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Just Voice and Mouth - Mike Tompkins

2010-12-03T18:57:00.001-05:00

This guy is awesome! He does the song 'Dynamite' with his voice - only. Amazing! Someone needs to sign this guy fast!

If you can't view the entire screen, see it here on YouTube

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Cartoon That Make You Cry

2010-11-02T16:50:00.002-04:00

I just read the PopWatch Confessional article about cartoons that make you cry. Sandra Gonzalez mentions the ‘An American Tail’ as her cheesy/sappy tear-filled cartoon pick. I have to admit, I always feel like a cornball when I cry at movies – especially cartoons. I mean, I understand crying at movie characters because they are actual people (albeit in a fictional story). I feel even worse crying at 'animated' characters, but I digress. Pixar and Disney have a way of ‘tugging at your heartstrings’. Here are a few animated features that got me weepy-eyed.

The Fox and the Hound – I cried at this when I was 8yrs old, and I've never had a desire to watch it again. I think it was quite traumatizing.
The Lion King – I always cry in the beginning, but I think it’s because I’m really moved by the “Circle of Life’ movie score. I'm a sucker for Hanz Zimmer.
Monster’s Inc. – The very end after Mike pieces together Boo’s door. When Sully enters, Boo says “kitty…”. (SOBS GALORE)
UP - This cartoon was not made for kids. It was sad right from the start. I think I cried in the first 10min.
The Land Before Time – No matter how many times you see it, this cartoon is sad. The entire thing too. Especially when all the dinosaurs hug-it-up with Sara to stay warm.

I’ve been warned about Toy Story 3, which I will receive via Netflix this week. That one may bump up to my number 1 spot.

Transformers 3 in DC

2010-10-29T12:22:00.008-04:00

Sorry this post is quite belated. In early October, Michael Bay and the Autobots descended upon Washington DC and Virginia to film the next installment of Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. Upon hearing that Shia LeBeouf was in town, I made sure to plan my trek to see the filming. I'm always in awe of movie production when it comes to DC. It's pretty fascinating so see all the trailers, lights, crew, etc.

On Columbus Day, we headed down to DAR Constitution Hall. I got a 'tip' that filming was going to be around that area in the morning. Sure enough, we spotted Shia LeBeouf filming what looked like a 'White House' scene for the film. I talked to a couple really nice guys on the production crew, and they stated that the Producers tried to get permission to film at the actual White House, and they were totally shot down. I can't blame them - Obama has better things to do that schmooze with Hollywood. In any case, we stayed for a little while, with the other small group of gawkers, and shot these pics. Thanks to Metromix DC, I submitted these photos for their site, and received some cash for my first amateur paparazzi gig. Pretty sweet. I could totally do this full time!

(P.S., Rest in piece to Autobot Bumblebee who was hit by an actual on-duty police car on Capital Hill that day. Although, I'm positive Mr. Bay has plenty of Camero's on hand for this sort of thing. I image he's blown up a couple Autobots already....)

What Kind of Geek Are You?

2010-10-24T21:36:00.005-04:00

This week, I found this nifty flowchart from Flowtown. The chart gives a great explanation of the 'evolution' of the term 'geek', and it details all the various types of 'geeks' there are. I must say, I encompass a few of these. I'm a part music/film/comic book/otaku/pop culture and design geek. I must say, I do not fully understand the Star Wars and Star Trek geeks out there, nor the Dungeons and Dragons geek - but who am I to judge. We're all just dorks in the end.

(click for larger image)

Moroccan Lentil Soup

2010-10-24T16:01:00.002-04:00

Once the weather starts to get colder, for some reason my body craves 'soup'. A hearty soup is the best on a cold, rainy day. One of my favorites is the lentil soup noted below. I originally copied this recipe from 'AllRecipes.com', but I modified it a bit. And istead of doing this soup on the stovetop, I use my trusty crock pot. Enjoy! This is definitely a staple in our house during the fall/winter.

1 chopped onion
Beef cubes
Salt (to taste) – just a pinch
Paprika – use judgement
Cinnamon – just a pinch
Nutmeg – just a pinch
Red Pepper flakes – just a pinch
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon ginger
4 cups beef broth (Swanson – low sodium)
2 cups water
1 cup red lentils (or brown)
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained (these are also chickpeas)
1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans (or white kidney beans)
1 (14.5) can diced tomatoes (drain some of the juice)
½ cup diced carrots (about 15 baby carrots)
½ cup chopped celery (about 4 stalks)
1 teaspoon garam masala
1½ teaspoons ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (not necessary if we don’t have any though)
½ teaspoon ground cumin

Directions:
Put all ingredients in Crock Pot. Simmer for 6-8 hours on low.

Ovarian Health Seminar at Sibley Memorial Hospital

2010-09-30T15:31:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a free informative seminar are Sibley Hospital titled: Ovarian Health: Knowledge Is Power. As many of you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Around this time of year, I often see many women sporting pink ribbons in honor of this month. But, how often have you seen an individual wearing a ‘teal’ colored ribbon? Probably not often.

Not to demoralize or minimize the severity of breast cancer, but I sometimes feel that ovarian cancer doesn’t quite get the recognition it should. It’s one of the most deadly forms of cancer that affect women, and often when it’s diagnosed, most women are in stages 3 or 4. I know first hand how scary this form of cancer can be, as a close family member of mine was treated for this very disease. I truly appreciate the doctors who took time out of their busy schedules to inform us, the public, about this deadly form of cancer. The doctors that spoke on this issue are four of the most outstanding leading medical professionals in the field Gynecologic Oncology. And I know that two in particular specialize in ‘bloodless’ surgery – which in and of itself has a host of health benefits whether you have cancer or not.

While there’s no way I can relay all the information discussed in this seminar, I would like to summarize some of the notes that I took. I was quite shocked that I was one of three women between the ages of 20-30 to attend this seminar. The other audience members were mostly comprised of middle aged to elderly men and women. More women need to educate themselves about ovarian cancer, as it truly is a ‘silent malignancy’. There are rarely any glaring symptoms, as some symptoms are often mistaken for gastric problems. I think you will find the points below very interesting. If you suspect that there could be any problem at all, you should definitely follow up with a doctor. I personally think prevention for any disease can start with regular check-ups – especially if you notice something out of the ordinary.

Wednesday September 29, 2010
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Program MC: Frederick R. Smith, MD, Medical Oncologist
Click here for seminar description

Ovarian Cancer is often found after it has spread to other organs

Risk Factors include: Family history, BRCA 1 + 2 mutation, age; and women who have not had children, and women who have had other cancers increase the risk.

Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher risk of carrying the BRCA mutation

Factors that decrease the risk of Ovarian cancer: Having been on birth control for 4+ years and removal of ovaries (though not 100% effective)

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal form of cancer, and the symptoms are often very vague.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer: excessive bloating, abdominal distention, pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, feeling ‘full’ quickly, gas/nausea/indigestion, tiredness and fatigue.

Ovarian Cancer is typically diagnosed by: a pelvic exam, a rectal exam, abdominal exam, tests-such as a pelvic ultrasound, CA125 (although there can be false negatives and false positives), and a CT scan.

Ovarian cancer is rarely found in stage 1, and because of this, there is not much data available for stage 1 patients.

Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

2010-09-29T13:46:00.003-04:00

This review is belated. In fact, the Chuck Close exhibit at the Corcoran is now closed – so I hope you were one of the fortunate ones to view the gallery before its closure on September 26th. I had the pleasure of attending this gallery show in the middle of the summer, a day shy of hearing Chuck Close’s formal lecture.

I must admit, before touring this show, I only thought of Chuck Close as the ‘big portrait’ artist. He’s so much more than that. Chuck Close is not only a portraitist, he’s a printmaker, a photographer, a painter, colorist, master of grid-structure, and even a paper-maker. Working in large scale medium is a challenge for any artist, but Chuck Close created phenomenal pieces with ease. He devised calculated methods to piece-together his large scale creations. His work is often viewed from afar because of the scale – but the real technique is seen when you view his pieces up close. One such piece (photo below) was so fascinating to me. In this piece, Chuck used layered pieces of color paper in grey scale to create a portrait with the depth and three-dimensional appeal of an actual painting. I must admit I started at this one for about 20minutes.

Hopefully this is a traveling show, and will hit a few other cities. It’s a real treat to view Chuck Close’s pieces in person. And it’s so rare to be able to view the magnificent work of an artist who is still alive to ‘tell the tale’.

close up

actual portrait

Food Review: DC Lobster Truck

2010-09-27T22:52:00.002-04:00

On Friday September 24th (quite possibly the hottest fall day DC has ever had), I ventured out for lunch around 2pm. Much to my surprise, I spotted the coveted DC Lobster truck across Farragut Park! I finally had my chance to score a juicy, tender lobster roll - the very food I've been hearing about all over town for the last 3 months. If you're an avid Twitter-head, you'll know that many Washingtonians stalk this lobster truck all around town. They're pretty easy to find, but once you do, you have to sometimes wait in an hour long line to score a lobster roll or shrimp roll.

It was my lucky day, because not only did I spot the truck, but the line was only 10 people deep. It only took about 15min to score my lobster roll, Cape Cod chips and Iced Tea ($17 with my $1 discount).

I will tell you now, the lobster rolls LIVE UP TO THE HYPE! The lobster meat was sweet and fresh, with hardly any filler. I think the mix only had a bit of mayo, celery, and Old-Bay. For $15, at first, I thought the roll looked a bit small. But the size will deceive you, because the roll is very filling. I was totally satisfied after lunch, and was happy licking my fingers on my way back to the office.

Famous DC Foodie Tom Seitsema also favors this little truck, and we all know Tom is always right when it comes to DC eats.

Follow the Red Hook Lobster Truck on Twitter!

Virgin Mobile Free Festival 2010

2010-09-26T20:07:00.004-04:00

Thanks to a contest sponsored by the Maryland Department of Tourism and the 9:30 Club, I had the privilege of winning 2 VIP tickets to Saturday's Virgin Mobile Free Fest. The package included VIP treatment in the Pavilion and West Stage, some free 'swag', and a Backstage Tour. We had a blast as this was my first time at the Festival. Since I didn't attend the first one a couple years ago at the racetrack, I've not been able to score pre-sale tickets (and regular tickets sell out rapidly).

This is the best venue to 'people watch', although any festival or event that is FREE will bring out the craziest of people. While all the bands were awesome, I enjoyed my backstage tour, and my meet-up with Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation (my favorite band by the way). He was super nice, and I got a chance to take a couple photos, and chat with him a bit.

Another highlight was getting in the front near the stage during the Thievery and Ludacris show. Both were phenomenal. I will hold my tongue on what I thought of MIA (hey, it's FREE!). I was sad to miss LCD Soundsystem, but I heard they killed it during their closing performance.

All in all, I hope I can score tickets next year. Thanks again to MD Dept of Tourism and 9:30 Club. You made my week! Below are a few photos I snapped of the festivities.

DC Turkish Festival

2010-09-16T19:05:00.003-04:00

(Click image to enlarge text details)

http://www.turkishfestival.org/

Denzel Washington & Ashanti in DC

2010-09-15T21:57:00.004-04:00

Denzel Washington and Ashanti were in DC this week, speaking at the National Press club in behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of America. Imagine how excited I was to catch them leaving the Press building today around 1pm. There were only about 10 people standing around, which meant I was able to get quite close to both celebs. Let me tell you, Ashanti and Denzel are both gorgeous on screen - but they are both even more attractive in person. Ashanti looked lovely in her black studded pumps and pink iPhone. And Denzel was equally as attractive in a dapper suit and pastel color tie.

I'm hoping the next photos I snap will be of the Transformers 3 set!
On a side note, apparently Wilmer Valderama is in town for something as well this week. (Click photos for a larger view)

Spielberg & Lucas Team up for Art in DC

2010-09-11T17:25:00.001-04:00

This is a must see gallery event.

American Art Museum

Indie Music

2010-09-08T19:37:00.003-04:00

As you know by now, (500) Days of Summer quickly became one of my favorite films. I love the movie, and better still, I adore the soundtrack as well. I have one friend who’s the ‘king’ of discovering indie tracks. I have no idea how he finds his music, but he always has awesome compilations. Here’s a few artists he’s turned me on to recently. If you’ve downloaded Pandora on your iPhone, try creating a ‘Florence + the Machines’ station, and most of the artists will queue. Here’s my recommended list:

1. Florence + the Machine – “Cosmic Love” (Lungs)

2. Phoenix – “If I Ever Feel Better” (United)

3. The Temper Trap – “Sweet Disposition” (Conditions)

4. Lykke Li – “A Little Bit” (Youth Novels)

5. Donora – “I Think I Like You” (Donora)

6. Anything by Sia, Regina Spektor, or Cat Power

San Diego Comic-Con 2011

2010-09-07T23:32:00.005-04:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged since July! It's been a busy summer. Well, I have some great posts for you coming up this month. Most notably, Transfomers 3 is still scheduled to film in our Nation's Capital at the end of the month. (Shia sightings!)

I also found out some other very important news. Tickets for San Diego Comic-Con 2011 will be going on sale on Monday November 1st! Be sure to mark your calendars! These tickets sell out fast - like, within 10-15 minutes.

Donovan McNabb at Borders Bookstore DC

2010-07-27T21:04:00.004-04:00

Today, DC (and Redskins) newbie Donovan McNabb, stopped by Borders bookstore for a book signing. I must admit, I'm not an avid football fan, but it was still pretty cool to meet Donovan, and get my book signed. I snapped a few photos of the 'feeding' frenzy. It was pure chaos on the Borders lower level. There were at least two fans that tried their best to get Donovan to sign jerseys, but to no avail. I was sort of bummed he didn't do any fan photos, but it was cool to see all the media outlets clamoring for an interview. One lucky fan (the only one in the Eagles jersey) seem psyched to have been approached by at least 3 media personnel for an interview. He was probably the only person that really deserved to have gotten a photo with the football star! Poor guy.

Independent Film Recommendations

2010-07-02T20:34:00.006-04:00

As you know, I have a deep appreciation for indie films, especially documentaries with very poignant and distinct messages. Here are 3 that are on my list to view this year. At least two of these were featured at the Tribeca Film Festival….another reason why I plan on attending next year.

Trailers for all three films can be viewed at Apple Trailers. Take a look!

