99 Cent Dreams

See it for what it's worth. There's beauty in everything...

Wata jerk.

It's been ten days since my last post. Of course, I'm sorry, as always. Busy is the word, definitely. Here's what I've been up to:

I've been doing lots of research on things that totally make me nerdy. We all know about my obsession with Mole People, which has grown to an all around infatuation of homeless people of the streets/tunnels of New York. I find their lifestyles completely captivating. Some of them put themselves where they are, some of them hate where they are and have no other choice. But the thing I find most admirable about Mole People/the homeless, is that they treat each person in their "community" as their family, taking care of each other as they would their own loved one, parent or child, they risk their lives for each other, they have such high hopes and are so positive about their future, and most of all, they live in complete simplicity. If only the whole world lived their lives with those goals in mind.

I've been reading The Mole People by Jennifer Toth, a book written by a reporter who set out, risking her life, to get to the dirt of who the Mole People really are, putting all rumors and "stories" aside and finding out the cold, hard truth herself with her own two eyes. If you're a resident/frequent visitor of New York, I suggest picking up the book and taking it seriously. I can promise a complete mindset change of what you previously thought of the homeless, even growing a love and understanding for them.

As I've been reading this book, which is taking me forever, because I've begun to literally study it, rereading chapters over and over for the pure fact that it amazes me, I realized that it wouldn't kill us to take a hint from the Mole People and follow their lead. No, I'm not saying go live in a subway tunnel (vegan's can't eat rats, silly. I'd STARVE!). Their mindset is so incredible: You live by what you need, excess is what made this world what it is, and this world is full of nothing but greed. Consider what you have now, and learn to be happy with it. Your simple surroundings can teach you more than you think, and it can open your mind to new things. There's a huge art community in the tunnels, and that just blows my mind. The pictures of the graffiti down there is incredible. We use the words "underground talent" way too loosely.

I've been researching art a lot. I've also been painting a lot more. In fact, I handmade all of my christmas gifts this year! It was so much fun, and I felt like the biggest kid. I created things like a cabinet knob jewelry wall hanging frame for my sister Nicole, fabric and fancy trim covered kitchen containers for my sister Stacey, a beautiful flower wreath for my mother, a self painted/distressed shadowbox filled with pictures of "daddy's girls" (my sisters and I) for my dad, a set of three flower vases, all hand painted for my bosses assistant, and a very modern wine serving vase with four glasses that matched which were also all hand painted. I'm thinking I should take some time and make more things to sell. I have way too much create energy inside of my little five foot two inch frame to let go to waste!

I've also been writing a short story, two in fact. One I'm much more focused on that the other. It's an incredible true story about a friend of mine. His unfortunate circumstances, down and out ways of thinking, and constant downward spirals of life are what inspired me to write this book. It sounds terribly unfortunate and sad, but it's all very interesting. Something a lot of people can relate to. Even he was in shock when he read it. (I wasn't going to tell him I was writing it until I had a few copies published for fear that I might totally freak him out, but I'm terrible at keeping things like that to myself. He was such a huge inspiration, and I was in a desperate situation to cheer him up one day. SUCCESS!) Here's a sneak peak of what the story entails:

In a community of dialog, he was the silence. It was like tilling an entire corn field with a fork, just to get enough out of him to make sense of what it was that was killing him inside. He would never say it out loud, but he needed someone to take care of him. In a world where you can make anything out of anything, create your being and identity, have free reign with your life, that very same world was too hard for him to survive on his own. A dirty look made him shutter inside. Rejection was like a knife stuck, twisting in his side. Conflict was World War II. Love was like trying to figure out the exact date, time and hour that the world was going to end, impossible. He was well aware that he had a heart, but he was never able to put it to use. He always said that if you could hold his heart in your hand, it would look like broken pavement, tattered and torn, broken and crumbled, a dark hue of grey. “There’s nothing in there I can give, because I don’t know how.”, he said, peering straight into my eyes. “I’m too scared to even try. All I know is how it ends.”

            For Torey, every beginning was an end. If I could only make him face all his fears. To enable him to reign free and find the secret of a beautiful life. If I could only make him see the punches he’s thrown, not the towels he’s thrown in. He told me, “I want to be something that’s different.” I said that he can be anything that he wants to be, he just had to start letting things in. That’s the moment when he first believed. I quickly realized that I was the only one breaking it down like this for him.  I was the only one that could figure him out, like a mad scientist who suddenly found the missing link between monkeys and mankind. Suddenly I felt as if he was mine. As if I had to take care of him. I was the only one who had solutions for his series of unfortunate events.

I love, LOVE writing. (I don't keep up with two blogs for nothin'!) I don't do enough of it, until recently. Actually, I owe a big thanks to my Hipster Sister and Tough Luxe readers who have pushed me and given me the praise that I've never heard about this new found skill of mine. It's nice to know that something you've always loved doing, is enjoyed by others. That is what keeps dreams alive.

Even with my recently busy schedule, I'll do my best to occupy your eyes on a more timely basis. I appreciate you reading my blogs, even though I get a little side tracked with my creative ADD.

Until next time ...

Current Listen: 55th and Halsey - His Name Shall Breathe

Whoa, snow.

Scooty is wearing an Elvis tee. 

Latte is wearing an old dude-looking sweater.

Can we say irresistible?

So. Much. Snow.

I've got a Yorkie under my arm for the entire weekend. This thing can make satan himself smile and purr the word, "Awwww" in a loving manner. I was dreading this moment, the "time for a walk" moment. This little nugget, named Scooty, was doing the pee pee dance. "Have you seen it outside, Scooty? It's snowing poodles out there!" He did not find it funny. He had to pee.

Twenty five minutes later (I had to put all of my winter gear on), I took Scooty out. His hesitation grew more and more as he stepped down each porch step. "There's no turnin' back now, buddy. Peters and pooters. Let's go." (I call pee and poo peters and pooters. It's much more socially acceptable, I think.) I look up to see if the sideways were shoveled. Negative. Great. I look back down at Scooty. Scooty? Where's the dog??? The leash led to a little hole in the snow. Scooty down under. Poor thing. He just ... sunk. That dog was an eskimo for a hot second.

For the first time in the last ten years or so (literal), I am actually enjoying the snow. It's prettier than I remember it. (It's hard to remember, we haven't had a real winter in like two years.) I don't mind being snowed in, either. I wish I had gone food shopping yesterday, but it's cool. I can totally live off the two frozen edemame bags in my freezer.

Does snow make you drowsy? Because it's not even 8:00 and I'm ready for bed!

Current Listen: Stadium Love - Metric

Tough Luxe

Tough Luxe 

Duh!

I totally forgot to update you all on my new endeavor!

I've been super busy, but with overwhelming requests from many of my Hipster Sister followers to create a fashion blog, I did just that. You can see it here: Tough Luxe. Tough Luxe is a fashion blog that has been created to fill the fashion side of Hipster Sister, passing along the inspiration and fashion sense that pours out of my ears and heart.

