Thursday, February 28, 2013

...Favorite Picture? Yes. Favorite picture: Favorite Oscar Moment

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever, or really had an original idea in awhile.

Mostly I've been dealing with life things. Suffice it to say life is happening and I'm trimming my sails to get where I want it to take me.

I've got my Merlot/Lace all done but two buttons which are currently sold out at the store, boo. I don't want to post pictures until I'm in NYC. I haven't decided when to wear it yet. I have some important meetings/tours/occasions for dresses, but I don't think it'd be wise to wear it five days out of eight.

Hmm..can you tell this is one of my entries where I make myself start a new entry without knowing what it'll actually be about?

So...
Ok, I'll just share this as one of my favorite pictures. I posted it on Facebook, but I want everyone to enjoy it.

This was one of my favorite moments from the Oscars, mostly because Charlize Theron is my girl crush like woah. She's 5'10" (I'm taller) and Dustin Hoffman is 5'5". She's obviously in heels, but has no shame about being roughly 10" taller than Mr. Hoffman. Stand tall beautiful lady! And Dustin Hoffman's such a boss he rocks all 5'5"and makes her laugh, like he do.

I try my darndest not to slouch and I have no shame in wearing heels. Charlize Theron is my idol. I loved this moment and never wanted it to end. 

Monday, February 25, 2013

Oscars 2013: Best Dressed

Overall the show didn't wow me. I'm not blaming Seth MacFarlane. He's adorable and friend Alicia and I wanted to just eat him up and/or pet him the whole night. Pet him? Yeah, maybe.

We talked through a lot of it, which if you know me means it couldn't have been that great (or that Alicia and I just talk, a lot )...I'm fairly certain I missed most of the craziest jokes. I did love Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum dancing (where did  that come from?), and all the pretty pretty boys in the opening.

I saw very few of the films that were nominated this year. Basically just Les Mis...yep, that's it.

I felt like the fashions were nothing particularly special and many wore what they always seem to wear. A lot of beads and sequins and bullion and embellishments this year. I'm over it.

There was also a trend of poorly fitted busts. Leaving the rest out of it, Jennifer Lawrence's bust fit so poorly. Same with Jennifer Aniston's and many others that either needed a lot more structure or just got crumpled and were rather sad looking.

Anyway, here you go.
Charlize Theron in Dior.
She's my major girl crush and will always be.
Short hair goddess in white.
Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen.
Was better on film. I was on the fence about this dress for awhile,
but when she doesn't slouch her shoulders and collapse
the neckline and when you get the full shot it's rather divine. 
Jessica Chastain in Armani
This gown is the perfect color between her skin and hair.
It's also beautifully beaded without being overwhelming.
Kerry Washinton in Mui Mui
This dress also grew on me.
I didn't like it so much on the red carpet.
BUT, the skirt sold me during her presentation.
The color is amazing. I am not sick of coral yet. 
Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji
Either Octavia or her stylist knows how to dress this woman.
 Last year she was stunning, this year as well. 
Queen Latifah in Badgley Mischka
She looked better than any other Chicago performer.
Seeing her on stage giving an award to Adele made my life. 


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Pause for Bollywood

Can we all pause to remind ourselves how great Bollywood is? I mean really. And tonight I think I decided that yes, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is my all time favorite Bollywood movie. It's got SRK, which is a MUST for me. Kajol is also a must as the heroine. Rani Mukerji I could take or leave, but she's fine in this one. The story is phenomenal, it's a family comedy/ridiculously sexy love story, the music is fantastic, it's a Karan Johar film, and my girl Farah Khan did the choreography. Yeah, it's as cheeseballs as it gets, but I'm a sucker for it all.

I.just.love.this.movie.

You can't tell me this isn't sexy as hell.


Or that this isn't absolutely adorbs.


Some other Bollywood highlights that should make a list of favorites:

DDLJ, The longest showing Bollywood film ever. Kajol and SRK are so wee!


From Om Shanti Om


From Khabi Khushi Khabi Gham (which would win favorite, but SRK and Kajol don't run through it enough)


From Kal Ho Na Ho (which would win favorite, but it makes me cry too much)


And lest we forget Aishwarya and Madhuri from Devdas


Or just Aishwarya from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam singing about lemons



AAAAAAAnd SRK being a boss in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi




Gah, SRK is such sexy times.



