Eeeps!!!

I'm clearly a little behind in my daily drawings ... will try to get back on that bandwagon soon.

In the meantime a little "before and after" post.

BEFORE: Dinner of marinaded chicken and asparagus/red pepper side

AFTER: Lunch of salad with leftovers cut up as salad fixins + croutons!

This first summer of no job and no student loans (coming IN) is making me quite frugal and creative indeed!

Day 4. Favorite Place.

Just a few examples.  I also wanted to draw "high places" because I really like the view from on-high but I thought it might look more suicidal a la "Wing Tips Over the Edge" by Kaplan (mentioned in Kaplan v. Stock Market Photo Agency, Inc.) (tried and couldn't find a photo online - if anyone can, please link me!).

Day 3. Favorite Food.

 

I don't have a favorite food.  I have LOADS of favorite foods!  It was hard to pick just a few - I almost just resorted to drawing a cow - b/c I love steak and milk and all dairy products (cheese, ice cream, yogurt, milkshakes, chocolate, etc.).  The lemonade is a new/recurring love.  My mom just bought a juicer and now she makes homemade lemonade with lemons and apples and it's UH-MAAAAAAAAAZING!!!  I have to drink some EVERY day!

Day 2.

For my favorite animal - I sat thinking for a good 5 minutes.  I don't have a favorite animal - I might've liked bunnies when I was younger but not anymore.  There's no specific animal that I have photos or figurines of.  No animal that ppl always buy gifts of.  So I sat and puzzled.  And I remembered that I have a specific favorite animal.  My puppy Rocky - he was only mine from 2004 to 2006.  But I loved him more than I've ever loved anything else (other than my family).

The photo below is the one I had in mind when I was drawing.

 

(I thought my drawing looked passable - 

but now that you can compare, it's really sad and actually quite laughable...)

Day 1 (late).

 

"yourself" 

This is me.  Wearing an awesome trapeze blouse I wish I owned with shoes I wish I owned (or even existed?).  That is a purple Elliott Lucca bag I do own with my black iPhone G4 in its pink Kate Spade case.

Bad start!!!

Today was SOOO busy and it wasn't even my fault!!!

No one in my family could pick me up from the park-and-ride stop where I get off in NJ so I had to putz around the city all day (actually I sat at school and did Barbri homework).

So today's a bit of a cheat - but tomorrow - I promise - TWO pictures!

But not today.

I thought today would be June 1st.  I'll be starting my drawing challenge tomorrow - so the days and numbers match up!

=)  Just handed in a 40-page final paper.  Now I'm FINALLY done with law school!

And onto the BAR EXAM!!!
(listening to the 3 hour lecture I missed this morning now...) BOOooooOOoOoOOoOoOOoo~~

New things.

My sister (over at her blog) has started a summer challenge of trying something new everyday.  I saw the image above on imgfave and decided I need something to kickstart all my promises of reinvigorating the blog.  I figure this was a good way to start getting my creative juices flowing.

Today is Day 0 (finishing up edits on one last little graduation requirement).  I will start tomorrow.  Look forward to it.

New uses for other things.

One of the most creative/useful of these types of lists I've seen lately.

Found on Elle:

1. Old Buttons
Repurpose spare buttons by using them to keep pairs of earrings together: Most buttons have at least two holes in them, so simply place an earring in each opening to neatly store when not wearing. Photo: Jupiter Images

2. Eyebrow Brush
Stuck without a lint-remover? Use this handy makeup tool to remove unwanted fuzz from your shirt. Photo: Courtesy of Sephora

3. Dryer Sheets
No time for a shampoo? Rub a dryer sheet on your hair to tame flyaways and make your hair smell shower fresh. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

4. Unused Stockings
Create a chic shrug by taking a pair of tights or stockings and cutting off the feet (or use a pair of footless tights to save a step). Place arms where legs would normally go and—voila!—you’ve created a sleek spring alternative to a shawl or cardigan. Take it a step further by cutting slashes into the fabric, à la Monique Lhuillier’s ballerina-inspired fall 2009 collection. Photo: Imaxtree

5. Shimmer Eye Shadow
Between visits to your colorist touch up dark roots by spraying a light hairspray onto them and—depending on what hue your highlights are—brushing a shimmering gold or brown eye shadow over the top. Photo: Courtesy of Nordstrom

6. Toothpaste
Have yellow nails? Scrub them with toothpaste to remove stains and add shine. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice for extra whitening; it’s a natural bleaching agent. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

7. Eggs
Strengthen hair by creating an egg yolk-and-olive oil hair mask. The protein in the egg yolk will toughen up tresses, while the olive oil will act as a conditioning agent. Photo: Jupiter Images

8. Toilet Paper
Don’t want to splurge on oil blotting sheets? Take a thin toilet-paper square and use it to blot excess oil on your T-zone. Photo: Jupiter Images