I hope you find it nothing less than what you expect. Also, there is an exciting new Look Book in the making, so be on the look out for that coming within the next few months!

Tough Luxe and Hipster Sister both have big plans, so keep reading and check back often. And if you're not already following both blogs, please do!

With Love To My Lovelies,
Ali

I Am A Whosoever

The Whosoevers. Dig it.

WARNING: If you are a nonbeliever, then this particular post will be totally awkward for you. 

But by all means, I totally encourage you to read on. 

A rare opportunity showcased itself at my church this evening. There's a movement called "The Whosoevers", who does nothing more or less than change this generations lives by the masses. Thank God for them, because someone needs to do it. The Whosoevers are a movement that combines music with living for the Lord. They put on a concert, and have huge figures in the music industry tell their testimonies of how they were saved. The Chronicles, a hardcore christian band that played tonight, did their thing and gave us all the realization that we all worship differently. Some of us listen to straight up worship music, some of us bang our heads and listen to hardcore christian music. Hey, it all works, it's all worship. All the glory still goes to God.

After the head banging was over, we were graced by the presence of Ryan Ries of Circa, Head from Korn, Sonny from P.O.D., and Melanie from Flyleaf. Each one told their incredible testimonies, leaving us all thankful for the lives we had that we once thought were falling apart. 

It's funny, when you hear someone's testimony like one of theirs. You think you have it so bad, that your life is falling apart, that it can never get any worse than this ... and then you hear their story. For example, Ryan was shooting heroin, coke, and popping ten or more pills of E a day. A DAY. On another occasion, one of his buddies found him in his room, passed out, with coke all over his face. He thought he was dead. He probably should have been dead. Head, on the other hand, was knocking out his wife on several occasions, in front of their baby girl, because he was a Meth head. Both testimonies were grounds for death. While everyone's life is different, you still have to be thankful for what you've got and what happens in your life, even on the bad days. Just because something's not going according to your plan, doesn't mean it's not going according to God's.

That was the message for me tonight. I complain on a daily basis for something, anything, that's happened to me throughout the day. I thought about it on the way home, and have come to the realization that I'm never happy. Nothing ever satisfies me. Maybe I'm so focused on what I can complain about, that I'm missing the important stuff. Don't get me wrong, I'm a very happy, laid back person, but what I have realized, is that there's always something that "doesn't go my way". 

And that's my problem. Nothing should go "my way". It should go God's way. He's the one who knows me better than even I do. He's the one with my owners manual. I'm so busy making big plans for myself, and getting so upset when they don't pan out. Yet I never stopped to think that maybe it's not working out for good reason. Maybe it's not in my life's plans. Now I have comfort in knowing that in reality, I don't have to worry about a thing, as long as I'm following God's plan. 

I'm going to step into the confessional for a second and air out my dirty laundry. I've been falling apart a little bit. I've been doing things that I know are wrong, but I got a rise out of doing them, so I did it anyways. No solid Christian is partying with her friends, drinking or not drinking. Nor should she continue to do the things that she feels convicted for. (God has this thing that he does to me, I like to think of it as the equivalent to a taser gun. I do something wrong, and he IMMEDIATELY convicts me for it. Like, light speed conviction. Sometimes He does it BEFORE I even do/say it, and I can stop myself. Man, He's good.) I've been slowly slipping away, back into the things I used to do, before I got saved. And I knew I should stop, but Satan got a hold on me. He makes things look good, look like fun, and like you're not doing a dang thing wrong. I needed tonight's swift kick in the butt to knock me down and make me realize that I can end up just like those guys. I'll treat this like a cold, and try and cure this while I have the first few symptoms, instead of catching the disease and letting it go full blown .... only to blow up in my face. 

I've got a purpose, I know I do. Ask me what it is, and I'll stare straight at you like you just grew a foot for a nose. But one day, it'll all fall into place. I just have to follow "The Plan". And that plan is definitely not mine. My plans always turn out terrible, anyways.

Current Listen: Street Choirs Singing - His Name Shall Breathe (Srsly - check this guy out ... youtube him or something. Incredible.)

Jalouse

Young, Wild & Free

I've been bombarded with, "Please post more on Hipster Sister!!!", and "Where have you been?" comments.

So ... here I am, kidz. Life's been a bit on the hectic side. Which, I know is no excuse. (Hectic lives are what makes blogs so interesting, no?) But I'm back, with too much to blog about. As always. I will not apologize for it.

A common pattern that I can't help but notice lately, is that I've been people's third arm. Lot's of people's. Let me explain. 

My heart's big for this little body. If someone mentions, even briefly, and not in the manner of asking for help, that they need help with something, or something is bothering them, whatever the reason may be, I always feel inclined to help them. Could be the feeling of accomplishment for someone other than yourself is a good feeling, or that I'd love to change the world, but this is the only way to do it in my five foot two frame, or maybe I know what it feels like to need help, but it's not available. Whatever the case, I enjoy being an extra limb for someone who needs it. Centipede's must feel AWESOME.

Yes, the Brooklyn move is still in the works. It's slowly but surely being accomplished. I'm happy that I'm being super careful about it (regarding working and making sure I have health insurance), and taking extra time to work out the small details. I could move to Brooklyn this weekend if I really wanted to, really. And knowing myself and how spontaneity gets me in trouble (sometimes), I've gone on the grown-up route for this one. I'm learning to, for once, map it all out, put my foot down and make sure I get what I want/need out of all of these changes, instead of taking what's there and learning to get along with it. Sounds like I'm shopping for a boyfriend or something.

I've really been enjoying having gone vegan. I feel awesome, creating new things to make is so much fun, (I am NOT a cook my ANY means, so this was a huge challenge for me), I feel better about what I eat now, and I feel all around healthier. While some people frown upon vegans, I say do what you feel good about. I went vegan because I adore life, human and animal alike, and would never want a living, breathing soul killed for my benefit. It's come to my attention that I upset some Hipster Sister readers by calling meat eaters "murderers". I truly am sorry, and never meant any harm by any means. I had written that particular post while heated after having watched multiple animal cruelty for food videos, and after reading up on researched material. My apologies. For those of you who expect some sort of explanation/need to demean my decision, I will not explain/think you're silly. I do, however, stand by my choice/belief. After all, we are all entitled to one, no?

Off that serious note. I'm excited to finally get back to Brooklyn this weekend (last weekend was super low key), and see my Brooklyn Brat Pack. I've missed my little alt kidz. They're always a good time. We put on a good show for the neighborhood. Oh, and I've decided on tattoo number two. Already. I'm debating whether to wait until after the holidays to get it, or just do it. Debating.

Take care and be safe, kidz!

Current Listen: Waking Up - Amsterdam

Soul Control

Soul Control

That's what what I call being vegan. Especially on thanksgiving. 

While the other eight seats at the table are content eating turkey with all the fixin's, AKA murder induced plates, I had the opportunity to enlighten all of my guests of what it means/what it's like to be vegan. While they understood why I chose and follow the decisions I did, they listened contently to the catastrophic events that took place to get the turkey on their plates, the gravy on their mashed potatoes, and the dairy in their desserts. All without the flinch of an eye. Some people see the foods we eat today as "the way it is these days: you have to eat, and this is how it's done." I see the choice of going vegan as finding alternatives to eating, rather that murdering living souls to consume food for our own benefit.

