Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Anne of Green Gables
I was spending a lazy and rainy afternoon searching my list of beloved blogs when I fell upon Liebemarlene's site and her wonderful entry on Heinrich Kuhn's autochromes and it immediately transported me back to when I was a little girl aimlessly obsessed with Anne of Green Gables.
I wasn't particularily girly growing up. In fact, like Anne Shirley, I was headstrong, opinionated and had a temper that could scare a lion. I think if I had to choose one fictional character that most influenced me as a person, it would be Anne of Green Gables. She was always willing to work for anything and her most powerful tool for life was her incredible imagination.
Even as she grew older (whether you read the original books or saw the movies starring Megan Follows), her imagination never left her. At 26 years old, I feel the same way. I can imagine my way out of most situations and I think it has made me the person I am.
Not to mention, her style was beautiful. I love to watch the movies just to refer to the incredible outfits she wears. Oh to have lived at that time period....
I wasn't particularily girly growing up. In fact, like Anne Shirley, I was headstrong, opinionated and had a temper that could scare a lion. I think if I had to choose one fictional character that most influenced me as a person, it would be Anne of Green Gables. She was always willing to work for anything and her most powerful tool for life was her incredible imagination.
Even as she grew older (whether you read the original books or saw the movies starring Megan Follows), her imagination never left her. At 26 years old, I feel the same way. I can imagine my way out of most situations and I think it has made me the person I am.
Not to mention, her style was beautiful. I love to watch the movies just to refer to the incredible outfits she wears. Oh to have lived at that time period....
Saturday, June 13, 2009
All That Jazz
I have been having a fairly lazy Saturday trying to pick out music for my wedding. Funny how I always resort back to jazz standards. I have been singing jazz since I was a teenager and it has had such an influence on my life. Growing up in Chicago adds more wood to the fire called my love affair with jazz and the history around it.
A year ago, I sang at the Green Mill which is notoriously known as a hangout of Al Capone (whom I oddly share a birthday with) and a speakeasy during the 1920s. It is an amazing place. You feel like you have stepped back in time. I imagine I was a flapper in a former life.
Me singing at The Green Mill in Chicago
A year ago, I sang at the Green Mill which is notoriously known as a hangout of Al Capone (whom I oddly share a birthday with) and a speakeasy during the 1920s. It is an amazing place. You feel like you have stepped back in time. I imagine I was a flapper in a former life.
Me singing at The Green Mill in Chicago
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Under the Native American Influence
Growing up, my family and I took month long road trips all over America exploring our nation's many splendid wonders. Most often, we would travel West, as my grandmother and mother had a crazy obsession with the American Western Frontier. I completely blame these trips for my obsession with Native American culture and history.
When my grandmother past away 5 years ago, she left me one precious thing: Her jewelry. Though it was never extravagant or expensive, it always meant something. My grandmother, though originally from Paris, was a traveler who loved to see the world. But nothing astounded her more than the art and design of the Navajo. In particular, I cherish an ornate silver and turquoise bracelet. I often find myself picking out entire outfits around this bracelet and many of my grandmother's other beautiful pieces. Oh how they may not be worth much to others, but they are worth the world to me.
I think the influence of Native American art is far more extensive in history and fashion than we pay attention to. This is especially true in art deco which drew a lot of its base from not only Native American pieces but many ancient Egyptian and Greek styles as well using very geometric symbols for everyday objects. It was also very present in the fashion of the 1970s which is how my mother became first acquainted with it.
When my grandmother past away 5 years ago, she left me one precious thing: Her jewelry. Though it was never extravagant or expensive, it always meant something. My grandmother, though originally from Paris, was a traveler who loved to see the world. But nothing astounded her more than the art and design of the Navajo. In particular, I cherish an ornate silver and turquoise bracelet. I often find myself picking out entire outfits around this bracelet and many of my grandmother's other beautiful pieces. Oh how they may not be worth much to others, but they are worth the world to me.
I think the influence of Native American art is far more extensive in history and fashion than we pay attention to. This is especially true in art deco which drew a lot of its base from not only Native American pieces but many ancient Egyptian and Greek styles as well using very geometric symbols for everyday objects. It was also very present in the fashion of the 1970s which is how my mother became first acquainted with it.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Death of my beloved shirt
So, a long time ago (actually it was just 3 years ago), I worked at a little known retailer called Target. And at this fantastic store, I found myself buying a lot of clothes espeically those from the Go International collection. One day, we got in Paul & Joe for Target and there was a fantastic dusty pink, cap sleeve tee with an abstract sketch of a ballerina en arabesque on front. I fell in love.... So many years of ballet has made me a sucker for anything with ballet on it. There was no medium (for the small was way too small for my boobs)so I waited. Two weeks past and no medium came in. None of the store had one and I was devastated. So, in sheer determination, I bought the small.
