heart + hymn

suck it up.

2010-04-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

i've moved from blogger to tumblr.
i like the brevity.

let's goooooo....

due south.

2010-04-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

via design crush

mood music: doom - gazzillion ear (thom yorke remix)

when the bottom falls out.

2010-04-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

pc: casselle

in just one week: plans have fallen through, and friendships have fallen apart, and a boy broke my heart; and i don't know how or even why, but i keep dusting myself off and getting back up. i feel like i'm running toward one of those giant fans.

when does it get easy?

mood music: muddy waters - stormy monday blues

breaking even.

2010-04-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

pc: fuck yeah marilyn monroe

today is my one-year anniversary. not of being with a boyfriend, or of being sober from anything (yet). it's my one-year anniversary of writing this here little blog. i'm really surprised at how quickly the time went, and i don't think i would have even noticed were it not for me being bored last week and being like, "what was my very first blog post?" i saw the date and did a bit of a double-take. it's been a year already?

i'm not going to do any cheesy retrospectives or recaps. i just want to thank anybody who's read even one of my posts this past year. even though i'm sure the majority of you are friends and family, it still means a lot. this year has been quite a rollercoaster; i've had some very high highs and some pretty low lows, but it's been great to have a place to talk about each one. it's like a weird type of therapy.

here's to another year? who knows. thanks again.

mood music: happy birthday - subliminal message

closet confessions.

2010-04-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

i am obsessed with these bluefly.com 'closet confessions'. i can't even really pick a favorite, although i do have a very special place in my heart for kelly cutrone. her style is bananas, and her closet is literally a fashion museum. vintage gucci, westwood, tons of yohji yamamoto and margiela, and a comme de garcons inside-out trench coat? if i were her, i would pay admission. and don't get me started on little ava. not only is she freaking adorable but i'm sure she could teach me a thing or two about fashion.

ps. i love you christian siriano. "i never wanted to be something weird, like a doctor or anything. i wasn't into that. i wanted to be a ballet dancer..."

mood music: the ruby suns - closet astrologer

wild tigers couldn't keep me away.

2010-04-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

pc: casselle, the moldy doily, my love for you is a stampede of horses

all by artist/blogger/designer/wildchild/boutique proprietress/lovebeing kime buzzelli. i've been following her for a while, and i really adore her artwork. i kinda wish i could wallpaper my apartment with it. the girls she paints have such an ethereal realness; they remind me of fragile, broken, but still free-spirited nymphs. she also owns show pony in echo park, which is an amazing clothing boutique and art gallery of sorts. she truly has more talent in her pinky finger than most people have in their entire bodies. sigh.

mood music: fun. - all the pretty girls

somewhere in stockholm on a bike with a basket.

2010-04-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

photos via lauren moffatt shop

lauren moffatt, spring 2010. so adorable! i want everything, including the shoes.

mood music: smokey robinson and the miracles - get ready

it's alright.

2010-04-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

pc: ffffound

"i am raising a flag, i am just too tired now to fight.
it's white and it's waving
can't we save this for another night?
i used to be afraid, but now i crave the quiet
together we are both alone, but i don't mind
i'll dream of something to try and make us alright."

mood music: nicole atkins - together we're both alone*
*i can't stop listening to this song. sometimes you just want to hear a beautiful voice accompanied by a string section.

on a good day.

2010-04-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

pc: ffffound

"later that day i got to thinking about relationships. there are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. but the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. and if you can find someone to love the 'you' you love, well, that's just fabulous."

- carrie bradshaw, (an american girl in paris, part deux)

mood music: syreeta ft. stevie wonder - to know you is to love you (via music to milk by)

play me in a movie: zoe saldana.

2010-04-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

"and that was the beginning of a beautiful fucking romance. that was my xanax, let me tell you. it fucking mellowed me out. it put all of my demons in order, and connected the dots like, 'you want things to come out this way? you've got to give it time'".

okay, i'm not stupid. i know i'm not nearly as fabulous as miss thang. but i do think that if my life was made into a feature film and i got the opportunity to cast it, i would pick zoe, just to flatter myself. the skin, the voice, the style...she is the truth.

now i want a haircut!

photos from nylon magazine, april 2010; via pop crunch

mood music: nelly furtado - maneater

wow and flutter.

2010-04-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

pc: google images

i've never cared much about being the first to discover something. it's great to be able to tell people about a band, or a clothing line, or artist or whatever else i've somehow stumbled upon, but i could really care less if i'm the first, or dead last person to know about it. i actually find it kind of obnoxious when someone is like, "i found this really cool [whatever], you probably haven't heard of it yet though."

that being said, i came across a really great band while i was browsing the hype machine the other day; april smith and the great picture show. i love her voice. i can't quite pinpoint who she sounds like, which i guess is a good thing. it's kind of indie, kind of folksy, but totally catchy. if you know me at all, you know that i'm a sucker for anything with hand claps and tambourines, and this doesn't disappoint. her lyrics are brilliant: "and i know i'm nearly impossible / but i'll tell you what, i'll tell you what honey / no other girl in this whole wide world / is gonna give you this kind of run for your money." (from 'battle of eliyahu'). finally someone gets it!

so i encourage you to check out their music on the hype machine, or itunes. and whether i'm the first person, or the 888th person to tell you about them, i hope you'll be excited nonetheless.

mood music: april smith and the great picture show - colors* (via from go to whoa)

*my favorite so far.

it was my breath.

