Archive for the 'wants and needs.' Category

#61

February 6, 2010

I have an exam on Monday and spent most of the day preparing for it. When I wasn’t studying, I was either napping or watching “As Told by Ginger” on YouTube. “As Told by Ginger” is one of my favorite childhood shows. I also really like “Daria.” Two summers ago, I watched all the “Daria” episodes that were available on YouTube. I miss Daria.

I was going to make this light sesame chicken for dinner today, but instead made brown sugar soy sauce chicken with green beans, edamame, and white rice. I’ve made it before, but don’t really have a recipe for it. I liked how the chicken and veggies turned out, but I think I undercooked the rice. Hey, better the rice than the chicken.

Spring Break is three weeks away, and I’m going to visit a friend in New York! I’m super excited. The last time I was in New York was September. I enjoyed my time there and am happy that I’ll be going back.

Links I like:

1) The Blue Ribbon General Store has some pretty neat stuff. I’m really wanting this nesting set and medicine box. The store’s located in Brooklyn, so I’ll make sure to swing by there when I’m in New York.

2) Hickoree’s. I’ve had my eye on this bag for quite some time now. Yes, it’s a tool bag, but all the better. That means it can handle anything I throw in it, be it textbooks or art supplies (my current bag has seen better days). And the best part? It gets better with use!

#59

February 5, 2010
“Clothes never look any good, and food just makes me fatter, but shoes always fit.”
-Rose Feller, In Her Shoes (2005)
A girl can never have too many shoes. And here’s a shoe every girl should consider adding to her collection: the oxford.
Simple and clean, the oxford brings a polished look to any outfit. Its low heel makes it perfect (and appropriate) for wearing to the office, or for walking comfortably around town. I’d stick with a neutral color like brown or black.
Here are few options, priced for every wallet.

Xhilaration Taree Oxford Shoes in Cognac, at target.com, $24.99.

Coconuts Goose Laceless Oxford in Black, dsw.com, $34.99.

Jeffrey Campbell Uniform Oxford in Tan, nordstrom.com, $109.95.

rambling #53 @ 1:30am

October 7, 2009

In my room. Currently listening to Fleetwood Mac.

Fall/Winter Wishlist #1:

collections1_bentoboxbento box

collections1_coatherringbone funnel neck jacket

collections1_duffelbag

wool duffel bag

collections1_socks

ruffle-trimmed knee high socks

collections1_gapruffleblouse

silk flutter top

rambling #38 @ 2:20am

June 21, 2009

in my room

Currently listening to Snow Patrol.

Early Saturday morning, @BCBodnar walked over to a yard sale at the graduate student art studios on S. State St., right next to the Salvation Army.  I bought a ton of art supplies for $2!  Some of the supplies I got were used, like the oil paints and paintbrushes, but I just couldn’t pass such a great deal on art supplies.  I got all the oil paints (about 10 tubes) for a quarter!  The grad student that I bought the oil paints from had some canvas for sale that, looking back, I should have bought.

Returning from the yard sale, I worked on a couple of papers for class.  Spring semester ended on Thursday, but I have two papers due Monday.  I was able to knock one out today, a 3-5 pager on neoliberalism and the TV show What Not to Wear (I actually enjoyed writing this paper) and got started on my second one, a 10-pager (!) on masculinity, the media, and the TV show Friday Night Lights.  So far, I have three pages.  Blegh.

After e-mailing my neoliberalism paper to my GSI around 4:30pm, I laid down for a 45-minute catnap that turned into a 5-hour snoozefest.  I was planning on waking up at 5:30 to go to a picnic my housemates had planned in the Arb at 6:00pm.  That didn’t work out.

You know what else didn’t work out?  I was planning on visiting @bridgers in Providence next week with @hruffe, but @hruffe couldn’t go and I waited too long to get my tickets and prices skyrocketed.  I was superbummed (I’m still bummed actually).  I decided that maybe I could visit another friend in New York instead.  But he’s moving out of his place next week and crashing on his brother’s couch.  Darn him and his homelessness.  Then I thought, “Maybe I can visit Lily in Chicago.”  But it turns out that Lily is preparing for a wedding and that next week wouldn’t work.  ARGH!

Oh, and I cut my hair.  I lost about four inches and really like it.

I mentioned in one of my last posts that @sara_bee and I put up an inspiration board at The Michigan Daily offices.  I don’t have a picture of it (yet), but we were inspired by something like this:

@sara_bee and I loved the idea of using clothespins and string as an inspiration board.

