Transcript

From Tizzy's and my e-mails conversation from earlier...

Tizzy: "I'm hopping mad you. In my dream lastnight you clocked me in the face. Unforgivable."

Lish: "Did I give you a blackeye?"

No reply yet. I hate those dreams that are so real life, you wake up mad or upset at someone or something. But I have to say if you didn't get a black eye or tooth knocked loose, is it really unforgivable?

Stripes Done Right

Here are four examples of Striped Dresses I would wear ALL summer long. I love them all yet they represent different looks to me. Top Right is when I am feeling casual flats, and undried hair. The two on the left are when I am stepping it up to go out althought the bottom one is definitely is more flirty and girl. So ladies, don't worry about having to learn how to tie knots, stripes aren't only sailors.

My favorite time of year . . . .

Tizzy and Lish are the youngest little butterballs in this pic with our cousins.

Clearly Laura Ingalls was a big style inspiration this year.

I'm so excited that Easter is upon us.

(It's my second favorite holiday)

For as long as I can remember my family goes to the same Easter brunch.

Both sides of our family would be there.

It was heaven for a kid -

An easter bunny that has mad balloon skills,

running around in the grass/snow/mud depending on the weather,

a desert buffet that is never ending,

and fabulous new frocks to get dressed up in.

Here are some of the mad fashions that we were subjected to:

Isn't this just too fabu?

I don't what's better my mom's hat or golden boy's wicked suit.

Case in point - Lish with balloon animal

Bangs and side braids for everyone!

When our neice saw this picture last year she had one question -

"Why are you guys dressed like pilgrims?"

This Easter Lish pulled my mom aside and was hopping mad.

How come she was the only one not in a floral print?

This is a white multiple around my waist.  Awesome.

Nothing compares to more Stylish Sister's get up.  Pure early 90's heaven.

You'll notice there are several repeats through the years.

This year I got to wear the Easter bonnet.

This year we'll be down in Florida so we'll miss the family shindig.

But if I was going this is what I would want to be wearing.

(assuming of course I could afford any of this.)

Donna Karan

This is perfect - even comes with an easter bonnet.

marchesa

Kind of feels like an easter egg, no?

Nanette Lepore

Milly

Maybe I'm drawn to all the pink.

This is a fun suit option.

How often can you put fun and suit in the same description?

Oscar De La Renta

I love the orange.

Especially with the black tights.

Michael Kors

This is if there is snow on the ground.

Which unfortunately, is always a possibility.

Bottega Veneta

Who needs an Easter Basket when you are wearing this!

Can you imagine all the Easter Eggs you could smuggle in this?

You would clean up at the Easter Egg hunt.

I'm seeing clearly now . . .

I've had a tricky couple of weeks.

It was capped off last night in the pouring rain.

It just seems that I'm being confronted more and more regularly

 by people in my life that I can best describe as one-way streets.

Everything pertains and revolves around them.

Your life - pertains and revolves around them.

As I'm getting older I have less and less patience for this.

I heard this song - Bruises by chairlift - at work.

I loved it instantly.

I have felt this way.

 A lot lately.

So last night I take my little puppers for one last walk before bed.

It's pouring rain and as we turn the corner we bump into a friend.

She has moved away from our neighborhood but still comes back everyone now and then.

We had been trying to make plans to catch up.

I was trying to figure out when our schedules matched up.

She interupts me with this,

"Let me tell you what I am doing."

Ahh, yes.

This is exactly why we don't really keep in touch.

Every conversation is her going on and on about her life, her job, her house.

I'm always internally rolling my eyes and shaking my head.

I just really don't care anymore.

So in the spirit of my motto for 2010 - Take Action -

I'm getting off these streets and stopping the gymnastics

and knots that I normally tie myself in to appease some people in my life.

Hopefully, I'll no longer be pink and black and blue.

I'm a genius . . .

How fabulous is this?

I can take some credit for the styling as I recommended the color.

So fantastic - the color, her long nail beds and let's not forget the gorgeous sparkler that lights up the picture.

