The Zizzler

2006-09-05T15:44:00.000-04:00

Free is Good for Alkies

My sassy scientist friend Carolyn recently informed me of:

http://www.myopenbar.com

and

http://www.freenyc.net

Both sites feature free events, open bars, drink specials, secret showings...etc
How I never knew of these sites is beyond me. I've already found a bunch of things to do this week- but I'm DYING inside because tonight is a free signing of the OZ dvd at Tower Records featuring CHRISTOPHER MELONI! and I CAN'T GO! (stupid school!!!!)

I'm sure it would've resulted in a restraining order anyway...

2006-09-01T12:17:00.000-04:00

Am I Really That Poor?

The answer is YES. I still haven't received my loan check. I'm running on empty!
Anyway, I need to collect all these articles/brochures/press releases for various classes for school. I really need about 10 of those magazine caddies. The container store has them for $6/each! They are about that at Target, and $3 /each at Ikea for cardboard ones (not to mention I don't live near an Ikea.) So basically, that's $30-60 just to organize my stuff. So I decided for now I'll have to make one. Like some Girlscout project, I used an old cereal box. I wish I had some fancy wrapping paper to cover it (or any at all), but all I could find were these giant printouts of criminals that were given away for free at the Whitney Biennial. Very scholarly. I cut the box into a "Caddy shape" using scissors, then using a craft glue stick, covered it in glue then wrapped the printout around it. Lastly, I trimmed the wrapping. It actually looks pretty good! Now, I need to eat more cereal.....

2006-09-01T01:30:00.000-04:00

Museum Secrets!

My Art History Prof. just let me in on a secret I could've used long ago. Join the American Association of Museums. As a student, for $35 a year, you can have unlimited access to many museums around the country! This is great for students like me, I can pop into a museum just to study a certain work, then motor out of there. I wish I'd known about this before my $10 Met trip.

2006-08-31T00:49:00.000-04:00

So Inspired

I saw this room at the Met yesterday. I must somehow incorporate it into a project. It is just Victorian scenes in chiarroscurro drawn onto the wall. Man, I love museuming.

2006-08-31T00:17:00.000-04:00

I See a Brown Duck and I Want to Paint it Black...

For now. Yay? Nay?

2006-08-27T19:44:00.000-04:00

GARBAGE

I just picked this out of the garbage. It's super heavy. What color should I paint it? The cats hate it and kept batting it.

2006-08-24T10:26:00.000-04:00

Making Something out of Nothing

Wednesday night I went to an outdoor free opera at Central Park. My loan checks haven't come yet, I'm living on the little savings I had from Philadelphia. So I kind of panicked. We were meeting up with a lot of people, my roommate's friends, and their friends, basically a whole bunch of people I didn't know. So I couldn't exactly show up empty handed. My fridge was seemingly empty, so I had to get creative- and did I! I even impressed myself.
My mom bought me a picnic backpack a few years ago. It's great- includes place settings for four, glasses, cloth napkins, corkscrew, a cutting board, refrigerated food and bottle section. FINALLY, I got to use it. With the most minimal ingredients possible (I literally had 5 slices of bread), I created this menu:

-roasted corn off the cob salad with fresh tomatoes, roasted canellini beans, fresh
basil in a vinaigrette
-crust-on tea sandwiches with salsa sour cream, avocado, roasted red pepper and basil,
-couscous salad with sesame/soy tofu, grilled onions and peas

The picnic was a hit! paired with some red wine and Cate's basil lemonade, blankets and (the most important thing) CANDLES, it was a perfect evening. Summer is almost over! I'm going to be picnicking as much as possible!

2006-08-22T00:22:00.000-04:00

Yo Dudes.
I have a new New York City only blog- just places and things that I visit/like that are cheap. Check me out http://www.zizzlernyc.blogspot.com

2006-08-21T17:32:00.000-04:00

I'm Decoupaging AGAIN

I've been told that I decoupage too much. Well, I'm sorry. Get over it. Because I've done it again. For my parents' first wedding anniversary, they received a card table and folding chairs set. It lasted in great condition for about 15 years, when little Zizzler turned 6 years old. First, I colored the entire underside of the table with crayons. Then, I did a million art projects on the surface. Then, I used the surface as a cutting board, shredding the vinyl covering. What a jerk. Twenty years later (jeez, I am old), it has come back to me.
Now that I'm in my new place, I want to have a cocktail party. My space is much bigger, but table space is rare. Sure, I could've thrown a plastic table cloth on the shredded topped table, but that's not the Zizzler way! Project time. I neatly (and sadly) trimmed and removed the table of its 1970s vinyl top. The beige legs had to go, so I spray painted them black, along with the top. I stopped in the bargain section of Barnes and Noble and bought a thick art book of Japanese Prints by Hokusai for $4.99. Sure, it's a great book, but it will make an even better table cover! Barnes and Noble always has the best art bargain books. I cut out geishas, koi fish, Japanese fisherman and lotus flowers. Then I got out my trusty ModgePodge glue. After arranging the cut outs, I coated the table top with ModgePodge, replaced the cut outs, then coated the top with a layer of ModgePodge. After a few hours, I put another coat of ModgePodge on the table. So simple! and I think it looks much better than a putting a crappy table cloth on it. What I once ruined, I've resurrected into something useful, and stylish. Sorry Mom!

2006-08-20T21:55:00.000-04:00

Bet Your Bottom Dollar You'll Lose the Blues in Chicago

I've been meaning to check out Chicago for about 4 years now. I went there once in 8th grade and for some odd reason I don't remember much. Just a blur of Planet Hollywood and Rock and Roll McDonald's. (Wesley Willis RIP!) Being head over heels in love with New York right now, I didn't think it would impress me much. But I ended up falling for Chicago, and could totally see myself there if the opportunity arose one day.
I caught a cheap flight from Buffalo to Chicago for $63 (on that terroristic day, FUN) and a return fare for $89,both on Southwest/ATA airlines. The ridiculously adorable Andrew met me at the airport and we navigated to the city on the ridiculously easy train ($2). We took the Blue line El to Damen and had an semi-expensive ($4) Bombay Iced Coffee at Filter Coffee Shop at North and Milwaukee Streets. Filter is the type of coffee shop that Philly lacks- tons of seating (both couches and tables), free wireless, an artsy but not too DIY vibe and hot dudes. There we met up with my gracious host, Maria, my former MC Hammer loving, Cross Colors wearing, middle school pal. Maria 2006 loves all the things I do: architecture, art shit, coffee, walking, vegetarian food and booze aka the makings of a great weekend. After some amazing burritos, we had some drinks at the Rainbo Club on Damen in Wicker Park. Even though it's a huge place, it was packed. The drinks are cheap ($4 for a very stiff well drink), but the lighting was wayyyyy to bright. I look better after you have a few drinks, and even better in dim bar light.
Too hung over for words the next day, we took it easy and wandered the Wicker Park shops and bakeries before I met up with my friend Jason at The Metro for a show. Right near Wrigley Field, The Metro is a pretty big venue that hosts a lot of decent shows. I had probably the best meal of my life at The Green Zebra. It's a bit pricey, the portions are tiny, but it is no less than amazing. Creamed beet ravioli with aged blue cheese and arugula? Walnut soda? Eggplant tart with basil goatcheese and romesco sauce- if you have a refined taste, it's worth every penny. (3 courses and drink, $55/each).
The next day was sight seeing day. After a prereq. stop at the Sears Tower, I wanted to check out the Museum of Contemporary Art ($10/$6 for students) to see the last day of the Wolfgang Tillmans exhibit. Incidentally, I wasn't really impressed with Tillman's work- aside from his portrait of Morrissey of course. The whole tape the prints to the wall thing has been so over done. I'm so over it. The museum itself has an amazing gift shop with a separate entrance for lurkers, and some sculpture outside for those lurkers to gawk at. We also checked out a Chris Ware exhibit, and an impressive permanent collection. The MCA is just the right size that you're interested in seeing what's next without getting museumed out.
Next was a walk down town and to the water front. Chicago is an architectural paradise. One of my favorite buildings was The Tribune Building. It has stones and architectural pieces from famous and historical buildings around the world set into it. Pieces of The Great Pyramids, Notre Dame, The Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal and American pieces adorn it. You can tour the building but it was after 5 on Sunday and closed.
Please note: soft serve frozen yogurt does not exist in downtown Chicago!
And now for my favorite part of Chicago: the over-hyped Millenium Park. Costing a half billion dollars, the park was supposed to open on the lake in, duh, 2000, but didn't until 2004. We walked by the infamous silver "bean"... a big shiny sculpture that warped the city behind you. Then over to the impressive Frank Gehry designed outdoor amphitheater. The very modern stage is set next to the picturesque lake and surrounded by an incline of lush grass. There are free concerts throughout the summer, mostly Sundays at 7:30. This Sunday was Ravi Shankar's daughter, Anoushka or whatever (who will always be referred to as "Ravi Shankar's daughter" I'm sure). Bring a blanket and a picnic and make it a night! The park also has amazing botanicals, picnic spots, a restaurant, and a free outdoor ice skating rink for winter. And the best free summertime activity- The Crown fountain by Jaume Plensa. I LOVED it. The fountain consists of a shallow rectangular reflecting pool with a 50 foot glass tower at each of the ends. Behind the glass are huge LED screens which depict video of giant blinking faces of Chicagoans, which change every few minutes. The towers spout water, and after a few minutes the faces begin to "spit" water onto the fountain goers. The cycle ends with the screens flashing a water scene, and pouring water down harder than before. I spent maybe 30 minutes there, splashing, watching the kids play, watching the LED screens change from cute kid faces to creepy men to weird ladies. What a perfect way to spend a free afternoon.
My trip ended on Monday afternoon. I hitched a ride with Maria to her work, the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute. Since it was Monday, it was closed- meaning I got my own private tour! Normally, the museum is free, with a suggested $5 donation. The museum boasts an incredible collection of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Persian, Nubian, ancient Israel/Palestine, ancient Turkey artifacts. The most incredible piece is a 40 ton statue called Lamassu (a human headed winged bull) in the Mesopotamian gallery. (photo by Maria Krasinski) Having a photography background, my favorite exhibition was a series of the Tut discovery by Harry Burton. Detailing the whole discovery/clearing and excavation of King Tut's tomb in 1922, Burton was the only photographer allowed on site. The photographs are almost as important as the relics themselves, showing in crisp black and white the mummies in their original states, tomb rooms of gifts and offerings for the next life... everything just stacked kind of like a grandma's attic. Burton documented how the tomb was left 3300 years ago- which would never be seen the same again, as the relics were removed and placed in museums around the world. The museum itself is beautiful, and right across the street from Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House that I learned so much about as a child. It seems everytime I see a Frank Lloyd Wright house, its under construction- or are they always under construction? The University of Chicago is also super close to Midway Airport. After my action packed morning, I shed a tear, bid Maria farewell and spent $1.75 on the bus to the airport.
Could it be? I found another place in this country that I could actually see myself living in? It's true... when I graduate, if I'm offered a job in the Windy City, I'm totally there.

2006-08-17T12:34:00.000-04:00

Martha Martha

As I'm trying to unpack/get settled in my new place (FINALLY going bed shopping today!), I'm getting all sorts of decorating ideas. I'm not usually a big Martha fan, but I'm hearing her new magazine, Blueprint, is geared toward 20/30something DIY freaks like me. My new roomie's friend is involved, and says it will be like Readymade but better...
Let's keep an eye out. Maybe I'll be giving Blueprint some ideas...

2006-08-15T19:27:00.000-04:00

And I'm Back...

A new apartment, a new city, a few trips and a year older. I'm back. My camera still isn't. But I borrowed one for a lovely birthday trip to Niagara Falls, one of my favorite places of all time. Sure, it's one of the wonders of the world, but it is also an amazingly plastic cheesy Times Square-esque spectacle. And where else can you WALK to Canada?
The American side of Niagara Falls is kind of ghetto. There really isn't much there aside from the park. A bunch of fast food Indian places have sprung up in the last few years. There's an always vacant Hard Rock Cafe. And a new Seneca Casino, but it is usually pretty boring and/or full of seriously old people. But the Falls on the American side are amazing. The park overlooks the top of the Falls, you can watch it spill over into the gorge from above. You can walk out onto Goat Island, which is in between the American and Horseshoe Falls, and even out on Three Sisters Island, which goes directly into the rapids. It's a rocky, glacially-cut island, in the winter you could walk right out if you wanted. In summer, it's guarded by rangers. You can sit on the rocks and listen to the Falls for hours. When I was in highschool, I'd take boys there and tell them it was "our secret spot." I was a deviant even then...
Other than Three Sisters Island, the American side also has the Cave of the Winds, which is a walkway under part of the Falls. Rebuilt every year, the wooden steps go under the Bridal Veil Falls, a small outpouring at the righthand side of the American Falls. For $10, my ex and I used to go there in the summer time to beat the heat. They give you rain slickers and these gross shoes that you have to wear, I suggest wearing socks that you don't want anymore. You walk along a series of steps and bridges under varying degrees of the Falls, with an optional "Hurricane Deck," a super turbulent section that wusses can avoid. Prepare to get wet! You really don't have to spend money at all. Goat Island is free, you can bring a picnic, and you can find free street parking if you look. Most people don't , and head straight for the garage which is $10.
To get a different view of the Falls, head over the Rainbow Bridge to Canada. I prefer to walk, it costs 50 cents on the way back, or is $3 to drive over plus parking. And walking to another country is kind of neat, and you get a great view of the gorge and both sides of the Falls. Now, Niagara Falls Canada vs. Niagara Falls USA is like night and day. Welcome to Sensory Overload. When you first enter Canada (bring your passport- they actually stamped mine this time), you are greeted by the Secret Garden, an amazing area created by the University of Horticulture. The garden includes secluded benches, fountains, a koi pond with Japanese bridge, and at the foot of Clifton Hill, my most favorite grassy knoll ever. It is seriously the most comfortable grass my feet have ever felt. Set on a slight incline, I love to lay in the grass and watch the Falls in the distance. What a perfect place! After relaxing, I headed down by the Falls to the Maid of the Mist. You can catch the Maid on the American side too for $11. In the past, the American dollar has been much stronger than the Canadian dollar. Not being in Canada for some time now, I didn't realize that our dollar sucks now. So I suggested going on the Canadian Maid to save money via the exchange. Yea, I was wrong- its $14 there, and ourdollar is only worth $1.08 Canadian! Oh well. It was worth it! The Maid of the Mist is a boat that takes you right to the base of the American Falls, then hovers in the center of Horseshoe Falls. It is AMAZING! I LOVE IT! It's like a tornado- you're surrounded by rushing water, crazy waves, wind and "rain." You also get an up close view of the gross scummy foam that the Falls produces, it literally looks like an iced capuccinno. It's exciting and fun! And you can keep the tacky blue rain poncho... After cooling off, head to the lights and sounds of Clifton Hill. If you like wasting money, this is for you. Haunted houses, WWF/Spiderman rides, a new giant ferris wheel, and a million weird "museums" and wax museums abound. Actually, some of them are really fun. I love the haunted houses. Most are cheesy, except Nightmares, which is straight up scary! I love the tackiness though, and all of the weird souvenir shops with Canada this and Indian that. They have the most random T shirts, like an angry cat that says "I don't do mornings. Niagara Falls, Canada." Sadly, I frequently buy souvenir Ts and jewelry and incorporate them into my daily wardrobe...
After stocking up on Cadbury Aero and Crunchie candy bars, I finished the night at the Niagara Casino. They have a great buffet for $16.95- something for everyone, even vegetarian me. The Canadian casino has a nice cocktail lounge and attracts a younger crowd than the American side- and you only have to be 19 to gamble and drink. (here's to you, Mrs. Robinson) I'm not a big gambler. I played $20 on the slots and came back with $40...I know BIG TIME, right? But you get free drinks while you're gambling. I went back home after my jaunt, but occasionally I've stayed over. In winter, jacuzzi suites can go for only $60! There are also a ton of kitschy 1950s motels still in operation. Niagara is a great weekend trip, with Toronto only an hour away. I've been there a million times and probably will a million more. For some reason I just love everything about that place...maybe I'm showing my truly kitschy/cheesy roots? Either way, I'll always go back.

