Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Do you want to see Frances cry?

Frances Russell is many things. Some of who she is may be obvious to most who know her: a sister, a daughter, a friend, a runner, a Texan, and an artist. (I've even heard people refer to her as mysterious.)

But something that I only learned about Frances as I grew to know her more was her propensity to slightly... how should I put it? ...overreact? ...over dramatize?... No. Those sound too negative. How about this-- Frances has an amazing appreciation for the theatricality of life. Yes. 

A specific moment comes to mind from last year when we returned to Frances' dorm room after being in class and within seconds of walking in the door, her eyes fixated on the empty space on her desk and Frances, eyes wide, arms up, and legs frozen, began to yell,"MY COMPUTER HAS BEEN STOLEN! GUYS! IT'S GONE. IT'S BEEN STOLEN. IT'S NOT ANYWHERE. THEY TOOK IT. THEY TOOK MY COMPUTER." 

After about 15 seconds of scanning the room, I interrupted her and asked, "Hey, wait-- is that it by your foot?" 

Turns out, it was. 

Other notable examples are her expressions, hand motions and come on-- have you ever seen the girl dance

Well, this past Saturday morning, after patiently awaiting for weeks, Frances and I sat down on our computers to buy tickets to Frances' favorite band, Radiohead. She convinced me that going to one of their concerts would change my life for the better and there was absolutely no more of a constructive way to spend my money. Although I have yet to fully listen to one Radiohead song and I typically shy away from any sort of music that doesn't allow me to sing along to a bubblegummy chorus, I opted in. 

So there we sat. Waiting for 10:00 am to roll around, knowing that we had to work fast because this concert would definitely sell out.

2 minutes. 

1 minute. 

Go. 

And then this happened. 

If you want to watch Frances go from total elation to emotional low back to total elation, please watch the video below. 

If you want to watch me go from mostly ambivalence to least supportive friend ever back to mostly ambivalence, please watch the video below.

Seriously, I have probably watched this about 8 times now and it never stops being funny. And not just because I'm in it. 




Dreaming of Iceland.

Could this week be going any slower?

I've been killing major time with designing mock-ups of my new Alfred Lord Tennyson inspired T-shirt Designs (more on this later) and pretending I'm in Iceland.

What have you been doing this week? Please tell me.




Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Things I Like Today


1. My Uggs. 
ugg
Me in my Uggs doing a happy dance.

Uggs are widely regarded as some of fashion's biggest faux pas, but I just can't seem to kick the habit. Call me "uggsessed," if you will.  If you are picturing me as one of those terrible women who wears Uggs A) in the summer B) with skirts or C) with a skirt in the summer, how dare you? I am not that tragic. I do, however, love to pull mine (which, by the way, are actually the distant and cheaper cousin of Ugg, the Emu) on when I wake up in the early morning and can't yet mentally get to the place of considering tying shoe laces or (dare I even say it) zipping up my real boots. They're old. They're dirty. 40% of the fur is missing from the lining and I even had to sew a part of the edge after it tore one morning. But I just can't quit them. As I type this post, I glance down to my cozy feet and the Emu's that have warmed them since I got them as a birthday gift in 5th grade (don't judge-- my feet matured early, ok?) and I smile because I know that no matter how many more fashion classes I take or judgmental looks I get, these bad boys aren't going anywhere, baby. EMU'S 4 LYFE.

(But this video is pretty funny)



2. My Current Reads

Even after publicly outing myself in September about my reading habits (or lack thereof) not much has changed. I never finish books and that's just not a good look for me, so I am finally taking steps to change. Baby steps.

I just finished the hilarious Mindy Kaling's (of TV show, The Office) new book called Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns). It was HILARIOUS and the perfect light read for the end of the quarter that I could pick up when I had an extra minute. I read an excerpt back in May and I had been anxiously awaiting it's release ever since. She is basically my twin. Reading her thoughts on friendships, dieting, dating and work was as if scanned my brain, typed it out and got it published. I feel like I have been saying that a lot lately (enter New Girl and Bossypants), but that got me thinking... I think there is this new great generation or movement or whatever of women being able to be smart, funny, career women and wives and moms all while admitting weird flaws and insecurities. I feel like, and I'm still working out the details of this theory as I type, so give me a chance to be wrong here, but perhaps the days of "one or the other" are finally going away? To me it seemed that in the past, you're either a mom who loves staying home with her kids and devoting your life to creating a beautiful healthy family and marriage or a working woman who is addicted to her job resulting in a strained relationship, not knowing her children's favorite colors and having to wear terrible taupe pant suits everyday! Maybe smart, fun, hard working, relatable women are still trying to do it all, but becoming more and more open about their shortcomings along the way. Ok, that's all for now on the subject. Can you help me get off of my soap box?

And I have accidentally completely gone off topic. Oops. Ok, just buy the book. Read it. And you will know me better.


Today, I just picked up another book called Wildwood written by Colin Meloy of The Decemberists with beautiful illustrations by his wife Carson Ellis. I read a good review of it this morning on a blog I read called Design Sponge and she sold me on it so well, that I made my way to Barnes and Noble an hour later to buy it. She even liked it so much that she's getting a new tattoo inspired by it! When I asked the guy at B&N to show me where it was, we started to walk right into the heart of the teen section. I was a bit confused for a minute and wondered if I should be stepping up my game and reading something a little more edgy, but then I saw that it was right on the shelf next to Twilight and The Hunger Games and I knew that I was in good company. I can't wait to start it as soon as finals are over.

So, see? I may not be the world's greatest reader yet, but I'm baby steppin'! I'm doing the work!

3. Marcel the Shell Sequel

I love Marcel the Shell. Last year when her first video was released on youtube, I must have watched it close to 50 times. If you're thinking, "Wow, how embarrassing-- she has way too much time on her hands," A) Yes, technically you are correct, I do have a lot of time to kill, but B) You've obviously never watched Marcel the Shell.

Today, I bring you good tidings of great joy and announce that, ladies and gentlemen, WE HAVE A SEQUEL. FINALLY. And it's amazing. I've already watched it 4 times and quoted it twice.

Here is the original (for those of you who live under a rock and never saw it)



...And here is the new one. Enjoy.



So, that's all. Sorry about the video overload, but I have been meaning to blog about each of these things individually for forever, and I figured why not jam it into one mega post.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Week 10.

Well, that was fun, wasn't it? I blinked and Fall quarter 2011 is already over. How in the world did this happen? Yes, I am in the midst of finals and I still have this week of classes to attend, but we're here; We're at the part of the quarter when I stop going to the grocery store to finish all of the pre-existing food in my fridge, the part where I start to mull over each pair of shoes wondering if they deserve a coveted spot in my limited spaced suitcases and get to make the journey back to the west coast with me, the part where I have conflicted emotions about being excited to see my family and spend time with the people I miss, but also sad about leaving my Savannah family for a whopping 6 weeks.

Yep. This time next week, California will be getting me back whether they like it or not and it's going to take 6 weeks to get rid of me again. Tough.

So, as I sit in Shakespeare one last time wasting the 2 and a half hours of blah blah blah ahead of me, I give you...

THE TOP 6 MOMENTS OF THE FALL QUARTER!!!!
In chronological order... 


1. Moving into our beautiful home. I have been excited to live in my own place literally, since I can remember. It always symbolized being an adult and being able to take care of myself. I can't say that I totally feel like an adult or that I am 100% capable of taking care of myself, but living on my own has been the most amazing challenge resulting in priceless growth in just 10 short weeks. And yeah, I feel like I have done pretty darn well rising to the challenge, if I do say so myself.


2. My birthday! I turned 20. My roommates rocked. We at Sushi. I wore a red dress. One of the best birthdays ever. Nuf said. 




3. The week of October 3rd to October 9th. This week... I don't even know where to begin. So so much happened in just 6 days that, looking back already makes me laugh. It is so impossible to choose one of the events of this week as something that trumps another event because IT WAS ALL SO HORRIBLE! Let me refresh your memories: Exploding Toilets, Exploding Power box, Film Festival Fail, Lack of sleep, Brunch... I am going to stop myself now.  





4. Extreme Midget Wrestling. Although ultimately there were no midgets and no wrestling on this night, it remains as one of the most memorable and fun nights of the quarter. More laughing than any other night and a gelato run salvaged what could have turned into a giant bust. Charleston, we'll be back and we expect midgets this time. 


5. Charlotte. Going to Charlotte never fails to completely refresh me. Even with a disgusting stomach flu that threatened to put a damper on our perfect weekend, visiting the Barnhardts was a perfect post-finals pick-me-up. 


This was the only real group picture of the weekend. It still counts.  

6. Corn Maze. The corn maze was the perfect Autumn day that I have always wanted. This along with the great company of my roommates and our friends Jeff, Tyler and Sam made me so incredibly full of Fall joy. 



And there you have it. Another extremely successful, fun, challenging, growing, blessed quarter here in Savannah. 

I've just got to power through 3 more days of classes! Wish me luck!


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Lumberjack Chic

Julia


OL: What are you most looking forward to in the near future?
JP: Eating Seafood. In Newport Beach. With my family.

OL: Finish this sentence. Nobody appreciates me, but someday, I’ll even the score by…
JP: Designing all of their wedding dresses.

OL: Name one piece of clothing you can’t live without?
JP: My lucky underwear.
OL: Oh. She went there.

OL: Which are you: Crazy, Sexy, Cool?
JP: Obviously Sexy.  

