You may have noticed that I went dark on Wednesday. I totally did. I had such a great post planned and zero time to write it and I had a headache and I worked all day and blah blah and…..sorry. Missed y’all.
But it’ s a new dawn and a new day and I have a whole bunch of links for you to check out. So let’s go!
This HuffPo article on why creative people are so complex is almost two months old now. It did the Facebook circuit, but I only just read it a few days ago. If you haven’t, check it out.
My awesomesauce friend Katie introduced me to Eve in Eden, an amazing boutique in the Pearl District of Portland.
Vintage Kelebek Turkish Necklace ($175.00, Eve in Eden).
But it was a struggle to get my thoughts onto (virtual) paper. There is no way to make sense of an act so senseless, but where do we go from here? What do we do? How do we feel? How can we help? I wanted to write but had nothing to say.
And then I came across this excellent article. Lesley Kinzel, one of my favorite writers, is a Bostonian, and she had lots to say in an open letter to the as-yet-unknown Boston Marathon bomber. As soon as I read it, I knew that sharing her piece, rather than writing my own, was the best thing to do. Please read.
Whew! Yet another busy week! I’m still trying to find my ground and get my bearings as I get used to my new life & lifestyle. But here are some AWESOME things I found along the way.
If you’re a Portlander, be sure to check out Third Rail’s production of The Aliens at CoHo. Third Rail’s work is always solid and beautifully acted, but this piece just sings. The three actors are outstanding,the direction is stellar, the set is lush and alive, the play itself is just…beautiful (Annie Baker is an amazing playwright). Go see it.
Also, I’m in a book! What? Yes. Check out Me and Mortensen, a lovely book on portrait photography and the author’s time with American Master Photographer William Mortensen. The author, Robert Balcomb, photographed me twice–at 12 and at 18. Both portraits made it in the book, and the one of me at 18 is on the back cover. What?!
The normally hi-larious Natalie wrote a touching, moving piece on internet friends and internet friendship for xojane.
GREAT. Now I feel all kinds of pressure. This is the Grand Centennial, and I should probably mark it by writing something that deeply reveals something touchingly personal about who I am in the darkest depths of my soul.
But seriously. Who wants that?
INSTEAD, my dearest friends, I’m writing a list. 100 Things I Like. Just…stuff. That I like. Because it’ s my blog and I write what I want (but please don’t ever leave me). Anyway. In no particular order…..
First, kids, a confession. While today is March 1 and therefore the end of my Shopping Embargo (henceforth known as my Worst Idea Ever), I have to admit that the experiment was NOT a soaring success.
I cheated. I cheated so hard, and it felt so good.
It started on Wednesday. I was a-trollin’ Trashy Diva, LIKE YOU DO, lusting after the pretty vintage-style dresses that I can’t afford, when a Mysterious Force led me to click on the Sale page. It might have been God. It might have been habit, because I always click on the Sale page, but whatever. In past experience, this has been a futile effort. Because while the prices are (sometimes) right when the dresses are on sale, the sizes rarely are. I’m a size 8 or 10 (depending on cut, material, style and brand) which apparently are REALLY COMMON SIZES because they are almost never available on sale anywhere ever.
And then I saw this.
Rosalind Dress in “Mardi Gras” from Trashy Diva
My size. My style. Sixty-Six bucks. More than I like to spend on a single item, but a killer deal for a Trashy Diva Dress. AND LOOK AT HOW PRETTY! I feared I’d never again find it in my size. So I ponied up and bought it. AND I’M NOT EVEN SORRY.
But that opened the floodgates. Because then I ducked into Ray’s Ragtime “just to look” and came out with a new 70s-era dress, braided belt and floppy hat. I tried to be sorry, but all I could think about was how Foxy and Jessa-from-GIRLS-chic I was going to look at my boyfriend’s show Thursday night (and I did). But the dress needed a statement necklace, so I stopped by the Goodwill Boutique on 10th (a KILLER place for big necklaces and bangles, beeteedubs) on my way home. Because in for a penny in for a pound, amirite? (No really–am I right? I’m not sure I know exactly what “in for a penny, in for a pound” means).
Jessa-chic, hat and all.
Here is a superfluous shot of my boyfriend’s band, Swim Atlantic. Because this is MY blog, and I post whatever the hell I want, with nary a thought for relevance! Find them on Facebook, yo.
