ViridianSun

something worth pondering

2012-01-12T14:09:00.000-05:00

"We don't need to figure out a goal when we are in our 20s and then move toward that goal. We can constantly gather information, ask questions, and readjust our goals. Our lives should run as lean as our startups do, which is to say, aiming to get rid of the baggage from goals we once thought might work but now clearly will not

Next, we should stop investing in our lives as if they are set in stone. The less stuff we have, the lower our monthly costs are, the more flexible we can be to respond to new information about what really works for each of us, in our own lives."

Penelope Trunk
This woman makes me uneasy. She's one of those writers that always feels like she's got something terrible and feverish bubbling beneath the surface of each word she publishes... like she's in danger, but of herself. It makes me feel like she makes the world we share a little less secure. Not saying that's right, but it is my subconscious reaction. Yet, I can't truly allow myself to judge her. For what? We're all incredibly complex and we all have thoughts (palatable or not) that are worth consideration. So anyhow, in attempt to stay connected to the interests of a certain party, I check her out from time to time. The exerpt above really grabbed me today and I liked that she became more recognizable though these words.

one day

2012-01-03T13:06:00.001-05:00

Clutches by Jimmy Choo
Lip Pencils at drugstore.com

out of touch

2011-12-30T22:01:00.003-05:00

with myself.
I can't find my own levers, and it scares me at times.
the problem (a problem) is that my joys are too many.
too small. too ill-defined and unpredictable.
I want to be more predictable.
but, predictable is the round hole that I am everything but...
amorphous. that's me. I fight it to paralysis and binging escapades.
but, it's me.
how do I make amorphous productive?
I know it must be useful.
perhaps Charles Xavier is still on his way with Hugh and Halle to help me discover my true worth...the talents hidden within my particular mutation.

Definitely looking forward to finally getting suited up and going after my target.
I fantasize about that allusive fixation.
It's by far my greatest fantasy.

that time of year :-)

2011-12-12T10:34:00.001-05:00

wishlist topper

2011-12-08T16:35:00.004-05:00

Ms. Cox

family

2011-12-04T21:21:00.001-05:00

in my dreams

2011-11-02T15:39:00.002-04:00

On lazy Halloweens

2011-11-01T23:24:00.000-04:00

Is that me?

In an on trend outfit?

Thinking that a scarf on my neck and a wild pony tail = a costume?

Yep!

See any resemblance??

Happy Belated Halloween!

Finding an emotional connection to math

2011-10-26T23:03:00.001-04:00

Quite the challenge

How to Sell an Idea to Your Boss - Roberto Verganti - Harvard Business Review

2011-10-24T16:29:00.000-04:00

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/08/how_to_sell_an_idea_to_your_bo.html#.TqXKEZ6dlb4.google

tragic endings can have such beautiful beginnings ... I love this video

2011-10-20T14:10:00.000-04:00

Best Birthday Card Ever

2011-10-04T10:21:00.002-04:00

Where I wanna be

2011-09-30T21:47:00.001-04:00

a closed mouth doesn't get fed

2011-09-30T10:54:00.000-04:00

That's what mama always said...just putting it out there:
http://markmorrisdancegroup.org/store/categories/gifts... because I NEED to MOVE this winter

http://www.amazon.com/Seidio-SURFACE-Case-HTC-Sage/dp/B003QXN96A ... becuase my phone needs protection

https://www.starbucks.com/shop/card ... because they are a winter staple

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62761486/15-inch-macbook-pro-sleeve-grey-wool?ref=sr_gallery_33&ga_search_query=macbook+pro+15+sleeve&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

OR

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60113399/15-inch-macbook-pro-sleeve-hampshire-lts?ref=sr_gallery_25&ga_search_query=macbook+pro+15+sleeve&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=1&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade
... Because my laptop has become quite the traveller

and these are always welcome...

http://www.jcrew.com/footer/giftcard.jsp

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=94338&CategoryID=3955#fn=spp%3D1

1+1=2

2011-09-27T23:30:00.000-04:00

things that should be free

2011-09-24T10:07:00.000-04:00

I've learned so much this morning
free content IS the future, actually free everything seems to be the way of the future... not sure how that's going to work out. I think it's exciting though.

Thank you Khan Academy
Thank you LJ2.com
Soon my mentee with thank you as well.

On Poking Boxes

2011-09-21T10:27:00.001-04:00

“Change is powerful, but change always comes with failure as its partner. ‘This might not work’ isn’t merely something to be tolerated; it’s something you should seek out.” ~Seth Godin, Poke the Box

Failure is a tough partner to embrace, but embrace it nonetheless. It is Initiative’s significant other. ~Linda Abraham

Color helps

2011-09-20T13:14:00.001-04:00

Thanks mommy

Of birthday boys and superheroes

2011-09-07T11:41:00.001-04:00

8000 Feet Above The Sea, 8000 Miles from Home

2011-09-02T11:42:00.000-04:00

Family away from family

2011-07-28T18:29:00.001-04:00

Scallops, yellow rice, green beans, fried chicken, hush puppies, cheddar biscuits, shrimp, and pineapple upside-down cake.

Sangria, Highlife, Folgers, Baileys.

Race, gender, politics, fitness, fashion and history.

Laughter, Laughter, Laughter.
Hookah, Hookah, Hookah.

LOVE

Thicker some days than others but...
We. Keep. Eachother.

Choose your battles

2011-07-12T16:42:00.001-04:00

I have SUCH a hard time with this.

