Saturday, June 26, 2010

Sun Valley Obon

Hatsu-bon:
First Obon of the summer

Nice weather in the valley, bright & sunny, relatively cool temps, and an almost chilly evening.

Had a great time seeing fellow PMX-ers. Helped Paula put her mannequin together at the Swap Meet. Picked up a volume of Vampire Miyu I hadn't read before. Ate some tea sweet with some kind of yellow bean I don't like, washed it down with hot green tea.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Alice in Wonderland @ FIDM

Disney & Burton: Alice in Wonderland Design Exhibition @ FIDM
May 27, 2010 – September 30, 2010


Exhibition includes Colleen Atwood’s original costumes from the film as well as Alice–inspired clothing and products designed by a variety of celebrities, designers, and fashion icons, including Sue Wong, Tom Binns, Avril Lavigne, and FIDM Alumni.

This free exhibition will be open to the public Tuesday – Saturday during the exhibition dates from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Special Exhibition Events

All events are free to the public.

Tea Party

Wednesdays, June 9, 16, 23 & 30
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
FIDM Museum Foyer
Tea & Cookies and a tour of the exhibition.

Los Angeles Campus
919 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90015-1421
General: 800.624.1200

Monday, June 21, 2010

Swapping with Julia, the Bargain Hunting Babe

When I was a cheap college student I used to read the Bargain Hunter section of the Daily News. Now, I read from Julia's Bargain Babe blog, and I finally got to meet her in person at the 2010 Frugal Fe$tival Summer Swap.

I've often wondered what the volunteers at Goodwill stores go through, weeding and sorting all their donations. Now I understand. The key: lots of hand sanitizer.

Still, there were lots of little gems, such as:
-almost-new dresses from Forever 21
-totally cute jewelry
-cropped jackets for evening wear
-collared business shirts

My choice:
a J. Crew white cotton tunic cover up (vaguely similar to the Djellabah style from several years ago)

I have my reservations because it's pretty thin/sheer, so if it doesn't work out for me I'll swap it back next year. And a copy of Confessions of An Ugly Stepsister, which I also plan to swap next year when I finish.

Our volunteer gift was some Starbucks Via mugs and Restaurant.com gift cards (which I'm using at my neighborhood Thai place). After, we all went round the corner to a great outdoor lounge and shared Mediterranean appetizers - courtesy of Julia.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Kimono update



It's been about... 2 years since I had to put on a kimono. That took about 10 minutes. The obi was another story...

Friday, June 18, 2010

Fusion Friday - Pacific Asia Style

It's been a long time since I had to pick out an outfit.


I'm getting dressed right now for Fusion Friday's at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. It's June and the climate is delightful (high 70s, breezy). It's definitely hitoe season, possibly ro, not sha. My life would be a lot easier if I just wore a yukata with simple colors and accessories coordinate.

I just hope I don't spill Buttermilk on myself again.

Monday, June 14, 2010

DRAM: Aviation Day


It a time of impressive achievements - the era of the automobile, electricity, Einstein, Freud, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, art nouveau and Edwardian Baroque. It's hard to believe that 100 years ago most Angelenos had never seen an aircraft in flight. Today, passenger jets and cargo planes take off from every corner of the city, their contrails blazing long after they pass. I can't go a single day (or night) without hearing a helicopter fly overhead.

Here's what you missed:

-classic old cars (Model Ts, 1912 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce) and planes (Bleriot 1909 replica, 1883 Glider)
-lots of reenactors and period costumers
-military flyovers - they all started on time with precision accuracy
-vintage ragtime dancing with Yesteryears
-commemorative postage stamps and philatelic envelopes and cancellations
-Kogi & Tommy's truck, an authentic 1910 box lunch
-kids activities too numerous to name (though I did find lots of lost wooden gliders around the grounds)

Here's what you didn't miss - Mother Nature:

-too windy to have tethered balloon rides. A shame, really. Most people made do with the ferris wheel instead. Just ask one of the parachute jumpers that hit a tree.
-it was incredibly muggy and tempers ran a bit short, especially since the adobe has no air conditioning. The house never had a chance to cool off with tours running all day.
-on-site parking was too limited, so most people had to be shuttled in from CSU Dominguez Hills for $5, but the shuttle company was pretty terrible.