A shout-out to Emerson undergrads

After a semester of teaching the Emerson class of 2014, I have to say, I'm impressed with their creativity, humor, and resourcefulness. A while back, my alma mater Yale put out a musical admissions video. It was well-made, but kind of too slick for my taste. The Emerson equivalent, I think, is much funnier and more likely to actually appeal to potential applicants. The video has gone viral and was featured on Jezebel this week -- in case you missed it, I'm posting it below.



As a final project in the writing class I teach at Emerson, I asked my students to "take an approach" (i.e. update/subvert/twist) a classic fairytale. I gave them the freedom to use any medium they wanted and many chose to make videos of some sort. One group turned Goldilocks into a modern-day BU sorority girl blogging about her romantic conquests; another made a satirical indie film trailer that I find very amusing -- click here to watch.

We had our last class on Monday and toward the end of the period, I asked students to share their favorite memory from the semester. One student spilled the beans that at one point, they all discovered my blog and several of them were looking at it during class, unbeknownst to me. I apparently kept asking them what was so funny. I mean, I'm not at all surprised that they found my blog -- when you Google me, it's the first hit -- but I do think it's funny that they were so secretive about it (and proud of themselves for not letting on that they'd found it).

I'm looking forward to meeting a new crop of Emerson freshmen in January and hope they are as awesome as my current group. If any of them are reading this, YOU RULE and I hope you keep me posted about your performances and achievements.

Gorgeous cards

I had to, just had to post these gorgeous holiday cards from MOMA.

Pop up holiday house, MOMA.org

Pop up Igloo, MOMA.org

Building a Snowman, MOMA.org

Sharp, chic and beautiful!

I really appreciate sharp, clean homes and this place has it in buckets, and does it with such sophistication and allure! While it is sharp, the comfortable lounges make it so inviting!!!

I saw this apartment in Habitually Chic® and had to post it here too.

The apartment is art collector Candia Fisher's, decorated by Aman & Carson to highlight her exquisite art collection. Hence the white white walls and bright sun streaming in from windows adorned with curtains the same colour as the walls.



Her palette is almost monochromatic, to allow her artwork to be the focus of attention. But the lush seating really makes it less stark. Love the gorgeous black poodle!!!!



See the gorgeous mobile near the window? I love it! Everything here has architectural art-worthiness. I love how this is decorated. Everything has been chosen so carefully ... and yet, is so electic. Completely up my alley, interior-wise!



Move the brilliant fushcia pot of flowers to the beautiful side table. Love that this space has a grand piano. Now, just plonk a TV in a corner and this is my idea of a living room!

To the right of this image you can just see a great art piece:



I'm always amazed that the simplest, non-art artpiece can fetch millions of dollars... and this is one of them! Definitely plenty of better pieces around, but it works, against this gorgeous antique sideboard. It makes the sideboard less ... stiff!



Love the hardwork plank ebonised floor. So classy. Not a fan of that HUGE GIANT plant in plant pot, but it does add art and interest. That orange mirror is art, in this monochromatic room.



This room speaks of decadence. I love that antique wall unit. Adds such interest into the room. The walls seems to be painted in gloss white, which is sooo cool! Loving it :) Adds texture to this already texture-rich room.



Upstairs, again, loads of white with black strong lines and the collection of artpiece. Love the portrait of the lady to the right with her grabbing her twins in that magenta dress!



How cool is that arranged pile of branches in the fireplace! I think they're birch. Blue-grey walls and that sculptural fish-like object on the side table! So calm, peaceful and yet not granny! :)



Don't you LOVE that sharp white and black bathroom!? Gloss everywhere. Chandelier in the bathroom!? Yeah! Now honey, that is the bathroom I want. Don't need me a bathtub, just a great shower stall with a Chinese stool.



Ah, my favourite thing in the bathroom: the black screen. I'm so jealous! I want I want I want!



Outdoor, it's so lush and green! With a view! And perfect comfy seating area!

If I ever have an apartment, I will copy copy copy! (not really)

Images from Habitually Chic®

Check out similar mobiles from Etsy:

From The Wonderland Studio

Christmastime is here

...and my apartment is DECKED OUT. I have a lot of decorations, none of which I purchased for myself. Such is the benefit of having a holiday-obsessed mother who has sent me about three boxes worth of Christmas stuff, ranging from semi-creepy Dickensian carolers...


to vintage bottle-brush trees:



As for my tree this year, well, there's really only one way to describe it: FIERCE.


I mean, it's fucking beautiful, right? It fits perfectly between my desk and shoe rack. I bought and decorated it on Sunday, while sipping Trader Joe's chocolate-flavored eggnog. Then I watched Holiday Inn and cried at the end, like I always do.

I own three Christmas movies: Holiday Inn, White Christmas, and a very special film that I have never seen, but plan to watch this year. Christmas Evil.


It's about a serial killer who dresses up like Santa and wants to "give everyone the presents they deserve...even if that means giving the gift of MURDER!"

Very excited to watch this. I mean, I love Halloween and I love Christmas. Clearly I will love this film. Maybe even as much as I love this:



As one YouTube commenter noted, "Gotta love the Muppets for recognizing that this song is about attempted rape."

So You Think You Don't Like Poetry

I'm pretty swamped with end-of-semester odds and ends, but wanted to post a poem I was recently introduced to by my workshop instructor, Gail Mazur. This piece originally appeared back in 1999 on Slate, a zine that deserves a shout-out for posting poems and generally acknowledging the existence/cultural relevance of poetry.

I am in awe of this poem. After reading it, I immediately filed it in the "damn, I wish I had written that" file. The final simile, in the last three lines, is especially amazing.

The Round-Up
by Karen Fish

What happened--old as the hills, ancient as the ax,
the horse, water in a clay cup, dirt under the fingernails.
The river forgets the fish and the winter sun slides
beyond the far hills. All of them had mothers, and all
the mothers sang while swimming and as the women sang
the birds left the trees which ringed the water
for the clouds where the distance whispered a different dream
than the dream dreaming this

dark afternoon. The men were boys not that long ago--
delicate, confident paddling alongside their mothers
through the hot afternoons.
The water dark green with splash and shout--
summer just a whistle and gone.
Of course, the night will still hold stars,
the moon's journey, the planet's orbit. There will
always be nests, branches, the swaying and the saying.
They have names and are men exactly like you
lined up in jackets, boots and caps--
cold with the waiting.

It is unbelievable, even some of the soldiers
begin to sob. Trucked out to no-where
are doctors, lawyers, plumbers, builders, bankers.
It is winter, snow rides the collapse of clouds.
There are just shades of brown and grey,
a line of trees--a dark scribble
like markings done by a child.

As each man is shot,
whether he drops backward
or to the side
he forgets us, his own name, this place,
civilization
like the kiss
in the evening at the lit threshold
whose intent was to swear return.

Posies in charming glass bottles

At Black + Spiro today there's a beautiful vignette or tablescape that instantly makes me want to replicate! It's such a pretty idea for a porch table or a side table in your home! I'm loving it, Anna! (blogger from Absolutely Beautiful Things)

Image from Absolutely Beautiful Things

I love flower posies in clean, old, little charming glass bottles. Divine!

Martha Angus

In the previous blogpost, I included a gorgeous evocative image from the wonderful Martha Angus.

Image via Rex and Regina

I then checked out her work and my... she has some gorgeous rooms!

Love that coffee table!!!

This is my absolute favourite! I am always attracted to green rooms.