the post office and the 'almost' sushi....

Buenas dias, buenos tardes, buenos noches....it's been a good day all around. I think I said that right; Spanish class is going well also. I hope.

I woke up, had some coffee, (and then some more coffee...ha - and then probably one more cup of coffee), was inspired to make some chocolate-peppermint peanut candies, then sadly had to take down the Christmas tree and all accompanying decor, (it feels quite odd to have an empty living room once again...). Then showered up and drove to Oakesdale with a white-knuckle grip and my fuel gauge displaying a big fat 'E'. That was scary. There are few scarier images than one of being stranded in a 4x4 Chevy with no gas...on a snow-covered road, with no neighbors...and only my knitty red sweater....ughhh. *shudder*

(the inescapable cozyness I speak of...by Rubbish)

Aside from those scary few moments on an ice-road of DEATH...(ok, that may be a bit extreme...), the day was quite productive. I mailed off some zines at the post office, visited Nick's mom at the library, and then Nick and I played endless rounds of 'Gears of War'. Me, being the uuuber UN-talented x-boxer that I am, killed off my virtual soldier more times than I can count on fingers and toes combined. Felt like less of a complete LOSER after Nick made me some hot chocolate, and then came home to two GREAT surprises...

Surprise Numero Uno..(still workin' the Spanish!) : My textbooks for Winter quarter arrived from Chegg.com! Score, baby! I love love love prereading the textbooks that I'll soon be using. 'Understanding Business', and 'Art Through the Ages'...plus 'Basic Health'. So few days until school begins...welcome back to nerd-ville...

Surprise Numero Dos : A new shelf! My grandpa and father banded together to fashion me this beauty...(already devoted to 'Style From A to Zoe', by Rachel Zoe, 'Influence' by MK and Ashley, 'Sewing Basics', and 'The Teen Vogue Handbook'.

(Nick gettin' all up in my grill' with my camera :P...and I love Ray Bans...)

I MADE some sushi...well...actually more like little rice balls. I didn't have any seaweed, or seaweed-like substances to wrap the rice around. But chopping up some celery and carrots and pressing them into cute little vegetarian 'onigiris' was still fun. And some AMAZING sauce: Just whipped together some BBQ sauce, coupla' shakes of Tabasco, salt and peppa', and a little water to make a kickin' dip. :) Mmmm.. Chopsticks too.

Buenos noches for now. Adios!

crazy love

fantastic.

fantastic.

fantastic.

the gold goldfish

(CO Bigelow 'Merlot Mint'...more like 'Genius'...)

It seems that Christmas left us just as quicly as it came. Our traditions are fairly simple; cheese enchilada night, soda crackers of all varieties, really lime-y jello salad, homemade Chex-mix, orange fruit punch.  My relatives are leaving tomorrow...and I'm off to finally-finally-finally dine on some sushi. YAY! Vegan roll dance-time! Vegan roll for me! The day might even include Avatar or Nine, but which one...

(Old Navy stripey shirt, grey tank, Claire's black leggings,

tall socks made by me, skirt stolen from my sister, fringy boots, vintage goldfish pin=love.)

red, white, and blue...[and patent]

Can you believe it? Today is Christmas Eve-EVE!! Tomorrow's the day!

Christmas present #1! (Yeah, I can never wait until the big day to open them. Nick gave me one to sustain myself...and probably silence my whining.) Holy cow... I've been jonesing for a pair of Doc Martens for a long time - especially the newer pairs in cheery hues like pink and dark purple. (Probably sprouted from my LOVE of Nylon magazine. See the Sienna Miller spread w/ the bubblegum pink pair? Or even the December spread with Blake Lively sporting the classic 'Doc-black' pair? Check it out...it's worth it.

Anyways...GOT SOME! They're not quite Docs, but they're AMAZING. Nick, man...you have fantastic-wonderful-flawless taste and I love you. :) Cause these rock. I did a little designing and added some silver and gold studs..for flair.

(Dollhouse coat, striped hand-me-down tunic, my mum's locket, plastic dice necklace stolen from Nick, lovely shiny new boots, LEI dark skinnies, random rings. I now realize how 'red-white-blue' I look...but it kinda works.)