@sara_bee and I loved the idea of using clothespins and string as an inspiration board.

I haven’t had time to continue my project of painting the alphabet on newspaper.  I still only have an A.

Also, I still haven’t heard back from ffffound.com yet about my invite…

The list:

1) My Life is Average. Pretty cool website.  Kind of reminds me of fmylife.com.  Actually, now that I look at the websites a little closer, I think it’s created by the same people/person.

2) NEED: Pantone Eyewear.

pantone

rambling #37 @ 7:22pm

June 13, 2009

in my room

Currently listening to The Like.

No international holidays today.

Early this morning, @hruffe (Hillary) and I went to the Kiwanis Rummage Sale in downtown Ann Arbor and to Treasure Mart in Kerrytown.  We didn’t find anything at the rummage sale, but I did find some awesome jewelry at Treasure Mart.  I bought a pin, necklance, pendant, and hat pins.  I’ve recently become obsessed with hat pins and am now becoming obsessed with suitcases like this.  I saw a couple of suitcases that I liked at Treasure Mart, but some wire was exposed on them and I poked myself.

Today was the first time that I went to Treasure Mart, and though it was a little pricier than I had thought it would be, I’ll definitely be returning soon.

treasureart

My Treasure Mart finds! (Clockwise from left): A brooch and chain made into a necklace; a lovely green pendant; five stick/hat pins.

This past Sunday @sara_bee (Sara) and I put on the design inspiration board at The Michigan Daily office.  I think it looks great (I’ll try to get a picture of that up too)!  We put 16 hooks on a wall and ran a whole bunch of string from hook to hook.  We’re using clothespins to hang up cool designs that we come across in magazines, online, etc.

Haven’t heard back from the people at ffffound.com yet about my invite….

The list:

1) NEED: The Clock Clock.  GENIUS.  See The Clock Clock in action here.

clockclock

2) Etsy.com. @hruffe and I love this site.  They even have a category called “geekery.” I haven’t bought anything from here yet, but I’m sure I will soon.  Like in two days or something.

rambling #22 @ 9:11am

March 29, 2009

@ home for the weekend

Currently listening to my sister watch a YouTube video about sewing.

This is my second time coming home this month.   I usually don’t come home this often.

I got home early yesterday morning and was able to get a good amount of work done before I took a nap at 5:00pm.  I was planning on napping for only an hour, but I didn’t get up until 8:35 this morning!   I slept for 15.5 hours!  I guess  I needed it.  I barely slept for two days last week because I had to study for an exam.

Though I was able to get a lot done yesterday, I still have two chapters to read for Cognitive Psych = 80 pages.  I also need to start on a paper for Communication Studies, and a presentation for another Communication Studies class.  Great fun.

The list:

1) Remember that bag that I wanted from Goorin?  Well, I ordered it online yesterday, and I should be getting it within 2-8 business days.  So excited!  And just in time for Spring.

130-08872) 15+ creative music cd cover designs. Nice collection.

magnet_tsl_cd_labelClean and simple.  If only my life were like this at times.

3)  Where are the apple slices?

apple-logo-fruit-salad

rambling #19 @ 12:07am

March 24, 2009

in my room

Currently listening to nothing.

Monday flew by.  I can’t believe it’s already Tuesday, and I can’t believe how much studying and reading I have to do.   Err.  Classes just get in the way of everything.

The paper dress that I was working on for my American Culture class isn’t coming along so well, so I’m gonna pitch it and figure something else out.  I’m still planning on using magazines, newspapers and the Student Directory in my project.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MUSEUM OF ART WILL HAVE ITS STUDENT OPENING TOMORROW TODAY AT 8PM! I can’t wait.

The list:

1) No walls, only partitions. Love it.  How do people come up with these things?

“Without compromising on privacy, the 4sides4home is an amazing interior option for those who have small apartments and even smaller families. The concept utilizes the given floor space optimally by doing away with the walls and incorporating partitions instead. Imagine a huge + (plus sign) on the floorplan…”  Continue reading.

4sides4home_22)  CopyPasteCharacter. Ever forget the keyboard shortcut for an accented “a”?  Or need a symbol that just isn’t available in your word processor (like a snowman)?  Have no fear!  CopyPasteCharacter is here!  Just click on the symbol/character you want, and it saves to your clipboard.  Pretty sweet.

copypastecharacter

rambling #17 @ 2:37pm

March 21, 2009

@ the UGLi

Currently listening to nothing.  iPod battery is dead.

