Thoughts from the Dirty City

No, I’m not talking about the star. I’m referring to satellite radio.

A few years ago I was commuting from Akron to Cleveland every day for work. When you are in the car for hour long stretches (some days longer) twice a day the radio can get tedious. It wasn’t even the commercials…it was just hearing the same ten songs over and over and over again. Even switching stations didn’t satisfy the need for something new to occupy me on the drive. So I turned to Howard Stern, who at least had something different to say each time I tuned in. It became a part of my routine.

Then all hell broke loose and satellite radio stole my morning tradition. Howard Stern left regular radio and went to satellite where he could do his thing unfiltered and untamed.  Thankfully I have an amazing friend who hooked me up with one of the funky new radios so I never skipped a beat. My morning commute continued on with even more entertainment than I had anticipated.

I fell in love with satelite radio pretty much instantly. The endless channels, including Discovery, Comedy and more music than you could ever hope for kept me more than satisfied during even the busiest of rush hours.  I was hooked and a die hard fan. Nothing could ever convince me to go back to regular radio. Or so I thought.

Fast forward a few years, and obviously much has changed in my life. Including eliminating the dreaded commute to the 216 everyday. I still spend a decent amount of time in my car, but nothing compared to those days. More and more I found myself defaulting to the standard hits channels and oldies channels on my Sirius. I just wasn’t around it long enough to go hunting for interesting programing on some of the more obscure channels.

Things on Sirius were changing too. They merged with XM radio with the promise of more channels and more entertainment. This came with a small hike in my monthly subscription fee. I persisted, but still noticed I wasn’t listening to any wider range than I had been the past few months. I went back and forth on wether or not to cancel my subscription. There is a lot of talk on Sirius programing about how terrible regular radio is with all its commercials and limited content. It gets in your head after a while.

But after realizing I still wasn’t really using the subscription to its full potential I decided the monthly fee of satellite radio just wasn’t worth it for my current situation. So yesterday morning I canceled my account. For the past two days I have been left to the wilds of regular radio. I have to say, it aint half bad! Yeah, there are commercials and the music choices are more limited. But I haven’t had any moments where I was just plain miserable and missing my old system.

Only time will tell if I will truly regret giving up on satellite radio. But for now I’m completely fine with the free waves being pumped through the speakers.

It does make me wonder though. How many other things in my life have I convinced myself are essential that are, in reality, completely expendable? Perhaps it’s time to start paying more attention. Who knows what else I could cut out and never miss.

On a side note, I realised something on the drive home today. One amazingly fantastic thing about regular radio is the local traffic and weather reports. I completely forgot about those! Yes, the satellite radio had a traffic and a weather station. Like I EVER tuned in to those.  Having someone just offer up that info every now and again regardless of what you are listening to is damn handy!

So, it’s been a while.

What can I say? Spring came and brought with it all kinds of stress and to-do lists. It also brought with it a sickness that leveled me for, what seemed like, an eternity. Once the plague had cleared up I was left with absolutely no desire to be a functioning member of society.  I got up, went to work (most days anyway) drove home and proceeded to sink into a fog. Honestly, I can’t tell you a single thing that I accomplished in May (and most of June). The entire month(s) came and went without me noticing.

Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like I was depressed or having some sort of emotional or mental collapse. It’s like I got really tired and nothing I did gave me any energy. I feel like I only partially woke up in the mornings. Slowly but surely the fog is clearing and more often than not I am feeling more inspired (or at least awake.)

I’ve started a new weight loss and exercise  program. I want to get to a place mentally and physically that will make me feel better in my own skin. I fear this is a never ending battle. One that I try not to focus on too much as the more I focus on it, the more insane it makes me. But I’m excited about the progress and general optimism I feel. I know that the biggest battle is in my head and with my own willpower to make the changes that need making.  Right now, I’m feeling good about the new insights and tools I’ve gathered to inspire me…so I’m going to roll with that.

I’m still not as inspired about some of the side projects I started in late winter. I think weather has a lot to do with that. An apartment without an air conditioner is not a prime place to bake in the middle of June.  But a shiny new fan with the power of three jet engines is helping…and I’m not giving up on the idea. Just slowing down a bit while the weather makes sticking my head in the freezer a more viable option than sticking a cake in the oven.

I’m not sure what shifted to suck the energy out of me last month. Or conversly, what has shifted to start pushing the energy scales in the other direction.  Feeling lazy and lifeless isn’t a good feeling though. And I’m doing what I can to avoid getting back to that point.

As the crazy evangelical dude from television you should never admit to watching said “Don’t just sit there. DOOOOOO something!”
(My brother and sister may be the only other people on the planet that will get the reference.)

I guess this is a warning of sorts. Prepare for a lot more blog posts about nothing as I cling to the idea that writing about nothing will inspire me to do something.

Hopefully by the end of this week I will be all caught up with the rest of the gang on the WT tasks.
The tasks for week 3 are Bottoms Up:

Part 1: Pile!
I have two basic pant piles, work pants and jeans. I should preface this by saying that I have recently endeavored to change my life and get healthy and active. Also, too loose weight. All good things. The only downside is a closet full of clothes that don’t quite fit anymore. Well, mostly. I’m slowly fixing this (mostly focused on jeans so far). But as I’m not at my goal weight yet I am reluctant to replace everything in my closet only to (fingers crossed) need to do it again in short order. That said, the work pants:

Velveteen Rabbits
The brown pair in the middle bottom. The photo doesn’t really do them justice. They are a rich chocolate brown and I have loved them and worn them to the brink of death. The bottom hem and the fabric itself is starting to look a bit haggard from too many trips through the washing machine. Since neither of these are things that can really be fixed, I know I should probably toss them right now. But I wont, I love them too much. As soon as I find a suitable replacement they are gone. Promise.