The Lottery
The documentary follows four families from Harlem and the Bronx in the months leading up to the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful charter schools in New York City. The film explores the debate surrounding the education reform movement. Politicians and educators are interviewed about the crisis and how they believe it can be fixed. The film highlights the opposition from the teachers' unions to charter schools (as they are usually not unionized), and the contest between charter and public schools for building space
(Synopsis from wikipedia)

Beautiful Islands
The documentary movie looks at three beautiful islands, shaken by climate change - Tuvalu in the South Pacific, Venice in Italy and Shishmaref in Alaska. They have different climates and cultures but the people all love their islands. The filming, which took three years, focused on their lives, including festivals and traditional crafts. When the people lose their homelands, their cultures and histories face death. By being close to them, we can feel the present state of the earth. The movie has no narration. It is a voyage around the world, listening to the sounds of waters and winds.
(Synopsis from IMDB)

Entre Nos
A film, based on a true story, which offers a fresh take on the issue of new immigrants in the United States. Mariana totes her two children from Colombia to reunite with her husband in Queens, New York. Her life is devastatingly turned around when her husband abandons the family. The woman and her kids have to fend for themselves in a foreign country. Mariana desperately searches for work. In the end, she resourcefully navigates a surprising avenue for making some money, the city's recycling.
(Synopsis from IMDB)

DC Restaurant Review: Rice Bar

2010-06-22T14:27:00.001-04:00

This wonderfully chic Korean spot on 1020 19th St NW (between K St and L St) has quickly become my new favorite lunch locale. It’s located in the spot that was formerly known as ‘Chopsticks’. The food at Rice Bar is not only affordable, but absolutely delicious! I’m a big fan of ethnic food, and in a city that prides itself on international fare, I find that good Korean food is sorely lacking at times. DC is fortunate to have RiceBar, and I’m hoping it quickly becomes a staple around here (hopefully rounding out the overpopulation of Devon and Blakely deli’s that have been popping up everywhere).

The staff here is incredibly helpful and friendly, which is excellent because all ethnic food can be quite intimidating to a international culinary novice. Upon my first visit, the lovely Korean gentleman behind the counter walked me through all the combinations available for my ‘Bibimbap’ (this is a bowl of rice topped with a variety of cooked seasonal veggies, meat and sauce). He explained everything in detail, and told me which flavors would compliment one another.

I designed my own Bibimbap with white rice, egg plant, bamboo shoots, kimchi, asparagus, zucchini, spicy chicken, and ‘gochujang’ (red pepper sauce). Not only was this bowl incredibly healthy, but every item was fresh, vibrant and full of flavor. The kimchi had just the right touch of spice, and the spicy chicken was a nice compliment. Also, if nothing else, my bowl was full of color! In fact, ‘bibimbap’ blends together five colors in its dish – yellow, green, red, white and black. This is a tradition in most Korean dishes, and a tradition in which RiceBar takes seriously.

I plan on going back this week to try to the ‘donburi’ and sushi. This is a wonderful spot for locals and tourists. As I always say, skip the typical street fare (Potbelly’s, Corner Bakery, etc.), and try something authentic and exciting. RiceBar will not disappoint. Fresh teas and noodle boxes are also available. And, did I mention the décor was stylish, and the dining area was immaculately clean? The world music playing in the background was also a nice touch.

D.C. Invading Your T.V.

2010-06-15T16:26:00.003-04:00

Don't forget to set your DVRs for the new shows recently taped in our fair city.

We have become quite popular haven't we??

Top Chef DC

Premieres June 16 at 9pm on Bravo

Cupcake Sisters (based on the ladies of Georgetown Cupcake)

Premieres July 16 on TLC

Real Housewives of DC

Premieres August 5 at 9pm on Bravo

Transformers 3 to Film in D.C.

2010-06-07T12:35:00.003-04:00

Attention all DC natives - yet another epic movie will be filming in the DC area this fall (as reported by DCist and WashingtonPost). The word is Michael Bay is looking to film parts of Transformers 3 in the national's capital. I'll keep you all posted as I hear about scouting locations or calls for film extras or production crew assistance.

You better believe I will try to spot some of the filming. It was pretty exciting seeing a couple scenes of Salt being filmed at the Navy Archives last year.

Viva Las Vegas!

2010-06-03T12:58:00.005-04:00

This past weekend, I had my much anticipated vacation to Vegas with my girls. I so needed this vacation. .Things have been hectic, and I feel as if I have no free time. It was nice to just do whatever I wanted for a weekend…including sleeping until 2pm!

Since we packed so much into this trip, there’s no way I can give a synopsis of the entire vacation. So, because I love top 10 lists so much – here are the top 10 experiences I had in Vegas.

Vegas is expensive! I knew it would be pricy – but at times, I felt as if I were being robbed. We didn’t gamble, so I can’t imagine how expensive Vegas is for gamblers. The food is pricy, mostly because the cheapest place to eat is the odd dodgy buffet or Denny’s. We never found a Wendy’s, Taco Bell, etc (not that we really eat that kind of food). Also, you can’t hail a cab from the street, you can only get them at the hotels. So, you have to tip the doorman for hailing you a cab, then you have to pay and tip the cabby! *sheesh*

The Stratosphere is a tourist trap. If you ever go to Vegas, skip the Stratosphere (hotel, restaurant, and rides) all together. The hotel is super old, and wreaks of whiskey, cigs, and body odor. Strange enough, we saw tons of families there – babies and all. The ‘Top of the World’ restaurant food was subpar, and I actually felt a little nauseous from the revolving restaurant floor. What’s worse is you can vaguely see the roller coaster ride above you and bungie jumpers flying off the side of the building. Super tacky – skip it!

The Palms. Next to the Venetian, Encore, and the Aria – this is definitely the place to be. While we were there, Vegas was holding the “Love Festival” which is a 4 day fest full of DJs ‘spinning’ all over the city. The music was constantly pumping through this hotel. It was kind of fun spotting Pauly D from MTV’s Jersey Shore. The only con to the Palms is, it’s a bit away from the Strip – so you must take a taxi. No walking to this venue. If you really want to spot celebs, book a reservation at N9NE steakhouse.

Alize Restuant atop the Palms. This French restaurant had the best food that I’ve ever tasted in my life – hands down! We were a party of four, but it felt as if every waiter catered to our table. They were so attentive, and it also helped that our waiter was French as well. I had the French onion soup, and the roasted chicken (which was super moist and tender). My friend got the salmon (which was topped with black truffles!). And I finally got to try an ‘amuse bouche’ (term which I happily learned from Top Chef).

The Bellagio. This is where we stayed, and it’s definitely high class all the way – starting with the lovely ceiling glass sculpture, and vast marble foyer. We booked two deluxe rooms for the 4 of us – but we all could have really stayed in one room. The bathrooms were huge, and of course – marble from floor to ceiling. My friends booked a room overlooking the Bellagio fountain. And here’s a tip – the Bellagio fountain show is spectacular from the street, but it’s even more breathtaking from the upper rooms. If you’re going to Vegas solely to party, this may not be the hotel for you. It can appear quite stuffy and a bit formal. But it was nice to feel like I was in a scene from Ocean’s Eleven for the weekend. And sitting by one of the eight calming swimming pools was so relaxing after a night out.

Caesar’s Palace. Caesar’s is next to the Bellagio – but it’s nothing like it’s next door neighbor. In fact, Caesar’s is the complete opposite of stuffy and formal. This is one of the party hotels, and you get that vibe just walking through the casino and hallways. Lots of young people here, and not a ‘family’ or ‘baby stroller’ in sight. This hotel may be just as grand as the Bellagio, with it’s lovely fountains, shops, marble, and gardens. Pop over to Serendipity’s 3 right outside Caesar’s for a fabulous ice cream sundae.

The Strip. I had this idea that as soon as I got to Vegas, I would be instantly bombarded by advertisements of peep shows, and debauchery around every corner. Oddly enough, Vegas can be somewhat tame. You almost have to go out of your way to find that kind of stuff. The Strip is actually quite beautiful – especially when lit up at night. There’s tons to do for the ‘innocent’ – like comedy shows, Cirque du Soleil, live concerts, etc. There’s always something to see. The Strip itself is sensory overload for newbies. Definitely make time to just stroll the street (and bring comfy walking shoes).

Cirque du Soleil “O”. This show isn’t overrated. It’s spectacular! A little on the odd side in parts (hey, it’s French! lol), but quite riveting. You won’t be able to take your eyes of the pool/stage/platform. It was such awesome choreography, seeing how the pool was integrated in every scene with the acrobats and divers. My favorite part (besides the fire handlers) was the 3 diving ‘swing’ platforms. “O” tickets are well worth the price tag. And remember, the front rows are ‘wet’ seats – which means you will need a poncho. In my opinion, front/center in the Orchestra section was a perfect view. And far enough away from the French clowns that ran through the audience.

Fashion Show Mall. This mall has many of the same stores you’re probably used to (Nemians, Macy’s, Saks, etc) – but they are all on steroids! The stores are twice as big, and the clothes twice as glamorous. And, the mall sports quite a long runway for it’s periodic runway shows. Another bonus, here you can get reasonably priced food. We saw a Johnny Rockets and California Pizza Kitchen here.

The People. Everyone is glamorous – or at least, they think they are. You can wear just about anything. And for those who are normal enough not to expose all their ‘goodies’, it’s fun to people watch. There are some strange characters in this town. And every now and again, if you look closely, you will spot a DJ, a celeb, a sports personality, etc. If nothing else, stake your spot in a high-traffic area and just stare people down. It’ll be the highlight of your day (or night). Trust me.

One of Bellagio's Outdoor Pools

Georgia O'Keefe at the Phillips Collection

2010-04-13T15:51:00.006-04:00

On this rainy, wet day in DC, I decided to head over to the Phillips Gallery (on 21st and Q street) to check out the Georgia O’Keefe exhibit. I’ve always felt as if the Phillips was one of the most underrated art galleries in DC. In all actuality, this gallery hosts a wealth of famous paintings in their permanent collection, and their ‘traveling’ exhibitions are always spectacular. ‘Georgia O’keefe’s Abstracts” is a must see for all art enthusiasts.

Some of her famous pieces can be spotted there – like Jack-in-the Pulpit No.IV, and Pattern of Leaves. Seeing photos of Jack-in-the-Pulpit really doesn’t do it justice. Georgia O’Keefe’s use of color is unmatched. I’ve always appreciated her seamless use of bold, vibrant colors. I was also quite surprised by a host of paintings I had never seen from the artist, including ‘White Sweet Peas” and “Yellow Sweet Peas” (see photo below).

After viewing the Georgia O’keefe exhibit, I decided to tour the rest of the gallery, as I hadn’t been there since college (for the Honore Daumier exhibit). The Phillips Collection’s building is really quite charming. The older half of the gallery is actually a renovated mansion. Much of the architectural integrity has been preserved. Who knew the quaint row homes in Dupont Circle occupied so much square-footage!

When tourist head to the Phillips Collection, they usually make a b-line to Renoir’s famous ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’. While this painting is amazing to see in person, there were a couple additional works that caught my eye. First was Manet’s “Spanish Ballet”. The details on the ballerina’s stockings was incredible. I’m also now a fan of an artist I never heard of before – Raoul Dufy. While his paintings are quite crude and rough in technique, I do enjoy his composition and color.

I must say it was so creatively refreshing to tour the Phillips Collection again. I’ll have to make the trek up to Dupont Circle more often (for art, and not cupcakes – darn you Red Velvet!).

(Yellow sweet peas)

(Gallery Interior)

The Haiti Poster Project

2010-03-25T12:41:00.002-04:00

The Haiti Poster Project is a collaboration of designers and artists around the world - all band together in one effort: To raise money for the relief work in Haiti. All posters are limited editions, and signed by each individual artist. The money raised in the sell of these posters will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

Check out the site and support the art/design community!

All of the artwork is phenomenal and very inspiring. Below are two of my favorites. The second piece is by artist/illustrator/designer/mom and fellow blogger, Nicole Block. More of her work can be found on her blog: http://nicevents.blogspot.com/

Top Chef Season 7: Filming in DC

2010-03-17T12:01:00.002-04:00

I can’t cook – but I love cooking shows. I adore Top Chef and have been addicted for a couple seasons now. I was so happy to see local chefs on the show. Now my dream has come true – Top Chef will be filing season 7 here in DC! Wahoo!

Word is they will be doing a lot of filming in Dupont Circle. I have my sources. Will see if I can get some production shots for you guys – or maybe a pic of Padma. Stay tuned! (Pls excuse the little cheesy graphic I made below? hehe)

Paper-cuts by Joe

2010-03-17T11:38:00.002-04:00

I initially found this artist on one of my favorite blogs, Oh So Beautiful Paper.

I’m in awe of artist Joe Bagley. Take a look at a couple of his pieces below. He cuts all of his silhouettes by hand! I think I’m going to have to buy some of his pieces from his etsy shop. His work is stunning! I’m really loving the pirate ship.

I love it when an artist finds his/her niche in the art world. Joe's work is truly one of a kind.

Have you been to D.C. Lately?

2010-03-16T10:53:00.003-04:00

I know I’ve been neglectful. I blame my recent addiction to twitter. I swear iPhone needs to have a Blogger app so I can blog on the go.

I’ve been quite busy lately. I bought my ticket to Baltimore’s First designer conference, and I’m super excited to attend the lectures. I’ll be sure to post about it. There's still more tickets available!

I also recently had my friends Michi and Marocs visit from California. We did a mini tour of DC. Every time we have visitors, I realize how much there really is to do in this city. A tourist needs at least 2 weeks to see everything down here. I'm always amused at how tourist are in 'awe' of the White House and the Capital. I guess I'm jaded because I work in DC and see those things everyday.

If you're in DC for only a couple days, here’s my top 10 places that I think all tourist need to see:

Capital (Especially at night)
National Gallery of Art (One of the best collections of Jan Vermeer and DaVinci)
Air and Space (cause' who doesn't like airplanes!)
The Supreme Court (you can actually sit in on court cases)
Museum of Crime and Punishment
U.S. History museum
Lincoln Memorial (or as tourist like to call it, ‘The Forrest Gump place”)
White House (Tip: Be sure to walk to the back of the White House on I-Street. You can get closer and get better photos. Less crowding. The front is usually blocked off and incredibly packed with visitors.)
The Monument (Going to the top is overrated. No need to stand in line at 6am for tickets, just view from afar).
Library of Congress (it's beautiful inside, and they have the Gutenberg Bible.

DC is about to start celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival. I can’t wait! The best part about the festival – all the free anime screenings!

A Day in the Life…Baltimore’s FIRST Design Conference

2010-03-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

Baltimore is hosting it’s first design conference on Saturday April 24th. The conference will be held at MICA’s campus, and early bird tickets are now on sale.

(Click here for more information)

Come out and make history by supporting your local design community. There are some great speakers and conference workshops as well. I’m looking forward to the sessions lead by Ellen Lupton, head of the Graduate program at MICA. Truthfully, she would be the only reason why I would attended MICA for graduate school.

If you’re attending. Let me know. Maybe we can meet up and network! It’s always nice to chat with other fellow designers.

No more contacts

2010-02-03T10:32:00.001-05:00

I’ve had it! I’m so over contacts. They’re just not comfortable, and my doctors can’t seem to get the right prescription for my left eye. They dry out, and then become blurry after 5hrs of wear. Ugh.

I only wore contacts on special occasions or when I wanted to wear sunglasses. I’ve wised up now by purchasing some prescription sunglasses. I don’t’ know why I didn’t think of this sooner!

After much research, it seems Maui Jim’s are the best quality sunglasses. They have a few cute pairs, and are pretty reasonable too (esp with insurance). Now I don’t have worry about getting sand in my contacts at the beach.

I guess my next step would be Lasik, but that whole process freaks me out. For someone who wears glasses, I’m really ‘squeamish’ about eyeball stuff.

Viva Las Vegas

2010-02-02T10:16:00.002-05:00

I know, I know. I’ve been slacking. As always, there’s so much going on. Lots of which I can’t discuss online. One thing I can talk about is my impending trip to VEGAS! Late this spring, a few friends and I are headed to the strip - but everything will obviously be G/PG rated. No gambling, no naughty stuff . Most of my friends and I are either turning 30, or are getting married this year – so we figured we would celebrate one last time before we’re officially out of the 20s. Plus, I’ve always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil’s “O”.