New Book: The Wedding Dress

Late Christmas present.
The Wedding Dress: 300 Years of Bridal Fashions by Edwina Ehrman

It's by V&A Publishing and has a butt ton of super high quality photos of Victoria and Albert gowns with a history of the last 300 years of bridal fashion. It also has great photos of the Duchess of Cambridge's dress.

I loff it.

Also, people often ask me at work if I know what I'll wear for my wedding now that I'm around dresses all the time. Answer: no. I'm so far from getting married let alone dating anyone that I can't even begin to think what I'll wear when I do. I know I'll make it and it'll probably be a natural, or a soft white. That's as far as I've gotten. Everything else is dependent upon whom I marry, when, where, etc etc. 

Downton Abbey and One Direction

My two favorite things.

This will either cheer you up from Sunday, or make you super sad every time you see Matthew...and if it wasn't the second one it sure will be now!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Make Up Voyeur...

I'm super proud of my make up maintenance and storage. I travel and move a lot, so I don't have the luxury of a permanent make up storage solution, and I don't really mind. I've got a craft caddy that works GREAT! It's got a lot of compartments, none of them are closed (but many can be) and when I travel I just stick my brushes and loose ends in the middle and "shut it" with my lipstick bag. 

I also love it because it keeps everything separate and clean. I was taught relentlessly by my make up teacher to keep things clean and tidy. I HATE broken or messy make up and am kind of a voyeur when it comes to other people's make up storage. I don't poke around or anything...I just take note of make up habits, anywhere from a tidy little bag with only the necessities to a tackle box of anything and everything. I may have a messy bathroom or bedroom, but my make up case is pristine. Same with my sewing kit and art box...

Anyway, kind of an intimate thing, but here's my make up case! I can't rave enough about my system. My sister commented the other day that I have a lot of make up, but I would beg to differ and could cite a lot of other women (and men) with much more, or at least much messier. 






Sunday, February 17, 2013

Downton Abbey 3:7

:::Violet's travel suit in all that velvet with that hat was killer.
:::All of the bagpipes!
:::Dear Isobel, no one wants your advice, and your dinners with just Branson are awkward.
:::I hate all new maids. It should have just stayed as Anna and the ginger whom I can't even remember the name of now...
:::Bates got some Altoids for the smoker breath.
:::"My basic fact is that I love you". MUCH better line than any of Matthew's in this episode about seeing someone naked meaning you know how golden their soul is.
:::They are wearing deerstalkers to deer stalk.
:::I want a fancy man. Taking applications.
:::Deerstalker Trail: "You have shot 1400 lbs of meat, but the pack horses can only carry 200 lbs."
:::Lighthearted picnic Bates was nice. Am I the only one that thought Anna dancing was not enough of a payoff for all of that surprising? I mean, I thought she was pregnant, or at least going to get Bates drunk to get her pregnant.
:::There are so many guns and swords in Scotland...
:::Ivy and Daisy being friends, how nice.
:::Carson and a baby. DEAD.
:::Bates watching Anna dance, he's finally got the twinkle back he hasn't had since like episode 3 of season one.
:::I can't tell you how many proposals I've had to turn down because they just wanted me for my cooking.
:::Oh Branson, I will cradle you when you cry...But not in an awful Edna way...and not while I look at you, bc you one ugly crier son!
:::Cora's coat when she's leaving the castle. got to be kidding me.
:::Oh Thomas.
:::As Alicia says, MEN HOLDING BABIES IS POSITIVELY PORNOGRAPHIC! Yes.

So...I knew that Dan Stevens didn't sign on for a 4th season...so I knew he was going to die, and so the entire episode I was waiting for it. So, yes, I am in shock, but not that bad. Sorrynotsorry.

Just an update

I've been trying to do entries with less pictures off of Google, and more exclusively pictures I own. You'll also notice I have a lot of recent wordy entries. Because of this my blog's getting less hits because it's not as prevalent on Google searches anymore. And that's ok. My numbers are way down, but I can see that they are pretty solid just from my friends wanting to see what I have to say.