I ate my hummus and edamame more than contently, while they stuffed their faces with the traditional thanksgiving foods, all contributing to murdering a soul in some way shape or form, and told them true facts about how each main course and sides got onto their plate. "But not all farms work that way....", they insisted. But they do. Farms that mass produce meat, dairy and eggs function the same way: they use the most cost effective/cheapest ways to kill/sell/deliver their profits to your plates. Especially during thanksgiving. In fact, most farms won't even shoot their livestock with guns to kill them after they have been used for all they're good for, as guns and bullets are cost effective. Slitting a throat while alive, however, is not.

This means that they "starve" the animals by not feeding them, but injecting them with only the hormones or chemicals need to make that specific animal produce more of their specific need (aka: they give cows tons of hormones to produce milk, without feeding them, all while making sure they give birth to at least one calf per year. The calf will be used for veal, and the adult cow specifically as a dairy cow, not a beef-giving cow.) Once the cow has been exhausted of food and it's body has been tormented so horrifically that it can no longer hold or bear a baby, it is killed in the most catastrophic, disgusting way possible.

For example, a dairy cow (females only, males are usually used as beef-raised cattle, or killed) is fed nothing but milk-inducing hormones/chemicals into order to produce milk at an extreme rapid rate. It is also forced pregnancy so that it can give birth to calves that will be raised/sold for veal, a horrific upbringing in its self. Once the dairy cow has been starved to death, it's milk-producing organs have been exhausted, and it can no longer function as an animal (most go insane or their bodies shut down from being abused), they are hung by one back leg from a rope which dangles from the ceiling, while still alive and conscious, their throats are slit, and they are left hanging while their bodies drain of blood. More than one hundred thousand cows are unable to walk off of the transport trucks every year, but are slughtered for human food anyway.  Some farms even go as far as skin the animals while they are sill conscious. The squirming and noises which come from their mouths are heart-wrenching. In one video I witnessed, which can be watched here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqVC4 , 

two pigs were side by side, their throats being slit, one pig is squirming and screaming so badly, that it slips out of the rope, only to drop into the blood bath below him, sloshing around the blood of him and his hanging partner, left to die. This is all because the constant electric prodding and forced onto the killing floor, had not killed them first.

Please think about this when you sit down at your next meal. Do it for the animals, the environment, and for your health. Realize that what you're eating, is not just beef or chicken, but a true murdering and torturing of a living soul.

Bits Of Beauty

Silly things inspire me. 

The way a tarp was slung over a motorcycle in drizzling rain. It was sort of damp, but still hung just perfectly. The front tire was slightly visible, but the important parts were safe and dry. You can see the outline of the handle bars of the motorcycle, but that was the only thing that gave it shape.  I envisioned a tee shirt in my head, one that hung loose, with not one part of it being form fitting. The hem was cut a little bit sloppy, but sewn together to look finished. The back was long, and the front was cropped just enough to show the slightest bit of skin, if you moved just the right way. It was loose and free. The neckline was stretched out, and if you wore it during a long day of keeping busy, the tip of one of your shoulders just might make an appearance. 

Sitting on a bench at the park next to the lake on a perfectly crisp but warm first-week-of-November Sunday, the air seemed like it was standing still. Had I had a paintbrush, a set of paints, and a canvas, I could take six hours to paint any given object that I was looking at, and it would have stayed completely still the entire time. That's when I got an instant, huge rush to paint. I slowly walked to my car, enjoying the calm of nature which I knew I wouldn't see again for a long long time, and drove to the art store to get those exact things, a set of brushes, a fresh set of paints, and two canvas'. For the next four hours, I did nothing but mix colors, challenge my creative side. It might not mean as much for someone else looking at it, but I can't stop looking at what I've created. I think it's beautiful, even with all of the little imperfections.

Things are imperfect. And I've come to realize that it's the things that own permanent imperfections, are the things that inspire me most. My sister was telling me a story about how a mother gave birth at her hospital ten years ago. The baby was born with a disability that wouldn't allow her to communicate. In fact, the only way she could communicate, was my blinking her eyes. It took years of knowledge from the nurses and doctors taking care of her to figure out how many blinks meant what. This baby was also born looking somewhat "tangled". She was always curled up in a ball, with her fingers, hands, and arms having no real pattern. They were twisted, leaving her looking presumably uncomfortable. Because of the baby's condition, the mother was unable to take care of her. Instead of being wrapped up and taken home to her very own pink bedroom with night lights and mobiles that sang lullabies, she was transported to her new "bedroom", one with white walls and monitors that beeped. The very same mother gave birth to another baby a few years after. This one was born with a clean bill of health. Being able to take came of a functioning life, she eventually forgot about her firstborn. Visits to the hospital to see her little girl dwindled down to one day a week visits. Imagine having a child, and not caring that it knows nothing of you, while you dedicate your life to the second born. What do you say when someone asks you how many children you have? Two, kind of?

This story, after breaking my heart, reminded me of when I was in El Salvador. I went to a children's hospital, one of the only ones in El Salvador, because of the poverty, to visit the children and talk to them, play with them, paint their faces, bring them toys, make balloon animals, anything we could think of to bring a smile to their face. We were were asked to follow specific rules before we went, being told that we were not allowed to ask about brothers, sisters, or any family members. We couldn't tell them not to worry, that one day they will soon get better and go home to their family. Many of these children didn't have family, as far as they knew. Their families didn't come to visit, didn't call, didn't care. Heartbreaking.  

This inspired me to do something for kids in hospitals. Something. I have been racking my brain, trying to think of the right idea that's simple enough to do on my own, but big enough to make a huge impact on lives. I'm confident that one day, I will succeed, hopefully soon enough so that I can understand what this side of life is like, before I have my own children.

If you're inspired, take it in, and run with it. Don't think. Don't negotiate. Just do.

Current Listen: Waking Up - Amsterdam

Attn Alts

Hot Mess

My Alt Bros (minus a few)

In The Woods photo shoot

Oh haaaay.

If you have not given your little ears the pleasure, and your little eyes the immense excitement that is abound by Grizzly Bear's video for 'Ready, Able.', I suggest you do so immediately. WARNING: You'll probably only enjoy it if you're an alt bro or girl. AKA: This is not the mainstream Lady Gaga dancing around in a leather leotard six sizes too small, with a real live peacock sitting on her head, posing as a hat. Ready, Able is the future of music videos (I hope). Alt bros all over Williamsburg will be making music videos for non-mainstream bands (their friends' band) in their artist loft that their trust fund money bought them, ironically, for free. I can only hope.

I want to own a venue. Realizing that 95% of my friends are in bands (good ones), and are always looking for places to play on tour, I can put my friends to good use and please everyone, all in one shot. My friends would have a place to play, I would be providing good (not mainstream) music for kids near and far to chill out/rage out and listen to, and I'd be making bank/hanging out with my friends all the time. Dream job? Yes. Tangible? Yes. Now who wants to be my investor...

