Good grief.

This little diddy showed up in my email this morning as a promotion for UO to shop shop shop or whatever since there's only 9 days left till Christmas. Thought I'd feature it on the ol' bloggy because Seve and I bought this exact tree last night at Walgreens, where it was only $10, whereas UO sells it for like, what, $30? The "mini" version sells for $15. Anyway, yay for a full size Charlie Brown Christmas tree on the cheap!

Workin' like a dog

I recently judged an advertising competition on the BYU-Idaho campus. At first I was pretty nervous, and thought I'd be too nice and just Paula my way through the whole thing, but it turns out there's a little Simon in me after all.

Seeing how keyed up and nervous some of the students were got me thinking that there's some post-graduation myths I'd like to clear up, or at least relay my personal experience with.

Life is only going to get busier after I graduate.
Depends on what you're doing. The fact that homework is no longer an issue has opened up my schedule and I feel I have plenty of time for whatever I want after work. My job never comes home with me, it's strictly 8-5 p.m., M-F. The rest of my time is mine.

My inexperience will disqualify me.
Sometimes just stepping out from the crowd and making yourself known as a candidate is enough. We're looking for your enthusiasm to learn and work, not expecting you to already know the business by heart. So many students I've interviewed have been utterly stressed over their lack of real world experience. Relax, I'm impressed that you've made it this far.

Well gosh, I guess those are the only two I wanted to address. Maybe more later.

I'll just put this here:


Howlin' cyclist via Pat Perry.

Little List: Artsy Internet Crap Roundup

Enjoy: via, via, via, and via. And yeah, those are earrings. And that video came out 2 years ago, not 25. Happy Friday!!

Did you see the words?

These are only a handful of the bajillion shots we had taken a few months ago by Tiana Godfrey. Thanks Liz & Jacob for turning us on to her!

I liked it so I put a ring on it

Ya'll know I ain't crafty, but I did take Book Arts. My favorite was the envelope book (because it was the, er, easiest). For Panache Packages, I made this little diddy for Darcy.

I also gave her some magnet frames and a funky matchbox I got at an antique store. I regret not getting a photo of it; it was done up fancy like this.

Carrie drew my name, and sent me this journal of creative destruction! I don't have photos of her package to me because A) she gave me Reese's, which I promptly devoured, B) she gave me Hello Kitty stickers, which I put all over my bike (pictures later?) and C) she gave me nail polish, which I'll probably highlight in a future post where I discuss why nail polish has brought more meaning to my life, i.e. Why Glitter Matters. Or something like that. Thanks Carrie!

Little List: 10 Stupid Internet Pictures I Love

Most of them involving cats.

H-E-L-P

In the vein of artists I enjoy, here's my other love: Annie Clark of St. Vincent. Natasha and Annie speak such love to my heart; we three could start a little love nest and I'd be content the rest of my days.

Annie's music is quirky (LOVE) and all the more heightened by her multi-instrumental tunes, bringing in woodwinds and brass to accompany her talky-vocals and sometimes pretty, sometimes eat-your-face guitar. She composed the tracks from her recent album, Actor, by pretending they were the backing soundtrack to some of her favorite films, such as Bad Lands and The Wizard of Oz.

In fact, I'm quite convinced her song Marrow is about the Tin Man. The lyrics include references to being in a locked state, but being able to sense your muscle connected to bone, and your ire; and the request that "Honey, can you reach the spot that needs oiling and fixing?"

In the chorus she spells out the letters to "help me," which to me sounds like a frozen man barely whispering a plea through rusted lips, and after years and years, he's only able to mumble letters.

We walked arm in arm

Natasha Khan of Bat For Lashes is one of my favorite artists. Khan writes dark, romantic songs with a gothic quality, sans the Hot Topic variety. She sings about wizards, mystical horses, and knights--and I'm just waiting for a unicorn song to rear its beautiful head. When she performs on stage she really dresses the part, wearing the likes of Indian headdresses, wings, or antlers and projecting the image of a wolf howling at the moon behind her. I eat that stuff up.

I've written about my love for Bat For Lashes before, but I've got to ask, is anyone else a fan? Seems like I'm the only one among my circle of friends who even really listens to her.

My brother-in-law studying theatre at BYU had to watch this music video for a narrative/storytelling class:

i iz on yur twittaz

HAHA oh Mallory, I love you.

How to Tame Lions

 

Free free free tans tans tans

How could I not post this kitty today?

Especially when we have a Panache giveaway on our hands PEOPLE? And there's such a heartfelt entry about the store's beginnings - HOW COULD I NOT?

Robot Love Story

Seve and I liked this.

The Skinny

via Birdy & me. 

Panchae giveaway. Because skinny belts are hot.

Look Look!

Hipster Puppies is my new favorite tumblr! Pretentiousness was never so cute!

And youz gotta check out dis etsy!

hey hey some fun for Thursday

Potentially win a mani/pedi: here

And rock out on your keyboard: here

I'm getting a haircut today. Seve wants me to get the first one, and I want the second, but I worry that I won't be able to pull off such short bangs and will probably get the third one. What do you think? I need advice!

Meow

Ever see these stapled to a pole and wish you could redesign them?

These guys go around town and do just that. So cool.

Today is a good day.

Portable Purple People Eater

The name change isn’t going as well as I’d like. Given that I have a limited amount of time for lunch, my dashes to the Social Security office are fruitless against the long line pouring out of there. My calls are always greeted with a busy signal or being put on hold. I’ve been married for over a year but didn’t change my name right away due to passport vs. time issues prior to leaving for Russia. But I have hope that I’ll officially be an Isaacs soon.

I have hope for other things as well.

Don’t even think about it.

original image via.