making a house (apartment) home

I’ve lived in the same apartment for nearly two years now, so I’ve taken some care to spruce it up, make it a little different. Here’s some of the low-budget things I did to make my place look and feel nicer.

I found this brightly colored night stand at Flying Dog Vintage Mall and paired it with an old suitcase that I found in Atlanta and a print of a John William Waterhouse painting that I’ve had for more than a decade. The twinges of peachy-orange fit together, I think.

I’ve been fortunate to keep this antique desk with me wherever I go. Since I moved in, I made up my study area a little bit with branches and flowers from Hobby Lobby, a black and white photo I took in a snowstorm back home, and a bicycle clock generously gifted to me from my sister.

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I wanted a big centerpiece of some sort to go above my bed, so I made my own for now. I took a canvas and attached a large swath of fabric (a cute feathered print from Spoonflower) to it. If I try this again, I think some sort of adhesive would be better. Online instructions suggested staples, which didn’t work out too well.

I inadvertently started building a color theme of teal and red in my living room. When I moved in, I wanted red curtains to go with my beige couch.

Since then, I found a rustic red Tuscan clock, a comfy teal papasan and a tiny light teal mirror with just a touch of red that I think brings it all together.

My next project is to sand down these awesome custom made book cubes and paint them.

I’m thinking of starting with light teal and robin’s egg for starters, but that’s the beauty of a home project like this. If I get tired of it, I’ll just paint over it.

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My living room has been the most fun to make additions for.

The mirror is another great Flying Dog find. It has a man in a bandanna smoking on it. I’m not sure what it’s advertising, but at least it isn’t your run-of-the-mill mirror.

My mom used to embroider scriptures and hang them in frames around the house, and perhaps that’s the reason I was so attracted to the framed quote I found in a thrift shop. It reads “Be true to your work, your word and your friend.” That is how I want to live every day.

The arched wooden piece in the center is another lovely steal from a local auction. It’s a replica of a 1936 radio, which delivers my precious sessions of Fresh Air and This American Life. Lovvvvve.

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My kitchen came with bar stools, so my little kitchen/coffee table has been lonely. My dad found this vintage typewriter to help spruce it up.

It’s kind of fun to have my own vintage writing corner.

Sometimes you just want to write without the streams of social media distracting you.

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Next on the horizon for my home projects, I’m thinking of framing several different slides of sheet music covers- the ones from the 30s, 50s, when the front cover was more elaborate than most magazines today. I think they’ll make nice eclectic pieces. Also, since I seem to be collecting book cases, I’m thinking of covering the inside with different patterned fabrics.

So, dear readers…do you have any suggestions for home improvement or decoration? I’m all ears.

these days

What with the first exams of the season and all, I skipped a “these days” post, so this one will be a little longer (to make up for lost time, of course).

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I’ve decided that if I’m going to spend so much of my time studying, it must be from a good vantage point- where I won’t miss out on the sunsets and the twilights and the bustling little city below.

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This week, I had a busy dance card as far as writing was concerned.

It began with a unique little history gallery of the White River at Studio 124 in Bentonville.

And picked up speed with a trip to Rogers’ Go Red for Women event

where we heard from ESPN sports analyst Kirk Herbstreit on ways to stay healthy and pick up on early signs of heart trouble

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After an enjoyable feature on the new 21C Museum Hotel (more on that later), I ended the week with the NWA Home Show

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Valentine’s Day came and I got all sentimental.

whoops.

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Finally, I rewarded myself with a nice, long walk in the woods with only the swooning company of Grizzly Bear.

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As if I don’t have enough reading material already, I picked this up over the weekend

credit: Jakeshaker Review

It won a Man Booker award, so I expect great things.

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What’s new in your life these days?

My Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2012

Looper

Although I really had no clue that this movie was soon to be released until I was up for renting a movie and got hooked into its concept, this is probably the best thing I’ve seen in at least a year (probably longer than that). A friend of mine introduced me to the work of Rian Johnson a few years ago by requiring me to sit down and watch Brick, a great modern film noir that follows a heartbroken high school student as he tries to figure out why his ex-girlfriend is missing school and seems so shaken up, off kilter. It’s a great, thoughtful mystery with sweet twinges of humor and gut wrenching hopeless romance. I watch it regularly, but try not to. It’s a special rainy day kind of treat.

Looper had the same challenge of hanging on to the story line. The first time I watched it, I definitely didn’t catch everything, but it’s shot in such a smooth and pretty way that it makes it easy to watch several times over. The storyline is rooted in questions of morality- if we know someone will turn out to be a major criminal, is it ok to kill them before they do their awful deeds? what makes a criminal of that caliber, where is the cutoff line? what sort of person would do this for a living? is it worth it, what are they sacrificing? The point, I think, is that we think we know the answers. Or at least we pretend to a lot of the time. Overall, it lends more optimism to the human race than I expected in the beginning. It’s thrilling, smart and it has Joseph Gordon-Levitt in it (driving a Miata, no less).

