be cool. b flat.
Staff Features: A Glimpse of Grace
6 years ago
Outsiders: Perspective
It's all a matter of perspective, so I have heard. Here are some of my latest Outsiders:
Christoph Niemann shows art in leaves. Fall into his illustrations.
Christoph Niemann shows art in leaves. Fall into his illustrations.
I knew cats were evil. This is a great time-waster. Cats that look like Hitler! It's a Kitler!
Reality Shows: I Will Survive
I am fan of some Reality TV, probably more than most people. I freely admit it. I watch Project Runway, Top Chef, Amazing Race, Survivor, Big Brother, America's Next Top Model and Bachelor (guilty pleasures) etc. I got back into Survivor last season and got hooked on it again. This season delivered the best episode of the series this past week. Amy Kauffman put it the best for me, "I'm not sure if this week's episode of "Survivor" could have been any more fulfilling. Everything I've been waiting for finally came to fruition, and I couldn't stop grinning throughout the entire hour." Russell, as a player, has been playing this game better than even the original Survivor Richard Hatch. When he found the Immunity Idol for 3rd time without a clue - I seriously laughed out loud! The tie-breaker/blind side vote was great, but what was even better was watching the voted out contestants (Galu tribe members who were also blind-sided) laughing and commenting throughout the tribal council. It was great TV! I can't wait for Russell to pull out the idol again. I really hope he keeps is mouth shut long enough to truly upset the remaining Galu tribal members.
In other Reality TV news, we have winners for two other shows. One winner will continue to work and the other will go back home after her 15 seconds are over. I'm talking about Project Runway's winner Irina Shabayeva, aka Mean-A-Irina and America's Next Top Model's winner Nicole Fox respectively. I really wanted to see Carol Hannah win, but I will admit Irina delivered luxurious clothes each challenge. The Bryant Park show was okay, but it lacked the fierceness of Christian Siriano's season. ANTM bucked tradition this cycle in picking the semi-talented model over the storyline model. Typically, they pick someone who can in Tyra's mind push her own agenda onto the public. However, 5'7" Nicole beat out Laura Kirkpatrick, who had the Cinderella storyline going. She's a little country bumpkin who's grandmother makes all of her clothes and has dyslexia (in case you haven't heard) who was transformed by Tyra's fairy dust and now has the confidence to pose and deliver a horrible Cover Girl commercial, and smize from H2T. I think the only reason why I watch ANTM to see what else and who else they can offend by their challenges. I wish I could chat with Michael Slezak about these winners. If you are an American Idol or just Reality TV Show follower in general, his sarcastic commentaries are a must watch. I watched Idolatry for a while and now his new show Realite. Note: if you check them out - watch them in order. Next up: Top Chef, start placing your bets now.
Ride the Swell... this Season
The Swell Season (or as I call them - my best buds) have released another album called Strict Joy. Kris and I bought the Deluxe Edition, of course. They are so passionate about love and the journey that we all call "Life." Their songs will strike a chord with anyone. We have seen them in concert once together in Louisville, KY with his sister Sarah. Then, we were planning to see them for our 2nd anniversary last year, but Kris unexpectedly had to go on a business trip. So, my sister filled in for Kris and enjoyed the show at the Ryman. They were AMAZING! We actually met them after the show. They are very down-to-earth and generous with their fans. I shouldn't be surprised by how many people are discovering and recognizing their talents (they did win the Oscar in case you forgot for Once). I have been listening to them and The Frames, while driving back and forth to Jackson. Good times!
I am in awe of Glen's voice. He is the most emotional singer I have ever heard. I love his stories and humor. If your heart doesn't hurt when you hear him sing "This Low," then you aren't alive. Another song that gets me every time is "Say It To Me Now." Markéta Irglová's voice is very soothing and pure as well. When she takes the lead on "All the Way Down, she puts me in the most solemn and happy mood. Glen sings it well too. I love that even my American Idol Kris Allen sang "Falling Slowly" on Idol this past season bringing Swell Season to a whole new audience. (Sidenote: this is also my Kris' ringtone on my phone) I wanted to share some videos of my best buds, Glen and Markéta. Yeah, we are best buds since I met them in Nashville... Enjoy!The Swell Season holds a private performance in The Room Live. Special introduction by Matthew Perry.
