Silver Lining

Spelling

2012-03-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

Do you remember in elementary school taking spelling test every week? Incase you blocked that unpleasant memory let me remind you of the hellish experience of the spelling test. Every week (usually on Friday) the teacher would give the class a test. The test consisted of the teacher reading off words and the students spelling them from memory. There were most likely twenty or so words, that the teacher had given the students the monday prior to the test. I hated spelling test. I never did well on them, in fact I was lucky to get any right. When people know of my poor ability to spell they feign utter shock to learn that I am an English major. As a result of my love for English and conflicting hate for spelling I love this quote by Mark Twain:

"Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination."

I hope my past Elementary school teachers see this and remember what an imaginative, and bright student I was.

So weird

2012-03-14T11:26:00.004-07:00

This commercial wigs me out:

Maybe it is because I am allergic to cats and think their the spawn of lucifer, or maybe it is because cat food is the most revolting substance ,but I think this commercial is ridiculous. Call me old fashion, but I would rather just have a ring. They do not need needles, shed fur, or need a litter box. Any commercials that make you cringe?

L.A. and London

2012-02-28T09:56:00.002-08:00

First a song:

Second this is the best news EVER. Topshop closer to home! I secretly (okay, not so secretly) want to be British. Why do you think I am taking a Shakespeare class?

Unicorn City

2012-02-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

I want to see this movie so badly:

Round #4

2012-02-16T11:44:00.000-08:00

There is me and seven other poets left. This is round four's poem. My prompt was toy cars.

Every Thursday we play toy cars.

While your sister is rolling out play dough,

We push a colorful array of hot wheels

Around the imaginary

Roads,

And cities,

Of the continent, that is the living room carpet.

Sometimes for real speed we venture

Onto the hardwood floors of the country, that is the kitchen.

On hands

And knees

I follow you.

Your little, two-year-old hands,

And pink feet with tiny toes curled under.

As we scoot

And scuttle

I coo in a singsong voice

“Green is for Go,

Red means stop.”

And you reply

“Va-room-room”

Your play is so determined, like my work,

But this is my work!

And I am convinced there is nothing better

Than playing toy cars with you

You are so perfect

I love the way you

Giggle at things I can’t comprehend,

Or hug your sister and say I love you,

Or wear your Buzz Light-year pajamas for days on end.

It’s funny how I look forward to Thursdays

The day I come to look after you and your big sister

It is the highlight of my week

To observe and breath in

Something more pure and beautiful

Than my life

I wish I could be

Playing toy cars with you forever.

Round #5's prompt is Shel Silverstein. I have already started working on my poem. It will be super good.

Happy Anniversary!

2012-02-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

Today is my parent's anniversary! They have been married twenty-two years. Wow!

My mom has this tradition were every year on this blessed day she puts on her wedding dress, just to prove she can still fit into it. Here are the pictures of her this year, with my little brother. This is obviously where my siblings and I get our good looks from.

My mother making my signature photo pose as seen below ( I do this pose solely to annoy my mother and here she is doing it!)

Okay so here is a little present for my parents on their anniversary. My poem from last weeks round of last poet standing. It is about the engineering building. The Austin.

Where are we going?

The Austin.

Where?

The building with the statue of the little boy playing with a paper airplane out front.

It’s a squat brick building,

Put away in a remote corner,

Between the Benson and boys dorms.

Forgotten.

When I walk in,

My heavy boots click on the speckled tiled floor.

Everything is awkward ,

Under the harsh florescent lights

That glare down

Bring out every imperfection.

In a vain attempt to bring some aesthetics to the place

Paintings have been put up.

They hang limp and dead

Not really belonging to the hallways they occupy

I pass room after room of

Cluttered offices

Empty classrooms

A couple cuddling on a bench

(I scurry away from there real fast)

Then I pass Computer labs wiring with machines

Mechanical, woodshop, and engineering labs

Filled with equipment that I cannot even imagine the uses for.

I leave confused by it all

As unnoticed as I came

Not disturbing the world I observe

Where are we?

The Austin.

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all you who will get a cute card and some Necco sweethearts that says things like "Love Bug" on them (thats right, I am talking to you, every second grader in America).

To you Liz Lemon, I love you, even when you avoid Valentine's by having dental surgery on the fourteenth. I will pick you up from the dentist, because I too have no love life.

To you Jack, cause I know you have been missing Avery ever since she got kidnapped by North Korea. You are my hero.

Photo credit #1

#2 and #3

Round #2

2012-02-02T12:07:00.001-08:00

BYU-I's cutest poet

Round #2 of Last Poet Standing was last night and I got through! Here is the poem I gave last night, the prompt was something that inspires me and this is what I came up with:

I am not one to write

Something sickly sweet

About gentle breezes and air perfumed by roses,

Or how my heart does a little jolt in my chest

When some blue-eyed boy looks in my direction.