Went with Nick to the cinema today...Brothers. I never really pictured Toby McGuire as a Marine-man, (I was always expecting him to shout "I'll save you MaryJane!", from SpiderMan...you know), but he was amazing. Full out sobs. Sniffling. Running nose. Thank you, CoverGirl for your lovely waterproof blends; always got my back.

Almost Christmas!!!  I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight from excitement. Tomorrow will be an amazing day of making apple pies, playing Scrabble, and TONS of love from the fam. (Hmmm...maybe even some snow-frolicking..)

the last day...the first day...

The title of this post actually makes sense...

LAST day of school! Gooooodbye to that high school until January 4! Most schools 'round here were released last Friday, but we were the lucky ones (psh..whatev), and got the opportunity to stay in until today. Plus side: Got the Winter ZINE done! :) Gingerbread man cover by Nick, shown below.....it's one of my favorites. There's just nothing better than a punkish-80's-mohawk cookie guy.

FIRST day that we actually have a decent snow to frolick and dance in! At least 4 inches throughout the night, and yes...I drove in it. Scary...but on the bright side: hellooo snowmen! And hot chocolate! And lots of wooly layers and sweaters and tights! Butter toffee! Score!

Found a great new discovery from a few other blogs. Is it a super-collage? Is it a scanned editorial? NO! It's POLYVORE! What a great plan for days that I can't fit in a "body-shot!" (I'm still looking for a better name for those pictures...)

Today in Polyvore-land: Pink Acid Skinny Jeans, $80 Topshop. Alternative Apparel white tee, $24 revolveclothing.com. Striped cardigan, $14 Forever 21.  Hive and Honey Sloan boot, $60 piperlime.com. Judith Jack silver necklace, $194 zappos.com. Anchors Away necklace, $50 shopflick.com. AK Anne Klein watch, $59 zappos.com.

This is what I REALLY wore: Jolt Skinny Jeans, $13.99 Ross. Energie white tee, $9.99 Gottschalks. (Does that store even exist anymore??...) Julie's Closet striped cardigan, $9.00 Ross. Groove boot, $21 Forever 21. Stolen silver necklace..literally. I nabbed it from Nick... $Priceless. Anchor necklace, $2 Zumiez. Sophie watch, $23 Nordstrom rack.

Mwahaaa! What a deal! I never before realized how much I love the classic pieces I've gotten from Ross...interesting.

new notebook...

Last Friday was the day of a new notebook. This one's a long sketchbook with the spiral rings at the top. I feel like quite the stylist when toting around my little 'lookbook'.  Here's one of my favorite pages for a Sunday-morning inspiration...

I found some great full-page looks in the December 09' issue of Elle, (covergirl=SJP.) I LOVE the super-soft seafoam green high waisted pants with a loose blazer of the first look. But...is that flattering? OK - this is going to sound odd, but...: I've never seen a pair of these trousers from behind. The effects arn't similar to the awful bum-elongation of  "mom-jeans" are they? I doubt that...but I'm not sure. Anyways, aside from bums, that model is a definite hair-inspiration for me...I'm thinking about a touch of platinum...more on that once I decide, (and convince my mum...)

I found a few vintage brooches at a local thrift joint, but these, (taken from the December VOGUE), are just so shiny and pretty and clean. The pearl one pictured is a great oddity, (and it kinda makes me feel like a mermaid...)

I love mermaids. Ariel, the red-headed Disney princess of the deep, was a huge influence on my style choices as a youngster....ha.

i'll just be hitting the books..(erm)..i mean mags...

FINALLY. I really-truly-honestly did the 'happy-dance' when I found a brand new VOGUE in the mail today. RACHAEL McADAMS. BLONDE. SHERLOCK HOLMES. THE DECADE'S BEST DRESSED. NEW COCKTAIL DRESSES. This magazine is a bloody work of brilliance, I tell you, pure brilliance.

I must say...the hair; it's different. Sooo different for her. Am I the only one that still often pictures McAdams with long, glossy auburn hair from The Notebook? She now kinda reminds me of that mysterious substitute teacher with the tousled updo, little cardigan sweater, pencil skirts/dresses with nipped in waists, and especially the pearly studded earrings.

