I heart [_____]

i heart [tumbling]

2008-06-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

http://hithisisdanielle.tumblr.com/
I tumblr now too when I am too lazy to write. Or just find cool photos, videos, music, whatnot. You should make one, then become my friend, and then we can have sleepovers and french braid each others hair.

i heart [retail therapy]

2008-06-20T13:41:00.001-07:00

"You can’t reason yourself back into cheerfulness any more than you can reason yourself into an extra six inches in height."
— Stephen Fry, on people underestimating the power of depression

Looks like Steven Fry never tried on my new summer sandals. All it takes is a trip to Cherry Hill Mall and an almost maxxed out credit card to reason an extra six inches onto my height. And I feel a bit more cheerful.

i heart [Skins]

2008-06-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Britain's E4 Skins is all my favourite television shows to watch, all rolled into one hour long episodes, detailing the lives of eight teens. Imagine the coming to age tales of Beverly Hills 90210 and Canada's Degrassi Jr. High, mixed into the drug and alcohol usage of an Intervention star and more sex than Carrie Bradshaw and cast, portrayed with hyper-literate scripting usually reserved for Dawson's Creek and the Gilmore Girls. The first season spirals around the casts ringleader Tony, a manipulative smart-ass played by that kid from About A Boy. Who would have thought he would have grown up to be hot? He has some weird Cruel Intentions tensions with his addict of a little sister, Effie, but most of the plot lines revolve around his messed up relationships with friends. There's Sid, his best friend that is inconveniently in love with his girlfriend, Michelle, so sleeps with her best friend, Cassie, the recovering OCD-anorexic that is in love with Sid. And that is just one of the complicated love stories. There is Jal the somewhat moral character of the series, in love with my personal favourite character: the pill-popping, "Fuck it" slacker Chris who has an affair with an emotional wreck of a Psychology teacher. The third triangle, well polygon, has hottie Maxxie, wanna be professional dancer and the openly gay member of the gang, his greasy-haired, grandpa-sweater-wearing stalker named Sketch, that turns former homophobe Muslim Anwar into a mini-me Maxxie, after Maxxie turns her down.
And kids, that's just the tip of the sexual tension iceberg, so you have plenty to catch up on when you download the show (cause face it- good shows never make it onto BBC America).
Other reasons to watch:
The UK has looser tv rating laws- which means you get to see a lot of skin in this aptly named show. (Maxxie, Maxxie, Maxxie!)
The plot twists: What male character gives another a blow job, cause that's what friends do? Who almost dies? Who does?
The cinematography and directing: seriously some of this can be straight art school film stuff, but the ending of season one with the whole cast singing "Wild World" is truly spine-tingling moment.
Reasons not to watch:
For some reason it is always unseasonably warm and sunny in this part of England, so if you watch this, then go to the UK in February and expect to wear off the shoulder shirts with hip huggers, you will be sorely disappointed, and, might I add, dripping wet and freezing your ass off. Or is it only freezing everytime I go there? Anyhow...
If you currently have a 14-18 year old, or were ever thinking of raising a kid in Bristol, don't. They will be cheating, drug dealing and taking, alcoholic, slutty, pregnant, thieving, lying, under-achieving, suicidal, yet strangely attractive and well-meaning brats.
Check it out at: http://www.e4.com/skins/

i heart [fun chain letters]

2008-05-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Go to flickr.com and enter the answer to each question in the Search field.
Post what comes up.

1. What is your name?

2. Favorite food?

3. High School attended:

4. Celebrity crush:

5. Favorite Disney Princess:

6. Favorite color:

7. Favorite drink:

8. Dream vacation:

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?

10.What do you love most in life?

11. One word to describe you:

12. What do you dream about?

i heart [possibilities]

2008-05-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

All the sudden, things got really exciting. We finally got caught up at work (ish), I got a freelance copy writing job that's fun, and I finally am making some movement in various craft projects. Probably more importantly a couple of yet-to-be-named opportunities are kind of in the works for me right now. While I don't want to go into detail until I know more about where they are going and where I want them to go, the best part of all of them is that even if they all don't work out, the fact that it is possible to work out, is enough to make me happy.
While the next step of my life isn't really touchable, I keep on getting glimpses and I like what I see.

i heart [being a stylist]

2008-05-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

One job I really wish I could have the balls to do would be styling. I am so excited for the Sex and the City movie to come out not only cause I get to see it with some awesome girls, but because I love the outfits that Patrica Fields creates for the characters. So I guess I got a little to excited looking at the trailers and the Neiman Marcus online sale and made some premier outfits for the SATC women on my own.
Carrie Bradshaw:

Charlotte York:

Miranda Hobbes:

Samantha Jones:

And me, if I was to have a walk-on role.

Yes, those are red sequined Manolos and I need them.

i heart [the goodbye kiss]

2008-05-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Out with Melissa the other night, the subject of the goodbye kiss came up.
You know, when you are dating someone and you kiss hello and goodbye. And how when you first start seeing someone, you know it's serious when you start kissing goodbye whenever one of you is going to leave for more than just getting the paper and coffee or to pick up the Chinese take out. I think in a relationship, it is somewhat of an afterthought, that you never really contemplate it, but sitting in Suburban Station waiting for the always-3-minutes-late R7, I felt really nostalgic for that kind of reassuring kiss.
I feel like for the past year or so I've had enough first kisses, I'm sorry kisses, and final kisses. Kisses that could be full of meaning without any feelings. I guess I miss the kisses that meant nothing but showing feelings for someone.
So I guess this is a shout out to all those people that have someone they care about:
Kiss that person goodbye whenever you leave and don't take it for granted.x

i heart [thriftin']

2008-05-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

So in an effort to organize my closet I got rid of one blue Ikea bag of clothes and drove it down to Greene Street. What they didn't take I took to the AIDS thrift on Bainbridge. Where I got some stuff to craft into gifts plus this dress from H&M for $4:

(I like how this picture shows the art dept, and a peek at my Elvis poster in my office)

Then I happened into another thrift store around 6th & Bainbridge and got two AMAZING outfits.

