Go away, Shelly DeVoto

There’s something I need to get off my chest: I have an irrational hatred/fear of Jamie Lee Curtis.

She wants to eat your soul.

It all started in grade school music class, when I decided I didn’t like my music teacher. Her hair was too thin, the skin on her neck sagged too much, and her cross necklace didn’t work with the turtle necks and seasonal vests she wore every day.  Besides her appearance, Music Teacher clearly disliked me from the start; I was far too sassy and had a reputation from my four older sisters, whom she also taught many, many years prior.

Growing up, My Girl was a constant at home. I was very familiar with Shelly DeVoto, the lady who lived in the mobile home and bothered Vada Margaret Sultenfuss to no end. Truth be told, I was never very fond of Shelly. One day in music class, I realized Shelly and Music Teacher were, basically, separated at birth. They looked so much alike, it was scary. 

My hatred of Music Teacher grew as I got older. I was forced to sing and dance with my classmates when I would’ve rather played computer games or make fun of people on the playground.  In fact, I still like to do the same stuff now. It’s called blogging. This hatred, in combination with disliking Shelly, turned into a hatred of Jamie Lee Curtis. It didn’t help that Freaky Friday came out in theaters years later. I was assaulted by movie trailers and at sleepovers when my friend’s would watch Freaky Friday. 

 

Absolutely terrifying.

Then, Jamie made a genius career move and became the spokesperson for Activia, the yogurt that helps you poop. I couldn’t escape, and honestly, I still can’t. That stupid voice singing Actiiiiiviaaaaaaaaa runs through my head unexpectedly all the time and so does Jamie’s serial killer, dead-in-the-eyes smiling face. 

 

The Google Image search page for Jamie is a nightmare.

Xizi She Knows

 Xizi She Knows by Imogen Heap

I'm an avid fan of all of Imogen Heap's music and her new stuff in no exception. I think my favorite aspect of her music is that it's distinctly Imogen. No one else produces such wonderfully textured, unique music. I really can't describe the beauty of Imogen's music, nor how it makes me feel. 

 I can't wait for the new album.

More than just a scarf.

When I went on a trip to Istanbul and Athens in 2010, my sister let me borrow her American Apparel circle scarf. I fell in love.

I wore that scarf everywhere. It was my companion throughout the whole trip as a scarf, head covering, blanket, pillow, etc. However, after repeated attempts to tell Adri "I don't have your tie-dye scarf!" and "What are you talking about?", my sister made me give it back to her. I've been pining after that stupidly perfect scarf ever since. I like to go into Adri's closet, gaze upon it's beauty, and remember all the good times we had. Like that one time when I ditched the mandatory four hour church service in Istanbul to go get Turkish tea or when I vomited in the hotel lobby in front of my professor (Everyone was like "oh my gosh, you are so hungover", but I swear I ate a bad Gyro. I know my alcohol limits, promise.)

I was thinking about treating myself after finishing my research proposal. I was floating on air after printing out the final draft, telling myself "You are going to spend money you don't have on a scarf you've wanted for two years." Low and behold, it's not available anymore. I'm depressed (warning: first world problem), but there are alternatives, I guess. 

I love this super sheer circle scarf American Apparel has online. I think it will be beneficial to have a dependable, breathable scarf on hand when I'm living in the Middle East. 

  

Just for shits n' gigs, my friend took a picture of me re-enacting the "Vomiting in The Hotel Lobby in Front of Your Favorite Professor" incident. Here you go, I have no shame.

Fun fact: I forgot to bring my camera on this trip and these are the only pictures I have of myself in front of the Parthenon. Classy. 

The fanstastic GAP-tastic cowl.

For Christmas this year, I knit each of my sisters a scarf of their choosing. Three of them wanted the GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley (click Jen's name for the FREE pattern!). It's a beautiful scarf and, once you get used to seed stitch, an easy knit. 

Photo by Jen Geigley

Photo by Jen Geigley

Here's the GAP-tastic scarf in the color Wallabee. I knit this one for my sister Christine. 

