tattoos

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Weepies Live in Evanston!

The Weepies are one of my favorite bands ever. I belted out every song :)

The show last night was incredible. I am more in love with The Weepies than ever! Hubs and I smiled, laughed, tapped our toes, and sang along with every tune. Deb and Steve were adorable, as usual, and the band rocked out. I was very impressed by their stage presence, spot-on vocals and silly stories.


They all came on stage dressed in crazy Halloween costumes and wigs, Deb with black lipstick on and long, black hair. Steve was hiding behind a wild side-swept wig and sunglasses, and the rest of the band was sporting awesome hats and makeup. After a couple songs Deb laughed as she introduced them as "The Creepies." It was great.

My two favorite songs were "Can't Go Back Now" from their Hideaway album, and a fantastic ballad sung by just Deb and Steve called "Sing Me to Sleep," from his first album Big Senorita. I really loved all of their charming stories about the inspiration behind songs (anything from spam porn emails to their son playing peek-a-boo to fighting with each other). It was a beautiful night and they sounded even better live than on the recorded tracks. Lovely! Beautiful! Wondrous. I am still grinning and humming their songs.

I've checked another dream off the list :)

In case you don't know The Weepies and their playful lyrics, here are a few tidbits...

Yesterday when you were young
Everything you needed done was done for you
Now you do it on your own
But you find you're all alone, what can you do?

You and me walk on, walk on, walk on
'Cause you can't go back now

-from "Can't Go Back Now," which was my personal theme song earlier this year during a hard time. It inspired me to carry on despite challenge, pain, and worry. I truly believe in the idea behind the song: sometimes, in order to grow we truly have to take steps on our own!
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And at closing time we're a nickel and a dime
In the deep back pocket of America
Trying to find wings or something to carry you home
Right now you better make the best of your situation
Escape through a hole in the conversation
The sun comes up like a revelation and I'm so lonely without you

Baby sing me to sleep turn down the covers ‘cause talk is cheap
Baby sing me to sleep ah turn out the lights
Remember the nights when the rain fell eighteen inches deep
Baby sing me to sleep

-from "Sing Me to Sleep," a tune that's beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. "A hole in the conversation?!" Brilliant.
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If you've never been to SPACE in Evanston, you should check it out. They've got one of the prettiest, classiest venues around. Delicious pizza and a warm, inviting yet modern atmosphere with gorgeous over-the-bar lights and ceiling art fans that look like jellyfish!

My view looking up at the ceiling. Jellyfish fans! They were so calming and stylish.

Little Heroes


 Nathan Thomson:the nine-year-old boy who saved his mother when an armed intruder tried to stab her to death

The boy was stabbed in the face as he fought to save his mum from a knife maniac. Nathan Thomson jumped on Hugh Clark's back as the drunken thug tried to kill his mother Ena. Clark turned on the little boy and lashed out with the blade, scarring him for life. But Nathan helped save Ena, who was knifed eight times but survived. The attack happened after the drunk offshore worker broke into the Rosyth's home in Fife.


 Alexis Goggin: the seven-year-old girl who used her body as a shield to save her mother's life

Alexis Goggins, a first-grader at Campbell Elementary School, was hailed as an "angel from heaven" and a hero, for jumping in front of an enraged gunman who pumped six bullets into the child as she used her body as a shield to save her mother's life. The girl's mother, Selietha Parker, 30, was shot in the left side of her head and her biceps by a former boyfriend, but before he could fire again, Alexis jumped over the seat between her mother and the gunman and begged him not to shoot her mother.


 Kamal Nepali: the twelve-year-old boy who risked his own life to rescue a baby girl from a 60-foot-deep gorge

A two and half year old toddler, Aradhana Pradhan, was rescued by Kamal Nepali, 12 years, after a team of professional rescuers all gave up having failed to bring the child back up even after repeated attempts. But even after 22 hours of repeated attempts, the rescuers weren't able to bring the child out. They started fearing the worst and then Kamal arrived at the scene. His elder brother Salum had told him that only a very small and thin person could manage to get through the very narrow gorge to save the girl. "A small girl like our own little sister is trapped in the gorge, would you like to go down to rescue her?" Salum had asked Kamal. Immediately after that Kamal had readied himself to go into the gorge.


