4 months at sea

Fashion Chalet

2012-02-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Audrey Hepburn, Mickey Mouse, the Olsen Twins and good food. Just a few of Erika Marie's (of Fashion Chalet) interests. FASHION CHALET is one of my all-time favorite fashion blogs. I say "all-time" because I usually go through phases with bloggers, but this North Carolina based blogger has kept my interests peaked with her effortlessly chic style. I love how she presents herself as very down-to-earth but is still beyond fabulous. Her posts showcase trends and staples, as well as unique and more intricate pieces, in easy, wearable ways for the everyday girl. Her beautiful photos are taken by her husband, Alejandro. Oh, and she has amazing giveaways (like Balenciaga bags !!!). An added bonus: she has amazing hair and smiles in her photos. Two things I really appreciate!

Fools in Love

2012-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe that we are an entire month into 2012 already! Seeing as the world might end in t-minus 11 months I've decided to plan some fun/fancy/fabulous/fantastic things for the blog this year. Introducing our first month of THEMED CONTENT! The month of February is dedicated to spotlighting websites and blogs that we love. So if you're looking for some new procrastination material, or just fun things to read and look at, 4monthsatsea will be your new guide for the next 29 days. (Did ya know it's a Leap Year?)
LOOK OUT PEOPLE! WE'RE IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD WIDE WEB (or at least parts of it) AND SHOUTING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!!!

How's it Going?

2012-01-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

We are 20 days into the new year which means I'm 20 days into my Obsession into Creation project. I've been thinking about how much harder it is turning out to be than I thought. Who knew it would be so difficult to be obsessed with a new thing every day? Surely not me, but that is part of the challenge. I will admit that I've missed 3 days so far, and have not always followed my 5 rules perfectly either. But this project is going to span over the entire year (!!!) so baby steps I say! My goal for February is to NOT MISS ANY DAYS. It is the shortest month of them all, so that should be pretty doable, right?

A little visual recap on some of the obsessions so far:

All The Small Things

2012-01-13T14:21:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, and browse tumblr for hours upon hours, you see a lot of those "bag content glamour shots". They always look so pretty, with all their color-coordinated gizmos. The wallets match the notebook match the compact match the tissue match the pack of gum, etc, etc. I thought I'd let the contents of my own bag have a little day of glamour. Although I must say the contents of my bag are not quite as glamorous as the ones on the internet!

What really is fun about those photos is trying to imagine what the owner of said bag is like. Do they have a camera and/or a notebook? They must be imaginative. Do they wear red lipstick and dark sunglasses? I bet they are glamorous and have fabulous social events to attend. Do they have a tiny bag and barely any stuff? They must be some super human, cause I carry a huge bag that fills up with crap quickly! It always reminds me of this game I play sometimes with my friends where I look through the contents of their wallet (excluding the ID) and tell them the assumptions I'd make about them if I found it on the street. I wonder what the contents of my bag say about me?

My New Best Friend

2012-01-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

Today I'm #OBSESSED with the one and only ROOKIE MAG !!!!!! Rookie Mag is an online publication for teenage girls, ran by 15-year-old Tavi Gevinson. Sounds simple enough, but the difference between Rookie and other publications is its unique (can be replaced with awesome) point of view. The staff is comprised of a bunch of real-life ladies (and a couple cool dudes) from all over the world and they just say what we are all thinking and somehow know really valid things to write about.For example, the piece An Actually Useful Article for Dressing for a Party gets real about what is important to consider when dressing up to go out, emphasizing what the night's goal is rather than what is like "so hot right now".
4monthsatsea definitely wants to be something even remotely similar to Rookie Mag when it grows up.

In addition to their super relevant/interesting/fun articles, Rookie has great visuals! I'm in love with Minna Gilligan's kitschy collages, among the other fun illustrations and photographs.

Celeb Status

2012-01-06T22:53:00.000-08:00

I was reading this month's issue of Nylon Magazine this afternoon (the annual American Issue with Rachel Bilson on the cover (2 of my favorite things!)) and as I flipped through the ads I noticed how many companies/products used celebrities and how many of them I own/want to own. For example, take our cover girl Rachel Bilson. She is the recent face of Magnum ice cream, and although I've never actually purchased the sweet treats my friend Sarah and I contemplated it even though all we knew about them was the fact that beautiful Ms. Bilson is in their commercials. We associate owning these products with these people, and that controls how we feel about said product. I suppose if it were Bret Michels on those ice cream commercials Sarah and I would never consider a purchase. Kind of amazing how that works.

Whether you feel it's good or bad, there is no denying the huge influence celebrities have on present day culture. Personally, as pop-culture fanatic, I love it! Anything to fuel my celebrity (girl) crushes is a positive in my book. I can't wait to open a new issue of Teen Vogue to see who the new recent Marc by Marc Jacobs girl will be. Some of my favorite celebrity campaigns are Emma Watson for Burberry, Camilla Belle, Zoe Kravtiz, and Leighton Meester for various Vera Wang Fragrances, Elle Fanning for Marc By Marc Jacobs, Dakota Fanning for Oh Lola! by Marc Jacobs, Mischa Barton for Keds, and Drew Barrymore for Covergirl (to name a few).

Go For the GOLD

2012-01-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

Alright people! 2012 is here whether we are ready for it or not. That means Obsession into Creation (#OBSESSED) begins today.
The obsession of the day is GOLD. The color, the substance, and all that it symbolizes, because I want 2012 to be a golden year. I'm getting older and I need/want to start really become an adult person in society. I've got my eyes set on success for the coming year. 2012 will be bright, productive, and happy! And I wish the same for everyone else as well.
Instagram photo!!!

P.s. this post was written on an iPad! Cool right?? But I'm having trouble figuring out how to grab the link for my images on this thing! How unprofessional of me!

3-6-5 Project, Amy Style

2011-12-26T19:54:00.000-08:00

So, we've all seen/heard of examples of different types of 3-6-5 projects, photo-a-day, sketch-a-day, a collection-a-day, etc. etc. I've always found it really interesting and amazing that people are able to maintain the discipline to keep their projects going all year. Inspired by the various unique 3-6-5 projects I've seen, I've decided that this coming year I will begin one of my own. I've been thinking about what I want to do for the last few weeks. I didn't want to do just a general photo/sketch a day because I find that the most challenging part is figuring out what to take a picture of or what exactly to draw. That can lead to images of mundane things like your dog every other day, or spoons sitting on the table. I'm sure your dog is cute and the spoons do look interesting, but I just don't feel the meaning in that. I'm also a big "theme" person, so I wanted my project to be more specific. This is what I came up with:

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a VERY obsessive nature. When I find something I like, I REALLY LIKE IT. A LOT. This past term I discovered one way to take an obsession and turn it into something useful (instead of something that just distracts me from other important/necessary things). In the year 2012 I will document one obsession for the day and accompany it with some kind of creation. To keep myself on track and guided I've come up with a few rules.

Rules:
1. One obsession per day. This can be as general as "cats" or as specific as "the dress Betty Draper wore in Episode 3 of Season 2 of Mad Men".
2. I must tweet about the obsession. This will require me to express myself in at least a sentence or two.
3. Each obsession must be accompanied by something visual. This can be a photograph, vector illustration, collage, sketch in my sketchbook, word-web, etc, etc. The whole point of this project is to exercise my creative muscles and express myself visually.
4. I can't repeat any obsessions. At the end of the year I want to have 365 different ones!
5. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

Here it is

2011-12-10T12:13:00.001-08:00

Wow, no update in almost a month? You are great at running your blog Amy! Sarcasm and the 3rd person! My brain is clearly fried, but here is why!!! I've mentioned before that I took Information Design this term, and let me tell you, it is TIME CONSUMING! We all did a term long project of our choosing. The only requirements were that we picked a topic and included 8-10 levels of information. Other than that you could literally do ANYTHING you wanted. So I decided to take my Nirvana fandom to the next level and just do all my projects, including this term long, on them. I made a fan tour guide/kit called The 8 Fold Path to Nirvana. Collateral included a map/brochure, interactive travel journal, buttons, and postcards, all housed in a custom made box.
More Photos Here
Why Info Design is so time consuming:
You are taking on both a creative and intellectual endeavor. In fact, you are taking the two and combining them, but also combining them in a way that is hopefully comprehendible by the "general public". This term I've learned to fully immerse myself in a project in a new way. Not only do I need to really just know what I'm trying to make, but I also need to become some level of expert on it. Researching your subject, researching other subjects that are similar, researching styles that match your vision, etc., etc. You have to find your prospective and accurately portray it visually and clearly. It is definitely challenging. I've found that I really appreciate info-graphics and find them fascinating, but perhaps they aren't my forte. Clearly articulating information visually is difficult (very difficult for me!) and I think, a gift. I'm sure with more practice I'll get better at it, but I still feel like maybe it isn't what I'll be doing for a job.
Something I did find I enjoy is making little interactive booklets. I love the idea of taking one single subject and packing a bunch of fun factoids and interact-ables about it into a mini-sized booklet!

Winter Break Plans: Have fun listening to Notorious B.I.G. Pandora, collaging to my heart's content, making interactive Scout Books, reading more rock star biographies, sleeping, etc.

Rockaway

2011-11-13T15:03:00.001-08:00

Life lately is BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. I'm working on my term-long project for Information Design, always studying for Hebrew to keep up, have events for JSU, and my Mondays and Wednesdays are now spent at work. There is also the occasional sleeping and eating.
Friday Erika, Sereane, Sam and I took a brief, spontaneous adventure to the Oregon coast. It was great to press paus e on life and get out of the crazy city for a little while.
The Oregon Coast is beautiful in an eery, sad, way. The entire lanscape is a mixture of grays and blues. There is something oddly refreshing about looking out into the endless water, hearing the waves crash, and feeling the stinging sea air blow against your face. It's as if you are in touch with the entire world at once.

Evian Water and Battery Acid

2011-11-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

The much anticipated photos of my Timeline project. I chose the format of a 12 inch record package. The actual timelines of Kurt and Courtney's lives are presented in a circular format on the record sleeves and the inside of the cardboard folder has fun little facts about their relationship, Frances, and other famous couples.

The entire project was hand assembled by me and printed entirely on an Epson 1400 printer. If you're looking to get a nice printer for yourself then I highly recommend the 1400. I printed my entire portfolio on it (as did many of my classmates) and it comes highly recommended by all of my teachers (who are professionals!).

Tip for making any kind of packaging like this: make sure you calculate an extra .25 inch or so. I didn't and the record fit a bit tightly.

