HOLLY+RUSSELL

I've been working on my friend Holly's wedding invites this week. They've been really fun to do, mostly because the only direction I was given was 1) they wanted a drawing of them and 2) they wanted it in my handwriting. Sounds great to me. I wanted the invites to look like they had been torn from a page in my sketchbook.

I feel like I've been waiting for a project like this to come around for awhile.

WAHH WAAAH

I just don't even know what to write. I could tell you about the most intense semester I've had yet, and how I handled it like a champ. Or how I just got back from a weekend in San Diego visiting my little sister with my family. I could tell you about all the shows I've been to, all the movies I've seen, or the music I listen to. How about the podcasts? Well there's Marc Maron and The Nerdist. I mostly just want to listen to interviews these days. Like the one with Judd Apatow or Conan or even the one with Bobcat Goldthwait was really good.

As for music - I find myself retreating back to the stuff that comforted me in high school. I want to listen to something familiar. As for movies - Rabbit Hole was great, Win Win was great and if you have the chance to see In A Better World, please do.

I'm sure there is a lot to report - but as usual, it's hard to put all the stuff that really matters into words. I soothe myself by taking in endless amounts of media through my eye-holes and ear-holes. It distracts me from the balancing act I'm trying to pull off - being terrified and excited for the future at the same time. For now I'll just rewatch another episode of Party Down and maybe download a few more podcasts to listen to tomorrow at work.

THRIFT

Found this lil guy for a quarter when I was thrifting this weekend. Spray painted it white and my favorite salt and pepper shakers fit perfectly.

2010 YEAR-END LISTS

This time comes but once a year, yes m'dears, it's time for my year-end lists. You could say my enormous amount of media consumption is trying to fill some kind of void in my life - and you're probably right. At least I'm aware of it!


Photo by Reiko Turner

TOP 10 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2010
The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
Warpaint - The Fool
Toro Y Moi - Causers of This
The Morning Benders - Big Echo
Belle and Sebastian - Write About Love
Small Black - New Chain
Efterklang - Magic Chairs
The Octopus Project - Hexadecagon
The Love Language - Libraries
Balmorhea - Constellations

FAVORITE LIVE SHOWS OF 2010
Girls at Urban Lounge (February 12)
Memory Tapes at Spaceland (Los Angeles) (February 26)
The Morning Benders at Velour (Provo) (April 5)
Local Natives at Kilby Court (May 22)
The Mountain Goats at Urban Lounge (June 16)
Dum Dum Girls at the Twilight Concert Series (August 26)
[The entire concert series this summer was fantastic! I had a great time at every single show, but seeing the Dum Dum Girls was my favorite and the best way to end a perfect summer.]
The Budos Band at The State Room (August 31)
Beach House (opening for Vampire Weekend) at In The Venue (September 2)
Efterklang at Urban Lounge (September 14)
Mice Parade at (le) poisson rouge (NYC) (September 25)
Grass Widow and Beach Fossils at The Old Firehouse (NYC) (September 27)
The xx / Warpaint at United Palace Theatre (NYC) (October 2)
Caribou at Urban Lounge (October 11)
Menomena at Urban Lounge (October 15)
Hot Chip at In The Venue (October 19)
Jonsi at The Complex (October 22)
The Morning Benders / Twin Sister at Urban Lounge (October 23)
Daedelus at W Lounge (October 26)
Portland Cello Project at Peery's Egyptian Theater (Ogden) (November 5)
Aloe Blacc at Urban Lounge (November 9)
Small Black / Class Actress at Kilby Court (November 12)
Nosaj Thing / Toro Y Moi / Jogger at Urban Lounge (November 19)

FAVORITE LIVE COMEDY SHOWS OF 2010
Adam Carolla at The El Portal Theater (LA)
Charlyne Yi at SLCC
Kevin Nealon at Wiseguys Ogden
Tom Arnold at Wiseguys Ogden
Adam Carolla at Wiseguys West Valley
Brian Posehn at Wiseguys Trolley Square
Maria Bamford / Jackie Kashian at Wiseguys Trolley Square
Jimmy Fallon Show at 30Rock (NY) (does this count?)
Nick Thune / Rory Scovel at Wiseguys West Valley

FAVORITE TV SHOWS OF 2010
Mad Men (Season 4) (AMC)
Modern Family (Season 1) (ABC)
Breaking Bad (Season 3) (AMC)
Parks and Recreation (Season 2) (NBC)
Saturday Night Live (Season 35) (NBC)
The League (Season 1) (FX)

FAVORITE THINGS THAT I CAN'T STOP PROMOTING IN MY DAILY PERSONAL LIFE
Adam Carolla, The radio station 104.7 The Point, Kit Kat Bars, Saturday Night Live, Podcasts, Rice Pudding, DIY Network, Trader Joe's, The League, Utah Jazz, Christmas music, my secret favorite D.I. (the location is only uttered to people I trust), Scott Pilgrim (the comic book, but also the movie).

FIRSTS
- Wore contacts for the first time
- Started school? What?!@? (I know, I did it. Wow.)
- Built stuff, like.. a blanket chest and a freakin' kitchen.
- Went to NYC and did the most typical thing, fell in love with it.

TRIPS I TOOK
Los Angeles, California
Sun Valley, Idaho
New York City, New York
San Diego, California

So.. I never really do favorite movies of the year. Probably because my favorite movies are movies like Going The Distance and Sex and the City II. Hahaha.


2010 WRAP UP
2010 was okay. All in all I give it about a 6. I'm excited for 2011, I predict a lot of cool things will happen and possibly some big changes for myself. Whatevs!

PATTERNITY

Marquetry dyed veneers
Furniture by Toby Winteringham

patternity

NYTRIP

Here's a video I quickly put together with some clips from our trip to NY last week. Enjoy.

JENS RISOM

Eye candy anyone?


Jens Risom