Adventurer.

lovely

Holi from Variable on Vimeo.

Sometimes when the stars are extra bright, I can catch a glimpse or two.

New things...
I got a boyfriend, and my boyfriend got me the most perfect mug.
I got a little tan and a little heat rash.
I got an avocado and some lettuce from the store.
I got a bunk bed for my room. 

hair

Hartford-based WNPR reporter Jeff Cohen has two little girls: Sadie, 5, and Eva, 3. Recently, Sadie decided to give Eva a homemade haircut, which, as you might expect, didn't end up looking very good. Their dad wanted to get to the bottom of the hairdressing debacle, so he did what any good public radio reporter would do: He sat them down, turned on his recording equipment, and conducted the cutest interview imaginable.

we need a can opener.

ugh. community living is hard. especially when you watch someone use the best kitchen knife to open a can of pineapple. 

Prints are in.

Buy some art. Click here.

In the kingdom...

Emotion, sensitivity, and originality are beautiful and valuable.

This is my heart revelation for the day.

I miss the sea.

via Cake with Giants

orange.

Katie Cramer and I bought Lindsey an orange flower for her birthday and now it is pretty much the crown jewel of the house. All 11 women in this house talk to it, sing to it, water it, express concern for it, or gaze at it daily. It is really quite adorable.

This is super lovely! click here

I think I might be learning a billion new things everyday.

Today I learned a lot about blessing people.

Yesterday I learned a lot about city life.

The day before I can't remember because learning can get exhausting.

Yael Naim

This girl has got spunk.

In Japan...

...the toilet seats are heated.

Steinbeck on love

Back in 1958, John Steinbeck, author of East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men, got a letter from his teenage son Thom, in which Thom confessed that he had fallen desperately in love with a girl named Susan at his boarding school.

Steinbeck wrote this wise and wonderful letter back to him the same day...

New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

via Cup of Jo

better blog

This guy, Devin, he is staff with me. His blog is the best and he writes more clearly about what is going on. Click here.

Japan Update.

Dear Family and Friends,
I wrote an update just for you! It is over here because I am trying to be more professional for my supporters.

Click here!

Mwah!

I am in Tokyo, Japan! Craziness, there is too much to tell so I will procrastinate but it is good and right.

pursue truth

poster.

image: erhlich

I like that image.

I am currently in Hawaii for a few days, I get to hang out with my friend Gabby for a few days! Blessings are pouring out over me. I will be going to Tokyo on the 5th arriving on the 6th. I am really enjoying the humidity on my skin and the sea. The sun hasn't showed up much but I am happy in the rain.

ALOHA!

assuming only makes an...

Guilt can have no part in a relationship. The inflicted cannot give their whole self, leaving the other in confusion. What is worse is when there is no reason for the infliction because it is self imposed on assumptions.

unknown.

Hi friends,
I found this girl on soundcloud. I really like this song and a couple others, so I thought we could give her some listens. Enjoy.

Bitter by Brittany Mitchell

some things with links

1. My dear friend Aubrey, who happens to be a graphic designer, is offering her art as a gift to help with funds for Japan. So if you buy one of her prints from etsy, you will be helping me.

2. This is a pretty cool article on lent and sacrifice.

3. This conference is happening in Portland, I can't go but this promo video makes me wish I could. (Put it in full screen cause these are beautiful shots!)

4. A portait a day.

5. Mac wins, you can know by design.

100 of me

Have you ever met someone and immediately told they tell you, "You reminded you of my cousin/friend/coworker/movie star!!!" ? This happens to me all the time (except the movie star part), so the other day when I was stammering for a response other than "Oh! Cool!" I was thinking, "There has got to be one hundred of me!" And sometimes I think I am so original! As an artist, that is constantly what I am trying to obtain, originality, but when it comes down to it, most things are special in there own little way but largely comparable.

So here is my little creative spin on it.

Prideful me.

You stole from me,
What was not mine.
Why would I care?
I have no right.

Truth hid its head,
Had been replaced.
Look where I am,
Oh, filthy waste!

Oh! Grasping Greed,
Be gone, be gone!
Oh! Prideful me,
Be Gone, be gone!

