Boom.
I have a direction friends. Here's announcing the Live and Learn Project:
Starting September 1, I will be working my way towards a new goal every month for a year. Expect a post twice a week from me dealing with that month's project. As my friends start off another school year, I'll be starting up my own learning adventure. There are so many things that I've wanted to try and now is the time folks.
First up?
HOMETOWN RECIPE SEPTEMBER
Twice a week I will be posting my original takes on traditional Pittsburgh food. What is Pittsburgh food you ask? Usually it's artery-clogging goodness...covered in ranch. I will count anything that is
a) a staple in Pittsburgh's culinary community
b) had it's start in Pittsburgh (Isly's I'm coming for ya)
c) food from an ethnic group that is largely represented in Pittsburgh. I mean, we have pierogie races at Pirate's games - I can claim it as Pittsburghese.
The end project will be a booklet compiling all the tasty goodness and a month's worth of recipes and photos to share!
BUT WAIT. That's just September. Come October, and I will be starting my Literary Adventure, where I knock some books off my growing "to read" list, and share my insights with you. And then from there I will delve into interior decorating, fashion design, playwriting, fundraising, languages, health, music, photography, film, and drawing. More explanations to follow in the coming months!
It's going to be a long year, but I am so excited to start.
Check ya later,
Cass
P.S. Thanks for your advice and input Justin!
8.29.2011
8.22.2011
My sleep schedule is seriously out of wack
Hello. Because there's nothing else to do at 2am:
St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin
Dublin seaside
Avignon France
Notre Dame Paris, France
Theatre Museum Vienna, Austria
Love locks Paris, France
Ciao ciao,
Cass
Wandering through
Hey kids,
So I've been feeling a bit lost lately. I just graduated and have been pretty much desperatly searching for work. The animals in Homeward Bound have more direction than I do. (Does anyone remember that movie? Sally Field was a cat. Brilliant.) Besides being a horrible economy/job market, I am now doubting all of my choices I've made to get to here. Don't get me wrong, I love costume design and I'm sure if I was working right now I'd never give it a second look. But being jobless gives me LOTS of time to think about what I want from life. You know, more than just a job.
I want desperately to travel, and if you've read other posts you know I got my first taste of it this summer. Europe was delicious in every sense of the word. I want to see every corner of the world, experience different cultures, and learn new languages. Problem is, this can be very expensive. There are countless blogs out there that can tell you how to backpack your way around the world for very cheap, but I want to really be able to see things, eat awesome food, see live performance art...buy mementos. I am so impressed by others' ability to get by on the smallest budgets, but its not me. I like my Chanel lipstick, thank you.
I want to really make a difference - an impact. Theatre folk talk all the time about how we influence audiences perspectives, and can use theatre as a protest against the wrongs of the world. But it's nothing compared to what people give up to help others. Theatre is food for the soul. But what good is that is there's nothing on the table for the stomach?
I'm no saint though. I also want to be able to make a living that will allow me to pay my bills on time. I don't need a lot - just enough that the stress of paying debt doesn't bury me. And maybe a new pair of high heels once in awhile would be nice.
I want to be able to say I've really lived up to my full potential. Sometimes I feel like there is this greatness welling up inside of me just waiting for the chance to get out. I love theatre. I love costume design. But it's not enough. It can't give me everything I want from life.
So, what do I do now?
-Cass
So I've been feeling a bit lost lately. I just graduated and have been pretty much desperatly searching for work. The animals in Homeward Bound have more direction than I do. (Does anyone remember that movie? Sally Field was a cat. Brilliant.) Besides being a horrible economy/job market, I am now doubting all of my choices I've made to get to here. Don't get me wrong, I love costume design and I'm sure if I was working right now I'd never give it a second look. But being jobless gives me LOTS of time to think about what I want from life. You know, more than just a job.
I want desperately to travel, and if you've read other posts you know I got my first taste of it this summer. Europe was delicious in every sense of the word. I want to see every corner of the world, experience different cultures, and learn new languages. Problem is, this can be very expensive. There are countless blogs out there that can tell you how to backpack your way around the world for very cheap, but I want to really be able to see things, eat awesome food, see live performance art...buy mementos. I am so impressed by others' ability to get by on the smallest budgets, but its not me. I like my Chanel lipstick, thank you.