Highlight of my morning

2011-07-11T14:21:00.001-04:00

From a vendor... what a sweet idea! Everyone should keep a yellow slinky at their desk.

in LOVE

2011-07-09T20:39:00.000-04:00

Wish I could have gotten a full body shot

2011-07-07T16:15:00.003-04:00

Of my hot and sexy little doctor today. She made me ashamed of being in my peasant class work clothes AND for being so soft and unkempt when asked to remove said peasant clothes for my exam.

I was caught so off guard by her little rhinestone diva dress and Kardashian hair. Smart as a tack too! Her husband definitely has his hands full... she's got the meteor of a wedding ring to prove it.

I know, I'm creepy. I just had to capture some bit of her!

warding off Typhoid and exotic afflictions

makes so much sense

2011-07-05T15:56:00.000-04:00

it feels impractical
but it makes SO much sense.

courtesy of The Sartorialist

the dark poetry of violence

2011-07-04T14:31:00.000-04:00

That was how one literary blogger described what this book conveyed and I thought it was absolutely perfect.

My very first Kindle purchase.

I devoured it in two sittings but, it took me some time to emotionally digest what I'd learned about this man and his family. Aside from mentally aching over just how incredibly pronounced poverty and violence ran through this book, I was most surprised at just how distant I felt from this family...these people. This author/narrator, child/man is a special, tender, pulsing being and I was constantly grappling with his human-ness; that notion caught me off guard. I honestly think this is one of art's greatest importance's, purposeful and personal exposure. I Love Yous are for White People is a must read for this reason.

what NY summer nights are made of

2011-07-01T11:57:00.001-04:00

Herbed goat cheese, grapes, raisins, gorgonzola crackers and wine + stair jumping races + rabid moths = community building.

These two are home base for me.

in my inbox this morning

2011-06-30T09:02:00.000-04:00

This made me SO nostalgic for elementary history class. When was the last time I saw the Declaration of Independence? And since handwriting doesn't even exist anymore, it was so ironic that I got this perfectly penned document via email with a hyperlink to wikimedia (how many wiki's are there??).

Happy Early 4th of July my fellow Americans... this is a crazy country, but we are fairly free... can't take that for granted.

a message

2011-06-29T16:15:00.000-04:00

placed in my hands on the way to work yesterday morning...

MESSAGE!

(this child has officially taken over the free world)

Gifts and surprises...

2011-06-28T17:09:00.002-04:00

This made my D A Y

my nirvana

2011-06-27T19:52:00.001-04:00

Is being Beyonce in one of her dance videos. I still have the chance to make that happen right? It's not too late for me is it? My knees aren't what they used to be, but I could figure it out. I just need the choreographer, the weave, and the costume designer. I've got a D90 if someone could help me out here.

#bucketlist

on margaritas and quality time

2011-06-25T10:47:00.001-04:00

Life is in constant motion.

As children we bounce through existence running into whatever runs into us...it's exciting and serendipitous. Adolescence introduces autonomy and new access and we thrust ourselves into any number of feel-good opportunities just because we can... and then you hit like 25.

...adulthood distinguishes and directs our motion. Now having fun and just connecting with friends becomes something we have to consciously seek out between managing our suddenly more precious lives... a constant balancing act where your ultimate indulgence becomes switching off weary a brain and basking in nothingness.

Last night I was supposed to let loose for the second time this quarter (record breaking) at the MJ Freedom Party, but after bday drinks and about a pound of salsa and chips, I came on home and traded in my dancing shoes for jammies and story telling with my favorite girlfran and her new gift/surprise/souvenir.

peep the photoshop skills

It's good to remember that we can still access our former light and goofy selves when we want to. Just have to choose.

I really feel this phase of mr saadiq

2011-06-25T09:10:00.000-04:00

Luz do Sol

2011-06-23T12:43:00.002-04:00

One of my absolute favorite energies period. I love your accidental charm, your delicate lady fingers and perfect clavicles, your parental travel stories, your surprisingly unruly bit of moxie, your amazing self-awareness and absolutely EVERYTHING you wear.
My desktop awaits colorful pics from Salvador :)
Namoro menina viva!

Q2 Earnings

2011-06-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

Slowingdownthismorningtocatchup...

thestaroftheBrantlyFamilypaystopee(andthengraduates)(andthengetsanagent)

easterbabies(cousinsandparentsandbfstoo)

southernheatandtexmex.

Cincodetequila

coping.thenmakingpeaceandbeingglad.

filipinolove.mostlyintheformofdeliciouspie(andribsthatIcouldnteat).

heartmending.<-veryproudofmyself.

californiacation...BESTFRUITEVER,lotsofrecyclingandsolarcells.Napa!palmtreeruns,TJandfishtacos!roscoes,fishbowlreunioninvolvingaussiespiritsandopenpride.BESTCOFFEEEVER.andVenice-theBKofLA.

corporatechallenges...onsomanylevels.

newrunningshoes and newotherstuffcomingsoon.

my life is good ya'll

this must be shared

2011-03-28T21:33:00.000-04:00

babies, boobs, livestock and dirt - oh so cute

2011-02-07T22:23:00.000-05:00

Finally watched my Babies DVD...

heartwarming and a little uncomfortable at the same time for me.

babies, of course, are adorable

but babies chewing on straight dirt

or laying helplessly next to live roosters in their bed... umm

I really felt myself freaking out in certain moments

At one point, I literally flung my hand at the screen to shew flies away from one of them

And, while no one can convince me that a baby possibly ingesting animal dung promotes good health, I did notice that the babies who grew up outdoors and got less minute by minute attention from their parents, seemed to be more well adjusted than the two who lived in airconditioned homes with indoor plumbing and toy rooms/spaces... throwing temper tantrums and hitting their parents.

