Mid-Summer Night's Dream...

Bahji, Israel

Courtesy Paul Aziz Netherwood

via Nineteen Months

Once a home, always home... now it's just closer than my life's vein.

Happy Friday...

                                                                                  Source: Uploaded by user via Aimee on Pinterest

Little By Little, Day By Day...

via Bitte Ein Kuss

Some friends and I began studying a book in the Ruhi series this weekend. We're learning to elevate our levels of conversation with the aim of having an impact on the discourse of society. Excepting myself and 1 other, everyone studying this book is in high school. I have the highest faith in their talents and capacities to effect a paradigm shift in our culture.

One of the things we read last night really stuck with me.

"O wayfarer in the path of God! Take thou thy portion of the ocean of His grace, and deprive not thyself of the things that lie hidden in its depths. Be thou of them that have partaken of its treasures. A dewdrop out of this ocean would, if shed upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth, suffice to enrich them with the bounty of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. With the hands of renunciation draw forth from its life-giving waters, and sprinkle therewith all created things, that they may be cleansed from all man-made limitations and may approach the mighty seat of God, this hallowed and resplendent Spot."

From the Writings of Baha'u'llah

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!

On Wander Lust....

Homeland from Hifatlobrain on Vimeo.

Dear Double Takes: thanks for the head's up. This is exactly what I needed to see.

On The New 'Oil on Canvas'...

By which I mean: pictures on blog. Too much? I blame the prospect of a long weekend.

So as you may know... I start my new job on Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday! In honor of my last pre-work (vacation?) weekend, my good friend Nilou - of Perfectly Made Weddings fame - and I took a little field trip to the Getty Museum in L.A. As evidenced below, it was a gorgeous day!

The foyer of the Getty. If/when you guys come visit me (ahem), we'll go.

Promise.

Party on the tram!

Ms. Nilou, herself!

Yo... overlooking el.ay.

Yes. I'm the champion of the self portrait universe.

Okay, so Rembrandt might have me there - but you know...

Imitation is the highest form of flattery?

A Thousand Words...

Unlike Scott Schumann (one of my favorite bloggers), I'm not tight with the editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani... so I can only speculate as to her particular motivation in including these three lovely young women on the cover of the June edition. And I actually and sincerely appreciate that a publication as prestigious as Vogue - and in one of the major global hubs of fashion - would openly declare that women with curves are beautiful and fashion forward.

We're on a slippery slope indeed, however, when the standard of success of modern (post-post modern?) feminism is set by the further objectification of women: congratulations! Women of all shapes and sizes can now be viewed as sex objects! I know, I know: sexy people are desirable, desirable people are envied, the happiness of being envied is glamour, and glamour sells magazines.... We've come a long way, baby?

Last summer I read a really amazing book by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn called Half the Sky. It is truly "a passionate call to arms against the oppression of women around the globe - "the central moral challenge" of our time" (I totally took that from the book's jacket - but it's completely true). As a woman, I felt the lives of those interviewed - theirexperiences - cut into my heart, grab a hold, and rock me with the power of their story and the strength of their character. As a western woman, I couldn't help but feel slightly detached. This isn't to say that I wasn't still moved, very often to tears, by what I read - but I had no mechanism or concept of how to process my thoughts and feelings into something concrete and conducive to the betterment of the whole of society. Which is exactly what these myriad heroes were doing: working through their experiences and changing the discourse and reality of their society in positive, meaningful ways.

And then I had the opportunity to study a small, humble, yet infinitely profound document prepared by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) called "Advancing Toward the Equality of Women and Men". I knew while reading Half the Sky that the inequality of women and men is as much a problem in developed nations as it is in developing nations....

Addressing the importance that a fundamental knowledge of our selves and of the purpose behind our creation can have in overcoming oppression, the ISGP states that "even in societies where women have been granted certain political and economic rights and are legally empowered, both men and women are denied knowledge of their true selves. Women are objectified and sexuality is made the core of their identity. Their aims and aspirations are set in terms of pleasing men. Attraction to beauty [...] is deliberately perverted to the point where women and men are seen as no more than means for the gratification of material desires."

It is true, the human body is a wonderful, beautiful thing. It has been uniquely designed as the receptacle of the human soul - and it is capable of tremendous things. Let us celebrate our appreciation of the 'body beautiful' for its achievements and for the service it renders the soul - and not because a small number of them have been used as a marketing tool in the advertising of culture.

On Development...

'Akka, Israel

I've finally had a chance to upload the last roll of film I shot in Israel... and I'm pretty happy with the results.

One of the things I like most about film are the little surprises that are in store for you when you get your pictures back. Like the way that the sun races through this picture I took last month at the House of Abdullah Pasha in 'Akka. It's like a gift to your future self.

I think that all development works that way, though. Sometimes you need a moment to step back and really examine how you've been growing and maturing.

"I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendours of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor." - Baha'u'llah

I hope your day holds a myriad pleasant surprises....

...To Grow On

So you may or may not know that I just celebrated my birthday. As Jay-Z would say, I'm "young enough to know the right car to buy, but grown enough not to be rims on it"....

These women - via Advanced Style (a street style blog courtesy of Ari Seth Cohen) - prove that high fashion is appropriate at any age. I love that their conversations about and commitment to art and personal expression are so in the moment. Their fingers are definitely on the pulse!

All head's up credit (and thanks!) goes to the equally art and fashion conscious ladies at Honestly... WTF. Aptly named. Promise.

Lovely Israel...

As promised... pictures from my adventures with Sanaz in Israel:

Eilat.

What happens in Eilat stays in Eilat.

Take public transportation - it's good for you.

...it also allows you to take goofy pictures at will.

Back in Haifa.

Heading down the upper terraces of the Baha'i Gardens.

Dinner at Duzan Haifa's German Templar Colony district.

This place is, like, world famous!

Sanaz on the terraces at night.

Remember, San :: man artist-am!

Gl-Gl-Glorious!

Namibia - via 19 Months

So I've just booked a small vacation in Rome! I'm really looking forward, particularly as I've never been to Italy (I know...). If you have any recommendations about things a person should absolutely do - and things that should be seen only if the time presents itself, holler at your girl!

But I think this little holiday - planned to coincide with my transition from Israel back to the United States - will be just the thing I need to look forward to to lessen the nervousness I feel about living in Orange County again.

Who knew that 4 years could be so long - or go so quickly!

...but seriously, sorry I'm so MIA. One of my besties is coming to visit next week, and I'm kind of (read: actually) freaking out about moving half-way around the world in less than 2 months. And finding a j.o.b.

Excuse me while I go breathe deeply - and stuff.

On Symmetry...

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo. Originally spotted on Design Mom.

So you've heard me talk (joke?) about my slight tendency towards OCD.... But what if I'm just extra sensitive to all things symmetrical? The human eye is, after all, drawn to symmetry as a matter of course - particularly in its search for all things beautiful.

Naturally this doesn't address my fascination with all things asymmetrical - but that's for another day.

For my people 'in the know' :: Happy Ridvan!

Queen of Carmel...

Courtesy Bob Tansik.

Restoration on the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel is officially complete! The golden dome of the Shrine was uncovered this morning.

According to the Mayor of Haifa, Advocate Yona Yahav, "The Shrine affects the whole set up of Haifa. It is the core and symbol of this tolerant and multi-cultural city."

See the full article here.

If Not For My Childsized Attention Span...

Via Black*Eiffel

Courtesy Giorgio Possenti, photographer.

This work space literally stuns me... I doubt I could get much work done in a place that lovely, though - just think of all of the daydreams a girl could day... dream.

I mean me.

But seriously, how about y'all? I'm totally a fan of beautiful spaces; I find them to be incredibly conducive to good and quality work. But do you think you could handle this?

Problem Solving...

Courtesy A Cup of Jo

When I was playing water polo in college and getting my hair cut at the beauty college, or some other $5 special... my friend was getting her hair done at this really trendy salon (that shall remain nameless because I'm sure it's trademarked, and I have no idea how to throw up that particular gang-sign). One day my friend and I pop in to "see her [hair] guy". Friends, your boy walked up to me, takes one look, and says - sneer and all - "ugh. What do you put in your hair? It is too healthy!"

Several years - and my own "hair guy" later - and I no longer wash my hair every day. Now that my water polo team is training more than ever, however, I really struggle to find things to do with my hair on 'day 2'. It should be professional, feminine, classy, and fresh.

Enter Joanna Goddard of A Cup of Jo fame. She gathered some of her rad NYC stylist/photographer/model friends and presto change-o! Solutions for a great hair day! You can peep the tutorial (complete with handy pictures) here.

No promises, but this may just be my look... two days hence!

Kimia Kline: Artist

I know just how you feel...

Via Kimia Kline.

So my dear friend Kimia has put up 4 new paintings on her site, Alkeemi.

Her stuff is so fresh and lovely, the perfect thing for your walls, me thinks.

Oh... and she ships internationally, for those of you not in San Francisco.

*Disclaimer: That's not the name of the painting... I mean that caption literally.

Women Are Heroes...

TRAILER " WOMEN ARE HEROES"
Uploaded by JR. - Independent web videos.

I have seen trailers for this in French, and the message is so powerful that - even though I don't speak French - I was totally captivated and knew that I had to see this.

Thankfully, I've found an English language trailer to share with you all. I recommend that you look this movie up. ...and then spend some time with the heroes in your own life.

Worth A Thousand Words...

So I know that I said I'd be more conscious of living in the present tense, but I can't help but get excited for some long and short-term plans.

Image courtesy Little Brown Pen

Shhh... but I think I may have some more concrete ideas about what to do with my future self. It's still kind of secret, mostly because I'm nervous about thinking myself out of what could really make me really happy.

When I'm feeling braver, I'll put you in the loop.

Images, above and below, courtesy Oh Joy!

So I know that it's only January and totally not beach weather (not even here in comparably warm and sunny Haifa, Israel), but I've done some research into my little holiday situation. Friends, it's time to start planning. By my calculations, I have nearly 3 weeks of vacation to take!

I'm thinking to stay much closer to home than my last trip home to see the family in California. So far I've got my eye on Croatia, Brussels, Greece and Italy. I'm also tempted to just block out the time and go where the cheapest flights are going that very day!

What?! I can be spontaneous! *wink*

Particularly if I find a way to get my hot little hands on the lovely orangeness above and perfect bathing suits below.

Whimsical...

Illustration courtesy Miss Capricho

...support the artist!

For my birthday in 2006, I wanted to have a masquerade party. Like something out of 17th century Venice. And that's what it looked like in my imagination. Of course in reality I got pneumonia only 6 weeks before my birthday and had barely recovered in time for my party. Maybe someday I'll host a do-over and wear this beautiful and colorful number.

Maybe it'll even transcend the pages of my imagination, this time. Who's in?!