Monday, December 14, 2009

I believe in the brain!


mind over surgery?

In 2002 researchers at Houston VA Medical Center find that the anticipation of surgery alone restored better knee functioning than the actual physical procedure. I wonder if this truly illustrates that just the thought alone of anticipating healing actually healed these patients' knees. Was the actual physical incision after anesthesia that this placebo group got significant, perhaps engaging and stimulating specific acupuncture points? OR, was it actually just the powerful thought and strong intention of relief put forth by the minds of those anticipating surgery and the putting full forth of trust in the white coats who were meant to operate? Either way, more studies please!

WATCH HERE!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

nice guys come in...first?

NO MORE MR. NICE GUY, NICE GUYS FINISH LAST... why has being nice gotten such a bad rap? Leave it to Berkeley to protest this one.

Apparently, being selfish is no longer cool? sorry _ _ _ _ _ (this is where you get to fill in the blank!)
need another blank? _ _ _ _

UC Berkeley social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest' | Eureka! Science News
esciencenews.com
Researchers at UC Berkeley are challenging long-held beliefs that human beings are wired to be selfish. In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive.

read full article HERE!
So go on, be nice, it definitely won't kill you...

i'm shit out of luck, but, you don't have to be.




I have been pounding my head against the wall (not literally) thinking about what to get the special man in my life for Christmas... A made in Los Angeles, premium handcrafted, military spec classy black coated cotton canvas weekender would be perfect, especially because it would be a non-selfish hint that I want to travel more together!!!

TOO BAD HE IS THE GENIUS BEHIND SAID BRAND.

so, although I am still searching, you don't have to... the perfect gift has been found, click to buy at KILLSPENCER.com and if you are speedy, orders can still be shipped out in time for Christmas.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

the best way to get me to cook...

scratch that... the ONLY way to get me to cook...



Wednesday, August 19, 2009

In love with love + lousy poetry + the best cup of tea.





Yes, it's true I am a sucker for love+ romance, words+ hugs and well, really good french tea. Something about this tea is down right dangerous...I'm talking romance, fantasies + fairytales...and then... you take your last sip. UGH. Buy it, brew it, sip it..if you can handle it. The "wedding imperial" or "fall in love" might just be able to suck me in and totally break my heart when it's all gone. Until... I get my next shipment from my dealer, a.k.a Paris. I am a good share-r, BUT, NOT with my Mariage Freres tea. seriously, I am all down for tea parties, but.. BRING YOUR OWN.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Getty center Gardens, you are alright...

In the future... the near future... I am going to have a CACTI garden that is to be reckoned with.




Okay, I am smitten with the Getty Center Gardens... I could spend all day everyday frolicking around the grounds. For real.

Jet Set, or just Look like it...

Italy does things right.





I am traveling in a week and my vacation doesn't seem proper without a Valextra collection. Yeah, my super durable Swiss Army set with expandable capabilities will work for my lack of efficient packing and withstand the complete opposite of "handle with care" the baggage personnel use. But the stark white, minimalistic, stiff leather bags seem more "me". Sure, I could talk myself out of wanting them because they don't seem all too practical, but, who are we kidding.... if I could afford it, I would be yachting my way around the world, Valextra-ed out to the max.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A Small Film with a Big Heart



Sooni Taraporevala debuted her first film at the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles, and it is safe to say she is a genius. Little Zizou, an intelligent, offbeat comedy follows the lives of two clashing families belonging to the Parsi community in Mumbai, India. Besides brilliant dialogue, stunning imagery and extreme attention to detail, the character development and human interaction of the actors truly felt like perfection. Even if you don't know the history of the Parsi community, this film goes far beyond "entertaining"...Although the film is a comedy and does what it is supposed to do..make you laugh...there are underlying themes of the cost of religious fundamentalists on families and society and as cliche as it sounds...the power of dreaming and unconditional love. If there is anyone that outshines the writer/director it is the very young actors who carry us through the entire story. As in Slumdog Millionaire, the kids in this film carry the success on their little shoulders! When asked about how Taraporevala found her talent, she replied "I didn't have to look very far, I stayed very close to home". The two young actors in the film are her own children!
(Click on the blog title to see the official movie trailer)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

and while we are on the note of male inspiration...