This 1950s lingere is amazing, totally frothy cupcakeness. I can't decide if I am going to wear it as a nightgown or a going out dress. Accessories ideas?

The real purchase was this fierce 1970s red jumpsuit, complete with a red braided belt, and feathers and beads sewn from the neck. Lana suggested I wear some gold boots with the pants tucked in, I'm thinking shoes like Heidi Montag wore on Letterman last night (and yes her outfit is fugly and her stylist should be fired):

I think I should go back to the store for the lepoard print belt with gold lion's head buckle to make the outfit.
Red is def. the color I am feeling this summer.

i heart [the hood]

2008-04-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, since some people mentioned some hesitation about visiting my house (ok, I am only worried about one person here) I decided to post some neighborhood photos I took.

Walking down the street to the Ave. (That's Frankford Avenue for you non-Philly folk).

The diner that is horrible, but tastes great when you are drunk.

The sports bar with a good wing night, but probably won't serve you if you aren't American and white.

My street.

My block.

Everything is blooming on/infront of my house. yay!

I hope this made you feel better.

i heart [the great american pasttime]

2008-04-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

So Missi and Noah picked me up on the way to the Phillies v. Cubs game. I figured with the great weather it would be a good end to a crazy work week. Plus watching guys in tight white pants while eating ballpark food and drinking $7 beer always spells fun for me, at least for the first two innings. For future reference: the only bad thing at the stadium is the turkey leg barbecue- Stick to the pulled pork, people.

Oh yeah, and this guy who is a Cubs player is named Fukudome.
Sound that out in your head, while thinking dirty thoughts.
yeah.

i heart [esty]

2008-04-15T08:55:00.001-07:00

It's too much fun to surf around etsy.com and look at all the crafting and artistry going around there. It's even a good way to find local artists, since you can search by location. So here is the stuff I am looking at.
Things made out of sails? How freaking cool?! I know nautical was, like, sooo two seasons ago, but I love this:

Check out Reiter8 for the really sweet bag I want. The pillows make me want to redecorate my room around them.

I am really sad that this piece by Cathy Nichols is sold out:

Cause it would have already gone with my decor, and I love it! Her other stuff is good too.
If you know of any other people I would like, let me know. Or buy me something from them. I'm flexible.

i heart [spring fashion]

2008-04-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

You know, that time when it is really warm and sunny for the first time in months, and for a minute you remember what summer feels like? I can't wait for warm afternoons, water in fountains, water ice trucks, people sitting outside, etc.

Also, I stumbled upon polyvore.com that lets you make outfits with clothes from online stores. So I put this number together and would love it for a summer date night with someone special.

Or at least just the Fendi purse to keep me company on those date-less nights.

Dress: Antik Batik Neon Print Shift Dress
Bag: Fendi Spray Baguette
Shoes: Christian Lacroix

i heart [leftovers]

2008-04-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

So people always clean out their fridges and bring leftover crap to work and set it in the kitchen or Marilyn's desk.

But today this little guy with superhero auditory skills despite his visual handicap came into our lives.

I think I want to adopt him before he melts in our sweltering office heat.

i heart [ridiculous recession concessions]

2008-04-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

So, if spending $600 per working adult wasn't desperate enough from our government, my office has decided to fight the recession on the home front.
By taking away our creamer.
That's right, no French Vanilla, no Half & Half, not even Amaretto. If we want to cut the burnt coffee flavor from our cup, we are stuck to the condensed milk. It's the Stone Age in here, ya'll.
If this economy gets any crappier, we can say adios to our poorly made coffee and Sam's Club chamomile tea. It's cause enough for me to go on a spending spree. Anyone wanna buy a billboard?

The one bright side to my day after my dark cup of coffee was someone bringing in chocolate covered pretzels. They had been dipped in caramel first as a special treat. It was awesome! And definitely what I am doing next time I make these.

i heart [addictions]

2008-04-07T17:34:00.001-07:00

Vintage Scarves:

This is one by Albert Nipon was from my grandmother and perfect for those bad hair days.

Snapple Asian Pear Green Tea:

Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage. I would drink this three times a day & would love a lifetime supply. (hint-hint Snapple)

Third & Spruce Toasted Almonds:

Best Alcoholic Drink Award goes to the ol' 3rd & Spruce bar, where Vince does know my brew, or cocktail as the case may be. It's the only place that gets this mixture just right. Plus, they know to give me a double without asking.

