Greek Fest!

  On memorial day, Jeaux and I went to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for their annual Greek Festival.  I tried moussaka for the very first time, and reminisced about the times my family would take me there.   I thought a lot about folk dancing and circle dancing, and after a bit of research, I discovered  T H I S.   I'm so fascinated by how similar the cultures are to one another, and how they have influenced each other over the years.  I am half Assyrian from my father's side, and part Greek (including a list of other cultures) from my mother, so reading a bit about Tamzara dance made me feel a sense of pride.  Also, legend has it that the Assyrians were the originators.  My dad will love to hear that one.

B I R D S   O F   P A R A D I S E  !

  Also, I'd like to dedicate this post to my boyfriend.  We just celebrated our two year anniversary.   xxo

your friend,

ava

© 2012 Ava Alamshah

Arts & Sciences II

Surprise double exposure =  S C I E N C E !

  In my last post, I mentioned something about my friend Brian having a birthday.  Brian comes up with the best birthday themes.  One year wizards, the next year, jock jams...

  This year, artists and scientists gathered around Sync Space to compete in the ultimate battle.  Who came out on top, you wonder? 

 A R T   C O N Q U E R S   A L L

sorry, science.

 Though, without science, I wouldn't be able to take these polaroids that I have been so excited about.  

  Hello,  G O L D !   Thanks to Impossible Project.  I am in love, luv. 

L I F E   O N   E A R T H

Mother earth, a fetus, and a dinosaur smoking a cigarette.  Our tribute to Tree of Life, clearly.  

  Now I have my very own John Baldessari!  My girlfriends at ACO are beautiful and inspirational.  This image was featured on the second to last post for their site.  Check it out here.  They are moving away from ACO, but don't fret, they already started a new blog with tons of awesome eye candy!  Click here for details.  I love you Gilda, and Stefani! 

 

 ! ! !

your friend,

ava

 

 

Arts & Sciences

My friend, Brian Baughn, is having a birthday party.  

The theme is all about the battle between artists and scientists (sure, it happens). 

Two pursuits of truth. Two different kinds of knowledge. Two halves of the brain. They have competed, there has been friction– but also mutual support, even harmony. But they've coexisted for too long. Tonight only one will survive. Come dressed in support of the arts (as a favorite musician, painter, embalmed shark) or of the sciences (professor, mutant) and fight to obliterate half of human achievement. Brian,  2012

I'm thinking about going as this eccentric "artist" below. (Which one, you ask?)  I'm absolutely obsessed with her and think everyone should go out and grab a copy of Grey Gardens, stat!  Just glorious. 

Brian is a cool dude.  My friends at ACO did a great interview with him.  Check it out here. 

Stay tuned for photos from the party!  WHEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee! 

your friend,

ava

A V A L O N

  All images were taken with my polaroid 600 "cool cam".  

  First flush film provided by impossible project.  

  

  © 2012 Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

Bon Voyage

T H E   Q U E E N   M A R Y

  This recent LA weather has spoiled me rotten and I can't help being stoked on beach days, picnics in the park, and one of my all time favorite destinations, The RMS Queen Mary.  I have really fond memories of when my parents would take me there as a kid.  We would stroll around the ship and I would pretend that it was about to set sail.  I grew up on classic films and would recognize some of the Hollywood actors/actresses in the various photos displayed on the ship.  Ohhhh...Clark Gable!  Total dreamboat (doing a good job at keeping up with the nautical theme, yeah?)  For those of you who don't know too much about this luxury liner, she's been retired since 1967 and permanently rests at the port of Long Beach. The history of the ship is really fascinating. Check out some details here. 

For the record, it is haunted!  I swear!! 

I had a small incident with a ghost trying to use the soap dispenser in the ladies restroom.  True story. 

blue suede shoes and polka dots!

  Jeaux and I stayed on the ocean liner for my extended 30th birthday celebration.  You only turn 30 once, so I recommend celebrating in style, no less.  Also, try to drag it on as long as possible!  

