high cultured.

Someone at work told me, "Grace, I'm not used to this type of work. I usually like high cultured art and you bring me down to low brow." I turned to her and asked, "Don't we all work in reality TV?" I don't understand the people who are constantly trying to cut others down. I genuinely want everyone in life to be happy and well-adjusted.
I may be low brow but I love that about myself. I love a good corny joke and I think farts are the funniest thing on earth. That being said, I also love going to museums, plays, shows, galleries, and whatever else is considered "high culture." I don't think that a person has to be one or the other. I don't think it's right to put people in boxes. So while (lets call her Ms. Tay) Ms. Tay enjoyed going clubbing this past weekend, I was able to say I went to LACMA on my day off.

LACMA is an amazing museum in LA and it's mostly contemporary/modern art. I'm not the biggest fan of modern art but I do like the exhibits there and the films that they screen. The space is beautiful and a lot of fun.

 Every LACMA trip requires a different picture of the lamp posts.

I really enjoyed this exhibit. Third floor of BCAM. Glenn Ligon

Don't know what these are, but they are beautiful. Looks like Oscars and aliens. 

This made my museum companion break out into song. "I am 16, going on 17..."

Ms BoPeep & I at LACMA. Picture from Ms. BoPeep. Our faces are completely covered and all the details are missing but we look long & tall so I love it!

 METROPOLIS

This piece was the coolest ever. The different parts of the metropolis were from all the big cities int he world. The freeway was crossing over the entire metropolis and the entire thing was just amazing to look at. I think it was done by the same guy who made the lamp posts.

If you're ever in LA, definitely head to LACMA. I'll meet you there! 

Have a Happy Weekend y'all! My sister's birthday is coming up so I can't wait to spend the entire weekend being sisters.

drop them like it's hot.

I decided that Wednesday is going to be my weekly instagram drop day. Clearly, I have one every week because I'm always on instagram so I decided to establish Wednesday as Instagram day. I don'y know about y'all but I'm already so tired from this year. I feel like life is heading in so many different directions and I don't know what to grab on to. Do you have any words of encouragement for a girl who is lost and confused?

Well on to my drop!

My Wednesday Instagram drop. If you gots an iphone I definitely recommend getting this app! You can follow me @thanksgrace. 

 Shoes, cupcakes, movie.. what else does a girl need? (I'm not wearing my shoes on opposite feet, my legs are crossed)

Sunday church arms. 

Shoes that were tempting but I'm stronger!

A very,very good friend baked the yummiest delights.

My foot gets tired at work.

Don't mess around at work. 

My fave earrings ever from Love Adorned.

The week has been fun-ish. I actually got Monday off and will post on that soon. This week is almost over y'all! 

a little sparkle and shine.

A little birdie this weekend tipped me off to ShopJeen via instagram. I immediately checked the shop out and found it was this amazing online accessory retail store. I have a major sparkle addiction so this was like lust heaven for me. In her about section, Erin explains that she wanted to simplify the online accessory shopping and I think she succeeded. She has a little bit of everything for all different types of women and for all different types of paychecking. I think my upcoming paycheck may be in a little bit of trouble.

For the classy, glamour girl:

link

For the young at heart:

link

For the simple yet va-va-voom:

link

For the every-girl:

link

Yes, I think I may want them all! Accessories, jewelry make me beyond happy. I think it's because I can express who I am but I can go back to being business Grace with just a few simple moves. Take off the rings and earrings and all of the sudden I'm ready for the big meetings. Also, who doesn't love sparkle and shine? Whenever I'm stressed, sad, tired, I throw on some sparkle and my spirits are lifted. Hope you all have a fantastic Sunday. 

Shady Business.

It's finally Friday! I can't wait for the weekend to actually hit. What are my big plans for this holiday weekend? Well being that I don't get Monday off, it doesn't feel like a holiday. So my weekend consists of doing absolutely nothing but run errands. Going to go buy me a some new primer (any recs?), I'm going to read a lot of books, go through my netflix, stroll through the farmer's market, church it up, and hit the thrift event happening in LA. Yes, I have a busy weekend planned. I'm going to enjoy this last bit of sun we've been having and just kick back.

I'm ready to go on an adventure y'all! Have a Happy Weekend!

Go lightly.

I've been kind of in a weird brain funk. My mind is going kooks and I'm going bonkers trying to figure out what's next in life. I'm entering my mid-twenties soon (so excited!) but I want life to.. be. In my prayers I keep asking, What's next? What do you want from me?

I'll turn on a film & pour over the art & aesthetics of the picture. 

I think it's time to dust off my old sketchbook and pencils and return to the world of art & design.

I think need to return to my love. It's time.

The magic of movie making is and will always be my first love. Sorry future husband, but that spot is taken. I can spend hours/days watching movies and feel joy and happiness. I can spend weeks talking philosophy and theory behind movie making but the indefinable, intangible magic behind the moving pictures makes me speechless. I studied film in college. 

Cameron Crowe recently got his hands on a note that Ms Hepburn wrote to the composer of Breakfast of Tiffany's. Her letter makes me long for beauty in cinema. She writes,

A movie without music is a little bit like an aeroplane without fuel. However beautifully the job is done, we are still on the ground and in a world of reality. Your music has lifted us all up and sent us soaring. Everything we cannot say with words or show with action you have expressed for us. You have done this with so much imagination, fun and beauty.
You are the hippest of cats - and most sensitive of composers!

link

I want to watch a picture that makes me soar above reality.
Ms Hepburn is so beautiful.
She is bewitching.

diy stripes.

This year is already craaaaazzy but I do have a DIY I wanted to share with y'all! 

Inspiration:

Esquival brogues

The tools:

1. Shoes that are worn beyond necessary

2. Paint

3. Lots of tape

 Step 1: clearly mark with your tape the section you want painted. (My tape job is a little messy)

Step 2: Paint, paint, paint. I used many coats.

Step 3: Peel the tape and fix any messy spots. I took art my whole life so I have a steady hand when it comes to painting (only painting though).

Step 4: Wear and enjoy!

Seeing in instagram

A little round up of pictures from my instagram. I love this app! You can find me @thanksgrace if you are a user. 

 At the hardware store, cutting some wood. 

 Crumbs cupcakes

 Anthro inspiration. Love the lights

Yummiest Mac & Cheese as a part of our New Years Eve meal.

NYE feast

Love the colors of the tommy toes.

My sister is a goofball!

 cutest salt and pepper shaker

yummiest sandwich from a place near work.

Can you tell I love food? It was my greatest comfort this week. 

Happy Friday Y'all! Hope you have a YUMMY weekend!

wake up.

It's only the 4th day of this new year and I'm already sinking into the hole of bad attitudes. I just want to curl up into a ball in bed all day and not come out. It's hot. I'm looking outside thinking is it really January? 

And there is so much uncertainty in my life that my hair is falling out. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I knew how to turn my brain to silent. Is there a mute button somewhere? Anywhere?

 Over the break, I was like this. Blissfully unaware of the tightening of clothes as I spent my time with good food and even better company. But I am resolved to never let failure defeat me so I won't. Even harder, I will never let bad attitude defeat me.

I planned on being fancier this year. A little more put together in my dress so hopefully my mind follows suit. I tried, I really did.

But then, I checked the weather and decided that being fancy is not on the agenda for today. So I quickly changed into cropped pants and a blue tee. 

I think I'm more like this..

As much as I love Carrie's sophisticated style, I love her in casual clothes.Pairing an oversized sweater with Manolos.

But I'm ready. Armed with an apple and lots of water, I plan on taking on my bad attitude with ... resolve!

Here's to 2012!

I am very excited for 2012. On New Years, my family starts the year off with the Korean tradition of eating dduk guk, which is a rice cake soup. The tradition is to bless the parents with one deep bow and wish the parentals a very blessed new year. After that, the parents give words of wisdom and new, crisp money. The New Year traditions are all centered around family, blessings, and prosperity.

 The rice cake soup with dumplings. My momma is the best cook ever. Everything is home made.

All the sides, even though we don't really need anything besides the dduk guk.

I really hope to be a better person in the new year. I'm horrible at making and keeping resolutions. I'm a moment-by-moment gal and my life is so unpredictable. However, there are certain rules and resolutions that I need to live by no matter the circumstances.

I was inspired by this great post on how to make and keep resolutions.

She says there are 4 steps in making and keeping New Year resolutions:

Step 1: List your goals.

Step 2: List any barriers to your goals.

Step 3: Write and action plan for each goal.

Step 4: Mark key dates in your yearly diary planner.

I want to laugh more, travel more, style more, love more, read more, diy more, cook more, clean more, sing & dance (I know no one else wants that from me) more, and be more. This is a year of focus and determination and learning how to be the woman that God wants me to be. 

Hello 2012! I'm ready for you!