In preparation for this trip, I’m going to do what I do best – shopping! I have to admit, I’ve gone quite nuts at Zappos.com and Nordstrom.com lately. Below are a few items I purchased. Are they Vegas party worthy? The pair of Cole Haan’s that I purchased have ‘Nike Air’ technology.

I’m also eyeing up this lovely dress by Nanette Lepore. Once its discounted from $398.00 to a more reasonable (recession worthy) price, I’ll jump on it.

New Apple iPad Tablet: Drool....

2010-01-27T16:05:00.005-05:00

Have you seen the new release from Apple? If not, check out the specs here at Wired Magazine. Just when you think Apple can't possibliy come up with anything cooler than the iPhone - they create basically a bigger version of the iPhone! lol. I can't wait to get to the Apple store to check this thing out.

Making Sense of Smell

2010-01-06T10:06:00.002-05:00

I’ve been banned from shopping for clothes. Truthfully, I really have all that I need for fall/winter. But I do have a new obsession: perfume!

As a child, I have very fond memories of my mom’s extremely large perfume collection (of which, we were not allowed to touch). It seemed like if a scent smelled lovely in the bottle, it would smell twice as nice on her skin. My sister must have a similar skin pH, because all perfume smells great on her as well. I on the other hand, am another story.

Perfume always smelled awful on me growing up – it was either too strong, or smelled too much like alcohol. When I got to high school, I figured I should smell like something other than ‘Ivory soap’, so I purchased a bottle of perfume from Banana Republic. I wore it almost everyday. I figured it smelled ‘ok’, even though it reminded me of tree bark, pine, and cedar. I found out later it was a cologne for men. Oops. In college, someone game me a bottle of Vera Wang perfume. It smelled great in the bottle, but it was a little too old for me. It reminded me of a 40-something divorcee.

After much trial and error, I finally found a few ‘Eau de Parfum’ that smell great on me (and I’m sure on many other women as well). I think these perfumes are pretty universal, but not as mainstream as “Nautica”, “Calvin Klein”, or “Giorgio Armani”. Next time you’re in the store, why not try them out.

Carol’s Daughter – Almond Cookie
I first remember seeing this scent featured on Oprah a couple years ago. Lisa Price initially created her line from her home kitchen. This scent is very warm, slightly sweet, and soothing. The price is right as well – only $27 at Sephora.com

Juicy Couture – Viva La Juicy
This fragrance is the epitome of “girlie”. Very alluring, and somewhat sweet, with hints of gardenia, wild berries, honeysuckle and vanilla. I think this one smells worlds better than the original Juicy fragrance, or the new Couture line.

Stella McCartney – Rose Absolute
This scent can be summed up in one word: heavenly. It smells like fresh cut roses. Very light and feminine. I always get compliments about this one.

Clean – Ultimate or Shower Fresh
Clean does not create traditionally ‘floral’ scents. The entire collection smells like wonderful, handmade French soap or clean laundry. Great fragrance to put on after stepping out of the shower. Very clean, very fresh.

Annick Goutal – Petit Cherie
Annick Goutal fragrances definitely are not mainstream, or well known. I found this scent in Paris while looking for an authentic French perfume for my mom. This scent is truly French, and has only been sold in select US stores in the last 5yrs. Some Annick Goutal fragrances are hard to find, but when you do, they are well worth the price. This sensual fragrance should only be worn at special occasions – in my opinion. By far, this is my favorite maker, and fragrance line.

(click photo to enlarge)

Aloha Cuz (Cousin)!

2009-12-18T17:41:00.007-05:00

I just returned from a fun (and sun) filed week in Hawaii! I was so stressed out before heading on vacation, so you can imagine the calm that came over me when we landed in sunny, warm, and colorful Oahu. I felt the tension release from my neck almost immediately.

This was our 3rd trip to Hawaii, but I must say, I never get bored of this place. I could seriously live there. This time around was less hustle and bustle, and more relaxation. Part of that relaxation consisted of me gaining about 5lbs from all the wonderful Polynesian/Japanese food, maitais, beer, sushi, noodles, and steak. Mmm. It was sunny and 80 degrees every single day in Waikiki, and we never tired of hitting the beach.

Here’s a few highlights from our trip – with photos (and commentary of course).

1. The “Eddie”
Normal Decembers in North Shore, Oahu, HI means big waves and surf competitions. But this December meant, the 25th Anniversary of the Eddie Aikau! Even though it was the 25th Anniversary, the actual competition has only been held 8 times. That’s because, the waves in Waimea Bay have to reach about 30 – 50 feet. And boy did they! The waves were huge, and we only made it to the pre-competition heat! Those surfers had some “cajones” to paddle out and brave the life-threatening surf. It definitely was a treat to see, and very exciting to watch. The crowds were packed tight all along the road, and the traffic was backed up for miles. I can only imagine how crowded it was the very next day for the actual official competition.

(Photo taken about quarter mile from Waimea bay)
(see more info and better photos here: MSNBC)

2. The Food
You can find just about every type of food in Waikiki – but most prominent – Japanese! Our favorite spot is a great little authentic Japanese Noodle House on the main ‘drag’ with all the upscale shops. The noodles are cooked properly, the broth is superb, and the dumplings are always fresh. We thought about taking some noodle soup home with us, but the TSA has those pesky rules about ‘no liquids on the plane’…

3. Spotting a celeb at Denny’s
While enjoying our pancakes at Denny’s, much to our surprise, an actor came into the small breakfast joint. All four of us recognized him, but could not place his face in a movie. We checked our iPhones but couldn’t figure it out. I really wanted to approach him (the wannabe paparazzi inside me did), but you can’t go up to an actor and say ‘I don’t know what you’re in, or what your name is – but I know your face! Can I take a photo?”’. We hovered around a bit to see if someone could jog our memory – but to no avail. We went back to the room and tried to research. Zero hits. Then about 5hrs later, it dawned on it – the actor was Kevin Durand. He played ‘The Blog/Fred Dukes” in the Wolverine Origins movie. I WAS SO MAD AT MYSELF! He was about as close as I could get to Halle Berry, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman! Unlike most actors, he wasn’t tiny – he was huge (at least 6’1”) with gigantic biceps.

4. Surfing
I’m not athletic. Everyone knows this. I have no coordination. I hate the gym. So no wonder all my friends were shocked to find out I took a surf lesson. Not only did I take a lesson – I caught two waves, and got a surfboard rash (my battle scar). Surfing is surprisingly easy. Standing on the board isn’t so bad – I was surprised at how much traction I had. The tough part is paddling out to the wave area (my arms were killing me!), and paddling to catch the wave. I felt so proud of myself as I rode the wave until it died out near the shore. I have a newfound respect for surfers. Those guys and gals are true athletes. We were catching ity-bity waves and they were scary enough – I can’t imagine the heart-pounding excitement of pro-surfers catching waves at the ‘Eddie’ competition!

5. The Royal Hawaiian MaiTai Bar
I must admit, we hit this place about 4 times. The drinks are TO DIE FOR. I get the scratch maitai, instead of the royal hawaiian signature (only because I’m not a fan of Kahlua). Order the Royal Hawaiian buffalo wings while you sip your maitai. You’ll be in heaven. And an added bonus is nabbing a table just before the Hawaiian sunset!

Business Cards & Thank You Cards

2009-12-17T16:11:00.006-05:00

My corporate identity has been in a constant state of flux. At the beginning of this year, I redesigned my logo and company forms/contract, and redesigning my website and portfolio photos is on the task list for 2010. Two things I can check off my list – my Monark Design Studio Business Cards and Thank You Cards. Thanks to UVCards.com, I now have some very elegant, and well printed cards.

The Thank You cards fit an A2 envelope, and are full-color, duplex, on 16pt card stock. There’s Spot UV on the front.

The Business Cards are by far my favorite, and feature both Spot UV and brilliant Silver Foil Stamping. I’ve always wanted to try both print methods, but my local vendors estimates for special print treatment is always super outrageous. UVCards.com is probably the best online print shop to use, especially if you want Foil Stamping, Spot UV, or Silk Laminate.

UVCards.com not only has excellent print quality, but phenomenal prices as well. I paid less than $300 for both cards, with substantial quantities for both sets.

Below are photos. I’m so sorry about the poor photo quality. I plan on getting studio quality photographs taken of my identity set next year (when I do my website overhaul).

It feels good to get a few items on my design ‘to do list’ completed.

Fierce Style - At the Corcoran with Christian Siriano

2009-11-04T10:55:00.004-05:00

Last night, Christian Siriano did such an excellent job at his seminar/lecture for the Corcoran Museum of Art. He really gave us a behind the scenes look into Project Runway, and his new life as a top celebrity designer. Christian is just as witty and charismatic in person as he was on his season of Project Runway. He appears to be very much a ‘people person’, and even though he remarked that the crowd was quite intimidating, you would never have known if he was nervous. Christian is also very petite, topping probably around 5’1 or 5’2. His lecture was about 45min long, with a book signing at the end (Christian Siriano’s “Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self”).

Here are some tidbits from the lecture:

Christian grew up in Annapolis MD, so he’s very familiar with the DC area.
His family was always supportive of his avante garde style – especially his mom
He was not accepted to Parsons or FIT in New York – but since he won Project Runway, they’ve invited him to be a guest speaker for their schools
He was Ariel the Little Mermaid for Halloween
There’s a possibility he could design fashion eyewear in the future.
The Project Runway judges deliberation is in reality 4hrs long.
The contestants on P.R. are given 17hrs to complete the challenge, but in reality, it is 10hrs, because the contestants also have to do mini-interviews and press in addition to finishing their garments
Christian was just recently on Oprah
Christian styled Lady GaGa before her first album dropped and hit number 1.
The items that sell in stores most are "patterns". So, Christian is currently working on pieces that have graphic prints and patterns.
Apparently there is a team of industry professionals that annual write a book on what colors, items, accesories will become trends - but generally the items they choose are not what consumers buy (odd).
A good pair of tights/leggings are always in - ill fitting jeans are definately a fashion "don't".
Christian feels like Washington DC has the potential to be a ‘fashion city’ because of Michelle Obama – but sometimes DC it too serious. (I admit, I have to disagree with him on this one. DC will always be about Brooks Brothers and Ann Taylor – and less about Prada and Chanel!)

Once the lecture ended, nearly all 150+ plus individuals converged on the stage at one time. I’m not sure if the staff at the Corcoran anticipated that large cluster of fans would swarm the stage so quickly. They had to do some major crowd control. My friends and I waited until the line died down to only 10 people, and then got our book signed, and a photo with a visibly exhausted Christian Siriano.

Here are a couple pics from the lecture (as always, more on Facebook):

Christian Siriano Tonight!

2009-11-03T15:30:00.003-05:00

I'm super excited. I'll be sure to post photos this week. I already bought his book so I can get a signature, and wore flat shoes today so I can sprint down the aisle to get a photo. Time to get into paparazzi mode. lol. It took ages last night to find an outfit. What do you wear to a book signing for a fashion designer?!

M.I.A

2009-10-22T16:22:00.003-04:00

This may be the longest hiatus I’ve taken from my blog so far. It wasn’t on purpose. Things just get so hectic sometimes, it gets hard to sit down and write something decent.

I’ve been participating in a volunteer work that requires about 70hrs per month. It’s incredibly enjoyable, and keeps me focused and busy. It’s good for me to be busy, as I get reckless when I have too much free time on my hands (ex., too much credit card abuse).

I’ve also been taking care of some family business, and preparing for our vacation in December (Hawaii! Yay!). Work has been busy, especially since plenty of items need to be designed in preparation for benefits ‘open enrollment’.

Speaking of which - I know this sounds odd, but I’m probably one of the only people that takes full advantage of my vision benefits. I have this obsession with buying new glasses whenever I qualify. I know I just bought two pair last year, but I’m retiring my black/dressy ones because they never feel comfortable. I’ve had them adjusted about 20 times, and they still squeeze my temples.

So, I’ve been eyeing up a cute pair of Prada frames. They retail for about $389, which is ridiculous!! I’m going to wait until Jan 1st so my vision insurance provider can pay for a large chunk of it.

On another note, the hubby and I just bought tickets to see comedian John Mulaney tomorrow night in Virginia. He’s hilarious on VH1 – so hopefully he’ll be equally as funny in person.

Lunchtime Art Tour

2009-09-30T15:12:00.003-04:00

During lunch today, I finally had the chance to see the ‘Sargent and the Sea’ exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. I adore Sargent as an artist, so it was a real treat to see some of his early works – watercolors and drawings when the artist was between 18-22 years old.

It was interesting to see how much his style had changed. Even though the exhibit focused more on his maritime artistry, there were a few rough portraits speckled around the tour. Sargent’s portraits were relatively primitive in his early years. His models faces were either quick, vague sketches, or completely blurred and implied. Sargent focused more on the model’s pose, stance, and contours.

One thing I always admire about Sargent’s drawings are that, they are seemingly simple. They consist largely of some contour drawing, and lot’s of simplified lines. But all these elements put together really create an extraordinary composition. It’s so much fun looking at his pieces up close. His line strokes are so delicate and calm.

Unfortunately, the museum wouldn’t allow photos of the ‘Sargent and the Sea’ exhibit, but they did allow us to photograph some of the Corcoran’s permanent Sargent collection…which oddly enough consists of my favorite drawing by the artist, “Olimpio Fausco” (photo below).

At the very end of the tour, the museum set up a still life, surrounded by benches with sketchpads and pencils. This interactive part of the tour allowed the visitor to freely sketch the still life. I figured, I really couldn’t call myself an artist unless I participated. So, I drew a rendition of a portion of the still life (which you will have to wait and see on Corcoran’s site). The museum plans on scanning in each visitor’s drawing, and posting them up on their site. I’ll post a link once it’s available. Believe me, it’s nothing fancy – just a quick sketch with minimal shading.

Something else I picked up from this tour…my new slogan from John Singer Sargent:
“Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh”

And how true this is, for any artist. Sargent had countless sketchbooks. One caption on the tour stated he had about 13 completed sketchbooks by age 18 – full to the brim with completed works, studies, and random renderings. I’ve made a promise to myself to try and keep a sketchbook with me at all times. I really miss the days when I used to sketch vs. solely working on the computer. In some ways, graphic design can really dull raw artistry - if you let it.

(Sargent - Olimpio Fausco)

(Sargent - Seated Woman drawing)

(Still life, which visitors could sketch from)

More Corcoran Events: Christian Siriano

2009-09-23T15:36:00.002-04:00

Christian Siriano of Project Runway fame will be holding a seminar/lecture at the Corcoran Gallery of Art on Tuesday November 3rd at 7pm.
Get your tickets fast - as this is sure to sell out. Christian was one of my favorite PR winners, and it would be such a bonus if I hear him call someone a 'hot tranny mess". Hilarious!

Hope to see you there!

I tell you - the Corcoran should really give me an honorary membership for all my online promos. =)

Meet Tim Gunn this Saturday at Tyson's Galleria!