Blogging/Blog:

Seriously, I am trying to limit my posting so I don't give off the obsessive vibe. So instead of writing a post every five seconds I am condensing them into one major one (hence this post) and obsessively checking other people's blogs.

i heart [full-figured fetuses]

2008-04-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

So, is it just me, or are the judges as drunk as I am?
I mean, I know Gallo was a dollar off this week, but bitches, please.
How did Lauren make it to the next round of elimination? Even that skinny ho with the kid deserved yet another chance.
Great moments of the go see episode: Lauren's deplorable walk, Paulina making fun of Katarzyna's old haircut, and Whitney's film. Does anyone think that they choose Whitney's worst shot for critique cause the rest of her film was too fierce for the rest of the competition?
Sorry Claire, you are out (or what does Tyra say? Mr. Gallo is making me forget) and even barracuda jaw beat you out.
Also questionable: How did Dominique manage to tuck it back during that water shoot? Are we talking tape or just clenching?

i heart [McDonald's Sweet Tea]

2008-04-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

But haaate McD's for raising the price to $1.15.
Is Ronald feeling the recession, too?
Hopefully, he will be getting his stimulus rebate in May.

i heart [spring]

2008-04-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

Finally! A nice, not rainy day where you didn't need a jacket. And the trees at work just started to flower. Spring has finally hit Philadelphia. I celebrated by wearing my new dress with pink shoes and by cracking open a bottle of Gallo's finest White Merlot. Even though things were kind of lame today, I still felt energized and happy, if not the teensyist bit distracted by the gorgeous weather.
P.S.- I took this photo today, isnt the sky's color fab?

i heart [Monte Negro]

2008-04-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

I am really feeling Monte Negro's reggae-inspired, latin-infused album. The Mexican-American band mates were formally in a new-wave punk band that sang in spanish, so how's that for a multitude of obscure references? While their other songs rock out this sub-genre of a sub-genres (think: what if Sumblime or Pepper had a baby and had Marc Anthony & j.Lo raise it in the Caribbean) Give Me Love: No Lores is definitely a stand out single for me, even with its mediocre video pairing. It's entrancing, rhythmic melody with the lyrics bumps this to the top of my most played list.
Definitely worth a 99cent download.

i heart [Gepetto, too]

2008-04-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

I Miss Geppetto
Ernie Schenck
I miss Geppetto. I miss the tinkerers. The craftsmen. The crazies. The looney art directors who don’t know the meaning of the words, “pencils down.”
The obsessed whack jobs who never quite know when to let it go. The font that isn’t quite right. The word that isn’t quite adequate. The 1.5-second dissolve that maybe should be 1.576, or 1.478, or something. And there is always, always, always, always, always, always something.
I miss Geppetto.
Not that there were ever very many of him. And I suppose that’s how it should be. This is a business after all, is it not? There are deadlines to keep. Expectations to manage. Opinions to navigate. So many hostile realities to turn back. It’s as if you are Neo in some advertising agency version of The Matrix and you are fighting a million Mr. Smiths all at once.
Yet, somehow a few manic souls once managed to dance between the raindrops. And somewhere out there, they still do. How they are able to do this, I wish I could tell you.
I miss their passion for the word and the picture. I miss what they once gave us. The realization that, hell yes, the work is worth sweating over. That compulsiveness is something to be coveted, instead of discouraged. That the nagging suspicion that all those faceless gray drones in the Apple 1984 spot were, in fact, not us. That we aren’t all just creative androids toiling away in our cubicles, deluded in our hopeless belief that what we are doing is fresh and worthy and edgy, when in fact it is gray and faceless and we are all mere cookie cutters working for, as John Twelve Hawks puts it, The Vast Machine.
I like speed. I love speed. I love 48-hour film projects. I love ticking clocks. I love how they put our backs against the wall so there’s no time to think, analyze, bicker with ourselves, to do anything but just explode with raw imagination. I love it all. Love moving at the speed of light, from this to that and that to this. But do I miss the fussing and the fidgeting? Totally.
You know what I think? I think we’ve gone too far. We preached the gospel of the idea and we preached and we preached and we preached. It’s the idea, stupid. It’s not about the font or the picture or this green or that blue or any of that. Why, if only the idea was big enough, nothing else mattered. Everything else was frosting. Inconsequential at best. Detrimental at worst. I believed that. I was one of the preachers. I believed it and I wanted it and I wouldn’t let go of it. But an idea is only as big as the clothes it has on. The nuances that give it heart. The subtle things that make it walk and talk and blow our minds with its beauty.
I miss Geppetto.
Originally published in Communication Arts November Design Annual 2007

I am so glad someone sees things like I do.
In college, the professors always praised me for thinking about design as a solution to a problem, instead of just decoration or art. I would obsess over the right, the best idea before I even started a project, and I usually ended up being one of those people that handed in their work as the spray glue was drying, cause I had to get it "just right".
Of course, 8 months into my real world job and I have almost abandoned all hope of smart design. With clients & AE's expecting instantaneous turn-around (cause with computers it is possible) there is simply not enough time to do something that is both smart & beautiful. Cause when you get right down to it, I am expected to do attractive, get the job done work, before I am expected to do limits-pushing, perfect work. And this is really, really starting to depress me. I've taken to doing personal projects, usually illustrations to practice technique and develop some different styles, so that maybe I will get to a place where I never think about design, just ideas. Wouldn't that be ideal?
My problem with most design today is that it is really pretty, lots of vector art and Photoshop layers, but it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't automatically connect the product to the audience in a moment of Presto! that's it! It may sell us a feeling or an image, but I got my degree in Communication Design, because I want to communicate through my designs.
I really do like my job, every now and again I get to work on something fun, it's cool to see my work around the city and my co-workers are constantly entertaining. I just wish I had time to do something right, something perfect, not just something 'done.'
Anyone have any freelance they want me to obsess over?

image is a poster I designed in college

i heart [ghetto life]

2008-03-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

So when people ask: "Do you really live in the ghetto?"
I answer: "No, the apartment I was looking at in the ghetto was $50 more a month."

Tonight two cop cars pulled up in front of my house and they searched a guys SUV.
(Lana, if you are reading this, I hope you witnessed this too, I was too riveted to find my phone to call)
Erin and I sat in our living room watching (and trying to photograph) the 30 minute 'situation' happening out front. Sadly, this isn't the first time I watched cops outside my window. I am just pretty impressed they weren't there for one of my more illustrious neighbors.

Still, this doesn't top the time I stepped off of my stoop and onto a hypodermic needle, or the time someone killed an opossum and left the bloody mess in front of my house. (Where do you even find a woodland creature in this part of town?)

i heart [Greene St]

2008-03-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

I took a walk down South Street today, with the idea of buying new-to-me frames for my grandparents wedding photos and couldn't stop myself from wandering in to the Greene Street Consignment Shop. I ended up blowing my budget on some spring designer wear.

First, a pair of Marc Jacobs jeans. Marc Jacobs line has been hit or miss the past two seasons, but these pants are fantastic. I think the soft blue is nice for spring.
Retail Price: $200
I Bought It For: $28

The other piece is a Elie Tahari floral dress. It's not really my bold pattern, bright color style, but I love it on, and gets me in a warm weather mood.
Retail Price: $400
I Bought It For: $24

Total Spent: $52
Total Savings: $548
Hell Yes!

i heart [tradition]

2008-03-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

My parents came to Philly this weekend and took my grandfather and I to the Green Papaya. Everytime they come up we go there, sit at the same table, and order the same thing. I get the Green Papaya Shrimp with the GP salad, just like my grandfather.
I used to do this with my father's family at the Happy Family Chinese Restaurant in CT, it's funny how, with the right people around, even a restaurant can feel like home.

i heart [the 80s]

2008-03-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

But: oh honey, NO.

Spotted: acid-washed denim in Target
FYI-
Neon: O.K.
Side-ponytails: pushing it
Acid-Wash: NO! just...NO!

i heart [Long Distance Phone Calls]

2008-03-27T18:38:00.001-07:00

It doesn't have to be important or long.
Sometimes just hearing someone's voice for five minutes can make your day.
Even if it costs $0.80/minute.

i heart [Hillary Clinton]

2008-03-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Since there are thirty-five more days till the PA primaries, I decided to climb up on my little soapbox here and announce my support for Hillary Clinton. I believe everyone should be researching the candidates to find one that fits their ideals of what it takes to be the leader of this country for the next 4-8 years, so I won't list all my talking points.
The important thing is to get out there and vote!

If you don't know who to vote for yet, or are easily swayed, Tina Fey makes some good points in favor of Clinton:

i heart [morals]

2008-03-25T20:33:00.001-07:00

WARNING: This may offend. And I probably won't feel bad if it does.
So I think my personal problem with atheism and agnosticism is how theists believe it is an amoral way of life. Both my parents were atheists and I don't think I was raised with any different morals than people with religious backgrounds. I can't steal, cheat or lie, and any minor use of those acts makes me feel extremely guilty and usually ends in a quick confession. But constantly, when talking to a religious person about why we need religion, Moral Values will be invoked into the pro-religion argument. The moral tune is also sung by Republicans when the words 'gay marriage' are brought up.
Personally, I think that morals should be learned through a way of life, not as a part of faith; they should be everything we do, not everything we believe. But that may be just me.
This has been an internal struggle for me, but a plane ride between Cincinnati & Philly kind of bothered me enough to make me verbalize it. After a 9 hour flight reading "The God Delusion" (a pretty good read, i would recommend) I boarded a puddle jumper to get to my hometown and was seated next to a really nice woman, who's in flight reading material was "Living through the Bible" (i am 80% sure that was the name, if not, it was really close). Near the end of the 1.5 hour flight, she puts down her book, and picks up Sky magazine and opens to the sudoku page. She whips out a pen, flips to the back page, then fills in the sudoku puzzle with the answers from the back! Completely copied the answers to make it look like she had done it! I took approximately 5 years of Catholicism classes studying the Bible, have read the whole thing, and while I am a non-believer and pretty rusty, I kind of recall Jesus, God, and maybe even the Holy Ghost being against cheating. For some reason the whole scene rubbed me the wrong way.
I mean maybe I doubt the existence of god(s). Maybe I think gay people should be allowed legal marriages, and be allowed to have and raise children. Maybe I understand the need for abortions and stem cell research.
But at least I don't cheat at Sudoku.

quote in image is by Mark Twain

i heart ['reality']

2008-03-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

Since I consider everything I write on here Pulitzer worthy I have kept from commenting on The Hills, but since the NY Times had an article about it today I figure its now safe territory for the online literary world to conquer.
The season opener was a hot mess. First, how can Whitney, working at Teen Vogue for 3+ years mispronounce Givenchy? I mean my granny mocked me for pronouncing Hermes wrong when I was 8 and today at work I made an ad for an outdoor heating unit. What kind of karma/ blowjob ability must one have to get a job at Vogue, since-let me just throw it out there- they may not be going on qualifications.
Since Lauren & Whitney gave forgettable performances, lets move on to Heidi & Spencer, who took up all the awkward glances that are usually saved for LC. Heidi bitching out Spence lead the NY Times to call her a "feminist," cause it seems like the fact checkers at the Times didn't look at the fact they are still together or made a HandyCam 'music' video of her rolling around on her fake tits in Venice Beach.
Groan. The worst part about The Hills is my desire to watch it every Monday.