Raising your kid in a sterilized bubble can't be good for them. And foisting endless entertainment options and gratuitous attention must take away some of their spirit for adventure and discovery. I also see the value in not shielding your child from some of the basic realities of survival and success in the world their ultimately being raised to live in... i.e. the life you provide for them doesn't come free and it's not always fun... and that's ok.

Do I think you should crack a whip on your two year old to mow the lawn so they learn responsibility? No. But I tell you what, I just saw a baby who had not yet uttered his first words or even begun crawling be scolded by his mother for making a mess while playing and when he was told to move it, he moved. I think understanding some basic consequences early might actually help your child achieve happiness more easily. Babies are inexperienced, but they're not dumb.

I picked my favorite baby about 1/2 way through...Bayar (with Ponijao as a close second). That's right... favorites... with innocent babies. No shame.

babes in ninaland

2011-02-06T23:10:00.001-05:00

Friday night, cold weather kept me in for Mexican delivery of tasty enchiladas and a double sofa-movie screening: Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Mortal Kombat.

Saturday morning my tummy sought revenge on me for said Friday tryst with Mexican cuisine and Mylanta + Advil cooled things off long enough for me to stomach an apple (which would be the largest meal of my day) and shove off to attend 2hour (turned 4 hour) tea with the below gypsy princess, her mama and some lovely ladies:

After testing my strength in a vigorous stretching competition, this gypsy princess/theater director laid out her theatrical vision. A masterpiece in which I would play the evil witch (complete with evil purple scarf and hair brush-wand) in an all-star cast. My co-stars you ask? Human Baby-aka her mom, Baby Giraffe-aka her aunt, and Hobo the Cat-aka her impromptu art teacher.

The production, in which the princess, at my evil hands, underwent a series of transformations into a bird and the baby and animals, due to the princess' commitment to her own role, had to be treated for neglect and malnourishment, was an absolute success. None of the actors were paid for their time, but there were treats and hugs, so the peace was kept.

The late-night tea party took a bit of a turn when the princess' tummy got upset too, but it sure was fun while it lasted. I ended up returning to the arms of Mylanta and Advil myself and haven't gotten far from the bed today... not even to catch the Super Bowl (which seems to be taking it's own sour turn from what I hear...:::wispers, you can do it Steelers!:::).

I hope the princess is feeling better and that mama caught up on sleep today. It's been a tough weekend for tummies, but I know I'm grateful for the little sparkle of fun we had between my antacid binges. I'll be sure to share the film adaptation of our play as soon as it hits the streets!

the first worst decision I've made in 2011

2011-02-03T18:42:00.000-05:00

I have NO self control
don't know how I thought this would be ok
gone in a week, i'm sure of it

in mourning

2011-02-02T11:33:00.000-05:00

of a time when there were enough hours in a day

of a day that ends with a feeling of total completion

on loop

2011-01-31T21:32:00.000-05:00

this song man
it brings out my most inner middle-schooler
without FAIL
extreme emotion, I mean real PASSION about abosolutely nothing
I think that accurately sums up 6th through 9th grade

"TELL ME HOW YOU GONNA BE WITH OUT ME?!?!?!???!!!"

This Time Last Year

2011-01-23T10:42:00.001-05:00

We sure knew how to party

I was at this party for like an hour and 1/2 last year

But these photos made it seem like I was the life of it

Apparently this year I slept through a more grown-up, star-studded version

Sorry I missed you this go 'round fadda :-(
Can we all try a re-do soon?
Perhaps on a less frigid evening at the end of a less arduous week?
I promise I won't let you guys down ok

Once Upon a Winter Saturday

2011-01-22T16:37:00.003-05:00

Last night I slept through a party I was supposed to go to...

I've been at work until 8 or 9 each night this week

finally went for that race season kick-off run

ate a salad
and PASSED OUT

This morning I awoke to brilliant sun and freezing air outside my windows

It was time to start a rare quintessential Saturday.

Laundry, organizing, cleaning, chicken sausage & cinnamon crumpets and music...

Gilles spun a "Plastic People Warm-up Mix" and my mom sang me The Supremes "Chains of Love" via audio mail on the new phone she learning how to use.

After being so domestic, I had the sudden urge to have arts and craft time while learning something new. So I pulled out my collection of Sharpies to draw like I did when I was five and found a PBS Frontline special called "Are We Safer" and learned about the recent boom in American Intelligence (check out Top Secret America re: Washington Post), the trending safety cost of flying cheaper, and a vague story about Afghanistan. Is it strange to watch stories about national security during craft time? Perhaps, but the whimsical child and the judicious adult in me were both quite satisfied...highly reccommend.

Then i watched NOVA Making Stuff: Stronger where the kooky host reported on emerging man-made advanced materials... Kevlar (still the strongest synthetic fiber ever produced - used in bullet proof vests etc. (and by a female scientist!), inspiration from the strength of toucan beaks and spider silk (spider genes have now been placed into the DNA of goats that can produce milk containing up to about 2% spider silk protein... i.e. they're working toward producing what would take thousands of spiders over years, much faster within just a few goats on a farm).

And just before I decided to do this post, I came across the most adorable couple you've ever seen. They are the creators of Babble.com, a website "for a new generation of parents" and their TED talk is about some of the taboos of parenting...happiness, parental love, etc:

Love love love! They seem like such a hard working and communicative team. I'd totally buy shares if they were public. I <3 TED period.

