An Ode to Lena Dunham

I first fell for Lena Dunham back in 2011. This isn’t me being like “I SAW HER FIRST” because it is nothing like that at all.
I heard about Lena Dunham through my nearly lifelong crush/idol Natalie Portman, who had commented on Lena’s film Tiny Furniture in a very positive way. My interests were piqued immediately. And as I read more and more Entertainment Weekly I began hearing more and more about this up and coming writer/director/address and the support and accolades she was receiving  from so many people, including one of my favorites (and eventually Exec Producer of Girls) Judd Apatow, I just kept searching for the movie (small town, small movie, no go), which didn’t come out until maybe the end of 2011/2012 on Netflix and eventually DVD.

But really, the moment I knew I loved her was when I read a certain tweet she had posted that still sticks with me and makes me laugh.

I admired the honesty and humor in this post. And, considering I’m a girl with a vagina, I could totally relate.
This was something out-of-the-norm for me to witness on the internet. Do my friends and I talk openly about things like this? We absolutely do. But to have someone out there reppin’ that aspect of female life was so admirable. I was excited for the things to come…and obviously it was worth the wait.

There’s been a lot of crap out there about Lena Dunham and about Girls. The nepotism (everyone is related to someone famous, blah blah), the awkward and frank sexuality and…GASP…Lena’s naked boobs on a regular basis.
None of that matters to me.

For one, having “famous” parents might get you started in life…but it won’t keep something going.
Critics and audiences alike adore the show for a variety of reasons. It’s humor, it’s honesty, how raw it is.
It (and she) deserved the Golden Globes it got…I was so happy!

I also happen to love every awkward bit of sex and relationship situations that happen on the show. THIS IS LIFE. It’s not candlelight hazy. Sex isn’t always this romantic and beautiful thing. And even if it feels like it, it certainly doesn’t look that way on the outside.
If I was watching the show and I wasn’t personally relating to it, I was able to remember a relevant story from one of my friends’ life.

And, briefly on the topic of Lena’s nudity…I don’t care at all about it. In fact, I admire her for it. I admire how comfortable she is with her body. I admire that she doesn’t feel the need to wear makeup all the time just because she’s on a High-Def camera. She is beautiful and real and beautifully real and that’s what the world needs: to stop comparing ourselves to glamour girls, as well as impossible relationship situations and perfect friendships.

What I’ve taken out of Girls is how selfish I can be, how we all can be, how entitled we often feel.
It’s made me reflect on life, on my flaws, and contemplate and appreciate them.

When I was in junior high, I was obsessed with Friends. I thought that, when I grew up, I was going to have an awesome apartment with my best friend and that I had this wonderful group of people to drink coffee with and share my life with.
As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized that this is highly unrealistic.

I couldn’t be happier to have Lena Dunham in this world, making her mark.
She’s a year older than me and she is sharing the word about what it’s like to be unemployed, to try and maintain relationships in such a digital/social media heavy age, to be completely self-involved as people come and go out of our lives. Love, sex, friendship, the rest of our lives.She talks about things that I’m experiencing and I couldn’t be more thankful.

When a Challenge is Challenging

I decided to do my 52 books in 52 weeks challenge on a whim. It was the beginning of the year and a lot of people were tossing around challenges (one of my favorite bloggers is doing  365 photos, one for each day, of her home, some others are taking a photo a week of their children or loved ones) and I wanted to partake in a way that I thought would be fun for me. I already do my Fat Mum Slim photo a day challenges, so I went with one of my great loves, reading.

52 books might seem like a lot to some, a lot less to others. For me, it made sense. A book a week.
I knew there would be bigger books that would require more time. I also knew that, when I really enjoy a book, I can clear it fairly fast.
And I knew, though there are many books I want to read, it might be hard to figure out what to read next/obtain the books I want (thank God for the library!). But I kind of forgot about the part where I maybe don’t really like a book. Or I can’t get into it at all.

I am not the type to give up. There are books I’ve read and promptly forgotten because they were fluff or didn’t make much of an impression, like your favorite guilty pleasure TV shows or silly movies that make you smile for a while. But what happens when a book is actually difficult for you to read? When it’s just not jiving in your brain and all you can think about is reading a different book?

