Wow I had a million post ideas and now I've forgotten them all.
Random thoughts:
1. I love eavesdropping on strangers in the elevator, at a restaurant, outside a classroom and trying to guess whether they are good friends or acquaintances trying to make small talk, and whether both parties are into the conversation or not.
2. movies that I've watched that I sometimes wonder how many people my age have watched them
--Copycat
--Jackal
--Hilary and Jackie
--Species II
--The Deep end of the ocean
--The Edge
--Young Catherine
and movies I think I'll never find again because they weren't that good.
There was that movie where a daughter is really excited and preparing for some sort of party and then an intruder comes in and starts rudely upending everything while she's screaming until he drops some glass/ice sculpture over her.
There was this Chinese movie with a man and two women and from my memory he was nice to one
and mean to the other, so mean that he threw her down the stairs and then dumped her in the tub and seemed to make a soup out of her but that might be my imagination
There was this other Chinese movie where this old senile grandpa would make a sandwich out of two slices of bread and what looked like a thick slab of cream cheese/ tofu. One day he was really losing it and he used a thick slab of bar soap instead.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Sunday, January 29, 2012
the lady and the gentleman (and the tomboy, drag queen, etc)
femininity is the essence of being female; and in this day and age it encompasses a wide range of physical and emotional and behavioral attributes. from the delicate "girliness" we generally associate with the term to overstepping androgynity and into the territory of "masculinity," whose character is noticeably more conservative and rigid in comparison to his sister counterpart. The boundlessness femininity has achieved --though confusing--is undoubtedly liberating. Should we allow masculinity the same fluidity it will not only enable the same freedom of expression, but ultimately allow the gradual erasure of hampering stereotypes* for the benefit of both (all) genders.
* Yes, I do not think all stereotypes are harmful. Or rather, I do think some (or maybe all) are formed from some degree of truth (or the perception of it). And to continue beating the dead horse, I do not think it is effective to blame the stereotypes; instead we must figure out WHY they arise. Because always the disease never the symptoms, right?? (that second question mark was extremely neccessary).
* Yes, I do not think all stereotypes are harmful. Or rather, I do think some (or maybe all) are formed from some degree of truth (or the perception of it). And to continue beating the dead horse, I do not think it is effective to blame the stereotypes; instead we must figure out WHY they arise. Because always the disease never the symptoms, right?? (that second question mark was extremely neccessary).
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Other people's jewelry: Ariel Gordon Jewelry Makes me Sad
these days, it seems like anyone can be a jewelry designer.
There's no better person to illustrate this point than Ariel Gordon, publicist turned self-proclaimed jewelry "designer." But alas, while everyone is a designer these days, the proof is in the pudding. Though her biography and blog boast colorful sources of inspiration and a deliberate study in metal-smithing, her jewelry indicates otherwise. Aside from the double birthstone ring, there is not one "design" I haven't seen before. From the simplistic stacking rings to the to messy leather bracelets to the tired-out rich girl's silk+chain friendship bracelet, the e-commerce shop might as well have been a retailer rather than Ariel's own store.
Deja Vu?
I can't help but feel guilty for my disdain. From the photos, Ariel looks like a true sweetheart (I'm very good at reading faces) the kind of happy-go-lucky gal that smiles easily without thought, mustering a laugh even when the going gets tough, readily praising fellow designers and idols for their creativity. What's more, it is obvious that she works very, very hard. Her pride at landing this magazine and that celebrity when sometimes for stretches of time you're not sure what you're doing where you're going or if it's even worth it, and all of sudden that piece of press makes it all worthwhile, is something every passionate designer identifies with.
And minimalistic does not necessarily mean lack of creativity. Everyone wants to make that quintessential gold band even though brandlesss jewelry stores sell them a dime a dozen, we want to make our OWN simple thing gold band. Nearly identical heart and circle outlines are a hipster epidemic. However, these simple basics are usually nestled among a designer/brands own signature designs. Me & Ro, Jennifer Meyer, Melissa Joy Manning, Finn these designers were either the pioneers of the delicate, minimalist, organic, or hammered aesthetic, or they have sought a way to make it their own. But when everyone else's designs ARE your signature designs, then who are you? At the very least Tory-Burch-it and slap a logo on that bad boy. Perhaps she is dedicated to growing her business, but to be enthused by her designs is hard to believe, it's like Zara saying they dream of creating innovative clothes.
