*

my blog doesn't live here anymore

2010-01-16T23:47:00.001-06:00

it lives here instead.
come over. it's COZY.

i don't trust the post office.

2009-12-10T21:09:00.002-06:00

this entry wasn't really supposed to be about my angst with the post office. but i was thinking about how every time i've moved home (and granted, i do this more than the average yogi bear), i ask for my mail to be forwarded, and it NEVER works. the mail continues to come to my old address, get rejected, turn around, and go back from whence it came.

so in an effort to be more effective dear readers, let me tell you LOUD AND CLEAR (in all caps even), that me and my blog have moved.

we now live at our very own domain: the cozyhunter.

in case you don't like surprises, the color scheme is wasp-esque - black & white with stripes of neon yellow.

i love it's minimalist walls and how it sometimes rearranges the pictures i post into a haphazard but purposeful mess. devon created it for me at 3am last night and i am continually impressed by how he completely gets my strange aesthetics, can tame wild CSS code, while maintaining a sense of humor about my pesky control issues.

now that the look of my blog doesn't make me want to vomit daisies, i hope to be a much more reliable blogger.

or at least, that's the intention.

longstanding love affair with kites and landscape lines.

2009-12-10T07:18:00.003-06:00

credits:
kite painting = here
kiteface = here
landscape lean = here

animal maskery = my newest photo fascination

2009-12-10T07:11:00.002-06:00

photo credits (from bottom to top): lars botten, eleanor hardwich, she's jack, perhydrol.

flow chart truisms

2009-12-08T07:56:00.004-06:00

i'm a sucker for a good flowchart.
maybe 2010 will be the year for flowcharts instead of lists.
imagine the possibilities...are you dazzled with wonderment at the notion?
did i just use the word 'wonderment'?
is it even a word?

i present you with the top three flowcharts that have recently made their merry way into my life.

attitude of gratitude

2009-12-01T19:33:00.006-06:00

i know i'm a bit late jumping on the whole 'what i'm thankful for' wagon. blame the fact that i'm in australia and they don't have thanksgiving here because i guess they were so busy committing injustices and atrocities that the colonizers didn't make time for a lovely feast with the indigenous people of the land. that's what the holiday is about right? because no one has ever really explained it to me, and i'm usually so stuffed full of pumpkin pie and lashings of whipped cream to ever bother asking.

and that's why we have wikipedia.

anyway. i am thankful for so many things. i'm thankful for the BIG things - health, happiness, love, my family, my faith, this beautiful planet i've been lucky enough to traverse, and my amazing friends.

and i'm also thankful for strange and wonderful and wacky things, like the fact that my mum says things like 'i offed the TV' instead of 'i turned off the TV' no.matter.how.many.times.i've.corrected.her.

i'm thankful for creative outlets, the old cameras i find at thrift stores, and caspian - our nikon d90 (which i still don't really know how to use, so it's always an experiment).

i'm thankful that i have a younger sister who has no clue who alanis morissette is and has a sense of style that out-performs mine 10 times out of 10, and that i can fit her clothes.

i'm thankful for devon. the fact that we work together on soulpancake ALL day and then are still so excited about hanging out together - whether it's taking a break to hunt down a perfect cup of coffee, going on a photoshoot-turned-wild-adventure, or just finding a cozy space to watch the next episode of the Wire - is astonishing. i love his energy and unbridled enthusiasm. he exudes love and happiness and having a team mate like this makes every other relationship i've had pale into insignificance.

i'm also thankful that i love my work so much. getting to develop content for soulpancake is incredible/challenging/inspiring. i work alongside an super passionate and creative team, and i can honestly say that i wouldn't want to be doing anything else. today, reading these comments below from the site my heart swelled with gratitude.

i wake up each day excited to be alive and ready to tackle what comes next in this grand adventure. so, in the telling-the-universe-but-also-telling-each-of-you-sort-of-way: thank you.

because jumping pictures are so 2009...

