Some Say It's That Time of Year and These Kids Are Just Learning

     Right now, I'm a little frustrated with life in general.   But I just have to remember that I'm like these lemons, I'm still aging and growing and while I'm almost big enough I still have a little bit before I turn yellow.  Did I take that whole thing a little too far?  Well I hope you can look past all the cheesiness of it and just keep the good parts.

Title: "All Night, All Night, All Night" by David Vertesi

You Live So Intensely

     If you've been following my blog for some time, you might remember that I want to be a novelist.  I have no more ambitions in life.  (Okay, so that's not true, but I'm trying to make the point that it's an important dream of mine.)  Since I was assigned a fiction writing project in my 7th grade English class, I have not stopped creating stories and trying to get them out on paper.  (In my class, we were broken up into groups, but I was pretty sick for a few weeks so I was in a group all by myself.  I had full control of the different fairytale stories we were supposed to write.  Looking back, I'm pretty sure that assignment changed my life.)  So from what I can remember starting in 7th grade I would write and write, not necessarily about the same stuff and reading what I wrote back then now makes my stomach cringe a little.  However, I can remember the movie in my head I'm trying to describe and acknowledge that it was a valiant effort.  These past few years as an English major (and growing into my perfectionism) have gotten me a little off track.  What really matters when you're writing is that you're writing for yourself, not for others.  I have gotten stuck in wanting to create the best masterpiece I can.   I look at the novels of Jane Austen, Ayn Rand, Oscar Wilde, F. Scott Fitzgerald.  These books have withstood the test of time and they are still so important in the English world today.  I strive to want to have just one masterpiece like that.  For a while I thought the answers were in the books themselves so I wouldn't let myself write until I had read x amount of classics.  That didn't take because I have yet to finish one classic.  I'm trying a new approach that has everything to do with November and passion for telling stories.
     Since I first heard about National Novel Writing Month that takes place in November two years ago, I've tried to complete this crazy challenge of writing 50,000 words of a continuous piece of fiction.   NaNoWriMo as its fondly called is pretty awesome and intense.  The first year I heard about it (through my loving sister) I started a brand new story and poured all my feelings out in the story.  I had just been through a break-up and well it was pretty cathartic (but the general story and writing wasn't that great).  Plus my dedication sort of fizzled when studying for classes took precedent. Last year, I honestly can't remember what I did.  I'm pretty sure I didn't even attempt it because I wanted to focus on graduating and making good grades (but I did promise myself that I would take part in it again this year).  My promise to myself was the only thing that let me calmly accept that my participation last year would just be a mess and not productive or helpful.
     This year I have a game plan.  It's not much of anything, but I ran across an old story of mine that I started in high school.  It does have some contents that are worth saving, but I'm completely reworking it.  While NaNoWriMo strives for their participants to have new, original material, my old story and the new one I'm starting to plan writing won't have much in common except for some similar story lines in the first few chapters.  I'm going back to a story that has filled my dreams so many times.  I can already see some of the scenes that will take place.  All in all, I'm excited and looking forward to November so I can finally write something.  While I'm not expecting any kind of literary genius, I just want to write a good clean story that maybe some people will want to read, but most of all it will be something that I want to read over and over again just so the story can play out in my mind once again.
     While I'm not so naive as to think this will be an easy task, I'm looking forward to seeing it through. And I'm trying to figure out a way so that most of my free time can be taken up by this project.  I'm cutting out all of my favorite shows for the month (I'm DVRing all of them so I know I'll be able to watch them once November is over).  Wish me luck because this task is not one I undertake lightly, especially now that I've told you about it.  Now I won't be able to give-up.  I have to make it to at 25,000 or I'm going to have to hide in shame for a little while because I know that the only reason I didn't finish (or at least get half way) was because I mishandled my time and was lazy.  I won't let that happen.  Or so I say now, come the end of November and I'll be full of excuses!

