6 Things for the Last Two Days

Eeep! I have been a bit of a blogging slouch lately. I am trying to build up my genoming time/ efficiency for work. When I started, I could do about 30 works in a day. Yesterday, I did 130 in a day, so I am getting there. The goal is to be up to 200 before the baby comes, so I can still be a somewhat useful employee while working from home and learning to be a parent. I know its ambitious/ wishful thinking/ ridiculous, but I can believe whatever I want right now, so there.

Here are some things for Monday and Tuesday that were awesome:

1. The Members Show at COCA- I didn't know what to expect from this, because I have never heard of a members show for a gallery like this, and as you might imagine, the work displays a pretty wide range of interests and expertise, but some of it is really really great. I am sad we missed the opening last week due to our various other dramas, but I am excited to be part of such an interesting organization with a super rich history.

2. Discussion of banning selfies in art museums- Loyal readers now that I generally support taking self-portraits, but they have caused some major problems and damage in art museums. More and more museums are beginning to discuss how to selfie-ban, and I have to say, there is some wisdom to this.  I also wonder if establishing this rule could help museum visitors think about what it is they are looking at in a museum- how is an art object different from a celebrity? Or is it not? I look forward to reading more about this debate.

3. Raw broccoli- My current favorite thing. Well, maybe second to raw garlic, which I continue to nibble on while sous cheffing until I give myself heartburn (I am comforted that Melissa also does this, and it supposedly is a thing for people who have teeth pain). Broccoli is certainly less offensive and it just tastes so fresh, so I am currently obsessed.

4. Re-conceiving war: Stopping a cycle of violence depends on how we prioritize it- by Lauren Wolfe. A short, intelligent, and very difficult read on rape as a regular part of war violence. This article breaks my heart, but I needed to read it to remember just how prevalent (and personal) this problem is and has been historically.

from www.booooooom.com

5. Michael Kagan- This might be the most dude-ish artist I have ever pimped on this blog, but I like that he makes giant paintings of astronauts actually look really pretty. Like if a post-impressionist painted space. Anyway, he was probably my favorite artist from work yesterday. No Wayne White, but it will take a long time to top him.

6. The rain- Fall is here in Seattle, and I am not sad about it. This is my favorite season, and I am ready for layers and not having to feel bad not really enjoying being outside. The jury is out on how much the leaves change here, but I will let you know as I can tell.

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A POP video, vintage wedding style!

Dear Reader,
Remember the cute photoshoot featuring my 1950s and 1960s wedding dresses, from last week...? 

Well, I thought you might enjoy a sneaky peek behind-the-scenes. It's really interesting to see what goes into making it all happen! So here's a fun short movie of the day...

Thanks again to everyone involved (full credits below). And don't forget I have lots more lovely 1950s and 1960s inspired wedding dresses here in my Heavenly Collection.
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, check out
Vintage Gets A Pop Vibe!


With thanks to:

Venue: London Docklands Museum

Photography by Modern Vintage Weddings

Flowers by Euphoric Flowers

Hair & make-up by Gemma Sutton

Stationery by Hip Hip Hooray

Cake by SK Cakes

Groomswear by Tweedmans Vintage and Laird London

Hair accessories & jewellery by Olivier Laudus

Shoes by Irregular Choice and Benjamin Adams

Bags by Clementine Weddings

Tableware & furniture by Coordination Hire, LSA International, Northfields

Props by Preppy Owl Boutique, Vowed & Amazed, Planet Sputnik, Bubblegum Balloons

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Picture of the Week- Walking around South Lake Union

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3 Awesomely Feminist Things for Yesterday

1. Gabrielle Union on the Latest Hacking Horribleness- I cannot imagine going through what all these women keep facing, and I feel disgusted there is such a market for it (if you believe in privacy, don't look. that simple), but I thought Gabrielle Union addressed it brilliantly:

"[I]t has come to our attention that our private moments, that were shared and deleted solely between my husband and myself, have been leaked by some vultures."

