Holiday Cheer!

I've been home for almost a week, and it has been a whirlwind! I kind of jumped right back in, everything is still very much the same but I am different.  With so many things that used to matter I am now more like an outside observer, only mildly amused by it all.  There are two things for which my love has strengthened though: my family and cooking.  No surprise there, they have always been important to me. My days home are filled with both, whether its surprising my sisters with their favorite pancakes or making dinner together.  It's been absolute heaven!  Below are some pics of the girls setting up their own yogurt parfaits tonight with pomegranate seeds, bananas, apples, and pecans. 

  Annalie adding the apples

Bananas!

Holiday Parfaits all done! 

Changing Everyday

(Above: A picture I took of a painting from the Courtauld Gallery ceiling.)

Sometimes life just hits you with one of those "Wow, when did I get so grown up?" moments.  Today is my very last Sunday in London.  In between preparing to pack my things for the trip home, I was writing a thank you card for my tutor and suddenly struck by the fact that this once in a lifetime experience is actually coming to a close.  The United Kingdom became a home to me; made me a globally aware person; gave me a completely new sense of freedom.  I am a better person for my experiences here. Intelligence is the ability to gain and understand information- that is individual.  Knowledge, however, is available to everyone because it comes from experience and education.  Study abroad is one of the greatest ways to become more knowledgeable in every way.  You can be the smartest person in the room, but what is it really worth if you miss out on opportunities to learn firsthand because you think you know everything? I believe in a well rounded perspective, and that would be impossible to achieve if I never explored outside my own society.  There are few moments when I feel like its okay to openly praise myself, honestly there is nothing worse than an over-inflated ego, especially on a blog which screams high sense of self-importance, but I am so proud of myself for taking this opportunity. They say live each day to the fullest, and I am sincerely trying to do just that. For me, I've learned that part of that is being grateful. Appreciation helps us realize just how great our lives really are so that we take no moment for granted.

Never let your life pass you by, I refuse to! 

Belfast

 Mural Work on Falls Road

 

Memorial Statue

Belfast is a city in Northern Ireland, as well as the site of much internal political unrest and violence.  Northern Ireland has been, and continues to, struggle with the issue of independence from Great Britain. Early on in the tour I was struck by the walls meant to separate Protestants and Catholics around Belfast, seventeen in total.  I could not help but think of Germany, of a single people divided within their own country.  I had never understood the large divide between the Protestants and the Catholics until realizing how it was incredibly intertwined with the unionist and nationalist movements.  

 Not until quite recently has the violence largely stopped between the two movements and towards the British Government. This struggle has been on going for centuries, but did not end centuries ago. Hearing stories about Northern Ireland was quite a different experience because it is a strong example that sometimes ancient history is not that ancient.  It was not until 2005 the Irish Republican Army agreed to peaceful means of change, and to focus on political efforts. It was a wonderful step considering it had failed in the past but seems to be lasting better than before, however clearly Belfast is still not at peace.  The many murals and flags with symbols of other wars, revolutions, and protests are clear indicators.  No war is neat, but Northern Ireland's has been particularly rough.  Known for their military violence and many prisoner protests (especially under Thatcher), this will not be something easily transitioned to the past whether they decide to separate from Great Britain or not.

Our tour was organized through former political prisoners and current activists to give us an opportunity to hear a different version of history- their personal stories.  Roads may have been rebuilt, new buildings replaced the old, but the pain of the conflict is clearly still deeply rooted and present in the community through the generation living there who fought it. The tour began on Falls Road, the site of a major attack, and continued through Belfast to see many walls, gardens, and murals of remembrance for those lost in this war.  Although it was not perhaps the most well rounded version of the story, it was undoubtedly from an expert in the field because it had shaped his entire life.  He spent 15 years as a political prisoner, and grew up on Falls Road.  

Morning Meditations

Listening to tracks #2,4,5,6 this morning.

Mornings are my art. They are my moving meditations; my calm before the storm. No sudden movements should ever take place in the morning.  I have never understood skipping breakfast, our bodies need fuel to keep us going.  Breakfast is a chance to feed the body, as well as the soul, not like the rushed meals throughout the rest of the day.  Nothing yet has disturbed the dozy peace that comes from sleep so why not foster it a bit longer instead of rushing to start with the hassles of the outside world?