HIMYM's Jason Segel crashes L.A. Swell Season concert, offers himself up for a date.
315-329-6673, call it if you need me...
"Low Rising" - Beautiful new video from The Swell Season
Man in the...Scan?
If you have a million dollars lying around (let's face it, who doesn't it), then I have the deal for you. You can be the proud owner of the Michael Jackson 3D Scan Data Avatar from 1996. I don't question the price because let's be real Michael himself would have bought it at that price, but what would you do with a 3D scan of the King of Pop. {daydream with me for a moment}
Hmm, I could use it on my upcoming Christmas cards, who wouldn't like to see the King of Pop's face while celebrating the King of Kings' birthday. I could have a wax figurine made, so I could throw the cops off me while driving in the HOV lane in Nashville. If stopped by the police, I would totally get out of a ticket because he's so life-like since the 3D was made from Michael in 1996. I could finally have a cool morph scene when I'm remaking The Secret World of Alex Mack. Can you imagine the all of the fun that could be had with a 3D Michael doll? I could put him in overalls and have a new My Buddy doll... "My Buddy, My Buddy... My Buddy and meeee!"I guess I will save my first million dollar purchase to buy something more reasonable, maybe a website domain. There just happens to be one for sale. I think it's a diamond in the rough.
Pattycake, Pattycake
I'm not a chef or even a cook for that matter. However, I do love to BAKE. Baking combines two of my favorite things: creativity AND sugar! I think I could rock a cake decorating class some day. I have so many cake ideas... but the thing about cake decorating is that you always end up with lots and lots of cake. We definitely do not need any extra cake lying around mocking me until I consume it all. So for now, I will have to observe cake from a distance. I window-shop websites and watch Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes, and Amazing Wedding Cakes to get my sugary fix.
The other day my mom made a red velvet cake for the Lambuth girls' basketball team. She let me frost the cake. Of course, I wanted to pipe something out. We started laughing about our techniques and then while spreading the frosting a cake divot popped up. Mom so graciously took over (not really, but she kept making me move over) to show me how a PRO does it. Then, vindication - she smoothed a section of the cake and it looked like the 4th of July. An explosion of RED crumbs everywhere. I guess we both will have to enroll into that decorating class. Here are some cool cake creations from Bakerella. I have been enjoying her blog for about a year now. I bet she knows how to spread cream cheese icing.
photo credit: bakerella
The Outsiders: Body Art
I'm no stranger to the Internets. I surf it all of the time and {if you listen to my parents} - way too much. I think I am quickly moving up Google's index food chain though. However, I still from time to time get surprised by what people put out there on the web. So, I'm going to start an occasional blog posting named "The Outsiders" devoted to all those souls who stepped outside of the proverbial acceptable box and followed the beat of a different drum. Here's to you crazy souls, who afford me a chuckle at your expense.
owltattoos.blogspot.com
For the ladies who love to get their nails did:
daily-nail.blogspot.com
Disclaimer: Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is not coincidental. I found you on the Internet and reserve the right to make a punch-line of your user content. If you don't like it, then don't publish it for the entire world to see.
Do you eat fish?
(click on photo to enlarge)
photo credit: eating the road
The Wanderer
I have been floating from one project to another these days, since being freed from my gilded cage... I mean my job. I have been working on my new business venture with my brother (more to come about that in the coming weeks). If someone asks me to help with something, my mind wanders in another direction while completing their project. My mom asked me to design our Pinson Family Christmas invitation (still haven't done it yet), BUT I did update my mom's blog header. She's asleep right now and doesn't even know it yet. Hope she likes it, oh well back to invitation.