Running on Caffeine

2011-11-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

Alas! I finished my huge timeline project FINALLY. Naturally I just had to have a Hebrew test on the same day my project was due. But despite my lack of sleep (I'm calculating approximately 6-8 hours in the last 3 days) I feel like I aced the test and my project didn't turn out half bad. Photos to come soon!

I've also come to a decision to revert 4monthsatsea back to being a little more personal. Yes, I intend for us to be a collective. I love working with others. People are always welcome to post things. Just ask me! But I realize that this is also ME and a place where I can express myself in a public way. Tumblr, Flickr, etc, serve their purposes but I like to save the juicy, bigger stories for here. I also like to let out some steam/rant every once in awhile.

I'm sure you've noticed...

2011-11-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've all noticed the lack of posting lately and I'd like to apologize. School is VERY hectic as of right now (understatement of the year!) and when it comes down to it that's where I've got to focus my energy. But do not fret! There are always things going up on the Tumblr and on my Flickr if you're interested on seeing what's up (and I hope you are).
4MONTHSATSEA TUMBLR
MY ART 320 TUMBLR
FLICKR

True Life: I'm Unemployed

2011-10-23T13:00:00.001-07:00

Source: Fuck I'm In my 20's Tumblr

Look What I Made!

2011-10-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

In my info-design class we did a project called Take Something Apart. The goal of the project is to dissect an object and visually present the parts and other levels of informations. I made a little mini zine dissecting flannel shirts. Personally I think the best part is the flannel pouch I made for it to go inside of!

Come As You Are

2011-10-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Seeing that it's October and we are well into Fall I thought I'd share a little bit of what I'm really into for the season. Year after year, Fall weather is my favorite for dressing. I can't own enough jackets, boots, or sweaters. This year I'm all about the 90's Seattle Grunge, seeking inspiration from the king and queen themselves, Kurt and Courtney, as well as TV's My So Called Life. You'll see me sporting some flannel, chunky knits, sweater tights, topped off with some combat boots, gold rings, and crystal necklaces.

Green Up Your Space: Eco-Friendly Decorating Ideas

2011-10-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

By Chuck Lorrell

Home decore can not only be expensive, but also uses a lot of excess materials and sometimes materials or chemeicals which are detrimental to the environment. Why not save the Earth, some money, and spruce up your space in a unique way. Here are a few decorating tips you can do with materials youmay already have.

Brighten up plain curtains, tablecloths, or sheets withnon-toxic dye.

Get mismatched chairs from a thrift store and decorate them with colorfulpaint, decoupage, or upholstery.

Use old glass jars and bottles as pretty vases.

Wrap shoe boxes in wrapping paper and use them to store small items like cards,office supplies, or cosmetics

If you’re crafty and enjoy wine, you might be interested inmaking your own winecork bath mat.

Buying or making cloth napkins will save trees!

In addition to these DIY methods, there are also a number of eco-friendly products on themarket, as green living is becoming more and more popular. For example, youcould get curtains, bedspreads, and tablecloths made of organic cotton. Or youcould paint your walls with non-toxic paint that contain zero Volatile OrganicCompounds (VOCs) – these emit gases that can be damaging to your health overtime. Many products, like wallpaper made of recycled paper and bamboo floormats are made of recycled or sustainable materials.

Another eco-friendly way to decorate is to recycle other people’sunwanted stuff. You never know what you might find at a garage sale, thriftstore, on Craigslist, or even free boxes on the street. You can always update something with acolorful coat of paint or some pretty fabric upholstery. Going green doesn’thave to be expensive!

Chuck Lorrell is a construction management enthusiast who writesabout various topics including everything related to construction and is theowner of the site ConstructionManagement Degree.

Not a thing

2011-09-26T11:02:00.001-07:00

Hard to remember, but never forget

2011-09-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago today one of the most tragic events in American history took place. Ten years ago Islamic terrorists high jacked 4 airplanes, two of which were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
I can't say that I'm glad that I was alive to experience the trauma America went through during this event because I wish it just had never happened. But I do remember where I was. I was ten years old, in the 5th grade, sitting in the car waiting for my mom to take me to school when she rushed out, her face contorted with worry, turned on the car and turned the radio to the news station. She had just gotten off the phone with my dad and I asked her what he wanted. She said that airplanes had just crashed into The World Trade Center. Now I was old enough to understand that airplanes crashing into buildings was obviously out of the ordinary, but "The World Trade Center", "The Twin Towers", these elusive phrases my mother, the people on the radio, and my teachers at school would keep using throughout the day meant nothing to me. I was ten. I had no idea what the The World Trade Center was and that everything I was hearing was the description of a beyond horrific, unimaginable event coming true.I now know just how important those two massive buildings were. I understand that they were full of Americans working for other Americans. I understand that the bravest men and women in the world died running into the falling, burning building to try to save the people trapped inside. I now understand (hardly) that thousands of innocent lives were lost because a few extremists full of the worst hate decided to commit such an awful act of terrorism. Terror is the word used to describe it, but words can hardly express the gravity of what happened.
Every year for the last ten years of my life, on this day, the 11th day of September, news channels play the footage of those airplanes crashing into those towers and I sit beside my dad with tears trailing down both of our faces for all of the people who died unexpectedly, for all of the people who knew they were probably were going to die going in but did it anyway to help others, for all of the soldiers who ended up fighting in the longest war in American history after the fact, and for all of America who was struck with terror just like us on this day ten years ago.
To see a live blog of memorial services going on today in the New York area visit The Wall Street Journal's Blog.

Outside Lands 2011

2011-09-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

I realize I'm chronologically out of order, but I was awaiting photos from Sarah Wong!!! (worth the wait for sure) Last month Sarah and I headed to SF for our 4th year of festival going for Outside Lands 2011. This years line up was pretty sweet and the crowds were huge. Noteable acts of the weekend were The Shins, The Arctic Monkeys, The Joy Formidable, The Vaccines, Phantogram, Girl Talk, and The Arcade Fire. We also scored tons of free swag from Toyota (POPROCKS!) and took a photo with the World Series Trophy. Here are some photos from the weekend.

ETSY!!!!

2011-08-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

4monthsatsea now has an Etsy shop!!!! Go get those Long Hair Don't Care tanks!

Desertland

2011-08-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

This past month has been packed with adventures. Most recently I accompanied my friend, Claire, on a road trip to Houston, Texas. Yes, the south west is extremely hot, humid, and barren but the trip was really fun! We made our way from Sacramento to Phoenix the first day, Phoenix to Fort Stockton, TX the second day, and then visited Austin, San Antonio, and finally made it to Houston in the next two days. I learned that Texas really does look like it does in old western movies (although they are probably filmed in the Mojave and Palm deserts because they look pretty identical). I loved Texas, despite the deadly heat and humidity (around 105 with humidity everyday!) and hope to return someday.

I know, SORRY doesn't cut it.

2011-08-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Dearest Readers,

MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES for my serious lack of attention to the blog this entire summer. I actually have been interacting with people and spending time outdoors, away from my computer. How refreshing? And I'm hoping you all were doing the same (enjoying your summers outdoors, away from the computers)!!!

I'm very excited to return to Portland soon where some of my friends are really taking over (or perhaps creating?) their own little art/music scene. I'll be setting up residence in Alberta and am excited to discover all the new things about Portland that I missed in my first year exiled to downtown.

Check back REEEEEALLY soon for a post about my travels to Outside Lands Music Festival and my road trip (yep, I really did drive) to Houston, Texas. I'm also hoping to get Blair and Sam back on board for the fall, as well as adding some new contributors to the crew. I'm getting stoked, so hopefully you are too!

Peace,
Amy Albertson
Administrator, 4monthsatsea.com

Fashionably Featured

2011-07-24T00:56:00.000-07:00

I'd like to inform everyone that 4monthsatsea's Long Hair Don't Care Tanks have been featured in an outfit post by Stacey Belko on her fantastic blog devorelebeaumonstre!!!! I personally am an avid reader of her blog and really enjoy her everyday accessible, do-it-yourself, grungey sort of style. She is definitely just a real, regular person with great taste showcasing looks everyone can recreate and/or be inspired by. I am also super envious of her LOOOONG hair (clearly a perfect candidate for a Long Hair Don't Care Tank)!
If you haven't gotten your tank yet click the link on the right side of the screen! It will take you to the online shop. Sizes are limited so HURRY!!!!!!
Photo taken from www.devorelebeaumonstre.com

Hipster Colleges

2011-07-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Blair pointed me towards this pretty interesting article listing the 10 Most Hipster Colleges. Of course both her school, UC Santa Cruz, and mine, Portland State, make the cut.

Hipster culture is a definite guilty pleasure for most. It is completely ridiculous and yet you can't help but be completely fascinated. Fanny packs, grandma couture, chain smoking, indie rock, boys who look kind of like girls—I'll never understand my fascination, but I admit it exists.

More Hipster-Themed Sites
Hipster Runoff
The Cobra Snake
Look At This Fucking Hipster
Fuck Yeah Indie Boys
Fuck Yeah Indie Girls
Pitchfork

Land of the free, home of the brave

2011-07-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

My immediate thoughts on the 4th of July are summer heat, bbqing, and fire works. Of course with fireworks comes my favorite, SPARKLERS!!!! I decided to break out my camera and experiment with some long exposures. I've seen people do this "light-writing" all the time and figured I should try it out myself. Now, I like to think I have an eye for photography (at an above amateur level but by no means a professional), but when it comes to technical aspects I'm more towards the clueless end of the spectrum. I usually just use my basic understanding of camera functions and mess around with settings I know about until I get something desirable. (Knowing more about how to use photoshop now is also a bit helpful) My friends and I took a bunch of shots and some of them actually turned out pretty awesome!

I hope you all had a fun and safe holiday!

They're HERE!

2011-06-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have some exciting news: Long Hair Don't Care Tanks have finally arrived! That means I'll be packing and shipping out orders to those who have paid. If you ordered but haven't paid, DO IT! Haha, and if you lost your invoice just shoot me an email or leave a comment and I can send you a new one.

Those of you who didn't pre-order DO NOT FRET! I have limited quantities available at the moment and if enough people want more I can always do a second run. Right now there are 4 Smalls, 4 Mediums, 3 Larges, and 1 XL left!!!
Link to the online shop this way -------->

Spacement Thee Basement

2011-06-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

If you're in Portland you should check out this sweet basement show! A few of my friends are playing in it and Spacement is a pretty fun place! Take some photos for me :D

Summertime!