Torture Devices
Middle pair second from the top. While I love the cut of these (super wide leg with a big chunky cuff) the olive green just doesn’t quite go with anything. I pull it off with black tops but that seems to be their limit. Everything else I own just looks slightly off paired with them.
Also, the gray pair bottom right. They are just slightly too short to be worn with all my heels and just slightly too long to be worn with flats. I usually end up going with flats as I prefer a bit too long as compared to a bit too short.

Superstars
The black pair in the middle. They are the closest thing I have to pants that fit.
Stalwart Staples
Both pairs on the left. They are the perfect length for my modest heels and one or the other seems to go with everything I own.

Same Time, Next Year
When I piled my bottoms I had no shorts or skirts. That’s right. Not a single one. So there really wasn’t an opportunity for any of my pants to fall into this category. For the past few years I just haven’t been feeling the whole skirt thing so I figured why force it.
These days though, I’ve been kinda itching to go girly every now and again. To that end I have gone shopping this weekend and acquired a skirt! Huzah. I know, just the one. But it’s a start!! And it’s a summery skirt, so come next round I will have at least one thing to list in this category.
As for shorts…I would prefer to stick to a skirt or jeans. I’m just not comfortable in shorts. Ever. They just feel all wrong on my body no matter the length or fabric type.

Sentimental Journeys
None. I’m not really attached to any of my pants.

Jeans:

Velveteen Rabbits
They aren’t pictured because I was wearing them at the time. They are the most comfortable pair of jeans I have ever owned. They fit just right. Granted, they are probably too loose for most people’s tastes but I love them. But the years of wear have left the bottoms frayed the pockets worn and the the fabric over the knee is nearly transparent. Again, I know I should probably just give up the ghost. Chances are I’m going to hang on to them until they are completely unwearable.

Torture Devices
Second pair from the right. They fit. I guess. I just don’t get jeans with stretch in them. I don’t like anything clinging to my hips the way that these do. I usually only wear them when all other options are dirty.
Oh, and the pair just to the left of those. They are officially too big to wear and are getting tossed. No clue why I have hung on to them as long as I have.

Superstars
The pair on the far left. They are a bit light to qualify for “nice/dressy” jeans, if there is such a thing. But the wide leg cut seem to make them a bit more appropriate when my worn down denim just wont do. Also, they have some great detailing and look really cute with a nice cardigan.
Stalwart Staples
The pair to the far right. They aren’t destroyed so I can wear them in public without feeling shame, but they still fit loose in the “boyfriend” jean style I prefer. Also, the dark wash seems to make them a bit more flexible. As a bonus they are on the long side so I can get away with a low heel if I want. Or one quick roll and they are good to go with flip flops.

Same Time, Next Year
See above. I don’t do shorts.

Sentimental Journeys
Again. None.

There was a holiday…so I was busy with family and visiting and all the standard stuff that comes with a holiday. I’m still trying to recover a bit from the whirlwind fatigue that follows. I’m looking forward to the free time of my usual weekend. One that will allow for extra sleep and some much needed catching up.

Work has been keeping me more than busy.
The planning and preparing for a big annual event has me spinning a bit. Stress and worry that everything wont get done on time has been giving me daily panic attacks.  Too many days when the list of things to do seems to be growing exponentially and the days are ticking off faster and faster. I start to fret. Okay, more like completely freak out.

Slowly but surely it’ll get there though. I just need to remember to breath and keep plugging away. Eventually it will all get done. Or the event will happen without whatever it is I am fretting over that moment. Either way, by mid May it will all be over. No reason to panic. Like everything else in life, just breath and keep moving!

Side Projects
I’ve also been spending a lot of time thinking and planning for a new side project. It involves something I have been thinking about doing for a while now. Recently I decided to just do it now rather than wait for the “perfect” time. I’m just going to do it and let the chips fall where they may.

I’ve realized it can’t happen all big and grand the way it is in my daydreams. That just isn’t realistic. I’ve also realized that doesn’t mean it can’t happen at all though. Everything has to start somewhere. I’ve got a rough idea of where to start and I’m working on making it happen.

How was that for vague?
It’s really early in the planning and thinking stages and not a whole lot has been decided yet. So there isn’t a whole lot to say specifically at the moment. But soon! Hopefully very soon. For now I’m just excited for the prospect. That initial step.  The decision to move forward. I just know in my heart that it’s time to make some changes. Shake the dust off the routine. Step outside my comfort zone and try something new.

I’m trying to enjoy the process and remember that all the work is because its something I want to be doing, not something I HAVE to be doing. That line of thinking seems to be counter to my nature. I’m a “dig your heels in and get the job done” kinda girl. And while that is great under a deadline, it can occasionally be a fun-sponge to tasks I would prefer to savor and enjoy. Hopefully this little adventure will help to curb that tendency a bit as I move forward, remembering to take my time and enjoy it.

I can’t wait for it to start to really take shape so I can share more!

Wardrobe Therapy
No worries, all my babbling and griping about clothes will return soon.

I am woefully behind on my wardrobe therapy tasks. Week 3 came and went and week 4 is here. How is that possible? Time moves in the craziest ways.

Anyway, a continuation post to the week 2 task regarding support garments (targeting sports bras) was in the works. Considering how backlogged I am though, I may just skip that and revisit it at a later date.  Cause really, as long as they keep the girls firmly in place while everything else is flying akimbo who cares. It’s the gym, style doesn’t count.

For now, I have a date with a pile of ill fitting pants and a polyvore account to create

See you all on the up side!

I admit it, I have been putting off this post. The topic is something I am self conscious about and have not looked forward to discussing. It is what it is though. The time has come to accept, get over and learn to love.  Blah. Blah. Blah.

Anyway, be warned. There will be talk of my bras, my breast size and inevitably a ton of whining and bitching – there will not be pictures.

The task: turn a stern eye on your support garments

That is the only kind of eye I have for my support garments. Alright, that may be a bit dramatic. But honestly, shopping for bras at my cup size is one part depressing and ten parts frustrating.