The cast was amazing: Levitt,  Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt and Paul Dano. Not to mention, the soundtrack is pretty great.

credit: hollywoodandmeblogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

credit: itsmegrace.blogspot.com

Liberal Arts

This is another that passed through the transit without me ever knowing it came to theaters, which is probably best, given that  I’m a huge fan of Josh Radnor (thanks to How I Met Your Mother) and compulsively watch my favorites at least a few times over. Much like his HIMYM character, Ted, Jesse is a young 30-something who has been out of college a few years, is in a stable but unenjoyable/non-rewarding job, between relationships and generally in a bad place. It’s so easy to love him: especially the moment he gets a call from his favorite college professor, who asks him a favor of giving a brief speech at a retirement dinner honoring himself. He checks his calendar knowing he has nothing on the horizon for the foreseeable future and agrees.

Back on campus, where anything feels possible, he cheers up and instantly meets someone. Their flourishing long distance romance of handwritten letters in a digital age, exchange of music playlists and discussions about books are charming. It is comforting to watch Jesse start acting like himself, beginning to forget the reasons he was so disenchanted with life, but also questionable that the object of his affections is a girl of 19.  What impressed me most was that the happy ending didn’t involve the young college student suddenly growing up or Jesse moving into the same town or her leaving college to simply be with him. Instead, a moment of clarity. Jesse stepping up to do the right thing: let her get on with her atypical college years and him moving on and finding someone closer to his own age.

The final scene is probably the sweetest exchange I’ve ever seen, in which Jesse and his new girlfriend sitting peacefully in the living room talking about the ways they’d like to grow old–how it’s not only not going to be bad, it could be kind of great. They sit in the soft sunlight and silence, in that implication that it will be with each other. (So many feelings, y’all.)

Also, they talk about some great music in the movie. Some lovely soul posted the songs in a playlist on Youtube. (score!)

credit: womenzmag.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

credit: thedivinemissmommy.com

Friends with Kids

(Ok, so this one was made in 2011, but I didn’t see it until 2012. Shhh.)

As one of the very few remaining person from my high school class who both hasn’t been married or had children, this movie really did it for me. Jason and Julie, two best friends, are god-awful at relationships and they know it. Julie had an “epic 10 year relationship” with someone from college, but now finds herself in a good job, living The Life in Manhattan, having a grand time with her friends but without anyone she feels is worth a shot for something real, let alone beginning a family. Jason has no trouble flipping through relationships, but he can’t stand thinking he would go through life without having any children. So the two decide their stable friendship holds enough merit to successfully hold down a small family, enabling them to leave “the messy stuff” out of their dating lives.

Obviously, things go very wrong. But the entertaining part is where things seemed like they worked perfectly.  My favorite line of the whole movie is John Hamm mouthing “Quiche?” as the couple hosts an immaculate gathering for all their friends with kids. Died. Laughing.

The important thing is that not only is it chock full of laughs, it goes through all the main arguments I’ve heard about when it’s right to settle down with someone (no matter the varying definition for that) and what makes up a family. Again, I’d say pretty great casting. I mean, Adam Scott? (Love, love, love Parks & Rec). Jennifer Westfeldt was so earnest and adorable. John Hamm, always a pleasure (holla, Mad Men). And Maya Rudolph always kills her roles. She is the best. Also, bonus points for having included my favorite Balmorhea song, Baleen Morning.

credit: boscosgrindhouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

credit: bigscreenz

Arbitrage

This is probably the most destructive movie on the list. Sometimes it does us good to watch a movie that calls attention to what wealth we have in our lives (especially if it’s not monetary). Richard Gere was beautiful as a “troubled” hedge fund magnate, but the story of his life spiraling out of control sheds light on the way we tend to get greedy. Some of us have rich family lives or jobs that not only don’t make us miserable but that we either are really good at (possibly even enjoy!) The trouble is that we can grow complacent having these things and begin to take them for granted. As far as cautionary tales go, this one was well done.

No need for me to extol the virtues of Richard Gere or Susan Sarandon (although I will say it’s refreshing to see them in a major film again, especially together.) In that case, it was a smart addition to put Brit Marling in the cast. She is stunning and her natural sort of devasting look makes her acting very powerful. If you haven’t seen Another Earth, do so post-haste! (Just make sure you’re in a good place, it’s very emotional.)

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credit: collider.com

Argo

I just…can’t even begin. Amazingly well done, a suspenseful dramatization of the American diplomatic hostages following a dispute at the embassy in Iran (1979, 1980). A CIA agent had to figure out how to get them out of the country, so his cover was to create a fake movie, in this case a sci-fi film that they could shoot on an exotic location so that Americans could fly safely in and out of the country. Even though I knew how things ended in real life, I was still afraid for them.  I was on the edge of my seat for the whole thing, which kept me guessing until the very last second and the journalist in me tips a hat to their frequent use of footage from the actual events, a great parallel to what they were trying to portray, recreate.

I was lucky enough to see this movie with a friend who recognized that they used some of the artwork of Jack Kirby as the board mock-ups of scenes they were shooting. (In the film, these play an integral part in their safety.) The Daily Beast ran a pretty neat rememberance from Antonio Hernandez, the CIA agent who conducted the operation. For a long time I was never really a fan of Ben Affleck, but State of Play won me over and Argo has certainly sealed the deal. 

credit: milehighcinema

 

 

 

 

 

 

So now it’s your turn. If you were in charge of the Oscars, which movies would get your vote?