2009-09-15T11:29:00.003-04:00

I just received an invitation from Lucky Brand jeans to meet Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame, this Saturday (Sept. 19th) at Tyson's Galleria in Tyson's Virginia! Tim will be hosting a Fall 2009 Fashion show featuring Lucky Brand jeans, followed by a cocktail reception.

To RSVP call 202-625-8370. Spaces are limited.

The event starts at 1pm in the Center Court.

I'm only passing along this info because, sadly, I won't be able to make it. If you go, take plenty of photos. I adore Tim Gunn, especially because he's a Corcoran Gallery of Art alum.

Sargent and the Sea at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

2009-09-10T10:03:00.002-04:00

Once again, the Corcoran is featuring a phenomenal exhibit in honor of my all time favorite artist: John Singer Sargent. The exhibit ‘Sargent and the Sea’ starts September 12, 2009 and runs through January 3, 2010. This must see exhibit features more than 80 paintings, watercolors, and drawings from the early career of American artist John Singer Sargent. Sargent is known most notably for his portraiture, but his depictions of seascapes and coastal scenes are breathtaking as well.

If you’re in the DC area, this is a must see show for art enthusiasts. I plan on attending the exhibit next Monday around lunchtime (since I work only 2 blocks from the gallery).

Enjoy!

Lou Lou Boutique (Dupont Circle)

2009-09-09T14:36:00.003-04:00

On nice days like today, you’ll often find me strolling through Dupont Circle doing a little window shopping at all the cute boutiques.

Today I stumbled upon a shop called “Lou Lou”. Considering all my jaunts through Dupont, I can’t believe I never noticed this place before. Lou Lou offers tons of a reasonably priced earrings, scarves, hats, handbags, headbands and other accessories. All items feature an eclectic flare, and no doubt many items are one of a kind pieces. I was drooling over all the unique silver earrings with various semi-precious jewels and stones. One could also easily get lost in the plethora of brilliantly colored leather handbags. The staff was friendly, and helpful – and had a wealth of knowledge about their merchandise. I’ll definitely be visiting this spot more often – especially for some unique fall scarves. This is a real retail ‘gem’ for visitors and locals.

Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
1601 Connecticut Ave NW
(between N Q St & N Hillyer Pl)
Washington, DC 20009

Great Product from Ole Henriksen

2009-08-26T12:06:00.003-04:00

(*For the ladies*)
Yes, I’m still obsessed with skin care products. I’m always trying to find the best (and cheapest!) solution for great skin care.

I used to use the Kinerase Blemish Stick for minor acne breakouts. Problem is, Kinerase is extremely expensive (steep price tag of $42!), and while the blemish stick worked well, I ran out after about 15 uses. It only lasted me about 2 weeks.
I found a better solution, and it’s half the price. The Ole Henriksen Roll-On Blemish stick works better than the Kinerase blemish stick at fighting acne, and it’s better suited for people with sensitive skin (like myself). You can purchase this product at Sephora. It’s also almost 3 times the size of the Kinerase product, so it will last you for quite a while. It goes on smooth, and dries clear as well. I'm not sure if this will work for people with 'severe acne', but if you have minor/occasional spots – this blemish stick will knock them out overnight.

Like with all acne based products, remember to use sun-block!

Hello Cupcake – Free Cupcakes Today!

2009-08-25T12:11:00.002-04:00

It seems like almost everyone in the area has found out about Hello Cupcake’s free promotion today. In fact, I think they advertised the event a little TOO well. It was posted on Twitter, Facebook, Metromix, DCist blog and the Hello Cupcake website.

I called the shop about 9:50am to ask how long the promotion would be going on for. They told me they baked about 1,500 cupcakes for today, and the promotion would go on until the cupcakes ran out. They also told me, that there was already a line forming outside their door. Rightly so I suppose – in my opinion, this place does have the best cupcakes in DC.

I rushed up there about 10:30am to get my free cupcake (figuring I’d beat the lunch-rush), but was quickly diverted at seeing well over 50+ people already in line!!! Much to my dismay, I went back to work empty-handed, and sugarless. I’d rather pay the $3 per cupcake vs. standing in that ridiculously long line. And I only suspect it will get worse as lunchtime approaches.

So, if you scored a treat today – good for you! Everyone knows when you advertise “free” anything in DC, patrons come out the ‘wood-works’. Maybe I’ll hit my new sweet spot today – Robeks!

Here’s a couple of pics of the 10:30am line. Further toward the back of the line, it actually looked as if some lady brought her entire daycare of kids!

Did you know there was a Design Museum?

2009-08-20T09:28:00.001-04:00

The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum to be exact! It’s located in New York city (Manhattan). They feature design in all it’s disciples – graphic design, illustration, textile, product design, interior design, fashion design, technology design, and architecture. It’s nice to know the Smithsonian saw a need for praising and honoring various facets of this noteworthy art form. So, next time you’re in New York city, why not skip the usual museum fare, and stop by the Design Museum? You really can’t beat the $15 admission price.

And if this museum’s mission couldn’t get any better, they also host the Annual National Design Awards, which honors the best in American design. There are normally a few free art/design panels and discussions in D.C. too. Check out the site.

Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show coming to D.C.

2009-08-19T10:11:00.001-04:00

If you're as obsessed with the Food Network as I am, you'll be excited to know that the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show is coming to the DC area on November 7 & 8. You'll be able to meet some of your Food Network favorites, like Paula Deen and Giada De Laurentiis. There will be panels where you can see your favorite stars cook, as well as get book signings. Some noteworthy D.C. restaurant owners and chefs will also be there doing demonstrations and seminars. I'm contemplating getting tickets for the Neely's BBQ lunch or the Wine/Spirits tasting. My friends and family know that I truly hate cooking...but I don't mind watching someone else cook...and I have no objections to eating!

Tickets are selling fast! I believe one of the Giada demos is already sold out.
Check out the site: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show

I’m hoping next year they’ll have my man, Bobby Flay! I love him!

HOW Design ‘Best of Show’ Promo Piece

2009-08-18T12:14:00.004-04:00

I just recently had the chance to read my HOW magazine Self-Promo Design Annual issue. I always anticipate the Design Annual issues, because they are a great source of design inspiration. I was highly impressed by Danielle Lee Kroll’s self-promo piece (on pages 36-37). Danielle is a recent graduate of the Tyler School of Art, but this grad’s design work is far from amateur. I was so blown-away by this promo piece, I had to commend Danielle via email.

I thought her fabric swatch portfolio booklet was ingenious. The typography is exquisite, the portfolio pages are well designed, and the use of color and pattern work beautifully together. I wish I had a copy of this piece of add to my “inspiration” collection.

Well done Danielle – you’d be an asset to any design firm! Here’s a couple photos of her page spread:

Thievery Corporation Coming to Baltimore, MD

2009-08-17T16:30:00.001-04:00

Thank goodness for Facebook! Thievery Corporation posted on Facebook that they were planning two more tours – one being in Baltimore! I immediately bought my tix, and scored seats front and center for the show. Sweet! I missed their last two shows (9:30 and Rams Head) – so I’m so glad I found out about this show before it was too late.

If you’re interested, they’re coming to the Pier 6 Pavilion on Sept. 19th @ 5:30pm. Tickets range from $25 to $65.

I got pavilion seats. I never chance lawn seats after I was severely rained on (and slipped in the mud) at the Lilith Fair several years ago.

Free Adobe Acrobat 9 Seminar in D.C.

2009-08-13T16:40:00.005-04:00

Today Adobe organized a free seminar at the Marriott Metro Center in D.C. to showcase some new features of Acrobat 9. I currently have 9Pro at home, but had no idea there were soo many cool additions!

In addition to the free session, Adobe offered us a free continental breakfast too! (Nice touch Adobe). The session ran from 9:30am – 12:30pm, and was hosted by Acrobat gurus Rick Borstein and Mark Middleton.

There’s no way these guys could cover ALL the new features in 3 hours, but they touched on the highlights. Adobe has significantly improved the Typewriter tool feature, OCR, Form field creation, Redaction, and PDF to web page conversion features. One of the biggest highlights – the ‘PDF Portfolio’ addition. This thing is cool, and actually pretty useful for Graphic Designers who want to develop PDF samples for email. PDF Portfolio basically takes your PDF files (and Word files, emails, spreadsheets, etc.), and creates an interactive presentation, that can be customized with a background, header graphic and logo. You can even customize your documents to flow ‘a la’ iPod album scroll style.

In the Pro-Extended version, there’s also a nifty PowerPoint plug-in that allows you to add more interactivity to your presentation – including voice over narration. Now PDF can work seamlessly with PowerPoint exports – and you can view and navigate your slides directly through Acrobat.

And the coolest feature added: you can now watch/play Flash movies WITHIN your PDF document! Meaning, if you do a PDF web capture on a website that has Flash – when you open your document in Acrobat, your PDF will play your Flash movie right in the document. Niiice.

Don’t’ forget to download Acrobat Reader 9 – it’s free!! Some of these ‘special’ features can only be viewed with the newest Acrobat versions.

I don’t use Adobe Acrobat outside of creating PDFs from the Creative Suite, but it’s always cool to take advantage of free seminars…especially ones that feed you!

(Unfortunately, the lady in front of me didn’t learn a darn thing. She knitted the entire time. Why come to a seminar to knit?!)

Mermaid Sightings in Israel

2009-08-12T16:38:00.004-04:00

New York Daily News reported an online article which states that a mermaid has been sighted in Israel. Last time I checked, weren't mermaids mythical creatures? What's worse - the people quoted in this article are rationalizing the possibility of the mermaid's existance. (?!). Come on people.

Check out this bizarre article.

Vacation Photos...as Promised

2009-08-10T15:22:00.003-04:00

Well, it’s probably not what you expect – but below are a couple photos from my trip. They are all scenic ones. Majority of my photos are on Facebook, and truthfully, there are soo many (500+!), that there’s no way I could post them all on this blog, or Flickr.

I hope you enjoy them. I’m not a photographer, but I was quite impressed with myself for taking these pictures. I think they came out really well. I’ve printed and framed a few of them at home.

It takes me ages to pick out wall art for our house, so why not use original work, right? It’s cheaper, and it has some sentimental value.

(Photo 1: Corinth, Photos 2-5: Islands of Hydra and Poros)

‘The Nightman Cometh’ to a City Near You

2009-08-06T16:02:00.002-04:00

For those of you that need your “It’s Always Sunny” fix right now (and can not simply wait for the premiere) you might be interested in this news. A live musical production of ‘The Nightman Cometh’ is touring a couple venues across the US. And best of all, the actual cast is performing….including Charlie Day. Tickets go on sale today for the NYC show. All others go on sale tomorrow.

(And for those of you that do not watch the show…sorry for the geeky post)

Top 10 Favorite Artists

2009-07-31T14:49:00.036-04:00

Inspired by a post by fellow blogger (and artist) Jeffrey Star, I’ve compiled a list of 10 artists (& their works) that inspire me on a daily basis. The following are simply my opinions, so feel free to disagree. =)

10) Honore Daumier / 'Madame Gargantua'

I was first introduced to this artist while in college. My professor coordinated a visit to the Phillips Gallery in DC to see a once in a lifetime collection of Daumier’s drawings and lithographs. This was one of the best gallery shows I’ve been to. Daumier is quintessentially the father of printmaking, and one of the very first caricaturists. Some of his political cartoons were not only well executed, but very witty and clever.

9) Renoir / 'The Boating Party'

I love to paint, but most of my work is very monochromatic. I’ve always admired Renoir’s use of vibrant and bold colors. Renoir is a genius at painting reflected sunlight and shadows.

8) J.W. Waterhouse / 'After the Dance'

Waterhouse isn’t necessarily the most popular painter, but his works still inspiration me. Waterhouse’s paintings are usually very heavy…lots of earth tones. It’s hard to master the use of painting in shades of brown without a painting looking ‘muddy’. Plus, his fantasy based subject matter captures the imagination. Who couldn’t like an artist that paints fairies, mermaids, and sirens?

7. Frida Kahlo / 'Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress'

Other than Van Gogh, I don’t think there’s another artist that’s more complex than Kahlo. All of Kahlo’s body of work is full symbolism and emotion. Her paintings are her biography…from her horrific accident as a teenager, to her tumultuous marriage with Diego Rivera. Frida was actually quite a beautiful woman – so, I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that she gives herself a uni-brow and mustache. It’s actually a great glimpse into how she saw herself personally – somewhat masculine, and deeply conflicted.

6) Vincent Van Gogh / 'Starry Night'

Let’s face it – Van Gogh was a genius. I get chills even when I see a poster of Starry Night. The use of color, the brush strokes, the emotion….it’s awe inspiring. I could stare at his paintings for hours.

5) Jacques Louis David / 'Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass'

This preeminent French painter was highly admired by French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. In fact, Jacques created many of Napoleon’s famous portraits. I think you’d be surprised at how many famous paintings came from Jacques. I’ve seen “Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass” in person – and the sheer size of the painting is breathtaking. Napoleon definitely had a “god-complex”, and Jacques brilliantly painted him in his royal glory.

4) Leonardo Da Vinci / 'Drawing from The Virgin of the Rocks'

Personally, I believe Da Vinci had far better works than the Mona Lisa. This drawing of his, is exceptional. It’s apparent he studied the human body, and the human face in grave detail. I’m most often drawn to pencil/charcoal drawings, and I’ve always admired Da Vinci’s shading techniques. Da Vinci is simply ‘THE MASTER’ of all things art, invention, and science.

3) Alphonse Mucha / 'The Emerald'

Since pursuing graphic design, Mucha has become one of my biggest inspirations. Mucha is most notably a founding father of Art Nouveau, and the principle inventor of vintage poster design. His use of contour lines is the envy of most illustrators. In ‘The Emerald”, I love how the woman in the foreground is drawn very simply. Lots of loose lines, and simple colors. But the background is incredibly ornate. There’s a surprise in every painting with Mucha, and lots of hidden ornament designs and inscriptions. I have a couple of his posters framed at home.

2) Jan Vermeer / 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'

My favorite piece of Vermeer is his notably his most famous painting (and subject of movies/novels). When I was in high school, a Vermeer exhibit came to The National Gallery of Art. This work by Jan Vermeer spurred me to try and perfect my craft. The entire painting is mesmerizing, but the key piece of this painting is the pearl earring. The pearl’s detailed reflection, and complex colors, is the envy of the most calculated and venerated of artists.

1) * John Singer Sargent / 'Fumee d'Ambre Gris' *

In this painting, Sargent has succeeded in completing probably the most complicated and difficult painting technique – painting ‘white on white’. Obviously this painting is not devoid of color, but it’s his use of various colors to create the illusion of white that’s most phenomenal. I admire everything about Sargent’s works. I envy his portraits, as that’s something I’ve never been able to do. He knew the female form very well, and knew exactly how the folds of clothes and ribbon, and satin fell on a woman’s body. Sargent did a series of paintings in Capri – and viewing them, you feel as though you've traveled with him. ‘Carnation Lily Lily Rose’ is another one of my favorites. It’s large, it’s detailed, and it’s soothing. I really could go on and on about Sargent. I have so many books and posters attributed to this artists I could open my own gift shop. I don’t think Sargent is given enough attention in the art world.