  

  Our room was the best!  Those curtains!  That fan!!  It was no longer in working condition, but it was really pretty to look at.  Everything was very 40s, and so wonderful.  The bathtub had only fresh water, but back in the day, there were two more options.  Hot salt and cold salt!  How luxurious it must have felt, to get rid of all that dead skin.  Just like a long day at the beach, sans sand. 

  Jeaux surprised me with reservations to the ship's five star restaurant, Sir Winston's.  We snapped the photos above on the way there.  I'm no food blogger, but the meal was THE BEST.  I had the rack of lamb.  Jeaux had the beef wellington.  To start, an appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon.  On the side, fresh bread with butter.  The butter was almost too pretty to eat (garnished with fresh parsley and sea salt crystals).  To "clean our pallet", they brought out some watermelon, or raspberry sorbet (don't remember which fruit, but it was delicious).  Then, chocolate souffle, AND a slice of chocolate mousse cake for my birthday!!

  Just look....................................................it's ridiculous. 

  We thought that was it, but no, they had to come out with dark chocolate covered strawberries because frankly, the two previous desserts weren't enough. 

  After that, we sat at the lounge for a bit and Jeaux got to experience his ghost tale in the men's restroom (what is it with ghosts in restrooms?)  Seriously, I'm not kidding.  Haunted.

  I hope that everyone gets a chance to stay on the ship at least once. 

  P U R E   M A G I C !

ah, the golden hour

  

© 2012 Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

Beach Daze

Hello friends!  

I really wish life was in technicolor, don't you?!   I'm feeling so inspired by these classic beach photos, and cannot wait to frolic in the ocean very soon!  I absolutely  L O V E  vintage bathing suits, and find them the most flattering, not to mention very chic.  They look amazing underneath circle skirts, or paired with jeans.  I've been thinking about the perfect beach cover ups lately, like a cozy fair isle sweater (such as the one on Marilyn pictured below), or a light denim button down.  I have a few bathing suits from the 1950s/60s that I purchased on ebay.  It was an obsession for a while.  A few of them even have cone bra!  Cheeky!!  

That photo above makes me really happy.  I mean, how perfect are those women?  That pineapple! 

Beautiful Marilyn.  I bet that sweater was hand knitted. She looks so warm and peaceful in this image.  Taken in 1962 by George Barris.  His shots of her have such a California feel to them.  Check out this one, and this one!  

OH!!  THIS ONE!!!

Obsessed. 

This photo has some interesting commentary behind it.  I suggest you take a gander. 

I'd like to create a self portrait just like this!  ^

...or this one!  ^  What?

 Y E S

Lace and perfect eyebrows! 

Bettie had some glorious gams! 

I was named after this bathing beauty.  Ava Gardner rocked it!  Wow, just wow. 

Happy, breezy beach days!

your friend,

ava

All images provided by the google rabbit hole. 

Simplicity, Work, & Enjoyment

I came across this short film some time ago.  Beautiful, simple, inspirational. 

Film by Julia Warr
Music by Lola Perrin

juliawarr.com


xo
your friend,


ava 

Roadside Attractions

C A B A Z O N

On the way to this year's Coachella fest, we made a pit stop.  As a little girl, seeing Pee Wee's Big Adventure forever ingrained images of gigantic dinosaurs, biker gangs, and Large Marge in my head.  To this day, Large Marge still freaks me out.  **Shivers**

When Pee Wee gets dropped off at  the desert dinosaurs, he meets Simone and they watch the sunrise together.  Probably my second most favorite scene in that film, and  this scene, being my first.

I had no idea that Cabazon was an actual place until around 2003, while heading towards Joshua Tree, I spotted the giant t-rex in the distance.  I was so excited and vowed that one day, with more time, I would visit these creatures.  So glad I finally got to explore.  The verdict?  

B I Z A R R E,  in the very best way.  We found out that it's a creationist museum, trying to debunk Darwin's theory of evolution!  Heavy stuff.

 

Check out those chompers ! ! !

your friend,

ava

All images  © 2012 Ava Alamshah