Miles

The length of Giovanna's amazing legs. *stubby legs of mine, why do you fail me?*

The name of me and le cub's future baby, if he should be a boy. Repeat "Miles" mulitple times, and you'll start saying "Smiles." *tee-hee*

Happy Hump Day.

Photo by The Sartorialist)

America's Best Dance Class

Last night, before screening Shane Acker's "9" (with the talented Shane Acker himself present), I attended America's Best Dance Class as taught by Milo Levell (who just so happens to be friends with "America's Best Dance Crew" judge, Shane Sparks), at UCLA. Gramps, The Body and I purchased a UCLA Fitness Pass, which translates into endless hours of cardio-fun. (We're going to Kranking tonight. Mind you, I have no idea what the work-out entails...)

Keeping in mind that I'm terribly uncoordinated and possess no rhythm, try to imagine me running through "hip-hoppy" warm-up moves. OMG... seeing myself in the ginormous dance mirrors had me giggling to no end. The class is SICK. And by "sick", I mean, fantastic.

Come join me. Tuesdays from 5 til 6 at the Wooden Center...

Go-Go Gadget

My new (actually old, as it's used) SLR: Nikon D70.
It came highly-recommended by photo-fiends and stop-motion animators alike.
While there clearly are fancier cameras on the market that offer more bells-and-whistles, frankly speaking, I wouldn't know what to do with more features...

So yeah... camera? Check! Storyboards for the stop-motion film to be photographed by this new camera? Er... I'm working on it!

Magic

My classmate, Kevin, introduced me to PES. As Christopher Walkens would put it, "Wowee, Wow, Wow!"

We Are Lego

A fantastic line from this past Sunday's Curb Your Enthusiasm... so good.

Adoring THIS outfit and the lil' weirdo wearing it.

Saw a posting on a bulletin board outside the locker rooms for the Bonnie Hunt Show tix, called the number posted, and woo-hoo! Gramps, The Body and I got tix to sit pretty in the studio audience come October 8th. According to Bonnie's peeps, the audience gets served hot dogs and root beer beforehand. YAY! And ooh, the guests that day are Gerard Butler and Christian Bale (my loves him in "Little Woman"). Bit awesome? Bit sausagey? Wahaha. Me thinks YEAH... and the best part is, it's free.

MIKA. In concert on October 23rd. Trembling with excitement.

Class is back in session in full force. Got my MAYA ass kicked last night. *sniffle*

Pictured: I don't know these guys, but I love them anyway. The pink shoes blow my mind. This photo was plucked from some wedding site.

Oldies are Goodies

Brainstorming for my second-year stop-motion film. My grams would make for a great subject... just sayin'...

This Love is Serious

Dearest Consuelo, How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways... Oh how you never cease to amaze me! Floored by your genius use of color and texture, this Marni-print devotee agrees to disagree (haha, I love it when people say that) with fashion's greatest editors who insist that you should have incorporated more prints in your collection. You and your collection are perfection - just the way y'all are. Come Spring of 2010, I will certainly be lurking in the racks of the Bev Hills Neiman's to get a close-up peek at the work of art that is Marni. Love always, *sign in blood* Le Petit

Pictured above (courtesy of style.com), Marni Spring RTW 2010.

Dear Doctor

Q: Why'd the clown go to the hospital?

A: Because he was feeling funny!

*canned laughter* Sorry. I couldn't resist.

A commission I whipped up two years ago.

Dough Girl

"Like a moth to the flame, burnt by the fire... my love is blind, can't you see my desire?"

I heart carbs, and nothing's going to separate me from them. Oh wait. Nothing but that stoooopid white dress I'm going to have to fit into and be photographed in like no other come August of 2010... That said, I'm devising a game plan. With the help of my friends, "Gramps" and "The Body", I intend to get into shape. Last week, our lil' trio stopped by the Wooden Center at UCLA and picked up fitness passes that will provide us with access to group exercise classes of all sorts. Our first class? America's Best Dance Class. This is the course description:

Love to dance? Want to get a great cardio workout?
You won’t stop smiling in this mostly continuous,
moderately choreographed dance aerobics class. It’s
just dancing for fun and a great workout!