I am patting myself on the back right now.

But you knew that, right?

PS

Doesn't the picture below makes everyone want me to ditch the red, and go back to being a brunette?

Yes Please!

I will take one of each. Chevron printed pillows, black and white graphic accents, studded oversized vest, statement necklace, and sparkle. What else could a lish ask for?

Swap-o-rama . . .

I'm on a posting bender, huh?

To quote the inimitable Jill Zarin,

'I run with a fabulous crowd'.

And I can prove it. 

Check out this bauble.

Isn't it the most to say the least?

Although it is not mine - I'm holding it randsom for a few weeks.

It actually belongs to my besty jessy.

After goo goo gaa gaa'ing all over it in Cabo.

She took the hint and sent it to me as a loaner.

So fantastic!

Not only does she have wicked style - she is also generous.

Talk about a one in a million pal.

Inspired by her generosity I just dropped in the mail to her

a little care package full of glittery and goldy delights.

Isn't this so fun?

Go ahead try it.

Set up a swap with a friend.

You don't need to spend money.

And you reap all the rewards.

Plus and for me this is the best part -

No buyer's remorse!

When you return it (which I often do)

you don't have to act shifty for having worn it.

You send it back with a full heart and hopefully some fabu pics.

Like this one.

Tizzy - definetly under accessorized,

ahem, i mean successorized.

Happy Shopping Swapping!

wish you were here . . .

I love you, pap.

Anonymous and Anonymous

Thanks,  I love you.

What color are you . . .

I was talking to an old friend the other day and we were talking about when we were growing up.

The talk turned to our mothers and she said her most vivid memory 

 of my mom was when she was doing her nails.

look at those nails

I knew exactly what she meant.

My mom has always had long and beutiful nails and has always done them herself.

I can clearly picture the long file coming out and her elegant hands being sculpted to half moons.

Then the slow deliberate strokes of color changing each nail.

Finally a cigarette was lit and hands were waved in the air as they dried.

Back in the day there wasn't a nail place on every corner.

If you did want your nails done you had to go to a salon and that would run $50 at least.

In  fact, my siblings high school graduation present to me was a manicure and pedicure - my first ever.

Seems crazy now as I've been going with my 10 year old neice for at least 4 years.

But that's the way it was.

In middle school towards the end of the year we were preparing to graduate.

One spring afternoon we were waiting for an assembly when someone busted out their nail polish.

Rather than admonish us - our teacher joined in.

She told us that the secret to a good manicure was 2 thin coats of polish

 and proceeded to provide that for everyone who wanted it.

Funny, this is what I remember from 8th grade.

mint candy apple

Sophomore year in college I was living in a sorority house with 25 other girls.

That spring one of my friends started mixing her own nail poish.

It was revoluntionary at the time - soft and subtle pastels like we had never seen -

mint green, pale pink, bright yellow.

We could have died right then - we were so cool.

I think this is part of the reason I have an obsession with nail colors.

I am trully gaga over them - oh the innovations and possibilities.

And the names!!  The names!!

My hands were painted a delicate pink - ballet slippers - for my wedding.

I still have that color and wear it often.

ballet slippers

I usually stick to a pale pink or neutral for my hands but love something bright for my toes.

I have definetly partaken in the matte nails revolution.

I have navy, brown, charcoal and black for the winter.

Bright red for the holidays.

Hot pinks and purples for the spring and summer.

spooky grey matte nails for a fall wedding.

I can't get enough.

I'm as addicted to buying new nail polishes and colors as some are to going to get their nails done.

Today I'm rocking Essie Watermelon which is bright pink.

It's on my hands and it's bringing me back in time.

I can just picture my mom sitting and waving her hands in the air after she just painted them.

how fantastic are these names for the new essie wedding collection?

show me the ring - brilliant!

I found the following and thought it was funny. 

In a daily horoscope kind of way.

Fire-engine Red: You're sassy, self-assured, and not afraid to be dramatic.

Bright red is a bold, look-at-me color that is a symbol for passion, fire, and confidence.

