Monday, October 31, 2011

Boo!

Via Missed Connections.
Via Bitte Ein Kuss.


What are you going to be for Halloween? This is my first Halloween back in the States after 4 years abroad... and I'm super excited - not least because this is my favorite holiday.


I make no promises, but I hope (crosses fingers) to have pictures up soon - and the according details!


Have fun and be safe!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Why Don't We...

Drive into the sunset...


Believe in dreams...


Grow something excellent...


Okay, so I lean a little (a lot) towards the romantic - but I'm a dreamer, and that's why you like me... right? So I thought it'd be fun to unleash some of that on you in the last weekend of October - before daylight savings draws to a close and we get the joy of trundling home from work well past dark.


Also? I know that in many places the harvest is past its zenith, but how about growing something? My friends and I from Saturday Virtues Class have planted flower seeds in recycled soup cans. Some of them are even sprouting - it's the most exciting thing!

Friday, October 28, 2011

On Imagination...


“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand… Imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

- Albert Einstein

Monday, October 24, 2011

Don't Try This At Home...

Dr. Sheldon Cooper


So my mom and I have recently joined a gym. I know... I know! But walking is boring unless you're actually going somewhere - and quite frankly, a lap of my neighborhood's track homes just doesn't cut mustard. [Beige, tan, 'cornflower', cream - repeat!]


The great thing is that they have a pool, and bringing your mom as a workout buddy? Kind of awesome, actually.


So we took ourselves down for a little Lord's Day early morning workout (what!? 10 is totally early! ...but I digress) and I did some weight training - specifically for my legs - and then swam some.


Are you familiar with the comedic genius of The Big Bang Theory? Good. So you know how Sheldon's laugh is like 3 super-high speed exhalations of breath?


Then you know, roughly, the sound I'm making at even the thought of sitting down.


Suffice it to say that I'm trying to transform the weird gait I've appropriated trying not to out-right limp into what could pass for thoughtful introspection. It involves a broad use of a Jane Austen worthy 'quizzical brow'... which isn't so hard, really. Particularly when contemplating how to get down stairs with any kind of dignity.

If I Had A Sugar-Daddy...

Lanvin clutch


Lanvin clutch (see more clutch bags)


Truer words have never been spoken... also - it appears that my favorite fashion blogger and editrix, Johanna of A Serious Job is No Excuse (ASJiNE) has come out of retirement and can be found, regaling us all with her not inconsiderable wit, charm and style via Twitter. Huzzah!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Fly On a Wall...

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn



In related news, I think I'm finally going to invest in a trench coat. ...particularly as I no longer seem to own warm clothes.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

On Precedent...

Via Bitte Ein Kuss


Thanks to Cost Plus World Market's commitment to importing delicious "foreign" food stuffs, I never have to drink terrible coffee again.


I don't know if it's because the coffee I'm currently enjoying is Italian, or what... but y'all? This coffee is so smooth it has game.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Who's The Boss...

Einstein on a bike.


So remember how I said that I was going to teach a pool who's boss this weekend? Yeah. It turns out that a 3 month hiatus is the point at which ass kicking and name taking actually works in the inverse.


...which is to say that I've been sore a few days. Specifically my triceps.


The good news is that it's like riding a bike: I remember how.


The moral? Don't lapse on your laps.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

When The Levee Breaks...

So it turns out that my football (soccer for my Americans) tutor is a fantastic photographer. I met him in Haifa, though these days he's calling Oxford home. Yes... that Oxford. Check out his work at oxonography. Unless you hate beautiful things. And then stay far far away.

Clearly I'm loving the series he shot in Haifa last month. Not least because I'm feeling a little homesick. But if you knew how delicious and mouth-watering the falafel was... you'd be homesick (and starving), too.


Also... sorry for my recent MIA behavior. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of life here in OC. But now that I have my feet beneath me, my creativity is starting to come back. Which is excellent, because between you and me...? I was worried for a minute!

Repitition On A Theme...

Ellie Saab



I've been really into green lately: shoes, kitchens, lifestyles... and this dress. Holy cow, dear friends! You know how I feel about Ellie Saab - but this is just stunning!


All thanks to the lovely Laily of Fleur - and contributer to {this is glamorous} ::love.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Green With... YSL


Everyone's favorite Parisian blogger and fashion photograher, Garance Dore, has dubbed these the craziest shoes of Paris Fashion Week... methinks she must mean that in a very "bad as in good" Run DMC kind of way.


