According to UrbanDictionary.com, a "hipster" is defined as the following:
Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. ... Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. ... Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities. Consequently many hipsters tend to have jobs in the music, art, and fashion industries. It is a myth that most hipsters are unemployed and live off of their parent's trust funds.
Hipsters shun mainstream societal conventions that apply to dating preferences and traditional "rules" of physical attraction. It is part of the hipster central dogma not to be influenced by mainsream advertising and media, which tends to only promote ethnocentric ideals of beauty. ... Hipsters are also very racially open-minded, and the greatest number of interracial couples in any urban environment are typically found within the hipster subculture.
Although hipsters are technically conformists within their own subculture, in comparison to the much larger mainstream mass, they are pioneers and leaders of the latest cultural trends and ideals. For example, the surge of jeans made to look old and worn (i.e. "distressed"), that have become prevalent at stores such as The Gap, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Hollister, were originally paraded by hipsters who shopped in thrift stores years before such clothing items were mass produced and sold to the mainstream consumer. The true irony here is that many of the detractors of hipster culture are in fact unknowingly following a path that hipsters have carved out years before them. This phenomena also applies to music as well, as many bands have become successful and known to mainstream audiences only because hipsters first found and listened to them as early-adopters of new culture. Once certain concepts of fashion and music have reached mainstream audiences, hipsters move on to something new and improved.
Because of the rise of various online photo-blog and social networking sites, insights into urban hipster culture is reaching sheltered suburban audiences at an exponential rate. Cultural "norms" have been deconstructed by hipster culture as a whole. Hipsterism is often dismissed as just an image thing by some, but the culture as a whole is effecting changes in society, leading to feelings of insecurity and resentment in people who are no longer a part of the cultural ruling class. ... Anti-hipster sentiment often comes from people who simply can't keep up with social change and are envious of those who can.
Note: this is definition #1. Further definitions from the website are unnecessary after this comprehensive one, and can get quite demeaning.
"No, we're not shopping there."
In my teenage years, when my ideas about how the world should work were still forming, I was growing up in a household with two younger siblings, a mom in grad school, and my parents got in early with the housing boom and purchased/built a new house. Understandably, we didn't frequent the Gap or Abercrombie, where a single item of clothing was frequently over $20 (and still is). We'd hit Target or Kohl's with a vengeance. And clothes had to LAST. I had several pairs of jeans growing up that would rip and tear all over, and it wasn't until I grew or a hole developed in the crotch that I'd give them up. Every rip, every tear, I wore as a badge of honor and a testament to my active lifestyle. Now, it's the "cool" thing to buy these pre-ripped jeans. I don't understand it. Why do that when you can make your own?
Also, the placement of the local thrift store next to my karate school made spending time there an absolute breeze.
"You can listen to whatever you want."
I don't think that when my parents gave me my first alarm clock radio in the second grade that they intended for it to set me on the path of hipster-hood, but it eventually did. I started by tuning in to the local country music station. The primary reason for this was because my Dad hates country, and I didn't want him in my room (at the age of nine...). When the station I had been tuned to went off the air, I had to find a new one. I discovered "104.1 The Point," a now-defunct alternative rock station. I didn't understand the concept of a station that played a little bit of everything, including local bands, but I liked it. Nay, I loved it. And I still do. I've bounced from alt-rock station to alt-rock station which, while they typically are phased out after a few years, always pop up somewhere else. My "current" favorite is MPR 89.3 The Current which, in addition to being mainly alternative rock and also a generally amazing mix including local bands, is completely member-supported public radio, and the only commercials they have are for themselves.
Also, The Current received a vouch from Wil Wheaton, who, upon discovering it last night while touring in Minneapolis, proclaimed via Twitter: "I think The Current from Minnesota Public Radio is my new favorite radio station." Upon reading that this morning, my nerd-heart gave knucks to my hipster-heart in victory. (Actually, there was an awkward moment where my nerd-heart went up for a high-five, and switched to the fist mid-air.)
"Oh, that's just Neil."
My dad's wonderful cousin, Neil, has been a constant presence on the periphery of my life since my childhood. Ever since my family was still young enough that my grandmother had Christmas with her sisters at Gram and Pappy's house. Now, we're Facebook friends, and it turns out he's had run-ins with a few of my friends at work, and they all adore him. He's always stuck out in my mind as a person in my family to look up to as being connected to his family, his community, and his job.
Oh, yeah, also? He's gay. Always has been. And it's never been a big deal.
"So. Where do you want to go to college?"
I remember high school. Not well, but I do remember it. I remember that awkward time where my future depended on where I went to school. I toured three campuses - all alma maters of my parents - the University of Minnesota, the College of St. Catherine, and the University of St. Thomas - and applied to all three. I had very distinct expectations and things I wanted from each school. I liked the U for its architecture program, St. Thomas for its varied liberal arts degrees and co-ed campus, and St. Kate's for its varied liberal arts degrees and women's campus. When I got the nod from St. Kate's and St. Thomas, and the U deferred my application, I knew I was destined for a liberal arts degree. My "architecture major, English minor" dreams turned to an English major, philosophy minor, and a single math class that I hated.
After my whirlwind tour of the campuses - a day at the U, and a day spent half at St. Kate's and St. Thomas - I quickly realized that St. Kate's was my favorite of the three. There I spent four years, developing a well-rounded education on a campus deeply rooted in the community and yet welcoming of all walks of life. Even men. They just couldn't live there.
Looking back on how I was raised, it's easy for me to see why I've ended up in the particular niche I'm in right now. It's all their fault.
24 June 2010
Borrowed from Apartment Therapy
As a semi-avid blog reader, I sometimes see something that profoundly inspires me to write something here. Today, it was Apartment Therapy's Summer Interview series. The questions are pretty insightful and quick, and I thought I'd give you all a summer update!
SUN OR SHADE?:
I like laying in the sun to relax, but if I'm working on something, there's nothing worse than having the sun beating down on you.
THE COLOR OF SUMMER 2010:
I've been really attached to turquoise lately. I have an upcycled dress in the works!
ALL TIME FAVORITE VACATION LOCATION:
The cabin. It's simple. My family has access to 2 cabins, and I've been going to both since I was a kid. It's always been a great place to escape to.
MOST REFRESHING SUMMERTIME DRINK:
Holy Land lemonade from the International Market at the Minnesota State Fair. It's blended lemonade with mint leaves in it. I need to figure out a way to make it at home!
PLANTED IN THE GARDEN THIS YEAR:
Living in an apartment with no yard, a baby and a cat, planting space is limited. However, on top of my stereo component tower, I have 7 basil plants just about thriving! They're still babies, but they've moved from egg carton to milk carton and are growing fast.
ESSENTIAL SUMMER SONG FOR PARTY PLAYLIST:
"Cold Beverages" by G-Love and the Special Sauce
BEST BOOK IN THE BEACHBAG:
Jimmy Buffet's A Salty Piece of Land.
SUN OR SHADE?:
I like laying in the sun to relax, but if I'm working on something, there's nothing worse than having the sun beating down on you.
THE COLOR OF SUMMER 2010:
I've been really attached to turquoise lately. I have an upcycled dress in the works!
ALL TIME FAVORITE VACATION LOCATION:
The cabin. It's simple. My family has access to 2 cabins, and I've been going to both since I was a kid. It's always been a great place to escape to.
MOST REFRESHING SUMMERTIME DRINK:
Holy Land lemonade from the International Market at the Minnesota State Fair. It's blended lemonade with mint leaves in it. I need to figure out a way to make it at home!
PLANTED IN THE GARDEN THIS YEAR:
Living in an apartment with no yard, a baby and a cat, planting space is limited. However, on top of my stereo component tower, I have 7 basil plants just about thriving! They're still babies, but they've moved from egg carton to milk carton and are growing fast.
ESSENTIAL SUMMER SONG FOR PARTY PLAYLIST:
"Cold Beverages" by G-Love and the Special Sauce
BEST BOOK IN THE BEACHBAG:
Jimmy Buffet's A Salty Piece of Land.
01 June 2010
Post Memorial Day Catch-up Post!
You read right. Sorry about the absence, folks! My laptop screen went out last week, and before that, I've been swamped with projects (some of which pertain to future entries, so stay tuned!), busy at work, and ran out of energy to update.
So here's the docket for today's entry:
- Friday 5 Catch-up from May 14th: Cooookieeee!
- Memorial Day Round-up: What I intended to do, and what I actually did
- Friday 5 Catch-up from May 28th: Oops!
- and Coming Attractions on the BodiceGoddess blog!
COOOKIEEEE!
What is absolutely the best cookie you’ve ever had?
I made a batch of cookies last fall, the week before my Tiny Roommate was born. I called them "harvest" cookies, and they were a monster cookie mix of pumpkin, oatmeal, craisins, white chocolate and pecans. And man, were they good.
What is a cookie you really don’t care for?
I'll go with the obvious here: oatmeal raisin. I like oatmeal; I like raisins. But somehow, in the traditional recipe, the cookie comes out kind of dry and icky. There are better things you could have done with those ingredients.
What are some other cookies you are rather fond of?
I like cookies with oatmeal (for texture), pumpkin (for moistness) and chocolate (for deliciousness).
Grocery-store cookies are, of course, never as good as anything that comes out of someone’s kitchen, but what’s a packaged cookie that’s still pretty good?
Pepperidge Farm Milanos.
In general, do you think cookies should be chewy and gooey, or should they be crispy and crunchy?
I'm a chewy cookie girl. I'm not a fan of the ones you have to float in milk in order to render them edible. Or ones that leave too many crumbs. I've taken to eating dessert cookies while reading in bed and crumblies are not conducive to good sleeping.
Memorial Day Round-Up
Memorial Day is traditionally a day to celebrate the sacrifices of veterans and those Americans who died in wartime. It's come to represent the unofficial start of summer, and a welcome 3-day weekend just as spring heats up.
Over the past couple of years, in my life, it's meant that the ice is out, the lakes have turned, and the temperatures are warm enough at night for dive camp - SCUBA diving during the day; beers, bonfire and barbecue in the evening, and camping overnight. It's also a cursed weekend, as something bad always happens to someones' car while diving (two years ago, I lost the keys; this year, a friend hit a big rock and broke an axle). This year, however, with my sister's wedding and brother's graduation, Memorial Day means everyone is in town and can help clean my parents' house.
Here was my original plan:
- clean my living room
- reorganize all of my sewing/crafting stuff into a cohesive and accessible series of units
- go swimming with my Tiny Roommate
- help out with cleaning my parents' house
- oversleep
- finish the present for my brand-new SCUBA nephew
- get a sunburn (yeah, yeah, yeah, skin cancer, etc. At least I'm playing outside to do it.)
Here's what actually happened:
Friday: got home from work early and cleaned my living room, and moved all of my sewing stuff into my bedroom. Washed the kitchen floor and did some dishes. Took a long nap, and had rum margaritas and played Trauma Center: New Blood until the margaritas started affecting my dexterity.
Saturday: Went to Mom and Dad's and helped reorg the garage; washed the screens and windows; planted annuals in a series of nice pots; sanded down, shored up and repainted a pair of adirondack chairs for the front porch. Hit a bonfire, had some of that new Grain Belt Premium Nordeast, liked it, and played Rock Band until I passed out at about 3 in the morning. Turns out you can be a rock star, but not a trauma surgeon, with the assistance of alcohol. Went home and got to bed around 5:30 AM.
Sunday: Didn't get up until 3 in the afternoon. I seem to have completely lost track of Sunday, because all I can remember is the delicious pork ribs my Dad made for dinner, and the abnormally packed house at the Chatterbox for karaoke. I guess Sunday must've been my day off.
Monday: Didn't get up until noon, though my cat woke me up at 7 AM. While she understands the concept of weekends, I guess she doesn't get Mondays off. So I read in bed for a bit, and dozed back off. Spent the mid-afternoon at Fort Snelling State Park's swimming beach with my roommates, Mama Bear and Bean (the mother-and-daughter iteration of my 3 roommates). Bean may only be 7 months old, but she's a natural-born swimmer! Loves splashing, doesn't mind getting her face wet, and kicks behind her with minimal coaxing. She'll be a fun student. After swimming, Mama Bear dropped me off at IKEA to meet Mom and my sister, where we picked up a metric f***-ton of supplies for the wedding. Then it was back to Mom and Dad's for spaghetti, working - briefly - on the rehab of my sister's old room, and trying to fix the grill. Got the whole thing taken apart and the crossfire ignition cut to size before finding out that the whole thing was too big for the manifold. x_x Headed back home and worked on my present for my SCUBA nephew for a while, and watched Hulu on my new computer monitor, AKA my TV. By the time I went to bed, I was shocked that it was Monday night already!
So I got a lot done, unfortunately, nothing that involved lowering the teetering piles of craft supplies in my bedroom that my cat has taken to knocking over when I'm not home. Still a victory of a weekend.
