Lipstick On My Teeth

Bad at blogging, but I have big news!

2012-01-19T23:39:00.006-05:00

So I officially fail at being a "good blogger" but I have some really big news I felt the need to share with my blog, even though no one probably reads it. Actually, I have two pieces of big news:

1. I'm engaged!! :D

2. I'm a college graduate!

I know, very exciting stuff right?!?!

Now for the obligatory ring picture:

It's pink!!! I absolutely love it :) I love the man who gave it to me even more. He picked it out all by himself and completely surprised me with this beautiful antique ring. I probably would have loved anything he picked out (I have a bit of an affinity for sparkly and/or shiny things) but he really found a ring that captured my personal style, and of course he planned a wonderfully sweet proposal.

What? You want to hear about the proposal my non-existent reader? Alright, if you insist:

We had a "Christmas-y" day planned; (this was December 4th) we were going to see Elf (probably my favorite Christmas movie) at a small, old movie theater in my hometown, go ice skating, and see Mannheim Steamroller at Shea's (fancy theater downtown). Mike met me at church and afterwards we grabbed some breakfast at one of my favorite coffee shops across the street from the Palace movie theater. We ran across the street and caught the movie just as it was beginning. After the movie, we walked to our cars (we had drove separately since he met me at church) and he told me to wait to get in my car, handing me a wrapped Christmas present from his car. It was a copy of Elf on DVD; on the inside of the wrapping paper he had written "Guess what? You're prettier to me than anyone ELF" (the first of many puns I would read that day). Then, we drove to my apartment to drop off my car and when I got into his car he asked me if I was sure I knew where we were going because he didn't have the GPS, he told me to check the glovebox to prove his point. (eventhough I believed him) I quickly opened the glove box and he was right, no GPS, and closed it up. He told me to open it again; I was a little confused, but I opened it, and saw that there was another wrapped Christmas present in it. It was a Frank Sinatra Christmas CD, and another cute pun written on the wrapping paper, "Let me be FRANK with you: You're beautiful!"

We listened to good old blue eyes on the drive downtown. By the time we found a parking spot, we realized there wasn't much time for Ice Skating (not to mention Buffalo has been having this bizarr-o winter and it was 40 degrees out) so we decided to skip the rink and just find our seats for the show. After the concert we walked down past the ice rink, even though it was closed at this point, to look at the Christmas lights. Then we enjoyed a nice dinner at a Greek Restaurant called Ambrosia. We were going to drive around and look at Christmas lights, but it was getting pretty late and I had papers to grade, so we headed back to my apartment. We got into the apartment and put on the Christmas lights and some Christmas music. I sat down on the couch to start grading papers.

Mike kept asking me if I'd be more comfortable grading papers in my room, if I always graded them on the couch, and other strange questions (this is the point where I should have started to suspect something.) Finally he just said in a rather determined sort of way "Let's go in your room." to which I replied "Okay" in that confused, drawn out manner and gathered my papers. Almost as soon as we got into my room he left, shutting the door and telling me not to peek (this is the point where I should have really started to suspect something.)

After a few minutes he told me I could come out. As I reentered the living room, he told me Santa had come, and there were seven presents under my tree with seven packets of Land-O-Lakes flavored hot chocolate on each. He told me what order to open them in and I began unwrapping the first present. It was season one of Gilmore Girls (one of my favorite shows) on DVD, this had a rather lengthy note on it, which I won't reproduce here, but it did say that since I am willing to watch anime with him, he is willing to watch my favorite shows too. I haven't decided if I'll make him watch Gilmore Girls with me or not, but it was definitely a sweet sentiment. The puns didn't stop there either this one had "I love you! And I'm not Lore-lying!" If you haven't guessed yet, the other six gifts were the other six seasons of Gilmore Girls, with more sweet sentimental notes, detailing his feelings on his "Year of Wooing Mandy", the first time we held hands, our first real date, all ending with a final note thanking me for all that I am to him and all that I mean to him. Instead of a Gilmore Girls character name pun (which I was quite impressed with by the way) this one ended with "Now, come see me under the mistletoe. I have one more present for you. ;)" This whole time I had been asking him what he was going to do for Christmas, and what all this was for, I was still completely clueless for some reason as I moved to meet him under the mistletoe, expecting nothing more than a kiss (yes, I realize how clearly clueless I was at this point.) I went to kiss him as he was stepping away and telling me to close my eyes, I was still confused and protested, explaining that mistletoe was for kissing. He told me he would kiss me and to close my eyes and pucker up and I acquiesced. He kissed me and told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. When I opened my eyes he was on one knee with this gorgeous ring in this gorgeous box, he asked me to marry him. (he even googled which knee to get down on!!)

The next few moments are sort of a blur of complete jubilation. I remember the first words out of my mouth were something really silly and not "yes!" and I hugged him so tightly. (He tells me that he thinks my silly words were something like "It's [the ring] so beautiful!") I remember feeling his heart pounding against my chest and feeling so warm. Then remembering to say "Yes!" and getting to put the ring on and smiles and tears and warmth and joy just exploding in that moment. I was giddy, I was ecstatic, I was possibly a little crazed, but I felt amazing, everything felt amazing, it felt so right.

I managed to call both sets of my parents and tell the news, and once my stepmom found out I had to tell Facebook since she already had, and grade about two papers. I didn't sleep much that night and I'm pretty sure my jaw hurt the next morning from finally falling asleep with a smile plastered on my face. The next day I probably didn't even need my morning coffee, and I'm sure my students were wondering why on earth anyone could possibly be so excited about Freytag's Pyramid and eight in the morning, I swear I could have been giddy about teaching sentence diagramming that day if I wanted to.

I am so excited I get to begin this wonderful journey with the love of my life. I couldn't possibly be more blessed. Hopefully it will inspire me to start blogging more, I'm sure I'll want to tell about all the wedding details and DIY that I'm doing. Then again, considering my track record, maybe not.

-Mandy

Getting Ready for the End...

2011-07-14T18:23:00.003-04:00

I've been spending the past couple days preparing for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 tonight... I never thought I'd be seeing the 8th Harry Potter movie, or that I'd be nearly 22 years old when it came out! I've been with Harry for more than half my life! But it's not really over is it... ;)

The shirt is for my boyfriend to wear, I will of course be going as a Ravenclaw student :)

Father's Day

2011-06-20T23:03:00.007-04:00

I met my family at Niagara Falls for a lovely father's day picnic :) I thought I'd share some shots my stepmom took!

I wasn't present when this first picture was taken but I thought I'd show you a pic of the falls in all their glory
My dad, my sisters Reilly and Taylor, and I on the first of the Three Sisters Islands (look three sisters on the Three Sisters!!) they are really cool very beautiful little islands above the Falls with lots of little paths to explore (though it is "recommended" that you stay on the paved trails) A little gem that's a must visit if you go to Niagara Falls!
There was a little spot on the third island where you could actually step into the water, without getting swept away by the treacherous rapids (though it's technically not allowed)

Here's a view of the falls you don't see everyday, directly above them!

A veiw of the rapids through the trees from one of the Three Sisters IslandsAww aren't my parents cute? (I took this one)

Playing Apples to Apples near the rapids:
After the Falls we headed to a little restaurant called The Bedrock Eatery on Lake Erie, here's a picture of my dad and his daughters (minus 1 who was sick and couldn't come)
...and a gorgeous sunset to end the day:After we got home I finally got to give Daddy his present! (rope lights for the front porch and a free paint brush I got with a coupon inspired a neat wrapping job)
My boyfriend says it looks like blood :p everyone else thought it was cool though!

Happy belated Father's Day to all the dad's out there!

-Mandy

Hello Again!

2011-06-11T00:54:00.003-04:00

So I'm not to good at this whole blogging thing... or at least being consistent about it, but I've decided to start blogging again. :) More to come soon...
-Mandy

Reflections

2009-08-24T14:21:00.004-04:00

A Collection of Photos I've taken over the past 2 days featuring shiny wet pavement

The Dangers of Mouse Clicking on Summer Nights

2009-08-22T01:35:00.004-04:00

Staying awake until the sky turns pale,
When a chorus of birds beckons the coming sun,
I'm listening to love songs,
I swear I'm driving myself to loneliness,
Any sorrow i feel will be my own fault,
No one to blame but myself,
The world awakens in this rare and beautiful hour,
And I am well aware that no one is here to share it with,
No one is here to confirm this reality,
And I'll wait here in my solitude,
Driving myself mad with waiting,
And loving every moment of it,
One true love,
Like the dawn worth waiting for