Happy Saturday everyone!

january roses

2011-01-21T18:44:00.000-05:00

according to 1-800-Flowers anyway
lovely addition to my cubicle
thanks <3

-365

2011-01-19T23:59:00.000-05:00

probably around this hour too

I recall the waning trepidation...the foggy gaze and the buzz

who knew?

I think we've outperformed the 60/40 rule

and that's something.

...

~with love and gratitude

They were just two people

2011-01-17T18:44:00.000-05:00

Look at how human they are

Once just a boy

Once just a girl

It's amazing to think about how powerful we each can choose to be

per favore!

2011-01-17T14:04:00.000-05:00

So they have a little trash problem right now

I could overlook that

I mean, it's Naples

Quaint, Italian, Dreamy, Naples :::sigh:::

Earth to the universe

2011-01-15T13:15:00.004-05:00

NO!

I am a Libra.

period.

So much I just don't know

2011-01-15T13:12:00.001-05:00

Ganguro (Kanji：顔黒 Hiragana: がんぐろ Katakana: ガングロ lit. "Black Face", pronounced 'ganguro') is an alternative fashion trend of blonde or orange hair and tanned skin among young Japanese women that peaked in popularity around the year 2000. The Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo were the centers of ganguro fashion. ~Wikipedia

Any woman who dresses crazy in Japan has always been Harajuku to me. Little did I know that the super tan ones with white makeup were actually in Japanese black face. Why am I randomly posting about this on a Saturday morning after African dance class? Because I was forwarding this hilarious video courtesy of this guy and ended up discovering the following:

Please note that Ganguro came into popularity in the late 90s... hmm, isn't there someone else we know that also shares this rise to prominence?

She's the first person I thought of. I'm pretty sure she is the major source of inspiration for this trend.

right??

highlights

2011-01-14T00:27:00.003-05:00

Still trudging around like Quasimodo thanks to Tuesday night's capoeira ... i hope that fine Brazillian specimen of an instructor was impressed at how hard I went, I'd like to at least know that I was memorable for all the pain

trudging cont'd: our receptionist laughed and dubbed me "Tin Man" for the day

I watched a new age silent film... well nearly. It had moments. It played at the over-lit, train shaken Angelika, a theater I continue to return to regardless of the fact that each time I vow to never come back. Thank you Dakota's Solange and way to go JackAss guy, you two really kept that cinematic vacuum at bay.

Paprika, it's more than what's seasoning dinner. And I don't mind it at all actually... has a delicate but defiant feel to it. Apparently there is no Danish equivalent... just call her "Pap" :-/

And I continue to be surprised at phenomenons like this... jazzy

And now, I'm going to pass out on myself.

in search of

2011-01-12T13:52:00.000-05:00

The other night I ran out of Modern Family episodes to watch and went looking for a lesson. The thing that comes to mind when I desire mindful entertainment is PBS (or Thirteen.org in NY). This channel consists of three shows to me:
Nova
Charlie Rose
and the occasional Independent Lens film

I was just about to start Nova: "Secrets Beneath the Ice" when my conscience redirected me to the "Donate to Thirteen" link. I always feel bad watching their shows and getting so much out of them, but not giving anything in return. I never fail to scoff at tourists who take pictures and video of street performers and then walk right past their collection buckets without dropping a single red cent and stiffing PBS bears quite a resemblance at the end of the day. So, after fulfilling my patron duty, I learned about scientific expeditions to discover our past and potentially our future with Antarctic ice core drilling. Interesting stuff, (scientists are such special people).

But I wasn't ready for bed yet. I'd laughed, I'd learned and now I wanted to have my heart warmed. This is absolutely the worst entertainment to wish for. It's difficult to simply happen upon something as charming as Amelie or as moving as La Danse. So I tried to come close with this:

It's a documentary about about a group of Swedish men who took a stab at a new approach to conquering middle-age crisis and end up finding some success in synchronized swimming.

My internet starting acting up so I didn't get to finish it, but there is one point towards the begining of the film where one of the men spoke about middle age as a phase where life suddenly looses meaning or purpose. It really struck me, because at 27, I still have "the rest of my life" to look forward to. It's what I work towards when I work, it's what I hope for when I hope.

It made me think of my grandmother. She's got almost exactly 60 years on me. She's in a hospital with a quite decent potential for recovery from major sugery but her spirit is drifting. She's so tired with little more than a decade between her and a full century of life. I can't imagine what that kind of personal history is like... for my mind and my body. We think this rut she's in is largely due to her uncertainty of what returning home will mean. She hasn't figured out what she's supposed to look forward to.

I like that these men took a chance at following an offbeat impulse toward trying something new. Life only happens to us if we let it change our desire to make something of it, if even out of nothing.

When God takes away one choice, sometimes it's because there is another one you need to make...the one you have control over. I love you Grandma.

April 3, 2011

2011-01-11T17:32:00.001-05:00

And so it begins...
(again)

I can't

2011-01-07T13:54:00.001-05:00

The girls and I had a quick chat about this book last night
I didn't realize he'd come out with yet another one of these
:::sigh:::
I just can't
I don't even have the energy to explain why
he's worn me down

THIS, however, is something worth my time and attention: http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/
"The dear leader likes to look at things" hahahahahaahaaa
This site made my day... people are SO silly.
THANK YOU LJ2.COM!

back to the future

2011-01-06T23:52:00.003-05:00

In the past couple days I've totally straddled a line between past and present

New technology helped me connect with this nutty 4 year old and her homegirl Tiana.
Eventually I'll get some video of this child up here...

let's just say that she's getting her parents' monies worth of ballet, tap and tumbling class

I got a new phone...