This just happened to me. I added The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao to my list after my trip to Boston. Barry and Shani have a great selection of books on an excellently organized bookshelf…

…and I was told I could borrow a few things. The book stood out to me for two reasons. 1. I had heard good things about Junot Diaz’ s recent book, This is How You Lose Her and 2. It won a Pulitzer. Must be good then, right?

I shouldn’t say it wasn’t good. It just wasn’t for me. I tried. I really did. 
The story is unique, both in premise and in presentation, the way it hops back and forth in time. There’s also a sort of mystical, spiritual aspect thrown in. I just didn’t care about the characters. And, I feel silly saying this, but the mixture of Spanish in the book made it harder. I’m ashamed to say I only took very little Español with me when I left high school. So I had a hard time understanding with my language block.

So what to do? I didn’t want to give up. I hate doing that. I wanted to know what happened.
But then all these other books I have that seemed more appealing were calling me. And then I had to admit that maybe I should just stop.
I know that a challenge is supposed to be just that…a challenge. But actually, giving up means I have to make up for that break in time.
I’m trying.

Before, I was sure I’d complete this challenge. Now, I’m not. But it’s only one month in, there’s still plenty of time, and it’s good to remember that it can’t always be easy. You do it anyway, because you love it.

Check out my Goodreads account for progress updates and a full list of books I’ve read and want to read!

This Weekend

Last week was…bad. It just wasn’t my time. Work had me on edge, my Buick stalled on me again (I’m not going to be driving it for a while, methinks), I left my wallet in the office on Saturday night…it seemed like everything I hoped would happen meant that the opposite would occur. I gave up hoping. Which is stupid, but I haven’t had such a negative week in so long. I forgot what it’s like when pretty much everything that can go wrong will go wrong. And I kept waiting for the silver lining…it came, eventually. Brad made it home safe, the work week ended (with the prospect of a better one this time around, and a three day weekend come Friday evening), Valentine’s Day and my tax refund are mere days away! I’m looking forward to this week, and I’m going to keep my chin up because, despite how I felt last week, I made it!

Photos from the Weekend:
I came home Friday night to find this on the kitchen table. My mom made my week/life by giving me a little Amazon GC, which is one of the best gifts I could ever receive. Now I just need to figure out which books I want to buy with it!
Nemo was in town on Friday, and it hit right when I was coming home from work. My post-work duty is letting Artie out, and there aren’t many things cuter than his fluffy butt prancing around in the snow.
I don’t care, I love it. This song came on Sirius Saturday morning on the way to work and made me feel tons better.
Dana and I went to see Warm Bodies and we got our usual Blue Raspberry ICEEs.
Brad finally home on Saturday! Of course he had to play Dark Souls immediately while I read and relaxed with Cali. Brad is back from Vegas, but he got really sick while he was there. Sinuses, coughing, all the icky stuff. I’m playing nurse while he heals!
Cute Valentine’s cookies.

Here’s to a happy Monday and an excellent week in general!!

(Apologies for the blurry pics in the middle there)

The Exception

Okay, so I don’t have a lot of money. I scrimp and save so I can buy food and gas for my clunky car and pay my bills.
And yes, it is super important to save money and be smart. But I also believe that you should treat yourself…and for me, it comes in the form of nail polish. In the last three days alone, I’ve gotten these 6 nail polishes. And I love every single one.
And OPI has a new collection that just hit the stores on Wednesday.
So I’ll be getting more. When I have money again, whenever that is.

These polishes have been on my lust list for a while now. China Glaze’s It’s a Trap-eze is from the recent Cirque du Soleil collection and it’s pretty much the only polish you can’t find from it. I ended up finding it on Amazon and spent less money on the polish and shipping than I would’ve if I had found it in stores (about 5 bucks as opposed to $6-8). I’m wearing it right now and it’s just wonderful.
I also fell for the awesome blue of Essie’s Butler Please within the last week, found it at Rite Aid (they have an awesome selection and they almost always have all the good colors in stock), and bought it immediately.

And then there’s the Deborah Lippmann GIRLS collection that I just spoke about the other day…

When I wrote this post, I went ahead and ordered this collection. As a massive fan of both GIRLS and nail polish, it would’ve been seriously silly not to! The colors are gorgeous and classic. And the packaging…seriously, stop, you’re amazing.
So, I know I have to keep it together and be smart, but these things make me smile.
It’s been a rough week, and it’s the small things like my growing nail polish collection that has helped me get through.

Well…that and Pinot Grigio.

Happy weekend, folks!

Recently…

I thought I would share some of the things I’ve been enjoying in the last week or so, in every possible category I could think of.
This might become a regular thing.

Eating:
Bagels with a whole lot of cream cheese.
Drinking:
The Naked Grape’s Pinot Grigio…especially if I want to get nappy.
Reading:
Entertainment Weekly’s article on Lena Dunham. I would’ve been completely content if the whole issue had been about her.
Watching:
The latest episode of Girls, “It’s a Shame About Ray”, was the best episode of the season so far.
Listening:
Local Natives’ new album, Hummingbird. Dreamy and lovely and perfect.
Lusting:
Deborah Lippmann’s nail polish collection designed for Girls (I swear I didn’t plan on this being Girls-centric. It just happened).

Photos from the Weekend

This picture was taken last Sunday, but we drank this coffee on Saturday. It was my first time drinking an entire cup of black coffee…not sure if that will become a regular occurrence, but it was worth a shot. They use this coffee to make Troegs Java Head.
A cloudy morning drive.
Shiraz for the man, Chardonnay for the lady.
Sunday morning breakfast of hazelnut coffee and an everything bagel with cream cheese.
Finally went ahead to spray and protect my lovely Minnetonka moccasins, a Christmas present from my parents.
My sister’s amazing chicken wing dip for the Super Bowl.

How was your weekend? Mine was so strange. Just in general, weird and unlike the usual weekends I have. Maybe it’s because it was the first time in weeks that I’ve actually had nothing planned. Friday started weird, with my car stalling on my way to work. I was obviously late. Then we were super-swamped with people. I was planning on getting some blood work done on Saturday (and have to fast from food and water for 12 hours) but decided against it so I could enjoy a little date night with Brad. Well, we went to a nice little restaurant not far from Brad’s house and each enjoyed some pasta and a glass of wine. I was automatically stuffed and tired. So I fell asleep at 10:30 PM.
We know how to party on a Friday night.

Now he’s away for the week, and even though I don’t see him 3 of those days anyways, I’m still a bit bummed.
I am hoping to tidy up my room. I already did some laundry. But, let’s be honest…I’m lazy.

Here’s to a great week!

January Photo a Day Challenge Completed!

Another Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day challenge is done! Which means another month has come and gone.
Today it’s Friday and it’s February.
Month #2 of the 2013.

Here’s the photos!

1. Today, I went through photos, read, blogged, and made a list of things I want to do.
2. A cute mug from Target and a polish from the Modern Family Nicole by OPI collection were my something new that day.
3. A cute heart necklace I’ve had for years.
4. The view from here was Brad drinking beer from a huge tube. He asked for the largest beer he could get…and he got it.
5. Lots of movement on stage at The Push show.
6. My pink patent leather Docs are one of the best things that have ever been mine.
7. A blurry photo down the street.
8. Something beginning with a T, we still had the tree up at this point.
9. A cute Sprout bookmark keeping my place in my paper book.
10. Usually still awake at one o’ clock am.
11. Water from the shower.
12. There’s always fun surprises in the Canteen 900 building.
13. A not-so-perfect circle of Clementine pieces.
14. This Watch Children sign is Something Yellow.
15. An ordinary moment at work.
16. My favorite combo at the Chinese place, Chicken/String Beans and Pork Fried Rice, two things that taste so good.
17. Ready to get better, back when I was sick.
18. Pretty tree shadows.
19. A delicious and filling burger in Boston.
20. The fun, kitschy interior of The Friendly Toast was something I saw in Boston.
21. Watch TV shows, cuddle in PJs, read and surf the net are things I do.
22. No corner on this big yellow fan.
23. Everything electric in one place.
24. Stripes on my weekly mani.
25. A snowy landscape on my drive home from work.
26. Brad, Cali, and I cuddling together on a Friday night.
27. The sun shining over Troegs Brewing Company.
28. Dashing through the snow on the way to work Monday morning.
29. My pile of books and my 2013 challenge list continues to grow.
30. Looking down at the reflection of trees in a rippling puddle.

And finally…myself, not wanting to leave my bed!

It’s Friday! Laying in bed is something I plan on doing the next couple of days. I have a whole weekend to rest and relax. Brad is heading to Las Vegas for the week very early Sunday morning until next Saturday, the 9th, so I’ll be spending a good 24 hours with him before he leaves.

Have fun with whatever you do!

Happy weekend everyone!!