You love the spotlight, and you take charge of situations.

Hot Pink: You're spunky and energetic.

Pink is a color that is associated specifically with women, and hot pink lets you show your spunk and spice.

Pale Pink: Painting your nails pale pink is a subtle expression.

 You are likely quiet, or at least you don't want to stand out, and youthful.

Pale pink is not significantly different from the color of your nails (if you're caucasian), but you still want to show your soft side.

Black: Painting your nails black is a classic symbol of anti-establishment.

It doesn't mean you are depressed or going goth, but it's a way of rebelling against the norm and showing some of the darkness in your personality.

Navy Blue: This is a color of sophistication and authority.

Wearing this color on your nails tells people to listen up, because you're in charge.

Aqua (Light) Blue: You're showing the youthful and calm side of your personality when you paint your nails a light blue. Aqua is a cool color, a nonchalant color.

French manicure: You are glamorous and professional.

You don't need a whole new color; your nails look good as they are, and you simply emphasize and define yourself.

Magenta: A combination of the reds, pinks, and purples, magenta is feminine but not flashy.

You are vibrant and youthful, but you don't need to be the center of attention at all times.

Orange: This color is bright and vibrant, for people who want attention drawn to them.

 It also symbolizes autumn and the changing seasons: a time of brightness and change.

Dark Brown: A dark and rich color, this shade of brown indicates boldness and authority.

You like your nails like you like your men. Just kidding.

Maroon: Maroon is a warm color, a combo of red and purple, retaining the authority of red and the confidence of purple. It's a mature, sophisticated color that, when worn on your nails, invites respect.

Coffee-colored: You are earthy and energetic. Tan and light brown are earth tones, cool colors that bring you closer to Mother Nature.

Green: This color invokes images of vigor and the environment.

 Going "green" in your nail polish exudes earthiness and spunk.

Deep purple: Purple is the color of royalty.

Wearing it on your nails shows you have a confident personality, and you're not afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Lavender: You are graceful and collected.

 A combination of pink and purple, lavender is feminine and confident without the youthfulness of pure pink.

For what it's worth -

Miss Amanda I think you should be wearing this color this weekend.

bachelorette bash

Why does my butt just look better when I wear heels?

Out of Sync

I am out of sync lately, and not just because I am not a good dancer (like I mentioned yesterday). Ever since going on vacation to Cabo about a month ago, I just don't have my routine down. I mean I have not been committed to working out since then. It's basically been a month since I have had a committed weekly workout. The week I went to Cabo, then when I got back I was sick for a week, then I started my new job, and that has been the last two and a half weeks. It has been unusually warm for March in Chicago, and I keep acting like I am going to go for a run when I get home. But then I get home and I get busy doing I don't know what. Nothing really, but I am keeping myself *busy* by doing unimportant, unproductive things. This drives me nuts, I hate being a time waster. For some reason time is very important to me, so to think that I am wasting it makes me down on myself. It's frustrating because I was in a good place with working out and being productive, and getting back into hobbies and things that I enjoyed before I went back to school. For the last month I don't know what I have been doing, but it doesn't feel fulfilling, it's feel lazy.

Transitional Times . . .

It's an odd time in my life.

We are trying to make major life decisions.

Chief among them -

where are we going to live?

We've been looking at houses in the suburbs.

Part of me is thrilled -

the closets, the room, the yards, the garage!

The other part of me is nervous.

What if we move out there and the kids we so desperately want never happen?

Will we be the weird couple without kids in the suburbs?

Do we really want to be in the suburbs if we don't have kids?

Wouldn't a summer house suffice?

And although I know I should remain hopeful and certain that I will become a mother -

why has it taken so long?

It's been years so far.

Not weeks or months.

Years.

And I don't feel any closer.

There were times that I did.

Times I believed and was certain that I was pregnant.

But I was crushed afterwards when it didn't work.

So we currently reside in limbo.

Trying to decide on the life we want to live.

And how we go about making it a reality.

Transitional times, indeed.

