almost spring...almost perfect

Spring Break has officially sprung - yet the weather is the worst tease. The skies are incredibly blue, the sun is shining, grass looks the softest green, and BAM, the wind tears you to shreds. Wear a skirt? ONLY if you don't mind freezing your thighs and running the risk of having a completely un-cute Marilyn Monroe moment...seriously. Having your skirt embarassingly fly up while walking down the street, shopping, tying your shoe, sipping an Americano, ect.  I've had to find activities inside, such as zine-making, blog-reading, and LOTS of sewing. Hopefully I'll make something a little bit wind-friendly!

Hunter Original Gloss Boots in Lava, $115

LC Lauren Conrad x Kohl's Military Jacket, $41.99

Fred Flare Belle Epoque rose dress, $68

Maybelline Shine Sensational Gloss in Watermelon Punch

Forever 21 Coin Captured Bracelet Set, $12.80
Maybelline Express Finish polish in Speedy Hot Tamale

Fred Flare Urban Ears classic cool headphones, $68

Steve Madden  SYSCO, $79.95

evacuating the dance floor...quickly

PROM. WAS. AMAZING.  I've probably said that every year, but this year was probably one of the best. Getting ready at 2 pm to leave at 4:30, (after a necessary Starbucks run, of course), was a little worrisome when it comes to having a broken curling iron that only heats on one barrel. So not cool. But having a venti green tea was worth it, but I only let myself drink half to limit the number of times I would have to hike up the dress and use the restroom.

In our stretch-neon equipped-double bench seat-whatever limo, we blasted just about every genre of music under the sun. All smiles, sipping our bubbly, (apple cider), trying not to dribble on our dresses, and having a great time with the best of friends made the night amazing before we had even arrived at the pre-dance dinner. .

THEN someone brought a fart machine. To the dance. Seriously. You thought it would be a fairytale? Well..it definitely was, except for the stench of rotting eggs seemingly cuing the DJ to hit Cascada's dance-jam "Evacuate the Dancefloor." And evacuate we did. Quickly; as fast as my little Steve Madden platforms could take me. (But dancing TOTALLY commenced again once the...eggs...died down.)

Nick and I are going strong 2 YEARS, marking today. Hmmm..I should make a cake...an anniversary cake. I'll head over to check out Cupcakes and Cashmere to see if she's posted any fab recipes. Her link to Alton Brown's sugar cookie was bomb, if you're in the need to a quickie-sugar rush. Perfect every time!

(THE dress/teeze me, shoes/Steve Madden, white tux jacket/F21,

2-tone chain bag/vintage, corsage/lovies from Nick...)

(CAT going near my tea...not good, man, not good...)

(we are rarely seen in a serious state during photo-time...)

xoxo

warm traditions...

There's absolutely nothing comparable to Grandma's cookies. That may sound totally overused, but for these insanely addictive oatey-raisiny-moist-chewy-cinnamony cookies it rings completely true.  See that? It tackles nearly EVERY craving!  After a long school day, after a long work day, whatever, they're so perfect. Not exactly the French cooking that I've been studying with Julie and Julia, and Julia Child's cookbook, but still pretty good.  Here's the recipe at 'Read More'....

(The treats were amazing after a cold and windy day in the city. Bundled up in an Old Navy beanie, F21 scarf, Buckle flats, Paris Blues jeans, a thrifted blazer, and cardigan from The Limited. )

summer comes soon

 

(DOMINO cover, October 2008, featuring Kelly Wearstler...)

As you would know upon my drooling and pawing over every beautiful creation I see; I'm a TOTAL and COMPLETE FOOL for Steve Madden. There's just something about his designs that wrenches my wallet out of my purse at every given opportunity...

His website is an old favorite of mine, and how could it not be? Seeing what's new to hit stores and also the "How To Wear It" section full of high-ranking  models, (all of whom I'm a tad bit jealous of...), wearing said footie bombshells. These are a new interest of mine, Summer Oxfords.  Hmmm...dressy shoes? In nude and pale shades? For summer? Yes, yes, to answer all your questions. I know I'm going to live in them because they're perfect for summer bike rides and walks through town.