2009-11-30T21:38:00.004-06:00

this brilliant artist re-creates children's paintings in photograph form. sheer genius.

i want to do a photoshoot based on this idea asapers. i just need a crafty child to draw cool stuff for me.

thanks to ashtastic for the link.

embracing average

2009-11-30T21:11:00.003-06:00

a friend of mine was describing twitter and summed it up as a place to tell the world 'hey, look at me, being awesome, having a blast & doing something way more fun than you are' all in a tidy 140 characters. he has a point.

i think that's why this collection of micro-blogs makes me smile so much. it's a celebration of the ordinary, the every-day and average. and because of that, it's freaking hilarious.

here are a few of my favorites from the 'best of' page.

nikon shooting through kodak instamatic

2009-11-25T01:05:00.003-06:00

new obsession: retro-fitting camera lenses

how to enamour me: when i say "photoshoot", he says "should we take props?"

2009-11-12T06:31:00.001-06:00

how to bemuse me: thank me for my "kind behavior"

2009-11-10T18:43:00.003-06:00

here is a screenshot from the live chat I just had with Bank of America. the staff member was really helpful and resolved the situation and then ended with this compliment. had to save it for posterity of course. the next time, i get heckled by JETSTAR and their horrible customer service staff, i'm just going to email/fax/carrier pigeon this little message their way and BAM - i'll show them i'm actually a nice person, that exhibits kind behavior.

when walking through straw as tall as i am, it pays NOT to think about how australia has the world's most poisonous snakes.

2009-11-10T02:37:00.005-06:00

honorary kiwi

2009-11-02T01:54:00.001-06:00

new zealand lines and land and loveliness

2009-11-01T22:57:00.000-06:00

we just tell onlookers that we are auditioning for Lord of the Rings.

2009-10-29T16:50:00.005-05:00

farewell rarotonga

2009-10-24T16:37:00.002-05:00

list o' seven why i'm in heaven

1. being greeted by the happiest ukelele player i've ever seen, who belted out his songs with complete disregard for the important messages being read over the airport loudspeakers
2. riding around the island on a red scooter with the number plate RAD 975. dev and i give nods to our fellow bikers, like we are all part of some local bike gang - a.k.a: another dream come true.
3. being simultaneously fascinated and terrified of the large fish that circled around us in the lagoon. thinking 'don't eat me'. and then thinking, it would be fair for them to do so since we've been devouring freshly caught yellow fin tuna since we got here.
4. attempting to crack open a coconut and getting it's juice all over the sand, ourselves, and the innocent bystanders.
5. late afternoon guitar playing, dev patiently teaching me harmonies, both of us singing all the wrong words.
6. holding a musical devotional at the baha'i center and learning songs in cook islands maori. the love in the room was palpable.
7. not ever caring what time it is.

list o' things to bring on my next pacific island adventure

1. sunscreen
2. insect repellent
3. towel
4. snacks
5. um. COMMON SENSE :)

soul-snapshot

with a twinkle in his eyes he hugs me tight and declares that i have a tendency to be feisty. likens me to the family german shepherd - sasha. and as i pretend to be insulted, i know he's right. like her, i'm vulnerable, i've been hurt, scars have remained that refuse to evaporate. yes, i'm a sucker for attention. devotion. love. loyalty. and feisty she is. open the front door and she bolts. complete disregard for the electric fence, she'll deal with the painful zap if it means freedom. that was me once upon a time. fiercely craving my independence, not wanting to compromise, feeling like the consequences were inconsequential. doing what i wanted to do felt both liberating and painful. i knew it was wrong. unfair. unwarranted. but my pride would stop me from turning around, until i had to. and it's ironic really, that the person who always wanted to leave, finally was resolutely left behind. i'm reminded of a time last winter, when beaten down, cold and shivering from a night of rain, sasha returned, head down, tail between her legs. she slept all day. she knew she had caused alarm so now she was staying under the radar. we were grateful she was safe, but furious with the panic she'd left in her wake. and that cycle is exhausting. and after enough times, you are just tired of chasing.
i recognize i'm no longer 'that' person, but i'm still me. and it's this 'me' that we all carry around. no matter who you are with. or where you are. or what you're doing. it's a constant companion. here, on this speck of land in the middle of the pacific, i'm realizing that i've quelled the runner in me. i no longer feel this clamor in my heart to bolt or take flight. i'm happy to accompany, to walk hand-in-hand, to enjoy in unison. it no longer feels suffocating or limiting. it feels safe and calm. and though that spark is there - flash lightning on a sunny day - it's never a good enough reason to hurt a heart.

all mapped out.