As I ate my gooseberry and vanilla yogurt with bananas this morning, I decided to read some quotes.  It's something I've been doing lately since I do not find as much time as I would like to read.  Hopefully the wisdom of others will rub off on me or inspire some deeper thought. During this part of my morning ritual I noticed that many travel related quotes say something about the type of people who travel and what travel does to the person.  I interpret it like this: For those of us who do not wish to be tourists, preferring to live like locals but with a fresher pair of eyes, these journeys are about discovering ourselves.  We must open ourselves to new experiences and new people.  It is not the militant itinerary that ensures a successful trip, it is the unexpected and unknown destinations. This past week in Rome, Florence, and Paris we visited one museum and avoided all else with queues and tourists.  Instead we wandered quite aimlessly and loved much of what we encountered.

Anyways, I'm rambling. Below are some quotes so that you may take away your own interpretations.

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. 

But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac (A favorite after going to an early showing of On The Road)

“Tourists don’t know where they've been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” – Paul Theroux

 “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” — Henry David Thoreau

“Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” — Pico Iyer (The highlighted part is a favorite of mine.)

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” — Helen Keller

“Home is where the heart is, and my heart is wherever I am at the moment.” — Lily Leung

Cheers Dublin!

I have been putting off posting about Ireland for a while now because there is so much to say.  Its not everyday you have current IRA member and former political prisoner give your tour of Belfast.  I visited both Belfast in Northern Ireland and Dublin in Republic of Ireland.  Most people don't know too much about the history and present two places, so I want to do them both justice.  That being said, I want to keep this post light so I focused on one of the most popular Dublin attractions: drinking!  Below are pictures of my favorite drinking related places in Dublin :)

 Butlers is a cafe offering gourmet Irish chocolates and drinks. The hot chocolate is literally made from a big pot of boiling melting chocolate mixed with steaming hot milk.  Drinks come with a complimentary piece of chocolate or truffle! 

 Adore the slogan! The location I visited was across The International Bar, home of the best Irish stew and the starting location of the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour. The tour is hilarious way to get the most of Dublin's history from an expert. Trust me, its a must.

 Dublin is of course home to the famous Guinness. A bit of sculpture inside of the Guinness building, classy ones they are. 

My personal Guinness recommendations: 1) At the pub next time try Guinness and Black Currant if you like things fruity. 2) Buy some of the chocolate in the souvenir shop, you can literally taste the Guinness.  Caramel was my favorite. (Above & below are ads through the decades.)

 Each Guinness ticket provides a free pint. One option is learning to pour your own perfect pint, my certificate and well deserved pint above!  

 Learning about the making of Guinness.  Also I just thought the saying was kind of bad ass.  Sorry for the blurriness.   

Jameson Irish Whiskey is another famous product of Dublin.  Their  distillery tour shows how the whiskey is made, comes with a free drink, and if you volunteer to be a taster you get to compare multiple whiskeys.  Although if you do the tastings you may never want Jack Daniels again. ;)

Go. Do. Good.

I know this is old, but I think sometimes we all need reminding of the message.  Do something good, no matter how big or small, for someone else.  No one is perfect, but we should aim to do better each and everyday.  I think after my trip to Ireland I am definitely feeling the weight of all the things so often taken for granted.  This is me saying go do something good, because the world needs some good karma. Since I'm being all sentimental, I might as well go all out and share this quote I saw outside the British Library: "Every day is a gift.  That's why they call it the present." If nothing else watch the video because Beyonce has an amazing voice.

You Don't Even Know... Yet.

London's Underground scene is loud, sweaty, and filled with some of the best music you've never heard of. Those nights dancing with the bands after their sets to the rest of the line up are what London's underground scene is all about.  Most the gigs are free and even the paid ones have amazingly intimate venues. The music is too good to go unknown, so check out some of the bands I've seen recently. Videos/links below.

If you like Reggae... No Promises by In Search Of. 

Or Anthem/Jazz/Dance/Cheeky.... Roman Summer by Bear Cavalry: http://soundcloud.com/bearcavalry

Maybe "Mutant Science Punk Rock?" Then Scotland's awkwardly amazing We Are The Physics. Applied Robotics video above. 

