hearts of glass / hearts of gold

san francisco filipinas in the 1960s

2011-04-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

patti smith: dream of life documentary

2011-02-21T19:52:00.000-08:00

polk street wig shop

2011-02-21T19:51:00.001-08:00

this is my jam!

2011-02-13T12:04:00.001-08:00

Video Premiere: Sleigh Bells, 'Rill Rill'

lunch break stroll

2011-02-13T11:57:00.000-08:00

new bed, new tattoos, new dog, new job, new year.

happy 28th birthday

2011-01-30T14:22:00.000-08:00

may you rest in peace, friend.

nailing it

2011-01-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

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sally hansen salon effects nail polish strips in kitty kitty++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"These Eyes"

2011-01-24T19:44:00.000-08:00

this was my first attempt at liquid eyeliner. i used smashbox's limitless liquid liner pen in jet black. i love the look of a cat eye but traditional liquid liner seems tricky. this liquid liner is more like a marker with amazing pigmentation. i highly recommend it. next time i'll wing it out a little more.

everything she touches turns to gold

2011-01-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

stylist shirley kurata here: http://www.shirleykurata.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
via paper magazine___________________________________________________________________________

happy birthday, dr. martin luther king, jr.

2011-01-17T19:52:00.000-08:00

I still remember my senior yearbook quote:

"This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action."

It was part of MLK's "I have a dream speech" and remains relevant today. Every year I celebrate this day in my own quiet way. This year was exceptional, having the great opportunity to see Public Enemy on Saturday night in the historic Fillmore jazz district. I will never forget that profound night.

I will also never forget how MLK has always been my inspiration. In the mid-1990's I spent my lunch periods reading about MLK's life, how he studied Sociology at Morehouse College, and went on to be one of the greatest catalysts of change, peace, hope, and inspiration. That was in 1996. I was 16 years old and felt like an outsider. I went on to study Sociology at UCLA, attended graduate school, and have become a social worker....a dream of mine since childhood.

This is how I feel I can best enact change.

I am still learning. This is necessary. A requirement. I am still navigating where my personal and professional identities converge. I have struggled at times with the overwhelm, holding the pieces of others' lives in my heart, consciousness, and psyche and wondering if this path is right for me, uncertain if I am strong enough to handle the sadness that I have witnessed as others suffer.

But at least for today, in this moment, I am renewed by the community of activists and allies, the love of others, and the empowerment of mentors and role models like Martin Luther King, Jr., Chuck D, Public Enemy, and countless others, to press on despite the many layers of difficulty.

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you.

I still feel like that 16-year-old sometimes.

And you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy birthday Martin Luther King, Jr. You're with me everyday.

xoxo

i thank my lucky stars for you, dude

2011-01-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

things have been pretty cray cray so it was nice to have a no responsibility day yesterday. sunday morning started out with You Tube videos of Chicago performing in the 1970's (don't ask) and a live Lou Reed "Perfect Day" performance on the BBC. little did i know that it would be a much needed self-fulfilling prophecy. i made a quick green mung bean noodle ramen style with kale, lemon, and braggs amino acids. it's a tasty and highly nutritious noodle that i recently discovered.

then we took off to berkeley for a to-die-for cinnaholic cookie dough cinnamon roll treat, a trip to the tibetan store, watching "blue valentine" on shattuck (i highly recommend this film), dinner at saturn cafe since the filipino vegan spot we've been wanting to try is closed on sundays, and lastly, pegasus books where i grabbed the last copy of "The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life" which is a wealth of knowledge.

i'm not a preachy vegan and keep my internal dialogue to myself but when i read the last line of author melisser elliott's acknowledgments i nearly cried.
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"To all the vegans everywhere-keep fighting the good fight, and thank you for making the world a better place."

YOUAREMYSUNSHINE*

2011-01-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

this is my favorite mug along with my Hollywood mug acquired at Goodwill. i've convinced myself that coffee and tea taste better in my favorite vessels.

yummy vegan fanfare: gracias madre in the mission district

2011-01-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

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vegan donuts from whole foods. comfort food galore!

happy new year!

2011-01-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

2010-12-26T17:22:00.001-08:00

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
— Dr. Seuss (The Lorax)

crimpshrine+nick drake+black sabbath+dinosaur jr.+pixies kinda christmas

2010-12-25T18:40:00.001-08:00

today was a relaxing and rainy holiday commemorated in pajamas. in other words, it was a perfect first christmas as a married couple.

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vegan thai yellow curry with purple jasmine rice

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http://www.food.com/recipe/thai-yellow-curry-vegan-51312

have shoes? will travel....

2010-12-24T17:27:00.000-08:00

faux shearling 1980's snow boots courtesy of the goodwill
in vallejo, california

navy faux patented leather kitten heels unearthed in an
auckland, new zealand variety store called the warehouse

en route

2010-12-22T21:26:00.001-08:00

you REALLY need to blog more

2010-12-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

++++++++++shotwell ring++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*******cupcake dress**************************************************************

the 1960s wedding dream is unfolding

2010-08-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

i just completed a makeup consultation with an artist from Sephora. she had a superb technique despite chihuahuas climbing all over her. and alas, the shoes that made the cut for the gala.

"i'm going to make a shirt that says DAD ASS!"

2010-07-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

girls with guitars: INDONESIA'S DARA PUSPITA 1966-1968

new curtains!

blouses galore!

*****this one has little red fox faces

oh. hi.

2010-07-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

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i recently learned about the pudu: a mini deer only native to south america. below is a northern pudu and a photo of redd foxx. i'm just sayin'......

plus de photos

2010-07-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

photo of a russian church on geary taken while megan was driving.

countdown to the legion of honor!

chihuahuas galore began with mom and dad. her name was cha cha.

we are your worst nightmare!

this is the exciting part

2010-06-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

as of late...

hopscotch.

new recipes for:
green apple + fennel + lemon + thyme salad &
an avocado + corn + black bean + tomato + cilantro quinoa salad.

coral colored lips.

living sans GT's kombucha due to a recall for labeling issues and going into possible withdrawal.

self-care galore.

6:30 AM dog walks!

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WEDDING SHOES COURTESY OF ETSY

80s, faux leather, scalloped

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one of the most profound and heartbreaking documentaries that i've seen.
please watch this!

according to fandango, "An affair with an immigrant worker allows a woman to find her true self." vera farmiga wears beautiful clothing in this obscure love story. i was convinced of her brilliant talent after seeing "down to the bone."

"Through a series of twenty six short stories, a girl describes the childhood events that shaped her ideas about fatherhood, family relations, work and play. As the stories unfold, a dual portrait emerges: that of a father who cared more for his career than for his family, and of a daughter who was deeply affected by his behavior. Working in counterpoint to the forceful text are sensual black and white images that depict both the extraordinary and ordinary events of daily life. Together, they create a formally complex and emotionally intense film." Written by Su Friedrich

LIMITED EDITION VEGAN EYESHADOW PALETTE FROM URBAN DECAY! OH MY!

2010-06-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

this is amazing on so many levels! a chihuahua, an owl, a deer and all kinds of animal friends on the cover. announced today! images via urban decay's facebook page. i can't wait til june 29th!!! it's going to sell out! i can see it unfolding before my eyes. i'm going to have to drag someone with me to sephora the minute they open or perhaps i can pre-order. i'm histrionic over makeup! what is my world coming to?!

Oh, it's such a perfect day/I'm glad I spend it with you

2010-06-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

in my world it's possible to dedicate a lou reed love song to your dogs. after a very restful weekend and a yummy dinner at the shangri-la chinese vegetarian restaurant, i was ready for a long walk and hike at fort funston today-one of my favorite places on the planet. it feels like a south american beach or reminds me of the cliffs of moher in ireland but you're in freakin' daly city. summer solstice rules!

because escapism can be truly amazing!

2010-06-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

it's been a kombucha filled whirlwind per usual. after 9 months, the social experiment has ended. i caved and ordered internet services. the gear sat in a box for 2 weeks prior to installation. i was ambivalent for awhile but it's been quite the challenge to plan nuptials in the absence of such services. netflix streaming, uninterrupted, is quite the luxury. cinephelia will prevail!

i think i've died and gone to cruelty free heaven

2010-05-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

i just discovered matt & nat: eco-friendly+fashionable designer vegan handbags via the bloomingdales website. i was on a quest for a vegan marc jacobs bag as his latest collection includes metallic vinyl logo doctor-esque bags. lately i've been satiated by vegan mj and betsey johnson finds and NOW matt & nat are here to save the day. i'm gonna burst with excitement. there are so many not so cute vegan purses out there. matt & nat purse linings are made from recycled water bottles and the first bag is called the ladytron model. i'm sold!

++++++++++++++images courtesy of the matt & nat website++++++++++++++++++

birthday love!

