Mint.com: a SXSW darling and possible new financial revolution

Mint.com is a new site that manages ALL of your finances. And when I say all, I say banking, rent, student loans, credit card debt, IRA, investments, utilities and even your little laundry quarters. Frankly, I'm appalled by the lack of financial knowledge in most people- myself included. Most people were raised in families where you just did not discuss money- my own mother found this site not only dangerous but disgusting that all your money would be in the same place! Why, who is your financial advisor then? Who knows about this?! The majority of her generation is still wary of online shopping. But the truth is: we have college kids racking up $20,000 worth of credit card debt (from Mt. PizzaBox). Loans are debilitating and impossible to pay back.  Most people never even handle cash so  they never physically see their money. Don't even get me started on the financial housing crisis. We needed a new way to communicate to people how much they have and how they spend it. It's a way to see your money and not be overwhelmed. This might be the new checkbook because let's be real, no one writes in those things when your bank can send you an automatic statement weekly, daily, automatically.

So this little site puts it all together. Even tells you how much you spend at the local starbucks every month. Not entirely sure if this is a mind-blowing, revolutionary site just yet. But it does get me thinking...

Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness

Dear Ron Swanson,

 You are a true, blue, American man. Steak > tofu.  From all the girls out there who are tired of men wearing tights for pants and Buddy Holly glasses with 20/20 vision, we salute you.

Love, Lola

Hello my future girlfriend.

This kid is back. I can clearly remember laughing at this hysterically at my box computer in the 7th grade. Amazed. Also, the guy is still kicking around... single? I don't know. But here's the deal about him.

the institution of marriage

Love to portland, Maine.

Found this on Pinterest. LOVE it.

My city lets people ski and snowboard in the downtown square

 Portland's Downtown Showdown: This ramp was put up in Monument square thanks to Sugarloaf and SkiMaine. It worked guys, I went to Sugarloaf the next weekend.

February was the month of music.

Now that I have a moment to stop and breathe, I'm finally getting around to the amazing photos from the three concerts I went to this past month. Here's the rundown for each:
-Mason Jennings:
There are some musicians you just recently discover, and some you've been listening to since the very beginning. The latter always have a special place in your heart. I first heard Mason Jennings on a mix tape from a guy in high school that truth be told, first introduced me to so many new artists. Pixies, the Eels, Sarah Brightman, Warren Zevon... all were from this one mix tape. I listened to this tape then held down the rewind button and listened again- the cycle continued for months. So, when I found out Mason was in town, I bought a ticket, brought a good friend and relived the moments I listened to Mason in my first car. I'm reminiscing, what of it.

-Robert Randolph and The family band, The Constellations:
Robert Randolph = one of the best guitarists of ALL TIME. Not enough can be said about Robert Randolph except that to go to one of his shows is an experience of a lifetime. This was my second show, the first taking place a few years back in Athen,GA. Both take the place of first and second best concerts in my life. They are one of the most incredible and authenic bands today. 
The Constellations: Easily the next big thing. It was like watching the love children of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin performing. I immedietly bought their CD "Southern Gothic" on Itunes the next day.
So here's where the world gets small: I realized the Constellations looked a little familiar. Maybe I heard of them when I lived in Atlanta? Oh, they are from Atlanta? Oh, they know a friend of mine there? The Constellations not only were an amazing band but a truly nice group of people. Going backstage/on the tour bus? Awesome.
Let's see: up front dancing with friends, dancing on stage, catching both Robert Randolph's and Adam's guitar pics, going backstage, on the tour bus, meeting band members... I give this show an A+.

 

Constellations on stage

 King of the Pedal steel guitar, Mr. Randolph.

  Randolph.

Robert Randolph and the Family band with Wes from the Constellations

 Jackie (my concert champ), Jamie from the Constellations and I after the show.

-Girltalk:
I'll be honest: I almost sold my ticket for this show. I had just gotten back from a weekend ski trip to Sugarloaf with a bunch of friends and still had skier shins. It was a Monday. I was exhausted. But I love Girltalk. He's the answer to the ADHD youth of today: fast, crazy, insane mixes of some of the best. Truth: I want the :45 seconds where he mixes Biggie Smalls and Elton John to play at my wedding. I can run 20 extra minutes on the treadmill when I have GirlTalk playing. So his show? I knew it was going to be intense. And it was incredible and completely worth it. Every second. Streamers, flying toliet paper, balloons, spraying water, seizure-inducing light show, images of lobsters, lips, white tigers, and anything random. Thank god my buddy Jon G. dragged me out to go. It was an awesome show and I got in a good work-out.
Also, the State Thearter was mostly packed with the 18 and under crowd which led me to two things: 1.) I'm getting older or 2.) Maine adults need to catch up to good music and stop listening to the same things over and over again. Try something new.

My one and ONLY Charlie Sheen mention. Done.

From now on, he's Carlos Estevez- his birth name.

Little Beard.

Maury, I swear that's not my child.

Jeff Bridges took photos while making True Grit

Here they are.

Childhood Photos: Back to the future

Amazing photography of childhood photos and then re-done years later. Click here for Irina Werning's photos.

I'm pretty sure riding a giant snail is not on my bucket list. Thanks anyways Dr. Dolittle.

Amy Poehler did stock photography.

This is one of those moments where I really hate Tumblr for shutting down my Shitastic Shots blog- the very successful and very short lived expose of the world of shitty stock photography. Damn the man, Tumblr! Blogger is infinitely better!

Dance recitals are evil.

Because they make you wear stuff like this.

No joke, my dance recital outfits were not that much better. Around age 7 or 8, I had a green and pink tutu that I told my mother I would wear to prom one day. Luckily I did not.

Giddyup.

Come Patillion, we have an adventure ahead of us!

Being coherently intelligent > jersey shore

Horrible online ad found at the Huffingtonpost

No, darling, she will not. Absolutely not with that deathly font.

Why hello there.

Who doesn't love baby pandas?

My dream craft room

My sewing machine broke. Which basically means the duvet I'm working on will take a little longer to create. Same thing for my handbag and ruffle skirt. So I'm currently looking at sewing machines (refurbished and mucho cheapo). And not just the mini-sew shark I've got. But real, big girl sewing machines. The kind that make zig zag patterns.


Plus, I'd like my art area to be like this. No, I will not call it a "craft" area.  Crafts are for campers. And the last time I saw a popsicle stick was at the doctor's office.

anthropologie NYC <3 to Pinterest