But that image is totally ok. I would looove that insane DIOR dress inside...*drool...just a tad. You'll understand this uncontrollable salivation when you see the rich, gauzy fabric. You'll see...:)

7 is the number...

That's my response to the brand-spankin'-new VOGUE factoid I just picked up off fashionista.com.

7 bloggers...1 issue. Anna Wintour believes. Blogging does exist.
Check out last month's VOGUE mag to see the profiles of 7 ahhhmazing bloggers...

seems like thursday...

It was exactly a week ago that I posted my last batch of 'body-shots'...I guess you could call them that. This past week, (since I get to head to high school LATE due to the fact that I'm on VACATION from my college courses!! *disco!*party!*say whaaaat?!*), I've started diggin' into the deep, amazing, ocean of fashion. You know, pounding the magazines, sifting through each and every runway shot, updates style.com every morning and inspiration from other blogs at night. Love it. I'm reading the Teen Vogue Handbook and was pretty inspired by Natalie Hormilla, former editor of fashionista.com. LOVE that too....

The sun finally came out today. Goregous. Today was a pretty relaxed kind of day. Started off great with the December 2009 H. BAZAAR mag for the third time with some coffee. Then headed to school, took a nice walk through the village, (my town), wore my comfy-cozy Steve Madden riders, and applied for a job at a little diner/dive/joint..I'm not so sure what it would be called. (More on that later...hopefully.) Good day...good day. Except for the fact that I was cursing myself alllll day for forgetting my camera. Sheeeesh.

So I made it up to myself with the attempt at some 'alternative-cool' photography. A little blurry. Neat. A weird angle. Awesome. Funny growling faces. Priceless.

Vintage polka-dotty scarf on display...the display is meh' head.

Ohhh..my profile. But NOT a mug shot. Genius...sorta.

Rawr!...Today was an especially expressive day.

Say THAT five times fast.

It was a good day.

you go, emma

This really was a surprise to me...Emma Watson? Really? I gotta say, 'rock on!'...This was happy news to me.

Well yeah, there's definitely no denying that she's a great actress and great model. We can now officially add 'great businesswoman' to that list. You're looking at the highest earning actress of the 2000's right here, baby.

According to Perez Hilton, (everybody's FAV-orite...), but really really according to the Guinness Book of World Records, Emma holds on strong thanks to her super-stylish Burberry ads. Oh. How could I have possibly forgotton to mention the $5.4 billion the Harry Potter series raked in worldwide.

You go girl...*high five to that.

Nope...legs arn't cold.

I'm CRAZY about this....some people call me crazy, but it's a look that I love when winter hits: Shorts, baby...when it snows I'm reminded of fashionable shorts and all the neato legware that comes with them. Tall socks, tights, fishnets, boots, legings, ect.  That may seem weird at first. Really weird. Many ask me, 'Why are you putting yourself through this?' 'Arn't you freezing your scantily-clad bum?'

Every time the answer is 'Noooo....I feel too dang cute to get cold.'

WWD story on Bottega Veneta


2007 RTW - Undercover, style.com


WWD story on Heatherette

sauce on my shirt...

Helloooo weekend! That's what I'm talking about! *fist pump high in the air* Last night was crazy, but the spaghetti dinner fundraiser is now OVER! Goodbye spag-fest!! It went really well, too! But let me ask myself a quick question...Did I know that I would be dealing with large amounts of spaghetti sauce? Yes...Did I know that I would be cleaning and serving and sprinkling cheese on all of the above? Yes...And I STILL wore a very crisp, very white white white shirt? YES!! Whaaaaaaa?....

I question my sanity sometimes...I really question whether that shirt can be saved from it's now saucy (and nicely flavored...) polka-dotted state. Any good laundry tricks out there?

Happy Thursday dress...A great nab from a Macy's sale (8 smackers, man)...it's a Lots of Love x Speechless floral, clingy polyester thing. But I love it.