I also side-tracked again and helped my cousin-in-law with her start-up company. I got to help with naming it and the logo. When I finish, I will post the logo on here. Her company will be a consignment fine furniture and home decor store. I named it "Then & Again" and it stuck.If you know my family at all, we can have one conversation and start a company. Whitney started hers last week. Colby and I formed ours a month ago. We come from a long line of entrepreneurs. One of my favorite family business ventures was my parents' disco club. Yes, you read correctly - a DISCO, a discotheque to be more accurate. It was called the "Nite Lite" and I can only imagine the decor it was rocking back then. My aunt and uncle also started a Pretzel store in the mall on a whim too. Since then, we have had lighting and furniture stores/companies, electronic and appliance stores, corrugated packaging company, mattress store, restaurants, jewelry stores, construction companies, real estate, etc. One thing can be said about my family, if there is a dollar to be made we don't waste time or ideas.
I can trace this back to my childhood. I had the rite of passage Lemonade stand. Who didn't? However, did you recycle your cups to increase your profits? Did you market your stand on two of the busiest corners of the neighborhood? Did you offer a free cookie to the consumer who spent $2 on a 8 oz cup of watered-down lemonade? I can honestly say I did all of these and took my money all the way to the piggy bank. I love business, in any format. During my childhood, I had a Friendship Bracelet business that home-delivered (that was the key!) Way before Slater, Jessie, and Kelly had Buddy Bands (see below if you lived under a rock in the 90's), I had franchised a Ramblewood neighborhood empire of selling various bracelet styles to all of the kids and indirectly to their parents. I deployed my siblings and their friends on bikes to deliver these precious gems. They had walkie-talkies to ensure prompt delivery and customer service. The key was to get kids to do all of the work. By all accounts they were ADHD, so in order to get them to help me with my deliveries one had to make it into a game. I called it the CHiPs Game. So, in essence, Colby was one of my Erik Estrada delivery boys. Everyone wins!
Well, I guess I will design the family invitation tomorrow or maybe...
If you can dodge a wrench...
Kris has been quite the busy bee. In addition to his two soccer teams, he joined another soccer team that plays during the week and he took up Dodgeball. Well, for the day. He joined a team for the NAAAP Dodgeball tournament. His team came in first. He played round after round even though he played a soccer game that morning! Here's a video someone posted on YouTube. He didn't make the video, but some of his teammates are in it. He is still sore from all the throwing. I never know what he is going to join next. Maybe kickball?
For Sale: Malibu Mansion
Admit it. You recognize this house, don't you? It is the Newport Beach mansion of Caleb Nichol, grandfather of Seth Cohen, who gave it to his new wife Julie Cooper, mother of Marisa Cooper, as a wedding gift. In reality, the spread is in Malibu, CA, but it still boasts an awesome ocean view. It is an expansive seven-bedroom, 10-bath pad overlooking Paradise Cove with 1.7 acres lushly landscaped grounds that is on the market for $6.9 million. Chump change!
Achy Breaky Back
Our blog is so neglected. I guess we both stopped sharing because all we were sharing was gloomy news. Well, today I have elected to see the brighter side of life. Okay, I'm not fooling anyone... but I have been more energetic and positive lately so maybe I'm coming back to life, as we know it. For those following at home: Jenny has endured countless surgeries, exploratory medical adventures, every mishap and complication you could throw at woman within the last 13 months. I'm done with it... well not really, but I'm on the downhill, I hope. Got a great report about the rods and screws. They are holding. This isn't my back, but it looks similar.
Through all of this, my wonderful husband and very loving family moved us to Mt. Juliet. Even though our address has been in Wilson County since April, I'm just now living here and exploring our new lands. We live in a new apartment complex within Providence. Yes, I ate tons of crow when we signed the papers. But, we weren't ready for a house commitment with all the medical adventures and uncertainty.
What we have learned since moving in:
1. We HATE (and I use this term in its fullest context) our upstairs neighbor. She is a recently divorced woman who takes out every emotion on her vacuum cleaner. Seriously, I'm not kidding. She will vacuum her apartment 3 times a day! Stop the insanity! Kris and I have to calmly talk each other down from marching up there and kicking her Hoover to the curb.