This next month is going to be pretty intense.  But if I get too stressed out these cute guys will always be here to help me get my head back on straight.

Although I love the a capella version of this song both versions are almost equally as awesome.

Title: "Unlike Me" by Kate Havnevik

A capella version:

My Love Is Faithful

     I love hats.  They are one of my favorite accessories.  Mostly because you can throw a hat on and in an instant become mysterious and super cool.  That and caps look pretty silly on me, but I can get away with wearing hats (you know the ones without a front bill).  I end up wearing them just about every Sunday as it blocks out the lights in my church's sanctuary that give me a headache.  So I've kind of become the self-proclaimed, stereotypical "hat lady."  (I guess that's better than "bag lady.")  Either way, I've always had a thing for hats and I've slowly started quite a collection.  I tend to stay away from anything big and floppy (though I already have two of those in my closet, I always feel a bit ridiculous in them and they aren't practical for church).  I also always make sure it has a bill (otherwise what's the point) and I love neutrals (or to be a little more honest, anything that goes with a lot of different outfits). And while I adore red colors since I've dyed my hair I have to stay away from them for now.
     I thought I'd share with you the hats that I've been dying to buy for myself these days.

1. Biltmore for Madewell Floppy Hat, $78
2. Brixton Avenue Boater Hat, $50
3. Cumbrian Fells Rancher, $68
4. Brixton Dalila Floppy Hat, $55
5. Bow Trimmed Cloche, $15
6. Staring at Stars Braided Felt Panama, $36

Title: "Silver Moon" by Roo Panes

And the Trees Are Filled With Memories

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

Getting a break from work/thinking about work

Visiting Amber in Oxford

Being inspired towards a personal project in November

Dressing up Oscar with hats

(This one I just saw via text message)

Enjoying life rain or shine

Title: "Bloom" by The Paper Kites

It's a Golden Dream of Mine

     After years of not being able to stand my shower curtain, I finally got a new one!   That I'm totally in love with.  It's blue and blue (of course), but it also has some grey mixed in.  And as you can see by the photos the design is hip and cool and it lightens the whole room... instead of darkening it like my other shower curtain did.

Title: "A Maker of My Time" by The Paper Kites

Loosen Up

     It's been a long month.  And next week the crazy process starts all over again--except it will probably be busier and crazier in a shorter time frame.  I'm actually kind of looking forward to it.
    While my "weekend" begins today, I still have a lot of work ahead of me.  And though I don't have this much energy when I wake up in the morning, I do feel like after about an hour or so to wake up I'm  just a bubble of energy and ideas.  I'm looking forward to sitting down with my new Kindle Paperwhite (which is awesome and tiny!) and reading a new good book.  Maybe something like Cloud Atlas, then again maybe something a little lighter and fluffier.  I think I'm going to try and take time every week to read a book (or at least half if it's something really long) because I need a small instant mind fresher and that's what books do for me.  They let me take a mini-vaction and come back more restful than most real vacations.

Title: "Dance With Me Tonight" by Olly Murs

When We Were Young

     I'm pretty sure I've talked about how much I love kids fashion these day.  I mean seriously, I walk through Target and I see pants/dresses I wish were my size in the KIDS SECTION.  I truly wish I had been as fashionable as a kid.  Even Free People has a kid section.  Jealous.
     Take for example the pants below.  Printed and dark.  Amazing right?  If I have a girl, when she starts going to elementary school... maybe intermediate (at the latest) she's going to be the hippest girl in class (unless she gets made fun of... but she won't cause she's going to be adorable!).

