He Wears a Cape

Image via Melophobe

I know I should contain myself because it is still early on this Friday morning, but I can't! I'm so excited to see My Morning Jacket on Saturday. If you don't know them, come on over and we'll watch their DVD or I'll load up your IPOD. When my roommate Daniel first introduced me to them, I was hesitant, but I may bust out a full on hippie dance tomorrow I'm so excited. The lead singer Jim James, is the coolest because sometimes he wears a cape and space boots on stage. I know, strange definition of cool... I just wish now I had re-loaded my IPOD so that I could rock out all day as I do important things, like make copies and use the electric stapler. Check out their videos here and here.

Ace In the Hole

Images via Ace Hotel

I may be planning a wee trip to New York in a few weeks, with our newly minted, and newly wed, couple friends. R.L. and I have never really had a couples trip, so I'm pretty jazzed and hope the dates work out. (Woah, could that last sentence been nerdier? Sorry folks.) If money was no object, which it always is, I'd be staying at the Ace Hotel. It just seems like it would be a really fun place to stay. They have a photo booth in the lobby, awesome Smeg fridges in the rooms, and I think it seems like you would staying with your cool older brother in the Big Apple. I've been thinking of this ever since I saw this post. Isn't that design just rad? It would be cool to just hang out and poke around all the rooms, but I'll take just staying in one. I have never liked staying in a city and feeling like you could be in any hotel, anywhere in the world because it is so blah and generic. Certainly, there are some people who disagree and think it makes them feel more at home, but don't you leave home, to, ahem leave home? Oh, Ace Hotel, you will be mine...

By Way of the Green Line Bus

I have no shame and I love The Royal Tenenbaums. Even though Gwyneth Paltrow says mildly irritating things sometimes on GOOP, she is the best in this. So for today, lets all wear our sweatbands and red Adidas track suits with pride. And besides,this really is one of the most memorable music in a movie pairings for me.

Internet, You Make Me Poor

Image via artsharkdesign on Etsy

Just found this via The Neo-Traditionalist and I love it! I missed the cherry blossoms this year because of my Vegas trip, but not again! These are so lovely, I may have to get one... Now I just have to figure out where to hang all these great prints!

Etsy Love

Here are some things I would like to buy today, but instead, I'll pay my co-pay to see my allergy doctor:

Image via MATTY8080

Image via kawaiiithings (Isn't that a nifty pencil sharpener?)

Image via Rhan

Image via Luna Clay Design

And yes, there are two squirrel items listed, but there can never be too many!

We Party Hard Over Here

Image via Best of As Seen on TV
Infomercials: You delight and excite me with your offerings. I yearn for the time saving results only your wonderful item can bring me. I own a Ped Egg, used to have a topsy tail, believe in the wonder of the topsy turvy tomato planter, and now think I might need a magic bullet personal blender. Sure, you're saying, "Quindome, you have a blender" and I do... But I can't blend a smoothie in it and then take the container as a portable travel cup! Yeah, so once I made fun of someone for having this, but what a fool I was! Oh, Magic Bullet, forgive my ignorance. You know that you will make my morning smoothie parties complete, if I'm ever too not too lazy to just get up and make you before work.

P.S. It was this little blog post by Oh for Heaven Cakes, that convinced me I do totally need one. See, they look so good, right?

Weekend Plans

Better late than never. We were off to the mean streets of WV early Friday and we had a busy weekend. We did manage to hang out on the porch, I made my very first meringue, and I bought a new purse, picture not included, and had some good beers at the best old man bar, The NET. It was nice to see our friends and good to visit with some of my favorite dogs, Gob and Elliot. I browsed some old cookbooks, took in some nature, and now have wicked sinus pain. Oh, well, you can't win 'em all. Have a dandy week!

Music to Your Ears

It was a long weekend and I'm exhausted so Weekend Plans will be coming later on today. As we were driving home yesterday, I realized that I'm only six months away from seeing one of my all-time, top 5 with a bullet, bands, Pavement. We'll be seeing them in Central Park and I have to say that I'm supah' crazy looking forward to this. On this busy and allergy infested Monday, here's a mellow jam. It is true. All we want is a Shady Lane.

