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| View from my super sweet pad. Note my newly pedicured toes. Also Note the Hipster hangout across the street. Hipsters make bad neighbors. |
Showing posts with label Atlanta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlanta. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
I Spy in July: TWIMO's 100th Post
After slaving away at this darn blog for the last year I've reached my 100th post. Time to kick back and relax (or bark at pedestrians as Clair likes to do).
Friday, November 26, 2010
Hoop Skirts and a bubbly beverage
The Glee episode I missed this week because I was sitting in the last row of a plane where I swear every passenger had to go to the bathroom (GROSS) flying back to the ATL from Houston, is not working, so I thought why not blog. I have a lot to blog about so hopefully over the next few days I will get you caught up on my ohhh sooo important and exciting life.
First up, Angie, my college roommate for 3 years, came to visit. She's in med school in Chicago and was in town for a residency interview at Emory (GOOD LUCK!!). Since I'm Angela's FAV person on earth she decided to come for a few extra days, so I could show her the ropes of Atlanta and how we Southern Belles mind our P's and Q's.
Ang and I at the World of Coke
Being the delightful, wonderful friend that I am, I drug my ass out of bed at 5:45 am to pick up my dear friend... and then I made her buy me breakfast at the Majestic Diner (an Atlanta Establishment). The food was typical diner food, although I got 2 eggs, yogurt, granola, and a waffle. I think I was really up set about waking up so I ordered everything on the menu. Later in the day we donned our hoop skirts and went to Margaret Mitchell's (the author of Gone with the Wind) house. I've never actually read the book, but I've seen the move several times, so it was a pretty interesting site. I have to say my favorite thing was the video they showed on the making of the movie. When watching it you forget that it was filmed in 1939... Anyway they showed how most of the backdrops and scene were actually painted onto glass and then combined with the live action film. It's like pre-historic Photoshop. I was wowed.
Another ATL site I insisted we go see was the World of Coke. I had been there when I was little, and remembered it being AWESOME, so naturally I drug my dear friend to the carbonated wonderland. Despite the overwhelming bombardment of marketing and branding (and let's face it, Coca-Cola is pretty much genius at this) it was really interesting to see how the brand evolved and made itself one of the most recognized brands in the world. Oh, and we both got some good burps in at the world showcase of sodas. It's like the Epcot of soda machines. AMAZING. After our stomachs settled from chugging the worldly sodas we took a spin around Centennial Olympic Park. Verdict: Not that exciting.
Sculpture to some guy at Olympic Park. I'm using it as a stage.
Giant red tree at obviously... the world of coke.
Lastly I enlisted Ang in helping me give my dear dog, Clair a hair trim. She hasn't had a haircut since August (most likely because I spent her beauty budget on shoes), so she was having some trouble seeing. Well needless to say Ang and I are crossing Dog Groomer off our potential career lists. Clair looks awful, but at least we got a good laugh.
So, everyone cross your fingers for Angie getting a job at Emory, because I'm a mean tour guide and showed Ang how the world is her oyster ATL style. I'm taking reservations for tours for next year FYI.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Listography Sunday + a gift with purchase
Today's list is "List your favorite films." Now I enjoy a good film (or a not so good film, as my taste in film often leads me to the RomCom category or the ever popular chick flick) every once in a while, but unfortunately I am not one of those people that can remember seeing the film once a few months has past. In fact people who quote movies while we watch them really annoy me, not only because it's annoying, but because I'm jealous that I can't even remember the titles of films after seeing them. Needless to say this should be interesting.
1) Amelie: I own this film on both dvd and vhs. It's a wonderful imaginative world and who doesn't want to be like Audrey Tautou.
2) Dirty Dancing Havana Nights: This is a classic. Cuban dancing and a Patrick Swayze cameo. This is one of the only films I can watch over and over again. Just ask my college roommate Angie.
3) Little Women: One of my first favorite films. I was devastated when I lost my vhs copy.
4) Sound of Music: Who doesn't want 8 brothers and sisters? I certainly did. And I wanted them to sing and I wanted to wear curtains with Julie Andrews. This film led me to try out for the play in 3rd grade (which was a devastating realization that my stage career was going to end before it started), to see Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in concert with the London Philharmonic (they sang Edelweiss!!), write a paper in college on my desire to be one of the VonTrapp children as a child, because of the sibling factor (never mind the whole Nazi, WWII thing), and lastly get really excited when I went to Saltzberg and saw many of the sites from the film.
Stairs where they sing Do-Re-Mi
One thing really bugged me about her presentation and brought me back to the age old debate between the architect and interior designer conflict was the fact that one of her points was guess what, the occupants of the building matter! She made it seem like this was an Aha! moment for her and all I could think was really? Really? Who the heck are you designing buildings for if it isn't the occupant??? How do architects not think about the human factor or the people that these places are built for??? Isn't the whole point of architecture to provide shelter for PEOPLE? Why else do we need buildings? We don't is the answer. We could live in stick huts. Does the same thing as a "green" billion dollar office building (okay, okay, maybe not quite, but you get the point). So, this brought me to the realization that although I love the design process, I love researching the user more and now I'm looking into being a human factors researcher (because this actually exists! The only downside is that it doesn't exist in Atlanta. So we'll see who gets to me first, my dream job or a design job in the ATL. I'm going to take either).
The second event I went to this week was "The Late Work of Dali," the show that's at the High Museum right now. I went this week, because I didn't have anything going on and I didn't want to go on a weekend, because I hate people and crowds. In this regard I'm a genius. So, in the past I haven't really been a fan of Dali (I saw a show of his in college at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and have to say, just thought it was bizarre). This show gave me a whole new perspective on Dali and his process. Now I will say I'm still not a "fan" but I understand him a little better. First, the show has two dialogues happening. One is his relationship with photog Philippe Haussmann. Together they created a book called Dali's Moustache in which Haussmann asks Dali questions and basically his moustache responds in a series of portraits. I found these really quirky and amusing and bought the book before leaving the exhibit (the back of it says "This book is preposterous." Who doesn't love a book that warns the reader like that?)
The other dialogue was that of Dali's thought process later in life. First off he was a great proponent of Renaissance art and was an intimate follower of Vermeer. I found this interesting, because I'm reading a book on Vermeer right now called the Forger's Spell and I can see the similarities between the two artists' work. Dali if nothing else, technically was a fantastic painter. His subject matter later in life dealt less with dream imagery and the subconscious of his earlier work and more with ideas of religion, nuclear imagery (the atom bombs had recently been dropped on Japan), and pop culture. He also used his wife and love of his life as a model and inspiration in a lot of his work. There was a quote from Andy Warhol that said he wasn't sure what Dali would have been had it not been for his wife and having his watch melt. I thought this was hilarious. Anyway I really enjoyed the show and recommend checking out the High's website for more info.
That is all for now. So go a seize the week, because the world is your oyster, and as always live by Dali's words and be preposterous!
1) Amelie: I own this film on both dvd and vhs. It's a wonderful imaginative world and who doesn't want to be like Audrey Tautou.
2) Dirty Dancing Havana Nights: This is a classic. Cuban dancing and a Patrick Swayze cameo. This is one of the only films I can watch over and over again. Just ask my college roommate Angie.
3) Little Women: One of my first favorite films. I was devastated when I lost my vhs copy.
4) Sound of Music: Who doesn't want 8 brothers and sisters? I certainly did. And I wanted them to sing and I wanted to wear curtains with Julie Andrews. This film led me to try out for the play in 3rd grade (which was a devastating realization that my stage career was going to end before it started), to see Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in concert with the London Philharmonic (they sang Edelweiss!!), write a paper in college on my desire to be one of the VonTrapp children as a child, because of the sibling factor (never mind the whole Nazi, WWII thing), and lastly get really excited when I went to Saltzberg and saw many of the sites from the film.
Stairs where they sing Do-Re-Mi5) I am Sam: First off, amazing sound track. Makes me cry every time, even when I had to watch it in class in college (embarrassing).
Okay well I'm sure there are more, but these are the first 5 that came to mind. I'd love to hear what some of yours are so that maybe I can see them and improve my film repertoire.
Gift with Purchase!
So I've been wanting to tell you all about a few recent events I've gone to and I'm going to forget about them if I don't do it now.
First was a WashU alumni event where a WashU alum and the vice president of HOK in Wash. D.C. gave a presentation on greening the workplace. She has written a book on the subject that is geared towards a non-design public. Now I think this is a great idea and I bought the book to see how she sells green to the non design world (I have yet to read it, but will let you know if there is anything interesting in it).
Okay well I'm sure there are more, but these are the first 5 that came to mind. I'd love to hear what some of yours are so that maybe I can see them and improve my film repertoire.
Gift with Purchase!
So I've been wanting to tell you all about a few recent events I've gone to and I'm going to forget about them if I don't do it now.
First was a WashU alumni event where a WashU alum and the vice president of HOK in Wash. D.C. gave a presentation on greening the workplace. She has written a book on the subject that is geared towards a non-design public. Now I think this is a great idea and I bought the book to see how she sells green to the non design world (I have yet to read it, but will let you know if there is anything interesting in it).
One thing really bugged me about her presentation and brought me back to the age old debate between the architect and interior designer conflict was the fact that one of her points was guess what, the occupants of the building matter! She made it seem like this was an Aha! moment for her and all I could think was really? Really? Who the heck are you designing buildings for if it isn't the occupant??? How do architects not think about the human factor or the people that these places are built for??? Isn't the whole point of architecture to provide shelter for PEOPLE? Why else do we need buildings? We don't is the answer. We could live in stick huts. Does the same thing as a "green" billion dollar office building (okay, okay, maybe not quite, but you get the point). So, this brought me to the realization that although I love the design process, I love researching the user more and now I'm looking into being a human factors researcher (because this actually exists! The only downside is that it doesn't exist in Atlanta. So we'll see who gets to me first, my dream job or a design job in the ATL. I'm going to take either).
The second event I went to this week was "The Late Work of Dali," the show that's at the High Museum right now. I went this week, because I didn't have anything going on and I didn't want to go on a weekend, because I hate people and crowds. In this regard I'm a genius. So, in the past I haven't really been a fan of Dali (I saw a show of his in college at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and have to say, just thought it was bizarre). This show gave me a whole new perspective on Dali and his process. Now I will say I'm still not a "fan" but I understand him a little better. First, the show has two dialogues happening. One is his relationship with photog Philippe Haussmann. Together they created a book called Dali's Moustache in which Haussmann asks Dali questions and basically his moustache responds in a series of portraits. I found these really quirky and amusing and bought the book before leaving the exhibit (the back of it says "This book is preposterous." Who doesn't love a book that warns the reader like that?)
The other dialogue was that of Dali's thought process later in life. First off he was a great proponent of Renaissance art and was an intimate follower of Vermeer. I found this interesting, because I'm reading a book on Vermeer right now called the Forger's Spell and I can see the similarities between the two artists' work. Dali if nothing else, technically was a fantastic painter. His subject matter later in life dealt less with dream imagery and the subconscious of his earlier work and more with ideas of religion, nuclear imagery (the atom bombs had recently been dropped on Japan), and pop culture. He also used his wife and love of his life as a model and inspiration in a lot of his work. There was a quote from Andy Warhol that said he wasn't sure what Dali would have been had it not been for his wife and having his watch melt. I thought this was hilarious. Anyway I really enjoyed the show and recommend checking out the High's website for more info.
That is all for now. So go a seize the week, because the world is your oyster, and as always live by Dali's words and be preposterous!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Back to the Drawing Board (so appro. for a designer)
Sorry for the previous anguished post. I was feeling a bit depressed I think. Okay, to be honest the last few weeks have been a mixture of anxiety to the max and depression, hence why I didn't post a lot (I was sitting on my couch wallowing in my own self remorse and eating M&Ms). The reason for the depression is that I had a bit of job drama. Here goes. I had interviewed twice at two places. One, a really great firm that I thought I'd really like working for and it seemed they really liked me. The second was a well known carpet company to do a marketing job. Well, long story short I shot myself in the foot, because I didn't seem as enthusiastic about the carpet job because I thought I was going to get the firm job. And I got neither job. The firm has decided to wait until early next year to hire and the carpet job hired someone else.
So, I'm still unemployed and all the job postings (lame or otherwise have disappeared in the ATL area) so my 28 applications and 8 interviews were for nothing. So, besides wanting to cry every five minutes and not being able to for medical reasons (I still have my tear ducts, don't worry) and getting frustrated because I can't let my emotions out, I've decided to live abundantly. My new mantra is: I am living as though jobs are everywhere and I'm just too special, that the right one just hasn't found me and I'm being happy for my friends who recently got hired (because seriously where does being unhappy get me? I'm pretty sure it doesn't get me a job.) and I'm applying to my dream jobs, all over the country. Because if I've learned anything from this HORRIBLE experience it is applying means nothing. So why worry about moving across the country until I'm interviewing for these dream jobs (which I doubt will happen)? I'm keeping my chin up and counting my blessings everyday to get through my bad economy:
Blessing 1) No significant other (Now this may be the only advantage to this, but I can go where ever the hell I want to. Who cares if I signed a year lease? If a job calls, I'll be there)
Blessing 2) My parents (for supporting me in pursuing my dreams)
Blessing 3) My dog (who holds me when I'm tearless and sad)
Blessing 4) The possibility that this all happened for a reason. That reason being I will find my dream job, which is sitting and thinking about design and not actually executing it.
Blessing 5) The existence of chocolate, ice cream, and Starbucks to get me through those tough moments when I realize my dream job does not exist (at least in places where there is no snow).
So, I'm sorry to put you all through my mopping about, but since I can't cry I needed to get my feelings out somehow, someway, and that way is through TWIMO, the only good thing to come from my not having employment (okay and let's face it, I get to sleep till 10 everyday. My life could be worse). Hope you're all having a happy hump day! I'll get back to normal, weird posts tomorrow (I've got a great DIY one coming, so stay tuned).
So, I'm still unemployed and all the job postings (lame or otherwise have disappeared in the ATL area) so my 28 applications and 8 interviews were for nothing. So, besides wanting to cry every five minutes and not being able to for medical reasons (I still have my tear ducts, don't worry) and getting frustrated because I can't let my emotions out, I've decided to live abundantly. My new mantra is: I am living as though jobs are everywhere and I'm just too special, that the right one just hasn't found me and I'm being happy for my friends who recently got hired (because seriously where does being unhappy get me? I'm pretty sure it doesn't get me a job.) and I'm applying to my dream jobs, all over the country. Because if I've learned anything from this HORRIBLE experience it is applying means nothing. So why worry about moving across the country until I'm interviewing for these dream jobs (which I doubt will happen)? I'm keeping my chin up and counting my blessings everyday to get through my bad economy:
Blessing 1) No significant other (Now this may be the only advantage to this, but I can go where ever the hell I want to. Who cares if I signed a year lease? If a job calls, I'll be there)
Blessing 2) My parents (for supporting me in pursuing my dreams)
Blessing 3) My dog (who holds me when I'm tearless and sad)
Blessing 4) The possibility that this all happened for a reason. That reason being I will find my dream job, which is sitting and thinking about design and not actually executing it.
Blessing 5) The existence of chocolate, ice cream, and Starbucks to get me through those tough moments when I realize my dream job does not exist (at least in places where there is no snow).
So, I'm sorry to put you all through my mopping about, but since I can't cry I needed to get my feelings out somehow, someway, and that way is through TWIMO, the only good thing to come from my not having employment (okay and let's face it, I get to sleep till 10 everyday. My life could be worse). Hope you're all having a happy hump day! I'll get back to normal, weird posts tomorrow (I've got a great DIY one coming, so stay tuned).
Friday, August 20, 2010
Interiors: Places I spend time in when I'm not being bored
I know, I know, I've been a bad leader of the TWIMO clan as I have been missing for almost a week. I appologize and assure you I was just following the TWIMO motto of the world being my oyster and looking for the pearl. So what has Sarah been up to you ask? Well, first as you knew I sent momma TWIMO (whom I showed my blog to and pronounces TWIMO as TWE (as in twe-ed)MO which I think is hilarious) home. The next big event in my week was to get my first big city haircut since momma TWIMO said my hair looked bad and she would pay for it. So I booked a cut at a salon my Atlanta/Wash U friend Sara recommended called Grow. Now Sara is pretty hip (as in she does roller derby!) so I knew this would be an okay place.
I walked into the salon to see a large raw space with gray walls and cool mid century touches and large mirrors leaning against the wall (note to hair salon designers: I do not like these mirrors as I am unattractive to look at sitting down (as I assume everyone is). I generally sit in these chairs and pray that the stylist will quickly drape my rolling body in the large black cape, because quite frankly I look better as a head peeking out of a triangle of black fabric). Now for the second first, I had my first haircut with a male stylist. Not that this is monumental or anything, but he was straight and married! I wonder what it is like to be in a world where most male stylists are gay or presumed to be. Probably like being a straight man in interior design. Anyway Eric, the straight stylist, cut my hair fabulously and even showed me how to blow dry and use product, because to most people's disbelief (as I am very put together in my appearance and quite knowledgeable about clothing and makeup, I know very little about hair. In fact in 5th grade (a questionable time in our hygienic lives) I didn't wash my hair for 4 days, because I didn't want to deal with it. I have since gotten over my anti hair washing stage, but still don't really like styling).
For the next big event of the week the lovely Erin of Athens can to the ATL so that we could go on a hotel tour that one of the hospitality design groups was hosting (we're so chic and involved). The hotel was the Loews Hotel and let's just say I at least was not that impressed. Everything was beige. Like blah beige. Now I know neutrals have their place, but come on people let's spice it up! I would def. have snoozed in that room (which I guess isn't horrible, as hotel rooms are meant for sleeping). Another dislike of the design was the copious amounts of velvet-like material used on their soft goods (sofas, chairs, for you non-design people). Velvet is a no no in hospitality. It doesn't wear well and it picks up everything (the cleaning staff is going to need giant lint rollers), plus Erin who has a deep seeded hatred of the feel of velvet (think nails on a chalk board to others) would have to just stand in the middle of the room as she couldn't touch anything. Just sayin'.
After the tour Erin and I had a lovely dinner at an Atlanta based chain called Figo Pasta which was del-ish. Imagine butternut squash ravioli in an amaretto cream sauce... The next day E and I went bridesmaid dress shopping for her upcoming nuptials and I think we found some gems, but I'm not sharing more than that as E hates when I ruin the end of a movie or book by revealing too many details. My lips are zipped.
Now that all the excitement in my life is dying down I think I will drink a glass of wine, lay on my floor and roll around (for those of you not familiar with this activity it is my most favorite to partake in when I'm had too many libations.) Remember to seize the day and always eat dessert first or only eat dessert. Whatever. You're an adult.
I walked into the salon to see a large raw space with gray walls and cool mid century touches and large mirrors leaning against the wall (note to hair salon designers: I do not like these mirrors as I am unattractive to look at sitting down (as I assume everyone is). I generally sit in these chairs and pray that the stylist will quickly drape my rolling body in the large black cape, because quite frankly I look better as a head peeking out of a triangle of black fabric). Now for the second first, I had my first haircut with a male stylist. Not that this is monumental or anything, but he was straight and married! I wonder what it is like to be in a world where most male stylists are gay or presumed to be. Probably like being a straight man in interior design. Anyway Eric, the straight stylist, cut my hair fabulously and even showed me how to blow dry and use product, because to most people's disbelief (as I am very put together in my appearance and quite knowledgeable about clothing and makeup, I know very little about hair. In fact in 5th grade (a questionable time in our hygienic lives) I didn't wash my hair for 4 days, because I didn't want to deal with it. I have since gotten over my anti hair washing stage, but still don't really like styling).
For the next big event of the week the lovely Erin of Athens can to the ATL so that we could go on a hotel tour that one of the hospitality design groups was hosting (we're so chic and involved). The hotel was the Loews Hotel and let's just say I at least was not that impressed. Everything was beige. Like blah beige. Now I know neutrals have their place, but come on people let's spice it up! I would def. have snoozed in that room (which I guess isn't horrible, as hotel rooms are meant for sleeping). Another dislike of the design was the copious amounts of velvet-like material used on their soft goods (sofas, chairs, for you non-design people). Velvet is a no no in hospitality. It doesn't wear well and it picks up everything (the cleaning staff is going to need giant lint rollers), plus Erin who has a deep seeded hatred of the feel of velvet (think nails on a chalk board to others) would have to just stand in the middle of the room as she couldn't touch anything. Just sayin'.
After the tour Erin and I had a lovely dinner at an Atlanta based chain called Figo Pasta which was del-ish. Imagine butternut squash ravioli in an amaretto cream sauce... The next day E and I went bridesmaid dress shopping for her upcoming nuptials and I think we found some gems, but I'm not sharing more than that as E hates when I ruin the end of a movie or book by revealing too many details. My lips are zipped.
Now that all the excitement in my life is dying down I think I will drink a glass of wine, lay on my floor and roll around (for those of you not familiar with this activity it is my most favorite to partake in when I'm had too many libations.) Remember to seize the day and always eat dessert first or only eat dessert. Whatever. You're an adult.
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