9. Facial Toner
Did you make a mistake applying your self-tanner? An alcohol-infused astringent or toner can help fix splotches and streaks. Photo: Courtesy of Walgreens

10. Honey
If your skin is sensitive and blotchy, apply a couple tablespoons of honey to your face and leave on for five to 10 minutes. The honey will moisturize, soothe, and help kill blemish-causing bacteria. Photo: Jupiter Images

11. Cooking Spray
Rather than spray quick-dry oil on your nails, reach for a cooking spray instead. Just be sure it’s the original, unflavored version or you might get grossed out by garlic-scented cuticles. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

12. Nail Polish
Secure buttons by applying a thin layer of polish to the center to keep thread from coming loose. Coating the bottom of your shaving-cream can with lacquer can also prevent rust stains from forming on your squeaky-clean bathtub. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

13. Flat Iron
A hair straightener works great for ironing between buttons on your shirt, where a regular iron doesn’t fit. You can also use it for minor wrinkles on your blouse when you’re in a hurry. Photo: Courtesy of ghd

14. Body Lotion
To tame unwanted flyaways, rub a dime-size amount of hand or body lotion in your palms and brush lightly on problem spots. Photo: Courtesy of Molton Brown

15. Antacid Tablets
All out of toilet cleanser? Toss in two dissolving antacid tablets, wait 20 minutes, and brush. This will help to remove those nasty stains around the toilet bowl. Photo: Courtesy of Jupiter Images

16. Clear Tape
Remove dry skin from lips by pressing the sticky side of tape to your pucker, or see what a nail polish color will look like without the mess by placing a small piece on your nail and doing a quick test. Photo: Courtesy of Jupiter Images

17. Petroleum Jelly
Help avoid blisters from those stylish-yet-painful stilettos by coating problem spots with petroleum jelly before slipping shoes on. Also: Neaten a nail job by dabbing on skin around your cuticles pre-polish. This way, if you make a mistake, the polish is easily wiped away. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

18. Listerine Mouthwash
Have a painful blister that popped? To disinfect, dab a few drops of Listerine Mouthwash on—it’s a powerful antiseptic. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

19. Yogurt
If you burn your forehead using a curling iron, slather plain yogurt on the wound—the coolness will help with swelling and the yogurt will reduce redness and speed the healing process. Photo: Courtesy of Dannon

20. Paper Towels
Don’t have rollers on hand? Wrap hair in twisted paper towels; you can use more or less leaflets depending on how large or small you want the diameter of your curls to be. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

21. Vinegar
Considered a natural bleach and powerful cleanser, vinegar (just a dab) can reduce the blueness of bruise. This kitchen staple can also be used in your bubble bath to help prevent yeast infections. Tip: Try apple-cider vinegar for a less pungent smell. Photo: Jupiter Images

22. Rubber Band
Make room for an expanding waistline by hooking a rubber band through the buttonhole of your pants; secure the other side to the button, and wear a tunic top to cover up your handiwork. Photo: Jupiter Images

23. Hair Conditioner
When you’re low on shaving cream, hair conditioner can provide a smooth, slick barrier between your razor and sensitive skin. Photo: Courtesy of Pantene Pro-V

24. Cornstarch
Detangle a knot in seconds: Rub cornstarch into stubborn knots on shoelaces, string, chain necklaces for greater grip and control. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

25. Oatmeal
Whether you have dry, itchy winter skin or discomfort from summer mosquito bites, mixing cooking oats into your bath will provide instant relief. Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com

Note to self: Do not Google how to destroy my enemies...

This article discusses the evolving case against Jared Loughner (Arizona gunman responsible for supermarket shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others) and the likely use of his internet search history in the case against him.

We (or at least I) already knew the following:

Information posted on sites like Facebook and MySpace has already been used by police, probation officers, and university officials to punish criminals who were dumb enough to make information of their wrong-doing public.

The article adds:

Increasingly though, non-public web search information like the kind being used against Loughner is being forcibly collected from defendants’ computers or even subpoenaed directly from websites that the suspects used. 

Interesting ...

While many people support prosecuting pedophiles, murderers, and terrorists using any information attainable, these sorts of cases set judicial precedents that can’t be easily erased.

True.  And while I want the right to privately search whatever I want on Google (sometimes a girl has questions that she can only ask anonymously...) I also want police to be able to do this:

Another example of this same sort of privacy invasion happened when a 4-year court case came to a close after the conviction of Rosario DiGorolamo. After years of pleading his innocence to the courts he finally admitted his guilt after records for “lethal karate blows to the back of the head” were revealed.  These internet searches were made just before his wife’s murder, which was carried out in a similar fashion.

 Call me old-fashioned, but if you can PROVE that an alleged murderer did an internet search on HOW to commit the murder, you should just go ahead and use that evidence.