2010-04-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

i always love to hear about how people find their passion. sometimes i feel like i'm going to be searching for my true calling forever.

photographer sharon montrose picked up a camera when she was fifteen, and hasn't looked back since. over the years, she developed an enthusiasm for taking pictures of animals. i think it's pretty amazing how calm they are while getting their photos taken in the studio. of course my favorite is the baby giraffe, by far.

(via the storque)

"a lot of people ask me, 'how did you get to where you are? how do you have this career?' and i always say, 'from a series of complete and total failures.'"

mood music: editors - the picture (via the good, the bad and the unknown)

over my head.

2010-04-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

ashley and i, december 2008.

things that never fail to lift me out of a crapass mood:

- a good long nap on a hot day.

- fun, colorful undies from target (5 for $15, thank you very much).

- liz lemon and her "lizasters".

- listening to amy winehouse.

- when carrie bradshaw (the dog) notices that i'm crying, then crawls up to me and licks the tears off my face.

- ashley jensen and her straightforward, pulls-no-punches life advice.

- ice cream sandwiches.

- justin bieber, and his adorable little babyface.

- when carrie bradshaw (the character) goes through something...anything...and comes out stronger.

- going to the piano bar with jeanette, requesting "tik tok", and marveling at the fact that they actually know how to play it.

- talking to my mom on the phone.

- a snapped marathon. nothing makes you feel better than watching crazy bitches murder their husbands.

- tapas.

tomorrow will be different, right?

mood music: amy winehouse - help yourself

stuff i just love: stop-motion.

2010-04-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

my bff wikipedia describes stop-motion (also known as stop-action, or frame-by-frame) as "an animation technique used to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own". when moved in small increments, photographed individually, and then played as a continuous sequence, it creates the illusion of movement.

something about the way stop-motion looks has always appealed to me. it's a little artsy, a little cheeky, and somehow it makes everything look a little less done. it takes about a million times longer than just filming with a camera, so there's a very retro quality to it also. i just think it's cool.

some of my favorites:

the amazon kindle commercials, by angela kohler and ithyle griffiths. very creative marketing. i think these are just so sweet. they make me happy.

"her morning elegance" by oren lavie. i already loved this song, but the video made me love it even more.

my dreams tend to be extremely vivid, so much so that i find myself trying to differentiate them from my real life when i wake up. the girl in this video seems to have the same issue, only with a hottie-hottie boyfriend.

"lost things", also directed by angela kohler and ithyle griffiths. i've posted this video before, but since it fits so well into this post, i thought i would share it again. i love a fine frenzy, and this is so nostalgic and heartwarming.

i found this video on youtube. it's by a student from the savannah college of art and design. it's pretty amazing, what with using all the post-its. i especially love the brickbreaker part!

mood music: robot science - the notion of backwards motion (via fensepost)

somebody told me.

2010-04-06T01:38:00.000-07:00

pc: ffffound

"if you want to succeed in your life, remember this phrase: the past does not equal the future. because you failed yesterday, or all day today, or a moment ago, or for the last six months; the last sixteen years, or the last fifty years of life doesn't mean anything...all that matters is what are you going to do, right now."

-tony robbins (via the daily love)

mood music: the irrepressibles - forget the past

i told you i was trouble.

2010-04-02T23:33:00.000-07:00

pc: you are bon bon

it's no secret that i'm a pretty passionate person. when i like something, i really like it. and that goes double for people. i wish i could say "i don't know what my problem is", but unfortunately, i do know what my problem is, and it's that i get too excited, too quickly. i like you! and when i like you, i just wanna talk talk talk talk talk all daaaayyyyayay. i can't help it! i am more often than not ignored by cute boys, so when i grab the attention of one, even for a moment, i try to hold on to it for as long as possible. by doing so, i consequently lose it (the attention, as well as my mind).

i've been called needy, clingy, too forward, too intense...and i'm not really sure how to change it. i'm not a wackadoodle, and it's not like i want to scare boys away with my overzealousness; i just have a problem reining it in. i'm not a very secretive or mysterious person, and i'm not good at hiding my feelings or playing games. quite frankly, i like the fact that i'm a bit of an open book. it makes me feel good to be honest and tell people things about me (hence, this blog).

deep down, i really do feel like i can't do anything right when it comes to dating, and with the opposite sex in general. i always say too much, too soon. i put all my cards on the table early, because i figure if i put it all out there and say how i feel, and it scares someone away...at least i went down swinging. at least i can sleep at night knowing that i was true to myself and honest about my feelings. i put my walls back up until the next unsuspecting soul comes along, and then i press repeat. i know i need to cool it, because it is super frustrating -- for all parties involved -- and i'm not getting great results. it's the reason why i can't ever get past date number two. it's the reason why i have very few (straight) male friends. fuck, it's even the reason why i have nowhere to stay during coachella. i'll be camping out in the dirt while all my girlfriends are in an air-conditioned house, or laying by the pool with their significant others. it's rough.

bottom line is: i'm really, really tired of feeling like i need to apologize for who i am. whether i'm not as cheerful as people want me to be, or as positive, or as relaxed, or go-with-the-flow, i just can't keep letting people make me feel as though i'm not enough of something. i know this. i'm trying. and it's hard. i know it probably shouldn't be, but it is.

so who's the next victim?

mood music: sarah jaffe - better than nothing (via aerial noise)

night and dawn.

2010-04-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

can i just be kate moss already? please?

i dare you to find somebody cooler than her.

