I know I've been a bit capricious with my blog layout in the past few weeks, but I think I like this one. I made it with the intent of having a sleeker layout and to showcase the photos I'll be taking or just random pictures I've accumulated. The pictures and posts should speak for the entire blog.
While I'm posting, and you're reading, here are some songs that I've come across, thanks to my Kooks station on Pandora.
"Books From Boxes" Maximo Park
"Always on My Mind" Phantom Planet
I guess the White Sea Remix of Young Blood led me to look up more of The Naked and Famous.
"Punching in a Dream" The Naked and Famous
I also have to mention that unfortunately, no family visit this weekend. My work schedule came out for the week after and I've got next Friday and Saturday off. Which means I'm coming home! :) This is so much more exciting than my family coming down for the day. However, I won't be able to see my sister when I go up. Also, my secret Modcloth package should have arrived at my house by next week.
I'm not one for online purchases. You can never quite be sure with the sizing and even if you are, sometimes things just look better on the "hanger" (or gorgeous model) than they do on you. But in the last 24 hours, I made two online purchases, which is a crazy stretch from what I usually do.
The first purchase I made was from Modcloth. Yay Modcloth! I'm glad I caught this Facebook fans only special. As one of my friends stated, it's like "clothing roulette." I paid $15, told Modcloth my size, and in about two weeks or so, I should get in the mail, my first Modcloth purchase. The catch is that I have no idea what I'm getting. But luckily, I love almost everything on the Modcloth website, so hopefully I'm in the clear. But I'll be sure to post what I get later.
The second purchase was from asianicandy. I was the winner of Breanne's $25 gift voucher from asianicandy.com. This one will go a bit more smoothly, because I purchased jewelry and tights. I'm excited to post pictures when they come though. :)
This does mean that I will have to calm down with the unnecessary purchases for a while. I'm going to say until August, but that's probably being very optimistic.
I did think about why I so impulsively made these purchases. I concluded that it was because when faced with "too good to pass up" specials, I just couldn't say no. However, it also was six months to Christmas yesterday, June 25th. So happy halfway to Christmas..day?
Currently listening to: anything In the Heights. anything with Lin-Manuel Miranda.
like this, for instance, a flashmob of "96,000" at Universal City Walk, in the presence of Lin.
Summer is officially at the halfway point. At least, my summer is. I've been at school for six weeks and I've another six to go. I'm not entirely sure whether time's been moving quickly or not. But I've gotten into a pretty nice schedule of work, reading, exercising, making food, and thrifting.
Random pictures I've taken throughout the summer that didn't make it into other posts:
Part of a local Les Mis cast performed some songs at the Arts & Crafts Fair I went to a few weeks ago.
Outfit containing the first skirt I made:
The Sunken Gardens on a particularly sunny day:
When people ask me what I do on my free time, after a bit of thought, the answer's always "...Well, I read a lot." Which is definitely a change, and a good one.
Artistic picture of "Water for Elephants." I never could get into it, but I may try again in a few weeks.
A couple statues tucked away on campus:
Outside of the regional library:
In other news, my family's finally coming down to visit on Saturday! I'm really excited, I haven't seen them in a while and I miss them. Not to mention there's been some tension regarding days off and finding a good time for my parents to come down. But I won't dwell on that. :)
Title quote from Groucho Max.
Currently listening to: nothing at the moment; I'm at work right now
Skirt #2: complete! I spent about an hour yesterday sewing this skirt from a t-shirt I got for a dollar at Goodwill. I swear, by the end of the summer, we're going to be on a first name basis.
But I have this odd habit when I buy clothes. Once I get home, I always have to try it on again, with various outfits. So that's exactly what I did when I finished making this skirt. However, I wasn't doing so well in the imagination department, so went to lookbook for inspiration.
I even have these Romwe tights. :)
Definitely trying this out, without the heels.
I know these are shorts, but I still like the outfit.
I was slightly worried that the skirt, while I like it, wouldn't mesh with my current style. But my worries have been calmed now.
Currently listening to:
"My Body" Young the Giant
"The Start of Something" Voxtrot
"Young Blood (White Sea Remix)" The Naked and Famous
Happy Father's Day everyone! I unfortunately couldn't spend the day with my dad or family because of work, but I know he enjoyed himself today. And why wouldn't he, he went fishing. :)
But in all seriousness, my father's lived the life of many. He's seen things and been through things that I can only imagine. He's worked harder than he should for longer than he should. He needs very little in his life, a quality that I've admired and inherited. Call me a daddy's girl, but there is honestly very little I wouldn't do to make him happy.
I've always believed this, but if I only had one wish, it would be that my parents no longer had to work. They've lived through hard times, both in coming to this country and while here. So while that isn't quite possible, the only thing I can do is to get through school (successfully, which seems to be harder than I thought) and lessen their worries.