Rrrright. I'm uber-uncoordination, so this should be a trip :)

Bare Necessities

Etsy provides me with endless entertainment.
THESE two hard-boiled egg warmers are freakin' awesome.
SO necessary.

Not Worthy

*drum-roll please* I present y'all with "Dead All Along" by Giles Timms> Like me, Giles is an MFA candidate at UCLA's department of Theater, Film and Television. Diggin' the video's Gorey-esque vibe.

Preview

After class last night, my animated compadres, Jeff aka "Gramps" and Alexis aka "The Body", dropped in a Westwood Village costume shop to browse. Inspired by our other classmates who have decided to team up and dress up as the three fairies from Sleeping Beauty (click HERE to see), we decided to go for a group costume as well.

After much thought, we've decided to go as the much-beloved JONAS BROTHERS - hunk hair, skinny ties, promise rings and all.

Pictured: Gramps as the hunky, thick-browed Joe Jonas, Me as Miley-dumper, Nick Jonas, and The Body as the-least-attractive-but-is-getting-hitched-so-there, Kevin Jonas. This is going to be a very fun - or at very least, funny - Halloween.

Dog-Gone Great

Between Bruce Vaughn and Glenn Vilppu, I think the money I pay to UCLA (tuition) is justified.

Pictured. Quick sketches of Vilppu's well-behaved dog, Layla. Haven't attended a life drawing session in ages, so there's much room for improvement!

Oh, Behave

My Holga is supposed to be a device so-simple-a-child-could-operate, yet I'm a grown woman still desperately struggling to figure mine out! While I love me a good light-leak, dude, of a dozen shots, only three of mine developed properly. Feeling mighty overexposed...

Pictured (from top to bottom): An old theater in San Mateo, California; Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia; my best friend's pup, Shady in San Jose

Too Much of a Good Thing

Thom Browne is best known for bringing whimsy to business suits. I quite like the geek chic look-at-my-fantabulous-socks look he's known to champion, but for Spring 2010, Browne's whimsy was more crazy than cute. See above? This outfit would probably work on a school girl... then again, do school girls wear skorts?! Hmm...

Animated

School's back in session, and I'm seeking inspiration for my second-year film from European animation like THIS Finnish one, "Urpo & Turpo Get Hungry". Yummy!

What a Man, What a Man

What a mighty good man...

HERE, HERE, and HERE.

I Want to Gobble Her Up

My favorite blogger in the whole-wide blogosphere is THIS GAL. Watch more of her HERE and read more about her HERE.
Tavi is a 13 year-old girl (often mistaken as a boy) and incredibly ODD. *massive compliment*
SO my cup of tea.

Love you, Tavi. Stalker fan letters, I shall send!

Pookie Wedding

Me and le cub at the Pookie Wedding held at the De Young.

Le cub is wearing a Benetton suit he bought for $150 and a skinny tie by Theory. He's gotten quite a bit of mileage off of it since purchasing it nearly two years ago from a Bloomies. Very Mad Men, no?

My tarzan dress is by Calvin Klein. It's got an uber-cute obi-belt that isn't pictured. Purchased for $93.00 sans tax. "Heart" Minnesota.

All Dressed Up

Tried on wedding dresses this past weekend - and did so with an entourage consisting of dear friends, Pammy, Jen, and Ems. My first appointment was made at Priscilla of Boston in San Francisco. Stepping into this bridal salon was like stepping into a prism of sparkly ponies and rainbows. The place was that girlicious. Crystal chandeliers dripped form the ceiling, pale pink velvet chairs were perfectly placed outside the main dressing room, silver end-tables and mirrors accessorized the space, and sunlight bounced off the fresh white walls. The interior of Priscilla's of Boston in SF is every girl's dream. Every girl but me! I was terrified. *shiver* White isn't exactly the most slimming of colors, and the thought of wearing something long also had me feeling uneasy...

Luckily I was assigned an understanding bridal consultant in Hannah. She was incredibly patient and attentive - actually listening to what I was looking for: Art Deco, vintage-feel, love texture, hate poof.

