crush week- #3, TED

I'm showing you Jason Fried, author of REwork (a book I won at a Rice Alumni event) and ended up really liking. He's also a software developer-- which would normally be where you lose me-- but his software-- 37Signals, Basecamp, Backpack, Campfire-- is all stuff I can actually deal with.


I super agree with him about offices as places of distraction. But, while he talks of revamping them, of course, my hope is that I'll never have to go back to one. And instead, I'll sit here in the office of my own making, typing & editing away without distractions until the end of time.


I'm showing you Jason Fried, but my real crush is on a hottie named TED. I love the TED talks. Love 'em. You guys all really liked when I posted Liz Gilbert's talk on Creativity. And I really like Jason's talk.

But oh, Brene Brown. I can relate to you on so so many levels with this 20 minute ramble down vulnerability road. (She's a Houston gal!) I love how many times she uses the word "Excruciating." I love how she talks about her Type A tendencies-- control & predict.  I love when she talks about her trip to the counselor. That's a conversation I can suuuuper imagine having with a therapist. I love when she talks about the difference between courage and bravery. "To tell the story of who you are with your whole heart." Mmm. And for some reason, when all other qualities seem to abandon me, courage sticks around. Happy Wednesday! Watch and laugh and sigh. My boyfriend TED gives me such good presents. 

week of crushes- #1 #2, Mariani Brothers

During the world tour of boyfriends in the 1990's my mom moved to us to virtually every city in and around the California wine country. For as many schools as I went to, and people I met, the Mariani brothers, Andrew & Adam-- who grew up in the area-- weren't among them. 


Much to my dismay. Without any real life valentines this year, I'm going to spend the rest of the week talking about all the hypothetical people I have a crush on. I realize that somewhere in my life, I developed my own-- rather broad-- definition of the word "crush." It combines quite a few odd factors-- not the most of which is being a little sexy, but not the least of which involves being a lot awesome. 


The Mariani brothers, of Scribe Winery-- a place I've been dying to visit (and not just because they have the most beautiful website I've ever seen)-- are everything that my word crush represents. Sustainable vintners with an ease, a surprising masculinity, and a flair for adventure. There's also something sexy about brothers going into business together.


I can't decide which one I like best. I think Adam. Le sigh.

oh, it's valentine's day

Valentine's Day has long been second in melancholy only to Mother's Day for me. But I do like assigning myself numerous people (Iona, Tigerlily, Taylor) and inanimate objects (books, music, cities-- this year, it's Edinburgh) as my Valentines. And I do try to do things that I love. 


This morning started it off pretty decent. I didn't sleep well-- I was watching Sylvia, so I think you can tell how much I dig this holiday-- but woke up in time for breakfast. Had coffee with sugar (lately, I've been going without) and then got back into bed wearing this fluffy sweater to read a beautiful hardback book with a red cover. A morning without having to rush is definitely my valentine any time of year. 


I also love waking up to nice comments on youtube videos. Makes me and Steven feel loved. 


And now, I plan on listening to some Yann Tiersen Amelie Soundtrack (inspired by Iona's recent learning of score on piano) and writing while the nightingale who lives outside my window continues to sing all day-- as she's done every day since I've returned from London. 


Additionally, I couldn't resist checking out the "unveiling" of BHLDN today. As much as I stand by my earlier statements (I love how much clarification the company has done about their name since then), I do quite like their products. I could see myself wearing this at a ball on Skye (perhaps the one in April). I also like their side sections, including the one on Nuptials of Yesteryear (if you can stomach the initial click, the photos are great). More obvious and more gaggy is the "What Kind of Bride Are You?" Section. It's a quiz I couldn't even bring myself to take hypothetically. 


Anyhow, some other fun, not too saccharine Valentine's Day items. Happy Monday!

Hot literary quotes compiled by flavorwire

The Telegraph asks, "Is Valentine's Day more important for expats?" Doubtful

This Website, Luxury Scotland, was doing some V-Day deal-ys. I love the word luxury!

Last year, they projected love poems onto Edinburgh Castle rock. I love that.  I wonder if they'll do that again this year. 
Valentine's Day is one of the better holidays for someecards
Obviously my fave Grammy performance.

I think this Faith Hill song from the Country Strong soundtrack is sexy.

I still will beat the drum for love letters, people. Closest I've ever received came from this guy. 
Still also believe in these. 

seb had three mint-chocolate milkshakes sunday

That's right. Sometimes a rainy Sunday coffee just turns into three milkshakes. If you've never had the mint-chocolate milkshakes in the little bottles at North Point, I suggest you try them. It's some gluttony I can get behind. 

