Pups!

I spent the day at the park working on my 100 pets project.

I photographed a whole bunch of happy pups.

and one random pigeon.

Interview

The lovely Jess at makeundermylife.com interviewed me about some of the most important rules that I live by. Here's a few that I came up with!

Be Creative

It's important for me to express myself creatively every day. I have all of these fun ideas in my head and if I don't get them out I'm pretty sure my mind would explode. Realistically, I'd probably just get frustrated and fall asleep. But explosion or no explosion, doing something creative acts as a form of therapy for me. I feel better after taking photographs, making street art, painting, or making wall sized collages. The messier and more sweatier I get, the better I feel.

Don't grow up

Well, not completely anyways. I think it's important to keep that little kid inside of you. I see a lot of people turn into grumpy old men that just complain about everything. I know that we're all adults and we have important adult-like things to do but that doesn't mean we have to let go of that playful side of ourselves. I'm still all about blowing bubbles, running around in the rain, and playing with my food and I always will be!

Break your routine

I hate the idea of getting up, eating breakfast, and going to work the same way every day. It eventually gets boring and I will not stand for boring! I want to wake up to a day that is always new, so I make sure I change it up a bit. First of all, who made this rule that for breakfast we should eat cereal? If I wake up and want spaghetti, I'll make spaghetti. Whenever I leave the house I go a different way each time. I walk down a new street, ride the bus, take a different train, or hop on a forklift if I can find one! Even if it'll take me longer to get there, I don't care. I just always want to see something new.

Be Optimistic

It's raining again? Wonderful! It'll make the flowers grow. I got paint on my favorite coat? Great! I can turn it inside out, sew on new buttons, and make it better than before. There's always a way to find something positive in a situation you would normally think was negative.

Give yourself a gift everyday

There are some days that can feel so long but it makes it a lot easier to get through if you give yourself a gift. I always like to give myself something little like a cupcake, a flower, balloons, or an iced coffee at my favorite cafe. It's not expensive and it's a lovely little pick me up during the day.

Be yourself

I'm not perfect, I know that. I have this thing where I trip at least once a day and somehow my dress will always find a way to fall down at the most inappropriate moments. I say the wrong things at wrong times and only get the giggles when I'm alone on the train, which makes me look like a crazy person. I used to be really embarrassed of myself when I was younger but now I find all these little things to be funny and they make me who I am. The next time my dress accidently falls down at a funeral, it'll fall with pride!

So now I'm curious, what are some of the ways you live your life? I'd love to know!

First

The most wonderful thing happened this morning.

I found the first photos I'd ever taken!

It brought back all these warm memories of discovering my dad's old camera and realizing that this felt right for me =)

For all of you other picture takers out there, when did you first pick up a camera and fall in love? ( I was 17!)

Dancing

I find dancing to be so hilarious.

We hear a beat and suddenly our limbs have an urge to be all wiggly.

Have you ever seen a person dance that was angry?

no way!

That's why if everyone in the world would just dance at the same time we'd have world peace. Problem solved! 

;)

click, click

I had such a fun week of shooting!

I went to the circus

and on a helicopter for the first time ever!

I love the little window on the floor. I wish I could stick my feet out and dip them in the water.

Cat Alarm Clock

Every morning Moo knocks on the door to wake us up. I had no idea that he doubled as an alarm clock.
This morning I set him for 6:55.
He was right on time.

Silhouette Portraits

Silhouette portraits are nice but wouldn't they be more fun if they weren't always in that same profile position?

After playing with a few ideas, I ended up creating a fun series of silhouettes where they're all interacting with each other and even escaping their frames!

I have a DIY section in Time Out New York magazine on how to make them. I'm also doing a give away of one of my prints so enter here for a chance to win!

Inexpensive Wallpaper

I found these old comic books at a thrift shop for only 50 cents each!

I absolutely adore the illustrations so I cut out the most colorful pages and covered one of my walls.

