And nothing gets me down.

It’s 10:57pm and by the time I finish writing this, hopefully I’ll be tired enough to go to sleep! Coco is sitting very near me and there are some noisy people next door. Baby and I want (need) to sleep!

Here’s a lovely quote from Abraham-Hicks.

The most significant thing for a parent to contribute to anyone is their own connection and their own stability. An effective parent is a happy parent. An effective parent is a parent who laughs easily and often; and who doesn’t take things so seriously.

This quote has been cracking me up all week.

“We can’t all be stars, because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as I go by.” – Sebastian Horsley

You know it’s summer when my legs are covered in mosquito bites. Ugh!

I’ve been so late to so many different things in my life and I finally saw 500 Days of Summer, fairly recently.

I admit that I wasn’t sure what to think when I finished watching it. All I know for sure is that I had this vague and unsettled feeling, not unlike when I finished watching the Virgin Suicides. The movie got me to thinking, which is good in any case.

Zooey Deschanel and friends have a site called Hello Giggles.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a site called hitRECord.

Congratulations are in order as I made the Dean’s List at school. This is the first time that this has happened to me, ever. I just want to tell the underachiever in me that yes, it can be done, so there.

However, my summer web design class blows. Really. It’s basically a joke and I’m not sure that I want to stick around for the punchline. I might even be the punchline in the end? So far, all signs point to it being antiquated, ridiculous, irrelevant and absurd and that’s what I say to it on a GOOD day. Come on, instructing us to label a folder GRAPHICS instead of IMAGES? Really? Bleh.

At least my other class is pointing me in a different direction. I’m on a path that might just lead me to a particular certificate in a short-ish amount of time. More on that one later.

I’m embarking on the Paleo diet. Baby steps. I’m just 14 lbs. shy of pre-pregnancy weight, but I feel a tad sluggish and generally blah. There’s also the nagging suspicion that I might be lactose challenged and since removing a bit of dairy, I’ve felt a lot better. It’s not just me anymore, I’ve got to figure it out as I am the host organism for the Coco and she’s sensitive when I consume dairy, chocolate and caffeine.

For exercise, I’m thinking Tracy Anderson vs. Crossfit. Ms. Anderson is tough, but Crossfit is tougher. Baby steps, yet again.

Speaking of, I just watched What About Bob? for the dozenth (is that a word?) today. Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss are genius. My kind of humor.

Wait, that movie is 20 years old?

I think I love Turntable.fm.

I think that I prefer the music channels on Comcast more than HBO on demand, so there. I said it. Most of the time, you’ll find me on the Hip Hop Classics channel hoping to catch some KRS-One, Slick Rick and Kool Moe Dee, although the 80′s and Classic Alternative channels aren’t shabby. All of the channels are a poorman’s version of VH1 Pop-Up Video. Beware, because you might find yourself at the intersection of Chris DeBurgh’s Lady in Red vs. Keith Sweat’s I Want Her. Don’t say that you weren’t warned!

Nice lip synch, guy!

Get out of my dreams, get into my car.

Coco and I say good night. Or good morning by the time I post this.

Private eyes are watching you. They see your every move.

I leave you with this kitty. He/she is scared of apples. Apples!

Shine on,
Lisa

Um, wow. Long time, no update.

It’s been almost a month. For shame, bad Lisa.

Another fact that I have realized is that I was already pregnant when I did Ignite Seattle 11. As if following Jacob A. during my talk wasn’t intimidating enough! I was pregnant and in a very tight dress, having rideshared in the trunk of a VW Fox station wagon, crunched up next to Biodiesel fuel (no joke). I’ve got to find the pic of that. So it’s been 9 months since then. Unbelievable.

Meet Coco Simone, the kidlet. Labor took 3.5 hours and it was natural. Amazing how something goes from a pain level of 8 to 18 in a matter of minutes. Don’t let anyone on earth or anywhere else tell you that it doesn’t hurt like he*l, because they’re liars and savages if they do. I’m recovering very well though and it feels like I’ve already lost 30 lbs. I’m still getting the hang of sleeping in increments of 2 hours at a time.

So as this site (and my FB, Twitter, Flickr, everything else) doesn’t turn into a repository of everything baby related (oh my god, look at her wake up, look at her poop, look at her half smile, look at her _________ fill in whatever thing #209485885), we’ve made a site just for her. Between Tumblr, iPhones, and everything else, it’s a cinch to have a website devoted to baby. Keeping everyone in the loop, no matter how near or far.

