sirena con jersey

The ladies behind Sirena con Jersey make tote bags that feature mustachioed gentlemen, happy worms, and pink-haired unicorns. I recently discovered (via Supermarket) that they also make some pretty awesome sweaters.

I'll take one of each, please.

happy holidays

Here is an obnoxious holiday graphic that I made, starring my cat.

broken english

I finally watched Broken English yesterday. There are many reasons why I loved this film. First, like most good romances, it takes place in New York (see: Annie Hall). Second, I have a pretty sizable girl-crush on Parker Posey, who plays Nora. I've never seen her in a role like this before. In all the movies I've seen her in, she's been the loud, crazy, quirky girl. In Broken English, she's quiet, guarded, and a bit melancholy. I think it looks good on her. She's someone to relate to. Third, every scene in the film looked beautiful. Nora's wardrobe is enviable, to say the least - all lovely dresses, flowy tops, and bohemian prints. I particularly admired the fact that Parker Posey went bra-free throughout most of the film, proving (to me, at least) that a less-endowed woman doesn't need to wear bust-enhancing padded bras in order to look, and be, sexy. Last, but not least, there is a scene with penguins. That pretty much constitutes an automatic thumbs-up in my book.

The main reason why I enjoyed this film, though, is because it is rooted in reality. Nora seems like a real person. Her best friend (played by Drea de Matteo) seems like a real best friend, rather than a sidekick who exists only to provide sage advice and/or comedy relief. I honestly can't stand most typical romances, in which the two attractive stars only belong together because the plot says so, and at the end they kiss in the rain while the camera spins around them and a cheesy love song swells in the background. To me, romances in which the characters and dialogue seem real and relatable (à la Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and 2 Days in Paris - all starring another one of my girl-crushes, Julie Delpy) are infinitely more romantic than any of those Hollywood romances could ever hope to be.

sunday

I went to Unique Los Angeles on Sunday and had a great time. The space was huge and there was so much to look at; it was a bit overwhelming. I ended up buying an adorable dress from Misha Lulu for my baby cousin and some other gifts for people who I won't mention because, unlike my baby cousin, those gift recipients can read and might stumble upon this blog. I also bought some "Brave Girl" band-aids from the lovely Ariel of Sticker Sisters because I've been procuring an ungodly amount of paper cuts lately and have been going band-aid-less for months. My friend got me the famous Sandwich Dinosaur tee from the Seibei booth (we were informed that Amy Sedaris is a fan, which makes it that much more awesome). We sipped on complimentary tea and bought some yummy treats from Cake Monkey. The whole atmosphere of Unique LA was so positive and fun (and the DJ was pretty good, too!). I can't wait to go again next year.

unique los angeles

If you're going to be in the LA area this weekend, you should check out Unique Los Angeles. This is a marketplace of 200 local vendors, selling everything from t-shirts to beauty products to housewares to cute little plush toys. Find one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones, support independent artists and businesses, and help out a good cause (50% of ticket proceeds go to Create Now!) all at the same time. Plus, there will be cake! All in all, a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.

Visit uniquelosangeles.com for more info.

cats on treadmills

Need I say more?