Monday, November 24, 2008

Handmade.

Check out this video made for Etsy on the wonderfully imaginative comic artist and writer, Leslie Stein.



I met Leslie years ago when I found myself at a party at her house for the release of the comic, "YEAH IT IS!" I have no idea how I ended up there, but every time she sees me, we laugh about how there is a random photo of me standing in her kitchen (Guess you had to be there.) I have yet to see this photo.

Read all about her, and buy her comics and crafts here:
Handmade Portraits: Leslie Stein

And you can also catch her playin' the gee-tar for Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson-- well for another 2 days anyway
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146510-castanets-miles-benjamin-anthony-robinson-tour
11-24 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
11-25 Boston, MA - T.T. the Bear's Place *
11-26 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall *

Go GREENS.

I made this recipe that was recommended by my friend, Susan the other day for Collard Greens. It turned out to be an amazingly fresh alternative to my family's usual bacon fatty Southern soaked version.


Collard Greens with Currants and Almonds
1 BUNCH COLLARD GREENS, CUT INTO 1 INCH STRIPS
1 MEDIUM YELLOW ONION- CHOPPED
Approx. 2 TBS. OLIVE OIL
2 CLOVES GARLIC- Minced
1/4 C. CURRANTS
1/4 C. SLIVERED ALMONDS

Heat large pot on high. Add olive oil (Be generous; Add more than 2 Tbs. if necessary), onion and garlic. Simmer on high for 1 minute then add collard greens, currants, and almonds. Toss in a splash of water for steaming. Let cook for six minutes stirring occasionally.

*I'm also going to bring these to my family's North Carolina Thanksgiving table this year, but I'm going to give pine nuts a try in the place of almonds. Mmmm!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

So cold cold cold

I saw this on someone else's blog, and decided to let you in on my own very secret beauty secrets.



A: WHAT ACCESSORIES DO YOU WEAR EVERYDAY?
-A gold ring my mom bought me in Jamaica that I picked out because the stones in it were very rastafarian-- mother of pearl, black onyx, yellow agate, some green stone (Maybe adventurine?) Most of the semi-precious stones have fallen out in my many escapades, but I still love it. It reminds me of a rough time that I overcame.

-My glasses, duh. Contacts if it's an extra extra special vanity necessary event.

B: WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!! Oil of Olay Complete All Day UV Moisture Lotion, 'cause that's what my grandma uses and it contains an SPF 15. I use Maybelline Pure Makeup from Duane Reade as concealer when I need to cover up the circles under my eyes, and Make Up Forever Duo Mat Powder Foundation otherwise. I had a gift certificate to Sephora recently, and I got Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Scarlet that I've been obsessed with-- When not wearing that I'm a fan of Blistex, Lush's Lip Balm in Honey Trap, and Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Raisin Rage. I also wear tons of lotion, or my shit gets aaashy. I don't use this daily, but one of my fave skincare products is Buffy the Backside Slayer by Lush. It's for use on your bumpy, dry winter butt, but it's great for sloughing the dead skin off your whole bod. I also love Lush's products because they are handmade and organic. 

C: WHAT WAS THE LAST ITEM OF CLOTHING (FOR YOURSELF) THAT YOU PURCHASED?
I think it was a little babydoll dress I got on sale in Soho a few months ago. Hard times, folks!

D: DO YOU USE A DRESSER, CLOSET, OR BOTH?
I have an armoir, dresser, and 2 closets, and not a damn thing to wear!

E: WHAT TYPE OF EARRINGS ARE IN YOUR EARS RIGHT NOW?
None. 

F: WHAT TYPE OF FIGURE DO YOU HAVE (MEASUREMENTS)?
"When it comes to females, Cosmo ain't got nothin'
to do with my selection. 36-24-36? Ha ha, only if she's 5'3"

Pretty close to that.

G: DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?
Yup.

H: WHAT TYPE OF HANDBAG DO YOU CARRY?
God. I have the ugliest handbags. I really need a new one. It's embarrassing. Right now I've been carrying this weird patchwork leather thing. It's hideous. I just carry a lot of crap, so I need big grandma bags. 

I: WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL STYLE?
I've been trying to dress more like a grown up lately-- not sure if it's working. 

J: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BRAND OF JEANS?
Um, my favorite jeans are actually from Old Navy 2 years ago. 

K: DO YOU WEAR KNEE-HI STOCKINGS?
I've always been a fan of dressing like a doll. I like thigh highs better.

L: DO YOU *HAVE* TO WEAR MATCHING LINGERIE?
Do period stained panties count as lingerie? KIDDING! I have some stuff that matches, but my undie drawer is a wreck. I kind of prefer the mismatched look. It makes me feel reckless and dirty. TMI?

M: DO YOU WEAR MAKEUP?
YEAH.

N: DO YOU WEAR NIGHTGOWNS?
I actually  have one nightgown, but if I'm wearing nightclothes, I prefer tap pants and tank tops, or my birthday suit.

O: WHAT OUTERWEAR DO YOU PUT ON WHEN GOING OUT ON A TYPICAL WINTER’S DAY?
A coat, a scarf, a hat, gloves, and headphones that are connected to an Ipod. 

P: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFUME?
Too much perfume gives me headaches, but I have had a bottle of Jean Patou Enjoy Body Lotion that a friend gave me as a gift years ago that I dab on occasionally. 

Q: IS YOUR MOTTO “QUALITY OVER QUANTITY” WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES?
Definitely. I'd rather buy quality electronics, home, and food items over clothing though. 