So, as an update:

I'm still working away at my job. I think I finally made commission!

I'm less than 3 weeks away from NYC and I'm SO excited!

This week brought some very happy and some rather jarring changes to my life! I got engaged!!! NO. I DID NOT. THAT WAS A JOKE. Funny huh?

I'll have an announcement on my website soon. 

Friday, February 15, 2013

Nightmare Jobs Part I

I'm recycling most of this from my old blog.

I realized that this is the longest I've gone without working in theatre for five and a half years. And I hate it. I'm literally wasting away. I never want this to be the case again.

As bad as it is without theatre, I'm still sewing regularly and working a job that's kind of like what I do in theatre. And it's not forever.

These however, are jobs I consider among my worst nightmares.

sous chef- they just get yelled at right? and I'd always be cutting myself, and I'm not a big enough foodie to do well.
semi truck driver- I get nervous driving big things, which will be perfect this summer...also, my butt would always be numb bc I have no natural padding
old-timey pin maker- I saw a History's Worst Jobs on old-timey pin making. It's the worst.
arctic fisherman- I'm not strong enough, I don't like being wet, drowning is not a great idea, being cold is not a favorite, I feel like I'd never get to look cute.
jail guard- pretty self explanatory?
pedicurist- not.a.fan.of.feet.
surgeon- I don't think I'm a fan of blood, nor cutting into things that bleed, nor the education necessary, nor the responsibility
highway worker- terrible hours, sun exposure, and not cute

and...

actor- this I'm on the fence about. Out of the very little acting I've done I was told I was good, but it made me feel awkward and terrible and on edge the entire time. Not fun. BUT, I've always wanted to be good at acting/perform. I'm not sure I'd get stage fright or not, I'm pretty sure I would. My deal with acting is that I don't like saying someone else's words. You're supposed to make them yours and all that, but I don't feel comfortable, and have a terrible time interpreting what someone else has written for me to say. I like being myself a whole bunch and so have trouble not being me. So it makes me extremely awkward to act, but I really want to...


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Old-timey love


I've been trying to formulate my thoughts for a Valentine's Day entry for a couple of days now. I'm no big Valentiner. I've never been in a relationship over any holiday besides Halloween, and even that was long distance. I haven't received Valentines since grade school, and I don't foresee much Valentine's revelry for awhile yet.

That being said, I've known love, in many forms, including the romantic/relationship variety, and the heartbreak when it's gone.

So, my topic? Old timey-love and how I think, in a nutshell, it's the modern equivalent to a hard crush. Because of this, I think we’ve all been in love and/or loved a lot more than we might admit.

I'm mostly basing what I know of old-timey courtship from novels. For the sake of this argument I’m using Pride and Prejudice, but most Austens, Brontes or Dickens will do. Let's take Mr. Darcy. After knowing Elizabeth for an estimated six months he declares his love for her. He loves her. With no reciprocation, he has decided he loves her and asks her to marry him. What would happen these days? Darcy would probably have said "I like you a whole lot, let's go out sometime" and indeed, modern adaptations of said event have made that very change. I also wonder if he'd have "asked her out" sooner, or have chalked it all up to a silly crush and gotten over it before it came to a declaration of love. 

With shorter life spans, infant mortality, and premarital fidelity, old-timey people had to mean business. I’m not sure we’d describe their admiration of each other as a “crush.” Even with Kitty and Lydia Bennet they meant business. Everyone was a prospect for lifelong companionship and procreation (you can argue this is most true of women of the time, rather than men). The jump to love, or at least enough admiration to make a marriage was readily made. Gosh, take a look at Lydia. Not the best example of old-timey values, but she wanted to get married. Now, with ridiculously long lifespans, and a diminishing urgency for marriage, why would we admit to being in love so soon? We don't jump straight to that oh-so-dangerous four-letter word. Why would we? We have plenty of time, and plenty of benefits without "love." I say if a person is physically attracted to another, has an emotional and social connection, and is concerned for that person's well-being more than the average, those are pretty strong ingredients for love. 

