Stillness

I felt inspired by Shannon's post of her arrival in Minnesota to post some photos of my first few days in Wisconsin. They've been quiet, which I think comes through in these photos.

One of my favorite rooms in the world:

Moments like the one where I shot the above photo make me wish I were a videographer/filmer; the way the light was dancing on the floor stopped me in my tracks for several moments.

Reason I love Steph, #134: She left me an entire jar of homemade choco chip cookies.
Just now noticing that the jar says "wide mouth" on it. Ha.

(My current read [loving it so far])

One of the family fishes. This one was friendly, and even posed for me.

Then I discovered that it can do tricks, like follow the leader:

Postcards from Stoughton

I took a walk around Stoughton yesterday, and brought my camera to capture what I saw. Stoughton is a really delightful little town, with lots of Scandinavian influences evident. Unfortunately, most of the stores were closed for Memorial Day, but the co-op was open, and I had a nice time walking for walking's sake.

[all photos by me]

Lost in my mind

It's been a lazy day of sipping iced coffee, listening to music, and doing some thinking while trying to not do too much thinking. I'm one of those types that over think things, which can be therapeutic at times, crippling at others. Today's off to a good balance, though.

I wanted to share a song with you-- it's "Lost in My Mind" by The Head and the Heart, a Seattle band I'm enjoying these days:



Oh my brother
Your wisdom is older than me
Oh my brother
Don't you worry 'bout me

Don't you worry
Don't you worry, don't worry about me

How's that bricklayin' comin'?
How's your engine runnin'?
Is that bridge gettin' built?
Are your hands gettin' filled?
Won't you tell me, my brother?

'Cause there are stars
Up above

We can start
Moving forward

A series

I've been noticing that the "chapters" of my life-- sometimes vaguely discernible, sometimes painfully apparent--have pervading themes that can often be summarized in a single word: "waiting" was the chapter that just ended, I think. Before that, "uprooting," and before that, "strengthening," maybe? Some of them are harder to name than others-- mysterious chapters that might never make sense to me-- but it's amazing to me that life, at least for me up to this point in my 20s, has operated in a series of stages. Steps, maybe; not like steps in a process, but steps on a staircase. Hear me out: we put ourselves in routines-- maybe we have no choice, but maybe it's because we like things a certain way-- and then something happens to completely change our routine or our perspective about it. Whether it takes a day or years to adapt, we learn to grow with the situation.

I mentioned in a post a couple months ago how sometimes life teaches us things that aren't true. I'd like to rephrase that now: Life is neutral. How we respond to life's events determines our rate of healing and growth-- do we interpret rejection (maybe multiple rejections) as conveying that we are not worthy or love, success, joy, ____? Do we allow our enthusiasm about life and passion to be determined by external forces? I'm learning that that's dangerous territory; life is unpredictable. Success is, at times, it seems, completely arbitrary. I must place my hope and my worth in something stable and eternal.

I'm in Wisconsin currently, to visit some good friends. For reasons due to my own apparent absent-mindedness, I booked the wrong flight and am forced to spend two days and two nights in my friends' house alone, until they return from out of town. I don't believe in mistakes or accidents; there's a reason I'm here, alone, and maybe one reason is to find a name to this new, at times painful chapter that is unfolding in my life. I'm tempted to call it "opening," as it feels, metaphorically speaking, like I'm standing alone in a wheat field, with no one in sight. I can choose to be afraid, to be lonely, or I can decide to be curious and explore the space that's opened up in my life.

On a somewhat but not altogether related note: why is it that the songs that play in grocery stores are often about sadness? I remember hearing one after a devastating break up years ago while late night shopping: "It must have been love, but it's over now..."
Today, I walked to the co-op and Dylan crooned me over the PA with "Tangled Up in Blue" as I looked for quinoa. Grocery shopping can be so depressing when you're shopping for one and sad songs are playing.

Anyway. I hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day weekend. I hope my post made you think, without depressing you-- the latter of which was not my intention at all. I guess I just try to share bits of what I'm thinking about so that you know I'm not someone who only posts about fashion and pretty things all the time. Life can be a struggle, and pretty things help, but sometimes what helps the most is to talk through it and try to process the things that happen to you. Thanks for reading, friend.

