If you’re having work problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but a job ain’t one. Not till next week anyway. So till then I’ll do my part to ease the suffering at the end of your first week and offer you a bumper list of distractions. Welcome back.
This is Greece. A country full of people reaching for their Plan Bs and exit strategies. Eleni Zoe is experiencing it and making me cry at the helplessness I feel.
2011 was a bitch for so many people. The 45 most powerful images of 2011 show just how much a muderous wench mother nature can be. Fingers crossed 2012 is better for all.
I lurve gin. If you love gin too perhaps a different gin drink for every day of ginuary would appeal?
And if gin isn’t your thing how about flavoured vodka? Laura made 2 amazing concoctions for our NY beach getaway. I spent NYE getting pretty drunk off homemade peppermint schnaps and forty-four because they tasted too good to be straight vodka. :/
I’m still so disappointed in myself for not making it to Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition when it was in Wellington for months! Especially when I see these photos of the result of white room + kids + thousands of stickers.
If there were to ever be an xkcd comic for me to live by it’s this one. Going on my cubicle wall on Monday. Fuck. That. Shit.
Eeeeeeeee! This hedwig costume is adorable, elegant, and not at all “sexy big bird”.
Trees are my favourite thing in the world that isn’t my Mum. I want to stay at the Treehotel so bad!
These 25 ideas to make life better have been all over my internet the past few days. If you haven’t seen them yet prepare to be pissed that you didn’t think of them earlier.
Even if you don’t know who Amanda Palmer or Neil Gaiman is the story of their wedding will suck you in.
These sacred Indian sites are so beautiful. Even without the gorgeous animals photoshopped into them.
Wear everything. All the time! There are almost no items in my wardrobe that I wouldn’t wear just because. That has a lot to do with my level of confidence and sense of style, but also because I don’t want to hide something in my wardrobe if I really love it!
AFI’s 100 best heroes and villains are even more fun when you imagine a hero in a movie with the villain of the same ranking. The best is Lassie vs Cruella de Vil.
Smart Pretty and Awkward is one of my favourite blogs. There are always brilliant seeds that make me really think. Like this: Imagine writing down every single idea you had for a whole day, or even a week, including all the “bad” ideas. You’d have so many things to run with!
Two lesbians raised a baby and this is what they got.
They don’t tell you in the diet books that this food plan might make you SHIT YOUR PANTS!
I have zero clues about anything to do with make up…but this looks totally doable. Now where does one actually buy the tools for this trick? And how do I remind myself that I shouldn’t rub my eyes with my fists?
Klara Harden hiked over Iceland by herself for 25 days. This mini doco is beautiful and made me start looking at flight prices immediately (again). Her FAQ on the MADE IN ICELAND doco is an inspiring short read as well.
This little girl will change the world
Do you guys watch Community? The christmas episode was one of the best things I’ve ever seen. We are all still singing the songs from it over a month later.
Xmas not your favourite time of year? Broke? Bored? Totally over the tradition of buying crap that no one needs? How about not doing that this year? (p.s. I’ll be posting a bunch of posts soon with awesome ideas for not new not crap presents.)
What do you want? Ask yourself this question, ask your friend this question, ask your client this question. It might help you see the bigger picture and get where you’re going.
Remember that Simpson’s party I mentioned? Laura wrote up some tips on throwing your own Simpsons party and kindly shares the recipe for her GIANT DONUT.
For all of my posturing against war and the people that decide fighting with guns is a valid career choice it’s still infinitely sad when they die. Final Salute follows Steve Beck, a marine who has the hard job of telling families when their person has been killed. It’s a long read, and very sad so save it for home lest you end up crying at your desk like I did.
Ever wanted to get something designed, maybe a logo, but you’ve heard all this talk about terrible clients that don’t know what they want and you definitely don’t want to be that person. Take these tips from actual logo designers and you won’t be the one they hate.
Nikki Kaye doesn’t seem to understand the internet.
