1.29.2010

Rupert, won't you be mine?!

I know this little guy was born in 2008, but I just got a forwarded e-mail with his precious photo, so of course, I had to share. For those who've never seen him, meet Rupert, the preemie deer! Oh! I just want to kiss the side of his face! And how precious is his name?!

Images via here
Photos by Jeff Moore

Drool.

Image via happy lady eats

I can't get enough of the delicious images like these at happy lady eats (Joy's food blog. You know, Joy, from oh joy!) Anyway, every day is a new recipe or a cool restaurant review or a tasty-looking photo. Check it out!

1.28.2010

Bows, bows, bows galore!

Big bows are making their way. They were all over the runways, so I guess that makes them the Must-Have Accessory for spring, and I must say, I'm lovin' the look. Reminds me of the ones my grandma tried to force me to wear (OK, maybe not as big.) Sorry, Grandma, I just wasn't into bows and bonnets back then (and I've got pictures to prove it.) I do, however, appreciate an over-the-top accessory these days, so bring it (but not the bonnets. I'll never, ever wear those!)

Check out these neat bows from the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 Show.

Images via here

1.27.2010

Band Beat

Image via here

From this website, where you can purchase the album and/or the video:
The Hope for Haiti Now global telethon is also an extraordinary digital album including performances by Alicia Keys, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Beyoncé, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, Emeline Michel, Jay-Z, Bono, the Edge, Rihanna, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Wyclef Jean along with a bonus track from Jay-Z, Bono, the Edge and Rihanna. You can also own the two-hour telethon video.

All proceeds from album and video sales will go to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme and Yele Haiti Foundation.

Go on and do some good!

1.26.2010

I mean, seriously?

Why do I want to see this movie so badly? I'm not even kidding when I say I've watched the trailer at least 12 times . . . and every damn time, I get goosebumps. Seriously? I'm ready! Even if I have to go see it alone. So there!

1.25.2010

Kevin, I've missed you.


Did anyone else cry during Kevin Bacon's acceptance speech for his performance in Taking Chance at the SAG Awards? (Great movie, by the way!) Well, I sure did. I've been scouring the Internet trying to find a clip, but all I could get my hands on is a typed-out version of his speech . . which obviously does it zero justice. I'll keep looking, but in the meantime, here 'tis.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

KEVIN BACON / Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl - "TAKING CHANCE" (HBO)

KEVIN BACON: Thank you so much for this. Thank you, let’s see, to my brothers and sisters in the Screen Actors Guild for including me with this amazing group of performers. I hope that we are colleagues and not competitors. I want to say thank you to everybody who was involved in the making of “Taking Chance,” from the inception to the broadcast of it. We should all be very proud of this great film.


I want to give a shout-out to Master Sergeant Vic Szalankiewicz. [applause] Vic had the unenviable job of trying to make me look like a Marine. And his real job is even harder. He’s back from his third tour of Iraq and probably on his way down to Haiti. [applause] So, Vic, thanks for your help with this.

And…lastly, I just want to say to my – my beautiful wife and family, you know, we actors, we’ve got to go away sometimes. And, you know, not just like physically, but into the heads and hearts of the characters that we play. So, thanks for trusting that I’ll always find my way back. Thank you. [applause]

1.22.2010

JD on GQ

Image via GQ magazine

Johnny Depp will grace the cover of the February 2010 issue of GQ magazine. And I . . . well, to be honest, I'm torn. On one hand, I'd say I'm a JD fan because, well, I admire anyone's ability to cover themselves in a ridiculous number of accessories on every possible part of their body and still look good. The man definitely knows how to work it . . . whatever "it" is. On the other hand, I much prefer him circa Benny and Joon (I get it. I'm old.) I don't prefer Pirates of the Caribbean JD, but many of my young dancers do. I don't get what the fuss is about . . . and it feels backwards. Shouldn't I prefer the older, more distinguished JD to the younger, less accessorizing one? ANYWAY. He'll be on the cover of the next GQ . . . bracelets, necklaces, rings, scarves and all. Love you, mean it, JD!

