look how far we've come?

Women have come pretty far since the 50s as far as independence, image, and rights. We aren't confined to a kitchen, we can work where the men work (for close to the same pay), play sports, live on our own, chose our careers over a husband, etc...

What do we have to complain about now? Underlying discrimination? Sexism? Being judged by our looks as opposed to our minds? Having thin, tall, blonde models thrown in our faces on every magazine or advertisement? Yeah. That's all true.

So which is the lesser evil? Which would you choose? Would you rather it be subversive or right in your face?

Here are some ads from the 50s that you'd be face to face with in the Sunday paper:

25 Most Sexist Ads
Here Lysol is suggesting that you douche with it for "freshness". And further insinuating that if you don't...your husband will have every right to avoid intimacy, and maybe even look elsewhere.

Here Palmolive blantantly says looks are all that matter...no man cares if you're clever.
Not really sure what Leggs is getting at here...

what I have...and what I want...

What we want and what we have...they are often so far apart from one another. Never has this been so simply laid out to me as today.

I made the choice to do the "Master Cleanse" aka the "lemonade diet" for the fourth time in my life. I really do get a lot out of this process. Yes, you lose weight, but that's not why I do it (note to those who are considering it...you gain back at least 1/2, if not more). For me, it is like a "reset" button. It makes you feel good and clean. It gets rid of that filmy or bloated feeling you have after weeks, months or years of eating the wrong things. It makes your skin feel better. It makes your nails grow stronger. But the downside is...its boring. You want to chew on something. For days you are just drinking liquids...you want a solid. And everything you see from the burger king ad on tv to the picture of a delicious meal in a cookbook make you want to break the fast.

I'm currently on day 2...meaning, this is what my days look like:
But today, my dad's birthday present came in the mail...and what I have vs. what I want was sitting in front of me:

Thomas Keller's cookbook "Ad Hoc at Home" is delicious. I wanted to eat everything on every page. It teaches you to make pasta, chicken n'dumplings, and even mozzarella! (I didn't even know that was an option!) The salads (a sorely overlooked meal) are gorgeous and vibrant. Now, I want to go to his restaurant, and the grocery store to start making every dish from condiments and dressings to jarred fruit to vegetable sides and comfort food fried chicken.

I guess for the next week or so...I will have to just look.

my saturday

Consisted of...

and

After note: My bird sighting has now been identified as a black-bellied whistling duck and her ducklings.

The Impossible Cool

New to this tumblr thing. Not sure if I completely understand it. But this is...well...cool. Probably more to me than most, as I have a real obsession with all things old hollywood, but there is some crossover. (interesting too that 99% of them are in black and white...the few in color...JFK and Cole Porter. Guess b&w is the cool palette)

The Impossible Cool (Photo Gallery)
Conversation on Cool

My First Quilt

My amazing aunt has been making quilts for just about everyone in her life, for just about every occasion (graduation, wedding, baby, etc..). I have been envious over her masterpieces for years. Finally this year, I took her up on her offer to teach me. I started in mid February and finished in early May. I'm so tremendously grateful to her for taking the time to help me...and now, even more, for making them for all of us.

For those that are curious, most of it was sewn by hand (including the embroidery), but a machine was used for putting together the base pieces (not sure if that's the right terminology). I loved making it, and can't wait to start a new one. Perhaps one for the new baby? I might need to plan another trip for her to help me get started...then again I'll take an excuse to see her.

Keem Calm Gallery

I was turned on to this gallery by my cutting edge friend, Lacey. I promptly bought 4 prints. They are based in London. Most prints range from $30-50 dollars, are signed by the artist, and numbered. Its a fantastic place for original artwork at a bargain. I dare you not to become obsessed.

The Keep Calm Gallery

Almost makes me want to move back to NYC...

But not quite. Maybe if I had this kind of dough! I mean, these homes give Brooklyn an upper hand over Manhattan...and that's no easy feat.

The Brooklyn Home Company

... the Heart

It's my first try at this whole blogging thing. Not exactly sure how it will turn out, or what it will be about...but being unemployed, I thought I'd give it a go.

For my first post, I would like to urge you all to see two movies about the South and the heart. Both from the 80s, about real people, real life, love, pain, and the meaning of family.

The first one is Places in the Heart starring Sally Field, Danny Glover, Ed Harris, John Malkovich and Amy Madigan. (As a side note, its where Harris and Madigan met...they've now been married for 27 years). Sally received her second Oscar for it, and for good reason (her acceptance speech was when she famously uttered the phrase "you like me...you really like me").

The 2nd one is Crimes of the Heart starring Dianne Keaton, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, Tess Harper, and Sam Shephard (he and Lange didn't meet on this movie -- they were already together... going on 29 years now). The film received a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination, as well as garnering noms for both Spacek and Harper. **note** there is a spectacularly funny attempted suicide scene with Spacek that is the only thing I remember from seeing it as a kid.

They are both available on Netflix "Play Instantly" so you really have no excuse. If you haven't seen these films, you are most seriously missing out.