Title: "Broken Brights" by Angus Stone

Money is the Anthem

     Saturday night I watched the most incredible movie, Atlas Shrugged, Part I.  Going into the movie I wasn't so thrilled, I didn't know what to expect.  I had tried to read Ayn Rand's Fountainhead in high school and it left a foul taste in my mouth.  I wanted to like it and the parts that I read I did like, it just took me forever to read it and it was, oh just over 700 pages (of really tiny font).  I was reading it for a writing contest (to write an essay on it) and I realized I was never going to be finished before the deadline.  So I returned the book to my English teacher and did what any sensible person would do read the plot summary on Wikipedia.  I'm not proud of it, but I did learn what happened.  Needless to say, I had had my first second experience with Rand (the first was from reading Anthem, which I really enjoyed).  Since then I've always wondered how people would make a movie of either the Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged (which is even bigger than Fountainhead).
     When I finally gave in to watching Atlas Shrugged (or even just clicking on the movie poster on Instant Netflix), I realized that the title of the movie read:  Atlas Shrugged, Part I.  And the movie that's in theaters now was obviously titled Part II.  Curious me had to instantly look everything up on imdb.  That's when I got the shock of my life, Paul Johansson (a favorite actor of mine who played the infamous Dan Scott on One Tree Hill) directed and starred in this movie.  From then on out I knew it was going to be good.  The fact that Dagny (one of the main characters) was played by Taylor Schilling (from the not so hit TV show, Mercy, and the movie The Lucky One) was just a huge bonus.  Who ever decided that Atlas Shrugged, Part I shouldn't be advertised and Part II should be was a complete sillyhead.  From the plot to the acting to the cinematography, the whole movie is sublime.  I wish I had known about it sooner.  I really do.
     But from what I've seen of the trailer for Part II, the acting and the main characters aren't so strong.  Maybe I'm just biased right now because of the high Part I has me on, but its the way I feel.  I even want to read the book!  And I don't read books after I seen the movie.
     If you're wondering what the movie is about, I guess I could give you a quick summary.  The government takes complete control of the economy (which super stinks, btw, prices of gas are on average $35/gallon or something ridiculous like that).  The government decides that everything should be equal (it's unfair for one person to own more than 1 company, everyone should have equal wages, etc.).  But mostly the people who are running the government are self-entitled, self-interested morons.  They spin the media so that new things are "dangerous" especially if it has a chance at succeeded (if Rearden Steel won't sell their  new formula for steel that is over twice as durable and light than regular steel, then Rearden Steel is unsafe!).  The main characters, Dagny Tagget and Henry Rearden, try their hardest to fight the system and succeed no matter what gets thrown at them while some of their hardest and best workers are disappearing.  All with the one question:  "Who is John Galt?"
     It's an extremely intricate, extremely beautiful commentary on socialism and a busybody government that happens in the not so distant future (2016).  While Ayn Rand wrote the novel in 1957 (I'm sure that seemed like an eternity until the future she wrote about), I'm sure the commentary was pretty relevant to her time (and even more so now).  I think that may be why the release of Part II was so advertised (and still is) because of the upcoming political election.  When they made Part I, there was always a trilogy in the plans, I just wish they had signed on the whole cast for all three movies.  It doesn't make sense to me to switch the actors/actresses when the characters are all supposed to be the same.  Maybe the cult following they were expecting just didn't pan out.  Okay, I can think of a lot of maybe possibilities.  I'll go into watching the movie with an open-mind, but I'm already predicting I'll like the first one alot better (just because of the actors/actresses).
     You can see what I mean below, if you want to compare the 2 trailers.  (The blondes are supposed to be Dagny Taggart and I have yet to figure out who is Henry Rearden in Part II, but I think it's pretty obvious in Part I.)

Atlas Shrugged, Part I trailer

Atlas Shrugged, Part II trailer

And because you know I love pictures of my main man, here's Oscar cheesing for the camera.

Update 10/23/12:  I forgot to post this photo in the original blog post.

Title: "National Anthem" by Lana Del Rey

(skip to 2:05)

(Also just a disclaimer, not my favorite song/video, but it seemed a little relevant.)

