optimus prime

the outfit-transforming power that belts weild is highly noteworthy.
It's come up alot, espec. between one of my dearests, Claire, and I.
we both have a little arsenal of trapeze dresses...
while still holding a place in my heart, the trapeze look is kind of dead and gone(T.I. anybody!)
instead of retiring older silhouettes, like the ever-charming trapeze,
BELT IT!
The opportunities and skills of belts are endless, and even though I usually look kind of like a squishy week-old fruit when I try to belt things, sometimes it turns out chic enough. The best thing is one little accessory giving new life to something that's been in your closet for literally 3 years.

observe:
similar to a pregnant cat, that looks. not so lovely. but add a belt:

and I feel much cuter, with a timely natural-waist silhouette.

if you have belt revelations or inspirations, I want to hear stories.

pantry party

warning: this is going to be very disjointed.
common thread: takes place in my pantry.
(don't fret...we have a lovely little pantry.)

moving on:
a.) If you are 5'9", you CAN wear heels. If you are nervous about towering over others, as I am, it's probably best to avoid 3 inchers...and although it seems impossible to find dazzling heels that are less than 3 inchers, it's not. I got some lovelies on ebay for $10 from Frye. And just LOOK at the heel: less than 2 inchers, but completely compelling as far as detail and structure. It can be done!

b.) If you like clunckclunck watches, ask your sister to find you some ebay man-watches for your birthday. then ask your dad to take out about 40 links from the band. Next thing you know, you're cool, PLUS you know what time it is while you're at work.

c.) new cups, clearance, gift from kelly's mom. moms, theres nothing like them. plus: these pictures actually make sense to be taken in the pantry. (something I just now realized.)


4. KITTENS!


#1 and #2 (twins), milli and vanilli

#3, Chuck Bass

# 4, Gimpy (born backwards, almost lost a leg)

# 5, Zuchini LaRue Bodega (Zuki for short)

#6, Gray for now, official name TBD

anybody want one?

the circle of life, peeps.

nobody seems that entertained by the fact that we have newborn kittens in our closet. People on the street, my friends that I tell, they're like "eh neat, so are you hungry?" and I'm like "I just told you I HAVE KITTENS!" I guess the miracle of life gets old after you hit your twenties? not to me. nay, not to me.

ramshackle parade

hokay, I have decided to blog more,

because I think it's fun, and, I have been slacking lately.

lesson: always do things if they are fun, IF as harmless as blogging and/or watching music videos from the early nineties. Both which perhaps I will have done today.



we got in a bunch of berets at my store.

(huge debate whether or not these hats are called "berets". definitely a "crochet beret" would be more descriptive and accurate - and also rhyme - but what are the other options of naming it? A beanie? Lord no!)



I like them, but somehow feel slightly guilty about it?



I wanted a green one.

as in: the Green Berets. (always fancied myself in special ops)

but I settled with raspberry (it's more purple, but eh)

so I could sing *Raspberry Beret (who doesn't love Prince, tell me) as I walk around wearing it.



*Mind you, I didn't realize that Raspberry Beret were the words to that song until like last year. I thought it was Ramshackle Parade, I just did. When I figured it out, I was probably watching VH1, and at that same moment I decided, "I will probably take the opportunity to purchase a Raspberry Beret in honor of this song, at the next possible opportunity."

so I did.

NOW for the real thing I've been thinking about.

I put together a recipe in my head while at work. (in honor of my genius friend Emily, who suggested a fashion recipe book under some uncharacteristic dillusion that I would be qualified to write one.)

recipe for: Back to School - from campus to the coffee shop to your library job.

ingredients:

1 raspberry crochet beret, optional

1 lightweight 3/4-sleeve cotton plaid button-down

1 pair of straight-leg denim. avoid weirdo washes or fancy butt-pocket designs. we are not going for baby phat. some knee holes could be appropriate. but keep it simple.

1 braided skinny belt, optional

1 pair of neutral riding boots, preferably tan and NOT suede, flat

OR

1 pair of ankle-covering sandals.

1 pair vintage tortoiseshell ray-bans

1 leather-like shoulder bag in off-setting color, big enough for a notebook. no trims or trappings. best if it looks like a meg ryan briefcase bag from her glory days.

procedure:

put on denim. put on shirt. ( this is difficult I know. ) Don't button it too high, so that you look relaxed and roll the sleeves a few more rolls than necessary, so that you look busy. Especially if the shirt is more "tunic" length (and many plaids this season are) you will use the skinny belt to accentuate your natural waist. Be sure the skinny belt and riding boots are of similar or complimentary tones. Make sure your jeans fit loosely into the boots. You are going for comfort and slouchy, not equestrian or stuffy. if you have the ankley sandals, it's okay for your jeans to gather around them at the bottom or tuck in a little bit. it looks cool. Do your hair "didn't have time to dry it"' wavy, no makeup, raybans, and you're out the door! Get a few pairs of jeans, a plaid shirt or two (I know we have ones for $11.50 at Forever right now and they're actually cute) and you've got a fall uniform that will take you into november. *leggings can be substituted for the denim, if the shirt hits below the hips.

no kittens yet.

moms make the best pancakes

no kittens yet!

leather bomber, reg. $150, 4th of july clearance got it for $9.99.

wiggly fish, must-have for everday life. ( I use the fins for opening boxes at work. utility!)

cheesy red boots, ATC this afternoon with claire, 16.50

this week I have been struck by the pleasantly relieving realization that even if I never get married, my friends will love me anyway. is it not strange, that I could ever be under the impression that they wouldn't? but you know, everyone has that twingey fear of getting left behind, nomatter what from. maybe I get that feeling because I'd wonder off from my mom so much in Venture when I was little, and assume they'd left me for good. not so.

we were never meant to be, baby we just happened

things in my head:
1. rompers. love/hate?

2. monochromatic outfits. never thought I'd say it, but, done right, they are growing on me.
3. i got a wiggly fish necklace.

4. someday when i do not feel half dead, I shall show you my recent clearance treasures, you shall swoon.

5. we adopted a preggo cat, living in our mudroom. name: Tzipporah. kitty names; chuck bass, zucchini larue bodega, ivane the starr...maybe more, but research has determined that free-roaming preggo cats have on average three live kittens per litter. fact. we are going to keep track of her progress and kitties, hoo hoo stay tuned. pictures, and videos of her eating the placentas. ( if i have to look at it, so does the rest of the world.)

6. bridesmaid, take two for the summer, this weekend. perhaps one of my favorite hobbies = to be a bridesmaid. considering a freelance career as one.

7. up