But even with my Last-Minute Shopping Binge, I still saved money this month. So while Shopping Embargo Worst Idea Ever was not a soaring success due to my horrible, cheating ways, it was still a success. Arguably.
But, as you may have heard, there was some serious sexist bullshit that went down. I didn’t watch the Oscars this year, but there are articles GALORE on the sexism (from casual to overt) at the Academy Awards. My favorite Lindy West does a killer breakdown on Oscar sexism. Best of all, she links to a bunch of other awesome articles, so please follow the trail.
Time Magazine published an extremely powerful piece on photojournalism and domestic violence, in which a photographer is present and able to document an instance of abuse. As someone who has never (thankfully) experience domestic abuse, seeing these photos brought the experience millions of women (and some men) face into my mind and heart in a very real way. Please note that the story and images might be triggers for survivors of abuse.
But there is still Unexpected Awesomeness in the world, as Lesley Kinzel reminds us on xojane.com.
I am very excited for Oz the Great and Powerful. I never go to the movies anymore (because I am poor and broke), but this one I want to see. What can I say? My Mom and I read The Wizard of Oz together when I was a wee one, Wicked is my favorite book as a grown up, AND I WANNA SEE THIS MOVIE. There’s also a place inside me that fears it’s going to suck. I mean, there’s a whole lot of “please Man, come save us!” in the trailer.
I’ve been reading up a storm in 2013. One of the books I stumbled across was the remarkable We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. This book will not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of the macabre and the strange world of realism-but-also-not (I just made that up, but I like the sound of it), this might be a book for you. Merricat Blackwood is the best unreliable narrator I’ve come across in a long time, and this story of prejudice, guilt, love, routine, magic and otherness is utterly gripping.
Last but not least, February will be remembered as the month where I finally learned how to wear false eyelashes! The guide to my mastery was the divine Gabi of xojane. You can find her how-to here, and it’s the best ever. The biggest tip I took to heart was cutting my falsies in half–twice the lashes, half the trouble of applying! But where she uses tweezers to gently press them in place, I use a Q-tip, dampened in the sink so it doesn’t stick. It works great and takes away the “Fear Factor” part of the process.
It’s surprisingly hard to take selfies that feature your eyelashes.
I feel like I’ve been writing for a really long time.
But before I go, I bring to you the delightful Garfunkel & Oates singing a song about hand jobs. Yes, really. Thanks to Allan Mott for leading me to this video AND for being one of my favorite people on the whole internet. Follow him @HouseOfGlib.
Alright, Internet! I hope your whole Friday feels like Happy Hour!
HEY BABES! Guess what!! After being REALLY financially responsible with my Christmas bonus and putting most of it in savings, I decided that I was sick of looking in my closet every morning and hating everything I own and I was gonna go shopping. I ducked into H&M yesterday and YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE AMAZING SALE THEY’RE HAVING! I bought two dresses, two blazers, two belts, and matching wrist cuffs for $70. So if there’s an H&M near where you are, GO NOW! And if there’s not, you can check them out online here.
Anyway. Check out the stuff I was reading, watching and adoring this week.
If you’re not following me on Pinterest, DO IT! I pin awesome stuff, guys. AWESOME stuff.
Ok. Maybe I’m a little late to the party here, but I just discovered the Citizen Radio podcast. It’s political. It’s funny. It’s really, really smart. Check it out.
Another month, another “Scandals of Old Hollywood” article from The Hairpin! This month features THEDA BARA!
If you’re sitting at home one evening looking for something to watch, I highly recommend the film Bernie. My fam watched it on a whim Christmas morning, and it’s excellent. It’s (quite closely) based on a true story–and it’s one of those stranger-than-fiction type deals. And Jack Black is great. But the real highlight are the interviews clips, documentary-style from town locals. Give it a watch. Enjoy.
Jack Black as Bernie
My pal Sara over at Project Sara started a new beauty blog, Your Beauty Fix. She’ll keep you from looking like a drunk clown. Because that’s what friends do!
You may remember that I watched childhood favorite movie Care Bears in Wonderland for my Artist Date last week. I figured I should share the tacky 80s Care Bear love. And since my pals in the PSU Records Office called me “hat girl” when I worked there, I thought this one was perfect.