I am not saying all the boys or girls you fancied in college were the love of your life, but there's got to be a fella or a lass you might have really crushed on hard, or even dated, that you might not have spoken the words to, but meant much more than a mere fancy. Gosh, how many people have you been in love with? My number's still low, but maybe more than I've admitted to myself. And I'm not saying it's bowl you over, heat of the night, kill yourself love, but on some level I think we love a lot more than we give ourselves credit for. Just me?

But back to old-timey love for a moment. It must be addressed that in the old-timey days some couples just weren't in love, and some couples, based on their dozens of children, were very much in love. Going back to the Darcy example I think he did love Elizabeth after that first six months. Was he ready to accept her as a wife? No, but he loved her. Let's not over-romanticize old-timey love (oddly enough, I don't think that's what I'm getting at). With a good novel there might be love, but the author(ess) lets it continue to develop into what it needs to be. Darcy and Elizabeth have another six months to get on the same page. Anne and Captain Wentworth have eight years, almost all Austens after an initial recognition of love take further months to make it into what it should be, same with the Brontes (here I cite Anne and Charlotte. Emily I do not support as a healthy example of appropriate love).

While I don’t think old-timey persons had the same concept of “crushes” as we do, let’s not ignore that we might label some minor relationships in Pride and Prejudice as crushes. We are told Jane Bennet had a man in love with her when she was 15, and Lydia and Kitty are certainly obnoxious in their fancies for men, and lest we forget Elizabeth’s attraction to Wickham. These were all pretty minor. Going back to my initial point, old-timey love is equivalent to today’s hard crush. I’m talking the kind of crush where you make yourself run into someone, you think about them all the time, you love their face, you notice where they have grey hairs (you know how I roll…), you can’t wait to talk to them about something that reminds you of them, your face hurts from smiling when you’re around them, all of those extra things you do when a crush has developed into something more. Reciprocated or not, the basis of a relationship or not, I say these types of intense crushes border or cross into love territory.

I think we've taught ourselves to undermine and devalue and pervert so many fundamental and simple things that love has become one of them. We've invented "crush" like we've invented "adolescence" and "Mcjob", to label something that's come about with how the times are a-changing. I think deep down we don't want to forever "crush" on someone any more than we really want to have a "fling." Fundamentally and simply put, we want to love and to be loved and any degree of "crushing" is a step to finding that. Indeed, the intense crush I speak of is well on its way to love.

I'm not saying crushes are a bad thing. You have to like someone before you can love them, and there are as many forms of love as there are moments in time (Jane Austen movie quote, anyone? anyone?), but how about we take a good hard look at ourselves, step back from “crushes” and admit to a few more love affairs than we'd like to believe we've had. You know you loved a boy in first grade, why not one a little later on?

So, this Valentine's Day, if you're alone or even if you're not, look at the loves of your life and see if there aren't a few you missed counting. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Merlot/Lace: all but the hem and buttons

I closed up the bodice yesterday and got the hem turned, stitched, pressed and pinned. I'll see about hemming it tonight or tomorrow. The back panel where the buttons/button holes will go has been stretching...I interfaced the facing to try and stabilize it a bit. The facing is stable...and puckery. Any future suggestions for stabilizing a facing in a flowy fabric without making it look stiff/interfacing the fashion fabric? I feel like short of fusing something to the fashion fabric this was inevitable.

I'm very happy with the sleeves. some of my best. The real magic is in the back though...so we'll see how that all works out as I haven't gotten a chance to look at it yet... For all I know it's all wrong.