Dear Taking Back Sunday

2009-08-18T01:24:00.003-04:00

I don't understand why you are out to ruin my summer concert going. I understand, you had a new album out and hadn't been to the area in a while causing you to sell out when you toured with Anberlin and played in Rochester. I know I should have bought my ticket earlier to that show so I wouldn't have to drive an hour only to sit outside for the opening act and the first few songs of Anberlin's set before finally buying tickets off a security guard in an alleyway. I forgave you for that because I got in in time to see them preform "Paperthin Hymn" and got in for $25 after seeing a girl pay a scalper $74 on the street corner. Your set was good and you were pretty funny, I even sang along to a few of your songs and laughed at your poor sad lyrics (really, how do you get away with "the truth is you could slit my throat and with my one last gasping breath I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt", do you know how pathetic that is). I'd say your pretty decent live and I really wasn't that upset with you by the end of the night. Now you have destroyed the Emery show too? Seriously, I've been planning on going to that one since they announced the date, and you decided to come to Buffalo the same day. Now the shows have merged an you my friends are headlining. Emery was supposed to headline, they were supposed to have an encore and a nice long set and all the other wonderful things that come with headlining, but no my friends, for the second time this summer you have to headline, once wasn't enough was it? Thanks to you the price went up too, jeez guys, I don't have $25-$30 to shell out every time you decide to headline for one of my favorite bands, I mean I'm jobless and carless right now, that's a lot of money! So if you could please stop headlining for my favorite bands so I can have the best possible show experience that would be great. I would maybe buy one of your CD's as a thank you, or at least a sticker or button or something.
Thanks in advance,
Mandy

God's Masterpiece

2009-07-12T21:16:00.001-04:00

I have this really beautiful friend, she's a relatively new Christian who's been through a lot a struggles and has a lot of questions. This friend recently asked me "since god made us new when we asked him into our lives does that mean he didn't like the old us?"
WOW
Is that a loaded question or what?
My first mental reaction to this was something like "really? Why did you ask me this question? I have to go find my bible and find all these references about how God loves us, and how he created us and how sin ruined us and put it all together and try and make her understand and make it all make sense cause its all vague and abstract in my head, and I'm kinda tired and urgh!!"
I love it when God teaches you something while you teach it to others, it's really humbling and beautiful and amazing all at the same time. So of course, God, being God had other plans for this conversation, instead of freaking out and typing some contrived "God loves you, blah blah blah" reply, God in all his awesomeness gave me this wonderful little illustration out of nowhere that I'm going to share with you.
Basically, we are God's masterpiece right, this is made clear several times in the bible, Genesis, Psalm 139, so many places point to just how wonderfully crafted we are in his image.
When I think of the word masterpiece, as most do I'm sure, immediately great works of art come to mind, The Mona Lisa, The Sistine Chapel etc.
We are like a beautiful painting God perfectly crafted and painstakingly painted by hand. So, to refer back to my friend's question is this the "old us"? Not quite, we'll call this the "original us" the back-in-the-garden version if you will. This is where the age old problem comes in: Sin entered the world. Isn't that what it always boils down to? No body wanted this to happen but it did.
That's right, God had a nice little cup of dirty paint water sitting next to his beautiful masterpiece, nothing out of the ordinary for a great artist, and he turned his back for two seconds (or maybe not at all, maybe Satan's that sneaky) and Satan creeps up and kicks this dirty murky water (sin, if you didn't catch that one) all over God's beautiful gorgeous masterpiece. What a jerk! I bet it was a really punky sort of kick to, I bet he scrunched up his face and clenched his fist and just dropkicked that cup as hard as he could.
So when we're "made new" it's really just God cleaning up all the messy dirty stains, a whole new careful, delicate, process. God doesn't mind at all though, he loves every single one of his masterpieces and wants them to be as beautiful as possible, as beautiful as he created them to be. He will spend our whole lives cleaning up our stains if we let him, and that's pretty awesome. :)

It's Summer (Officially)

2009-06-21T13:56:00.003-04:00

Which means it's officially time for the following:
Road Trips (spontaneous or otherwise)
The beach
Sunsets
Milkshakes and Curly Q Fries outside on a picnic Table
Pretty Buffalo Skies
Sundresses, Skirts, Shorts, and Tank Tops
Late Nights - at the beach, out to eat, in parking lots
Flip Flops
Sidewalk Chalk
Iced Capps from Tim Hos
Chestnut Ridge - frolfing, exploring, 100 steps, rolling down the big hill, the eternal flame
Going to the Cottage on Chautauqua Lake
Taking Pictures of nature, in nature, nature meeting what is urban
Bonfires - in my backyard
Ice Cream and freezie pops
Blowing Bubbles
Spending time with myself, my family, my friends, and my God

It's also means the following is coming up:
Taste of Buffalo
Burger Fest
Blast on the Beach
Kingdom Bound!!!!
The Fair!!
Pirate Fest
and countless other days and nights of fun to be had

I'm thinking of compiling pictures of each of these things that I took last summer and posting like once a week... like a summer photo series or something... what do you think?

Conversations That Go On In My House

2009-06-05T01:38:00.004-04:00

Taylor (16 Year Old Sister): *gives potential relationship advice*
Me: Seriously?
Taylor: What?
Me: It's weird that your trying to give me advice on this
Taylor: I know right?
Debbie (Stepmom): What's going on? Does Mandy have a boyfriend?
Me: WHAT?!?!!!!????? Noooooooooooooooo
Taylor: Yes!!!! well, no, but she will!!!
Debbie: What's his name?
Me: WHAT?!?!?!!?!?!!!??!! Really?!?!
Debbie: Well, don't you want a boyfriend?
Me: No... well... argh... seriously?
Debbie: Why don't you want a boyfriend?
Me: not right now, don't have time, I just can't cuz like um...
Debbie:...
Me: (frantically thinking of excuses) I don't have time for a boyfriend, I mean the poor boy, he'd have to deal with me being all "Um, actually I can't go out, I have to do this thing and that thing and that other thing, and tomorrow won't work either.. I think I might maybe be able to see you next thursday"
Debbie: Well he can go to all that stuff with you

SERIOUSLY?
*facepalm* I will never win this
No one in my family seems to understand the fact that I'm completely ok with being single at this point in my life
It's even worse when I go to grandma's house and get the "so, is there any young men in your life right now?"
oh family, you gotta love 'em right?

The Pinocchio Paradox

2009-06-04T15:02:00.003-04:00

Think About It.

Have You Seen This?!?!

2009-06-03T18:07:00.003-04:00

Words cannot describe how much this made me laugh

Hey, I Didn't Die

2009-05-28T20:33:00.001-04:00

I'm Still here blog world!
(your probably not)
My computer got the evil virus of death and doom and going on the internet involved walking to the library... blogging was too much work on top of that :p
but I'm back now and will resume blogging in a somewhat regular basis...
guess what!
SUMMER'S HERE!!! :D

Greater Things Have Yet To Come, Greater Things Are Still To Be Done In This City

2009-03-21T01:02:00.001-04:00

Went on a prayer walk with Relevant Worship Ministries in downtown Buffalo tonight, the first one I've been on in a while... probably since winter break, I don't even know why I stopped going... I guess school and life and stuff got in my way, scheduling, you know? I know, that's not the best excuse, but it happens sometimes. I'm so glad I went though, I almost forgot how much I love this city, and how God's working in it. Seriously, God just showed me so much about this city that I already knew, but now I see it in a new light, it's hard to explain, I guess it's more a renewal of my inner feelings about Buffalo. I always find myself come February and into March, saying "I freaking hate Buffalo!", not because I actually hate this city, but because I really don't take too well to cold weather, and it wears on me over the course of 5-6 months... frankly I just get sick of it. That's really no excuse to say I hate Buffalo, because honestly, I love it, I love this city and it blows my mind.
I've been sitting around waiting for spring, it almost becomes an excuse, no, it has become an excuse, mentally I'm telling myself "I'll do it when the temperature gets above 50". It could be anything, spending more time with God, dressing cute, visiting people, (like ones who live "all the way on the other side of campus") getting to the bank on a Friday after I get my paycheck instead of the warmest day of the next week, complaining about how poor I am in between. Seriously, it's like this disease I get every year. On one hand, I can say at least I'm hopeful, I guess a lot of people go through this and sort of fall into depression for half the year, but I at least no that spring will come, and that keeps me going, that gets me through, but that's not enough, like I said this shouldn't be an excuse.
The prayer walk amazed me though, no, actually God amazed me, and the crazy part is, I didn't expect him too, at least not there. I mean, God definitely always shows up at prayer walks, which is amazing in itself, but I guess they've become sort of predictable. Go to the same places, pray for the same things, hope to catch a glimmer of what seems like snail-pace progress. Honestly there's been times where I've wanted to say "God! What are you waiting for? Just revive this place already!". What I failed to see in these moments is that he is.
We focused our prayers this evening on this upcoming summer's outreach at Thursday in the Square (for those of you that are not familiar with Buffalo, this is a weekly free summer concert series, that has become another excuse to get drunk for most of this city) Relevant did some pretty amazing things there last summer and though I did not actively participate in it, I had such a passion for what they were doing and prayed for it often. I can't wait to see what God's going to do this year.
One of the most amazing parts of the prayer walk was when a man approached our group mid-prayer and told us he just wanted to share a testimony with us about how God is real. He shared an incredible story with us that really encouraged us. He told us how he was sleeping in an abandoned, boarded up house one night, and that everyone he was with had left. He was completely drunk, passed out in a tiny room on the third floor of this house when someone set fire to the house, thinking he was someone else. He explained that for some reason he woke up, even though he was so drunk he doesn't see how that was even possible. When he awoke he was trapped in the room, flames were surrounding him on all sides as he tried to make it to the door, all different parts of his body were catching on fire. He told us he stood in the middle of the room and tried to inhale the smoke so that he wouldn't die from being burned to death. He said he knew from growing up and what his parents and the church had taught him that God was real, that Jesus died and rose on the third day and that Jesus died for him. He said he told God that in these moments, told God that he believed and that if it was his will for him to die in this fire, so be it, but that he did not want to die, he did not want to die with people thinking he was a drunk and a crackhead in an abandoned house in Buffalo. He said that the fire around him was alive, and there was not even enough space to swing your leg in the small area he was standing in, but that in that space, there was no flames. He told us he had been in the inferno for about twenty minutes and that suddenly after praying, he saw a hole in the wall, just big enough for a person to crawl through, a hole that had definitely not been there before. He compared it to the burning bush, saying that the fire was all around it, but there was no fire in this hole, that he jumped through the hole and landed on concrete without breaking a bone. He gave all the credit to God, and told us he just had to come talk to us and glorify him. It was beautiful, and it hit me. I had been asking God to 'show up' but he's been showing up. I don't know what I was expecting, some sort of 'lightning bolt' to hit this city making everyone and their mother a Christian, closing all the bars, and filling all the abandoned buildings, but God's been working in a million smaller ways, all over the place. I mean if God is working through a burning crackden, where else is he working? I bet if we just looked, we could find a million of these stories all over Western New York!
I love that through this ministry we truly are a unified body. I love that we have conservatives and charismatics and high schoolers and grown adults, people from all walks of life coming together to pray for our city. We don't see denominations, we see people that share our love for Jesus and our love for this city. Our prayers encourage and inspire, we lift each other up with our city, often unintentionally. God's really been showing me just how unified we are... seriously, a dozen of us went to Spot Coffee afterward and different people in our group separately knew at least 3 different people in another group of Christians. It was crazy, we all joked "only in Buffalo" and perhaps that's true. Sometimes I feel like I know every other Christian in Buffalo though the few ministries I'm involved in, I'm always finding these weird, random connections, the kind God sets up. My roommate connected with an old friend of hers from a previous college and found out she goes to our church. One of the girls we sat with shared an amazing testimony about how she left school for a semester as a result of God's working in her life. It has dawned on me that God is this automatic bond that brings people together, I already knew this, but it's suddenly become more real to me, like I see him as this glue that holds the body together, overcoming race, class, gender, denomination, political views, age, everything! and he's using that in Buffalo! He's using that to bring us together and change this city!!
I could go on and on, but everything just connects together and falls into place for me here, I can't imagine it happening anywhere else. I can't imagine any other way to find warmth and light in this seemingly endless winters, I can't imagine leaving, at least not forever, I might miss what God's going to do!

Top Image Credit: The Buffalo Alphabet Project - Faces Of Buffalo
Bottom Image: Me :p
For more on Relevant's Ministry, check out their facebook page

Emo Cow

2009-03-16T20:56:00.001-04:00

Pretty funny in a stupid sort of way. Worth checking out if you know someone in the scene and don't mind swearing (this is the only one that didn't swear... haha and it WOULD be a dashboard lyric... not that I listen to Dashboard and would like know or anything... :p)
...and I just brought the IQ level of my blog down by like fifty points...

Oh, The Beach

2009-03-15T23:50:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is go to the beach and take pictures. I love looking out on the lake on my city, the place where I live and serve, the place that I can't explain why I love, but I do, the place I pray for and see this weird amazing hope for, and it looks so lovely from across the lake. It's also a great place to reminisce, to dream of summer days and late summer nights with friends, when life seemed simpler. Day, night, summer, winter, rain, sun, the beach is always beautiful. There's something amazing about it in the winter though (yes, it's still winter in Buffalo) When the lake is frozen, blue and still, when driftwood and snow mixed with sand pile up on the beach.
Today was the first real warm day we've had, it was gorgeous and after church roomie and I stopped at the beach on the way home, it was lovely, there was a little patch of sand in the middle of the beach between the two snowbanks, (which have melted quite a bit)
I sat on the sand pretending it was summer and roomie wrote in the sand with driftwood. We got some great shots too, it was all very lovely.

Bubble Wrap

2009-03-13T00:22:00.000-04:00

I stopped home tonight to get my mail and received a wonderful joyous package in the mail!! Punk Goes Pop Volume II!!! YAY!!! (and also, Punk Goes Pop Volume I which was free with the pre-order of the aforementioned CD)I may possibly write a review on it and post it here soon, but I barely have time to breath let alone blog these days....

So I popped the CD in the computer and listened to it as I started/finished a discussion board post for my poetry class that was due at midnight (which naturally I submitted at 12:16) As you can probably tell by my procrastination habits, this was a very stressful hour of rushing to complete an educated sounding commentary on Keat's Ode to a Nightingale and Ode on a Grecian Urn. So after I completed my brilliant, masterful work of literary goodness I wanted to burn off a little of this stress, you know, cool off before reading the last 5 chapters of Wind in the Willows which according to my professor I might as well not show up for class tomorrow morning if I don't. So, I turn to an age old, simple and joyous stress reliever, something that had been tempting me all night, beautiful, translucent bubble wrap lying on my bed next to the opened CD wrappers and US Postal Service envelope. With much anticipation I pop the first bubble, no sound, must be a dud I consider. Second bubble, no avail, I am soon reduced to clawing at the bubble wrap, squeezing it as hard as I can, sitting on it, and of course, dropping my poetry textbook on it. Not the tiniest little popping noise!! I ask you dear readers, (if you even exist, which I question often) What's the point?!?!?!? (Don't you dare give me some smart-alack answer like "to protect the CD's from the abuse of the United States Postal Service" I swear I'm not in the mood)What on earth is the point of bubble wrap that does not pop? and what of the irony that encased within this pointless plastic was two CD's addressing the genre of 'pop'? Why has a classic form of stress relief failed me, in fact causing more stress? Why I'm I further procrastinating by blogging about something so ridiculous? Is this the future of bubble wrap?
The world may never know, but for now, virtual bubble wrap shall have to suffice.

Glamour Magazine's American Icons

2009-03-05T18:53:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of fashion spreads, I love it when somebody takes clothes and really makes them into art, I love it when you can really see the vision someone had come to life and Glamour Magazine has met this standard in their latest issue. These photo's are a stunning, timeless tribute to women that have really shaped our nation in the past 70 years or so. While I don't agree with some of their choices, I really think over all the project is a great collection of images and fashion. Some of my favorites include:

Alexis Bledel as Rosie the Riveter I think Alexis Bledel is beautiful, she's got a very pure, almost ethereal look about her, and it's strange seeing her as someone so bold and tough, but I think she really brings something to the character of Rosie the riveter. The balance of her softness with Rosie's iconic muscle baring image really makes a statement on the true essence of a woman.

Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn
Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely adore Audrey Hepburn, her beautiful silhouette adorns the wall of my dorm room and I've been caught imagining I'm Holly Golightley on more than one occasion. I'm having a little bit of trouble with Emma Roberts portraying her, but that's my own skewed vision of seeing her as an eternal child from hours of watching Unfabulous with my little sister. I do however, still find this image beautiful, and a wonderful tribute to one of my favorite icons. I'm also a huge fan of the pink balloons, because really, what is more fun than pink balloons and a killer pair of pumps?

Alicia Keys as Michelle Obama Ok, I have to admit, I might have a girl-crush on Michelle Obama (we'll define girl crush later, but if you think it sounds awkward, it's really not)I just love her, she seems so real and down to earth, that's what I love about the Obama's in general, I can see the people behind the politics in them, and let's face it, the woman's got style. Michelle Obama is a truly inspirational woman, she loves and cares for her family and people everywhere, and you can see that she has genuine love and affection for her husband. I've notice many politicians wives tend to be figureheads, or married more out of convenience, society, or as their own political foothold, but they are truly in love and that's beautiful to me. I love that she also takes political fashion to a new level, something that we haven't seen since Jackie Kennedy, she is not however Jackie, she has her own individual sense of style that is classy, and sophisticated yet still daring that she makes her own. She never looks unprofessional, but never unapproachable either. I think it is really awesome that she is a strong woman who is providing a great role model for today's girl to look up too and Alicia keys does a wonderful job of portraying her in this spread, as someone who really has her own individual sense of style she was a wonderful choice to portray the first lady.

Overall, Glamour's artical is a great tribute to iconic fashion and inspirational women throughout the era's. Others include, Hayden Panettiere as Amelia Earhart, Paula Patton as Billie Holiday, Camilla Bell as Mary Tyler Moore, America Ferrera as Dolores Huerta and Emma Stone as Carrie Bradshaw. For the full slideshow of larger images, and quotes on what the models have to say about the icons they are portraying, you can check it out for yourself at Glamour.com

InterVarsity Blog

2009-03-02T16:45:00.001-05:00

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Buffalo State is a super awesome growing group that I am proud to be a part of! We just put a blog up and you should check it
here!!

What My Charlotte's Web Paper Would Look Like If It Was Written By My Roomate

2009-02-25T14:50:00.001-05:00

So I have a paper due in approximately 9 hours and 8 minutes on Charlotte's web. Roomie thought she'd be a doll and do it for me, since I was oh so busy studying for the exam I have tomorrow, she also decided that she needed to adapt her language to make sure it sounded like I wrote it, when I asked her if she was writing it as if I wrote it or as if I spoke it, she just giggled. Upon sitting down at my computer, the following is what I discovered upon the screen:

Charlotte’s Web is an awesome story. Like totally awesome. Plus a PINK pig. I mean c’mon pink is like the coolest color ever. (If only other people felt that way, then the world would be a better place to live in.) But anyways, there’s this pig named Wilber who is like a runt. Fern’s father really wanted to kill Wilbur, but who could do that to a precious little piggy. I mean, I’m not going to touch one of those dirty things, but they’re pink. Why kill something pink?!?!? Anyways, Fern goes on a crying spree and like protects Wilbur from the axe. That is like so cute. I would protect my kitties from anything. They are so cuddly and cute. I love to pick up the baby kitties and pet them so much. Anyways, Wilbur becomes Fern’s new pet. She took him to school once (or was that just the movie), well he was a ruckus just trying to stay hidden inside her desk. He must go live at the Zuckerman’s farm. I mean it’s not that harsh because she still gets to see him like every day, but he’s not at home with her. I mean, like what if my kitties had to go live at another house. Oh noes, I would just cry a million tears. Like the time I broke my brush and ahhhh… so sad. I have to get a new one. Anyways, long story short. Wilbur becomes friends with a spider named Charlotte. Eww I hate spiders. If I see one, I call one of the boys to come down and kill it. Anyways, Charlotte wants people to really like Wilbur, so she writes “catch phrases” about Wilbur in her web. It’s so adorable. She like writes, or er sews? Words like “Radiant Pig” and “Some Pig”. Oh gosh. Everyone from everywhere comes to see this pig. Pig goes to fair. La did a do. The End.

(and yes, that was only in the movie)

words to think about

2009-02-22T01:37:00.001-05:00

Mad Men

2009-02-21T12:53:00.002-05:00

"The Future of Advertising"
I think this basically speaks for itself.

I'm Back! (for real this time)

2009-02-21T03:35:00.000-05:00

yeah, so you know how I just kind of basically stopped blogging?
yeah, well, I'm gonna start again, it's obviously for real this time, I mean look at that sweet layout I made, I'm obviously back, with a sweet layout like that.
Currently:
roomie is super hyper/happy and it's pretty hilarious, we enjoyed juice boxes together and watched Anastasia it was great, and now I'm going to bed, I'll probably blog soonish, like tomorrow or something.

I Love Kingdom Bound

2008-08-05T13:20:00.002-04:00

ok, for those of you that don't know, which is probably most of you, but nobody reads my blog anyways so I guess it doesn't really matter either way, Kingdom Bound is a really amazing-tacular 4 day Christian Festival at Darien Lake amusement park, and it's awesome because I basically overdose on a bunch of my favorite bands, get completely exhausted, buy way to much stuff, and love every moment of it... except maybe the moments I spend running from the Park Stage to the PAC because two amazing bands decided to overlap their time slots.
My Kingdom Bound adventures started last Thursday, when I woke up early enough to see the sunrise and rode out to Darien to volunteer on a Load-Out shift. First of all, let it be known that if I am seeing the sunset, it is because I stayed up too late, I definitely do not wake up that early. Our group was assigned to the Houghten College Park Stage. I started my morning building snow fence, something I really am not qualified to do, basically you lift this giant blue cowbell which must weigh at least 60 lbs. and slam it down on a post repeatedly. Of course, I didn't do this singlehandedly, then I probably would have passed out, but it was still positively exhausting and got two blisters, then we wrapped big orange snow fence around the posts and secured them with zip ties, which I love. I really enjoy going up to the fence and talking to my new friend Joe the security guard, bragging to anyone around that I have blisters because of this fence. It makes me feel important, which probably isn't very healthy for my ego. I also helped build the actual stage, screwing the legs onto the deck, and helping put the tent bit up. It made me feel really cool and I'm kind of excited that it didn't Collapse.

So Monday was the first day I went to the actual festival which started on Sunday, which was my 19th birthday. I didn't go Sunday because my parents got me tickets for Monday Tuesday Wednesday after five for my birthday. Leeland played a very very short set Monday and they were amazing, they played Tears of the Saints which is my favorite song ever of all time, I also met them, which made my day. I love them. I'm fairly certain Leeland is my favorite band, I'm a very indecisive person though so I have trouble figuring that out, but I really really love them a lot.

I also saw Skillet Monday, they rock my face off, they were awesome, even better than last year, seriously hardcore. I love Skillet, but not as much as Leeland. I also saw a little bit of Thousand Foot Krutch, I would've liked to see more of them but I would've missed Leeland which would have been a tragedy. I saw a few minutes of Third Day, and they were awesome, but I was so beat that I couldn't really enjoy the wonderfulness of it and we left early. But yeah, it was awesome.

Thursday was the most Funmazing day of all because that was the day that Leeland played at the park stage. I went an hour and a half before their show to talk to my new best friend Joe the security guard, who had told me that he would let me sit on the other side of the barrier for Leeland. Unfortunately Joe was not there, so I talked to the other security guards and they said Joe wasn't coming until 8:30!!! I was very upset because Joe had said he would be there and they were telling me he wasn't coming until after they played, but the security guard who is now known as "little Joe" talked to Joe on the radio and let me sit on the other side of the barrier!!! It was awesome!! I was mesmerized by the wonderfulness of watching Leeland perform. They are so amazing live, I just feel the presence of God so much in their music so it was an incredible experience. After the show Joe let us backstage to chill with them, it was awesome, so so so awesome. After the Leeland show we decided to ride the Superman and we were 3rd in line when they decided to close it because of lightning, it was kind of a bummer. Then it started pouring like crazy and we got soaked, they even canceled the Seventh Day Slumber show :(. Luckily we managed to stay kind of dry because I had friends working the Enemy Opposition merch tent. We rocked out with the boys of Enemy Opp. to random songs about rain (Umbrella by Rhianna; Hillary Duff's "Coming Clean" etc.) It is hilarious to see guys rocking out to Hilary Duff, I'm not kidding. Then when the rain calmed down a bit we rode the Merry-Go-Round because it was the only ride open in the park. It was a great day.

Wednesday was pretty fun too, I showed up late so I missed Fireflight, but I got to rock out to Disciple and it was awesome. I tried to catch the end of Delirious? but I walk slow and stopped to get a soda on the way and ended up seeing all of half the last song. After that I had to start my load out shift and unfortunately did not get to see the amazingness that is Newsboys annual closing show with their crazy dueling rotating drum sets. The load out shift was positively exhausting, lot's of unscrewing and carrying pieces and other things that lead me to exhaustion. I didn't get home until 4 am and almost hit a deer on the way home. It was ridiculous. Kingdom Bound was still awesome though, I can't wait until next year!!

This is what I do with my life

2008-07-27T00:59:00.001-04:00

Holy Blog Of Doom, Batman! I just checked and I have not updated this since Hammertime was in the charts... You would not believe I spend all my time in front of a computer. I prostrate myself in sorrow and beg thy forgiveness..

I am not going to post now with any regularity, waiting for the onshore winds, just generally being asleep, dreaming and chancing to society in general, my day often feels wasted from midday to well after sun-down. I am not growing up. it will be fun fun fun till they take my TBird away.

I send you kisses although very chaste ones. Go with God, good friends. I will write more to certain yous; but it might not be you in particular who I write to.

I got this from The Lazy Bloggers Post Generator
because I'm a lazy blogger...
with a layout that hasn't been relevant to my life since December 07
I think I'm gonna go work on that now even though I'm not feeling inspired

2008-07-18T00:23:00.001-04:00

wow, I'm really going to work on updating this more, but I just found something ridiculous
Basically it's a $50 manila folder.
yes I realize it's made out of a really cool fabric made out of plastic bottles but still, it's basically a $50 manila folder
But I guess if your dumb enough to by a MacBook ~~air~~ anorexic, (it doesn't even have a cd drive!!) you're dumb enough to by a $50 manila folder to put it in.

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/laptop/steve-sleeve/

Repeatedly Getting Hit In The Face With A Ton of Bricks

2008-06-07T21:47:00.001-04:00

OK
So it's official, I'm changing my major.
I seriously never thought I'd say that. I always had this "I'm not going to be one of those people who doesn't know what they want to do with their lives and stays in college for five or six years' I had focus, ambitions, dreams, a plan, I even had a back-up plan.
I guess I am one of those people, though I could probably still get by in 4 years, not that I even want to, I'm pretty sure I could go to Buff State for at least 5 more years of my life and not be disappointed, at the beginning of last semester I actually attempted to figure out a scheme where I could 'go to Buff State' and live on campus and not go to classes, needless to say that didn't exactly work.
This isn't going where I wanted it to go...
All through High School I've been very determined, well, I've always been very determined, but in my freshman year of high school my future plans were finally realized while reading an issue of TeenVogue (in retrospect, it probably wasn't the best place to be in to determine the rest of my life). I was going to be a fashion designer, I was going to go to Parson's, a very expensive school in NYC. I was going to be famous and rich. I might be being to hard on myself, it's not quite that selfish. I've always been a bit of a radical, and I was planning on single-handedly revolutionizing the fashion business. I was going to have positive body image ad campaigns, and I would refuse to conform to the 'sex sells' mentality. I recall even having an idea to build a non-sweatshop factory in Africa, to train the people to make clothes and give them fair wages, I was going to build a school too, to send the kids too, and of course I was going to have enough left over to have the most envied shoe collection in the world.
Fashion just always seemed right. I've loved it as long as I can remember. Dress-up was my favorite childhood game, and my I had an exponentially higher amount of Barbie clothes than actually Barbies, whose 'games' consisted of as many scenarios I could think of resulting in the maximum amount of outfit changes per day. That girl did everything. I handed my first 'fashion sketch' to my grandmother at age 3 (so I'm told, I don't recall this, it may have been closer to age 5) of a princess dress, explaining to her that she was to sew it for me and that was what I was being for Halloween that year, and I always loved to travel, not just anywhere, but too far away places, cultured places. Thoughts of yearly fabric shows in Paris and business trips to London and Tokyo put stars in my eyes.
I had big plans.
but here's the catch:
God has even bigger plans for me, bigger than I can even imagine
I'm not entirely sure God has the same shoe collection I had in mind, but there's always necessary sacrifices to make when one chooses to take up their cross and follow his will, which always even out in the end. I know this not only because there is a myriad of evidence for this throughout the bible, but throughout my life as well. I mean even in the past year and a half or so, gosh, even in the last semester, I have been so incredibly transformed by him, and I couldn't be happier with my life or where it's going.
Here's a pretty big example, I wasn't even going to go to Buff State. I mean, absolutely, positively, not not not going to Buff State, it wasn't my last choice school, it was my last resort school. The counselor said I needed to apply to a 'back-up school', preferably something in SUNY I knew I could get into. Buff State's the only SUNY school with a fashion program, and that is the only reason I applied. I needed to get away from home and pursue my big shiny gleaming future. Turns out about a month before I "needed to have all my applications in" I realize that the 'portfolio' I had assumed would be a collection of fashion sketches actually was supposed to be a full-on art portfolio. Turns out I'd overlooked that Parson's has what they call 'Freshman Foundations' a year of basic art classes before you go into your major. I wasn't about to pop out an entire portfolio in a month and still manage to have the slightest idea of what was going on in AP calc, as well as all my other classes, not to mention I wasn't thrilled about taking a year of just art, I wanted to jump right into my major. It was down to Buff State and Philidelphia University. Buff State would mean that I would continue to live in this 'godforsaken' city, PhilaU wanted me to take Gym Class. I thought Philly would be cool though, because there was a lot of homeless people there I could help, and my favorite stores headquarters were there and they gave a lot of internships to the students. (I laugh at this looking back) It didn't matter too much because I was only going to either school for a year and then I was transferring to Parson's with
About a month or two after my dreams were lying in pieces on the ground (or so I thought) I went on a "Buffalo Missions Trip" most of which was spent on the west side of Buffalo (I know, that is soo suburban). I learned a lot in that weekend, about privilege and poverty, about refugees, about Buffalo in general. I learned that the west side Buffalo was the second most diverse place in the state (next to NYC) because of the refugee population. We drove around on a 'tour' and I noticed all the murals and different cultures, I learned how the neighborhoods were slowly improving, how I could help that happen, I learned about white middle class citizens who purposely choose to live there even though they could live somewhere 'safer' in the suburbs. Buffalo wasn't as bad as I thought. This became a primary reason for my 'being ok' with going to Buff State, I figured I could maybe volunteer to help refugees or something in my spare time. This, coupled with my love for Elmwood, thanks to Saturday shopping trips with my grandmother, visiting Spot Coffee, Talking Leaves, various consignment shops and of course, the fabric store, shaped my decision. I also found out Buff State had a 3-1 program with FIT, so if Parson's didn't work out for some reason I could definitely graduate from 'the other fashion school' in New York. If that wasn't enough to convince me, they gave me a scholarship and it was pretty inexpensive for me to go there.
It all makes sense now, little did I realize at the time, God was calling me to Buff State. I remember praying for his will in my life and wondering where the heck it was (as it was hitting me in the face like a ton of bricks). My first semester was a little off color. I took a ridiculous Saturday morning sewing class, and I ended up dorming in a hotel, a strange surreality between dorm life and commuting. It was great and I don't regret it at all, but there were times when it brought me to dark places. I would get back to the hotel early everyday not having any really close friends on campus, or much reason to be there after classes were over. I went to Intervarsity, but there was this big gap in the middle of the semester where a bus ride back to my room just seemed like the better option. None of my friends were back from campus yet, so I was pretty lonely, I turned to the TV more often then not, which was little but daytime talk shows and soap operas, neither of which were really good for my state. I started falling into old habits, namely laziness, and my thought life became so off, I was spending very little time in the word and my focus was not always on God. I started coming back to Intervarsity, I was going to parties with them, these people were really accepting me and making me always feel welcome, it was just what I needed.
The night before I moved onto campus I was at the last meeting of the college aged youth group at my church, my pastor was discussing how the format was going to change, his vision for the college ministry, what we could do. He mentioned trying to start 'Life Groups' on our campuses. These groups were based on journaling through scripture in 'Life Journals' and meeting weekly to talk about it. I immediately put that thought of starting one out of my mind, I made up any excuse I could to convince myself I couldn't do it. The next night, my first night living on campus, a close friend of mine came into the room during my quiet time and noticed the life journal, conveying to me how she really wanted to start getting into the word everyday. I showed her the read the bible in a year plan and she said she needed one of those. I told her I could get her a journal for her, then I told her how my pastor had mentioned starting small groups and asked if she wanted to meet weekly to talk about it. She was in, and my roommate immediately jumped in on it too. An opportunity to go to small group leaders training through Intervarsity came up shortly after, all of the sudden everything was being pieced together, God had a purpose for me on Buff State's campus, I realized I had been called there, everything just made perfect sense. I threw myself into Intervarsity, I got to know everyone, and got involved as much as I could. My grades suffered a little bit, I wasn't thinkingi about my school work for the first time in my life. I've just been in awe of how this all worked out, I still can't believe it, I've never felt closer to God, I can actually see when his will is hitting me in the face like a ton of bricks now, which is awesome. I have such a passion for Buff State now, I love it.
Just like God called me to Buff State, he's called me to switch my major. I know I had big plans for fashion but they wouldn't work out for me. I've been wrestling with this a lot in my mind, thinking it's really no big deal what my major is because God can just call me to whatever he's going to call me too regardless, and it's too much of a hassle to switch, and it will disappoint my parents, and I really love fashion, and I've collected so many books and magazines and sewing patterns I might as well use them. As any human being I had about a million excuses and had just about decided not to make the change. I was praying on it that day, and that night I was in the word and guess what?
God's will hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. Right there, plain as day in black and white I read:
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." ~Proverbs 14:12 NLT
I just sat there in awe, I read it again to make sure it was really there. It was a moment that I think can best be described by the word WOAH, several times.
That's what I get for thinking about not listening to God when I finally realize what he's saying to me.
There's no turning back now, I'm switching my major to either English or English education.
Why? A lot of the most influential people in my life have been my English teachers. One of them actually wrote in my yearbook that I should become an English teacher, which if you knew this particular teacher (my high school friends reading this will) who was slightly insane, very critical and probably regarded the profession of teaching English as the most noble vocation a person could possibly enter, was a big compliment. I love poetry and literature and realize I barely read or write anymore, passions I did not intend on giving up for the sake of Fashion. My parents kind of have their heart set on me being rich still, their idea of success I suppose, so I may go with the 'plain English degree' and go to graduate school for English and doing something smart with my life that will pay well (Stephie says I could write dictionary's someday OH BOY!), maybe I'll just go with English Education because I think it would be cool to influence adolescent lives and I would get summers off. (sweet) Basically that's the only decision left to make, and I really don't regret it at all.

It's Summer Now and I Have No Life

2008-06-07T17:49:00.001-04:00

I'm going to start updating this.
I really really need a new layout

Someday I'm Going to Start A Blog

2008-01-08T01:51:00.001-05:00

So I haven't updated in about a million years
and I probably won't updated in a million more years
I'll say I will but I won't because I'm lame
I need a new layout too because I haven't lived in the hotel in almost a month, it was very sad to move out.
Have a good life.
Don't read my blog it's stupid.

Ingrid Michaelson is amazing go buy her CD

2007-11-11T23:01:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to see Ingrid Michaelson, (if you don't know who she is, she sings the song in the Old Navy sweater commercial, she also sings the song Meredith drowned to in Grey's Anatomy) it was amazing, it was totally worth missing Rock for Darfur. (don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE Darfur activist, but I don't need to go to a concert to prove it, there's other ways to raise money and support the cause, many of which I have participated in in the past)
It was so good though. It was an invite-only show so it was very chill, not too crowded, I got right up near the stage, and I swear I was just mesmerized by her. Not only is she totally adorable in person, but she sounds as good if not better then she does on CD. AMAZING. she came out wearing this adorable purple knotted knit dress with black tights and chunky knit black boots that may have been attached to or separate from what looked light turquoise chunky knit leg warmers. She was completely adorable, you could tell she hasn't been preforming to long because she had that quirky, somewhat awkward, conversational stage presence. She came on with a little ukulele, commented about how she just started wearing skirts on stage and it's a whole different ballgame when your sitting, and then introduced her fist song 'so, this is a happy song, it's about hating yourself' it was cute. Other notable comments were:
Ingrid: so this is my first time to buffalo, I like your wings
random audience member: hot and spicy!
Ingrid: actually, I prefer them mild
me: yay! (I obviously prefer mild as well)
other random audience member: you should try them barbeque
Ingrid: I will do that
------
Ingrid: So every year September hits and I start getting so excited for the holidays
Me: *some indiscernible excited noise between a squeal, a giggle, and a woot!*
Friend: Yo, Mandy, that's you!
Me: I know! Christmas is the bestest!!! (yes I'm a Christmas fiend, deal with it)
random audience member: Noooo
Ingrid: You don't like Christmas?
random audience member: not really
Ingrid: if you like Christmas, shout "I love Christmas" 1... 2.... 3
Half the audience: I LOVE CHRISTMAS
Ingrid: now if you don't like Christmas shout "I'm a Christmas hating Scrooge" 1... 2... 3....
Half the audience "I'm a Christmas hating Scrooge"
she then proceeded to claim that we won and play... umm.... I can't spell it, that Hawaiian Christmas song that's in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (awesome movie)
--------
"I want every one to close their eyes and pretend your a little girl"
(this was really funny because she forced the older gentlemen to do it as well and it was so funny to watch)
--------
random audience member: where were you born?
Ingrid: I was born in Manhattan, New York
audience: cheers
Ingrid: but I'm not really from Manhattan, I'm from Statton island, which is about 80% less cool then saying your from Manhattan.
(it is still 80% more cool then saying your from Buffalo)
--------
(while tuning her ukulele) It's gonna be really exciting for about the next 25 seconds
--------
this is pretty cool cuz a few months ago I was singing for like my mom and my aunt
--------
I'm supposed to come up with witty banter to keep you entertained now
--------
There's a couple other good ones, but I'm sure they fall under the category of 'you had to be there' she also did really cute 'trumpet solos' putting her lips together and making trumpet noises it was amazing. She really is an amazing person, she's so talented I highly recommend you go see her in concert. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel in the chilling Buffalo weather, but we got to stop at Spot coffee on the way home so it was good, Spot is my favorite, I love how it's right across the street from star bucks and there's always more people at Spot. It was a nice treat, cuz I can barely ever afford it anymore. Now I'm rambling on about unimportant events in my life... you are allowed to stop me at anytime.

Keep Breathing,
Mandy

Just A Quicky

2007-11-10T00:29:00.001-05:00

I made a new layout!!
I'll probably be tweaking it all week... I'm not to great with html so it's a process... I just make the graphics and past them in basically
I hope that's legal
I'll write about something interesting soon... probably tomorrow... no not tomorrow, tomorrow's a very busy day. I have sewing class, then Operation Christmas Child, and later, I'm going to an invite only Ingrid Michaelson concert!! (which is kinda bad cuz I'm ditching rock for Darfur, but I'm still WAY excited) I LOVE Ingrid Michaelson!
Well... I have class in 8 hours... but for some reason I'm only getting 4 hours of sleep... (the downside to living in a hotel on the OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY)

stay sweet.

As Promised: The Secret Lives of Drag Queens

2007-11-08T14:55:00.002-05:00

Yes, I realize that I haven't updated/wrote in nearly 2 weeks, that my writings been sucking lately, that I have nothing interesting to say, and that this blog is lame.
I also promised you a moderately interesting story that I should have wrote 2 weeks ago when it was fresh in my mind.
So.... onto the secret lives of drag queens since I said that's what I write.
As you should know by now, I live in a hotel, living in a hotel means that every morning and nearly every night I eat in the hotel restaurant (it's really fantastic, because they put it on our college meal plan!) so naturally, after over 2 months of being here I have gotten to know the employees of the restaurant.
So a few days before Halloween, I was sitting in the restaurant waiting for my food. My R.A. had just arrived from shopping with an off duty waiter who she was good friends with. He is assumably homosexual and they go shopping together often so this was no surprise, I knew from speaking with her that their last outing involved him forcing her to by a little red dress and some sexy patent leather stilettos for her devil costume. This time she came back with fishnet thigh highs and a sequined pitchfork. She was showing them to me and one of the hosts, who is also assumably homosexual noticed and stopped by my table as well. Conversation goes as follows:
Host: oooo slutty
RA: it's for Halloween!
me: *giggles* (so not used to this guy not being completely professional)
Host: I wouldn't be surprised if (waiter)* had a pair of those
RA: Actually he went with me to buy them
Random Waitress: So that was him dropping you off, I thought it looked like his car
Host: I swear when (waiter)'s in a dress he thinks he's this big *holds up pinky* but he's not, he's always this big *holds hands out so as to gesture pudginess, this is often seen in little kids singing Christmas songs with the lyrics 'ho, ho, ho'*
me: *giggles uncontrollably* (once again not used to the waiters/hosts talking unprofessionally)
friend who I was dining with: Yo, Mandy, your face is bright red!
everyone: looks at me
RA: Oh, she's just not used to drag queens that's all
me: *giggles evermore while trying to be defensive about the fact that it was more about unprofessional conversation then anything, and not offend anyone in the process* (this is very challenging)
Host: ooo there was some in the paper this week! let me see if I can go find it.
me: *further explains my defense now that the host is gone*
RA: *explains she goes to the drag club sometimes on weekends* It's all gay guys and straight girls!
.....
*host comes back*
Host: here it is!
RA: she looks like shes about to punch her
Host: she probably is
RA: *laughs* you know, I've never seen that one as a man
Host: that's probably a good thing
RA: *laughs*
me:*giggles some more*
Host: She's a lovely woman but she does not make a pretty man
RA: looks better as a woman?
Host: oh yes.

You think you know some people, then you realize you have no idea.... so remember, when you meet assumably gay waiters/hosts, they might just be drag queens. You know, you never really think of drag queens having actually jobs, putting on a suit and tie everyday and getting up to go to work. It's weird, but I suppose drag queens have to pay bills too.

Until next time,
Be Kind.

Why is it harder for an American citizen to get back into their own country, then into another?

2007-10-27T11:48:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I haven't updated in forever, but seeing as nobody reads me at the moment this blog exists solely for the purpose of my own amusement and therefore I have no need to post regularly.
Really all I'm doing is delay the potential for my blog to get 'discovered'
which probably won't happen anyways
In conclusion it doesn't matter when I update, despite my catchy name, (which, surprisingly, I still like) no one cares to read my blog.
Probably because it sucks.
Now onto todays topic, a nice little rant on something that ticks me off a lot.

Did you know it costs money for me to get into my own country? The other day I thought I'd take a nice day trip up to Canada and show my friends who haven't lived in Buffalo all there life the wondrous beauty that is Niagara Falls. We parked on the American side for a couple of reasons, the first being I was lost enough as it is in my own country, the second being that traffic across the rainbow bridge is ridiculous and annoying because terrorists might want to see Niagara Falls as well. So we walked across the bridge, this was really fun because my friend from D.C. who has never been out of the country in her life kept saying "Are we in Canada yet?" and was very excited as we crossed the boarder. We got into Canada no sweat, apparently we don't look like terrorists. It's the way back that ticks me off, because you have to pay fifty cents to get into your own country. I don't know why, probably a toll, but I'm sure the bridge has been paid off by now, it's been there since forever. What would I have done if I didn't have the money? I'm sure my father would love it if I called him asking for some change to bail me out of Canada. Then came American customs, a lot colder then American customs. First of all, the guy asked us if we were related, it must be said that I'm am just about the whitest person that ever walked the earth, and that the two friends I went with were Black and Hispanic, respectively. I wanted to cop an attitude and say 'Do we look related?' but you don't cop an attitude with these guys, because then you are a terrorist. After the third degree from them to make sure we were not terrorists we finally got back to this wonderful country... or whatever it is.
Tune in next time when we discuss the secret lives of Drag Queens!

I should be tired

2007-10-20T22:42:00.001-04:00

I don't know what's wrong with me, I just had Starbucks and a Coke before bed, when I'm clearly already sleep deprived. I've been drinking caffeine all day, because despite the fact that I have an 8:30 Saturday class, I went to Union Bash Friday night and stayed quite late.
What a night it was. First of all, it was 80s themed, which means naturally, I went all out. Are you ready for this? Black pumps, black leg warmers, neon pink leggings, black polka-dot miniskirt, gaudy black angora sweater with metallic sequins all over the collar, neon pink waist belt, hot pink lipstick, way to much blush, body glitter, turquoise eyeshadow, hair teased out to there with a giant pink bow in it. It was ridiculous, but oh so much fun. The night started off slow, my friend and I went down to dinner in the lobby before we left, it just happened to be the busiest night I've seen in a while and we got a lot of stares, it was quite awkward. Then we got to Union Bash super early because my friend had to go through sorority-rush-like rugby procedures involving practicing incredibly vulgar song parodies. I felt very weird sitting there with them, the songs were appalling, and I wasn't really sure how to act. As a Christian, this situation was very repulsive and awkward for me, I knew I didn't do the right thing by not joining in, but did I do the wrong thing by just sitting there? This is the problem with not living on campus, I don't have a place to go when I'm there. All my really close friends live at the hotel or commute so I can't go to their rooms to chill and kill time. Finally, Union Bash actually started and I spent the rest of the evening with Intervarsity. It was so fun, I danced, acted crazy, I got to be myself, it was wonderful. I really love the people in that club, I feel like I fit. We hung out for a really long time after we packed up and left Union Bash. I was the first to leave. I got out to the parking lot and realize I had finally done it... I had killed my car battery because of leaving my lights on. So I walked back up and asked if anyone could give me a jump, luckily someone had jumper cables and was parked in the same parking lot as me and after finally finding the battery (it's in a ridiculous place in my car) I got my car running normally. Needless to say, that kept me out even later. So I overdosed on caffeine this morning during my 4 hour sewing class, which I think actually made me more productive than usual. I only had to use the seam ripper about twice, which is much better than the usual fifty or so. I got my shirt done, a little later than I hoped, but still efficiently, it actually turned out pretty good, well except the sleeves are different lengths, but even that sort of works. Maybe I'll post pictures someday when I get a digital camera.
Maybe this entry sucks
stupid boring life of mine

New York, New York

2007-10-18T21:15:00.001-04:00

I fully regret my recent shopping spree.
I do not regret the beret, I felt fabulous all day wearing it, it would've looked great strutting down the streets of Manhattan, but Alas, I have a mere $10.80 in my bank account and I am not going to New York this weekend. See, a dear friend of mine called me a few hours ago asking me if I wanted to go to New York tomorrow night. Of course I want to go to New York this weekend! Unfortunately, bus fare is $120 and though my hotel expenses would be covered by him, I still do not have the bus fare. I wish my metro card worked for cross state trips, I would've even skipped my Saturday sewing class despite the fact that my knit shirt project is due and is still in a state of 2 pieces of cut fabric and a pile of elastic. Oh woe, oh misery, what fate lies against me that I may not travel to New York! With it's great shining pillars of progress and glamor! It's cornucopia of sights and sounds! Oh Broadway! Oh Greenwich Village! Oh 5th Avenue! Why must you tease me, sitting just out of my grasp!
I love being dramatic. The trips obviously not in the cards. This happened to me last October as well...
I'm cursed.
Oh well, I guess it's for the better, at least I'll get my project in.

Black Beret

2007-10-17T21:11:00.003-04:00

I bought a black beret today. It's been something I've been meaning to do for years, I've just never got around to it. I've never exactly been financially stable, I'm good with money, I've just never had much of it, and when I had the money, I didn't have the means to get to the mall. Now I have the means, not the money, but in honor of my second job interview I splurged a little and bought a couple warm cozy items for fall/winter. It was only $10.50!! I feel so glamorous, so poetic, so fashion, so Paris. (not Hilton, of course) I may never take it off. I'm dreaming of matching it with my pink princess peacoat and my black cashmere scarf, and the new boots I just bought. I suppose I'd pair them with my black leather (possibly pleather, I don't know they were an Amvets find) gloves with the bows on them, though I wish my cashmere ones hadn't ended up in a snowbank during a particularly sudden snowstorm during a shopping excursion last January. I'm going to look so cute this winter. I'm also very glad I got boots, cute ones, I really didn't want to go another winter all Uggs all the time, their not even real Uggs, their not even real sheepskin. I really should get one of my friends in Australia to ship them over, I know where they can get sheepskin boots mad cheap. Or all just hold out as a reason to visit once again, I miss it terribly, I miss them terribly. Back on the subject of hats, I finally found the white knit hat I've been dreaming of (for less time than the black beret, but still a significant amount of time) however, I do not have as much hair as I've had while dreaming of it and realize it will do better to wait until next winter, or when I actually get the job. Well, I'm actually on a hardworking streak lately, so I'm going to take advantage of it and try not to do my homework at the last minute for once.

Blog Action Day

2007-10-15T23:28:00.001-04:00

Ok, I have approximately 31 minutes left of Blog Action Day
Today is Blog Action Day, being the tree hugging environmentally friendly, public transportation taking, windmill loving girl I am I'm of course participating in this wonderful event. Maybe I'll be able to add another leave on the 'I Am Green' Facebook application for it (I'm already up to 74)!
Lightheartedness aside, this is a serious issue. I just saw on the news this morning that most of Georgia only has enough water left to last them 3 months. Is it time yet? Have we realized that we need to do something about this now? If the entire population of Georgia was threatened by a terrorist attack, you can be assured that the government would be on top of it. They would do everything and anything in their power to stop it, so why not this? Why isn't enough being done? I mean there are so many simple things that can be done to save the environment. Here's some things I do:
-I always recycle, not just newspapers and soda cans, everything I possibly can. Especially clothes, I don't see the point in throwing out clothes. Maybe it's because it's my art.
-I bring my own shopping bags shopping, and when I do acquire a plastic bag, I reuse it.
-I use public transportation to get to an from school everyday, despite the fact that I own a car
-I try and do everything in one trip when I do use my car
-I wear clothes several times before washing them, this is obviously exclusive of socks underwear and items that have gotten sweaty, smelly or significantly stained
-I use compact florescent light bulbs, they're more expensive, but they last longer, it wins out, it's kinda like buying wholesale goods
-I use towels several times before washing them, your using clean towels to dry a clean body thus the towel remains clean
-I only use cold water to do my laundry, it gets the same amount of clean, I also suggest using Arm and Hammer essentials, it has more natural things in it and less chemicals, and I swear it's the only thing that got the grease stains out of my clothes when I worked at a pizza place.
-I turn off lights, the computer, the TV, and even the heat when I'm not home/they're not in use.
-I don't leave my car running when I'm waiting for people etc. I turn it all the way off instead of letting it idle
-I shower every other day, unless I'm really gross for some reason it's better for your hair anyways, helps restore natural oils your hair produces to make it shiny
-I own secondhand clothing, a lot of it actually I'm addicted to Amvets
-I don't litter, if you litter I've just lost some respect for you
-I turn off the water when brushing my teeth
-I try and shop locally, Buffalo doesn't have much, especially not in my price range, but the amount of fuel it takes to ship clothing from China is ridiculous and buying locally is definitely a good option.
-I don't smoke, it's bad enough your putting it in your lungs, must you put it in our air?
Come on, is it really all that hard? Half those things aren't even sacrifices, they save you money on gas, electricity and heating bills, other things that drive us crazy. So what do you say? Will you take a green initiative in your life, and save our planet before it's to late?
Done with 4 minutes to spare.

I heart Buffalo New York

2007-10-14T22:05:00.001-04:00

I've just come to the conclusion that I'm living on my own. I'm actually living on my own. I wake my self up everyday, I put myself to bed every night, I feed myself, I get myself places on time, I'm looking for a job on my own, I'm managing my own money. It's crazy. It's not as hard as I thought it would be. I just can't believe I'm actually doing it. I'm thinking back to last year at this time. I was so scared. So worried. I didn't know where I was going, what I was doing. There was no plan. See, the thing is though, there's always a plan, God's plan, and that one worked for me. If you would've asked me about a year and a half ago where I would be at this time, I would've told you I would be at Parson's, studying fashion, living a fabulous life in one of the best cities in the world. Well, It's close. See if you would've asked me a year ago I would've started pulling my hair out and listening to Run Kid Run. (seriously, We've Only Just Begun got me through this time in my life) See, I didn't realize (though I should have, but I've never been the most organized) that you needed an Art portfolio to get into Parsons, I thought I would be submitting a Fashion Portfolio. I'm not a serious artist though, I'd love to be, but I never really pursued it. Don't get me wrong, I love art, I know all about it, a lot of people consider me 'artsy', but I don't sit around drawing still life and portraits and other things deemed necessary for a portfolio because apparently they show some skill other art forms don't. So I couldn't even apply to the 'school of my dreams'. Or I could've whipped up a portfolio in 2 months on top of school work, a job, youth group, etc. I however, enjoy getting a moderately good amount of sleep, and a low stress life.
So I'm here. In Buffalo New York. See the thing about Buffalo is, it's not as bad as people think.
Sure, our weather is awful, and our sports teams are cursed, there is absolutely no reason tourist would want to come here (other then cheaper hotel prices then actually staying in Niagara Falls) and oh yeah, we're the 2nd poorest city in the nation, but there's something about those of us that actually stay, it's like an unwritten bond; we're all moderately insane for living here and we accept that. It's for the most part, lived up to it's title of the city of good neighbors. Now, I'm really in Buffalo, see I grew up in a little bubble town suburb of Buffalo, I loved coming up to the city for art festivals and local boutique shopping, it had that city energy I always crave. Not a lot of it I'll admit, but you'd be surprised if you stayed here long enough. I've also been seeing a lot of hope for Buffalo lately, rumor has it we're finally developing the waterfront (tourists?) Someone just bought a bunch of the abandon buildings downtown and is fixing them up for stores and apartments. (yes, our downtown is basically abandoned, there is no life there unless there is a Sabres' game) We're taking in alot of refugees from wartorn countries (Did you know Buffalo's west side is the 2nd most diverse area in New York State, next to New York City?) Best of all, we're getting greener. Green roofs have been popping up, we also have and eco friendly dry cleaner, best of all, we have windmills, 8 of them, they're probably my favorite part of Buffalo, they were built on basically uninhabitable old factory land from Buffalo's steel days. I remember coming home from vacation this summer and looking out the plane window and seeing them right away, right on the lake like little tiny pinwheels stuck in the ground by a child, it was beautiful. Actually they were quite beautiful today as well, set against a little strip of pinkish sky peeking out from underneath looming gray clouds, as Lake Erie sparkled with sunset hues.
So, it's not New York, it's not the original plan, it's not what I dreamed of in High School, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Everything about this makes sense, the fact that I get to experience Buffalo on my own, like I never really have before, the fact that I'm getting a sweet financial aid deal and am going to school nearly for free (a lot better then $42,000 a year at Parsons) I can study abroad while I'm hear and take my senior year at FIT (basically just as good as Parsons, besides Tim Gunn isn't there anymore) I have more time to watch my baby sister grow up, and help my other younger sisters and my parents (and me as well) adjust to me being away and on my own. I know I wouldn't be this okay with everything in New York, I'd be losing it. Everything's working out, everything's relatively perfect. I don't even wonder 'what if?' I know I'm where I'm supposed to be, meeting the people I've been meeting, everything, and I'm staying in a really classy hotel, (college ran out of dorms, funny huh?) which is nice, I don't have to share a bathroom, I get free breakfast every morning (it's really nice too) I get to feel like I'm classy and rich. It's wonderful, it really is.

Mood: Happy... no angry... um what?

2007-10-09T21:45:00.001-04:00

Today I was walking and I saw a pigeon alongside the walkway picking at the ground as pigeon's tend to do. I first thought of a friend who once said 'Buffalo's not a real city because it doesn't have pigeons' or something along those lines, I really should write him and tell him Buffalo's a real city now. Then I noticed a huge bug on the side walk near the pigeon, by huge I mean roughly slightly larger than the pigeon's eye. Then the pigeon noticed said huge bug and got all startled, I swear it jumped back a little. It made me laugh. It was just such a human gesture, that's normally something you can expect from chimps, puppies and kittens maybe sometimes parakeets (but I think that's only because they can have the ability to speak). But you rarely see human like behavior in pigeons.
I am also strangely happy today, not that I'm depressed or anything, far from it, but I just had this great joy inside me today, the kind you get when you go to church camp and you feel filled with Christ's love, but a little different. Perhaps it was that my dear friend bought me a box of Disney Princess crayons, no, not the cheap 8 pack not even the 24 pack, she got me a 48 pack. I can't wait to use them to color in my Disney Princess colouring book. Maybe it's because some drama that I thought was going to go down never did. Maybe it's because the Dallas cowboys and their insane and quite drunk fans are no longer staying at my hotel.
Time for a side rant.
I'm not into football, hockey, yes, football, I could care less, too confusing, but from growing up in Buffalo and interacting with at least 1 man throughout my life, I have been able to conclude that; a. the Bills kind of suck and b. We hate the Dallas cowboys. This is understandable seeing as their from Texas (side note: This is not inclusive to all Texans, only stereotypical ones, I'm sure your all very nice people, and I don't stereotype generally, though Texas seems to fit the stereotype more often than not) So anyways, they were in the hotel all weekend, there was tons of cameras and fans and an autograph session and blocking off the doors and hogging the good parking spaces and acting drunk and unruly. This was mostly the fans. The hotel did feel it necessary though to give our student lounge to the football players. Resulting in some nasty dirty towels being left around and some unidentifiable sticky substance on the desk. To top it all off at approximately 2 am a quite drunk cowboys fan and a quite drunk bills fan decided to get into a drunken brawl resulting in the throwing of a fire extinguisher, resulting in a big explosion of smoky stuff, resulting in the 2nd fire alarm in 2 days to wake me up, this time since there was real smoke, I actually went outside instead of walking downstairs to make sure no one was screaming and proceeding back to my room, as is normal fire drill routine.
Hockey fans are so much better.
Well, Homework beckons... unfortunately.
Until we meet again (nonexistent) readers, peace and love.
<3Mandy

"I'ma hook you up"

2007-10-04T18:23:00.002-04:00

One of my good friends has a new mission in life; to 'hook me up' apparently I need 'someone to keep me warm at night' I told her I'll turn up the heater. See, I really don't want a boyfriend right now. Is that so hard to believe? I'm not upset with her about it (though it is getting to the point where it's slightly annoying), after all she is, as she says doing it out of the 'goodness of her heart'. Honestly, I'm waiting around for prince charming, as ludicrous as that may sound, why settle for less? A lot of people go through life messing up in unhealthy relationships, or relationships that just don't fit right. I don't want to be that girl. The way I see it, is Prince Charming's definitely out there, and he's waiting for me too. I know at my age I'm obviously not ready for marriage, or any long term committed relationship, but when I'm ready, he'll be there, and he'll sweep me off my feet. It will be so beautiful. So why would I want to ruin that by going out with random guys who arn't prince charming? I strongly beleive that God has chosen my husband especially for me, and that God will reveal him to me when the time is right. It's like the superchic[k] song, Princes and Frogs (Underdog Mix), one of the lyrics is "the frog you've got seems cute enough to kiss/And maybe frogs seem like that's all there is/But just because you haven't found your prince yet/Doesn't mean you're still not a princess.And what if your prince comes riding in/While you're kissin' a frog what's he gonna think then/So look into his eyes/Are you a princess or a fly?" I want to be a princess. I mean how terribly romantic is that? Waiting, fighting against all desires and temptations, just to make sure that you fully belong to your prince charming? It's like a freaking Disney movie. Oh, I just love Disney movies, especially Beauty and the Beast... and Sleeping Beauty. Belle didn't date Gaston, even though he was a hottie (the handsomest guy in town) she waited for her prince charming, even if he was a beast at first. Aurora? She didn't even meet any men before Phillip. They all lived happily ever after. So why would I want to screw my fairy tale up by dating?

My First Extraordinarily Lame Blog I Said I'd Never Write

2007-09-27T16:58:00.001-04:00

So, I spent today doing absolutely nothing, well, no not exactly. I woke up, went through the whole, watch the news, get ready, go to breakfast, catch bus, wait at school, go to class bit. Then I got back on a bus, went back to the hotel and sat in my room on the computer. I did do some homework, which is surprising. I also finished reading Pride and Prejudice (again), but that doesn't really count seeing as I only had the last 2 chapters left to start off the day. I don't know why I started a blog, my life's to lame for a blog. I've been sitting on the computer since about 10 AM no lie. I'm a waste of life. My hand is cramping up. I'm waiting for a friend to call me to keep me from this madness, hopefully we'll take an adventure on the rail. I could use an adventure, or even just a normal everyday event.

so yep. there's the lamest blog ever.

This is why I'll never be famous on the internet.

It's For Real This Time

2007-09-26T17:30:00.001-04:00

I finally did it, I got myself a blog. I procrastinated for a while with the excuse of not having a quirky creative amazing title. I know I'll get tired of this one, I know I'll hate it, I know I'll be the girl with the lame blog with the lamest name ever, but I have one.
I have no idea what this is going to be, probably a lot of ranting and raving and going off on these crazy random thoughts about paper clips and chocolate milk or whatever. Maybe it'll showcase art of mine, or photography. It'll probably be complete madness. Maybe I just hope it will be complete madness, I just hope it doesn't become a lame account of the meaningless, redundant happenings in my life. I hope it doesn't become that, more than anything I hope it doesn't become that. If you do happen to stumble upon this, and you notice it's become that, please set me back on a better path!
I feel the need to introduce myself... I have no idea why. You know what, I'm not going too, that's what the dull blogger with the redundant account of her life would do for her first blog. and I'm not that girl. Oh boy, now I got that song stuck in my head, if you don't know what I'm talking about it's from wicked, which is one of the raddest musicals ever, but not quite as rad as Beauty and the Beast (*sigh* if only we could all be disney princesses) Ok, well, this is probably lame so I'm going to stop this until something interesting happens.