Oh my jealous eye,
I let my pride rise,
Selfish soul when will you rest?
Selfish soul when will you rest?

This tree is strong,
Roots running deep.
Want to let go,
Can I be free?

Branches extend,
Far out from me.
Intruding life,
Please let me be.

Oh my jealous eye,
I let my pride rise,
Selfish soul when will you rest?
Selfish soul when will you rest?

a Blomsten song.

snl.

Watch this if you are in a country that allows Hulu.
It's funny.

notebooks.

I have a zillion notebooks.

As a little girl I was obsessed with notebooks, I had a one or two for every activity I have done; music lessons, summer camp, running journal, flight hours, plus journaling for every stage of life and school notebooks. There was also just pretty notepads that I bought or was given, with so much paper readily available I never managed to fill these completely full with words or pictures so many went to waste. I have kept some of these over the years, mostly journals, and now as I pack up my room I have found 17 that I want to keep.

They start with my first diary, one with a lock and a key. I begged my mama to buy it for me even though I couldn't yet write. I got it as a reward! The first inscription is written by my mother as if she were me.

August 6th, 1997

I had such good self-control that my mom gave me this diary for a surprise. yippee!

Then underneath in big, uneven letters I wrote: I love you with a heart.

The next pages include hearts, scribbles, fake cursive, and letters from my sister. The rest of the 200 pages are pretty much blank except for a few pages with random words that I was learning to spell. But the best part is there are about 10 pages where I actually wrote something. My personal favorite is this.

Monday, 4-24-00

Nicky & Ramsey are the wirst babbie stirs.

That says "worst baby sitters."

Now I shall go back to boxing things up.

20

Still to young to fail. - Chocolates&Cigarettes, Angus and Julia Stone

we be acting like we fly.

Sometimes I will buy something just because I have never seen anything like it. In the case of this shirt, that is one of many reasons I felt the need to purchase it. Besides the fact that is is all over sequence and pretty, it reminded my of a skirt that my main girl Katie would wear. Now I just need a party to attend so I can wear it, or maybe my birthday is the only excuse I need!

I bought my ticket.

I don't have my full support yet but I purchased a one way ticket to Tokyo, Japan with a short stop in the conveniently located islands of Hawaii. Right now I am fretting about packing and if I am in the right to go to Japan. Who am I?

On a lighter, everyday-kind-of-note, I have some visitors staying in my room over the weekend while I am gone on a trip to the city. This ment I had to REALLY clean my room, and realize again that I am a pack rat of paper, whether it be cards, magazine clippings, a string of words for a future song on a receipt, a lead sheet, the list goes on. As I relocated jotted notes, a multitude of hair accessories, and clothing I couldn't help look around my room and wonder what these visitors would deduct from my living space. What will they imagine me to be, just from my quilt clad bed and half covered walls? I hope good things. Also, I halfway hope they are as snoopy as I am, to redeem for my invasions of others.

Sweet Hearts.

Click here to get a wonderful little EP.
Priscilla Ahn just became a favorite again.

a sweet rhyme.

Kate Nash, isn't she wonderful?
I love this song.

now you know.

besides the ad...

The Story of Art In The Age ROOT from Art In The Age on Vimeo.

"she sees Russia from her backyard"

Either I have a huge Russian following on my blog, or my stat keeper thinks Alaskan's are Russian. I think that is funny.

A few things.

Going to Japan seems feasible now, I still don't have my full support but I am close enough to start getting my hopes high. I am incredibly amazed by the way my support is coming in and how people have faith in me. At my last support raising evening, people gathered around and prayed for me, in that circle of hands I felt at home, like I haven't since leaving Norway in October.

sloth.

I just laughed a whole bunch.

a gift given.

Gift giving is a tricky business, in which I often find a bit of anxiety. I feel that if I give someone a bad gift then I am saying "I don't know you at all!" Which is a horrible message to send a loved one. But when it comes down to it, you win some and you loose some.

image source: thxthxthx.com

artist video.

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE - VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

Bernhoft.

Thanks Alida!

I trust that you use the willing not just the perfect.

change.

Kathleen Edwards was just introduced to me. I really like some of the shots in this film.