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Downton Abbey 3:6

:::I haven't been able to watch the opening without imagining a Swiffer since the BBC's very first spoof of Upstairs Downton Abbey.
:::If my husband had just gotten out of jail we'd make out HARD CORE in the backseat. No doubt. If I had a husband we'd just make out all the time, never mind jail time.
:::I feel like Robert never gets to finish his breakfast. He's always outraged enough to leave in a huff, caring his letters.
:::Way to tell Alfred, Daisy! I also love that tallness is such an asset to footmen.
:::Whenever I put lotion on my hands I always try to ring them like the fine ladies do on Downton. It's always a good filler action for the end of a conversation with Anna or the beginning of one with Matthew.
:::There was definitely a sexy saxophone going into the Thomas/James scene.
:::What was Thomas' thought process with the peace offering toast the next morning at breakfast?
:::I recognize the newspaper man...
:::Tom's brother looks like a mix of Tom and Toby Jones.
:::Pffft...Matthew, you can make me as untidy as it pleases you.
:::Also, Matthew does not look like a good kisser.
:::I was confused by the mourning dress in this one. Is there a different code for evening dress? They went into half mourning quite nicely, but I feel like in general things got a little muddled.
:::Violet to Isobel "I know how you hate facing facts". THANK YOU! This sums up my beef with Cousin Isobel. She lives in her own little self righteous world. And however much Violet wanted Ethel away for the sake of the neighborhood, it really was a good move for her, sparked by Violet's seeing Ethel's misery.
:::Cora's black embroidered day dress was to die for.
:::Family outing to the dodgey nightclub! Shotgun!
:::Get it done, Matthew! You sort out Rose.
:::Also, I zoned out during Violet's explanation of who the heck Rose is, so I'm still a little fuzzy.
:::Rose's wig=not great.
:::Edith's emerald and ivory ensemble is pretty fabulous. She looked down right pretty in that scene.
:::And by "that scene" I mean the Mr. Rochester/Bertha defense. Old hat, Mr. Fellowes.
:::The village team had rather the handsome ginger bowler.
:::Only the British would play their national sport in sweater vests and white shoes.

Gregson is Yates in Mansfield Park!

Sexy Sunday: double the pleasure, double the fun

totally unplanned, but totally sexy.

Alicia and I are two stylin' babes that share the same mind about 87% of the time. The other 13% is because her brain is full of art history stuff and mine is full of costumey stuff..which actually now that I think of it might close the gap to a difference of like 7%.


Alicia also tipped me off to this entry of My Daguerreotype Boyfriend, which if you don't check up on every nowandagain you should.

And yes, that link is a picture of old-timey Benedict Cumberbatch.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Benedict Cumberbatch on The Simpsons

Here you go. An article ab my boy Ben (did I tell you about the time I dreamt he was my boyfriend and it was awesome?) voicing two characters on The Simpsons this Sunday. Really if you watch the included clip you've seen his bit.

http://tellyspotting.org/2013/02/09/benedict-cumberbatch-as-both-alan-rickman-and-the-prime-minister-tomorrow-on-the-simpsons/

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Send me music!



Hey! Spotify is great! I want new music. Here's what I'm into now-ish. I'm open to lots, but you should know:

I'm picky about country. Cash is ok, and old country is good, but not a fan of most of anything else country.
I'm super picky about jazz, mostly I don't like it. There are exceptions. Try to change my mind!
Radio edits are appreciated.
I love to dance! Send me some pump up music!
Rap and hip-hop are hit and miss for me.
I'm a sucker for pop music.

Put music you think I should listen to in this playlist and I will!

Right now it's just full of random stuff I remembered I want to look into, and stuff Spotify told me I might like. 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Merlot/Lace: it's the inside that counts

Sort of...I mean the outside needs to look nice, but I'm really doing a bang up job on this lining. I so rarely have the time or the necessity for a nice lining. Not cutting any corners with this job. The only exposed seams are French, and the kind of exposed facing seams are going to be pinked. Everything else is completely enclosed. Here are pics of the lining and a shot of the back bc I realize I haven't posted a picture of it yet. It's hard to get the back to look good on the form bc the dress is so crooked and the form is so short. This is what you get. And it's the inside. Bet you couldn't tell but for the favored collar.

So yeah, basically did the sleeves today. Haven't finished slipping the second closed. Tomorrow I'll slip the bodice shut then either a break or straight on to the buttonholes!

FYI: I've worked up to the end of Season 5 of Doctor Who since Christmas. Into the Matt Smith seasons I realize my mood during the day is completely different because of his influence. It's a completely different show. If not for the Ponds I'd really be out of it. And Van Gogh. Such. A. GREAT. Episode!