2009-10-18T02:01:00.000-05:00

we leave in a handful of hours.

i'm so excited but it also doesn't feel real because right now i'm sitting in andy's living room figuring out soulpancake content for next week and doing a load of laundry. devon hasn't even showered or packed or eaten benito's super nachos (which i know is highest on his agenda).

we've planning this trip since may and now it's finally here. once i'm sitting on the plane, shoes off, socks on, hoodie zipped up (i strive for coziness on planes), then i'm sure it will hit home. and then i'll be too excited to sleep. gah!

our first stop is the cook islands. my plan is to do nothing but lie in warm sand listen to the waves. and eat lots of fresh fruit. and ride mopeds. and go on jungle adventures.

i will also be singing this song a lot because it's stuck in my head.

and in the words of my dearest sister, ashley ludwin, lehhssss go. :)

if this doesn't make your day, then there is no hope for you

2009-10-16T02:59:00.000-05:00

two things you shouldn't go without: seatbelts and tethering.

2009-10-14T20:08:00.001-05:00

my kind of love note

2009-10-14T17:18:00.002-05:00

fort-love-fest

2009-10-10T21:56:00.005-05:00

if you haven't built a fort out of furniture, you haven't really lived. i love forts so much that i want to screenprint t-shirts that say 'make forts, not war'.

here's a tribute to fantastic forts which was inspired by Booooooom and their Where the Wild Things Are fort creating contest. all these pictures below are submissions to the contest.

kinda makes you wanna dismantle your couch doesn't it?

list o' lovelies

2009-10-09T04:22:00.005-05:00

1. business cards made out of cereal boxes
2. today i bought a kodak instamatic camera with the hopes that one fine day i can take photographs like this
3. a blog that's perfect for procastinators
4. this might be a step up from balloon animals at the fair
5. learn something everyday

coconuts looming

2009-10-09T01:49:00.004-05:00

as i was reading about the cook islands (where we'll be in 10 days!), i found this helpful/hilarious information:

Skimpy clothing anywhere else than on the beach can cause offense and topless is also somewhat frowned upon. The missionaries did a good job here! Coconuts sometimes do fall from trees, always look up first and make sure none of them are looming high above you before taking a nap or sunbath. Getting hit by one will certainly spoil your trip!

preparation is everything, right?

mega-list-o-five

2009-09-28T20:13:00.006-05:00

5 moments when i see my mother in me:
1. when i'm intimidated by the four remotes it takes to get the TV to work
2. when i shirk parallel parking
3. when i re-use plastic bags until they disintegrate
4. when i cut fruit up for an after dinner snack
5. when i refuse to buy something because i'm sure i can 'make it myself'

5 highlights from the stream-of-consciousness i have when one moment my connection to the internet works JUST fine, and then it stops.
1. what's the point of this machine on my lap?
2. am i expected to use my imagination? be creative? go outside? heaven forbid.
3. what if the internet was broken forever?
4. that thought gives me hives.
5. i need the internet to figure out how to cure hives. my life is over.

5 strange things i do when i have an audience
1. bend my middle toe back to touch my foot
2. break a banana clean in half with my bare hands
3. emulate any fruit or vegetable with my face
4. sing the entire 'sound of music' soundtrack
5. make up an original nickname for you within 3 minutes of meeting

5 delicious snippets from emails i've received within the past week
1. Don't worry, the only Tongan that will fit your skinny jeans would be in the 3-6 year old category. Polynesians are not renowned for their slender builds.
2. she always talks about my eyelashes. eyelashes. everything is my eyelashes. yes, he is good looking. but he doesn't have your eyelashes she says.
3. I was once quite the line-dancing expert.
4. you will one day all come to your senses and realize my depraved sensibilities are just what the world needs more of.
5. This reminds me of how you handle things

i heart my work mates

2009-09-15T13:40:00.001-05:00

dear L.A.,

2009-09-15T11:48:00.005-05:00

thank you for not being a jerk. and not burning me alive with your fires and whatnot.

even your traffic didn't bother me. but it probably helped that i was in a convertible with the sun pouring in.

love,
golriz

pull out your sharpies folks.

2009-09-02T11:14:00.006-05:00

two things related to black outs.

first. our creative art challenge on soulpancake today. do it. i dare you.

here's my attempt. i was using the vanderbilt alumni magazine. NOT the most interesting read. but aha! a poem was waiting within its pages all along!

second. this awesome song by one of the first SoulPancake creative genius interns - Tommy Hans, and his band, Tommy and the Whale. straight out of nashville. and you thought we JUST had cowboys and country music here. pish posh.