I've been having super crazy dreams lately. Like, so vivid and real, that I wake up and literally have to think super hard if I actually just lived it or not. Even weirder ... so many of these dreams have been coming true, to a certain degree. I've been sleeping like a champion lately. I never ever get more than five hours of sleep a night, and I definitely never fall into a deep sleep during those five hours. But lately, I've been in REM mode hardcore, and I feel like a million bucks the next day. I love it. (Who wouldn't?) The one downfall? Last night, I woke up at 4am drenched in sweat (literally), and with my nose ring in my hand (I ripped it out in my sleep and was clutching it). Totally weird. I'm still bugging out from it seventeen hours later. Let's hope I don't sleep walk and try to scrub off my tattoo because I "thought it was a temporary one". 

Tomorrow is bromance night with my fave dudes. My boys DSI are playing a show tomorrow night, and things tend to get radical come a good friday night. Love their bones. 

Current Listen: Take Cover - Acceptance

Feathers!

The much awaited,

much talked about,

feather tattoo!

Yyyyello, kidz!

Yup! Today was the day. Happy Tattoo Day!!! I was super excited all day, and surprisingly not the least bit nervous to get my tattoo today. Everyone I spoke about it to tried to psych me out, telling me that "the ribs are the worst place to get a tattoo. It hurts SO bad." Guuuurl, please. It hurt, yes, but it wasn't an unbearable, "OH EM GEE ... I can't breathe it hurts so bad. Wait one more second I seriously can't take it. It hurrrrts!!" No way. Anything poking at your little riblets at warped light speeds will make any living, breathing thing uncomfortable. However, it was definitely bearable. Maybe I just have a super high tolerance for pain, but I laid sideways though that forty five minutes of inking like a champ. GO TEAM!

I've been getting two of the same particular questions from a lot of people ...

1. Where did you get your ink done/who did it?

2. Does your tattoo mean anything?

Let me lay down the specifics, as I always do...

1. I got my tattoo done at Fun City in The Village in New York. Fun City and Daredevil Tattoo (located on the Lower East Side in New York, who I was originally going to work with, until I picked a different artist), are owned by the same owner. Both Fun City and Daredevil are famously well known for their incredible artists. I am not exaggerating by any means when I say that their artists are truly the best around. (Check out www.daredeviltattoo.com and click on "Artists" to view their work.) Claire was my artist. She's super super detailed, focused, and totally understood exactly what I wanted. And considering we were emailing each other pictures and ideas via our blackberries constantly (literally), she came up with the perfect tattoo. What's even cooler, is that she drew up the base of what my feather would be, and freehanded the rest. I love wingin' it.

2. I'm not the type of person to get something because I think it's "pretty". I always loved the whole idea of a feather tattoo - it's delicate, it's dainty, it's feminine without being annoyingly girly (aka Rose on ankle tattoo. BAH! Cliche!), and it's simple. Being a Christian, my nose is in my bible a lot. I kept coming across this one verse, and every time I read it, it struck a cord with me. Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge." I put two and two together, and voila, my tattoo was born. I love the simplicity of it, and I love that it has a statement to make. Everything about it wows me. As for the tattoo itself...

I could not be happier. For months, I had this vision of this feather on my ribs, picturing it in my head exactly what it was going to look like. But what I walked out with, was a tattoo that was a hundred times more beautiful that I ever could have dreamed up in my head. I love every last thing about it. She nailed it down to the littlest detail. Her shading is impeccable, the placement and size are perfect, and the outcome was beyond what I ever dreamed it could possibly look like. It's kind of hard to tell in the photo, but if you look at the middle right side of the feather, pieces of the feather are overlapping. It's not a perfectly smooth feather, it's pieced in some areas, and smooth in others. It was specially requested by me that she make the feather not a perfect feather, but one that looks like it's been through something. Those little imperfections are a reminder that even though we go through some points in our lives where its not all perfect and smooth, things get broke up and shaken up, but no matter what, it's still a beautiful outcome. 

Today was a big day for me. I realized that if you set small goals along the way, and set big goals in between the small ones, it motivates you and builds you up to be a bigger, better, faster, stronger person. It might sound silly to say, but I feel like I just took a step up on my ladder of life. I accomplished a goal that people tried to pull me away from accomplishing, simply because they judged the fact that it was a tattoo, it meant nothing more to them. My heart and my faith are in this. It means the world to me. And now I can carry it with me everywhere I go, for the rest of my life.

Current Listen: Peacebone - Animal Collective

Get Nerdy On Set

Scarf by: Nicole Pinho, yo.

Well kids, we're down to one official day before it's tattoo day! It's been a painful, wrenching, torturous wait, and I'm down to one more day. I can't wait. Every time I think about it, I don't know if I want to throw up, or scream in excitement. Let's hope I don't do either when I sit down in that chair.

The last two weeks have been a big sloshy mess. The day after my twenty fifth birthday, I hurt my back really badly at work, lifting a mannequin. I went back to work the next day (bad idea), and ended up being out for the rest of that week. Yep. It was that bad. In fact, it's been over a week now, and it's still pretty painful. I've been doing nothing more than resting up, laying in bed for hours upon hours, and renting almost a dozen movies off Cablevision, all of which I wasn't capable of completing. Yup, just me and my muscle relaxers. Their good for nothing other than keeping you from accomplishing what you've started. Literally. I woke up with half eaten things in my lap, half drunk glasses of juice, and half typed sentences on Twitter. Out cold. Just like that.

As if that wasn't unpleasant enough, I decide to go out saturday night for halloween, you know, to be somewhat civil, and to live up my newly twenty five year old status. (I had to test it out.) Fate would have it, that ninety percent of the people at this party were either full blown sick, getting sick, or were just germy. Within the next two days, almost every single person at this rager was sick with either the Swine Flu, the Flu, or just plain old sick. As luck would have it, I, of course, having the immune system of a poodle, got some weird viral infection. Which, of course, kept me out of work for another two days. So for the past two weeks, I've been in my bed, more than I've been at work. I can't even bear the thought of what these next two paychecks might look like.

Being that I finally, in fourteen days, felt better, decided to do something fun. My friend Nick and his friend Pat needed to do a photo shoot. So, I agreed. I had so much fun jumping off sand hills, playing with sticks in the sand, and staring down squirrels. I also felt super nerdy listening to them talk about "Canons", "Nikons" and "lenses", but in a cute nerdy kind of way. Photo shoots in parks/woods are my favorite. I'll share the awesome photos once I can get my little hands on them. Promise.

Oh! I have something fun to show you! My sister, who I'm so very proud of for learning how to knit, after I failed miserably at trying to relearn how, made me this awesome, super cozy and warm eternity scarf. It's a long tube when you lay it out, but you can wear it two different ways! Check out the photos at the top of this post to check out it's awesomeness!

Current Listen: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids

Rabbit Or Habit

My big hit of a halloween costume!

Shame on me. I've waited far too long to post a new blog.

It's been exactly eleven days since my last post, and boy have the events been flowing in. 

Here's the run down:

- I've officially spoken to my district visual manager, the man who makes the ultimate decision of whether I move to Brooklyn with a job or not. Sure, I can leave for Brooklyn tomorrow and easily have a place to live, but that would mean that I have to job hunt pronto. And with the feedback I've gotten from those who are looking for a legit, scratch that, any paying job right now, it's not sounding very promising. The skinny? He's going to talk to the visual manager of both downtown Brooklyn, and Herald Square. I'm terrified and don't think that I'm the least bit qualified for a responsibility like Herald Square, but apparently, he does. I'll take that and run, thank you very much.

- My birthday (October 26th), was a blast. I had no high hopes for my birthday, being that it was a monday and all and I am unfortunately acquainted with people who work (kind of), but all of my friends/family pulled through amazingly. I really did have the best birthday. I'd also like to take a moment to all of my readers/followers who wished me happy birthday. A few of you even CALLED and got all personal about it. You're all amazing. Thanks for making my day!

- I went to a halloween party last weekend, and dressed up as a Dios De Los Muertes (day of the dead) skeleton. It was a huge hit/success. Some girl even showed me that she had a tattoo of "me". Impressive. Now I want one too. I'd like to dress up as my halloween costume on a daily basis, but I fear that I might ruin my vintage lace dress. Ok, that, and it's not socially acceptable .... yet. 

- I hurt my back pretty badly at work this past tuesday. (Yes, the day after my birthday.) I was lifting a mannequin at work and whipped a couple of muscles and my rotator cuff out of place. I'm out of commission for now, and on some pretty gnarly meds to heal me up. Unfortunately, the meds aren't working so well ... the only thing they do is make me feel like I'm a little body of a girl made up of no bones at all, just mush, with a terrible sleeping habit. These things knock me out and keep me there. Hate it. I have too much that I want to do to sleep my days away. So, after too many xrays, tons of headaches because of workman's comp/insurance companies, phone calls from a lady named "Deery", and too many hardcore meds, I'm nothing but a bump on a log, aka a marshmallow on my couch. 

All in all, things have been going pretty well. I have a few fresh ideas in my head of things that I'd like to get started doing, I just need to allocate the time needed to do these things. I hate starting up projects and failing to finish. Open ended things were never my deal. And that's how I feel like things have been left, open faced, like a hot turkey sandwich.

Also, the long awaited tattoo is nearing! I'll post pictures when it happens. I can't give too may details, I always jinx myself. 

Hope you all have been having the time of your lives. Keep on kickin', kids!

Current Listen: Who Could Win A Rabbit - Animal Collective <-- Crazy, low budget video.

   

Vintage Dressed, Skeleton Faced, Flower-In-Her-Hair Wearing Dead Person

Stuff's been going wrong, but I'm determined to make it right.

With a few minor issues, I'm surprisingly not freaking out, being that they are major issues and all. Ohhh, you know, my only form of transportation to my only source of income to support my life is failing me. In fact, my Jeep died for the entire weekend. Thanks to my rad friends, I was still able to have a life. And even more so thanks to my dad, who fixed it ... for the time being, at least. I have a bad feeling about this....

As for moving to Williamsburg: I thought the dying car was a major sign that I'd be moving there sooner than I thought ... then I got news at work that "transfers to other stores are not company policy", but, if I was given a "second assignment" in Herald Square or Brooklyn, aka, a "transfer", I could go. I'm sorry, but Eagle Beak (my Visual Regional Manager), will not determine my residing place, thank you very much. He's a baller driving a beamer with a beach house ... and I live with my mom. So....who knows how much Urban Outfitters pays an hour?...

On a brighter note, I went to Fun City to make my tattoo appointment on saturday. November 7th, boys and girls. I can not wait. Every time I think about it, I get way too exicited, and want to throw up a little bit. What makes me so happy, is that my artist, is creating a base of my tattoo, and free handing the rest. I just want to see the outcome already!!!

Also, I'm waaaaay excited for halloween. I'm going to dress up as they would for El Dia De Los Muertos ... which means "day of the dead", a mexican holiday to honor and celebrate the loved ones who have passed away. I have a huge appreciation for the art of el dia de los muertos, so I thought it would be totally fun to dress up as a vintage dressed, skeleton faced, flower-in-her-hair wearing dead person. I kind of love it.

Hope all you kids are stayin' radical. 

Current Listen: Catch My Disease - Ben Lee

Notice The Resemblance

True That.

Here's a few fun things that have sneakily become weird obsessions in my current lifestyle:

- Musical Theories: Although not exactly a "weird obsession", the bands I have been finding 

  have been more on the interesting level than anything else. Anything other than mainstream 

  is more my speed, and bands that you've never heard of are my secret little treasures. (Not 

  counting my secret vintage stores. I'll never tell you those.) I'll enlighten you/let you in a 

  few:

   - BC Camplight - Recommended song: Couldn't You Tell

   - The Appleseed Cast - Recommended song: Fishing The Sky

   - Paulo Natini - Recommended Song: Last Request/Jenny Don't Be Hasty

   - Ben Lee - Recommended Song: Cigarettes Will Kill You/Catch My Disease

   - Athlete - Recommended Song: Half Light

   - The Kills - Tape Song

   - Bat For Lashes  - Daniel

   - Metric - Help I'm Alive/Gimme Sympathy/Stadium Love/Sick Muse

- Paint By Number: Yes, the little slice of cardboard you can still get from when you were 

  eleven.     

  There's something so exciting yet calming about a paint by number kit. The exciting part is 

  where you switch up the colors and get creative. Like when your typical brown horse turns 

  purple, because you said so. Freedom.

- Making Art: With paper strips that you diligently cut yourself at 11pm in your bedroom, 

  simply because you have nothing better to do/worry about. I'm actually thinking of selling 

  these in my Etsy shop, once I figure out the proper shipping way to do so.

- Lookig At Art: It's a pure, freeing feeling you get when you look at art. Art galleries are one 

  thing, but there are some secret art websites that just blow me away. I stare at them for 

  hours, literally. And I am perfectly content with my time wasted. I like to think of it as time 

  inspired, actually.

- Reinventing My Clothing: I recently fixed up one of my closets (just one of them, so far), and 

   found lots of stuff that I looked at and instantly saw differently. I am currently in the 

   process of creating an oversized collar for the long vintage tweed coat I have, and cutting the 

   bottoms on jeans into geometrical shapes and lining them with zippers. I also have a few 

   slouchy knits that can use a nice draped back that can be worn forwards or backwards. 

   I've suddenly realized the shambles my life would be in if my sewing machine ever died on 

   me...

- Birds: I have this weird obsession with birds lately. And birds' feathers. These past few 

   months, I've had the coolest bird inspiration. Speaking of birds, I am especially excited for  

   my feather tattoo. Good timing on that.

- Brilliant Ideas: Once in a while, I'll have an epiphany (or something) of something to 

   create/do. Returning to work after a day off for "mental health" reasons, I came up with the 

   idea to collect all of the artists that Rob and I have collected from Prim Suspect, and open an 

   art gallery. Of course, this is all further down the line. But regardless, an idea that I'm really 

   passionate about. Call it an excuse I made to just not want to work a corporate nine to five 

   anymore, but hey, at least my brain is working in the right direction, right?

I'm sure I'm not the first one to notice the resemblance throughout this blog, but I'm convinced that finding new music, indie bands, and a little inspiration, leads to loads of art and brain function. Maybe that's what we all need?

Current Listen: Choose any band in "Musical Theories" weird obsession category.

The Hipster Lives The Good Life.

I'm not abandoning you, I'm just never home. Ever. I swear.

The life of the Hipster Sister has been pleasantly hectic. As must as I'd like to complain about being so busy and next to never being able to sleep in my own giant marshmallow of a tempur-pedic bed, I simply refuse to complain. I've been having way too much fun. In fact, I've given up an entire month of REM mode sleep to keep up with my social schedule. I've lost almost ten pounds in the process. Due to lack of time/money to eat, and never being in a place long enough to sit down an actually eat a full meal. This is the time when you'd assume that "convenient, on the go" foods are most necessary. But I don't swing that way. I'm an all natural kind of girl. Processed foods make me cry. I'm on the "I'm too broke to eat" diet.

Typical of me, I've been spending way too much time in Williamsburg. Brooklyn officially owns my life, my sleeping and my eating schedule. And I'm ok with that. (In the two days that I've been there, I ate two small meals, that I was only able to eat multiple bites of.) Maybe it's all of the 'scary skinny' hipster girls that are sipping on their bloody's and mimosas at 1pm at Hare Field staring at you and your spring salad and side of potatoes waiting patiently in front of you to be heartily eaten that's the intimidator. I don't know what it is, but when in Williamsburg, I suddenly loose my appetite. Not in an "oh em gee, I'm so grossed out", kind of appetite loss. It's more of a, "I have more important things to focus on, other than food." That's the vibe, and it works. I guess that's why you either have a hipster beer gut, or you weigh ten and a half pounds. I'm convinced that some of these guys/girls weight hasn't gone up since birth. Jealous.

This weekend was nothing short of eventful. I hung out with hipster trust fund babies, who are the coolest kids I have ever met. It amazes me how diverse this world is. I've been to orphanages in third world countries, where kids are totally cool with living with twenty other kids who have it just as bad as them, have no family, and all they know is what they're taught. Then I know trust fund babies, who have never worked a day in their life and golf on Sundays because they "have to", but are totally humble about their upbringing and the millions of dollars they have tucked away. If only everyone was as humble as some of these kids are. 

Think about it: There's those silly guidos that max out their credit cards and ruin their credit history, just to roll up to the "jersey shore" in their leased escalade for three out of twleve months, trying to look all cool with the money they don't have, trying to impress people that don't care. And then there's the hipsters who purposely dress in vintage, already worn out 60 years ago clothing, look like they are one of the Mole People when they leave their Williamsburg apartments, and don't think twice about the two hundred thou that they can drop on a Lambo any given Monday, because their fixed gear is their biggest love.

I have a huge appreciation for hipsters. We live the simple life. Shut up your drama and complaining and just live. Life isn't meant to overanalyzed. Life's about chilling out, hanging with the kids that make you happiest, laughing about pelicans that steal babies and sell them on the streets of Willyb. for money at two in the afternoon because you have nothing better to do. It's the simple life. You have what you need and you move on. You don't care about how cool your jacket is. You found one that fits and you're ok with it. You haven't showered in two days because you don't need to. You haven't gone grocery shopping in two weeks because you're not hungry, and a tall boy at mid afternoon is really all you need. The time on the clock just doesn't matter, and you have no real agenda. That's life, my friends. We get so caught up in our nine to fives, business meetings and lunches, taking the kids to daycare and getting home in time to make the hubby dinner. Fail. I like my life. I like my friends. And I especially like where I am right now. Life is epic, and I'm doing nothing but enjoying it.

Funny thing happened, my really good friend, who I stay with in Williamsburg, is roomies with the designer of Zoo York. Raddest dude ever. We had a nice like talk about everything important ... to us at least. Another fun fact? My buddy's bro is a huge PR name for every surf/snowboarding company you've ever heard of. You can imagine the shenanigans that I've witnessed. I get a headache just thinking about it.

Things are happening kids. I'm working out the finals of getting my hands on an apartment in Willyb. (I offically had the talk with my boss today. I have a meeting with my regional next week to offically confront him on the issue ... aka beg for a transfer to the Brooklyn Macy's.) The ball is rolling, and it's rolling at the perfect speed. I've never been happier in my life. I've never been more motivated and excited. Life's good, and I'm not letting go anytime soon. 

Current Listen: Couldn't You Tell - BC Camplight

Paulo.

Mother of pearl ...

Can we say ADORABLE?

Sometimes, I wish I were a record label owner.

I 100% completely come across the most amazing underground artists that the little vibrations that your ears call music have ever heard. And always on accident. One artist, in particular, that it was a complete accident that I even came across him in the first place, has blown my mind. Nineteen years old, sings like an entire choir of angels in one body, can't mess up a note if someone paid him to, and, not to mention, he's the absolute visual of my hubby-to-be.  

His name? Paulo Nutini.  

Watch this ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffJ8xcfqOX0

And this ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpfufL_G2zs

I'm going to continue to have my mind blown. Enjoy, kids. You already know my Current Listen.

Cigarettes Will Kill You

Life has been oh-so wonderful/eventful.

Here. Let me ramble.

First things first, I have been conversing back and forth with Daredevil tattoo, who, by the way, is amazing, patient, super personal, and probably the coolest people ever. For as huge as they are (if you say Daredevil in a tattoo induced conversation, the other end of the conversation will without a doubt know who you're talking about - they're they Miami Ink of New York), the owner of the Lower East Side shop has been emailing me via his Blackberry on Saturday nights and off hours, just to set me up with the perfect artist for my piece. THAT, my friends, is unheard of customer service. I've finally settled on the perfect designer, Claire, who has done a what looks like a life sized piece of a peacock on a customers' entire right torso, including incredibly intricate detail and about a million feathers. She's perfect for the feather I'm getting on my rib cage. I'm so excited, I know it's going to be pure perfection.

I've even conjured up a second tattoo already. A tiny flock of birds' shadows on the inside of my forearm. You're probably thinking, "What's up with all the bird references?" The feather tattoo is a bible reference. Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge." Those who trust in the Lord, will experience His protection. Kind of like how a mother bird protects her little chicks under her wing. Being saved and loving and living for the Lord, He's been my protection, my reason, my life. I'm a better and different person because of that. The feather tattoo may be pretty, but it has tons of meaning to me. The flock of birds is on a more personal level. I plan to get one bird in the flock that's larger than the rest, symbolizing myself, and smaller birds around the larger bird, but flying in different directions, symbolizing the people I've met in my almost twenty five years of life. These birds symbolize the fact that people come and go in your life. And while everyone is going their own way, the few that I have in my life right now, are the people that I want there.