1.21.2010

Band Beat

Yesterday was a disaster for me, and Band Beat suffered for it. I've gotten quite addicted to posting Band Beats every Wednesday, so I actually felt bad that it didn't get posted yesterday. Alas, here it is! And I want to wish Boo a very, very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Image via here

Image via here

Zach Braff (yep, you read that right) turned me on to Rachael Yamagata a couple of years ago. He wrote pretty highly of her music in some article, so I decided to check her out. She was born in Virginia, and according to Wikipedia, she's a Yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese American.) And that right there explains her incredible beauty! Neat, huh?

Her rich, deep voice is perfect, especially when I'm feeling depressed. I've been hitting repeat on Elephants, the first track on her two-part Elephants . . . Teeth Sinking Into Heart. Check it out!

1.15.2010

It's good to recreate.

Among the many things I got from my grandma's house were several old, old paintings in ornate, wooden frames. Some circular, some rectangular and some square. A few of the paintings will have to be taken to Salvation Army . . . I just can't have them. Dislike. The others, though, are very pretty and are staying put.

So this weekend, while B and I are painting Thomas' furniture (finally!) I'm going to paint the frames. I went with Paula to Hobby Lobby on our lunch break and bought some paint, so I think I'm set. Woo!

I can't wait for the weekend to get here . . . just three and a half hours. B and I will be taking it fairly easy. Aside from painting, we're going to walk the bridge, walk the beach, window shop downtown and visit one of B's high school friends (doesn't sound like a "fairly easy" weekend, I know.)


1.14.2010

That talented girl in that talented movie

Have you seen The Science of Sleep? Sooooooo good. But a warning: if you aren't into surrealistic, artsy films, this one isn't for you. First, I love Gael Garcia Bernal (just ask Bradford) and went on Netflix Overload where almost every Bernal film was in my queue. I had to be stopped. Second, I adored Charlotte Gainsbourg's character, Stephanie, in the movie. I just thought she was so cool and weird and funny, a perfect quirky package. Charlotte's featured in the next Nylon and Nylon TV.



1.13.2010

Band Beat

Image via experimental

I couldn't possibly do one more Band Beat without featuring the beloved Asobi Seksu. I found them through Fefa (muchas gracias, FA!) a couple (or a few?) years ago and have loved them ever since. The first song of this New York quartet I loved was Thursday, and I have to say, I'm still really LOVING it! I've listened to a couple of tunes from their new album, Rewolf, and so far, so good. Frontwoman Yuki Chikudate's voice pulls it off every time. Check out one of their newish tunes called Blind Little Rain!

I had to post this fun video of Goodbye!

1.11.2010

Oh NO YOU DIDN'T girl!

I went to Wal-Mart today. No, no, no, not by choice, for work. Promise! I'm writing a story about a new clinic there. Anyway, as I was not-so-patiently waiting for a patient to come to the clinic, I got sucked into a black hole of watching customers as they came and went. There was Happy Stay-At-Home Dad with his children. Then Unhappy Stay-At-Home Mom with her children. Then there were the usual suspects (the Wal-Martoholics most likely to show up as a forward in your email inbox with People of Wal-Mart in the subject line. You know what I'm talking about.)

Anyway, I vividly remember one customer, a cute woman probably in her late 20s, early 30s who looked chic, sophisticated even . . . until my once-over made it to her feet . . . and a starefest ensued. I was too shocked to look away and stared in utter amazement at what she had on her poor feet that probably hate her for life now. She had on . . . brace yourself . . . cowboy boot mules. No ma'am. Unacceptable.

Image via here

1.08.2010

Quote Wall

On a day when my co-worker and I came to work with unwashed hair . . .

me
: Boo, you have better dirty hair than me.

What's a little insecurity?

It's a huge, freakin' hassle, that's what. I'm insecure. (There, I said it!!!) Of course, I'm pretty sure everyone who reads my blog (thank you, 5 Followers!) already knew that. I'm not sure when Insecure Amy was born . . . but dammit, I wanted to find out. So, naturally, I went to the one person I thought would give me the best answer: my mother. I'll let you decide if that was a mistake or not . . . read on for the answer.