What is there to inspire poetry

When the world is full of

War,

And hate,

And disease,

Can love still be pure

Nature divine

Beauty stunning

When those you love hurt you most

When winter only brings decay

And a thin layer of loveliness is all to mask deceit?

But

Even though there us so much ruin

There is also rebirth

Hope

Spring always, always returns with more gusto than before,

People keep searching for love despite the risk,

And goodness prevails when beauty fades.

Humankind keep on striving

I keep on writing

Always seeking to achieve something greater than before.

I Like The Like

2012-01-31T09:34:00.001-08:00

I like the band The Like. After you listen to this song you will see why:

True Love

2012-01-27T12:05:00.000-08:00

Fridays are the best, but not because it is the start of the weekend, but because it is the day I watch 30 Rock. 30 Rock is on Thursday nights, but since I do not have access to a television I watch it Fridays on Hulu. 30 Rock is possibly my favorite show (along with Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks). I have true love for all things 30 Rock. I love Tina Fey, or more importantly Liz Lemon (actually I am just a younger version of Liz). Liz is my aspirations in life (why do you think I put chips on sandwiches?) , and Jack Donaghy reminds me of my Dad in a weird way. In short, "I want to go to there."

photot credit

Round #1

2012-01-26T06:10:00.000-08:00

I am in a poetry contest at school called Last Poet Standing. It works a lot like American Idol, but way cooler. Every week the participants read a poem they wrote, the audience votes for their favorite, and some people get booted off. Last night was round one. Their were thirty people and ten got booted. Luckily I passed through (thanks to the support of my awesome friends). This is the poem I presented last night:

I hit a dog,

With my car.

I was just driving home,

In my beat up old Volvo,

Shoes off,

Jeans rolled up.

It had been a hard day,

I was beat up.

Ready to go home,

Shower –rid myself of sweat and grime,

Sleep away the weariness.

Heading home,

Had barely left,

When it ran out

A glimpse of gold,

Thump –loud and dull against the cold metal body of my car

The dog collided with the front corner of my car,

The front corner of my car collided with the dog,

Pull over and park,

My heart racing, racing, racing.

Jump out of the car,

Keys still in the ignition,

Racing, Racing, Racing,

My bare feet slapping the pavement.

The dog is big in a healthy canine sort of way,

Has hair the same color as mine,

Its in kinks,

Like someone purposely did it that way,

He‘s whimpering and holding one of his paws up,

He’s Beat up.

There is a gardener and two middle aged woman milling around.

“I am the girl who hit the dog.”

Shaking,

My voice and my body.

“Are you the owner?” —I say to one of the woman.

“No, Gloria has gone to get her.”

Crying.

Shaking.

Both the dog and me.

“It wasn’t your fault”, they say.

“You did the right thing, most people would of drove right off”, they say.

“He’ll be fine, just a little beat up, is all”, they say.

It is not reassuring.

Then two women walk towards our group.

One woman, the owner reeks of money,

Everything about her oozes wealth and excess,

The other is a pretty Latina –probably Gloria.

The owner yells at Gloria –blaming her

Saying the dog would not have got out if Gloria had just closed the gait (as asked)

When bring the kids home.

The owner than plows back to her big beach front house with

Gloria in-tow –struggling to carry the beat up dog.

This has put a wrinkle in the owner’s otherwise perfect day.

She didn’t even seem to see me,

The girl who hit her dog with a car –the person to really blame.

But there is nothing else to do so I walk back to my car.

Go home.

Shower and sleep,

But I can’t wash away or sleep off,

The guilt of harming another living thing.

There you go, it is a bit lengthy and you will have to decide for yourself if this is fiction or not. Next weeks prompt is an Ode to what Inspires me. We will see what I come up with.

photo credit

Decralation

2012-01-25T12:06:00.000-08:00

My Dad is too cool.

Somethings are just not smart to wear in the snow. I should know, I am the girl you see walking around when its ten below zero in a skirt and no tights because it looks better. One thing that I wear despite horrible weather is high heels. This has been instilled in to me by my father and Avery on 30 Rock with the phrase "flats are for quiters." So yesterday when I got dressed up to go to an event on campus I wore heels, and every other girl, including my best friend ,Tessa, wore flats. When I told my father this not only was he very proud of me but, he came back with this witty reply:

"Flats are made for females who don't have the intellect or discipline to obey the Proclimation on the Family. Friends don't let friends wear flats. You need to repent, dear Katie. Tessa is not accountable as she does not know better, but you know better.

Love,

He who is all knowing

Dad"

He might of added girls who wear flats will go to hell, shoes and all.

College

2012-01-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

Ten things I like about College:

1. My Shakespeare class.

2. I get along a lot better with my mom when I do not live with her.

3. My roommates... so far.

4. The cute boy that I sit next to in class.

5.Packages my parents send me.