The problem is I am a DD. The majority of shops carry this size only in styles best fitting someone with blue hair and a walker. It is beyond hard to find my size in something cute, age appropriate and well made. Not impossible, just hard and torturous. And when I say well made, I mean it. I don’t buy cheap bras. At this size they NEED to be well made. Not to say that I really have issues with sag or droop (I’m pretty lucky in that regard) but gravity is a motherfucker and I don’t take chances. Also, cheap bras in a DD don’t exist – at least not cute ones.

My current undergarment collection consists of:
two completely function only, all white and super supportive numbers that are generally worn under work clothes (though one of them is starting to look a little worse for the wear and needs replacing)

ONE super cute superstar that I am in love with and wear to often. It puts, and keeps the girls exactly where they are supposed to be

Two overly padded demi-cut numbers that I rarely wear (seriously – who the fuck pads a DD?? And what was I thinking when I bought them?)

Two others that are complete torture devices. Both are super cute and fit perfectly. However, they are minimizer bras. In theory, I love this because I am incredibly self conscious about my chest and always looking for ways to play that area down a bit. In reality all they do is flatten my lady lumps into pancake/shelf like oddities. Ugly and uncomfortable. These got tossed.

The rest are staples. Colorful cotton numbers that just do what they are supposed to do without making me feel elderly or matronly. These also are starting to show some age and should be replaced.

Time to go shopping I suppose. I keep hearing rumors that peeps like Oprah have brought more attention to the shopping worlds short comings when it comes to proper support garments for larger ladies. Here’s hopin’!

In addition to making piles, the participants of Wardrobe Therapy were asked to indentify their Joyous Colors.

Joyful Colors: These are colors that make you happy. With any luck, some of them also give you clear skin and sparkling eyes when worn next to your face. (Quick-and-dirty trick: match your eye color or go with its color-wheel opposite.) We will talk about “color my season” systems when I post my answers on this topic, but I’m urging you to start with colors you like rather than with someone’s color cards. (Mella is hereby issued a “bye” from having an emotional response to color.)

There isn’t a color that I don’t like, so that is a bit of a tricky question for me. So I’m just going to start with colors I’m told I look good in based on the “season system”.

I have always been told, and for the most party agree, that I am a winter.  I say this because I have pale skin with very pink undertones, hazel eyes and dark brown/black hair with red highlights. According to most books and websites winters look best in deep/rich jewel tones and dark neutrals. They also say unsaturated white based pastels work. For the most part I agree. All those colors do look great on me. Except, okay I don’t agree at all. In fact I think the entire system is flawed.

I studied color a bit in art school and the real trick is learning what base color looks good on you. By base color I mean a primary. Every color under the sun has a base of yellow, red or blue. Personally, I look best in tones with a blue base. Red can work too, as long as it doesn’t have a lot of yellow in it.

This is also why I think everyone can wear black (and gray, but it’s a bit trickier as the base is harder to distinguish). All blacks sway a bit to one of the primary colors. It’s usually pretty subtle. Until you put two black shirts next to each other that have a different base colors that is. Yellow based blacks always look a little green next to a red or blue based black. In a perfect world this wouldn’t happen as black is truly the most neutral of all the colors.

One of my first color study assignments was to create black paint by mixing all the primaries together. We were told nothing except that the mix would not contain equal parts of each color. Oh, and that the actual primaries are cyan, magenta and yellow. I must have blazed through a dozen bottles of each pigment never actually reaching a perfect black. In the end, no one did. It was later explained that paints are also slightly flawed and therefore will never give you perfect results. Lighting and dilution can also effect it. But it was a great way to teach just how powerful the base color really is.

(Oh, and it’s equal part cyan and magenta with a little yellow added till black is achieved. Try it, it’s fun!)

(Wait…how did I get that off course? Real it back in Bet!)

Deep breath.Wow, that was the most long winded explanation of:
I can pull of anything with a blue base and most things with a red base….just keep me away from yellow. It makes me look jaundiced.

I take that back, I love lime green and wear it anyway.

So there you have it. I have no REAL rules when it comes to color. I love it too much to limit it in any way.

Something is missing. I have written an entire post on color without a single photo or example. That will not do….

Inspiration for colors that I love, covet and am looking for right now generally come from the Pantone site. Every season they do an amazing fashion color report. Check out the full color report, along with all kinds of other color goodies here and here.

I almost forgot!

A few weeks ago I started this. I have trouble getting things done on the weekend. I just go into these zones and the next thing I know it is Sunday evening and I am scrambling to accomplish something. So I decided that every Friday I would list FIVE things I want to accomplish over the weekend. The very next Thursday I sliced and diced my hand and gave myself a pass on accomplishing anything.

But I can’t justify, or stand the thought of yet another weekend getting by without actually doing something. Anyway, here they are (cause i know you all care SOOO much how I’m gonna spend my weekend) the five things Imma do before Monday:

1) Spring clean my car – inside and out

2) Cleveland film fest and Melt

3) Finish up week 2 wardrobe therapy tasks

4) Learn to properly curl my hair

5) Spring clean at least one room in my apartment (bathroom is almost done – just need to hit the floor one more time and gut the linnen closet)

I think this is how I must look every Friday afternoon when leaving the office.
It is certainly how I feel.
(click image to view)

Just a quick update:

Last week I wrote about the tragic mishap that led to me needing 7 (I counted when the bandage came off) stitches. I’m not posting the picture of it all unwrapped (you’re welcome) but I will post this one:

I took that yesterday and today’s bandage is even smaller! Hooray for being able to use my left hand again. Still have to keep it clean and dry and stuff, but for the most part all the pain and discomfort is gone. And now that the bandage is shrinking I can wiggle my fingers. That means the cramping and aching from keeping it straight all the time (due to the bandage) is going away.

It still looks gross under there, but no where near as bad as I was expecting. The healing process has started so the skin is shrinking. I can already see and feel some scaring and the skin is getting that nice shiny dead look. Eventually that will fade and the skin will soften up. I remind myself of this every time I clean it.

