Mixtape of the Month | 01: February Jams

   I’m not one of those people who needs music to survive. I don’t need it to fill empty silences or escape. I use reading, or even writing for that purpose. But I do need it in the car. After being in a car accident, my therapist recommended listening to my favorite music when I drive as an incentive to get me back on the road. That's why every time I get in the car, I am armed with my favorite playlist or album of the moment. And that’s what I’m going to share with you today. My Mixtape of the Month for February. This is a new series that I’ll be sharing on both my blog and my YouTube channel. (You can find my video here.) So without further ado, here is the playlist!

                                                            

1) Obvious Child by Paul Simon: This song is perfect for anything from driving to dancing around your kitchen when you’re home alone. 

2) Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel: I love listening to this on my way to work, because the music fills the whole car, and surrounds me with awesomeness. It also makes me feel like I’m in an Indie movie, which is always a plus.

3) Worship You by Vampire Weekend: This song is just so much fun. Simple as that. It makes you want to dance.

4) Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves) by The Wombats: This is one of the first songs I ever heard by The Wombats. I can remember listening to it while getting ready for my Junior Prom, and I still love it to this day.

5) Diane Young by Vampire Weekend: Yes, another Vampire Weekend song. Because Ezra Koenig is a god. And this song makes me think of my Senior year of high school, driving around town with my best friend. 

6) Australia by The Shins: The Shins are the musical love of my life. This is, again, the first song I can remember loving by them. In fact, I can remember listening to it on repeat on the bus ride to school in Junior year. It’s a classic.

7) The One Moment by OK GO: This is a newer fave of mine, but no less important. It’s from OK GO’s new album: Hungry Ghosts. It was tough to settle on just one song from this album, because it’s that good. I would highly recommend giving the whole album a listen!

8) Hero by Family Of The Year: You’ve probably heard this song a dozen times by now without even knowing it, as it is the theme of the Oscar nominated film Boyhood. This song makes me cry, makes me feel nostalgic for my childhood, and just makes me feel. It’s also another great song to listen while you’re driving, because it (again) has that Indie-movie vibe. 

These are the songs that I can’t get enough of this month. I hope you found a new artist to love, and enjoyed this little insight into my musical taste. I can’t wait to share my music picks with you again next month! 

 -Fran

Old and New: Portraits, Parks & Recreation, and Puppies

Today was one of the best Wednesdays I've had in a while. This morning, fresh from the pain of last night's Parks & Recreation series finale, I went antiquing with my very own Ann Perkins (my BFF Kelsey). We went to three antique stores over the course of the morning, and the second one was definitely my favorite. In this old house-turned-antique-store, there were whole walls, whole rooms, dedicated to housing these old portraits. These time-worn images of people who were once really alive crowded the walls. It was a weird sensation, being surrounded by the faces of people who I never have and never will know, but having the freedom to look upon them and peer into their livelihoods all the same. While sifting through these old treasures, I thought about life. (As you do.) 

I thought about how we all have a path and maybe that path will lead us to be forgotten on a shelf somewhere, but who's to say we won't have brought people joy along the way? Old things often find new meaning and purpose in this DIY, thrift obsessed culture of ours. I hope that one day Parks & Recreation becomes a cult phenomenon like Friends or Gilmore Girls. I hope future generations come to school groggy and sleep-deprived because they stayed up too late marathoning it the night before. We are all obsessed with finding a purpose (me especially), but I think once and a while it helps to remember that we will always be repurposed by those who come after us. Our lives will be reimagined by our offspring, and even by people we never knew, and we have to accept that. 

After this thought-provoking but not altogether unpleasant antique store experience, Kelsey and I stopped at Harrison’s Bakery on the way to pick up her boyfriend Sam. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but I can assure you, the interior packs a punch. (I truly did not mean to rhyme just now. My apologies.) As soon as we opened the door, the overpowering smell of sugary baked goods pleasantly assaulted my senses. I was in sensory heaven. Kelsey and I stood back for a while, assessing our options. Making a game plan. With such a wide array of baked goods to choose from, it was necessary to put a lot of thought into this decision. 

I eventually decided on a headlight donut and a half-moon cookie. Kelsey got a glazed donut and a chocolate chip cannoli. After we made our purchases, we sat in her car, listened to Kanye, and devoured them. I don’t think I need to tell you that they were DIVINE, because if they weren’t I wouldn’t be telling you about them. It just goes to show that even the smallest, most unassuming of places can really kick your sweet tooth’s ass. (Quick sidenote: Can a tooth have an ass? Must research this.)

After this divine sugary intervention, we picked up Sam from school and headed to an antique store where his mom happens to work. There, we found a puppy behind the counter, begging to be loved. We didn't do much antiquing there, mostly because we were all so distracted by this fluffy little rascal. I have never been so happy in an antique store in my life. 

Driving home after this final adventure of the day, Sam brought up making a trip to Rochester, and wanting me to come along. And all I could think was that I have finally found my team. It's taken me a while, but I feel like I've finally found the group of people who understand me most, who make me feel like life isn't so bad after all. I don't know what the future holds for me. But, really, who does? I think in the end all any of us can do is try to find our team, and hope we're ready for what's to come.

And I think I have. I think I am.

-Fran 

Creative detox // Letter writing & Mid Winter Cleaning

Recently, I've been feeling two extreme, polar opposite emotions regarding creativity that have resulted in my being in something of an artistic rut.  

1) I've been feeling overwhelmed by all of the creative outlets at my disposal. There are so many ways for me to express myself, and I want so badly to create, but I've been feeling paralyzed by the endless possibilities. 

2) I've been feeling completely un-inspired. Although I'm more than thrilled that I got to start 2015 off by making a short film, I must confess that in its quiet, still wake I have been left wondering, "What the hell do I do next?" I have a few exciting ideas that I'm interested in exploring, but have otherwise been feeling a drought where daily inspiration is concerned.

With this in mind, I have been trying to dig myself out of this rut by cleaning and revitalizing my creative space. (Meaning, my bedroom.) Because how on Earth can you make new and wonderful things if your surroundings are frustrating, anxiety-producing, and anything but creatively inspiring? So on this snowy Friday morning, I set to work cleaning out, dusting, rearranging, reorganizing, and vacuuming my room. I got rid of things that weren't inspiring me anymore, and tidied up the ones that still are. And I have to say, it's amazing what clearing out the clutter can do for your creativity. As soon as I was done, I felt like this huge weight had been lifted off my creative conscious. Like I could finally get down to business. [Cue Mulan dance interlude.] 

Then this evening, with a clean desk and a clear mind, I sat down to write a letter to one of my oldest friends. Recently I’ve found that in the constant hum of my daily life, I’m communicating with people less and less, even though the presence of technological advances should result in the opposite. We have the tools to communicate more effectively, but because there are so many options, we sometimes choose none. I often run into this issue with Chloe, one of my closest friends, who I’ve known since I was about 8 years old. She lives about as far away as the rest of my friends do, but for some reason, we just never seem to be on the same wavelength in terms of communication. That is, until we started writing letters. 

So today, after thoroughly cleaning my own room, I decided to pull out some beautiful stationary and give letter writing a whirl again. There’s just something about pretty paper that makes you want to profess all of your deepest emotions and sappiest feelings. I can see why it is such a romanticized art. Simply putting pen to paper makes me feel like I’m in a Jane Austen novel. Not to mention, when Chloe and I write letters to each other, we are communicating much more effectively because it’s a harder thing to do. Since it’s so easy to just send a text, we often neglect to do so. But when I commit to pulling out a piece of paper and a pen, I often feel like I might as well divulge everything, because I’ve already come this far. As much as I love the Internet, I sometimes think that the technological age has made us lazy. We have everything at our fingertips, which can be overwhelming, so we often do nothing instead. So, if you’re feeling this way, I would recommend trying this little experiment. Every once in a while, put down the phone and send your friend a letter. You might learn more about each other by doing so. 

I know I might not be so lucky as to have kicked my creative funk in one fell swoop, but I do feel better about having tried my very best today. And I did write this blog post, so maybe I am climbing out of this rut-- slowly but surely!

I hope your weekend is filled with creative bliss and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, whether you're spending the weekend alone with a book or with family and friends! 

 -Fran

Random Road Trips #2: Ithaca, NY

     Life is really weird sometimes because one day it feels like absolutely nothing is happening, nothing ever will happen, and you’ll never be inspired again. (See also: Monday’s blog post about the Winter Blues.) But then, in an instant, things will pick up again. And there’s so much going on that all you can do (besides feel slightly overwhelmed) is try to tackle as much of it as possible. 