Neck of Pearls It's Flapper Girl

     Because of my migraines, I'm unable to wear a necklace of any kind (minus my everyday diamond necklace).  Sadly, this means I've been unable to wear the statement necklace trend.  I'm dying over the necklaces below.   I would love to wear any of these guys with just a simple neckline.  And even though my tastes always trend toward the blues, I just adore the ombre affect of the pink necklace.  I'd wear it any day.

1.  Paris Statement Necklace, $475
2.  Valerie Necklace in Lapis, $250
3.  Crystal and Fringe Multi-Strand Dangle Necklace, $189
4.  Athens Statement Necklace, $500
5.  Art Deco Peacock Necklace, $500

Title: "Flapper Girl" by The Lumineers

I Got the Lights in My Eyes

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

(Photo Credit)

Books.

I need to remember whenever I'm feeling a little listless/restless/over everything,

I just need to read a thrilling book.

(Photo Credit)

Photography workshops.

I'm getting super excited for a workshop I'm attending in late January,

I booked the flight and the hotel this weekend.

Photos.

I finally figured out these photos on here,

they're bigger now.  Did you notice?

Puppies.

I'm spending the weekend with my adorable buddies,

especially now that Oscar's fur is naturally turning a shade of pink.

Heroes.

I heart Peter Petrelli/Milo Ventimiglia.

Remember when the show was the "it" thing?

Title: "Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night)" by Neon Trees

Let's Change Our Roads

Title: "Dust on the Ground" by Bombay Bicycle Club

Life Could Be Simple But You Never Fail to Complicate It Every Single Time

     I got new hair yesterday.  It's amazing.  Don't believe me?  Check it out.  While it photographs pretty well it's even better in real life.  A little of red and a little violety hue--all 3D action.

Title: "Blame It on the Girls" by MIKA

A Wonderful Part of the Mess That We Made

     What to do when your out-of-town parents freak you out about the bad weather?  Sit under a staircase hearing sounds of a "tornado" and of course, invite your soaking wet puppies in so they don't get sucked away.   Look at Jacky's face, he's so happy!  And remember, just cause the puppies might stop and perk their ears up doesn't mean they hear a tornado.

Title: "Flaws" by Bastille

Everybody's Watching You Now... What Happens Next

     This weekend I found a new Invisible Children video that has made me believe in the movement.  When the Kony 2012 movement first began this year, I was one of the many critics of not only this video, but my generation in general.  There have been so many political Facebook statuses that I think it should almost be illegal to talk about politics on Facebook.  Everyone in my generation posts things that usually aren't well thought out and if they are thought out, other people are too eager to put down ideas and not in a creative criticism way, but in a harsh rude way.  (Plus I bought into the idea that my generation thinks they are actually doing something when you press the "like" or "share" button.  That doesn't really get anything accomplished except spreading the word.  Real people have to get out in the real world and do things to make a difference.  I guess I'm still buying into the idea that people are getting a fulfillment out of doing things on Facebook, instead of in the "real" world. But that's neither here nor there.)  What does matter is that my mind might be changed just a little with this new video Invisible Children has produced.  However, they do something different in this video than I think they've done in the past.  At the end is a call to activism, instead of just informing people they are trying to get something accomplished.  Personally, who ever thought of this forward movement really understands one way social media is driving the world (and is taking advantage of it).
     While I can't make it to Washington, D.C. in November, I will share this video so maybe someone else who sees it can.  And I have to tell you, if we can't end up rising to this challenge (as a generation) we will be confirming all of the terrible things analysts and news anchors have ever said about us. I dare you to not have a tear trickling down your cheek as you watch this.  I did.

And because I'm still trying my hardest to take a photo-a-day, it's amazing what you find in a desk that's only been yours for a month (or so).

Title: "Dare You to Move" by Jayesslee (originally by Switchfoot)

Inspired by the Place

     Sometimes all you want to do is sit and watch the trees blow in the wind.

     If only we could all be this lazy.

Title: "Sailor Man" by Ewert and the Two Dragons

(Berlin Sessions!!)