I’m slowly getting used to the Google Reader changes, but the insane amount of vertical space they’ve stolen is dumb. Jason created a script to reclaim some of the space.
I’m loving Natalies blog, Extra Large as Life. We have very similar tastes so all her finds make me add things to my wishlists and pinterest boards. Recently she posted photos of her awesome self in nothing more than a cropped tee and undies. Not an unusual thing to see on the internet right? Except it is when the person in the photos isn’t catwalk model sized. I’m thankful for people brave enough to put themselves out there in a quest to normalise bodies of every size!
I’m kinda in love with Nicki Minaj and her crazy style. So discovering this video she did with other awesome people (John Waters and The Lonely Island) made me very happy. The Creep.
The ABC guide to drama-free female friendships! Plenty that I need to remember and plenty I would like people to learn. I’m a bit sick of hearing woman say that they can’t get along with other ladies.
If only I had the words to express how amazing Hyperbole and a Half is. Adventures in depression, a pretty accurate depiction of what a depressive episode looks like for a lot of people.
Now that you’re big / There’s some stuff you should know / There’s some stuff you should know / About your bits down below.
Rachel lets us inside the world of sugar daddies and sugar babies at a ball arranged for those seeking “mutually beneficial relationships”.
Flatmate Jason occasionally emails us pictures that are either hilarious or controversial or both. I’m particularly fond of ones that include one of my favourite fictional characters and his cross. Stop! Hammer time. + This is going to be hilarious.
More crazy ways to paint your nails. Do you remember marbling paper in school? That! But for your nails!
Nowt nor summit kindly rescued this article from behind The Times’ paywall. Differences between being rich and being poor and why those that have never been poor can’t know what it’s really like. The poverty trap.
“Lauren Conrad, well-known chronicler of the down and out in Orange County, wore shorts to the polo match to show her support for people who can’t afford long pants, something she read about online one time or something.”
New Years break with the gang last year consisted of 5 days of eating and drinking at Waitarere Beach and Jason finally got his photos developed! Can’t wait till this New Years break at a different beach with even more of my favourite people.
“People with the ‘wrong’ opinion are viciously cut down. I am frightened of speaking about how I feel,because I have not read enough,do not know enough,am too privileged am not a “good enough” feminist. Because I do not fit into the rhetoric that is currently in vogue, I am too afraid to trust my own voice,my own opinions. It is not merely me questioning my beliefs and privileges, it is about being afraid because I am not doing it the right way, because I don’t agree with what everyone else says, because I haven’t researched enough, because I am not thinking deeply enough.”
and this:
“I do not like leggings. I think they are ugly…” “…But in the feminist blogosphere,if one has the audacity to say that one does not like leggings, this is not what that statement means. It means that one hates fat people, that one is body policing and fashion policing and oppressing women who choose to wear what they want.”
I lovefancy weirdo style! In my head this is who I am…the reality is a lot more clothes on the floor and piles of laser cut plastic.
Remember Blossom?! Refinery 29 talked to costume designer Sherry Thompson. Mayim Bialik is on The Big Bang Theory these days and has a PhD in neuroscience!
Taylor Swift doesn’t understand yet that her constant intense desire to fall in love is mostly just the desire to fuck everything, and that she can fuck everything without automatically falling in love. And that she can fuck everything AND fall in love.
I’m not a big rugby fan, in fact before the cup started we made jokes like ‘Winter is coming’ (holla Game of Thrones reference) because we thought the RWC was going to be a huge munter fest.
While we did miss out on news of much importance over the last 2 months, and Jason’s bumper was torn off his car by French tourists, and I may not ever hear the word groin without thinking of Dan Carter again, I also did watch the final and kinda enjoyed it. And I would be lying if watching this video didn’t make me feel a little emotional.
This country loves the shit out of rugby. For better or worse.
Thank goodness it’s all over now.
Oh and I’d also be lying if this video wasn’t my second favourite* part of the whole RWC. SHAME JOHN KEY. It’s ok to be mean-spirited towards JK because he’s a horrible person.