Me: "Why do you think I'm so insecure?"
Mom: "Well, you've been like that since you were little."
Me: "Oh . . . wow. Really? How little?"
Mom: "Since you were a baby."
(Whaaaaaa? Can babies be insecure? Is that possible? If so, that's like the biggest insult in the world, right?)
Me: "Um, how was I insecure as a baby?"
Mom: "Well, you were never confident about anything."
(Confident about . . .? Drinking milk from my bottle? Pooping in my diaper? Crying loud enough? I'm confused.)
Mom: "You still aren't confident. You're like Mama was. She never thought she was good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough . . ."
(Side Note: "Mama" is my late grandma, Nana.)
Me: "Oh. Thanks."

I don't think Mom intended to make me feel worse or more confused, but she did. I had no idea I was basically born insecure. I thought my insecurities developed my freshman year of college during my first real relationship. Jon*, who was tall, tattooed, pierced, redheaded, skater boi, lover of Misfits* and Rancid, was not my type. Seriously. But . . . I was freshly broken up from my high school sweetheart, who was like this guy (coincidentally not my type either, but who knows their type at 17?), and then I met Jon, the complete opposite of that guy. There's nothing like going from one extreme to another is there?

We dated for . . . four years? Yes, four. Not long in, we both realized we didn't belong together, but at 19 and 21, we certainly didn't know any better. I'll spare you the gory details of those four years and make my point (or get closer to it.) Jon cheated on me. It was awful. We broke up. You get the picture.

I spent weeks and weeks wondering why I didn't see it coming, and then it hit me. The classic signs were there all along; I just didn't want to see them. He'd go through week-long periods of not returning my phone calls, go out and stay out ALL NIGHT LONG without calling until early afternoon the next day, get caught lying about the most trivial things (i.e. "I went to the mall" when really, he went to the skate park), etc. In the midst of all this, I became the irrational, insecure, possessive girlfriend that indulged in all the things girls aren't supposed to in this situation, like make my friend drive me by his house at 2 a.m. to see "if suspicious cars are in his driveway." Or, call his home phone a dozen times and hang up (yep, this was before either of us had cell phones and you could punch *69 to block your number.) Or, tailor my questions to try and trick him into telling me he was doing something wrong: "So who did you hang out with at the bar last night?" when he hadn't even told me yet if he went to the bar or not. Welcome, Crazy Girl.

And although I was right in suspecting something was going on, Jon did his damndest to make me feel like said Crazy Girl for thinking anything. Years after we broke up and were able to be friends, we talked about it, and he admitted I had EVERY right to feel the way I felt. He said that making me feel crazy for doing the things I did made him feel less guilty about the shit he was doing to me. Welcome, Douchebag Guy.

It was those years feeling like the Crazy Girl and being with the Douchebag Guy that made me feel so insecure. Little did I know, I was born that way. Great.

I bring all this up because my insecurities (whether you're born with them or contracted them from dating Douchebag Guy who cheated on you) have caused some squabbles between my boyfriend and me as of late. Now to be fair, he hasn't always been the greatest BF and he'll admit it. We had an extremely rocky start (that lasted about a year) but have come a long, long way and have been happily together for a couple of years now. Soooooo, how can I curb at least some of my insecurities? Tips anyone?

*Of course his name isn't Jon, but in the rare possibility he reads this entry, I'd like to spare hurt feelings.
*I actually like the Misfits.

1.06.2010

One of my absolute favorites . . .

Band Beat

Image via their awesome website

When I first heard Department of Eagles last summer, I didn't think I was going to like them and was just about to write them off when I listened to No One Does It Like You, and . . . sold. I wish I could say more about them, but I really have to get back to work as my deadline for a certain college publication is looming. Check out their bio on their sweet website!


1.04.2010

Pretty skirt!

I am loving this skirt! I'd love to have it for cold or warm weather . . . Now I just have to look for something similar (and less expensive because I'm sure this one was not cheap.)
Image via Olsens Anonymous