the end of the end of the ugly

*This must be hater day for me...I should probably move to the left.

For some of us (including myself) Sassy magazine was before our time. The publication ceased in 1995. Instead, we had magazines such as YM, Teen, and Seventeen.

After a discussion with my friend Stevie, I am very interested in the 14 year old Tavi Gevinson's idea of wanting to create a magazine like Sassy for teenage girls today. Something fun, smart, and non-prissy for the alternative thinking girl yet still have that element of fashion. You can go to Stevie's blog and watch a video conference of Tavi speaking articulately about the subject and read Stevie's much more well written post about this.

It wasn't until today when Stevie told me about this that I started to gain interest in Tavi. Like my friend, I too was initially skeptical about such a young girl blogging, wearing designer clothes and being convent by the fashion world but she is definitely growing on me. I wish I were as cool as Tavi when I was 14, I was too busy playing the clarinet...

I think Tavi's idea is great. There are not enough magazines for teenage girls that offer substantial material. Today's teen magazines are filled with quizzes like "Which heartthrob is right for you? Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas or Taylor Launter?" which is all fun and games and I remember being ALL about that when I was younger...reading Tiger Beat in my room, listening to Backstreet Boys, All Saints or my epic 90s dance mixes on cassettes, reading what Freddie Prinze Jr. and Ryan Phillippe's favorite colors were, because you know, if you both liked the same color you were TOTES soul mates.

Even as an adult, it's hard to find magazines that are fun, smart and still have great fashion spreads. Nylon has gone completely downhill, JANE and ELLEgirl was fun will it lasted but now we are forced to hunt down magazines such as LULA, RUSSH and Frankie, which break the bank since they are so expensive. We sadly have to sit in the bookstore reading the magazine, writing down all the rad recommendations and DIY tips in our little notebook.

(note: I am not completely dissing fashion magazines, because I still pick up VOGUE, W, Jalouse, V magazine, etc etc)

Anywayssss...

Reading the Dear Boy (where guys in bands give their advice) selections from Sassy that Stevie posted were great.

These two made me smile, actually, they made my day.

Thurston Moore

There's this guy that I really like. He tells everyone that he doesn't even like me as a friend, but when we're alone together we do things that are reserved for people who think of each other as more than friends. What do I do? A friend, more, or less? Huntley, IL

The guy's a jerk. I know that won't discourage you from liking him, but he's got a major personality flaw: disrespecting you. Be careful of this kind of butthead, because his sleaze behaviour may rub off on you, and then your life will become more and more hellish. Next time you're alone with him and he tried to get "friendly," tell him your friend Thurston Moore wants to kick his ass. And then tell him why.

(Seriously!? As if I didn't love Thurston Moore enough! I need to ring him up for advice and do some ass kicking for me.)

Beck

Here's my problem. Whenever my boyfriend and I go out, I have to pay for everything. I work and he doesn't, so if I want to do something I have to pay. It's starting to make me really mad. How can I get him to start paying his fair share? Becoming broke.

This slacker scourge is ravaging the minds of our youth. Tell this guy to get motivated Tony Robbins style: "Yesterday is a canceled paycheck. Your maximum point of power is now."

(Wurrddd.)

show me all the things I shouldn't know

Alright, not gonna lie, I kind of really like this song. I know I shouldn't but I do. Taylor Momsen's voice is better than what I thought it would be...

"Make Me Wanna Die" - The Pretty Reckless

I am not a huge fan of Taylor Momsen, I think she is quite annoying.

For being 16/17 she should probably tone down her outfits and take that black shit off her eyes. In addition to lack of taste when it comes to clothing and make-up, her attitude fucking sucks, but I suppose it's pretty appropriate for her age. Everyone went through their angsty, "fuck you", "I don't care" and/or "this world just doesn't understand me" phase in their teens.

Although, mines was more like the Angela Chase angst rather than the mix of Cherie Currie and Courtney Love she is trying to channel so desperately...

she said yeah

So it's finally here.

Chanel, Scorsese, Gaspard *swoon*, The Stones, what more could one ask for?

Although, I must admit, the song really doesn't go with the video but we all know how much Scorsese loves The Rolling Stones...

so how many tears must fall, when we all play a part and we all could do more

I keep debating if I like this collaboration or not. I know this song and video is old news but still...

Definitely really like the video. The beginning is a bit slow but it gets better at the 2 minute mark.

I like Roots Manuva and I like The Maccabees, so you'd think this would be a wicked collaboration. What do you think?

Empty Vessels - Roots Manuva ft. The Maccabees

"No Kind Words" - The Maccabees

yesterday's just a memory, tomorrow is never what it's supposed to be

i'm falling off again, to who knows where

"white" - We Barbarians

Do yourself a favor this fall and see We Barbarians with Ra Ra Riot. They put on such an amazing show, you won't regret going. Make sure to show your love and buy up their merch table.

Then, you and your friends can sit around like super cool people, wearing matching t-shirts...

chole and myself

photo taken by Kelsey Whipple (Coachella weekend 09)

P.S. Go and "like" their fanpage. Doo ittt!

Personal favorite songs:

War Clouds

Dysphoria

Walls

Sixes & Sevens

Yesmen & Bumsuckers

P.P.S. Just found out their song "There's This There's That" was on the CW show Vampire Diaries?! Say whattt?

i'm not looking for love, but it's hard to resist

"velvet" - the big pink

I don't know how I am JUST NOW seeing this video, but I dig it, A LOT.

they call her one eye

Finally!

I have finally answered some questions on formspring. I know some of them have been sitting there for a couple of months now. Sorry! :(

Now, back to Mad Men and International Relations coursework...

ph. unknown

remember, walking hand in hand

Today has been spent cleaning, dancing and singing along to The Shangri-Las.

