(500) Days of Summer

.:.Love This Scene.:.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s dance sequence from (500) Days of Summer makes me oh so happy.

Holiday in Color

.:. Love Love Love .:.

Two months ago I was introduced to the world of RGB nail polish and I am in love
(I am currently wearing the above left color: steel).
Picture this: no harsh chemicals, flawless and unique colors, and quick dry time. The only down-side is that I have to order on-line since it’s not sold in my state.

The newest addition to the RGB family has confirmed my love. Again flawless and unique color.

An Ode to Lady Gaga

Wow. She’s Crazy.

This seems to be the consensus on Lady Gaga. I, on the other hand, love love love this Lady.

Don’t get me wrong, when I first saw the woman behind the locamotive-igniting “Just Dance” I was part of that consensus. And with each new crazy outfit and shocking performance I became more convinced of that first impression.

This all changed in October, when I decided to be Lady Gaga for Halloween.

To truly play the part, I started to research her. As I watched her performances and listened intently to her interviews, I fell more and more in love with this Lady. Not only is she insanely talented, but she is extremely down-to-earth and VERY intelligent.

Coincidentally, at the same time that I was researching Gaga, I was trying to really understand what I wanted my blog/twitter account to be about. “Stylish Authenticity” is my slogan, but what does that even mean? As I started to really dig into my slogan, I realized that Stylish Authenticity is a rare find. Which makes Lady Gaga so spectacular. She is an icon of Stylish Authenticity.

Akon touches on Lady Gaga’s greatness 40sec in

This is just a good example of her personality

International Federation of Red Cross New Print Campaign

Awareness. Compassion. Tolerance

I am in love with the new International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) print campaign. It has got to be one of the most consciously aware and creative campaigns I have seen in awhile.

Definitely TEXTure worthy.

IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian organization.  Since it’s founding in 1919, IFRC’s mission has been to create a world of empowered communities, better able to address human suffering and crisis with hope, respect for dignity, and concern for equity.

This new campaign perfectly illustrates IFRC’s mission.

Love it.

 

TEXTure Mascot: Boy Won’t Pledge Allegiance

I am determined to have this kid as a spokesman for my blog. 10-year-old Will Phillips, has refused to stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance because of the last line “…with liberty and justice for all.”  He states that until we allow gays to marry and refrain from racism and sexism will he stand. This is a perfect example of how one little action can have a huge impact. Thanks for being so awesome Will!

Check out his interview on CNN

Giving Thanks to Kid’s Health

Not only is this free, it’s a fun and unique way to celebrate the holiday season. Inspired by changing the way we think about our health, the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) created the Healthy Kids Thank-A-Thon 2009. Too often we focus on our health when something is “wrong.” CCIC is reshaping the way we think about health, kid’s health in particular, by asking us to share why we are GRATEFUL for kid’s health.

I think this is a fantastically simple way to not only ring-in the holiday season, but also start re-wiring the way we think about health.

It’s easy to participate. Tweet with the hashtag #HealthyKids, get creative with a photo or video, or write your own blog post. Visit the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition website for official rules and more information.

Retro Home Goods

I am a sucker for retro and vintage finds. Check out these great home goods from Jack and Friends

Old Bottles add a home-y feel

Love these old School salt and pepper shakers

Project 7: A Company With A Cause

It all started with the seven deadly sins. From the seven deadly sins birthed one of the coolest companies ever: Project 7.

Project 7 strives to build a better world by creating a collective awareness and improvement in the seven areas of need: Build the Future, Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Help those in Need, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, and Save the Planet.

Founder, Tyler Merrick, came up with the idea while doing some research on the history and origin of the seven deadly sins. He thought to himself, “What if man in his selfishness instead of focusing on abstaining from the 7 sins worked to help those that were a consequence of one of these 7?” His example: “What if the ‘glutton’… stopped focusing on [himself] and started focusing on helping those that were starving?” Spread this concept over 7 critical areas of need and you have the awesome Project 7.

How do they do it? “By redefining the way people think about business and the products that are on their pantry shelf.” Capitalizing on his background in consumer goods, Merrick sells products in which more than 50 percent of the profits go to a “community piggy-bank.”  Here’s where the brains come in. Throughout the year, Project 7 accepts applications from non-profits which help one of the seven causes. They select 3 finalists for each cause, and allow consumers to vote on-line for the cause they think should receive the funds. Final results: Project 7 will support seven different non-profits or charities, each representing one of the seven areas of need in our world.

There is so much more I can say about this company, but how about you read it for yourself at http://www.project7.com

One of a Kind Necklaces

How can you not be in love with this beautiful hand-made jewelry by Elva Fields? Check out all collections at http://shop.elvafields.com/

 

Achieving Authenticity

Existentialist philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre speak to the idea of authenticity

“If it is still in your mind, it is worth taking the risk” ~ Confucius

This is the definition of living authentically.  Thus, I am deeming it the I slogan of TEXTure. My blog is about texturizing a more authentic world and I think every action we take can be based on this quote. Why is this quote the definition of living authentically?

Let’s break it down.

“If it is still in YOUR MIND, it is worth taking the risk”: Your mind is the origin of authenticity. After all, authenticity is a degree to which you are true to your self, rather than conforming to external values. Authenticity starts with you.

“If it is still in your mind, it is worth taking the RISK”: I mean, why is it a risk in the first place? Because it doesn’t fit with society? Because you might fail? But, why is failing bad? Because others will look down on you? Because you will look down on you? Remember, only you can allow yourself to feel bad about failing. Failing, believe it or not, can be beneficial. Failing can produce a sense of accomplishment in that you were courageous enough to test the limits. Failing can teach you and bring about knowledge on what to improve upon next time around. Don’t be afraid to fail. Always allow yourself to be wrong. You will never learn anything if you live in a world of comfort.

Achieve Authenticity: “If it is still in your mind, it is worth taking the risk” Confucius