Things I Love Thursday: Peonies & Psychedelia!
[ 3 May 2012, 11:41 ]
On my desk: glitter candles, rhinestone bracelets, amethyst, rose quartz, citrine & aqua aura quartz, fortunes, & earrings… There are also magenta peonies in a milk jug & a cookie jar stuffed full of white fairy lights!
The highlight of my weekend was spending time at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens with Mike, Asami & Fumi! The purple field of Turkish Hazel was absolutely divine & there were seriously HOT PINK flowers blooming everywhere!
Spring is the best! Also, I loved the flower crowns on these two girls, though I didn’t get their names, unfortunately!
Flowers & vines, so gorgeous. These are the magenta peonies I mentioned earlier (& a better view of the psychedelic tray from the 1960s everything else is now sitting on!). A stack of passports, international playgirl style… & a taxi portrait.
L-O-V-E L-I-F-E... I never expected a bowl of cherries, I’m just a Virgo looking for my own version of the Virgin Mary…
Dinner with KAT tonight! Oh my goodness. 
Tulips & peonies & crystals on my desk Awesome meetings & exciting new developments Hank & Dolly both curled up on the floor next to my desk while I work Good mail days! (Thank you Sophie & Lisa & Megan!) The extreme Virgoness of Wholefoods (it’s seriously one of my favourite places on the planet) The news that Jazzi is moving back to NYC, OH MY GOODNESS! Reconnecting with old friends Brother Ali Going out to our favourite Chinese restaurant where they play Johnny Cash songs & serve the best food in the world Spiked cowboy boots... GET OUTTA TOWN! Sitting outside, writing in a magical mirror garden That feeling of satisfaction when you put in a lot of hard work & see yourself living up to your potential! Daydreaming about pink cars Finding old photos from when Nubby & I first met! Talking about forming girl gangs Next week is the third anniversary of the first date Mike & I ever went on! Enthusiasm!!!!! & exclamation points! Finally giving in to the need for a backpack, & of course, I bought one covered in sequins… !
A reminder: The reason I do these lists every week is to remind me of the positive! They are one of my essential happiness practices: they keep me focussed on what is good in my world, & stop me from dwelling on the flaws or difficult moments. If you’re struggling with happiness right now, you should start writing these lists, too! If you’re not struggling, making a habit of counting your blessings will rocket you to another dimension of bliss! Guaranteed!
Brunettes have more fun… !
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Hear the story of my radical self love journey at TEDxCMU!
Things I Love Thursday: Kiss Attacks & Overgrown Buildings!
[ 26 April 2012, 10:25 ]
I love overgrown buildings! This one backs onto my favourite secret garden in the East Village.
Heureux jeudi! It’s overcast & grey but I’m listening to Tupac so I’m happy! I hope you’ve had a fun week. Mostly, I’ve been sitting at my desk trying to stretch my brain around various projects!
Yesterday at about 3pm, my mind completely put on the brakes, so I decided to leave the house & go on a walk. It was one of the first times in AGES that I’ve just gone for a walk without a chore, task or agenda, & it was fantastic! I decided I would say yes to everything that came my way, so I ended up befriending two men who own a gallery. They invited me to sit with them, & we talked about Dali & Banksy, & then some guy came in & started chatting about selling a $250,000 painting to Diddy… When I left, I went down a street I usually ignore & discovered a homewares shop full of taxidermied animals, including a baby zebra & a FLAMINGO! I have never seen a taxidermied flamingo in my entire life!
Anyway, my point is: leaving the house is awesome, & meeting new people even moreso. We should all do it more often!
Here are some pictures from my Instagram account… P.S. If you’re not following me yet, get on it! galadarling is my username, of course!
The sparkly helmet brigade on Saturday (can you pick which one is mine?!); Rainbow’s radical self love tattoo (!!!!!!!); new Tarina Tarantino beautiful but deadly ring; a snapshot of my outfit yesterday (leopard coat, white shirt embroidered with bugs worn tied at the waist, pink metallic skirt)!
I love these flowers! Spring makes me realise how colourless winter really is. Makes me want to move to the Bahamas or something! Isn’t this pitbull puppy cute? Her name is Lily, & she was rescued by our friends last week.
Dolly is AMOROUS!
