(Sorry, I don't know why the video is sideways.)
May 13, 2009
May 12, 2009
April 23, 2009
With a Grecian Feeling
So, I was chatting with David Sedaris last week.* About Greek Easter, spanakopita, and what-not. I was sad to miss the celebration with my family this year. We couldn't drive down last weekend, because we are driving down this weekend to attend my cousins wedding. A Greek wedding. (You know where this is going.) I'm so excited, really. I get to see my family for a few days, and go to a big-old party, and dress up, and be amongst adults, and hopefully imbibe a few adult beverages.
I love that attending a wedding is a classic excuse to buy new clothes, and I picked up this gold dress a few weeks ago in preparation. I really love it, I think it has a Miss Elizabeth Bennet feel, but now I'm having second thoughts. It's not really Greek enough, is it?
I picked up the vintage necklace at a shop in Hendersonville while my mom was visiting for Easter, and I really want to wear it, but I think it'd look classier with a little black number. So, I'm off to do what every woman does 2 days before a formal event: I'm going to TJMax and pray for a miracle. The perfect dress for super-cheap. It can happen - it has happened before. Wish me luck.
*If you are a fan, and you ever have the chance to see David Sedaris, I would highly reccomend it. And be sure to take a book with you and stand in line for an autograph. He really takes the time and effort to talk sincerely to every, single person in line. Plus, his autographs are clever and personalized. Who does that?!?
April 21, 2009
Hanging Out
(yes, that's the best post title I could come up with.)
Last Saturday we visited the Earth Day festival in downtown Asheville. Amidst the music food, and vendors I happened upon these amazing, portable hammocks made by a local company; Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO.) I have been seriously wanting a hammock lately now that the weather is warming up, but our property doesn't really have an ideal spot for a standing hammock, or a perfect place for the traditional kind in-between two trees. I loved the idea of having a portable hammock that could easily be taken down during bad weather, or brought along to the beach or a camping trip, or even moved around the yard to follow the sun. I decided to try one of ENO's Double Nest Hammocks (for an early Mother's Day gift,) and I am so, very pleased with my purchase!
We also got the Slap Strap accessory kit that makes it crazy-simple to use the hammock practically anywhere you want. We hung it in the trees by our house, and on the porch, too. It's a lot roomier than it appears, and will fit two adults comfortably....and boy, is it comfortable. Much more so than traditional rope hammocks. I've already fallen asleep in it twice! And even though we aren't hard-core campers and hikers, I love that the whole thing rolls up into a little bag about the size of a hoagie sandwich, so we can take it anywhere we please.
I went with the obnoxiously bright pink+orange, but they have plenty of other colors to choose from, too! I also can't help but feel a little smug supporting such a cool, local business run by two brothers. Gotta love that. I highly reccomend this hammock, and not just for outdoorsy types, either. Hammocks are also synonymous with lazy folks (like me) and are just as enjoyable for an afternoon of dozing with a good book, as well as resting after a treacherous mountain hike. Since they have such broad appeal, I think they'd make excellent gifts...Mother's Day or otherwise!
...and if Max would get his little hiney out of it for two seconds, I might be able to have a turn once in a while.
March 18, 2009
Movies that make me want to cut my hair and also sometimes be more French
La Femme Nikita. An all-time-favorite of mine, definitely in my top 25, (maybe even top-ten.) If you have Netflix, it's on the instant view menu at the moment. Just a sensational movie, and Anne Parillaud is one of the only actresses I've ever seen that can truly pull of adorable and bad-ass at the same time. Plus, it's a squishy love story and an action movie, so if your man will read subtitles, then it's a perfect date movie. I don't have the emaciated, drug-battered physique to pull of this short hairdo, but I can still dream.
I don't think I need to elaborate on this one.
Gwyneth in Sliding Doors. I like this movie, and I may catch some snickers for that, but I don't care. It's just cute, and so is Gwen. It's hard to believe that she and Brad Pitt used to be an item way back when. She has to feel like she significantly dodged a bullet there, eh? Anyway, I doubt that going blonde and chopping off my locks will make me dreamy-eyed or able to fake a British accent. My sister (who is nuts) thinks I look like Gwen already. Yeah, if I was slimmer, had paler skin, lighter hair, blue eyes, and totally different facial features...I'd be a dead ringer. Crazy sis. Oh by the way, did you know that Gwyneth Paltrow has a blog? It's called GOOP and, honestly? It's kinda boring. (Sorry Gwen.) But she just started, so it will probably get better. Like I'm one to talk, go back and read some of my first blog entries - scary! (ok, actually...don't do that.)
No explanation needed here, either.
Wow, that one came out of nowhere...literally. But, I think Marisa Tomei is just so foxy, and even though this movie was a little....eh....she is super pretty and I love her with short hair, (and Robert Downey Jr. ain't too hard on the eyes, either.) All Of Me is also on instant view at the moment, if you are so inclined.
Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby. Girls love this movie, especially if they haven't had kids yet but are seriously considering it. And I think I know why: there is so much fear and anxiety that comes along with having babies, and it's just easier to express it abstractly through a scary movie, rather than watching real baby shows on TLC. I mean, every girl worries about labor pains and stretch marks, that's nothing new. But they usually don't have to stress over, you know, their kid ending up being the son of Satan. It just gives us a little perspective. Plus, Mia is so fantastically cute in this movie! Love the hair, the clothes, the Twiggy-look. Love it. It's also a known fact that most pregnant women cut their hair at some point, usually towards the end, when they are huge and kind of irrational. (I did.) And, most of us regret it, since there is no haircut in the world that will take the focus off the fact that your stomach is jutting out like a Volvo. Except for Mia, of course. I guess it only works for fake-pregnant actresses. Typical.
Fluffy posts these days, I know. But, the sun is out and there are so very many new and exciting items to add to the shop. I hope you are all having a lovely week so far!
(PS, Thanks for all the Crumpcheese love! It makes me feel a little less crazy knowing that you all are infatuated with him, too.)
March 17, 2009
get your crump on
Downtown last Saturday. Mike was so overjoyed to go to antiquing! (He had a much better time than he'd like to admit.)
I love the little spider brooch...wait, not quite enough legs...is it an ant? It just says "insect" so I guess they weren't sure either.
This Vintage Disney poster is just too much! It fantastic, of course, but where would you put it?
Cupcakes at Short Street, a new favorite. I used the red-dotted dress I bought at the antique market for an impromptu background in this shot. The dress looked better in the store. Now that I have it home, I see that it's going to take a little more *tweaking* than I thought to make it wearable. I knew the sleeves would have to go...no biggie. Then I tried it on and realized it really needs to be taken in a lot, and possibly shortened. And the matching belt is a mess. Oops.
Aaaaaaand, this is Crumpcheese. (That's his name, don't wear it out.) We have an odd habit of buying really random bits of junk, usually at museum gift shops, and becoming even more oddly attached to them. We drag this little puppet everywhere like he's a part of the family. Mike makes him talk in a voice so hilarious that we laugh til our sides hurt. What's with the name? Max named him (duh.) It started as Ma-cheesy and sort of evolved to Crump-cheese. Pretty rad. Even better? I made this awful animated gif of him dancing because I am cra-zy. And I clearly have too much time on my hands.
Crumpcheese really knows how to get down, though. You gotta give him that.
February 27, 2009
Friday's Anti-Hero
The Right Brain vs Left Brain test ... do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.
Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.
| LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe |
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS |
********************************************************************************************************************
I hate this thing. Only with extreme mental anguish and lots of heavy concentration could I even kind of get this chick to spin counter-clockwise. And even then, only for like, a couple of seconds. I mean, it's no surprise that I'm dominantly right-brained, but I thought I might have a little, shriveled up bit of left-brain up there somewhere. Mike saw both immediately. Typical. Max, it seems, saw counter-clockwise only. But he didn't really look at for long, I think it was creeping him out.
What do you see?
EDITED TO ADD: She's evil! Don't stare at her too long, I fear for your safety! Also, if you're having trouble getting this minx to go counter-clockwise, try staring at her feet. Even scroll the page down a bit so the top of her is cut off. It helps. And I have to ask, why is she so voluptuous? And is it a little nippy there in cyber-world? Who made this thing?? I don't know whether to say "Dance ballerina, dance," or "Shake your peach cobbler, baby! Woo!"
Psycho twirly-girl is officially dead to me.
January 29, 2009
Morning
You guys remember Tiny Toons and They Might Be Giants? Love.
January 26, 2009
Atlanta
Cupcakes, graffiti, and a giant aquarium - Atlanta's go it goin' on! It was so nice to get away for a day or two, just me and the boys.
What were you guys up to last weekend?
January 15, 2009
Day Off
We all took the day off yesterday and went tubin'.
There is definitely lots of fun to be had at Johnas Ridge Snow Tubing, we had a blast. Sorry to bombard you with family photos, but it was just so nice to get away for the afternoon and do something outdoors, very invigorating. The rest of the evening was (mostly) spent vegging. I watched a few episodes of netflixed Carnivale, my new TV-series obsession.
After that, I settled down with a new book and a little edamame snack. I bought this one on a total, blind whim. Mainly because I've been joensin' for something scary to read, and the latest King book is so not cutting it. (Sorry Steve.) Maybe I had my hopes set too high, but whatever. It's just not very good. So, I figured I'd start reading books by the authors that inspired Stephen King in hopes of, in some parallel way, getting my scare on. So far so good, 'cause I really like I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson. And, no, I didn't see the movie. Nor do I plan too, I'm not much of a Will Smith fan. And I have to mention that this book/story (it's only 100-odd pages long,) was written in the 1950's. That would have to be so strange, getting so much press for a story that's been around for decades, mainly because it was made into a Will Smith Blockbuster. If I were Richard Matheson, I don't know whether I'd be flattered or horrified. I kinda hope for his sake that he's not around to see all this. *OK, now that I looked it up, it seems that I am Legend has been adapted to three different feature length films, all of which bear little or no resemblance to the book. Hmm. And it seems that Mr. Matheson is still alive and kicking, good for him. Oh god, Stephen King Dedicated his book, Cell, to Richard Matheson. Wow.
Alright, back to the edamame.