I totally stole the softie Eddie Bauer cardi from my Aunt, vintage fake-leather belt, vintage pearls, skeleton key necklace I made myself, (I had another one once but left it on top of a car...goodbye to that one..), tights from the Dollar Store, homemade over the knee socks, Steve Madden riding boots, big honkin' Sophie watch.

Olympic clutch, made in Hollywood...(does that Hollywood bit even mean anything?)

Ok - this clutch here; I love it. Its insane how much I love this clutch. For some odd reason, the combination of the silver and gold metallic spots and the clean snappy-clasp just boosts my mood every time it's tucked under me' arm. I love it. It's great to carry around school with just 2 lipsticks, a pen, a stick of Trident, and the little mirror that came with it. I feel very classy. Vintage, baby. Never know what you'll find: Sometimes it's moth holes..sometimes it's fashion. And that really is what I love about those weird, thrifty little joints around here...

And to all my readers! I made cupcakes Thursday AND turned on my Christmas lights in my room, so here's a bit of cheer and a treat. YAY! I love Thursdays...I always feel very productive on Thursdays. Adios, mates!

ridiculous...

This is AMAZING.

*Gasp!* *Double gasp!*     How could I have not noticed this before??!    This may sound crazy...but I JUST FOUND LOOKBOOK.NU!!! :) Never before have I been somewhere so magical...or so surprisingly addicting.   I've even been able to come out of Coldstone Creamery faster than I've been thus able to scroll around on this bloody site.

My life is changed...especially with the nude Chanel 2.55 I just witnessed...(oh yeah..and sleek black Birkin..)  droool.

I may faint. Right now. After I look at these Topshop boots...

*oohhhhh.... very nice.

in my saturday morning...and afternoon...ok fine - and dusk/evening and also that few hours before I go to bed....

It's true...I basically read magazines all Saturday morning. Fine! I cracked! Turn off the bright light, I'll give you a confession..I'll admit it: I basically read them all day. It's a tough job, searching through the best magazines and editorials for my little inspiration-o collage-o....but someone had to do it. And that someone was me.....

(Does that sound like a Tom-line in Mission Impossible, or is it just me??)

Here's the rundown...follow, follow! :) So starting in the top left, Alloy has these amazing double-v neck dolman tees. I drool. I want one. Just imagine it with some comfy jeans and cinched with a great belt...it's classy...easy...and has a cool name like 'dolman.' Love that. Next: Rachel Bilson in an adorable teenVOGUE shoot. She's got the coolest tutu style skirt with great platforms and ankletights. I likey. Next is a cool rugby polo, (another teenVOGUE spread), from Lacoste. Not usually preppy like that...but I really like the muted colors and the long sleeves. neeext is a goregous pearl ring from Iridesse. It's roughly $325, but I can still dream. Such a rad alternative to a big honkin' diamond. In the next row, you know who those girls are! Yup, the Olsen sisters rocking their "I'm-indoor-but-it's-bright-and-I'm-a-super-celeb" shades. Which I totally think are cool...and I applaud. They will forever be a source of inspiration.  Next over is Kristen Dunst, and she's wearing a nice bedmask that I nabbed from another magazine. Hey..everyone needs a nap sometime..okay? Now it's MODEL time! The ladies on the bottom row are from Diane von Furstenberg, (hero!), Burberry Prorsum, (want that poof-ball hat!), and Ralf Lauren, (amazing short-trench.) Leopard tunic, (to make me feel like a member in The Bangles or Hole,) is another from Alloy.

Ok...take a deep breath and get ready for SHOT #2! Fo' SHO!

Heereee we go. Ha - I LOVE those Harajuku Lovers girls! My friends, Tyra and Katie and I, all like to pretend we're the three happy little cartoons to the left. The other two kinda look like AXL ROSE (with the dreads) and maybe SELMA HAYEK with the updo...yeah...you guys can roll with us, I guess.

Anyways, the bag to the upper right is Maaarc JaaAAaacobs! And that's the noise I'm going to make if I ever get one of his bags..that will be great. Moving down to the mid lower left is an old school picture of Taylor Momsen. Remember her when she WASN'T Queen Bee of G.G? Yeah..I barely do too. But I've coveted this simple tee and jeans and Miu Miu heels for a looong time. Last up...Drew Barrymore! I just finished watching 50 First Dates last night, I nearly forgot how lovable she was. She's amazing. All the shoesies and bootsies are from the Alloy mag.

