Day Two: Summer of Dresses

Website:
Summer of Dresses Blog

Where to go:
CLICK HERE

Why I think it's mind-blowing:
Unlike yesterday's site, this one is purely for fun and entertainment. This participation site encourages people to send in pictures of themselves in dresses. It promotes personal style and is a showcase for fashion and local trends. Want to contribute? Awesome. Just send in a picture of your lovely self in a dress. Click here for participation guidelines.

10 days, 10 mind-blowing sites

I really think I should be honest with myself. I think I'm addicted to surfing the internet. Finding a fabulous new blog to follow is exciting for me. Another designer portfolio to view? Excellent. I'd love it if you'd join me. For the next 10 days I will be posting a new site that has dragged me in. Come over to the dark side – you know you want to. 

Let's start today!

NUMERO UNO!

Website: 
David Lynch Presents: The Interview Project

Where to go: CLICK HERE

Why I think it's mind-blowing: 
I love David Lynch, primarily because Mulholland Drive still confuses the hell out of me. Do I like to be confused? Yes, sometimes. Lynch has a particular way of allowing you to interpret his works. It's almost as if you feel like a contributor to the art he has created.

The Interview Project aired a new episode every three days, but has finally come to a conclusion. Every episode consists of a brief interview that reveals a snippet of a common person's life. Traveling around the country, they aimed to hit nearly every state. So much emphasis is placed upon celebrity interviews that we lose sight of the stories our neighbors have to tell. Click on "route" on the homepage to view the interviews in your state. 

The Diary Project

I can't help but share the experience I had yesterday. My aunt Rose Ann visited me, bringing along photo albums that held photographs from her childhood. For years now she has been encouraging my grandma to document the story of her life. After recording several years worth of experiences, my grandma gave Rose Ann permission to summarize the writings from her diaries. I remember watching her write pensively in that red book when I was a child, sometimes writing two pages worth if she had been too tired to go through her routine the previous night. She would fill the entire page with information about the weather, the grain prices and the day's activities and adventures. Her cursive handwriting curled around the edge of the page when she inevitably ran out of space.

The finished draft is now in my hands to design. Yesterday we attempted to pick out photos that will serve as visual references to complement the written words. Photos capture something pure, something hypnotic. Looking through the gorgeous black and white prints yesterday was a captivating experience. It put me in a hypnotic state of mind, placing me in a time and place I never experienced. I thought I would share a few of the discovered treasures with you.

More than a sparkling vampire? Yes, I think so.

Image from imdb.com

I must make an embarrassing admission. Yes, I read the Twilight series. After watching the hilarious movies where awful acting and goofy graphics seemed to be the prominent themes, I decided I should give the books a try. The movie's plot was slightly intriguing, so some vampire reading should be harmless, right? To make a long story short, the books were very entertaining though slightly bothersome in their messages regarding love and sexism. I could go on forever, but that's not the purpose of this post.

Where am I going with this? Oh, right.

The other night I dragged an unwilling Don to see a late night showing of Remember Me at a dollar theatre. I had quickly come to the conclusion that the movie would be sappy, and that Robert Pattinson (from Twilight) would provide eye candy but wouldn't contribute much in the acting department.

I am here to say that I was COMPLETELY wrong about my preconceived judgments. This film was provocative, emotionally engaging and beautifully acted. The cast, including Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper had amazing chemistry. The themes of death, remorse and anger within a family unit were reminiscent of Garden State. I had been told before entering the movie that the end provided a twist, and it definitely did not disappoint. The movie went from being powerful to hitting home in a mere two minutes. If you want the full effect, don't read about it ahead of time. Knowing the twist will make you less emotionally vulnerable. While the critics were not impressed by this film, viewer reviews have been much more promising. Really, rent this one when it is released on DVD.

To see the theatrical trailer (which I warn you is misleading) click here.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Once upon a time, long, long ago...I wrote the last post on my blog. I have news for you. KEY DRUMROLL HERE. I'm back.

I'd like to premiere my re-blogging with a post about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Over the last two years, I've had an intense interest in the food industry and the effect it has on our nation's health. I'm constantly learning about genetically modified crops, food labeling and large-scale food production. As you might have guessed, I jumped at the opportunity to watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC. 

In case you aren't familiar with the show, it documents chef Jamie Oliver and his attempt to bring healthier habits to Huntington, West Virginia. During the filming he attempted to establish a new school lunch program that serves fresh produce, while eliminating overly processed food. He visited families and opened a local kitchen to educate locals about healthy cooking habits. 

To sign a petition supporting healthier food in schools, visit Jamie's site.

I would love to see what we could change in this country (and around the world) if we only tried. With a virtual world around us, it seems that getting people to collaborate and rally together should be easy. How can design help support and challenge the issues you are passionate about?