Strawberry Swimsuit

I started this swimsuit a while back (possibly two years) for a class and finally finished it yesterday!

As with every completed project, there are a few things I would change, but for my first made-by-me swimsuit I think I did a pretty good job.

I'm hoping to make more swimsuits soon. I would love to have loves of styles and colors! Next time I think I'll make the swimsuit(s) more structured.

What do you think? Does anyone have any tips for me?

Ulyana Sergeenko

Above is Ulyana Sergeenko's Spring 2012 collection, which I found here.

Her style looked familiar to me, so I went and looked at her debut line here. It turns out I had seen it somewhere and pinned them into my Classy Pam Pinterest board. Below are some of my favorites.

I am just smitten by her designs! They are beautifully structured and the colors are perfect. I'm terrible at following the fashion world, but I have just subscribed to her blog. I might have a new favorite designer.

What do you think of her creations?

Watch Online: The Goat Rodeo Sessions Live

via Yo-Yo Ma

Remember how I posted about The Goat Rodeo Sessions three times?

PBS premiered the concert last night at 10pm - I'm hoping they'll play it again, but I'm not sure.

You can finally watch the concert online! PBS put it up after they premiered it! Go here to watch The Goat Rodeo Sessions Live at Boston's House of Blues.

American Masters | Harper Lee: Hey, Boo

via All Movie Photo

 You can watch Hey, Boo at PBS,org. More importantly if you haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird (or at least seen the movie) get down to your local library! They will have the book and if they don't have the movie you can request it.

I love To Kill a Mockingbird. It's a beautiful novel and a wonderful movie. In high school every time I had to do a project on a book I chose To Kill a Mockingbird. When I was assigned a project on an author I chose Harper Lee. I couldn't help it. To Kill a Mockingbird spoke to me. I felt connected to every character. Since I first read the book and saw the movie in my early teen years, I've reread and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird numerous times. It's the book I recommend to people the most. No matter how many times I hear the story I always hurt and cry with the characters.


Hey, Boo is the perfect documentary for anyone who loves To Kill a Mockingbird and wonders about Harper Lee and the context and impact of the novel. This film is a beautiful celebration of Harper Lee and her only novel. Hey, Boo is full historical information regarding the time in which To Kill a Mockingbird was released. It is full of pieces of Harper Lee's life and interviews that she gave before she chose to set away from the limelight. By far the best part about this film is the discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird and it's impact on the lives of those who read it. Hearing people read passages from the book and hearing the emotion in their voice is priceless. It left me feeling connected to people whose names I honestly can't recall.

Watching Hey, Boo left me yearning to read Harper Lee's book and watch the movie again. You should watch it.

Any To Kill a Mockingbird fans out there? How did the book or movie make you feel? Do you have a favorite part?

Whipped Cream by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

You can skip to 48 seconds in if you wish, that's when the song and video start.

I discovered this song a few days ago thanks my Last.fm mix radio. Then I found this video on YouTube. Happy am I!

Enjoy!

The Greatest Generation Speaks by Tom Brokaw

The first book in this series is The Greatest Generation. You should read it.

“A common lament of the World War II generation is the absence today of personal responsibility ”

 Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation

via Amazon.com

If I could live in any other time I would choose to grow up during the Great Depression and then be a young adult during World War II. With the help of personal and true experiences of those who lived at the time, Tom Brokaw explains why. 

During those times there was commitment to one's family, country, town and friends. There was responsibility, respect and patriotism. These people didn't feel entitled to wages, honors or even their lives.

I think it's important for all of us to read about such great people and the lives they lived. Times are certainly different, but the values and honor upheld by the Greatest Generation can be ours to uphold if we will live them.

Thoughts Regarding "I'm Proud of You" by Tim Madigan

In I'm Proud of You Madigan discusses how he felt he was never able to make his father proud. Fred Rogers encourages Madigan to learn about his father's relationship with his father. When Madigan does this (by talking to his father) he learns that his father did everything he could so that his son could have a better father than he did. For example, Madigan's grandfather attended 2 of his sons' athletic events in his entire life. Madigan's father was at every single one of his sons' athletic events.

As I thought about this conscience improvement made by Madigan's father I thought of all of the people I knew who had done the same thing. My friends and family have dealt with a number of hardships regarding their parents (or other friends or family), but the majority of them strive to rise above, learn and do better for themselves and their families.

The reason this makes me so excited is that I often find myself getting downhearted about the state of the people in this world. I worry that good people are fading away and awful people are taking their places. Thankfully that's not true. There are great people everywhere, I see them all over my life. They spread love wherever they go.

Thanks for being those people!

I'm Proud of You by Tim Madigan

via Mary Worth and Me

I was prompted to read this book after watching the film Mister Rogers and Me. It was a great choice. This book chronicles the friendship of the author, Tim Madigan, and Fred Rogers. 

“Do you know what the most important thing in the world is to me right now?”

“No,” I said.

“Talking to Mr. Tim Madigan on the telephone.”

The friendship started with an interview and became a life changing relationship for Madigan, his family and Rogers. This book is full of truth and love. Fred Rogers was a great Christian. We could all learn from him and Madigan.

Even if you don't read this book you should get out there and learn more about Fred Rogers. The man was amazing. Watch Mister Rogers and Me. I intend to read several of the books written by Fred Rogers. You will not be wasting your time by giving him some space in your brain.