The really good news is my nail. There is some bruising where the stitches are but I don’t think it is going to fall off. Another hooray for manicures in the not so distant future!!

The stitches come out on Tuesday. I’m more nervous about that than I care to admit. But my friends assure me it is totally painless so I’m trying not to freak. Additionally, I am so ready to not have stitches anymore that the fear is balanced out.

I know I’m still giong to have a bit of time before it is totally healed. My hope is that after the stitches come out I will at least be fully functional again. As of right now, typing and washing my hair among many other things are still a royal pain in the ass.

It’s week two of Wardrobe Therapy! What does that mean? Time to pile some shirts (and at some point bras…but I’m saving that torture for another post). If you have no idea what “piles” are all about you can read all about them on drwende’s site here. Honestly though, they aren’t too complicated.

Anyway. Tops. Sorting. Ugh. I knew this little project was going to turn into work eventually. Okay, that might be a BIT dramatic. The truth is, I got A LOT of clothes. Most of which I don’t wear. Which is exactly why I signed up for this little adventure.

I’m not going to pile every top I own here. Well not for photographic purposes anyway. Though it would probably do me good to go the extra mile. For now, I’m just going to focus on the highlights.

Pile 1: Velveteen Rabbits

Not as bad as I expected. I have a tendency to hang on to clothing long past their expiration date. I’m actually fairly impressed half my closet isn’t in that photo.

At the top there is my hoodie. I live in that hoodie. It is fading and the pocket on the front is coming undone. There is no good way to go about fixing faded black cotton. This one really just needs to be replaced.

Same with the tee sitting next to it. At one point I think that gray was almost black. Sad, but true.

See also the three shirts on the bottom left. An assortment of short sleeve black tops. One tee, one polo and one button up.  All faded and in desperate need of replacing.

To the right is evidence of my addiction to cardigans. It’s a common addiction and one I’m not remotely ashamed of. I can’t say the same for these particular cardigans though. Pilling, missing buttons and a string of beads that are barely clinging to life. All mendable.

As a side note: anyone noticing a color theme? Black. I admit, I love black and own way more of it than I ought. But I also love color and wear it often. The thing is, I dress in layers. Even in the summer. I can’t tell you the last time I wore just one top. So I own a ton of black. It’s neutral and makes throwing color into another layer super easy.

Pile 2: Torture Devices

Yeah so I got more than a few of these for various reasons.

The top pic is my collection of jackets (those not belonging to suits).

There was a time in my life when my job required that I wear a jacket everyday. Those pictured are the ones left behind. They come in handy from time to time when I need to look professional but don’t need to be in a suit. And honestly, I love the idea of a nice jacket.

The problem are my shoulders. They are a bit broad and nothing really accentuates that like a jacket. I always feel like a linebacker when I wear them.

Bottom pic: The two button ups on the left are too big for me everywhere except the bust. I feel super frumpy whenever I wear them. It’s a problem I have with almost all button up shirts. But they look semi polished under the jackets with a nice pair of pants and they are well suited for my current job (aside from the fit). And they are nice in the summer for the office because they are light weight and easy.

Just below the button up is a cute little gypsy blouse that I totally fell in love with and actually looks cute on me. There are a few problems. The sleeves are a tad too revealing and I’m self conscious about my arms. But that is easily fixed with a cardigan. Also the neckline is elastic and irritates the crap outta me. It itches and clings and generally makes me miserable. I can’t remember the last time I wore it. It’s gone.

Below that are three sweaters that are just a bit to snug in all the wrong places making me feel like a sausage in knit casing. Gone.

Bottom right. I love this shirt. I thought I would hate it thinking the ruffles would add unwanted bulk to my chest. But when I put it on it did amazing things and managed to balance all my body parts out perfectly. And it’s a button up. It was like a miracle. The problem, those ruffles are IMPOSSIBLE to iron and it always just ends up looking sloppy and bad. I’m not getting rid of it, but I don’t have a ton of hope for it surviving much longer in my closet.

The rest are tees that sadly shrunk in the dryer. I love them too much to part with them, but they generally end up being worn under things and even then make me feel like I can’t breath. Oh, and the black one is actually of my own design so no chance am I getting rid of that.

Pile 3: Superstars

Sadly, I have none. Don’t get me wrong I have clothes that I love, but none of them are anything noteworthy. Certainly not anything that could be deemed “superstar”.

Pile 4: Stalwart Staples

This is where the bulk of my wardrobe sits. Staples. I mentioned I liked to layer. This should show just how much I meant that.

I have a huge collection of tanks, pictured top left (perfect for summer layering). And an ever more insane collection of long sleeved tees (perfect for fall and winter layering – living in Ohio that is pretty much all we have). I also have quite a few basic tees and hoodies that work well for layering anytime of year. I didn’t picture them because I ran out of room.

You may also notice this is generally where all the color comes into play. Loads of color in every variety. Though I do try to avoid pastels as they wash me out. I have dark hair but very pale skin (more on color in a separate post).

Bottom left are two random shirts that look great both over and under other shirts. I wear them often. Now that I think about it, both may sort of qualify as superstars. They are right there on the line.

What you do not see pictured are 3/4 sleeves. I am on the tall side and they always just seem a tad off on my body and I am totally uncomfortable in them.

Pile 5: Same Time, Next Year

These are my winter staples. The one on the left is winter casual. On the right is the go-to office appropriate. I have lots of sweaters but these two saw lots of action this winter. They are super easy to throw over pretty much anything.

Pile 6: Sentimental Journeys

On the left is the shirt that pretty much defines my youth. At least in my mind. I never wore it often but I can’t ever imagine parting with it.

On the right is a dress that was gifted to me. By a boy. And I absolutely love it. It’s super slinky and sparkly, and when it fit it hit my body in all the right places. I have never had a dress that made me feel so amazing. Working to someday fit into it again as I still think it is just amazing.