Coco Simone.com

It’s been tiring, but also fun, I must admit, as she’s nearly 9 days old. She’s a good sleeper during the day (right after my own heart) and seems to already have a robust sense of humor. Hopefully I’ll feel less misanthropic as the days wear on, but we’ll see.

New Life by Depeche Mode. I’ll always love you, Dave Gahan.

It’s what’s for dinner.

Not really, but everything has felt very political as of late, between my classes at school (I’m not even immune in my MATH class, for crying out loud!) and what’s been going on with world events.

Rather than get into everything that’s already been said and done elsewhere, for better and worse, I’m just going to share some stuff that I’ve been perusing over the past few days.

From Neil Gaiman’s journal, the Opinions of a Pencil-Necked Weasel-Thief. I used to live in Anoka and then south Minneapolis and found it to be quite an interesting place. The climate and I didn’t agree, much like my current climate dilemma here in Portland. Back to my point, well, I’m not sure what my point is except that I respect Neil for his response. Bravo!

Here are the top 1000 baby names in the US for 2010, according to the Social Security Administration.

Where do you rank?

Aeon Flux will always be one of my favorite cartoons. Ever. Thanks for reminding me, Mo.

You’re skating the edge. I AM the edge.

End Your Insomnia, Snoring, and Other Common Sleep Problems with These Expert Tips

Oh, snoring. Yeah. A continual issue for me in more ways than one. Hopefully it’s not sleep apnea and will go away after pregnancy.

I’m very excited to go a TEDx event in Portland. This is going to be the TEDxConcordia University one. Tickets are still available.

A truly heartwarming story. Phoenix gay dads adopt, raise 12 kids.

I had braces back in the day, for a long time. Chances are that I might need them again. Wear your retainer was life advice that I didn’t take to heart, but maybe it’s not too late?

Biting Facts About Braces from Neatorama

I found a new stylist after having to break up with the one that I was seeing. If you have anything remotely resembling unruly or difficult hair, I implore you to find a stylist that makes you happy. Life’s too short to worry about it, especially when you have a lot of variables.

Check out Flip Salon in NE Portland if you’re local yocal. Karla gave me a cut that will work au naturel or if I want to torture it straight with blowouts and flat irons.

Lots of gifts have been coming in for Little Miss Coco and the baby shower hasn’t even happened yet! This is all really out there for me and every moment reinforces that. Such strange times, especially if I compare them to several years ago, but I’m not comparing things anymore, I’m putting a lot of crap behind me. People who are around are still there for good reason and those that aren’t? Well, they might not have mattered all that much, after all, and that’s the way that I see it.

Less than a month until the “scheduled due date”, but we’ll see. My three classes at school? Well, hmm. I didn’t pass my last math test (!), but I got an A+ on my Psych midterm and am not doing too badly in my Writing class, and that was the toughest one for me, at first. Here’s to rounding everything out and figuring out the next step. I *might* be brave and try a summer class, but hey now. No overextending!

Speaking of overextending myself, my last day on the job went without a hitch and I received a very sweet card from all of my lovely co-workers AND a gift card for a local hoity toity baby and kids resale shop. Everyone has been really terrific about helping out and it’s more than appreciated.

Onward and upward, nearly hopeless Portland crappy weather notwithstanding.

Shine on,
Lisa

I’m referring to one in particular, the Magic Castle that is in Los Angeles.

This one:

It’s been 10 days since I got back from a trip to civilization, aka my hometown. It was great to see the friends that I did manage to see, but I’m sad that I couldn’t fit everything and everyone in that I wanted to. Boo-hoo. However, I did attend a wedding of some friends that was divine. The adjectives elegant, classy, minimal, and exuberant come to mind and I was pleased to be there to see it happen.

It was nice to visit my dad as well and hang out and chitchat. Hopefully it won’t be over a year until we see each other again!

Happy birthday, Bettie Page! I still can’t believe that she a) made most all of her own costumes and b) danced without music most of the time. What a goofball.

I’ve been purging and changing a lot of things as of late and I just got a new phone and new glasses, in addition to shedding one of my jobs. My schedule has been too hectic for me and I couldn’t keep up with the demands of everything, that’s for damn sure.

Hat tip to Gregg for linking me to Spex Club. These glasses are the Mercer style and with an internet coupon, only cost $63! You read that correctly, and that’s complete with anti-scratch lenses, too, and shipping. Spex Club comes highly recommended, and the turnaround was quick!

