Recession Resolutions and Confessions of a New Yorker Consumerist

So as a result of the recession, and my addiction to shopping, I have resolved to not buy any clothes or shoes for 3 1/2 months starting Sept 1st. We'll see how this goes...

One thing that I have found very difficult about living in New York is not getting sucked into the consumerism. I would challenge anyone living anywhere to see if they could go one day without thinking about buying something (except food or water) and bet they couldn't do it. I would challenge a New Yorker to go one hour and bet they couldn't do it. Every day I'm surrounded by billboards, taxi ads, subway ads, and EXTREMELY well dressed people that all tell me if I don't go buy a new jacket I will not be as happy as they are. I don't watch TV and I rarely read fashion magazines, and yet I cannot escape the fashion consumerist culture.

Now of course I know this isn't true. I can make a lot of choices to not consume, yet for some reason I am under the impression that I NEED make up and hair products and new jeans. Just last week I bought a designer Kate Spade bag (In my defense it was leather and 50 percent off) for 200 dollars. I later bought a pair of 180 dollar designer jeans (they were so cute and I had birthday money...) But as much as I thought that bag or those jeans were going to make me feel more complete, when your wallet is empty afterwards and then you see the PERFECT shoes to go with the jeans...you feel empty again.

One of my favorite books is Walden: Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau. The man basically decides to abandon the consumerist culture that he sensed growing centuries ago, by living in the woods, building a house, gardening and trying to be self-sustaining for a few years. This type of lifestyle appeals to me because I see how stuff can just eat you up as it makes you want more stuff. Henry says the "The man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest." And I DO get pleasure from big grass fields, roses, sunsets, music, and clouds the way I'm sure Henry did, but man those jeans were cute.

My fiance has agreed to be my official shopping police, and to help me has agreed to do the same. I'll let you know how it goes...I'm hoping to gain more from this than just the money I save.

Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations

So this winter I saw a lot of movies....more than I usually see in a year. But there were so many good ones and I didn't have much to do, so there you go. Plus where I was staying, matinées were six dollars! I saw:

Australia A-
Bolt A-
Doubt A
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button B-
Gran Torino A+
Frost/Nixon A
Slumdog Millionaire B+

Now, I guess in most categories I have opposite taste of the Academy but read my thoughts and
let me know if you agree.


Australia: I thought this was a great movie! The critics said it was too long, covered too much
stuff, but so did Forrest Gump! So did Benjamin Button! Plus, I thought this movie had a lot more depth than Button, a nominee for 13 academy awards including best picture (which I will get to later)! This movie was a love story, a story of justice, clashing cultures, racism and doing what is right despite what other people think. One thing I did not expect in this movie from the trailers, was her special relationship with the boy, Nulla. The pull she feels between letting him go to be with his people and her own desire to love him and protect him is delicate and powerful. The motif of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was original and moving. Plus hot actors, great costumes, great editing and color (as is expected of Baz) , what's not to like? I do agree that while relationships in the film were moving some of the characters were not very developed and you didn't leave feeling like you knew them intimately. And of course, it could have been a bit shorter.

Bolt: I am not always so keen on Pixar movies. Yes they are clever for all ages, yes they are creative and cute and funny, but often I find that all the funny lines are given away in the trailers
and the movies are disappointing (except Wall-E)! This Movie, however was cute, funny and original. The set up of a dog who thinks he has super powers when he's really on a TV show is a great beginning, and the whole movie carries the creativity with funny characters, and great memorable lines. His journey as he discovers who he really is and tries to come to grips with it along with a dense but lovable hamster and a sassy cat, is classic and a great lesson for kids. But this movie is not just for kids, I was extremely entertained by it, and I didn't expect to be! I also enjoy how Bolt, played by the voice of John Travolta, actually kind of looks like him!

Doubt: This movie I was very anxious to see, and I was not disappointed! Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymore Hoffman delivered amazing performances and there charactrers were not over simplified as the evil nun, the good nun, and the nice priest though it seems like it in the first 30minutes of the movie. Rather, as the movie develops we see they are all complex characters struggling between what is right and wrong (except for Meryl who knows shes right most of the movie and doesn't struggle at all until the end). This is an awesome look into the complex politics of the Catholic church, the social rules of engagement, and the ambiguity of what is write and what is wrong. Too bad it wasn't nominated for best picture, but I'm rooting for the actors!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Ok, this is the movie that is a mystery to me. Yes it is epic, yes there is cool make up and technology used, yes bradpit is hot whether he is 65 or 18. And the movie did have some beautiful sets, costumes and editing. But, other than that...what is the big deal? 13 nominations for a film with little message other than the obvious "time is short" thing, with shallow relationships (Cate and Brad had some chemistry, but the character's relationship throughout the movie was not deepened by any experiences together except sex, and their childhood friendship) Plus this movie was looooooong and slow and the history included was not extremely poignant, or exciting. Plus I thought the set up of the old woman reading her journal to her daughter was kind of hokey and unoriginal. SIGH. I just don't understand what the big deal is and why it is nominated for best picture, best actor, best director and 10 others. Especially when there were so many other good pictures this year (especially Doubt which was left out of Best Picture, and Gran Torino which was left out of the awards completely!)

Gran Torino This movie was definitely my favorite of the season. An original film about an old recently widowed vigilante who though originally racist against his Hmong neighbors, ends up growing fond of them and protecting them against a Hmong Gang that wants the boy in the family to join them. The film is unapologetic for Walt's (Clint Eastwood) racism, sexism and stereotypes, which is why the academy might not have liked it, but yet the Hmong characters are so strong in their culture, and are presented fairly so that Clint is just one racist character...what can you do. Yet he is presented with the same humor as the people he makes fun of, making the film realistic in that people don't always just change completely because their views change. He ends up saving their lives, doesn't he? The film is extremely hilarious the entire first 3/4, especially if you enjoy harmless racist and sexist jokes (delivered right back to him by a Sassy Hmong girl and her brother). The last fourth is violent and shocking, but drives the characters to the climax they need for change. This whole movie is moving, unique and believable. Though Clint's character is a racist hick, he is lovable and multi-dimensional. Just enough so that you can't guess the end. If you see one of these movies this winter, see this one.

Snow in New York City

So I know that they didn't film Chronicles of Narnia here, but this is exactly what central park looks like in the Snow.




My boyfriend and I had a great snow day. It was coming down all day last weekend so we went out to the park, and slipped and slided down the snowy/icy steep pathways at the ramble in new york city, near the pond that has rowboats other times of the year. We were struck by how with no pavement or life in sight, witih big beautiful lamp posts. We felt like we were in a forest, with lamp posts. Much like....narnia! Beautiful. If any of you are on vacation in NYC and it is snowing, come to the Ramble at Central park. It is on the upper west side. If you enter the park around W 78th st(i don't know if there is an entrance there) and walk straight in you should find it. Walk up the narrow winding paths, just make sure to hold the rail because you'll probably go flying! Enjoy!

Love Does Not Alter When it Alteration Finds

William Shakespeare's Thoughts on Love:

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
 If this be error and upon me proved,
 I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

I just thought this to be one of the most beautiful sonnets
( I know I'm not the only one) that describes the  lasting
power of love and how sometimes what we think is
 love does not stand the test of time or storms.
Shakespeare argues that then it was never love.
This challenges me to be an ever-fixed mark!

New York Shopping: Marimekko

Welcome to my first edition New York Shopping Guide.
Today I want to introduce you to....

Marimekko
Located at 1262 Third Ave on the Upper East side in Manhattan this boutique is a chain from the a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company established in 1951. Though popular
worldwide, it hasn't hit the US big...yet.

They specialize in unique bright fabric designs which are sold as comforters and all kinds of accessories. The fabric can also be sold by the yard or stretched onto a frame to make a trendy wall hanging. Most of these photos are shrunken down pictures of LARGE pieces of fabric, if that helps you to see how large the cows and flowers are.




They also have quite adorable clothes and bags with neat patterns

My favorite bag on the website:

Here is some of the cute fashion:


Also go for the stationary, cooking utensils, umbrellas and other cute accessories. They also have fun bright colored shirts for men!

Marimekko wallpapers for your desktop available here:
http://www.alwaysmod.com/marimekko-wallpapers.html

Props to my friend Lydia who works here. :)

Trust the Spirit Inside you Romans 8:5-11

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

I share this verse a lot with Christian friends who are struggling and worrying about making a decision. "I can't decide whether to Study Abroad in France or India. I want to do God's will, but I don't know what that is!" I ask them, "Well what do you want to do?" They look puzzled, as though they have never thought of that verse. I show them this verse. "If you had a sinful mind you would not want to or be able to submit to God's will, but since you want His will to be done in his life then you live according to the Spirit and "those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." If you are praying for God's will, and you want one thing more than the other, then go for that. Remembering too, that He is sovereign and if you made a decision not in accordance with His will, though not rebelling either, He'll probably set you straight.

This idea was revolutionary to me, when I first realized it. I always thought that what I wanted, as a person of the world, must be the opposite of what God wanted for me, ignoring the power of the Spirit. God puts in us desires, so that we may know His direction.

I'm sure this could be misused and misinterpreted, but it is up to the individual to decide if they are living in the Spirit and feel life and peace. As a guideline ask yourself how you feel about what you want? What kind of wanting is it? If you find yourself wanting to lean towards a certain decision, but yet your angry, anxious, stressed and don't want to pray about it or seek God's will, maybe afraid of what he'll say. Remember verse 6: "The mind of the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God."

I have to remind myself of this verse though every time I am struggling with a decision. "What I want is not always the wrong answer...in fact it may be pointing me to the right answer." I've got to learn to trust that Spirit inside of me.

By the way, I LOVE Romans 8, so there may be a lot of postings on it.

Book Review: Lamb

I want to let you guys in on this great book that I read a few years back called "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal."

The publisher's note reads as follows:

The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work "reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more -- except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala -- and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight. 

Now...I have read the book.I am a Christian, and could see why some would be offended, but I would encourage those some to be open-minded. I enjoyed imagining Christ as a teenager, it makes him more real. Sure, the subject matter could be somewhat racy but the raciness never involved Christ. Basically, yes its controversial, but not in any upsetting way. In fact, nothing he writes really contradicts the Bible, he just flourishes on it. I definately had many moments where I laughed out loud in public reading this book. Its very clever, and i don't think Christians should be afraid to find humor in their story. (Also FYI they don't make Christ's death funny or anything like that...it's really respectful of who jesus was)  Very clever..