Classy vs. Trashy

You might call me old school after reading this post, but so be it. I am so tired of seeing ladies' bras! Of course, you males out there probably have no complaint, but when did it become fashionable to wear a see-through shirt that reveals your bra to the whole world? This is what I'm talking about:

 

 

Okay, this may be an extreme example but I see it constantly as I am walking around downtown. What happened to modesty ladies? I get it, the whole "if you got it, flaunt it" attitude still applys to many women, as it has for years now. But, I must say, these shirts drive me nuts! This is how I think it should be done, with some class:

 

 

Whether you are dressing for a night out on the town, or for work, please...please don't reveal your undergarments for everyone to see! If a guy has already seen it all just by looking at you, what's left for the imagination anyway? Comments?

 





Sometimes You Just Need to Cry

I like to have it all together. Or at least act like I do. I also like to have things completely planned out. If I go a day without looking at my planner, I get antsy. Do not get me wrong, I also love spontanaety, when it's fun. This has been my struggle for quite a few years now, the lack of knowing what the future holds causes anxiety. But I also realize that if I could plan everything in my life out to a T, it might not end up as it should, or could have.

I go through seasons of being extremely confident in the present and my plans for the future. I have my weekly to-do lists that help me get things done in an orderly fashion, keeping my sanity. I have my long-term goals of going back to school and knowing tasks I need to complete in order to get there. But sometimes, that just isn't enough to keep me from being scared or worried. Sometimes, not knowing gets the best of me and I just need a small emotional breakdown to placate me.

On many occasions I have gone to bed after a usual day of work, and something triggers a plethora of self-asked questions. What am I doing with my life? Where am I going? How will it all work out? What if I don't get into graduate school and get stuck working a low-paid job for another year? And then the crying begins, I lie down, letting the tears soak through my pillow. I always start asking God the same questions I ask myself. I don't expect and audible answer, although that would be an easier solution. I don't usually figure it all out in the silence of my room, I do feel a little better after I have shed a few tears and finally shut my eyes for night.

I am sure many of you have gone through the same or similar situation. One thing that I cling to is that God has it all taken care of. While I don't believe he determines the decisions I make, He does have a plan for me and holds me in the palm of his hand. You may not believe this at all, nor cling to any belief system such as Christianity. But, as far as my life goes, God has proven himself time and time again that if I just wait patiently (whether that be for a week or for a year), He does provide. So, for now I will make the best of what I have and where I'm going and just give it my all to be still and wait until the next chapter unfolds.

Indiana University Visit

Last weekend Claudio and I traveled to Bloomington, IN to check out the graduate programs in art history and neuroscience. We left Friday morning and it took about two and a half hours to get there. The drive was not a direct path, so it was interesting to see different parts of Ohio and Indiana on our way. We both had scheduled meetings with the graduate programs to get more information and see the campus.

My meeting was first and I met with a graduate student who showed me around the campus and informed me about the program. The museum suprised me by the three floors of artwork including African, Contemporary, and Asian work.  The world-renowned architect IM Pei designed the angular museum and libary, so that made it even more interesting. I also viewed the art library and another library across campus.

In between meetings, Claudio and I walked around campus a little. We both admired the architecture of the buildings and landscaping surrounding them. The campus is a lot bigger than I expected and coming from a very small college, overwhelmed me a bit.

Claudio met with the director of the neuroscience program and got all of his questions answered. We took it upon ourselves to visit the other psychology building that holds the laboratories. Of course we were unable to actually see the labs, however, we did see the main atrium which was sky-lit and filled will artwork hanging on the walls.

After our visit, we decided to scope out the local Phi Mu Chapter house. The house is actually off-campus on a street with many other greek organizations. I decided I could probably ask a sister to give me a tour, and I was right! I had never been to any other Phi Mu house, so mine pales in comparison to this large home. It was a great feeling to see another Phi Mu house and how things work at other campuses.

We could not have gone all the way to Bloomington without trying an interesting restaurant. Claudio and I dined at a small restaurant called "Taste of India." We ordered mango chicken and chicken kashmiri. It was delicious! Although, the service did not match the food. I would love to try all the other international restaurants just in walking distance from campus as well.

After a long day in Bloomington, we headed to my family farm in Greensburg to meet my parents for the night. We enjoyed s'mores by the camp fire, a star-lit sky, and good conversation. It was a great weekend to say the least.

Sweet Summer Breeze

These past few days I have woken up, walked to the kitchen and opened a window to let in some cool air. It is something so simple that I have not been able to do in months because of the hot summer air. I absolutely love letting some fresh air inside and hearing the birds chirp in the morning. Another thing I love at this time of the year is to roast marshmallows for s'mores.

                                

I am pretty sure I have not let a summer go by without roasting at least one marshmallow and I am finally going to get my chance this weekend. Claudio and I are going to visit IU in Bloomington to check out their graduate programs tomorrow. On our way back we will be staying at my family farm for a night with my parents. I am hoping the weather will be as nice as it has been. I am excited to sit by the fire, roast marshmallows, and converse with my family. You see, I have the perfect roasting technique down to a T! Many impatient campers simply burn the outer layer of the marshmallow, leaving the inside chewy and cold. Not me, I sit patiently rotating my marshmallow in the coals of the fire, cooking a perfectly golden-brown ooey-gooey marshmallow. I can't wait!

Hopefully I will lots of pictures to share with you, as this will be my mini summer vacation. I haven't had the chance to go anywhere on vacation for the summer, so I am calling this my vacation! Yeah, it is not the beach but it will suffice for a short break from the grind. Have a good weekend!