Whew! That was almost downright exhausting...but I'm taking the morning off from the high school that I don't even really attend. Yay! I LOVE college! Economics final tomorrow, ya'll. Wish me luck.....

cafe OLĖ!

I love that moment from the TV show Gilmore Girls...:

Christopher: I brought us some real French cuisine to get our stomachs adjusted for the trip. (carrys in 2 lattes and some fresh pastries..)
Lorelai: Cafe OLĖ!
Christopher: No..it's 'cafe au lait'. That's French for coffee and milk.
Lorelai: Oh...I always thought it was like 'Cafe OLĖ!' *thumbs up* 'Coffee ALRIGHT!'

Haaa..that will forever make me laugh...:) Funny funny girl. Anyways, for those of you who ARN'T as obsessed with Gilmore Girls as I am, here's some SUPER FLY French clothes ala' Forever 21. New TWIST line, everyone! Pip, pip, cheerio!I spy a new line! Yee-haw, join in the fun! (And don't forget to pop on your bloody baret this time...it really just centers this particular look...)

(Observation: BereT?? Cafe au laiT?? The French love those silent T's..and I love them for it. So beautiful.)

Yeah - these ALL give me new reasons to break out the French dictionary and try to spout out words that sound beautiful and smooth and full of grace; like chalet. Chalet chalet chalet. Hrmm..another one of those silent T's trying to trick me again...

I love the new length of skirt! Short? Yes..but too revealing? No..that little bit of timeless class is allllll fetched by the high waist. Seriously, who's ever heard of a stripper in a high-waisted skirt? Nada..that is another reason why they're so dang cute. I want one.

Speaking of Forever 21, I just opened a brand-spankin' new pair of fishnet stockings...and GUESS what I find? Not anything weird...I'm not trying to mimic a terrible horror-film here. But I fould TWO PAIRS!! :) Yay! I love the Forever 21 people...2 pairs for $3.50 just rocks my little 'I-wanna-be-French-right-NOW!' world. Love it. Love it. Love it.

snow-angels on the green lawn...

Ahhhh...the week is over! Over! Over! Can you believe that? Say whatttt!!! Yeah!

There are some weeks that go by so fast that its almost scary, there are also those weeks that go by insanelyyyyyy sloooww. Ever experienced that? This week: Definitely lightspeed.

So this is my first post in December! Wait - break out a quick disco-happy dance and a sugar cookie - quick!...ONLY 21 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! Now THAT I truly can't believe. I'll be camped out on the sewing machine until the big day making gifts for family and friends...or going blind at the knitting needles. (How fast do you think I can crank out a scarf, eh? That's kind of a rhetorical question...or just a dumb one; it isn't very fast..."Grrr Rawrr! Dropped another stitch! *$#!&!!) That's how that can go...

(Whoa - I'm workin' a messy-updo...go me. :) My mother's gold locket,

wooden beads, orange plastic beads (that looks kinda like little

nectarines strung around my neck...), one of my handmade studded cuffs,
Sophie watch, vintage belt, Forever 21 skinny jeans, sheer cotton top.)

(Had to find some alternative places for the bag collection...

this is getting out of hand, but in a wonderful way.)

smiiiileeee...

Hanging stuff on your dresser can actually be quite handy - I was surprised at how well my new 'purse rack' seems to be working. It can be kind of a pain to get into the drawer directly below purses, (my sock/legwear drawer), but it's manageable. Better then sleeping with more than seven purses right next to you...many a' time I've woken up to find the quilted Chanel pattern imprinted on my face. That's really attractive.

I just looked outside: ITS SNOWING AGAIN! Ahh! I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and bundle up like a giant blonde marshmallow and romp romp and jump jump and build something amazing in the snow. Maybe a giant cup of coffee..or an snow-apple!

(Oh..the news just said that there are only 3 inches...) Maybe I'll just dance in it...and make really shallow snow-angels. Grass-angels. Ha.