Weekend Reads: Links to the Strange and the Beautiful

I hope you will all be finding a little bliss this weekend...I am going to find some, somewhere, amidst all the work I have to do!

I'm not sure if you noticed the new icon on the right side, but I have joined the legions on Twitter. So, if you are a Tweeter [is that what they are called?], follow me and I'll follow you...somewhere.

Here are some fantastic links for your weekend reading pleasure. Cheers, my dears!!!

♥ Sweet and sassy: 1930's beachwear on Allure

♥ You'll get lost in the interesting articles and gorgeous vintage images on the Digital Library for Decorative Arts.

♥Be inspired by the super-short, but stunningly poetic stories and recipes from artist and writer Jen Altman

♥Want a basic tutorial on wine? Check out the virtual wine-tasting at Belle Maison

♥ A playlist for fashionistas: the top 10 songs with fashion references on Refinery 29

♥Victorian denim? Fabsugar features Current/Elliott's new collection.

♥ Atlas Obscura shares amazing places to add to your list of must-visit-destinations on this compendium of the world's wonders, curiosities, and Esoterica.

♥ In love with the 70's?? Check out Camp Comfort for how to pull off 70's fashion all the time.

5 Things that Make Me Happy...

I recently got tagged by the magnificent Mothersvea, and she wanted me to share 5 things that make me happy. It was really hard to pick only five...

♥Style

Style does not necessarily mean fashion, and vice versa. Style transcends wealth and prestige. Sometimes it is pre-meditated, sometimes it is natural. It can be good design, a thoughful arrangement, a personal eccentricity, or a mysterious trait you cannot quite put your finger on. I think style makes the world a place worth living, because it requires consciousness and attention to detail...it makes the everyday into something amazing.

♥My Boyfriend

What can I say? My world would be pretty boring and lonely without him to share it with. He makes me laugh. He challenges me. He enlightens me. He respects me. He rocks.

♥Delicious Food

I love food. I think about food constantly. I dream of food. It is a passion. I like cooking it, but I REALLY like eating it. I will try anything almost once. I love fried chicken just as much as I like fois gras. I like street food as much as I like 5 star restaurants. I want to travel the world and try all the yummy food from sea to shining sea. [This painting makes me laugh -- it is by one of my favorite pop artists, Ed Ruscha].

♥A Good Read

Magazines. Blogs. Classics. Philosophy. Low-brow. I don't judge -- if it stimulates my mind, makes me laugh, makes me think, makes me angry, makes me scared, or just plain entertains me, I'm happy! And yes, I read Foucault when I was three years old...just kidding.

♥Music

I'm an equal-opportunity music-listener. I love old country music, French pop, 80's new wave, hip-hop, southern rock, indie, disco, 50's rockabilly, classical, psychedelic. I have a ridiculously large music collection, and I download new stuff every week. I must have it all!! How fantastic is this old-school picture of Madonna, by the way??

I am tagging Loose Leaf Tigers, Kirafashion, The Chickadees Nest, My Special Stash, and Greedy Girl. What makes you happy????

Current Obsession: Red Eyeshadow

Inspired by my recent passion for Chan Wook-Park's violent but redemptive film Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, I am craving blood-red shadow like the beautiful protagonist Geum-ja wears...

This lovely French lady below pulls it off perfectly somehow, without looking over-the-top. I think fair skin and dark hair might be key!

From Easy Fashion Paris

I really like the idea of a bit of sparkle...

Siren Magic Dust

kryolan eyeshadow

Recent incarnations:



What do you think?? Is red shadow something you would consider trying?

Things You Never Knew You Needed until Now...

Straw Top Hat from Ergy Erg

Vintage typewriter from Poetic Home

Spicy Mayan dark chocolate by Have it Confections


Camille Neck Cuff by Efia Fair

Peacock Blue Clutch by Clutch That

I Read Banned Books Tee by Alimd

Rock Crystal Lamp from Cote de Texas

Caviar Ring by Bulfinch Barbary

Art Nouveau hand-built bowl by Deborah Gordon

Mod Round Velvet Pillow from Urban Outfitters

Monday Mischief: A Big Hug and Kiss

I promise to resume my normal blogging tomorrow and cease with the spilling-of-my-guts! But, today I just wanted to send out a big hug and kiss to all of my friends and readers who did not take my "fishing" for feedback as a sign of weakness, but rather took it as an opportunity to share our experiences as bloggers and fellow humans -- both the pitfalls and the fulfilling bits! I am feeling very at peace today about the whole thing, and feel much more connected and in-tune with my readers and fellow bloggers.

xoxo

I rarely allow myself to indulge or pay attention to negative emotions relating to my blog [it's supposed to be fun, right?]. But, what I found is that with the freedom and creativity that blogging brings you, a certain sense of ownership and dedication follows. It is this sense of passion and ownership that is often not translated to those outside of the blog-world. What results can often be a feeling of alienation or a sense that other people around us don't care or understand what an important part of our lives blogging is -- we work hard to create, research, organize, compile, collect, think, ponder, search, and explore -- but for those who do not read or write blogs, this does not necessarily come across or make sense. I have had so much excellent, productive feedback over the past few days, and I just wanted to share some suggestions people have given for how to deal with this issue of our blog-lives not interacting harmoniously with our real-lives:

• Other folks talk about their lives, their interests, and their work, so when people ask about us about ourselves, we should talk about what we have been working on, blog included [seems obvious, right?].

• When we write something that we think someone we know might find interesting, instead of waiting for them to read it on the blog and give feedback [which I've learned lots of people hate to do], e-mail them the link -- this makes it feel more personal anyway.

• Just try to remember that for every one person who leaves a comment, there are probably a hundred who do not...but that doesn't mean there aren't people out there who didn't get something meaningful from a post.

• Learn to appreciate the anonymity that blogging can provide -- it is a platform to share another part of ourselves that we might keep hidden away otherwise; this can be very cathartic and fulfilling.

• Or on the other hand, just tell friends and family how important your blog is to you! They might not realize it unless you explain it. If you are kind enough to ask them about their jobs, their child, their hobby, their work, then they should be polite enough to ask about or check in on your blog every now and again!

• Remember why you started your blog to begin with -- was it for personal fulfillment? To create a new community? Sometimes we just have to remember that not everyone in our lives can be there for us in every way...different people fulfill different needs, and just because they don't "get" what you blog about doesn't mean they don't love you!

• Reach out to people [I'm so happy that I did]. This can actually draw you closer -- sharing your feelings and your anxieties makes you more human and creates a sense of intimacy. You discover that other people deal with many of the same issues and difficulties...and it makes you feel less alienated.

• Follow the "do unto others" motto: the more you share, comment, conversate, show interest, and give feedback to others [both in blogging and in life], the more you will receive.

• Lastly, remember that your blog is not "you." This constructed identity [no matter how honest we are on our blogs] is not the real YOU. It is only one fragment of us and our complexities as people. Do not allow the constructed "you" to stand in or represent your true self.

Well loves, here's to many more years of blogging to come...