Have you ever been at a point in your life where you realize that where you are at that exact moment, is the place you've been striving for, the place where you're actually truly happy, where everything is going in the right direction? That's exactly where I'm at, and I've never, ever been happier. I've been spending lots of time with some really great people. And I'm having the time of my life. I've made new, incredible friends. I'm doing the things I've always wanted to do. And it's all formed me into the person that's taken me an entire twenty five years to form into. Some people may not agree with the person I am, some people may wonder where this person came from, but I've never been happier with where I'm at. I feel ... well ... real. 

I've been having this feeling in my bones. It's on my mind twenty four seven, it's something I've always loved with my whole being, and will probably never happen. Regardless, I've been feeling extra inclined to take on an instrument or two. Guitar and piano are what I'm feeling the strongest. I've grown up with a piano in my house since I was born, but my oldest sister took it to her and her husband's house. I miss it. I can't read music to save my life, but I can hear a song, and then sit down and learn it by ear in less than an hour. Don't call me a musical prodigy. I'm far from it. But speaking of musical prodigies ...

I was at a shin dig this weekend and this kid Brett, who, I think it's safe to say, is a musical prodigy, went wild on the drums. Travis Barker is good and all, but this kid is straight up nasty. I felt like I shouldn't have been in the room listening because it was like listening to the equivalent of a leaked Beatles song when they were bigger than sliced bread. This kid makes his own beats, then drums out to it. He blew my mind. Blew my mind up and down. And the next thing you know, it's 3am. It happens.

Although I've been spending more time in subways than in my own car, more time at venues than I am in my own bed, I wouldn't trade it for a thing. I'm having the time of my life, and I have my father in heaven and some great company to thank for it. 

Current Listen: Cigarettes Will Kill You - Ben Lee

Priorities Rising

Pretty Wedding Things

My favorite picture from 

my sister Stacey's Wedding

What an eventful weekend.

Yesterday, on September 26th, my sister Stacey got married to one incredible man. The wedding was to die for, mind blowing, and just breath-taking. I could go on for years telling you the details, but instead I'll just give you the link to my facebook album of the pictures I've gathered up thus far. 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052220&id=81402495&ref=mf

I wish I could say that things are finally going to settle down now that the wedding has passed, but in reality, things are just going to get a little bit crazier. I have big plans that I was saving until after the wedding. I'm going to continue the WillyB. apartment hunt. This is necessary and I can not wait to finally find a solid place with a solid hipster roomie. Prim Suspect needs lots of attention, I've been preoccupied a bit, but can now go 100% full force now that I can actually dedicate my free time to the line. I've also started an Etsy account, selling ring bearer pillows, due to the overwhelming positive comments made on the previous pillows I've made for weddings. You can check out my Etsy shop, which is conveniently named Hipster Sister, here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8083938

Eventually, this line will expand to lots of "knit" things. But that's a little further down the road. Speaking of knit things ...

My sister Nicole and I have decided to take on knitting. I learned to knit in a fashion class I took, but never actually had the time to keep up with it. I'm going to change this and make time to keep up with it. Priorities are priorities, no?

I've also been engulfed in going to lots of shows. Recently I've gone to see The Rapture. Last Thursday I saw Muse and U2, and tomorrow night I'm seeing Phoenix. I could not be more excited for Phoenix. I just hope this show is going to be as amazing as I'm imagining it to be in my head, although I'm sure they never, ever disappoint.

Hope you all had the sweetest weekend! More updates coming soon...promise.

Current Listen: Little Secrets - Passion Pit

Against the walls, Against your rules, Against your skin.

It's been settled. 

October third, I am going to Daredevil to book my appointment for this tattoo ...

A feather on my rib cage. After I stop crying over the pain, I'm picking up my boot straps and going in for round two to get this, with a few minor tweaks ...

Placement of this one is still unknown. I'd like an arm tattoo, but I'd also like to still be a part of my family afterwards. In fact, I'd like an entire sleeve, but then I'd probably have to change my last name to Sanchez or something, as I'm sure I would be no longer welcome in the Pinho household. (My family thinks I'm some sort of rebel ever since the nose ring incident. Look, you're only young once. And I wan to remember some of my best years.)

Thank God there's a super long wait at Daredevil Tattoo, or I'd walk in with nothing but clothes on, and walk out tattooed from nose to toes. It could happen. But it probably shouldn't.

This week is going to be the best ever. Ready? 

Wednesday night, Pastor Chuck Smith is speaking at my church. Google him, he's a big deal. I'm ready to be inspired and have my life changed a little bit. Who wouldn't be up for that? Thursday night I'm seeing Muse and U2. I know, I already died over it. 

Saturday is my sister's wedding. Baller. 

And then monday I'm seeing Phoenix at the Electric Factory in Philly. My party pants are in the wash as we speak. 

THEN, on October 28th, I'll be in NY for a few days and seeing Lotus. This is way too much excitement for me to handle all at once. Every time I think about it, I want to throw up. I mean that, of course, in the most pleasant way possible. 

There. Now you have my entire itinerary for the rest of the year. Events are subject to change. I'm sure there were be a bazillion new additions to that list. 

Oh, and for those of you who haven't heard. I have a rapper name, which has been (semi)legally changed to Lil Dipper. AKA Lil Dippzzzzz. Add all the z's you want. Fair game.

If you haven't noticed, I've been living off of Venti quad vanilla soy toffee nut latte's from Starbucks, Five Hour Energy shots, and Red Bull shots. I think my body is just going to start producing caffeine instead of blood soon. I welcome that with open arms. 

Current Listen: Little Secrets - Passion Pit

Everything Far And Few Between

Over your head?

In preparation of reading quite possibly the most sporadic blog thus far, let me assist you in a little breathing excersise to help you collect yourself and focus. Ready?

Breathe in ... one ... two ... three ...

Breathe out ... one ... two ... three ...

Repeat 3x.

The amount of coffee and Five Hour Energy shots I have been ingesting is almost sickening to think about. I don't know how I don't gag when I pass a Starbucks, or when I see a coffee pot half empty. And those Five Hour Energy shots taste like something died in your mouth and wasn't in any rush to leave. Absolutely horrific tasting, but the after math of a Five Hour Energy shot is way too good to not endure the pain of it. One of my Twitter followers recommended the Red Bull Energy Shots. My skepticism is at it's peak. I lost all faith in Red Bull when I drank the medium sized can and fell asleep for the entire night afterwards. I want my $4 back.

This month has been stuffed like a chinese dumpling with ridiculous shows. #1. The Rapture. Which, obviously needs no explanation. #2. Muse/U2. I can't even talk about it ... I get so excited when I think about it, it makes me want to throw up a little bit. I've never seen Muse live. And I'm pretty sure I might experience an out of body experience during that set. #3. Phoenix. I have serious expectations for this show, expectations that I'm sure will be beyond exceeded. #4. Lotus. I can't even get into it. It's going to be great.