Pile 7: Mysteries of the Lost Shopping Trip

In theory, they are all pretty. The real problem, synthetic fibers. Even when over another shirt they cling in weird ways and generally make me feel like I am wrapped in cling wrap. Also, many incorporate elastic in some way shape or form. So, cling wrap with a rubber band.

Oh, except for the one on the top right. It’s a hoodie. And cotton. And orange. All things I love. But its got this hawaiian floral print thing happening. WTF was I thinking? I don’t do floral, especially hawaiian floral.

Lessons:

1. Avoid synthetic fabric and anything with elastic.

1A. I like cotton.

2. GET SOME SUPER STARS. Seriously. I need some special pieces in my wardrobe.

3. When black becomes gray, replace the shirt.

4. Me and button ups don’t get along. Avoid them for the most part.

5. Keep on layering, but try to avoid the super basics as I am well covered on those.

6. Jackets are great, but not with these shoulders. Perhaps there is one out there cut just right…I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled.

7. Add more color in different ways.

I have deemed it the FrankenFinger.

(the bruising doesn’t show in this pic, but the swelling and current bandaged-ness does)

See, I had a bit of an accident at work yesterday. Took off a large potion of my finger with an exacto. Luckily, I work in a hospital so the ride to the ER was quick. Six (maybe 7 – cant really remember – the brain does funny things in moments like that) stitches later, including one or two through my nail, and humpty dumpty was all put back together again.

I’m not entirely sure what is going on under the bandage right now. Shock and adrenaline made me a bit loopy during the ER visit and thankfully I don’t really remember much. Tomorrow I take off the bandages to asses the damage, clean and rebandage. I fully admit the thought off seeing it terrifies me.

The lack of use of my left hand makes typing a bit tricky, along with pretty much everything else. But as soon as I can type again without wanting to scream there will be a new post all about life with only one hand. By then I am hoping to see the humor in the hot mess antics that are my current situation. (Hey, you try washing your hair with one hand!)

Also, there go all my lovely manicure plans for then near future. Due to the stitches through my nail it is probably going to fall off. Booo.

This is my life, as a clutz.

1. Remove one (and only one!) unsuccessful item from your wardrobe.I mentioned in my previous post I was considering one of my many bottles of OPI. But finding a bottle I was willing to part with was proving to be a bit more challenging than I figured it would be. Thankfully, I had a backup plan – jeans.We all have jeans that don’t fit, never fit, or that we are saving in hopes they will fit again. I have samplings of each of these. So I moved on to the denim drawer. Fully prepared to toss one of the offenders.  Specifically, the 7 for All Mankind jeans pictured below. It isn’t that they don’t fit. For the longest time these fell into the category of “jeans I hope to fit into again someday” Well, magically they do fit. And I do love them. However, they are worn, have paint stains and ever expanding holes. They aren’t big enough or slouchy enough to pull off any of these traits with any kind of style or intention.

   But they are comfy, and they are the “HOLY SHIT THEY FIT AGAIN” jeans. So I started to wonder…

   

   Ah memories.

   Yes. Memories. It hit me that these were not the worst offenders of hangeroner pants in my wardrobe. Nope. That award goes to these bad boys.

   

   They are so offensive I had pretty much forgotten I owned them.

   Are they khakis? Camel colored dress pants? Does it matter? Truth is, no matter what specific category they fall into, they have never looked good on me. They cling where they shouldn’t, droop in ways I didn’t think were possible…and well, the pockets. For the love of god, the pockets. They gape and hang and generally make a mockery of my hips. Goodbye ugly ill fitting pants! I will not miss you.

2. Do the opening questionnaire.
3. Find yourself some sources of inspiration on personal style.I fully admit to loving fashion mags. I have long since let my subscriptions to Vogue and Cosmo laps, but from time to time I indulge and pick up and issue that looks interesting.
   I especially love the slightly unknown/foreign ones you can pick up in bookstores.
   So yeah, the obvious: Vogue, Cosmo, Purple, Glamor, InStyle, etc.

   In addition to fashion mags I LOVE design mags like HOW. The are a great source of inspiration especially in regards to interesting color combos and up and coming designers that tend to be fashion forward.

   My favorite fashion website is http://nymag.com
   The Cut (blog).This is a great site for checking in on the latest fashion shows.

   I also love to people watch and try to make mental notes when I see something cute. (I also admit to checking out the trainwrecks and making mental notes of those putting them in the – NEVER DO THAT – category)

4. Do something that makes you feel good about your body.The mani / pedi treatment is part of my routine. It’s not so much that I feel a NEED to do it every week. I just find it relaxing and usually by the end of the week I need a mindless task like painting my nails to clear the cobwebs from the workweek.

   I would love to list that as my “feel good” task, but I sort of feel like it’s cheeting. Though I will add it has been a LONG time since I have gotten a prof. pedi and may do this very soon – but not this week.

   Instead, I’ve decided to indulge myself with a season pass to the Zoo. I’m lucky to have one about ten minutes from my house. Every summer I go a few times and usually by the end of summer I am kicking myself because for the same price of my few visits I could have had a pass and come as often as I wanted. Plus, I love the idea of spending idle weekend afternoons chilling at the zoo with my camera and sketchbook. (Imma leave out all the feelings of guilt about caged animals and stuff. Yeah it’s there. Whatever.)
   As a bonus, a pass to my local zoo will also get me into the big fancy zoo just a bit farther north.

   Hooray summer – your almost here!

This weeks Wardrobe Therapy task includes getting rid of ONE item. This is photographic proof that I am contemplating making my one item a bottle of nailpolish. There are a few bottles in that line up that don’t get worn often. But there are isn’t a single color there that NEVER got worn. And for the most part I really like all of the colors. But there are a few that are getting a little old and should be replaced. Sigh

Now I just have to decide wich one…or maybe I’ll get real and toss one of the MANY pairs of ill fitting jeans I have.

So, I’ve signed up on for some Spring Wardrobe Therapy. Consider yourself warned.

Phase one, filing out the questionnaire.

