♥ Dumb Little Man did a two-part series on Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn From Albert Einstein

♥ The Barefoot Philosophy from Zen Habits; also, Mindful Eating

♥ Le Love: This is gorgeous. Also: when your always the one that's alone

When they ask you whether you have a boyfriend, or lament at how a young and pretty girl like you could possibly be single, its hard. Hard to bring together what you know about yourself - that you're worth it, that your good the way you are - and the fear that maybe you are doing something wrong.

♥ From Violet Blue's Tiny Nibbles, Info on Penis Sizes! Blog is NSFW. I suggest checking out her most popular/shared posts. They are all definite must-reads! Also, for some Christina Aguilera eye-candy check out Deconstructing Christina Aguilera's sex accessories.

♥ Cute Chekov/Cupcake. Who knew I'd ship it?

♥ _Sam linked me to PARTY CAT. Omg this is full of so much awesome!

♥ From Scientific American, Rethinking Human Sexuality. This was a fascinating read! It is about bestiality and animal-human relationships though, so if you find that uncomfortable stay away.

♥ Some Brief Responses to Google Queries from Yesterday

♥ OBB has an interesting piece from one reader about why her husband doesn't wear wedding ring. It's very thought provoking!

♥ Chris Pirillo had a funny, honest, and thought-provoking interview with Violet Blue

♥ One thing that always upset me during Halloween at PC would be the mothers coming to me complaining that their daughters wanted to be superheroes, doctors, police officers, and dinosaurs. So many of them were seemingly devasted that their daughters had no desire to be pretty pretty princesses. What's so wrong with a girl wanting to save the day, save lives, or be the hero? Why should they be confined to towers to wait for Prince Charming to rescue them? TIME features an article about the Pinkstinks Campaign, and while I love pink I think the message is a good one. When I was growing up my parents pushed me to be whatever I wanted. I took dance, gymnastics, and ten very memorable years of karate. I wrote bad poetry, took acting classes, and went for four months without washing or brushing my hair because I was "goth punk" (don't ask). She let me wear baggy black t-shirts, Mardi Gras beads during August, long scarves, and blue hair. And I love myself. I believe every girl (and boy!) deserves that same love and opportunity.

When I was nine, I asked my Dad, ‘Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8-millimeter movie camera that’s in your drawer?’ And he goes, ‘Sure, take it.’ And I took it, and I started making movies with it, and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, ’ What you’re doing is a waste of time.’ Never….. I know there are kids out there that don’t have that support system. So, if you’re out there and you’re listening, listen to me: If you wanna be creative, get out there and do it. It’s not a waste of time.

- Michael Giacchino's Oscar acceptance speech

♥ talking with Beth ♥ seeing long-lost friends ♥ Robo hamsters ♥ role-playing ♥ sexy shoes ♥ dressing up ♥ dressing down ♥ azaleas ♥ Sarah-child ♥ grattitude ♥ pokemon ♥

In case some of you haven't noticed, I've taken a long break from buying loli. At first it was because of how tight money was, but then I got a raise at work and I just...kept not buying loli. And you know, I've been doing some thinking lately about where my money's been going, and I really do like having more money to spend on little every day things, like buying brand name foods at the grocery store, buying my lunch instead of eating lukewarm tuna salad every day. And I really want to be able to keep on doing these things. But you know, I don't have a job anymore and so I'm slowly having to cut back again.

Over the last week, I've done some hard thinking, and it really looks like that I'm going to have to buy a lot of new clothes if I do get an office job like I would like to. And I've toyed with the idea in the past, but I think I'm finally decided on it.

I am giving up loli.

It's really hard to say it, because I really love the clothes and I love meet ups and everything, but right now, I need the money I could get from selling my wardrobe. Maybe I'll be able to come back to it in a couple of years, maybe things will fix themselves quickly and I'll be back in a few months. But I just don't know. And I've got bills to pay and my car insurance is coming up soon.

The picnic is going to be my last time wearing lolita for a long time. It's kind of hard to think of, especially since I was the one who started that tradition. I want my dresses to go to my friends, but I can't afford to give them away. I can, however, give you all the lowest price. Underneath the cut is a list of all the stuff I have. Pictures can be provided on request, but I'm sure most of you have seen me in these things yourselves. Make an offer. In May, I'll put everything that hasn't been bought yet on the sales comm with set prices.

I hope you guys are still willing to hang out even though I won't be able to wear loli for a while. I love you all.

Sarah, I know you've mentioned wanting to mod the comm. Let me know if you're still interested.

( Item list under cut )

Okay, this kind of bullshit just pisses me the fuck off.

I am in no way an advocate of stupid sex, and that seems to be the only thing that abstinence-only sex education seems to teach. I can't recall even being told that I had clitoris in high school. No one told me that it takes a girl longer to get off than a guy and that you can't just shove it in there and expect immediate pleasure on the female's part. No one said, 'Hey it's okay if you masturbate,' instead I remember being told that if I didn't want to have sex I should play games, study, read, blah blah frickety BLAH. Instead of telling teenagers to wait for marriage, why aren't our schools telling them how to not be stupid?

When I was working at Party City, we had SO MANY high school girls getting pregnant. The most recent one, I'll call her Demi, got pregnant because she thought the PULLING OUT method was an effective means of birth control. She said, "I didn't know the guy did it in there. He didn't tell me until like a week later." I've had other GIRLS tell me that they didn't know where--or even if--they could get condoms. "What should I tell my parents, Meg?" "Should I put my boyfriend's name on the birth certificate?" "How was I supposed to know I was going to get pregnant?" These are all questions I was asked by my YOUNGER co-workers and it breaks my heart. I shouldn't have to to be taken aside by one of employees who is still in high school to council her on which birth control test she should buy.

And even if the government and majority of voters insist on being so backwards on this issues, it breaks my heart that so many parents just take the attitude that if it's taught in school, then their kids have been told everything they need to know. I actually had to FORCE a sex talk out of my mother because I had no idea what or even if she was comfortable with me coming to her if I had a question about intimate acts. She had just assumed the school had given me the information I needed, when my education was actually sorely lacking. What I do know now about sex--that I have rights, that no one is looking out for me and that I have to take care of myself, and even more importantly, that sex is not something to be ashamed about--were things I discovered from books and over the internet. And I'm just so lucky that I am naturally cautious and paranoid. This is perhaps the only time that I have ever been grateful for possessing those two characteristics. Without them, I would have jumped in bed with the first guy to tell me he loved me (well, okay, jumped in the backseat) and said yes to unprotected sex several times.

But you know what? I'm damn tired of having to play surrogate big sister to all of the younger females in my life. As much as I love all of them, it breaks my heart that they can't have these conversations with their mothers, aunts, sisters, fathers, and the teachers that have been entrusted with their sexual education. As a girl's supervisor at her place of employment, I should not be her first stop for help. I'm not against helping the females in my life, regardless of how poorly acquainted we may be, but I wish that they had been gifted with the power to make informed decisions in the first place. I wish they weren't learning about birth control and safe sexual practices before they were pregnant--and in some cases, handled too roughly for comfort. And I am truly saddened that these same practices are going to continue.

I look forward to the day that I no longer have to be pulled into my office by a scared child who is about to become a mother.

Day 01 — Your favorite song : Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion
Day 02 — Your favorite movie: Little Women
Day 03 — Your favorite television program: Batman the Animated Series
Day 04 — Your favorite book: Extras, Scott Westerfeld
Day 05 — Your favorite quote: Marianne Williamson
Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy: Party Cat!
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took: Three days, one post
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago




My brother and I




My dad and I.


Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book
Day 15 — A fanfic
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy