image via Gothicrow
October 31, 2009
October 30, 2009
Forgetting to remember
My mothers mother has had Alzheimers for over 18 years now. Which means she first started to loose her memory and her mind around the time I was in fourth grade. I would guess that there isn't anyone who might read this post that doesn't already know what a horrible and heart breaking illness it is and probably most of you have been touched by in it some way. I could really get into it here, and write a long, heart wrenching post about it and mine and my families experience with it, but mostly I just want to share this video that my friend Emily sent me today because it's beautiful.
Hello Cheeks!
Last night I had Jady, Jason and Lou Lou over for dinner. Somehow the fall makes me want to cook warm meals and look up new recipes, so I've been trying a lot of new stuff lately. Last nights dinner included this baked potato and a recipe for chicken I got from my boss (who's a total foodie), both of which were AMAZING. I added broccoli to round out the meal and ate Louis' cheeks for dessert.
In case you're looking for a new, fabulous and incredibly easy way to make chicken, I'll give you the recipe.
-Split breast, bone-on chicken. (I used organic because it was price comparable to regular.)
-Butter
-Add to the butter whatever herbs you think sound good. I used,
-herbs de provence
-a little balsamic vinegar
-a bit of honey
-garlic
-salt and pepper
-Put butter mixture under the skin of the chicken, add a sprig of rosemary if you'd like, and bake for 30-35 minutes at 400 degrees.
Enjoy!
October 29, 2009
It's raining... again
Normally when it's raining I automatically have the urge to listen to Nick Drake, but this morning I am enjoying a little Joe Purdy with weather appropriate lyrics.
image via Elvis Payne
Morning Routine
This is what I saw when I came out of the bathroom brushing my teeth this morning. Sweet boy.
October 28, 2009
October 27, 2009
Fleeting
Being in the heart of fall means the sun sets earlier and earlier everyday. So for the past couple weeks I've been trying to rush home from work as quickly as possible to take the dog for a walk before the sun goes down at 6:07. That is, the days that it's not raining, so that actually doesn't end up being all that many days since this month has been insanely wet. Do you want to know how I know that this month has been rainy? Because the weather people on the news told me. I actually turned on the news and saw the headline that read "October A Wet Month" as if that fact never occurred to us when we... oh I don't know... needed an umbrella more often than not! But last night was a sunny, warm, crisp, leaf crunching and colorful walk with the dog and it was fabulous. King found it enjoyable too.
Lyric
Please note that Brown's Two Little Feet contains my favorite lyric of all time,
A culture exploded into knickknacks and memories, eagle and bear trinkets I don't think it's good
A culture exploded into knickknacks and memories, eagle and bear trinkets I don't think it's good
Enjoying some Greg
Somewhere about half way through my morning cup of coffee I decided that it was a Greg Brown kind of a day. So I've been enjoying some good tunes and thinking about all my Greg Brown memories. Thought I'd put some tunes here. Enjoy!
Keep in mind these are four songs out of about 29 albums, so just a drop in the ocean.
Keep in mind these are four songs out of about 29 albums, so just a drop in the ocean.
October 26, 2009
Wimpy
This tree was just outside King and my cabin up north. He's kind of a wimp, I bet the other trees taunt him, push him around and give him wedgies. He certainly is lovely though.
October 25, 2009
Good Design
They day after I watched Objectified I read the latest issue of ID Magazine and saw two amazing examples of good design. They are both out of my price range, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying and appreciating them. What do you think?
This Morph Chandelier by Alicja Wasielewska is incredible.
And if I could afford the price tag, I'd buy these amazing wooden animals for Louis in a heartbeat.
This Morph Chandelier by Alicja Wasielewska is incredible.
And if I could afford the price tag, I'd buy these amazing wooden animals for Louis in a heartbeat.
Objectified
Last weeks Netflix was the latest documentary by Gary Hustwit called Objectified. The film is about how manufactured objects that surround us such as cars, phones and chairs influence our daily lives. I was so excited to finally see this film because Hustwit also directed one of my favorite documentaries, Helvetica, which, as the name implies, is about fonts and typography. I loved that movie and expected that Objectified would live up to the standards I'd set for it's director, but it just wasn't as good.
I will give Hustwit credit for taking on the large and daunting topic of design in our everyday lives. There certainly is a lot to cover and for the most part the film did a good job of discussing the main topics. That said, however, I didn't think the the film covered all the aspects of design that it could have. I guess it just bothered me that in the film the word design seemed to be a synonym for sleek, plastic and simple, when in fact design means so much more than that.