OL: What word always makes you laugh?
JP: Ceviche. Because when I hear it, I can hear my mom pronouncing it wrong. And then I can hear Kaitlin and I making fun of her for it.

OL: What is your favorite Pandora station?
JP: When I’m trying to be cool and impress people, it’s like usually something like The Decemberists or something like that, but when I’m by myself, it’s definitely Keith Urban.

OL: Who do you identify with most? Kate, Pippa or Camilla?
JP: I’m gonna go off book here and say Fergie.

OL: What is on the top of your Christmas wish list?
JP: Ummm… Justin Bieber. No. I want Justin Bieber wrapped in bacon.
CB: Ew. raw bacon?
JP: No, no, no. Justin Bieber, singing holiday songs to me as he cooks me bacon.
...And a light box.

10 things that make you terribly happy:
  1. Crunchy Leaves
  2. Being good at something
  3. Reorganizing Furniture
  4. The moment when you are walking people out of your house and closing the door and thinking, “That was really fun.”
  5. Writing. And writing this blog. And this blog. (Separate but equal)
  6. Good Design… like something that is so good, that it makes me mad. 
  7. The 29th day in February
  8. Scones and Mighty Leaf Vanilla Tea
  9. An unexpected voicemail. Or letter, or text, or e-mail. I just like when people want to talk to me.
  10. Lake Almanor

Friday, November 11, 2011

Black Beauty

Spencer



JP: What are you most looking forward to in the near future?
SM: Justin Bieber Christmas CD.

JP: Finish this sentence. Nobody appreciates me, but someday, I’ll even the score by…
SM: Mooning them.

JP: Name one piece of clothing you can’t live without?
SM: My green parka. And my jewels.

JP: Which are you: Crazy, Sexy, Cool?
SM: Crazysexycool. All together. Mush em.

JP: What word always makes you laugh?
SM: Bro

JP: What is your favorite Pandora station?
SM: Norah Jones

JP: Who do you identify with most? Kate, Pippa or Camilla?
SM: I don’t even know who those people are. Who are those people?
JP: Didn’t you watch any royal family wedding coverage last year?
SM: Oh. I just like their horses.

JP: What is on the top of your Christmas wish list?
SM: I have two things. This vintage sapphire ring. And an Eno Hammock with a pod around it so no bugs will bite me when I’m sleeping outside.

10 things that make you terribly happy:
  1. Stale Peeps
  2. My turtle float in the creek
  3. Laughing
  4. 90’s music
  5. A hammock on a nice day
  6. A big fat rainy day and a big fat book… or a movie
  7. Bonfires… s’mores
  8. 4th of july on the beach
  9. Kayaking adventures and the water
  10. And most importantly, a big thanks to the people who make my life as amazing, cool, funny, glamorous, fantastic, happy, joyful, super, magical and majestic as it is… (but seriously, I love you)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Knitten Kitten

Frances



JP: What are you most looking forward to in the near future?
FR: I am truly excited to scream and run through the corn maze this weekend. And I am very excited to go to Sitapas in Dallas.

JP: Finish this sentence. Nobody appreciates me, but someday, I’ll even the score by…
FR: Never cleaning the kitchen.

JP: Name one piece of clothing you can’t live without?
FR: It’s either my gray suede shoes or my new cool wedge ones that I just got.
OL: No, you have to pick one.
FR: Fine. Neither of them. My moccasins that have no soles.

JP: Which are you: Crazy, Sexy, Cool?
FR: That’s really hard. Sometimes I think I’m cool. But, I’m not cool as in some people’s kind of cool. I would say crazy. But I’m not really crazy either. This is confusing.
SM: So what are you?
FR: I would say I’m cool.

JP: What word always makes you laugh?
FR: Baby.

JP: What is your favorite Pandora station?
FR: That’s easy. Sufjan.

JP: Who do you identify with most? Kate, Pippa or Camilla?
FR: Middleton Sisters. Hmm. I don’t know anything about them. This is awkward. I can’t adequately answer that. 

JP: What is on the top of your Christmas wish list?
FR: I would like some yarn making supplies. I would like to have the Carters where you sort through the fine fibers and you can make the yarn from there and I would like a ball winder. Both of these things are quite expensive and I will not buy them myself. Please, Mom and Dad, I’m asking you for help.

10 things that make you terribly happy:
  1. Sitting with my sisters planning my future coffee shop
  2. Eating at Sitapas
  3. Impromptu family dance parties 
  4. Santa Fe Snow-ins
  5. Card games and Radiohead (Both) (Better together)
  6. Morning fog in Africa
  7. My blanket’s (“Blank Blank”) frigid temperatures
  8. Shutting myself in and having a creative day
  9. White toast and cold cocoa for breakfast with my grandparents
  10. Going on an adventure for the sake of pictures and conversation