Let the Whistle Blow

Image via JennWrenn on Flickr

I'm off for the weekend early this morning. We are going to visit RL's family in the mean streets of WV. I'm sure we will do the following: Hang out on their sweet, giant porch, eat some local McHappy's Donuts (best name EVER), and maybe hit up the local Big Lots! Yeah, don't be jealous of my awesome weekend. I hope your weekend is long and delightful. When I get back, it's full on thesis/presentation mode, so I know I have to live it up this weekend.

P.S. Isn't that one sweet diorama? That word always makes me think of the Simpsons episode where Lisa messes up that other kids diorama because it's better than hers.

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Image via The Graduate via L'Eclisse


Image via The Graduate via MOMA

Do you have those movies you could just watch a buh-jillion times? I'm sure you do, but let me introduce you to another, The Graduate. My brother Raven and I both grew up loving Wayne's World, but especially Wayne's World 2. It was years later before we realized that the entire second half of that movie was an homage to The Graduate. Something about this whole movie just works for me. Things I like: Anne Bancroft is the original MILF, no doubt about it, Elaine Robinson has the best wardrobe, and young Dustin Hoffman is, surprisingly, a bit of a dreamboat. Hey, if you haven't seen it, call up Netflix and tell them it's on me. And in case I forgot to say it, special thanks to my sister B. who got me the book at a library sale years ago. It was rad of you.

Fiat? Oh shizzat!

Image via Porter Harvey

In case anyone was thinking of buying me a car today, I'd like to let you know I want a Fiat. Huh. What? Yes, a Fiat. Remember when Rita Konig, of Domino magazine fame, talked about her Fiat that she bought on EBay? Well, I'll take one too. They are so cute they are even the car Ikea uses in their flat packing information brochure. Anyway, listen, I'm pretty psyched about this. Please don't tell the Cherry Bomb. It would really hurt her feelings.

She's my Joey Ramone

Images from An Education
Do you get girl crushes?

In my life, I've definitely had many, including but not limited to: Fiona Apple, Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, and a girl I went to a mini-nerd camp with, whose name I cannot just recall. My recent girl crush? Totally Carey Mulligan. Oh, you don't know who she is you say? She was in An Education, which I watched on the plane trip to Las Vegas. She is the cutest! I must admit though, that unlike the rest of the world, I liked her better before the short hair. Just look at those cute cheeks and her little chubby nose!

P.S. My thoughts on An Education? Umm, okay, but I couldn't ever shake the pervasive creepiness of really just how much older he was. I know they call it willing suspension of disbelief but I couldn't. I still like you though Peter Sarsagaard.

What's the hold up?

Busy, busy day... When five comes, I want you to know that I'll be like this:



Elaine Benes, you rock my world.

Music To Your Ears

Sometimes you just need a song that tells you what they are going to do and I really like when Archie tells you he's gonna make it mellow for ya'. I have to say thanks to R.L.'s pops, without whom, I may never have gotten to know just what an awesome song this is. Now let's tighten up on the drums!

A List of Things That Are True

Image via Stephlholley on Flickr

Years ago, long before I knew him, R.L. had the foresight to clip this old Henry Rollins Mac Powerbook ad that I totally love. We love it so much, it's framed in our bathroom. It's not exactly like this one, but the text is all the same. Even though this picture is a little fuzzy, I like that on the list of things he has his computer is "a list of things that are true". If I had the same these might be on my list:
1. String cheese always tastes better if you just follow the directions and string it. Don't be a fool and just bite into it.
2. One can never own to many Chuck Taylor All-Stars. No matter what their significant others might say.
3. It's okay to have off brand shampoo, but don't skimp on a good chapstick.
4. Cupcakes really do taste better than cake. It is not your imagination.
5. Be nice. If it was good enough for Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse, it must be true right? (Come on, don't tell me you haven't seen it? Well you should, it's hysterical.)

Beautifully Clean

Image via Neil Coppen

Image via Inhabitat

Have you heard of reverse graffitti? Instead of putting something on, like spray paint, artists remove dirt from public spaces to create their art. Being a lover of art and a clean freak, this appeals to me on many levels. There are a few well known artists right now, but I hope this catches on. I really love the look of it and the idea of making art by removing something just seems so appealing to me on this busy day.