Odds and ends that I found while looking for pictures of my dad.
"Murder in the City" The Avett Brothers
" A tear fell from my father's eyes
I wondered what my dad would say
He said I love you
And I'm proud of you both,
in so many different ways "
Happy Father's Day to everyone reading!
Currently listening to: "Murder in the City" The Avett Brothers
Sorry for the second post, but this was something I'd been waiting to post until today.
Tonight are the Tony Awards and I have to take a moment and just talk about the wonderful world of theatre and Broadway. In watching a movie, you don't have to be engaged. But when watching a musical, you can't help but be taken in to the story.
Last year's opening number with everyone's favorite, Neil Patrick Harris!
Reasons why I love musicals and Broadway:
- they tell real stories, not just those with happy endings; most times there aren't happy endings
- they have real performers; you can't lip sync or have second chances in a performance
- they suck you into a storyline absolutely and completely
- there will always be tears, whether they're from happiness or sadness
- singing and dancing, what more can you ask for?
- it speaks to an earlier time, when there wasn't television and it was a big thing to be 'going to the theatre'
- you can't not be attracted to talent, and Broadway just oozes talent
For those of you who also love musicals, you understand what I'm talking about. For those who don't, give it a try. Watch a bit of the Tonys or some past Tony performances. There's a show out there for everyone. I myself have yet to see a show on Broadway, but mark my words, it will be done.
Personal favorites:
And as Neil Patrick Harris so eloquently stated in last year's closing rap (written by my favorite, Lin-Manuel Miranda), "go see a motherf***ing Broadway show!"
Currently listening to: "Junk of the Heart" The Kooks
Another day off well spent, if I do say so myself. I did some errands in the morning, but spent the entirety of the afternoon in beautiful Colonial Williamsburg. I was prepared, with my refillable mug for cold cider, books, iPod, and lunch. And of course, an appropriate outfit for the 90 degree heat.
The place where I lunched and read was an outdoor area with a trellis made from branches. It really did block out most of the sunlight, so the heat was bearable.
After a while, I heard some violin music and thought that they were coming out of speakers. And then I look over and see an actual violinist. Of course, I should've expected nothing less; they didn't have speaker rocks in the 1700's.
The second half of the afternoon I came upon entirely by luck. But I think it was part fate also. Live music, kitschy things, and people-watching? Of course I had to stick around.
Book bags...get it?
And what I wore today: lace tank, Goodwill pants-turned-shorts, golf leaf earrings, and gladiator sandals that have far outlived their life expectancy.
Sometimes I feel a bit out of place spending my free time in CW. It's as if I'm sharing my home away from home, aka school, with any and all tourists that happen to visit. But I'm also glad that I get to spend my weekends at fairs and surrounded by colonial interpreters. :)
The summer's just beginning and if it's going to teach me just one thing, it's how much I love being alone. And by that, I really mean how much of an introvert I am. I spend most of my days off reading, running errands, making food for myself, and exercising. And that's precisely what I did today and intend to do tomorrow.
But on my thrifting trip, I got a couple burnout tees, a few yards of elastic, and a large black t-shirt that will soon be turned into a skirt. :) Total cost: less than $6 and I got two tops, the makings of a skirt, and hopefully enough elastic for four skirts. Wish me luck!
After lunch, I went to the ampitheatre on campus to read and enjoy the weather. It was a gorgeous day out, even though the sun kept going in and out of the clouds. And I had to take advantage of the completely empty ampitheatre and beautiful weather with a little photoshoot.
This self-timer thing worked out pretty well this time around, I think.
[edit] I had posted a look on lookbook for about one hour. And that's when I started getting second thoughts. About how I would feel if/when I didn't get hypes and just having pictures of myself in more places than just this blog. Thus, I deleted it. My blog will have to do for now.
Currently listening to: "First Day of My Life" Bright Eyes
An oldie, but goodie. And such a cute video.
I also can't get over the lyrics. So simple and to the point.
" Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go
And so I thought I’d let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home "
I think my rollercoaster of emotions is finally heading back up. I'm taking the past as just that, the past, and moving on. I'm taking this summer to "better myself," as my sister would say. I'm trying to exercise more, eat right, and enjoy life without stressing out too much. And I really think it's working. Probably the only good thing about living away from family and close friends for the summer; I can actually implement the changes I want to see in myself, the way I want. :)
And as music always seems to do, certain songs facilitated the moving on process. And as always, I'm sharing them with you now:
"Payphone" Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa
What more can I say? Adam Levine's voice = ♥
"I'll Hold My Breath" Ellie Goulding
I personally love this live version; it's not perfect, by any means, but I love the emotion she puts in it.
"Fine By Me" Andy Grammer feat. Colbie Callait
Lovin' the live version and overall feel of this song.
Currently listening to: "Avada Kedavra" The Age of Rockets