I want to really make a difference - an impact. Theatre folk talk all the time about how we influence audiences perspectives, and can use theatre as a protest against the wrongs of the world. But it's nothing compared to what people give up to help others. Theatre is food for the soul. But what good is that is there's nothing on the table for the stomach?
I'm no saint though. I also want to be able to make a living that will allow me to pay my bills on time. I don't need a lot - just enough that the stress of paying debt doesn't bury me. And maybe a new pair of high heels once in awhile would be nice.
I want to be able to say I've really lived up to my full potential. Sometimes I feel like there is this greatness welling up inside of me just waiting for the chance to get out. I love theatre. I love costume design. But it's not enough. It can't give me everything I want from life.
So, what do I do now?
-Cass
8.17.2011
Blogsss
No one reads this. But hey anyways.
I have been posting on this blog for a couple weeks now with no real direction. In trying to decide where exactly I'm trying to take this, I did a little blog research. It seems that there are categories that most blogs fit into:
The Project Blog
This blog aims to complete something in a structured framework. It can be like the now infamous Julie/Julia blog which endeavoured to cook at meal a day from Julia Child's cookbook, or something much more vague, like the 365 post-a-day deal. A great model to start out with, as readers stay interested as you progress towards your goal. However, much more time consuming. My favorites?
The Year of the Mouse, where a young gay couple watch a Disney movie every week of the year and write reviews as well as share recipes.
The Jackie Blog. Jackie shares her insights on her day-to-day with wit and humor, and her own brand of cynicism.
The Art Blog
This type of blog can be posts strictly of inspirational pictures or function more like a magazine, with interviews and trend reports. With the label "art" I include fine art, interior design, fashion, product design, and graphic arts. These types are highly addicting as it takes little effort to line up some photos, but it also makes it harder to stand out from the crowd. How many blogs does it take to post artsy pictures of Black Swan? TOO MANY (and yet...not enough.) Highest on my list-
The Cherry Blossom Girl. French, awesome photography, and some high class fashion.
Lovely Clusters. Chock full of inspirational photos. Save some room on that flash drive of yours.
The Humor Blog
Humor blogs can be written editorials or also include comics/artwork/vlogs. Humor blogs are awesome because everyone wants to laugh off the day. The problem? We all think we are funnier than we actually are. Ones that ARE actually funny-
Books of Adam. Hilarious. Also, well-drawn comics and poignant life realizations. And cats.
Hyperbole and a Half. Terribly drawn comics, but really funny life stories.
The DIY Blog
Do It Yourself blogs focus on projects that you, that's right, can do yourself. Cooking, sewing, gardening, auto-repair, model rockets...you name it. Must have some type of skill, and a good camera. No one likes shitty instruction pictures. These blogs over run my life with ideas I will never accomplish.
My go to?
Design Sponge. High quantity of actually cool projects, low on the tissue-box cozy kind.
The Personal Blog
Easily the most boring, and yet the easiest to produce. No projects, no crafts, no comics. Just your life and thoughts out for the world to see. And no one's life is all that interesting. "I made some ice tea today..."
AWESOME, save it for Twitter.
One could argue that all blogs are personal, but good blogs, in my opinion, go past the personal and reach out to the collective. And no one wants to hear about your conspiracy theories about Glee.
I'm leaning towards project blog...anyone out there got any ideas?
Peace,
Cass
I have been posting on this blog for a couple weeks now with no real direction. In trying to decide where exactly I'm trying to take this, I did a little blog research. It seems that there are categories that most blogs fit into:
The Project Blog
This blog aims to complete something in a structured framework. It can be like the now infamous Julie/Julia blog which endeavoured to cook at meal a day from Julia Child's cookbook, or something much more vague, like the 365 post-a-day deal. A great model to start out with, as readers stay interested as you progress towards your goal. However, much more time consuming. My favorites?
The Year of the Mouse, where a young gay couple watch a Disney movie every week of the year and write reviews as well as share recipes.
The Jackie Blog. Jackie shares her insights on her day-to-day with wit and humor, and her own brand of cynicism.