*My favourite was the three way handshake fail but the IRB claimed copyright on that video! A hilarious tumblr parodying the fumble is up though: keyhandshake.tumblr.com
The craziest thing happened to Bede when he arrived in Nepal to help Edventure Nepal Orphanage. And then he managed to raise $7000 nzd for them in 14 days! What a guy!
I am fucking awful at painting nails (and also just have awful nails), but I think I could maybe pull off this fancy little idea for ombre nails. Syl makes it look really easy.
Cookie bowls! So simple, so genius. At xmas my brother always fills brandy baskets with mums trifle, maybe he’d like this too.
CV writing and applying for jobs is the worst! These “buzz words” for your CV could help though. Especially if you’re like me and have completely forgotten what office managers are looking for in an employee.
A fun way to help ensure your camera is returned to you if you leave it somewhere stupid. I always keep a business card in my camera case but this is way more fun.
I’m not married, so can’t speak to actual experience, but this is definitely why I do think that marriage is still relevant. And why I really want to be married one day.
“The Fun parts of Being Married come when you accept that this is what marriage is: as well as being a patriarchal hangover and an historical structure of oppression etc, practically it is the institutionalisation of two people as Super Friends. “
That girl you hate. Do you actually hate her? Getting over girl hate:
“Girl hate is not hating someone who happens to be a girl, it’s hating someone because we’re told that, as girls, we should hate other girls who are as awesome as or more awesome than ourselves. That there can ever only be ONE cool girl, ONE funny girl, ONE smart girl, etc., in a circle of people.”
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett – The Lady is a Tramp (give it a listen even if you don’t like Lady Gaga, her voice is amazing).
‘Being Elmo’ trailer
Proposal by flash mob! I bawled a little.
I used to think that maybe, just maybe, Jugallos were just misunderstood weirdos. Now I know that they’re actually really fucking stupid. But an overarching message of family and good directing make this mini doco well worth the watch.
David Beckham undercover at Target. He’s definitely earned some cred in my book.
I’ve already tweeted this link at least twice. The first pic is also my desktop background and I keep calling to Brend and shoving the screen in his face while cooing isn’t he cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute?! The ginger blue eyed seal pup who didn’t belong. I am so in love.
What it’s like coming home after a long trip. Things you used to value, you no longer value. “Some people are married, some are divorced but most are the same only two years older.”
Things that fascinate me: Words that don’t exist in the English language (but do in other languages). Especially German words. Like Waldeinsamkeit, the feeling of being alone in the woods.
When my detox is finished I am SO playing the restaurant website drinking game. But with something really really week or the game will be over after one website. Have SEEN any restaurant websites lately? They are awful. (Birthday drinks idea perhaps?)
So the Rugby World Cup is in full swing in NZ and I’ve successfully avoided seeing any games, accidentally walking through any fanzones, or giving a shit about who wins. This piece on Gay NZ (NSFW) got me interested for a few minutes though. And then I went back to not knowing who Sonny Bill Williams is.
How to be a hipster. Chapter 1: Appearance.Chapter 2: Interests.Chapter 3: Lifestyle. Just go look, her drawings are awesome, plus now you’ll know what to say when someone asks WTF a hipster is anyway. (for the record, according to Hannah I’m a hipster only in that I like tea and blog/photograph/craft.)
Benhi is selling her rainbow shuffle shirt! (picture a unicorn dragging its butt leaving behind a rainbow trail)
Neo-Hipster. “I know, I look different, but before you all start saying how I look like some midtown suit, let me explain. I haven’t gone pleb on you, I’m actually a neo-hipster now. It’s basically where you’re a hipster, but since hipsterism has gone so mainstream you dress and act like a regular person, ironically.”
Sometimes people just don’t work for each other anymore. Friends can grow apart and fall out of love, just like, well, lovers. Sometimes you have to break up with your friends.
“You’re so sensitive. You’re so emotional. You’re defensive. You’re overreacting. Calm down. Relax. Stop freaking out! You’re crazy! I was just joking, don’t you have a sense of humor? You’re so dramatic. Just get over it already!” Sound familiar?