The Hills can give me reality tv street cred compared to my secret obsession:

I think it is the way his Sylvan-Learning-kid-that-is-figuring-out-how-to-read-by-narration diction is oddly comforting to me. I feel like if my life were to be narrated and James Earl Jones was too busy counting his Star Wars money, I would want Ryan Scheckler to do it, just so everyone could understand......
everything.....
that was going on ....
in my life.
Plus, the way he is just over-sharing of his thoughts and feelings with his guy friends and brothers combined with the fact that they tolerate him at all, simply astounds me what people will put up with to be on tv.
All this being said, I have seen every episode online, cause I don't want even my OnDemand customer service to know that I watch that show.

i heart [my childhood in front of the tv]

2008-03-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, you can say as much as you want in defense of organized sports, stay-at-home moms, dinner at 6 and family camping trips, but as a product of a childhood with a single working mom, then two full time working parents, I can fully say that late 80s/early 90s childhood television shows were truly a great substitute for Dr. Spock-approved child rearing.
Take the fabulous "Teeny Little Super Guy" featured above, who was one of my favorite segments of the formerly great Sesame Street. Sure he was a recovering chain smoker with a trach box and harbored some agoraphobia issues (did the dude ever leave the plastic cup?) but he was a champion of early childhood education, teaching us hardwork, determination, and perseverance all from his resin little world.
Enjoy!

i heart [the UK]

2008-03-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am back after a prolonged trip to the UK to visit tara.

I had some good times & good laughs with great friends.

Fell in love with more than just the scenery.

Oh yeah, and it rained alot too.

i heart [vacation]

2008-03-05T20:10:00.001-08:00

So I am leaving for London tommorrow, YAY!
I'm taking notes for this blog and the Weekend Traveller, but for now, I will leave this thought:
Who owns more stock in MAC Cosmetics?
Pete Wentz or Brendon Urie?
Discuss:

i heart [finales]

2008-03-05T19:56:00.001-08:00

Christian Siriano is IN!
"but, hello, did you have a doubt? c'mon. what up."

Thank god Posh was there and helped the judges make the best decision this year.
And wasn't she looking fabulous?
As Posh said: Christian's line was MAYJAH.

Now how do I get him to be my gay boyfriend?

Congrats Christian!

i heart [divine inspiration]

2008-03-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

So maybe it is the early onset of Spring, but I have had no less than 3 conversations in less than 24 hours (or blog conversations too) about how your outfits can make you feel so much more confident and alive.
My one friend just bought a new outfit cause she was going to see a guy she liked and asked me if she thought that was weird-for future reference, I am never the right person to ask if buying clothes was a bad idea. I have seriously bought new outfits to break up with guys (which actually aided us to stay together for a few more months), for first dates, and definitely for the first time I see the guys right after we stop dating (the you-could-of-had-all-this outfit). Of course I tie all these outfits to memories too, so the generally get reused for the same purpose-Just ask me about my exboyfriend dress, it is just the black version of my 'third-date-hoping-to-get-somekind-of-action' outfit.
So sometimes when I get in hopeless slumps, and I can't afford new clothes (cause saving up to visit friends is way more awesome!) I look at The Sartorialist for inspiration of how I can make rockin outfits out of my wardrobe. There are just too many great ways to layer clothes or mix colors or maybe its just inspiration for feeling good in whatever you wear. But the best part about it is that is isn't just models in carefully edited spreads, these are real people with real wardrobes, some even have real budgets, out in the world. For example, I love the girl above color and layering choices. I don't necessarily have those pieces, but I do have a blue blazer, and a purple full skirt, and a printed scarf that would look good together, that I may not have put together on my own. So I guess my style secret is that I look at The Sartorialist for ideas when I am bored of what I have, buy clothes that fit, and when in doubt, just Work It!

Also The Sartorialist just takes fantastic photos. Seriously, whoever is banging the man below is my personal hero. The face, the hair, the style. It may be a little 90210, but who didn't love that show? This is what a man should look like, hot, and yet know how to dress himself to make it that much better.

Photos by The Sartorialist

i heart [art collecting]

2008-03-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Here is some artwork I have hanging around. The girl on the duck was a lovely xmas gift from Tara, the etching on the left is the first 'expensive' piece of artwork I bought on Cape Cod one summer, and the Sea Otter pencil drawing was a gift from my parents probably 15 years ago.
Having these things hang above me where I sleep definitely makes my world a cheerier place.

Also my charcoal wall looks Hot with the colors of these.

i heart [painting]

2008-03-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

So I get spurts of inspiration where I paint and do other art things.

I like large scale graphic images the best.

Where you can't tell what is going on in the details.