The Art Blog
This type of blog can be posts strictly of inspirational pictures or function more like a magazine, with interviews and trend reports. With the label "art" I include fine art, interior design, fashion, product design, and graphic arts. These types are highly addicting as it takes little effort to line up some photos, but it also makes it harder to stand out from the crowd. How many blogs does it take to post artsy pictures of Black Swan? TOO MANY (and yet...not enough.) Highest on my list-
The Cherry Blossom Girl. French, awesome photography, and some high class fashion.
Lovely Clusters. Chock full of inspirational photos. Save some room on that flash drive of yours.
The Humor Blog
Humor blogs can be written editorials or also include comics/artwork/vlogs. Humor blogs are awesome because everyone wants to laugh off the day. The problem? We all think we are funnier than we actually are. Ones that ARE actually funny-
Books of Adam. Hilarious. Also, well-drawn comics and poignant life realizations. And cats.
Hyperbole and a Half. Terribly drawn comics, but really funny life stories.
The DIY Blog
Do It Yourself blogs focus on projects that you, that's right, can do yourself. Cooking, sewing, gardening, auto-repair, model rockets...you name it. Must have some type of skill, and a good camera. No one likes shitty instruction pictures. These blogs over run my life with ideas I will never accomplish.
My go to?
Design Sponge. High quantity of actually cool projects, low on the tissue-box cozy kind.
The Personal Blog
Easily the most boring, and yet the easiest to produce. No projects, no crafts, no comics. Just your life and thoughts out for the world to see. And no one's life is all that interesting. "I made some ice tea today..."
AWESOME, save it for Twitter.
One could argue that all blogs are personal, but good blogs, in my opinion, go past the personal and reach out to the collective. And no one wants to hear about your conspiracy theories about Glee.
I'm leaning towards project blog...anyone out there got any ideas?
Peace,
Cass
8.16.2011
8.15.2011
Pretty fuel
Hey strangers,
Having previously mentioned my addiction to Stumbleupon, it should be no surprise that I've accumulated a rather large photo album of all the things I come across that inspire me. Fashion, art, food, whatevs. Just as long as it's pretty. Enjoy.
Having previously mentioned my addiction to Stumbleupon, it should be no surprise that I've accumulated a rather large photo album of all the things I come across that inspire me. Fashion, art, food, whatevs. Just as long as it's pretty. Enjoy.
Boo, can't find the source
8.14.2011
A Nice Day for a White Wedding
Let's talk weddings real quick, k?
It's not that I oppose weddings or marriage. I really don't. I am just no where near the stage in my life where I'd consider catwalking it down a runway to some guy I am going to be stuck with for the rest of my life. I am only 23 after all, and as I see it, I got a lot more living to do. What I was unprepared for was all my friends being ready to settle down. I thought our after-college years would be full of late night drinking, dinner parties, and all the fun parts of college, just without classes. Maybe I was a little too optimistic there, but regardless. We would be young, educated, and ready to take over the world. Marriage was never part of my master plan. But things change.
And now, 3 of my gal pals are taking the plunge within the next year, and Facebook (ah, time-sucking God) is more than happy to let me know when scourges of my psuedo-friends tie the knot. I am mentally not ready to have married friends. They're concerned with invites and seating placement, while I am asking about the open bar. I didn't expect it this soon, and now I feel like it won't be too long until BABIES enter the picture. I don't think this is the end of everything; I'm sure we'll all get shit-faced from time to time. But as time passes, and I follow my career and they settle down, will we still have things to talk about? I can't join in on convos about home-ownership or marital woes. At what point will our paths lead us down roads that won't meet again?
The worst part is, I can't help getting sucked into all of it. As a child, I NEVER planned out my own wedding. I sketched my fashion line instead (it was very Judy Jetson.) But now, I look at wedding blogs and think "Oooh, teacup place card holders."
Oh hell no.
One day, I probably will get married. Until then, I will focus everything I have into my art, my life, and living it the way I always thought I would.
Probably alone and drunk, with an awesome career...and cats.
Au revoir,
Cass
It's not that I oppose weddings or marriage. I really don't. I am just no where near the stage in my life where I'd consider catwalking it down a runway to some guy I am going to be stuck with for the rest of my life. I am only 23 after all, and as I see it, I got a lot more living to do. What I was unprepared for was all my friends being ready to settle down. I thought our after-college years would be full of late night drinking, dinner parties, and all the fun parts of college, just without classes. Maybe I was a little too optimistic there, but regardless. We would be young, educated, and ready to take over the world. Marriage was never part of my master plan. But things change.
And now, 3 of my gal pals are taking the plunge within the next year, and Facebook (ah, time-sucking God) is more than happy to let me know when scourges of my psuedo-friends tie the knot. I am mentally not ready to have married friends. They're concerned with invites and seating placement, while I am asking about the open bar. I didn't expect it this soon, and now I feel like it won't be too long until BABIES enter the picture. I don't think this is the end of everything; I'm sure we'll all get shit-faced from time to time. But as time passes, and I follow my career and they settle down, will we still have things to talk about? I can't join in on convos about home-ownership or marital woes. At what point will our paths lead us down roads that won't meet again?
The worst part is, I can't help getting sucked into all of it. As a child, I NEVER planned out my own wedding. I sketched my fashion line instead (it was very Judy Jetson.) But now, I look at wedding blogs and think "Oooh, teacup place card holders."
Oh hell no.
One day, I probably will get married. Until then, I will focus everything I have into my art, my life, and living it the way I always thought I would.
Probably alone and drunk, with an awesome career...and cats.
Au revoir,
Cass
8.13.2011
Enter Sandman...please?
Can't sleep...so making use of this very early morning free time, I give you more photos! I can't help but love overly edited/indie photos, so I took some of my shots from the Euro-trip and pretty much made them worthy of Urban Outfitters. Great fun!
This statue in Dublin actually has bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Uprising.
The beautiful Irish coast.
A window view from the old Papal palace in Avignon.
Found wandering through Vienna.
Eichstatt's picturesque river-front
Of course. The classic.
And now, I am really going to try and get to sleep. I've got a bridal shower tomorrow, and renderings to finish.
Sweet dreams,
Cass
8.06.2011
Some from the stash
View in Avignon
Romania exhibit in the Prague Quadrennial.
Aigues-Morte in the South of France. The most picturesque town I've ever been to!
I've got quite a store of photos from my trip, of which I will probably continue posting as long as I can!
-Cass
My Disdain for Children
Hello strangers.
I wrote this little monologue in the airport in Dublin...it may become part of a larger stage production, but for now it's just a brief look into my craziness.
I hate children. No really, I do. My anti-baby comments usually elicit a giggle or an eye roll from my friends who tell me, "It'll be different with your own kids." But I truly do not want kids. Maybe more than hate them, I fear them. They are terrifying. Children have the confidence to believe that the world revolves around them, and for all intensive purposes, it does.
Oh, you can't sleep? Yeah, your well rested-ness is much more important than mine, since I only have a full-time job to go to and you have the arduous task of laying around and pooping your pants. You want to scream for no reason on an airplane? By all means, you go ahead, since you paid for your ticket with your own hard-earned money. But they are children, so they get special rights. If I screamed on an airplane I would be forcibly removed and treated to a free pap smear by TSA.
But more than just the fear of children, I am terrified of motherhood. Just cause it comes from my vagina doesn't mean I somehow gain super mom powers. That would be kind of cool though... But I mean, how can I, or ANYONE really, claim to be ready for raising a human being with morals and ideals, and an awesome sense of humor? Did popping out two kids make Britney Spears a good mother? No, it didn't. It DID make her bald and crazy, and NO WONDER. Children are all-consuming soul suckers. Plenty of people tell me that children are rays of light in an otherwise dim world.
And to them I say - how are you not terrified of a super-baby with mutant light generating powers?
You stay classy,
Cass
I wrote this little monologue in the airport in Dublin...it may become part of a larger stage production, but for now it's just a brief look into my craziness.
I hate children. No really, I do. My anti-baby comments usually elicit a giggle or an eye roll from my friends who tell me, "It'll be different with your own kids." But I truly do not want kids. Maybe more than hate them, I fear them. They are terrifying. Children have the confidence to believe that the world revolves around them, and for all intensive purposes, it does.
Oh, you can't sleep? Yeah, your well rested-ness is much more important than mine, since I only have a full-time job to go to and you have the arduous task of laying around and pooping your pants. You want to scream for no reason on an airplane? By all means, you go ahead, since you paid for your ticket with your own hard-earned money. But they are children, so they get special rights. If I screamed on an airplane I would be forcibly removed and treated to a free pap smear by TSA.
But more than just the fear of children, I am terrified of motherhood. Just cause it comes from my vagina doesn't mean I somehow gain super mom powers. That would be kind of cool though... But I mean, how can I, or ANYONE really, claim to be ready for raising a human being with morals and ideals, and an awesome sense of humor? Did popping out two kids make Britney Spears a good mother? No, it didn't. It DID make her bald and crazy, and NO WONDER. Children are all-consuming soul suckers. Plenty of people tell me that children are rays of light in an otherwise dim world.
And to them I say - how are you not terrified of a super-baby with mutant light generating powers?
You stay classy,
Cass
8.04.2011
Why hello, strangers.
Hello there.
I read a lot of blogs. Mostly started by friends, or found using StumbleUpon (crack for listless computer surfers) because somewhere in their archives they mentioned a cat. StumbleUpon thinks I like cats, fashion, and booze recipes. They would be right.
But anyway, I always end up thinking "I could do that." I could be just as witty and sardonic as all those jaded hipster twenty-somethings with cool jobs and plastic-rimmed glasses. I could be the next Martha Stewart! Post-prison of course, minus the crocheted afghan poncho. You see, I am one of the people who falls into the category of "Jack-of-all-trades." I can do a whole bunch of things just kinda-sorta.
I recently took a month-long trip to Europe, which besides being ridiculously amazing and awe-inspiring, really made me think. Caroline, a new friend I made in Paris, could never have known how much one little question would dig at me. "What do you do in your free time?" Somehow, trolling the internet for funny cat videos felt like an inadequate answer. What DID I do? I did crafts, sometimes. I used to be able to play the flute, though I never made it to actually having to wear the band uniform. I liked to write poetry on occasion, when no one else would read it and I could be as whiny and emo as my broken teenage heart wanted. But I couldn't really say I DID much with my time. Don't get me wrong, I work a lot. So most of my free time is dedicated to decompressing from my job.
But it got me thinking. How many things am I capable of doing? Why not learn French? Maybe I should start to tackle that list of craft projects I've been compiling in my internet favorites. MAYBE there are better ways to spend time besides watching the video of the cat attacking the baby. Although, I do suggest watching it at least once. So, I'm not sure right now what this blog will turn out to be, because there are a lot of things I could fill my time with.
But with every post I hope I can add one more thing to my "can do" list, and knock something off my "wish I could" list.
Thanks for stopping by San Diego,
Cass
I read a lot of blogs. Mostly started by friends, or found using StumbleUpon (crack for listless computer surfers) because somewhere in their archives they mentioned a cat. StumbleUpon thinks I like cats, fashion, and booze recipes. They would be right.
But anyway, I always end up thinking "I could do that." I could be just as witty and sardonic as all those jaded hipster twenty-somethings with cool jobs and plastic-rimmed glasses. I could be the next Martha Stewart! Post-prison of course, minus the crocheted afghan poncho. You see, I am one of the people who falls into the category of "Jack-of-all-trades." I can do a whole bunch of things just kinda-sorta.
I recently took a month-long trip to Europe, which besides being ridiculously amazing and awe-inspiring, really made me think. Caroline, a new friend I made in Paris, could never have known how much one little question would dig at me. "What do you do in your free time?" Somehow, trolling the internet for funny cat videos felt like an inadequate answer. What DID I do? I did crafts, sometimes. I used to be able to play the flute, though I never made it to actually having to wear the band uniform. I liked to write poetry on occasion, when no one else would read it and I could be as whiny and emo as my broken teenage heart wanted. But I couldn't really say I DID much with my time. Don't get me wrong, I work a lot. So most of my free time is dedicated to decompressing from my job.
But it got me thinking. How many things am I capable of doing? Why not learn French? Maybe I should start to tackle that list of craft projects I've been compiling in my internet favorites. MAYBE there are better ways to spend time besides watching the video of the cat attacking the baby. Although, I do suggest watching it at least once. So, I'm not sure right now what this blog will turn out to be, because there are a lot of things I could fill my time with.
But with every post I hope I can add one more thing to my "can do" list, and knock something off my "wish I could" list.
Thanks for stopping by San Diego,
Cass
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