Last Day of November & Stress Eviction

Tomorrow is Monday morning, and, oh dear, I've started listening to sad songs again.

Mazzy Star: "Look On Down From the Bridge"

But, aside from that, I'm hoping that today is a good day for everyone and that this week proves to be a happy one, as well.  It's the last day of November, after all, and this month deserves to end with optimism.  It's crazy that there's only one month left of 2014!  And then this year will be over like all those before it, lost to the past.  Before that happens, though, let's make a point of living in the moment and taking time to detox and release all the stress that's building up inside like a stack of little demons.  You can just hear it whispering, can't you?   
Stress: Hey, you.  It's me, stress.  Remember me?  Hehe...
You: Yeah, I remember you.  And I'm sorry to say that I'm evicting you from my mind.
BAM.  That's right.  Let's EVICT STRESS.

Evict stress with yoga!

Evict stress with citrus! 

 

 

 

Vintage Gallery: 1920s

Something about the holiday season makes me think of jazz music, city lights, flapper dresses, and, of course, Jay Gatsby.

 

 

 

<3 Frances

Empathy & Gratitude

It's Thanksgiving, which means it's a time to be thankful for even the simplest things in our lives.  But it's also a good day for empathy and reaching out to those who may be struggling more than we are this time of year, so, if you're feeling particularly philanthropic, consider donating some of your time or money to an organization that you know is helping others.
Here are two inspiring stories about hope and hardship that we should all keep in our hearts when thinking about what we're grateful for this year. 

Smile Train: Mili's Story

Mili, a little girl in Kota, India, was born with a cleft lip and abandoned as an infant.  Found in a train compartment in 2012, Mili was given a second chance when she was adopted and Smile Train provided her with a free cleft repair surgery. 



PETA: Piggies Saved from Slaughter

When a group of mother pigs were to be sent away to slaughter after being used in a college swine production class, one student recognized the horror of what was happening and contacted New Jersey's The Cow Sanctuary.  Thanks to the generosity and effort of PETA and Cow Sanctuary patrons and workers, the pigs are now free to live their lives. 






<3 Frances

Wednesday Soundtrack

It's the first day of Thanksgiving break, which I am incredibly grateful for, but I only slept in for thirty minutes this morning.  That's right--6:00 am instead of 5:30 am.  Knowing it's a home-day makes it easier to be awake being traumatized by all the sad things on the early morning news.  Seeing the suffering others are experiencing really puts things into perspective.

Today feels like a playlist day, being as it is very rainy and supposed to snow, so here's a bit of what's on today's soundtrack:

The Temper Trap: "Sweet Disposition" 

Cat Power: "Wonderwall" (cover of Oasis)

Taylor Swift: "Blank Space"

Lykke Li: "I Follow Rivers"

<3 Frances

For the Sake of Cute Baby Animals

I saw part of a documentary about animal friendships, and I'm just going to go right out and say that I, without a doubt, strongly believe that animals have feelings.  I also strongly believe that pictures of cute baby animals improve productivity....

 

So, yeah.  Be productive!

<3 Frances

 

Photo Inspiration

Two-day week!  I stumbled upon some of the fine art pictures of Ukrainian photographer Oleg Oprisco recently, and I can't resist sharing them!  They're so fairy tale-like and inspiring and beautiful.  I want to borrow all the clothes and then write a bunch of stories about wintry European princesses. #writerproblems

<3 Frances 

Sunday Playlist

 

It's Sunday and it's early, but this week is a short one.  Here's what's on today's soundtrack:

The Middle East: "Blood"

Kate Bush: "Army Dreamers"

These Brittle Bones: "Flecks"

Lana Del Rey: "Young and Beautiful"

<3 Frances 

"Normal Barbie" Has Acne, Too!

As someone with recurrent breakouts, pigeon toes, and all the other qualities that come along with not being airbrushed, I was really excited to read about the new "normal Barbie," Lammily, who--believe it or not--comes with stick-on acne as opposed to glitter dust.  I'm a doll-person, and, while I love my childhood Barbie dolls (who, by the way, I gave "real problems"--debt, loss, heartache, etc.) to death, it's refreshing to see a doll who's proportioned based on the CDC standards for the average 19 year-old girl.  

 Lammily, the brainchild of artist Nickolay Lamm, would, if she were a human, by 5'4" and have a waist almost double the width of physically impossible human Barbie.  Something else that is awesome?  "Lammily Stickers," the accessory set that can be purchased for Lammily, include not only butterfly tattoos but also everything that is edited off of celebrities.  Acne!  Scars!  Stretch marks! Cellulite!  Bruises!  #real&proud

OMG!  She has acne, too!  TWINSIES!

<3 Frances

Friday Soundtrack & Cold Skin

I'm pretty sure I'm not a vampire, but, in the late fall, some start thinking that I am because, aside from my unusually sharp teeth and pale complexion, I get really cold skin.  I mean, people touch me and say, "Oh, wow, you're so cold."  

Sadly, though, with this cold-to-the-touch-ness comes chapped fingers and knuckles.  As I write this, my hands are, literally, bleeding.  Thank God for Waxelene! It's an alternative to petroleum jelly, and I have a little container of it in my pocket to drench my hands in during class so that people aren't disturbed by my generic bloodied flesh...

In less unfortunate news, here's Friday's soundtrack.  

Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson: "Winter Song"

Sneaker Pimps: "6 Underground"

Jasmine Thompson: "Demons" (Cover of Imagine Dragons)

The weekend's almost here!
<3 Frances 

Life Lessons from the Bronte Sisters

The Bronte Sisters, with their tragic lives and tragic tales, have always fascinated and inspired and saddened me all at the same time.  As it's freaking frigid outside right now, it seems the right time to curl up with a copy of Wuthering Heights.  However, as I cannot do that because of societal obligations (ugh, society!), I'm sharing a few words of Bronte wisdom instead:

I don't call you handsome, sir, though I love you most dearly; far too dearly to flatter you.  Don't flatter me.

-Charlotte Bronte

I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward.
-Charlotte Bronte

Honest people don't hide their deeds.
-Emily Bronte

If I could I would always work in silence and obscurity, and let my efforts be known by their results.
-Emily Bronte

But he that dares not grasp the thorn shall never crave the rose.
-Anne Bronte

Adoration isn't love.
-Anne Bronte

<3 Frances

Manic Mondays....

Good morning!  I've got some energizing music picked out for you today in case the whole Monday thing isn't quite working out for you. 

Skrillex: "Bangarang"

Lana Del Rey: "Blue Jeans"

Charli XCX: "Boom Clap"

Ellie Goulding: "Lights"

Lorde: "Tennis Court"

Good luck today!  #almostthanksgiving 

<3 Frances 

Geek Moment

I am, without a doubt, a total Star Wars geek.  I've seen the six-episode saga too many times, I watched the cartoon series, and--wait for it--I refurbished an old doll house to be the loft-style apartment home of my Padme and Anakin action figures.
Yes.  I have a Skywalker dollhouse.
Tying this to fashion, though, the New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2014 show included a bunch of Star Wars-themed outfits (mainly by Rodarte).  The Death Star on a dress?  Yes, please!







<3 Frances

Dance Detox (and Scoliosis)

Saturday!  Time for test corrections and blueberry consumption and, of course, sorting through pre-holiday cards.  November is basically half-way through, which is insane, and I'm trying to round up a donation for some of our favorite charity organizations while surviving the cold (and school!).

SO. MUCH. DANCING. And flexibility.  I have no flexibility.

Last night was conducive to dancing, which, if I haven't already rambled about it, is a slightly secret pastime of mine despite chronic foot pain and a flexibility-hindering case of scoliosis.  Yay for scoliosis!
Anyway, I'm posting this wondering what your favorite ways to detox are.  Magazine binge?  Sleep? Yoga?  Hardcore plyometrics?  Lip-syncing the lyrics to pop songs that nobody knows you listen to? Detoxes are different for everyone but important for all.

<3 Frances

Another Playlist: Friday

TGIF!  Here's what's on our Friday playlist:

Birdy: "Wings"

Lorde: "Ribs"

Arcade Fire: "Neon Bible"

Yoav feat. Emily Browning: "Where is My Mind?" (Cover of Pixies)

<3 Frances 

"Sweater Weather"

I have a tendency to feel cold all the time, but today it actually is legitimately cold outside.  That's right--no more can people look at me like my over-sized sweater choices are uncalled for!

So many sweaters!

It's already snowing in some parts of the world, and, regardless of whether we want it to or not, November is almost halfway over.  It'll be December soon, and, in this hemisphere, that means winter.  And winter means a multitude of things; the Heifer holiday charity catalog (help feed a family!), Rudolph specials, too many cups of green tea, lots of peppermint, and, of course, winter-wear.

<3 Frances 

Indie, etc.

I'm not an expert on music genres, but the category a song falls into isn't nearly as important as the song itself, right?  Here's what's on today's soundtrack.

Feist: "Fire in the Water"

Alt-J: "Breezeblocks"

The Langley Schools Music Project: "Space Oddity" (Cover of David Bowie)

Placebo: "Running Up That Hill" (Cover of Kate Bush)

What's on your soundtrack today?

<3 Frances

Ramblings

Congratulations on surviving Monday!  The weekend countdown may officially commence again.
Today was one of those classical fall days--crisp colors, a biting breeze--and it was a constant reminder of how close we are to 2015.  That's right--it's almost been 15 years since the turn of the century. And it's almost been 11 years since they made one of my all-time favorite movies, A Series of Unfortunate Events, which, as I recently found out, is being adapted by Netflix into a television series.  Yeah, poor childhood fangirl me never got a sequel but now, after ten years, the entertainment industry has decided to make a TV show.  It's sad it won't have the same cast as the movie, but I'm still sort of anxious to see what happens because I just loved the movie and books so much.  They helped foster my obsession with writing and film-watching.

In non-entertainment news, I'm happy to say that the Change.org petition to save Mali the elephant--who's been trapped in isolation in a zoo for over 30 years--has 115,630 supporters so far!  Only 34,369 signatures are needed.  If you've got a spare millisecond, I implore you to please sign this petition to help save a beautiful, innocent creature from the hardships of isolation.  Elephants are social animals, and being without family or friends is horrible.  Thank you for helping to make the world a better place! 

<3 Frances 

Vintage Magazines

I love looking at these vintage covers and advertisements.  It's amazing how much magazines like Seventeen and Vogue have changed since their early days in the 1940s.  #vintageobsession

 

 

<3 Frances