6. My friends.

7. Working out with my best friend.

8. Making food with my roommate (who knew making donuts could be so fun).

9. Wearing winter clothing (I wore gloves, a hat, and a scarf the other day).

Wants

2012-01-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

These are so adorable, I diffidently want these for all my beverage needs. Who doesn't love Babushka dolls in any form. Check them out here.

First Day

2012-01-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

Today was my first day of school so here is a quote from Woody Allen about his education, but I think this probably applies to everyone in some way:

"I had a terrible education. I attended a school for emotionally disturbed teachers."

I love Woody Allen, he never ceases to entertain me and make me think at the same time. Speaking of Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris was released on DVD on December 23rd. Has anyone seen it? I loved it, for anyone who is a romantic at heart this movie is perfection. Have you seen it, what did you think?

photo Credit

Airplanes and Happy Wishes

2011-12-31T17:47:00.000-08:00

So today I flew to Salt Lake City, Utah. It is not a bad flight (only two hours), but the airport was absolutely crazy. I flew out of a tiny airport, and considering how many people were in the airport the plane seemed roomy. So for a lack luster New Year's Eve I will slap on some gold eye shadow and matching nail polish and watch Tootsie. Go 2012!

What are you doing for the New Year, anything fun?

Between Crises

2011-12-30T12:55:00.000-08:00

Somewhere between the current crises in of packing to go back to school and me panicking about going back to school I watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in an attempt to further my AFI best 100 quest. A friend of mine (you know who you are) would not watch it with me, because she grew up in the town the movie was filmed in and apparently had seen it a dozen time in school and can't stand it. So I watched alone last night and kind of fell in love. I am not a western movie girl, so my hopes weren't high, but I really enjoyed it. Maybe it has something to do with Robert Redford's sweet mustache (I am a sucker for some well groomed facial hair), because I was enchanted. If you haven't seen it, check it out.

If you have seen it and tell me what you think of it?

Talent runs in the Family

2011-12-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

My brother, Jack, drew this yesterday when my family went out to dinner. It started out as a picture of my grandfather (we were doing a contest to see who could draw the best portrait of the old man) and evolved to a bikini wearing man fairy. Talent must he genetic because while Jack was drawing this I was busy doodling my family as fish. Oh well, I guess it better than the time I decided to create portraits of past president with the remaining food on my plate during dinner.

If you did not think Tap Dancing was cool

2011-12-28T13:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'll admit tap dancing is not the first thing I say when playing word association games and someone says "awesome", but this band makes tap dancing the new ukulele (a quirky instrument nerd girls try to pick up because they have zero musical ability and a tiny four string guitar seems simple, example: me). Except unlike the uke I will not be trying to tap dance anytime soon (tap dancing seems a tad more difficult, no matter how easy Gene Kelly makes it look). Okay, so back to the band. Tilly and the Wall is a band I always seem to go back to, not only do they tap dance for percussion instead of drums, their songs have great lyrics and are amazingly catchy. This is one of my favorite songs, check out that fancy foot work:

No Filter

2011-12-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

Gettin' sloppy with Sparkling Apple Cider.

Thing I would say if I did not filter myself :

Can you hand me that magnifying glass so I can see that thing you claim is the diamond on your engagement ring.

Your baby looks like the offspring of Shrek and Fiona (thats right, your baby looks like a baby ogre).

No, just because I have short hair doesn't mean I am a boy, you better give me something sparkly and pretty before I mess up your face.

It looks like you styled your hair with cat pee.

Quick, where is a harpoon? Here comes Moby Dick!

PortlandiaSeason2PortlandiaSeason2PortlandiaSeason2

2011-12-27T00:10:00.000-08:00

Portlandia Season 2. If these blessed words mean nothing to you you are living in a dark, dark world. So let me explain my utter joy, nay Portliss (Portland and bliss combined). Portlandia is a show created by Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen about Portland (obvious, I know). It is possibly the most entertaining and enchanting thing you will ever encounter. I smile the whole time while watching it. Here is a sketch from the first season:

Okay, so Portlandia is awesome. I cannot wait for the second season, but for the mean time I am watching the first season repeatedly.

Because Links are fun

2011-12-26T22:11:00.001-08:00

Because my whole family got pedicures without me (this is my brother, he was a little hesitant to have someone touch his feet).

Because I will get a pedicure too.

Because I am guilty of all of these.

Because I am a giant nerd.

Because my sophomore year of college starts in a week (scary).

Because love is in my heart and on my sweaters.

Because it is oh so yummy.

Because I love anything associated with Zooey Deschanel.

Because I love a pop of color.

