I totally took the week off there. And the shit blogger award goes to... Does it make it better if I say that I have content lined up for the rest of the month? :)

The truth is I've been so very busy with Skylights for the past month. And I'm just so very proud of the content we have up over there! So before I launch back into regular blogging after my little hiatus, I figured I'd highlight a few of my favorite Skylights articles from the first issue in honor of the magazine turn one month. (It's the little things, people!)

1. WE CONTEMPLATED WHOSE CITY OASIS IS BETTER.
Of course, I'd vote NYC but then again, I'm partial to the city :) This is the 5th entry in NYC v. LA, a series about highlighting and comparing them. Analogies of our cities, if you will. For example, Washington Square Park is to NYC as _________ is to LA. You'll find the answer to that in this post!

2. TRAVELING ABROAD ALONE TAUGHT ME ONE OF THE BEST LESSONS OF MY LIFE.
Having drafted and redrafted this post nearly half-a-dozen times, I'm actually quite proud of it! You know when you write something - a blog post, an article, a scene in a novel, whatever - and it teaches you something in the process? Well, this post did that for me.

3. LA BLOOMED BEFORE MAE'S VERY EYES.
When you grow up in a city is so easy to take it for granted, to become disconnected to the very place you call home. But if there's one thing you should always remember, it's that there's always a way back home.

4. MAE THOUGHT SHE KILLED SOMEONE.
It was terrifying for her, of course, as can be expected. She'd spent a great portion of her life in love, assuming they' be together forever. And then time passed, things go hazy and she was nowhere to be found.

5. BUSY BRAINS CHILLED OUT.
As someone who thinks entirely too much and frequently can't get her hands to catch up with her head, I really appreciated this post.

6. I GOT HIGH ON CONNECTION.
Another article I was excited about, people seemed to really connect with this article when it was published a few weeks ago, which is fitting considering the subject matter. And because of how it was received, it's become a favorite.

7. NYC WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW (OR MOVIE!)
The city isn't just glitz and glamour, but there's nothing wrong with a little stardom! I compiled a list of television and movie sets to visit in NYC.

8. WE BRAVED SOME OF THE BUSIEST AREAS OF OUR CITIES AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.
Times Square is to NYC as _______ is to LA? Analogies, analogies all around!

My plans for the weekend include cleaning, pre-writing about a dozen blog posts and commenting on a zillion other blogs. Got any exciting plans? No matter, have a good one!

Oscars 2015 Recap

One thing about me: I love award season. Sundays during the first fews months of the year are for lounging on the couch to critique outfits and eat all the snacks and admire the glamour. I usually like to predict the winners, but this season snuck up on me and I didn't see very many of the nominated movies. Still, you can bet your bottom dollar I watched the Oscars last night, and I've got a few favorites!

They say the best things come in threes. I'm not sure how true that is but let's go with it because I've got three categories of Oscar favorites, each with three moments or items. Three, three, weee! Ok, weird. Getting on with on it.

For the record, I feel like all last night's dresses were just stunning, and everyone chose looks that worked perfectly for them. These three just slayed me.

Zoe Saldana Draped Simplicity
Let's take a moment of silence for Zoe Saldana and the fact that despite having a twins just two months ago, she showed up to the red carpet looking like that. And her figure never looked better. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am.

Jennifer Lopez's Beaded Perfection
I might have actually gasped aloud when I saw JLo in this beautiful, princess gown. No, not princess. Queen. With just the right amount of volume and the beautiful appliques cascading from the waistline, it was instantly my favorite of the night.

Rosamund Pike's Laced in Desire
I have not seen the movie (don't ask! I know, but I haven't read the book yet), but this dress seemed like the perfect ensemble to accept a first Oscar in. The cinch in the waist, rounded neckline and deep slit in the front made Rosamund a walking bombshell.

New BFFs JLo & Meryl Streep 
I had no idea they were seated next to each other until the camera cut to this moment.

My new favorite GIF. For real.

As Patricia Arquette took the opportunity to address gender equality during her acceptance speech, the two ladies showed some solidarity! I'm not sure if this was before or after the BFF selfie above but I love em both.  

Glory wins Best Original Song
I thought I was a puddle of tears after the performance, but then Common and John Legend won the Oscar for "Glory". And then Common delivered this line an stage with the Oscar in his hands: "...built on hope, welded with compassion and elevated by love for all human beings." Not only is Common a lyrical genius, a talented wordsmith... here I go crying again.

A Plea for Being Different
After telling the crowd that he tried to commit suicide at 16, Graham Moore (Best Adapted Screenplay, The Imitation Game) pleads with any kid listening to "stay weird, stay different". It reminded me of one of the most important things a creator needs to hear: the world needs to hear your story; don't give up.

Everything is Awesome performance
It's really not. To preface this, I really like Tegan and Sara. But this was just weird. It was like the lego store exploded on the stage and all I could think was "save the children!" Just weird, man. And not that weird-but-awesome Lady Gaga kind of way. (Her performance was wonderful by the way).

Creepy John Travola 
First there's this picture of him creepily photobombing/kissing Scarlet Johansson and if that wasn't enough, he got really hands-y with Idina Menzel on stage as he apologized for mispronouncing her name last year. Just, no.

Awkward Annie joke
Now I love Neil Patrick Harris - his Oscar opening performance this year made me all kinds of happy - but what was with the Annie joke? NPH claims that everything sounds better in an accent and after announcing that the year said goodbye to movie franchises we love, he had British actor David Oyelowo read: "We saw the last ever Hobbit movie, the last ever Night at the Museum movie, and the last-ever attempt to remake Annie." It just felt like a low blow.

I guess you could say those were my most memorable Oscar moments from this year's award show. Did you watch last night? Leave your thoughts on it in the comments below!

Instagram Stalking Jared Leto & Other Random Things

I've been away from this pretty little blog for nearly a week, and this time I don't have Time Warner Cable to blame. Actually, my cable/internet service has been operating impeccably well, which is a welcome change considering the literal arm and leg I pay for the damn service. But no, my almost week vacation is mostly due to (1) feeling kinda speechless, and (2) being immersed in a few other things recently.

Correction. I'm never speechless. Any real-life friends who stumble upon this post would agree in a heartbeat, I've pretty much always got something to say. Even if it's said at the speed of light, half-English and otherwise incomprehensible. However, as far as blog posts are concerned, render me speechless. I can remember approximately 4 instances of sitting in front of a blank screen and nothing blog-worthy coming to mind. Those of you with 762 genius posts scheduled months in advance, teach me your ways!

On a happier note and addressing point (2) above, my brain has been swimming in all things interior decorating and novel writing for the past few days. More evidence that creativity may be transferable; never really disappearing but flowing between one medium to the next.  I wish I could say the creativity is showing itself in the form of pages written, but no such luck - the WIP is making progress in some ways but proving complicated in others, and it's a little frustrating to say the least. On the other hand, I've literally gone to sleep with thoughts of silk curtains and character sketches. I've watched a bagillion home decorating and house buying shows on the DIY Network and HGTV (me & Mr. Big&Tall's current addiction). I legit had a dream that I made a coffee table a few nights ago (Cue the creepy Halloween music). The anticipation of my gallery wall frames that should arrive in the post today is almost enough to have me waiting here by my door, which I may just do considering my H&M package went awol a few weeks ago, causing a huge fiasco resulting in me nearly attacking my postmaster through the phone because they couldn't just simply ring my doorbell. I mean, really? Hold on, wait a minute Mr. Postman. Bring back my damn package.  

So here are a few random pictures of my week, kinda like a recap. Except nowhere near as cool as most recaps on the blogging interwebs that show how interesting so-and-so's life is. It really only displays how random I am.

Gazed at a beautiful sunset during a long walk on the Pier.

Failed to resist the macaron shop on 23rd.

Iced a yummy strawberry-flavored cake. 

Laughed way too hard at this.

Marveled at how pretty my neighborhood is in the springtime.

Instagram stalked Jared Leto because hello, he's gorgeous

& an inspirational goldmine/sensational person.

Had an amazing eyebrow day. Thank you, Anastasia Brow Wiz <3

Arranged the prettiest roses in my DIY vase.

All in all, I have really missed blogging and commenting and everything while on my mini-hiatus. And I'm crossing my fingers for some blog-worthy things to happen this weekend.

xo

Thankgiving Hangover.

You know what I'm talkin' about! Whether it hits you right after that last bite or the following morning, the Thanksgiving hangover is the best hangover there is. And because Thanksgiving feasts usually result in lots of yummy leftovers, you're guaranteed to get drunk off turkey for at least a few days.  I can't be mad at that :)

I hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving & remembered to take a moment for gratitude as well as turkey!