 Isabelle Keeling: the two-year-old girl who called 999 to save her mother's life

Isabelle Keeling, 2, called the emergency services as her mother Joanne suffered a reaction to latex at their home, and was able to give her name, address and telephone number. She even opened up the front door to let in neighbours and paramedics, who were able to promptly treat her mother. Just the day before, Isabelle had watched an episode of the children's TV programme Tweenies where she had seen how to call 999.

 Agustin Robinet: the six-year-old boy who helped his mother to give birth
When his mother began to suffer strong contractions, and was forced to give birth at home, Agustin was the only one who was with her, so he attended his mother at giving birth. Also Agustin was encharged to call his father, who arrived home a few minutes later. When the little boy was asked if he was afraid, he answered: "My mom always says that all women are in pain when they go to have a baby".


 Cody McNeese: the five-year-old boy who saved his youngest brother from burning mobile home

Cody McNeese fought through flames and smoke to return to his bedroom to make sure his 3-year-old brother, Dustin, got out of their burning mobile home alive.


 Charlie Simpson: the seven-year-old boy who made a cycle ride to raise funds for Haiti earthquake victims

Charlie launched his efforts with a simple message: "My name is Charlie Simpson, I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives. I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti." His efforts have touched the hearts of people around the world with visitors to his JustGiving website page piling on the pounds following his sponsored ride for the charity Unicef in Fulham, south London. Charlie hoped to raise £500 for the Haiti earthquake relief by cycling five miles around a local park, but he has raised £120,000 in donations and gift aid.


 Michael Bowron: the eight-year-old boy who stripped the radio wires and connected them to call for help as his dad lay trapped in the wreckage of a truck rollover

Michael and his father, Justin, were driving home to the family farm in a truck, when a tyre blew and truck rollover. When Justin regained consciousness minutes later his leg was caught in the mangled truck, trapping him in the vehicle. Michael, who had been sitting in the sleeper cabin, crawled out of the wreck through the windscreen and tried to free his dad with a tyre lever. When that didn't work, he rummaged for the radio, but it couldn't work because it wasn't connected to the truck anymore. Finally, under his father's guidance, Michael was able to get the radio working and call for help.


 Aidan Turner: the ten-year-old boy who saved his mum from drowning in a bath

Amanda Smith had fainted in the tub and slipped under the water when her 10-year-old son found her. Aidan pulled the plug out of the bath, grabbed his mum by the hair, dragged her out of the water and put her in the recovery position. He then phoned his gran Sheila MacDonald, who works as a domestic worker at Borders General Hospital, to ask for help. An ambulance was called to take Amanda to the hospital, where she spent three days recovering.


 Maddie McRae: the eleven-year-old girl who saved seven people when their cars ended up in the river

After heavy rains washed out a section of the roadway, two vehicles, including the one Maddie McRae was riding in with her mother and two siblings, ended up in the river. "I thought we were going to die because the water was going over our heads", she said. But Maddie managed to get out of the vehicle through the broken windshield, crawl across a tree branch to the shore, and then climb an electric fence to reach a nearby farmhouse. She called 9-1-1 and rescuers were able to pull her family to safety using ladders and ropes.

Fluevog Artwork Giveaway

As you all know, we are huge fans of John Fluevog Shoes here at Fashionable Academics.  We were hoping that we could convince the Fluevogologists to give us a pair of shoes to giveaway here on the blog -- ok, let's be honest, we love you, but if they had given us a pair of shoes or boots, we probably definitely would have kept them.  Although Fluevog Shoes wouldn't give us any funky footwear to giveaway, they did offer two of their amazing posters from their artwork gallery.  Some of this artwork was used in a silent auction at Fluevog's Union Square Opening to benefit a San Francisco charity, DrawBridge, which funds art education programs for homeless children and disadvantaged youth. 

We will choose two winners of this giveaway.  There are three ways to enter this giveaway:

1. Leave us a comment with a valid email, letting us know how you read Fashionable Academics.

2. Visit John Fluevog and leave us a second comment telling us which 'vogs you would buy if you had your druthers (if money were no object).

3. Leave us a third comment, telling us what your favorite kind of Halloween candy is or what you did for Halloween this year.

We'll close this giveaway next Sunday (11/7) at midnight and announce our winners on Monday morning!

