linky love, tres (by m)

i surf tattoos.

and lemme tell you, it’s rare to find a good one!!

fave sites (it’s the same blogger):

http://rodeo.net/tattoologist/

http://www.tattoologist.com/

cute

hahaha. clever.

i heart ___

smile

 

Oscar’s best dressed ladies…by a

Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa

Everyone was gushing about how “age appropriate” this look was, but I thought it was gorgeous regardless how old she is.

Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott

I love love love the colour, and with the hair, she looks amazing.

Halle Berry in Marchesa

This might seem like a generic pick, because of the old “Halle Berry is always stunning” kiss ass attitude of most critics, but I’m loving the tulle and the champagne colour.

Honorable Mention…

Helena Bonham Carter in Colleen Atwood (costume designer for Alice in Wonderland)

I just have to say, this woman is amazing on the red carpet. She has her own style and is always interesting to watch. I think the media needs to give up on the ridiculous criticisms of her award show fashions-do people really expect her to wear something like Calvin Klein or anything not crazy? That would be no.

Oscar Pics, by j

Well, here are my three favourite looks from tonight that gathered my attention…

Number 3:

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem

She just had a baby and hasn’t lost the pregnancy weight (or as I would call it, a normal weight).  And I like the red flames. Muy caliente.

Number 2:

Electronica artist "Moby" doing an impression of our uncle

Number 1:

Eli Wallach with wife of 63 years, Anne

Eli was given an honourary Academy Award for his acheivement in film.  One role is that of Arthur in the  film “The Holiday” (Kate Winslet and Jack Black? Ok!).  Best part?  They now give the boring honourary Oscar at another event, instead of making us watch it.

Lovely.

P.S. Did anyone understand a word that Kirk Douglas said?  Maybe not the best choice.  Although I did enjoy the f-bomb.

my top three oscar dresses, by m

Okay, sisters!

I’m looking forward to hearing your top three choices.

Here are mine, starting with third place:

3.

Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein

First, I must say that this is a huge improvement from her SAG effort (see below).  When you go with Calvin Klein, you have to be confident that minimalism is going to work for you, and it definitely does here.  She kept it simple, and it proved that it’s always better when a woman wears the dress, and the dress doesn’t wear the woman.

Jennifer Lawrence in Oscar de la Renta, SAG awards, 2011

2.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy

Apparently my mother is spreading rumors that Cate Blanchett looks like an upholstered dining room chair, but I think that this is STUNNING.  It’s different, it fits her perfectly, and she took a risk. Bravo!

1.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

I’m speechless. Beautiful!!

[Please note that an honourable mention WOULD have gone out to Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein had she not worn the stupid little belt, and were she not so obnoxious*]

*

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

Spring Fling, by m

An organization known as the Stand Firm Central Network organized a “Spring Fling” last week.  I was able to attend the event, which was designed to connect potential volunteers with arts organizations.

I’ve been hoping to find some volunteer work to do with a theatre that will give me some valuable experience, so this event was perfect for me!

It was set up like speed dating: it took place in a bar, and each arts organization was seated at a different table. We, the potential volunteers, went from table to table to meet potential matches.

I learned about several different arts organizations that I didn’t even know existed (there were about ten different tables).  I felt like it was a great way to meet people in the industry and practice my “elevator speech”/pitch.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted when I’ve found an arts organization that’s a perfect match!

Artist Educators in Communities and Schools

On Saturday, I had the chance to attend the Artist Educators in Communities and Schools Exchange Conference at the Canadian Stage Company.  I was able to meet artists from around the city who want to teach children through the arts.

It was a perfect fit, because I want to help these people do just that!  I’d love to get involved with a theatre, bringing students in for workshops or to see plays.  I’d also love to bring more theatre into schools.  I think I could offer teachers lesson plans, in French and in English, that would help them teach their students.

I was able to attend three sessions in the morning.  I chose one on how to give a thirty second “elevator speech”, should I ever be in a small, enclosed space with a potential employer, haha.

The second session was about working with children with mental illnesses.  This session was basically info for artists who are concerned about the needs of kids, and how to deal with that.  It was facilitated by a fellow Londoner, and she did a great job.

My third session was about teaching theatre in a language that is not your own.

In the afternoon, the keynote speaker, Jennifer Kolari, discussed working with children in a really lighthearted, insightful way.

The best part of the day was that the conference culminated in AERO (artist educator reference online…or something like that) which is a social network for artists and educators!  It’s run through castingworkbook.com, which is basically facebook for actors.  So, while it’s not up and running yet, I’m looking forward to being a part of it!

Linky Love, part deux

So since J has given some of her fav links, I wanted to share one that I have added to my monumental procrastination tools list:

thehockeyjunkies.blogspot.com

Being a newbie hockey fan, this site gives me all the deets I need to know about the current happenings in the NHL, accompanied by witty humour and-because it’s a blog for girls- the occasional gratuitous pics of attractive players.

