Map collages

Time for art! I stumbled upon Matthew Cusick's map collages the other day, and cannot get over the pieces precision and creativity.

Using different colored maps, Matthew constructs portraits and landscapes with remarkable depth and life.

This is amazing. I think most people are interested in maps. They tell stories. Everyone can relate to pointing out a landmark on a map, highlighting a roadtrip pathway, or circling their hometown. Using this personal-to-everyone medium and applying it to portraits leads to a stunning result. I think we all picture our lives as "journeys" so a lot can be said to the intentions behind the portraits.

However Matthew doesn't limit himself to portraits, look at this rad car!

There is so much more to this illustration than the fact that it is a car. Be sure to check out the link to see a very delicate portrait of an older gentleman, and some intriguing landscapes.

hi, blog

Oh, Saturday. Your possibilities are endless. Let's hope that you turn out to be:
a. productive.
b. social.

goals: blog, paint, shower, clean, sand and spackle.

I'll check back with you later.

5:30

Hey blog, how's it going? I have so far blogged, painted, been social, and cooked a healthy breakfast. Next up: painting, pizza-ing, drinking.

9:00

bye, I'm going out!

The Sartorialist

So, although I have always enjoyed the aesthetic of The Sartorialist, I never fully appreciated the blog until I saw this video. This guy is genuinely cool. I hope you enjoy quiet and careful look at a man's personal design preferences.

jumble

-Sometimes I really dislike listening to music. When most music brings up memories and others have potentially emotion-stirring lyrics, why listen to it? If it has the ability to put me to tears then maybe I should not be involved with it. It is sad because I just watched VH1's 100 Best Artists of All Time and was inspired by about 90% of the list...maybe in a few days I will listen to music but for now my iPod sits dormant.

-My stress manifests itself in many forms: body aches, stomach aches, headaches, and the general tears/restlessness/constant chatting.

-Talking to people I trust always alleviates this. At least somewhat. Especially when I talk to my mom, though. She has to run after my two little brothers now, so chats with mom are few and far between (and short). But getting a good 20 minutes in is like a balm to my injured soul.

-Lastly, I have just recognized that I feel guilty for idolizing blonde, white girls too often. Let me explain...wait. Let me write a seperate post about this.

I have a request:

Please let me go home.

Food is a remedy.

I arrived back in Seattle after an uncomfortable flight. Feeling grumpy, disoriented and lonely, with various aches and pains, I found that the food I consumed when I came home helped tremendeously.

I ate chocolate for my mood, which quickly brightened.
I drank ginger brew to soothe my tummy ache.
I ate top ramen for comfort and a full stomach.
And took advil for my strange shoulder ache.

I still miss my family very much. But I am happily surprised at the small comforts that made my evening much more tolerable.

Twenty eleven

I know everyone thinks that New Year's Resolutions are unrealistic, and, "whack," but I really do like the opportunity to turn over a new leaf, refresh my life, and get on the right path. (Even if it only lasts for a couple months).

Last year, my resolution was to send each of my close friends and family a birthday or anniversary card on time, along with a small gift or token. I love recieving cards and letters on my birthday, or special occasion, but whenever my friends' special occasions come along, my cloudy mind seems to forget to even text message. I was doing very well with this new habit when I went through the incident that caused the rebellion, and my life was turned upside down. Now that I'm a little more stable/sane, I want to consider trying to adopt good habits again.

Here are some of my resolution ideas:

-Start cooking and eating (and buying) real food. Real food consists of actual planned meals, with protein and vegetables present, large enough to facilitate leftovers. No more top ramen, bean burrito, lame excuses for meals! If I make a pan of brownies, that does not mean I can eat them in one sitting! Ice cream and popcorn does not constitute a balanced dinner. (This is why I need your simple-ish, balanced meal recipes dear readers. Help me grow up.)

-Take vitamins and perscription medicines on time, every day! I have some perscriptions that I often forget to take for weeks on end, and I don't really notice until I begin feeling the effects of my neglect. No more! In addition to these I would like to consistently take a multi-vitamin, vitamin D, hair/skin/nails formula, and maybe a B-complex.

-Running. I live across the street from a track, why don't I use it? I know I'd have a slammin body/be generally healthier/more glow-y if I exercised even once a week.

-Same resolution as last year: be consistent with my card-sending!

I think I can do these things. They would not only benefit me personally, but others around me, and my schooling. What are your resolutions? Or your dream resolutions that you can't possibly keep, but would genuinely like to?

(My dream resolution: draw every day. I know this would benefit me immensely. But it also seems daunting and impossible to me. But I should attempt it. Time to claim a sketchbook.)