Do you like the huge photo of the bearded man in a sweater?

(in a previous post)

I liked this sweater so I was going to post it but I did it the short cut way and he ended being quite large, this made me laugh quite a lot, so I decided to keep him.
cred: american apparel model.

My days are spent huddled in warm places for the last couple weeks because of frigid temperatures ranging from -27F to -7F. When I venture from the house in my lovely woolen scarf, red down coat, mittens, headband, and wool socks it is only for the essentials, work and friend dates. I am hoping for some clouds to roll in so I can go for walks again. It has encouraged much more reading, tea, enjoying the fire place, and online shopping for cashmere sweater deals.

Bonus today: I got to see four moose on my way home. I really love them. Poor things in this weather, can you imagine!?

Image by Vladimir Kostromitsky

follow.

from: See Me Everywhere

Cher and I have decided that singing cards are the worst gift ever.

frustration.

I would like to call myself a realist but often I edge on being pessimistic. This is not my personal rant corner of the internet. There for I am making a list of what is fantastic cause today I am not feeling so hot.

Melissa living in Soldotna. Coffee with Donna. Having a key to my sister's apartment even though I never use it. My mom makes brown rice for me. There is a sewing machine that I can use at my leisure. I have some hilarious coworkers. I have two arms with two hands and two legs with two feet that enable me to do awesome things. My tea is from India and tastes really good. Our fire place is oh so warm. and on and on my friends...

Lars.

That boy, he is my brother. He is an unusual one, but not in obvious ways. He dresses pretty cool but not in a stand out way. He is smart but not your obvious nerd. He is friendly and socially perfect, not loud or quiet. If you met him you would like him, you wouldn't call him weird but I am his sister and I know better.
He is an artist, he can build things, draw things, and know if it is brilliant or awful. But the peculiarity I would like to highlight today is the fact that he can sew. I am not sure when it started but I do recall him fashioning capes and satchels out of fake leather for treks in the woods to middle earth as a boy. Today the fake swords and cheap fake leather Lord of the Rings inspired accessories are gone but the skills remain. Today he is wearing sweatpants with a geometrical pocket that he made and I am the owner of a new fleece lined headband. Thanks Lars, I like you.

I leave you with this terribly awkward photo.

pages.

This is adorable!

Date a girl who reads.

flowers

Lovely right, once again I bring you Amy Merrick.

sweet.

food swings.

(like my cheese ball title?)

"I am sorry I spoke unkind words out of hunger." -Unknown

Yesterday, my favorite customer came in, she was in a big hurry and was a fraction less polite then usual. She skipped the "How are you doing, honey?" and went straight to, "I really need two bowls of soup, right away, because my daughters blood sugar is down and having a total melt down." Sure enough, in walks a young girl, red faced and miserable with tear streaming down her face. This is nothing good food couldn't handle because fifteen minutes, soup and a piece of pie later she was smiling.

I can identify with this completely. When I was young and competing I recall coming home after a two and a half hour practice and bursting into tears while waiting ten minutes for dinner to be ready. Or after church, my parents would be the last ones to leave because they could talk for hours and we would sneak into the nursery and steal the goldfish and animal crackers. As my sisters best friends said on one of these Sunday afternoons, "I'm so hungry I could cry." Thank goodness that with age come self control and I don't have to become an emotional time bomb when I miss my regular feeding.
Food still effects my mood immensely, I know this to be true because when I am having a not so cheery day my coworkers insist I make the cookie dough.

no.

The dictionary defines sass as: to be cheeky or rude to someone.
I would have to disagree.

Oh Megan.

"That is straight up British Royalty."

what the good man said...

I got to go to my favorite church last week. It is an hour and half drive from my home but when I make the distance to visit a dear sweet friend, we go. The message was talking about what the gospel means for family, for children and parents. Rather than try to reiterate the whole thing I will tell you this, I was realigned in a wonderful, New Years kind of way.
Each day I battle with the flesh, and every time I give in I must pay the consequence. God he loves me the same as before however normally the consequence effects my relationships and that is a rough way to pay.
So here is to a brand new year, may my spirit be strengthened, my flesh be deprived of sinful satisfaction, and may my God be glorified in word and in deed.