This tweet Obsessing over weird celebrity couples from the 90s Finding money in my pocket! (It was only $2, but it’s $2 I didn’t have before!) Fantastic dinners with Shae, my LOVE! Counting up my training sessions & realising I have done over 225 OF THEM OH MY GOD Mike & his refusal to say “pain au chocolat” — to him, it’s a “chocolate pocket” Okay another mention for my husband: he made a sign about food theft for his work which made me laugh for 10 solid minutes Bee Sting pizzas at Roberta’s! Trying on military hats at Stella Dallas Bringing back the phonecall! Remember when you used to hang upside down on your bed & talk on the phone until your ear would sweat? The amazing response to my TEDxCMU talk — thank you, thank you, thank you! My Boy Scout shirt! Me: Dolly is an oracle! Mike: The Oracle says, “Pick up my poo!” Working out with my new trainer ...& giving love advice to the trainer I’ve been seeing for two years! Creating new vision boards Magazine shops, loooooove Looking forward to seeing KAT soon! Sending Nubby a million emails & harassing her mercilessly Chocolate Leverage smoothies from The Juice Press: it’s like the elixir of life, I swear Deciding to work a lunchtime walk into my daily routine — good for the brain, even better for the digestion! Getting the video from my spot on Good Morning! Resolving to wear more hats Teaching EFT over the phone to my friend who was anxious about doing some public speaking… This morning she told me she NAILED the speech & that the tapping totally worked! Yes!!! Eating the same thing for lunch everyday (I am a creature of habit, it’s true) Bras with sequins & crystals on them Enthusiasm Can I mention my husband again?!
What are you grateful for today?
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[ 19 April 2012, 14:10 ]
1960s vixens (& psychedelic sequins)! Why yes, those sequins ARE on a dress in my wardrobe!
Hello! It’s Thursday! Yes, it’s almost the weekend — hallelujah! This also means, of course, that it’s time for a little Things I Love Thursday action. Here’s this week’s list!
That button was one of my favourite things about the Brooklyn Zine Fest! The other three photos were taken in a secret back room in a psychedelic fabric store… I was wearing a Boy Scout shirt with a leather jumper, of course… !
On Sunday, Rabbit & I bought stacks of zines, ate tacos, had a portrait drawn & tried on bunny-ear hats… The weather was amazing, we wore vintage dresses & lots of mascara!
I’ve never seen a tulip I didn’t want to photograph! Also featured: new bug dress from Karen Walker, magical candles, & sleepytime with Hank.
Here is a list of things I am currently obsessed with &/or excited about…
Going on a cruise! Um, I really want to make this happen. Actually, I want to go on two cruises: a Mediterranean cruise, & Holy Ship in January! (Omg, break out the ~*~glow sticks~*~ y’all!) I’ve been harrassing Nubby & telling her that this is going to be us. Yes please! I want all our friends to come with us. It would be obnoxiously amazing. Foghorn sound! AHOY!
Govenor’s Ball! Because Fiona Apple is playing & I just can’t say no to her. You know?!
The Color Run! I worked out yesterday that 5k is 12.5 laps around a track. That is a LOT for someone who has never done any running before. Nevertheless, I am excited!
I just found out that you can call Tila Tequila for $10/minute. Wow! Wowwwww. You can also talk to Michael Lohan, but I don’t know why you’d want to?!
Everything at TopShop right now! The whole front of the Soho store is full of amazing sequinned sparkly girlyness. It’s sublime; I totally freaked out when I walked in! I bought this blue metallic pleated leather skirt & Mike told me I look like an “alien cheerleader” in it. (I’ll take that!) I’m pretty fond of the mermaid holographic clutch, too.
Making recordings of Dolly when she plays with her rope toy! Instagram PILLOWS! (Amazinggggg) That thing where you don’t want to leave the house because you’re enjoying the album you’re listening to so much “You never used to talk dirty, but now you goddamn DISGUSTIN’!” Kanye West, all day long Wearing false eyelashes & Adidas sneakers to the gym Brooklyn adventures Red Cherry false eyelashes (the best brand ever — I’ve been wearing them almost every day!) Giving Dolly a bath & having her make this amazing face! Coconut-scented body lotion
Big love,
Let's talk on Twitter! Add me on Facebook! Enroll in Radical Self Love Bootcamp! Tags: things i love thursdayThings I Love... Saturday?! & Le Carousel!
[ 14 April 2012, 12:35 ]
Quelle semaine! (What a week!) It feels like I’ve done a million things in the last few days. That’s just another reason why I love spring: life starts to pick up its pace in a major way!
So, you might wonder why I’m lying on top of an Expedit full of shoes… The answer is because I spent yesterday filming a top secret project for Starbucks! Shoes, IKEA, coffee… Somehow, it’s all connected, & I can’t wait to share the final product with you!
Last Friday, I met with Molly Crabapple, Laurie Penny & Rachel Rabbit White for a girl’s lunch. It was fantastic. Afterwards, Rabbit & I did a little vintage shopping…
I’m so excited that Angel is in town! I saw her yesterday for a few hours. We drank cacao (“Cacao to cacao!”) smoothies, went into witch shops where they were playing TLC’s Crazysexycool (a great & underrated album), & sat in Tompkins Square Park.
I’m obsessed with my Love Life print from Antigirl... & these glasses from Mercura! I need them in my life permanently! I also love a good pair of turquoise heels!
Alice + Olivia are collaborating with Magnum ice-cream, & they had a little soiree to celebrate! It was very fancy, as you can see! (That little shot glass is full of a minty milkshake!)