2006-08-11T14:58:00.000-04:00

Blogging from the Airport

Thanks to the terrorists, I'm stuck at the airport en route to Chicago, and my lips are dry. My explosive lipstick wasn't let through. Can't wait to see Chicago, but also come back next week and get back to blogging daily... until then!

2006-08-01T12:50:00.000-04:00

Last Days- Oddities

So, my digital camera broke. I have to wait who knows how long for it to get fixed. Amidst the packing and sweating, I'm trying to enjoy the last few days in Philadelphia. I had to make one last visit to the weirdest museum I've even been to , the Mutter Museum of Medical Oddities.
I must say, I was shocked that the cost of admission has gone from $4 to $12 for general admission! What a jump! But worth it.
The Mutter Museum was started in 1858 from a collection of medical oddities used to educate other physicians at the time. The collection includes fluid preserved specimens, skeletons (including the largest on display in the US), plaster casts of weird tumors/conjoined twins/crazy livers, a lady that turned to soap, some faces and a bunch of jars of babies. I went to see Gunther von Hagen's BodyWorlds previously this year, which is totally a modern-day Mutter Museum.
The museum also has a great photo collection of 19th century oddities. The photos of conjoined twins especially interest me for some reason. Having a photography background, I guess I'm drawn to the pictures more than the specimens. Growing up in a time of "special effects", the specimens seem fake to me, whereas the photos seem like "proof." The Mutter Museum is not for the faint or weak of heart (or stomach)... the first time I went I was chewing gum, and after seeing all the jar babies... man did that gum taste like babies. There's also a collection of skeletons of babies from fetus to birth. Its creepy and surreal. Of course the gift shop doesn't have anything cool beyond a Mutter Museum magnet and a ton of books. It's definitely worth a trip, but at $12 I won't be going back again.

2006-07-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

I'm Moving to Astoria!

Hold tight...I'll be back soon with even MORE projects from my new apartment!

2006-07-21T13:40:00.000-04:00

Not Just Jug Wine?

Everyone knows I drink boxed wine. It is no secret. However, I must now drink 33 bottles of chardonnay, so that I can make a Carlo Rossi Chardonnay Chandelier. Sorry to post an idea that I haven't tried, but I'm not a big wine drinker. So this may take me awhile. Maybe this could also be cool painted a solid color or white and nonfunctional?
Seriously, who knew Carlo Rossi was a designer as well? His website has a bunch of DIY furniture ideas- using both the jugs and bottles. So I guess I need to get a good white sangria recipe and start drinking. By fall I should have a wine bottle chandelier blog ready...

2006-07-19T20:39:00.000-04:00

Readymade Recipe Amended

Like any crafty person, I subscribe to Readymade Magazine. I like the ideas, but usually most of their projects don't apply to me, being that I do not own a home, yard...or a child. I really liked this project for "Redone dishes." Readymade suggested using old patterned dishes and painting lines on them, using masking tape as a stencil. Good idea, but I thought stripes were kind of boring (note: do not look at my wardrobe.) I decided to try to use my old Mylar sticker stencil technique that I used with the glass etching. I'm no good at controlling paint. In fact, I dropped Painting 101 TWICE. So my first run with this didn't work out so well. I bought cheap cheap plain white Ikea plates for 99 cents each. Readymade suggests Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paint, because it's the only can of porcelain paint that you can eat off of. It's $3.99 at Pearl Paint, and you can fire it in your oven. Anyway, the first time I tried it, I used stickers of ribbon bows, and black paint. The black was kind of harsh. Then it got gloppy and ugly. THEN I couldn't get the stickers off. I ended up throwing them out without firing them. I almost gave up. Then I went back to my beloved horse stickers and thought I bought a light blue paint (it just wasn't mixed, it was navy.) This time I used a larger bristle brush and a lot less paint. Instead of waiting for the paint to dry, I VERY CAREFULLY pulled the stickers off while still wet. It seemed to work, but you have to have a steady hand. There is definitely a texture to the paint, which I don't really like but oh well. This could also work out great for someone who can actually paint well...polar opposite of me. And now for the Readymade directions:
you'll need

dishes
rubbing alcohol
Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paint
stickers/tape
paint brush/oven/etc

Wash the dishes and dry well. With a cottonball, wipe dishes with alcohol and let dry. Place stencils/stickers on plate and gently sponge or brush on paint. *Carefully remove stickers* Let dry for 24 hours. Without preheating the oven, place the dishes inside and heat to 300 degrees. Baked the painted dishes for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the dishes cool inside.

Slop some food on them and pig out. Or put them on display.

2006-07-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

Do Pigs Look Good Kissing?

And stuff. I just asked my friend Anna what's better, two chickens kissing, or two cows kissing? We couldn't decide. She had no idea what I was talking about. Then I didn't explain what I was talking about and just said "Yea. Chickens look better kissing, because the cows' bodies aren't as defined." Then I changed the subject. So here's what I meant Anna....
I bought this green little tote from a craft store for $2.99 thinking I'd just put some pins on it or something. I love green and it was so cheap. I also got a bag of these weird felt farm animals, about 30 assorted ones for $2.49, with no idea what I'd do with them. So today I decided to break out my trusty hot glue gun and do something with the tote. Originally I'd lined up three little pigs in a row, but I'm feeling rather lovey and nostalgic lately soI decided to go for the animal love. I hot glued them in place, got the chicken vote for the other side, but still felt it needed something. I cut the back off of a heart button (chicken side) and found an old old heart patch (pigsly) and voila! It's perfect for toting around my wallet, water bottle and keys in the summer, and will hang on my arm nicely while I eat some frozen yogurt. (NEVER water ice- ew ew ew)
And it was so cheap, it doesn't matter if I get popsicle stains all over it!

2006-07-17T23:14:00.001-04:00

It is Sweltering

I have a permanent sweatstache. Although I have no appetite due to the heat, I feel giant and bloated. My fingers are swollen. Yep, its summer. But time for summer vacations! I love buying souvenirs..but if I bought for everyone I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to afford to go anywhere. So, having spent a ton of money and time on my useless Photo degree, I give family members prints of the only photos I really take anymore- my travels.
Instead of making an oversized print of your vacation, make a panoramic collage by standing in once place and slowly moving and snapping photos of your fave site. Not only is this a creative/alternative way to give souvenir photos, but it works great if don't have a super nice camera that has the capability of printing larger than 4x6. It even works with disposables. Be daring and create a large scale image! Scan 'em if you don't have a digital camera and match (and unmatch) them up in Photoshop. Don't make it perfect- slightly skewed is the way to go. Size and print it at 11x17 ($2.49 at Kinko's for color) and frame it! Instant and creative looking parental/family gift. You can buy a picture of the Eiffel Tower at the mall, so even if you aren't the best photographer, why not make something original instead of store bought?
In case you wondered, the image above is of a fountain designed by Josep Fontserè and his assistant, a young Gaudi, at the Parc de la Ciutadella in my absolute favorite city ever, Barcelona.

Someone please fan me.

2006-07-13T13:04:00.000-04:00

Traveling is Cool

Fellow blogger Audrey posted this today, and how I wish I would've known about this before I've traveled in the past. Le Cool is an offbeat travel guide featuring Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon. Amsterdam and London. You can subscribe to a printable email newsletter, and now purchase a mini hardcover book called Le Cool Changed My Life!
Originally a Barcelona based newsletter, Le Cool sounds so very Zizzler. It features highly selective recommendations on eating, drinking, cultural experiences and the unusual. This has inspired me to a) pick up the book/subscribe to the newsletter before traveling again and 2) start a New York Zizzler blog when I move in 3 weeks!

2006-07-13T12:34:00.000-04:00

Evil Thoughts

I'm not going to actualize this project. It's kind of mean, but I also think it's kind of funny. So therefore I'll just write about it. Yes.
Anyway, we all have that ONE ex that still has power over us. We try to think about how they've screwed us over a thousand times, or that they're a mess, or that we deserve better...but for some reason our brain coats the sitch with sickeningly sweet sugar. Then finally one day something crazy happens and you see everything for what it really is! Relief! and a tinge of sorrow, as its kind of nice to idealize things in your mind.
So, hypothetically speaking, lets say during this drama involving you, this person impregnates his ex wife. Not an episode of Jerry Springer, no! Your life! And your wake up call...
Haha okay on to the "project" that I will never create. If you have some sarcasm loving knocked up friends, then you could make this! Go to Target and pick up a 5 pack of onesies for $9.99. Get a few packages of iron on letters. Now go wild! Here are my applicable ideas:

I'm with STUPID
Illegit 2 Quit
Son of a bitch
Jerk in Training
Psychoses are Hereditary

Yea yea you probably think I'm vengeful and mean! Calm down, its all said with sarcasm! If you can't laugh, then what can you do!?

PS. Is this thought too mean?

2006-07-12T22:44:00.000-04:00

Cheap Art in Progress.

Consider this a rough sketch. It didn't come out how I wanted...
That being said, I've wanted to do something with the blueprint copiers at Kinko's for awhile. A few years back, I made cheap "wallpaper" with 24x36 prints I'd made from a woodcut design my friend gave me. I tacked them up with thumbtacks, covering an entire wall. The prints are incredibly cheap- 50 cents a square foot. I would've preferred to use a more high contrast photo, but I tried printing a night sky shot of the New York skyline I took from the roof of my old Brooklyn apartment. (24"x36"=$3) I bought a $5 frame from Ikea, thinking it was such a great deal. When I finished my project and tried to use the frame, I realized why it was so cheap, it was a torture hell ride in frame form. It took me 20 minutes to slip the paper in, one side would pop out, then the other, then the paper would get wrinkled. GRRR! HATED IT.
Anyway. So then I bought a leafy wall stencil from an art store for $1.35. I thought the spray paint I had was gold, which is what I would've liked, but at first spritz I discovered it was silver. Damage done, I just finished the rest of it with silver, alternating the angle of the stencil here and there. I sprayed it in my room because it was raining outside, and thought maybe I'd suffocate. My priorities are off sometimes...
I think the possibilities are endless with this project. It's so incredibly cheap. Next time I'll make a few copies of an image and get some jazzier spray paint colors. Jazz hands.

2006-07-11T11:27:00.000-04:00

Like an Old Lady

I've always loved vintage costume jewelry. Even in my teenage club kid phase, I'd wear 1960's mod necklaces with my Hello Kitty shirts and mini skirts (and giant white platform sneakers which made me look like Chester Cheetah, uhhh). The last time I was visiting my parents in Buffalo, I went for my traditional Don Apparel visit and bought a bunch of those sweater clips that old ladies wear for $3/each. Of course, I broke all but two; one really cool one with a pearled string and floral clips, and a really ugly plain gold one that looks like two tie clips. Perfect for me to make over.
I bought some stripey ribbon at Pearl Art Supply for $1, and some plastic cameos (2 for $1.50). Using a glue gun rather than tying it, I made a bow, then glued that to the ugly gold tie clip part. I then put some hot glue on the center of the bow as well as the back of the cameo, let it get a bit tacky then stuck it on. Sometimes dried hot glue can just pop off, I've found putting a bit on both sides and letting it sit for a split second makes it hold better. Since it's about 90 degrees outside, I won't be wearing this anytime soon, but I can't wait!
For some reason my digital camera wouldn't pick up the detail of the cameo, I'm not sure how to mess with the white balance. Also being summer, all of my cute cardigans were packed away somewhere. And, unlike my dressform, I have arms. Therefore it hangs better on me. Two pronged hair clips and some chain might also work nicely if you don't have a sweater clip store near you!

2006-07-10T13:08:00.000-04:00

Le Petit Europe

Please forgive, my computer is on the fritz so I don't have access to any of my photos today. So I'll have to use ones I've googled.
Everyone knows I'm travel obsessed, particularly to Europe, but my meager paycheck keeps me pretty limited sometimes. However, there are a few drivable slices of Europe in nearby Canada- Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa. I've been to Ottawa a dozen or so times when I was a kid to visit my cousin, although they moved to Vancouver when I was 17. I seriously love Canada, I don't care what Americans say, you're just jealous of their socialized health system. PLUS (sometimes) our dollar goes so farther there, they have Cadbury candy bars (omg Aero bars! and Crunchie! gah), extra alcoholic beer, clean parks, Lush stores (now in NYC!) and fab makeup at drugstores. Oh, and milk in a bag. We like to poke the milk in a bag. So when my roommates asked me to take a long weekend trip to Montreal, of course I was game!
Montreal is about 450 miles from Philadelphia. Kind of a grueling drive. We made it to Plattsburg, NY, about 1.5 hours from Montreal, and got a cheap $50 hotel. Crossing the border has its benefits- shopping Duty Free! We each picked up some duty free booze and some cheap make up.
I found a deal at Days Inn on rue Guy for $120/night. I would've preferred to stay in Old Montreal, but hotels were upwards of $200/night there. At least ours was near The Canadian Museum of Architecture (super cool) and walking distance to restaurants and pubs. Who am I kidding, I consider EVERYTHING to be walking distance, so don't take my word for that. Being the boozeloving hounds we are, we immediately sought out a pub, and found a great one with an outdoor balcony called Sir Winston Churchill Pub , aka Winnies. According to my friend Anna, this pub is for nerds. However, when we arrived, we found the menu to be extensive, the balcony huge (and the day was perfect for outdoor drinking) and the best yet- two for one specials twice a day. SOLD! Either 2 vodka tonics for $5 Canadian or one double for $5! That and a $7 giant salad and I was in heaven. We actually went there twice. Which I hate to do on vacations, but when you've got a good thing going...
Montreal is far to great of a city to see in 3 days. Not even 3- it was more 2 full days and a morning. My main focus was sight seeing in Old Montreal. Dating from 1642, the area is an architectural paradise, full of cafes, galleries, shops, museums and the impressive Notre Dame Basilica (c. 1824). We gallery hopped through the winding cobblestone corridors, sipping coffee and stopping in shops. Seriously, that is my idea of a perfect day. Coffee in hand, meandering around a new city. Stopping where ever I feel with no definite plan. Life doesn't get much better than that to me. That is primarily why I rarely take public transportation when in a new city, I just really love to explore. Plus, its free free free!!
We had lunch in the collegy area near McGill University, which was cute and full of cute French speaking dudes.
For nightlife and shopping, we headed over to rue St. Laurent. Boutiques, a cheaper American Apparel and tourist stores dot this street, as well as chic clubs and dives (more my style, being the classless person I am). My roommate wanted to dine at the infamous Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen, famous for their smoked meats, but so did everyone else. The tiny diner had a wait of 2 hours. I've faced the facts in my life, and realize that I am somewhat of a hipster, so naturally we went to the suggested hipster dive called Le Biftek. Being that we pregamed with some Molson Triple X (9% alcohol), the $4 cocktails went down even easier. Pool table in the back, decent music, but no dancing. And as my crazy life would have it, I ran into my friend/mentor Jonathan Levine (of the gallery with the octopus chandeliers). Just as my roommate was telling me "the Montreal version of Jonathan is here!" he yelled my name and proved to be the American Version. The street is alive well into the early morning with wandering drunks, tons of street kids (who will let you pet their dogs) and creeps.
After stocking up on candy bars, pickle flavored chips and cheap beauty products from L'Occitane and MAC (fyi MAC is a Canadian company, so not only is it cheaper but the salespeople don't work on commission and are therefore much more helpful), we drove the full 450 miles back to Philadelphia. I feel like I barely scratched the surface. Can I break my rule of returning to the same place twice? I'll just say its for business purposes. Yes. I need to practice my French...

2006-07-07T18:25:00.000-04:00

Hi. I Can't Stop Making T Shirts.

I'm moving to New York in 4 weeks. I've always loved wearing I Love NY t shirts, but I don't ever want to be that nerd that wears "USA" shirts in the USA, or that kid that wears the concert T of the band they saw the night before to school the next day (I HATED those dorks.) Yet their simplistic 70s/80s graphic design and cheap cheap cheapness are so alluring! (5 for $10 on Canal Street! are you kidding!) So I'm trying to figure a way I can make this work, without letting everyone know what a totally lame loser I am before they even talk to me.
My first attempt was to slice a larger shirt (adult medium, I'm a total slut and like my shirts very tight. I usually wear a youth Large or Medium) diagonally across the heart part. I then cut off the neck (I hate necks of Ts), on sleeve and the hem of the other. Holding the newly sliced parts together, I cut fringe down the length of the shirt (about 1/4"-1/2" wide and about 1" long). Now, the best thing to do next is put the now open shirt on. It'll look like you just got back from a gift shop in Atlantic City with all that fringe. Do not be tempted to bead it! Or just do it. I'm sure the hipsters will love the irony.
Or follow my advice, and begin tying corresponding pieces of fringe to you as tight as it will go. Do so to the rest of the shirt. If it isn't tight enough, you're going to have to untie and lengthen the fringe piece. It is pretty easy. Now, if I wasn't totally trashy, I probably would not have cut an area right across the boob, but since I am classless, I don't mind if my bra pokes through a teensy bit. Cut off all the excess fringe left over from tying. For the sleeves, tie the sleeveless side with a strip of T shirt, or a ribbon. If the shirt doesn't hang right, re-cut the sleeves, but be careful not to cut too deep into the armpit area or you will have a gaping hole and your bra will show in a more white trash dudes kind of way. If you mess it up, take solace in knowing the shirt only cost for $2. If a vendor tries to charge you more, just tell him that the dude down the street told you 5 for $10. This is guaranteed to work.
I'm still not sure if I will wear this in NYC. It might still be too ironic, even for me. But I'll definitely sport it in Philly or Chicago or my hometown of Bufflkill. Everyone there always makes fun of what I wear anyway. I swear, everytime I go home, some cheesy girl in white capris tries to fight me because she hates my cowboy boots! How does she know I wasn't just wranglin' cattle? At least I wasn't wearing WHITE CARGO CAPRIS!
Those are words to live by:
AT LEAST I'M NOT WEARING WHITE CARGO CAPRIS

2006-07-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

Lamp Shirt

This looks like several things I've made before, so I'll make this brief. My friend Jess in San Francisco really liked the lamp I made... but mailing a lamp to Cali is just beyond my means right now. Also, I am lazy. And a terrible shipper. So I decided to just translate it to a shirt. I bought a cream colored tank from H&M ($6) and used the same stencil I'd made for the owl on the lamp. I stitched the fabric owl onto the shirt in painstaking embroidery style. I used one of those wooden sewing hoops to keep the material flat. It needed a little more, so I bought some iron on letters ($2 a sheet) and ironed "WHO" near the collar by the boob. Maybe that is cheesy! But I like it. It still seemed a bit sparse, so I decided it needed the bow. Since I will assume she washes her laundry (you never know!), I sewed a black bow onto a pin back ($3 for a bag of 25) so she can remove it when washing. Or put it wherever she wants on the shirt. Or not at all.
I know, nothing new learned today, but I think the shirt came out great and really does kind of look like the lamp. Oh, and Happy Fourth of July! USA! USA! USA!

2006-07-03T18:27:00.000-04:00

Reel Around the Fountain

My summer has totally been made. I stumbled upon the most incredible old timey fountain the other day called The Franklin Fountain in Old City Philadelphia. My friend Carla and I used to define summer by when we'd start getting chocolate Cokes at The Phantom Fountain, which in time kept closing and re-opening with added on names... Yum at the Phantom Fountain, Sweet Times at Yum at the Phantom Fountain (ST@Y@PF). When it closed and became a shitty art gallery we were devestated that we'd have to start summer by getting 7-11 Slurpees. I mean, sure we could put chocolate syrup in Diet Cokes ourselves, but this place had the atmosphere. Phantom Fountain used to be an old time pharmacy, and they'd left all of the medicines, potions and merchandise behind the counters and in the display cases. There wasn't another authentic type place that in Philly.
Until.. The Berley brothers took over the spot that was formerly Eroticakes (that we all lovingly called MasterBakers.) They got it all right, from the original 2 blade fans, tiles floor, actual fountain, to their old timey dress and waxed mustaches (or maybe they are hipsters outside of work?) No, its not like a cheesy 1950's themed place at all. It feels like its done well.
And then there's the menu. First off, when I was little my dad and I liked that weird old fashioned gum- Teaberry and Black Jack. I was probably the only child who prefered that to BubbleYum, but then again my favorite cereal was also Mueslix. Anyway, my first tasting of the brother's homemade ice cream was Teaberry, and it was the creamiest, most delicious ice cream I've ever had in my entire life. It doesn't even need toppings. They also have a complete menu of phosphates and other fun drinks. I got one called the Japanese Thirst Killer and it was amazing. So, yay summer!

2006-06-26T21:02:00.000-04:00

Cookies and Octopi

Gallery hopping in New York is one of my favorite free activities. Yea, I love the free booze, but I love having the opportunity to meet artists and spend an evening being inspired by all sorts of different work out of a museum setting. One of my favorite galleries is Jonathan Levine Gallery on West 20th Street. Jonathan used to run a gallery in Philly called Tin Man Alley, where I met him and recruited him to be my personal post college guidance counselor. The pay is shitty, but you get to start with a little lost Zizzler and watch her blossom into a well directed, determined future grad student! Who wouldn't want that job?
The latest show featured paintings by Andrew Brandou, Nouar, and what I came to see- octopus inspired chandeliers by Adam Wallacavage. I would seriously kill for one of these things to call my very own. They remind me of carnival rides meshed with glamour. Adam's also a photographer and founder of Space 1026 art collective in Philly.
The gallery itself was filled with yellow Mylar balloons, and a lot of sweaty people. I was unfamiliar with Brandou. His paintings reminded me of semi morbid Little Golden Book illustrations, on a large scale. Really neat stuff. Shit, I just called art "neat". I'm sorry, Andrew Brandou. I'm not very articulate today. Nouar's stuff was all sweets inspired and featured the cutest little cupcake paintings ever. I wanted the Sweet Tooth one. Toof.

Another favorite cheap New York must for me is going to Pearl River Mart. On Broadway in Soho, this is an Asian supermega store. You can get anything there, some really nice and some just plain bizarre. I picked up a 4 oz. flask (because I'm too poor to buy NYC drinks all night!) for $6. The choices were all very asian: skeleton riding a motorcycle, skull with Born to Ride, Aztec markings, or eagle. I chose the eagle because it looked like the Philly Eagles logo, and I should remember this city everytime I sip moonshine out of my bag. Pearl River sells tons of Asian clothing, shoes, paper goods, decorations (the weirdest kitsch ever), amazing dishes and kitchen stuff, weird placenta facial products, Chinese herbs, parasols, blinds, and my favorite- WEIRD FOOD! I love Pocky ( I wish I'd tried Men's Pocky, whatever that is), cheap noodles, sesame candies, teas and cookies like Yan Yan. Yan Yan are these cookie type strips that you dip into a frosting like substance. Remember Skinny Dippers from the 80s? Its the same thing. Anyway, so I'm eating my Yan Yan (75 cents) when I notice my cookie says "CHICK- LUCKY COLOR: YELLOW" Whaaaa??? The all have some wonderful Engrish printed on them! I LOVE ENGRISH. Does that make me ethnocentric? Or xenophobic? Anyway, Elephant: Biggesy Animal. Starfish= Star+ Fish (that is pure genius)
ps . can you tell who learned how to create links today? I'm such an idiot.

2006-06-23T10:58:00.000-04:00

I Need You Now!

Ok I need some advice. I've had this white leather Fendi purse for a few years now. A really mean ex bought it for me. I've tried to sell it a few times with no success. I'm not sure when it was made or how much its worth, but it's actually really cool and sleek. Anyway, I wonder if I'm the Fendi type? I've barely used it. So here's where you come in. Should I a) keep it as is b) sell it or c) commission an artist I like to screenprint an original work on it? I've been knocking around the third idea for quite some time, but I'm sort of afraid that it'll get messed up. But it could be really cool...I don't know! Please comment with your vote!

For some reason I always associate ebay with getting ripped off, but recently I "discovered" searching for "lot jewelry collections." I got these two fabulous vintage collections for $27 total(including shipping) ! I figure if some of the items are broken, I can most definitely use them in other projects. In fact, you know I will.

2006-06-19T22:14:00.000-04:00

Toile Owl

I 've been racking my brain for today's project. After a super social weekend (aka slacking) I came to work today feeling so very Monday. Have you ever been so exhausted that even walking home pisses you off? Someone is walking too close to you and it's just so infuriating? Yea, that was me today. Then I took a brief catnap and voila! - the genius set in.

I've had this lamp from Ikea for awhile. I bought it because it was so cheap. The base was $5 and the lampshade $4. I never used it because the lightbulb size was annoying. And since my room is tiny, I don't have anymore open surfaces to put another lamp. But, I'm moving to a larger place in Astoria soon! (who actually moves to New York into a bigger place?) I get to decorate and start anew- I'm just thinking about the things I've been making and how even more mistmatched my new room will be. At least I could use the excuse of "clutter" in my current closet sized room. At least there is a bit of reason to my chaos in that most of my stuff really screams ZIZZZZZLER! I had an acquaintance that has the WORST decorating style ever. I named it "The Noah's Ark Syndrome," in that everything she has is completely and utterly mismatched, so her twisted logic was that getting two of the same thing made it all "go together." Two ugly Ikea wood lampbases with ugly lampshades, two empty WINE BOTTLES with ROSES in them (!), two black short floating shelves with two matching tea light holders on them. At least my stuff clashes so bad its good. So naturally, I needed to make another thing with toile, since toile doesn't really go with any other fabric or print... keep the chaos alive!
Before I ramble even more, here's what you'll need:

Fabric remnant- about one square foot or so
ModgePodge or other decoupage glue
Hot glue gun
Paintbrush, scissors, paper, an image you like and marker for tracing
Ribbon, length depending on lampshade size
A lamp and shade!

This idea came to me out of nowhere. I googled "owl drawings" and found one to copy. I can draw, but not well from memory and I haven't seen an owl in a tree for at least a week in Philadelphia (I am not funny). I sketched one on paper then traced it on a "busy" part of the toile and cut it out. FYI, I got like 3 yards of the toile from this discount store called Jo-Mar for $2/yard. They sell everything there from Precious Moments to maternity clothes. It's weird.
Then using the very last of my jar of ModgePodge, I carefully painted the back of the cut out with a big paint brush and smoothed it onto the lampshade. Modgepodge works best because it provides an even coat. A lampshade will have light shining through it (duh), which would show any glue spots or errors from other glues, so decoupage glue like ModgePodge work best. Being the weirdo I am, I had saved the ribbon (with pre-tied bow) from a Victoria's Secret gift box from like 2 years ago. I KNEW I'd need it some day! I hot glued the bow first, then the rest around the top and bottom of the lampshade. Then I stole a little lightbulb from a lamp in the living room...oops.
I made this in about an hour while watching Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on the Family Channel. It probably would've taken me a lot less time, but I kept having to stop to wipe my eyes because the stupid movie was making me bawl like a baby.

2006-06-15T09:55:00.000-04:00

Watching People Have a Good Time in the Summertime!

Summer fun. Outdoor patios. Frosty fruity drinks. Dresses and cool summer breezes, and daylight lasting until 8:30 pm. I want to do everything outside, and love to spend my money on happy hours and dinners at restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. But I especially love gathering a crew of friends in the park, lounging on blankets and sipping (well-concealed) sangria.

A traditional sangria recipe involves sugar, good red wine, citrus fruits and some sort of liquor- usually brandy, white rum or triple sec. You'd combine the sugar with the red wine over a stove, or set in the fridge for 12-24 hours. This IS delicious, but I don't always have the time to do it right. Also, having spent most of my money on previously said happy hours and dinners, I've been reduced to creating ghetto sangria recipes, OR buying boxed sangria. Yes. BOXED wine. I decided to just try it for its sheer cheapness/kitsch, and it is surprisingly good! A 5 liter box of Franza Sangria is $8-$11, depending where you live. With cut up fruit it's amazing, and hides and pours well from a backpack. If you feel like being more creative, I've created 2 "recipes"
Recipe 1:

Bottle of cheap Merlot or table red
12 ounces of lemonade, or Lorina Sparkling Lemonade
chopped apples, oranges, lemons, limes

Recipe 2:

Bottle of cheap Merlot or table red
16 ounces of flavored seltzer (I like to use raspberry or Berry sparkling water from Target)
chopped strawberries, maraschino cherries, lemons

Both recipes taste better when you let the fruit sit in the mixtures and infuse awhile. Pour over ice and serve with lots of fruit in each cup.

Now for the perfect evening, I take snacks, blanket, BUG SPRAY, opaque cups and the most important part- I bring a little romance to the park and light a candle in the middle of it all. It sets the "mood". The mood for making fun of park jerks.

2006-06-13T11:37:00.000-04:00

Podless.

Last night was the most perfect night. Warm enough to be completely comfortable in a T shirt, with a slight breeze, unusually quiet, little traffic. I spent the evening walking around the historical areas of Philadelphia, discovering new Colonial cobblestone alleyways, art galleries, hidden restaurants and reading the plaques infront of historical notes of interest. Not to quote Roberta Flack or anything, but I thought the evening would be better if I had set the night to music... maybe something mellow like Sigor Ros or American Football. Then, I realized I'm unlike most Americans in that I do not own an iPod. Its not that I'm against them or anything. (Although in former years, I was so against cell phones that I carried a rotary receiver with cord around with me, and would "talk" on it when jerks would be talking on their cell phones in public.) I just don't have $300. Or even $100 for that matter.
I was at the drugstore for shampoo and the like, when I noticed that Garnier Fructis was giving away a "mini radio" with their shampoo. This company is weird. They always give weird things away. It used to be just smaller sizes of other products, but then they started giving checked Garnier Frutis bandanas with their stuff. Now a MINI RADIO?? Anyway, I got clean hair and something to set my walks to music with, for $2.48. Nuts. Sure, the radio kind of sucks. It requires 2 AAA batteries, and you can't see what station you're listening to. And just that - you have to listen to the RADIO. But, its free. So whatever. So I walked a bit with it today. Sure, I had to listen to this weird calypso (?) version of "Lost in a Supermarket", but it was better than listening to the 5000 jackhammers which ring in the summer construction season in Philly. And its GREEN!
In other discount news, sometimes I too need retail therapy. I've been wanting Marc Jacob's BLUSH fragrance ever since I saw it at the Duty Free Shop in Spain for $50. How I regretted not getting it! In stores, its $65. Out of my range. So I did a major internet search and found it for $29 on http://www.AlbertAdams.com. I decided to just go for it, although I was totally afraid they'd send me a designer impostors, or just the wrong order or something. But in a few short days, I got it. Its the real thing. Now I smell amazing.

