Scored these fuschia babies for less than $50! I should have given up shoes for Lent… (Taken with instagram)
Hot Topic: Contraception, the Catholic Church, and Women's Health
In case you didn’t already know, it’s 2012.
Here I am, an independent 24 year old woman with a degree, running my own business, with no plans to get married or have children in the near future. It’s crazy to think that just a few decades ago, this wouldn’t have been normal. I’d probably be wearing a skirt, a corset, and some nylons instead of pants right now. Luckily, the fashion world is open to change; I can’t say the same about politics and religion.
So, this being 2012 and all, I’m appalled with the fact that just last week, not one woman was invited to take part in a panel about women’s health and religious freedom. I understand the religious debate over contraception— I went to Christian grade schools and all-girls Catholic high school. We were mostly taught abstinence, and if abstinence didn’t work, we were not to mess with the precious gift of life. It wasn’t until after did I finally understand that contraception wasn’t negative, unhealthy, or evil. Actually, for many women, contraception is a savior.
As the issues regarding religion and contraception continue to unfold, I urge you to take a look at this essay by Malcolm Gladwell. Published by the New Yorker in the year 2000, “John Rock’s Error” illustrates the invention of the Pill by a devout Catholic, whose efforts to create a contraceptive solution that pleased the Church ended up creating repercussions that will impact women’s health for years to come.
Interestingly, our nation is treading a similar path as Dr. John Rock did more than sixty years ago. He let his own religious ideologies decide what is right for all women when he developed and distributed the Pill.
John Rock made an error. Hopefully our country’s decision makers won’t do the same.
Ladies Night! @frannypackk @pandaxface @camille_dizon @eryne (Taken with instagram)
En peu vulgar, but… I EFFING LOVE THESE PEOPLE.
Flowers for me! I feel so loved— flowers are expensive, you know! (Taken with instagram)
That’s my kind of science.
The Science of Why Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ Makes Everyone Cry
Tension, resolution, and the ever important “buildy-ness” (which is a term I invented but is accurate), these are the characteristics behind the most extreme emotional reactions to songs:
Twenty years ago, the British psychologist John Sloboda conducted a simple experiment. He asked music lovers to identify passages of songs that reliably set off a physical reaction, such as tears or goose bumps. Participants identified 20 tear-triggering passages, and when Dr. Sloboda analyzed their properties, a trend emerged: 18 contained a musical device called an “appoggiatura.”
An appoggiatura is a type of ornamental note that clashes with the melody just enough to create a dissonant sound. “This generates tension in the listener,” said Martin Guhn, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia who co-wrote a 2007 study on the subject. “When the notes return to the anticipated melody, the tension resolves, and it feels good.”
Chills often descend on listeners at these moments of resolution. When several appoggiaturas occur next to each other in a melody, it generates a cycle of tension and release. This provokes an even stronger reaction, and that is when the tears start to flow.
There’s just about the most detailed scientific analysis of a Grammy-winning song ever at the link.
(via WSJ.com)
(via poptech)
Whitney Houston was one of the most influential voices of my life. I was working in Beverly Hills when I heard the news, and I am still in shock. Her music really touched my life, and I couldn’t express myself any other way.
Here’s my a capella tribute to Whitney Houston — I Will Always Love You.
Caught in action at Scarpetta! @chefv @scarpettabh @sixtaste (Taken with instagram)
Getting little giveaways ready for my @sixtaste BH tour guests this weekend :) (Taken with instagram)
It’s a mad, mad world. <3 (Taken with instagram)
Nerdy Kitty birthday cake! (Taken with instagram)
A Guide to High Heels
Platform, stiletto, chunky, or wedge, I couldn’t live without my heels.
I’ve hiked through Tuscany (in the rain) wearing a trusty pair of platform Zara Mary-Janes, given 4-hour walking tours of downtown Los Angeles in 6 inch wedges, and even trekked about Disneyland wearing a pair of my favorite pointy-toed pumps. I’m crazy, I know, but I wouldn’t have worn the heels if I wasn’t going to be able to handle them. (Except for the hike through Tuscany. That was completely unexpected, okay?!)
Being a size 5, it’s difficult for me to find shoes in stores. Though I’d love to prance about the shoe department and try shoes on, I’ve turned to online shopping out of necessity. I can look through pages and pages of styles and options and tell you which ones will most likely abuse you and which ones will treat you right. But, regardless of how trendy the shoe is and how great it looks in pictures, it all comes down to how the shoe fits, Cinderella.
When it comes to choosing a good pair of heels, I don’t care how cute it is, comfort is most important. I’ve learned that the hard, painful way, and now I try my hardest not to be the girl who complains about her aching feet. What’s the point of wearing a shoe if you can’t stand in it? There are definitely ways to stay stylish while making sure your feet aren’t killing you.
Two things to remember when you’re looking for heels:
1. Buy good shoes, and 2. Pad them up with good insoles.
So, what constitutes a “good shoe”? A good shoe is a shoe with the following attributes:
1. A platform — to absorb the shock of each step. However, you must make sure that the platform is proportional to the height of the heel! No one wants to spend the whole night on their tippy-toes! (Elizabeth and James ’Mason’, $166.99 - Zappos.com)
2. Leather lining and insole, if possible — leather molds better to the foot, lasts longer, and smells MUCH better in the long run. If leather isn’t an option, then at least make sure the lining and insole are made of fabric and not cardboard or paper.
3. A good arch that aligns with my own— Shoes with good arches (and you’ll feel them fit into place when you put the shoe on) last longer and feel better. A good arch helps to distribute your weight evenly and prevents your feet from slipping around in the shoe. (My current every-day heels, pictured above: Nine West ‘Around Town’, Orig. $99 - now $29.70 - Ninewest.com)
4. A heel that’s higher than 2 inches — Kitten heels and heels lower than two inches can strain your ankles and be uncomfortable, even if the height isn’t as daunting. A little bit of a higher heel is better, especially for your muscles.
5. A pointier toe box — Your toes will get smashed up against the front of the shoe, so I don’t often wear round toe shoes. Pointier toe boxes will feel better, allowing your toes some space to move, while making your legs look longer. (Sam Edelman ‘Novato’, $69.99 - Zappos.com)
My favorite word was in my teacup this morning! (Taken with instagram)
Boat noodles at Sapp Coffee House. Anthony Bourdain needs to come back to LA! (Taken with instagram)
I love myself a musical man. (And have loved this one since his MMC days, haha)
In case you missed it: The Complete Ryan Gosling Discography