OOPS!
In the past month, what was your biggest OOPS?
Leaving the vacuum filter in the parking lot behind my car after painstakingly cleaning it.
In the past month, what inspired you to let out your most heartfelt WHEW?
Don't know, but I probably said something stupid, hoped no one heard it, and no one did.
In the past month, what caused you to say, “HUH?”
One thing, just about every day at work.
In the past month, what influenced the most ZZZZZZZZs?
Memorial Day weekend, and having 3 days off.
In the past month, what was most GRRRRRRRRR-worthy?
General family troubles, but who doesn't have those?
Coming Attractions
Bridesmaid Survival Kit 2: This Time it's Personal.
Apartment Garden progress (We moved the basil on Sunday! That's what I did!)
And other pretty things, like:
So here's the docket for today's entry:
- Friday 5 Catch-up from May 14th: Cooookieeee!
- Memorial Day Round-up: What I intended to do, and what I actually did
- Friday 5 Catch-up from May 28th: Oops!
- and Coming Attractions on the BodiceGoddess blog!
COOOKIEEEE!
What is absolutely the best cookie you’ve ever had?
I made a batch of cookies last fall, the week before my Tiny Roommate was born. I called them "harvest" cookies, and they were a monster cookie mix of pumpkin, oatmeal, craisins, white chocolate and pecans. And man, were they good.
What is a cookie you really don’t care for?
I'll go with the obvious here: oatmeal raisin. I like oatmeal; I like raisins. But somehow, in the traditional recipe, the cookie comes out kind of dry and icky. There are better things you could have done with those ingredients.
What are some other cookies you are rather fond of?
I like cookies with oatmeal (for texture), pumpkin (for moistness) and chocolate (for deliciousness).
Grocery-store cookies are, of course, never as good as anything that comes out of someone’s kitchen, but what’s a packaged cookie that’s still pretty good?
Pepperidge Farm Milanos.
In general, do you think cookies should be chewy and gooey, or should they be crispy and crunchy?
I'm a chewy cookie girl. I'm not a fan of the ones you have to float in milk in order to render them edible. Or ones that leave too many crumbs. I've taken to eating dessert cookies while reading in bed and crumblies are not conducive to good sleeping.
Memorial Day Round-Up
Memorial Day is traditionally a day to celebrate the sacrifices of veterans and those Americans who died in wartime. It's come to represent the unofficial start of summer, and a welcome 3-day weekend just as spring heats up.
Over the past couple of years, in my life, it's meant that the ice is out, the lakes have turned, and the temperatures are warm enough at night for dive camp - SCUBA diving during the day; beers, bonfire and barbecue in the evening, and camping overnight. It's also a cursed weekend, as something bad always happens to someones' car while diving (two years ago, I lost the keys; this year, a friend hit a big rock and broke an axle). This year, however, with my sister's wedding and brother's graduation, Memorial Day means everyone is in town and can help clean my parents' house.
Here was my original plan:
- clean my living room
- reorganize all of my sewing/crafting stuff into a cohesive and accessible series of units
- go swimming with my Tiny Roommate
- help out with cleaning my parents' house
- oversleep
- finish the present for my brand-new SCUBA nephew
- get a sunburn (yeah, yeah, yeah, skin cancer, etc. At least I'm playing outside to do it.)
Here's what actually happened:
Friday: got home from work early and cleaned my living room, and moved all of my sewing stuff into my bedroom. Washed the kitchen floor and did some dishes. Took a long nap, and had rum margaritas and played Trauma Center: New Blood until the margaritas started affecting my dexterity.
Saturday: Went to Mom and Dad's and helped reorg the garage; washed the screens and windows; planted annuals in a series of nice pots; sanded down, shored up and repainted a pair of adirondack chairs for the front porch. Hit a bonfire, had some of that new Grain Belt Premium Nordeast, liked it, and played Rock Band until I passed out at about 3 in the morning. Turns out you can be a rock star, but not a trauma surgeon, with the assistance of alcohol. Went home and got to bed around 5:30 AM.
Sunday: Didn't get up until 3 in the afternoon. I seem to have completely lost track of Sunday, because all I can remember is the delicious pork ribs my Dad made for dinner, and the abnormally packed house at the Chatterbox for karaoke. I guess Sunday must've been my day off.