The final project hanging on my wall.

i heart [supportive friends]

2008-03-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

One of those emails from Heidi, when I read in the morning, totally makes my day:

"just restart the 5 year clock. i say it bluntly because you just have to have hope. if things were meant to be..they were meant to be. even if it means we'll all get married, then divorced, then finally get with them when we are 30 or 40. you just have to have hope. or that is what i tell myself. love is only half the battle. and right now in our life it is important to put emphasis on ourselves and our careers..because that is the only thing we can really guarantee will be there for us in a few years. it is important to get ourselves established and enjoy life without needing to make huge sacrifices at such a young age. dont beat yourself up over this. i always think that im glad it hurts this much because it means i love someone that much...and a lot of people out there our age dont know what it is like to experience something like this.
so appreciate it, despite the pain. LOVE YOU!"

i heart [the next chapter]

2008-03-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

I can't believe in 72 hours I will be starting on my trip to visit Tara in London.
What started out as a "i miss you, i want to see you soon" switched into a last minute flight booking vacation, and now just as suddenly turned into a journey into the next part of my life physically and emotionally.
So I guess I have a few more days to wallow, before I pack my bags and move on.

For this jouney, I am sticking with my current favorite female singer, and London- Dweller Amy Winehouse, its time to move ahead.

i heart [adoption]

2008-03-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Asian Baby Sings Hey Jude - Watch more free videos
Who would want to bother with the morning sickness and laparoscopy when you could buy one of these for 50 bucks?
"Tag a sagg sog an make it barrer..."

i heart [Facebook offical relationships]

2008-03-02T18:08:00.000-08:00

So I got the best email from a friend with these blog inducing lines: "How did Facebook get so culturally powerful? Having a boyfriend is just so different from having a birthday."
This is of course because of a relationship invite from a guy she was seeing to be "Facebook official." But she didn't see the point in having their relationship put right in there under her name, birthday and hometown. Cause, when it comes to it, out of those four things, he is the only thing that can change.
I see it in another way. Like if I am single and I wouldn't call this guy I am dating a boyfriend, but I don't want to date other people or him to, so do I have the option to put:
Relationship: is sleeping-with-and-going-out-on-dates-with-but-really-it-is-too-soon-to-see-how-compatible-we-are-in-the-long-term-sense-so-we-don't-have-a-title with John Doe.
Is Mark Zuckerberg forcing us into relationships we aren't ready for?

NEWS UPDATE
This is mayjah:
Facebook deleted the Looking For: options of Random Play & Whatever I Can Get.
How am I supposed to advertise my desire to be slutty?
Dear Facebook,
If you are going to post all my failed relationships in Newsfeeds, can you just leave me the Random Play option?
Thanks,
danielle

i heart [realizing the world doesn't revolve around me]

2008-02-29T21:41:00.000-08:00

I know children generally hit this around 4 or 5, but i seem to have missed some major development markers in early childhood.

For example, some major people in my life have (and are) moved far away from me in the past year. And I am upset that I am missing from having them in my life in a physical way. The announcement of a departure from eastern pa leaves me with the "What? No, you cant do that to me, its not possible" reaction. Which can't be that supporting to my friends. (Sorry guys). I try my best to cover up these feelings cause I know I am supposed to be happy for them, but there have been some major slip-ups in this recently (again, sorry).
Somehow, it took me till tonight to realize that maybe that these great people aren't doing something mean to effect my quality of life, but maybe they are doing it to improve the quality of theirs. And that while their decisions may effect my current "who am i hanging out with today" decisions, they dont have to affect our relationship or my feelings for them.

Cause seriously I love you guys. Even when I am terribly selfish and don't show it.

After all, seasons change, so do cities; people come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away. -Carrie Bradshaw

i heart [imeem playlists]

2008-02-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

Drag & drop playlists to go on the internet=Awesome.
This is my current one entitled "Shit that is stuck in my head: Feb 2008"
Highlights:
Adam Tensta "My Cool"- He is the Kanye of Sweden, and totally hot right now. I predict him blowing up this year.
The Blood Arm feat. Anais "Do I Have Your Attention"- There is something soo right about french music right now, and this is a bonus cause i can understand half the words. You cant sit still through this song, it demands you to dance.
The Ronettes "Be My Baby"- If I were to have anyone's voice it would be Ronnie's. She is amazing.
Young Love "Too Young to Fight It"- Every song by him just seems to be an anthem for the twenty-something club scene and is catchy as hell. His "Find a New Way" was featured in that MTV show about dancers, which, by the way, what happened to that? I miss the dramz.
Janet Jacksons New Album- is freaking amazing. every song. Particularly choice lyric: 'I'm heavy like a first day period.' How's that for a simile? also check out Miss Jackson with Missy Elliot. Hot.
Amy Winehouse "Tears Dry On Their Own"- Dear sweet God how I love a trainwreck. when one writes a amazing empowering breakup song, its just icing on the ratty beehive. And after her lovely dedication of her grammy to her hubby -Blake Incarcerated- I might even like her post-rehab.

i heart [Chris March]

2008-02-27T20:12:00.000-08:00

NOoooOOO! Chris we loved you.
I am assuming that the judges did this just so Christian would have a clear shot at the gold.

