HappiMess

Rejoice, busy buds: Here’s another batch of summarized cinema! I watched these so you don’t have to. You’re welcome. Shampoo Womanizing hairdresser WARREN BEATTY has his hands full—too full—of women: ex-mistress JULIE CHRISTIE, current girlfriend GOLDIE HAWN, current mistress LEE GRANT, and even LEE GRANT’s… Read More »Movies Abridged: Film Synopses for Busy People, Part 3

First grade was an important, formative year for me, but not every event was traumatic. Some other memories I remember from that initial year of my primary school education include Playing Trees and giggling underneath the giant rainbow parachute in gym The orange UNICEF boxes… Read More »Stephanie’s Log Book (1990)

My grandma’s basement was the go-to place to play when my brother and I would visit as kids. But the three-bedroom house contained other spots and items that never failed to lose their charm, such as An illustrated children’s book from the 1950s featuring the… Read More »Fashion Photography Starring Dawn Dolls and Vintage Barbies

Jenn, the creative writer in residence, introduced me and the rest of the 2005 Arts Alive creative writing group to altered books in 2005. I’ve made several of my own since then. Whenever I have a book with an amazing cover or compelling illustrations and… Read More »“The Wedding Guest” and “Gala On”: Two Altered Book Projects

In my second grade journal, I referred to writing a story called The Caldecott Medal. “It is going to be good,” my young self vowed with enviable assuredness. I mean, obviously; it had the title of an award that nine-year-old me perceived as deeply prestigious. All… Read More »The Caldecott Medal: A Story of Love, Drama, and the Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all

I’d forgotten all about my 2008 blog, Movies: Abridged! Even more forgettable were some of the movies I apparently saw. Well, I rediscovered the site’s content, and now I present a few more abbreviated flicks for film lovers on the go! Bongwater Pot dealer/some-time artist LUKE… Read More »Movies Abridged: Film Synopses for Busy People, Part 2

When I wasn’t trying to create the perfect mix tape using criteria that would make High Fidelity‘s Rob Gordon approve, I collected buttons and pins when I was in high school. Of course, every now and then I’d get a “real” pin via one of… Read More »DIY Cool: Homemade Buttons and Pins

A former coworker had a daily calendar showcasing 365 New Yorker cartoons. This meant that every day I saw a New Yorker cartoon, which meant that every day I got pissed off. I despised these comics; they were often pretentious (I suppose that could’ve been expected, being… Read More »The New Yorker Cartoons Aren’t Funny So I Had to Make Them Funny

In 2005, I worked as a creative writing assistant for a month-long art program called Arts Alive. The creative writing artist in residence, Jenn, is one of the most creative people I know. She’s constantly doing brilliant, inspiring things and putting fun twists on art… Read More »The Rogue: An Altered Book