2010-05-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

happy 64th, mom!

happy 33rd, mark!

cinephelia: a cassavetes classic, a film about japanese host boys, and the tres bizarre "101 reykjavik"

2010-05-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

gina rowlands is amazing in this role as a homemaker experiencing psychosis. apparently due to peter falk's advanced dementia, he no longer remembers his "Columbo" role amongst others. so sad.

although my japanese grandmother would cringe at this documentary, it was both fascinating and disturbing. it thoughtfully outlined the dark side for both host and patron.

rock & roll ethnic: style for a good cause

2010-05-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

i think the designers who put this collection together are psychic! the mix of both elements is on point. this thursday h&m's fashion against AIDS collection drops. i can't waiiiiiit!

+++++++++images c/o h&m and hot health beauty++++++++++++++++

yeah, it's lust worthy. like for sure.

2010-05-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

While I'm currently confounded by my soon-to-be betrothed's new found obsession with Mastodon (I was informed today that we're seeing them live on Saturday night) and by my positive interactions with an ethical, compassionate, and upstanding veteran cop today, I am not confounded by my new lip stain. In my world, these seemingly disparate and tangential things all come together. Quite nicely I may add. I've tried, tried, tried to make peace with gross tasting lipstick and sticky lip gloss in beautiful pigments and lustrous lacquers. I don't have the time nor energy to reapply so this subtle long lasting berry lip stain is really working out for me. Now on to the next conundrum...

+++++++++++++Urban Decay Lip Envy in Greedy+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

barbie pink label 80's collection

2010-05-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

barbie is not my hero. she never has been and never will be. feminist theories aside, the joan jett doll is my favorite. allegedly the doll on the left is debbie harry and cyndi lauper is on the right. but hey there smarty pants, you could probably figure it out despite the generic face mold utilized in production.

+++++++++++image courtesy of toys r us

pretty in punk

2010-05-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

not work appropriate and fine by me. from my closet:

NASTY GAL VINTAGE: SO APROPOS

2010-05-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

i've been looking for a hat like this, sans wool, for awhile. let me know if you spot one. please don't let me know if you spot this dress. i'm just saying...

hearts galore: very cute and very vegan:

i've had a shirt like this for about a year and i never know how to sport it. alas, now i do. so hot!

************all images courtesy of nasty gal vintage. c-c-c-check it out!*******************

style & political icon: buffy sainte-marie

2010-04-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

image courtesy of daily muse

image courtesy of creative-native

oh hello vegan oxfords!

2010-04-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

"Jason"

"Adore"

"Famous"

all images courtesy of Bakers shoes

white hot!

2009-10-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

please excuse my man hands. my favorite nail polish color right now is white. it reminds me of my high school days when i used white out. thankfully the real deal goes on a lot smoother this time around.

san francisco sunset (driving across the bay bridge)

2009-10-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

the mixed tape will never die...

2009-10-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

it'll just be a rarity. this mixed cd was made in a jiffy for a very special person:

the little feather

2009-09-21T16:59:00.001-07:00

california academy of sciences: san francisco

2009-09-10T23:14:00.000-07:00

home

2009-08-24T22:59:00.001-07:00

bali, indonesia

2009-08-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

ubud village, 2008

love love love her!

2009-08-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

MTV's new show, "it's on with alexa chung" is one of my guilty pleasures. aside from her quirky personality, i also love her effortless style.

(((photo courtesy of stylecopycat.com)))

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"chop from the top!"

2009-06-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

the budget cuts in california and san francisco county are, according to many, the worst in history.

photos from a recent demonstration at city hall.

all dressed up & nowhere to go

2009-06-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

my generous neighbor gave me these hot white heels she picked up for $4 at a florida thrift shop. rather than wear them like a normal person, i've been staring at them.

chinatown

2009-06-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

staring at the sun in los angeles

2009-05-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

i am multitasking, per usual, watching "my blueberry nights" with norah jones, jude law, natalie portman, rachel weisz, and CAT POWER! she has a cameo and also contributes to the soundtrack along with a few great otis redding and nina simone songs. i also heart the cinematography. and there's a road trip in the film! speaking of road trips...

the highlight of suburbia

2009-05-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

with the amount of time that i've spent at target, one of my favorite stores, a spokesperson position would be apropos as i am a little too familiar with their products and store layouts. pathetic, i know but i enjoy looking at everything. very carefully. for hours. in fact, you can pretty much find anything under one roof: nail polish, cruelty free cleaning and beauty products, stylish and affordable accessories, inexpensive dog clothes, designer collaborations for clothes & housewares, on and on and on. it's truly the highlight of suburbia. some of my recent treasured finds:

tray: $19.99/cups: $3.49 each

j.r. watkins (cruelty free!) aloe & green tea hand soap: $3.49
notice the framed ODB photo (r.i.p.)

round bath mat: $12.99

boots brand (cruelty free!) lavender hand cream: $7.99
xhilaration brand sunglasses: $11.99

((remaining accessories available at forever 21))

traxx

2009-05-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

and i'm not talking about the record shop molly ringwald worked at in "Pretty in Pink." some of my favorite songs from the past and as of late are:

♥Kids by MGMT
♥French Disko by Stereolab
♥Falling From Grace by The Gentle Waves
♥L'amour á 3 by Stereo Total
♥I Wanna Be Your Dog by The Stooges
♥Ain't Got No - I Got Life by Nina Simone
♥Metal Heart by Cat Power
♥Beatnik by Comet Gain
♥Sad Eyes by Bat For Lashes
♥Strawberry Julius by Bikini Kill
♥Eighties Fan by Camera Obscura
♥I Don't Mind by Slumber Party
♥Poupée de cire, poupée de son by France Gall
♥Just Like A Woman by Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
♥Summer Wine by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood
♥Blueprint by Fugazi
♥Margin Walker by Fugazi
♥Another Shot Of Whiskey by The Gits
♥Discotraxx by Ladytron
♥Dirty Boots by Sonic Youth
♥Kiss Kiss Kiss by Yoko Ono
♥Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam by The Vaselines
♥Art Bitch by CSS
♥Birds by Electrelane
♥Make Out Fall Out Make Up by Love Is All
♥Rocket Queen by Guns N' Roses
♥Crimson And Clover by Tommy James & The Shondells
♥I Drink The Wine by The Murder City Devils
♥Boom Swagger Boom by The Murder City Devils
♥The Dress by Blonde Redhead
♥Equus by Blonde Redhead
♥California Dreaming by The Mamas & The Papas
♥Boss Hoss by The Sonics
♥Strychnine by The Sonics
♥Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying by Belle & Sebastian
♥Funny Little Frog by Belle & Sebastian
♥Between The Bars by Elliott Smith
♥Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding
♥That's How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding
♥No Easy Way Down by Dusty Springfield

indeed a mental boner

2009-05-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

i would say for at least a year or so, i've developed an obsession for saving money, finding a deal, etc. living in the 2nd most expensive city in the nation where i would rather pay more to live alone with my fiance and having just finished graduate school about a year ago with student loans galore, has propelled me into the mentality that whatever i have in my account is certainly not everything available to spend. to me, a budget is a "spending plan" not some restrictive disciplinarian practice. sure, i heart vintage, mid century home decor, beauty products (cruelty free of course), sephora makeup (once a year or when things run out. why was it necessary to have 3 shades of blue eye shadow like i did back in the day?), ONE or TWO timeless Marc Jacobs bags, and that's it. you can STILL have nice things and go out. my ongoing goal is to spend several days not spending a dime whether it be on coffee (i have green tea at my desk instead or make coffee at work) or lunch (bringing my lunch with yummy Trader Joe's food and farmer's market produce is far tastier than spending $8 to $10). when i shop and compare two products, i often choose the cheaper one. does it really matter when it comes to trash bags or aluminum foil? furthermore, we have a brita filter and really cute electric blue aluminum water bottles that we fill up versus purchasing and carrying all of those damn non biodegradable water bottles like we did back in the day.

let me tell you, sweet thing, i use to embarrassingly have at least 100 pair of shoes years ago, shopped incessantly, and didn't keep track of my bank account. i was lost-somehow thinking that more shoes, fancy makeup, the latest pair of boots or purse, etc. would pacify my woes. i was wasteful and in denial! i realized a great deal: our salaries, belongings, technical gadgets in no way define our self worth despite society's twisted social constructs. as i grew older, and after paying for my education, everything has a price limit. after all, $20 is still a lot of money to me. I often ask myself how many hours it took, at work, for me to purchase the contemplated item at hand. i then proceed. or, i ask myself what my mother taught me, "are you going to get tired of it?" or i undergo the good old "need versus want process." thus, a happy, healthy, more grounded and grateful version of myself has emerged.

so as i at there at the bank last weekend, opening up a joint checking (for bills and groceries) and savings account with mister fiance who was asking the teller for star wars or chihuahua checks, he asked me if "all of this financial planning was giving me a mental boner." hell yeah i answered. because i've been broke in the past, struggled to buy groceries years ago (even with my now obsolete bachelor's degree), and cannot conceive that any purse, perfume, piece of jewelry, makeup, whatever, is worth the worry. then my mental boner got even bigger when i discovered the website www.mint.com which is free and hooks up directly to your bank account, creating these professional looking pie charts and graphs letting you know how much you're spending on medical bills, groceries, dining, clothes, etc. on a monthly or weekly basis. it's alarming to see where a few bucks here and there can amount to. the only down size is that cash purchases of course are not accounted for (neither are written checks). thus my gargantuan rent check was not labeled under mortgage.

so cheers to living within our means and keeping things as simple as possible!

d.i.y. home decorating

2009-05-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

the results of our d.i.y. re-decorating and painting project are below. i'll spare you the pictures of me laying in bed with the dogs reading a celebrity tabloid magazine for a portion of the project. my mister did a terrific job of creating a white border (to frame the wall) out of electric tape. we kept putting the project off, thinking we may move at some point and didn't want the hassle of re-painting. but the color transforms the apartment tremendously and was so worth it. no regrets. the entire project cost $100 with supplies. we also picked up some second hand picture frames at goodwill, for a total of $10, to finish off our "fame wall."

bling sans the blood

2009-04-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

now, courtesy of metalicious.com, you can get bling while simultaneously maintaining your ethics and pocketbook. i wish i had known about this pre-engagement.

career change?

2009-04-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

heartsrevolution ice cream truck associate

cupcake decorator specialist III

more to love

2009-04-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

isobel campbell's voice is dreamy on this track and the video is oddly beautiful

another fucked up movie that i fell in love with. alison folland is remarkable, has great style, and we have the same birthday!

the page turner

2009-04-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

check out understated french thriller "the page turner" to satisfy your foreign film craving

dear creatures

2009-04-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

still one of my favorite new indie designers. california vintage-nouveau style.

<<< the 9 to 5 dress >>>

<<< the madeleine dress >>>

<<< creature comfort romper >>>

on to another dimension.....

2009-04-07T09:49:00.001-07:00

i found this and cried. i'll always remember that day similar to how our parents recall where they were standing when john f. kennedy was killed. elliott is still one of my favorites. i also learned that stooges' guitarist ron asheton passed away a few months ago. so glad i got to see him play at all tomorrow's parties in 2002. and i'll forever regret not seeing nina simone at the wiltern when i had the chance. these days, i don't make excuses and see the shows that are truly once in a lifetime. cuz you never know....

"it's bananas, homie"

2009-04-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

i realize i'm approximately 4 years behind on this pop cultural reference as i finally watched the hills for the first time tonight. in response to a difficult circumstance, spencer remarked "it's bananas, homie." he's profoundly poetic. i further realized that the depths of this show is infinite. for example, in the episode i saw, a bartender learned that mexico is not part of the united states. the plot is incredibly compelling as well as addicting. so much so that i had to create a tivo timer for it. i finally feel like i belong. like i'm part of something bigger.

forever 30

2009-04-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

i'm excitedly preparing for this social-construct-of-a-milestone this year. in the meantime, i can still get away with saying that i'm in my 20's and will probably always shop accordingly whilst attempting to utilize semi-sophisticated fashion approaches versus the very stuffy, boring, and uptight "professional woman style" intended for the 30's and beyond. although i do recall the day i started being addressed as "ma'am" versus "miss" or "girl." now that was a milestone that yielded mad (self) respect!

the following items should be available at your local forever 21:

all things stereo

2009-04-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

in preparation for the daily grind, while cleaning the toilet, soundtracks for impromptu apartment dance parties, or rides in the car, the following stereolab and stereo total albums never fail me. they make everything better and all things possible. at least momentarily.

must see! must read!

2009-04-01T08:11:00.001-07:00

sticking with the theme of escapism, we watched the semi-luke warm "rachel getting married" which is note able for Tunde Adebimpe's appearance (of TV ON THE RADIO fame). le sigh. more noteworthy is the scottish film "red road." the cold grey weather in the film makes me crave a cup of english breakfast tea.

additionally noteworthy, this harrowing account of resilience by attorney cupcake brown:

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i hope you're staying afloat. miss you & love you, friends.

i heart escapism

2009-03-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

sometimes the best way to address daunting adult responsibilities such as bills, bills, bills, housecleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, and stressful jobs is to simplify and/or escape. so this is exactly what occurred. my mister was given a $5 gift card from neighboring work employees wachovia. don't they own half the world's wealth by now or something? anyhow, we picked up my favorite mango sorbet with it at the overpriced bourgeois market and headed to panhandle park for an afternoon in the sun complete with a discussion about the next 5 years. yikes! it includes marriage, moving, traveling, more school, and a garden to summarize. it was a very important discussion indeed. then i wanted to disappear at the thought of all of those responsibilities which include more bills, housecleaning, etc.

all of that seriousness built up my appetite. so we tried the new mexican "sustainable kitchen" restaurant a block away which amounted to overpriced appetizer- size bland entrees. following this, we attempted to play soccer at the dmv until approached by security. my mister continued up the hill with over dramatic faux soccer moves anyway. i heart escapism. truly.

feels like spring so don't be a dick!

2009-03-25T12:39:00.001-07:00

it doesn't really feel like spring when it's 38 degrees at night but i'm not complaining and i do favor the sunny cold weather mix rather than the hot hot heat (what happened to that band btw?) whereby exhibitionists rock their ghastly daisy dukes and tank tops. another rant: san franciscans, please do not park in the middle of the curb. either pull up or move back and don't forget to turn your wheels! you will get a ticket for it and those tickets contribute to police officer salaries. there's nothing shittier than working 11 hours and attempting to find parking only to see that someone is being a DICK and won't pull their Audi or VW up a bit so that my Scion's ass can fit. thank you. this has been a public service announcement.

root canal hell

2009-03-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

my stomach turned from a combination of metal, plastic, rubber, uncontrollable salivation, the drilling and dismantling of mercury fillings, and blood. i wanted to throw up. tooth #14, for the most part, is gone. the decay was so bad, my nerve was exposed. the dentist attempted a heart to heart with me. "i didn't see a dentist regularly for a few years. i went back to school...." and "maybe it's all of the organic sugar i put in my coffee?" and "there was a period of time where i was consuming many a desserts due to heightened stress levels." he didn't buy it. all i know is that a gold crown would be apropos. cross your fingers. however, i don't think the insurance company will go for it. an amusing aspect of the whole experience was hearing the dentist narrate as though he were on a cooking show. "i'm now going to clean out the 3rd canal. i will then put fuji 9 on the tooth." for once, there was no way i could retort, as my mouth was filled with metal and rubber contraptions. it was even more amusing that i had to take a potty break in the midst of the procedure with aforementioned contraptions. good thing it's nearly impossible to embarrass me.

desperately seeking style

2009-03-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

there's no better way to spend a blustery weekend afternoon then drinking coffee with madonna and rosanna arquette. personally i think it's madonna's best era style wise. lots of hot boots & accessories.

drunken butterfly

2009-03-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

i was on my way to work this morning, late AGAIN, blasting sonic youth's "drunken butterfly," and all i could think about was cupcakes. i have no idea how the correlation came about. i suppose it's because i was in a good mood. cupcakes and sonic youth do that to me. i don't know. oh well. the analysis will ensue per usual. until i can make a conclusion, enjoy!

fun to the 10th power

2009-03-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

a saturday day trip resulted in a much needed impromptu road trip down the coast. bare bones style. no toothbrushes, spare clothes, or contact lens solution. this adventure included truck stops galore and beautiful california terrain. one highlight: the city of gonzales. it provided the oh so important auto zone and dairy queen experience. i can't wait until the next one. impromptu anything somehow miraculously resets my brain.

hearts of gold

2009-03-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog, is to focus on my love of writing, music, fashion and the miscellaneous. I vowed to not talk about my work due its sensitive nature and out of respect for those brave and resilient souls who share their lives with me. But my work is a huge part of my life and a huge love of my life. It's always been my dream to do this work and, in the midst of alarming budget cuts to social services, this is certainly worth celebrating. Next week, at the very beautiful and historic Great American Music Hall, our small agency will be honored this year with the TenderChamp Award. I'm grateful to have been part of others' healing process and to support my community's efforts to strive for social justice in a very fucked up world. I've had the great fortune to have incredible mentors including my executive director who has humanized and met the complex need of San Francisco's homeless population for over 20 years. You know exactly who you are.

The TenderChamp Awards recognize grass-roots community leadership for those making a difference in the lives of poor, homeless, and other marginalized people in San Francisco. It has become a tradition for the awarding ceremony to take place at Hospitality House's anniversary celebration every year. An award is presented to one individual, one organization, and one advocate.

The TenderChamp Awards were first presented in 1987 by The Tenderloin Times, a Pulitzer Prize nominated neighborhood publication of Central City Hospitality House.

2009 Recipients:

Caduceus Outreach Services
In recognition of its dedication to providing a sanctuary of
safety & healing for San Franciscans struggling with
homelessness & mental illness.

James Tracy
Community Housing Partnership
In recognition of his fearless community organizing & activism for
affordable housing & human rights.

Hank Wilson (1947-2008)
In memory of his decades of leadership and advocacy for people facing
HIV/AIDS, poverty, & homelessness

please send me evenings and weekends

2009-03-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

until then, please send me a yummy warm beverage so that i can use these adorable teaspoons. aside from the physical and mental benefit from my much needed and treasured cups of joe, it's a ritual and treat that i enjoy in the morning, at work, or after a hellacious day. soooo cozy.

style icon: baby washington

2009-03-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

dusty springfield referred to her as a major influence. talented and stylish, baby washington was in THE HEARTS prior to branching off into a solo career in 1956.

teenage riot

2009-03-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

kim gordon recently collaborated with urban outfitters to create MIRROR/DASH. neeta & court sport, will you let me know if you see this in person? again, photography, lighting, styling, etc. can be deceiving. i love her, like so much, though.

♥ ♥♥ ♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥target queen

2009-03-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

often times i excitedly await the designer collaborations at target. i scope out the collection online and read about them in those horrible women's publications only to arrive in suburbia disappointed as photography can present smoke and mirrors. i think this exists with only SOME of the alexander mcqueen mcq collection. for example, the trench coat has a neat geometric snap collar but the material was too shiny and thin. otherwise i would have folded. some of the pieces are also pricey and look like faux ed hardy all over print dresses. i made a personal vow to never pay $30 for leggings so i selected a $30 silk scarf that will have more longevity. here are some stand out pieces:

pretty in punk: lancome's pink irreverence collection

2009-02-22T20:35:00.000-08:00

heart & soul

2009-02-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

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post margarita d.i.y manicure

etsy dreams

2009-02-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

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points of contention

2009-02-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

rainy weather can bring a shitty mood. generally i enjoy such weather but i'm ready for my mister's illness to cease as it's going on 10 days. it makes me stir crazy and i feel bad for the state he's in. i've been thinking about how we were supposed to be in los angeles this weekend for a great wedding celebration. i'm quite regretful for missing it and last night i wondered how the event was going. i'm also annoyed by our neighbor's affinity for shitty techno music and for the over saturation of celebrity egomaniacs. oh and the usual: bills, bills, bills.

apartment therapy

2009-02-01T21:24:00.000-08:00

i love this website which features rad tiny spaces (in the house tour section) and limitless options for transforming 400 square feet:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf

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much to my mister's displeasure, one of my favorite pastimes is perusing craigslist for mid century furniture. what ruffles his feathers even more is when i find something and drag him to some random city. such was the case when i located and stalked a pair of 1950's art deco diner chairs for $20. and alas my search for a sofa has victoriously come to an end as i found a 1960's sears gem which got only minimally fucked up while moved into the narrow spaces of our apartment building yesterday. i can't complain as my mister is ailing big time. i could not and would not justify spending $1300 on the orange sofa listed on another entry. once i priced this piece out, i soldiered on. i lost a few craigslist prospects in the process but am so glad the universe brought turquoise and i together. this photo from the original ad does not do this piece justice. the color and detail are amazing in real life. and the best part, it was only a hundred bucks!
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another obsession

2009-02-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

i appreciate the sometimes paradoxical work of feminist swiss pop artist sylvie fleury. her art is in the vein of britain's tracy emin (another favorite of mine).

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champagne taste on a beer budget

2009-01-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

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my mister adopted this phrase from his very practical and endearing mother. often times, i think "keeping up with the joneses" is a mask for lots o heartache and self-depreciation whereby material goods attempt to fill the void. without sounding trite, the current economic crisis is beyond humbling for many of us. my super early morning routine of waking up and praying to go back to sleep for an additional two hours also includes gratitude for gainful employment and a job that i love. i recently integrated peppermint flavored chewable melatonin and a sleep mask to my nightly routine as a remedy for my sleep disorder. this combination makes for fucked up dreams but a guaranteed full night of sleep. the over saturation of media doesn't help one's self-worth either. it's dangerous to fall into the trap of more, more, more. someone is always competing to be better, prettier, skinnier, etc. the bevy of women's magazines that i am guilty of occasionally perusing in order to decompress and escape from the rigors of work, make me question who their target audience is. often times the items in the "steal" category are hardly such (besides the fact it's something superfluous to begin with) and simultaneously a $90 face cream is recommended....one that's all the rage for some starlet who also gets oxygen facials. then said magazine attempts to provide advice on surviving the economic crisis by featuring trust fund kids who pick up and move to dubai to live rent free with a family member or recommending that readers go into pharmacology in taiwan or something. much of this information is inaccurate as it takes (many) thousands of dollars to relocate internationally and/or pursue a new career and the degree to go with it. it's simply unrealistic and misleading. how can this be helpful when readers are possibly one paycheck away from eviction? additionally, i saw a special on 20/20 in which interviewees who attended 4 year universities and, in some cases, obtained graduate degrees, are in massive debt and make a minimum wage salary in their respective states. the proposed solution/alternative? vocational school. of course they didn't mention that these programs can also be expensive and require pre-requisite funds but a good point was made. those who attended prestigious universities (myself included) don't necessarily fare better and indeed we, as a society, are stuck on hierarchical education systems. of course it depends on which sector is pursued as requirements and field experience vary. in a lot of ways i can definitely sympathize after coming home from working an 11 hour day to a student loan bill in the mail pile. a mechanic with a vocational certificate was also interviewed. he now runs his own shop, has no student loan debt, and makes a good living. i don't think this debate is as simple as it being presented but i agree that there are no guarantees. of course it was a bit annoying to see some squeaky voiced 23 year old douche bag in wisconsin (with a 4 year degree) making almost double most people's salary at a "startup company" but hey, whatever floats your ambituos boat. not only would i not want to pay those taxes, but corporate america is brutal, unsympathetic, and uncertain. in the end, all of our paths are unique. all that matters, for me at least, is that i am living my dream, am thankful to have my health, can afford groceries (this wasn't always the case) and can cozy up to my fiance and chihuahuas in a warm bed at the end of the day.