1. Thinking primarily (but not necessarily exclusively) about looks, who’s your favorite performer of your own gender and species? Why?

Dita Von Teese (street wear, not stage wear)
She has such a defined style and always looks perfectly put together and comfortable in her own skin…not to mention the pencil skirts and insanely tall footwear. She just seems so classy. Considering she pulls this off while being a stripper impresses the hell out of me.

2. If you could live in any historic era with a really good clothing budget (as well as soap, toothpaste, and delicing as needed), when would you choose?

The 40’s or the early 70’s / late 60’s hippie rock wear
I know. Could there be any two styles more different? And yet I love them both, for opposite reasons. The 40’s style is so clean and put together. Grown up and classy. The 70’s were just so laid back and comfortable. Easy and fun. No rules or inhibitions.

3. What’s your favorite painting or other form of visual art? Why?

Can I just be vague and say graphic design, especially that of the Swiss school of thought?
If forced to name a few fine artist: Bernini, Mondrian, early Picaso and Monet

4. What is your first memory in which clothes are important?

The first time I remember going shopping for new school clothes and actually getting a say in the clothes I came home with was the year before junior high. I vaguely remember some Forenza sweatshirts and County Seat. (see question #8 for visuals)

5. What is your favorite garment ever? Why?

I had a black summer dress in high school that I wore everywhere. If it was cold I threw a sweater over it. in the summers it usually got paired with a t-shirt and combat boots to “keep it real” or a pair of flats to make it appropriate. It just suited me, and the way I lived at that time perfectly. Around that same time I had a blue skirt with apples and cherries on it that I made from an old house dress purchased from the thrift store. I think I wore it just as often.

6. What is your favorite garment in your wardrobe right now?

My Pirates Cove hoodie. It is more wearable woobie than article of clothing at this point and I practically live in it. It’s not the prettiest thing I own, or even the article I think looks best on me. It’s just really comfortable and easy.

7. What is the worst clothing purchase you can remember making?

A really expensive lingerie set. It was beautiful and decadent in every way. It was also incredibly uncomfortable and looked like shit under clothing. Hence, it never got worn, and because of the nature of the garment could not be returned. I still have it and occasionally try to make it work to no avail.

8. What’s your most embarrassing clothing-related memory other than a bad purchase?

Forenza and County Seat. For an entire year (7th grade) everything I owned came from one of those two store. Pleated pants, oversized sweaters and leggings never equaled hawt on my body.

9. What body part (no more than three!) are you proud of and expect compliments on?

I would say my nails. I have long nail beds and my nails are fairly strong and solid so they don’t chip or break often. Though I do keep them on the short side. It is rare that I leave the house without a proper manicure.

10. What body part (again, no more than three!) seems to require management, if not coaxing, cajoling, and sometimes outright begging if it’s to please you?

My entire mid section, specifically my stomach. But more than that, the girls and I tend to be more foe than friend. No matter what support I give them they either rise to my chin, or seem to wilt. They make shopping for undergarments beyond challenging, and cause me some back pain. I hate that I can’t wear shirts with buttons. They never fit. They are either way to big to compensate for the girls, or are busting at the seems.

11. If you could dress however you wanted all the time, what might you include?

In my head I would love to look totally put together in a smart skirt or dress everyday.
In reality, I’m a jeans and tshirt kinda girl and given the opportunity that is probably what you would find me in.
Though I think that is mostly laziness rather than preference.

12. If you could shop at any store (or from any designer), which would you choose?

More than anything I would love to find a line of clothing that seems built for my body. It would be so nice to have a/any go to store or label and know that chances were good the clothes would fit.

But I love Rodarte and McQueen (but could never pay that kind of money for clothes and be able to live with myself)

13. Where do you ordinarily shop now?

Sadly, most of my current wardrobe is from TJMaxx and Target. Though I have a lot of thrift store finds and love digging for buried treasures in thrift and vintage shops.

14. What clothing, accessory, or prettifying need (if any) do you enjoy shopping for?

I love shopping for makeup and shoes. There is never any moment of self doubt or body loathing. Two things that I spend way more time dwelling on than I am proud of and am working on changing.
With makeup, it’s just so easy to change things up and create a whole new look that doesn’t take a whole lot of money or commitment.

15. Which one do you most loathe shopping for?
Bras. Without question. (see #7) Followed closely by pants.

16. Do you consider yourself low-, medium-, or high-maintenance?

When it comes to my clothes I am super low maintenance. More so than I would like to be.
In regards to makeup and hair I would say I am medium. I wear makeup and straighten my hair pretty much everyday.

17. What are the two most frequent occasions that you dress for and how would you describe them?

I think like most people, I have a work wardrobe and a non-work wardrobe.
My work clothes are fairly nondescript business casual. I’m not a conservative person, but the environment I work in is very conservative. I try to incorporate pieces that are a little more me but more often than not I am shooting for appropriate and comfortable more than anything.
At home I tend to lean towards jeans and tshirts. But I love color and mixing textures and styles. If I’m really trying to look nice I would say my personal non-work clothes tend to be more eclectic and funky.

18. What was your favorite Hallowe’en costume ever?

The witch costume my dad made for me when I was little. But it had way more to do with the makeup than the black sack tied at the waist with a rope. The makeup was really intricate with lots of little lines and smudges made with burned corks. By the end it looked more like I was wearing a mask than makeup.

19. What do you see as the current problem(s) with your wardrobe and/or look?

Honestly, for the past few years my weight has been shifting a lot. There hasn’t been any long periods of time when I was a consistent weight. The result is a closet full of clothes that don’t quite fit. Everything is either a little too big, too small, too short too long…you get the idea. It’s so frustrating. And it’s hard to go out shopping when I am working on changing my daily habits to be healthier and feel better about myself, and also yes, to be thinner. But there comes a point when you have to address where you are before considering where you would like to be.

20. At the end of WT, what lovely compliments do you want onlookers to give you?

More than anything I would like to feel comfortable and confident in what I am wearing and with myself in general. I guess for now, I’m more interested in being able to give myself an honest compliment than I am in getting one from onlookers.