(Run from upper left and across...TIRAH, $49.95...HDREAMUR, $59.95...MANQUE, $99.95...)

grocery wonders

Yes - everyone has their favorites when they're grocery shopping. Those MUST-HAVE items, (those that differ from the latest shoes and earrings, of course!...), that make the shoppin' list every week.  For Nick and I, we seemingly found all of our favorite items on the counter at once...

Donald Duck orange juice.  Jalapeno Fire hot sauce. Johnny's Seasoning Salt, (ha - I love love love to mock him and call it 'seasonal salt'...for some reason, that really gets him). Bull's-Eye BBQ sauce, so sweet yet with a great kick. NYC polish in #229. Ligh n' Fit yogurt, basically the salvation of my life and every meal.  Eggs, Nick again - he loves them every single way they can be prepared. Spring Oreos, so much cuter with yellow stuffing. Fresh bananas, my morning fuel.  Oh yea - there's a green M&M in there, just for kicks...

luna bars and sunshine

(Ohhh...how I do love thee, Love Culture wedges...)

(creating interesting rhythm with bobby pins...)

Tuesday. Tuesday. Tuesday; not quite the same as the Tegan and Sara song, (you know, "Monday Monday Monday." Insanely catchy and so soo true...). The sun is FINALLY coming out, yet I'm still unsure as to which occassions should include tights and which days are allowing of bare legs. Part of me wishes there was some sort of memo, or broadcast that could be sent out to the inquiring fashiony-but-unsure people; "Today is a sure day for legware, folks. Be sure to break out those tights before headin' out the door"...or I'd even be happy with, "No tights. Put. Them. Down."  Either way...at least I'd know....Thoughts on this? IS there some memo that I have no idea about? Or is it dependent on the situation?

Ok - two things that don't happen very often at all have surely happened...today.  1) I've taken some pictures outside, as you can see by the buttery-lemon color of my house. It felt amazing to get some fresh air, especially since the days have been nearly all too bitter to leave the house in just a skirt and a thing cardigan. Ha - it HAD to have been quite interesting to see me trying to jog through the grass in those 5 1/2" wedges...      AND 2) I've found a blog that needs some mentioning...

I'm not usually one to do a lot of advertising of other blogs, mostly because I feel somewhat unfair to the other ten or fifteen that I read daily but just don't blabber on and on (and on and on) about. THIS blog, Melanie Likes, is actually one of my insta-favorites; one of those blogs that are kind of burned into your mind forever. (Similar to FashionToast, because frankly, HOW the HELL can you forget a name that has to do with breakfast food?!)    Instead of using brekkie appeal, Melanie Likes caught my eye for her seriously unique style, ability to shop vintage like a Gucci-Group bloodhound, and especially her adorable haircut. (Oh yes, and when I mean shop vintage, I seriously mean SHOP VINTAGE, like actually find things that don't make you want to cringe. This gal could change ANY vintage-phobe into a born again. Check it out to see for yourself....like....soon.  :)

(Wearing --> red Smudge cardigan, grey American Eagle draped tank, MK and Ashley Olsen x Claire's gold necklace, coin necklace by my friend Katie G., blue cord Old Navy skirt redraped and pinned by me, wedges by Love Culture.)

noblesse oblige

(American Eagle tank, vintage cameo ring, thrifted red quilted clutch,

Mary-Kate and Ashley x Claires gold necklace, tyte black skinnies)

Went to my NHS, (National Honor Society..i.e..nerd group of kids with good grades), Induction today; very official, very overly flourescent under the gymnasium lights. Believe me, they were those horrid lights that make you look not only sallow, but somewhat purply and sallow at the same time.  I finally decided on, (after nearly an hour of finding some 'business-casual-cute-formal-dressy-unique-personal yet fancy' clothes), wearing my soft navy-royal blue cardigan from The Limited, but what I ended up looking like was a little purply-rave wear blueberry under those lights.  That was a total mouthful, but it's true...I never before took into consideration the lighting that would be present at the shindig.

