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20 Jan 2021

Hot Pink Teeter-Totters at the US-Mexico Border Win Beazley Design of the Year

As we end today, I am glad I never have to hear about “building the wall.” For years, this topic brought us both sadness and pain. As a country that has strong values in building bridges and bringing people together, the wall couldn’t have been more divisive.

Two Oakland based artists, [Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello] came together to bring their playful idea to the border. In July 2019 at the border of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, three pink teeter-totters were installed to connect both sides. While the installation seemed timely given the tension brought on by the administration, the project itself had been a decade in the making. Though the teeter-totters were used for only an hour, it left a lasting impression. Known for being used by children, you can see in the photo that it is being used by both children and adults. The message that this symbolizes is the unity between children and adults and that both countries can work together to physically lift each other up.

When asked about the administration separating families at the border, Rael shared this re: the proejct:

The teeter-totters represented the kind of balance necessary for any two people, two nations, to achieve equality, with the understanding that the actions on one side have direct consequences on the other. The teeter-totter is the physical manifestation of the Golden Rule—treat others as you would like others to treat you—a maxim that is shared by all cultures and religions. To experience joy on a teeter-totter, you must allow the other person to experience joy as well.

This highly prestigious award was given to the two artists from London’s Design Museum.

[Source]

Culture
01 Sep 2019

A Collection Part 55

It seems like these posts always get worked on when I have chunks of time to carve out for myself. They are the ones that I want to be the most thoughtful about. So if I’m stressed because of a deadline or under pressure, it’s not a good time. However, it’s moments like these where I do feel a bit of stress, but it’s these images that put me at ease. I read somewhere recently that when you have anxiety at work, there are a few things to remedy it. You can count or you can start listing things in a category. Anything that takes your mind off of what it is that causes you stress for a bit does the job. For me, it’s these types of images. They are the ones that spark whimsey, creativity, or a different perspective. What is it for you all that helps get you out of a rut like mine?

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Style
06 Apr 2019

Rent the Runway Ventures Into Kid’s Clothing

The popular subscription service announced on Friday that kid’s clothing will now be added as part of their product offerings. Recently valued at over $1 billion, Rent the Runway is keeping up with momentum and expanding their market. The children’s targeted service will allow customers to rent out four pieces at a time and can include any kind of combination of clothing or accessories. These kids are operating on high fashion though and will have their pick of Milly, Marc Jacobs, Fendi and Chloe.

As a child, I could never keep my pieces clean as hard as I tried! If I were to use this service on a little one, it would definitely be for more special occasions. Then again, why rent if you have a washer / dryer? Are we, in general, getting out of hand with subscription services?

“We decided to do kids [clothing] based on the requests and pleas from our subscribers and community,” says Rent the Runway COO Maureen Sullivan. “I think people have realized it’s so impractical to buy your kids more expensive clothing — even though it’s so tempting — based on how infrequently kids get dressed up and how quickly they grow.” 

[Source]

Culture
30 Jan 2019

A Collection Part 53

Tonight I did something for the first time that I’ve never done with these posts. Since I started working on this post over the holidays while I was at home there were a few Christmas themed photos in this batch. As I scrolled through the preview, I didn’t feel that same spark or attachment to them as I once had. So while on my way to finish this post, I replaced those photos. Since we’ve been through 53 rounds of this and I’ve never once replaced any photos before posting, in some way, I felt like I was being inauthentic. Could my readers tell that I had swapped them out? Of course not. But I would know and that kind of ate me up for about 15 minutes.

We haven’t written our resolutions post yet, but this made me think of two previous resolutions I’ve had. A few years back, I had “say yes to everything.” The intent was good, sure. But saying “yes to everything” can sometimes do more harm than good. Sometimes you say yes to things when you don’t want to. Maybe saying yes to things causes you to spend money when you don’t want to. Have experiences that you don’t think you’ll appreciate. The next year I refined that resolution: do the things you want to do. And that has stuck around longer than saying “yes.” So if that’s what I truly believe, why not act upon that when it comes to this blog and my posts?

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Culture
01 Dec 2018

Awkwafina Is Getting Her Own Show

2018 was the year for Awkwafina after starring in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8. She is still my favorite part about Crazy Rich Asians and I tell everyone that. Now, the young Asian-American actress is getting her own show on Comedy Central in which she’ll star in, write for, and produce. The 10-episode scripted series is a play on her own life – a 20 something living in Queens with her family.

“I’ve been watching Comedy Central since I was old enough to hold a remote, and so many of their shows have defined who I am today,” said Awkwafina about the show. “I am so honored to be given their platform to tell the story of an Asian American girl against the backdrop of the city I was raised.”

No premiere date has been slated yet for the series, but we can’t wait to hear more!

[Source]

Culture
31 Mar 2018

A Collection Part 50

On average, the process of putting together one of these posts takes about three months. To find images, I have about 10 Tumblrs that I circulate through. Each post roughly has about 50 images, but today, this one has less. I’m posting this one now though because I’m close to 50 and there won’t be any other Tumblrs that I’ll be viewing within the next couple of months. It has also been three months since I posted A Collection Part 49. I’m telling you all of this because that is the only structure I have when it comes to making these. There are no themes. I don’t spend any time re-arranging them in a certain order. The differences in size of images would normally bother me anywhere else, but not here. There are no patterns for colors. I can’t explain to you why I selected this image over that one and I don’t want to. I look at these photos so quickly and I save them in an instant the same way a normal human being would fill out one of those personality tests that you’re not supposed to think too much about it. That’s it! Since the migration, every other post before this has been skewed to the left. Starting now and with post #50, we’re going to center it. It just looks better!

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Culture
27 Dec 2017

A Collection Part 49

We don’t always time these posts with the end of the year, but it feels good, doesn’t it? Even as I search for photos it’s nice to be able to put something together that wraps up the end of the year and my feelings towards a new year. The start of this post doesn’t look anything like the end of this post, which I think is pretty different for a change. You can definitely tell that I’m feeling some sort of way by the end of this. What is it exactly? That I’m holding on to millennial pink? That I’ve got a love inanimate objects? Those things, but maybe a couple of other things that aren’t so obvious.

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Style
01 Nov 2017

Janelle Monae x Gap

Janelle Monae joined Gap in celebrating their latest campaign. These types of collaboration happen all of the time and we probably could write about one of these every day. However, in reading a little bit more about why Janelle chose Gap as the brand to work with, I stumbled upon a quote that meant something more to me. This my reason for why I chose to share this collab on Yow Yow!

“Growing up, my family and I would always shop around the holidays. I grew up with working class parents and we didn’t have a lot of money. Or, at least to go and buy super expensive things for myself and my sister. So, one of the things was always a treat for us was when we did get the opportunity to go shopping, one of the stores that was within my family’s spending limit was the Gap.
My sister and I would get to pick out a sweater, some jeans — but usually, it was a sweater. I just remember doing that in middle school. Even when I got old enough to shop for myself and I was working at Blockbuster or FootLocker [in the mall], I’d always stop in Gap. It’s pretty much everywhere, especially around the holiday season.”
While there are many that look forward to the holidays, there are also many that don’t. The holidays can be a tough time for families and it’s not something that we tend to shed a light on. Instead, we focus on the best gifts that we can give each other and how much money we can spend. I used to always look forward to shopping with my family around this time, but my parents definitely taught me how to be frugal and this story that Janelle shared is something that I know not only resonates with me, but as I’m sure, many others. This isn’t an ad, though I love Gap and if you’ve been following my Instagram, you know that it’s my favorite piece from the fall season. Gap is such a wholesome, quality brand and they have helped define holidays for me, but also family.

[Source]

Culture
01 Mar 2017

Barry Jenkins’ Intended Oscar Speech

I might have expressed too much anger on Twitter Sunday night after the wrong film was called for “Best Picture” and the reason why is because this flub did not give “Moonlight” the attention it deserved. There have been many articles and critiques written about this already so I don’t want to echo anything you’ve already heard, but the cast of “Moonlight” didn’t have their opportunity to truly shine. Instead, the whole event was directed at Warren Beatty, Steve Harvey, “La La Land,” and now there is even a cover in which “La La Land” and “Moonlight” have to share the spotlight together. That was really unnecessary.

Since Sunday night was such a fiasco, Barry didn’t get to deliver the speech that he intended. That has been released today though and I thought I would include that for all of you to read:

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“Given what happened in those last 10 minutes of the ceremony, I don’t know how I managed any words at all,” Jenkins concluded. “It is what it is.”

[Source]