things I'm loving...

Today is kind of out of control. But it's ok, because I'm taking a minute to share a few things that I'm absolutely in love with this week:

1.) Chocolate Souffle Cupcakes:

[smittenkitchen.com]

2.) TOMS wedges:

[thefrisky.com]

3.) "A Beautiful Mess" blogger Elsie Flannigan's workspace (see more pictures at this link):

4.) This photo:

[amorologyweddings.blogspot.com]

Happy Wednesday.

ben + hat

This is Bennie. He's the sweetest little pal you can imagine.

As it was so very cold yesterday, and as I had time on my hands in the afternoon AND the desire to try my hand at making up my own hat pattern, I knit this little kiddo a little something to keep his head warm.

He looks pretty stinking adorable in it, so I'm going to consider it a success.

Happy New Week.

lovely, lovely, lovely...

I made a random Redbox run this afternoon to amuse myself whilst I did homework. "Bright Star" from director Jane Campion has been on my "need-to-see" list for a while now, and it was not disappointing. Especially in the costume department. Feast your eyes on the loveliness below:

[frocktalk.com]

[trulymovingpictures.org]

[alicia b. designs]

And only two days until the weekend...

Tuesday Things...

There's this random idea I have every once in a while. I'm not sure if "idea" is the right word to describe this. Perhaps "dream" or "wish" or simply "thought" would be better. In any case, my idea is this: I really wish that I was much more artistic (not creative, I know I have creative abilities, what I mean is the skills needed to make seriously good artistic renderings of people), because if I were, I would love to draw or paint random people I see (and even those I know) in situations or as characters that are very different from their own, just to see what they'd look like. For example, my hairdresser has a face that needs to be matched with a 1920s flapper's outfit, I took Earth Science with a girl who looked like she might have stepped out of a Rembrandt painting, and there was this guy at the gas station this morning that I would just love to see in some super epic medieval knight garb.

So go ahead and laugh if you want. But remember the name of this blog. These are simply things I think about...

Also, for your viewing pleasure, the book cover below. Simply fabulous:

[image from bookcoverarchive.com]

Things That Make My Friday...

[image from dweebist.com]

[coffee toffee recipe from smittenkitchen.com]

[shaun the sheep! borngifted.co.uk]

And it's snowing outside.

Happy Friday.

2 Hours with Vicki

Today it was raining beyond all reason in Collegedale. The good news was, it was a Sunday. And what better activity for a rainy Sunday than to head into town for a 12:55 p.m. showing of a new historical film, The Young Victoria. I took along my friend, Chelsey, for several reasons:

a.) she is my friend

b.) she wanted to see the movie too

c.) she shares my love for films that most of the rest of the world would only care to watch in history class, and even then only so they could nap during it

We got there a bit late; it was rainy on the highway and we decided to choose life by going slower. But once we arrived and had settled down in the back row of Rave theater 5, I got the most lovely sensation. Here I was, spending two hours learning about something I absolutely love: British history.

Go ahead, call me a nerd if you like, but the truth is that I've become so bogged down in what I'm supposed to learn in college that I've forgetten to take time to learn about the things I love. It's easy to get turned off to learning when you spend too much time learning because you have to and not enough time learning because you want to. After two hours with Victoria and Albert, I've fallen in love with learning again.

As a side note, The Young Victoria is fantastic, but you had probably already guessed I'd say that...check out the trailer below:

Away We Go to Brunch and Bronfman

November isn't normally this crazy.
Seems to me that every other year I've been in school, November is the "calm before the storm:" the time of waiting before the semester-end stress comes crashing down on me.
But this November is different. I feel like I've been up to my eyeballs with the most random assignments and commitments; it's rather uncanny.
But amidst the chaos, I managed to fit in some of the most delightful experiences of my semester thus far:
1.) Bronfman.
Ever heard of Yefim Bronfman? Neither had I until my piano professor father came bursting into our kitchen, practically giggling with delight, proclaiming the news that this world-famous pianist would be coming to Southern to perform a concert.
"Cool," I replied. "I'll have to check it out."
Good grief. Cool does not even begin to describe Bronfman.
For one, his name is fantastic.
For two, his performance was impeccable.
For three, the concert was black-tie optional, which meant I got to dress up nice and fancy.

2.) Brunch.
Brunch has always been my favorite. You get to eat breakfast food (the best) in the later morning (better, because it implies you don't have to get up early). When our Communication Research class got canceled last Tuesday morning, my class buddies and I decided to spend the 9:30am class period breaking pancakes together instead. We even had candlesticks...is there anything more pleasant than that?


3.) Away We Go.
Here's all I'm going to say: watch this little film, it will make you smile.