Nonsense

2011-12-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

I go to school in Rexburg, Idaho, a town where it can easily snow ten months of the year. In this town is a law, a ridiculous law. Here it is:

9.01.01 Objects Thrown- Prohibited

"It is unlawful for any person within the city of Rexburg, Idaho, to willfully or carelessly throw any stone, stick, SNOWBALL, egg, bomb, missile, and other substances whereby any person is hit, or any window broken or any property injured or destroyed."

No sentence (including this one) with both the word missile and snowball makes sense. There goes my dream of having a snowball fight (preferably just like the one in the movie Elf). I guess I will just have to be a rebel snowball vigilantly and risk getting a misdemeanor (yeah, thats right you get a misdemeanor for tossing a snowball).

Does your city have any strange laws? By the way Merry Christmas!

For Scarf Lovers Everywhere

2011-12-16T16:10:00.000-08:00

For an avid scarf wearer, like myself, this video is awesome. I have watched it over and over in an attempt to memorize some of the more complex ways to tie a scarf.

What to get your super cute ten-year-old sister for Christmas

2011-12-15T16:44:00.001-08:00

What to get your super cute ten-year-old sister for Christmas by beatnikati

My little sister, LauraMae, is my favorite of my siblings to Christmas shop. Here are a few items I am considering for her Christmas present this year:

1. Glitter Gold TOMS and matching nail polish because she is a star.

2. A cute swimming suit because she is a surfer.

3. A cross body bag to carry all her essentials while she is skateboarding around town.

4. Lip gloss because it is the perfect amount of make-up glamour for a ten-year-old.

5. Rainbow flip-flops because they are a California girl staple.

6. Pink Sugar perfume because it is sweet, girly, and young just like her.

7.Urbanear headphones to listen to her favorite tunes in style.

What do you think? What would you get LauraMae if she was your sister?

Another Favorite

2011-12-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite summer songs for a winter day (which is actually kind of strange for the usually mild weather of Southern California). I just adore Jenny Lewis, don't you? She is so full of charm and honesty, an unique combination. This performance displays her personality perfectly.

Bird and a Paper Doll

2011-12-13T20:30:00.000-08:00

Here is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. I hope you enjoy it, tell me what you think of it.

Have a Very Sanders Christmas

2011-12-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Sanders Family took pictures for a Christmas Card yesterday. These are some of the gems from the millions and millions of photos taken just to get one good enough to send to all our family and friends. My Brother, Jackson (the younger one), and I decided we were the best looking ones in the family and had our own fashion shoot, but my other brother Jeff decided he was in reality the hottest Sanders sibling and jumped in. Taking family pictures every year is quite the experience for better, or for worse, but no mater what I still love my family.

Dear Santa,

2011-12-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

Every year my usually wonderful mother makes my siblings and I go take a picture with Santa Clause. While this was adorable and exciting when we were five, as a twenty year old, a eighteen year old, a sixteen year old, and a ten year old it is way less exciting and much more humiliating. It is fun to look at almost twenty years of Christmas photos and see how much my siblings and I have grown. The first photo is a picture of my brother, Jeff and me when we were but wee children (about four and three). Aren't we twee. The next is this years photo (note since I am the smallest besides my sister that I get the distinct pleasure of sitting on Santa's lap). Though every year my mom tells us it will be the last year of photos with Santa, I fear this is a tradition that will never die.

Oh, Baby!

2011-12-06T21:22:00.000-08:00

It seems like all I have done for the last week is babysit, so there hasn't been anythings significantly more stimulating than some dot art and a game that involves a little girl "making a dress" for me, which really means she covers me with all the blankets in the house, forbidding me from taking them off tell I rebel in a desperate attempt to breath.

So since I will not be posting about the wonders of dot art or the inspiring creativity of children I am turning to a new found obsession of mine. I have recently discovered lipstick, and not just any lipstick, but the stunning creations of Poppy King founder of the brand Lipstick Queen. I have always been a fan of the classic red lips, but have always opted for Benefit's Benetint (rose colored lip stain) and lip balm for daily use. Though the lip stain is still a staple in my daily make up agenda, I have ventured into more exotic options like Lipstick Queen's Saint and Sinner's lipsticks. The Saint Lipsticks are only 10% pigment for a sheer look, while the Sinner Lipsticks are 90% pigment for an opaque look. Not to mention these lipsticks feel so smooth and silky when on. Other products I love is the sexy sheer red of Medieval and the darker tones the Black Tie Optional lipstick adds under shade of lipstick. These dreamy lipsticks and are to die for. If this little obsession continues I will probably own all the Lipstick Queen products real soon.

Are you a lipstick wearin' gal? Whats your favorite products and colors for your lips?

Here's looking at you, kid.