During the trip to L.A., one of our hotel rooms was haunted. Actually, it was the ballast, but haunted sounds much more intriguing, no? Thanks, Extended Stay America in Westchester.

A lot has happened since March 24th, when I last updated here. Shame on me!

This Saturday, I’ll be 34 weeks along and it’s getting to the point where I really feel my lack of autonomy. Balance issues galore, but I’m still doing great with zero morning sickness and I’m at about 37 lbs. with the weight gain. We went to a birth tour last Sunday of the hospital where Coco will be born and I was surprised.

I mean, I’m still skeptical, but I no longer have this overwhelming feeling that I’m going to have quite the ordeal with the patriarchal medical system. There are tubs in some of the rooms and a couple of the rooms honestly felt like they were in a decent hotel, as opposed to the medicinal sterility of an ICU room, for example. I’ve spent way too much time in ICU rooms throughout my life and the experience last weekend seemed to be the antithesis of that.

This is what 32 weeks looked like and I finally filled out this weird vintage hand-painted maxi dress that I’ve never worn before.

School has been super tough. I mean it. I turned in Essay #1 for my critical thinking class, have been plugging away with my Psych class and got an 88% on my first math test! Go me. I’m worried that the math will be short-lived, though as it started feeling like hieroglyphics again this week, but we’ll see. My teacher is something else, and I’m thankful that he worked with me while I went out of town.

It’s weird to have to break up with your hairstylist, but I’m faced with that very prospect. I’m trying someone new first and we’ll see how it goes. I might have to compromise a little bit with my maintenance routine with my hair, but we’ll see what works out.

I’m really enjoying the fashions from Jac Langheim. Latex, wearable. Not so much on the fetish tip, thankfully. Time and place and context, you know.

I do miss my normal equilibrium and balance. What little bit I have left feels like it’s been slipping away during these last few weeks of pregnancy. Maybe I can wear something like this. I love Grace Jones.

Constructivist maternity!

I’ve been reading a lot of different viewpoints about having children, lately. My opinion is that you deal with it if it happens, as I’m doing, and I don’t necessarily mean in a political way like being pro-life or pro-choice. The decision is each her or his own.

Like I said in the About section on this site, I was always in the someday camp, but I had revised that fairly recently since I have PCOS and figured that it if it didn’t happen, well, what would happen? I wasn’t going to die. I wasn’t going to jump off of the Golden Gate Bridge or behave selfishly or anything else or vent to all of my friends about what a travesty it is. I’d take it all in stride, like I’m doing with Coco’s upcoming birth. Remember that I mentioned in a previous entry that I was never voted “Most Likely to Have Children”? Yeah, there’s that, too.

I don’t fault people who have children. I don’t fault people who DO NOT have children. Two things that I’ve learned along the way with my pregnancy. One, you will do yourself a great disservice if you watch birthing videos before the 8th month (no joke, I’m talking nearly irreparable harm) and secondly, there is never the “perfect” time to have kids. Ever.

Shine on,
Lisa

There’s a lot on my mind this morning.

I would say that I really do have a lot on my mind every morning, but today, on this particular morning, I happen to have a lot more answers, which is unusual. Perhaps when I open the math books that I’m hiding at the bottom of this heap, I’ll have a lot more questions again. :/

Yep, full-time schooling starts on Monday, the 28th and I’m taking Math, Psychology and English. I got all the classes, no more wait lists for me! Hooray!

Google goes Gaga. Tony‘s right, it is better than some movies. I appreciate her candidness and she really seems likable, which is more than I can say about quite a few icons out there.

Thank you to Matt for making me aware of existence of this website.

Dear blank, please blank.

Dear banks,

Please stop charging me money for not having enough money.

Sincerely, I’m already broke without your help.

Dear whites and coloreds,

You’ll stay segregated as long as I have a say in it.

Sincerely, washing machine.

Speaking of washing machines, it’s funny to carry laundry to the laundry room when you’re very pregnant. Balance and stability take on entirely new meanings, but I managed just fine.

Two days until I’m 30 weeks along. It feels like the home stretch!

Speaking of icons, I’ll share with you one of my favorite photos of Elizabeth Taylor, who recently passed away. This photo is significant for two reasons. One, the look in her eyes, and two, what she is and isn’t wearing.

Before there was the 90′s grunge scene and Vogue would show models wearing a slip with Doc Martens and flannels, there was Elizabeth in this slip in this pic from Butterfield 8.

