Spring is here!

These photos make me excited for the warm weather! They also make me want to travel! 

Photos via: Flickr

The Trustworthiness of Beards

My dear, sweet, beard loving friend Dionne showed me this helpful scale. Look at the facial hair around you, now look back at the chart...do you need to remove yourself from anyone's presence? 

(Click on the picture to make it larger)

Room Inspiration

Have some color confidence!!

Via: The Decorista

I want that.

From fieldguided

Perfecting Fee

Perfecting Fee from Toby Ross-Southall on Vimeo.

Perfecting Fee tricks you. I don't like being tricked but this short film is so intriguing. The deception in this story starts off so subtly and only when you believe the narrative does it start to shift. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything so you could watch it innocently and be surprised. Alas, see what you think.

Also, Perfecting Fee was the winner of the Smoke & Mirrors 48 Hour Film Competition 2010.

Via: Messrs

Gifts from SXSW

Throughout SXSW many bloggers, magazines, music sites, friends and neighbors have been sharing the best shows they saw in Austin. Here are a few of the artists that have been frequently mentioned.

I love the harmonies from Denton, Texas band Seryn. Paste Magazine said Seryn was their favorite performance of the festival.

NPR's Tiny Desk Concert relative, Tiny SXSW Concert, highlights the group Typhoon. The song starts off slowly making you wonder what the majority of the 11-piece band is there for but then builds and it wonderful. It's worth the wait.

Middle Brother ♦ Me Me Me from Brandon Tauszik on Vimeo.

To be honest, Middle Brother is a group I heard about a few months before SXSW. They garnered a decent amount of buzz at the festival and their great so I figured they should be included. A veritable indie super group, Middle Brother consists of the lead singers of Delta Spirit, Deer Tick and Dawes. 

Admiral Fallow was described in one article as a mixture of Frightened Rabbit, Mumford and Sons and The Middle East which makes them rather appealing. The Scottish accent doesn't hurt either!

Whenever a group incorporates strings, horns, and a chorus of people all singing together I tend to like them. Lost in the Trees does just that in A Walk Around the Lake. I also like All Alone in an Empty House.  

There were hundreds of concerts throughout the festival so there are probably many more best of lists to stare at for hours along side constant googling of bands. Let me know if you find anything good!!

Jessie Ware and Sampha - Valentine

Sweet and simple. Jessie Ware's voice is as clear as a bell.

School of One - Hybrid Schools

GOOD Magazine just wrote an article about increasing prevalence of hybrid schools with this incredibly interesting video. The School of One uses a myriad of technological tools to tailor each child's education to what will make them most successful. There have been a lot of discussions of education reform going around and there are many cases being made for restructuring how students are taught at the most basic level. As someone with a job involves very specific education plans for each student, it's really amazing to see how The School of One recognizes and embraces all the students different learning styles. Unfortunately, most schools in America don't have the type of money to get this amount of technology in a classroom. Would parents support such a different way of learning? Could entire districts succeed in this way?

Dance Assassin

If this happened to me I might be paranoid for weeks to follow. But watching it happen to other good natured people is quite hilarious. The Dance Assassin's face is covered but if you got a chance to see it you might recognize him as Robert James Hoffman III from Step Up 2 or She's The Man. 

Left Brain or Right Brain?

My roommate and I were recently talking about being left or right brained and which side held which characteristics. We couldn't remember so the conversation didn't last very long. Luckily, through IC's blog, I now have this amazing Mercedes Benz ad to sort it all out for me! (You can see a few more versions of this ad campaign here.)

Given that these two descriptions are rather opposite from each other I'm not surprised to not fit either exactly. Which one are you?

Lena Corwin's City Maps

I wish it was possible to own these city maps by Lena Corwin for ElleDecor's travel articles. Alas, I have searched but to no avail. But you can purchase the handprinted fabrics she's known for!

See more here!

Jamie Woon - Spirits

Really liking this video today. Jamie Woon's voice is dreamy. 

Eleanor Roosevelt Quote

Something good to remember and strive for. 

From Making Things Happen -

 "Protect the names of others in the same way you would hope that they would protect your own.
Choose only to participate in conversation that uplifts, edifies and makes the world a better place.

Consciously turn down the volume on negative influences in your life. STOP WILLINGLY GIVING THEM POWER OVER YOU.

Focus on ways you can contribute to the world in lasting and meaningful ways."

Design by Jane Riley

Where Children Sleep: A Diverse World of Homes

James Mollison was asked to do a project about children's rights in an attempt to engage children in the lives of other children around the world. The project is compiled into a book called Where Children Sleep. He thought about how his own childhood bedroom reflected who he was and what he had. " I didn't want it to just be about 'needy children' in the developing world, but rather something more inclusive." Think about your childhood bedroom, what did it say about your life? 

See more photos here.

GOOD: Kissing

GOOD Magazine put together some facts about kissing. The last fact really is the best though.

How to go to bed early

Since it is 1:45am and I have work in the morning I think this is appropriate....

HOW TO GO TO BED EARLY

Photo via: Etsy

Inspired by Iceland

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

Before I watched this video I wanted to visit Iceland. At the beginning of this video I wasn't so sure. By the end of the video I definitely wanted to visit Iceland. A country full of silly dancing?? Count me in! I think at one point that girl is trying to do the stanky leg. Also, love the choice of Emiliana Torrini song! 

Via: Swissmiss

"Up" House Really Flies! - National Geographic

A crew from National Geographic Channel's new show How Hard Can It Be has recreated the flying house from Pixar's UP! With 300 helium balloons the house flew 10,000 feet in the air and stayed in flight for about an hour.

Here's a short ABC news piece about the joyous occasion! 

Elie Saab Spring 2011

Don't you wish you had a reason (and the money) to wear dresses like this! You may recognize the lavender dress as what Mila Kunis wore to the Oscars. See Elie Saab's whole beautiful collection here. 

The Congo's Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra

Would you ever imagine that deep in central Africa there was a symphony orchestra made up of average Congolese people performing Carmina Burana (in its original Latin!!) and performing it well? One of the reasons I got goosebumps watching this video is because it showed me a stereotypes I didn't even know I had. Stereotypes concerning musical taste, appreciation and ability were in my mind purely through assumption. I suppose it could be rational to be surprised people in the third world have access to certain instruments but other than that I should not be surprised by the power of music to bring people together, provide catharsis and general life improvement. Another reason for my goosebumps was because I had just seen a new side of a country which I had only been told a single story. A story of extreme sadness and hardship full of human rights atrocities. But with this video you see a more nuanced Congo! Excitement, joy, self worth, creativity, and so many more positive things. It's just so great!!!

Via: IC

Street Style: London

I'm not sure I could ever pull this off but it looks wonderfully comfortable and I like the bold statement it makes! This was taken during London's recent fashion week. 

Via: Vanessa Jackman

I want that.

This gorgeous print is of Praia Piquinia, Portugal. The photographer, Christian Chaize, shoots almost exclusively around this small area of Portugal so if for some reason you don't want this print but one very similar, it could happen. I would love to have this hanging in my home as a reminder during gross weather that it won't stay that way forever. This photo as well as more work by this artist can be found on 20 X 200.

James Vincent McMorrow

I can't now remember where I first saw James Vincent McMorrow on the World Wide Web. Regardless, the voice of this Dublin singer captured my attention in a way that many similar sounding voices do not. My favorite song so far is If I Had A Boat. He is touring the States a bit towards the end of the month!

Stornoway - Zorbing

There are a few too many dramatic close ups in the video for my taste but I sure do like the song! 

Boy & Bear

Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song found on Pop

Loooove those harmonies!!! Boy & Bear are like Fleet Foxes, except Australian. I'm fairly certain they're coming to the States for SXSW but otherwise I can't find any US tour dates in their future. Hopefully, SXSW exposure will encourage the guys of Boy & Bear to return and grace us with their musical presence.

Boy & Bear - Blood To Gold found on Pop

Ark Collective

If I end up going to grad school I may have to get one of these rad backpacks from Ark Collective. I heard of them a while ago and continuously find myself checking out their site. Must mean I really want one! The olive green backpack was my initial choice but I shouldn't rule out the grey too quickly either.

Ark Collective does not exist just to sell backpacks. With their Get to Give program they donate backpacks and schools supplies to children living in poverty in the Los Angeles area. In their own words.... 

"A backpack is more than just a means of storage, It’s a medium of expression and a tool for success. That is why we believe that every student should sail to school with a backpack."

(What a cute little guy!) - From an Ark Collective Pack Give Back

"The Ark Collective Get to Give model is built on the belief we can give back to our communities through collaboration.That’s why for every backpack you purchase, we give a brand new backpack to a student who is in need of one, on your behalf."

Photos via: Ark Collective