"night and dawn" love magazine, spring/summer 2009 (via fuckyeahkatemoss)

mood music: lee clayton - a little cocaine

subtle tones.

2010-03-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

pc: sfgirlbybay

nothing is ever as good as it was

and what's good for your soul will be bad on your nerves

if you reverse it.

i wonder who was the first person in history, to get what they wanted and not want it anymore.

mood music: jenny lewis - melt your heart

extra, extra.

2010-03-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

pc: last.fm

i thoroughly enjoy a good hall & oates tune. "you make my dreams" is number one in my heart, but "i can't go for that" is certainly a close second. i just stumbled upon these covers by the bird and the bee (another duo that i love very much) and they're pretty bra-zilliant.

in completely unrelated news, my close friend and personal swimwear designer nicole has started her own blog, aptly titled the bikini muse.

in even more completely unrelated news, i actually ran an entire mile today. if you know me at all, you know that this feat deserves a pat on the back and a champagne toast. boo-yah!

mood music: the bird and the bee - i can't go for that (via music is art)

mood music: the bird and the bee - private eyes (via audio drums)

garden party.

2010-03-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

there's really no better time to be a girl than in the spring. it's the perfect time to embrace your femininity, and wear lots of white, florals, lace, bows, etc. i'm obsessed with H&M's all-new, all sustainable garden collection. the pieces are so pretty and fresh, and i can't wait to get a few (or all) of them to incorporate into my sunny-day wardrobe.

H&M garden collection photo shoot with natasha poly.

garden collection fashion video with columbine smille.

mood music: sally seltmann - harmony to my heartbeat (via music for ants)

she has sprung.

2010-03-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

pc: sfgirlbybay

i've been kinda busy lately. not busy, but like...preoccupied. i guess you can say i've been out living life. in the past week or so, i've been a biker, a hiker, a crybaby, a dreamer, and for some reason, a cowgirl. i even went on a date (say whhhaattt?!). but while i was out, something beautiful happened: spring arrived. the days got longer, the sun got brighter, and the air got warmer. i love transitions. don't you?

from the daily love:

"no matter what walk of life you come from this is a great time of year to allow yourself to be reborn. we are not what's happened to us. the past is over and done with. the promise of spring shows us that we can move from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom and from fear to love.

all the things that have fallen away from our lives have left much room for new life. we've been given the power to free ourselves.

let's take this time to see how we can be reborn. ao many times we are so sad mourning what we've lost that we can't see the miracles and opportunities that are always at our fingertips.

let us not be slaves to outdated bad habits, or stay in hibernation because we're afraid to face the world outside the cave of our current understanding.

let's go out into the world, get messy, make mistakes and learn to that our fears can die and be reborn as love, understanding and courage.

what a miracle, you are alive today on this day where the promise of spring, rebirth and new found freedom can be yours.

the choice is yours to make."

if i were you, i would choose the 'get messy' part.

mood music: M83 - run into flowers

fall into your under, get under your fall.

2010-03-16T17:43:00.000-07:00

pc: you are bon bon

you know how when something doesn't work out, or you're in a bad mood about something, and you take a nap, hoping that you'll feel better or that maybe the thing that didn't work out will somehow have worked itself out by the time you wake up?

i think that's why i take so many naps. but i just wanted to let you know that the health care bill still hasn't been passed, i'm still not in san francisco, and the IRS still hasn't given you your money back. in case you were wondering.

mood music: the national & st. vincent - sleep all summer

like a book you read in reverse.

2010-03-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

photography by sandra freij.

mood music: the sweet serenades - mona lee (via broken silence)

because sometimes you find answers in the most random places.

2010-03-13T22:58:00.000-08:00

pc: google images

"...and you may not find any you’ll want to go down. in that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town.

it’s opener there in the wide open air.

out there things can happen and frequently do

to people as brainy and footsy as you.

and when things start to happen, don’t worry. don’t stew. just go right along. you’ll start happening too."

- oh! the places you'll go, by dr. seuss

mood music: the faraway places - run while true (via lost in your inbox)

time out.

2010-03-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

pc: you are bon bon

okay-dokay. i need a break. i'm sort of exhausted. i've decided not to overexert myself freaking out about other people's issues, or trying to make them my own. unless i'm specifically asked for my advice or help on something, i'm keeping my mouth shut, and staying out of it. it makes perfect sense once i think about it; and don't i have enough problems? so, that's all, folks. here's to worrying about things i can actually control!

mood music: kelley ryan - lost cause (beck cover - via cover me)

ps. thanks allie. the back-a-yo-head is ridicilus.

snap out of it.

2010-03-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

i've been in a pretty foul mood this past week or so. ever since my potential one-way ticket to san francisco fell through, i've fallen into quite the funk. i reeeaallly want to be one of those people that can get up, dust themselves off, and keep going -- and i feel like i'm kinda getting there. but every once in a while, some tiny tragedy will have me completely floored, curled up in a ball and crying for my mommy. i've been trying hard to do things that i enjoy, in an effort to get my mind off of things. what's been (slowly but surely) doing the trick:

- talking to ashley on the phone.

- going to amanda's apartment for homemade pizzas and red wine.

- sprinkles cupcakes.

- helping jeanette organize her closet.

- little black dresses that only cost $11.50.

- zooey's dance routine in the new she & him video:

because sometimes all it takes is good choreography.

mood music: she & him - thieves (via tsururadio)

oscar, you're a grouch.