Illumini

There have been signs. The leaves are changing, the weather is colder, and pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks.  It may not even be October, but Halloween is upon us.  Arguably, it is one of the few holidays that does not lose its appeal as we get older.  The costumes are more ridiculous, the parties are better, and the attractions are much scarier than the stories we were told when we were seven.

To celebrate.... Illumini's Dickensian Hauntings opened last night at a darkly lit underground venue transformed with art, performers in full Victorian costume, and of course a hypnotist.  Figuring out past lives with the hypnotist was only one of many intriguing options however.  There was also seances, fortune tellers, and installations of all forms of morbid fantastical art. This modern nonprofit gallery aims to immerse visitors in these types of events to attract a wider audience and showcase the art in the exact opposite of the typical white wall gallery.  Clearly, they have excelled.

Check out some of the work!

Queued outside the venue.

I do love layers.  Ads Outside.

Artwork.

Contortionist in one of the corridors. 

Color changing chandelier installation.

Get in the mood music!

Fire Baby

  The Burnt Out Punks Grand Finale at the National Theater

I made the unexpectedly great life choice of attending The Mayor's Thames Festival, which is an end of the summer fest near the bridges in London.  Apart from inspiring spoken word and beat boxing by Lyrix Organix, there was an awesome closing performance by the Burnt Out Punks.  I was expecting a band, instead I got a combination of pyromaniacs, Swedish circus, and dancing. Everyone has a dream, this is the result of freaks and punks who had dreams to play with fire.  Let's just say the evening ended with a couple bangs and explosions.
Check out the following video to see one of the performers get crazy, or don't... Your loss!

FNO London

Normally, Fashion's Night Out is all about the free perks... and last night there were definitely fantastic drinks, gift bags, and delicious treats.  I had my very first ever macaroon at Victoria's Secret, liquid chocolate & truffles from Hotel Chocolat, and what seemed like an endless stream of available free alcohol.  Tory Burch even supplied gourmet takeaway food from Street Kitchen's van.  Still, the best part this year was not the edibles or the shop-portunities or even the spotting of celebs (like Misfits actress Antonia Thomas)- it was without a doubt the performers that made this night amazing.

My night started down by McQueen, Tiffany's, Chanel and all the other fabulously expensive places with incredibly long queues (lines).  While glamorous, it was also slightly depressing because I cannot afford very much shopping down there.  As I made my way down though I was delighted to see the evening turning into a street festival as much as an opportunity to shop.  It was complete with a swing dancing stage and some of the coolest buskers (street performers) I have ever heard.

Ended the night with drinks at the flagship for Superdry on Regent St. in the gorgeous high fashion punk barbershop Tommy Guns Salon. 

On Victoria Secret's giant glass staircase.

Swing Dancers and Visitors

Front and Center for the Dear Prudence performance.

At The Gazelli Art House, Philip Colbert of The Rodnik Band's (part musician collaborations/part fashion designer) had his Andy Warhol-esque clothing pieces on display for the evening.  He quite amusingly performed with No Cars, who were all wearing his collection. There should be a music video of it going up soon, according to the photographer we met there, and I shall be sure to share it! 

Buskers!

I tried to link to as much as possible because all of these artists and places are worth checking out. :)

In Case You Were Wondering...

Discovered in London...

1. Everything is smaller: showers, elevators, laundry machines, fridges.

2. Over a cup of ginger & lemon tea my roommate told me ginger was once used as punishment in "figging" where it is inserted into the bum causing understandable discomfort and burning sensation.  It is now a form of erotic pleasure. The English are known for their punishment fetishes, especially "flogging" or spanking.  It is rumored to come from their private school days.

3. The mixed drinks here seem to be Pimm's cocktails, which can be any type of alcohol depending on the number on the bottle.  http://www.anyoneforpimms.com/recipes/

4. Everything closes early on the weekends, even restaurants, if they open at all. 

Still to Do...

1. I saw Prince Albert's statue, still have no idea why the piercing was named after him.

2. Try Wagamama and Yo! Sushi, super popular Asian restaurants out here. 

3. Already went to the Ye Olde Cock pub, but Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and Filthy McNasty's Whiskey Cafe are also intriguingly named. Haha 

The London Eye view below us, those are the giant class containers we were in. 