2011-06-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yes! It is FINALLY summer vacation. I'm now home in Sacramento and it is quite the climate change from gray-skied Portland. The sun is shining and it is time to break out the summer wardrobe. Here are a few things I'm really feeling this season:
1) Loose-fitting, comfy tanks
2) Hair up in sloppy buns
3) Scrunchies and Bow clips!
4) 60's inspired sunglasses (the circular shape is like, so hot right now)
5) American Apparel Nail Laquer in shadesFactory Grey, Army Jacket, and Rose Bowl
6) High-waisted black cut-offs
7) unlimited amounts of fresh strawberries—YUM!
8) Pastel shades: lavender, coral, mint green, eggshell, etc, etc.
Now all I've got to do is work on my tan! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Leave some comments of things you're really into right now. Any book/music recommendations? Always looking for something to occupy my brain on these lazy summer days!

Funny People: “Bossypants” Review

2011-06-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

By Blair Stenvick
(via City On a Hill Press where you can find lots more from Blair!)

In an interview with The Believer in 2003, Tina Fey called herself “more of a writer than an actor,” and if there was any doubt about her comedy writing skills on “30 Rock,” “Saturday Night Live” or “Mean Girls,” she cleared them up with her new memoir, “Bossypants.”

Fey has been in the public eye since she first started appearing in the Weekend Update segment of “SNL” in 2000, and “Bossypants” gives a good amount of insight into what her life was like both before and after becoming a celebrity.

From befriending a bunch of closeted gays at theater camp in high school to trying to commiserate with her frightening coworkers at the YMCA while taking improv classes on the side, to dealing with “Teat Nazis” who insisted she breastfeed her daughter, Fey shows that her life is both remarkable and ordinary and uses her signature self-deprecating and witty humor to make it all entertaining.

One of the best chapters in the book is one called “Sarah, Oprah, and Captain Hook, or How to Succeed by Sort of Looking Like Someone.” Yes, it tells the widely-known story of how she blew up after impersonating Sarah Palin on “SNL,” but it also reveals that during that same week, she had to film Oprah’s guest spot on “30 Rock” and plan her daughter’s birthday party. With this, readers get a much more complete picture of what Fey’s life is like — and it makes her more likeable.

Fey also gives spot-on commentary on what it’s like to be a woman today, in or out of the entertainment industry. Feminism can sometimes be a drag, but Fey uses humor to her advantage, commenting on things like beauty standards by giving advice on “aging naturally without looking like time-lapse photography of a rotting sparrow.” And about the criticism she received for her portrayal of Palin, she smartly observes, “I am not mean and Mrs. Palin is not fragile. To imply otherwise is a disservice to us both.”

And that type of humor and insight is what makes “Bossypants” a knockout. I’d have accepted anything written by Tina Fey, but she exceeded my expectations by making her memoir less about herself and more about the world. Yes, she talks mostly about her own life, but it’s in a way that everyone can relate to and laugh along with.

In the introduction, Fey writes, “I hope you enjoy [this book] so much that you also buy a copy for your sister-in-law.” I don’t have a sister-in-law, but if I did I would strongly recommend it to her and everyone else.

Bloglovin'

2011-06-01T21:01:00.000-07:00

Start following 4monthsatsea with Bloglovin'!

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Long Hair, Don't Care Tanks

2011-06-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

4monthsatsea is now selling our first shirt of the season! "Long Hair, Don't Care" Tanks are now available. They are printed on American Apparel Fine Jersey, white tanks, in sizes Small-XL. They will be $20 (Plus $4 Shipping).

^^This link will take you to an online shop.

Bragging Rights

2011-05-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

By Amy Albertson

Blogging has been slow, and this is why. For the last few months I've been hard at work on my Sophomore Design Portfolio. I can't help but show off the hard work I've been doing!

More photos here.

A Night They'll Never Forget

2011-05-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

By Amy Albertson

Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for: the premier of The Hangover Part II. The highly anticipated comedy comes out today, and lucky for all of you I saw it at midnight, so I've got the scoop.

First of all, if you haven't seen The Hangover I you really are missing out. It is the hilarious, ridiculous tale of a group of friends (and one awkward future-brother-in-law) piecing together a crazy bachelor party in Vegas, featuring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha. Shenanigans include an impromptu wedding to a stripper, stealing Myke Tyson's pet tiger, and stealing a cop car. In The Hangover Part II this crazy team is at it again, but this time in Thailand.

Now, I don't want to give away too many of the details, so you'll just have to trust me when I say this movie is hilarious. As with any sequel, the original is obviously better, but you'll still get plenty of laughs this time around from Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug (and a few new characters and familiar old faces thrown into the mix). It is worth your $9 if you're a fan of the first one and are looking for a flick to start off the summer movie season.

How To Buy Books

2011-05-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

By Blair Stenvick

Bookstores can scare away a lot of people, because buying a book is kind of a big commitment. Most paperbacks cost around $15.00, which can easily mean a week’s worth of lunch for a lot of young adults. And don’t even mention hard covers — you may as well start negotiating a loan.

And books aren’t like albums or movies or really any other purchase you can make, because there’s always a chance you won’t even experience the book. Even with the worst of albums or movies, you can usually get through them at least once. But due to time and frustration and boredom, books can go permanently unfinished, which meant you will have devoted some money and time on a journey you never got to finish.

On top of that, the thought of someday having people over, them seeing a book on your shelf and exclaiming “I love this!” and having to sheepishly admit that you haven’t really read it is cringe-worthy enough to drive some people permanently away from the purchase counter.

But this really shouldn’t be the case, because owning books is awesome. They’re like a map of yourself; your different interests and sensibilities, the phases you went through, the people you tried to impress. Even the half-read books are great to have, because sitting right next to the books you’ve reread a few times, they serve as a contrast between how you see yourself and who you really are. Studying a bookshelf is a great way to address and come to terms with your true self, whatever that means.

Also, owning books means you get to lend them. If you’re lucky, you’ll someday have the experience of trading books with an acquaintance, and by the time you’re both finished and have traded back, you’ll have become friends. It’s almost impossible to read someone else’s dog-eared paperback copy of their favorite book and not fall a little bit in love with them, at least in a platonic way.

But even if you know all this, it can still be difficult to whip out a wallet to buy a book that you’re not getting paid or graded for reading. That’s totally understandable, so here’s a mental checklist to go through to ensure you won’t regret the purchase:

1. Even if it has a beautiful cover or an intelligent-sounding title, it should be something you’re more excited to read than to casually leave on your coffee table for people to see.

2. If it’s by an author you’ve never read before, make it on the short side. So yeah, the 1000+ page Infinite Jest looks cool, but maybe try reading something else by David Foster Wallace first so you can be sure you like his writing style.

3. Recommendations from friends are great, but your own intuition is better. Some books just feel better than others, and that’s not an instinct to be scoffed at or ignored.

4. Is it a recent bestseller or well-known classic? If so, put it down, text your friends, and ask if you can borrow it. I promise, someone has it.

Now you’ve bought a book, and hopefully one that you can be excited about. Go to the café next store, sip on some tea, start reading, and revel in your own quaintness.

The Night In Photos

2011-05-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

WALTER TV
RICO ALL THE TIME
RAISED BY TELEVISION

The Rapture

2011-05-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

Spacement Thee Basement was super rad last night. Raised by Television, Walter TV, and Rico All The Time were really great. Check back in the next few days for photos.

If you happened to pick up an exclusive mix CD from the Spacement Thee Basement show last night then here is the track-list. If you weren't able to attend and want me to mail you a mix, don't fret! If you like 4monthsatsea on Facebook and leave me a comment with your email, then I'll email you to get a mailing address and send you one too!

1) Four Years - Black Elephant
2) Sharp Trash - Psychic Feline
3) Cult LIfe - The Lovely Bad Things
4) Send Me Down - TRMRS
5) Flowrebomb - Cosmonauts
6) DAHGA BLOOM - Dahga Bloom
7) Mountain Jam - Jeffertitti & the Nile
8) Hannah - Dash Jacket
9) Do I look hi? - SHAPES
10) The Good Things - Summer Twins
11) Spit Nails - Canyons
12) Rest - Ages
(CLICK THE LINKS TO GET TO CHECKOUT THESE BANDS'!)

It's Official

2011-05-20T16:24:00.000-07:00

Exciting news!!! 4monthsatsea is now officially 4monthsatsea.com. No more pesky blogspot affiliation. This is a big step! Look out for big things this summer. We're working on some great posts, covering some music festivals, putting out some art/tshirts, stickers, and more ;D
So keep checking back!

Spacement Basement

2011-05-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

If you're in the Portland, OR area you should definitely come to this basement show in North East this Friday! Good people, good music, good vibes!

Spacement Thee Basement Facebook Page

If you're a band interested in playing some rad basement shows then get in contact with Jon and Megan. They're always looking for great bands to book.
spacementbooking@gmail.com

Glam Jam

2011-05-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Its Thursday night and I find myself in quite an interesting place. There are sweaty people (many covered in glitter) dancing around me, men in metallic wrestling suits and a myriad of women's clothing preforming in front of me as psychedelic, kaleidoscope patterns play on a screen behind them. Where the hell am I? Well, I'm at the Roseland (Portland, OR) for the of Montreal show!

of Montreal, fronted by Kevin Barnes, is officially from Athens, Georgia and known for their experimental indie-pop. Let's say the Beatles meets David Bowie meets the new millenium. Their most recent album, False Preist (released on Polyvinyl Records in September 2010) features dynamic funky, poppy sounds and several tracks with female artists Janelle Monae and Solange Knowles.

Their shows are as dynamic as their music. A number of band members switch from playing instruments to dressing in costumes and acting out ridiculous scenes. I'm not 100% sure what I saw but I know it included luchador-masked wrestlers, Kevin Barnes in women's clothing, men with giant pig heads, some serenading at a dinner table, girls in crop tops and booty shorts, and much more. Of course it is the music that matters, and they've got that down-pat. Kevin Barnes and company can manage to dance around like maniacs and still sing and play their instruments.

All in all, it is one of the most interesting shows I've been to yet. Catch them if you can. The tour is headed to LA, Phoenix, AZ, and Texas next. Here is a link to their website.

Note: Unfortunately the only photos I have were taken with my iPhone, and therefore shitty. This is just another reason to support 4monthsatsea!!! Tell your friends. We need to up the readership so that we, as a blog, can cover these things for you properly! We love you and do it for you!

Summer Songs (Iowa Style) Vol. 1

2011-05-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

By Sam Hackerson
For those of you who are unaware, sometimes in Iowa, weather (temporarily) skips seasons entirely. And by this, I mean that it is barely May and it is a forecasted 90 DEGREES TODAY. In preparation for this early, early summer I have revamped my iPod playlist. Here is a nice and mix-sized taste of what I consider summer listening (AKA loud anthems for blasting out car windows and dancing all night and sultry somethin’ somethins for the sweaty, humid inbetweens):

1- Bummer Time- Be Your Own Pet
2- Sunshine - Rye Rye ft. MIA
3- Toro Y Moi- Still Sound
4- TV Girl- If You Want It
5- Tony Castles- No Service
6- Cloud nothings- Heartbeat
7- Maps & Atlases- Israeli Caves
8- FRIENDS- Friend Crush
9- Robyn- Time Machine
10- Muscles- Chocolate Raspberry Lemon and Lime
11- Oh Fortuna- Faces I Can See
12- Local Natives- Who Knows Who Cares
13- Teen Daze- Four More Years
14- Cut Copy- Where I’m Going
15- The Notorious B.I.G.- Juicy
16- Sun Airway- Shared Piano

~~Lucky for you, we've taken it upon ourselves to find links to most of the songs. A lot of them are links to free downloads so get clicking! Summer is here!!!!! (at least in Iowa)~~

Unfortunately I had to take down the free download links, but just know that the songs are out there!

Mash-Ups Somebody (But Definitely Not Me) Should Make

2011-05-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

By Blair Stenvick

I have a former career as a mash-up DJ.

This career lasted about a week last summer, when I converted from PC to Mac and was thrilled to start exploring Garage Band. I took some tracks from my iTunes and did my best to mix them together, like Girl Talk would. The results weren’t at all refined or clean, but I still thought they were pretty sick.

The phase officially ended when I came back to school and started nonchalantly playing one of my creations when a friend was in my room. Without asking who it was, she said it was “pretty distorted.” I was so embarrassed that I muttered something about it being a friend of a friend’s work, and then swiftly deleted all the songs I’d been working on.

Moral of the story: I’m no good at execution, but I do still think I have good ideas for what songs could make good mash-ups. And so I present this list of a few ideas, with the hopes that someone more skilled than myself will get to work.

Joni Mitchell’s “California” and Tupac’s “California Love”
This song would be great to listen to during any road trip involving California, obviously. You know some great Facebook photo albums would come from such a trip.

Lady Gaga’s “The Fame” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “America”
Ok, I’m not really sure how this would work given the vastly different tempos, but if someone figured it out, you know it would make for outstanding social commentary. Gaga singing about “television and hot blondes in odd position” while Paul Simon croons that he’s “empty and aching and I don’t know why” would probably be enough to send your sociology professor into a permanent state of bliss.

The White Stripe’s “Denial Twist” and Kanye West’s “Blame Game”
It’s time these two masterminds crossed paths. I can’t think of a better combination to bridge the gap between love and hate, where betrayal often resides.

Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” and Bob Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s Door”
You could listen to this when you’re being all contemplative with your life. Or when you’re stoned. Or bot.h

Since Mash-ups are the new black, here are a few you can download for free! The first is more danceable and the second is what could be classified as more easy-listening. Mash-ups are great when you have people over and no one wants to take time to be DJ and/or you don't want your iPod to reveal your guiltiest pleasures while on shuffle.
All Day - Girl Talk
Be Honest - Will Bryant

Things I Like (right now)

2011-05-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

By Sam Hackerson
1-Robyn’s Body Talk— I know it’s not an ultra-new album, but this sassy pop music has been on repeat in my life lately because it has managed to match every one of my moods and activities. I’m obsessed with the whole thing, but Hang With Me and Call Your Girlfriend are both great, and if you follow the link you’ll find a little extra Robyn attitude on the other side.

2- Algae—If we do it right, we could use it to sustainably replace 17% of our oil imports, AND it cleans out certain water pollutants and feeds on carbon emissions! YOU GUYS, THIS IS SUCH A COOL THING. More here

3-Mesh/Crochet pieces— Absolutely PERFECT for summer and I’m already addicted (it’s just spring and I have one crochet top and two mesh). I like this trend a lot more than the sheer trend—I think the pieces are more thriftable, usually have more character, tend to be more slouchy/hang off the body rather than cling to it, and generally put off a more fun, casual vibe. These are some of my favorites that lookbook helped me find: Here , here , and here.

Things I Like (right now)

2011-05-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

Written By Amy Albertson

1) Arrested Development: Streamable on Netflix!!!! Dreams do come true and in the form of a chubby Michael Cera and classic Jason Bateman all wrapped together in a model home with a prison-made-Kippa on top.
2) iPod on Shuffle: Try shuffling ALL the songs on your iPod (or in your Itunes library). Its a fun way to rediscover old musical interests and have a spontaneous, completely unexpected dance party.
3) Sandals: The weather in Portland is finally being nice some of the time and my feet thank me for freeing them from the confines of thick socks and heavy boots.

That's really all for now. What kind of random stuff are you digging right now?

The Cover Letter I Wish I Could Send

2011-05-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

By Blair Stenvick

To Whom It May Concern (cause I’m classy like that):

I’m extremely interested in this position. That’s mostly because I need money, but I’ll lie and tell you that I’m extremely passionate about the restaurant business/ filing and paperwork/ customer service/ being your bitch.

Oh, and when I say I need money, what I actually mean is that I want money, so that I can buy concert tickets and more sweaters I don’t need and pay rent to stay in Santa Cruz this summer instead of being bored at home in Sacramento. I’m not some young single mother trying to feed her kids, and if that’s whom I’m competing with, then you really shouldn’t give me this job. But I still hope you do.

If you look at my resume, you’ll see that I’m a privileged white girl who has never had a paying job — only an internship. In that internship, I learned the art of pretending to look like I knew what I was doing at meetings. I also wrote some articles, but nobody wants to hire a nineteen-year-old college student for a part time job based on her writing skills, so I’ll tell you I learned things like “data input” and “professionalism.”

I’m currently a college sophomore, majoring in American Studies. You might have never heard of that major, and if you have you probably don’t know what it means. Here’s a secret: I’m not even sure what it means. We talk a lot about hegemony and culture, which is fascinating stuff for me, but probably not anything that is going to help me secure a minimum-wage job.

Here’s something that’s completely true: I’m very punctual, and I know how to treat people in a polite yet not overly formal manner. But how do you know that I’m telling the truth in a cover letter? Answer: you don’t. And because I’m a woman, I’ve been taught not to toot my own horn too much, so just typing these attributes feels weird to me. Isn’t it funny that the most honest part of this letter is the most suspect, both for you to read and for me to write?

I look forward to hearing back from you, though I don’t really expect it at this point.

Thanks (for nothing, most likely),
Blair Stenvick

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse

2011-04-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

By Sam Hackerson

We’ve all heard it before—reduce, reuse, recycle. But very recently it was pointed out to me that no one ever remembers the fourth R in that sequence---refuse. One of the most important things you can do is refuse. Send a message to suppliers of all sorts and show them exactly what you don’t need.

Start Small

Try bringing your own silverware to the plastic-stocked cafeteria, bringing a reusable water bottle and refilling it at fountains, or replacing air fresheners with baking soda.

Take it a Step Further

Go vegetarian once a week. I know you’ve all heard this one before, but that’s because it’s such an easy way to lower demand for something that causes a lot of unnecessary waste.

Feeling Ambitious?

Try making your own rain barrel and avoid overusing your hose (there are some good instructions herel) or plant your own garden and lower demand for groceries that would’ve required transport. Don’t have your own place? Try one of these. You can even start your own compost and lower your demand for space in landfills— there’s some great start up info here.

You don’t have to drastically alter your everyday life; all you need to do is think about what you can substitute and what you can do without, then all that’s left to do is start refusing.

Decoded

2011-04-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

By Amy Albertson

If you're an avid magazine reader, like me, you might be curious about those little squares of black and white that keep popping up on ads. From Armani to Tag Hauer ads, these codes are seen more and more on magazine ads and signs. A curious consumer, I decided to find out just what they are all about. These little squares are called QR (quick response) codes and are barcodes made up of black modules arranged on a white background. The codes are scannable by barcode readers and now smart phones.

So what is the perk of scanning one of these codes? Well, that varies from ad to ad. I decided to download a QR reading app for my iPhone and try it out myself. The Armani Exchange code took me to a web page advertising exclusive looks at AX fashion, the Doc Marten code took me to a page detailing exactly which pair of shoes the model in the ad was photographed wearing, with links to buy them for myself, and the Pac Sun code tok me to a page allowing me to download free tracks of music. The app I downloaded also catalogs any codes I scan, making it easy to refer back to them. Clearly some are more valuable than others. Scanning these little codes is a pretty easy way to score some free stuff. And who doesn't like free stuff?

Check your smart phone's app store for a free QR code scanner and get to it! It's like what Forrest Gump said about life and a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

Pog Lovin'

2011-04-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

By Blair Stenvick

Remember pogs? Those cardboard circles with different designs, characters, teams, et cetera on them that were huge in the nineties? Yeah, I loved pogs, and if you’re over eighteen, chances are you did too.

But let’s be honest here: they were completely useless. Apparently there was some sort of game that went along with them, but I never played it, and I don’t remember anyone else playing either. The thrill was purely in collecting them. And unlike Pokemon or baseball cards, which at least had some sort of clear ranking system, all pogs were created equal. I didn’t care what was on them, I just liked having a lot of them. Pogs served absolutely no function beyond being something to own. They were the most purely capitalistic fad I can think of.

So why were they so fucking inescapable in 1995? According to Wikipedia, President Bill Clinton was even in on the “fun” that came with these little pieces of cardboard. I tried thinking of some modern-day equivalent to pogs, and the closest I could get was Silly Bands, but at least you can wear those.

But then, Pogs aren’t that different from any other cheap collectible, from sticker books to movie ticket stubs. But why do we like to collect so much? I love to sometimes just sit and look at my record and book and sweater collections, especially when there are new additions. Material things offer a special kind of comfort that I can’t imagine giving up. And even things like pogs, devoid of any emotional or intellectual meaning, can be reassuring exactly because of their lack of practicality. Absolute novelty is sometimes needed, and if we’re going to indulge, I’d rather it be in pieces of cardboard than in diamonds.

Pogs: the Middle Class’ version of gold-plated toothpicks. Being excessive, on a budget. Don’t think; just pog.

CONSTRUCTION

2011-04-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!
Hello everyone. I have some special news. As much as I love having a blog all to myself, about anything I want, I've decided to do some revamping. 4monthsatsea is converting to a collective blog. I understand that I often am too busy to blog consistently and/or can't think of anything truly interesting to write about. This seems to be the issue with a lot of my friends' blogs so I figured, why not just do it together and make one ridiculously great blog?!
This transition is going to take time. I'm working on converting everything to a bit of a new format that will more efficiently include others.
GET EXCITED!!! I've enlisted a number of my friends to contribute. Now you'll be able to read about interesting things from new, interesting points of view! They all have great taste and always know about much more cool/interesting stuff than I do. Also, if you're interesting in becoming a contributor/guest writer, just email me. The more the merrier!!!