I'll keep you posted on what happens.

Things I'm not but wish I was

Lastnight I had one of those great dinners with two of my girlfriends,that was supposed to be quick and easy, and ended up being 3 hours long. We just sat back and chatted and chatted and chatted. I think we easily solved a dozen of the world's problems. At one point one of my friends described me as "stable". I crinkled my nose and said that's boring. She replied that she really appreciates it in me, since she is a bit of a wander-lust. I replied it would be nice to think of myself as advernturous.

This got me thinking what are some things that I admire in other people but just am not.

1) Adventurous
2) Busty
3) Subtle
4) A good dancer
5) Easy-going aka have the ability to go with the flow

Oh and here is a list of things I am glad I am not

1) Indecisive
2) Insecure
3) shy
4) unreliable
5) Absent-minded

HAHAHAHAHAHA

“ The banking crisis was caused by doing what no society ever allows, permitting young males to behave in an unregulated way. Anyone who studied neurobiology would have predicted disaster. "
Neuroscientist Joe Herbert, from the University of Cambridge in NYMag’s fascinating article: What if Women Ran Wall Street?

Haven't read the article yet, but found this quote to be funny, and ironic. I love how NOW, after the crisis there seem to be so many claims that it was obviously going to happen, or predicted, or whatever. I mean if there were so many people predicting it, then how the hell did it take sooooo many people by surprise?

Uggghhhh

I lost my ipod over the weekend. Boo hiss to that. I know I had it when on saturday when I went to the gym. I go to workout yesterday and no ipod in my purse. I mean I am legit talking about an oldschool school shuffle one of the long white ones, not super expensive to rebuy. But I need a new camera BAD. So between the two that is a couple hundred dabloons, that I was not planning on spending. I tried calling the gym to see if anyone had turned it in to the lost and found (because seriously who is pocketing a 5 year old shuffle), but it is an automated system that literally spins you in circles from auto-message to auto-message to then just hanging up on you. The worst part is I can't workout without music. So I need to get this figured out today to get back on track.

Too Bad so sad

The weather has been beautiful here in Chicago this week. Mid-sixties and sunny. It was Spring, real live spring that included no jacket, and sunglasses everyday. But all of that is about to change tomorrow. Tomorrow winter will make its blustery return. There will be a 30 degree drop in temperature and 2 inches of snow. Sigh, tear. I knew spring was early, and I have enjoyed this week. But it is going to make the rest of winter that much harder. I'm just glad I did not put my boots away yet.

Things I don't need . . .

No place or occassion to wear them -

But how fabulous are these little numbers.

Marchessa

Elie Saab (above and below)

But there is an occassion I can start dreaming about.

We're going to paris!!

HOORAY!!

I'm planning on channeling this look from Stella McCartney

sleek and skinny.

That should work, right?

You make me sick

Rielle Hunter, former mistress of John Edwards. Nice job with your tell-all in GQ magazine. You really showed your class by going after his cancer-stricken wife of over 2 decades. The mother of four of his five children.

While I agree with you that there is a problem in a marriage that would lead someone to stray. I do think you need to take some resposnibility. You knew he was married and you decided not to care about that, so Yes you are a homewrecker. You let him and yourself lie about it for four years. You let that whole debacle of the aid claiming paternity unfold. You had to know with all the secrets and the sneaking, and the elaborate stories that there was something wrong in your relationship. You talk about a grown man who was in charge of creating law for this country being scared of the wrath of Elizabeth. Puuhhhhhllllleeeeaaaaze. Pleace some blame where it belongs squarely on his cowardly, lying, shoulders.

Oh yeah and be careful Rielle what someone will do with you, they will do to you. By the tone of this interview seems like you have drinken the punch.

Not Loving....

This trend of patterned tights. I don't like the lace/flowery ones. I think they look like something one a "tart" (as my grnadma would call them) would wear. In theory I have no problem with pattern tights, when it is stripes, or zigzags, or checks. By these I decidedly do NOT like.


PS: Now that I have declared that look to see me in a pair in the next month.