Greek Artwork

2009-07-27T15:17:00.007-04:00

I haven't forgotten to post photos of my trip. I'm still sorting through all the pictures.

In the meantime, below are two paintings I purchased from Greece. One, I bought in a souvenir shop in Plaka. This lovely Greek woman owned a shop full of typical souvenirs. As I strolled to the back of the store, I found a doorway leading into a small enclosed courtyard. The area was full of oil paintings - some still hanging to dry. The lady told me these were painted by local art students at a local art school - and she had yet to put prices on the items. She gave me a great deal on an 8x10 painting (only 5 euro!).

The second painting I purchased on the island of Poros from another Greek vendor. This older lady's husband was a painter, and she sold a few of his pieces at her market. I believe she told me this painting was of Santorini (another island I would love to visit in the future).

On my trips, I love when I can find authentic local art. These paintings came on canvas, and it's interesting to see the different techniques of both artists. I only wish I had the chance to buy more pieces.

Guten Morgen / Ya Sas

2009-07-22T11:22:00.001-04:00

Saturday evening I returned from my delightful 2-week vacation in Germany and Greece. In Germany, I visited Berlin, and in Greece, we toured Athens, Corinth and Mycenae. I’m still on a vacation high, and am having major issues concentrating at work today. I give it about a week, and I’ll be back to my normal productive self.

I have about 300+ photos to sort through, and about 100 emails to write to people I met along the way during the trip. I met a few lovely people from Switzerland, Germany, England and California – so next year will be a great travel year to visit my new friends.

I will be sure to post some photos here, but most of my personal pics will of course be on Facebook. Just shoot me a friend request if you want to take a look.

Since there’s no way I can write up a summary of all the wonderful things I did for the last two weeks, I’ll post a brief lists of some of my experiences during the trip. I apologize if I’m leaving things out. The two weeks were jam-packed with activities and tours.

Where We Toured (Berlin, Germany):
1. Pergamum Museum (Museum Island)
2. Walked the ‘Zoogarten” area
3. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
4. Strolled the “Kurfurstendamm”
5. Visited a remaining part of the Berlin Wall
6. Visited Brandenburg Gate
7. Strolled the Unter den Linden
8. Walked Checkpoint Charlie and surrounding area

Where We Toured (Greece):
1. Hadrian’s Arch
2. Acropolis/Parthenon
3. Areopagus
4. Plaka (and Hadrian’s Library)
5. Port of Piraeus (Mikrolimano)
6. New Acropolis Museum
7. Ancient Corinth & Mycenae
8. Islands of Hydra and Poros
9. Syntagma Square
10. Monastiraki

What I Loved About Berlin, Germany:
1. The architecture and ornate street lamps
2. Learning the differences in history between West Berlin and East Berlin
3. Finding out Berlin is one of the poorest German cities, but probably the most charming
4. Touching the Berlin Wall
5. Sampling real German chocolates (miss the nugget candies!)
6. Seeing the actual entrance gate to Babylon (in the Pergamum Museum)
7. Touring a real concentration camp
8. Seeing the hotel where Michael Jackson dangle’s his baby from the balcony.
9. Walking through Brandenburg Gate
10. Learning there’s more to Berlin than World Word II.

What I Loved About Greece:
1. Having REAL Greek food – fresh olive oil, feta cheese, gyros, souvlaki, and moussaka
2. The view of Port of Piraeus at sunset
3. Riding a donkey through the streets of Hydra
4. Buying local paintings from local artists in Poros
5. The psycho driving skills of Athenians
6. Shopping for leather bags in Plaka
7. The full view of Athens from atop the Acropolis
8. The nighttime view of the illuminated Parthenon
9. Spotting excavations of ancient ruins all over the city (including in the metro)
10. Walking where the Apostle Paul walked.

What’s New…

2009-06-30T16:10:00.000-04:00

First thing’s first, - My blog is 1yr old now!! You’ve been reading my random thoughts since 2008 – so cudos to you! Thanks for your interest. Who knew I had so much to say?

With that said, I’m so sorry for my delay in posts lately. I don’t want to be like some bloggers who slow in momentum after the first year. I hope to bring you more juicy goodness from the DC area.

Things have been very hectic (as usual). I’ve been rather busy at work, I recently attended my cousin’s lovely wedding, and now I’m preparing for my trip to Europe. I’m leaving on Sunday – yay!

I also found some time to purchase the new iPhone 3Gs. It’s really worth the hype! I love this little phone. I’ve actually found myself spending more time on my iPhone than my actual PC. Accessing all my regular sites is so convenient on this little phone. It’s like a mini laptop – and in my opinion, no other phone compares. No, not even Blackberry.

If anyone has been following my tweets, I’ve also allotted time from my busy schedule to stalk the Real World DC house (I swear I’m not the only one doing this). Real World DC is just one of many projects being filmed in the district right now. It’s always exciting to see TV cameras and crews around town. When I stopped by the Real World house last week, the whole place was gutted out, and construction workers were still busy finishing up the interior. Today I heard a couple cast members (and crew) were spotted around Dupont Circle. I guess the house is finished now, and I can resume my stalking after my vacation. Real World usually films for about 6 months right?

I’m hoping to post again this week before my departure. I’ve really been meaning to send out another “restaurant review”. I will do a proper review soon, but I HAVE TO let all of you know about a new little Indian Bistro downtown called “Spice Express”. For those of us who work downtown near K street, our only go-to Indian cuisine stops have been Nirvana and/or Naan and Beyond. While both are good, it’s apparent that these spots are frequented by local business people – and not the Indian community.

However, I knew Spice Express was going to be good because of the long line of Indian men and women standing out front. The wonderful scent of curry consumes you before you even enter the place. There’s a multitude of chicken, lamb, and veggie selections – all well flavored and cooked with special Indian spices. I highly recommend this place. And the portions are HUGE! They offer specials for two curry dishes with rice, but in my opinion, you only need one curry dish with rice. After eating there, I generally feel like sleeping under my desk (although, I do feel quite fat and happy).

Here’s a link. Check it out!

DC Metro Train Accident

2009-06-23T10:27:00.000-04:00

As you can expect, all of DC is buzzing about the train collision yesterday on the metro system. Two trains heading toward DC collided. Apparently, the first train was stopped, and the second train plowed into the rear of the first train. My heart goes out to those affected by this accident – especially ones who possibly lost loved ones. This is truly one of my worst fears. I ride metro everyday to work, and I always fear a horrific accident on the rail system – be it an accident or terrorist attack.

First off, I’m truly irritated by the lack of information given by Metro yesterday afternoon. As I approached the Red Line station to head home, there wasn’t much of an indication that anything horrible had happened. Yes, there was a notice of a delay, but no station manager/employee available to give further information. I knew there was a problem because I overheard other people’s conversations. Then suddenly, my phone alerted with 10 emails and about 15 text messages from friends and family asking if I was ok. At that point, no one was sure if the trains were headed downtown, or toward the suburbs. Utter confusion.

To get home, I met my mom who’s on the Blue/Orange line, so that my sister could pick us up. While waiting for an Orange/blue train, a metro employee said over the loudspeaker, “There are minor delays on the Red line. For details ask the station manager”. HELLO?! MINOR?? The delays were MAJOR!! The entire Red Line was shut down! But employees failed the mention that. They led us all to believe that the Red line was simply delayed and would resume service. I’m not saying they should have cause a mass panic, but they should at least have said, “There has been an accident on the Red line. All have trains have stopped. See station manager for alternate routes”.

Sometimes metro really frustrates me with their lack of communication, lack of detailed information, and incompetent employees. Some of them are such duds, I can’t believe our lives are in their hands.

All in all, I’m thankful that I got home ok, and that all my friends/family that ride the trains were not affected. Had the trains been headed toward the suburbs, they would have been packed to the brim, with passengers sitting and standing. I can’t imagine that devastation. Not to downplay this tragedy, but this incident could have really been worse. It’d odd when you ride the train. The person you’re sitting next to in the morning could be dead in the afternoon. It’s truly tragic to think about the irony. I’m thankful for everyday I ride the train without incident. But I have to admit, this has given me second thoughts about working in the city.

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland

2009-06-22T15:38:00.004-04:00

Artistically, I always enjoy Tim Burton films. His remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory angered some critics, but I loved it! I love the cinematography, the set colors, and most of all Johnny Depp. I don't think a better Director could pull off Alice in Wonderland (due to be released March 2010). The story itself is so strange at times, it lends well to Burton's style.

Entertainment Weekly posted a link to portraits of the 3 main characters...Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Anne Hathaway (White Queen), and Helena Bonham Carter (Queen of Hearts/Red Queen).

These portraits are such a teaser - and I can't wait to see this film. Click here for a First Look at the film from USA Today.

Countdown to iPhone 3Gs....

2009-06-18T09:56:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow the new iPhones are officially released! Yay! We've already purchased ours, and my husband's AT&T rep will be configuring them for us tonight (I guess we got ours a day early...). This is the first time I'll have a phone that's actually in the technology age. I've always had the 'free-rebate' phones you get at the end of a two year contract.

I'm also happy to have a new phone plan with AT&T as they are much cheaper than Verizon. I was paying $80/month for a crappy Verizon phone with no internet. Now I'm paying about $80 for an iPhone with free data!

In any case, I can't wait to play with my new toy and check out some of the 'apps'. The GPS and Facebook apps are first on my list.

Doodle Swap Project

2009-06-11T10:45:00.002-04:00

Recently I participated in a “Doodle Swap” project coordinated by ‘Mary Ferguson’ of the HOW Design forum. I’m normally so busy, I usually have to decline collaborative art projects. However, I thought the Doodle Swap would be a great opportunity for me to go back to my ‘artistic’ roots so to speak.

To keep the amount of doodles to a minimum, we were divided in smaller ‘swap’ groups. Below are the 7 doodles that I submitted to fellow artists. They will probably receive my drawings by this weekend, I should receive my sets of drawings by early next week.

My background is fine art – mostly painting and drawing. Even though my work these days is computer based, I love it when I have the chance to sit down with my good ol’ pen/pencil and drawing pad.

My formal art training focused on a lot of figure drawing and still life drawing – but I always had more fun with cartoon/anime based artwork when drawing on my own time. Growing up, I always wanted to be an Animator. I was a typical dorky kid – watching anime, obsessing over Disney characters, reading comics, and creating my own X-Men characters in my drawing pads. It’s funny how we all develop our own drawing styles as kids. I still can’t draw portraiture to save my life though.

All in all, I had so much fun with this project. It’s inspired me to start drawing again – and I might even sign up for a figure drawing class this summer/fall.

Hope you all enjoy my ‘doodles’! (Click to enlarge)

Yet Another Movie Filming in DC

2009-06-08T14:56:00.003-04:00

So, I got a few complaints from certain individuals who were offended that I didn't give them a heads-up about the 'Night at the Museum' movie premiere. I do apologize. To make it up to you, I'll post what I know about the new Reese Witherspoon/Paul Rudd/Owen Wilson movie being filmed in DC.

Right now, the movie isn't titled. They are filming the DC area. If you want to be an extra in the movie, you must register with Central Casting's DC office. If you dial the main line, they will give you the site address for the 'Extras Registry'.

Once I find out specific filming locations, I'll let you know. I can provide info, but I can not reveal my sources. =)

See Chaka Khan for Free in DC

2009-06-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

There’s a free lunchtime concert today near 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. Chaka Khan takes the stage around 12noon to kick off the Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza free lunchtime concert series. Click here for more details.

I understand Chaka is a legend – but she’s way before my time. I probably won’t head down there unless I find John Legend or Kanye West on the roster.

Enjoy! This is the only city that offers free stuff (zoo, museums, concerts, etc.)!

The North Korea Situation

2009-06-01T10:09:00.004-04:00

Did anyone else see this headline on AOL news today?

I for one, am trying to follow this new North Korea situation on the news. There's a lot of talk about missiles being launched, and a possible conflict with the US. I'm not a political person, I just like being informed about world events.

My biggest gripe though, is the media is totally downplaying this issue. I have to watch the BBC to get any sort of specific information on it. The news briefly mentions it, and then goes on to a news piece about Susan Boyle or Jon & Kate. It's rather annoying.

Anyone else keeping up with the North Korea issue? Rather scary stuff.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 = One Painful Season Premiere

2009-05-26T11:57:00.003-04:00

I have to admit, I only watched this premiere for the “cringe” factor. There’s been so much in the tabloids about ‘Jon & Kate plus their infidelities’ that I wanted to see how TLC would film the show - and make it seem jovial and upbeat like usual.

After watching it though, I actually felt guilty. In my opinion, TLC should really take the show off air while this couple works out their problems. The entire episode was quite uncomfortable to watch, and there's definitely something unsettling about slowly watching someone’s marriage dissolve before your eyes - literally. Sadly, this season will undoubtedly give TLC some major ratings, which is why there’s no chance they’re taking the show off air.

During the episode, Kate stressed about 6 times how she had to plan the kids birthday party “alone”. Jon seemed totally indifferent though the entire ordeal, and could care less about the cameras, the paparazzi stalking his family, the kids party, or whether or not he was in the scenes at all. It’s clear there was bitterness between the two, even with the kids present. This marriage is on an unnerving downward spiral, and audiences can watch it unfold on the couches with a bowl of popcorn. Painful. Demoralizing. Slightly voyeuristic.

I was never an avid viewer of the show – only occasionally catching episodes when they were in syndication. I have to admit though, Kate’s become quite the 'diva' since the first season. Between the tummy tuck, enhanced wardrobe, book deal, and funky haircut (which is annoyingly hideous) – she’s turned her entire family into a major brand. She seems phased by the scandal, not the popularity.

For the sake of all 8 kids, I do hope this couple can work things out. I understand seperation/divorce when there’s one or two kids involved – but when you have 8, you almost want to tough it out for the kids if nothing else. How does one coordinate visitation or custody for 8 kids?! How does an individual care for 8 kids financially on their own? All of this seems sordid and complicated, and I for one, will not be watching this season.

Here’s a really accurate summary of the episode from Entertainment Weekly

(In the words of a popular comedian, the new show title may end up being ‘Jon plus 4, Kate plus 4’)

Night at the Museum Premiere – in Washington DC!

2009-05-20T15:05:00.003-04:00

I’ve been meaning to blog about this since last week. As you probably know by now, The Night at the Museum 2 film premiered in DC, at the Air and Space Museum. Of course, being the paparazzi that I am, I went to the red carpet event. I’m not an A-List DC resident, so of course I couldn’t nab tickets to the actual premiere. But, seeing the red carpet was good enough for me. (By the way, there wasn’t an actual red carpet there, just a couple red velvet ropes and blockades).

I arrive at about 4:45pm to steak out a good spot. Oddly enough, there weren’t that many people there at the time, so I got a spot right in front, near the beginning of the red velvet rope. The stars didn’t arrive until about 6:30pm, and that’s also when the crowd started to swell a bit.

First in was Amy Adams, who hauled up the red carpet area. No one got an autograph, let alone a photo of her. Ricky Gervais did the same thing when he arrived. Hank Azaria, Ben Stiller (and his wife Christine Taylor), Robin Williams, and Owen Wilson were much friendlier. I actually got photos with Ben Stiller and Robin Williams. They both lingered in the crowd the longest. Ben Stiller is really short – I’m about 5’7 and had to stoop down to take my photo. Owen Wilson is pretty tall, and was clearly the celeb of the night. The crowd went wild for Ben, but they fought over Owen. I was bopped in the head a couple times by elbows when he went down the aisle. Robin Williams looked great considering he just had some major heart surgery – but I did not dig the glittery ‘Barry Manilow’ Las Vegas suit he wore.