Gold cutlery (definitely a must have for all decadent dames) Taking ice-creams to my husband at work Carrying a bottle of pink champagne in my purse Sweet friendly nurses Three-course brunches with Mike, Fumi & Asami My husband, my husband, my husband Morning portraits Crystal cuffs Friends visiting from out-of-town! Snuggling with my polka-dot babe Languid lunches ...& vintage dress shopping afterwards Dolly’s incredible patience with me as I put bunny ears on her & set about taking pictures of her Curling my hair (it makes me feel like a totally different person) 5HTP for hormonal sanity! Neon pink dresses Any event ever held at 620 Fifth Avenue Purple Tinted Meeting a teeny-weeny pitbull puppy on our block (& learning that his name is KILLER! His owner said, “He’ll grow into it…”) When Hank & Dolly are really happy & wriggly Sharing a wall with two male models who were dressed like members of Kraftwerk Progress, progress, progress! Midnight snacks Dresses covered in bugs (this print but… yes, a dress!) Shipping notifications (always very exciting) Reading about India & really really really thinking about finally doing it (lifelong dream, for real) ...& the trailer for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I want to see it SO BADLY! This very weird dream I had where I dealt drugs, but my only product was Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate When Dolly wags her tail when she’s dreaming…
Carousel time! It’s a little one today…
There’s a lot of chit-chat about Instagram’s billion dollar sale to Facebook. I liked this article about it. If you’re a little concerned, you might want to export all your Instagram photos for safe-keeping!
Knock Out Bullying by Alexis Jones from I AM THAT GIRL:
My call to action is for every kid to stand up for the little guys, for the awkward girls and any other person with a target on their back. I believe we have the potential to be everyday heroes and ordinary people have the ability to become extraordinary, especially when they selflessly stand up for someone.
Danielle LaPorte wrote about getting emotional about money for Forbes.
Two smart women say the same thing when it comes to inspiration for artists: Anna & Molly.
Luxirare teaches us all how to make skull oil lamps. I’ve been meaning to buy a bottle of Crystal Skull vodka for a long, long time — now I have the perfect excuse!
Travel is an experience in perception. I loved this & how it relates to travelling through India.
Shae takes the most beautiful photographs...
If your website’s full of assholes, it’s your fault. Totally true!
Kim Gee draws great comics. Between Boyfriends: A Year Of Dating In NYC is brilliant, & I promise you will love it! (Whenever I get her comics in the mail, I absolutely cannot put them down!)
This guide to Clueless fashion on Etsy is adorable.
This makes me want to book several plane tickets…
Have a fantastic weekend!
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things i love thursdayThings I Love Thursday: Hip Hip Hooray!
[ 5 April 2012, 14:31 ]
Fred Perry windows in Soho.
Happy Thursday! It’s a gorgeous day in New York City: the sun is shining & I’m whipping my hair back & forth to a new mixtape I just made for you. In my head, I am a superstar DJ… Mixtape to come on Monday!
It’s funny how TILT (Things I Love Thursday) has evolved over the years. I went from writing bullet-points to full-on paragraphs, & now, since I’m using Instagram as a kind of visual diary, it’s easiest just to use my pictures to jog my memory! Do you use Instagram like that too?
I’ve had a lovely week, & I hope yours was spectacular! Here’s my (very visual!) TILT!
Lingering in the park in the sunshine, drinking coffee with my husband,
& obsessively photographing blossoms! I know they’ll be gone before long,
so I’m making the most of it…
Fantastically inspiring lunches with Emily Greener,
whose organisation, I Am That Girl, you should TOTALLY check out!
Easter-coloured truffles (who could say no to Godiva?)
& super-saturated psychedelic flowers at Dean & Deluca…
Walking around Soho with my husband on Sunday, laughing & getting caught in the rain,
& getting my eternity band made!
Now my rings don’t wiggle around on my finger!
Celebrating the launch of Molly Crabapple’s Week In Hell!
It was a super-lovely evening with lots of old & new friends!
Some little things:
After asking my readers on Twitter & Facebook how they felt about aging — since I have received some questions about it recently — I discovered, while brushing my teeth, MY FIRST GREY HAIR! I couldn’t stop laughing. Thanks for the cosmic trip-up, universe!
Missing my out-of-town friends like whoah. But having top secret Skype conversations & making very exciting plans!
Learning the word CRAYLARIOUS from Agent Lover & realising I need to apply it every situation!
Hank EATING our cookie fortunes off the table! What a cheeky mongrel! For the record, mine said, “The rubber bands are heading in the right direction.” What does that mean?!
Mike winning 12 cents in the lottery. Hahah!
ALSO! Some of the most exciting news this week is that Android users can now join in with the Instagram madness! YES! Download it & add me: galadarling! I can’t wait to look at all your snapshots!
I love you! Start writing your gratitude list!
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