Whimsy Letters

The art of fancy calligraphy has always inspired me, I really appreciate the old-world craftsmanship. So when I unexpectedly came across some writing sets in Barnes & Nobles, it really made me wonder why I don't own one yet. There are different sets to choose from. Some include pens, sealing wax, burner, and even envelopes. My favorite writing set included a palette of scented ink. How whimsical is that? It really made me think of Jane Austen's romantic novels. 

I'm planning on placing at least two of these on my Christmas wish list ;)

If you are interested.. I found these in BN.COM, where you can purchase online. 

:)

Ana

Culpable Enjoyment...

So today I was doing some quick math on the amount of money I spend on Starbucks weekly, and the numbers surprised me. Turns out I spend around $7 a day, everyday excluding saturday and sunday. That adds up to $35 a week, which sums up to $140 a month. At this rate I spend  around $1680 yearly on coffee!! These calculations were truly surprising to me, since I usually walk up to the coffee shop's counter and the idea of indulging in a delicious cup of coffee overpowers the question of how overpriced it actually is. Buying coffee daily is definitely a habit; like wearing perfume, it almost comes naturally, but oh so costly! It is definitely an unnecessary expenditure but, I actually can't imagine my daily routine without it, so it will certainly be difficult to give it up. In today's economy, $7 a day on coffee is actually a little hard to comprehend, especially for a student! I actually don't think I can desist from this habit until I find a good alternative, hopefully that will be soon :) 

What are your culpable enjoyments?

Regards, 

Ana

Recycled Wrappings

With the holidays just around the corner I've already started looking at some gift wrapping ideas. I came across this creative and inexpensive alternative to gift wrapping.  These gift wrappings are made from recycled materials, like old maps, magazine and book pages, newspaper comics, coffee cans etc. 

Here are some of the ones I found, and will definitely be trying out!

:)

Ana

Gotta get to the Getty!

Very Few places can leave one speechless. From it's spectacular views and architectural design, to its cultural richness, the Getty Center is one. I travelled to L.A. California a couple of months ago, and truly loved it. While there, I had the opportunity to visit the Getty Center. 

The museum opened December 1997, and it is very well known for exhibiting exceptional european paintings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, and decorative arts. The exhibitions at the Getty change every couple of months, so visitors always get a chance to see new things. When I visited, many works from Leonardo da Vinci were being displayed, in the "Leonardo da Vinci and the Art of Sculpture" exhibition. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing his works right in front of me, it was an awesome experience. Numerous stunning pieces from other prominent artist of the 19th and early 20th century were also displayed. The most memorable to me were works by Edgar Degas, Francisco de Goya, Monet and Jaques-Louis David. 

After spending time viewing all the exhibitions I was interested in, I visited the whimsical gardens, and exteriors. These were just as breathtaking as the art that was being displayed inside. The Getty Center also has some great cafes that offer fine snacks and great wine, and some incredible shops to buy souvenirs ;) 

 Here are some pictures of my experience at the Getty. Visit if you have a chance, believe me you will NOT regret it! Oh yea.. go prepared to spend a couple of hours there, I spent around 7 .

:)

    

Sucre, Je t'aime!

 Desserts are my favorite things to eat, I would trade an entire dinner for a good dessert.  I can spend hours baking sweets... this is one of my hobbies; or should I say obsession? Well, in any case, my favorite thing to bake is cupcakes. They are like little works of art, so fun and delicious. Here are a few pictures of creative cupcakes. Sweet indeed! 

:)

Ana 

Music is the universal language

Languages become the barriers for communication. Culture, believes, and tradition may also affect the interactions of human beings. But music.. music transcends. Melodies can make you dream. The sound of music is universal. It impacts a human being, reaching the unexplainable depths of the soul. Music arouses emotion. It becomes a key factor that links societies like no other can. It is inspiration, feeling, it's hope. Music can leave you speechless, or make you shout, but it will always trigger some emotion. It can raise awareness, and it also has the power to revolutionize entire masses. At times words may not result in communication, but a simple hum of a tune can bring the understanding of two, or many. 

My professor of political economy will argue that money is the language of the universe. But, I assert that because of its transcendence and power, music should hold the title. 

:)

Ana

::Avant-Garde Architecture::

This will surely be my sister's favorite post. As an architecture student she explained to me that one must have an "awakened eye" to truly appreciate architecture. She describes this "awakened eye" as taking an extra second to actually examine every part of an architectural piece. Like this, one will take notice of not only the work as a whole, but also the small factors that contribute to the perfection of the masterpiece.  I laughed at first at this theory of the "awakened eye", but later analyzed what she said, to come to the conclusion that in fact we need that "awakened eye" for true appreciation of architecture. She should coin the term LOL

Here are some examples of impacting avant- garde architecture...

:)

Ana

::Sir Yes Sir!::

Military style has also been trending lately. Be in style with this creative twist to everyday fashion, and add some olive green pieces, structured jackets, and army style booties to your wardrobe... 

:)

Ana

::50 Fifty:

Here's some fifties fashion for ya :) and some fifties inspired fall pieces from Louis Vuitton

:)

Ana

Louis Vuitton Fall 2010