That point aside, however, the movie was beautiful to watch and did interview some very interesting design related folks. It also touched on a very important design issue right now which is sustainability. I thought Alice Rawsthorn, the design editor of International Herald Tribune made a good point when she said,
Arguably the biggest single challenge facing every area of design right now is sustainability. It's no longer possible for designers to ignore the implications of continuing to produce more and more new stuff that sometimes we need and sometimes we don't need. Designers spend most of their time designing products and services for the ten percent of the worlds population that already own too much when ninety percent don't have even basic products and services to lead a subsistant life. Although a lot of designers believe emotionally and intellectually in sustainability, they and the manufactures they work for are finding it very very difficult to come to terms with because sustainability isn't just a sort of pretty, glamorous process of using recycled materials to design something that may or may not be in the color green. It's about redesigning every single aspect, from sourcing materials to designing, to production, to shipping and then eventually designing a way that these products that can be disposed of responsibly. That's a mammoth task, so it's no wonder that designers and manufacturers are finding it so difficult.
Sometimes it almost feels like the word "sustainability" is just a fad and that we have to use it to sound like we are with it and hip. Saving the planet somehow just became cool, but the more I think about it, and as the film points out, it's a huge issue for design right now, not just because it's a catch phrase, but because our generation has made the recent realization that all designers before us where creating things with absolutely no concept of how their work would effect the environment or this planet in the long term. And although that sounds like something we've heard a million times, somehow I feel like I'm finally old enough to understand it. All these incredible technological breakthroughs have happened during my generation, and that's not long. And although these design and technological advances have been great, they have come at a cost. So when I was watching the movie and a guy who looked just a bit older than my father was showing his design of the first ever laptop, I realized just how far we have come so fast and it boggled my mind. Somehow that's easy to forget, but it's so relevant.
There was a whole section of the film that was on the phenomenal design done by Apple. The designs that Apple creates are sleek, beautiful and useful and are so fluid and functional that somehow when you look at them or use them, you wonder how the hell you lived without it before. The mere mention of all the products they've created made me realize just how many I've used. I had the first imac (because my dad is awesome) and I have the most up to date imac at work now (because my old computer fell apart) and I still remember, very vividly, the first time I saw an ipod nano. I thought, holy shit, that's the coolest things I've ever seen in my life and I want one. And to this day my nano continues to be one of the best and most useful gifts I've ever been given. And all that is great, but what I think was forgotten in the film, and what plays an in important role in many peoples lives, are just the other every objects. The things we buy that are so "designed" as the movie would put it. That film didn't have one piece of wooden furniture. It was all sleek, plastic and, in my humble opinion, complete crap. I guess I just don't appreciate the term "design" to only pertain to the objects that look like they were designed by NASA. A beautiful wooden rocking chair is design too, as well as, if I may say so, a candle that smells good and looks pretty. So although I do appreciate smart designers creating better handles for potato peelers and hedge clippers, I thought the movie missed other areas of... well... objects.
There was another interesting point brought up at the end of the film that I agreed with, but was also conflicted about. It was Rob Walker, an author and columnist for New York Times Magazine, who said,
If I had a billion dollars to fund a marketing campaign I would launch a campaign on behalf of things you already own, why not enjoy them today? Because we all have so many things that are just around, they're in the closet, they're in the attic, whatever, that we don't even think about anymore because there's not enough room left in our brain because we're so busy processing all the exciting new developments. At the end of the day when you're looking around at the objects in your house and you're deciding "what here really has value to me?" they're going to be the things that really have some meaning in your life. The hurricane if coming, you have twenty minutes, get your stuff and go, you're not going to be saying "Well that got an amazing write up in this design blog", you're going to pick the most meaningful objects to you because those are the true objects that truly reflect the true story of who you are and what your personal narrative is and the story that you're telling to yourself and no one else because that's the only audience that matters.
I grappled with this quote a lot, because although I do agree that we live in a society where people always feel they need the newest, best and trendiest thing,
I also am a firm believer in the concept of everything in moderation. So yes, there are people out there who are out of control with their need for "things" and the objects that they own are never good enough (some might even say that's why we're in the economic shit storm that we're in) but there is also a need for people to evolve and for their lives, and purchases and "things" to evolve with them. "New" isn't a bad word, it's just that moderation is key. And we can't all live our lives everyday as if a hurricane is coming any minute because then we'd all just sit in our houses with our dogs on a leash and our photo albums in a suitcase next to us and we wouldn't be productive or happy in any way. But I can certainly see Walkers point. I just think a happy medium between our wants and needs are in order, and like I said, everything in moderation.
