Wednesday, October 28, 2009

High Glitz

So beyond Amazing! I am posting a lot of these photos cause they just mesmerize me. What an strange life these little girls have. I was never in beauty pageants and I really don't know much about them other than what I see on "Tot's and Tiaras". Have you been in them? Do you know people who were? What is your adulthood like after that?
The photographer is Susan Anderson. I love when an artist can be conceptual and technically sound. She executes these images with the crispness off the subject. Glorious!

"Susan Anderson’s documentary portrait series, High Glitz, is shot on location at several of America’s child beauty pageants. Setting up her studio amidst the colorful spectacle, she captures the young girls at the height of their performance. Hours of preparation are spent on each child's appearance, and her camera records it all in graphic detail. Children’s pageants are a fascinating subculture, but more than anything they represent a strange microcosm of America itself. Our own values of beauty, success and glamour reflected in the dreams of thousands of young girls…"








Crucial Conversations


I found this book on Amazon tonight- Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High. Have you heard of it or read it? I am highly intrigued. Potsch and I were talking the other day about passions. Seems I am always on the search for what it is I just can not live without. I came up with an answer - Talking/Arguing/Debating/Heated Discussion - I find those are one and the same. I love really "getting into it". I recently found out that it is a trait of the Capricorn as well. Makes sense. I would love to get this book and build my skills but it could be dangerous for everyone else in my life.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Rocky Votolato


My brother, Tom, is a big fan of Rocky Votolato's. I had never heard of him. Well, that is not true. When Tom would talk about him I would act all cool cause I thought I totally knew who it was and I am older and so cool so of course I would know more. Turns out I am not and did not know. I will give myself credit for this though - I took a step back and decided to learn from my brother cause he knows a lot of cool shit. So, I finally looked into Rocky and guess what - awesome!

His music brings me back to my super early twenties - when struggling was romantic and smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee were apart of my every hour. Sometimes I miss that time so much. When life was so full of passion and yet still so careless. I miss smoking cigarettes in the cold and not worrying about anyone else but myself. I would not trade my life now but it would be nice to have those moments every now and then.


White Daisy Passing

allen [mjji.] | MySpace Video

Pretend Kids from CrewCuts

How foolish of me to not know that J. Crew had a kids section, CrewCuts. A-Door-A-Bowl! look at these boys. I don't fins tons of pretend kid boys so I was quite please to fall in love with these fine young gentlemen. Who wouldn't?


Declaration of Dependence - out now!


It has been a long lonely 5 years since we heard from the brilliant Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience but the sun is shinning and the gods have blessed us with a new Album!!!! Declaration of Dependence! You can get it here.


Makin' pretty prettier

I am compiling my xmas list now. Not of the things I want to give to others but of the things I want to get. Yes I am still a 6 year old who can't sleep as she waits to hear Santa and his reindeer on the roof. I love giving gifts and is it bad to also love getting them? I think not.
So, I am adding "The Original Totally Rad Photoshop Actions" and "TRA II (The revenge)". Now that I have found these life changers I don't know how I will be able to go on working with out them. Totally Rad is a collection of photoshop plug-ins and filters. By overlapping and combining them you can achieve endless gorgeous possibilities. Totally Rad's website also offers tutorials, free samples and user submitted recipes. The images below are all user submits. The price ain't bad and considering how much stuff you can do, I am thinking it is worth it. Yeah presents!!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

It's on - Ayn Rand style



I just finished my new favorite book "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. It was amazing. It is a big read and a mind blowing read. Definitely a must. I am even thinking about naming my children after characters in that book. I told my brother about that (he is the reason I read the book. He loves it to death) He was not thrilled with me. I may have to save that kid name or else figure out some deal with him. Anyway, like always after i finish a great book I feel lost. What am I supposed to read next? How can I take a chance on anything else when I know what what true love and happiness is? Sometimes it is a chance I am just not willing to take. But thank god for prolific tendencies. I went to my beautiful huge old Pasadena Library (if you have not been there - you must! It is like the big old ones in movies) and check out a stunning ginormous first print edition of "Atlas Shrugged" by the lovely and brilliant Ayn Rand. I am giddy with joy and anticipation!!!! I love that books still give me a happiness unmatched by anything else. Let my obsession continue.
How stunning is this vintage cover? I love the colors and the graphic. Definitely scanning this in before I return it.

This is a very interesting 3part interview with Mike Wallace and Ayn Rand. She gets a bit bullied but always keeps her cool. if you have the time it is definitely interesting.

Pretend Kid - Catnica Untaru

I fell in total love with Catinca Untaru after seeing her brilliant performance in "The Fall". If you have not seen it I highly recommend it. It is a lovely story and very well done. Catinca steals most of scenes with her improvisation. I was told that she barely speaks English thus leaving her to act on pure instinct. Whatever it is it is captivating. I mean look at that sweet face.



These next shoots are more recent. Catinca has grown up a bit and is still just gorgeous.



Friday, October 23, 2009

Xmas for all

If I could and there is really no reason I couldn't I would get one if
these for each family member. Then I could have a family of big
babies. Oh dreams really can come true.
At Target for $25.