Although I'm apparently too old for it's middle school swag

WHATEVA!!

The cold dry weather prompted the purchase of an old school remedy

And my hair took a trip down memory lane at work yesterday...

to the mid 90s

definitely giving Robin Givens a run for her money no?

70.3 miles of Awesomeness

2011-01-04T18:03:00.000-05:00

FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY from Affiliate Media on Vimeo.

This makes me want to win something!
so proud of you :-)

subtitles!

2011-01-04T14:12:00.001-05:00

I haven't even listened to this child yet
but I KNOW I'm going to love it
Thank you Ahnka

my neighbor

2011-01-03T09:30:00.001-05:00

And how would you describe yourself?

"Mild mannered, easy to get along with, keep my opinions to myself. Only way you’ll get anger out of me is if you step on my foot. We can’t get along, “good morning, good afternoon,” but if I saw you getting ready to step in front of a car, I’d snatch you back. I don’t have to like you, you understand? I’ve seen children blown away in war. I’ve seen kids blown apart. Hey, no time for this here. This is supposed to be different. This is America, right or wrong? I admire me. The things I’ve been through? I admire me." more...
~~~
I hate that I wouldn't, on any given day, give this man a chance to be human and deserving of my decency. He's probably pulled bottles from the recycling bins in front of my apartment before and I'm sure that if I saw him, as I've seen others that have a similar appearance to him in the past, I would have written him off as "local crackhead"... unworthy of my postive energy, unworthy of my basic acknowledgement, deserving of my fear.

This city makes every unknown face a potential threat, let alone those faces which belong to the less privileged... those often brown and weary faces... the ones I pretend to not notice.

Next time I will pause and readjust my thinking. This is still New York, but being safe and practical is not the same as placing yourself above what you assume others to be.

throwing in the towel

2010-12-30T18:57:00.000-05:00

because this all I'm doing now
ISN'T THIS CHILD AMAZING THOUGH?!
I love her energy, so much sass and power in that little body

whip it girl!

Maybe I'll try hip hop next year... I'm inspired!

polarities

2010-12-30T18:41:00.000-05:00

necessary
especially since I'm still at work
Thanks Yeezy <-that's what the kids are calling him these days

An Act of God

2010-12-30T00:33:00.000-05:00

Thank you snow storm
Thank you Delta
Thank you leftovers
Thank you HBO
Thank you firepass
Thank you mom
Thank you dad
Thank you boy
Bless you Grandma

in a merry mood

2010-12-09T23:38:00.004-05:00

It just hit me

I got back from Amsterdam

(in all of it's damp, wintery splendor)

and I decided

"yep, it's Christmas time"

I want my apt to smell like frankincense and cinnamon

I want things to glitter and sparkle

I want to wear winter fabrics to holiday parties and laugh with friends over spiked eggnog

I want a wreath on my door

Holiday towels and candles in my bathroom

and yesterday, while shopping for holiday cards (religion neutral for a diverse recipient list)

I just knew that 8 bucks would be all I needed to really kick this thing off...

It started at Target, passed through Papyrus and will make final rounds at the finest of dollar stores.

~~~

My mama put this Christmas decorating spirit in me

I miss the massive red bows on our present-wrapped front doors

and the coat closet where we tape all of the holiday cards we receive on gold backdrop

I miss Reindog (the canine looking supposed reindeer made of fake pine needles that we kept putting in the yard year after year despite it's tragic appearance)

I miss the over-the-top artificial tree we used in the family room for most of my life... plugging it's bald spots with more and more garland and ornaments each year until it's retirement

I miss leaving Christmas Eve cookies for for my father and "reindeer food" (complete with glitter...for a touch of magic and protein) for his pack of deer

I miss the customary crayola coloring brown of all fair and rosy Santas that my mother brought home so as to make clear the fluidity of his imaginary existence and our worthiness to see bits of ourselves in that magic world.

And although, I don't think her madness over this tradition will be something I carry forward, I miss the my mother's inevitable 11th hour FAMILY ROOM real Christmas tree purchase. Staking out local sellers in the last few moments of Christmas Eve ready to pounce on dollar trees or giveaways so that we can have a second more glamorous tree for her to decorate... that night, the next day, sometime before New Years... whenever she can get to this little joy of hers.

You don't fully realize what all of those things mean to you until you can look back on them. It's a blessing to recall your winters as being warm and bright and sweet... they didn't have to be that way.

Tonight I hung an insufficient number of little green bulbs on my $8 wirey little silver Christmas tree, and looking at it... as sparse and rickety as it is... makes me SO happy.

It's got a bit of sparkle and a lot of good intention.

a place to roam a place to bond

2010-12-09T07:35:00.001-05:00

dank je wel Nederland

grateful

2010-11-26T11:50:00.001-05:00

and just full :-)