I wondered why everyone didn’t wear slips as outerwear after seeing this when I was little! Yes, I’m aware of the connotations of lingerie outside the boudoir, but it was the attitude that she conveyed with the look and pose that says both “come hither” and “I’m not to be trifled with as I don’t give two s**ts!” Right?

Most of the blogs that I’ve seen about her today are focusing on her as a fashion icon. I’m focusing more on her work in the name of AIDS awareness, fundraising and education. She also made quite the impact in the cosmetics and jewelry industries, being one of the very first celebrities with their own fragrance empire and beyond.

Here’s a fascinating story.

Old Sparky: The Shocking History of the Electric Chair from WebUrbanist.

The rest of the day finds me waiting for the delivery a new refrigerator as the existing one is quite the Motherclunker/Motherclucker. Seriously, this kitchen appliance thinks of itself as more of a rooster!!

It not only clucks, but it does this in a very untimely manner with increasing frequency.

In using Google search images, I entered “crazy fridge” and eventually came upon this image. It’s a goodie. Too bad I can’t blame one of the kitties for the fridge malfunctioning!

Shine on,
Lisa

As I think about this year, I think of where I actually want this site to take me.

Or is it the reverse? It’s more like where I want to take this site. When I initially started it a year ago, I’d found myself in a place of lost confidence. I had just made some major life changes that ended up spawning other things (pun intended).

My initial vision with this site was to interview friends and whomever and learn all that I could about finding one’s niche, since I’ve felt so confused as to what I’ve wanted from my own life through the years.

Now here I am in 2011. I remember way back when, when I was in middle school and thinking, “Wow, 1992 is going to take forever to get here.” 1992 would have been the year that I graduated high school, had I been on the straight and narrow path.

I’ve really no regrets and I believe that the people in my life now and those that I’m creating, belong there. Not all that long ago, I’d deluded myself into thinking that I had some answers to questions that had plagued me incessantly, the ones involving partnerships and loneliness. It turns out that was yet another rancid onion layer. The irony is that I might cross paths with a discarded layer or two in the near future.

There are so many things going on this world currently, that it’s heartbreaking. I’m not specifically avoiding mentioning everything that’s occurring right now, especially in other parts of the world, but I do feel so helpless in so many ways. I do my best to vote with my dollars, either supporting with my funds or in some cases, withdrawing those funds for businesses and entities that behave unethically and unjustly. Sometimes it’s a gray area, which is even more frustrating.

The international issues everywhere else do affect us here in this country and I find it disheartening that there are still people out there who don’t grasp this basic concept.

One company that has truly surprised me is Forever 21. Today only (March 18th), 100% of every online purchase is going to help the earthquake and tsunami recovery efforts in Japan. Again, I’m very surprised!

So I’m going to Los Angeles for a few reasons next month, mainly that there’s a wedding that I’m delighted to be invited to. Visits to old friends and family are going to be piggybacked on this very occasion. Los Angeles is my destination from April 7th through the 11th.

You are listening to Los Angeles. At least I am right now as I do some work from home today. Police scanners and ambient music, and it’s kind of awesome.

Between being “more” pregnant now (I’m nearly 29 weeks and have put on 27 total lbs. so far), sustaining my recent schedule has been putting my sleep and therefore health at odds and I’ll need to cut back and figure things out. My full-time school schedule hasn’t been ironed out yet, as I only have 1 of 3 classes that I need, officially. I’m #1 on the wait list for the other two and I think that’s a good chance that I might get them, no? I’ll show up during those first weeks and see what happens.

I’ve rediscovered I Can Read, which is one of my favorite Tumblr subscriptions and the photos posted throughout this entry. The redesign that I mentioned before, well, I’ve got the vision in my head and will need to work some CSS magic to implement it soon.

Today I leave you with something from Seth Godin’s blog. It’s called Seven questions for leaders.

Do you let the facts get in the way of a good story?

What do you do with people who disagree with you… do you call them names in order to shut them down?

Are you open to multiple points of view or you demand compliance and uniformity? [Bonus: Are you willing to walk away from a project or customer or employee who has values that don't match yours?]

Is it okay if someone else gets the credit?

How often are you able to change your position?

Do you have a goal that can be reached in multiple ways?

If someone else can get us there faster, are you willing to let them?

No textbook answers… It’s easy to get tripped up by these. In fact, most leaders I know do.

Shine on,
Lisa

I need an update.

I also need an update to the design of this site. It’s been a year and I’m tired of looking it. Hmm. Ideas, I has them.

Unclaimed money. Go get your money. Seriously. This is legit. You’re welcome.