Apparently the UK supports the gorilla population. I plan to watch this happen.

 Waterloo Station, the nicest tube/train station I've ever seen.  The inside also felt more like a mall or airport than a tube station.

View from the London Eye of Westminster Bridge, The House of Parliment on the left of the bridge with parlimentary offices in the building on the right, Big Ben, and behind that is Westminster Abbey. 

StoryTellers

Entertainment has become cheap.  I get it, really I do. Sometimes people just want to sit and laugh for a couple hours watching  a predictable movie that impart predictable emotions.  I'm not bashing it.  I just wish this didn't make it more difficult to find films that have true storytelling power.

A good plot line follows a journey, but a great story also unfolds the past that has led the characters to the present.  As I finished watching The Darjeeling Limited I could not help but feel satisfied as everything came full circle.  The film follows three brothers on a their dysfunctional spiritual journey through India. They try to cope with what the loss of their father and what it means for them as a family.

I realized as I guessed at each brother's nature and what it meant for the movie that maybe there is psychological aspect to this type of film that appeals to me. I like to hear personal stories, to go beneath the superficial surface that binds so many movies.

The way these grown men still compete, argue, and try to distance themselves as they surely must have done as young boys showed to me how certain parts of who we are never change. Their individual personalities represent parts of a whole, almost as a reaction to their being a part of the "whole."  The brothers' relationships with each other have clearly defined who they are.  Like most people they were shaped by their families, and even their rebellions like unconventional poisonous-snake-buying/pill-popping behaviors are symptomatic of belonging to their family.

Most movies have obvious plot twists to develop the story line, instead this film utilized the wonderful storytelling tool of symbolism. Symbols of who they were, where they had been, and where they were going. I largely attribute the symbolism in the films for the way that in Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola's collaborations there is always that feeling of not quite knowing what is going on because we must interpret instead of being told, thereby uncovering the plot little by little.  This is clear in the fact that the prequel is available but not always presented with the film, leaving the story open to how the viewer chooses to experience it.

Every pause I take to admire one stunning aspect or particular symbol seems to make the full creative power of the film become clearer.  Unlike movie adaptations of books, these films were clearly written with the filming in mind.  The way the story is told ties in so perfectly with how it is portrayed on the screen.  The beauty of it being that they understand the story so fully that everything about how it is presented- music, lighting, costumes- fits perfectly into the telling of the story. 

And, best of all... The films are witty.

I adore Wes Anderson's films, but I do not think they are for everyone.  They are not necessarily films that are meant for people to "get."  They are mysteries, adventures for the imagination. They are slightly unhinged, out of the ordinary in the fantastic way that stories are allowed to be.  We are transported from the over publicized reality of this world, and taken on this comedic look at humans and life, where nothing is spelled out if you are not clever enough to look for it. You draw your own conclusions about what is meant in the curious endings, because like all good stories the films make sure to leave you with a sense of wonder and amusement.

Friends With Kids

Most of us have heard something along the lines of "if you want to be happy, marry your best friend."  It sounds so ideal- someone who understands us, already accepts us for who we are.  The truth is our best friend never really had a chance.  We are constantly looking for a spark to catch our attention, not for the qualities that really matter.  It is our culture to want the latest and greatest, leaving our relationships to be rarely substantial where it counts.  Intimacy is not in the physical attraction, rather intimacy comes from the sharing of your life so completely and unconditionally in a way you could only do with a true friend.  Think about how often people have sex, wanting some kind of intimacy but it amounts to nothing.

The trouble is that contentment, which is much more important than over the top happiness, shows its beauty subtly- it forces us to be truly wise to appreciate it and not going looking for the next great thing.  When I decided to rent Friends with Kids, I thought I knew exactly where the film was going, but I was wrong. I wanted a light hearted romantic comedy along the lines of Bridesmaids due to the cast line up.  In fact, I felt slightly guilty for not choosing a more thought provoking film.  I underestimated Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt's project.  I laughed, cried, and ached for the characters. The film was insightful and human. Human in the sense that unlike the typical perfectly quirky characters or unreal scenarios we see in every other movie, there was a realness to the film provoking emotion that no typical blockbuster could.

Good Morning Fire Eater

It’s not that I don’t have a plan; it’s just that the plan is always open to reinterpretation.