"I can't help but to be reminded that since the dawn of time women and children, specifically women of color, have been victimized, and the power over their own bodies taken from them. These atrocities against women and children continue worldwide."

"For anyone out there also being affected by these and other hacking and hate crimes - We send our love, support and prayers. We have done nothing wrong."

Don't let this become normalized. It continues to be outrageous and cruel. I am glad she addressed it in this way, and I hope other female celebrities feel empowered to stand up for their own dignity.

2. Emma Watson's speech at the UN (and how much press it got even in the first 12 hours)- Watching her address the crowd, it is clear she is pretty nervous (and rightfully so) but what she says is so powerful. She said, “Men — I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too.” Truth! Let's hear more:

"I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less “macho” — in fact in the U.K., suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20 to 24, eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality either.
We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are — and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence.
If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled.
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. … It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, not as two opposing sets of ideals. If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are — we can all be freer. And this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom."

Is Watson the first person to be making these points? No, but this is awesome to have said on a global platform where so many are paying attention. I am excited that this can become common knowledge, that these tired and sometimes ugly gender roles hurt everyone, and it doesn't matter whether you are a man or a woman, you should be supporting feminism (also, to push back against the creepers on the internet).

3. The awesome girls who handed off their homecoming queen crown- Have you read this story yet? A bunch of nasty senior girls convinced a less popular girl that she was on homecoming court when she wasn't. In response to this really awful incident, two of the girls who did make the court made a pact to give this girl their crown if they won, and one of them did. They did the whole thing in front of everyone, which I would have hated, but the whole thing is quite sweet.

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6 Things- David Wain Trauma, Walk to End Alzheimer's, and Miller's Guild Bread

1. Shutterfly matte-finish books- We got our Year 11 book this week, and I splurged on a matte cover for it. They are so pretty. I love the way it looks.
2.  The White House PSA against Sexual Assault- I am just so glad that this issue is getting so much cultural traction right now, and I hope the efforts continue until it doesn't have to be such a big thing (in case this is not clear to you, now is not that time. If you haven't noticed, it is a hard and dangerous time to be a woman, especially a woman of color, in this country). If you are looking for a way to help, one simple step is to tell those pesky alumni associations for basically whatever university you went to that you won't give them money until you see some demonstrable efforts to rectify the situation ("But, but, Penn State has the largest Alumni Association in the world!"). Write a letter and get creative!
3. Surviving the trauma of "They Came Together"- Wow, that movie was stupid. I picked it because we should have loved it- Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler! A Comedy making fun of romantic comedies! But their send up felt tired, as if they haven't seen any romantic comedies since Nora Ephron. Maybe it just feels like the whole genre is so tired that some of the tropes they took aim at (montages! Trying on clothes! Love proclamations) have all been done before, and without creepy moments about having sex with your grandma. I do have to say, I give them credit for committing, and I still laughed. But not enough. Not enough.

4. Seattle's Walk to End Alzheimer's- We walked for our third time, but this was the first time we did it in Seattle! It was a little bit smaller, and they seemed unprepared for the size of the crowd (they kept running out of things), but we still enjoyed it! The best part is that their finish line is across this cute little bridge in South Lake Union Park, which is pretty cool!)

5. Miller's Guild Bread-  We had Miller's Guild brisket (ok, the Boy did) at Taste of Seattle, and he loved it, so we decided to try it this weekend as our being adventurous (trying to get back to that!). We were expecting a kind of barbeque place, but it was inside a W hotel, so it was exceptionally fussy and super butch manly. Like Dude Fancy. Based on that theme, the food was mostly meat, but they had two fish options. Everything was good, but Toulous Petit stands as our favorite expensive Seattle restaurant, and we are still looking for good cheap/ middle of the road options. My favorite part was the bread which they serve in a big skillet thing, which is pretty cool.
6. The Third Series of Sherlock Holme's- It basically feels like the makers of the show watched Psych over the hiatus. Two episodes in, everyone seems to be having way more fun, and if you are going to be a little bit sexist, better to have a certain air of irony around you. It also seemed much more meta, like it has internalized and responded to its fandom. I like Mary a lot, and I thought the wedding episode was the most fun one ever. So I am not hating watching it, like I suspected I would because I hated most of Series 2. I feel too like if you can't continue the incredible freshness of the first season, you are better off messing with the tone than trying to constantly up the stakes. It leaves you with no where to go. Anyway, the Boy won this weekend for picking our late night viewing.

