Summer Love: A Polaroid Affair

A Polaroid Salute to 9-11

2011-09-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

It's easy to remember how awful something was... I'd rather recall how beautiful the skyline was.

Found these two lovely Polaroids mixed in with my family photos. They were shot by my godfather in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

If you are interested in purchasing a print of this diptych, please contact me. jena.ardell@gmail.com These images are not listed in my etsy shop.

Young Love: A New Polaroid Series

2011-04-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is a series about a couple in the 70s and their child-like journey through love. I am proud about this series for a number reasons:

#1 My friend Ian and I really look like we are in the 1970s.
#2 There were only a minimal amount of outtakes, which = wasted film/money.
#3 Neither my camera nor my film crapped out on me.
#4 I knew Ian be perfect for a 1970s series AND he didn't complain at all while we shot photos (both Polaroid and digital) for eight hours and didn't really stop to eat anything.

and what I am MOST proud of...

#5 My mad self-timer skillz. What most people don't realize is: all of the Polaroids you see of me are self-portraits. Like all my self-portrait shoots, Ian and I only had 12 SECONDS to get into character, including the time it took me to jump into place (and sometimes on his back).

You can view the series in its entirety at http://www.jenaardell.com/ I will be adding all of the digital photos/portraits of Ian to my site very soon.

(Special thanks to Natalie, who helped out by telling me whether my head was in frame in the car shots!! xo)

Just ripped an a-hole a new a-hole on flickr

2011-03-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER: I don't advocate being mean, but sometimes it's just necessary.

I just received a nasty little email from flickr user sunderlandartstudent and feel compelled to share it with you guys just because of its sheer preposterous-ness. Here it is:

Subject: um.. your stuff is not that good for you to be snooty about who borrows what.

i looked on your website and you rip off painters and other photographers left right and centre, in fact most of your work is a rip off of this artist
www.flickr.com/photos/neilkrug/
Anyway im not here to pick an argument, simply to point out how much your work is a theft of others.

AND HERE WAS MY RESPONSE:

First off, who the hell are you?! Did I accidentally comment on one of your flickr uploads?! I can't even believe I'm wasting my time to respond to you, but I love arguing with assholes online and you fit the bill.

Take a look at when Neil Krug started shooting poolside Polaroids and girls in bikinis: 2008. Now take a look at when I started shooting them: 2007. NICE TRY ASSHOLE. I love Krug's work, but I hadn't heard of him until 2009 or 2010. AND the main difference between me and Neil is... I DON'T PHOTOSHOP MY POLAROIDS. Nor are all of my shots of a supermodel, nudes or musicians. Back to your left, right and centre bullshit... I am inspired by David Hockney and Robert Bectle, I'm ASSUMING some of my images reminded you of their work. And guess what, that's intentional. In fact, I even attribute them in my tags or captions.

Anyway, I'm not here to pick an argument, simply to point out how ABSOLUTELY WRONG YOU ARE.

Thanks for taking the time to be envious of my work,
~Jena~

P.S. Might wanna send Neil Krug a similar email now...

For the record, I don't think Neil Krug is copying me or ripping off my work. I just wanted this douchebag to see how asinine his accusation was. I must have denied him or someone else free usage of my photographs in the past?! WHO KNOWS.

PUBLISHED IN ROLLING STONE!!

2011-02-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

An image I shot of Dave Grohl at The Foo Fighters's secret show at the Roxy has been published in the March 2011 edition of Rolling Stone Magazine!! (Page 26). More of my images, a slideshow and a recap from the show (along with a recap of the secret show held at Spaceland) can be found at LAWeekly.com.

I can't even begin to explain how surreal it is to have shot an image I know I would have clipped in high school and hung in my locker, haha. I'm 26 now, but the 16 year-old-me vividly recalls forcing my parents to play "Foo Fighters", "The Colour and the Shape" or "There is Nothing Left to Lose" in the car on the way home from school AND to and from the movies AND to and from our weekly visits to our favorite Chinese restaurant, haha. And of course, I had to skip a lot of the songs because my mother thought Dave Grohl "screams too much" (She loves The Foo Fighters now, by the way), but songs like "My Hero", "February Stars" and "Everlong" were always welcome.

I never considered concert photography as a viable career option until it fell into my lap two weeks ago when L.A. Weekly's music editor contacted me and gave me an opportunity to cover the show. I have always taken cameras into venues, but never had a legitimate purpose which merited photo pass access. The irony here is... I couldn't get a photo pass for that Foo Fighters show at the Roxy and had to use my Canon PowerShot to cover the concert. I set everything to manual and convinced the camera it could shoot well. Securing an amazing spot in front of the stage helped too. I was able to capture the entire concert, not just the first three songs a photo pass would permit. I'm covering two concerts this week (Cake at The Troubador and 311 in Anaheim) where I will finally be able to use my 5D. Can't wait!!

I'm looking forward to attending concerts, shooting photos and writing for L.A. Weekly. (BONUS: I'm finally able to put my Journalism and writing degrees to use!!) I hate the word 'Serendipitous' (because it reminds me of that cheesy John Cusak movie), but that's the perfect word to describe how 2011 is shaping for me. :)

Robert Townsend Collaboration

2011-02-18T12:27:00.000-08:00

I am currently working on a collaboration with favorite contemporary painter, pop realism painter Robert Townsend, who is transforming a macro self portrait I shot of sprinkles on my lips into a 36x36 oil painting for his show at Sue Greenwood Gallery in Laguna Beach, which opens June 2, 2011. You can track the progress of the painting here. You can see more of Robert's work at: www.freecolortv.com

PERSONAL FACTOID: Robert and I met through this very blog, thanks to this post I made about Bill Wood.

I'm such a jerk sometimes... not really... ok, maybe.

2011-02-17T15:49:00.000-08:00

Just have to share this convo I am having with an Etsy seller. For the record, I LOVE ETSY!! Up until now, sellers have never disappointed me and, if anything, they impress me with their cutesy packaging and Martha-Stewart-esque wrapping skills. However, THIS shop is another story.

Here is the item in question:

15 February 2011 9:39pm
Hi,

I just received this dress and I appreciate the fast shipping, but I am really disappointed with the dress. I wish I knew it was a homemade dress made from vintage sheets (or a large pillowcase) prior to paying $25 for it. It doesn't even have a zipper. :(

~Jena~

15 February 2011 9:39pm
Hi Jena,

We are more than willing to accept returns under circumstances when we have made an error or gross misrepresentation. The vintage item described and pictured is the item you received so we do not feel is was misrepresented. We are always happy to convo back and forth until you have enough information to make your purchasing decision, including questions about the size, fabric, zipper or not, ect. There are inherent limitations in both posting and purchasing items, especially vintage items, online and we do our best to present items as accurately as possible. We are always here to answer your inquiries.

Thank You,
Vice4Vintage

AND HERE'S WHY I AM A JERK:

17 February 2011 6:48pm
Hmmm, I never thought to ask "Is this dress merely made from vintage bed sheets??" but I will be asking sellers that from now on.

Thank you,
~Jena~

New Years Commitments

2011-01-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

"You won't see me writing resolutions, instead I do commitments". ~Melissa Galt, interior designer and social media extraordinaire.

I really like Melissa's approach and attitude toward setting goals in the New Year. I have a strong belief that 2011 will be my biggest year yet, in terms of photography opportunities and collaborations. I feel like all of the stepping stones are in place and I just have to start walking down the path. I've been my own roadblock for too long. As social as I seem, I am a bit of a hermit. This year, I am going to push myself out of my comfort zone and seek opportunities to meet and work with people I have always hoped to work with. For example, I want to shoot photos of Fiona Apple. That is going to be one tricky goal to achieve, but a few of my life goals are already starting to materialize, so hopefully I can add that to my list...

Here's which goals are around the corner:
-to have one of my images be published on the cover of a novel (happening this month)
-to create and sell a photography book (happening in February--if I ever get my act together)
-to collaborate with my favorite contemporary painter, Robert Townsend (happening now)
-to meet Dave Grohl (pending...)
-to meet Steve Martin (happening in February)
-to meet all the members of 311 (happening in March)
Yes, the last three are really life goals of mine, don't laugh. ;)

REMEMBER: "What you create tomorrow is built on what you act on today." (Melissa Galt, again) SO GET GOING!!

Greetings from Palm Springs...

2010-12-30T15:10:00.000-08:00

My mother and I found a *new* favorite piece of California. :)
More photos from our trip can be seen in my flickr stream.

Poems I wrote somewhere in New Mexico

2010-11-24T22:18:00.000-08:00

While I was in college, I took a few poetry classes. I created what I consider my best work ever (which amounts to three poems) and ever since, have not been able to complete a poem I am as proud of. I think my problem is I learned too much about writing poetry intended for other poets. I used to be able to write poems and short stories with such ease--and now I over-think, over-analyze and focus too much on creating intellectual syntax and deeper meaning. So fast-forward to a week or so ago... I was on day two of my three-day cross-country train ride back to L.A. when I finally was able to write and complete two poems. Here they are:

Need vs. Desire

The American Dream was left for dead
between two terracotta towns
cleverly disguised as a weathered Cadillac
next to a stack of used tires

(Someone told you you wanted it)
(Someone told you you needed them)

Signs point toward towns too small to map
as tractor trailers & pickups speed past
backyards full of scrap metal & dry riverbeds
en route to destinations unseen

(Someone told you you bought it)
(Someone told you you owned them)

All Dreams will end the same--
sunbleached by time,
abandoned by technology,
until we differentiate need vs. desire.

Scarecrows

You & I
are scarecrows
between dry watering holes
& dead telephone poles

It's here we question:
how they can afford so many miles of fence
how the cattle are fed and watered
where the dirt road leads
where the nearest general store is located

Is there more to life?
we wonder, alone
unable to wander
far from home.

Tah dah, lemme know what you think. Would love to know your interpretations...

AN IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT :(

2010-10-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

First, let me start by saying I LOVE The Impossible Project, their employees, their mission, the stickers, promotions and the buzz they've created--I appreciate it all. They've even taken the boring, black cardboard slides (that first shoot out before the film is ready to use) and turned them into collectible items, by adding a series of witty phrases. They've given me hope and resurrected my favorite films, but I lately have been a little disappointed. Trying to use their 600 series Silver Shade film has been... an Impossible Project. :(

Here's what I was trying to photograph:

Here were the results... seven completely ruined, blank shots. I've tried everything: allowing them to develop outside; running inside where it was warmer; allowing one to develop in the shade, another in the sun; and NOTHING. The last shot was the only shot to develop 1/2 inch of the image... and that was because I left the photo hanging from the camera.

Is anyone else having this problem?? I know it's not my camera, because the camera is fairly new and I recently used it with color film and had great results. Here is the back of the film, in case it is a bad batch:

MORAL DILEMMA

2010-10-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

You go out to dinner with four of your friends. At the end of the meal, the check arrives. It gets passed around the table for about 10 minutes before it even reaches you. When you look at the bill, you notice the tab next to your meal says "0.00". This is clearly a misprint, a mistake made by your waitress. Everyone at the table says "Nice, free meal!!" "Their error!!" and suggests you simply accept the mishap as good luck, and leave a generous tip. What would you do??

A. Follow your friends' advice and leave a generous tip.
B. Alert the waitress and ask her to correct the mistake so you can pay your share.
C. Think "Sweet, free meal!!" and don't leave any money. (Afterall, you can't calculate a tip for something that cost $0.00).

(Be sure to select an answer before reading on...)

What made you select your plan of action?? Generally, people are predictable creatures. Based on your answer, I bet I can determine your rationale. Does your selection (A, B or C) match up with the following...

A. The mistake was clearly the incompetence of the waitress. She is repsonsible for the mistake, not me. I'm just benefiting from a glitch in the system. Everyone else at the table would do the same.
B. The basic principles of Karma. It was the right thing to do. I would feel badly about accepting a free meal that wasn't intended for me.
C. The restaurant made a lot of money that night--one free meal isn't going to ruin them. I bet no one would even notice. Plus, I could use the extra cash.

Was I right?? And why am I asking you all of this?? Good question.

This scenario I described happened to me last night. I weighed all of the options I listed but, almost immediately, I chose B and was proud of myself for doing what I felt was the right thing. I strive to be a good person, but ultimately my rationale was based on guilt and Karma. If you chose A or C, it doen't necessarily mean you are a bad person, but if I were you, I'd examine the rationale behind your choice. You obviously felt the free meal was owed to you because you deserve it; but what makes a person deserving??

After I did "the right thing" by notifying the waitress of her mistake, the majority of the table changed their answer. "Yeah, that's probably what I would have done too", my friend said. "You would felt bad if you didn't tell her", another friend said after the waitress left to modify the check. Then why did he suggest I do the very opposite?? Only one of the four said "Your loss!! What does doing the right thing get you?? Now you're leaving with less money". The whole situation was pretty enlightening, considering I was the only person at the table who originally wanted to tell the waitress.

I was reminded of the importantance of leading by example and practicing what you believe. If you do the right thing, others will follow. Remember: big realizations often occur during small moments in life. Are you keeping your mind open to these small moments??

The Impossible Project Film Giveaway

2010-09-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

Want to win a FREE pack of the ever-so-artsy PX 600 Silver Shade film from The Impossible Project?! Then head over to Rachel B. Blog. There are five ways to win, but unfortunately only one winner... so good luck!!

My Three-Bean Salad Recipe

2010-06-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Jena's Tres Frijoles Salad

In a large bowl mix the following:
-TWO 14.5-16 oz cans of string beans
-ONE 16 oz can of garbonzo beans
-ONE 16 oz can of light red kidney beans
Next, add as much of the following as you prefer:
-onion flakes-celery seed (I add A LOT!!)
-sugar
-red wine vinegar
-(olive oil optional)
-(oregano optional)
Place in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before serving.