2010-03-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

as much as i love seeing what celebrities wear to various award shows, i usually hate watching/reading about what other, less famous celebrities thought of their ensembles the next day. like i really couldn't care less what that old bat joan rivers thinks of anything, let alone who she feels was best or worst dressed. and notice how the people who are chiming in on the fashions are those that have never and will never be nominated for any awards at any awards show.

on that note, i'd like to present my best and ONLY best-dressed picks from tonight's oscars. of course there were those that i thought could have done better, but i'm in no position to judge them because hey, they're at the oscars, and i'm just in bed watching them.

elizabeth banks in versace. if you know me at all, you know that i am a big 'scrubs' fan and elizabeth banks is actually one of my least favorite tv characters of all time. if you too are a 'scrubs' fan, you will know why. but i thought she looked really stunning and the color was beautiful on her.

the always-amazing nicole richie in reem acra. the best part about this dress was definitely the back. it scooped down low in the back and showed off the super-cool wing tattoos that i would be entirely too chicken to get myself. her hair was swept back into a simple bun, and her cat-eye makeup was pretty out of control. i loved that she stayed true to her bohemian roots, but turned the glamour up a notch with her hair and makeup. totally stunning.

amanda seyfried in armani prive. what a gorgeous dress. the bodice was incredible. on television it looked hard, like you could knock on it. i like that. and wow, those jeweled cuffs are insane. she looked fabulous.

meryl streep in chris march. classic, gorgeous, regal. i couldn't believe this dress was designed by the huge gay guy from season four of 'project runway'. learn something new every day!

zac efron in calvin klein. i love you, zac efron. you make me wish it was acceptable to attend the oscars shirtless.

miley cyrus in jenny packham. i thought she looked great, and very age-appropriate. i really loved that a lot of ladies were embracing the nude trend. so many lovely champagne-colored dresses. and speaking of champagne, i think we all know that miley's mom probably lets her sneak a few sips. just sayin'.

ryan reynolds in tom ford. raawwrrr. thanks for showing up. i see you're without your spouse. just making an observation.

my darling SJP in chanel couture. even if sarah jessica looked like total ass, i would never admit it. she can do no wrong in my book. i'm in love with the neckline.

vera farmiga in marchesa. i think this woman is absolutely gorgeous, and i am obsessed with marchesa dresses. i think her hair and makeup complemented the dress beautifully.

cameron diaz in oscar de la renta. i very rarely dislike cameron's red-carpet looks. i actually love how she does the messy, undone hair and simple jewelry. she looked amazing in this dress, and her arms are insane.

penelope cruz in donna karan couture. another lady that can do no wrong, as far as i'm concerned. she nails hollywood glamour every single time. her hair, her makeup, her body! i think she's one of the most gorgeous women on the planet, and i'll go to my grave saying that. te amo!

sandra bullock in marchesa. i loved her look for the same reason i loved cameron diaz's. amazing dress, simple hair, and red lips. flawless.

tom ford in tom ford, of course. best-dressed man in the house, as far as i'm concerned.

like i said, i'm no expert. just a fan of all the award shows and their red-carpet festivities. i know it's exciting to critique the wardrobe choices of really famous people -- i just wish some of these entertainment shows would get actual fashion experts to do the critiquing. and i don't care what anyone says, jay manuel doesn't count as an expert. sorry i'm not sorry.

(all photos via oscar.com)

mood music: a tribe called quest - award tour

big jumps.

2010-03-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

pee. arr. enn. dee.
she whispered as she always did
whenever she set off.

choices...not park. no more neutral.
it was either reverse or drive.
but not really.
because everyone and now she knew there was no going back. plus nowhere to go.

so there she stalled. wishing she could shift to away.

(via t.ruffles)

mood music: the right now - ain't going back

the way things are.

2010-03-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

pc: ffffound

first-week-of-march epiphanies:

1. i have no idea where my life is going. i don't believe in luck, but if i did, i would venture to say that mine has indeed run out.

2. i will always and forever want what (and whom) i can't have. again, i don't believe in luck. sometimes i don't even want to believe in time. they say 'time heals all wounds' but i'm pretty sure that growth is the real culprit. and then i wonder if i've even grown that much. in some ways i still feel like i did when i was 15. awkward, insecure, and always looking for comfort in the wrong places. i wish i could take that 15-year old girl and shake her by the shoulders, and tell her that she's not going to get anywhere by being cynical. JUST LET GO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT.

3. music really soothes my soul. so shout-out to beach house, the xx, mozella, a fine frenzy, zee avi, bob dylan, coeur de pirate, ray lamontagne, lucy schwartz and mayer hawthorne.

4. i have a serious old-guy crush on alec baldwin. that's not really an epiphany, but i just wanted to throw it in to lighten the mood. thanks for understanding.

mood music: lucy schwartz - gravity (via you are the music)

because sometimes we lose as quickly as we gained.

2010-03-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

today the rug was pulled from under my feet. you know the feeling. you want something so badly and you get super close, like right up in that thing's face and then poof, it's gone. one step forward, two steps back. here we go again.

lost things via oh joy. featuring alison sudol of a fine frenzy.

mood music: a fine frenzy - hope for the hopeless

bring your hips to me.

2010-03-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

george harrison & pattie boyd via moodboard

"oh, all my love i don't deny
when they place their hands on both my sides.

when we swam our love to pieces
we washed up on messy beaches
you cleaned dry, i would not drift yet
i should drink salt water to forget."

mood music: thao with the get down stay down - when we swam

open letter, part two.

