Collecting

http://blog.modcloth.com/2011-07-15-acad

 

You’ve heard of art collections, but what about collection art? For 365 days, San Francisco artist Lisa Congdon took on the gargantuan task of documenting her massive collection of everyday objects on her blog, A Collection a Day. We stopped by Congdon’s studio to talk about the art of collection, and her blog’s new namesake book.
What do you collect?
I don't collect much. I collect cool turtle things. . . like planting pots, rings, carved wood. . . not just turtle anything. It has to be cool or classy or funny. I have 3 feathers in a collection. I have lots of journals. I collected vintage clothes for a little shop I opened. I'll have to post pictures of them!

Tipping

http://thebeautydepartment.com/2011/07/tipped-out/

07.12.11

all photos: Kristin Ess + thebeautydepartment.com

Lots of emails this week asking for a tutorial on Lauren’s temporary bright colors. Here I’ve replicated the process for you in 7 steps on an extension. While I never recommend bleaching out the ends of your hair at home, if you want to do the fun colors yourself, maybe get the tips bleached out by a pro + then play with the temporary colors on your own. The best things about this color– you’re able to hide it in a bun for work if you need to, AND you’re only doing a couple of inches on the bottom so it won’t kill you to cut it off if you get over it quickly.
TOOLS: highlighting comb, clips, foils, color brush, hair bleach with the appropriate volume (always seek a professional when using bleach), light pink color, dark pink color, light blue, dark blue, clear gloss.
Step 1 Highlight the tips of the hair using hair bleach with the correct volume. I lightened the bottom 3 inches of Lauren’s hair, taking it as light as possible without causing any damage. As you can see above, I like to “feather” on the bleach. Painting a jagged line makes it blend better.
Step 2 Fold up your foil and let it process until it reaches a pale blonde. Use the appropriate heat if necessary.
Step 3 Shampoo and lightly condition bleach out of the hair.
Step 4 Blow hair completely dry. If it’s still wet, it will soak up less color.
Step 5 Place the hair on a foil. Imagine the bleached out part being split into 3. You’re going to leave the top 1/3 blonde.
Step 6 Next, paint the light blue (or whatever color you choose) on the entire bottom 2/3.
Step 7 Paint the very tips (or bottom 1/3) using the darker version of that color. It should look almost feather like. Be sure to blend. Last, rinse out the color. I highly suggest washing them out one piece at a time and towel drying well so the colors don’t bleed into each other. If they do, you may see a “marbleizing” effect. I love when the colors all swirl together like that, but if you’re looking to keep them more defined, keep them away from each other when they’re wet. I like to finish up by sealing it with a clear gloss. That’s a professional use only product so if you don’t have access to it, you don’t have to do that. Blow dry and…Tah Daaah!!
This is such a fun summer trend and I hope everyone finds their own fun way of doing it. This is the time to get creative. Once it fades from the sun, pool, beach, or general wear, it becomes a pastel version which I think  is equally gorgeous! Color care shampoo can help keep your bright color from fading. Condition well and again, don’t let the wet strands sit next too each other too long if you don’t want the colors blending.

Bye Bye?

We never know when our last goodbye will be.

Good Times surf video by Poor Specimen. . . some clips that rock!

I love all of my old VHS surf videos with stupid skits or surfers singing between the videos. I couldn't find very many online. But I loved the good ol' boys like Rob Machado, Kalani Robb, Taylor Steele, Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, The Irons Brothers, The Malloy Brothers: Dan, Keith and Chris, Corey and Shane Lopez, Timmy and Josh Curran, Conan Hayes,Taylor Knox, Ross Williams, Occy, Donovan, Pat O'Connell, Brad Gerlach, Joel Tudor, Benji and Jason Weatherly, Ozzie Wright, Wingnut, Taj Burrow, Greg Browning, Shane and Gavin Beschen, CJ and Damian Hobgood, Mick Fanning, Bobby Martinez, Ben Bourgois, Sunny Garcia and Tom Curren. Man! And the girls Malia Jones, Layne Beachley, Rochelle Ballard, Megan Abubo, Lisa Anderson, Holly Beck, Karina Petroni, Kasia Meador, and Bethany Hamilton.

P.S. I got to meet a ton of them at the 2001 Surfer Poll Awards. Awesome!

FREEDOM. We got it

Ahh, I remember this video. It's nice.

Dani Shay

www.danishay.com

My boss showed me this 22-year-old female Justin Bieber-a-like on America's Got Talent. . . and I was intrigued enough to go look her up. She totally looks like Justin Bieber. She has a pretty good voice. Supposedly she's had this look for a long time before Bieber was popular. I think she's a little baby dyke (as my gf likes to say). At first she gave me the hee-bee-geebies, but now I think she's unique and cute-ish.

 

What I've heard/learned about being gay in rural Texas. . . see blog below

Read my post about being gay in rural america below:
When I moved to the county:
The first person who I told I was gay/bisexual was a fat dude who farmed peanuts, watermelon and owned a feed store. His family was wealthy. He had actually gone to my college. He asked me out after he met me. I didn't think my gf would like that, plus I wasn't interested, so I politely declined. Then I asked, "What do you think about me being gay?" I wanted to see if he was grossed out or was cool with it or had advise about being gay in a biggoted area. He  seemed cool with it all and didn't really have anything to say . When I told my gf I had told him I was bisexual, she got angry and told me that was slutty and that "you don't tell a dude that you're bisexual because it gives them the wrong idea and it gives them fantasies." Ok. Whoops. I'm sorry. I didn't even think like that.. My other lesbian friend told me the same thing- don't tell him you're bisexual.
Turns out 6 months later that this guy has been arrested for sexual relations with a minor and intent to distribute porn. He was paying 15 year old boys money so he could give the boys head. (Seems a bit backwards to me. Oh well. . . it's a messed up world.) He would chat them up on facebook late at night and invite them to his house to "play video games."   
That was one experience I had. So, my girlfriend still blames me and says I was leading a pervert on. Nuh Uh, girl.
The next person I told was the guy who gave me my tattoo: It turned out his son was gay and he was telling me several stories. He said at first he didn't like it, but the idea has marinated and he's a cool dad who looks out for his gay 16-year-old son. I told him I was actually getting part of my girlfriend's name incorporated into my tattoo. He acted like boys get bullied and picked on in the country if they are gay, and women. . . well I just shouldn't tell people because it could be hard for me as well.
The third person who spoke about being gay was an older veterinarian who I was interviewing. He began talking about female vets. He said the majority of people in vet school are women, but he sees that as a problem.  First of all, women want to get married and if they have husbands who move, they are likely to move cities. When they have kids they will take off of work and some will never return.  He said, "Now if she's a lesbian, that's a different story. She won't be moving for a man and probably not having kids."  Ha ha- that made me laugh what big of a difference he thought he saw between lesbians and straight women. I thought, "I want to have kids. And, I would consider moving if my significant other had a great place to move to."
Now, I don't recall ever holding hands or making out outside of my house, but I know I never tried to hide any affection. . . so I was nicely surprised when my female neighbor told my new neighbors that I was a lesbian. Way to go, girl! So, of course, when they meet me, they are like, "What's it gonna take to convert you?" Way to sound like assholes trying to change someone you just met. I knew they were just kidding and letting me know that they knew.
So. . . those are the  stories I can relate to about being gay in rural Texas.