2006-06-12T11:29:00.000-04:00

Brides, Brides Everywhere!

I've gotten to that dreaded age when people are starting to strap on the ball and chain. (I'll try not to comment about how I haven't wanted to go on even a 2nd date for months!) And of course, everyone decides to get married at the same time, and have their wedding showers in the same month. So basically, I'm supposed to be able to afford to buy shower gifts, wedding gifts, dress for the weddings, paying an gigolo to escort me... it adds up. So, the affordable option is to make them a bridal gift, saving money for the cash gift. People, I may be thrifty, but I DO NOT skimp on the wedding gift! Weddings cost a ton, I give $50-$100, depending on how good of friends I am and if I bring a date.
So, one of my friends had registered for a cocktail shaker, amongst other boring things. I bought her a nice shaker at Target for $11, then decided to make her custom highball glasses and wrap it up as a bar set. What you'll need:

Armour Etch Glass Etching Cream
Glasses
Paint brush
Mylar stickers

Getting Armour Etch cream can be tricky. It's illegal in Philadelphia. It's essentially acid, and so a lot of graffiti brats have been using it to tag up store front windows and such. Its permanent, and causes major damage. Totally sucks. I had to go to Pearl Paint in Manhattan to get it (they don't sell it on their website.) You also have to be 21 to purchase it with ID, so with all that trouble, I bought a larger jar of it for $17. It should last a long time. Glass etching cream is really temperamental, so I've experimented with it a lot for you. I found the best "stencil" to use are Mylar stickers. They provide a clean edge with no leakage. I tried to make my own stencils using contact paper and crack and peel. Both leaked and had messy edges. I found its easier to make a "negative image" (the shape is clear) and to not etch large areas (it can be spotty and uneven.) So, for the most best/most "professional" looking glasses, I chose horse mylar stickers (1 pack includes 12 stickers for $1.50) and placed them galloping around the glass. I got the highball glasses at Ikea for $1/each. Get a few extra for mistakes. I bought 6, and gave the happy couple 4 in all.
After the stickers are placed, use the paint brush to put a thick coating of etching cream on the glasses. I painted it on in a random, messy edged pattern, so mistakes aren't really noticeable. The on-purpose messy edges looked great with the horse motif. (Note: this stuff is toxic. Its not that messy, just don't get it on you or breathe it or eat it. Make sure your dog is in another room. This is a step I forgot at first. I had to chase the dog with etching creamed glass in hand! Also, the first time I used it, I had a fan on and the fumes gave me a headache for hours.) The directions say to leave on for 5 minutes, but I like to leave it on for 10, then rinse with warm water and peel off the stickers. That's it! If it comes out uneven, coating it again won't really help, since it is acid and eats away at the surface of the glass. So basically it'll just continue to be uneven, just in different layers.

My friends loved these. They were touched that it was hand made, but they look good enough to be bought in a design store. Aside from the initial purchase of the etching cream ($17), the gift is pretty cheap- about $18.50, including the shaker, the 2 extra glasses and the stickers. Now you'll have extra cash to pay an even classier dude to be your date! Or maybe that's just me...

2006-06-10T20:25:00.000-04:00

This Must Be Just Like Living in Paradise

The Target $1 section. Sometimes its socks. Sometimes Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper four packs. Often its crappy stationary or weird bath stuff. Today, it was the ultimate Zizzler jackpot- Lobster related crap! In past entries, I've mentioned I like lobsters "in a design aspect." I don't eat them (or any meatstuffs), I just love how they look. And I was overjoyed today to pick up lobster swizzle sticks, appetizer picks, a weird little silver dish (no idea what its supposed to be for), an apron and a platter. The platter depicts how to eat a lobster, but I'm pretending its just a joke. And each item for only $1!!! They also had starfish themed ones. If you're into that sort of thing. On one hand, I can't wait to use them, but I secretly know I'll "save" them in their containers for a "special occasion" (aka NEVER.) P.S. Does anyone actually read this blog? Mom, don't answer this!

2006-06-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

It's WitchCraft

A cutesy title?! Gross. Is this really the Zizzler? Other possible titles were : Bewitched! Witch way is Summer? Witch foot is Witch? er... I'll stop. I'm even annoying myself.

So yea. It is summer now. It's annoyingly hot and humid. I get really cranky from the heat. The moment I form a sweatstache, oh man, you'd better get out of my way. I overheat easily, and am really affected by my footwear. I can't wear sleeves or closed toed shoes, or it overheats my whole body. So that means I walk the dirty cities of the world in sandals (note, NEVER Jesus sandals. Or those horrible velcro dealies. Or anything with a plastic flower on it. And never flip flops in a respected establishment).
So Bath and Body works used to make this really great stuff, part of their anti-bacterial line. It was a purse sized "cooling" foot spray. It was mostly witch hazel, alcohol, fragrance and water. And for real, not only did it make summer city feet smell good, but the witch hazel cooooooled me down. And cleansed. And I went in there to buy it. And the jerks DISCONTINUED it!! Come on! They can sell Henri Bendel Candles and 50000 new types of food flavored lip gloss, but take away the best product they had? So I did what I'd typically do, and I decided to make my own. What you'll need:

Witch Hazel (about $2-$3 at drugstores)
Essential oil ($5-$10 depending on size). Some places give sample vials- The Body Shop used to, you don't need a lot so a sample size will more than do.
Old spray bottle, you might want to use a purse sized one.
water!
Something to decorate the bottle with if you want to

Mix one part with hazel with 2 parts water. You can vary slightly depending on your preference, but witch hazel has a strong smell so you might want to stick with my dilution. Same goes for the essential oil. I try to choose a stronger smelling one, like a musk, so it will almost cover the witch hazel smell. DON'T use vanilla. SOOOOO gross together. Orange Blossom and Mint worked well too. I use about 20-30 drops. My feet smell. Now decorate your bottle with paint, stickers, or a collage. Or don't.

Get out in the city and SPRITZ! Feel the soothing antiseptic properties of the witch hazel, smell the pleasant aroma of the essential oil. Feel less gross. That's basically all I ever try to do, day in and day out.

2006-06-05T13:21:00.000-04:00

Not Really a Beatles Fan

I wanted to write about a project I'm working on, but I ran out of supplies and last night I accidentally gave the rest of my money to a dog wearing a t shirt (and pearls).

So instead we'll venture to Liverpool, where I spent a cheapy weekend once. I was studying in London, and took a 2 hour train ride from Euston Station. Fares range from 22 pounds for advance booking, to 52.10 pounds for day of (roundtrip). A cheaper option which I didn't know about until recently, is http://www.megabus.com/uk. Prices range from 1 pound to 22 pounds, depending how far in advance you book. They are like the Chinatown bus of NYC/Philly, pick up on random corners, and are generally for people in the know. But if you can afford it, I recommend the train- the English country side is beautiful, and trains are spacious and comfortable.
I found Liverpool to be a bit strange, pretty industrial, and kind of angry. But I still liked it. I like the Beatles like most people do, but I'm not a HUGE fan, so I opted out of the "Magical Mystery Tour Bus", which ran about 40 pounds a person. Nooooooo thank you. We did however pick up one of their free maps, and hiked the extremely far walk to Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane. Really, nothing to see. Strawberry Fields is the gate infront of a home for children, which has since closed. Tons of lame Beatles oriented grafitti. Thats it. Penny Lane is a regular street with regular shops and what not on it. Toward the center of town is the infamous Cavern Club, where the Beatles began. I had a pint of Carling and looked at the memorabilia. Its kind of a dive, just how I like bars to be.
After I got my fill of Beatles' stuff, I headed over to the Liverpool Cathedral. Started in 1904, the cathedral is the largest in Britain. It sits atop a hill and overlooks the city. At the foot of it, almost in a pit below is a really neat cemetary with several mass graves from an orphanage fire of the early 1900s. The cemetary was one of my favorites, very creepy yet serene. The Cathedral itself was very beautiful, but not as impressive to me since it is contemporary, and I'm an agist.
One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Liverpool was to visit the Tate Modern Liverpool Museum http://www.tate.org/uk/liverpool. General admission is free, with a 4 pound fee for special exhibitions. I caught the Peter Blake show (who incidentally is most famous for the cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album). They also have a really good gift shop. The Tate is on the waterfront, where I found a cheap hotel for 30 pounds a night nearby. Liverpool's Albert Dock waterfront is really cool, with great architecture. "The Three Graces", which are comprised of the Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building are probably the most recognizable area in Liverpool (free admission). Albert Dock has a lot going on- cafes, pubs, and lots of foot traffic. Very fun to explore.
Liverpool also has the largest Chinatown in Europe, which means tons of good cheap food. There are also many 24 hour bakeries where you can get a spinach pie for 1 pound or something sweet. I think we walked all of Liverpool in 2 short days. I found it interesting that there were so many abandoned houses right next to really nice ones. We also came across several overgrown cemetaries. I love things like that, I love to wonder how they got that way, who forgot about them, andif they will ever get cleaned up.
People in Liverpool were really mean to us. I mean, maybe it was because we have annoying American accents. Maybe not, they seemed to be mean to each other as well?

2006-05-31T11:20:00.000-04:00

I'm Afraid of My Sewing Machine

It is still in the box. My room used to be my closet, so part of my fear is lack of space. But mainly I'm just not sure how to use it, and I don't have the time to figure it out. So, some projects that could be finished quickly and easily on a machine instead are done painstakingly by hand. Like this change purse.

This is another half- assed project that actually works. First, I got a remnant of red velour ($1), a yard (just to be on the safe side) of black piping (50 cents), a yard of black sequins on a string ($1) and a white 6 inch zipper (79 cents). I already had a box of straight pins and a piece of chalk. I used a Cool Whip bowl (they are so useful!) as a pattern and traced two circles on the underside of the fabric. Draw a pattern on the "right" side of the fabric with the chalk (I chose a bird). Now sew the sequins along the outline, and then rub the chalk off. Okay, now comes the annoying part- pinning everything together. The easiest way for me is to pin it completely, then turn inside out. So I pinned the zipper to both sides (open), then the piping joining the two sides. Now, sew like a maniac, until your hand cramps up and you need a shot of whiskey to feel it again. Sew it AGAIN to make sure its sturdy. Then take another shot of whiskey. If you need a girlie shot, like red death or anything involving "Pucker", then consider yourself a wuss and stop reading this blog and go get your hair did or something.

Turn the purse "right" side out, and there you go. All it cost you (besides arthritis) is $3.79 , and there should be enough left over to make another one or two.

2006-05-30T10:44:00.000-04:00

One Ugly Sweater.

I have no idea why I bought this sweater. It looks horrible on me. Knowing me, I probably bought it for the simple fact that it was 75% off. It sat in my closet, even on the coldest days. I think I wore it once to shovel the sidewalk. Sure, you may think it looks okay, but on, I looked like a nerd. A boyish nerd.

What to do? Scissors!
I originally liked the buttons detail on the sweater, so I decided to keep just that, and make a cumberbun/sash type thing. I've seen some around, but accessories are at the bottom of my list of things to buy so I decided to try to make one. I cut a good portion out and resewed it to fit my abdomen, since it was originally the bottom of the sweater. Luckily the sweater is striped, so I just cut along a stripe above three of the buttons.the bottom of the sweater. I found that I like to wear it offset, with the buttons on the side. I wear it with longer black shirts and black dresses. Its subtle but a nice design contrast.

I had alot of sweater left over, so I used the one button closure I had cut off to make a cuff. Its stretchy, so the button doesn't need to be functional, so I hot glued some plastic lips I got at a craft store onto it. Two easy projects for FREE!

R.I.P. ugly sweater. Burn in hell.

2006-05-26T15:51:00.000-04:00

Food Poisoned = Fun with Branches

Yep. I've been home, puking, for the past 3 days thanks to some VEGAN tuna. It's been horrible. I slept in the bathroom. So I haven't been very adventurous as far as productivity goes.

Anyway, I've always liked these coral hooks they sell at Anthropologie for like $20. If you're like me, your jewelry box is just a mass of chains, charms and tangles. So I thought a hook would be perfect to hang my tanglemass on. The hooks at Anthro are organic shaped metal with a red coating, formed to look like coral. I hummed and hawed about buying them for months, because $20 is a bit steep for a hook. Plus, I didn't really like that they were red. So, sticking with the idea of organic shapes, I found some branches that reminded me of the coral. I'm no tree expert, but these had a waxy finish and tiny budlets. I found a small branch that could easily be pinned to a wall, having some flat parts. Use your judgement, hold it against the wall, etc.
I painted the branch with spray paint and let it dry overnight. Then I coated the branch with clear varnish to protect the paint and reinforce the branches so they may hold weight better.
After another 24 hours, I mounted the branch on my wall with a hook screw, then hung my necklaces on it. It's pretty sturdy. I'm really into this branch thing, I see more projects to come with them.

2006-05-22T11:42:00.000-04:00

Drawing Inspiration
I love spotting street art. I don't mean simple grafitti or tags like in this dive bar (which I AM a fan of as well), but simple to complex stencils, paintings or wheat pasted art. I like the idea the artist doesn't know its state of permanence... for example I took the picture of the robot only 2 days ago, and the door is repainted already. Other things have been up for years, I like not knowing what the city chooses to keep and what is considered vandalism. I also like to imagine the creation process, do they go in the middle of the night? Do they have to work quickly in order not to get caught? Are the painted ones finished? But most of all, I like the idea of art in unexpected places, like the photo "exhibit" on the fences surrounding Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. Seeing art outside of a gallery/museum setting adds inspiration to my everyday life, when I'm on my way to work or out running errands. I love it.

I decided to use my digital camera to collect photos of street art from around the world. Maybe when I'm done I'll make myself a little book of it. Or a calendar. Or a thousand other projects.

Oh, and by the way

I went to the Whitney Biennial on Friday in Manhattan. I was much more impressed with the museum's permanent collection, but saw a few interesting things including a man dressed as some sort of early 19th century butcher, giving speeches into a small megaphone while being filmed. He kept getting kicked out of each room. One of my favorite pieces was Francesco Vezzoli's faux movie trailer for the remake of Caligula. Completely over the top, with togas by Versace and stars like horror legend Karen Black, Mila Jovovich and Benecio Del Toro. Anyway, my point here is that on Fridays from 6-9, the Whitney is pay what you will, aka FREE. I donated $2 for good karma.

2006-05-16T10:33:00.000-04:00

Livin' in a Rut

Yep. I have creative block at the moment. I've tried everything; watched Sid and Nancy again, went to a performance of Ultimate Mozart, started reading a new book, trolled designsponge and New York Magazine. NOTHING. All I've got is blank. A white screen. Next weekend I'm going to the opera, the beach, and the Whitney Biennial in hopes that something will work. So, in the meantime, I'm posting some images I took when I was feeling creative. Maybe I'll spark myself to take more photos and use that photo degree I went to school for. Or maybe you'll just like or hate these portraits.

2006-05-10T15:56:00.000-04:00

Barcelona- The Happiest Place on Earth

I've been putting off writing about Barcelona for some time now. I'm not really sure exactly why. Maybe because it has been my favorite place I've traveled to, and I'm afraid I won't be able to do it any justice? I didn't know much about BCN when I started planning the trip. I found a listing of several European travel deals on www.travelzoo.com. I ended up getting quite a deal- 6 nights AND airfare from Philadelphia from www.virginvacations.com for "$499" which equaled $650 with taxes. There was an annoying layover in the worst airport ever in Frankfort, Germany, but at least I could browse the German gift shops. I'm not a picky person when it comes to hotels, so I looked up the offered hotels in the travel deal and chose the one that was closer to everything, rather than by star rating. I ended up choosing the cheapest one, Hotel Coronado, in the district called El Raval. It turned out to be a great location on Nou de la Rambla, about a 15 minute walk from La Rambla, which took us past many ethnic food shops, a big music venue, Hotel Gaudi and Palacio Guell, which was sadly closed for the season. The room was simple and clean, with 3 beds, a tile floor, TV, bathroom, and probably the thinnest walls imaginable. Free coffee/juice/biscuits were available each morning, and there were vending machines with beer (cerveza) for 1 Euro and a bodega across the street which sold decent wine for 3 euros a bottle. I'd suggest taking a taxi from the airport, it is kind of a hike with public transportation. You have to transfer from regional rails to different subway lines, kind of a headache.
Barcelona is the city with everything. Amazing architecture and urban planning, beaches, great shopping, museums, palm trees, farmers' markets and a huge party scene! I went over Thanksgiving (yes, again) and the weather was great - sunny and about 50-60 degrees. Perfect for walking everywhere, and I DID walk EVERYWHERE. BCN's underground system is great, but I didn't want to miss anything! I bought my Streetwise map and Let's Go book and navigated my way all over. I even walked holes into the bottoms of my shoes. I didn't know any Spanish, which mattered little since most natives speak Catalan or speak Spanish with a thick Catalan lisp. Most know English, and all signs are in Spanish, Catalan and English. My most used phrase while there was "Dos cappuccinos con azucar por favor!" the coffee there is GREAT. The Spanish are incredibly friendly and welcoming, so don't worry if you don't know the language.
With so much to do, it was hard to decide how to plan our trip. We decided to divide our time between 4 planned days, and 2 "wandering" days (which are my favorite!) A trip to Barcelona is like visiting a progression of the life and work of Antonio Gaudi. From very early works, like the street lamps in Plaza Real, to his greatest work Sagrada Familia, one can experience each step of design from his rich life. Sagrada Familia was a must for me. Started in 1882, the cathedral looks like something from a science fiction movie with its space age spires, cubist Passion scene contrasting with the opposite Nativity side which looks like its melting. Still under construction (and probably for years and years to come), the entire interior is still exposed to the outside. The 8 Euro entrance fee includes admission to the basement, which houses the sculpture workshop, as well as a museum of progress and Gaudi's notes and inspirations. Gaudi was largely influence by nature, and the museum shows side by side his designs to their organic counterparts. (a VERY interesting way to get inside Gaudi's head!) Rest up, and be sure to walk up the hundreds of steps in each spire. It may be exhausting, but it was seriously the most spectacular view I've ever experienced. Better than the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, CN Tower and SpaceNeedle combined! Now, that is saying alot. So break a sweat and do it! I'm eager to one day go back to BCN and see the progress. I wonder if and when it'll get finished. Ironically, Gaudi died as an old man, after he was struck by a street car when crossing the street near Sagrada Familia. Always living humbly, he dressed in worn clothing, so passersby thought he was a street person and wouldn't help him laying in the street. He died in a hospital nearby soon after. How tragic! Other must see Gaudi buildings are Casa Battlo and Casa Mila, both equally amazing.
Another Gaudi-inspired planned day was a trek to Parc Guell. Located in the north eastern part of the city, it took us a good 1-2 hours to walk there (yes I know it would've been an easy subway ride!) The sprawling park is self-irrigating, designed to mesh perfectly with the already rough terrain. Gaudi built 2 gingerbread like entryhouses, and a house that he later lived in on the premises. It is now a Salvador Dali museum, who was a close friend. Decked in mosaics, Parc Guell also boasts the longest bench in the world.
Barcelona is an easy city to wander in. In the Gothic quarter, Barri Gotic, we wandered through the tiny alleyways through centuries old shops, galleries, gothic cathedrals and even Roman tombs! The sounds, sites and smells are a bit overwhelming in that there is so much going on, old and new, its almost unreal. Catalonia is very meat-centric. In fact, pigs legs are hanging EVERYWHERE, waiting for someone to order a bikini, aka ham and cheese sandwich. I ate a few cheese bocadillos (sandwiches for about 3 Euros) but I wasn't impressed. Finally, I found Maoz Vegetarian- a take out falafel place for 3 Euros that had a giant free toppings bar of yummy mediterranean salads. I later went to one in Paris, and Maoz opened the ONLY location in the US right near my house in Philadelphia! I don't like to waste alot of time eating when I'm trying to see sights, so this was perfect and cheap.
I spent another day wandering down La Rambla toward the beachfront. I walked around the serene Barcelonetta district, a wharf area, along the beach and over to the Parc Citaduella. The park is full of palm trees, a huge and I mean HUGE early Gaudi Fountain, and the zoological gardens. Aside from palm trees, there are many tangerine trees. Although off season, we had to try one... and found it was much like burning acid mouth. Gross.
The nightlife in BCN is insane. Residents seemed to be very international and friendly, I met many Germans, South Americans and British people, all eager to party it up and have a good time with us. Some clubs don't open until 2 am, so we would walk around from pub to pub, or buy a cerveza on La Rambla. Guys wander up and down with mini coolers selling them for 1 Euro, which beats the tourist traps along La Rambla that sell beer for a whopping 11 Euros! Spanish beer isn't very good, and only worth about ONE Euro! We were told about a few clubs at Plaza Real and ended up meeting some random German twin dudes and going with them to one called New York New York for a night called "The Black Sounds" aka a soul night. The entry was 10 Euros, and drinks were only about 5 Euros and strong. The twins paid for everything for us for some reason. In fact, most people there were really generous about buying drinks and such. We danced until dawn and walked back to the hotel.
The streets of BCN are much like New York, always buzzing with people and activity. It was hard to gauge what was more important, sight seeing or enjoying the incredible party scene. It is definitely my all time favorite city. I could wander around there for hours, days even. And the incredibly rich culture, history/architecture and friendly and fashionable people make it even more alluring. In a week, I feel I barely scratched the surface. Next time, I'd like to hit up alot more museums, and take a day trip to Figueres to see the Dali Museum (where they have the Mae West room actualized!) And find a hot Catalan man to marry me and take me away from all this.

2006-05-08T15:43:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I Receive Crafty Love!

Sadly, I'm not the brains behind this project. I received this set of cards from my good friend Jessica (pictured in the Sculpture Park photo) for Christmas. She assured me it was easy, and extremely cheap. She bought a few sheets of colored card stock (50 cents a sheet) and envelopes ($1 each) from a paper store and Googled some images she thought I'd like. She then printed the images onto white cardstock and cut into squares. The cutesy part, is that she used a zig zag stitch and colored thread to sew the images onto the cards with her sewing machine. They came out really great! One of the best gifts ever.

2006-05-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

I Shot Andy Warhol

"In the future everybody will be world-famous for 15 minutes"

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Never has this city appealed to me. Steel. Rust. But, I really wanted to go to the Andy Warhol Museum, and Frank Lloyd Wright's nearby masterpiece, Falling Water. I took a quickie overnight trip there, so I didn't get to explore the city much. I found a cheap Days Inn on the outskirts at Travelocity for $70/night. The Andy Warhol Museum is one of four of the Carnegie Museums. We've all seen Warhol stuff pretty much everywhere, from mousepads to t shirts, not to mention the screen prints are in virtually ever art museum there is. But its rare that we see Warhol's early commercial work, or an interactive room full of silver mylar pillows being gently blown by fans. The museum has over 4000 works and rotates about 500 at a time, ranging from early works to celebrity screenprints to self portraits to conceptual works. When I was there, they also had a small exhibition by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Warhol Foundation has extensive archives and video/films which can also be available for those who wish to study it.

Although Warhol is not one of my favorites, I was really excited to see this collection. Some may think he was cheesy or mundane. But to me, his work was more about a cultural movement/era, rather than ground breaking art. The admission is $10 ($6 for students), and the entire museum took me about an hour and a half to explore. We found parking on the street for free. I was especially excited about the prospects of a gift shop...but sadly very disappointed. Basically, they had the cheesiest stuff. Elvis ties, Marilyn magnets. Notebooks. Cufflinks. Dumb. Their online store is a bit better. http://www.warhol.org
After, we drove over to Mad Mex near the university. I'd worked at the Mad Mex in Philadelphia and wanted to check out its origins, plus I knew they have Happy Hour from 9-11 ($5 giant margaritas) and half priced food at 11pm. Check out http://www.bigburrito.com for locations.

Growing up in Buffalo, I had access to several Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. I guess he is the Ansel Adams of architecture, you can probably buy a print of his buildings at Ikea or something. About an hour's drive from Pittsburgh, visiting Falling Water is a most of the day affair. Admission is $16, and grants you access to the grounds and a guided tour of the house and guest house (that has a sitting pool!!). I suggest making a reservation, getting there early, and packing a lunch. Its very "summer camp" there. The cafe leaves much to be desired, and the bathrooms! Glorified communal outhouses they are! Compost toilets aka a very VERY deep hole under your bathroom stall.
Falling Water is amazing to me for several reasons. First, it is literally built ON a waterfall. Built for the Kaufman Family (of the department store fame, a truly interesting family) in the late 1930s, the house was to be an escape from city life for the family. The family loved the waterfall at their property at "Bear Run", and so Wright designed the site to echo that. Using a cantilever process, the building is basically centered at the rocks at the top of the waterfall, with "trays" of rooms and terraces jetting out on all sides. The base incorporated the top of the waterfall into an enclosed swimming area. The rooms are small, yet full of light and all lead to amazing terraces.

The second thing that blows my mind is the indoor fire place. Wright built the fireplace/sitting room around the glacial rocks at the top of the waterfall. So, the rocks that are outside are partially inside! I still cannot figure out how he did this so seamlessly. Of course the indoor portions of the boulders are treated and polished. So amazing. The third thing I love about Falling Water (and Wright) is Wright's insistence that his buildings be soley decorated and furnished in his designs. He has a way of pulling nature and lines together, everything just makes sense. And although his furniture does not look to be the most comfortable, it is hard to imagine anything else in his interiors. Unfortunately, I do not have any of my own pictures from Falling Water, so the ones included are from other sites.
I most likely won't make it to the City of Steel again, but if I do I'd like to check out the modern art museum, The Mattress Factory.
Oh, and don't eat the calamari at Mad Mex. The "special sauce" is chilled sour cream and salsa...acid and dairy...MMMMM!!!!

2006-05-03T21:38:00.000-04:00

LZ + CH BFF 4E

Aw remember best friend necklaces?? Would you fight over who HAD to be the "ST ENDS"? (Because we all know BE FRI was much much better.) My mom made me paint mine with clear nail polish "so it wouldn't tarnish." I think everything from Claire's tarnished upon wearing it. Nice try, mom.
I wanted to pay tribute to my childhood tradition. I think I might love to find best friend necklaces, but couldn't. So I made these shirts for my younger cousins. I just bought a 25 cent square of felt, one skein of red embroidery floss (80 cents) and 2 baby t's from H&M ($5.50/each.) I traced the broken heart pieces onto the felt and cut it out in the negative. Of course, I cut the necks off of the t shirts and shortened the sleeves. Then I just embroidered the felt onto the fabric, then embroidered the letters in the heart pieces. I almost didn't leave enough room for "ENDS" because I am an idiot. But, it worked out in the END. Oh man, I need some new material! (MATERIAL!)

Is this thing on?

2006-05-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

I Know I said I Hated T shirts, But....

My little cousins wanted me to teach them "how to design shirts", but we had little to work with. I was given a boxy large woman's black t shirt to make into something wearable - challenge. I bought a tiny tube of white fabric paint for $1. That's all I spent, aside from the free shirt.

The first thing I do with t shirts is cut off the neck. I hate restrictive collars, so I put on the shirt, drew a faint x where I wanted it to fall, and cut it so one sleeve would fall off the shoulder. Now to attack the boxiness. The trick I use, is to cut one side seam up to the armpit.
Then cut "fringe" from bottom to top, then knot the corresponding "fringe" all the way to the arm pit. Make the fringe longer if you need the shirt to be tighter. You should try it on periodically, and before you make the knots completely tight.
Now, the stencil. I traced a horse from a greeting card onto cardboard then cut it out so it was negative. I wanted to layer the horses on the lower part of the shirt, then have a nice solid white one on the sleeve that fell off the shoulder. I cut a dry sponge into strips to make little "paint brushes", dipped the ends into the white paint, then dabbed it onto the stencil, varying the amount of paint and pressure to make different textured horses. Dry over night, then voila! Hot new shirt, tailored to my body, and customized with wild horses...insert Rolling Stones reference here.

2006-04-30T20:18:00.000-04:00

Improving Ikea for about a buck.

Ikea had a lighting sale, and I bought the TYFT wall lamp for $5 (usually $10). Its basically a square of plastic with a small bulb behind it with a wall mount. It comes with 4 interchangeable pieces of plastic to change the pattern or color which is kind of neat, but they still kind of bored me. The front is attached with a screw in each of the 4 corners, which makes it extremely easy to slip your own design over the front.
I scanned a photo I liked of my best friend Carla (who is in the May issue of Jane p. 50 by the way!), increased the contrast to the highest level in Photoshop, then took it to a copy store. I bought an 8.5x11 transparency for 25 cents, and had them print the photo on it in color (80 cents). Black and white would've looked good too. Then, I just cut down the transparency to a square, punched holes in the corners, and screwed the image into place. I made a few other transparencies of different photos in case I get bored of looking at Carla everyday.
Easiest project ever. I didn't even break out into an upper lip sweat.

2006-04-27T16:35:00.000-04:00

April Showers Bring May...Hikers?

The weather is just starting to be absolutely PERFECT for hiking adventures! Not too sweaty, super sunny, and crisply breezy. I love traipsing around nature, but love it even more when I have a photo project in mind. Locally, I love Valley Forge Park. Its full of Revolutionary War remnants, memorials and deer. But my most loved hiking spot is in Western New York, at Griffis Sculpture Park http://www.griffispark.org/ which is about an hour drive from my hometown of Buffalo, NY.

The Griffis Family were sculptors, many of their works can be seen around Buffalo. In the late 1960s, the family acquired the land which is now Sculpture Park. Unlike other Sculpture Parks, Griffis isn't just a flat land of gardens. The steel sculptures are incorporated into the landscape. Some are only reachable via intense trails. I can't help but think of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead when contrasting the sculptures with the landscape. (if you have not read that book, go read it NOW!) The two, so different, nature vs. man, compliment each other so well. It just seems "right".
Selfishly, the park is ideal for photo projects of all kinds. Personally, I like to force my friends and young cousins to hike for hours in the beating sun, then make them change into feminine/ethereal clothing and pose with the sculptures in the beating sun, for a few more hours. If they don't look beautiful, then I leave them there. Well, except for whomever is driving.
Bring a picnic lunch, some sunscreen, lots of water, your camera and some willing models!

2006-04-25T11:28:00.000-04:00

Its Everyone's Birthday...But I only have $10!

Why is it that all birthdays come at once...not to mention weddings, bridal showers, baby showers etc.... So how do I show my love to all, when I can't even afford ONE decent gift? A mix cd is always nice, but I tend to think of them as a great gift accompaniment, rather than gifts themselves.

My friends aren't materialistic, and in fact prefer a handmade gift. So, I'm very lucky! (And hey, they are too! Because they get something unique and from the heart, rather than a stupid handbag or something.) So, okay..with $10, how can I make 3 cool gifts? I'll use Limewire to make the obligatory mix cd, and blank cds are super cheap. But what else?
First, hit up a craft store and pick up a bottle of Modge Podge (a decoupage adhesive) for $5, a mixed bag of sequins (99 cents) and a cheap foam brush (3 for $1).
With about $3.50 to spare, head to Home Depot. Heading right to the bathroom section, pick up 5 of the cheapest white bathroom tiles, which are 20 cents each. (I know, I only need 3 gifts, but even the Zizzler makes mistakes! And I've said before- I'm messy!) Then pick up a 10 pack of alligator-style backing hangers ($1).
Take your goods home and start looking through old magazines, greeting cards, catalogs and photos for images you think a particular friend will like. As mentioned before, I LOVE loteria cards, and use them for EVERYTHING. So here, I chose the ones I thought were the "funniest"...ok and a little off color. Slap some ModgePodge onto a tile, fix your picture in place, then arrange sequins around it. I stab the center of the sequins with the tip of a pen to put them in place. This takes forever, and your back will hurt...but just think of how much your friends will LOVE it! Let it dry overnight, then hotglue an alligator hanger on the back, so they can proudly display your tile on their bedroom wall.
A few years ago for Christmas, I worked at this restaurant with alot of employees, who ALL wanted to exchange gifts. So I went to the cemetary and took photos of several angel statues in black and white, color copied them, then decoupaged them onto the tiles. Christmasy and they loved them!
So.....the breakdown
Modge Podge (which you can use again and again) $5
Sequins " $1
Cheap foam brush $.33
Tiles (5) $1
Alligator backings $1

TOTAL $9something plus change

2006-04-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

So yea, no posts for awhile.

Why you ask? Well, I just got home from a nice 12 hour workday, and this is what my room looks like. Not only that, but all of my stuff is piled ontop of my bed, including drywall, AND some of those colored patches are MOLD. So, I can't live in my room. And no one warned me. And no one knows when the workmen are coming back. Great.

2006-04-18T21:24:00.000-04:00

I Hate T- Shirts.

They look horrible on me. The necks are always too high, which make my boobs look like a uni-boob. And they are terribly boyish on me. So I do anything I can to fix them- cut the necks, add ribbons, asymmetry, or total deconstruction. My dad hates when I visit because I raid his closet and seize his 1980s tees he's collected from virtually every American city. Try cutting an asymmetrical neck with cut off sleeves, or splitting the sleeves and tying off the shoulders with ribbon. If the shirt is too big, try cutting the side seams then cutting the edges into fringe. Tie the corresponding fringe together in a knot, it will hold and only get tighter after being washed. If I'm not visiting the parents, I pick up cheap shirts at thrift stores then experiment with different cuts and what not, and if I mess up its no big deal, as they only cost $1-$2 anyway. Try experimenting on old shirts you have reserved for jogging or pajamas until you find a cut that is perfect for you.

2006-04-17T16:02:00.000-04:00

I Love New York City Weekends!

Mom and I decided to meet in New York City for Easter this year. I go to NYC often, but rarely do the momsy tourist things. I took the skeevy Chinatown bus up ($20 roundtrip). Its true; its loud, kind of creepy, can be smelly, but so is Greyhound. The train takes longer, and Amtrak ranges from $112 to $250 roundtrip (I could fly to California for that!) The Chinatown bus is the lesser of the evils. And it drops you off on the Lower East Side, rather than Times Square/Port Authority. Sometimes it picks up people in random parking lots in Jersey, which is kind of creepy, but I like to pretend its "adventurous." My mom found a cheap room ($175/night) at the hotel chain La Quinta through her travel agent. Its on 32nd between 5th and 6th avenues, not my favorite area, but close to Penn Station where my mother was coming in. The room was average, although I'm convinced its haunted. And the A/C wasn't on yet. Its in Little Korea, so there are alot of neat Asian bakeries and cafes nearby. Just don't try the "sweet potato" cake. It tasted like heavy cream. La Quinta does have a giant plus- a really cute roofdeck bar with a great view of The Empire State Building and the best French Martinis (and a steal at $8/each) I've ever had!
I've always wanted to take a boat tour around Manhattan, and of course it rains the day I finally do. We booked our tickets online at www.nywaterway.com and saved $5 ($20/person online as opposed to $25 in) The tour lasts 90 minutes, which is a little long, and includes free tea/coffee/hot chocolate, but there isn't any food available for purchase. They also ask for a tip at the end, which I found kind of odd.
The views were really great, informative history, and they take you close to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Its sad and interesting to see the empty space in the skyline where the World Trade Towers once stood. After the tour, which lets off at 38th St and 12 Ave, we walked over to Spice (199 8th Ave, New York 10011Btwn 19th & 20th St ) for their cheap lunch. For around $7 you get a free appetizer (shrimp fritters, dumplings, various salads) and a Thai entree (pad thai, garlic sautee, basil sautee) with chicken, beef or tofu. Fast service and delicious.
Broadway shows have never really appealed to me, but I read that Alan Cumming and Cyndi Lauper were starring in Threepenny Opera, so I had to check it out. Luckily, it was in previews which are cheaper, so we got tickets for $55. The seats were far up, but it was at Studio 54 which isn't very big anyway. And now, I am in love with Alan Cumming. Sigh.

I love New York for the architecture (which is free by the way!) I showed my mom the Chelsea Hotel, which she hadn't heard of until I name dropped The Sex Pistols.I found a not so apparent Neckface tag. I even found a Calder "stabile" and some great examples of Art Noveau. We stopped infront of the library and over to the back of the famous St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue. (the 6th Avenue side intriques me with its contrast to the more modern sky scrapers.) Then I investigated the New York I love- the creepy artsy New York. I found this bizarre house in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The guy has bottles of prune juice with the labels torn off "decorating" his lawn- probably 30-40 bottles. And lots of odd dog pictures and dog food. Nearby I found the BEST garbage ever- someone had spray painted a pair of winter moon boots then THREW THEM OUT! That should be my next tip- spray painting winter boots into fabulousnessYou already know how I love New York, but what I love about it is really true for all ages. just wandering around, coffee in hand, taking in the street art, architecture, the history...there's nothing like it.

2006-04-13T13:48:00.000-04:00

Stinko's...ok but you can decorate cheaply

I HATE Kinko's. HATE. I worked there for over a year, when I was too old to work there. They are a terrible company to work for. However, I got to make some pretty cool stuff there for free. Its a bit overpriced to the public, so any copy shop will do.
Firstly, their oversize printing machines rule. They won't let you blow up a copyrighted picture, but I enlarged a few of my own to 24x36 (about $9/sq ft). You can even have them printed on canvas and then put them on stretchers(about $12/sq ft)! The downside is that the inks are not archival and fade after a few years, but you'd probably be tired of the same old photo anyway. The blueprint machines are also great, because you can enlarge a contrasty black and white photo for only 50 cents/sq ft. I once made ghetto wall paper this way, and just tacked them up.
The other gift I liked to make were notebooks.
I'd print out a photo on glossy paper then have them bind it with fiber paper. Overpriced, they are about $5/each, but I'm sure a non-Kinko's could be cheaper. I also make their Holiday Calendars with photos from whichever trip was my last, this year it was Paris. Most people I've worked with at Kinko's live up to the stereotype of being completely unhelpful and/or clueless, so have your files all ready to go, and be REALLY SPECIFIC about your job. Some other cheap decorating ideas: laminated placemats, color copy transparency sun catchers, greeting cards and magnets.

2006-04-12T18:17:00.000-04:00

Seedy Hotels can Make for Great Stories!

Before one of my trips to Vancouver, I noticed a big airfare sale from Philly to Seattle- $199 roundtrip. With investigation, I figured out it was $200 cheaper to fly to Seattle, spend the night, then take the 3 hour busride to Vancouvs. Since I'd never been to Seattle, this sounded like a great idea. I immediately booked the cheapest hotel I could find that was in "downtown Seattle" at $69 a night.
Now, you must remember that every experience builds character, and to find humor in everything. This is the precise attitude Beth and I needed when we arrived at the Imperial Hotel, which I tried to google, but I think it must be gone by now. (This is an actual photo from the window of our room.) Basically, we arrived after taking the bus (no cabs for us) and walked right into The Chelsea Hotel circa 1979. The many, many people outside offered us an array of the finest pharmaceuticals. We walked in to a "lady of the evening" arguing with the manager "I told yall I'd have the rent next week!" Rent?? Next week? Luckily, I was with Beth, Beth who, like me, laughs at everything. And we laughed, and laughed. I forgot to mention the woman was wearing the cheapest pink nighty I'd ever seen, like the ones they sell at those stores called One Price $7 and the like. Anyway, we attempted to check in and were sent to our room in an ancient elevator. We unlock the door and ZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!! electricity EVERYWHERE! Instead of light fixtures, this room just had dangling exposed wires, and when I flicked the switch they made a lightshow! So we went back to the front desk, and got a different room. This one wouldn't open..so BACK to the desk...finally the manager just gave us the maid's key which opened every room. He probably figured we were the classiest and most trust worthy people to every pass over the threshold.
The room... so, you know how hotels used to have a bathroom down the hall, for the whole floor to share? Well, this hotel was probably the first to have ensuite bathrooms, and with all of the original plumbing! The sink was in the middle of the room, and probably from 1950. The toilet was next to a half wall that led to a curtainless shower, much like a school gym. I tried to take a photo of it, but it was seriously too small. Just came out all tiles. The bed linens....lets just say I slept with my hood on that night.
Downstairs there was this strange sitting room with a giant plate glass window facing the wheeling and dealing of drugs and bodies. It was like a big screen TV. Except we kept forgetting it was a 2 way mirror. Chaos vs. fishbowl. Beth and I made friends with the night manager, a dude named Alex who was about 23 and seemed "cool", but turned out to be a weirdo (SURPRISE!). He later called Beth and told her he was coming to visit her- and did! So weird.
I consider myself pretty street smart or whatever, so I was totally fine staying at a fleabag. Seattle itself was amazing, I'd love to go back. We went to the Space Needle at night, and had a pound of fries for $4 at a bar called Little Five Points. We wandered by SubPop and Sit and Spin. The hotel was right near Pike's Market, where we had breakfast in the morning. Seattlites are so friendly its unreal. So many people asked us where we were from. Also, every store sold an abundance of Hypercolor. Is it made there or something? I still don't understand.
Loved Seattle though, all 24 hours of it, and I will definitely go back.
So, in conclusion, don't be boring and take the quickest way from A to B. The kooky, the crazy, the seedy, the odd....all the things relished by those who truly taste life, by me.

2006-04-10T10:50:00.000-04:00

I Was a Tourist in my Own City
I've lived in Philadelphia for the better part of 8 years, and yet I haven't visited most of the "tourist attractions." I suppose this happens when you live somewhere, you not only try to avoid tourists, but you take the things you have for granted. Or you figure you're there, and you'll get to it "someday." Being that I will be leaving the City of Brotherly Love soon, I figure I should probably make "someday" sooner rather than later, or I'll totally miss the boat on the cultural and historical things I've been putting off.
So, since yesterday seemed like the first lovely Sunday in what seems like forever, I decided to get a newspaper and check the listings of free attractions around the city that I've been missing out on. My first point of interest was the Rodin Museum (free/"suggested donation box" $3). I'd promised an ex that I'd wait to go there with him, but realized he's STILL an ex, and therefore what was I waiting for? I walked over to the Museum Mile, and was greeted by Rodin's "The Thinker" infront of the adorned gates into the museum. Once inside the gates, I found a tranquil garden complete with flowering trees, benches, a fountain (not on yet) and stupid couples in love and making out. A replica of the famous piece "The Gates of Hell" sit outside the entrance to the museum building. The museum itself is tiny, a main hall with several tiny galleries off of it. Most of the work was cast from Rodin's models in 1925, after his death. The giftshop was closed, which is better anyway since I was trying to make the day a "free" day. (I did donate $3 into the donation box- support the arts!)
After the museum, I walked over to an Alexander Calder (a Philadelphia native) mobile that has recently been installed on Ben Franklin Parkway (the Museum Mile.) There were talks of a Calder family museum, but I don't think funding went through, so there are some of his "stabiles" and a mobile in a grassy area in between the Art Museum and Logan Square.

I headed back down the Parkway toward Swann Fountain at Logan Square. Its a gorgeous giant fountain, that at night you can secretly swim in (just ignore the bums and pretend the water CAN'T be diseased). Logan Square is one of the original five squares in Philadelphia, and like the others was once used as a burial ground. I don't think most visitors, or Philly natives at that, realize that our parks are over former graveyards! Totally creepy. The last public execution was actually held at Logan Square, and now ironically it is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. The Swann Fountain is another Alexander Calder great. It reminds me of my first year in Philadelphia, where everything seemed so far away...and now the city seems the size of a shoebox!

I headed over to Old(e) City to wander around the alleyways of Colonial homes that I always walk past. I passed the Corn Exchange, which has famously become the site of the home of the nerds on MTV's The Real World Philadelphia- probably the most boring of all Real Worlds, EVER... Seriously, what a bunch of lame dorks. Right beside the house is Betsy Ross's house. It was closed, which is just as well as I didn't feel like paying to get in anyway. Poor thing has to cower in the shadow of an MTV Landmark.
Elfreth's Alley is the oldest street in Philadelphia. It has been consistently occupied since the early 1700s. And I had never seen it!The houses are TINY, and go for at least $1 million (and I am sure haunted!) Some of them were part of the Underground Railroad, and have 2 or 3 sub basements, which I find really interesting. The street is tucked away amidst busy streets, and really give a feeling of what Colonial life may have been like. You can take tours, but this was Sunday evening, and like I said, I'm broke.
Headed back toward South Street, I come across Headhouse Square. I probably walk under this daily, but decided to stop and read the signs infront of it. The building is mainly a large tower, with extended covered walkway. It served as the city's main marketplace area, where farmers could hawk their fruits, veggies, meats and other wares. Today its still used as a marketplace for crappy artisans that your mom would probably LOVE. I wonder what the building part is used for, I've never actually seen anyone go in it or the lights on or anything. I'd love to see what is up there. Almost home and eager to meet my friends for a drink, I turn around to take a good look at Modernism amongst the Colonial architecture- The Society Hill Towers, designed by I.M. Pei. Pei also designed the "pyramid" entranceway at the Louvre in Paris. Alone, I'm not a big fan of the structures. They kind of look like a dorm to me, but set behind the Colonial backdrop, I see what Pei was striving for. They seem to emerge from the rowhomes as completely foreign bodies, yet their texture echoes the cobblestone streets below.
My tourist day cost me $3, the donation I gave to the Rodin Museum, and approximately 5000 sneezes, as the pollen was a blowing, and trying to kill me.