Monday: Didn't get up until noon, though my cat woke me up at 7 AM. While she understands the concept of weekends, I guess she doesn't get Mondays off. So I read in bed for a bit, and dozed back off. Spent the mid-afternoon at Fort Snelling State Park's swimming beach with my roommates, Mama Bear and Bean (the mother-and-daughter iteration of my 3 roommates). Bean may only be 7 months old, but she's a natural-born swimmer! Loves splashing, doesn't mind getting her face wet, and kicks behind her with minimal coaxing. She'll be a fun student. After swimming, Mama Bear dropped me off at IKEA to meet Mom and my sister, where we picked up a metric f***-ton of supplies for the wedding. Then it was back to Mom and Dad's for spaghetti, working - briefly - on the rehab of my sister's old room, and trying to fix the grill. Got the whole thing taken apart and the crossfire ignition cut to size before finding out that the whole thing was too big for the manifold. x_x Headed back home and worked on my present for my SCUBA nephew for a while, and watched Hulu on my new computer monitor, AKA my TV. By the time I went to bed, I was shocked that it was Monday night already!
So I got a lot done, unfortunately, nothing that involved lowering the teetering piles of craft supplies in my bedroom that my cat has taken to knocking over when I'm not home. Still a victory of a weekend.
OOPS!
In the past month, what was your biggest OOPS?
Leaving the vacuum filter in the parking lot behind my car after painstakingly cleaning it.
In the past month, what inspired you to let out your most heartfelt WHEW?
Don't know, but I probably said something stupid, hoped no one heard it, and no one did.
In the past month, what caused you to say, “HUH?”
One thing, just about every day at work.
In the past month, what influenced the most ZZZZZZZZs?
Memorial Day weekend, and having 3 days off.
In the past month, what was most GRRRRRRRRR-worthy?
General family troubles, but who doesn't have those?
Coming Attractions
Bridesmaid Survival Kit 2: This Time it's Personal.
Apartment Garden progress (We moved the basil on Sunday! That's what I did!)
And other pretty things, like:
08 May 2010
Apartment Garden, Day 1
My roommates and I are itching for some green this spring! Unfortunately, our building doesn't have much in the way of green space outside. We started the next best thing: an apartment garden!
Right now, yes, it looks like a 3rd grade science project, with the seedlings started in an egg carton and 5 sawed-off milk jugs laying in wait for plants, but you know what? Those beans I planted in Mrs. Zywiec's class grew - especially the ones we played music to. So we've got basil, chives and thyme started on the stereo, and I'm hoping to get some lemon ball basil from my cousins.
Also, this is my first post from my Motorola Cliq - here's hoping it works!
07 May 2010
Friday 5 for April 30: Red, and May 7: More Colors!
Almost too appropriate that I missed last week and am catching up today, considering the topics are so well tied together!
Here goes!
April 30: Red
1) What is your favorite red food?
This one's tough, but I'll go with strawberries.
2) When were you last caught red-handed?
Last Saturday, when snuck a few bites of my cousin Piper's Mint Oreo Blizzard when she "wasn't looking." Yeah, it was purposeful red-handness.
3) What’s your nicest red article of clothing?
Probably my new(ish) little tank dress, for its multipurpose usefulness. In terms of actual nicety, then my red bridesmaid dress from my friends' wedding.
4) Who’s got the loveliest red hair?
Christina Hendricks, Esquire's Best Looking Woman. Or Alyson Hannigan, 'cept for the fact that she keeps dying it darker. Also Felicia Day.
5) What are your thoughts on the 2002 Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge!?
Love it. Very trippy and colorful, but I'm a sucker for a musical!
May 7: Colors!
1) Who could be described as a nightmare in pink?
Molly Ringwald?
2) How long does it take you to type “The quick red fox jumps over the lazy dog” on your cell phone or computer keyboard?
Something like 6-8 seconds on the computer, maybe a titch longer on the Moto Cliq.
3) What item in a plain brown wrapper did you most recently receive?
Part of my mom's Mother's Day gift, purchased at the mercantile in Almelund, MN. I won't say what it is (as if she reads this...), but I'll say I found it in the "antique" section, rather than the grocery, soda fountain, or what looked to be a community swap. Might could be a post about this on Sunday...
4) Who’s got the loveliest cinnamon skin?
Variations on a theme here - Gina Torres.
5) When did you last take a walk in the lonely silver rain?
