Pure Magic




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Happy Birthday, Audrey!

[Photo Credit - glassesandgummybears.blogspot.com]

Audrey Hepburn was not only a beauty icon, but an incredibly talented actress. I've read a couple of her biographies, and each time I was wowed by her life and all that she had been through and accomplished. Happy birthday to an inspiration!

[Photo Credit - covellifashion.wordpress.com]

[Photo Credit - classicfilmstars.com]





Biker Chic

[Photo Credit - wrenhandmade.typepad.com]

 I had an idea yesterday that I am still obsessing over. I am throwing the idea around to invest in a bike (with a basket). When I want to pop over to the mall or pick up groceries, a bike is a healthy and cheap way to get there. It would take 10-20 minutes, and I would save a lot on gas, not to mention get an extra workout in for the day. I would also be out in the sun and getting my Vitamin D. There are too many benefits, here!

I would save hundreds of dollars in gas, especially with the rising gas prices. While I do try to be green, I'll admit I'd rather drive to the park to walk my puppy rather than actually walk there. But this summer, that will not be the case. It really pays to slow down and take time to walk or bike somewhere. I'm on a mission to find a cute, vintage-looking bike. This is one more step/goal to my Summer of Learning (as I've officially dubbed it).

Does anyone have any bike (and helmet!) recommendations?



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Comfortable Isolation



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I've reached a point in my night where I have focused so hard all day that I can't even focus on my book or a television show. Frankly, I'm not even feeling tired. A few lines I just read in Katie Couric's new book perfectly summed up what I am feeling: "Listen once in a while. It's amazing what you can hear. On a hot summer day in the country, you can hear the corn growing, the crack of a tin roof buckling under the power of the sun." - Russell Baker

This description is exactly what I would love to be doing right now. Watching the sun go down over a sea of corn, basking in the leftover heat from the day, closing my eyes, just listening to the sounds around me. Because that way, even though I am not running around or jumping and singing, I would still feel alive. Alive in that way when you feel very connected to nature and the world around you.

Another way to describe this feeling could be expressed through The Notebook. This scene in particular:



[Photo Credit - entertainment.ezinemark.com]

In this scene, the moon and streelights are the only sources of light. It is that time of night on an empty street when it only feels like you are the only breathing being. Also, there is a hint of romance and first love, not only in this movie, but in this stillshot itself. Most importantly, Billie Holiday's I'll Be Seeing You plays in the background. I am comfortably independent, and this type of isolation is something I absolutely wouldn't mind. Bring on the corn, sunset, and slow dancing under the moon.



[Photo Credit - flickr.com]

[Photo Credit - smithcountylakehouse.com]

Pretty Things

Black and white photography / Cinema / New York City



Everyday I am inspired by something, whether it is a color, a book I am reading, a magazine article, a stranger's nice manners, nature, the environment and people around me, beautiful pictures, or recipes. There is always a lesson to learn from an action, an awkward moment, an event, or a lecture, and even though I am not in a classroom 24/7, I feel like I am learning a little bit more about the world and myself every day. I want to constantly be motivated and in awe of what is around me. I hope to always find pleasure in the little things, and to find joy in simple moments like standing still in the middle of a crowded New York City street or organizing my books and magazines.

P.S. Happy Easter!

Carrie's Closet
[Photo credit - honeybee-emily.blogspot.com]



Organization / Shoes




Photo contrast / MK / Color



Polka dots / Room decor
[Photo Credit - ohjoy.blogs.com]



Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you give me a plate of chocolate chip cookies, it is guaranteed that I will eat every last one of them. So when I craved whipping up a batch of my favorite cookie, I wanted to find a recipe that was a little more healthy. Luckily, this recipe did the trick! There was a different texture to the cookie once it was fresh out of the oven, yet it contained oats and it still tasted like a delicious chocolatey cookie! The right half of the cooling tray has cookies that I left as a round ball, and the left side are cookies that I pressed down flatter before placing in the oven. Both had the same taste and texture - they just came out looking slightly different. I love that oatmeal doesn't just work for breakfast or raisin cookies, and adding chocolate to a traditional recipe always results in a tasty surprise.



Hello Seattle





I caught Seatle on an off-day, and the sun was shining and sky was blue. After a couple of days of rain, the city felt clean and calm. I explored downtown with my sister and cousin, and indulged in delicious ice cream at Molly Moon and sugar-coated beignets at the Seattle Center. We walked around for a bit, and then rested to enjoy a street performer jazz out on his soprano. Before we left we found a patch of bright red tulips that lined the street. When I wasn't soaking in the beautiful spring day, I managed to take these pictures to capture the moment.











Spring Palette

During the winter, I am often found bundled up in a chunky knit scarf to keep warm. While scarves are thought to be a Winter accessory, they can also serve as a perfect Spring accent piece. Though the Spring brings sun, there is usually a morning chill that a light colorful scarf would appropriately combat.

a. Jil Sander cotton shawl, $395

b. TopShop printed scarve, $32

c. Cashmere shawl, $98

d. Halogen fringe scarve, $38

e. Pins and Needles lace shawl, $24

f. Bindya wool shawl, $47

g. Chan Luu silk shawl, $185

You Wear It Best

In my philosophy class, a hot topic has been the unrealistic beauty standards for women. In Jean Kilbourne's film, "Killing Us Softly 4," there is a clip of how a regular girl is transformed into a billboard “beauty” for a Dove advertisement. She has her makeup done professionally and is then Photoshopped. The picture of the model that goes up onto the billboard for thousands of people to see looks nothing like the real girl. What is dangerous about this is that girls everywhere look at these pictures, magazine covers, and advertisements and think that this is what celebrities look like and what women should emulate. This, however, is simply not true.

Real life men and women have flaws, but with the wave of a Photoshop wand, love handles or wrinkles can be erased and abs can be added. Not only does this idealized and false beauty standard make women look at themselves differently, but they start to compete with other females.  The media plays a major role in creating what beauty is and what qualifies as “cute” or “hot.” Just like fashion, beauty has trends, too. One year skinny, tall, blondes will be trending, while the next year is all about exotic-looking brunettes.

Here is an example of how the media pits women against one another:

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 We are constantly judging and critiquing one another – so much that it has become an unhealthy obsession. To add insult to injury, women are often put down if they are intelligent, educated, and not living up to beauty norms. Because technology doesn’t move backwards, Photoshop and beauty-altering creams and devices will be a constant pressure that both men and women will have to deal with. Instead of spreading false images around, it is more important to spread the truth around - the truth about what actually goes into creating magazine covers and that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.



Crostini Cravings

Before class every morning I check my favorite blogs and read a couple pages from the New York Times and LA Times. One of the blogs I frequent is Cupcakes and Cashmere. I was inspired by one of her posts that included a recipe for Pea Pesto Crostini. It was a short and simple recipe, and I ate almost half of the plate. I warmed the sliced french baguette in the oven for about 6 minutes after having brushed olive oil on each side - warming the bread will give it a nice crunch. This recipe is perfect for a quick snack or an appetizer to dinner (I made it for the latter). I used 3/4 of the french roll and ended up with a lot of pesto left over, but it will taste delicious on a turkey and cheese sandwich with sundried tomatoes.