Happy Friday

This morning I enjoyed smelling sweet cinnamon rolls baking in the oven while coffee was on its way. Claudio brought us some warm joe from the new Fort Thomas Coffee right down the block from his apartment. It just opened yesterday so we were eager to give it a try. I have not yet been inside the new establishment, however the coffee was better than expected. I feel sometimes that local coffee shops are hit or miss. Since I am somewhat of a "coffee snob," unfortunately, I hate to drink java that has been sitting on a shelf for months. Needless to say I am excited to spend some time in Fort Thomas Coffee in the future.

After having a delectable breakfast with my love, I ventured into work. Most Fridays as of late, I spend in the AC at work, peering outside my small window in the parking booth. Suprisingly today the weather has been amazing! This morning's air almost had a chill to it, dew still covering the green grass. The breeze continually placated my face throughout the day, blowing in and out of the windows. What a beautiful blessing and respite from the hot and muggy weather.

I spent most of my day at work doing some research for a paper. I have changed my mind yet again on a topic. Sometime last year I posted a blog about the documentary "Waste Land." This documentary shows the work of artist Vik Muniz and a special project he worked on in Brazil. The video enthralled me into his work and the story of "gramachos" in Brazil. This group of people work in Rio's huge landfill to collect recyclables. I would like to explore how Muniz uses his artwork to connect to the lower class in Brazil and then in turn sell this artwork to the highest social class of art collectors and museums.

That has been my Friday thus far and I hope yours has been swell also! I now sit here at my computer inspecting an unknown bug on my window. This thing is quite large and is sucking on another smaller fly-looking-thing. Someone help! I dare to blow the creature away. Anywho, have a great weekend!

Let Me Rant a Little

Gay marriage, chicken sandwiches, christianity... I know you are probably sick of hearing about it too. In fact, so am I. I am sure everyone is up-to-date about the whole issue and has his/her very own opinion on the matter. Well, here is mine.
First, gay marriage is not something that concerns me too much. Yes, I am a Christian but by being a Christian I see marriage as a spiritual matter more than political. To me, it matters more that I wed under God's laws than the laws of the country I live in. So whether we eventually make gay marriage legal or not, does not affect me or my beliefs. Everyone has their own opinion on gay marriage, whether it be for, against, or simply apathetic.

With that being said, who cares if Chik-fil-a's owner is against gay marriage? I am sure that each and everyone person that works for a corporation has his/her opinion on the issue, it just may have not been voiced publically. Does the fact that he made this public mean that Chik-fil-a is the only restaurant that agrees accordingly? No, I am positive many other corporations have the same stance on gay marriage but people are unaware and are not currently boycotting those corporations. In the end, this opinion does not affect the patron and/or employee of the restaurant. If Chik-fil-a were refusing to serve gay persons, that would be another issue.

I think both sides of the fence on this issue are being quite extreme. The groups going to Chik-fil-a to support the anti-gay marriage side are doing nothing but angering the opposite side. The opponents boycotting are doing nothing but fueling the fire as well. In the end, there will be no progress made for either sides. I have found there is no point in trying to change someone's opinions on issues such as these. Boycotting a restaurant is not going to make people magically change their minds and vise versa.

As a Christian, I think the most important thing during this time, and always should be, is to show love to others. Yes, that may sound cheesy to you, but has anyone ever changed your mind by yelling condeming words in your face? No, that does not win people over on any issue. The fact of the matter is I will continue to eat at Chik-fil-a and not because I oppose gay marriage either. I will probably also continue to buy from other places that have morals that do not align with my own that I am unaware of. How about we focus more of our energy on hunger around the globe, human trafficking, prostitution, and drug addiction? How about we fight for a cause that means something instead of just fighting our enemies? Thoughts?

Graduate School and Such

As the months pass by I come closer and closer to the end of the year which means sending in applications for graduate school. I have decided to further my education with a Master of art history with a possible focus in modern and contemporary artwork. I have been exploring a range of programs in which to apply around the country. In a couple weeks I plan on visiting Indiana University to see what they have to offer.

I am very nervous about this endeavor. I am wondering if I will be accepted into a program without an art history degree under my belt but I will give it a try anyway. I am taking the GRE in September to get that out of the way. I am also working on a research paper as part of my applications.

I have decided to focus on the Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo. You may or may not have heard of him but he was alive during the same time as Rivera, Khalo, and other Mexican muralists. Here is one of his pieces:

I think I will focus on two groups of paintings created by Tamayo: portraits of his first love Maria Izquierdo, another Mexican artist, and his later wife Olga. These portraits are quite different so I would like to explore these differences and similarities in his work.

If you have any comments about this topic, send them my way!



New Obession

                                                    


Ok, it's not quite an obsession but it is an affinity for this delectable, creamy substance. I was told about "cookie butter" about a week ago and I was leery on trying the spread. When I heard the word "cookie butter" I got a vision of processed and packaged chocolate chip cookie dough but in a spreadable form. This was not appealing to me whatsoever. I am not one of those individuals that can eat half a package of raw cookie dough and feel good about it. But, considering this food item comes from my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's, I thought it would be worth a try.

When in Lexington this past weekend, I drove by the new Trader Joe's (with a gasp because it was not there when I lived in the area) and decided I would buy some cookie butter. I read the ingredients and nutrition facts and concluded the item was not high in fat or calories, so why not give it a try. Essentially cookie butter is a mixture of crushed Belgian cookies and natural sugars and oils. The jar says it is good on pancakes, toast, and the like.

So, of course I tasted a spoonful as soon as I got home and enjoyed it! Cookie butter is very smooth but with a little crunch from the cookies. It has a gingerbread taste with the texture and appearance of peanut butter. So far I have just had it on toast and a banana and it was delicious. Who knew? Next I will spread it on some fluffy pancakes or fill some yummy french toast with it. Hope you try it too!