A Wake Up Call to ALL Photographers and Artists

2010-06-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

I want to share a email that I received recently:

Hi :)

I work for an Advertising Agency in London and were looking to do a fun “happy” campaign in and around the UK – It will be to launch a range of DVD`s and could be used on posters, in store and press ads.We really love your “The whole story” image – how would you feel about us possibly using this image to inject ‘happiness’ to the public! I completely understand if you don’t want to and I hope you don’t mind me asking,

Kind Regards, (Their name)

And here was my response:

Hi (Their name),

Thank you so much for contacting me. I am very flattered you would like to use my "The Whole Story" image. I would love to sell the rights to your advertising agency for print campaign usage. I rely on my photography to earn a living and I hope you understand why I can't give the image away for free. If you would like to negotiate a usage fee, I would love to move forward with this project!!

Hope to hear back from you,

~Jena~

Now here's the lesson: Yes, I am flattered and yes, I would LOVE to see my work used in an international campaign where it will potentially be seen by millions of people but let's get real. If you haven't already, you NEED to stop giving your work away for free. Not only does undermine your work, but it undermines ALL artists' works if ad agencies and companies can find photography and artwork for free. I know this ad agency may never respond to my email (they haven't yet and it's been four days since I sent it), but it's a matter of self-worth and principle. The sad part is I already know what they're going to do next: get back on flickr and search for someone who is willing to give their photography/artwork away for free in exchange for the excitement of seeing their work in print. Don't let this person be you. Start charging for ALL usage of your work (and if it's really creative/unique/one-of-a-kind, charge A LOT). If all photographers/artists do this, then more people will be able to earn a living as photographers/artists. By helping yourself, you will be helping an entire industry of struggling creatives. As for the ad agency, they should know better.

Published in Elle Girl Korea July 2010

2010-06-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

My work is featured in the July 2010 issue of Elle Girl Korea on page 176!! :) More photos here: http://tinyurl.com/29hd5fn

Overheard in a restaurant tonight

2010-05-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

There was a little boy sitting a table away from mine tonight at the Thai restaurant. He looked about six years old (couldn't have been older than seven), and was sitting across from his younger sister. In between bites, he looked up and asked his mother...

"Do you think there will be a World War III?"
"I don't know," she said.
"Well I hope not," the little boy responded. "I hope I'm not alive when there is a World War III. We'd hear gunshots outside in the streets... and people would be shooting in our windows!!"

The parents seemed unfazed and remained silent. Then his little sister asked when the end of the world was going to be!! Geeze. I couldn't believe that these YOUNG kids were worrying about issues like this. I already never want to have children, but stuff like this makes me REALLY never want to have children. Unless a miraculous awakening happens in the year 2012, all the problems we shrug off because it's not happening in most of our backyards, like contaminated soil or lack of clean water, are problems that the next generation is going to be forced to deal with. :( I hope the latter scenario doesn't materialize, but that's where it seems we are headed. This month-long-plus oil spill + ocean dumping + drying of seas + overfishing + overpopulation + wastefulness, especially of water + the current mass production of plastics is going to catch up to us REAL FAST.

BOYCOTT BP

2010-05-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

"Sarah Palin urged the country to 'trust the oil industry' and to continue to pursue offshore drilling initiatives in light of the Gulf Coast oil spill when delivering a speech in Missouri over the weekend. The Kansas City Star reports that Palin called the massive oil slick 'tragic,' but defended drilling as a viable energy solution when speaking to a mostly Republican crowd."

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/sarah-palin-says-trust-th_n_561660.html

Sarah Palin's husband works for BP. Of course she's telling you to "trust the oil industry" despite there being a oil slick the size of Maryland and Delaware COMBINED floating in the Gulf Coast. DON'T SUPPORT OFFSHORE DRILLING and boycott BP.

FYI: BP earned 6.4 billion dollars at the begining of this year... why the hell aren't they using that money now to contain this disaster?!

FACT: BP refused to build a shut-off valve when building the rig. This catastrophe could have been avoided.

What a f-ing nightmare.

Photos of the oil spill.

Photos from the MOPLA Group Show

2010-05-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Opening at Smashbox Studios 4/29/10:

CROWDED!!

Me and my guy:

Prime real estate:

Bar area:

Me and my favorite boss Dave:

Reenacting my pose:

DJ room:

The place was PACKED!! My "Sexy Silhouette 2" print will be on display until May 20th. Hope it sells!!

MOPLA Group Show

2010-04-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

A 24x30 styrene print of my "Sexy Silhouette 2" Polaroid will be included in this group show!!

Opening is April 29th at 7 pm and is free if you RSVP to groupshow@monthofphotography.com Hope to see you there!!

"C’mon, admit it. You’re kind of…well, a big deal. You’re one of LA’s best up-&-coming photographers. You just need more people to know it. Well, here’s your chance to get more of your work seen right here at SMASHBOX Studios. Month of Photography Los Angeles (MOPLA) is calling for submissions for a group photo exhibit that’ll show right here with us on April 29th, 2010. Co-curated by Hossein Farmani of the Lucie Foundation and Dee DeLara of Smashbox Studios."

The Month of Photography Los Angeles will deliver the most comprehensive celebration of Photography in Los Angeles. With the support of the Photography Community, MOPLA will showcase the work of 160 Photographers worldwide. The city of Los Angeles was incorporated in April 1850, 160 years ago. The theme for MOPLA 2010 is 160/160 - Celebrating 160 Years Through 160 Photographers.

Work will be featured until May 20th. Gallery is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM. Smashbox Studios, 8549 Higuera Street, Culver City, CA

This made my day...

2010-04-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

I just received the nicest email from a model from modelmayhem:

It's very rare that photography can effect my entire mood, but your website just rocked my world. Not only do I suddenly crave a carefree summer at the beach, but I feel a nostalgic innocence awakened from a hidden and vulnerable part of me that I thought was lost. Your images don't just capture a retro look, they encapsulate all the emotions that go along with it. :::Bravo:::
hope all is well,
Frances

Mailing list

2010-04-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you would like to join my mailing list to receive information from me, regarding news about my work, upcoming gallery exhibitions and publications... please leave a comment with your email address.

Your comment will not be published, so no one else will see your email address and I will not spam you or give your email address to a third party.

Mailing list will be sent monthly, unless something really exciting happens. ;)

Jena Ardell Giveaway

2010-04-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

I'm giving away any TWO retro fine art prints from my etsy shop (A $70 value). All you need to do is enter to win!! Just post a comment here answering this question: If you could go back in time and visit any decade, which would you choose and why?? One lucky winner will be selected on April 22, 2010.

5 Surefire Ways to Gain More Flickr Followers

2010-03-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

1. Only post photos of girls. If you happen to be a girl, self-portraits also work. Just remember this equation: more skin = more views.

SIDENOTE: If you're going to post self-portraits, ONLY post self-portraits. You don't want to give someone the option of looking at someone other than you.

2. Only post one image per day. Keep viewers wanting more, but be consistent. Fewer photos means more views per photo.

3. Use Photoshop. People often confuse Photoshop with photography skill, so use this to your advantage.

4. Collaborate. People like to see familiar faces, so shoot fellow Flickrites. Be sure to shoot high-profile Flickrites, otherwise nobody will really care.

5. Write interesting captions. Pretend flickr is your blog and make it personal. The longer the story > greater chance of someone relating to you > greater chance of someone leaving a comment.

Good luck and Happy Flickr-ing.

St. Patrick's Day Smoothie

2010-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

JENA'S ST. PATTY'S DAY SMOOTHIE:
1 handful of spinach
1 orange (peeled)
1 lime (peeled)
1 cup of water
3 tbsp honey
12 or more ice cubes

BLEND IT, BABY!!

Perfect for St. Patrick's Day and every other day...

My Guide to Southern California Beaches

2010-02-25T16:05:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES BEACHES

El Matador: Gorgeous, secluded, difficult walk to beach. Sometimes littered with naked old men who think it is a nude beach.

Malibu Beach: Surfrider territory, lagoon, small pier. Checkout the Adamson House while you're there!!

Marina Del Rey: More industrial, smoggy, Venice fishing pier. Great if you like looking at boats.

Point Dume State Beach: Clean, diagonal, not free. You pay to park here but can go to Zuma (literally 50 ft away) for free.

Santa Monica State Beach: Tourists, dirty, pier. Awesome bike and walking paths. Please note these paths are SEPARATE so I can ride my bike without dodging you.

Venice Beach: Eclectic, graffiti wall, plethora of bums. Sometimes smells like urine.

Zuma: Flat, volley ball, large parking lot. A popular spot in Malibu.

SAN DIEGO BEACHES

Coronado: Lovely, fighter jets, gold sand. The Hotel Del is A-MAZING.

La Jolla: Scenic, beautiful, cliffs. Sea caves and kayaking galore.

Ocean Beach: Dirty, hippies, bikers. The pier there is the longest concrete pier on the west coast... it's also full of beatnik/hippie/alternative folk.

Mission Beach: Popular, drunken college town, kid friendly. Here boardwalk = concrete area near ocean, not on a pier. And the roller coaster costs $6-7 a pop to ride.

Pacific Beach: Surfer haven, scenic, Crysal pier. Area is full of shops, bars and night clubs. Parking is a bitch.

VENTURA /SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BEACHES

Leo Carillo: Rocky, clean, tide pools. People from L.A. like to go here on the weekends so they can forget they live in L.A. for the day.

East Beach: Sporty, college crowd, volleyball heaven. Look for starfish hanging onto nearby Stearn's Wharf pier. Sea lions are also common.

Oxnard Beach: Dog beach, kid friendly, playground. I wouldn't swim in the water here, but the bike/walking paths are nice!!

Ventura Pier beach area: Scenic areas, lots of pebbles, chilly. Santa Monica feel, only less populated, no rides and more clean.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day...

2010-02-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." ~Albert Camus

Since it is such a nasty/gray/rainy day in L.A. and the east is getting pummeled with more snow... I figured we could all use a little sunshine.

Here are two galleries I created, FULL of summery photos from fellow flickrites:

Swimming Pool: http://tinyurl.com/yzwao7t

Sunbathers: http://tinyurl.com/ygpyjj8

Spread the warmth!!

Buddhist Blessing for the New Year!!

2010-01-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not a Buddhist, nor do you need to be to enjoy this blessing. May 2010 be one of your best!! Happy New Year!!

Just as water flowing in the stream and rivers fills the ocean, thus may all your moments of goodness touch and benefit all beings, those here now and those gone before.

May all your wishes be soon fulfilled as completely as the moon on a full-moon night, as successfully as from the Wish-Fulfilling Gem. May all dangers be averted; may all disease leave you.

May no obstacles come across your way and may you enjoy happiness and long life.

May those who are always respectful, honoring the way of the elders, prosper in the four blessings of old age, beauty, happiness, and strength.

~Adopted from the Pattanumodana blessing-chant

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!!

2009-12-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Did you know the original house used in the movie A Christmas Story was auctioned on ebay in 2004, purchased for $150,000 by Brian Jones, a San Diego entrepreneur and fan of the film since childhood, and renovated to appear exactly as it did in the movie?! After spending $240,000 in renovations and stocking the house with props and replicas from the movie, the house opened as a museum and gift shop in 2007. Staff members give tours every half hour and maintain a well-stocked gift shop.

The house is located on 3159 W.11th St. in Cleveland, Ohio and welcomed its 100,000th visitor in August 2009.

A dozen of my favorite Christmas songs:

1. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
2. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
3. It Must Have Been Old Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.
4. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
5. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
6. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
7. Dominic the Donkey - Lou Monte
8. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
9. Last Christmas - Wham
10. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
11. Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes
12. Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty

My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Movies:
1. A Christmas Story
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original cartoon version)
3. It's a Wonderful Life
4. Home Alone 1/Home Alone 2
5. Christmas Every Day
6. Rudolph (the clay animation version)
7. Elf
8. The Shop Around the Corner
9. The Holiday
10. The Santa Claus

Enjoy and Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays!!

KITSCH SIGNS

2009-12-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

As you may have detected, I love things from the 50s, 60s and 70s... especially gaudy home decor. There's nothing like a good, vintage novelty sign to make your guests chuckle or question your taste in design. Here are some great kitsch signs I found on etsy this week. Perhaps you'll find their witticisms to be as amusing as I find them. I apologize for not providing links to each item, but browsing for these items yourself is half the fun:

Embarassing Moment

2009-11-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

Love this story...

I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to a very handsome man during a conference. We flirted casually through dinner, then grew restless as the dignitaries gave speeches. During one particularly long-winded lecture, my new friend drew a # sign on a cocktail napkin. Elated, I wrote down my phone number. Looking startled for a moment, he drew another # sign, this time adding an X to the upper-left-hand corner. ~Kari Moore (via Reader's Digest)

How I used to pick up boys in college...

2009-10-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

I was going through old emails today and came accross this hilarious conversation I had with my mother on AIM on Friday, January 30, 2004, Enjoy!!

ME: i have a movie date er something on saturday lol
MY MOTHER: so how was your day?
MY MOTHER: uh-oh
ME: pretty ok i guess
ME: urs?
MY MOTHER: with whom
ME: with a guy from my tv broadcast class named justin
ME: hes a junior.. hes pretty cute
ME: bad taste in music tho and hes really into sports
MY MOTHER: oooo
MY MOTHER: give me all the details
ME: those were the details lol
ME: hes in my class but not in my group
ME: and today he came into the room i was in with a notebook
MY MOTHER: how did the date happen
ME: and i was bored so im like.. gimme ur notebook so i can draw all over it
MY MOTHER: and what did you draw
ME: lol... a squirrel frozen in a block of ice
MY MOTHER: OMG
MY MOTHER: lol
ME: HAHAHA
MY MOTHER: and that impressed him?
ME: and then i drew his name in block letters, an ice cream cone, uhm a multiple choice sentence about the class.. and i included my sn
MY MOTHER: sneaky...ky....ky....ky....ky....ky...ky
ME: JUSTIN: I was impressed by the wayward squirrel in my notebook, that was cute.
MY MOTHER: hahaha
ME: lol
MY MOTHER: it was the squirrel!
ME: squirrels work every time lol
MY MOTHER: hah
ME: O:-)

Buy four prints and SAVE $20!!

2009-10-20T02:29:00.000-07:00

*NEW* in my etsy shop: The Beach Treasures collection.

This set includes four fine art prints:

1. Seaglass and Driftwood
2. Sand Dollar, Starfish and Feather
3. Seashells and Scallop Shells
4. Horseshoe Crab and Coral

You save $20 buy ordering a set of four prints!!

All prints measure 5x5 OR 10x10 inches with polaroid edges. Perfect wall art for your beach house or any house you wish were by the sea.

Like all of my polaroid fine art prints, these images are UNEDITED.

Printed on archival matte paper with top notch professional printers. I send ALL my images to a professional printing press to be printed when you order one.

LARGER sizes (20x20 and 30x30) are available, please let me know what size you would like and i will gladly create a custom order listing for you.

All images Copyright Jena Ardell. All rights reserved.

http://jenaardell.etsy.com

Truly Inspiring: Michael Wolf

2009-10-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

German-born author and artist Michael Wolf was raised and educated in the United States and has been living in Hong Kong for 15 years, a decade of which he has spent as a photographer. Wolf's work focuses on vernacular culture, particularly Chinese culture. His projects range from thought-provoking portraits to grand-scale gallery installments that beckon the introspection of society as a whole.

What first caught my eye was Wolf's 100x100 collection. For this project, Wolf photographed residents living in Hong Kong's oldest housing project, Shep Kip Mei, where each living space measured 10 x 10 feet. I was eager to peer into each room to see how individuality played a role in conceptualizing the limited space. After viewing a handful of photographs, I was left speechless. Instead of mind-numbingly satisfying my voyeuristic eye, I was left wondering: What personal possessions would I [be able to] keep if I only had 100 square feet?

Other projects by Wolf serve a similar slice humble pie. One such installment titled The Real Toy Story, consists of 16 images of Chinese toy factory workers surrounded by 16,000 plastic toys. The result: a powerful juxtaposition of imagery that invokes morality.

For this exhibit, Wolf scoured thrift shops in California for toys (all of which were made in China); sanded the back of each toy; glued several magnets to each toy back (45,000 magnets total); installed 30 large panels of sheet metal to a gallery wall; and covered the wall with the toys. It took three people working 10 hours daily for three days to attach all of the toys to the walls.

What impresses me most about Wolf's work is the level of dedication to his craft. Both projects were simple ideas which he took to a impressively higher realm. Seeing projects of this magnitude inspire me to conjure grand-scale ideas of my own which I hope will one day impact others as much as Wolf's work has impacted me.

More information about Wolf and his work can be found in this interview or on his website.

10 Truths

2009-10-09T04:43:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted a blog in awhile so I thought this would be a good icebreaker and give me the opportunity (or obligation, hehe) to start blogging again.

I was tagged by Mr. Joel Alexander. Now it's my turn...

I must name 10 different HONEST things about myself. If I tag you, then you can do the same!!

1. My goals in life are to own a beach house and swim with manatees. (And become a successful photographer, of course).

2. I have an Associate's degree in French but I'm too self conscious to speak French in front of people... so I'm hoping to finally change that.

3. I secretly like getting poison ivy blisters.

4. I misinterpret song lyrics all the time but I usually like my version better, so I'll refuse to learn the correct lyrics in fear it will ruin my perception of the song.

5. I've always loathed bats and now I have every reason to continue loathing bats. If you know me, you'll know why... let's just say rabies shots + insane medical bill. :(

6. I own over 300 Archie comic books. I stopped collecting in 1997 or 1998, but I'll still buy pre-1970s issues if I happen to stumble across them.

7. I used to be anti-FarmVille (you know, the virtual farm application on facebook) and now I play it all the time. In fact, I'm probably harvesting my crops as you read this.

8. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a Roxy model.

9. I'm addicted to Pinkberry. There, I said it. Medium original with pineapple + strawberries + blueberries... that's my usual. :)

10. I have three tattoos and I want more. One will probably be an anchor.

Now I'm tagging...

Megs: http://wrapstar.us
Aaron: http://feaverishphotography.com/blog
Addison: http://loveaddsphotography.blogspot.com
Kate: http://flapperdoodle.blogspot.com

Have a great weekend, can't wait to read your responses!!

Featured in Elle Girl Korea August 2009!!

2009-08-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

My photography is featured on pages 2 and 33 of this month's Elle Girl Korea!!

Cover of the issue:

My Froggy on the Letter From the Editor page.
Full Page spread on page 33!!

AND ONLINE!!

I'm so excited to finally be published in a magazine. :)

In case you can't read Korean, here is my interview in English. Not sure what parts they published:

1-1 have you been published anywhere? My work has been published in a Madrid-based online magazine, 10x15, and a London-based online magazine, Appendix Magazine, as well as numerous blogs -- the most notable being Decor8 and {Frolic!}. This is the first time I am being published in a print magazine so I am very excited!

2 What are your favorite things to take the picture? I love photographing things, people, places or situations that have a dreamy, nostalgic appearance. My goal is to "transport people back in time" by creating authentic-looking retro images reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s; so I usually choose objects from those decades.

3 What are you working on right now? Right now I am working on three collections: Daydreams, Life's a Beach, and Under The Boardwalk. The latter two collections are offshoots of my growing Summer Love collection. These collections will be able to view on my website this fall. I also plan on publishing a book titled Summer Love in October which will feature 75 images, including a lot of never-before-seen work.

4 What puts you in the mood to create? I constantly want to create things because I love the feeling of accomplishment when I am able to turn my visions into something tangible. When I do not have time to create something, I make lists of things I want to create. I draw inspiration from anything and everything -- summer, the ocean, Old Hollywood movies, clothing patterns, vintage photographs, the composition of everyday objects, etc. I also spend a lot of time browsing the internet for images that catch my eye because I believe maintaining an inspiration folder is crucial to every artist.

5 What artist(photographer) do you admire? And reason? I admire artist David Hockney's vision of water and fixation with swimming pools. Hockney's Polaroid collages are impressive, especially since Photoshop was not involved in the process. I love the composition of Robert Bechtle's automobile paintings because my eye gravitates toward balance and symmetry. I am in awe of Old Hollywood photographer George Hurrell's portraits. Hurrell used light like no other photographer could or has ever. I am inspired by the simplicity and honesty captured in both Bill Wood's and Bill Owens's photojournalistic shots. Their work is so raw, it almost appears candid. I always strive to capture a similar sense of authenticity. As for contemporary photographers, Peter Granser is among my favorites because I share a similar admiration for subjects and landscapes that appear subtly absurd.

6 What is your dream? My goal is to keep the past alive and to own a tiny bungalow near the ocean where I can shoot photographs all summer long.

7 Where can we see more of your stuff? You can view my portfolio on my website: www.jenaardell.com. I also have an etsy shop http://jenaardell.etsy.com where I sell fine art prints and my work is also available for commercial usage through Getty Images.

Exciting News :)

2009-07-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

My "Hello" soup shot made it to Getty Images's TOP 8!! http://tinyurl.com/klaa3p WOO WOO!!

Photos from APW Gallery's Something Different Show (where 30 of my polaroids are on display until Aug 23rd 2009).

Hope everyone is having a great summer!!

It's About Time

2009-07-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how many song titles are TIMES?! Here's a very eclectic playlist of songs with times as their titles...

Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline
At 1 AM - The Subways
2 AM - Slightly Stoopid
3 AM - Eminem
3 AM - Matchbox 20
4 AM - Gwen Stefani
5:55 - Charlotte Gainsbourg
6 AM - Roots of Creation
7 o'clock News/Silent Night - Simon and Garfunkel
8:16 AM - 311
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
10 AM - Sexy Lucy
11 O'clock Tick Tock - U2
Noon - Slot
Afternoon Delight - Will Ferell

Feel free to add more...

10 Great Photography Quotations

2009-06-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see. ~Elliott Erwitt

I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation, I don't find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as photographing the edges. ~William Albert Allard

Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask "how," while others of a more curious nature will ask "why." Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information. ~Man Ray

It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary. ~David Bailey

You don't take a photograph, you make it ~Ansel Adams

Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. ~Henri Cartier-Bresson

No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film ~Robert Adams

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer ~Ansel Adams

Your equipment DOES NOT affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time and effort you can spend creating great images. The right equipment just makes it easier, faster or more convenient for you to get the results you need. ~Ken Rockwell

If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera. ~Lewis Hine

News and Happenings: 6/21/09 (and special offer, oh my!!)

2009-06-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

My work is featured on booooooom.

I've also be blogged by Appendix Magazine and FFFFOUND!

AND I can't believe I forgot to mention this earlier... four of my photos made it to The New York Times Blog!! (fourth row down). Check it out!!

Happy 1st Day of Summer Everyone!! :)

ONE-DAY ONLY BLOG OFFER: Receive free shipping if you order my "Welcome Summer" 8x8 fine art illustration before 12 AM June 22nd.

News and Happenings: 6/11/09

2009-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Three of my photos are featured in Madrid's online magazine 10x15. Check out their "I Love Pools" issue here.

My etsy shop and blog are featured on Spiffy. :)

One of my illustrations is on Pinkberry's website now.

Blogged by Sweet As Candy.

I relisted more retro fine art prints in my etsy shop PLUS a greeting card set SALE!! http://jenaardell.etsy.com

AND SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST... *drumroll* I'M HOSTING A 8x10 RETRO FINE ART PRINT GIVEAWAY!! You can win an 8x10 Homage print.

Hope everyone is getting through June Gloom with a smile and umbrella.

Featured in 10x15's I Love Pools issue

2009-06-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

Check it out!!

UPDATE 2/18/2011 : Also featured in 10x15's I Heart Dos issue!!

Send some smiles across the miles...

2009-06-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

PRE-SUMMER SALE: For a limited time only, receive FIVE fine art greeting cards + envelopes for only $12.95 in my etsy shop. Order before 6/21/09 and you'll receive a 6th card FREE.

I Love Coronado

2009-06-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Spending three days with my friend Margot reminded me how great it is to have old friends. No matter the distance or time spent apart, you can always pick up where you left off...
I just returned from a three-day trip to Coronado and I must say, I loved it there. It felt like I was in another state outside of California. I took the train (for the first time) and was so impressed by the whole experience. We stayed with Margot's family at the Hotel Del, which is AMAZING. You should go to Coronado just to venture through it. Its history dates back to 1887 and is one of the oldest and largest all-wooden buildings in California.

Between the train stations and the Hotel Del, I was in vintage-heaven. There are really neat 1920s wooden bench seats at Union Station that are just asking to be photographed!! Sounds crazy, but as I was walking up the train platform, I really got a feel of what it must have felt like to live in the 1920s-1930s. For a brief moment, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach that made me wonder if I ever hopped on a train to ride to a Victorian beach resort in a past life. I imagined the opening scenes from Anna Karenina (the movie -- not the book, hehe).

Coronado itself is delightful... it's like an upscale, small beach town. Orange Street is lined with little souvenir and surf shops and there is a plethora of Mexican and seafood restaurants. It's the perfect destination for people with children or a romantic getaway for adults. If you are hoping to spend most of your time at the beach while you are on vacation, forgetaboutit. We spent the least amount of time on the beach. In fact, the ocean seems like it's just scenery there. My biggest peeves were the Marine Layer (that clouds up the sky every day until noon or 1 PM) and sand fleas. Los Angeles county beaches are dirtier, but they do not have sand fleas.

West Coast beaches look pretty, but they leave a lot to be desired. I'm still an East Coast/Jersey Shore girl at heart.

This was rather interesting though... I was searching Google Maps at our hotel and came across this:

A closer look:
My first thought was Coronado knew Google Maps was coming to town, so they constructed this giant sand sculpture but after further Googling, I discovered that the GIANT letters are a permenant fixture. In fact, guys in bulldozers maintain the letters, which are about four feet high. Whoever started this even planted/rooted sea grasses on top of the letters to help preserve them and make them easier to read from the sky!! I just wish there was an observation deck somewhere to see all the letters and, more importantly, photograph them. ;)

I RECOMMEND:
For Breakfast: Beach-n-Diner, 1208 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA
For Dinner: Swaddee Thai Restaurant, 1001 C Ave, Coronado, CA
For Adults: Beach, boating/kayaking, a Romantic stay at the Hotel Del, shopping along Orange Street, Old Town, San Diego, and there are tons of activities in nearby San Diego.
For Kids: San Diego Zoo, Sea World or Legoland.

Link to the review I wrote about Swaddee.

View from the train heading back to L.A.

His name is Nick H-e-x-u-m

2009-05-30T02:36:00.000-07:00

"Somebody pointed out to me that the point of a relationship is to relate. Humans need to hear other people that they can relate with and have similar thoughts and feelings. When you can provide that through art, when people say, 'That's the same way I feel,' then that's a masterpiece. The more honest we get with what's going on in our hearts, the more people connect with it and feel it." ~Nick Hexum of 311

excerpt from a recent interview via Artist Direct.

Smart guy who's looking good with a mohawk. :) Can't wait to see 311 live on MONDAY!!!! If you haven't already checked out their new album Uplifter, you can listen to the album in its entirety here. I highly recommend "It's Alright," "India Ink" and "I Like The Way". Great album to grove to this summer!!

Can't wait for Summer!!