R: DO YOU WEAR RAIN BOOTS?
No. I always tend to be wearing the worst possible shoes for walking on rainy days. I have some boots that are perfectly fine for puddle splashing, but aren't rubber galoshes. 

S: DO YOU WEAR SOCKS OR SLIPPERS WHEN YOUR FEET GET COLD?
I have more lounge wear than any person should. My favorites are a pair of old man slippers I won in a gag gift game.

T: DO YOU HAVE A SET OF TRAVEL LUGGAGE?
None of it matches, so I don't know if it can be called a "set" per se, but yes. 

U: WHAT IS YOUR DAILY UNIFORM?
I'm not a cartoon character! Who has a "daily uniform"?

V: IF YOU ARE MARRIED, DID YOU WEAR A VEIL WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS?
Not married.

W: DO YOU WEAR A WATCH?
No.

X: WHAT ITEM OF CLOTHING ALWAYS MAKES YOU FEEL BEAUTIFUL?
Dresses. Fancy ones. And scarves. 

Y: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF YARN?
Yarn? I don't knit.

Z: DO YOU PREFER ZIPPERS OR BUTTONS?
Buttons.  

men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses

Why are glasses so en vogue now?  It makes me wanna barf.



Being legally blind, I am happy that there are thousands of interesting frames for those of us visually challenged-- BUT for the rest of those out there who do not share my plight, I feel a little disdain, as glasses-wearing is not that great, never will be, and is mostly a pain in the ass. (Extra UGH to those who wear the frames without the lenses. At least fake bad vision if you're wearing the frames for style.)

One of the worst things about wearing glasses is the dilemma of laying down with the glasses on. Whether it be to watch TV or read a book, there is only one way you may lay, and that's on your back-- not always the most comfortable. Recently, I found a solution in this fabulous book, 101 UN-Useless Japanese Inventions by Kenji Kawakami.

Cranium Grabbing Glasses--


Amazing! Now if they only made these in neon colors (I kid.)

Friday, November 14, 2008

Hallo?


Photo by Dave Johnny

I was:


BF was:
Check out the last minute construction of our costumes in the video a few posts back-- HERE

Katherine was Bad Sandy, Catherine was I dunno-- a 50's housewife or something. The only other person in that group I know is the guy on the end, Nate(Click the image for full view.), and he is Steve Aoki.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Some Things WILL Change!!

Tupac was wrong!!



WOOOOOOO! WOOOOOOO!!!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

R.I.P. Studs Terkel

"My epitaph? My epitaph will be 'Curiosity did not kill this cat."


MAY 16, 1913 - OCT 31, 2008

"Perhaps it is this specter that most haunts working men and women: the planned obsolescence of people that is of a piece with the planned obsolescence of the things they make. Or sell. It is perhaps this fear of no longer being needed in a world of needless things that most clearly spells out the unnaturalness, the surreality of much that is called work today."


I was required to read the Pulitzer Prize winning Louis "Studs" Terkel's Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression in a history class in college by an awesome professor who had long hair and always wore tweed blazers with leather elbow patches. This was perfect for me as it reminded me of swinging on my Grandma's old porch swing while she told me of how I came to be. These stories are truer than those in any history textbook, as they came directly out of the mouths of those who lived them. Studs' uncanny ability to relate was also used as a radio host on 98.7 WFMT Chicago between 1952 and 1997, and a political activist. On his hour-long program he would interview guests as diverse as Bob Dylan, Leonard Bernstein, and Alexander Frey. Terkel, age 96, recently fell in his home this past October, and had been suffering since. He is said to have died peacefully Friday evening. I'll borrow Studs' weekly radio sign off and say, "Take it easy, but take it."

Check out his new book, P.S. Further Thoughts From a Lifetime of Listening scheduled to be released in December, and also these titles from the past: Giants of Jazz, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, And They All Sang: Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Creativity Central!

Being that my email is marylouise@gmail.com, I get TONS of misdirected messages to other Marys, Louises, Mary Lous, and of course Mary-Louises. It usually happens when someone forgets to tack on the last name. I've gotten everything from a hate letter from a woman to her sister to party invites in Georgia to photos of people's kids and their weekend getaways. I even had one woman incessantly argue with me when I wrote her to simply tell her she was sending her ridiculous chain letters to the wrong address.

BUT today I received this little gem of a forward from Miss Mary Pattie Butters. Such a cute name, and also interesting because there IS an aptly-named company called Mary Louise Butters who make brownies. Maybe she thought I was the brownie lady?

Anyway, I digress.

Now presenting...MR. CRAYOLA


Don Marco..... The Master Crayola Artist

Don Marco was born in Northern Minnesota in the late 1920's. His interest in art was evident even before starting school. As a young adult in the Army Air Corp, he began his life's career in Air Traffic Control, which continued until his retirement from Honolulu International Airport in 1973. Much of his spare time was spent as a professional artist.

Before retirement, Don started developing a technique to create fine art, using Crayola Crayons. Shortly after retiring, he published his first print. Living in Southern California, his work was in demand, including commissions from Burt Reynolds and a one-man show at his Dinner Theater in Florida.

Hard to imagine these are done with crayons!!!


(In addition to being the Bob Ross of the 24 pack, he has a dinner theatre in Florida where he PERFORMS! Woah.)






Burt is my favorite, but if you wanna check out more see Sandy's Thoughts in Houston, Texas

Oh, and here's his website:
THE MASTER CRAYON ARTIST

Prepare Yourselves...



Because it's gonna be a SCRRREAM! MUAH HA HA