Amy's Addiction

2011-04-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been running into this problem. Here's the problem: I want to sleep ALL THE TIME. And consequently I often do. I go to bed at 10, wake up at 8, get out of class at 12, and I'm back in bed til 3. Then I sit at my desk or in my bed and just stare at nothing, surf the web, watch some netflix, eat some cereal...basically you get the idea. I've been unproductive and exhausted for seemingly no reason at all. Sounds depressing, cause it kinda is. BUT DO NOT FRET. I think I've figured out the problem. In addition to sleeping/dying all day everyday, I've also been resisting coffee. My thoughts were "If I'm sleeping enough I shouldn't need coffee". WRONG! This week, I've given into the stuff and I've been 100x more productive/alive (and I'm kind of being literal on this one). So call me a typical Portlander and/or college student. I have an addiction/dependency to coffee, and I'm admitting it here and now.

Music: Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

Beauty Arsenal

2011-04-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume
Revlon Nail Color in Black Lingerie
Justin Beiber for Nicole by OPI in Step 2 the Beat of My Heart
Tresemme Thermal Creations Straightening Gel
DiorShow Waterproof Mascara
Maybeline Fit Foundation in 220
MAC Cream Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger

These are just some beauty products I've been into lately. I love the heart glitter nail polish over the dark, shiny black. It makes it ten times better that it has Baby Beibz name on it. I've been feeling like wearing lipsticks lately because they make the day more bright. My Grandma recently visited and we did a little cosmetic shopping. I walked away with Lady Danger, a bright red, matte color. Matte makes it a bit more day-wearable.

Music: Bottoms Up - Trey Songz, Ft. Niki Minaj, Cat Daddy - The Rej3ctz ft. Chris Brown, and Airplanes - Local Natives

p.s. Sorry for the lack of posting. I've been busy with school and feeling kind of exhausted ALL THE TIME. I'll try to get something a bit more interesting/relevant up soon. Ya'll be good now, ya hear.

Can't Get Enough

2011-04-03T00:05:00.001-07:00

Bromantic and Fratastic

2011-03-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of Spring Term and that means Spring Break is actually over, but that's ok because I had an amazing time! I ended up flying to Sacramento on Wednesday which gave me some extra time to see people at home. Then the next Tuesday I departed on my first real solo road trip down to Southern California.

First stop was Santa Barbara to see Brian. I should've taken soooo many more pictures on this trip. SB is probably one of the most beautiful places I've been. It was so refreshing to see the sun and get to visit Brian before he hopefully moves to a new college town next year.

Next stop was my cousin's Liberty and Jared's in Somis. They just had their first baby, Miles, not too long ago. Although the weather was rainy it was still nice to finally see Miles and their house and just spend some quality time with my family. I love Liberty and Jared because they are just super chill and really accepting of basically everyone and everything. Its refreshing.

After that I headed to my final destination, USC, to stay with Katie at her Sorority house. I also got to see Nicky! SO MUCH FUN! The USC Row is like something out of a movie, no joke. BROS GALORE, DUDE!For those of you who don't know, Bros are one of my biggest fascinations so being in their natural habitat was really great. I'm sure Katie and her friends found my little giddy episodes entertaining. Greek Life is intriguing and no matter how gross people think Frat parties are, they really are a lot of fun.
All in all, my trip was really great. I have a new appreciation for SoCal, and although I love NorCal more and always will, I could maybe see myself living there someday if that is where my career and life take me. Maybe I'll get an MTV show about me....yea...nah.

Music: Blow - Ke$ha

Amy Lately

2011-03-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

I've been busy. The Winter term has offically just ended (for me at least) and so that means I'll get some time to relax before the hectic Spring term begins. I'm anticipating stress, frustration, and anxiety while getting through the Sophomore Review, but it will all be worth it once I pass (and i WILL pass). Since I've been either busy/lazy I'm just gonna recap what I'm hyping right now.

1) Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. I think I've watched every Kurt/Nirvana documentary on netflix instawatch.
2) California. I'm flying home on Wednesday now and I can't wait to head down to So-cal. This is a feeling I've never experienced. I want to see/smell the ocean, feel the sun, and eat a fucking In n Out Burger! I want to wear sandals and even shorts.
3) Pancakes. I never used to be a big fan of the carb-loaded breakfast food but ever since we took Sereane and Lenae to iHop for the first time I can't seem to stop wanting some.
4)Juliet, Naked. It is a novel I'm currently reading by Nick Hornby. So far it's alright and I'm mostly just glad I even have this time to read for pleasure.
5) Cleaning. I want to clean everything before i leave so that when I come back it will be fresh and not a mess.

Music: In Bloom - Nirvana

HELP!

2011-03-08T16:59:00.001-08:00

SCORE MY DESIGN ON THREADLESS!!!
I want to get these printed on Threadless!!!Spread the word :D
THANKS.

Sneak Peek

2011-03-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty busy with projects and working most of the weekend. What else is new? Here's a little peak of what I'm doing for a t-shirt design project.

LONG HAIR DON'T CARE.

Music: Warpaint - The Fool (Album)

Weed

2011-02-28T19:43:00.000-08:00

Saturday night I headed up to Northeast with Megan for the first Easter Sunday Art Collective house show at Jonathan's new place. A bunch of bands played, but notably Weed from Vancouver, BC. These guys are really cool and I really enjoy their music. They played at another house show I went to the weekend before. The vibes were good and so were the people. I'm pretty proud of Jon for pulling it off so well. A lot of people came and I'm pretty sure everyone had as good a time as me.
Here are some photo taken by me and Megan.

Check out Weed on Band Camp HERE
Check out the Easter Sunday Art Collective HERE

The Nominees are...

2011-02-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

I've been hesitant to write an Oscars-prediction-post because part of me feels unqualified. But I like movies, have seen most of the films nominated for best picture, and like to think I watch films with a somewhat critical eye. By that I mean I can be a tough critic and that is why I feel like sometimes my opinion becomes less valuable. So here I go. These are my picks for this years top categories:
Best Actor: I'm with most of the critics on this one and have to say that Colin Firth definitely deserves it. A seasoned Actor who has paid his dues, I think his job in The King's Speech hit the nail on the head. Although Eisenberg was pretty impressive, separating himself from other teen male actors (namely Michael Cera) by even getting an Oscar nomination for The Social Network, Firth really gave a great performance.
Best Actress: Again, I'm with most of the critics and Natalie Portman is my top pick. Her role in Black Swan was both mentally and physically demanding and she did a beautiful job. Natalie has shown a range of emotions and types of characters throughout her career and really dedicated herself to this demanding role.
Best Director: I'm going to go with David Fincher for The Social Network, or perhaps Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan. After reading a few articles and watching the round tables with the actors and directors I've gathered that The Social Network seems to be a very director-driven film. The acting is great and the story interesting, but ultimately Fincher's execution is what did it. I have a little bias towards Black Swan because I feel like it comes from some really specific vision that Aronofsky wanted to create and because it was a spectacular film I'd have to say he achieved it. I am a Cohen Brothers fan but I haven't seen True Grit or heard too many really amazing things about it. I also would hate for them to win it for a remake.
Best Picture: My vote/prediction for best picture is Black Swan. When I think of a "best" picture I think of a movie that is great in many different aspects. The film was visually stunning, had an interesting story and plot, had great acting, costumes, etc., and also was psychologically thrilling. It covers so much ground and was a really great piece. My second pick would probably be The Social Network because it seems like a somewhat revolutionary film that is causing a lot of hype and was actually really great.

I decided I couldn't make a comment about supporting actor/actress because I haven't seen enough of the performances. Please leave comments with your Oscar predictions/opinions! I can't wait to watch. Especially because James Franco and Anne Hathaway are hosting!

Music: Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nikki Minaj

Explosion

2011-02-18T18:47:00.001-08:00

I've been setting type for the last 3 hours while trying to get my laundry done and not think about the 3 other assignments I still need to get done. It is official: I AM OVERWHELMED. I've loaded myself up this term with 3 studio classes and a Sophomore Inquiry. My projects are important to me and so I slave over them for hours, causing me not to keep up with my reading. I know. It's no one's fault but my own. But this is also my blog and therefore I get to complain if I want. Please let the next 3 weeks go by slow enough for me to finish all of my work. I want all of my projects to be great so I can put them in my portfolio next term. I can only imagine how awful it is going to be when I'm trying to scramble for the Portfolio Review.

WAAAAAHHH!!! Back to work.

2011-02-15T11:53:00.001-08:00

"I want to live,
I want to give
I've been a miner
for a heart of gold."
-Neil Young, Heart of Gold

Vday bitches!

2011-02-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

Classy

2011-02-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

After a few long weeks, a lot of tedious typesetting, some major printing issues, and a few cuts from the exacto knife, I am FINALLY finished with my invitation project for my Typography 1 Class!

The invitation is a 5x7 card with a 4x6 RSVP postcard, 4x4 map, and 4x4 Fancy Mustache Making Kit. The envelope, invite, map, and kit envelope are lined with a gold and black ornamental cloth paper. The Fancy Mustache Making Kit includes a square of felt, popsicle stick, instructions, adhesive, and list of recommendations/inspiration mustaches. If only I had the facilities to REALLy host this shindig!

Music: Beard Lust - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head

2011-02-03T15:38:00.001-08:00

I know these are long, but watch them if you have time. It is really fascinating to hear from these amazingly talented actors and actresses. Part of me is really curious about the art of acting. I find a lot of people think of actors merely as rich celebrities whose lives and work don't help society in a greater way. I greatly disagree. Acting is a delicate art, and what better, more beautiful contribution to society is there than art? It takes great talent, thought, training, time, and discipline to be a truly amazing actor.
I have trouble calling myself an artist, but really that is what I am. It is difficult to take a little piece of talent and have the concentration, drive, and confidence to develop it and even more difficult to present it to the world once you've come to terms with it yourself. I think any art, whether it is visual, preforming, writing, etc., is an amazing thing and probably one of the greatest parts of this world.

Works in Progress

2011-01-27T20:02:00.000-08:00

Mood board for my Typography 1 Project: themed party invitation.