Oh man today at lunch! It's gross out! I don't blame the Twins for postponing tonight's game (inaugural rain delay game!) due to rain.
Bonus Question!
What is the real inspiration for this week’s questions?
I want to say song lyrics, but I'm probably wrong.
There you have it! Another week, another 5. (Plus a bonus 5!)
Here goes!
April 30: Red
1) What is your favorite red food?
This one's tough, but I'll go with strawberries.
2) When were you last caught red-handed?
Last Saturday, when snuck a few bites of my cousin Piper's Mint Oreo Blizzard when she "wasn't looking." Yeah, it was purposeful red-handness.
3) What’s your nicest red article of clothing?
Probably my new(ish) little tank dress, for its multipurpose usefulness. In terms of actual nicety, then my red bridesmaid dress from my friends' wedding.
4) Who’s got the loveliest red hair?
Christina Hendricks, Esquire's Best Looking Woman. Or Alyson Hannigan, 'cept for the fact that she keeps dying it darker. Also Felicia Day.
5) What are your thoughts on the 2002 Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge!?
Love it. Very trippy and colorful, but I'm a sucker for a musical!
May 7: Colors!
1) Who could be described as a nightmare in pink?
Molly Ringwald?
2) How long does it take you to type “The quick red fox jumps over the lazy dog” on your cell phone or computer keyboard?
Something like 6-8 seconds on the computer, maybe a titch longer on the Moto Cliq.
3) What item in a plain brown wrapper did you most recently receive?
Part of my mom's Mother's Day gift, purchased at the mercantile in Almelund, MN. I won't say what it is (as if she reads this...), but I'll say I found it in the "antique" section, rather than the grocery, soda fountain, or what looked to be a community swap. Might could be a post about this on Sunday...
4) Who’s got the loveliest cinnamon skin?
Variations on a theme here - Gina Torres.
5) When did you last take a walk in the lonely silver rain?
Oh man today at lunch! It's gross out! I don't blame the Twins for postponing tonight's game (inaugural rain delay game!) due to rain.
Bonus Question!
What is the real inspiration for this week’s questions?
I want to say song lyrics, but I'm probably wrong.
There you have it! Another week, another 5. (Plus a bonus 5!)
05 May 2010
Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Another international holiday, another trip to the Shop Local section of Etsy!
Here's my pics for Cinco de Mayo!
Prism necklace by dikua.
dikua has a small selection of quirky jewelry!
Etsy Support Printable by batzy.
I love the sentiment behind this printable poster! It reminds me that, while I do have a full-time desk job that pays the bills (and actually is pretty interesting), my Etsy shop and costuming business is where my heart's at.
Lilac, sleepy cat by monstersncuties.
Very sweet. Want to cuddle. I can see my tiny roommate chewing on her ear!
Turquoise with moss green pleats zipper pouch by ziazia.
A shop full of totes, messengers, pouches and purses!
red felt octopus by alpinitorrico.
So cute! Also want to cuddle!
Best part? The buttons are pieces of felt, so it's CPSIA-friendly and child-safe!
embroidered greeting card by greenbirddreaming.
I'm a recent convert to how freakin' cool textile art is, and this one serves as a reminder of how close fishing season is!
mexican vintage style pillow cover by arboreto.
I love the bright greens and oranges in this pillow cover! Draws the eye, but still looks like it'd be at home in my giant pile of pillows. The back is a bright pink!
After compiling items from all over Mexico, I'm realizing how bent I am toward bright greens, reds and pinks right now. Must be spring in the air!
Here's my pics for Cinco de Mayo!
Prism necklace by dikua.dikua has a small selection of quirky jewelry!
I love the sentiment behind this printable poster! It reminds me that, while I do have a full-time desk job that pays the bills (and actually is pretty interesting), my Etsy shop and costuming business is where my heart's at.
Very sweet. Want to cuddle. I can see my tiny roommate chewing on her ear!
A shop full of totes, messengers, pouches and purses!
So cute! Also want to cuddle!
Best part? The buttons are pieces of felt, so it's CPSIA-friendly and child-safe!
I'm a recent convert to how freakin' cool textile art is, and this one serves as a reminder of how close fishing season is!
I love the bright greens and oranges in this pillow cover! Draws the eye, but still looks like it'd be at home in my giant pile of pillows. The back is a bright pink!
After compiling items from all over Mexico, I'm realizing how bent I am toward bright greens, reds and pinks right now. Must be spring in the air!