It’s smart, fun, and the women who write it know their stuff. Plus, they have no problem hiding their bias toward Pittsburgh.

Ch-ch-check it out!

you're welcome

Linky Love

Alright, I spend a lot time on the Interwebs (maybe too much?).   One of the great things about it is finding some really supercool sites, vids and articles.

Thus, “Link Love” is  born.  Check out what I’m checking out.

Lamebook is a website that posts the most hilarious and ridiculous of Facebook.  The best part?  They’re taking on the big bad FB machine.   Anyone taking on Zuckerberg is a friend of mine.

I just read this article about the upcoming royal wedding (watch for posts about that madness coming up).  It talks about the royal wedding party.  I was shocked to find out that their party’s average age is about SEVEN YEARS OLD.

If you know me, you know that I am slightly obsessed with the Duggars and their religious zealotry.  Here’s an article I read at one of my favourite websites about all these multiples and multiple birth inspired TLC shows.  Inneresting.

A comic written and developed by a funny female makes me laugh, check it out here.

This made me laugh out loud. A true LOL moment.

If this guy was my brother, my mom would definitely disown him.

Expert Technique

The fam just “competed” in a charity bowling event ‘Bowl for Kids Sake’.

Here’s a picture of a bowling in her own unique way:

"I bowl like a five year old!"

This picture is a perfect representation of how we all bowled.  Horribly.

Hang on, I take that back.  A actual bowled better this way.

Thanks to all who supported us!!  Our family team raised over $650!!! W00t!

Pregnancy, by j

I find the whole ordeal of pregnancy to be slightly fascinating.  I’ve never been pregnant, nor do I have the inclination to be.  While I have no interest in having a baby, I think it’s pretty damn cool that women can grow another human being and squeeze them out.

I am at the age where a lot of my friends are beginning to start their families and get pregnant.

Confession time

Whenever one of my friends tells me they’re pregnant my initial thought is not:

I’m so happy for you!

This is my second thought.

My first thought goes something like this:

Goddammit.  There goes our friendship.

Let me explain.  Am I happy you’re having a baby? Sure thing.  Babies bring happiness and good times to all (most of the time).

That being said here is what I know about having a little one: they take over your life.  I’m pretty sure that the love a parent feels outweighs the fact that you never get to go out and are taken over by a tiny dictator.  However, it sucks for me, the friend.  If I’m your friend, it means I like hanging out with you.  Not your baby.  Don’t get me wrong, your baby is pretty cute, but can we have a conversation that doesn’t include you ignoring me to coo at your baby?

Hold on.  I know this is horrible to say but I hope that people will appreciate my honesty, mmkay?

Baby rant over, back to pregnancy.

Recently a friend posted this article about “smug pregnant women”.  Do I agree?  Maybe a little, but I don’t think that this is necessarily an affliction of only pregnant women – I know a lot of people who act like a life changing moment in their life needs to change my life as well.

When I think about conversations I’ve had with pregnant women and new parents these are some of the most irritating things I hear come out of their mouths:

“No, you just don’t know how much you can love a person until you’re a mother.”

–          Ummm, excuse me?  What did you just say?  I don’t have the capacity to love without having a baby?  Why don’t you just tell me I’m a robot, jackass.

“She/he did the most incredible thing today! She/he stared at a grape/waved at the dog/blinked”.

–          How rude.  The first part of this sentence gets me excited.  And then you finish off with some crappy, inane moment that may be exciting (to you) but I don’t need to be regaled with every moment.  Truly.

Me: I’m exhausted!

New Parent: You have no idea what exhausted is.

–          Hi. What is wrong with you?  Do you really need to minimize my experience and my life to reassure yourself that you are a super parent?  Don’t.  It’s tacky and makes me not want to talk to you.

Here’s the thing: I think that we don’t respect pregnancy enough.  We’ve taken the age old process of birthing babies and medical-ized it.  (Note: if I ever did get preggers, I would be having a home birth like you wouldn’t BELIEVE).  I think that a lot of this “smugness” surrounding pregnancy is not totally the making of women, but of the big bad pregnancy machine.  I think, like a lot of things over the past thirty years, folks realized how much money is to be made off of the process of popping out babies.

At the end being smug is irritating, pregnant or otherwise.  And if I take a moment to think about why a person is smug, it is quite sad.  I think smugness is born out of insecurity and fear.  And that does make sense to me.  Pregnancy and parenthood are scary.  When you become a parent you automatically become open to scrutiny from others and yourself…parenthood is one of those things that everyone has an opinion.  And if you’re a parent, you’ll know doubt hear all those opinions.

So, take mine with a grain of salt.  And don’t be so freaking smug.