New Obsession

2011-01-18T22:15:00.001-08:00

MTV Shows

music to my ears

2011-01-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time is a memoir by Rob Sheffield which explores the story of how he met and lost his wife Renee and the connection they had and have through music. As music enthusiasts their souls were intertwined in the magnetic tape of cassettes. They had mixes for every event and activity and with each mix comes memories and stories of their lives.
The book is right about love. Love is a mix tape. Life is a mix tape. My brain and your brain are mix tapes. Although not everyone appreciates music in the same capacity, everyone has some sort of relationship with it. Tons of people feel no shame in professing their love for music. We spent the mid-2000's reading 13 year old girls tell us "music is my life". And who are we to say they are wrong? Music is your life and music is my life. And where our lives come together, music is there to remind us of that. Although we might not have physical cassette tapes like Sheffield does in the book, our minds are linked to the music. Songs and musical artists remind us of people, places, events, times in our lives, etc. Music can make us laugh and reminisce. Music can make us cry and be quiet and still. Music is personal. Artists write music for whatever personal reasons they have, whether it be expression or a get-rich-quick scheme. They give it to us and then we share it with each other. I have friends who sent each other a mix CD every month when we first went away to college. It was a way for them to stay connected. It was, "hey this sone reminded me of you", "hey I know you'll love this one", or even just "hey I like this song and it will give us something to talk about together now that our lives are far apart and it is sometimes difficult to have real conversations."
I'm not exactly sure what my point is. Basically, I loved the book. It made me smile and cry and I like the message. You should read this book, or any book that can make you feel a broad spectrum of emotion. And then listen to music that does the same thing.

Music: Abbey Road (Album) - The Beatles

Hair Inspiration

2011-01-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

I'm procrastinating and spending my time making collages that are not part of my homework. Tee hee ;D

I'm channeling California through my hair. Messy, windswept fringe, faded, bleached tips, copper colors, inspired by gold of course. Rain, rain, go away!!!!

Music: Bang Bang - Sara Schiralli (a song I discovered while watching Weeds...and not doing my homework)

Academically Speaking

2011-01-09T12:16:00.001-08:00

WEEK ONE, DONE! And a long week it has been. I'm taking 4 classes this term (Typography 1, Digital Illustration 1, Communication Design Studio 1 and American Studies), and believe me, it is a good load. So far my classes are all pretty interesting and seem promising. My teachers all seem nice, intelligent for the most part, and entertaining, which is always great. Although I haven't had TOO much work just yet, school feels like a drag already. Waking up to be in class by 9am four days a week is harder than you think, especially when you are used to getting up for noon classes or no classes. But despite my busy school days I've been managing to work the few, short shifts they give me at work and also make it to the gym just about everyday. Being able to do all of these "grown up" things successfully makes me happy.
I also manage to mix in a little fun. Lenae brought back the first season of Vampire Diaries, and I'll admit I'm pretty hooked. Can anyone say "guilty pleasure"? Yea.
Although I'm once again becoming acclimated here in the freezing Pacific Northwest, I realize I miss California and all the people and wonderful things there. In N Out burger, we shall see each other soon enough!

Music: My Body Is A Cage - The Arcade Fire

Games and Dealbreakers

2011-01-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Winter Break 2010 in photos:

Thee Demarcus Cousins

Colts Vs. Raiders in Oakland. Guess who won that one?

Hide yer kids, hide yer wife.

Paesanos.

GAMES!

New Years!

New hair and a tattoo.

2011

2011-01-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new year folks. It is 2011. 2010 was quite a big year. I'd like to recap (in list form, obviously) some of the biggest events of last year.
- I changed schools, twice. Sac City for the Spring 2010 Semester and then off to PSU for the Fall 2010 Quarter.
- Moved to a new state. Oregon is very different from California.
- Learned how to properly use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Had 3 different jobs. CPM Mathematics and doing data entry at my dad's company in the summer. And now I work at Gap Kids.
- Went to Outside Lands Music Festival.
- Got an iPhone, and then an iPhone 4. Ballin'.
- Was in a wedding (and went to the bachelorette party)
- Had a World Cup Party. GO SPAIN!
- Served on a Jury (sent that dude to jail)
- Danced on stage with Starfucker, twice.
- Got a tattoo. It says "heart of gold" in Hebrew.

I have high hopes for this next year. I'm not expecting it to be "the best year of my life" but I know that I'm in control. With hard work and motivation I'm going to make the best of it!
Major goal: Pass sophomore review

Music: Block After Block - Matt & Kim

P.S. look out for a winter break posting when I get back to school and can upload the photos.

2010-12-22T09:34:00.001-08:00

Mini hiatus while I'm home on break. I'm very busy! Happy Holidays!

2010-12-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

I will always stand up for something I feel strongly about and will not feel bad about it. Where would we be if everyone kept quiet?

I FINISH!

2010-12-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

I'm finally all done with my first term at PSU. I turned in all my final projects on Friday and have just been relaxing, shopping, and working since. I don't get to go home until the 19th because I'm staying for work :(

This is the final version of my Best Coast gig poster. Check out my flickr for other things that I've been doing all term.

Music: Runaway - Kanye West

Baby, Baby, Baby

2010-12-02T09:44:00.001-08:00

I'm officially done with classes! Yay! Now it is final season and I'm locked up in my room (minus going to work) finishing my projects. In a couple days I will be off to the printshop and then ACTUALLY free from school!

This is what I do for homework. What do you do?

Music: One Less Lonely Girl - Justin Bieber

Thoughtful

2010-11-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

IT'S THANKSGIVING! What does that mean? It means we eat til we can eat no more, wait, and eat more!!!!! No, no, no. I want to take this time to really think about what Thanksgiving is for: being grateful for all of the wonderful things we have in our lives. This past year (and a half almost) I feel like I've really grown up and began to appreciate things I've been taking for granted. This Thanksgiving (or rather, now) I want to list just a few things I'm really thankful for.
1) My Parents: In todays world it is rare to go through your entire life (or even childhood) with both of your parents by your side and in the same house. I used to think that my parents didn't care about me and just counted down the days until I would go to college and move out. I accepted it because I was pretty independent from a fairly young age, and I thought if I just tried to be tough about it I could be an adult from age 16 and do things alone. I was wrong. My parents didn't want me to move out because they were sick of me. They wanted me to go to college and become an adult so they could be proud and watch me succeed; a guarantee that they taught me well. And they did. I'm only a sophomore in college (or really ALREADY) but I am just seeing now, after many life changing mistakes, twists and turns in the continuing journey, that I just might have what it takes, that my parents have always been there for me, will always do their best to be there for me, and I couldn't be more thankful for all the opportunities they have worked hard to provide for me, my brother and our family even through imperfections, disagreements, and hardships.
2) My Friends: Now, I do know a lot of people, but I wouldn't consider every single one of them "my friend". The people this is directed at will know who they are. I admit, I can be very difficult, disagreeable, harsh, and even down right mean with the best of them. But the important thing is that deep down inside I am a good person and there are a few friends I've met in my short 19 years of life who have really made me see that I must be a good person. How? Because they are the greatest of people. I gravitate towards these amazing people who love me and are there for me even when I'm awful to them. They remind me of the capacity to be good, to care about others, and to forgive and look past the flaws and appreciate that people in the world are beautiful and just want to be nice if you let them. They've put up with all my crap for years, and for that I thank them. Thank you for giving me 2nd, 3rd, even sometimes 4th chances and never giving up on me, being there when it means the most, and reminding me that there are great people in the world and teaching me how to be one of them.
3) My Creativity: This sounds awful and conceited, but where would we be if no one believed in themselves? This past year has been difficult. I went from accepting that I was mediocre to, just very recently, realizing my true potential. I'm thankful that I am very creative. My mind is constantly moving and creating. Whether its ideas are useful or not, it never stops. Being creative and making beautiful things is something I enjoy and I'm thankful to be capable. I realize that not everyone is and it is a gift.
4) Less Important Things That Make My Life Enjoyable: being an American, Harry Potter, the indie music scene, golden iphone covers, chicken nuggets, fashion magazines, funny Jewish boys, etc., etc., etc.

Think about what you are (or should be) thankful for this Thanksgiving. Even share if you'd like! I'd love to hear!

And I hope you enjoy the holiday whether you are alone, with friends, or family.

2010-11-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

All I care about right now. Midnight, tomorrow.

The Nine to Five

2010-11-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. Not too much has been happening and I've been really busy. I suppose that is kind of a paradoxical statement. Mina was here this past weekend. She came to visit Sarah, Elise, and me and we had our fair share of adventures. I'll blog more about that trip when she posts the pictures.
But yesterday I did start my new job. I am now an employee at Gap Kids/baby at Pioneer Place Mall! From 7AM-12PM we had training. That mostly consisted of us sitting in the back room reading from these company manuals about nonsense and then watching a cheesy interactive video about the Gap Card. Some girl called in sick during our training and I picked up her shift.
Here is what I've learned so far:
1. The Gap Card is thee best company credit card with thee best benefits (heavy sarcasm). No lie, it has great benefits if you are a loyal Gap customer, but the video we watched made it sound like God himself would only recommend a Gap Card and no other.
2. You fold A LOT. And that is an understatement. The job pretty much is greet customers when they come in, help them if they want it, which they usually don't, and fold things that are already folded.
3. Only the cutest people come into Gap Kids. They are either cute children, dressed super stylish (accompanied by parents of course) or they are little old ladies buying gifts for their grandchildren.
4. If you like music associated with Disney then you should go into a Gap Kids store, or work at one. They play the Jonas Brothers, High School Musical, Demi Lovato, and then other kid favorites like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.
5. Adults like to come into Gap Kids and see if they fit into the biggest sizes because everything is so damn cute!!!!

Music: Warpaint, Pocahaunted, and Atlas Sound

2010-11-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

Draft of my Gig Poster project for Art 118. Band: Best Coast.

Long Live the 90's

2010-11-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a jam packed day. Sam and I went to Sushi, then Portland's Largest Garage Sale, then to Will Bryant's art show, then to dinner with her friend Ty, and then out to the Matador with some other people. The most important parts were the garage sale and the art show.

The garage sale was at the Expo Center and basically was exactly what it sounds like. You pay $4 to get in and then have free range of this huge warehouse of people set up selling their stuff. I got a gold zipper necklace, pokemon and other watch, cool picture of a boy riding a horse, and an old film camera with a leather case. Total (not including entry fee) I spent only like $5. What a deal! The camera should work, maybe with a spare part or two. Either way I'm very happy with my purchases.

The Will Bryant show was awesome. Will Bryant is a Graphic Designer based in Austin, TX who does all these really cool doodle-like drawings of geometric designs, cool dudes, an just fun stuff. He's pretty obsessed with the Chicago Bulls (circa the 90's and Michael Jordan), Space Jam, and likes gold, glitter, and ridiculousness as much as I do. I got to see him give a presentation at school on Thursday and then decided to go to his show opening last night with Sam. I talked to him about how I'm sort of just starting in GD and he told me about how the possibilities are endless and he signed my postcard. This guy is super inspiring and I want to be him when I grow up. No joke.

These are the goodies I got at the show. Signed postcard, Michael Jordan business card, Care Free Cola button, Banana Dood button, and custom Scout Book with stamps (all free!)