For some reason, I was actually kind of nervous for tonight. I had been told by the 'generations of Members before me' that the Induction was nothing to worry about. But, as the 'generations of Members before me' DIDN'T realize, I had to dress to a T AND walk around with a candle! A lit candle! A small torch! Hair product would have to be rationed due to high flammability as well as all banning of ruffles or protruding sequins...

It was a rough night, but it was worth it. And American Eagle tanks work on everyone, I've decided that they could become a new staple. Amen to that...

XoooooXoo.

song of the century

PROM SHOPPING. TODAY. Yes, fueled by an icy Starbucks venti-unsweetened-green-iced tea. Yes, almost 6 hours. Yes, I was actually able to hunt down everything I needed. I've never, ever, in the two previous years I've gone to prom, been able to collect everything in one day.

Necklace: Macy's.

Shoes: Famous Footwear. (Steve MADDENS! I almost shrieked when I saw them..that is a sign, my friend. I may shriek often and be fairly obnoxious when it comes to pretty shoes, but NOTHING I have in my closet right now compares to these ruffly, magenta t-straps.)

Dress: Ross. I was actually super-surprised that I found a dress here. But damn...a prom dress for $15.99? Allowing me to get expensive shoes? Shoes that are pretty and really high and so magenta that they're almost crazy? I'M SOLD BUY IT NOW YES YES THAT IS BRILLIANT.

Bag: Vintage, already had it.

Bracelets: Already had them right from my 15th birthday.

I tend to go crazy once I actually have a vision of what I want to wear. I came to the mall with no expectations, (you know the old adage; 'If you expect to buy something, it will be damn hard to find. If you have no goals in your shopping life and are just along for the ride, you usually find something great.") I've lived by that for a while now...  I first found an insanely beautiful black satin one-shouldered dress. It. Was. Beautiful. It was nearly "the dress." But I just felt like it was too early, too soon in the game to settle on a dress.  Even though I have my dress, (grey and teal...by the way...), I would still go back to Macy's and get that dress to sleep in. Naw...just to have, and wear for dancing around my house because it made me feel THAT GOOD. Don't you just go crazy for clothes like that? The moment you don them, you need to disco-hustle-jive-breakdance, anything! Love it...talk about a love-love relationship with your closet...its time to end love-hate and bring back LOVE-DANCE!

Maybe I'll post a picture of my shoes tomorrow. I may sleep in them also.

xoxo, yo!  <3

underwater adventure...Seattle #2

Its not often that a person sees baby otters, starfish, and a huge orange octopus all in one day. Still in the city, we made a special trip down to the Seattle Aquarium. Good timing too, if I do say so myself. We had the chance to lean into a man-made puddle of water and stroke a sea star of our choice...lucky day, right?! The whole aquarium experience may have been amazing, but I was still a tad weirded out by the fact that the upper level of the aquarium was a resturant. A fish resturant. A fresh fish resturant. A bit disturbing, no?

The clarity of the tanks at the aquarium was INCREDIBLE. I was toting around this miniture FinePix camera, (which is fabulous for a pocket-cam. The pictures it can snag are remarkable! Good buy, very good buy).  Some of the "ocean life" was gorgeous, like this flowing piece of flora. I think, with all of my vast knowledge of oceanography, *ah-hem, yes - you're speaking to an "expert"; its similar to a piece of coral, only soft and layered. KNOW WHAT ELSE IS FLOWING, SOFT, LAYERED...AND FASHIONABLE?! Other than this sea-plant, that is......MARCHESA! This gown popped up in my mind in particular. The flower trimming, the endless train, the almost regal feeling...all shared by this weird little bit of underwater nature.

This may be another weird observation, but fish was incredible. (And yes, instead of thinking, "Ohhh..what a wonderful specimen of underwater glory! This fish is the best combination of blahhh scaleys and blahhhh skills and it can prey on animals blahh-blahhh times its size blahhh cool colors.")  Instead, I was thinking, "Damn! That is SO Proenza Schouler! Right on, fish!" It's true...this fish is completely decked in the scuba-inspired fashions of the designer duo, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough and their 2010 Spring RTW line.  LOVE you guys. **clap clap clap.

prepare for rain...Seattle #1

I learned something valuable this weekend; I'm absolutly destined to live in the city. Seattle, to be more specific. Sure, I definitely want to live in New York while I have a great job in something pertaining to maybe art history-photography-resturant management, or even Fashion with a captial 'F', but for my college years I am meant to be a 'Seattle-ite'...as cheesy, or rom-com, (terrible shortening for the romantic-comedy movie genre...), this call of fate may be.

My National Honor Society, or gaggle of nerds as I often re-name, made the trip amazing; jam packed with every single "tourist-y" thing available. Tours? Every one... Authentic seafood? Every meal... Trying to be 'cool' with the locals? Not at all, especially as we could crowd laid back coffee-joints and take pictures at every flash of a Starbucks sign...didn't really succeed at the 'being cool' part.

As a good-good blogger should, I took an astounding number of photos. Tried to do a semi-even division of shots between my old-school Olympus 35mm and my sister's Fujifilm Finepix. I actually fell quite in love with the 'style' of the city;OF COURSE I kept a photo-journal of the "Best Dressed of Coffee-Land, ie Seattle." We were constantly on the streets and in the Market, definitely giving me ample time to find inspiration and snap some anonymous photos of my favorite outfits....but kinda butt-shots galore, just warning you. I need to work on this whole "fashion-paparazzi" thing.

The main 'style'; the 'chic thang', was actually fairly evident on this trip. Lots of spandex skirts, meaning tight and flirty, but worn over tights with boots and scarves to balance it out. Honestly, WHO could wear a SPANDEX skirt in Seattle without catching a mean cold...I wore a skirt sans tights for one night and was begging for some legware. (Weird...I think that may be one of the weirdest thoughts I've ever had..."begging for some legware...").  I fell in love with the classic stapes punched up with bright sunnies, a tribal scarf, and always the fun dress over tights. Damn...I really wanna be a city girl. (I wouldn't mind getting a little better at sneaking shots too...they were either too blurry, or from behind while they're standing still.) I'll improve...slowly.

to never grow up/to never fall down

Last night was a dress-up of sorts, it seems. There are just so many items that I want to RUN-SKIP-JUMP into that I seem to be going crazy; planning a hopeful outfit for Tuesday only to have it rain. Setting out my favorite metallic sandals for Wednesday only to wake up to a snow warning.  I must get my hands on any outfit that doesn't consist of bag lady-like layers to keep warm, to keep my lip from turning blue. (That really does happen to me, for some reason. No matter how much lipstick/gloss/Carmex I have on, that little guy still purples out when I've gotten too chilled...)  

This sounds so fairy-esque and sort of Polly Pocket, but I'm enchanted by the thought of wearing skirts sans tights again.  It would be nice to substitute something in for all the black tops and jeans. I wear a lot of black. Bleak. Black. I shudder at the thought of this winter; uncovering from my ahhhmazing electric blanket and crawling out of bed in the morning to stand in a cold closet that seems to erupt with cold air that takes every ounce of cheer out of my day. *Sigh. I reach for black, again and again.)

I scored this first skirt from Ross. An intense grab-n-go item. Did I try it on? Noo..  Did I really have any confidence in it from the start? Well...I thought, "Hey - no biggie. If this $4 skirt doesn't fit I can at least sew something cool out of the fabric." Lo and behold, *cue the angel's singing voices,* it fit! And it has mooooved on up to the top of the pile. 

The second, the creme mini with the pyramid studs, (I'M AN ADDICT, ARN'T I? STUDS ARE EVERYWHERE...STUDAHOLIC IS ME??).... Anyways...I made it out of a Hoopfest player shirt and some old black denim for a waistband.  DIY will never die, ladies and gentlemen! Nothing feels better than pulling on an item stitched with your own two hands. No mention of any finger-pricks or extremely discreet curse words shouted out of needle-meets-finger pain...no mention at all...

Tell me about your BEST DIY moment....What are you *jazzed* out of your mind to wear this season?