Wednesday, on our impromptu mid-week drive up to Ithaca, NY, my best friend Kelsey and I just tried to catch up with each other. You see, Kelsey and I are very similar in that we are both indoor cats. One week, we’ll see each other three days in a row and make 10000 plans, and the next we'll only send a text or two. We are reclusive, then friendly- much like our wonderful feline friends. This Wednesday outing was actually very relaxing, because we both just wanted to get out of the house and get some waffles, but didn't feel like we had to have a Hobbit-sized adventure. I’m lucky because my best friend likes to go on random road trips, but she doesn’t mind leaving at 11 and getting back by 4. On the way there, we listened to her always on-point playlist and mused about the importance of waffles, which we were desperate for. 

When we arrived in Ithaca, we picked up my Internet-turned-real-life-friend Rachel and headed straight to Waffle Frolic, a waffle diner located in Ithaca Commons. While we were eating, Rachel said, “Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?” Which I instantly knew was a quote from Parks & Recreation, because I have a brain. (And a Tumblr.) So I quickly replied, “People are idiots, Leslie.” She laughed with delight and on the inside I was doing the same, because the Internet truly is an amazing place. YouTube connected me to this person who I feel like I’ve known my whole life, with whom I now get to eat waffles and discuss boy troubles. She is the Leslie Knope to my moody Ron Swanson. And it’s incredible. 

                                          

At the Autumn Leaves bookstore, (which is a used bookstore in Ithaca Commons that is so, SO important) I was on the hunt for poetry and short stories. Very pretentious, I know. But I’ve recently decided that I only want to purchase books that I feel will really add something to my overall library. I don’t want to impulsively buy young adult novels anymore, because there is a decidedly large chance that I won’t like them/won’t ever want to read them again. I feel I am much better off getting them from the library, and only purchasing them when I decide that they have changed my world. (But hey, that’s just me.) In the end, I found a book of short stories by Raymond Carver, who I have quickly come to love, called Short Cuts. I also found a book of short stories by Ernest Hemingway, called The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Lastly, I got a graphic novel that came highly recommended to me by Kelsey: The Manhattan Projects. 

We said goodbye to Rachel three different times before we finally got back on the road towards home. All in all, it was a very relaxed day full of great food and heart-to-heart conversations. As I sit here on Galentine's Day, I feel so thankful for the lovely ladies in my life. (If you don't already know, the day before Valentine's Day is called Galentine's Day- a day to celebrate your best girl-friends. This would-be/should-be National Holiday originated from, you guessed it, Parks & Recreation.) Whether I've known them since we were in braces (Kelsey), just met them last year (Rachel), or haven't even technically met them yet (Ashley & Susie), I appreciate and love them all. So if you're single like me this Valentine's Day, I would encourage you to use this grossly commercialized holiday as an excuse to express your love for your friends. Go on a mini road trip. Eat too many waffles smothered in ice cream. Buy books. Watch Gilmore Girls. Treat yo self.

Wishing you all a happy and chocolate filled weekend,

  Fran

P.S. TNT is having an all-day Titanic marathon on Saturday the 14th. So that's my day sorted. :)

Winter Blues

    I always get hit with the Winter Blues. Every year, usually around February. This year, however, has been a little different. Maybe it’s because I started this year off not with “plans” but with action. I dove headfirst into 2015 by filming and releasing my first short film, of which I am very proud. I also started this blog, which I have been itching to do for a while now. And the action didn’t stop there. I am continuously challenging myself. In the midst of editing Wingmen, I realized that it was time to drive on the highway again. And so I drove. I drove the hour and a half highway drive to Rochester, NY, on a Sunday in early January. I’ve visited friends and made art and continue to want to see new places and experience new things. 

But sometimes, it’s hard. Sometimes it feels like everyone is moving on with their lives but you. Everyone is making progress, except you. That is a lie. We are all making progress, all the time. And we are also all being extremely lazy, all the time. Just because a few weeks of the dreary winter feel a little less productive than normal, it doesn’t mean you aren’t moving forward. Sometimes you have to stand still for a few moments to choose the next turn. And that’s okay. We have to learn to give ourselves a break once in a while. It doesn’t have to be all action all the time. We don’t have to have amazing, aesthetically pleasing Instagram photos to share every Sunday. Life is much more complex than that. It happens in its own time. So my advice is to let it. And don’t beat yourself up so much. (I would probably benefit from taking my own advice here.)

Right now, I’m working extra hours at the library and taking a writing class downtown. Both of those things are fun, fulfilling, inspiring, and make me feel like I’m not wasting my life. But even so, sometimes I just feel down. Especially now that February (from my experience, the worst month of the year) is officially upon us. So today, on the second Monday snow-day in a row, I’d like to share a few of my favorite television pick-me-ups with you all. 

1) It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia- I bought the first two seasons on sale over the summer, and hadn’t gotten around to watching it until this past weekend. But boy, is it good. Let’s just say I watched 7 episodes in a row. It’s the kind of crude funny that you sometimes just crave, but it’s also a surprisingly intelligent, satirical comedy. And let's not forget the most important part: it's insanely binge-worthy.

2) Gilmore Girls- If you haven’t watched this show by now, I don’t know where you’ve been. It’s essentially my entire childhood. I don’t even know how to summarize it. Just watch it. It’s hilarious and heartwarming and wonderful. I'm currently re-watching the entire series with my sister, and it's honestly been the best bonding experience. 

3) Parks & Recreation- This show got me through last winter, and I have a feeling it will get me through many a winter to come. The theme song alone is enough to lift your spirits, but the fact that there are 6 full seasons of pure, unadulterated, Amy Poehler brilliance should help also. 

So there you have it, my (admittedly short) list of TV pick-me-ups. Choose one, and start binge-watching the February blues away today! (I’d be a great advertiser for Netflix.) Here's to getting through February one episode at a time.

  -Fran 

Lately Loving

My life hasn't been very eventful lately, as my friends have all returned to school and/or gone off on mid-winter vacations. (I'm not bitter...) As a result, I've had to find things to keep me busy. So I figured now would be the perfect time to tell you about some books, movies, and media that have kept me more than occupied recently!

The first is Serial. Yeah, that podcast everyone was talking about in November/December? Well I finally got around to listening to it last week, and let me tell you: I got addicted. I spent all of Tuesday compulsively listening. (I might've listened to 9 episodes in one day.) Serial is the completely engrossing story of a murder case from 1999, and as someone who couldn't get enough of Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew as a child, this totally fit my fancy. And while it isn't too graphic or disturbing, just like any murder mystery/thriller, it's probably best not to listen to it too close to bedtime. It kept me occupied for most of the week, and I am now eagerly anticipating season 2!

Secondly, literature. I just started reading The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. It's about a girl in 1686, newly married and living in Amsterdam, the miniature house she is given by her new husband, and the miniaturist who seems to be able to predict events in their lives. That's all I really know right now, but things are starting to get good! It's enchanting and funny so far, although I must admit that the Amsterdam setting is more than enough to keep me reading.

Up next, television. Last Christmas (2013), I binge watched three seasons of Downton Abbey in about two weeks. It was lovely and funny and...well, painful. Now that season 5 is on PBS in the US, I've gotten back into watching it. And it continues to amaze and surprise. That sly 1920's humor keeps me laughing, and the costumes and drama are totally engrossing. Essentially, it's just nice to be transported to the 1920's once a week.

Lastly, film. On Saturday night, I went to the movies with my Dad to see Birdman. We saw Les Miserables together a few years ago, and have been trying to get back to the theater to see something as good ever since. While we considered Into The Woods, when the time came, we both decided on Birdman. It looked funny, crude, and weird, and has plenty of Oscar buzz.

We were not disappointed. The only way I can describe it is as follows: It was weird as shit, and I loved every second of it. It's the first time I'd ever seen an Oscar nominated film that featured magical realism, of all things. It was crazy and wonderful, and in the end, powerful and poignant. But it was still funny; it didn't take itself too seriously. I myself was a big fan of the cinematography, in addition to all of the incredible performances. Seriously, every actor in this film BROUGHT IT. Emma Stone absolutely crushed it-- I was floored by her performance. She went from 0 to 60 back to 0 again all in a matter of minutes. It was actually beautiful to watch. Michael Keaton was obviously pretty stellar as well. I don't think I have the words to describe his performance, except to say that I think he completely deserved the Golden Globe, and here's hoping he gets that Oscar. And while I will admit to being nervous about seeing an R rated film with my Dad, I must say that it wasn't too inappropriate. How do I put this? It was crude without taking it too far, and the "F" words were used well. Essentially, it's not The Wolf of Wall Street. You can watch it with your (semi grown up) family.

So that's it! Those are the things I have been loving lately, which I would highly recommend to all of you! :)
I hope you all had a great weekend. My family and I are enjoying the snow day!

 -Fran