for the eyes:

Andy liked her, so he put a ring on it! Congrats to my closest brother, Andy, on his engagement to my wonderful soon-to-be sister-in-law, Kirby. We couldn't have asked for a better addition to our clan.
for the mind:

I like to think that, like books or movies, new blog ideas will never be exhausted. Though the blogosphere may seem monotonous--
another DIY/fashion/beauty blog?--there's always
something that makes each one stand apart from the rest.

This thought struck me upon discovering the blog,
Humans of New York. Its creator, Brandon Stanton, combines three of my favorite things: New York, street photography and quotations.

HONY has evolved from a mere catalogue of portraits to a site that has come to life with stories from the citizens of New York City, the cradle of individuality. Each image comes attached with a quotation or small anecdote--all very brief but packed with emotion. He calls his livelihood "celebrating people on a stage every night."

"What's your favorite thing about your daughter?"
"She sasses."
"I don't sass!"
"She sasses."

"Haters gonna hate."

"61 years today!" "62." "61." "62.."

"After this, I go to work at a pizza shop. My wife and I were college professors in Bangladesh. I taught accounting. But one dollar in America becomes eighty dollars when I bring it back home."

"No time like bro time."

"I've never used a cell phone or a computer."

"Is that your Rolls Royce?"
"No, but I can pretend like I'm getting in."

"I said you could take my picture. Now you're asking me questions and this is turning into a big deal."
STORYBOARD: Capturing the 'Humans of New York' from
Tumblr on
Vimeo.
Brandon tells the story of his blogging journey here, which starts from being unemployed in Chicago to where he is now--releasing a book, also titled "Humans of New York", in mid-October. He often wonders--like I think most people pursuing creative careers do--if he'll become jaded one day. But, then he remembers that every day he gets to "photograph everything that makes me happy, and turns out, it makes other people happy too!" He figures it doesn't get much better than that. I think he's right.
for the ears:
Kaskade, the hugely successful DJ, breaks the mold of the typical electronic music producer. My friend Meghan enlightened me on the story behind the artist of the above song, "Atmosphere." This electronic genre has skyrocketed into popularity with the help of artists like Avicii, Skrillex and now Kaskade. In
this New York Times interview, Kaskade attributes its surge in popularity to "hip-hop fatigue and the ascent of Lady Gaga", which I found interesting. But, what I found more interesting, is that he has three small children, doesn't drink, and has never used drugs. As a Mormon, he doesn't promote the "substance abuse" lifestyle, though he's aware his music often gets coupled with it. Ryan Raddon (his off-stage name) just continues to make the music he loves while only supplying himself with Diet Coke and adrenaline when preparing for performances in front of his hundreds of thousands of enthused fans.
fashion for feel:

Animal prints, polka dots and chevron stripes have seen their heyday. Tribal prints make the perfect print to transition from fall to spring as the bright summer hues like turquoises and yellow are often paired with more subdued fall shades like rusty browns and crimsons.

It's a quintessenital example of fashion being an ode to heritage and culture. It's also a style you can take a more overt or subtle approach with, as it can be incorporated into a look with just a scarf or stacked up your arm in beaded bracelets.
for taste:

I'd venture to say food trucks are no longer just a trend and are now just a thing. Austin's chocked full of 'em. I've yet to strike out on any food truck experience and I'm inclined to think that has a lot to do with their specialization in certain food items. The small menus allow them to perfect specific items, whether that be crepes, gumbo, cupcakes, gyros, paninis or whatever else they serve up.

I had my first experience at the East Side Filling Station in--you guessed it--East Austin. After browsing all the trucks, I ordered my lunch at
Gonzo Juice, which serves up hearty sandwiches. I got the Ruby Shoes, which was essentially a reuben. And Peyton got the Pig Roast - sweet pulled pork, provolone, tangy carrot slaw and chipotle mustard on Texas Toast.
Next on my list is
this grilled cheese stand to compare it to my experience at The Melt Down on 30A; fortunately, I've already found a willing companion for that venture. Have a great day!