Or maybe I'm too harsh. To be fair, designers are constantly inspired by what already exists in the world, that is the definition of creativity. Some of Ariel's pieces •are• uniquely hers, even if they are permutations of classic silhouettes, she has made them her own through her own interpretation.
Alright, these aren't so bad
I guess what really gets me is if all the designs are solely for the intention of trend-riding. It's true, we dudes gotta make a buck and that's what trends are for, but to love your craft, it's bigger than money.
What makes me sad is, is it really so easy to be a jewelry designer? The profession has been made a joke by those in the entertainment and fashion industry long enough. Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum, Iman, Nicole Richie, jump into a business meeting and then wham bam they have a line, unlike select few like Mary Kate and Ashley, Gwen Stefani, Victoria Beckham who have harnessed their celebrity to propel their art instead of pure commercialism. The fact that someone like Ariel has been successful is probably a good, fat percentage a product of expert marketing and carefully engineered networking connections and very little due to her "creativity" is very, very depressing.
It is ultimately hopeful when I think about it, that hey, true passionate connoisseurs for fashion and art have been able to tell the difference between McQueen and say, Sofia Vergara for Kmart.
This has also been a cautionary lesson for myself as I lightly tread the line between art and retail. Of late I've been drawn to creating little delicate pieces in an effort to cast a wider net to catch the largely conservative non-fashion world. While I still attempt to inject my own brand of whismy in every piece, admittedly for some pieces, my particular touch isn't so readily evident. (Case and point, there's only so many ways to do a bead chain ring). Ariel Gordon is a reminder to hold on to my point of view (my off-beat, surrealist leanings) even though not every (buyer) likes it. To tick off every cliché in the book, it's what makes my jewelry unique, nobody in the world has my exact point of view and aesthetic, persevere and my work will be noticed for what it is, not what it should be to get the most sales--that gimmick dies out eventually anyways. To the hundreds of designs still languishing in my sketchbooks, I have not forgotten you, I will not forget you.
I feel like the Anthony Bourdain of Jewelry. Politically Incorrect, Brash, and Probably Hypocritical.
There's no better person to illustrate this point than Ariel Gordon, publicist turned self-proclaimed jewelry "designer." But alas, while everyone is a designer these days, the proof is in the pudding. Though her biography and blog boast colorful sources of inspiration and a deliberate study in metal-smithing, her jewelry indicates otherwise. Aside from the double birthstone ring, there is not one "design" I haven't seen before. From the simplistic stacking rings to the to messy leather bracelets to the tired-out rich girl's silk+chain friendship bracelet, the e-commerce shop might as well have been a retailer rather than Ariel's own store.
Deja Vu?
I can't help but feel guilty for my disdain. From the photos, Ariel looks like a true sweetheart (I'm very good at reading faces) the kind of happy-go-lucky gal that smiles easily without thought, mustering a laugh even when the going gets tough, readily praising fellow designers and idols for their creativity. What's more, it is obvious that she works very, very hard. Her pride at landing this magazine and that celebrity when sometimes for stretches of time you're not sure what you're doing where you're going or if it's even worth it, and all of sudden that piece of press makes it all worthwhile, is something every passionate designer identifies with.
And minimalistic does not necessarily mean lack of creativity. Everyone wants to make that quintessential gold band even though brandlesss jewelry stores sell them a dime a dozen, we want to make our OWN simple thing gold band. Nearly identical heart and circle outlines are a hipster epidemic. However, these simple basics are usually nestled among a designer/brands own signature designs. Me & Ro, Jennifer Meyer, Melissa Joy Manning, Finn these designers were either the pioneers of the delicate, minimalist, organic, or hammered aesthetic, or they have sought a way to make it their own. But when everyone else's designs ARE your signature designs, then who are you? At the very least Tory-Burch-it and slap a logo on that bad boy. Perhaps she is dedicated to growing her business, but to be enthused by her designs is hard to believe, it's like Zara saying they dream of creating innovative clothes.
