Mental Hygiene

I'm not only taking a long overdue break from New York, I'm also getting away from this freaking computer. As much as I'm enjoying this self-indulgent blogging experience, the internet is taking over my life.
 

So goodbye & wish me many real life experiences and the regeneration of my eyeballs.

The Poetry Festival of New York

This weekend I was a stage manager for one of the three stages at the Poetry Festival of New York. On Saturday I took the 7 a.m. ferry to Governors Island (not so much an attestation to my commitment as to my guilt for having missed the last meeting). Needless to say I'm exhausted. But it was worth it to hang out with a bunch of poets in the park as they pranced and somersaulted around the grass.

 

It was my first time to Governors Island, and it's gorgeous in that not only is it reminiscent of Colonial Williamsburg but that it's so anti-New York City. It's like a normal park in a normal city plopped onto an island in the East River. I am now even more excited to go to the Jazz Age Lawn Party in August!

Dorothea Lasky!

I felt totally out of my element as a stage manager, but luckily I got into the swing of things after being yelled at by strangers all morning about the sound being too loud or too quiet. Once the circuit breaker was fixed and the sound came back on, day two went much more smoothly.

Supermarket Sarah

Supermarket Sarah is the online equivalent of a flea market minus the rummaging. It is definitely my favorite online shopping experience, mostly because I want Sarah Bagner to turn my room into one of her pop-up shops. You just scroll over her beautiful displays and click on whatever catches your eye, in other words everything.

 

 

 

 

Want: Two Hills

Australian brand Two Hills makes the best every-day-wearable, mixable-and-matchable jewelry. I love me some good basic shapes and symbols, and I'm super into the graphic look of these designs.

These pieces (below) from their Elemental collection are my favorites. I am actually having a really hard time not buying the Kis Double Ring, but I'm forcing myself to hold out until I get back from my upcoming trip and I'm forced to figure out some more permanent means of money making.

Home Sweet Home

Next week I'm going on a trip to see my friends and family (hence my absence for the next couple of weeks, apologies!). First I'm going to Santa Cruz for a week to visit my grandma and my cousins, and my mom is also flying out. I'm expecting to finally get the tan I've been waiting for all summer and to spend lots of nights drinking with my cousins.

Then I'm going back to Denver, and words cannot express how excited I am. My family moved to Wisconsin at the same time I started college, but I still consider Denver my home and make an effort to go back and visit whenever possible. Luckily I have plenty of friends willing to take me in, and I've become accustomed to couch surfing.

Here are some pictures we took on my 35mm last summer.

I'm really excited to get in some much needed nature time! I'm getting a little stir crazy in New York what with all the free time and ever increasing humidity. It's time for an adventure.

I made this etsy treasury to inspire some true Colorado ruggedness. Last summer I was caught climbing a mountain in wedges--I've turned into a such a New Yorker, I forgot that impromptu hikes happen when you go out in Colorado! Here I am feeling crazy when I make it into Manhattan.

My Life of Late: DIY Edition

Living one block from Home Depot has inspired many projects between my roommates and I. I recently purchased a diamond drill bit and have since been obsessed with drilling holes in things. It's a much slower process than I anticipated, but it's also kind of therapeutic.

My first project: drilling holes in this ceramic elephant figurine that I bought on etsy to make a necklace, because I'm still obsessing over these Andres Gallardo pieces. Just as I was about to finish each hole, it cracked. So I ended up with an elephant in three pieces. Luckily this is nothing a little Barges glue can't fix, and despite the obvious cracks I'm still pretty excited about the result.

 

I also have a DIY haircut, because I freaked out and decided I needed my hair cut IMMEDIATELY, so I made my roommate Justin (the most responsible person present) to have a go at it. Needless to say he hacked it all off. I actually am really liking the length, but luckily I stopped him when he said "maybe this is what layering is."

Next project: a shelving unit for over my desk.

Raising Property Values

The building across the street from us is condemned due to some shoddy loop-holing by the owner, so it's completely boarded up. It's a bummer because it's a nice building, not to mention someone could be making bank off of it. But alas it's been left to the rats and graffiti artists, until our neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands. The boarded up windows have undergone multiple paint jobs, and are now officially a cheery shade of pepto-pink.

 

Brian Stremick

 

 

 

Beautiful paintings by one of my best friends and current roommate Brian Stremick. I think I'm going to hang the above painting in my bedroom. Brian's a painting major at Pratt and about to graduate. He also does amazing line drawings, some of which are currently for sale at Canvas, so check them out if you're in NYC.

To purchase a painting contact Brian at bstremick@gmail.com.

Want: Nikki Couppee

I discovered Nikki Couppee on Pinterest, and as much as I'm into the concept of jewelry as art, I would not be opposed to the mass production of these pieces, because I would buy all of them.

The Poetry Festival of New York

Due to the serious lack of poetry in my life I'm volunteering with the Poetry Society of New York to help out with the Poetry Festival on Governor's Island on July 21st & 22nd, and I am stoked.

There will be parasols! Via

I'm especially excited for Thomas Sayers Ellis, who I saw read in May! My friend took this video of him reading "Balloon Dog" at the PowerHouse Arena in DUMBO. You have to hear him read to fully appreciate his genius, so I recommend coming out to see him (as well as a bunch of other big names!)

The Jewel Collar

I got my inspiration for the collar on my etsy shop from Pixie Market, which is pretty much my favorite store despite the fact that I can't afford to shop there and, even more problematic, my inability to admit this to myself. (I HAVE A PROBLEM.)

Pixie Market is having a sale on all sale items that ends TODAY! Use code "Gimme25" at checkout.

 Topshop also has a version of the jewel collar.

My Life of Late: Concluding Self-Worthlessness + Not Trying Harder

I am currently dog walking, tutoring, volunteering, and etsying.

Question of the day: how old will I be when I have my first real job?

Jon singing me "Nothing Gets Crossed Out" by Bright Eyes. In his words, "not very deep, but very relatable." (Note the title. I am obsessed with making lists, if you haven't noticed).

Shop Update: Happy Fourth of July Discount + New Stuff!

Happy Fourth of July! Take 15% with the coupon code "Fireworks" at the shop! Also check out the new items I posted, including two decoupaged compact mirrors! Nothing like a little indulging in your vanity to celebrate this great country.

Want: Mary Karantzou for Topshop

These priiiiiiiiints! Images via torontolife.