As I prepare for an entire year abroad, I cannot help smiling at all the tweaks and additions to my so called “plan.” What I’ve come to realize is life is much too short to live without purpose and some kind of plan for achieving that purpose. Some people are so comfortable with settling, simply going through the motions of what is expected.

Do not misunderstand my definition of settling as a dislike of all things with roots, I strongly believe in contentment and boredom being two very different things. Unfortunately, the two seem to be easily confused. Contentment is a state of being I always aim for.  As for boredom… well like they say “only the boring get bored.”

I prefer to change the things that no longer have a spark for me, always keeping on my toes. I constantly look for new opportunities to avoid the ruts so many people fall into. I never feel wrong for needing a change from what I at one point dreamed of because each experience better equips me to aim even higher for the future. For the longest time, all I wanted was to be at a university.  The independence was so important to me, and has made me confident enough to now study even farther away from home (London & Spain).  At one point I was also sure I would be a magazine editor and fashion student, neither is true now, but without those passions I would never have created this blog. :)

Whimsy & Wu: Justin Wu

i

Lately, I've been absolutely absorbed with whimsical beautiful videos. Maybe Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom is rubbing off on me... or maybe it is the playful feel of Stella McCartney's Resort 2013 collection.  Either way, spring and summer are the best time of year for feeling butterflies, and Justin Wu is one director who will make your heart flutter without fail.  It doesn't hurt that he works with some of the top models in the industry like Francisco Lachowski. Justin Wu is the genius behind fashion week lip-dubs featuring all the top models, but also a great short film director and a photographer.  I have included some work off his official website for you to check out, but I also recommend his tumblr for some instagram updates.

Seen: Burberry

 Not one- but FOUR amazing music videos from british bands rocking Burberry shades in classic black & white videos. Check out: One Night Only, Marika Hackman, Life in Film, and

The Daydream Club on Burberry's site.

Rebellion

Belated Independence Day Wishes! 

Some red, white, and blue collages I worked on recently and a few "American" quotes. 

Enjoy ;) 

 "Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity."

"Well if crime fighters fight crime, and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?" 

Stay Sane: Keep A Journal

"We are all lovers and we are all destroyers" 

From my Journal in 2010.

Listening to: Better Than Love by Griffin House 

Thompson Square

"Tryin' to live and love with a heart that can't be broken
Is like tryin' to see the light with eyes that can't be opened'"
The lyrics are ethereal. From the uber-talented duo known for the very playful Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.
Enjoy!

Harper's Bazaar

Recently, I was given a few old issues of Harper's Bazaar.  As any good college student starved for some fashion and general creative inspiration will I cut them up for use in my journals. Below are two of the end results.  

 A collage of photographs taken by Terry Richardson that made me absolutely swoon with jealousy.  I enjoyed pasta with some friends recently, but it was not nearly as glamorous.  It really strikes me as quite tragic that the dinner party is such a lost art on my generation.  "L'arte d'arrangiarsi- the art of making something out of nothing. The art of turning a few simple ingredients into a feast, or a few gathered friends into a festival." 

For the fall I adore the colors in OPI's collection, but my trip to London also brings to mind classic white and black.  The idea of accents and color blocking- strong statements like the heels above. I already own two of the weaved style sweaters and a pair of the fringe earrings, couldn't resist!

Cinco de Mayo

So I've been playing around on Instagram for Android again... For the most part I think it actually makes the food look kinda dark and gloomy.  In defense of the filters though, my phone camera does suck.

I hate being so limited in the dorms that I absolutely have to cook when I get the chance, hence all the food- I'm home for the weekend.  It is my personal mission to get my sisters to eat vegetables so I have to get pretty creative.  I realized after the fact that everything actually fit the red, white, and green theme of Cinco de Mayo.  Not a huge holiday in my family, so I honestly forget all about it.  Even if it was more Italian than Mexican, it was still delicious!

Agua de fresa. Water, strawberries, ice, sugar.  

Semi-homemade pizza. Tomatoes, green bell peppers, onions, olive oil & seasonings.

Green, red and white salad. Mini cucumbers, cauliflower, green bell peppers, red and green lettuce.

Fresh tomatoes with olive oil, crushed red pepper, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.