Live Young

This makes me giggle out loud! I can not stop smiling at this commercial. Too freakin' cute. I would say all these babies are my pretend kids with skills like that.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Come Laugh in LA this thursday!!!

I am doing The Cookin' With Gas Show at The Groundlings Theatre tomorrow night. Show starts at 8pm. I promise you will laugh A LOT!!!!!
if you are in town come see the show. If you have never been to The Groundlings this is a great show to start off with. It is all improv! Celebrity guests! And ME!!!!

Snapper in a snap

Yesterday I got a little overwhelmed with all the things I needed to do so instead of doing them i started wandering around online. I checked my usual go tos and caught up on all the pretty weddings going on and then I went to ShowFoodChef. If you haven't been there you need to! The only down side to that blog is when you finish reading you're starving.
ShowFoodChef is a blog by Chef Cathy Shambley. She is the brilliant Chef who made the lemoncello marshmallows I gave away earlier this year. ShowFoodChef is Cathy's blog of challenge, causes and creativity. Almost everyday she is posting a new recipe with great photos for an internet luncheon, a cyber potluck for charity, a nutella rework or just something she wanted to try and thought you would want to try it too. One of my favorte things about her food posts is that she always gives you a little history lesson about where and why this food came about. I wish high school history class would have been so yummy. I might have actually passed.

After reading "Diner? It's a SNAP-PER" I headed out the door straight to my Wholefoods. I have never bought a whole fish but luckily there was a very cute and flirty Fish Munger named Clint to help me. He was very excited to help me and made me want to buy fresh fish everyday. They did not have whole Red Snapper so i figured the Whole Thai Snapper would be the same thing. Yes, I am ignorant. Cue Clint - " There are over 300 types of Snapper. The Thai will do just fine but it is less meaty than the Red. So, you will have to cut your cooking time by 5min." Oh, ok. then I say, thinking I am so on top of it, "I need to have that fish with bones in. Scaled and gutted." He smiles at me in a way that tells me to lower my voice with a hint of "oh, you're so cute in your fish ignorance". Clint then informs me that what I want is called "Dressed." Clint then teaches me how to choose a good fish and what to do to make sure it is good - eyes should
be clear and bright if they are a cloudy ask them to open the gills. Gills should be red if they are a bit brown ask to smell the fish. If the fish smells bad then it is no good. Clint said it is my right to ask the fish guy to do this otherwise I could get sick. Clint taught me a lot . He will be teaching a class on Nov 11th at the pasadena Wholefoods where he could teach you a lot too.

Now for my dinner. This only took 20 min. to cook and then 5 min to sit before it was devoured.


My first time at the olive bar. So many to choose from. I went with the Pick Olives with Corriander Sauce. I think I would go for the olives with fennel next time.

Cathy calls for squash veggies. I used a sugar pie pumpkin. Another thing I have never made. It was very good!


Served over some brown rice. Healthy, fast and delicious!!!
This was so yummy. Potsch basically ate the entire thing himself. Now I know where to go for good recipes that will please my man. ShowFoodChef!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

face to Face time

I don't know if this is creepy or the greatest xmas gift for my family and loved ones I have ever found!!!!

Thatsmyface can turn you into an action figure, a wearable mask, a crystal cube or even just a head with a removable brain. It is brilliant and not that expensive considering you get to have a head anyway you want it.

All you have to do is upload a front view photo and a side view photo of yourself (mainly your head) and ThatsMyFace will turn it into movie magic. You could even be a key chain or pencil holder head.

My mind is reeling at how many things I could do with my head. Cake toppers! Family portrait wall. Salt and Pepper shakers. Tooth pick dispenser. Ice cream bowl. Endless ideas!!!



Please please please let me know if you get one of these. Prices start around $89-$109. Not bad at all. I just can't figure out who will be the lucky one in my family. Of course I could just get my head over and over and give that to everyone. Ha! Too expected.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Union by Robert Fulghum

I found this stunning poem tonight and every time I read it I cry. I have not done to much regarding our ceremony just yet and honestly don't really know where to start. I feel like this is a good place to begin.

Union
by Robert Fulghum
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “ You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.


I love the modern-ness of this. It feels more real and tangible. Do you know any other great love poems or pieces you have heard at wedding?

Wait

This is a beautiful song by Alexi Murdoch. There does not seem to be a video for the song but I found the next best thing. The lyrics are lovely and would make a nice wedding tune.


PS- if you go to Alexi's site you can listen to his new album.

Miriam Haskell makes anyone pretty

Jewelry is quite intimidating for me. I have never been good with accessorizing unless it is a scarf or black rubber bracelets a la Madonna 1983. Miriam Haskell Jewelry has been making gorgeous pieces since 1926 and makes it easy for anyone to accessorize because everything they do is stunning.


This pearl ring is out of control! This necklace is like two sides colliding. Very sexy.
I Love the colors in these two necklaces. Reminds me of Hanah's gorgeous necklace that she wore on her wedding day. Give me more color at weddings!!! I need it!!





How stunning would these bottom two brooches be on a wedding dress. So elegant!!! A nice new family heirloom to pass on.

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