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DIY Manicure

Step 1.

Paint nails with a base coat, a light color works best.

-This one is Minted by Revlon-

Step 2.

Dip fingernails in rubbing alcohol.

Step 3.

Roll nails over newspaper.

-Try to find a section of the newspaper with lots of text-

Step 4.

Finish nails with a clear top coat.

Something Old, Something New

Louisiana is not known for its timely season changes; the advantage of this is that our Summer wardrobe can last us well into “Fall”.  The only season that I have noticed maintaining any form of consistency is Wedding Season.  Yet another one of my nearest and dearest has chosen November as her wedding date.  Her Bridal Shower was held in a beautifully, restored home that was built in 1905.  It was a crystal clear, cloudless day that made me thankful for the ability to wear sleeveless dresses well into late October.  We chatted, drank champagne and watched the children in attendance slide laughingly across the aged hard wood floors.  My mom and I took the remainder of the day to indulge in some antique shopping.  I purchased what is now serving as my new favorite purse.  The purse’s metal material reminds me of childhood; my Grandmother’s purses made of this material were always my favorite dress up item.  I would play with them for hours and the feel of this material gives me the comforting feeling of calm and nostalgia. 

Feminine draping + Leather belting = perfect juxtaposition

Bachelorette: A Love Story

We left during the night exhausted from the week.  We got lost on streets we had never heard of trying to get to places we had never been.  We rested.  We woke and dressed drinking hotel coffee.  We spent hours shoe shopping.  We spent hours playing in cosmetic stores.  We wandered in jewelry and furniture stores beyond our means.  I sat in chairs that more closely resembled a throne and tried on jewelry I will one day own.  Leisurely lunches followed by mid-day cat naps.  We awoke and began drinking red wine out of coffee mugs and playing dress up.  We twirled around the room debating the perfect outfit.  We teased and curled and blushed and glossed.  We spent the evening at a club located two stories underground.  We toasted to the past for the gifts of the present and toward our hopes for the future.  We jumped on beds in the VIP.  We swung from swings in mysterious white rooms.  We danced with strangers.  We left tiny piles of clothing in corners of the dance floor.  We made new friends we will never see again.  We took a four dollar cab ride to avoid the rain.  We dined, we drank, we danced.  We lived, we laughed, we loved.  We did it all in the name of invaluable relationships that cannot be defined.

Shirt is vintage from the Dynasty collection, watch Michael Kors, shoes Bakers, clutch is thrifted.

Girls Girls Girls

One branch of my family is predominantly female; including myself there are 6 cousins…all girls.  My oldest cousin is about to have her first child; pretty sure it goes without saying that she is expecting a girl, baby Marley.  In case you were wondering all of these ladies are as wonderfully weird as me and I am sure Marley will be no exception. 

This weekend I am joining another all-female branch of my extended family; my best friend and both of our younger sisters are venturing out for a girls weekend.  The four of us have been on countless trips together our entire lives but this one will be different, my best friend is engaged and this trip will serve as her bachelorette weekend.  It will be the last trip the three of us share with her as a single woman.  I cannot wait to giggle uncontrollably over mimosas, dance the night away, and talk about inappropriate topics at an inappropriate volume. 

Las Vegas circa 2009

Down the Rabbit Hole

Matilde

This, my loves is what we call a Fairy Tale!  This video has breathed a much needed dose of fantasy and whimsy into my previously dreary mood.  Fashion is magical and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  Fashion is fun, inspiring, and decadent.  It contradicts its self constantly.  It’s the sweetest story you’ve never heard that is waiting to be told.  Dress like you mean it!

Dream Weaver



As long as I can remember my mother and sister have insisted on telling me every bizarre detail of their dreams.  I used to find it frustrating the way they carried on; I always assumed “yeah dreams are weird, I get it”.  Once I began to take notice of other’s dreams I realized that their dreams are abnormal and not only that…so are mine.  Their dreams never seemed odd to me because mine are odd as well.  Dreams are a hot topic of conversation with my family and a slight obsession - I even did a Social Studies project in middle school on dream interpretation. 



My sister enlisted the assistance of one of our dear and freakishly talented friends to make one of her dreams tangible.  People always ask “well what was the dream?” it’s more abstract than that; the only way to get it is to see how inspired the work is, lucky for you that is an option.

If nothing else is ever produced from the fantastic wanderings of our subconscious this will without doubt suffice.