2010-03-01T00:11:00.000-08:00

pc: you are bon bon

(insert name here): you really don't need to spend so much time on the surface. there are things here for you that go deeper, love harder, and shine brighter. you also don't need to keep everything bottled up inside. nobody is going to judge you, or give you a hard time, or tell you that you're wrong. i understand that sometimes we get swept away with the current and lose sight of what, or who, is most important to us. we abandon our ideals and our priorities, and end up following false leads in order to fulfill some empty space inside of us. just know that when you're done searching, and you feel ready to come back to shore, i'll be here waiting for you.

mood music: the whitest boy alive - promise less or do more

it's as natural as the birds and the bees.

2010-02-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

pc: hypebeast

i love you, mayer hawthorne.
will you marry me?

mood music: mayer hawthorne - your easy lovin' ain't pleasin' nothin' (via the burning ear)

a taste of honey.

2010-02-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

photography by camilla akrans.

mood music: drink up buttercup - young ladies

all my bells are ringing.

2010-02-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

i feel like i'm always super late when it comes to finding amazing stuff like this. but as long as there's one person reading right now that is seeing this for the first time, i'm happy.

these amazing videos are part of a "visual poem" for vanessa bruno's autumn 2009 and spring 2010 collections. they both star lou doillon and are directed by stephanie di gusto. what better way to show off such beautiful clothes than having a french model-actress rolling in sand and dancing in flour while wearing them? so dreamy.

part une

part deux

via moodboard.

mood music: coeur de pirate - fonde au noir

because we're all just hiding our true selves anyway.

2010-02-22T22:08:00.000-08:00

sienna miller

kate bosworth

heidi klum

chloe sevigny

rachel bilson

mary-kate olsen

britney spears

adriana lima

brooklyn decker

penelope cruz

scarlet johannson

sienna miller

julia stegner

dita von teese

laetitia casta

christina ricci

isabeli fontana

photos via listal.

mood music: the oranges band - when your mask is your revealing feature

her eyes are a blue million miles.

2010-02-21T23:14:00.000-08:00

i was reading old magazines and came across one of my all-time favorite spreads, from issue #3 of lula. zooey deschanel is like a freaking living doll, all cupcakes and sunshine and flower petals. she makes me want to be quirky and whimsical.

photos via in case you didn't know.

mood music: she & him - in the sun

you'll never walk alone.

2010-02-21T22:22:00.000-08:00

precious moments.

"don't be dismayed at goodbyes. a farewell is before you can meet again. and meeting again after a moment or a lifetime is certain for those who are friends."

- richard bach

mood music: zero 7 - swing

pick up the phone and hum the dial tone.

2010-02-19T01:07:00.000-08:00

pc: ffffound

sometimes, when things take longer than you thought they would, it's just a gentle reminder from the universe that you have more time than you thought, and that there's a journey to enjoy. and just because it's taking longer than you thought it would, doesn't mean stuff isn't happening, even as you read these words.

mood music: broadcast 2000 - get up and go

a melody is like a pretty girl.

2010-02-18T01:20:00.000-08:00

pc: chictopia and stranger than fiction

wren spring 2010. i'd like a pair of espadrilles, please. i think they're perfect for skipping up and down the streets of san francisco with my dear allie felton.

mood music: the magnetic fields - 100,000 fireflies

love isn't love until you give it away.

2010-02-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

pc: notebook doodles

red velvet, pink champagne, tattoos, tears, and paper hearts; otherwise known as the 'happy to be stuck with you' valentine's day mixer.

amanda and i.

party favors.

lady in red (and lace).

norwegian wood.

paul's shiny new 'made in taiwan' tattoo.

the consultation. tiny heart on tiny ankle.

"i wonder how many times you're going to

get asked to 'shake it like a salt shaker' tonight."

party tricks...

...and treats.

photos via eric and melanie. party via amanda.

mood music: huey lewis & the news - happy to be stuck with you

all i need is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.

2010-02-08T23:48:00.000-08:00

pc: noria catherine

"the wright brothers didn't contemplate the staying on the ground of things. alexander graham bell didn't contemplate the noncommunication of things. thomas edison didn't contemplate the darkness of things. in order to float an idea into your reality, you must be willing to do a somersault into the unconceivable and land on your feet, contemplating what you want instead of what you don't have."

- dr. wayne dyer

mood music: bob dylan - when the ship comes in (via the fmly)

where we left off.

2010-02-07T03:48:00.000-08:00

pc: decor8

today (now yesterday?) was simply amazing. and i mean that literally, because it was a day made amazing by its complete simplicity.

let me digress: i have been unbelievably broke lately. i've been on unemployment for almost five months, and it's been tough getting by. i've been able to pay my bills on time every month -- which is nothing short of a miracle --but it's been hard trying to maintain a decent social life with so little money (and with friends so far away).

i chose to use this period of my life to really figure out who i am and what makes me happy, and sadly, i quickly realized that most of the things that make me happy involve spending money. this fact does not make me happy. it makes me feel lazy, and like an idiot. i've always heard that the best things in life are free, so how did i end up valuing the things that cost me money instead?