A host of others arrived too, like the actress that plays ‘Sacagawea’, and a few Smithsonian big-wigs. A couple photos are below. I’d also like to add that I was one of the first people to blog about this premiere, as it was really kept under wraps by the media. If you had been a regular reader, I would have seen you on the red carpet! (Shameless advertising, sorry.)

* (Click to display larger image)*

Ambigrams - The Hot Typographic Trend

2009-05-17T23:36:00.002-04:00

Do you know what an ambigram is? They've been appearing more and more in entertainment these days, and have always been prevalent in tatoo art. Even bands such as Aerosmith have used ambigrams as their logo. Ambigrams are typographic designs that display one or more words in various orientations. Here's a better discription from wikipedia.

In any case, I've always been fascinated with tatoo art, and ambigrams have always seemed like such a creative artform. In fact, I have an ambigram of my own. I recently won a contest given by fellow graphic designer Nikita Prokhorov. He has a blog dedicated to his personal ambigram artwork. He so kindly designed a piece with my name. It displays "Stephy" both upside down, and rightside up. I've already framed it and hung it in my home office. Be sure to check out Nikita's site and blog.

"Stephy" Ambigram"

Bleak Outlook for Graduating Class of 2009

2009-05-13T10:05:00.001-04:00

Interesting article on USA Today about college students struggling to repay loans after graduation. Thing are looking bleak for the graduating class of 2009.

It’s true, we live in a system that gears students toward a college education, but is ‘stingy’ when giving out financial aid. I graduated college in 2002, and I’m STILL paying off my loans. Granted, from the $10,000 that I owed upon graduation, I now only have about $3,000 left to pay off. Despite the fact that I lived in a single parent household, I was never given any grants or student aid. I guess I wasn’t smart enough to score a scholarship either, despite graduating with a 3.8 GPA.

I any case, I think I made out pretty well. At least I work in my field of study, right? And I don’t’ regret my college education one bit. I personally support higher education. In fact, if I had the time and money, I would go to grad school.

For the sake of future students, I do hope the educational system is revised so that more individuals can get financial aid. I have a feeling many future students will forego a college education in lieu of trade schools. I think in the next 5years, we will see an increase in blue collar work. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, upon graduation, more of my friends that went to trade schools had jobs well before others that went to college. And their education was cheaper!

Restaurant Review: Aroma in Olney, MD – v2.0

2009-05-11T11:49:00.004-04:00

A little while ago, I reviewed this semi-new restaurant in Olney, MD. At the time, I was still a bit undecided as to whether I could truly recommend this restaurant or not. Well…I’m here to say, I’m no longer “on the fence” about this Latin American style venue.

Over the weekend, I visited Aroma with a colleague. I still adore their lovely ambiance with its comfortable colors and low lighting. And the music is always on par. But to my surprise, Aroma also revised their menu! Aroma still provides a wide variety of entrees (including some creative Asian/Latin fusion cuisines), but I was most thrilled that the entrees I ordered previously, were tweaked – and a few additional culinary surprises were added.

This time I tried the Ropa Vieja, and my companion ordered the Pescado Chino-Latino, which consists of fresh halibut, served over Peruvian rice with a mild-light sauce. Both entrees were phenomenal. The Ropa Vieja was creatively plated, with well seasoned black beans, white rice, a healthy helping of sweet plantains, and slow cooked shredded beef. Every morsel was a pleasure to eat. The Halibut was light, fluffy, and colorful - consisting of a variety of Latin spices and seasonings. We topped off our meal with a warm molten chocolate cake for dessert (which is still made to order).

The wait staff is, as always, ultra friendly, and more than helpful with recommendations from the new menu. This time I also noticed that Aroma has a new small outdoor patio, which is great for sipping mojitos on warm summer evenings.

This time around, I definitely feel as if Aroma has been redeemed in my eyes. I hope that more folks in town will stop by this restaurant (and skip the fast food joints). I’m happy to say that I’ll be visiting Aroma more often. Next I plan on stopping by for a meal on a Thursday evening – did I mention they have a LIVE Flamenco band on Thursday nights?

Also, don't miss the $5 cocktails on Wednesdays during happy hour. You would be doing yourself a great injustice by missing out on their mojitos! (can you tell that's my favorite drink?)

Corcoran Gallery of Art – 2009 Senior Thesis Exhibit

2009-05-07T12:17:00.002-04:00

Yesterday during lunch, I headed over to the Corcoran to see the Senior Thesis exhibit. Visiting this gallery always makes me nostalgic for art school. I was actually accepted to the Corcoran on scholarship, but declined after finding out I would still need to come up with $15,000 in tuition! But I digress.

Overall the exhibit was exceptional. My background is in fine art, so I always enjoy painting, photography and mixed media. Installation art still puzzles me to some extent. I appreciate it as an art form, but half the time I don’t full understand it, especially without an artist mission statement. To the students with the installation pieces – I’m sorry if I offend you.

A couple student pieces really captured my interest. Siobhan Hanna’s photographic portraiture was incredible. The photographs were clean, and extremely detailed. I would love to see the other pieces in this student’s photographic series.

My two other favorites were of course graphic design pieces. All of the design student pieces I saw were very cohesive. The posters were engaging, and the printed book/booklets that accompanied the posters were all phenomenal. I almost forgot that I was looking at undergraduate work! These pieces definitely looked like the work of seasoned professionals.

Yordan Silvera’s “The Art of Money” was brilliant. To accompany his mixed media posters, he also designed several little “money themed” booklets, which the viewer was allowed to touch and flip through. The printing of the booklets were outstanding, and the layout design very innovative.

Hannah Tak’s “Experimental Typography: Futurism and Post-Modernism” was really a step above the rest. Her in depth research piece focused solely on typography, and was truly a marvelous work of design. I enjoyed flipping through her book, and wished I could have had a copy for my own design book collection. I don’t think this student will have any trouble finding a design job post graduation. Any employer should be privileged to have her on the payroll.

Note to the design students: It would have been great if all of you included some ‘take-away’ self promotion pieces in your display. Major thumbs up to those that had business cards printed. Those self-promo pieces help visitors remember you, long after your gallery show is over.

My least favorite piece is of course - installation. No offense to this promising student, as I’ve stated my feelings on installation pieces at the onset. Elisabeth Arzt has an installation that appears to be two movable rubber phallic symbols, covering a Wii remote, boxing in a ring. Photo below. I was a little confused by this piece – but what do I know. Who am I to say what art ‘is’ or ‘isn’t’.

If you’re able, please stop by the Corcoran to view this exhibition before May 25th. The show is free, and it’s definitely a treat to see the works of these budding new artists and designers.

New Ben Stiller Movie to Premiere in DC

2009-05-06T09:55:00.002-04:00

‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian’ will be having its world premiere here in DC at the Air and Space Museum on Thursday May 14. Not sure about times yet, but most likely it will be in the evening hours. If you head down to the Smithsonian, you may catch a glimpse of Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson and Ricky Gervais (to name a few). ‘Night at the Museum 2” follows a recent string of movies being filmed here in DC. The ‘State of Play’ world premiere should have been here in DC too (instead of London).

How to Cope With the Swine Flu Scare

2009-04-30T15:13:00.002-04:00

In these harsh times, when the world teeters on the cusp of a global pandemic, it’s very difficult not to feel stressed or overwhelmed. My solution: Cupcakes.

(I added a little "lens flare" for ya.)

They make everyone’s day brighter. I’m eating a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese icing. Mmmm. I also gave a box of them to a colleague who was “let go” today.

Speaking of swine flu – how much do you think I could make by designing custom face masks?

Does Your Site Have a ‘FavIcon’?

2009-04-29T09:52:00.001-04:00

If you’re like me, you’ve been wondering what those little icons are that have been showing up at the beginning of URLs. I may be behind the times, but I’m happy to finally know what they are – and how I can get one on my site.

They’re called FavIcons. Click here to generate one for your page.

Because of their small size, there are some strict pixels dimensions you have to adhere to, in order to make it show up properly. Plus, they can’t be too complex. Even though they’re pretty simple, I think they add a certain “aesthetic” to a website.

I’ll have to test it out this week.

Back in Training

2009-04-27T12:39:00.003-04:00

I'm in a Flash CS4 class at EEI Communications. It'll run today and tomorrow. I took Flash and Director back in college, when it was still owned by Macromedia. I adored Director, but hated Flash, mostly because it was tough using action scripts.

However, this time around, the instructor Mark Snyder at EEI, is making things a whole lot easier to understand than my ol' college professors. He's a wonderful instructor, with a vast knowledge of technology that far surpasses just web applications. I'm glad there are certain aspects I remember - like how to use timelines, manipulating frames, etc. What I'd really like to learn, is how to build sites in Flash - or - at least, building a smooth portfolio of my artwork.

To be honest, Flash really is tough. The action scripting can be overwhelming. But, I think I'm going to stick with it. More and more of my freelance clients request web work, and I'd love to be able to add some nice Flash pieces to basic HTML/Java sites.

Plus, in this day and age, Flash is where the "money" is. I've noticed than may employers prefer their designers to know web applications - namely Dreamweaver and at least some intermediate Flash. I'm all about being more marketable - especially in this economy.

Will post some Flash tips if I learn anything really cool. I'm sorry I never posted those InDesign tips. It wouldn't have done the class justice. You're better off taking a class by Michael Murphy, or doing some in dept reading on his website - The InDesigner.

Washingtonian May Cover Art – Mixed Reviews

2009-04-23T11:00:00.003-04:00

Have you seen the much talked about Obama cover for May’s Washingtonian magazine? I have to say, I’m "under-whelmed".

Some of you probably heard about Washingtonian’s May Cover Contest. In March, Washingtonian magazine asked the public to offer up ideas/concepts for their May issue. Of course, I would not do my profession justice if I didn’t send a few suggestions (11 to be exact). I didn’t care so much about the prize (free dinner with a Washingtonian food critic) – being chosen for the May cover design would have been the ultimate portfolio piece.

Obviously, I didn’t win. I’m not even sure if the cover art concept was developed by the public. I have a feeling a Washingtonian staff member came up with the final idea.

This cover is completely different from the colorful, whimsical covers the magazine usually does. I always liked the professionalism of the other covers – very clean, very inspirational. This cover just seemed like an excuse to display a half-nude Obama to the public.

I think a better cover concept could have been designed for the “Why We Love DC” theme. Washingtonian needs to go back to basics.

But if nothing else, this cover did create a lot of “buzz”. No doubt it will boost magazine sales this month, and maybe add a bunch of monthly subscriptions to the mix. That was probably Washingtonian's strategy all along...

A New DC Treat: Hello Cupcake

2009-04-22T15:56:00.002-04:00

It seems like cute little cupcakes have taken the place of full size cakes at weddings, graduation parties, and other special events lately – and rightly so. Not only do cupcakes taste great, but since they’re petite, you don’t feel so guilty eating them.

Hello Cupcake is a cute little pastry shop located in Dupont Circle. This place comes highly recommended in the area, as I first heard about Hello Cupcake from my hairstylist. She visits this place on a weekly basis. The gourmet cupcakes here are fresh - not frozen (unlike Cake Love). There are specialty flavors each day of the week, including some gluten-free options. Hello Cupcake also caters, and can customize these little treats for your special events.

Another reason why I love Hello Cupcake? The website is well designed, and the shop interior is trendy, clean, and inviting. Great Design + Phenomenal Cupcakes = My New Favorite Dessert Spot.

Designers Rejoice - Lexmark Makes Some Great Printers

2009-04-21T13:24:00.001-04:00

Things have been busy around here. There’s a special event going on at work that has sucked away all of my time. I just recently got back from a trip to Pennsylvania, and I have a couple freelance projects in the works. Busy Busy! That’s why I’ve neglected my blog duties lately. Sorry people.

A couple weeks ago, Aaron asked me to research a couple network/wi-fi/wireless printers for the house. My existing Hp printer is about 9yrs old, and I’m not sure why the inks are so expensive considering the print quality is horrible. I figured if I got a really nice high-performance wi-fi printer, I could save money by printing more photos at home, and printing a few freelance projects from home as well (vs. sending to print vendors).

Here’s what we got:

Lexmark 7675 Inkjet All-in-One printer
The best part about this printer – it prints DUPLEX!!!! Oh how I needed something like this in college – it would have saved me all those 2am Kinkos print runs.

The reviews on cnet and newegg were pretty mixed, but so far, I think the print quality is great. The duplex printing is fast, and the pigment inks are cheaper than my old crusty Hp.

And, this printer is only $119 right now at Staples. If you trade in your old printer, they give you an additional instant $50 rebate. Great deal huh?

RIP Dr. Kutner

2009-04-09T14:04:00.002-04:00

If you’re an avid “House MD” fan like myself, by now you know about Dr. Lawrence Kutner’s apparent suicide on Monday’s episode. It caught me totally by surprise as he was the character least likely to die on the show. A few news articles mention that the show’s creators killed off Kal Penn’s character, because the actor will soon be working for President Obama at the Executive Offices in DC (woohoo, more celebrity stalking during my lunch hour!).

In any case, the show must go on. I wish they did more with Dr. Kutner’s character – Kal Penn is such a talented actor (have you seen the Namesake? Brilliant). And he was the next best hottie on the show next to Jesse Spencer (Dr. Chase).

So what’s even stranger than killing off one of “House MD’s” favorite characters? Fans creating actual Memorial Pages for the fictitious Dr. Kutner! Come on people – it’s just a show! Facebook truly attracts some of the most bored individuals alive. (ahem, Not me of course. I only KIT with my peeps on FB…)

The News - Things Getting Worse and Worse

2009-04-08T09:37:00.003-04:00

Here are the headlines from CNN this morning:

Nearly everything in the news in the last few months has been pretty dismal. I’m especially concerned about the “Students Fight to Watch Porn” article. Please tell me what on earth those students are trying to accomplish?!

In the Name of Beauty

2009-04-07T15:51:00.000-04:00

There is a skin issue that plagues my family. It comes from my mother’s side. It starts small, usually on the back and face. In some cases, it can grow to the size of a dime. What am I referring to? MOLES!

Every woman in my family has them. One family member had them removed well into her adulthood, and she had over 100+ on her face alone.

I refuse to wait and let my moles consume my face – so on Friday, I had the ones on my neck removed…well actually…burned.

Basically, because the moles are on the surface of the skin, they can only be ‘lasered’ or burned off – which means, my moles are now scabs, and I have to wait for them to fall off in a week’s time. Getting the laser was beyond painful. It was horrifying. So much so that I could not even get the ones on my face done. I made a separate appointment for that. I have a high tolerance for pain, but getting those moles burned off hurt worse than laser hair removal.

Ahh, but it’s all worth it in the end. Even the strange stares I’ve been getting on the metro because of my ‘connect-the-dot’ scabs. lol.

