on quitting smoking--the patch was too easy to discard when it was convenient or overly emotional so I had to start looking at other options. I have never been the person who could easily do cold turkey--I just don’t have the will power so I had to look elsewhere.

And this is where it gets tacky--cause I went electronic.

(This is not an endorsement of the company but what I have been using)

I got the idea to go the electric cigarette route after that infamous episode of Real Housewives of OC (or which) that had the real-life Allison Dubois chain-smoking on one throughout dinner. I had come to the realization on my own that I missed the actually physical act of smoking more than anything else; it was either the deep breathing for smoking, the ability to excuse myself from situations to not be rude or just the going outdoors that usually helped calm me down. So I figured if I could find the right product to keep the oral fixation going with junk food or nail biting-I could be in business.

And they look like cigarettes. And produce real smoke. But don't taste or smell like them at all.

(see? the tips do)

But instead of buying into the claims that smokeless tobacco in these cigarettes was healthy or okay--I decided to go the nicotine free route which is basically like a flavored hookah but without smoke, ash and other gross stuff. It seems to be working as a replacement to the real thing and when paired with nicotine patches it has been a huge help.

I'm not saying I have been perfect during the process but it has made the transition much easier to weed myself off of smoking. There are been days when I barely use the thing but it is there when I truly need it which is a godsend. And now with my last smoking friend Joy committed to quitting herself--this could be the year I really beat this one!


And the best part is my smoking co-workers noticed a difference and asked all about what I had been using--it is helping to show other people they can quit too. I'm not pushing product here but it has been a huge help.

Note to Self

When you don't remember to grab a nicotine patch when leaving for work you will eat all your days calories & some by 1:30... This is not how to get wedding thin... Two hours on the elliptical it is then...

Obsession

Obsession

I have no idea why but I am currently obessesed with this song



It's Dionne Warrick, it's early 80s and I have NEVER heard it until Johnno gave me a couple of the Easy 80s from Time Life. It's freaking me out how much I am digging this--I spent ten minutes the other day humming it without a second thought.

Maybe I am just going crazy.

Favorite Thing in the World

A freshly made bed with new sheets...

Thanks Elsa the maid

Love
The dollhouse

Tick Tick Boom

So my mother trapped me last night in a phone call... We've been talking more lately due to family issues and my own resolution to make more of an effort. But even still there are times when I wish I could shake her like I do my phone...

Cause she had to ask about babies.

Now I should have expected this as a natural off shoot of any wedding conversation. It's something she's always hinted about wanting to know & for the most part I haven't had an answer because I've just been pushing it out of my head.

But with Kelly and Johnny trying for a baby and all the social shifting because of that has been a recent topic with lots of people and for some reason it became one with us.

Now the thing is I would have no problem being a parent--I adore kids, nannied them, taught them and enjoy their presence. But for me and Johnno it would be an expensive legal process which would probably make me have to give up my freelance career or have Johnno be the primary parent.

I couldn't do that to any of them.

This used to make me feel selfish--that money & my career would be a reason to forego kids... It feels like I'm making it all about me when the truth is the opposite.

I think it would be more selfish to have kids when I can't give everything they would need. This isn't even taking into account how hard it would be for us to get to have a child to raise.

Maybe it would be different if we could just get pregnant by accident but that is not going to happen. Which my mother gets but I think she was expecting some kind of baby clock to go off with me.

It won't happen without a huge income different that only the lotto could provide. And even then I'm not sure. My only worry is who would be the Dorothy to my Sophia but I suspect I will have more than enough Rose & Blanches to get through it.

So no boom goes the dynamite

Snap of the Day

I just love koi fish--they are so pretty

Want

Valeska is in vacation in Florida and simply sends me this photo cause she thought I'd like it...

I WANT EVERYTHING ON THAT TABLE

Seriously pricing it out in my head.

BOOK WHORE

BOOK WHORE

"The Hundred Secret Sense"
by Amy Tan (3 stars)

While Amy Tan again proves that she is an amzing voice in the Asian experience I really just couldn't get into this book nearly enough. I think because from the begining you know where the plot is going to go and how it will all play out and that detracts from the overall story quite a bit.

But I do really enjoy the Olivia character--her perspective on herself, her marriage and her relationship with her sister is pretty spot on from my own epxerience... I wish I understood better why she loved Simon as much as she did and that Kwan was at least allowed to be angry and call Olivia out on things instead of just taking things. But that is not how the world works in the Amy Tan experience and I think the demurness of the female characters is what gets to me.

But the prose is pretty and full and lush which I always love.

Note To Self

You obviously need to wear headbands more off cause you know how to rock them... Seriously it just looks awesome.

Golden Gay

Sometimes you feel like Sophia Petrillo....

Spoiled

Spoiled

So this was the Christmas haul this year--primarily from the boyancee... It's more than it looks like with some jewelry, some more books and a couple of missing gifts represented by pictures in the mix. It's not that I'm bragging but it made me a bit uncomfortable

And it is a little bit bragging.

This year was the first year that Johnno had a well paying job, a job he wanted and so he went overboard with the holiday. Part of it was us working on doing gift lists to make things easier, part of it was how vocal I had been about not buying myself things for the wedding but I think the biggest part was that he was finally able to spoil me for all the times he felt I spoiled him.

It made me uncomfortable to not have as much for him as he got for me.

And I know this is being petty and silly--that I should just be grateful but when a person is really good to me I don't really know how to handle it. I think I do, I think it doesn't bother me, but it does make me the center of attention and getting my needs met which I am not used to. And I have to get used to letting Johnno because that is what marriage is going to be about--not the gifts but letting him treat me well and me not getting all weird about it.

And the presents will help.

Fashion Bitch

For some reason I am dying for this shirt... It's like part of me wants to join a 70s tribute band for Liberace or something. I think this retro vintage thing I love might be going way to far

It's So Cold

Winter has finally hit Los Angeles in full force which has led to me dressing for work like Macy Gray/Grace Jones love child..... I'm one poncho away from a Stevie Nicks video

A Sexy Start

Anderson Cooper is giving me the motivation I need to lose weight for the wedding... I just want to have my own sexy shower cap moment soon. Edie is totally jealous.

To New Beginings

Here's To Getting Things Started Off Right




I figure everyone should start the New Year with a dance party!!! At least this one is pretty much a full on hits list and not something lame yanked together by Spotify or something... ENJOY!!!