2009-05-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

Things I am looking forward to:

JUNE
-Selling prints on Getty Images
-Secret 311 Concert :)
-The release of 311's new album Uplifter.
-311 hosting LOVELINE radio on Tuesday June 2nd
-Spending three days in Coronado with my friend Margot and her family
-Going to see The Wallflowers at House of Blues with Rick
-Midnight showing of Almost Famous with Adam
-Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale... yes, it's actually something I look forward to, haha.
-Chilling with my friend Kevin who will be in CA with his girlfriend

JULY
-A week down the Jersey Shore (feat. Rick on the East Coast!!)
-Being a part of APW Gallery's "Something Different" Group Exhibition in Long Island, NY. Opening night is July 17th!!
-KKP weekend full of antique/thrift shopping and Thai food
-Photoshoots, photoshoots, lots of photoshoots!!
-Taking my grandmother to an Elvis impersonator concert
-Making scrabble tile pendant necklaces with my grandmother
-Beating my mother at scrabble
-Helping Lindsay decorate her new apartment
-Seeing Justin's new apartment

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
-South of the Border roadtrip with my Mother
-What About Bob Trip with my best friend Andrea
-Hanging out and making silly videos with KKP at Princeton
-Spending my 25th birthday with family and friends back home
-Beach day trips with Lindsay
-Baking a 14-layer cake with Andrea
-Statue of Liberty field trip with my mom, Justin and Andrea (possibly Zac and Jess too!!)
-Spending as much time with family and friends as possible!! :)

UPDATES

2009-05-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

I currently have 28 images up for sale (for commercial and editorial usage) on Getty Images AND 24 more images will be added!! You can see my collection for Getty Images here.

I was interviewed by fellow photographer Aaron Feaver. You can read the interview here and you can view Aaron's work here.

I was also interviewed by Amelie Foley. You can read her article (en Français!!) and the interview (in English) on her blog.

And as always, you can follow me on twitter. :)

Keep Me In Your Locket

2009-05-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Stumbled across these vintage photos that are too good to keep to myself:

Enjoy the weekend!! XOXO

Outfit For Under $40

2009-04-27T00:57:00.000-07:00

Excited about a recent purchase, I decided to create a silent film. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGLRlVS9iUo ENJOY!!

Music: Plucky Daisy by Kevin MacLeod.

Feeling Good

2009-04-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

My work was posted on {Frolic!} AND decor8 yesterday, woo woo!! I'm glad everyone loves the Summer Love Collection.

AND *drumroll* my work is for sale at Getty Images now!! I'm really excited about that.

Expect some updates at jenaardell.com in the very near future... or next 20 min.

Spotlight on: Photographer Bill Wood

2009-04-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

I felt like I hit the jackpot when I recently discovered Photographer Bill Wood's expansive collection of 1950s and 1960s Americana!!

Wood spent nearly 40 years photographing local businesses, showrooms and product displays in Fort Worth, Texas where he owned and operated the Bill Wood Photo Company. His photographs were not meant to be artistic in composition or style, but Wood's authentic -- borderline deadpan -- portraits predate a style emulated by today's photographers.

After his death in 1973, Wood's family decided to sell the negatives of his work. Wood's collection would have not reached mainstream media had actress, and avid photo collector, Diane Keaton not purchased 20,000 of his negatives. Keaton kept the negatives in storage and would occasionally make contact sheets, each time finding hundreds of images she loved. With the help of freind Marvin Heiferman, Keaton turned the archive into an exhibition and book project.

"Some of us can just never get enough imagery, never enough staring at stills. It's a hunger. It's a real hunger, it's a starvation. You need more and more, there's never enough looking. Ever," Keaton has said of the project.

In May 2008, Keaton and Heiferman curated an exhibition titled "Bill Wood's Business" at the International Center of Photography in New York City. You can find a copy of the book containing Wood's work here.

HAPPY EASTER/PASSOVER EVERYONE!!!!

2009-04-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some Easter photos from my flickr photostream:

even the easter bunny picks his nose
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

Easter Best
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

Me and Thumper
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

Edible Penguins

2009-04-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Check out these adorable penguins I made for Liz's Passover Dinner!! Next year, I'm adding yamikas. They are sooo easy (yet time consuming) to create. All you need: two cans of unpitted olives, carrots, cream cheese and toothpicks. Your guests will be thrilled.

Here's how to make them:

1. First, either using baby carrots or regular carrots, create your penguin feet by slicing carrot rounds. If you're using regular carrots and small olives, stick with the tapered half of the carrot so the feet will be smaller/proportional to the penguin body. Slice as many carrot rounds as you would like penguins for. Starting in the center of each round, carefully cut small outward V's (to make the carrot look more like penguin feet). Be sure to save the V's you cut out for the beaks!!

2. Prep olives by holding them vertically and slicing one side from top to bottom. I did not have an pastry bag when I made my penguins but if you have one, your prep time will be cut in half!! Fill your pastry bag with cream cheese and pipe cream cheese into the sliced olives. This gives the penguins their white bellies. If you do not have an pastry bag, you have to fill the olives using a knife or your fingers and cream cheese will get all over the olives and then you will need to wipe them off... so invest in an pastry bag!! Set the filled olives aside, they are the penguin bodies.

3. It's time to make the heads so grab some more olives!! DISCLAIMER: If you get frustrated easily or are impatient, I recommend you pipe cream cheese into the center of each olive. This will hold the heads together while you are trying to shove a carrot nose into a small incision. If you think you have the patience or do not have an pastry bag, leave the olives plain. Take your leftover carrot V's and slice them vertically once or twice. Holding your olive horizontally, make a small X incision in the center of the olive. Stick the carrot noses into the incision and VIOLA, penguin heads!!

4. Now it's time to construct. Using a small dab of cream cheese, stick your penguin feet to a platter or dish. This is your base. Keeping your penguin heads horizontal, stick a toothpick down the center. You only need to bring the olive head 3/4 up the toothpick. When you have your head in place, slide an olive body onto the toothpick. Keep the bodies vertical and heads horizontal. Once you have a toothpick with both a head and body, stick the end of the toothpick into one of the carrot feet. You should have a penguin!!

5. TIP: Keep the platter chilled until your guests arrive, otherwise the cream cheese will melt and your penguins will slide all over the place. If you need to store them overnight, carefully place wet paper towels and/or Seran Wrap over the penguins. This will prevent the carrots and olives from drying out. ENJOY!!

5 FRIDAY FAVORITES

2009-04-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

Some of these sites have been among my favorites for a loooong time and some I've just discovered:

1. As you can see, I looove making lists. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this little gem. Such a simple and wonderful idea!!

2. Flickr is heaping with all sorts of talents but this has always been one of my favorite photo streams. Zalita makes all of those edible goodies in her shop "Cupcake D'lights" in Durban South Africa. Everything looks too good to eat!!

3. Kewlest worldwide art project idea: A Home For Alice. People from all over the world send a Polaroid picture of their house (along with a little text about why they feel at home there) to Alice who displays it on her blog. The entire collection has already been displayed in a few galleries across the globe AND... "At the end of the project, all the best pictures will be collected to become a book, that will relate the whole adventure." AWESOME.

4. Lately I've been obsessed with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. There is nothing more romantic than a TRUE Hollywood love story that lasts a lifetime. You can watch their story here.

5. Zooey Deschanel + Joseph Gordon Levitt = 500 Days of Summer. August 20th can't come soon enough!!

Where You Can Find Me:

2009-04-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

A 12x12 styrene of my "Vixen" Retro Fine Art Print is currently for sale and on display in the L'Keg Gallery in Los Angeles.

Lipsticktracez is featuring some photos from my Summer Love collection in their online gallery. Check it out!!

Travelomo published a nice blurb about my Oktomat photos here.

I posted a slideshow of my Summer Love Collection on youtube complete with an awesome version of "Summer Breeze" covered by The Main Ingredients.

And as always, I added some *NEW* items in my etsy shop: http://jenaardell.etsy.com

Much more to come!! XOXO

M.I.A

2009-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been M.I.A!! March was a busy month. Justin, my friend from college, visited me for a week and we spent three days in San Francisco. We rented a car and took Route 1/the PCH up the coast to get there. It took 10 hours to get there (instead of 6 or 7 hours via Route 5), but it was worth it!! I wasn't too impressed with Pebble Beach but the drive along Big Sur was amazing. We hit up all of the typical San Fran locales... went to Alcatraz; drove down Lombard Street; found the REAL Full House House (1709 Broderick Street); Visited Alamo Square/Painted Ladies; walked 1/4 way across the Golden Gate Bridge; took photos from the Marin Headlands; went to Fisherman's Wharf; ate Thai food. All and all, a fun trip!! I also introduced Justin to Pinkberry and now he is an addict. We ate Pinkberry (sometimes for breakfast!!) at least 4 times that week.

Also in March, my favorite boss Dave Nagel landed a HUGE job for Best Buy. It was a four-day shoot with 11 models and an excellent crew!! We shot at 5th and Sunset studios whose in-house chef spoiled us with breakfast and lunch every day. Breakfast burritos; bacon and eggs; French toast and fresh fruit for breakfast. Pork tenderloin on Monday; grilled chicken on Tuesday; salmon on Wednesday and skirt steak on Thursday--always accompanied by salad, sides and dessert!! Did I mention there's a coffee bar?! Best studio to work in!! During the four days, my boss shot an impressive 11,759 photos!! I shot a lot of production stills and videos that will available after the ad campaign debuts this October. I have to admit, I am impressed with the quality of Canon's 5D Mark II video setting... but the fact that it's manual focus is a drag. I had the opportunity and pleasure to work with Kirk Weddle, my boss's longtime friend, who produced the shoot. (For those of you who may not know, Kirk shot Nirvana's infamous baby underwater album cover for their album "Nevermind." You can read the whole story here). Watching Kirk and Dave interact and hearing all of their crazy college stories was a blast!! Can't wait to work with both of them again... which luckily will be soon!!

I've been drawing a lot of cutesy comics lately which I am hoping to display on a personal website. I just created an awesome summery comic but it's still spring so you'll have to wait to see it!! I'd love for a website or magazine to want to buy my comics for their publication. I should really look into it but I have to find the right market for them first.

And that pretty much sums up March, other than consuming lots of delicious Ice Pan, babysitting, going on an ebay spending spree and having my Polaroid camera break... luckily two replacements are on their way!!

BLOGGED in Peach & Pearl

2009-02-22T00:26:00.000-08:00

Adorable nod from Emily at Peach & Pearl The Blog this weekend: http://peach-pearl.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-weekend.html

Seems like a lot of people love my R.S.V.P print.

What have you done for others lately???

2009-02-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've been bitten by the volunteer bug. Last Friday, I donated five dollars to charitywater.org, an organization that allows people who live in developing countries to have access to clean drinking water. (Click here if you would also like to donate). This Wednesday, I will be making quilts with Quilting for Others - an organization that makes and donates quilts to underprivileged children. Next Saturday morning, my boyfriend and I volunteered to help serve breakfast to homeless people in Hollywood. How are you helping people in need???

Volunteering seems like a selfless act, but in volunteering you also receive something in return -- the gratification of knowing you made a difference in someone's life. Want to help, but don't know where to start??? Use google to find nonprofits that serve your community or, if you live near Los Angeles, visit Big Sunday to find ways to volunteer.

Even more ideas on helping others: become a Big Brother/Big Sister; walk dogs at a local animal shelter; visit seniors at a nursing home/care center; read to children at a local school or library; write letters/send care packages to our troops; donate canned foods to a food bank; give blood; volunteer at a local church; donate time or money to a cause you feel passionate about.

Spend one or two less hours in front of the television/computer and invest time in the lives of others. :)

BLOGGED in Paper N Stitch

2009-02-10T22:57:00.000-08:00

Article about my work featured in Paper N Stitch: http://papernstitchblog.com/2009/02/09/americana Check it out!! :)

A great big THANK YOU to Brittni for the wonderful article/review!!

BLOGGED in Mixed Plate's Friday Favorites

2009-02-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

Proud to be among one of online entrepreneur/designer Liana Miyamura's favorites: http://www.mixedplateblog.com/2009/02/friday-favorites-60.html

NEW!! Retro Fine Art Greeting Cards

2009-02-02T18:22:00.000-08:00

Now available in my etsy shop!!

Sending smiles across the miles. :) Sets of five or single blank retro fine art greeting cards!! http://jenaardell.etsy.com

MY ALL-TIME FLICKR FAVORITES!!!!

2009-01-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Images that I return to again and again:
1. Untitled, 2. Nopal, 3. Untitled, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. Black Tongue, 7. holga. venice beach, ca. 2005., 8. Narcissist, 9. RidgeDeer, 10. usattheparker, 11. clockwork fish, 12. Donky_Desert, 13. an english pool, 14. monument_bus_2l.jpg, 15. sandiego_12, 16. poison apples, 17. Untitled, 18. Florida Pool, 19. Airstream, 20. Untitled, 21. My Office, 22. it's showtime, 23. Fire Island surf #1, 24. view from our hotel room, 25. Primo Amore, 26. Double-Fisted Double-Dipper, 27. Untitled, 28. No Matter What, 29. superslide polaroid, 30. trailer

photographers include: lou o'bedlam, stoopidgerl, redbuttons, hal bergman, won7ders, fotones, zenbombed, ilisu, charlynw, eyetwist, juliagaldo, daniel minnick, evenstar0586, jen gotch, tinkernoonoo, bluecitrusart, iso-50, iilii-n, aquaticdream, 7-how-7, prettypertelote, buradori, melaniecoles, davebias, dipanna, casoulbyrd, ed bopp.

DELICIOUS FRENCH PASTRY PRINTS!!

2009-01-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

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Available at: jenaardell.etsy.com

NOW TIL FEBRUARY 14th: BUY TWO 8x10 FINE ART PASTRY PRINTS AND RECEIVE A THIRD PRINT FREE!! You can view the entire French Pastry Collection here.

About the collection: ALL of the pastries were obtained from an ORIGINAL lithograph printed in the EARLY 1900s in France that I purchased and then scanned at a very high resolution. The purpose of the lithograph was to catalogue some of the delicious types of pastries that were for sale at the time. Bakers would use these images as a guide. Each is EXACTLY as they originally appear, with the exception of the decorative border I added.

Loaded with tiny details, these prints are truly a work of art... and history!!