28 April 2010
Two years.
Has it been that long?
Two years ago, I was living in a little 700-square-foot apartment in Merriam Park a block away from O'Gara's with a circus performer.
Two years ago, I was working a hateful job at an embroidery shop, doing everything short of the finances and the embroidery itself - the work of two or three people - and was barely making ends meet.
Two years ago, I had lost faith in radio, and listened exclusively to my iPod or CDs.
Two years ago, I drove a PT Cruiser automatic with a 6-CD changer and a moon roof.
Two years ago, my world was shaken by the emotional earthquake that was losing my grandmother. And I'm still feeling the aftershocks.
Since then, I've been trying so hard to live the life she'd have wanted me to live. I've been doing things I hope she's proud of and, well, some other things I hope she looks the other way on.
Today, I live in a 3-bedroom apartment with a couple and their 6-month-old daughter. I'm able to see my Tiny Roommate grow and change incrementally every day. And I've seen her, cradled by her grandmother, in one of the chairs that used to belong to mine.
Today, I'm working as a "temporary employee" at a company I've been at for over a year now. It's the longest I've stayed in one place. The people here are phenomenal, and sometimes that's half the battle. The other half is the work itself - it's constantly changing and, therefore, never boring.
Today, I listen to MPR 89.3, The Current. Alternative music with a local bent to it, and completely supported by member contributions. Every shred of faith in radio I had lost was returned the day I discovered The Current.
Today, I drive a Jeep Wrangler manual with crank windows, manual locks, and both a hard top and a soft top (or I can go topless). I learned how to drive a manual, and listening to the Current more than replaces the CD changer.
Today, I'm still feeling the aftershocks.
It's a big year in my family, with my brother graduating from high school and my sister getting married. My cousin Kyle just had his first communion as well. There's a lot going on that she's not here for. (And yeah, part of me wanted to end that sentence with "that she's missing," but that's hardly fair at all.)
The one scenario my sister and I keep playing over and over is Grandma, up in the Great Beyond, with her sister-in-law, Rose. Grandma and Aunt Rose passed away about a month apart, and, having married brothers, were pretty close. Rose's grandchild is getting married on the same day as my sister. I can only imagine the hijinks that will ensue up Yonder and, having seen the two of them at weddings before, I can only hope that there's cab drivers there, too.
Two years ago, I was living in a little 700-square-foot apartment in Merriam Park a block away from O'Gara's with a circus performer.
Two years ago, I was working a hateful job at an embroidery shop, doing everything short of the finances and the embroidery itself - the work of two or three people - and was barely making ends meet.
Two years ago, I had lost faith in radio, and listened exclusively to my iPod or CDs.
Two years ago, I drove a PT Cruiser automatic with a 6-CD changer and a moon roof.
Two years ago, my world was shaken by the emotional earthquake that was losing my grandmother. And I'm still feeling the aftershocks.
Since then, I've been trying so hard to live the life she'd have wanted me to live. I've been doing things I hope she's proud of and, well, some other things I hope she looks the other way on.
Today, I live in a 3-bedroom apartment with a couple and their 6-month-old daughter. I'm able to see my Tiny Roommate grow and change incrementally every day. And I've seen her, cradled by her grandmother, in one of the chairs that used to belong to mine.
Today, I'm working as a "temporary employee" at a company I've been at for over a year now. It's the longest I've stayed in one place. The people here are phenomenal, and sometimes that's half the battle. The other half is the work itself - it's constantly changing and, therefore, never boring.
Today, I listen to MPR 89.3, The Current. Alternative music with a local bent to it, and completely supported by member contributions. Every shred of faith in radio I had lost was returned the day I discovered The Current.
Today, I drive a Jeep Wrangler manual with crank windows, manual locks, and both a hard top and a soft top (or I can go topless). I learned how to drive a manual, and listening to the Current more than replaces the CD changer.
Today, I'm still feeling the aftershocks.
It's a big year in my family, with my brother graduating from high school and my sister getting married. My cousin Kyle just had his first communion as well. There's a lot going on that she's not here for. (And yeah, part of me wanted to end that sentence with "that she's missing," but that's hardly fair at all.)