(Sorry, this was probably TMI)

Another Reason to 'Cash and Carry'

2009-04-01T12:15:00.002-04:00

Wired.com posted an article about a credit card cloning scheme in the DC area.
(Click here for Wired article)

I guess this is becoming more prevalent in these dire economic times. Apparently, some local waiters/waitresses were scanning customer credit cards through a cloning device, and using the information to duplicate card account and information. In turn, the duplicates were used to make bogus purchases – which some people no doubt saw on their monthly credit card statements.

I have to admit, my husband and I were victims of this kind of scheme. A little over a year ago, my husband saw a few odd charges on our credit card. The charged amounts were small enough not to cause alarm at first, but the location of the charges didn’t add up. Someone most likely duplicated our credit card at a restaurant, and trumped up about $700 worth of charges locally, within a 2 month period. There was $40 at a gas station in Arlington, $70 at Hechts/Macy’s in Tyson’s Corner….and the red flag that we noticed immediately, $300 at a CVS in Springfield. Our culprit obviously chose Virginia as the spending ground – and was very smart to do smaller charges so as not to raise immediate suspicion.

In the end, the bank reimbursed us and did an investigation on our account. Be sure to always check your bank statements. Not just the charge amount, but the location of the charge. We go to gas stations, Macy’s and CVS – but NOT in Virginia!

And also think about taking cash to restaurants (vs. using credit cards). Nothing worse than having to do a fraud report with the bank or your credit card company. The entire process to get your money back is extremely tedious.

The Most Annoying Person at Work

2009-03-31T10:28:00.002-04:00

CareerBuilder has a list of the top 6 annoying behaviors at work.
I especially agree with number 5 – the person who talks super loud on the phone.
I also have a new o ne to add to the list.
#7. The Person that talks too much and lingers at your desk to chit-chat – even when you’re busy!

There’s a guy at my job that has a habit of coming to talk to you regardless of what you’re doing at the time. If you’re on the phone, he will wait to talk to you. If you’re locked in a train of thought typing an email, he will interrupt and talk to you. Even when you try to give him a hint that you’re busy – he’s totally oblivious. And 70% of the time, his conversation is not job related. It’s just mindless chatter.

Mind you, this guy is nice. He’s friendly. He just talks too much. Instead of just asking his question, he rambles, often repeating certain parts of the conversation over and over.

I feel bad, but sometimes when I see him come through the door, I pretend to be on the phone to avoid him making a ‘B-line” to my desk. Once I even excused myself to the bathroom before he could head my way.

I hate doing this – and I feel awful. I don’t often feel annoyed by people on the job – but this guy is obnoxious. (end of rant)

Restaurant Review: Aroma in Olney, MD

2009-03-30T13:34:00.002-04:00

Aroma has made some changes! Click here for my new review.

Aroma is a small restaurant located in a strip-mall in Olney MD. They feature Latin American fare at fairly reasonable prices. For Olney, Aroma’s ethnic cuisine is refreshing, since most of the food venues in this area are fast food or Italian. Great restaurants in Olney are hard to come by (Olney Ale House = yuck!), so Aroma is sure to trump up some great business in this location.

So far, I’ve been to Aroma twice. I’ve held off writing a review because, quite simply, I have been waiting to be ‘amazed’ or ‘dazzled’ by something on their menu. I prefer not to give negative reviews, especially for new venues, since they should be given at least a year to work out the menu.

The ambience is quite trendy, especially for this sleepy town at the end of Georgia Avenue. I was also impressed by the music – a little bit of trance, and some re-mixed Latin beats. Very nice. Too bad they have no dance floor (even though that did not stop a couple ladies at the bar from ‘creating’ their own dance floor).

By and large, the food at Aroma is simply “OK”. I haven’t tasted a lot of items on the menu, but what I’ve ordered was simply lackluster. The Pollo Peruano is quite deceiving. The portion is huge, and the presentation wonderful. - but it goes flat on flavor. The chicken is quite bland, and the potatoes were greasy. My colleague ordered the Arroz con Mariscos, which was far better than the Pollo Peruano, but was overrun with too much fish, and not enough shrimp or mussels. The second time I visited Aroma, I ordered the Aji de Gallina, which is pulled chicken cooked in a spicy aji amarillo cream sauce. At first taste, the dish was good. But then, I felt overwhelmed with the amount of cream sauce on the plate. It completely drowned my chicken, and was entirely too thick. I was unlucky with my dish, but my friends seemed to enjoy their Pescado Chino-Latino (Rockfish), and Lomo Saltado (sautéed beef tenderloin). Next time I’ll order what they had.

I was however, impressed by two items in particular – first, the Camarones a la Sarten, which I ordered as an appetizer. I recommend that dish of shrimp, roasted shallots, garlic, and green olives. The second item – the mojitoes. The Passion Mojito and Spicy Passion Mojito are to die for. This place really knows it’s drinks.

Overall, I haven’t written Aroma off my list yet. I’m going to visit this place again soon. I’m confident I’ll find a dish that I thoroughly enjoy. I have high hopes for Aroma. This is a neat little place to go to catch up with friends. Phenomenal drinks, great music, lively crowd, and a cute bartender!

Daily Multi-Vitamins

2009-03-25T14:06:00.004-04:00

I’m on a new ‘health’ kick right now. I’ve been more regular with the gym (at least 3 times a week!), and I’ve been lessening my portions. I’m still working on making healthier food choices, and not snacking after 8pm – that will be a long uphill battle.

I figured that maybe I should introduce a multi-vitamin in my diet. I’m almost positive I don’t get all my vitamins from food, so I need something to overall make me healthier, and give me more energy for the gym.

Right now I take vitamin C daily, and a little Echinacea when I’m feeling sick or have bad allergies. I've never been a big health-nut. I’m thinking of switching to this:

GNC’s multi-vitamin pack for active women. There’s so many details with taking certain vitamins. Some include about 6 tables to be taken daily, and some you have to take certain times of the day. I just want a basic tablet I can take in the morning to boost my day.

What do you think? One of my girlfriends swears by Immunocal. Maybe I should give that a try too….

Citizens of Humanity Jeans, ‘Ava Straight Leg’

2009-03-18T10:31:00.002-04:00

So…I have a designer jean obsession. I got so tired of buying crappy jeans from Old Navy and Gap, that never really fit properly. I figured if I spent a little more money and bought nice jeans, maybe they would fit so well, that I would only need about 6 ‘go-to’ pairs. I was right! The more you pay for denim, the better the fit and the better the fabric.

So far, I’m really into Lucky Brand and Citizens of Humanity Jeans. The ‘Citizens’ are by far the best, but also the more pricy of the two. Last year, I bought the Ava Straight Leg Citizen jeans in faded onyx. They are absolutely my favorite pair of jeans ever. They fit like a glove, and they are not as tight and uncomfortable as ‘skinny’ jeans.

ShopBop and RevolveClothing are great sources of buying designer denim. Bonus - they also have sales pretty often, and online coupon codes can be readily found as well. I’ve recently ordered two more pair of Citizens, one being the Ava Geneva straight leg, and the other, the Elson straight leg.

The only problem I’ve found with the Citizen Ava’s is that - all of the Ava’s fit differently depending on the wash. And, the straight leg jeans all have various ‘leg openings’, ranging from 15” to 13”. That means, even though you buy a straight leg jean, some may fit more snug to the leg, and some will be baggier. Very strange. Revolve Clothing gives you the leg opening measurements for each pair, which is very helpful if you're extra picky, like myself.

It definitely pays to spend more buying clothes that fit well vs. wasting money on clothes that you’ll just end up donating a year later.

Paper Source Wedding Invitation Suite

2009-03-17T13:34:00.004-04:00

Shopping for the right wedding invitation is difficult and exhausting. Fortunately, as a graphic designer, I was able to design my own.

Many brides have to divert to choosing the invitations for their special day, from a catalogue. In my option, many catalogue invitations are unoriginal, dull, and the actual printing/paper selection is pretty horrific as well.

But, if there are brides that have to resort to catalogue shopping due to their budget, I recommend the Paper Source’s new Wedding Invitation suite.

Their designs are gorgeous. I was highly impressed at the simplicity and elegance of their pieces, despite the fact that they are invitation templates. I’ve purchased paper and envelopes from the Paper Source in the past for my own design clients, and they do use quality cotton stock. Online, you can customize your invitation suite by choosing your invitation print method (flat printing, letterpress or engraving), your personalized colors, and personalized fonts.

Believe me, I’m definitely not trying to divert brides that want custom design work, but this is a great alternative.

Fixing the DC Public School System

2009-03-16T15:20:00.001-04:00

There are so many things I adore about Washington DC, but one thing that breaks my heart is the failing educational system in this city. They are currently the worst in the U.S.

It’s a known fact that DC public school have lots of problems, ranging from behavioral issues with students, dismal building repairs, ill-equipped/unqualified teachers, a lack of parental involvement, and a major lack of appropriate supplies.

For a city that serves as the nation’s capital, this is truly sad. When I looked up DC Public Schools (DCPS) on Wikipedia, it mentioned that in 2008, only 36% of students in DC demonstrated proficiency in mathematics and 39% demonstrated proficiency in reading. That means more than half the students in Washington DC CAN NOT do BASIC Math or English (reading/writing). How does an individual who can not read, graduate high school?!

Who’s responsible? Why have so many students slipped through the cracks? There in lies the ‘money question’, that many people think they can answer, but not many can fully resolve.

In 2007 Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed Michelle Rhee as DCPS School Chancellor. Michelle has received tons of criticism from educators and parents, particularly for firing dozens of teachers and principals in the District school system. In my opinion, I think too many people have been way to hard on her.

Some think that she’s taking too long to implement reform. But honestly she’s only been in her position for under 2yrs! No one can fix a school system as underachieving as DC’s in just under 2yrs time. It’s going to take time to aid a system that has been failing for many years (some say it’s been failing since the 1960s!)

Mind you, I’m not a DC Public Schools (DCPS) teacher, or administrator, and did not attend DC schools as a child (I was in Prince Georges Public School system, but I will leave that for another post…). I only offer opinions based on articles I’ve read about the issue.

In my opinion, if a child completely fails at school, you can’t totally blame the child. Yes, some children have no intensions on learning, and some simply have major mental or behavioral issues that are well beyond the assistance a teacher can provide. However, in many cases, I feel that you CAN blame the teachers. You CAN blame the principals. And ultimately, you CAN blame the parents.

For people who criticize Michelle Rhee’s annual salary of 275k, I say “Good For Her”. How many people do you think are lining up to have her job?!

I think only time will tell what will become of DCPS. I think DC residents should be patient with Michelle. It seems she has the best of intentions. Honestly, she must have faith in the system because she chose to enroll her own children in DC public schools. And, I have no doubt that the educators she’s fired have warranted being removed from their positions.

I don’t understand why anyone would criticize someone on Michelle’s position. It is not an easy task by any means. She’s receiving far more criticism than the previous Chancellor who clearly did not meet expectations. DCPS has a horrible nation-wide reputation, and if anyone has the courage to step in to change that reputation, they should be heralded – not scolded. Praised, not chided. Supported, not outcast.

Click here for article on Michelle’s Letter to DC educators

Washington Post ‘Series’ on Fixing DC public schools (w/ interviews and video)

'Slumdog' Soundtrack

2009-03-13T16:11:00.005-04:00

I rarely download or buy full CDs, but I'm going to have to get this one. The Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack is beyond phenominal! Plus, I adore world music. I've yet to see the film, but the music makes me want to (and I suppose all the awarded Oscars as well...)

Here's a couple tracks - Jai Ho by A.R. Rahman and "Aaj Ki Raat". Enjoy!

Jai Ho (Featuring Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah & Mahala) - A.R. Rahman

Aaj Ki Raat - Sonu Nigam

Obama ‘Hope’ Portrait Artist Under Fire

2009-03-12T17:02:00.002-04:00

Here is a link to an interesting article form Wired magazine.

(Obama Hope Artist in Copyright Flap)

I have to say, I side with the Associated Press. Judging from their original photo, I think Fairey was quite careless to claim the ‘vectored’ version as solely his own. Any designer knows how easy it is to use the ‘Live Trace’ feature in Illustrator, and it’s also just as easy to retouch the traced image and add color.

Yes, Fairey’s take is more ‘modern’ than the photograph, but it’s virtually a carbon copy of the original photo in a different media! I’m not sure why Fairey is so defiant in thinking his image does not impose upon infringement laws.

What do you think? Is the AP being to harsh on Fairey? Did Fairey violate copyright laws?
AP's original photo is on the left, Fairey's image is on the right.

Two of a Kind

2009-03-12T09:34:00.004-04:00

I was pondering this yesterday. You ever notice that most married or dating couples are on the same ‘attractiveness’ scale? Meaning, if the women is hot, her male counterpart is usually extremely attractive as well – and vice versa. Now, there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, this is true.

Subconsciously, I think this is also programmed into the human race. Many of us know when someone is out of our league. Secretly, a dorky guy knows that he really has no chance with the 5’9 gorgeous brunette. He may try, but statistically, he’s going to fail. She’s going to end up with someone that is equally as attractive as she is.

Since I cant post photos of people that I know, I’m going to prove my point using celebrity photos. Look below. To some people, Angelina and Brad are about as hot as it gets. They are two irritatingly, but equally attractive, people.

Now look at Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. She’s considered a ‘fashionista’, but in all honesty, she has an awkward look about her. I mean, do you remember ‘Square Pegs”? She’s rather quirky and somewhat dorky. Matthew Broderick is similar. Boyishly charming, but similarly quirky, and brainy looking.

Need I go on? The fact is, Brad would never date someone like Kathy Griffin. And Angelina wouldn’t date someone like Seth Green. As I said, there are exceptions at times. Take a look at the couples you know personally.

All these couples are equal in attractiveness.

*EDIT: I GUESS I STAND CORRECTED, SEE THIS LINK: The Hottie and the Nottie

Restaurant Review: Acadiana

2009-03-10T15:30:00.005-04:00

On Friday night, I went to one of DC’s best kept secrets – a discreet, but elegant, restaurant near Penn Quarter called Acadiana. As you probably know by now, I eat out a lot, and I’m always checking Washingtonian magazine and Opentable.com to find out where the best ‘eats’ are in the area. I have no idea how I missed this place.

Acadiana’s menu is Louisiana inspired, which I thought was brilliant as I was an avid viewer of this past season’s Top Chef (where one of the last challenges was all about Louisiana’s cuisine).

This place has a really ‘old world’ feel, with it’s display of chandeliers, large vases, white table cloths, dark cherry-wood accents, and dim lighting. But somehow, this restaurant is cozy, and not stuffy.

My reservation was honored on time, at 8pm sharp. The wait staff was polite, and incredibly helpful in assisting us with selections.

The seafood crepe gratin was to die for. The seafood filling was cooked to perfection with a kick of hot spices, and the crepe itself was light and fluffy. Oddly enough, just one of these would suffice for a lunch entrée. Our waiter mentioned that this dish was the most ordered appetizers on the menu. I can see why.

For the main course, I ordered my tried and true signature dish – crab cakes. I always judge a restaurant’s quality by how they make their crab cakes. I am after all from Maryland – I take crab seriously! Obviously the meat was not Maryland blue crab, but it was on par. The crab cakes were full of lump crab meat, and not a lot of filler – just how I like it. I ordered Red Beans and Rice as a side, and they were delightful. Very spicy, very robust.

