- Hey guys! I started a Tumblr. I have no idea what I’m doing and there’s not much on it right now but it will be an extension of this blog… an image dump of pretty things.
- My little apartment suits me just fine but, I would love a spare bedroom, a half bath and this:
via
- So, what kind of eyes do you have? Apparently, I have “hooded eyes”. Who knew? Well, I always knew that I couldn’t do the bold shaded crease with shadow because my crease is really low as opposed to being right under the brow bone but I never knew there was a term for that. It’s more prominent in Asian people and when I brought it up to my bf, he was like “Oh yeah, it’s one of the first things I noticed about you!” Hilarious.
- I do most of my baking from scratch but one of my favorite super quick mixes is Krusteaz Cinnamon Crumb Cake. It is a no-brainer. All you need is a square glass pan, 2/3 cup of water and 1 egg + 40 minutes in the oven. It’s great hot or room temp and the crumb part has a touch of salt. We polish off a pan of this in a day. Perfect for unexpected guests!
- Next Wednesday is my 32nd birthday. I still have to take care of my mom so, we’ll have lunch and she of course let me pick out a few things (3 tops, those sandals, and I got super-exciting dental stuff: Waterpik, new heads for my Sonicare, and a 1-hour whitening kit. Actually, I’m really excited about that stuff!) I’ve been begging the bf for a low-key evening – no presents from him, a casual dinner and crème brûlée at Can Can… maybe a movie on the couch when we get home. Sounds perfect!
- I’ve been so consumed with recovering from this damned cold and absorbing all that’s going on in Japan that I don’t have much to talk about this week. I will comment on people’s opportunism in light of a tragedy. I’m not particularly bothered by people selling art prints and the like with proceeds going to relief efforts. I mean, people are just doing what they do and taking a hit on their own profit – but where’s the proof the money actually gets donated? What really bothers me is the “like” this on Facebook and we’ll donate money, reblog on Tumblr, RT on Twitter. It’s all based on an online identity getting more exposure. The money is already there. Just donate it and be done with it. Do you really need 100,000 pats on the back before you’ll give?
- A great post on having modern-day class. (thanks Style Odyssey!) “Have some damn class” has been my signature profile quote since the Friendster days.
- 25 years ago, architect Ricardo Bofill discovered an abandoned cement factory and has been renovating it ever since. I love that so many old elements have remained. This place is HUGE and he’s using some larger rooms for gallery space and lectures. Parts will also be rented office space eventually. A bit much but the reno job is amazing. I couldn’t commit myself to 25 + years of that.
via dornob
- With thrift stores full of old neckties for $1, this is a great little project you can try yourself – necktie brooches! Or you can buy them already made via etsy! Each one looked a little different – not sure on an exact technique but working in a bunched/folded spiral with a few stitches to secure seems easy enough.
- Unfortunately, DIY fashion made it to the the NYT list of “Worn-Out Fashion Terms“
- The Zeigarnik Effect – proof that when faced with huge tasks, you just need to start somewhere, anywhere.
- Last Thursday I met up with a bunch of chicks for a Richmond lady blogger/twitter pot-luck. Some I had met before and some were new. Everyone was delightful and I got good and drunk. What do you expect when I haven’t had more than one drink in months, was beyond stressed, was around a bunch of rad women who were cracking me up, and was in charge of bringing booze?
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- I didn’t grow up with cable TV. My only chance was on weekends at my grandma’s where I would glue myself to my older cousin’s fashion magazines, a bag of Doritos and MTV. So, it wasn’t until SATC reruns started airing on FOX late at night did I start watching the show. I missed a lot and was half-lit most of the time after coming home late. So now SATC is on E! and I’m catching up. I just found out Carrie cheated on Aidan! I am so pissed. Samantha was always my favorite but Carrie disgusts me even more now, in addition to her gold-digging, whiny, selfish ways. How could he take her back? And Big?! What was the appeal?
- This has been a long week. So long. There has been work stress for the bf and a few stupid financial issues. I also started painting the bathroom last Saturday. I don’t even want to talk about how much I’ve hated the walls in there, but I will. Who the hell paints over old textured wallpaper, screws crap into the walls, removes that crap and does a horrible patch job to only paint over it again? I don’t know who but they need a swift kick in the ass. I did the best I could to fix the patches and began to paint and it just won’t end! I’m going to need another gallon before I’m done. There’s so much trim, an old built-in medicine cabinet, a tall window, a linen closet, the door with an old vent window above, a radiator, plus working around fixtures including a claw foot tub. I love the character of Fan district homes but the landlord just did not care about keeping the place up when college kids were going to destroy it, hence the amazing deal we have here. The bf had just been laid off when we moved in together so we had to take what I could afford on my own if worse came to worst. I could see what it could be though when we moved in and I’ve really made a little gem out of the place in the past 1.5 years. After the bathroom is done, I’m done with improvements here. Thank god because I’ve just about had enough of polishing this turd.