2011-11-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

On Monday I finally saw Casablanca. I loved it. It is no surprise why it is number 3 on AFI's greatest 100 movies of all time list. I have been trying to see all the movies on AFI's 100 greatest movies of all time list (just like Liz Lemon on 30 Rock). Since Casablanca is so high on the list I had been wanting to see it since I started on my AFI greatest 100 quest. Among a few of the films on the list I have already seen are The Graduate (at number 17), Some Like it hot (at number 22), and The Philadelphia Story (at number 44). Some I am particularly excited to see are Citizen Kane (at number 1), Psycho (at number 14), On the Waterfront (at number 19), and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (at number 73).

Take a look at the list, what is your favorite movie on it, what is a movie you want to see on it, are there any movies you are surprised to see on the list?

Lazy Days, Mondays

2011-11-28T16:23:00.000-08:00

After the bike ride I went on this morning, the rest of today has been rather anti-climatic. I am excited that the rest of my week will be busy. So for a lazy day's post I decide on a quote from the sixties style it girl (no, not Twiggy) Edie Sedgwick. Edie Sedgwick is very interesting to me, because I feel like we hear a lot about her second hand, but rarely get a glimpse of what she was really like. After reading words she said I have come to the conclusion that she was intelligent, and ultimately wanted to be heard. I think this quote captures that:

"You have to put up with the risk of being misunderstood if you are going to try to communicate. You have to put up with people projecting their own ideas, attitudes, misunderstanding you. But it's worth being a public fool if that's all you can be in order to communicate yourself."

What I find most interesting is she says "it's worth being a public fool if thats all you can be in order to communicate yourself." What do you think about this quote. Do you agree that it's worth being seen as a fool in order to try to communicate with others?

Start of the Season

2011-11-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Some people listen to Christmas music all year around, a friend of mine (you know who you are) starts listening to Christmas music November first, but I think the perfect time to start listening to Christmas music is the day after Thanksgiving. For those of you who listening to Christmas music either all year or not at all here are my favorite Christmas songs:

Death cab for Cutie's rendition of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

Jenny Owen Youngs' Things We Don't Need Anymore.

She and Him's Christmas Wish, (I love M. Ward in this song).

What are your favorite Christmas songs, or any holiday songs for that matter? Do you like the classics how they were intended, the renditions of classic Christmas songs by your favorite bands, or original Christmas songs you have never heard before?

Doll Parts

2011-11-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

In my daily internet surfing I came across this adorable game. Hipster dress up! It is just like the paper dolls I had as a little kid, just instead of the wanna be princess in every little girl that the dolls were targeted for this is for those Urban Outfitters shopppin', Zooey Dechanel obsessed hipsters. As you can see I even made one that looks just like me, complete with dishwater blonde pixie cut, skinny jeans and Frye boots. To make this extra hipster just listen to your favorite indie band while playing (I choose The Whispertown 2000).

Back to the Subzero Weather of Idaho

2011-11-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

I register for classes for winter semester at Brigham Young University- Idaho. I am taking The Middle East, The Heroic Journey (humanities), Shakespeare, Math for the Real World (gross), and Missionary Preparation (religion). Most of these classes are generals, but I do get to indulge in taking Shakespeare since I am an English major. Classes start January fourth, so right after Christmas I will pack up all my coats, turtlenecks, and boots and leave the mild weather of Newport Beach, California for the unforgiving cold of Rexburg, Idaho. While I am not excited for the weather, I am excited for my classes and to say I am in the state this song was named for, Idaho by Josh Ritter.

Yummy, Yummy, Treats!

2011-11-22T18:05:00.000-08:00

Sprinkles

Today my mom, little sister, and I went to Sprinkles Cupcakes (the original cupcake bakery) to get a start-of-Thanksgiving-holiday-treat. My mom and LauraMae (my ten-year-old sister) stuck with the classic Black and White cupcake (chocolate cake and vanilla frosting), and I got the Thanksgiving special: Orange Cranberry (orange cake with big chunks of cranberries mixed in and white chocolate cream cheese frosting). It was fabulous! It was a perfect cupcake: sweet, not too rich, with a tart touch. Yummy! I wish this cupcake was offered all year round.

What is your favorite cupcake flavor, or cupcake bakery?

Groucho Marx, Woody Allen, and Relationships

2011-11-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

The combination of Groucho Marx, Woody Allen, and Relationships could only mean one thing: Annie Hall. If you have not seen Annie Hall (1977) , you should. It is defiantly one of my favorite movies. What I really want to share from Annie Hall is this quote. So Woody Allen's character, Alvie Singer has just had a fight with his girlfriend, Annie Hall and Alvie walks up to this couple and asks, "Here, you look like a happy couple, um, are you?" And the woman says, "Yeah." Alvie then asks "Yeah? So, so how do you account for it?" The woman answers, "Um, I'm very shallow and empty and have no ideas and have nothing interesting to say." Her boyfriend then answers, "And I'm exactly the sam way."