Or maybe I'm too harsh. To be fair, designers are constantly inspired by what already exists in the world, that is the definition of creativity. Some of Ariel's pieces •are• uniquely hers, even if they are permutations of classic silhouettes, she has made them her own through her own interpretation.
Alright, these aren't so bad
What makes me sad is, is it really so easy to be a jewelry designer? The profession has been made a joke by those in the entertainment and fashion industry long enough. Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum, Iman, Nicole Richie, jump into a business meeting and then wham bam they have a line, unlike select few like Mary Kate and Ashley, Gwen Stefani, Victoria Beckham who have harnessed their celebrity to propel their art instead of pure commercialism. The fact that someone like Ariel has been successful is probably a good, fat percentage a product of expert marketing and carefully engineered networking connections and very little due to her "creativity" is very, very depressing.
It is ultimately hopeful when I think about it, that hey, true passionate connoisseurs for fashion and art have been able to tell the difference between McQueen and say, Sofia Vergara for Kmart.
This has also been a cautionary lesson for myself as I lightly tread the line between art and retail. Of late I've been drawn to creating little delicate pieces in an effort to cast a wider net to catch the largely conservative non-fashion world. While I still attempt to inject my own brand of whismy in every piece, admittedly for some pieces, my particular touch isn't so readily evident. (Case and point, there's only so many ways to do a bead chain ring). Ariel Gordon is a reminder to hold on to my point of view (my off-beat, surrealist leanings) even though not every (buyer) likes it. To tick off every cliché in the book, it's what makes my jewelry unique, nobody in the world has my exact point of view and aesthetic, persevere and my work will be noticed for what it is, not what it should be to get the most sales--that gimmick dies out eventually anyways. To the hundreds of designs still languishing in my sketchbooks, I have not forgotten you, I will not forget you.
I feel like the Anthony Bourdain of Jewelry. Politically Incorrect, Brash, and Probably Hypocritical.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Hippie Beauty Remedies for Non-Hippies Part 3 : Products every half hippie should have
1. Yogurt and Salt
-for a weekly and biweekly scrub down. No exact measurements necessary. You get a spoonful of yogurt, a spoonful of salt, mix, and slather. GENTLY. easy peasy.
2. Witch Hazel--Non alcoholic swipe with a cotton pad all over your face and neck until no more dirt comes off. Watch redness calm down and your face start to glow. I like Thayer's because it's alcohol free, no worry of the overdrying-->over oil producing cycle
3. Jojoba oil--a few drops and rub all over face and neck, particularly in creases to plump up skin and erase wrinkles.
4. Plain old clover honey--a tablespoon mixed with a bit of water cover all areas of face and neck, leave on for no more than two minutes if you have sensitive skin. Voila! Moisturized dry patches and calm acne patches.
5. Sunscreen! I use moisturizer with SPF 15 everyday, rain or shine. I like Aveeno Ultra Calming (forget the exact name) for my sensitive skin.
That's all you need! Don't forget to eat healthy. Organic yogurt all the way--half of skin flareups come from a wonky intestinal track--get the good bacteria you need.
-for a weekly and biweekly scrub down. No exact measurements necessary. You get a spoonful of yogurt, a spoonful of salt, mix, and slather. GENTLY. easy peasy.
2. Witch Hazel--Non alcoholic swipe with a cotton pad all over your face and neck until no more dirt comes off. Watch redness calm down and your face start to glow. I like Thayer's because it's alcohol free, no worry of the overdrying-->over oil producing cycle
3. Jojoba oil--a few drops and rub all over face and neck, particularly in creases to plump up skin and erase wrinkles.
4. Plain old clover honey--a tablespoon mixed with a bit of water cover all areas of face and neck, leave on for no more than two minutes if you have sensitive skin. Voila! Moisturized dry patches and calm acne patches.
That's all you need! Don't forget to eat healthy. Organic yogurt all the way--half of skin flareups come from a wonky intestinal track--get the good bacteria you need.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Hippie Beauty Remedies for Non-Hippies Part 2
...I mixed a concoction of super sour organic yogurt and table salt and slathered it on gently in circular motions. It was great, the salt was exfoliated while the yogurt hydrated and softened, making it easier for dead cells to be polished away by the salt without overdrying (which would lead me back to the cycle of pimples) as well as cleansing itself with its lactic acid, steering me to the perfectly balanced skin I was looking for. I left it on for 15 minutes and washed away. My skin was poreless and glowy, my broken capillaries finally silent again. It was like my own cheap version of Sabon's Face Polisher.