Michael Hansmeyer. I have no words for his projects, except a cliche, maybe. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, right? Click in piccie to make it bigger.

It’s no secret to anyone that knows me how fascinated I am with drag, ladyboys, illusions, becoming someone else and all that jazz. “Don’t f**k it up,” has been my motto as of late.

Stanley Kubrick passed away today, in 1999. 2001 is still a cinematic wonder to behold.

John Freida’s 3 Day Straight might change your routine. Really. It’s shortened my styling time throughout the week and I’m very appreciative. I’ll keep on fighting the good fight against frizz, especially in the crappy weather of the Pacific Northwest.

A YouTube user named lucicouture gives a very good thorough review of this product. I’m lazy or I would do a video review myself. She extolls this product’s virtues and I agree with every single one of them. Since I’m pregnant, I can’t use some of the more extreme versions of this product, such as the keratin based straighteners like Coppola’s Smoothing System. Why take a chance on them if I’m not sure if they’re formaldehyde or aldehyde based? Sometimes the vanity monster runs deep within me, but even I’m not that misguided to risk it.

Yeah, I know that I’m a few years behind the times, but I’ve been really appreciating Spinnerette, especially today. Speaking of music, I was considering making April a song a day month where I post a song and/or video of songs from the past that have shaped me in some way, all the way across the board.

I think that I might be overdoing it with my current schedule, as today I just feel beat. My lower back is not happy, as I seem to work every single day. Random fun seems like a thing of the past. And to think that I’m registering for a full-time course load at PCC for Spring term.

Don’t get me wrong, I am completely aware that everything will absolutely change when Coco gets here. However, I’ve got to work on balance and figure out how to maintain a healthy attitude when everything is so new, foreign, and that I was never voted “most likely to be a mom”. People change, I know, and yesterday marked 27 weeks.

This TED talk was inspiring and I daresay that I relate to the loneliness thing, above all else.

Shine on,
Lisa

This is another random update.

I’ve been amassing so many links these days and I’ve got to share them somewhere, no? Gee, what about on my own website?

For all the whining I’ve done throughout the years, it turns out that there might actually be something scientific to having hair that is unruly! Uncombable hair syndrome.

A characteristic morphologic feature of hair in this syndrome is a triangular to reniform to heart shape on cross-sections, and a groove, canal or flattening along the entire length of the hair in at least 50% of hairs examined by scanning electron microscopy.

Most individuals are affected early in childhood and the hair takes on a spun-glass appearance with the hair becoming dry, curly, glossy, lighter in color, and progressively uncombable.

I’m in love, or at least, deep like, with The Hairpin. I’ve wasted a bit of time over there lately.

How to actually stretch too small shoes sounds like something that I’m going to do very soon. Come on now, I know that you’ve got some shoes that don’t fit well and you’ll want to join me in trying this out.

I’ve seen this all over the web, but rumors I’ve heard about Anna Wintour is still comedy gold. Scram Armani!

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with soda, and This American Life discovers Coke secret formula from Kottke.

I’m not sure what to make of this tumblr, but I’m glad that Justin Bieber didn’t win. Gives me renewed hope that the Grammys aren’t completely irrelevant.

Who is Arcade Fire?

Confessions of an Apple store employee from Popular Mechanics

Change is good, but it’s also really hard. From GigaOM and I think that it’s a must-read.

Do not allow yourself to become the by-product of a miserable job.

How to stay motivated when you hate your job from Dumb Little Man.

From Psychology Today, too young to look old: what youth fears about aging

From Make, car enthusiast Michael Bakiewicz put together this time lapse movie of his Suzuki car putting itself together. Great!

I’m excited to hear the entirety of Elbow’s new album, Build a Rocket Boys!

The rest of the day finds me relaxing from work, and going down to PCC to figure out some things. Should I be pregnant, work part to semi full time AND go to school full time? Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!!

Shine on,
Lisa

She’s poking me. A lot. Often.

Thanks, Coco! That said, I’ve also been a bit more tired lately and have also experienced lots of ADHD symptoms, too. Coincidences, perhaps. And this too shall pass.

I love this site. This is not porn. Don’t worry, it’s safe for work. Nothing too weird. Vintage and more candid-type celebrity photos. This is currently my favorite.

I really want these Double Grip Clips from Sock Dreams

All of these products from the Eminence Organics line from Hungary will change your life. Ok, maybe not, but what their combined actions do will change the appearance of your eyes. Seriously! I no longer look quite as tired as I feel (whew!). Plus, they smell wonderful, to boot.

