.:Ginnifer Goodwin:.
((Subdued hues and spontaneous bursts of color))

I normally don't like maxi-dresses that much, but the pattern on this one does it for me. It's as if it's demanding to carry on till the floor because of it's coolness. Or something.

Seattle this weekend

I'm going to Seattle tonight for the weekend, which will be a welcomed interruption in my current routine. My mom got married in Hawaii in April, and she's having her reception this weekend. Expect some photos when I get back!

It's been hot up there lately-- over 100 the past couple days! That's so strange, especially since it's "only" in the 90s here in OC. I was hoping for a break from that heat...!

Ten Dollar Drawings

I stumbled upon the blog Ten Dollar Drawings several months ago, and always enjoy checking up to see what's new.


Alicia Lynn Carrier is a photographer and fine artist who draws by request, for only $10. She draws these requests on the back of a 5x7" piece of brown paper bag. How eco-friendly is that? Plus, the things are only $10. And they're awesome!






I am continually blown away by her drawing ability. Every time I check up on her site, I'm always delighted with new samplings of creatures and settings. It truly takes amazing talent to draw whatever people might request, and she does it so beautifully.
Everything she draws would look so good framed! And that brown paper gives it really rustic and raw feeling, don't you think?


I love when she posts drawings I don't quite understand (sort of like inside-jokes as drawing requests),


Ever since I found her blog, I've known I would put in my request + $10. The only thing is, I've never been able to decide what I want her to draw for me! And so, the months go by.
But, today, that changes. I'm just going to go for it with something I know I'll love, instead of trying to over think it.
I'll post the drawing to show you when it arrives!

Alicia Lynn Carrier also has an etsy store, where you can find beautiful wooden plaques with her drawings sealed with varnish. I especially like this one,

Recycled Pillow

That title sounds weird/gross, but I bought a new pillow yesterday that is made out of recycled water bottles. Again, probably sounds weird, but I assure you: it's quite comfortable. I've had a little trouble falling asleep the past few nights, and the new pillow is just the right soft-firm ratio; I fell asleep practically right away last night. And, for less than $10, totally worth it.

And now you have an update of my sleep-health. ha.

Look at me, "going green."
Again: ha.

(5) Minutes of Misery

The experience of seeing a movie in theaters can sometimes be more memorable for what goes on in the theater than the actual movie itself. Case in point: I saw the film (500) Days of Summer last weekend with Jordan, and while I could write plenty about the film itself, I find that there were other things going on that both helped and hurt my enjoyment of the movie. For instance, we happened to sit in front of two retired-aged couples. I knew when I heard their first comments during the previews that we had lucked out. Call me crazy, but I love to hear the funny comments people make during movies. Even if they're not trying to be funny, it usually strikes me as so. A preview came on for the upcoming documentary about Jack White working with Jimmy Page and The Edge (from U2), and it was hilarious to me to hear one of the women instantly remark "Well. That looks weird," during the silent pause between previews.
There are also plenty of things that can turn a movie-going experience into something very irritating. One such thing happened during (500) Days of Summer-- during the last five minutes, the climax of the movie, someone apparently fell asleep or something in the projector room, or perhaps they got chased out by a freak swarm of bees, because suddenly those trivia slides that play onscreen before the previews started to come on as mostly-transparent-yet-very-visibly-distracting overlaying slides DURING THE MOVIE. It was really hard to focus on what the main characters were saying to each other- the crucial final words- when a slide with a Will Ferrell quote came up over their faces. Bah. I told Jordan we could get our money back, but he didn't think it was worth complaining. If I had paid, you can bet I would have gotten my money back though. Talk about a mood-killer.

The film itself was quite enjoyable. I think I liked the way the story was filmed/told more than the actual story. Certain elements of the cinematography reminded me a lot of Amelie, which is still one of my favorite movies of all time. All that being said, I recommend seeing it. I adore Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who reminds me more and more of his old co-star Heath Ledger the older he gets), and they both performed beautifully.

Terribly Happy

See a list of things that make me terribly happy on Allison's blog.

Harry Potter starlet
<<Emma Watson>>

Emma Watson was eleven years old when the first Harry Potter movie hit theaters. Little did I expect the cute but quirky little preteen to evolve into such a budding fashionista eight years later,



I wonder if the awe I feel about Watson's seemingly sudden fash-evolution is the same way some people felt about Mary Kate and Ashley. I grew up with them as my peers (if I may be so casual), so I never thought of them as little kids, and wasn't shocked when they were 'suddenly' 18. Watson, however, was a 'little kid' to me for so long, that to see the lovely and stylish young woman she's become stirs up an embarrassingly similar sentiment as a proud parent (or, at least an older sister. Or older cousin) would feel.






Keep it up girl.


P.S. Currently a bit blown away at realizing how much Emma looks like my friend Danielle. !! (face, not hair)

A Conversation

brother: Is that your book?
me: yes
[pause]
brother: dad was asking me if it was my book. I said no.
me: did he think it was a trashy romance novel, because of the title?
brother: no- F. Scott Fitzgerald, he's big time. He's up there. Good stuff.
me: yeah. [jokingly] if he were alive today and here in this room now, I would run and throw myself at him and say, "F. Scott!"
brother: and then he would say, "Who's this Scott fellow, and why are you so mad at him?"
[pause]
brother: or he'd say "I'm married!"


oh. goodness.

Weekend Highlights

>>>>Sleeping in
>>>>>>>>Seeing two friends jump in a fountain. And dance. In tuxedos. At a wedding.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Accidentally matching,

>>Disneyland afternoon
>>>>>Watching Donnie Darko

From the Renegade Craft Fair

I couldn't resist these dainty floral earings when I spotted them last Sunday at at Good Friday's booth,

There's something old-timey and quirky-cute about the items I found at ReLit's etsy store,



These two pieces in particular kind of make me gasp. I feel like they are wearable art.

Kitchen Cricket

I found a cricket in my kitchen.
Besides the fact that it was very out of place, it was kind of beautiful (strikingly green).


R.I.P. pretty bug

Swap Meet Newbies

It's about time I mentioned me and Jordan's little jaunt out to the swap meet ("The OC Marketplace," as it is officially known). It was the first time for both of us, so all we had to go off of was a few scattered second-hand stories, and a blurb I found online that said it would be $5 to park and $2 to get in.


WELL. Not only did we score the best spot in the entire lot, but we also parked in a free lot, and then, since we got there about an hour and a half before tear-down, the lady at the front entrance waved us in free! Talk about V.I.P.


We had a pretty fun time walking down the aisles of booths. There wasn't a lot I'd actually buy: cell phone covers, dog toys, ping pong balls, umbrella hats....
Maybe if I had visited in high school when all my friends seemed to be going periodically, I'd have been more into the clothing and sunglasses booths.









You may recognize this photo as my photo for the OC Daily Photo this week,

Jordan found a pretty incredible hat-that-looks-like-a-visor, complete with beach dude hair,


We also spotted some farm life on the way out,

We'll have to come back for the fair to get a closer look,

Oh! There was one booth I absolutely adored: It had tons of beads, precious stones, and pendants, AND killer two-for-one deals,

Everything was buy one get one free!

So I bought a cool heart-shaped stone pendant, and got a little bear-shaped jade pendant free! I think I'm going to string them together on a chain or cord,

What a fun little adventure :]

OC Daily Photo!

I was recently asked by Suzanne Broughton of the Alive in Wonderland blog to join the team of photographers who maintain the Orange County Daily Photo blog-- I gladly accepted the offer, and am now the "Monday Photographer"! You can see my photos by going to the blog on Mondays (or late Sunday nights, all my fellow night-owls).
You can also read a fun little bio about me on my bio page.

I'm still really flattered to have been asked, and am enjoying looking through all the photos already up on the blog! Be sure to look through them yourself! :)

Nate Duval

I went to the Renegade Craft Fair in LA yesterday, and it was pretty amazing. I was kind of overwhelmed, actually. There were over 200 vendors selling cool handmade items-- from jewelry to screen printed posters to felt cacti (who wouldn't want a little felt cactus as a pin cushion?). I definitely have plenty of awesome artists to blog about in the coming days/weeks. I'll start with one artist whose work caught my eye very early on:

Nate Duval.

There is something so delicately fantastical in his work-- it's the kind of art that makes me excited to be alive.

I don't mean to gush, but, wowzers,


I am absolutely kicking myself for not buying this Andrew Bird poster print (the sad reason being that I didn't bring much cash),


There were several concert poster prints available...



and you can see plenty more on his awesome website.

More about the Renegade Craft Fair to come...