And then I got all nostalgia-y and started watching Mary Poppins videos. And maybe it’s just me, but is Mary Poppins chicer than chic or what? Speaking of, I found this crazy site that features Mary Poppins inspired outfits. UM, YES PLEASE.
And then there’s this one
Then I fell deeper down the Nostalgia Rabbit Hole and found this gem, from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This movie always makes me think of my sweet Auntie Annie, who is indeed truly scrumptious.
And speaking of rabbits, watch this classic scene from Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Oh, and click here on how to get A-Lands’ awesome style.
OH MY GOD I HAVE TO REWATCH THESE MOVIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Wow. That felt good. Hope you find the time to re-watch an old favorite this weekend!
Today’s post is going to lean heavily on Les Miserables in its various incarnations. Because the musical theatre beast inside has been released and will now devour you all. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
But before we get to that.
Kids, I got a Clarisonic! My awesome mom surprised me with one for Christmas. And I love it. It was totally worth the hype. The thing is a joy to use, for one. A minute-long face-massage every day! And my skin is soft and vibrant and OH MY GOD I’M SO HAPPY. $100 bucks for a skincare tool is no joke. But if you have the flow, it’s worth the money.
And speaking of beauty stuff, I was also gifted the Too Faced Glamour Gloss lipgloss in Sex Pot. I’m super picky about lipgloss and have never found the ONE PERFECT GLOSS to rule them all. This is it. It’s a subtle lilac shade that isn’t too shiny, it’s soft and not sticky and it has major staying power. If you’re a gloss girl, this stuff is bomb.
Slate had a really heartbreaking article yesterday on the plight of the poor seeking benefits in Georgia. The situation down there makes me so blind with rage that at this point I don’t even feel like I can properly comment on it. Please read the article. What has happened in Georgia could start happening around the country.
XOJane ran a lovely piece on the beauty of the pillbox hat RIGHT AFTER I WAS GIFTED A PILLBOX HAT from a good friend. Fate. Read xojane’s piece here, and check out my adorable hat (set at a jaunty angle as recommended by the xojane piece).
Why yes, I AM wearing a pillbox hat with my jammies. Because that’s what GROWN UPS do.
I can’t DIY (wait…in this context should I say DIM? Do It Myself? Whatever). But I’m madly in love with this adorable tulle skirt and its DIY tutorial. And just because I’m useless at anything DIY or crafty doesn’t mean that you should be denied the chance to make one of these for your very self. If you make one, please send me pics to post!
Remember last week, how I said I was bringing back the white-tee-and-cami as seen in Clueless? BAM.
Ok. Now the moment you’ve all (some) been waiting for.
SARAHPHINA’S LES MISERABLES LINKSTORM EXTRAVAGANZA!
(cue balloons)
In case you missed my review of the new film, read it HERE.
Slate has written some awesome articles on Les Mis fandom. Read them here and here.
The ultimate Les Miserables recording is the Complete Symphonic Recording, which is three discs and contains the entire score. Some of my favorite moments of the show are the almost-recitative parts, so I love having the entire score. But my favorite recording in terms of performances remains the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast.
The French concept is lesser known, but super awesome. It’s not for everyone (I mean, it’s in French), but if you’re into it, give it listen. Check out this recording of “Voila, Le Soir Qui Tombe.”
But if you watch ONE Les Miserables video, let it be this one. Four Valjeans sing an amazing quartet of “Bring Him Home.”
And if you watch TWO Les Miserables videos, let the second one be this one, where Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel burst into “The Confrontation” on a talkshow.
I would totally have threesome with those two. WHAT? WHO ASKED THAT? STOP ASKING PERSONAL QUESTIONS, YOU PERVS!
But really. I totally would.
If you just can’t get enough of Les Miserables videos, there’s also this one, where 17 actors who played Valjean all over the world sing “Do You Hear The People Sing” in several languages. It’s awesome…but why don’t they sing a Valjean song? Oh, and you can skip to about 1:35 in. The Valjean Processional isn’t necessary.
My mad Les Miserables youtubing yesterday evening led me to this gem–a really awesome high school production. I watched a couple clips–the Valjean and the Eponine are really, really great. Here’s Eponine, played by the exquisitely talented Emily Carr, belting it out. Her take on the character throughout is energetic and refreshing and smart. She’s gonna be a superstar.
Ok. It’s out of my system. Musical Theatre beast, you have been tamed.