Check out Will Bryant at www.willbryant.com

Music: Space Jam Soundtrack

Little Monsters

2010-10-31T17:37:00.000-07:00

I know Halloween is actually today but because I am a dedicated and responsible college student, I had my crazy fun yesterday because Sunday nights are not for crazy-ness. In honor of my 2nd favorite holiday (my first being Hanukkah) I dressed as Karen O (the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

Sam helped me with the really cool face paint and I wore bright magenta tights, a short black dress, black jacket, cut off gloves, and short boots. Not gonna lie, it was pretty bad ass. For festivities we chose to go to a party at this church that some people live in. It was great fun. There was a band from San Francisco there. We all passed around the tambourine and danced. A great time was had by all. Tonight I'm going with Erika and Sereane to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show live!

Music: Gold Lion - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

BUSY! BUSY!

2010-10-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

This week I've really begun to feel the ups and downs of being in school, trying to balance fun and responsibility. Thursday was especially busy and my outlook was not very good because I've been sick all week. (My second time already since I've been in Portland!). Luckily things turned out a lot better than expected.
Here is how Thursday went down, in list form, of course:
8AM-9AM Environmental Science Lab: I actually got my ass up this week to make it to my lab. I was afraid my group would be mad at me for missing the last 2 weeks but to my relief they were not! We got some assignments, decided when to meet next, and left. Best part is there is no lab for the next 2 weeks!
10AM-10:30AM Academic Counseling Appointment: After lab I rushed back to my room to blow my nose 100 times and make myself a little more presentable for the public. Ironically, both times I've met with my academic counselor I've been sick. But the appointment went well. I LOVE MY COUNSELOR! He is very cute and his name is Ben. I told him about how I've decided to stay a Graphic Design major but add a Writing minor (consider this a formal announcement of my decision). He was very enthusiastic about the decision and helpful. I did find out that it will be very unlikely that I get out in 4 years but that's ok. I'm going to be a Graphic Designer!
12PM-1PM Psychiatric Phone Appointment: My counselor from Sacramento and I had a phone chat. I'm making progress and I hope to keep things going.
2PM-2:30PM Gap Interview: I had a job interview at Kids Gap!!! The manager, Jill, seems pretty eager and I really hope I get the job. The interview went well (as far as I can tell) and they are going to call me this week. Keep your fingers crossed!

It's Halloween this weekend and I'm hoping my sickness will be gone in time for some fun on Saturday. I'll take lots of pictures so look out for that!

Music: BEST COAST! BEST COAST! (missed seeing them because I was too sick. BOO.)

Take Your Medicine

2010-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday night I went with Hanna and Sam to the Roseland to see my favorite Portland band, STARFUCKER! I'm not exactly sure why, but Starfucker is my favorite Portland band, which is crazy because so many amazing bands come from Portland. But they win because they sing my favorite song in the world: Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second. The song is my favorite for a few reasons. It leads in with some heavy bass beats at a mellow tempo; just right for swaying to the beat and bobbing your head. (I also like to add some arms waving around in the air, very hippie-ish). Then come the whispery vocals. I guess I just love how the song is really interesting but still just really easy to listen to and enjoy.

But anyway. The show was AMAZING fun. They dressed up in women's dresses with wigs and make-up. Everyone just danced like crazy!!! There are few things better than hearing some of your favorite music being played live, at high volume, and feeling it with an entire crowd of people.

Photos by Sam Hackerson

Music: Starfucker

2010-10-18T11:17:00.001-07:00

Surveyed

2010-10-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

Most people don't know this about me: I love to stick my tongue out in pictures!
My favorite music: anything with heavy synth, the 808, heavy profanity, whispering voices. But I mostly like fun indie bands (with cute indie boys)

Random: My ultimate, fantasy dream is to be the front woman of an all male band.
I collect: pictures from magazines to hang on my walls. There are not enough walls in the world to cover with pictures of all the beautiful things.
Favorite song right now: Bratty B - Best Coast, Monster - Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, RIck Ross, Bon Iver, and Nicki Minaj, and Lessons Learned - Matt & Kim
Favorite quote: currently "Wherever you go, there you will be." It's something I've really been battling this past year.
If you could trade places with anyone it would be: Katy Perry because she is marrying Russell Brand, the woman about to marry Seth Rogen, or Emma Watson for the sake of being one of the most beautiful, interestingly normal women ever.
90210 or Gossip girl?: Gossip Girl !!!!! New 90210 is not good but re-runs on soap net are the best :D
The happiest moment in life: I feel like the day I graduated from high school was the best day of my life. I really felt accomplished and that my parents were legitimately proud of me for something.
It's Cheesy, but I like: Sheriff Woody A LOT. I have multiple dolls, toy story notebooks, pez dispenser, fruit snacks, etc.
The one food I could eat forever is: CHICKEN!!!! and I completely intend to.
My secret celebrity crush is: Well its not really a secret but I really want to marry Russell Brand or Seth Rogen...or both...
I'm addicted to: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and reading Teen Vogue
My favorite actress is: Kirsten Dunst - She is beautiful and all her movies are beautiful to watch
If I were an animal, I'd be: An owl. They are my favorite animal and my Dad always tells me I'm an old soul.
The one thing I spend too much money on: clothes. DUH.
I wish I could Splurge on: clothes. DUH.
I'm disappointed about: A lot of small things, but they are all things that I've got to learn to accept.

Mike Perry

2010-10-08T13:49:00.001-07:00

I've been pretty busy with school. In my GD classes we're working on some pretty fun projects. The most recent one is a post card for a designer of our choice. I chose Mike Perry, someone I've recently become fascinated by. He's a Brooklyn based dsigner by way of Kansas City, KS. His work is super illustrative, a lot of hand drawn type, color, and geometric things. I love it's energy. Here's a mood board I made as part of our project.

Music: Merriweather Post - Animal Collective

Facebook Me

2010-10-02T12:29:00.001-07:00

I'm sure you are all familiar with the internet social networking sensation, Facebook. Did you know that the Facebook corporation is worth $65 billion? Well I now do thanks to the film The Social Network, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, and breakout star Andrew Garfield. The film weaves through the tale of genius, computer programming, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Eisenberg) and his idea to create an exclusive social networking website for all of the students of Harvard. He invites his business savvy best friend Eduardo Saverin (Garfield) to fund the project as CFO of the project and of course when they mix business with pleasure things get sticky. The site gains popularity, as do the boys, and things get tricky when a group of prominent Harvard students accuse Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for the site. Zuckerberg, a man some might say is too intelligent, swayed by Napster founder Justin Parker (Timberlake) and sucked up in corporate confusion, finds himself facing two multi-million dollar lawsuits from both his best friend Eduardo and the other Harvard students. The film is both intrigueing in plot and style. Sequences between anecdotal flashbacks and deposition questioning build tension and keep you fiending for more information every second. Jesse Eisenberg proves himself as the neurotic Zuckerberg to be more than just "another Michael Cera" and Timberlake also shows he has taken some notes since his Model Behavior days. As for Andrew Garfield, we all should watch out for this blooming talent. Whether you see it for the good-looking talent or the intriguing story of the website that is shaping the new generation, I highly recommend that everyone see The Social Network. Out in theaters everywhere!!!

School Daze

2010-09-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first day of classes at PSU. I decided to take a classic "first day of school" picture of myself since my parents obviously weren't here to do it. My classes weren't too bad. One of them (Computer Graphics for GD) seems a little behind my level but the teacher is funny/interesting and you can always learn new things from new teachers. The second (Intro to Communication Design) looks like it might kick my ass but the projects seem really cool. We are already beginning the steps to create our own typefaces. The teacher is super cool/cute and I am already formulating a mini crush on him (but he's married).

Today was not as fun. Environmental Science turned out to be a hybrid class and a lab science. That means we only meet once a week, have online stuff, and I had to add an 8am lab to my schedule. I tried to crash a French class and after 2 hours of frying my brain with basic French phrases I was let down and unable to add the class. Frustrated and tired, my new friend Erika and I went to Powell's (so I could do an assignment. Yes, my HW was to go to Powell's Books.) and decided to stop at VooDoo donuts along the way. Best idea EVER!!!! I got the coveted Bacon Maple Bar (exactly what it sounds like: Maple Bar with strips of bacon on top!) and Erika got a cute little VooDoo doll donut. Needless to say that cheered me up :D

Music: Yea Yeah - Matt & Kim

We had to make flickrs for my ART 120 class so you can check it out if you want. Its only my design stuff from that class so its good ;D
www.flickr.com/amyalbertson (link to the right)

The New School

2010-09-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday I moved into my new dorm room at PSU. The move went surprisingly well considering there are 15 floors of frenzied students trying to cram all their junk into tiny, shared rooms. To my relief, all of my stuff (even my clothes) fit and I am pretty satisfied with my set up so far. The people here are really friendly, for the most part, and my roommate is really nice. Everyone on my floor seems to be eager to hangout and I'm feeling pretty comfortable even though it has only been 2 days. I've even found friends with a TV who share my guilty pleasure television choices. All quite a relief after my CCA experience. I look forward to starting classes and meeting even more people and exploring more of Portland!

I ran into a small problem while decorating my room. For some reason no types of tape would stick to my walls....but I tried again today and it stuck so we'll see. I cannot live in a colorless world! I need to look at beautiful things.

Today began what they call "Viking Days". Its a bunch of planned activities and information sessions which go on the first week. Unfortunately I missed a few this morning because I was too lazy to get up but I'm looking forward to doing some more stuff the rest of the week.

Music: Ashley - The Dodos

Today is Weird

2010-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

LAST CALL FOR SACRAMENTO!!! Today's my last day. Tomorrow morning my parents are taking me to Portland and I'm moving into the dorms at PSU. I've been waiting about 5 long months for this. Part of me doesn't want to leave. Luckily a bigger part of me knows that this fresh beginning and new place will be great. I know it is up to me to make it amazing for myself, and that is exactly what I plan to do!

CALIFORNIA I SHALL MISS YOU DEARLY!

Music: Sleigh Bells and Best Coast

Remembering

2010-09-10T22:32:00.001-07:00

Nine years ago today one of the most tragic events in American history took place. Nine years ago Islamic terrorists high jacked 4 airplanes, two of which were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

I can't exactly say that I'm glad that I was alive to experience the trauma America went through during this event, but I do remember where I was. I was just ten years old, in the 5th grade, and I was sitting in the car waiting for my mom to take me to school when she rushed out, her face contorted with worry, turned on the car and turned the radio to the news station. She had just gotten off the phone with my dad and I asked her what he wanted. She said that airplanes had just crashed into The World Trade Center. Now I was old enough to understand that airplanes crashing into buildings was obviously out of the ordinary, but "The World Trade Center", "The Twin Towers", these elusive phrases my mother, the people on the radio, and my teachers at school would keep using throughout the day meant nothing to me. I was ten. I had no idea what the The World Trade Center was and that everything I was hearing was the description of a beyond horrific, unimaginable event coming true.

