It's Monday and that means back-to-work day. I haven't talked much about what I do for a living yet but I thought today would be a good day to start. I studied film in college and now work for a film festival in Manhattan. I love watching movies and I tend to gravitate towards romantic comedies and documentaries.

Since I spend my days surrounded by film, I thought I could bring it home a little bit by starting up what I like to call Movie Monday's. Maybe I'll talk about a newly released film that I caught at the theater on Friday night (one of my all time favorite activities) or bring some attention to a movie I love that I think you should know about. 

So here goes.  I think the best best film to kick things off is Chris Marker's La Jetée. Marker passed away today, one day after his 91st birthday. He was a poet, novelist, photographer, editor and filmmaker. La Jetée is often ranked among the best time-travel films ever made. Set in a post-World War III nuclear-devastated Paris, “La Jetee” tells the story of a prisoner sent to the past and future to save the present. The film was one of the first to use sci-fi notions of circular time and has since spawned a myriad of references. Comprised mostly of photos, the 28 minute film is not only beautiful to look at, but the format is so unique it changed the way people looked at film. One of my closest friends introduced me to Chris Marker and I'm so thankful he did.

Here are some of the stills from the film. If this doesn't make you want to watch it immediately I don't know what will!

                            

                          

After a lovely, yet pretty rainy, weekend at the Newport Folk Festival I will leave you with these two great songs.  First up, Blind Pilot's We Are the Tide.  My friend Liza's friend Dave is the trumpet/organ player.  Pretty fun and upbeat. Watching them play this song live was worth the price of admission to the whole festival.  We were out of our seats bopping along to the beat the minute it started. Talk about a perfect song for a marathon mix!

The second song is one I came across via The Veda House .  The video is a little nuts but I can't stop saying hahahahohoho now.  Definitely a band I'm going to check out.  Enjoy!

Living in Park Slope has a lot of pluses but the 'slope' in Park Slope can be exhausting after a long day at work, doing errands, or training for this silly marathon.  One thing I love is riding my bike but pedaling uphill to get back home doesn't always feel so great. I've always wanted to ride my bike to work but I'm always nervous I'll be tired and sweaty by the time I get there because getting up and over the bridges seem too tough.  Until now that is!  Check out this super great Kickstarter campaign for the Faraday Bike company.  Not only is it solar powered to give you an extra energy boost while you ride by it's made in America.  Woo hoo! These days I'm starting to really understand just how important that is.  Check it out dudes.  When I save up enough money or win the lottery I'm getting myself one of these puppies!

Faraday Bikes!

How cool is this and why did no one think of it before?  It's like an ice cream cone but for your coffee.  Yes please!  Check out the Cookie cup here.

Even though my teeny-tiny kitchen is made for babies I still love cooking, or at least attempting to cook....

Lately I've been noticing a lot of ounces or grams used in recipes which don't exactly translate with my measuring cup. This tea towel from West Elm may be just the right thing to help me out, and it's cute to boot!

if you want one too, buy it here

As someone who loves design but sometimes struggles because I don't think I'm good at it or even motivated enough to start anything because it seems to daunting, I found these 50 tips to be immensely helpful and inspiring.

50 Things Every Creative Should Know

I've had this conversation with my sister before and I guess even a few 'friends'.  Glad to see it's not just a small group of people that feel this way.  Making friends is tough these days!  Will you be my friend?

Second trip. Off to Russia! A place I always thought about but never really thought I would see, at least this soon in my life.  Moscow was amazing.  So much history that I couldn't wrap my head around it.  I'll be picking up a book on Russia stat!

      


               15th century Frescos. Looking good guys!
       


               


 There were Matryoshkas everywhere I went.

Anyone know what this says?

 Propaganda posters from the war. 

The postcard photo of Moscow.

Then I was off to St. Petersburg.  I fell in love with the city. It has canals running throughout it so it had a European feeling. The buildings were stuck in time and it seems like it will stay that way since all the buildings are considered historic and can't be torn down. ever.  My favorite parts of this trip were the White Nights boat tour and The Hermitage.


     
                 The Peterhof fountains.                                Church of spilt blood.

     
                                                                                                   Boat ride!
 City bus lines.

    
                 The Hermitage!                                       Even the floors were beautiful.

     
            Of the few pieces I saw, these were my favorites. I definitely have to go back.

Home really isn't far away even in St. Petersburg...

I had a great time traveling and hopefully I will be on a plane again soon to another new place. For now sleep. I've got a marathon to run in 115 days!

Phew! I've been away for what feels like forever but I'm happy to be home.  First I was in Madrid, then Moscow, then Saint Petersburg, then home, then Minneapolis, then Charlotte, then home! All in about 3 weeks or so. I now know that I love to travel and even with all the flights and lay-overs and security metal detectors I'm up for anything.  So! Here are some pictures from my trips to Madrid and Moscow. Not of ton of photos (because I was technically working on these trips) but definitely some that left an impression while walking around town.

First up, Madrid.  The colors and feel of Madrid was fun and exotic but very relaxed.  I could definitely have done with 2 or 3 more days there.  


Love crazy.                                                                                         Pastel Windows.         

    Staying refreshed in the 90 degree heat.


        
       

Sightseeing!

              

 ....and eating!