Blackout - Shot For The Moon

next party-turned-impromtu-photoshoot = MASKS

2009-08-31T15:08:00.004-05:00

inspiration stations.

vampires suck. literally.

2009-08-30T15:33:00.011-05:00

sorry to disappoint you, but this post is not about vampires. not even slightly. i just wanted to cash in on the hype. so this is me. cashing in.

i'm going to try to be a more routine blogger. and teeth flosser. these are two things that are not that difficult to do, but yet i seem to put off, for other things. like watching the john adams miniseries, or perfecting the BEST sugar-free, wheat-free (for those who "get it", these are 100% JW-friendly) peanut-butter cookie recipe.

which i have perfected. 4 measly ingredients people.

1 cup natural crunchy peanut butter
1 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup of rolled oats
1 egg

mix together in no particular order. heat the oven to 350. bake for 12 minutes. tah-dah.

**

for those of you who are privy to how utterly disastrous my first 'meeting' with rainn wilson was - you will understand how the fact that he retweeted my tweet today was cause for grand celebration. i think it signifies that he no longer thinks of me as the strange girl who did the 'robot' while repeating 'i'm a mac' like a mantra.

side note: i finally met rainn in new york a month or so ago, and not only is he as awesome as you already know he is, but he's also a fantastic father. little walter wilson was scampering all over him (as small children are wont to do) and rainn wasn't phased in the slightest. carried on with our breakfast meeting while exuding super patience and attentiveness.

in conclusion, do i have the best boss in the world and the best job in the world? why yes, i think i do.

**

list of all the things i wanted to do today. but didn't.

* snuggle up to a cute baby and inhale the smell that only babies have
* go to a yoga class
* buy a ukulele
* go for a long walk by a stretch of water
* start reading a book i can't put down
* buy a pet lemur
* take nontraditional portraits of people

list of things i did instead.

* stayed in pj's till 5pm
* went on a vespa ride with dev at dusk
* feasted on peanut butter cookies straight out of the oven
* impatiently waited for my friend to tell me she is engaged
* chit chatted with ry-lash

**

in other news:

- i also spied this spectacular portfolio of abandoned houses.

- i want to high five people who make the most of umbrellas and puddles and jumping photos in the rain.

- i swooned over the capture of colorful walls and doorways.

as a result of too many road trips...

2009-08-30T01:11:00.004-05:00

one of my favorite activities is going into a gas station and seeing who can find the strangest object. i usually win this game, except for the time i went with andy and he found non-dairy kosher spray cheese. ew.

recently i saw these ed hardy energy drinks and had to take a picture. because nothing is more hard core than DRINKING ed hardy while wearing ed hardy. yikes. i fit squarely in this category.

how to bedazzle me: create a radio out of a rock

2009-08-25T17:54:00.003-05:00

i'm adding guus oosterbaan to the list of people i want to be friends with in real life.

how to woo me: coffee on tap

2009-08-24T18:03:00.002-05:00

this little machine (located in the lobby of the apartment we are staying in) is resulting in much coffee drinking and merriment.

three cheers for flavia.

inspiration stations

2009-08-24T13:30:00.006-05:00

since my job entails that my macbook is pretty much an extension of my arms, i spend a greater portion of each day online. this means every day is an adventure to different places and faraway lands, without the worry of lost luggage and maps. which reminds me, here is a list of things that sensible people do, that i don't do:

use maps
have an umbrella handy
follow recipes
have a skin care regime
sleep before 3am
listen to voice messages
check the weather forecast
worry about health insurance benefits

so the point of the post was that several times a day little things enter my world that inspire and delight me. here are a few from today:

loveliest birth announcement i've ever spied.

these clever newspaper black out poems. definitely will be featuring these on SP.

the color scheme of yellow & gray. actually yellow everything. especially sundresses.

rainn's twitter feed today.

the fact that dev offers to make me tea at random intervals during the day. generally anything that has to do with tea. including this tea installation.

the insides of strangers moleskins and sketchbooks.

why i read mimi smartypants

2009-08-23T12:05:00.001-05:00

she is a fellow list maker. the best kind of lists. see:

THREE WEIRD BUT INOFFENSIVE PEOPLE ON MY BUS ROUTE

1. The woman who makes the sign of the cross at anyone who coughs or sneezes.

2. Guy who paces around at the bus stop literally wringing his hands and looking like he’s about to scream with anxiety.

3. Woman who has shaved off both her eyebrows and drawn them back on, only she’s made a series of little dots and not connected the line.

bubble-tastic

2009-08-18T20:14:00.004-05:00

i think bubbles could put an end to war.

we could start small. the next time you are angry with someone go buy some bubbles and blow them together. you'll feel better. i promise.

on another note, i am very selective about overhead lighting but this bubble inspired chandelier is exquisite.

random is beautiful

2009-08-18T19:32:00.003-05:00

here is a gem for you - random got beautiful. found this gem thanks to redpepper.

it's basically a collection of a random assortment of photos that have similar color schematics. such a simple, effective idea.

picto-post

2009-08-17T13:08:00.003-05:00

sigh. who has time for words?

spoon-fest

2009-08-06T17:34:00.002-05:00

look. lovely.

mugged

2009-08-05T12:49:00.003-05:00

these GEMS were spied thanks to a tweet by fellow hot-beverage-lover lindsay.

more here.

comments

2009-08-05T12:30:00.003-05:00

someone left this comment on Soul Pancake the other day & i think it's brilliant, so I had to share. PS. I LOVE MY JOB.

dear mum,

2009-08-04T22:25:00.003-05:00

yes, my blog is void of activity, but i'm still happy, healthy and alive.

i have pictures to prove it. exhibit a.

bad blogger

2009-07-20T12:12:00.002-05:00

yes. i know.
but to make up for it, i have some sound advice for you--should you ever encounter a mountain lion:

someone is having far too much fun with face recognition photo software

2009-07-10T13:17:00.002-05:00

list of 10 things that happened since i last blogged

2009-06-30T19:42:00.006-05:00

1. world kept spinning. hooray.
2. i remembered how much i love Jennies almond flavored macaroons. 3 measly ingredients - unsweetened coconut, honey, egg whites. morsels of magic.
3. laughed at this because it's true
4. planned a trip to nyc for two full weeks of shenanigans in the sun.
5. survived bonnaroo for the third year in a row.
6. bought a pair of shoes that my sister (her highness of 'cool') would approve of.
7. went to dc for kelly & caeli's wedding and delighted in their happiness.
8. mowed the lawns and saw two snakes. didn't scream.
9. iran had strife ridden elections which made me sad, but also hopeful.
10. michael jackson died and i mourned along with the rest of the world.

in other news, the below picture was taken exactly one year ago. it's wonderful to realize that i'm even more deliriously happy today than i was back then.

in other, other news, it makes me smile SO much that dev was asked to perform this song while he is in norway. i am not sure how he will do this with a straight face:

mosquito mutiny

2009-06-11T14:15:00.002-05:00

just in case you were wondering NONE of the below 'natural' remedies against mosquito bites worked. and instead i am now sticky and smell like a Bath & Bodyworks.

smirk worthy

2009-06-11T14:11:00.004-05:00

thank you lunchbreath for being so delightfully inappropriate and thus, HILARIOUS.
the end.

art within arms reach

2009-06-11T00:14:00.003-05:00

today's SoulPancake creative challenge resulted in some amazing little creations. this one below is one of my favorites.

surprise

2009-06-10T19:23:00.004-05:00

i decided to surprise emily for her birthday by showing up on her doorstep in chicago. in a duffel bag.

dev and i came up with this GENIUS plan at 11:30pm as we approached the city. we stopped at a rest area to 'practice'. can you imagine what the truckers thought of this whole spectacle?

the moral of the story is that being smuggled in a bag can result in a sprained neck but it's still worth it.

i tried it again when i got home and my arm wouldn't fit. however, you get the idea.

ryan lash, this one's for you

2009-06-10T16:57:00.002-05:00

a blog showcasing what happens when you don't say 'cheese'.

stick figure scenarios

2009-06-10T12:36:00.003-05:00

stumbled upon this little webersite. i think you will like it too.

until i have a place to nest...

2009-06-09T15:05:00.002-05:00

i should no longer frequent this little blog. and definitely not this tasty one either.

essential

2009-06-09T14:36:00.002-05:00

the forecast for bonnaroo this weekend is rain & and thunderstorms.
this means mud. lots and lots of mud.
mud means i need a pair of these asapers:

bizniz cardz

2009-06-09T14:24:00.005-05:00

working on business cards today & stumbled upon these creative delights.

i think the perforated divorce lawyer card wins (although the little pop-out chair is darling).

side projects and other shenanigans

2009-06-01T13:18:00.003-05:00

side project:
i've teamed up with andrew lobo to work on the edit owl team. i'm not sure how to squeeze this into my no-time-for-pausing-life, but where there's a will, there's several hours of sleep to be forsaken, so i'll make it happen. very exciting!

sort-of side project:
i am growing a garden. by that i mean i have a patch of dirt in the backyard where i planted parsley, asparagus, strawberries, dill, basil and a japanese eggplant. i have no idea how a japanese eggplant is different to a regular eggplant, but i'm really hoping it comes complete with a microchip that allows it to cook itself into a delicious meal.

ending ichats:
i've decided it's always awkward. 'bye' just doesn't cut it. but i loathe abbreviations like BRB or TTYL so what am i to do? i think i might start signing off with panic ridden statements like 'oh god, there are ninjas at the door. gotta run'

at least then i'm keeping it exciting.

t.par.t
my friends holley and crystal have started a tea party catering business called peace|love|tea . you should hire them.

bonnaroo:
dev and i have press passes to bonnaroo. we are going to be shooting video for SoulPancake and trying not to pass out from the heat and the hippies.

past weekend of merriment:
dev's beautiful sister courtney married the lovely andy primus. the wedding was gorgeous and i could go on in gushing tones, but the pictures speak for themselves.

lovely lara

2009-05-29T13:18:00.002-05:00

lara is my birthday twin. sort of. her birthday is today. and i didn't send her a magnificent gift like a campot. so i am lame.

i'm so excited to see her in november! bring on the kelly clarkson top of our lungs car singalong.

i'm a little campot. short and stout.

2009-05-29T13:10:00.002-05:00

teapot + camera = campot.

Lara - i LOVE it! but how could i not? it's a combo of two of my favorite things. come over for tea. now.

new additions

2009-05-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

dear friends,

with tears of overflowing joy and relieved anticipation, i would like to welcome two new additions to the SoulPancake family.

each weighing in at 3.3 oz, they are simply beautiful.

they have mike mitchell's genes and devon's eyes.

hook a kiwi

2009-05-28T15:04:00.003-05:00

just saw this ad for a matchmaking ball that air new zealand is hosting. their tag line is 'how far will you go to find the one?'

i guess desperate times call for desperate measures. if you can't find 'the one' in the country that you live in, perhaps you need to start examining other far away lands? is that the message here?

PSA: make time in your day for fun.

2009-05-28T14:39:00.003-05:00

places i've been today...without leaving my desk

2009-05-27T14:20:00.008-05:00

1. learned that i can request paper twitter mail from these clever people. so i ordered one. and had to restrain from ordering many. still not really sure how it works, or why they do this for free. but when it comes to receiving stuff in the post, i'm not fussy.

2. spent many moments ogling vintage goodness here thanks to philby.

3. oohing and ahhing at this photoshop magician's work.

4. might buy a bunch of these to fulfill my craving to whittle.

5. david precht got me hooked on this housewear site with its tasty ideas.

reason #958 why i love my job

2009-05-26T17:53:00.003-05:00

part of my responsibility includes scouring the internet for images & today whilst hunting and gathering, i found this magnificent gem.

five minute list o' five.

2009-05-22T15:21:00.003-05:00

1. recently my life isn't allowing room for consistent blog action. sorry to all those [seven people] who come here and are bored by the lack of sparkly new content. i advise you to go to soulpancake instead, as that is where i am usually living. on that note, feel free to email me suggestions for creative challenges: golriz at soulpancake dot com

2. i'm eating salt and vinegar chips right now. and dipping them in plain greek yogurt. it's spectacular. i know you don't believe me, but it is.

3. jen jack rabbit is visiting for a couple of days. she is currently sitting on the other side of this table taking over the world and multitasking up a storm. it's what she does. watchout.

4. every day includes trampoline jumping. this makes every day a great day.

5. we had a party for dev last night. my addiction to rock band is getting out of control and spilling into impromptu photoshoots. here are a sampling of my favorites.

adolesence was awesomely awkward. case and point.

2009-05-16T13:31:00.003-05:00

andy grammer & devon gundry, the 'new' new kids on the block.

i heart emails from ashley ludwin.