So the takeaway, start using public library computers that can not be traced back to you...Or just don't murder people.

Confessions of a fat girl.

 From this non-believer

I seriously just want to eat a bucket of KFC crispy chicken... SKIN.

No joke, just the SKIN.

So, I was searching the internet for an appropriate image when I come upon these articles unearthing a CRUEL CRUEL hoax for the KFC Skinwich ...

Why would you tease me like this, cruel cruel world?

Apparently, it would've tasted delicious!  (not that I doubt it).

Unicorn hair bath mats.

From the NYTimes:

Fresh towels and throw pillows: add $25,000. Geraldine Onorato represented a client selling a two-bedroom where the buyers received offers for no more than $450,000. Ms. Onorato spent $700 on a fresh bath mat and fluffy white towels and brought in an offer for $475,000.

Ms. Onorato spent $700 on a fresh bath mat and fluffy white towels and brought in an offer for $475,000. 

WHERE IS SHE BUYING THESE TOWELS??? IS THE BATH MAT MADE OF UNICORN HAIR???

 

P.S. The photo subject would like to be credited "for looking so good."

The 3 Ps.

Pretty, Pink, and Practical.

Most people know how much I love pink.  Most people also know how much I love pretty things.  The thing that a lot of people don't know about me, though, is how much I love practical things.

For example, I often receive a lot of gifts that encompass only 2 of the 3 "P"s.  I get a lot of pink and pretty gifts.  But they are not always the most practical.  I LOVE practicality.

I decided to compile a little list of things I love that meet all 3 Ps.

n.a.p. Robe from Brookstone

Pink rhinestone earbuds

From LG

From Amazon.com

From Maxell

Another from Amazon.com

Last one from Amazon.com

Burberry Pink Cashmere Scarf

n.a.p. Slippers from Brookstone

 

Pink Umbrellas 

(usually LOVE pink umbrellas - but just got a new pink one w/black pinstripes!)

Not so light.

I usually (recently) like to keep my posts pretty light.  But sexual assault has been an issue my SO and I have been discussing quite a bit in the past few weeks stemming from the Julian Assange debacle over on the other side of the Pacific.

One time J asked me if it was "normal" or "typical" to make such a big deal over extradition of an alleged sex criminal.  I couldn't really think of any examples - mostly drug or Mafia lords or mass murderers who sought shelter in South American countries.

Another time J said he hadn't quite believed the sexual assault charges until he read about Assange's OkCupid profile.  He said he couldn't believe that the WikiLeaks founder (someone so influential and smart) could be capable of sexual assault.  I took a breath and chalked this up to J's own gentle nature and inherent trust that all people are good.

I then started in on my whole rant on how nearly ANY man is capable of sexual assault.  All it takes is a "miscommunication" of consent.  I started going on how men RARELY take sexual assault seriously enough and one of the reasons it's treated so lightly in society is because it is, in fact, MEN who are usually in the positions of authority that could DO something about sexual violence (police, doctors, investigators, prosecutors, legislators, etc.).  I don't mean to say there are NO good men out there doing their part against sexual violence and to help but that, in general, it seems that the individuals who are in positions to "do something" about sexual violence are men, themselves.  Would it really be different if women were in charge?  If women were the authority figures who could take charge of crimes of sexual violence?

I'm not calling for a rogue band of justice-wielding women going around cutting off penises left and right.  But I am saying, that men (in general) don't seem to take sexual violence as seriously as I think they should.  I think that very few men can ever really understand the terror that accompanies sexual violence.  Men don't seem to get what years of "be careful after dark," "never be alone after dark," "don't trust strange men," and "call me when you get there" from concerned mothers and fathers does to a woman.

Men don't seem to feel that same powerlessness and fear of being controlled.  This is not just the physical aspect, although that's a huge part of it.  Admittedly I am overly paranoid, but I am a huge ball of nerves when walking alone at night or taking the subway after 11pm.  I have my fingers wrapped around my keys in one hand (sharp objects to scratch an assailant's face) and the other flexed around my phone or iPod - anything to make my fist harder than it is.

Anyway, the catalyst for this post was J sending me a link that led me to this piece by Naomi Wolf in the Huffington Post (highly recommended).  She has worked with battered women and victims of sexual violence for many years and goes over what a travesty the current Julian Assange case is.  The fact that it has become SO high-profile and that the authorities are suddenly taking a sexual assault allegation so seriously is, in Wolf's own words, "a slap in the face."

In my own quick search for information and links for this post, I came across some headlines and stories that the sexual assault allegations are part of a conspiracy backed by the US government - revenge for leaking confidential US documents.  If conspiracy theorists knew ANYTHING about sexual assault, they would know that is possibly the WEAKEST allegation to bring Assange down.  There is a ridiculously sad history of sexual violence going un-prosecuted and given a virtual blind eye.

