Newark Symphony Concert Next Weekend

Add it to your calendar!  The Newark Symphony is performing next weekend.  We've been working hard to get this music together.  The Debussy piece is gorgeous (La Mer is French for the Sea and the piece does just that-- it captures all of the undulations of the ocean), but my favorite piece is the Totentanz by Liszt.  I hope to see you there!

5 Things I'm Grateful For Friday

1. Upcoming trip!  I'm flying out tomorrow to Los Angelas where I get to see my two best friends, Matt and Corrie.  I get to meet my Godson for the first time!  I also get to meet up with Miss Sunday-- my Australian roommate from my stint in Dubai-- and whom I haven't seen since January 2008.  And, I get to see Sierra (that's Sierra at right in the Prada campaign from 2000) and her husband Gabe and their sweet boy.  Yay for old friends! I am so grateful that I have the time and money to get out to California to see all of the people.

2. More modeling work!  Yesterday I completed my training at QVC to model in their fashion lines.  Now I have my own security badge and it looks like work will be picking up for me there.  I've scaled back my hours doing ESL at the University, but don't plan to give it up completely as I find it so rewarding.  I am excited to be doing more in what I consider my career! 

3. New friends!  I've been getting super involved with the Ron Paul for President campaign here in Delaware.  The past few weekends have been spent canvassing neighborhoods collecting signatures to get Dr. Paul on the primary ballot here.  It's good to be passionate about something-- in my case, the cause of Liberty-- and I've already met some amazing people.  I find that I enjoy politics, and think the only way we can make a difference is to get involved.  Maybe I'll even run for office one day! (And we found out yesterday that he will indeed be on the ballot in April!)

4. Beautiful sunny days!  It seems silly, but I'm often thankful for the weather.  I walk to and from work each day (about four miles roundtrip) and am immensely blessed to be out in nature.  I love the sunset, and the birds flying overhead, and the crisp, cool air.  I see God in it all and I am blessed.  I do enjoy the cooler weather, but the few days of sun we've had lately have been wonderful.

5. My Health!  After two colds in January, a mammogram this month to check out some lumps, I'm happy to report that I'm healthy.  I'm also mentally healthy and in a good place these days.  I'm thankful that I have the energy to get to the gym, that I have two good legs which enable me to walk to work.  I'm thankful for my counselor that I see who helps me process and work through things.  I'm taking care of me and I love it.

In Honor of Valentine's Day

"All love is sweet, Given or returned.  Common as light is love, And its familiar voice wearies not ever... They who inspire it most are fortunate, As I am now; but those who feel it most Are happier still."
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

List by Eero Saarinen of Aline Bernstein’s good qualities ca. 1954. Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press, all rights reserved. (via Abbey Goes Design Scouting)

I love this list sent from Eero Saarinen to his future wife New York Times art editor, Aline Bernstein.

Super cute print from n2design.  Available for purchase on Etsy.

Isn't this print cute?  One day I'll find a fella to have adventures with:)  Meanwhile, I'll just have to stick with my dear, dear friends.

And in honor of St. Valentine's Day, here's a little collage of couples I love.  Clockwise from top left: Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Julia and Paul Child, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and Abigail and John Adams.


H A P P Y V A L E N T I N E'S D A Y!

The Limits of my Mind

"The limits of my language are the limits of my mind.  All I know is what I have words for."

~Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations, 1953

My Commercial for QVC

I shot this commercial for QVC a couple of weeks ago.  Shop all day tomorrow (Tuesday) QVC's 25th annual California Gold Rush sale.  English tutor by day, model by night...

I hope you all have a lovely Tuesday!

Jazz Age Baby

Here's a litte photo (and shopping) inspiration for you this Wednesday morning.


The large photos are from either Harper's Bazaar or Vogue in the late 90s or early 2000s. As a teenager I ripped these pictures out of the magazine and after all these years, they still hold great visual appeal for me. The actress is a young Winona Ryder.


These gorgeous shoes (which are technically Edwardian in style, not Jazz age) are available for pre-order right now. They are from American Duchess. You should check out the shop and blog; the girl behind the brand is seriously fabulous-- and she sews! 


And finally, Behida Dolic handmakes beautiful hats. Definitely take a peek at the gallery in her Etsy shop and if one strikes your fancy, send her your measurements and she'll make you a custom hat. They're gorgeous (as is her model, Helena Bianca) and would smarten up any outfit. A girl can dream, right?

Five Things Friday

Five things I'm grateful for this week:

1. Time with my sister.  Having a married sister who has a very time-consuming job means that I don't get much quality time with her.  This week, though, we took Cole for a walk at the dog park (he's afraid of all the other doggies, silly bear!), then rented a movie, ordered Italian food, and settled in for a cozy evening together.

2. Work!  I really enjoyed being off from work for three weeks during the holidays, but my wallet is definitely feeling the strain.  Not only did I start working again at the language school where I work 30-something hours a week as an English tutor, but I also shot a "commercial" for QVC.  It's nice to be doing a little modeling again.

 

3. Friends coming together.  One of my gifts (I think) is bringing people together.  I love introducing my friends to other friends; it makes for a wonderfully interconnected group.  My friend Morgan is a close friend from college.  We took a class together (fashion illustration) and did a study abroad together in Paris.  She's awesome-- smart, gorgeous, savvy.  I can't say enough nice words about her.  Meanwhile, Matt and Corrie are my best friends in the world.  I became close to them when I met Corrie at a model casting.  We shared a bit of our life stories and immediately clicked.  They're two of the most loving, wonderful people I know, and I'm so thankful that God brought them into my life.  Anyway, last week Morgan was in LA working as talent/stylist on a commercial when the producer decided they needed another actress.  Morgan immediately thought of Corrie for the part (they know each other from the days when we were all living in NY), and voila, Corrie booked her first commercial in LA.  Morgan sent me the above picture of her, Matt, Corrie, and their 6-month old baby.  I wish I could be there with them, but it warms my heart to see my friends gathered together.

4. Warm weather.  I wasn't looking forward to returning to the Northeast after my time in Texas, but with temperatures mostly in the 50s, it hasn't been bad at all.  I walk four miles roundtrip to work most days, so the temperatures have been great for easing me back into winter weather.  Next week will be much colder, but the milder temperature will have hopefully helped me to acclimate from sunny Texas's weather.

5. Music! One of the great things about January is that it gets you thinking about what's most important to you.  Music-- more specifically performing it-- is something I value very much.  On Tuesday I attended the rehearsal for the Newark Symphony Orchestra.  We're practicing Ravel and Debussy for our March concert.  Yeah!  Tomorrow I'm meeting with the group of women that I play quartet music with.  We'll meet up, play for a while, break for a potluck, and then play some more.  It's wonderful.  Really.

What are you grateful for this week?

What's Your Dream Talent?

Sometimes I think about the special talent I would have if I could have any talent I wanted.  My dreams usually come down to just two: I'd LOVE to be able to draw really well (i.e., be an illustrator) and/or I'd love to play guitar (or ukelele) and have one of those throaty, mellow chick-with-a-guitar voices.  And if I had to choose between the two talents, I'd definitely go with the singing/guitar playing.

I found this video today via a post of Facebook, and yep, this pretty much sums up my dream.  If I could sing and play guitar, then I could find a boy and we could sing and play together!  I think I'd happily sing the day away.

I love the song, too!  What would your special talent be?