2006-04-06T22:10:00.000-04:00

Beaches are Free

Aside from my much needed respite in Puerto Rico, I am not a beach girl. Baking in the sun for hours bores the hell out of me. I like to swim...and play in the sand, but then that covers 30 minutes, what do I do for the rest of the day? I don't tan (skin cancer is for jerks and dead people) and reading in the super sun hurts my eyes. But now its getting to be the perfect time of year to visit the Jersey Shore. Its warm enough to walk the beach in a jacket, but cold enough to keep the beach jerks away. I love wandering around closed up beach towns on misty, moody days. The now abandoned amusement parks with ancient ferris wheels make a perfect backdrop for a photo project day, which you can later use to make notecards for friends. Its quiet, serene, and you can feel like you are the only person in the world. These are my favorite beach days.

Unless of course you are lucky enough to live in the Pacific Northwest. I have family in Vancouver, BC, and every summer they rent a condo on Vancouver Island for a week. These are the kinds of beaches I truly love; rocky, full of creatures and nature, and surrounded by mountains and breathtaking views. My family rents a place in Madrona, near Parksville on Vancouver Island. The beach is semi private and is full of tide pools, sand dollars, hiking spots and mountains. Aside from a great photo project, the days are spent treasure hunting for sand dollars, shells, or cracking open oysters in hopes to find a pearl (I know, its not very vegetarian to do so, but I've been guilty of it). Sand dollars, although very fragile, make great souvenirs. I think most people don't think of them as living creatures, as opposed to shells. When they are alive they are black, and when they die they turn white and harden. They live in tide pools or in water right below the surface of the sand, and float more to the surface when dead. I've collected sand dollars of of all sizes, glued baby ones to a box for my cousin, made necklaces...they are just so visually pleasing that the ideas are endless, and they aren't as "tacky" as shells. I have a few just displayed on a shelf in my room, they still shed some sand now and then, reminding me of my last trip.

2006-04-04T22:41:00.000-04:00

Making a Good Gift a Better Gift
I'm a big fan of Latin American folk art- Day of the Dead stuff, Sacred Hearts, Recycled tin wares. It's one of my favorite things to give (I've made dozens of cards/gifts from one set of Loteria cards alone), but I also like to add a personal touch. But my main reason is, the mini altars and tableaus I really like can run from $30-$50, which I can't afford. So, I bought a tin sacred heart ($12.50) at Eyes Gallery in Philly. It's the only Latin American folk art store here so it's pricey, but if at all possible, I go to Love Shine at 249 Grand Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (near Roebling, take the L to Lorimer 718.302.2913). The man who owns it is from Barcelona, and seriously has the most zest for life I've ever experienced, and it is contagious. He knows everything about all of his inventory- who made it where, what it means etc. Occasionally he'll have a 50% off everything sale, and I stock up. Plus I love his conversation. He's so inspiring, he told me he lived in Barcelona and had a great life, great house, great job....and said "Hmm...ok, can I die now?" so he moved to New York to start a new challenge on life!
Anyway, I didn't want to give my friend a plain old tin heart. So I went to trusty Ikea and bought a cheap shadowbox ($6). I found some old red and black paints, and kinda splotched it on the back, and put a piece of cheese cloth on it for texture, then painted over it. Then I hotglued the heart to the background. I painted the box black and decided to put red Xs around the "frame". I messed up on the black (I am really sloppy) so I painted the inside of the plastic to cover my mistakes- which ended up looking really cool and added dimensionality to it. When it was dry I just put the background back on and voila! I think it looks great. I wanted to add some rhinestones around the frame part, but it was for a boy, so I decided a painted heart was gay enough already. He loved it, and loved that I had made it from the heart.

*Please forgive the photo quality. The finished box was hard to photograph with the reflection of the plastic. The paint job doesn't really look that chinsy, I swear.

2006-04-03T16:26:00.000-04:00

THE ZIZZLER IS GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL!

The budget just went from shoestring to paper clip...

2006-03-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

I Can't Afford a Gym aka Urban Obstacle Course aka Avoiding Today's Teenagers

I'm not sure if I would even join a gym if I could afford it anyway. Gyms make me feel like I'm letting the man win. Gyms make me feel like I'm a drone. Besides, when I exercise, I like to talk to myself and get deep into thought. I COULD talk to myself at the gym, but that would encourage nerds to talk to me, and I can't concentrate because I also can't stop looking at butts.

So I jog outside. Weather permitting. I like it because its the only time that I can just let my mind wander, I'm always so busy and on the go, so jogging has become my meditation/ "quiet time" for me to be alone with my thoughts... HOWEVER...South Philadelphia seems to have a problem with this. Not once have I jogged without being harrassed! EVERY SINGLE TIME! Granted, I realize I do not look like the typical jogger. My "work out clothes" are comprised almost entirely of various ex boyfriends' bands' merch. (I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Hodges and Turmoil for supplying 90% of my jogging attire. Thanks lads, I couldn't have done it without you) So, I've gotten "Turmoil Runner!" shouted at me a few times. That's expected. Everyone else in South Philly apparently has never seen someone exercise before. Baby mamas, creepy dudes, and worse- TEENAGERS all shout weird things to me as I jog by. The most "popular" thing being "RUNNNN FORRRREEEESSSTTT!" What kind of world do they live in that Forest Gump is a quotable, MODERN diss?? Isn't that movie like 10 years old? Seriously, I get this yelled to me at least twice a week (when I actually jog more than twice a week...) and it happened last night, spurring me to right this rant/ blog about working out "for free."
A real tip about cheap traveling to come. Had to get that off my hardcore t shirt emblazened chest.

2006-03-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

Paris is full of French people

I'm pretty friendly. I make friends easily, and am really good at keeping in touch. Therefore, I have a slew of people I can crash with all over the world- for free. Where I know people often dictates where I travel to, so when I got back in touch with my friend Emmanuel in Paris, I took advantage of seeing an old friend, and a great city. Plus, I've been dying to practice my French. I've always been good at languages and took a refresher course in the fall at Alliance Francaise, where I realized I don't really understand French all that well...
I knew airfares were going to be high, with the "war" in the Middle East affecting fuel costs etc, so when Air France had a sale, I jumped right on it. My friend Beth and I got our tickets for $450. Of course, 2 weeks later they dropped to $415. C'est la vie, man. The Charles de Gaulle Airport is about an hour from Paris center, but its really easy to get to and from via train. Emmanuel warned us of a transit strike that would be going on for the first few days we were there. Basically that meant that the trains run, just not as often, and were FREE. (I think the city of Philadelphia nearly died when SEPTA went on strike, forcing thousands of overweight South Philadelphians to walk for the first time in their lives.) Emmanuel lives in the east end of Paris, near the Bastille (people actually ask where it is! PEOPLE, Bastille Day does NOT celebrate the construction of the Bastille... use Google for chrisssakes) and not far from the Seine. A regional train and subway ride got us there. The subway system is great and easy, and you can get a carnet of 10 tickets for about 10 Euros.
While we were there, the "riots" were going on in Paris... right... more like 40-45 minutes from Paris. I never saw a single burned out car or riotous act, just tons and tons of dog shit. I got to the point that I had to pretend that many Parisians had accidentally dropped their chocolate cakes. Seriously it was everywhere. "Mon dieu! Mon petit gateau chocolat! Pauvre-moi!"
There are many obvious spots to visit in Paris, and we created regional day trips with the aid of my Let's Go Paris book. My trips are always walking-intensive. That being said, I don't think I'd recommend going to Paris over Thanksgiving. It was cold. COLD. I wore everything I brought with me- AT ONCE. I'm not going to lie, it did put a damper on things. I'd expected Paris to be a bit more culturally diverse like London or Barcelona was, but I found it was mostly populated by native Parisians. But I found that they natives deeply loved Paris, and were proud of their rich culture.
Paris is an expensive city, but not as bad as I'd expected. Dinner was really expensive, and French food wasn't that appetizing to me. I have an adventurous palette, but being a vegetarian in Paris means slim pickins. Luckily we had access to Emmanuel's kitchen, so we ate extremely well on market finds. I LOVE SUPER MARKETS in other countries. The one near the apartment in Paris had the most amazing yogurt section, I swear like 100 different kinds. Each night we got a bottle of good wine for 3 Euros, amazing cheeses and produce from the outdoor markets, and fresh baguette for 75 Eurocents. Boulangeries (bakeries) in France are government regulated, so you can expect the same quality and price in each. I'm not a big sweets person, but I tried practically everything! Not going to dinner saved a lot, and the few times we did we were disappointed. I felt most French cafes were the same, with the same boring food for 15 Euros or more. I found a great restaurant on Http://happycow.net (lists veg. restaurants all over the world) called La Victoire du Supreme Couer http://www.vscoeur.com/. It was a bit pricey but well worth it. I had this amazing salad and faux lamb. It's on a cute street near rue Rivoli and some good Australian bars (I know I know but it was Paris yea yea- but they had beer specials!).

Yes, you should check out all the usual spots; The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Pantheon, The Centre Pompidou....all the must-sees. Let's Go had said that The Louvre was cheaper after 4 pm, but that wasn't the case. I found 2 hours there was not quite overwhelming, but really the right amount of time. The Mona Lisa wasn't that exciting. I was more interested in Napoleon III's suites, and this giant hall we found housing unused relics. The Louvre is ridiculously huge, and there are hidden and unnoticeable rooms everywhere- so look out. This one I discovered when looking over a high ledge in a rest area. Hundreds of Roman sculptures quietly sitting in the dark awaiting installation, or lined up in some sort of graveyard. Definitely my favorite part, aside from Michaelangelo's The Dying Slave.

Speaking of corpses, I think the most underrated attraction is the Catacombs. The tourist entrance is located in the 14th arrondissement in the south of Paris. The Catacombs actually span the entire city, and is said to correspond with every major street. Much of it is unmapped and unexplored, but you can find pirate maps on the internet and what not. Emmanuel told me of an entire modern movie theater used for secret cinema screenings, found in a branch of the Catacombs, that was recently discovered by authorities. Parts of it have collapsed in the past, causing the buildings and streets above to crash into a pit of bones! The entrance, near Petit Palais, has a 5 Euro fee, or 2.50 for "young people" (26 and under! haha I'm a young person!) Beth and I entered and started walking down the spiral staircase for what seemed like forever...we kept walking and walking, looking for the tour group....until we realized there was no tour group.
It was just us. Alone to explore. The tourist walk spans about a mile. The ceiling is about 7 ft high, and the walls are comprised mainly of skulls and femurs stack lengthwise. Theres a constant drip, adding to the spookiness. There are engraved slabs of marble everywhere, stating which cemetery the lot of bones came from, or a French poem about death, and also mini altars and wells/fountains. It was very dark, so I kept taking random pictures in order to really see where we were going, or what was inscribed in the marble. After an hour you come to the end and exit out of an unmarked door on a residential street near Montparnasse Cemetery. Very surreal. We immediately went to a boulangerie, bought some croissants, then headed into the Montparnasse Cemetery (free!) to explore and look for Oscar Wilde's grave.
A must see for me was Versailles. I studied a lot about it in Art History class, and had to see the remaining decadence for myself. Motorcoach tours are advertised everywhere taking you to the palace for about 50 Euros. But actually, the train was super easy and only cost 7 Euros roundtrip and takes an interesting, scenic hour. Its only about a 10 minute walk from the train station to the palace.
There are different options for touring, and we chose the audio tour (I hate guided tours) in 2 of the apartments. I really wanted to explore the grounds and gardens more, but again the cold was deterrent. In fact, it snowed! Of course being off season, the Hall of Mirrors was closed. The rest of the palace has been mostly restored, considering most of the furniture and what not was either destroyed, stolen or auctioned off during the Revolution. I can't really imagine ever living there. It would be like living in a museum, but then again Royal life was very public, births were even a public event! I wouldn't be able to handle the lack of alone time. The walls and ceilings are covered with famous paintings and scenes, including a HUGE portrait of my boyfriend, Napoleon I, crowning Josephine. (yes I have a crush on paintings of young Napoleon) It was well worth the trip though. The gift shop was lacking- I only bought a postcard of Napoleon. The town is pretty touristy and expensive, I'd recommend eating at the cafe at Versailles, fairly cheap with 3-4 Euro sandwiches and 1 Euro coffees. Or if you are lucky enough to visit in nice weather, bring a picnic and sit in the gardens! I'll be jealous of you.

My favorite parts of vacations are the unscheduled, exploration moments- using my street map and just meandering about. I stumbled upon the Luxembourg Gardens one night, which were closed, but found that the fence around the entire perimeter is used as a make shift photography gallery, with billboard like prints showcasing photography from the 1800s to present time. How nice to see art in the public eye, for the sake of sharing! (and free!) I wish we'd learn from that. Imagine art on public fences! sigh...
I'd actually budgeted about 100-200 Euros to "splurge" on something fabulously French, and I actually came home with money! I wasn't really impressed with the fashion. It wasn't that it was expensive, it was just boring. French women are known for buying expensive essentials, and essentials aren't really what I want to buy while on vacation. So, sadly, I didn't bring back any fun souvenirs, except for 2 bottles of 3 Euro wine. We did hit all the major shopping areas, including rue Rivoli, the Sorbonne area, and Bon Marche , the oldest and most exclusive department store. Coming back was a pain, I would definitely suggest giving yourself 3-4 hours from Paris center to the airport. It takes an hour by train, and then once you arrive at Charles de Galles, there are about 4 security checkpoints (where they go through all of your dirty underwear infront of the entire line) THEN after check in, you have to get on a "bus" with no seats and jostle about standing for about 40 minutes to your gate.
All in all, I spent $450 on my ticket, about $50 in trains/transportation, and about $300 otherwise. I'd really expected to spend more. Like I said, I came home with money. I'd definitely like to go back when the weather is nicer, but maybe for a few days and then check out the riviera or another region. My only other downside aside from the cold, was that I was very excited to practice my French, but the Parisians were very excited to practice their English, so when they detected my Buffalo/East Coastie accent, they'd drop the French and cut right to English. Pauvre-moi. xo

2006-03-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note

Go out and buy the latest issue of ReadyMade Magazine (http://www.readymademag.com)
I usually like it, but it usually has a lot of yard- oriented projects that I can't really use. But this issue has some good ideas from reglazing dinner plates, making lampshades and light sculptures. I like to do their recycling challenges in the back, although I rarely enter them. Once it was reusing an Altoids tin, and I made this neat little light by scrubbing the paint off with steel wool then punching a rocketship in it using a nail and hammer. But I lost it.
Also, they have the best/most laid back customer service. Whenever an issue comes to me damaged or ripped, "Gus" sends me another. Thanks Gus.