- While I love my new(ish) bottle of DKNY Pure (never been complimented on it), I pulled out the ole KenzoAmour (and started getting compliments again instantly). It’s pretty special. The notes include: Frangipani blossom, Cherry blossom, Tanakha wood, incense, Thai rice steam, vanilla of La Réunion, white Tea.
- I watched True Grit this past weekend and really enjoyed it. I’ve always loved a good western but there was a serious girl-power theme to this movie (little Hailee Steinfeld had the true grit) and the dialogue was wonderful!
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Did you know Anthropologie (ladylike), Urban Outfitters (dirty hipster) and Free People (rich hippie) are all owned by the same company? I will only shop their clearance sales and have managed to find some exceptional deals on quirky duds. Urban Outfitters is more my speed and this time last year I got the drape sweater from this post on crazy sale. So, I perused their huge sale going on right now (w/ additional 10%) and picked up this cardigan and jacket for less than $45 total.
okay, now I need a skinny belt like that
open-fronts are safer for me to order online
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I’m ready to start a new copy-cat painting project soon. I’m no good at anything with a real painterly quality but do have a steady hand and patience so, this painting by Matt W. Moore is what I want to do – really large for behind our sofa. Now for the big square canvas hunt.
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My mom had The View on this Monday and I was pleased to hear that the most influential book Joy Behar has read is Karen Horney‘s Neurosis and Human Growth. For being written in 1950, she was ahead of her time, and also one of the first people (and a woman to boot) to contradict Freud. It’s a bit dry/textbooky but seriously it’s a fantastic read. It’s been one of my favorites for over a decade and I hope a lot of people will read it and find some peace within themselves.
- This past Friday the bf took me out for Indian food after a hellish week. I got dressed and took some pics before we left, for an outfit post later. I wore a longer flowing sheer tunic over a tank and skinnies, with ankle boots. Looking at the pictures later, I felt I looked horrible. I’m not saying this in some self-deprecating manner for you to go, “oh no way!” For one thing, the camera, without a doubt, adds ten pounds. The top was a departure from my normal uniform so now, I’m even more frightened of trying new shapes out. How can looking at yourself in the mirror and then taking a pic of yourself in the mirror be so different? Is this happening to anyone else? Do I need a tripod or put my bf to work for me?
Sure, it’s Lanvin. It’s 100% silk and even lined but, it’s still a t-shirt and the same point would be made if it was unlined and 100% cotton. There are 12 grosgrain ribbon bows scattered across it. Easy enough to do. It costs $1,415.00!!!
Can someone please tell me where the justification in this price is? Did Alber Elbaz hand raise the silk worms in his back yard? Did the ribbon come from the premier grosgrain company in France? Was every stitch done by hand? Even then, I have a hard time digesting this insanity.
- We visited the bf’s parents this weekend and I showed up covered in cuts and burns. I even managed to cut myself while peeling ginger with his mom. She gave me a little bottle of 70,000 IU pure vitamin E oil and it’s amazing stuff. My mom used to get the capsules and prick them with a safety pin to put on her skin but the bottle is way more convenient and I can keep it in my purse. It’s healing up my wounds nicely and the moisture retention around my eyes is showing some serious results. A little goes a loooong way.
- I want to get snowed in again soon… for everything to slow down, shut down, so I can just play.
- FML helps me keep perspective in life… and get a good laugh at other people’s misfortunes… but whoever thought this fantastic incident was tragic needs to get a grip. I would’ve died laughing!
Today, at the supermarket, my mother stopped in the middle of a lane and imitated a gorilla as a way of asking me from far away if I wanted bananas. FML
- Amy Sedaris has a YouTube channel of crafting videos. Pure gold.
- The latest Hyperbole and a Half is out. I laughed so hard I cried and wheezed and choked.
- I suppose being raised by an Eastern European helped me cultivate my love for garlicky cured smoked meats (and spicy food – Who has jalapeno eating contests with a 5 year old? My dad.). My babushka grandma would fix me sandwiches of summer sausage and bell pepper on toast when I was little. I still love to eat them when the weather’s warm. Lately my fixation has been Lebanon bologna. The sweet kind especially. I could really go for some landjeagers too.
photo credit
- On my morning commute today, I saw a dachshund and a Yorkie running loose next to a busy street. I pulled into a parking lot and went after them. Everyone at the intersection was laughing at me. Those suckers were fast! I just know someone is worried sick over them. I couldn’t catch them, was told by an old redneck “You ain’t gunna catchem!”, and had to give up. Hope they make it home.