All prints measure: 8x10 inches

How to use coupon: Do not include your free print in your order, instead just put the name of the print you'd like into the message to seller box during checkout!!
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My New Years Resolutions

2008-12-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

1. Give five strangers one sincere compliment per day.
Preferable in person but if I don't come across five unique individuals in a given day who are deserving of a sincere compliment, I can either give an insincere compliment or find someone online to be the recipient of a sincere compliment.

2. Be more social.
Sometimes, OK -- most of the time, I tend to be a bit reclusive. It's much easier to spend the evening in your PJs watching a movie than it is to go out somewhere... but you don't new people that way.

3. Celebrate every holiday.
Last year I worked on Thanksgiving; skipped out on Easter; didn't do much for Valentine's Day and didn't dress up for Halloween. This year I am going ALL OUT. Decorating, baking, carving vegetables, even celebrating the weird Holidays, you name it. I want to be borderline sickeningly festive.

4. Je voudrais améliorer mon français.
Translation: Improve my French. I have an Associate's degree in French but you'd never know it because I refuse to speak the language aloud. I want to change that. I also want to build my French vocabulary.

5. Plan/have one photo shoot per week.
I need to start pumping out stellar photographs on a frequent basis (especially now that I own some lighting equipment)!! I want to get paid for taking photographs (other than my etsy shop) and I want to arrange photo shoots with people outside of my comfort zone.

6. Make one good female friend who lives within 5 miles of me.
HA!! This one may be the hardest of all. I have been living in southern California for two years now and I have yet to make a good female friend in LA. I want to find someone I can just randomly call and invite over to have a craft night or watch a movie or go to the beach!!

7. Switch to all natural products.
I've already started to use natural toothpaste (Tom's) and the most delicious-smelling natural shampoo and conditioner (Hugo's Naturals) and the best natural face wash (Aubrey) on the planet. Now I want to use handmade natural soaps and try to find decent natural make up!!

I'M BACK!!!!! (on Blogger)

2008-12-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

I spoke to an old friend today who I haven't seen to in SEVEN years!! The last time I saw him was during the summer after high school graduation. After a few Instant Messenger conversations (He wanted to date me, told me he was better than my ex but I got back together with my ex), we stopped talking completely. No hard feelings. Just went separate ways and took separate paths that never crossed until recently. As we chatted on the phone today, we summed up the past seven years of our lives in a mere 15 minutes. How we met our significant others, his new house, our job histories... in a matter of sentences. It just amazed me how we whittled 2,555 days into a small bullet points. Have our lives been that uneventful or was there just too much to tell??? I'm hoping for the latter.

And so, my message to you is this: Get up, get out. Do all the things delayed by procrastination!! Do something worthwhile, significant. Learn something new. Travel. Make a difference. Use the 24 hours given to you each day wisely. Live life to its fullest, not solely for an interesting story to tell but for an interesting path to unfold.

As for me and blogger, I've been M.I.A since November. My last real post hasn't been since September!! Since then I: was able to spend my birthday at home with friends and family; attended my cousin Vincent's wedding (the first big wedding in my immediate family!!) and was one of the bridesmaids; voted in this year's election and was ecstatic with the results; launched my professional website (jenaardell.com); met Melissa Galt who has truly been an inspirational and motivational force; got a twitter account (I'm addicted); took a dip into the craft fair vending scene; attended Tony Hawk's charity event where I met Bam Margera; was a semi-full-time nanny for four weeks; worked a 12 hour shift on Thanksgiving at the L.A. auto show where I finally got to sit in a Smart Car; bought far too many things for myself on ebay; got over my annual winter cold; and was able to see one of my all-time favorite movies "Sunset Blvd" in theatres (58 years after its release) as introduced by Nancy Olson, one of the few remaining cast members!! And in less than one week, I will be heading home to spend the holidays with my family and friends. :)

And now we're up-to-date...

JENAARDELL.COM LAUNCHED!!

2008-11-17T01:37:00.000-08:00

My website finally been launched!! Please check it out. :) jenaardell.com

Etsy Shop Update!!

2008-10-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Keep summer alive all year round!!

Check out the latest additions to my etsy shop:

http://jenaardell.etsy.com

KKP weekend in review!!

2008-09-23T00:47:00.000-07:00

andrea and i spent the weekend visiting my friend kyle at slippery rock, PA this weekend... here's how it went:

7:27 PM - met andrea en route
11:00 PM - arrived at penn state/left andrea's car near her friend's apartment

11:30 PM - kyle picked us and we embarked on our trip to slippery rock

3:01 AM - arrived at kyle's apt.

after we toured kyle's apartment, andrea passed out on the couch and i made kyle give me a back massage. we probably went to bed around 4 am.

the next morning we walked through town and kyle gave us a tour of slippery rock university's campus where he is finishing up his master's degree. i shot a lot of photos of andrea (who is always a willing model) and kyle (who is uhhh, not so much but he was moderately patient with us). it was pretty hot outside -- which i wasn't expecting. we walked back to kyle's apartment; shot a few more photos; and andrea found kyle's "missing" keys. ugh, boys. after we browsed (and made fun of) party city's halloween costume inventory, we headed to Pittsburgh where we ate some REALLLLLY good thai food. our waitress was extremely pleasant, she even hooked us up with 6 MORE fortune cookies after we gushed about how good they were. Mmmm!! after dinner, we parked near a cluster of bars and clubs and walked around the docks. then we headed up the hill so i could take some night shots of the city. the skyline was pretty impressive and overall, Pittsburgh was much more appealing than i imagined. andrea and i ducked in a grumpy ice cream shop near closing time and managed to get ice cream cones. "do you have sprinkles?" andrea was almost afraid to ask. "ugh, yeah," the owner sighed. "as long as you don't get them on my floor." we were all pretty tired on our way back to kyle's but after a mini back massage session, we got our second winds and filmed some hilarious videos of awkward relationship moments (based solely on real-life events). after laughing hysterically at the finished products, we watched "Juno" and went to bed around 4:30 or 5:00 am. we slept in til 11 am; packed up our belongings; took some g'bye photos and were on our way. stooping to an all-new desperation, we managed to give each other massages during the car ride. at one point kyle was massaging andrea's knee while she was massaging my hand because it was ailing after i massaged kyle's back. we're obsessed!!

1:03 PM - left slippery rock

3:30 PM - arrived at penn state/i drove andrea's car to new jersey

7:00 PM - arrived in new jersey. ate chinese food with my mom and her beau.

andrea still had two more hours of driving ahead of herself.

total time i spent in a vehicle during the entire weekend: approx. 13.5 hours

andrea's total time spent in a vehicle during the entire weekend: approx. 18 hours

...but it was worth it!!

Where you can find me...

2008-09-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

My etsy shop along with a brief interview will be featured in Martha's Blog "The Dancing Monkey Jewelry Chronicles" TODAY. :)

You can also find me on TheOnesWeLove.org

My "Pool Triptych" print is featured in Casa Sugar's Summer Style: Pool Photography blog.

I contributed to The Star Ledger's Great Destinations book this summer. You can find out more info about the project here.

My self portrait "Eve" was featured on Catherine Buca's Sunday Flickr Favorites (for July 27th) as well as my photo "Chinako on the Polaroid floor" (for June 29th).

And here is a link to my profile on JPG Magazine.

McCain proposes 100 new plants in the U.S.

2008-09-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Published: June 23, 2008 12:00AM

Nearly three decades after the Three Mile Island disaster, Sen. John McCain is proposing an American nuclear renaissance.

As part of a weeklong focus on energy security, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Wednesday that he wants 45 new nuclear plants to be built in the United States by 2030 and another 55 in later years.

Currently, there are 104 reactors in this country, and they supply a fifth of the nation’s electricity; many of the new plants proposed by McCain would replace existing ones. That’s because no new nuclear plants have been built in the United States since the 1970s, and many of the facilities still operating are nearing the end of their useful lives.

As are a growing number of Americans, McCain embraces nuclear power as a clean, safe alternative to traditional energy sources that emit greenhouse gases. It’s an unqualified enthusiasm that brings to mind Homer Simpson’s memorable prayer thanking God “for nuclear power: the cleanest, safest energy there is. Except for solar, which is just a pipe dream.”

If McCain is elected president, he will attempt to end a long-standing American aversion to nuclear generated power, which sets this country apart from the rest of the world.

In contrast with the United States, France gets nearly 80 percent of its power from nuclear plants and has a robust building program, as do Japan and Finland. Britain is encouraging companies to build new reactors, and Italy recently lifted the ban on nuclear plants it imposed after the Chernobyl meltdown in the former Soviet Union two decades ago. Across the world, more than 100 new plants are either in the planning or construction stages, roughly half of them in rapidly developing nations such as China and India.

The United States should be in no rush to join the parade. Despite McCain’s glowing assessment and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power still has serious shortcomings.

Modern nuclear plants are certainly safer than their Chernobyl-era predecessors, but accidents remain a problem. The Union of Concerned Scientists recently reported that 41 U.S. reactors have been shut down at least 51 times for more than a year because of safety problems.

While security has been improved since Sept. 11, nuclear plants remain worrisome targets for terrorists. They are also sources of waste that can be used to create weapons-grade plutonium.

Meanwhile, the question of how to dispose of the radioactive waste from existing U.S. reactors, much less the new facilities proposed by McCain, remains unanswered. Radioactive waste from nuclear plants can remain highly toxic for thousands of years, and no permanent storage facilities have been built in the United States — or anywhere else in the world. Congress long has struggled to build a U.S. disposal site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, but relentless opposition by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promises to delay its opening for another decade — and perhaps longer.

It’s also unclear that nuclear power can play a timely role in fighting climate change. Because many of the new nuclear plants proposed by McCain would replace existing ones, it would take many more than the 45 new plants that he proposes by 2030, or the 100 he proposes in the long term, to achieve major reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases.

Nuclear plants also take large amounts of time and money to build. Current licensing and testing requirements would delay construction for at least five years, and new nuclear plants require investments of between $5 billion and $10 billion — investments that Wall Street is unlikely to make without huge federal taxpayer subsidies.

McCain’s Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, has a more realistic and safer view of nuclear power. While he acknowledges nuclear power may prove necessary to meet aggressive climate goals, he says it should not be expanded until the challenges of cost, safety, disposal and nuclear proliferation have been addressed.

Palin: wrong woman, wrong message

2008-09-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

By Gloria Steinem
September 4, 2008

This is not to beat up on Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to me. I regret that people say she can't do the job because she has children in need of care, especially if they wouldn't say the same about a father. I get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn to compete with Sen. Joe Biden's 37 years' experience.

Palin has been honest about what she doesn't know. When asked last month about the vice presidency, she said, "I still can't answer that question until someone answers for me: What is it exactly that the VP does every day?" When asked about Iraq, she said, "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

She was elected governor largely because the incumbent was unpopular, and she's won over Alaskans mostly by using unprecedented oil wealth to give a $1,200 rebate to every resident. Now she is being praised by McCain's campaign as a tax cutter, despite the fact that Alaska has no state income or sales tax. Perhaps McCain has opposed affirmative action for so long that he doesn't know it's about inviting more people to meet standards, not lowering them. Or perhaps McCain is following the Bush administration habit, as in the Justice Department, of putting a job candidate's views on "God, guns and gays" ahead of competence. The difference is that McCain is filling a job one 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency.

So let's be clear: The culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a belief that women can't tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions, right down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act.

Palin's value to those patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality. She believes that creationism should be taught in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control but supports government control of women's wombs; she opposes stem cell research but approves "abstinence-only" programs, which increase unwanted births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions; she tried to use taxpayers' millions for a state program to shoot wolves from the air but didn't spend enough money to fix a state school system with the lowest high-school graduation rate in the nation; she runs with a candidate who opposes the Fair Pay Act but supports $500 million in subsidies for a natural gas pipeline across Alaska; she supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, though even McCain has opted for the lesser evil of offshore drilling. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.

I don't doubt her sincerity. As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn., she doesn't just support killing animals from helicopters, she does it herself. She doesn't just talk about increasing the use of fossil fuels but puts a coal-burning power plant in her own small town. She doesn't just echo McCain's pledge to criminalize abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, she says that if one of her daughters were impregnated by rape or incest, she should bear the child. She not only opposes reproductive freedom as a human right but implies that it dictates abortion, without saying that it also protects the right to have a child.

So far, the major new McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Of course, for Dobson, "women are merely waiting for their husbands to assume leadership," so he may be voting for Palin's husband.

Being a hope-a-holic, however, I can see two long-term bipartisan gains from this contest.

Republicans may learn they can't appeal to right-wing patriarchs and most women at the same time. A loss in November could cause the centrist majority of Republicans to take back their party, which was the first to support the Equal Rights Amendment and should be the last to want to invite government into the wombs of women.

And American women, who suffer more because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who know that women can't be equal outside the home until men are equal in it. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should be, can be and want to be at home for their children.

This could be huge.

