and do: go to a museum #4

I don't get excited about most science-y things. (As you may guess by my use of the word "science-y".) But food science? Combined with stunning photography? That I can get excited about. I've got this exhibition, The Photography of Modernist Cuisine, on my calendar and hope you add it to yours.

The Photography of Modernist Cuisine
Pacific Science Center, Seattle
October 26, 2013 - February 17, 2014

Image via Modernist Cuisine

and do: go to the ballet

Like most little girls, I spent a handful of years in ballet classes. For me, it was very short lived. I was reintroduced to dance by a good friend and dancer and went to several of her performances in high school. Several years ago she invited me to a performance at the Pacific Northwest Ballet. The repertoire that evening included a piece by a contemporary choreographer and I remember being blown away by the movements and physicality of the dance. I imagine part of what draws me to (watch) dance is the unique combination of athleticism and beauty. It's a blending of two of my passions -- sports and art. Last week was the Pacific Northwest Ballet's season opener, Air Twyla, including a world premiere and live music by legendary pianist Allen Toussaint. It was good to be surrounded by those passions again.

Image via PNB.

and do: get dressed #6

For the past two years, when it comes to shoes, I've been obsessed with booties. Love the cool girl look. Love that you don't have to worry about your skinny jeans bunching or the leather around the ankles softening and ending up with a pair of unintentionally slouchy boots. But, just like by the end of summer when we're all ready for sweaters, I feel the need for a counter to the bootie. Namely, a tall boot. Perhaps even an above-the-knee? I don't know if I can pull it off, but this week I'm dreaming of pairing tall boots with wispy dresses. A counter to my more typically minimalist, sporty style. I'm dreaming of something romantic. Something bohemian. A different decade's cool girl.

Image via Vogue.

and do: go for a walk

I started this blog as a commitment to make or do something everyday. And for many days that do was going for a walk. But I hadn't been walking much lately. Besides walking to and from the bus stop. Which involves stairs and a steep hill, I'll have you know. But that walk up the hill at the end of the work day isn't what I would call mind-clearing. The mind is more likely going at a rapid clip of, "Ugh. Why do I insist on carrying this piece of luggage I call a purse. Surely I don't need to bring this full water bottle everyday. I don't even remember to drink out it. That's why it's still full. And I who am I kidding, half the time I don't pull out my book on the bus. I really should leave it at home." So, I've stopped taking afternoon walks. But this past Saturday was a beautiful day and my Seattle guilt (the guilt that insists all sunny days be taken advantage of) drove me out for a walk. It was great. I remembered why I love walking. I experienced the mind-clearing and the creativity-sparking magic of walking. I remembered why going for a walk always counts as a do for the day.

Image via here.

and do: get dressed #5

With the changing of the seasons comes the changing of the clothes. A month ago I was dreaming of chicly dressing down a fancy pencil skirt with a casual t-shirt. Today, I'm looking to stay a bit warmer. So I'm loving all the ladies rocking fancy skirts with the most comfy casual of all closet items -- the sweatshirt. It's inspiration to carry me through till legs must be covered too.

Image via

and do: go to a museum #3

A primary disadvantage, as I see it, with not having the means to teleport is missing museum exhibitions in cities far away. Really, I just want to pop in and pop out. There is so much to see. And when it comes to art, a computer screen just doesn't cut it. For this edition of go to a museum, I'm daydreaming of visiting the upcoming exhibition "A Queen Within" opening October 19 at the World Chess Hall of Fame (yes, really) in St. Louis. From the exhibition website:

Produced by an international team of thought-leaders, curators, fashion insiders, and chess players, the exhibition focuses on the how storytelling as well as the various archetypes of the queen have captured the imagination of innovative fashion designers.

Image: Charlie Le Mindu, SS2010 via World Chess Hall of Fame 

and do: work out (yoga)

Don't hate me. I'm a morning person. Not like a jolly, bouncing off-the-wall with energy at 6:00 am morning person. Like a productive morning person. And it starts with working out in the morning. When I was a swimmer in my teens it was a herculean task to get me out of bed to a 4:45 am swim practice. But in my 20s? Apparently I will get myself out of bed at 4:30 am to go for a run. But my schedule has recently changed. I'm still waking up in the morning to run, but I am no longer able to attend the a.m. yoga practice that I loved. So, for the past few weeks, I've been testing out evening yoga classes. I was worried. I thought I would be stiff and inflexible after a work day. Or that I'd be too full because I can't give up my afternoon snack habit. Turns out, I love evening yoga. I'm more flexible in the evening. And it's great because the Baptiste vinyasa style I practice wipes me out and my mind is more at peace so I'm not tossing and turning trying to fall asleep at a reasonable hour. I wish I could say I've also managed to avoid the afternoon snack attack, but unfortunately back-bending on my stomach is still a bit uncomfortable.

Image via here.

and do: get dressed #4

This post was originally conceived in my mind about being about all black dressing. Yes, it was on my mind last week and there it has stuck. I have dressed in all black (exception being shoes) twice this week. But I was strolling around the web when I caught sight of this pic and it has brought up that undeniable thing on all our minds when it comes to getting dressed -- covering up for fall. Are you a hat person? In previous times, I have walked and ridden the bus to work and I'm back on that schedule, which means, come fall and winter, hats are kinda necessary. And I'm loving the idea of a wool baseball cap replacing knit beanies.

Image via HonestlyWTF.

and do: go to a museum #2

Let me start by saying that Links: Australian Glass and the Pacific Northwest at the Museum of Glass is really an exceptional exhibit. Still I also have to say that one of the most whimsical and conversational pieces of art that I saw during my excursion to Tacoma was this stump (what do you even call these things that often bridge the space between the sidewalk and the crosswalk?) that was covered in the museum admission stickers. It made me laugh. It made me pause and take a picture. And it made me marvel at the fact that the first person to most likely simply casually dispose of their sticker in this way probably had no idea they were starting a collaborative piece. It's fun to think of all the art lovers and tourists who have contributed to this piece of work.

I also loved these pieces by Janice Vitkovsky.

and do: get dressed #3

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I know you probably don't want to talk about it at the end of August since they have probably A) blissfully fallen off your radar, and B) it's not like it's December 31st and you feel pressure to make new ones and thus be forced to revisit unaccomplished old ones. Despite the immense personal pressure that accompanies resolutions, I like them. I make them every year. I've got a few on 2013's list that have been hanging out since 2011. But I like them anyways. One year one resolution was to wear lipstick at least once a week. It could be to just run to the drugstore. I didn't accomplish this goal, but for the first time in my life I started considering lipstick as a way to get dressed. To not be afraid to bring a little attention to myself. To "pull it together" if you will. The above image from J.Crew demonstrates the idea perfectly. Even in sweatpants, a girl in lipstick is in an outfit.

Image via here.

and do: dive into the september issues

I understand there are people out there who will cite endless page after page of advertisements (before you even get to the table of contents) as a negative to the otherwise glorious September issues. I am not of said camp. The September ads are my favorite part. It's totally appropriate to say I geek out on the them. I am fascinated by the choices designers and labels make when it comes to advertising. There are those that focus on close-ups of the product. Those that choose the high concept art direction route. Those that are consistent season-after-season. (Who wants to take a bet on when a Michael Kors ad will not feature a plane/car/boat?) Often more than oogling the clothes I find myself wondering why the art directors chose certain angles? Why is the model looking straight at the viewer, or glancing to the side? I look at the framing, the background, the balance, and, yes, the clothes.

Different ads draw me in and cause me to linger. Sometimes it's the clothes. Sometimes it's the art of it all. Here are a couple stops I've made so far in Vogue's September issue (and I just made it to the letter from the editor).

Oscar de la Renta (above): The vibrancy of this image is totally lost online. In print it is so rich.


Valentino: I love it when fashion photographers quote art history. This woman could be a portrait from a Dutch master. The still-life on the left didn't appear in Vogue, but makes the 17th century inspiration that much more apparent.



DKNY: This one it was the clothes that drew me in.


Chloe: Again, the clothes here. The outfit on the left is what I wish I were wearing this fall. So easy and effortless.

and do: get dressed #2

Today, I'm dying to pair a graphic tee with a pencil skirt. Remember the movie Hitch? There's a scene where Eva Mendes' character is wearing a graphic tee under a blazer with a pencil skirt. I remember my high school self thinking, "That is how I'm going to dress when I'm a professional woman." For the life of me, I could not find a screen shot of this scene. But I love all the interpretations of it I'm seeing today. And the tee above sums up just how I feel about the whole look.

Image: Peony Lim

and do: read a book

Let's chat about one of my stand-bys when it comes to doing. I’ve been a reader since I was little. I recorded how many minutes I read each day on my wall calendar. There was a pause in reading by choice that comes with all high school experiences. The only exception being Harry Potter. I mean, does that even have to be clarified? Anyways, I started reading again for pleasure freshman year of college. Yes, I know, I know. Who has time to read for pleasure in college? Let’s not get into that now. Let’s just say, I fell back into books. When you read a book you don’t get any sort of final product. No Homemade Granola. No Sea Salt Challah. But if you’re living a life of make and do reading totally counts. It’s something. Something to get lost in. Something to spark your own creativity. (I have a stock pile of quotes I swear I’m going to work into a project someday.) And it doesn’t come with the guilt that surfing the internet or watching Keeping up with the Kardashians comes with. So it totally counts as a do. (Just an FYI – watching the Ks is something I totally do. It’s just something I will try to avoid writing a whole post about. So don’t panic. Come back again. Please.)

I wouldn't say my taste in books is hugely varied. Primarily contemporary. I love a good sweeping family saga. Barbara Kingsolver is a favorite. But I try to mix it up with fiction and non-fiction. I also love a good memoir. I'm currently reading Adam Johnson's The Orphan Master's Son. It was probably a bit of a heavy choice for summertime reading. I'm really looking forward to the latest from Jhumpa Lahiri -- The Lowland. I loved her first two short story collections. I'll need something to tide me over until Sept. 24. Any recommendations?

Image: Read Me Classics Set from Juniper Books.

make: do

The title of this blog sums up I commitment I've made to myself. That is to make or do something everyday. We all make or do something everyday. But having a conscience of awareness of trying new things or appreciating the everyday is often absent. So it's about awareness too. Which is where a bit of word play comes. (And I do love word play.) There's make and there's do. But there's also just make do. I think the expression "make do" can come with negative connotations. We don't tend to want to just "make do." There's a perception that making do is what we do when we can't do more. When our hopes and dreams seem too far out of reach. Or that it implies an unwanted struggle. Thinking about this reminded me of these words of Dellarobia Turnbow's from Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior:

"There is no life raft; you're just freaking swimming all the time."

Admittedly, lots of things remind me of this quote. It's frequently at the forefront of my mind. It can read of despair. But I understand it in multiple ways. We have to put effort in to get something out. I'll be the first to own up to being impatient with all that effort. Swimming all the time is freaking exhausting. But we have to keep going. Keep swimming. Keep making do. I've got to believe there can be real contentment in making do. In just living your life the best you can. I imagine it similar to the feeling of swimming. There may be no life raft, but there's a whole pool (or ocean) of water enveloping you and, if you use the right muscles, holding you up.

Photo by Irene Suchocki

and do: get dressed

When I entered this period of unemployment I made a very important promise to myself: I would continue to get up at the same time every morning. I'm a morning person (please don't hate me). Understand that really by what I mean by "morning person" is that I am not an evening person. If left to remain accountable to an evening exercise schedule, you would promptly see my love for ice cream manifesting itself on my poor body. But seriously, I love working out in the morning. So, I made this promise to myself. A promise that I did not make, however, was: To get dressed everyday. Obviously since I wake up, put on workout clothes and get my sweat on, I am changing out of my pjs. But in reality, if I don't have an interview, I'm changing into another pair of yoga pants.

I would like to begin a new promise to myself: To get dressed. Like everyday. At least for part of the day. (See how I'm trying to make it easy on myself.) Anyways, I'd like to make this a regular series here on makeanddo. And because my own closet often feels quite boring, I'm going to share with you what I would be getting dressed into should the power to make dream closets a reality ever become mine.

Today, I'm wishing I were perfectly styling the sneakers and dress look. How cool does the girl above look?

Image via Creators of Desire

and do: go to a museum on a Tuesday

2100° / 451° from Etsuko Ichikawa on Vimeo.

No one else will be there. Most likely. You will have the gallery to yourself. You can be totally mesmerized by a video of an artist painting on paper with glass. You will be tempted to touch the art. Especially if you have a thing for paper and are viewing an exhibit on artists working with paper. Signs will warn you that the gallery is being video monitored. Besides you are a respectful young adult with a degree in art history and plenty of museum volunteer experience. You know not to touch the art. Even when there is an installation and you are walking under paper just an inch above your head. And it looks like damn fine paper.

*Note: Paper Unbound at the Wing Luke Museum, about which I wrote this post, is now closed. But I also highly recommend Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion now on view at the Seattle Art Museum. Oh, and if I had a travel machine that transported me to museums, I would totally hop in it to go to Pasión Popular: Spanish and Latin American Folk Art from the Cecere Collection before it closes at the end of the week!