2009-05-16T11:29:00.002-05:00

i can relate

2009-05-14T20:34:00.002-05:00

post-it notes are pretty expensive by the way. who knew?

happy birthday dad

2009-05-14T20:15:00.003-05:00

in a couple of days it's my dad's birthday. if my calculations are correct he'll be 61. it doesn't really seem logical that my dad is in his sixties. i feel like my parents will always be in their forties. just like anisa (my little sister) will always be 3, and my brother, roshan, about 14.

seeing photographs of my sister the other day all glamorous and dressed up for her friends 'deb' (the australian version of prom) jolted me back to reality. she's turning 16 this year, and there is not a thing i can do to slow her down.

in celebration of my dad's birthday i am posting this picture of him driving/maneuvering/surprisingly-not-losing-a-limb on a tractor. keep in mind my dad is a doctor, not a farmer, but this doesn't stop him from deciding to buy a huge plot of land and large items of farm machinery.

happy birthday dad. i love you.

one year ago today

2009-05-14T01:31:00.005-05:00

i posted that my status was this.

it's one year later and i can actually imagine how something like that can grow into something like this:

pretty excited about this little jaunt to the pacific

2009-05-10T21:02:00.003-05:00

if you are located in any of the below locations i'd love to wrap my arms around you and do a jig when i get there.

it's five months away. so consider yourself notified.

webernet sites to while away the day on

2009-05-07T15:38:00.005-05:00

oodles of interesting things to be found at swissmiss

there is a huge space in my heart for people who keep sketchbooks.

this site made me swoon.

photographs taken while driving. i don't know how they are so beautiful. but i want one of each please.

don't ever underestimate brevity. six word music reviews.

this person is selling everything she owns.

typography is fun. whats more fun? TIEpography

bliss is...

2009-05-05T14:44:00.004-05:00

death cab for cutie last night at the ryman.
the coffee that is now entering my blood stream.
the two asparagus (asparagi) that grew in our garden today that we ate raw.
not wanting to be any place else.
that my office chair is a big red pilates ball that i bounce on all day long.
the meeting i just had that is putting into action a life.long.dream.of.mine. stay tuned.

also, i had devon create an example for today's SoulPancake challenge.

bliss is definitely having a teammate-creative-collaborator-smooch like him.

only boring people are bored.

2009-05-04T17:28:00.004-05:00

perch

2009-05-01T14:11:00.002-05:00

my favorite mobile office so far is kelly snook's amazing loft in boston.

reason #4837 why i love my new boss

2009-04-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

iwant: a bright yellow watch from the 80s that has a built in drum machine.

2009-04-27T13:52:00.002-05:00

capucine steals my heart (and yours) again

2009-04-25T16:42:00.001-05:00

i think i've found the one person on the planet who loves parcels in the mail as much as i do.

prepare for cute overload and click here.

rainn says this is the saddest song in the world...

2009-04-25T15:01:00.001-05:00

i agree.

i still want a tenori...

2009-04-24T19:09:00.005-05:00

but in the mean time this is making my heart beat really fast.

procrastination stations here we come.

science redeems itself (after creating glowing puppies)

2009-04-23T12:14:00.001-05:00

with a way to post messages on Twitter using electrical impulses generated by thought.

wowzers.

forget the night light...

2009-04-23T10:56:00.002-05:00

now, thanks to science, you can get your own glow-in-the-dark dog.

this makes me really sad for some reason.

on the must-see list.

2009-04-23T10:20:00.001-05:00

is it a bad sign when your bank is giving you tips on being 'cool'? read the last line.

2009-04-22T17:17:00.002-05:00

it's vespa weather again

2009-04-21T11:05:00.004-05:00

hooray!

let there be light

2009-04-20T23:18:00.007-05:00

i don't really remember using a nightlight as a child. but now that i've seen these, i kinda want one. or seven.

oh and speaking of light. if you have a mac, you can try the latest SP challenge where you can paint with light.

monday mishmash

2009-04-20T14:19:00.005-05:00

it's a pretty crazy world when you find yourself quoted on a stranger's myspace profile.

in other news:

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANUSCE AND JAKE SIMKIN (aka messy panda).

2. i need to find yeast free, gluten free, YET still delicious, bread that doesn't cost a small fortune. please submit ideas.

3. i want to buy a grill. i have no grill purchasing expertise. i think i'm gonna delegate this job.