today (yesterday) i went to my friend jeanette's house to help her pack up her bedroom (she's moving into her first apartment next week). i've known jeanette since elementary school, and i'm pretty sure some of the stuff in her room dated back to those days, because it was a total disaster zone. i was two seconds away from calling hoarders and recommending her for the show. jeanette's never been the tidiest person i know, but i didn't realize how much stuff she held onto, and mostly for sentimental reasons. between the four of us (myself, jeanette, and my other childhood friends, leanne and lindsay) we tackled the room over the course of the day, but once we came upon boxes of photos and mementos from our junior high and high school days, the whole operation shut down. we spent the last couple hours of the evening laughing, joking, and reminiscing about our horrible hairdos and outfits. it was the most fun i've had in a while; all of us together, talking about old times, and how young we sometimes still feel even though we're on the brink of quarter-century meltdowns.

rolling around on jeanette's bedroom floor, reading notes that we wrote each other in high school, and laughing hysterically was a really good feeling. it made me feel so happy, and so blessed, to be able to say that i've known these people for over 15 years. and the best part is, it didn't cost me a dime.

friends are free. laughter is free. love is free. gratitude is free. money can't always buy memories, or the chance to relive them. we spend most of our lives chasing after things that, when we die, are not going to come with us. we fill empty space with nonsense objects in hopes that it'll make us feel whole, but it rarely ever does, and if so, it's only temporary. why i didn't catch on to this earlier, i do not know. timing, i guess. but now i realize how the simplest things can make the biggest impact on your life.

mood music: lali puna - remember (via music is art)

we don't need a sign to know better times.

2010-02-05T19:51:00.000-08:00

pc: can't remember. if anyone does, please let me know.

"been a fool for weeks
cause my heart stands for nothing and your soul's too weak.
got a will that's been around for days
goes far if you want it
it needs to behave."

mood music: beach house - better times

24 and completely addicted.

2010-02-03T01:09:00.000-08:00

when we're not watching bad tv, we drink wine and do the butterfly.

my friend mel and i have something very special and very beautiful in common, and that is watching really horrible television shows. if you know mel, you're probably like, "um, she works in programming at bravo...what's your excuse?" -- and that's a legitimate question. i've always loved tv (maybe because it raised me, who knows). if you know me, you know that my attention span is best suited to 30-to-60-minute intervals. so, long story short, i love bad tv, mel loves bad tv, and mel writes a blog about bad tv.

i am guest-blogging there tonight, recapping the teen mom finale on MTV. it's one of my favorite shows, although sometimes i wonder if it's too educational to be considered bad reality television. either way, it is thoroughly entertaining and i'm excited that mel invited me to write something up for her.

you can read my snarky recap here. thanks, mel!

thanks for existing.

2010-02-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

i want all of these sophie blackall prints. they're based on postings from craigslist's missed connections. when paired with her adorable drawings, they seem so much more sweet and heartfelt.

this one reminds me of the movie 'serendipity'.

so good.

mood music: joanna newsom - good intentions paving company

no one remembers the nice girl.

2010-02-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

as much as i loved lauren conrad, i've also kinda forgotten about her. kristin (or as alana and i lovingly call her, k.cav) is much more entertaining and therefore, much more memorable. there's always going to be a part of me that wishes i was a bit more like k.cav, although i'm sure some would say i already am. yes, i have k.cav tendencies. sue me.

i can definitely be a bitch when the moment calls. i think every woman can. i don't think there's anything wrong with standing up for yourself, especially when provoked. the reason i love watching kristin on the hills is because she says the things that i'm already thinking. she's sitting at a restaurant with jayde, and i'm like, "jayde's such a bitch." and then kristin says, "jayde, you're such a bitch." done. love it.

photos from asos magazine (via cavallari-fan)

mood music: devo - girl u want

you've got the spirit, don't lose that feeling.

2010-02-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

pc: poppytalk

"one of the saddest lines in the world is 'oh, come now - be realistic.' the best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic. they were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride."

- richard nelson bolles (via the daily love)

mood music: prints - easy magic (via muzjiks)

spotted: split pea boots.

2010-01-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

i've had my eye on the black ones for quite some time, but there's something strangely awesome about the pea green hunter boots. chartreuse is one of my favorite colors to begin with, and i think these would look really cute with a plain black t-shirt and jeans.

welcome to my wishpot, pea green hunter boots. hope to see you on my feet soon.

mood music: ryan adams - city rain, city streets

ode to lily.

2010-01-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

dearest lily,

when i came across these photos of you, i was caught speechless. i almost forgot about you for a second there! you haven't been involved in any drunken tirades or celebrity-bashing in the press lately (not in america anyway), and it makes me miss you very much. remember that song you wrote about your grandma? that nutty old slag! but back to the point: you look gorgeous, dah-ling! the devil horns! the lace! the nipple! i love everything! you always give me the best memories, lily. whenever i see you, i think of driving around in my mustang, windows down, blasting "smile" and wishing my ex was dead. so keep falling off barstools, keep smoking, keep flashing nip!

i love you, you crazy trollup! you're the best!!

xo britt

harper's bazaar russia, january 2010 (via fashionising)

mood music: lily allen - the fear

goodbye sorrow.

2010-01-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Sorrow from Katie Armstrong on Vimeo.

always hated this song until i heard it like this. (via for me, for you)

girlcrush series vol. 6: predictably unpredictable.