Far too busty and much too timid to wear it tight, the ballerina wonder tee from Paul & Joe sat aimlessly in my closet for 3 years. Every once in a while I would pull it out hoping I could make it work but alas, it ended in failure each time. I couldn't even donate it. I felt as though I was betraying its prettiness but letting it gather dust in the local Goodwill.
My loss, is your gain. I am willing to send my favorite shirt to one lucky gal with style. I will even send it to you under one condition: you send me a picture of yourself styled with my shirt.
It is a size small BUT, I wear small...this is more like an XS and you can not have a larger bust.
Far too busty and much too timid to wear it tight, the ballerina wonder tee from Paul & Joe sat aimlessly in my closet for 3 years. Every once in a while I would pull it out hoping I could make it work but alas, it ended in failure each time. I couldn't even donate it. I felt as though I was betraying its prettiness but letting it gather dust in the local Goodwill.
My loss, is your gain. I am willing to send my favorite shirt to one lucky gal with style. I will even send it to you under one condition: you send me a picture of yourself styled with my shirt.
It is a size small BUT, I wear small...this is more like an XS and you can not have a larger bust.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
1. What is your current obsession?
Well, I just moved into a house with my fiance so I have been spending a lot of time attempting to decorate it. This proves to be much harder than I initially anticipated! Combining my flea market vintage with his stream-line architectural taste is fairly daunting. But I am working my way through it.
2. What is your weirdest obsession?
Owls. I have a terribly weird obsession with owls. I have them on everything and when I find an owl item, I have to buy it. People have actually bought me owl brooches and necklaces and even a fantastic owl patched sweater in the past.
3. What do you see outside your window?
I see my neighbor's yard. I am not even sure if anyone lives there.
4. What is your favourite color?
Turquoise. Really any shade of it. I suppose this liking started as child. All of my mother's and grandmother's jewelry was Navajo and mostly made of turquoise.
5. What is your weakness?
Anything from Paris. My grandmother was from Paris and we grew up hearing stories of the City of Lights during WWII.
6. What animal would you be?
I would love to be a house cat.
7. What would you like to learn how to do?
Speak better French. My accent is awesome but my knowledge is pretty horrid.
8. What do you want to never happen in life?
Lose my imagination. It has gotten me through some pretty rough times.
9. What is on your bedside table?
We don't have that complicated of furniture yet but, I used to have one at my parent's house and it had a lamp, a handmade tile coaster (I like water at my bedside, i wake up thirsty all the time) and my alarm clock.
10. What's the last thing you bought?
A fabulous dress on ModCloth.com for a wedding I am going to at the end of the month. It is on a vineyard in Michigan and I needed something vineyard worthy.
11. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Well no one tagged me, I just took it.
12. What was your favourite children's book?
Alice in Wonderland and Beauty and the Beast.
13. Who do you want to meet in person?
I would love to meet Zooey Deschanel. She is so chic.
14. What did you want to be as a child?
I always wanted to be some sort of scientist that is an expert in their field. When I was about 8, it was Marine Biology. When I was 10, it was Paleontology and when I was 12, it was theoretical physics. I didn't end up doing any of them. I work in the work of internet marketing for a beauty company. ;)
15. What did you dream about last night?
I am not sure but, I didnt wake up screaming, so that is good!
16. Which to you prefer, day or night?
Night. I do not do well in the morning.
17. What's your favourite piece of clothing in your closet?
I have this button dress that I waited and waited for on ModCloth that I just adore. I plan to wear it for our engagement pictures, which are very artsy.
18. What's your plan for tomorrow?
Work, unfortunately. But it is one day closer to the weekend!
19. What would you like to get your hands on right now?
A vintage prairie dress from the 70s. Liebemarlene's Rhiannon had one in her eBay store but I was outbid! I was so upset. But, I am looking for one still.
20. What is your must-have of the moment?
See above
21. What's your favourite tea flavour?
Rooibos. And I drink (and adore) most tea. But its vanilla flavor is just fantastic.
22. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
The Canary Islands for a holiday!
Well, I just moved into a house with my fiance so I have been spending a lot of time attempting to decorate it. This proves to be much harder than I initially anticipated! Combining my flea market vintage with his stream-line architectural taste is fairly daunting. But I am working my way through it.
2. What is your weirdest obsession?
Owls. I have a terribly weird obsession with owls. I have them on everything and when I find an owl item, I have to buy it. People have actually bought me owl brooches and necklaces and even a fantastic owl patched sweater in the past.
3. What do you see outside your window?
I see my neighbor's yard. I am not even sure if anyone lives there.
4. What is your favourite color?
Turquoise. Really any shade of it. I suppose this liking started as child. All of my mother's and grandmother's jewelry was Navajo and mostly made of turquoise.
5. What is your weakness?
Anything from Paris. My grandmother was from Paris and we grew up hearing stories of the City of Lights during WWII.
6. What animal would you be?
I would love to be a house cat.
7. What would you like to learn how to do?
Speak better French. My accent is awesome but my knowledge is pretty horrid.
8. What do you want to never happen in life?
Lose my imagination. It has gotten me through some pretty rough times.
9. What is on your bedside table?
We don't have that complicated of furniture yet but, I used to have one at my parent's house and it had a lamp, a handmade tile coaster (I like water at my bedside, i wake up thirsty all the time) and my alarm clock.
10. What's the last thing you bought?
A fabulous dress on ModCloth.com for a wedding I am going to at the end of the month. It is on a vineyard in Michigan and I needed something vineyard worthy.
11. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Well no one tagged me, I just took it.
12. What was your favourite children's book?
Alice in Wonderland and Beauty and the Beast.
13. Who do you want to meet in person?
I would love to meet Zooey Deschanel. She is so chic.
14. What did you want to be as a child?
I always wanted to be some sort of scientist that is an expert in their field. When I was about 8, it was Marine Biology. When I was 10, it was Paleontology and when I was 12, it was theoretical physics. I didn't end up doing any of them. I work in the work of internet marketing for a beauty company. ;)
15. What did you dream about last night?
I am not sure but, I didnt wake up screaming, so that is good!
16. Which to you prefer, day or night?
Night. I do not do well in the morning.
17. What's your favourite piece of clothing in your closet?
I have this button dress that I waited and waited for on ModCloth that I just adore. I plan to wear it for our engagement pictures, which are very artsy.
18. What's your plan for tomorrow?
Work, unfortunately. But it is one day closer to the weekend!
19. What would you like to get your hands on right now?
A vintage prairie dress from the 70s. Liebemarlene's Rhiannon had one in her eBay store but I was outbid! I was so upset. But, I am looking for one still.
20. What is your must-have of the moment?
See above
21. What's your favourite tea flavour?
Rooibos. And I drink (and adore) most tea. But its vanilla flavor is just fantastic.
22. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
The Canary Islands for a holiday!
The day I almost got a ticket....
So today, I was driving home and took a short cut (that I convienently just discovered 2 days ago) and I sped. I didn't really mean it. I am not a speeder. I am one of those people who average 65 on the expressway where the speed limit is coincidentally 65. It has just never really been my thing. But, at times, I don't realize my speed in neighborhoods. In Chicago, depsite the fact that I lived approximately one block from a major Police station, everyone went 40 down the side streets.....including the police officers themselves. However, this is not common in the suburbs. I haven't quite decided if it is because people care more about someone getting hit or if they just don't have the ability to control their kids from running every which way into the street (believe me, sometimes I lean towards the latter explaination).
Regardless, I flew by a parked police car at 32 mile per hour in a 20 MPH zone. It wasn't that I was racing....in fact, I even slowed down when I saw him but, he got me. I just totally forgot the one downfall of my shortcut: really slow speed limit (and it is NOT a school zone). Oddly, the officer didn't even pull me over until I was already in my driveway, which I thought was sort of odd but, upon looking at my record, he noticed I have never had a ticket in the 10 years I have been driving and he let me go with a stern warning (not a written warning because apparently, they don't do those out in boondock burbs).
Well, with adrenaline pumping, my plan for my first outfit of the day shot turned out less than par but, I shall post it anyways.
2/06/09
Top: Thrift Store
Skirt: Simply Vera Wang from Kohls!
Necklace: Thrift Store
Shoes: Crown Vintage from London
Chair: The Herman Miller!
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