Friday, September 2, 2011

Sharing my love for MWM

Matt W. Moore - I absolutely LOVE this guy's work, he's my freakin hero!!*&)#*&A"lk!aj!! and when I grow up I'd like to be just like him :D
Clean, colorful, meticulous, just my style.
Reminds me of a modern vectorfied Kandinsky
A bunch of you Vail-ites might recognize the work he's done with Burton a few years back, but a lot of his art has been featured in a variety of sectors in fashion, design, shoes, pop culture media, automotive, street art..the list goes on and on. Check out his Blog (which I follow rather religiously) where's there's eye candy for boys and girls of all ages.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Dreaded Seoul

  One of the biggest things that came to my attention during my first visit to Seoul are the many existing classes and Korean subcultures that I've been unaware of (and no, I don't watch Korean drama's and I highly doubt they're anywhere near an accurate depiction of Korean society anyway). The majority of Korean's I've known throughout my life (aside from visiting family members who live here already) have been Korean families who have had the means to immigrate to the states, so generally middle to upper class. I grew up thinking that all Korean families were the same. Most parents were conservative business owners who gave up everything they had to immigrate, used that guilt to push their children to excel in academics and tried their best to be "normal" and fit into American society. To see the lives of middle to lower class Koreans is a completely different emotional experience. These people simply don't exist (or are pretty rare) in the states because it's damn near impossible to immigrate without money, but these are the people that give me hope in a culture I wrongfully despised. Turns out, it wasn't the culture, but the people that represented my heritage in the states that I was somewhat ashamed of - people who care only about money and financial success, that's basically what it comes down to. Sure, I understand the struggles they went through to give their children an opportunity within the "American Dream" but doesn't that entail the freedom to whatever they desire and to pursue their OWN dreams?
I'm a pretty firm believer that with suffering comes creativity, and I think it's safe to say that financial stability comes hand in hand with one's comfort in life (yes I understand that it shouldn't be that way but unfortunately it is). At first glance, I noticed what I knew. I knew that these people were obsessed with status, in which they represented with what they wore and how they looked. Everywhere I looked, I saw people with designer clothes and accessories, altered faces - eyes cut and sewn, jawlines shaved, noses poked and prodded, men in suits...but the more I looked around I noticed the people behind them, living in the nooks and crannies of Seoul, painting the town, expressing their individuality, being shunned by the "ahjumma's" (old ladies) of society.
At first, I thought, "you belong in America!" where people won't judge you and shake their heads at you from the bus, where people won't talk shit to you at the spa for being a lady and having tattoo's, where people encourage creativity, not look down on it as "something you do when you suck at gongboo (academics)." But after giving it some thought, I realized, these are the people who are going to give value and significance to Korea's youth and vibrant future. So, rock on you people. Grow them dreads and stick it to the man. Bitch slap the black, white and beige right off the face of Seoul and color it WILD.


Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars

It's still frikken hot as balls in Seoul (especially today with a high of 92ยบ) but believe it or not, with the fall equinox coming in less than a month, Summer is gradually coming to an end which means Fall wedding season is to begin. Thanks to Yahoo!News I've recently been informed of the Coppola/Mars wedding. Being a huge fan of Sofia Coppola this immediately caught my attention. I just recently watched her most recent film (about a year old), Somewhere (2010) that gives us a bittersweet look into the existential struggles of a quintessential Hollywood Actor. If action packed films are your style, I'd say steer clear of this one, but if you're into subtly voyeuristic films that take you on a realistic journey through a blip of someone elses life, then I definitely recommend it. Gotta be honest though, I'm a huge fan of her work, but since I'm not too big on following tabloids and what not, I had no idea who Thomas Mars was. Anyone else on the same boat? And though I've even seen his band, Phoenix, play live(Coachella 2010), I had no idea who he was until I read news of his and Sofia's joyous occasion. I guess I'm just a bigger fan of her films than I am of his music. (No offense Mr. Mars!)

A handsome couple they are though aren't they? I sincerely hope they last longer than the average Hollywood couple. I think they're worthy of that much at least.

Here's the beautiful region of Basilicata in Italy where they wed and where her great-grandfather was born. Jealous much??
 

Weddings have pretty much been the topic of conversation where I've been staying, since my cousin, who I'm staying with, has been planning for her wedding that's coming up in a few weeks. They picked a gorgeous spot in a traditional Korean outdoor venue called SamCheongGak in the heart of Seoul, minutes away from the Presidential Blue House. Here's a picture I took at the wedding fair that was held there last week..

T-20 days till their big day. Her fiance flew in today so I can imagine it's going to be a madhouse in this household for the next couple weeks with wedding preparations and all the family/friends that are soon to follow..

View of a typical SamCheongGak wedding from the above..
It's gonna be beautiful. :)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

these are a few of my..

Transforming shirts to dresses in the loft,
on Dani's singer with rainbow thread.

Speed demon fingers with jesus yarn and plastic neon needles.
Odd shaped buttons on Jasmin's head.

Projectile pooping horror stories and
Allison's curly locks that don't dread.

Snuggle parties and breakfast club
Layer after layer after layer..

Bikini's in the parking lot in April
"Finally!" she says.
Photo Cred: Jasmin Selva
Hats by Poli<3

Sunday, August 21, 2011

latte king

Latte King in DMC seoul with the cousin :) best soy latte ever.
Found a perfect video on youtube.



i actually left the apartment and did real people things this week, aka not sit at home and pity myself. feels nice to make some real decisions and have a plan for the next few years. now all i have to do is get going. all this time i made the realistic seem impossible and the possible seem unrealistic, but now that i'm free of "the fear" i feel oddly weightless. like, "shit, that was easy." maybe they've changed. or perhaps i approached the situation differently than i normally would have. either way, grabbing life by the balls starts now!

Friday, August 19, 2011

questions that don't have answers.

why do i always feel the need to go out there, further than i already am, to be "things" and do "stuff"?  as if what i'm doing is never nearly enough.

"it really isn't," she thought to herself.

everything i do feels so sub-par, borderline useless. making bold passionate moves is difficult, and making realistic decisions is discouraging. must i settle? or do i just say "fuck everyone, i do what i want"? wouldn't that just be taking selfishness to a whole another level? i know there are certain sacrifices i need to make to keep the peace in my reality, but how much do put up with at this point?

Wednesday, August 17, 2011