Lately I have been really bad about getting anything accomplished on the weekends. Well, anytime really. But getting nothing accomplished on a Sunday is somehow more upseting than getting nothing accomplished on a Wednesday night.Because of this, I’ve decided to post a list every Friday of FIVE things I would like to accomplish over the weekend. Besides, I’m bored and lists are fun.

Right. So…this Friday’s five things are:

1.  Clean my bathroom – Spring time edition including the washing of all bathmats and the organizing of closet.

2. Watch one movie. I almost NEVER do this. If I decided to go for down time I end up half watching lame tv while reading crappy magazines. Hoping to make that movie the Secret of NIMH, but we’ll see.

3. Pick up odds and ends of mail that are still being delivered to my rents house. Oh and stay for a visit and hoover any and all food they may have left visible.

4. Visit the gym Saturday AND Sunday.

5.  Hit the Cuyahoga Valley for at least one hike. Providing it doesn’t rain all weekend.

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that there was a new OPI line out, and that I was on it. Actually, the line came out early February as it always does. But in the hubbub of the other new line I completely overlooked it. See, right about the same time the Spring line was released, a limited edition line dedicated to the movie Alice in Wonderland was released. I didn’t notice there were two lines and just assumed the Alice line WAS the Spring line. Silly, silly me.

First things first, the Alice and Wonderland line.

The limited edition polishes are Absolutely Alice, Mad as a Hatter, Off With Her Red! and Thanks So Muchness! True to the form of the movie, the line is crazy, over the top and full of whimsy…and glitter. I (magpie) opted for the most shimmery and sparkly of the lot.
Mad as a Hatter. And is it ever glittery. No pic can really do this polish justice. You have to see it in person to appreciate just how disco this polish really is.

To Hong Kong

Last week, or maybe the week before I realized I had missed the actual Spring line. I scoped it out online, and realized I hadn’t actually missed it at all. In fact, I had already sported one of the new shades without even realizing it.  A few weeks ago (or a month ago, time really isn’t my friend these days) I coned my friend Cookbook into going to get a mani with me. Without even thinking about it I dove for the new line. I try to go for colors I don’t already own when getting a mani, so it makes sense. I went with Jade is the New Black and LOVE LOVE LOVEd it.

But when I went to the store to pick up a bottle it dawned on me that I already own several OPI greens. And while none of them are exactly like Jade is the New Black, I still figured I should go for something a bit more crazy and different. My hand went right for the bright blue bottle of Suzi Says Feng Shui.

Side note
Last night after purchasing my new bottle I realized I own WAY more nail polish than any one person would ever need. It was a little shocking when I lined them all up (yes by color). My head started planting seeds of “no new nail polish, this has gotten insane”! But I already know I am going to be heading back for that green. I am going to try really hard to resist Panda-Monium Pink as it is strikingly similar to Mod About Pink, which I already own. Though it is a bit more purple and reminds me of one of my old, no longer available favorites, Purplink. See what I mean, totally out of control.

Today, after looking a bit more into a new project I have signed on to (Wardrobe Therapy – more on that later) I realized that perhaps instead of going cold turkey it is time to start sorting. Tossing old bottles, almost empty bottles and impulse purchase bottles of colors I know I will never wear. Clear out the cobwebs and make some room for the exciting new colors on the horizon*.

*A little birdy on the inside tells me that summer has sheer pinks lined up and a surprise collection inspired by the new Shrek movie is also in the works. I might be able to resist the sheer polish, but the bright playdogh looking bottles I am imagining for the Shrek collection will be impossible to resist.
All images courtesy of http://www.alllacqueredup.com
If your looking for detailed info on each shade, or other brands or lines…hell pretty much anything and everything nail polish you should check out this site.

Historically I have been a big believer in fancy make-up and cleansers from department stores. They smell pretty and have amazing packages. For some reason those two things combine in magical ways that make you forget how ridiculous the price tag is.

But then the economy tanked and the whole world went broke, my self included. One of the first things to go was all my fancy make-up and yummy smelly soaps. I just couldn’t justify braking bank for such obvious luxury items. And honestly, it hasn’t been so bad. Most of the make-up I found at the drug store I’ve been really happy with. There were a few disasters, but I try not to think about those as the scars are finally just about faded. Even the cleansers, toners, moisturizers and random other shit Cosmo insists I use or will crack and crumble were good to me, for a while anyway

Little by little over the past month or so some bad shit has started to happen north of my neck. I know that the real reason for the change is that the long dry NEO winter air sucked all the life outta my skin. Whatever the cause, I was desperate to do something to fix it, fast. My face was becoming a combo platter of oil, and breakouts with the added kicker of dry, red itchy patches. Hawtness.

Last week I decided to overhaul my skin care closet. I hit the department store and magpie that I am fell prey to the make-up counter as well. But being that this was not my first trip to rip off island I knew better than to fork over cash for something I had never used before (make-up wise*).  I got a sample of the product to take home with me and try first. That way if I wasn’t satisfied I could return said product hassle free. And thank god I did. Cause this shit really is a rip off. The $10 bottle of foundation I purchased at Target not only has better coverage, but it stays on longer and doesn’t smudge. Granted the unassuming bottle and lack of fragrance isn’t as exciting to play with in the morning while I get ready for work. But seriously, at those costs it should at least WORK. I guess I can chalk it up to one more lesson learned from the recession.

I will give it to the department store brands for being able to make their products smell and look so amazing on the shelf. And to be honest, I don’t know if I will ever be able to give up the fancy skin care again. After less than a week my skin is starting to clear up and even out. What can I say, the magpie in me still lives on, at least a little bit.

*They generally only give samples of liquid make-up. You know the kind you layer on like spackle. The other stuff you have to just try them out. They say you can’t return them…but I have before. At those prices they really can’t argue with much.

Additionally. I know, there is a new OPI line out. Hong Kong or something. No worries. I’m on it.