I left with two Melissa Sweet "maybes" in mind. Neither was the one (strapless gowns just don't look right on neck-less lil' me), but I was excited to have survived my first gown stop...

Later that afternoon, my entourage minus Ems, accompanied me to Bridal Galleria at Embarcadero. I could not have possibly had a more UNPLEASANT experience. I was assigned the bridal consultant from hell. She did not listen to what I wanted - pulling one colored, poofy gown after another - and actually inflicted a not so Pretty Woman moment upon me. (Remember Marie, Snobby Salesperson #2?) My consultant could not have been more rude or condescending. Profanity hovered at the edge of all our lips, but being the ladies that we are, we resisted. Had we not eaten right before the session, there most certainly would have been a beat-down.

I suppose it was a good thing that we sucked it up, because we eventually came across a dress - the very last one that I tried on - that I LOVED. A delicate chantilly lace gown in ivory with side button detail by Monique Lhuillier. See picture above - while keeping in mind that this model is strangely-thin and alien-like. It's clings to the body, providing no help in the form of boning or corsets, but built-in undergarments aside, it's everything I'd hoped for in a wedding dress. Nothing that a full-body flesh-toned Spanx couldn't fix :) Old-Hollywood, Art Deco glam without being fussy. Me likee.

We weren't allowed to take photos of the dress (just another neg to mention about Bridal Galleria), and even worse, my awful bridal consultant wouldn't even give me the name of the dress for fear that I'd go elsewhere to purchase it. *exasperated sigh* Whatevs... using my pea-brain and Google, I was able to locate the name of the dress: Aimee. A design from Monique Lhuillier's 2007 collection. A definite MAYBE!!!

Also pictured: A wedding dress by Carolina Herrera that I couldn't possibly pull off. It's a Transformer! (One can unsnap the bottom tier resulting in a short dress to sport later.) Somewhere, someone is doing this gown justice. Too beautiful not to post.

So You Think You Can Dance

So do the groomsmen from Karen and Jay's wedding.

Watch them bust-a-move to "Jai Ho" at the De Young HERE.

The Time Has Come

A fresh-off-the-easel painting titled "The Time Has Come". (I'll post better photos of it later.) The paint on this canvas hasn't even dried yet! To be delivered to its future owner on Saturday! And in case you were wondering, yes, that's pit hair... yes, they are hula-hooping... and yes, that's a UFO...

Breakfast of Champions

Is "Neopolitan" a flavor?

Early in our relationship, le cub asked me over the phone, "What's your favorite ice-cream flavor?"
I answered, "Neopolitan."
And the response I received was, "That's not a flavor!"

Whatever. I'm having Neoplitan ice-cream now. Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla, oh my! Boy, is it good...

Ooh. Did I mention that I'm going to be trying on wedding dresses on Sunday for the very first time? (Yes, right after I have a big fat bowl of ice-cream.) I'll be in the company of my fashion consultant pals, Pam and Ems... This should be fun.

Suffering Succotash

All good things come to an end. (I'm referring to summer.) School's back in session next week. This means all-nighters will be pulled once again... very soon. *sniffle* But until that day comes, I'm savoring the time that remains. I'm still on holiday! And being on holiday for me means endless evenings spent watching "Top Chef" while indulging in ice-cream out of the carton... Life's good. It could be better though. I miss le cub. As does Beans.

Pictured: "On Holiday" by Alicia Bock. Available at www.etsy.com

Taaaaar-zan!

An old friend of mine is getting hitched at the De Young Museum in San Francisco this weekend. Not only am I excited for him, I'm excited for me. I finally get to wear the cute lil' Calvin number I'd bought on-sale sans sales tax while in Minnesota. Black-satin, obi-belt, one-shoulder... Yup... just like Tarzan!

Pictured: A casual Tarzan piece from Rebecca Taylor's Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear line. That it's cherry-red and sprinkled with flowers makes me smile :)

Three's Company

Commissioned set of three illustrations.

Each illustration represents a different passion of the client :)

Top: Baked-goods.
The client is a co-owner of Hopkins Street Bakery in Berkeley.