-Article by Gloria Steinem, an author, feminist organizer and co-founder of the Women's Media Center. She supported Hillary Clinton and is now supporting Barack Obama.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESEARCH YOUR CANDIDATES!! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS ARTICLE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. :)

Week down the Jersey Shore

2008-09-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

back from the beach!! i spent last week down the jersey shore with my mother, her boyriend, my boyfriend ricardo, my cousin vincent and my best friend andrea. lindsay stayed over for a night too. :) we had a lot of fun and i took a lot of great shots. everyone was getting testy about my compulsive photo taking but everyone always wants copies of alllll the shots i take... which is kind of uh, hypocritical. i took a lot of photos, but i wish i took even more. you can see some of the photos here.

here are some highlights of the trip: buying boogie boards and only using them once; lindsay and vincent doing sake shots; getting kicked off the beach at night; having an audience at the photo booth; some drunk lady asking "are you going to put these [photos] on youtube?!"; playing tennis for the first time in over a year; buying over $200 worth of groceries at the beginning of the week and then continually buying food every day after that; honey straws; getting kicked off the playground at night; suntan lotion back massages; seafood fest night; my italian cousin and his irish drinking songs; the ghetto shot glasses i made; vincent and rick quoting movies alllll week long; my mom's boyfriend thinking someone stole one of his flip flops; begrudgingly going jet skiing; embracing the octomat; heckling anyone who might be "doing a stinky poo-poo"; our new found love for the game of life board game; buying painted sea shells for 50 cents from the kids down the street; and the tan line the "hulk out" removable tattoo left on rick's arm.

i will be in new jersey for a month, visiting friends and family and taking lots of photos. :)

BUSY BEE

2008-08-19T03:27:00.000-07:00

a look back on my busy, busy week...

monday: retouched photos for my favorite boss dave. :) i love working with dave because he's so easy going; a great person to talk to; and sometimes we even accomplish A LOT.
tuesday: modeled for james. i secretly love getting my hair and makeup done. the photos came out great.
wed and thurs: retouched photos for my favorite boss dave. and i even passed on getting pinkberry. wow.
friday: dealt with my car. retouched for a few hours and babysat from 6 pm to 12 am.
sat and sun: worked a two-day promotion.
monday: finished retouching photos for my favorite boss dave. ate thai food with rick and james. packed.

i have been incredibly busy lately... which is GREAT!! especially because i am taking a looong vacation and heading back to NJ til october. yes, i'm probably crazy for staying that long but i think it's a wise decision. my cousin is getting married in october so instead of flying back and forth, i decided to extend my stay in order to spend more time with family and friends. my grandmother recently broke her femur bone so i am glad i will be able to keep her company while she is living in a rehabilitation home. my birthday is in september, so i will be able to spend the day being showered with gifts from loved ones. ;) hahaha. as much as i enjoy living in california and am SO grateful for the opportunities i have been given, sometimes i feel like i'm missing out on the simple things in life... like being able to hang out with your best friends or spending the weekend with my mother. luckily nobody has a problem with visiting me in california (hehe), but being able to go back to the comfort of your childhood home is priceless.

sunday is funday

2008-08-11T01:06:00.000-07:00

i went biking with my friend hal this weekend and we shot a lot of great photos in venice beach. you can see some of them here. we also grabbed "breakfast" at 2 pm and swung on some swings. (i'm a BIG fan of swingsets). the highlight of day occurred around 9 pm when hal and i were riding bikes to his office to pick up a few things. as much as drivers in Santa Monica seem conscientious of bikers, i was hesitant to ride to hal's office because our bikes didn't have lights and it was dark outside... but hal assured me we would be safe.

moments later...

*while laying on the horn* an angry driver yells to hal: GET OUTTA THE ROOOAD!!!!!
the angry driver goes through the intersection and meets up with hal again, driving closely next to him yelling "YOU'RE IN THE ROAD!!!!"
hal's retort??? "YOU'RE DRIVING A CAR!!!!

HAHAHA, it may have been one of those you-had-to-be-there moments, but it was hysterical!! the driver would have retaliated but hal's un-insulting insult sort of befuddled him. the irony was that hal was riding IN A BIKE LANE!! this person was just crazy.

p.s. i tried Red Mango for lunch because i was eager to taste their frozen yogurt since they were established before pinkberry and are more natural and... yeee-uck. the pineapples were canned, not fresh, and the raspberries were mushy. i tried a sample of the green tea flavor but opted with original and boy was i was disappointed. from now on, i'm sticking to pinkberry when i want of overload of sugary artificial frozen yogurt that appears healthy. are you a "crackberry" baby too??? check out the comic i made based on my experience at the pinkberry in beverly hills...

TWO NEW PENDANT NECKLACES!! :)

2008-08-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

i've added two NEW acrylic pendant necklaces to my etsy shop!!

Lucky Ladybug - Acrylic Pendant Necklace
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

Scissor Happy - Acrylic Pendant Necklace
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

and they're FIVE DOLLARS OFF... check them out!!

PLEASE READ

2008-07-23T04:14:00.001-07:00

i've added new entries to my environmental blog: End Second Hand Smoke.

Please check them out!!

Thanks,
Jena

Scissor Envy

2008-07-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't cut my hair in 1 1/2 years but now more than ever, I have an urge to chop it into a bob (angled so that it's a little longer in the front than it is in the back).

My hair is the longest its been since pre-kindergarten. I'm not sure why I keep growing out my hair. It wraps itself around my arms when I swim. It tangles itself in knots when I leave my car windows rolled down. It clings to my back when it's humid outside and I'm wearing a tank top. If you run your fingers through the carpet in my apartment, it will look like you've just dissembled a tumbleweed. Before I can vacuum, we (and by "we" I mean Rick) have to CUT through a wad of my hair that is continuously wrapped around the rollers of the vacuum cleaner.

But when hair gets this long it becomes an entity - a body part you're reluctant to amputate. I want the happy-go-lucky feeling dogs get when you shave off their fur for the summer, but I'm worried I may regret going scissor-happy. Every time I ask someone's opinion on cutting my hair their first reaction is always "NO!!" followed by the obligatory "but it's your hair so, do whatever you want." Yes, I can trim off three or four inches but I hate the in-between length - so it's all of nothing!!

I'll cut my hair when it gets in the way of every day life like using the toilet, for example. Once my hair is long enough to dangle in the toilet bowl, it's getting cut. In the meantime, I'll keep reminding myself how badly I wished I looked like a long-haired Roxy model back in the day (hello 9th and 10th grade!!) and just deal with this hair.

what to bring to your first appointment with your plastic surgeon...

2008-07-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

there is a promotional dr. 90210 game you can play at E! online where you can psychotically build your ideal face using celebrity body parts. i had no idea it existed either, but i built a face. try to guess whose parts i used!! (the answers are in my tags... but don't cheat!!)

face one:

(maria bello... is that you???)

face two:

(freakishly resembles oliver martinez!!)

OMG.

2008-07-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

my boyfriend just met dave grohl!!!! rick stepped out of work and saw the peter pan of rock n' roll eating lunch and called me and asked "should i get my picture taken with dave grohl???" my reponse was "WHAT?! OHMYGOD, YES!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! DID YOU EVEN HAVE TO ASK?!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" hahaha. when i got the photo via my cell phone, i started jumping up and down. i'm probably more excited than rick is about it. hell, i feel like i was the one who met him. hahaha. but i didn't. :(

lucky rick!! (and lucky dave grohl too, hehe).

NEW!! Handmade Acrylic Pendant Necklaces

2008-07-09T16:00:00.003-07:00

rick and i finally made necklaces... and they came out GREAT!!!! check them out:

YELLOW 80s Guitar - Acrylic Pendant Necklace
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

Cotton Candy by the Sea
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

Elvis in Palm Springs
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

RED 80s Guitar - Acrylic Pendant Necklace
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

ABOUT MY ACRYLIC NECKLACES:
each necklace is one-of-a-kind and takes 1 hour to create!!

each pendant is "cooked" in a high-pressure HOTTTT pot. they come out rough, until they are ground and polished to perfection.

why acrylic?
because it's LIGHTER and more DURABLE than resin. also, very rarely are there air bubbles embedded in the pendant. these pendants are virtually indestructible and will last a lifetime!!

available in my etsy shop: jenaardell.etsy.com!!

my latest addiction: POLYVORE.COM

2008-07-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

i stumbled upon the greatest, girliest gem of a wesbite called polyvore where you build your own outfit by mixing and matching articles of clothing and accessories. if you love fashion and collage making... or have a uterus, you will love this site.

here's how it works: there are thousands of items to browse or you can search by brand or color. you simply drag the items onto your work space and arrange them however you want. you can collect as many items as you like and even add non-clothing objects like food... basically anything you can find online. if you're feeling even more creative, you can add backgrounds.

***shopaholics beware... if you hover over a particular article of clothing, a thumbnail will appear with a link that will take you directly to the website that is selling that item. i'm already tempted to order two things i've included in one of my ensembles.

here are some sets i created (then lightly edited in MS paint). check them out:

the site is pretty easy to navigate. if you have ten minutes (or are bored at work), you'll figure it out in no time.

most fun work day

2008-07-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

i worked for my favorite boss dave on thursday and it was thee most fun work day i ever had!! it was very mellow, but very productive. first, dave shot photos of me with an iphone... mostly torso shots that would make killer iphone ads. then dave's neighbor's daughter arielle came over and i shot photos of her on dave's swing and photos of her with her dogs. then dave shot photos of her. then dave shot photos of me and arielle doing cartwheels. then i shot photos of arielle doing handstands and some mid-air jumping shots. then dave's wife mary came home and became a mid-air model. dave took some really good photos of mary with their foster dogs. then dave shot photos of me, arielle and mary jumping. and finally, i shot photos of dave and mary jumping. we shot exactly 1,000 photos... lots of good ones dave can hopefully sell on getty images which is why i can't upload them onto here. but i will post a link after they've been accepted by getty!! so stay tuned. :) :) :)

hard work.

2008-07-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

today was a grueling day of work at nagel photography. i love working for my favorite boss, but sometimes it's more work than i anticipated. i started at 6:30 am and was so busy i didn't get a chance to sit down until 3:00 pm!! i had to clean alllll of my boss's camera equipment; program his computer so lightroom would stop screwing up; iron and sew a VELVET backdrop that was 14 x 20 ft long; build an entire set (basically from scratch) for our upcoming baby shoot, edit 283 images; give his dogs a bath; set up his digital cable; make him lunch AND fold his laundry. sure, those seem like manageable tasks, but his phone would not stop ringing AND i had to quickly learn japanese in order to talk to the adobe help tech who was walking me through the new beta version of lightroom. i cut my finger on a shelf while i was organizing all of my boss's camera gear in his garage but luckily, my boss let me take a two minute break to get a band-aid (he's such a nice guy). he also let me work two minutes overtime. i didn't get home until 7:15!! and then i had to cook dinner.

...NOT. ;)

why i envy people who have perfect teeth.

2008-06-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

today i went to an orthodontist who did a full x-ray on my mouth and i found out (after had been told i have none in the past) that i have a wisdom tooth. :( i went to an orthodontist because i've been putting off getting a tooth implant for many years (because i was scared shitless of having something drilled into my gums) and now my teeth have shifted which has created more problems.

here are the procedures i need done:
*~~gum grafting (because i have a thin gumline)~~ (hopefully never)
*braces again for 2 years (approx $4,000)
*new retainers made (approx ($350)
*surgery for tooth implant ($2,000)
*tooth implant ($2,500)
*wisdom tooth removed (who knows)
*i also want to replace two or three mercury fillings (approx $350 or $400)

i have neither health insurance nor dental insurance and the cost of all of these procedures is going to be over $10,000. so starting today (which is good because i went shopping yesterday), i am not spending money on anything that isn't a necessity. the worst part is... i've already had braces on my teeth for over 4 years... that's why i had huge cavities on all my back molars. but i don't mind the fact that i'll have braces, it's the gum grafting i am NOT looking forward to.

i could go another route and not have any orthodonic work done and just get a bridge (to cover the gap), but that will ruin two healthy teeth and my bite will still be off which will cause jaw and possibly more tooth problems in the years to come.

so i am hoping i will be hearing from the IRS soon because (hopefully) i will be receiving some sort of compensation in lieu of my biological father falsely claiming me on his tax returns for many years... which, this year, prevented me from receiving a stimuulus check.

what i had for lunch...

2008-06-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

medium sized original with three toppings: strawberries, raspberries and pineapple.

on my "lunch break" from working with my favorite boss dave, i stopped at pinkberry in beverly hills. driving in beverly hills SUCKS. especially during tourist season. i watched a car attempt to pull out of a parking spot onto beverly blvd. he, of course, was blocking the road but mr. angry man had to pull up right behind him and laaaay on his horn. the guy backing up acknowledged him, then proceeded to back up even further (in attempt to get out of the way) but in doing so, wound up backing right into angry man's car. thus, making him even angrier.

back to me and my lunch... pinkberry and i have an odd relationship. it's sort of become my guilty pleasure. the first time i've ever tried it was back in march when my friend lindsay was visiting me. before then, i never had any desire to try pinkberry... it seemed too trendy and i couldn't understand why it was such a popular place when it only served three flavors... none of which are pink. so i got an original (because the green tea sample tasted nothing like green tea) and it tasted like sour milk... not so much as spoiled milk, but sour -- as if it was trying to taste like lemon but couldn't overcome the pungent taste of plain yogurt. i couldn't even finish the small and rick took one spoonful before tossing it in the garbage. lindsay, on the other hand, got the coffee flavor with raspberries and LOVED it.

so flash forward to me working a promo on a hot day, somewhere within walking distance from a pinkberry. i went there on my break, i tried it again... and it wasn't so bad!! so i'm guessing it's an acquired taste. it's not a habit i go out of my way for (yet) and i'm hoping it will never become one because a medium original with three toppings is almost $6... and that seems pricey for almost-sour-tasting frozen yogurt so i usually opt for no toppings. rick still thinks it tastes awful. and lindsay thinks i'm blatantly addicted. i still think pinkberry is waaaay overrated but i'm not going to lie, i sorta look forward to eating it now. O:)

highly social weekend (and a record of my spending)

2008-06-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

saturday: drove to rick's parents house at 10 am so he could go pick up a refrigerator for his mother since his parents are in mexico. now this is the funny part... i got up, put my glasses on, gathered up some stuff and left. on the way there (it's about an hour away) i started falling asleep in the car. and once we got to rick's parent's house, i took a nap. i guess i tired from... sleeping?! i have no idea -- but it was the best nap ever. i woke up around noon or 1 pm, i forget. then we went to the mall to buy rick's dad some dress shoes. i wound up blowing $68 at victoria secret. thank goodness we passed the store because i forgot about the semi-annual sale!! which isn't really a sale at all... it's just when VS decides to price items with a 10% markup instead of 30%. and sometimes even the "sale" prices aren't that great. ($27.99 for a BRA... on sale?! you kiddin me???) underwears are marked down to $3.99... but with tax (7.25%) they wind up costing $4.28 per pair which isn't really a deal because you can buy underwear there for 5 for $25 alllllll the time. yet women (like me) go NUTS and spend LOADS of money during the semi-annual sale. when i was at the cash register i could hear other people's totals and all i heard was $105... $117... $87... etc. .