Feelin' Fine and Fancy

Image via Tubes.'s on Flickr

Image via Cody LaBiere on Flickr

Confession: I love things that make me, or you, feel fancy. Clarification: Things I usually think of as fancy, are usually not really other people's definition of "fancy". For example, I do not really like anything gold, but especially when people have great big gold picture frames in their house. Barf, that's just this girl's opinion. When I say fancy, I mean silly stuff like monogrammed pencils or lipstick over $8. See what I mean, I'm not sure a lot of people think that's fancy stuff right there. But what do I think is just the FANCIEST? Glass bottle drinks. I love to drink Pellegrino, keep me away from an Izze soda, and don't even talk to me about glass bottle Coca Cola. The crazy thing is that I really hardly ever drink Soda, but it's just the allure of that glass! When I was little and my family told me I couldn't eat raw cake batter, I formulated a plan to one day have a party, serve chocolate batter in little cups and tell people it was pudding. What does this have to do with fancy bottle drinks? I'm pretty sure that in my five year old imagination, there were lots of glass bottle drinks there too. Oh, how we progress. Here's some fancy eye candy for ya.

Squeals of Delight

Image via Mail Online

Sometimes things go through the blogosphere and they are just too adorable not to post about. This morning I remembered this adorable story that I originally saw on A Cup of Jo. Cinders the piglet was afraid to muck about in the mud and so her owners got her these little green Wellie boots. Once she had them, she was happy to dance and prance in the mud. Isn't it the cutest!? If you want an extra dose of cuteness in your day, watch this video with full on, 1970's PBS style music.

Weekend Plans

Sorry about the lack of Friday posts. I really do have a good excuse and you can blame Kashi Oatmeal. This is what I get for trying to eat less chemical laden foods: I broke out in hives, scratched my face all up, and then went into a Benadryl induced coma. Yeah, I had to leave work early and didn't move again until late Friday night. How lame is that? In good news, I was so rested that R.L. and I watched Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang and part of Phantasm. In bad news, I didn't get to see The Thermals, which we had planned to do. Oh, well... I really liked Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang. Robert Downey Jr. is just so darn cool and surprisingly, so was Val Kilmer. Saturday, I actually woke up and worked on thesis stuff and then we (R.L. and the roomates) went to have delicious burgers at The Counter. I guess it's mostly a California chain and boy, oh, boy was it good. I liked that they called the shakes with booze in them, "Adult Shakes"! If you ever get the chance, grab one. We pretty much just went into meat coma's afterward, but we did watch Dirty Harry and a little of Okonokos to get prepped for the My Morning Jacket show in two weeks. By the way, Clint Eastwood, you were the most bad ass cop in a sweater vest. Sunday was low key and all I really did was browse a little for cheap summer clothes at Old Navy and buy some embroidery floss to make one of these necklaces. Jenny Gordy is the cutest and I've been thinking of making one for a while. This week will be busy because I'm going home with R.L. next weekend and I have a lot of homework in the meantime. Maybe I'll have a new necklace to cheer me up!

Authentically Yours

Drinks, originally uploaded by wilshirepix.

Here's the thing: You put things out there online and you have to be aware of the consequences. I don't lead a wild and crazy life, I don't really break the law (Okay, so what, I speed sometimes...), I try to be nice, and I floss my teeth regularly. It's not that I have secrets, I just like to keep some things private and to myself. I worry then that my little blog may not seem like an accurate representation of who I am in life and that's not what I want. The thing is that I want to be cheerful on my blog and in real life. In life, I worry that I'm overly cynical and I fall back on sarcasm when I'm scared or feeling bad. I'm working on changing those things and so I think that at least I can try to be cheerful and up beat on here. There are a lot of hateful things online and sometimes it's not always the best place to be and I don't want to be the person adding to that. Even though my blog is very new, I wanted to say, for those of you who know me in the real world or those of you just online, whoever you may be, that this is authentically me. I may at times curate things to avoid the negative and unpleasant as much as I can not because those things aren't there, but because I think being positive on here reminds me of all the nice things out there to be cheerful about. So let's toast to a cheerful disposition.