Although, this is NO KILLSPENCER product (www.KILLSPENCER.com), this men's overnight bag is something I wouldn't mind owning! BillyKirk is a brand founded by two brothers who handcraft leather goods in the USA! One of their wallets would fit perfectly in the back pocket of my "boyfriend" shorts. Who doesn't want to be one of the guys every so often? Just Saying...

male inspiration.

I have nothing poignant to say, except that...I LOVE "boyfriend" denim shorts. Finally, a trend that is comfortable. I never quite understood the "boyfriend" denim jeans, but, the shorts... I more than get. In fact, I'd say these shorts are my new..."it's 98 degrees in LA already?-uniform" over the past week.






The shorts I wear are made by Era of Chaos from LF on Robertson! The chunky leather sandals are Huarache-inspired and super comfortable. A bit pricey, but... (look at them)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Blondes, are you recession proof?




it seems as though everyone is going blonde? trend? maybe. maybe not. Maybe it's a reflection of the downward turned economy? I just read that blonde hair dye has risen in sales by just a tad under 70%. I read an article proposing the idea that when credit card purchases are no longer fun, girls have to try out an old theory. Okay, so am I really supposed to believe that being blonde beats the economic-blues...I suppose all attempts are valid. Recent blondes, are you having more fun? See, I am more likely to believe that Kate and Agyness have a little something to do with the peroxide party. But, really, I am all ears.

Friday, April 17, 2009

"the most neglected humanitarian emergency"...


*photo via www.invisiblechildren.com

The war in northern Uganda led by the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) has been persisting for the past 23 years and killed almost TWO million INNOCENT civilians caught in the midst.

The worst part of it all ... 90% of the LRA troops were abducted as children. Joseph Kony, who heads the LRA abducts children, robs them of their youth and trains them to be killing machines.

I had lunch with a new friend, Steve, today in South Pasadena, who spread awareness to me about this amazing movement. Invisible Children is a US-based organization and was founded by 3 young filmmakers who traveled to Africa in search of a story. They came back with much more than a story, they came back heavy hearted holding onto a "tragedy that disgusted and inspired them".

Visit www.invisiblechildren.com to read up on the movement and join forces.

Steve was wearing a whistle around his neck, signifying the whistles that many of the "too young to use machine guns" abducted children of Uganda would wear. Only, the whistles now can be purchased to raise awareness and money to add to the fund in hopes to "rescue" these children and rehabilitate them back into society in hopes of a chance at childhood and a life they can call their own.

Steve also mentioned nationwide "abduct-yourself" campaigns formed in order to raise awareness so that bigger institutions like the UN will do more. People are "abducting" themselves on designated nights in designated public parks all over the US and not leaving until the person of their choice "rescues" them. I heard actress Kristen Bell abducted herself and asked the cast of Gossip Girl to come out and rescue her. The band Switchfoot abducted themselves and asked the Jonas Brother to rescue them. Kristen Dunst's rescuer was Ellen DeGeneres.

So go on... abduct yourself and be creative+lofty...who will you ask to rescue you?

Ps- Not only is Steve socially conscious, he is also a very talented custom bag designer, using donated, found or preserved material. visit www.templebags.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Help. Im Alive...

my heart keeps beating like a hammer.




This... is METRIC.

led by frontwomen, Emily Haines.

Listen to ALL their albums... they just came out with a new one, Fantasies.
download the acoustic version of "Help I'm Alive" off of their official website.

*all photos via myspace.com/metrictheband

rocka-billy-baby...



The evening commute can be pleasurable. Well, that's IF you listen to NPR. Yesterday, NPR's All Things Considered, featured a few interviews with a DJ, a Classical Music Critic and a very talented mom about how significant it was to pick the very first piece of music their newborn infants would experience. Pretty fascinating. I visited their website afterwards and LOVED the comment that someone posted regarding NPR's jazz bias and how he raised his kids on Black Flag, Joy Division+rockabilly. MmmmHmmm That's right.

The interesting thing is, when studying Human Development, you learn about how keen the sense of hearing is, just a few months after conception. It is our first sensory ability. I have read accounts of fathers walking in to the hospital room full of newborns and speaking to a nurse, his own baby will react and turn towards his voice, because she/he recognizes him. How awesome is that? Experts say babies can even recognize the difference between a melodic or a dissonant song. woah.