2. We (well, I) dislike apartment lighting and blinds. I took the blinds down as soon as I saw them. I know its against Section 89b, but puh-lease. Talk about tacky!
3. Water is black gold in Wilson County. Our water bill rivals the cable bill. I think I need to go into the water business here. I could make millions.
4. Though we enjoy having everything at our finger tips (i.e. Providence). We miss the idiosyncrasies of the Boro. There isn't any redlight cameras, one street having four different names, random festivals in the square, driving 30 mins to get across town... There isn't a Hastings, Slick Pig, Toot's, Demo's, All Souped Up... I think I'm hungry.
5. Swimming in a salt water pool can lead to poison ivy. That's all I'm going to say about that one.
Well, I promise to start blogging again. It may end up being quite therapeutic for me.
Artsie Fartsie
Surfing the web again and came across this random artist. Thought I would share his strange installations.
New Year, New Craving
This year has started out like every year in my recent years. I think of all the things I want to change and how I'm going to accomplish my new planned goals. Of course, there are the usual suspects on the "I'm-really-going-to-stick-with-it" list this year. The ever popular "balancing the checkbook, or just writing stuff down" to the "exercising more often, or just at all," but mainly I'm hoping to just stay on track. Last year, took so many twists and turns that Kris and I never knew which way would lead to the light at the end of the tunnel. We are looking forward to what 2009 will bring our way. In the spirit of New Year's Resolutions, I posted the Adieffe designed chocolate. I could eat any sweets this way. How much easier would my life be?
Who's Whoo Shoes
Recently, I bought these for Hayley Clagg's new addition, Connor. They are too cute! I guess I can't escape owls from all my Chi Omega years. I found them at Bugaloo. If you decide to buy something, please use the link above - I'm an affiliate for them. Hootie Hoo!
Bring on the Rain (and needles)
How to explain the last 8 months of our lives... more ups and downs than a play school seesaw. We were doing quite well the first few months of the year, then the proverbial snowball started rolling down the hill. So now, we find ourselves with a lot of life experiences that we really could have done with out. Emotions are all over the place. I get annoyed by the smallest things. Gotta love those extra hormones. My latest annoyance is the I-24 rush-hour drivers, particularly the ones who carpool and refuse to use the HOV lane. Seriously... that is what they created for! So move your clown car over to the far left lane and leave my lane alone. I also have recent disgust for those drivers who ride their brakes. I am 99.9% sure that they are the root cause for the parking lot (aka I-24W). However, today I have found a new and bigger annoyance - the jackhammer of a machine located across the street that is chiseling away at what I can only hope is 2 feet of bedrock. If there had been a gun near me, I wouldn’t had been able to restrain myself. Any who, there are a lot of positive things that have happened too...like Jenny overcoming her fear of needles. Let’s just say, I didn’t have a choice and every doctor/nurse/evil person I met wanted to stick me with a needle to accomplish some ambiguous goal that I’m still trying to figure out. We can also successfully check the “in sickness and in health” portion of our marriage vows. We both feel like 2009 is the year for us and we will be able to get back to normal... whatever that might be. It will be the year of fun and no needles, well a girl can dream!
“Bring on the Rain” by JoDee Messina with Tim McGraw has really put into words what I have been feeling all this year with everything. The song has empowered me during some of my darkest days.
"Bring on the Rain"
Another day has almost come and gone
Can’t imagine what else could wrong
Sometimes I’d like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war (cause)
Tomorrow’s another day
And I’m thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
It’s almost like the hard times circle round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated,
I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing - but I’m not dead
Tomorrow’s another day
And I’m thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
I’m not gonna let it get me down
I’m not gonna cry
And I’m not gonna lose any sleep tonight
Donna Martin Graduates
Candace graduated! All the family came up and celebrated. I'm so proud of her. She finished and can now move on to her next step of adulthood. Kris and I are finally going to Jackson this weekend. First time since Christmas. Classes start next week. I can't express my eagerness.Lots of troubling times have been and are upon friends and family members these past two weeks. Kris and I are holding everyone in our prayers.
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