I did this for the rest of the week, leaving the unpalatable mixture in the fridge where the coldness further calmed the skin as well as let the concoction develop a satisfying thick consistency. Gradually my skin returned to my original state, nearly pimple-less yet still moisturized.
With some leftover honey, a did a honey wash as well--known for its antibacterial properties it was great for my eczema prone and acne prone skin. Don't leave it on for too long though, a 2-3 minute massage and wash is good enough.
I tried some witch hazel as cleanser/toner, man did that leave my skin clean. I love and hate when I see all the weird stuff that's been sitting on my face, and boy did my skin glow.
Jojoba to moisturize. Use the right amount and you'll kill eczema and acne in one fell swoop. Too much and you'll beckon acne right back again. Glowy soft skin.
Words of Experience:
1. I hope you can take these remedies and improve your own skin. I know every now and then a fad pops off with dozens of women boasting they haven't washed their hair with store bought shampoos in forever and that their hair is BETTER than EVER while all the first of us see is a lanky mop on their heads and untweezed eyebrows. But guess what, I still use shampoo. I still use sunscreen. I still have my tiny emergency tube of salicylic acid. That doesn't mean these remedies don't work, I'm saying it's a balance. There is no miracle cure, it's a combination of treatments, You have healthy skin everyday, you don't have to worry about apocalyptic breakouts. But human creations still work, my friends.
2. Don't overdo it. Americans have the tendency to latch onto a "miracle" cure-all from mother nature, slab it on by the ton, and when that backfires, they angrily declare that it's a phony. Well of COURSE if you leave the honey overnight you're going to have some sensitivity, OF COURSE if you drop have the bottle of jojoba on your face you're going to break out, it's ALL ABOUT MODERATION. Salt makes food taste good. So does garlic. Does that mean you're going to add as much salt and garlic to a dish to make it taste good?
3. Some foods are better left for eating. Does green tea work? Does lemon juice? I don't really know. I've definitely not seen any harm (lemon juice you shouldn't leave on for more than a minute though) but I haven't seen enough of a benefit. I'm telling you, some foods will do many more wonders for your skin and body in you ingest them rather than slather them on the surface. Eat fish, don't rub the oil on your face. Eat avocados, don't leave them in your hair.
4. Eat healthy. Eating a cheeseburger everyday and using these remedies aren't going to do a load of help. Try a banana, and save the splurges for the weekend. ( I still like cheeseburgers).
4. Everything is connected. You don't treat dry skin OR pimples, they both come from the same problem. Combination skin isn't such a radical idea, it's just human skin.
Next post: The last part!
I did this for the rest of the week, leaving the unpalatable mixture in the fridge where the coldness further calmed the skin as well as let the concoction develop a satisfying thick consistency. Gradually my skin returned to my original state, nearly pimple-less yet still moisturized.
With some leftover honey, a did a honey wash as well--known for its antibacterial properties it was great for my eczema prone and acne prone skin. Don't leave it on for too long though, a 2-3 minute massage and wash is good enough.
I tried some witch hazel as cleanser/toner, man did that leave my skin clean. I love and hate when I see all the weird stuff that's been sitting on my face, and boy did my skin glow.
Jojoba to moisturize. Use the right amount and you'll kill eczema and acne in one fell swoop. Too much and you'll beckon acne right back again. Glowy soft skin.
Words of Experience:
1. I hope you can take these remedies and improve your own skin. I know every now and then a fad pops off with dozens of women boasting they haven't washed their hair with store bought shampoos in forever and that their hair is BETTER than EVER while all the first of us see is a lanky mop on their heads and untweezed eyebrows. But guess what, I still use shampoo. I still use sunscreen. I still have my tiny emergency tube of salicylic acid. That doesn't mean these remedies don't work, I'm saying it's a balance. There is no miracle cure, it's a combination of treatments, You have healthy skin everyday, you don't have to worry about apocalyptic breakouts. But human creations still work, my friends.