[quote image via pinterest]

Me on The Upside of Wonder

Guess what guys? Amanda of The Upside of Wonder featured me in one of her "Hello Blogosphere" posts! Click here to read it.

Exciting stuff!

FTF #15

This week's Five Things Friday is brought to you by my brief nannying stint last week (three six hour days with a sweet nine month old girl, Harper); I blame Netflix "Play Now" streaming option. I watched the entire first season of Glee in three days. That's 22 42-minute episodes, in case you're trying to do the math. Around 15 hours of view time. Yikes. Secondly, I blame the grad school semester from hell for four months of pent up tv energy that manifested itself in this way. But really, I don't blame anyone- turns out, I'm a total gleek. Without further ado, here are

My 5 Fave Things About 

Glee Season One

 

 1) Sue's constant remarks about Mr. Schuester's hair. Example: "[Looks up, sniffing] Oh hey William, I thought I smelled cookies from the ovens of the little elves that live in your hair." 

Another: "I'm having a really difficult time hearing anything you have to say today because your hair looks like a brier patch. I keep expecting racist animated Disney characters to pop up and start singing songs about living on the bayou."

2) When Kurt joins the football team (Episode 4: "Preggers"). He's the team's new kicker, and his pre-kick routine involves a little dance number to Beyonce's "Put a Ring On It." So good.

3) The Glee team's "Proud Mary" number, in wheelchairs (Episode 9: "Wheels"). And here I thought I was the only one who appreciated wheelchair humor. ("Rollin,' rollin,' rollin' on the river")

4) Neil Patrick Harris and Mr. Schu sing Aerosmith's "Dream On" (Episode 19: "Dream On"). Or maybe just NPH's guest appearance. I used to not like him, but he weaseled his way into my heart forever by way of How I Met Your Mother.

5) Artie's dream dance sequence to "Safety Dance" (Episode 19: "Dream On"). At first, I thought it was real (as in, not a dream sequence), and I started to cry a little. Artie, out of his wheelchair! But then the amazing, fully populated mall dance number commenced and I knew it was just a daydream. Still, it was glorious.


I'm four episodes into season 2 on Hulu now; but don't worry, I'm going at a much healthier pace. ;)

Some past FTF include:

Five Fictional Characters I'd Like To Hang Out With & The Things We Would Do On Said Hang Out

Five of My Current Favorite Bands/Musicians

My Five Favorite Words in My Five Favorite Fonts

Five Chick Flicks I'd Like To Be In
Five Classic Rock Bands/Musicians I wish I got to be a groupie for (Guest post)
Five Thriller-ish Films I Wish I Coulda Monster-Stomped In (Guest post) 
Five Hairstyles I've Had 
Five Great DIY Ideas 
Five Cities I Wish I Could Visit Tomorrow and What I Would Wear (Guest post) 
Five Things I Love About Freaks and Geeks 
Five Jobs That Would Be Fun to Have (Guest Post)
Five Books I Read & Liked This Semester that You Might Also Enjoy 
Five Recipes Inspired by Julie and Julia  
Five Locations Used in Films I'd Like to Visit 
 

Beach bummin'

Yesterday felt like the first real day of summer in OC- it was the perfect weather for a beach day, so Chelsea and I took advantage by spending a few hours at Table Rock in Laguna Beach.

[romper- old navy | hat- urban outfitters | sandals- saltwater sandals | swim suit- target | glasses- h&m]

This little stunner is Levi, Chels' cutie babycakes.

We're buds.


What makes you feel like summer's finally arrived?

Tattoo crushes

Sorry I've been MIA, yet again. I think I sort of crashed after finals week, and I spent the last four or five days split between watching all of Glee season one (I'm a Gleek!) in my PJs and spending time in LA with my bro & sis in law, and my girls shannon and alyssa. So fun.

My life has a lot of SPACE in it now that the semester's over and I'm unemployed, but I've got my eye on a number of projects- both creative and professional in nature- and I'm excited to see how it all unfolds!