When the Vans are Rockin'

Image via Vans

Lately, I've been thinking about some new footwear. I'm not one of those girls who thinks shoes make the outfit and I don't own a million pairs. The truth of the matter is that I probably wear my Chuck Taylor's way too much and I don't even care. I also don't really like summer clothes and here comes the dilemma: What sort of shoe can I get that looks easy and summery, but is not a sandal. Enter Vans, the shoe of Jeff Spicoli, greatest movie stoner known to man. I've been thinking of getting a pair of slip ons to help me embrace a pair of shorts and T-shirt for little summer walking adventures in the city, which I plan to have more of. Is it too late to start wearing them? Are they un-hip? Is there another shoe I can wear? And aren't I the laziest person on earth for thinking tying my laces in the summer is too much work?

I'm Ira Glass

Image via The Columbia Journalism Review

I like working from home and would like to be able to do that full time at some point in my life. Two friends of mine work from home and they say they feel lonely constantly.I'm not sure that it would be so nice to go 40 hours a week with no companionship, but for now, I'm just not buying into the whole lonely thing. Maybe it's because I have Ira Glass to keep me company. Do you listen to This American Life? If you don't , I'd really suggest it. While I don't love every episode, I do generally enjoy them all. Just today, I listened to "Recordings for Someone", "Telephone", and "Sinatra". In full disclosure, I was late to the Ira Glass Game, but he always keeps me company. There is something so comforting to the first part of each show when he says, "This is American Life, I'm Ira Glass". It makes me feel like I can understand how people must have felt tuning into their favorite talkies weekly in the heyday of radio and I kind of like it.

Music To Your Ears

Me and The Thermals? Yeah, we are in love. I've seen them more than once and plan to yet again this Friday at one of my favorite tiny clubs, The Ottobar. The only time I've ever threatened to give someone the beatdown, which was a total bluff because, c'mon, I'm 5"1 and cowardly, was at one of their shows. Things that are not cool? Kicking someone at a show... But she deserved it for shoving me! I had bruises for two weeks! See, I tricked you there and you thought I was gonna say what she did was not cool! Anyway, if you haven't heard them, turn the volume way up and get ready to slam dance in your cubicle/home office. Yeah, they are that good.

Red, White, Blue, and YOU

On at least more than one occasion in my life, I've shyed away from items because they were red, white, and blue. Don't get me wrong, I love my country, but I don't always like the sort of patriotism that can come from flashing your colors, so to speak. I can't pull off American flag jeans... Or maybe I don't want to. However in the past two weeks, I've seen a few things that celebrate the colors of America in a less in your face way. Some aren't even about America, but Europe By Car. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Image via Shinzi Katoh via Modcloth

Image via The Heads of State (This may seem wildly patriotic, but it's just a few miles shy of my new hometown)

Image via Grain Edit

Weekend Plans

Sleep was the main focus of the weekend, as you will notice the lack of photos. After my trip, I could hardly keep my eyes open through Thursday and Friday at work and really needed to have this lazy weekend. On Friday after work, R.L. and I went to a wee supper at Whole Foods where I bought some fleur de sal caramels that turned out not to be so good and some wine I never even got around to drinking. Good thing wine is better aged because that little bottle won't get any attention until at least next weekend. On the way, over I laughed because we really felt like we were kicking it old school just because we listened to an actual CD in the car. Oh, IPOD, how you've ruined us. Embarrassingly enough, after dinner, I just came home and snuck off to bed. Yup, by 7:30, I was snoozing hard and I didn't even get up again until 9:30 on Saturday. I could try to front, but yes, I still also took a nap later in the day. We watched some more episodes of Breaking Bad and I must say that the second season is infinitely better than the first. Sunday was pretty low key and the only real accomplishment of the day was talking to my lovely sister B. and getting some much needed groceries. Aside from a dentists appointment (Yippee! I love to get my teeth cleaned! No, really, I do!) I'm not sure what this week has in store. I hope your weekend was as eventful or uneventful as you desired!