2. Don't overdo it. Americans have the tendency to latch onto a "miracle" cure-all from mother nature, slab it on by the ton, and when that backfires, they angrily declare that it's a phony. Well of COURSE if you leave the honey overnight you're going to have some sensitivity, OF COURSE if you drop have the bottle of jojoba on your face you're going to break out, it's ALL ABOUT MODERATION. Salt makes food taste good. So does garlic. Does that mean you're going to add as much salt and garlic to a dish to make it taste good?
3. Some foods are better left for eating. Does green tea work? Does lemon juice? I don't really know. I've definitely not seen any harm (lemon juice you shouldn't leave on for more than a minute though) but I haven't seen enough of a benefit. I'm telling you, some foods will do many more wonders for your skin and body in you ingest them rather than slather them on the surface. Eat fish, don't rub the oil on your face. Eat avocados, don't leave them in your hair.
4. Eat healthy. Eating a cheeseburger everyday and using these remedies aren't going to do a load of help. Try a banana, and save the splurges for the weekend. ( I still like cheeseburgers).
4. Everything is connected. You don't treat dry skin OR pimples, they both come from the same problem. Combination skin isn't such a radical idea, it's just human skin.
Next post: The last part!
Hippie Beauty Remedies for Non-Hippies Part 1
Homemade Remedies. We get way too excited about them knowing that they're "free." But there's always that nagging feeling of "sure it sounds nice, smells nice, feels nice, but is it really doing anything or is it just the glorious placebo effect* of slathering honey and salt on my face? Here I'm going to say which remedies actually work and which are better left for eating for now.
HOW IT ALL STARTED:
So this summer (summer always ravages my sensitive skin--sun and sweat...mmmm) I developed a whole field of under-the-skin almost-pimples across my forehead. At first I was only slightly perturbed, blaming it on the sun and sweat and humidity at all. I figured, once it was back-to-school season, my skin would get back to its relatively low-maintenance state.
BUT IT DIDN'T. Sure, I was probably a little impatient waiting for an overnight recovery, but I was not used to this! See, I have dry, sensitive skin, prone to red blotchiness when it's too hot and horrible rashes that have their own eras, but pimples were not supposed to be my problem. Other than a habit of Spf 15 everyday ( DO IT), I had no strict regimen of skin patrol. Sure I always was interested in skin care more so than make up, but I really didn't have to worry about it to the point of washing my face with cleanser once a week. Although I had my host of crazy allergies and eczema--on the whole, my skin was pretty healthy, constantly garnering envy of makeup-free even-ness and non-ruddiness, which I didn't appreciate (doesn't everyone have okay skin?).
But this, the under the cover little bumps that I was smug to discover on other peoples face --the at first glance facade of even tone but in a certain light...yep, there they were, the bumps--was not ME. Exacerbated by my new found ruddiness of inadequate sunscreen application during hours of outdoor swimming--I mourned my once carefree skin. Was this forever? was this the inevitable result of aging?
So I treated, and treated and treated. Aggresively, attempting to dry those little suckers out. Daily spreads of salicylic acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, those intense deep cleaning cleanser that double as masks, toothpaste, listerine. I'd do it for an hour, I'd do it overnight. Initially I got results, the bumps cooperatively reduced. However, no effect. Whether it never truly worked in the first place--the alcohol just temporarily dried them out--or the overzealous method made my skin turn on itself churning out oil in the desert of my forehead like it was a mid-revolution Arab country--i think it was a combination of both. I would wash my face every moment I head, imagining a clean and sterile state, bacteria dying on the spot.
But that wasn't how it worked. The strong chemicals didn't give my skin a chance to recover, but I couldn't just NOT wash my face--in my delicate state that would just breed more of those HAH you can't treat me because i'm not a real pimple yet little bitches.
Sometime during this state of crisis I decided to start buying food from trader joe's be healthy, and also got a cold--amassing a collection of sour organic yogurt, green tea, salt, and honey. Mid- grimace (dude it's so sour) during a healthy breakfast I spilled some yogurt on my arm (emily post I am not) and then lightbulb in my head--I should use yogurt to clean my face!
To be Continued...
