Things I Love Thursday: Make It Funky!
[ 17 May 2012, 11:48 ]
I have to admit: being without Kat this week has made things a little bit less colourful. Yes, it’s sad but true, she flew back to the United Kingdom at the crack of dawn on Monday, & New York City just isn’t the same without her!
Pout!
But life goes on, doesn’t it, & while I miss roaming around the city until our feet were bleeding & our brains went into remission, I have actually had an extremely productive week! For those of you in the middle of a huge project, always remember that stepping AWAY from it is often more helpful than chaining yourself to your desk… You have permission to take a break & refuel your spirit! Preferably in fantastic shoes!
Here are some things I’ve been LOVING, ADORING & SWOONING OVER in the last couple of weeks!
Revlon Lip Butter in PEACH PARFAIT (the perfect pigment for a pretty pout!) ...Alliteration Wearing a walloping stack of bangles on my right arm Working outside in my favourite secret garden Making real & true progress with a couple of big projects! Being sartorially re-inspired Looking at old photos & boggling Radical Self Love cupcakes! Taking heed of Parkinson’s Law — the amount of time you have to perform a task denotes the time it will take you to perform that task! — & having an insanely productive day as a result Eating burgers with Steve Gerrard & Lara Jade (I have been a not-so-secret fan of years for YEARS & she is so lovely in person!) Central Park Zoo Meetings in big, airy offices Dark Shadows (& a crazy audience) Late-night trips to Max Brenner for thick Italian milk chocolate drinks Hotel research (always!) Running all over the city with the girls from Made U Look Photography! Kat & I are dying to see the results & we had such a fun day with Christina, Alie & Marielle! The Cure’s greatest hits Satisfying noodles… Watching old favourite movies from my childhood (Addams Family & Addams Family Values, to be exact!) Wearing motorcycle boots with yoga leggings Grilled salmon sushi Holding a plank for a minute! The Big Gay Ice-Cream Shop Sunshine!
Really, this is all about the bedazzled Kitchenaid… Wouldn’t you agree? We discovered it in Georgetown Cupcakes & it was too irresistible not to photograph!
My desk yesterday morning; I adore this Kate Spade bag (& it seriously becomes my entire office on a beautiful spring day!); this flyer made me grin; & Kat & I from behind!
...Are you following me on Instagram yet?! Username: galadarling!
Have an incredible day… & remember to take a moment to think about the wonderful things in your life. There are only two ways to live your life: one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle. (Einstein said that, so it must be true!)
P.S. In honour of the title of this post, here’s your Thursday soundtrack!
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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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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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Things I Love Thursday: Enthusiastic 'R' Us!
[ 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,
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Things 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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