California Dreaming

Music festivals mean summer.

I've been to a few myself: Rothburry '09, Bonnaroo '11.  There's nothing quite like getting a way for a few days sweating your butt off, listening to great live music, boob paint, and steaming hot porta potty's... I digress.

As someone who is facisnated by sixties culture, music festivals allow me to live out my own little yuppie Woodstock fantasy for a few days. However, no music festivals for me this year. I am trying something new (i.e. backpacking).

In the spirit of festival kick off with Coachella, which I have been lusting after... check out my personal photos from music festivals past and my favorite Coachella set so far.

 

Nothing says summer quite like Real Estate's "Days." Can't you picture yourself jiving around at a beach party to this music?

            

 Huge crush on the lead singer with his hipster sunglasses and polo shirt...   

Bad Blogger.

The 30 for 30 didn't work out so hot... I forgot one key element that was essential to making sure I continued to be an upstanding member of society: a washer and a dryer. 

About a week and a half in I didn't have any clothes from the "30 for 30" that were clean... Friends, I like to smell at least decent at work so I had to start rotating in my other clothes. Wah Wah Wah.

Here, I even have proof:

Now quick, distract yourself with my awesome Easter decorations.

Easier said than done

I am not going to lie, I thought this challenge would be pretty easy... fun even. I was wrong. Most of the time it is frustrating but I am not one to throw in the towel. In the mean time, enjoy these shots of me reluctantly posing. My boyfriend, who is kindly taking most of the shots, said today "Don't you feel like a douche bag posing?" Why yes, yes I do....

1-2-3

   

 
There's nothing elementary about this creative challenge...

27 days to go.

Life's a Competition

I am a competitive person. I like to think that everyday meaningless tasks are a competition (everyone else just calls this life).

I really need to get back into elections...

In the mean time I am going to get all girly on you and compete in a wardrobe challenge. The "30 for 30 Remix Challenge." I know, it sounds like something from TRL but bear with me.

Challenge: choose 30 pieces of clothing - 5 shirts, 5 button downs, 5 pairs of pants, 3 skirts 1 dress, 6 sweaters/jackets, and 5 pairs of shoes. For the next 30 days, I can only wear these 30 items (with the exception of jewelry/scarves/belts).

 Let the games begin.

What if Paul Revere had Twitter?

This week we celebrated the Michigan Primary. Okay, I celebrated while the other 10% of the state's population exercised their civic duty. Now if you know me or have read some past blog posts you would know that I love elections. Just about any kind of election...watch out I am coming to a high school near you.

Not only was it the Michigan Primary, but the media and the candidates were paying attention to the outcome of Michigan's Primary. I was just giddy all over. I wanted to shout it out that today was the primary, so in common fashion I used Twitter (my love for Twitter falls slightly behind my love of elections).

That's when I thought, "What if Paul Revere had Twitter?" 

That would have revolutionized how he told everyone that the British were coming. He wouldn't have been some kind of hero, he would have simply been some Twitter geek trying to to tweet the news before someone else.  With Twitter there will not be any more Paul Revere moments. Is this a good thing?  Is this a bad thing? I can see arguments for both.

All I know is that on Tuesday, February 28th 2012 Twitter did not convey how I truly felt about that day. Maybe I am in the minority, okay I am in the minority, but gosh I just love a good any election. That's what you got from this post, right?

It's just like the song says!

Whenever I am sad I always resort to Petula Clark's "Downtown." This isn't some indirect song about wallowing in melancholy, this is a good old fashioned "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and go downtown damnit.

So why does it make me feel better? I think it is the basic novelty of the song:

When you're alone
And life is making you lonely
You can always go... downtown

When you've  got worries
All the noise and the hurry
Seems to help I know... downtown

Downtown seem to be omniscient and I just need to get my butt there.

So thanks Petula, for always reminding me that "We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares, and go... downtown."

And because no one says it better than Seinfeld.

How I won Valentine's day

Ever since I quit campaigning I have found other ways to be competitive. Just ask my boyfriend what happened at Christmas. He will tell you that I "won" Christmas too early and ended up being disappointed before the day even got here. Sick, I know.

However, I find some kind of joy in seeing how far I can take the holidays. The problem with Christmas? I started too early. I planned, baked, decorated, shopped, baked, planned, decorated, shopped, and baked. I was clearly winning Christmas.

You see, when one is a former political campaigner they only know how to eat, sleep, and breathe the campaign. When I don't have a campaign to work on, and my boss tells me it's time to go home. "What, you don't want me to keep working?" I must find other ways to occupy my time.

With Valentine's Day, I took the "tortoise and the hare" approach. I didn't rush it, I put up some decorations here, bought a card there, and just a day before I decided I was going "all in." That means: homemade treats for the office, obnoxious "be mine" socks, free mocha from Starbucks, and an overall vomit of pink and red. Results? SUCCESS.

Case and point? I need a hobby...or a pet.

Meryl Streep Appreciation

I have a strong admiration for Meryl Streep. Some of you might sigh, and think "Yeah, so do a lot of people." I think that people are drawn to her honesty, a quality that makes her a fantastic actor.

This commencement speech is a culmination of that genuine personality. Take 20 minutes and listen to her words of wisdom. Her speech rings true, especially for women.

In lieu of getting sappy, I really identify with the speech. College was a time that I completely embraced my personality. You don't like the democratic, feminist, who likes to discuss the gold standard? That's just fine with me.

In the words of Marlo Thomas (here's the cheese), I would like to thank Meryl for encouraging woman to be "Free to be....You and Me."

This Weekend I...

What about you?

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

A very good place to start.....



My History and Appreciation of the Cinema professor would be absolutely disgusted that I am starting my blog off with "Do Re Mi." Dr. J would scoff, "Julie fucking Andrews running around, singing about the hills being alive with the sound of music.'" Good ole' Dr. J.

Regardless, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the "Sound of Music." This little tid-bit is only a taste of the fabulous content I will be supplying on a semi regular basis.

So go ahead, blast "Do Re Mi" and run around pretending like the hills are alive with the sound of music. It is Friday after all.