*You can also go to a very expensive spa and get this very expensive placebo effect
HOW IT ALL STARTED:
So this summer (summer always ravages my sensitive skin--sun and sweat...mmmm) I developed a whole field of under-the-skin almost-pimples across my forehead. At first I was only slightly perturbed, blaming it on the sun and sweat and humidity at all. I figured, once it was back-to-school season, my skin would get back to its relatively low-maintenance state.
BUT IT DIDN'T. Sure, I was probably a little impatient waiting for an overnight recovery, but I was not used to this! See, I have dry, sensitive skin, prone to red blotchiness when it's too hot and horrible rashes that have their own eras, but pimples were not supposed to be my problem. Other than a habit of Spf 15 everyday ( DO IT), I had no strict regimen of skin patrol. Sure I always was interested in skin care more so than make up, but I really didn't have to worry about it to the point of washing my face with cleanser once a week. Although I had my host of crazy allergies and eczema--on the whole, my skin was pretty healthy, constantly garnering envy of makeup-free even-ness and non-ruddiness, which I didn't appreciate (doesn't everyone have okay skin?).
But this, the under the cover little bumps that I was smug to discover on other peoples face --the at first glance facade of even tone but in a certain light...yep, there they were, the bumps--was not ME. Exacerbated by my new found ruddiness of inadequate sunscreen application during hours of outdoor swimming--I mourned my once carefree skin. Was this forever? was this the inevitable result of aging?
So I treated, and treated and treated. Aggresively, attempting to dry those little suckers out. Daily spreads of salicylic acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, those intense deep cleaning cleanser that double as masks, toothpaste, listerine. I'd do it for an hour, I'd do it overnight. Initially I got results, the bumps cooperatively reduced. However, no effect. Whether it never truly worked in the first place--the alcohol just temporarily dried them out--or the overzealous method made my skin turn on itself churning out oil in the desert of my forehead like it was a mid-revolution Arab country--i think it was a combination of both. I would wash my face every moment I head, imagining a clean and sterile state, bacteria dying on the spot.
But that wasn't how it worked. The strong chemicals didn't give my skin a chance to recover, but I couldn't just NOT wash my face--in my delicate state that would just breed more of those HAH you can't treat me because i'm not a real pimple yet little bitches.
Sometime during this state of crisis I decided to start buying food from trader joe's be healthy, and also got a cold--amassing a collection of sour organic yogurt, green tea, salt, and honey. Mid- grimace (dude it's so sour) during a healthy breakfast I spilled some yogurt on my arm (emily post I am not) and then lightbulb in my head--I should use yogurt to clean my face!
To be Continued...
*You can also go to a very expensive spa and get this very expensive placebo effect
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Simple recipes (now that I have mastered boiling water)
Hah you thought I was joking about simple...
For one or two or three on a midweek evening with minimal supplies and minimal kitchen. If you can buy fresh basil all the time, you're too shmancy for this shit.
butter pasta:
1. pasta of your choice ( I like rotini)
2. parmesan cheese
3. fresh butter
4. black pepper
5. salt
Optional seasonings that spice up your dish: red pepper flakes, garlic salt, or onion salt.
serve with veggies of your choice
dice tomato pasta
1. pasta of your choice
2. parmesan cheese (I like parmesan cheese)
3. butter or olive oil
4. an herb: parsley, basil, or thyme.
5. garlic
6. salt
7. tomatoes! canned or fresh. If fresh I prefer to sautee them real quick first to bring out the flavors of those out-of-season suckers.
For one or two or three on a midweek evening with minimal supplies and minimal kitchen. If you can buy fresh basil all the time, you're too shmancy for this shit.
butter pasta:
1. pasta of your choice ( I like rotini)
2. parmesan cheese
3. fresh butter
4. black pepper
5. salt
Optional seasonings that spice up your dish: red pepper flakes, garlic salt, or onion salt.
serve with veggies of your choice
dice tomato pasta
1. pasta of your choice
2. parmesan cheese (I like parmesan cheese)
3. butter or olive oil
4. an herb: parsley, basil, or thyme.
5. garlic
6. salt
7. tomatoes! canned or fresh. If fresh I prefer to sautee them real quick first to bring out the flavors of those out-of-season suckers.
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