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Bumpwatch Week 31

How Far Along: 31 weeks!  Bumbo Baby is now the size of a pineapple, and he has taken over everything. He is basically controlling me from the inside like a puppet master. The parasite is getting too powerful! Perhaps I exaggerate, but seriously, he lets me know when he is pleased or displeased. Also, I feel like I have exploded to epic sizes now, because the Boss wants more room.

 

Best Moment of the Week: Doing the Walk to End Alzheimer's! We got up on Saturday and did the walk for the first time in Seattle. It went really well, though we didn't finish with the speed walkers, because I had to stop to pee multiple times. I brought the team down that way. On the other hand, the route was and mile and change up and a mile and change back, and we saw lots of people on the "have to stop to pee" end of the crowd just give up and turn to go the other direction as they saw the crowd moving that way. I finished that whole thing! It was a fun thing to do, and I am glad I can still get my 10,000 steps a day, even if my "pelvic floor" (yes, this is a thing. And it needs to toughen up) is not crazy about it.

Also, last night, there was a giant spider in our house. I kid you not, it was the biggest one I have ever seen in the place (and we probably kill a spider a day in or around the house). I got my 7 month pregnant ass up on a chair and squished it. It's nice to be able to still do things for myself, and The Boy was super impressed. Charity Walks. Spider Murder: It's the Little Things.

Most Interesting Prego Quirk: If you go to the emergency room, they will absolutely lose their shit for you. You will be triaging before you finish signing your paperwork. Even when it is clearly not a big deal, and you can see the baby (literally at this point, they may have been concerned a small creature was going to bust out of my abdomen Alien-style), they give you oodles of attention. I can see why, but on the other hand, everything was fine, and we basically knew that when we got in there. 

A certain amount of pregnancy discourse seems to be about warnings, fear, and the awareness that things can go really really wrong. We took our first baby class yesterday, and it traumatized us. Do you know that baby's can choke on everything? And you should never feed someone under 4 a hot dog because they will choke? And you should heat up and dice their apples? Did you know that even if you do everything right they might die in their sleep anyway? I get that they have to tell you things so you can make good choices, but Baby CPR class really did crush my soul. Luckily, The Boy has better perspective than I did coming out of it, and we could bring it off the edge to a more sane place. Still, what I learned this week is that when you are dealing with a person this small and delicate, some medical professionals consider it their duty to freak out as much as possible.

I Would Really Like Some: Leonardo's bread. Also, their pizza. It's just weird to be so far from home right now.

 

Bizarro Thing No One Warned me About: Everyone loves talking about Braxton Hicks and contractions at this point, but no one really mentions that you have them way before you feel like anything is going on. I didn't think I was having contractions yet, but apparently I am having them like 12 minutes apart all the time, it's just that they are so wimpy I don't even feel them! So no worries, future pregos, you won't necessarily be Braxton Hicksing for weeks.

And The Boy?: As I said, he was not as traumatized by the Baby CPR class as I was. He prioritized being the best in the class, so he really rocked the CPR. Loudest one when fake calling 911, etc. He named his practice baby Dumbledore and I named my fake baby Fred. It was only later that we realized we both chose characters who died. Still, I think he is plotting his baby-proofing now.

Looking Forward to: A less eventful week, going shopping this afternoon for the picture frames for Bumbo's room, and putting up fall decorations! Also, as people start buying tickets for visits and I look at the calender, I am getting excited that he isn't too far away!

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Quote of the Week- Contact Between Women

“My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you. But for every real word spoken, for every attempt I had ever made to speak those truths for which I am still seeking, I had made contact with other women while we examined the words to fit a world in which we all believed, bridging our differences.”- Audre Lorde, The Cancer Diaries

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