I’m not generally a huge fan of Spring lines. Too many frills and lace for my taste. This year I’m a bit buzzed about it though. I think maybe it has something to do with the extreme gray of the weather lately. Ohio feels like a science fiction movie with the total lack of sun these days. Right, fashion.

Last week in Paris designers took to the catwalk with their couture lines. Regardless of season, I am in general a fan of couture. Not so much for the pomp that surrounds it. More over, I love the artistic flair these lines tend to have. The designers aren’t super hung up on making the lines mass producible, and highly marketable. These tend to be the lines that really show off what the labels are about.  This means they can also tend to be the absolute ugliest.

This time around, I decided to do something a bit different. I’m not going through each designers line and picking through them piece by piece. Instead, I’m just making one post about the entire season summing up each label in one or two sentences.

Adeline Andre

Look guys! A couture snuggie!!!!

Anne Valerie Hash

…and all that jazz. Suddenly I miss the glory days of Liza Minnelli.

Armani Preve Couture

It is what it always is, amazing and perfectly assymilated with the label. This time with a pinch of sci-fi and a dash of just not my thing.

Boudicca

Looks like Little Bo Peep lost a little more than her sheep this round.

Chado Ralph Rucci

A really pretty line. Nothing super extraordinary, but pretty! Personally, I think it would have made a really marketable RTW line. Maybe the designer just really needed to feel fancy for a bit. We’ve all been there.

Chanel*

I am so over Chanel. Yes the clothes are amazing, but Karl Lagerfeld is such a douche that it kinda ruins it for me.

Christian Dior

It’s like Marry Poppins fell down the rabit hole and landed on Dita Von Tease. Amazing!

Elie Saab

While this isn’t really my style, I totally get it. And I don’t imagine there is a woman on earth that wouldn’t feel down right pretty in his dresses.

Givenchy Couture

The line started out so great! Dark and moody and totally glam couture. But then it just sort of fell apart for me. I dig this look though. The rest, I’m just going to pretend I walked away and didn’t see the end.

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Stole the mutha-flippin show. Seriously. The entire Spring 2010 Couture season now belongs to JPG. Totally haute.

Maison Martin Margeila

I don’t get it. I think maybe this is a punchline to a joke I missed or something.
*shrug*

Valentino Couture

Totally different for this label. It looks like the new designer for Valentino is finally coming into their own. I like it. Fresh and bright and… wait…hold on. I just read that it was inspired by the movie Avatar.

That is it.

I give up.

All photos courtesy of New York Mag.

*If I am going to be totally honest. Chanel was truly amazing. Breathtaking really. Especially the accesories. I just wish they would put Lagerfeld in a burka or something. Just the sight of him makes me all fighty.

Even as a student I was told that when you show a client multiple designs they are almost always going to choose the design you like the least. It was a lesson they taught us early to prevent us from even showing a design we weren’t happy or at least comfortable with. It’s like magic, no matter what you say or do the design you prefer the least will always end up being the final layout. Knowing this I stuck to the plan of never passing a design draft I wasn’t okay with. However, that means that I am almost always passing up designs I preferred to go with the one the client chose.

It got to the point that I started having long discussions trying to persuade clients to choose the design I preferred. It was during one of these conversations I realized there was an easier way around all of this. Stop showing clients anything other than the design I feel works best for the current project.  It isn’t like most clients request several rough drafts or concepts. It is just something I have always offered. It seemed like the best way to ensure the client was getting exactly what they were looking for. But the truth is, most of the time they aren’t exactly sure what they are looking for. That is why they hired a designer in the first place.

Part of being a designer is opening up dialog and figuring out what would work best for the clients situation. With good communication early on there should be no need for multiple design concepts to be passed to the client initially.

With this in mind I have been trying out a little experiment. I have only been sending what I view as the most successful concept initially. Since I have started doing this I haven’t gotten any complaints. Nor have any of the folks I am working with asked that I completely rework the design. Minor changes, especially in regards to copy are made, but for the most part almost all the concepts I have sent out have remained (for the most part) visually unchanged.

I would like to clarify that in no way does this mean I am only creating one layout and sending it off, fingers crossed that is gets approved. The only change I have made in the approach I have with each project is the initial drafting process. Where once I would send two or three initial concepts, now I only send the one I think works the best.

I can’t tell you how refreshing it has been. The clients are happy and so am I. The truth is, if you have a clear idea of what the client is looking for there is no need for multiple drafts. They just slow down the process and muddy things up. I am sure there are situations that require lost of concepts being shared (logos come to mind),  but for the most part I have found it isn’t necessary.

I think that we are all biased to the staple looks that date to our own coming of age. It was the time we really started to define our character and personal style so it is only natural that the basic/popular looks of those times will always be appealing. I’m not saying we can’t all see the error of our ways when it came to the extreme trends. No one looked good in the workout wear of the 80’s. Remember the saying, spandex is a privilege, not a right. And for the exact opposite reasons there was nothing flattering about the 90’s borrowing of dad’s flannel and pairing it with the baggiest dress one could find. This was my own personal coming of age look, paired of course with some authentic combat boots purchased at the local army surplus, the craziest most clashing tights I could find and a  dog collar (to keep it real – obviously).

While I no longer feel a need to dress in the extremes of my youth, the general feel of that era still defines my personal style. I love wearing a mixture of textures and layering in unexpected ways. And yes, I still own (and wear) Doc Martins.  Sometimes I feel a bit guilty about this and wonder if my look and taste is becoming laughably dated. I make an effort to incorporate new looks and trends into my wardrobe to keep it fresh, but still sometimes I wonder. Then the new lines start coming out and it seems there is always at least one or two pieces that give me hope that I am not in fact turning into an old fuddy duddy. This year some of my favorites included:

Proenza Schouler

and Tracy Reese

Not that everything I love has to be a throwback to the grunge era…but it doesn’t hurt.

Images from www.nymag.com
click on image for slide show of complete line