It makes pretty fun wallpaper!

Party

I put up a bunch of thought bubbles at a party the other night!Don't they all seem so fitting for the people standing/sitting under them?

Poor girl has no idea what her man is thinking about!

;)

High Line

Matty and I took a lil' trip over to the new High Line park last night.

I just had to share some pics, the place looks so magical!

Under-Roos

Most of my day was spent upside-down.

Radar (the weekly series that made the mini-doc on my street art) is having a big screening party where they will be showing all 12 episodes of the artists they documented! They asked me to create new pieces to put up at the show so I've been busy at work...

...meaning I've been hanging out in my under-roos all day taking photos. I think these silly legs could be fun in someone's thought bubble!

They made a short mash up of all of our episodes. How fun is this video? All these people are so inspirational!

Chihuahua

For about 2 hours yesterday I had a dog that I named ChiChi!

I found this little guy roaming the streets looking very scared so I brought him home. Moo was so jealous!

I took a few pictures of him so that I could make flyers to put up around the neighborhood (it's funny how glorious he looks in this shot). Luckily, I found his owner at a store asking the manager if he had seen her dog. She was so happy to see him she was crying. It felt so good to help!

Taking this picture reminded me about my 100 pet project. I haven't had time to work on it but I'm really going to try!

Surprise Wedding Reception

For our latest Improv Everywhere mission, we picked a random couple getting married at City Hall and threw them a surprise wedding reception! 

The couple we picked were so excited!

We had a tasty cake for them,

a champagne toast,

and lots of presents!

The bride's father was there and they had a cute father-daughter dance.

We then sent them on their way!

Even though we didn't know the couple, this was the most fun I've ever had at a wedding!

Matty made the hilarious video.

 It's impossible not to smile when watching it =)

Mini Documentary

Radar contacted me about making a mini documentary on my street art!

They followed me around all day and documented me at home,

making my thought bubbles, 

and my shadows!

Click here to see the fun video! 

You'll see my process of making my street art and hear me talk about why I do it =)

Neighborhood Love

This morning I had an urge to brighten up some of the dirty areas in my neighborhood.

So I cut out tons of hearts on pink tape and stuck them in fun places.

Finally those old pipes have a purpose!

Moo even came to help spread some love ;)

Dream Cookies

Have you ever had a dream where you ate the most delicious food?Well last night I ate the best cookies in the world only to wake up and realize they don't actually exist. So I immediately ran to the store and tried to make them!

They are so messy and colorful and delicious.

I think I finally found the perfect lipstick for me.

The Mp3 Experiment

The Mp3 Experiment was a success!

The Mp3 Experiment is an annual Improv Everywhere event where thousands of people download the same Mp3 and press play at the same time and place. The Mp3 instructs people to play different games with each other and have fun!

This is my favorite IE event because you can go there alone but you'll always leave with friends.

Happiness

Soda machines with a sense of humor,

leaving little reminders in public places,

the way Moo thinks no one can see him,

the determination of finding your favorite ice cream at the bottom of a freezer,

little girls in big dresses,

big people in little showers,

seeing my lovely readers make their own versions of my projects,

finding Moo's soulmate,

and seeing a couple that grew old together and still not wanting to be apart.

I can go on forever about the random things that make me smile, but I think i'll stop right here....

for now ;)

Improv Everywhere

The Improv Everywhere book is out today!

If you're interested in what goes on behind the scenes of our pranks, definitely check it out!

Matty and I even have our own little sections.

Also, Improv Everywhere's annual Mp3 Experiment is taking place this Saturday at 4pm on Roosevelt Island.

If you live in NYC and love to have fun, you should come! I'll be there photographing and would love to meet you.

Read about the details here!

Lazy Sunday

I've been working so much this week.

So I had a much needed lazy Sunday.

What did you guys do this weekend?

(p.s. I bought the 24-70mm lens!)