Inspiration!

Over the past few days I cannot believe how much this musician has appeared in my daily activities. Its a bit spooky and seems cosmically aligned that I share! First there was the segment on NPR. Then I heard her on a college radio station. Finally my puppeteer/artist friend Zach, who has a blog of his own, mentioned her. And that's when I knew I should publish something! I will admit I was a little self conscience, because I don't want all the aforementioned sources to think I was copying them. It was all leading up to this.
Have I intrigued you enough? Well, drum roll please....
Take a listen to KATE BUSH.



She's crazy. How could you not love her?
A quick peak at her biography and you can see that she has served as inspiration for artists of all kinds. Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine sighted her as a huge influence.
What I love most is her passion for creativity and art. She's not trying to hit the top of the charts, nor is she worried what others will think of her creation. She says she just likes to "play," and I really admire that kind of freedom. I hope you enjoy it too!

p.s. The Decemberists new album comes out on the 18th!! Preview it!

Space: the "final frontier"

If there is one thing I need to see before I die, its the Northern Lights. I am absolutely fascinated by this beautiful phenomenon.



(SpaceWerather.com, Travis Novitsky)

On Sunday, August 1 a huge solar flare erupted on the Sun's surface sending all sorts of charged particles into Earth's atmosphere creating what we call Aurora Borealis. Mostly, you can only see them far north such as Canada or Alaska, which I totally plan on doing one day, but over the next few days, the lights may been seen as far south as Oregon and Wisconsin.

(Space.com, Tony Wilder)

Tonight's light promise to be even more spectacular. Maybe I'll hop my private jet to see them... or just rely on skilled photographers to entice me until I can see them for myself. If you live up north, be sure to check out SpaceWeather.com or Space.com to find the best viewing window for your latitude.

Feel Good Story

(Orange County Register)


Sometimes its really nice to open a newspaper and not read about joblessness or crime. Ringling Brothers and Barnum and bailey Circus recently rolled through Southern Orange County and offered families from the Blind Children's Learning Center in Tustin a chance the experience the big top in a unique and beautiful way.

I just think its so wonderful these performers took time out of their schedules to enrich the lives of these kids. Without getting overly dramatic, I was so touched by this event I felt like I needed to share. You can check out the article and more pictures here.

Narnia?

After merely a week into the research process of my thesis, I'm ready for a break. So lame I know, but it's summer & every one else is getting some play time in. I saw these photos today & decided Narnia {post White Witch regime} needs to exist, so we can all have some magical forest time. I really just need some sunny day + field + laying around time...doesn't everyone?

{images: Ross Honeysett photographs}

What to wear today?

Remember wearing the same outfit to Catholic school every morning? No, okay well... remember how cartoon characters always wore the same thing in every episode? Well its kinda like that. But not for Sheena Matheiken!
I recently found out about Sheena who started The Uniform Project. Through a staggering amount of recycled and thrift shop accessories (not to mention a rather impressive collection of tights and socks), Sheena managers to wear the same exact Little black dress for 365 days! She has 7 of the same dress, a reversible tunic made from organic cotton that she dresses up and down for every style and mood and occasion. She chronicles her daily outfitting and credits her etsy and ebay addiction with her astonishing accessorizing. Tim Gunn would be very pleased!
It gets even better. As part of the Uniform Project she is also raising money for Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.
I can't post all 365 looks here, but I did pick some of my favorites!
*May 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010* The original.


*May 9, 2009*



*August 9, 2009*



*September 7, 2009*



*Oct 17, 2009*



*December 1, 2009*



*April 18, 2010*


*April 24, 2010*


I am keeping my eye out for when this Little Black Dress, or LBD, will be available to purchase! Not only is it supporting the idea of sustainable fashion and education, but its looks great! Maybe cartoon animators were on to something....

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

Last night I went to a lecture given by Mia Hamm. Now, if you're into soccer or women's sports or just sports in general you should know who she is. Or, if you're more of a baseball fan you might know her as the wife of former Red Sox player, Nomar Garciaparra. Or as the player who co-starred with Michael Jordan in those Gatrade commercials. Or as the youngest player to be on the US women's national soccer team, at just 15.

Or as the youngest women to win a World Cup, at 19. Or as a founding member of Washington Freedom, the women's professional soccer club based out of D.C. Or as the FIFA Player of the Year in 2001 & 2002. Or as the person - male or female - to have the highest goal count in history. Or when she helped the US women's soccer team win gold in the 2004 Olympics. Or you might be more familiar with the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup game versus China, in which the US won in overtime during a penalty shot scored by Brandi Chastain {shirt ripping, sports bra exposing to follow}.