Having loving and GIVING Aunts and Uncles is a blessing

thou shalt not

2010-11-17T20:34:00.000-05:00

Today a grown man tried to be slick
over something SO small
because it was abnormally big
He's an architect with whom I'm working on a project
and I was tickled by his childlike fondness of this object... at first
"that's SOME paperclip," he said
"I know right," I replied, "I don't even know where I got it from"
He proceeded to pick it up and fondle it lovingly
curiously
admiringly
and then...
covetously... territorially...
In my periphery, I could see him (sitting right next to me at a conference table)
physically making this new wonderous thing his own
It's like saying, "hey, can I borrow your pencil?" and then cooly sliding the pencil behind your ear after a couple moments
But my attention was not diverted by what was going on in the meeting
I knew good and well what this man was doing
It was so funny to me, this little make-believe game he was playing
"if I make it look like this giant paperclip was mine all along, then it will be... she'll forget all about it"
but I just wasn't having it.
So as soon as he set it back down on the table (1/2 way under one of his papers mind you)
I snatched that thing up so quick, clipped a stack of papers together, and jumped right in on the next agenda topic... he never knew what hit him. BAM!!!
so there you have it
One of the ABC's of professional survival...
office supplies should only be stolen when "sticking it to Tha Man" is one's objective
you will fail miserably when trying to lift what meager possessions your fellow colleagues are left to cherish

feeling some kinda way

2010-11-17T08:17:00.000-05:00

I like this guy, I feel like he gets some very elemental part of me

disaffected, but somehow sensitive... and oh yes, closer to 30

2010-11-11T02:24:00.000-05:00

iwantwantwantwantwantrewardwithouttheprocessofaccomplishmentbutireallywantpainstruggleconquest...to sweat for something.istickwiththisblogbecauseithereisnothingmuchelsetangiblethativestucktobuti'mboredwithitagainit'scolorsit'sformatit'slamepromiseofplatform
ears/eyes/hearts...love.isthatwhatwe'redoingpeople?isthatjustwhati'mdoing?Ivebeenavoidingcommittingwordstopaper(orscreen).expression(publicorprivate)issuchacontractandi'mtiredandi'mcold(likeliterallycold,it'sNovember...it'sNY)andIfeellikei'mracingandstandingsoimpossiblystillatthesametime.Iturned27afewweeksagothough,feltlovedthen,usuallydo,whichmakesthisbloggerblocklovehatedependencydramaevenmorecurioustome. blahblahblahblah,don'tmistakethisforcomplainingorsadnessbtw, (ifyoucanevenreadit)it'sneither.justamomentwithinastream.gladimforcingtherandomnessout.heywannaseewhattheendof26lookedlike?

ifeelslightlyselfconciousforpostingtwoobviouslycroppedforexclusionphotosofmyself,buti'mrollingwithitanyway.
it'sablessingtofeelgood
tohavepeopleconcernedaboutmakingyoufeelgood
imsograteful

betyouweren'texpectingthisposttoendonthatnote...neitherwasireally :-)

struck

2010-11-10T18:11:00.000-05:00

we are born into what we are born into
I dislike how fixed my understanding is sometimes
You can learn new things
but you can't feel what everyone else is feeling
not completely
I'll never get what it means to be born into vast unceasing trouble
to normalize consistently imminent danger alongside adolescent hormone strife
the stress I have is a privilege
I thank God for it...

SKATEISTAN: TO LIVE AND SKATE KABUL from Diesel New Voices on Vimeo.

these children are wonders
it's so human and perfect to seek out beauty in the midst of despair

october came early this year

2010-09-24T12:58:00.000-04:00

did you notice?
My bank account did.

It's fine, b/c the month will certainly end early as well. Sometimes a girl just needs a little retail therapy... 6months is Long Enough! And I do... shallow as it may sound... ephemeral as it may be... feel better today :-) I'm definitely damn sexier!

ashes, ashes, we all fall dowwwnnnnn

2010-09-23T16:39:00.000-04:00

sweater dresses are a must for me this fall... I think that's a good place to start this post.

It is the 23rd of September. Fall is upon NY, despite the divergent sunny 78 degree weather we're experiencing today, and I'm trying to be optimistic. Last winter was dreadful for me. With each passing year in this city, the cold seems each time more hawkish, the darkness seems each time more ominous... an ever-increasingly enduring beast this NY season.

I've got about six more weeks of bearable temperatures though. Six more weeks of caring about what I look like before it's all stuffed into a coat and under a hat. Six more weeks of social willingness and the strength to fend off total embitterment.

In preparation, I will do a few things:

a) SHOPPPPPPPP 'TIL I DROPPPPPPPPPP!!!! Fall clothes are the BEST and October is my fall/winter shopping month.

b) run. It's perfect running weather at 40-50 degrees. I need a second pair of shoes to keep at work... I get the urge, and then i'm defeated when my kicks aren't at arms reach.

c) kick-ass at work... for a number of reasons in a number of ways.

d) get my mind right. It's no good being cooped up during the real winter months if your thoughts aren't straight. ...decisions to make... changes to come.

e) be a lady... nails and hair in check makes me feel better about my pasty skin situation. working on not paying someone else to do all of this for me too.

last night

2010-09-03T12:37:00.000-04:00

Was beautiful...

I have such gorgeous people in my world. I mean, acutely gorgeous. Last night was sticky and warm and everyone glowed brown. I set out fresh cut yellow mums and we had such a lively candle lit engagement over Mexican take-out and sweating beer bottles in my little Brooklyn space.

This is a naked bunch. I have mannerly circles of sisters and enterprising women salons... but this group is a bit less clad and so follows the fitting more forthright title of Black Ladies. That's it. Ladies who happen to be Black, who happened to get together for dinner one day about a year ago, and who happened to like eachother's company enough to semi-formalize a dinner club... the Black Ladies Dinner Club. And we SHOW UP. Late? Likely. Moderately Vulgar? Probably. Loud? Definitely. Exceptionally Smart and Discerning and Loving and Trying at life? Absolutely.

Everyone is so fly and actively wrestling with their complexities. I learn so much about my life from bearing witness to theirs. Our stories are all so unique... and so hilarious... and sad... and scary... and charming... and just the results of real life.