"Keep Assange in prison without bail until he is questioned, by all means, if we are suddenly in a real feminist worldwide epiphany about the seriousness of the issue of sex crime: but Interpol, Britain and Sweden must, if they are not to be guilty of hateful manipulation of a serious women's issue for cynical political purposes, imprison as well -- at once -- the hundreds of thousands of men in Britain, Sweden and around the world world who are accused in far less ambiguous terms of far graver forms of assault.

Anyone who works in supporting women who have been raped knows from this grossly disproportionate response that Britain and Sweden, surely under pressure from the US, are cynically using the serious issue of rape as a fig leaf to cover the shameful issue of mafioso-like global collusion in silencing dissent. That is not the State embracing feminism. That is the State pimping feminism."  J'Accuse: Sweden, Britain, and Interpol Insult Rape Victims Worldwide

I just totally agree with Ms. Wolf that the powers that be are using the sexual assault allegations as the main prongs for some other retributive motives.  And I find that completely repulsive.  Sexual assault deserves to stand on its own as a truly serious and repugnant offense against humanity.

My dad can text.

So, I have quite a backlog of ideas and random links that I want to post/write about.  This one was started on February 22, 2010.  Gonna finish it up now.

My dad got a Blackberry Storm (touch screen) last fall and since then he has become quite a texter.

Source

And while I never thought that technology would bring my dad and I closer, in a way it has.  The man I grew apart from as I grew up, the one I can't and don't talk to on the phone nearly everyday like I do with my mom, this man and I are growing closer together because of a little something called texting.

Source

A little background.  There are 4 in our family: my dad, my mom, me, and my younger sister.  So my dad is the lone Y chromosome in the house.  In my senior year of high school, I tried for a bit to be the son to him for the daughter I am to my mother.  I woke up early every Sunday my senior year of high school to go to the golf range with my dad.  I talked to him in the car and asked him questions and tried to have him open up to me.  However, he's not much of a phone person and when I went off to college we got used to sending messages to each other through my mom or my sister.


But now, with his adoption of texting as a mode of communication, we are able to become a daily presence in each others' lives again.  I am able to share things that you wouldn't necessarily call someone to tell them - I can share these thoughts with a short text.  I can tell my dad I am open to revisiting my religion.  He tells me that there's a church 2 blocks away from my internship site.  I give him advice on women (my mom) and he tells me to enjoy the weather (when it's sunny) because he remembers that I claim to suffer from SAD (seasonal affect disorder).

Something that we've started in the past few months is a daily "good morning" text.  This way no matter what else is going on during the day or in my life in general, at least I'll have touched base with my dad once daily.  Usually there's nothing out of the ordinary.  Just a good morning, sometimes a comment on the weather, or what I have planned for the day.

Now, here without further ado, a sampling of some of my dad's texts:

11/9/09

My precious.  Enjoy the beautiful day.  Very happy for you for the sunny brit day Smarty!!! I LOOOVE U.

(My sister and I guess that my dad learns a new word b/c he'll use it in every text for a few weeks before rotating a new word in - here it seemed he had just learned "precious" and kept using it completely unaware of my aversion to it a la Lord of the Rings).

(He also appears to have learned "couch potato" during the week of Thanksgiving b/c he used it to describe me in every text he sent me.  Regrettably, it looks like I've deleted all those texts ...).

2/16/10

Wah sah poo ning honey.love U smarty

(Referencing a line from "Born in East L.A." 1987).

11/10/10

Good morning smarty I wish your Jo eun ha loo n happy dayJ

Go Mah wer!  Youl sheem ee sahl ah heem cha gea smarty

11/22/10

Good morning smarty!  Have a nice day. :). Library is the good place to be. Love you

11/29/10

Good morning smarty! Another beautiful day is coming!

Pee gon hae ser geu lae!

11/30/10

Eung :) good morning smarty. Have a happy day ;) don’t be boring =D

12/6/10

Good morning smarty! Stay warm very very cold outside. Take care. Love you!

12/7/10

JustThinking about you smarty :) have a nice day. Love you :)

12/8/10

Thank you smarty. Good morning n enjoy the sunny day. Love you :)

12/12

Thank you smarty! You too have a warm day. I’m going from work. Dropped men off job site. Love you

12/13/10

Good morning smarty! I wish your joyful day. Love you

12/14/10

Good morning smarty! It’s cold out  stay warm. Have a great day. Love you :)

Jahl Hal soo it Jee!!!!!!! Pray for you

12/16/10

8hrs ? final for school not the bar.

Long hrs joon bee jahl ha go !!!

More bow rings!

Juicy Couture

Max and Chloe

 

Kohl's

Kate Spade

Charlotte Russe

Ann Taylor

Coach