Radiohead’s latest song and video, Lotus Flower. I like it.

Susannah Breslin’s Things I’ve learned since I got downsized is a good read. I’d almost forgotten about her blog and found it again today through a link of a link of a link.

Considering that I spend more time on CraigsList than I’d like to, here’s something helpful to make it less aggravating. I found CraigsEasy through a link on Baby Cheapskate. So much easier when looking for random goodies!

Some of you might remember that I’d mentioned 23andme.com in a previous entry here, Genetics. I finally sent off my DNA testing kit and it’s being analyzed as I type this! I’m so excited to see the results.

This kid is so awesome. He did a presentation at Ignite Phoenix about “Why I Love My 3D Printer”. Inspiring and educational. I only wish that I’d have this as reference before I did my talk at Ignite Seattle.

Seattle friends, check out today’s Groupon for Trophy Cupcakes. I used to live within 2 blocks of the one in Wallingford and I predict that I might have some at my future baby shower. They’re that yummy and are part of some of my better memories of Seattle.

Shine on,
Lisa

It’s so surreal to think that it’s been 20 years (!) since I’ve been attending “raves”.

That word still makes me feel odd and really old somehow. Anyhow, it’s interesting to see how it all comes full circle, repeatedly. Bigger stakes, but this is such deja vu, minus Paris Hilton, though.

Rave controversy spills into L.A. City Council race
Paris Hilton endorses controversial L.A. rave promoter Insomniac Events

This is our official registry for Colette. I’m not posting it like I’m begging for stuff, but merely to figure out what I need to add. Hey, I’ll do it while I still sort of have some free time before she’s born. It’s time to figure out what else she could possibly need other than sturdy winter coats, eh? Never mind that she’ll be born in June!

I’ve been avoiding most “maternity” clothes as they are so matronly, hippie, Sailor Jerry/Ed Hardy rip-offs and are just FUG and ridiculous. Ew. So far, I’ve managed to do ok with bigger than my usual size tunic type tops and dresses and leggings combined with my Sock it To Me socks and Doc Martens.

I did find a NWT Liz Lange military inspired maternity coat at Goodwill for $7.99 and that’s helped me brave the cold as of late. Give me maternity fishnets! Give me Agent Provocateur with their frilly and expensive underthings!

I’ve had nightmares about Mom Jeans, no joke!

Powell’s Books lays off 31 workers. Boooooo!

An old friend I’ve known for a few years from the days of L.A. (hello Derby Burlesque!) is getting mad props for her latest and greatest goings-on and I’m so happy for her! If you’re in Portland, I highly recommend True Romance on the big screen at the Bagdad for Valentine’s Day

Also check out her book club! Go Nico.

Book clubs spring in up in Portland, offering options for every taste

Movie watching as of late includes Ip Man 2 and The Road (good and the book was great).

If you’re on such a tight budget like I am, check out your local CraigsList for amazing (and sometime free!) deals on pampering. I got to experience two types of amazing Aveda facials at the Aveda Institute here in Portland yesterday. My skin is so luminous and glowy.

I’ve been using some different products as of late made by my spa’s apothecary line and also by Eminence Organics of Hungary. Smells and is nearly good enough to eat, I’m not kidding. I have been doing my best to put nice things into my daily routines, eating wise and topically. Of course, you need to consult your doctor if you’re pregnant or have any other medical conditions that might be contraindications to certain products and ingredients.

That said, I’ve been doing my best to use most everything that I can before purchasing new stuff. Chances are that you too have some items like beauty and hair products or possibly makeup that you need to use and finish, lest you succumb to the temptation to try new products. Use what you have or give it away or toss it if it smells bad or is otherwise funky.

Ok, what’s going on with blondes from the past and animals!!?? EEEEEK. Hat tip to Mo. D’arcy Wretzsky of Smashing Pumpkins and Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons. Dude.

22 manly ways to reuse an Altoids tin! Just throw the mouse you caught in your boxcar on this portable grill. Dinner is served! Hehe. EW.

I miss having black hair. I’ve had this current range of color(s) for nearly 3 years (in July, to be exact) and I found this old pic of me at Penny’s house. This was originally taken in Minneapolis in 2003. However, I know that if I dyed it back to black that I might immediately regret it.

I found inspiration in this pic of the wonderfully leggy Nadja Auermann from either an Elle or a Harper’s Bazaar shoot and issue from around 1994-ish. Shot by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.

That’s all I’ve got for this installment.

Shine on,
Lisa