Got back to my dorm at around 2:30/3:00am this morning.  The Michigan Daily had its elections for Summer Editior-in-Chief and Summer Editorial Page Editor.  It started at 5:00pm on Friday and finished around 2:30/3:00am Saturday morning.  Seriously.  Actually,  I thought it was going to run much longer.

The list:

1) The Ultimate Compilation: 74 Unique Business Card Designs: Awesome collection of business cards.  I want a business card.  But I have nothing to put on it.  Sad.

711Ha ha.  Clever card.

2) 40 of the Most Creative Lamp Designs Ever. Yup.

mrplamp1He he.


rambling #14 @ 12:02am

March 17, 2009

in my room

Currently listening to nothing because I had my headphones glued to my ears all night and now they hurt.

Just returned from the fishbowl after spending six hours there getting work done.  Yeah for being productive!

The list:

1) Briar Press. Stumbled upon this cool site.  Have you noticed that when you’re not looking for something, you always find something cool, but if you’re looking for something, nothing turns up?  Eh.

Briar Press is a letterpress community, and you definitely need to check out the Cuts & Caps section of their website when you visit.

briarpress

2) My boss and I made a trip to the Produce Station on S. State today.  I’d never been there before, but am planning on returning.  They carry some pretty unique groceries (they make their own peanut butter!–which my boss says is the absolute best), though it is kind of pricey there.

3) I need this bike.

51kcxbo-wl_aa280_

rambling #3 @ 3:42am

March 9, 2009

in my room what sometimes feels like a jail cell

It’s nearing 4:00am and I’m not tired. I think it’s because of that two-hour nap I took earlier today yesterday. It was actually meant to be a half-hour nap.

Currently listening to Metro Station, one of my guilty pleasures. Shhh.

The list:

1) Question from objectifiedfilm.com: “How many manufactured objects did you touch this morning, between waking up and leaving your house?”

Gary Hustwit, director of the documentary Helvetica (which I thought was amazing), is coming out with Objectified, which will look at this question, and many others.

What’s Objectified about?

“Objectified is a documentary about industrial design; it’s about the manufactured objects we surround ourselves with, and the people who make them. On an average day, each of us uses hundreds of objects. (Don’t believe it? Start counting: alarm clock, light switch, faucet, shampoo bottle, toothbrush, razor…) Who makes all these things, and why do they look and feel the way they do? All of these objects are ‘designed,’ but how can good design make them, and our lives, better?” (from kottke.org)

The film comes out soon (in April or May) and I can’t wait to see it!

Oh, and the poster design for the film is pretty cool. See below.

Did anyone else notice that “Objectified” isn’t set in Helvetica? Would that have been corny?

And props to anyone who can identify all the objects in the poster. What’s the second item in row four?

2) Postsecret: (The following description is from amazon.com)

The project that captured a nation’s imagination.

The instructions were simple, but the results were extraordinary. “You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything — as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative.”

It all began with an idea Frank Warren had for a community art project. He began handing out postcards to strangers and leaving them in public places — asking people to write down a secret they had never told anyone and mail it to him, anonymously.

The response was overwhelming. The secrets were both provocative and profound, and the cards themselves were works of art — carefully and creatively constructed by hand. Addictively compelling, the cards reveal our deepest fears, desires, regrets, and obsessions. Frank calls them “graphic haiku,” beautiful, elegant, and small in structure but powerfully emotional.

As Frank began posting the cards on his website, PostSecret took on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple art project. It has grown into a global phenomenon, exposing our individual aspirations, fantasies, and frailties — our common humanity.

Every day dozens of postcards still make their way to Frank, with postmarks from around the world, touching on every aspect of human experience. This extraordinary collection brings together the most powerful, personal, and beautifully intimate secrets Frank Warren has received — and brilliantly illuminates that human emotions can be unique and universal at the same time.

Frank Warren has compiled a number of PostSecret books, and I bought the first one, PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, when I was in high school. I went through a roller coaster of emotions as I read the book and passed the book along to a friend as a White Elephant gift a couple of years ago. I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did.

To view secrets, visit postsecret.com. New secrets are posted every Sunday. I visit postsecret.com every week!

I’ve sent in two secrets to Frank Warren. You should send your secrets in too.

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