after our mall excursion, rick and i picked up some crazy chicken (el pollo loco) and ate it at his parent's house while watching "50 first dates" on TV. then we met up with rick's friend james and james's wife and their daughter at a free outdoor concert... it was EDDIE MONEY!! i dunno how old Eddie Money is now, but his voice still sounded really good. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Eddie Money, he sings "Baby Hold On [To Me]" "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Take Me Home Tonight" among others -- all of which i am SURE you've heard at one point (or multiple points) in your life. we stood really far from the stage (it was at a huge park) but it was still a good time with a 4th of july vibe.

after the concert, rick and i went back to james's house for rootbeer floats and vanilla ice cream with blueberries. (can you guess who ate what?! haha). i know i've mentioned this in the past, but james's wife sarah is one of thee nicest people i've EVER met. she's #2 on my nice meter. (#1 is mrs m, my former 2nd grade teacher turned close family friend). people like sarah (and mrs m) are rare, but i'm sure you know one person who is SINCERELY nice to EVERYONE... we're talking pure, selfless, unbiased niceness here. these people are all heart. not one ounce of deception or manipulation. anyway, i've hung out with sarah a few times now and i had a feeling she might enjoy etsy.com, so i told her about it. within a few minutes we were online and i was showing her my shop and other people's items that i adore. one minute led to twenty minutes and twenty minutes led to an hour... i never knew sarah was into thrift shopping or craft making!! (her medium is polymer clay) so now we want to do a craft night. :) i'm bringing shrinky dinks.

sunday: rick and i woke up relatively early to attend a birthday brunch at la paz for rick's friend mike's wife jessica. (got all that?! haha). la paz is a mexican restaurant that has money tacked to the ceiling; a collection of antique bicycles (also suspended from the ceiling); and a mexican/american buffet on sundays complete with mariachis that serende every table. of course, i wound up eating the most un-mexican food there -- belgium waffles piled high with fruit, hahaha.

after brunch, rick and i made a pit stop at our apartment before heading to dodgers stadium to meet up with his friend jonathan to watch the dodgers beat the indians. it was about 104 degrees and because i assumed we'd be in the sun all afternoon, i decided to wear long pants and close-toed shoes. bad idea. luckily, we were seated in the shade but it was still sweltering. and we had a bit of a walk since parking cost $15 and dodgers stadium doesn't accept debit cards or credit cards and rick and i didn't have any cash on us. but hey, saved us $15.

monday: went to the post office, put gas in my car (gas prices are ridiculous here. i've seen it as high as $4.86 and as low as $4.53 this week). then i went to the mall and spent even MORE money in victoria's secret. this time my total was $71. i bought two beach coverups (like i needed more of those) and a looooong comfy sweatshirt (as if i will need to wear it anytime soon) but everything was on sale. i also bought a nice, long-ish purple and white striped tee-shirt from express (on sale for $10) and a rainbow striped tank top from forever 21 ($14) that will look great in polaroids. i get major buyer's remorse... i ALWAYS feel bad after i go shopping and usually regret having spent any money at all. i was thisclose to returning that sweatshirt to victoria's secret while i was still in the mall but it was the only one left and i could picture myself all curled up on the couch wearing it. on my waya home, i called my friend lindsay (who is even more of a shopaholic) who consoled me by saying... "pffft, $100?! i spend that on my lunch break." haha, thanks lindsay.

polanerd adventure to the middle of nowhere

2008-06-10T19:27:00.001-07:00

yesterday i went on a little polanerd outing with kim and chinako.

sanctuary adventist church
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

our first stop was a cute abandoned cottage in the middle of the nowhere lancaster, california. kim had driven past this place but never had the nerve to explore the interior alone. (i don't blame her).

left to rot
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

the cottage was a MESS. there was the usual evidence left behind by one too many drunken minors -- beer cans and bottles, smashed walls, bullet holes and broken tile. (just so you can get an idea of how dirty the place was...) but this house had a terrific blue room and hardwood floors... the perfect backdrop for kim's brilliant idea.

hole in the wall
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

we shot some photos then kim didn't waste any time tossing polaroids around the room, covering the floor with the "bad" shots she no longer wanted. chinako and i couldn't believe what she considered to be her "bad" shots... but apparently kim has very similar perfected versions of the photos she left behind. chinako and i hoarded a few we couldn't bare to leave behind.

we proceeded to shoot hundreds of photos around the house and took turns lying among the polaroids on the floor. although the floor was visibly dirty, it didn't seem so bad.

down the road from the cottage was some sort of compound. all of the buildings appeared to be abandoned but there were cars and dogs and seemingly normal outdoor table with a pitcher of water, iced tea, glasses, binoculars and a pillow. running 1/8 mile along one of the buildings was this creepy fence covered in skeletons of mythical creatures. skulls and bones were wired to the fence to create things like a devil and an angel. near the end of the fence was the "skeleton" of this alien creature

after i showed my boyfriend photos of the skull fence he said, "ohmygod jena, haven't you ever seen the texas chainsaw masacre?!"

summer heat
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

we drove further into lancaster county and stopped at a beautiful poppy field. i shot some awesome polaroids of chinako lying on a mexican blanket kim had burried in her trunk.

then we ventured further into the middle of nowhere to the infamous sanctuary adventist church AKA: the kill bill church. when we got there there were three guys taking photos with their camera phone of the church (which is a fully functioning establishment).

total fucking badasses
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

all and all, a wonderfully sucessful and fun trip. i shot 420 digital photos and 25 polaroids. of those, a selected set can be viewed here. check them out!! some of the photos taken that day can be purchased in my etsy shop: http://jenaardell.etsy.com/

inbox full

2008-06-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

i usually have to delete a text message in order to receive one because i never delete them... some are just too amusing to delete. here some of more recent ones:

06.07.08
andrea: Oh! I love it! And i think i just mooned the guys fixing the wires.

06.01.08
mom: I'm at aunt roses for dinner. she's drunk. THE END. LOL HELP!!

05.18.08
ricardo: Yea. but i'm not into yoga n don't have half a brain. i would like to make love @ midnight but i can't stay up that late.

05.18.08
zac: I made it home. Sleep tight don't let the stick bugs bite.

05.12.08
lindsay: heidi is a jackass.

(she was referring to heidi montag).

04.19.08
ricardo: HOLY SHIT! THE CAT JUST ATTACKED ME!

04.14.08
ricardo: ill let it slide. youre lucky youre too cute. Thanks. love you.

03.26.08
ricardo: i had a dream that the dad from '10 things i hate about you' was trying to pimp you out!

03.22.08
kevin: P.S. Ur cat needs to join an 80's hair metal revival tour with its sweet vocal skills.

JENAARDELL.BLOGSPOT.COM GOT A FACELIFT!!

2008-06-07T00:50:00.000-07:00

...or i just finally created my own header. regardless, it looks pretty spiffy. :)

i revamped my environmental blog too!!
CHECK IT OUT AT: ENDSECONDHANDSMOKE.BLOGSPOT.COM

SONGS I'M ADDING TO MY SUMMER 2008 MIX:
R.E.M - Supernatural Superserious
No Doubt - Leftovers
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Alanis Morrissette - Underneath
Jack Johnson - Banana Pancakes
All Saints - Pure Shores (always on my summer mixes)
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Al Green - Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
STP - Interstate Love Song
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Kaiser Chiefs - Rudy
Beck - Earthquake Weather
Lenny Kravitz - I'll Be Waiting
Radiohead - House of Cards

my most recent ebay purchases

2008-06-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

i'm like an addict... but i can't help it if i still wished it were the late 90s!! seriously though, ALL of these items are things i was buying/would have bought in the year 2000. i guess i haven't changed...

i finally retired my old roxy wallet that i've used for the past 8 years... (not by choice, it was falling apart) and i purchased this gem - a pristine roxy wallet circa 1999-2000. i figured if i'm going to replace my favorite wallet, might as well replace it with something similar:
i have these shoes in white/lavendar and black/hot pink... now i have them in gray/pink: i have a thing for straw bags. i love how they look but i rarely use them for fear of ripping them. stupid, i know. this one will look great in photos. :)
they don't make this style anymore. :( i have a pair of periwinkle/white platform vans (circa 1997) that are very similar to this and are probably my favorite pair of shoes everrr. i used to have these shoes in white and another pair in navy, but they got pretty beat up and i had to toss them. in 2005, vans made second-wave of platform sneakers in three colors. i bought the white/pink when the first came out and now i'll have the blue/yellow.
here is something else that's been looong discontinued. roxy's "hula" perfume. according to roxy, their "first" scent called "roxy" was launched in summer 2007... which is an utter lie because their first fragrance was roxy "hula" which was launched in 1998!! back when roxy clothes looked more like surf clothes... but i regress.in addition to these items, i've also purchased polaroid film, vintage issues of LOOK magazine and 51 issues of workbasket magazine circa 1950-1970.

oh dear, i need to stay away from ebay.

MY TRIP HOME

2008-05-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

four days of sunshine, ten days of rain; baking a VERY LARGE cake shaped in a 5 and a 0; surprising my mother on her 50th birthday; going to walmart far too many times than i'd like to admit; mother's day eggplant parmesan; shopping with lindsay; calvin the beta fish; visiting nicole and talking for four hours straight; my cousin's graduation from the police academy; best friend foot and back massages; skateboarding; playing cranium (andrea and i won of course); grocery shopping at 2 am; bowling with andrea, justin, zac, my mom and donald; becoming the scrabble champ; fortune cookies; scanning loads of old photos; ice cream/art outing; babysitting my cousin's kids; ginormous rainbows; eating an obscene amount of utz pretzels.

due to the crappy weather, i only took 15 polaroids (7 of which are utter garbage) and i bought a lot crap i don't need... like picture frames, fabric paint and more summer clothes.

movies watched: the letter, waitress, 13 going on 30, ghostbusters 2 and charade.

thank goodness for TV (tapings, that is).

2008-05-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

last monday i went to a craig ferguson taping to see zooey deschanel's band She & Him perform live. i befriended a nice woman from Connecticut who was accompanying her husband on a business trip. we chatted about the differences between east and west coast women while waiting in line and once we got inside the studio, we scored front row seating. :) she & him performed first, playing a song called "change is hard." zooey was adorable. she was wearing a ruffly cream-colored vintage dress. (their segment aired may 1st). then craig ferguson did intros to skits and interviewed kathy griffin (not really a fan) and a stand up comedian performed.

then i met up with rick and we ate thai food at a restaurant lindsay had given us a $50 gift certificate to for christmas. when we paid the bill with the gift card, the owner/waiter asked "you're the ones whose friend bought you the gift card from new jersey and were supposed to eat here on valentine's day but couldn't show, right??" and we were like, "yup, that's us." it was funny he remembered all of that!! haha.

on thursday rick i went to a taping of jimmy kimmel live to see STONE TEMPLE PILOTS~!! while standing in line, we ran into rose - a fellow 311 bber and hardcore fan whom we've met at numerous 311 (and zack hexum) shows. before the show started, another 311 friend named jared appeared!! i ALWAYS see him at 311 shows... he's been to every cali show i've attended. we watched jimmy kimmel's interview with puff daddy on the big screens behind the outdoor stage and then *drumroll* stone temple pilots took the stage!! they played interstate love song, silvergun superman, vaseline, sin, trippin' on a hole in a paper heart, wicked garden, big empty and, as an encore, plush. IT WAS AWESOME. here are some photos i took with rick's phone (because cameras weren't allowed):

me and rick:

look at all the camera phones in the air!! hehe:

jimmy kimmel:

me and rose:

me and jared:

clips of the performance will be posted on my youtube channel soon!!!!

"I LOVE MY JOB!!"

2008-04-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

for the past two days, i worked for my favorite boss dave who keeps me busy/employed so i don't move back to new jersey. i'm helping to plan/coordinate his upcoming stock photo shoots for infants and children. within one hour of posting the casting call online, we received 150 submissions for the infants shoot (of which, we will choose six infants). and due to a posting error which made mothers believe they will be receiving $300 per HOUR instead of $300 per DAY... we received 650 submissions in one hour for the children casting call!! (of which we will choose ten kids).

usually a shoot will keep me out of trouble for three days but a few weeks ago i had the pleasure of working for dave and his wife mary for a week. i worked as dave's photo shoot coordinator (which consisted of booking/contacting models; building a production book and assisting in wardrobe). the shoot was for the cover of a midway video game called BLITZ 2, a "vice city" style football game where steroids are optional. dave rented a studio and hired an awesome prop stylist who transformed the space into a mini patch of football field. the models who were hired were once athletes, muscle-y football player types.

on the day of the shoot, i served as "girl friday" to the crew - helping the prop stylist lay sod; assisting the grip guy move lights; lending an extra hand to dave and hal (the digital tech); shooting production stills; and writing checks to the crew and models. in addition to all that, i had the honor of rinsing mud off every crevice the prop stylist caked mud into the helmets and cleats. the shoot ran very smoothly (as always) with dave occasionally exclaiming "i love my job!!" between shots (as always). i know i've said this before, but it's so nice to work for someone who actually loves their job. dave's career is a constant inspiring reminder that "work" and "fun" can coexist and that you can get paid for having fun. (yes, it's sometimes hard work and can be stressful at times... but it's well worth it).

after wrapping up production (billing and budget stuff), i worked for dave's wife mary, resizing a plethora of images and preparing them for print. mary works for a london-based clothing company who recently purchased a bunch of worn vintage frames of all styles and sizes for in-store displays. after the images returned from the printing press, i assisted in framing... which consisted of stripping the frames; cleaning the glass; cutting/trimming the photos to fit (usually in odd sizes); and reassembling the frames. the highlight of the day was finding a newspaper from 1923 from england hidden behind a signed artist's proof/lithograph from the same time period - hello, antiques roadshow!! hehe. a cleaning person tried to covet it, but they got it back.

in addition to a generous paycheck from mary's company, mary included some gnomes from their last in-store display!! this little guy was one of three i adopted. on day two of the project, i took home a giant outdoor gnome. so there i was, jena poulain, walking in beverly hills with a giant gnome under my arm... which i may have to do more often. it made a lot of people smile... and point at me. haha. here's me and the gnome in the elevator:
aaaand then on monday of that week, dave took me back to high school. i assisted him while he provided hands-on lectures to five different photography classes. it was really fun!! dave showed the entire process of a commercial shoot: 1. receiving the idea/sketch from an ad agency. 2. the thousands of photos shot during the shoot. 3. the chosen, retouched images. 4. the final product (which in this case was the box/packaging of a video game). we set up studio lights and groups of kids got to pose and take photos of their friends using dave's camera and equipment. everyone seemed to be really interested and having fun!! it was entertaining to go back to high school and see the little cliques and unabashed fashion choices and personalities.

afterward, dave and i stopped at his friend's house for a pair of sunglasses he left behind. his friends live in the neighborhood rick and i used to live in... awww!! so it was nice to be in that area again. (i miss it!!) and that concludes the awesomeness that is my boss and his stylish wife.

lindsay's visit!!

