Art Monday: Birth of Venus by Botticelli

Birth of Venus by Botticelli
Source: artinthepicture.com via Ashley on Pinterest

I know I have posted this work before in an unrelated blog post, but it's too good to pass up. This work is one of my favorite works of art. When I was in the 10th grade, I was enrolled in an AP European History class, and we spent a great deal of time discussing Renaissance art. Discussing art was one of my favorite parts of the class (I also enjoyed listening to the crazy personalities of the different figures throughout Europe). During that art unit, I decided that this was my favorite pieces, and still is today!

Inspirational Words of Wisdom

Source: piccsy.com via Megan on Pinterest

TILT: Working and Reading!

This week has been super busy and I barely remembered that today is indeed Thursday!  What a whirlwind week!  Here are the things that I love this week:

Source: ellabearwrestler.tumblr.com via Silje on Pinterest

I LOVE Lady Gaga's new album.  I've been listening to it nonstop when I am not listening to Classical music.  Favorite tracks: Schiebe, Bloody Mary, You & I. (All of which are on VEVO)

This week, I picked up the book Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murikami.  Its a great book that deals with the feelings of lonliness and isolation as well as the changes we go through when we interact with certain people.  Like other Murikami books, the plot also steps into some mysticism/surrealism.  This quote stuck out to me the most:

Why do people have to be this lonely?  What's the point of it all?  Millions of people in this world, all of them yearning, looking to others to satisfy them, yet isolating themselves.  Why?  Was the earth put here just to nourish human lonliness?

Working Special Olympics is a fun, rewarding opportunity.  I love talking with the atheletes - they are super sweet and enthusiastic to be here!  One of the athletes told me that he hopes that I find someone that will make me happy because I deserve it!  All of the participants are so great!  I am glad to have had the chance to work this event.


Small Things:
Sleeping in * Time to read for fun * Nutella and bananas * New music * Hair adventures (more on this later) * Finally unpacking my room and trying to organize it all * Doing my nails

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

Art Monday: Ludwig Van Beethoven

I have decided this last weekend that I want to learn about Classical Music and appreciate it.  So, I decided to start of with Beethoven.  To be honest, I am rather lost on where to start with what I should listen to, so I compiled a playlist of songs by Beethoven and picked which pieces I like the best.  So far, my favorite is Symphony #7 Movement II.  This piece is the soundtrack to the movie The Fall (which I LOVE) and was also used in The King's Speech (another fantastic film).  

I think I will adopt a new Classical Composer each day and learn more about their music.  If anyone has any suggestions about my journey of classical music appreciation, let me know!  I am always ready to learn!

TILT: May 19th 2011

Since the great Blogger blackout of 2011, I have: Packed up and moved out of Kentwood, moved home for a few days and visited my friends and family, and moved back on campus for a summer of fun (and making ca$hmoney!!!).  For some reason, my post from last week was never reposted (I had it saved the Wednesday before) which makes me sad.  BUT there are so many other things to be happy about!

Source: None via Mia on Pinterest

First and foremost:  I am officially done with my two year career of being a Resident Assistant.  This job was very time consuming and draining(emotionally, mentally, physically...) but was probably one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  I've met so many great people and made so many great friends during my time in Kentwood.  But, I am ready for the next chapter of my life to begin!

Secondly, I loved being at home for a few days.  It was nice to see my family and friends and my dog.  I spent the first portion of my first free day with my friends Kara, Stephanie, Kate, Sarah, and Ashley.  We watched the movie 'Bridesmaids' (which is HILARIOUS) and ate Chevy's.  The next day I went to the zoo with my friends Celia and Nick and we discussed how amazing it is that we have been friends for almost 10 years!!!  The following day, I got lunch with my Mom and hung out with her at her job.  Later we hung out at Barnes and Noble.  I enjoyed being home for the small amount of time that I was there.

Lastly, I love getting in the mood for summer!  I want to watch Grease and drink frozen lemonade.  I love summer and I love the activities associated with the season!

Source: flickr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Small Things:
Moving on campus for the last time * My summer job * Cleaning out my laptop to make it run more efficiently * Reading short stories and proclamations that I wrote when I was 18 * Using my iTunes gift card to purchase Adele's 21 and Matt & Kim's Grand * Being wrapped in a blanket * 

Barking at the Moon

Still Life with Woodpecker is one of my favorite books.  I've read it maybe seven times in the last two years.  I find something new that I love about it each time I read it.  This is one of my favorite conversations between Leigh-Cheri and Bernard Mickey Wrangle:

"Barking at the moon?"
"What about it?"
"That's all our love was to you?"
"That's all love ever is.  Love is not a harpsichord concert in a genteel drawing room.  And it sure as hell isn't Social Security, Laetrile, the Irish Sweepstakes, or roller disco.  Love is private and primitive and a bit on the funky and frightening side.  I think of the Luna card in the Tarot deck: some strange, huge crustacean, its armor glistening and its pincers wiggling, clatters out of a pool while wild dogs howl at a bulging moon.  Underneath the hearts and flowers, love is loony like that.  Attempts to housebreak it, to refine it, to dress the crabs up like doves and make them sing soprano always result in thin blood.  You end up with a parody.  There's lots of pretty sounds that describe 'like,' but 'love' is more on the order of barking.  I'm sorry about the note, though.  I wrote you another, softer one, but by the time I'd lined up a postman, you'd already galloped out of Seattle on the sultan's main dromedary.  Maybe I couldn't blame you - but I could ache."

Art Monday: Helen Frankenthaler

Mountains and Sea via Wikipedia

Helen at work via Blogspot

"Helen Frankenthaler is an American-born painter, printmaker, and sculptor who, along with fellow artists Kenneth Noland and Morris Louis, spearheaded the practice of Color Field painting, a component of Abstract Expressionism. Her innovative technique, along with her use of landscape to inform her abstract work, changed the way artists conceived of and used color in their own work and made her the most prominent female member of the Abstract Expressionist and Color Field Painting movements." - Via The Art Story

I learned about Helen Frankenthaler last semester in my Modern Art class.  I really enjoy women artists, and I love Abstract Expressionism.  I saw one of her paintings at the St. Louis Art Museum, and its amazing looking at her work up close.  Her work is so controlled and she does not use a brush at all!  I think she is absolutely fantastic!

Things I Love! May 5th 2011

Today was my last day of classes for the semester, and I can not be happier!  And the best part?  This is my last spring semester as an undergraduate.  Next semester is FINALLY my last semester of college!  I never thought this day would come!  I can't believe that the longest, most terrible semester of college is finally coming to an end!

This past weekend, my mother came and visited me.  I really enjoy when I get to spend time with my mom, and I really needed it this weekend.  We got sushi and got a great deal on OPI nail polish (buy one get TWO free!!!)

I only have three days of duty left before I am completely done being an RA!!!  I can't believe its over!

Source: i49.tinypic.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Small Things:

*"Maybe he'll send you a letter through the pony express! Was his first car a horseless buggy???" * Looking at pictures of Prince Harry * Being done with French! * Reaching 1,000 page views!!! * Future prospects * Feeling legitimately happy and enthusiastic * Dressing up for the beautiful weather * Smokey eye makeup * Having long hair * Really hilarious dreams * Blowing bubbles outside * 

High School Flashback

In high school, the music I listened to  was vastly different than what I listen to now.  Out of the blue, I had a song stuck in my head from that era, and now I am obsessed with creating playlists that reflect my favorite music from when I was 17 (goodness, that seems so long ago).

Here is a small sampling:

Now, I listen to:

How has your musical tastes changed over the years?

Art Monday

e.e. cummings