September 28, 2008

A Vessel For Babies-Use Your Own Uterus


I've always known I don't want kids. I've also never once thought about a wedding, dreamed of the perfect husband, a white picket fence...my dreams include owning a successful business in NY, living in a beautiful loft overlooking the city. Never once has a man or baby entered these dreams.

And I've always felt bad about it. Whenever I would tell someone I don't want to get married, I get this distorted face, and an immediate "Why? I've never heard of that before! Is something wrong with you? You'll change your mind when you get older." No...nothing is wrong with me. I'm just not interested in it. And after such a simple answer to their belittling remarks, I answer that I AM older, and I'm still not interested.

At a Cereal Bar in Denver, I was enjoying a cupcake & coffee, and a stray child started inching towards me. So Inchy ended up 2 inches from my knees and I looked around desperately for the parents, who after 1 entire awkward minute, finally dragged the kid away with a "She likes you!" (Um hello...watch your kid. There was an open door next to me leading to a main street.) Again, Inchy walked towards me like a drooling, mouth breathing Frankenstein. Again I became extremely uncomfortable. I don't know what to do, I've never touched one or talked to one, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

The mom again grabbed the kid 1 minute later, and with a disgusted look said, "Are you scared of kids?" "Um no....I mean....Well, yes." A clearly disgusted woman remarked (a little too loud), "Ugh! Oh my god! WOW!!!!!", and spend the next 10 minutes grabbing her kid before she could make her way to me while simultaneously giving me dirty looks only reserved for boytoys I never called back because "It's me, not you".

I don't see the problem with this. Actually, it's the woman's problem for not watching her kid. Do not let your kid walk away for 1 minute at such a young age! WATCH YOUR KID.

I'm not interested in children. I'm not interested in marriage. I do date, and I will live with a partner eventually, but I don't believe every woman with a uterus needs to have kids (or even like them). And now that I'm older, I decided I no longer feel bad about my feelings.

Like an old BFF used to say to me, "Some people like cats, and some people like kids. And I like cats." Well said.

Read More...

September 22, 2008

Designer Death: The Design-Savvy Afterlife


An entire blog post about Death? Call it morbid, but I call it Designer Death. By 18 I had a Last Will & Testament that outlined every detail of my funeral arrangements. Although some of my ideas have changed since then, I still want the basics: Hello Kitty coffin, carved pink granite headstone, extravagant funeral at the creepiest, oldest, and most beautiful church available. Oh, and Stoli + Cran served during the Funeral Procession. And probably some gift bags to take home.

So I'm here to nudge you in the right direction when it comes to making out your final arrangements. It doesn't matter what your age is, but accidents take more young people's lives than anything else. So take a night, figure out what you want, costs, burial grounds, etc., and put it somewhere safe. It will give you piece of mind, and your family can be assured that they will acting out your final wishes.
PS And wear your damn seatbelt.

Memento Coffee Table Coffin


After seeing this coffin designed by Pratt Institute student Charles Constantine, I've decided on my new coffin choice. Constantine's Memento Coffee Table Coffin doubles as a stylish coffee table. Opening up the coffin reveals a storage space for books, games and magazines, and eventually a place to store the body, to which the designer says "mimics the human skeleton". The eco-friendly pine wood Memento Coffee Table Coffin has biodegradable slats that are made without the use of harmful chemicals.


Constantine designed the Memento Coffin so that a family could come to terms with the idea of someone close to them dying. As the Memento Table becomes a part of their everyday life, death becomes a part of their everyday life. When the table transforms into the coffin, the sentimental attachment to the table keeps the family close to the deceased family member, burying their love for both the person and the piece of furniture they've grown to love.

Constantine describes his design as a way “to promote a more personal way of dealing with death, and help us, as a culture, confront an issue that is universally denied.”


Egg Casket
Crazy Caskets has created, well, crazy caskets. This egg casket was created for a woman who wanted to be buried in the fetal position. The beautiful detail on this casket, plus the idea of leaving life in an egg, which symbolizes birth, is just so organic and shit.

Kitty Cat Urn
Eternal Image created the Cat Fancier Urn, which is supposed to be for your furry feline friend, but if I shall pass before Gucche (my little buddy) he would probably prefer this urn on his mantel. Oh and they are coming out with a Precious Moments casket...ironic in so many ways.
Last Supper Casket
Tribute Direct has created some of the most beautiful caskets for the religious kitsch lover in all of us! They also have a beautiful Lady of Guadalupe that is absolutely stunning.

Fester Coffin End Tables
Casket Furniture makes beautiful handcrafted coffin-inspired furniture. Don't wait till your afterlife to enjoy your Designer Death! "The Fester" Coffin End Tables pictured above start at $299).

And just an fyi, for all you frugal shoppers, you can pick up a Guadalupe coffin at Costco for $1299.

Read More...

September 7, 2008

What DJ Sara Tea Wants You To Know About Hipsters, DJs & Keepin' It Real

Taste This Delicious Cup 'O (Sara) Tea!

I spoke to well-known DJ, promoter and music extraordinaire Sara Tea about her overnight move to LA from Denver, breaking the glass ceiling of the male-dominated club scene, her new grassroots clothing line, and a little advice for future networking prodigies. I have always enjoyed a night out with Sara and her over-sized vintage tees, gold shorts and hot pink pumps (oh and don't forget those fantastic legs!). She packs a punch when it comes to getting what she wants, and won't let anything stop her!

Sara T is also an artist. Yep, add this to her über cool girl résumé. Her art reminds me of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat meets that little sketchbook you see geeky artists doodling in at some obscure kitschy coffee shop in Echo Park.

So I emailed S.T. a few questions in order to learn about all the new things she throws herself into. To learn more about this hot cup of yummy Sara Tea (with milk and honey please), visit her websites at the bottom of the post.


So you jumped on a plane and moved from Denver to LA, throwing yourself into the mix of LA's art/DJ/hipster/indie scene. It amazes me that you took such a chance! What made you do that?
Well it was more of a grassroots process of picking my my roots and replanting. I kept visiting and feeling that LA was the next place for me...the environment, the way people embraced me and treated me but also how I personally feel here. It came down to a simple feeling of that I was happier in LA. It was definitely a leap, a complete upheaval, but I felt like I kept getting signs to head West and I needed to follow that. I wouldn't necessarily say I threw myself into the midst of the scene here, I actually feel like I came to LA to get away from a scene and settle into a longterm community built upon music & developing creativity.

It spoke to me personally...ie I'm not sayin' it's for everyone. You usually know it when you visit a city if it embraces you or not. When I came here I wanted more of a personal, quiet life of heading to the movies, eating at great vegan places and connecting with new friends. I've been lucky to connect with friends were born and raised here and/or those who are looking for something deeper/more than the usual LA fare. It's my 10th state and I'm happy to be exploring it.


I've seen you network before...you are fantastic at it. How do you meet and stay in contact with so many people? And how do you make those connections work for you?
Thank you! Well, I meet people by following my heart. I maintain connections by flexing my heart muscle. I don't think about making something work for me because I care about who I'm friends with and I only work with people nowadays who I believe in and care about. It didn't used to be that way, but I learned as I went and use a stronger filter now with who I can trust...and spend my time with. It's almost so simplistic one might think it doesn't work. But I guarantee it to be way more effective than hundreds of marketing dollars in the wrong direction: build relationships.


So what are you up to right now? I know you throw a lot of parties and DJ clubs, but you have anything else up your sleeve?
Right now I'm in the midst of launching my online store...it's an evolution from Chielle (the store I had in Denver) to a more personal voice of mine. I'm starting to create my own line of accessories/tshirts on the fly and this store will be host to personal random projects from painting/printmaking while showcasing my friends and talent I find from all over the world. I'm in the midst of putting together a new band which is my inspiration for all of these things right now...kind of the fuel that is keeping me excited.


There is a huge glass ceiling when it comes to female DJs. How did you break through, or do you still feel like you're not as successful as your male counterparts?
This is an interesting question. I was thinking about this last week about how I never viewed djing as the ladder that I continued to climb. There wasn't this peak goal of where I wanted to be...I followed it & became excited as it unfolded seeing where it took me. There wasn't this top tier that I had my sites set on. I found that the lifestyle of most traveling djs to be rather lonely, especially in clubland, and while I love connecting with people I didn't want to be where I saw these ladies (or men) at. There is no comfy couch at the top of the DJ ladder...you are always hustling. That just does not interest me. Nowadays in LA I work with promoters who appreciate what I do while djing to an audience that cares...I couldn't ask for anything more than that.


Any fabulous bands you want to tell everyone about? Who is on your top 5?
Right now I CANNOT stop listening to the song "Planet Health" from Chairlift from Brooklyn. Dam Funk 12"s are constantly spinning on my turntable, an LA funkmeister. I absolutely LOVE Earthless from San Diego. I just discovered Bugati Force's remixes from Berlin + Hercules & the Love Affair have been on repeat for awhile now.


Lastly, what advice would you give aspiring DJs or promoters?
Build community. Don't walk around the club looking for someone who can "help" you...it was probably the doorguy you treated like shit and they TALK. Don't drop people after you get an ounce of attention (but if you're phony and shallow like that do whatever you want and I guarantee in 5 years no one will work with you, much less care).

Be sincere. Communicate with those who support you...don't go for NUMBERS, go for those who care. If a "niche" doesn't exist for what you do...create it. Try different mediums...don't just identify as being a "promoter" or "dj"...have an identity (AND LIFE) outside of club life. Make time for long meals with good friends. Don't get too wrapped up in the gossip. Remove shady people from your crew or and walk hard.

Find out more about Miss Tea:
Sara's Myspace Profile
Danceotron
Sara Tea's Blog

Remember, if you loved reading about Miss Tea, please bookmark this post & website. (And of course subscribe to us!)

Subscribe in a reader


Read More...

 
design by suckmylolly.com : images (c) historypicks.com