- I’m so damned tired all the time. I think I’ve grown immune to coffee.
- Things I want to eat a lot of lately: beets, sauteed mushrooms, goat cheese, pierogies, cheesecake, acorn squash, sweet potatoes
Martin’s has had these Maitake mushrooms regularly and I love them!
baked w/ butter, brown sugar & cinnamon
- Blog hits have gone through the roof since I tested the waters and started adding some pathetic outfit posts. What’s up with that?
- An article from the WSJ called Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior really hit home. My bf and I were both raised like this…. oooooold school.
- This picture:
- The bf got some speaker thing you can put on any surface to make it a real speaker. Friday (we were soooo glad it was Friday) he put it on the front door with some happy ska playing, announcing his arrival. We danced in the living room, jumped on the bed and yelled TIESTO! (his made up word that means the happy bliss we feel together). It was kinda great.
- Just watched Dinner for Schmucks. If you like The Office, you’ll love all the embarrassment transfer and discomfort. The taxidermy mice dioramas really made it for me!
- My bff Jen is getting back to blogging after getting preggos again and moving across the country. I’m soooo jealous that her and our bestie Sarah are going to eat their way through San Francisco! I miss hanging out with these bitches.
Over 8 years ago? We had just gotten drunk on wine and stole that gargoyle from someone’s front porch. Lookin’ good.
- I finally got my hair cut on Saturday night and I love it! I was starting to not feel like myself anymore. I’ve always had a style and keeping it all one length was so boring. It has taken 2 years to get it long enough to trim it and still feel long. The layers and face framing has given it some attitude. Some decent pictures to come soon.
- Estate sales. I need to start hunting them down and crawling out of bed early on the weekends.
- I want to start trying a few things on I would normally pass over when I go shopping. Just for the hell of it. Why not?
- I wish I would stop witnessing car accidents. I’ve done a deposition and tried to help at the scene with one (crazy drunk driver took out a light poll and 2 cars- a fire hydrant flew past my car), and now I have to go to court over another from New Years Eve a year ago when the bf and I took a stroll around the neighborhood and a guy ran a stop sign.
- Another nail in my tire.
- A few blogger friends have experienced some real tragedies lately. Last year was especially hard on a lot of people and the new year started with a shit show for a few as well. I don’t want to single them out but you know who you are and my thoughts are with you. You know how to get in touch. xoxo
I don’t make New Years resolutions but today has me thinking. First off, I want to do more outfit posts here. Nothing predictable like even once a week but, just more. Also an incident on Facebook has me a little riled and thinking about friendships. I don’t get too personal on here but I gotta share this one.
So, before the bf and I met a bit over 2 years ago, I was friends with this girl for a few years before that. We’ll refer to her as Amy. (I don’t know a single Amy.) We both frequented this dive bar in Richmond (I was bffs with the bartender) and had loads of drunk fun together. We were pretty tight, made plans, went to parties together, etc. She was kinda punky and I was kinda over it but we still knew a ton of the same people, told dirty jokes and laughed a lot. We also had very serious heart to hearts. She started dating a douche. Like the king of douches. She told me all about the hell he was putting her through. I encouraged her to get the hell out. She didn’t. She got pregnant. She had an abortion. I supported her in this decision and then found out later when she got sucked deeper into her relationship and I hadn’t heard from her in a while, that she was upset with me for supporting said abortion. Whatever. No time for this shit. I had met the bf and had more important things on my mind. If you want to date a piece of shit and be mad at me for being supportive and looking out for you, then kiss my ass.
A few months later, she tells my bf’s roommate that I was bulimic. WTF? I have never once in my life even considered puking up my food. I hate puke. So of course my bf finds out and tells me and we have a good laugh and I officially hate this bitch now.
So today, after not speaking for about 2 years, she invites me to her baby shower on Facebook. (Oh, and she married the dude too.) We’re not friends on there so she had to look me up. I just don’t get people. Seriously.
I’m looking back at the past few years of my life and how everyone and everything has changed. My bff bartender is now very sick and having a rough time of it but doesn’t want to accept help or keep in touch. My longest bff ever lives in Florida with her hubby and 2 kids. When we talk, it’s like no time has passed. I miss her. My second longest bff just moved to California with her hubby and little girl and is pregnant again. I miss the hell out of her too. Our shared bff still lives in Richmond but we can’t seem to keep in touch and she drinks like I used to but I can’t do it anymore. The other members of my core group are married w/ and w/out kids. One member of that group made a pass at my bf so it’s hard to accept invites to parties because in almost a year she still hasn’t apologized. I need to get over that shit and just go and have fun and ignore her.