Like picking a baby name wasn't hard enough? Pressure's on.
What tune will you pick? Did you pick?

Thursday, April 9, 2009

because Proximity is a Positive thing...The LOCAL eatery




I just visited LOCAL, a new Silverlake eatery for dinner... I loved the covered patio seating, the friendly staff, really good tasting +good looking food... the best part is...the ingredients are locally grown and organic! Okay, this is going to sound strange, but, even the tap water tasted AMAZING! The only downside is parking. But, where in LA is that not a problem?

2943 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
323.662.4740
breakfast + lunch everday 9-3
dinner tues-thurs 5pm-10pm friday-sat 5pm-11pm
closed for dinner sunday + monday nights

Friday, April 3, 2009

Origami Vinyl opening tonight!




A good friend of mine just fulfilled his lifelong dream of opening a Vinyl Record Store. That's super radical. The launch party is tonight, show up around 8pm.
1816 W Sunset Blvd, Echo Park; 213.413.3030


Origami Viny's official press release:


ECHO PARK, CA – March 26, 2009 - Already creating a buzz, courtesy of the LA Times and Buzzbands, Origami Vinyl will open its doors to the public at 1816 W. Sunset Blvd, Friday, April 3rd at Noon. Grand Opening guests will enjoy in-store performances by Wait.Think.Fast. and Nico Stai as well as an Opening Day Sale of 10% off everything in the store.

A not-so-natural progression of the digital-only record label of the same name, Origami Vinyl is Echo Park's very own vinyl-only record shop! The shop will stock a variety of new vinyl—both LPs and 45s—as well as record players, cartridges and accessories. Conveniently located two doors from The Echo and Echoplex, Origami Vinyl will also serve as the primary box office for concert tickets to The Echo, Echoplex, Spaceland and other Spaceland Productions Festivals/Events. As if that weren't enough, digital DJ pioneer Serato has chosen Origami Vinyl as its flagship recycling center for used Serato control vinyl.

Inspiration for the store came from the neighborhood itself, where owner Neil Schield has lived for nearly a decade, impressed by its increasingly characteristic knowledge of, and appetite for, good music. No one knows Echo Park quite like Schield's new landlord and neighbor Mitchell Frank (The Echo, Spaceland, Malo, El Prado).

“After Neil unveiled plans for his grand opening party,” Frank laughs, “my wife said I’m not allowed inside Origami Vinyl unless she’s holding my credit cards! The vinyl-only shop is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood and will have great synergy with The Echo and Echoplex. It’ll serve as a box office for shows at the venues, as well as a pop up store, radio station hub, music news broadcast and internet communications bureau and a great vinyl outlet – not to mention a host for record release parties and art exhibits. I’ll see you there, but for me it’s cash only!”

Origami Vinyl will be open seven days a week “from Noon to Late” and will occasionally host events like listening parties, record clubs, in-store performances from local and touring artists, art openings and other random happenings. To stay updated, visit our blog at www.origamiorigami.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OrigamiVinyl.

Origami also concludes its March residency at the Echo this Monday, March 30th at 9pm, featuring Origami artists Wait.Think.Fast. and Summer Darling plus special guests Kissing Cousins and Future Ghost. The night is free so come help us celebrate!

For follow-up, please contact Neil Schield at neil@origamiorigami.com or at 213.618.2166

Monday, March 30, 2009

LOVE BITES





I don't want to spoil it with too many words. TRY it. be soft+tasty. ($34)
hint: part scrub-part moisturizer and ALL brown cane sugar, vanilla, almond, vitaminE+ Honey.
WARNING: may cause random love bites (and, I am not teasing around)

(click on Blog title to purchase products off website)

Sunday, March 29, 2009

sweet love, southern style.

It's true my best girl got hitched. she was beautiful, obviously. there were parasols+lilac+peanuts+sweet tea. private acoustic limbeck show+hundreds of homemade cupcakes.cowboy, the dog+roosters+ponies+daffodils. Oh and traditional southern BBQ, I'm talking about fried okra + pickles.


"ciara heart andy written in wild flowers"

rehearsal- the bridal party

rehearsal- the groomsmen

rehearsal- the bride and her family.

sweet love, southern style...


sweethearts+sweet tea

limbeck acoustic

Mr. + Mrs Stensrud!


Ferris Bueller's house is around the corner...?!