The Update

My first update since February?!  Yeahh.....

Forever and a Day

Heyyyyyyyyyy...

Yeesh, it's been a super long time since I updated this blog.  Rather than jumping back in the game out of nowhere with several little posts,  I wanted to do a big 'ol update, with lots of little doo-dads and odds n' ends from my lyfe.  Plus a style post, natch (hard to come by these days!  Super cold + other life stuffs getting in the way.... )

Lately ++

Updatez:

+ It's been super cold in New York this week.  I pulled out my winter coat, and all my thick sweaters.  Even threw out a few ratty ones.  (RIP, sweaters)

+ The top on my guitar cracked!!  It's making sounds that are all buzzy and sad now.  Have to take it to the guitar doctor...

+ Anticipating changes on the horizon, yet the day-to-day schedule remains light.  I've got my students and various freelance jobs... but shows are winding down for the fall, progress on the EP is (still) slow, and I haven't even dreamed about full schedule of blog posts in a long time.   I'm used to the feeling of filling my days up with EVERYTHING POSSIBLE... because in NY if you're not busy, why are you even here?  :P  But I'm trying to re-learn stillness.  Waiting to be organically inspired to start new projects again, rather than forcing it.

+ Watching:  Masters of Sex, American Horror Story (yawn), & re-watching the Walking Dead from the beginning.  It's a trip to journey back to how the series started off... such a completely different world and characters.  Although I fast-forward through some of the gorier scenes.  Like Otis's death... ew :(

+ I'm always on the hunt for new shows... anyone have any good recommendations?

+ I forgot how I came across it, but I kind of want to buy every fragrance on this site.

+ Do you ever notice that the worst possible thing happens... and then the best possible thing happens almost immediately after?  Or vice versa?  I wonder why.


So... yeah :)  Anyway... these photos are some forgotten shots from the past months.  (I might've even posted a couple of them before, haha :)

Hope all is well in your world.












:: FOLLOW ::

BRUNCH

I feel like it's high time for a brunch post around here.

This was special occasion, as we have not been to brunch in months... a travesty!

This is the face of culinary pleasure.  His love for bacon is pure :)

♥♥♥

:: FOLLOW ::

On the Road

Photos by Nicole Graf



Do you ever feel like something inside you just breaks?

BREAK

Sometimes I can't always express everything.

Milk and Honey Recipe

When I received my awesome raw honey package last month, I got to asking myself what else I could do with all this delicious honey I had laying around.  Then the idea of milk and honey popped in my head.  It's a delicious-sounding phrase, you know?  It brings to mind all the pleasures there are out there in the world, right at your fingertips.

Fancy

There was a time when I used to love dressing up, all fancy and movie-star like.

But then there was a boy... (yada, yada...) and I started slowly altering my style to try be kind of girl that I thought he might like.   Anything "girly" went directly in the garbage.  I recoiled from the color pink.  Spurned glitter anything.  Stopped wearing makeup.  Changed my hair.  Changed so much about myself.

And after all that, I still never ended up with him.  He always chose someone else.

It's Friday...

Guess this must be the week of selfies... I've been digging around in pictures from a few months ago and trying out new Lightroom filters, since I regrettably haven't taken any photos this week.  It's been a bit busy, even though I can't really say what I've been up to.  I tend to forget a lot of day-to-day details, and remember things in chunks...

So that's why I'm just going to recap some random stuff that went down :)

Cozy Days

Because it's winter break (no kids to teach), I've been spending a lot of cozy days at home lately. Blogging, drinking coffee, doing work on my laptop, and browsing the Internet. (I didn't even bother to blowdry my hair on this day! And I'm kind of loving it...)

If you know me, one of my favorite things is when I get to flee the trappings of my apartment, and go out to the local coffee shops and cafes. The problem is... I never even bothered to get a cover for my laptop! So I've been carting it around without one all this time, and It's gotten a couple of scratches and boo-boos as a result :(




I can't tell you how long I've been needing a laptop sleeve. So when Surfdome approached me about a collaboration, I had a look at their website (which has a really fun and diverse product assortment!), and decided this was the time to jump on getting one!

I absolutely LOVE the sleeve I chose, which is by Icon Brand (find it here!) The southwestern/ boho pattern is so pretty, and I can tell it's built to last. It's basically the laptop sleeve of my dreams :) Mine seems like it's almost sold out, so check out some similar ones if you're in the market for one of your very own.