I love that those real life parts of us are offered with so little filtering. I'm working on being more like them in that way. But last night I invited my BLDC in and my energy led me to just let them run the show. For me the night was, almost entirely, a stream of reactions. I'd listen, study faces and bodies intensely and then observe myself responding. I liked noticing my own amazement.

Today I woke up feeling refreshed and that's a blessing. So this is my acknowledgement and my thanks for this wildly special addition to my experience.

Love you girls

wow

2010-09-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

she is fantastic
this video... fantastic again.

She has a special kind of power. It's awkward, but deliberate and shameless. I love when I see a woman who's charm is so accidental...so unconventional... sort of clumsy, sort of wild, but sexier for it. I'm always drawn to that type of femininity. I assume genius to be at the root of such enchanting quirks.

And she's only 20
(it makes me feel old to say that... so seasoned in the game)

internet finders credit: http://www.lastweeksinterestings.com/

Wicked Awesome!

2010-08-31T12:45:00.001-04:00

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winning-an-uphill-battle-trampe-bicycle-lift

I tell you, Europeans have this thing figured out
We've got to invest in a more human-powered future
Our kids are grossly under-exercised and over-brained
The day NYC puts in place
a fully intergrated, interconnected and convenient system of bike-only roadways
is the day I will bike EVERYWHERE
Way to go Norway!

My Sunday

2010-08-30T20:03:00.000-04:00

ran a 5K on Sunday to benefit this org

with this girl

it kicked my booTAY!

And then i witnessed 15mins of this celebration

courtesy of Spike (happy bday MJ!)

made some Tilapia (pics tk)

and had sweet sweet dreams...zzzzz

didn't exactly do spring cleaning this year

2010-08-28T09:00:00.001-04:00

But I am trying to get my apt in shape for the fall for sure
There will be a purge and clean
and then...
there will be new things I MUST buy to replenish
OCTOBER SHOPPING MONTH!!!
I can't wait.
It won't be excessive, but one thing I definitely plan to do
is step up that good ole' shoe game
b/c I was playing last year trying to be cute
freezing my toes off!

I'm still figuring out where exactly I will put these new shoes
but here are a few cool ideas for shoe storage I wanted to share:

Will I really hang crown molding?
or make photo tags for all of my shoes?
ehh..
perhaps a cute shoe cubby will make it's presence known at the flea this weekend instead. That sounds more my speed.

you feel free to get crafty though!

bling for your boo boos

2010-08-27T13:00:00.001-04:00

These are awesome bandaids by Cynthia Rowley
I want them
for NO good reason
$1 of the sale goes to design students tho!
those kids NEED me to buy these!!

office brekky

2010-08-27T09:51:00.000-04:00

this is how 35% of my summer mornings get started (organic really does make a difference btw):

The other 65% involve whatever free food I can scavange from Tha Man's pantry cabinets

(my co-workers definitely think I'm weird for snapping this... i can sense judgement in their silence)

WHATEVAAA! IT'S FRIDAY SNITCHESSS!!!

a new day

2010-08-26T16:30:00.005-04:00

So I meant to post this a while ago
I was out, doing one of my favorite things
during my off-clothing-shopping season
cruising the isles at drug stores
to buy hair/skin products
or travel-sized ANYTHING
(b/c, of course, it's not truly shopping)
and then i saw this:

Does anything stand out to you??
am I crazy?!?

I had to check urban dictionary to make sure there wasn't something wrong with me
correct me if I'm wrong
but isn't the term "ASHY" (in large font/all caps mind you)
reserved for sentences that end in "behind"
exclusively to describe the ASHEN skin of a moisture deprived African American????

This... this is like the Black Eyed Peas
This is Fergie
reappropriation
mixed indentification
hip hop for the mainstream
something like that

It feels so weird ... it's like, Palmers exposed me personally
... but somehow I'm ultimately ok with it
... kiiinda like it's directness
I mean, who else, REALLY is buying Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula?
guess they're talking to me
that makes it kosher <-pun intended

PhotogLove

2010-08-26T12:02:00.000-04:00

Mark Eden Schooley

coming to a blender near me

2010-08-26T10:09:00.001-04:00

Green Kitchen Stories

Kiwi Juice

Around 4 glasses

8 kiwi fruits
3 green apples (we used granny smith)
1/3 cucumber (about 4 inches)
1 piece of fresh ginger
fresh mint leaves
Serve with: ice cubes
Mix all the ingredients in a juice machine. Serve immediately with lots of ice.

GET IN MAH BELLAYYYY!!! :-)

new is better than bad old

2010-08-25T12:50:00.000-04:00

good drizzle music
for a good and drizzly day
(is drizzly a word?)

iwasfeelingsosadtenminutesago

2010-08-24T10:32:00.000-04:00

AND THEN FRANCES SENT ME THIS!!!

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

This is my life ya'll
this is how God keeps me on track
with simple unexepected gestures
someone being kind in the subway
babies doing funny things
and videos about shell's that drag lint b/c they can't have a dog

i LOVE him
Thanks Franny :-)

fewer things

2010-08-24T09:00:00.003-04:00

are more visually appealing to me

at least in interior design

than old glass and sunlight

it just seems RIGHT, no?