The interesting (slash scary) story of internet star Kiki Kannibal.
Evolving happiness. “They say that you need to be a whole person on your own in order to be part of a successful relationship, and I believe that that’s true, too. But what they don’t tell you – what nobody seems willing to tell you – is that it’s also okay to work this stuff out with someone else by your side.”
Brend has almost convinced me to grow something with all the gardening he’s been doing. I think it’s far more likely that I’ll make some succulent terrariums or vertical gardens though.
Remember that one time it snowed in Wellington? This video captures that day perfectly.
Feminism, that touchy subject that shouldn’t be touchy because can’t we all agree that women deserve to be treated just as well as men are? I like how Sarah explains that feminism is not about being better than men, or being the same as them, but that we’re all equally as awesome as each other (or have the potential to be) and good at different stuff.
Goddamn Sal is a brave woman for putting all of this out in the open. Body hair is one of those things you just. don’t. talk. about. I’m happy for that to change though! We’ve all got it, it’s all different, we all deal with it somehow.
On the subject of privilege. “What other people are trying to say, and you aren’t really hearing properly, is that the way you have experienced the world has been shaped by a series of factors that you’ve probably never had to think about before.”
While I’m sure we’re all aware that it’s not up to the victim to prevent sexual assault (a la this list) this video put out in New Zealand is a really great reminder that everyone can help prevent assault. Especially when a victim is not aware what is happening and may not be able to help themselves.
If you love Instagram and/or can’t get access to it on a phone then these Instagram Photoshop actions will be right up your alley. Filter all of the photos you can get your hands on.
Last week I linked to the post where James Chartrand of Men With Pens came out as a woman and I commented (without knowing the situation properly) and said that what she did was great. Thankfully Poppy linked to a superb post that explains while people are upset and critical about what she did. James didn’t just change the name, she took on a whole personality including misogynistic traits!
Tash also wrote a post on females using male pseudonyms and steps that have been taken in some places to levvel the playing field. Make sex a non factor in decision making.
So it turns out that James Chartrand from Men with Pens is actually a woman! Wow. Reading why she pretended to be a man online for so long was so interesting and proves that sexism is alive and well in the world. Many now say James can’t be trusted and has negatively affected gender bias by not pushing through and making it as a woman, I say she did what she had to do and is making everyone really think about why this revelation affects them at all.
One of the tasks in my 101 in 1001 list is to complete no less than 15 photography projects. I follow sh1ft.org to get ideas and instructions and one of my favourite tasks is A Day In The Life. The next one planned is for New Years, either the 31st or 1st or both and the idea is that you take one photo each hour to show what the day was like. Who’s in?
Irony creeps! You start saying totes or lol out loud to take the piss and not so long after you just say it because you’re used to it. It’s no longer ironic, it just is. Same deal with clothes, one day your hideous knitted sweater is ironic the next it is comfy and warm.
Could you live in a van, scared of being caught, eating spaghetti cooked over a camping stove in order to save money and avoid loans? I’d much prefer to forgo education at an expensive university altogether.
The Atheist Bus is coming to New Zealand. The initial target of $10000 for advertising was reached within 48 hours and a new target of $20000 was made. 5 days in they are just over $1000 from the $20000 target. Go kiwis!
Wow. (nsfw) How’s that for trying to fit into the image a media dominated sets forth for women?
Amaze! I may have to make myself one. (right after I’ve altered those clothes I bought 6 months ago, cleaned up my office, and packed for our 3 week holiday).
Are you a hipster? Check yourself and play hipster bingo on The Thinking Man’s Take On: Hipsterism.
UCB Noteworthy – “Poker Face”
A Capella performance of Poker Face. The singing is great – the choreography is the main attraction though. Hilar.
War Zone
“Filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West believes that the streets are a War Zone for women. Armed with only a video-camera, she both demonstrates this experience and, by turning and confronting her abusers, reclaims space that was stolen from her.”