Because I want them on my feet.

Artist: Matthew Cusick...

[Kara's Wave, 2009]



[Many Rivers, 2009]


So I'm kind of nest-y. And I'm a day-dreamer. If we're going to be friends, I feel you should know that.


Naturally I don't have my own walls to decorate (yet), but that hasn't stopped me. I'm like the virtual, or otherwise, window-shopping champion of the world.


And these pictures from Matthew Cusick (support the artist!) are amazing. Called "Map Works", they are inlaid maps with acrylic on panels. Annnnd I totally want one. Or five. But you know I'm on a budget....


Props to Double Takes for the head's up - well spotted!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Weekend Plans: In No Particular Order....

These kids and I will be learning about virtues and God, and broadening our horizons about life in general on Saturday: super looking forward!



I'm going swimming again!
Even though I'm reunited with my running shoes (#glad), I've really missed swimming.

I'm fixing to show a pool who's boss!

...speaking of running-shoe reunion times, I did try jogging around the block last week.
Despite being horribly out of shape, I did okay.

But the real weekend excitement lies in the fact that some friends from work and I are hiking it up after children's class on Saturday.

Color me stoked!

(bottom 2 images courtesy Love Your Chaos)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

(In)Action Figures...

Overly groomed metro-sexuals got you down? Prefer a manfriend who doesn't have to drop a dollar in the douche-jar on a daily basis? [I'm not the only one who loves The New Girl, right?!]
Well... look no further than the comfort of your pocket.

Kenneth

Eric

The Pocket Manfriends are kind of genius... by which I mean really. This year's holiday parties are suddenly looking much brighter.


He's like a pet rock, but with the potential for attitude. Skillz.


All credit to Joanna of A Cup of Jo fame!

Monday, October 10, 2011

One For The Books...

Courtesy Tralalere!


Reader, I know that I've been quiet for quite some time... and I apologize, but adjusting to life in a new (old?) country has been simultaneously more hectic and, well, boring than I'd have anticipated two and a half months ago.


But life is not without its funny moments: take last week, for example. My arch-nemesis... okay. We're frenemies... technology and I had a little run in. For once in my life, I was not to blame - but as per usual, technology pranked me good. It all began with a simple little email to some friends in Haifa (that I will share with you because I have no shame):


"So yesterday SoCal got a significant amount of rain - for which I was completely unprepared. as small background, I go in to work at 5 on Mondays/Wednesdays because I take a class in the afternoon - and since it didn't start raining until 8.... yeah.

So I also park off campus because I'm a) completely skint and b) the semester parking pass is seriously ridiculous - especially if you're only taking one class. So it starts (continues?) pouring rain when I get to school. And I don't have an umbrella - because at that time I literally DIDN'T... so I'm sprinting to class in the pouring rain, crossing streets, waiting at cross walks - all the while incredulously remarking in a LOVELY British accent [okay, I was talking to myself] because it was raining.

Naturally, "holy hell, it is pissing it down!" cannot be said without the benefit of my Eastenders best. I probably sounded Australian... but it was funny. I know because I was also laughing at my crazy antics.

Annnnnnnnnnnd I got to class sopping wet - and even got to ring the water out of my dress. but I have an umbrella now. and since my package finally came from Haifa - I also have my rain boots!"


Right. So you see that it was just a quirky little anecdote excerpted from the life of Aimee Piper and shared with some of my Haifa besties.


Except that bright and early yesterday morning, as I'm prepping for my adventures at the world famous Rosebowl Flea Market, I get a quick email from another friend in Haifa. Said friend works in the Information Services Department at my former place of employment (and where most of the people who received the above email work)... he included my story in his email (verbatim) and explained that it had wound up on an in house distribution list not dissimilar to a Craig's List, and that he was endeavoring to take it down.


Reader, my one of the original recipients outlook things (yes... still decidedly tech-lingo challenged) had auot-populated this list serve.


Right. So I've been unwittingly regaling my former bosses (who, incidentally, are recognized as diplomats abroad in Israel) with random rain soaked adventures from my new life in Orange County.


Say it with me, friends: "oh, aimee piper!"

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Media, Darlings...


Miss Representation 8 min. Trailer 8/23/11 from Miss Representation on Vimeo.


This topic is so incredibly important. I can't wait for the actual movie to come out!

 
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