♥ ♥♥ ♥♥ ♥♥♥bangles & baubles

2009-01-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

if i had a different lifestyle, perhaps this ginormous ring would be my number one. for now, i will admire this collection from afar. oh the joys of being pragmatic.

house of harlow 1960
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the dearest hearts

2009-01-02T10:51:00.000-08:00

i spent new year's eve at work until 9 pm perfecting a letter for the california parole board. i then came home to my mister and little felipe pablo. also awaiting: yummy lemon pepper fettuccine alfredo and breaded mushrooms made from scratch. i am truly a lucky lady. at midnight we each held felipe's paw. over the top, yes, but very sweet. i nervously savored our last evening with our only "child."

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yesterday we set out for a long road trip to meet our dear redd foxx who truly resembles a mini red fox and embodies the spirit of the late comedian. the little guy has had a difficult life so last night a warm bath and a thorough ear cleaning served him well. on our way home, we stopped to pick up a shirt for our new son and two dog car seats. indeed there is such a thing. i feel like the mother of toddlers, running around trying to make sure i give both of my kids equal attention and love. felipe is demonstrating both dominance and leadership. they also love to play. i predict they won't be lovers as r.f. is not really felipe's type and redd foxx's persuasion appears to be asexual. so brothers it is! we're acclimating and doing lots of canoodling. it's amazing how these little creatures can open up your heart. i love love love them.

since we center our household on creature comforts, we will make sure the brothers are cozy this winter. much to my own inevitable chagrin, i may give the white shag rug a go for the third time. and after a long search, i came upon this walking along folsom last week on a break from work:

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back to motherhood and rain for me. in closing and in honor of:

the man, the myth, the legend

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Redd to the Foxx

2008-12-30T22:39:00.000-08:00

We received good news tonight. We'll be adding an addition to our family. Our due date is Thursday or Friday.

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Felipe is ready for a boyfriend or brother. We had an extensive one-sided conversation with him.

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♥ ♥♥ ♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥you, me & the moon

2008-12-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

today is our anniversary. almost two years of bliss. and i'm not talking about the overpriced & overrated beauty products available at sephora.

last night things got nerdy. i was accompanied by my usual french pressed mug of coffee with organic sugar, rbst free cream, and cinnamon.

research galore. in another life, i would have been a detective. i'm fucking serious except you have to be a cop first.

i researched conjoined twins. jay z. foxy brown. charlie baltimore. the sahara hotnights. a dateline story involving a tragic car accident, two families, and mistaken identity. utter randomness.

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i found this france gall photo as a visual aid. she was the soundtrack to my earth shattering investigation.

i then splurged on the mental list of music that i've been wanting via itunes including said chanteusse.

i also purchased santigold for apartment dance parties and zipping around the city in huey the automobile. this may not be the car's official name but there's something so very huey p. newton/black panther-esque about it.

isn't the literary term apostrophe when human characteristics are lent to inanimate objects?

if this were a condition listed in the DSM IV-TR, i would have it. indeed, there's humanity in everything.

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p.s. fort funston is my new favorite place at sunset. felipe was the only dog on the black sand beach and beautiful cliffs over looking the pacific ocean with a blue and red crew neck sweater and puffy ski vest. sure he waddled through tidepools and hiked slightly thwarted but he also stole a few kisses from large marmaduke dogs in the process. it was perfection.

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