Penelope Cruz


Penélope Cruz Sánchez (born April 28, 1974), better known as Penélope Cruz, is a Spanish actress. At 15, she was signed by an agent. She made her acting debut at 16 on television, and her feature film debut the following year in Jamón, jamón (1992), to critical acclaim. Her subsequent roles in the 1990s and 2000s included Open Your Eyes (1997), The Hi-Lo Country (1999), The Girl of Your Dreams (2000) and Woman on Top (2000). Cruz achieved recognition for her lead roles in Vanilla Sky and Blow. Both films were released in 2001 and were commercially successful worldwide.













Saturday, October 30, 2010

Summer Reading in the Fall

This is a sweet craft project I made awhile back simply by folding the pages of a cheap, library-sale-bought book.

If you're like me, your summer reading list extends year round, and fall is a great time for catching up on some of the books you've been meaning to read during the warmer months. 

When it's chilly, rainy or gray out, that's the best time to cuddle up to a good book. 


Here's what's on my shelf at the moment:
  • The Wisdom of Yoga by Stephen Cope. An intriguing and approachable look into the yoga sutras by an intelligent psychologist and writer who knows how to tell a gripping story.
  • Bikram Yoga by Bikram Choudhury. The man behind the madness tells all about his experience growing up as a yogi, bringing his infamous series to the West, and discovering the amazing benefits of the class.
  • Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class by Bikram Choudhury. Bikram's other book outlines his 26-asana trademarked series, taking an in-depth look at each posture and how to do it and how it helps your body. Bikram also explains the difference between the ideal pose and your reality/ your edge, and how no matter how out of shape you are, it's never too late to start the yoga! 
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth, pre-authorized copy. My amazing writer friend Veronica is about to publish her first YA dystopian thriller novel about a futuristic world where young people face incredible choices that will determine the rest of their lives. Think the Harry Potter series meets the Ender's Game series and 1984. Amazing stuff! Congrats and thanks for sharing, V.
  • Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and One Raucous Year of Eating Locally  by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon. This fascinating tale is extremely well-written and informative. Ready to open up your eyes to the sad state of affairs in the American food industry when it comes to sustainability? Alisa and J.B. will show you the challenge, beauty, and reward of making the choice to eat foods only within 100 miles of their Canadian home.
             

I'm also listening to:
  • Julie Rader's meditation CD. Amazing! Have I mentioned that you should buy this? You should buy this. It's wonderful.
  • The Weepies. The Hubs and I are off to see them live in Evanston in about half an hour! I'm wiggling in my boots and just can't seem to wipe this grin off my face... :)
  • "Club Can't Handle Me" by Flo Rida ft. David Guetta. It's just good for dancin'. No shame here!
What are you reading and listening to lately? Please share any of your favorites, yoga-related or otherwise, in the comment section below!

Thank you, Northwestern Library, for some seriously intelligent yoga-related books.

Happy Halloween!

M. and me as Westley/the Dread Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya, Halloween 2008
(To see what I wore this year, click here)

We hope you all have a wonderful and safe Halloween weekend!  We're having some exciting giveaways coming up next week as a belated trick-or-treat!

Recession Time Graffiti


















Let them eat crack, an allusion to 'let them eat cake', a quote allegedly by Queen Marie-Antoinette. 



From monkeys to mice, from overzealous police officers to the Queen of England, Banksy has done it all. The British "art terrorist" whose work has become an underground masterpiece is the creator of some of the most unique graffiti artwork today. 



Recession-themed graffiti by Dublin artist Mazer in the Portobello area of Dublin.



"I don't believe in global warming" Clever Graffiti by Banksy 



"Most homeless people have moved on but their problems haven't gone away."



Washington Mutual in California, US. 






Economy is dead! 



Graffiti on the walls of the Bank of England in London. 








TODAYS OUTFIT

Wearing what? customized jeans; Mardou & Dean + tee; Harley-Davidson

Friday, October 29, 2010

Saddle Shoe Stylin'

I'm convinced that these shoes got me carded; people see saddle shoes and think "high school." Well, these shoes work with more than plaid skirts and white sweaters (though they work well there too). That's right, they even work with my funkiest dress--the one the sales clerk couldn't actually believe I was going to pay money for. I think they're just so unexpected nowadays that they could be added to anything but a ballgown (and shorts) and not raise many incredulous eyebrows.
Then again, maybe I'm just so in love with them and their ability to make me feel comfortable while walking miles and miles, plus their old-fashioned vibe, that I think they'd look great with a bathing suit. I don't know. But here's what I do know:
Comfort: 5/5
Versatility: 4.5/5
Value: 5/5
Style: 4/5
CSN Stores was fantastic; they offered free international shipping and had an amazing range of these in stock--grey options, pink options, cognac and navy options, etc. They arrived within 3 days and were immediately comfortable. They've also held up in rainstorms and tornado warnings and always serve as a conversation point.
Shoes: Bass via CSN Stores
Dress: Target
Tights: Target
Scarf: NISI
How many different ways can you think of to wear saddle shoes?
Full Disclosure: Not compensated by CSN Stores in any way for this review, except with the gratis saddle shoes of joy.

Buttons and Baubles Giveaway Winner

The winner of our Buttons and Baubles Giveaway winner is ....
... Mayte!  Congratulations, Mayte!  We'll be emailing you shortly to hook you up with your new earrings!  Thanks so much to Buttons and Baubles for sponsoring this giveaway and to all who entered!

Funny Robbery Stories


 The robber who tried to break into a house and ended up as a sexual slave for 3 days

A Russian robber broke into the salon of 28-year-old hairdresser who was armed with significant martial arts training. The woman held the 32-year-old armed robber captive for two days as her personal sex slave. He was gagged, kept handcuffed to a radiator with pink furry handcuffs , and allegedly fed Viagra before being forced into intercourse with the woman on multiple occasions. After approximately 48 hours of punishment, the man was released from his prison, heading straight to the hospital for treatment for a torn frenulum. He then went to the police to report Olga for "actions of a sexual nature". Shocked police then arrested Olga, who promptly reported Viktor for robbery. "What a bastard," Olga complained. "Yes, we had sex a couple of times. But I've bought him new jeans, gave him food and even gave him 1,000 roubles when he left." Olga and Viktor are both now apparently on charges, the woman could be convicted of rape, while the man of robbery.


 The robber who asked his victim on a date

Not only did a trio of robbers hold up a couple in their home, but one of the men came back two hours later and asked the female victim out on a date. The robbery occurred in Columbus, Ohio on a Sunday night when a couple was accosted by three robbers in their home. Stephon Bennett, 20, of Columbus, was arrested after he returned to the home and asked one of his victims, Diana Martinez, for a date. The woman recognized the wayward lothario as one of the trio and she asked a relative to call the police.

Bennett was arrested in front of the house. He was arraigned on one charge of aggravated robbery, is being held in Franklin County jail on $100,000 bail and is waiting to be assigned a public defender.


 The thief who made a pause to pray with the victim and then proceeded with the robbery

A robber holding a gun on an Advance America cashier apologized to the woman for his actions, but went ahead with his robbery even after praying with the victim. Cashier Angela Montez, 43, began crying when she realized the man's intentions. She began to talk to the man about God, she said, telling the man he still had the opportunity to refrain from committing the crime he had planned. The man told Montez he had a 2-year-old child to support and then asked Montez to pray with him about overcoming his hardships. The two got down on their knees and prayed, remaining on their knees for nearly 10 minutes. In response to the woman's kindness, the man took a bullet out of his handgun and gave it to her, according to the report, telling the clerk it was his only bullet and promising not to hurt her. He then asked Montez for a hug. Despite the heart-to-heart talk, the man was not dissuaded from his plans. He took the woman's cell phone, told her to go into the restroom and to refrain from calling police for 20 minutes.

The man took $20 in $5 bills from the cash drawer, according to the report — leaving the rest of the cash in the drawer.

 The robber who used his girlfriend's vibrator as a fake gun

A robber held up bookmakers with his girlfriend's vibrator. Nicki Jex concealed the Rampant Rabbit sex toy in a carrier bag and pretended it was a gun during the raid on the Ladbrokes shop in Leicester on December 27 ,2007. A member of staff at the branch handed over more than £600 in cash when he pointed the bag at her. The robbery was captured on a CCTV camera inside the shop. The surveillance camera recorded Jex striding into the shop brandishing the "firearm" minutes before staff were due to close for the day. He pointed the item in the carrier bag at the cashier. She immediately assumed it to be a firearm. In fact, what was contained within the carrier bag was the Jex's girlfriend's vibrator. The cashier retreated behind the counter and he turned the imitation weapon on the shop manager, demanding cash. She handed over £613 in till contents and other money. As Jex made his escape, the shop's only remaining customer, Wayne Vakani, followed him outside. Jex visited a local pub "obviously flush with money" to buy friends a drink. Thanks to Mr Vakani, the robber's hat worn in the robbery and containing his DNA was discovered nearby.

He was sentenced to five years behind bars.

 The thieves who drew themselves masks with permanent ink
There was little to disguise what these two had been up to moments before police pulled them over. Would-be burglars Matthew McNelly and Joey Miller's masterplan had one tiny flaw --their 'disguises' comprised of masks drawn on their faces with permanent marker pen.
American police stopped their car after a witness reported two men 'with painted faces' were trying to break into a flat in Carroll, Iowa. The caller added that the pair were wearing dark, hooded tops and had driven off in a big white car.

Police soon spotted a 1994 Buick Roadmaster matching the description and stopped it at gunpoint. Inside they found the two men, both of whom had what appeared to be masks, beards or moustaches scrawled on to their faces. McNelly, 23, and Miller, 20, were both charged with attempted second-degree burglary and were released on bail.


 The burglar who repented and returned the jewelry he had stolen three years later

In 2007, someone broke into Suzie Fronterotta's home in Gallup, New Mexico and stole about a dozen pieces of jewelry and $1,000 in cash. Though they weren't the treasures of Antwerp, they did contain sentimental value. Among them was a 30-year-old pearl necklace and a bracelet given to her by a relative on his deathbed. So imagine her surprise when, three years later, she received a package containing the stolen wares. The sender was anonymous, but it included a note with his apologies. "Please forgive me, I so sorry I steal from you," the letter read. "So many bad things happen because I steal from you, I so sorry."

It seems that ever since he robbed the home, he'd been having bad luck, including the death of his wife. So this rare bad guy decided to make amends. Also said he hoped to pay back the $1,000 when he earned enough money. And just to return the courtesy, Fonterotta says she doesn't want police to charge the guy if they ever find him.


 The hidden robber who was discovered because he laughed at victim's joke

He was hidden when the family arrived at their home but was caught after the couple heard someone laughing after the husband told a funny story. That must had been a hell of a joke.


 The thief who had his name and birth date tattooed on his neck

Police did not have to lift a finger to identify this thief after he broke into a car specially rigged with cameras - because he had a huge tattoo revealing his name and date of birth.

Aaron Evans, 21, was filmed breaking into the Peugeot 106 in an NCP car park before making off with a stolen sat-nav device. Not only had he failed to spot the covert camera filming his every move but he had the vital information 'Evans 19.9.87' boldly tattooed on his neck. Evans was jailed for seven months.


 The bank robber who threatened to file a complaint because the bank he was going to rob had no cash

A would-be bank robber threatened to file an official complaint after finding a bank in Springettsbury Township, Pa., had no cash on hand. 48-year-old Joseph Goetz allegedly attempted to rob a Susquehanna Bank branch office in the town shortly after it opened, but after learning that the bank had no cash on hand to give him, Goetz fled the scene while vowing to file a complaint with bank managers, police alleged. A bank customer who had been using the site's drive-thru services allegedly noticed the would-be robber fleeing the scene and followed Goetz as he left in his car. The unidentified customer called police, who stopped Goetz's vehicle and arrested him on suspicion of attempting to commit a robbery.


 The goat that got arrested for armed robbery

Police in Nigeria held a goat on suspicion of attempted armed robbery. Vigilantes seized the black and white goat, saying it was an armed robber who had used black magic to transform himself into an animal to escape after trying to steal a Mazda 323. The group of vigilante men came to report that while they were on patrol they saw some hoodlums attempting to rob a car. They pursued them. However, according to the police, one of them escaped while the other turned into a goat. Belief in witchcraft is widespread in parts of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. Residents came to the police station to see the goat, photographed in one national newspaper on its knees next to a pile of straw.
 

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