To sum it up - MIA HAMM ROCKS!

As a former soccer player {& current soccer watcher}, Hamm, and her 1999 team of champions, were the first female athletes I looked up to as role models. Instead of wanting to play like Pelé or Alexi Lalas, me, & the girls I played with, dreamed of being like Hamm, Chastain, Akers, Scurry, Overbeck, Foudy, & Lilly.

Last night, in her speech, she talked about making the choice to be great everyday. Her answers to audience questions were real & thoughtful. It was so great to see little girls, 9-11 years old, with their entire team decked out in cleats & shin guards with #9 jerseys on -even after all these years, she is still an inspiration. She said she doesn't do many speeches & didn't think what she had done in her life was earth shattering....Oh, Mia I have to disagree. You changed the game, of soccer, & sports for girls.

"You Play Like A Girl" finally became a compliment instead of an insult.

Do you have an athlete you look up to as a role model, perhaps someone who changed the rules of a sport, so more people could play {think: Jackie Robinson, Wilma Rudolph, & even Britt's fave, Babe Didrickson}?

Oh what a Day

I don't know what it's like over there on the West Coast, maybe Britt can enlighten us, but all I know is that as soon as it's even remotely sunny out everyone's first thought is: "SUMMER'S HERE!!!"

Indeed, when it hits the 65F range I push the sweaters & jeans & hiking socks to the back of my closet & wiggle my legs into an easy breezy summer dress & let my toes fly free {so they can shake it better with the grass} - even though I'm almost always cold & the sun & I don't always get along very well {i.e pale as paper} I just absolutely love sunny, summery days.

Knowing the East Coast, it will probably snow next week, but today I'm going barefoot & loving every second of it. I packed my frisbee in my bag & perhaps I'll even break out my hoola-hoop!

I'm feeling a little like this today & I hope you are too:

{image: Child of the Moon}

{image: Fine Little Day}

Girl Power (part II)!!

My little brother asked me to help him with his lines for the 3rd grade annual class play. This year is "Greatest Americans of the 20th Century." Needless to say, I was happy to help and by reading this classic piece of children's theatre I learned a TON! (One problem I do have with it though was it highlights Albert Einstein... not exactly American... but hey he can join the party.) The best discovery I made was that Mildred ("Babe") Didrikson existed. Girls, this lady r-o-c-k-e-d. Seriously.
Her accomplishments run on and on, but I thought I would give you a few highlights, and you can continue your own research. No doubt it will be time well spent on wikipedia. Or you can check out one of the many websites devoted to her!

Babe Didrikson (1911-1956):

• 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal (tied for first, but given the silver) for track and field in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, setting Olympic records in these events
• Set five world records in the javelin throw, 80-meter hurdles, high jump and baseball throw in a single afternoon
• Played organized baseball and softball and was an expert diver, roller-skater and bowler
• All-American basketball player, leading her team to an AAU Basketball Championship in 1931
• Named Woman Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press, 1931, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, and 1954. No other athlete in either division, man or woman, made this honor so many times
• She may best be known as a golfer because she won every major professional championship at least one time and in the case of most of them, more than one time, and she became the first American to capture the British Women’s Amateur and the first performer to win both the United States Women’s Amateur and the British Women’s Amateur AND she was the first woman to win the Western open three times.

She also was an accomplished dress-maker, sewing all her own golf and tennis outfits. The media was quick to criticize her for her "manliness" because she was strong and she wouldn't let you forget it! She is so badass, pretty much never taking no for an answer, but still remaining quite the classy lady. She let her game do the talking... She also wrote an autobiography, titled "This Life I've Led," which is unfortunatley out of print, but I'm going on a literary treasure hunt to find it! I'll keep you posted!

She was definitely ahead of her time!

Girl Power!

{image: Young Girl Reading by Jean-Honore Fragonard}

While searching for a "Today in Women's History" calendar, I came across this amazing quote. It's ideas like this that inspire me to keep reading:

"Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less." {Myra Pollack Sadker}

Go here to learn about Myra Pollack Sadker {interesting lady!}

Amazon.com has put together a list of Notable Female Characters of Great Literature. Some of the books listed are definitely in my personal library.

Who are some of your favorite literary heroines?

I think B & I can agree on our love for that sassy redhead, Anne, with an 'e', of Green Gables. She was never afraid to be herself, however clumsy & kooky that self was!