Sky Piece I

skypiecei Sky Piece I

The first time I noticed the sky I was running around a sandy playground holding a red bucket. I was sure I’d find a treasure somewhere so I wanted to be ready. A faint humming noise filled the air, and as everyone looked up I saw a plane (a small bird in my mind) for the first time; in unison we dropped everything and started waving, “Byeee!”. I think I did that everytime I saw one until I was about 6.

The moon has always hung from its velvet waves, but it was only this summer that I thought the sky was truly beautiful; I was standing outside with Tom waiting for shooting stars to plummet to their deaths in less than seconds. And it was beautiful to be there in the cold, in the middle of the countryside with no other light than the one shining from the stars and moon, and with Tom. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

Tell us when you first noticed the sky. Tell us when you first thought that the sky was beautiful.

This Week

I learned how important attitude is; I woke up extra happy today as my father came back for the holidays and as soon as I got to class I had people asking me if I had done something different, that I looked extra pretty today (ha!) ♦ I began reading The Bell Jar, and despite all the heavy duty studying I will be doing this weekend I am sure it will take me no more than two more days to finish it while I take breaks. ♦ I realized that I’m missing Tom terribly  and can’t stop thinking about where we’ll meet next!

Article:
Not really an article, but! This space is amazing. I could definitely see myself living there, it has all I need!

Photograph:
20080902184755 This Week
Beautiful photography from Lucia Holm.

Videos:

Quote:

There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them. — Sylvia Plath

What have been your favorites this week? HAPPY FRIDAY!

‘To keep me happy there’s no limit to the things you did’

Last Friday, right before I became deathly ill (and I say that literally), I went to a few exhibitions with my cousin. Observing art is one of my favorite things in the world, not only for the art itself but because I love to see people looking at art — the silence that consumes everyone into individual bubbles, where thoughts spiral through their faces to produce a reaction. Well that is exactly what happened with us; we had been talking non-stop during lunch and on our way, and the second we went through the exhibition hall entrance, that same silence took over us until we left.

maternity

One of the exhibitions was called “Maternity”, which was a collection of photographs from all over the world of a mother and her child. But it wasn’t just the amazing photographs of those moments captured that caused my spiraling thoughts to produce a reaction; one of the walls was dedicated entirely to visitor cards in which people wrote down what maternity and motherhood meant to them. They were so diverse not only in content but in length, the way some people can sum up just about anything in a sentence and others keep adding details.

guest notes

My favorite two:

mother portuguese

(From Portuguese)

Mom, I am very happy here in Madrid these days and everything I see reminds me of you! I wish my eyes would bring everything I see to you. I love you, Alessandra.

mother spanish

(From Spanish)

Mom, you were, are and will always be what I most loved, love and will love in my life. C.E

Ironically, as I fell sick that afternoon and spent the next two days lying around in bed, it was my mother who took care of absolutely every detail. And it usually is, as it happens, my mother who watches out for me, who is blunt and honest with me, who listens to me, who constantly gives without expecting in return. It is inexplicable, but she really does know me better than most; I cannot fool her for a second. She is not without faults, of course, but I have learned to accept those and what is left is someone I admire for her courage and drive, and for her sense of humor. Some of my most intense laughing fits come from laughing with her.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. — Tenneva Jordan

So it isn’t Mother’s Day, but then again you don’t really need one specific day to celebrate your mother, do you?

It’s the Gift that Counts! (or this year’s wish-list)

December = extended family dinners, random decorations (which may or may not be too colorful, depending on your aesthetics), cinnamon wine and bad singing. It also is heavily related to gift-giving, though many have forgotten where the tradition comes from. Either way, I am usually partial to the DIY route (which I usually take) BUT, part of my greedy little consumerist self can’t help but lust after store-bought goodies.

A few such things:

beauty wishlist 2009

  • NARS duo eyeshadow “Brume” & “Brousse”
  • NARS lip lacquer
  • NARS Tokaido Express nailpolish
  • Benefit BADgal plum mascara & black eyeliner pencil
  • Sephora’s Double Ended “Perfect Complexion Brush”, “Every Day Brush” & “Smokey Eye Brush”
  • MAC Baroque Buduoir Lipstick (yum!)
  • Lolita Lempicka perfume

Of course there are other non-vanity related wants, such as:

A little bit ambitious, but I would not be mad at anyone if they got me:

  • CS4 Suite
  • Analog camera
  • A new iPod (preferably nano sans camera) since mine has officially died

A girl can dream! What are you lusting after?

For Glum Days

glumdays For Glum Days

A list of pickeruppers:

  • Get out of the house and get lost in your city. Draw a map of where you went and what you found.
  • Have a Disney marathon.
  • Get yourself over to Polyvore and make outfits. If the crisis hasn’t affected you, buy them!
  • Write a short story/poem/novel. Send it in for a contest or just let it sit for someone to find.
  • Chick lit! Nothing like a lighthearted read for when you don’t want to do too much thinking.
  • Buy yourself a birthday cake and eat it (or save a slice for every day of the week).
  • Re-read a favorite.
  • Maybe overdone, but definitely still cute: Maru the Cat. Favorite it.
  • Dance around the house.
  • Go to a movie/show/exhibition on your own.
  • Draw your favorite possessions.
  • Collect your favorite pieces of writing in a notebook.
  • Write about your dream house/apartment/loft.
  • Have a 3 way with friends, reminisce about the 90′s.
  • Pick a book by its cover and buy it to read.
  • Love your ‘self’ and stop picking up rocks.
  • Make a video of a day in your life and adorn it with your favorite song as a soundtrack.
  • Clean out your closet.
  • Start on Your Piece and complete the 100 Acorns project.
  • Watch back to back episodes of your favorite TV shows with some wine and friends.
  • Send a letter to someone far away.
  • Le Love.
  • Sing, even if you think you can’t.
  • Get your nails done, then buy a cute ring to match!
  • Follow a tutorial and create something.
  • Plan a short trip somewhere. Pack accordingly!
  • Print off beautiful pictures/pictures of beautiful things and stick them on your wall. We Heart It can help with that.
  • Get/make someone a gift just because.
  • Write an honest letter to your body.
  • Draw your favorite outfit.
  • How is your life wheel? Make one and assess what you need to change.
  • Dye/cut/curl/straighten your hair.
  • Start a challenge (e.g. 50 Books, 101 in 1001)
  • For mindless celeb gossip: Oh No They Didn’t
  • For inspiration: Hairspiration (but of course!), Foto_Decadent, Lace and Flora, Polariode, Pretty Books, Saucy Dwellings (!!!)
  • 100 Ideas from Kerismith.com