The one scenario my sister and I keep playing over and over is Grandma, up in the Great Beyond, with her sister-in-law, Rose. Grandma and Aunt Rose passed away about a month apart, and, having married brothers, were pretty close. Rose's grandchild is getting married on the same day as my sister. I can only imagine the hijinks that will ensue up Yonder and, having seen the two of them at weddings before, I can only hope that there's cab drivers there, too.
26 April 2010
Friday 5 for April 23: The Bard (though I'm rolling late on this one!)
This week's Friday 5 honors Shakespeare's birthday! Fun for me because of all those collegiate-level courses... and my "Shakespeare's Contemporaries" seminar. You know, the one that gives you the major? That one.
Here we go!
1) In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says,
“Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth…”
How has this proven (or not proven) to be the case in your life?
It never does. In relationships, and even with the things I love to do. Take sewing. When I'm working on a project, I'll get so entranced in it that I'll forget to eat, or stay up until 4 in the morning fixing a mistake I made at 2am. It's a battlefield. But seeing that completed project, and getting to see (or not!) the life it has after me... that's love. And it's not easy.
2) In Hamlet, the title character says, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” Who in your life has proven this not to be true? And if you’re willing to share, who in your life has proven this to be completely true?
Oh man, easy: I witnessed my friend, Kathy, give birth to her daughter, Illyanna. The only drug she had was pitocin, which is a synthetic hormone. No painkillers. And twenty-six hours of labor. Ain't nothin' frail about that.
As for someone who has proven it to be true... I'm not going to answer that one.
3) In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pistol says,
“Why then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.”
Ignoring the possible sexual meaning here, how do you feel about oysters?
Wow, yeah, that is dirty.
I love oysters, actually. It kind of freaks me out how much I like them. But between my ever-present love of seafood, and my dad's recent turn toward it, we've definitely split an oyster bar at one of the restaurants around here. I'd love to do it again. Damn, that was good.
4) In The Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo says,
“The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.”
Do you agree, and have you known anyone who seemed to be completely unmoved by any kind of music?
I agree with my whole heart, and cannot abide by people who do not have wide-ranging and ever-changing tastes in music. Those people bother me, and I don't really associate with them.
5) Is Shakespeare overrated, or is he truly the western world’s greatest writer?
This isn't an either/or question, really. Yes, I think Shakespeare is a tad bit overrated, and no, he's not the western world's greatest writer. I think that the fact that Shakespeare overshadows his contemporaries isn't fair. Yeah, he did a lot more writing than most of them, but there are other good plays and written works from that period. He's not the greatest writer in the western world, either, because other writers have had different impacts and affect people differently.
Here we go!
1) In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says,
“Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth…”
How has this proven (or not proven) to be the case in your life?
It never does. In relationships, and even with the things I love to do. Take sewing. When I'm working on a project, I'll get so entranced in it that I'll forget to eat, or stay up until 4 in the morning fixing a mistake I made at 2am. It's a battlefield. But seeing that completed project, and getting to see (or not!) the life it has after me... that's love. And it's not easy.
2) In Hamlet, the title character says, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” Who in your life has proven this not to be true? And if you’re willing to share, who in your life has proven this to be completely true?
Oh man, easy: I witnessed my friend, Kathy, give birth to her daughter, Illyanna. The only drug she had was pitocin, which is a synthetic hormone. No painkillers. And twenty-six hours of labor. Ain't nothin' frail about that.
As for someone who has proven it to be true... I'm not going to answer that one.
3) In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pistol says,
“Why then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.”
Ignoring the possible sexual meaning here, how do you feel about oysters?
Wow, yeah, that is dirty.
I love oysters, actually. It kind of freaks me out how much I like them. But between my ever-present love of seafood, and my dad's recent turn toward it, we've definitely split an oyster bar at one of the restaurants around here. I'd love to do it again. Damn, that was good.
4) In The Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo says,
“The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.”
Do you agree, and have you known anyone who seemed to be completely unmoved by any kind of music?
I agree with my whole heart, and cannot abide by people who do not have wide-ranging and ever-changing tastes in music. Those people bother me, and I don't really associate with them.
5) Is Shakespeare overrated, or is he truly the western world’s greatest writer?
This isn't an either/or question, really. Yes, I think Shakespeare is a tad bit overrated, and no, he's not the western world's greatest writer. I think that the fact that Shakespeare overshadows his contemporaries isn't fair. Yeah, he did a lot more writing than most of them, but there are other good plays and written works from that period. He's not the greatest writer in the western world, either, because other writers have had different impacts and affect people differently.
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