Hope you've enjoyed having a little look at me & the homestead :)

If you celebrate Christmas, have a wonderful holiday!! I'll be taking a few days off of blogging to enjoy some family time. xoxox!

This week...

Sheesh, where did the week go? I had some cool posts planned, and just couldn't get around to putting them up! Here's a taste of what I've been up to:

~ Taught classes and students.
~ Played a show.
~ Felt pretty good about said show, and had a trip down memory lane when I visited a familiar venue across the street.
~ Saw old friends.
~ Had the monthly Noise Collective party.
~ Watched American Horror Story... I love this season so much.
~ Listened to new arrangements for the EP & made notes, etc.
~ Thinking and planning a lot, a lot, a LOT about its release.
~ Sent out an email blast (it's been forever.)
~ Made BBQ ribs in the crock pot! (First time!)
~ Found a cool Mexican blanket & perfect pair of loafers from my favorite vintage store. Less than $20 (this was today!!)


Off topic maybe, but sometimes I wish I were a better self-manager.

Because even though this list sounds fun and highlights all the good, I still get stressed out handling lots of little tasks. Especially if I can't find a moment to get away to take care of things. And by get away, I mean literally leave my house and go somewhere else to feel productive/ get inspiration. My head swims in all possible activities, with no release for them. Too many plans and too many dreams stuck in limbo... Creatively limp. And that is noooo fun.



Either way, I don't mean to sound negative. Been trying to keep the positivity flowing recently. Things are good. I have lots to be grateful for :) Just wanted to let you where my mind's at.

xoxo

Little Addictions...

Hello friends! Here's something you don't see every day... a picture of all the unused notebooks and journals that I currently have.




I seem to be addicted to stockpiling cute journals! It's a habit, at this point. Whenever I see one I like (especially on sale!) I grab it. I just hate that in-between time when you've finished one, and it takes awhile to find another. I like to have it on the ready :)

I remember the very first journal I ever got... well, really it was a diary :) It was a birthday present when I was eight. The cover had a picture of a little girl- she was looking out a windowsill, daydreaming. There was gold detailing in some places, and also on the ends of all the pages (like some bibles.) The pages were perfumed, and attached was a satin bookmark to keep my place. Lastly, there was a little lock for privacy, with a key that I still remember holding in my hand.

I remember how special and mature it made me feel... a place that I could write anything at all, and no one else was allowed to see. How liberating! Even at that young age, it got me to love writing and self-exploration. I've had many journals since then, and I've saved every one :)

Even as we put so much of ourselves online for the world to see nowadays... it's still nice to have some secrets.

Macaron Parlour

Wandering around different neighborhoods has got to be one of the best parts about living in NYC. If you've got an hour or two of free time, it's the most a wonderful way to spend some time clearing the cobwebs your head, while taking in beautiful sights.

I was in the the East Village recently doing just that. And my nice Sunday stroll livened up even more, when I came across this cute little shop- the Macaron Parlour. The sign lured me inside. And before long, I was bewitched by their delicious treats...

I ended up getting the red velvet macaron! Smores is definitely on my list for next time :)





By the way, thank you all so much for the wonderful support on Monday's post. I will be back later in the week to thank everyone individually.

I can get a little self-conscious about my curviness. Of course, I was raised on the idea that thinner is better, and growing up, I always thought I stuck out as being too "normal" as everyone else was leading their perfect, thin lives. Yeah, "normal"... that's if I was being nice to myself that day.

Years and time have helped me get over this, but sometimes I slip. And sometimes, I think it's just the nature of taking and showing style photos- looking at pictures of yourself all the time. Sussing out every "flaw". Trying to narrow down the best shots (with the least flaws) to put online and show the entire world. You're always comparing yourself to how you looked in the past, as well as other women that you admire. And you tend to get a little critical. Well, i do.


But the fact is, this is the way that I look. This is my body. It's always been my body, no matter what I've tried to do to change it. It's just the way I am and the way I was built.

I want to respect this lovely body, which has done so many amazing things for me besides just being attractive, or being used as a receptacle for my own fears and insecurities. I can do this through acceptance.

I am beautiful. In lots of ways. Actually, you are too.

And I will have a red velvet macaron if I please :)