I now know just how important those two massive buildings were. I understand that they were full of Americans working for other Americans. I understand that the bravest men and women in the world died running into the falling, burning building to try to save the people trapped inside. I now understand (hardly) that thousands of innocent lives were lost because a few extremists full of the worst hate decided to commit such an awful act of terrorism. Terror is the word used to describe it, but words can hardly express the gravity of what happened.

Every year for the last nine years of my life, on this day, the 11th day of September, news channels play the footage of those airplanes crashing into those towers and I sit beside my dad with tears trailing down both of our faces for all of the people who died unexpectedly, for all of the people who knew they were probably were going to die going in but did it anyway to help other, for all of the soldiers who ended up fighting in the longest war in American history after the fact, and for all of America who was struck with terror just like us on this day nine years ago.

Music: I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty

Sound of Music

2010-09-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

So lately my life has been pretty uneventful. I'm counting down the days until I move to Portland and school starts. I'm actually pretty eager to start going to school, although I'm sure as soon as I start having homework and tests I'll say the opposite. Life is kind of boring and in a stand still, but something exciting is that I recently added a bunch of new music to my iTunes library!

Things I Recently Added/Have Been Listening To:

1) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Soundtrack (especially tracks by Sex Bob Omb and Black Sheep by Metric)

2) The Pretty Reckless (surprisingly raw and amazing)

3) Best Coast

4) Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album

5) The XX

6) Sleigh Bells

All are great. Depending on who you are, I'm sure you're bound to like at least one of them.

PIcture of Your Favorite Candy

2010-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

If you're unfamiliar with these sweet treats, they are 1: Swedish Fish, 2: Peanut M&Ms, and 3: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Swedish fish are my favorite candy in the whole world because they taste delicious (a subdued cherry sort of flavor. not too sweet.), are chewy, gummy candies but aren't too gummy or too squishy, and they are shaped like fish!!!!! Of course, I'm a sucker for the peanut butter-chocolate combo and that is why I love me some reese' and peanut M&Ms.

I originally tried to photograph the swedish fish in a plastic bag filled with water, like the fish you win at carnivals or the state fair. That didn't really work because candy fish don't float :(

Music: Cmon - Chester French

2010-08-30T22:56:00.001-07:00

Day 5: What Inspires You

2010-08-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

I love all things Nautical (hence the blog 4 months at sea, although, yes, that is a song lyric from Brand New's Play Crack in the Sky). Anchors, stripes, boats, birds, whales, waves, water, etc., etc. Sail boats in particular are my favorite. I think I enjoy the idea of them the most because to me they are these big, beautiful apparatuses, man made, but dependent on nature. They can only go where the wind blows. Its a good metaphor for life I like to think. And the ocean is such a mystery. Yep. So I love sail boats and their large, stark sails blowing in the wind inspires me. I hope someday, when I'm older, to live in the bay (or near a body of water) and have my own huge sail boat where I can spend hours on the water because I will be retired and have all the time in the world.

Prepare to Fight!

2010-08-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

I recently ventured to the movies to see Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (twice already) and I've got to say, IT ROCKED MY WORLD!! Here's a list of 5 great reasons I'm loving SPVW and why you should go check it out yourself.

Reasons I LOVE Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World:
1. Michael Cera is such a BAD ASS in it.
2. Ramona Flowers is awesome, and worthy of these epic battles.
3. All of the Evil-exes (and even all of the characters) are great characters. You know how I love me some strong characters.
4. The special, video game effects are great. They make the movie even more fun.
5. IT IS HIIIIIIILARIOUS!!!!!! I was LOLing all over the place for the entire 1 hr and 53 mins both times I watched it. As were my mother, brother, and friends.

P.s. It's so good that I'm most likely going to see it again with other friends who have yet to enjoy the fun and entertainment that is Scott PIlgrim Vs. The World.

Music: Napoleon Says - Phoenix

Ring Ring!

2010-08-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

I realize that almost literally no one reads this blog, and it is afterall MY blog, so I can legitimately write whatever I wants. So that's what I'm about to do. I'm warning you now that this is a post that you probably won't want to read or give a fuck about. That's ok. I give a fuck, and it's my blog.

Yesterday I had one of the most excruciating headaches of my life. Overreaction. That's what that sounds like. But it was actually really, really, really painful (three really's, yea). Massaging my face/temples, being quiet, closing my eyes, etc.; nothing worked. I felt bad because I was actually out at a movie and then dinner with my friend Mike, all of which got cut short because I needed to get home in order to consume massive ammounts of Advil and pass out. So that's what I did. I went home, struggled to unlock the door, in some sort of dizzy, feverish, nauseous fit at this point, took three Advil Liquid Gels (an average dose for me as I get frequent migraines), went upstairs and rolled around in my bed until I passed out. I woke up in a daze, about an hour or so later, to a duller throbbing in my face all around my left eye, crusted drool on my pillow, and hairs clinging to the back of my sweaty neck. My thoughts: WTF that/this sucks.
Why does this event have any relevance to my life? It doesn't really, but I'm about to use it as a shitty segue into something I discovered this morning when I woke up. I actually woke up twice, the first because it was blazing hot in my bed (one of the great perks of a loft bed in the summer) so I moved to my parents room to sleep a few more hours. The second time I woke up was actually less than an hour ago. I, for God only knows what reason, decided I should go online and look at the PSU Graphic Design blog because that is what our advisor told us. This first part wasn't such a bad idea. Some of the projects looked pretty neat. I can see that the school does sort of manufacture a style, which sort of makes me mad when schools do that, but it was a style I mostly liked and wouldn't mind taking on. But anyway, the second thing I decided to do is more connected to my headache anecdote. I decided to click on the Sophomore Review link and see exactly what I have to be prepared for, as I will be up for the Sophomore Review at the end of this academic year. I click. I read. HOLY FUCKING SHIT. This Sophomore Review is what I'd like to call a metaphorical headache. My stomach hurts just thinking about this review. I'm seriously scared. I did my first semester at CCA and had one , my first, Graphic Design class. I won't lie. I did pretty well. I got an A and was one of the better students in the class. Not the best in my opinion, but the teacher felt I had a lot of skill and promise as a future designer. This all sounds good. This all sounds fine. But then I left CCA and I went to Sac City where I did one design related class and produced pure shit. This was embarrassing because my teacher at City actually went to grad school at CCA with my CCA teacher who had (unknowing to me) emailed her and said I had been one of his best students! Basically, I don't know if I have it in me. If I don't, and I shouldn't be pursuing Graphic Design...well then what should I be doing? Not to mention that is something I've got to figure out ASAP. I suppose after this first quarter I could change my mind and switch to Media Studies or Marketing, something that requires less natural talent that I may or may not actually have. O god. Why do I do this to myself?

Music: CBC Radio 3 (Canadian Radio Channel I decided to listen to because Graham Wright of Tokyo Police Club was hosting some other guy's hour)

Double-Double

2010-08-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

The past week I've been SUPER busy. Sarah and I went to Outside Lands Music Festival and then immediately the morning after my parents and I drove to Portland. I definitely went balls to the wall on that one.

Outside Lands was exhausting, but FANTASTIC! Friday night we got to see Tokyo Police Club (finally!!!) at Rickshaw Stop, a smaller venue, and then Saturday and Sunday we saw so many amazing performances!! Saturday: Tokyo Police Club, The Strokes, Cat Power, the Levon Helms Band, Langhorne Slim, etc. Sunday: Phoenix (who I've decided gets my Best of Festival Award), Al Green, Temper Trap, Kings of Leon, THe Soft Pack. It all went by so quickly, but I honestly had a really, really, really great time and am so glad that we got to go! And after 2 days of pretty much living off of the muffins, chex mix, and odwalla bars we brought, In-n-out Burger never tasted better. Such dedication!

Day 5: A Picture of your Morning
This is a picture of yesterday morning, at the hotel in Portland. We woke up at 6 to drive home from Portland. The reason for the quick trip was for orientation. It wasn't what i would call fun, but a lot of business got taken care of. I registered for classes and figured out all the shit i need to do in the next 4 years. This last semester was so lax and weird that i was reminded of all the hard work i'm going to need to do. It's half exciting and half scary. I hope I haven't lost it.

Music: Last Nite - The Strokes

Day 4: Where You Went Today

2010-08-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

So, obviously this is not where I went TODAY. But it is where I went for the last 5 days. My family and I took our annual trip to the foggy northern coast of California. Some might think the place looks dreary and be deterred by its rural nature (patchy, awful cell service, and only in certain places and no internet in our house) but I love the place. I've grown up my whole life visiting the north coast and I prefer its chilly waters and windy coves to the burning hot sands and bikinis of Southern California beaches.

And this is my younger brother Tim, sleeping in the car. I know. I'm awful! I really should have taken more pictures on this trip. I'll take more on the next one. Friday Sarah and I are headed to San Francisco (my favorite place) for Outside Lands Music Festival.

Music: 12:51 - The Strokes

By the Sea

2010-08-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm leaving for family vacation in Mendicino. My family has a house there. I'll be back on Tuesday and then Sarah and I are leaving on Friday for San Francisco. We're going to Outside Lands Music Festival. Immediately after that, on the next Monday, I'm heading to Portland with my parents for my orientation. I'll try my best to blog about this string of adventures as they happen.

Music: The Harrowing Adventures of... - Tokyo Police Club

Reynoldstravaganza!

2010-08-01T02:01:00.001-07:00

Today we (Sarah, Christy, Katie, Elsie and I) had Ryan Reynoldstravaganza! It was overall a great success, although we did only watch one Ryan Reynolds film. The main goal was to honor and admire Ryan Reynolds and his attractiveness, as well as eat delicious mesican food and have fun. All goals were achieved during the following activities:
1. Early dinner at Midtown Taqueria (on J St just past Big Spoon, for those of you who live in Sacramento and are interested). This was the delicious mexican food.
2. A trip to Target. Although Target is remodeling, and currently feels like Wal Mart, we still had fun. Oddly enough none of us bought anything.
3. Headed back to my house to watch Definitely, Maybe. A great movie if I don't say so myself. We also watched The Proposal the night before. Both are great, and I don't usually like Romantic Comedies (RomComs, as Sarah dubs them) so that is really saying something! I'm sure Ryan Reynolds' attractiveness has something to do with it ;D

Music: Come As You Are - Nirvana