2010-01-20T19:42:00.000-08:00

i know kristina through mutual friends, and have only hung out with her a handful of times. basic requirements for any good girl crush, i guess. when i facebooked her to ask if she would answer my girlcrush questions, i had no idea if she had ever read my blog or even remembered who i was, but to my delight, she has, and does! the few times kristina and i have been in the same place, we were either drinking, listening to a band, or playing board games, so...i haven't actually had a proper conversation with her. a few weeks ago, when i stumbled upon her blog, i realized that we actually have a lot in common. not only do we share a love for san francisco, billy joel, and offbeat fashion photography, but she is also quite the inspiration. she seems to understand the importance of living life to the fullest, and not sweating the small stuff. she also has an incredible gift for using photographs to convey the messages that words sometime cannot. needless to say, i definitely think it's time we had a conversation.

name: Kristina

age: Twenty-three

where do you live? By the sea.

what do you do? I'm a student?

website: www.RunawayGallery.com

signature drink: Green tea. Pomegranate juice. Pomegranate green tea.

who/what inspires you?: Movement and emotion in photographs. Which is probably why I post so many. Keith Richards. Most musicians, actually.

have you found your passion?: No. I'm still searching.

how would others describe you?: Tiny little thing. Loyal. Easy-going. Predictably unpredictable. At times a little too outspoken.

what is your biggest insecurity?: Oh gosh, for one thing, this blog-thing I have makes me feel particularly vulnerable. I didn't tell anyone about it for a long time. I felt like I'd start censoring myself if I knew that people read it. For whatever reason, having created something from scratch, it makes me feel very exposed. I have a visitor-counter on there but I pretend like those are all people I don't know, and for the most part they are.

what is your most prized possession?: The little trinkets and baubles I've picked up along the way. I have a $3 necklace from Costa Rica that has a big polished purple stone on it. I love it.

who has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?: My mom, for better and/or worse.

what book(s) have influenced you?: I feel like everything I've ever read has influenced me in one way or another. I'm really big into quotations so I always manage to take something away. Paul McCartney's Many Years From Now had this one line in it where he talks about looking up. He keeps saying, "No one ever looks up. No one ever looks to the top of things." And how one afternoon he proved this by sitting in a tree and having no one notice him. For one reason or another, I thought this was really interesting. And now whenever I'm feeling particularly bored with my surroundings I look to the top of the trees as opposed to directly at the path in front of me. Sometimes you notice things you hadn't seen before.

what are your goals? which of those have you already accomplished?: I want to live in a foreign country for at least a year. The wheels are already in motion but I expect to find myself there in about a year and a half.

how do you maintain a positive attitude?: "Don't let the bastards get you down."

words to live by: "Let your light shine. Be a source of strength and courage. Share your wisdom. Radiate love."

mood music: beach house - silver soul

better days.

2010-01-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

pc: dace

i normally hate when magazines and blogs refer to things as parisian chic, but can't really think of any other way to describe this canadian line, dace. i am loving everything about it. and of course, i want to be the girl in the video.

DACE Spring 2010 from Dace on Vimeo.

mood music: coeur de pirate - printemps (via i heart music)

joy in repetition.

2010-01-17T21:42:00.000-08:00

pc: poppytalk

anything i've ever wanted, i've gotten. anything i've ever wanted to do, i've done.

i wanted to go to fidm; i went to fidm. i wanted to get a job in an apparel showroom, and i did. i always wanted to have a cute apartment in venice beach, and i got it. i wanted a little dog that i could snuggle with and sit outside with at coffee shops, and i got that too -- although carrie has a little bit of ADD when it comes to being tied up at a table. almost everything i've seen myself doing, or having, has worked out for the best. if it didn't happen the way i wanted, a better alternative presented itself instead.

i think my problem is that i'm too close to the situation. it's all i think about. when i took a small step back, i realized that if everything else i've wanted to do in my life has worked out thus far, why would this be any different? of course, the waiting is excruciating, but i have to convince myself that it's going to be worth it.

mood music: william elliott whitmore - there's hope for you

no matter how sweet, no matter how brave.

2010-01-11T03:19:00.000-08:00

pc: runaway gallery

"this is how it works: you're young until you're not, you love until you don't, you try until you can't, you laugh until you cry, you cry until you laugh, and everyone must breathe, until their dying breath. this is how it works: you peer inside yourself, you take the things you like, and try to love the things you took, and then you take that love you made and stick it into some--someone else's heart, pumping someone else's blood, and walking arm in arm, you hope it don't get harmed, but even if it does you'll just do it all again."

mood music: regina spektor - on the radio

stuff i just love: bunting.

2010-01-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

it doesn't matter if it's for a party or hanging up year-round: bunting always looks so pretty, delicate and festive. i just love it.

via design is mine

via flederhaus

via blackbird letterpress

via design*sponge

via adorablefiend

via project wedding

via design is mine

via littleretreats

via gentlearts

via flederhaus

via design is mine

via royal buffet

via blackbird letterpress

mood music: k'naan - wavin' flag

i wish stella was my friend.

2010-01-07T23:42:00.000-08:00

my favorite looks from the stella mccartney spring 2010 collection.

mood music: letting up despite great faults - in steps (via jp's blog)

subterfuge.

2010-01-05T20:59:00.000-08:00

pc: summer teeth

i noticed that i haven't written much about my feelings in a while. it hasn't been intentional; i guess i just haven't had too much going on, or that i felt the need to blog about at least. i usually go pretty long periods feeling the same way. when i'm stressed out, or worried about something, it tends to last for a while, until i find the wherewithal to bring myself out of it. and sometimes, unfortunately, i just can't.

a lot of things have been same old, same old. i'm still working feverishly on getting a job and apartment in san francisco (needless to say, one needs to come before the other). i'm still trying to pay my bills with what little money i get from the government, and using the rest to somehow maintain a social life. and i'm still working on being positive and brave enough to embark on a new chapter in my life, and not let fear and worry get in the way of my progress.

like most everyone, i'm feeling really good about the coming year. something tells me big things are going to happen, not just in my life, but in everyone else's, too. it's really exciting to have not just a new year, but a new decade -- a fresh start, a clean slate. you can already tell how people's attitudes have changed, and how much more optimistic everyone is. i think those feelings alone will turn things around.

i'm still feeling motivated and inspired, if not slightly confused. i feel trustful. i feel really passionate about the things i want to do next. i feel tiny, and i feel huge. i feel just how i need to feel in this moment.

mood music: feist - i feel it all

twenty ten.

2010-01-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

pc: ffffound

"go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. as far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. if you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. but let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

be yourself. especially, do not feign affection. neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. but do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

you are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

with all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. be cheerful. strive to be happy."

- desiderata, max ehrmann.

my plans for the new year, in a nutshell.

mood music: the temper trap - sweet disposition (via battery in your leg)

i just wanna smoke.

2009-12-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

seeing nine with my sister yesterday was quite the christmas experience. it was an amazing movie, to say the least, and it did a great job of feeding my penelope cruz obsession.

behold.

ridiculous? yes. fair? not so much.

mood music: pinback - penelope (via knox road)

they're taking over.

2009-12-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

pc: i suwannee, via fffound

i can't stay away from the design blogs. they are officially consuming my life. so many ideas, so much inspiration, so little money, and so no apartment.

a few new favorites: i suwannee, for me, for you, design crush, lonny magazine and delight by design.

send help.

mood music: edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros - home (via kexp)

first smile of the day.

2009-12-21T21:34:00.000-08:00

i had a bit of a down day, but this video made me laugh. can't you totally picture them practicing this at home?

what news anchors do during commercial break.

mood music: kathleen edwards - six o'clock news (via aquarium drunkard)

i left my heart.

2009-12-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

my weeklong trip to san francisco was a huge success. i went on a job interview (outcome still pending), met lots of new friends, and explored the city. i know now more than ever that san francisco is where i want to be. i can't wait to go back for good.

walking around the mission district. totally in love with belljar.

having drinks at underground sf.

my rainy saturday afternoon stroll.

fun times, wine, and soul music at hemlock and edinburgh.

fries and beer at frjtz in hayes valley (my new favorite neighborhood).

my trivia night recruits, ali and barrett.

"beer me."

we didn't win. but i think with a little more studying and a lot less PBR, we can take it next time for sure.

i can't thank allie enough for being such a fantastic hostess. i know it's not easy to accommodate and entertain a guest for seven days, but she was amazing. she showed me around the various neighborhoods of the city, made me dinner, indulged my diet coke obsession, introduced me to all her friends, and let me turn her bedroom into a sauna during the chilly nights. she made me feel incredibly welcome in her home, and i'm so grateful to have her as a friend.

i'm so excited to relocate. my bags are practically packed, and i've already got the flowers in my hair.

mood music: girls - san francisco (via jp's blog)

hope for the hopeless.

2009-12-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

pc: monica rose blog

"you show up like a hurricane, all hungry-eyed and weather-stained

the clock forgets to tick and i the same.

i died the day you disappeared, so why would you be welcome here?

ride the wind that brought you back away."

mood music: a fine frenzy - elements

ashes and wine.

2009-12-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

just wanted to share these lovely photos by megan mcisaac.

check out her tumblr (she shares thoughts and playlists) and flickr pages for more.

mood music: coby brown - your luck is going to change

one cell in the sea.

2009-12-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

pc: ffffound

"every time you appreciate something; every time you praise something; every time you feel good about something, you are telling the universe: 'more of this, please!' you need never to make another verbal statement of this intent and, if you are mostly in a state of appreciation, all good things will flow to you."

- esther abraham-hicks

mood music: RJD2 feat. kenna - games you can win (via analog giant)

old soul.

2009-11-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

it's come to my attention that i am broke. i have given up on buying new clothes because, by the time i can afford the newest fall fashions, it will be spring. not being able to buy into all the trends has really made me see just how quickly they come and go. i'll covet something for a while, and by the time it goes on sale, i'm over it. makes me wonder just how much money i could have saved myself back in the day, if i would have put more thought into my purchases and their longevity.

the other day i came across one of my favorite magazine spreads; keri russell in instyle, from january 2009. of course i adore keri russell, but mostly i just love the styling; so easy and relaxed, but still feminine. i'm really into the whole sunday-in-the-city-wearing-menswear-but-still-elegant-while-drinking-my-latte thing. the layering is perfect, and i really can't wait to recreate all these looks in san francisco (i've been on ebay all morning looking for cheapy vintage substitutes).

pc: keri russell in motion

don't you love these looks? if i could find the black dolce vita oxfords in the coffee shop photo, i would be forever content. the style is "nadine" and i can't find them anywhere -- totally sold out. they're the shoes that got away. anyway, i'm on the hunt for more classic, staple pieces that i can really rely on, and jazz up with some trendy stuff, instead of the other way around. wish me luck!

mood music: the rascals - a beautiful morning (via keep the coffee coming)