I've been submerged in really awesome friends, really good music, really good shows, really good bike rides, and honestly? I can't think of being in a better place than I am right now. It's weird to be in a place and realize, this is it ... this is as good as it can get. I'm not going to complain about a thing. I'm one happy hipster.

Speaking of happy hipster ...

I've decided that on October third, the weekend after my sisters wedding, I'm going to NY to make my tattoo appointment. Something tells me I will be moving to Brooklyn extremely shortly after (my mother said I'm out if I get a tattoo ... I'll do what I can to make it easier to get out, trust me.). I have two that I know I want. But my first one will be on my ribs, so I may never go back for my second. Because nobody likes to be stabbed in their ribcage continuously with a vibrating needle...

Here's a weird coincidence ... I've been listening to a bunch of albums in my car, specifically, Owl City, Young Love, Pete Yorn, Cold War Kids, and Muse, and on every single one of those albums, I love number three and number eleven. Totally unplanned. And totally weirder to me than it is to you ...

Clearly, I have way too much to blog about. So we're going to cut this and start fresh tomorrow. I was actually thinking of making a vlog (video blog for those of you who are out of the loop a bit), on whatever you, my faithful readers choose. I was thinking of starting off with maybe a video of what goes into a design for my clothing line, Prim Suspect, or a "Facts About Me" video. Ya'll can choose this vlog for me. I'm feeling extra generous. 

Current Listen: We Used To Vacation - Cold War Kids   (Musically it reminds me of Muse, no?)

Finding.

Steampunk closet, anyone?

I feel like I've been "finding" a lot of really cool things lately. More so than usual.

I'm fully aware that I'm not so typical. I, in fact, pride myself in that. I dislike all things mainstream (with the exceptions of a few annoyingly catchy songs that I'll catch in someone's car on the radio). "Odd" things are my favorite, "it takes a certain person to pull that off" is my forte, "interesting" is what I'm most interested in, and "acceptable" is not so much what I live by. I'm definitely a free spirit; I'm interested in what I'm interested in, I wear what I want to wear, I listen to what I want to listen to, and I'm not ashamed or afraid of what "mainstream" people might think. It's just not my nature to be "like everyone else". I believe that God made us all individuals for a reason, so be that person that you are. Otherwise, we'd all be siamese twins. And I would not be ok with someone constantly looking over my shoulder.

Here's a few things, minor and major, that I've found lately. All are pretty big deals to me, which means that it may mean absolutely nothing to you. 

- A freakishly similar version of the found hundred and something dollar ALexander Wang burn out sweater that I have been stalking since it hit the RTW runway. 

- The perfect super low cut, semi sheer, gauze/cotton fabric, which I purchased in three different colors because I was way too excited to find it.  

- New designer, Jason Wu, who's Spring Collection shown at fashion week was just breath taking. I envy every last yard of fabric this man has touched, creating this ...

Jason Wu Spring '09

Jason Wu Spring '09

- The best cover up/concealer I've ever put on my face. And believe me when I say, I'm no make-up connoisseur, but I'm pretty sure I found an underground too-good-to-be-true find. Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen have their own line of make-up (don't worry, it's news to me too), and their cover-up is beyond spectacular. Unfortunately, that's as far as I've gotten with their line, being that it's impossible to find. 

- The best $200 I ever spent, was at the fabric store this past weekend. I found incredible, incredible fabrics that I could only dream to get my hands on. Not only fabric, but trims and buttons you'd swear were on some of of those, maybe-I-can-refinance-my-home-for-this-jacket finds in that vintage store in Nolita you swore you'd never step foot in again, for fear of being forced to file for bankruptcy after one hour in that store. Believe me when I say I'm designing some very special one-of-a-kinds for these special finds.

- A new band, called The Rapture. I recommend 'Whoo! Alright - Yeah ... Uh Huh' (Yes, that's really the name of the song.) and 'House Of Jealous Lovers". I saw them live this past saturday night after just hear about them about two weeks ago and was beyond shocked. Definitely one of the best live performances I've ever seen. We rocked out, danced hard, and left with smiles on our faces. Exactly the way a good night should go.

If there's one thing I can vouch for, it's that life has been severely pleasant lately. I've been surprisingly content with anything that comes my way. Everything that's good is happening, and everything that's bad is steering clear of my happy path. 

Here's to things being the best they've ever been.

Current Listen: You guessed it ... Whoo! Alright - Yeah ... Uh Huh. I've been a serious repeat offender of this one lately. 

Stand Still

Park Day #2

It doesn't get any better than this. You're lookin' at it. 

Please excuse my nonexistence.

I've been extremely preoccupied with a plethora of current events, as well as getting as much fresh air as humanly possible by spending every waking moment outdoors on my bike/in parks/in Brooklyn (usually a combination of the three). 

This weather/past week has been nothing but purely amazing weather. Which, of course, is grounds for spending the least time possible indoors, leaving more than enough time for cruisin' on the beach cruiser at just about every park I know of, at the beach, and in Brooklyn. Speaking of Brooklyn...

The Willyb apartment hunt is on and has been going strong. This hunt is serious. (Think, 'Omg, I lost my wallet and HAVE to find it' serious.) Luckily, I have some Willyb residents helping me out, so I don't turn into a statistic on the "Hipster's That Have Been Beat Down In Brooklyn" list. Because I'm pretty sure that my entire five foot two inch frame and white-hipster-girl statue can not out run a black man with a machete. (Note: This is why I purchased a bike.) 

Life's been really, incredibly peaceful, positive, exciting, relaxing, amazing, beautiful, eventful, fun, and just plain old good. I've been filtering out the bad, and holding the good close. That goes for things, places, and people alike. I've figured out what belongs and what doesn't fit, what's worth it and what's not, what I need and what I need to get rid of, who belongs and who gets counted out, where I'm at and where I belong, where I'm going, and how I'm going to get there. The best part? I haven't even been thinking about any of these things. It's amazing when you stop worrying, stop trying so hard, stop thinking a million miles a minute about what's next what's next what's next, everything just falls into place. And that is where you really, actually belong. I've never felt more like myself in my entire life. And I can honestly say that. Whoever I am right now, and this exact moment, is who really, truly am. I think that's why it's so easy to filter in and out the things that belong in my life and the things that don't. When you let God do the work, it's amazing how much gets done. We're not as efficient workers as we think we are. 

I was reading my bible, the book of Job, and came across this verse that made me stop to reread it four or five times, and then stop and think about what it meant. 

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." - Job 37:14

As simple as it sounds, is as simple as it is. Chill out for a minute and let things go at their own pace. When you force things to happen, they will inevitably fall apart. It's a given. We're human. We want what we want, when we want it, how we want it. But truth me told, that's not what it's about. Things happen, good and bad, and they all have their place and time. As humans, we have no idea what we actually want and need. So sit back, have an open mind, and let the work be done for you. It's not being lazy, it's called trust.

Current Listen: Embers and Envelopes - Mae