Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Latin is Romantic




Ever since I learned several years ago that so many European languages are derived from Latin (Romantic) I've been determined to learn it. I've even bought The Idiot's Guide to Learning Latin at Borders. So far, epic failure. Oh, well. I'm fascinated the above linked websites. If I had infinite time, maybe I would get into them, but, alas, I don't.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Random Post

Ooooh! I've been transfixed to this optical illusion for the past day now.


If you look at Animal Collective's latest album cover it appears to be moving in waves, but if you concentrate on and squint your eyes just so one of the green footballs it appears to be still. Faaaaaccinating. And wonderfully random;)

Smiles!

Mystery Piano in Woods Perplexes Police

An article posted on CNN talks about how police in Massachusetts found a working piano in the middle of the woods:


"(CNN) -- Was it a theft? A prank? A roundabout effort to bring some holiday cheer to the police? Authorities in Harwich, Massachusetts, are probing the mysterious appearance of a piano, in good working condition, in the middle of the woods. Officer Derek Dutra of the Harwich Police Department examines the mystery piano in the Massachusetts woods. Discovered by a woman who was walking a trail, the Baldwin Acrosonic piano, model number 987, is intact -- and, apparently, in tune. Sgt. Adam Hutton of the Harwich Police Department said information has been broadcast to all the other police departments in the Cape Cod area in hopes of drumming up a clue, however minor it may be. But so far, the investigation is flat. Also of note: Near the mystery piano -- serial number 733746 -- was a bench, positioned as though someone was about to play. The piano was at the end of a dirt road, near a walking path to a footbridge in the middle of conservation land near the Cape. It took a handful of police to move the piano into a vehicle to transport it to storage, so it would appear that putting it into the woods took more than one person. Don't Miss WCVB: No claim on found piano Asked whether Harwich police will be holding a holiday party in the storage bay -- tickling the ivories, pouring eggnog -- while they await word of the piano's origin and fate, Hutton laughed. No such plans. Harwich police have had some fun, though. Among the photos they sent to the news media is one of Officer Derek Dutra examining the piano in the woods. The police entitled the photo "Liberace." " By Josh Levs

(via IndieMuse.com)



I like to think that someone just brought their piano out into the middle of the woods so they could play to themself and the trees. It's something I would do if 1) I had a piano and 2) I could actually move it. It's a very romantic thing to do I think. Imagine the owner's surprise when they return to their secret santuary and find their prized piano missing. Did the police have to remove it? It wasn't doing any harm.

Smiles!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

There's a Website at the End of the Rainbow

For anyone who likes/loves any of the above music genres, boy have I stumbled upon a pot of gold. IndieMuse.com offers free (legal!) downloads of virtually unknown/alternative artists' music. This evening alone, I spent about three hours making my way through just this past year's posts. I'm in love. The selections are smart, thoughtful, and sensible. Each post gives in addition to a sampling of the artist's style, a great editorial included with most songs. An awesome site to add to my favorites.


Smiles!

What to name a baby...

1. No, I'm not pregnant.
2. You know you've thought of them too before.

Earlier this evening, my family was having a meeting where we were discussing possible dog names. Sometime during the discussion, I mentioned that I knew what I'm going to name my children. For some reason, my mom seemed all horrifed, I don't know why. She was acting like it was improper for someone my age or something. Right, so just because I'm planning fifteen years ahead or so, she thinks that I want to have a baby NOW. Sorry, Mom, but you've raised me better than that. I'm prim and proper, just like you.

Just for the sake of sharing those names though, here they are:

For a girl - in order of of how much I like it- : ( I want two, btw)
-Charlotte
-Lucy
-Violet
-Cecelia
-Alice
-Emily
-Susan
-Gemma
-Ava

For a boy - not in order of how much I like the name, I can't decide yet - : (I want one)
-Liam
-Peter
-Charles (although, obviously, I can only name one of my kids Charlotte or Charles because their nicknames could both be Charlie(ey))
-Edmund
-Jonathan
-Jack
-James

...As you may have noticed, I really like the names of the Pevensie children from the Chronicles of Narnia.