For dessert, I ordered the warm raisin bread pudding. If I died Friday night, I would have died happy because of this dessert. It was perfect, and a great end to a fantastic meal.

The only con I found was regarding the drinks (wine and cocktails). They were quite expensive, and quite ordinary. I was really bummed they didn’t any Riesling by the glass, only by the bottle. But, I guess that is the ‘norm’ these days, which is why I drink most of my cocktails and wine at home.

If you’re looking for some down-home, southern cooking done right – this restaurant is your place. Don’t pass on the Red Beans and Rice!

Angelina Jolie filming ‘Salt’ in DC

2009-03-05T14:27:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I found out that Angelina Jolie and Live Schreiber were filming ‘Salt” in DC until Monday March 9th. Obviously, I had to investigate.

Thanks to the confirmation from my friend Austria and the site ‘On Location Vacations’, I also found out that filming today was to take place near Archives/Navy Memorial metro station. I went down during lunch and snapped a couple photos (the pics are crappy, I got yelled at a couple times for taking them). I also watched them film what looked to be like a chase scene of some sort with two big guys in black coats. No Angie or Live spotting – Angie ended her filming around 9:30am/10:00am I was told.

Filming will continue in SW DC today possibly near L’Efant Plaza. Angie has a few scenes this afternoon. Tomorrow’s filming is rumored to be in Georgetown down by the waterfront.

Unfortunately Central Casting is not hiring any non-union extras – so unless you’re a professional actor, you can’t join in the fun. But you can watch the filming – which is sometimes even MORE fun.

Also Brad Pitt in town meeting on Capital Hill. If I didn’t have an actual job during the daytime hours, I would play paparazzi today.

And, you may want to know, how do I get all this information? I can never reveal my sources.

Fox 5 news dude videotaping

It looked like the Director sat here. Bunch of background actors filming this scene

Flowers Bakery Café (Silver Spring, MD)

2009-03-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

I know I’ve posted about Flowers Bakery before, but I genuinely love this place. If had a bunch of extra cash, I would offer to be an investor. Yesterday after work, I was really tired. I debated, should I go to the gym or should I treat myself to a couple pastries. Well obviously you know which one I chose.

I bought a phenomenal custard fruit tart, a mixed fruit cheesecake, a slice of carrot cake, and the bakery threw in a free strawberry cream puff. Mmmmm… I saved my mixed fruit cheesecake for dinner tonight. I plan on going there again on Saturday for some fresh éclairs. And then I’ll head to the gym afterwards to burn it off.

Have You Read 'What I'm Wearing Today'?

2009-03-01T22:52:00.003-05:00

First, I'd like to apologize for the absence of posts lately. I've been spending all of my free time revamping my freelance business branding. It's taking me longer than expected, but I want to make sure all the legal aspects of my contracts are in order.

In any case, when I do have a bit of downtime, I still try to read my own favorite blogs. One new fav is 'What I'm Wearing Today'. This blogger is a 'girl after my own heart', since she's also a fellow JCrew fanatic. Each day she posts what outfit she's decided to wear for the day - and let me say, this girl has got style. I might have to do my online shopping based on her daily pics from now on. If you're a bonafide shop-a-holic like myself, check her out!

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse

2009-02-24T11:41:00.003-05:00

This weekend, I used no restraint in what I ate. I ate out practically every night, the portions were large and the bills were high. Hitting the gym this week is necessary.

One regret I do not have is, going to Chima Brazilian Steakhouse for Restaurant Week. Many people in the area still haven’t heard about this place, but it’s very similar to the slightly more well known local rival, Fogo De Chao.

The concept is the same – each patron is given a little personal dining ‘sign’. When flipped on one side, your table is surrounded by a parade of waiters slicing and serving up 16 types of rotisserie meats. Flip the cap over again, and the circus stops. If you opt to mix in some veggies, salad, or rice with your meal, a hefty salad bar is offered.

I made the rookie mistake of loading up on the salad bar before sampling the rotisserie meats. After polishing off some superb roasted eggplant and traditional rice and black beans, I flipped my trust sign to signal the ‘meat parade’.

Out of all 16 meats, I tried the Leg of Lamb, Beef Ribs, Lamb Chops, Top Sirloin, Flank Steak and Ribeye - but the Filet Mignon was by far the best. All meats are very tender, and seasoned enough to skip any A1 steak sauce. Next time, I’ll be sure to try the salmon and swordfish, which I heard are superb. This is one advantage Chimas has over Fogo De Chao – seafood options.

This place is excellent for people that have a big appetite, or simply for those who’ve always wanted to compare/contrast various cuts of meat. Large group dining is encouraged, although the ambience is charming enough for a romantic dinner for two. Ultimately though, this place is a haven for gluttony. There should really be a disclaimer that says “Warning: Overeating at Chima’s may cause the “Meat Sweats”. I was quite swollen when I left.

It’s so easy to over-do-it since it’s basically an ‘all-you-can-eat’ steakhouse. Since it was Restaurant Week, we paid roughly $35.09 per person. Normally the price is about $50 per person – also the same as Fogo De Chao.

One of these days, I’ll try 'Fogo' just so I can compare the two venues. But until then, I think Chima’s will be another one of my local favorites. Especially since they also make a killer Amoretto Sour.

Monark Design Studio gets a Facelift

2009-02-18T09:48:00.003-05:00

One of my goals this year was to revamp the corporate identity for my freelance business – Monark Design Studio. I’ve put it off for nearly two years. As a designer, I find it really hard to ‘design’ for myself. I’m more critical of my work, I can’t seem to narrow down my color scheme (because there are so many colors I love), and it’s hard for me to narrow down a final idea/concept. I don’t know why it’s so much easier designing for paying clients.

So far I’m on a roll! I’ve redesigned my logo, revised my main contract, contract addendum (for added projects to the same client), CD art (covers/labels), address labels, mailing labels, Proof Approval form, Production Agreement form, Thank you cards, Estimate request sheet, and Spec Sheet.

All I have left to design are my business cards (which I’m looking into some cool foil stamping options), a booklet of company ‘services’ and ‘samples’, and custom envelopes.

Also on my agenda is updating my resume, resume website, and portfolio book. In this day of economic instability, it is always best to stay prepared for the worst. Right now, I don’t think my job in jeopardy, but things can change instantly. So, I want to make sure I’m up and running in case I have to temporarily default to freelance work for income, but I also want to make sure my resume/portfolio are top notch for any potential job hunt or interview.

Take a look at my new logo. The top portion is a stylized “M”. I’m still trying to decide whether I want the stylized “M” to be a different color from the ornament base or not. I thought a logotype would work best, instead of reverting to the predictable “crown” or “butterfly” symbol for my company name. The curls in the lettering are inspired by my favorite art movement – Art Nouveau. No need to critique it – I’m keeping it whether you like it or not. =)

Mickey Mouse - Here I Come

2009-02-13T09:49:00.003-05:00

Guess where I’m going this weekend?? Disney on Ice!My sister and I are taking my niece and nephew to Disney on Ice at Verizon Center. I don’t think I’m been to the icecapades since I was about 10 (I think it was a Gumby show, or perhaps Barbie...).
I’m really nonschelant about it now, but I bet I’ll get really excited once I see Ariel the Little Mermaid. lol.

I noticed that this show is organized by Feld Entertainment, one of the local coordinators/creators in ice shows and circus' in the DC area. Funny, I interviewed with them a few years ago. I was fresh out of college, and applied to their Mid-Level Designer position. I was quite suprised when I recieved a call to interview. This place was an Illustrator/Designer's heaven, especially if they love all things Disney or Pixar. One of my jobs would have been to draw Disney characters on various promotional items, like mugs, t-shirts, etc. It was key that I could draw majority of Disney's characters accurately. That was a synch, since that's what I had been drawing (in addition to X-Men stuff) since I was a kid. Perfect Job. And there were toys everywhere, and storyboards for ice shows all over the walls. This job was so ideal, I almost peed myself when they gave me the office tour.

Sadly though, I didnt get the job. I didnt have enough previous design/illustrating experience for the position, despite the fact that I had a great portfolio. I didnt blame them though, that position was for a seasoned professional - which I wasnt at the time.

Hm, maybe now I should give it a try and see if they have openings. Who wouldn't love to draw Mickey Mouse all day long AND get paid for it!

Using Restraint

2009-02-12T09:02:00.002-05:00

This is the hardest time of year for me to use restraint from shopping. I love shopping for spring/summer stuff. As you probably remember, I'm on financial lockdown right now, because I'm still in saving mode for my trip to Greece/Germany in July.

I'm totally coveting some items from Banana Republic, JCrew, ShopBop, and Michael Kors. Here are a few of the items I'm drooling over. It's so hard to not add these items to my online shopping cart - especially the blue Michael Kors bag.

Feel free to 'surprise' me with any of these items. I also accept cash or money orders if you want donate to the 'StephHasAShoppingAddiction' Fund. Or heck, just buy the items for yourself. I'll live vicariously through you.

:::99 things:::

2009-02-11T09:45:00.003-05:00

Saw this post on Melissa's blog, and thought I'd play along.
Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog! Here goes:

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain (It was tiny, but still counts)
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea.
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables (Grew some lima-beans @ summer camp, 92’)
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie (does being an extra in an Indie movie count?)
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (will do in July)
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

One in the Same

2009-02-10T09:36:00.002-05:00

I bet you think these are two photos of the same person, right? Wrong!

These two actresses look eerily similar. I have heard the saying that 'everyone has a clone' - but what are the odds that these two look alike, are both actresses, and are both named Jennifer?

On the left is Jennifer Morrison from House MD
On the right is Gennifer Goodwin of Big Love

Personally, I've run into at least 4 people that look like me. I guess I just have one of 'those' faces.

Persepolis

2009-02-08T22:16:00.004-05:00

*(Be warned, this post is LONG)*

I’ve been dying to see this film since its 2007 release. Persepolis won plenty of awards, and even had an Oscar nomination. I’m always a sucker for independent films, and bonus – this one was animated! I watched this film with no pretense, as I had never read a synopsis of the plot. All I knew is that this film had to do with politics, and that is was based on an autobiographical graphic novel.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film was in French, and subtitled in English. In my opinion, subtitled films always stay a little more true to the original story vs. English dubbed. I think Persepolis is offered in both formats, but I recommend the subtitled version.

In short, Persepolis is based on the life of an Iranian woman named Marjane Satrapi. The ‘present day’ scenes are in color, but Marjane’s memories (which is 90% of the film) is in black and white. At the age of 10, Marjane is a very precautious child with an appetite for learning about politics, and sharing her political views. During this time, there is an uprising in her area of Tehran against the Shah of Iran. Her family supports the uprising in hopes of a more just society in Iran as a whole.

Unfortunately, Islamic Fundamentalists win the political elections in Iran, and society is forced into repression. Many of Marjane’s freedoms are slowly taken away. Now she is forced to wear a mandatory head-covering, and adhere to the Fundamentalists new rules about female modesty. Eventually Marjane and her friends and family are horrifically shaken when the start of the Iran-Iraq war ensues.

At this time, Marjane is a typical pre-teen who loves western culture, adores Bruce Lee, and listens to Iron Maden. She is extremely outspoken, and is constantly in trouble because of her non-conformity. Fearing for her safety, Marjane’s parents send her to Vienna Austria to live with a family member.

From this point on, Marjane battles with the isolation of living as an Iranian woman abroad. Her likes, dislikes, values, and ideals are berated by the superficial people she meets, and eventually, Marjane heads on a down-ward spiral of disappointments and disillusionment, in love and life.

Her one constant stronghold through all of this, and also her ‘travelling conscience’, is her grandmother. Overall, this is a really touching story about, not only survival, but contentment. Trying to conform to a world where you are really the ‘odd-ball-out’. It’s about being nostalgic for the ‘good-ol-days’, while realizing that everything you know is crumbling around you. I know the story sounds a bit tragic, but it’s worth watching. There is quite a bit of humor sprinkled throughout the story as well.

I must admit that after watching Persepolis, I’m now even more aware of my ignorance of international affairs – especially those that went on (and are going on) in Iraq and Iran. This is the first film, let alone animated film, that really made me think, and made me more inquisitive about Middle Eastern affairs. Even though we hear about the Middle East all the time on the news, that area of the world is still so foreign to me. I also find myself more interested not only in Iran, but in Marjane Satrapi’s story. Her graphic novel is now on my ‘to read’ list.

I find it perfect that the producers/directors counted it beneficial to stay true to the graphic novel, and create this film as an animated feature vs. live action. The black and white portions of the film, as well as the simplicity of the drawings really add to the charm of this tale.

By the way, no one in the film or novel is named Persepolis. It is simply a reference to the Greek interpretation of the word Pārsa, which means "The City of Persians". “Persepolis” is located in modern day Iran.

Food Review: Pret A Manger

2009-02-05T14:11:00.002-05:00

Have you heard of this place? I'm not even sure how to pronounce the name, but this new venue has been getting rave reviews. And bonus, they are from the UK. And we know only good stuff comes out of the UK, right? (Daniel Craig, Fish n' Chips, Sherlock Holmes, Flight of the Concords, Cadbury's Chocolates, etc.) You get the picture.

Located on 18th and I St. - at first glance, PAM (what I'm calling it for short) looks a little like a ultra-trendy, minimalist French bakery, especially since authentic baguettes are the bread of choice. This place pride's itself on fresh, natural ingredients, with no fillers and no preservatives. That seems to be the trend these days in DC, but it’s still refreshing to have places like PAM in the midst of all the Subway Sub shops and PotBelly's. Fresh croissants are offered in the mornings, and range from simple croissants to Pain au Chocolat - which in my opinion, is the best you're going to get outside of Paris.

All sandwiches are lined up perfectly on display, and they, as well as the soups, are made fresh daily from PAM's full-service kitchen. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any item on their menu, The 'Just Made Cubano' sandwich, and the 'Moroccan Lentil' soup are on my list for next visit. Fresh fruit, bagels, desserts, and Various smoothies are also offered.

Today I tried the Jalapeno Chicken wrap – which includes Bell & Evans chicken, melted Swiss cheese, red peppers, red onions, Pret seasoning and Jalapeno tomato sauce. This warm wrap was pure heaven – I’m officially addicted to this item.

Might I add, as a designer, I love the corporate identity of this place. Very modern, and avant-garde - with all the exposed metal, minimalist packaging, and large typefaces. I think I've found my new favorite lunch spot downtown. Tomorrow morning, I'll sample some of their fresh specialty coffees, as everyone knows I'm a major caffeine addict. I should probably give my money to someone else other than Starbucks.

Pret A Manger - Official Site

When I Was Five…

2009-02-05T12:57:00.002-05:00

I love this tee from Threadless.com:

What it says is so true. As I was growing up, my mom had me keep this little journal for each year of school. I had to write down the names of my school friends, my likes, dislikes, and what I wanted to be when I grew up. I filled out this notebook from Kindergarten to 12th Grade.

When I was 5, I wanted to grow up to be: a mommy, a princess, Malibu barbie, and a Bee Farmer.

Those are much better career choices than the one I chose as an adult!
Who wouldn’t want to be a princess?!