2008-04-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

saturday: lindsay arrived at 6:45 pm. rick and i picked her up at the airport then we went to santa monica and walked around the promenade. lindsay dropped $100 in about 20 minutes. (she's a bit of a shopaholic) she bought a cute dress though, hehe. i bought a kewl 80s-looking blue and black volcom sweater in urban outfitters for $9.99. SCORE!! we ate at the gaucho grill then headed to the pier and wandered around until our noses started running. then we headed back to the apartment and i gave lindsay a tour of our apartment and she got to meet the infamous miss gray (my cat). then we sang a belated happy birthday to lindsay and ate bday brownies i baked that morning and i gave lindsay her birthday presents. sunday: lindsay and i got up early and headed to hollywood. we drove up beachwood canyon and stopped at the hollywood sign. then we went to hollywood & highland and Grauman's Chinese Theatre. we took lots of photos. lindsay was wearing a summery blue bandanna-print tank top she purchased the night before and a random guy driving by on a bike said "nice shirt, but it would look better in red!" we assumed his comment was harmless, but in the back of our minds we thought, "oh crap, that could have been a gang reference." we shrugged it off until another guy passed us and said, "good color." so we ducked into a shop and lindsay bought a replacement shirt. then we walked around the open-air market; got our makeup done at napoleon; and ate lunch at pig n' whistle. we tried on wigs with all intentions of buying them, but then didn't buy them (which saved us over 85 bucks... mine would have been $35 and lindsay's would have been $50!!) then we headed to rodeo drive. while i was trying to decipher the fine print on the parking meter, a guy with a dog noticed my jersey plates and informed us we had just missed Bruce Springsteen coming out of Barney's. (i think it's funny people assume all new jerseyians like Bruce Springsteen). lindsay and i walked around and went in and out of shops. i found something for ricardo's birthday. when we got back to apartment, lindsay was ecstatic to see we had spinach and mozzarella raviolis from costco. we watched "the holiday" while eating dinner.
monday: woke up early again and headed to my favorite beach in malibu. stopped at the post office so i could mail a print to someone who purchased one from me on etsy. :) then we ran in a grocery store to buy some beach snacks and lindsay got starbucks. we sunbathed, took photos and chatted on the beach for 2 1/2 hours or so. then went back to the apartment, changed and got ready to go out. rick drove us to the santa monica promenade so lindsay could see the area during the day. we caught the sunset while freezing our toes off at the pier. then we ate at the cheesecake factory in beverly hills. when we got back to the apartment, we watched the hills and brutally made fun of everyone on the show.

tuesday: we got free jamba juice and dropped off lindsay's photos to be printed (98 of them, to be exact). then we took showers/got ready and headed to melrose. we saw Mischa Barton in wasteland -- one of my favorite shops there. i'm not particularly a fan of Mischa Barton but i'm glad lindsay got to see a celebrity and it was interesting (and a bit disturbing) to witness paparazzi stalking someone. they had their video camera lens pressed against the glass windows and waited outside to bombard her after she emerged from the store since they aren't allowed inside. Mischa was wearing a cute hippy-ish floral dress while trying on hideous fur vests but left the store wearing unflattering pink sweat pants (see the paprazzi's photos here). we bought a few things; ate lunch; then headed to CBS studios in studio city to watch the taping of "Secret Talents of the Stars." it's a reality show (already got canceled) that exposed secret talents of celebrities. John O'Hurley hosted accompanied by a celebrity judge panel (Debbie Reynolds, Brian McKnight and Gavine Polone). we got to see Sasha Cohen perform a contortionist act; Clint Black perform stand up comedy (he was so cute!!); George Takei sing a country song; and Mya perform a tap dance routine. we had prime seating among the wives and family of the mentioned celebrities and you should have seen the rocks on the womens' fingers!! holy goodness. lots of plastic surgery too. after the show, we made a special trip to pinkberry. if you're not fimiliar with pinkberry, there are only three flavors and it's waaaaay overrated. i sampled the green tea (awful sour taste) and opted for original, but i wasn't too crazy about that flavor either. lindsay got the coffee flavor with raspberries and loved it.

wednesday: we stopped at denny's before heading to the airport; took more photos (of course); then lindsay went home. :( all and all an awesome visit -- the weather was well-behaved; we packed as much as we could into each day; and we beat traffic every time!! and now we have lots of new photos and memories. :)

my last four ebay purchases

2008-04-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

stuff i just had to have...

these adorable vintage fish plaques:

a new roxy bathing suit:

can't wait to wear it!!

61 vintage teeth charms (i got plans for these):

my only regret... this stupid dumb apron i shouldn't have bought:

*sigh* i wish i could go back in time and live in the 50s for a month just so i could hoard a lot of kewl crap to bring back to the 21st century.

HAPPY EARTH DAY/THREE NEW POSTS

2008-03-22T01:37:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!

three new posts have been added to my environmental blog: END SECOND HAND SMOKE. check em out!!

I'VE LAUNCHED A NEW BLOG!!

2008-03-19T02:56:00.000-07:00

i am starting a new blog called "end second hand smoke" that focuses on global environmental issues and solutions to environmental problems. i will continue to maintain this personal blog but invite you to suscribe to my new blog as well as i am sure you will find the content interesting and important. please read my introduction below:

ABOUT ME AND MY INTENTIONS: although i love blogging about my work/whereabouts/photography, my main concern and passion has and always will be our environment. i'm creating this blog as an attempt to identify, educate and hopefully help solve ongoing environmental injustices which occur daily on this planet. it's about time we accept responsibility and correct the damage we've done. i hope you join my crusade and help create the social/political/environment changes we so desperately need. we all caused these environmental disasters (or "stresses" if you want to feel less of a villain), therefore we should all make an effort to lessen the harmful impact we place on our earth.

ABOUT THE NAME: i am calling this blog "end second hand smoke" because i view air, water and land pollution as second hand smoke -- harmful vapors and chemicals emitted by polluters, consumers, businesses and the government that we are being forced to ingest. how long are we going to allow them to contaminate us???

HOW YOU CAN HELP: at the end of each article i post that addresses a particular envionmental issue, i will post ways you can make a difference. i am hoping YOU will make an attempt to contribute to the cause because i certainly will be. by posting productive counter-actions, i hope you will realize the vital impact they have on society. if you need further proof that one person can make a difference, go watch Norma Rae. that movie ALWAYS inspires me. :)

WORDS TO LIVE BY:
"This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." ~Chief Seattle, Chief of the Suquamish Indians

PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR BOOKMARKS: http://endsecondhandsmoke.blogspot.com/

mom's visit, san diego and 3.5 celebrity crushes in 2 weeks

2008-03-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

my mom visited me for 9 days. despite me being sick for the entire time, we had a lot of fun. here's what we did...

saturday: ate lunch with rick. took my mom to get coffee then my mom and i slept. a lot.

sunday: ate lunch with hal in santa monica then drove to san diego where we spent three days in mission bay. i took a lot of photos at pacific beach of and from crystal pier. it was neat to see the same area i was in for the first time four years ago. it's interesting how you perceive an area if you've only seen briefly and then to go back to the same area and see it from all sides -- you see it in a new light.

monday: we went kayaking in the ocean at la jolla and saw sea lions (we were probably were a little TOO close to them...) and leopard sharks and dolphins!! san diego feels like a state away from los angeles. actually, being in san diego feels a lot like being in florida or virginia beach. i really like it there. lots of awesome shops and restaurants along the main streets. there's more of a beach town vibe there than in venice or santa monica, maybe because the people in san diego seem more laid back and the traffic doesn't suck as badly.

monday night: we saw the foo fighters at SDSU!! :)

tuesday: we bypassed the gaslamp district because my mom isn't into shopping and went to midway to see the giant kissing statue and military ships. we ate lunch overlooking the bay and wandered over to the maritime museum gift shop (that is located on one of the ships). we stopped at the flower fields in carlsbad on our way back home but they weren't in bloom yet. however, the employees in the ticket booth still tried to get us to buy a ticket to see nothing for $5 (1/2 off ) and tried to convince us to buy a season pass to the fields. but who needs to see a field of flowers more than once??? i wonder if people actually buy season passes there.

wednesday: we saw the foo fighters again (night 1 at the forum!!) and my mom got to meet my boss james.

thursday: my mother, rick and i went to a taping of the craig ferguson show -- amy sedaris (one of my faves!!) was the guest. we ate sushi and walked around hollywood & highland.

friday: my mom got to meet my boss dave!! :) and we went back to hollywood. it should be noted that during my mom's visit, i beat her and rick at scrabble numerous times.

saturday: went to our favorite beach in malibu... but it was pretty windy and cold but we saw dolphins.

sunday: i begrudgingly went back to the beach and was glad i did because it was a beautiful, hot gorgeous day for the beach.

all and all, a fun time!! :D

last week also marked the end of my 3.5 celebrity crushes in 2 weeks spree...
1: nick hexum at the las vegas show 2/22
2: dr. drew at the celebrity rehab reunion show taping (look for me and rick in the audience!! the reruns are being shown on VH1 now) 2/25
3: DAVE GROHL x2!!!! 3/3 and 3/5
3.5: BONUS: amy sedaris at the craig ferguson taping, woo woo!! 3/6

HAPPY 3-11 DAY!!!!

2008-03-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

yes, it's a national holiday for 311 fans....

311 at muhlenberg college
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

i couldn't attend the festivities in new orleans this time around (unfortunately), but check out my tribute.

311 - freak out
Originally uploaded by jena ardell.

over 47 million Americans (over 16% of the population) are without health insurance... and i'm one of them. :(

2008-03-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

my myriad of drugs:

perk #321 of being a freelancer: unlimited sick days.
i couldn't imagine sitting in a cubicle surrounded by green phlegm-infested tissues for 8, 9, 10 hours. no way.
disadvantage of being a freelancer: no health insurance unless you buy it yourself.

so i've self-diagnosed myself with bronchitis and i've been coughing my brains out for the past two weeks. this started out as a cold i caught from my boss james and has progressed to whatever-it-is-now. and i don't know if it's because i have a deviated septum or what, but i have not been able to taste or smell for a week now. i am refusing to go to a doctor because i don't have health insurance and i don't feel like paying $100+ for antibiotics, so i am taking amoxicillin that rick's parents brought back from mexico. (they sell 58 or so tablets of amoxicillin in mexico for $30... too bad the united states is a greedy bastard and makes us pay an arm and a leg for the same products other countries sell at afforadable prices).

here's what bronchitis looks like:

i am also attributing this bout with bronchitis to the poor air quality in los angeles... thanks LA!!

if you're a smoker, expect to develop chronic bronchitis... one of the many guaranteed side effects you are paying for with each cigarette. (which is why i will never understand why the facts alone are not enough for people to quit smoking, my mother included). but i regress... as i watch shopgirl for the umpteenth time.

P.S. it also should be noted that while i was sick i threw too many tissues into the toilet (because i felt bad throwing them all away) needless to say the toilet got clogged and impatient me had to try to flush it one more time and the water rose over the seat and spilled onto the floor, covering our little bathroom floor area with 1/2 inch of water. luckily it wasn't enough to reach the carpeting but it was enough to make the downstair's neighbors' ceiling leak. so the toilet fixed itself and my mom ran out to buy a mop because we didn't have one and i managed to break the mop within 5 minutes of using it. don't ask me how. i just snapped the part that connects the mop to the stick. rick felt bad and told me he'd deal with the mess and picked up a mop on his way home. my boyfriend loves me. moral of the story: ever notice how much dust a tissue makes??? that can't be healthy to inhale in between nose blows.

2x THE FOO!!!!

2008-03-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

FOO FIGHTERS: LOS ANGELES 3/5/08

night 1 at the forum was amazing!! (although i'm still jealous that night 2 got to see the foo perform their "darling nikki" cover). i had purchased pit tickets for myself and my mom and rick and had three seats that i sold to aldrin, his friend zac and my boss james. every one had a really good time!! :) my mom, rick and i were front and center at the small stage which worked out perfectly because we weren't looking forward to getting squished in the pit. i wish more concerts were able to produce the same format of having a runway from the main stage to a smaller, second stage for the more acoustic songs. i took some QUALITY video clips of dave grohl singing "but honestly," "my hero" and "everlong." (check em out!! the links will take you directly to my youtube posts) and some really good photos:

taylor hawkins:nate mendel and dave grohl:

chris shiflett:

dave grohl singing "everlong:"me and my mom outside the forum:

before the show, we got free tee shirts from star 98.7. you can find these pics of rick, aldo and zac on star 98.7 photo gallery:aldrins:

zac: