Everything is up to date in Kansas City

I may have mentioned that I recently went to Kansas City for the very first time. I can't say that this was on my list of top places to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised by KC nonetheless.

My gal pal, Ann, and I struck out for KC and were overwhelmed by how nice the hotel was that her company put us in. Even though it was a Holiday Inn, it was a boutique version called the Aladdin. Built in a restored and historically listed art deco building, all I can say is the Aladdin is RAD, y'all. I wish I had taken more pictures during this trip, but it was all a bit of a blur. If you want to check it out yourselves, please do at The Aladdin website.

While the free champagne, affordable valet, and cushy rooms were super nice, we were there with a purpose: to attend an art show for a sister to Ann's company, Fine Line Studios. I can't remember the name of the studio we attended off the top of my head. If I remember or get around to asking Ann, I'll edit it in later. Fine Line Studios and it's affiliates works with developmentally disabled adults to find and focus their creative side through art instruction and outreach. Also, super rad. Seriously, if you're into art and awesome people, I'd check them out. You can do that here.

Now, please enjoy some photos of us and a small sample of the art we witnessed.

Looking fine.

 I have a few of the "we're so cute" photos, so I'll intermingle them with the others. Clever, I know.

Part of the studio that was doubling as a gallery.

I told you we were cute.

That is actually a giant eyeball structure behind those paintings. 

Still cuting it up.

Some awesome ceramic work. I liked the little penguin.

After checking out the gallery and making a purchase, which hopefully I'll show on here at some point in the future, Ann, I, and her co-workers struck out into the Kansas City night to do some gallery hopping and eventually some pre-Halloween partying. 

Dramatic music plays here.

The first gallery was probably the most interesting. I was introduced to Jennifer Jarnot's work and was completely blown away. Very stylized, very fluid, and yet very pop art. I loved her concept of using such a familiar style and playing with it in ways that brought something new to the table. Some comments that were made by others included a disappointment that it seemed to be all the same. I personally disagree. It was a single show of many artists, not a retrospective on an entire life's work and development. 

The ukes were my favorite, but I'm biased.

You should seriously check her work out. This is an article and interview about her and I would highly advise reading it. If you don't, I do want to copy one of her pieces into this blog post as I found it one of the most striking things of the evening.

birds of reflection . jennifer jarnot . 2012

At the same gallery (?), I think, there was a wing dedicated to politically themed works which to me = yawn for the most part. I feel like there hasn't been anything original done with this in so long that I just don't really care anymore. How many statements about dehumanization of government and Walmart being evil can be made? No more than have already been apparently. 

There was ONE standout. A group of ladies dressed in varying historical garb with picket signs regarding women's rights. I had their card and like the responsible person I am, I totally lost it. Anyhow, their message was clear, their execution was right on, and it was fun! Cheers to them. Have a picture.

After the galleries, we all went out to various parties. People got super drunk and danced. I did neither because I'm a big stick in the mud and also the permanent DD. Also, there was a gigantic gun.

End scene. I did tons more in Kansas City, but I think that is more than enough for one blog post. Oh! Did I mention I had about 2 hours sleep before this incredibly LONG day? Now I did. 

Love, Lara

NaBloPoMo and other silly words

November kicks off many marathon events that are both fun and silly. There is Movember and it's brother Novembeard. There is the less popular No-shave-vember. And every writer's favorite NaNoWriMo.

I am not a writer. I have never pretended to be. I enjoy blogging, but when it comes to making things up, I absolutely fail. I can have an idea for a premise but when it comes down to the whole package, you know, plot, character, setting, etc., I totally lose it.  I got about 600 words in to some depressing drivel and remembered that.

That said, I am participating in NaBloPoMo or as my friends and I have decided to call it BloMo. It's a challenge in a similar vein to write a blog post every day for a solid month. Maybe it will be fun or interesting, but the idea is to get into a daily writing routine which has to beat my daily routine of watching America's Next Top Model and eating ice cream.

They've offered prompts to get people writing and today's is "If you could live anywhere, where would it be?" That's a toughy. I've lived a few places and have always found something to be dissatisfied with. Chicago was so dirty and expensive. Dallas was way too hot and really boring. Ireland... was really drunk? At least I was so I can't really say. I would like to live near the water, but it can't be so secluded that I don't have good internet access. If that's handled, I think I could live pretty much anywhere. Mostly I just want to live with friends nearby. A few of my friends and I have floated the idea of creating an artists' commune of sorts. Build a farm, hook it up with DSL or whatever, and all live there in self sustaining harmony. Talk about a fantasy. That would be the best though. IT'S NOT A CULT. Maybe only a little polygamy. I kid.

OOTD: Resolutions and Rennovations

I got dressed up to do a bit of cleaning around the house and yet MORE yard work. It's been a battle and a half with all the trees on this property and, of course, the wicked winds that seem to deposit the entire city's leaves in our driveway. Luckily, since I love the fall, I also love the chores that come with fall.

Dressed warmly and ready for action.

I thought I'd use this as a nice excuse to get into what other bloggers do occasionally which is an Outfit of the Day post. This helps as a jumping off point I think. You talk about clothes if you want or just use it as an excuse to photograph your lovely self and then talk about whatever you want!

Still rocking the residual hairspray from last night.

Soo um clothes... The shirt I picked up at Goodwill a couple weeks ago on the most successful thrifting trip I've ever had. The pants are from Fashion Bug. The vest is Torrid. Shoes are... Target? Maybe? They're old, stinky, and falling apart and I love them. 

Happy Halloween!

I dressed up! But I actually kind of cheated because I had just purchased this dress and ran out of time for a costume so I decided why not fat Joan Holloway? I did up with with time appropriate make up and even taught myself to bouffant with the best of them. As a non hairspray user, this is impressive.

I set up a desk, lamp, office chair, and candy little scene for myself to hint at what I might be. I even brought the sound track to Mad Men to help out. This didn't really make much of a difference in the end.

Anyhow, I look fabulous, but there are no trick-or-treaters in this neighborhood which sucks. Since this outfit deserves better than an hour out in the cold wave at rush hour traffic, I'm taking my mom out to the movies. Maybe the dollar theater will appreciate this fabulosity.

Stay safe and Happy Halloween!
Love, Lara

SIgh. A Plea for Funds.

I know no one really reads this yet...

But if you happen to stumble upon this page, please take a second to look at this.

Crowdfunding

If you could donate or pass the word on to your friends and followers, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Love,
Lara

On the Road Again

The Life I  Love is Making Music with My Friends

As I have mentioned before, I am in the process of moving to St. Louis and in with some of the bestest friends ever. This weekend I came down from my exile in South Bend to visit them and go to Kansas City (see upcoming post for all the fun deets on that) with Ann. 

Anny has two thumbs.

Matt wishes he had more.

Ann and I had long ago decided that there is too much talent between us that we are robbing the world if we don't band together and form, well, a band. So a band was born and it's name is Port Manteau. One of the nights I was there we recorded an extremely rough version of a song Ann wrote currently dubbed "Guilt Song." If you like, you can check it out here. Helpful comments welcome bearing in mind this is a first pass.



I also picked up a penny whistle because who doesn't need one of those.

My Soul's Melody

I have had favorite bands and favorite songs before. I grew up adoring the Beatles and I still do. I love musicals and Ke$ha. I love LMFAO and Frank Sinatra and Cake. I have an unending love of all things music, but I don't think I really understood what it meant to really connect with a band before the movie adaptation of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World came out and I was introduced to Metric. I heard the wail and reverberating thump of "Black Sheep" and I was sold. There was something haunting in that song that I couldn't put my finger on, but it spoke to me on a level that I had never felt before. I wanted more. I even PAID for all of their available albums, the utmost in respect from me. 

That year I went on a road trip mostly by myself 5,000 miles around the USA and listened almost exclusively to Metric. It never got old. I learned the words. I wailed right along. New bands and songs and sounds came and I listened and enjoyed them, but Metric was always right there for me to go back to. Metric had a song in a Twilight movie. I made peace with it and moved on. Finally their latest album, Synthetica, came out and they announced they were going on tour. 

I don't normally like going to see live shows. Most of the bands take forever to get on stage. There are uninteresting opening acts. There isn't any seating. I don't really like large crowds. I've had terrible experiences with dehydration and sun stroke at past events. That aside it took me about .002 seconds to buy my tickets to the Metric show at The Pageant in St. Louis. At the time I bought the ticket I thought I would be living there by then and it would be a nice way to break the city in. I turned out to be overly optimistic but that doesn't matter.

Tonight, I saw what I am proud to say is my all-time favorite band in concert and it was AMAZING. Not only did I finally get to wear my new outfit put together specifically for this ocassion, but I got to go with two of my besties who I will soon be living with in St. Louis.

Anny and I showing off tonight's ensemble.

Working it for the camera!

Matt and Anny and I finally at the show. Super excited and making funny faces?

The crowd wound up being more of a jeans crowd, but I did not care one hoot. 

Like I said before I don't think I really understood what it felt like to really have a favorite band before. But let me share with you one of their songs. I know it's one of their more popular ones, but the lyrics to me are really outstanding and have a great message. 

That song, other than being totally rocking, reminds us that while we're still sucking down breath our lives are ours to live and no one else's, so do what you damn well please. Isn't that the best?  All in all, I really enjoyed the show. The music was loud and the lights were bright and Emily was a little more of a hippy than I expected but I did not care in the least. If she's liking the good vibes she gets from St. Louis then yay! Come back again soon! 

So this leaves me with a question. What is your favorite band/song and why? Have you had the chance to see them live and did they live up to your expectations?

Have a great Tuesday!

Lara

20 @ 26

Inaugural Link Up

To really kick this blog off in the right direction I want to break the first rule of fat ladies on the internet and post a full body picture of myself shamelessly. To give me a decent excuse to do this I am participating in The Nearsighted Owl's "I am proud of my size" Link Up. For her, it's number 17. For me, the first of many. Shall we get on with this? Yep.

Every girl's worst nightmare: an empty closet.

I go into a bit of a rant here so I'm putting this under a jump. 

Greetings!

Oh, look. Another blog from a mid-20s fat lady. 

It's hard to wave at a camera you're holding yourself.

So, yeah. After doing extensive research wherein I ate like half a jar of peanut butter while reading body positive fashion and food blogs with Supernatural playing in the background, I decided I was doing neat things too AND I too am fat and happy. Why shouldn't the internet get to hear my voice or read my voice, I guess?

Let me introduce myself then. I'm 26, in between cities though at this second located in the quaint town of South Bend, IN, and a freelance transcriptionist. This essentially means that I have a lot of free time, not a lot of money, and an exceptional word per minute rate. I have dabbled in many things: print making, metal sculpture, print making, figure drawing, comic making, trombone and saxophone playing, singing, ukulele playing, piano playing, t-shirt designing, radio producing, sound editing, and uhh foods baking. I'm a jack of all trades, master of none, but I don't let that get me down. I enjoy everything I do and hope that others like it as well. I appreciate the talent in others way more than my own most times and I don't take compliments easily although I secretly love them. 

This pose is called "The Great Gobbler."

After four years of living with one of my best friends (see above photo) and eight years in the Windy City total, I have finally decided to relocate. I am in the extremely slow process of moving to St. Louis into a house with another couple of my best friends (see photo below.) They are currently renovating their basement for me to move into and while it's taking longer than anyone could have expected I am staying in one of my parents' houses in South Bend. In repayment for their generosity I am undertaking the project of decorating this house and making it ready for future renters. I try to squeeze thrift store shopping and crafting in to my busy schedule of TV watching, internetting, and gaming. Trust me; it's a hard life. 

A modern American Gothic.

That all being said, I hope that you will welcome me to your community. I'm happy to be here.