Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

So, I was dying to get bangs. It became an obsession of mine last week. I pulled from a couple of sources of inspiration and overall I am very happy with the results. I feel like I have an actual style now and look a little bit more mature.

LOVE her... and recently her hair too.

Fellow blogger Keiko Lynn has amazing hair and hair tutorials.

This is one of my favorite bloggers of the rockstar diaries. She is so adorable... I can't quite pull off the straight front bang (yet.)

Bad case of the Mondays (Laundry Addition)

So, in a nutshell I have been studying for 2 tests all day that I have tomorrow.... but here is some comic relief that I am now able to laugh about when I took a break to do some laundry. Above is my desperate email to my mom. I'll let you know how it goes....

The Johnny Cash Project

Eight years ago we lost "The Man in Black."Johnny Cash in my opinion, was the coolest artist ever. He was more than a song-writing genius, he owned his brand. Cash only wore black on stage, he performed in prisons, and overcame dark days of addiction, all of which contributed to his nickname, "The Man in Black." Even though he was a devout Christian man who was married for 35 years, he had an edge about him that was missing from the Country world. His last single was called "Ain't No Grave" has an iconic line for his fans in light of his passing,"There ain’t no grave can hold my body down." To honor Cash, Google Chrome came out with The Johnny Cash Project. It allows fans of "The Man in Black" all around the world to design a frame of his last music video. It is such a beautiful way to connect fans virtually to have a personal part in Cash's last work of art. I love this idea, and I hope more artists join in virtual tributes for their fans.

Lindy

Stephanie: "Auntie, what have you learned in your 95 years of living that you could share with us?"
Linda: "Nothing...mind your own business."

This past weekend my family celebrated my Grandmother's birthday. I couldn't attend because I had to get back from my weekend trip to study but, my mom snapped this adorable shot of my great Aunt Linda. Linda lived in the Bronx, NY until she was 94 (she is now 95) and has feisty Italian blood through and through. Not a week goes by that I am not sent a hilarious/mildly abusive comment from my mom. Happy Thursday day everyone!

DADT

Two days ago DADT was repealed and GBLT men and women will be allowed to openly serve in the military. I knew when this happened I had to blog about it, but I needed some time to collect my thoughts and think about what it means to me when I look back at this post. I remember when I was younger watching the Real World: New Orleans and there was a housemate who had a boyfriend in the military and how they blurred out his face when he came to visit the house. I had no idea what "don't ask, don't tell" was, but looking back, this man was protecting his job and life. I was raised in an open family, my mom never allowed us to say "gay" in a negative way and when I was in middle school my mom told me my uncle was gay. I knew what it meant to be gay and it didn't bother me in the slightest. The concept of someone liking men or women when they were of the same sex had no effect on me, I didn't feel hate, sad, or confused. I was taught it wasn't "special," they are people just like us. When my life long friend came out to me over a year ago I was more hurt she never felt comfortable enough to tell me. I wasn't shocked, but I wasn't expecting it. Sexuality is not something I have felt the need to classify in someone. I am proud to say that the older I have become, the more outspoken I am about equality for the LGBT community. Growing up in school I did feel a very strong "right-wing" presence, but my best friends were the loudest in opposition. Being the President of the Young Democrats, a local Democrat politician's daughter, and President of the Gay Straight Alliance are not ways to hide your beliefs. Still, I remained silent and polite in the background even though I too was raised with the same beliefs. I can honestly say if there is one thing I could go back and change about my high school experience it would be to get more involved in the social issues so near to my heart. I wish I could have stood up to those ignorant bullies, participated in the day of silence, and educated myself earlier. Hindsight is 20/20 though, so I have to count my blessings. Change is coming. Gay marriage is legal in New York and the DADT era is over. I remember when I was in 5th grade and my mom voted for George Bush over John Kerry. I vividly remember asking her why she voted for GWB when he did not believe in gay marriage and John Kerry did? My mom told me that even though we believed in that, she didn't think it was an issue that was going to be solved anytime soon. As a little girl, it never dawned on me that even if you vote for something- that doesn't mean it will change. I hope that in this coming election and everyone to come that gay marriage and gay rights ARE important and relevant. I am ready for this issue to be one of the past, and Michelle Bachman for that matter. :)

Weekend Lovies: "I have my possessions, but I may have lost my mind."

I packed my bags and left my troubles behind me this weekend. Literally, I managed to lose my house key and Hokie password on Thursday in two separate places. There is only one word to describe behavior like this and that is "shambles. "Charlottesville, Va was a blast and (shocker) I only managed to return with pictures of dogs. Note to self: stop taking so many pictures of fluffy creatures. Not to worry though, when I returned someone had found my Hokie passport in the street in front of my house. Also, I apparently thought I lost my house key only to find out that when I was leaving to go out I mistook a quarter for my house key and the real key was originally where a left it. I have my possessions, but I may have lost my mind. The jury is still out on me, but enjoy the pictures!

Breathtaking drive home... I love the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Proud Auntie of Baby Shadow! She is such an angel.

She is so smart and I hope her left ear stays like that forever!

The Last of the Watermelons

 Happy Hump Day everyone!

Last night I had quite the adventure carving a huge watermelon that I can in no shape or form consume before I go away for the weekend, but I still had fun taking pictures! If this was/is the longest week ever for you like it is for me I suggest listening to the latest and greatest from the beloved Florence + The Machine!

Florence and the Machine- Shake it Out

This is the big lady in all her glory. I asked my parents for a watermelon (imagining a small one or quarter cut) and wound up with Bertha featured above.

This is when my panic set it. Sh!t this is a lot of watermelon.

Cute little baby corners (the messiest to eat.)

Om nom nom

ArtSaY