Monday, February 28, 2011

red carpet fab? or drab...

last night was the 83rd annual academy awards. although i didn't watch the show live, {no thanks to end-of-the-quarter papers and projects,} i did check out red carpet photos online late last night. i wasn't too impressed, to say the least. this year it seems like everyone's gown was blaaaahhh/weird.

here are a few exceptions:

mila kunis in elie saab {my favorite gown of the evening}

hailee steinfeld in marchesa

selena gomez in dolce & gabbana

*photo credits to: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images | Steve Granitz/WireImage | Michael Buckner/WireImage

Sunday, February 27, 2011

lazy sunday.

here's an entertaining video of all the places in the world i would rather be right now. basically, anywhere other than in front of my computer, writing a theology midterm paper. and a management research paper. and preparing for a marketing presentation. ...it must be the end of the quarter!

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

missing the summer time. i'm ready for the warm days of coconut-scented sunblock, sunglasses, and backyard bonfires.

{san francisco, last summer}

last summer's anthem: san francisco - scott mckenzie

Friday, February 25, 2011

gratitude.

friday is always my grocery shopping day. i used to resent, even dread, the walk to and from the store. lugging heavy bags of groceries {usually in the rain} was not exactly my idea of fun. however, within the last few weeks, something inside of me changed. is different.

it all started several weeks ago, when i was having a difficult time schlepping my full grocery bags back home. i was a few blocks away from my apartment, waiting for the light to change so i could cross the street. my shoulders and back were beginning to ache and my fingers were going numb from desperately clinging to my bags. to make matters worse, it had just started to rain. the light finally changed and i started to trudge forward, when out of the corner of my eye, i spotted an elderly homeless man pushing a shopping cart full of his belongings. now, living in seattle, one grows accustomed to seeing the homeless, so i just continued on my way.

yet, this time, i couldn't get the image of the homeless man out of my mind. within a matter of minutes, i would be back inside my heated apartment. with running water, a comfortable bed, and a refrigerator full of fresh food. this man, on the other hand, toted around his entire life in one small cart. how many nights was he sleeping on the street? in the cold. the rain. did he ever get to enjoy a warm, home-cooked meal?

with that realization, i was reminded just how extremely fortunate i am. my aching back and throbbing fingers became physical signs of how blessed i was. to be healthy enough to walk. to possess enough money to buy an abundance of food. to have the opportunity to attend university. to have a home to return to. a family that loves me. friends who support me.

it is often way too easy to take the ordinary little things in life, things that we are so used to, for granted. and it is amazing how it only takes one seemingly-routine happening to remind us to be thankful for what we have.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
today was an absolutely gorgeous day. friday. grocery day. the sun was shining brightly and the february air was brisk. cold enough to see your breath. as i carried my groceries home from the store, i felt the familiar twinge in my back. but, i also felt grateful. and capable. and alive.

i have truly grown to appreciate my friday grocery days.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

monday. tuesday. wednesday. THURSDAY.

meet ivan & alyosha, a very talented indie rock band from right here in seattle.

{*these gentlemen are beyond adorable.}

there's just something about ivan & alyosha's music. raw. soulful. real.

not to mention, most of their songs are so hummable and upbeat. which is precisely why their new EP, Fathers Be Kind, has been on repeat on my itunes for the past week.


*photo credit to José Mandojana

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

what the what?!

snow. in seattle? in february? {actually, almost march!} well, according to the local weatherpeople, we seattelites may experience anywhere from 1-6" of frosty goodness tonight. hmmmm...i'll believe it when i see it. it certainly feels cold enough outside, but lately seattle's weather has been rather indecisive. sun. rain. snow. wind. hail. whatever happens, KOMO news will be enthusiastically providing live updates of the storm situation on its live snow event blog. ha.

{seattle, yesterday afternoon. it snowed less than an hour after i snapped this photo, immediately followed by sunshine.}

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

number 15.

eat pie @ high 5 pie. check.

apple pie & lots o' laughter with my fabulous friends c.rae & tarah.
so. much. FUN!

{apparently tarah and i need to learn how to properly high five. fail}


Monday, February 21, 2011

seattle list of fabulous fun.

today marks the beginning of week eight of winter quarter. which means that it's only a matter of weeks until finals and spring break! with that being said, i have recently come to the realization that my days here in seattle are numbered. 111 days until graduation. eek! where has the time gone?!

while living in seattle for the past three-ish years, i have explored many of the nooks & crannies of this wonderful city. from the ultra-touristy, pike place market, to the hidden gems of capitol hill, via tribunali. regardless, there are still countless restaurants, museums, parks, tourist attractions, and coffee shops that i would love to experience before i move back to portland.

which brings me to the super-secret spring project i first mentioned here, which incidentally is not really a secret at all. :) last week i drafted a list of everything i want to do in seattle {either again, or for the first time,} before i graduate from university. my goal is to cross off all 38 {and counting} items before i pack up shop and head back to portland on june 13th. i plan on chronicling my adventures on this here blog, so keep checking in to see if i accomplish my goal!


without further ado, here is the official SEATTLE LIST OF FABULOUS FUN:

  1. columbia tower observation deck
  2. space needle
  3. smith tower observation deck
  4. fremont troll
  5. seattle art museum
  6. explore pioneer square
  7. walk through the waterfall garden @ pioneer square
  8. buy a latte from the original starbucks
  9. alki beach
  10. buy flowers from pike place market
  11. seattle public library
  12. seattle aquarium
  13. ride the ferry to bainbridge island
  14. olympic sculpture park
  15. eat pie @ high 5 pie
  16. read in the sunshine @ volunteer park
  17. eat an ice cream cone @ cal anderson park
  18. soak up the sunshine @ madison park/lake union
  19. washington park arboretum
  20. bauhaus coffee
  21. cafe presse
  22. caffe vita
  23. starbucks: 15th ave coffee & tea
  24. molly moon's
  25. cupcake royale
  26. stumptown
  27. barrio
  28. top pot donuts
  29. via tribunali
  30. ride the ducks tour
  31. concert @ the triple door
  32. concert @ the showbox
  33. read at book @ the elliot bay book company
  34. purple cafe and wine bar
  35. watch an SU basketball game @ key arena
  36. gasworks
  37. u. village
  38. go see a movie @ one of the theaters downtown
  39. tour the theo chocolate factory

Sunday, February 20, 2011

oh me, oh my.

i am seriously obsessed.

Etsy. have you heard of it? Etsy is an online marketplace where independent artists from around the globe can connect with consumers to sell their handmade jewelry, housewares, furniture, and even wedding dresses. etc. etc. the list of available goods could go on forever...

i all too frequently find myself browsing through
Etsy's amazing assortment of ever-so-lovely vintage jewelry. {my guilty pleasure} usually when i should be working on something school-related. or sleeping. :)

here are a few of my latest finds:







vintage feather jewel headband - mylavaliere | upcycled vintage fabric bunting - knottednest | shyness can stop you necklace - maddielisee | three tiered cake stand plate - sundayrainflame

ready, set, BLOG!

i have a bajillion things on my to-do list for today. none of which remotely include starting a blog. what can i say? ...designing a masthead & choosing fun colors and fonts sounded a lot more appealing than working on a PowerPoint presentation for my theology class. or vacuuming. priorities, people, priorities.

and so here i am with my beloved MacBook, sunlight streaming in my window, typing my very first blog post. and i can't help but feel the teensiest bit of excitement over exploring this new creative outlet.

stay tuned for all things fabulous, including food. film. fashion. photography. music. and the reveal of my super-secret spring project.

in the meantime, try not to smile while watching this music video by the kings & queens of quirky, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros


Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "Home" from Ryan Gall on Vimeo.

happy sunday :)