sometimes i daydream about the day where i am famous enough that people want to use me in simple pieces like this and automatically be thought of as completely bad ass. david michalek takes the simple act of making tea and turns it into the most dramatic thing i've seen alan rickman do. why are things in slow motion so great? it's almost as good as this one ... but i'll leave it up to you to make the final call.
my friends michael and alan fleming (twinsies!) have started a kickstarter in hopes to create a catalog for the opening of their art installation "game on" opening in september at active space in brooklyn, ny. visit their kickstarter page here and learn more about the twins at spatialinterventions.com.
about the exhibition:
"GAME ON is a solo art exhibition highlighting recent work from our collaboration. Comprised of two core bodies of work, the exhibition presents sculptures and ephemera that we made while living apart for one year (Michael in Chicago, Alan in New York), as well as the first pieces we created after reuniting in New York."
i like to offer my design services to close friends when they are getting married and design their wedding invitations. it is usually a whirlwind of finding the right printer and papers and calculating costs.
jess and russ
the last thing i want to see is couples having to use facebook invites to cut down on costs of having invitations printed, but when you turn to power of html5 and css3, you can't be upset about not getting an invite in the mail. a friend showed me this fantastic wedding invitation that was beautifully done all online. i just started diving into html5 so of course, this made me super excited to learn. the one page design walks you through a timelime of their lives and how they met, leading up to the big question and ending with an rsvp form for the special day. the page is laced with fantastic illustration from their close friends and animated with the simplicity of moving layers. well done, jess and russ.
jess and russ
the last thing i want to see is couples having to use facebook invites to cut down on costs of having invitations printed, but when you turn to power of html5 and css3, you can't be upset about not getting an invite in the mail. a friend showed me this fantastic wedding invitation that was beautifully done all online. i just started diving into html5 so of course, this made me super excited to learn. the one page design walks you through a timelime of their lives and how they met, leading up to the big question and ending with an rsvp form for the special day. the page is laced with fantastic illustration from their close friends and animated with the simplicity of moving layers. well done, jess and russ.
swoon. and why does gwen stefani look like she hasn't aged a single minute?
i came across this today and wish i had known about it sooner. lorem ipsum is for squares. it's arrested lorem ipsum is where it's at.
it's okay to hydrate with dharma water. promise. no side effects or blackouts whatsoever...
with all the extreme heat warnings this summer it's easy to find yourself in a dangerous situation, especially if you are active and dehydrated. it is important to hydrate, drink when you are thirsty and stay in tune with your body and listen when it is trying to tell you something. a lot of articles have popped up lately about the debate of water vs. sugar-based drinks and it is important to know why. i felt like i was going to pass today after a high intensity workout, but instead of a sports drink, a banana and a carton of coconut water saved the day. winning.
some athletes reject high-tech sports fuel in favor of real food
dehydration can be cured with good ol' fashioned water and real food, where sugary sports drinks and gels may dehydrate you more and cause weight gain.
[via npr.org]
cyclists go bananas as sports performance study finds fruit matches pepsico's gatorade
a new US study has found that bananas were as effective as pepsico sports drink gatorade in providing nutritional support to trained cyclists during prolonged and intensive exercise.
[via beveragedaily.com]
what to drink (and when to drink it)
i love lemonade on a hot summer day, so it's good to know what it's doing for me when i drink it. this article breaks down what the benefits are of certain drinks and how to use it to your advantage.
[via livestrong.com]
it's okay to hydrate with dharma water. promise. no side effects or blackouts whatsoever...
with all the extreme heat warnings this summer it's easy to find yourself in a dangerous situation, especially if you are active and dehydrated. it is important to hydrate, drink when you are thirsty and stay in tune with your body and listen when it is trying to tell you something. a lot of articles have popped up lately about the debate of water vs. sugar-based drinks and it is important to know why. i felt like i was going to pass today after a high intensity workout, but instead of a sports drink, a banana and a carton of coconut water saved the day. winning.
some athletes reject high-tech sports fuel in favor of real food
dehydration can be cured with good ol' fashioned water and real food, where sugary sports drinks and gels may dehydrate you more and cause weight gain.
[via npr.org]
cyclists go bananas as sports performance study finds fruit matches pepsico's gatorade
a new US study has found that bananas were as effective as pepsico sports drink gatorade in providing nutritional support to trained cyclists during prolonged and intensive exercise.
[via beveragedaily.com]
what to drink (and when to drink it)
i love lemonade on a hot summer day, so it's good to know what it's doing for me when i drink it. this article breaks down what the benefits are of certain drinks and how to use it to your advantage.
[via livestrong.com]
[part one]
[part two]
i've been in love with fringe from the very beginning, so to watch their final appearance at comic con was a bit of a tear jerker. it was so great to hear how much they put into the show and how much they battled to keep it alive. as J. H. Wyman said, it was the "little show that could." enjoy footage from the panel and get ready to feel a little part of your heart sigh as they going into their final season.
hey all. check out the new poster this month featuring abbey from second wind. poot poot!
i've been in this kind of situation. more than once. one day you walk into the office and you find out that you and everyone else you work with is losing their job at the end of the day. it's frightening. the floor falls out from under you, you wonder how you will pay for rent and start thinking about how much ramen costs these days. what's worse, is that all that work that you've done has built up to this moment and you are forced to start all over again. but not always. when the editorial staff of good found out that they were being laid off for strategic reasons, they decided in one last hoorah together they would produce a single publication fittingly named tomorrow.
cord jefferson, former senior editor states that this isn't going to be one of those highly uncomfortable farewell letters disgruntled employees send in disguise, but rather a way to do one more highly creative and well-composed piece together. he states, “I think some people are anticipating tomorrow to be a revenge publication in which we’re all going to express our grievances, I want it to be explicitly clear that that’s not what this project is about. Our goal with Tomorrow is to focus on creating something new, inventive and beautiful out of a bad situation.”
follow their tumblr here and make sure to support their kickstarter once it goes up.
[via inc. wire]
it's a big derby weekend! yesterday the manic attackers defeated the reigning champs the fury and took home the ivy king cup. great job to both teams, i haven't seen fans jump out of their seat in a while after a bout like that!
today our travel teams will be at brewhaha in milwaukee. good luck to both the second wind and wcr all-stars! catch the action on dnn.com. can we just take a minute to talk about the poster for this year? as much as i dig the style of the artwork, i wish we'd move on from using some leggy anime girl with skates as the "trademark" for derby. how is anyone going to take our athleticism seriously if we keep portraying ourselves like this? over it. but good artwork nonetheless.
here it is, folks. the last poster for the home season. enjoy.
dude. how awesome was community's episode "digital estate planning?" i found myself overwhelmed with joy when the episode went into 8-bit mode. check out this list of references put together by 1up.com and compare how many you caught yourself. i can't say i knew them all, but you better believe i caught all the super mario bros. ones.
[via not martha]
the way that you are - pt walkley
may is national bike month! yay! stop using the weather as an excuse to drive everywhere and actually enjoy your ride with the perfect accessories for you and your bike.
knog kabana bike lock
$45 - various colors
especially useful in the city as a secondary lock for that other wheel. i'm not a big fan of carrying 2 bulky u-locks around and having to take my wheel on and off when i'm just running quick errands, so having a secondary lock is key to making your trip to the store smooth and efficient. i love the knog kabana lock because it is easy to carry and wrap around my seat post, a good deterrent for quick-release thievery and of course, super cute.
portland design works bar-ista
$20 - black
i've tried a million ways to carry my precious caffeinated beverages on my bike and every time i arrive at my destination covered in spilled milk and tears. this might just be the solution, my friends.
eddie bauer travix skort
$59.95 - various colors
it's always a struggle to figure out how to make skirts work on a bike. when the weather gets warmer the last thing i want to do is to have to wear leggings under one. rather than flashing every whistling dude on the street, this skort gives your lady parts the privacy they need and the flexibility to pedal without the worry. it's also moisture-wicking and perfect for days with light rain.
diy summer scarf
speaking of having your goodies oggled, when the layers are no longer required, the harder to fend off not-so-cute dudes hollering from their trucks. i'm super modest and like layers anyways, so i've fallen in love with making my own scarfs that are lightweight and easy to throw on so the entire world doesn't have the chance to look down my shirt. check our this tutorial from p.s. i made this and also from lil blue boo. so easy! you don't have to spend a dime, just find a shirt you don't wear anymore or steal your boyfriend's most comfortable shirt and tell him you cut it up for his sake.
bontrager convert helmet
$49.99 - white and black
i hate having to figure out what to do with my hair when about to get on my bike since i refuse to ride without a helmet. since the hairmet is only a mythical creature, i love my bontrager helmet. it sort of makes me feel like i'm from tron with it's unique streamlined design, but there is a removable tab in the back for my ponytail. best. invention. ever. let your mane flow free, ladies.
last week actionbooth was asked to be part of 1871's launch party. we've never had that much fun at an event. everyone was excited to participate, and for the first time we did a live feed as well as learn to broadcast to several different monitors wirelessly. leave it to a tech company to inspire us to step up our digital game. heh. below are a few of my favorite shots. enjoy!
to see the rest of the gallery from the event, visit actionbooth.com.
my friends paul and claire asked me to do their wedding invitations and i was more than happy to do so. the invitations are being printed as we speak, but in the mean time i wanted to share the logo i designed for their special day.
their wedding will be on august 18th, and claire asked if there was something fun i could do to make the "8" look like an infinity sign. here is what we landed on. she adores it, so i'm super pumped to see it on the invitations. i'll post pictures soon!
when a musician passes away, especially one you've listened to for over a decade in your life, a little piece of you dies too. the beastie boys got me through high school. they kept me motivated through college. the first time i saw them live was the best concert i've ever been to. sabotage was my team's song my rookie season on the windy city rollers.
i remember first hearing the news of mca finding a tumor in his throat and finding out cancelled their tour that year. i remember the video where he made it seem like not a big deal. but cancer is no one's friend, and unfortunately not everyone can beat it.
read more about his contribution to the beastie boys, as well as the foundation he started and his independent film company in this article by the new york times.
thanks for all you've done, mca. we'll miss you.
a little behind posting these, but here are april and may's bout posters. enjoy.
welcome to the first day of spring, everyone. the current temperature is 85 degrees. leave it to chicago to skip seasons altogether and rendering my large collection of cute spring jackets useless.
to celebrate the end of a fairly mild winter, i leave you with the top 5 ways to ring in spring. enjoy.
one. it's too early to run your air conditioning. go somewhere that is already running it for free.
like an art gallery. currently running until April 21, Game On is on exhibit at threewalls featuring our friends Alan and Michael Fleming, brothers who attempt twin telepathy while spending their first time living apart in Chicago and New York. the collaboration which happened in two parts—part one while living in different cities, part two when reunited in New York—in which the latter is on display in the form of video, drawing and sculpture.
two. turn off the netflix. you've already caught up on all your MioBi episodes.
find one of the remaining bookstores in your 'hood and pick up this book, then return to reading outside by the lake. Jonah Lehrer writes about the science behind creativity and while the creation of an idea causes specific activities in the brain, the conditions for the moment to happen are quite broad. read interview highlights with the author at npr.org. who knows, maybe your reaction the next supremely adorable puppy that walks by sparks the next multi-million idea.
three. go ahead and ride a segway.
as much as i love knocking it, i've heard the tours are actually quite entertaining. keep an eye out for the tour guide that has a pet parrot, he's like the unicorn of segway tour guides.
four. be less of a nerd and just ride your bike.
it's not too far from the city, but the palos park forest preserve offers a little less rollerbladers in your way than the lakefront. out of my way, hackers.
five. when in doubt, drink beer.
no explanation needed. the weather is forcing beer gardens out of hibernation. find one nearest you here.
to celebrate the end of a fairly mild winter, i leave you with the top 5 ways to ring in spring. enjoy.
one. it's too early to run your air conditioning. go somewhere that is already running it for free.
GAME ON | March 9 - April 21 from Alan and Michael Fleming on Vimeo.
like an art gallery. currently running until April 21, Game On is on exhibit at threewalls featuring our friends Alan and Michael Fleming, brothers who attempt twin telepathy while spending their first time living apart in Chicago and New York. the collaboration which happened in two parts—part one while living in different cities, part two when reunited in New York—in which the latter is on display in the form of video, drawing and sculpture.
two. turn off the netflix. you've already caught up on all your MioBi episodes.
find one of the remaining bookstores in your 'hood and pick up this book, then return to reading outside by the lake. Jonah Lehrer writes about the science behind creativity and while the creation of an idea causes specific activities in the brain, the conditions for the moment to happen are quite broad. read interview highlights with the author at npr.org. who knows, maybe your reaction the next supremely adorable puppy that walks by sparks the next multi-million idea.
three. go ahead and ride a segway.
as much as i love knocking it, i've heard the tours are actually quite entertaining. keep an eye out for the tour guide that has a pet parrot, he's like the unicorn of segway tour guides.
four. be less of a nerd and just ride your bike.
it's not too far from the city, but the palos park forest preserve offers a little less rollerbladers in your way than the lakefront. out of my way, hackers.
five. when in doubt, drink beer.
no explanation needed. the weather is forcing beer gardens out of hibernation. find one nearest you here.
spotted this adorable 3-year old on npr.org this morning. toyokazu nagano has been shooting portraits of his daugther kenna on a road near their home, which flickr fans have dubbed "magic road." the portraits are more than adorable, they show off the simplicity of being a kid and having a little fun in front of the camera—far more entertaining than my kid photos, just looking awkward in whatever my mom dressed me in that morning.
read more from npr.org. see the flickr set here.
i still wish i could have been there for the last lcd soundsystem show in new york. i would of been one of those people standing in the crowd getting teary-eyed during the last song. SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS documents the last show and follows front man james murphy for the days leading up to it. i can't wait to see it.
i personally know what it is like when a print publication cannot survive during a recession. i saw it happen with my own eyes. i felt the heartache with my own veins. to see a phenominal magazine like domino go the same route was a tragidy.
but don't start having flashbacks and tearing up just yet. the publication giant Conde Nast is bringing it back to the newsstands and has shined a little hope on those of us who hate watching great publications disappear. it won't be coming back as its old self, but rather as special issues—hybrids of new and old content.
if that's what it takes to make publications stronger, i say go for it. we are a forever-evolving culture and print can surely evolve as well.
read more via ad age.
check out the new poster for the season opener on saturday, february 11. featuring yvette yourmaker and mya ssault!
molly and i first met when her dodgeball team played mine, so it was only natural for us to keep the competition going when we both joined windy city. enjoy the newest promo for the season opener, february 11.
i put my skates on for the first time in months. it pretty much felt like this.
when situations get just a little too awkward, conor always comes up with the appropriate saying to provide an exit strategy.
the windy city rollers have trading cards for the 2012 season (designed by yours truly). packs will be available for sale at all games at the UIC Pavilion. collect them all! but for now, have a taste.
who better to quote than your own friends. this one is from our friend boom. our favorite piece of clothing that he owns is a bright yellow safety hoodie. once we were lost in a corn maze, but we always knew where to find him.
my extremely talented and good friend sam alcarez drew a portrait of me with my dream dog. some day, i'll have a corgi and we'll have many great adventures. sigh.
i act sometimes. get your tickets for the january 28th pre-season charity bout at windycityrollers.com.
treat yo'self 2012. click the image above to download the desktop version.
it's a new year, and that means the rollers are ready. here is the new poster we developed for the season and we are pretty proud of it. take a look.
pillow wig by Joo Youn Paek
i love reading the labels when getting a new helmet. i am reminded that no matter how safe i think i can be by wearing it, it doesn't guarantee that tripping on my own skate and falling backwards will prevent a concussion.
a concussion, as much as i have been wanting to deny it, is a traumatic brain injury. recovering from it isn't something i can just throw a bag of ice on and deal with later. it's been a while now. i am slowing getting back into the swing of things. while recovering, i've learned new disciplines like sitting silently in dark rooms and forcing myself to think about nothing. i wondered how monks meditate for hours on end and have become fascinated by how people live in the middle of nowhere and enjoy having nothing to do.
then i turned on myself, and started asking larger questions that are easy to ignore when so busy.
now that you can't do anything, what can you really do?
i've started a list. no more new year's resolutions. no more 5-year plans. this list is very much about things i need to now or never. when the skies finally clear inside my head and i can see straight to the sun, i'll strap on my new helmet and start again.