What's Best for Us

     I'm not feeling too well tonight so I thought I'd point you to a post on the Click blog. During this month of October, support breast cancer awareness and research buy purchasing the products below.  For more information on each product go to the Click blog post.

Title: "Back to Front" by Rae Morris

Keep Your Eye on the Light and It Will See You Through

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

I just bought Adobe Creative Cloud for the next 365 days.

Plus VSCO film, a set of pre-made presets that make your photos amazing as in like film.

I made it to the stripes!! 

On the blanket I'm working on.  I hope it's going to be big enough!

My cookie flower

Ole Miss won Homecoming!

Even though I wasn't there, I have some Grove pictures from last weekend.

And last, but not least, my inhaler.

This has helped me breathe easier this past couple of weeks. 

Title: "Carla" by Life in Film

Everybody Says This Place Is Beautiful

     I was just about to start this post out with "not to complain or anything," and then of course start into a complaint.  Then I realized what I was about to do.  Don't worry, I'm not going to burden you with whining. I am going to tell you how relaxing I'm hoping my weekend will be.  While the bulk of my family is down "tailgating" in Oxford for the weekend, I'm spending my weekend at home.  With my puppies.  And my kitty.  Working.  It's a blast.  Even Oscar thinks so.

Title: "Talihina Sky" by Kings of Leon

Please ignore the cussing and just skip to 1:07

The Only Difference Is That You Want Nothing and I Want Everything

     I don't think it would be too hard to convince me to move to the UK.  I've always wanted to travel there and things like Burberry campaigns haven't changed my mind.  I'm not sure what it is about the UK that draws me in.  The accents and landscape doesn't hurt, but some of it I think is the history of the land.  America doesn't really have that.  We're still a "new" country, plus any of the history we might have had was erased with the eradication of the Native Americans.  Of course, I'd have a hard time leaving my crazy pets, but England, Scotland, Ireland and everything in between is so very appealing.

Title: "My Doll" by Sam Beeton

I Know How It Works, I'm Not Dumb

     Exhausted but loving everything local.

     I've been blogging over on "The Front Porch" so check it out.  Also, you should think about entering in the Mammogram Giveaway.  (You never know who could win...)
     Sometimes I fall in love with songs that have nothing to do with my current life.  Somehow I feel like I can relate, but I tend to fall more in love with the voice combined with the rest of the things that compose a song.  When this happens, I wish that the lyrics would be changed or something.  And sometimes I don't quite understand what the artist is trying to say with the lyrics until after I've already fallen in love with it.  This pretty much taints the song (as common sense would dictate), but once I love a song, it will always have a place in my heart.  (Then again, the song I was talking about just might be about what I thought it was...)

Title: "Spirit vs the Kick Drum" by Derek Webb

A Look and a Glance

Title: "Reception Depection" by Young Maverick

My Hands to Learn

     If I could do anything in the world, I think I'd want to grow up to be a knitter for real life.  Even though I have yet to finish a whole sweater (it's more time consuming than you'd think), I have a bunch of finished products.  Most of my finished projects are scarves and shawls, but I do have a few hats under my belt.

1.  The sweater I've been working on for almost a year now.  (Aidez)
2.  I want to make my own hat.  (Quick Cable Slouch Hat)
3.  These pants were just too cute.  (Kanoko Pants)
4.  Shawls/cowls are my new scarves.  (Scalene)
5.  See above.  Shawls just wrap so amazingly.  (The Lonely Tree Shawl)
6.  If I make this in blue then I have the perfect Kappa sweater for the winter.  (Owls)
7.  Another shawl, I might be in love.  (Cloud Illusions)
8.  Just a rather long, rather wide intricate scarf.  I think I could do that.   (Guernsey Wrap)

Title: "Below My Feet" by Mumford and Sons

Mississippi Moonchild

     I might have accidentally missed posting yesterday, but I just wouldn't feel right if I didn't have my thankfulness post for the week.  It always helps me start off my week on a good note and I know I don't think about the good things in life enough.  I don't think there such thing as too much thankfulness, but I tend to think about all the things I have to do, things I have done, and things that aren't so positive.  It's human nature.  So this post makes me think about everything that I have to be thankful for instead of all the negatives in my life.

Beautiful flower arrangements in the Grove from local florists

Toughing it out during the rain under our tents

My awesome birthday outfit

My little mischief maker

My favorite time of year (fall)

Title: "Little Lovin'" by Lissie

Trust in Your Dream

     Oxford.  It's what for the weekend.

Also until November 6 (2012), Hipstamatic and Rock the Vote have teamed up to give the public a Rock the Vote Freepak.  It includes this awesome film (above).  Check it out if you have the Hipstamatic app.

Title: "Madness" by Muse

I Wanna Know What We've Been Learning and Learning From

     Leggings and a cardigan solve just about every fashion dilemma.  I attended a clothing swap last night and I kept finding myself saying, "that would look fabulous with a cardigan on top."  Everyone agreed time and time again leggings were the cure-all.  I'm so ready for it to be completely fall.  I want to layer things (especially cardigans), but you'd be surprised how much one extra layer really can change a whole outfit.

Title: "Man on Fire" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

You Will Always Get What You Want

     I had the best birthday a sick girl could ask for.  I went to the doctor this morning and I have an upper respiratory tract infection thingy and maybe kind of bronchitis.  But I'm on antibiotics to which I may or may not be allergic.  Z-packs and steroid packs aren't necessarily the same thing (so if you remember taking 5 little pills on day 1, it's not the same as 2 big pills on day 1).  Crazy little fact you now know thanks to me, no big deal.
     I did get to blow out candles on my birthday cake!  Which was completely awesome.  (My parent's didn't even mind my bronchitis germs being blown all over my cake.  Hear that y'all, I think I just claimed the cake all for myself!)  But really, the pound cake was way too delicious to let a little thing like germs get the best of it.  (And anyway, it's not something you can really catch.  I don't think.)  Oh and I got birthday flowers sent to the office (by my family) which was embarrassing and made me feel special all at the same time.  They also took me shopping at The Pink Zinnia and Janie Rose (in Hernando).  I got some pretty sweet stuff that I'm definitely wearing to the Grove on Saturday.  Because how can I go to Oxford this weekend and not get dressed up and go to the Grove?  It's just unthinkable!

Title: "Something Good Can Work" by Two Door Cinema Club

We Are the Great Pretenders

     I turn 23 today.  It seems like it's been forever since I had the philosophy that birthdays should be celebrated for a whole week.  (Honestly, that whole idea didn't quite play out ever... unless it was someone's else birthday.)  But I'm definitely feeling the whole adult life right now.  I have a doctor's appointment this morning because I think I have cold or something.  It's making a little hard to breathe (my lungs feel a bit wheezy and I can't seem to take a deep breath without coughing).  It definitely could be worse.
     My mom keeps reminding me that as a kid I would get myself so worked up and excited in the days leading up to my birthday parties I'd literally make myself sick.  I remember a long, long time ago I had a dress-up birthday party (which was like a Halloween dress rehearsal I guess, but I think I might've had to have a different costume for the separate occasions, I don't really remember).  What I do remember is right before my party, my costume wouldn't fit right or something and I was so tired I started crying.  Yes, I was a difficult kid.  Somethings I remember being difficult about because I wanted them perfect, I wasn't old enough to have the ability to execute it correctly, and my mother never could get it right.  (Things like hairdo's and some other projects, they're stuff you have to do yourself--and sometimes fail to do--or you're never satisfied.)  It's funny what we remember as children.
     Even though I'm a little ill, don't feel too sorry for me.  I've gotten wonderful presents already.  And my wonderful dad made me a pound cake.  Don't even think about asking me to share.  (Okay, well maybe just a few pieces, if I must.)

Title: "Get Home" by Bastille