4. dev and i tried weeding the vegetable garden the other day. we lasted about 3 minutes and then saw a snake coiled up waiting to attack. i now fear the outdoors.

5. i'm having twitter anxiety. a bunch of people follow me because rainn follows me. and so i'm sure they expect me to be funny. and that's a lot of pressure.

6. in the near future i'd like to purchase plane tickets to (in no particular order):

norway
australia
new zealand
boston
hawaii
israel

7. i love this picture of devonius at dusk.

we made a pact...

2009-04-19T23:01:00.004-05:00

...never to have superficial conversations with each other.

here's to many more talks about life's big questions over greasy burgers at dodgy tennessee eateries and sharing inspiration lying on a trampoline at dusk.

hallmark eat your heart out.

2009-04-19T22:56:00.003-05:00

when a friend of mine found out i was leaving tpac she sent me the below e-card.
this priceless gem and other delicious e-cards worth actually sending can be found here.

how to make me wish i was wherever you are

2009-04-17T19:09:00.003-05:00

send me a picture like this.
good grief.
ocean/warm sand/fresh pineapple envy onslaught is in full force.

small loveliness

2009-04-15T16:06:00.004-05:00

this packing tape is rather lovely.

now that i'm working from home, i'm going to send more packages and parcels and tiny objects that i can fit stamps on.

this tape is the perfect motivator.

another fantastic thing about working for myself...

2009-04-14T18:46:00.005-05:00

no more 'casual fridays'. hello casual EVERYDAY.
my first day in the office was ushered in with plaid and uggs.

mandatory midday trampoline break

2009-04-14T18:42:00.002-05:00

hello new life

2009-04-14T17:05:00.003-05:00

my best friend
creative genius intern tommy
creative genius intern sean
breakfast day one. office hours start at 10am. aw yeah.

rainn & rivers

2009-04-12T15:02:00.005-05:00

5 people who have influenced me. who have no idea.

2009-04-05T22:21:00.002-05:00

1. Roald Dahl - at a young age his writing instilled in me an inexhaustible love for reading and deliciously flawed characters. I cried when I found out he had died.

2. Michelle Denson - my after-school drama teacher. Eccentric is an understatement - she didn't wear underwear (and I have no idea WHY it was appropriate that we were all aware of this fact) and terrified her students. But she taught me to take 'um' out of my vocabulary and to speak with conviction.

3. Julie Andrews - the hills are alive with the Sound of Music. Need I say more?

4. Henry - okay, so Henry is not so much a person, as a Jack Russel Terrier. But this rascal taught me more than most humans I've interacted with. He taught me to love being outside, even in the pouring rain and to greet everyone with joy and excitement.

5. Mrs. Ball - my piano teacher. Meany von Meanpants. She once slammed the piano lid on my fingers because I hadn't practiced my scales. A great example of how NOT to cultivate a love for music in your students.

creepy is an understatement.

2009-04-05T12:29:00.002-05:00

full credit for this gem goes to alex mcgee.

email o'the day

2009-03-30T23:58:00.002-05:00

below is an extract from an email i received today. the crazy thing is it's not spam, it's a legitimate email to my common ground publishing account. wowzers.

Dear sir, hi.
Thank you very much for your favors to me so far. I need it very much and I pay each value of money you say. Please do the favor and reply me friendly. Thanks a lot. Goodbye
Sincerely yours,

more lego love

2009-03-29T22:01:00.003-05:00

found today: a crafty-critter who creates lego replicas of bands.

meanwhile, i am taking a sharpie to my t-shirts over at SoulPancake land.

listorama

2009-03-27T01:14:00.004-05:00

my new job has me list writing all day long.

dream.come.true.

full credit for this one goes to my soul-gazelle-cortney-gusick.

wiki rank

2009-03-27T00:16:00.004-05:00

because everyone needs a new procrastination station, i introduce you to wiki-rank which allows you to easily compare how many times things are searched on Wikipedia.

i compared nuts because it's likely that if you stopped me on the street i'd have some kind of nut in my possession. usually almonds. although i'm a fan of cashews too. especially the roasted salted kind. the only nuts i am not partial too are brazil nuts, or macadamias. you can keep those.

anyway, as you can see below, the humble pecan was the loser of the group.

happy naw ruz

2009-03-20T22:47:00.002-05:00

i eat...

2009-03-14T00:47:00.002-05:00

strawberries as big as my head.