I will give Hustwit credit for taking on the large and daunting topic of design in our everyday lives. There certainly is a lot to cover and for the most part the film did a good job of discussing the main topics. That said, however, I didn't think the the film covered all the aspects of design that it could have. I guess it just bothered me that in the film the word design seemed to be a synonym for sleek, plastic and simple, when in fact design means so much more than that.
That point aside, however, the movie was beautiful to watch and did interview some very interesting design related folks. It also touched on a very important design issue right now which is sustainability. I thought Alice Rawsthorn, the design editor of International Herald Tribune made a good point when she said,
Arguably the biggest single challenge facing every area of design right now is sustainability. It's no longer possible for designers to ignore the implications of continuing to produce more and more new stuff that sometimes we need and sometimes we don't need. Designers spend most of their time designing products and services for the ten percent of the worlds population that already own too much when ninety percent don't have even basic products and services to lead a subsistant life. Although a lot of designers believe emotionally and intellectually in sustainability, they and the manufactures they work for are finding it very very difficult to come to terms with because sustainability isn't just a sort of pretty, glamorous process of using recycled materials to design something that may or may not be in the color green. It's about redesigning every single aspect, from sourcing materials to designing, to production, to shipping and then eventually designing a way that these products that can be disposed of responsibly. That's a mammoth task, so it's no wonder that designers and manufacturers are finding it so difficult.
Sometimes it almost feels like the word "sustainability" is just a fad and that we have to use it to sound like we are with it and hip. Saving the planet somehow just became cool, but the more I think about it, and as the film points out, it's a huge issue for design right now, not just because it's a catch phrase, but because our generation has made the recent realization that all designers before us where creating things with absolutely no concept of how their work would effect the environment or this planet in the long term. And although that sounds like something we've heard a million times, somehow I feel like I'm finally old enough to understand it. All these incredible technological breakthroughs have happened during my generation, and that's not long. And although these design and technological advances have been great, they have come at a cost. So when I was watching the movie and a guy who looked just a bit older than my father was showing his design of the first ever laptop, I realized just how far we have come so fast and it boggled my mind. Somehow that's easy to forget, but it's so relevant.
There was a whole section of the film that was on the phenomenal design done by Apple. The designs that Apple creates are sleek, beautiful and useful and are so fluid and functional that somehow when you look at them or use them, you wonder how the hell you lived without it before. The mere mention of all the products they've created made me realize just how many I've used. I had the first imac (because my dad is awesome) and I have the most up to date imac at work now (because my old computer fell apart) and I still remember, very vividly, the first time I saw an ipod nano. I thought, holy shit, that's the coolest things I've ever seen in my life and I want one. And to this day my nano continues to be one of the best and most useful gifts I've ever been given. And all that is great, but what I think was forgotten in the film, and what plays an in important role in many peoples lives, are just the other every objects. The things we buy that are so "designed" as the movie would put it. That film didn't have one piece of wooden furniture. It was all sleek, plastic and, in my humble opinion, complete crap. I guess I just don't appreciate the term "design" to only pertain to the objects that look like they were designed by NASA. A beautiful wooden rocking chair is design too, as well as, if I may say so, a candle that smells good and looks pretty. So although I do appreciate smart designers creating better handles for potato peelers and hedge clippers, I thought the movie missed other areas of... well... objects.
There was another interesting point brought up at the end of the film that I agreed with, but was also conflicted about. It was Rob Walker, an author and columnist for New York Times Magazine, who said,
If I had a billion dollars to fund a marketing campaign I would launch a campaign on behalf of things you already own, why not enjoy them today? Because we all have so many things that are just around, they're in the closet, they're in the attic, whatever, that we don't even think about anymore because there's not enough room left in our brain because we're so busy processing all the exciting new developments. At the end of the day when you're looking around at the objects in your house and you're deciding "what here really has value to me?" they're going to be the things that really have some meaning in your life. The hurricane if coming, you have twenty minutes, get your stuff and go, you're not going to be saying "Well that got an amazing write up in this design blog", you're going to pick the most meaningful objects to you because those are the true objects that truly reflect the true story of who you are and what your personal narrative is and the story that you're telling to yourself and no one else because that's the only audience that matters.
I grappled with this quote a lot, because although I do agree that we live in a society where people always feel they need the newest, best and trendiest thing,
I also am a firm believer in the concept of everything in moderation. So yes, there are people out there who are out of control with their need for "things" and the objects that they own are never good enough (some might even say that's why we're in the economic shit storm that we're in) but there is also a need for people to evolve and for their lives, and purchases and "things" to evolve with them. "New" isn't a bad word, it's just that moderation is key. And we can't all live our lives everyday as if a hurricane is coming any minute because then we'd all just sit in our houses with our dogs on a leash and our photo albums in a suitcase next to us and we wouldn't be productive or happy in any way. But I can certainly see Walkers point. I just think a happy medium between our wants and needs are in order, and like I said, everything in moderation.
October 24, 2009
October 23, 2009
Men are crazy
Well, some men are crazy. If you have a couple minutes you should click here and listen to the INSANE messages this guy left this woman. I love that she called them into a radio station.
Found via CupOfJoe
Found via CupOfJoe
Wendy MacNaughton
Wendy MacNaughton takes public transportation to and from work five days a week, twice a day, twenty minutes each way. She sketches the people she sees and posts them to her blog. The blog is a "regurgitation, rumination, and other fun functions of mouth over mind. Drawings of people on public transportation on their way to and from work."
I love this idea and her style of sketch. This blog is very cool.
Found via OkGreat
Friday Greetings
Well it seems we survived the week. Cheers to us! This weekend will be full of relaxation, dog parks, apartment cleaning and a night out with my cousin to see Where The Wild Things Are. I'm pumped.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Image via EmmasBlog
October 22, 2009
Robert Mars
My work is a chronicle of Americana. I am determined to capture the independent aesthetic of the not-so-distant past that has been replaced by homogenized corporate culture and standardized cityscapes. Industrial design, graphic design, architecture, vintage neon and mid-century icons all render important roles in my work.
My paintings employ layers of color, subtly collaged printed matter from the 1950’s and 1960’s, and stark, black imagery. Remote, indistinct landscapes capture the once poetic, and now nearly lost highway strips of the American past. Formerly the promise of hope and prosperity; these icons are now a sign of desperation and ruin.
-Robert Mars artist statement
Robert Mars websiteFound via
October 21, 2009
Cornerstone
Can I just tell you how much I enjoy my time at Cornerstone working with the kids? They're so cute and fun and I'm so glad I decided to volunteer there. It isn't really appropriate for me to talk about them too much, which is kind of a bummer because I've got some good stories, but I just wanted to say how much fun I'm having. Also, the complete chaos of all those kids running around makes me appreciate my quiet nights every other day of the week. Actually, it makes me appreciate a lot of things.
Free Fingers
I been loving my half gloves this fall and wear them just about everywhere. If you want to get your hands on a pair, may I suggest a company that has great products and goes towards a good cause.
Free Fingers is a company started by breast cancer survivor Nina Wexler who started knitting while undergoing treatment and then created a line of fingerless gloves. Each pair is unique and made out of merino, silk, cashmere and alpaca yarn and handmade by Nina or one of her team of woman. These woman consist of students on scholarship, widows, victims of layoff and retired workers making hands warm for a good cause.
The best part is Free Fingers donates 100% of it's proceeds to breast cancer research foundations.
Click here for more info.
October 20, 2009
Back in the swing
It seems I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things at work, only because I was really enjoying all the sleep I was getting on vacation and also I realized just how much you can accomplish in a day when you're not stuck behind a computer. So now that I am back at a desk I'm all "It's 10:30 in the morning and I could be doing a hundred different things other than this!" I could be at a museum, walking the lake, going to a movie, cleaning my apartment, playing with my nephew, taking pictures, having coffee with my sister on maternity leave, looking up new recipes... anything other than sitting at a desk. I guess it's a lucky thing I actually really enjoy my job. But if I weren't there today, here are some places that I'd really like to be quietly reading or napping.
Images via Desire To Inspire
Images via Desire To Inspire
'Tis the season
For one of the most wonderful candies in the world, in all of their sugary, orange glory. I can only eat about two of these bad boys before I get a stomach ache, but I just love 'em so much!
Nothing to do with my recent trips
Lovely images by Dan-ah Kim. More info and images on her website and etsy.
Found via MyLoveForYouIsLikeAStampedeOfHorses
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