Everyone is all grown up and super busy or super tired. The ones who still party like I used to, I can’t seem to relate to anymore. I never wanted to be a bar fly in my 30s. I have always felt like the odd one out anyhow. Being the primary caregiver to my mom a good portion of my life has instilled in me the type of weight of responsibility that is usually kept for parents. I always managed to get my ass home safely and be the “mother” of the group making sure everyone else was okay too. So here I am, not necessarily feeling lonely but very much different and kinda alone.
I’ve met a lot of awesome people in my couple years of blogging. I organized two local meet-ups last year and plan to do another soon. This year I plan to cultivate those friendships more and tend to the dear ones I already have.
- Chinese designer Guo Pei is blowing my mind. Check more out here.
- Since my mom can’t shop on her own for me, she lets me pick things out for myself, which pretty much rocks. While I won’t be getting any surprises from her (love love surprises, seriously, the bf had open boxes of delivered presents laying around that he hadn’t wrapped for weeks and I didn’t peek!) I do know that I’m getting clothes I’ve wanted for a long time in a few more weeks! Yay!
- My winter uniform has been established – semi-cropped grey cashmere sweater (actually the last surprise my mom could get me years ago), long tank (switching up with stripes, metallics and colors), skinnies, boots (flat or heeled), and a chunky necklace.
- I love Norwegian decor blog Design Shimmer, then Decor8 featured pics of the blogger’s gorgeous home. Click here for more pics!
- I finally switched birth control pills. I could not stand Loestrin 24 anymore. 2 pregnancy tests, wrecked nerves, insano mood swings (I was ready to knife a bitch)… to hell with that! The last pack I took, I went ahead and didn’t take the 4th week and I STILL didn’t have a period. That resulted in test #2. I keep seeing commercials saying how it’s “medically unnecessary” to have a period when you’re on the pill. Ya know what says it’s necessary? BIOLOGY that’s what. Sure, it’s a pain, it interferes with your sex life, etc, but omg do I like that little bit of reassurance that everything’s working like it’s supposed to and I’m not preggos. So, I’m now on good old-fashioned ($9 at Target) tri-sprintec and hopefully my mood swings and shot nerves will come to an end.
Here’s the latest item from Net-a-Porter that burns my ass.
I love ya Lanvin but come the hell on!
Lanvin brushed-satin floral brooch – measures about 7″ across.
$335!!!!
- Thanksgiving weekend is OVER!!! The bf was gone TG morning until Saturday night. I had to be at my parents’ house on Thursday & Friday anyhow. My dad went hunting, mom and I watched the dog show, and I cooked all day. We all had a quiet dinner together and I went home and decorated my apartment.
- Color Splash w/ David Bromstad made the cutest wonky trees on HGTV. The bf and I really wanted to make them ourselves but had no idea where to get the huge birch trunks. He drilled holes in the top half of the wood and then snipped off branches from an artificial tree and made his own! He put fuzzy white garland in clumps on the branches to look like snow! They’re so whimsical and Dr. Seuss-ey! This was the best pic I could find.
- Hello cute and easy Christmas wreath! Click here for the tutorial.
- I’m almost done with Christmas shopping! The last few things are easy to get online and 2 stores right next to one another at the last minute.
- Oh. My. God. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Bambi pumps.
- Our pet Toki the rat passed away on Thanksgiving. The night before, I thought something was wrong with him. He was having trouble lifting his head to drink water and was sleeping by the water bottle, when usually he curls up with his brother Barnaby. On Thursday morning, I checked on him before I left for my parents’ house. I held him and he let me. He was never the cuddly one. He seemed lifeless. I came home that evening and he was curled up dead. He’s now in the freezer until we can properly bury him. I don’t know what happened and there wasn’t much I could do. Rats can live up to 3 years and he was a little over 1 year old. The bf is taking it kinda hard since he never really had pets as a child. I’ve gone through so many, I feel a little disconnected from it all but, it’s still sad of course. I feel bad for Barnaby having to live the rest of his life out alone. We’re spoiling him rotten.
- I haven’t been able to comment on WordPress blogs for a couple weeks now. No clue what’s going on. I use Firefox and have made sure 3rd party cookies are enabled, logged out and tried to comment etc. When I try to comment the same thing twice, it says that I already said that so… the comments are obviously registering somewhere and disappearing. Anyone know what’s up?
- This is insane to me: In Entitlement America, The Head Of A Household Of Four Making Minimum Wage Has More Disposable Income Than A Family Making $60,000 A Year