In the meantime, I spent a little too much time on Pinterest tonight (as is often the case when I go on Pinterest). Here are a few recent additions to my "tattoo loves" board:

You can see all my boards here!

Hope your week is going beautifully, friends!

FTF #14

Five Locations Used in Films I'd Like to Visit

 

1) Serendipity 3 of Serendipity. It's been accused of being a tourist trap, but I still want to go there. I tried to go once in 2005, but the wait was three hours and they didn't take reservations! All I wanted was a frozen hot chocolate a la Serendipity. I even bought a copy of Love in the Time of Cholera.

 

Jonathan (Cusack): "I hope you enjoy the gloves you bought yourself."

Sara (Beckinsale): "Oh, I'm sure I will, I usually enjoy my own thoughtfulness."

2) Cafe Lalo in You've Got Mail. This cafe was used in the scene when Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) waits to meet Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), though she doesn't know she's waiting for Joe Fox because they've only met online. She brings a copy of Pride & Prejudice, which would make ideal cafe reading. I think Joe (Hanks) orders a Mocha Cappuccino, so I'd probably do the same. Oh, and in my research, I found this great blog post about some other NYC locations used in You've Got Mail, if you're interested.

Joe: " I didn't know you were a Jane Austen fan.  Not that it's a surprise.  I bet you read it every year.  I bet you just love Mr. Darcy, and that your sentimental heart beats wildly at the thought that he and whatever her name is are really, honestly and truly going to end up together."
Kathleen: "Would you please leave?"

3) Speaking of Pride & Prejudice, Basildon Park in Berkshire is Netherfield in Pride and Prejudice (2005). The Keira Knightley version of P&P has Austen fans divided- some love it, some hate it. I'm of the former persuasion. A visit to Basildon Park would be divine!

Elizabeth (Knightley): "He's been so unfortunate as to lose your friendship. I dare say that is an irreversible event."
Darcy (Macfadyen): "It is. Why do you ask such a question?"
Elizabeth: "To make out your character."
Darcy: "What have you discovered?"
Elizabeth: "Very little. I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly."

4) The Plaza Hotel in Home Alone 2. This hotel is featured in plenty of films (the most recent of which, that I saw, was Bride Wars), and was even the hotel Eloise (one of my fave kids' book's protagonist) lives/lived at. The first time I remember seeing or hearing about it, though, was watching Kevin McCallister's [mis]adventures in Home Alone 2.

Cedric the Bellman (Rob Schneider): "You know, Herbert Hoover once stayed here on this floor."
Kevin (Culkin): "The vacuum guy?"
Cedric: "No, the President."

5) Katz's Delicatessen in When Harry Met Sally. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you probably know this scene: Sally (Meg Ryan) fakes an orgasm when Harry (Billy Crystal) boasts that no woman's ever faked one with him. Although I'd like to visit Katz's, I'd probably play it a little cooler than Sally. But props to her for having the cajones to do that.

Sally: Most women at one time or another have faked it.
Harry: Well, they haven't faked it with me.
Sally: How do you know?
Harry: Because I know.
Sally: Oh. Right. That's right. I forgot. You're a man.
Harry: What was that supposed to mean?
Sally: Nothing. It's just that all men are sure it never happened to them and all women at one time or other have done it so you do the math.

Some past FTF include:

Five Fictional Characters I'd Like To Hang Out With & The Things We Would Do On Said Hang Out

Five of My Current Favorite Bands/Musicians

My Five Favorite Words in My Five Favorite Fonts

Five Chick Flicks I'd Like To Be In
Five Classic Rock Bands/Musicians I wish I got to be a groupie for (Guest post)
Five Thriller-ish Films I Wish I Coulda Monster-Stomped In (Guest post) 
Five Hairstyles I've Had 
Five Great DIY Ideas 
Five Cities I Wish I Could Visit Tomorrow and What I Would Wear (Guest post) 
Five Things I Love About Freaks and Geeks 
Five Jobs That Would Be Fun to Have (Guest Post)
Five Books I Read & Liked This Semester that You Might Also Enjoy 
Five Recipes Inspired by Julie and Julia