2006-03-24T09:17:00.000-05:00

Spray Paint

When I was in 9th grade I spray painted a pair of low Doc Martins silver. They were often worn with black tights, cut off jean SHORTS or a mini-kilt, a concert tee and plastic baby barrette. (this was my grunge-ISH phase, not to be confused with my housedress/knee socks phase, my polyester phase, my club kid/platform sneaker/rainbow brite skirt phase (which gave way to a brief but stunning vintage Adidas track suit phase)- or that summer I wore two-tones from Payless.) Anyway, everyone called me The Tin Man. I didn't think it was a very creative zinger. I feel like calling me "Seattle" or "Kurt Cobain" would've been slightly more funny.
But I digress. If you can't figure out how I made this, then I can't tell you. The necklace was $7.50 at Claire's boutique- since when does Claire's sell things for over $5? The spray paint was $5, and required I.D. You must be 25 and older to buy spray paint in Philadelphia, because graffitti artists are only ages 1-24.
And for the record, I'm now in a Pre-Post Hipster phase.

2006-03-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

I wanted to wear the toile

So I made a toile lobster. First, since the toile was very cheap/thin, I ironed a small piece to some plastic silk backing to thicken the fabric. Then I traced traced my lobster onto the fabric, meticulously sewed the edges onto an H&M tank top ($5.50). I've washed it a few times to see if its durable, and only a little leg came undone. Don't ask me why I like lobsters. I just do (not for eating!) When I was 15 I bought a lobster pin at Don Apparel in Buffalo, and since I've enjoyed crustaceans in the design respect. This project took about an hour from start to finish.

2006-03-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

The Sexy Scottish Highlands

A few years ago I spent a semester in London. I was like the only poor kid in the program ("poor" meaning Mommy and Daddy didn't pay for everything), so I didn't get to galavant around Europe on the weekends with Daddy's credit card. I did, however, spend some time traveling around the UK and took an amazing tour in Scotland.
I've always thought tours were for nerds. Being in a group with other blatant tourists always seemed tacky to me, but my friends talked me into this tour as a way to see the Scottish Highlands, which are otherwise hard to get around without a car. This tour was like no other.
http://www.haggisadventures.com
For about $100, I traveled all around Scotland on a mini bus, in a group of about 20 people. We'd drive for an hour or so, then stop and see some amazing 15th century castle, or highland cows, or stand atop a mountain. The guides are young, knowledgeable, and sarcastic- just like the Zizzler! The tour began in amazing Edinburgh. I took a red eye bus from London for about $30. NEVER WOULD I SUGGEST DOING THIS UNLESS YOU HATE LIFE! 9 hours on a freezing bus with no leg room. People, I am all for being thrifty, but I should've spent the extra money for a train or plane. We arrived in Edinburgh around 6 am- the tour departs at 8:15 am, so no joke I had to wash in a MCDONALD'S. But that was the last of the bad parts of the trip.
We spent the first night in a little town on Loch Ness. There are no trespassing laws in Scotland, so when I asked a policeman what sites to see that evening, he told us to "buy a bottle of wine, hike down that road in the dark for 3 miles, then hop the fence to Castle Urquhart and look for Nessie." And that we did. Highland cows and sheep roam free in Scotland, so when we walked the 2 miles in the dark, all we could hear were constant bleating and lowing from various elevations all around us. We spent the night sitting in the 13th Century castle, drinking the worst beer ever, Fraoch, which is an ancient Druid recipe brewed from heather, and boy you can tell. A truly amazing night. The tour doesn't include food or lodging, so you are free to spend as little or as much as you want. They book spaces at nicer hostels, for about $15 a night, which includes breakfast. You have the option of booking b&b's if you want, but the hostels were great. The object of the tour is to see as much as possible, and they really try to get you off the bus and exploring every hour or so. We hiked into the mountains and drank from a natural spring, saw the William Wallace Memorial (with a newer statue that looks exactly like Mel Gibson) and shopped in the cutest Loch Ness monster gift shops. Scotland is dotted with countless abandoned castles, and our tourguide made sure to stop at each one.
The second night we stayed in the Isle of Skye, in a remote little town consisting of 2 hostels, one store, a handful of houses, 15th century Castle Moil, and 3 pubs. Yes, a handful of houses and THREE pubs. I love Scotland. We met about 1000 Canadians that night. The hostel was above a pub called Saucy Mary's, named after a queen who charged a toll to all ships that passed the area, and would in turn flash them after paying the toll. VERY saucy. The hostel itself was only about $15 and included the best home made biscuits and clotted cream and jam ever. You could hike to the castle, but it took a few hours and is only ruins...and we really wanted to hit the THREE pubs instead. Scottish people are so welcoming and friendly, and have such a strong sense of national pride. Every place we visited, we were greeted and told local stories by the locals. The tourguide shared stories of Scottish Folklore...of which there are many...and she made us listen to The Proclaimers about 100 times. The tour ends in Edinburgh, which is an amazing city that I need to re-visit. It is nicknamed the Prague of the west, as it has a ton of Victorian architecture constructed as an homage to Queen Victoria's love for the city. This blog entry spurred me to read the Haggis tour's website again, and I found a section to enter photographs for a chance to win a tour! I entered the one of Castle Moil above, and the one of the bridge to Isle of Skye. I rarely want to go back to the same place twice, but I am seriously considering making a trip to mainly Scotland this summer....any takers?

2006-03-20T20:32:00.000-05:00

Ribbon scraps and pin backs

I love glue guns. And ribbons. This project is easy and quick, just need about a foot of leftover ribbon, metal pin backs, and some novelty buttons. Its a bit first prize at the science fair, but sometimes I need some reassurance that I truly am #1. All it takes is some folding, gluing, folding, gluing, then glue on a novelty button (I try to cut off the plastic loop off the back to make it as flat as possible). Then either glue or sew the whole thing to a pin back from a craft store. Each finished pin costs less than 50 cents. I put them on purses, or wear them as brooches, and obsessively give them away. I love to meet someone then make them their "perfect" pin. Now, go make yourself a winner.

2006-03-19T14:33:00.000-05:00

Almost as ghetto as having lawn chairs in your living room
But not as tacky as that inflatable furniture from Spencer's Gifts...

I don't have any real furniture. My room is tiny. I'm always on the brink of moving. So instead of a dresser, I have those tacky plastic storage drawers. I know. I'm 26, what am I thinking? Anyway, I finally decided to make them look less ghetto, got some bright red toile fabric, and decided to cover them. This project took 10 minutes and is so easy. All you need are fabric remnants and packing tape. The finished product looks clean, and because you are using tape, you can change the fabric whenever. Just pull the fabric taut and tape the perimeter, like you are wrapping a present. Its simple, but I really like the results.

2006-03-18T20:46:00.000-05:00

Cheapest getaway ever- San Juan, Puerto Rico.

My vacations choose me, rarely do I choose them. So when JetBlue had a sale from Newark to San Juan for $159.50 (TOTAL!), Puerto Rico was calling my name. Beach vacations have never appealed to me, but after looking into it, San Juan's rich history and 16th Century forts and architecture piqued my interest (not to mention my increasing depression due to the 30 degree Philadelphia weather). And let's be honest, my thriftiness couldn't say no to the cheap cheap airfare.
The catch was that the flight left Newark at 10:30 pm Thursday night and arrived in San Juan at 3:30 Friday morning. After recruiting 3 of my best adventurous ladies, the plan was to go to a 24 hour casino, watch the sunrise on the beach, and lay around until a 3:00 pm check in. After a lot of research from travelers' reviews on Yahoo.com (extremely helpful when looking for a hotel/motel), I decided to go with a brand name, and chose the Holiday Inn Express in the Condado region of San Juan for Friday and Saturday nights. The rate per night was $135, but dropped to a non-refundable $112 if you pre-paid. (total $62 per person). Our flight was delayed (thanks to snow) so we arrived in San Juan at 5:30 am and took a cab to the Wyndham Hotel and Casino ($15, about a 15 minute ride). The casino wouldn't let us in with our bags, so we had breakfast and delicious Puerto Rican espresso and watched the sunrise, then walked along the beach to our hotel to see if we could check our bags until check-in. Puerto Ricans are extremely friendly (prepare to get whistled at NON STOP) and the workers at The Holiday Inn Express were great. We arrived at the hotel at about 8 am (like I said, check-in was at 3pm), and when I asked if we could check our bags, they told us we could check-in right then and told us to grab something at the breakfast buffet first! We grabbed some coffee, bananas and bagels, took a quick nap then hit the beach. The hotel was on a little side street, with the laguna on one side, and the beach 1/2 block away. Also in the area are high end shops (Dior, Cartier), bars, restaurants (from Subway to native food places to nicer restaurants) and convenience stores.

Some of the beaches are "private"...as we soon found infront of the Marriott, after they kicked us out for "sitting on their chairs." Walking along Condado Beach passed the Marriott, we found a natural tide pool surrounded by rocks that broke the waves. The pool is perfect for wading, and the water was as warm as a bath. Its a great place for kids, or for sitting in the water and enjoying a Corona!

We quickly made our residence at the Atlantic Beach Hotel and Bar (on Ashford Avenue and facing the ocean) - the local gay bar. The gay bar RIGHT on the beach, with CRAZY drink specials and HOT straight bartenders. Half Price Happy Hour daily from 5-7 (we decided to soley drink frozen tropical drinks, as we were in PARADISE), good tunes, Sunday Drag show, and most importantly the ONLY bar on the beach. We settled in for the long haul.

Aside from drinks ($5 full price, $3 at Happy hour) there weren't many other costs. We ate cheaply by stocking up at the breakfast buffet, getting take out, or just going to Subway. After all, we weren't in Puerto Rico to eat. We dined at a Puerto Rican restaurant one night, and found little for our vegetarian requirements. For $11/each, we got platters of cheese flautas, cheese quesadilla type things, fried cheese and cheese...something else. I wanted to die soon after. I ran to the nearest convenience store and got a bottle of Bacardi ($5), which is made in San Juan!
Friday night we took a $10 cab to Old San Juan. It reminded me alot of Barcelona, the winding alleys, cobblestones, Spanish architecture. Its also the tourist center, so everything is really expensive. We went to a crappy restaurant for chips and guacamole ($11), and the weak margaritas ranged from $12-$35. (this pic is not mine- I'd forgotten my camera that day)

I wish I'd explored Old San Juan more, but the prospect of relaxation and the beach won out over site seeing. I've never taken a relaxing vacation in my life, I'm very "east coast"..always have to be running around, exlporing, always in a rush...so this time I decided to actually unwind, sit on the beach, relax, swim. So, I missed alot. But the trip was so cheap, I know I'll break my "don't go to the same place twice" rule and spend another long weekend there soon.
Our flight back was at 4 am on Monday morning (another "catch" of the cheap airfare) and we decided not to get a hotel room for Sunday night. The Holiday Inn let us lie by the pool until midnight, then we took a cab to the airport and slept there until our flight.
Honestly, I really expected Puerto Rico to be ghetto. I thought it'd be a cheap weekend of beach bumming and drinking, but instead I completely fell in love with it. It WAS cheap, but so surprisingly cosmopolitan, friendly and historically rich.
Total cost per person from Friday morning until Sunday night:
Airfare $159.50
Hotel 62.00
Cabs 10.00
Drinks/food 70.00
TOTAL $301.50

2006-03-15T16:09:00.000-05:00

My Traveling Basics...

Some things are true of every trip I take - so instead of being repetitive with each highlighted vacation, I'll put all of my starters here.

I don't "do" Thanksgiving... My family lives in Buffalo, which is annoying to get to, plus freezing in November....not to mention my family never cooks anything vegetarian for me. So, I've made a pact with myself to go to Europe every Thanksgiving. The travel deals are great this time of year, and you already have a 4 day weekend, so why not extend it a few days? Even a 4 day trip is worthwhile to somewhere closer, like the Caribbean or Latin America.
Buy Streetwise city maps and Let's Go travel books. Streetwise brand maps are my saving grace. I'm an explorer- I'd rather walk an entire city, rather than take a tour or a subway. The Streetwise maps are laminated and fold up to a brochure size - which can be easily read inside of your purse so no one knows you are a lost tourist. They include every tiny alley, street and road imaginable, as well as list attractions and include a subway map. The Let's Go books are written by students who have reviewed and cataloged restaurants, bars, clubs, attractions and museums all around the world. These books are invaluable because they tell you the cost of EVERYTHING, from admission prices, to the cost of beer, wine and mixed drinks in many bars and restaurants (as well as the crowd that might be there). Also helpful are suggested walking tours, site seeing based on your vacation length, and language basics. In stores the maps are about $11 and books $15, but I've purchased them on amazon.com for much less.
I don't eat out a lot. I'm a nerd and I love grocery stores. Especially Waitrose in England! When I'm traveling, I'm a site seeing machine, and I hate to spend a lot of time (and money) on dining, so I pick a few essential restaurants (from my Let's Go book, or HappyCow.net), and hit the farmers' markets and grocery stores for the rest. I am also a design nerd and love to see package design of other countries' daily goods. I'm also a coffee addict, and sadly the "to go" coffee is just not part of the European culture. So I DID frequent Dunkin Donuts alot...but I'm happy to say their European chains feature European style coffee, instead of the brown sugar water we have here.
I use my credit card. My mom swears you get the best exchange rate when you use your Visa card, and I tend to believe her. Plus, I'll have minimal money to exchange back.
I seem analy (is that a word?) frugal, but I splurge on one big thing. Except in France where I didn't like anything I saw in stores, aside from wine. In Barcelona I splurged on this fancy jacket type thing, which come to think of it I've never worn. Maybe this wasn't such a great suggestion.

It's not rocket science, but these things help me with every trip. Oh, and HappyCow.net is a site that lists vegetarian restaurants all over the world. It's pretty cool. Just like me.

2006-03-14T12:34:00.000-05:00

I live my life on a shoestring budget. Friends are always whining "you're SO lucky! you get to travel so much blablabla". Well, the truth is people, I make less than $30,000 a year. Hell, I make less than $27,000. With student loans, rent and city livin', it requires craftiness and skill to live the way I do. So I've created this blog to share my secrets, and to teach my party animal friends that one less night of pounding PBRs a week can equal a fabulous trip to Europe.

Some simple rules/strategies I've learned to live by:

Make your lunch/brew your own coffee at work! Seriously, this saves anywhere from $10-$50 a week. Treat yourself to lunch and a latte twice a week.
Create a junk email account and sign up for every travel deal site out there. I found 6 nights AND air in Barcelona for a total of $650 on travelzoo.com! I'm patient with internet deal searching, but these sites compile deals for you. I never would've found that one on my own.
Subscribe to magazines! Not only will you save tons, but weeklies like New York Magazine provide tons of listings of free stuff to do, and mags like Readymade have tons of easy DIY projects to spruce up your home and life.
Buy a flask! You must have no shame to live The Zizzler lifestyle.... and I am not afraid to bring a flask of homebrew to any event. OK, not homebrew. I'd never drink ANYTHING made in MY bathtub.
Learn to fake sew. I am a horrible constructionist. Everything I make is messy. However, the clothes I wear aren't exactly going to be sold or anything. So some crappy hand sewing or tucked in edges that only my eyes can see is fine by me. I shop at H&M and Target and customize everything to suit my style. But I NEVER shop at Wal-mart, the most evil of all empires!
Buy food at Farmer's Markets and Trader Joe's. I buy a weeks worth of veggies for $9-$12, and everything else at Trader Joe's. I love Whole Foods , but I refuse to pay $4 for an avocado.
Put $20 (or more) a week into your savings account. You really won't miss $20. Seriously. You'd piss it away anyway. You'll thank me later.

Those are my starter tips.....enjoy and live well.