Happy Tuesday :-)

A Dime Piece Weekend

2010-08-23T16:23:00.002-04:00

I showed up in florals and denim shorts to intimidate children
Met the most Southern of models (hospitality included)
I had a delicious salad (portobello & goat cheese mmm)
... and some nasty sangria X-P
Had a fine woman on each arm for an unexpected social stop
Ran for my life from a man named "Diamond" with said fine women immediately following said social stop
Woke up (late) to meet another hot young thang in Prospect
Put some miles on my Silver Drag Princess (the not-quite-mine-not-quite-womens-but-wicker basket-clad bike I ride)
Was fed ice cold orange slices and sausage pieces (which I passed along) while waiting for a brunch table
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM<-that was brunch
OD'ed on Planet Earth DVDs
Grabbed a mushroom slice with my Sat night cutie in orange shorts
Learned about some medical mysteries in the labor room...
Decided I will most certainly request a loving midwife one day
set the mood with MORE Planet Earth on YouTube
and got her to stay the night :::breathes on nails and buffs on shirt:::
Sunday meant a yummy morning bagel on Lafayette
and prayers of gratitude at church for all my fine, hot, young, cutie pies

work ethic...

2010-08-19T12:19:00.000-04:00

It lives where you love

this guys knows

(this girl is learning)

In my head

2010-08-18T14:00:00.005-04:00

It's so true

(who else completely erased this video from memory?!)

coming soon!

2010-08-18T10:33:00.000-04:00

tonight as a matter of fact :-)

My GIRL

2010-08-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

So Poised

I'm always in awe of her demeanor and readiness

This is not just talent

This takes practice and study

She was like "Andy boo, I know where your people come from, I know who you are... don't play me"

my way

2010-08-17T09:00:00.002-04:00

the assumption is made...

you will ultimately agree

this really amuses me

(it can be me at times)

Happy Tuesday!

on immortality

2010-08-16T15:00:00.000-04:00

Halle knows the secret

A few years ago, her beauty was impressive... explainable... but impressive. Good eating habits, a personal trainer, superior genetics. Ok fine. But it's 2010 and I'm entirely convinced that Halle sold her soul around '98, because that is the last time she's shown any signs of aging in my opinion. She's 44 and does not look a day older than 32... I'M ALMOST 32! (kind of)

it's getting scary Halle
this can't go on forever

mission accomplished

2010-08-16T10:33:00.000-04:00

a few dollars over budget later...

pear shaped candles

milk, oat and honey soap

cherry almond ginger chews

whipped honey

raspberry vanilla tea

blueberry and raspberry scones

dried papaya

gingered peach preserves

Most of the items came from a couple of local outdoor markets. I think that makes up for the fact that nothing was actually homemade by me... they were homemade by someone! I definitely had a hard time giving all of this away once I'd put it all together... b/c that's the kind of giver I am... covetous. smh.

In the end though, I did the right thing. We threw in a card and a bouquet of flowers and our recovering friend... hopped-up as she was... was very grateful.

a friendly gesture... and an excuse to do something girly

2010-08-14T15:56:00.001-04:00

This afternoon I'm heading to Bridgeport, CT to cheer (and pray) at a race that's happening tomorrow bright and early. But, before the race, we're going to pay a visit to a friend who is normally SUPER active, but for the next few weeks will be pretty still as she recovers from a major surgery procedure.

I first met her and her husband about 3 weeks ago and they showed us the best time in their town (right outside of bridgeport) after inviting us into their gorgeous antique drenched home:

So in light of her recovery, we wanted to bring her a little something to make the home stay a bit more cheery. It started with a bouquet of flowers and then I saw this:

courtesy of DesignSponge

my mission now is to recreate this as a get well basket instead of a housewarming one, add flowers and put a smile on someones face. wish me luck! (pics to come)

Setting the Morning Mood

2010-08-13T09:35:00.000-04:00

definitely my head

2010-08-12T17:45:00.001-04:00

If your head tells you one thing and your heart tells you another, before you do anything, you should first decide whether you have a better head or a better heart. — Marilyn vos Savant

...my heart will get somebody killed.

had a taste for grits last night

2010-08-12T12:15:00.000-04:00

so I found a couple of recipes and voila!
chicken stock/parmesan/pepper grits...
chicken stock, thyme and sea salt veggies (including a turnip!)...
spinach/garlic chicken sausage

yum!

(next week I'm going to attempt to make a meat outside of the chicken sausage food group... wish me luck!)

Love B...

2010-08-11T14:36:00.000-04:00

...forced ethnic ambiguity and all
Tolerate Dereon
new ads for The House are out
only kinda liked a couple of these images

you be the judge

reunited and it feels so goooooood

2010-08-11T12:59:00.000-04:00

Rey (with an "e")
he's one of the sweetest and most fascinating people that I know
just as delicate as he is rugged
my artist/adventurer
I'm so glad we always find our way back to eachother
with each reunion, i learn something new
yesterday he helped me discover video on my new camera

a new era may be upon us
stay tuned...

coming clean

2010-08-10T16:02:00.008-04:00

Cognitive Dissonance

...I pretend to know what Lloyd means everytime he uses this phrase
just now
i remembered to Wiki it
and i'm so glad I did
b/c it's really interesting:

Cognitive Dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding contradictory ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance. They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions.[2] Dissonance is also reduced by justifying, blaming, and denying. It is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology. -Wikipedia

we (humans)
are fascinating
we go to such lengths to preserve the concepts that we believe stabilize us
it makes perfect sense too
it's just fascinating when we end up being destructive in reality in trying to preserve an idea... a virtuality

"Because it is often easier to make excuses than it is to change behavior, dissonance theory leads to the conclusion that humans are rationalizing and not always rational beings." -Wiki

I'm so not above this

the power of pretty

2010-08-10T08:37:00.003-04:00

favela painting... "community driven art interventions in Brazil"

we all have something to offer ya'll
to create beauty is to create change

FANTASTIC

well fed this weekend :-)

2010-08-09T13:08:00.000-04:00

not everyone fancied the menu though ... hehe