Love Ya Betch!

i heart [FIERCE models]

2008-02-27T17:07:00.000-08:00

The advent of the 10th cycle of ANTM reminded me of this paper i wrote in a sociology class in college:

Flashing lights, catwalks, and designer names are three things that come to mind when we think about the fashion world. What you probably picture first, however, is the super-tall, super-skinny super model. The super model is the archetype of the ideal women in contemporary culture. They are the women that every young girl, housewife and working woman is supposed to aspire to: above average height, below average weight, perfect hair, perfect teeth. By giving the average woman a specific model to look up to, the media is also telling women what is right and wrong. What is right is to have a cosmetically enhanced nose. What is wrong is to have small cheekbones. Furthermore, by having the super model as an ideal and putting her on a pedestal above other women solely because of her looks, the media is placing importance on the physical appearance rather than the emotions or intellects of an individual, thereby separating women into two groups: the beautiful-the socially right group; and everyone else-the group that is lacking.
Any dictionary finds the definition of beauty to mean very aesthetically pleasing to the mind. In no dictionary, however, is there a conclusive outline of what beauty is. From the definition, one can deduce that anything can be beautiful, as long as the mind thinks it is. The media, therefore, has to place an image of ideal beauty in our minds, which they do by continually bombarding us with images of the ‘correct’ version of beauty. When this ideal is placed in our minds, our reality is altered to a newer, media-enhanced reality.
A good example of this process of the change of personal identity through the influence of the media would be the CW television show “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) a weekly prime time ‘reality’ television show. The series, hosted by super model Tyra Banks, follows 12 models competing to win a grand prize of a contract with a top modeling agency and Covergirl cosmetics and a photo spread in a major magazine. Each week the girls participate in challenges to win shopping sprees, clothes, and dinners, while taking photographs that are judged at the end of the show by a panel of fashion industry professionals who eliminate one model they feel has the least potential. Every episode is an opportunity to show the contestants how to become more beautiful, while critiquing all of their physical features.
Near the beginning of the ANTM season, all of the contestants get a mandatory make over. This is to signify their transition from the ordinary to the super. What it represents to the contestants, as well as the audience, is that their image from the beginning of the program is not what is beautiful and desired. What is, is a completely opposite of version of themselves, which is inevitably what is proposed to them. The viewer therefore sees this symbol, and transfer it on themselves, so they see that they are imperfect the way they are, and are in need of improvement also.
After their make over, the girls participate in contests and take photos. Then at the end of the episode, the girls get on the catwalk and walk for the judges. The models in their position on the runway are elevated above everyone else, to show their dominant position in society. However, the actual dominating participants are the judges, that are placed in a row facing the runway. They are the ones that are observer, constantly critiquing the models. The judges are the people that are supposed to make the ultimate decision on who is the winner, so the contestants must play the part of who the judges want, in order to advance in the contest. The judges, in their constant critique of beauty, every week find something new that is wrong with each girl. One day a model is criticized for not having her hair pulled back, the next week they may tell her she should have worn it down. This criticism is to signify that the girls are always out of the reach for beauty, they are always needing to do more to become beautiful.
At the end of the ANTM program, a screen after the credits says that the judges may have had input from the producers to make their decision. This screen blows away the idea of the judges being the ultimate power of the show. What is revealed at the end of the program is that the judges picking models to win is just an illusion, that the whole event of the perceived competition between the models can be planned out in advance by the production company. The producers can tell the judges how to vote based on what they want the viewers to see, being the ultimate decision on between what is real beauty, and what is not. For example, in the third season, called a “cycle”, there was the only plus size model in ANTM history, Toccara Jones, who was eliminated for not being able to keep up with the competition, yet she was voted the viewers favorite five times during the beginning of the cycle. This shows that even though the audience may want a women that looks more like them, at least in size, the producers are unwilling to shed outputting their vision of beauty, of a beautiful women needing to be thin, into the program.
In looking at the producers you need to see who they are and who influences them to make decisions the way they do. The executive producer is the host and judge, Tyra Banks. Since a producer of the show is on the panel of judges, it is easy to see how the producers influence the other judges. Banks, along with being a model and a producer, also has another daytime talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, on the same network. In Bignell’s Media Semiotics, he discusses the tie-ins in the film industry and here there is no difference. The CW network has an overall say in the ANTM program, as well as The Tyra Banks Show, so both shows, along with every show on the CW, have the overall look, and give the same message to the viewers. In fact, contestants of ANTM have also appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, as well as Veronica Mars and One Tree Hill, other CW shows. The production company is sending out the universal message twenty four hours a day then, that these next top models are what is the ideal look of beauty is.
This can easily be related to the film The Truman Show directed by Peter Weir, with the character Cristof, who is the director and creator of the show that is portrayed in the film. In the movie, Jim Carrey plays Truman, a man who is unknowingly the star of a reality tv show. Even though the whole show is supposed to be Truman’s life 24 hours a day, his life is all set up by Christof and the production team. At the end of the film, when Truman figures out that his life is a reality show, yet not a reality, he asks Christof who he is. Christof replies “ I am the Creator-of a reality tv show...” This entices Truman to ask who he is, to which Christof replies “You’re the star.” Even though as Christof says Truman is the star of the show, Christof’s admission of being the “Creator” signifies that he is really the god-like authority of the show, really the star, much like the producers of ANTM are the stars of the show, because they decide who will be on the show, what form of beauty will be emphasized and who will win the show.
Even with all those powers, the production company is not the highest authority on the show. What funds the production company, is the show’s sponsors, and since they are the financial backing to the show, they have a say what goes on in the show as well. For instance, in The Truman Show, all the food Truman eats and the products that he buys are placed in his world as an advertisement to the consumers that are viewing the program, and Truman’s wife is often zoomed in on during the show to give a product endorsement of whatever she has brought home from the store. Similarly, on ANTM, the girls compete for a grand prize that is given by their sponsors Covergirl cosmetics and Seventeen magazine. This fact is mentioned twice, once at the beginning of the show, and once before the judging at the end of the show to remind the viewers and the models of the sponsorship. Also, the makeup products featured during the show are Covergirl and a lot of the guest judges are from Covergirl and Seventeen. In Media Semiotics. Bignell mentions product “tie-ins.” In the first paragraph on page 182, Bignell discusses the importance of tie-ins to a film because it helps viewers to “buy into the social meaning of the film”. Similarly, with the ANTM showing products of beauty enhancement, an audience can assume that this show is about the making women beautiful and will inspire the viewer that they too can become beautiful like the stars in the show by using these products that are shown on the tv.