Clearence From the Favorites Tab

As I'm cleaning out pages I've saved under my 'favorites' I re-stumbled across Edge Reps, a website that represents and lists photographers. Some of the still lifes are rather touching. They remind me of how I want to decorate my room and where I want to travel (India, England, France, & Istanbul!).



EDIT:
I forgot to mention Corbis, a site that hosts stock photography and footage. I could literally spend hours exploring the site.

The High Art of Fashion

You know how you somehow stumble across some really fantastic websites in your Google Image searches? Some time ago, I found a website that was showcasing these fantastic examples of couture pieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art:


The "Junon" dress from the fall/winter 1949–50 collection of Christian Dior. I am memorised by the sparkling jewel details on the scalloped tiers. It reminds me much of the glittery snow stuff you find on Christmas cards.

This orange popsicle reminds me of a doll dress that my grandmother made for my mom in the sixties. Hubert de Givenchy, Evening gown, 1963.


A bit more recently, there's this frothy spring/summer dress of 2003 by Alexander McQueen. I don't even want to think about how much it would cost to add this to my wardrobe, though.

This looks like something Blair Waldorf would wear, no? Madeleine Vionnet, Evening gown, 1939.

And finally, I have found my wedding dress! From Christian Dior, the “Venus” dress, 1949. Gaaah.... I'm drooling all over it.


Smiles!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Lookbook.nu.com

I first learned about Lookbook from Kayley on the Five Awesome Girls channel on YouTube a few months back. Basically, it's a social networking site where people can post and view other users' photos of (fashionably sensible) outfits. To join, you have to be invited, so of course, I googled for an invite code and promtly made an account for myself Since then, I've been obsessivly *hyping* other people's looks to draw inspiration from in my pursuit for the perfect outfit in those mornings before school starts. (← oh look, it's a run on sentence!)

Here are some of my favorite looks as of late:





















I actually just discovered this look this evening. I adore it! The hair. The dress. The belt. The tights. Even the little picture in the background! The only thing is that I would probably trade the necklace in for something more vintage, although the pink does add a certain p o p! to the outfit!


In this look, I can't help admiring the background. It reminds me a lot of an abandoned farm that my brother and I would sometimes explore when we were younger. The silk dress is quite pretty, but what really gives this outfit the 'it factor' is the belt. It's motto in life to mix the ordinary with the extrordinary. Aussi: This look is very Luna Lovegood-esque to me.
















This is the first look that I recreated irl from lookbook. I made a beeline for an American Apparel as soon as I discovered that one had recently opened in our mall and bought that yellow skirt, so charmingly modeled by the ever lovely Kayley, of the aformentioned 5AG.



Do I even need to say anything? :) I am simply in love with this dress! The hat just transports me back to the days of tea parties and teddy bears. I wish it were socially acceptable to dress this way all the time!


Ahhh! The classic red band jacket (although a step up from any modern marching uniform!) This is a scrumptious mix of texture and color. Simply divine!

OMG! COLOUR! I am prepared to MARRY those spicy red boots! The mustard pea coat and the pok-a-dot dress seem so cozy in this foggy landscape that I am in love with this look.

I've been searching everywhere for a good watch on a chain. Urban Outfitter's has a good one.

Feathers! This is so pretty, it looks like it's straight out of a dream or a book of fairy tales. I've wanted a delicate bird cage to put in my room for several years now, since I saw one in a boutique down town Seattle. This captures the spirit of that in a frothy, dreamy way.




Smiles!

Me (and my cat), an Introduction


I thought I would start my blogging experience by sharing a picture of my cat Sara, with you all. Isn't she delightful? She enjoys eating my homework, messing up my bed, and waking everyone up at 3am wanting to be fed. Are all cats as *special* as mine?
P.S.
I'm not one of those people who only talk about their cats btw, if you were wondering. I'm mostly into fashion, photography, and kdsjfkoaesjefjahsdfjohotherstuffthatican'tthinkofnow.
Smiles!