Confession: I kind of skipped the Pandorica episodes...so this is the first time I'll watch them....I bet a lot more about season 6 will make sense.
slipping the sleeve lining in, no serging for me!

this is the inside. Check out those sharp seams!

insides

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Downton Abbey 3:5

Is it me or did NOTHING happen this week?

:::Robert is being kind of obnoxious, which is nothing new since the maid last season.
:::Cora is just wanting someone to blame and so Dr. Clarkson's chat at the end was good.
:::I feel like Robert would be much more open to Matthew's help if all of the things weren't happening at once. Remember he was very keen on getting Matthew involved at one point. I think he's too used to his own way and is upset that the end of the War hasn't restored it to him.
:::Violet talking about hearts was amazing.
:::Mr. Carson telling Mrs. Hughes he knows she'll never desert him was nice.
:::Yay Ethel, you can cook.
:::Ivy, oh Ivy...
:::Alfred, oh Alfred...
:::Daisy needs to work the farm and get a better life. Mr. Mason was really right about everything he said, as long as he realizes farming will change as well.
:::Mary and Matthew say they need to work on their relationship, but I doubt their actions will agree.
:::Was it just my TV, or did the lighting during Mary and Matthew's pillow talk make them look dead? Like straight up Sybil post seizures blue? Oh! Too soon?
:::My mom doesn't know the whole Thomas and O'Brien story and was very upset O'Brien told Thomas that Jimmy has a crush on him. The evil never ends.
:::Can you really employ Thomas for however long Bates has been in jail and then just kick him out? I don't know what to do about it, but I feel like it's a really bum deal.
:::Yeah...there was a lot of talking this episode. Next week should have some ACTION!

Cutting back

Technology is great, but I sit with Facebook open and just stare at it. I used to get off the internet if it stopped entertaining me. Now I click on each of my bookmarks over and over thinking something new and interesting will have appeared since the last time I clicked on it. I'm also too attached to texting. I wouldn't say I text more than the average person my age, but I get kind of anxious if I get a text and don't respond RIGHT AWAY, or if I haven't checked for texts in awhile. When life isn't in the balance this is ridiculous.

SO...

I've turned off Facebook chat so I stop staring at the green squares waiting to message or be messaged, thinking that if nothing else I can watch who's on change over the course of ten minutes. If you want to real time chat with me I might hop on on my phone, or try to message me anyway, we'll see if I'm on.

I'm going to try to get off of Facebook when it has ceased to be useful for the time being. No more just sitting there.

If I've watched my Hulu queue and am not into anything on Netflix I'll get off my computer.

I won't open texts during church (I never touch my phone during Sacrament meeting, trust me), I won't check for texts while driving (I never actually text while driving). I won't retrieve my phone from other parts of the house to check for texts if I'm not expecting any.

Yes you can still message me, and text me, and call me and all of the things, but on my end I'm going to try to not be so frantic about it. I should probably read a book or something. If I'm sewing or randomly working away I don't need to reply to media immediately.

So, DO keep in touch, just know that I'm working at not being controlled by my immediate need to respond to social media. 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Celebrity Baked Goods

Bestie Sarah and I had some wild times in high school, lemme tell ya what.

We'd monthly have celebrity birthday parties. By parties I mean we'd bake ourselves a cake, find a dead celebrity with their birthday in the current month, and decorate said cake a la the celebrity. We'd also usually watch a movie that had nothing to do with said celebrity but would Kevin Bacon it to make sense. I can't remember exactly how we did it, but we tied The Truman Show into Jackie Kennedy's birth month. We drew a pillbox hat and pearls on her cake. I remember a Mozart cake too that might have had a portrait and said "WOLFGANG".

Unrelated, but not entirely, was our Kevin Spacey summer. After our first year of college we came home and with our friend Nick went to a matinee of 21. We were the only people in the theatre, talked all the way through it and by the end had decided to have a Kevin Spacey themed summer. We watched A Bug's Life, Superman, Pay It Forward,  K-PAX, and others. It was a good summer. Kevin Spacey's a fave. We made masks (hence my current facebook pro-pic) and a Kevin Spacey cake with lightening bolt lettering.

I sadly only have photos of the K Space cake, as I have no idea where photos from high school would be.