Remember (Walking In The Sand) - The Shangri-Las

♥ ♥ ♥ this song

dreaming of another world

(if any of these photos are yours, let me know so I can give you proper credit!)

and magnificently we will flow into the mystic

Today has been one of the busiest days this week.

4am run

6am yoga

(the usual)

And from there began a whirlwind of running errands, work, course work, and of course, a lot of black coffee.

It's 9pm now and I am completely exhausted. There is a beautiful thunderstorm happening outside and I am about to turn in extremely early.

A few songs I enjoy on a rainy day/night

"Into The Mystic" - Van Morrison

"Le Femme D'Argent" - AIR

"Summer 78" - Yann Tiersen

This song is so beautiful, I get teary eyed everytime I hear it. And the film 'Goodbye Lenin' is fantastic as well.

Nightttt!

life is filled with holes

Land (Horses) & Hey Joe- Patti Smith

sick sad world

Today (and well for the next month), I'll be completely immersed in going through contact sheets, negatives, developing, printing, etc etc.

Yet, Daria the complete series and lots of black coffee is making my day.

unrelated, but this

(The Black Keys = ♥ ♥ ♥ and also, what a KILLER shot by Matt Ellis)

and this, makes me a little sad I didn't go to Lolla this year.

Ed Droste, Thomas Mars and Nick Valensi?! Damn it. My festival break is making me miss all the good stuff.

moments of clarity

“A few times in my life I’ve had moments of absolute clarity, when for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh. I can never make these moments last. I cling to them, but like everything, they fade.” - A Single Man

ph. unknown

my life in mobile pictures pt 4

I was SO fortunate enough to take my younger sister to the Justin Bieber concert last week and we had incredible seats. I wish I had seats like that when I was going through my teeny bopper, "Omg I love you JT". Actually, I was more of a BSB girl but was a total secret N'sync fan (since you could be both back in middle school). Best concerts of 2001 BSB Black & Blue tour at All State Arena and N'sync Pop Odyssey tour at Soldiers field with BBMak opening (I know you remember BBMak.)

BBMak - Back Here

Trust, I still sport my BSB shirts. Laugh if you want.

I'm a non-beliber. (get it Bieber + Believer, okay I'm lame...)

This is how Dustin and I spend our time.

Remember, remember the 4th of November

Dustin's monkey called Jub Jub

Truthiness

ghetto shirt I made of my friends band Modern Painters (no THE)

yep.

Next (well eventually), I retrospective piece of S Club 7 and where the hell are they now?

I know I wasn't the only one back then watching the marathons on Saturday mornings. Really, there ain't no party like an S Club party.

And this one is dedicated to mah gurl Tasha. Hope you are having fun moving to Alabama! Yikesss.

Peace kidzzz.

SIDE NOTE: Oh and for those that have been asking (yes, I still read formspring, one day I'll do a post of answers), I'll be back in NYC next month. Just in time for fashion week...

these heart swells, these context in your head

Alright, an update to what is happening around here.

At the moment, I feel like I am turning a new leaf. With fall quickly approaching (it'll be September be fore you know it), school starting and working on a few projects, I am training my mind to be focus and cut out a lot of distractions in my life and clean the clutter in my living space and body. Which means, less internet time (I am pretty sure everyone says this to themselves), eating better, more time at the yoga studio and spinning class and most importantly stop comparing myself to others and working towards the future instead of living in the past. In addition, to stop over thinking things and self sabotaging myself. I just need to take a few step backs, breathe, break things down, and regroup.

Recently, I just emptied half of my closet for donation, even designer things *tear*. I've been trying to redo my wardrobe for fall to suit my shift of gears. I am trying to incorporate more feminine things into my closet. Granted, I am still going to have my "grudge" days...days I don't feel like messing about with my hair, days I can't be bothered to take of my nail polish, wearing shirts with holes, and throwing on those cliched torn tights and even more cliched docs/vintage boots...

...but I would also like to include some girlie things to mix.

photo by: Landon Metz

I wish I had Hannah's hair. It's pretty much perfect. This summer I cut my bangs with my brothers hair razors, it turned out quite well, but I am already annoyed by them. Heat+humidity does not act kindly toward those with thick curly hair.

photo by: Landon Metz

Other fashion inspirations:

I know most of you guys are played out on Miss. Chung, but I still love her style. And still love this photo.

most of you girls know how much I love my knee highs. And with open toe mary-jane heels, yes!

perfect mix of masculin and feminine

I forgot who these shoes are by, but I need them in my closet.

my ultimate fashion look this fall is the above, hair and all.

Uhh other things...I've taken up riding Withnail (my bike) more often. Lately, I've been neglecting him. Probably why breaks went out and I wiped out on the sidewalk. Ouch.

Everyday for the past two weeks I have taking solace in riding my bike early in the morning to go to my secret spot and watch the sunrise. Although this is only a brief moment, it's the only time in my day where I my head is clear, I am not thinking about things that are stressing me out, I am watching horses and cows roam about and life seems beautiful.

You can say this sudden outlook on life was due to a couple of friends and their most helpful emails/message. One dealing with boys, *eye roll* of course). The other dealing with life, in general. Both served as a big slap in a face, which is what I needed. These two people did not tip toe around my feelings, they served it to me raw. It was the kick in the ass I needed.

Now back to attempting work.

Films I've seen lately: INCEPTION (AGAIN!!!), American Movie, Un Chien Adalou, THX 1138, When Your Strange, The Seventh Seal, Videodrome

Current Tunes: Sebastien Tellier, Yann Tiersen, thenewno2 (throwing off my french theme) and AIR

Books: FINALLY finished East of Eden and instead of moving onto Anna Karenina I am reading Political Fictions by Joan Didion