Obviously, this was written for my prof that hated 'the man' and does not reflect my personal views persay. I f*ckin love Miss Jay!

i heart [being anti-scene]

2008-02-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

*note: stripe-shirt kid on right is now a black dude. i forgot to take a photo, and this is an old one

So Erin and I headed over to the North Star Bar in Brewerytown to see Houston Calls. The bar is really nice, as I am down with any place that has a giant Buddha in it (hello: Buddahkan and my apartment). Besides the random asian culture, the bar also is the total scene atmosphere: import brews, tight pants, and asymmetrical haircuts abound. The best/worst thing about seeing a concert (I'm sorry if you are scene, please read that as "show") there is you are standing next to the musicians in the audience half the time, except that everyone else is dressed like them so they don't really stand out.
I consider myself a trendy person, reading style.com, the sartorialist and Vogue is the closest thing I come to having a religion, so I can get the whole "dress to impress" part of being a scenekid (ok, everything but the eyebrow ring-even Fergie took hers out people-they are OVER) and I love the music, but something about the scene in general is so off-putting. I think it's cause I feel like you always have to impress people with how much obscure shit you know, how many "shows" you go to, and how much you accessorize. That is just to much for me. I like watching Lipstick Jungle, and I know more about the Jonas Brothers than most 12 year olds (and definitely more than I know about any scene band), none of which is making me any friends at these concerts. Which I think is just a little sad, cause I think (and I am putting words into people's mouth's here) that the bands want all kinds of people to connect with their music & come together at "shows". Of course I am just at fault for looking down on the scene in general, but hey, what can I say? Lip rings freak me out.

Good points not mentioned:
-Okie, the keyboardist (probably not a word) from Houston Calls has the most amazing stage presence ever. He is all finger-pointing, keyboard-slamming, lip-syncing, lyrical-dancing manic fun. I'm sure the rest of the band is good too, I just couldn't stop staring at him. Sadly meeting him later was thwarted by a pack of 15 yr old girls and my inability to wait more than 20 seconds in a line. Next time though, I will totally meet my asain soul mate (is that creepy?).
-Some girl was wearing louboutin shoes. But we were in philly, in a dive bar, so I am assuming they are fakes of some sort (my apologies to the lucky girl if they are). I am considering painting red sole on a pair of my shoes though after seeing hers. They really take an outfit to a whole other level of sex.

i heart [Pop Sensations]

2008-02-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

How psyched am I about the reunion of NKOTB? I am definitely going to be rocking these while I jam to "Step-by-Step" during their tour:

Although, just thinking about them, makes me a little sad that I didn't get to see Spice Girls in philly last week.
While their levels of talent and musical skill are usually suspect, I can not deny loving about 90% of pop music. Who can resist ridiculously cheesy lyrics and catchy hooks?

Some of my favorite Pop songs now:
1. "S.O.S." by Jonas Brothers (the next time i see you i am giving you a high five, cause hugs are overrated, just a fyi)
2. "Tell Me What to Do" by Metro Station (Girl, tell me what to dooo, I'm so in love, whoa-oh, so in love with you, you, you)
3. "Body Language" by Heidi Montag (that whole song is friggin ridiculous)
4. "He Said, She Said" by Ashley Tisdale (Girl playing it cool but she's ready, She loving the fact she's gifted)
5. "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus (My best friend Leslie said "oh she's just being Miley")

i heart [buying my own jewelery]

2008-02-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Some days, I feel like such a big loser. Not really cause I am single- I can see why my relationships shouldn't of worked out, but because I think that I am a good girlfriend and these jerks are the ones who break my heart. wtf? Shouldn't it be the other way around? Furthermore, I see people in relationships treating their partner bad, and they never get broken up with. This seems to happen ALL THE TIME.
I think I get this from my mom. We were talking about how we were never the girls to get jewelery from boyfriends. And my mother said:
"Not like its a bad thing. All my girlfriends who got jewelery either demanded from their bfs that they get it or were given it cause their bf 'owed' it to them."
So its kinda like that. I can be a loving, caring girlfriend, that isn't overbearing or jealous, that doesn't expect or demand a man to change for her, doesn't flip out when he doesn't want to go to the movies cause he's sick, doesn't bad mouth friends or family, says what she wants and needs instead of crying about not getting it, doesn't cheat or even want/try to, I put out (sorry mom), I'm good looking, smart and relatively witty & fun i didn't put on pressure to get married or move too fast and what do I get in return? A breakup and no jewelry. Fan-tastic.
And it does bother me that those ex's have girlfriends and wives(gross). I bet even the hairless wonder has a serious gf (heck he coulda been married, whatever). It's not necessarily cause I want to get married soon or even be in a long term relationship (I'm obviously not ready for one-ha) but i should have men -or rather the men I've had should- want to be with me. Right?

Anyway, I can be content being single, and I did find the most FIERCE gold bicentennial coin-turned into a necklace at the AIDS thrift on Bainbridge.
Kinda like this, but shinier: