Project Runway: Avant Garde Challenge #pr9bryce

Top 3 Looks... I think Josh M.'s on far left was best. credit

Yeah, you read it... I liked what Bryce did!  Doesn't mean I'm a fan, but I'm giving him some kudos.  Still think he'll be headed home fairly soon.

Overall, I was disappointed with the designers' performance this episode.  They were told to create an avant garde look based on a painting they created with kids from an art school in Harlem.

I just don't feel like any of them really gave us avant garde.  Like Laura said, I feel that avant garde is something normal people wouldn't wear, something that borders on costume-ish but still exudes fashion.  Lady Gaga often dresses in this way.

I liked Bryce's look, even though it was extremely simple... the straight-jacket sleeves concept and the colors I felt made it avant garde; the sleeves were part of the statement.   I also like the looks from Kimberly, Anya, and Josh M.  I was on the fence about Bert's look.  The pants were really cool in my opinion, and I'm glad Heidi saved him; the other judges hated it.

I do think Olivier's look was pathetic; he was fortunate poor Josh C., who is so lovable and yet not that in tune to design and fit, was back to replace the uber-downer Cecilia last episode.  Sad to see Josh C. leave again, but he wouldn't have made it to the final runway show anyways.  Olivier needs to brighten up his color palette and take more chances... or maybe get out in the SUN and get some Vitamin D!  Poor kid looks ill.

While I liked Bryce's outfit, I was torn about Anthony's win.  I've been an Anthony Ryan fan until last episode, and I just don't think his dress was particularly avant garde.  I think I would see it worn on a celebrity.  Between his outfit and Josh M., I think Josh M. should have won.  Sigh.  But I'm not a judge.

I think I am going to continue to stay on Team Kimberly.  She is consistent and has some great ideas, and I think she will stick it out for the long run!

Top 3 MTV VMA Moments 2011

Recognize those video outfits?  credit

I know I'm a few days behind, but I finally watched the 2011 MTV VMAs on DVR.   I've got to admit, ever since MTV got rid of TRL and stopped showing videos, I haven't kept up with my favorite artists' music videos, even online.  I did love Katy Perry's 'Firework' video (that won Video of the Year) but I couldn't tell you what the other videos were like!  It seems more like awards for music instead of videos, kind of like MTV's version of the Grammys.  So really, it's all about the performances.

My Top 3 Favorite Moments:

1.  I LOVED the Britney Spears dance medley, danced by some amazingly talented kids.  I remember in the heyday of music videos rushing home to watch TRL, and singing along to Britney's videos.  The medley highlighted some of her most iconic/famous videos, and the exact dance moves!  A lot of people didn't understand why Britney deserved a tribute, but let's be honest... she's had a relatively long career already, given MTV some amazing videos and performances, and is a VMA veteran.  So why not?

2.  Beyonce's baby bump announcement.  It's not that I felt her singing was that great (it all sounds the same to me, B belting it out) but I loved Kanye congratulating Jay-Z backstage on her pregnancy.  Congrats to them, talk about a lucky kid to have such amazing parents!

3.  Bruno Mars' performance of Amy Winehouse's "Valerie".  I didn't like the song initially, because I'd only heard the cover on Glee, but now I really want to hear more from Amy's album.  She was a talented singer, and her untimely death was tragic, but not surprising.  The VMAs were a fitting venue to acknowledge her passing and allow other stars to pay their respects.

Lastly, I know I'm late on this one, but I am really loving Adele's sound.  'Rolling in the Deep' didn't impress me at first... I honestly would change the station when it came on.  But now, I'm really feeling it.  She is very raw, and her songs are intimate.  I'm going to have to get the album now.

Words of Wisdom from the Dalai Lama

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I'm not a religious person.

Yesterday, however, I was really struggling with frustrations at work that were bringing me down and making me anxious.  I opened up my Twitter and saw a post from one of my friends retweeting words from the Dalai Lama's official Twitter.

I have always admired Tibetan Buddhism.  There was a monastery near my high school, and also a large Tibetan Cultural Center in town.  Bloomington even boasts TWO Tibetan restaurants, was home to the Dalai Lama's eldest brother  (until his death in 2008), and is often a destination for His Holiness when he visits the U.S.  From the colorful robes to the sand mandalas, their presence in Bloomington always fascinated me.  My cross country team would run by the monastery and see the monks playing basketball!

I was down in the dumps yesterday.  Nothing was going right for me, nothing according to plan.  When I opened up the Dalai Lama's Twitter, suddenly I was inundated with positive messages and simple truths that really helped me...  here are a few words of wisdom!  (It was SO hard to choose so few!)  Maybe they will help you like they helped me.

"The point of our existence is that, as human beings, we live purposeful, meaningful lives."

"Enemies teach us inner strength, courage and determination."

"The practice of love can be expressed in one sentence: ‘Do not harm others’."

"The more contact we have with one another and the more we come to understand each other’s values, the greater will be our mutual respect."

"You must not consider tolerance and patience to be signs of weakness. I consider them signs of strength."

"All good qualities must be sown and cultivated. We can’t expect to change overnight from an ordinary person into one with high realizations."

And just one more... "To control negative physical and verbal actions, it is necessary to get at their root, the mind, and tame it."