happy spring.

this morning i got up at 4:50am to take my best girl to the airport.

h and i were home by 6:20am, and we did NOT go back to bed. 

instead, i had a second cup of coffee and spent a whole hour with my script. not the new one i've been tearing my hair out outlining, but the old one i haven't touched in 6 months. i've got a rewrite due on april 11, and i've been avoiding it like the plague.

i actually accomplished something. as in: wrote a few lines of dialogue. thought up a few new scenes. 

AMAZEBALLS.

maybe i'm turning over a new leaf.

maybe i really can hold down a full-time job (for the next 9 weeks) and keep up the ol blog and turn in this damn rewrite on time and figure out how to promote my first LA screening.

HAPPY SPRING!

here's to new leaves.

Photo by Michael Graydon via Forty-Sixth at Grace

Pls help me find a Jr. Bridesmaid's Dress!

Dear ESB,

I've asked my 13yr old cousin to be in my wedding. She's a really sweet kid who is super excited to be included, but she is in the unfortunate position of having a mom who has been wearing the same clothes since 1982, not only because she has no style, but because she's an extreme cheap-ass. I'm all for thrift but she takes it to another level. I've always tried to get my little cuz nice clothes for her birthday and Christmas and my aunt inevitably returns them. It's annoying. 

So now it's wedding time and if I want her to look decent I have to pick out the dress and probably pay for it, which is totally fine. The problem here is, I have no idea where to find something stylish for a 13yr old. When I say stylish I mean not some satin, bubble-skirt, homecoming dress nightmare. She doesn't want to look like a little kid, but I don't want her to look like some skanky suburban high school girl, either.

For the record, she's not a super skinny kid, she would be like a size 16 in girls possibly getting into junior's sizes. The wedding is in the fall, so fall-ish colors would be ideal (all the girls are picking out their own dresses, I don't have set colors, but all the dresses will be short) and I'd like to keep it around $100. 

I recognize this isn't the usual demographic that you shop for, but any help would be appreciated.

*****

First of all, YOUR AUNT SUCKS. You must immediately start SNEAKING CLOTHES to the poor kid behind her mom's back.

2. I thought I'd throw this one out to the readers and then put my faves up for a vote. I'm running around Vancouver for movie screenings + blah, and anyway what could be more perfect to celebrate All Ages than a Jr. Bridesmaid's contest??

Winner gets a postcard from CANADA. Or something.

Joana by Mafalda Silva via Girls on Film

What To Wear In Vancouver?

Let's switch the conversation over to RAINGEAR, yes? Yes.

Hi ESB, 

When I got engaged last year and became suddenly interested in the wedding industry, I found your blog and have been reading it regularly every morning since. I neeeeed my morning snark.

Anyways, no real wedding drama to report, just wanted to ask you for some wardrobe advice. I am getting married on October 1st, and guess where we are going for the honeymoon afterwards: VAN-FREAKING-COUVER! Since we will be in the area, and you happened to post about it, the hubs and I are going to come to your film screening on October 7th.

Here's the deets: we are outdoorsy people and are looking forward to exploring Vancouver. Since I planned the wedding I let (begged) my man plan the honeymoon. I think we are going to go kayaking, hiking, skydiving if the weather cooperates, and now also seeing All Ages. Other than that, I am happily oblivious to his plans.

Here's a general breakdown of where we are going:
Flying into Seattle and spending the first night there
Vancouver Island for 3 days
Vancouver city for 3 days
Drive back to Seattle and fly out after exploring the city some

So... since you're obviously going to be there at the same time, what kind of stuff are you going to be wearing? More to the point, what should I pack for the trip? I know the weather will be a bit chilly, so I'd really like to get a sweet pair of flat boots to walk around in but my large calf muscles always seem to crush my dreams of that. That's as far as I have gotten as of now. Clothing and any other Vancouver related advice would be much appreciated (restaurants to check out?)

I'll hold up a No Crying banner for you,
Vancouver Bound

*****

Here's what my friend L had to say about Vancouver fashion:

The thing with Vancouver, is that if you're outdoorsy and you like fashion you kind of have to have a split personality because it's hard to marry the two. A lot of people ride their bikes etc. and it rains all the time. Although I will say that in my neighborhood the hipsters manage to still look fashionable on their bikes (maybe not in the pouring rain though), and they couldn't just hop off their bikes and go hiking — nope that wouldn't work. My two-cents: outerwear is very important and shoes, and a collapsible umbrella (cuz even if it looks like it won't rain, it probably will).

Rubber boots are very popular here, Hunters especially are pretty ubiquitous, but I still like them. Got to get me some after those other stupid ones I bought for $100 got holes in them. Of course early October may not be rainy, but then again it might, but it won't be cold yet. Thin layers are the way to go, no need for warm coats yet. But I've lived here for like 17 years and I still have a hard time getting the temperature thing right. I'm usually overdressed and I get hot and sweaty, but I hate being cold too. You kind of have to be prepared for anything.

L never got around to sending me a list of her favorite restaurants.... She's 8 months pregnant and she's like quilting an entire nursery, so.

But Leanne sent me these restaurant recommends via Twitter:

K SRSLY IF UR IN VAN GET THE BEEF RIB OR KOBE BEEF AT KINGYO. ALSO THE TUNA/AVOCADO CARPACCIO- you will DIE. i'm so jealous. 

also the granville room. super douchey plc but their tenderloin steak is AMAZING, its $22.get it with the potato gratin. 

&the diamond in gastown amaze dumplings&cocktails, also the beef short rib sandwich is unreal. ask to go in the back, they have a secret bar

(Authentic Vancouver fashion photos by/of Leanne herself)
______________________________

p.s. Thanks for plugging my movie! I couldn't have done it better if I'd written in with a fake Dear ESB. And I can't wait to meet you!! And YIKES WHAT SHOULD I WEAR??

HI, my name is L------.

(click photo to view Gameboy, bong, etc. in greater detail)

I made a movie.

If you live in Vancouver or near Vancouver (or you've always wanted to visit Vancouver and f*ck it why not? you've got miles), you can come see my movie at the Vancouver Int'l Film Festival on Oct 7 + 10.

I'll be there. They're doing Q&A's after the screenings and I am frankly a little nervous about em so if a couple of you showed up and maybe waved NO CRYING banners, that would be rad.