Other things I'm loving this Sunday:

The woman with the best sense of color I've ever met (Jennifer Aniston [even if she did hit on my boyfriend at the time]) reportedly bought this West Village Apt. I'd kill just for the terrace. 


Speaking of NYC, this production of one of my all-time favorite musicals, Hello Again. 


You can now buy my life mantra, David Foster Wallace's Kenyon College commencement speech on itunes-- it's the actual delivery. Kris was there!


Nicole Krauss's Great House came in the mail and I'm putting off school reading for it. So far, loving it!

my twin and a garden tea party

Taylor is back! It feels like St Andrews again! We went for a sunny Lade Braes walk today and got some fantastic Butler's. It was so nice out, it almost felt like this garden tea party with my twin, Kirsten Dunst at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Happy Saturday!

VOTE! at On The Rocks

Good news! You can now buy your tickets to see VOTE! here in St Andrews for the On The Rocks festival. It's wild to think we haven't even had our first read through and you can already buy tickets, but they are just on it, I suppose. Scotland loves their arts festivals! 


On The Rocks in the Scottish Students Arts Festival sponsored by...wait for it... Dames Helen Mirren & Judi Dench, and the original Bond himself, Sir Sean Connery. (And more!) Steven said, "Screw the NY Times, let's get a quote from one of the dames!" and I said, "Or Connery!" 


"It's fantashhhtic!" - Sean Connery 


Anyhow... while I doubt the Dames and Sirs who serve as patrons of the festival will actually see any of the photography, visual arts or films showcased in the festival, (I heard Connery calls)  nevertheless, Steven and I are really excited to be participating in a festival of students. The latest changes to the show have really emphasized the educational aspects of the show, and looking back over the lifespan of VOTE!, many of the most extraordinary moments have come from our working on the show with students. 


I can tell you that tickets are highly in demand and quantities are extremely limited, so clear your schedules and get yours while you can! 


For Saturday, April 23rd at 5PM
For Sunday, April 24th at 5PM


Here's a fun little video about the festival (which will also show you a bit more of my town than I've been able to show you. It'll also show you a lot of my friends-- including an interview with my pal, Jon.)

today feels like this- I saw blood and a bit of it was mine

In  my continued love of almost all things bearded and Southern, today feels like the first and my favorite track off the new Iron & Wine album I've been listening to on repeat since the day it came out. I just dig you, Sam Beam. 


It's my first day back in class. I'm already still sticking to my 10-6 writing schedule (minus additional obligations). And things are pretty amazing at the moment. I've won some, lost some in the last month. And now, when there's lots to feel my usual level of ecstatic about, instead, I feel the mellow victory of someone who put it all out there and left guts on the pavement. 


It feels like Kiss Each Other Clean. Get it. Or listen live NPR First Listen (quite possibly my favorite thing about NPR) here. 

My 25 favorite things of winter

This video made me miss Andrew. Here are my own 25 favorite things this winter (in no particular order).

1. 8mm app for iphone. Historic Scotland is sort of asking to be filmed like this. Look for vids real real soon!

2. Emily met Cher. She said, "Nice Bangs." (And get this: you have to come back & pick up your pic the next day so that they can photoshop Cher so she looks perfect! Isn't that amazing!? I want to enact that policy.)

3. This bed. It makes me wish I did not sleep in a single bed in a dorm. No matter how cozy my room is. 

4. The St Andrews cast of VOTE! They're slammin. 

5. Google analytics telling me that someone searched "are Ryann Ferguson's boobs real?" and ended up on my blog. Also, the ensuing facebook commentary.

6. Sir Robert Redford was made a knight in France

7. The Matilda musical. Roald Dahl + musicals = my tone. 

8. Clark's Yarra Desert Boot wedges

9. Their H & M Counterpart. I've walked all over Great Britain in these things. They go with everything. Comfy. 

10. Glen Grant 1993 Single Malt. I have a wee dram when I write or when I skype America. My friends make fun of me for it, but secretly, I think they're jealous. 

11. Gmail video chat. While "to skype" is a better verb, I prefer the picture quality and overall interface of gmail video chat to Skype. And since I've spent about 75% of my life this winter video chatting while it dumped snow outside, I'm into these details. 

12. Zaza's newest tea-themed card collection. "You're Bunderful!" was my suggestion. My Dad used to say that little pun all the time. 

13. My basura bag wallet. This little gem was a gift from Autumn before I left NYC and it's proved to be so so perfect for UK money-- all those 1 pound coins! Every time I bust it out, I get compliments. And, on top of all that, they're environmentally friendly and were designed as a project to get mothers and families from developing countries a self-sufficient income. Word. 

14.  First-person-plural point of view

15. Dying to read the new Nicole Krauss, Great House-- my hardback should arrive any day now! There's something really lovely and mysterious about literature so focused on objects. Rooms, furniture, desks especially. "The burden of inheritance."Mmmmm. I'm all about that. 

16. Online mags like Matchbook and High Gloss. Just as pretty. Clickable ads. Green. 

17. Celebrating costumes dramas. From the impeccable Downton Abbey to all the praise of The King's Speech, I'm glad my geek love is a little cooler this winter. 

18. Ballet Colors. Speaking of movies, I blame Black Swan for the increase in muted, soft nudes and pinks (mixed with black) this season. 

19. Train travel. Traveling first class by train is definitely where it's at. Virgin Trains are amazing and let you upgrade for not much extra (or in my case, just bump you up!) Caledonian sleeper is also pretty amazing. 

20. Getting grad degrees in super specific, non-traditional subjects-- like Beatles studies. 

21. Hot water bottles (and their cute covers.) I didn't believe all my Brit friends when they spoke of the amazingness that is the hottie-bottie. Until I stayed at Zaza's earlier this winter and realized that even if you're warm enough, it's just like an extra layer of happy. It's like-- cake is good, but cake with really good frosting is BETTER. 

22. really good bedding. I think I'll always be willing to pay for it. Especially on cold-ass winters like this one. 

23. Talking to everyone about quitting their jobs and becoming writers. Or at least, just becoming writers. Because I actually think everyone should write something. It feels good. 

24. Making friends with strangers. It's cold. It's a super transitional time in the world. Stay in touch with every friend you ever made. They just might introduce you to your next set of best friends.

25. Imagining inviting all those friends to better weather and beautiful spring in Paris. My birthday is in April. It's spring break. Emily and Tigerlily are coming. I want to rent a flat for  a week and invite all the people who made this winter (and life, really) pretty amazing. 

all the splendid times that will probably ensue

Sophie, Me & The Queen

It made my day to see that Sophie had posted a version of one of her new songs, "Something Old, Something New," on YouTube. Sitting by the fire, on a beautiful snowy New Year's Eve Eve, in the morning room at Bamff, Sophie practiced this one for her Troubadour concert. 


We talked about the lyrics. I told her the verses about NYC actually sounded like an early fall night out in NYC. And we talked the lyric, "all the splendid times that will probably ensue..."


And I couldn't help but think that's how I felt about the years to come here in Scotland. It just seems like around every corner here, there's something amazing waiting. 


I had the opportunity to cut my lease in Deans Court to the end of the term (instead of through the summer) and I decided to bite the bullet and move into Edinburgh early. I'll miss my cozy castle room. But as much writing as I get done in St Andrews, there's just so much I want to be doing in Edinburgh. So I'd rather commute into St Andrews than the other way around. 


So I wake up everyday, excited to get at all the splendid times that will probably (definitely) ensue. I sit here at my computer and I begin to type...

edinburgh view

Imagine if this were your view! If you were my super rad friend Zeph, (isn't that the coolest name? It's short for Zephirine. Additional aside- Zephyr is one of the coolest words I can think of) this would be your view. 


From her house on Calton Hill, you can see pretty much everything, including the Dugald Stewart Monument. Even on a super grey day!


Scene of famous paintings and photographs galore, it's the perfect place to have an afternoon cup of tea. 


PS- Thanks to the nice anonymous poster who asked about my photos. I use a couple of things for my photos depending on the situation. Most of my photos are taken on a Canon s90. I photoshop some of them. But often, I use my iphone and the Instagram application, which allows me to make almost any picture look the way I want. And unlike hipstamatic, you can choose which setting you want for the photo after you take it. 

the thames and tate modern

As we walked along the Thames, we ducked into the Tate Modern for some Sunflower fun in the Turbine room. Modern art is frequently lost on me, but the scale was truly insane. Millions and millions of fake sunflower seeds hand painted by artist Ai Weiwei. Sadly, too many people were stealing too many of the sunflowers, so they had to put a gate around it. Originally, it was designed to be a bit more interactive. Sad.


We went looking for the Rothkos, but ran out of time. In a perfect world, I probably could have spent about 5 hours in the gift shop alone. I was tempted to buy this amazing book on postcards from the Russian revolution, but opted instead for some Susan Sontag, Regarding the Pain of Others.  


After a good look at St. Paul's Cathedral, it was off for a night (my last in London) of great food and music. More on that later. Happy Sunday!

those are "sunflower seeds"

new age fun with a vintage feel

I feel like I've watched this about 500 times since Iona showed it to me. It's startlingly accurate of most of the neighborhood I was in while in London. It's funny how this annoying social tendency in people is the same, but not quite in NYC vs London. Cool people creep me out. 


So in the event that you haven't already seen this video, here's a good laugh for your Saturday! Song is actually catchy too. 

Borough Market- London

Yesterday, we slept in after staying out late for Sophie's concert. We made steak and eggs for brunch, but decided to save coffee for "the best coffee in London" (according to Adam & Sophie). And so, we embarked to Borough Market and Monmouth. 


The place did not disappoint. Maybe it was just my exceptional company, but the market was the first place that made me think I could really love London in some way near to the way I love Edinburgh or New York.


There were some super serious French pastries, empanadas it was an effort to refrain from (Adam didn't have the willpower) and these massive blocks of smelly cheese they were grilling for a not-playing-around grilled cheese sandwich that was beyond rich. (For those of you who know my love of a grilled cheese sammich, [with dill pickles!] you know I'll be back to Borough Market soon for one of those. 


We went on a search for one oyster, Sophie & Adam split a wheatgrass shot (3 days of vegetables in one shot!) and I ogled an olive bar, but was too full from cafe au lait at Monmouth (it was that good) and about 20 baguettes slathered in clear Scottish honey, Apricot Jam, and Subtle Marmelade (the name of Sophie's next hit album.)


After all that, plus a walk on the Thames, what more could a girl ask for from her last day in London. But, of course, I'm a lucky girl, so there is more! I'll save that for later though... Happy Friday!

today feels like this-- I don't know where to go, but you gotta be there

Today feels like this. Well, really it feels like Duncan's 2001 album Phantom Moon. But "This is How My Heart Heard" is NO WHERE to be found on youtube. Rude. But this one is pretty good too. I like the album version best, but-- again, foiled by youtube, you can't embed it.

Sigh. So this is going out to my homie, Iona. I'm off to do some more deep thinking, laughing, coffee drinking on my last day in London. Hope you're having a great day!

remember, london is where we lived before we took off for neverland

The worst book of poetry ever. 

I'm still in London on a sort of emotional health retreat- haha. I've mostly been tucked away on Broadway Market in the middle of Hackney/London Fields. It's like a hidden gem of a street and best of all, Sophie and Adam live here. 


We've gotten way too much caffeine at La Bouche and Gossip (home of the worst book of poetry ever-- see above. Just look at the smile-fist 1980's author photo on the back. The book was dedicated to everyone who'd ever been unemployed-- ha!) ran into friends at other coffee shops, tried fun cocktails at Off-Broadway (felt at home there) and just had a lot of good laughing/borderline crying talks. And music! (Sophie has a show tonight!) 


And we've been developing an American alter-ego for Sophie we're calling Charlie Wynter. We think she's almost ready to be passed off as real to the public. I'll let you know how it goes. 


The first night I was here, we were shopping for dinner and I was recounting some story involving several of this amazing set of friends I've fallen into and Adam Kay said, "Wow, I hope you know you got super lucky. I was in the UK for years before I found friends like these." To which I replied, "Oh trust me. I am aware of just how lucky I am." 


I am actually surrounded, all across the world, by friends who know just what to say when I'm feeling blue. Not the least of whom is Sophie. And certainly the best of whom is Emily, who always has something amazing like this to say: "I hope you and Sophie are in a smokey pub somewhere drinking beer. Remember, London is where Wendy, Michael and John lived before they took off to Neverland. London always reminds me of Peter Pan."

tips are dead sexy. 

show me what you got, north wales

Everyone told me all I would get was rain (slanty, sideways, etc) and sheep, but I found North Wales quite charming. No rain. There were sheep, but... ya know... not that many. Torcuil and his pilot friend Mike picked me up in Flint and from there, we drove to Conwy to visit Conwy Castle. We read up on the whole series of castles in Wales built by one of the great baddies in Scottish history, Edward I (aka Edward Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots-- for those of you whose Scottish history is limited to Braveheart.) (Also see Caernarfon Castle-- we almost went there instead.) 

We looked for dungeons, laughed about the educational spin put on medieval barbarism for students, (murder holes! you could use these to dump tar on attackers! [yay!])  tried some local Conwy ales (they were decent) and I definitely learned the names of some birds  I would never have been able to identify otherwise. 

Took a stroll around Ruthin, where Torc lives (ps- my favorite part of this wikipedia entry is the assessment of Ruthin's crime rate- hilarious) got some dinner, and then the next morning, I saw a bit of super adorable Chester when Torc dropped me off here to catch my train to London. 

North Wales-- good times. Get into it.