If you can knit, or want to start knitting, I highly recommend this scarf!

Cumberbatched.

Everyone that's been near me in the last three months is aware of my current obsession: Benedict Cumberbatch. Not only is he beautiful (just look at that face and hair, my goodness), but he is talented beyond belief. Just watch Sherlock and you'll understand. I probably spend 80% of my time talking/thinking/blogging about Benedict-related topics. Good thing I'm single, because my significant other would be jealous of all the time I spend looking at this face.  

Benedict does a spot-on impression of Alan Rickman, which adds to his beauty. 

Benedict, let me love you.

Thank you, Goyte.

 

Somebody That I Used To Know by Goyte feat. Kimbra 

I love this song so much. I heard it for the first time on the day of my cousin's wake in November of 2011. It was all I listened to for days; I was upset, confused, and looking for something to latch all my emotions onto. Goyte's song was cathartic at the time and still is whenever I need consoling.

I haven't heard anyone say a negative comment about Goyte's song, part of which can be attributed to how damn relatable it is. Every person on the face of the earth has lost touch with someone they cared about at one point in time. You're probably thinking about that person right now. It's okay, just listen to this song (if you haven't already, but everyone has so that's a silly suggestion) and let the tears fall or whatever. Everyone needs a song that makes them  feel depressed, lonely, or like they're in a movie as they listen on the train and stare out the window (No shame, I do this all the time).

Thank you, Goyte, for giving me catharsis when I needed it. You too, Kimbra, I like your pipes and alluring background humming. I will now go stalk all your other songs and interviews on Youtube.

Minimal.

Over the next couple of months, one of my goals is to minimize and declutter my lifestyle. I've wanted to do this for a while, but I couldn't find the inspiration. Now that my research proposal is due in a few days and I have other projects to finish, I'm realizing just how important it is to have as few belongings as possible. For example, by minimizing your closet, getting ready in the morning (or whenever you wake up) would be a cinch because there are fewer options. Instead of having to choose between dark skinny jeans and super dark skinny jeans, you would only have one choice.

This brings up another point: minimizing means having to choose quality over quantity. Keeping with the skinny jean example, rather than owning a few okay, kind of ill-fitting/uncomfortable pairs, spend the extra cash on one perfect pair. This goes for everything: shoes, bags, shirts, etc.

If you’re short on cash, like me, there is another way to minimize your wardrobe while spending next to nothing: shop at second hand stores, but wait to find exactly what you’ve wanted. My sister Emily is the queen of this shopping philosophy. Whenever we go shopping at junk stores (this is an endearing term for second hand stores my family uses) I always spend at least $40.00 because I can't say no. Emily, on the other hand, consistently walks out of the store having spent less than $20.00. That's because she only buys an item if she's wanted it for a while. Emily will wait until she finds the perfect pair of jeans or the shirt that’s exactly the color and fit she's wanted for ages. Doing this ensures you're not buying on a whim and it saves money and space in the end.

 I'm going to have particular trouble with this rule because I am a thrift junkie. My mom raised my sisters and me on second hand clothes from various stores in the Chicagoland area. It's almost impossible to pass up a shirt or pair of jeans when they're only a couple bucks, but it's something I'm going to have fight the urge to do.

In a few weeks when I’m on Spring Break, I’m going to go through everything I own, from clothes to books, and donate anything I don’t absolutely need. I’ll redecorate my bedroom so it’s has a minimalist aesthetic.

I love when clothes are displayed like art. 

Uncluttered & simple.

I know I can live a minimal lifestyle. 

When I lived in Spain, I only had one suitcase of clothes. Of the clothes I brought, there were still items I never wore that I brought thinking they were essential to my survival. The bedroom I stayed in was small, but perfect. I guess you could say I miss having limited possessions. I knew where my things were at all times, clean up was quick, and I could be ready in less than 5 minutes. 

The perfect setup. 

Where I grew to love white, fluffy bedding.