Sweet Dreams

Rhinestone Shades or Cheap Sunglasses

“Here’s a theory for you to disregard completely” Lester Bangs – Almost Famous

I am the first one to admit that I have a sunglass problem.  By that I mean I can’t seem to obtain enough of them, I hoard broken frames and make Frakenglasses, I don’t believe sunglasses can be too big and I’m guilty of wearing them indoors and at night.

It goes beyond that, I also have a tendency to be drawn to others who shamelessly don shades that defy convention.  I have a theory that there is a direct link between the type of person you are and the type of sunglasses you choose to wear….call me shallow I don’t care….i’ll show ya what I’m talkin bout.

  Johnny Depp always seems to play characters that have THE best sunnies, coincidence? I think not.

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen…homeless chic designer duds…they can pull it off…you can’t = cool

If people have to address you as SIR Elton John I’m pretty sure I don’t have to explain your cool factor.

Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s) was a fabulous dream from head to toe. Window shopping through cat eye shades…YUPP!

John Lennon…enough said.

Nicole Richie owns over 2oo pairs of sunglasses…and I find that reasonable.

Gloria Steinem admits she hid behind her shades.  Ps. If you haven’t seen the HBO documentary In Her Own Words… I HIGHLY recommend you do so.

I could create a separate post entirely on the iconic lenses worn at Woodstock…for today I will stick with Janis Joplin’s.

Now, if you are still skeptical as to whether or not your sunglass style is a direct representation of the type of person you are….                                                                                          ....I think were done here.

Theory Thursday; it might become a thing, haven’t decided yet. Stay Tuned!

Peace - That was the Other Name for Home

Neither of my parents lives in the house I grew up in; actually neither of them lives in the town I grew up in but whenever I venture back I still consider it going “home”.  One thing that always lets me know I am home is that I completely lose the ability to consume food at a normal pace.  Homemade chocolate chip cookies for breakfast, cheese burgers and Doritos for lunch, seafood gumbo and potato salad for dinner.  When I leave and return to my little corner of the world (where I reincorporate fruits, veggies, omega 3 fatty acids AND rationale back into my diet) I say that I am going “home”.  I’m starting to believe we give the concept of “home” to much merit when all that really matters is that there is a place (or 2 or 10) that you can be yourself.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month I treated myself to one of my favorite D.I.Y accessories….pink on pink on pink on pink hair wrap.

Upcoming Tutorial

 My upcoming week will consist of consensual stalking (project coming soon). 

And gathering the necessary items to makes this happen!

So she Dreamed

There are a of couple things making this seemingly lackluster week spectacular.

My two-toned –black&silver- manicure that makes me feel like a serious bad ass!

Bionic

The dreamy frocks parading down the runways of Paris that are all giving me major butterflies!

What a Legacy

Knowing that my future holds fair food and Ferris wheel rides!

Fantasizing about how I would be the most chic geek on the streets with one of these lovers!

Olympia Le-Tan book clutch...perfect marriage

Then we have this!

I mean honestly...

The Love Child of Productivity and Debauchery

Last weekend was a never-ending whirlwind consisting of experiences stacked on top of opportunities.

Saturday I was picked up in a balloon covered SUV with “BRIDE ON THE LOOSE” painted on the rear window.  Multiple beverages were consumed, stages were stormed, beads were caught, cab drivers blushed, and proper bachelorette memories were made.

-          Our karaoke performance of If ya Wanna be my Lover would have made the Spice Girls proud…real proud!

The next morning I washed off the Bourbon Street, got my pretty on and headed to the 2011 Excellence in Journalism Convention. 

-          Not without first piling into the Hampton Inn van with the valet (SHOUT OUT LOUIS) to go on an emergency rescue mission to find my very lost friend at a fried chicken joint (SHOUT OUT POPEYES)

Somehow everyone I met was extraordinarily interesting and brilliant.  Being around people so fascinating charges the spirit and revives the soul. 

Meeting Soledad Obrien...Major!!

Later in the week we ventured back to Bourbon Street the evening went as such:

              “Round of Hurricanes and Blow Jobs for everyone”

-          Pat Obrien’s is essential.

“FREE BULL RIDES”

-          Bourbon Cowboy knows how to draw a crowd.

“I found another white girl who can rap!  Get her on stage!”

-          There is a huge possibility I may now work at the Cat’s Meow.

The next week I was blistered, sore and hoarse…all the while completely assured that I was where I wanted to be and living the life I love.