I love this. Annie Hall is full of awesome moments, like this. If you have seen the movie, whats your favorite quote? If you have not seen Annie Hall here is the trailer:

Products I Love

2011-11-18T17:34:00.001-08:00

Product by beatnikati on polyvore.com

So I have been a little bit obsessed with make-up lately. Sephora has become a home away from home, and all my pay checks magically turn into lipsticks and other fun products. Among my favorite products are Black Tie Optional lip gloss by Lipstick Queen, Benetint by Benefit, and O.P.I.'s Nail Envy. Since pale is an understatement when referring to my skin tone I also use Coppertone's sensitive skin sunscreen in SPF 50 to keep my skin burn free and to hopefully prevent future aging. Are you much of a make-up wearer, what are your favorite products?

"I hope you see people punching each other over discounted children's clothing."

2011-11-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

April Smith

I was texting my cousin today and told her that I am working Black Friday. This was her witty retort, "I hope you see people punching each other over discounted children's clothing." Oh man, I love my family.

As if this wasn't silver lining enough I have developed a list of band I need to listen to more, or start listing to. Its ever growing but this is it currently:

The drums

The dodos

Paul Baribeau

The Whispertown 2000

Surfer Blood

Maria Taylor and Andy…

Tilly and the Wall

Slow Club

Flowers Forever

The bird and the bee

Beirut

The Felice Brothers

April Smith and the Great Picture Show

Phantogram

Jade Castrinos

Jenny Owen Youngs

The Watson Twins

Dawes

Best Coast

Sea & Cake

Here is a sample of some of the bands (just so you know, the first track is a little rough of a recording, and the second has a false start so ignore the jazziness at the beginning of the song) . What do you think, is there anyone else I should add to the list?

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Classic Movie Night

2011-11-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

The Movie Poster

Every monday night at the local movie theatre is Classic Movie Night, so last night my family and I went to see Singin' in the Rain on the big screen. It was a blast! There is just something wonderful about seeing a movie in theatres (even if it is a movie you have already seen). Though I am not much of a movie goer I want to make Classic Movie Night a family tradition. Casablanca is the next movie playing and I cannot wait to see it.

There are so many classic movies I love that I cannot choose just one, but do you have a favorite classic movie, or two, or three?

A few of my favorite things.

2011-11-13T22:26:00.001-08:00

A few of my favorite things. by beatnikati

These are few of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe lately (both old and new). Some items include a black sweater courtesy of Volcom, Frye boots, the Paloma Picasso dove necklace that I never take off, army fatigue style Levi jacket, and high rise skinny jeans. What items have you been rocking lately? Do you have a favorite pair of jeans, or a signature piece of jewelry or clothing?

Marilyn

2011-11-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

Marilyn

Marilyn Monroe is the greatest bombshell of all time. She was right amount of risque behavior, brains, and charm. I respect Marilyn Monroe for her tremendous confidence to be something other woman were afraid to be. This quote form Marilyn is simply fantastic:

"A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left."

What is your favorite Marilyn Monroe quote, picture, or movie?

San Francisco

2011-11-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

In October (pre Mia Farrow haircut) my Dad, sixteen-year-old brother, and I went to San Francisco for a very hot thirty-two hours in fog town in order to see the Picasso exhibit at the De Young Museum. The exhibit was amazing! It was awesome to see the progression of Picasso's artistic journey. Though Pablo was the highlight we got to enjoy other aspects of that amazing city. Among the adventures of Cisco we ate at my all-time favorite restaurant Fino located in the Andrews Hotel, played around Union Square, explored a gallery located in a building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and visited the Cartoon Art Museum.

To say that you are cute...

2011-11-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

To say this song is cute is and understatement of epic portion.

The man With the Beautiful Eyes

2011-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite poems by Charles Bukowski. I like this animation , but I highly recommend reading the actual poem as Bukowski intended it. I love the structure of Bukowski's poetry. It is very powerful. None the less, this animation is very cool.

Peter Pan Collars and Earrings

2011-11-08T19:19:00.003-08:00

Peter Pan Collars and earrings by beatnikati featuring sheer tops

With my recent Mia Farrow inspired haircut I have found a new love for Peter Pan collars and fun earrings. They add a nice feminine touch and hopefully help people recognize me as a girl instead of a twelve-year-old boy (trust me its not fun having a drunk man at the beach tell you, "you look like a girl, and a boy, but I love you!"). What are your ideas on adding cute touches to outfits?

Best Commercial Ever

2011-11-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

This may be one of the most entertaining things I have ever seen. Can you believe this is real?

Oh, Lola!

2011-11-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, Lola

Daisy

Last month I branch out and bought Marc Jacobs' newest perfume Oh, Lola. I usually stick to Daisy (it is my all-time favorite), but I liked the idea of a lighter Lola, since the original is just too heavy for me. I like Oh, Lola because of it's similarities to Daisy. Like Daisy, Oh, Lola is sweet, young, and flirty. Oh, Lola while having the elements I love about Daisy adds a different since of sophistication that I adore. If you have tried Oh, Lola or Daisy tell me what you think, even if you haven't let me know what are some of your favorite scents?

Winter Wish list--So Far

2011-11-05T11:47:00.003-07:00

The current things I am itching to get.

Boatneck top, $40
American Apparel summer top, $28
American apparel legging, $62
Roxy skinny fit jeans, $44
Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody handbag, $569
Ray-Ban ray ban shades, $129
Smashbox 'Photo Op' Eyeshadow Trio Dark Room One Size, $28
Smashbox 'Jet Set' Waterproof Eye Liner Navy One Size, $22
Lipstick Queen Sinner, $18

The Waking

2011-11-05T00:08:00.001-07:00

Great poetry is alway a silver lining.

Latest Reads

2011-11-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

Out of Print Clothing

I have been so lucky, I have gotten to read so much since I have had this semester off. The latest books I have picked up within the last month have been an assorted mix of whatever has caught my fancy. I started out with Toni Morrison's Beloved, then reread Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This way Comes to get me into the Halloween spirit, then picked up Craig Thompson's latest graphic novel Habibi (the title means My Beloved in Arabic), and last I bought The Look Book by Erica Stalder for the style maniac inside me. I am currently reading Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. An ideas on what I should read next? I am thinking maybe Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs.

The Living Sister

2011-11-03T16:29:00.001-07:00

I heard about the Living Sisters and their magical musical fusions on NPR in 2010 when their first album Love to Live was released, but did get around to buying it till last November. I love the Living Sisters. They are paired perfectly with Hot Coco, a rainy day, and a good book. Their sweet harmonious voices make me love to live. Though I normally go for something a little rougher like Jenny Lewis I have a sweet tooth for this sparkling trio. If this captures your fancy check out Lavender Diamond and The Bird and the Bee. If you have any similar bands I should check out please let me know. I am always on the lookout for new music.

For Those of you Back to School

2011-09-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you back to school congratulations on completing the previous year and moving to hopefully better things.

I just finished East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Its kind of the best book ever written. I love John Steinbeck writing. The narration is so candid and profound. I highly suggest East of Eden to anyone looking to read something that will give you everything you could ever want in a book. Basically this book rocks, I cannot give it to much praise. I love everything about it.

Ps. The movie starring James Dean is pretty good too. I suggest reading the book first, unless you're just in it to enjoy James Dean's beauty.

You are What you Love and not What Loves you Back

2011-08-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

As you have probably gathered, I love Jenny Lewis. I actually watched the 1989 movie The Wizard the other day just because a young Jenny stars in it. I cannot expand on my love for Jenny Lewis or this post might get...um, over the top. So I will move on to the point. My all time favorite song is by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. This song speaks a truth, that I think is so prfound, yet rarely acknowledged. You are what you love, and not what loves you back. Think about it. You can love someone, and it does not mean they love you. I think what you love or who you love becomes a part of you regardless of their love or lack there of for you. Since I love this song, it is a part of me, I feel what it says are true, yet Jenny Lewis does not know who I am, let alone love me. The song is a part of me for the sole reason I love it.

Public Radio

2011-08-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

Ira Glass

I love public radio. I mostly listen to KPCC since I live in Southern California, even when I am in the beautiful state of Idaho thanks to the magic of the interweb. Amoung great shows like Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me and Air Talk my absolute favorite is This American Life. I listen to it all the time. I cannot tell you what exactly draws me to This American Life, I just love it. My favorite episode is Teenaged Girls, which first aired in 1998, far before I was a teenaged girl. I love it. It captures the feelings of confusion, and wanting to be accepted that is so often associated with being a teenaged girl. Listen to it. I think you will like it, even if you're not a teenaged girl. If you are a This American Life fan what are your favorite episode?

Serious Slacking

2011-08-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

As my title would suggest I have been seriously slacking on my bloggin'. So here is a little update on what has been going on. I got a job at a local mall. I also finally got a road bike which I am in love with. I started a new painting and have been reading up a storm. Okay. Now for the Silver Lining. I read The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and loved it. I haven't read anything else by Cisneros, but am now anxious to pick up her poetry. But back tp the novel, The House on Mango Street is lovely. I love how the story of a young girl growing up in Chicago is told in vignettes. You get tastes of different aspects of Esperanza's life that come together to form this stunning story in full. It is a quick read and that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good book.

Morbid Conumdrum

2011-08-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

I recently finished Jeffrey Eugenides' first novel The Virgin Suicides. Though I finished the book about two weeks ago, I am still trying to figure out what I think of it. The prose style is beautiful, and I am excited to pick up Eugenides' Middlesex, but I do not know what to make of the story. Like the narrators of The Virgin Suicides the reader is still mistified to why the five Lisbon sisters would kill themselves when the novel ends. The message the author or narrators is trying to get across never seems completly clear. The story deals with some complex ideas, but somehow I doubt Eugenides' story is mearly about over-strict religious parents stiffling their daughters so much that the daughters kill themselves, or the dangers of deppresion. The story is haunting and the is writing stunning. I advise you to read it. If you have already read it let me know what you think, and what the novel is trying to get across.

Daddy

2011-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite writers is Sylvia Plath. I love her poetry, as well as her only novel The Bell Jar. If you are not familiar with her work I advise you to immediately find the nearest library and pick up anything she has written. I guarantee, no matter what is is it will be amazing. Plath is a genus who accomplished so much more in her thirty years of life than most people do in a full life time. I love this reading of one of her most famous poems "Daddy". Hearing Plath read this poem, that was based on her own father, is simply delicious.

Busy, Busy, and Rupa and the April Fishes

2011-07-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

The past week and a half since I last posted has been crazy! Between a family reunion in Utah, a brief camping excursion, a concert (Rupa and the April Fishes), and job hunting I have been one busy girl. There have been so many silver linings I do not know where to start, do I go with Rupa's AMAZING show or my love of water bottles (my exciting life revolves around water bottles) or I could rant about the new painting my dad (my father is an art collector) recently purchased or my favorite tisane. Okay, I have made an executive decision as runner and writer of this blog, and the silver lining of Saturday July 30th is Harold and Maude, or as my dad calls it H and M (can you tell that after a week and a half I have already been living at home way too long?)

So Harold and Maude is a film of absolute wonder (I did not want too say genus and sound to presumptuous). I love it. It is wonderful from the Cat Steven's sound track, to the enchanting plot and unorthodox characters. Here is the trailer, and though the trailer may seem a little bit odd, but Harold and Maude is really a fantastic movie.

Home

2011-07-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

For the past year I have been going to school in South East Idaho. I have been living in Idaho only a four days short of a year! Well, today I get to go home to Newport Beach, California. I love Idaho, but I am a California girl who desperately needs to be near the ocean. I am ecstatic to soon be smelling the sea in the air and feel the sand between my toes. Good bye first year of college, hello summer!

Silver Lining Explained

2011-07-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

Rilo Kiley is one of my all-time favorite bands. If you are not familiar with them be sure to check them out. The name for this blog Silver Lining comes form their song, Silver Lining. I love it, I especially like the line "I never felt so wicked as when I willed our love to die." I would say this is one of my favorite of Rilo Kiley's songs, but I honestly love all their stuff. Be sure to listen to Ben Gibbard's cover of Silver Lining too, and tell me whether you like the original or cover better. Personally, I think both are golden...or silver.

North to South

2011-07-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

So I am a bit of a cyclist and have been saving all my pennies in my cute little pink piggy bank for a new bike (yes, I am a nineteen-year-old, not a six year-old). Finally I have enough money, and am so excited to get my new Trek Lexa. It is so beautiful, and I cannot wait to ride it.

My best friend Tessa and I are planning on riding from San Francisco to Newport Beach (504 miles) in ten days. Though we will not make the trip till next year, plans are already being made and I hope the lexa will be making the journey with me. Check out my soon to be baby at:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/lexa/lexa_compact_2011/#

Deux (yes, I speak limited french)

2011-07-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

As an English major I love all things English. Okay, thats a lie, I still hate grammar... and spelling (Thank Elvis for spell check). The thing I love most about English is good books. Also being an addict of online shopping I love clothes (the first step is accepting you have a problem). Out of Print Clothing combines my two favorite things great books and online shopping. Out of print clothing sells comfy cotton tees with iconic book covers on them. And there is a charity bonus, for every shirt bought one book is donated to a community in need! I have the On The Road (one of my favorites) and Moby Dick (got to love aquatic mammals). Next on the List is Lolita, or maybe The Bell Jar, or maybe I will get sinister with A Clockwork Orange. Simply put, I am in love with these stylish tees. Check out the site and tell me what your favorite shirt is.

Day One

2011-07-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

Every cloud has a silver lining. Every day is a cloud, so to every day there is a new wonderful silver lining. Something that makes you happy to be alive. Today's silver lining is the song "Ghosts" by The Head and the Heart. I first heard about The Head and the Heart last December. My roommate had seen Dave Mathews and Tim Reynolds live and The Head and the Heart were opening. She told me I would love them and ever since they have been one of my favorites. Though I love all their songs "Ghosts" just has seemed to be the one I find myself coming back to lately. Hope you enjoy, this is a great song.