For Every Woman

Every woman deserves to hear these words in their lifetime...

{via middlechildcomplex}

Women in Menswear

Who ever said a woman can't wear men's clothes? Tomboys, unite.

{image via the sartorialist}

Happy Friday.

{via here}

Women's Hearts

fun fact.

Be Kind

{via here}

love in two languages

J'Adore these foody-specific Paris Versus New York prints!



via here.

2011 TED Winner: JR

incredible.

Responding to my Comments

You will hear me say this on many occasions... I am always beyond grateful to receive comments on my blog. Salman even likes to tease me and say "oh! you have comments!" sending me into an hysterical jubilation, only to then realize that he is joking and just loves to see my reaction each and every time for his own sick amusement.

The other day on my "Waiting for Superman" post, I received the mostly lengthy, well thought-out comment ever to appear on my blog. As a rather opinionated person myself, I was immediately drawn into what this reader had to say about the school system in the US and the importance of teachers' viewpoints, and the lack thereof in the film's trailer.

Let me first say this: Kudos to those who have the guts to say what they believe is right! I enjoy posting on this blog for what it is- a place to tack up my amusements, inspirations and everyday thoughts. When another person takes the initiative to look hard and deep into what I've written or portrayed, I am very honored and thankful.

Specifically regarding the reader's comment in relation to the trailer: I agree that the teacher's role is not adequately portrayed within the film's advertisement- that is not to say that it will not be within the film itself, but I do understand where you are coming from. I hope that the film gives a much more accurate and well-rounded portrayal of the US school system in comparison to the trailer's attempt at a summarized version. I also believe that you are wholly and without-a-doubt correct- teachers need to be a part of the revamping of our public school system! They are, in fact, the only adults present in the classroom day in and day out, along with the children. They are the ones who see the gruesome truths that come in and out of those classrooms in a daily basis...not to bash school administrators or those in the upper-echelons, but it is simply the hard fact that teachers do a lot of the dirty work for the least amount of payback (and I'm not necessarily talking about salary, but "payback" in terms of having a heard voice within the system's administration).

I am not a teacher. I have, however, spent the past 5 years living in Baltimore City, where drugs, crime and overall negligence have taken a toll on the most innocent of the population: children. When you see the hunger in a child's eyes for the ability to read and write at the level of his classmates and peers, you realize that administration and the rights of teachers and parents are all important, but what is the bottom line of it all is the fact that children need THEIR rights heard and addressed. They need to have the right to dream and turn their dreams into actions. When a child is asked "what do you want to be when you grow up" and they answer "a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a nurse, a policewoman," you want to be able to tell them that they have every opportunity to make that happen. With Canada's appearance in the trailer (the man, not the country) there is a sense of realization that the education the children within his school are receiving is not cheap and available to all, but it SHOULD be.

From the point of a film director, I think the purpose of asking a child "what do you want to be when you grow up" and receiving those answers filled with passion and determination is to draw the emotions out of your audience. That being said, I do believe that teachers can also give very raw, emotional and provocative answers to questions if they were given the chance to speak their minds; part of the reason there aren't many teachers speaking up in the film trailer may be simply because they are not being given the opportunity due to the politics surrounding their position. However, if you are a teacher and you have something to say that could change the face of education in this country, then by all means, please say something! Children, as much as they should have a voice, do not. They are seen as "immature" and "naive" when in fact, they are quite mature in their wisdom and will amaze you most of the time. Since this is not a well known fact, apparently, you (as the teacher) are their key to a voice within this society. You have the power to give a voice to what can otherwise turn into a lost generation. "Be the change you wish to see in the world," said Ghandi.

Again, I love to receive comments on both the pretty and the not-so-pretty things I post, so please feel free to speak up!

Wedding Protest is Bliss

{via nytimes}

I thought this was a very unique marriage announcement: New York City Manhattan borough president, Scott Stringer, and his fiance have chosen to marry in Connecticut in order to protest the illegality of gay marriage in New York. Despite his loyalties to his state, the man has guts, and I thought that was extremely admirable. If I had any political clout, I would do the same!

{via here}

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." - John Muir

{via here}

This quote was in the Huffington Post today, and as beautiful as it seems, it is also tragic to read. The environmental damage that we as only one nation on this entire earth have caused is horrendous. As we witness the drastic and painful decline of the Gulf Coast and its waters, we must recognize our ever-increasing role as global citizens and do our best as individuals united to create change now and for our future generations.

Here is one very useful tip to shut down operations like BP and others whose offshore drilling only further endangers our fragile home...

RIDE A BIKE! I know it can be scary sometimes to hop onto a bike after not touching it since you were 10 years old, but once you do, oh! it is so liberating! You can pass traffic (I beat the shuttle into work today), you can climb mountains, improve your health and gain some killer leg muscles :) I recently bought a used Schwinn Traveler for Salman and it's in excellent condition! You can easily find an inexpensive used bicycle at places like Craigslist or your local bike shop. You don't need a fancy schmancy thing to have it serve it's purpose!

Happy Riding!

Simplicity.

{via here}

Sometimes, all you want to do is dress up and look stunning for that someone special. Other times, there's that special someone who makes you feel beautiful no matter what.

Thursday, already???

{via here}

This has been a crazy and hectic week. This past weekend, we discovered that Oregon needs more than two people to hold her down while she gets her toenails clipped, and you cannot give her more than one treat while she's in the car because she gets carsick and will throw it up...all over your friend's car floor.


I also discovered the painstaking process of filing my taxes and how expensive it is just to prepare them, let alone pay them. My feelings for Turbotax are very complicated right now. I almost threw my computer off the balcony last night, but at the same time I don't know how I would've done my taxes without it. "Momentary financial distress" is what I'd like to call it.


In other news, the weather here is PERFECT!!! I walked outside this morning, and could feel the extra spring in my step. Even if nothing goes my way for the rest of the week, this sunshine is sure to keep the demons at bay...

i thank you God for most this amazing

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

- ee cummings

{Rocky Mountains, Colorado, July 4, 2009}

Wisdom

“ young people love what is interesting and odd, no matter how true or false it is. more mature minds love what is interesting and odd about truth. Fully mature intellects, finally, love truth, even when it appears plain and simple, boring to the ordinary person; for they have noticed that truth tends to reveal its highest wisdom in the guise of simplicity." (Nietzche)

I'm not a particular fan of Nietzche, but this quote is so beautiful, it was worth sharing.

wall wisdom

{via wanderlust}

Best Things

{via littlebrownpen}

certainly, a motto to live by.