Center: Rare Watches.
The client buys and sells rare Rolex watches. Visit 10 Past Ten HERE.

Bottom: Food.
The client is a gourmand. He lives to eat.

All done. All framed!

Would You Like Some Grey Poupon?

Last night, I decided to go against every bone in my body and "got me some culture." Some high-brow culture. Alongside my friends Kathy and Coco (and new friend, Ben), I hit-up the Ahmanson Theater in downtown LA to catch August: Osage County. (Tickets available HERE.)

The synopsis (as written by a fancy-pants writer) reads like so:
Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts, this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural homestead in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm.

But what it really was, the play, that is, was a spectacular, scintillating three-and-a-half hour long episode of "Brothers and Sisters" played by actors and actresses less attractive, yet equally, if not more talented, than the ABC cast. Dysfunctional familes are the best. Incredibly entertaining. I didn't think I'd be able to sit through the entire show without wanting to sneak-away for a Kit Kat, but I did.

A fantastic performance by the entire cast, but most notably, Estelle Parsons.

What a night.

Photo: Kathy has made new calling cards (she's a screenplay writer!), and believe-it-or-not, she wanted a doodle of her on it. So very honored.

Eureka!

Fine Little Day's ebay finds make me smile.

Sometimes I think I look like an Inuit.

The Good Life

School is back in session at UCLA School of Film, Theater and Television on the 21st.

Until then, I am furiously working away on commissions I accepted earlier this summer.

Pictured is a sneak-peek of one of a set of three illustrations to be delivered next week. My client didn't ask for the drawings to be framed, but Ribbas at Ikea are so kindly priced, I figured I'd toss them in. Will photograph the framed pieces before wrapping them up in bubble-wrap...

Gem

Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day sometimes posts listings for adorable, affordable homes in San Francisco. Taking a cue from her, I'm going to start posting listings for real estate gems here in SoCal. This is my first.

Get a load of THIS charming, well-staged, mid-century modern home nestled between Silverlake and Echo Park. I'm not sold on some of the interior color choices, but the home is, otherwise, lust-worthy.

A search on Trulia has this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home priced at $619K...

This is Why Girls Stay Single

My friend Jeff sent me the following link accompanied by the comment, "I don't get it. He sounds very reasonable to me. If I was a girl, I'd snatch him up in a heartbeat."

Listen to THIS short audio clip.

Hubba-hubba.

Superwomen

My best friend, Pam (my Flaring Nostrils partner-in-crime), recently made the big decision to leave her current employer in San Francisco in search for greener pastures. Wishing her the best of luck in her new job search. She's a remarkable lil' lady... and any employer would be lucky to have her.

And another shout-out is due to my dear friend, Emily. She is one of the new co-owners of Berkeley-based Hopkins Street Bakery. Today, September 12th, is the bakery's official grand-opening under new management, so if you're in the area, fuggetabout the diet and drop on by for a free cookie. Your tummy may smile.

Piece de Resistance

The final ingredient to perfecting le cub and cougar's big day is the creative vision of the beautiful and talented Rebecca Stone of Duet Weddings. Le cub and I had our first in-face meeting with her two weeks ago at Casbah Cafe in Silverlake and we totally hit it off. Since that first meeting, we've been exchanging a bevy of email. Her messages are always oozing with enthusiasm... something le cub and I adore about her. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Please take a look at what this woman is capable of. Click HERE. Collective "oohing" and "ahhing" to ensue...

P.S. Click on the image above to see the nostril hair. I don't know why I thought it'd be a good idea to post this image alongside a raving review of the lovely, classy Rebecca, but I did. Enjoy!

Secret Admirer

This corset dress by Corey Lynn Calter is so lovely. I'm just saying.

Available at Anthropologie.

Dream Team

Le cub and I are forming a dream team for our little wedding. In addition to having reserved our dream venue, we've managed to hire a totally bad-ass photographer. There wasn't anyone else in the running, really. It had to be Max Wanger.

Check out more of Max's incredibly beautiful work on his website HERE.